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"Using Wordless Books to Improve Reading Skills\nJuly 29, 2010\nHave you ever listened to a child tell you about something that happened during the day and it made no sense? One of the Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) skills that I demonstrate during storytime is Narrative Skills. This skill refers to the ability to describe things and events, and tell stories. Children who master this skill learn to put things in sequence (i.e. what happened first, next, and last) and re-tell it to others.\nMCPL has a collection of wordless books that can be used to improve or enhance this skill in your young children. As they gaze at the pictures, you can encourage them to tell you what’s happening in the story by asking questions about it. This is a great way for children to interact with you and with books.\nTo find wordless books in the card catalog, use the “Advanced Search” feature and choose the options shown in the example below:\nIf you want to search all branches, leave the Location set to ALL.\nHere are the first five books you are likely to find on your list if you perform the search shown above:\nThe ECRR Narrative Skill and Vocabulary skill go hand-in-hand, so while your children are describing things they see, they are reinforcing or learning new words and ideas, too! If you would like to know more about the six ECRR skills, keep checking our blog or come visit a weekly story-time. We meet every Thursday in the Children’s area from 10-11:00.\nDebbie A.Tags: Books"

"If you enjoy birding, you know how important it is to see the native species in a country, in real life. Sometimes this means taking a tour, as a specific tour to see the Usambara Eagle Owl where it lives, especially when the endemic areas of the threatened species are not prolific.\nWe take a look today at some of the birding facts of the Usambara Eagle Owl, which is an endemic species to Northern Tanzania.\n10 Facts about the Usambara Eagle Owl\n1. The ‘East African Nduk eagle-owl‘ or ‘Vosseier’s eagle-owl‘ are other names for the Usambara Eagle Owl.\n2. It is a native species to Tanzania.\n4. The family group is Strigidae, and the Genus is Bubo.\n5. The Usambara Eagle Owl is strongly built with powerful talons and recognised for its size. It has tawny brown upperparts which are heavily barred with darker brown and creamy white underparts. The Usambara Owl has brown blotches on the breast and irregular black bars on the belly.\n6. The breeding season is November to February and the owl is likely to nest in tree holes. There are usually two chicks produced, but rarely three or four will be born.\n7. The natural habitat for the Usambara Eagle Owl is between 900 and 1,500 m (3,000 and 4,900 ft) above sea level, in the montane and submontane forests.\n8. Its diet seems to be exclusively small mammals, for example rodents, insectivores and possibly dwarf bushbabies.\n9. This owl has prominent tawny brown tufted ears.\n10. Due to habitat loss, the species is classified as threatened.\nNow that you have the identifying characteristics and potential whereabouts of the Usambara Eagle Owl, you can safely say that when you visit its habitat, you will be able to identify it with ease."

"Learning a second language is a little different. There are two main types of language in SLA, which are BICS and CALP (theorized by Jim Cummins).\n- BICS, or basic interpersonal communication skills, is the type of language that ELLs will easily pick up on by interacting with friends at school, people in the community, and seeing them on television. Some examples include talking on the phone, singing songs, and slang words that are popular in the area/culture. On average, BICS proficiency can be achieved anywhere from 6 month to 2 years.\n- CALP, or cognitive academic language proficiency, is academic language specific to content area studies that must be learned for success in school but will not be picked up through day to day conversations. Many of these words are vocabulary words for specific content areas like math or science.\nIt is important for teachers to really understand which level their ELLs are in when they come into the classroom in order to give them the best education possible. Another important thing is to respect the silent period, as most ELL students will take time to get adjusted in the first place, especially if they are new to the country or the school.\nNow, another viral aspect of SLA is reaching fluency in academic language, or the CALP aspect from above. Many teachers do not realize that it may take as many as 7-10 years to reach fully academic language fluency. But, what is academic language anyways? Academic language is the content area language and vocabulary needed for students to be successful in each subject. Some examples are theme and irony in English language arts, hypotenuse and function in mathematics, and democracy in social studies. Academic language usually needs to be explicitly taught, and the instruction and explanation of these content area words may even benefit the mainstream students as well. Who doesn't need a refresher on the difference between mood and tone or communism and socialism every year??\nSome methods/activities for achieving academic language proficiency are:\n- Flash cards (or Quizlet)\n- Reading different types of texts (in or out of class)\n- Conversation practice or stimulated dialogues with peers and teacher\n- Language learning software (Rosetta Stone, or the app DuoLingo are great ones!)\n- Teaching grammar/giving grammatical explanations before students use it\n- Activating background/cultural knowledge\n- Providing quick, easy to understand, and constructive feedback\n- Creating graphic organizers or handouts with visuals, pictures, explanations, and more.\nTake a look at this video to see what Dr. Cynthia Lundgren from Hamline University has to say about social vs. academic language!! (3:23 minutes long)"

"Chandra Captures Venus in a Whole New Light\n29 Nov 2001\n(Source: NASA Headquarters)\nMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.\nChandra X-ray Observatory Center, Cambridge, Mass.\nScientists have captured the first X-ray view of Venus using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The observations provide new information about the atmosphere of Venus and open a new window for examining Earth's sister planet.\nVenus in X-rays looks similar to Venus in visible light, but there are important differences. The optically visible Venus is due to the reflection of sunlight and, for the relative positions of Venus, Earth and Sun during these observations, shows a uniform half-crescent that is brightest toward the middle. The X-ray Venus is slightly less than a half-crescent and brighter on the limbs.\nThe differences are due to the processes by which Venus shines in visible and X-ray light. The X-rays from Venus are produced by fluorescence, rather than reflection. Solar X- rays bombard the atmosphere of Venus, knock electrons out of the inner parts of the atoms, and excite the atoms to a higher energy level. The atoms almost immediately return to their lower energy state with the emission of a fluorescent X-ray. A similar process involving ultraviolet light produces the visible light from fluorescent lamps.\nFor Venus, most of the fluorescent X-rays come from oxygen and carbon atoms between 120 and 140 kilometers (72 to 87 miles) above the planet's surface. In contrast, the optical light is reflected from clouds at a height of 50 to 70 kilometers (30 to 42 miles). As a result, Venus' Sun-lit hemisphere appears surrounded by an almost-transparent luminous shell in X-rays. Venus looks brightest at the limb since more luminous material is there.\n\"This opens up the exciting possibility of using X-ray observations to study regions of the atmosphere of Venus that are difficult to investigate by other means,\" said Konrad Dennerl of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany, leader of an international team of scientists that conducted the research.\nThe Chandra observation of Venus was also a technological tour de force. The angular separation of Venus from the Sun, as seen from Earth, never exceeds 48 degrees. This relative proximity has prevented star trackers and cameras on other X- ray astronomy satellites from locking onto guide stars and pointing steadily in the direction of Venus to perform such an observation.\nVenus was observed on Jan. 10, 2001, with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) detector plus the Low Energy Transmission Grating and on Jan. 13, 2001, with the ACIS alone. Other members of the team were Vadim Burwitz and Jakob Engelhauser, Max Planck Institute; Carey Lisse, University of Maryland, College Park; and Scott Wolk, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Mass. These results were presented at this week's \"New Visions of X-ray Universe in the XMM-Newton and Chandra Era\" symposium in Noordwijk, Netherlands.\nThe Low Energy Transmission Grating was built by the Space Research Organization of the Netherlands and the Max Planck Institute, and the ACIS instrument was developed for NASA by The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian's Chandra X-ray Center controls science and flight operations from Cambridge, Mass.\nMore information on Chandra and images associated with this release are available at:"

"How Did the Cherries, Magnolias, and Other Plants Handle the Snowstorm?\nDespite the unusually late snowstorm and cold snap, most of Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s cherries are in pretty good shape right now. Some of the early-blooming magnolias suffered, but most of that collection’s blooms are still safely in their bud cases. Time will tell how extreme weather like this might affect plants long term.\n“Only three cherry trees were in bloom when the storm came, and those lost about half their flowers. But even those still have some buds that will blossom,” says Brian Funk, curator of the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and Cherry Walk.\nThe cherries in bloom were the earliest-blooming cultivars. Most of BBG’s collection of more than 200 trees blooms later. There are 26 different ornamental cherry cultivars and species in the Garden. Prunus ‘Okame’ usually signals the start of the spring season with blossoms in late March, and the rest of the collection blooms in succession over the next month. The P. ‘Kanzan’ blossoms along Cherry Esplanade and Cherry Walk provide the finale.\n“The buds of a few of the ‘Okame’ had started to swell, so there could be some slight damage, but there are still plenty of flowers left. For the rest of the collection, most buds were still tight. The ‘Kanzan’ and other later-blooming cherries should be perfectly fine as long as the weather stays stable,” says Funk.\nThe ongoing cold will likely keep further blooms on hold, but once the temperature starts to rise, they will pick up where they left off. The cherries, and many other plants, had already started responding to an unusually warm February. “We’re still likely to see an early peak bloom, because they already got a head start,” says Funk.\nMagnolias, in general, start to bloom a bit earlier than the cherries. The collection blooms from mid- to late March through April and into June. Several of the earliest-blooming species had already broken out of dormancy and started blooming when the storm and subfreezing temperatures hit.\n“The star magnolias, some of the saucers, and the 'Leonard Messel' magnolias were damaged—maybe up to a tenth of the buds on some trees,” says Wayken Shaw, curator of Magnolia Plaza and Lily Pool Terrace. “The unopened buds on those trees definitely show signs of stress too, particularly the saucers. You can see a different coloration in the buds, with the darker ones desiccated when cut open,” says Shaw.\nBut the buds of the later-blooming magnolias were still tightly contained inside their bud cases. “Our native magnolias are safer since they bloom much later in May and early June,” says Shaw. “Since the majority of our BBG hybrids are bred with Magnolia acuminata, those specimens should be much better off since they bloom later than their Asian counterparts.” Most bulbs are adapted to early-spring weather fluctuations and should also be fine.\nStill, this year’s weather whiplash was highly unusual, so it’s somewhat hard to predict the effects. “An extreme hot-cold winter like this will stress flowering trees, but how they bounce back in the short and long terms depends on the overall health of the plant. If it’s battling disease or, say, the effects of our last two seasons of drought, it will have fewer resources to deal with additional stresses,” says Shaw.\nIn many plants, some of the consequences might not appear until later. Several peonies, for instance, had started to leaf out prematurely in response to the late-winter warm spell. “They had buds the size of dimes…it doesn’t look good for them,” says Funk.\nAnd though the Garden is a cultivated space, it still functions as an ecosystem, with a variety of interrelated factors affecting the plants and animals that live here. Some are more obvious, and immediate, than others.\nEarly bloom times and other changes in plant life cycles can have an impact on insects and other wildlife that feed on them and pollinate them, as well as on potential pests—or their natural predators. “For whatever reason, it seems like pathogenic insects always seem to adapt better than beneficial ones,” says Chris Roddick, foreman of the grounds. “If you look at the big picture, new weather patterns throw off natural phenological cycles. We don’t really know how this will play out when it happens year after year,” says Roddick."

"Plastic parts of older computers become yellow or brown over time, so you end up with a computer that looks yellow or brown instead of white or gray. In this tutorial, we will show you how to restore old plastic parts to their original color by using a homemade peroxide-based solution called Retr0bright.\nFirst of all, we must explain that we are not the inventors of this solution; we are giving full credit to the original group that developed it. Also, on their website, you can see the original recipe and alternative recipes for this solution. We won’t repeat what is already written there; we will show you some results we got from using this solution and some tips.\nYou will have to disassemble the computer on which you want to use Retr0bright, and remove the plastic parts that you want to restore. You can’t leave the computer assembled, since you will need to wash the plastic parts several times, and obviously, you don’t want water touching the electronics of the computer.\nYou need to clean the plastic parts very well before starting the process. We recommend that you clean them in a utility sink using a sponge and detergent.\nBasically, after creating the solution, you must apply it to the plastic part you wish to brighten up with a paintbrush (don’t forget to wear safety goggles and gloves while handling the solution), and put the plastic part under ultra violet light (a.k.a. “black light”) for a couple of hours. (Some users report that placing the parts under sunlight works just fine.) After this time has elapsed, you should check the result, washing the parts in a utility sink with a sponge and detergent.\nIf the parts are already the way you want them to be, great. Otherwise, you should apply more Retr0bright and repeat the process for two more hours. From our experience (at least where we are located, which has very dry weather), the solution dries after about two hours, and that is why we recommend the two-hour cycle.\nSome parts will clear in just one two-hour cycle. Others will require several cycles. We will give you some real examples on the next pages.\nIn Figure 1 you can see some of our plastic parts under ultra violet light. We had so many old computers in our collection that we created a box with four UV light bulbs in it and applied a reflective foil around the inside panels of the box.\nBefore using Retr0bright for the first time, we recommend that you test the procedure with an old plastic part that is yellowed and that does not belong to your computer, so you can better understand the process and fine-tune it, especially because of the caveats (see last page)."

"In film, theatre and video, live-action refers to works that are acted out by human actors, as opposed to by animation. As it is the norm, the term is usually superfluous, but it makes an important distinction in situations in which one might normally expect animation, as in a Pixar film, a video game or when the work is adapted from an animated cartoon, such as The Flintstones or Josie and the Pussycats films, or The Tick television program. Use of puppets in films such as The Dark Crystal is also considered to be live-action, provided that stop-motion is not used to animate them.\nThe term is also used within the animation world to refer to non-cartoon characters: in a live-action/animated film such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit or Mary Poppins, in which humans and cartoons co-exist, \"live-action\" characters are the \"real\" actors, such as Bob Hoskins and Julie Andrews, as opposed to the animated \"actors\", such as Roger Rabbit himself.\nLive-action can also mean that a film or a show is adapted from comics. Adaptations from comics include live-action film versions of Marvel Comics' Spider-Man and X-Men, DC Comics' Superman and Batman, or manga such as Death Note and Great Teacher Onizuka."

"Paul Homewood ranks the data from NOAA/NCDC in a pragmatic way, and comes up with this graph.\nAn Alternative Look\nWe often hear today’s climate described as “post-normal”, but what was so normal about climate 50 or 100 years ago? The bottom line is that the climate of the last couple of decades or so is what we have all lived through, and adapted to. Bearing this fact in mind, and putting more emphasis on what most people would regard as extreme weather, I have come up with my own index, based on:-\n- Cold temperatures in winter – the colder it is, the more “extreme”.\n- Hot temperatures in summer – the hotter it is, the more “extreme”. (I appreciate Minnesota might like a warmer summer, but I have to draw the line somewhere!)\n- Annual precipitation variation, compared with the 1981-2010 mean, (both higher and lower).\n- Tropical storms/hurricanes, as calculated in NOAA’s index.\nRather than using the “percent of area affected” system that NOAA have adopted. I have chosen a ranking system. Each year since 1910 is given a ranking for each category, with “1” being the least extreme, and “103” most extreme. The four individual rankings are then averaged together, to give the overall ranking.\nThe results are shown in Figure 8. (above)\n2012 finishes with a ranking of 54, making it an unremarkable 46th most extreme, out of 103. The individual rankings are:-\n|Winter Mean Temperature||3|\n|Summer Mean Temperature||101|\nUnder my ranking system, the worst years for extreme weather were:-\n|1936||2nd coldest winter, as well as 4th hottest summer and drought.|\n|1933||5th worst for hurricanes, hot summer, dry.|\n|1910||4th coldest winter, driest year on record.|\n|1988||8th driest year, 9th hottest summer|\n|1955||Cold winter, very dry, hurricanes.|\n|1918||7th coldest winter, dry|\nMy system does have one drawback – based on national data, regional variations could be missed. For instance, a wet East Coast could cancel out a dry West Coast! However, I think it is fair to say, that in 2012 the warm and dry weather was pretty well distributed.\nSee his full post here."

"Arthur Rylah Institute\nWelcome to the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (ARI) home page. ARI is a leading centre for applied ecological research, located in Heidelberg, Melbourne.\nWe are the biodiversity research base for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) in Victoria.\nSee our pages for information on the Institute, research projects and publications, including reports available to download and links to journal articles. Subscribe to our eNews.\nRemoving trout for Barred Galaxias conservation\nTrout are a major predator of the threatened Barred Galaxias. ARI undertook a review to determine how effective relocating trout from above instream barriers is in preventing them from becoming established in Barred Galaxias habitat.\nEvaluating native vegetation management\nARI has conducted a major review of past programs that have monitored the outcomes from investment in native vegetation management. An approach has now being developed to improve how success of these management activities can be monitored and evaluated."

"The starting as well as the central point of any healing is the faith that the patient has for the doctor. This faith implies that the patient believes that the best is being done to heal the disease he (or she) is suffering from. When the patient is content about this, he is prepared to wait for the disease to improve. He accepts whatever hurdles or delays that may occur during the process of recovery. The reassuring words from the physician strengthen his faith.\nThis faith that the patient has, can also involve faith in the institution or hospital where he is undergoing treatment. He believes that the place where he has come seeking relief would finally turn out to be good for him. Faith also matters in the case of a child who believes that his parent or guardian is taking care of him. Faith is a deep seated feeling that leads to contentment and soothes the questioning mind.\nFaith is essential for healing to take place regardless of the kind of treatment that is actually given. Without faith the mind is active and restless. This has repercussions on the immune system. The new field of psychoneuroimmunology [1 2 3 4 5] has validated the reality of mind-body-spirit medicine [6 7 8 9]. Where there is faith, the feeling is positive and this helps the body's built-in mechanisms of healing.\nTherefore a basic requirement for a successful health outcome would be to ensure that the care given at the healthcare setting strengthens the faith of the patient. Whatever facilities that are available to the patient become meaningful in this context. Hi-tech facilities may attract the patient but may not strengthen the inner feeling of faith; thus such facilities need not always mean better health outcome.\nThe physician should live up to the faith reposed in him by arriving at the cause of the disease process just as the archer aims at the \"bull's eye'. He needs to use his medical knowledge and clinical acumen to zero-in on the cause as soon as possible and start the appropriate treatment. The rest of the healing should be left to the body's built-in mechanisms; or in lay-man's term left to \"nature'. It is unnecessary as well as virtually impossible to understand every mechanism underlying \"nature'.\nHealth Care by Ask Jeeves\nThe central role of faith has implications on how medicine is taught to students. The young medico needs to learn the bio-medical aspects by acquiring a sound knowledge of the basic sciences - anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, micro-biology and pharmacology. Even as he learns the basics of clinical examination, he needs to learn the art of dealing with the patient and his concerns. He needs to understand the central role of faith in healing and that his own medical knowledge and skill only help to supplement the body's built-in mechanisms of healing.\nPost-graduate learning in medicine should concentrate on the student's ability to manage various disease conditions and lead to perfection of clinical acumen. Acquiring more and more theoretical knowledge without physician-patient interaction is of little use and would only serve to distract the budding physician from targeting the \"bull's eye'. Sir William Osler's emphasis on bedside medicine acquires a new dimension in the context of the new-found validity of mind-body-spirit medicine.\nPresently modern medicine does not recognize the role of faith and the reality of mind-body-spirit medicine. Relying purely on the bio-medical aspects has led to a mechanical approach to diseases. Consequently, there is lack of clarity regarding the extent to which physician should intervene while managing the disease processes. There is uncertainty, in the face of rapid scientific advances, on how medicine is to be taught and how budding doctors are to be evaluated.\nThe quality of health care would eventually depend on how well the roles of the health care professional, the health care setting, medical advances, medical education and research are synchronized to supplement and support the central nature of faith and the hidden reality of mind-body-spirit medicine. One reason for the world wide rise in health care costs is an approach to health care that is almost exclusively from without, while matters concerning health and health care become greatly simplified if they are viewed from within.\nReferences: (All references accessed on 17th April, 2011)\n1. Mausch K. The Psyche, the Immunological system and the problems of Health and Disease. Psychiatr Pol. 1995 Jul-Aug;29(4):435-41.\n2. Lutgendorf SK, Costanzo ES. Psychoneuroimmunology and health psychology: an integrative model. Brain Behav Immun. 2003 Aug; 17(4): 225-32.\n3. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, McGuire L, Robles TF, Glaser R. Emotions, morbidity and mortality: new perspectives from psychoneuroimmunology. Annu Rev Psychol. 2002; 53:83-107.\n1 | 2"

"|Home | Articles | Forum | Glossary | Books|\nThe electrical insulation of equipment is usually made up of many different components selected to withstand the widely different electrical, mechanical, thermal, and environmental stresses occurring in different parts of the structure.\nThe level of maintenance required for electrical equipment will depend on the effectiveness of the physical support for the insulation, the severity of the forces acting on it and the insulating materials themselves, and the service environment. Therefore, the length of useful life of the insulation depends on the arrangement of individual components, their interactions upon one another, contribution of each component to the electrical and mechanical integrity of the system, and the process used in manufacturing the equipment. Historically, functional evaluation of insulation was based primarily on thermal stresses.\nHowever, with many types of equipment, other aging stresses or factors, such as mechanical, electrical, and environmental may be dominant and significantly influence service life. The following are the major causes of insulation degradation and eventual failure.\nMechanical stress: Mechanical stress can be caused by power frequency transient currents such as when switching on power equipment, such as a motor or a transformer, that give rise to transient power frequency cur rents. In the case of a motor, this transient current may be as high as six times the normal frequency current. In the case of a transformer, the power frequency current may be as high as 10-12 times the normal cur rent. The magnetically induced mechanical forces in the equipment are the square of the transient current, therefore a motor experiences mechanical forces 36 or more times and a transformer experiences 100 or more times stronger than normal service . If these transient occur frequently, such as frequent starting of motors or energizing of transformers and these forces cannot be withstood it would eventually lead to mechanical damage. Also, insulation can be damaged by mechanical vibration and expansion and contraction at power frequency operation. For example, when current is applied, the end turns of motor windings are twisted.\nIf the twisting force is strong enough to break the bond of insulating varnish, the turns of magnetic wire will wear against each other and cause a turn-to-turn short. Once the turns are shorted, localized heating is caused by the current induced onto the closed loop. This heat rapidly degrades the surrounding insulation and over time destroys the groundwall insulation. A similar example may be applied to a transformer inrush current or through fault currents that can begin as mechanical damage in the turns and eventually manifest as winding faults.\nTemperature hot spots: The value of temperature coefficient of resistance of an insulating material is negative and relatively large. Therefore, even a small increase in temperature will cause a large decrease in the insulation resistance.\nThe current distribution over a given insulation is not uniform, therefore the weak part of the insulation carries more current and heated more than other parts, as long as the insulation or adjacent structures can conduct the heat away as fast as it is generated, the temperature will remain stable. However, if the heat is not dissipated as fast as it is generated the weaker spots in the insulation will become increasingly hotter until thermal breakdown occurs.\nEnvironmental (moisture, chemicals, dirt, and oils): The environmental factors that degrade insulation over time are moisture, dirt, dust, oils, acids, and alkalies. Moisture is conductive because it contains impurities. When insulation absorbs or is laden with moisture it decreases the insulation resistance.\nThe moisture penetrates the cracks and pores of the insulation, especially older insulation, and provides low resistance paths for creepage currents and potential sources of dielectric failure. Chemical fumes such as acids and alkalies often found in the industrial environment directly attack insulation and permanently lower its insulation resistance. Similarly, oil films will cover the internal surfaces of insulation of a machine. The oil may come from the environment or a leaking bearing seal. It will tend to lower the insulation resistance, reduce the ability to dissipate heat, and promote thermal flagging and eventual failure. Dirt and dust in combination with moisture can become conductive and therefore cause creepage currents and insulation degradation as well as reduce the ability of the insulation to dissipate heat. The life of equipment is dependent to a considerable extent upon the degree of exclusion of oxygen, moisture, dirt, and chemicals from the interior of the insulating structure. At a given temperature, therefore, the life of equipment may be longer if the insulation is suitably protected than if it were freely exposed to industrial atmospheres.\nElectrical stresses (corona, surges, and partial discharges): Electrical equipment is always subjected to internally generated or external voltage and current surges. A physical rupture of insulation with the destruction of molecular bonds might occur during a voltage surge due to switching of a large inductive load or lightning. This transitory overpotential stresses the molecular structure of the insulating material causing ionization and failure of the insulating material itself. Corona is defined as the form of electrical discharge that occurs when the critical (corona inception) voltage is reached, thus causing air to breakdown. Corona by itself is not harmful to insulation however corona produces ozone which accelerates the oxidation of the organic materials of insulation. Further, the nitrogen oxides produced by the ionization of air form acids when combined with moisture also degrade the insulation. The voids in the cable-extruded insulation once electrified begin to conduct and grow larger. This phenomenon is known as partial discharge in the cable insulation and over time makes the void to grow larger and eventually cause cable to fail. Electrical stresses will be more significant with high-voltage apparatus or with equipment exposed to voltage transients.\nThermaflaging: The temperature at which an insulation operates determines its useful life. Thermal stress is the single most recognized cause of insulation degradation. Insulation does not always fail when reaching some critical temperature, but by gradual mechanical deterioration with time at an elevated temperature. The time-temperature relationship determines the rate at which the mechanical strength of organic material decreases.\nThereafter, electrical failure may occur because of physical disintegration of the insulating materials. Typical thermaflaging mechanisms include (a) loss of volatile constituents, (b) oxidation that can lead to molecular cross-linking and embrittlement, (c) hydrolytic degradation in which moisture reacts with the insulation under the influence of heat, pressure, and other factors to cause molecular deterioration, and (d) chemical breakdown of constituents with formation of products that act to degrade the material further, such as hydrochloric acid. The electrical and mechanical properties of insulating materials and insulation systems may be influenced in different ways and to different degrees as a function of temperature and with thermaflaging. Thermaflaging progressively decreases elongation to rupture so that embrittlement finally leads to cracking and that may contribute to electrical failure. Thus, how long insulation is going to last depends not only upon the materials used, but also upon the effectiveness of the physical support for the insulation and the severity of the forces tending to disrupt it. Even though portions of insulation structures may have become embrittled under the influence of high temperature, successful operation of the equipment may continue for years if the insulation is not disturbed.\nBecause of the effect of mechanical stress, the forces of thermal expansion and contraction may impose temperature limitations on large equipment even though higher temperature limits proved satisfactory in small equipment when similar insulating materials were used. The rate of physical deterioration of insulation under thermaflaging increases rapidly with an increase in temperature. The oxidation of the insulating materials is a chemical reaction in which the rate of reaction is given by Arrhenius law.\nIn his paper, \"Electrical insulation deterioration treated as a chemical rate phenomenon,\" AIEE Transaction, 67 (Part 1) (1948) 113-122, T.W. Dakin realized the relationship between the thermaflaging phenomenon and the Arrhenius law of chemical reaction rates. The life of insulation is related to temperature and can be expressed by:\nLH = Ae -E/RT\nLH is life in hours (or the specific reaction rate)\nA is the frequency of molecular encounters\nE is the activation energy (constant for a given reaction)\nR is the universal gas constant\nT is the absolute temperature (K)\nThe above equation can be simplified as\nLH = Ae B/T\nwhere A and B are constants.\nAn approximation of the above equation states that life of insulation will be reduced by half for every 10°C rise in temperature. From the above equation, it is apparent that higher the temperature, the shorter the expected life of the insulation.\n__8.1 Failure Modes-Electrical Power Equipment\nFailures can occur in any electrical equipment at any time. The major power equipment considered for discussion are transformers, switchgear breakers, switchgear buses, electromechanical relays, cables, and rotating machines.\nThe insulation systems makeup of the above referenced equipment contains dielectric materials which are the key components for gauging its reliability.\nA failure in insulation, or an insulation system, is failure of the power equipment. Therefore, we will briefly review the insulation systems of major electrical equipment and apparatus for an understanding why and how power equipment fails. A better understanding of the failure modes and effects will help broaden the understanding in the care and servicing of electrical power equipment.\nMajor components that make up a transformer are primary winding, secondary winding, magnetic iron core, coolant (air, gas, oil, or synthetic fluid), bushings, and tank. The insulating materials used in the makeup of transformer insulation system are enameled conductors (wire), kraft paper, glass, thermoplastic insulating tape, presswood, glass fabric, wood, resins, porcelain, cements, polymer coatings, gasket materials, internal paints, and mineral oil or synthetic fluid. The iron core with its clamping structure, the primary and secondary windings with their clamping arrangement, and leads and tapping from windings together with their supporting structure complete the construction components of a transformer. Insulating materials used in the manufacturing of bushing are porcelain, glass, thermosetting cast resins, paper tape, and oil. The paper used in bushing is usually oil- impregnated paper, resin-impregnated paper, or resin-bonded paper.\nThe feed-through lead conductor with its insulation system is enclosed in porcelain or glass housing. Bushings are constructed as condenser bushing or noncondenser bushing (see Section 3.6.2 for more detail). The condenser bushings are used in transformers with primary voltage rating above 50 kV whereas the noncondenser type bushings are used below 50 kV applications.\nTransformer failures, while infrequent, are usually the culmination of a series of events: unusual loading, impressed surges (from protective circuitry failure or local switching), or improper maintenance. Nearly always, incipient failures can be determined by testing, and PM performed to correct the condition. If, however, the transformer does fault, other connected or adjacent equipment is protected by the sensing elements and circuit breakers.\nAny fluid spill or fire activates the fire extinguishing system if installed.\nThere is very little probability that even a major transformer fault will mechanically damage any equipment other than itself. The mechanical damage will largely be confined to nearby piping, support structures, or electrical connections. The possible spill of flaming transformer oil into a trench carrying either oil-filled cables, hydrogen supply lines, or the transformer oil-filtering piping could easily involve areas and elements of equipment not electrical in nature. There is, of course, a small chance that projectiles from the bushings could impact on ceramic supports or feed through of other nearby equipment and contribute to their failure. If the transformer fault involves arcing between the high- and low-voltage windings, the physical damage resulting from the fault may well extend into the low-voltage bus work and connections.\nCause of Failure; % Failures (1998 study)\nInsulation failure 13.0 Design/materials/ workmanship 2.9 All others 24.2 Overloading 2.4 Line surge/thru faults 21.5 Improper maintenance/ operation 11.3 Loose connection 6.0 Lightning 12.4 Moisture 6.3\nAge at Failure; Number of Failure\n0-5 years 9 6-10 years 6 11-15 years 9 16-20 years 9 21-25 years 10 Over 25 years 16 Age unknown 35\nTABLE 3 displays results of Harford Steam Boiler Insurance Company (HSB) 1998 study on the causes of transformer failures. TABLE 4 displays the results of HSB 2003 study on distribution of transformer failures. For the causes of failures reported line surge/through faults are the number one cause for all types of failures. Insulation failure was the second leading cause of trans former failures and these failures were attributed to defective installation, insulation deterioration, and short circuits. For failures due to aging, the winding insulation looses mechanical and dielectric withstand strength over time and therefore is weakened to the point where it can no longer sustain the high radial and compressive forces induced by a line surge, or an internal or through fault. Also, as the load increases due to system expansion, the operating stresses increase in a transformer.\nLarge power transformers used in the medium-voltage electrical distribution system are typically of liquid-immersed type. The primary and secondary coils are immersed in oil, which acts to insulate as well as cool the coils.\nThe coils are wrapped on an iron core, which is enclosed in a tank and filled with oil. A dedicated cooling system consisting of finned radiators with temperature-controlled cooling fans will be provided to remove heat from the internals. In addition, some cooling systems include one or more circulating pumps to increase the flow of oil through the heat exchanger and provide more efficient core cooling. The insulating oil is circulated through the trans former tank and heat is rejected via the heat exchanger. The power for the circulating pumps and cooling fans is typically 480V AC. Smaller power transformers, such as those found in load center switchgear, may be either oil filled or dry-type units. Dry-type transformers may be air-cooled with natural circulation alone, or more typically, forced-air-cooled with temperature- controlled cooling fans. Power connections to electrical buses and cables are routed through insulated bushings to the interior transformer windings.\nAge-related degradation of transformers is primarily associated with the coils and the electrical connections. Degradation of the coils can occur due to continual exposure to elevated temperature, or degradation of the insulating oil. When the oil starts to degrade, gas is generated, which will accumulate inside the transformer tank. Checking for gas content in the oil is one method of transformer condition monitoring. Moisture intrusion is also a concern since entrained moisture can cause the formation of bubbles in the insulating oil during transformer operation. Formation of bubbles can degrade the performance of the transformer. Some examples of failure causes of power transformers are the following:\nTo develop and implement a rigorous PM program, an understanding of trans former failure modes is necessary. The transformers can fail from any combi nation of electrical, mechanical, and thermal factors. Actual transformer failures as listed above involve breakdown of the insulation system which may result from any of the factors (failure modes) just mentioned above. TABLE 5 summarizes the stressors, failure modes and effects of power transformers.\nTABLE 5 Failure Modes, Stressors, and Effects of Transformers\nComponent Material Stressors Failure Mode Effects Enclosure Structural steel Moisture/humidity Corrosion Loss of structural integrity Mechanical stress Oxidation Dirt/moisture intrusion Cracking of welds Oil leakage Seismic/vibration-induced damage Coils Cellulosic insulation Elevated temperature Embrittlement/cracking of insulation Loss of dielectric integrity Fiberglass Ohmic heating Corrosion/oxidation of wire Turn-to-turn shorts Epoxies Moisture/humidity Wear of insulation Short circuit to ground Varnish Electromagnetic cycling Copper wire Electrical transients Core Iron Humidity/moisture Corrosion Degraded operation of transformer Electromagnetic cycling Oxidation Electrical transients Delamination Electrical connections Copper, aluminum, phenolic, ceramic insulators Elevated temperature Corrosion Degraded transformer operation\nOhmic heating Oxidation Fault to ground Moisture/humidity Cracking of welds and insulators Loss of transformer function Vibration Seismic/vibration-induced damage Loosening of parts Insulating oil Mineral oil, synthetic transformer oil (silicone and others) Moisture/humidity Oxidation/contamination of oil Loss of dielectric strength Dirt/contamination Degradation of insulating oil properties Loss of cooling properties Sludge formation in tank Generation of gas in oil Moisture in oil Degraded due to moisture Terminals Aluminum, copper conductors, porcelain insulators Moisture/humidity Oxidation/corrosion Arcing Dirt/contamination Cracking/mechanical damage to insulators Fault to ground Vibration/mechanical stress Tap changer Aluminum, copper, porcelain insulators, phenolic Moisture/humidity Oxidation/corrosion of the conductors Arcing Dirt/contamination Cracking/mechanical damage to insulators Fault to ground Vibration/mechanical stress\nElectrically induced failures: These involve transient or sustained overvoltage conditions, lightning and switching surges, partial discharges, and static electrification. The partial discharges may be caused by poor insulation system design, by manufacturing defects or by contamination of the insulation system (both oil and solid insulation).\nMechanically induced failures: A mechanically induced failure is due to deforming of a transformer's windings that eventually results in the abrasion or rupturing of its paper insulation. Transformer winding deformation happens in either during shipping or during magnetically induced electromechanical forces. When a transformer experiences an internal or heavy through fault, the windings are subjected to electromechanical forces that are beyond their design capability. When this happens, it can cause hoop (inward radial) buckling of the innermost windings, conductor tipping, conductor telescoping, spiral tightening, end ring crushing, and/or failure of the coil clamping system.\nThermally induced failures: Thermal degradation causes the paper insulation of the windings to loose its physical strength to the point where it can no longer withstand the vibration and mechanical movement that occur inside a transformer. The thermally induced failures are due to overloading beyond its design capability for long period of time, failure of the cooling system to dissipate heat, blockage of axial oil duct spaces, operating the transformer in an overexcited condition, and/or excessive ambient temperature conditions.\nRefer to Section 126.96.36.199 for more details on causes of transformer failures.\nAn anatomy of a transformer failure is illustrated in FIG. 10 based on a root cause analysis of a station service transformer that failed in service catastrophically. The transformer was about 7 years old when it failed as a result of through fault because it had an incipient turn-to-turn fault in one of the phase winding. Because of lack of preventive and/or predictive maintenance testing over the 7 years, the fault went undetected until one day the transformer failed with dire consequences. As illustrated in FIG. 10a, the original fault was a minor fault and was inconsequential to normal operation of the transformer.\nHowever, as the current dramatically increased under a through fault condition, the minor fault developed into a major fault ( FIG. 10b and c).\n__8.1.2 Switchgear and Circuit Breakers\nThe insulating materials used for bus bar insulation and mechanical support in switchgear and circuit breakers are ceramics, epoxy resins, epoxy resin bonded glass fiber, polyester resins, vulcanized fiber, and synthetic resins bonded paper. In low-voltage breakers, synthetic resin moldings are used as insulating materials for the metallic parts. The modern practice is to use thermosetting plastics for bus bar mounting in switchgear to better withstand electromechanical and electrodynamic forces arising out of system faults.\nThe thermosetting compounds are known as dough molding compounds (DMCs) and sheet molding compounds (SMCs). These compounds are basically made up of fiber- or glass-reinforced thermosetting plastics that posses good physical and thermal stability, high mechanical strength, and excellent electrical properties. These compounds have essentially replaced the older insulating materials such as bakelite (phenol formaldehyde) and veneered impregnated wood used in switchgear applications.\nThe SF6 gas, air, vacuum, and oil are used as arc-quenching medium in circuit breakers. The mechanisms vary depending on voltage rating, the type, and vintage of circuit breakers. For breakers, the reliability concerns extend to not only insulation but also to the correct functioning of the operating mechanism, protective devices, and control that are integral to the breaker.\nUnlike transformers that are a quiescent element, switchgear breakers are active elements that can fail by acting spuriously or by not functioning (either to open or close) upon command. These incorrect functions can create problems in the connected circuits that are quite different from those that result directly from any fire, explosion, or spread of possibly toxic insulating fluids. If a breaker fails to clear upon signal or becomes overloaded for any reason, then the circuit will be subjected to further damage until an upstream breaker (usually larger and set at a higher current rating) can sense and clear the overload. If, on the other hand, a breaker fails to close, this normally means that all circuits that receive power from this feed point cannot perform their intended functions. Fortunately, most breakers are located in enclosed segregated areas, which provide containment and fire protection capabilities, as well as in their own cabinets, which help limit any physical damage to immediately adjacent equipment. However, switchgear fires can be catastrophic and incidents have occurred where complete line up of switchgear has burned down due to breaker failing to clear a fault. An example of switchgear burn-down is shown in FIG. 11.\nPieces/Parts Number of Events Bearing 1 Circuit board/command circuit (diodes) 1 Closing mechanism (in general) 9 Coil (undervoltage coil, shunt coil, trip coil) 11 Contacts 5 Digital trip unit 1 Enclosure (case, frame, casket) 2 Fuse 2 Latching mechanism 21 Limit switches 3 Lockout/interlock mechanism 1 Opening mechanism (in general)/trip device 10 Protection systems (instrumentation: sensors) 9 Relays 12 Spring 3 Switch (cell, cutoff) 3 Timer 1 Wires 4 Other (breaker in general) 1 Other (other component) 4 Total 104\nCircuit breakers in the medium-voltage electrical system are typically of the metal-clad type, and are commonly part of a switchgear assembly. The switchgear assembly comprises of the following:\nThe circuit breakers are constructed of a number of different mechanical and electrical subsystems, all of which are contained in a metal enclosure. Typically, switchgear and circuit breakers are located in a mild environment such as a switchgear room therefore, they would not be exposed to harsh environment.\nHowever, space heaters are always installed in circuit breaker cubicles to pre vent moisture and condensation when it is not carrying load. The predominant stressors are expected to be operational stressors, such as mechanical wear of the moving parts and electrical cycling, as well as exposure to contaminants such as dust and dirt. Operation of the circuit breakers requires a number of mechanical, as well as electrical systems. Mechanical linkages, together with springs and latches are used to open and close the breaker. Repeated operation of the breaker can lead to wear of these components over time. Electrical transients can generate substantial electromagnetic forces that act on circuit breaker components and supports. Powerful vibrations are produced when a circuit breaker mechanism opens to interrupt an electrical arc. This can result in misalignment, bending, twisting, binding, or even breakage of the various mechanical component s resulting in degraded performance or los s of function.\nElectrical cycling of the power path in the breaker can also lead to degradation of the various electrical components, such as the contacts and arc extinguishing components. When the contacts arc during breaker operation, small amounts of metal are vaporized and deposited on the arc chutes. As these deposits build up over time, they can increase the conductivity of the chutes and diminish their ability to extinguish the arcs. Another electrical system that can lead to breaker failure is the control power system. Typically, 125 V DC control power is used for a line up of switchgear breakers for tripping, closing, and to operate the peripheral equipment such as the spring charging motor. The closing and peripheral control power circuit normally includes a fuse. Degradation of this circuit, as well as the fuse and fuse holder can lead to loss of control power to the breaker and, thus, loss of breaker function.\nFailure modes for medium-voltage circuit breakers are the following:\nIn a recent study of medium- and low-voltage circuit breakers used in nuclear power plants world wide, 104 events were identified with respect to failure modes as shown in TABLE 6. The following failure symptom categories were identified as being important:\nMovement of the breaker mechanism is impeded by insufficient or inadequate lubrication Movement of the breaker mechanism is impeded by broken, bent, or loose parts, friction, binding, resulting from excessive stress, wear, or faulty installation Operation of the breaker is impeded by incorrect adjustment of set points/limit switches Various electrical problems caused, e.g., by defective coils, defective command circuits, wiring faults, loose wires, poor contacts, and blown fuses Others (e.g., dirt, pollution, and corrosion)\nAs result of this investigation two principal categories of failure causes were identified. They are:\nDeficiencies in operation: This group comprises all events that involve human errors, expressed by a human error related root cause.\nThree failure cause categories were identified as being important in this group:\nDeficiencies in design, construction, and manufacturing: This group comprises all events with hardware related root causes. Two failure cause categories were defined for this group as being important:\nMany breakers sit in open or closed position for long periods of time without having to change their state. Therefore, it is difficult to assess whether a breaker is trouble free and will respond correctly when called upon to perform its intended function. It is imperative that a clear understanding exists on how and what fails within a circuit breaker. Once the failure modes are identified then a method can be developed that can detect these failures modes before an actual failure occurs. The level of monitoring (maintenance and testing) for a particular type of circuit breaker is dependent on the circuit breaker age, type, application, and the risks associated with the loss of function of the circuit breaker including its associated power or protection and control support components ( TABLE 7). The circuit breaker failure modes are discussed as follows:\nInsufficient or inadequate lubrication: Movement of the breaker mechanism is impeded by lack of lubrication, more than half of them affecting the latching mechanism. This suggests that improvements in the maintenance practices should be concentrated upon checking the status of lubrication more regularly.\nMechanical wear: Movement of the breaker mechanism is impeded by wear, broken, bent, or loose parts, friction, binding, resulting from excessive stress, or faulty installation. Mechanical wear is the dominant failure mechanism in this failure symptom/manifestation category. Wear mostly affected the latching mechanism, coils, and relays. Besides deficient maintenance/test procedures and practices, insufficient awareness of aging of breaker piece parts also contributes significantly to this category.\nVarious electrical problems: This failure cause could be defective coils and command circuits, wiring faults, loose wires, blown fuses, and poor contacts. Defective coils and defective command circuits are the dominant failure mechanisms in this category. The events are mostly caused by deficiencies in design, construction, and manufacturing.\nTABLE 7 Failure Modes, Stressors, and Effects of Circuit Breakers\nFails to open: The breaker does not open the circuit when commanded manually or by automatic signal or by protective device. The failure cause probably could be inadequate lubrication of the trip latch or trip mechanism, control circuit failure, open and shorted coil, mechanism linkage failure between operating mechanism and interrupters, trip latch surface wear, deteriorated bearings, deformation of trip latch l at surfaces, or external circuit failure including wiring and battery.\nOpens but fails to interrupt circuit: The breaker opens but is unable to interrupt the current and/or open contacts. For vacuum type breakers, the cause could be loss of vacuum in the vacuum bottle. For stored energy type breakers, the cause could be failure of arc chutes, puffer failure, or mechanical failure. For oil type breakers, it could be contaminated or bad oil. For SF6 breakers, it may be low gas pressure or density. It could be altogether misapplication of the breaker. In the case of when the breaker fails to maintain the required dielectric isolation of contacts after opening operation, the failure cause could be the voltage exceeds the circuit breaker capability, lightning, loss of gas pressure, loss of vacuum, or the mechanism did not travel complete distance.\nNuisance tripping: In this case, the breaker trips unintentionally and interrupts the circuit. The failure cause could be trip latch not secure, ground on the trip circuit, stray current in the trip circuit, inadequate protective relay settings, or relay malfunction.\nFails to close: The breaker does not close the circuit to conduct current when commanded manually or by automatic signal or by protective device. The failure cause could be defective closing coil or solenoid, loss of stored energy, inappropriate lubrication, control circuit failure, contacts burned away, mechanical linkage to contacts broken, or loss of overtravel full contact closing.\nDegraded or lack of dielectric: The breaker does not have sufficient insulation for the circuit either for three-phase or line-to-ground voltage. The failure cause could be loss of or degraded dielectric medium, such as oil, moisture in gas, vacuum, wear generated particles in interrupter, lightning, flashover due to system transient, damage to the insulation of the breaker, excessive overvoltage, or water/moisture infiltration."

"Windows 10 is loaded with lots of powerful features and one of the most important features is hardware virtualization. Virtualization is a technology that enables other programs to emulate hardware in order to run other operating system, in their own respective containers. This is essentially another computer you can make, but inside your own computer in which it is emulating that hardware. You can run different operating systems and programs. You can test new features without risking the current system. You can install anything as you wish, you can test software compatibility without harming up the main system of your computer.\nSetting up such virtual machine needs advanced technology and not all computers can support it. First enable virtualization on Windows 10, then we can proceed.\nWhat Is Hyper - V?\nYou can enable virtualization on Windows 10 with the help of a virtualization platform called Hyper-V. It lets you create and run a software version of a computer called virtual machine. Hyper-V or hypervisor should be activated in your computer to use virtual machine. You can also use it for server virtualization. You can do the following things with the help of Hyper-V:\n- Use your hardware more effectively\n- You can do this by using powerful computers to use less power and physical space.\n- It can help you to improve business continuity by minimizing the impact of downtime of your workload.\n- You can use it to make development in your computing environment and test more efficiently.\nHardware Virtualization System Requirements\nCheck Hardware Virtualization support on Your PC\nAs a first step, you need to ensure that your computer supports hardware virtualization. Follow these steps:\nStep 1 – Run a command prompt\nStep 2 – The command should be\nStep 3 – Let the command gather information about your system. It may take few seconds.\nStep 4 – Under the heading Hyper-V Requirements\nStep 5 – Under the command Virtualization Enabled In Firmware reads Yes.\nStep 6 – In an alternative way, you can check if virtualization is enabled under the Performance tab of the Task Manager.\nOn the CPU performance screen, check if the virtualization status is enabled. If not, enable by going in the BIOS or UEFI setting.\nEnable Virtualization on PC BIOS Setting\nFollow these steps on how to enable virtualization in bios windows 10\nStep 1 – Restart your computer\nStep 2 – Press that specific key that lets you enter BIOS. Most commonly the key is F10, Delete or the F2 key\nStep 3 – After entering the BIOS, you can enable Windows 10 virtualization\nStep 4 – Exit once you’re done and restart your PC\nTo enable virtualizations on windows 10, here is another way to do it from the Windows 10 Settings. Follow below steps:\nStep 1 – In your Windows, go to your Settings\nStep 2 – Click on Update & Security from the drop-down list\nStep 3 – Select Recovery and click on it\nStep 4 – Under the Advanced startup, select and click Restart now.\nStep 5 – Select Troubleshoot option\nStep 6 – From there select Advanced Options\nStep 7 – Select UEFI Firmware Settings and click on it\nStep 8 – And click on Restart\nTo make sure this method, be sure you have UEFI-boot. It can also be changed from the BIOS. Do not worry, Windows PCs have UEFI boot enabled by default.\nEnable Hyper-V Virtualization in Windows 10\nLet’s learn on how to activate virtualization on Windows 10, after setting up the virtualization support in the BIOS.\nStep 1 – Go to the Windows key to obtain the Search box\nStep 2 – In search box, type “turn windows features on or off” and select the option.\nStep 3 – On clicking it, you will see varied options. Scroll down and check the box next to Hyper-V.\nStep 4 – Select on ‘OK’\nStep 5 – Windows will run action and install the necessary files to enable virtualization\nStep 6 – You’ll be prompted to restart your computer\nStep 7 – Select the Restart now option\nUsing Hyper-V to Create a Virtual Machine\nAfter you’ve installed Hyper-V, create a virtual machine in your Windows 10. Follow these simple steps:\nStep 1 – Go to Enter Panel and select the option Administrative Tools\nStep 2 – In the Administrative Tools folder, you will see the Hyper-V Manager, click on it\nStep 3 – When the folder starts running, there will be name of your computer displayed on the left-side of the application. Select that option.\nStep 4 – On the top left bottom, see the Action menu, select first option New and further go to Virtual Machine\nOn the right-side of the application on the sidebar, go in Actions\nStep 5 – There will be dialog box displayed on your screen the New Virtual Machine Wizard, this option will help you in setting up a virtual machine. You will see a following command, ‘Click Next to create a virtual machine with a custom configuration.’ Further select ‘Next’ and follow steps to create a virtual machine.\nStep 6 – Finally you will see the virtual machine in the Hyper-V window\nWhy Should You Enable Virtualization On Your PC?\nWe’ve already stated the exceptional feature about virtualization. That is, to run test and software compatibility in an isolated environment. It is called Windows Sandbox, a built-in feature in the new Windows 10 May 2019 update.\nSome of the benefits of implementing virtual machines are:\n- Virtual machine lets you have more than one or multiple operating system environments on the same computer.\n- Through virtual machine you can get ISA or instruction set architecture. The ISA acts as an interface between software and hardware.\n- A virtual machine is like a virtual computer with its own hard disk. Anything you do will be saved on your virtual hard disk. If anything on your actual system crashes, you’ll still be able to find it on the host machine.\n- Virtual machines guards your activity. It is like a security system. If you want to run a confidential software, you can take the advantage of a guest operating system. In case, you face damage while running a software test, it is just on a temporary basis.\nSo now that you are fully aware of everything on how to enable virtualization in windows 10. It’s more up to you whether you want your computer with operating system windows 10 enabled virtualization or not. It has been a very impactful and useful feature none the less. Now with the help of the information provided in this article on how to enable vt on windows 10 you can definitely enjoy the benefits and make the most of them."

"Based on art from millennia past, the Celts spread across Northwestern Europe. We commonly think of this as an Irish art form, and the students mostly just saw this as a visual challenge. They needed to work out how to create the over/under pattern to successfully complete this project. We started by practicing with the trinity knot. Then students practiced in their sketchbook with 10 overlaps. Only then did we move on to the radial design.\nIn one quadrant, students needed to make a design with 20 overlaps. They needed to make sure that some components went off the edges to other squares to make the lines rotate all around.\nThe image is transferred from side to side by coloring in the lines dark and pressing on the back with something hard. we used hand pencil sharpeners.\nOnce the design is transferred, its time to color.\nShading should be used to make the \"Over/under\" pattern really stand out.\nHere is our grading scale.\n20 successful \"over/under\" paths in 1 section. 30 points\nDesign is repeated correctly in all 4 sections 30 points\nUse shading to show depth 30 points\nTotal 100 points"

"Can we develop new techniques to detect life on exoplanets? Previous studies have assessed the likelihood of detecting life through signs of biogenic gases in the atmosphere or a red edge. Biogenic gases and the red edge could be signs of either single or multi-cellular life. We propose a technique to determine whether tree-like multi-cellular life exists on extra-solar planets using BRDF, or shadows at different sun angles. BRDF arises from the changing visibility of the shadows cast by objects, and the presence of tree-like structures is clearly distinguishable from flat ground with the same reflectance spectrum.\nWe just received a NASA Habitable Worlds grant to continue this work. See the proposal here. We are looking for a PhD student to work on the project. If interested please contact me.\nDoughty, C.E. and Wolf, A. (2010) Detecting Tree-like Multicellular Life on Extrasolar Planets. Astrobiology, 10(9): 869-879. PDF\nPopular press on our Astrobiology work\nAstrobiology Magazine: Seeing the Planets for the Trees.\nNew Scientist: Could we detect trees on other planets?"

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"Yu Gong Moves the Mountains-JoyOrange\niOS Universal Books\nA good story is better than a teacher.\nThis story is one of the many life stories a child needs to learn. The story tells us of the idiom “Yu Gong Moves the Mountains” , it is used to state that one is determined to overcome any obstacle and has the courage to surmount every difficulty.\nThe application tells a vivid story from ancient China, it takes you into the wonder land of Chinese culture, language and wisdom. The morals and examples of these stories provide excellent role models for your children.\n★Chinese parables: interesting, educative and enlightening.\n★Bilingual education: story is taught in both Chinese and English .\n★Exquisite pictures: the pictures are colourfule, cartoon-like, and easy to understand and remember.\n★Interactive exercises: there are many interactive activities such as new words cards, repeat after me and sentence making ,it is fun.\n★Professional recording: The text is recorded both by native Chinese and American.\n★Pages can be turned automatically and manually.\nDon’t miss it, download it now!\nAny questions, please contact us:"

"Extreme weather is not limited to the US, and with our mature (and well-funded) emergency infrastructure in place, we are fortunate for the safety it provides. Unfortunately, with limited infrastructure combined with the increased frequency of severe weather, least developed countries (LDCs) in particular are still very much vulnerable to the impacts of these events.\nEarth Networks, WeatherBug’s parent company, entered into a public-private partnership with the National Directorate of Meteorology of Guinea (DNM) to demonstrate our advanced forecasting and severe weather warnings in the African country of Guinea.\nThis Early Warning System (EWS), implemented in just weeks, is enabling real-time weather observations and forecasts, exclusive Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts (DTA) and radar-like visibility to precipitation, which can then be used to assess the possibility of floods and drought.\nThe EWS provides real-time resolution and maximum reliability to help Guinea officials observe,inform and alert the public and other government agencies to impending dangerous weather! Here’s a breakdown of how we are providing this invaluable insight:\n- Observation: Twelve lightning sensors and weather stations, interconnected via the Internet, report a wide range of weather conditions, and provide information on total lightning discharges. Sensors follow both lightning that strikes the ground (cloud-to-ground) and, most importantly, the vast majority of lightning that remains in the sky (in-cloud) and above extreme weather conditions. To maximize existing infrastructure, these sensors have been installed on mobile towers, in partnership with Cellcom. Reliability is enhanced through the public-private partnership in which Earth Networks supports the Direction Nationale de la Meteorologique by managing the backend IT infrastructure.\n- Information: Total lightning data powers a proxy radar tool called PulseRadSM, a patented, algorithm-driven visualization tool that provides radar-like visibility to highlight areas threatened by heavy rain, high winds, flooding and other extreme conditions. Just 12 sensors enabled proxy radar coverage for most of Guinea and hundreds of kilometers beyond for inbound storm tracking. Additionally, real-time lightning and surface weather data gathered from the sensors is used in ENcast, a forecasting product that provides very detailed short- to long-term high-quality weather forecasts.\n- Alerting: Direction Nationale de la Meteorologique can issue automated Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts (DTAs), which are based on total lightning. In the U.S., DTAs are issued automatically to millions of consumers, organizations and government agencies, providing them with the fastest warnings to oncoming severe weather. DTAs have been shown to alert 50% faster than warnings based on other technology currently available, providing 27 minutes, on average, of lead time.\n“Within a few weeks, it has become possible to actively track thunderstorms, monitor precipitation and issue alerts to severe weather across the country by utilizing innovative technology and the country’s existing cell tower infrastructure,” says Dr. Mamadou Lamine BAH, Director DNM and President of Regional Association 1 (Africa) for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). “Deployment and initial maintenance of traditional radar in a country like Guinea would require upwards of 10 million U.S. dollars, which makes the new technology from Earth Networks a viable and exciting alternative for developing countries.”\nThe demonstration project in Guinea is modeled after public-private partnership agreements that Earth Networks has established globally with organizations such as the U.S. National Weather Service and INPE (National Institute for Space Research) in Brazil.\nStay Safe. Know Before™.\n-The WeatherBug – Earth Networks Team"

"Honduras is the third poorest nation in the Americas. One-third of the population lives below the poverty line and 1.5 million Hondurans or 20% of the population, face hunger on a daily basis.\nHowever, malnutrition is especially problematic for children.\n- In rural Honduras, the problem is especially acute with 48% of the population suffering from malnutrition.\n- 10% of infants born in Honduras are underweight as a result of malnutrition in the country.\n- One out of two children in the poorest communities suffers from stunted growth.\n- 50% of children between the ages of 2 and 6 suffer from anemia.\n- 29% of Honduran children younger than 5 years old suffer from slow growth rates.\nFortunately, several organizations are providing funding to the country to alleviate malnutrition.\nWorld Bank and the United Nations\nThe growing rates of malnutrition in Honduras have prompted the World Bank and the United Nations to act. Currently, the organization is supporting a program called the AIN-C with the United States and investing $20 million into Honduras.\nThe money will be divided among nearly 1,000 Honduran communities and benefit 16,000 children.\nWorld Food Programme\nIn addition, the World Food Programme (WFP) implemented the School Meals Programme in Honduras, which has provided 1.2 million children in primary school with food aid.\nThe program targets the very poorest communities in the country and provides the children with daily meals in order to encourage school enrollment. In addition to the program, the WFP has implemented the Purchase for Progress (P4P) program.\nThe P4P is a program that buys products from small farmers in order to help support the community. In partnership with other buyers, they have purchased $60 million in food from local Honduran communities.\nHopefully, as the international community continues to support poverty reducing programs in Honduras, the rate of malnutrition will decrease throughout the country.\n– Robert Cross"

"It is vital to label allergens on food or fragile packaging. Failure to do so is not only illegal but can cause death. Some people are allergic to certain types of food and ingredients. If they become exposed to these substances, it could make them ill. The results could even be life-threatening. There is currently no known cure for food allergies. The only way to manage them is to avoid contact with certain food types.\nAllergic reactions range from mild to severe, and even the most minor exposure can prove fatal. Allergens are proteins found in food and, there is usually more than one that can make you ill. The slightest exposure to an allergen is enough to cause severe illness. If there is even a fragment of a known allergen in the food you prepare, you must label it.\nThe Fourteen Major Allergens\nAround ten people a year die from food allergies in the UK. Under the EU’s Food Information for Consumers Regulations, fourteen allergens must be displayed on all food packaging.\nThese allergens are:\n- Cereals including gluten\n- Milk (Cows)\n- Sesame seeds\n- Sulfur dioxide (sometimes known as sulfites)\nHow Allergens Should Be Labelled\nWithin the ingredients list for prepackaged foods, you must declare the presence of allergens. The method you choose for highlighting the allergen in the ingredient list will depend on your preference. You can highlight them or list them in bold or contrasting colours.\nYou may also choose to include an allergy advice statement on the product label to explain how you highlight allergens in the ingredients list. How you decide to do this will be your preference. One example might be, Allergy Advice: for allergens, see ingredients in bold.\nSuppose you produce foods containing allergens that do not need to have an ingredients list, for example, a bottle of wine. You should display labels such as contains sulphites.\nWhen labelling allergens on ingredients lists, it is a legal requirement to declare the ingredient and the allergen, for example, tahini paste (Sesame). If a product contains more than one allergen, each one must be listed individually. Every ingredient containing an allergen must be identifiable on food labels.\nFood labels are not voluntary and must adhere to the EU FIC standards and Regulations. It is no longer enough to place a voluntary statement on the packaging that declares, may contain milk and nuts.\nIt is a legal necessity to declare each allergen in the ingredient list. The same is true if you sell prepackaged food online or via mail order. Consumers must be made aware of ingredients in foods they intend to buy before they complete the sale, just as they would in a brick and mortar shop.\nPrecautionary Labels and Cross-Contamination\nAs a responsible food manufacturer, you are likely to take cross-contamination very seriously. Even the most diligent producers can sometimes fall short and, cross-contamination can happen during the manufacturing process or in transit and delivery.\nThe EU FIC standards do not set out any regulations on precautionary statements. Still, as a manufacturer, you may choose to add a label to your products, such as “May contain nuts” if you think there is even the slightest chance of cross-contamination.\nFree From Food Labels\nIf you are a specialist food producer, the chances are that you are making prepackaged food that excludes certain allergenic foods. There is legislation that governs gluten-free food labelling. It is unclear what standards govern other allergens and are free from labels.\nIf you plan to use a free from the label, you must carry out rigorous and thorough checks on everything that comes into contact with that food during the manufacturing process and packaging. You must do a risk assessment on your ingredients and know where they are sourced and how they are prepared before they reach you.\nIt’s equally important to know that the plastics or packaging you use don’t contain any contaminants or allergens that you are claiming to be free of.\nFoods Packaged On-Premises and Natashas Law\nLikewise, food made on-site, such as sandwiches, salads, pies or cakes, must be labelled with allergen information. Whether pre-packed or homemade, there should be adequate signage. Customers should have the opportunity to ask the person who made or packed the food for accurate and detailed advice about potential allergens.\nIn October 2021, new legislation known as Natashas Law came into effect. Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died on a flight to Nice after consuming a Pret a Manger baguette that contained sesame seeds. It is now a legal requirement that all food prepared on-site displays clear allergen information.\nWhat Could Happen To Your Business?\nAround 200 000 people in the UK suffer some form of food allergy. Over five thousand people a year are admitted to hospital for food allergy treatment each year and around ten people a year still die from contaminated food. If you would like more information on how to ready food allergy labels check out our blog on the topic.\nFailure to comply with food labelling legislation has real-world consequences for your customers and consumers and could have a detrimental impact on your business too. Before Natashas Law, the fine for failure to comply with labelling laws was capped at £20000. Since October, the cap has been lifted. There is no upper limit to the fine so, what you pay will depend on the severity of your negligence and the size of your company.\nAlong with fines, your business will suffer adverse publicity and may never fully recover. Food labelling may feel like yet more red tape in your ever-growing to-do list but keeping your consumers safe and healthy has to be your top priority. In addition to allergy stickers here at Price Stickers, we are proud to offer general food stickers, and feedback stickers among others. If you would like advice on the right option for you or would like to learn more about us, contact us today."

"The Holy month of Ramadan is observed by about 1.6 billion Muslims all over the world. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is a very special time in Islam. The holy book of Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) during the month of Ramadan, hence the month is known as month of Quran.\nMuslims observe the month by fasting from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drinking (even water). Islam has 5 main pillars, and fasting is one of them. Because the Quran was revealed during the month of Ramadan, this month witnesses heightened worship and spirituality by increasing prayers, reading the Holy Quran, charitable giving, connecting with family, friends and community members, in addition to fasting. Fasting is an act of worship and showing submission to Allah. It is a way to strengthen will power, purify the soul and body, get closer to God, and feel for others who are less fortunate.\nThe month is very festive, with many communal activities. These activities can include mealtime, breaking the fast (Iftar), prayer, or general gatherings for religious or social purposes. Families, friends, neighbors, and community members gather around the table for “Iftar” to celebrate the break of the fast. Miles and miles of tables are extended throughout the streets of most Muslim countries, where meals are donated and served for the less fortunate, or those who do not have family members to congregate with during these special times. Everyone is welcomed, no questions asked\nThe meal is followed by group extended prayers at the mosque. This is known as “Tarawih Prayers” and can last for a few hours. Mosques are packed with worshipers gathered for these special prayers. These communal acts of worship are held in the belief that there is greater reward for prayers made in congregation.\nAll these festivities are going to be interrupted this year by COVID! The doors of mosques have closed all across the world. The call of prayer has changed from “Come for Prayer” to “Pray at home”! Communal festivities and gatherings over mealtime will now be limited to members of the same household or virtual meals over video chat. As this brings enormous change to rooted traditions and practices, we all reflect and try to find peace and comfort through the chaos.\nWe are blessed to be able to look at technology from a different perspective and employ it to bring people together. Many mosques will offer online alternatives, such as video conference platforms or live streaming, as a substitute for traditional congregation for prayer. Study circles have been set up virtually via several video conferencing platforms. Fundraising efforts have significantly increased in preparation for the Holy month to make available meals and resources for families in need.\nThis year, I count my numerous blessings! I am blessed to have my immediate family around and be able to have quality time with them. I will not be cooking for hours and hours to entertain friends and extended community members but will rather focus on my immediate family. I am blessed to be working from home, saving over an hour each way on my commute to the office. I am blessed to have more time to pray, worship, and get closer to the essence of Ramadan. I am blessed to have supportive co-workers and an employer focused on people, celebrating their differences and embracing them. I am blessed that I have avenues to share resources with less fortunate and make sure I am able to partake in the greater good.\nWritten by Mai Hegazy, CAI’s Manager of Global Destination Services"

"Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by intermittent\ncomplete and partial airway collapse, resulting in frequent episodes of apnea\nand hypopnea.1 The breathing pauses cause acute\nadverse effects, including oxyhemoglobin desaturation, fluctuations in blood\npressure and heart rate, increased sympathetic activity, cortical arousal,\nand sleep fragmentation.1 The condition has\nreceived increasing attention during the past 3 decades. Until 1981, the only\neffective treatment for OSA was tracheostomy.2 The\nadvent of continuous positive air pressure therapy, an effective noninvasive\ntreatment, was a turning point, and clinical interest began to increase in\ntandem with the accumulation of research linking OSA to cognitive, behavioral,\ncardiovascular, and cerebrovascular morbidities (Figure 1).2,3\nSome tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.\nDownload citation file:\nWeb of Science® Times Cited: 229\nCustomize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.\nMore Listings atJAMACareerCenter.com >\nEnter your username and email address. We'll send you a link to reset your password.\nEnter your username and email address. We'll send instructions on how to reset your password to the email address we have on record.\nAthens and Shibboleth are access management services that provide single sign-on to protected resources. They replace the multiple user names and passwords necessary to access subscription-based content with a single user name and password that can be entered once per session. It operates independently of a user's location or IP address. If your institution uses Athens or Shibboleth authentication, please contact your site administrator to receive your user name and password."

"- Development & Aid\n- Economy & Trade\n- Human Rights\n- Global Governance\n- Civil Society\nFriday, February 23, 2024\nHAVANA, Nov 12 2010 (IPS) - Valuing and sharing common people’s knowledge and experience, awakening critical consciousness and finding paths for effective social participation are the processes used by more than 1,000 people in Cuba working in Popular Education, a liberating approach to education developed by Brazilian educator Paulo Freire in the 1960s.\n“The deepest form of participation is when people come together, sharing their own thoughts and feelings, with a strong sense of commitment and full awareness of what they are doing,” José Ramón Vidal, head of the Popular Communication Programme at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Centre (CMMLK), told IPS. Combining true dedication and horizontal ways of organising to ensure everyone’s opinion was included, the Fourth National Popular Education Encounter was held Nov. 9-12 in the Cuban capital. Cuba has appropriated this educational approach since 1995, when the first workshop was organised.\nThis philosophy of critical awareness began to find followers in Cuba during the severe economic crisis suffered by the Cuban population in the 1990s. “The hardship we have endured for so many years creates despair and disillusion,” said Vidal, a psychologist.\nIn Vidal’s view, people who train in the methodology of popular education experience “re-enchantment” with values and emotions that are denied by the competitive and individualistic culture of free market societies. “They fall in love again with a social project, with what they do, with service, solidarity and sharing,” he said.\nIn the 15 years since the movement arrived in Cuba and the birth of the National Network of Popular Educators, which has about 1,500 members, Freire’s precepts have reached community groups and institutions around the country.\nIn Granma province in southeastern Cuba, “local bodies like the People’s Councils are adopting, timidly as yet, this way of doing, learning and organising,” Yordenis Monge, coordinator of the Food Sovereignty and Local Development Project in the eastern city of Bayamo, told IPS.\nSome authorities have recognised the benefits of this way of doing things. According to Mario Cruz Díaz, a member of the local legislature in the province of Holguín, which borders Granma, the method “is a great help in the work of directing, planning, forecasting and coordinating.”\nIn his province, which has a population of more than 300,000, distribution of the few resources available is difficult, and they must be used to the best effect. “When a person receives aid as welfare, without consciously participating, he or she is incapable of really valuing the cost of what they are given,” Cruz said.\nFreire’s educational goal was to encourage people to become critical subjects who were capable of collectively solving their problems, managing their lives and transforming their surroundings. Community and environmental groups and neighbourhoods facing difficulties like poverty and high levels of violence are taking up Popular Education.\nNeighbourhood Transformation Workshops in the Cuban capital, the Promotion and Education Centre for Sustainable Development (CEPRODESO) in the western province of Pinar del Río, the La Marina social and cultural project in Matanzas province, and some small farmers’ cooperatives are adopting the methodology.\nAt present, CMMLK is participating in the work of the National Network of Popular Educators in 17 Cuban provinces and municipalities. Most of the network’s members are women, according to María Isabel Romero, the coordinator of CMMLK’s Popular Education and Participating in Local Experiences Programme. CMMLK also has connections with similar partners abroad, mainly in Latin America, and with social movements. The Cuban centre offers training and promotes Freire’s approach for the work of civil society groups in Latin America, Vidal said.\nBrazilian theologian Frei Betto contributed to introducing this educational perspective in Cuba, and has closely followed its development. At the meeting, Betto said he brought “this contribution to the (Cuban) Revolution, out of conviction of the political importance of Popular Education methodology.”\nLatin American activists like Messilene Gorete, of Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement (MST), Honduran activist Salvador Zúñiga of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organisation (COPINH), a member of the coalition of groups opposed to the June 2009 coup d’etat, and Dolores Iveth Velasco of Equipo Maíz, a Salvadoran political education group, also attended the meeting.\nVelasco is part of an education project working with a wide range of groups in El Salvador. In her view, “Popular Education is that knowledge that we have and build on, but when we organise it, it frees us from the bonds created by the consumer society.”\nAs a result of this liberating methodology, “a person takes up the reins of their own life,” she said. According to her social work experience, it is vital to bring women to this kind of learning, so that they “take power over their own bodies and do not allow others to make decisions for them.”\nIPS is an international communication institution with a global news agency at its core,raising the voices of the South\nand civil society on issues of development, globalisation, human rights and the environment\nCopyright © 2024 IPS-Inter Press Service. All rights reserved. - Terms & Conditions\nYou have the Power to Make a Difference\nWould you consider a $20.00 contribution today that will help to keep the IPS news wire active? Your contribution will make a huge difference."

"Investing in land or real property may be the most expensive investment you’ll make in your lifetime. Thus, it is wise to learn a little more about real estate and be aware of the significance of boundary surveying before making such investments.\nBoundary Survey Defined\nLet’s first define boundary surveying. Boundary surveying is the verification of property lines of a parcel of land as detailed in the description in the deed. It may also show all the structures found on the property including any easements and encroachments, and also the restrictions imposed by local governing authorities.\nTo avoid unnecessary expenses and free you from frustrations brought by unexpected lawsuits, it is vital to conduct a boundary survey in the Lafayette area before purchasing or selling a parcel of land. A survey is also required before subdividing a lot, building structures or improving the property to make sure that you don’t end up having to move a building or resolve a boundary dispute with your neighbors.\nOther Uses of a Boundary Survey\nA boundary survey may also help you identify whether you are located in a floodplain, which would mean you are required to obtain flood insurance. A boundary survey in Lafayette is also very helpful in completing the requirements for a mortgage loan from a lending institution, which includes checking the accuracy of the description of the property in the deed and the presence of improvements, easements, and any encroachments.\nThe cost of a Lafayette boundary survey depends on several factors, some of which can only be determined once the work has begun. Some factors are size of the lot, the terrain, the vegetation type, the season of the year (which greatly affects the growth of vegetation). The work begins with the deed research that can be started with the deeds or abstracts that the landowner may possess and can extend as much as going to the courthouse and putting together the pieces of the deed. The job could get more complex if the property involved has been passed on through several owners over the years. Some may have sold off a portion of the parcel or may have added to adjacent lots. The more of these additions and subtractions can significantly impact the complexity of the work to be done, which consequently adds to the survey cost.\nBoundary Survey Drawing\nAfter the boundary survey is done, a landowner should expect to get a survey drawing that contains a sketch of the survey findings and the legal description of the property. It is also expected that proper markings of the property lines and corners have been placed, which are usually bright-colored ribbons or paint, wooden stakes, or concrete monuments. Others survey projects may or may not include a drawing or report, depending on the services agreed upon."

"Sunday, August 1, 2010\nThe South Korean “Ethernet” Technology\nHave you heard of the term “Ethernet?” Not Internet, mind you, but Ethernet. Well, I suppose it’s not exactly in our everyday vocab list.\nEthernet, stemming from the physical concept of the “ether,” refers to the computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs). In simpler words, it is a system where multiple computers scattered far and wide can form a network and share information. This system is widely used in the banking or trading industry that operates hundreds of branch stores.\nTraditionally, the Ethernet market has been dominated by advanced countries such as the US, Japan, and Germany. But recently, Korean industrial Ethernet technology has been adopted as an international standard, marking a milestone for advancing into the world market.\nLet’s learn a bit about this Korean Ethernet technology.\nFaster and Easier to Fix\nAccording to the Ministry of Knowledge Economy of Korea, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) approved of 5 RAPIEnet (Real-time Automation Protocols for Industrial Ethernet) technologies developed by Korea’s LS Industrial Systems. They passed the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS), which means that it is almost at its last step in becoming the international standard (IS).\nLS Industrial Systems has developed RAPIEnet as a new industrial communications bus for use with its PLC (Power Line Communication) systems. The company says that in so doing the design has avoided the complications of hubs and switches and the accompanying excessive cabling required by established Ethernet technology.\nRAPIEnet, while still compatible with the preexistent Ethernet standards, transmits data at a 1 GB-per-second speed and in case of a communications failure can repair the error 30 times as faster. It can be utilized in a variety of fields operated by automation systems such as semi-conductor and automobile manufacturing, or nuclear energy development.\nKorea, the Forerunner of the Industrial Automation Technology\nRAPIEnet is the fruit of the collaborative efforts between LS Industrial Systems and Hanyang University – corporation and academia. The volume of tangible and intangible profit generated by this technology’s approval as an international standard is incredibly huge. It laid the groundwork for Korea to advance into the global market of USD 10 billion’s scale. Also, the domestic market, worth of KRW 150 billion, which has so far been dominated by the USA, Germany, and Japan, is expected to be finally claimed back by the Korean technology.\nIt is also important to note the significance of the collaborative R&D efforts between corporations and schools, backed up by the government support. Korea will surely continue its endeavors to generate world-acknowledged brand-new technologies."

"We're often asked how natural gas, which occurs in great abundance in western Canada, can be extracted with minimal impact on land and water. This animation shows the steps involved.\nThis article from JWN Energy was so informative, we just had to create an animated version. Share it to spread the knowledge!\nBased on actual practices at a Seven Generations Energy \"super pad\" in the Montney shale region of western Canada."

"Medard Boss and the Dasein Philosophy\nMedard Boss was one of the most important psychoanalytic psychiatrists of the 20th century. Heavily influenced by Heidegger's philosophical thinking, Boss was convinced of there being an existential 'something'.\nMedard Boss was a Swiss psychoanalytic psychiatrist who developed a form of psychotherapy known as Daseinsanalysis. This analysis worked with the psychotherapeutic side of psychoanalysis and Heidegger’s phenomenological and existential philosophy.\nThe term Dasein is a common philosophical term; it has Germanic roots and it means “being there”. Many German authors use this philosophical term, but it’s usually linked to Heidegger.\nThe idea of combining psychology and philosophy seems the opposite of psychology as a science. However, you should remember the historical role philosophy had in developing sciences. In a way, psychology is a science of the mind that began with the theory of knowledge. Likewise, the relationship between the mind and ideas is very important in psychological studies.\nIn this article, you’ll discover the influence Daseinanalysis had on Medard Boss’ psychology and studies.\nMedard Boss’ early life\nMedard Boss was born in St. Gallen, Switzerland, on October 4th, 1903. Afterward, he moved and grew up in Zurich, which at the time was the hotspot for psychological studies.\nHe graduated as a Doctor in 1928 and went on to study in Paris and Vienna and was psychoanalyzed by Sigmund Freud himself. Later on, he continued these sessions with Swiss psychoanalyst Hans Behn Eschenburg.\nAfter returning to Zurich, Boss continued studying at the Burghölzli Hospital, under the guidance of psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler. Afterward, he began psychoanalytic studies in the Berlin Psychoanalytic Institute (BPI), under the supervision of Karen Horney. Hanns Sachs, Otto Fenichel, Wilhelm Reich, and Kurt Goldstein were among his fellow students.\nLater on, he moved to London and worked closely for six months with Ernest Jones in the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases.\nHaving moved to Zurich after this, from 1938 onwards, Carl Jung invited Boss to join other doctors in a workshop to study analytic psychology. This experience with Jung extended for almost ten years and it most certainly helped Boss see that psychoanalysis shouldn’t be limited to Freudian interpretations.\nDuring the 1930s, Boss met Ludwig Binswanger. Through Binswanger, Boss learned about Martin Heidegger’s work. This played an important role in his career development.\nThanks to Heidegger’s influence, Boss became fascinated and studied existential psychology. Boss’ impact on existential therapy was so great that he’s often considered its cofounder, along with Ludwig Binswanger.\nAfter four years at the Burghölzli Hospital, he continued his studies between Berlin and London. His teachers included people close to Freud, such as Karen Horney and Kurt Goldstein.\nThe Daseinanalysis theory\nTo Boss, the existential point of the world isn’t something we interpret, it’s something that goes beyond any explanation. Thus, his theory states that something is revealed through Dasein’s light.\nBoss believed that the Dasein was a means to open your mind, to attract light to a situation. Light’s symbolism played an important role in Boss’ work, which is why he used expressions such as “coming out of the darkness”, “illuminating and idea”, or “enlightenment”.\nBesides, Boss stated that mood played a decisive role in the way people interacted with their environment. For example, an angry person would focus on elements of anger.\nHis travels to India in 1956, 1958, and 1966 influenced his philosophy and medical practice. There, he met Swami Gobind Kaul.\nMedard Boss’ studies on dreams\nBoss studied dreams more than any other existentialist and considers them important to therapy. However, he doesn’t interpret dreams as Freudians or Jungians do; he allows them to reveal their meanings by themselves.\nThus, Boss stated that dreams created their messages instead of showing symbols of deeper feelings. According to Boss, your dreams can show you how you’re enlightening your life. For example, if you’re feeling trapped, your feet will be bound in your dreams. On the other hand, if you feel free, you’ll fly.\nIn 1971, Boss was honored with the Great Therapist Award by the American Psychiatric Association. For nearly two decades, he presided over the International Society of Psychosomatic Medicine.\nHe was also an accomplished author. His works include Existential Foundations of Medicine and Psychology (English translation, 1979), Psychoanalysis and Daseinsanalysis (English version, 1963), and The Analysis of Dreams (English Translation, 1958).\nMedard Boss died on December 21st, 1990. His life was filled with academic success and left an interesting legacy in psychology."

"Mindset and Reading Strategy Intervention for MFL\nMasters in Learning and Teaching research which aimed to improve students self efficacy in learning German through intervention training in mindset and in reading strategies.\nHOW THE RESEARCH WAS CARRIED OUT\nFINDINGS – IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHERS\nRESULTS OF THE MINDSET INTERVENTION\nThe results indicate that, as Dweck (1999) has previously demonstrated; targeted intervention can influence students Intelligence Theories in both the short term and the longer term. Whilst some students do move gradually along the continuum from Fixed to Incremental, it was shown that some students can be persuaded to make more radical Mindset shifts. The fact that the second “top-up” Mindset Intervention appeared to result in a second wave of students altering their ideas suggests that, as one might sensibly predict, a scheme of work spanning multiple lessons and reinforcing an Incremental theory may be more effective than a single session.\nRESULTS OF THE READING STRATEGY INTERVENTION\nSelf-reported strategic classroom behaviours increased significantly for all of the intervention groups. (No increase in the control group). There was a sharp decrease in maladaptive, non-strategic classroom behaviours for the Mindset Intervention groups. (A corresponding decrease was not seen in the Reading Strategy or Control groups). Conclusion: the combination of Mindset and Reading Strategy Interventions appears to have had a significant effect on student attributions and in particular, on the ways in which students explain failure.\nIMPORTANT TO NOTE\nLaura Molway, Cherwell School and University of Oxford."

"All of our hearts are hurting, but as we have seen through the past few days, we will recover together through perseverance and compassion for others. As our community comes to terms with the aftermath of the recent floods, here are a few safety tips:\n- Open wounds and rashes exposed to flood waters can become infected. Be sure your tetanus shot is current (given within the last 7 years).\n- There are many other micro-organisms in flood water, including Aeromonas, E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus. Aeromonas is bacteria that can lead to wound and skin infections, particularly if there are breaks in the skin exposed to flood water. This can be treated with an antibiotic. If you have an infected wound and you were exposed to muddy waters, please see your doctor immediately.\n- Molds and mildew may affect asthmatics. If you need to be around it, wear a mask to help filter inhalants.\n- Eating or drinking anything contaminated by flood water can cause serious disease. Consider all water to be unsafe until local authorities announce that the public water supply is safe. Throw out all food and other supplies that you suspect may have become contaminated or come into contact with floodwater. Do not use contaminated water for anything.\n- Flood waters have displaced animals, including insects and reptiles. Seek immediate medical care for all animal bites.\n- Always practice good hygiene (handwashing with antibacterial soap) after contact with flood waters. Practice safety ABOVE ALL ELSE.\nDue to the magnitude of this natural disaster, we know that even if your home was not directly affected, you have family, friends, and coworkers who lost a lot. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. We are open and here to help you if you have any questions or concerns. Please contact your physician if you have any medical concerns."

"Health Literacy Month is a national health observance, which is, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), “a time to recognize the importance of making health information easy to understand and the health care system easier to navigate.” Health literacy is perhaps more important than ever, given the proliferation of medical misinformation and disinformation online in recent years.\nNot sure how health literate you are? Test you skills with this quiz from Pew Charitable Trusts!\nThere are many great online resources available to aid you in boosting your health literacy — including on our website, as well as this article from GoInvo. There are several books about health literacy and healthcare available in the library, including these titles:\n- The 60 Minute Guide to Health Literacy: A Common Sense Approach to Informed Medical Decision Making by Jo Kline, JD\n- Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win by Marshall Allen\n- Afraid of the Doctor: Every Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Managing Medical Trauma by Meghan L. Marsac and Melissa J. Hogan\n- Great Courses – Medical Myths, Lies, and Half-Truths: What We Think We Know May Be Hurting Us Audio lectures by Steven Novella\n- An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take it Back by Elizabeth Rosenthal\n- Health Literacy from A to Z by Helen Osborne\n- Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion edited by Lynn Nielsen-Bohlman, Alison M. Panzer, and David A. Kindig\nAdditionally, we have a variety of pamphlets — covering topics from aging to healthy eating — available in the library for free. Health literacy is what we’re all about at Herrick, so really any resource you utilize from the library helps empower you and your community to take charge of your health!"

"Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum\nTeacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum\nSpecial Web Site Features\nInteractive Practice: Respond to Student Writing\nThe following drafts give you an opportunity to evaluate authentic samples of student pieces written in three different genres. Each time you identify a strength or weakness in one of the samples, you will be able to compare your assessment with detailed comments from another teacher.\nThese comments also indicate how the teacher might respond to a particular issue: with written or oral observations or questions, with targeted instruction, or—in some cases—by choosing to ignore the issue in favor of more pressing instructional concerns.\nThe criteria listed on each paper's evaluation grid were discussed, modeled, and practiced in the student's classroom. Such explicit expectations provide a basis for teacher and peer response and prepare students to think independently about their writing.\nThe scoring system for the rubrics comes from Kentucky's state-assessed Writing Portfolio.\n\"Cell Phones in Our Schools...Would They Be So Bad?\"\nResponding to Student Writing (pdf)"

"The unusually charming Berlin Kiez of the Nikolaiviertel, with its cobbled streets, jaunty Plattenbau, and imposing twin-spired Nikolaikirche, bears the distinction of being one of the oldest areas of the city’s central Mitte district. Dating back to the early 1200s, when the settlement of Alt-Berlin was recognised here – on the northern bank of the meandering river Spree.\nThe medieval settlement of Cölln, situated on the opposing southern bank of the river would come to be considered the birthplace of the city – dating as it does back to 1237 – seven years older than its sister settlement across the water. The site of the grandiose Stadtschloss occupied by the Hohenzollern royal family, Cölln would unite with the more residential Alt-Berlin in 1710 to form the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia.\nWhile the Nikolaiviertel can boast of a long and colourful history, it is an area that suffered greatly during the bombardment of Berlin by the Anglo-American forces in WWII – situated as it was in the heart of the then Nazi capital. What is visible today is a reconstructed district, an emulation of this medieval quarter courtesy of the East German government – referred to by locals as the “Disneyland of the East’. Rebuilt in 1987 in a distinctly kitsch postmodernist style – with the deconsecrated Nikolaikirche, the oldest church in Berlin, at its centre.\nOriginally a late-Romanesque basilica, the Nikolaikirche – as with all churches in the area – was conceived as a Roman Catholic place of worship. At the time of the construction of the church – before this region was known as Germany, or Prussia – or even the city of Berlin recognised – it would lie in the territory of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. An area simultaneously ruled over by two brothers – John I and Otto III – allied with the powers in Rome. During their joint-reign; John and Otto would increase the power of this region, from a seemingly insignificant sandy backwater settlement, to acquire the indisputable right to vote in the election of the King of the Germans, consolidating their joint role within the Holy Roman Empire.\nWhen this region officially embraced the ideas of the Protestant Reformation in 1539, the Nikolaikirche would be converted for use by a Lutheran congregation. It would serve in this capacity for a further 399 years – when in 1938, five years after the Nazi takeover, it was deconsecrated due to the declining number of parishioners in the area. The industrialisation of Berlin and the commercialisation of the centre of the city had driven many people into the suburban districts, leaving the church largely isolated in the centre of the capital.\nWhen the Second World War in Europe ended in May 1945, the Nikolaiviertel fell into the hands of the Soviet administration, eventually becoming part of East Berlin – and the German Democratic Republic, in 1949. As a result of the damage inflicted on the area during the war – the Nikolaikirche was reduced to the solitary stump of the tower circled by a few surviving surrounding walls. Until eventually, in 1981, the East German regime began to reconstruct the building based on old plans.\nThe oldest remaining room in Berlin is to be found inside the Nikolaikirche - the Beyer crypt. Located at ground level, as it was when the city was founded, and now containing a unique treasure trove of coins that Berliners amassed between 1514 and 1734 to pay for the Nikolaikirche steeple ball.\nStepping inside the Nikolaikirche today, visitors are greeted with an exhibition maintained by the Museum der Stiftung Stadtmuseum Berlin – which has been responsible for the use of the church as an exhibition space since 1995. A permanent display tracing the origin and use of the church over the past 800 years, under the title ‘From City Ground to Double Head’ (in reference to the two church spires), has been in place since 2010, when it was opened by then Berlin mayor, Klaus Wowereit.\nBeyond serving as an exhibition space, the church has also fulfilled other duties. Following the reunification of Germany, and Berlin, in 1990, the first constituent meeting of the newly elected Berlin House of Representatives took place here on January 11th 1991. Its central hall is also used as an auditorium for musical performances, with space for around 250 people.\nWhile the interior of the church maintains its mixed Gothic and Baroque style, the structural changes to the exterior of the church do much more to clarify the story of the many different construction periods of the building. Although, it is considered the oldest church in the city – the church’s current appearance is nothing like it would have looked back in 1230.\nIt was only fitting in the 13th century that when constructed the Nikolaikirche would be named after Saint Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of sailors and merchants – due to its locations in the maritime centre of old Berlin. While the use of the area has changed drastically since that time, the church still stands as evidence of the many eras it has endured. With its exterior form capable of being read like the pages of a book.\nThe distinctive two spires that tower over the red brick base of the building – the oldest part of this structure dating back to the Romanesque period – were not originally included in the first form of the building. Instead there was a single spire, as is typical of most churches, to the right side. The Gothic hall was added behind this section of the building, following a fire, in 1470 – and financed by the sale of a 40-day indulgence to anyone who contributed to its construction – while the Berlin Bakers Guild donated the church altar.\nWhen reconstruction work was carried out in the 1980s by the East German government, a collection of graves (around 150) were found beneath the Nikolaikirche – providing important insight into the founding of Berlin. These West-East orientated graves, identifiably Christian, would suggest that rather than being conjured into existence by a single legal decree that Berlin evolved around this site – with the area surrounding the Nikolaikirche as the epicentre of what would grow to be recognised as medieval Berlin.\nHave questions? We have answers.\nArrange a totally free 30 minute video call (Zoom/Skype/WhatsApp) to discuss your time in Berlin and how we can help make it exceptional.\nNo booking necessary."

"Cold-blooded animals that spend part of their time on land and part in the water, amphibians are able to breathe through their skin. (This permeable skin makes them particularly vulnerable to environmental disturbances, from chemical pollution to the thinning ozone layer and global climate change.) The first major groups developed about 400 million years ago, from fishes similar to modern coelocanths that were about 15 feet long. Later amphibians moved up the food chain, eating insects on land and fish in the water. By about 250 million years ago, amphibians were competing with proto-crocodiles, pushing their distribution north and south from the equator and causing a reduction in amphibian size in temperate zones.\nMore than 2063 species of frogs, toads and salamanders — more than 31 percent of the world's amphibians — are at risk of dying out. And scientists lack sufficient information to even assess the status of more than 20 percent of the world's herps. These species are slipping away faster than we can study them."

"Posted on June 16th, 2012, by essay\nNowadays sociology deals with decentralized society. In the course of time it became more complex and problematic to define it. According to typical structure there are four main characteristics of modern society: political, social, spiritual and economic. Each of these spheres regulates relations between different social groups and communities. People tend to think that modern society has two fundamental values: power and money. In this way only rich people are full-fledged members of society. People use money to gain power and vice versa. Such world is too tight for normal people. There's no place for love and family, professional and personal dignity. Businessmen try to establish harmony among themselves in their own plain world. All other people remain outsiders. Their activity is suppressed, corrupted and has no perspectives. What is more, most people can't find way out of these limitations. People tend to consider it normal feature of any society. Because of one-sided view on society, people face so many difficulties. Spiritual crisis of society is caused by the very collapse of multidimensional life, which began to develop recently. But it always turns to one sphere: money. This collapse is often disregarded because people can't understand the complex nature of modern society.\nEach person possesses a system of fundamental values. Money and power are the most simple ones, and in this way quite common. But it's hard to find a person who would change love and harmony for wealth. In recent decades millions of people experienced personal tragedy, being forced to immigrate to other countries in search of better life. And in spite of person's multidiversity, no one can embrace all the variety of necessary activities and appropriate values. That's why modern society is a system of different social groups with own values, roles and knowledge. Officers, sportsmen, scientists, doctors, artists, politicians have different outlook. Some people manage to combine features suitable for different social statuses. But the vast majority still turns out to be one-sided. People should equally possess numerous characteristic features in order to create an efficient society.\nA multidimensional view of society means compromise between individual and social needs and desires. In such a society people would be able to choose one or another social group according to their abilities and up-bringing. Although each group has its own laws, in a free society people have wide choice of life way, which gives an opportunity to find harmony in human values.\nIn comparison with modern society, ancient one was more stable and didn't change so fast. Ancient person inherited social role and all human values related to it. Despite the fact that most groups are socially important, their principles can't be combined in one personality. It doesn't mean that one can't radically change activity. I just want to say that in the first place it is important to change the system of values in order to succeed. It shows contradictions between social groups. Human history numbers many desperate attempts to achieve equal, right and harmonic system of values for everybody. It is not right to accept only one system of values, because it would inevitably lead to destruction. For example, a complete victory of businessmen would mean complete concentration of property in their sphere. It would lead to destruction of working class, consumers and the whole country.\nBalance between social groups defines great variety of ideas and activities. In one-dimensional society people are distinguished by lower and higher strata. Some of them have more opportunities to promote, others are suppressed. Such society doesn't let people find decent place for themselves. It inevitably leads to degradation. Totalitarianism for example is a nice example of one-sided society. Only technological and scientific development managed to overcome it and modify society in order to develop all dimensions of human activity. That's why I consider it so important to seek a multidimensional view on society.\nPosted in Sample essay papers | Tagged Multidimensional View of Society | Leave a comment"

"What follows is a paper that I originally wrote for a class called simply, The American South\n. I am adding this brief introduction to explain my motivation\ns for writing on such a controversial topic and also so that people will have no chance to misconstrue my words and thereby label me some sort of white-supremacist apologist\n. I wrote this paper in order to accurately explain a set of data\nappearing on page 158 of Major Problems in the History of the American South, Volume 2: The New South.\nSaid data reveals in short a sharp decline in lynching during the period 1893-1928. I felt that the simple explanation, i.e.\n, that white people became less racist over that time period, would not accurately explain what I saw in the data, mostly because I don't believe that racism experienced a decline during that period. I also wanted to dispel a mistake that I'd seen made many times, namely the conflation\nattitudes and discriminatory behavior like lynching and the Jim Crow laws\n. In short, I wanted to make sure that people knew that simply because a society doesn't make a certain group of people feel afraid for their lives or feel like second class citizens\nin an overt and/or official manner doesn't mean that that society is treating that group properly or that it intends to do so in the future. So, without further ado, here's the paper I wrote.\nAn Explanation of Observed Lynching Behavior in the U.S.\nOne major error committed by many a scholar is the ascription of complex phenomena such as lynchings and rioting to relatively simple causes, the overused term racism being chief among them. While there is no argument that race played some role in these events, one must look deeper than the oversimplification of racism if one is to come to a full understanding of the forces that caused them. Take, for instance, the especially large amount of racial violence committed from around 1880 to 1940. This paper will argue that this period of violence, and the change in frequency within it, is more indicative of the attitudes of people concerning death than concerning race.\nMany large-scale changes were taking place throughout this time, both in the South and in the world at large. The medical profession was gradually discovering effective means of saving lives. The average life expectancy at birth rose substantially over the course of this period, as well, partially because of the newfound effectiveness of medicine, but more likely because of generally more sanitary conditions and improvements in infrastructure, both physical and social. Both of these changes can be seen in Nate Shaw's narrative, All God's Dangers. For instance, when talking about the deaths of his mother and brother, he says, \"Well, the country wasn't full of doctors at that time... (p.10),\" implying that more doctors existed in the 1960's when Nate was narrating than in the first decade of the twentieth century, the period about which Nate was talking. With less access to doctors comes less access to health care and higher mortality from disease and accident, as further evidenced by the fact that one third of Nate's mother's children were dead by the time that she died (p.11). The doctors to whom the people had access apparently were relatively ineffective, as well: \"he (the doctor) was a nice, kind man, but as far as his practiceship, I don't know whether he was on the dot or not (p.12).\" Nate's lack of faith in this doctor seems to be fairly well founded, since at least two of his patients that Nate knew of died of diseases that would now be considered annoyances at best. Keep in mind, too, that this was the state of relative advancement of the medical profession forty years after the civil war, during which such antiquated techniques as amputations without anesthesia and the use of leeches were commonplace. By the end of the period, medicine had seen a substantial advance, though, since what we now know as modern medicine became relatively widespread before the end of the Great Depression.\nThe reason that this is important is because society historically has placed a premium on human life according to the amount of resources that it percieves to be invested in that life. The lynching data (pp.158-159) in Problems in the History of the American South reflects this tendency. If one looks at the data for black lynchings versus white lynchings over time, black lynchings are invariably higher. This is a symptom of a thought process that accomplishes a social fact over time stating that blacks, being generally poorer than whites, invest less resources in themselves and are therefore less valuable to society. Approximately the same phenomena can be seen in action any time one person is considered to be important when considered in contrast to another. The phenomenon of importance is one of perception of invested resources. There is no other explanation for the social success of Roark's \"planter's revolution\" (as explained in his book, Masters Without Slaves) in an environment where \"the majority of Southerners were, after all, nonslaveholders (p.21),\" according to a secessionist prior to the war. The planters, whose station in society was indicative of the amount of resources invested in them, were considered more important than nonslaveholders and their opinions and ideas were therefore accorded more respect and were acted upon. This tendency to value individuals whose in whose being were invested more resources than most carries over to death, as well. Speaking of some officers from her own planter class, a Georgia woman said, \"Their deaths have brought the war home to me more forceably (sic) than could the deaths of a regiment of soldiers... (p.86).\" So more invested resources in a human life implies greater societal value placed upon that life.\nWith that having been established, let us look again at the aforementioned hanging data from 1882-1930 again. Although it is obvious from the higher number of black hangings throughout the period that race was a motivator in many of the events, one cannot explain the reductions in rate and number simply by saying that either people were becoming less racist or that black people were somehow becoming less black. Anti-black discrimination remained strong enough in the South to inspire the backlash of the Civil Rights movement of the 1950's of which Lillian Smith was a key proponent, and the continuation of social definitions of blackness through the end of the period show the continued distinctiveness, if not necessarily by choice, of blacks from whites. The reduction is therefore not a racial phenomenon. Also telling in this data is the much sharper drop in white lynchings. Both drops are symptomatic of the same change in overall societal feeling toward life and its general value. With the increase in investment in individuals, both by society and by themselves, that occurs after the end of the transition to lower overall mortality comes the establishment of a social fact that life is more important and that the taking of it is an event to be embarked upon with more thought than had previously been used. White lynchings were all but eliminated due to the fact that there was not as much potential incentive to practice vigilante justice against white men. Black hangings continued because they served ends other than simple murder. They were also a tool to keep blacks in check, as well as an outlet for the social rage felt by whites. As such, when other, more legitimate outlets for these feelings eventually began to arise in the form of official discrimination in the more widespread public sphere afforded by greater governmental presence, lynchings were virtually eliminated since there was no reason to lynch a man who could just as easily be put in jail, like Nate Shaw, or otherwise legitimately disposed of, like his friends (p.317). So vigilante violence, because of its dependence on certain cultural attitudes regarding the relatively low worth of human life, ended when those attitudes changed and other avenues for the expression of racial anger opened.\nWith the rise of the social fact of the worth of human life, more legitimate means of expression of racial animosity opened up for whites, a fact which ironically opened the way for the black civil rights movement of later years by moving the majority of overt racial conflict from rural forest clearings to federal courtrooms."

"Give2Asia and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) have partnered to connect private sector philanthropy to effective community-based programs that mitigate disasters in Asia’s most vulnerable countries. This post comes as the last in a series of six outlining the vulnerability of countries selected for the program. Learn more about the NGO Disaster Preparedness Program or read more about Myanmar’s vulnerability to disasters.\nAccording to the UN Risk Model, Myanmar ranks as the ‘most at risk’ country for natural disasters. Coastal regions, particularly in the Rakhine State and the Irrawaddy Delta Region, are at high risk for cyclones, storm surges, and tsunamis. Much of the country is exposed to flooding and landslides during rainy season in addition to drought and fire during dry season. As Myanmar falls on one of the two main earthquake belts in the world, much of the country is also prone to earthquake.\nAn estimated 70 percent of the population resides in rural areas, most subsisting on agricultural productivity. However, village-level agriculture can cause deforestation, over-cultivation, and poor resource management, causing increased vulnerability to flood, drought, and landslides. Moreover, weak infrastructure and poor housing conditions contribute to Myanmar’s vulnerability.\nFire is the most frequently reported natural disaster (73 percent) in Myanmar with approximately 900 cases per year. The high incidences of fire result from climatic conditions including temperature, use of flammable construction materials, unplanned development, and other social factors.\nSecond to fires, flooding is one of the major hazards in Myanmar, given the country’s intricate system of rivers which sustain local economies and transportation of goods. Many cities and towns are located alongside these rivers, particularly the largest: the Irrawaddy, Chindwin, Sittaung, and Thanlwin. The Irrawaddy River basin alone exposes over two million people to flood.\nMyanmar is in dire need of long-term international support and flexible funding in order to adequately respond to natural hazards. Immediate local responses to natural disasters come predominantly from family members and faith groups. Faith groups often have the facilities and networks to distribute aid in a timely manner, but they lack the technical capacity and knowledge of disaster risk reduction to engage in activities beyond first response.\nDonors have the opportunity to support activities that engage communities in mitigating the impact of cyclones:\n- Identification or construction of safe shelters (religious buildings and monuments in communities often can serve this purpose)\n- Tree plantation around the village to reduce impact of wind\n- Mangrove planting in waterfront and rivers\n- Community education for storm resistant housing\n- Ensuring residential areas are situated a safe distance from the water front\n- Community cyclone awareness trainings\n- Volunteers should be trained on disaster management\nOther opportunities for donors include:\n- Flood forecasting and warning systems\n- Supporting research that identifies climate change influences on flooding and appropriate responses.\n- Improving watershed drainage systems and\n- Strengthening infrastructure in rural and mountainous areas,\n- Building the capacity of landslide warning systems.\n- Training faith groups and other first responders in disaster response best practices and implementation."

"FORMS OF RINGS AND MATERIALS OF WHICH THEY ARE MADE\nAMONG ancient gold rings, one of Egyptian workmanship is especially noteworthy for its size and weight as well as for its design. It is 1/2 inch in its largest diameter, and bears an oblong plinth, which turns on a pivot; it measures 6/10 inch at its greatest, and 4/10 inch at its least breadth.\nOn one of the four faces is the name of the successor of Amenhotep III, Amenhotep IV (Akhenaten), who lived about 1400 B.c.; on another is figured a lion, with the inscription ” lord of strength ” ; the two remaining sides show a scorpion and a crocodile respectively. The weight of this massive ring is stated to be about five ounces and its intrinsic gold value nearly a hundred dollars. (1)\nSome remarkably fine finger-rings were among the ornaments found by Ferlini, an Italian physician, when he unearthed the treasure of one of the queens of Meroë. These rings are now in the Berlin Royal Museum. Some of them are plain hoops to which movable plates are attached; others are signet rings. In a few specimens of the first-named class the plate is so large as to extend over three figures, the inconvenience to which this could give rise being partly obviated by joints in the plate, so that the fingers might be moved with greater facility.\n1 Sir John Gardner Wilkinson, ” Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians,” vol, iii, p. 373\nWe hardly think that a design of this type is ever likely to become popular in our times. Scarabs strung on wire so as to be worn on the finger were found at Dahshur by De Morgan. These belonged to the Twelfth Dynasty, to the time from Usertasen III to Amenemhat III (ab. 2660-2578 B.C.).\nStronger wire was used at a later time, the ends being thrust into perforations on the sides of the scarabs. In all these cases the scarab and the circlet, more or less well formed, were separate parts loosely put together. It was not until the Golden Age of the ancient Egyptian civilization that complete metal rings were made, in which both circlet and chaton formed one piece.\nRings of the Egyptian type, although strongly modified by Ionic or Phœnician art, were introduced into Etruria at a very early period, and probably thence into Latium. (2) At an even earlier date, at least 1200 B.C., scarab rings were worn in Cyprus, several examples having been found in sepulchres there, the scarab being made of porcelain strung on a gold-wire hoop.\nThe ancient rings in the British Museum offer examples of nearly all the different types favored in early times. (3) Some, from the Mycenœan period, exhibit a long shield-shaped bezel, convex above and concave beneath, across the direction of the hoop; others have a flat band decorated with plaited or twisted wire on which is set a bezel holding a paste.\nPhœnician rings of the period from 700 to 500 B.C. present a variety of forms, some being swivel rings, the extremities of the rounded hoops passing into beads, in which are inserted the pivots of a scarab-setting; another type has elliptical hoops, either plain or ornamental, the scarab being in a filigree-decorated bezel; in still another, the lower part of the hoop is twisted into a loop, so that the ring can be worn suspended; there are also some plain, flat or rounded hoops, sometimes with the ends overlapping.\n2 F. H. Marshall, Catalogue of the Finger Rings Greek, Etruscan and Roman, in the Departments of Antiquities, British Museum, p. 50, Nos. 278-281 ; pi. vii, No. 281.\n3 See F. H. Marshall, ” Catalogue of the Finger Rings, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman, in the Departments of Antiquities, British Museum,” London, 1907, pp. xxxvii—xlix.\nThe Greek and Hellenistic periods, from the sixth to the second century B.C., furnish a large variety of forms, some copied or adapted from earlier ones and then independently developed. A rounded hoop tapering upward, with ornamental extremities, occasionally appears in fine examples, the ends of the hoop representing the lions’ masks ; the bezels are frequently of oval shape, and the shoulders of the hoop are often nearly straight; in another type while the outside of the hoop is rounded, the inside is facetted; sometimes there is a high convex bezel, bevelled underneath.\nThere are still a few swivel rings with scaraboids. In the Hellenistic period appear massive gold rings with square-cut shoulders and raised oval settings, in which a convex stone is placed. Still another type is an expanding hoop formed of two overlapping ribbons and with a convex bezel.\nEtruscan rings assume various characteristic and peculiar forms, many of which are found among the Roman rings of a later period, indicating the derivation from the Etruscans of ring-wearing among the Romans.\nOne of these in the British Museum has a broad hoop ending in convex shields, a scarab being pivoted in the terminals; in others, the hoop is hollow, terminating in cylindrical ornaments, between these a scarab revolves on a wire swivel. A peculiar example has a grooved hoop, the ends being convex disks, in which is pivoted a scarab.\nOne of these Etruscan rings has a very large convex oval bezel, around the slope of which run a series of embossed figures. As an example of Roman art found in Egypt, we have a spiral ring of serpent form, either extremity terminating in a bust, of Isis and Serapis respectively.\nThe conjecture has been made that this ring, and others of the type, may have been intended to figure the reigning emperor and empress of Rome under the types of Isis and of Serapis, the latter a Grœco-Egyptian divinity as worshipped in Alexandria and in the Roman world, though having a distinctly Egyptian form in the national pantheon as Asar-Hapi, or Osiris-Apis.\nThe rings of the type described have the advantage of being easily adapted to a finger of any size, since pressure at both extremities would enlarge the girth of the single spiral. (4) In his Etymologias, Isidore of Seville defines three of the types of rings worn in ancient times, the ungulus, the Samothracius and the thynnius. (6)\nThe ungulus was set with a gem and owed its designation to the fancy that the stone was as closely attached to the gold of the ring as a human nail (ungulus) was to the flesh of the finger. The Samothracian ring was of gold, but had an iron setting. Lucretius in the sixth book of his great philosophic and scientific poem, ” De Natura Rerum,” in speaking of the magnet to which he attributes negative and positive powers, of repulsion and of attraction, relates that when, in an experiment, Samothracian rings were placed in a brazen dish beneath which a piece of magnetic iron was moved to and fro, he had seen the rings leap up, as though to flee from an enemy.\nThe third type of ring was the thynnius, the name indicating, according to Isidore, that it was made in Bithynia, called at an earlier time, Thynna.\n(4) Figured in Caylus, ” Receuil d’antiquités,” vol. ii, p. 310.\n(6) Sancti Isidori Hispalensis Episcopi, ” Opera Omnia,” vol. iv, col. 702, Etymologias, lib. xix, cap. 32; vol. Ixxxii of Migne’s Patrologia Latina, Paris, 1850."

"Throughout human history, societies have generally consisted of several classes, distinct to some degree or other and societies have always supported kings or other rulers and their institutions. Why does that seem to be a natural order for people?\nthere are conflicts in mind of people about good or bad, healthy and unhealthy, positive and negative.\nAs we , humans grow,realized some principles in life that only strong people can exist: Survival of the fittest. There still existed hope of cooperation That's why you are here to ask and i am here to say my point\nYou can help the HubPages community highlight top quality content by ranking this answer up or down."

"Fun Facts About Canada Day\n1-The name Canada derives from an Iroquoian word for\n“village,” kanata, that French explorers heard used to refer to the\narea near present-day Quebec City.\n2-On June 20, 1868, Governor General the Viscount Monck issued a\nroyal proclamation asking for Canadians to “celebrate the\nanniversary of the confederation.\n3-This holiday was given the statutory value on 1879 and was\ndesignated as the Dominion Day.\n4-Canada was known as officially as Dominion Day until October\nHowever, many ordinary Canadians have considered it as Canada\nDay long before the official name change.\n5-The year 2011 marks the 144rd celebration of Canada Day which\ncommemorates the day that Canada became a nation.\n6-Canada Day kicks off, what Canadians call, “those two months\nbefore winter starts”\n7- Canada Day and the cold one go together like Bob and Doug\nMcKenzie, In British Columbia resident’s guzzle 1.2 million liters\nof beer over country’s birthday long weekend-and that’s just from\ngovernment -run liquor stores.\nHappy Canada Day!"

"Femoral-Tibial Bypass Surgery for Peripheral Arterial Disease\nFemoral-tibial bypass surgery (also known as infra-popliteal reconstruction) is used to bypass diseased blood vessels in the lower leg or foot.\nTo bypass the blocked blood vessel, blood is redirected through a healthy blood vessel that has been transplanted or through a man-made graft material. This vessel or graft is sewn above and below the diseased artery so that blood flows through the new vessel or graft. Before surgery, the doctor determines what type of material is best suited to bypass the blood vessel.\nWhenever possible, the surgeon will choose to use an existing piece of vein taken from either leg. Man-made graft materials (such as polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] or Dacron) are more likely to become narrowed again. But they may still be effective and are used when a vein is not available.\nThe section of vein or man-made blood vessel is sewn onto the small vessels of the lower leg or foot so that blood can travel through the new graft vessel and around the existing blockage(s).\nGeneral anesthesia or an injection in the spine (epidural) is used for this surgery. General anesthesia will cause you to sleep through the procedure. An epidural prevents pain in the lower part of the body.\nWhat To Expect After Surgery\nYou will need to stay in bed for 1 to 2 days after surgery. You will need to stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days.\nYou will have some pain from the cuts (incisions) the doctor made. The pain usually gets better after about 1 week. Your doctor will give you pain medicine. You can expect your leg to be swollen at first. This is a normal part of recovery and may last 2 or 3 months.\nYou will need to take it easy for 2 to 6 weeks at home. It may take 6 to 12 weeks to fully recover. You will probably need to take at least 2 to 6 weeks off from work. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.\nYou will need to have regular checkups with your doctor to make sure the graft is working.\nWhy It Is Done\nThis surgery is used for people who have narrowed or blocked tibial or peroneal arteries, which are near the surface of the legs. Most of the time, people also have blocked femoral and popliteal arteries too. Usually, the blockage must be causing severe symptoms or be limb-threatening before bypass surgery is considered.\nHow Well It Works\nWhen a vein is used, the bypass remains open in 74 to 80 out of 100 people 5 years after surgery. But man-made (prosthetic) grafts are less effective for this type of surgery. When a man-made graft is used, the graft remains open in about 25 out of 100 people 3 years after surgery.1\nAll surgeries carry a certain amount of risk. These risks include:\nSpecific risks for this bypass surgery include:\nWhat To Think About\nSome people want to try lifestyle changes before having this surgery. Making these changes could help you walk without pain. And lifestyle changes don't have the risks of bypass surgery.\neMedicineHealth Medical Reference from Healthwise\nTo learn more visit Healthwise.org\n© 1995-2014 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated."

"Although prevalence estimates vary, there is consensus that high percentages of justice-involved women and men have experienced serious trauma throughout their lifetime. The reverberating effects of trauma experiences can challenge a person’s capacity for recovery and pose significant barriers to accessing services, often resulting in an increase risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system.\nTo raise awareness about trauma and its effects among criminal justice professionals, SAMHSA’s GAINS Center developed a training curriculum, How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses.\nHow Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses is a half-day training for criminal justice professionals to:\n- Increase understanding and awareness of the impact of trauma,\n- Develop trauma-informed responses, and\n- Provide strategies for developing and implementing trauma-informed policies.\nTrauma-informed criminal justice responses can help to avoid re-traumatizing individuals, and thereby increase safety for all, decrease recidivism, and promote and support recovery of justice-involved women and men with serious mental illness. Partnerships across systems can also help to link individuals to trauma-informed services and treatment for trauma.\nThis highly interactive training is specifically tailored to community-based criminal justice professionals including:\n- Community corrections (probation, parole, and pre-trial services officers)\n- Court personnel\nFor more information about this training, including details about making this training accessible in your community, contact the GAINS Center.\nNational Database of GAINS Center Trauma-Informed Responses Trainers\nTo find a GAINS Center trainer in your area, please use our database."

"Saudi Solar: Oil Giant to Invest in Renewable Energies Project\nSaudi Arabia intends to host the world’s largest solar project. “It’s a huge step in human history,” says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. “It’s bold, risky and we hope we succeed in doing that.”\nSolar power is a logical choice for the country. Its capital, Riyadh, averages 8.9 hours of sunshine a day. The nation is also projected to be severely impacted if climate change raises global temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. According to Climate Action Tracker, if the global temperature rises 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, 75 percent of the country would be excessively arid by the end of the century.\nAccording to the most recent data available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Saudi Arabia produces 13 percent of the world’s oil and currently obtains 60 percent of its electric energy from petroleum.\nThis article appears in the October 2018 issue of Natural Awakenings."

"Unlocking the Wonders of Sensory Development in Preschoolers\nThe world is a vibrant tapestry of sensory experiences, and for preschoolers, it is an awe-inspiring journey of discovery. Sensory development plays a pivotal role in shaping their perception, cognition, and overall growth. From the gentle touch of a mother’s hand to the captivating melodies of nature, every sensation molds their understanding of the world around them. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of sensory development in preschoolers, exploring how their senses lay the foundation for learning, emotional well-being, and future success.\nI. The Power of Touch: Nurturing a Tactile World\nThe sense of touch serves as a gateway to the world, providing preschoolers with essential information about their surroundings and fostering emotional connections. Through the sensation of touch, they develop an understanding of texture, temperature, pressure, and the physical boundaries of objects. Encouraging tactile exploration and play can enhance their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive abilities. From finger painting to playing with sand or water, these experiences stimulate their imagination and creativity, allowing them to develop a deep sense of self-expression.\nII. The Magic of Sight: Visual Stimulation and Cognitive Growth\nThe visual sense holds a captivating allure for preschoolers, as they embark on a visual journey filled with colors, shapes, and patterns. Their visual development plays a crucial role in shaping their cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention, and perception. Engaging them in activities that promote visual exploration, such as puzzles, picture books, and nature walks, not only enhances their visual acuity but also instills a sense of curiosity and observation. By honing their visual skills, preschoolers develop a solid foundation for future learning, including reading and problem-solving.\nIII. The Symphony of Sound: A World of Auditory Wonder\nPreschoolers possess an innate fascination with sound. From the soothing lullabies that drift them to sleep to the joyous melodies that make them dance, auditory experiences are deeply intertwined with their emotional well-being. Developing their auditory sense fosters language acquisition, listening skills, and the ability to discern different sounds in their environment. Engaging them in activities like singing, playing musical instruments, or listening to audiobooks not only enhances their auditory discrimination but also nurtures their emotional intelligence and self-expression.\nIV. The Aromas of Life: Exploring the Sense of Smell\nPreschoolers have an extraordinary ability to detect and remember scents, making the olfactory sense a powerful tool for sensory exploration. By introducing them to various smells, such as flowers, fruits, or spices, we enhance their olfactory discrimination and memory skills. The olfactory sense is also closely linked to emotional experiences, as certain scents can evoke memories and trigger positive or negative emotional responses. Encouraging them to engage with aromatic playdough, scented stickers, or simple cooking experiences can enrich their sensory world and nurture their emotional well-being.\nV. The Flavors of Exploration: Taste and Palate Development\nTaste is an integral part of the sensory experience, offering preschoolers a gateway to explore different flavors, textures, and cultural culinary delights. As they embark on their journey of taste exploration, they develop preferences, learn about nutrition, and refine their oral motor skills. By introducing a wide array of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains, we not only cultivate their palate but also promote their physical well-being. Engaging them in simple cooking activities and family meals fosters a sense of togetherness and appreciation for diverse tastes and textures.\nVI. The Multidimensional World: Proprioception and Vestibular Senses\nWhile the five traditional senses often take the spotlight, preschoolers’ sensory development encompasses two lesser-known senses: proprioception and the vestibular sense. Proprioception refers to the sense of body position and movement, allowing preschoolers to navigate their physical environment with ease. Engaging them in activities that involve climbing, jumping, or carrying objects promotes body awareness and motor skills. Similarly, the vestibular sense, responsible for balance and spatial orientation, can be nurtured through activities like swinging, spinning, or dancing. These experiences contribute to their overall physical coordination, confidence, and spatial reasoning.\nThe Power of Touch: Nurturing a Tactile World\nI. Tactile Exploration and Fine Motor Skills Development\nPreschoolers are naturally drawn to tactile experiences, as they revel in the joy of feeling different textures beneath their fingertips. Encouraging tactile exploration through activities like finger painting, sensory bins, and playdough molding not only captivates their imagination but also enhances their fine motor skills. As they manipulate and engage with various materials, their hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and finger strength improve, laying a strong foundation for future tasks that require precise control, such as writing or using scissors.\nII. Sensory Play and Cognitive Development\nSensory play, with its focus on tactile experiences, holds tremendous cognitive benefits for preschoolers. Engaging them in activities that involve pouring, scooping, sorting, or stacking objects stimulates their problem-solving skills, spatial reasoning, and cognitive flexibility. For instance, playing with sensory bins filled with different materials allows them to explore cause-and-effect relationships, practice counting, and develop categorization skills. Sensory play engages their senses in a holistic manner, enhancing their cognitive abilities through hands-on exploration.\nIII. Emotional Well-being and Self-expression\nThe power of touch extends beyond physical development—it profoundly influences preschoolers’ emotional well-being. Touch is a primary means of communication and connection, allowing them to express affection, seek comfort, and establish trust. Hugs, gentle caresses, and holding hands provide a sense of security and belonging. Engaging in tactile activities like massage, soft toy play, or cuddling promotes emotional regulation, reduces stress, and fosters a deep sense of connection between Preschoolers and their caregivers.\nIV. Sensory Integration and Body Awareness\nTactile experiences play a crucial role in sensory integration—the seamless processing and integration of multiple sensory inputs. Engaging preschoolers in activities that stimulate different senses simultaneously, such as playing with textured toys or engaging in messy play, supports their ability to integrate sensory information effectively. As they explore tactile sensations in conjunction with other sensory inputs, their body awareness improves, helping them develop a better understanding of their physical selves and enhancing their overall sensory processing abilities.\nV. Enhancing Language and Communication Skills\nThe sense of touch also contributes to the development of language and communication skills in preschoolers. Exploring tactile experiences provides rich vocabulary-building opportunities as they describe the sensations they feel—soft, rough, smooth, or bumpy. Sensory-rich activities, such as storytelling with props, textured books, or puppetry, foster language acquisition, creativity, and narrative skills. Through tactile exploration, Preschoolers can express their thoughts, ideas, and emotions, further enriching their communication abilities.\nVI. Fostering Creativity and Imagination\nTactile experiences ignite the spark of creativity and imagination in preschoolers. Engaging with different textures, materials, and sensory stimuli stimulates their imagination, encourages role-play, and supports divergent thinking. From creating textured artwork to building imaginative worlds with sensory materials, such as sand or water, they develop a sense of wonder and self-expression. Tactile exploration nurtures their innate curiosity, encourages open-ended play, and allows their imaginations to soar.\nThe Magic of Sight: Visual Stimulation and Cognitive Growth\nI. Developing Visual Acuity and Perception\nPreschoolers are naturally drawn to vibrant colors and intriguing shapes, and their visual development is a cornerstone of their cognitive growth. By providing them with opportunities to engage in visual stimuli, such as picture books, puzzles, and art activities, we enhance their visual acuity and perception. As they differentiate between colors, identify shapes, and recognize patterns, their visual discrimination skills sharpen, forming a solid foundation for future learning.\nII. Visual Memory and Attention\nThe ability to remember visual information and sustain attention is crucial for academic success. Visual stimulation aids in the development of visual memory, enabling preschoolers to remember and recall images, letters, and numbers. Engaging them in memory games, matching activities, and visual puzzles enhances their memory skills and strengthens their attention span. These activities also cultivate their ability to focus on details, an essential skill for reading, problem-solving, and critical thinking.\nIII. Exploring the World through Visual Observations\nPreschoolers possess a natural curiosity to explore and observe their environment. Visual experiences play a significant role in expanding their knowledge and understanding of the world. Taking nature walks, visiting museums, and exploring different environments expose them to a variety of visual stimuli, fostering their observational skills. Encouraging them to notice and discuss details, patterns, and changes in their surroundings nurtures their ability to make connections and develop a keen sense of curiosity about the world around them.\nIV. Cultivating Creativity and Visual Expression\nThe sense of sight is closely tied to creativity and visual expression. Engaging preschoolers in art activities, such as drawing, painting, and collage-making, allows them to communicate their thoughts, emotions, and ideas visually. These experiences foster their imagination, creativity, and self-expression.\nBy providing them with a diverse range of art materials and encouraging them to explore different visual mediums, we empower them to develop their unique artistic voice and cultivate their visual storytelling abilities.\nV. Developing Visual-Spatial Skills\nVisual-spatial skills are fundamental for understanding relationships between objects and the ability to navigate in physical and mental spaces. Engaging preschoolers in activities that involve puzzles, building blocks, and spatial reasoning games hones their visual-spatial skills. These experiences enhance their ability to perceive and understand shapes, sizes, and spatial relationships, which are essential for later mathematical concepts and problem-solving abilities.\nVI. Promoting Visual Literacy\nIn the digital age, visual literacy is becoming increasingly important. Preschoolers need to develop skills to interpret, analyze, and understand visual information effectively. Introducing them to diverse forms of visual media, such as picture books, photographs, and age-appropriate videos, helps cultivate their visual literacy skills. By discussing the visuals, asking open-ended questions, and encouraging critical thinking, we empower them to navigate and comprehend the visual world around them.\nThe Symphony of Sound: A World of Auditory Wonder\nI. Language Acquisition and Listening Skills\nThe auditory sense plays a crucial role in language development during the preschool years. By exposing preschoolers to a rich auditory environment filled with conversations, stories, and songs, we nurture their language acquisition. Listening to the rhythmic patterns, intonations, and nuances of speech helps them understand and imitate language sounds, vocabulary, and sentence structures. Engaging in interactive activities like rhymes, tongue twisters, and storytelling enhances their listening skills, comprehension, and expressive language abilities.\nII. Discriminating Sounds and Auditory Sensitivity\nPreschoolers have the remarkable ability to discriminate between different sounds and tones. Through exposure to various auditory stimuli, such as musical instruments, environmental sounds, and animal noises, their auditory discrimination skills develop. They learn to differentiate between high and low pitches, soft and loud sounds, and recognize patterns in auditory sequences. This heightened auditory sensitivity lays the foundation for music appreciation, auditory memory, and the ability to follow instructions.\nIII. Emotional Intelligence and Sound\nSound has a profound impact on preschoolers’ emotional well-being. From the soothing sounds of nature to the cheerful melodies of music, auditory experiences evoke emotions, create moods, and foster self-expression. Music, in particular, has the power to uplift, calm, or energize their spirits. Engaging preschoolers in singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments allows them to connect with their emotions, express themselves creatively, and develop a deeper understanding of the emotional content conveyed through sound.\nIV. Sound Localization and Auditory Spatial Awareness\nThe auditory sense also contributes to spatial awareness and the ability to locate sounds in the environment. Preschoolers learn to identify the direction from which sounds originate, which enhances their spatial orientation and helps them navigate their surroundings effectively. Engaging them in activities that involve sound localization, such as playing “sound detective” or following sound trails, hones their auditory spatial awareness and strengthens their auditory-motor coordination.\nV. Auditory Processing and Cognitive Skills\nAuditory processing skills are essential for preschoolers’ cognitive development. The ability to process and make sense of auditory information supports their attention, memory, and problem-solving abilities. Engaging them in activities that involve auditory sequencing, memory games, and auditory discrimination tasks sharpens their auditory processing skills. This, in turn, enhances their cognitive flexibility, auditory memory, and the ability to follow directions.\nVI. Exploring Music and Sound Diversity\nMusic, with its vast array of rhythms, melodies, and harmonies, offers preschoolers a world of auditory exploration. Introducing them to different genres, musical instruments, and cultural sounds expands their musical horizons and fosters an appreciation for diversity. Encouraging them to experiment with making their own music, listening to a variety of musical styles, and engaging in music-related activities develops their sense of rhythm, fosters creativity, and cultivates an understanding and appreciation for the power of sound."

"From Elizabeth George’s Write Away: “You can begin the story just before the beginning; you can begin it right at the beginning; or you can begin it after the beginning” (65).\n- What are some other ways to start?\n- How is it possible to start before the beginning? After?\n- What are the benefits of each of these three strategies? Disadvantages?\n- Which of these strategies do you think you might use and why?"

"Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety, nervousness, tension, and stress from time to time. This includes children. Individuals and children can learn to effectively deal with their anxiety by implementing 5 easy tips.\nBelow are 5 tips to help manage anxiety:\n- Become a relaxation expert. Relaxation is an important stress-management skill. Many people confuse various activities with relaxation. For instance, chilling out in front of the TV or computer is not necessarily true relaxation. Depending on what you are watching or doing, it could even make you more tense and you may not even recognize it. The same is true for substance use such as alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. They may seem to relieve anxiety or stress temporarily, as they exacerbate any stress you may have and create additional long-term problems. What truly relaxes the body and calms the mind is a relaxation technique — such as deep diaphragmatic breathing, tai chi, or yoga — that has a physical effect on the mind. For example, deep breathing helps to relax a major nerve that runs from the diaphragm to the brain, sending a message to the entire body to let go and relax. It is a proven physiological method that creates balance and a sense of relaxation to the mind and body.\n- Get enough sleep, nourishment, and exercise. In order for your mind and body to experience a sense of peace and feel strong enough to handle life’s inevitable stressors, restorative sleep, healthy nutrition and adequate exercise are key. Attain the amount and quality of sleep that is psychological and physically restorative. The aphorism, “you are what you eat” is accurate. Our brain chemicals are made from the foods and liquids we consume. When our diet is healthy, our brain produces chemicals that allow us to stay mentally, emotionally and physically balanced. Eat nutritious foods such as fruit, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains for long-term energy instead of the short bursts that are derived from excess sugar or caffeine. Exercise is vital to send oxygen to every cell in the body so your brain and body can be rejuvenated and replenished so we can operate at our most optimum levels.\n- Connect with others. Spend time with friends or family. Organized activities are great and hanging causally is as beneficial. Spending time with those we feel close and connected to deepens our bonds, allowing us to feel supported and secure. In addition, the fun, enjoyment and sharing that naturally occurs allow us to feel happier and less upset about various challenging or demanding aspects of our lives. If you feel worried or anxious about something, talking about it with someone who listens and cares can help you feel more understood and boost your ability to cope. You will be reminded that everyone has these feelings sometimes and that you are not alone.\n- Connect with nature. Heading out for a walk in the park or a hike in the woods can help cultivate feelings of peace and being centered. Choose a place where you feel safe so you can relax and enjoy your surroundings. Walking, hiking, or trail biking offer the additional benefit of exercise. Invite a friend or two — or a family member — along and enjoy feeling connected to people as well.\n- Think positive. A great way to keep our minds off the worry track is to focus our thoughts on aspects that are good, positive and that we are grateful for. We can also practice being hopeful and expect positive results.\nNote: When anxiety or worry feels extreme, it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder. For someone who has an anxiety disorder, getting proper care from a health professional is important, click here to buy CBD bud on Observer as a treatment is the best way to address an anxiety disorder.\nSource: Teen Health\nA.C.T. will provide free resource information for individuals and families to help promote education. For more information, please contact Dr. Drecun at Dr.Drecun@a4ct.com or (858) 792-3541. You may also visit us online at www.a4ct.com. ACT serves the Del Mar 92014 and Rancho Santa Fe 92067 area."

"Guide on Creation a Research Essay\nEssays on the conducted research represent a type of assignment that is extremely often performed by the students. In the high school, you have also written a great number of essays, but the college is another level that requires some sophisticated efforts from your side. The research essay is exactly one of them. For this assignment you do not only need to retell some novel or express your mind regarding some topic, but you also need to do actual research.\nMany students got puzzled when they hear about the research. In fact, they are often afraid by this word and consider that they will not cope with the task. However, everything is not so bad; you just need to know some important aspect and algorithm of the research procedure and essay writing mechanism.\nOpt for a Topic\nIf you are free to choose a topic, you need to take this aspect seriously. It is better to avoid wide-spread topics that are thoroughly studied as it will be really difficult for you to reveal something new within your research. At the same time do not select those themes which are very rare and will cause a lot of issues with finding the information on them. You can outline several suitable topics and consult with a teacher.\nWork out a Plan\nTo avoid chaotic and useless actions with your paper, one needs to outline his or her activities. Create a to-do list and stick to it during your work over the paper. The plan will help you to organize your work and to be in time with the ready paper. Do not neglect the planning phase as this is one of the main factors of success.\nConduct a Research\nThis stage is effort-consuming and requires commitment from your side. You need to process a large amount of information, analyze and consider. Research activities will represent the core point of your paper and you need to make it with a comprehensive approach. When conducting research, make notes, write down all important aspects and make drafts.\nSet to Paper\nHere you need to use actively all drafts and notes that you have made during the research. It is important to consider all details and do not miss important factors. Keep in mind that research paper presupposed using facts and actually obtained information. You need to minimize rhetorical suppositions and assumptions. Be precise and try to convince your readers that you know what you are writing about and can provide facts.\nDo Not Neglect Works on Refining and Improvement\nFollowed by the active thinking process you can omit a lot of other important aspects. Thus, you need to take care of the logical structure and consistency. Stick to structure and reasoned content formulation to avoid puzzling of your readers. Moreover, you need to take care of grammar and words spelling. Try to check the punctuation, word order and make your paper pleasant for reading."

"The renowned story Of Mice and Men, based on the 1937 novel by John Steinbeck, is returning to the Broadway stage in April 2014. Of Mice and Men (which is required reading in many schools) is based on Steinbeck’s own experiences as a migrant worker during the 1920s. The story is set during the Great Depression in California. Two migrant ranch hands, George Milton and Lennie Small (who is mentally disabled), are moving place to place searching for new job opportunities. Relying on each other for support and love, they dream of acquiring their own piece of land one day. The two friends find work on a ranch and begin saving money for their future. When the Boss’ son, Curley (an abusive superintendent), bullies Lennie, it results in Curley’s broken hand. Curley’s power trip over Lennie sparks the interest of Curley’s coquettish wife. Lennie, however, accidentally kills her. Now that Lennie has caused major trouble, George must choose between protecting his friend or pursuing his dream. He decides to shoot Lennie before his companion is the target of revenge, and therefore, he loses all hopes and aspirations for living the American Dream.\nOne major theme Steinbeck emphasizes in Of Mice and Men is the theme of the American Dream. Over the years, Americans have begun to place more and more value on ideals such as wealth and freedom. People flock to America from all over searching for this American Dream, but it is unattainable for most. Almost every character in Of Mice and Men has an American Dream of their own, but they never achieve it. Through these characters, the story’s setting, and symbolization, Steinbeck portrays the impossibility of the American Dream. For instance, George dreams of being self-sufficient and having his own land. He wants to be his own boss and not work for somebody else. At the same token, he also wants Lennie by his side. Likewise, Lennie dreams of being with George on his land so he can satisfy his desire to pet animals all day long. George and Lennie both desire to live with one another’s best interests in mind. They want to protect each other and be protected.\nThe supporting characters are all inspired by George’s and Lennie’s ideals and share similar grandiose dreams. For example, Candy, the elderly ranch handyman, lost his hand in an accident and he fears that this makes him disposable (along with his old age). He also lost his dog and therefore, he is lonely. He longs for security and support, so he offers his life’s savings to George and Lennie if he can join them in owning the land. Crooks, the black stable-hand with a crooked back, is isolated from the other ranch hands because of his skin color. Although he is a bit cynical about George’s and Lennie’s dream, he also longs for security and fantasizes about living in a place where he is accepted. Curley’s wife, a beautiful woman not trusted by her husband, aspires to be a famous actress.\nBy the end of the novel, everyone has lost all hope of attaining their American Dream. Curley’s wife is accidentally murdered by Lennie. Candy is condemned to remain at the ranch. When George chooses to shoot Lennie as an act of protection from an angry crowd, he loses his only true companion and he ends up giving up on his dream. Since George and Lennie were the inspiration for the rest of the ranch workers, they also give up on their fantasies.\nEducators should discuss with their students dream symbols in the story. The future farm is a major symbol as this is where almost all of the characters long to be. Steinbeck uses the descriptions of the farm to depict the unrealistic concept of the American Dream. He seduces the characters (as well as the readers) with these enticing descriptions.\nIn Part 2, I will provide more topics for discussion that educators may want to delve into with their students before seeing this poignant play on stage."

"Solar Orbiter is a medium-class mission of ESA’s Science Programme. The mission is dedicated to solar and heliospheric physics. ESA’s Solar Orbiter mission is conceived to perform a close-up study of our Sun and inner heliosphere – the uncharted innermost regions of our Solar System – to better understand, and even predict, the unruly behaviour of the star on which our lives depend.\nSolar Orbiter will address the central question of heliophysics: How does the Sun create and control the heliosphere? This primary, overarching scientific objective can be expanded into 4 interrelated top-level scientific questions:\n- What drives the solar wind and where does the coronal magnetic field originate from?\n- How do solar transients drive heliospheric variability?\n- How do solar eruptions produce energetic particle radiation that fills the heliosphere?\n- How does the solar dynamo work and drive connections between the Sun and the heliosphere?\nSolar Orbiter spacecraft was already completed, including scientific payload, and is now under testing in IABG (Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft GmbH), a German analysis and test engineering company based in Ottobrunn near Munich. If the testing campaign will be successful, the probe will be dispatch in autumn this year to Kennedy space centre, from where its launch is planned for February 2020.\nThe Czech participation on Solar Orbiter supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports so far exceeds 6,5 MEUR. The participation on Solar Orbiter is the most important Czech participation on space projects from the era of Interkosmos programme. The estimated costs of the Solar Orbiter mission are 780 MEUR, excluding scientific payload.\nSolar Orbiter will carry 10 scientific instruments. Czech institutes and companies participated on 4 of these instruments through 5 projects:\nSTIX (Spectrometer Telescope for Imaging X-rays)\nSpectrometer – a telescope for X-ray imaging, enabling the study of physical processes in solar flares and other energy phenomena in the solar atmosphere. The Czech Republic developed and manufactured power supply unit (low and high voltage) as well as the flight software for the STIX instrument. The Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences together with companies CSRC and Evolving Systems Consulting participated in the project.\nMulti Element Telescope for Imaging and Spectroscopy (METIS)\nThe contribution of the Czech Republic to the METIS instrument was focused on delivering the main optical components: mirrors M1 and M2. These optical elements are crucial in METIS optical system because they provide an image of the solar corona, which will be recorded by METIS detectors. Therefore, the requirements for the quality of these mirrors were very high. Czech participation on METIS is coordinated by the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the mirrors were developed and manufactured in TOPTEC, which is part of the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences.\nDetector Electronics for the Proton/Alpha Sensor of Solar Wind Plasma Analyser\nThe Czech contribution consisted of development and supply of boards of the proton block of proton and alpha PAS alpha spectrometer block from the SWA instrument family. Solar Wind Plasma Analyser Complex – its 3 sensors will measure the density, velocity and temperature of solar wind ions and electrons at high time resolution and collect data on ionic composition and key heavier features. The Czech participation on this project was coordinated by the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University.\nRadio and Plasma Waves – Time Domain Sampler (RPW-TDS)\nThe project covered the manufacturing and testing of the TDS module for the RPW (Radio and Plasma Waves) instrument. TDS is a digital wave analyser implemented as a single circuit board integrated in the RPW instrument. TDS will digitize signals from electric and magnetic antennas and ensure on-board pre-processing of measured data. The science target of TDS is the study of plasma waves at the electron plasma frequency in the inner heliosphere. The Czech participation was coordinated by the Institute of Physics of Atmosphere of the Czech Academy of Sciences.\nRadio and Plasma Waves – Low Voltage Power Supply (RPW-LVPS)\nAnother Czech contribution to the RPW device was the development and production of Low-Voltage Power Supply (LVPS), a power supply unit that will power the RPW instrument. The aim of LVPS is to ensure the supply of electricity from solar panels, its regulation, and measurement of telemetric data on power consumption and filtration of harmful interference. The Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences together with company CSRC participated in the project.\nMore recent photos from Solar Orbiter testing can be found on the ESA websites.\nAn up-to-date overview of opportunities for participation in ESA Science Programme missions and on support of instrumentation projects through PRODEX."

"This course focuses on how Jews and Muslims have thought about each other and lived together, both in medieval and in modern times. Along the way the course also offers an introduction to Islamic texts, covers a variety of Islamic views of Jews and Judaism, analyzes stories of Muslims and Jews interacting in different times and places, looks at the lives of Jewish women under Islam, and explores the modern period in some detail. In the modern period we examine the roots of the distinctively nineteenth and twentieth century phenomenon of “radical Islamism” and its unfortunate perspective on Jews. We also study Jewish-Muslim relations in the context of the Zionist settlement of the land of Israel/Palestine.\nThe course will answer questions like these: What was it like to be a Jew living under Islam in the medieval period? How did this vary in different eras and in different locations? How was this experience different for Jewish men and for Jewish women? How did the history of Islam, its theologies, its religious laws, and its social and political institutions shape the overall context within which Jews found themselves? What are some of the enduring consequences and questions that Jews and Muslims today have inherited from this fateful period of coexistence?\nThis 10-session class begins on October 18 and meets Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Members of Temple B’nai Abraham, Temple Ner Tamind and Temple Tiferet Shalom receive a discount on the course.\nFor more information and to register: http://www.hebrewcollege.edu/meahselect-fall-2017#Beverly or contact Sara Riedner Brown, associate director of Me’ah at 617-559-8708 or email@example.com.+ More... - Less..."

"As parents, we tend to have a lot of opinions about what is “right” and what is “wrong” when it comes to many aspects of raising children.\nBreastfeeding is one of the most hotly debated topics across the globe. While in some nations “extended breastfeeding” is providing a baby with breastmilk beyond the first six months, for other countries breastfeeding well into toddler-hood and preschool age is the norm.\nToday we’re going to celebrate the many differences in cultures and their take on breastfeeding. Let’s start with the leading breastfeeding nation in the developing world: Mongolia.\nMongolia tops the list as being the developing nation with the most breastfeeding initiatives, exclusively breastfeeding until the child is six months of age, and breastfeeding their young ones into the preschool years. Mongolian mums and their little ones receive a lot of support from not only families but their community.\nUnlike many other nations, Mongolians value the nutritional value of breastmilk highly. It’s not uncommon for it to be shared freely beyond families, with it sometimes being used for trade and barter.\nUnited Arab Emirates\nRecognising the importance of breastfeeding, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made it a law in 2014 for mothers to breastfeed their babies until the age of two. Despite the law’s good intentions, it was met with a lot of push back from mothers who feared they might have difficulty feeding or who believed husbands might sue them for not nursing their little ones.\nBefore the 1970s breastfeeding was typical in China. The aggressive push for formula within the nation’s borders has now made the country home of the largest market of formula and other breastmilk substitutes in the world.\nFormula has become a large part of the feeding and child-rearing culture in China. But that doesn’t mean that breastfeeding is unheard of.\nDespite declining feeding rates, many mums follow the practice of Zuo Yue Zi, or the “sitting month” where they are confined to the home to bond and breastfeed their babies. Mums who follow this practice have the quiet time needed to establish breastfeeding with their babies and are often supported by other caretakers like their mothers, sisters, and aunts.\nOf the developed nations, the United Kingdom comes in last when it comes to breastfeeding. One Lancet report showed that a mere 0.5 per cent of mums continued to breastfeed their babies at the age of one (this is in comparison to 28 per cent of Aussie mums who breastfeed until their bubs’ first birthday.\nLack of support and miseducation about breastfeeding are largely to blame. Then there is also the misconception that breastfeeding is only for “poor mums” as well as the pressure women feel to get their babies on a regular schedule so that they can return to work.\nBreastfeeding has been heralded as one of the reasons why Brazil’s infant mortality rate has declined more than two-thirds over the past twenty years. The government and health organisations have implemented massive widespread campaigns supporting breastfeeding, which is one of the reasons why more than half of Brazilian mothers continue to feed their babies until they are at least half a year old.\nAnother reason why Brazilian mums may be choosing the “boob over the bottle” is that the country outright banned all infant formula advertising in 2015. Businesses also face substantial fines if they are found guilty of discriminating against breastfeeding mums.\nIraq has a complex relationship with breastfeeding. Intense conflict and war can make access to clean water and infant formula difficult for lengthy periods. Then there are religious laws from the Qur’an which further complicates matters.\nAccording to the Qur’an, infants are to be breastfed until the age of two. If both parents agree, however, the baby may be weaned sooner, or the baby could be fed by a wet-nurse.\nRepublic of Congo\nResiding within this central-African nation is a nomadic pygmy tribe called “Aka”. This tribe of 20,000 people values gender equality, so mothers and fathers take equal part in the rearing of their children.\nChildren are with one or the other parent at all times, and babies are held 100 per cent of the time until they reach the age of one. Fathers bond so closely with their babies that they will even “breastfeed” their babies as a form of comfort.\nHere in Australia, breastfeeding rates vary widely. One study showed that university-educated mums were more twice as likely to feed for a child’s first six months than those without a university education, showing that socioeconomic status could play a role in breastfeeding habits.\nAnother interesting finding from the study was that Aussie mums were far more likely to breastfeed their youngest child for a shorter period than earlier children. Researchers suspect this may be due to increased financial pressures with mums needing to return to the workforce sooner and wean prematurely.\nDespite cultural differences, one thing is for certain – our goal as parents is to do what is best for our babies and for our health. Whether formula feeding, breastfeeding, or both, Peachymama is proud to support mums of all cultures, needs, and lifestyles as we all continue along our unique parenting journey.\nPhoto by: petalandvinephotography.com"

"Health nutrition and Fitness\nNutrition Education Materials\nHealth nutrition and Fitness\nHealth nutrition and Fitness Nutrition handouts that can be used as educational resources using nutritional topics of your choice. Topics can include but not limited to: weight management, sports nutrition, healthy snacking for kids and adults, and the DASH diet plan\nSchool nutrition is often the last district partner to be brought into the change process, but it is the one upon which all others rely for success.\nSchool districts, especially those that undergo a food policy development process, should plan on implementing a program of professional development for nutrition services staff. Professional development is a direct and critical investment in the individuals the district is counting on to make the change.\nNew menus based on cooking from scratch may require nutrition services employees to learn new skills, especially if the current service is thaw-and-serve. The menus the district intends to serve will tell you what skills your staff needs to acquire. It is also true that employees’ jobs become more rewarding and satisfying when the work is less routine and requires skillful execution. It is through professional development that the nutrition services staff acquires those valuable and transferable skills, which might qualify them for higher pay. When staff members find the work more satisfying, and receive the respect they deserve, enthusiasm will build for the new program.\nMany nutrition services directors provide professional development. The California Department of Education offers a food service professional development infrastructure through universities and colleges. Discussion of making such training mandatory is under way.\nAt a policy level, I would advocate for better pay for nutrition services staff, and development of some professional requirements and expectations for anyone who is involved in the preparation of food for children. These would include cooking skills, basic sanitation, and safety training. We’re not there yet.\nThe emphasis on the farm-to-school approach to improving food in schools comes at a time when we are facing a national health crisis, and much of that crisis is nutrition-related. Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Some 4.7 million children between 6 and 17 (11 percent) are overweight; the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 19.6 percent in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0 percent to 18.1 percent. Type II diabetes was once called “adult onset” diabetes. Today, it’s one of the most serious health problems of overweight children, and its rates have recently escalated.\nReports to the U. S. Department of Agriculture show that only 2 percent of school-age children meet the USDA’s serving recommendations for all five major food groups. Just over half eat less than one serving of fruit a day. Nearly 30 percent eat less than one serving a day of vegetables that are not fried. Added sugar contributes to 20 percent of total food energy in children’s diets; 56 percent to 85 percent of children consume soda on any given day.\nAccording to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, poor diet and physical inactivity are responsible for as many premature deaths as is tobacco—more than 1,200 deaths a day. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies diet as a “known risk” for the development of the nation’s three leading causes of death: coronary heart disease, cancer, and stroke, as well as for diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis, among others.\nIf one of our primary goals as educators is to help students prepare for healthy and productive lives, then nutrition and health education are central to that goal. The most systematic and efficient means for improving the health of America’s youth is to establish healthy dietary and physical activity behaviors in childhood. The CDC reports that “young persons having unhealthy eating habits tend to maintain these as they age. Behaviors and physiological risk factors are difficult to change once they are established during youth.”\nYet fewer than one-third of schools provide thorough coverage of nutrition education related to influencing students’ motivation, attitudes, and eating behaviors.\nMost of us already connect nutrition with health. If we go one step further to connect health with educational goals, then we have effectively connected nutrition to academic performance. There is so much concern over test scores these days. But if kids aren’t in a position to learn because they’re hungry, or they don’t get enough nutritious food at home, then schools that don’t make the nutrition– performance connection in the cafeteria end up undermining what they’re trying to do in the classroom. They know this, too. As an example, on the day before schools administer standardized tests, they’ll tell kids to eat breakfast in the morning, or they’ll serve a breakfast on campus on test days.\nStudies repeatedly link good nutrition to learning readiness, academic achievement, and decreased discipline and emotional problems. A hungry child is not equipped to learn. Any teacher knows that if children are hungry, they’re not thinking about their lessons. Educational theorists sometimes forget that.\nIn 2003, I served as one of the writers for a joint position statement of the American Dietetic Association, the Society for Nutrition Education, and the American School Food Service Association. Part of our statement read: “ . . . comprehensive nutrition services must be provided to all of the nation’s preschool through grade twelve students. These . . . shall be integrated with a coordinated, comprehensive school health program and implemented through a school nutrition policy. The policy shall link comprehensive, sequential nutrition education; access to and promotion of child nutrition programs providing nutritious meals and snacks in the school environment; and family, community, and health services’ partnership supporting positive health outcomes for all children.”\nTo me, that means that you need to connect health, through nutrition education, to the whole curriculum—not merely as one of the components in the curriculum, but as something that’s embedded in all aspects of it. It means making school meals part of the nutrition education program. That connection feels self-evident, but schools and districts have been slow to make it. The lunch period has more often been regarded as time stolen away from the curriculum than as part of the curriculum.\nImplementing a program that addresses nutrition, health, and school lunches through an integrated curriculum requires many steps. It’s a circle that can be entered at numerous points, including the many sections of the “Rethinking School Lunch” guide, but it all starts with the food on children’s plates.\nMenus are the heart of the whole system. Kitchens should be designed to prepare the menus you want to serve, and not the other way around. Menus also provide the basis for reviewing nutrition services staffing and staff development programs, facilities, budget, and the procurement system, to see what needs to change.\nSchool meal programs have the potential to provide students with better nutrition for one or two meals every day, which would be a great health improvement for many students. Lunches brought from home often provide as little as one-third the Recommended Dietary Allowance for food energy, vitamin A, B vitamins, calcium, iron, and zinc.\nBut it’s not enough that school food be nutritious. Healthy meals won’t make a difference to student health if students reject them or throw them away. The food needs to be delicious, attractive, and appealing to young people. Fortunately for nutrition educators, good fresh food usually does taste better. When children taste freshly picked or prepared foods—sometimes for the first time—they often discover that they like them. More and more schools are now buying and preparing fresh food.\nI much prefer this approach to the negative approach of “Do not eat this, and do not have that.” It’s a more positive, much more educational way for students to learn how delightful and wonderful it can be to add fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to their diet. Rather than calling attention to a banned food, which then becomes more attractive, enjoyment of fresh food’s natural tastiness will help to establish new attitudes toward food and lifelong healthy eating habits.\nOffering nutritious food, even if it tastes good, may still not be enough by itself. The pervasive availability of high-fat foods, non-nutritious foods served in the influential environment of restaurants geared to young children, and children’s predisposition to these foods all contribute to unhealthy diets. The media has the capacity to persuade children to make poor food choices. Studies have shown that even brief exposure to televised food commercials can influence preschool children’s food preferences. A successful program may also need to use the tools of marketers to reach both children and parents. And when school gardens or cooking classes are also integrated into the curriculum, so that children grow or prepare the foods they eat, the food almost always becomes more attractive.\nBuying food locally, to be prepared and served fresh, helps local farmers who are often struggling to compete with agribusiness. It gives local farmers a chance to diversify their markets, and that in turn helps the local economy. Healthy farms provide jobs, pay taxes, and keep working agricultural land from going to development. The benefits of preserving farmland include lower costs of community services, more open space, valuable flood control, diversified wildlife habitat, and greater community food security.\nSchools represent a reliable and steady demand for produce and products that farmers can plan for, allowing farms to establish better controls on planting, harvesting, and marketing. Buying locally also reduces the transportation costs, packaging, fossil fuel use, and exhaust emissions caused by shipping food over long distances. In many cases, food bought locally costs schools less. Having local food sources also enables schools to bring farmers to the classroom, and allows students to go on field trips to farms and at farmers’ markets.\nThe lifelong nutrition habits and lessons that children acquire from school food programs don’t end with eating better food. A food systems curriculum promotes understanding about where food comes from and the natural cycles that produce it. The way that meals are served and eaten is part of the hidden curriculum that tells students what the school really believes about food. Does the school encourage fast-food attitudes by providing short lunch periods in which eating competes with getting out of the cafeteria and onto the playground? Or does the school model a belief that mealtime is part of living a healthy life?\nI advocate serving meals family style, around a table, as an alternative to “grab and go” through a cafeteria line. When the social experience of sitting together with other students and calmly eating the food is a positive one, children want to make time to have that experience with their friends and families. In order for this to happen, the cafeteria needs to be a positive environment in all respects.\nSome people argue that cafeteria lines are faster and more efficient, but family-style service can actually be faster because it’s all set up in advance. The kids come in, and the food is there on the table. They actually have the full lunch period to eat without having to stand in line.\nIn order to serve family style successfully, you do need an adult in the role of “table host” at each table. It quickly becomes too costly if you rely on paid staff, but I’ve been involved in very successful programs in which senior citizens served as the table hosts. Those programs worked very well. The kids ate in a better atmosphere; the senior citizens were able to make a valuable contribution and enjoy a nutritious lunch. The table hosts received stimulation from interacting with the kids; the kids were exposed to new role models. A program like that also helps connect schools to their communities, which can create more advocates for the schools when bond issues and other funding measures come before the community.\nUnfortunately, the hidden curricula of most school systems—from industrial cafeteria lines, to the amount of time allotted for lunch, to combining lunch with recess—teach kids that meals are something to rush through on the way to somewhere else. Recent research shows that children eat better when they also have a quiet time that follows eating. The ideal seems to be to have physical activity in the morning, a quiet study time of some type before lunch, then lunch, followed by a reading or quiet time. Physical activity after lunch needs to be delayed until later in the day. It’s pretty obvious that if you go right out to PE, which is often what schools do, then kids who are anxious to get out on the playground shortcut their meals.\nWe think of today’s kids as having grown up as a junk food generation, but it’s often their parents who grew up surrounded by junk food, and they passed on those habits to their kids. We’ve lost a lot of parent role modeling. Parents often lack the ability to make wise food choices, or lack the skills to prepare fresh food. We’ve lost our home economics courses. Even so, time and time again, I have seen children take food knowledge home and really make a difference with their parents. They often help teach their parents about healthy, fresh food. Sometimes they take their parents to the farmers’ market. Sometimes they bring home food preparation skills that their parents forgot or never had.\nWhen we connect schools and parents, we find that many parents have skills that they can bring into the classroom. This is especially true of parents who have traditional cooking skills from different cultures. I’ve seen it happen so many times, where a parent who might not be participating at all in school is asked to come in and share ethnic recipes—often a traditional recipe that incorporates local seasonal foods. They come, they meet people, and they see the values of their culture being recognized and honored.\nThat reminds me of a study among the Hmong living in Berkeley. Their kids were taking home processed food like pizza, and the parents felt, Okay, this is the culture, and I want to learn this culture. So, we’d better serve this at home. Meanwhile, the study was busy highlighting the wonderful, delicious, high-nutrient fruit-and-vegetable recipes that the parents knew. Seeing their culture valued, and perceiving themselves as having a rich cultural gift to contribute, can be the door that leads those parents to become much more involved in the school and in the community. I’ve seen that happen repeatedly.\nMoving from good ideas to action is never easy. School systems are among the most entrenched systems in our culture, often for good reason. We see programs succeed most often when a key administrator, especially a superintendent, is driving them. Sometimes administrators aren’t ready. Sometimes school lunch and nutrition education programs are too far down their priority lists. In those cases, the change process can still be initiated from the ground up. It can begin with a nutrition services director, or a parent, or a school nurse. I’ve seen it begin with a school board member who became very interested, inspired the rest of the board, and dragged the principal into it. I’ve even seen students take it on as a project.\nSo it can work from the top down, or from the ground up, but it’s ideal if you have both. The most important thing is to start somewhere, and stay with it. Probably more than anything else you need an advocate, someone who will spend the time and energy to stick with it. The change you want is so positive that many people will be drawn toward it. But you still need an advocate to bring the different groups together.\nBuilding partnerships among administrators and parents, or teachers and nurses, or between schools and the agricultural community, is a way in to involve new partners in the effort. In fact, I did that with school bus drivers, who look skeptically at programs that require changes in the bus schedule—one of the big obstacles to successful breakfast programs. Knowing that food talks, I invited the bus drivers to dinner. We talked about goals, and imagined working together to make the program happen for the kids. The next thing I knew, the drivers were adjusting their schedules to encourage breakfasts for children.\n612 total views, 2 views today"

"ADHD shouldn't be so confusing, so I made ADHD simple for you.\nADHD can be a confusing diagnosis leaving you with many unanswered questions. Imagine living in a fast-moving kaleidoscope, where sounds, images, and thoughts are constantly shifting. Feeling easily bored, yet helpless to keep your mind on tasks you need to complete. Distracted by unimportant sights and sounds, your mind drives you from one thought or activity to the next. Perhaps you are so wrapped up in a collage of thoughts and images that you don't notice when someone speaks to you.\nFor many people, this is what it's like to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. They may be unable to sit still, plan ahead, finish tasks, or be fully aware of what's going on around them. To their family, classmates or coworkers, they seem to exist in a whirlwind of disorganized or frenzied activity. Unexpectedly--on some days and in some situations--they seem fine, often leading others to think the person with ADHD can actually control these behaviors. As a result, the disorder can mar the person's relationships with others in addition to disrupting their daily life, consuming energy, and diminishing self-esteem.\nADHD, once called hyperkinesis or minimal brain dysfunction, is one of the most common mental disorders among children. It affects 3 to 5 percent of all children, perhaps as many as 2 million American children. Two to three times more boys than girls are affected. On the average, at least one child in every classroom in the United States needs help for the disorder. ADHD often continues into adolescence and adulthood, and can cause a lifetime of frustrated dreams and emotional pain.\nBut there is help...and hope. In the last decade, scientists have learned much about the course of the disorder and are now able to identify and treat children, adolescents, and adults who have it. A variety of medications, behavior-changing therapies, and educational options are already available to help people with ADHD focus their attention, build self-esteem, and function in new ways.\nIn addition, new avenues of research promise to further improve diagnosis and treatment. With so many American children diagnosed as having attention disorder, research on ADHD has become a national priority. It is possible that scientists will pinpoint the biological basis of ADHD and learn how to prevent or treat it even more effectively.\nScientists are dedicated to understanding the workings and interrelationships of the various regions of the brain, and to developing preventive measures and new treatments to overcome brain disorders that handicap people in school, work, and play.\nThis web site offers up-to-date information on attention deficit hyperactiviy disorders and research in discovering underlying causes and effective treatments. It describes treatment options, strategies for coping, and sources of information and support. You'll also find out what it's like to have ADHD from the stories of Mark, Lisa, and Henry. You'll see their early frustrations, their steps toward getting help, and their hopes for the future.\nTo Your Success,\nNational AD/HD Awareness Day - September 7th!\nTuesday, September 7,2004 marked the inaugural AD/HD Awareness Day,highlighting the significant impact of Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorderon millions of American children, families and adults."

"In recent years, cycles of extreme drought and severe flooding have affected the country’s water availability and crop production. The trend can be attributed to climate change. Scientists have been exploring drought and flood tolerant crop varieties to offset stress conditions that significantly constrain rice production. With the development of new drought and flood-tolerant rice varieties, agriculture scientists hope to ease water constraints and ensure food security.\nA study titled Do farmers value rice varieties tolerant to droughts and floods? Evidence from a discrete choice experiment in Odisha, India suggests that “new stress-tolerant technologies have the potential to reduce yield variability and help insulate farmers from the risks posed by these hazards”.\nThe question is whether farmers prefer and adopt drought-tolerant and submergence-tolerant varieties. Behavioral parameters such as risk and loss aversion play a role in farmers' preferences, even when they recognise that the improved seeds have a potential to protect farmers from crop losses.\nThe study characterised drought tolerance in terms of yield distributions under different moisture stress conditions, and submergence tolerance in terms of number of days of submergence that crops can tolerate.\nDroughts have obvious consequences in terms of yield reductions, especially if droughts occur during key stages in the rice growth cycle in which plant development is particularly sensitive to water requirements. Similarly, floods may also limit the area under cultivation. Both of these consequences have potentially severe implications for overall rice production and farm incomes.\nA special report by the IPCC on Managing the risks of extreme events and disasters to advance climate change adaptation finds evidence of a general consensus among climate models for an increasing trend in the length of dry spells in much of southern and eastern India (including Odisha) during the 21st century. A future where rice production is increasingly prone to drought and flood-stress is probable for Odisha. Given that average yields in the state are well below the national average, these changes may have significant implications on farmer livelihoods.\nVarieties released for cultivation in eastern India that are tolerant to drought (Sahbhagi dhan) and submergence (Swarna-Sub1) have reported potential benefits from adoption. The objective of this study was to estimate farmers' valuations for drought and submergence-tolerance characteristics in rice seeds using a discrete choice experiment methodology for 400 rice-growing farmers in three districts of Odisha.\nFarmers willing to pay more for drought and flood tolerant varieties\nThe results suggest that, on an average, farmers are willing to pay a significant premium for drought-tolerant technologies. While farmers value reductions in yield variability and protection against downside risk, they may not be willing to sacrifice higher expected yields to attain these. Farmers also highly value short duration rice, as well as being able to store grain and use it as a seed in subsequent seasons. Qualitatively, the results are similar for the sub-samples of drought-prone and flood-prone regions. However, the willingness to pay for most attributes is considerably higher in the flood-prone region than in the drought-prone region, which reflects the socio-economic differences in households from the two regions. Households in flood-prone areas, on an average, have higher mean incomes, are more educated, and are more likely to belong to the general caste in the study area.\nFarmers value short-duration rice\nAnother robust result from the study is high valuation for the short-duration rice. By cultivating a short-duration variety, farmers can escape droughts and floods. However, the results suggest that farmers value the short duration variety even beyond its ability to escape abiotic stresses. In addition, farmers cultivating short-duration rice are able to supplement their income by either cultivating a short duration vegetable crop after harvesting their kharif rice or by taking advantage of non-agricultural opportunities after the kharif harvest.\nThe results from the study are useful for researchers developing these new technologies in determining the traits they should focus on. They are also useful in guiding public and private sector investment in the development and delivery of such technologies.\nThe results suggest the existence of naturally occurring market segments. In particular, the result that farmers in both drought-prone and flood-prone areas are willing to pay for seed technologies that provide protection against droughts suggests that all farmers—even those not residing in designated drought-prone areas—perceive susceptibility to droughts. This may be a result specific to Odisha, in which many areas have historically endured prolonged dry spells. Furthermore, much of Odisha has little irrigation infrastructure with which to buffer production during these dry spells.\nA different story emerges altogether when the study considers potential markets for submergence-tolerant varieties such as Swarna-Sub1. Farmers in drought-prone areas are very clearly not willing to pay for protection from prolonged floods, and so would not be a viable market place for such products. There does appear to be potential demand for submergence tolerant products in flood-prone areas, but the marginal willingness to pay for protection against prolonged submergence is small in comparison with the marginal willingness to pay for other traits, such as shorter duration.\nThis perhaps suggests that while farmers in flood-prone areas might be aware that floods are a threat to their production, floods of such a prolonged duration are sufficiently rare as to not justify a large valuation. While there is a positive valuation, this is perhaps a cautionary note about the potential success of marketing a product like Swarna-Sub1.\nThe paper can be read here"

"Las Cabezas de San Juan, in the province of Seville, a village nestled in the Lower Guadalquivir that is still a forced transit to Cádiz, dawned, at 8 am on January 1, 1820, writing the most outstanding page of its history. An episode that is also transcendental to frame contemporary history in Spain: the pronouncement of General Rafael del Riego (Tuña, Asturias, 1784 - Madrid, 1823) that, raised in arms, intended to force Fernando VII to abandon the absolutist regime restored in 1814, after the War of Independence, and return to abide by the Constitution proclaimed by the Cortes of Cádiz in 1812. The triumph - although not immediate - of this revolution opened the door to the so-called Liberal Triennium, a period in which, for the first time in history, Spain was to be governed by a constitutional system. “The lights of Europe no longer allow, sir, for nations to be governed as absolute possessions of kings (...). Resurrect the Constitution of Spain, here is its purpose: to decide that it is the legitimately represented Nation who has only the right to give laws to itself, ”said the manifesto that, addressed to the absolutist monarch, the military read in the now called plaza de the Constitution of the Sevillian municipality that first year of which two centuries are fulfilled.\nCharacter on which even today there is no consensus - \"has gone down in history as a controversial character, hero for some, military coup for others\", recognizes the former vice president of the Government Alfonso Guerra-, it is nevertheless unquestionable that Riego was the great protagonist of what is considered the first military coup in the history of Spain. Infiltrated since the end of the War of Independence in the clandestine movements of the Army that exercised liberal opposition to the regime of Ferdinand VII - which had abolished the Constitution of 12 \"as if it had never happened\" -, the general was that 1 January in the bordering provinces with Cádiz along with another 20,000 men. All of them had to embark to America in order to quell the independence revolts that were breaking into territories of the still Spanish Empire. But, in a turn that would go around the course of Spanish history, he left the script and proclaimed the Constitution of Cádiz.\nThe most critical voices, among which is that of Manuel Moreno Alonso, Professor of Contemporary History of the Sevilla University, they believe that “Irrigation found an excellent pretext, all the liberal paraphernalia of the triumph of the Constitution, not to go to the colonies. It has never been highlighted, but the key cause is that he did not want to go to America, ”says the professor, for whom“ the work of Irrigation was unfortunate in every way and plunged the country into chaos. ” \"The celebration of this event must avoid a single historical vision,\" Moreno Alonso insists. \"You have to be critical of the dissonant things that the coup had: they did it by putting aside the doceañistas, that is, they charged against the own liberals, and Irrigation obeyed, not to the popular will, but to the Masonic lodges to which it was due ”. In them he had entered years before to find there one of the most powerful springs in the fight against absolutism.\nOn the contrary, Guerra believes that “it is not possible to forget that, beyond the conjectures about the personal motivation that induced him to act as he did, Riego revolts claiming the liberal Constitution of 1812, opposes the King's felony absolutist and is brutally repressed with a tragic end of dismemberment. From 1812, Spanish political life took the path of authoritarianism until 1978 with the current Constitution, saving the short period of the Republic of 1931, which also ended authoritatively. ”\nThis voice is added by Professor Alberto González Troyano, Professor of Literature at the universities of Fez (Morocco), Cádiz and Seville and the Ibero-American Prize Cádiz courts of Social Sciences in 2012. “The deed of Irrigation has had a more than positive impact on the construction of liberal Spain. We should approach the event of the pronouncement as the first example in the history of our country of a military man who stands in favor of the constitutional cause. Irrigation is not himself, nor his particular causes, but what he represents: he collected the collective will and achieved that, for three years, liberalism triumphed in Spain, ”he says.\nFerdinand VII took almost three months to react. It was necessary for a large crowd to surround the Madrid's royal palace to meet the demands of irrigation. He did it with a manifesto that included the historic proclamation for which he was nicknamed The felon, in relation to his disloyalty: \"Let us march frankly, and I first, on the constitutional path.\" Thus began the Liberal Triennium, a brief dream that ended with Guillotined Irrigation in the Plaza de la Cebada in Madrid by order of the monarch himself, who had not stopped maneuvering to make the liberal essay fail and was consumed with the entry into Spain of the One Hundred Thousand Sons of St. Louis commanded by the Duke of Angoulême. “Irrigation attended only its end, abandoned all over the world. He was a man of few lights, an inconsistent myth built on a character that was made with a wax that burned badly, ”Professor Moreno Alonso insists.\nHowever, Guerra recalls, “Our contemporary history is not so full of characters that have given their lives to defend constitutional democratic values to let a 200-year anniversary pass, without remembering General Irrigation. For more than two centuries in Spain the construction of a modern state was not achieved because the reactionary forces of the moment were conjured to prevent it: the throne, the sword, the altar and the great agrarian fortunes. The liberal principle proclaimed by the liberal Irrigation is confirmed by the Constitution of 78, which looks a lot in the one of 12, with an Army that assumes the role that the Constitution consigns and with a monarch - there are actually two - that defend constitutional democracy, in February 1981 and October 2017 as culminating dates \"\nAnother of the great milestones for which the name of Irrigation is still associated with the history of the Liberalism of Spain is the anthem that bears his name and that was born that same January 1, 1812 to accompany the march of the general with the rebel troops that forced to the king to sign the Constitution in 1820. Despite being known by the name of Irrigation, the letter was the work of his friend Evaristo Fernández de San Miguel, lieutenant colonel and companion in the insurrection. The author of the music, however, is officially unknown, although there are several theories, among which the authorship of the romantic composer José Melchor Gomis stands out. Despite its enormous popularity in the First and Second Republic - with the inclusion of a satirical letter - it only became an official anthem in the Liberal Triennium."

"Please set a username for yourself.\nPeople will see it as Author Name with your public flash cards.\nCertain locomotory tricks as in sidewinder snakes and dune spider are adopted to minimize body contact with the surface (Pough et al, 1999; Henschel, 1990). Endogenous rhythms of desert invertebrates further help in their survival. Some ants and arthropods of hyper-arid deserts possess raised thermal tolerance and extremely low metabolic rate. Mechanisms for water vapour uptake in desert mites and desert cockroach, Arenivaga, are quite interesting and many desert insects use discontinuous respiration. In the kangaroo rat, Dipodomys, the expired air is cooler than the inspired air, which is a device for nasal heat exchange.\nIiypodermal layers of xerophytes are thick and well developed. Ground tissue\nxe·ro·phyte / ˈzi(ə)rəˌfīt / • n. Bot. a plant that needs very little water. DERIVATIVES: xe·ro·phyt·ic / ˌzi(ə)rəˈfitik / adj.\nFor example, in hot weather they may overheat and suffer from temperature stress . They have no specific adaptations to overcome this, but, if there is enough water in the soil to allow this, they can increase their rate of transpiration by opening their stomata, thus meaning some heat is removed by the evaporating water. However these plants can only tolerate saturated soil for a certain amount of time without a warm temperature. In dry weather they may suffer from water stress (losing more water via transpiration than can be gained from the soil). Again they have no specific adaptations to overcome this, and can only respond by closing their stomata to prevent further transpiration. This does actually have some benefits as it reduces the surface area of the leaves exposed to the atmosphere , which reduces transpiration. Prolonged periods of dehydration, however, can lead to permanent wilting, cell plasmolysis , and subsequent death . Since mesophytes prefer moist, well drained soils, most crops are mesophytes. Some examples are: corn (maize), privet , lilac , goldenrod , clover , and oxeye daisy ..."

"Bed bug infestations continue to be an issue for both property managers and homeowners in Florida. While these pest problems are common, having bed bugs is perhaps the most frowned upon pest issue. Primarily, this concern arises because of the stereotype that these pests are only present in cluttered and dirty households. Surprisingly, this is not always the case. Finding bed bugs in clean homes and hotels is not unusual.\nTo understand why a clean home can suffer from a bed bug infestation, you’ll first need to know bed bug habits.\nBed bugs are tiny reddish-brown insects that feed on human and animal blood for their survival. These bloodsuckers have been a menace for over 3000 years and are commonly seen where humans are present, particularly in movie theaters, hospitals, apartments, nursing homes, residences, and offices.\nBed bugs spread fast due to their excellent hitchhiking ability. So, what attracts them to a home or office? As mentioned earlier, bed bugs need blood to stay alive. What’s more, they prefer human blood to other hosts. So, how do these parasites detect your presence?\nWell, it’s simple. Bed bugs are attracted to the chemicals your body gives off naturally, such as carbon dioxide, and can also sense body heat.\nOnce they find their hosts, these pests often stay about 20 feet from the human or animal host. Bed bugs often feed at night, however, they may emerge during the day if they are very hungry. These bugs can survive in temperatures ranging from 7°C to 44°C.\nDetecting an infestation is difficult, though not impossible. You’ll first need to know where to look. The common bed bug hiding spots include:\nHere are some of the common signs of a bed bug infestation.\nYes, bed bugs can infest a clean house. Typically, unlike other pests such as rats and mice, bed bugs only need blood. Therefore as long as humans and animals are present, there’s still a risk of infestation. Also, remember that bit about them being pro travelers? Bed bugs can latch onto your suitcase or clothing during your vacation and end up setting up shop in your clean home.\nNow that we’ve established that bed bugs are not a sign of poor hygiene, we still recommend keeping your house clean for these two reasons.\nBed bugs prefer dark hiding spots such as between cracks or inside cushions. The only way to detect if bed bugs are present is through regular cleaning. Also, by reducing clutter, you make it harder for these parasites to find a suitable hiding place.\nBedbugs, as their name suggests, love to stay close to where you sleep. Therefore cleaning bedding regularly at high temperatures beyond 45 degrees Celsius will kill these bed bugs. Also, vacuuming all rooms and washing house rugs might prevent bed bugs from spreading around your home.\nHaving a clean house is an effective preventive measure. However, once your house is infested, no home remedy can eliminate bed bugs. It would be best to seek help from a trusted pest control company offering bed bug treatment.\nCurrently, there are two common approaches that pest management professionals use to get rid of bed bugs in homes.\nThis bed bug treatment involves bringing in a particular machine to increase your home’s temperature with the aim of killing these parasites and their eggs. For instance, if the exterminators raise the it to 48°C, it will take about ninety minutes to get rid of bed bugs. Alternatively, the exterminator may use 50°C for immediate treatment.\nYour property size will determine the time it’ll take to complete the heat treatment. Usually, it takes exterminators up to eight hours. Be sure to discuss the entire process with the pest control company, including how to prepare the house for treatment.\nPest management companies also use insecticide treatment to kill bed bugs. While there are many EPA-regulated insecticides, exterminators mostly use:\nInsecticide treatments require about three sessions to eliminate bed bugs from your home. Each treatment may take thirty minutes or even two hours per room. Again just like heat treatments, the area size and severity determine the treatment time. Also, the exterminator should provide clear instructions on how to prepare your property. Ensure your pet(s) are nowhere near the property during treatment.\nFinding bed bugs in clean homes is more common than you may think. However, having a clean house helps to reduce the infestation spread and also ensures early detection. McDonald Pest Control is a trusted pest management company with extensive pest control experience. In addition, our bed bug heat treatment is both EPA-approved and safe for your equipment. So, do not let bed bugs ruin this year’s summer. Call us at 727-734-0963 for a fast, free consultation."

"At some point in your life, you've probably checked off a box on a form that asks you to specify your ethnicity. But educational and governmental organizations are under increasing pressure to include a multiracial option rather than forcing individuals with complex racial heritages to choose just one category.\nFor Kevin Binning, Miguel Unzueta, Yuen Huo, and Ludwin Molina, this raised a provocative question: Does identifying themselves as multiracial help or hinder the psychological well-being of individuals of diverse ethnicity?\nPrevious studies had assumed that if an individual had a multiracial heritage that he or she automatically identified with that heritage. Yet Binning and his fellow researchers hypothesized that simply belonging to multiple racial groups did not guarantee that a person would psychologically identify with all of those groups. \"We thought that digging deeper into the multiracial category to examine how such individuals interpreted their racial identity would help our understanding of multiracial psychology,\" said Binning, a post-doctoral scholar at Stanford GSB and coauthor of \"The Interpretation of Multiracial Status and Its Relation to Social Engagement and Psychological Well-Being,\" published recently in the Journal of Social Issues.\nIn the study, high school students who belonged to multiple racial groups were asked to indicate their ethnic heritage by checking as many boxes as necessary on a form. They were also asked an open-ended question about which groups they primarily identified with. They were then classified as identifying with a group the researchers had designated as having a relatively low social status (black or Latino), a relatively high social status, (Asian or white), or multiple groups (for example, black and white or \"multiracial \"). Those who identified with multiple groups reported either equal or higher psychological well-being and social engagement than those who identified primarily with a single group.\nInterestingly, it didn't matter whether the groups the students identified with were characterized as low or high-status. \"We were surprised to find virtually no differences between individuals who identified with either low- or high-status groups,\" said Binning. \"What mattered was whether they acknowledged their multiracial identity.\" In the past, research suggested that members of high- and low-status groups differed psychologically.\nBinning and his associates have some theories about why there might be some psychological benefits associated with having a multiracial identity. \"For one, perhaps being able to 'stand one's ground' and reject social pressure to identify with a single racial group indicates resiliency,\" said Binning. Additionally, instead of falling between the cracks of two separate cultures, individuals who identify with multiple groups might be better equipped to assimilate into both racially homogenous and racially mixed environments. In this way, multiracial individuals in diverse environments might have a broader sense of \"fitting in,\" which can boost both their psychological and social well-being.\nAlternatively, being forced to identify with one race over another can be disconcerting. \"If I'm a member of multiple groups and forced to identify with only one group, I'm — by necessity — rejecting part of my identity,\" said Binning. \"Typically, this means taking on the race or ethnicity of one parent over another. This can put people on the defensive, emotionally.\"\nThe authors also felt that individuals who feel comfortable in several different cultures might be able to better \"frame switch\" between different cultural mind sets.\n\"Such individuals might be able to seamlessly switch between their different cultures' ways of perceiving the world, which could help them navigate through racially diverse environments,\" said Binning.\nGiven that this research highlights the benefits of possessing a multiracial identity, should society encourage individuals to adopt this attitude? \"Much more research is needed to determine an answer to this,\" said Binning. A major question, for example, is whether adopting a multiracial identity causes psychological and social well-being, or if the reverse is true. \"It could simply be that better-adjusted individuals tend to accept their multiracial identity,\" said Binning. \"We're not sure at this point what the causal relationship is.\"\nThe data reported in this article is part of a larger data set collected with a UCLA Center for Community Partnership Grant awarded to Yuen J. Huo, an associate professor in social psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Coauthor Unzueta is an assistant professor at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Molina is an assistant professor of social psychology at the University of Kansas.\nOne of the reasons that this research study is getting a lot of attention is President Barack Obama's own mixed-race heritage. \"In his books he stresses his own mixed ethnicity, and how he struggled with that during his teenage years,\" said Binning. And as the U.S. population becomes increasingly heterogeneous, \"this issue is only going to become more important in coming years.\""

"The antifungal efficacy of commonly used kennel disinfectants for large surfaces was tested using naturally infective material from untreated animals (M. canis and Trichophyton sp.) soaked and macerated but unfiltered leaving visible fluorescing hairs and/or scales in the test inoculum to create a robust challenge. Disinfectants included sodium hypochlorite (1 : 32 and 1 : 100), enilconazole (1 : 100), accelerated hydrogen peroxide (1 : 16), potassium peroxymonosulfate (1% and 2%), and calcium hypochlorite “dry bleach.”\nDisinfectants were tested at a 1 : 10, 1 : 5, and 1 : 1 dilution of test inoculum to disinfectant with a 10 min contact time. Good efficacy was defined as a disinfectant resulting in no growth. Control plates grew >300 colonies of each pathogen per plate. Enilconazole, sodium hypochlorite (all dilutions), accelerated hydrogen peroxide, and 2% potassium peroxymonosulfate (but not 1%) inhibited all growth of both pathogens at 1 : 10, 1 : 5, and 1 : 1 dilutions. Calcium hypochlorite showed no antifungal efficacy (>300 colonies per plate).\nEnilconazole (1 : 100), sodium hypochlorite (1 : 32 or 1 : 100), accelerated hydrogen peroxide (1 : 16), and 2% potassium peroxymonosulfate are recommended for decontamination of kennels exposed to dermatophyte pathogens.\nAuthor: Karen A Moriello. Full story here."

"Vancouver Islandís ancient rainforests destroyed three times faster than Brazilís Amazon rainfores\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\nJanuary 3, 2019\nAs Brazilís new president Jair Bolsonaro acted immediately to remove protections for the countryís rainforest after taking office this week, Sierra Club BC called for increased protection of globally important rainforests and warned that Vancouver Islandís productive ancient rainforests are being destroyed three times faster than Brazilís Amazon rainforest.\nGlobal concern about the future of the Amazon is growing as President Bolsonaro has declared he wants to open large areas of the rainforest for extraction of natural resources and limit further protection of the lands of Indigenous peoples.\nAs of 2018, about eighty per cent of Brazilís Amazon rainforest remains intact (compared to pre-1970). In the last twenty-five years, close to ten per cent of the rainforest was destroyed (3.7 million square kilometres remained in 1993 and 3.3 million square kilometres remained in 2018).\nOn Vancouver Island, only about a fifth of the original productive old-growth rainforest remains unlogged. More than thirty per cent of what remained standing in 1993 has been destroyed in just the last twenty-five years (684,000 hectares or thirty-one per cent in 1993 and 469,000 hectares or twenty-one per cent in 2018).\nďBolsonaroís rise to power is a huge threat for the future of rainforests, biodiversity, Indigenous rights and our climate. Itís also a reminder that B.C. is not taking its global responsibility seriously. Like Brazil, we need to safeguard remaining intact rainforests and the life support systems we all depend on before itís too late,Ē said Jens Wieting, Sierra Club BCís senior forest and climate campaigner.\nďThe world needs to push back on Bolsonaroís assault on Indigenous rights and Brazilís globally significant rainforests. One thing we can do here in B.C. is to set a strong example of rainforest protection that respects Indigenous rights and title while creating new jobs and improving second-growth forestry. The Great Bear Rainforest Agreements showed solutions for healthy rainforests and healthy communities are possible.Ē\nSierra Club BC is calling for immediate action to protect remaining intact rainforests and endangered ecosystems to safeguard threatened species, Indigenous values and a livable climate.\nGlobally, the loss of primary forestsóforests that are largely undisturbed by human activityóis threatening species, carbon storage, clean air and clean water. In some countries this is mainly due to deforestation; in other countries such as Canada, this is mainly through the replacement of rich ancient forests with even-aged young forest.\nBCís temperate rainforests represent the largest remaining tracts of a globally rare ecosystem covering just half a per cent of the planetís landmass. Yet the current rate of old-growth logging on Vancouver Island alone is more than three square metres per second, or about 34 soccer fields per day.\nOn average, temperate rainforests store more carbon than tropical rainforests, helping to slow down global warming. When left intact, they are relatively resilient and less vulnerable to climate impacts such as fire and insect outbreaks compared to other forests.\nThe NDPís 2017 election platform included a commitment to act for old-growth, promising to take ďan evidence-based scientific approach and use the ecosystem-based management of the Great Bear Rainforest as a model.Ē But the B.C. government has not yet taken any meaningful steps to protect endangered coastal and inland old-growth ecosystems outside the Great Bear Rainforest.\nĖ 30 Ė\n2018 aerial photographs of clearcut logging on Vancouver Island: document.write('@');N07/sets/72157698359993961\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"urlHot\" >https://www.flickr.com/photos/94279740N07/sets/72157698359993961\nMap showing Vancouver Island old-growth rainforest logging 1993-2018:https://sierraclub.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/VI_25_Years_of_Logging-1.pdf\n2018 Sierra Club BC data table showing loss of productive coastal old-growth temperate rainforest and levels of protection on Vancouver Island and Clayoquot Sound:https://sierraclub.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/Clayoquot-Sound-Anniversary-\nAmazon figures are based on estimates by the Brazilian National Institute of Space Research (INPE) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the Brazilian Amazon, which accounts for roughly sixty per cent of the Amazon rainforest. https://rainforests.mongabay.com/amazon/deforestation_calculations.html\nSenior Forest and Climate Campaigner, Sierra Club BC"

"There are as many types of gardeners as there are types of gardens, but no matter what your gardening style is, there are certain things every garden has in common and certain ideas will apply to all gardening. Here are some tips that are relevant for all gardeners and many types of gardens.\nPlant slug-proof perennials. These mollusks are capable of consuming an entire garden full of flowers in a single night. They’re particularly fond of perennials with smooth and thin leaves, especially if the plants are young. Some perennials are not preferred meals for snails and slugs, especially if their foliage is hairy and tough, or tastes bad. Some of the best varieties of these include achillea, campanula, euphorbia, and heuchera.\nYou can use natural waste items around your home to benefit your plants. For example, plants that prefer high acidic soil love a mulch mixed with coffee grounds. Cinnamon can be used as a natural fungicide for potted plants. And of course, there are the myriad benefits of a home compost pile.\nProtect the soil around your vegetable plants with an inch or two of organic mulch. The mulch will help keep the dirt around the plants more moist. This also helps reduce the appearance of weeds. This will save you having to constantly pull weeds.\nIf you own fish, save your water. Changing the water in a fish tank is a necessary chore when caring for these pets; however it can also prove to be useful for your garden. Dirty fish tank water is actually quite loaded with the nutrients plants crave. So when it comes time to change the water, instead of dumping that old water down the drain, use the water to fertilize your plants instead.\nEven if you think you will remember which plants are which later, tag your plants properly from the beginning. Plants can look very different after just a few weeks. Write plant names on flat rocks with a permanent marker in a decorative way, and lay them next to each plant so that you can save yourself from confusion down the road.\nPlant in the shade. All plants need light to survive, but not all of them need brilliant sunshine. Plants native to woodland areas are happy when they get protection from the sun’s rays. There are many plants that will thrive in a shady garden, including Hosta, Cyclamen, Foxglove, Helleborus, Japanese Anemone, and Ajuga. By planting these, you will have a year-round display of color in even the shadiest of gardens.\nTo ensure the vitality of your garden, research what plants are native to your area. While imported plants may look lovely, they may have health difficulties growing in your climate. Native plants and produce will easily be able to adapt to changes in the weather, and will keep your garden healthy and strong.\nAny garden and gardener can benefit from these tips, whether your ideal garden is huge or tiny, whether you prefer flowers or vegetables, whether you like exotic plants or native plants. With this advice in your gardening tool shed, your gardening skills might improve so much that all your gardener friends will want to know your secrets."

"The negative consequences of interpersonal trauma (e.g., physical abuse) take a disproportionate toll on Black youth due to the compounding stress of experiencing unique race related stressors both directly (e.g., microaggressions) and vicariously (e.g., witnessing police brutality in the media). Community based mental health services exist to provide child and family treatment for trauma to help prevent and treat negative sequelae. However, these services are often underutilized as they do not systematically consider racial stress and trauma in their intakes, assessment, or treatments. To increase their utility in responding to and treating trauma, cognitive-behavioral treatments and services should address cultural factors (e.g., system mistrust) that are likely to influence Black families' willingness to engage in treatment. In addition, Black youth rely on particular assets and strengths in their families and communities to reduce negative mental and behavioral health outcomes from interpersonal and race-related stressors. Racial socialization is the protective process of transmitting cultural behaviors, attitudes, and values to prepare youth to cope with racial stressors, and is associated with positive outcomes including increased resilience, coping abilities, and decreased problem behaviors and anxiety in Black youth. This webinar will provide an overview of the impact of interpersonal and racial stress and trauma on mental health and behavioral outcomes for Black youth. This webinar will also present findings from research on organizational barriers and facilitators to service utilization and engagement for ethnic minority caregivers referred for treatment at a nationally accredited community mental health center for children. Last, a focus of this webinar will be on providing participants an overview of groundbreaking strategies and resources for utilizing racial socialization to deliver cognitive-behavioral therapy in a culturally affirming and validating manner for Black youth and families who are healing from interpersonal and racial trauma.\nAt the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:\nAbout the Presenter:\nDr. Isha Metzger is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Georgia, and Visiting Research Faculty at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS’ at Yale University. Dr. Metzger earned her PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of South Carolina, she completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Medical University of South Carolina, and she received postdoctoral training both at the National Crime Victims Center and at Yale University. As Director of The EMPOWER Lab at UGA, Dr. Metzger focuses on reducing mental health disparities through \"Engaging Minorities in Prevention, Outreach, Wellness, Education, & Research.” Dr. Metzger’s systematic research program is aimed at elucidating the role of culturally specific risk (e.g., racial discrimination) and protective (e.g., racial socialization) factors to better inform cognitive-behavioral outcomes for Black youth receiving evidence-based services for interpersonal and racial stress and trauma in “real world” settings. Dr. Metzger is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who offers award-winning instruction, supervision, training, and consultation to students, professionals, and organizations across the nation on the delivery of evidence-based treatments for underserved individuals seeking mental health treatment for a range of problems. Additionally, Dr. Metzger is an advocate for Black youth and families in the local community, and she is both personally and professionally committed to illuminating and utilizing the individual and communal ability of Black Americans to heal from and thrive in spite of anti-Black racism.\nAbout the Moderator: Brittany Hall-Clark Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Currently, she is working primarily in her private practice, InSight Psychology and Behavioral Health Services, where she clinically specializes in trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, nightmares, insomnia, sleep, and anxiety."

"Obesity in America is a growing problem, and not just in adults. Today, about one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese; nearly triple the rate in 1963. Child obesity has quickly become one of the most serious health challenges of the 21st century.\nMore often than not, obesity is the result of a flawed lifestyle. Although genetics can be a factor, it is more common now for children to be obese or overweight because of environmental and behavioral factors. These 10 frightening facts display how dangerous and costly childhood obesity is in society.\n1. Only 2 Percent of Kids in the U.S. Eat Healthy\nBased on diet recommendations established by the United States Department of Agriculture, only 2 percent of children have a healthy diet. In fact, in a survey of high school seniors, only three out of every 10 report eating vegetables “nearly” every day. Of the vegetables consumed, one-fourth is in the form of french fries or potato chips.\n2. Childhood Obesity Results in Reduced Life Expectancies\nUnless a significant change occurs, experts warn that the effects of childhood obesity could reduce average life expectancy by five years or more over the next several decades.\n3. Obesity Among Children is Mainly Caused by a Lack of Exercise\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children and teens exercise at least at the intensity of a fast walk for 60 minutes every day. But did you know one in every four children does not participate in any free-time physical activity? Unfortunately, more and more children are spending their time doing stationary activities.\n4. Television’s Correlation with Childhood Obesity\nA typical child spends approximately 4 to 5 hours a day watching TV, using the computer or playing video games. Studies have found that the more TV children watch, the more likely they are to gain excess weight. There’s also evidence that early TV habits may have long-lasting effects. Two studies that followed children from birth found that TV viewing in childhood predicts obesity risk well into adulthood and even into their mid-life.\n5. Unnecessary Snacking Leads to Weight Gain\nThirty years ago, kids ate just one snack a day, whereas now they are trending toward three snacks, resulting in an additional 200 calories a day. Children and teens in states with strong laws that restrict the sale of unhealthy snack foods and beverages in school gained less weight over a three-year period than those living in states with no such policies.\n6. Overweight and Obese Children May Miss More School\nMany know that a healthy body makes for a healthy mind. But did you know that overweight children miss four times more school than a child at a normal weight? A number of factors could be to blame including, a fear of being bullied or teased, or being embarrassed about participating in physical activities.\n7. The Risk for Heart Disease Jumps for Children with Obesity\n70 percent of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Researchers predict that, if current adolescent obesity rates continue, there will be more than 100,000 additional cases of coronary heart disease attributable to obesity by the year 2035.\n8. Childhood Obesity and the Link to Asthma\nOverweight and obesity are associated with a 52 percent increased risk of a new diagnosis of asthma among children and adolescents.\n9. Health Care Costs Skyrocket\nDid you know health care expenses directly related to childhood obesity are $14 billion every year? If obesity rates continue on their current pace, by 2030, medical costs associated with treating preventable obesity-related diseases are estimated to increase by $48 billion to $66 billion per year in the United States.\n10. The Relationship Between Childhood Obesity and Diabetes\n45 percent of children diagnosed with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes due to being obese or overweight.\nChildhood Obesity Prevention Education at Blank Children’s Hospital\nAt Blank Children’s Hospital, we’re committed to preventing childhood obesity by helping children and teens develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Our adolescent team at Blank Children's Hospital works with teens and young adults to help them begin to take responsibility for their own health by providing guidance on risk-taking behaviors.\nIn addition to our Adolescent Clinic, Blank Children's Hospital and Kohl's Cares have partnered to provide obesity prevention education to kids in the Iowa community. Kohl's All Kids Healthy works to assess children's health risks and provide education to preschools and after-school programs in central Iowa. Program components include educational presentations and CATCH curriculum. Contact us to learn more about our commitment to our community through the Kohl’s Care program today!"

"English grammar can be a challenge for English learners, young and old alike. After all, even identifying the parts of speech in simple sentences can leave students scratching their heads. For example, the first underlined word below is an adjective, while the second underline word is a noun, even though their letters are written the same:\nHe played on the boys’ basketball team. The boys played on the basketball team.\nIt’s no wonder kids often dread learning grammar! But (fun) help at home with putting the English grammar puzzle together can ease students’ frustrationand hopefully inspire them to learn more about it!\nWay #1: Learning Nouns\nNouns are people places, things, or ideas. A fun activity to teach or reinforce this part of speech is to use index cards to write nouns onfor items and even family members in your home! Place the index cards, with words like couch, bedroom, Dad, and ball at their locations around your home (and tape them to your family members and pets who are proper nouns 😊), labeling the nouns that they represent. You can even have your child make some of his or her own index cards. Place new cards around your home as your child masters the old ones.\nTo teach nouns that are ideas, you can include them in your conversations about values, such as honesty,courage, and perseverance.\nWay #2: Learning Adjectives\nAdjectives are words that describe or modify nouns. Children canlearn these by making silly sentences that include as many adjectives as possible to describe a noun. Using a large white board or poster paper, have your child practice making silly sentences like this:\nStart with a simple sentence idea-\nThe girl was _______ because ______.\nThen make a silly sentence like this-\nThe tall, happy,smiling girl soon was grumpy because her delicious strawberryand chocolate ice cream cone tumbled to the cold, hard floor.\nSoon your child will come up with his or her own ideas for making silly sentences!\nWay #3: Learning Verbs\nVerbs are action words and “state of being” (helping) words. We will focus on an action verb activity here. Kids typically learn these easily because kids love action! You can play a pantomime game in which your child chooses an action verb to silently demonstrate, like singing, running, sleeping, thinking, and sneaking foryou to guess. Take turns or set a timer for even more challenge!\nWay #4: Learning Adverbs\nSimilar to adjectives, adverbs are words that describe or modify another word, only this time they modify verbs, not nouns. Students can remember what an adverb is because it is added to verb (ad + verb = adverb). Level up your verbs pantomime game for this part of speech by having game participants guess the adverbs being demonstrated along with the verbs. So, when your child pantomimes sleeping, he can act sleeping out lazily or restlessly or comfortably. Adding a timer for this one, too, makes learning grammar even more fun!\nWay #5: Learning Prepositions\nPrepositions show relation to or location of a noun in a sentence. There are 150 of them in the English language!Some examples of prepositions include behind, atop, above, and underneath. You can play the “Drive By Prepositions Game” anytime you are on the road. Give your child a preposition to explain with any scene he or she sees along the way, like:\nThere is a bird sitting atop the stop sign. A parking lot is behind the school. A cat is sitting underneath the tree.\nPractice with activities like these will give your child the understanding and confidence he or she needs to solve the grammar puzzle!\nComing Soon: More ways to help kids fall in love with grammar for the pronoun, conjunction, and interjection parts of speech!\nAs a parent, you are well aware of the critical importance of a quality English Language Arts education for your child. 98thPercentile is here to help your child succeed! We deliver quality instruction for all six facets of English Language Arts education, including grammar, through our accelerated learning content-mastery program. If you are interested in partnering with us for your child’s English Language Arts educational needs, Try us for one week for FREE with no strings attached.\nPrivacy & Cookies Policy\nNecessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.\nAny cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website."

"In 2010, Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luger died from a crash during his final training at Whistler Sliding Center. While it’s already six years since his passing, the paramedic who tried to save him is still on the process of setting himself free from the traumatic event. The death of the athlete has led to the paramedic’s long battle with suicide and addiction. When left untreated, PTSD can disrupt one’s life and relationships and lead to more serious consequences including self-harm. Published by Hypnosis in London on 28 March, 2016, written by Malminder Gill.\nPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a form of psychiatric disorder that occurs after a highly-stressful event. It can also happen after witnessing life-threatening events like war, natural disaster, or accidents. It is estimated that about 44.7 million people worldwide are struggling with PTSD. In contrary to what many believed, PTSD is more common in women than men, with 1 in 9 women develops this disorder.\nPeople with PTSD exhibit re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, or arousal symptoms. Re-experiencing symptoms are those that involve emotional or physical reactions when the event is recalled. A person exhibits the avoidance/numbing symptoms when they try to avoid situations that remind them of the particular event and when they isolate themselves or detach themselves from emotions towards other people. People exhibiting arousal symptoms constantly feel alert after the event. This usually leads to sleep disturbance, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.\nWhy Some Are More Vulnerable Than Others\nTypically, victims of traumatic events return to their normal lives after being given some time off. However, there are people whose stress reactions last longer and hence, develop psychiatric disorders like PTSD.\nThere are several factors that can affect one’s vulnerability to PTSD. In one study, it shows that a person’s sensitivity to stress is affected by variations in the gene coding for a2b-adrenoreceptor. After exposing the subjects to violent movie scenes and having their brain response monitored by functional magnetic resonance imaging, it was found out that those who carry a common variation in the a2b-adrenoreceptor have higher amygdala activity in response to stress. Amygdala is part of the brain responsible for detecting threats and in processing and expressing emotions.\nThose who have a common variation in the a2b-adrenoreceptor are also shown to have more connectivity between the amygdala and other parts of the brain. This increase in connection leads to heightened response to stress.\nResearchers have also found out that those with PTSD are usually those people who are more cautious and have reduced blood levels of the stress hormone cortisol.\nHypnotherapy As PTSD Therapy\nThose who have PTSD are referred to therapists. Some of the existing treatments for PTSD include anti-depressants like the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs, cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and hypnotherapy.\nHypnotherapy can be used for individuals with PTSD as it unlocks memories and emotions attached to the traumatic event. It is an accepted practice for PTSD as it can get into the person’s subconscious.\nWhen done well, hypnosis can be an effective therapy for those with PTSD as it helps individuals look at the event in a different way. Through accessing the dissociated traumatic memories and restructuring them positively, it allows individuals to look at the event in a broader perspective.\nStudies have shown that when hypnotherapy is combined with cognitive behavioral therapy, it helps reduce the re-experiencing symptoms of PTSD.\nHypnotherapy can also go deeper and get into the remote memories of a person that may have also triggered the development of PTSD.\nAt Hypnotherapy London, I do guided hypnosis for different client’s issues including anxiety and panic attacks. When combined with coaching, this guided hypnosis can help you feel calmer and eventually, reduces your PTSD symptoms.\nSeveral clients have already benefited from hypnotherapy. If you’re suffering from PTSD, you, too, can benefit from it."

"Opioid meds pose danger to kidney disease patients\nMedication options can be limited for people with chronic kidney disease, which is why they often get prescribed opioids to help manage pain. But new research finds that opioids could increase the risk of hospitalization and even death.\nIn a study presented Tuesday at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions conference in Houston, researchers examined electronic health records for about 100,000 adults in a Pennsylvania health care system and compared people with and without opioid prescriptions over a two-year period.\nRegardless of their kidney function level, people who filled the opioid prescriptions had about 1.5 times higher risk of dying or being hospitalized than those who did not have an opioid prescription.\nThe risks, however, were more pronounced in people who had worse kidney function, said Dr. Tessa Novick, the study's lead author.\nThe study did not look at overdoses or the causes of death or hospitalization. But the findings should be enough to raise awareness among people with kidney disease about the risks of taking opioid medication, she said. It also should send a strong message to their doctors.\n\"Basically, it just means that we need to be doing more counseling and heighten awareness amongst providers. Can we reduce the doses whenever possible? Can we readdress any of the patient's issues?\" said Novick, a nephrology fellow at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.\n\"Kidney doctors are not typically the ones prescribing opioids, but we need to realize our patients are taking them and greatly affected,\" she said. \"So, we need to be more involved in their choices when it looks like their risks of bad outcomes are higher by taking them.\"\nPeople with low-functioning kidneys often can't take common over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, because these medications can further harm the kidneys. Opioid medications, however, have not been shown to hurt the kidneys in the same way.\nBut a main function of the kidney is to help filter toxins and waste from the body, \"and when the kidneys aren't working properly, they aren't getting rid of drugs like opioids,\" Novick said. \"They're just hanging out in the body, potentially increasing risk for toxicity.\"\nThe study has yet to be published, but there's a big need for more like it, said Dr. Silvia Martins, associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in New York.\n\"We need more research on treatment of chronic pain, not just for this population of people with kidney disease, but on the treatment of chronic pain in general,\" she said.\n\"There are some groups trying to investigate newer drugs with less toxicity than opioids for the treatment of pain, but that is really still in its infancy.\"\nBecause pain is subjective, it's difficult to assume that one option can work on all groups.\nMartins pointed to childbirth as an example, noting that some women seek an epidural or other type of anesthesia as soon as possible, while others can go through the entire process without a single drop of medication.\n\"There is no one-package-fits-all when it comes to managing pain. And there are different gradients of kidney disease and different types of medications,\" she said. \"We just need to think about other medication options for this population.\"\nAmerican Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email email@example.com."

"Thanks to a series of discoveries made over the past year by the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers, planetary scientists are more confident than ever that the Martian surface probably had abundant water more than three billion years ago. And where there was water, there may also have been life.\nBut a new study published in the June 15 issue of the journal Icarus argues that liquid water was present on Mars as recently as 210 million years ago, in the form of huge lakes nestled inside glaciers on the flanks of the volcano Arsia Mons.\nSuch lakes \"have been mentioned as a possibility before,\" said the study's lead author, Kathleen Scanlon, a graduate student at Brown University. \"But nobody had looked into it in detail.\"\nArsia Mons, almost twice the height of Mount Everest, is Mars's third highest mountain. When Scanlon started her studies of the massive, extinct volcano, she wasn't looking for lakes. She was trying to characterize fan-shaped deposits on the mountain's flanks.\nThe deposits, scientists concluded a decade or so ago, come from long-vanished glaciers grinding against the mountainsides. The glaciers had flourished when the planet's axis tilted more acutely toward the sun, allowing ice to form in what's now an equatorial region, and then vanished about half a million years ago.\nScanlon was examining images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter satellite when she noticed a couple of strange-looking mounds atop the deposits. \"They're like thin, flat pancakes,\" she said, \"maybe 150 or 200 meters high, with steep sides.\" These pancakes would be an important clue.\nLakes and Lava\nScanlon didn't know what might create the odd formations on Arsia Mons, but she did know that the mountain had been volcanically active at the same time that glaciers had covered its slopes. \"So I read papers about volcano-ice interactions on Earth,\" she said.\nSimilar pancake-like landforms can be created on Earth when a volcano erupts beneath a glacier. Since the erupting material is hot, the ice naturally melts. If the glacier is thick enough, the top of the glacier stays frozen. Lava spreads underneath, forming a thin layer surrounded by water. That water is known as an englacial lake.\nWhen the glacier melts, a solid lava pancake is left behind. Scientists can calculate the size of the lake the hot lava would have created from the size of that pancake: \"A wad of lava this big has this much heat,\" Scanlon said. \"You put this much ice around it, you get this much water.\"\nOne of the Martian englacial lakes, she calculated, would have been about a third the volume of Lake Tahoe; the other would have been about half that size. Both lakes would have eventually refrozen, in anywhere from a few hundred to about 8,000 years.\nWater Does Not Equal Life\nHundreds or even thousands of years probably wouldn't be enough time for life to have arisen from nonliving organic molecules. But any life that may have lived in those lakes need not have gotten its start there, Scanlon noted.\nDuring the period being probed by the Mars rovers, the entire planet was much warmer and wetter than it is now. Life could have originated in that time, and then microbes could have retreated below the surface when the planet dried out starting about three billion years ago. It's possible that those microbes could have colonized the englacial lakes.\n\"The lakes could have been an oasis,\" said Scanlon.\nThe lakes would have had to contain more than just water if they were to have served as such, though. \"Water alone won't drive metabolism,\" said John Priscu, a Montana State University astrobiologist who led the team that found bacteria in a subglacial lake in Antarctica last year. \"Where do they get their carbon and energy?\" he said. Those are also necessary for life.\nEven if these lakes persisted for hundreds or thousands of years, there's absolutely no evidence that bacteria inhabited them. And there's still no evidence yet that life ever existed anywhere on Mars.\nBut the fact that liquid water was present on the Martian surface billions of years after the planet had mostly dried out is a reminder that this life-sustaining substance can exist in places where nobody would have imagined it a few decades ago—on Jupiter's ice-covered moon Europa, for example, and on Saturn's moon Enceladus. This latest discovery is more good news in the continuing search for extraterrestrial life.\nFollow Mike Lemonick on Twitter."

"What Are Disfluencies?\nHow to rid yourself of verbal parasites that may be undermining your authority.\nDisfluencies are word parasites. They pepper your speech and weaken your messages when you aren't watching. They’re distracting for your listeners and they diminish your authority.\n\"I, like, work for a big bank, like, Citibank. I work, um, in technology, and head-up a group of like, 500 people, you know. I do, like, technology risk assessment, and create, um, processes, to, like, reduce risk. You know?\"\nDoes this sound like someone you'd trust to handle a critical job in your company? Even worse, I bet this person has no idea that his speech is infected with these verbal viruses. In his defense, credibility killers (e.g. \"like,\" \"so,\" \"you know,\" \"right,\" \"umm\") are actually really common in everyday conversation. Researchers say that about 20% of “words” in everyday conversation are disfluencies.\nWhat to do about it? Pay attention to your spech patterns and whenever you feel a verbal parasite looming, simply add a pause. It will be tough at first, but worth it in the end.\nImage courtesy of Shutterstock"

"Our tranquil blog has been roiled recently by heated discussion of the law, and something called natural law or common law in particular. I'd like to explore why this should be such a contentious topic. What is common law anyway?\nIt is [t]he system of laws originated and developed in England and based on court decisions, on the doctrines implicit in those decisions, and on customs and usages rather than on codified written laws.\nAlso, [a] system of law that is derived from judges' decisions (which arise from the judicial branch of government), rather than statutes or constitutions (which are derived from the legislative branch of government).\nCommon law is based on the organic growth of law over the centuries in England.. It was not created by a legislative body. In fact, in large part, it precedes the existence of legislative bodies, especially the modern ones based on the notion of “one man, one vote”.\nCommon law assumes that law is properly the provenance of lawyers and judges, and that changes to the common law by legislative bodies are suspect or illegitimate. This is in contrast to statute law, or positive law, which holds that the law is that which is written down in the statute books or constitutions. In many cases the statutes in question were based on the common law. However, the bodies which entered it into the statute books were, for the most part, legislative bodies.\nIn the natural law or common law tradition, there is a presumption that judges and courts play a significant role in the development of new law, evolving it over time to meet new needs.\nThis presumption is at odds with the implicit assumptions underlying most democracies, and can be seen in the contradictory ideas expressed in the preamble to the Declaration of Independence.\nWe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.\nThe part about all men being “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” is clearly an expression of natural or common law. However, the statements that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and that “the People” have the right to institute new government as necessary in order to establish a state which “ to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness” are a nod to democratic sentiment, and leave open the question of what is to be done if the wishes of “the People” and “the governed” come into conflict with common law.\nThis tension, between the undemocratic and anti-democratic aspects of common law/natural law, and the presumption that the American government, including its judicial arm, will be “of the people, by the people, and for the people”, is unresolved to this day, and plays out in the confused arguments over the proper role of judges in general and the Supreme Court in particular.\nHere is a practical illustration of the question. While discussing the idea of natural rights with natural law proponents, I will ask them if there exists a natural law right to bear arms. They reply in the affirmative. So, if the state passes a law restricting the right to bear arms, it should be struck down? Again, the answer is yes. What about the hypothetical situation where a large majority pf the American people passes a Constitutional Amendment banning all private ownership of weapons? At this point responses get varied, but many answer that the Courts should strike down such an amendment, on the grounds that it violates the “natural law”, even if it is perfectly in accord with the constitution. Others reply that the court should not strike down such a law, but that the action is still morally wrong. From a purist natural law perspective, the constitution is not the source of law, and should be altered, by court ruling if necessary, so as to bring it into closer compliance with “True Law”.\nAt its base, the concept of natural law assumes that there exists some body of principles which stand outside of the wishes of any people, and even of most people for most of the time. The foundation of this law is located in either tradition, (it’s the law because it has always been that way) or in “sacred texts”, meaning partly the Bible and Torah but including the large and ever growing body of works of social and philosophical theory. In either case, the striking thing about it is that it is undemocratic, even antidemocratic, in nature, as the proper study and understanding of the historical record is presumed to be beyond the ability of most people.\nAccording to natural law theory of law, there is no clean division between the notion of law and the notion of morality. Though there are different versions of natural law theory, all subscribe to the thesis that there are at least some laws that depend for their \"authority\" not on some pre-existing human convention, but on the logical relationship in which they stand to moral standards.\nTo state the matter in starker terms, natural law theory assumes that only a small class of people can have knowledge of “The Good”. The similarities of this to the teachings of the medieval church are striking, but not wholly surprising, as Church thinkers from the time of Aquinas were the most energetic proponents of the idea of natural law.\nNatural law thinking historically has been a “conservative” force, as the practitioners of law have tended to be drawn from the conservative part of society. In addition, it depends on the ideas of tradition and precedent, and also presumes the existence of some transcendent \"Law\" which the judge strives to approximate ever more closely.\nThere is nothing inherent in the idea of natural law itself which drives it to any particular outcome. As the “elites” from which the ruling classes are drawn have become alienated and disaffected from their society and their fellow citizens, so the law has tended to drift in the directions which they wish. This leads to the rather odd result in some cases of people who detest tradition and the very concept of \"moral law\" embracing a legal approach based on both of these things.\nNatural lends itself fairly easily to being used to attain any ends which judges wish, because it assumes that common law “unwritten law” takes precedence over written law. And also because it allows judges a large degree of discretion in what texts they wish to use to inform their understanding of the law. Justices Kennedy and Ginsburg both consider laws from foreign countries to be suitable material to inform their decision making on the US Supreme Court, for example.\nIn a great many cases over the past fifty years, the courts in America have relied on common law, in the guise of \"substantive due process\", to overturn statute laws passed by the elected legislatures (e.g Griswald), as well as laws made directly by the citizens by means of ballot inititaves (e.g Romer).\nThe Supreme Court has yet to strike down a constitutional amendment as being in violation of natural law, or to announce that the allocation of U.S. senators by state is a violation of the principles of equity and fairness, but the ideas have been broached. Not too very long ago the notion that the courts might discover a natural law right to \"gay marriage\" would have seemed absurd. Now it seems more likely than not.\nThe attraction of the idea of common law to many is precisely it's anti-democratic nature. It is felt that this may serve as a valuable guard against the \"tyranny of the majority\". And clearly, it is an approach which is very appealing to judges. It would seem to me that, regardless of whether or not the curent reading of common law is to your satisfaction or not, the realization that it may well change into something different within your lifetime should be grounds for concern. A court with the power to make society as you may wish it also has the power to remake it into something you would find abhorrent.\nI find that most discussion about the law, rights, the Ninth Amdenment, privacy, and a host of other issues gets hung up on misunderstanding of the above points. You have two sides arguing from completely different premises, often without being aware of it."

"Improving Secondary Career and Technical Education through Professional Development: Alternative Certification and Use of Technical Assessment Data\nProfessional Development Joint Technical Working Group\nSecondary career-technical education (CTE) is a field in transition. It is moving from a primary focus on preparing students for entry-level employment to preparing them for continuing education and training as well as employment. The rapid pace of change in technology and the global economy has created a demand for workers who are able to learn and adapt, and CTE must prepare its students to meet these demands. Greater emphasis is being placed on assessment to improve accountability and to verify students have acquired the skills to undertake these challenges. These higher expectations come at a time when more students are taking CTE courses and fewer CTE teachers are being graduated from teacher education programs. The field has responded by recruiting more teachers from business and industry, but those who enter teaching in this way typically have had little training in pedagogy. Neither these teachers nor many of their colleagues who have entered through a traditional teacher education program are prepared to use technical skills assessment data to help students gain higher levels of competence.\nNational Research Center for Career and Technical Education. (2011, March). Improving secondary career and technical education through professional development: Alternative certification and use of technical assessment data. Louisville, KY: National Research Center for Career and Technical Education, University of Louisville."

"Klondike Gold Rush\nFacts, information and articles about the Klondike Gold Rush, an event of Westward Expansion from the Wild West\nKlondike Gold Rush Facts\nKlondike Region, Canada\n100,000 set out. 30,000 arrived in the Klondike\nAround 4,000 found gold\nKlondike Gold Rush Articles\nExplore articles from the History Net archives about Klondike Gold Rush\n» See all Klondike Gold Rush Articles\nKlondike Gold Rush summary: The Klondike Gold Rush was an event of migration by an estimated 100,000 people prospecting to the Klondike region of north-western Canada in the Yukon region between 1896 and 1899. It’s also called the Yukon Gold Rush, the Last Great Gold Rush and the Alaska Gold Rush.\nGold was discovered in many rich deposits along the Klondike River in 1896, but due to the remoteness of the region and the harsh winter climate the news of gold couldn’t travel fast enough to reach the outside world before the following year. Reports of the gold in newspapers created a hysteria that was nation-wide and many people quit their jobs and then left for the Klondike to become gold-diggers.\nBecause of the harsh terrain and even harsher weather, it took gold rushers a year to reach the Klondike. The long climb over mountainous terrain and frozen rivers, coupled with the intense cold and frequent snowstorms, made for a long and arduous journey. Each of prospector was told they’d need at least enough food for a year by authorities in Canada so they wouldn’t starve.\nIn the summer of 1898, gold rushers arrived in the Klondike region by the thousands. Around 30,000 of the 100,000 or so prospectors that set out for the Klondike actually made it there. Many gave up to due to the difficulties of the journey and returned home; some were not able to survive the extreme temperatures and died. Those that made it to the Klondike still had their work cut out for them, as the gold was not easy to find or extract.\nMining was challenging due to pretty unpredictable distribution of gold and digging was slowed by permafrost. Because of this, there were minors that decided to buy and sell their claims so they could build an investment on the backs of others. Along the routes different towns sprung up and where given the name ‘boom towns.’\nOf the 30,000 that arrived in the Klondike, only approximately 4,000 actually found gold. Some set up and sold claims rather than digging for gold themselves. Along the Klondike river, boom towns formed that were supported by the miners. Those that found gold spent their time and money in saloons, while those that found nothing continued to labor. In 1899, miners received news that gold had been discovered in Nome and that it was much easier to get, causing the departure of the majority of the miners and the decline of the boom towns.\nArticles Featuring Klondike Gold Rush From History Net Magazines\nKlondike Gold Rush\nOn August 16, 1896, George Washington Carmack and two Indian friends in the Yukon pried a nugget from the bed of Rabbit Creek, a tributary of Canada’s Klondike River, and set in motion one of the most frenzied and fabled gold rushes in history. Over the next two years, at least 100,000 eager would-be prospectors from all over the world set out for the new gold fields with dreams of a quick fortune dancing in their heads. Only about 40,000 actually made it to the Klondike, and precious few of them ever found their fortune.\nSwept along on this tide of gold seekers was a smaller and cannier contingent, also seeking their fortunes but in a far more practical fashion. They were the entrepreneurs, the men and women who catered to the Klondike fever.\nGeorge Carmack, the man who began it all, was neither a die-hard prospector nor a keen businessman. The California native was simply in the right place at the right time. Not that this son of a Forty-Niner had anything against being rich. But, like most of the white men who drifted north in the 1870s and ’80s, he came as much for the solitude as for the gold.\nThere had been rumors of gold in the Yukon as far back as the 1830s, but little was done about it. The harsh land and harsher weather, plus the Chilkoot Indians’ jealous guarding of their territory, effectively kept out most prospectors–until 1878, when a man named George Holt braved the elements and the Indians and came back with nuggets impressive enough to make other prospectors follow his lead. By 1880, there were perhaps 200 miners panning fine placer gold from the sandbars along the Yukon River.\nIn 1885, gold was found in paying quantities on the bars of the Stewart River, south of the Klondike River. The next year, coarse gold was found on the Forty Mile River, and a trading post, called Fortymile, then sprang up where the river joins the Yukon River. In 1893, a little farther down the Yukon, in Alaska, two Russian half-bloods hit pay dirt that produced $400,000 a year in gold, and spawned the boom town of Circle City. Known as ‘The Paris of Alaska,’ it boasted two theaters, eight dance halls, 28 saloons, a library and a school. But when news of the strike on Rabbit Creek (soon to be renamed Bonanza Creek) reached the citizens of Circle City, they decamped in droves. Only a year before Carmack’s lucky find, Canada had created the Yukon District as an administrative subunit within the Northwest Territories, and construction had begun on Fort Constantine (across from Fortymile), the first North-West Mounted Police post in the Yukon. So law enforcement was in place just in time to greet the droves of prospectors who would soon be stampeding to the Klondike region of the Yukon District, which would become a separate territory on June 13, 1898.\nLike his Indian friends, George Carmack believed in visions. Shortly before his dramatic discovery, he had a vision in which two salmon with golden scales and gold nuggets for eyes appeared before him. So lacking in mercenary impulses was he that he interpreted this as a sign that he should take up salmon fishing. And that’s just what he was doing, along with his friends Skookum Jim and Tagish Charley, when a determined prospector named Robert Henderson floated down from upriver and, in keeping with the prospector’s code, told George about the ‘color’ he’d found on a creek he dubbed Gold Bottom Creek. But, he warned, glaring at Jim and Charley, he didn’t want any ‘damn Siwashes’ staking claims there.\nThe three friends didn’t like Henderson’s attitude, and for two weeks they ignored his lead. Then, with nothing better to do, they meandered over to check out Henderson’s claim. Henderson insulted the Indians again by refusing to sell them tobacco. Indignant, George, Jim and Charley left and set up camp on Rabbit Creek. While cleaning a dishpan, one of the three unearthed the thumb-sized chunk of gold that set the great rush in motion. Probably because of the insults, Carmack didn’t bother to hike the short distance back to Henderson’s diggings to tell him of the strike. Instead, he headed downriver the 50 or so miles to Fortymile to record his claim, and Jim’s and Charley’s. On the way, he bragged to everyone he saw of his good luck.\nMost of the old-timers just scoffed. Carmack had made’strikes’ before that amounted to nothing, earning him the nickname ‘Lying George,’ so they put little stock in this new bonanza of his. But a few cheechakos (newcomers) went to investigate, and the word spread. Within five days, the valley was swarming with prospectors. By the end of August, the whole length of Bonanza Creek was staked out in claims; then an even richer vein was found on a tributary that became known as Eldorado Creek.\nIf all this had come about early in the year, the news would have reached civilization within a few weeks. But winter was already closing in. Once the rivers froze and the heavy snows fell, communication with the outside was nearly impossible. William Ogilvie, a Canadian government surveyor, sent off two separate messages to Ottawa, telling of the magnitude of the strike, but both were lost in the bureaucratic shuffle.\nSo it wasn’t until the following July (1897), when steamships from Alaska docked in San Francisco and Seattle–disgorging 68 ragged miners carrying more than 2 tons of gold in suitcases, boxes, blankets and coffee cans–that the outside world caught the Klondike fever.\nThe fever quickly reached epidemic proportions. Like a worn-down body that’s susceptible to any disease that comes along, the country was particularly susceptible just then to gold fever. The amount of gold in circulation had dropped, helping to cause the deep economic depression that had been eating at the United States for 30 years. The Pacific Northwest had been hit especially hard. People were tired of being poor; many who had jobs quit them for the promise of greater rewards. Streetcar drivers abandoned their trolleys; a quarter of the Seattle police force walked out; even the mayor resigned and bought a steamboat to carry passengers to the Klondike.\nThose who had no jobs mortgaged their homes or borrowed the $500 or so needed to buy an ‘outfit’–a stove, tent, tools, nails and enough supplies to last a year. A proper outfit tipped the scales at nearly 2,000 pounds–though one fast-talking salesman began hawking a valise that he claimed contained a year’s worth of desiccated food and weighed only 250 pounds!He was just one of a growing number of enterprising citizens who realized there was a fortune to be made right here at home, simply by selling a product, however dubious in value, with the name Klondike attached. There were Klondike medicine chests, Klondike electric gold pans, Klondike mining schools, a Klondike bicycle, even a portable Klondike house purported to be ‘light as air’ when folded up–a doubtful claim, considering it featured a double bed and an iron stove.\nInventors dreamed up devices that promised to make the task of digging gold positively pleasant. Nikola Tesla, one of the pioneers of electricity, promoted an X-ray machine that would supposedly detect precious metals beneath the ground without all the trouble of digging. A Trans-Alaskan Gopher Company proposed to train gophers to claw through frozen gravel and uncover nuggets. Clairvoyants touted their abilities to pinpoint rich lodes of gold. Several ventures were underway to invade the Klondike by balloon.\nEven as all these cockeyed schemes and services were being offered, there was one crucial commodity that was in desperately short supply–transportation. There weren’t nearly enough ships in the Northwest to handle the stampede of gold seekers–2,800 from Seattle alone in a single week. Everything that floated was pressed into service–ancient paddlewheelers and fishing boats, barges, coal ships still full of coal dust. All were overloaded, and many unseaworthy; they were dubbed ‘floating coffins,’ and all too often they lived up to the name.\nA few ships sailed around the Aleutians and through the Bering Sea to St. Michael, Alaska, on Norton Sound. The passengers could then take riverboats upstream from the Yukon River delta to the gold fields, a 1,600-mile trip on the winding Yukon. But not many Klondikers could afford the $1,000 fare. Most boats went only as far as Skagway in the Alaska Panhandle, where the passengers and their outfits were unceremoniously dumped on the mile-wide tidal flats. If the Klondikers weren’t ready to turn back by then, there was plenty of adversity ahead to change their minds. Skagway itself was no beach resort. It was, in fact, a grimy anarchic tent town that a visiting Englishman described as ‘the most outrageously lawless quarter I have ever struck. ‘ There was a saloon or a con man, or both, on every corner, and gunfire in the streets was so commonplace as to be mostly ignored. The most famous of the con men was Jefferson Randolph (‘Soapy’) Smith, the ‘Uncrowned King of Skagway,’ who ran the town’s underworld until he died in a July 8, 1898, shootout.\nBut even in this chaotic setting, legitimate businesses flourished. What the would-be miner needed by now was some way of getting his outfit to the gold fields, so anyone with a wagon and a team or a few mules could do well for himself–or herself. Harriet Pullen, a widow with a brood of children, arrived in Skagway with $7 to her name, but parlayed it into a fortune by driving a freight outfit all day and, at night, baking apple pies in pans hammered out of old tin cans. She became the town’s most distinguished citizen. Joe Brooks, one of the most successful ‘packers,’ owned 335 mules and raked in $5,000 a day–far more than most men earned in a year. In keeping with the nature of the town, he wasn’t overly scrupulous; if he was hauling equipment for one customer and got a more tempting offer, he’d simply dump the first shipment alongside the trail.\nIn addition to the boat passage up the Yukon, there were at least five trails being touted as the best route to the gold fields. But three of those were so long and hazardous that only a few men ever succeeded in reaching the Klondike alive on them. The two most heavily traveled routes began in Skagway and the neighboring town of Dyea.\nIn the fall of 1897, the more popular was the 550-mile Skagway Trail over White Pass. At first glance, it seemed the less demanding of the two; it climbed more gradually, which meant that–in theory at least–pack animals could negotiate it. Once on the trail, miners found it nowhere near as easy as it looked. It led them through mudholes big enough to swallow an animal, over sharp rocks that tore at horses’ legs and hooves, across cliffs of slippery slate, where the trail was a scant 2 feet wide and a 500-foot drop awaited any animal–or miner–who made a misstep.\nMost of the pack animals were broken-down horses that would have been lucky to survive the trek under the best of conditions. Overburdened as they were by miners desperate to get their outfits over the pass as quickly as possible, they didn’t stand a chance. Before long, the trail was christened ‘Dead Horse Trail’ after the many carcasses that littered it. As writer Jack London described it, ‘The horses died like mosquitoes in the first frost and from Skagway to Bennett they rotted in heaps. ‘ If a horse gave out in the middle of the narrow trail, no one bothered to drag it away; it was simply ground into the earth by the endless parade of feet and hooves. Faced with this nightmare of mud and mayhem, thousands of miners turned back, sold their outfits, and retreated to civilization with spirits broken and pockets empty. But thousands more slogged on and reached Lake Bennett, the headwaters of the Yukon River. Only a very few made it before cold weather choked the lake and the river with ice. The rest were marooned on the shores of the lake until spring.\nWhen heavy snow made the Skagway Trail impassable, the growing flow of gold seekers switched to the Dyea Trail, also called the ‘Poor Man’s Trail’ because it was too steep for pack animals. But even there, the Klondikers were forced to hire Indian packers, at as much as 50 cents a pound, or else lug their outfits themselves, 100 pounds at a time, leaving each load alongside the trail somewhere, then going back for the next load and so on, over and over; by the time a miner transferred his whole outfit to the far side of the pass, he might have walked the 40-mile trail 30 or 40 times, and spent three months doing it. The most daunting part was Chilkoot Pass, which lay at the top of a nearly vertical slope, four miles long. An unbroken stream of Klondikers toiled up it day and night–a total of 22,000 in the winter of 1897. It was an agonizing climb, and the worst of it was that each man had to repeat it again and again until his entire outfit was carried over the pass. The only consolation was that, between loads, he got a free ride down the snowy slope on the seat of his pants.\nFor the entrepreneur, there was money to be made here, too. Several roadhouses went up along the trail, including the grandly named Palmer House at the foot of the pass. Most were no more than large tents or ramshackle wooden structures, but they offered hot meals and a place to sleep, even if it was only on the floor. On the worst stretches of trail, an enterprising man could bridge a mudhole with logs and charge a fee to each miner who crossed. At the pass itself, several men laboriously chopped 1,500 steps in the hard-packed snow, then collected so much money in tolls that the route was dubbed ‘the Golden Stairs.’\nLike the travelers on the Skagway Trail, those who crossed Chilkoot Pass ended up in a vast tent city on the shores of Lake Bennett and spent long months there, waiting for the thaw. Most passed the time cutting trees from the surrounding hillsides and sawing them into planks for boats that, in the spring, would take them down the Yukon River to the gold fields, still 500 miles away.\nAt the end of May 1898, the ice broke, and a flotilla of flimsy, handmade craft set off downriver, only to encounter one last deadly obstacle–Miles Canyon. The ferocious rapids in the canyon smashed boats to splinters on the rocks, so many of them that the North-West Mounted Police decreed that every boat had to be inspected and then guided through by a competent pilot. A few experienced sailors got substantial grubstakes by taking boats through the canyon at up to $100 a trip. Among them was Jack London, who netted a cool $3,000.\nThe boats had one more stretch of rapids to endure, and then the Yukon stayed pretty tame all the way to Dawson City. Before the fall of 1896, Dawson didn’t exist. When gold was discovered on Bonanza Creek, a tent camp went up at the junction of the Klondike and Yukon rivers. By the following summer, its population had grown to 5,000. A year later, after the Klondike fever spread worldwide, it swelled to 40,000–becoming one of the largest cities in Canada. Thanks to the North-West Mounted Police, it was a far more law-abiding town than Skagway, though there were only 19 Mounties in the Yukon in late 1896. By November 1898, however, there would be 285. In the summer of 1897, the Mounties’ new headquarters became Fort Herchmer, at Dawson. Detachments were established atop White and Chilkoot passes. The Mounties’ main function was collecting customs duty for supplies brought into Canada by the gold seekers. In addition, between 1898 and 1900, a 200-man militia outfit, known as the Yukon Field Force, also operated in the area, helping the North-West Mounted Police to guard gold shipments, banks and prisoners.\nDespite the presence of law enforcement officers, the flood of new gold seekers still generally found the Yukon just another stage of Hell. After a miserable, cramped sea voyage, after a weary trek across mosquito-infested bogs and over glaciers, after interminable months spent courting frostbite in a flimsy tent, they had finally reached the fabled gold fields, only to find that all the land along every gold-bearing creek had long since been staked out. For many of them, this was the final blow; they sold their outfits and headed home. Those who stayed felt lucky to find jobs in the bustling town or working someone else’s claim for $17 a day in gold dust–good wages on the outside, but barely a living here.\nBut if Dawson dashed the dreams of the gold seekers, for those few who’d had the foresight to bring goods to sell, the town was a gold mine. The old timers who had spent the winter there, subsisting on a diet of beans and biscuits at best, were eager to trade their gold for luxuries like eggs, fruit, writing paper, or just a bit of news from the outside. One newcomer sold a months-old copy of a Seattle newspaper, soaked with bacon grease, for $15.\nAs Dawson grew, so did the fortunes of those who made the right business decisions. While most men devoted their energies to working a single claim, Alex McDonald, a Nova Scotian whose shy, awkward manner belied a canny business sense, bought up the claims of discouraged miners and hired others to work them for him. He earned $5 million and the title ‘King of the Klondike’ without ever lifting a pick or shovel. The ‘Queen of the Klondike,’ Belinda Mulroney, took another route to riches. She arrived in the Klondike in the spring of 1897 with $5,000 worth of cotton clothing and hot-water bottles, which she sold for $30,000. Next, she opened a lunch counter and, with the profits, hired men to build cabins that sold before the roofs were on. A successful roadhouse near the gold fields followed. But that was not ambitious enough for Mulroney. She went on to build the grandest hotel in the Klondike–the Fairview, which boasted brass beds, fine china, cut-glass chandeliers and chamber music in the lobby, even electricity generated by the engine of a yacht anchored in the harbor.\nFor a brief time, Belinda and Big Alex became partners in a scheme to salvage the cargo of a wrecked steamboat. Crafty Alex got to the wreck first and made off with the most valuable supplies, leaving Belinda only some cases of whiskey and a large inventory of rubber boots. ‘You’ll pay through the nose for this,’ she promised, and, as usual, she got her way. When the spring thaw turned the ground in the gold fields to mush, McDonald was in dire need of boots for his men, and Mulroney was happy to provide them–at $100 a pair. Mulroney went on to become the only women manager of a mining company, the largest in Yukon Territory.\nBut life in Dawson had become too tame for the Queen of the Klondike. When news came of a bigger gold strike in Nome, Alaska, she headed down the Yukon to conquer this new region. So did most of the population of Dawson. During one week in August 1899, 8,000 people deserted Dawson for the beaches of Nome. Just three years after the discovery of gold on Bonanza Creek, the great gold rush was over. Of the 40,000 people who reached Dawson, only about 15,000 actually had the grit to work the gold fields; of those, about a quarter actually unearthed any gold, and only a handful of them became wealthy. Of that handful, a very few managed to hang onto their wealth. Most gambled or drank it away.\nBig Alex McDonald became obsessed with buying up unwanted claims and eventually found himself stuck with a lot of worthless real estate. He died broke and alone. Belinda Mulroney married a fake French count and lived in style for several years, until her husband invested her money in a European steamship company–on the eve of World War I, which put an end to merchant shipping. She, too, died nearly penniless.\nTagish Charley sold his claim, spent the proceeds lavishly, and died an alcoholic. Shookum Jim wasn’t content with the riches he’d made; he spent the rest of his life searching in vain for another strike equal to the one on Bonanza Creek. Ironically, George Carmack, who had never had much use for money, was one of the few miners who managed to keep and even increase his fortune by investing in businesses and real estate. He was still a wealthy man when he died in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1922.\nAlthough the heyday of the individual prospector ended with the rush to Alaska in 1899, a more subtle and more profitable exploitation of the Klondike began. The new railroad line from Skagway was completed that summer, opening up the area to the big mining companies with their mechanical dredges, which did the work of hundreds of miners. They continued to mine the land the gold seekers had abandoned for another 50 years, and unearthed millions more in gold. Once again, the men of business had triumphed.\nThis article was written by Gary L. Blackwood and originally appeared in the August 1997 issue of Wild West.\nFor more great articles be sure to subscribe to Wild West magazine today!\nBy Roger Jay\nThe Klondike Quest: A Photographic Essay, 18971899, by Pierre Berton, Boston Mills Press, Erin, Ontario, Canada (an affiliate of Stoddard Publishing Co.), 1997, $34.95.\nOne hundred years ago, Klondike fever was the hottest thing going in the North American West. …\nWE AMERICANS: CELEBRATING A NATION, ITS PEOPLE, AND ITS PAST, National Geographic Books, $40.00.\nTHE events that have shaped America are well detailed in this visually outstanding book featuring more than 400 photographs and illustrations from the collections of the …\nTHE KLONDIKE QUEST: A PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY 1897-1899, by Pierre Berton, Boston Mills Press, 240 pages, $34.95.\nNiagara author Pierre Berton, who was born in the Yukon, takes readers on a visual journey of the Klondike Gold Rush. The more than …\nIn Search of Silver & Gold\nAlthough known for her charity, Nellie Cashman was a dedicated andknowledgeable miner who searched the west for the \"Big Bonanza.\"\nBy Don Chaput\nGold rushes, stampedes, and boom towns attracted hundreds of thousands of …"

"The most common forms of ivory are those collected from walrus tusks, elephant tusks and mastodon or mammoth tusks. Ivory is used in a variety or projects, including making or repairing cue sticks, piano keys, violin, viola, cello bows, and guitars. Working with ivory, however, can be difficult if you do not have the right products, methods and tools to safely and securely complete your project. Gluing ivory can be done easily if you follow the correct steps and use the proper products for your project.\nThings You'll Need\n- Glue (Elmer's, epoxy, PVA glue or CA glue)\n- Super glue\nVideo of the Day\nSeal the piece of ivory you are working with with one to two thin coats of super glue to prevent cracking. Allow to dry thoroughly before adhering ivory to any surface.\nChoose the appropriate glue for your project. White glue, such as Elmer's, works in most cases, but epoxy works better for inserting ivory into flat grain wood. If the ivory and the object you would like to glue the ivory to are both smooth, CA glues work well. PVA resin glue works on most projects and tends to be stronger than white glue.\nLine up the ivory piece to the appropriate spot on the object where you would like to glue the ivory. You may want to lightly mark the area with a pencil in order to determine whether or not the ivory slips during the gluing or setting process.\nClamp the ivory while gluing so that the moisture in the glue does not react with the ivory in a way that would prevent the ivory from adhering to the other object properly. Clamp for 48 hours or longer to ensure that the glue dries completely."

"LED bulbs and the new wonder material.\n2015 looks set to see the first LED light bulb production from super material graphene. Following significant developments in 2004 at the University of Manchester, where scientists involved in its research won the Nobel Prize for physics in 2010, the bulb should be commercially available soon. In simple terms, graphene is a thin layer of pure carbon; a tightly packed layer of carbon atoms that are bonded together in a hexagonal honeycomb lattice giving it unique levels of light absorption.\nLooking very similar to a conventional light bulb, the new product has a thin layer of graphene covering the filament. This coating gives the bulb a better ability to conduct electricity resulting in a 10% increase in energy saving. Once on commercial sale it is expected to be priced lower than some LED bulbs, which can cost about £15 each.\nProbable future uses of graphene are expected to be in electronics, mobile phones to the eventual use in such things as motor and aviation frames It is already being embraced by companies in a whole host of areas of production including tennis rackets and skis! Its current development in the use of LED bulb production is most welcome as we continually look to find ways to be greener.\nPosted in: No category found! | No tags were found! | Comments Closed"

"The Nobel prize was established by Sir Alfred Nobel. As a result of his last will, where he mentioned giving his remaining assets to honour the efforts of those who are doing exemplary works in favour of humanity.\nSince 1901, the Nobel prize has been given every year in 5 fields, in the name of Sir Alfred Nobel. These fields are Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Physiology or Medicine and Peace. Economics was later added in 1969.\nWho Was Alfred Nobel?\nSir Alfred Nobel was a prominent Swedish Scientist, Chemical engineer, Innovator, Businessman and Philanthropist. He was born on October 21, 1833 in Stockholm, Sweden as a son of Immanuel Nobel and Andriette Nobel. However he is known as the innovator of Dynamite, there were around 355 patents on his name by the year of his death in 1896.\nAlthough Alfred was a very clever businessman, he also had a poetic heart. His love for poetry could be sensed by the Nobel prizes he chose to be given in the field of literature.\nNotable Works of Alfred Nobel\nIn 1867, Nobel invented Dynamite, a blasting explosive by using Nitro-glycerine with a fine sand called Kieselguhr. His other inventions include detonators, blasting caps, synthetic rubbers, explosive powders and so on.\nWhat a Nobel Prize Winner Gets?\nOn November 27, 1895, Alfred signed his last will at the Swedish- Norwegian club at Paris. His total assets worth around 31,225,000 Swedish Kronor was set aside to establish 5 Nobel prizes in his name. Since 1969, with the addition of Economics, now the prize has been given in six fields. A Nobel prize winner receives 3 things, a Nobel diploma, a Nobel medal and a cash prize of Rs 7 crore 22 lakh or 10 million Swedish Kronor.\nThe Nobel Prize of year 2021\nIn 2021, the following persons are the recipients of the Nobel Prize in six fields.\nThe Nobel Prize in Physics 2021\nThis award was given to 3 persons. It was given to Syukuro Manabe and Klaus Hasselman for the ‘physical modeling of Earth’s climate, quantifying variability and reliably predicting global warming’ and to Giorgio Parsi for the ‘discovery of interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems from atomic to planetary scales’.\nThe Nobel Prize in chemistry\nThe prize was awarded to Benjamin List and David WC Macmillan for ‘the development of asymmetric organocatalysis’.\nNobel Prize in Physiology or medicine 2021\nThe prize was jointly given to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian for the ‘discovery of Receptors for Temperature and Touch’.\nThe Nobel Prize in literature 2021\nAbdulrazak Gurnah was awarded for his ‘uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the Gulf between culture and continents’.\nThe Nobel Peace Prize 2021\nIt was jointly given to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov for ‘their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is the precondition for democracy and lasting peace’.\nThe Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Science or Nobel Prize 2021\nIt was given to David Card for his empirical contributions to labour economics. Also was jointly given to Joshua D. Angrist and Guido W. Imbens for ‘their methodological contribution to the analysis of casual relationships’.\nFacts On Nobel Prize For Examination\nHere are some of the important facts we are presenting for examination purposes about Nobel prizes.\n- The first Indian to get the Nobel Prize was Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in the field of literature for his renowned work Gitanjali in 1913.\n- Total 9 Indians have received the Nobel Prize so far.\n- In 1930 the Nobel Prize was awarded to doctor CV Raman for the discovery of Raman effect in the field of Physics and in 1983 to Subramanyam Chandrashekhar.\n- In 1968 Dr Hargobind khorana won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for interpretation of genetic code and it’s function in protein system.\n- After Amartya Sen in 1999, it was Abhijeet Banerjee who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2019.\n- Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.\n- The Nobel Prize was awarded to Venkatraman Ramakrishnan for Chemistry, 2009 and Kailash Satyarthi for Peace in 2014.\n- Since its inception the Nobel Prize has been awarded 58 times to women. Marie Curie was the first and only woman to receive the Nobel prize twice in Physics and Chemistry for discovery of Radium and Polonium.\n- Since 1901, a total of 609 Nobel Prizes have been awarded so far.\n- The Nobel prize in Economics was established in 1968 by Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank).\n- Recipients who were under arrest at the time of award ceremony were German pacifist and journalist Carl von Ossietzky, Burmese politician Aung San Suu Kyi and Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo."

"VLAB 1: Antennas and Propagation\n- Vlabs #1(Go to dowload page, See documentation) is designed to introduce the students to basic principles of antennas, propagation and coverage estimations in a wireless communication environment. The scope is to observe the cell size variation according to basic parameters that are met in a cellular system. These include:\n- Transmit power of the base station.\n- Antenna heights of base station and mobile user terminal.\n- Antenna pattern of base station and mobile user terminal.\n- Antenna orientation of the base station and mobile user terminal.\n- Propagation medium between the two nodes of the system.\nVLAB 2: Fading communication channels\n- Vlabs #2 (Go to dowload page, See documentation) is designed to introduce the student to basic fading processes and narrow band and wideband channel characteristics. The Vlab #2 comprises of a simple scenario where a base station transmits signals and the receiver is moving on a straight line on a street in between building blocks. The scenario assumes simplified propagation mechanisms based on empirical models and simple shadowing parameters. The scope is to observe channel predictions over the scenario and understand the concept of Rice and Rayleigh fading, Power delay profiles and time variant channel behavior.\nVLAB 3: Drive test - Channel measurements.\n- Vlabs #3 (Go to dowload page, See documentation) is designed to introduce the student to basic principles of a drive test. The drive test is the procedure for testing the wireless channel in real time on a predefined deployed network environment. With drive test it is also possible to create empirical propagation models for the specific scenario. The results presented in this Vlab are not established by real measurements but are based on theoretical estimation utilizing multiple diffraction theory.The outcomes of the vlab#3 is to enable the student to understand real time wireless measurements set ups, GIS data and Propagation fit procedure based on measured field characteristics.\nVLAB 4: Topology Control in Wireless Sensor Networks.\n- Vlabs #4 (Go to dowload page, See documentation): Purpose of the lab is to provide a tool for the study of topology control and maintenance in Wireless Sensor Networks, with respect to energy efficiency per node an per battery model. The application heavily relies on the \"atarraya\" simulator by Pedro M. Wightman and Miguel A. Labrador. The presented application is a modified version of the original simulator, specially adapted for educational purposes in the context of the \"Wireless Sensors\" course.\nVLAB 5: Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks.\n- Vlabs #5 (Go to download page, See documentation): Purpose of the lab is to provide a tool for the study of routing efficiency in Wireless Sensor Networks, with respect to node topology. The application is a modified version of the \"prowler\" simulator, created at School of engineering of the Vanderbilt University. Interface simplification for adaption to education purposes and extensibility have been the goals of the modification.\nVLAB 6-7: DVB-T Network Planning.\n- Vlabs #6 (Go to dowload page, See documentation) is designed to introduce to the basic principles of Radio Planning of DVB broadcast cellular systems at 600MHz. The user in this exercise has real GIS raster map available from North West part of Greece (Western Macedonia Region) and various possible Tx positions. The student is expected to learn basic principles of Single Frequency Network Planning and get involved with basic computations regarding C/I ratios, datarate computations, Energy efficient radio planning procedures. Vlabs #7 is similar to vlabs#6 but the network configuration to the user is the energy efficient network configuration obtained by Genetic algorithm optimization procedure. In addition, some new aspects of radio planning are presented and the simulation results do not target specific villages, towns or points of interest of the GIS map but they are represented as a meshgrid with spacing of 500m.In this way there is the ability to observe surface results and have a clear picture concerning the effect of variable network planning parameters.\nVLAB 8: Indoors Network Planning.\n- Vlabs #8 (Go to dowload page, See documentation) introduces the student to deterministic channel estimations based on ray tracing algorithm and on basic principles for indoor network planning at 2.4GHz. At the menu bar of the GUI the Pick up scenario button offers the ability to choose between Scenario 1 and Scenario 2. Scenario 1 refers to deterministic channel estimations whereas scenario 2 refers to indoor network planning (WLAN or femtocells). The indoor environment comprises walls (brick), doors (wood) and windows (glass) and different Tx positions operating at 2.4GHz frequency."

"The Library Computer Access and Retrieval System (LCARS for short) was the main computer system employed by the United Federation of Planets by the mid-24th century. It was used aboard all Starfleet vessels, starbases, and space stations. (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Picard)\nLCARS was accessible virtually anywhere in a facility or starship by both voice and keypad commands via control interfaces. These interfaces included bridge stations, consoles, PADDs, tricorders, and desk computers. Typically, these were graphical controls housed underneath touch-sensitive clear panels that could be quickly reconfigured by users to suit the task at hand. There were also tactile interfaces for visually-impaired officers. (TNG: \"Encounter at Farpoint\", \"The Vengeance Factor\", \"The Host\", \"Half a Life\"; VOY: \"Year of Hell\")\nBy 2399, Starfleet had begun deploying three-dimensional holographic interfaces for the LCARS system aboard Federation starships and installations. Civilian craft such as La Sirena also had access to this technology. (Star Trek: Picard)\nLCARS used sophisticated subroutines in order to understand and execute vocal natural language commands. This enabled even complicated tasks to be executed with just a few commands in the case of voice or button presses in the case of keypad commands. LCARS controlled the retrieval and storage of files in the data banks housed within the ship's computer cores including logs like personal logs or transporter logs, element and chemical compound data and data on archaeological artifacts. (TNG: \"Contagion\", \"Dark Page\", \"Man of the People\", \"Night Terrors\", \"Qpid\") It was used to retrieve files in external databases like when a ship needs to assess traffic control around starbases or investigate inventory databases of surplus depots. (TNG: \"Birthright, Part II\", \"Unification I\") It was also used for command system access and for viewing the crew manifest. (TNG: \"Brothers\", \"Conundrum\") It was also used to display recently recorded data like medical scans, tactical scans and sensor scans. (TNG: \"Ethics\", \"Interface\", \"Descent\", \"Relics\", \"Genesis\") It displayed results of analyses like linguistic analyses, configuration analyses of system networks, and magnetic flux density analyses. (TNG: \"Masks\", \"Attached\", \"Power Play\")\nLCARS retained the same basic layout and design across Federation starships and installations, however, a few variations in the color schemes can be noticed.\nDuring normal operations, LCARS color schemes can alternate between a wide ranges of colors, such as tans, purples, and yellows, in addition to blues, aquas, and oranges. (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Picard)\nDuring emergencies or special operations, LCARS color schemes are updated to reflect the current alert status, such as Red or Blue alerts. When these alerts are called, LCARS interfaces will switch to either a red/white or blue/white scheme respectively. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek Nemesis)\nLCARS interfaces are seen in almost every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. The interfaces seen in Star Trek: The Original Series are never named and their designs are quite different.\nA close-up view of one of the science stations aboard the Enterprise-D in \"The Vengeance Factor\" has the label \"Library Computer Subsystems\". The full name \"Library Computer Access and Retrieval System\" can be seen in several episodes, including \"The Price\", \"The Measure Of A Man\" and \"Conundrum\". The phrase \"library computer access and retrieval\" is spoken in \"Encounter at Farpoint\")\nThe sickbay used in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is a minor redress of the TNG sickbay, and the LCARS panels on the wall are barely altered, so this could be the first LCARS appearance. They also appear in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country just below the warp core, but they do not appear in the 23rd century portion of Star Trek Generations.\nAccording to a Next Generation episode text commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda, the LCARS displays were rarely actual computer simulations; one such example was the computer screen used by Romulan Commander Sela to monitor the Federation fleet during her attempt to smuggle weapons and supplies to Lursa and B'Etor during the Klingon civil war in the episode \"Redemption II\". This was due, according to the Okudas, to both the high cost and primitive state of computer graphics in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Therefore, most LCARS displays were, in fact, plastic panels with spinning light devices behind them to give the impression that the information on the \"displays\" was changing.\nIn the first two seasons of The Next Generation, large black rectangles are clearly visible on the LCARS displays on the bridge (and sometimes in main engineering). This was a result of the studio lights reflecting off the displays, which director of photography Edward R. Brown tried to solve by sticking cardboard onto them. When Brown was replaced by Marvin V. Rush for the third season, a number of changes in filming (including better film stock and a smaller number of lights) allowed the LCARS displays to be seen properly. \nThe LCARS layout has been used in several computer games and applications such as the CD-ROM version of the Star Trek Encyclopedia, as well as the TNG and DS9 CD-ROM Companions. The LCARS layout is also used on the Star Trek PADD app for the Apple iPad."

"Is the ninth child and third son of James H. WATTS. He was born in Clinton county, Ills., July 20th, 1848. He received his early education in the common schools. He continued to assist his father in carrying on the home farm until he was about twenty years of age, when he was married to Miss Nancy J. KENNEDY, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Kennedy, of Washington county, Illinois. Immediately after his marriage he settled on a farm in section thirteen, in what is now Lake township. As a farmer, Mr. Watts has been successful, and is ranked among the successful producers and stock raisers of Clinton county. On the 5th of March, 1865, when the regiment veteranized, he enlisted and Company I of the 30th Regt. Illinois Volunteers. He remained in actual service about six months, when the command was ordered to Camp Butler, Springfield Ills, where he received an honorable discharge, and immediately thereafter returned to his home, and re-engaged in farming.\nMr. Watts is one of the useful men of the county, and he has frequently been called upon by the citizens his township to accept and hold many of the important offices of honor and trust, in all of which he has discharged his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He is at the present time serving his third term as Justice of the Peace. He received his first commission from George BEVERIDGE, and his second and third commissions from George CULLOM. He is also serving at present his fourth term of School Director of the district in which he resides. He is an ardent advocate of the common schools, and does all in his power to make them more thorough, and to raise the standard of their excellence in the community in which he resides. He is among those who believe that it is best for the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the State that her future men and women should be thoroughly indoctrinated in all the rudiments of a good English education.\nHe is also liberal and charitable in matters having for their object the welfare of society. In all of his prosperity and success in life, he is at all times willing to concede to his good wife her full share of merit, and does recognize in her his best help-meet. In politics Mr. Watts is a staunch Republican, and takes great delight in working for the advancement and success of his party. He and his wife are also both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.\nSource: History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois, 1881, Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia\nSubmitted by: Pamela Safriet\nClick on the letters below to see an index of obituaries starting with that letter\n|Database table Bio_Index modified:||5 Nov 2016|\n|Page modified:||15 Nov 2011|"

"Angles in special quadrilaterals https://vimeo.com/403441636\nMaths Lesson 2\nAngles in regular polygons https://vimeo.com/405761459\nMaths Lesson 3\nProblem Solving https://vimeo.com/405761575\nMaths Lesson 4\nProblem Solving https://vimeo.com/405761761\nWhite Rose Home Learning packs can be accessed here:\nDon't forget to check your emails for Discovery Home Learning tasks.\nIf you were looking for more work for your child to do, there are several websites that you can access that have daily lessons on. Please see below:\nIt is important to still ensure that your child is practising times tables (https://www.timestables.co.uk/ or Times Tables Rockstars).\nImportant Information for Invictus\nOn a Tuesday, we have basketball with Marley. We will, as much as possible, be playing outside so the children need their joggers and a long sleeved top (jumper or hoody is fine).\nOn a Wednesday morning, we have Yoga with Mrs Lyon and the children should bring in comfortable clothing to wear.\nHome Learning Tasks\nThe children will be set weekly home learning tasks from their Maths and Reading CGP books. They will be sent home on a Monday and should be returned by the following Monday. Please see attached document for which tasks should be completed each week.\nThe children should be reading daily - this might be a range of fiction and non-fiction texts. Any new or unfamiliar words should be looked up in a dictionary to demonstrate understanding of what is being read.\nOur topic this half term (and next) is Frozen Kingdom. The children will be learning about the Arctic and Antarctica, the sinking of Titanic and the many explorers amongst other things! In order to prepare for their learning, the children may wish to research these in advance and then share their findings in the classroom.\nAs part of our well-being, Year 6 are having weekly yoga sessions with Mrs Lyon. Each week we spend time focusing on ourselves as well as developing our balance and techniques to support our wellness.\nYear 5 Class Assembly\nThe children are looking forward to welcoming you to their class assembly on Tuesday 2nd March at 2:30pm.\nWe have been making dream catchers inspired by the artist Leonora Carrington."

"Question: Why do modern jets have wing tips that point upward at 90 degrees? It seems like jets for the past 30 years have flown fine with flat wings.\n— submitted by reader Dennis, Frederick, Md.\nAnswer: The wing tips you describe are called winglets. Winglets make wings more efficient by taking some of the energy from the wingtip vortex and creating lift and forward energy, allowing lower fuel burn.\nQ: Why do some of the models of current passenger jets have winglets and others don't?\n— Frank Breveglieri, Spring Lake , Mich.\nA: Winglets are becoming more common due to the cost of fuel. The function of a winglet is to harness the energy in the wingtip vortices. By utilizing these vortices, fuel efficiency is improved. Usually a winglet can improve the fuel burn by over 2%. Over a short time, the winglet saves more fuel than the cost of installing it.\nQ: What's the difference between winglets and sharklets?\n— Charlie, Manchester,N.H.\nA: The name is the only real difference. They accomplish the same thing.\nQ: In your recent column about who gets to ride in the jumpseat, you forgot to include cadet pilots who fly on observation flights after their technical course and before their initial simulator training. I myself am a cadet pilot and will soon be going on a few observation flights.\n— Azam Khan, Pakistan\nA: Yes, in some countries cadet pilots can ride jumpseat. Unfortunately, not all countries allow it.\nAs we train the next generation of pilots I hope we are wise enough to allow them to learn all they can from the vast experience of the senior pilots flying today. Allowing jumpseat observation flights is one good way.\nMORE: Read previous columns\nJohn Cox is a retired airline captain with U.S. Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems."

"Kindness (noun): the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate; a kind act.\n— English Oxford Living Dictionaries\nOmbudspeople like myself have a unique view of the institutions they serve. Some of us fondly refer to it as the “view from the underbelly” of our organizations. The urgent calls we get aren’t to share a recent act of kindness. Visitors who arrive at our offices often do so feeling under siege from less than kindly forces. We hear repeatedly of our visitors’ desire to be treated with kindness, and of the wish that they could themselves rise above unkindness to be their best kind selves. Here, then, are some thoughts on kindness — how to give and receive it.\nKindness starts with being kind to yourself\nEver notice how much better you treat others when you’ve taken care of yourself? In a pressure-filled environment it’s easy to work through lunch, work through dinner, and respond to emails at 11 pm. But the world often rights itself when we take a moment to breathe, assess what we need, and seek it. (Sleep? A relaxed meal, anyone?)\nBe kind to yourself when you misstep, which happens to everybody. Setting upon ourselves may cause collateral damage, making others the target of the anger or frustration or disappointment that we really feel about ourselves. It can feel good to direct these upsetting emotions away from ourselves and onto others, but for how long, really?\nLead with compassion, follow with kindness\nEveryone has challenges, many hidden from sight. If you knew that your coworker delivering the curt response to a question or the snarky critique of a project had recently learned of a serious illness in their family, wouldn’t you cut them some slack? And better yet, might you then want to reach out with support? When we are compassionate, we are recognizing our shared human condition. Compassion can guide us to acts of kindness. Maybe we keep our mouth shut instead of calling out the misdemeanor. Or we find a private time to ask if everything is okay. Sometimes kindness is offering to get coffee, or bringing back a cookie from a lunchtime workshop just because.\nWe feel happier when we act in service to others\nA recent study reported on how people felt after performing or observing kind acts every day for seven days. Participants were randomly assigned to carry out at least one more kind act than usual for someone close to them, an acquaintance or stranger, or themselves, or to try to actively observe kind acts. Happiness was measured before and after the seven days of kindness. The researchers found that being kind to ourselves or to anyone else — yes, even a stranger — or actively observing kindness around us boosted happiness.\nWhile we may not have control over another person, we do have control over ourselves. What does it mean to be our best selves? Isn’t being kind in the mix of choices we have each and every day? We can’t make anyone else be kind, but that doesn’t have to stop us from aspiring to be kind, no matter what.\nGive to give, not to receive\nThe purest form of kindness may have no audience and offer no credit. Kindness to accumulate thanks is self-serving at best. Some may even say it’s an effort to control or make the recipient feel indebted. But when we are kind even if — maybe especially if — there’s no such payback, the rewards may be all the sweeter. I heard a story about someone who learned that a child from a family with very little money really wanted a bicycle. This fairy godparent bought a super nice bike and asked the shopkeeper to write a highly discounted receipt for an amount the family could afford. The family reimbursed the fairy godparent for the receipt price without knowing it cost far more. Now that’s kindness!\nWe become kinder with practice\nSo, practice. Aesop, the ancient Greek storyteller, once said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” If random acts of kindness don’t come easily to you, try this challenge: do one small, kind thing each day for someone. Then pay attention to the impact on you. Does it become easier the more you do it? Do you start to notice and act on more opportunities to be kind in your world? Do you start to feel lighter? Kinder?\nKindness begets kindness\nJust as a bully of a boss can foster a culture of bullying and fear down the hierarchical line, so can kindness from one help to foster kindness in others. We often take our cues from leaders, coworkers, labmates, and others we live with many hours a day. Why not be the kind person from whom others take their cues? The one who helps people turn to one another in small and big ways that illustrate a spirit of generosity?\nKindness is lasting\nWhen I was a terribly insecure and shy misfit of a college freshman, I was going through the cafeteria line by myself one fall day. When I got to the checkout, the woman at the cash register said, “You have such a pretty face.” Now, over 40 years later, I still remember that unexpected moment of kindness from a stranger. Who do you remember most? And how do you want to be remembered?"

"The United Nations World Food Day on 16 October fell on a Saturday this year. The Eco Club of the European School Munich therefore organised some activities on the following Monday at the secondary school to draw attention to the topic of sustainable nutrition.\nThe pupils had created two small exhibitions. In the first one, they explained the connection between eating habits and their CO2 consumption as well as alternatives to meat consumption. They compared the carbon footprint of different foods and presented the advantages and disadvantages of wheat and peas as a source of protein, mushroom mycelium and lab-grown meat. In the second exhibition they presented edible plants. Elderberry, ribwort or nasturtium can also be found in Munich parks.\nThose who wanted to could try these plants themselves. The Eco Club had collected edible wild herbs and fried them with tempura batter in the playground. Many pupils enjoyed the delicious snack. Those who were a bit more experimental in terms of cuisine were allowed to have an unusual experience a few metres further on: There were edible insects to try, small grasshoppers in different flavours. Is this just a dare or the protein source of the future? In any case, this nibble met with great interest among the pupils. On posters, they were able to learn about the consumption of space, water and food compared to the nutrients of insects and various animals. The canteen was also involved in the activities for World Food Day. Although there were no insects to eat here, a chilli sin carne was served alongside other vegetarian dishes, in which the meat was replaced with soy granules. So on this day, everyone could see for themselves whether meat substitutes meet their taste.\nIn addition to these activities on Monday, there is a small exhibition of books and DVDs on the topic of nutrition in the library of the secondary school, which will be on display for the rest of the week. The European School Munich would like to thank all those involved for organising a wonderful theme day in the spirit of sustainable development. Sincere thanks also go to the school caterer Il Cielo, who incidentally cooks in organic quality every day and prefers to use regional products, for their friendly cooperation.\n- The Eco Club has produced interesting articles on the subject of nutrition (access via the eursc.eu identifier)"

"A Curious Pacific Wave\nA Curious Pacific Wave A massive swell of warm water is buffeting South\nAmerica. Is it the first sign of a new El Niño -- or just\nanother \"Kelvin wave?\"\nMarch 5, 2002: Somewhere on a beach in Ecuador or Peru, someone is out for stroll. A warm breeze is blowing, water laps at their feet. It's paradise.\nBut something is amiss. The air is a bit warmer than usual. So is the water. And, for weeks now, tides have been cresting a few inches higher. Maybe only frequent beach-walkers would notice the difference, but the changes are real.\nThese countries have just been hit by a gentle yet massive swell of warm water -- a so-called \"Kelvin wave.\"\n\"Kelvin waves are warm bumps in the Pacific Ocean,\" says JPL oceanographer Bill Patzert. They form around Indonesia and travel east toward the Americas. \"A typical Kelvin wave is 5 or 10 cm high, hundreds of kilometers wide, and a few degrees warmer than surrounding waters.\"\nEl Niños and Kelvin waves are both triggered by winds -- or a lack thereof -- in the Pacific Ocean. Patzert explains: Pacific trade winds blow from east (the Americas) to west (Indonesia). The persistent breeze pushes Sun-warmed surface waters westward and, as a result, the sea level near Indonesia is normally 45 cm higher than it is near Ecuador.\n\"We call that part of the ocean near Indonesia the warm pool -- it's the biggest area of warm water on our planet,\" says David Adamec, a climate researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The pool heats the atmosphere above the western Pacific where convection cells spawn thunderstorms, lightning, and plenty of rain.\nAbove: A Kelvin wave crosses the Pacific, Dec. 8, 2001 - Mar. 3, 2002. This plot shows a 500m-deep slice of the Pacific Ocean along the equator. The warm pool is on the left, the Americas are on the right. False colors denote temperature anomalies (measured by Pacific ocean buoys) in degrees Celsius. \"The warmest part of a Kelvin wave is usually 100 to 150 meters below the ocean's surface,\" notes Adamec. [more]\nSometimes the trade winds falter for a few days or weeks -- researchers aren't sure why -- and warm water slides back across the Pacific toward the Americas. \"That's a Kelvin wave,\" says Patzert. \"We see at least one of them every (northern) winter.\"\nEl Niño begins when trade winds falter -- not just briefly -- but for many months. Then, says Patzert, strong Kelvin waves cross the Pacific \"like a conveyor belt,\" depositing warm water near South America where the ocean is normally cold. This new \"warm pool\" alters weather all over our planet. Rains that would normally soak the western Pacific shift toward the Americas, while places like Indonesia and India become dry.\nAbove: El Niño conditions\nAbove: normal or La Niña conditions\nSome people welcome the change. The last El Niño in 1997 suppressed Atlantic hurricanes, lowered winter heating bills in New England, and drew surfers to suddenly warm beaches in California. Sled dogs in the Sierra Nevada enjoyed extra sledding when it snowed in June!\nOthers dread it. Coastal villagers in South America fled torrential rains in 1997 that washed away their homes. Many were ready to leave anyway to escape record swarms of mosquitoes that bred in standing pools. Meanwhile, normally wet places like Indonesia were hit by terrible droughts and wildfires.\nBelow: Flash floods can be a side-effect of strong El Niños. Credit: NOAA.\n\"El Niño can do a lot of damage,\" acknowledges Patzert, \"but it's not all bad.\" For example, farmers can profit from changing weather patterns by cultivating \"El Niño crops.\" Rice and beans, for instance, could be planted in areas normally too dry to support them. But such is only possible if growers know when El Niño is coming.\nScientists have developed computer models that do a good job forecasting El Niño's effects -- after El Niño is underway. \"The hard part,\" says Adamec, \"is predicting when El Niño will begin.\"\nIndeed, life would be easier if El Niño came and went on a regular schedule, but the interval between El Niños varies from 3 to 7 years -- another mystery for researchers. Because the last one began in 1997, the next could begin as early as this year or as late as 2004. No one knows.\nAfter the El Niño of 1982-83 took forecasters by surprise, the United States, Japan, and France strung 70 buoys across the equatorial Pacific. Called the \"TAO array,\" these buoys monitor water temperature to a depth of 500 meters, as well as winds, air temperature, and relative humidity. They are designed to be an early warning system for El Niño.\nBelow: One of 70 buoys in the Tropical Atmospheric Ocean (TAO) array. [more]\nEl Niño warnings also come from the US-French TOPEX/Poseidon satellite. It can measure the height of the ocean's surface by \"pinging it\" with an onboard radar. Warm water expands, so Kelvin waves appear as traveling bumps in the satellite's sea surface elevation maps.\nBoth TAO and TOPEX/Poseidon have tracked the latest Kelvin wave since it formed near Indonesia in Dec. 2001. \"The wave crossed the Pacific in January and reached South America in February,\" says Patzert. Not all Kelvin waves manage to cross the vast Pacific -- but this one did. It reminds Patzert of another notable Kelvin wave: \"It looks a lot like one that crossed the Pacific in early 1997 -- just before the last El Niño.\"\nDoes this mean another El Niño is near? \"Not necessarily,\" he says. \"Kelvin waves appear in the Pacific every winter; they don't all mean El Niño is coming.\"\nAdamec agrees: \"It's too soon to say. The real test will be what happens this spring.\" If the \"conveyor belt\" starts turning as it did in the (northern) spring of 1997, then we will know El Niño is back.\nFor now, scientists must watch ... and wait. \"We're always watching the Pacific anyway,\" laughs Patzert. \"It's the biggest thing on our planet!\" And that, of course, is why Kelvin waves matter.\nEl Niño El No Show? -- The opposing views of experts highlight the uncertainty of an emerging science: predicting the onset of El Niño.\nRecent press releases: Is El Niño Coming Back? (NOAA); Forecasters' Confidence Increases That El Niño Will Develop (NOAA); El Niño is Yawning (ESA)\n\"Kelvin waves are natural modes of the ocean's response to atmospheric winds,\" says Bill Patzert. \"Kelvin waves hug the equator and are forced to travel west-to-east -- a result of Coriolis forces created by Earth's rotation.\" More information: Kelvin waves (US Navy); Oceanic Kelvin & Rossby Waves (JPL); Kelvin waves (University of Texas).\nRight: A map of Pacific sea-surface temperatures reveals the \"warm pool\" near Indonesia. Kelvin waves carry water from the warm pool toward the Americas. [more]\nThe El Nino/Southern Oscillation -- a tutorial from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\nEl Niño/La Niña: Natu46;s Vicious Cycle -- (National Geographic) It rose out of the tropical Pacific in late 1997, bearing more energy than a million Hiroshima bombs: the giant El Niño of 1997-98.\nBenefits of El Nino Prediction -- (NOAA)\nThe Tropical Atmospheric Ocean Array -- a chain of 70 scientific buoys across the Pacific keeps watch for El Niño\nTOPEX/Poseidon -- A partnership between the U.S. and France to monitor global ocean circulation, discover the tie between the oceans and atmosphere, and improve global climate predictions. Every 10 days, the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite measures global sea level with unparalleled accuracy.\nEye on the Ocean -- (EarthObservtory) This article explains how El Niño is formed and influenced by a constant exchange of energy between the Pacific Ocean and our planet's atmosphere.\nJoin our growing list of subscribers - sign up for our express news deliveryand you will receive a mail message every time we post a new story!!!"

"Career coaches say you should be able to describe what you do in 30 seconds or less. I can definitely sum up my research in one sentence for non-technical folks (and no, I don’t just say “Frustrating—argh!”)\nBut I’ve found that I almost always have to answer another question: “What is geochemistry?” I was asked this about 10,000 times during my first year in grad school (I know a lot of people outside of academia) and my one-sentence answer never seemed to satisfy people’s curiosity. So I came up with a little blurb, a bit longer than 30 seconds, that explains my feelings about geochemistry. Dr. Hand-Waver rolls her eyes when she hears me say it, but since she hasn’t offered a reasonable alternative, I keep using it anyway. Here it is. (And yes, it is a bit simplistic: this is what I tell non-technical people.)\nWhat is geochemistry?\nWell, you know what chemistry is, right? Most chemists do work in the lab under closely controlled conditions. They control the temperature, what goes into the flask, and stuff like that. Geochemistry is the chemistry of the natural world. It’s the chemistry that happens in water and rocks and the atmosphere, where there are about ten million different variables that you can’t control.\nThe usual response to this was a pause, then: “So why would you want to study that?” I never could quite convey to them how cool it was. *sigh*"

"The central panel of this triptych (a painting made up of three sections) shows the crucified Christ. Angels cover their eyes unable to bear the sight as they gather the blood from his wounds in chalices, which resemble those which hold the wine of the Eucharist, drunk at Mass. The fainting Virgin Mary is supported by two women, and Christ’s so-called ‘beloved’ disciple, often thought to be John the Evangelist, wrings his hands in grief.\nThe figure who wraps his arms around the base of the Cross is a thirteenth-century saint, Francis. His prayer was so intense that he had a vision of Christ on the Cross and at that moment received the stigmata (the wounds of Christ) in his hands and feet; his bleeding feet are apparent here. The triptych was once at a church in Aquila, in eastern Italy, that was dedicated to Saint Clare, who founded an order of Franciscan nuns.\nThe central panel of this triptych shows the crucified Christ. The scene is portrayed dramatically, emphasising Christ’s pain and suffering: his eyes are rolled back and his mouth is open in agony. Angels – some covering their eyes unable to bear the sight – gather the blood from his wounds in chalices resembling those which hold the wine of the Eucharist, drunk at Mass. Their emotion is echoed by the Virgin Mary, who is supported by two other women as she faints below the Cross, and by Christ’s so-called ‘beloved’ disciple, often thought to be John the Evangelist, who wrings his hands in a traditional expression of grief.\nFrom the wounds in his feet, we can tell that the figure who wraps his arms around the base of the Cross is Saint Francis. Francis lived in the thirteenth century but he is shown here because of his practice of prayer in which he contemplated Christ’s suffering on the Cross. His prayer was so intense that he had a vision of Christ crucified and, at that moment, received the stigmata (the wounds of Christ) in his hands and feet. The saint’s presence here reinforces the devotional purpose of the painting, to enable worshippers to follow his example and to meditate upon the Crucifixion.\nThe two outer panels – the triptych’s ‘wings’ – show the events before and after the Crucifixion. The sequence begins in the upper left corner of the left wing with Christ’s prayer before he is arrested, known as the Agony in the Garden; Saints Peter, James and John are asleep in the foreground. In the distance Judas leads the Roman soldiers to Christ to arrest him. The scene below shows him carrying his cross to Calvary, a scene often called the Way to Calvary. The Virgin and two female disciples help Christ to carry the Cross. The upper section of the right wing shows the Resurrection, while below, Christ’s mother and disciples mourn over his dead body.\nTriptychs like this were portable altarpieces which could be used for devotion wherever the owner might be. The reverse of its wings, which would have folded over the central panel to protect it, are painted to imitate red marble. The frame is probably original although it has been restored. The upper central part shows the monogram made popular by Saint Bernardino, a Franciscan preacher who was devoted to the name of Christ: ‘IHS’ are the initials of the Greek version of Christ’s name. The inclusion of the monogram, as well as Saint Francis, suggest that the triptych was probably made for a Franciscan. Indeed, its last recorded location was at a church in Aquila, in the mountainous Abruzzo area in eastern Italy, that was dedicated to Saint Clare, who had founded an order of Franciscan nuns.\nDownload a low-resolution copy of this image for personal use.\nLicense and download a high-resolution image for reproductions up to A3 size from the National Gallery Picture Library.\nThis image is licensed for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons agreement.\nExamples of non-commercial use are:\nThe image file is 800 pixels on the longest side.\nAs a charity, we depend upon the generosity of individuals to ensure the collection continues to engage and inspire. Help keep us free by making a donation today.\nYou must agree to the Creative Commons terms and conditions to download this image."

"Passage Set #2 on 8-86\n2 posts • Page 1 of 1\nThis is a question about the comparative reading passage concerning interpretation of the constitution as a strict literalism or a living document. I thought I understood it really well but then got question 5 and 6 wrong. Why is 5 E and not B? I thought Passage B would say that strict constitutions don't ALWAYS believe it should be interpreted literally because of line 45-50. Also why is 6 A? To be, passage B was much less partisan and negative than passage A. If someone could please help me that would be greatly appreciated\nGood questions! As on many comparative reading passages, one key skill is to evaluate and identify the shared topic of both passages and then to describe the extent to which they overlap or differ from each other, in tone, scope, or viewpoints. For these two passages, you appear to have a reasonably good grasp of the subject matter, but let's drill down on the main points of each:\nLet's consider both your questions. For question 5, answer choice (B), in ll 46-52, the author of Passage B clearly indicates that constructivist judges need not interpret the constitution literally (\"no one would argue...\"); instead constructivists focus on intent. Thus, while there is some evidence the author of Passage A would agree with this statement (l 17), the evidence in Passage B points in the other direction.\nFor answer choice (E), note ll 55 and 61 in which \"activist judges\" make decisions \"under the guise of interpretation\" and characterize \"such moves as interpretation.\" This evidence suggests that such \"activist judges\" do not consider themselves activist judges. In Passage A, ll 29-20 give direct evidence that these judges consider themselves \"interpreters, not activists.\" Therefore there is direct evidence to support answer choice (E).\nFor question 6, asked about how the tone of Passage A differs from that of Passage B, note in our description above that while the author of Passage A shows an implicit preference for interpretive philosophy, her preferences are not as overtly articulated as the preferences of the author of Passage B. Insofar as Passage B is more polemical in its approach, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that B is more \"partisan.\" Therefore, we have sufficient evidence to support answer choice (A).\nOne challenge of comp-reading is the extent to which such passages do not forgive lack of clarity about the main points of both passages and the relationships between the themes of these passages. It is prudent to make sure that you have adequate understanding of the main points of these passages.\nPlease follow up with further questions. I hope this helps!\n2 posts • Page 1 of 1"

"Risk Associated with Rangeland Health and Sustainability\nRisk Management for Texans Series\nRLEM No. 5 August 2000\nProfessor and Extension Range Specialist\nTexas AgriLife Extension Service\nSan Angelo, Texas\nTexas rangelands are a multiple use natural resource. From rangelands meat and fiber are produced, most of the wildlife in the state are found, and the majority of the water used by our cities, agriculture and industry is captured for storage in lakes or underground aquifers. Also, rangelands provide recreational opportunities such as hiking, off road recreational vehicle use, birding, camping, etc. as well as providing aesthetic beauty to the landscape. The health and sustainability of Texas rangelands are important to every citizen of this state.\nWhat is Healthy Rangeland?\nHealthy rangelands as compared to unhealthy rangelands usually have a greater diversity of plant and animal species. Plant communities are dominated by perennial plants as compared to annuals. Healthy rangelands have minimum erosion, because the soil surface has sufficient plant cover to protect it from the impact of raindrops. This plant cover also serves to slow the movement of water across the soil surface, resulting in greater water infiltration rates as compared to unhealthy rangelands. Healthy rangelands produce a greater and more dependable quantity of herbaceous forage for use by livestock and wildlife. And most importantly, healthy rangelands ecological processes, including the hydrologic cycle, nutrient cycle and energy flow are all functioning, supporting healthy biotic populations and communities.\nWhat are the Risks of Unhealthy Rangelands?\nUnhealthy rangelands have accelerated loss of soil through excessive water or wind erosion. This soil loss increases sedimentation of streams, rivers and above ground aquifers, reducing their storage capacity and life. Unhealthy rangelands also have reduced recharge of underground aquifers due to lower infiltration rates. Soil loss from accelerated erosion reduces the volume of soil available for storage of water and thus the production potential for livestock and wildlife. Unhealthy rangelands have less diverse populations of animals and plants which reduces the ecosystems resilience to adverse conditions. Unhealthy rangelands generally produce less forage for livestock. Unhealthy rangeland have reduced habitat value, essential as cover and food for wildlife. Unhealthy rangelands function poorly or are have completely dysfunctional basic ecological processes required to sustain the ecosystem over time. In many cases, mis-management resulting in unhealthy rangelands is irreversible.\nWhat are Some Warning Signs of Unhealthy Rangeland?\nPedicelled plants: Grass plants, each setting on a small pedicel of soil, is a warning sign of sheet erosion on the site. The plant root system and crown protects the soil directly underneath, but soil between plants is lost downslope with each rainfall event. Soil depth is important for the storage of water for plant growth between rainfall events. It is possible, with unprotected soil to loose over an inch of topsoil during a single rainstorm event, which in turn may take centuries to replace through natural processes.\nBare Ground: Large areas or increasing areas of bare ground are a symptom of unhealthy rangeland. The soil must be covered with vegetation or mulch to protect the soil surface from the impact of raindrops. Unprotected soil becomes dislodged during rainfall events, and moves downslope into gullies, streams and rivers. Unprotected soil is susceptible to forming crusts, due to a loss of structure and organic matter at the soil surface, which reduces water infiltration, recharge of underground aquifers and the quantity of water stored in the soil profile for plant growth.\nBrowse Lines: A distinct absence of woody plant vegetation from ground-line to a height that browsers like goats and deer can reach, is an indication of excessive use of this component of the plant community. Too heavy use of any part of a plant community will result in reduced plant diversity and lower overall range health. The strength of rangeland ecosystems is their diversity, in both animals and plants. Diversity protects both the health and sustainability of the system over time.\nGullies and Steep Denuded Stream Banks: Gullies and steep stream banks devoid of vegetation are another sign of excessive erosion and poor rangeland health. Vegetation on stream banks hold soil and slow water movement during high stream-flow events, while dissipating stream-flow energy. Treatment to counteract the formation of gullies and steep stream banks should not only include slowing water movement through these areas, but also careful examination and correction of the factors that led to their development in the first place.\nPlant Communities Dominated By Annual Plants: Unfortunately, if rangelands are abused through over-use, the plant communities will change from perennial species to annual species. Annual species have life cycles that permit them to take advantage of short-term, favorable growing conditions. Unfortunately they do not provide the soil surface with dependable, continuous protection from raindrop impact, or provide dependable forage for livestock and wildlife.\nHow Do I Monitor for these Warning Signs?\nMonitoring rangelands are important because it improves the owner/managers ability to make proper and timely decisions. Rangelands are very complex. Any given pasture may be composed of several different range sites, each with different plant communities. Each plant community has its own mix of grass, forb and woody plant species. This mix of species changes over time due to the impact of weather, seasons, brush and weed management, and grazing pressure by livestock and wildlife. Any monitoring system should key on changes in this plant community and any observable symptoms of accelerated erosion. The owner/manager must monitor these changes to insure 1)management is not causing damage to soil, water quality and the rangeland resource base, and 2) that past decisions are producing expected results.\nRangelands can be monitored using a variety of methods. Some of the more common techniques include vegetation sampling, excluding small areas from grazing or photo points. The latter method is one of the easiest to use by most individuals. By comparing photographs and detailed notes for the exact same location over time, change and current rangeland health can be observed and documented. The photographs, notes and interpretations serve as a permanent record for each location and situation. These observations and photographic record are necessary to establish the cause for changes in resource conditions. Photo points provide a means of monitoring rangeland health with a minimum of input in terms of time and expense.\nWhen comparing photographs for a specific photo point over time, look for changes in the amount of forage, brush, weeds, bare ground, litter and evidence of erosion; for changes in the types of plants found in the photographs (plot); and for the absence or presence of specific plants. Records, i.e. grazing use, brush management and rainfall will be invaluable in interpreting these photographs. For detailed information on how to set up and interpret photo points to monitor range health obtain publication L-5216 “Range Monitoring with Photo Points” from the local county Extension agent or through the Internet (http://texaserc.tamu.edu/catalog/topics/Rangelands.html)."

"This locomotive was built by Hawthorn Leslie in 1926 for Babcock & Wilcox Ltd. It was used at the Renfrew Works of the boilermaker for twenty years.\nThe Renfrew Plant employed over 5,000 workers and the rail network was very extensive and in addition to sidings on either side of the Pailey-Renfrew Wharf main line (closed in 1966 and reduced to a freight siding thereafter) there were numerous spurs going into and out of the various shops.\nIt was transferred to Babcock’s tube mill at Dumbarton in 1946 but was no longer required there by 1969.\nIt was then transferred back to Renfrew in 1972 where it was overhauled by apprentices of the company. The wheels were quite worn, due to the locomotive having to negotiate very sharp curves on uncertain track within the factories. The boiler was overhauled in the package boiler. There were a number of steam fittings which were either worn out or missing, and these included the steam manifold and the injectors. Drawings were obtained, patterns made and castings manufactured. These were then machined up and the fittings completed and assembled. However, Babcocks had no means of testing them, and the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) provided assistance.\nThe locomotive steamed again in 1980 and was named Lord King after the company Chairman.\nWhen the railway system at Renfrew Works ceased to be used, it was donated by the company to the (SRPS). The locomotive was moved to the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway in 1981 or 1982. At that time it had a valid boiler certificate and was in good condition.\nAlthough the engine worked very little at Bo’ness as it is a small engine designed for shunting duties. It is not currently in working order and no longer carries the nameplates for Lord King as it was painted as Percy in Thomas the Tank Engine stories."

"This product is offered exclusively by Scholastic Inc.\nVisit the Scholastic Guided Reading Programs website\nfor more information.\nScholastic Guided Reading Programs deliver the materials you need to help ALL students become strategic and independent readers who love to read! The programs were created and carefully leveled by Dr. Gay Su Pinnell, America's leading authority on guided reading. The instruction aligns to No Child Left Behind, including rigorous guided practice in comprehension, phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and fluency. The Guided Reading system for book leveling assigns each book a letter (A-Z) based on the degree of challenge it represents.\nOur Guided Reading Content Areas Program enhances students' knowledge in Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics and builds reading skills! Fill your guided reading sessions with rich content while you develop essential vocabulary, build background knowledge, and develop strategic reading skills.\nThe program features:\nEach Leveled Library Includes:\n- Titles aligned to content area standards in Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics.\n- Carefully leveled books that give students access to critical knowledge.\n- Lesson plans that develop important skills for reading informational text.\n- A Teacher's Guide written by Dr. Gay Su Pinnell.\nGuided Reading Content Areas Level P:\n- 60 Trade Books (6 copies of 10 titles)\n- Teacher's Guide by Dr. Gay Su Pinnell\n- 10 Teaching Cards with instructional suggestions for each title\n- Leveling Stickers for identifying leveled books\n- Attractive Storage Box\nInformational texts at this level include science, history, and biography, enabling readers to learn how to gain information from a variety of sources; concepts may include issues of early adolescence.\nLevel P titles*:\n- Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone: A Math Adventure\n- A Drop of Water\n- Eat Your Vegetables! Drink Your Milk!\n- The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System\n- What Makes You Cough, Sneeze, Burp, Hiccup, Blink, Yawn, Sweat, and Shiver?\n- Where Have All the Pandas Gone? Questions and Answers About Endangered Species\n- Andrew Jackson\n- Heroes of the Revolution\n- Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World's Fastest Woman"

"The thirteen Division of Solid Waste Services' Service Areas are typically shown on a map by their geographic size and shape. Service Areas encompass the roads that must be traveled to make collections and the households that actually receive collection service.\nWhat if we wanted to show the relative size of a Service Area based on household count? One way would be to attach a table of actual household count numbers to the map, letting your eyes and brain figure it out.\nAnother method is the Cartogram. A Cartogram is a map on which a thematic variable, such as household count, is substituted for land area. That is, the Service Area would be displayed not by Square Feet, but by how many households get Montgomery County-provided collection service. As you can see, the land area size and shape as we know it are distorted. However, it is easy to see how “big” an area is based on household count. Notice how the downcounty became bigger and the upcounty became much smaller.\n-- Angie Braun, GIS Specialist"

"A masterful survey of the relationship between racial homogeneity and the preservation of civilization, described against a sweeping historical backdrop which includes Egypt, India, South America, South Africa, and finally the U.S.A.\nThe author proves how racial mixing has in every case led to the collapse of the original founding civilization, and that the only solution to the problem is not segregation, but total physical geographical separation.\nThe only solution for America, this work argues, is the repatriation of its nonwhite population to their continents of origin.\nWritten in the 1930s, the highly accurate predictions of what would happen if a policy of separation was not followed, makes the book’s ultimate thesis even more urgent—particularly in light of increasing anti-white hatred and discrimination in America today.\n“The American problem is not beyond the possibility of permanent solution, but such successful solution will probably depend upon the attitude of the present and the succeeding generation of whites. We know the long continued dwelling together of blacks and whites during the past sixty centuries has had but one ending: amalgamation.\n“Imagine the mulattoes and the nearer whites of the United States to be greatly augmented in numbers. Eventually the nation would cease to reflect Caucasian ideals and cease to represent Caucasian culture . . . The halls of the national capitol, once familiar to the noblest of the Saxons, would echo to the tread of mulattoes, and a mixed-breed would sit as President.”\nThis new edition has been hand edited and completely reset. It contains the complete original text and nine new illustrations and a complete index.\nNote from the Publisher (1937 edition)\nChapter 1: Race Migrations—Prehistoric\nChapter 2: Race Migrations—Historic\nChapter 3: Hybrids and ‘Remnants’\nChapter 4: Civilizations That Have Perished Through Contact with Colored Races—Egypt\nChapter 5: Civilizations That Have Perished Through Contact with Colored Races—Egypt Continued\nChapter 6: Civilizations That Have Perished Through Contact with Colored Races—India\nChapter 7: Civilizations That Have Perished Through Contact with Colored Races—China, Mexico, Peru\nChapter 8: Civilizations That Are Imperiled Through Contact with Colored Races—Latin America\nChapter 9: Civilizations That Are Imperiled Through Contact with Colored Races—South Africa\nChapter 10: The Civilization That Has Survived Contact with Colored Races—The United States\nChapter 11: Problems of Civilization in Contact with Colored Races—Economic Problems\nChapter 12: Problems of Civilization in Contact with Colored Races—Religious and Social Problems\nChapter 13: Solution of the Problems of Civilization When in Contact with\nColored Races—Separation or Amalgamation; Repatriation A Necessity\nChapter 14: The Ideal Negro State\nChapter 15: Program of Repatriation\nAbout the author: Earnest Sevier Cox (1880–1966) was a Methodist minister, best known for his involvement in the promotion of the state of Virginia’s anti-miscegenation laws of the early twentieth century. A personal friend of like-minded black separatist Marcus Garvey, Cox took an active part in promoting their joint ideal of repatriation and racial separation. His other works include Teutonic Unity, Let My People Go!, and Lincoln’s Negro Policy."

"The history of Santa Claus criss-crosses the continents. Almost all cultures can\nrelate to this kindly man in a red suit who gives children presents. His\nuniversal appeal is reflected in his many names, Chris Kringle, Father Christmas, Pere Noel and of\ncourse always there in the background is St Nicholas.\n- The Roman Saturnalia\n- The First Christmas\n- St Nicholas - The\nFirst Santa Claus?\n- The Night Before Christmas\n- The History of Santa\nClaus' Red Coat\n- Black Peter - Zwarte Piet\nIntroduction to the History of Santa Claus\nThe history of Santa Claus could also double as a marketing text book.\nWhilst many devout Christians rail against the commercial excesses of\nChristmas, they should remember Christ's proclamation: 'Let he who is\nwithout sin should cast the first stone', and look to the founders of their\nown churches who absorbed mid-winter pagan festivals such as Saturnalia and\nMithras into Christmas, and thus encouraged people to convert to Christianity.\nYet there is a huge gulf between figures from the Saturnalia of ancient\nRome and the Santa Claus we\nsee in 21st century New York or London. Because of the rich\nand diverse legends surrounding Santa Claus no one\nsociety can convincingly claim that they conceived this jolly man in red.\nIt seems that by medieval Europe, most societies independently felt the need to create\ntradition of present giving, and each culture developed its own folk lore\nsurrounding the present giver.\nSaturnalia was a popular Roman festival, which started on 17th of December\nlasted for about a week. One feature of Saturnalia was that slaves\ndressed-up and masters dressed-down as surfs. Furthermore it is\nrecorded that Saturnalia was a festival with lots of eating and drinking\n- no change there when it became Christmas. Interestingly, it was also\nthe custom to exchange presents at this festival.\nWhile I would not wish to diminish the importance and significance of\nChrist's birthday, it comes as a bit of a shock to discover that 'Christmas' was not celebrated within living memory\nof Christ's death. Early Christians must have worked out that if\nChrist was conceived at the annunciation (March 25th), then his birthday\nwould have been around 25th December. However, it was not until\nhundreds of years later when smart missionaries wanted a killer\nargument to convert people from paganism that they highlighted Christ's\nbirthday, and annexed the mid-winter pagan festivals into Christmas.\nCommercialisation of Christmas\nFrom a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would\nbe necessary to invent it.\nWas the first Santa Claus in history Russian, or Scandinavian?\nThe answer is neither;\nthe ancestor all those jolly men bearing sack-fulls of presents was\nSt Nicholas, who was born in Myra in Turkey probably and died in 347 AD.\nThe significance of the story of St Nicholas is that it establishes a named\nfigure as the gift giver. He died on the 6th of December, and this presents us with a feast day at the very start of the winter festival\nSt Nicolas' legend itself is that a poor man had three daughters, none of\nwhom could marry because their father had no money for a dowry. In the\nbleak mid-winter the eldest daughter offered to sell herself in to slavery\nso that her two sisters could have a dowry get married, and thus have a good life. Folklore\nchronicles describe how St\nNicholas heard of this sad tale and came to the family's rescue. In an\nact of charity he dropped gold coins down their chimney; as luck would have\nit the daughters were\ndrying their stockings over the dying fire when the three\nbags of gold coins landed in a pair of stockings. And there you have the\nlegend of the present giver in December and children hanging up stockings.\nDuring the 16th century successive waves of reformists tried, but failed, to stamp out\nthe gift-bearing traditions of St Nicholas. Let us now fast forward to\n1809, where Washington Irvine took an interest in the Dutch roots of New\nYork and his research produced the 'Knickerbocker's History of New York'. Amongst\nthe topics in his wide-ranging treatise of the early American pilgrims\n\"The good St. Nicholas came riding over the tops of the\ntrees, in that self-same wagon wherein he brings his yearly presents to\nHistorians of Santa Claus believe that this was the seed from which the\nAmerican version of Santa Claus germinated. (Mis) pronunciations\nresulting in new words is a common theme of the Americanization of English,\nand once you hear it, you realise how a Dutchman in New Amsterdam saying 'Sinter Klaas' (St Nicholas) could\nbecome Sainta ...glass, then morph into New Yorker talking about 'Santa Claus'.\nBy 1921 Sante Claus had arrived in America complete with sleigh and reindeer,\nsee right illustration from a contemporary book.\nAnother critical item in the evolution of Santa Clause was the poem\noriginally called, 'A\nVisit from St Nicholas'. It was written in about 1809 by Henry\nLivingston or Clement Clarke Moore, depending on which historian you\nHowever, the poem was not widely known until 1823 when it was published as 'Twas\nthe Night Before Christmas', whereupon it became a huge and enduring hit.\nThomas Nast - The Face of Santa Claus\nIn 1863 although the terrible American civil war was at its height, at Christmas time\nHarper's Weekly commissioned Thomas Nast to sketch a picture of Santa Claus\nwith the Union troops.\nYou can see him distributing presents to soldiers, and in there in the background are\nhis trusty reindeer, see picture.\nOver the next 20 years Nast went on to sketch Santa Claus in a variety of\nposes, and thus provide us with an image of the Christmas present giver.\nMany of his biographers comment on how you can see a likeness of Thomas Nast in\nhis pictures of Santa Claus.\nYes There Is A Santa Claus\nIf you want the great gift giver\nTo come on his sleigh and deliver\nThen remember this simple rhyme\nAnd recall it at Christmas time\nSanta you do not believe\nChristmas gifts you will not receive\"\nIn a recent survey 76% of Americans believed that Coca-Cola was\nresponsible for creating\nSanta's red coat. However, this is an urban myth.\nHaddon Sundblom did indeed create an iconic Santa Claus for Coca-Cola.\nEach Christmas from 1931 to the 1960s Sundblom created his distinctive\nversion of Santa. The marketing logic was simple, Coca-Cola wanted to\nmake sure that it had its share of the lucrative\nChristmas soft drinks market. The sub-plot in the history of Santa\nClaus is that the image of this jovial present-giving figure that we\nassociate with Christmas was created by Coca-Cola.\nIt is interesting to listen to Coca-Cola's own position on the urban myth that they created Santa's red\nensemble. The company concede that there were Santas in red suits at\n30 years before Sunblom's first picture. However, Coca-Cola are happy to\nride on the coat-tails of the myth, and do publicise their part in\ndeveloping our image of Santa always wearing a red suit.\nResearch on the history of Santa Claus's red coat show that in the late 19th century Santa Claus is depicted in a heavy brown coat, just the job for\nriding around on a cold winter night. The true origin of Santa in a red coat\nprobably comes from primitive color printing where the artist's rough\nhunting brown coat, became dark red owing to the limited range of colours\navailable to the printing process.\nAs mentioned earlier, there is no neat single linear evolutionary path\nleading to the modern day Santa Claus figure. What seems to have\nhappened is that northern European communities, with their long dark\nwinters, have independently created the legend of a present giving figure\nwho emerges near the winter solstice.\nThe Dutch saga of Black Peter highlights an aspect of Christmas presents\nthat is now overlooked, namely that only good children get a visit from Santa Claus.\nBad children get a visit from Black Peter or Krampus as they call him in\nAustria, Bavaria and other central European countries. While what\nBlack Peter does varies from country to country, it is never pleasant, often\ninvolves a beating, and was only doled out to children who had been\nconsistently naughty throughout the year.\nA Female Santa Claus?\nThroughout Santa Claus history women have played almost no part in this\npresent giving role. It's true there have been a few Mother\nChristmases but feminism has not really impinged on this job. To be\nfrank Will and Guy would be happy to keep it this way.\nTo digress, I would like to swim against the tide of political\ncorrectness and suggest that certain responsibilities such as Santa Claus\nshould be considered\nmale preserves, just as certain roles are more suited to women.\nA trivial example of a chivalrous male role is that\nWill and Guy like to open doors for ladies (and other women). On a\npersonal level, Guy is also very happy that in his family women still rule in the\nEarly Christians absorbed pagan festivals in order to make their new\nreligion a better prospect for missionaries to covert non-believers. Christmas became established as THE\nmid-winter festival. The legend of St Nicholas established a named\nfigure as present giver. America introduced the name Santa Claus,\nalthough other countries still maintain their own names for this figure, for\nexample Pere Noel or Kris Cringle. Despite conventional wisdom,\nCoca-Cola did not invent Santa's red coat, however their artist Haddon Sundblom\ncreated the modern face of Santa, building on Thomas Nast's 19th century\nFilms Made of Santa Claus\nSanta Claus (1959) Directed by René Cardona.\nSanta Claus (1985) Starring Dudley Moore.\nHere are the more recent Santa Clause 1, 2 and 3 trilogy.\n- The Santa Clause (1994)\n- The Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause (2002)\n- The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)\nSanta Claws (1996) is a poor film, one to avoid.\nThe move in Vienna has been followed by Christmas markets across Austria and Germany where St Nicholas is the traditional bearer of Christmas gifts. Bettina\nSchade, from the Frankfurter Nicholas Initiative in Germany commented, 'We object to the material things, the hectic rush to buy gifts, and the ubiquity of the bearded man in the red suit that are taking away\nfrom the core meaning of Christmas.\nA Vienna city hall spokesman added that Santa\nClaus is an English language creation, people who want to see him should go to America where I am sure Coca Cola will be happy to\noblige. 'The Christian origins of Christmas, like the birth of Jesus, have receded into the background. It's becoming more and more a festival that is reduced to simply worldly gifts and commerce.'\nSee more about Santa\nPlease send us more of your observations on\nthe history of Santa Claus\nSee more funny Santa jokes and funny pictures.\nAlso snowman pics\n∗ Funny Santa Claus\n∗ Father Christmas\n∗ Funny Santa cartoons\n∗ Funny Santa sleigh\n∗ Children with Santa ∗\n∗ Snowman jokes\n∗ Santa Claus history\n∗ Kids jokes\n∗ Santa pictures kids ∗ Santa Banta jokes\n∗ Funny snowmen\n∗ Santa sculpture\n∗ Santa quotes"

"A Bit of History\nThe field of intercultural communication training was initiated after World War II, as Edward T. Hall studied the complexity of intercultural exchange at the U.S. Foreign Services Institute (The Silent Language was published in 1959), and Florence Kluckhohn and Fred Strodtbeck developed their \"Values Orientation Theory\" at Harvard (1961).\nThe new field built on work by researchers and practitioners in the fields of anthropology, sociology and linguistics, including such notables as Franz Boaz (The Mind of Primitive Man, 1911), Margaret Mead (Coming of Age in Samoa, 1928), Edward Sapir (published 1920s-40s), and Ruth Benedict (Patterns of Culture, 1934).\nSince then the intercultural training field has been pressured from different directions. The first was political and brought an end to Hall's experiments at FSI. Other major influences have been:\n- Corporate, with a tendency to look for simple answers to complex problems\n- Academic, with a tendency to create complex models for basic human behaviour\n- The language training market, seeking to extend its offerings and diversify its markets\n- Publishing, linked to all of the above: supplying books for corporate, academic and linguistic clientele\nIn many ways, the dependence on politics, corporate training services, academia and publishing has prevented interculturalists from seeing the obvious: people don't wait for experts to define the field; they necessarily engage in cross-cultural behaviour, and they learn from their mistakes! Nearly every one in the field recognizes that experience is still the best and most thorough teacher. Which doesn't mean that training is unnecessary. On the contrary, training needs to focus on actual human interaction, enabling us to learn from others' experiences.\nIntercultural science, especially applied to the practical needs of real people, has grown up inside a capitalistic system of intellectual as well as economic competition. Hall saw a relationship between cultural dimensions and those of the physicists (Einstein offered us a fourth dimension, time, which played a major role in Hall's metaphor), while IBM-bred Geert Hofstede saw an opportunity to extend Hall's invention and put a commercial brand on it. More recently Fons Trompenaars, Richard Lewis, Shalom Schwartz and many others have branded and marketed their own versions of cultural dimensions with varying degrees of popularity and success.\nCultural Dimensions and Intercultural Communication\nWhile each of these interculturalists has made major contributions to the field, there has simultaneously developed a dangerous and erroneous tendency to focus on cultural dimensions to the exclusion of other hugely important intercultural concepts. Many people now gravitate towards dimensions much as consumers do towards Nike, Nintendo or McDonald's. We forget the complexity, the context; we forget we are dealing with people who behave differently in different situations, people who are amalgams of multiple cultural influences and who are unique individuals; we forget that culture is not a predictor but an influence. As a result we sometimes forget that intercultural interaction should not be exclusively analyzed through the lens of \"dimensions\" partly because such interactions are real human events, with drama and emotions attached to them. Some interculturalists focus so much on selling a scintillating \"culture of culture,\" as it were, that we displace our valuable purpose, and disregard the depths and richness of intercultural interaction.\nBecause at the birth of intercultural science we needed to illustrate the principle of cultural difference by demonstrating cultural differences as stark contrasts, we had no other choice than to take photographs of cultures and point to—or better, calculate—the differences. Hofstede did it with statistics, whereas Hall, Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck had used observations, impressions and anecdotes. The common theme of most theorists was to point out differences that were less than obvious to laymen (prisoners of their own culture) and create a typology that made it possible to formulate those phenomena as the result of an unstable relationship between two otherwise stable items. Whether the pairs were called monochronic/polychronic, high/low context or modelled on the \"more or less\" (e.g. power/distance, individualism/collectivism), their binary nature made it possible to classify designated \"cultures\" (generally, national groupings) and draw strong and seemingly definitive conclusions about them, even to the point of branding a culture as, say, collectivist or individualist.\nI offer one short example. In a recent training-of-trainers in the intercultural field, a respected organization development practitioner working for one of the world's three largest companies said, \"I would never use a case study involving Japanese and Russians to teach about intercultural effectiveness! Both are high-context, relationship-oriented cultures. There is not enough contrast between Russia and Japan to make meaningful learning!\" If we back up a bit, I think most any of us, including the gentleman in question, can see the irony in his off-the-cuff pronouncement. Cultural dimensions, like many tools, can be very useful. But they are not the only tool to have in our repertoire. As with nearly anything, taken to an extreme they can be counterproductive.\nThe problem with binary analysis is that it fails to take into account the dual nature of culture as something that is both static (its natural and necessary inertia) and dynamic (its required adaptation to permanently changing circumstances, especially in today's globalized world), with contrasting and unpredictable trends occurring both on the surface and in the depths below. Culture can be compared with the weather: we know how (and why) depressions and anticyclones interact, but where, with what intensity, for how long, and with what local results over a period of even a few days, we simply don't know. That makes training rather difficult, especially if the expectation of the trainees is to make behaviour (ours or that of the Other) predictable. Unfortunately, that's what many clients actually expect: they want answers about the future or recipes for managing other people's behaviour. After all, that's the way our business and management culture is structured!\nMost of those who grapple with the problems faced by real people realize sooner or later that, while categories can partially clarify specific issues, achieving anything that can be called effective intercultural competence requires accepting perception and human psychology, focusing on the interpersonal, and discovering how culture produces its effects through human interaction. In order to do this, the vital element is not the place of a national culture on a sliding scale of dimensions, but the values that \"inform\" (in the Aristotelian sense: give form to) behaviour.\nCultural Detective and Intercultural Communication\nThat is why the Cultural Detective focuses immediately on \"core values,\" those deep and relatively easily identifiable forces affecting the psychology of each member of the group, whether they manifest it actively (by promoting the value) or passively (by accepting it as \"natural\" when manifested in others). Thus, as a simple example in U.S. culture, \"speaking up\" is a core value (and not a dimension), even though not everyone in the U.S. is bold enough to be seen as the kind of extravert who will consistently \"speak up.\" In some Asian cultures, the core values of harmony and face play the opposite role. While there are people who actually do \"speak up\" in those cultures (in contradiction to the central tendency), it tends to be a personal and strategic contrast with the group norm. Cultural Detective is a wonderful addition to our intercultural toolkit. It returns us to our anthropological roots, guiding us to view behaviour as \"clues\" motivated by the values and beliefs of deeper culture. It reminds us that we play a role in our cross-cultural interactions, and that understanding ourselves as individuals and as cultural beings is at least as important as developing cultural literacy. And, perhaps most importantly, this tool encourages us to go beyond understanding into creating communities or workplaces in which every player's contributions are meaningful, respected and utilized.\nEach Cultural Detective is built around the perception and progressive understanding of core values, which originate not as behavioural rules but as sources of emotion that subtly guide the interpretation of behaviour (including one's own!). Avoiding the meta-language that academics and gurus find so pleasing (especially when they can claim to have invented, explored or tested the concepts) and that corporate decision-makers find so impressive, the Cultural Detective moves from the multi-faceted consideration of core values (discovering how they work in slogans, proverbs and everyday anecdotes) to actual critical incidents that highlight the unconscious effects produced by those core values when brought into unexpected contact with the behaviour of other real people possessing different core values.\nIn other words, instead of classifying cultures and creating prototypical (if not stereotypical) models of national character, instead of describing each specific culture as a closed system with set characteristics, the Cultural Detective looks inside the psyches of the members of the culture to filter out the principles they share amongst themselves, principles that are responsible for producing spontaneous feelings in the face of real events. For the purposes of training, it's difficult to imagine a more efficient process. Although the limited experience provided by grappling with (rather than merely analysing) the critical incidents is no substitute for extensive personal interaction with the culture, it sets learners off in the right direction and avoids the distraction of their trying to memorize the meaning and applicability of abstract descriptive categories. I would even suggest that the way it actually works—the kind of intelligence it produces—would be worth studying by those academics who are still looking for the secret formula to sum up the meaning of culture and \"interculture.\" Be sure to take the time to supplement your intercultural training toolkit."

"Encourage students to look at what’s working and what can be changed in a constructive manner that can lead to action.\nCan be used for student self-reflection on their own practices OR for reflecting on the course OR for giving peer feedback.\nChoose a prompt such as:\nThis can be done in 5 or 10 minutes during class, or as a longer reflective assignment. It can be done individually at first and then in small groups.\nIf you want students to see each other’s, you can ask them to work on Google docs or Google slides. You can let each person have their own space, or you can have a table separately for each question and be able to see the things under each category together and discuss them. After individual thinking, students can work together in small groups, or they can discuss as a whole class If you don’t necessarily want students to see each other’s, you can use something like Google forms or some other polling tool and then you can choose to share out or not.\nGoogle docs or slides or forms helpful.\nPlease confirm you want to block this member.\nYou will no longer be able to:\nPlease note: This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.\nMaha Bali is undertaking research to discover how educators are using these open resources from Equity Unbound/OneHE. Click the button to find out more and to participate."

"Despite the best efforts of a team of enthusiastic volunteers, this mysterious 5,000 year-old carved boulder still retains most of its secrets!\nIn early November 2011, Altogether Archaeology volunteers under the direction of Blaise Vyner and Steve Sherlock completed an investigation of the Neolithic cup-and-ring marked boulder known as the Tortie Stone, on the RSPB Geltsdale Reserve near Hallbankgate. This work formed module 7 of the Altogether Archaeology pilot project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage.\nThe Tortie Stone is an example of a cup-and-ring marked boulder, sometimes referred to more generally as ‘rock art’. Cup-and-ring marks occur in many places throughout upland northern Britain, and have been much studied over the past couple of decades. However, they remain very poorly understood. They are thought to be about 5,000 years old, and may have been made over a period of several centuries. Several examples are known in Upper Teesdale, and in the Eden Valley, but few others are known in the North Pennines. Exactly why cup-and-ring marks were made, and what the symbols meant to the people who made them, will remain forever a mystery, but there are various ways in which they can be studied in order to attempt a better understanding of them. One possibility is to investigate monuments that contain rock art, rather than just looking at decorated rock surfaces in isolation. The Tortie Stone, with an apparently associated stone setting, fell into this category, and therefore offered considerable potential to inform us about rock art in general as well as adding to our understanding of prehistoric times in this corner of the North Pennines.\nDespite the slightly chilly weather, about 30 volunteers took part in the excavation, and the results were fascinating, if a little frustrating. The potential artificial stone setting adjacent to the Tortie Stone proved to be natural, but important questions about the original form of the site arising from earlier excavations were resolved, and several flint tools recovered. The flints range in date from c7,000 – 2,000 BC, proving that people were here, albeit probably intermittently, throughout this period. However the results do not tell us why these people were here, or whether their presence links in any way to the carvings on the Tortie Stone. During the work, some volunteers undertook an exploratory walkover survey of the surrounding landscape, finding, amongst other things, a previously unknown 3,500 year-old Bronze Age settlement and thus demonstrating the huge potential for more exciting discoveries in this beautiful landscape.\nA full report on the results of the Tortie Stone project has been published in the Transactions of the Cumberland & Westmorland Antiquarian & Archaeological Society (vol XIII, 2013). A copy of this will be available for download here in due course.\nFor further information about this work, or any other aspect of the Altogether Archaeology project, please contact the Project Manager, Paul Frodsham: firstname.lastname@example.org"

"Seemingly insignificant gestures and impulses speak volumes and trigger actions and processes hitherto considered impossible. That may be said about the American President Donald Trump’s spontaneous impulse to “say hello”, as the media reported, to the North Korean head of state, when he was in that same East Asian region of the world, on the occasion of the 2019 G20 Osaka summit in Japan.... And what followed then was a geopolitical première like the first step on the moon in space exploration, i.e., the first step by an acting American president on North Korean territory…\nThis study looks more closely at bilateral North Korea–United States relations, highlighting geopolitical and geocultural aspects. A highly recommendable case study for students of international relations and of intercultural management among other fields of research.\nHOW SMALL GESTURES CAN CHANGE THE WORLD\nPublication date: 01/06/2019\nPowerful gestures by US President Donald Trump in Korea\nEl vendedor asume toda la responsabilidad de esta entrada."

"Data virtualization is the process of offering data consumers a data access interface that hides the technical aspects of stored data, such as location, storage structure, API, access language, and storage technology. Consuming applications may include: business intelligence, analytics, CRM, enterprise resource planning, and more across both cloud computing platforms and on-premises.\nData Virtualization Benefits:\nData virtualization is based on the premise of the abstraction of data contained within a variety of data sources (databases, applications, file repositories, websites, data services vendors, etc.) for the purpose of providing a single-point access to the data and its architecture is based on a shared semantic abstraction layer as opposed to limited visibility semantic metadata confined to a single data source.\nData virtualization is an enabling technology which provides the following capabilities:\n• Abstraction – Abstract data the technical aspects of stored data, such as location, storage structure, API, access language, and storage technology.\n• Virtualized Data Access – Connect to different data sources and make them accessible from one logical place\n• Transformation / Integration – Transform, improve quality, and integrate data based on need across multiple sources\n• Data Federation – Combine results sets from across multiple source systems.\n• Flexible Data Delivery – Publish result sets as views and/or data services executed by consuming application or users when requested\nIn delivering these capabilities, data virtualization also addresses requirements for data security, data quality, data governance, query optimization, caching, etc. Data virtualization includes functions for development, operation and management.\nNetwork virtualization provides a powerful way to run multiple networks, each customized to a specific purpose, at the same time over a shared substrate. Benefits include:\nNetwork management can be a tedious and time-consuming business for a human administrator. Network virtualization improves productivity, efficiency, and job satisfaction of the administrator by performing many of these tasks automatically, thereby disguising the true complexity of the network. Files, images, programs, and folders can be centrally managed from a single physical site. Storage media such as hard drives and tape drives can be easily added or reassigned. Storage space can be shared or reallocated among the servers.\nNetwork virtualization is especially effective in networks that experience sudden, large, and unforeseen surges in usage.\nStorage virtualization, or storage networking virtualization, can improve the ability to move data into and out of storage resources to meet the demands of virtualized server and desktop infrastructures. Benefits include:\nVirtualization is the pooling of physical storage from multiple network storage devices into what appears to be a single storage device that is managed from a central console. Storage virtualization is commonly used in a storage area network (SAN). The management of storage devices can be tedious and time-consuming. Storage virtualization helps the storage administrator perform the tasks of backup, archiving, and recovery more easily, and in less time, by disguising the actual complexity of the SAN.\nUsers can implement virtualization with software applications or by using hardware and software hybrid appliances. The technology can be placed on different levels of a storage area network.\nServer virtualization is part of an overall virtualization trend that includes storage virtualization, network virtualization, and workload management. This trend is one component in the development of autonomic computing, in which the server environment will be able to manage itself based on perceived activity. Server virtualization can be used to eliminate server sprawl, to make more efficient use of server resources, to improve server availability, to assist in disaster recovery, testing and development, and to centralize server administration.\nBenefits of Server Virtualization\nReduce total cost of ownership of IT assets: Both capital expenses (cost of buying new servers or installing a new server farm) and operating expenses (lower monthly energy bills for powering/cooling a data center, lower labor costs for the IT department).\nImprove security and reduce risk of crashes: More secure servers, less downtime and better disaster recovery / business continuity.\nReduce staff time devoted to server management: Transform IT department from a “maintenance\" team performing routine tasks to a “strategic” team that can focus on higher level goals and innovation.\nAdditional flexibility and agility in IT asset allocation: New ways to use servers and innovative deployment of technology specialists.\nWhat is Server Virtualization?\nServer virtualization is the masking of server resources, including the number and identity of individual physical servers, processors, and operating systems, from server users. The server administrator uses a software application to divide one physical server into multiple isolated virtual environments. The virtual environments are sometimes called virtual private servers, but they are also known as guests, instances, containers or emulations.\nThere are three popular approaches to server virtualization: the virtual machine model, the paravirtual machine model, and virtualization at the operating system (OS) layer.\nVirtual machines are based on the host/guest paradigm. Each guest runs on a virtual imitation of the hardware layer. This approach allows the guest operating system to run without modifications. It also allows the administrator to create guests that use different operating systems. The guest has no knowledge of the host's operating system because it is not aware that it's not running on real hardware. It does, however, require real computing resources from the host -- so it uses a hypervisor to coordinate instructions to the CPU.\nThe hypervisor is called a virtual machine monitor (VMM). It validates all the guest-issued CPU instructions and manages any executed code that requires addition privileges. VMware and Microsoft Virtual Server both use the virtual machine model.\nThe paravirtual machine (PVM) model is also based on the host/guest paradigm -- and it uses a virtual machine monitor too. In the paravirtual machine model, however, The VMM actually modifies the guest operating system's code. This modification is called porting. Porting supports the VMM so it can utilize privileged systems calls sparingly. Like virtual machines, paravirtual machines are capable of running multiple operating systems. Xen and UML both use the paravirtual machine model.\nVirtualization at the OS level works a little differently. It isn't based on the host/guest paradigm. In the OS level model, the host runs a single OS kernel as its core and exports operating system functionality to each of the guests. Guests must use the same operating system as the host, although different distributions of the same system are allowed. This distributed architecture eliminates system calls between layers, which reduces CPU usage overhead. It also requires that each partition remain strictly isolated from its neighbors so that a failure or security breach in one partition isn't able to affect any of the other partitions. In this model, common binaries and libraries on the same physical machine can be shared, allowing an OS level virtual server to host thousands of guests at the same time. Virtuozzo and Solaris Zones both use OS-level virtualization.\nThe provisioning of PCs is much simpler in a virtualized environment. With traditional desktops, administrators must test applications against multiple desktop configurations. With virtual desktops, IT can test applications against only one environment prior to deployment and still eliminate most follow-up support issues.\nThere are high cost and resource demands that come with managing a wide variety of client form factors, multiple generations of operating systems and hundreds of applications. Some well-managed PC environments require constant maintenance and support to repair problems and retain compliance with corporate policy. Desktop virtualization allows for large, global companies with thousands of PCs to better manage their clients because of the reduced dependence on specific hardware and operating system configurations.\nApplication and data security improvements\nThe traditional PC environment must be patched and updated consistently. There is a need to mitigate viruses and worms and cut the exposure of critical data and applications to malicious behavior from internal and external sources. Security risks increase as more mobile devices enter the workforce. End-users reach the internet through public and unsecured home Wi-Fi networks. Thousands of laptops are stolen every year, which put confidential corporate data at risk.\nBecause virtualized environments give IT greater control over system and application provisioning and access, it is easier to secure access rights, and in many cases, data. Desktop virtualization helps by making it easier to decouple applications from data, which also makes it easier to de-provision access to applications.\nSoftware licensing management\nHow many applications in the enterprise do you run today that you have no way of tracking? If you deliver all corporate applications through a virtualized environment, it is easier to track software usage and licenses.\nSystem stability and reliability\nVirtual environments can help prevent application conflicts and are easier to repair when issues arise. There are ways to sandbox applications and prevent these conflicts. Plus, you can quickly and easily restore a PC to a working state with a simple reboot, thereby reducing the costs associated with reimaging and redeploying that hardware asset."

"The USDA school meals programs serve well over 30 million students per day, nationwide. We rely on our partners in the education realm to help us ensure that these programs—not only programs of great magnitude, but also of great public health importance—are implemented appropriately so that children are healthy and ready to learn. This week’s guest blog from the National Education Association is a testament to their members’ commitment to student health, and the important role that school nutrition plays.\nBy Roxanne Dove, Director, National Education Association, Education Support Professionals Quality\nThe nearly half-million Education Support Professionals (ESPs) who are members of the National Education Association play vital roles in helping to create great public schools for our students. ESPs work as bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, classroom paraeducators, food service staff, and in many other jobs as part of a unified education workforce that helps ensure that children are safe, healthy, well-nourished, and well-educated.\nAs readers of this blog may know, our country’s youth are facing twin crises of obesity and food insecurity — limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods. Nearly one in three American children are overweight or obese (White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity: Report to the President, 2010) while 16 million face food insecurity (USDA Economic Research Service, 2013). In a sad irony, food insecurity leads to both hunger and obesity. Because they lack access to or can’t afford healthier food, food insecure families may be forced to choose inexpensive, calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods.\nChildhood obesity is linked to a host of physical health problems, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes, both when children are young and when they become adults. Overweight and obese children also have lower self-esteem and are more likely to be victims of bullying and social discrimination. There is a growing body of research linking obesity with poorer academic performance.\nAs educators, NEA members have both the opportunity and the obligation to address these crises. Students may obtain 30% or more of their total calories at school. For some students, the meals and snacks they receive at school may be their only reliable source of food. Good nutrition can help them do well in their classes. Schools can also teach students habits of healthy eating that can serve them for a lifetime.\nThe National Education Association believes that every student deserves a great public school. A high-quality school nutrition program is not an add-on or ancillary service, but is an integral part of that great school. That is why we strongly support the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.\nIt is not a simple task to operate school nutrition programs that provide students with nutritious meals, while dealing with rigorous financial and time constraints. These high-quality programs should have:\n- High participation rates for school breakfast and lunch – especially in districts with a high number of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals\n- efficient purchasing of food items, supplies and equipment\n- efficient production of high-quality meals, including meals cooked from scratch\n- student acceptance of and desire for new foods, minimized tray waste, food service integrated with student learning, and family and community support for the food service program\nOur Food Service Support Professionals members are not just “lunch ladies” — they are skilled and dedicated professionals doing difficult jobs. Students succeed when these ESPs are enlisted as partners, bringing their knowledge and personal connections with students and their families to assist with each one of these program elements.\nFor instance, NEA member Donna West, a school nutrition manager in Scottsboro, Alabama, says that her goals at work have evolved from just making sure she followed all the rules and regulations at the beginning of her career, to helping students make better decisions about both nutrition and manners. “We help them become an overall better citizen,” West explains. “I see my career differently now that I have come to understand that education support professionals are part of the education process,” says West. “I realized that my role in the cafeteria and trying to help the students learn nutrition is just as important as what’s happening in the classrooms.”\nThe Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 recognizes the professionalism of food service staff and their need to continually keep up with the changing requirements of school nutrition, by for the first time requiring annual, ongoing professional development for everyone who works in school nutrition programs. We are currently awaiting the issuance by the USDA of the final HHFKA Professional Standards regulations. NEA is looking forward to working with the USDA, school districts, and allies to connect food service ESPs with training that supports their professional needs and aspirations. We want to ensure that this trainings is relevant, accessible, hands-on, and of high-quality. Only working together can we achieve our common goal of having healthy, well-nourished students who are ready to fulfill their potential."

"Schizophrenia: a consequence of gene-environment interactions?\n- 1Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Randwick, NSW, Australia\n- 2Schizophrenia Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia\n- 3School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia\n- 4Department of Pharmacology, Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia\n- 5Brain and Mind Research Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia\nSchizophrenia is a multi-factorial disease characterized by a high heritability and environmental risk factors (e.g., social stress and cannabis use). It is the combined action of multiple genes of small effect size (Owen et al., 2005) and a number of environmental risk factors (McGrath et al., 2004), which causes the development of this mental disorder (Mackay-Sim et al., 2004). This is conceptualized in the “Two-Hit Hypothesis” of schizophrenia, which predicts that genetic and environmental risk factors interactively (GxE interaction) cause the development of the disorder (Bayer et al., 1999; Caspi and Moffitt, 2006). GxE interactions occur when the expression of an individual's genetic predisposition is dependent on the environment they are living in or when environmental influences on a trait differ according to an individual's genome (Tsuang et al., 2004). Human studies have confirmed that nature and nurture are both important in the development of schizophrenia: the concordance rate in monozygotic twins is only around 50% (Tsuang et al., 2001) and genome wide association studies fail to identify major genetic candidates for schizophrenia (Sanders et al., 2008) suggesting an important role of environmental factors in the development of this disorder.\nResearch into GxE is starting to produce valuable new animal models and has revealed novel insights into the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This work will help advance our understanding of the molecular pathways involved in this mental disorder and will lead to more specific treatment avenues. Furthermore, understanding GxE interactions will guide the development of new preventative measures (i.e., people genetically predisposed to schizophrenia will be able to minimize exposure to critical environmental risk factors). However, these outcomes are a long way ahead and the complexity of this multi-factorial line of research has also caused difficulties in data interpretation and comparison. Thus, this research topic is intended to cover past and current directions in research dedicated to the understanding of GxE interactions in schizophrenia, the molecular, neurobiological, and behavioral consequences of these interactions, and potential mechanisms involved.\nAnimal models can incorporate highly standardized genetic and environmental risk factors at critical stages of brain development. These models thereby attempt to mimic the etiology of schizophrenia and help elucidate relevant interactions between GxE and the underlying mechanisms. In this Research Topic, Cash-Padgett and Jaaro-Peled outline how either early immune activation (i.e., PolyI:C treatment) or forms of social stress (i.e., social isolation, chronic social defeat) influence the development of schizophrenia-relevant phenotypes in a number of genetic mouse models for the schizophrenia susceptibility gene Disrupted in schizophrenia-1 (DISC1). Their review concludes that animal models can be instrumental in linking the relevance of GxE interactions to a particular neuropsychiatric disorder. Furthermore, “environmental interaction profiles” can be developed for major risk genes such as DISC1 (Cash-Padgett and Jaaro-Peled, 2013). Karl as well as Chohan and co-workers focus on the role the schizophrenia susceptibility gene neuregulin 1 (NRG1) might play in the context of GxE interactions. Karl's review overviews a raft of evidence supporting Nrg1 as a key player in the vulnerability of mice to environmental (risk) factors such as stress, cannabis abuse and housing conditions (Karl, 2013). Following on from recent published work (Chohan et al., 2014a), Chohan et al. describes research in which partial genetic deletion of Nrg1 modulates the effects of adolescent stress on N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), with the Nrg1-stress interaction tending to decrease NMDAR binding in the medial prefrontal cortex (Chohan et al., 2014b). This is significant as NMDAR is decreased in brains of schizophrenia patients and implicated in the pathophysiology of the disorder. In another research paper, Klug and van den Buuse investigate the effects of young-adult cannabinoid exposure on BDNF deficient mice and find no interaction in this GxE model on learning and memory later in life. Their research highlights that not all GxE models produce interactive effects and that the role of BDNF in conferring vulnerability to the actions of cannabis may be sex-dependent and only evident after pre-exposure to the drug (Klug and van den Buuse, 2013).\nJiang and coworkers provide an excellent review outlining the potential mechanisms behind established GxE interactions using mice with conditional knock down of NMDAR in cortical and hippocampal interneurons during early postnatal development. They suggest that NMDAR hypofunction and social isolation stress interact to disturb parvalbumin-positive (PV) interneurons via oxidative stress mediated by the transcriptional coactivator peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) (Jiang et al., 2013). Reductions in PV expression have been noted in schizophrenia brain and may help explain asynchrony of neuronal networks (Lewis and Gonzalez-Burgos, 2006). Showing that oxidative stress is responsible for PV interneuron dysfunction resonates with the recent interest in antioxidants such as fish oil as new treatments for mental disorder, particularly prior to disease onset. Extending on the idea of early intervention treatments as the key to treating schizophrenia is the research paper of Van Vugt and colleagues who show that a lack of early maternal care exacerbated schizophrenia-relevant phenotypes in a pharmacological model of the disorder (Van Vugt et al., 2014).\nGirardi and coworkers also utilize maternal deprivation to investigate another aspect of the “Two-Hit Hypothesis” of schizophrenia, namely, environment x environment interactions (ExE). They report that maternally deprived rats are vulnerable to the effects of a very mild stress procedure (i.e., saline injection) on corticosterone levels and social behaviors (Girardi et al., 2014). This study is important for studies into GxE interactions, as researchers must be aware that even a relatively minor intervention such as an i.p. injection can modify the stress response in an established environmental model of schizophrenia. Thus, ExE (as well as GxExE) interactions exist and could have a significant impact on established GxE model systems. Within this context, Turner and Burne point out that housing conditions and genetic background both impact on cognitive behaviors of rodents. As cognition is an important domain for the evaluation of face validity of rodent models for schizophrenia, rodent strain and housing conditions must carefully be considered when developing novel model systems for GxE (Turner and Burne, 2013). The last two studies are in line with what is discussed by Burrows and Hannan. Their opinion paper outlines the need for more accurate and sophisticated GxE animal models of schizophrenia and the impact “unexpected” housing conditions can have on genetic mouse models. Environmental factors with clinical relevance should be manipulated to broaden the relevance of preclinical research beyond “standard laboratory housing” and to understand how a decanalized brain produces suboptimal phenotypes' (Burrows and Hannan, 2013).\nGodar and Bortolato review evidence suggesting that gene x sex interactions (GxS) are also evident in schizophrenia as well particularly when focusing on genes involved in dopamine pathways. They outline that genes encoding enzymes that regulate dopamine levels, such as catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase, are sexually dimorphic and the impact of sex hormones on their regulation may play a significant role in shaping the course of schizophrenia (Godar and Bortolato, 2014). This is particularly relevant seeing males tend to manifest the disorder earlier than females. Sexual dimorphism also influences GxE as highlighted above in the work of Klug and co-workers (Klug and van den Buuse, 2013) and as noted in various studies reviewed by Karl (2013) in this Research Topic. Importantly, COMT has been shown to be a good candidate for GxE interactions as the gene interacts with adolescent cannabis abuse (Caspi and Moffitt, 2006). Finally, Miller assessed the impact of photic cues on the development of schizophrenia. Her argument for a role for photic cues in the disorder is made more compelling given that single nucleotide polymorphisms have been found in genes relevant to schizophrenia, which are modulated by photoperiod and sunlight intensity (Miller, 2013).\nGxE interactions appear to be complex and sensitive to a number of subtle variables, but do exist and justify the need for future research in this area (Van Os et al., 2010). Animal researchers should focus on models with significant relevance to schizophrenia such as cannabis abuse, maternal immunization, or early life stress and consider a number of genetic candidates for GxE interactions. Importantly, some of the articles of this topic suggest that valid GxE animal models will be very sensitive to the laboratory environment, which demands a high level of transparency and standardization of test conditions as well as thorough consideration of housing conditions across research sites. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that there are discussions about the appropriate statistical modeling of GxE interactions, which influence both animal and human research (Zammit et al., 2010).\nTo conclude, animal models have provided compelling evidence for GxE in schizophrenia based on the greater experimental control possible and the ability to manipulate specific genes and environmental factors. While such studies cannot reproduce the entire complexity of schizophrenia, they do provide simplified multifactorial models of aspects of the condition. These, in turn, allow new molecular and neurobiological insights to be gained and novel drug targets to be discovered.\nConflict of Interest Statement\nThe authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.\nBayer, T. A., Falkai, P., and Maier, W. (1999). Genetic and non-genetic vulnerability factors in schizophrenia: the basis of the “two hit hypothesis”. J. Psychiatr. Res. 33, 543–548. doi: 10.1016/S0022-3956(99)00039-4\nBurrows, E. L., and Hannan, A. J. (2013). Decanalization mediating gene-environment interactions in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders with neurodevelopmental etiology. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 7:157. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00157\nCash-Padgett, T., and Jaaro-Peled, H. (2013). DISC1 mouse models as a tool to decipher gene-environment interactions in psychiatric disorders. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 7:113. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00113\nChohan, T. W., Boucher, A. A., Spencer, J. R., Kassem, M. S., Hamdi, A. A., Karl, T., et al. (2014a). Partial genetic deletion of Neuregulin 1 modulates the effects of stress on sensorimotor gating, DENDRITIC MORPHOLogy, and HPA axis activity in adolescent mice. Schizophr. Bull. 40, 1272–1284. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbt193\nChohan, T. W., Nguyen, A., Todd, S. M., Bennett, M. R., Callaghan, P., and Arnold, J. C. (2014b). Partial genetic deletion of neuregulin 1 and adolescent stress interact to alter NMDA receptor binding in the medial prefrontal cortex. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 8:298. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00298\nGirardi, C. E., Zanta, N. C., and Suchecki, D. (2014). Neonatal stress-induced affective changes in adolescent Wistar rats: early signs of schizophrenia-like behavior. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 8:319. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00319\nJiang, Z., Cowell, R. M., and Nakazawa, K. (2013). Convergence of genetic and environmental factors on parvalbumin-positive interneurons in schizophrenia. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 7:116. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00116\nKarl, T. (2013). Neuregulin 1: a prime candidate for research into gene-environment interactions in schizophrenia? Insights from genetic rodent models. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 7:106. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00106\nKlug, M., and van den Buuse, M. (2013). An investigation into “two hit” effects of BDNF deficiency and young-adult cannabinoid receptor stimulation on prepulse inhibition regulation and memory in mice. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 7:149. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00149\nMcGrath, J., Saha, S., Welham, J., El Saadi, O., Maccauley, C., and Chant, D. (2004). A systematic review of the incidence of schizophrenia: the distribution of rates and the influence of sex, urbanicity, migrant status and methodology. BMC Med. 2:13. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-2-13\nSanders, A. R., Duan, J., Levinson, D. F., Shi, J., He, D., Hou, C., et al. (2008). No significant association of 14 candidate genes with schizophrenia in a large European ancestry sample: implications for psychiatric genetics. Am. J. Psychiatry 165, 497–506. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07101573\nTurner, K. M., and Burne, T. H. (2013). Interaction of genotype and environment: effect of strain and housing conditions on cognitive behavior in rodent models of schizophrenia. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 7:97. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00097\nVan Vugt, R. W., Meyer, F., Van Hulten, J. A., Vernooij, J., Cools, A. R., Verheij, M. M., et al. (2014). Maternal care affects the phenotype of a rat model for schizophrenia. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 8:268. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00268\nKeywords: Schizophrenia, gene, environment, interaction, GxE, animal model, two-hit hypothesis\nCitation: Karl T and Arnold JC (2014) Schizophrenia: a consequence of gene-environment interactions? Front. Behav. Neurosci. 8:435. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00435\nReceived: 13 November 2014; Accepted: 01 December 2014;\nPublished online: 23 December 2014.\nEdited and reviewed by: Nuno Sousa, University of Minho, Portugal\nCopyright © 2014 Karl and Arnold. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms."

"Archibald Williams, a Quincy attorney, was a close political associate of Abraham Lincoln for three decades, dating from the time they met as Whig legislators in Vandalia in the mid-1830s. Lincoln said that listening to Williams would “be a gratification to any man to hear him tear in tatters the new democracy.'”1 Lincoln said that Williams was “the strongest minded and clearest-headed man he ever saw.”2\nFellow attorney Henry C. Whitney called Williams “one of Lincoln’s most cherished friends, and a man of no possible humor himself when I knew him.” Whitney wrote that “Lincoln pronounced [Williams] to be the most natural and most learned lawyer he ever knew.”3 John M. Palmer recalled that Williams “became known as profoundly skilled in the peculiar litigation of what was then known as the ‘Military Tract’ in western Illinois.”4 Whitney claimed that “Archie Williams” was one of the “men that [Lincoln] beleived [sic] in strongly.”5\nLike Lincoln, Williams was a Kentucky native and veteran of the Black Hawk War in 1832. Neither Lincoln nor Williams was considered handsome or a careful dresser.6 Attorney Usher Linder wrote that Williams was “as angular and ungainly in his form as Mr. Lincoln himself and for homeliness of face and feature surpassed Mr. Lincoln. I think I never saw but one man uglier than Archie, and that was Patrick H. Darbey, of Kentucky, also a very great lawyer, who once had a brace of pistols presented to him by a traveler he met upon the road, both being on horseback, who suddenly stopped, and asked Darbey to stop also, and said to the latter gentleman: ‘Here is a brace of pistols which belong to you.’ ‘How do you make that out?’ said Darbey. ‘They were given to me a long time ago by a stranger, who requested me to keep them until I met an uglier man than myself, and I have carried them for over twenty years; and I had begun to think they would go to my heirs when I died, but you are the rightful owner of the pistols. I give them to you as they were given to me, to be kept until you meet an uglier man than you are, and then you will present them to him; but you will die the owner of the property, for I am confident there is not an uglier man than you in the world, and the Lord did his everlasting best when he created you.'”7\nHistorian Michael Burlingame wrote: “Like [onetime Lincoln law partner] Stephen T. Logan, Williams dressed shabbily, so much so that once a clerk at a hotel where he was stayed accosted him, mistakenly thinking he was a derelict, and asked: ‘Pardon me, sir, but are you a guest of this hotel?’ In reply, Williams exploded, ‘Hell, no! I am one of its victims. I am paying five dollars a day!’ The tall, angular and awkward Williams resembled Lincoln, according to Usher Linder, who said ‘for homeliness of face and feature,’ Williams surpassed Mr. Lincoln.”8\nWhen the State legislature voted for U.S. Senator in 1836, Lincoln’s votes went to Williams – though he ran third in the balloting.9 In 1842, Williams was again the Whig candidate for the Senate against Democrat Sidney Breese, who had been designated by the Democratic legislative caucus over runner-up Stephen A. Douglas. Again Williams lost, but Lincoln was no longer in the legislature to vote.\nIn 1843, Williams chaired the statewide Whig convention at which Lincoln was chosen a Whig elector for 1844. Williams served as president of the mass Whig convention in Peoria in June 1844 where Lincoln made a major campaign speech in support of a high tariff. Twelve years later, Williams also played a major role in the Republican convention at Bloomington, at which Lincoln also gave a major speech, this time on slavery.\nIn September 1847, Williams and Lincoln were leaders of the Whig caucus in Springfield that supported the presidential nomination of General Zachary Taylor. Congressman Lincoln took an active role in the Taylor campaign when he moved to Washington in December. In April 1848, Lincoln wrote Williams to use his influence to get fellow Quincy attorney Orville H. Browning to switch his support from Henry Clay to Taylor: “I have not seen in the papers any evidence of a movement to send a delegate from your circuit to the June [Whig] convention [in Philadelphia]. I wish to say that I think it all-important that a delegate should be sent. Mr. Clay’s chance for an election is just no chance at all. He might get New York, and that would have elected in 1844, but it will not now, because he must now, at the least, lose Tennessee, which he had then, and in addition the fifteen new votes of Florida, Texas, Iowa, and Wisconsin. I know our good friend Browning is a great admirer of Mr. Clay, and I therefore fear he is favoring his nomination. If he is, ask him to discard feeling, and try if he can possibly, as a matter of judgment, count the votes necessary to elect him. In my judgment we can elect nobody but General Taylor; and we cannot elect him without a nomination. Therefore don’t fail to send a delegate.”10\nIn March 1849, Lincoln recommended Williams to be U.S. attorney for Illinois.11 Williams received the appointment and served until 1853.\nIn 1854, Williams challenged the reelection of Democratic Congressman William A. Richardson, a close ally of Senator Stephen A. Douglas in the fight for passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Late in the campaign at the request of Quincy attorney Abraham Jonas, Lincoln spoke at Quincy on Williams’ behalf. “I am here now going to Quincy, to try to give Mr. Williams a little life,” wrote Lincoln to Congressman Richard Yates.12 It was one of Lincoln’s last speeches in his concerted campaign against the Kansas-Nebraska Act that fall. Both Yates and Williams lost, but the anti-Nebraska coalition won control of the state legislature.\nWilliams was also politically active in 1858 in speaking on behalf of Lincoln’s candidacy against Senator Stephen A. Douglas. After the Galesburg debate in October 1858, Williams gave a speech to area Republicans at Dunn’s Hall in Galesburg. His powerful speech led one listener to comment: “There are more brains in his skillet than all the rest put together.”13\n“Mr. Lincoln’s confidence in the justness of the antislavery battle never faltered through the years I knew him, recalled attorney Charles S. Zane. “In January, 1859, while the Democrats were celebrating the election of Stephen A. Douglas to the United States Senate, Archibald Williams…came into Lincoln’s office and finding him writing said: ‘Well, the Democrats are making a great noise over their victory.’ Looking up Lincoln replied: ‘Yes, Archie, Douglas has taken this trick, but the game is not played out.'”14\nWhitney recalled that shortly after President Lincoln’s inauguration, Lincoln pointed out that Judge David “Davis, with that way of making a man do a thing whether he wants to or not, has forced me to appoint Archy Williams Judge in Kansas right off…”15 Lincoln said that I’ve got a hat full of dispatches already from Kansas cheifly [sic]: protesting against it, and asking if I was going to fill up all the offices from Illinois.”16 Nevertheless, the appointment was made only four days after Lincoln was inaugurated president. Judge Williams died in Quincy in 1863 – having returned home to die. Lincoln appointed another Illinois lawyer friend, Mark W. Delahay, to succeed Williams.\n- John McAuley Palmer, The Bench and the Bar of Illinois, p. 2.\n- Douglas L. Wilson and Rodney O. Davis, editors, Herndon’s Informant, p. 643 (Letter from Henry C. Whitney to William H. Herndon, September 17, 1887).\n- Henry Clay Whitney, Life on the Circuit with Lincoln, p. 197.\n- Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln The Prairie Years and War Years, p. 39.\n- Usher F. Linder, Reminiscences of the Early Bench and Bar of Illinois, p. 239.\n- Michael Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Volume I, p. 330.\n- Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln The Prairie and the War Years, p. 39.\n- Roy P. Basler, editor, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln (CWAL), Volume I, p. 467-468 (Letter from Abraham Lincoln to Archibald Williams, April 30, 1848).\n- Rufus Rockwell Wilson, editor, Lincoln Among His Friends: A Sheaf of Intimate Memories, p. 134 (Charles S. Zane, “A Young Lawyer’s Memories of Lincoln).\n- Douglas L. Wilson and Rodney O. Davis, editors, Herndon’s Informants, p. 620 (Letter from Henry C. Whitney to William H. Herndon, June 23, 1887).\n- Douglas L. Wilson and Rodney O. Davis, editors, Herndon’s Informants, p. 649 (Letter from Henry C. Whitney to William H. Herndon, ca. 1887).\n- Michael Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Volume I, p. 111.\n- Usher F. Linder, Reminiscences of the Early Bench and Bar of Illinois, p. 239.\n- CWAL, Volume I, p. 31 (Letter from Abraham Lincoln to John M. Clayton, March 8, 1849).\n- CWAL, Volume II, p. 284 (Letters from Abraham Lincoln to Richard Yates, October 30, 1854).\n- Herbert Mitgang, editor, Abraham Lincoln: A Press Portrait, p. 125 (Jason Sherman, Free Democrat, October 8, 1858)."

"Anzac Day 2018\n12 April 2018\nPDF version [277KB]\nDr Nathan Church (updated by David Watt)\nForeign Affairs, Defence and Security Section\nThe purpose of this\nquick guide is to provide parliamentarians and their staff with helpful\nresources for researching various aspects of Australian military history. This\ndocument will be periodically updated when additional resources become\navailable. All hyperlinks were correct as at 12 April 2018.\nAustralian War Memorial (AWM)\nThe AWM website provides an extensive amount of military history resources,\nDepartment of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA)\nDVA offers a variety of resources,\nranging from lists of anniversaries and commemorative events, nominal rolls for\nthe Second World War, Korea and Vietnam (with preliminary work beginning on the\nGulf War) and information on the Office of Australian War Graves.\nThe DVA website also contains a research\ntips guide and approximately 50 media backgrounder fact sheets on\nvarious aspects of Australia’s military history, including involvement in wars\nand conflicts, commemorations and related themes.\nDVA has also published the following\nreference websites Gallipoli and the Anzacs, Australians on the Western Front 1914–1918, Australia’s War 1939–1945, Australia’s involvement in the Korean War and Australia and the Vietnam War.\nArchives of Australia (NAA)\nThe NAA website contains an array of primary source military history documents and thematic fact sheets. These include service records, administrative records, internment\nrecords and national service records. The NAA guide to researching war service\nprovides useful information, as well as a link to the RecordSearch database. The 376,000 First World War\nservice records have been digitised in their entirety, following\nthe three-year ‘Gift to the Nation’ digitisation project. Digitisation of other\nrecords remains ongoing.\nThe NAA has also created the Discovering\nfeaturing profiles of Australian military personnel, an image gallery and a\nmapping tool highlighting the places of birth and enlistment of those who\nserved in the Boer War and First World War.\nThe AIF Project\nThis is a database coordinated by academic historian Peter Dennis which allows the\nsearching of Australian First World War personnel by name, service number or\nlocation of birth/place of residence upon enlistment.\nNational Library of Australia’s Trove website\nAs a result of the National Library’s newspaper digitisation program, more\ndifferent newspapers across all states and\nterritories have been digitised, spanning the early 1800s to the mid-20th\ncentury. These newspapers are keyword-searchable and provide substantial media\ncoverage of the war front and the home front during the First and Second World\nAustralian Dictionary of Biography\nThis website contains searchable biographic articles of notable personalities, including those involved in the military.\nIt is an initiative of the National Centre of Biography at the Australian\nThe Parliament of Australia ParlInfo database enables keyword searching across House of Representatives and\nSenate Hansard, committee reports and proceedings and Bills debated within the\nParliament. This database is useful for identifying the parliamentary\nproceedings during times of conflict.\nHonours and awards\nThe Department of Defence\nwebsite contains information regarding the\ndifferent types of Australian and Imperial military awards. The Department of\nthe Prime Minister and Cabinet’s It’s an\nHonour website provides further details on Australian honours, including the\nability to search by an individual or a specific award or medal.\nArmy History Unit website contains primary source\nmaterials regarding the Australian Army forces’ contribution to conflicts\nspanning pre-Federation to Vietnam, support to peacekeeping operations and\ninformation regarding unit histories and formations.\nThe Royal Australian Air Force website\ncontains overview information of the RAAF’s contribution to Australian military\noperations. The history of the RAAF is also described,\nincluding a list of famous RAAF personnel. The RAAF website also gives\ninformation regarding the traditions of the red poppy, the last\npost, the dawn service and Remembrance Day.\nThe Royal Australian Navy\nwebsite contains reference material regarding the\nhistories of various ships, submarines and naval bases, customs, traditions and\nand Torres Strait Islander military service\nThe Australian War Memorial website contains an overview of the history of the\nAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander military service, including specific\nsections regarding its involvement in Australia’s various military conflicts.\nIn May 2014, the Indigenous Liaison Officer for\nthe AWM, Gary Oakley, delivered the lecture ‘Aboriginals in the First\nAustralian Imperial Force, a Secret History’, as part of the Parliamentary\nLibrary’s series Parliament, War and Empire. This lecture can be\ndownloaded as an MP3 file, with an accompanying\nPowerPoint presentation and slide notes.\nThe Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website has a section on Indigenous Australians at war and also\nprovides details of other online and hardcopy resources regarding the military\nservice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander personnel. This includes an honour roll.\nFor copyright reasons some linked items are only available to members of Parliament.\n© Commonwealth of Australia\nWith the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, and to the extent that copyright subsists in a third party, this publication, its logo and front page design are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia licence.\nIn essence, you are free to copy and communicate this work in its current form for all non-commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the work to the author and abide by the other licence terms. The work cannot be adapted or modified in any way. Content from this publication should be attributed in the following way: Author(s), Title of publication, Series Name and No, Publisher, Date.\nTo the extent that copyright subsists in third party quotes it remains with the original owner and permission may be required to reuse the material.\nInquiries regarding the licence and any use of the publication are welcome to email@example.com.\nThis work has been prepared to support the work of the Australian Parliament using information available at the time of production. The views expressed do not reflect an official position of the Parliamentary Library, nor do they constitute professional legal opinion.\nAny concerns or complaints should be directed to the Parliamentary Librarian. Parliamentary Library staff are available to discuss the contents of publications with Senators and Members and their staff. To access this service, clients may contact the author or the Library‘s Central Enquiry Point for referral."

"Halloween is coming up, which every child is understandably excited for. Costumes, candy, trick-or-treating, and of course, math games — what more can you ask for?\nYour kids might not immediately think that math and Halloween go together, but this is a perfect time to practice some skills from school at home — and have fun while they’re at it! Building in academics is a sound way to build curiosity and a love for learning, and there are always opportunities to make this happen. Plus, if you’re worried that your child’s math grades are going to be a bit frightening, these activities might be a great way to help them continue growing in their skills.\nThese math games will work best with elementary-aged children, but are easily adaptable for all grades. Have a happy Halloween, and look into enrollment with our Loveland charter school today!\nMath Skills Addressed: Data, counting, making a chart/graph\nTake a bunch of candy, either from a bag or from buckets after trick-or-treating, and help your child graph the candies that are present in the group. Help them make a prediction, like “which candy do you think there will be more of: KitKats, or Reeses?” Then, use fun colors and posterboard to start counting and graphing the results! Make sure you come back to the original hypothesis and make a comparison statement, such as “We predicted that [Candy A] would have the most and [Candy B] would have the least. Our results showed that _____. We were (right about Candy B and off by two on Candy A, etc.).”\nMath Skills Addressed: Counting, estimating, grouping, multiplication\nPour a bag of M&Ms into a clear glass jar, or pour it between a few containers of different sizes. Talk about estimating strategies with your kids, considering things like the shape of the jar and how many M&Ms are in one smaller section. Help them make their estimates, then once everyone’s ready, wash hands and count ‘em up! You could make it a game where the winner gets the jar of M&Ms, but if your kids are too competitive, it’s more than fine to split it evenly amongst the family — over the next few days, of course!\nMath Skills Addressed: Geometry, symmetry, shapes, lines, angles\nProvide your kids with construction paper and shape tracers, such as triangles, squares, circles, rectangles, and trapezoids. For older kids, such as those in 3rd-5th grade, they can make their own shapes and cut them out, and should have a general idea of each of these shapes. Younger kids might need to work with pre-cut shapes, but should still be able to identify most of the shapes. Next, let them create their own monster by gluing shapes together. Afterwards, they can practice their writing and math skills by summarizing how they made their monster (“I used three triangles for my monster’s three noses”) or creating a short story.\nOur Loveland charter school believes that learning can and should happen at every turn, but it should be fun and creative along the way. Enjoy these crafts and games with your kids, and have a great Halloween season!"

"|RADIXSORT(3)||FreeBSD Library Functions Manual||RADIXSORT(3)|\nNAMEradixsort, sradixsort — radix sort\nLIBRARYStandard C Library (libc, -lc)\nSYNOPSIS#include < limits.h>\n#include < stdlib.h>\nradixsort( const unsigned char **base, int nmemb, const unsigned char *table, unsigned endbyte);\nsradixsort( const unsigned char **base, int nmemb, const unsigned char *table, unsigned endbyte);\nDESCRIPTIONThe radixsort() and sradixsort() functions are implementations of radix sort.\nThese functions sort an array of pointers to byte strings, the initial member of which is referenced by base. The byte strings may contain any values; the end of each string is denoted by the user-specified value endbyte.\nApplications may specify a sort order by providing the table argument. If non- NULL, table must reference an array of UCHAR_MAX + 1 bytes which contains the sort weight of each possible byte value. The end-of-string byte must have a sort weight of 0 or 255 (for sorting in reverse order). More than one byte may have the same sort weight. The table argument is useful for applications which wish to sort different characters equally, for example, providing a table with the same weights for A-Z as for a-z will result in a case-insensitive sort. If table is NULL, the contents of the array are sorted in ascending order according to the ASCII order of the byte strings they reference and endbyte has a sorting weight of 0.\nThe sradixsort() function is stable, that is, if two elements compare as equal, their order in the sorted array is unchanged. The sradixsort() function uses additional memory sufficient to hold nmemb pointers.\nThe radixsort() function is not stable, but uses no additional memory.\nThese functions are variants of most-significant-byte radix sorting; in particular, see Algorithm R and section 5.2.5, exercise 10. They take linear time relative to the number of bytes in the strings.'s\nRETURN VALUESThe radixsort() function returns the value 0 if successful; otherwise the value -1 is returned and the global variable errno is set to indicate the error.\n- [ EINVAL]\n- The value of the endbyte element of table is not 0 or 255.\nAdditionally, the sradixsort() function may fail and set errno for any of the errors specified for the library routine malloc(3).\nSEE ALSOsort(1), qsort(3)\nKnuth, D.E., Sorting and Searching, The Art of Computer Programming, Vol. 3, pp. 170-178, 1968.\nPaige, R., Three Partition Refinement Algorithms, SIAM J. Comput., No. 6, Vol. 16, 1987.\nMcIlroy, P., Computing Systems, Engineering Radix Sort, Vol. 6:1, pp. 5-27, 1993.\nHISTORYThe radixsort() function first appeared in 4.4BSD.\n|January 27, 1994||FreeBSD|"