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Defining Benzodiazepine Addiction in Adolescents
Benzodiazepine addiction in adolescents is characterized by excessive use of benzodiazepines, a class of drugs prescribed to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. Adolescents with an addiction to benzodiazepines continue to take the drugs in higher dosages and more frequently than recommended for the purpose of improving their feelings of pleasure or of reducing the unpleasant feelings associated with withdrawal symptoms. Because benzodiazepines have a high potential for addiction, adolescents are advised to take benzodiazepines with caution and closely follow one’s doctor’s instructions.
Benzos can be consumed orally, inhaled, or snorted, as well as injected intravenously, which can increase the addictiveness of the substance. Additionally, the continuous use of benzodiazepines can lead to tolerance and dependence, which can prompt the user to engage in dangerous behaviors to continue getting the desired effects. Because of their fast-acting effects, benzodiazepines have an appeal to adolescents who are more likely to actively seek out the stimulant.
Common Signs of Benzodiazepine Addiction in Adolescents:
– Increased tolerance to the drug, leading to higher doses and more frequent use than prescribed.
– Engaging in dangerous behaviors such as stealing or lying to obtain benzodiazepines.
– Taking benzodiazepines in different ways, such as snorting or injecting them intravenously.
– Becoming overly dependent on the drugs and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not taking them.
– Spending excessive amounts of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the effects of benzodiazepines.
Causes of Benzodiazepine Abuse in Adolescents
Benzodiazepine abuse in adolescents is most often attributed to psychological or emotional distress or transitional periods within their lives. Substance abuse can be a coping mechanism to deal with these issues or provide temporary relief from them. Emotional and psychological distress can come in a variety of forms, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, school-related stress, or even family issues. Transition times like starting college, graduating from high school, starting a new job, or even military service may also trigger an increase in benzodiazepine abuse in adolescents.
Environmental factors can also contribute to benzodiazepine abuse in adolescents. Those who have friends or family members who use and abuse these substances, either at home or in a social setting, may be more likely to use and abuse benzodiazepines. Adolescents who lack meaningful activities or connections within their community such as structured mental health support or other social activities may also be more likely to abuse benzodiazepines. Furthermore, easy access to these substances, either through medical or illicit sources, can be one of the leading causes of abuse.
• Psychological or emotional distress:
◦ Low self-esteem
◦ School-related stress
• Transitional periods:
◦ Starting college
◦ Graduating from high school
◦ Starting a new job
• Environmental factors: • Friends and family using/abusing drugs. • Lack of meaningful activities or connections within the community. • Easy access to these substances, either through medical or illicit sources.
Potential Health Risks of Benzodiazepine Abuse
Benzodiazepine abuse can pose various risks to the wellbeing of adolescents. It can cause problems like memory issues, impaired judgement and coordination, difficulty in concentrating, depression, confusion, agitation, and decreased libido. These effects can last long after the drugs are discontinued and are dose dependent, meaning that the more one uses, the greater the risks.
Moreover, the misuse of benzodiazepines can lead to potential physical health risks. Adolescents that are abusing benzodiazepines may find themselves experiencing physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, and even seizures. Regular use of benzodiazepines can lead to addiction and can cause serious damage to the vital organs, such as the heart and lungs. Additionally, overdoses of benzodiazepines can be fatal. It is important to be aware of the potential risks of using these drugs as regular use and abuse can lead to serious health problems.
The potential health risks of benzodiazepine abuse include:
• Memory issues
• Impaired judgement and coordination
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Depression, confusion, agitation, and decreased libido.
• Increased heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
• Addiction to the drug
• Damage to vital organs such as the heart and lungs. • Overdoses can be fatal
Potential Warning Signs of Benzodiazepine Abuse
Mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, typically manifest with certain warning signs. In adolescents, these signs may become even more pronounced, as the individual struggles with an ever-changing hormonal balance. It is important to be aware of the signs that may indicate benzodiazepine abuse, as adequate and prompt intervention is essential for a positive outcome with addiction.
One of the most common physical warning signs of benzodiazepine abuse in adolescents is changes in sleeping and eating habits. Abusers may experience insomnia, fatigue, and a complete loss of appetite. They may also exhibit changes in behavior, often displaying a lack of motivation or apathy. Violent outbursts, a poor academic performance, and an increase in reckless activities can also be indicators of benzodiazepine abuse.
• Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
• Changes in sleeping and eating habits
• Lack of motivation or apathy
• Poor academic performance
• Increased risk-taking behavior
• Violent outbursts or aggressive behavior
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• An increase in secrecy, lying, or deception.<
Effective Interventions for Benzodiazepine Addiction
Interventions for benzodiazepine addiction in adolescents are essential to address the growing rates of substance use and abuse reported in the United States. Many different treatment methods are effective for addressing the behavioral, physical and psychological symptoms associated with addiction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most frequently utilized intervention for benzodiazepine addiction and helps young people to identify and address their triggers for using the drug while acquiring the skills they need to cope with difficult emotions and other issues in a healthy manner.
Other forms of therapy, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness based techniques, can also be used in the treatment of benzodiazepine addiction. By helping adolescents to identify and release their negative thought patterns while setting personal goals and learning new coping skills, these methods can help them to gain the motivation and skills they need to maintain sobriety. In addition, educational and family therapies can offer adolescents additional support for addressing their addiction.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
◦ Identify and address triggers for using the drug
◦ Acquire skills to cope with difficult emotions in a healthy manner
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy:
◦ Identify and release negative thought patterns
◦ Set personal goals and learn new coping skills
• Motivational Interviewing:
◦ Help adolescents gain motivation to maintain sobriety
• Mindfulness based techniques:
◦ Teach adolescents how to be present in the moment without judgement or criticism • Educational therapy: ◦ Provide additional support for addressing addiction • Family therapy: ◦ Offer further support for recovery
Long-Term Outcomes of Benzodiazepine Addiction
A successful treatment program is crucial in protecting teens from the long-term, debilitating effects of benzodiazepine addiction. The potential for relapse can be curbed by counseling, therapy, or a combination thereof, which can result in increased self-awareness, self-esteem, and improved coping skills. Studies suggest that individuals with a longer history of benzo use can benefit the most from a comprehensive treatment program that is tailored to their individual needs.
The long-term outcomes of benzodiazepine addiction can vary depending on the severity of the addiction, the length of time of use, and any co-occurring mental health issues that may exist. If left untreated, those who abuse benzodiazepines could suffer consequences such as physical and psychological dependence, increased psychological and physical health issues, and even death. It is important to recognize the potential side effects and to intervene as early as possible in order to minimize these risks.
Some of the long-term outcomes associated with benzodiazepine addiction include:
- Physical Dependence: Prolonged use of benzos can lead to physical dependence, which is characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and may include nausea, vomiting, headaches, tremors, and anxiety.
- Psychological Dependence: Psychological dependence occurs when individuals become psychologically dependent on a substance in order to feel normal or cope with life’s stressors. This type of dependency often leads to cravings for more drugs and an inability to function without them.
- Health Complications: Long-term use of benzodiazepines can have serious effects on one’s health. These complications could include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, depression, sleep disturbances such as insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping), weight gain or loss due to altered appetite regulation.
- Death: Benzodiazepine overdose can be fatal if not treated immediately. Symptoms may include shallow breathing and low blood pressure.
Strategies for Prevention of Benzodiazepine Abuse
An effective approach for preventing benzodiazepine abuse by adolescents is through intervention and education. Awareness of the potential harms of the drug can be raised through campaigns that educate teenagers on the risks associated with prescription drug abuse. Such programs can also provide information on the benefits of seeking help from a healthcare professional and discuss strategies for avoiding misuse, such as not sharing medication with others. Additionally, adjusting prescribing practices, such as providing smaller pill counts and fewer refills, can help minimize teens’ access to benzodiazepines and reduce the risk of addiction.
Schools can also play an essential role in preventing adolescent benzodiazepine abuse. School counselors, administrators, and teachers can help provide students with education on the dangers of prescription drug abuse and work to identify signs of potential abuse. At-risk teens can benefit from additional support and resources to help them cope with the life challenges that may lead to substance use. With proper education, recognition of warning signs, and support services, teens may be able to avoid the dangers of benzodiazepine addiction.
To prevent benzodiazepine abuse, the following strategies can be employed:
- Raise awareness of potential harms through education campaigns
- Adjust prescribing practices to minimize access to medication
- Provide school-based education on dangers of prescription drug abuse
- Identify warning signs of potential misuse and offer support services for at-risk teens
Benefits of Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction
Treatment for benzodiazepine addiction is critical for adolescents to be successful in their recovery. Addiction to these substances can have devastating effects on adolescents and their families, leading to serious medical, social, psychological, and emotional consequences. Treatment includes prescribed medications that help stabilize the emotions, educational sessions, educational materials and resources, and family and group therapy.
Successful treatment for benzodiazepine addiction should provide patients with the ability to recognize signs of relapse, cope with cravings, and effectively manage stress and emotions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is often helpful for adolescents, teaching them how to develop better patterns of behavior and thought processes, and how to recognize triggers that lead to addiction. Long-term follow-up and aftercare are also critical for reinforcing positive behaviors and providing the patient with tools necessary to maintain lifelong recovery from addiction.
Benefits of Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction:
• Provides patients with the ability to recognize signs of relapse, cope with cravings, and effectively manage stress and emotions.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps adolescents develop better patterns of behavior and thought processes, as well as recognizing triggers that lead to addiction.
• Prescribed medications help stabilize emotions.
• Educational sessions provide educational materials and resources.
• Family and group therapy provides support for recovery from addiction.
• Long-term follow-up reinforces positive behaviors necessary to maintain lifelong recovery from addiction.
Accessibility of Treatment Programs for Adolescents
Finding the right treatment option for benzodiazepine addiction in adolescents can be a difficult task. Treatment programs for benzodiazepine addiction in adolescents are not always easily accessible; specialized services can be hard to come by in some areas. It is important to recognize the difficulty of finding the right treatment centers and to help young members of the community access the services they need.
It is worthwhile to research treatment centers, as each may have their own specific approach to helping young people overcome their benzodiazepine addiction. Many centers offer unique treatments, such as individual and group therapy, 12-step support groups, and holistic interventions, which can all be beneficial for adolescents’ recovery. It is important to reach out to these programs, both online and offline, to make sure the best treatment options are available for adolescents suffering from benzodiazepine addiction.
• Research treatment centers to find the best option for adolescents suffering from benzodiazepine addiction.
• Look for programs that offer individual and group therapy, 12-step support groups, and holistic interventions.
• Reach out to both online and offline resources to ensure access to specialized services.
• Utilize community resources such as local health departments or hotlines if needed.
• Speak with counselors or trusted adults about options available in the area.
Ethical Considerations in Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment
When addressing benzodiazepine addiction in adolescents, it is critical to remember the ethical considerations surrounding treatment. Decisions must be made based not only on the adolescent’s situation, but also on the best interests of the individual. Parents and guardians must ensure that the treatment they are providing is based on sound ethical principles.
Care must also be taken to ensure that adolescents are treated as capable of making their own decisions and that any treatment provided is in line with their expressed wishes. Additionally, a thorough discussion should be had about the short-term and long-term implications of taking benzodiazepines, and any risks associated with treatment should be thoroughly explained. The adolescent’s privacy and confidentiality must also be assured, as well as an accurate assessment of their particular needs. Finally, it is strongly recommended that adolescents with benzodiazepine addiction receive care in the safest and most supportive setting possible.
Ethical Considerations in Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment:
• Ensuring that decisions are made based on the best interests of the individual.
• Treating adolescents as capable of making their own decisions.
• Explaining short-term and long-term implications of taking benzodiazepines.
• Assuring privacy and confidentiality.
• Making an accurate assessment of adolescent’s needs.
• Providing care in a safe and supportive setting.
What is Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Benzodiazepine addiction is a serious condition that is characterized by compulsive drug use and drug-seeking behavior. It is a type of substance abuse disorder that can cause significant physical, psychological, and social problems for individuals.
What Causes Benzodiazepine Abuse in Adolescents?
There are a number of factors that may contribute to benzodiazepine abuse in adolescents, including interpersonal relationships, mental health issues, peer pressure, and limited access to treatment.
What are the Potential Health Risks of Benzodiazepine Abuse?
Benzodiazepine abuse can lead to a number of health risks, including impaired motor skills, memory loss, increased risk of overdose, and addiction. Long-term abuse of benzodiazepines can also lead to permanent brain damage.
What are the Potential Warning Signs of Benzodiazepine Abuse?
Warning signs of benzodiazepine abuse may include changes in mood or behavior, increased anxiety, changes in sleep patterns, poor academic or work performance, changes in social circles, and money problems.
What are Effective Interventions for Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Effective interventions for benzodiazepine addiction include cognitive-behavioral therapy, medications, support groups, family therapy, and relapse prevention.
What are the Long-Term Outcomes of Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Long-term outcomes of benzodiazepine addiction can include physical and psychological problems, increased risk of other mental health issues, and even death due to overdose.
What are Strategies for Prevention of Benzodiazepine Abuse?
Strategies for prevention of benzodiazepine abuse include education about the risks of substance abuse, improved access to mental health services, and increased awareness of warning signs and potential interventions.
What are the Benefits of Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Treatment for benzodiazepine addiction can lead to improved physical and mental health, improved relationships with family and friends, and increased self-esteem.
How Accessible are Treatment Programs for Adolescents?
Treatment programs for adolescents are becoming increasingly accessible, with a wide range of options available from inpatient to outpatient programs.
What are the Ethical Considerations in Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment?
Ethical considerations in benzodiazepine addiction treatment include ensuring informed consent, protecting patient autonomy and privacy, maintaining confidentiality, providing evidence-based treatment, and ensuring access to adequate resources. | <urn:uuid:477618b6-6d20-426c-93a3-34fd9b887b39> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://siliconbeachtx.com/benzodiazepine-addiction-in-adolescents-emerging-trends-and-interventions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.924258 | 3,563 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Sentence structure in English with examples
As you may already know, in the IELTS Writing and speaking scoreboard, there is a criterion called “Grammatical Range and Accuracy“, which means the range you can use grammatical structures appropriately in your writing and speaking.
Today’s article will introduce one of the ways to get more GR points, through understanding and alternately using sentence structure in English such as simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences and complex – compound sentences with examples and exercises worksheet.
1. Composition of sentence structure in English language
In a common English sentence, there will be basic components such as:
1.1. Subject (abbreviated as S)
In an English sentence, the subject can be a noun, a noun phrase or a pronoun that refers to a person, thing or event. The subject can act as the subject performing the action (in the case of active sentences) or the subject affected by an action (for the passive sentence).
Example: My sister play badminton very well.
1.2. Verb (abbreviated as V)
In English grammar, verbs act to indicate the action or state of the subject. In general, sentence structures in English need verbs, the verbs here can be simple verbs or verb phrases.
Example: Mary eats 10 bread at once.
1.3. Object (abbreviated as O)
The object here can be a pronoun indicating a person, event or thing or a noun, a noun phrase. In English sentence structure, the object plays the role of being influenced or affected by the verb.
Example: I will buy a new book in this month.
1.4. Complement (abbreviated as C)
A common English structure also often has the appearance of a complement. The complement here can be a noun, an adjective and usually follows the object or the linking verb.
Complement has the role of modifying the object and subject in the sentence. However, in an English sentence there is not necessarily a predicate. Because this phrase will answer the question “What” or “Whom”.
Example: John bought a new car yesterday.
1.5. Adverbs (abbreviated as adv)
Adverbs are used to indicate time, frequency, place, and degree. Adverbs can be at the beginning or end of a sentence, before or after a verb to modify the verb. In some common English structures, adverbs can modify adjectives or other adverbs.
Example: Yesterday, she went to school late.
1.6. Adjective (abbreviated as adj)
Adjectives are used to describe the personality, characteristics, properties, etc. of the person, event, or thing in a sentence. Adjectives come after the verb tobe, after the linking verb or before the noun to modify that noun.
Example: Linda is a good student.
2. 9 common sentence structures commonly encountered in English
Below are the basic and common sentence structures in English.
2.1. S + V
- The boy sits.
- She talks.
2.2. S + V + O
- She likes sport.
- She pets the cat.
2.3. S + V + Adj
We often use this structure to describe.
- She looks beautiful.
- These songs sounds boring.
2.4. S + be + N
This is the structure commonly used for introductions.
- I’m a student.
- She is my sister.
2.5. S + V + adv
- She runs fast.
- The girl eats slowly.
2.6. S + Be + Adv
- Advertisement is everywhere.
- The cat is nowhere.
2.7. S + be + Adj
- I’m hungry.
- She is lovely.
2.8. V + O
This structure has been stripped of the subject, often used in imperative sentences.
- Open the door!
- Keep silents please!
2.9. V + O + Adv
- Speak slowly.
- Hold her hands tight.
3. Common sentence types in English
3.1. Simple sentence
You need to master the sentence structure in English, this will help you get more advantages
A simple sentence is a clause consisting of a subject and a verb.
|S + V|
For example: My brother likes playing video games.
A single sentence can have more than 1 subject and 1 verb.
|2 subjects: S + S + V||My brother and I like playing video games.|
|2 verbs: S + V + V||My brother likes playing games and hates reading.|
|2 subjects & 2 verbs: S + S + V + V||My brother and I like playing games and hate reading.|
3.2. Compound sentence
A compound sentence consists of more than one independent clause put together.
With this structure, the clauses are connected by Co-ordinating Conjuntions:
Some examples of compound sentence structure:
|SV and SV||My brothers likes playing video games, and he is very good at competitive games such as League of Legends.|
|SV but SV||My brother likes playing video games, but he doesn’t spend too much time on it.|
|SV but SV vs SV||My brother likes playing video games, but he doesn’t spend too much time on it, so he can still study properly.|
- If the two clauses are too short, we can omit the comma. For example: She talked and I listened.
- Avoid writing too many clauses because the sentences will become tangled, and you cannot use the same word more than once to connect sentences. For example: My brother likes playing video games, and he doesn’t spend too much time on it, and he can still study properly.
3.3. Complex sentences
Using complex sentences correctly helps you score points for Grammatical Range and Accuracy
“Complex” here is in the word “complex”, because of the variety and not-so-easy in use.
That’s also why if you can use them correctly it will contribute to scoring the “Grammatical Range and Accuracy”.
A complex sentence is a sentence with an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. We will not use FANBOYS to connect these clauses but must use subordinate conjunctions such as because , although , while …) or relative pronouns (which, who…).
Some examples of complex sentences:
|If||If you eat too much sweets, you may get a toothache.|
|Although||Although I like sweets a lot, I know it’s not good to eat it everyday.|
|As soon as||As soon as they arrived, we started preparing the BBQ stove.|
|Relative clause||I know his father, who works for my sister. I remember a time when I went on a road trip with my pal, Thach.|
You can solve the following exercise to test your knowledge in sentence structure.
Sentence structure in English with examples pdf
Wish you success! | <urn:uuid:1b5ec179-86f9-4b92-bd7c-ed4804c312ec> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://simplyielts.com/lessons/sentence-structure-in-english-with-examples/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.931637 | 1,530 | 4.3125 | 4 |
Singing can be of great help to your health and it can also be very pleasant. Discover how singing can bring benefits not only emotionally, but also affecting physical health.
If you ever have the desire to indulge in a song – in the shower, in the car, maybe at your neighbor’s infamous karaoke night – you must embrace it wholeheartedly. The ancient art of singing not only feels good, it can improve your well-being, reduce your feelings of pain, and even prolong your life .
Benefits of singing improves health
You don’t have to be a professional to reap the benefits of singing.
Using your voice to sing, rather than conducting a conversation, offers unique benefits. “When we sing instead of speaking, we have intonation, melody, and crescendo, which gives us a broader vocabulary to express ourselves,” says Suzanne Hanser, chair of the department of music therapy at Berklee College of Music. “Because the singing is visceral, he can’t help but make the change.”
Singing Reduces stress and pain
Studies have linked singing to a lower heart rate, lower blood pressure and reduced stress, according to Patricia Preston-Roberts, a certified music therapist in New York. She uses singing to help patients suffering from a variety of psychological and physiological conditions.
“Some people who have been traumatized often want to leave the physical body and using the voice helps ground their bodies,” says Preston-Roberts. “Singing also seems to block many of the nerve pathways that travel through pain.”
Singing for the elderly
Singing, especially in a choir, seems to benefit older people very well. As part of a three-year study examining how singing affects the health of people 55 and older, a choir of senior singers was formed at the Levine School of Music in Washington, DC.
The older people who participated in the choir (as well as the older people involved in two separate groups that involved arts, writing and painting) showed significant improvements in health compared to those in the control groups. Specifically, the artistic groups reported an average of:
- 30 fewer doctor visits
- Less vision problems
- Less incidence of depression
- Less need for medication
- Fewer falls and other injuries
Even lead researcher Dr. Gene D. Cohen, director of the George Washington University Center on Aging, Health and Humanities in Washington, DC, was surprised by how much of an effect senior participation had on his health.
“My surprise was not a factor in whether the intervention was going to work, but how great an effect it had in later life,” Cohen said. “The mean age of all the subjects was 80 years. This is higher than life expectancy, so realistically, if an effect were to be achieved, one would normally expect to see a smaller decrease in the intervention group compared to the control group. The fact that there was an improvement in many areas was the surprise factor. ”
Older people themselves also saw improvements in health, said Jeanne Kelly, director of the Levine School of Music in Arlington, who led the choir group. The older ones reported:
- Feeling better, both in everyday life and while singing.
- His voice quality was better every day.
- The tone of their voice when they spoke did not seem that of an old person
- It’s easier to breathe
- Better posture
Singing and Alzheimer’s disease
Older people who belong to a choir report easier breathing, better posture, and fewer visits to the doctor.
Taking the feel-good effects of singing is a step further. Chreanne Montgomery-Smith of the Alzheimer’s Society founded Singing for the Brain, a singing group for people with dementia, memory problems or Alzheimer’s disease.
“ We have an avid following in the group we have. The families believe that their lives have improved and somehow people have been kept that way longer. People who have constant memory problems are so weakened by this, but somehow the singing memory is preserved forever in the brain and that lifts people up when they can remember things, “says Montgomery-Smith.
The part of the brain that works with speech is different from the part that processes music , which is what allows people who can no longer converse to still enjoy music, said Clive Ballard, director of research for the Alzheimer’s Society. and Professor of Age Related Diseases at Kings College London.
” People seem to enjoy doing something in common with other people, and there is a great deal of evidence that being socially engaged is good for people with dementia, ” added Ballard.
Singing tutor Liz McNaughton, who is a freelance voice coach at ” Singing for the Brain, ” said the sessions have beneficial effects on participants’ cognitive powers, physical ability and emotions.
“Apparently, and there is a lot of research on this topic, that music has the ability to access words. It is so powerful that people who have lost the ability to speak can access the songs and words of the melody, ”he said.
Singing boosts the immune system and well-being
Several studies have found that singing also improves immunity and well-being. One of them, conducted at the University of Frankfurt in Germany, found that choir members had higher levels of immunoglobulin A and cortisol – markers of enhanced immunity – after they sang Mozart’s “Requiem.” Just listening to music does not have this effect.
In another study, members of a choir filled out questionnaires to report their physical and psychological reactions to singing. The showgirls reported:
- Improves lung capacity
- High energy
- Relieves asthma
- Improve posture
- Improve feelings of relaxation, mood, and confidence
Singing and the Arts have become a widely accepted tool of Health
The arts are being featured as a treatment tool in hospitals across the country. In fact, a survey conducted by the Health Arts Society (HSA), Americans for the Arts, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations found that 68 percent of the hospitals surveyed incorporate some form of health therapy. art in your treatment option. | <urn:uuid:011cb146-e298-4978-aa4f-9de099ef6ce1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://sleeeeeep.com/how-singing-improves-your-health/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.967229 | 1,290 | 2.953125 | 3 |
As the extremely cold weather continues to sweep its way across the United States, the internet can be prone to connectivity disruptions. For small businesses that conduct business online, the internet going down can have negative implications on business operations.
The infographic shows how 78 percent of office workers consider internet connectivity critical to day-to-day business. When the internet is slow or goes down, 60 percent of office workers report a drop in productivity.
What causes these debilitating internet outages? According to the infographic, Mother Nature plays its part in creating connectivity issues. Between 2000 and 2012, there was a significant increase in catastrophic weather and lengthy power outages.
Though extreme weather is not the only perpetrator of internet issues. In October 2016, hacked home devices shut down access nationwide to several websites including Twitter, PayPal and Netflix. Equipment failure can also cause outages, a problem that occurred in May 2016 when a power outage caused by equipment failures in downtown Seattle left hundreds unable to work.
Things to Do when the Internet Is Down
So, what can businesses do when the internet is down and there’s work to be done? According to the infographic, while an internet ‘snow day’ can be fun, making us more inclined to get outside in the fresh air or write a novel, if internet outages aren’t an option for small businesses, fiber could be the solution.
Small Business Deals
As fiber power comes from light instead of electricity, and fiber optic cables are glass or plastic instead of metal so they are more protected against the weather, damage and hackers, fiber is speedy, secure and good for business.
Given the high bandwidth availability of fiber and the fact fiber is speedier and more secure, the fiber trend is spreading across the U.S. According to the infographic, in 2016, 20.1 percent of global internet subscribers used fiber, a 16 percent increase from 2015.
Take a look at Now Sourcing’s How To Have The Best Internet Snow Day’ infographic below. | <urn:uuid:63cdc6b2-fd8f-45ab-b663-5db35245c969> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/01/things-to-do-when-the-internet-is-down.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.91954 | 410 | 2.625 | 3 |
In the world of international commerce, the Bill of Lading (BOL) is a document of paramount Navigating importance. It serves as a legal contract, a receipt, and a crucial source of information for various stakeholders in the supply chain. Bill of Lading data is the lifeblood of global trade, providing a detailed record of a shipment’s journey from origin to destination. In this article, we’ll delve into the significance of Bill of Lading data, its key components, and how it shapes the landscape of international trade.
Understanding the Bill of Lading
A Bill of Lading is a multi-purpose document issued by a carrier, typically a shipping line or freight forwarder, to the shipper of goods. It serves three primary functions:
Receipt of Goods: It acts as a receipt, confirming that the carrier has received the specified cargo in good condition and ready for shipment.
Contract of Carriage: It is a contract between the shipper and the carrier, outlining the terms and conditions of the shipment, including the agreed-upon freight rate, shipping route, and delivery details.
Document of Title: In some cases, the Bill of Lading serves as a negotiable instrument, allowing the holder (usually the consignee) to claim ownership of the goods and take possession of them upon presentation of the BOL.
Bill of Lading Data: Key Components
Bill of Lading data is a treasure trove of information, providing a comprehensive view of a shipment’s journey. Here are the key components typically found in a BOL:
Shipper and Consignee Information: This includes the names and addresses of the shipper (sender) and the consignee (receiver) of the goods.
Carrier Information: The BOL identifies the carrier responsible for transporting the goods, including their contact details and, in some cases, a unique carrier code.
Description of Goods: A detailed description of the goods being shipped, including their quantity, weight, dimensions, and any special handling instructions.
Origin and Destination: The BOL specifies the place of origin (where the goods were loaded onto the carrier) and the final destination (where they will be delivered).
Routing and Shipping Instructions: Information about the shipping route, any transshipment points, and specific delivery instructions.
Freight Charges: Details of the agreed-upon freight charges, including any additional fees or surcharges.
Container or Equipment Numbers: For containerized shipments, the BOL includes the numbers of the containers or equipment used to transport the goods.
Date and Signatures: The BOL is dated and signed by authorized representatives of the shipper, carrier, and consignee, confirming their agreement to the terms and conditions.
The Significance of Bill of Lading Data
Bill of Lading data plays a pivotal role in international trade for several reasons:
Legal Document: It serves as a legally binding contract between parties involved in the shipment, offering protection and recourse in case of disputes.
Proof of Ownership: When used as a negotiable instrument, the BOL provides proof of ownership and facilitates the transfer of goods’ title.
Logistics and Inventory Management: BOL data is essential for logistics planning, helping shippers and carriers track the movement and location of goods.
Customs and Regulatory Compliance: Customs authorities use BOL data for tariff classification, valuation, and regulatory compliance purposes.
Insurance Claims: In case of loss or damage to goods during transit, the BOL is a critical document for processing insurance claims.
Bill of Lading data is the linchpin of international trade, facilitating the smooth movement of goods across borders and ensuring accountability throughout the supply chain. Its rich and detailed information empowers businesses, regulators, and logistics providers to make informed decisions, manage risk, and uphold the integrity of global commerce. In an era of globalization, where goods traverse the globe with ease, the Bill of Lading remains an enduring symbol of trust and transparency in the world of trade. | <urn:uuid:042f04eb-9e4e-4615-b677-03ea8204a1e2> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://specsialtydesign.com/bill-of-lading-data-navigating-the-heart-of-global-trade/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.928448 | 828 | 3.328125 | 3 |
The term estimation is the process of preparing an estimate for the time or cost required to complete an assignment. A project estimate provides business stakeholders general idea about how much time, effort, and cost will be needed to complete the project work. This value is obtained when the input data is incomplete, uncertain, or unstable.
Estimated value is considered as a reference in terms of time or budget to ensure that the progress of the project remains within the specified margin. An approximate value is, however, usable as it is derived from the best information available. Estimation helps in preparing viable project budgets and planning for the smooth execution of the project. Often, an estimate is used to align the results to the success and estimated figures.
In PM communications, indicating the type of estimates, cost, duration, and estimates provides important background to the accuracy of an estimate. When estimating project cost and time, the accuracy of the estimated results depends on various factors. These factors mainly include the availability and accuracy of the information, as well as the forecasting techniques used. Available options and cost estimates may vary by project stage. As estimates go more accurate, they ensure the projects stay on schedule without any last-minute hurdles and extra costs.
An estimate is only as good as a reliable and firm input. The accuracy of estimated figures depends on the availability of factual and reliable information. Also, the technique used for estimation influences the estimated values. External factors, such as any sudden changes in market costs or deviations from the plan, will make the forecast less accurate. As a project manager, it is important to be able to accurately account for variances. Using common terminology for estimating accuracy helps project managers and stakeholders understand the quality and reliability of cost estimates.
Project managers working on projects to the PMI standard, or those aspiring to PMP certification, usually encounter two types of cost estimates:
Definitive Estimates and ROMs are two types of estimates defined in PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge. They differ in their levels of accuracy.
As stated in PMBOK®, 6th ed., ch. 7.2;
ROM (rough order of magnitude) with an accuracy between -25% and +75%, and
Definitive estimates with an accuracy of -5% to +10%.
The PMP certification course includes this topic as an important subject. The Definitive Estimate skill attracts the attention of aspiring PMs undergoing PMP training.
ROM estimates are prepared in the early stages of a project when no concrete information is available. On this fact, the accuracy of the estimation can vary over a wide range of -25/+75 than the ideal estimation. ROM is used in the initial stages of project planning or even before the project is implemented. This is a rough estimate, termed a “ballpark figure,” used to represent a broad target range of cost and attempts to put together a business case. This estimate is derived by management to assist in the baseline evaluation of the project. Such estimates are considered for business approval formalities, and then one proceeds to more detailed scoping.
A definitive estimate is made when there are accurate estimates at the work package or activity level. For large and complex projects, it can be difficult to determine a firm estimate. Certain estimates are likely to deviate from reality because most factors are unpredictable and subject to certain assumptions. While PMs work on project cost estimates using a fixed estimate, a great deal of research must be done to get as few variances as possible. PMBOK also recommends practicing "rolling wave planning" for PMs to cope with change by frequently updating forecasts with greater uncertainty. With a wide range of possible outcomes, estimates of ROM tend to be inaccurate. PMs prefer to move toward more accurate estimates, ideally, fixed estimates, during a project.
Other types of forecasts, budgets, and preliminary estimates are not explicitly mentioned in the PMBOK. However, they are useful in projects when the accuracy of the estimate is somewhere between the ROM and the definitive estimate.
PMs who achieve a high level of accuracy in estimation in the project management domain are appraised more. The accuracy of an estimate can generally be achieved only when the project has been planned in detail, and relevant work information is available and reliable. Organizations use definitive estimates to baseline projects, strategically manage project phases, and report performance at each phase. For example: Before analyzing the project requirements in detail, let's generate a ROM estimate of $2M. However, after the WBS (work break structure) is developed and the information can be gathered into task-specific cost estimates for each work package, the fixed estimate will cost $1.5M. In short, definitive estimates are more accurate than approximate ones.
The process of creating a definitive estimate is naturally more detailed than a ROM estimate. In the case of a definitive estimate, the PM refers to more detailed data and confirms realistic figures related to costs and work duration. Generally, estimate claims are supported by contract documents, the scope of work is provided in the project order, and appropriate WBS is defined in the project plan. In WBS, the direct costs associated with a project, such as raw materials, installation charges, etc., are assigned and worked out based on their attributes. Also, project managers need to generate accurate estimates from fully designed plans with various scenarios that can be predicted. The PM must also consider contingency in case of market conditions change, keeping margins within limits.
A definitive estimate in project management should include a scope of work (SOW) and a list of costs that will go into the project. Organizations will not accept wide variations in the accuracy of estimates and final costs. Projected results determine the potential of the PM. Therefore, project managers need to be knowledgeable in definitive estimate techniques and manage projects with close accuracy in estimates.
A Project Management Professional (PMP) or Project Management Professional certification (PMP Certification) qualifies you to manage estimates well within an acceptable level. You will need to prepare yourself for a reputable PMP training program to take the certification exam. The most effective and recommended option to learn better is to enrol in an official PMP training program.
|PMP® Certification||09 Dec-31 Dec 2023,|
|United States||View Details|
|PMP® Certification||09 Dec-31 Dec 2023,|
|New York||View Details|
|PMP® Certification||16 Dec-07 Jan 2024,|
|PMP® Certification||18 Dec-05 Jan 2024,|
>4.5 ratings in Google | <urn:uuid:cf984dfa-0ddd-4ada-86db-647d84a1d471> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://staragile.com/blog/definitive-estimate | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.913284 | 1,335 | 3.265625 | 3 |
Waste control is a shared obligation; more than one stakeholder is worried — residents, era providers, and the government. The government has been doing its bit through municipal groups, and the era vendors have provided you with diverse new strategies that can lead us towards correct intervention measures. It is the most vital stakeholder — the citizens — who pull away from this cumulative manner. There is a want to elevate attention about the diverse steps that can be taken at the waste supply level that might assist in decreasing the efforts of municipal corporations and assist in right managing the waste.
Waste Control has installed itself as an industry because of the thrust on environmental concerns and green resolve. These jobs ordinarily address managing risky and non-hazardous wastes, improving the law, pointers, guidelines, and requirements for better disposal of wastes, and planning and managing workout routines that assist lessen the environmental effect of waste. With the growing emphasis on waste discount, environmental safety, and sustainability inside the private and public areas, the arena needs extra hands to hold forward the mandate.
Also, the Clean India initiative calls for extra participation from individuals. Natively, those elements have resulted in new entrepreneurial opportunities except the introduction of new process profiles. Every day, new possibilities are knocking on the doors of ability candidates in us of a. It is one of these completely untapped careers that clearly are rewarding. Ironically, the arena is unaffected using recession and is right here to stay with industrialization and urbanization.
The impediment, though, is the dearth of guides. Graduate and publish graduate diploma programs in conjunction with certain degree programs need to be evolved to cater to the sector’s desires. Courses on Waste Legislation, Landfill Management, and Specialist Waste will aid remarkably in creating a profession inside the discipline. This newly acknowledged area requires improvement of different disciplines as waste calls for distinctive remedy mechanisms in exceptional areas based on the location’s weather conditions. A joint enterprise-academia initiative can help in fixing this gargantuan task. | <urn:uuid:069b0b82-b7b1-436f-b00a-3325d6423498> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://studysive.com/time-to-look-past-the-unload/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.923238 | 406 | 2.5625 | 3 |
In the 21st century we have largely lost touch with the avant-garde. In an age of rapid technological change, where the new is invariably seen as good, the shocks and surprises, the eclecticism and flattening out of postmodernism have become the new orthodoxy. No one is upset by a pickled shark or, for that matter, a pickled anything else being art. In-your-face and gritty is what we exare anymore, nothing much to lose, in a society where what is ‘shocking’ is mostly an ersatz construct quickly appropriated by the economic mainstream.
But at the beginning of the 20th century things were different. Establishment ideas held sway and there was plenty to be radical about. Epic socio-political changes were afoot. The growth of industrialism, photography, cinema and mass media, as well as the gradual emancipation of women, along with the decimation that was raging throughout Europe resulting in two World Wars, formed a potent mix.
In 1912 Anna Therese Johanne Höch, who had been born in 1889 in Gotha, Germany, left her comfortable upper-middle class home for the cultural melting pot of Berlin. There she attended the craft-orientated School of Applied Arts, an education not uncommon for young women at the time. Here her cultural interests and an astute eye saw her turn traditional craft into something quite new. During the turbulent years of the First World War she met poets and painters, publishers and musicians, including that guru of junk art, Kurt Schwitters, just as Dadaism was hitting town. In August 1920, her radical interests led her to take part in the First International Dada Fair.
Employed as a pattern designer, creating illustrations, shapes and designs for Ullstein Verlag and its magazines, which were distributed to a new mass audience of young women interested not only in fashion but also in modern life styles, she was emphatic that the purpose of art was not to ‘decorate’ but to document the shifting values of a generation. Her early works show an inclination for composition, colour and form. And she had a penchant for embroidery. But it was embroidery as a feminist crie de coeur: “…you,…modern women, who feel that your spirit is in your work, who are determined to lay claim to your rights (economic and moral)…at least y-o-u should know that your embroidery work is a documentation of your era”
This exhibition at the Whitechapel is the first major show to showcase her work in Britain and brings together over 100 collages, photomontages, watercolours, and woodcuts from the 1920s to 1970s. Her role in the fashion industry influenced the highly original photomontages of her Dadaist period. In Hochfinanz (High Finance) 1923 or Der Vater (The Father) 1920, she creates uncanny images full of disquieting wit and biting satire that deconstruct not only the relationship between high finance and the military but also traditional sexual and gender roles. It’s not surprising looking at her work that this is the period that saw the rise of Freud. For many of Hoch’s images are like the psyche laid shockingly bare.
During the late 1920s she travelled round Europe and became friends with the likes of Piet Mondrian. She also began a relationship with the avant-garde female poet, Til Brugman, with whom she lived for ten years. Perhaps her unconventional Sapphic leanings allowed her to think outside the conventional box and explore the concept of the ‘New Woman’ within Weimer Germany, presenting debates not only about gender but also ethnic identity in a series of potent collages. Her photomontages from 1920s and early 30s Aus einem ethnographischen Museum (From an Ethnographic Museum) are unconventional and adventurous but, from a postcolonial standpoint, somewhat problematic. Her juxtapositions of European female bodies melded with appropriated African masks and other ethnographic objects appear, to modern sensibilities, rather ambiguous if not dubious. Her relationship to the ‘primitive other’ is far from clear. To give her the benefit of the doubt, perhaps she was groping towards some understanding of different cultures but, while original and visually exciting, her images often seem to symbolise something essentialist and chthonic, the exotic seen through middle-class western (and racist?) eyes. Her image Bäuerliches Brautpaar (Peasant Couple) 1931that includes the head of a black man in a homburg placed, without a body, on a pair of long leather boots beside the face of what is, possibly, a monkey in a blonde wig balanced on a child’s pair of socks and shoes, is really quite disquieting.
That Höch stayed in Germany (albeit working away in the quiet suburbs of Berlin) under the Third Reich raises complex questions about her relationship to the Nazis. That her work was discredited as degenerate does not necessarily exonerate her. So too were the paintings of that wonderful artist, Nolde. And he was, at one time, an active supporter of the Nazis. There is a temptation to sanitise Höch’s work in the light of modern feminism, to read the fractured images through postmodern eyes and talk of irony and fragmentation. But we can’t necessarily assume that to be the case. She was certainly an exciting artist but not all artists purport liberal ideals – look at Ezra Pound or Wyndham Lewis, to name but two.
Hannah Höch carried on working prolifically for over thirty years after the Second World War. She continued to make challenging and varied collages which became noticeably more abstract as she returned to the visual patterning of her early career. Whilst she pushed the boundaries of the medium of collage and her work was certainly more than just pleasing abstractions, it is the darkly clever, sometimes funny, often highly disturbing earlier work that packs a punch. She touches on so many taboos: racism, miscegenation, transgender issues.
Höch took the new art of photomontage and created images that were biting, cruel, pertinent and witty. It’s as if she lifted the lid on a number of repressed longings and desires. Works like Unvollendt (Antique Frieze) 1930, with their dislocate body parts, echo the dark erotica of Hans Bellmer. Elsewhere woman’s bodies transmogrify into skyscrapers and strange dolls. She liked tribal objects and black bodies for their strangeness and difference. To us it may seem politically incorrect but her fascination held a certain honesty. She was interested in what lay below polite surfaces. “The abject,” Julia Kristeva wrote in Powers of Horror: An Essay on Abjection, “shatters the wall of repression and its judgements. It takes the ego back to its source on the abominable limits from which, in order to be, the ego has broken away….”
Rohrfeder Collage (Reed Pen Collage) 1922. Collage 28.5x22cm. Landesbank Berlin AG
Für ein Fest gemacht (Made for a Party) 1936. Collage. 36×19.8 cm. Collection of IFA, Stuttgart
Ohne Titel (Aus einem ehtnographicschen Museum) (Untitled[From an Ethnographic Museum]) 48.3×32.1cm. Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg. Photo courtesy of Maria Thrun
Staatshäupter (Heads of State). Collage. Photomontage 16.2×22.3cm. Collection of IFA, Stuttgart | <urn:uuid:35746de6-26d9-40f8-8ac2-1304208bedc5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://suehubbard.com/hannah-hoch/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.952691 | 1,637 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Online seminar followed by Q&A – all welcome. NB – all times given in UK time.
Global momentum is growing for reforestation. Restoring tree cover across the globe has the potential to capture substantial carbon, while offering many important benefits such as clean air, clean water, improved livelihoods, and habitat for biodiversity. However, the mitigation potential of reforestation, as well as costs and co-benefits, will vary depending on location and type of reforestation practice. This talk will describe our efforts to resolve uncertainty around reforestation as a climate solution by examining how cost and benefits vary across the globe and by the approach taken to restore trees to the landscape.
Susan Cook-Patton is a Senior Forest Restoration Scientist on the Natural Climate Solutions Science Team at The Nature Conservancy. She works to quantify the climate mitigation potential of reforestation and other natural climate solutions and infuse the best-available science into policy decisions. To do this, she collaborates with scientists across the globe, and from academic, government, and other non-governmental organizations.
She has over a decade of experience leading scientific investigations into how changes in biodiversity and climate are impacting forest, grassland, and urban ecosystems. Before joining the Nature Conservancy in 2016, she was a policy fellow at the US Forest Service and a research fellow at the Smithsonian Institution. Susan holds a PhD in Community Ecology from Cornell University, and bachelor degrees in Biology, Psychology and English from Indiana University.
Her publications cover topics ranging broadly from invasive species to prehistoric Native American middens to climate change impacts on mangrove forests. Her work can be found in leading journals, such as Nature, Nature Climate Change, Science Advances, and Global Change Biology. As an avid proponent of effective science communication, she has shared much of her research with the public via videos for grade school classrooms, public lectures, and major news outlets such as National Public Radio, the BBC and The Guardian. | <urn:uuid:7b68e048-8f0d-41c0-ad4a-c4be86d45877> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/85eea42e-46ce-4fa6-bb04-18470bf1444f/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.93912 | 393 | 2.78125 | 3 |
November 21, 2014
by Lorraine Chow
37 WAYS TO SHRINK YOUR USE OF PLASTIC
THIS OIL-BASED, LANDFILL-CLOGGING MENACE LURKS IN LOTS OF SURPRISING PLACES.
Plastic has an undoubtedly convenient but worrying presence in our lives. Everyday items such as wrappers, bottles and even chewing gum (yes, it’s made of plastic!) are thrown away without much thought. In fact, Americans discard 14.4 million tons of plastic a year, and only 13 percent of it is recycled.
This leads to a devastating problem, as the chemicals in plastics have been known to have adverse effects on our bodies as well as the planet. It’s gotten so bad that in the Pacific Ocean a plastic island has formed that’s twice the size of Texas — leaching chemicals, harming marine life and destroying ecosystems. However, you can help curb the impact of this environmentally hazardous material by implementing the following practices:
1. Give up buying beverages that come in plastic bottles. About 2.4 million tons of this plastic — known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) — is discarded annually, with 75 percent going straight to the landfill. Invest in a stainless- steel bottle or opt for soda or other beverages that come in glass bottles or paper cartons.
2. Stop using disposable cups. From Styrofoam to Solo cups to plastic-lined paper cups, these beverage holders have a lifespan of about half an hour. This is why you should make it a habit of bringing your thermos or tumbler every time you hit the coffee shop or a fast food restaurant.
3. And since you’re now going to use your own beverage container, you can also ditch those single-use straws, stirrers and lids.
4. If the coffee shop uses plastic cups or cutlery but doesn’t have a recycling bin, take these items home with you and recycle them yourself.
5. Repurpose the plastic that you already have. Cups and yogurt tubs make great planters, and bags can be woven into baskets or mats. The tops of water bottles can be sliced off to make awesome seals for bags of food.
6. Skip the freezer section. While TV dinners may be convenient, they tend to come wrapped in excessive packaging.
7. Choose loose fruits and vegetables instead of bagged produce, such as carrots, apples and lemons. By doing so you avoid using plastic and it allows you to buy only what you need, so there’s less food that could spoil and go to waste. Even better? You might save money, too.
8. Fill up on grains, cereals, nuts and other kitchen staples at the bulk bin. Be sure to bring your own bags or containers from home when purchasing these items.
9. Shop local. Frequent farmers’ markets for fresh produce and eggs, bakeries for bread and butchers for meats since they often use less packaging to wrap items.
10. Later on, return all your plastics — baskets, containers and jars — to the farmers’ market vendors for reuse. (They’re bound to appreciate your action.)
11. You probably know this already, but it bears repeating: Say no to plastic bags. Why is it so important to take your reusable tote (preferably made of canvas, cotton or hemp, not vinyl or polyester) each time you head to the supermarket? It takes 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture the 102 billion plastic bags that Americans use annually,according to the United Nations. So keep several reusables in your car or handbag, and if you must use a plastic bag, remember to recycle it later on. It’s easy to do, since many grocery stores have their own bag-collection bins.
12. Try growing your own food at home. Salad vegetables and herbs are really easy to grow in the garden, a hanging basket or on a windowsill. By doing so, you avoid buying produce that comes in plastic packaging.
13. Buy detergent that comes in cardboard boxes instead of plastic containers. Better yet, pop in a few soap nuts (a magical dried berry that works as an all-natural cleaner). Or if you like to DIY, try this homemade three-ingredient laundry detergent.
14. Clean your home with all-natural ingredients that you might find in your kitchen — baking soda, lemons, vinegar — rather than buying bottles of toilet cleaner and bleach.
15. At the dry cleaners, bring your own garment bag for pickups or ask for your clothes to be returned free of plastic wrap.
16. Line your garbage bins with paper bags or biodegradable trash bags instead of buying plastic trash bags. Earn extra eco-points by starting a compost heap for your organic waste.
17. For condiments such as ketchup, mustard and salad dressing, choose varieties that come in glass jars instead of squeeze bottles.
18. Swap your synthetic sponge for a cotton washcloth or try doing your dishes with one of the cellulose varieties, which are made of wood fiber.
19. For parties or at work, avoid using disposable cups and plastic utensils. Use real silverware and cups and wash them later or purchase compostable ones.
20. Stick to wines that have cork stoppers instead of synthetic stoppers, since the natural material is completely biodegradable.
21. Place a lid or a plate on top of leftovers instead of reaching for plastic wrap. Mason jars or ceramic containers are also a great alternative to Tupperware and Ziploc baggies.
22. Wrap food in aluminum foil or try beeswax-coated food wraps that can be used repeatedly.
23. Reuse the bags that hold baked goods like bread for cleaning up after your dog.
24. Swear off single-use coffee pods. We know they are convenient, but if you care about the planet, an old-fashioned coffee machine with a reusable filter works just as well.
25. Wear natural, organic textiles instead of synthetic ones such as nylon, acrylic or polyester. Did you know that in an average wash, 1,900 fibers come off a single synthetic article of clothing and that this is one of the most common types of plastic pollution in our oceans?
26. Try to use soaps, lotions and shampoos that come in solid bars instead of liquid form in a bottle.
27. Avoid cosmetic products with microbeads (which might be included in the ingredients list as polyethylene or polypropylene). These tiny plastic beads are causing big environmental problems in our Great Lakes.
28. For hair care, skin care and other beauty products, find varieties that come in glass or metal containers. Believe it or not, but there are even plastic-free options for products such as mascara and deodorant, which seem to only come in plastic tubes.
29. Use paper tape instead of Scotch tape when mailing large items.
30. Buy cloth diapers instead of disposable ones. They might be messier, but they create much less waste compared with disposables, which don’t decompose and amount to a stunning 4 million tons of landfill waste per year.
31. Unload old electronics in a responsible manner. A large portion of plastic waste comes from discarded televisions, fax machines, keyboards, cell phones and other tech gear. According to the EPA, 37 million tons of electronic waste was tossed in 2009 (an amount that’s surely increased since then). You don’t need the latest smartphone if the one you have works perfectly well. And if your device is acting a little wonky, try repairing it. Take electronics that are no longer functioning to e-waste facilities that can dispose of them.
32. For difficult-to-recycle plastics (toothbrushes, cigarette butts, food wraps, beauty products, etc.) that are usually landfill-bound, check out TerraCycle. You’ll be surprised what items this innovative company repurposes.
33. Use matches or invest in refillable metal lighters such as Zippo instead of disposable ones that aren’t recyclable.
34. Shave with razors that have replaceable blades, not whole disposable ones. Or consider using a safety razor that you can simply sharpen.
35. Be mindful of the material used in toys. Plastic varieties might contain BPAs, phthalates and other harmful chemicals that could harm young children and pets. For kids, choose wood or cloth-based toys, and for pets, buy catnip for cats and squeaky stuffed animals or large ropes for dogs.
36. Burn candles (soy or beeswax, not paraffin) or incense, instead of buying air fresheners in plastic holders.
37. Lastly, learn how to correctly recycle plastic. Get familiar with the triangle-shaped recycling symbol on the bottom of most bottles and containers. As we previously reported, most recycling centers will collect Nos. 1, 2 and 5 plastics such as water bottles and Tupperware. Plastics that are Nos. 3, 4 and 6, like disposable cups and vinyl shower curtains, are moderately recyclable. This leaves plastic No. 7, which is nearly impossible to recycle because it’s made of a combination of all types of plastic (which means you should avoid using it if possible). | <urn:uuid:c8fdfddb-cc35-4fc7-a0aa-ac59cc6acff4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://tcyhhd.com/2019/09/29/37-ideas-to-reduce-your-reliance-on-plastic/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.920935 | 1,973 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Mental health or condition deals with problems like individual behavior, way of thinking, and mindset. It states that people managing their own thoughts results in several mental disorders or mental sickness.
we are able to cure a disease by provision medicines however psychological state takes our willpower, confidence, and a lot of effort from individuals to get out of that mental disorder. It’s all considerations but we think, feel, and behave. folks usually use the term “mental health” to mean the absence of a mental disorder.
causes of mental health issues.
There are several factors that contribute to the event of those mental disorders.
Having a cistron related to a mental state disorder doesn’t guarantee that a condition can develop. Likewise, individuals while not connected to genes or a case history of mental disease will still have mental health issues.
Chronic stress and mental health conditions adore depression, stress and anxiety might develop because of underlying physical health problems, such as cancer, diabetes, and chronic pain
symptoms of mental illness.
There is no taking a look at a mental state or visualizing whether or not that person is tormented by mental illness. individuals ought to for these early signs of mental illness. withdraw from friends, family, and colleagues and, avoid activities they might usually enjoy.
sleep or uptake an excessive amount of or too little, feeling hopeless, having systematically low energy, mistreatment mood-altering substances, together with alcohol and nicotine, additional oftentimes, displaying negative emotions, being confused, and being unable to complete daily tasks.
equivalent to about to work or cookery a meal, having persistent, thoughts or recollections that appear regularly, thinking of inflicting physical hurt to themselves or others, hearing voices, and experiencing delusions.
Types of mental illness.
Mental illness has to be specified according to the mental disorders and they are sorted along because of the options they need in common. Some forms of psychopathy are given below:
|Anxiety Disorder||general anxiety disorder||panic disorder||phobias||OCD||PTSD|
|mood disorder||major depression||bipolar disorder||Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)|
anxiety disorders are the foremost common mental illness. individuals with these conditions have severe concern or ANxiety involving bound objects or situations. the majority with a folie try and avoid exposure to no matter triggers their anxiety.
Given below are some samples of anxiety disorders.
Generalized mental disorder: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves excessive worry or worry that disrupts everyday living.
They will experience excessive anxiety once encounter everyday things that don’t cause a right away danger, similar as chores or appointments. someone with GAD may typically feel anxiety with no trigger at all.
Panic disorder: individuals with an anxiety disorder expertise regular panic attacks involving sudden, overwhelming terror or a way of at hand disaster and death.
Phobias: Phobias are deeply personal, associated doctors don’t understand each type. There can be thousands of phobias, and what could seem uncommon to 1 person can be a severe drawback that dominates everyday life for another.
straightforward phobias: These might involve a disproportionate worry about specific objects, scenarios, or animals.
Social phobia: typically referred to as social anxiety, this can be a fear of being subject to the judgment of others. folks with a phobia often prohibit their exposure to social environments.
Agoraphobia: This term refers to a fear of things wherever obtaining away may be difficult, resembling being in an elevator or a moving train. many folks construe this phobic disorder because of the worry of being outside.
OCD: folks with neurotic disorder (OCD) have obsessions and compulsions. In different words, they expertise constant, disagreeable thoughts and a strong urge to perform repetitive acts, akin to handwashing.
PTSD(posttraumatic stress disorder): PTSD(posttraumatic stress disorder)will occur when someone experiences or witnesses an intensely stressful or traumatic event. throughout this kind of event, the person thinks that their life or other people’s lives are in danger.
They’ll feel afraid or that they need no management over what’s happening. These sensations of trauma and concern may then contribute to PTSD.
People with these conditions have vital mood changes, typically involving either mania, an amount of high energy and joy, or depression. samples of mood disorders include:
Major depression: a private with major depression experiences a continuing low mood and loses interest in activities and events that they antecedently enjoyed (anhedonia). they’ll feel prolonged periods of disappointment or extreme sadness.
Bipolar disorder: an individual with manic-depressive psychosis experiences uncommon changesTrusted supply in their mood, energy levels, levels of activity, and talent to continue with daily life. Periods of high mood are referred to as wild phases, whereas depressive phases induce low mood. browse additional about the various varieties of bipolar here.
seasonal mental disturbance (SAD): Reduced daylight throughout the fall, winter, and early spring months triggers this kind of major depression Trusted Source. it’s commonest in countries aloof from the equator.
Ways to overcome mental illness.
There are numerous remedies for mental illness its works on one and would not work on another. a few techniques or remedies got here out as an exceptional aggregate to remedy mental illness however it relies upon people and their manner of thinking.
Therapists or Psychiatrists: The affected person desires to work with a health practitioner to recognize the exceptional treatment in step with their desires and requirement to conquer mental illness. There are many ways to conquer mental illness given below are some examples:
this sort of treatment takes a psychological approach to treating mental disease. psychological feature activity therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and dialectical behavior modification are doctors, Psychiatrists.
It will facilitate individuals to perceive the basis of their mental illness and begin to figure out additional healthful thought patterns that support everyday living and scale back the danger of isolation and self-harm.
Meditation: Some people take prescribed medications and admire antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytic drugs. though these cannot cure mental disorders, some medications can improve symptoms and help an individual resume social interaction and a routine while engaged in their mental state.
a number of these medications boost the body’s absorption of feel-good chemicals, admire serotonin, from the brain. it cleans patients’ souls, and minds and will offer peace.
Self-love: An individual addressing mental health difficulties may have to alter their manner to facilitate wellness. Such changes can embrace reducing alcohol intake, sleeping more, and ingestion a balanced, nutritive diet. individuals may need to require time removed from work or resolve problems with personal relationships that will be inflicting injury to their mental health.
individuals with conditions that admire anxiety or affective disorder might enjoy relaxation techniques, that embrace deep breathing, and meditation. self-love is necessary for each individual its a rule to love yourself self before you’re keen on different or expect them to love you | <urn:uuid:e3bce023-2abf-4544-9a0b-7efdb3474f38> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://techkook.com/why-psychological-issues-are-common-in-todays-life/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.919443 | 1,470 | 3.59375 | 4 |
36 Seamless pipes are the essential conduits through which materials flow to power our modern world. Behind their seamless exteriors lies a world of complex decisions. Material selection is one of the most critical decisions in the seamless pipe manufacturing process. The choice of material profoundly impacts seamless pipes’ performance, durability, and suitability for diverse applications. In this article, we delve into the art of material selection in seamless pipe manufacturing, exploring the factors influencing this choice and its impact on industries worldwide. The role of material selection: Material selection is the primary decision determining seamless pipes’ success and longevity. Different industries require pipes to handle varying conditions. For example, the pipes should handle high pressure, extreme temperatures, corrosive environments, etc. The materials engineers choose must withstand these conditions and maintain the pipes’ structural integrity over time. The end goal is to ensure safety, efficiency, and optimal performance. Factors Influencing Material Selection: Application requirements: Line pipe suppliers must understand the specific needs of the intended application. Factors like temperature range, pressure levels, fluid compatibility, and potential exposure to corrosive agents directly influence material selection. For instance, pipes you see in the chemical industry might require corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel. Mechanical properties: Different industries demand varying mechanical properties from their pipes. Strength, flexibility, toughness, and elasticity are crucial properties to consider. For instance, a pipe in the petroleum sector needs high strength to withstand the pressure and stress it will encounter. Corrosion resistance: Corrosion is a silent yet powerful enemy of pipes. The environment the pipe will operate determines the level of corrosion resistance it needs. Certain materials like alloyed steels, nickel alloys, stainless steel, and titanium exhibit excellent corrosion resistance. Thus, they make the hot-rolled seamless pipes suitable for applications prone to chemical exposure. Temperature extremes: Industries operating in extreme temperatures, such as the energy sector, require materials capable of maintaining structural integrity under these conditions. Engineers commonly choose heat-resistant alloys like Inconel and Hastelloy for elevated-temperature applications. Fluid compatibility: The nature of the fluid passing through the pipe influences the type of material manufacturers select. Some fluids are highly reactive and can degrade certain materials over time. Hence, pipe suppliers must consider compatibility to prevent the fluid’s and pipe’s degradation or contamination. Cost references: While performance is crucial, cost also affects material selection. Line pipe suppliers generally try and choose cost-efficient materials. Some industries opt for seamless pipes because they strike a balance between performance and cost-effectiveness. At the same time, they do not compromise the overall functionality. Environmental impact: In an era of growing environmental concerns, industries are increasingly mindful of their ecological footprint. To cater to their needs, engineers choose materials that they can recycle. In addition, these pipes have a lower environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. Common materials used in seamless pipe manufacturing: Stainless steel is the most common material manufacturers choose for seamless piping solutions. From being corrosion-resistant to offering a superior aesthetic finish, stainless steel is ideal for almost all industry uses. Manufacturers generally choose stainless steel for hot-rolled seamless pipes. Besides, stainless steel is suitable for applications demanding hygiene and durability. Stainless steel pipes are ideal for food processing, medical, and pharmaceutical industries. Carbon steel offers excellent strength and cost-effectiveness. It is popular in the construction, oil and gas, and transportation industries. Nickel alloys excel in harsh environments because of their exceptional corrosion resistance. Industries like petrochemicals and power generation rely on their robustness. These sectors need pipes that can endure extreme temperatures and aggressive chemicals. Titanium is lightweight and offers a high strength-to-weight ratio. The seamless pipe manufacturing process uses titanium because of its low weight and corrosion resistance. These are ideal for the aerospace industry and medical devices. Different materials for different industries: Material selection in the seamless pipe manufacturing process is an intricate process. It shapes different industries’ efficiency, safety, and performance worldwide. Factors like application requirements, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and environmental impact guide the choice of materials. As industries evolve, their demand for specialized pipe solutions will increase. Hence, how manufacturers select materials will remain a pillar in ensuring the seamless flow of resources, energy, and innovation. 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Uneeb Khan Uneeb Khan CEO at blogili.com. Have 4 years of experience in the websites field. Uneeb Khan is the premier and most trustworthy informer for technology, telecom, business, auto news, games review in World. previous post Purekonect: The Ultimate Social Media Platform for Networking next post Unlock Your Creativity with Domestika: The Ultimate Guide to Discount Codes Related Posts How SEO Can Help to Grow Your Local... November 29, 2023 The Benefits in Customization and Scalability for Time... November 28, 2023 The Synergy Between Government and Stakeholders in Public... 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Wellbutrin is a popular antidepressant that belongs to the aminoketone class of drugs. It is often prescribed to treat major depressive disorders and seasonal affective disorder. However, it is also used to support smoking cessation, binge eating, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The drug works by increasing levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine and norepinephrine, which are associated with mood regulation, attention, and motivation. Unlike other antidepressants, Wellbutrin is not classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), making it a unique medication in the field of mental health. Although it is generally well-tolerated, there are some side effects and risks associated with its use, which should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Overall, Wellbutrin is a valuable tool in the treatment of mental health disorders and can be a game changer for individuals who may not respond well to other medications.
Targeted Neurotransmitters: Wellbutrin, also called bupropion, is a medication used to treat depression, seasonal affective disorder, and smoking cessation. Unlike other antidepressants, it primarily targets two neurotransmitters: dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine is responsible for feelings of pleasure and motivation, while norepinephrine is involved in the body's "fight or flight" response. By increasing levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain, Wellbutrin helps regulate mood and reduce symptoms of depression. Additionally, it can improve executive function and cognitive performance, making it a popular medication for patients with ADHD. Although the exact mechanism of action is not completely understood, its effect on dopamine and norepinephrine sets it apart from other antidepressants that target serotonin.
Mechanism of Action
Mechanism of Action: Wellbutrin works by modulating the levels of different neurotransmitters in the brain. It primarily affects the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine by blocking their reuptake into neurons. By doing so, it increases the availability of these neurotransmitters in the brain, which plays a crucial role in regulating mood and behavior. Additionally, Wellbutrin prevents the breakdown of dopamine, further increasing its overall concentrations in the brain. This mechanism of action makes Wellbutrin unique from other antidepressants that primarily target serotonin levels. By increasing dopamine and norepinephrine, Wellbutrin can improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, it may also lead to unwanted side effects, such as insomnia, agitation, and seizures.
Side Effects and Risks
Side Effects and Risks: Wellbutrin, like any other medication, can cause some side effects. The most common side effects include dry mouth, insomnia, nausea, headache, constipation, and sweating. However, these side effects are usually mild and go away once the body adjusts to the medication. Some people may experience more serious side effects, such as seizures, suicidal thoughts, allergic reactions, and high blood pressure. These side effects are rare but can be severe and life-threatening. Therefore, it is important to see a doctor if any of these side effects occur. Moreover, before taking Wellbutrin, it is essential to be aware of the risks associated with the medication. For example, some people may have a seizure disorder or eating disorder, which can be aggravated by Wellbutrin. Additionally, Wellbutrin interacts with some medications, such as MAOIs and SSRIs, and can cause harmful side effects. Therefore, it is important to discuss the risks and benefits of taking Wellbutrin with a doctor before starting the medication.
Effectiveness and Uses
Introduction to Wellbutrin: Wellbutrin, also known by its generic name bupropion, is an antidepressant medication that is used to treat major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder. It is also sometimes used to help people quit smoking. Studies have shown that Wellbutrin may be effective in improving mood and reducing symptoms of depression, although the exact mechanism of action is not fully understood. Additionally, it may have fewer sexual side effects than other antidepressants. However, it is important to discuss potential risks and benefits with a healthcare provider before starting Wellbutrin.
Future Perspectives on Wellbutrin
Effectiveness and Uses: Wellbutrin, also known as bupropion, is a medication primarily used to treat major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, and nicotine dependence. It is a type of antidepressant that works by increasing the levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, two neurotransmitters that play a role in regulating mood, motivation, and pleasure. Wellbutrin is also sometimes prescribed to help people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) improve their focus and concentration. Additionally, some doctors may recommend it as an off-label treatment for anxiety and certain types of neuropathic pain. Overall, Wellbutrin is known for being a relatively safe and effective treatment option for various mental health conditions.
buy synthroid buy lexapro buy finasteride | <urn:uuid:8530bc74-8e41-49b8-8189-77273b24363a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thecifhw.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/png/wellbutrin.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.934852 | 1,026 | 2.609375 | 3 |
First, we must bear in mind that by 2050 the world population is expected to grow to 9.7 billion people, of which 700 million would live in rural areas.
In this context, the projected economic growth for Latin America to 2050 is US$ 10 billion per year, and although it is a moderate figure, it indicates that there will be greater food demand. This is good news for agriculture because it implies that there will be greater demand for the products that thousands of farmers cultivate in the field.
However, although patterns of investment in agriculture have increased, they are not enough to increase enough access to food, which is why millions of people will be undernourished by 2030.
The food and agriculture sectors contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Over the last 50 years, GHG emissions (levels of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases) from agriculture, forestry and other land uses (AFOLU) have almost doubled, and Forecasts indicate that they will continue to increase until 2050.
In recent years, there has been an increase in pests and diseases in plants and animals, which put food security at risk. Likewise, climate change has generated unexpected changes in agriculture. Losses and waste of agricultural production, after medium and large natural disasters due to meteorological phenomena, are constant issues in Latin America and the Caribbean.
On the other hand, the water resource is a great challenge; the extraction of water for agriculture represents 70% of the total extractions of this resource. FAO estimates that more than 40% of the world’s rural population lives in river basins that lack water. In some of these areas, between 80 and 90% of the water is used for agricultural purposes.
In terms of Paula Carrión, manager of Agro-exports of the Association of Exporters of Perú (ADEX), the changes of temperature generate delays in the beginnings of the agricultural production, which causes delays in the harvests. Also, another important challenge is water supply. “We need more investment projects in water issues”, said the representative of ADEX.
Latin America is the region that generates the most waste and losses in its food value chain, in the different stages. This requires an improvement in infrastructure and higher quality technologies.
On the other hand, another important challenge is to evaluate how long public institutions and transport and sanitary authorities, of control and regulation, delay in completing a procedure in the shortest possible time. Although it is true that a great advance has been made in public management, there is still a long way to go.
In that sense, food production and distribution channels are changing. In Latin America, agriculture is increasingly destined for traditional businesses and small supermarkets.
Paula Carrión warns that governments are more aware of the consumption of nutritious foods that contribute to the health of its inhabitants. That is why free trade agreement agreements have been implemented that include these aspects.
On the other hand, Héctor Carrasco, president of the National Convention of the Peruvian Agro (Conveagro), indicates that agriculture is a fundamental subject in the feeding of the countries, especially, of those inroads of development. In that sense, strengthen economic stability becomes another challenge in the region, taking into account the millions of people living in poverty, he says.
For Hector Carrasco, it is necessary to increase the workforce, improve economic and human production processes. “Agriculture must become a state policy of the countries to achieve a sustainable economy. In that sense, the political decision matters a lot”, he affirms.
Another issue that arises as a challenge that agriculture must face in Latin America is the training of farmers. Qualified labor is important to conceive a country that wants to grow in the short and medium-term. These skills will allow generating comparative advantages in others, said Paula Carrión.
Organic and sustainable products
According to the representative of Conveagro, the producers of organic inputs must be identified in order to bet on more ecological and healthy agriculture that is friendly to the environment. For this, Carrasco demands that intersectoral work be done. You must promote natural products. It is not the same to eat a natural product than another that has received chemical treatments.
Carrasco suggests that coordinated work be done among municipalities, ministries, and private entities. This synergy will allow us to combine efforts and obtain better results in less time.
Another battlefield to achieve that agriculture develops at its maximum potential is through universities. Higher education centers should prioritize organic and ecological crops in their study plans.
One of the comparative advantages that Latin America offers compared to other regions is the great variety that its crops possess and the high potential of exportable organic products and with high demand in the international market.
In Latin America, growth projections are around 3%, despite the obstacles that have been encountered. The GDP should not be the only indicator but the per capita income, how much each inhabitant really perceives. This is necessary to measure the growth of agriculture in the region.
Both specialists consider the need to inject a high dose of technology into agricultural processes that allow improving the quality of products and thus generate a greater added value compared to other continents. | <urn:uuid:1de20f7d-f72a-4b14-81ea-be2283ff48c1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thecostaricanews.com/challenges-for-achieving-more-sustainable-agriculture/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.947317 | 1,073 | 3.484375 | 3 |
3D printing has revolutionized the way complex parts and components are designed, providing the means to create parts with intricate shapes that would be difficult or impossible to manufacture using traditional machining methods. 3D printing also offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing designers to quickly iterate and test different designs without having to commit resources to costly physical prototypes. But while 3D printing is an excellent tool for prototyping, it is important that the part design is optimized for 3D printing in order to get the best results.
Designing For 3D Printing
The first step when designing a part for 3D printing is to understand the type of printer and materials you are working with. Different printers use different technologies and materials, so it’s important that your design works within their capabilities.
It’s also important to think about how the part will be printed – what orientation it will be in, which way up it will be printed, etc. This can have an impact on both the strength of the part and its surface finish.
The next step is to consider some design guidelines specific to 3D printing. These vary depending on the technology being used but generally include: avoiding sharp internal corners; ensuring walls are thick enough; adding chamfers or fillets where necessary; designing for support structures where appropriate; avoiding bridging or overhangs; ensuring adequate clearance between moving parts; avoiding long unsupported spans; ensuring draft angles are sufficient for removal from molds.
Finite Element Analysis
Once you have applied these design guidelines it is advisable to perform a finite element analysis (FEA) of your model in order to confirm its structural integrity. This involves running a simulation of how your part will react under various loads and stresses, allowing you identify any weak points or potential failure points before committing resources to physical prototyping.
Designing parts for 3D printing requires a thorough understanding of both the technology being used and the specific requirements of that technology. It is important that all design guidelines specific to 3D printing are followed in order to get optimal results, and a finite element analysis should always be performed before committing resources to physical prototyping.
In conclusion, designing parts for 3D printing requires careful consideration of both printer capabilities as well as specific design guidelines in order for optimal results. This process can be greatly simplified by performing finite element analysis on models prior to physical prototyping in order ensure structural integrity. | <urn:uuid:a66461f5-278b-4e9a-b410-b5b31ace32e8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thedutchladydesigns.com/how-do-you-design-parts-for-3d-printing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.928873 | 486 | 3.515625 | 4 |
A shaman-artist’s yarn paintings feature brilliant colors, dreamlike imagery, and rich cultural significance.
By Libby Rosof
In the northern mountains of Mexico, there is a place where the rocks have souls and animals can turn into plants. There, in the Sierra Madre Occidental, Huichol Indians still practice their ancient, animist religion with peyote rituals and multiple deities.
Those rituals and deities are the subject of storytelling paintings by Huichol shaman-artist José Benítez Sánchez, on exhibit at the University Museum until March 31, where they are practically vibrating off the walls, so intense is their color, so compressed their composition.
These 31 paintings by the Huichol’s most renowned shaman-artist—crafted not of paint but of yarn pressed into beeswax—are remarkable not only for their beauty and craftsmanship, but for their cultural significance.
The art is modern evidence of the survival of the Huichol pre-Christian culture, protected from Spanish and Catholic influence by living spread out in small population groups, high in the mountains.
“The Huichols are the only Indian population in Mexico or Guatemala that has been able to hold onto its own ancestral culture and still follow the old ways,” says exhibit curator, Dr. Peter T. Furst, an anthropologist and cultural ethnologist who has been studying the Huichol culture and art for more than 40 years. Furst, professor emeritus of anthropology and Latin American studies at the State University of New York at Albany, is a research associate in the University Museum’s American Section. He was the go-between who notified Museum officials in the 1970s that the painting collection, now owned by the museum, was for sale.
The yarn paintings are modern creations, things to sell to tourists. But they were inspired by a religious tradition of pressing yarn and glass beads into wax-lined bowls made from scooped-out gourds. The bowls, some of which are included in the exhibit, were votive objects, associated with requests to the Huichol gods for sustenance.
Although placing the simple bowl decorations on a flat board for the tourist trade started in the 1950s, the visionary yarn paintings date to the 1960s. “I went to Mexico for UCLA in 1964-65,” says Furst, “and really by accident met a Huichol Indian who was learning to become a shaman but was making yarn paintings without any story—paintings of a bird or a deer.” Furst asked the artist, Ramon Medina, “‘Have you ever considered making a picture of your myths?’” Medina wasn’t sure how to proceed, but three days later, he showed Furst a rough story-painting.
Ben“tez, one of Medina’s students, brought a new level of craftsmanship and artistry to the work. He has had a number of gallery shows in Mexico, the United States, and Europe, but this is his first solo museum exhibit. (His work is also carried by Indigo, a Philadelphia gallery that specializes in ethnic arts.)
The paintings—the largest is 48 inches square—are complex, the yarn meticulously inlaid to create tightly interlocking images in an overall design. Ben“tez’s pieces record the vivid dreams he experiences while on peyote pilgrimages—300-mile annual treks from his home in the western Sierra Madre to the place in the desert where the Huichol ancestors and deities, and the peyote cactus live.
The peyote allows the shamans to communicate with their deities and experience visions based on the myths of their culture. Peyote, says Furst (who tried it once and wasn’t too crazy about it), “alters time and space perception. It triggers vividly colored visions that constantly are changing. That’s what you see in these paintings—symbols interacting and flowing into each other. What Benítez is doing is to fix these fleeting visions into time and space.”
These are not storytelling paintings in the same sense as Western narrative art, like “Washington Crossing the Delaware,” which has a sense of perspective and historic time. Perspective is lost to an animate world teeming with supernatural powers—deer that sing or speak and walk on their hind legs, snakes that bring rain, antlers that grow into peyote cactus. Historic time has little meaning for a culture where ancestral spirits survive and life remains little changed from generation to generation.
Although the earliest yarn paintings were made of wool, Furst says, these are made of acrylic, which offers a number of advantages—resistance to moth damage, intense colors, and shimmering twists that better express the mesmerizing peyote visions.
The show coincides with the release of Furst’s Visions of a Huichol Shaman ($29.95, University Museum Publications), about Benítez’s art and Huichol myths, which includes 68 full-color images, as well as analysis and interpretation of the yarn paintings and cultural background.
Artist and writer Libby Rosof has been making waves in Philadelphia with a new web magazine of art news, reviews and debate—roberta fallon and libby rosof’s artblog, www.fallonandrosof.com/artblog. She’s the former editor of the Penn Current, a newspaper for University staff. | <urn:uuid:cabaf095-fc8b-4720-bae3-33437ee7bd1c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thepenngazette.com/visionary-art/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.962783 | 1,151 | 2.796875 | 3 |
The Art of Amistics
His collection of illustrations entitled Tales from the Loop is written as a memoir of childhood in an alternate reality where scientific discoveries spurred on massive technological research projects. His landscapes, and the little vignettes that accompany them, hint at revolutions in transport, energy and communications amid the cold-war arms race. But they also depict the way in which experimental facilities and machinery are often abandoned in the rush to improve and modernise. Many of Stålenhag’s machines are hulking, neglected landmarks- decommissioned or partially buried by snow and sand.
But it’s worth considering whether these images should seem so far fetched. For most of the 20th century the pace of technological progress seemed to be accelerating in every field. New ways of generating and transferring electricity were discovered every few years. Planners and engineers could barely keep up. Some cities were still decommissioning gas streetlamps when nuclear fission was discovered. Meanwhile advances in materials science took us from crystal radio to transistors to silicon micro-chips which have adhered to Moore’s Law for the last fifty years.
At the same time medical science accelerated at an astounding rate; In 1900 one of the most common surgical procedures – the Caesarian section- was still one of the most dangerous. Surgeons frequently operated without gloves and the procedure had a 10% mortality rate. By the end of the 1960s discoveries of blood types, transfusion medicine, antibiotics and improvements to surgical equipment had reduced that rate to 0.00013%. Those technologies spurred on more and more ambitious procedures culminating with the first successful human heart transplant in 1967.
But nowhere was technological progress more visible than in transport and mechanical engineering. Containerisation and the new field of transport logistics quietly kick-started an economic boom that continued for the rest of the 20th century while improvements to combustion and jet engines propelled cars, trains, ships and aircraft at ever increasing speeds. To put things in perspective; less than 70 years separated Orville Wright’s 40 meter flight on the first powered aircraft from the roughly 1.5 million kilometer return journey by the crew of Apollo 11.
Stålenhag’s paintings seem to beg the question; what stopped us from maintaining that pace of technological progress?
Each year since 2000 we have been edging closer to or overtaking the dates set by science fiction writers for impossible visions of the future (click here for a timeline). Yet when you look around you see cities and suburbs looking more or less the same as they did thirty or forty years ago. In labs we’re beginning to see bi-pedal and quadrupedal robots taking their first shaky steps and some specialised factories and vehicles have begun to resemble their space-age concepts but the technological advances of the last few decades haven’t really imposed on the landscape. We’ve made massive gains in our understanding of information technology, biology and physics but the grand transformations promised by science fiction always seem to be just on the horizon.
In an article for The Baffler David Graeber points out that:
In 1968, Stanley Kubrick felt that a moviegoing audience would find it perfectly natural to assume that only thirty-three years later, in 2001, we would have commercial moon flights, city-like space stations, and computers with human personalities maintaining astronauts in suspended animation while traveling to Jupiter…Why did the projected explosion of technological growth everyone was expecting—the moon bases, the robot factories—fail to happen? There are two possibilities. Either our expectations about the pace of technological change were unrealistic (in which case, we need to know why so many intelligent people believed they were not) or our expectations were not unrealistic (in which case, we need to know what happened to derail so many credible ideas and prospects).
Assuming the latter, Graeber offers several diagnoses for this apparent slowing of technological progress. He cites the diminishing urgency of government spending on science and technology following the end of the Cold War. He points to creeping bureaucracy in academia and the privatisation of universities which has seen the focus shift from blue-sky research to more immediate and marketable projects. But the most compelling reason for this apparent technological plateau seems to be economic.
Globalisation and a raft of free-trade agreements in the second half of the 20th century simply starved the more technologically developed nations of any incentive to automate or mechanise their workforce. Access to cheap foreign labor in developing nations meant the standard of living could be boosted in places like Britain and the United states without ever having to invent ways to make life easier on the home front. As Graeber explains, outsourcing to East Asia, Latin America and India:
… allowed manufacturers to employ much less technologically sophisticated production-line techniques than they would have been obliged to employ at home.
If necessity is the mother of all invention then globalisation pushed aside any reason for substantial innovation. That issue of necessity is the common thread running through a great deal of recent historical scholarship. Over the last 40 years historians have been putting forward theories to explain ‘the great divergence’ – the point when European civilisation began to grow economically and technologically much faster than equivalent societies in the Middle-east, Asia, and the Americas. It’s clear that a number of factors worked in favour of the European nation-states at the time. Legal frameworks, natural resources, culture and trade all helped determine which societies would dominate but they offer little insight into why other regions remained in a state of arrested development.
Again the most compelling explanation appears to be economic. Historian Mark Elvin coined the phrase ‘high-level equilibrium trap’ to explain why China was not the first civilisation to undergo an Industrial Revolution despite a clear advantage over Europe in its engineering and scientific sophistication. In the 15th Century China during the Ming Dynasty seemed poised to become the first world super-power. With a stable economy supporting a standing army of a million men and a vast fleet of ships engaged in exploration the Chinese empire had many advantages over the small European states of the time. Among a list of unique Chinese inventions historian Jared Diamond highlights:
Canal lock gates, cast iron, deep drilling, efficient animal harnesses, gunpowder, kites, magnetic compasses, moveable type, paper, porcelain, printing, sternpost rudders, and wheelbarrows
However Ming China might be considered the high water market of Chinese technological and mercantile dominance. At the same time in Western Europe scholars had begun to make advances in several scientific fields which catalysed further breakthroughs in medicine and technology and started what became known as the Renaissance. Trade and warfare among the early city states of Europe drove a massive technological transformation. By the 19th Century a small fleet of British warships blockading Chinese ports was enough to extort tax concessions and territory from an empire of 300 million people. Architectural historian Gregory Bracken described China as a victim of its own success:
“The efficiency of its pre-industrial economy discouraged any radical shift in production techniques and local shortages, which would usually have driven innovation, were mitigated by resources from other regions because they could be easily brought in”
Go back further into history and you find a similar stasis in ancient Egyptian and Greek civilisations. Throughout ancient Egyptian history incremental improvements were made (especially in hydraulics, ship building and metallurgy) but the day-to-day lives of an Egyptian farmer in the Bronze Age would have been familiar to an Egyptian farmer living under Roman rule more than three thousand years later. Classical Greek and Roman civilisations, while far more inventive, often seemed to be right on the verge of a technological revolution before stepping back and resuming their traditional pace of change.
To take one example; in the first century AD Greek mathematician and engineer Heron of Alexandria refined the design for the aeolipile. This device consisted of a hollow bronze vessel, held in a cradle, with vents projecting in opposite directions. The vessel was filled with water and the whole apparatus was then positioned over a heat source. When the water inside reached boiling point the pressure forced steam from the vents and spun the vessel on its axis. In effect the aeolipile was a prototype steam engine. It seems unlikely that its potential to provide energy was not recognised at the time and yet no evidence exists that it was ever put to use in that capacity.
In a series of essays entitled Hellenic History and Culture a number of scholars discuss the technology of ancient Greece and Ptolemaic Egypt. Peter Levi points out that the mathematical theory underpinning the great engineering feats of the time were remarkably sophisticated but the lack of value placed on the workers held back innovation.
What technology is nowadays expected to accomplish is the concentration or the transference of energy. And we know from the raising of obelisks that the practical mathematics were quite highly developed. It’s quite clever to raise a monolithic column or an obelisk. But I take it that what went wrong with the Hellenistic rulers’ exploration of different techniques is that they had too much man power – they had too many slaves. To have slaves is, apart from being wicked, inefficient because you may use a million men where one machine could have done the job.
Professor Peter Green goes further in explaining this reluctance to adopt new technologies:
I think that’s only the beginning of it. If you look away from technology for a moment, what you find throughout antiquity is a paranoid terror of revolution. It’s no accident that the Greek and Latin terms for making a revolution are neoterizein and res novare – that is, just doing something new. . .It’s not so much that slaves were available, which indeed they were. No, the ruling classes were scared, as the Puritans said, of Satan finding work for idle hands to do.
Fellow historian K.D White offers an anecdote to support this
There is a famous passage in Suetonius’ Life of Vespasian in which a technician appears before the emperor to advocate some kind of new device, we’re not quite sure what. But the answer of the emperor to an aide is; give him a reward and send him away, and please leave me here to feed my little people. Sine me pascere plebeculam meam. I think this is in line with what you’re saying. Apart from slaves, … there were lots of underemployed free citizens.
This type of state prohibition on new technology was not unique to the ancient world. In the 15th Century the Hongxi Emperor ordered a halt to the construction and maintenance of China’s deep water fleet and permanently ended the age of Chinese exploration. In the 17th Century the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan effectively outlawed the importation and manufacture of firearms – part of a range of policies that stayed in place until almost the 20th century.
At a much smaller scale religious communities like the Amish in rural Pennsylvania and Ohio often place strict limits on technology. The popular misconception is that Amish society rejects electricity and all modern conveniences. The reality is that they are simply more selective than the population at large. Senior Amish clergy spend a great deal of time debating the merits of individual devices or machines before deciding whether or not to adopt them. They make their decisions through a thick lens of Christian fundamentalism – aiming to discourage free enquiry and the pursuit of wealth – but also with a mind to preserving the physical and social cohesion of their community. Anything that might grant members of the community a certain level of autonomy are discouraged. The problem with car ownership, for example, is not the car itself but the implication that it might allow a member of the congregation to live beyond the range of a horse and carriage.
In the science fiction novel SevenEves author Neil Stephenson uses the term ‘Amistics’ to describe this principle of technological deliberation. In the story the characters are not concerned with nanotechnology, rogue AIs or genetic tampering, instead they try to limit the impact of the social media ‘rumour mill’ and the deleterious effect of participating in constant broadcast communications channels. An editorial for New Philosopher summarised the idea as follows:
Amistics, then, is a belated art: the fruit of bitter experience and cries of “never again!” It’s also a neat provocation, and a way in to a troubling set of questions. What does it mean to use technology selectively? How far can whole societies determine which technologies they use – if at all – rather than allowing technology to determine their history?
With open borders, global communication networks and potential advances in 3D printing it seems less and less possible to put the technological genie back into the bottle. The ability of a single ruler or governing body to decide against some disruptive technology has been compromised, perhaps indefinitely. While individual nations strive for any advantage over their neighbours it will be difficult to form a consensus over how to regulate new technologies – even those that might pose a threat to the wider civilisation.
The default instinct in most western societies seems to be one of technological determinism. Most would argue that it is futile to resist the ‘march of progress’. But, when it comes to research and design, it’s worth asking what the end goal actually is. Again from the New Philosopher article:
Progress towards what, and at what cost? Progress in which areas and to whose gain? Unless we can turn to the cumulative insights of other fields – to philosophy, science, politics, and art; to history, psychology, aesthetics, and fiction – we can’t begin to debate such questions. Indeed, we can’t debate anything. We’ve reduced ourselves to the state of automata, and in doing so have failed to do justice to either us or our creations.
But some progress has been made. An international consensus has slowly established over the 20th Century in relation to weapons of war. Until very recently restrictions on the use of chemical and biological weapons had been agreed upon and adhered to by most nations. The Ottawa treaty in 1997 which aimed at banning landmines also received broad support (though not from the USA, China or Russia). The Geneva convention was updated the following year to include provisions against blinding laser weapons and, in 2006, a Space Preservation Treaty was ratified which aimed to ensure that weapons were not placed into orbit (The USA provided the single dissenting vote).
But the best precedent for successful international cooperation is undoubtedly the ratification of the Montreal Protocol which was put in place to prevent further depletion of the ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The protocol received universal approval and came into effect in 1989 – only 14 years after the initial discovery of the effect that CFCs had on the atmosphere.
The challenge of dealing with new technology will always exist but only by developing our own art of amistics can we bring these discussions into the wider consciousness. The Montreal Protocol should give us cause for hope. | <urn:uuid:733c04d6-81e7-466a-b98b-23ecc079abe7> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://theunravel.com.au/the-art-of-amistics | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.955391 | 3,097 | 2.796875 | 3 |
A doctoral student is working with a local childrens hospital to help clinicians detect signs of toxic stress in infants
A parent and toddler are playing together in a small room. Colorful blocks and plush toys lie scattered on the table between them. Mom smiles and coos; baby gurgles, claps and shakes her hands. But then mom turns her face away; she stops smiling and stops talking. She sits, expressionless and motionless, for two minutes.
During this period, the baby is completely confused, says Lauren Klein, a doctoral student in computer science at USC Viterbi School of Engineering. The baby tries to do everything she can to get a response from her mom through noises and gestures and eventually gets frustrated. Finally, the pair start playing again, during a stage called the reunion.
Klein is describing the Still Face Experiment, developed by American developmental psychologist Edward Tronick in 1975, which demonstrates how babies who are just learning about their relational world try to achieve connection.
More than 45 years later, this powerful test still provides insight into how a parents reactions can affect a babys emotional development. Its one of the reasons that toxic stress the bodys response to lasting and serious stress can cause disruptions in the developing brain and body that can affect a childs physical and mental health for a lifetime.
Providing support and intervention
Since 2019, Klein has been researching computer science and child development at the USC Interaction Lab, where she is supervised by Professor Maja Matarić.
Working with Dr. Pat Levitt and the researchers in his neurodevelopment lab at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, she is developing an automated system to model and support infant-caregiver interactions by detecting signs of toxic stress.
Described in two recent peer-reviewed conference papers for which Klein was the lead author, the system automatically analyzes videos of caregiver-baby interactions using techniques including artificial intelligence, machine learning and human-machine interaction.
The sooner we are able to detect a toxic stress response in infants, the sooner we can provide support and intervention to infant and caregiver.Dr. Alma Gharib
Specifically, the system aims to evaluate nonverbal communication features such as pose, body movement and facial expression to help researchers learn more about how early interactions are shaped by the home environment. The team is also developing a mobile application to collect this data more easily, so that more families in difficult circumstances might receive assistance.
The sooner we are able to detect a toxic stress response in infants, the sooner we can provide support and intervention to infant and caregiver, giving us the opportunity to support healthy development in every child, says Dr. Alma Gharib, a clinical research director and staff scientist at the Levitt Lab who is working closely with Klein on the project.
Not all stress is bad, but when a child experiences stress day after day from maternal stress to witnessing abuse and extreme poverty it can become whats known as toxic stress. Children are especially vulnerable to this repeated stress activation, and previous research has found that toxic stress in itself can cause changes in infant-caregiver interaction. Improving relationships between the child and their primary caregiver, such as home visiting programs with health professionals that serve as coaches, can help to build responsive caregiving and alleviate the effect of toxic stress.
According to Amanda Perkins, a researcher at Vermont Technical College, up to 90% of children will experience at least one traumatic event, which can lead to toxic stress.
Up to 90% of children will experience at least one traumatic event, which can lead to toxic stress.
Studying infant-caregiver interactions allows us to better understand stress-related health risk and conversely, resilience, Gharib says. Infant-caregiver interactions establish the primary framework for an infants social attention and development and their ability to make sense of the world. A loving and reciprocal relationship with a caregiver supports healthy development, often in the face of adverse experiences.
Gharib emphasizes that toxic stress response refers to a prolonged activation of the stress response. Its not a response that is activated from a few minutes of inattention from the caregiver, but rather from frequent, persistent exposure to adversity, which the child’s system is unable to recover from, she says.
But how can experts determine if a child is at risk? And what can caregiver-baby interactions tell us about the impact of toxic stress?
Complex human connection
One way is to invite parent and baby to the lab and record the pair playing to analyze specific aspects of their interaction. Then an expert can watch the videos and hand-code features of interest, such as gestures or tone of voice.
For instance, serve and return interaction is a common feature of play: Baby smiles and the caregiver counters with an engaging response. This positive form of interaction helps build neural connections in the babys brain that support communication and social skills.
But coding these metrics is time-consuming, labor intensive, and limits the number of insights that can be made and thus, how many families can be helped. Automated systems for coding caregiver-baby interaction do exist, but they tend to look at only one modality at a time for instance, gesture which gives an incomplete picture of the complex human connection that is occurring.
Currently, someone would have to watch the video and code every few seconds for behaviors and affective states, or watch the entire video and provide measures, Klein says. To look at those interactions in more of a moment-by-moment basis or at a larger scale for instance, for a huge study on toxic stress is labor-intensive for research teams.
Gathering new insights
Enter Kleins AI-based system, which is capable of analyzing video interactions in a matter of minutes. The goal is not to immediately diagnose toxic stress, but to better understand caregiver-baby interaction and specific traits that may be indicators of toxic stress, such as difficulty sleeping or eating, or increased anxiety and aggression.
For instance, in recent studies, Klein and the team have looked at the pose and posture of mom and baby to better understand the relationship dynamics. In particular, they have been looking at responsiveness: How responsive does the parent seem to the childs pose? How responsive is the childs posture to their parent?
The system outputs an automated description of how parent and baby are interacting, along with a score. These insights can help guide experts in determining the best way to help a parent reduce their childs stress levels, from talking and play to regular medical visits.
We look at how theyre coordinating their postures with each other, or how they’re timing their nonverbal behaviors and gestures, Klein says. Essentially, were trying to develop measures of interaction dynamics to support the large-scale analysis of parent-baby interaction in the context of toxic stress. Can nonverbal communication such as head tilts and arm poses help us explore that?
Working on computer science within a health care field allows me to make an impact in understanding how children develop and how adversity can affect child development.Lauren Klein
Crucially, the system looks at multimodal communication gesture, sound and physical proximity to paint a more holistic picture of the interaction. Already, the team can measure infant-caregiver interaction using multiple behavioral cues at once, a long-standing challenge for completely automated approaches.
Right now, Klein is working with the researchers using known trends in child development to validate their measures. She aims to explore novel ways of understanding caregiver-baby interaction and help researchers conduct larger studies in the area of toxic stress.
Working on computer science within a health care field allows me to make an impact in understanding how children develop and how adversity can affect child development, Klein says. And if we can understand it better by providing some automated analysis, I hope we can improve the scalability, which will allow the experts to help more families in need. | <urn:uuid:3dd2138d-c80f-45ee-94d0-527b4d3cde21> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://today.usc.edu/baby-talk/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.945935 | 1,615 | 3.25 | 3 |
As an AI language model, I need a specific topic to write about [article_title]. However, without any information about the topic, I cannot generate an article that will provide readers with meaningful insights and knowledge. Therefore, let us explore a few possibilities.
If the topic is about climate change, we can discuss the ongoing issue of rising sea levels. We can talk about how melting ice caps are contributing to this problem, and how it affects not only the environment but also coastal communities. We can also suggest ways to mitigate the effects of rising sea levels, such as reducing carbon emissions, increasing the use of renewable sources of energy, and developing more efficient urban planning.
If the topic is about technology, we can write about artificial intelligence and how it is changing the world. We can explore how these technologies are improving healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing industries. We can also discuss some of the ethical concerns regarding AI and how we can navigate these issues as a society.
If the topic is about politics, we can write about the importance of voter education and how we can encourage more people to engage in the democratic process. We can discuss how voter apathy and misinformation are undermining our democracy and suggest ways to address these issues. We can also examine the role of media in shaping public opinion and how we can improve media literacy to promote more informed citizenship.
In conclusion, the depth and breadth of possible topics for [article_title] are vast, but any topic can be written with proper planning, research, and execution. It’s essential to choose a topic that is relevant to your audience and that provides value and insights to them. | <urn:uuid:8268cf50-98be-497d-8d40-704b8f981be8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://topdatingblog.com/2023/03/16/how-industrialization-shapes-societies-a-historical-perspective/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.943224 | 331 | 2.546875 | 3 |
The Coupling of Nanotechnology & Luminescent Films to Optimize Greenhouse Quality
“UbiGro is essentially a layer of light in a greenhouse,” according to UbiQD’s chief of product, Matt Bergren, who enthusiastically described how the company’s UbiGro luminescent greenhouse film and its embedded nanotechnology facilitate light management in greenhouse settings. Based in New Mexico and established in 2014, UbiQD is harnessing nanotechnology for various applications, one of which is the optimization of greenhouse light quality through its UbiGro luminescent greenhouse films. UbiGro films use quantum dots to convert UV and blue photons to longer wavelengths, resulting in the emission of orange/red light. Otherwise stated, UbiGro is a photoluminescent film that glows when illuminated with sunlight due to the conversion of short wavelengths to long wavelengths. This allows growers to harness various wavelengths for photosynthesis and improve crop yields.
Damon Hebert, the company’s director of agricultural research, explained that UbiGro hold an advantage over conventional photoselective films and shade nets by maintaining light intensity while optimizing the light spectrum, whereas conventional methods typically address one at the expense of the other. Hebert also pointed out that “UbiGro films are electricity-free, whereas modifying the light spectrum by LEDs requires electricity.”
The modification of light spectra for plant growth is based on the principle that not all wavelengths are equal, with red wavelengths having been proven as the most photosynthetically efficient wavelengths. By converting UV radiation and blue light to red/orange light, UbiGro films increase the photosynthetic efficiency of light reaching the canopy, allowing growers to favor biomass accumulation, root development and flowering/fruiting. These principles were demonstrated in the first phase of a pilot program which evaluated the film’s performance in a commercial greenhouse setting from 2019-2020. | <urn:uuid:e8ab4e98-4b08-40af-a1e7-1e1330dca405> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://ubigro.com/the-coupling-of-nanotechnology-luminescent-films-to-optimize-greenhouse-quality/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.91293 | 396 | 2.921875 | 3 |
What is the Lottery?
The lottery is a game in which people pay a fee to try to win a prize, such as a cash prize or goods. The prizes are awarded based on the proportion of numbers that match those randomly drawn by a machine. There are many different types of lotteries, but all have the same basic features.
While the mechanics of the lottery are based on chance, some players believe they can use strategies to tip the odds in their favor. For example, some players choose the lucky numbers in their fortune cookie or use significant dates, such as birthdays and anniversaries, as their lottery numbers. Others try to find patterns in the winning numbers by analyzing past results. While these strategies might help some people, they should be used in combination with other tactics, such as budgeting and saving money.
Some people also think that the lottery can be used to get a good job, a house, or even a college education. While this may be true for some, it is important to remember that the lottery is a form of gambling and has no guarantee of success. Moreover, winning the lottery can have serious tax implications and it is important to consult an accountant before making any decisions.
Despite the fact that most people will lose in the long run, some people are still attracted to lottery games. This is mainly because of the huge jackpots and the possibility of a quick and easy win. However, it is important to remember that the odds of winning are extremely low and you should never spend more than you can afford to lose.
Lotteries first appeared in Europe in the 1500s, and they became popular in the United States during the early 1700s. While some states banned them, others supported them and used them to raise money for public works projects and other purposes. Licensed promoters usually offered multiple prizes, including a grand prize of millions of dollars.
In some cases, lottery proceeds have also been used to finance public housing, public schools, and other services. For example, the lottery is sometimes used to determine which applicants will be selected for subsidized housing or kindergarten placements. While these services are beneficial to many people, the lottery is not an effective way to fund them.
One reason why lottery proceeds are so low is that the average ticket cost is more than $600, which is a lot of money for most families to spend. Americans spend over $80 billion on lotteries every year, and most of this money could be better spent on emergency savings or paying off credit card debt.
Lotteries are a great source of revenue for states, but the funds they bring in are not enough to offset the costs of public services or cover the salaries of state employees. Furthermore, the messages that lotteries send are that they are a way to feel good about spending money that you can’t really afford to lose. | <urn:uuid:24bff28d-e65f-425f-a3df-8609d510f144> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://uimpi.net/what-is-the-lottery-4/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.97826 | 582 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Water and Power at Risk
Water and Power at Risk
Drinking water is always at risk. The EPA states ‘The Safe Drinking Water Act defines the term "contaminant" as meaning any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water. Therefore, the law defines "contaminant" very broadly as being anything other than water molecules. Drinking water may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. Some drinking water contaminants may be harmful if consumed at certain levels in drinking water while others may be harmless. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.’
Surface water from lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater is the primary source of drinking water in the United States. Typically drinking water is treated before moving into the municipal delivery system from which at least 80% of the U.S. population receives drinking water. Approximately 14% of the population relies on private groundwater wells, cisterns, and springs.
Treated water is subject to the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act and goes through treatment protocols to ensure safety to the public. Private water is primarily in rural areas and is not regulated as is municipal water. The safety of private water is solely the responsibility of the owner. If any regulation is required it is on a limited state basis.
There are many sources of potential contamination for drinking water, municipal or private. Naturally, occurring contamination can pose a health risk: bacteria, viruses, nitrate, arsenic, chromium, and fluoride. Radiological contaminants such as uranium, radium, and radon are naturally present in rock formations, subsequently ending up in the water supply.
Other water contamination sources can include:
- Terrorist activity
- Improper waste disposal from hospitals, research facilities, etc.
- Treatment or leakage from storage sites.
- Discharges from factories, industrial sites, or sewage treatment facilities.
- Leaching from aerial or land application of pesticides and fertilizers on yards or fields.
- Fracking mining from both mining practices and fracking wastewater disposal being reinjected into deep geologic formations via wells specifically designed for that purpose, which in turn contaminates groundwater tables.
- Accidental chemical spills.
- Underground storage tank leakage.
- Improper disposal of household wastes such as cleaning fluids, paint, and motor oil.
Without appropriate detection, monitoring, and remediation drinking water is always at risk. US Nuclear Corp’s division, Technical Associates, has developed a suite of water detectors providing detection and monitoring of radiological, chemical, and biological contamination. This includes both freshwater, well water, saltwater, and wastewater. These instruments are continuously real-time - installed and portable.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | <urn:uuid:7f44f7d7-5da7-4228-8809-8f97f98cbe5a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://uswatermonitors.com/blog/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.922767 | 592 | 3.546875 | 4 |
VICTORY! Protecting Puget Sound Chinook Salmon, Bull Trout, and Steelhead
The Puyallup River originates in glaciers along the slopes of Mount Rainier in the Cascade Mountains in Washington and flows through lands owned by the Puyallup Tribe to Commencement Bay in Puget Sound. Historically, the Puyalllup River watershed supported healthy populations of Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and bull trout. Today, all three species are threatened with extinction.
Part of the problem lies at Electron Dam on the Puyallup River. Dam operators divert water from the river into a forebay where protected fish are killed by predation and turbidity, or destroyed in powerhouse turbines and penstock. The operator of the dam does not possess a federal permit or other authorization that would allow it to kill any threatened fish.
Representing American Rivers and American Whitewater, we filed suit against the dam operator to stop its violation of the Endangered Species Act and help put Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and bull trout on the road to recovery in the Puyallup River.
Thanks in part to our legal advocacy, a judge halted operations at the Electron Dam on the Puyallup River in Washington state in June 2021 in order to protect threatened fish. The dam will only be allowed to resume power generation when operators go through the proper Endangered Species Act channels to minimize its negative impact on these threatened fish populations. | <urn:uuid:c910dc03-e1e9-43fd-99a5-bf03edf83560> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://westernlaw.org/protecting-puget-sound-chinook-salmon-bull-trout-steelhead/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.929534 | 299 | 3.203125 | 3 |
School safety measures are not just about preventing accidents and ensuring physical security; it’s also about creating an environment that promotes emotional well-being and fosters a positive learning experience. From fire drills to bullying prevention programs, these measures are multifaceted and cover a broad spectrum of potential risks.
In Florida, these strategies have been carefully crafted and implemented across the state’s schools, reflecting the commitment to ensure every child’s safety. As we delve deeper into this topic, you’ll gain insights into the comprehensive safety measures that Florida schools adopt, why they matter, and how they contribute to making our schools safer and more conducive to learning.
So, whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply a concerned citizen, stay with us as we navigate the realm of school safety measures in the Sunshine State.
Understanding School Safety Measures: A Primer
When we talk about school safety measures, we’re referring to a comprehensive approach to secure our children’s learning environment. As researcher Katherine Schaeffer points out, these measures have evolved significantly over the years, adapting to new challenges and threats. Let’s delve into what constitutes these measures and their importance for children’s well-being.
Explanation of School Safety Measures
School safety measures encompass a variety of strategies designed to protect students from physical harm and emotional distress. According to SchoolSafety.gov, these foundational elements include:
- Designated Staff: Trained personnel responsible for implementing and enforcing safety protocols.
- School Climate: Creating an inclusive, respectful, and supportive atmosphere.
- Reporting Systems: Mechanisms for reporting safety concerns or incidents promptly and accurately.
- Threat Assessment: Procedures to identify, assess, and address potential threats to school safety.
- Emergency Operations Plans: Guidelines outlining the response to various emergencies.
- Site Assessment: Regular evaluation of the school’s physical environment and security systems.
Importance of School Safety Measures for Kids’ Wellbeing
The significance of school safety measures extends beyond physical protection. As highlighted by OJP.gov, they also contribute immensely to preventing violence, including mass shootings, thus creating a safe space where children can focus on learning without fear.
Moreover, a safe school environment encourages positive emotional health among children. It fosters a sense of belonging, reduces stress, and promotes better concentration and academic performance. This sentiment is echoed by Scholastic, emphasizing how understanding and following school safety measures can significantly enhance a child’s overall school experience.
In essence, school safety measures are crucial for creating a supportive educational environment, enabling students to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.
Florida’s Commitment to School Safety
In the pursuit of ensuring a secure environment for students, Florida has shown significant commitment to school safety. This pledge is reflected in the active steps taken by state authorities, led by Governor Ron DeSantis. As reported by Campus Safety Magazine, a new law has been designed to enhance school safety by funding campus security upgrades and outlining new requirements.
Unpacking Florida’s Dedication to School Safety
Florida’s dedication to school safety extends beyond mere words. The state has put in place tangible measures that address both the physical safety and mental well-being of students.
Notably, Governor DeSantis signed HB 1421, a measure that seeks to improve safety in schools across the state. This information is corroborated by flgov.com, the official site of the Florida Governor.
Key Laws, Regulations, and Initiatives Promoting School Safety in Florida
The state of Florida has enacted several laws and initiated various programs to bolster school safety:
- HB 1421: This law stands out due to its comprehensive approach toward school safety. It simultaneously targets three separate issues in different areas, as reported by NBC Miami.
- The Baker Act: This act allows individuals related to schools to be involuntarily committed for psychological evaluation. This measure is geared towards addressing mental health issues that could potentially compromise safety in schools. This is according to a report by Wink News.
- School Safety Zone: The 2023 Florida Statutes define a school safety zone as an area within 500 feet of any property owned or leased by any public school. This provision ensures that safety measures are not confined to the school premises, but extend to its immediate surroundings.
Key Safety Measures in Florida Schools
As detailed by Jane Doe, a specialist in school safety, Florida has been proactive in implementing comprehensive safety measures across its schools. These measures prioritize both the physical and emotional well-being of students.
Fire Safety Measures
According to the Florida’s State Fire Marshal, fire safety in Florida schools is regulated by stringent standards:
- Regular inspections: The State Fire Marshal conducts regular inspections to ensure compliance with fire safety standards.
- Firefighting equipment: Schools are equipped with necessary firefighting equipment to ensure immediate response in case of a fire.
- Safety training: Regular fire drills are conducted to familiarize students and staff with evacuation procedures.
Emergency Drills and Procedures
As per the Florida Department of Education, emergency preparedness is integral to school safety:
- Lockdown drills: These exercises prepare students and staff for potential lockdown situations.
- Active shooter training: This training offers knowledge on how to respond in case of an active shooter situation.
- First aid preparedness: Schools ensure there are trained personnel who can provide first aid during emergencies.
School Bus Safety
While no specific author was found, school bus safety measures in Florida are rigorous:
- Seat belt requirements: All school buses are equipped with seat belts, and students are required to wear them at all times during transit.
- Speed limit adherence: School bus drivers must adhere to specified speed limits to ensure student safety.
- Background checks for bus drivers: All bus drivers undergo thorough background checks to ensure they are suitable for the role.
Building Security and Access Control
According to CBS News, Florida schools have stringent building security measures:
- Resource officers: Most schools employ resource officers to maintain safety and order within the school premises.
- Panic buttons: Schools have panic buttons installed for immediate alerts of any security threats.
- Entrance restrictions: Schools have visitor screening procedures in place to regulate who enters the school premises.
Bullying Prevention Initiatives
Schools in Florida have developed programs that:
- Educate students about the harmful effects of bullying.
- Promote a culture of respect and inclusivity.
- Provide support for victims of bullying.
Internet and Digital Safety
Digital safety measures in Florida schools include:
- Education on responsible online behavior and privacy protection.
- Enforcement of strict rules regarding internet usage within school premises.
- Measures to protect students from cyberbullying and harmful online content.
The Role of Parents in Ensuring School Safety
Parents play an essential part in maintaining school safety, a point highlighted by Daniel Hamlin in his study on the relationship between parent volunteering and school safety. Through active involvement and open communication with schools, parents can help create a secure and conducive learning environment for their children.
How Parents Can Contribute to School Safety
- Active Participation: Parents can contribute significantly to school safety through their active involvement in school activities. As per the research by Daniel Hamlin, parent volunteering can strengthen social ties, collective efficacy, and overall school safety.
- Advocacy: Parents also have a crucial role as advocates for their children’s rights and safety at school. They can voice their concerns about school policies and practices and provide valuable input to ensure a safe school environment.
- Collaboration in Disaster Preparedness: In cases where schools serve as evacuation centers during disasters, parents’ cooperation with teachers and students is vital to ensure safety.
Importance of Parent-School Communication
- Open Communication Channels: Maintaining open lines of communication between parents and schools allows parents to stay informed about the school’s safety measures and emergency procedures.
- Input on Safety Policies: It enables parents to voice out their concerns and suggestions, providing valuable input into school safety policies and practices.
- Fostering Positive Self-Image Among Students: Effective parent-school communication is crucial in fostering a positive sense of self among students, particularly in diverse educational environments.
Safeguarding our Children: The Shared Responsibility of School Safety
Florida schools are committed to keeping students safe. They put great effort into creating a secure learning environment, from strict fire safety measures to detailed emergency plans. Schools also focus on building security and stopping bullying before it starts. Each of these actions helps make schools safer places for students to learn and grow.
But schools can’t do it alone. Parents play a big part in this process too. They get involved in school activities, stand up for their children’s rights, and keep lines of communication open with the school. All these actions make safety measures stronger. Plus, they help build a sense of community where everyone looks out for each other.
In conclusion, making sure schools are safe isn’t just up to the school. It’s a team effort that involves teachers, parents, and even the students themselves. Everyone has a role to play in protecting our children. | <urn:uuid:d49d3476-6cbd-4e2b-9c81-232dade6df69> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://whatshappeningfla.com/safety-first-must-know-kids-school-measures-in-florida/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.945752 | 1,886 | 3.5625 | 4 |
When it comes to traffic and kids, every parent knows there’s a lot to worry about. Our busy roads can be a maze of challenges for children, emphasizing the critical importance of pedestrian safety for kids. While we adults have a firm grasp on road rules and risks, for our little ones, these can seem like a bewildering labyrinth.
Unfortunately, traffic-related accidents involving children are all too frequent, a reality that headlines and statistics remind us of daily. This is an issue that parents simply cannot brush aside. Teaching our kids about traffic safety isn’t just about the basics of crossing the street; it’s much more. It’s about nurturing safe habits that will protect them each time they step foot outside their home.
In this article, we’re going to unpack effective strategies, vital tips, and practical advice to ensure your child’s safety on our roads. We’ll guide you through the process of teaching your children how to safely handle traffic, helping you turn them from being vulnerable on the roads to becoming confident, aware pedestrians.
Understanding Traffic Dangers for Kids
When it comes to the safety of our children, understanding traffic dangers is paramount. As highlighted by Better Health Channel, teaching our kids about road signs, traffic lights, and safe crossing methods is a crucial part of this learning process.
Statistics on Child Pedestrian Accidents
To truly comprehend the risks our children face while navigating roads, let’s consider these critical statistics as the American Academy of Pediatrics states:
- Motor Vehicle Incidents: A significant percentage of pedestrian injuries in children and adolescents are related to motor vehicle traffic.
- Death Rate Among Preschoolers: Preschool-aged children encounter a higher pedestrian death rate, often due to non-traffic incidents in driveways or parking lots.
- Increase in Child Pedestrian Deaths: Over the last decade, there has been an 11% increase in child pedestrian deaths.
- Children Killed in Traffic Crashes: In the United States, 16% of children killed in traffic crashes are pedestrians.
High-Risk Areas and Times for Child Pedestrians
Identifying when and where these accidents typically occur can help us implement preventive measures:
- Accidents on Roads: The majority of accidents (83.1%) occur on roads.
- Incident Times: Most incidents happen between 12 pm and 6 pm.
- High-Risk Locations: Driveways, parking lots, and busy streets are high-risk locations for child pedestrian accidents. (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Our vigilance and proactive approach in teaching our children about traffic safety can make a significant difference. It goes beyond teaching them how to cross the street; it’s about understanding the risks, identifying when and where they are most vulnerable, and instilling safe habits to protect them from harm.
Essential Pedestrian Safety Tips for Kids
Educating our children about pedestrian safety is a vital part of their development and their journey toward independence. As pointed out by Safe Kids Worldwide, teaching kids to put phones, headphones, and devices down when navigating the streets can significantly reduce risks.
Teaching Children About Traffic Signs and Signals
Understanding traffic signs and signals is a critical aspect of pedestrian safety. Here’s what children need to know:
- Red Light: Instruct them that a red light means they must stop and wait.
- Green Light: A green light signifies it’s safe to cross, but they should still look both ways before proceeding.
- Yellow Light: A yellow light warns that the light is about to change, indicating they should not start crossing.
- Walk/Don’t Walk Signals: Teach them to obey these signals and only cross when the ‘walk’ sign is on.
The Role of Crosswalks in Child Pedestrian Safety
Crosswalks play a significant role in child pedestrian safety. Here are some key points from CT Safe Kids:
- Always Use Crosswalks: Encourage children to cross streets at corners where there are traffic signals and designated crosswalks.
- Look Both Ways: Even at crosswalks, they should look left, then right, and then left again before crossing.
- Never Assume: Teach them never to assume that vehicles will stop. Make eye contact with drivers if possible before crossing.
Importance of Visibility: Reflective Clothing and Flashlights
Ensuring children are visible to motorists is crucial, particularly in low-light conditions:
- Bright or Light-Colored Clothing: Children should wear bright or light-colored clothing during the day and at dusk.
- Reflective Gear: At night, reflective gear can help drivers see them from a distance.
- Flashlights: Carrying flashlights can make them more visible and help them see the path ahead. (Source: Fraser Health)
Cultivating Safe Walking Habits
Inculcating safe walking habits from a young age is crucial to ensuring children’s safety on the roads. As suggested by journalist Jay Walljasper, finding your natural rhythm and seizing the opportunity to walk whenever you can, helps build a healthy habit of walking.
The ‘Look Left, Right, Then Left Again’ Rule
One of the first rules of pedestrian safety that children should learn is the ‘Look Left, Right, Then Left Again’ rule. Here’s why it’s important:
- Anticipate Oncoming Traffic: This rule helps children anticipate oncoming traffic from both directions.
- Recheck: Looking left again ensures they recheck for any vehicles that may have appeared while they were looking right.
Walking vs Running: Teaching Kids the Difference
Understanding the difference between walking and running and when each is appropriate is essential for children’s safety. Here are some pointers suggested by the CDC:
- Slow and Steady: Teach children to walk, not run, across the road. Running could lead to falls or misjudgments of vehicle distance and speed.
- Patience is Key: Waiting for the right moment to cross, even if it takes a little longer, is safer than rushing.
The Dangers of Distractions: Electronic Devices and Pedestrian Safety
The use of electronic devices, especially mobile phones, while walking has become a growing concern for pedestrian safety. As noted by CBS News, reports of injuries to distracted walkers treated at hospital emergency rooms have more than quadrupled in the past seven years, indicating the severity of the issue.
Here’s what children need to know:
- No Devices in Traffic: Teach children not to use electronic devices when navigating traffic. According to Kalfus & Nachman, distraction-affected accidents accounted for 8% of fatal crashes, proving the risk associated with device use in traffic.
- Awareness is Crucial: Being fully aware of their surroundings, including sights and sounds, is vital when walking near or across roads. Distractions like texting can lead to missing a light that changes or a car that shifts direction, leading to accidents, as pointed out by State Farm.
Role of Parents in Ensuring Pedestrian Safety
Parents play an instrumental role in shaping their children’s understanding of pedestrian safety. A study conducted by NCBI highlights that parents’ beliefs, knowledge, and practices significantly influence their children’s pedestrian safety habits.
Being a Role Model: Practicing What You Preach
As per a report by Monash University, parents have the responsibility of being role models for their children, especially when it comes to road safety. By demonstrating safe pedestrian behaviors, parents can instill these practices in their children. Here’s how:
- Follow Traffic Rules: Parents should always obey traffic rules, signals, and signs, showing children the importance of doing the same.
- Use Crosswalks: Always using crosswalks for crossing streets emphasizes their importance to children.
- Stay Alert: Demonstrating alertness and attentiveness while navigating traffic can teach children to do the same.
Constant Supervision: Keeping an Eye Out for Kids
Ensuring constant supervision is crucial, particularly for younger children who may not fully understand or remember pedestrian safety rules. Here are a few tips:
- Accompany Young Children: Parents should accompany young children while they’re walking near roads or crossing them.
- Teach by Example: Use walks as opportunities to teach children about pedestrian safety.
- Monitor Older Children: Even as children grow older and gain more independence, parents should still monitor their pedestrian habits.
Making Use of Child Safety Apps and Devices
In today’s digital age, some apps and devices can help ensure children’s safety while they’re walking. As noted by Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, here are a few examples:
- GPS Tracking Apps: GPS tracking apps allow parents to monitor their child’s location in real time. This feature can be especially useful when children are walking alone or traveling to new locations. Some popular GPS tracking apps include Net Nanny and Google Family Link, both of which offer robust tracking features.
- Road Safety Apps: There are numerous apps designed to teach children about road safety rules in an engaging way. These apps use games, quizzes, and interactive scenarios to impart critical knowledge about pedestrian safety. One such app is Qustodio, which has been praised for its comprehensive features.
- Reflective Gear: In addition to apps, there are physical devices that can enhance a child’s safety while walking. Reflective gear, such as bands and patches, can increase a child’s visibility to drivers, particularly in low-light conditions. There are also wearable devices that can send alerts to parents if a child leaves a designated safe area.
Embracing these roles and responsibilities, parents can significantly contribute to ensuring their children’s pedestrian safety.
Working with Schools and Communities
Schools and communities play significant roles in promoting child pedestrian safety. As highlighted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a well-rounded curriculum that teaches pedestrian safety can be instrumental in reducing accidents involving children.
Encouraging Schools to Teach Pedestrian Safety
The education system plays a vital role in teaching children about pedestrian safety. Schools can incorporate pedestrian safety education into their curriculum, focusing on practical knowledge and skills. The Child Pedestrian Safety Curriculum, for instance, teaches and encourages pedestrian safety for students from Kindergarten through 5th Grade (NHTSA).
Here are some ways schools can encourage pedestrian safety:
- Incorporate Pedestrian Safety in Physical Education: Physical education classes can include lessons on road safety rules.
- Organize Safety Workshops: Schools can arrange workshops where local law enforcement officers educate students about pedestrian safety.
- Promote Active Transportation: Schools can encourage students to walk or bike to school, teaching them safe routes and proper safety measures.
Neighborhood Watch: Community Efforts in Child Safety
Communities also have an essential role in ensuring child pedestrian safety. The importance of community efforts in instilling life-long habits of active transportation and pedestrian safety.
Here’s how communities can contribute:
- Establish Safe Routes to School Programs: Communities can work with schools to establish safe routes for children walking or biking to school.
- Organize Neighborhood Watches: Residents can keep an eye out for children walking in the neighborhood, ensuring their safety.
- Implement Traffic Calming Measures: Communities can lobby for speed bumps, crosswalks, and other traffic calming measures to make roads safer for children.
By working together, schools and communities can create a safe environment for children to navigate their neighborhoods and commute to school.
Steering Towards a Safer Future
Ensuring our children’s safety while they navigate the streets is a task that requires the combined efforts of parents, schools, and communities. Parents play a key role by guiding their children through words and actions. Schools provide a structured environment where kids can learn about pedestrian safety in engaging ways. Communities can step forward to make streets safer and neighborhoods more child-friendly.
Additionally, modern technology offers new ways to boost child safety. By pooling these efforts, we can greatly lower the risk of accidents involving young pedestrians and pave the way for a safer future for our kids. | <urn:uuid:f5244721-13eb-4e9c-b6e9-93801f631b02> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://whatshappeningfla.com/traffic-and-kids-life-saving-pedestrian-safety-tips-every-parent-cant-ignore/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.930404 | 2,538 | 3.34375 | 3 |
Zoning & Land Development
Zoning is a tool used to regulate the use of land in Kenosha County in a manner that serves to promote the general welfare of its citizens, the quality of the environment and the conservation of its resources.
Zoning in and of itself is the delineation of areas or zones into specific districts, which provides uniform regulations and requirements that govern the use, placement, spacing, and size of land and buildings. The Kenosha County Department of Planning and Development administers the zoning maps and zoning ordinances for the unincorporated areas of Kenosha County, including the Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall, Somers and Wheatland.
The zoning districts are delineated on maps that have been adopted by the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors and the towns that partner in zoning and are available for viewing on the Interactive Mapping page and are also available at your local town hall and the Planning & Development Office.
The regulations and requirements for zoning districts and land use are encompassed within an ordinance of which in Kenosha County is called the Kenosha County General Zoning and Shoreland/Floodplain Zoning Ordinance. This ordinance is also Chapter 12 of the Municipal Code of Kenosha County. This can be viewed under the Ordinance page or you can purchase a copy in a 3-ring binder at the Kenosha County Department of Planning and Development, Division of County Development.
Permitting is the documented mechanism that is used to verify that a structure or use meets the regulations and requirements of the zoning district of which it will be located and the use that is permitted by the zoning ordinance. A zoning permit also protects you as assurance is being given that your structure or use is in compliance with the ordinance. You can view the permit procedures and permit forms online or at the Kenosha County Department of Planning and Development, Division of County Development. | <urn:uuid:35001c79-766c-482d-b6b9-e7646d194424> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://wi-kenoshacounty.civicplus.com/766/Zoning-Land-Development | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.95035 | 387 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Zephyr, the God of the Wind and the Sky, is said to have been born from the union of Austrai and Nyx. He is depicted as a tall, muscular figure with wings like an eagle, and is often portrayed as a protector of travelers and a bringer of rain and cool breezes.
According to legend, Zephyr was created by Austrai and Nyx to bring balance to the world. Austrai, the God of the Sun and Life, was responsible for bringing warmth and light to the world, while Nyx, the Goddess of the Night and Death, brought darkness and cold. Zephyr was given the task of regulating the weather and the winds, bringing rain and storms to nourish the earth, and keeping the air clean and fresh.
One of the most famous stories about Zephyr tells of how he helped a group of travelers who were lost in the desert. They were thirsty and tired, and their water supply was running low. Zephyr heard their prayers and sent a cool breeze that brought them to an oasis with fresh water and shade. The travelers were grateful and built a shrine to Zephyr at the site.
Zephyr is also associated with love and romance, and is often depicted carrying a harp or a lyre. He is said to have played beautiful music for his lover, a mortal woman named Althea, and to have brought her gifts of flowers and feathers from the birds he watched over. When Althea died, Zephyr was heartbroken and wept tears of rain that watered the earth and brought new life to the plants.
In the present day, Zephyr is still worshiped by many on Danubia Prime. His followers believe that he brings balance and harmony to their lives, and they offer prayers and offerings to him for good weather and safe travels. Zephyr’s influence can be seen in the many wind turbines and clean energy technologies that are used on the planet, as well as in the art and music that celebrate the beauty of the natural world. | <urn:uuid:d6f3d1c3-9806-4d00-b459-c1c5af34ad11> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://wiki.kimlark.com/glossary/zephyr/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.986368 | 427 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Cajun or Creole?Though they're often used interchangeably—particularly on restaurant menus—the terms Cajun and Creole represent two distinct legacies and cultures, both unique to Louisiana.
Creole history began with the first-generation French aristocrats who came to Nouvelle-Orléans in the early 1700s. These wealthy Europeans built elegant homes in the Vieux Carré and vast sugar plantations along the river. They imported powdered wigs from Paris; their continental chefs prepared dishes we still enjoy in the Quarter today: shrimp remoulade, crab béchamel, trout meunière.
Spain acquired the Louisiana Territory in 1762, making its own mark on the port capital—particularly in architecture. Most of the buildings in the French Quarter are in fact Spanish, erected after two great fires leveled the city. Three-story dwellings with shared walls, wrought-iron balconies and private courtyards came to typify the Creole townhouse style.
French Creoles first defined themselves by what they weren't: American. The early term distinguished European colonials from Anglo-American immigrants and imported slaves. (The Spanish word criollo means “native born.”) Over time, free people of color and slaves born in Louisiana also came to be known as Creole. After the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the city of New Orleans divided itself along class lines—Creoles lived in the French Quarter, Americans lived uptown, west of Canal Street. In fact, 19th-century Creoles meant the nickname “Garden District” as an insult to the ostentatious mansions and public lawns of their English-speaking neighbors.
Ask a dozen people to define Creole today, and you'll get a dozen different answers. Some say the term describes white descendants of the first-generation French. Others refer to multi-racial residents—French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, Native American or all of the above—who trace their early roots to southern Louisiana. Creole can also denote an heirloom tomato, a colloquial dialect and the official language of Haiti.
Cajun is slightly easier to classify. When the British took over the French province of Acadia (now Nova Scotia) in the 18th century, they required all citizens to sign an oath of allegiance. At the outbreak of the French and Indian War in 1755, Britain demanded even greater loyalty from the Acadians, including the promise to fight their French and Mi'kmaq neighbors. Most refused, and more than 10,000 were deported to Europe, the West Indies and the American colonies.
The first Acadian families arrived in St. James Parish in 1764, receiving land grants and provisions from the French government (which was in the process of turning the Louisiana Territory over to Spain). The Spanish welcomed the Catholic refugees, and word soon spread to other Acadian exiles. Several thousand eventually landed in the bayous west of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Through intermarriage to Spanish, French Creole and German settlers, the Cajuns (anglicized from Acadiens) formed a new ethnic group with its own distinct traditions. The Cajun language is a French dialect sprinkled with African, Native American and Spanish words. Cajun dishes like gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish étouffée reflect the ingenuity of French-Canadian farmers struggling to survive in the swamps. Traditional Cajun music for fiddle, accordion and washboard lives on in the back-beat rhythms of zydeco—a uniquely American art form.
Though they came to Louisiana from different worlds, the Cajuns and Creoles spoke the same language, and the land they shared on the Mississippi Delta shaped their common heritage.
New Orleans, LA
AAA’s in-person hotel evaluations are unscheduled to ensure the inspector has an experience similar to that of members. To pass inspection, all hotels must meet the same rigorous standards for cleanliness, comfort and hospitality. These hotels receive a AAA Diamond designation that tells members what type of experience to expect.
Louisiana's statewide sales tax is 4.45 percent; an additional 5 percent is levied in the New Orleans metro area, and Orleans Parish has a .5 percent tax on food and beverages. The city has a 11.75 percent lodging tax, plus an occupancy tax of $1-$12 per night. The state's car rental tax is 3 percent.
Time and Temperature
Ochsner Medical Center, (504) 842-3000; Touro Infirmary, (504) 897-7011; Tulane Medical Center, (504) 988-5263; University Medical Center New Orleans, (504) 702-3000.
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd. Suite 411 New Orleans, LA 70123. Phone:(504)731-7083 or (877)572-7474
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is about 21 miles west of downtown New Orleans in Kenner and is served by nearly all major domestic and foreign carriers.
New Orleans is served by several major car rental agencies. Arrangements should be made before you leave on your trip. Your local AAA club can provide this service or additional information. Hertz, (504) 568-1645 or (800) 654-3080, offers discounts to AAA members.
Amtrak uses the Union Passenger Terminal at 1001 Loyola Ave. Daily service is offered. Phone (800) 872-7245 for further information.
The Greyhound Lines Inc. bus terminal is at 1001 Loyola Ave.; phone (504) 525-6075 or (800) 231-2222 for schedule and fares.
Cabs are plentiful in the main business and tourist areas. Average fare is $3.50 initially and $2.40 for each additional mile and $1 for each additional person. The largest companies are Metry, (504) 835-4242 and United, (504) 522-9771. Information about taxi service also can be obtained from the Taxicab & For Hire Bureau at (504) 658-7176.
Transportation by bus, streetcar and ferry is available in New Orleans. | <urn:uuid:66354888-7290-4925-aaba-37cd7ab96ac5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.aaa.com/travelguides/new%20orleans-la/cajun-or-creole? | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.92591 | 1,291 | 3.46875 | 3 |
Composite materials have emerged as a game-changing solution in various industries due to their unique properties, such as high strength-to-weight ratios and anisotropic behavior. This has led to increasing popularity and adoption of composites in aerospace, automotive, marine, and sports equipment industries, among others.
laminates are continuous-fiber composites in which the individual layers, plies or laminae are oriented in directions that enhance the strength in the primary load direction. In other words, laminates are made up of multiple layers of fibers that are oriented in a specific way to optimize their strength and stiffness.
Unidirectional (0°) laminates are extremely strong and stiff in the 0° direction; however, they are also very weak in the 90° direction because the load must be carried by the much weaker polymeric matrix. While a high-strength fiber can have a tensile strength of 500 ksi or more, a typical polymeric matrix normally has a tensile strength of only 5-10 ksi.
The Crucial Role of Fibers in Composite Materials: Balancing Strength, Stiffness, and Durability
The primary function of fibers in composite materials is to provide strength and stiffness. Typically, fibers are composed of high-strength materials like carbon, glass, or aramid, and are embedded within a polymeric matrix material. In a composite, fibers bear most of the load due to their exceptional strength and stiffness, while the polymeric matrix serves to bind the fibers together and facilitate load transfer between them.
It is crucial to recognize that, in general, high-strength fibers exhibit brittle characteristics and display linear stress-strain behavior. Consequently, they may be susceptible to failure under specific conditions, such as impact or fatigue loading. To ensure composite components fulfill performance requirements while minimizing weight and cost, designers need to meticulously evaluate factors such as fiber orientation and matrix material selection. By doing so, they can strike an optimal balance between the material's strength, stiffness, and durability.
The Essential Functions of Matrix Materials in Composites: Protection, Load Transfer, and Temperature Resistance
The matrix in composite materials fulfills several critical roles.
First and foremost, the matrix maintains the fibers' proper positioning and safeguards them from abrasion. Without a matrix material, fibers would be vulnerable to damage and incapable of effectively transferring loads among themselves.
Secondly, the matrix enables load transfer between the fibers and supports them under compression. While fibers exhibit strength in tension, they are relatively weaker in compression. The matrix material plays a crucial role in evenly distributing compressive loads across all fibers in the composite material.
Lastly, the matrix typically dictates the maximum temperature at which the composite can be utilized. The glass transition temperature (Tg) is a significant property of the matrix, representing the temperature at which the matrix transitions from a rigid, glass-like state to a softer, more rubber-like material. A matrix should not be employed beyond its glass transition temperature unless the intended service life is exceptionally brief.
By understanding these essential functions of matrix materials in composites, designers and engineers can better optimize composite structures for their intended applications.
Unique Materials and Processes
The unique properties of composite materials, such as their high strength-to-weight ratios and anisotropic behavior, have a significant impact on the design and engineering of composite components. Unlike traditional isotropic materials, composites can be tailored to meet specific performance requirements by strategically placing and orienting the fibers within the matrix.
Manufacturing processes for composites vary greatly, with each process offering different advantages and limitations. Some common methods include hand lay-up, vacuum bagging, resin infusion, and automated processes like automated fiber placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL). These processes can significantly impact the final properties of composite components, such as their strength, stiffness, and durability.
Advantages of Composite Materials
The use of composite materials in various industries can lead to improved performance, reduced weight, and increased fuel efficiency. For example, in aerospace, composites have allowed for lighter aircraft structures, which translates to lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions. In the automotive industry, composites can contribute to improved crashworthiness and vehicle performance. Additionally, composites can provide corrosion resistance and durability in marine applications, while offering lightweight and high-performance solutions in sports equipment.
Challenges Associated with Composite Manufacturing
Manufacturing composites comes with its own set of challenges, including delaminations, quality control, and specialized tooling and equipment requirements. To mitigate these challenges, careful design and planning, stringent quality control measures, and proper training and education for operators are crucial.
Delaminations, a common issue in composite manufacturing, can be minimized through optimized lay-up techniques, proper surface preparation, and the use of high-quality materials. Implementing quality control measures, such as non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques, can help identify defects and ensure the reliability of composite components. Additionally, investing in specialized tooling and equipment, as well as continuous training and education for operators, is essential to achieve high-quality composite products.
Understanding the unique properties of composite materials and the processes required to manufacture them is critical for the successful design and engineering of composite components. By leveraging these unique materials and processes, industries can benefit from improved performance, reduced weight, and increased fuel efficiency. As the adoption of composite materials continues to grow, overcoming the challenges associated with their manufacturing will be crucial to unlocking their full potential in various applications. | <urn:uuid:6f32e26d-4f74-40cb-851c-094496351063> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.addcomposites.com/post/introduction-to-composite-materials-and-processes-unique-materials-that-require-unique-processes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.92586 | 1,125 | 3.734375 | 4 |
Understanding Sustainable Infrastructure: A Blueprint for Thriving Cities and Communities
In the age of climate change and environmental consciousness, sustainable infrastructure stands as a beacon of hope for creating cities and communities that are resilient, eco-friendly, and poised for a brighter future. This article delves into the intricate world of sustainable infrastructure, dissecting its core principles and exploring why it's the cornerstone of progress for cities and communities worldwide.
Defining Sustainable Infrastructure
Sustainable infrastructure is the epitome of thoughtful and purposeful development. It encompasses a spectrum of practices, designs, and technologies aimed at ensuring that the physical and organizational structures we create today serve not just our needs but also those of future generations. It is a delicate balance of addressing social, economic, and environmental concerns in a harmonious and integrated manner.
The Triple Bottom Line of Sustainable Infrastructure
1. Environmental Sustainability
Resource Efficiency: Sustainable infrastructure is guided by principles of resource efficiency. It means making the most out of every drop of water, every unit of energy, and every raw material. This leads to reduced waste, more efficient resource use, and a diminished environmental impact.
2. Economic Viability
Long-term Cost Savings: While some may argue that sustainable infrastructure is more expensive initially, it shines in the long run. Energy-efficient buildings, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable practices translate into cost savings over the life of a project. Reduced maintenance costs, lower energy bills, and increased longevity of structures are a few of the many benefits.
Economic Growth: Sustainable infrastructure stimulates economic growth by creating jobs and attracting investments. Green projects often prove to be magnets for venture capital and government funding, driving innovation and creating employment opportunities.
3. Social Equity
Inclusive Communities: Sustainable infrastructure fosters inclusive communities. It ensures that the benefits of development are accessible to all, irrespective of socio-economic factors. This includes equitable access to transportation, housing, and basic resources.
Quality of Life: Perhaps the most palpable effect of sustainable infrastructure is the enhancement of the quality of life. Clean air, safe drinking water, efficient transportation, and green spaces all contribute to healthier, happier communities.
Why Sustainable Infrastructure Matters
The importance of sustainable infrastructure cannot be overstated. Here's why:
Mitigating Climate Change
With climate change becoming an ever more pressing concern, the role of sustainable infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of global warming is paramount. The reduction of carbon emissions through green building practices and renewable energy integration aligns with the global agenda to combat climate change. Carbon-neutral and carbon-positive infrastructure projects are now the order of the day.
Resilience to Natural Disasters
Extreme weather events are on the rise, and sustainable infrastructure is designed to withstand them. Resilience means protecting lives and property when disaster strikes. Buildings and transportation systems are built to be more robust and prepared for flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, and more.
Sustainable infrastructure is an exercise in resource conservation. It means using only what is necessary and using it judiciously. Water, energy, and raw materials are conserved. Waste is minimized. This not only benefits the environment but also reduces costs.
Quality of Life
Ultimately, sustainable infrastructure enhances the quality of life for residents. When cities invest in sustainable transportation systems, clean energy, and green spaces, the community thrives. The result is improved public health, access to essential services, and overall well-being.
Challenges and Solutions
While the virtues of sustainable infrastructure are indisputable, it's not without its challenges. The initial costs can be higher, and there's a need for skilled labor in sustainable construction. However, these challenges can be addressed through a range of strategies:
Government bodies can provide incentives for sustainable infrastructure projects through grants, tax breaks, and subsidies. These financial incentives encourage developers and cities to embrace green practices.
Collaboration between the public and private sectors is a powerful tool for sustainable infrastructure. Public-private partnerships can bring together the resources, expertise, and innovation needed to make sustainable projects a reality.
Investment in Green Technology
Investing in green technology and research is essential. Technological advancements in construction materials, energy-efficient systems, and waste reduction can significantly reduce the costs and environmental impact of sustainable infrastructure projects.
Training programs can address the need for skilled labor in sustainable construction. Vocational and academic programs can prepare the workforce for green jobs, from engineers and architects to construction workers.
Sustainable infrastructure isn't just a buzzword; it's a transformative pathway to a better world. As you explore more about this fascinating field, we invite you to check out the CEWA Civil Engineering Blog, where we delve deeper into the principles, projects, and advancements in sustainable infrastructure. The blog is your gateway to a world of innovation, sustainability, and the journey toward a brighter, greener future.
In the grand tapestry of urban development, sustainable infrastructure is the thread that holds the promise of a brighter, greener, and more prosperous future for all. We are CEWA Civil Engineering, and our blog is your guide to building a better tomorrow. | <urn:uuid:2416763e-2602-47e1-adcb-54c3d9eec679> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.akhandduttaengineering.in/2023/10/what-is-sustainable-infrastructure-and.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.914804 | 1,035 | 3.609375 | 4 |
While mapping streams of stars coursing through the Milky Way’s halo, an international team of astronomers reports finding seven faint satellite galaxies orbiting our own. An eighth object, discovered in the past 2 months, shows surprising characteristics — and may be the first of a new class of “free-floating” galaxies unbound to the Milky Way.
The seven dwarfs that orbit our galaxy lie between 100,000 and 700,000 light-years away. “They are so incredibly diffuse that, when you look at … a photograph of the sky, you will not see these galaxies,” explains Cambridge University’s Daniel Zucker, who presented the findings at this week’s Seattle meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
The team found the new galaxies by processing imaging data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-II), which covers about one-fifth of the sky around the North Galactic Pole. The astronomers eliminated red, nearby stars. Then, sophisticated computer algorithms churned through the digital data to find groupings of related stars. Two new dwarfs lie in the constellation Canes Venatici, one in Boötes, one in Leo, one in Coma Berenices, one in Ursa Major, and one in Hercules.
Dwarf galaxies contain, at most, a few million stars, but the combined starlight from each of the new systems is less than 100,000 times the Sun’s. “We’re finding lots of them, and they seem to be much fainter than anyone suspected galaxies could be before,” Zucker says. “Perhaps, rather than dwarf galaxies, they should be renamed ‘hobbit galaxies.'”
Based on SDSS-II’s sky coverage and the number of new systems identified, Zucker suggests dozens of similar galaxies await discovery in other areas of the sky.
Several of the newly discovered systems appear to be on the verge of disruption, probably due to the Milky Way’s gravity. “They look as though they’re being ground up,” Belokurov says. In fact, the Ursa Major II dwarf already seems to be in several pieces.
The eighth and newest discovery is the most intriguing. Named Leo T, for its nature as a transition object, the galaxy is about 1.4 million light-years away, on the fringes of the Milky Way’s gravitational influence. “It may be a ‘free-floating’ Local Group dwarf, rather than a satellite of the Milky Way,” says team member Sergey Koposov at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany.
Leo T’s stellar glow amounts to only 50,000 Suns, but some of its stars formed within the last billion years. By contrast, all of the other new dwarfs contain exclusively old stars. Further, radio data indicate Leo T holds a large amount of neutral hydrogen gas — the fuel for making new stars. “This is basically the smallest, faintest, star-forming galaxy known,” Zucker notes.
“Leo T has probably always been very faint, retaining its gas and slowly forming stars in relative isolation,” says Mike Irwin, a team member and Cambridge University astronomer.
“These new discoveries have really pushed the limit of how small a galaxy can be well below what I, and probably most astronomers, would ever have previously imagined,” Zucker says.
Could the Local Group be filled with smaller, fainter galaxies freely drifting through space? “Cold-dark-matter models predict that there should be tens to hundreds more dwarf galaxies in the Local Group than have been observed, if all dark-matter halos are lit up with stars,” Zucker explains. “These discoveries bring the data and the theory closer together,” he says, but he acknowledges there’s still a substantial gap. | <urn:uuid:486db784-4005-45af-91bf-4877cf272366> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.astronomy.com/science/sdss-finds-hobbit-galaxies/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.935235 | 821 | 3.078125 | 3 |
A compact bench top mounting experiment to demonstrate the phenomena of whirling shafts.
TecQuipment’s Whirling of Shafts and Critical Speed apparatus (TM1001) shows how shafts vibrate transversely and ‘whirl’ at a certain rotation frequency. This helps engineers understand possible problems with long shafts and allow for them in their designs.
The equipment is in two parts and fits on a bench or desktop. The main part is a solid alloy frame that holds a variable speed motor which turns the horizontal test shaft. Two bearings hold the shaft, one bearing at the ‘driven end’ and the other bearing at the ‘tail end’ of the shaft. The tail end bearing slides in its housing to allow the shaft length to change as it ‘whirls’. Similar to a beam on two simple knife-edge supports, both bearings allow free angular shaft movement (free ends condition). Also supplied with the equipment are extra bearings that restrict angular movement when fitted, to give ‘fixed ends’.
Two movable nylon bushes help to prevent the shaft whirling amplitude from reaching excessive levels. A movable cord plate allows students to control the shaft in some experiments, to help reach the second mode whirl speed. A sensor at the driven end measures the shaft speed and sends its signal to the Control and Instrumentation Unit display. A removable safety guard with magnetic interlock surrounds the shaft and only allows the motor to work when fitted.
The separate Control and Instrumentation Unit contains the drive for the variable speed motor and a display to show the shaft speed. It also includes a trigger output for the optional stroboscope.
When used in a darkened classroom, the optional stroboscope gives an impressive demonstration of how the shaft shape changes as it reaches its whirling speeds. Supplied with the apparatus is a set of test shafts of different length and diameter to show how these properties affect whirling and its ‘critical speed’. Also supplied is a set of weights to show how concentrated loads affect whirling. One weight has an extra hole to make it an eccentric load. This helps to show the phase difference between the load and the deflection (you need the optional stroboscope to see this clearly).
- Self-contained bench mounting unit for experiments that predict and show ‘whirling’ in different length and diameter shafts with different end conditions
- Very visual apparatus – ideal for demonstrations to groups of students
- Shows first and second mode whirl speeds and how to predict them
- Extra bearings and weights (included) give a choice of free-free, fixed-free and fixed-fixed end conditions and experiments with loaded shafts and eccentric loading
- Includes all tools needed for easy experiment setup
- Supplied with different shafts to study how length and diameter affects whirling
- Fully guarded and interlocked for safety
- Optional stroboscope to ‘freeze’ the image of the shaft to see its shape clearly
- Basic whirling demonstration
- The effect of shaft length and diameter
- The effect of end conditions (fixings)
- Loaded shaft (one and two masses)
- Eccentric loading | <urn:uuid:63eb342f-6c38-42c9-8515-38ff32aad721> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.ayva.ca/eng/product/whirling-of-shafts-and-critical-speed/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.903534 | 660 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Textile dyeing, printing and finishing are the main stages in fabric production that focus on the colour, shade and its final appearance. While spinning and weaving are the early stages of production that provide quality fabrication, dyeing, printing and finishing stand as the prior stage to the garment manufacturing process. Although, these three steps add the key value to a piece of fabric since the colour which is mainly a reflecting light through fabric gives a whole other unique impression to it.
Therefore, let’s understand how these key processes are crucial to refining the final product and increase its value in the market.
· Dyeing Process
Dyeing is a process where the fabric is immersed into an aqueous dyebath to give it the desired color as per the specific procedure. There are many chemicals like vasts and reatives are used in the process that skips the after parts of dyeing such as washing, rubbing and exposure to light. However, to utilize such chemical components, there are several complex ingredients involved that highly expensive in the market. Therefore, you will find fabric and garment manufacturers in India that provide expensive garments due to the usage of such complex chemicals for dyeing.
Dyes add a long-lasting and significant color to the garments. These are available in several kinds namely chemical dyeing, dip dyeing, natural dyeing, industrial dyeing, resist dyeing and more. Natural dyes are derived from natural colors extracted from plants, animals and minerals. To color the fabric in an environment-friendly manner, natural dyes are the perfect choice. This is why traditional and handwoven garments and fabrics like khadi promise quality and stand for environmental friendliness due to the usage of natural dyes.
· Printing Process
Printing process involves adding more colors to the dyed fabric or yarn to create designs and patterns. Usually prints are embossed on the surface of the fabric after the dyeing process is complete and ready for the next process execution. The textile processing industry in India used a wide range of techniques, tools, equipment and innovative machines. This is why India is a country with plenty of diversity, even in its fabric designs and prints.
A typical textile printing technique involves complementing different types of fabrics with trending or authentic patterns and designs. As compared to dyes, pigments are insoluble and they are unlikely affinite for fibres. They require resin and solvents to bind them to the fabric. There are several methods under printing called as digital prints, block prints, discharge prints, screen prints, direct prints, heat-transfer prints and many others.
· Finishing Process
When obtained from the knitting or weaving machine, finishing is the process to refine the fabric’s appearance so that a quality product is manufactured and ready to supply. It is the last step that concludes the functioning a textile.
The finishing process consists of treatment steps such as bleaching, scouring, dyeing, etc. With finishing the textile is refined to create a quality fabric that enhances the characteristics of the fabric such as its appearance, colour, design and print. Since the step is crucial in the commercial aspects of the textile sector, they must match the requirements of every technical textiles requirements in India. However, the market requirements are constantly changing. To stay up-to-date with the market requirements it is necessary that fabric and garment manufacturers in India adopt to these differing and upcoming trends. | <urn:uuid:bce9f5b8-05b7-4e7a-9740-9f4007f08baf> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.bidhata.com/2021/02/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.952456 | 695 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Bezos Earth Fund donates $30M to Salk Institute for innovative climate change research
Salk's Harnessing Plants Initiative will receive $30 million from the Bezos Earth Fund to advance efforts to increase the ability of crop plants, such as corn and soybeans, to capture and store atmospheric carbon via their roots in the soil.
This work will explore carbon-sequestration mechanisms in six of the world's most prevalent crop species with the goal of increasing the plants' carbon-storage capacity. It complements an ongoing HPI project focused on identifying genes for increased carbon sequestration in model plants and then utilizing those genes to enhance carbon sequestration in crops.
"The Bezos Earth Fund's generous donation will help realize an exciting new HPI research program that significantly increases our scientific efforts towards the ultimate goal of utilizing crop plants to mitigate the effects of climate change," said Rusty Gage, Salk president and professor.
Plants have immense potential to remove excess carbon from Earth's atmosphere to help respond to our warming planet. The Bezos Earth Fund grant will enable Salk scientists to advance work in plant genetics, genomics, and biochemistry—and use the power of plant diversity—to develop global crops that will increase the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere and store it deep in the earth's soil.
Members of the HPI leadership team include Salk faculty members Wolfgang Busch, Joanne Chory, Joseph Ecker, Julie Law, Todd Michael and Joseph Noel. | <urn:uuid:6a013c3e-dff5-4edf-b61c-406a5ccb584c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.biobased-diesel.com/post/bezos-earth-fund-donates-30m-to-salk-institute-for-innovative-climate-change-research | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.899617 | 301 | 2.65625 | 3 |
The national student loan debt increases every year, which is no surprise. Right now, it’s somewhere around $1.38 trillion. What might shock you is what students are doing with their student loan money. 41% of non-educational loan money is spent on things like rent and cell phone bills, which definitely makes sense. After that, things get a little bit more frivolous. 15% is spent on clothing, while 12.8% is spent on restaurants and take-out, while 2.8% is spent on alcohol and drugs.
Meanwhile, 7 in 10 college students are stressed about their personal finances, and 3 in 10 students have neglected studying because of problems with money.
Having more financial literacy could help students struggling with cash. 7% of students don’t know the yearly costs for school, and 20% of students with loans don’t know the terms of loan repayment.
To make things even worse, the job market isn’t great, which makes it even harder to replay loans. The average starting salary for college grads has gone down over the past 15 years. | <urn:uuid:983c808f-b0bf-4f02-a698-e053d2ac7e84> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.bizcatalyst360.com/student-loans-beer-or-textbooks/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.978498 | 229 | 2.546875 | 3 |
It is said that beauty is found in the eyes of the beholder. Each person will have a different definition of beauty, but it can be defined as any positive and pleasing physical characteristic that is visible in an individual. It doesn’t matter if you are ugly or beautiful. We define beauty by what we see. Beauty, as with all things, can lead to attraction which greatly aids in the development and maintenance of romantic relationships.
However, those who consider themselves lacking in beauty can lead to low self-esteem and a loss of sense of style. They often lack glamour, and are often behind fashion trends because of this apparent deficiency. However, fashion and style can enhance physical beauty. Even people who are considered ugly can still look beautiful if they don’t follow the trends.
A person’s opinion on physical beauty is often influenced by their self-confidence. Some people believe beauty is beauty, and that there is no substitute. Others would see beauty even in someone who is not beautiful because they see unique characteristics or special qualities in the person. Style and fashion should not be considered a means to an end. You can still be beautiful.
It is possible to look beautiful even if you lack glamour, fashion, or style. Unbeliefs and biases aside, an ugly person should believe that they are beautiful in their own way. These three attributes should not define beauty. Instead, they should be an integral part of how the person sees himself.
You can be ugly, but still be beautiful. Ugliness can give you a sense uniqueness and charm, which can only be achieved when it is seen in a positive light. Fat people can see themselves as lacking glamour and style. Fashionably thin people tend to be fashionable and stylish. You don’t have to indulge in the latest fashion trends or be considered fashionably obese. Although you may have large eyes and a charming appearance, it doesn’t mean you can’t make friends or find partners if your personality is positive and you have enough self-confidence. It all comes down to your perception of yourself. You can create your own style and adopt a level of fashion that will assist you.
No matter what other people think, you are the only one who can make up for your physical imperfections. If you consider yourself beautiful, glamour, fashion and style do not need to be your only option. | <urn:uuid:78f09d62-34b2-4caa-94dd-238c13dd10a0> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.bluetravelly.com/physical-beauty-or-glamour-fashion-style-and-elegance/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.961142 | 491 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Delivery body publishes 12 objectives based on the themes of climate change, waste, biodiversity, inclusion and healthy living
The Olympic Delivery Authority has this week published a list of sustainability principles it expects the industry to abide by in the construction of the Olympic park.
The proposed 12 objectives are based on the themes of: climate change, waste, biodiversity, inclusion and healthy living. These were originally set out in the WWF and Bioregional concept “Towards a One Planet Olympics”.
The draft 12 sustainability principles are:
- Energy – Maximise the opportunities for carbon efficiency while reducing the carbon footprint of the Olympic and Legacy development wherever possible.
- Waste – Maximise opportunities to design out waste and provide new waste infrastructure, while minimising off-site disposal during remediation and construction, through an integrated approach to resource management.
- Materials – Identify, source and use environmentally and socially responsible materials.
- Biodiversity and ecology – Protect and enhance the wildlife and its habitat of the lower Lea Valley, and enhance access to nature.
- Land, water, noise, air – Maximise positive and minimise adverse impacts on land, water, noise and air quality.
- Global, local and internal environments – Design and build in a sensitive manner for internal and local environments, adaptable to future climates.
- Culture, heritage and built form – Preserve and improve the heritage of the lower Lea Valley.
- Transport and mobility – Create accessible, pedestrian friendly Olympic park and venues, with good connectivity to surrounding areas.
- Housing and amenity – Create new safe, mixed-use public space, housing and facilities appropriate to the demographics and character of the lower Lea Valley.
- Education and employment – Provide new employment and business opportunities locally, regionally and nationally.
- Health and well-being – Provide for new health, recreation, sporting and cultural facilities in the Olympic and Legacy development.
- Inclusion – Involve, communicate and consult effectively with stakeholders, and communities surrounding the Olympic park.
ODA chief executive David Higgins said the body wanted to deliver the Olympic Park site in the most sustainable way possible. He said: “The ODA will work collaboratively with industry, using its influence and purchasing power, to encourage and enable the delivery of an economically, socially and environmentally responsible Games.” | <urn:uuid:b918170c-9770-4fb8-bd30-f9ba4a4bd723> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.building.co.uk/news/oda-sets-out-sustainability-agenda-for-olympic-park/3071811.article | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.901256 | 481 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Immunogenicity, Efficacy, and Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccines
- Immune Response Following Vaccination
- Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness and Match Between Vaccine and Circulating Viruses
- Inactivated Influenza Vaccines
- Recombinant Influenza Vaccine
- Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine
- Comparisons of LAIV3/4 and IIV Efficacy or Effectiveness
- Duration of Immunity
- Repeated Vaccination
Estimates of vaccine efficacy (i.e., prevention of illness among vaccinated persons enrolled in controlled clinical trials) and vaccine effectiveness (i.e., prevention of illness in vaccinated populations) of influenza vaccines depend on many factors, including the age and immunocompetence of the vaccine recipient, the degree of similarity between the viruses in the vaccine and those in circulation, study design, diagnostic testing measures, and the outcome being measured. Studies of influenza vaccine efficacy and effectiveness have used a variety of outcome measures, including the prevention of ILI, medically-attended acute respiratory illness (MAARI), LCI, P&I-associated hospitalizations or deaths, and prevention of seroconversion to circulating influenza virus strains. Efficacy or effectiveness estimates for more specific outcomes such as LCI typically are higher than for less specific outcomes such as MAARI because the causes of MAARI include infections with other pathogens that influenza vaccination would not be expected to prevent (105).
Randomized controlled trials that measure LCI virus infections (by viral culture or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR]) as the outcome provide the best and most persuasive evidence of vaccine efficacy, but such data are not available for all populations. Such studies are difficult to perform in populations for which influenza vaccination is already recommended. Observational studies, particularly those that compare non-influenza-specific outcomes among vaccinated populations to those among unvaccinated populations, are more subject to biases than studies using laboratory-confirmed outcomes. For example, an observational study that finds that influenza vaccination reduces overall mortality among elderly persons might be biased if healthier persons in the study are more likely to be vaccinated and thus less likely to die for any reason (106). Bias due to frailty (a characteristic which can be associated with both a lower likelihood of vaccination and increased likelihood of severe illness) is also a concern in observational studies(107). Observational studies that use a test-negative design (TND, in which all participants present with illness, and case/control status is assigned on the basis of influenza testing) might be less subject to frailty bias (108).
For studies assessing laboratory-confirmed outcomes, estimates of vaccine efficacy and effectiveness also might be affected by the specificity of the diagnostic tests used. A 2012 simulation study found that for each percentage point decrease in diagnostic test specificity for influenza virus infection, vaccine effectiveness would be underestimated by approximately 4% in classic case-control studies (109). In a simulation study which evaluated the effects of different values of influenza diagnostic test sensitivity and specificity on vaccine effectiveness estimates from cohort, classic case-control, and test-negative designs, it was concluded that misclassification of case/control status resulted in slightly more biased VE estimates for test-negative studies than for other designs. However, the degree of bias was not thought to be meaningful when realistic combinations of attack rates, sensitivity, and specificity were considered (110).
The CDC U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness (U.S. Flu VE) Network, a collaboration of 5 U.S. sites, produces annual estimates of vaccine effectiveness against outpatient MAARI, using a test-negative case-control design. Results are stratified by age group and vaccine type (when there is sufficient use of a specific vaccine to permit a VE estimate). VE estimates from this network for selected recent seasons are summarized in some of the sections that follow. Further information concerning methods, summaries of additional results, and links to reports are available.
Serum antibodies against hemagglutinin are considered to be correlates of vaccine-induced protection for inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs)(8). Higher levels of antibody induced by vaccination decrease the risk for illness caused by strains that are antigenically similar to those strains of the same type or subtype included in the vaccine (9, 111-113). Most healthy children and adults have high titers of strain-specific antibody after IIV vaccination (112, 114). However, although immune correlates such as achievement of certain antibody titers after vaccination correlate well with immunity on a population level, reaching a certain antibody threshold (typically defined as a hemagglutination inhibition antibody [HAI] titer of 32 or 40) might not predict protection from infection on the individual level.
Compared with IIV, live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) induces lower levels of serum antibodies but induces cellular immune responses more effectively. The magnitude of this effect differs among adults and children. One study of children aged 6 months–9 years and adults aged 22–49 years noted a significant increase in influenza A-specific interferon γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells among children following receipt of LAIV but not following receipt of IIV. No significant increases in these parameters were noted among adults following receipt of either vaccine (115).
Immune responses elicited by influenza vaccines are generally strain-specific. Antibody against one influenza virus type or subtype generally confers limited or no protection against another type or subtype, nor does it typically confer protection against antigenic variants of the same virus that arise by antigenic drift. However, among adults, vaccination can cause a “back boost” of antibody titers against influenza A(H3N2) viruses that have been encountered previously either by vaccination or natural infection (116).
Studies using a serological definition of influenza virus infection have raised concerns that dependence on a serological diagnosis of influenza in clinical trials might lead to overestimation of vaccine efficacy because of an “antibody ceiling” effect in adult participants with historic exposures to both natural infections and vaccination (117). This could result in the decreased likelihood that antibody increases can be observed in vaccinated participants after influenza infection with circulating viruses, as compared with adult participants in control arms of trials. Thus, vaccinated participants might be less likely to show a fourfold increase in antibody levels after influenza infection with circulating viruses compared with unvaccinated participants in such studies
The viral composition of influenza vaccines must be determined months in advance of the start of each season, to allow enough time for manufacture and distribution of vaccine. Selection of viruses is based on consideration of global influenza surveillance data, from which decisions are made regarding the viruses most likely to circulate during the upcoming season. During some seasons, because of antigenic drift among influenza A viruses or change in predominant lineage among B viruses, circulating viruses might differ from those included in the vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness can be influenced by mismatches to circulating influenza viruses. Good match between vaccine and circulating viruses was associated with increased protection against MAARI-related ED visits and hospitalizations among older persons (118), ILI in younger working adults (37), and LCI (119) in observational studies. Results from other investigations suggest that influenza vaccine can still provide some protection against influenza and outcomes such as influenza-associated hospitalizations, even in seasons when match is suboptimal (120, 121).
In addition to antigenic drift of circulating influenza viruses, vaccine viruses might undergo adaptive mutations during propagation in eggs. In some instances, these mutations may result in antigenic differences between vaccine viruses and circulating viruses, which may in turn result in reduced vaccine effectiveness (122). While the majority of influenza vaccines licensed in the United States are egg-based, two which use non-egg based technologies have been licensed in recent seasons. These include a cell culture-based IIV4 Flucelvax Quadrivalent (ccIIV4, Seqirus) and a recombinant quadrivalent vaccine, Flublok (RIV4, Sanofi Pasteur). Flucelvax Quadrivalent is produced via propagation of vaccine viruses in canine kidney cells instead of eggs (123). Flublok Quadrivalent contains HA produced via recombinant methods in an insect cell line, and uses neither influenza viruses nor eggs in its production (124). In a retrospective cohort analysis of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) data including >13 million beneficiaries aged ≥65 years during the 2017-18 season, effectiveness of ccIIV4 was somewhat better than that of egg based vaccines (relative VE=11%, 95%CI 8—14% compared with standard-dose egg based quadrivalent inactivated vaccines); use of RIV4 was insufficient for analysis (125). The authors concluded the modest relative benefit of ccIIV4 indicated that changes in egg propagated vaccine viruses were probably not sufficient to fully account for the relatively low VE observed during 2017-18. More comparative studies are needed to elucidate potential benefits of non-egg based vaccines.
Inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) comprise the largest category of vaccines currently available. IIVs are administered by intramuscular injection. They are manufactured using influenza viruses which have been inactivated, so no viral replication occurs after administration. Immunogenicity, effectiveness, and efficacy have been evaluated in children and adults. However, in general, fewer data from randomized studies of efficacy against LCI outcomes are available for certain age groups (e.g., persons aged ≥65 years as compared with younger age groups). Product-specific efficacy data from randomized trials are generally limited for some of the more recently licensed quadrivalent vaccines, many of which were licensed primarily on the basis of immunogenicity studies which demonstrated non-inferior immune response as compared with their earlier trivalent counterparts. Efficacy and effectiveness studies in which different individual IIVs are compared are also limited, with the exception of some specific comparisons that are discussed in the sections that follow.
Since the introduction of quadrivalent IIV (IIV4) in the United States during the 2013–14 season, both trivalent (IIV3) and quadrivalent IIVs have been available. Both IIV3s and IIV4s contain an influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus (selected from one of the two influenza B virus lineages). IIV4s contain the viruses selected for IIV3s, and in addition contain a fourth virus, which is an influenza B virus selected from the second influenza B virus lineage (i.e., the lineage not contained in the trivalent vaccine). In general, pre-licensure studies of immunogenicity of the currently licensed IIV4s compared with corresponding IIV3 products from the same manufacturer have demonstrated superior immunogenicity for IIV4 for the added influenza B virus that is not included in IIV3, without interfering with immune responses to the remaining three vaccine viruses (126-133).
IIV4s were developed to provide better protection in seasons in which the predominant circulating influenza B lineage is not included in IIV3s. However, effectiveness studies conducted during some seasons have demonstrated that IIV3 provided similar protection against circulating influenza B viruses of both lineages. For example, the U.S. Flu VE Network found that IIV3 provided statistically significant protection against both the included B lineage (66%; 95%CI 58, 73) and the non-included B lineage (51%; 95%CI 36, 63) during the 2012– 13 season, when both lineages co-circulated (134). Similarly, in an observational study conducted during the 2011-12 season, in which both B lineages co-circulated, effectiveness was similar for both (52%, 95%CI 8, 75% for B/Victoria; and 66%, 95%CI 38, 81% for B/Yamagata) (135). Cross-lineage protection was observed for IIV3 and ccIIV3 in a randomized trial (136); in another randomized trial of IIV3 there was no cross lineage protection (137).
Several studies involving seasonal IIV among young children have demonstrated that 2 vaccine doses provide better protection than 1 dose during the first season a child is vaccinated. In a study during the 2004–05 season of children aged 5–8 years who received IIV3 for the first time, the proportion of children with putatively protective antibody responses was significantly higher after 2 doses than after 1 dose of IIV3 for each antigen (p<0.001 for influenza A[H1N1]; p=0.01 for influenza A[H3N2]; and p<0.001 for influenza B) (138). Vaccine effectiveness is lower among children aged <5 years who have never received influenza vaccine previously or who received only 1 dose in their first year of vaccination than it is among children who received 2 doses in their first year of being vaccinated. A retrospective study of billing and registry data among children aged 6–21 months conducted during the 2003–04 season found that although receipt of 2 doses of IIV3 was protective against office visits for ILI, receipt of 1 dose was not (139). Another retrospective cohort study of children aged 6 months through 8 years, the majority of whom received IIV3 (0.8% received LAIV3), also conducted during the 2003–04 season, found no effectiveness against ILI or P&I among children who had received only 1 dose (140); children who received 2 doses were protected against P&I. In a case-control study of approximately 2,500 children aged 6–59 months conducted during the 2003–04 and 2004–05 seasons, being fully vaccinated (having received the recommended number of doses) was associated with 57% effectiveness (95%CI 28, 74) against LCI for the 2004–05 season; a single dose was not significantly effective (too few children in the study population were fully vaccinated during the 2003–04 season to draw conclusions) (141). In a three-season (2015-16 through 2017-18) test-negative case-control study conducted among children aged 6 months through 8 years in Israel, IIV3 was effective for those who were fully vaccinated (VE=53.9%; 95%CI 38.6, 68.3), but not for those who were only partially vaccinated (VE=25.6%; 95%CI -3, 47) (142). The results of these studies support the recommendation that all children aged 6 months–8 years who are being vaccinated for the first time should receive 2 doses separated by at least 4 weeks (see Children Aged 6 Months through 8 Years).
Estimates of the efficacy of IIV among children aged ≥6 months vary by season and study design. Limited efficacy data are available for children from randomized controlled trials that used culture- or RT-PCR–confirmed influenza virus infections as the primary outcome. In a randomized trial conducted during five influenza seasons (1985–90) in the United States among children aged 1–15 years, receipt of IIV3 reduced culture-positive influenza by 77% (95%CI 20,93) during A(H3N2) years and 91% (95%CI 64, 98) during A(H1N1) years (112). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted during two influenza seasons among 786 children aged 6–24 months, estimated efficacy was 66% (95%CI 34, 82) against culture-confirmed influenza illness during 1999–00. However, vaccination did not reduce culture-confirmed influenza illness significantly during 2000–01, when influenza attack rates were lower (3% versus 16% during 1999–20 season) (143). More recently, in a multinational randomized trial which included over 12,000 children aged 6 through 25 months over 5 influenza seasons between 2011 and 2014 and compared IIV4 to non-influenza control vaccines, VE was 50% (95%CI 42, 57) against LCI of any severity and 63.2% (95%CI 49, 69) against moderate-to-severe influenza (defined as LCI with any of the following features: fever >39⁰C, otitis media, lower respiratory infection, serious extrapulmonary complications, intensive care unit admission, or need for supplemental oxygen for >8 hours) (144).
In observational studies for recent influenza seasons, vaccine effectiveness among children has varied by season. In the U.S. Flu VE Network (within which the majority of vaccine used in recent seasons has been IIV3 or IIV4), estimated effectiveness against medically-attended influenza illness due to all types and subtypes during the 2016-17 season was 57% (95%CI 43, 68) for children aged 6 months through 8 years and 36% (95%CI 15, 52) for children aged 9 through 19 years (145). For the 2017-18 season, estimated effectiveness was 68% (95%CI 55, 77) for children aged 6 months through 4 years and 32% (95%CI 16, 44) for children aged 5 through 17 years (146).
Receipt of IIV was associated with a reduction in acute otitis media in some studies but not in others. Two studies reported that IIV3 decreases the risk for otitis media among children (147, 148). However, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted among 786 children aged 6 through 24 months (mean age: 14 months) indicated that IIV3 did not reduce the proportion of children who developed acute otitis media during the study (143). A 2017 systematic review concluded that receipt of influenza vaccine was associated with a small decrease in the occurrence of at least one episode of acute otitis media over a minimum of six months following vaccination; however, this decrease was not statistically significant (RR=0.84; 95%CI 0.69, 1.02) This result was pooled from 4 studies which included different vaccines (two of IIV3, one of IIV3 administered with measles/mumps/rubella vaccine, and one of LAIV3) (149). Influenza vaccine effectiveness against a nonspecific clinical outcome such as acute otitis media, which is caused by a variety of pathogens and typically is not diagnosed by use of influenza virus detection methods, would be expected to be lower than effectiveness against LCI.
A 2012 meta-analysis found a pooled IIV3 efficacy against RT-PCR or culture-confirmed influenza of 59% (95%CI 51, 67) among adults aged 18–65 years for eight of twelve seasons analyzed in 10 randomized controlled trials (150). Vaccination of healthy adults was associated with decreased work absenteeism and use of health care resources in some studies, when the vaccine and circulating viruses are well-matched (37, 39). In another study of healthy working adults conducted during the 2012–13 season, no significant difference in missed work hours between vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects was noted (151).
In analyses of data from the U.S. Flu VE Network, (within which the majority of vaccine used in recent seasons has been IIV3 or IIV4), estimated effectiveness against MAARI due to all viral types and subtypes for adults aged 18 through 49 years was 19% (95%CI 0, 34) during the 2016-17 season (145) and 33% (95%CI 21, 44) during the 2017-18 season (146). For those aged 50 through 64 years, estimated effectiveness during the 2016-17 season was 40% (95%CI 24, 53) (145). During the 2017-18 season VE was 30% (95%CI 13, 44) for this age group (146).
Older adults have long been recognized as a high-risk group for severe influenza illness, and have been recommended to receive annual influenza vaccination since the 1960s (75). Historically, most effectiveness data in this population pertain to standard-dose IIVs, which contain 15 µg of HA of each vaccine virus per dose. Discussion of the more recently licensed high-dose IIV3 (HDIIV3), adjuvanted IIV3 (aIIV3), and quadrivalent recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV4) in this age group is presented below.
Studies suggest that antibody responses to influenza vaccination are decreased in older adults. A review of HAI antibody responses to IIV3 in 31 studies found that 42%, 51%, and 35% of older adults (aged ≥58 years) seroconverted to A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B vaccine antigens, respectively, compared with 60%, 62%, and 58% of younger persons (aged <58 years). When seroprotection (defined as an HAI titer ≥40) was the outcome, 69%, 74%, and 67% of older adults versus 83%, 84%, and 78% of younger adults achieved protective titers to A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B antigens, respectively (152). Although an HAI titer ≥40 is considered to be associated with approximately 50% clinical protection from infection, this standard was established in young healthy adults (8), An analysis of serologic data from a randomized controlled efficacy trial of high-dose IIV among the elderly found that an HAI titer of ≥40 corresponded to 50% protection (similar to the recognized threshold for younger adults) when the vaccine virus was well-matched to the circulating virus, but higher titers were required with poor match (153). Limited or no increase in antibody response is reported among elderly adults when a second dose is administered during the same season (154-156).
Because older adults have been recommended to receive routine annual influenza vaccine for many decades (75), there are relatively few randomized, placebo-controlled trials which estimate VE against LCI outcomes in this population. One randomized controlled trial conducted among community-dwelling (not institutionalized) persons aged ≥60 years found IIV3 to be 58% effective (95%CI 26, 77) against serologically-confirmed influenza illness during the 1991–92 season, during which vaccine viruses were considered to be well-matched to circulating strains (157). The outcome used for measuring the efficacy estimate was seroconversion to a circulating influenza virus and symptomatic illness compatible with clinical influenza infection, rather than viral culture- or PCR-confirmed influenza infection. Use of such outcomes raises concern that seroconversion after symptomatic illness will be less likely among vaccinated persons who have higher levels of pre-existing HAI antibody than among those not vaccinated, leading to an overestimate of the true vaccine efficacy. This phenomenon was demonstrated in a clinical trial conducted among healthy adults aged 18 through 49 years (117).
Other evidence of effectiveness of influenza vaccines among older adults is derived from observational studies and from analyses of health care system data. A 2018 Cochrane review of influenza vaccine effectiveness studies among older adults concluded that older adults who are vaccinated may have a lower risk of influenza (RR=0.42, 95%CI 0.27, 0.66), with the evidence quality characterized as “low certainty” because of the paucity of randomized clinical trials (158). A 2014 review of data from 35 test-negative design case-control studies involving community-dwelling elderly concluded that although influenza vaccine was not significantly effective during periods of localized influenza activity (defined as cases limited to one administrative unit of a country or reported from a single site), influenza vaccine was effective against LCI irrespective of vaccine match or mismatch to the circulating viruses during regional (OR=0.42; 95%CI 0.30, 0.60 when matched; OR=0.57; 95%CI 0.41, 0.79 when not matched) and widespread outbreaks (OR=0.54; 95%CI 0.46, 0.62 when matched; OR=0.72; 95%CI 0.60, 0.85 when not matched), and the effect was stronger when the vaccine viruses matched circulating viruses. Vaccine was effective during sporadic activity, but only when vaccine matched (OR=0.69; 95%CI 0.48, 0.99) (159).
Influenza vaccine effectiveness against medically-attended influenza illness among adults aged ≥65 years is also assessed annually by the U.S. Flu VE Network. In recent seasons, IIV3 and IIV4 have been the predominant type used with this network. For the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, estimated effectiveness of influenza vaccines was not statistically significant for this age group (145, 146).
Influenza vaccination might reduce risk for influenza-related hospitalizations among older adults with and without other high-risk conditions (160-164). A test-negative case-control analysis from a multinational European network noted moderate vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization among persons aged ≥65 years during the 2015-16 season. Estimated vaccine effectiveness was 42% (95%CI 22, 57) for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and 52% (95%CI 24, 70) for influenza B. Vaccine effectiveness estimates were similar for both virus types among persons with diabetes, cancer, lung, and heart disease, except in the instance of influenza B among persons with heart disease, for which vaccine effectiveness was not statistically significant (165). A systematic review and meta-analysis of test-negative case-control studies of vaccine effectiveness for influenza-associated hospitalizations among older adults reported pooled VE of 48% (95%CI 37, 59) for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses, 37% (95%CI 24, 50) for influenza A(H3N2) viruses, and 38% (95%CI 23, 53) for influenza B viruses. Vaccine effectiveness for H3N2 viruses varied substantially depending upon match of circulating viruses with vaccine viruses: 43% (95%CI 33, 53) when vaccine viruses were antigenically similar, vs. 14% (95%CI -3, 30) when they were not (166).
Some studies of severe influenza illness among older adults have used less specific, non-LCI outcomes such as all-cause mortality of hospitalizations associated with influenza-related diagnostic codes. Such methods have been challenged because results might not be adjusted adequately to control for frailty bias or for the possibility that healthier persons might be more likely to be vaccinated than less healthy persons (106, 107, 167). Several studies that have used methods to account for unmeasured confounding have reported effectiveness estimates for nonspecific serious outcomes such as P&I hospitalizations or all-cause mortality among community-dwelling older persons of ~10% or less (168-170). In a test-negative case-control study of community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years, effectiveness of 2010–11 seasonal influenza vaccine against hospitalization for LCI was 42% (95%CI 29, 53). By type and subtype, estimated effectiveness was 40% (95%CI 26, 52) for influenza A(H3N2) and 90% (95%CI 51, 98) for influenza A(H1N1); no significant reduction was seen against influenza B (13%; 95%CI -77, 58) (171). In a study covering the 2007-08 through 2010-11 seasons, among outpatients aged ≥65 years presenting with ARI with RT-PCR-confirmed influenza, self-rated symptom severity was less for those who had been vaccinated than for those who had not (172). An analysis of data from the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET) for the 2012-13 season found no difference in symptom severity in vaccinated vs unvaccinated adults, but length of ICU stay was shorter for those aged 50 through 64 years who had been vaccinated (173). A subsequent study from the same network for 2013-14 found vaccination to be associated with reduced length of hospital and ICU stay among persons aged 50-64 years and ≥65 years, as well as lower odds of in-hospital death in these age groups (174).
Influenza infection is a common cause of morbidity and death among institutionalized older adults. Influenza vaccine effectiveness in preventing respiratory illness among elderly persons residing in nursing homes has been estimated at 20%–40% (175, 176). Documented outbreaks among well vaccinated nursing-home populations suggest that vaccination might not have discernable effectiveness, particularly when circulating strains are drifted from vaccine strains (177, 178).
The desire to improve immune response and vaccine effectiveness among adults aged ≥65 years has led to the development and licensure of vaccines intended to promote a better immune response in this population. Currently, both a high-dose IIV3 and an aIIV3 are licensed specifically for this age group, in addition to standard-dose unadjuvanted IIVs and RIVs. Specific discussion of HD-IIV3, aIIV3, and RIV4 for older adults is discussed below (see HD-IIV3, aIIV3, and RIV4 for Older Adults).
Passive transfer of anti-influenza antibodies from vaccinated women to neonates has been documented (179-181). Protection of infants though maternal vaccination has been observed in several studies. In a randomized controlled trial conducted in Bangladesh, vaccination of pregnant women during the third trimester resulted in a 36% reduction in respiratory illness with fever among these women, as compared with women who received pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. In addition, influenza vaccination of mothers was 63% effective (95%CI 5, 5) in preventing LCI in their breastfed infants during the first 6 months of life (182). A randomized placebo-controlled trial of IIV3 among HIV-infected and uninfected women in South Africa reported efficacy against RT-PCR–confirmed influenza of 50.4% (95%CI 14.5, 71.2) among the HIV-uninfected mothers and 48.8% (95%CI 11.6, 70.4) among their infants (183). In a study conducted in Mali in which pregnant women were randomized to receive either IIV3 or quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (as a non-influenza control vaccine) during the third trimester and infants were followed to detect LCI through 6 months of age, vaccine efficacy against LCI among the infants was 67.9% (95%CI 35.1, 85.3) through 4 months and 57.3% (95%CI 30.6, 74.4) through 5 months; by six months of follow up efficacy was 33.1% (95%CI 3.7, 53.9) (184). A randomized placebo-controlled trial of year-round influenza vaccination in Nepal (where influenza circulates year-round, rather than seasonally), vaccine efficacy against LCI among infants 0–6 months of age was 30% (95%CI 5, 48) for the full study period. Vaccines with two different HA compositions were used during this period; vaccine efficacy for the vaccine used during the first period was 16% (95%CI -19, 41), while that for the latter was 60% (95%CI 26, 88) (185).
Among observational studies, in a matched case-control study of infants admitted to a large urban hospital in the United States during 2000–2009, maternal vaccination was associated with significantly lower likelihood of hospitalization for LCI among infants aged <6 months (91.5%; 95%CI 61.7, 98.1) (186). A prospective cohort study among Native Americans reported that infants aged <6 months of vaccinated mothers had a 41% lower risk of LCI (RR=0.59; 95%CI 0.37, 0.93) and a 39% lower risk of ILI-associated hospitalization (RR=0.61; 95%CI 0.45, 0.84) (187). In a study of 1,510 infants aged <6 months, those of vaccinated mothers were less likely to be hospitalized with LCI than those of unvaccinated mothers (aOR=0.55; 95%CI = 0.32, 0.95) (188). In a case control study covering the 2010-11 and 2011-12 influenza seasons, vaccination of pregnant women reduced their risk of LCI by approximately half (189). In a multiseason (2010-2016), multinational test-negative case-control study which included 19,450 pregnant women, IIV was protective against hospitalizations associated with LCI (VE 40%, 95%CI 12, 59) (190).
Data evaluating clinical efficacy and effectiveness of vaccination among populations with specific chronic medical conditions are variable, with more data being available for some conditions than others. As is the case with influenza vaccine effectiveness in general, effectiveness estimates vary with the seasons and outcomes studied, as well as the health condition(s) of the recipients. These factors make it difficult to draw generalizable conclusions regarding effectiveness of influenza vaccines for individuals with some health conditions.
A recent TND case-control study covering four seasons (2012-13 through 2015-16) reported a moderate protective effect of vaccination against LCI (VE 41%; 95%CI 35, 47) among persons with at least one recognized high-risk medical condition. This estimate was somewhat lower than that obtained for those without such conditions (VE=48%; 95%CI 43; 52; p=0.02 for comparison). Among children, VE was estimated to be 51% (95%CI 39, 61) for those with a high-risk condition and 52% (95%CI 44; 58) for those without such conditions; these estimates did not differ significantly (p=0.31). For adults aged ≥18 years, VE was 38% (95%CI 30–45%) among those with high-risk conditions and 44% (95%CI 38, 50%) for those without (p=0.21) (191).
Much of the literature concerning influenza vaccine effectiveness among children with pulmonary conditions focuses on asthma. In a nonrandomized controlled trial during the 1992–93 season involving 137 children with moderate to severe asthma, VE against laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H3N2) infection was 54% (p<0.01) among children aged 2 through 6 years and 78% (p<0.01) among children aged ≥7 through 14 years; VE against laboratory-confirmed influenza B infection was 60% (p<0.01) among children aged ≥7 through 14 years, but was 22% and nonsignificant (p>0.05) for the younger age group (192). Among adults with asthma in a four-season TND case-control study, vaccine effectiveness against LCI was estimated to be 27% (95%CI 10, 41), lower than that for adults without high risk conditions (VE=44%; 95%CI 38, 50; p=0.02) (191).
Studies of the association between vaccination and prevention of asthma exacerbations have provided variable results. A retrospective uncontrolled cohort study based on medical and vaccination records during three seasons (1993–94 through 1995–96) among asthmatic children aged 1 through 6 years showed an association between receipt of IIV3 and reduced rates of exacerbations in two of the three seasons (193). In a study of 80 asthmatic children aged 3–18 years, vaccination was associated with a lower risk of oral steroid use (OR=0.29; 95%CI 0.10, 0.84) (194). A 2012-13 season study of 93 children with mild persistent asthma between the ages of 1 and 14 years, found that vaccinated children had significantly fewer ARI episodes (2.2 vs 6.9, p<0.001) and asthma exacerbations (1.6 vs. 6.2, p<0.001), as well as less use of bronchodilators (1.6 vs 6.2, p>0.001) and systemic steroids (0.1 vs 1.1, p<0.001) (195). In the year following vaccination, these children also had fewer hospitalizations (0.2 vs 1.3, p<0.001) and shorter length of stay (5.3 vs 7.2, p<0.034) (195). Other studies have noted no benefit of influenza vaccination against asthma exacerbation among children (196, 197). Several studies (198-200) indicate that vaccination does not appear to increase risk of asthma exacerbations.
Asthma exacerbations are commonly treated with systemic steroid medications, which may potentially interfere with immune responses. A small study evaluated immune response to IIV3 among asthmatic children who were receiving prednisone for asthma exacerbation symptoms. Among 109 children aged 6 months through 18 years, 59 of whom had no asthma symptoms and 50 of whom were symptomatic and required prednisone, no difference was noted in antibody response to A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) following receipt of IIV3. Response to the B component of the vaccine was significantly better in the prednisone group (201).
A multi-center prospective cohort study of patients with COPD over the 2011-15 influenza seasons enrolling 4,198 patients estimated an overall adjusted VE against influenza-related hospitalizations to be 37.5% (95%CI 27, 46) (202). Estimates over the first 3 years of the study ranged between 43%-49%, though protection was significantly lower in the final year due to vaccine and circulating strain mismatch (aVE=6%; 95%CI -24, 28). Some observational studies reported an association between influenza vaccination and lower all-cause mortality among persons with COPD (203, 204)
Limited influenza vaccine effectiveness data are available for children with cardiovascular conditions. In an analysis of data for individuals with high-risk conditions from a test-negative case-control study conducted over four seasons, only 8% of children aged <18 years presented with heart disease; an adjusted effectiveness estimate was not calculated due to the limited sample size (191). Among adults with cardiovascular conditions, the same observational study reported an estimated vaccine effectiveness of 47% (95%CI 35, 58).
Some evidence suggests that acute respiratory infections might trigger atherosclerosis-related acute vascular events (205). Several studies have suggested protective efficacy of influenza vaccination against vascular events. In one randomized study, participants with known coronary artery disease who received IIV3 had lower cardiovascular mortality (RR=0.25; 95%CI 0.07, 0.86 at 6 months and RR=0.34; 95%CI 0.17, 0.71 at 1 year) and lower risk for a composite outcome including cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, or severe ischemia (RR=0.50; 95%CI 0.29, 0.85 at 6 months and 0.59; 95%CI 0.40, 0.86 at 1 year) (206, 207). A randomized placebo-controlled trial found a reduced risk of a composite cardiac ischemic event endpoint (including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization or hospitalization for myocardial ischemia) one year after vaccination compared with placebo (HR=0.54; 95%CI 0.29, 0.99) (208); there was no reduction in risk for cardiovascular death alone or for a second composite endpoint which did not include hospitalization for myocardial ischemia. A third randomized study found association between vaccination and reduced risk of a composite endpoint including death, hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome, hospitalization for heart failure, and hospitalization for stroke at 12 months postrandomization (aHR=0.67; 95%CI 0.51, 0.86), but not cardiovascular death (0.62; 95%CI 0.34, 1.12) (209). In a systematic review and meta-analysis including the studies described above, vaccination was effective at reducing or preventing major cardiovascular events (pooled effectiveness=44%; 95%CI 25, 58), cardiovascular deaths (pooled effectiveness=60%; 95%CI 29, 78); and hospitalization (pooled effectiveness=51%, 95%CI 16—72) in vaccinated participants at one-year follow up (210).
A retrospective study covering 13 influenza seasons found that among elderly adults, vaccination was associated with lower risk of hospitalization associated with diagnostic codes for MI (aOR=0.80; 95%CI 0.76, 0.84), and ischemic stroke (aOR=0.80; 95%CI 0.77, 0.82) (211). However, these data contrast with a more recent case series analysis which revealed an association between influenza and MI, and found that vaccination did not attenuate this increased risk (45).
Use of statin medications (a class of drugs commonly prescribed to persons with vascular disease) have been evaluated for potential associations with diminished response to influenza vaccine. A posthoc analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial comparing MF59-adjuvanted IIV3 and unadjuvanted IIV3 among persons aged ≥65 years demonstrated lower geometric mean titers (GMTs) following vaccination among persons receiving chronic statin therapy (by 38%; 95%CI 27, 50 for A(H1N1), by 67%; 95%CI 54, 80 for A(H3N2), and by 38%; 95%CI 28, 49 for B). The effect was more pronounced among those receiving synthetic statin drugs (fluvastatin, atorvastatin, and rosuvastatin) relative to those receiving fermentation-derived statins (pravastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin) (212). A retrospective cohort study covering nine influenza seasons found reduced effectiveness of influenza vaccine against MAARI among statin users (213); however, this study did not evaluate confirmed influenza illness. In a population-based study of 3,285 adults aged 45 years and over covering the 2004-5 through 2014-15 influenza seasons, statin use was associated with lower vaccine effectiveness against LCI due to H3N2 viruses (vaccine effectiveness=45%; 95%CI 27, 59 for statin nonusers vs. -21%; 95%CI -84, 20 for statin users); statin use was not associated with lower vaccine effectiveness against H1N1pdm09 or B viruses (214). In a large observational TND case-control study retrospectively including 11,692 participants aged ≥ 45 years who were enrolled over 6 influenza seasons (2011-2 through 2016-17), overall vaccine effectiveness was 38% (95%CI 32, 44) (215), and was not meaningfully changed after adjustment for statin use. Upon stratification, VE was estimated to be 36% (95%CI 22, 47) among statin users compared to 29% (95%CI 32, 45) among non-users. Statin use alone was not significantly associated with decreased VE in analyses by viral type/subtype, and type of statin (synthetic or non-synthetic) did not have a significant effect on VE.
Neurologic and Neuromuscular Disorders
Among adults with neurologic disorders, a TND case-control study over four seasons reported effectiveness against LCI of 49% (95%CI 22, 66), which was similar to those without any high-risk conditions (44%; 95%CI 38, 50, p=0.30) (191). No vaccine effectiveness estimate was reported for children, as there were few children with neurologic disorders in this sample.
In a small study of pediatric patients with renal disease, seroconversion and seroprotection rates and changes in GMTs after vaccination were similar among those with chronic renal insufficiency, those on hemodialysis, and healthy controls (216). Among adults, studies have shown adequate immune responses among persons with chronic renal insufficiency on dialysis (217, 218). In a four-season test-negative case-control study, estimated influenza vaccine effectiveness was 32% (95%CI -6, 57) among adults with renal diseases; though not statistically significant, this estimate did not differ significantly compared to healthy patients without any high-risk conditions (p=0.39) (191). A systematic review and meta-analysis which reviewed 5 observational studies of patients with end-stage renal disease receiving dialysis reported adjusted effectiveness against all-cause mortality of 32% (95%CI 24, 39), against cardiac death of 16% (95%CI 2, 29), and against hospitalization due to influenza and pneumonia (VE=14%, 95%CI 7, 20) (219); evidence was judged to be of very low quality for all outcomes.
Most available data concerning influenza vaccination of persons with hepatic conditions come from adult populations. In a small prospective study among patients who either had cirrhosis or who were inactive carriers of hepatitis B, there were no significant differences in seroprotective response rates between these persons and healthy controls (220). Similar results were observed in studies evaluating the immunogenicity of IIV3 among persons with cirrhosis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C (221, 222). In a prospective study of 311 persons with cirrhosis, IIV3 reduced the rate of ILI (14% vs. 23%; p= 0.064) and of culture-positive influenza (2.3% vs. 8.8%; p= 0.009) in the vaccinated group when compared to healthy controls (223). Vaccination was also associated with reduced risk of hepatic decompensation (p=0.018). A retrospective study of persons with chronic hepatitis B infection found lower rates of hospitalization among vaccinated individuals (16.29 vs. 24.02 per 1,000 person-years) (224). Among adults enrolled within a prospective TND study over the 2012-13 through 2015-16 influenza seasons, VE in outpatients with liver diseases was 61% (95%CI 31, 78) (191).
Metabolic Disorders and Diabetes
Studies of adults with diabetes have reported an association between vaccination and reduced risk of hospitalizations for acute respiratory illness, MI, congestive heart failure, stroke, or death (220, 225, 226). However, studies using LCI outcomes are limited. A prospective TND study has reported significant influenza vaccine effectiveness against any LCI among outpatient adults with diabetes (aVE=46%, 95%CI 30, 58) (191).
A prospective study of immunogenicity of influenza vaccine conducted among pregnant and postpartum women reported that seroconversion rates among obese women were lower than those among normal-weight participants, but the difference was not statistically significant (227). A study comparing 1-month and 12-month post-vaccination immune response showed that obese persons mounted a vigorous initial antibody response to IIV3 (228); however, higher BMI was associated with a decline in influenza antibody titers after 12 months post-vaccination. A second study of older adults reported immunogenicity of IIV3 was similar in obese and normal-weight older adults, with a slight increase in seroconversion for the influenza A(H3N2) virus among those who were obese, but not for the other vaccine components (229). In a non-randomized prospective study of a school-based vaccination program in the 2010-11 season, VE against PCR-confirmed influenza was 72.7% (95%CI 25.7, 90.0%) in obese children and 63.5% (95%CI 34.6, 79.6%) in non-obese children, though the difference was not statistically significant (230).
Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders
Literature evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of the influenza vaccine among children with inflammatory diseases is limited. Among analyses from studies of children with conditions such as rheumatic arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, some suggest immune response to vaccine comparable to healthy controls while others suggest a diminished response, particularly among those on immunomodulatory therapy (231-235). Some have noted less responsiveness to influenza B as compared with influenza A vaccine components.
Among adults with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, a prospective randomized comparison study found no significant difference in immune response to IIV4 between healthy controls and patients with inflammatory bowel disease, though immune response did vary based on drug therapy (patients were receiving immunomodulatory monotherapy, anti-tumor necrosis factor-α [anti-TNF-α] single-agent therapy, or some combination of the two at the time of vaccination) (236). Immune response in the setting of rheumatoid arthritis may be diminished but is generally satisfactory (237-240), even when immunomodulatory agents are used, though decreases in antibody levels have been reported with increasing time post-vaccination (238). One such study found timing of vaccination in relation to timing of immunotherapy, such as infliximab (anti-TNF-ɑ), had no effect on seroprotection (241). Another study, a prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial among adults with rheumatoid arthritis, found that more patients who took a 2-week pause/discontinuation from methotrexate therapy seroconverted to all four strains of the 2016-17 IIV4 than those who continued with routine therapy (75.5% vs 54.5%, p<0.001) (242).
Persons with Malignancies
Predictors of successful seroconversion in children with cancer noted in some studies have included higher white cell count, lymphocyte count, IgG levels, increasing age, phase of therapy, and completion of therapy (243-249). Immunogenicity was evaluated in a two season prospective cohort study of 259 children and young adults on chemotherapy (250). Of the 157 pre- and post-vaccination serologic samples, 62% seroresponded to at least one influenza A subtype post-vaccination. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of seroresponders compared to non-seroresponders with RT-PCR confirmed influenza or ILI (11% vs. 19%, respectively). However, the study was not powered to detect a difference in this outcome. Additional analysis of predictors failed to show any significant relationship between cancer type and seroresponse (stratified as acute lymphoblastic leukemia vs solid/brain tumors) or vaccination during chemotherapy treatment and seroresponse.
In a retrospective review of 498 patient-seasons occurring between the 2010-2011 and 2012-2013 influenza seasons, there was no significant difference in the overall rates of influenza between children with acute leukemia who had been appropriately vaccinated and those who had not in any individual season (251). There was also no significant difference in the rate of ILI between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients overall or in any individual season, suggesting IIV3 did not protect children with acute leukemia against LCI or ILI. In a prospective study of 100 children and adolescents aged 6 months through 18 years who were within 4 weeks of receiving or completing immunosuppressive therapy for cancer, the infection occurred among 2% among the vaccinated cases (n=2/100), compared to 6.8% among the unvaccinated community controls (n=11/161); adjusted for age group and tumor type, VE against LCI was 72% (95%CI −26, 94)(243).
A case-control study of adults with malignant lymphoma found that 10% of the 29 subjects in the group with lymphoma were able to mount a 4-fold increase in titer to one of the influenza A vaccine antigens, compared to 45% of the control group (n=29). Among the those with lymphoma, none responded to both A and B antigens, whereas 24% (n=7) age-matched controls had a 4-fold titer to both A and B antigens contained in the vaccine (252). In a systematic review of 16 studies measuring the serological response and clinical outcomes of patients with solid cancer or hematologic malignancies after influenza vaccination, decreased rates of seroconversion were reported among those receiving chemotherapy compared to those not receiving chemotherapy, though protective HAI antibody titers were still achieved among those receiving chemotherapy (253).
One study compared adjuvanted IIV3 with unadjuvanted IIV3 among 67 allogeneic hematopoetic stem cell transplant recipients, and found seroconversion rates were not significantly higher with the adjuvanted vaccine (254). In a randomized double-blind study comping immunogenicity and safety of HD-IIV3 and SD-IIV3 among allogenic hematopoetic stem cell transplant recipients, post-vaccination GMTs were higher in the high-dose group for influenza A(H1N1) and influenza A(H3N2) (p=0.45 and p=0.004, respectively) (255). Also, HD IIV3 had a significantly higher percentage of individuals with titers ≥40 against the A/H3N2 vaccine component. Both the HD and adjuvanted vaccines are currently only licensed for use in persons ≥65 years of age within the US.
Persons with compromised immunity due to congenital immunodeficiencies, HIV infection, or medications are potentially at an increased risk of influenza-associated complications. However, the conditions that result in immune compromise are heterogeneous, and susceptibility to influenza and its complications and responsiveness to vaccination may vary with the specific disease state and its severity in a given individual. Among enrollees within a test-negative case-control study over the 2012-16 influenza seasons, adjusted vaccine effectiveness against LCI among adults ≥ 18 years with immunosuppressive conditions as a group (defined by the presence of medical encounters with ICD-10 diagnostic codes) was estimated to be 46% (95%CI 26, 60) (191). By virus type, vaccine effectiveness was significant against influenza A(H3N2) (47%; 95%CI 24, 68) and influenza B (49%; 95%CI 9, 71), but not against influenza A(H1N1) (34%; 95%CI -14, 61) (191).
HIV-infected persons with minimal AIDS-related symptoms and normal or near-normal CD4+ T lymphocyte cell counts who receive IIV have been shown to develop adequate antibody responses (256, 257). Among persons who have advanced HIV disease and low CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell counts, IIV might not induce protective antibody titers (256, 258); a second dose of vaccine might not improve immune response (258, 259). In a randomized study comparing the immunogenicity of high-dose versus standard-dose IIV3 among HIV-infected adults (10% of whom had CD4 counts under 200 cells/µL), seroprotection rates were higher in the high-dose group for all three viruses (260). However, in a comparative study of children and young adults aged 3–21 years with cancer or HIV infection, high-dose IIV3 was no more immunogenic than standard-dose IIV3 among the HIV-infected recipients (261).
In an investigation of an influenza A outbreak at a residential facility for HIV-infected persons, vaccine was most effective at preventing ILI among persons with >100 CD4+ cells and among those with <30,000 viral copies of HIV type-1/mL (262). In a randomized study conducted among 506 HIV-infected adults, (349 on antiretroviral treatment and 157 treatment-naïve) efficacy of IIV3 against LCI was 75% (95%CI 9, 96) (263). In a randomized study of a two-dose regimen of IIV3 versus placebo conducted among 410 children aged 6-59 months (92% receiving ART), and estimated vaccine efficacy was 18% (95%CI 0, 62). The authors suggested that poor immunogenicity and drift of the circulating A(H3N2) viruses might have contributed to the poor vaccine efficacy observed in this study (264).
Observational studies suggest that immunogenicity among persons with solid organ transplants varies according to factors such as transplant type, time from transplant, and immunosuppressive regimen (265). In a study of pediatric liver transplant patients, one month after vaccination, the majority of patients had seroprotective levels of antibody against all strains of vaccine antigens (67%, 56% and 56% against A/H3N2, A/H1N1 and B respectively) (266). Predictors of seroprotection included age and time since transplantation.
Among persons who have undergone kidney transplantation, seroresponse rates have been observed that were similar or slightly reduced compared with healthy persons (267-271). Antibody response among persons who were 6 months post kidney transplant were lower than observed for healthy controls in one prospective study (269). In another, among persons 3–10 years post- kidney transplant, the postvaccination seroprotection rate was 93% to A(H1N1) (270). Vaccination in the first year after transplant was associated with a lower rate of transplant rejection (aHR=0.77; 95%CI 0.69, 0.85; p<0.001) and death (aHR=0.82; 95%CI 0.76, 0.89; p<0.001) in one study (272).
A study which compared antibody response to IIV3 among liver transplant recipients (on average, 3 years post-transplant), persons with cirrhosis, and cirrhosis, and healthy controls, noted significantly lower post-vaccination titers among the transplant recipients compared with controls (273). However, titers ≥1:40 were noted in 68% of transplant recipients after 1 dose of IIV3. Another study noted seroprotection rates were lower if vaccination occurred within the four months after the transplant procedure (274).
In a prospective observational study which compared immune response to IIV3 and 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine among and of 16 persons who were one year post-heart transplant vs. healthy controls, response to IIV3 was significantly reduced in transplant recipients though approximately 50% of patients had seroprotection against two of the three vaccine antigens. Immune response among transplant recipients to each vaccine strain was significantly lower compared to controls; furthermore, following additional booster vaccination 4 weeks after the initial dose, antiviral titers in transplant patients remained nearly identical 4 weeks after initial vaccination, and 8 weeks after booster injection (275). This finding contrasts with that from an additional randomized controlled trial comparing multiple doses of IIV3 among persons who had received various solid organ transplants (kidney, liver, heart, and lung), which found seroprotection rates were higher at 10 weeks post-vaccination among those who received two doses, but did not have a significantly lasting effect one year post-vaccination (276).
High-dose IIV3 was more immunogenic than standard-dose IIV3 in a randomized trial in 161 adult solid organ transplant recipients (277). In a comparison of the immunogenicity of adjuvanted IIV3 with unadjuvanted IIV3 among 67 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, seroconversion rates were not significantly higher with the adjuvanted vaccine (254). Both of these vaccines are currently only licensed for use in persons ≥65 years of age.
RIV was initially licensed as the trivalent vaccine, Flublok (RIV3, Protein Sciences, Meriden, Connecticut). A quadrivalent formulation, Flublok Quadrivalent, was licensed in 2016 (RIV4; now produced by Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania). For the 2018-19 season, only RIV4 will be available in the U.S. RIV4 contains 45 µg of HA protein per vaccine virus component (180 µg total). The HA proteins are produced via the introduction of the genetic sequence for the HA into an insect cell line (Spodoptera frugiperda) via a baculovirus viral vector. This process uses neither live influenza viruses nor eggs (124).
As a relatively new type of influenza vaccine, fewer post-marketing effectiveness data are available for RIVs than IIVs. Initial licensure of RIV3 was for persons aged 18 through 49 years. In pre-licensure studies comparing RIV3 versus placebo among persons aged 18 through 49 years, serum antibody responses were induced to all three vaccine components (278). In a randomized placebo-controlled study conducted among healthy persons aged 18 through 49 years during the 2007–08 influenza season (124, 279), estimated vaccine effectiveness for CDC-defined ILI with a positive culture for influenza virus was 75.4% (95%CI -148.0, 99.5) against matched strains. Of note, more precise estimation of vaccine effectiveness against matched strains was not possible because 96% of isolates in this study did not antigenically match the strains represented in the vaccine (124). Estimated vaccine effectiveness without regard to match was 44.6% (95%CI 18.8, 62.6) (279).
In October 2014, the approved age indication for RIV3 was expanded to ≥18 years on the basis of data from randomized trials demonstrating adequate immunogenicity among persons aged ≥50 years (280, 281). More recently, a pre-licensure randomized controlled trial of RIV4 vs. a licensed comparator IIV4 was performed among persons aged ≥50 years during the 2014-15 season (282, 283). This study is discussed in a later section (see HD-IIV3, aIIV3, and RIV4 for Older Adults). The immunogenicity of RIV4 was comparable with that of a licensed comparator IIV4 among 18 through 49-year-olds in a randomized trial (284). When evaluated in children 6 through 59 months of age, RIV3 was found be safe but less immunogenic than comparable volumes of IIV3, particularly among children <36 months of age (285). RIV4 is not licensed for children <18 years of age.
Given the high risk of severe influenza illness and lesser benefit of vaccination among older adults, substantial efforts have gone toward the development and study of new influenza vaccines intended to provide better immunity in this age group. Vaccines recently licensed specifically for persons aged ≥65 years include high-dose IIV3 (HD-IIV3; Fluzone High-Dose) and adjuvanted IIV3 (aIIV3; Fluad). In recent years, studies have been conducted comparing the benefits for older adults of these vaccines, as well as for quadrivalent recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV4; Flublok Quadrivalent), with those conferred by standard-dose, unadjuvanted IIVs (SD-IIVs). Some have been studies of LCI-related outcomes (Table). For each of these vaccines, there is at least some evidence of benefit as compared with SD-IIVs. However, there are currently no published studies comparing these HD-IIV3, aIIV3, and RIV4 directly to one another against LCI-associated outcomes among older adults.
The only high-dose IIV, Fluzone High-Dose (Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania), is licensed for persons aged ≥65 years and has been available since the 2010–11 influenza season. It is a trivalent formulation containing 60 µg of HA of each vaccine virus per dose (180 µg total), four times the amount of HA in standard-dose IIVs (286). Licensure was based on superior immunogenicity compared with standard-dose IIV3 in this age group. Immunogenicity data from three studies of high-dose IIV3 among persons aged ≥65 years indicated that vaccine with four times the HA antigen content of standard-dose vaccine elicited substantially higher HAI titers (287-289). In pre-licensure studies, pre-specified criteria for superiority (defined by a lower bound of the 95%CI for the ratio of geometric mean HAI titers of >1.5, and a lower bound of the 95%CI for the difference in seroconversion rates (fourfold rise of HI titers) of >10%) were met for influenza A(H1N1) and influenza A(H3N2) virus antigens, but not for the influenza B virus antigen (for which criteria for non-inferiority were met) (288, 290).
Superior efficacy of Fluzone High-Dose compared to Fluzone SD-IIV3 was demonstrated in a large randomized comparative efficacy trial conducted among nearly 32,000 persons aged ≥65 years over the 2011–12 and 2012–13 influenza seasons (291). The primary endpoint of this study was efficacy of HD-IIV3 relative to SD-IIV3 in preventing culture- or RT-PCR-confirmed influenza caused by any influenza viral types or subtypes, and associated with protocol-defined ILI. Protocol-defined ILI was specified as occurrence of at least one respiratory symptom (sore throat, cough, sputum production, wheezing, or difficulty breathing) concurrent with at least one systemic symptom (temperature >99.0°F, chills, tiredness, headaches or myalgia). For this outcome, the study reported 24.2% (95%CI 9.7, 36.5) greater relative efficacy of the HD-IIV3 compared to SD-IIV3 for protection against LCI caused by any viral type or subtype. The pre-specified statistical superiority criterion for the primary endpoint (lower limit of the 2-sided 95%CI of vaccine efficacy of Fluzone High-Dose relative to Fluzone >9.1%) was met (286). For a secondary outcome, prevention of culture-confirmed influenza caused by viral types/subtypes similar to those contained in the vaccine and associated with modified CDC-defined ILI (temperature >99°F with cough or sore throat), the relative efficacy of HD-IIV3 vs. SD-IIV3 was 51.1% (95%CI 16.8, 72.0) (291). While this study did not initially examine health care utilization, pneumonia, and deaths confirmed to be due to influenza; a subsequent analysis of these data examined all-cause hospitalizations, deaths, and pneumonia cases judged to be related to influenza. In this analysis, in which serious adverse events (SAEs) from the study were evaluated for possible relatedness to influenza illness by blinded physician reviewers, HD-IIV3 was associated with a relative vaccine efficacy of 39.8% (95%CI 19.3, 55.1) for serious pneumonia and 17.7% (95%CI 6.6, 27.4) for serious cardiopulmonary events possibly related to influenza; relative efficacy against all-cause hospitalizations was lower (6.9%, 95%CI 0.5, 12.8) (292).
In addition to the analyses of clinical outcomes described above, healthcare consumption data derived from this trial were used to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis (293). Mean participant medical costs in the study were lower among those who received HD-IIV3 ($1376.52) than those who received SD-IIV3 ($1492.64; difference=-115.62; 95%CI -264.18, 35.48). Mean societal costs were also lower among the HD-IIV3 participants ($1506.48 vs. $1634.50; difference=-128.02; 95%CI -286.89, 33.30). A probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that the HD-IIV3 is 93% likely to be cost saving relative to SD-IIV3.
A cluster-randomized trial conducted during the 2013-14 season among residents of 823 U.S. nursing homes (409 facilities in which residents received HD-IIV3 and 414 in which they received SD-IIV3) evaluated the risk of hospital admissions related to pulmonary or influenza-like illnesses (294). The nursing home facilities included 75,917 residents aged 65 years and older, 53,008 of whom were considered long-stay residents. Outcomes were identified via Medicare hospital claims data, which were matched to 38,256 residents. The incidence of respiratory-related admissions was significantly lower among the facilities randomized to HD-IIV3 (adjusted relative risk [aRR]=0.873; 95%CI 0.776, 0.982). Also significantly lower were rates for pneumonia admissions (aRR=0.791; 95%CI 0.267, 0.953), and all-cause hospital admissions (aRR=0.915; 95%CI 0.863, 0.970).
An observational study conducted during the 2010-11 season among patients aged ≥65 years receiving primary care at Veterans Health Administration medical centers noted no significant differences in effectiveness of HD-IIV3 vs. SD-IIV3 for hospitalizations with a discharge diagnosis for influenza or pneumonia. Receipt of HD-IIV3 was also not associated with lower rates of all-cause hospitalization. However, for the subset of participants aged ≥85 years, receipt of HD-IIV3 was associated with lower risk of hospitalization for pneumonia and influenza (risk ratio=0.52; 95%CI 0.29, 0.9) (295). In a retrospective cohort study of Veterans Health Administration patients during the 2015-16 season, HD-IIV3 was associated with a relative effectiveness of 25% (95%CI 2, 43%) for pneumonia/influenza hospitalizations compared to SD-IIV3. Relative effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza was 38% (95%CI -5, 65%) (296).
HD-IIV3 has also been evaluated among persons aged ≥65 years through analysis of Medicare data. Among 929,730 HD-IIV3 recipients and 1,615,545 SD-IIV3 recipients during the 2012-13 season, receipt of HD-IIVs was associated with fewer non-laboratory confirmed but probable influenza infections (defined as receipt of a rapid influenza diagnostic test followed by a prescription for oseltamivir, relative VE=22%; 95%CI 15, 29) and hospital admissions with a billing code for influenza (relative VE=22%; 95%CI 16, 27) (297). In an analysis of Medicare data from the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons (including 1,039,645 recipients of HD-IIV and 1,683,264 recipients of SD-IIV during 2012–13, and 1,508,176 HD-IIV and 1,877,327 SD-IIV recipients during 2013–14), receipt of HD-IIV3 was associated with reduced risk of death relative to SD-IIV3 during the 2012-13 season (36.4%; 95%CI 9.0%, 56%), when A(H3N2) viruses predominated; but not during the 2013-14 season (2.5%; 95%CI –47%, 35%], in which A(H1N1) viruses predominated (298).
The only adjuvanted influenza vaccine in the U.S., Fluad (aIIV3; Seqirus, Holly Springs, North Carolina), was initially licensed in the U.S. in November 2015. It contains the oil-in-water adjuvant, MF59 (299). Like HD-IIV3, it is licensed specifically for persons aged ≥65 years. Several studies have compared aIIV3 with SD-IIV3; however, fewer data are available than for HD-IIV3, and there have been no randomized trials of relative efficacy against LCI among older adults. In a comparison of immunogenicity of aIIV3 and unadjuvanted IIV3, aIIV3 met criteria for non-inferiority for all three vaccine viruses based on predefined thresholds for seroconversion rate differences and GMT ratios; criteria for superiority were not met (299, 300). A Canadian observational study of 282 persons aged ≥65 years (165 receiving aIIV3, 62 receiving SD-IIV3, and 55 unvaccinated) conducted during the 2011–12 season that compared Fluad with unadjuvanted IIV3 reported an estimated relative effectiveness of Fluad against LCI among the 227 vaccinated participants of 63% (95%CI 4, 86) (301). Some differences in the populations receiving each vaccine were described (in two of three health authorities participating, persons aged 75 years and older and those in long-term care facilities were preferentially given aIIV3; in the third, those in long term care facilities received aIIV3 and all others received SD-IIV3). A prospective study of 107,661 medical records covering 170,988 person-seasons during the 2006-07 through 2008-09 influenza seasons reported lower relative risk of hospitalizations coded for influenza and pneumonia among persons aged 65 years and older who received aIIV3 as compared with IIV3 (relative risk=0.75; 95%CI 0.57, 0.98) (302). An observational study conducted in Italy during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, in which unadjuvanted SD-IIV3 was used during the first season and aIIV3 during the second season, reported that aIIV3 was more effective in preventing hospitalizations coded for pneumonia and influenza (not LCI) among recipients aged ≥75 years (adjusted VE=53%; 95%CI 33, 68 for aIIV3 vs. adjusted VE=46%; 95%CI 24, 62 for IIV3), while unadjuvanted SD-IIV3 was more protective than aIIV3 for recipients aged 65 through 74 years (adjusted VE=53%; 95%CI 3, 78 for IIV3 vs. adjusted VE=34%; 95%CI 24, 65) (303). That the two vaccines were not compared during the same season is a limitation of this study.
Flublok Quadrivalent (RIV4; Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pennsylvania) is licensed for persons aged ≥18 years. Fewer data are available concerning the relative effectiveness of RIV4 compared with other licensed vaccines for this age group than is currently the case for HD-IIV3. In a study comparing RIV3 with IIV3 among persons aged ≥65 years, seroconversion rates against influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) were higher in the RIV3 group. Response was inferior for influenza B; however, this result is difficult to interpret as the B antigens were different in the two vaccines (281). In a pre-licensure randomized controlled trial of Flublok Quadrivalent vs. IIV4 among 8,604 persons aged ≥50 years during the 2014-15 season, RIV4 was more effective in prevention of LCI than IIV4, with a relative efficacy of 30% (95%CI 10, 47). This season was characterized by a predominance of drifted A(H3N2) viruses, and consequent poor match between vaccine and circulating viruses (283, 304). While the study was not powered for statistical significance for relative efficacy by influenza virus type or subtype, results showed a trend towards non-inferior relative efficacy for Flublok Quadrivalent against influenza A, but not against influenza B (for which there were fewer cases). Relative efficacy for all A(H3N2) was 36% (95%CI 14, 53) and for influenza B was 4% (95%CI -72, 46). The RIV4 influenza B antigens were well matched to circulating strains. In a subanalysis of data from those aged ≥65 years against all influenza A and B, RIV4 was not significantly more effective than IIV4 against RT-PCR-confirmed protocol-defined ILI (relative efficacy=17%; 95%CI -20, 43), but was more effective than IIV4 against culture-confirmed protocol-defined ILI (relative efficacy=42%; 95%CI 9, 65).
LAIV contains live influenza viruses which replicate in the nasopharynx following intranasal administration. Each season, the vaccine viruses are produced via genetic reassortment from a master strain that includes genes conferring three phenotypic characteristics: attenuation (to restrict reactogenicity and pathogenicity), temperature sensitivity (to restrict replication in the lower respiratory tract), and cold adaptation (to permit replication in the nasopharynx) (305). Intranasal administration of LAIV appears to induce both serum and nasal secretory antibodies, as well as cell-mediated immune responses, but antibody response is not a reliable correlate of protection (306).
LAIV3 (FluMist; AstraZeneca/MedImmune, Gaithersburg, Maryland) was licensed in the United States in 2003. The humoral immunogenicity of LAIV was demonstrated in a number of studies (307–309). Subsequently, LAIV4 (FluMist Quadrivalent) was licensed in 2012, and replaced LAIV3 beginning with the 2013–14 season. Pre-licensure studies comparing HAI antibody responses following LAIV4 to LAIV3 demonstrated noninferiority of LAIV4 among healthy children and adults ≤49 years (310, 311).
In a large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial among 1,602 healthy children aged 15–71 months conducted during 1996-97 and 1997-98, LAIV3 demonstrated efficacy against culture-confirmed influenza (312, 313). During the first season, when vaccine and circulating virus strains were well matched, efficacy was 94% (95%CI 88, 97) for participants who received 2 doses separated by >6 weeks, and 89% (95%CI 65, 96) for those who received 1 dose (312). During the second season, when the A(H3N2) component in the vaccine was not well matched with circulating viruses, efficacy for 1 dose was 86% (95%CI 75, 92) for this virus. The overall efficacy for any influenza during the two seasons was 92% (95%CI 88, 94) (313). In a randomized placebo-controlled trial comparing 1 dose versus 2 doses of LAIV3 in 3,200 vaccine-naïve children aged 6–35 months in South Africa, Brazil, and Argentina during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, efficacy was 57.7% (95%CI 44.7, 67.9) after 1 dose and 73.5% (95%CI 63.6, 81) after 2 doses during the first year of the study (314). In the second year, VE estimates following a single dose were 73.6% (33.3, 91.2) and 65.2% (31.2,88.8) among those who had received 2 doses, or 1 dose, respectively, during the first year. Other two-season, randomized, placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated similar efficacy rates of LAIV3 among young children (315, 316).
Other studies have noted protection from outcomes other than LCI with LAIV3 use. In a community-based, nonrandomized open-label study, reductions in MAARI were observed during the 2000–01 season among children who received 1 dose of LAIV3 during 1999–2000 or 2000–2001, even though antigenically drifted influenza A(H1N1) and B viruses were circulating during the latter season (317). Receipt of LAIV3 resulted in 21% fewer febrile illnesses (95%CI 11, 30) and 30% fewer febrile otitis media diagnoses (95%CI 18, 45) in a randomized controlled trial (312). A meta-analysis of six placebo-controlled studies concluded that the effectiveness of LAIV3 against acute otitis media associated with culture-confirmed influenza among children aged 6–83 months was 85% (95%CI 78, 90) (318).
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of LAIV3 effectiveness among 4,561 healthy working adults aged 18 through 64 years conducted during the 1997–98 influenza season (when the vaccine and circulating A(H3N2) viruses were not well matched) noted no significant decrease in the frequency of febrile illnesses among LAIV3 recipients compared with placebo. However, vaccine recipients had an 18.8% reduction in severe febrile illnesses (95%CI 7.4, 28.8), and a 23.6% reduction in febrile upper respiratory tract illnesses (95%CI 12.7, 33.2); as well as significant reductions in days of illness, days of work lost, days with health care provider visits, and use of prescription antibiotics and over-the-counter medications (319). Estimated efficacy of LAIV3 against influenza confirmed by culture or RT-PCR in a randomized, placebo-controlled study among young adults was 48% (95%CI -7, 74) in the 2004–05 influenza season, 8% (95%CI -194, 67) in the 2005–06 influenza season, and 36% (95%CI 0, 59) in the 2007–08 influenza season; efficacy in the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons was not significant (320-322).
Studies comparing the efficacy of IIV3 to that of LAIV3 among adults have been conducted in a variety of settings and populations using several different outcomes. Among adults, most comparative studies demonstrated that LAIV3 and IIV3 have similar efficacy, or that IIV3 was more efficacious (320-325). In a retrospective cohort study comparing LAIV3 and IIV3 among 701,753 nonrecruit military personnel and 70,325 new recruits, among new recruits, incidence of ILI was lower among those who received LAIV3 than IIV3. The previous vaccination status of the recruits was not stated; it is possible that this population was relatively naïve to vaccination compared with previous service members who were more likely to have been vaccinated routinely each year (326).
Several studies, comparing LAIV3 with IIV3 prior to the 2009 pandemic demonstrated superior efficacy of LAIV3 against LCI among young children (323, 327-330). A randomized controlled trial conducted among 7,852 children aged 6–59 months during the 2004–05 influenza season demonstrated a 54.9% reduction (95%CI 45.4, 62.9) in cases of culture-confirmed influenza among children who received LAIV3 compared with those who received IIV3. In this study, LAIV3 efficacy was higher compared with IIV3 against antigenically drifted viruses and well-matched viruses (328). LAIV3 provided 31.9% relative efficacy (95%CI 1.1, 53.5) in preventing culture-confirmed influenza compared with IIV3 in one study conducted among children aged ≥6 years and adolescents with asthma (329) and 52.4% relative efficacy (95%CI 24.6, 70.5) compared with IIV3 among children aged 6–71 months with recurrent respiratory tract infections (327).
In June 2014, on the basis of the data from two randomized comparative trials of LAIV3 vs. IIV3 among healthy children, the ACIP made a preferential recommendation for LAIV3 for healthy children aged 2 through 8 years who have no contraindications or precautions (331). However, subsequent analysis of data from three observational studies of LAIV4 vaccine effectiveness for the 2013–14 season (the first season in which LAIV4 was available) revealed no statistically significant effectiveness of LAIV4 against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 among children aged 2 through 17 years (332-334). Analysis of data from the U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network for the 2010–11 through 2013–14 seasons noted that children aged 2 through 17 years who received LAIV had similar odds of influenza regardless of receipt of LAIV3 or IIV3 during 2010–11 through 2012–13. However, during the 2013–14 season odds of influenza were significantly higher for those who received LAIV4 (OR=5.36, 95%CI 2.37, 12.13 for children aged 2 through 8 years; OR=2.88; 95%CI 1.62, 5.12 for children aged 2 through 17 years) (335). During the 2014-15 season, when antigenically drifted A(H3N2) viruses predominated, neither LAIV4 nor IIV provided significant protection among U.S. children aged 2 through 17 years; LAIV4 did not offer greater protection than IIV for these viruses (336-338), in contrast to earlier studies in which LAIV3 provided better protection than LAIV against drifted H3N2 viruses (328). LAIV4 exhibited significant effectiveness against circulating influenza B viruses in these U.S. studies. Based on these influenza vaccine effectiveness data for the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons, the ACIP concluded that a preference of LAIV4 over IIV was no longer warranted (339).
The diminished effectiveness of LAIV4 against A(H1N1)pdm09 during the 2013-14 season was hypothesized to be attributable to reduced stability and infectivity of the A/California/2009/(H1N1) vaccine virus, conferred by a single amino acid mutation in the stalk region of the HA protein (340). Exposure during U.S. distribution of some LAIV lots to temperatures above those recommended for storage was also considered a potential contributing factor (341). This led to development and inclusion of a different influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus, A/Bolivia/559/2013(H1N1), in LAIV4 for 2015-16 (342). A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were again predominant during this season. However, data from the U.S. Flu VE Network, U.S. Department of Defense, and MedImmune demonstrated no statistically significant effectiveness of LAIV4 among children aged 2 through 17 years against A(H1N1)pdm09 (343). Conversely, estimated effectiveness of IIV against these viruses among children aged 2 through 17 years was significant across all three studies. Following review of this information in June 2016, the ACIP made the interim recommendation that LAIV4 should not be used for the 2016–17 influenza season (344). This recommendation was extended into the 2017-18 season (345).
Estimates of the effectiveness of LAIV against A(H1N1)pdm09 during the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons were not consistent among all studies and all countries. While most estimates were statistically insignificant, point estimates varied. In the United Kingdom, estimated effectiveness of LAIV4 among 2 through 17 year olds during the 2015-16 season was 57.6% (95%CI 25.1, 76.0) for all influenza, 41.5% (95%CI -8.5, 68.5) for A(H1N1)pdm09, and 81.4% (95%CI 39.6, 94.3) against influenza B (346). In Finland during the 2015-16 season, effectiveness of LAIV4 among 2-year-olds was 50.7% (95%CI 28.4, 66.1) against all influenza, 47.9% (95%CI 21.6, 65.4) for influenza A (presumably predominantly H1N1pdm09), and 57.2% (95%CI 0.0, 81.7) for influenza B (347). In addition to the different age group under study (2 year olds vs. 2 through 17 year olds), these results contrast with those of the U.S. and the United Kingdom, in that the estimate for influenza A is statistically significant, whereas that for influenza B is not (and has a lower point estimate). In both the United Kingdom and Finland, as in the U.S., the point estimates for effectiveness of LAIV against H1N1pdm09 were lower for LAIV than for IIV.
In Canada, data collected with the Sentinel Provider Site Surveillance Network (SPSN) for both 2013-14 and 2015-16 showed similar point estimates for effectiveness against A(H1N1)pdm09 for LAIV (LAIV3 in 2013-14 and LAIV4 in 2015-16) and IIV; however, the estimate for LAIV in each case was not statistically significant (likely due to the small sample size in these analyses) (348). Two other Canadian studies, a cluster-randomized comparative trial of LAIV3 and IIV3 conducted among Hutterite populations in Alberta and Saskatchewan during the 2012-13 through 2013-14 seasons (349) and a test-negative case-control study comparing LAIV and IIV conducted in Alberta during the 2012-13 through 2015-16 seasons (350), showed no overall difference in effectiveness between the two vaccine types. The Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) concluded that for the 2016-17 season, the Canadian preference of the use of LAIV for 2 through 17 year olds was no longer supported by the available data (351).
The mechanism for the decreased effectiveness of LAIV4 against A(H1N1)pdm09 that was observed during 2013-14 and 2015-16 has been the subject of considerable investigation. Vaccine virus interference associated with the introduction of the fourth virus in LAIV has been cited as a potential contributing factor. However, reduced effectiveness against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was also noted with LAIV3 in the U.S. during 2010-11 (335). It has also been hypothesized that differences in prior vaccine coverage among children may contribute to differences in replicative fitness in different populations, leading to differences in effectiveness. However, analyses of U.S. data from the US Flu VE Network revealed no significant effect of prior vaccination (335). Investigations by the manufacturer, presented to the ACIP in February (352) and October 2017 (353), revealed reduced replicative fitness of both the A/California/7/2009 and A/Bolivia/559/2013 (H1N1) LAIV viruses, which is currently accepted as the primary root cause of poor effectiveness against circulating H1N1pdm09 influenza viruses (354).
In February 2018, the manufacturer presented data to ACIP from a US pediatric shedding and immunogenicity study of a new LAIV4 A(H1N1)pdm09-like virus, A/Slovenia/2903/2015. This study was conducted among 200 children aged 2 through <4 years, assigned 1:1:1 to receive LAIV3 containing A/Bolivia/559/2013, LAIV4 containing A/Bolivia/559/2013, or LAIV4 containing A/Slovenia/2903/2015. A/Slovenia/2903/2015 was shed by a higher proportion of children during days 4 through 7 following the first dose of vaccine than the comparator A(H1N1)pdm09-like viruses. A/Slovenia/2903/2015 also induced significantly higher antibody responses than A/Bolivia/559/2013. Seroconversion rates to A/Slovenia/2903/2015 were comparable to seroconversion rates obtained in response to pre-pandemic A(H1N1) LAIV strains used during seasons in which the vaccine was observed to be effective against A(H1N1) viruses (355). Additional data discussed at ACIP included a combined individual patient-level data analysis of the effectiveness of LAIV4 and IIV during the 2013-14 through 2015-16 seasons, using data pooled from 5 US observational studies, and a systematic review and meta-analysis of LAIV effectiveness for the 2010-11 through 2016-17 seasons, which included data from within and outside the US (355). These analyses of previous seasons’ data revealed that while LAIV4 was poorly effective or ineffective against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses in most studies, it generally was effective against influenza B viruses, and generally no less effective than IIV against influenza A(H3N2) viruses.
For the 2018-19 and 2019-20 U.S. influenza seasons, ACIP has again recommended that LAIV4 was an acceptable option for vaccination of persons for whom it is appropriate. No U.S. effectiveness estimates are available for the 2018-19 season, during which the vaccine contained A/Slovenia/2903/2015 as the influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 component.
The composition of influenza vaccines changes in most seasons, with one or more vaccine viruses replaced annually to provide protection against viruses that are anticipated to circulate. Even in seasons in which vaccine composition does not change, annual vaccination has been recommended because of decline in protective antibodies over time post-vaccination (356-358). Observed rates and degrees of decline have varied. One study of HA and NA antibody levels following vaccination of adults noted a slow decline, with an estimated time to 2-fold decline of >600 days (359). A review of studies reporting post-vaccination seroprotection rates among adults aged ≥60 years noted that seroprotection levels meeting the Canadian Committee of Proprietary Medicinal Products standards were maintained for ≥4 months for the H3N2 component in all 8 studies and for the H1N1 and B components in 5 of 7 studies (360).
Nonetheless, concerns have arisen regarding waning of protection within the course of a single influenza season, particularly among adults. Recent observational studies have evaluated changes in influenza vaccine effectiveness over the course of a single influenza season. Some have noted decline in vaccine effectiveness over the course of a season (361-370). In some studies this effect has been more pronounced for influenza A(H3N2) than influenza A(H1N1) and influenza B viruses, and among older adults. A test negative case-control study of children and adults conducted in Navarre, Spain during the 2011–12 season noted a decline in vaccine effectiveness, from 61% (95%CI 5, 84) in the first 100 days after vaccination to 42% (95%CI -39, 75) between days 100–119 and then to -35% (95%CI -211, 41) after ≥120 days. Being vaccinated >120 days before diagnosis was associated with increased risk for influenza, compared with vaccinated <100 days prior (OR=3.45; 95%CI 1.10, 10.85; p = 0.034). This effect was most pronounced among persons aged ≥65 years, among whom the OR for influenza was 20.81 (95%CI 2.14, 202.71; p = 0.009) for persons vaccinated >120 days before diagnosis versus those vaccinated <100 days before diagnosis (362). A similar study conducted in the United Kingdom, also during the 2011–12 season, estimated an overall vaccine effectiveness against A(H3N2) of 53% (95%CI 0, 78) among those vaccinated <3 months prior, and 12% (95%CI -31, 41) for those vaccinated ≥3 months prior. The proportion of older participants was too small to detect a substantial difference in vaccine effectiveness in this age group (364). An additional case-control analysis from the 2007–08 season revealed a modest but significant increase in the OR for A(H3N2) influenza every 14 days after vaccination among young children (OR for influenza increasing 1.2 for each 14-day interval for children aged 2 years) and older adults (1.3 for each 14-day interval for adults aged 75 years). This pattern was not observed among older children and younger adults (361).
In addition to the single-season studies above, several multi-season studies have noted intra-season waning of influenza vaccine effectiveness (366-368, 371, 372). A multi-season (2011-12 through 2014-15) analysis from Spain noted that persons aged ≥65 years who were vaccinated later in the season had a lower risk of hospital admission for influenza than those who were vaccinated earlier in the season (366). An analysis of the 2011-12 through 2014-15 seasons from the U.S. Flu VE Network found that vaccine effectiveness declined by about 7% per month for H3N2 and influenza B, and 6—11% per month for H1N1pdm09. Vaccine effectiveness remained greater than zero for at least five to six months after vaccination (371). In an analysis of data from a European multicenter study covering the 2010-11 through 2014-15 seasons, vaccine effectiveness against influenza A(H3N2) viruses declined from 50.6% (95%CI 30.0, 61.1) 38 days after vaccination to 0% (95%CI -18.1, 15.2) 111 days after vaccination. For influenza B viruses, vaccine effectiveness declined from 70.7% (95%CI 51.3, 82.5) 44 days post-vaccination to 24.1% (95%CI -57.4, 60.8) by the end of the season. Vaccine effectiveness for influenza A(H1N1) viruses remained relatively stable, from 55.3% (95%CI 37.9, 67.9) at day 54 to 50.3 (95%CI 34.8, 62.1%) at the end of the season (368). In a multi-season (2010-11 through 2013-14) study of US Department of Defense non-active duty beneficiaries, vaccine effectiveness against all influenza and against influenza A(H3N2) viruses was statistically significant and comparable at 15-90 days and 91-180 days after vaccination, though was insignificant from 181 days onwards. Vaccine effectiveness against influenza B viruses was no longer significant by 91 days post-vaccination (367).
Overall, waning effects have not been observed consistently across age groups and virus subtypes in different populations, and the observed decline in protection could be attributable to bias, unmeasured confounding, or the late season emergence of antigenic drift variants that are less well-matched to the vaccine strain. Nonetheless, these findings raise considerations for timing of vaccination. Delaying timing of vaccination may be beneficial in some seasons, but this is dependent upon the presence and rate of decline in immunity (373). This issue is complicated by the variability of the timing of onset of influenza activity each season, which precludes prediction of the optimal time to vaccinate this season. The potential negative effects of deferring vaccination until later in the season, such as missed opportunities to vaccinate, programmatic issues associated with vaccinating a defined population in a more constrained time period, and vaccinating after the start of influenza circulation, are also important considerations (374).
Observations of a potential negative effect of repeat vaccination on vaccine effectiveness were initially made during the 1970s (375-378). A number of recent studies have indicated that response to, and effectiveness of, influenza vaccine during any given season may be modified by receipt of vaccine in prior seasons. In a study conducted among healthy 30- through 60-year olds during the 1983-84 through 1987-88 seasons, during which whole-virus seasonal IIV3s were used (with the exception of addition of a monovalent split-virus A(H1N1) to supplement the trivalent vaccine in 1986), moderate reductions in serum antibody response during the last seasons of the study were associated with increased number of annual exposures to vaccine over the previous seasons. However, no decrease in protection against infection was noted (379).
In more recent studies, decreased vaccine effectiveness associated with vaccination in the previous season has not been noted consistently (380-382). In a community-based study in Michigan conducted in 2010-11 (during which influenza A[H3N2] viruses predominated), overall vaccine effectiveness was low and not significant (31%; 95%CI -7, 55%). When stratified by whether vaccine had been received the previous season, vaccine effectiveness was lower in 2010-11 among those who had been vaccinated during both 2010-11 and 2009-10 (-45%; 95%CI -226, 35), as compared with those who received vaccine during only the latter season (62%; 95%CI 17, 82%) (382). In a similarly designed study in the same community conducted during the 2013-14 season, when H1N1pdm09 predominated, no negative effect of prior season vaccination was observed (380). A study in Australia conducted over the 2010 through 2015 seasons noted no significant difference in effectiveness of hospitalization for influenza illness between those vaccinated in the current season only (35%; 95%CI 21, 46) vs the prior season only (33%; 95%CI 17, 47). Vaccine effectiveness was highest among those who had received vaccine during both seasons (51%; 95%CI 45, 57) (381).
Other studies have evaluated vaccination history over more than one prior season. A case-control study conducted in a healthcare system in Wisconsin, examined VE against influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses over eight seasons between 2004-05 and 2012-13. Participants were classified as frequent vaccinees (had received IIV during 4 or 5 of the previous 5 seasons), infrequent vaccinees (received IIV during 1 to 3 of the previous 5 seasons) or nonvaccinees (received no IIV during the previous 5 seasons). Current season vaccination was effective regardless of previous vaccination history. Considering vaccination history for only current and prior seasons, effectiveness was similar for those who were vaccinated during the current season only, the previous season only, or both seasons. However, in an analysis using 5 seasons of vaccination history, there were significant differences in vaccine effectiveness among frequent vaccinees as compared with nonvaccinees (383). In a Spanish study which evaluated the effectiveness of vaccination against H1N1pdm09 from the 2010-11 through 2015-16 seasons, the highest effectiveness was seen among those who had received the current season vaccine and also had received 1-2 doses in earlier seasons. Effectiveness was lower among those vaccinated in the current season after >2 prior doses (384). Other multi-season studies, including a four-season (2011-12 through 2014-15) study in Canada (385) and a six-season (2011-12 through 2016-17) study in Sweden (386), did not find a negative impact of repeated vaccination on influenza vaccine effectiveness.
Systematic reviews of studies of repeated vaccination have reported somewhat varied findings. A review of four randomized controlled trials of LAIV3 vs. placebo administered to a total of 6,090 children over 2 consecutive seasons found that VE against antigenically matched strains was highest for those who received LAIV3 for both seasons (VE=86.7%; 95%CI 76.8, 92.4). In contrast, VE was lower for receipt of LAIV3 in season 2 only (VE=56.4%; 95%CI 37.0, 69.8) (387). A review of 20 observational studies of all vaccine types found a negative effect of vaccination in two consecutive seasons as compared with vaccination in the current season only for influenza A(H3N2) and influenza B viruses, but not for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses (388). A review of studies conducted during the 2010-11 through 2014-15 seasons noted considerable heterogeneity in estimates of the effect of prior year vaccination. Negative effects were most pronounced for influenza A(H3N2) viruses during the 2014-15 season (378). A larger review of studies conducted between the 1983-84 and 2016-17 seasons included 5 randomized controlled trials and 28 observational studies concluded that the reviewed evidence did not support a negative effect of revaccination over consecutive seasons, but also noted heterogeneity and imprecision in effect estimates (389). Such variation might perhaps be expected given the variability of circulating viruses VE in different seasons, the large variety of different influenza vaccines available in different seasons and different geographic areas, and the different populations under study. The authors note that the overall quality of the studies reviewed was very low, and that the possibility of reduced effectiveness could not be ruled out.
Negative effects of prior vaccination on VE have not been observed consistently across all studies and seasons, and may differ by influenza virus type or subtype. Better understanding of these effects is needed in order to guide recommendations. Importantly, in most studies in which a negative effect of prior vaccination was observed, vaccination during the current season (with or without prior season vaccination) was more protective than being unvaccinated in the current season. | <urn:uuid:1790db7f-19e0-49f5-ab46-bd8656159531> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/immunogenicity.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.951069 | 21,889 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Have you used Desmos yet? I just discovered it a few weeks ago!
Desmos is a platform to help classroom engagement and achievement with Illustrative Math curriculum. This easy to use platform allows students to write, draw and manipulate on the computer.
The teacher can show student work to the whole class and hide the student names and make them anonymous. No students will feel shame if they haven’t grasped the concept but can see corporately how to fix the mistake. The students love using this platform and love seeing their work on the screen!
Teachers around the nation have collectively created Desmos activities aligned to every Illustrative Mathematics lesson! Check them out at https://bit.ly/imunitplans.
2nd Grade Teacher | <urn:uuid:e2db391d-2324-45f2-a74b-876138676d52> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.cerestechtips.com/post/have-you-used-desmos-yet | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.913916 | 152 | 2.578125 | 3 |
CURRENT smartphone fingerprint recognition technology allows hackers to collect fingerprints and hijack fingerprint-protected transactions, say researchers.
Computer scientists from the security company FireEye have identified major flaws in how the technology is implemented - ranging from poor storage of fingerprint data through to vulnerable fingerprint sensors.
For example, the HTC One Max was shown to store fingerprint data in an easily accessible image file.
"Any unprivileged processes or apps can steal users' fingerprints by reading this file," said the researchers, who presented their findings [pdf] at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas.
"To make the situation even worse, each time the fingerprint sensor is used ... [it] will refresh that fingerprint bitmap to reflect the latest wiped finger. So the attacker can sit in the background and collect the fingerprint image of every swipe of the victim."
Most smartphones store the owners' fingerprints in areas of the phone protected by built-in gatekeepers such as TrustZone or Secure Enclave.
However, as the report's authors point out, even these have "known vulnerabilities" that attackers can use "to peek into the secret world".
Even if the storage of fingerprints is made safe, attackers can still intercept images by hijacking the fingerprint sensor itself.
This is because some manufacturers - HTC and Samsung among them - don't make full use of the security features built into the phones' microprocessors.
Any "normal world" activity or process requiring the fingerprint sensor should be routed through these security features, but the researchers found that many manufacturers "failed to lock down the sensor" in this way.
As a result, they say, it's possible for an attacker to "directly read the fingerprint sensor", using malware to intercept each fresh print before it can be stored safely.
They go on to say that this could mean that attackers could "remotely harvest everyone's fingerprints [on] a large scale without being noticed".
If an attacker doesn't have someone's fingerprint, they are still able to manipulate the technology.
For example, a malicious program could create a fake lock screen to mask a transaction. When the user scans their fingerprint to unlock the screen, they actually authorise a payment instead.
This type of "confused authorisation attack" is possible because many fingerprint security systems don't require proof of the context in which the scan was made, say the FireEye researchers.
An increasing number of smartphones use fingerprint recognition technology - it's estimated that half of all smartphones will have a fingerprint sensor by 2019.
The technology is undeniably convenient - but as the researchers point out: "Fingerprints last for a life - once leaked, they are leaked for the rest of your life."
Our fingerprints are just the latest piece of personal information that criminals are stealing in order to impersonate us.
The ever growing list includes: names, addresses, account details, photos, PINs, and mobile numbers.
Used independently, this information is of limited value. But security experts warn that an identity can be created with just three pieces of information, making it remarkably easy for criminals to steal our lives and apply for credit cards, take out loans or open bank accounts with them.
This type of fraud is rapidly becoming more widespread - the number of victims of ID fraud increased by 31% to 32,058 in the first three months of 2015.
Smartphones are particularly attractive to criminals, as we tend to store huge amounts of personal information on them.
More than 60% of us now carry one, but few take appropriate security measures to keep the personal information stored on them safe.
For example, a survey by credit reference agency Equifax found that one in five people stored PINs, passwords, and bank account or credit card details on their smartphones.
A third of people routinely fail to log out of social media or banking websites. Another 42% don't clear their browser histories, and 45% don't bother protecting their smartphones with passwords.
The police have spent years lobbying mobile phone manufacturers to make setting a secure PIN or password mandatory for smartphone users. This is however, unlikely to happen now that the biometrics roll-out is in full swing.
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Get insider tips and the latest offers in our newsletter | <urn:uuid:23fd8fa3-08a3-4b4d-9092-cead532f5d2d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.choose.co.uk/news/mobile-phone-fingerprint-security-flawed.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.935907 | 911 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Faith-based groups gathered on 2 December, the eve of the opening of the United Nations climate conference, in Katowice, Poland, for an Interfaith Talanoa Dialogue to take stock of the collective global efforts to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Talanoa Dialogue is a process designed to help countries implement and enhance nationally determined contributions to combat climate change by 2020. It is a year-long process that will culminate in political discussions at the 24th Conference of Parties (COP24) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2-15 December.
Gathered at the historic St Stephen’s Church, the participants reflected on the findings of the recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on 1.5 degree Celsius, that reveals that the planet is on-track to surpassing the relatively safer limit of 1.5 degree Celsius warming above pre-industrial levels in around two decades with potentially catastrophic effects, especially on the poorest.
Just transitions was one of the key themes of the dialogue. Representatives from the city of Katowice shared that their city is in many ways built on coal. Many derive their livelihoods from it. Addressing climate change entails a shift away from these polluting industries.
Initially coined by labour and environmental movements, the concept of “just transitions” aims to ensure that the burden of adjustment does not fall on those who contributed least to climate change, are most vulnerable to it, and have the least resources to deal with it.
For Athena Peralta, programme executive for Economic and Ecological Justice at the World Council of Churches (WCC), who facilitated the discussion, a just transition is first of all a rapid and drastic shift from a fossil-fuel driven and extractive economy to a carbon-neutral and regenerative economy.
“This demands nothing less than systemic changes towards an alternative development paradigm that holds justice and sustainability together,” she said.
Ovais Sarmad, UNFCCC deputy executive secretary, expressed deep appreciation to the religious sector for their passionate engagement in the global issue of climate change. “All religious traditions view creation as a sacred gift and have a critical role to play in calling for climate justice”, he said.
Following the dialogue, an interfaith service was held, reflecting on just transitions in the context of Poland, and featuring prayers and songs from various religious, spiritual and indigenous traditions. A single flame was lit to celebrate the start of Hanukkah.
The event was co-organized by the WCC, Brahma Kumaris, Franciscans International, Dominicans for Justice and Peace, Quakers United Nations Office, Islamic Relief, GreenFaith, Religions for Peace, ICE Network, CIDSE and the Global Catholic Climate Movement.
World Council of Churches, oikoumene.org | <urn:uuid:c329ad5e-4f68-4d1b-8b45-77b6a7a7ca75> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.christiantelegraph.com/2018/12/12/faith-groups-at-cop24-advocate-for-just-transitions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.928631 | 591 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Summary and Analysis
Book 3: Chapter 5
Throughout Darnay's imprisonment, Lucie goes to the prison for two hours each day hoping that her husband will be able to see her. The spot where he might view her, however, is next to a woodcutter's house. The woodcutter, formerly the road-mender, torments Lucie by pretending to saw off her and her daughter's heads; Lucie gives him money to leave her alone. One day, a wild mob comes dancing down the street and surrounds a frightened Lucie. As it moves on, Doctor Manette tells Lucie to blow Darnay a kiss because Darnay is watching. As she does so, Madame Defarge walks by and greets them. The Doctor tells Lucie that Darnay's trial is scheduled for the next day.
Lucie's love and compassion distinguish her from the other characters, but she also exhibits remarkable courage in the face of frightening circumstances. Her love for Darnay prompts her to stand on an isolated street every day, regardless of weather and despite the anxiety the woodcutter must cause her. She deals with his crude nature intelligently; rather than avoiding him, she speaks to him and gives him money. Similarly, her response to the crowd whirling around her is not to shriek or swoon, but to shade her eyes and explain that such displays of madness make her fear for her husband's safety. By giving Lucie exceptional courage and selflessness, Dickens creates a character who is admirable enough to justify the devotion she inspires in others. The reader's belief that Lucie is worthy of deep attachment and sacrifice is vital to the plausibility of the plot.
the Carmagnole a dance popular during the French Revolution.
the Conciergerie a prison in the Palais de Justice where many prisoners sentenced to die by the guillotine spent their last days. | <urn:uuid:363f9e8b-0a9a-4b99-9960-449ac43f93b1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/a-tale-of-two-cities/summary-and-analysis/book-3-chapter-5 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.962726 | 389 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, known colloquially as Chinese hibiscus, China rose, Hawaiian hibiscus, rose mallow and shoeblackplant, is a species of tropical hibiscus, a flowering plant in the Hibisceae group of the family Malvaceae. The biggest difference between tropical and hardy hibiscus is that tropical hibiscus is not hardy in zones lower than zone 9. Tropical hibiscus does not tolerate freezing temperatures and cannot survive more than brief periods of cold.
The other morning I went outside shortly after sunrise. My two yellow tropical hibiscus had multiple flowers. Hibiscus are made to flower, and mine always try when they have sun and water. We have a mild winter with only occasional freezes. It’s been over 5 years since I lost tropical plants to frost. | <urn:uuid:f28a42cd-9fe3-4f44-b5ed-871d4b143863> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.comfortspringstation.com/tag/january-flowers-in-central-florida/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.950268 | 185 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Written by Disclosure News Italia
The Black Sun topic is very complex and confusing. It is covered by an artificially created veil of fog and has its roots in the distant past of Earth.
What was known about it?
In astronomy, the Black Sun is the point of unoccupied focus of the orbit by which celestial bodies move around the Sun, the apogee of the ecliptic, the point of the maximum distance of the Earth from the Sun.
It is not material, not physical to our eyes. But if a solar eclipse occurs near the Black Sun, the Moon most often completely overlaps the solar disk which becomes completely black.
The Black Sun is behind the Golden Sun, so we cannot see it but we get its Light. Modern astrologers note that the Black Sun is the gathering point, the target to which we direct our energies.
Everything that the Sun radiates to us, we absorb and use, and then give back – to the Black Sun. The radiation of the Black Sun is Vril, a power that can be used to make transitions through worlds, to control cosmic processes.
The Black Sun is a part of another Universe, antimatter which evolves in a different direction and in which a different Time prevails, i.e. Eternity – time not used, not embodied, abiding beyond our reality. It’s a gate of entrance and exit from our Universe.
Alchemically, the Black Sun corresponds to decay, decomposition, i.e. the state of death, an intermediate state in the process of transformation. Staying completely in the material and lowly state both of consciousness and body – it is impossible to pass through, to go to another state. It is necessary to cross the Portal behind which the shells that burden the Spirit are dropped.
Schematically, the Black Sun symbol represents twelve broken rays, lightning, reminiscent of the Sieg-rune, emanating from the Center and forming a Circle which is similar to the Swastika. The rays in this case may reflect the 12 months of the year.
The Black Sun cannot be easily concretized. This is one of its many differences from the White/Golden Sun.
The White Sun (Star of our planetary system) and the Black Sun contrast with each other, but the radiation of the Black Sun complements the radiation of the Golden Sun.
The existence of the Black Sun occurs in different states and dimensions similar to Micro- and Macrocosm.
On the one hand, the Black Sun is pure matter, as a body in the Universe, and on the other hand (in another dimension), as energy.
The third state is a combination of the first two.
Together it emits energy that affects the inner power of an individual, a people, or also of an era, as a catalyst.
In different mythologies and cultures, it was manifested in different ways, but the principle has always remained the same.
The symbol of the Black Sun is a circle with twelve runes enclosed in it.
Ideally, it burns out all false knowledge from the Soul, showing the way to the Spiritual world. This symbol, as well as several others, comes from Hyperborea.
About 10,000 years ago, knowledge of it came to two countries in Mesopotamia.
The oldest archaeological document mentioning the Black Sun came from Susa (southeastern Iran) and dates back to the 3rd millennium BC.
It is a victory stele of King Naram-Sin, now on display in the Louvre, Paris.
Naram-Sin, the grandson of Sargon, was the founder of Akkad.
Sargon was the greatest ruler of Sumer and Akkad.
On Stela, the king is depicted wearing a horned helmet, standing at the head of an army in front of a mountain of gods.
And above them, two suns can be seen: Black and White.
The Black Sun sign was one of the most important in the Nazi Third Reich.
Based on the secrets of the Templars and the Vril technology, flying machines like the ancient Vimanas were being built in Germany (the Haunebu project).
The engines were based on designs by Schauberger and Kohler.
Vril, the radiation of the Black Sun, is also called Orgon which was rediscovered by Wilhelm Reich.
Looking closely, the sign of the Black Sun is like a dial, on which is marked the Great Solar Year by 12 sectors. There are also 12 Crosses Tiu, marking the tops of the median zones. The 12 Crosses are invisible, they are a hidden mass. The 12 Zieg-runes are also visible.
Often the Black Sun is also referred to as the Central Sun, the Thule Sun. This theory of the Black Sun is different from the theory of a dead star but does not contradict it. The Central Sun is called black only because of its concealment, and it stays outside of our 3-dimensional space accessible to the usual senses.
This is very brief publicly available info about the Black Sun. There are many contradictions in it.
Yes, the Black Sun does exist. It radiates energy and plays a certain role in the Universe.
But what kind of energy is this? Is it good or bad? Who does it come from?
Not for nothing did Hitler make such desperate attempts to get and subdue it.
There is a system of Spiritual Suns in the Greater Cosmos. The central one corresponds to the Universal Logos.
It is a network of White Spiritual Suns which, in turn, correspond to Star Logos who received a special initiation, as a result of which they received the right to act in this capacity.
The Black Archons, having created their structure on the Subtle and physical planes, copying the existing hierarchy in the Universe, have also mirrored the system of Spiritual Suns. They created a similar infrastructure of Anti-Suns or Black Suns.
The White Suns are the embodiment of Pleroma and its inhabitants. Black Suns were their antipodes and served as retransmitters of demonic energy aimed at taking over the Local Universe and subjugating the Absolute. For the system of Black Suns to function effectively, they required a constant feeding of human life energy.
The nearest to us Black Sun played the role of an invasive vampiric egregore. It gave strength and power to those who served it but in exchange took their life.
That explains such a large number of all sorts of cults and sects worshipping the Black Sun and its Mandala.
Its power was actively used by Hitler and the Nazis.
And in the past, the Archons even created a planetary Temple of the Black Sun, which was located in one of the Northern regions.
The system of Black Suns, unlike the White ones, did not always correspond to Star Logos. Sometimes it was 100% Subtle or four-dimensional, having no manifestation body in 3D.
The black antipode of our Sun also formally had no anchoring in the third dimension.
However, in reality, there was such a link. In many cases, the Black Sun consisted of the Logos aspect plucked from the White Sun.
Such was the core of our Black Sun, created based on the Logos aspect of Helios.
And this is far from an exception. In the Local Universe, Archons built an entire counterbalanced system where each White Sun was opposed by a Black Sun created based on its aspect or without it.
How the Operation Black Sun was carried out?
First, on the Subtle Plane, Co-Creators, Light Hierarchs together with the ground team created a Matrix (Crystal) of the Highest Creation. For that, they singled out from selves temporary Monad’s bodies and merged them into an integral whole.
Then, late in the evening of the planned day, Co-Creators made a capture of the Black Sun and placed it in the Matrix.
Within it, the attempt to split the core of the Black Sun resulted in the activation of a black hole, a super vortex state into which its core automatically moved, beginning to rapidly suck the surrounding matter and reality.
Thus, it was confirmed that the Black Sun system was created in addition to the previously eliminated system of latent black holes built by Archons to take over the Local Universe (see DNI, Easter Island Ops, Part 1 and Part 2).
Co-Creators were ready for such a development, so even before the Black Sun’s response, the Matrix they made had been accelerated to the vibrations of Absolute Synthesis.
It stopped the reactivation of the Black Sun’s core and its transition to a black hole. After that, the core began to rapidly lose energy, quickly fading and splitting in the Absolute Light.
It was not easy for the ground team members to endure this op throughout the night. By morning, when the core was nearly split, an aspect of the White Sun, previously captured by the Dark Hierarchy and used to create the Black Sun, began to crystallize within it.
As soon as Co-Creators noticed it, they immediately lowered the vibration of the controlled Absolute Synthesis and began gradually extinguishing the Matrix which served as a situational reactor.
Soon, the aspect was extracted and on the morning of the coming day, it was returned to its rightful owner, the White Sun, integrated into its Logos and then into the core.
This was not the end of the Operation. The Black Sun, by analogy with the White Sun, had 12 more bodies of manifestation in different dimensions throughout the Galaxy. And each had a huge amount of karma and radiated negative energy.
Without pausing, Co-Creators and the Higher Light Hierarchs immediately started the cleansing from the karma of these 12 bodies of manifestation. The head of the ground team took on the role of an active dispatcher, conducting part of the work through self.
The main purification was done through the Matrix of Highest Creation. The cores of the Black Suns were forced through this reactor, being purified into the vibrations of Absolute Light (Absolute Synthesis was not needed in this case).
When the purification was complete, Co-Creators pulled the Black Suns into the World Order (Ordering of Matter) Crystal. In it, all the matter they consisted of was transformed into the original quality of undifferentiated, primary matter of the Universe.
After that, the Operation was continued on the Earth’s surface, in Germany…
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We have 917 guests and no members online | <urn:uuid:62c3211f-c8bc-46bf-a00d-74a2a4626ade> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.crystalwind.ca/rabbit-hole/the-great-quantum-transition-operation-black-suns | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.957845 | 2,364 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Pera Museum will host the screenings of the 14th International Filmmor Women's Film Festival on Wheels, whose motto is "Femicide is Preventable: Women's Solidarity Keeps Women Alive." The festival continues with Sarah Gavron's "Suffragette." At the beginning of the 20th century, women, devoid of political rights and only allowed to work at jobs deemed suitable for them, began the suffragette movement. In their struggle to secure women's right to vote, the pioneering women who sparked the movement faced myriad challenges and difficulties. Nevertheless, the suffragette movement spread through the world. In this movie, we view the movement as it happened in England, through the eyes of Maud Watts, who works at a laundry, as she comes to be a part of the movement. No matter how hard she tries not to get caught up in the movement, the anger she feels toward the injustice she faces draws her deeper and deeper into it, until she, like the other women around her, will risk anything to gain the right to vote.
When: March 18
Where: Pera Museum | <urn:uuid:42ab3bd0-f395-41c4-a090-b07789667c59> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.dailysabah.com/events/2016/03/16/pera-museum-to-screen-the-suffragette-movement-film | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.959477 | 229 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Metallodrugs, drugs which contain an active metal element play a key part in cancer treatments such as immunotherapy. If we add nucleic acids, which provide the means to store genetic information, to the mix we get artificial metallo-nucleases (AMNs). These are small molecules capable of cleaving DNA and preventing overactivation of DNA repair in cancerous cells.
AMNs are a promising new form of metallo drug, and this DCU research collaboration proposes a click chemistry method for preparing one such drug. Click chemistry is the process of joining molecules together using practical chemical reactions.
Overall, the tests demonstrated the versatility and simplicity of click chemistry in the design of new metallodrugs, paving the way for the development of new clinically relevant and structurally diverse agents using environmentally friendly and cost-effective methodologies. Current efforts on this TC-scaffold are focused on broad spectrum anticancer screening and modification of the scaffold to better understand the structure–activity relationships at play. | <urn:uuid:1e2514e0-0ce0-4c39-a833-e242353f42d4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.dcu.ie/research-publication/click-chemistry-based-artificial-metallo-nuclease | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.897393 | 205 | 2.796875 | 3 |
damsel in distress
[dam-zuh l in dih-stres]
What does damsel in distress mean?
A damsel in distress is a young woman in danger. The term often refers to a stock character in fiction who is rescued by a male hero.
Where does damsel in distress come from?
Damsel—meaning a young woman, particularly a noblewoman—comes from French and Latin roots meaning “lady.” Captive damsels rescued by male heroes have long figured into myth and literature. Chained to a rock, the princess Andromeda is spared from a sea monster by the heroic Perseus (an example of a damsel in distress from ancient Greek legend). The trope became particularly popular in chivalric medieval romances.
The specific phrase damsel in distress emerges in English in the 17th and 18th centuries. A 1692 poem, “Sylvia’s Complaint,” describes a “damsel in distress” in a discussion of the age-old conflict between passionate lust and decent love. A similar phrase, lady in distress, appears in a mid-18th-century ballad, “The Spanish Lady.” Damsel in distress is also notably used in a 1755 translation of Don Quixote when a priest disguises himself as a damsel to win a favor from Don Quixote.
As the example from Don Quixote suggests, damsel in distress, while indeed used in earnest, is also often a conceit to expose the follies of men. In 1919, celebrated British humorist P.G. Wodehouse wrote a novel called A Damsel in Distress. In it, an American composer believes he is rescuing a noblewoman only to discover she truly loves someone else. The novel was adapted as a musical film in 1937, with music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin.
Examples of damsel in distress
Who uses damsel in distress?
Damsel in distress is commonly used in discussions of the trope in literature and media, including classic films like King Kong to the Super Mario video game franchise. The phrase is familiar enough in popular lexicon to be used in casual speech and writing, too.
It’s used in academic and popular criticism as an example of sexism. In an 1894 essay on moral character, Irish polymath and activist Sophie Bryant argued that damsel in distress stories require females to be incompetent, creating a dearth of literary role models for women. Well over a century later in 2013, feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian released a series of YouTube videos explaining how the damsel in distress idea casts women as victims, citing many examples in contemporary popular media.
As a widespread narrative device, the damsel in distress is often played upon. The 2018 comedy-western Damsel presented its damsel as “the toughest character in the movie,” according to a Variety review of the film. In this vein, damsel in distress also been duly gender-flipped: Dude in distress or distressed dude have been proposed as names for the male counterpart to the damsel in distress.
The phrase is also riffed on outside of arts and entertainment, with damsel in distress referenced in women’s self-defense and personal safety training contexts.
This is not meant to be a formal definition of damsel in distress like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of damsel in distress that will help our users expand their word mastery. | <urn:uuid:8d4a2537-5db4-48a2-ae84-e8d28ef2dfb5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.dictionary.com/e/pop-culture/damsel-in-distress/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.960406 | 743 | 3.109375 | 3 |
1. Chocolate is everywhere, but science is still sorting out this adored product of the domesticated Theobroma cacao tree’s beans.
2. For centuries, based on linguistic and archaeological evidence, researchers thought chocolate originated in Mexico or Central America about 4,000 years ago.
3. In October, however, a Nature Ecology & Evolution study of organic residues on artifacts concluded that the Mayo-Chinchipe culture was making the stuff nearly 5,500 years ago, in what’s now Ecuador.
4. Analysis of ancient and modern T. cacao DNA confirmed the shrubby tree was first domesticated in that upper Amazon basin region.
5. As it spread north, chocolate became a luxury commodity worthy of tribute to the gods for the Aztec, Maya and other Mesoamerican civilizations.
6. But Mesoamerican chocolate has little in common with the modern treat. It was a paste of ground cocoa beans mixed with combinations of water, corn, fruit, chili peppers or honey, creating a porridge or beverage.
7. When chocolate first arrived in Europe in the 16th century, it was as a warm drink made with “chocolate liquor.” The term refers to ground cocoa paste, about half of which is cocoa solids. The rest is cocoa butter.
8. Chocolate liquor is better known today as baking chocolate. “Eating chocolate” came into being in the mid-19th century, when European confectioners added sugar and extra cocoa butter to chocolate liquor, creating what’s known today as dark chocolate.
9. In the 1870s, a Swiss chocolatier added milk powder, inventing, yes, milk chocolate. White chocolate, a 20th-century invention, doesn’t contain cocoa solids, so it’s not technically chocolate.
10. Megacompany Barry Callebaut introduced ruby chocolate with much marketing fanfare in late 2017, but won’t share the science behind the rosy-hued concoction. Independent experts have speculated it’s made from unfermented cocoa beans that have been acidified — a process the firm patented in 2009.
11. If true, the lack of fermentation could explain why foodies who’ve tried it say it has no real chocolate taste: Chocolate relies on fermentation for a lot of its flavor.
12. After harvest, diverse microbes produce acids and other waste products, mostly in the gooey pulp that surrounds the raw cocoa beans. This kicks off biochemical changes in the beans themselves, ultimately affecting taste.
13. In September in Royal Society Open Science, researchers published the first quantitative model for this complex process. Complicating things even more: Small-scale cocoa growers, who produce 90 percent of the world’s beans, vary widely in fermentation techniques.
14. These mom-and-pop operations are struggling; less than 1 percent of chocolate could be considered “fair trade.” Inequality between large companies and growers is actually increasing, as is chocolate production-associated deforestation.
15. Feeling bummed? Don’t expect chocolate to lift your spirits. In 2018, Planta Medica published a review of previous research on chocolate’s effect on mood: The authors found that few of the studies had chemically analyzed the chocolate consumed by participants.
16. That matters, said the authors, because chemicals present in chocolate vary widely based on how it’s processed, such as roasting temperature and time. Also, any effect on health may result from one specific chemical, interaction between multiple chemicals or something else entirely.
17. Our brains naturally produce the “bliss molecule” anandamide, for example, but it’s also found in chocolate, leading to claims that the sweet stuff is the ultimate feel-good food.
18. But, as the 2018 review noted, chocolate has only tiny amounts of anandamide, and it breaks down quickly. Instead, concluded the authors, any bliss chocolate provides is more likely to be from a chemical combo, plus the sensory experience of taste, texture and smell.
19. Chocoholics take Heart, literally: A 2015 meta-analysis published in the journal linked higher chocolate consumption with a lowered risk for coronary heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular troubles.
20. Speaking of chocoholics, an April review of food addiction research found evidence that chocolate produced neurobiological changes similar to those seen with drug use. The studies were not conclusive, however. So science still has to sort that one out, too.
Gemma Tarlach is senior editor at Discover. | <urn:uuid:2400ee96-bda6-4620-b541-3497100f6440> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-chocolate | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.940448 | 961 | 3.5 | 4 |
The GEF Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project will focus on the northwest of Sri Lanka, namely the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay. The area includes the largest of Sri Lanka’s Marine Protected Areas – the Bar Reef MPA, west of the Kalpitiya peninsula in the vicinity of Puttalam lagoon – which covers approximately 310 km2. Project site selection was based on results of the Dugong MoU survey carried out in 2013 by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), as well as long-term studies and field surveys implemented by the project partners.
Total Funding For Sri Lanka
Dugong & Seagrass Conservation in Sri Lanka
Large herds of dugongs were reported to have occurred in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka in the early 1900s; however, none were sighted during aerial surveys conducted of Palk Bay and the waters off western Sri Lanka in the 1980s, and their current status and distribution are unknown.
Seagrass meadows and dugong habitats have not been mapped. The principal studies carried out so far have been conducted through interviews with local fishermen. Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar have been identified as areas where seagrass meadows are present and similar habitats may exist in other parts of the coastal areas of the island. Hence, an urgent need exists for a comprehensive survey to assess presence/absence, map the extent of seagrass meadows and determine population sizes, movements and threats to dugongs.
In Sri Lanka, the continuing demand for dugong meat creates a high market value which adds impetus to illegal hunting to supplement incomes. Dugong meat is considered to have medicinal and aphrodisiac properties. Traditionally dugongs have also been prized for their hides and oil (valued as a treatment for the hulls of wooden boats). Before 1970 a commercial dugong fishery existed, and as recently as the 1950s up to 150 individuals were reportedly taken annually in the Mannar district.
Current Threats and Conservation Measures
Dugongs are protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. However, they still face direct threats from targeted hunting, incidental by-catch and various destructive fishing practices, including prawn trawling, indiscriminate netting, blast fishing and a general over-exploitation of fishery resources. In particular, dugongs are highly threatened in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay.
|Wildlife Policy of Sri Lanka||Provides provision for the protection and conservation of the fauna and flora of Sri Lanka and their habitats to prevent their commercial (and other) misuse.|
|Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act (1996)||Provides provisions to protect marine mammals and Turtles in Sri Lankan waters. It also provides provisions to manage and regulate fishing activities and establish Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs).|
|Marine Pollution Prevention Act No. 59 of 1981||Provides for the prevention, reduction and control of pollution in Sri Lankan waters and to give effect to international conventions for the prevention of marine pollution.|
|Coast Conservation Act No. 57 of 1981 and Amendment act No 64 of 1988||Any development activity within the coastal Zone of Sri Lanka requires a permit. Although this is not directly related to the conservation of dugongs, the marine environment is protected under this law, particularly as it totally prohibits coral mining. Conservation areas can be declared under the CCD Act No. 49 of 2011. Once declared no development work can be done within those areas.|
|The National Environmental Act No. 48 of 1980 (amended by act No 56 of 12988, No 53 of 2000)||The Central Environmental Authority, The Environment Council, District Environmental Committee is found under this statute, which also empowers Environmental Impact Assessment procedures.|
The Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project comprises seven components. LK1 will work with local communities in north-west Sri Lanka, providing relevant education on the importance of dugongs and their habitat to discourage direct hunting of dugongs as well as negative fishing practices including the use of dynamite and other illegal equipment. The project also aims to improve the conservation of dugong and seagrass hotspots by strengthening legal, administrative and technical capacity with the participation of relevant government institutions, local communities and businesses, and non-governmental organisations.
LK2 will establish a marine conservation coordination centre in north-west Sri Lanka, featuring computerised communication systems to overcome the current lack of communication between the head office of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), the Navy and Coast Guard, and local communities. The centre will facilitate the recording of incidents such as sightings and animal or habitat destruction, allowing immediate responses and remedial measures to be implemented.
An additional 10,000 hectares of Marine Protected Area will be established by LK4 to support the conservation of dugongs and their seagrass habitat in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay. This project component will involve the preparation of a multiple-community-based management plan in conjunction with government, fishing communities and the tourism industry.
LK5 and LK6 aim to eradicate knowledge gaps that prevent effective management, conservation and policy initiatives concerning dugongs in Sri Lanka. LK6 will conduct field surveys of the Bay of Bengal/Palk Bay area using divers and supported by community interviews to identify dugong and seagrass hotspots, while LK5 will generate baseline seagrass maps illustrating the distribution and abundance of seagrasses in Palk Bay, the Gulf of Mannar and Kalpitiya in order to support coastal planning. The maps will be generated using currently available information, data collected in situ, GIS techniques and satellite remote sensing, and will identify hotspots for detailed studies of seagrass areas.
In the Puttalam lagoon area LK7 will attempt to reduce the impacts of destructive fishing practices on seagrass habitats and provide income generation opportunities to local communities in return for their commitments to wise habitat and natural resource use. Following socio-economic and ecological surveys, a comprehensive education and awareness programme will be devised and implemented, targeting specific areas of the lagoon. Communities will be actively engaged in alternative livelihood and capacity development programmes to discourage Illegal fishing practices such as the use of push nets, monofilament nets, cage nets, etc.
Finally, LK8 will facilitate and coordinate the work carried out by the seven other project partners by establishing a National Facilitating Committee. This component will also conduct training programmes to improve the capacities of management staff at the Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR), the Coast Conservation & Coastal Resources Management Department (CC&CRMD), and other relevant organisations.
|LK1||Raising awareness and respect for dugongs and their seagrass habitat in Sri Lanka||Biodiversity Education and Research (BEAR)|
|LK2||Establishing a marine conservation coordination centre in north-west Sri Lanka||Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC)|
|LK4||Establishing dugong and seagrass conservation areas in Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar||International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)|
|LK5||International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)||National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA)|
|LK6||Increasing knowledge on dugong distribution at selected sites in north-western Sri Lanka||Ocean Resources Conservation Association (ORCA)|
|LK7||Providing incentives to local communities for wise stewardship of coastal habitats||Sri Lanka Turtle Conservation Project (SLTCP)|
|LK8||National Facilitating Committee for the GEF Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project||Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC)| | <urn:uuid:fe399933-0ebb-41a5-9458-0b4c4e2b9f9d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.dugongconservation.org/where-we-work/sri-lanka/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.905222 | 1,633 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Source description last updated: 4 November 2020
In brief: UN Women is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Coverage on ecoi.net:
News (for countries of priorities A-C) and other publications (for countries of priorities A-D).
Covered quarterly on ecoi.net.
“UN Women’s main roles are:
“For many years, the United Nations faced serious challenges in its efforts to promote gender equality globally, including inadequate funding and no single recognized driver to direct UN activities on gender equality issues. In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to address such challenges. [...] It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on four strategic priorities:
It was created by merging the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues Advancement of Women (OSAGI) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
Voluntary contributions from national committees, UN organisations, foundations, the private sector and others. (see UN Women: Annual Report 2013-2014, 2014)
Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: UN member states
Thematic focus: Rights of women and LGBTI persons
“UN Women acts on two fronts. It supports international political negotiations to formulate globally agreed standards for gender equality. And it helps UN Member States to implement those standards by providing expertise and financial support. UN Women also assists other parts of the UN system in their efforts to advance gender equality across a broad spectrum of issues related to human rights and human development.” (UN Women website: How We Work, undated)
“As part of our mandate, UN Women supports Member States in setting norms. We conduct research, and compile and provide evidence, including good practices and lessons learned, to inform intergovernmental debates and decisions. We also assist in implementing norms and standards through our country programmes. In addition, UN Women leads and coordinates the UN system’s work in support of gender equality and the empowerment of women. Intergovernmental discussions on UN Women’s country activities take place in the Executive Board, where a rotating group of UN Member States helps set strategic directions.” (UN Women website: Intergovernmental support, undated)
UN Women has “a key role in increasing knowledge about women’s status in the United Nations.” (UN Women website: UN system coordination, undated)
“Within countries that request its assistance, UN Women works with government and non-governmental partners to help them put in place the policies, laws, services and resources that women require to move towards equality.” (UN Women website: Programme and technical assistance, undated)
“Our solutions include preparing regular research and data-based flagship reports to call attention to existing gaps and spur action. These include Progress of the World’s Women and World Survey on the Role of Women in Development. [...] UN Women has issued position papers on the post-2015 development agenda, and on the global economic crisis, among others, and provides regular substantive inputs to intergovernmental processes, like the Commission on the Status of Women.” (UN Women website: Research and data, undated)
Languages of publications:
English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese
Further reading / links:
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 July 2010 [A/RES/64/289], 21 July 2010
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 14 September 2009 [A/RES/63/311], 2 October 2009
Comprehensive proposal for the composite entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women [A/64/588], 6 January 2010
UN Women, UN-Women Executive Board Members, undated
All links accessed 4 November 2020. | <urn:uuid:ac8fd0f8-6737-4dd5-a731-0c643b063bca> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.ecoi.net/en/source/11522.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.902741 | 848 | 3.5 | 4 |
Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and El Dorado Fire Department Chief Chad Mosby is urging the community to take steps to stay safe in the kitchen and outdoors.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. More than three times as many fires are reported on Thanksgiving Day than on an average day, the NFPA says.
"There's a lot going on. People are cooking for family, big meals, and sometimes they get distracted," Mosby said.
Mosby said the most important thing to remember on Thursday will be to pay attention to what's going on in the kitchen and not overextend oneself.
"We try to encourage people to not have too many things to juggle whenever you're cooking in the kitchen," Mosby said.
The NFPA also recommends checking one's smoke alarms before cooking starts this week. Anyone cooking on the stove should stay in the kitchen with a watchful eye on their food as well.
Adults are also encouraged to keep an eye on children in the home to ensure they give hot ovens, stoves and hot foods and liquids a wide berth. Electric cords should not dangle off counters lest a child grab it and pull it down, according to the NFPA.
Frying turkeys will also require caution, Mosby said. He recommended staying in the open air – outside of carports and garages – and ensuring that the turkey is fully thawed before it goes into the fryer.
"Do that in an open area and be really, really safe," he said. "People need to be real careful with that."
The NFPA discourages the use of turkey fryers, instead recommending purchasing a fried turkey or using a fryer that doesn't use oil.
There will be firefighters on call Thursday in case El Dorado residents do need emergency help. They'll likely celebrate with each other and their families, Mosby said.
"Typically, the firefighters who draw a shift during the holidays will have plans to eat together as a crew and they'll invite their families to come have a meal," he said.
The EFD does, unfortunately, have to respond to fires on holidays, Mosby said, but being thoughtful about kitchen safety can help prevent tragedy.
"There's a lot of times people are very careful during this time, but unfortunately we do have calls during the holiday season. We try to encourage people to be safe all the time," he said.
Mosby also noted that while there isn't currently a burn ban in effect, burning is prohibited after dark.
"They could burn leaves and small limbs, but you can't burn after dark," he said.
With safety accounted for, Mosby said he hopes local residents enjoy Thanksgiving.
"Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving and enjoy time with friends and family," he said. | <urn:uuid:13def407-1350-4e0f-afe6-88258dd9376a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.eldoradonews.com/news/2022/nov/23/fire-safety-important-at-holiday-time/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.97828 | 586 | 2.6875 | 3 |
National information on the welfare of poultry
ETT’s Food Chain projects have developed national data collection and reporting on data describing the welfare of broilers, broiler breeders and turkeys. The data generated by the monitoring of the farm and slaughterhouse level on the information systems of the three largest broiler slaughterhouses are compiled by ETT into national statistics.
The parameters to be monitored are e.g. for broilers:
- Mortality: FWM (first week mortality), TM (total mortality) and DOA (dead on arrival)
- Rejects: whole carcass, cellulite and ascites
- Use of whole grain in the feeding
- Footpad condition in slaughtered flocks
The condition of the footpads of all slaughtered flocks of broilers is monitored in slaughterhouses by inspection veterinarians. National data from these examinations is regularly published on the ETT website. Other national information on the welfare of broilers is used by the meat companies participating in the data collection to support the development of activities and, for example, export of meat. Data collection covers more than 99% of Finnish broiler production. | <urn:uuid:d450f8de-071d-42dc-a091-9f605b6d9079> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.ett.fi/en/poultry/welfare/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.908343 | 235 | 2.75 | 3 |
We have a number of internal organs. We cannot see our internal organs. However, these organs help the body to function smoothly and keep us healthy and alive.
The internal organs are brain, lungs, heart, liver, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, bladder and kidneys.
The brain: The brain lies in the skull or head. The brain is the control centre of the body. It receives messages from all parts of the body, understands it and sends a reply message.
The lungs: The two lungs lie in the chest cavity. They are protected by the ribcage. The lungs help us to breathe.
The heart: The heart lies between the two lungs. The heart is the pumping station of the blood supply. It supplies blood to the whole body. It is the size of a fist.
The liver: The liver is the largest gland
in the body. It lies in the upper right abdomen. The liver stores food. It purifies blood. It also helps in the
digestion of food.
The stomach: The stomach lies in the upper abdomen. Food that is eaten goes into the stomach and remains there for 3 to 4 hours. The stomach helps to digest the food.
The small and large intestines: The small intestine is a very long tube which lies curled in the lower abdomen. It is surrounded by the large intestine. They also help in the digestion process.
The bladder and kidneys: These organs lie in the lower abdomen. The kidney is a bean-shaped organ. The two kidneys lie on each side of the spine in the lower part of the back. The kidneys purify the blood by removing the waste matter from it.
The bladder is a muscular organ that stores urine before expelling it from the body.
A group of internal organs work together to form a system.
When a grown-up person breathes in deeply, the lungs take in almost 6 litres of air for men and 4.5 litres of air for women. But, for normal breathing the lungs take in only half a litre of air.Teeth and its Importance | <urn:uuid:f900dd14-1134-4984-8889-7af65a0ba2aa> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.first-learn.com/internal-organs.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.929559 | 430 | 3.75 | 4 |
Understanding Pesticide Labels
9 March 2005
Virginia Cooperative Extension, Charlottesville/Albemarle County Office
460 Stagecoach Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
phone: 434.872.4580 fax: 434.872.4578
Research has shown that consumers find reading and understanding the label to be the most difficult aspect of applying pesticides safely. However, it is essential that you understand the label information before you begin work. The label printed on or attached to a container of pesticide tells you how to use it correctly and warns of any environmental or health safety measures to take.
What's on a Label?
The brand name on the front of the label identifies the manufacturer's product. Type of formulation identifies the way the pesticide in that container is mixed for application, usually in one of the following forms:
emulsifiable concentrate: an oil-based liquid that you mix with water, then spray on an affected plant
wettable powder or dry flowable/water-dispersable granule: a powder that you suspend in water, then spray
granule or pellet: no mixing required, apply dry
dust: no mixing required, apply dry
solution: ready-to-use liquid, often in a spray bottle
aerosol: ready-to-use spray, in a spray can
The ingredient statement lists the names and amounts of the active ingredients and the amount of inert ingredients. Comparing the cost per unit of active ingredient on different brands and formulations can save money. However, do not buy more than you need just to reduce the cost-per-unit. You may end up creating serious disposal problems.
The active ingredient in a pesticide has a complex chemical name derived from its chemical composition. It also has a common name which makes it easier to identify. One pesticide may be sold under different brand names, but the same chemical name will be on all of the product labels.
Net contents indicates the amount in the container.
The signal word on the label tells how toxic a product is. Signal words to look for are danger (highly toxic), warning (moderately toxic), and caution (slightly toxic).
The label contains emergency first aid measures and states exposure conditions requiring medical attention.
The pesticide label is the most important information you can take to the physician when someone has been poisoned. Without the label, it may be difficult for the physician to help.
The label tells how to avoid damage to the environment. Some examples: "This product is highly toxic to bees." "Do not contaminate water when cleaning equipment." "Do not apply where runoff is likely to occur."
Physical and chemical hazards are listed and include specific fire, explosion, and chemical hazards that the product may cause.
The directions for use include the pests the product controls; the crops, animals, or other items the product can be used on legally; how the product should be applied; how much to use; and where and when the product should be applied. This is often the most difficult part of the label to follow and, therefore, needs special attention.
Application to harvest specifies the amount of time that must pass from the time of application until it is safe to pick and use a food crop. Expressed as "days to harvest," this is the time required for the residue to drop to safe levels. It is often listed as a number in parentheses following the crop name.
The misuse statement is a reminder that it is a violation of federal law to use a product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling.
Storage and disposal directions must be followed for environmental and human safety.
The law also requires the maker or distributor of a product to print the name and address of the company on the label, along with an establishment number telling which factory made the chemical. An EPA registration number shows that the product has been registered with the Environmental Protection Agency for the uses listed on the label.
Understanding the Label Helps Reduce Environmental Problems
Home gardeners often use more pesticides per square foot in their gardens than farmers do in their fields. Overapplication of a pesticide is a serious mistake and a misuse of the product. Misuse of pesticides has a number of adverse effects. It can cause health hazards, such as making food less safe to eat, especially if there are residues at harvest time. It can also make handling the plants more dangerous. Each time you spray a pesticide, you are exposed to the dangers of inhalation or absorption of the toxin. Misuse can cause various environment problems as well - beneficial insects, earthworms, birds, and even pets may be harmed or killed along with the pests. Some pesticides used near water may contaminate the water supply. Continuous use of certain pesticides may induce resistance in the pests they are designed to control. Some pesticides do not break down easily and can remain in the environment for years.
Read the label when you purchase a pesticide, and again before mixing or applying it. If you are confused about any part of the label, consult your Extension agent or a representative of the product manufacturer. Many pesticides now list a toll-free number for consumers. The label includes specific information that you should be aware of and learn to understand. The registration and use of pesticides are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It is illegal to use a pesticide on a crop or site unless it is listed on the label. It is also illegal to exceed the labeled rate of application or the number of applications per season.
For more information on selection, planting, cultural practices, and environmental quality, contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. If you want to learn more about horticulture through training and volunteer work, ask your Extension agent about becoming an Extension Master Gardener.
The Piedmont Master Gardener Association is presenting their Spring Garden Lecture Series on Wednesday evenings for the next three weeks. The topic this week is Birds in the Garden and Urban & Suburban Wildlife. Please call the Charlottesville/Albemarle Extension office at 872-4580 for more information.
For more information about landscape topics contact your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office. The local Virginia Cooperative Extension office numbers are Albemarle 872-4580, Fluvanna 591-1950, Greene 985-5236, Louisa 540-967-3422, and Nelson 263-4035. | <urn:uuid:e7106d7a-f067-4d31-8fe5-36bdacde7e40> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.fluvannamg.org/understanding-pesticide-labels/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.921557 | 1,307 | 3.625 | 4 |
Since Frey and Osborne's hugely popular paper in 2014, the traditional narrative surrounding automation at work has been that millions of jobs will be lost to the march of technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence.
It's not a narrative that has really been supported by the evidence in the intervening years, and indeed, data suggests that those firms investing in these technologies tend to hire more people than their peers who do not. This alternative narrative was reinforced by a recent study from Wharton, which showed that robots are undoubtedly impacting the workplace, but that the only people who may need to fear for their jobs are managers.
The study found that investing in robots helps to boost the efficiency and quality of work, with the reduced costs often meaning that there are more jobs to go around for their human peers.
The researchers assessed five years worth of business data from across the Canadian economy to understand what impact automation has on employment, labor, and other aspects of working life.
The analysis reveals that robots are generally not replacing workers at all, as while some firms may reduce their workforce after adopting robots, in general the increase in automation results in more hiring overall. This is due to the fact that these firms become far more productive, and therefore need more workers to meed the increase in demand.
“Any employment loss in our data we found came from the non-adopting firms,” the researchers explain. “These firms became less productive, relative to the adopters. They lost their competitive advantage and, as a result, they had to lay off workers.”
Looking at the bigger picture
The authors argue that firms need to think of the big picture when they're contemplating investing in automation. The key, they suggest is to frame such decisions in terms of how to become more productive, and therefore competitive.
Whereas investing in automation generally helps the overall workforce, however, the researchers did find that managers may not be so fortunate. This is because as various tasks and processes become automated, the errors in those processes fall, which in turn means there is less need for monitoring of the work by managers.
“Technology can generate reports on what the robots did, what material they used, and they can aggregate it at the firm level, division level, to get lots of different operational metrics very easily,” the researchers explain. “And those are the kinds of things that managers tend to do.”
This decrease in the number of managers is also a consequence of the changing composition of the workforce, as while investing in automation does increase employment across the board, this is not uniformly felt across all skill levels. For instance, both low-skilled workers and high-skilled workers were found to brow in numbers, but middle-skilled workers actually fell.
“When you see a huge decrease in middle-skilled work and an increase in those extremes — high- and low-skilled labor — it means the type of managers you need to manage this new workforce will be different,” the researchers say.
For managers, this spells trouble, as the inevitable standardization of robotic output means that a single manager can oversee significantly more work than when the work is done by humans. This is not the case, however, for managers of high-skilled workers, as managers in areas such as innovation, as opposed to operations, were still in demand.
“Highly-skilled professionals are very good at what they do, better than their managers. They don’t need managers to tell them how to do their jobs or make sure they arrive to work on time,” the researchers continue. “Managing high-skilled workers is much more like coaching or advising. Managers advise them to help them to achieve the best they can at work, and that kind of skill is very different from supervising work.”
Change is inevitable
That such technology-driven change is inevitable is perhaps one of the few things that the doomsayers have gotten right in their hyperbole about robots taking our jobs. It almost certainly won't happen as quickly or as dramatically as they predict, but it's fair to say that it will happen eventually.
All of the data to date suggests that organizations do best when they actively embrace new technologies, such as AI and robotics, so that they can boost their productivity and become more competitive. This seems to benefit not just the firm generally but also their workforce. Indeed, any job-related trouble is likely to emerge in those firms that don't invest and therefore get left behind.
“In the next couple of years, you’re going to see huge industry turbulence, if you haven’t seen it already,” the researchers say. “The firms that figure it out, either by luck or by ingenuity, are going to kill it. And the firms that don’t figure it out are not.” | <urn:uuid:bb1e97dc-ff05-4477-952a-fd8183bfb9fd> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2021/09/02/does-automation-result-in-more-jobs-being-created/?sh=b1dc39963d06 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.980659 | 995 | 2.703125 | 3 |
The OECD defines the middle class as anyone earning between 75 per cent and 200 per cent of median household income after tax.
Canada's middle class
More than 80 per cent of middle-class families have experienced an increase in their federal income taxes.
The increased CPP tax alone translates into $1,624 more in taxes.
In the House of Commons on Tuesday, the prime minister admitted that many middle-class Canadians are now paying more taxes.
The government eliminated the children’s fitness tax credit, the education tax credit and more.
The government eliminated income-splitting for couples with young children.
The average Canadian worker now works a lot fewer hours to purchase common household items.
Median income in Canada increased by 52 per cent from 1976 to 2011.
The purchasing power for the average Canadian wage-earner has increased dramatically since 1976. | <urn:uuid:2644cb7b-5cb8-4eaf-ad89-3e491489578b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.fraserinstitute.org/tags/canadas-middle-class?language=en | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.955959 | 178 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Specify The Type Of Computer Graphics
• Reproduces the image when the reference is information of unimaginable nature.
• Examine the challenges in which input and output data are images.
Identification of samples:
• Transforms the image into a formally understandable language of symbols.
Put the graphical system components in the right order:
♪ Injection device.
♪ The processor is a memory.
• The manpower.
♪ The withdrawal device.
Indicate the name of the user class of the graphical system that creates a graphical system using basic software and the crucial task of ensuring access to graphic devices by the application programmer.
Indicate the name of the user class of the graphic system using the computer graphics system by generating graphical functions from its programmes.
♪ Applied software player.
Indicate the name of the user class of the graphical system interacting with the graphical programme by physically affecting the input device:
♪ The graphic system operator.
What is the code set for the lighting of pickles on the screen stored in a separate memory area?
∙ Human buffer.
What is the character of the human buffer, which characterizes the number of battles of information defining the lighting of each individual picel, in particular the number of colours that can be presented on the screen of the system?
What? Type of computer graphics is the way to provide graphical information by means of a set of curves described by mathematical formulas and ensures that images can be transformed without loss of quality?
♪ The vector schedule.
Topic 2. Graphic formats and colour systems.
Describe the correct description of the graphic format of JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group).
● Metod (algorithm) compression of images with loss of information. Format is widely used for electronic publications.
Describe the correct description of the GIF graphic format (Graphics Interchange Format). | <urn:uuid:c5677bf9-244d-4d6f-b06c-441a1b2ec360> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.frnkdsgn.com/ComputerGraphics/specify-the-type-of-computer-graphics | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.836724 | 386 | 3.671875 | 4 |
Please carefully read the full course
Here is a list of the items that you will need for this class,
including a detailed list of the
manipulatives. Mostly I will provide them for you.
You are always permitted to use your own physical manipulatives -
even during exams.
Some sample basic skills questions.
Here is a list of the weekly questions.
If you are looking for help, and I am not available, consider the math learning center.
Some early Geneseo
mathematics history - what it meant to be a normal school.
Here's a place you may leave anonymous
comments about the course.
Return to my homepage. | <urn:uuid:a9a784aa-99ae-481e-8897-a2bf460b56f4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.geneseo.edu/~johannes/Math140.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.918782 | 141 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Almost one in five children aged 7-14 exhibit tendencies that could lead to wellbeing or mental health issues later in life with one in twenty at severe risk, according to a huge UK-wide study of more than 850,000 pupils. Boys are just as likely as girls to have negative feelings about themselves.
The study – the largest of its kind in the UK – found that 19% of all pupils exhibit low self-regard and doubt their capabilities as learners – traits that experts say are good indicators that a child’s wellbeing is at risk. That percentage equates to approximately 100,000 children in every school year group.
More than one in twenty children (6%) exhibit extremely poor attitudes to their learning and have very low self-regard, which makes them especially vulnerable.
Sizeable minorities of children are dissatisfied with their school and are poorly motivated. Just under a fifth (18%) have negative feelings about their school, with 15% exhibiting a low work ethic and the same proportion having poor attitudes to attendance. Children tended to exhibit increasingly negative attitudes as they got older.
Low self-regard and poor perceptions of learning capabilities are strong indicators that all is not well with a child, say experts. If other issues such as a lax work ethic, antipathy towards school and poor attendance are included, the chances of children becoming unhappy and even unwell increase significantly.
The study, conducted by GL Assessment and based on its Pupil Attitudes to Self and School psychometric measure, found that boys were just as likely to be vulnerable as girls. There is little variation between genders, although girls are slightly more positive when it comes to attitudes to attendance (77% are highly satisfied compared to 71% for boys) and preparedness for learning (79% versus 70%).
The findings add to evidence from other studies such as the OECD’s 2015 PISA survey that found that UK youngsters were among the least satisfied and most anxious in the developed world. According to NHS England, almost 65,000 under 18-year-olds took medication for anxiety and depression last year.
Mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin said: “I believe there is more worry and pressure on children than ever and it’s starting younger. Any data that allows teachers to target those children most at risk can only help.”
The GL Assessment study also found little difference in attitudes between students in deprived and better-off areas. Children in schools with large numbers of free school meal (FSM) pupils are less likely to respond well to curriculum pressures than those with fewer FSM pupils (63% compared to 71%) but the former are more positive than the latter about their teachers (72% compared to 67%).
Greg Watson, Chief Executive of GL Assessment, said more schools than ever were taking student wellbeing seriously, not only because it had a huge influence on academic performance but also because of the implications for their mental health. “At some point, a significant proportion of children will underperform at school because they have attitudinal issues. A few may display obvious signs that all is not well – but many more will not. So teachers have to look for early, subtle indicators of trouble.”
It’s a point echoed by Elizabeth Prescott, Deputy Headteacher of Gabalfa Primary School in Cardiff: “Pupil voice has become increasingly emphasised over the last few years. But it is not necessarily the pupil whose voice is always heard who’s the pupil who actually needs to be heard.”
Promoting student wellbeing also requires a whole-school approach and a joined-up effort, says Dr Adam Boddison, Chief Executive of nasen: “Increasing positive wellbeing and supporting positive mental health requires a whole community approach. Within our schools, this means engaging with parents, families and children and young people, as well as all staff, to ensure strategy is informed, owned by everyone, and impactful.”
Mr Watson added: “If we want our children to achieve their full potential in life and reduce the prevalence of poor mental health, we have to start making sure they are healthy, happy and confident in school first. Sadly, our study shows that far too many children remain at risk and that we have to work harder to identify those who seem fine on the surface but have hidden barriers to learning.”
Children’s Wellbeing: Pupil Attitudes to Self and School Report 2018 by GL Assessment is available as a free download from 00:01 Friday 27 April: Click here to download
Notes to editors
The study analysed a dataset of 862,724 from GL Assessment’s Pupil Attitudes to Self and School psychometric measure, completed by students aged 7-14 in the UK over the past two years. | <urn:uuid:1c1a2174-f6dd-405e-ae1e-c7d42988a55c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.gl-education.com/press-office/press-releases/hundreds-of-thousands-of-children-s-wellbeing-could-be-at-risk-experts-fear-with-boys-just-as-vulnerable-as-girls/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.979027 | 983 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Imagine standing in the beauty aisle at your local store, staring at a row of cosmetic products with their shiny packaging and alluring promises. You decide to make an informed choice by checking the ingredients list, but as you scan through it, you find yourself lost in a sea of scientific terms that seem impossible to decipher. You’re not alone – many of us face this confusion when trying to understand the ingredients in our cosmetics.
One such ingredient that’s commonly found within cosmetic products is Methicone. This chemical name might leave you scratching your head, wondering what it is and why it’s in so many products.
In this article, we will delve into the world of Methicone, exploring its properties, functions, and potential benefits and side effects for your skin.
What is Methicone?
Methicone, also known as Poly[oxy(methylsilylene)], is a synthetic silicone-based polymer widely used in cosmetic products. It belongs to a class of compounds called silicones, which are derived from silica, a naturally occurring substance found in sand, quartz, and certain types of rocks. Methicone is a versatile ingredient and can be found in various forms, such as fluids, emulsions, and gels.
The primary functions of Methicone in cosmetic products are as an antistatic agent, skin conditioning agent, and emollient. As an antistatic agent, it helps reduce static electricity, making products easier to apply and preventing them from clinging to the skin or hair. As a skin conditioning agent and emollient, Methicone forms a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, trapping moisture and providing a smooth, soft feel. It also helps improve the texture and spreadability of cosmetic formulations, allowing for even application and a better overall user experience.
Methicone is typically found as part of a broader formulation of ingredients in cosmetic products, rather than as a standalone ingredient. Concentrations of Methicone can vary depending on the specific product and its intended use, but it is generally used in low to moderate amounts. Some products may contain higher concentrations, depending on their desired properties and performance.
In summary, Methicone is a valuable ingredient in the cosmetics industry, contributing to the performance, aesthetics, and user experience of a wide range of products. Its ability to improve texture, provide skin conditioning, and act as an antistatic agent makes it a popular choice for formulators seeking to create high-quality cosmetic products.
Who Can Use Methicone?
Methicone is generally considered safe and suitable for most skin types, including sensitive, oily, dry, and combination skin. Its skin conditioning and emollient properties can be beneficial for those with dry skin, as it helps to retain moisture and create a smooth, soft texture. For individuals with oily or combination skin, Methicone can assist in improving the texture and spreadability of cosmetic products without causing excessive greasiness or clogging pores.
In terms of compatibility with vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, Methicone is a synthetic, silicone-based polymer, which means it is not derived from animal sources. As a result, it is generally considered suitable for both vegans and vegetarians. However, it’s always a good idea to check the label or consult with the manufacturer to ensure the specific product you’re considering is indeed free from animal-derived ingredients and has not been tested on animals.
Methicone Skin Benefits
Methicone offers several skin benefits due to its antistatic, skin conditioning, and emollient properties. Here are some of the key advantages of incorporating Methicone into your skincare routine:
- Antistatic properties: Methicone helps reduce static electricity in cosmetic products, ensuring smoother and more comfortable application. This feature can be particularly useful in hair care products, as it prevents hair from becoming frizzy and unmanageable due to static buildup.
- Skin conditioning: As a skin conditioning agent, Methicone works to improve the overall appearance and feel of the skin. It forms a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, which can help to lock in moisture and prevent dehydration. This can result in a more supple, hydrated, and healthy-looking complexion.
- Emollient effect: Methicone’s emollient properties contribute to a smoother, softer skin texture by providing a protective layer that helps retain moisture. This can be especially beneficial for individuals with dry or flaky skin, as it promotes a more even, comfortable skin surface.
- Enhanced product texture and spreadability: Methicone improves the texture and spreadability of cosmetic formulations, allowing for a more even application and a better overall user experience. This can help ensure that makeup and skincare products glide on smoothly and evenly, providing a more professional and polished finish.
It’s important to note that the beneficial effects of Methicone are not permanent and that continued usage of products containing this ingredient is necessary to maintain its positive impact on the skin. As with any skincare routine, consistency is key to achieving and maintaining the desired results.
Methicone Potential Side Effects
While Methicone is generally considered safe for most individuals, it’s essential to understand that reactions to this ingredient can vary from person to person. This variability is mainly due to individual differences in skin type, sensitivity, and tolerance levels. To better understand your skin’s specific needs and characteristics, you can find your skin type through various methods.
Some potential side effects and interactions associated with Methicone include:
- Skin irritation: Although rare, some individuals may experience skin irritation or redness when using products containing Methicone. This reaction is more likely to occur in those with particularly sensitive skin or a history of allergies to cosmetic ingredients.
- Allergic reactions: In extremely rare cases, individuals may develop an allergic reaction to Methicone or other ingredients in a product. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include itching, hives, and swelling.
If you experience any of these side effects while using a product containing Methicone, it’s essential to discontinue use immediately and consult a healthcare professional or dermatologist for advice. They can help determine the cause of the reaction and recommend an appropriate course of action.
It’s worth noting that adverse reactions to Methicone are relatively rare, and generally speaking, the ingredient is considered safe and effective when used as intended. However, as with any cosmetic ingredient, it’s crucial to exercise caution and be aware of your skin’s unique needs and sensitivities.
One way to minimize the risk of an adverse reaction is by conducting a patch test before incorporating a new product into your skincare routine. A patch test can help you determine whether your skin is likely to react negatively to a particular ingredient. You can follow this patch testing guide to learn how to perform a patch test correctly and ensure the safety and compatibility of the products you use.
Achieving success in skincare often involves a certain degree of experimentation and trial and error. Our skin is unique, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. It’s essential to understand the ingredients in the products we use and carefully consider their potential benefits and side effects to make informed decisions about our skincare routines.
Methicone, while not necessarily a household name, is a popular and widely used ingredient in the cosmetics industry due to its versatility and beneficial properties. Its antistatic, skin conditioning and emollient functions make it a valuable addition to various cosmetic formulations, contributing to improved texture, spreadability, and overall user experience.
So to sum everything up, Methicone is a generally safe and effective ingredient suitable for most skin types, including vegans and vegetarians. As with any cosmetic ingredient, it’s essential to be aware of potential side effects, perform patch tests when introducing new products, and tailor your skincare routine to your skin’s unique needs and sensitivities. By doing so, you can enjoy the benefits of Methicone and other cosmetic ingredients while minimizing the risk of adverse reactions. | <urn:uuid:0e9513de-75ca-4158-953e-3cb4ebf86f7a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.glooshi.com/methicone/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.929364 | 1,654 | 2.53125 | 3 |
IoT is the way data is captured across various applications. IoT gives them an understanding of how to enable automation in a stimulus-response cycle.
Data Science helps to analyse this collected data .Data Science teaches kids to obtain, clean/process, and transform data.
Teaching Data Science to kids is proven to improve their analytical, logical, and problem-solving skills, and improve their performance at school while preparing them for success in a data-driven future.
The true power of Data Science is when you combine the collection of the data as well through the use of sensors and IoT.
By revising certain science and electronics concepts and by learning and practicing a 5-step process of logical problem-solving using technology and creativity, the student will be able to go beyond what they learn now and be empowered to deal with a variety of situations. | <urn:uuid:fc317a96-062b-42f8-9bcd-53f1a228490e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.grovator.com/s-integrated-iods/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.936036 | 175 | 3.328125 | 3 |
A majority of aircraft are designed with gas turbine engines that are installed under the tail or the wings. Because the various parts used to make up an engine are exposed to a wide range of stressors, the materials used in them must be able to withstand fluctuations involving high pressures and temperatures. Gas turbine engines are generally made up of a turbine, fan, compressor, combustor, and exhaust nozzle. The exhaust nozzle in particular receives little to no attention despite being an important part of the engine’s system.
Shaped like a tube through which outgoing hot gasses can flow, the main role of the exhaust nozzle is to produce the thrust necessary to help the aircraft maintain speed. It also functions to reduce the noise that the engine exhaust generates. More than that, as a result of the high pressures that exhaust nozzles are subjected to, they must be made from materials that provide ample corrosion resistance and overall longevity. In this blog, we will outline which materials are used to make an aircraft exhaust nozzle.
Serving as one of the most widely used materials for exhaust nozzles, inconel is a nickel-chromium alloy that is classified as a superalloy, and it is incredibly resistant to extreme weather conditions and temperatures. In fact, inconel is frequently used in the construction of rocket ships because of its resistance to corrosion and oxidation. Moreover, it is also found in many sea vessels due to its ability to tolerate prolonged exposure to saltwater.
Over time, the demand for titanium has risen because of its use by companies such as Boeing and Airbus to manufacture their newer planes. Titanium has a tensile strength to density ratio, meaning that it is a corrosion-resistant material that can handle high temperatures. For this reason, exhaust nozzles are usually made from titanium. That being said, today, most new aircraft and sea vessels use titanium.
Stainless Steel Alloys
In general, aircraft exhaust nozzles utilize steel that has at least 10% chromium. Keep in mind that not all stainless steel is the same as it is created in various ways to fulfill different functions. As such, stainless steel is often classified based on its compositions. For example, some varieties may have more chromium or nickel than others, those of which belong to one of three types: ferritic, martensitic, and austenitic stainless steel. The latter are made of chromium, nickel, and carbon which makes them highly resistant to temperature extremes. It is worth noting that austenitic stainless steel contains more nickel and chromium, so it is more corrosion resistant than other stainless steel types.
Hardware Domain is a leading distributor of aircraft products, including corrosion resistant materials, exhaust nozzle components, and more. With over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find items on our database, customers can easily meet rigid time constraints and strict budget parameters. Our inventory is replete with in-demand part numbers, top-requested NSNs, popular manufacturers, and highly sought-after FSCs, among other frequently-sold products. In addition, we make it a priority to only establish partnerships with trusted manufacturers on our Approved Vendor List (AVL), and all the listings we feature are ready for purchase at any time, so you are rest assured to find an item that is available for procurement today. As our network of distribution centers stretch from North America to western Europe, our website features products that suit a diverse set of industry verticals, including aerospace, military, civil, and defense sectors, among others. Get started with the submission of an RFQ form or contact us directly; we are available around the clock!
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We Hope that You Will Visit Us Again the Next Time You Need NSN Parts and Make Us Your Strategic Purchasing Partner.Request for Quote | <urn:uuid:379fb861-2eb2-4a8f-8298-e86583ea6546> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.hardwaredomain.com/blog/what-materials-are-used-for-aircraft-exhaust-nozzles/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.945768 | 837 | 3.578125 | 4 |
Medical imaging tests have made important advances in early diagnosis and treatment. There are a few different options that may be best for certain diagnoses and individuals and allow physicians to see what was impossible to view only a few decades ago. However, these imaging scans can be harmful and not all dangers are yet known.
X-Rays Are Best for Bone and Calcium Dense Tissue ScansX-rays are the oldest imaging scans and are created by beams of radiation through the body to create an image on photographic films or a digital recording plate. X-rays are best used to take high resolution images of bones and calcium dense tissue, such as in dental images and chest X-rays for pneumonia. It can be used to take images of organs and blood vessels with the use of fluoroscopy, which is the injection of contrast dye into the body.
X-ray imaging is inexpensive and gives fast, high resolution images, as most people have experienced at the dentist. However, X-ray radiation is an ionizing radiation that is weakly carcinogenic. Over-exposure to these rays over time may cause damage to the body and increase the risks for cancer. X-rays of any part of the body are not recommended for pregnant women.
Ultrasounds Are Safe For Pregnant WomenAn ultrasound is also called sonography and as the name suggests, it uses high frequency sounds to create images inside the body. Ultrasound scans are commonly used to monitor fetal development in pregnant women; however, they are also important in diagnosing abdominal organ abnormalities, aneurysms in aortas, valve problems in veins, kidney stones, tumors and growths, problems in joints and blocked ducts.
As ultrasounds don’t require ionizing radiation, they are considered less invasive and safe for pregnant women when used as required. They are also fast, easy and effective to perform as well as the most transportable and least expensive diagnostic option. However ultrasound scans are not as powerful as CT and MRI scans and show less detail and fewer structures.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Views Detailed Internal Body OrgansMagnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI uses magnet and radio frequencies to creates of most internal body structures. MRI scans require large scanning equipment that gives detailed imaging of structures in the body. For finer structures a contrast dye may be used to increase the visibility of the image. MRI scans are useful to determine diagnoses in neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and other soft tissues. They are also important in confirming a diagnosis of cancer.
MRI scans are time consuming and require that the patient remain very still inside a large tube-like machine. This can be traumatic and uncomfortable for patients. Though this type of imaging does not use ionizing radiation, it is not known if it is safe for pregnant women. A well known danger of MRI scans is the powerful magnetic force which can cause anything metallic in the body such as pacemakers and orthopedic screws to move or malfunction.
A CAT Scan Provides Multidimensional Cross Sectional ImagesA Computed Tomography or CT or CAT scan is a complex imaging technology that makes use of several X-ray beams and electronic detection devices to scan the body and record two or multi-dimensional image. CT scans are used to get cross-sectional images of the body and make difficult diagnosis. Scans can be completed in seconds and provide very detailed images of bone, blood vessels and soft tissue such as internal organs, ducts and muscle.
CTs are important in emergencies because they are able to provide information so quickly. They are important for diagnosing strokes, brain injuries or hemorrhages, heart disease, cancers, abdominal disorders and internal injuries and are safe for patients with pacemakers. However, CT scans have a higher amount of ionizing radiation and should be used only when necessary. They are not safe for pregnant women.
Nuclear Imaging Requires Radioactive IsotopesNuclear imaging is the most advanced imaging technology and provides detailed views of the body. Patients are inhale, ingest or are injected with a minute amount of radioactive material which then sends radiation beams from the inside of the body. A scanner or camera is then able to pick up these beams from specific organs to capture detailed images. Nuclear imagining is commonly used in making diagnosis of cancers, tumors and cardiovascular disease.
Nuclear imaging is expensive and requires radioactive isotopes which are difficult to produce and transport. Patients may have to allow the radioactive tracer to accumulate in the body for a few hours to a few days. The radioactive material can also leach or pass from the body to other people and the environment. | <urn:uuid:c54922cc-675b-4b6e-bf0b-b2f224c07038> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.health-secrets.net/2016/07/medical-imaging-scans.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.947941 | 938 | 3.515625 | 4 |
Research we're watching
A study published Oct. 15, 2015, in the International Journal of Cancer adds to evidence that the risk of breast cancer increases—but not very much—with every drink a woman takes. Researchers from five Spanish universities followed 334,850 women, ages 35 to 70, from 10 European countries. During an 11-year period, 11,576 were diagnosed with breast cancer.
When the researchers compared alcohol intake among women who developed breast cancer and those who didn't, they found women who averaged two drinks a day had a 4% higher risk than those who limited their consumption to one daily drink. Those who averaged three drinks a day had a 6% higher breast cancer risk.
In reality, the increase is relatively small. At age 35, the average woman's absolute risk of developing breast cancer in the next decade is around 1%. Increasing it by 4% or 6% wouldn't raise it much above 1%. At age 70, a woman's 10-year risk is 3.9%; a 6% increase would raise it to 4.1%.
Although alcohol may play a minor role in increasing breast cancer risk, there are stronger reasons for women to limit their consumption to a drink a day, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease. As for reducing your breast cancer risk, other lifestyle interventions—such as following the Mediterranean diet and avoiding postmenopausal weight gain—will probably have a greater impact.
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. | <urn:uuid:db2251c9-e638-4b9d-8836-d2ff283d5445> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/research-were-watching-study-suggests-scant-increased-risk-of-breast-cancer-from-alcohol-intake | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.96079 | 356 | 2.71875 | 3 |
GLOSSARY OF HELLENIC MYSTERY RELIGION (Part 2)
Mæristí Ousía - (Meristi Ousia; Gr. Μεριστή Οὐσία. Ety. μερίς "part, portion.") The Mæristí Ousía is the divisible kozmogonic substance: Earth or Yi.
Mainádæs - (Maenads; Gr. Μαινάδες, ΜΑΙΝΑΔΕΣ) Mainádæs are the ecstatic female followers of Diónysos.
Mathimatikós - (mathematicus; Gr. μαθηματικός, ΜΑΘΗΜΑΤΙΚΟΣ. Noun [also adjective] Plural: μαθηματικοί.) The mathimatikí are advanced Pythagoreans of the doctrine of numbers. They were seen in contrast to the akouzmatikí (Gr. ἀκουσματικοί), those students of Pythagóras whose interest was centered on the secret mystical teachings.
Meilinóï - (Melinoe; Gr. Μειλῐνόη) Meilinóï is a Goddess honored in Orphic Hymn 71. She is presented as the offspring of Zefs (Zeus; Gr. Ζεύς) and Pærsæphóni (Persephone; Gr. Περσεφόνη) which would make her sister to Zagréfs (Zagreus; Gr. Ζαγρεύς, who was sacrificed by the Titans and whose heart was saved and born again as Diónysos from the leg of Zefs). All that can be said of Meilinóï can be discovered in her hymn, as this, other than a few scattered inscriptions, is the only text from antiquity concerning her which survives:
"I call, Melinoe, saffron-veil'd, terrene,
Who from infernal Pluto's sacred queen,
Mixt with Saturnian Jupiter, arose,
Near where Cocytos’ mournful river flows;
When, under Plouton’s semblance, Zeus divine
Deceived with guileful arts dark Proserphone.
Hence, partly black thy limbs and partly white,
From Pluton dark, from Jove ethereal bright
Thy colour'd members, men by night inspire
When seen in specter'd forms, with terrors dire;
Now darkly visible, involved in night,
Perspicuous now they meet the fearful sight.
Terrestrial queen, expel wherever found
The soul’s mad fears to earth’s remotest bound;
With holy aspect on our incense shine,
And bless thy mystics, and the rites divine."
(trans. Thomas Taylor, 1792.)
Metragyrtes - See Mitrayírtis.
Mimallónæs - (Mimallones; Gr. Μιμαλλόνες, ΜΙΜΑΛΛΟΝΕΣ) Mimallónæs is the Macedonian name for Mainádæs, the ecstatic female devotees of Diónysos.
Mitrayírtis - (metragyrtes; Gr. μητραγύρτης, ΜΗΤΡΑΓΥΡΤΗΣ. Plural is μητραγύρται. Noun.) Mitrayírtai were wandering priestly beggars (of Κυβέλη, i.e. Cybele) in the Classical period who performed rituals for a fee and promised deliverance from past crimes committed. They were grouped together with the Orphæotælæstai, who behaved the same. See Orphæotælæstai.
Mousaios - (Musaeus; Gr. Μουσαῖος, ΜΟΥΣΑΙΟΣ) Mousaios is a figure who lived in such antiquity that the details of his life are cloaked in mystery. Literature attributed to Orphéfs usually opens addressingMousaios, and tradition has it that he was his closest student, and like his teacher, he was a great thæológos (theologian; Gr. θεολόγος). It is even said that Mousaios was Orphéfs' son and that he was the Iærophántis (Hierophant; Gr. Ίεροφάντης) of the Ælefsínia Mystíria (Eleusinian Mysteries; Gr. Ἐλευσίνια Μυστήρια) during the life of Iraklís (Hercules; Gr. Ἡρακλῆς) in the age of Heroes (Διόδωρος Σικελιώτης Βιβλιοθήκη ἱστορική 4.25.1). Yet there is another tradition which declares him the son of Évmolpos (Eumolpus; Gr. Εύμολπος) and the first to teach the genealogy of the Gods (Διογένης Λαέρτιος Βίοι Prologue 3.)
Mousaios is said to have written a number of mystic compositions:
Ἐξάκεσεις νόσων (thorough cure for illness)
Τιτανογραφία (history of the Titans)
Σφαίρας [sphere], a poem about Dimítir
…and other books. None of these texts have survived except in fragments.
Musaeus - See Mousaios.
Myǽoh - (myeo; Gr. μυέω, ΜΥΕΩ. Verb.) to teach, initiate into the Mysteries, to be initiated.
Mýisis - (myesis; Gr. μύησις, ΜΥΗΣΙΣ. Noun. Etym. μύω, "close, be shut.") initiation.
Mystagohyǽoh - (mystagogeo; Gr. μυστᾰγωγέω, ΜΥΣΤΑΓΩΓΕΩ. Verb.) perform mystic ritual, initiate.
Mystagohyía - (mystagogia; Gr. μυστᾰγωγία, ΜΥΣΤΑΓΩΓΙΑ. Noun.) worship, initiation into the Mysteries.
Mystagohgós - (mystagogos; Gr. μυστᾰγωγός, ΜΥΣΤΑΓΩΓΟΣ. Noun.) mystic teacher introducing to or initiating into Mysteries, guide to those desiring the Mysteries.
Mystárkhis - (mustarches; Gr. μυστάρχης, ΜΥΣΤΑΡΧΗΣ), chief of Μύσται, those initiated into the Mysteries.
Mystikós - (mysticus; Gr. μυστικός, ΜΥΣΤΙΚΟΣ. Adjective.) connected with the Mysteries.
Mystípolos - (mustipolus; Gr. μυστίπολος, ΜΥΣΤΙΠΟΛΟΣ. Adjective.) pertaining to the Mysteries.
Mystíria - (Musteria; Gr. Μυστήρια, ΜΥΣΤΗΡΙΑ. plural. From μύω, "to close, be shut," of the eyes) Mystíria are the Mysteries, the deepest understanding of the ancient Greek religion.
Mystiriazmós - (musteriasmos; Gr. μυστηριασμός, ΜΥΣΤΗΡΙΑΣΜΟΣ. Noun.) an initiation.
Mystirikós - (mustericus; Gr. μυστηρικός, ΜΥΣΤΗΡΙΚΟΣ. Adjective.) of or for the Mysteries.
Mystírion - (musterion; Gr. μυστήριον, ΜΥΣΤΗΡΙΟΝ. Noun. Typically in plural = Μυστηριτὰ; Orgies) Mystic truth, Mysteries, or secret rites orgies. Mystic articles.
Mýstis - (mystes; Gr. μὐστης, ΜΥΣΤΗΣ. Μύσται is plural. Noun.) one who is initiated. Sometimes Gods (such as Diónysos) are simply referred to by this word.
Mystodókos - (mustodocus; Gr. μυστοδόκος, ΜΥΣΤΟΔΟΚΟΣ. Adjective) of the initiated.
Næophándis - (neophantes; Gr. νεοφάντης, ΝΕΟΦΑΝΤΗΣ. Noun.) a μύστης newly initiated.
Nævrís - (nebris; Gr. νεβρίς, ΝΕΒΡΙΣ. Noun. Etym. νεβρός, fawn, the young of a deer.) the skin of a fawn, this being worn by Diónysos and his entourage.
Nebris - See Nævrís.
Nympholipsía - (Gr. Νυμφοληψία, ΝΥΜΦΟΛΗΨΙΑ) Nympholipsía is the experience of Ǽrohs (Eros or Attraction; Gr. Ἔρως) from the Gods when encountered by a male. This experience is not the same as the erotic love between ordinary humans. Cf. Æphivolipsía.
Ohmophayía - (Omophagia; Gr. Ὠμοφαγία, ΩΝΟΦΑΓΙΑ) Ohmophayía is communion with the God. The term refers to the eating of raw flesh by the Mainádæs (Maenads; Gr. Μαινάδες) in the rites of Diónysos. The ohmopháyion (omophagion; Gr. ὠμοφάgιον), a living animal, was sacrificed by means of sparagmós (Gr. σπαραγμός), 'ripping apart,' in imitation of Zagréfs (Zagreus; Gr. Ζαγρεὐς) being torn apart by the Titánæs (Titans; Gr. Τιτᾶνες). The raw flesh was then eaten in communion with the God, producing an experience known as Ohmophayía. Ohmophayía is not literal; it is symbolic of the opening of the centers of the soul. In ancient times there may have been instances, at least we see such activity described in the tragedies and mythology, where so-called Vákkhic practitioners actually killed and ate raw animals in the way described, but even in these ancient instances, such practitioners had misunderstood. Orphéfs is thought of as addressing such behavior as expressions of the deterioration of the religion and for his reforms he is known as the great restorer of the tradition. Similarly, the association of wine with Diónysos was used as an excuse for drunkenness; in reality, the intoxicating quality of wine is symbolic of the intoxicating quality of the Aithír (Αἰθήρ) of Zefs (Ζεύς).
Omophagia - See Ohmophayía.
Onomákritos - (Onomacritus; Gr. Ὀνομάκριτος, ΟΝΟΜΑΚΡΙΤΟΣ) Onomákritos (520-485 BCE) was a khrismológos (χρησμολόγος, compiler of oracles) and diathǽtis (διαθέτης, arranger) of the works of Mousaios, the student or son of Orphéfs. He performed this task under the Peisistratídai (Πεισιστρατίδαι, the house of the Athenian tyrant Πεισίστρατος) but when it was discovered that he had interwoven some of his own compositions into the compilation of oracles, Ípparkhos (Hipparchus; Gr. Ἵππαρχος) banished him from Athens. Onomákritos and the Peisistratídai were eventually reconciled when the family was expelled from Athens. He supplied oracles to the Persian king Xerxes which may have played a role in convincing Xerxes to invade Greece. Onomákritos seems to have been a type of priest and his forgeries were likely not created with bad intentions, but since his work is lost, the content is uncertain. Pafsanías states (Παυσανίας 8.37.5) that Onomákritos is responsible for the mythology whereby the Titánæs are depicted in an unfavorable light, as the author of Zagréfs' sufferings, that is, of course, if the myth of Zagréfs and the Titánæs is taken literally.
Oöyænís - (Oögenes; Gr. ᾨογενής, ΩΙΟΓΕΝΗΣ) Oöyænís is an epithet of Prohtogónos (Protogonus; Gr. Πρωτογόνος) meaning born of an egg. (Orphic Hymn 6 Prohtogónos line 2)
Ophíohn - (Ophion; Gr. Ὀφίων, ΟΦΙΩΝ. Etym. from ὄφις "serpent.") The Titan God Ophíohn is found in the little Orphic thæogonía (theogony; Gr. θεογονία) in the Argonaftiká (Ἀργοναυτικά) of Apollóhnios Ródios (Απολλώνιος Ρόδιος). Ophíohn is described as the first to rule Ólympos (Όλυμπος), ruling jointly with Evrynómi (Eurynome; Gr. Εὐρυνόμη), the daughter of Okæanós (Ocean; Gr. Ὠκεανός). Ophíohn is also found in the writing of Phærækýdis (Φερεκύδης), and, as in Apollóhnios, he is defeated by Krónos (Κρόνος).
Ophionéfs - (Ophioneus; Gr. Ὀφιονεύς, ΟΦΙΟΝΕΥΣ) = Ophíohn. See Ophíohn.
Orgy - See Óryia.
Orphæotælæstís - (Orpheotelestes; Gr. Ὀρφεοτελεστής, ΟΡΦΕΟΤΕΛΕΣΤΗΣ. Noun. Ὀρφεοτελεσταί is plural.) Orphæotælæstai are practitioners or initiators of Orphic rites. Plátôn (Πλάτων) and others speak derisively about some of these as being fraudulent teachers who took advantage of the superstitions of the ignorant, asking money for rituals which would assure the patsy of a better afterlife. (Πλάτων Πολιτεία [The Republic] 364b)
Orphéfs (Orpheus; Gr. Ὀρφεύς, ΟΡΦΕΥΣ) Orphéfs is considered as the founder of all Mystíria, the deepest meaning of the ancient Greek religion. He is called The Great Theologian because he taught us the theogony. And he is called the Great Reformer because he restored the religion from decay, superstition, and great misunderstandings.
Orphiká - (Orphica; Gr. Ορφικά, ΟΡΦΙΚΑ. Adjective. Singular and plural.) The term Orphiká refers to all of the rites and, in particular, the literature associated with and usually attributed to Orphéfs (Ὀρφεύς). The term, when used in English, is often treated as a noun.
Orphikí - (Orphikoi; Gr. Ορφικοί, ΟΡΦΙΚΟΙ. Adjective, plural.) Orphikí is an adjective meaning Orphic.
Orphikí Ýmni - (Gr. Ορφικοί Ύμνοι, ΟΡΦΙΚΟΙ ΥΜΝΟΙ) The Orphikí Ýmni are the Orphic Hymns, a collection of eighty-seven hymns (some collections add one or more hymns) to the Gods which have been used in the Mystical rituals of Ællinismόs (Ἑλληνισμός), the ancient Greek religion.
Orphismós - (Gr. Ορφισμός, ΟΡΦΙΣΜΟΣ) Orphismós is the term used to refer to the Orphic Mystíria or, simply, the teachings attributed to Orphéfs.
Óryia - (orgia or orgy; Gr. ὄργια, ΟΡΓΙΑ. Etym. from ἔργον "work." Noun, plural of ὄργιον [rare].) the secret rites and worship of those initiated into Mysteries.
Oryiasmós - (orgiasmos; Gr. ὀργιασμός, ΟΡΓΙΑΣΜΟΣ. Noun.) Lexicon entry: celebrating ὄργια, Mysteries.
Oryiastís - (orgiastes; Gr. ὀργιαστής, ΟΡΓΙΑΣΤΗΣ. Fem. ὀργιαστίς. Noun.) he/she who celebrates ὄργια.
Oryiázoh - (orgiazo; Gr. ὀργιάζω, ΟΡΓΙΑΖΩ. Verb.) to celebrate ὄργια, Mysteries.
Oryiophándis - (orgiophantes; Gr. ὀργιοφάντης, ΟΡΓΙΟΦΑΝΤΗΣ. Noun.) priest who initiates into ὄργια.
Ousía - (Gr. οὐσίἁ, ΟΥΣΙΑ) Ousía is the ancient Greek word for substance, matter, material.
Pærí pnévma - (peripneuma; Gr. περί πνεύμα, ΠΕΡΙ ΠΝΕΥΜΑ. That which is περί "around" the soul.) The pærí pnévma is the Aithir (Aether; Gr. Αἰθήρ) and all the khitóhnæs (χιτῶνες; garments) which surround the soul. Within the pærí pnévma are the archives of everything that has occurred to that soul.
Palingænæsía - (Palingenesía; Gr. Παλιγγενεσία, ΠΑΛΙΓΓΕΝΕΣΙΑ. Noun.) the transmigration of the soul, reincarnation. Palingænæsía is an older term than μετεμψύχωσις.
Pandǽleia - (Panteleia; Gr. Παντέλεια, ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΙΑ) Pandǽleia is the Pythagorean name for the number ten. Cf. Trietirikí Pandǽleia.
Paraisavázoh - (paraisabazo; Gr. παραισαβάζω, ΠΑΡΑΙΣΑΒΑΖΩ. Verb.) to be intoxicated with the Aithír of Σαβάζιος, i.e. Zefs (Ζεὺς) or Diónysos.
Pærimáktria - (perimactria; Gr. περιμάκτρια, ΠΕΡΙΜΑΚΤΡΙΑ. Noun.) A pærimáktria was a priestess associated by the common people with Orphismós in ancient times, although the identification is dubious. The pærimáktria used magic for purification. An γραῦς (old woman) pærimáktria usually refers to a witch.
Persinus - See Pythagóras.
Phánis - (Phanes; Gr. Φάνης, ΦΑΝΗΣ. Etym. ϕαίνω, "make known" "reveal") Phánis, according to Orphic kozmogony, is the Protogónos (Protogonus; Gr. Πρωτογόνος), the First-Born of the Gods. His name means "I reveal" and with this ability, he makes obvious the potential of the universe, a type of creation from pre-existent matter.
Physiká - (Physica; Gr. Φυσικά, ΦΥΣΙΚΑ) Physiká was an Orphic text attributed to both Onomákritos (Ὀνομάκριτος) and Vrondínos (Βροντῖνος). The book (not extant) discussed how the soul, after having been carried by the winds, is breathed into or inhaled by the body. These winds or their guardians are called Tritopátoræs (Τριτοπάτορες), and their action may be connected with the transmigration of the soul.
Protogónos - (Protogonus; Gr. Πρωτογόνος, ΠΡΩΤΟΓΟΝΟΣ) In the Orphic kozmogony, Protogónos is the First-Born of the Gods: Phánis (Φάνης).
Psykhí - (psyche; Gr. ψυχή, ΨΥΧΗ. Noun.) Psykhí is life, the soul. To designate the soul, the word psykhí is preferable over πνεῦμα, a term having become more associated with Christianity.
Psykhogonía - (psychogonia; Gr. ψυχογονία, ΨΥΧΟΓΟΝΙΑ) the generation of the soul.
Pythagóras - (Gr. Πυθαγόρας) Pythagóras of Sámos (Gr. Σάμος) is regarded as Orphic because many of his ideas, such as reincarnation and the belief in the soul, are typical of Orphismós. Pythagóras not only influenced Plátohn (Plato; Gr. Ρλάτων), who held similar views, but also many Pythagoreans before Plato are seen as in the Orphic tradition, the following being an incomplete list:
Arignóhti (Arginote; Gr. Ἀριγνώτη) who wrote works concerning the Mystíria of Dimítir and Diónysos.
Kǽrkops (Cercops; Gr. Κέρκωψ) who wrote an Orphic work entitled Κατάβασις εἰς Αἵδου (The Descent to Hades) which is also ascribed to Pródikos (Prodicus; Gr. Πρόδικος).
Pæsínos (Persinus; Gr. Περσῖνος) who wrote an Orphic work entitled Σωτηρῐ́ᾱς Ορφικά.
Vrondínos (Brontinus; Gr. Βροντῖνος) who wrote an Orphic work entitled Φυσικά.
Zóhpyros (Zopyrus; Gr. Ζώπυρος) of Irákleia (Heraclea; Gr. Ἡράκλεια) who may have composed some Orphic poems himself and who worked with Onomákritos (Onomacritus; Gr. Ὀνομάκριτος), the compiler of the oracles of Mousaios.
Rhapsodies, Orphic - (Sacred Logos in Twenty-Four Rhapsodies; Gr. Ιερός Λόγος σε 24 Ραψωδίες) The Orphic Rhapsodies, which now only exist in fragments, seem to have been generally accepted as the "orthodox" thæogonía (θεογονία) of Orphéfs.
Savai - (sabai; Gr. σαβαῖ, ΣΑΒΑΙ) a Vákkhic cry, similar to εὐαί, εὐοῖ.
Savázoh - (Sabazo; Gr. Σαβάζω, ΖΑΒΑΖΩ. Verb) to cry out to Σαβάζιος.
Scepter of Phánis - See Kirýkeion.
Sóhma - (soma; Gr. σῶμα, ΣΩΜΑ. Noun. Etym. σῆμα sign by which a grave is marked.) body of a mortal man, in Homeric times always meaning a corpse.
"...for, according to some, it (ed. the body) is the sepulchre of the soul, which they consider buried at present; and because whatever the soul signifies, it signifies by the body; so that on this account it is properly called σῆμα, a sepulchre. And indeed the followers of Orpheus appear to me to have established this name, principally because the soul suffers in body the punishment of its guilt, and is surrounded with this enclosure that it may preserve the image of a prison. They are of opinion, therefore, that the body should retain this appellation, σῶμα, till the soul has absolved the punishment which is her due, and that no other letter ought to be added to the name." (Plátohn Κρατύλος 400c, trans. Thomas Taylor 1804.)
Sparagmós (Gr. σπαραγμός, ΣΠΑΡΑΓΜΟΣ. Noun.) Sparagmós refers to the tearing open the centers of the soul, resulting in Ohmophayía, union with the God.
Sphrayís - (sphragis; Gr. σφραγίς, ΣΦΡΑΓΙΣ. Noun.) Sphrayís is a seal. The phrases found at the beginning of Orphic texts, "Begone! you who are sinful. Close your doors! you who are profane," are a type of seal or sphrayís , protecting the text from profane eyes.
Symbola - See Sýmvola.
Sýmvola - (Symbola; Gr. Σύμβολα, ΣΥΜΒΟΛΑ) Sýmvola in the Mysteries are signs or tokens such as the Toys of Diónysos.
Synækhís Ousía - (Syneches Ousia; Gr. Συνεχής Οὐσία) The Synækhís Ousía is the continuous kozmogonic substance: Water-Fire-Aithír.
Sýnthima - (Synthema; Gr. Σύνθημα, ΣΥΝΘΗΜΑ. Noun.) The sýnthima is the password, indicating that the initiate has been properly prepared for initiation into the Mystíria.
Syrianós - (Syrianus; Gr. Συριανός, ΣΥΡΙΑΝΟΣ) Syrianós (died 437 CE) was head of the Platonic school in Athens after Ploutarkhos of Athens (but not the writer of biographies). He was the teacher of mighty Próklos (Proclus; Gr. Πρόκλος). Amongst other works, Syrianós wrote a treatise on Orphéfs and another harmonizing the ideas of the Platonic and Pythagorean philosophers with Orphismós, but both of these works are lost.
Sýstasis - (sustasis; Gr. σύστασις, ΣΥΣΤΑΣΙΣ. Noun.) Sýstasis is contact with a God; the term is often associated with the Neoplatonic practice of thæouryía (θεουργία), ritual.
Tælæsphoría - (telesphoria; Gr. τελεσφορία, ΤΕΛΕΣΦΟΡΙΑ. Noun. Etym. τέλος, "fruition" + φορά, "gestation.") initiation in the Mystíria.
Tælæstír - (telester; Gr. τελεστήρ, ΤΕΛΕΣΤΗΡ = τελεστής. Noun. Etym. τέλος "fruition" + τηρέω "to guard.") A tælæstír is an initiating priest. Cf. Tælæstís.
Tælæstírion - (telesterion; Gr. Τελεστήριον, ΤΕΛΕΣΤΗΡΙΟΝ) place of initiation.
Tælæstís - (telestes; Gr. τελεστής, ΤΕΛΕΣΤΗΣ = τελετής. Noun.) A tælæstís can refer to either the initiating priest or the one who has been initiated. Cf. Mýstis.
Tælætai - (Teletae; Gr. Τελεταί, ΤΕΛΕΤΑΙ) Tælætai is a lost Orphic text composed by Onomákritos (Ὀνομάκριτος) in which some (Shuster) believe included the first presentation of the Zagréfs mythology.
Tælætárkhis - (Teletarches; Gr. Τελετάρχης, ΤΕΛΕΤΑΡΧΗΣ. Noun.) Tælætárkhis is Orphéfs, the founder of Mysteries, ultimately Diónysos and Rǽa.
Tælætí - (telete; Gr. τελετή, ΤΕΛΕΤΗ. Plural is τελεταί.)a rite, esp. initiation into Mysteries, mystic text. In plural, any mystic ritual.
Tælætís - (teletes; Gr. τελετής, ΤΕΛΕΤΗΣ = τελεστής) See Tælæstís.
Thæoloyía - (theologia; Gr. θεολογία, ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΑ) theology, the study of the divine.
Thæourgós - (theurgos; Gr. θεουργός, ΘΕΟΥΡΓΟΣ) The thæourgós is any individual who conducts ritual, priest. The word means divine worker. Ritual (thæouryía) is the divine work. The divine work is the worship of the Gods. The cosmic Thæourgós is the Dimiourgós, i.e. Zefs (Ζεὺς).
Thæouryía – (theurgy; Gr. θεουργία, ΘΕΟΥΡΓΙΑ. Noun.) Thæouryía is the worship of the Gods in ritual, the divine work, one of the Four Pillars of our religion.
Thiaseia - (Gr. θιασεία, ΘΙΑΣΕΙΑ. Noun.) Vákkhic festivity.
Thiasévoh - (thiaseuo; Gr. θιασεύω, ΘΙΑΣΕΥΩ. Verb.) initiate into the θίασος. See Thíasos.
Thiasóhtis - (Thiasotes; Gr. θιασώτης, ΘΙΑΣΩΤΗΣ. Noun.) member of a θίασος. See Thíasos
Thíasos - (Gr. θίασος, ΘΙΑΣΟΣ. Noun. Plural is θίασοι.) religious brotherhood and the festivities they participate in.
Thronizmós - (thronismus; Gr. θρονισμός, ΘΡΟΝΙΣΜΟΣ = θρόνωσις. Noun.) Thronizmós is an enthronement in which the candidate for initiation is ceremoniously seated for purification. Cf. Thrónohsis.
Thrónohsis - (thronosis; Gr. θρόνωσις, ΘΡΟΝΩΣΙΣ = θρονισμός. Noun.) enthronement ceremony for those newly initiated into the Mystíria. Cf. Thronizmós.
Thyïpolía - (thuepolia; Gr. θυηπολία, ΘΥΗΠΟΛΙΑ. Noun. Pronounced: thee-ee-poh-LEE-ah) mystic rites.
Toys of Diónysos – The Toys of Dionysos are seven children’s toys, symbolic for sure, presented to Zagréfs (Ζαγρεύς, the first Diónysos) in a Basket by the Titánæs before he was sacrificed. They are:
1. Mirror (Ǽsoptron; Gr. Ἔσοπτρον)
2. Knuckle-Bones (Astrágalos or 'dice;' Gr. Ἀστράγαλος)
3. Sphere (Sphaira; Gr. Σφαῖρᾰ)
4. Top (Rómvos; Gr. Ρόμβος)
5. Apple (Míla; Gr. Μῆλα)
6. Cone (Kóhnos; Gr. Κῶνος [Orphic verses] or Stróvilos; Gr. Στρόβιλος [Clement])
7. Pókos (Gr. Πόκος, tuft of wool or donkey hair)
Triætirikí Pandǽleia - (Trieterike Panteleia; Gr. Τριετηρικὴ Παντέλεια, ΤΡΙΕΤΗΡΙΚΗ ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΙΑ) Triætirikí Pandǽleia is the conclusion, completion of the Great Mysteries.
Triagmós - (Gr. Τριαγμὸς, ΤΡΙΑΓΜΟΣ) Triagmós is a mystical text (not extant) on the number three by the Pythagorean tragedian and philosopher Íohn (Ion; Gr. Ἴων) or possibly Æpiyǽnis (Epigenes; Gr. Έπιγένης).
Tritopátoræs - (Tritopatores; Gr. Τριτοπάτορες, ΤΡΙΤΟΠΑΤΟΡΕΣ. Plural of Τριτοπάτωρ.Τριτοπατέρες means simply "ancestors.") ancestors, great-grandfathers. The Tritopátoræs are wind or Aithír-daimonæs (δαίμονες), the great ancestors, who carry the soul between lives and blow it into a new body. See Physiká.
Vǽdi - (Bedu; Gr. βέδυ, ΒΕΔΥ = Ἀήρ. Noun.) Vǽdi is the mystic water (or misty air) of the Nymphs. (Orphic Frag. 219 Kern)
Vǽvilos - (bebelos; Gr. βέβηλος, ΒΕΒΗΛΟΣ. Adjective, singular. βέβηλοι is plural.) Vǽvili refers to the profane , the inappropriate intruders, the uninitiated. The rituals of the Mysteries open with the exhortation, θύρας δ' έπίθεσθε βέβηλοι, "Shut your doors, you who are profane!"
Vakkhefma - (Baccheuma; Gr. Βάκχευμα, ΒΑΚΧΕΥΜΑ; singular. Noun. Βακχεύματα is plural.) Vakkhéfmata are Vákkhic rites and festivities.
Voukolǽoh - (boukoleo; Gr. βουκολέω, ΒΟΥΚΟΛΕΩ. Verb.) Voukolǽoh is the act of worshiping Savázios (Σαβάζιος), who is Zefs (Ζεύς) and Diónysos (Διόνυσος). Savázios in this word (βουκολέω) is symbolized by the bull as βουκολέω literally means to tend cattle.
Voukolos - (boukolos; Gr. βούκολος, ΒΟΥΚΟΛΟΣ. Noun. Plural is βούκολοι.) he who tends cattle, metaphor for those (βούκολοι) who worship Diónysos, who is symbolized by the bull.
Water-Fire-Aithír are all Synækhís Ousía, continuous substance (in contrast to Earth, the Mæristí Ousía or divisible substance). In Orphic literature, Water-Fire-Aithír are typically simply called Water (Ὕδωρ), indicating all three. See Ýdohr.
Ÿæ! Kýæ! - (Ue! Kue!; Gr. Ύε! Κύε!, ΥΕ! ΚΥΕ! Pronunciation: EE-ay, KEE-ay) According to Athínaios (Ἀθήναιος) in Δειπνοσοφισταί (The Learned Banqueters) 11.496a, Ÿæ! Kýæ! is an exclamation made on the last day of the Ælefsínia Mystíria (Ἐλευσίνια Μυστήρια), the meaning of which is uncertain. Ÿæ is a verb calling out, "rain!" Kýæ (κύε) is a form of κυέω, meaning "to bring forth" or "conceive." This exclamation was pronounced while two libations to the dead were made; earthenware vessels were turned over (as is customary in libations to the dead, in other words, not poured but turned over), one to the east and one to the west. Athínaios states that a ritual formula was spoken, not specifically mentioning these two words, but it has been surmised by some scholars that this was the formula as it would seem that the libations were made near a well where the two words are inscribed.
Ýdohr - (Hydor; Gr. Ὕδωρ, ΥΔΩΡ. Noun.) Ýdohr is Water, the Synækhís Ousía, the continuous substance. The other kozmogonic substance is Earth. Ýdohr is active; Earth is receptive. Ýdohr is continuous; Earth is divisible. Plátohn (Plato; Gr. Πλάτων) calls these two substances the One (Monad) and the Other. In Orphic literature, the word Water usually represents all three types of Synækhís Substance: Water-Fire-Aithír. See Earth. See Water-Fire-Aithír.
Yípsos - (gypsos or gypsum; Gr. γύψος, ΓΥΨΟΣ. Noun. Pronounced YEEPS-os) Yípsos is chalk or gypsum. The Titánæs smeared their faces with chalk before presenting the Toys to Diónysos. It is believed that in antiquity, Orphic initiates were smeared in this way symbolizing a type of purification.
Zopyrus - See Pythagóras.
For part one click here: Glossary of Hellenic Mystery Religion Part 1.
For a list of terms specifically associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries, please visit this page:
The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Rhapsodic Theogony.
We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.
Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.
Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.
How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.
This logo is the principal symbol of this website. It is called the CESS logo, i.e. the Children of the Earth and the Starry Sky. The Pætilía (Petelia; Gr. Πετηλία) and other golden tablets having this phrase are the inspiration for the symbol. The image represents this idea: Earth (divisible substance) and the Sky (continuous substance) are the two kozmogonic substances. The twelve stars represent the Natural Laws, the dominions of the Olympian Gods. In front of these symbols is the seven-stringed kithára (cithara; Gr. κιθάρα), the lyre of Apóllohn (Apollo; Gr. Ἀπόλλων). It (here) represents the bond between Gods and mortals and is representative that we are the children of Orphéfs (Orpheus; Gr. Ὀρφεύς).
PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods. These narratives are known as mythology , the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally. A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.
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Development and Experimental Verification of an Ergonomic Backpack
Carrying a heavy school backpack has extensively been reported as a prime cause of children’s body strain. It is suggested that the load should not exceed 10 percent of the child’s body weight; however, ensuring this requires continuous monitoring. The study explores how ergonomically designed school backpack based on the user anthropometric data () and ergonomic parameters help reduce force concentration on shoulders and back. It provides a validation process of the developed prototype by experimental verification. The developed design was assessed in a comparison experiment with a commercially available local school backpack. An experimental study was used which recruited thirty healthy college students (aged 19 to 23 years). Two independent variables evaluated were school backpack type (developed backpack versus commercial one) and load levels as a percentage of body weight. Three load levels were employed 10%, 15%, and 20%. These variables were measured on the responses: bag comfort scale and the percent of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) of six muscles (right and left of erector spine, right and left of external abdominal oblique muscle, and right and left of trapezius). The developed backpack provided astonishing performance at levels of 15% and 20% of body weight in terms of subjective measure and electromyography (EMG) responses. It also showed that increasing the carried weight more than 10% result in reducing activity on the erector spinal muscles, while it increases on abdominal oblique muscles. The developed backpack design confirmed the efficiency of its bases by distributing the carried weight among the trunk through side pockets, attached to the body through two upper and lower straps. It helped the body to distribute the carried weight and avoid concentrating pressure on specific areas.
Carrying school backpack is a common practice observed across all stages of academic life. School students begin to carry their bags from the first year in the school until last year at the University. Several studies report this activity as a risk to the student’s health [1–3]. Although the relationship between the use of a schoolbag and back pain is uncertain, it has attracted the attention of various medical and safety societies concerning the safe use of school bags . Back injuries are one of the most expensive and eternal health problems as it can lead to further complications in the future . Other reported problems include changes in spinal curvature and forward lean of the head and trunk [1–5].
Studies denote weight as prime and critical elements of backpack carriage [6–8]. Hong and Cheung study noted that nine and 10-year old primary school children carry weights of more than 15% of their body weights, which alert trunk flexion to a large extent and is detrimental for their health. Sahli et al. pointed out critical postural changes among students who carry schoolbag more than 15% of their body weights. Additionally, it causes considerable changes in trunk inclination when students carry a weight of more than 20% of their body weights . Other effects of increased trunk lean forward [12–15], increased cardiorespiratory responses , increased loads on lumbar intervertebral discs , and increased foot-ground pressures [18, 19]. The detrimental effects of school bag exercise weight extend to lessen students’ walking efficiency [20–22] and decrease the walking time . The apparent reason for the decline in walking time and speed is the effect of those who utilize backpack to take small steps (decreasing the length of step) and a smaller number of steps per minute and consume extra time on both feet when carried heavy schoolbags . Although weight is viewed as the primary consideration of the schoolbag carriage, different factors such as the method of carriage, strap length, and time spent carrying school-bag among other factors influence the risk of musculoskeletal symptoms such as pain and discomfort in different body regions of primary school children [25–28].
Few studies emphasized that ergonomically designed backpack with an adaptation of anthropometric characteristics substantially decrease musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in students . This stresses the vitality of opting for anthropometric in designing a backpack . As primordial research mainly focused on the effectiveness of straps of backpacks, which proves that the contact pressure under the shoulder straps of the backpack significantly increased when carrying loads (10-30% of body weight) as per . The contact pressure of the backpack strap on the underlying tissue is greater than the pressure threshold (approximately 30 mm Hg) to prevent skin flow . Schoolbag straps often press shoulder in the front part, upright in the region over the brachial plexus, axillary artery, and vein . If the pressure on these tissues continues, it may affect circulation and tactile feeling of hand/arm. Khan et al. inferred that the pain differentiates in terms of area and frequency; however, the most widespread musculoskeletal disorders include shoulder (44.4%), followed by neck (29.6%), low back (23%), and upper back (3%), which are generally linked to the carrying of a backpack. Similar reports confirm that trapezius and erector spinae muscles were the most influenced parts altogether while wearing a school backpack [35, 36]. Park et al. developed a wearable upper-body device to utilize some strategies that distribute the backpack loaded among shoulders and the pelvis. Recently, five studies reported that carrying and walking with backpack loads above 10% BW significantly alters trunk muscle activation levels [38–41].
Another study conducted in Saudi Arabia showed that pain generally experienced in the shoulder (70%) and back (18%) . Earlier research in Saudi Arabia endeavored to design a backpack by simulating life jacket, depicting positive results among different variables (such as muscular activities of the rectus abdominis, erector spinae, and cardiac cost). Several studies recommend that a backpack should be positioned high on the trunk to reduce its negative effect [36, 43]. Analysis of the previous studies has shown that the damaging effect of the backpack has been concentrated on the adult population (such as college students), identifying the risk factor or the back-placement position [31, 33]. Very few studies have provided a school backpack design. Therefore, the principle motivation behind this study is to develop a school backpack design for students in Saudi Arabia. It aims to aid in diminishing the possible adverse effects of wearing it, considering every one of these components to lessen the unwanted effects and help in developing the right of the school backpack. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to develop and to test an ergonomics school backpack design, which helps to eliminate the damaging effects of the carried load.
2. Materials and Methods
This study consists of two phases. The first phase was concerned with developing a school backpack design using users’ anthropometric data, where the anthropometric measures were collected from a sample of 280 students. Then, the school backpack was developed and manufactured with specified design dimensions based on the collected anthropometric data. Also, the second phase was concerned with testing and validating the developed school backpack by comparing body muscle EMGs and subjective perception of the comfort for 30 participants between the newly designed backpack and commercial one.
The first phase was conducted to figure out the best school backpack design, including its dimensions. Consequently, some studies focused on positioning the carried weights on the back through testing shoulder strap tightness [44, 45]. Life jacket backpack, which developed and tested by Ramadan and Al-Shayea , provided positive results concerning the variables rectus abdominis muscular activity, erector spinae muscular activity, and cardiac cost. Also, Mosaad and Abdel-Aziem confirmed that double-sided bags gave better results in terms of stability and reducing sagittal posture perversion of both head and neck for school students. Therefore, to get better results, the following was considered as bases for developing the new school backpack: (1)Distributing weight among other body parts instead of concentrating forces on shoulders and back only(2)Attach the weight as close as possible to the body by adding a strap in the lower and upper sides of the bag
The initial ergonomics designed backpack was drafted based on ergonomics features and standards, anthropometries and weight distributions, and with consideration of the user’s requirements, preferences, and desires. While keeping the back pocket, two side pockets were added to the bag, as shown in Figure 1(a). Thus, three pockets in total employed in this developed backpack because the prospect idea of side pockets was assumed to disperse the weight from being concentrated on the back. Also, adding two pockets to both sides of the body known as “double-sided bag” or “BackTpack” was confirmed not to affect body balance as confirmed by Mosaad and Abdel-Aziem . Also, two straps were added, as shown in Figure 1(b). One in the top and one in the middle of the front side of the back. The idea of those to straps is to keep the back adjoining the body and to give users flexibility for different body sizes. The top strap was expected to add another benefit, which is to keep the load on top of the back close to the body. Generally, the dimensions of the backpack consisted of the height, width, and thickness of the backpack with the width and length of the associated shoulder and waist straps. The difference between the developed backpack in this study and the recommended one in Ramadan and Al-Shayea is the two-third of the carried weight that was distributed in the front of participant’s chest as in Ramadan and Al-Shayea ; however, the distributed loads in this study were in both sides of the participant instead. And the rest third of the carried weight was in the back in both backpack designs.
2.1.1. Participants Recruited in the First Phase
The first phase started with recruited 280 volunteer male college students from the university. The anthropometric measurements were adopted based on its acknowledgment as effective in the previous studies [29, 30, 38]. These measurements included sitting shoulder height, shoulder breadth, thigh clearance height, and body weight. Sitting shoulder height is defined as the vertical distance from the stool surface to the acromion (i.e., the shoulder’s bony point). Shoulder breadth is defined as maximum horizontal breadth between shoulders, measured to the protuberances of the deltoid muscles. Thigh clearance height is defined as the vertical distance from the sitting surface to the highest point on the thigh. Measuring the width of the neck is one of the few measurements that require two tapes. The first tape left to fall on the shoulders in the front of the body. The second tape is used to measure the neck width. The measurement is then taken in a straight line between the two parts of the hanging tape of the neck. The weight is computed by weighting the student with a backpack and the weight of the student without carrying a backpack, so different can be computed. To measure participant anthropometric data, the followings were used: (1)Fiberglass tapes (Dean, 0-1500 mm)(2)Spreading caliper (0-600 mm)(3)Sliding caliper (Martin type with length 0-200 mm and depth of 0-50 mm)(4)Fixed anthropometry (0-2100 mm with straight probes and provided with curved measuring branches).
A calibrated balance scale (Seca 708, ±0.1 kg) was used to measure participants’ weights. After collecting information, data was processed through normality testing, uniformity testing, homogeneity testing, and percentage data calculation. The designing of the backpack incepted by specifying the correct dimensions based on the data processing, following the creation of a prototype. Anthropometric measurements were gathered as shown in Table 1.
2.1.2. Participants Recruited in the Second Phase
The second phase started with recruited the minimum number of participants that required in this study according to equation (1). This equation proposed by the International Standards Organization, ISO 15535 : 2012 “General requirements for establishing anthropometric databases,” with a 95% confidence interval for the 5th and 95th percentiles:
Where is the required sample size numbers. is the coefficient of variation, and is the percentage of the desired relative accuracy.
In this study, relative accuracy is required for the 5th and 95th percentiles, whereas values of coefficient of variation are adapted from Ramadan and Al-Shayea . As a result, the minimum sample size was 30 for weight parameter calculation.
Thirty healthy college male school students, with a mean age of 25.90 years and a standard deviation of 2.634, from the University, who were paid at a rate of Riyals 50 per hour. Selecting college students as a population for this study was based on their direct exposure to the problem. The participant anthropometric data are presented in Table 2, and all were healthy and had no history of back pain disorders or any other musculoskeletal injury. Any participant had a preexisting orthopedic problem, a history of the musculoskeletal disorder, injury to the arms, legs, spine, or a heart and/or lung problem or with an allergic reaction to any adhesives and gels put on the skin was excluded from the experiment.
These college students were the only ones approved by the Institutional Review Board IRB of the King Saud University (IRB Approval on Research Project No. E-18-3451), since they had the necessary health insurance (stipulated with the University). In addition, the new design should be implemented on students who have completed their musculoskeletal system. Despite our repeated attempts at also recruiting female students by distributing leaflets in the girls’ section, only male participants volunteered for the experiment.
A visiting physician joint the experiment in order to ensure the validity of participants in this experiment, as requested by IRB. A written consent form approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University, completed by each participant before participating in the experiment. The integral health history form was collected before they signed the consent form, and those forms were examined to classify students who are fit for participation in this study.
3. Experimental Protocol
3.1. Backpack Development
3.1.1. Backpack Height
The height of the backpack is acquired from the student’s sitting shoulder height. It is recommended that the maximum height of the backpack should not exceed ten centimeters from the fifth percentile of the student’s sitting shoulder height. Then, as recommended in Mououdi et al. , Larisang , and Kristina and Amanda , backpack height is equal to subtraction of 2.5% of the thigh thickness from the 5% of the sitting shoulder height. Then, backpack height is equal to 5% of the sitting shoulder height minus 2.5% of the thigh thickness. This value is equivalent to 43 cm (e.g., 53.3-10.1). Since there are three pockets, and the length of the textbooks is ranged between 21.5 cm and 27 cm. Therefore, the backpack height is 30 cm.
3.1.2. Backpack Width
The width of the backpack ought not to surpass the width of the student’s body with the goal that the student can move all-around more freely. Thus, the width of the backpack is measured by determining the distance between the shoulders. The shoulder joint is simply the body width range. It is recommended that the maximum width of the backpack should not exceed the fifth percentile of the student’s shoulder to shoulder distance. Then, as recommended in Mououdi et al. , Larisang , and Kristina and Amanda , the backpack width is equal to two-thirds of the 5% of the shoulder to shoulder length. Then, backpack width is equal to two-thirds of the 5% of the shoulder to shoulder length. This value is equivalent to 25 cm (e.g., 2/3 of the 37.3).
3.1.3. Backpack Thickness
First, determine the maximum load of the backpack, which is based on 10% of the students’ weights. 10% of the average weight of college students was 75.5 kg, as shown in Table 1. The volume of the backpack is acquired from the transformation of the most allowable backpack weight that has been determined earlier into backpack volume. Second, convert that weight to volume based on the following: 1 kg of paper materials (standard) can be converted to 832.8 cm3 , so later can be resolved the thickness of the backpack that can just suit the load as per the most allowable backpack weight. This volume is then analyzed to obtain the thickness of the backpack utilizing the volume equation (2).
Thickness ≈3 cm. 66% Allowance was added for materials that may has less specific gravity than paper. Then, thickness for .
3.1.4. Shoulder Strap Width
By measuring the strap width, 90% of the strap width of the local market backpacks is 7.5 m. Considering that the wider the bag belt, the better the distribution of the load is, the shoulders are more uniform, and muscular areas do not work excessively. Shoulder strap width is equal to 95% of the neck width from 5% of the shoulder to shoulder length. Waist strap and chest strap lengths were designed adjustable from the 5th to the 95th percentile of body dimensions based on chest and waist circumferences . Then, the shoulder strap width is equal to half of the subtraction of 97.5% of the neck width from 2.5% of the shoulder to shoulder length. The value would be 9.5 cm (e.g., (36-17)/2).
Finally, waist strap, chest strap, and shoulder strap were designed, which were adjustable from the 5th to the 95th percentile of measurements, equivalent to 81.5 cm and 102.4 cm. In addition, the dimension of the height and width of the back pocket is equal to the width and height of each side pocket, respectively. Figures 1(a) and 1(b) present the developed backpack, which used cotton fabric material and mild steel frame.
3.2. Testing the Developed Backpack
The main objective here was to test the performance of the developed design of the schoolbag. Performance expressed in terms of schoolbag carrying effects on six muscles (right and left of the rectus abdominis muscular activities, erector spinae muscular activities, trapezius muscular activities) as an objective measure, and bag comfort scale as a subjective measure.
(1) Independent Variables. Two school backpacks were used in this experiment commercial and designed one. The reason for using the two backpacks was to observe the difference (see Figures 1(a) and 1(c)). The commercial backpack, known to most people, is available in the local market based on two surveys. One survey was sent to 500 individuals randomly chosen across different colleges in the university, of which 269 individuals responded. The other survey was sent to the four leading book stores to determine which schoolbags the most were purchased. The results were used to determine which schoolbag is the most used in the community. The one used in the study is representative of most community use. It is classified as a classic look with durable pack features of polyester materials, external zippers with built-in rain hoods, a front zippered accessory pocket, a 15-inch laptop pocket, as well as padded shoulder straps and back panel. It includes an interior sleeve pocket and a single front pocket with key clip. Its dimensions are 18 by 12.25 by 5.5 inches.
Ten, fifteen, and twenty %BW were used in the experiment. Based on the studies conducted in Saudi Arabia, most students carried loads varying between 10% and 15% of their body weights [50–52]. Another 20% level used in several studies was added. This level is commonly used in such studies [12, 14, 38]. The load used here were the students’ books with dissimilar weights, so were the sizes used and a group of books tied to each other to give more weight. As a result, book weight varies from 0.1 kg, 0.2 kg, 0.5 kg, 1 kg, 2 kg and 4 kg. During the experiment, the applied load was equally distributed among all the three pockets of the bag.
(2) Dependent Variables. The dependent variables were two. First is the percent of maximum voluntary contraction (% MVC) for right and left of erector spinae, right and left of rectus abdominis, right and left of trapezius muscle activities; and the second variable was bag comfort score.
3.2.2. Experimental Design
A two-factor within-subject design was employed in which each participant was asked to walk at a normal pace as usual in a specific path around the laboratory (54-meter length) carrying both schoolbags containing three loads (one at a time and at an assigned specific level of weight). Muscular activity (e.g., right and left of erector spinae, right and left of external abdominis oblique muscle, and right and left of trapezius), bag comfort score of healthy college male was monitored and recorded as response variables. Every participant performed six runs carrying different loads in a random order to minimize learning effects.
Two schoolbags (developed and commercial ones available in the local market) were used to carry different loads. In this experiment, an eight-channel Bio-monitor ME6000, MT-ECG-1 preamplifier, and the Mega Win 3.0.1 software (Mega Electronics Ltd., Kuopio, Finland) were chosen to record physiological signals (six channels to record electromyography (sEMG) signals). Since the design of the experiment determined the loads need to be carried as 10, 15, and 20 present, different sets of calibration weight and calibration weight needed to be used in order to manage the accuracy of loads as participants’ weights vary. The range of the calibration sets utilized varied from 100 g to 2.5 kg, where the 100 grams scale was the smallest unit used. Additionally, Matlab R2015 has brought into use to analyze EMG data. The anthropometric equipment that has been used in phase one was employed in this phase. Then, after weighing the participant, a calculator was used to compute the 10%, 15%, and 20% the of participant’s body weight. Other materials and equipment included 70%-isopropyl-alcohol swabs, tissues, adhesive bandages, cotton squares, and Ag/AgCl solid adhesive pregelled electrodes for EMG signal acquisition (Ambu A/S, Denmark).
3.2.4. Measured Responses
(1) Electromyography (sEMG) Signal Responses. To measure EMG potentials of an individual, electrodes were positioned on six muscles including trapezius muscles (left and right), erector spinae muscles (left and right), and rectus abdominis muscles (left and right). The Ag/AgCl solid adhesive pregelled electrodes were connected to 6-channel Biomonitor ME6000 (Mega Electronics Ltd, Kuopio, Finland). Rectus abdominis fiber direction was located at the level of the anterior superior iliac spine and 20 mm lateral to the midline. Erector spinae muscle sites were positioned at the level of the L4/L5 interspace and 20 mm lateral to the midline. Trapezius muscle originates on the spine and extends from T2 to T12 and inserts onto the spine of the scapula from the acromian process to its root. The skin surface was carefully prepared and cleaned by 70% alcohol before the electrodes were attached. The EMG signals were documented using the Mega Win software at a sampling rate of 1000 Hz. Low-frequency artifacts—such as the activity of neighboring muscles, respiration, and motion potentials—were removed applying a band-pass elliptic filter with a cut-off frequency range from 20 to 500 Hz. Then, a 50-Hz notch filter was used to remove the 50-Hz power line interference in the recorded EMG signals. The filtering process and extracting the signals of EMG values (in microvolts) have been done using MATLAB code.
(2) Bag Comfort Rating. This is defined as the sensation of a comfort carrying backpack during the student movement, and it contributes a worth-noting sensation of comparison among backpack types. Mills et al. used a ranking scale for a comfortable sensation with a reliable measure. Participants in their experiment were enquired to rate the comfortable sensation from the most comfortable (rank 7) to noncomfortable (rank 0).
3.2.5. Experimental Setup and Procedures
After the schoolbag was designed and made, the experimental data collection started. This section presents the detailed steps of the experimental procedure. The experimental procedure, as summarized in Figure 2, started after an announcement invitation, which was issued and distributed in the university in order to get adult participants.
In the annunciation, the participants were invited to participate in a pre- and six sessions comprising on from 45 to 120 minutes. Their weights were employed to calculate the levels of load employed for the experiment (10%, 15%, and 20%) as a percentage of the subject’s body weight. Every participant has been explained in detail the purpose of the experiment, all steps involved, and the time required for each session and rest. After that, an opportunity was given to the participant to inquire about anything about the study without any hesitation. He was informed of his rights to stop or refuse his participation at any time in the experiment. Afterward, participants were screened for their health status and allergy to jell by a physician, which lasted for 4 minutes for each participant.
After welcoming participants, health checks, and explaining purpose and procedure, the participant was given a consent form to read and sign. Following it, anthropometric data were measured and recorded in addition to demographic data. These anthropometric data included the following: stature height, elbow-shoulder height, shoulder sitting height, elbow sitting height, hip breadth, shoulder breadth, elbow breadth, chest circumference, abdominal circumference, and weight. After that, the participant’s skins were prepared using 70% isopropyl-alcohol swabs to place electrodes on their positions for the EMG. The EMG electrodes were fixed to the student’s left and right of trapezius muscles, left and right of the erector spinae, and left and right of the rectus abdominis.
Participants were asked before participating in the experiment to perform the isometric exercise to the maximum possible extent for 3 seconds and instructed that this condition represented as a 100% EMG activity for the normalizing purpose. The %MVC for the erector spinae, trapezius, and abdominal muscles were recorded. Each participant was encouraged verbally during the %MVC tests to ensure they provided maximum exertion throughout the three seconds. Three repetitions were performed for each muscle with a one-minute recovery time between each repetition. The maximum of the three trials was considered as %MVC.
Muscle activities during maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) of the six investigated muscles were recorded to be used for normalizing the muscle activities recorded during the experimental conditions. Hence, muscle activity data are expressed as a percentage of the maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC). The measurement procedures were standardized regarding body posture, verbal instructions, and encouragement [54, 55]. The principal investigator himself performed the measurements.
Before performing the assigned treatment session, the participant was asked to assess his comfort ratings across several parts of his body. After filling the schoolbag with measured weight as per the experiment randomization table, the researcher helped the participant to carry the schoolbag and ask him to walk carrying the bag around the lab perimeter for five minutes. The starting point was set for three meters from one edge of the laboratory corner.
A five-minute rest period was allowed between sessions to prevent fatigue. After the participant completed the assigned session, he was asked to assess his comfort ratings again toward the assigned treatment after carrying a schoolbag using descriptive scales. Once all sessions are completed, the electrode was removed. Lastly, a thank you note was presented to the participant.
The significance level threshold (type I error) for statistical analysis was set to 0.05. ANOVA for the repeated measures design was performed to test the main and interaction effects of schoolbags type and percentage of carried load on %MVC and backpack comfort rating. In a case of interaction is existed, a simple effect technique was employed. Design assumptions (normality, homogeneity of variance, and continuity of data) were examined to ensure the reliability of the statistical analysis results. Additionally, the effect size was calculated based on the partial eta-squared value () to indicate the variance percentage independent variables that are attributable to a particular independent variable. The Friedman test was used to assess the differences between groups when the dependent variable being measured is ordinal such as subjective measure. In a case of finding a significant effect in a variable had several levels, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were employed to differentiate among those levels. SPSS software (version 23) was used for analysis.
After the normality test using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mauchly’s sphericity test, which were conducted to confirm the homogeneity of variance, the computed results proved the normality of the data. In addition, the sphericity assumption was found violated. Hence, the degrees of freedom were corrected using Greenhouse-Geisser estimates of sphericity () . It showed that the backpack type had significantly violated the sphericity assumption, given the significant value below 0.05 (, , ). Thereby, the degrees of freedom () value for the main effect of the backpack type were corrected using Greenhouse-Geisser estimates of sphericity ().
4.1. Bag Comfort Rating
Participants who worn developed backpacks were more comfortable (; ) than participants when worn the traditional ones (; ); , Wilcoxon signed-rank test (), irrespective of the weight carried. Relatively, significant individual differences were computed, indicated by the high standard deviations. Also, the substantial effect of the carried load was found on the participant’s comfort feeling (Friedman test, , ). Pairwise comparisons were used using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to differentiate among the carried load levels. The results revealed an indirect relationship between carried load percent and comfortability (decreased at 20%), such as an increase in one causes a decrease in another increased (; ) when compared to 15% (; ) and 10% (; ), (),(), , , respectively; as well as at 15% when compared to 10%, (), , as shown in Figure 3.
4.2. sEMG Responses
Results for all muscles are demonstrated in Table 3. ANOVA analysis showed that %MVC for both right and left trapeziuses was substantially affected by the interaction between backpack type and load percentage [right trapezius , , ] and [left trapezius , , ]. Figure 4(a) shows the interaction effect between backpack type and percentage carried weight on %MVC for both trapeziuses. The results elaborated that the effect is symmetric on both trapeziuses. Nonetheless, it was noticed that the mean values were diverging, where the left trapezius always greater than the right trapezius. This might be because of the frequency of use of the right hand. Most people use their right hand so that minor distinctness might appear in the right muscle strengths.
For abdominal muscles, ANOVA analysis pointed out that backpack type significantly affected %MVC for both right and left abdominal muscles [right abdominal, , , ] and [left abdominal, , , ]. The backpack type significantly affected both measured muscular activities, which were substantially lower when students wore the ergonomic backpack than when wearing the commercial one for the right and left of abdominal muscles.
The analysis testified that backpack load significantly affected %MVC for both right and left abdominal [right abdominal, , , ] and [left abdominal, , , ]. Figure 4(b) verifies the backpack load effect on both abdominal muscles. The result showed that the developed bag exerts less effort into both abdominals. Moreover, it showed that regardless of the bag type, the effect of the weight lifted is moving increasingly with weight percentage increases. Only, at both abdominal muscles, wearing the schoolbag with 20% of body weights were higher stresses than when participants were wearing 10% of body weight, , and , for the right and left abdominal muscles, respectively.
For erector spinae muscles, ANOVA analysis exhibits that backpack type substantially affected %MVC for both right and left erector spinae [right erector spinae, , , ] and [left erector spinae, , , ]. Figure 4(b) shows the backpack type effect on right and left erector spinae muscles.
Analysis escorts that load percentage significantly affected %MVC for left erector spinae [, , ]. Figure 4(c) unveils the load percentage effect on the left erector spinae muscle, where 20% carried weight was significantly different from the 10% and 15%, and , respectively. Also, the result shows that the developed bag exerts less effort into both erector spinae muscles, as shown in Figure 4(c).
5. Discussion and Conclusion
The study aimed to achieve two objectives: first, developing a backpack design in the light of studies done primordially. The second one was testing the developed backpack by comparing it with the commercial one. Preceding studies reported that shoulders and back were the main two areas that cause pain when an increased load on the back is carried [37, 50]. Similarly, another study highlights the relationship between rectus abdominal muscle activity and load carried. In addition, a study showed that backpack type significantly affects teethe cardiac cost and rectus abdominis muscular activity. The results showed that two independent variables were backpack type and carried load parentage. These variables were studied their effects on the measured responses such as bag comfort rate and %MVC of right and left of erector spinae, right and left of external abdominis oblique muscle, and right and left of trapezius.
Participants who wore developed backpacks felt more comfort than participants who wore the commercial ones regardless of the weight they carry. It was found that wearing the developed backpacks make the participants feeling more comfortable by 24.26% as compared to the commercial ones. The results revealed that as carried load percent increased, comfort feeling decreased by 23.89% at 20% when compared to 15% and by 38.83% when compared to 10%; as well as at 15% when compared to 10%, comfort score decreased by 12.06%.
On the other hand, the muscular activity of selected muscles (right and left trapezius, right and left erector spinae, and right and left abdominals) expressed in %MVC (maximum voluntary contraction) was measured. It caught a sight that the developed backpack reduced the muscular activity of trapezius, erector spinae, and abdominal compared to the commercial bag. Noticeably, the results of this study ushered that load percentage has a major influence on the muscular activity of left and right abdominals and right and left erector spinae. As expected, as the load percentage increased, muscular activity increased. This agrees with a study Al-Khabbaz et al. saying that muscular activity was dependent on the weight of a backpack. Nonetheless, the vital particularity between the two bags appeared at more than 10% of body weight. The study showed a nonsignificant difference between the two bags at 10% of body weight. It could be a normal result as all bags approximately will have a similar effect on the body at 0% of body weight.
Notwithstanding, it was noticed that abdominal muscle activity increased as the load percentage increased. This was observed that abdominal muscles had more EMG activity than the rest of the selected muscles. It could be concluded that the human body adopts extra loads through transferring some forces to the abdominal muscles. This result agrees with Son . Son investigated the changes in muscle activities of the trunk and lower extremities as a result of changing of the backpack loads of 10, 15, and 20% of body weight. The author concluded that the muscular activity was remarkably skyrocketed only in the rectus abdominal muscle once the backpack loads of 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight were implemented. Also, Son in his study reported that muscular activity of the rectus abdominis muscles, erector spinae muscles, biceps femoris, and vastusmedialis muscles delineates that the muscular activity was tremendously taken height only in the rectus abdominis muscles when loads of 10%, 15%, and 20% of body weight were employed. Several studies highlighted students’ complaints of the shoulder and back pains due to carrying schoolbags [1–8, 33].
Unfortunately, early and effective treatment should be provided as it can lead to severe and everlasting back issues. Standardizing a limit on the school bag load was repeatedly highlighted as a preventive solution. In contrast, different researches have tried to develop schoolbags designed ergonomically. In this study, a developed backpack design was developed to reduce the adverse effect of carrying a schoolbag on students. The developed backpack was designed and assessed practical. The assessment was based on a comparative approach in which a developed backpack was tested in comparison with a commercial one. Thirty university students aged between 20 and 30 participated in the experiment. Assessment of developed backpack was performed at different three levels of weight. Weight level expressed as a percentage of body weight. Therefore, three weight levels employed: 10%, 15%, and 20% of the participant’s body weight. It was demonstrated that developed backpack proved better performance at levels of 15% and 20% of body weight in terms of subjective measure and EMG responses. However, at a level of 10%, it was not performing as desired. In reality, a large number of students carry more than 10% of their body weight, as demonstrated by various studies [3, 4, 14, 17]. However, the developed design confirmed that it is practical and adding a further step toward an optimum design.
The findings of the current study showed that increasing the carried weight of more than 10% while wearing a newly developed schoolbag would result in reducing trunk flexion when compared to the commercial one. This action could cause some relief on the erector spinae muscles. The design of a developed backpack might help the body to achieve this result through the side pockets in better functioning. Also, the contact area between the bag and the student body would be increased to reduce the pressure felt by students. It is also recommended to add more user-friendly delicate materials to be added to eliminate the probable size issue, which might add more stress because of friction. Softer material must be used in the inner sides of the side pocket to eliminate friction stress. These considerations were not possible in this study because of the limited time.
In this experiment, schoolbags weights were varying from participant to another, because the weight was expressed as a percentage of body weight. However, in reality, schoolbags mostly are equivalent in weight with minimal differences. Therefore, use three-fixed weight in future research could show very different results. Finally, the developed design confirmed the efficiency of its bases. Distributing weight among the whole body through side pockets, attach weight to the body through two upper and lower straps were confirmed in the new design. Moreover, the developed design confirmed that it helped the body to distribute weight and avoid concentrating pressure on specific areas. This is a vital factor in reducing the probable risk of carrying a schoolbag. Also, it enforced the pocket volume to be in a specific volume to keep the distributed weights as designed for.
The ergonomic measurements of the school backpack, including the backpack height and width, were determined for the students in a range of age 19 to 23 years by utilizing anthropometric dimensions. Many studies addressed the physiological and psychological effects and the imposed forces and stresses on the students’ bodies caused by wearing backpacks . In addition, several researchers tried to develop backpacks that fit and compatible with the students’ bodies, though they did not improve the quality of life of the students. However, the paper presents an ergonomically acceptable design to achieve a reasonable success when the carried weight is distributed around the students’ bodies considering their anthropometrical dimensions.
The findings of the study are limited, given its inclusion of only male participants and recruitment from a single university and region. To help expand the study scope, the same results are suggested to be replicated for the female participants and across different age groups; thus, the findings may not be generalizable to other genders or age groups. Accordingly, it is suggested that early educational interventions should be improved for minimizing the risk that emerges as a result of carrying the excessive load. Also, standardizing the schoolbag design can help reduce the complaints of back pain as a result of carrying bag load. In addition to the conclusions drawn regarding each previous hypothesis, this investigation did not study individuals who are obese and younger who carry backpacks. Therefore, those have higher instability and great changes in the posture leading to potentially at high-risk populations, and it should be investigated in future work to identify risks of injuries and falls. This study investigated the effects of short-term backpack load carriage; thus, the observations may not be applicable to long-term carriage, because trunk muscle activity may vary with fatigue and have significant effects on lumbar joint loads. Only three backpack loading conditions were evaluated, which might be a concern of generalizing the conclusions of this study. More detailed and larger-scale research is recommended for future study on the effect of backpack loads on the trunk and head inclinations, lumbar spine loading, gait analysis, cardiac effort (heart rate variability), respiration system, or at the joints of the lower limbs during walking biomechanically.
The data used to support the findings of this study are included in the article.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
The authors gratefully acknowledge all the participants who helped us conduct this study. We also would like to thank Dr. Ibrahim M. Al-Hariri (MD) for ascertaining the participants’ suitability. We would like to extend our appreciation to the research center of the College of Engineering at King Saud University for its support.
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D. C. Howell, Statistical Methods for Psychology, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, Canada, Second edition, 2002.View at: Publisher Site | <urn:uuid:5edfbfad-ddc1-4a9d-8fd9-82e756adc240> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2020/1437126/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.953148 | 9,497 | 2.703125 | 3 |
For Your Family’s Sake, Go To Bed
Every mother knows that ta lack of sleep tonight leads to an irritable child tomorrow. Now, a study that monitored 2,000 adults over an 8-day period reveals that a lack of sleep impacts adults as much as it does children. This study also provides a little more specific look at that impact. Let me share 3 things this study revealed.
- Adults who got more sleep reported higher levels of positive emotions and lower levels of negative emotions than those who got less sleep.
- Stressful events did NOT lessen positive emotions the day after a good night’s sleep like they did after a poor night’s rest.
- A good night’s sleep contributed to an “even greater boost in the positive emotions experienced the next day.” In other words, positive emotions were even better after a good night’s sleep.
These findings reveal how sleep impacts each of us. However, these results also show how sleep impacts our families. First, a lack of sleep contributes to irritability, which can harm family relationships over time. Second, positive emotions build stronger family relationships. A lack of sleep robs us of positive emotions. Getting enough sleep, on the other hand, prepares us to experience and enjoy positive emotions…and positive emotions cultivate greater intimacy.
So for the sake of your family, get to bed. Develop a good sleep habit.
Here are some hints to help you get a better night’s sleep.
- Keep a regular bedtime and “wake up time.” Go to bed at a similar tune every night and set your alarm to get up at the same time every morning. This will contribute to a good night’s rest.
- Limit light and noise in the room where you sleep. We sleep best in quiet, dark spaces. Make your room conducive to sleep.
- Turn off screens 90 minutes before bed. Screens stimulate us and cause us to “forget the time.” We may decide to “check one thing” on our phone only to realize later that we “should have been asleep two hours ago.” Plus, the screen’s “blue light” interferes with our sleep. In fact, you might consider purchasing glasses with a “blue light filter” if your work demands you use a computer often. (Here is the enemy of teen sleep that may be the enemy of your sleep.)
- If you are unable to fall asleep after about 30 minutes, get up and go into another room. Engage in some activity that will not arouse or stimulate you. Return to your bed when you are ready to fall asleep.
- Take a warm bath or shower 90 minutes before bedtime. Studies suggest that a warm bath or shower helps people fall asleep quicker, sleep longer, and sleep more efficiently.
- If worries about tomorrow keep you awake, write out a to-do list. Research suggests that the more specific the list, the faster people fall asleep.
- Relax your body. Go through a progressive muscle relaxation routine. You can also focus on your breathing and relax.
- Spend some time in nature every day. People sleep better after enjoying nature.
- Exercise is also associated with better sleeping and sleep habits. Take time to exercise on a regular basis. It will help you sleep.
- Eat a healthy diet. | <urn:uuid:45fcb87d-83d8-458b-bd76-08f22cc78409> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.honorgracecelebrate.com/2021/08/16/for-your-familys-sake-go-to-bed/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.937597 | 706 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Hooked on Phonics® Reading Tips
April 28, 2017Hooked on Phonics
How do reading skills develop?
Reading to your child is one of the most important things you can do to help foster a life-long love of reading. Studies show that reading to your child is an essential component in providing a future academic advantage. These reading tips will encourage children of all ages to love reading and become lifelong readers!
Research has identified five skills that are essential for learning to read:
- Phonemic Awareness: Being able to notice, understand, and work with the sounds in words.
- Phonics: A method of teaching reading, based on sounding out letters to read words.
- Fluency: Being able to read accurately and quickly.
- Vocabulary: Knowing what words mean when we hear and read them levitra cijena.
- Text Comprehension: Truly understanding what is read.
As a parent or caregiver, you play a critical role in helping children not only learn to read but develop a life-long love of reading. You can make reading a part of your child’s life by clicking on the links below and following the tips that are just right for your child’s age. | <urn:uuid:5993d006-dfa4-4e8c-9ed0-415e801f9066> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.hookedonphonics.ca/hooked-on-phonics-reading-tips/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.934604 | 256 | 4.1875 | 4 |
Breast Cancer Treatment: What You Need To Know
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that affects the breast tissue. It’s the second most common cancer among women, with over 2 million new cases worldwide each year. While it can be a scary diagnosis, there are many treatment options available that can help you fight the disease and live a long, healthy life. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of breast cancer, as well as the most common treatment options.
Types of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer can be divided into two main types: invasive and non-invasive. Non-invasive breast cancer, also known as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), is when the cancer cells are located only in the milk ducts and have not spread to the surrounding tissue. Invasive breast cancer, on the other hand, is when the cancer cells have spread to the surrounding tissue and possibly to other parts of the body.
There are also different subtypes of breast cancer, which are determined by the type of cell that the cancer originates from. Some of the most common subtypes include:
- Ductal carcinoma: This is the most common type of breast cancer, and it originates in the milk ducts.
- Lobular carcinoma: This type of breast cancer originates in the lobules, which are the glands that produce milk.
- Inflammatory breast cancer: This is a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer that causes the breast to become red, swollen, and warm to the touch.
- Triple-negative breast cancer: This is a subtype of breast cancer that doesn’t have receptors for estrogen, progesterone, or HER2.
Breast Cancer Treatment Options
The treatment options for breast cancer depend on the type and stage of the cancer, as well as other factors such as age, overall health, and personal preferences. Some of the most common treatment options include:
- Surgery: Surgery is often the first line of treatment for breast cancer. The type of surgery depends on the stage and location of the cancer, but may include a lumpectomy (removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue) or a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast).
- Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is often used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. It may also be used as the primary treatment for non-invasive breast cancer.
- Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a type of medication that is used to kill cancer cells. It may be used before or after surgery, or as the primary treatment for advanced breast cancer.
- Hormone therapy: Hormone therapy is used to block the hormones that fuel certain types of breast cancer. It may be used in combination with other treatments or as a standalone treatment for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.
In addition to these treatments, there are also a number of clinical trials that are exploring new treatments for breast cancer. These trials may offer patients access to new treatments that aren’t yet available to the general public.
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s important to work closely with your healthcare team to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you. With the right treatment, many women are able to beat breast cancer and live long, healthy lives. | <urn:uuid:57137d49-c706-40bd-a66a-b6a32bad17b0> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.insightfulreads.net/breast-cancer-treatment-what-you-need-to-know/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.956121 | 686 | 3.109375 | 3 |
COMMUNES AND COMMON LAND IN JERSEY
Commons or communes remain in the Jersey landscape as a vestige of our feudal past. But apart from the odd conveyancing transaction, little has been written about these areas of land and only a few select individuals know anything about those that are still operated. This article will examine the history of communes, their legal nature and the meaning and effect of their continued existence in the Island.
1 Many will be aware that certain areas of land in the Island are identified as “commons”. Some may know that the historical name for such an area was a “commune”. In view of the dearth of publicly available information and the absence of any detailed written analysis about these areas, few people will know very much about them at all. Given their number and historical importance in what was mainly an agricultural economy for most of Jersey’s history, this is perhaps a surprise.
2 This article seeks to unlock some of the background to Jersey’s
communes and to examine their history, their location, the nature of rights in them and their continued existence in our legal landscape.
3 It is helpful to start with some definitions. These all derive from secondary sources. Primary historical sources are beyond the ambit of this article. There appears to be no modern judicial consideration, let alone definition, of a
commune. The word arises originally in a feudal context and it is there that we begin:
“The term ‘feudalism’ is used here to mean the political and economic system with land tenure as its core which prevailed in parts of Europe from about the 9th century and its perpetuated existence in Jersey. It was premised on the notion that all land was owned by the Crown and held by third parties from the Crown in a chain of feudal links. For our purposes, it comprised a hierarchical society based on the holding of land in
fief (or in fee, to use the English term) and on the reciprocal relationship between
seigneur (lord) and
tenant (vassal). Although feudalism in Jersey has not received a significant degree of academic analysis, it is clear that it played an important part in the history of Jersey up to and including the 19th century, although by then it was much more in the nature of an exclusively commercial relationship.
fief, the unit of land held by a
tenant from his
seigneur, provided one of the internal structural divisions of Jersey . . . The earliest documents available show Jersey as thoroughly feudalised, with the majority of the population being
tenants holding land from
seigneurs, including the Crown, in five whole parishes and the best part of the remaining seven.”
4 In simple terms,
fiefs in the Island were divided into three types. First, the Ancient Demesne of the Dukes of Normandy (later called
Fief du Roi or, in its feminine version,
Fief de la Reine) whereby
tenants held their lands direct from the Duke and later the Crown of England. Secondly,
Bas Fiefs which were
fiefs which had returned to the Duke by virtue of their confiscation or loss by some form of default by the
fiefs, though technically held direct by the Duke, were not incorporated into the Ancient Demesne. Thirdly, there were private
fiefs held by lay or ecclesiastical
5 Against that larger context, then, a number of authors offer an insight into
communes in the mediaeval period. CN Aubin’s helpful
Glossary for the Historian of Jersey defines “commune” as—
“The Common of a fief. The
fonds belonged to the
Seigneur but was subject to certain rights of the
tenantse.g. the cutting of fuel and grazing. Special regulations exist for their alienation. Many smaller Communes and parts of those of the Fief de Roi in St Lawrence and St Peter have been sold or divided among the
6 GFB de Gruchy’s
Medieval Land Tenures in Jersey offers a more detailed analysis but essentially the same conclusion as Aubin. He describes the typical holding of a medieval
tenant in Jersey as including an area of arable land and a share of (or rights in) waste, meadow and woodlands situated on the
fief. These rights included such things as rights of pasturage and cutting fuel, or in some cases of making hay. He opined that a
commune was normally the property of the
seigneur (be it the Crown or other
seigneur), subject to the
tenants’ rights, but drew attention to Jean Poingdestre’s view in
Lois et Coutumes de L’Ile de Jersey that certain of the
communes had been surrendered to
tenants absolutely. Jersey’s concept of feudalism originally came from Normandy and the historian Delisle was in no doubt that there the property of
commune vested in the
“On n’eut jamais dû…perdre de vue les deux principes suivants, dont nous trouvons à chaque instant l’application dans la féodalité normande: assavoir, le seigneur est propriétaire tréfoncier des marais, des landes et de toutes les terres vaines et vagues, comprises dans les limites de son fief; ses hommes ont droit d’y exercer certain usages.”
[We should never have lost sight of the following two principles, which we find at every instance in the application of Norman feudalism: the seigneur is the owner of the marshes, the heathland and all the waste lands within the limits of his fief; his men are entitled to exercise certain uses on that land.]
7 What was true of the medieval period might not, of course, reflect the position today. It is undeniable that the centuries which followed the medieval period witnessed profound changes in property rights, the effect of which was substantially to reverse that earlier relationship between
tenant in terms of the possession, enjoyment and property in land. This process was already far advanced when it was accelerated by a series of reforming laws in the 19th and 20th centuries which abolished those remaining
droits seigneuriaux from which
seigneurs had continued to derive financial advantage. Any proposition advanced today which questioned the
tenants' right to possession of the
commune might well be regarded as controversial. We do not however in this article set out to resolve the question which is beyond our remit.
The location of Jersey’s
8 Where might one begin an investigation into Jersey
communes? Unlike England, for example, there is no central register of common land. There, registration is required under the Commons Registration Act 1965 and involves the submission of maps and details of the right claimed. The Act followed the investigation into commons by the Royal Commission on Common Land 1955–1958. The lack of registration of
communes in Jersey means that it is difficult to establish where they existed historically and where they continue to exist. If there are no recorded conveyancing transactions in relation to a particular
commune, the Land Registry cannot assist. Those feudal records that still exist are typically in private hands and there is no central record of those who hold such documents. Furthermore, de Gruchy is of the view that many
communes were lost to enclosure and/or encroachment.
9 Fortunately, the modern historian may draw as a starting point on the monumental
Jersey Place Names. This, together with an appetite for long walks and/or cycles around the Island where one may seek to identify what may have long been the least exploitable land (albeit in an age of modern techniques of development and drainage some waste land is likely to be no longer visible), makes for a reasonable starting point in all the circumstances.
10 Jersey Place Names defines
commune as “a common, common land”:
“F. commune; OF. Comun; Lat. Communis (pertaining to all). In Jersey La Commune, land belonging to the commonalty, actually belonged to the Seigneurs, but tenants had rights of pasture and cutting fuel upon it; the name was also used for rights of way and public footpaths. Some of the following entries, but not all, can be equated with fiefs, or parishes.”
11 The text goes on to list at least 36 locations in the Island as having been place names which included the word “commune”.These are set out in Table 1, along with seven other locations known to have been
communes. The only parish where
commune was not identified is St John.
Communes in Jersey
Fief, where not reflected in the name
Commune de Mélèches/Mielles de la Ville |
Commune de Mélèches/Vallée des Vaux || |
Common Lane |
Mont de la Ville ||
La Fosse |
St Saviour ||
Commune de St Sauveur || |
La Commune/ La Petite Commune ||
Commune de Gorge ||
St Clement ||
La Commune de St Clement/Marais du Hocq ||
La Commune/ Pontac Common ||
St Clement |
La Commune de Gorey ||
La Commune / Marais ȧ la Cocque ||
St Martin ||
La Fief de la Reine ||
La Commune de Rozel ||
La Petite Commune/ La Commune des Pièces de Haut et de Bas ||
La Commune de l’Abbesse de Caen ||
Commune du Fief de la Gruchetterie ||
Commune de Fief de Diélament ||
Commune de la Hougue Boête ||
La Commune ||
Diélament ? |
St Mary ||
La Commune ||
L’Abbesse de Caen |
Commune de la Bequüe ||
La Commune du Nord ||
La Hougue Boête |
La Commune Escraqueville |
Commune de la Fief de L’Ausmone ||
St Ouen ||
Commune de Vinchelez de Bas ||
Commune de Vinchelez de Haut ||
La Commune/ Chemin de la Commune de Lecq ||
Commune de Portinfer ||
Commune de Fief de Morville et Robilliard ||
Commune du Fief Haubert ||
Marais de St Ouen ||
La Commune du Fief d’Orillande |
St Peter ||
La Commune / Rue de la Commune ||
La Grande Commune ||
Le Jardin de la Commune / Petite Commune/ Grande Commune ||
La Commune de Nobretez ||
Commune du Fief Luce de Carteret ||
Le Marais de St Pierre ||
St Lawrence ||
Le Marais de St Lauren ||
St Brelade ||
La Moye (Le Grande Marais) ||
La Commune de Bas ||
La Commune de Haut ||
12 Of the 38
communes upon which further information has been identified, eight were part of the
Fief de la Reine, five were
Bas fiefs, 24 were on private
fiefs and one (Le Marais de St Pierre) fell outside the usual framework. There are seven Royal
fiefs in Jersey and these lands extend to territory in eight out of the twelve parishes. Those parishes without such
fiefs are St Clement, St Helier, St John and St Ouen. There are (or were) many more private
fiefs, some very small in size. Between the 12th and 20th centuries, 245
fiefs are estimated to have existed, although not all at the same time. By the time
Jersey Place Names was published in 1986, the number of private
fiefs estimated to have existed, again not all at the same time, had increased to 357. The location of about 150 are said to be known with a degree of certainty. A list of
fiefs and their
seigneurs as of 1970 can be found on the
Société Jersiaise website which records 101 private
fiefs and ten
13 An examination of the sites of the identified
communes reveals that they were found on the least exploitable land in three typical locations. First,
mielles (sand dunes) and
marais (marshes). These land uses were often combined within a single
commune. Examples include the
La Moye and
Le Marais ȧ la Cocque, and what we now call Gorey Common. Jersey had sand dunes on its south coast (from Gorey to the eastern outskirts of St Helier, within St Aubin’s Bay and on the west of the Island stretching a considerable way eastwards from St Ouen’s Bay). The dunes blocked drainage to the sea resulting, behind the dunes, in the formation of marshland. Notwithstanding that these areas were not conducive to the growing of crops, they were nonetheless productive. Both
marais were grazed. Marshland meadows were cut for hay.
Vraic (seaweed) from the foreshore was dried on the sandings. Gorse was cut for fuel, in particular for bread ovens. Wheat straw was the most common source of thatch in Jersey. Marram grass from the
mielles was also used and wheat thatch was tied on with rushes, presumably harvested from the
14 Secondly, steep valley sides, of which there are many in the Island. These were exploited for the collection of wood and in one case,
La Commune de St Sauveur, as a quarry where the
tenants had quarrying rights.
landes (heathland) and cliff slopes. These were also grazed, in particular by sheep. Gorse was cut for fuel and bracken was harvested for mulch and human and animal bedding.
16 Of the 43 locations identified, sixteen were
marais, thirteen were heathland and nine were valley sides. The remaining five were on typical Jersey farming land.
17 However not all wasteland was
commune. An example is the salt marsh at
Samarès in St Clement which remained in the ownership and use of the
seigneur of the
fief of that name. Other areas in this category might include
Les Mielles du Sénéchal, also in St Clement, and
Les Landes in the Vingtaine de Douet, St Peter. De Gruchy, speaking specifically of the waste on the Ancient Demesne, presents a similar picture, noting for example the sandy waste of
Mont Cardon and the
Landes de la Moye, which he says were collectively called “Moutonées or sheepwalks”, and were let to
18 That wasteland, whether
commune or not, was regarded as economically important can be gleaned from the Code of 1771 which purported to codify Jersey law. The text includes an undated provision, entitled “Mielles”, which states that:
“conformément ȧ plusieurs anciens Réglemens il est défendu à toute personne quelconque, de s’ingérer de couper les Joncs qui croissent dans aucun des lieux de cette Isle, où le sable pourroit par là être emeu; ou de rompre les Mielles, à peine d’une amende, et de huit jours d’emprisonnement au pain et à l’eau, pour ceux qui n’auroient de quoi satisfaire à ladite amende.”
[Pursuant to several ancient regulations, it is forbidden for any person whatsoever to interfere in cutting the rushes which grow in any of the places of this Isle, where the sand could be disturbed; or to break the
Mielles, on pain of a fine, and of eight days’ imprisonment on bread and water, for those who do not have enough to satisfy this fine.]
This suggests a deep appreciation of the wasteland, its fragility and its value to the community.
19 Unsurprisingly, in a small island with a fractured physical landscape, sloping from north to south, with east–west travel restricted by deep-cut valleys, and dispersed settlement pattern,
communes were widely located. This, and the complexity of land ownership, means some would have been very small.
The names of Jersey’s
20 Names can, of course, being misleading and the use of the word “commune” to describe property and/or its entry in
Jersey Place Names does not necessarily denote that it was a “commune”. A good example is the property known as
La Commune in St Saviour. Oral evidence collected by the authors suggest that the Perchard family had been associated with the
Commune de St Sauveur for so long that their farm, situated to the west of Hougue Bie, came to be called
La Commune and the adjoining property,
La Petite Commune. McCormack lists both properties as pre-1787. Similarly, the
Commune de la Bequüe in St Mary, located on prime farming land, does not immediately resemble what we think of as a typical arrangement for a
Jersey Place Names indicates that this
commune was a field the income from which from 1690 was assigned to poor
tenants of the
Fief du Roi. There is evidence that these long established arrangements were managed by the Constable of St Mary. In 1880
tenants of the
Fief disputed income from
Commune de la Bequüe being distributed at his discretion. Such an arrangement, of course, more closely resembles the well-known feature of the countryside known as
clos de pauvres, fields the rental from which was dedicated to the upkeep of the locally born poor.
21 Cross referencing the entries in
Jersey Place Names with contracts in the Public Registry Index and Document Enrolment (PRIDE) system, suggests that, in addition to
Commune de la Bequüe, there are four
communes, all situated on farmland on the loess-covered plateau, which were not subject to common use, namely:
La Commune in St Saviour, La Commune de Rozel in St Martin, La Commune in Trinity, and La Grande Commune in St Peter.
22 The seven Royal
fiefs do not have distinguishing names and are known formally, as we have seen, as
Fief du Roi.
Le Marais de St Lauren was simply named after the parish of its situs. The
La Moye is referenced by the
vingtaine within which it is located. The large
commune in Grouville is known as Gorey Common. In the same
vingtaine (significantly, called “Le Marais”), is a smaller separate commune,
Le Marais ȧ la Cocque. There are then locations variously and simply called
Clos de Communeetc. The same pattern applies to
Fief de l’Aumosne and at
Le Hocq were known by their
Pontac (also within the
Fief de St Clement) and on the
Fief de l’Abesse de Caen, Trinity, were known simply as
23 Communes on lay
fiefs do not display the same variation. Sixteen out of the 24 referred to above are known by the name of the
fief on which they are sited: for example,
La Commune de Vinchelez de Haut,
LaCommune de Vinchelez de Bas and
La Commune du Fief Haubert.
24 Use of names is not always consistent. Hereditary contracts concerning
communes in St Peter, Gorey and for
Le Marais ȧ la Cocque, use the words “commune” and “marais” interchangeably.
La Commune de St Pierre does not appear by that name in
Jersey Place Names. Instead, it is referred to as “Goose Green Marsh” and “Le Marais de St Pierre”.
Similarly, instead of the
LaCommune de la Moye, the text prefers “Le Marais” and “Le Petit Marais de la Commune”.
25 Only in one respect does
Jersey Place Names record the use of the word “common” instead of “commune” and, unsurprisingly perhaps, given that the English language was always more present in the Town, it is Common Lane, St Helier. However, as we go about our everyday business, it is clear that the word “common” has gained something of a foothold in Jersey. For example, taking the Number One Bus from St Helier, there are stops (displayed electronically) successively at Pontac Common, Fauvic Common (aka
Marais ȧ la Cocque) and Gorey Common.
The administration of the
26 How exactly Jersey’s
communes are held today, how they are administered and the nature of rights and obligations that arise in relation to them, are difficult to ascertain. There is no public record of
tenants or those who have rights in a particular
commune. Identifying those who own or hold
communes is also difficult, particularly if there are no recorded transactions in relation to them. Furthermore, with changes in land use and the reduction in the numbers of active farms, communal rights may became redundant or forgotten. Those likely to understand how a
commune operates are those who claim or enjoy rights over it, but such people are relatively few in number, and such written evidence or recollection they may have is not publicly available.
27 Originally, feudal
communes would have been administered in accordance with the prevailing feudal regime. For the Ancient Demesne, this meant it was subject to the jurisdiction of the Royal Court. The power of the Royal Court to legislate, a power which was abolished in 1771, clearly extended to the Ancient Demesne. An Act of the Royal Court dated 1584 (a copy of which is set out in the Code of 1771) concerned
La Commune de St Pière et St Laurens, which were then both on a Royal
fief. It prohibited, on pain of penalty, the taking of
blête (brushwood) or
gazon (turf) from these
fiefs were subject to the jurisdiction of their own feudal courts. De Gruchy notes how the court of the
Fief de Noirmont was historically (at least until the early 18th century) the “jealous guardian” of its two commons.
commune known as
Le Marais de St Pierre is a special case. In 1663 it formed part of a Royal grant of the
Perquages and waste in the Island to Sir Edward de Carteret in recognition of his services and those of his father, Sir George de Carteret, to the Crown. The grant was subject to a number of local challenges, and in the 17th century Sir Edward’s heirs transferred their interest in the
Marais to a number of
tenants and thus it became a
commune. Effectively, the
tenants jointly acquired rights equivalent to (but not the same as) those of a
seigneur. This gave the
commune its special quality, although its structure (and the legal regime applying to it) may be similar to those of feudal
communes. Oral evidence suggests that this
commune regulates itself according to an agreed set of rules, with regular meetings of the
tenants and the preparation of annual accounts.
29 What exactly are the nature of the rights in and over a
commune? We have noted the brief explanations given by Aubin, De Gruchy and the authors of
Jersey Place Names and observed that there is no modern judicial pronouncement on these points. We can however see what the evidence suggests. Before so doing, we note what Jean Poingdestre had to say in his
Lois et Coutumes de L’Ile de Jersey, bearing in mind that he was writing over 300 years ago.
30 In his chapter “Des choses Communes a plusieurs”, Poingdestre stated:
“Des choses communes, les unes le sont et quant a la propriété et quant a l’usage, les autres quant a l’usage seullement. De la premiere sorte sont les terres que nous appellons Communes, et les heritages possedez par Indiuis entre Coheritiers ou autres Parchonniers. De la seconde sorte sont les terres que nous appellons Bannonieres, c’est a dire celles dont le fonds est a des particuliers, mais parce qu’elles ne sont point closes l’herbe en est commune apprez Ies fruits cueillis.”
[Some things are common either in respect of their ownership and their use or in respect of their use only. Of the first kind are plots of land that we call
Communes and property owned indivisibly by co-heirs or other co-parceners. Of the second kind are plots of land that we call common grazing land that is to say those the soil of which belongs to individuals but because they are not enclosed, the grass on them is communal after harvest.]
31 He then devotes a short chapter to “Des Communes”. As to their ownership, he records:
“Ces Communes appartiennent a certaines Communautez, non seulement quant a l’usage et pasturage, mais aussy quant a la proprieté: de sorte que lesdites Communautez ont droict non seullement a la superficie, mais au fonds mesme: excepté quelques unes, dont les Seigneurs n’ont donné autre chose que l’usage. La pluspart desdites Communes ont autrefois esté données par les Seigneurs des fiefs a leurs Tenants ou autres ou gratuitement, en consideration de quelques seruices, qu’ils estoient obligez de leur render.”
[These communes belong to certain communities, not only in respect of use and grazing, but also in respect of ownership, in such a way that the said communities have a right not only to the area thereof, but also to the land itself, with a few exceptions where Seigneurs have only given the use. Most of the said commons were once given by the Seigneurs of the
fiefs to their tenants or others either freely, or in consideration of some services which they were obliged to do.]
32 As to who could alienate the
communes and how this might be achieved, Poingdestre called this “La grande question touchant les Communes”. He offered a number of rules, the most pertinent of which are:
Que 1’intention de ceux qui ont donné lesdites Communes doibt estre inuiolablement suiuie; et que d’aller a l’encontre seroit violer Ia condition soubs laquelle les Communautés en joüissent.
Que la ou les Communes ont esté données par les Ancestres de Sa Maiesté d’a present Roys d’Angleterre ou Ducs de Normandie et Seigneurs des Isles, Sadite Majesté a le mesme droict, pouuoir et authorité sur les dites Communes, comme auroient les Donateurs, s’ils viuoient, Or, comme il est certain que toutes Donations sont conditionnelles (veu que par Ie droict commun, elles se perdent par I’Ingratitude des Donataires, et par en abuser contre 1’intention du Donateur) aussy est il également certain, que si lesdits Donateurs viuoient et voyoient lesdites Communes abusées, et peruerties contre leur Droict usage, ils pourroient legitimement les reuoquer. Et puisqu’ainsy est, Sa Majesta en peut faire de mesme, et si feront les Successeurs, cas aduenant: Et cependant Sa Majesté et ses Successeurs de temps en temps pourront faire Enquestres pour scauoir si lesdites Communes sont employées, mesnagées et distribuées selon 1’intention des Ancestres les Donateurs d’icelles.
Que Sa Majesté comme Seigneur Direct desdites Communes, lesquelles sont dependances de son Ancien Patrimoine, peut par Ie consentement de la plus grande et plus saine partie des Interessez ausdites Communes, sans autre cause, les Partager, aliener, ou en disposer par autre voye, pour subuenir aux necessitez de sadite Majesté ou de son peuple de la dite Isle etc. Pourueu toutesfois que lesdits Interessez ne soient lesez ou prejudiciez en leurs justes Droicts; c’est-a-dire, pourueu qu’ils ayent autant de proffit par ladite alienation, comme ils en ont de droict en communauté : Car c’est une RegIe infallible que jamais Ie Roy ne fait de tort . . .
Le mesme se doibt obseruer pour les autres Fiefs qui ne sont pas Patrimoniaux, a present en la main du Roy; s’il y a des Communes.
Quant est pour les Communes situées sur les Fiefs des particuliers, elles sont alienables par les Tenants desdits Fiefs qui y ont droict de proprieté, auec Ie consentement des Seigneurs, et authorité de Justice; en y obseruant les precautions de l’Article troisieme.”
[1. That the intention of those who have given the said
Communes must be followed without fail; and to go against it would amount to violating the condition under which the Communities can enjoy them.
2. That where the
Communes were given by His Present Majesty’s ancestors, Kings of England or Dukes of Normandy and
Seigneurs of the Islands, His said Majesty has the same right, power and authority on the said
Communes as the donors would have had if they were alive. As it is certain that all donations are conditional (seeing that by the
droit commun, they are lost by the ingratitude of the donees and where they are used against the intention of the donor) it is therefore also certain that if the said donors lived and could see the said
Communes being abused, and turned away from their rightful usage, they could legitimately revoke them. And this being the case, His Majesty can do likewise, and so would his successors, should the case arise: And in the meantime His Majesty and his successors will from time to time be able to make enquiries in order to find out whether the said
Communes are employed, managed and distributed according to the intention of their ancestral donors.
3. That His Majesty, as direct
Seigneur of the said
Communes, which are dependencies of his ancient patrimony, can, by the consent of the greatest and sanest part of the parties interested in the said
Communes, without any other cause, share them out, alienate, or dispose of them another way, to provide for the needs of His said Majesty of his people in the said Island
etc provided however that the said interested parties are not wronged or prejudiced in their just rights, that is to say provided they benefit as much by the said alienation, as is their communal right, for it is an infallible rule that the King never causes harm. And I would therefore find it fair if a true estimate of the present annual revenue of the said
Communes, and it was substituted for an equivalent
rente to be distributed yearly in perpetuity to those who would be from time to time tenants of His Majesty and his successors to the said
fiefs, and the Provost of the
fief or any other person appointed for this purpose would gather and distribute it, not equally but
pro rata the quantity of land that each will possess on the
fief. And the surplus would be employed for some public cause, according to what His Majesty would find fitting.
4. The same must be observed for the other
fiefs which are not patrimonial, presently in the hand of the King, if they include any
5. As regards
communes situated on private individuals’
fiefs, they are alienable by the tenants of the said
fiefs who have a property right thereto, with the
Seigneurs’ consent, and the authority of the Law and observing the precautions of Article 3.]
33 These passages suggest the Crown could alienate
Fief du Roi and
Bas fiefs, but only with the consent of the
commune on a private
fief could be alienated by the
tenants, but only with the consent of the
seigneur. This appears to be a distinction without a difference. Furthermore, he does not explain why, if the
tenants owned the
fonds of the
commune, it was necessary for the
seigneur to consent to its alienation.
34 The “big question” remained such into the 19th century. Witnesses before the Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into the civil, municipal and ecclesiastical laws of Jersey in 1861 could not agree on how the
communes in Jersey (estimated by one witness as accounting for 3,000–4,000
vergées of land) were owned. Advocate Francois Godfray, owner of many
fiefs at the time and renowned for his commercial approach to their exploitation, was adamant that the
communes were owned by the
seigneur. Helier Simon,
écrivain, was adamant that they were owned by the
tenants, but that the
seigneur was entitled to 10% of the consideration payable on their alienation. That said, the Commissioners took the view (on what actual basis is unclear) that “on some of the manors there are common lands, upon which the tenants of the manors have certain rights, the freehold being in the lord.”
As to the nature and extent of tenants’ rights, according to Advocate RP Marett (by then Attorney General) that could vary from
fief. Reference was made to the unsuccessful efforts of the States in 1812 to persuade the Crown to allow for the enclosure of
communes on its
fiefs, met by a body of opposition from
tenants who claimed rights over
communes at Quennevais and a claim by Colonel Packe to the
fonds of large parts of the
communes in Jersey, and in 1829 to pass legislation which allowed for enclosure of all
communes. Several witnesses pointed out how difficult it was to discern which parties truly had rights over the
communes, as opposed to mere usurpers.
communes have ceased to exist over time for a variety of reasons. De Gruchy suggests that the process of enclosure resulted in the loss of
communes. According to Jean Poingdestre, until the 16th century, Jersey’s economy remained firmly based in the feudal open-field agricultural system with few enclosures. By 1629, Heylin, a visitor to Jersey, reported the landscape as “very much of small Inclosures”. As De Gruchy observes, enclosure brought as a result the loss of right to common pasture and, given that the process appears to have been substantially consensual,
tenants obviously took the view that there was more to be gained from cultivating seasonal crops than rough grazing. He notes, too, that the (undated) introduction of coal from England resulted in the decline of harvesting furze and heather as fuels. Where common rights were no longer practised, the
commune could all too easily over the years be lost to encroachment from neighbouring farms or, in more organised fashion, by their consensual division. By way of example,
Jersey Place Names refers to a
partage (division) of
La Commune de Haut et de Bas, St Martin, in 1799 between Thomas le Hardy and Francoise Dumaresq.
This may reflect the Jersey property law principle of “nul n’est tenu de rester en indivis”, whereby owners cannot be compelled to remain in joint ownership and can force a separation.
36 Evidence indicates that
communes (in whole or in part) have been lost at 12 of the 38
communes whose locations have been identified. As we shall see, the loss of the
Le Mont de la Ville enabled the construction of Fort Regent. The spread of the Town removed the
commune in the area around what is now Common Lane, St Helier. Housing development resulted in the loss of
La Commune de Gorge, at Bagot, St Saviour.
La Commune at St Peter is now within the airport perimeter. The marsh surrounding St Ouen’s Pond remains undrained and is recorded in
Jersey Place Names as
La Commune du Fief d’Orillande. It now forms part of a sizeable reserve owned by the National Trust for Jersey.
37 The alienation of
communes appears to have been long practised, even though the mechanics are unclear, particularly as to who had the power to alienate. There is evidence of the alienation of
communes on lay
fiefs. An example is
L’Ancienne Commune de Morville, a field recorded in 1322, which previously had been part of the
Commune de Morville. Another example, also in St Ouen, is
Prévoté, a former field within the
Fief de Vinchelez de Bas and one of several in the vicinity whose square form has been interpreted as indicative of its enclosure from the heath in the 16th or 17th century. Yet another example is fields in Trinity, identifiable by their shape, which originally formed part of the
Fief de Diélament until sold off by the
seigneur, the Rev William Lemprière in the 1870s.
38 Le Mont de la Ville in St. Helier provides another interesting example. Poingdestre claimed that the inhabitants of
Vingtaine de Ville, St Helier, had enjoyed the
Mont as a sheepwalk for more than 500 years, the right originating in a grant by the
seigneur of the
Fief de Samarès, subject to his retained right of free warren. According to De Gruchy, an Order in Council of 22 December 1677 declared that the retained right had been lost by non-user. However it appears that the
seigneur and the
Vingtaine de la Ville compromised their separate rights in 1668. In 1804 it was sold in a convoluted process by the
Procureurs de la Vingtaine de la Ville to the Crown enabling the construction of Fort Regent. The price of £11,280, established by 24 men from throughout the Island, who comprised a “Grand Vue de Justice”, was paid to the
Procureurs, who used it for the benefit of the public within the
Vingtaine, including paving the streets. So there was formality before alienation and the proceeds were used to benefit those with interests in the
39 In 1851 the
Loi Autorisant l’Alienation ou le Partage du Marais de St Laurens was passed by the States of Jersey. It covered both the
marais and associated
mielle on the coastline of St Lawrence. It followed petitions to the States in favour of change, both from the
landowners with interests in the
marais and the inhabitants of the surrounding area, who considered the stagnant marsh a health hazard. Under the Law, part of the land was to be divided between three named owners of adjoining farms, which can be identified on the 1849 Godfray Map, The three farmers received land close to their farms. The rest of the
commune was to be sold, with the proceeds to be paid amongst those interested in the
commune, except those sharing in the
partage, on terms that the acquirers were required to drain the marsh and maintain stream flow into St Aubin’s Bay. Why legislation was required is not entirely clear, but one presumes it was to force through the change in the face of opposition from some who had an interest in the
commune. Otherwise, it could have been done consensually.
40 From the maps in volume 2 of
Jersey Place Names one can see the
locus in quo after the alienation and
partage. The land in question lay to the east of the (straightened) stream dividing the
marais between the parishes of St Peter and St Lawrence. In St Peter the marsh remained unenclosed. In St Lawrence, following the 1851 Law, it is shown divided up into fields with straighter field boundaries and without the field names shown for enclosures on older farmland further inland. Both areas of land were drained, the one within the
Fief de Roi in St. Lawrence pursuant to a statute and the other, subject to its own peculiar regime, presumably by the
41 In the context of private
fiefs there is the example of the 1856 gift by Francois Godfray, as
seigneur of the
Fief de Mélèches, of part of the
Commune de Mélèches to the Parish of St Helier. The gifted land became the Parade and the eastern strip of People’s Park. The contract dated 19 July 1856 records that Godfray, as
seigneur, was acting of his own free will and pursuant to an Act of the Court of the
Fief de Mélèches. No
tenants were party to the contract. In 1865, as
seigneur, he sold to the parish further parts of the
commune (albeit not expressly stated as such) and which now forms the remainder of People’s Park, the bowling green above it and part of Westmount Gardens. In 1901 a further part of Westmount Hill was transferred to the Parish by the Crown the land previously being
commune on the
Bas fief ofl’Abbée de Bellozanne.
Following the 19th century expansion of St Helier, such
commune was presumably no longer used for grazing, its adoption as public parks perhaps seen as benefitting those with interests in the
commune and the larger Town population. No bespoke statute was apparently required to permit alienation in these cases.
42 A legislative sea-change came about with the
Loi (1900) touchant l’Aliénation des Communes des Fiefs which set out circumstances where alienation was permitted generally under Jersey law.
Its preamble recorded: “il serait utile, dans certain cas , de faciliter la vente ou aliénation de Commune des Fiefs et autres Commune en cette Ile.”
The reference to “other Communes” is unexplained, but the Law has subsequently been interpreted in practice to cover
communes on the
Fief du Roi, the Bas
Fiefs and the special case of
Le Marais de St Pierre.
43 The 1900 Law prohibits the alienation of any part of a
commune without the prior sanction of the Royal Court (art 1). Where such sanction is sought on behalf of “six des intéressés” in the
commune or a majority of them, if they are less than 12, a Jurat is appointed to examine the proposal, call a meeting of the “intéressés” and report back to the court on the advantages of the proposal (art 2). If the proposal concerns a “Commune de Fief”, then the
seigneur of that
fief must be party to the request for sanction (art 2). The court may or may not, on receipt of the report, grant permission, the only express guidance on the exercise of that power being that the court is required to refuse sanction if a majority of the “intéressés” has not approved the proposal. The word “intéressés” is not defined. A contract of alienation of a
commune follows the normal form of conveyance of
héritage before the Royal Court and in the case of a
commune on a
fief it must be passed by the
prima facie recognition that the property in the commune vests in the
seigneur). The Law does not distinguish between
Fief de Roi,
Bas fiefs or private
fiefs and on a straightforward interpretation might be taken to apply to them all, save perhaps if the term
seigneur is not applicable to the Crown on
Fief de Roi.
44 The next legislative intervention in the sphere of feudal rights was the larger in compass
Seignorial Rights (Abolition) (Jersey) Law 1966. The preamble to the Law recorded its purpose as the abolition of those
seigneurial rights “from which financial advantage accrues”.
Inter alia, it abolished the
seigneur’s right to the “année de succession” and right to the possession of property during a “décret” (and invited the Crown to agree to the same in relation to
fiefs in its possession), and transferred the former seigneurial rights to property by “désherence” (escheat), to “choses gaives” (waifs or strays) and to “varech” (wreck, flotsam, jetsam and lagan) to the Crown. It is silent on the
communes and left unchanged the 1900 Law, which remains in force.
Alienations subsequent to the 1900 Law
45 At La Moye, transactions took place in 1904 and 1905, soon after enactment of the 1900 Law. It is possible that the Law was passed in anticipation of these transactions. A division of the
commune between the
tenants was proposed and was clearly controversial. At a meeting of the
tenants held in 1905 at the newly built La Moye School, George Bisson protested at the proposal, fearing that his rights were not being protected. It was agreed that the
mielles and certain land used for the drying of
vraic should remain as
commune. The question of who exactly had rights in and over the
commune was also in issue.
Tenants’ records showed that a meeting had been held in 1837, at which the list of
tenants had been closed at 27. However, a further 12 properties had since been built in the vicinity. Their owners claimed that they, too, should be recognised as
tenants, sharing in the proposed division of
procureurs of the
commune instructed Sidney Crill,
écrivain, on the question. He in turn asked the Attorney General. Any response from the latter is not included with the surviving documents of the transaction. However the list of
tenants was extended: a schedule of 39 lots was prepared, presumably representing the 27 original and 12 new
tenants. There was discussion about the how the shares should be apportioned. The Reverend John Balleine objected to John Edward Le Boutillier of
La Sergenté, one of the
procureurs and later Constable of St Brelade, being awarded six shares. Eventually, he seems to have been awarded four, and the other
procureur, Albert Le Gallais of
La Moye Manor, obtained three. Three other
tenants received two shares, with the remainder getting one apiece. George Bisson was not awarded a share and, one assumes was not recognised as a
tenant at all.
tenants took it in turn to draw the lots. A condition for the transactions was that the land should be drained with the drainage paid for by the
tenants. The area to be divided up was to be delimited by the
Arpenteurs Publique and valued, 10% of the value on this Crown
fief being paid to the Crown by the participating
47 The area thus partitioned at
La Moye can be identified from the maps in volume Two of
Jersey Place Names by the regularity of the field boundaries and lack of field names. Instead field boundaries run across the now drained area, formerly known as
Le Grand Marais, running into
Petit Port. In satisfaction of two of the lots he was awarded, Albert Le Gallais received land further east, known as the
Marais du Val, adjoining
La Moye Manor, draining into St Brelade’s Bay.
48 A much later transaction took place in relation to a remaining rump of the
commune at Le Hocq in 1969. A little back story will assist. The relevant map in volume 2 of
Jersey Place Names shows two areas which would once have formed a continuous marsh, namely
Le Marais, now Le Rocquier School’s playing fields, and
La Commune de St Clement/Le Marais du Hocq, closer to the coast. From the Richmond Map of 1787 it is clear that this adjoining area was marsh. An embankment for the Jersey Eastern Railway was built to the north of what are now the playing fields in or about 1873. It then cut across the
commune. Inspection of the area shows it was drained, but when is unclear. In 1887 the
Le Marais ȧ la Cocque, Grouville, drained the marsh there, which was considered a health hazard, soon after establishment of the Jersey Eastern Railway. It may be that the
marais at Le Hocq was drained at a similar time.
49 In 1969 a small remaining area of
La Commune/Marais du Hocq was gifted to the parish of St Clement, part of which became the site of the Parish Hall. The contract effecting the gift appears to be incorrect referring to “the Marais or Commune du Hocq on the Fief du Samarès” and the donor as Elizabeth Obbard,
Dame du Fief. Le Hocq is actually within the
Fief du Prieur de St. Clément, a
fief taken back into Royal possession. The gift brought to an end the
commune at Le Hocq.
communes have survived
50 Four main sources were employed to discover where
communes have survived in the Island: records on PRIDE, rates assessments, notices in the landscape, and information from the States of Jersey Department of the Environment relating to the
communes which it manages.
51 PRIDE records property transactions from approximately 1798 to date. Searching under the term “commune”, one can identify 108 relevant contracts, effected by 12 different
communes. Bar one from the 19th century (concerning
rentes), the contracts concern transactions in the 20th and 21st centuries. Table 2 sets out the contracts identified by the
commune involved and the nature of the land involved in the transaction.
52 It must be recognised that searching under the term “commune”, does not give a full picture since some transactions concerning
communes were passed by the
seigneur of the relevant fief and various contracts in relation to the
Communes des Fiefs du Roi were passed by the Crown. However, in order to compile a complete record of these transactions one would need to undertake searches by reference to the names of the
seigneurs and these are not straightforward to ascertain.
Entries on PRIDE by Commune
Le Marais de St Pierre
Abbesse de Caen St Martin
Marais ȧ la Cocque
Marais du Hocq/ St Clement
Abbesse de Caen Trinity
Commune de Bas, Noirmont
Fief de la Reine St Martin
53 With this caveat in mind, Table 2 nonetheless gives an interesting insight. What stands out from it is that 85 out of 108 Contracts were effected by just three
communes, St Peter, Grouville and La Moye. This rather suggests their continuing organisation and continued economic importance. Two of the three include golf courses and all three adjoin suburban development and offer drainage rights over the land at a premium.
54 Of the 108 contracts on PRIDE, fifteen define boundaries, reflecting an ongoing uncertainty in this regard for
communes presumed to have been waste for “time immemorial”. 31 of the contracts were effected under the 1900 Law. Many of the rest are sewerage notices and contracts
relating to adjoining properties, confirming access and drainage rights etc.
55 In 1986 the States of Jersey acquired a part of “La Commune de Bas du Fief et Seigneurie de Noirmont (commonly known as ‘La Commune de Quaisné’ or ‘Quaisné Common’)” from the “Tenants ou Intéressés”.
seigneur of the
fief of Noirmont and his wife were stated to be
chef tenants. Why they are so described it unclear, but the documents evidencing the acquisition rather suggest that, beyond the
seigneur and his wife, no-one was clear who else might have an interest in the land.
56 There is a clear difference between the approach taken in contracts for lay
fiefs and the rest. Contracts relating to
communes on the former were executed by or on behalf of the
seigneurs, following the procedure required for
alienations under the 1900 Law. Contracts on
communes on Royal
Marais ȧ la Cocque and
Le Fief de la Reine, St Martin) were passed by either the
or the Crown as
Le Marais de St Pierre and
L’Abbesse de Caen, Trinity, the latter a
Bas fief, were passed by the
tenants. The contract of gift to the Parish of St Clement, referred to above, was executed by the
Dame de Samarès. In 1977 Raoul Charles Lemprière-Robin, as
seigneur of the
Le Fief de l’Abbesse de Caen, St Martin, leased a pumping station to the public. The transaction apparently had been effected under the 1900 Law and approved by the
in 1981 it was felt necessary for the contract to be corrected as it had been passed only by the
seigneur on behalf of the
commune whereas it was stated it should also have been passed by two
tenants. This correction was in the face of the express terms of the Law which provide that the passing of a contract by the
seigneur alone suffices.
57 One interesting transaction is the gift of
communes on three
fiefs in the north of the Island, effected by the
seigneur in 2010. The
fiefs in question are
Portinfer, Lecq and Vinchelez de Bas, all in St Ouen. The gifted land is not presently managed by the Environment Department, although it seems that the gift was made in the expectation it would be. It was effected outside the 1900 Law, perhaps because the identity of some or all of the
tenants was unknown; the contract states that the gift is subject to “such rights, if any, surviving of the Tenants of the Fief” over the
communes in question.
58 In terms of rates assessments, only Grouville’s Rate Books record
Grouville Commune and
Le Marais ȧ la Cocque both assessed at nil. The two
communes are shown in the Rate Book as “care of the Parish Hall”, indicative of a close relationship in Grouville between parish and
59 Notices in the landscape indicating
communes are relatively rare. Notices at seven locations were identified and photographs of six of them are printed below. The first is affixed to a wooden bench beside a footpath on
Le Marais de St Pierre:
60 The second may be found on Grouville Common and set out the rules for use and access by the public. At the bottom of the signs, barely readable, are the words “By Order of the Chef Tenants du Fief de la Reine.”
61 In addition, the
Chef Tenants have put up two signs forbidding access to Grouville Marsh and, together with the Co-operative Eco Fund, erected two information boards about the Marsh as a site of special interest. They are also one of six signatories putting their names to a notice not to disturb ecologically important heath on the edge of the Royal Jersey Golf Course.
62 On the edge of
Le Marais ȧ la Cocque, alongside a
lavoir (an old communal washing place) there is a granite platform upon which is erected a municipal pump.
A notice on the masonry reads: “1930 Erigé par les Tenants du Marais ȧ la Cocque, Ph Frs Labey President, Connétable.”
The word “President” can only apply to the
commune and is a term traditionally used in Jersey for the person who chairs a committee. That these two offices were held by one individual again suggests the close relationship between parish and
commune in Grouville. The “Anciens Lavoirs et Fontaines avec les Pompes” was gifted in 1999 under the 1900 Law to the Parish of Grouville, which continues to maintain them, decked with flowers for much of the year.
In the entrance to St Cement’s Parish Hall, there is a notice which reads:
63 The notice reflects the transaction referred to above and suggests, perhaps, that
La Dame de Samarès (noting the missing accent in the notice) was acting as a
tenant rather than a
64 St Clement is the only parish the accounts of which detail its property assets. Separately recorded is the land referred to as the “Marais ou Commune du Hocq” and “Common Land on the seaside of the Coast Road, the triangular grassed area opposite Le Hocq Inn and the rectangular area opposite the Parish Hall including the 2000 Wayside Cross.” The wall around the latter includes a stone inscribed, “1990 the Restoration of this Common was made from the Miss C M Journeaux Bequest”. Such land was not included in the 1969 Deed of Gift. It may be this land was gifted to the parish before the 1900 Law.
65 There is also a plaque on the steps leading up to
Mont de la Ville. It records the purchase of the
commune from the
Vingtaine de la Ville by the British Government as the site for the construction of Fort Regent.
66 Finally at
Le Jardin d’Olivet, in the north of the parish of Trinity there is a sign, now partly obscured by foliage and ivy, in both French and English, prohibiting the dumping of rubbish on the
Commune on penalty of prosecution. It is undated and the notice is stated to be given by Raoul Charles Robin,
Seigneur du Fief de la Gruchetterie rather than by the
67 There are five sites of
communes managed by the Department of Environment:
LaCommune de Bas Noirmont (Ouaisné, St Brelade);
La Commune de Haut Noirmont (Portelet, St Brelade);
Les Blanches Banques, managed for
La Commune of La Moye (St. Brelade); St Catherine’s Wood, managed for
La Commune de la Fief de la Reine and
La Commune de L’Abesse de Caen (both in St Martin), and:
St Saviour’s Commune, at the top of Grand Vaux (St. Saviour).
68 Table 3 below lists the 18 surviving
communes identified in this study.
69 The 18
communes should not all be seen as having the same quality of survival. The three active
communes, St Peter, Grouville and La Moye, presumably continue to have regular meetings of
tenants and their economic importance, even if now little, is directly related to agriculture.
communes have survived (to some degree, at least), by falling under the administration of the parish. This includes
communes gifted from the
Fief de Melèches to the Parish of St Helier and from
Le Marais du Hocq to the Parish of St Clement.
Commune de L’Abbesse de Caen, Trinity, the Constable, acting in that capacity. was one of the two tenants executing a lease in 1975 to the Jersey Motor Cycle and Light Car Club, his authority deriving from his presidency of the
tenants and from a decision of the
tenants tasking him to pass the contract.
Marais ȧ la Cocque, the
commune may continue in some way, but maintenance of the “Anciens Lavoirs et Fontaines avec les Pompes” now falls to the parish of Grouville.
Contracts search of PRIDE||
Notice visually in the landscape||
Managed by the Environment Department||
Follow-up enquiry |
Contracts search of PRIDE
Notice visually in the landscape
Managed by the Environment Department
Abbesse de Caen, St Martin ||
Marais ȧ la Cocque ||
Abbesse de Caen Trinity ||
Commune du Bas, Noirmont ||
Fief de la Reine St Martin ||
Commune de Haut, Noirmont ||
La Commune, St Saviour ||
Vinchelez de Bas ||
St Jean Hogue Boête ||
Fief de l’Aumosne ||
71 On other surviving
communes, identifying the
tenants from public records is near impossible. This causes an obvious difficulty under the 1900 Law which depends on the
tenants’ involvement for any transactions to occur. What we can say for certain is that there are other
communes the continued existence of which we have not been able to identify, and no doubt
communes that we do not know exist. Table 4 sets out the former.
72 Registration of
communes in Jersey would assist in clarifying the position and could even revitalise them, encourage management of ecologically valuable land, and contribute to a greater awareness of their historical role in our unique landscape.
Communes whose survival is uncertain
Commune location |
St Clement ||
La Commune/ Pontac Common |
Commune de la Hougue Boête |
St Mary ||
La Commune Escraqueville |
St Ouen ||
Commune de Vinchelez de Haut |
Commune de Fief de Morville et Robilliard |
Commune du Fief Haubert |
St Peter ||
La Commune de Nobretez |
Commune du Fief Luce de Carteret |
73 This paper, it is hoped, gives another glimpse of a feudal past rich in detail and offering a potentially significant harvest for the medieval historian. It also illustrates the fact that, notwithstanding various statutory interventions in the 20th century designed to bring feudalism in Jersey to an end, there are still important remnants to this day.
Peter Hargreaves is a chartered accountant and was a Jersey Law Commissioner from 2005 to 2010.
John Kelleher is an advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey and a partner in Carey Olsen. | <urn:uuid:3a792601-6b77-468a-878e-b33d71f9efda> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.jerseylaw.je/publications/jglr/Pages/JGLR2002_HargreavesAndKelleherCOLOUR.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.912977 | 13,904 | 2.796875 | 3 |
All household has had reveal of carbon footprint which is accounted from regular electricity made use of for installations and also home appliances down to general stuff. As described in Wikipedia, carbon footprint is actually “the overall set of GHG (garden greenhouse gasoline) discharges led to straight as well as in a roundabout way by an individual, association, celebration or item”(UK Carbon Leave 2008).
As our company are right now progressively experiencing climate changes which was actually obviously a result coming from greenhouse gasoline discharges, this troubling influence on environment is felt to go on if our team are going to not craft precautionary activities. The terrible certainty is actually that temperature modifications are actually virtually impossible to return if it remains to worsen, that is actually the factor why setting advocate institutions are recommending the federal government, plan manufacturer and also enterprise to take vigorous measures to attend to these issues in addition to persuade individuals to fight the issues beginning with our really own residence, certainly an aggregate services would produce a favorable outcomes.
Additionally, those that possess program to build new home, remodel their existing homes and also obtain property residential or commercial property have to set up electricity performance as the primary principle of the house jobs as well as collection of home rather of concentrating simply on looks. Along with this, buying of household-used products as well as fundamental goods like foods, garments, house devices as well as electric tools need to be actually carried out sensibly as well as look at things that have zero or even minimal features of carbon footprints buy monthly individual carbon offset.
Building of power efficient housing doesn’t must be expensive, professional and also building contractor simply needs to think about innovative and sustainable approach. These features working with high value protection, passive cooling as well as home heating, making the most of using day illumination, setting up electricity efficient home windows, choose energy saving idea fixtures and also suitable orientation of structure. According to the Lasting Progression as well as Mitigation document for Intergovernmental board on Temperature Modification, “Looking at electricity productivity as the guidance concept during building and construction of brand new homes causes both lowered power costs … and GHG abatement”, this strong method will certainly not simply suggest an economic discounts on the operations as well as servicing but likewise still carbon footprint from boosting considerably.
Making use of energy coming from replenishable source such as wind power, sunlight energy, hydro energy, as well as various other natural eco-friendly power is actually a favorable method to balance out carbon as there are actually numerous local locations that has rich and less expensive replenishable power resources as well as owners can as properly install solar boards on the top of their rooftops to support its own electrical power criteria. | <urn:uuid:d0382141-138e-4977-88b1-d27bc34c21d9> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.jose947.com/curb-home-carbon-footprint/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.971941 | 547 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has become a major public health and economic challenge for India. The country reported a staggering 2.3 lakh dengue cases in 2022, with the highest number in West Bengal, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan. The disease has also claimed many lives and disrupted the productivity and livelihoods of millions of people.
What Causes Dengue And How Does It Spread?
Dengue is caused by four types of viruses that are transmitted by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and are active during the day. They can be found in urban and semi-urban areas, especially near human dwellings.
Dengue symptoms include high fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, rash, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, dengue can lead to severe complications such as bleeding, shock, organ failure, and death. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for dengue, so prevention is the best option.
Why Is Dengue On The Rise In India?
Dengue has steadily increased in the past half-century due to factors such as global trade and travel, urbanization, population growth, and climate variability and change. These factors create conditions favorable for dengue vectors and viruses to proliferate.
According to a 2023 report published in The Lancet, between 1951-60 and 2012-21, the number of months suitable for Aedes aegypti dengue transmission in India increased by 1.69 percent every year to reach 5.6 months. This means that the environment has become increasingly conducive to dengue transmission, making it imperative that we take action to reverse this trend.
Moreover, when areas become flooded due to heavy rainfall or cyclones, the populations and territories of many vectors, especially mosquitoes, may initially disappear. However, as the floodwaters recede, they return to these areas, finding ideal breeding sites. This cyclical nature of dengue transmission highlights the importance of year-round vigilance and prevention efforts.
How Does Dengue Affect The Indian Economy?
Dengue imposes a significant economic burden on India, not only in terms of direct healthcare costs but also in terms of indirect costs such as productivity loss, absenteeism, disability, and mortality.
Direct healthcare costs include hospitalization, diagnostic tests, treatment, and transportation expenses. These costs can be substantial for affected individuals and their families, especially those without adequate health insurance or savings. Many people have to borrow money or sell their assets to pay for their medical bills, often plunging them deeper into poverty.
Indirect costs include the loss of income or wages due to illness or caring for infected family members. This affects not only the individuals directly affected but also their employers, businesses, and the nation’s overall economic output. According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), India lost an estimated $1.11 billion due to dengue in 2016.
The economic impact of dengue also extends to other sectors such as tourism, agriculture, education, and social welfare. Dengue outbreaks can deter tourists from visiting affected areas, affecting the revenue and employment opportunities of the tourism industry. Dengue can also affect the agricultural sector by reducing the labor force and crop yields. Dengue can also disrupt the education system by causing school absenteeism and affecting the learning outcomes of students. Dengue can also strain the social welfare system by increasing the demand for public health services and social protection schemes.
What Can Be Done To Prevent And Control Dengue In India?
Dengue is entirely man-made, which means that if humans have created this problem, it is incumbent upon us to solve it. As a civilization, we have inadvertently created environments conducive to mosquito breeding by storing water. As long as stagnant water persists, mosquitoes will continue to breed, leading to the painful consequences we face.
To prevent and control dengue in India, we need a comprehensive strategy that involves multiple stakeholders and interventions. Some of the possible solutions are:
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Launching comprehensive public awareness campaigns is pivotal. These campaigns should educate people on dengue prevention, the importance of eliminating mosquito breeding sites, and recognizing early symptoms. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should mandate the inclusion of a brief Dengue IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) clip before every movie.
- Vector Control – Innovative Approaches: Innovative devices for source reduction such as lethal biodegradable ovitraps (which attract female mosquitoes to lay eggs that are then killed by an insecticide) and larvivorous fish (which feed on mosquito larvae) are key interventions that can reduce mosquito populations and dengue transmission.
- Government Initiatives: Governments at all levels must invest in vector control programs, vaccine development, sanitation improvements, and sustainable urban planning. They should also implement effective surveillance, reporting, and response systems to monitor and contain dengue outbreaks.
- Civic Society Engagement: The CSR ecosystem is thriving, but it often focuses solely on numbers. CSR was conceived to foster innovation, which is currently falling short. It is time for civil society to rally behind the dengue cause and support innovative and impactful initiatives that can make a difference.
Dengue is a recurring nightmare for India, with a relentless surge in cases year after year. It is not only a health issue but also an economic issue that affects individuals, families, and the entire nation. The time for action is now. | <urn:uuid:9779071d-97f7-4d53-95aa-6b16193d6bd0> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.keralanews247.com/dengue-a-man-made-crisis-in-india/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.946989 | 1,141 | 3.734375 | 4 |
The Habsburg monarchy (German: Habsburgermonarchie, pronounced[ˈhaːpsbʊʁɡɐmonaʁˌçiː]ⓘ), also known as Habsburg Empire (German: Habsburgerreich[ˈhaːpsbʊʁɡɐˌʁaɪç]ⓘ), was the collection of empires, kingdoms, duchies, counties and other polities that were ruled by the House of Habsburg and, following the partition of the dynasty, especially by its Austrian branch. From the 18th century it is also referred to as the Danubian monarchy (German: Donaumonarchie[ˈdoːnaʊmonaʁˌçiː]ⓘ) or the Austrian monarchy.
In historiography, the terms "Austria" or "Austrians" are frequently used as shorthand for the Habsburg monarchy since the 18th century. From 1438 to 1806, the rulers of the House of Habsburg almost continuously reigned as Holy Roman Emperors. However, the realms of the Holy Roman Empire were mostly self-governing and are thus not considered to have been part of the Habsburg monarchy. Hence, the Habsburg monarchy (of the Austrian branch) is often called "Austria" by metonymy. Around 1700, the Latin term monarchia austriaca came into use as a term of convenience. Within the empire alone, the vast possessions included the original Hereditary Lands, the Erblande, from before 1526; the Lands of the Bohemian Crown; the formerly Spanish Austrian Netherlands from 1714 until 1794; and some fiefs in Imperial Italy. Outside the empire, they encompassed all the Kingdom of Hungary as well as conquests made at the expense of the Ottoman Empire. The dynastic capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was in Prague.
At this point, the Habsburg possessions were so vast that Charles V was constantly travelling throughout his dominions and therefore needed deputies and regents, such as Isabella of Portugal in Spain and Margaret of Austria in the Low Countries, to govern his various realms. At the Diet of Worms in 1521, Emperor Charles V came to terms with his younger brother Ferdinand. According to the Habsburgcompact of Worms (1521), confirmed a year later in Brussels, Ferdinand was made Archduke, as a regent of Charles V in the Austrian hereditary lands.
Charles V divided the House in 1556 by ceding Austria along with the Imperial crown to Ferdinand (as decided at the Imperial election, 1531), and the Spanish Empire to his son Philip. The Spanish branch (which also held the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Portugal between 1580 and 1640, and the Mezzogiorno of Italy) became extinct in 1700. The Austrian branch (which also ruled the Holy Roman Empire, Hungary and Bohemia) was itself divided between different branches of the family from 1564 until 1665, but thereafter it remained a single personal union. It became extinct in the male line in 1740, but through the marriage of Queen Maria Theresa with Francis of Lorraine, the dynasty continued as the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
Habsburg monarchy (German Habsburgermonarchie): this is an unofficial umbrella term, very frequently used, but was not an official name.
Austrian monarchy (Latin: monarchia austriaca) came into use around 1700 as a term of convenience for the Habsburg territories.
"Danubian monarchy" (German: Donaumonarchie) was an unofficial name often used contemporaneously.
Austrian Empire (German: Kaisertum Österreich): This was the official name of the new Habsburg empire created in 1804, after the end of the Holy Roman Empire. The English word empire refers to a territory ruled by an emperor, and not to a "widespreading domain".
Austria-Hungary (German: Österreich-Ungarn), 1867–1918: This name was commonly used in international relations, although the official name was Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (German: Österreichisch-Ungarische Monarchie).
Crownlands or crown lands (Kronländer) (1849–1918): This is the name of all the individual parts of the Austrian Empire (1849–1867), and then of Austria-Hungary from 1867 on. The Kingdom of Hungary (more exactly the Lands of the Hungarian Crown) was not considered a "crownland" anymore after the establishment of Austria-Hungary in 1867, so that the "crownlands" became identical with what was called the Kingdoms and Lands represented in the Imperial Council (Die im Reichsrate vertretenen Königreiche und Länder).
The Hungarian parts of the empire were called "Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen" or "Lands of Holy (St.) Stephen's Crown" (Länder der Heiligen Stephans Krone). The Bohemian (Czech) Lands were called "Lands of the St. Wenceslaus' Crown" (Länder der Wenzels-Krone).
Names of some smaller territories:
The Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg finally became Austrian in 1816 after the Napoleonic wars; before that it was ruled by the prince-archbishops of Salzburg as a sovereign territory.
The territories ruled by the Austrian monarchy changed over the centuries, but the core always consisted of four blocs:
The Hereditary Lands, which covered most of the modern states of Austria and Slovenia, as well as territories in northeastern Italy and (before 1797) southwestern Germany. To these were added in 1779 the Inn Quarter of Bavaria and in 1803 the Prince-Bishoprics of Trent and Brixen. The Napoleonic Wars caused disruptions where many parts of the Hereditary lands were lost, but all these, along with the former Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg, which had previously been temporarily annexed between 1805 and 1809, were recovered at the Congress of Vienna 1815, with the exception of Further Austria. The Hereditary provinces included:
Vorarlberg (actually a collection of provinces, only united in the 19th century)
The Vorlande, a group of territories in Breisgau and elsewhere in southwestern Germany lost in 1801 (although the Alsatian territories (Sundgau) which had formed a part of it had been lost as early as 1648)
The Kingdom of Hungary – two-thirds of the former territory that was administered by the medieval Kingdom of Hungary was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and the Princes of vassal Ottoman Transylvania, while the Habsburg administration was restricted to the western and northern territories of the former kingdom, which remained to be officially referred as the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1699, at the end of the Ottoman-Habsburg wars, one part of the territories that were administered by the former medieval Kingdom of Hungary came under Habsburg administration, with some other areas being acquired in 1718 (some of the territories that were part of medieval kingdom, notably those in the south of the Sava and Danube rivers, remained under Ottoman administration).
The boundaries of some of these territories varied over the period indicated, and others were ruled by a subordinate (secundogeniture) Habsburg line. The Habsburgs also held the title of Holy Roman Emperor between 1438 and 1740, and again from 1745 to 1806.
Within the early modern Habsburg monarchy, each entity was governed according to its own particular customs. Until the mid 17th century, not all of the provinces were even necessarily ruled by the same person—junior members of the family often ruled portions of the Hereditary Lands as private apanages. Serious attempts at centralization began under Maria Theresa and especially her son Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor in the mid to late 18th century, but many of these were abandoned following large scale resistance to Joseph's more radical reform attempts, although a more cautious policy of centralization continued during the revolutionary period and the Metternichian period that followed.
Another attempt at centralization began in 1849 following the suppression of the various revolutions of 1848. For the first time, ministers tried to transform the monarchy into a centralized bureaucratic state ruled from Vienna. The Kingdom of Hungary was placed under martial law, being divided into a series of military districts, the centralized neo-absolutism tried to as well to nullify Hungary's constitution and Diet. Following the Habsburg defeats in the Second Italian War of Independence (1859) and Austro-Prussian War (1866), these policies were step by step abandoned.
After experimentation in the early 1860s, the famous Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 was arrived at, by which the so-called dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary was set up. In this system, the Kingdom of Hungary ("Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of St. Stephen.") was an equal sovereign with only a personal union and a joint foreign and military policy connecting it to the other Habsburg lands. Although the non-Hungarian Habsburg lands were referred to as "Austria", received their own central parliament (the Reichsrat, or Imperial Council) and ministries, as their official name – the "Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council". When Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed (after 30 years of occupation and administration), it was not incorporated into either half of the monarchy. Instead, it was governed by the joint Ministry of Finance.
^https://www.lindipendenzanuova.com/quando-il-13-dicembre-limperatore-francesco-restitui-a-venezia-i-suoi-4-cavalli/ The Austrian flag in Venice during the Habsburg rule.
^ abcLott, Elizabeth S.; Pavlac, Brian A., eds. (2019). "Rudolf I (r. 1273–1291)". The Holy Roman Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. pp. 266–268. ISBN 978-1-4408-4856-8. LCCN 2018048886.
^Vienna website; "Austro-Hungarian Empire k.u.k. Monarchy dual-monarchic Habsburg Emperors of Austria". Archived from the original on 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
^Encyclopædia Britannica online article Austria-Hungary; https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/44386/Austria-Hungary
^A.J.P. Taylor, The Habsburg monarchy, 1809–1918: a history of the Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary (University of Chicago Press, 1976).
^Giorgio Manacorda (2010) Nota bibliografica in Roth La Marcia di Radetzky, Newton Classici quotation:
Stefan Zweig, l'autore del più famoso libro sull'Impero asburgico, Die Welt von Gestern
Hochedlinger, Michael (2013) . Austria's Wars of Emergence, 1683–1797. Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-582-29084-6.
Kotulla, Michael (2008). Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte: Vom Alten Reich bis Weimar (1495–1934) (in German). Berlin: Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-48705-0.
Rady, Martyn (2020). The Habsburgs: The Rise and Fall of a World Power. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 978-0-241-33262-7.
Bérenger, Jean (2013). A History of the Habsburg Empire, 1273–1700. Routledge.
Bérenger, Jean (2014). A History of the Habsburg Empire, 1700–1918. Routledge.
Evans, Robert John Weston (1979). The Making of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1550–1700: An Interpretation. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-873085-3.
Evans, Robert John Weston (May 2020). "Remembering the Fall of the Habsburg Monarchy One Hundred Years on: Three Master Interpretations". Austrian History Yearbook. 51: 269–291. doi:10.1017/S0067237820000181. S2CID 216447628.
Fichtner, Paula Sutter (2003). The Habsburg Monarchy, 1490–1848: Attributes of Empire, Palgrave Macmillan.
Henderson, Nicholas. "Joseph II" History Today (Sept 1955) 5#9 pp. 613–621.
Ingrao, Charles (1979). In Quest and Crisis: Emperor Joseph I and the Habsburg Monarchy. Purdue University Press. ISBN 978-0911198539.
Ingrao, Charles (2000). The Habsburg Monarchy, 1618–1815. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521380096.
Judson, Pieter M. The Habsburg Empire: A New History (2016) excerpt
Kann, Robert A. A History of the Habsburg Empire: 1526–1918 (University of California Press, 1974) online
Lieven, Dominic. Empire: The Russian empire and its rivals (Yale University Press, 2002), comparisons with Russian, British, & Ottoman empires.
McCagg, Jr., William O (1989). A History of the Habsburg Jews, 1670–1918 (Indiana University Press.
Mitchell, A. Wess (2018). The Grand Strategy of the Habsburg Empire. Princeton University Press.
Oakes, Elizabeth and Eric Roman (2003). Austria-Hungary and the Successor States: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present.
Sked, Alan (1989). The Decline and Fall of the Habsburg Empire, 1815–1918. Longman.
Stone, Norman. "The Last Days of the Habsburg Monarchy", History Today (Aug 1968), Vol. 18 Issue 8, pp. 551–560; online
Steed, Henry Wickham; et al. (1914). A short history of Austria-Hungary and Poland. Encyclopaedia Britannica Company. p. 145.
Taylor, A. J. P. (1964). The Habsburg monarchy, 1809–1918: a history of the Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary (2nd ed.). Penguin Books.
Habsburg in an email discussion list dealing with the culture and history of the Habsburg Monarchy and its successor states in central Europe since 1500, with discussions, syllabi, book reviews, queries, conferences; edited daily by scholars since 1994. | <urn:uuid:81d8cd34-4e1e-4c89-8c16-505c132a07b7> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.knowpia.com/knowpedia/Habsburg_monarchy | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.918608 | 3,220 | 3.40625 | 3 |
102 million dead California trees ‘unprecedented in our modern history,’ officials say
Dead and dying trees turn to brown amid healthier green trees in El Portal on the banks of the Merced River, a few miles south of Yosemite.(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The number of dead trees in California’s drought-stricken forests has risen dramatically to more than 102 million in what officials described as an unparalleled ecological disaster that heightens the danger of massive wildfires and damaging erosion.
Officials said they were alarmed by the increase in dead trees, which they estimated to have risen by 36 million since the government’s last survey in May. The U.S. Forest Service, which performs such surveys of forest land, said Friday that 62 million trees have died this year alone.
“The scale of die-off in California is unprecedented in our modern history,” said Randy Moore, the forester for the region of the U.S. Forest Service that includes California. Trees are dying “at a rate much quicker than we thought.”
Scientists say five years of drought are to blame for much of the destruction. The lack of rain has put California’s trees under considerable stress, making them more susceptible to the organisms, such as beetles, that can kill them. Unusually high temperatures have added to the trees’ demand for water, exacerbating an already grim situation.
The majority of the dead trees are in the southern and central Sierra Nevada region, officials said, though they warned that high mortality levels are also creeping into forests in Northern California, notably Siskiyou, Modoc, Plumas and Lassen counties.
Adrian Das, an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, needs only to step outside his office in Sequoia National Park to see the extent of the damage.
“You look across the hillside on a side of the road, and you see a vast landscape of dead trees,” he said. “It’s pretty startling.”
Das said the parts of the forest at lower elevations — about 5,000 to 6,000 feet — continue to get hit the hardest. In the higher elevations, it can sometimes appear as if there is no drought and the trees are much healthier.
“We have sugar pines here — grand trees that can live for 500 years,” he said. “Everywhere you walk, through certain parts of these forests, at least half of these big guys are dead.”
Although California enjoyed a wet start to the water year in Northern California, the central and southern parts of the state remain locked in what federal officials classify as “extreme” and “exceptional” drought.
“This staggering and growing number of tree deaths should be concerning for everyone,” said Max Gomberg, the climate and conservation manager at the State Water Resources Control Board. “It helps us realize just how intense and extreme this drought has been — particularly for Central and Southern California.”
A single year of average precipitation, which parts of the state got last year, would not end the drought or cause trees to stop dying, experts said.
Even with a historic deluge this winter, Moore said, die-off would continue for at least a year or two.
Dead trees create various hazards for Californians. For example, such trees are weak and can fall more easily than healthy trees. In October 2015, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency and formed a tree-mortality task force to help mobilize additional resources for the safe removal of fallen and dying trees.
In May 2016, an aerial survey of was conducted in Placerville, near the Sacramento area.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Forest Service has reallocated $43 million in California this fiscal year to “conduct safety-focused restoration along roads, trails and recreation sites,” the agency said in a statement.
Then there is the wildfire danger.
California was struck this summer by a series of deadly wildfires that destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to flee. Officials at the time said some of those fires were fueled by dead trees.
When a lot of dead fuel remains on the ground, fires burn hotter and damage the soil, experts said. Whenever rain eventually arrives, the water cannot filter through the soil as easily, so it moves the top layer, creating the potential for mudslides and destroying root systems.
“Like a sheet of glass,” said Scott McLean, a battalion chief with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “Where’s that water going to go? Quickly downhill.”
Once fires burn through the fuel on the ground, they can climb up a “ladder” of dry branches and timber until they get into the crown of the tree, McLean said. And once a fire gets to the top of a tree, it can spread quickly — hopping from tree to tree rather than winding more slowly across the ground.
The forest service said longer, hotter fire seasons are likely to continue for years to come. Officials said this and increased development in forested areas is driving up the cost of fighting fires.
Some experts, however, have questioned whether there’s a correlation between high levels of dead trees and fire severity. Officials say that fire management consumed more than half of the Forest Service’s budget last year.
A blaze in Monterey County this summer burned for months, making it one of the costliest fires to fight in U.S. Forest Service history.
“These dead and dying trees continue to elevate the risk of wildfire, complicate our efforts to respond safely and effectively to fires when they do occur, and pose a host of threats to life and property across California,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.
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Help your fifth grader practice math key skills outside the school with this collection of printable fifth-grade math worksheets. We provide 5th-grade math worksheets with important key skills in math for 5th grade. During fifth grade, math students learn the concepts of multiplication and division including fractions, complex addition, and subtraction. Click to see the fifth-grade math worksheets that we have on the list below. Press the save menu to download the worksheet.
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Singapore has plenty of nicely maintained parks but did you know that we have wetlands too. These wetlands in Singapore can be found around the island and play an important role.
According to Ramsar, the body which organises World Wetlands Day on 2 February each year, wetlands play an important role in removing pollutants, conserving land and providing an environment for animal species such as reptiles, amphibians, water birds and mammals.
Wetlands in Singapore
Pay a visit to one of the wetlands in Singapore and you would be able to appreciate its role as a habitat for animals, large and small.
Here are some wetlands in Singapore that you can visit.
NINJA CHALLENGE: Bring your A-game for a Day of Sporty Fun at this Mall
1. Keppel Discovery Wetlands
Recreated within Singapore Botanic Gardens is the Keppel Discovery Wetlands. It is a restoration of the forest wetland ecosystem that once existed in the vicinity. It provides a more natural spot within the well-manicured Gardens. You can also join tours to learn more about life amongst the wetlands. Read more about Keppel Discovery Wetlands.
2. Rasau Walk, Jurong Lake Gardens
Walk along the edge of Jurong Lake at the red-coloured, 300-metre long Rasau Walk boardwalk. The meandering boardwalk at Jurong Lake Gardens passes by partially submerged plants, part of the freshwater swamp ecosystem. South of Rasau Walk are the Neram Streams, naturalised water channels that flow into Jurong Lake. Read more about Jurong Lake Gardens.
3. Kranji Marshes
At the Kranji Marshes, the songs of birds filled the air, occasionally punctuated by croaks and other interesting sounds. Keep your eyes peeled during the visit and you may even be able to spot woodpeckers and orioles at this nature spot. Read more about Kranji Marshes.
4. Tampines Eco Green
Tampines Eco Green’s ecosystems include secondary forests, freshwater wetland, vegetated swales and grasslands. Venture to one of the bird hides along the water bodies and see if you are able to spot some of the water fowl along the water’s edge. Read more about Tampines Eco Green.
5. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
No list of wetlands in Singapore would be complete without mentioning Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Located in the northwest of Singapore, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, with its tidal pools and mangrove forests are a haven for wildlife. If you are lucky, you may even be able to spot otters in the water and the famous Sungei Buloh crocodile! Also, be sure to pay a visit to the mangrove boardwalk while at Sungei Buloh. Read more about Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve.
Besides the locations above, other wetlands in Singapore can be found at Pasir Ris Park and at offshore islands such as Pulau Ubin and St John’s Island. There is also a Kingfisher Wetlands at Gardens by the Bay, located in the midst of the city.
World Wetlands Day
Singapore’s wetlands serve as a reminder for us to preserve our local biodiversity and natural heritage. Let’s appreciate the biodiversity found locally and care for the wetlands around Singapore. | <urn:uuid:0b2c10d8-5aed-4455-83a4-129ec36cf134> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.littledayout.com/5-wetlands-in-singapore-because-wetland-biodiversity-matters/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.93267 | 707 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Reteti raises orphaned and abandoned elephant calves for release back into the wild herds surrounding the Sanctuary in Namunyak Conservancy. The orphaned elephants, cared for by the Samburu community, are symbols of a new wave of thinking about wildlife and the environment that goes far beyond traditional conservation methods and dives deeper into the core value of what nature represents. It embodies the communities standing up united for wildlife, in recognition of the value that they can cultivate.
An ever-growing grass roots movement, community focused conservation is gaining huge momentum in Northern Kenya, and a new wave of wildlife protection is emerging. Once heavily poached and severely degraded, the northern rangeland is now restoring itself through transparent, self-governed community conservancies that promote the preservation of natural resources in order to create stability, employment, and revenue. Since 2012, there has been a 53% reduction in elephant poaching in Namunyak and partner conservancies due to this changing mindset.
All the keepers are from the local Samburu community and are formally trained in the care, rehabilitation, and release of elephant calves. An elected board from within the community oversee all operational aspects of the Sanctuary. The operations also include a mobile elephant rescue team that works daily on elephant rescue, community awareness and the mitigation of human/wildlife conflict.
Opportunities are being created, livelihoods are improving, and wildlife is returning, proving that nature can provide a sustainable economy for the populations that occupy its magnificent ecosystem. On a fast developing continent where space is at a premium, the Samburu community that occupy the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy is reversing the trends and securing their wilderness landscapes, returning to a learned, age old history of wildlife tolerance and co-existence. | <urn:uuid:4a20763c-808c-4b9f-ac8e-2b1b6b37a3a4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.mangoafricansafaris.com/blog/projects-we-love-reteti-elephant-sanctuary/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.931467 | 357 | 2.59375 | 3 |
There’s a well-known quote attributed to Henry Ford that he actually never said but that historians confirm he almost certainly believed: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”1 The story resonates, of course, because we know what consumers circa 1900 thought mobility was supposed to mean, and we know from about 1920 onward what mobility in fact came to mean.
And still does. Indeed, the extent to which Ford’s (and his contemporaries’) automobile paradigm has endured is remarkable. One hundred years ago, mobility conjured cars and trucks, a space to park and the price at the pump, city streets and open roads. And more: “the freedom machine,” mass transportation, car dealerships, internal combustion. Congestion. Accidents. Pollution.
At the first great inflection point, the fundamental dimensions of transportation—cost, convenience, user experience, safety, and environment—saw “mobility” and “cars” become well-nigh synonymous. That was a dramatic shift from the previous several hundred years, when overland mobility meant horses, which people needed in ever-growing numbers. Emissions problems of a different sort than today’s were an unintended consequence. In 1894, the London Times ran the numbers: at prevailing rates, nine feet of manure would accumulate on city streets by the mid-1940s.2
A forecast in 1894 envisioned nine feet of manure on the streets of London by the mid-1940s.
The amazing developments of 1900–20 represented mobility’s first inflection point. They took us from steam to internal-combustion engines (ICEs), the “Great Horse Manure Crisis” of 1894 to “Big Oil,” and premium automobiles for the few to mass-produced cars for the millions. They also altered and even birthed entire businesses, industries, and government entities that developed alongside, but distinct from, the automotive industry: repair shops, highway authorities, gas stations, commuter railways, and car washes, to name just a few. The landscape has endured for decades.
But for how much longer? By 2030, we’ll see developments that may be as profound as those of a hundred years before. Radical changes—“horses-to-cars” changes, “how-we-think-about-mobility” changes—are coming, even faster this time, and across multiple dimensions. The characteristics of mobility at the second great inflection point will be significantly, not just marginally, better. Electric and autonomous vehicles, more interconnected and intelligent road networks, new customer interfaces and services, and a dramatically different competitive landscape in which tech giants, start-ups, and OEMs mix and mingle are just a few of the shifts in store. Radical improvements in cost-effectiveness, convenience, experience, safety, and environmental impact will, taken together, disrupt myriad business models on an almost inconceivable scale (exhibit).
With any luck, it will be what people actually want—not “faster horses,” but something qualitatively different and better. We call these coming changes mobility’s Second Great Inflection Point. In this article, we’ll explain why we think it’s coming, starting with a look back at the inflection point that took place 100 years ago, including its unintended consequences, and the forces at work pushing toward a new paradigm. A second, companion article lays out the likely characteristics of the emerging mobility ecosystem, along with the impact it is likely to have on business and society (see “Reimagining mobility: A CEO’s guide”).
As with many great changes, the picture is compelling both at a distance and in close-up. More than two dozen of our McKinsey colleagues, plus some of the executives leading the charge toward the future, provide the latter—snapshots of the technology shifts that leaders should have on their radar screen, the variations on this story in different geographies, and the ways in which cities as we know them are likely to change. Neither we nor anyone else knows exactly how or when these shifts will play out. What’s become increasingly clear, though, is that the change is coming much faster than most of us thought possible just a few years ago.
The first great inflection point
When discussing automobiles and timelines, it’s worth remembering that it took a long time for the car to become mainstream. The first steam-powered vehicle was crafted in the late 17th century, though it was too small to carry people or cargo. It took 200 years for contraptions with internal-combustion engines to be on the open roads. By the dawn of the 20th century, vehicles were progressing from open “buggies without horses” to more sophisticated “road locomotives”—self-powered cars.
Until the dawn of the 20th century, however, these vehicles had been tailored primarily for the privileged “class” market. What made the Model T so transformative when it rolled out in October 1908 was not that it introduced the assembly line (it didn’t) or that it was an inconceivable leap in technology (it wasn’t). Instead, the Model T’s combination of reliability, innovation, and, especially, affordability could at last bring personalized, mechanized mobility to the masses. Henry Ford famously made sure to pay his employees $5 per day; they, too, would be able to afford them. His car was priced around $500, less than $10,000 in today’s dollars.
It was only when the automobile became affordable that it truly became the freedom machine.
The freedom machine was born, and giving the people what they wanted (lower transportation costs, more convenience, a better driving experience), even with the trade-offs (particularly in terms of safety and the environment), sparked one of the greatest success stories in business history. In 1900, about 4,000 automobiles were produced in the United States; none of them were trucks. During the 1910s, the number of automobiles across different parts of the United States began to eclipse the number of horses and buggies. By 1920, America had more than 9.2 million registered motor vehicles, including more than one million trucks.
But simply counting cars and trucks fails to capture the magnitude of the First Great Inflection Point and the immensity of its second-order effects. On the left side of the growth curve were steam and hay (and feet), dirt roads, manure-filled cities, and sleepy countryside. Past the inflection came gasoline, paved roads and highways, motels, fast-food restaurants, and suburbia. Mobility was not just cars, but parts manufacturers and suppliers, mechanics, taxis, buses, commuter railways, and, in time, metro-area airports.
The auto industry created millions of jobs and massive new profit pools. Three of the top ten highest incomes reported to the Internal Revenue Service in 1924 came from automobile-industry titans. These developments were more than just economic; they were social. People of all means increasingly came to fret about “keeping up with the Joneses” and strove to purchase new and better cars, across a proliferating range of makes and models. GM president Alfred Sloan called it “a car for every purse and purpose” and drove the cycle forward with “dynamic obsolescence.”
Costs and consequences
But oh, those trade-offs. The consequences of traffic accidents are shattering. More than a million people are killed each year on global roadways; traffic injuries are a leading cause of death worldwide for people under 30; deaths from air pollution are increasing steadily worldwide in every geographic region; and carbon emissions, which had been plateauing in recent years, appear to be rising again.3 Even in cities with well-developed electrical grids and robust mass-transit systems, transportation can account for a quarter of carbon emissions (23 percent in New York City). In cities in the developing world, it’s even higher, such as in Rio de Janeiro (32 percent) and Mexico City (45 percent).4
Meanwhile, traffic congestion exacts a toll of 2 to 5 percent of national GDP, by measures such as lost time, wasted fuel, and increased cost of doing business. And it’s not just dollars and cents: longer commute times, brought on by congestion, correlate with lower life satisfaction and increase risk of anxiety, poor fitness, obesity, high blood pressure, and other physical maladies.
Suboptimal infrastructure adds to the burden, and the situation is getting worse. In the United States, where the transportation network arguably suffers from a “first-mover disadvantage,” many of the nation’s arteries are crumbling. In Europe, where infrastructure conditions can vary widely, large projects are becoming significantly more expensive and more difficult to “sell” to voters. Even in Asia, where in many respects the infrastructure is the newest in the world, rapid economic growth has led to transportation networks that are sometimes patchwork and often struggle to keep up.
What’s more, mobility may be reverting to two tiers, haves and have-nots. While e-hailing services seem to make on-demand mobility accessible to a broader share of the population, their customer demographic skews toward more educated, urban users, and, assuming one travels more than about 3,500 miles per year (as some 90 to 95 percent of US car owners do), the cost per mile can greatly exceed that of an owned car. Congestion pricing and for-pay fast lanes mean that only the wealthy enjoy unfettered use of their freedom machines. Parking access is restricted in some cities to those who live in certain districts; if you can’t afford to live there, you can be legally barred from parking there. The impediments are reinforced by tolls on roads and bridges and rising costs of public transportation and their governing authorities, which operate at a loss in any case.
New frontiers for mobility innovation
A cluster of innovative forces are coming together with the potential to mitigate some of these costs and make the benefits even better. In many ways, of course, the automotive industry has always been an innovation engine. A car, never just a “metal box,” integrates multiple technologies—chemical, mechanical, electrical, and, increasingly, digital. Five years ago, the average high-end car already had roughly seven times more code than a Boeing 787. As we approach the next inflection point, cars will become productive data centers and, ultimately, components of a larger mobility network. That’s already evident in e-hailing and real-time, data-driven navigation systems. Those technologies are among the first crest of a rising wave of mobility innovations, which itself is the remarkable confluence of technological breakthroughs worldwide.
Because of remarkable leaps in computing power, data generation through sensors and cameras, and virtually free data storage, the probability of unprecedented automotive innovations hitting the market by 2030 is high. Blockchain is one striking example, with potentially multiple applications that could be game changers, including fare collection for robo-taxis, payments for tolls and parking, and a “golden record” of a vehicle’s ownership, maintenance, and usage history. Governments, for their part, are coming to demand that technological improvements be implemented to reduce emissions and increase safety. All US cars sold are now required to have rear-view cameras, and regulators are encouraging and even requiring other elements of advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS. Even without governmental pressure, carmakers are likely to innovate out of market-oriented self-preservation. McKinsey research finds that approximately two in five customers are willing to switch car brands for better connectivity features. That’s double the level of just four years ago.
Tech titans are investing aggressively in mobility innovation. Tesla is stirring the pot. And traditional OEMs are raising their tech games and building partnership portfolios. Much of the activity revolves around automotive technologies known by the acronym ACES—vehicles that are autonomous, connected, electric, and shared (for a deeper look, see “The trends transforming mobility’s future”). It’s not just major players who are interested in ACES. McKinsey’s Start-up and Investment Landscape Analysis found that more than $200 billion has been invested in ACES technology since 2010. Add to that the R&D investments of OEMs and original-equipment suppliers—about $125 billion in 2017 alone—and you have the makings of a revolution in transportation, as well as the jobs associated with it (for more on the employment implications, see sidebar, “Redefining what it means to be a ‘car person’”). Here’s a snapshot of the innovation underway.
Autonomous-car technologies will soon transform what “riding” means. Autonomy, expressed along a framework from the Society of Automotive Engineers ranging from level 0 (full driver control at all times) to level 5 (the full-time performance by an automated driving system of all aspects of driving under all roadway conditions), is presently being pursued on two fronts. In the private space, we will see the introduction of working level-3 systems in several high-end vehicles in the next one to two years. In the commercial space, level-4 vehicles could cover 60 to 70 percent of all miles driven in markets such as the United States in the first half of the 2020s, provided that it comes with a remote backup for when the vehicle encounters a situation it cannot handle and needs human intervention. The actual market adoption, however, will take longer and will depend on further factors, such as regulation, customer preferences, and competitive landscape.
The technology for connectivity—what car riders experience along the way—is also poised for a breakthrough. Cutting-edge automobiles today can use a driver’s personal profile to access services on external digital platforms such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Dramatic improvements will soon shift the connectivity experience from reactive to predictive. Occupants will be afforded personalized infotainment through voice and hand gestures—in effect, a dialogue with the vehicle to receive proactive recommendations on services and functions. By the early 2020s, connectivity systems will become a “virtual chauffeur,” in which cognitive artificial intelligence (AI) can anticipate and fulfill riders’ needs.
Your virtual chauffeur? By the early 2020s, cognitive artificial intelligence may adjust your car’s ambient temperature, suggest a stop at your favorite coffee house, or alert you to bargains available at nearby stores.
In time, so will the road. Sensors embedded in vehicles will communicate with traffic lights, street signs, and each other, allowing cars to travel much closer together and shortening travel times significantly. As weather conditions change and car volumes ebb and surge, routes will be optimized near instantaneously. More rational traffic flows will not only shorten travel time; they will also put less stress on bridges, tunnels, and highways, greatly reduce the frequency of road accidents, and save precious minutes for emergency vehicles speeding through.
Vehicle-control centers (VCCs) can greatly ease traffic, as well. Predominantly cloud-based and made possible by AI, VCCs will be the analog of air-traffic control centers. The number of autonomous-vehicle (AV) cars in traffic will depend upon how many vehicles a center can process, but the short answer is: a lot. And the number of passengers will exceed the number of passenger vehicles. That’s a function both of shared AVs being able to be utilized up to 80 percent of the time (versus the current 4 percent level for privately owned nonautonomous cars), and because of likely increases in pooling—shared rides with common pickup or drop-off points. With VCCs and other platforms for AI, shared trips can optimize locations to serve the greatest number of people more conveniently.
Significant improvements in battery technologies and the use of renewables, plus evident regulatory will from many governments to impose regional and global carbon limits, means the likely end of ICE’s technology predominance. That spells new opportunities for those in the energy and metals and mining industries, among others. While government-funded subsidies for EVs are expected to be phased out over time in the United States, Europe, and China, electrification mandates appear here to stay. European regulators are actively working to reduce CO2 emissions of vehicles and ratchet up penalties for noncompliance. China is targeting seven million electric-car sales by 2025. Although the country’s targets have so far been more of a suggestion than a rule, we expect China to put in place enforcement mechanisms over the next decade, with insiders highlighting the potential intention to leapfrog the technical and manufacturing challenges of modern ICE drive trains.
Currently, absent subsidies, a typical entry-level luxury EV sedan costs a significant premium above the price of an ICE vehicle. Unsurprisingly, most consumers are not willing to pay it. The cost of EVs—largely (but not solely) a function of their batteries’ dollars per kilowatt-hour—will need to continue to decline substantially in order to generate the consumer pull essential for widespread EV adoption beyond specific EV-preferring segments and use cases.
Should that transpire, renewable energy is poised to help meet rising electricity demand. New solar power plants being contracted today are being bid at about one-tenth of the cost of solar plants just seven years ago. Even without dramatic improvements, if trends continue at their current pace, solar and wind energy could grow from 4 percent of power generation today to as much as 36 percent of global electricity supply by 2035. That growth trajectory would save $350 billion in resource expenditure.
While ridesharing poses the risk of disintermediating OEMs from their customers, to date, the expense of ridesharing, and indeed all e-hailing, amounts to more than what many consumers will bear. Driver pay takes up much of the cost. If ridesharing AVs eventually remove the driver from the equation, they could make riding more affordable. As well, AVs (like taxis in New York City, which drive an average of 70,000 miles per year) will travel much more than the approximate 15,000 miles per year of privately owned vehicles. That will greatly lower the total cost of ownership due to lower variable cost, despite higher fixed cost (the original price of the car).
In addition, today’s automobiles are designed for a large number of use cases. Narrowing a car’s capabilities lowers its cost. More people e-hailing means one less major use case for OEMs to address, which will allow affordable, purpose-built vehicles to be introduced in turn. Shifting from “pay for vehicle” to “pay per mile” has the happy result of reducing the price of both.
Finally, advances in design should help overcome some potential riders’ understandable resistance to sharing rides with strangers; in-vehicle pods will allow for greater privacy, more engaging entertainment, and productivity capabilities that approach what one would have at the office.
Reinforcing digitization (which accounts for seamlessly new means of engaging with mobility services) and electrification (which will increasingly power vehicles) are social forces. Consider the change from understanding mobility as “buying a car” to “getting from A to B.” The transition will play out over horizons, with households likely first to scale down their number of cars before giving up on ownership entirely.
That couldn’t happen without deeper philosophical and demographic forces at work. While automobile ownership remains a powerful status symbol in key markets worldwide and global passenger-car production has increased at almost three times the rate of population growth from 1999 to 2016, there are signs that millennials and Generation Yers may be more open to different models of car use and ownership, less brand loyal, and less likely to place a premium on traveling for face-to-face meetings as opposed to interacting online. The past eight years have witnessed a decline in the percentage of Americans with a driver’s license across every age group, with those aged 16 to 19 (–11.8 percent) and 20 to 24 (–6 percent) falling off the most. As well, new-car purchases have been falling for every demographic of American consumers except for those over 70.
Changes in how people work also loom large. More people working from home translates to less commuting, which in turn reduces miles travelled and the need for an automobile. For many people, commuting is the main reason for owning a car in the first place. As alternatives to commuting emerge at the same time high congestion, unhealthy pollution levels, scarce housing, even scarcer parking, and substandard infrastructure make commuting less attractive, the impetus for car ownership diminishes.
Simultaneously, the will to fix our cities is getting stronger. Urban populations, historically at the vanguard for change, are already more receptive to solutions such as ridesharing and carsharing, as well as EVs. Oslo plans to ban cars in its city center this year. Madrid rolled out downtown car restrictions in November 2018 and plans to expand car-free zones considerably by 2020. And numerous German cities now ban older diesel vehicles. As cities pull countries forward, countries are adapting more consistent and more rigorous standards.
Listen,” says the mayor, opening the windows of his office. From the street below rises the sound of human voices. “Before I became mayor 14,000 cars passed along this street every day. More cars passed through the city in a day than there are people living here.
In many ways, the story of the automobile and the story of the 20th century were one and the same. It’s the story of progress, with all of its trade-offs: lower transportation costs, greater convenience, and a vastly superior consumer experience, as well as risks to human safety and deleterious effects on our shared environment. The new narrative taking shape tracks the same dimensions, none of which will be resolved perfectly but all of which will change rapidly for the better. So rapid, in fact, that the Second Great Inflection Point will soon be upon us. The implications for transportation, for the broadening array of companies that will help provide it, and for business and society as a whole will help define the 21st century, and are the focus of the article that follows.
CGI illustrations created expressly for McKinsey by Peter Crowther | <urn:uuid:32d579ce-d4f0-4e30-a4a4-d85842caf982> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/mobilitys-second-great-inflection-point | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.955206 | 4,691 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Many questions continue to swirl regarding what it will look like when we are no longer living in the shadow of COVID-19. Many states have begun the “re-opening” process, some forging ahead despite an increase in numbers within their state.
So why are we in the reopening process? On the one hand, there’s a sense of urgency to return the economy to normal. On the other, there’s the very human desire to return to the life we lost in March.
Either way, it’s crucial to navigate reopening safely and protect yourself so that you can not only stay healthy, but also avoid putting your patients at risk.
Reopening vs. “Back to Normal”
The first thing to keep in mind as reopening begins is the simple fact that this virus has not gone away. The vast majority of people are still susceptible to contracting COVID-19. Simply designating a state or city as “reopened” does not mean that things are ”back to normal.” Rather, it is an effort to get people back to doing things they want to do and for businesses to do business.1
It’s truly going to be up to each and every one of us to determine what the reopening will look like. Individuals will have to weigh the risk versus benefit of resuming normal activities, along with their own tolerance for the unknown. The one thing all health experts do agree on is that we must remain vigilant: maintain social distance, wear masks, and wash your hands.1 We must all take responsibility for our own health and the health of those we need to be in contact with—like our patients.
Is It Safe Outdoors?
While there is nothing inherently risky about being outside or going to the beach, for example, it’s still necessary to avoid large crowds. Having as few people around you as possible will be your best defense. Outside—or even in the water—you should still be maintaining the six-foot spacing guideline.
It’s now better understood that asymptomatic people can infect others.2 If you are standing too close when interacting, there is a chance you can become infected and not know it.
While nature’s good air movement can help, this can only protect you as much as you are willing to let it by maintaining the recommended social distance.
What Role Do Masks Play?
Masks can reduce the number of droplets expelled from the nose and mouth, but they are not perfect. Droplets from sneezing, coughing, and even talking are considered to be the main mode of transmission, landing either on another person or surface.3 Those who touch a contaminated surface may be at risk if they then touch their face, especially their eyes or mouth.
It’s also important to recognize that masks do not protect your eyes. Since this virus can enter the body through the eyes, following social distancing protocols will reduce that risk.1
Reopening Healthcare Facilities and Practices
The primary role of a healthcare worker, in any setting, is to care for vulnerable people. Whether or not there is COVID-19 in the facility or practice, the fact does not change that patients are at risk for getting the virus from the healthcare providers they have contact.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have provided guidelines for reopening healthcare settings. While there are many details that need to be worked out at this point, there is enough guidance from both to capture what the future may hold for healthcare workers.
These areas are consistent throughout all planned phases of reopening:
- Screening of all healthcare workers will be done prior to beginning a shift. Although there has been speculation about this practice due to the evidence of asymptomatic carriers, it is still an expectation that will continue into future practice.
- All healthcare workers will wear a mask at all times, and social distancing with co-workers is recommended.
- There will be a heightened awareness and monitoring of good hand hygiene, which involves either the use of hand sanitizer or a 20-second washing of hands with soap and water.
- All healthcare workers will be expected to clean and disinfect their work area according to facility protocols, especially between patients.
- Healthcare workers will be expected to wear PPE during all patient encounters and interactions.
- In long-term care facilities, group activities as well as communal dining will not occur until Phase 3, and even then will still be limited.
- Healthcare workers will need to proactively inform their supervisor if they have any fever, new cough, new muscle aches, new shortness of breath, or new loss of sense of smell or taste.
There is little doubt that this virus has changed the world of healthcare forever. Until a vaccine is developed with proven efficacy, it is a safe assumption that the life of healthcare workers will remain under high scrutiny.
What About Restaurants?
Many states that are reopening restaurants and dining areas are doing so at limited capacity. While the CDC has devised guidelines recommending operating at limited capacity, setting tables well apart, using disposable menus and single-serve condiments, and requiring wait staff to wear masks, these guidelines were never made public, leaving many restaurant owners and operators at a loss with only recommendations that vary from state to state.4
Deciding whether or not to go to a restaurant is going to be a deeply personal choice. Many will just not be ready to risk it at this point. One good step to take is to call ahead or check the restaurant’s website to find out what precautions they are taking before you make your decision. Additionally, remember that those you’ve been in daily contact with at home should be the only ones with whom you dine out. As nice as dinner with friends might sound, during these early stages of reopening, be cautious regarding who is sitting at your table
Will Travel Be an Option?
Remember early on when the first question asked of anyone was whether they had recently traveled? That has become a moot point now that the whole of the United States is considered high risk.
Driving to your destination and staying in a hotel that has been adequately cleaned between guests may be the best option for many people. Bringing your own pillow and disinfectant wipes can help put you at ease if you choose this option.
Airlines are busy ramping up their effort to keep those who chose to or need to fly safe. They have added deep cleaning between each flight, fresh and recirculated air now goes through special HEPA filters, and many airlines are now requiring staff and passengers to wear a mask during the flight. Studies on respiratory and infectious diseases have generally concluded that the overall risk of flying is low, except for people within two rows of an infected person; therefore, maintaining distance on the plane and during the boarding process is key.1
As with everything else, if you must travel, plan ahead. How prevalent is the virus in the areas you are traveling to and from? Are there requirements that you self-isolate upon arrival? If so, is your travel truly required? Simply speaking, if it’s not essential, it might not be worth it.
Protecting Yourself and Others
As we move forward into the unknown with scientists warning us of a potential resurgence in the fall,5 what is our best defense going forward?
- The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
- It is thought to spread mainly from person to person:
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (less than 6 feet apart).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, which land in the mouth, noses, or eyes of people nearby, or may be inhaled into the lungs.
- Clean your hands often.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when possible.
- Put distance between yourself and others when you do need to go out.
- Wear a facemask when going out in public to protect other people in case you are infected and don’t know it.
- Continue to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.6
The Bottom Line
As states move to reopen despite the ongoing spread of coronavirus, it is important that each of us determines what we accept as our new normal. Many businesses are conscientious about following the safety guidelines while others fill to capacity with little regard or concern.
Know what is acceptable for you. Call ahead and find out what is being done to protect the consumer in the various establishments you plan to visit. Remember that as a healthcare provider, the decisions you make will also affect your patients.
Life will return to something more normal; we are just not there yet. We have to be patient and knowledgeable about the challenges still facing us.
In his book, The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, John Barry wrote:
“By 1918 humankind was fully modern, and fully scientific, but too busy fighting itself to aggress against nature. Nature, however, chooses its own moments. It chose this moment to aggress against man, and it did not do so prodding languidly. For the first time, modern humanity, a humanity practicing the modern scientific method, would confront nature at its fullest rage.”7
Nature has again chosen its moment. It is now up to us to decide how we face it while moving forward into our new norm.
- Appleby, J. (May 8, 2020). Reopening in the COVID era: how to adapt to a new normal. Kaiser Health News. Retrieved May 15, 2020 from https://khn.org/news/reopening-in-the-covid-era-how-to-adapt-to-a-new-normal/
- Zandonella, C. (May 12, 2020). COVID-19’s silent spread: Princeton researchers explore how symptomless transmission helps pathogens thrive. Princeton University. Retrieved May 15, 2020 from https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/05/12/covid-19s-silent-spread-princeton-researchers-explore-how-symptomless-transmission
- Asadi, S., Bouvier, N., Wexler, A. S., & Ristenpart, W. D. (2020). The coronavirus pandemic and aerosols: Does COVID-19 transmit via expiratory particles? Aerosol Science and Technology, 54(6), 635–638.
- Dearen, J. & Stobbe, M. (May 6, 2020). Trump administration buries detailed CDC advice on reopening. Associated Press. Retrieved May 15, 2020 from https://apnews.com/7a00d5fba3249e573d2ead4bd323a4d4
- Chavez, N. (May 2, 2020). Another wave of coronavirus will likely hit the US in the fall. Here’s why and what we can do to stop it. CNN. Retrieved May 15, 2020 from https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/02/health/coronavirus-second-wave-fall-season/index.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n/d). How to protect yourself and others. Retrieved May 15, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
- Barry, J. M. (2009). The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History. New York: Penguin. | <urn:uuid:57cfdd5a-1119-41e0-93f9-3aeddc13793b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.medbridge.com/blog/2020/05/returning-to-a-new-norm-staying-safe-during-the-reopening-process/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.947199 | 2,475 | 2.75 | 3 |
If scientists are ever going to deliver on the promise of implantable artificial organs or clothing that dries itself, they’ll first need to solve the problem of inflexible batteries that run out of juice too quickly. They’re getting closer, and researchers report that they’ve developed a new material by weaving two polymers together in a way that vastly increases charge storage capacity. The researchers presented their work at the 255th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
“We had been developing polymer networks for a different application involving actuation and tactile sensing,” Tiesheng Wang says. “After the project, we realized that the stretchable, bendable material we’d made could potentially be used for energy storage.”
Batteries, specifically lithium-ion batteries, dominate the energy storage landscape. However, the chemical reactions underlying the charging and discharging process in batteries are slow, limiting how much power they can deliver. Plus, batteries tend to degrade over time, requiring replacement. An alternate energy storage device, the supercapacitor, charges rapidly and generates serious power, which could potentially allow electric cars to accelerate more quickly, among other applications. Plus, supercapacitors store energy electrostatically, not chemically, which makes them more stable and long-lasting than many batteries. But today’s commercially available supercapacitors require binders and have low energy density, limiting their application in emerging go-anywhere electronics.
Wang, a graduate student in the lab of Stoyan Smoukov, PhD, at the University of Cambridge (UK) suspected that a flexible conducting polymer-based material from another project they were working on could be a better alternative. Conducting polymers, such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythio-phene) (PEDOT), are candidate supercapacitors that have advantages over traditional carbon-based supercapacitors as charge storage materials. Conducting polymers are pseudoca-pacitive, meaning they allow reversible electrochemical reactions, and they also are chemically stable and inexpensive.
However, ions can only penetrate the polymers a couple of nanometers deep, leaving much of the material as dead weight. Scientists working to improve ion mobility had previously developed nanostructures that deposit thin layers of conducting polymers on top of support materials, which improves supercapacitor performance by making more of the polymer accessible to the ions. The drawback, according to Wang, is that these nanostructures can be fragile, difficult to make reproducibly when scaled-up, and poor in electrochemical stability, limiting their applicability.
So, Smoukov and Wang developed a more robust material by weaving together a conducting polymer with an ion-storage polymer. The two polymers were stitched together to form a candy cane–like geometry, with one polymer playing the role of the white stripe and the other, red. While PEDOT conducts electricity, the other polymer, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), can store ions. The interwoven geometry is instrumental to the energy storage benefits, Wang says, because it allows the ions to access more of the material overall, approaching the “theoretical limit.”
When tested, the candy cane supercapacitor demonstrated improvements over PEDOT alone with regard to flexibility and cycling stability. The candy cane supercapacitor also had nearly double the specific capacitance compared with conventional PEDOT-based supercapacitors.
Still, there’s room for improvement, Smoukov says. “In future experiments, we will be substituting polyaniline for PEDOT to increase the capacitance,” he says. “Polyaniline, because it can store more charge per unit of mass, could potentially store three times as much electricity as PEDOT for a given weight.” That means lighter batteries with the same energy storage can be charged faster, which is an important consideration in the development of novel wearables, robots, and other devices.
Smoukov acknowledges funding from the European Research Council. Wang thanks the China Scholarship Council for funding and the UK Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensor Technologies and Applications of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for support.
For more Information, visit here . | <urn:uuid:85d18ab9-a4d0-4809-9682-748e1fcbecf3> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/component/content/article/mdb/pub/briefs/28917?r=34148 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.936664 | 895 | 3.71875 | 4 |
Introduction: Australia, renowned for its diverse marine life, boasts a rich array of fish species that thrive in its coastal waters. One such fascinating species is the Mullet fish. In this article, we delve into the unique characteristics, habitat, and significance of Mullet fish in Australian waters.
The Mullet Fish: A Brief Overview: Mullet fish, scientifically known as Mugilidae, are a family of ray-finned fish found in both saltwater and freshwater environments. In Australia, these agile swimmers are a common sight along the coasts, estuaries, and rivers. Their distinctive features and varied species make them an intriguing subject for marine enthusiasts.
Varieties of Mullet Fish in Australia: Australia is home to several species of Mullet fish, each with its own set of characteristics and preferences. The sea mullet (Mugil cephalus), the thin-lipped mullet (Liza ramada), and the striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) are among the most notable species found in Australian waters. Understanding the differences between these species provides valuable insights into their ecological roles and behaviors.
Habitat and Distribution: Mullet fish australia a remarkable adaptability to different aquatic environments. They are commonly found in estuaries, mangroves, coastal waters, and even venture into freshwater rivers. This versatility in habitat preference contributes to their widespread distribution around the Australian coastline. Exploring their migratory patterns and habitat choices sheds light on the importance of these areas in supporting marine life.
Ecological Significance: Buy dried Mullet fish play a crucial role in the Australian marine ecosystem. As omnivores, they feed on algae, plankton, and detritus, contributing to the balance of aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, they serve as a vital link in the food chain, being prey for larger predatory species. Understanding their ecological significance helps conservationists and researchers develop strategies to protect and sustain these important marine populations.
Cultural and Recreational Importance: Beyond their ecological role, Mullet fish hold cultural and recreational significance in Australia. Indigenous communities have a historical connection with these fish, incorporating them into traditional practices and stories. Furthermore, Mullet fishing is a popular recreational activity, attracting anglers who appreciate the challenge of catching these elusive and spirited fish.
Challenges and Conservation Efforts: While Mullet fish are abundant in Australian waters, they are not immune to the challenges facing many marine species. Pollution, habitat degradation, and overfishing pose threats to their populations. Conservation efforts are underway to address these issues, with a focus on sustainable fishing practices, habitat preservation, and public awareness.
Conclusion: The Mullet fish, with its diverse species and ecological importance, adds to the rich tapestry of Australia's marine life. Understanding their habits, habitats, and cultural significance provides a holistic view of the role these fish play in the Australian ecosystem. As we navigate the challenges of conservation, continued research and responsible practices are essential to ensure the longevity of this fascinating species in the waters of Australia.
For more info :-
Source Url :- https://sites.google.com/view/mulletroeaustralia/home | <urn:uuid:50354f72-47e4-4141-bea0-b86b14bb06ec> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.metooo.com/e/exploring-the-fascinating-world-of-mullet-fish-in-australia | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.920957 | 655 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Minnows – Phoxinus phoxinus
Description: The Common Minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) found in many of our streams and rivers is a rather understated aquarium and pond fish. Their fascinating behavior and quite striking patterns are often overlooked for more colourful fish that attain greater sizes. The easily breed in aquariums and ponds alike. A must for a natural pond.
Maximum Size: Upto 3″ but on average 1-2″ when mature.
Environment: The Minnow is prefers clear ponds with good water flow. It is a shoal fish so benefits from 3 or more of the same species to fulfill it’s shoaling desire. They do breed in garden ponds, usually those that have some weed growth,well oxygenated with good water flow.
Water Conditions: Minnows require a pH range of 7-8.5, Ammonia and Nitrite to be virtually 0ppm. Dissolved oxygen saturation to remain above 8ppm. They are not tolerable to lower oxygen saturation values and will often be the first to perish in low oxygen conditions. Minnows can be sensitive to certain pond treatments so please seek professional advice before treating your pond.
As with any pet, please fully research for yourself to ensure that you can accommodate a fish of this type in your home. | <urn:uuid:6d0d41d5-e68c-4917-84da-3b4425e3a581> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.mf-aquatics.co.uk/product/minnows-phoxinus-phoxinus/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.923177 | 273 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Often children and young people coming to the emergency department at Milton Keynes University Hospital find the visit challenging, uncomfortable or distressing. Being assessed and treated by the team can result in young patients becoming anxious, crying, shouting or physically resisting staff. This is not only distressing for them, but also for parents and carers, and staff attempting to carry out treatment or consultations.
Distraction and play are tactics used by teams to support children and young people and can make a huge difference to patients undergoing procedures or tests. The new distraction machine purchased with charity funds is a dedicated 3D Distraction Machine that can be used for babies, children or teenagers who need to visit the Paediatric Emergency Department.
The Milton Keynes Peadiatric Emergency Department team, who last year raised £11,000 to purchase the device, have already used it on multiple young patients coming through the Emergency Department. Claire and Bacardi who both treat patients in the department and were involved in organising the fundraising, told us about the impact the machine has had so far.
We have already used the distraction machine on a 7 year old boy with a phobia of needles. It was incredible to see him happily play a game whilst we were able to insert a cannula needed for treatment.
We also used the same game for an 11 year old girl, who required stiches to her head. She played with the games on the machine and was surprised when the stitches were done as she had been focussed on playing rather than the procedure. | <urn:uuid:f84da944-389e-45df-9c3e-79ce94db9dd2> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.mkhcharity.org.uk/a-much-needed-distraction/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.97559 | 306 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Maths – multiplication
We’ve begun our multiplication journey this week!
Before learning how to do long multiplication, we had to go back to basics – understanding equal groups and how they link to our number sentences.
We decided that equal means having the same value. Even if the groups are arranged differently or look different, if there is the same amount, they are equal.
Here’s an example we used:
There are 3 plates.
There are 4 strawberries on each plate.
There are 3 equal groups of 4.
3 x 4 = 12
4 x 3 = 12
The 3 represents the amount of groups and the 4 represents the amount in each group.
We then had a go at making equal groups and arrays with counters and writing the matching number sentences.
Here’s some of the ones that we created:
Being confident with equal groups will help us later when learning new methods!
Help at home by making equal groups out of everyday items. For example, can you make equal groups from the peas on your plate or the pens in your drawer?
Cross country stars
*UPDATE* Four of our Year 3 runners have qualified for the Leeds School Games cross country final!
On Friday, twenty two Key Stage 2 children took part in the Leeds North East School Games Cross Country festival at Roundhay High School attended by 900 pupils.
We had a great start from our Year 3 runners with 4 children coming in the top 10! After that, we saw some excellent efforts from the rest of the children throughout the afternoon with great support and encouragement from the other pupils.
Well done to all the children who took part and represented the school. We are sure there will be some qualifiers for the next race, the Leeds final. Watch this space!
Thank you to the parents who came along to help and support at this event.
It was a brilliant event. The Team Moortown spirit was very strong.
If you’re child would like to take part in cross country, have a look at our physical activity guide for details of local running clubs and junior Park Runs.
Topic – Art
Year 3 have begun their latest Topic – art! We have two featured artists that we are focusing our learning around.
Martha McDonald Napaltjarri
We have used our Geography skills to locate on a map where these artists were born; Kandinsky in Moscow, Russia and Napaltjarri in Haasts Bluff, near Alice Springs, Australia.
We have since then, explored the use of complementary colours and warm and cool colours. We were inspired by Kandinsky’s Squares With Concentric Circles art piece and created these:
We put our concentric circles together to create one large piece of art.
The children explored using oil pastels and chalks.
Help at home by asking your child what complementary, warm and cool colours are!
Food Technology: leek and potato soup!
Last week, Year 3 made leek and potato soup! We worked in small groups to prepare the ingredients and then cook them, ready for blending.
We made sure that we washed our hands and wore our aprons for hygiene reasons.
We used the bridge cutting method to cut the onion and potatoes into small chunks.
We also used the claw cutting method to cut up the leeks after we’d washed them. These methods are the safest way to cut food as they help us from hurting ourselves!
We used a hand blender to purée the soup and added black pepper for flavour.
Everyone tried to soup but we had some mixed reviews:
“I loved the leek smell and taste.”
“I didn’t like the sloppy texture.”
“I liked the flavour.”
Year 3 did a fantastic job and the soup tasted great!
Help at home by having your child show you the bridge and claw cutting methods.
Monday was national anti-bullying day and the beginning of anti-bullying week. Lots of children wore odd socks to create an awareness of this important day and to celebrate how we are all unique and different We also centred our learning around this too.
We read our school’s anti-bullying Policy which outlines what bullying is and what we can do if we or someone we know is being bullied.
“Bullying is when you hurt someone, physically or emotionally (including online), several times on purpose.”
We define it by using two STOP acronyms:
- Several Times On Purpose
- Start Telling Other People
One’s a definition of bullying and the other’s a solution.
Our school definition helped us understand the different types of bullying – physical (hurting our body), emotional (hurting our feelings) or cyber bullying (online).
We used our weekly circle time to think about the role we all have to STOP bullying and discussed how we can share our feelings.
We know that we can go to these people or places for help:
- Safeguarding team – Mrs Weekes, Mr Wilks and Mrs Russell
- Any other members of staff
- A trusted adult
- Someone in your family
- Childline (0800 1111)
- Write a worry slip and put it in your Living and Learning box or the whole school worry box (outside the school office)
- Email firstname.lastname@example.org
Help at home: discuss our school definition of bullying with your child. Do they know the difference between falling out and bullying, and between a one-off situation and something that’s happened more than once?
Living and Learning: new school charity
Every year, we vote for a new school charity to support and this week is the start of the selection process.
Our new charity will replace our current school charity St Gemma’s Hospice. An amazing £1500 has been raised for this great, local cause.
Whole school homework this week is to consider the following shortlist of charities.
The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund
The main objective of the charity is to enhance the quality of care and support available to babies, young children and adult congenital cardiac patients, who are treated at the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, based at Leeds General Infirmary. https://www.chsf.org.uk
We receive referrals through our network of schools. We deliver a bed bundle for every child in the household that requires it; this includes a brand-new Bed, Mattress, Duvet, Pillow, Bed Sheets, Pyjamas and Hygiene Kit. We work with local partners to include Food Parcels and, if needed, a school uniform. We can also mediate between families and their support services, as well as making referrals. https://zarach.org/
Leeds Hospitals Charity
To further any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the general or any specific purposes of Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust or the purposes of the National Health Service. https://www.leedshospitalscharity.org.uk
Simon on the Streets
Objectives are to: 1) prevent and relieve hardship and need and distress amongst those who are homeless and rootless by the provision of practical and emotional support, in particular but not exclusively to those who are sleeping rough or who are unwilling or unable to accept existing provision; 2) educate the public concerning the problems of social isolation and homelessness. https://simononthestreets.co.uk/
The Trussell Trust supports a nationwide network of food banks and together we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK. www.trusselltrust.org
Mind (The National Association for Mental Health)
We provide information and support, campaign to improve policy and attitudes and, in partnership with independent local Minds, develop and provide local services. https://www.mind.org.uk/
The charities will be reviewed in class on Thursday 23 November. Each class will vote for one charity which will be brought to the Junior Leadership Team who will have the final vote on Friday 24 November.
Leeds Schools Sports Association Saturday morning cross country race
Key Stage 2 children are invited to compete in an upcoming cross country race as part of the Leeds Schools Athletics Association cross country programme of Saturday morning races. Children will compete against pupils from other Leeds schools.
The race will take place on Saturday 25th November at Wharfe Meadows Park, Farnley Lane, Otley, LS21 2RW from 10am.
Please note, parents/carers are responsible for taking and supervising their child/children at the event. There will be a parent representative at the event.
There are opportunities for Year 3 and 4 girls and boys (under 9) to race 900m and Year 5 and 6 girls and boys (under 11) to race 1500m. Once your child has completed their race, you are free to leave the event.
Please sign up by giving consent online or ask at the office if you would like further information about the race.
Me and my money week!
This week has been all about money and we’ve learnt a lot about money, spending, prices and saving. We have had some visitors in to help us with our learning. Here’s what we’ve got up to:
It’s party time!
We had a two hour workshop where we learned how to plan a party. From thinking about what makes a good party to how much we were spending on balloons. We started by ranking elements of a party by how important they are. Here was one group’s final ranking:
We then chose a person to plan the party for and this was tricky as we had to think about what someone would want at their party rather than our own choices!
Finally, we had to think about what we would spend on what. Each group had a budget of £10 per guest and the children quickly realised how they needed to save money on a venue for the party so that they could have more decorations or food!
Overall, every group managed to spend under their budget which shows that they knew the difference between a want and a need.
The Lost Purse
We had a second workshop with some workers from the bank. During this session we learnt:
- People can pay for things using cash or electronically.
- The price of everyday items like a meal deal from the supermarket.
- People can sometimes borrow money but they have to pay it back otherwise there is consequences.We also were able to give advice to someone on how they should spend their money. ‘Mr I Spendalot’ wanted to book a £500 holiday. He could have either spent his money on his debit card or use his credit card and have to pay it back. We decided that maybe using his debit card was a good idea if he knew that he could afford it!
Living and Learning: anti-bullying day and odd socks day
On Monday, all children will be learning about bullying and how to STOP bullying as part of the national antibullying week.
Our Junior Leadership Team have recently reviewed our bullying definition. As part of this, we use two STOP acronyms: Several Times On Purpose Start Telling Other People – one’s a definition of bullying and the other’s a solution.
On Monday, we will also be taking part in Odd Socks Day which celebrates that we’re all unique. Children are invited to wear odd socks to school, marking the fact we’re all different in some way.
Odd socks day sends an important message to pupils that they should be allowed to be themselves, free from bullying. It helps us celebrate anti-bullying day in a fun and positive way.
Help at home: Talk about our school definition of bullying and the differences between falling out and bullying, and between a one-off situation and something that’s happened more than once.
Group reading information!
This week, Year 3 are beginning their group reading!
The class have been divided into groups and each group has been given a book to read at home. This will last for this half term.
During our Book Club sessions each Friday, each group will discuss what they have read so far and share their reading record activities related to their book. This will be a fantastic opportunity for the children to explore characters and storylines more than they might do normally!
Every Friday during Book Club, each group will be given a new page to read to for the next Friday.
What to remember:
- Your child has a book that they need to read every week (up to a chosen point marked with a post-it notes).
- The reading record activity needs to be completed using their new book.
- A comment from a grown up needs to be written in their reading record.
- Group reading books and reading records need to be brought in every Friday.
Help at home by listening to your child read their new book and ask questions about the book to help prepare them for class discussions.
I look forward to hearing the children’s discussions next week! | <urn:uuid:868e28d6-8867-4325-96f2-5eafa7113323> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.moortown.leeds.sch.uk/blog/category/classnews/year3-showcase/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.959179 | 2,734 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Who is Responsible for Meeting Website Accessibility Compliance?
What is Accessibility Compliance? Website Accessibility Compliance
In short, website accessibility is the act of making sure websites are accessible and usable for everyone.
It ensures all users can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with a website and encompasses all disabilities which may affect how a user experiences your website.
This includes auditory, cognitive, physical, neurological, and visual.
Accessibility also benefits users with temporary impairments, which may include – a user with a broken arm, or someone recovering from surgery.
It also includes:
* Situational impairments, such as: People on moving trains or People with limited internet connection.
* Environmental impairments, for example: Being in a brightly lit room or Not being able to play audio aloud.
Why Is Website Accessibility Important?
Ensuring the websites, we work on are accessible for everyone should be a primary concern for everyone in SEO, as well as the designers and developers we work with.
An accessible website helps all users:
* Easily navigate the site.
* Improve their experience.
* Find information they are looking for.
With the coronavirus pandemic causing the use of the web to further increase, the need for an accessible website has never been greater.
A report from Deque found that 62% of accessibility practitioners surveyed in March and April 2020 reported that “COVID-19 has raised the awareness and impact of accessibility on the digital channel.”
Accessibility is also important for user experience, satisfaction, and loyalty.
There are also legal implications to inaccessible websites.
With more laws for website accessibility, the pressure to be compliant is ever-present. Here’s what you need to know and the steps you can take now.
Were businesses and schools ready to meet the challenges for website accessibility compliance?
Adapting to new ways to work remotely or go to school was not always effortless, especially for persons with disabilities.
And meeting accessibility compliance historically took a back seat to just about every other business goal, creating a business risk.
Though remote work provided some with opportunities to continue to conduct business online, consumers and students quickly uncovered all the ways in which they could not do their work – preventing people from:
* Doing their jobs.
* Taking tests.
* Completing assignments.
* Holding meetings.
* Ordering supplies during quarantines.
This created frustration on top of an already difficult time.
Somebody needed to be responsible.
For digital marketers, the rumblings about website accessibility may be unimportant until a client receives a demand letter or worse.
Getting an ADA accessibility lawsuit creates alarm, followed by confusion over the next steps.
While the client is wrestling with this new expense, they may even ask why they were never made aware their website or mobile app was not accessible.
There have also been increasing concerns like:
* Who is responsible for building websites, software, and mobile apps that not only are accessible but adhere to the accessibility laws of the country or state they reside in?
* Is it ethical to create search engine marketing strategies for websites that are not tested for accessibility compliance?
* Why is accessibility testing not included in usability testing, user research, software testing, and split testing of landing pages?
* Are marketers, web designers, and developers legally liable if a client’s digital property fails to meet accessibility compliance requirements?
Who Is Responsible for Accessibility Compliance?
We are responsible for the content on our webpages.
This includes our videos, podcasts, forms, themes, and interactive elements.
It’s a lot to ask of beginners.
And for those who opt for ready-made websites, it’s a risk they may be unaware of.
Do yourself a favor and get an accessibility site audit done.
Hire a consultant or find an agency that offers accessibility testing as a service in addition to designing web sites or marketing them.
Add accessibility testing to your in-house projects.
It wouldn’t make any sense to produce products that are not ready to work for everyone.
Hire agencies that test with people with disabilities.
They are your best investment.
In 2021, you may be required to own an accessible website, mobile app, or online software application.
The best offense is knowing what you need to know.
Read more here. | <urn:uuid:90337476-056f-47e0-82cf-12f8b521a399> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.morningdough.com/website-building/website-accessibility-compliance-who-is-responsible/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.935945 | 913 | 2.9375 | 3 |
Trees for Notre Dame – level 1
It is April 2019. Fire destroys the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, France. It is a sad moment for many French people. Notre Dame is one of the most important buildings in France. It is necessary to repair the cathedral.
The French president wants to repair the cathedral through 2024. Many people think that it is not possible. It is not easy to find so many trees to repair it.
The trees must be at least one meter wide and 18 meters long. People must cut down around 1,000 trees in different French forests.
They must work fast. The wood starts to get wet in spring. The wood must get dry. It lasts 18 months. Then, it is possible to build the cathedral.
Difficult words: cathedral (a large church), repair (when something is broken or damaged and somebody makes it good again), wood (the material which comes from trees and people use it for building or making fire).
You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.
What do you think about this news?
LEARN 3000 WORDS with NEWS IN LEVELS
News in Levels is designed to teach you 3000 words in English. Please follow the instructions
How to improve your English with News in Levels:
- Do the test at Test Languages.
- Go to your level. Go to Level 1 if you know 1-1000 words. Go to Level 2 if you know 1000-2000 words. Go to Level 3 if you know 2000-3000 words.
- Read two news articles every day.
- Read the news articles from the day before and check if you remember all new words.
- Listen to the news from today and read the text at the same time.
- Listen to the news from today without reading the text.
- Answer the question under today’s news and write the answer in the comments. | <urn:uuid:b1f429d1-d5f0-441b-910d-0abef0bad8bd> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/trees-for-notre-dame-level-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.940275 | 390 | 3.421875 | 3 |
This nature documentary shows the immense flocks of birds, their habits and their dependence on the wetlands of the Prairies. The Prairies are the incubators of vast numbers of Canadian waterfowl, principally ducks, but as more land is drained and cultivated there are fewer breeding grounds. Produced by the NFB for the Canadian Wildlife Service.
This documentary follows Dr. Stuart Houston, an expert on the Swainson Hawk. Living on the prairies during the summer, this bird flies 11,000 km to Argentina for the winter. These majestic birds are facing a serious threat: toxic pesticides. Houston and his team use satellite technology along with traditional bird-banding to greatly increase our knowledge of the lives of migratory birds.
The swift fox is one of the many lost species that has suffered from the cultivation of the prairie grasslands. An innovative program has been implemented to reintroduce the swift fox into its original habitat in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Documenting the history and human misuse of this fragile ecosystem, this short film illustrates the precious balance between human and wildlife use of the environment.
In this feature-length documentary, husband and wife team Karsten Heuer (wildlife biologist) and Leanne Allison (environmentalist) follow a herd of 120,000 caribou on foot across 1500 km of Arctic tundra. In following the herd's migration, the couple hopes to raise awareness of the threats to the caribou's survival. Along the way they brave Arctic weather, icy rivers, hordes of mosquitoes and a very hungry grizzly bear. Dramatic footage and video diaries combine to provide an intimate perspective of an epic expedition.
This adventure film features Scott McVay, an authority on whales, and filmmaker Bill Mason. The objective was to film the bowhead, a magnificent inhabitant of the cold Arctic seas brought to the edge of extinction by overfishing. With helicopter and Inuit guide, aqualungs and underwater cameras, the expedition searches out and meets the bowhead and beluga.
Please note that this is an archival film that makes use of the word “Eskimo,” an outdated and offensive term. While the origin of the word is a matter of some contention, it is no longer used in Canada. The term was formally rejected by the Inuit Circumpolar Council in 1980 and has subsequently not been in use at the NFB for decades. This film is therefore a time-capsule of a bygone era, presented in its original version. The NFB apologizes for the offence caused.
This short documentary looks at the deep gorge of the Fraser River, shadowed by the mountain ranges of British Columbia. It is a highway for the mysterious migration of the Pacific salmon. The river shallows appear red with the flailing fish as they push up-river to spawn and die. A natural wonder puzzling to the scientist, the fish migration of spring and summer provides renewed activity for fishermen and cannery workers.
Produced in 1960, this 2-part documentary examines the effects of widespread chemical insecticide on insects and on warm-blooded creatures including humans. Part 1 looks at the ravages of insects and the centuries-old struggle to control them. Part 2 shows experiments to find ways of controlling specific insects, while leaving harmless ones unaffected.
This documentary follows two country veterinarians through their daily rounds, from sterile clinic to farm paddock. Thirty thousand miles of house calls a year is routine for doctors Vic Demetrick and Reg Maidment, whose patients include just about any creature that hops, trots, swims or flies.
Ages 12 to 17
Geography - Human Geography
Geography - Territory: Protected
Science - Environmental Science | <urn:uuid:37dff33e-be6b-4f5d-b866-b83c851b22ff> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.nfb.ca/film/waterfowl/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.929318 | 760 | 3 | 3 |
Farmers dry cacao beans in Uchiza, Peru, a file photo from 2008. Researchers are exploring the wild cacao bounty of Peru's Amazon Basin, part of an effort to jump-start the country's premium cacao industry.
Christopher Columbus first encountered the cacao bean on his final voyage to the New World some 500 years ago. It took a while for Europeans to embrace the taste — one 16th-century Spanish missionary called the chocolate that indigenous people drank "loathsome."
But by the 17th century, chocolate met sugar, and it became a hit the world over — it's now a $93 billion a year global industry, according to market research firm Mintel.
Centuries and countless foil-wrapped bars later, it turns out we've barely begun to sample the many flavors that nature has to offer to satisfy our chocolate cravings. Scientists from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service recently reported discovering three previously unknown varieties of wild cacao in the Amazon rainforest of Peru.
"It's pretty amazing that this crop that we've been growing [for hundreds of years] — we still know so little about it," Lyndel Meinhardt, who led the ARS research team, tells The Salt.
Cacao trees originated in the Amazon. Mesoamericans cultivated cacao for thousands of years, and chocolate was important to both Mayan and Aztec culture. The Spanish introduced the treat from the Americas to the Old World — and added the sugar. Eventually, other European powers wanted in on the action, so they exported cacao trees to their colonies — which is how Africa ended up providing much of the cacao we eat in chocolate today.
But apparently, "some of the fine flavor material wasn't moved in the beginning," says Meinhardt. So the bulk beans grown in Africa represent just a small sampling of the many flavors of cacao. Or as connoisseurs might argue, it's not the really good stuff.
The world's germplasm banks — collections of genetic material that the chocolate industry relies on to preserve cultivars — aren't much help, either. Meinhardt says, "There's not a lot of diversity in the collections."
Meinhardt and his colleagues from ARS aim to change that. So they teamed up with Peru's Instituto de Cultivos Tropicales to document the genetic bounty of wild cacao in the country's Amazon Basin. The haul from expeditions in 2008 and 2009 included 342 wild cacao specimens from 12 watersheds.
Like wine, cacao flavor is influenced by the region where it's grown. The researchers want to catalog Peru's "cacao varietals," analyze their DNA and identify the so-called flavor beans that premium chocolate makers covet. It's all part of an effort to help jump-start Peru's premium chocolate industry (and lure former coca farmers to cacao.)
The big question, of course, is what these chocolate discoveries taste like. Sadly for chocoholics, it will be several years before we get to find out. Cacao is a slow-growing tree; it takes at least five years for a tree to bear pods. So it will be a long while yet before the saplings now growing at a central collection spot in Tarapoto, Peru, yield enough beans to turn into chocolate.
It's possible the taste won't amount to more than a hill of cocoa beans. Then again, several years ago, the Amazon yielded up a wild cacao strain in Bolivia that Swiss chocolate maker Felchlin released in a limited edition bar called Cru Sauvage — or Wild Vintage — for about $60 a pound. Its flavor was apparently so arresting, it inspired one writer to journey into the heart of the Amazon in search of the man who helped bring it to market. | <urn:uuid:c4cb5d73-2226-401a-88a8-8af124997bb1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2011/10/10/141153396/in-peru-a-hunt-for-chocolate-like-youve-never-tasted-it | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.9463 | 785 | 3.453125 | 3 |
The Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) has a unique way of camouflaging itself. Instead of mixing with the seabed, it changes the color of its skin and the way it moves its tentacles to take the shape of other sea creatures. They Can Do More Than Just Change Color Changing color is just one of the ways an octopus can transform its appearance. These ingenious creatures can also modify the texture of their skin to imitate rocks, sand, coral heads or other elements of the landscape by altering the papillae of their skin.
Cephalopods use their cloaking skills to communicate. Because they are known to be colorblind, cuttlefish, squid, and octopus are thought to send signals by creating and changing patterns. However, very little is known about how they communicate through the use of patterns. For a predator, an octopus is an unprotected package of proteins, which means that basically everyone in the ocean is out to get them, he said.
The intensity of this reflective layer is controlled by the upper chromatophores, providing the octopus with additional color options, including disruptive camouflage if desired. Octopuses also have machinery in their skin that helps them change their texture, adding another layer to their camouflage. The aforementioned abilities are made even more remarkable by the fine control that octopuses have over these individual elements. Although the mechanics of octopus camouflage are still being discovered, scientists understand much better why these incredible animals change color.
Octopuses can change their hue because they have tiny organ chromatophores that change color and are scattered all over the octopus's skin. Octopuses can make such rapid color changes because their brain is deeply interconnected with the skin's surface, Deravi said. Alternatively, a squid, octopus, or cuttlefish can turn white to create the illusion that it is larger than it actually is. An octopus, cuttlefish, or squid can throw black ink directly at a predator and then use darkness to hide their movement.
Camouflage is an important skill shared by almost all cephalopods, a group of marine invertebrates that also includes squid and cuttlefish, but octopuses have taken it to another level. When the muscles around the cell tighten, they stretch the pigment sac wider, which means more pigment is seen in the octopus's skin. However, octopuses tend to be very antisocial animals and rarely interact with other octopuses, so they have less need to communicate, he added. Other organs, known as iridophores and leukophores, in the skin of certain species of octopus can help enhance or alter the colors they produce.
Its skin matches the texture of the environment and the octopus moves to a position to blend better. | <urn:uuid:78d5c63c-07bd-47c3-b22e-04e40713d792> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.octopuslover.com/which-octopus-can-camouflage | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.950914 | 574 | 3.9375 | 4 |
Talk to Cubs about their Hobbies and/or Collections; Cubs to present their collection/hobby
Tables for displays; pen and paper; possible laptop, projector and screen
Send out a letter/email asking Cubs to bring in anything about their Hobbies or Collection, include criteria for badges.
Ask for Cubs/Parents to contact you if special requirement for demonstrating Collection/Hobby is needed.
Sometimes a collection can be a hobby and sometimes a hobby can result in a collection, can the Cub explain the difference?
Collector badge criteria
1. Make a collection over a period of three months of a number of similar items (eg stamps, coins, postcards, fossils).
2. Display your collection in an exciting and interesting way.
3. Talk about items in your collection that particularly interest you.
4. View a collection made by someone else and explain what you like or dislike about its presentation.
Cubs must complete all
There will usually be some Cubs who haven't brought in a collection, give them a pen and paper and get them to write down what questions they would like to ask someone who has a collection. If they have all bought one in then split down into Groups with one presenting and rotate them.
Split into groups and rotate them around the collections, suggest they note down what they like and dislike.
Cubs that have brought in a collection must be allowed time to view the other collections
Allow 5 minutes for each Cub to talk about their collection and be questioned; hold a Group feedback session at the end.
1. Know the safety rules relating to the hobby (if applicable).
2. Show a continuing interest in your chosen hobby, interest or activity for two months.
3. Show your leader, or other Cub Scouts, how you pursue your hobby, interest or activity. Show what equipment, materials and background information you have used.
4. Discuss with your leader how you plan to develop their hobby, interest or skill in the future.
Cubs must complete all
Cubs can create display on table of equipment etc needed for hobby
There will usually be some Cubs who have no hobby to display, give them a pen and paper and get them to write down what questions they would like to ask someone who has. If they have all bought one in then split down into Groups with one presenting and rotate them.
Split into groups and rotate them around the displays hobbies, suggest they note down why they might take up the hobby or why they wouldn't
Allow 5 minutes for each Cub to talk about their hobby and be questioned; hold a Group feedback session at the end.
When did they start with their collection or hobby?
What equipment is needed?
How much does it cost?
What do they have to do?
What they want to do next
Does participation in the hobby relate to Promise Challenge?
- Activities with others
- beliefs and Attitudes
- Make things
- Outdoor and Adventure
- Collector - Collect
- Collector - Display
- Collector - Talk
- Collector - View
- Hobbies - Demonstrate
- Hobbies - Develop
- Hobbies - Explain
- Martial Arts - Competition
- Martial Arts - Discuss
- Martial Arts - Take part
- Physical Recreation - Attitude
- Physical Recreation - Equipment
- Physical Recreation - Skill
- Physical Recreation - Sports
- Physical Recreation - Training
- Swimmer - Activity
- Swimmer - Enter pool
- Swimmer - Long swim
- Swimmer - Safety
- Swimmer - Short swim
- Swimmer - Tread water | <urn:uuid:d4badf80-979a-4351-af05-75105ede66be> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/programme.php?action=view&id=1401 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.930174 | 737 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Sycamore Leaf get away
Tree / Leaf themed game
3 groups: Tree (1 cub), wind (3 blind folded cubs), Sycamore leaves/seeds (remaining cubs). Leaves are all given a number each. Tree represented by one cub standing at one end of the hall watching his leaves at the other end of the hall (all on six). In between the two are three blindfolded cubs of another Six. The tree chooses a number, and that leaf will have to 'twirl' down the hall 'towards the ground' to where the tree is standing. The wind must use their ears to try and listen for the twirling sycamore leaves to catch them to prevent them reaching the ground. Caught leaves are out. All sixes have a go. The Six that gets the most leaves to the ground win.
This activity doesn't complete any badge requirements | <urn:uuid:3aa22419-0eec-4c9f-877e-1db07361db56> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/programme.php?action=view&id=2130 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.950945 | 187 | 2.546875 | 3 |
4.6.9 Using a Formula to Set Cell Values
Origin supports cell formula in both data cells and user-defined column label cells in worksheet since Origin 2018.
- Start the formula with = sign in cell.
- Use Origin's built-in Labtalk functions
- Access data cell, label cell, column, named range, metadata, variables, constants, etc. in calculation
- Drag formula to extend it to other cells
- Auto adjustment of formula when col/row is inserted or deleted or when it's copied to other location
Column Cell Reference Syntaxes
Spreadsheet Cell Notation (SCN) must be enabled in the workbook so that user can refer column and cell with similar notation as Excel.
- A - column A
- This - current column
- A1, A - column A, row 1
- A0 - column A, last row
- A[i] - column A, current row
- Use This, This[i] for rows in current column
- A1:A10, A[1:10] - column A, row 1-10
- A1:B0 - column A row 1 to column B last row
- A[i:i+2] - column A, current row to 2 rows after it
- This[i-2:i-1] - current column, two rows before current row
- A[C]$ - column A, string of Comments cell
- A[EID]$ - column A, string of user-defined parameter EID
- A[D1] - column A, value of 1st user-defined parameter
- Use This[C]$, This[EID]$, This[D1] for label cell in current column
- Add sheetname!, sheetindex!, [bookname]sheetname! or [bookname]sheetindex! before the column cell reference if data is on different sheet or book
- Add $ after the column cell reference for string e.g. A1$, A$
- For subrange, : must be within the [ ]. So A:A & A:D are not supported Use A[1:10] for same column, or A1:D10 for different columns
- Add $ before column or row part for absolute reference. See Extending Formulas Across Rows or Columns section below.
- Use == to build range string and expression involving range string, if current A1 contains Book name. e.g. =="["+A1$+"]"+"1!C1" will refer to C1 cell of 1st sheet in a specified book in A1. =="1000+["+A1$+"]"+"1!C1*0.3" will will be an expression based on such C1 cell.
The examples only show relative reference. Add $ before column or row part for absolute reference. See Extending Formulas Across Rows or Columns section below.
| =B1 - C1
|| Difference between B1 and C1.
| =B - B0
|| Difference between the current row of column B and last row of column B.
|| Difference beween B1 and average of column B
|| Average of current column
| =B1$ + C1$
|| =B1 & C1
|| Concatenate strings in B1 and C1.
| =IF(A1<98.6, A1-98.6, NA())
|| =IF(A1<98.6, A1-98.6, NA())
|| if A1 <= 98.6, return A1-98.6, otherwise return a missing value (see LabTalk Utility Function, Na()).
|| The value of column A User-parameter 1 multiplied by value in column A, row 1
| =lookup(This[element]$, [book1]1!1, [book1]1!2)$
|| Search the value of the element column label in a column and return the value of another column with the same index of the found element. (see the video under section User Parameter Row)
|| The value of system variable v1 (stored with page) multiplied by value in column B, row 1
|| A1 - minus the file date information of the imported file stored in page, suppose A1 is also a date
| =date(A1, "dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm:ss.##")
|| -- †
|| Julian day value of A1 in specified date-time format. Note differences in Origin and Excel behavior.
|| Sum of A1 to A3.
|| Sum of row 1 to 3 in the immediate left of current column.
|| Sum of A1 to J10 on both sheet1 and sheet2
| =Sheet2!B1 - Sheet3!B1
|| =Sheet2!B1 - Sheet3!B1
|| Difference of B1 on two sheets
| =[Book2]Sheet1!A1 - [Book3]Sheet1!A1
|| =[Book2]Sheet1!A1 - [Book3]Sheet1!A1
|| Difference between A1 on different books
| =[Book2]Sheet1!col(A) - [Book3]Sheet1!col(A)
|| Difference between A1 on different books with the old col(name)[row] syntax
| =[Book1]Sheet1!col(A) + StartTime
|| Adds the named range "StartTime" value to A1 of sheet1 on Book1
| =text(mean(B1:B10),".2")+" ± "+text(stddev(B1:B10),".4")
|| =(TEXT(AVERAGE(B1:B10),"0.00") & " ± " & TEXT(STDEV(B1:B10),"0.0000"))
|| Calculate mean and standard deviation of a range, then round to specified number of decimal places and convert to text. Concatenate, inserting string " ± " (e.g. 0.56 ± 0.2740).
Extending Formulas Across Rows or Columns
Select the cell with formula and mouse over the lower right corner of it, when the cursor becomes a +, drag it to extend down, across or diagonally
Column and row reference in formula extends in relative fashion:
- when dragging vertically, only the row part changes
- when dragging horizontally, only the column part changes
- when dragging diagonally, both part will change
Place $ before the part to make absolute reference. E.g. to fix the row part, add $ before row part e.g. B$1. To fix both the column and cell, place a $ character before both the column and row parts, e.g. $B$1.
Double click the + is also supported. For data area, it will auto fill to bottom of the column. For label area, it will auto fill to the end of the row.
For row references in square brackets, e.g. sum(A) or A, press Ctrl key when dragging to keep relative reference
Extending Sheet Part
Origin doesn't support relative sheet reference when extending formula.
E.g. how to put B1 cell of all Sensor sheets to a new sheet? User may enter =Sensor01!B$1 or =1!B$1 and then expect to drag the formula to get =Sensor02!B$1, =Sensor03!B$1, ..., or =2!B$1, =3!B$1, ....
- Variable i means row indexing, By putting $(i) before ! part, it can be used as sheet indexing
- Put sheet index or name in a column and use == syntax to concatenate it with column and row part to form a complete cell reference
- In the above example, A1$ will convert A1 contents into a string. "!B1" is a literal string. ==A1$+"!B1" will concatenate them into =Sensor01!B1 which refers to B1 of Sensor01 sheet.
- The sheet strings will need to be on the same page where you build your auto-adjusting sheet references.
- ==A1$+"!B1+10" will make an expression Sensor01!B1+10.
Extending Book Part
== syntax also works to concatenate book, sheet, column and row part to form a complete cell reference.
In the following example Book short names are put to column A and how to use cell formula to fill column B with B2 values in each book.
In B1 cell, put =="["+A1$+"]"+"Sheet1!B2". Drag the bottom-right corner of B1 cell and drag down to 12th row so B2 in 12
books are filled.
Here are some known issues when using cell formula
- Importing an MS Excel file will not bring in your Excel formulas. Only calculated values are imported. See Working with Microsoft Excel.
- Cell formulas are not supported in the built-in column label rows such as Long Name, Units, Comments, etc. They are only supported in User-defined Parameter rows.
- Variable i and j are used for row and column indexing in Origin (see System Variables) so A[i], col(A)[i], wcol(j), wcol(j)[i] are still supported in cell formula but doesn't not work well with extending formula in some cases etc.
- wcol(j) refers to jth column may not be reliable since the value of J is undetermined except in a multi-column formula, e.g. it doesn't work when used in function argument to return a string. Try to use This instead when you can.
- Extending a cell formula across many rows and columns can strain system resources and may cause Origin to freeze. In many cases, you can accomplish the same task using more easily using Set Column Values
The View: Formula Bar introduced in Origin 2021 is an Excel-like bar allowing you to enter or view formula or on cell or column formula/expressions. While it is not necessary to use the Formula Bar to enter cell expressions, it does offer the advantages
- easier way to enter and view long expressions that exceed cell width.
- search functions by clicking button to open the Search and Insert Functions dialog
- interactive range selection in expression by clicking on column heading, cell or drag to select a range. Note: not supported for different book
- define a named range by selecting a range and then type name on left side of formula bar
- locate a named range by selecting a ranged range on left side of formula bar
Note: Change the font size by changing the value of system variable @FBFS (default is "130").
User Parameter Row Formula
Beginning with Origin 2019, you can right-click on the column label row headings, Add User Parameters and name and define a formula for the entire row. This is handy for calculating key statistics (e.g. mean, std. deviation) for each column of numbers in a worksheet.
The column formula uses the placeholder "This" as a wildcard reference to each column in the worksheet (see next section).
Once a row formula has been created, you can edit the Name and Formula by right-clicking on your User Parameter row heading and choosing Edit from the shortcut menu. You can edit cell formulas individually by double-clicking directly into a User Parameter row cell.
Related System Variables
Enable or disable worksheet cell formula.
1 - enable, 0 - disable
Controls use of Excel-style multi-cell references incorporating the colon character ":", in worksheet cell formulas (e.g. "=total(A1:A10)" or "=total(A1:C1)"
1 - enable, 0 - disable
Note: Origin-style references such as "=total(A[1:10]) are not affected. However, there is no multi-column support with this notation. For multi-column range specification you must use Excel-style notation (e.g. "=total(A1:D10)").
Controls autocomplete support in column formulas (Set Values) and cell formulas
0 - disable for both, 1 - enable for cell formula, 2 - enable for column formula, 3 - enable for both | <urn:uuid:c631456e-1662-474c-a27e-437ff8ae2a1b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.originlab.com/doc/Origin-Help/Using-Formulae-to-Set-Cell-Values | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.763411 | 2,675 | 2.78125 | 3 |
It’s distressing to witness your child suffering from pain. This is especially true if the pain is in delicate areas like the head and neck. What’s more, children may not always be able to clearly express what’s causing the discomfort. Could it be a simple case of ear infection that can be treated by common antibiotics, or is it a tumour on the parotid gland that will require a parotidectomy? The uncertainty can leave you feeling helpless.
To help ease some of your worries, here is a list of both common and uncommon reasons for head and neck pain in children. Hopefully, it can provide insights to help you navigate trying times with confidence and understanding.
Common Causes of Head and Neck Pain in Children
- Migraine and Tension Headaches. Just like adults, kids can also experience migraines and tension headaches. Migraines are often accompanied by throbbing pain, as well as sensitivity to light and sound. Meanwhile, tension headaches cause a constant, dull ache around the head. To be sure, pay attention to your child’s triggers and patterns to help manage these headaches effectively.
- Sinusitis. The typical symptom of sinusitis in children is facial pain, which can radiate down to the neck area. You can manage sinus infections in your child by ensuring they get adequate rest and hydration.
- Ear Infections. Ear infections can cause referred pain in the head and neck. It’s crucial to Identify and treat ear infections promptly to prevent the condition from getting worse.
- Dental Issues. Dental problems like tooth decay or malocclusion (the upper and lower teeth don’t align when the mouth is closed) can cause facial and jaw pain in children. To prevent these issues, arrange regular dental check-ups for your kid and make sure they maintain good oral hygiene.
- Neck Strain. Does your child carry heavy backpacks to school or perhaps spend excessive time on electronic devices? These can lead to poor posture and muscle strain, which can result neck pain in children. Help your child alleviate their neck strain by giving them ergonomic equipment and encouraging them to breaks from using their gadgets.
- Stiff Neck. A stiff neck may be the result of minor injuries, muscle strain, or viral infections. Monitor your child’s symptoms closely and seek medical advice if the stiffness persists.
- Viral Infections. Children are prone to viral infections like the common cold or flu. On some occasions, these can cause head and neck discomfort. Encourage your child to rest, give them extra fluids, and use over-the-counter medications when necessary to help manage these symptoms.
- Eye Problems. If your child has vision problems, they may manifest as head pain. You can prevent many eye conditions from happening or getting worse with regular eye check-ups and by limiting screen time.
Less Common Causes of Head and Neck Pain
Some of the less common causes of head and neck pain include the following:
- Meningitis. Meningitis is a condition that causes the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed. This is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. If your child experiences severe headaches, fever, neck stiffness, and seizure, go to the emergency room right away.
- Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders. The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the lower jaw or mandible to the skull. TMJ disorders can lead to pain and discomfort in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. Consult a paediatric dentist or specialist can provide appropriate management for TMJ-related pain.
- Cervical Lymphadenitis. There are many causes of swollen lymph nodes in the neck, including viral respiratory infections. Consult a healthcare professional immediately if your child has swollen glands accompanied by other symptoms.
- Neuralgia. If your child describes their head or neck pain as sharp or shooting, they may have nerve-related conditions that cause neuralgia. Visit your paediatrician to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment for neuralgia.
- Tumours. Though rare, tumours in the head or neck area can cause persistent pain. Timely medical evaluation is crucial for early detection and appropriate treatment that may include surgery.
These conditions require medical treatment, especially meningitis which can be life-threatening.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Head and Neck Pain in Children
Most instances of head and neck pain in children are no cause for alarm, although there are situations when immediate medical attention is necessary. Call your doctor or go to the emergency room if your child experiences the following:
- Sudden, severe, or persistent headaches
- High fever with neck stiffness
- Changes in behaviour or neurological symptoms
- Vision disturbances or eye-related pain
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Diagnosis and Management
It’s essential to consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible if your child has recurring or severe head and neck pain. The diagnostic process may involve medical history, physical examination, and possibly imaging or other tests to identify the underlying cause.
An accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate management of head and neck pain. Treatments can include medication, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, or specialised care from a paediatric specialist. Depending on the assessment, your child’s healthcare provider may recommend a consultation with a specialist, such as a paediatric neurologist, otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist), or ophthalmologist, for further evaluation and care.
Encouraging healthy habits can help prevent head and neck pain in children. For starters, promote good posture during activities like studying or screen time. Second, ensure regular dental check-ups and teach proper oral hygiene practices. Lastly, encourage adequate sleep and limit screen time to protect eye health.
While head and neck pain in children can be concerning, understanding the common causes and recognising when to seek medical attention empowers you to take charge of your child’s health needs. Remember that early detection and appropriate management lead to better outcomes. Moreover, encourage your child to practice healthy habits to reduce the risks of developing these head and neck conditions in the first place. | <urn:uuid:e6359541-fbbf-4bf5-8262-f526947cf8dc> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.ourparentingworld.com/13-reasons-your-child-may-experience-pain-in-their-head-or-neck/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.921003 | 1,283 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Cumulative Substitution/Elimination Practice Problems
cis-4-iodocyclohexanethiol and trans-4-iodocyclohexanethiol produce different substitution products in a reaction with HO−. Draw the mechanisms that explain the formation of different substitution products.
Determine which compound from each of the following pairs will form a cyclic ether more rapidly when deprotonated.
Draw a suitable mechanism for the following reaction.
(Note: replacing the nitrogen atom with –CH– slows down the reaction)
Explain how the rate of the reaction of 1-bromopropane with sodium ethoxide in DMF changes when:
a. The concentrations of both 1-bromopropane and sodium ethoxide are doubled.
b. Ethanol is used as the solvent instead of DMF.
Explain how the rate of the reaction of 2-bromo-2-methylpentane with methanol changes.
a. When we change the alkyl halide to 2-chloro-2-methylpentane.
b. When we change the alkyl halide to 2-chloro-3-methylpentane.
The reaction shown below involves a step where the hydroxy group in the reactant is converted to a good leaving group via protonation. Propose a reasonable mechanism for the reaction.
Two different elimination products can be obtained when the following compound is reacted with sodium methoxide in methanol solvent. Explain why the deuterated product predominates by about a 7:1 ratio. | <urn:uuid:38973865-0ed1-419f-b964-b1fd373e9032> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.pearson.com/channels/organic-chemistry/exam-prep/elimination-reactions/practice-problems-two | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.832243 | 331 | 3.921875 | 4 |
“We were surprised by the small amount of plastic beads and high amount of fibers found in the samples,” USGS scientist Austin Baldwin said in a press release about the sampling results released Sept. 15. “These unexpected findings demonstrate how studies like ours are critical to better understanding the many forms and fates of microplastics in the environment.”
If ingested, microplastics can cause digestive and reproductive problems, and even death, in fish, birds and other animals. Also, pollutants, such as pesticides, can build up on plastic pieces floating in the water.
“These microplastics, which are harmful to animal and possibly human health, will continue to accumulate in the Great Lakes well into the future,” Baker said. “Our findings can help water managers better understand the types and sources of microplastics in rivers, and which rivers are the most polluted with microplastics.”
The water sample with the highest concentration of microplastics — 32 particles per cubic meter — was taken from a part of the Huron River that flows through Ann Arbor, Mich., while the median concentration was 1.9 particles per cubic meter in all samples.
Other high concentrations were found in samples from the Buffalo River in Buffalo, N.Y. (31 particles per cubic meter); the Ashtabula River in Ashtabula, Ohio (23 particles per cubic meter); and the Clinton River in Mount Clemens, Mich. (21 particles per cubic meter).
The study was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which was started in 2010 to protect the largest surface fresh water system in the world. The 29 tributaries studied make up about 22 percent of the total river water that flows into the Great Lakes.
Previous studies of water samples and fish taken from the five Great Lakes by other researchers and universities also have raised concerns about the prevalence of microfibers, which scientists said probably originate from household washing machines. | <urn:uuid:f4f67106-76a1-4a56-9711-301c65ac9d26> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20160915/NEWS/160919900/microplastics-found-throughout-great-lakes-rivers-in-new-study | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.954565 | 401 | 3.40625 | 3 |
OpenFlow and NetFlow are two completely different concepts. OpenFlow controls how packets are forwarded through network switches, and Netflow collects IP traffic information. It’s easy to think of the two as being related because both words contain the suffix “flow”. This post should provide some clarity on the nature of each one of these two protocols.
What is OpenFlow?
OpenFlow is a protocol used in Software Defined Networks for communication between a network device and a controller server. This particular architecture separates packet forwarding and high level routing decisions whereby packet forwarding is performed by the switch hardware and high-level routing decisions are made by a controller server. I’ll digress more on this in a moment.
What is NetFlow?
NetFlow technology on the other hand, is used to collect network traffic information such as source IP, destination IP, ports, protocols, bandwidth utilization, applications and more. A NetFlow capable router or switch collects IP flow data and sends it to a server where a flow collector is installed. The collector has the ability to decipher NetFlow packets and interpret their content in a user friendly manner for further traffic analysis.
Are NetFlow and OpenFlow Complementary?
You might wonder if NetFlow and OpenFlow are complementary and the answer is “they could be”. To understand why, we need to digress a bit more on the SDN and OpenFlow architectures. In a SDN network, when a host ARPs for a destination, the switch configured to participate in OpenFlow, will make a decision on whether to:
- forward the packet based on local policies or to
- forward the ARP request up to the controller and wait for instructions on how to treat the connection request.
If the controller denies the connection the switch could do nothing. On the other hand, if the controller allows the connection, the controller will then push down instructions to all switches and routers in the path on how to forward the traffic and possibly with a predefined priority. Whichever forwarding logic is leveraged (i.e. locally or via the controller), the switch could export IPFIX, NetFlow or sFlow details about the flows. If the later is the case and the controller decides on whether to allow the connection or not, it could also maintain a connection table. It is theoretically possible for the controller to also export flows with network traffic visibility details.
In short, some think of OpenFlow as the protocol used between the switches and the controller in a multi-vendor SDN environment. A good person to follow on all things SDN is Mark Leary at thefirsttracks.com. Also worth noting is that switches participating in an SDN probably support NetFlow, IPFIX or sFlow however, they don’t have to.
Let’s hear some comments from anyone with OpenFlow network monitoring experience! | <urn:uuid:9bdf81fd-f125-4ec6-86cd-b11c25d23e36> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.plixer.com/blog/openflow-vs-netflow/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.922935 | 589 | 3.03125 | 3 |
For Dual Diagnosis Disorders
Accurately diagnosing dual diagnosis disorders is crucial for the management of both the addiction and the mental health disorder. Treatment of one condition without the other will lead to a worsening of both.
What is a Dual Diagnosis Disorder?
When an individual struggles with addiction and an independently occurring mental health disorder, he or she suffers from what is called a dual diagnosis. The determining factor of dual diagnosis is when an individual’s mental health disorder is still present when he or she is abstinent from alcohol and drugs. Mental health symptoms are automatic and uncontrollable and their symptoms can be confusing and overwhelming. Many individuals will use drugs and alcohol as a way of self-medicating and controlling these symptoms.
Some mental health symptoms include:
- Sleep disturbances
- Poor concentration
- Low energy
- Isolative behaviors
- Negative thoughts
- Suicidal or homicidal thoughts
- Disturbance in appetite
- Mood swings
Addicts find that drugs and alcohol temporarily relieve mental health symptoms and are an alternative to mental health medications. However, alcohol and drug abuse actually aggravate mental health symptoms. As symptoms worsen, the addict will use more substances, building tolerance in his or her body. Addicts need to attend a dual diagnosis treatment center to end the cycle of addiction and stabilize their mood.
Substance-Induced Mood Disorders
When an individual uses drugs and/or alcohol, he or she will develop mental health symptoms as a result of substance abuse. Alcohol and drug dependency has a negative impact on the addict psychologically, creating a substance-induced mood disorder. One indicator of a substance-induced disorder is that there has been no previously diagnosed mental health disorder in the addict’s medical or mental health history. Presently, there are 8 substance-induced mood disorders with transient diagnoses.
- Substance-Induced Delirium
- Substance-Induced Persisting Dementia
- Substance-Induced Amnesic Disorder
- Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder
- Substance-Induced Mood Disorder
- Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder
- Substance-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
- Substance-Induced Sleep Disorder
Each of these substance-induced disorders will have symptoms specific to its pathology. While symptoms are present, substance-induced disorders will benefit from mental health medications. These symptoms will clear up when the addict remains abstinent from drugs and alcohol for a period of time. This period of time will be dependent on the frequency and duration of substance abuse. A dual diagnosis treatment center will be able to address substance-induced disorders because of their symptoms’ similarity to dual diagnosis symptoms.
Medication Treatment for Dual Diagnosis Disorders
Medication for dual diagnosis disorders helps to decrease symptoms and stabilize the addict’s mood. Most mental health medications will take 4-6 weeks to be fully active within the addict’s body. For optimum mental health stabilization, the addict must be consistent and committed to taking the medication. Alcohol and drugs will prevent mental health medication from working properly and may be a dangerous combination when taken with some types of medications. There are several types of medication that address symptoms of dual diagnosis and substance-induced disorders.
Types of Mental Health Medication:
- Beta Blockers
- Sleep Aids
Alcohol and drugs will deplete chemicals in the brain that help it remain stabilized. Initially, addicts will seem moody and irritable when not under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Because of addiction, alcohol and drugs will lose their effectiveness in masking deficits in brain chemistry. This will result in mood swings, depression and anxiety, even while the individual is under the influence.
Common Dual Diagnosis Disorders
Many addicts suffer from similar dual diagnosis disorders. The use of drugs and alcohol may also mimic mental health symptoms, causing substance-induced disorders.
The seven most common mental health disorders addicts have are:
A dual diagnosis treatment center will be able to help the addict eliminate substance abuse and stabilize his or her mood. The addict will need continued support from a facility that offers addiction treatment with a mental health track to provide the best possible results for addicts who are dually diagnosed.
Looking For Treatment?
You suffer from anxiety, depression, panic or another mental health disorder and you started drinking or drugging to help the symptoms disappear. You never counted on becoming addicted. You need special, integrated dual diagnosis treatment to manage both conditions. Recovery Connection coordinators, 866.812.8231, can help you find a quality dual diagnosis facility. You don’t have to live under the weight of an undiagnosed mental health disorder and addiction. Call now and gain control of your life.
24/7 all conversations are confidential | <urn:uuid:d953ce30-3206-4351-80df-51be76bc7fce> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.recoveryconnection.com/substance-abuse/medication/for-dual-diagnosis/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.918933 | 965 | 3 | 3 |
Long before Walt Disney moved out to California to follow his dreams, he was a young boy stuck in the Midwest without an outlet for his creativity. To his stern father, art and creative enterprises were a waste of time. How could a young boy in such a situation get the tools he needed to keep his imagination stimulated? In Walt’s case, he’d get them from a special aunt- Margaret Disney.
“Aunt Maggie” saw the spark in her young nephew’s eye and bought him plenty of sketch pads, crayons, pencils and other art supplies to help him nurture his burgeoning artistic talents. Even when Walt’s father discouraged it, Aunt Maggie would sneak him art supplies to encourage his creative endeavors. While Aunt Maggie would live to see Mickey Mouse, she would not see the opening of DISNEYLAND. While we might have still gotten a Magic Kingdom if she hadn’t intervened, Aunt Maggie’s simple gifts to her nephew sparked a creative streak in her nephew that directly led to him building DISNEYLAND. And the world was definitely better because of it. | <urn:uuid:0a660e20-d342-443d-a00c-3b6b74d26705> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.retlawyensid.com/2019/07/disneyland-anniversary-month-aunt-maggie.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.98051 | 229 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Global climate change is a growing concern as heat waves, droughts, and other natural disasters wreak havoc across the world. Individually, we can continue to make all the humble efforts to be waste free and use green energy, but according to the EPA, petroleum refineries and plants that manufacture acid, glass, and cement are responsible for an alarming amount of the world’s pollution from carbon emissions via fossil fuels.
An article from The New York Times highlights the stark data that carbon dioxide emissions hit a record high in 2019. The silver lining, however, was that emissions from industrial plants were 0.9 percent lower compared to 2018. The United States and Europe succeeded in cutting emissions from the previous year, while India fell behind in its efforts.
Carbon dioxide is one of the most versatile and important atmospheric gases for a wide range of industries. The urgency of climate change begs the question – what is currently being done to decrease emissions, and is it enough? Is it possible to recycle harmful carbon emissions in the atmosphere into renewable energy?
International companies from the Swiss Alps to the Rocky Mountains in the US are joining forces and testing their concepts for carbon capture; however, they still remain in the infancy stage of carbon capture technology. Tests such as collecting carbon directly from smokestacks has proved possible but has yet to be made a widespread practice due to high costs. Most of the world’s largest carbon capture facilities are in the Western United States in Texas, Wyoming and North Dakota. In the near future, the Rocky Mountain region could add a new carbon capture facility based in Colorado. An entire squad of corporations (Occidental Petroleum Corp., Svante Inc., LafargeHolcim, and Total SA) have partnered to make such a project a reality. The foreign companies are examining the viability of the concept of capturing Co2 at a Colorado cement plant to reduce emissions and storing it underground rather than releasing it into the atmosphere. Of the current 19 carbon capture and storage plants around the world, they are responsible for capturing around 40 million tonnes annually.
While storing carbon underground is a better solution than adding to greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants, it does not create a profit for plants that are participating, and in fact it creates extra cost for them. Since it requires the plants to spend more money, it will be difficult to get businesses to buy in on the basis of reducing carbon emissions alone. If plants could sell or use what emissions are captured, there would be more incentive to join climate change efforts.
Several concepts for carbon capture are currently being tested that if successful would allow carbon to be recycled rather than buried. These creative solutions are on a smaller scale than industrial plants but could still provide universal solutions based on the use of everyday items.
EPFL, a technical university in Switzerland, has created a concept that could have the capacity to capture carbon directly from a truck’s exhaust, decreasing emissions from this source by up to 90 percent. The captured Co2 would be converted into liquid Co2 and stored in a container on board the truck. Using the energy of the vehicle, this internal system would do the work of cooling fumes, separating water, and isolating Co2 in a separate container. The container would later be dropped off at a service station that would work to convert the liquid back into fuel as renewable energy. This strategy would greatly decrease the amount of carbon being released into the air, with roughly only the remaining ten percent being lost into the atmosphere. The idea is that any vehicle of transportation – including boats – that run on fuel can utilize this Co2 recycling system.
Not too far away at the University of Lyon, France, a team has been experimenting with carbon dioxide captured from car exhaust as well, adding it to a chemical mixture to dissolve metals into liquids and separate them from the batteries of old smartphones and other electronics. This experiment couples recycling captured carbon dioxide with recycling metal and reducing battery waste that would otherwise remain undecomposed in landfills. Carbon capture technology could be applied in endless situations to assist in the reduction of emissions. The efforts that focus on recycling as opposed to storing will likely yield greater long-term.
The biggest hurdle to implementing large scale carbon capture facilities is the reality that they are billion dollar investments. Without some sort of payoff for investing in carbon capture, it will be challenging to recruit companies to contribute to reducing climate change. This is why humble efforts to make creative carbon capture solutions on a smaller scale that focus on recycling carbon could be essential in the fight to reduce emissions. | <urn:uuid:df8a3082-70dc-4bfa-b414-c47b674ab5df> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.rockymountainair.com/blog/future-carbon-capture-facilities-technologies/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.95693 | 918 | 3.90625 | 4 |
Researchers say staying active both physically and mentally can help lower the risk of dementia.
They say these activities can include exercise, household chores, and social visits with friends and family.
Experts say it’s also important to eat a healthy diet, get adequate sleep, and participate in mindful activities such as yoga.
Exercising, doing household chores, and visiting with friends and family are all ways of reducing dementia risk by up to 35%.
That’s according to a new study published in the journal Neurology that involved more than 500,000 people.
Participants had an average age of 56. None of them had been diagnosed with dementia.
The participants self-reported physical activity levels at the beginning of the study. They also documented additional activities such as how they commuted to work or spent leisure time, their use of electronic devices, and personal information including education level.
Researchers then followed up for an average of more than 10 years. They reported that they found a link between certain activities and a reduced risk for dementia.
The researchers said people who frequently participated in specific activities had a much lower risk of developing dementia than people who didn’t frequently participate.
Vigorous exercise was associated with a 35% lower risk of developing dementia.
Household chores created a 21% lower risk.
Daily visits with people (friends or family) produced a 15% lower risk.
Where you spent time with others and what you did while socializing also mattered in the study. For example, visiting a bar or a social club and watching television didn’t lower risk as much as other activities.
Genetic risk factors for developing dementia alongside family history of the condition were taken into consideration.
By the end of the follow-up period, more than 5,000 participants developed dementia. Those most likely to develop dementia in the study were older, male, with a history of hypertension or hyperlipidemia, and with a lower socioeconomic status and higher body mass index.
“More research is needed to confirm our findings. However, our results are encouraging that making these simple lifestyle changes may be beneficial,” Dr. Huan Song, a study author and a research professor at Sichuan University in China, said in a statement.
Dana Plude, PhD, the deputy director of the National Institute for Aging’s (NIA) Division of Behavioral and Social Research, told Healthline that this study re-enforces the nation that positive relationships, physical activity, and social engagement can potentially lower the risk of dementia.
However, he said, “we simply don’t know the causal relationship(s).”
“It might be that people with a lower risk of dementia are able to engage in these activities rather than the other way around,” Plude explained.
Dr. Anisha Patel-Dunn, DO, a psychiatrist and chief medical officer at LifeStance Health, told Healthline these study findings echo what has been long known to be true in the mental health community: Prioritizing self-care and a mentally healthy routine benefits your overall health.
“Mental health is no different than physical health and this includes incorporating healthy habits as a way of [dementia] prevention,” she said.
“Self-care basics such as sticking to a routine, regular exercise, and connecting with friends and family either in-person or over the phone are all incredibly supportive to overall mental wellness, and this study further illustrates that these simple habits can have extremely positive benefits in the long-term,” said Patel-Dunn.
Patel-Dunn suggests finding activities that you genuinely enjoy doing, as this is more likely to create lasting habits.
These activities can be different for each person, she says, but some suggestions include the following:
Maintain a set sleep schedule
Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day and practicing good sleep hygiene (i.e., avoiding screens before bed).
“I’d suggest reading, listening to relaxing music, or doing a meditation before bed to replace screen time,” Patel-Dunn said.
Organize your home environment
Keeping your environment organized and clean can be calming and enable you to focus more effectively if you’re working or taking a class from home.
“Pairing house chores with your favorite podcast or audiobook can help this to become an activity you look forward to,” Patel-Dunn suggested.
Move your body daily
Making sure you are scheduling time to move your body every day is a healthy coping technique for dealing with stress.
“I’d prioritize taking a short walk outside whenever possible, as connecting with nature can also be extremely grounding,” said Patel-Dunn.
“While these are all relatively simple techniques to lean on in support of mental wellness, the truth is that they can produce wonderful results when practiced consistently,” she added. “It truly is the basics that are so critical in building a healthy foundation for our mental and physical well-being.”
The National Institute on Aging offers these additional tips for boosting brain health as your age:
Eat healthy foods (such as foods rich in nutrients that support proper brain functioning).
Manage stress with mindful activities such as yoga or journaling.
Keep learning new things (take a class or join a club, for example).
Maintain frequent doctor checkups.
Prude says current advice about reducing Alzheimer’s risk is drawn largely from a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 2017 report that suggests three promising areas where more research is needed: increased physical activity, blood pressure control, and cognitive training. | <urn:uuid:1200e15b-1b54-488f-99dc-6df15dd5d658> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.rtnewstoday.com/exercise-chores-visits-can-lower-dementia-risk/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00399.warc.gz | en | 0.957855 | 1,183 | 3 | 3 |
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