Assistive technology is available to students with documented disabilities through the Coordinator of Disability Services in the Center for Academic Planning & Support. Portable equipment may be signed out of the Center for short-term use.
Examples of assistive technology
- Open computer lab with word-processing software/editing tools
- Online tutorials and self-assessment tools
- Hand-held spellcheckers
- Tape recorders
- FM hearing devices
- Ergonomic keyboards
- CCTV to enlarge text
- Noise-cancelling headphones
CAPS also provides a computer station with ergonomic monitor, OCR multi-sheet scanner & specialized software:
- Dragon Naturally Speaking voice-recognition software
- Inspiration to assist with written expression and mapping
- Zoomtext to enlarge text
- Read & Write Gold USB to promote literacy skill development
For more information about accessing these tools, contact Karen Frisbie, Coordinator of Disability Support Services.


Companies that extend their supply chains around the globe may harness greater efficiency and secure lower costs but also open themselves to more supply chain risks that can range from natural disasters to quality control issues.
The 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan had reverberations in the automotive industry because of severe disruptions to global electronics production, while floods in Thailand created significant shortages in the hard disk drive market that cost electronics manufacturers millions.
Changing weather patterns could also emerge as a source of supply chain disruption and may have already affected Coca-Cola, according to a New York Times article.
Coca-Cola’s vice president for environment and water resources told the newspaper increased droughts and the frequent occurrence of what had been considered 100-year floods have disrupted Coca-Cola’s sugar cane, sugar beet and citrus supplies.
Beyond the havoc nature can impose on global supply chains, there are a number of other risks.
Companies that have shifted from local suppliers in favor of lower costs from overseas sources may face an increased risk from lapses in quality control, failure to meet rules for working conditions or environmental regulations in other countries.
Two major auto manufacturers suffered because of quality issues with parts suppliers. Toyota was forced into a $1.2 billion settlement with the U.S. Justice Department, with recalls numbering in the millions of vehicles because of allegedly defective gas pedals. General Motors encountered problems because of faulty ignition switches.
Threats from terrorist networks introducing harmful products or materials into a supply chain or actions by criminal groups were among potential risks cited in a 2012 White House report, “National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security”.
The report acknowledged the importance of secure global supply chains and called for the country to develop strategies to anticipate potential hazards and to devise ways of making supply chains more secure.
Managing those risks will require a refined understanding of the threats through updated assessments, the report said. Continued and coordinated efforts among all federal agencies also are needed to thwart any deliberate actions aimed at undermining supply chains.
As companies face increased exposure to supply chain disruptions, they should consider additional steps to manage their risks.
When evaluating those risks, it’s important to consider the whole operation, not just its parts. In other words, companies should consider how a problem in one tier of the supply chain can affect the entire supply chain and the whole company.
Supply chain managers should take a broader look at potential risks, including those beyond disruptions from natural events such as the earthquake in Japan. Companies must consider risks that may be less obvious but have the potential for considerable impact. Those risks can include issues such as political changes, credit and financial health of suppliers and currency fluctuations.
Continuing education such as that offered through online courses in a University of San Francisco supply chain management certificate program can help professionals in every part of supply chain management learn how to anticipate and guard against risks.
In today’s business world, things are constantly changing; and to stay competitive within my field, I need to do the same. Thanks to University Alliance and the University of San Francisco, I’m doing just that. I’m very glad that I decided to sign up for Certificate in Supply Chain Management. The program costs much less than a degree, and I can complete it in a fraction of the time. On top of that, I’m earning CEUs for each course. I’ve been able to apply the learning materials and experience the rewards immediately. The instructors have an abundance of supply chain knowledge, and I feel that I’m gaining better skills than I would have through a general business course. I’m proud to add these credentials to my résumé, and I’m already planning to enroll in another online program through University Alliance.
Marsha Van Schoyck


A little known fact – Northern BC has carnivorous plants! Sundews attract, capture, and then digest their victims … ok their victims are small insects and not large mammals so we have nothing to fear from them. I never knew about them until a curious student from UNBC went looking. From James Jones, here is an introduction to his work
My research at the Aleza Lake Research Forest consists of two-fold approaches to examining the ecology of Sundews native to British Columbia, Canada (Drosera rotundifolia L. and Drosera anglica Huds.). One part characterizes the plant associates and habitat preferences of both Sundew species in a Sphagnum-dominated bog at the ALRF to identify factors influencing their abundance and distribution. The other is lab-based, and involves extracting the DNA of collected D. rotundifolia samples, and performing an Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. To conduct an AFLP analysis, genomic DNA is digested with a pair of restriction enzymes (typically EcoRI and MseI), and the fragments ligated to PCR primers based on the produced restriction sites. These are then amplified through PCR, and the banding patterns between individuals compared to identify relatedness. The information produced through this study will broaden our understanding of the ecology of these unique plants, and add another step towards solving the riddle of plant carnivory.


A simple guide for beginners to learn how to use a Speed Square or carpenter’s square in woodworking. Learn about all the features and uses!
A Speed Square or carpenter’s square is one of the most basic and essential tools in woodworking. It is extremely inexpensive, accurate, and has a wide variety of uses!
You often see the Speed Square being used as a way to make sure everything is perpendicular and square while building. That is just a scratch on the surface of everything that tool is capable of!
As a beginner, it can be overwhelming looking at the wide variety of markings!
Today I am breaking it down for you in detail to show you exactly what everything means AND how to use it so you can put that triangular tool work!
Table of Contents
- What is a Speed Square
- What can you do with a speed square?
- Features of the speed square for woodworking
- How to use a speed square
- Get the printable version of this post in your email
What is a Speed Square
A Speed Square is a triangular carpenter’s tool. It is also commonly known as a rafter square or a carpenter’s square. The term “Speed Square” is trademarked by Swanson Tool Co., Inc. but is commonly used as a generic name.
If you are in the market to buy a carpenter’s square, I would highly recommend getting the Swanson Speed Square. It is jam-packed with all the features which might be missing in other brands!
What can you do with a Speed Square?
The main purpose of the Speed Square is to layout lines very quickly and accurately. However, you can also find and draw angles and circles, adjust or guide a saw, and even use it as a level!
Before we get into details of how to do all this, let’s get to know the Speed Square and talk about all its uses.
Printable version of this post
By popular demand, you can now get a printable version of this post sent to your email so you can save it for future reference.
Features of the Speed Square
A Speed Square is packed with features that make for uses well beyond the most obvious one – using it as a way to square boards. Below are the basic features which are most relevant to woodworking.
Along one of the outside edges, there are markings from 1 through 6. This is the ruler side. It’s useful for quick measurements. It is limited to six inches so you can only use it for smaller measurements but it can be a quick reference when working with it.
The t-shaped edge is probably the most used feature of a Speed Square. It can be bumped up against one edge of a board, and you can scribe a straight line with a pencil. Plus, you also guide a saw blade with it!
3. Right Angle
The most obvious use of the Speed Square is to use it at the right angle. The 90-degree angle is easy to use without needing a protractor. You can trace around it, use it to confirm cuts, and even check your assembly for perfect corners quickly. The most important use – check your saws to make sure the blade is square.
The side opposite the right angle is marked with lines and the numbers 10 to 80 or 0 to 90 – depending on your speed square’s manufacturer. This side is how you can use your Speed Square for angles. I will go into detail about how to use it to measure or mark angles below.
5. Diamond-Shaped Hole
This hole is 3½ inches from the end and makes for a helpful quick measurement since the width of two-by-fours is actually 3½ inches, not 4 inches.
How to use a Speed Square
The above list makes it clear that the Speed Square can be used in so many ways! Now let’s dive into exactly how to use it for each purpose.
1. Check for square
As the name suggests and the first thing that probably comes to mind – a speed square can be used for quickly checking for square between workpieces.
Also, it is great to check if the ends of a board are square.
Below, I am checking to make sure that the mitered joint is perfectly square.
2. Use as a Saw Guide
A Speed Square make s a quick and accurate fence when using a circular saw to cut boards.
- Hook the t-shaped lip on the outer edge of the board.
- Line up the shoe of the saw against the straight edge parallel to the cut.
- Make the cut!
3. Adjust Saws
One of the most important parts of building professional quality furniture is to make sure all your pieces are cut perfectly square. Hence, it is important to ensure that the saw blades are “square” – which means they are perfectly 90-degrees to the plane on which you place your boards.
For example, to adjust a circular saw – rest one side of the Speed Square against the side of the blade. Rest the against the bottom of the saw. Both the sides should line up with no gap. If there is a gap, adjust the blade till it disappears.
4. Measuring Angles with a Speed Square
Measuring and marking angles with a Speed Square make it so much easier to ensure that the mitered cross-cuts are perfect! The right angle and the 45-deg angles are easy to see! Here is how you use it to measure or mark any angle you want –
- Line up the lip of the Speed Square with the edge of the board so the pivot point is at the starting point of the cut.
- Pivot away in the direction of the angle you need until that specific angle (in our case below – it is 30-degrees) marking lines up with the edge of the board.
- Draw the line along the edge. This is the angled line!
Below is my TikTok video showing you measuring angles in action –
A similar technique can also be used to measure an angle.
5. Drawing Circles with a Speed Square
Yes, you can use a speed square to make circles!
I think it is the easiest to make these using the Swanson Speed Square because it has the notches for the markings. You can use the outer edge to make circles up to 12 inches, although, it might be a bit tricky.
- Place a nail or screw at the pivot for the speed square to rotate
- The notch in the speed square at the pivot point can be hooked on to the nail.
- On the ruler side of the speed square – place a pencil at the radius of the circle you need.
- Walk the speed square around as you rotate the speed square around.
That will help make a simple circle.
6. How to mark boards for ripping
If you need to draw a straight line across a board to rip it down, it is super simple to do so with a Speed Square!
- Place the Speed Square with the t-edge over the edge.
- Place a pencil on the measurement mark on the ruler side.
- Slide the speed square down the length of the board and draw a line with the pencil as you go.
Tip – Be sure to use a sharp pencil (not a carpenter’s pencil) for this. Many speed squares feature a sawtooth along the ruler edge that is very helpful.
Use a Speed Square for leveling is a little more complicated than using a level but it can be done in a pinch. You’ll need a plumb bob or a string and nut.
- Place the square on the material with the pivot point facing up.
- Then take the plumb bob or string and nut and lay it across the speed square.
- If it is level, the string will rest on the 45-degree mark. If not, you’ll know precisely how unlevel the item is.
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Finding Roof Pitch
While you may not use a speed square for roofing, it can be used. This is a good article to understand how it works to find the roof pitch.
So there you have it.
SO MANY things you can do with that simple triangular tool! Let me know which of these was new to you!
More Beginner Woodworker Articles –
Check out the Woodworking 101 hub for lots more beginner-friendly information, articles and project ideas.


In any business organization, there are two types of sub-units or teams.
- Profit Centers
- Cost Centers
Profit Center is the team/department which gets the company money and thereby profits. They bring in the dough/bacon. One of the common example of a profit center is the sales department. Unless you have sales, you wouldn’t have customers and thereby no money.
Everything other than a profit center is a Cost center. Any team or department of a company to which various types of direct and indirect costs are charged are cost centers. It could be the Production or service departments in a factory, operations team, IT department, etc.


An electronic medical record (EMR) is a digital version of a paper chart that contains all of a patient’s medical history from one technique. An EMR is mainly made use of by suppliers for diagnosis and procedure.
An EMR is a lot more advantageous compared to paper records because it permits providers to:
- Track data over time.
- Identify clients who schedule for precautionary gos to and testings.
- Monitor how patients come up to certain specifications, such as vaccinations and blood pressure readings.
- Improve general high quality of treatment in a technique.
The information kept in EMRs is not easily shared with providers outside of a technique. A patient’s record might even have to be published out and delivered by mail to specialists and various other participants of the treatment team.
1 – More Lives Saved with Preventive Care
The best means to conserve money and time is to avoid becoming sick in the first place. As well often, we neglect the testings and consultations that can keep us healthier over time, yet an electronic medical record system could provide notifies to physician that you require a check-up. Standard information on your medical record– age, family tree and sex– can be contrasted versus a data source of best techniques and governmental tips, and the system will certainly notify the medical professional that you must receive a Pap smear or a flu shot, for example. Some systems might even manage to send you an e-mail reminding you to arrange the consultation. And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, such precautionary treatment is covered at no out-of-pocket prices under a lot of medical insurance strategies.
2 – Improved Management of Chronic Conditions
Medical professionals that use electronic medical records have actually reported that the technology makes them much better medical professionals, causing exceptional patient care [sources: Lohr, Lohr] Nevertheless, we can not yet measure just how much better people can get on with an electronic medical record because so couple of workplaces and hospitals have actually implemented the system.
A 2009 research reviewed medical therapy in medical facilities with sophisticated electronic medical record-keeping systems to hospitals with more basic devices and hospitals without computerized records. When it come to treating cardiac arrest, hospitals with innovative systems satisfied government best-practice top quality specifications 87.8 percent of the time, while those with a basic system doinged this 86.7 percent of the moment and those without system doinged this 85.9 percent of the moment. Though the researchers admitted that the distinctions in procedure were limited, they claimed that common usage would be essential to see a real influence. In August 2010, the federal government released requirements outlining how physicians and medical facilities must use electronic medical records in order to make the most of outcomes.
3 – Better Coordinated Treatment
Medical professionals are hectic people, and just since one doctor refers a patient to a professional, that doesn’t mean he or she will certainly have the moment to describe what’s going on. If you see numerous physicians, each might keep a separate graph for you. You could be subjected to the exact same diagnostic examination numerous times, which is a waste of money and time. With access to an electronic medical record that offers the big image, one medical professional will certainly know just what all other medical professionals in your life have done, what’s worked and what hasn’t. This will certainly help physician make more specific medical diagnoses and handle therapies for persistent conditions.
4 – Fewer Prescription Drug Errors
When a physician suggests new treatment to a patient, he or she will doing this digitally so that it appears on the individual’s medical record. The electronic record-keeping device is furnished to review that medication to the patient’s case history, and it will certainly send an alert to the medical professional if the brand-new prescription could possibly trigger hypersensitive reactions in the patient or interact badly with various other medications that the patient takes. By doing this, the electronic medical record provides a look at the doctor’s work and stops medical mistakes before they happen, reducing hospitalization prices related to unfavorable medication reactions. The record-keeping system will certainly likewise notify the physician if there’s a comparable common version of the medicine that must be thought about, potentially saving the patient a little money, too.
5 – Less Paperwork
All right, this appears like an obvious one– if your medical record is electronic, after that obviously there would certainly be much less documents, right? But take a minute to think of the ramifications of less data cabinets. Presently, whenever you see a brand-new physician, you fill in a sheaf of documents. But with accessibility to an electronic medical record, your physician will certainly already have information about any sort of medications you take, the outcomes of any kind of lab checks you have actually ever had and any type of health issues you’re dealing with. Medical professionals and nurses won’t have to draw graphes and transcribe information, so they could perhaps have additional time and even more purposeful communications with people. And undoubtedly you’ve heard jokes concerning doctors’ bad handwriting? No longer will registered nurses or clients lose time attempting to identify a doctor’s orders, because he or she will certainly utilize a computer system or electronic device to make them. That perk is vital to the following item on our list, as well.
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Compiled and edited from the works of Dr. Hora
by Nancy Rosanoff
As long as we blame someone for anything, we are angry and resentful, and we desire to punish or get even or hurt somebody; but we usually hurt ourselves. If we give up blaming, we will not only forgive, but we relieve the pressure under which we are living. To carry a grudge is a very crippling mental condition.
Anything that would threaten to deprive us of what we cherish, or invalidate what we cherish, will provoke fear and resentment. The more we are inclined to cherish the more vulnerable and insecure we shall be in life, and the more we shall be given to anxiety, resentfulness, frustration, and even hatred. Therefore, the Zen Master says: “Above all cherish nothing.” In our language [Metapsychiatry] this saying translates as “Cherish only God,” because “nothing” is a Buddhist God. In other words, God is no thing, and the Buddha nature is love, beauty, intelligence, harmony, peace, serenity, assurance, joy, health, freedom, perfect being. Thus, the gate of Paradise is to cherish nothing.
If we are loaded with bitter resentments against our parents, or some individuals from the past, and we are very angry, and we don’t know what to do with it, then anyone who is willing to be abusive to us is welcome, because we have a desire to be able to express some rage. That will give us a good excuse. This is called transference.
But if we start the process of forgiveness, suddenly people who we haven’t seen for years may begin to turn up, call us, or ask to see us. They come to be loved, and they come to be forgiven without realizing this. They may come to us in our dreams. This process will heal us and set us free for further growth.
Relationships and Resentment
The prevalent mode in love relationships is that of objectiﬁcation. We tend to turn our fellow man into an “it.” And what happens when we deal with one another as objects? We become manipulative. To be manipulated is not a pleasant experience; it is dehumanizing, humiliating, even infuriating. The hostilities and resentments and strife that we observe in everyday life have much to do with an erroneous approach to our fellow man. It is the manipulative object-relations approach which simply means that we treat our fellow men as if they were objects. If they are objects, like for instance a chair, they can be pushed around, turned upside down, even smashed.
Without realizing it, people are led to believe that a loved one is an object here for our personal gratiﬁcation. If we love someone, we have the right to use that individual to make ourselves feel good. Love thy neighbor as if he were an object. This is what it comes to.
Rape could be considered an extreme case of object love. Combined with murder, it would carry the theory of object-relations to its ultimate point of absurdity by rendering an animate “object” into an inanimate object. If our assumptions about life were based on such theories, the result would be indeed disastrous.
Forgiving Long Held Grudges and Resentments
Now, the question could be asked, What is the meaning of holding on to resentments for so long? Sometimes our grudge is so great that we are afraid that it would destroy us. In that case, what usually happens is that we develop compulsions. This kind of compulsiveness is a cover-up for an emerging or threatening memory, a forbidden emotion. Whenever we are compulsive about something, be it work or affection, or even stamp collecting, it is always a cover-up of undesirable memories.
What is the difference between compulsive goodness and love? Love is letting-be. Letting be is reverence for life. Compulsive goodness is based on the fear of becoming aware of hating someone. Compulsive evangelizing or proselytizing is based on fear of becoming aware of sinful tendencies and desires.
Now, how can we give up blaming if we feel like blaming?
If someone acts injuriously or wrongly against us, we must understand that it is ignorance that is controlling his thinking. So, we are victims of ignorance rather than of an individual who is malevolent.
This is only possible if we understand that by forgiving people, we are not doing them a favor; we are doing ourselves a favor. We are hurting ourselves by carrying a grudge, and that is no way to live. We must forgive endlessly, continually. We must forgive our parents; we must forgive our siblings, our friends and our enemies. As long as we hate someone and carry a grudge, we are not able to be conscious spiritual beings, because a spiritual being is a manifestation of Love-Intelligence. Now, is this not a preposterous demand? It is only preposterous if we don’t understand what the whole process of forgiveness leads to. It introduces us to the highest form of love.
As we keep forgiving, we realize a greater and greater peace, assurance, gratitude and love, and we are healed. By forgiving, we discover compassion, which is the greatest gift of God. We are able to love those we believed we hated or resented or carried a grudge against. We can even love our enemies, because compassion is: understanding the lack of understanding.
Someone remarked that it seems harder to forgive those we love than to forgive our enemies. We need to see that those we love and those we hate are sometimes connected.
If we have not learned to forgive, then malicious, angry thoughts about someone can break through within us in the form of a physical disease. In this case, it may be even more difficult to become conscious of our resentments. Symptoms and physical diseases are thoughts, manifesting themselves in the body, because they are too dreadful to be faced in consciousness. In essence, it is transmutation of energy in the most acceptable form. Whatever we are afraid to face in consciousness will have to find a way to express itself, either in the body, in behavior, in circumstances or experiences. This is an indication that whatever is repressed has a tendency to manifest itself in one way or another. Our best protection is to learn the art of forgiveness.
* * * * * * *
The following is a dialogue between Dr. Hora and a student asking about the healing of resentment. It begins to discuss the process of healing through understanding the meaning or the thought that is being expressed in the form of, in this case, enjoying feeling resentful.
Dialogue on Healing Resentfulness
Question: For the past few days I have been aware of an undercurrent of resentfulness, and I must admit that I am secretly enjoying it. And I wonder what it may lead to?
Dr. Hora: What is the difference between enjoying being resentful and enjoying scratching an itch?
Dr. Hora: If we have an itch, it feels good to scratch it.
Comment: That’s the quickest way to get rid of it.
Dr. Hora: I understand that New York City got into a financial mess by applying short-term solutions to long-term problems. When we are solving an itch by scratching it, we are doing the same.
Comment: The short-term solution to resentment is to vent our feelings. Dr. Hora: There was a famous psychiatrist in New York who advised his patients to have a punching bag in their apartment and daily express their anger with the help of this implement. What is the solution to these problems? Enjoying resentfulness, scratching our itches?
Question: Do you say we should ignore the itch?
Dr. Hora: We must neither scratch nor not scratch. Can that be done? When we scratch, we are involved with the itch. When we refrain from scratching, we are also involved with the itch. We must be involved with something else. What could we get involved with in order to neither scratch nor not scratch? The profitable way is to become involved with the thoughts of meaning. Never mind whether it itches or not, but what is the meaning of this phenomenon? What is it trying to say? Itching is not only an experience, it is a phenomenon. A phenomenon is a thought. It is never the body that itches. An itching body or a resentful person is a thought. What kind of thought is it? It is a thought about something that should be or should not be. And if we are more interested in coming to see the thought that underlies this phenomenon, we will be rewarded by a sudden discovery of the thought and at that moment the itch disappears, or the resentment vanishes. And then we can ask the question: “But what is what really is?”
Question: The itch and the resentment disappear just by understanding the thought it expresses?
Dr. Hora: Yes, because we have translated the phenomenon into its constituent thought.
Comment: That means that there is no more need for the phenomenon to call attention to the thought.
Dr. Hora: When we ask the question: “What is the meaning of what seems to be?” we are seeking the thought behind the phenomenon. In other words, we are converting the symptom into the thought.


We are a small group of volunteers from the Historic Military Establishment of Upper Canada re-enactment group that have come together to fill a tremendous gap in Canadian’s knowledge about the far reaching effects of the War of 1812 on our nation. We are one of a very few nations that has not honoured its founders and the Graveside Project looks to fill that gap.
The graves of veterans of the War of 1812 have never been recognized nationally and by doing so, we will bring an awareness of this time in our history to light in communities that have no other link to the War of 1812.
This project will provide a data base of biographical information on thousands of veterans of the War of 1812, a data base that presently does not exist, and one that will be a boon to future research by students of our history.
This legacy project that will see schools, heritage committees, legions, and family members research this time period and place these plaques in the future brings the promise that the veterans of the War of 1812 will not be forgotten, nor will that important part of our nation’s history.


Known around the world by many names including “Montezuma’s revenge,” “Delhi belly” and “mummy tummy,” traveler’s diarrhea (TD) is the most common illness faced by travelers. Nothing can slow down a fun trip as easily as TD — and it can also have serious health implications. TD typically lasts four to six days, and 90 percent of cases occur within the first two weeks of travel.
Anatomy You Need to Know
The gastrointestinal tract starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. After food enters the mouth, it passes through the esophagus to the stomach, where it sits for approximately 45 minutes. After being broken down by gastric secretions, food matter enters the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum in order). The small intestine is the site where most nutrients are absorbed by the body. From the small intestine, food matter begins to look more like feces as it progresses to the large intestine or colon. The colon absorbs water from the food material before the material passes through the anus and exits the body as feces.
Recognizing the warning signs of TD, such as blood in the stool, fever, or abdominal cramping, can help a savvy traveler know when to seek medical help.
TD has many definitions; the presence of three or more loose-formed stools in one day is a good one. Abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting and fever may also occur. The presence of blood in the stool can indicate that infection has directly damaged the intestinal wall and should be taken seriously. Read more »
What do you do when you’re one of the world’s biggest food companies and you’re looking to explore what happens after your products get chewed and swallowed? Apparently you build a large refrigerator-sized, million dollar model of a human gut, complete with valves, injection ports for enzymes, and a transparent window for visibility, of course.
Nestle, in their quest to create foods that trick your body into feeling even more satisfied after eating than you otherwise would be, has a research and development center that holds this artificial gut, tucked next to the mountains in Lausanne, Switzerland. Here they’re busy studying and trying to commercialize gastrointestinal phenomenon such as the “ileal break,” a peptidal feedback mechanism that both slows transit through the GI system and reduces food intake by triggering feelings of satiation. They hope to release products based on this science within five years.
From the Wall Street Journal:
Tracking the movement of food in a person’s gastrointestinal tract isn’t easy. So at a “digestion lab”—part of Nestle’s sprawling research and development center here—scientists use a million-dollar model of the human gut.
The machine is about the size of a large refrigerator. It has several compartments linked by valves, and it is carefully calibrated to the body’s temperature. The entire setup is controlled by a computer. The front is glass, allowing observers to watch as food travels through the system.
On a recent day, the “stomach” section at the top slowly squeezed and churned a salt solution, just like the real thing. The liquefied result then wended its way down the other tubes, representing other sections of the digestive tract. At each stage, tiny valves released the appropriate salt, bile and enzymes, which helped to digest the food.
The question still stands: What comes out the other end?
E. coli is a Gram negative rod-shaped bacterium that is a regular inhabitant of the human gastrointestinal tract and certain strains can cause a lot of trouble. A team from the University of Tokyo in Japan, however, have manipulated the bacterium to perform a more noble task: Solving Sudoku.
The bacterium managed to solve 4×4 grid Sudoku puzzles, and in theory the more common 9×9 grid puzzles should be solvable as well. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Medgadget*
My mother was very proud of the fact that none of her four children ever became sick from her cooking. While it’s true she may have erred on the side of overcooking the turkey, being spared food poisoning is yet another in the long list of gifts from my mom.
Every year, about 76 million Americans develop illness from food, more than 325,000 are hospitalized, and about 5,000 die. The most common cause is contamination with bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, and E. coli — though other organisms such as viruses and protozoa can also be culprits. As summer begins, I thought it would be a good time to review some basic tips about food safety. Read more »
University of Florida researchers have developed a signaling technology that can be embedded into drug tablets to notify clinicians and caretakers that a pill has been ingested.
Although a bit of electronics is going to be moving through the digestive system, the researchers believe that it will pass safely without causing side effects to the patient.
If the technology proves itself, it may soon be used to confirm compliance in clinical trials or to monitor patients under a strict drug regimen.
One part is the pill, a standard white capsule coated with a label embossed with silvery lines. The lines comprise the antenna, which is printed using ink made of non-toxic, conductive silver nanoparticles. The pill also contains a tiny microchip, one about the size of a period on paper. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Medgadget*
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When I was in medical school I read Samuel Shem s House Of God as a right of passage. At the time I found it to be a cynical yet eerily accurate portrayal of the underbelly of academic medicine. I gained comfort from its gallows humor and it made me…
I am hesitant to review diet books because they are so often a tangled mess of fact and fiction. Teasing out their truth from falsehood is about as exhausting as delousing a long-haired elementary school student. However after being approached by the authors’ PR agency with the promise of a…


Name of Artist Educator: Chan Pak Kin
Excercise Category: Visual storytelling
No matter how precise language it can be, it could never present every details of an image clearly and thoroughly......
Concept / Inspiration:
No matter how precise language it can be, it could never present every details of an image clearly and thoroughly. Simply just a name of an object is enough to evoke various images for different individuals because there are different interpretations and experiences. The language discrepancy does not relate to personal language ability. It is the defect of language itself. The exercise does not aim to subvert language, nor does it excuse the language ability of some students. It is hoped to let student understand there are boundaries for language and image and they can be indeed complementary. This exercise could also be used together with Chan Pak Kin ‘s “Capturing the lyrics”.
- To let student experience the inadequacy of pure verbal communication. This is not solely or directly related to individual language ability.
- To let students experience there are different angles and perspective in understanding the same issues.
Materials / Equipment:
- Eye cover
Duration: 50 minutes
- Two students in a group. Students A and Student B.
- Student A cover up their eyes. Student B takes Student A to one place.
- Student B takes a photo of anything s/he notices of and then describes it verbally or writes it down. Students are required to describe in details including the photos or camera itself (e.g. object, light position, background, position and angle, ISO, aperture and focal length, etc.) They also need to describe the position when they take the photos such as, position of the camera: in front of the chest, overhead, on the waist, kneeling or tiptoeing.
- By reading the words or verbal instruction of Student B, Student A needs to take a photo as similar as Student B’s.
- Students take turn to be A and B.
Note 1 : It is advised to supplement the exercise with Chan Pak Kin’s “Capturing the lyrics”. It is to let student further explore the complementary relation between words and image.
Note 2: In order to emphasize the key message about the defect of language, Student A and B need to walk together on the same path at the same time. Even though both of them stand on the same location, their photos could be different in various ways such as the angles, the composition.
To let students understand however precise and detailed the description is, there is an inadequacy of language because everyone perceives different angles.
There are different perspectives. One may focus on describing the overall picture and environment while one may focus on the objects in front ignoring the background. There is difficulty in communication.
Many students find out it is difficult to describe images in words.


“That means people in Afghanistan want to have a government that is not run by armed men and is accountable to them,” Rubin says. “It does not mean they will have that after they vote. That is, they’re very enthusiastic for participating, but they’re also quite skeptical as to what the results will be. So there’s a lot more work to be done afterwards.”
Rubin is director of studies and senior fellow at the Center for International Cooperation, New York University. From 1994 to 2000, he was director of the Center for Preventive Action and director of peace and conflict studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
He was interviewed on September 16, 2005 by Bernard Gwertzman, consulting editor for cfr.org.
You were in Afghanistan this summer and you’ve been following events in there for a long time. Can you discuss the parliamentary elections, which are going to take place Sunday? Is this the first time Afghans have ever had such an election?
Actually, Afghanistan had three parliamentary elections during the 1960s and 1970s, where there was universal adult suffrage under a constitution referred to as “New Democracy.” This constitution was used as the interim legal framework until the passage of the new constitution in 2004. But they’ve never before had a parliament that has the extensive powers integrated into a more or less democratic constitution, which they have now.
How important are these elections?
The elections are extremely important but they don’t make Afghanistan into a democracy. First of all, the elections constitute the final stage of the implementation of the UN-mediated agreement [called the Bonn agreement] that put together the current political structures in Afghanistan. This included a transition from an unrepresentative interim government to the fully elected government that we have now.
And that means with these elections, with the formation of the national assembly after the elections—thirty days after the formation of a new supreme court—the basic institutions will be formed, and the current multilateral international framework for engaging with Afghanistan will come to an end.
And that is why the United Nations, the Afghan government, the United States and other donor governments are working to develop what they are calling a “post-Bonn framework” for international involvement with Afghanistan. And that post-Bonn framework will be presented to an international conference in London at the end of January. That will occur at the same time the Afghan government presents its Afghan National Development Strategy, because the two will be closely linked. The post-Bonn framework will essentially be support for the Afghan National Development Strategy, as well as support for regional cooperation around Afghanistan, security guarantees, and other sorts of political guarantees for the stability of the region.
That’s a big list of things coming up. When you say “post-Bonn,” that means the meeting that took place at the end of 2001?
It took place from November 26 through December 5, 2001, after Kabul had fallen from Taliban control. It was called the “UN Talks on Afghanistan,” and it took place outside Bonn, Germany. The agreement that was signed there, though it has a much longer formal title, is generally known as the Bonn Agreement, and covers a period of about three and half years. It had stages, starting with an unrepresentative interim administration, leading to an emergencyloya jirga [grand council], to a broadening of that government and indirect elections of a president for a transitional administration. It continued through the appointment of a constitutional commission, the adoption of a new constitution, and then the holding of elections for a fully representative government. The system of government they adopted in the constitution required elections both for the presidency and also for a bicameral parliament. These elections currently are not only for the lower house of the parliament, but also for provincial councils, and the provincial councils will indirectly elect part of the upper house of parliament.
There’s been a lot of press attention paid to terrorism and threats to voters and candidates. What is your sense of the general security situation?
Afghanistan is a country where the government is extremely weak. There are a lot of weapons. There are people based in the country and also outside the country, particularly in Pakistan, who are trying to overthrow or destabilize the current system.
And, in most of the country there is no rule of law and power is controlled by various armed groups. Now, in many ways, the situation is much better than it was three and a half years ago, but this is not something that can be changed in a short period of time. Afghanistan is going through a period of political change, and that can be destabilizing. So, there appears to be an increase in violence. The violence related to the elections is of two types: First, there is violence by people, mainly the Taliban and some of their allies—remnants of al Qaeda in Afghanistan and a few other groups—that are trying to prevent the elections or discredit them, de-legitimate, and intimidate people from taking part. But there’s also another kind of electoral violence, which is quite common around the world, which is from people who want to win the elections, who are therefore intimidating their opponents and their opponents’ voters. I think we can expect to see a lot more of that kind of violence after the polling takes place.
There will be a lot of challenges to the election’s legitimacy. There may be attempts to capture ballots as they are transported for counting, and also there is a rule in the electoral law, which is colloquially known as “the assassination clause.” The electoral system in each province is a multimember district. And if there are, say, twenty seats in that province, then twenty people who get the most votes are elected. But under this rule, if one of those twenty people dies or decides not to take up his or her post, then the twenty-first person moves up. So that means there’s quite an incentive to make the winners “offers that they can’t refuse.”
How prevalent are these warlords still?
Most of the power in Afghanistan is still not exercised in accordance with the law, but the situation has changed since the immediate aftermath of the war in early 2002. Then there were five big armies and lots of small armies, or militias, all over the country. Those five big armies, who were commanded by relatively well-known warlords, have been demobilized. Therefore, those big warlords, whose names people know—such as Ismail Khan, Rashid Dostum, Fahim Mohammed Atta—they are no longer military commanders, but they are still very influential figures. One of them is a minister, several are governors, others are police chiefs, and they have political followings and they’ll be mobilizing people, but they no longer command large armies with heavy weapons.
There are, according to the United Nations, an estimated 1,800 illegal armed groups around the country, and about 100 are particularly dangerous. Many of these are linked to trafficking, preying on people, and so on. One key thing to understand about this election is that it was closely linked to the demobilization of illegal armed groups. In fact, people in the United Nations will say this election is not primarily about making Afghanistan democratic; this election is primarily about moving politics away from militarization and into civilian competition.
An example of this is the process of vetting the candidates. It was carried out in what was on the one hand, clever, and on the other hand, an unsatisfactory, manner. There’s a rule in the electoral law that nobody who is a commander or a member of an armed group can be a candidate for parliament or for provincial councils. And one of the criteria for that was you had to cooperate with the demobilization of illegal armed groups if you were listed as a member or commander of an illegal armed group. Twenty-eight people were finally disqualified. But the major, really powerful commanders were not disqualified because they’re too powerful to be disqualified by an electoral complaints commission.
Some of them are in the government too, right?
Yes. Some of them are governors or police chiefs or other types of officials, but none of them are in the cabinet at the moment. Ismail Khan is a cabinet member, but he is not commanding an armed group at the moment. He is minister of energy, water and power and everyone says he’s actually doing quite a good job.
Tell me about the mood of the people. The news reports seem to say there’s going to be a large turnout; people are really eager to vote. Is that your sense of it?
Yes. People are really eager to vote and there will be a large turnout, despite the dangers. That means people in Afghanistan want to have a government that is not run by armed men and that is accountable to them. It does not mean they will have that after they vote. They’re very enthusiastic to participate, but they’re also quite skeptical as to what the results will be. So there’s a lot more work to be done afterwards.
I take it the United Nations is going to supervise these elections to give them legitimacy.
There’s a joint electoral management body that is run between the United Nations and the Afghan Electoral Commission. There’s extensive international involvement, but at the same time, given the security conditions, the actual polling places around the country are staffed and monitored entirely by Afghans.
Will this reverberate favorably on [President Hamid] Karzai, or is that a secondary issue?
Well, we’ll see what the outcome is. At the moment, I would say my impression is that President Karzai’s popularity inside Afghanistan has undergone a precipitous drop since his election [in October 2004] because people have not been that impressed with how he has delivered in terms of reform, modernization, delivery of services, and decisive leadership. I think the parliament will possibly reflect that. But bear in mind that the way this parliament is being elected—without political parties—and the way the government is structured—without a prime minister—the president will have very few, if any, tools to manage the parliament. He’ll have to deal with each member as an individual, which is what the president likes to do, but that’s quite difficult. It works for loya jirgas that meet for two weeks and then go home, but it’s quite difficult with a sitting body that has to pass complex legislation.
How big is this assembly going to be?
The lower house will have 249 members. The upper house will have one-and-a-half times the number of provinces—there are now thirty-four—so there’ll be fifty-one members in the upper house. It’s a truncated upper house because they actually need to have district elections for it to be fully formed, and they’re not able to do that yet.
And this is a parliament without political parties, so how do they form a leadership within the assembly?
On the one hand, there are parliamentary and some constitutional regulations for electing a speaker, a deputy speaker, a management board, and so on. I think we’ll probably see informal political groupings or parties that will form within the parliament, rather than around the elections. That may then lead to—I hope—a change from the electoral system in the future that will provide more room for political parties to form.
Aside from the elections, what’s the situation now? How is the economy doing?
There are two ways of answering that question. One is to compare it to what it was four years ago, and the other is to compare it to everybody else in the world. This is the difficulty in talking about Afghanistan; you have to do what F. Scott Fitzgerald talked about: “The sign of true intelligence is you have to be able to hold two contradictory ideas in your mind at the same time without going nuts.” And that is to say Afghanistan’s economy has boomed, largely because of opium, but for other reasons as well over the last four years. Its government has doubled the amount of revenue it has collected; the number of children going to school has quadrupled; government has healthcare; it’s built an Afghan national army, which is up to around 20,000, it’s mobilized many of the militias that I referred to, and has many other achievements.
And the result right now is Afghanistan is still one of the five or six poorest countries in the world; 40 percent of the people in rural areas go hungry—that is they do not get enough calories, at least part of the year. There’s rampant malnutrition. It has the highest rate of maternal mortality ever recorded in the world in some regions. It has a life expectancy of forty-five years. It has more weapons per capita than probably any other country. Forty percent of the total economy last year derived from narcotics, and there’s no strategic consensus around the country and among its neighbors about what its future should be. In addition, the Islamic clergy is still of two minds as to whether this whole new system is legitimate or not.
The government now, after doubling the amount it takes in, collects 5 percent of the GDP in taxes, which is still less than any other country in the world for which there is data. So the government collects 5 percent of the GDP in taxes, and it spends 10 percent of the GDP. The other 5 percent comes from foreign aid, which is directly spent by donors themselves, bypassing the government. Foreign aid is three times government spending, and income from drugs is twice as large as foreign assistance. So in terms of where Afghan people are looking for assistance and incomes: First, drugs. Second, foreign aid. Third, the government.
When we talked last you were concerned that any efforts to eradicate the drug crop would impoverish the farmers even more. Is there a program to try to deal with drugs?
There is a program and it’s somewhat changing. I would say the U.S. approach has evolved in particular over the past year from one which was dominated by what I would call drug war ideologues in Washington, to one which is more pragmatic and focused on the needs of Afghanistan. Therefore it is focused on the one hand on alternative livelihoods for the farmers, and on the other hand, on the interdiction of traffickers—which I think is the right approach.
The problem is I still think we have not recognized the dimensions of the problem and the tremendous difference in the way Afghans view it from the way internationals view it. Afghanistan is not comparable to any other country in the world in terms of its dependence on narcotics. It’s 40 percent of the total economy. That means provides more than half of the total cash incomes in the economy, because much of the economy consists of subsistence farming. So that means the new construction we see is funded by drugs; a lot of these election campaigns are funded by drugs; the local power holders in the districts and the provinces—including quite a few of the governors—are working hand-in-glove with the narcotics traffickers. It doesn’t mean the country is controlled by narcotics criminals—they don’t see themselves as narcotics criminals. They see themselves as Afghan political leaders who are using the resources available, which right now, in such an impoverished country with such a low-level rule of law, consists of drugs.
So I think the main approach has to be helping Afghanistan to develop an economy that is not dependent on drugs. And then, a much less draconian law-enforcement regime will be effective, because these are not people who are ideologically committed to wrecking the system. They are not committed to being career criminals, but they are looking for an alternative, which right now they don’t see. But because we have an approach to drugs which is that it’s evil, criminal, and so on, it’s very difficult for us to even have an honest discussion with them about how to get rid of it. If they don’t come in immediately and say they’re completely against it, which in fact they’re not, then they’re kind of ostracized and they’re not part of the political dialogue.
This year there was some success in decreasing the amount of area under cultivation, although production stayed pretty much the same because of high yields. But I don’t know if that will be sustainable because the amount of aid we put in to help people is really not commensurate with something that amounts to 40 percent of the economy.
There were reports in the New York Times and the Washington Post that there are some plans to start withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan next year. Is that true?
That was a misleading report and it was denied by the U.S. Ambassador [Ronald Neumann] the next day. The Pentagon would like to withdraw some of the U.S. forces from Afghanistan next year, but they are not going to do it regardless of the conditions. They have not made a decision to do so; they are trying to determine how they could do so. And the conditions for that are: First, if the security situation improves—and right now the security situation is not improving, it’s getting worse. Second, if European members of NATO are willing to contribute the troops to take over, not only the stabilization mission, but also the counterinsurgency mission. And France, Germany, and Spain said clearly they are not willing to do that. So, essentially this draw-down cannot happen unless either the insurgency is defeated or European troop contributors change their policies. Neither of that is likely to happen within the next year.


- Project Leader : Jung Mee Kyung (Hanazono University, Graduate School of Literature)
Outline of Research
This study will examine the Buddhist scriptures of the Rinzai sect in modern Vietnam in books formerly possessed by Keifuku-Ji Temple in Thailand and currently owned by the CSEAS, Kyoto University. It will explore the influence of the Zen sect in Vietnam during French colonial rule, the anti-French independence movement, and the turbulent period until World War II. This will elucidate the regional characteristics of the Vietnamese Zen sect, which has been spread to the world by Thich Nhat Hanh, the forty-first priest of the Rinzai sect.
This study examines the Buddhist scriptures of the Tendo school (天童派) of the Rinzai sect in modern Vietnam, using books formerly possessed by Keifuku-Ji temple in Thailand.
The Rinzai sect in Vietnam has such characteristics as the Pure Landism, Nenbutsu (Buddhist invocation), specific religious precepts, folk beliefs, “Amida” worship, in addition to Zen. The Rinzai sect was first transmitted to Vietnam during the Chin dynasty (陳朝) in the 13th century. During the dynasty, Vietnamese culture gained its own characteristics as Vietnam fought against successive Mongolian invasions. One of the cultural creations of that time was the invention of Chu Nom, an original script for the Vietnamese language. The creation marked the start of the translation of Buddhist scriptures into Chu Nom, which contributed to advancing the popularity of Buddhism among Vietnamese people. The Rinzai sect is said to have flourished in Vietnamese society during this period amid an atmosphere of growing cultural pride, and it became the central sect of Zen Buddhism in the country in later years.
Keifuku-Ji temple is said to have been built in 1896 by King Rama V in Thailand for the Vietnamese monk Keifuku. It is the temple of the Rinzai sect’s Tendo school. The CSEAS’s collection of old books formerly possessed by Keifuku-Ji contains various scriptures, such as Chu Nom versions of the Amitabha Sutra, the Cibeishui-Chanfa, as well as writings on folk beliefs such as Confucianism and Taoism.
Examining the main sutras of the Rinzai sect in Vietnam from this collection suggested that Vietnamese Buddhism was similar to modern style of Zen Buddhism between China and Korea, and that it had been joining the trend of the times such as the movement for the revival and reform of Buddhism, the movement for independence and popular movement. Because of similarities in the historical backgrounds of Japan, China and Korea, which were not only during the Chin dynasty but also during the Guen dynasty in Vietnam, the study could be developed in to a larger comparative study.


7 Federal Support for Treaty Rights Programs Thereisalonghistoryoffederalfundingfortreatyrightsprotectionandimplementation programs. For more than thirty years, Congress and each Administration have appropriated funding for these programs. That funding has been delivered via contracts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (Pub. L. 93-638). BIA support has leveraged significant funding from other important programs, such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, US Fish & Wildlife Service invasive species initiatives, US Health & Human Services-Administration for Native Americans Social and Economic Development grants, and US Department of Justice COPS grants. The federal government, as a treaty signatory, is required to uphold treaty rights. As such, it would be compelled to perform the services necessary to comply with federal court orders if the Tribes and their designated intertribal treaty commissions did not have the capacity to do so, including the protection and restoration of natural resources on which those rights are based. Authorizations In addition to the treaties themselves, federal authorizations for treaty programs include: • Court Decisions Affirming the Treaties, including: Lac Courte Oreilles v. Voigt (LCO I), 700 F. 2d 341 (7th Cir. 1983), cert. denied 464 U.S. 805 (1983); Lac Courte Oreilles v. State of Wisconsin (LCO X), 775 F.Supp. 321 (W.D. Wis. 1991); Fond du Lac v. Carlson, Case No. 5-92-159 (D. Minn. March 18, 1996) (unpublished opinion); Minnesota v. Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, 119 S.Ct. 1187 (1999); United States v. State of Michigan, 471 F. Supp. 192 (W.D. Mich. 1979); United States v. State of Michigan, 520 F. Supp. 207 (W.D. Mich. 1981); People of the State of Michigan v. Jondreau, 384 Mich. 539, 185 N.W. 2d 375 (Mich. 1971); State of Wisconsin v. Gurnoe, 53 Wis. 2d 390, 192 N.W. 2d 892 (Wis. 1972). • Snyder Act, 25 U.S.C. s. 13. • Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, (P.L. 93-638), 25 U.S.C. ss. 450f and 450h. • WaterInfrastructureImprovementsfortheNationAct,Pub.L.114-322(authorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative).


It was a full day “high-level meeting” dedicated to addressing this global health threat. This was only the fourth time a health issue has been discussed by the UN General Assembly (HIV, noncommunicable diseases and Ebola being the others).
Just before world leaders convened for the meeting, all 193 member states agreed in a declaration signed on Wednesday to combat the proliferation of antibiotic resistance.
Leaders highlighted market failures, and called for new incentives for investment in research and development of new, effective and affordable medicines, rapid diagnostic tests, and other important therapies to replace those that are losing their power. They pledged to nurture innovative approaches using new technologies for diagnosis.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, antimicrobial resistance poses “a fundamental, long-term threat to human health, sustainable food production and development. It is not that it may happen in the future. It is a very present reality – in all parts of the world, in developing and developed countries; in rural and urban areas; in hospitals; on farms and in communities,”
The World Health Organization Director-General, Margaret Chan, said on Wednesday that it was imperative for consumers and medical providers to rely less on antibiotics for disease treatment.
“On current trends, a common disease like gonorrhea may become untreatable,” Chan said. “Doctors facing patients will have to say, ‘I’m sorry - there’s nothing I can do for you.’”
World leaders stressed that affordability and access to existing and new antibiotics, vaccines and other medical tools should be a global priority and should take into account the needs of all countries.
Countries reaffirmed their commitment to develop national action plans on AMR, based on the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance [pdf 236KB] — the blueprint for tackling AMR, developed in 2015 by WHO. A key objective of this plan is to integrate rapid diagnostic tools into clinical, pharmacy and veterinary practices in order to guide optimal use of antibiotics.
Leaders at the UN meeting called on WHO, FAO and OIE, in collaboration with development banks such the World Bank other relevant stakeholders, to coordinate their planning and actions and to report back to the UN General Assembly in September 2018.
To learn more about the meeting, visit: http://www.who.int/antimicrobial-resistance/events/UNGA-meeting-amr-sept2016/en/
Meeting information: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55011#.V-pP4U1TGUl


Trees, shrubs, and other plant life are the tools that homeowners use to make sure their yard has a different personality than the ones on either side of it. No one wants to have a cookie-cutter yard just like no one wants to live in a cookie-cutter house.
As a place where you spend a good portion of your life, it’s likely that you want your yard to reflect the uniqueness of your family and the things you like to do together. Anyone can plant a tree, shrub, or flower bulb, but not everyone is equipped to deal with the health and wellness issues that may threaten them.
Keep reading for a brief introduction to some of the most common tree health and wellness issues we’ve seen in Ashburn, as well as reasons you should always turn to Growing Earth Tree Care for help!
Which Conditions Give Rise To Disease?
Like humans, there are a variety of different reasons that trees get “sick.” We understand that exposure to germs, a weakened immune system, or chronic injury leaves us open to falling ill, and the same is true of plants as well. Conditions that can combine to give rise to tree disease include geographical location, weather, soil conditions, and the overall health of the tree and other plant life surrounding it. Because of the wide variety of things that can cause tree health and wellness issues, preventing them can be difficult. That’s why tree service companies learn how to diagnosis diseases early on, and assemble a plan for effective treatment.
Common Tree Diseases To Watch For
As mentioned above, tree disease risk factors vary depending on the region of the country in which you live. However, there are some common tree diseases that can be found from coast to coast. These include:
- Look For: A blister or canker sore on the tree’s bark.
- At-Risk Trees: Pine, poplar, spruce, and willows
- Cause: An open wound on the tree that becomes infected with certain bacteria or fungus
Heart Rot Disease
- Look For: Conk or mushroom bodies growing out of the tree.
- At-Risk Trees: Beech, birch, cedar, dogwood, and maple trees
- Cause: Certain species of fungus that grow in an open trunk wound or on bare wood
Powdery Mildew Disease
- Look For: A white or gray substance on tree leaves that looks like baby powder but won’t brush off easily
- At-Risk Trees: Catalpa, chokeberry, crabapple, and linden trees
- Cause: An infestation of Erysiphale fungi
Root and Butt Rot Disease
- Look For: A black, leathery fungus growing on the tree’s trunk and branching upward. May also be accompanied by mushrooms at the base of the tree.
- At-Risk Trees: Any type of tree can fall victim to root and butt rot disease, especially stressed hardwoods.
- Cause: Certain types of viruses and fungus
Sooty Mold Disease
- Look For: A black, powdery coating on tree leaves and surrounding soil
- At-Risk Trees: Boxelder, elm, linden, and maple trees (or any tree that’s host to a feeding insect population)
- Cause: A fungus that feeds on “honeydew” left behind by aphids and other insects
Our Tree Health & Wellness Experts Can Help!
If you suspect that these or any other diseases are harming your trees, contract Growing Earth Tree Care in Ashburn today. Our experts can diagnose your trees and devise a plan to save them!


Definition of Interworking. Meaning of Interworking. Synonyms of Interworking
Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word Interworking.
Also in the bottom left of the page several parts of wikipedia pages related to the word Interworking and, of course, Interworking synonyms and on the right images related to the word Interworking.
Definition of Interworking
Interworking In`ter*work"ing, n.
The act of working in together; interweaving. --Milton.
Meaning of Interworking from wikipedia
- The Session Initiation Protocol
(SIP) is a signaling protocol
used for initiating, maintaining, and terminating communication sessions
can be classified based
on the minimum needed level
of network interworking
standardization, research communities
have been exploring
- The GSM Interworking
Profile, usually abbreviated
to GIP and sometimes
to IWP, is a profile
for DECT that allows
a DECT base station
to form part of a...
- Frame Relay
circuit. Some features
with ATM are also supported. Ipipes: Provides
IP interworking capabilities between different Layer
and tight interaction
is possible. This is implemented
via interworking models
with standardised datapoint types
and objects, modelling
- (RAP) – ETSI ETS 300 765 Interworking profiles
(IWP) DECT/ISDN Interworking Profile
(IIP) – ETSI EN 300 434 DECT/GSM Interworking Profile
(GIP) – ETSI EN...
- GSM world
is interconnected: each operator
has a need to establish
with all other mobile
SMS can only...
- altercation between
and the First
with Audio-Animatronics, practical
- uses multiple parts
of the IEEE 802 protocol family
and is designed
to interwork seamlessly
with its wired
sibling, Ethernet. Compatible devices
- elements. The term is also used for a set of yarns established before
of weft yarns
by some other
method, such as finger
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Related images to Interworking


Lean, green homework machine
How to give your child’s study space an eco-makeover
Jonathan and Drew Scott of W Network’s The Property Brothers offer some pointers on how to transform your child’s room into an eco-friendly haven where (and here’s the twist) he or she will actually want to study.
What should parents look for when purchasing paint or wallpaper?
First, get your kids involved so they’ll identify with the study area as their own and want to spend time there. They’ll appreciate a cheerful splash of their favourite colours or patterns (don’t overdo it — they need to concentrate!). If you want wallpaper, look for the newer self-adhesive kind, which is much easier to put up (and remove). Other options include paint stencils, wall decals and fabric panels. And consider using blackboard paint on a section of wall — it now comes in various colours and gives kids a surface for learning or doodling. Try to use paint with low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which keeps harmful chemicals out of the environment (and your lungs).
In terms of flooring, why is it better to use bamboo over hardwood? Are there any other green alternatives?
Fast-growing bamboo is tough and good-looking. But we also like engineered wood flooring, which saves trees by using wood veneer. Today it looks as good and wears as well as hardwood flooring (we favour the hand-scraped version — the contoured surface hides many scratches and scuffs). The best laminate flooring costs less, lasts even longer and is relatively easy to install or replace.
What energy-efficient light bulbs would you recommend? What about light fixtures and other such appliances — any tips?
Study areas need good task lighting as well as good ambient light. You want to avoid both eyestraining dimness and harsh, glaring light. There are many good-looking, affordable desk lamps now. Check the desk or study area at a kid’s-eye level to make sure the light is adequate and balanced. We prefer energyefficient compact fluorescent or LED bulbs, which are much improved over early versions. They use considerably less energy and last much longer than standard incandescents, resulting in savings that justify their higher (but dropping) prices. It’s also nice to have a fun, stylish floor lamp by a lounge chair to create a more casual reading corner. This gives kids the option of different working styles so that things don’t get too monotonous.
What about fun, eco-friendly suggestions for organizing a child’s schedule?
A corkboard is a classic way for kids to organize and display the cool stuff they bring home. We like this because it leaves it up to the kids to create their own form of organization without imposing any “colour within the lines” rules.
Any tips for those who are looking to try and cut down on their utility bill?
Programmable thermostats are now standard. They allow you to set different temperatures for different times, so you don’t have to remember to reduce the heat (or air conditioning) for nighttime savings. The newest ones, like the Nest thermostat, link to your home network so it can be monitored and controlled from your smartphone, at home or away.
Remember: fall is the time to put away summer recreation gear and clothes. For dorm rooms and home bedrooms, we like storage benches and containers that fit under the bed as well as multipurpose furniture such as coffee tables that have built in shelving. Be sure to keep the clutter at bay and add some life with an easy to maintain plant. Happy studying!
To get best results, make use of items that inspire kids to keep working hard


Blues is a musical genre that originated in the south by African Americans at the end of the 19th century. It was heavily influenced by work songs, field hollers, spirituals, etc. After slavery African Americans used the Blues to express all the pain and troubles they went through during slavery. As the genre became more popular people started to sing about anything such as love and life.
A lot of primary instruments that are used are the piano, guitar, harmonica, bass, and drums. Blues was a way for performers to express themselves through song or tell a story whether it is good, bad, happy, or sad. Blues was very expressive and simple. Blues has a call and response style to it also. It tells a “loose narrative” of African Americans. Blues music is made of twelve bars using four counts.
As Blues music became popular black men could not perform as themselves. They would basically have to dress up and make a fool of themselves. White people would take Blues music as their own and would not give credit to blacks. The genre became a driving force during the Civil Rights Movement.
W. C. Handy
Whites Americans started to take interest in Blues and sponsoring Blues performers and tours. Performers would do shows and and go on tours which made lots of money. W.C. Handy was a musician and composer. He named himself the “Father of Blues.” His song “Memphis Blues” was very popular and he sold his sheet music for $100. Sheet music was sold at first then musical recordings started being made by women. Which started the selling of blues records.
Influences of Future Genres
Blues music comes from Ragtime it is just slowed down with more instruments. The genre had become so popular it started to influence genres such as Jazz, Rock & Roll, and R&B with its melodic feel and harmonies. It has affected these genres in major ways because you can still hear Blues in these genre to this day.
Blues is a great genre to listen to. You can really hear the soul that performers put into their music. Performers were very creative because they would make music about anything and use anything as an instrument. This genre has come so far over time. The genre has turned its hard times into something extraordinary.


Radioecological modeling: introduction and research goals
An essential aim of the research project was the development of a dynamic radioecological model, which describes the time course of the contamination of roe deer, red deer and wild boar and which forecasts the future time course. The model should consider the dynamical processes of 137Cs in the soil, in plants and mushrooms and the food ingestion by the game.
Radioecological models, which describe the processes of 137Cs in forest ecosystems mathematically, have already been developed before the Chernobyl accident.
OLSON (1965) has set up a system of equations to describe the transfer of 137Cs in different compartments of poplars in a test area, on which radio-cesium has been placed intentionally. Other models have
been created to describe the radioactive contamination in oak forests caused by the global fallout (CROOM and RAGSDALE, 1980) and to describe the consequences of an accident in Kyshtym 1957 in the Ural Mountains
(PROHOROV and GINZBURG, 1973).
Due to the radioecological importance of the Chernobyl fallout and basing on extensive data material the behavior of radio-cesium has been modeled for undisturbed
ecosystems, particularly for forest ecosystems in the framework of different international research projects from 1996 to 2002 (e.g. BELLI, 2002). An overview of the different models is given in IAEA (2000).
In radioecological models, forest ecosystems are in general subdivided into different subsystems (compartments) with equal functionality, e.g. trees or animals. The
compartments itself are subdivided into components (e.g. species). In these models 137Cs can be exchanged between the compartments and components (â€śfluxesâ€ť).
The Forest Working Group of IAEA (2002) concluded, that with regard to the long-term prognosis of the 137Cs activity for biological endpoints, such as
mushrooms, berries and game the hitherto existing models led to very different results. Game was included only in few models. The seasonal course of 137Cs for roe deer has been described in models by
AVILA (1998) and by ZIBOLD et al. (2001). In both models the increase of the 137Cs activity is explained by ingestion of mushrooms.
Figure 4 shows schematically the radioecological model, which has been developed in the present project. It bases on the model ECOSYS-87 of the GSF-National Research
Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg (MĂśLLER and PRĂ–HL, 1993). An essential feature of ECOSYS-87 is the comprehensive treatment of the radioactive contamination in the early phase after a deposition of
radionuclides. It thus became part of decision support systems for nuclear emergencies, for example in the European decision support system RODOS (EHRHARDT, 2000).
Fig. 4: Scheme of the transfer of radionuclides in the radioecological model for game
However, since in the present research project the long-term effects of the Chernobyl accident had
to be investigated, a modeling of processes, which are important only in the first weeks or months after the deposition of 137Cs, was not carried out. The model puts emphasis on the description of
long-term processes, which affect plants and animals in forests and other undisturbed ecosystems. It contains a detailed description of the dynamics of 137Cs in the compartments soil
and plants and a modeling of the qualitative and quantitative ingestion habits of roe deer, red deer and wild boar. The fluxes between the compartments are described by differential equations,
mainly in the soil model.
Avila R.; 1998: Radiocaesium transfer to roe deer and moose. Acta Universitatis Aggriculturae Sueciae, Agraria 136. Diss..
Belli M., Zori P.; 2001: Assessment of uncertainty associated with soil sampling in agricultural,
semi-natural, urban and contaminated einvironments. In: IUR Newsletter Nr. 37. International Union of Radioecology.
Croom J. M.; Ragsdale H. L.; 1980: A model of radiocaesium cycling in a sand hills-turkey oak ecosystem. Ecological Modelling. 11: 55-65.
Ehrhardt J.; 2000: RODOS â€“ Decision Support System for Off-site Emergency Management in
Europe. European Commission, EUR-Report 19144 EN.
IAEA-BIOMASS-1; 2002: Modelling the migration and accumulation of radionuclides in forest
ecosystems. Report of the forest working group of the BIOsphe Modelling and ASSessment (BIOMASS) programm, theme 3.
MĂĽller H. and PrĂ¶hl, G.; 1993: ECOSYS-87: A Dynamic Model for Assessing Radio-logical Consequences of Nuclear Accidents. Health Physics. 64
Olson J.S.; 1965: Equations for Cesium Transfer in a Liriodendron Forest. Health Physics. 11 (12):1385-1392.
Prokhorov V. M.; Ginzburg L. R.; 1973: Modelling the process of migration of radionuclides in forest
ecosystem and description of the model. Soviet. J. Ecology. 2: 396-402.
Zibold G., Drissner J., Kaminski S., Klemt E., Miller R.; 2001: Time-dependence of the radiocaesium
contamination of roe deer: measurement and modelling. J. Environ. Radioact. 55 (1):5-27.
This research was conducted with funds of the
Federal Ministry for Environmental, Nature Protection and Reactor Safety.
This report reflects the views and opinions of the contractor and need not necessarily correspond to those of the sponsor.
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Do genetically engineered crops and their pesticides make you think of the term “biofortified”? Chances are, the term biofortified makes you think of vitamins in kids’ cereals.
Mega corporations are no strangers to propaganda and public relations. Did you know that much of our non-organic crops are grown with human sewage sludge? No?
That’s because the practice is called “biosolids” to keep you in the dark. You are probably aware of the sneaky disguises that sweeteners like aspartame and high fructose corn syrup were attempted to be concealed in (“Corn sugar,” anyone?).
There are no power grabs out of reach for Monsanto – they are now attempting the most ridiculous propaganda scheme of all. They are attempting to manipulate definitions under Codex Alimentarius that would allow GMOs to fall under the classification of “biofortified” foods.
Codex is a collection of guidelines, codes and other recommendations relating to foods, food production, and food safety – that were created under the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
If you are thinking this is arbitrary and wondering why our country should pay any attention to such guidelines, you are heading in the right direction… In the late 1990s, consumers feared that their vitamins and supplements would move to prescription-only under Codex guidelines.
According to National Health Federation (The NHF is the only natural health advocate that gets a seat at Codex, by the way!):
It all started out innocently enough several Codex Nutrition committee meetings ago when an international nongovernmental organization (INGO) named the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) (and sponsored by Harvest Plus) had one of its country contacts introduce a proposed new work at Codex. (Only member countries may introduce new work at Codex, not INGOs.)
Harvest Plus’ method of increasing certain vitamin and mineral content of basic food crops consists of the time-honored, conventional way of cross-breeding, not genetic engineering. Harvest Plus, for example, will increase the vitamin or iron content of sweet potatoes so that malnourished populations in developing nations will receive better nutrition.
The new work at the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) was simple: Craft a definition for Biofortification.
That definition could then be used uniformly around the World to apply to those foods conventionally fortified with higher levels of nutrients and everyone would be on the same page whenever the term “biofortified” was used. Indeed, the National Health Federation (NHF) was an early supporter at Codex of this definition.
Poisoned in the Womb
This year’s CCNFSDU meeting – hosted by the German Health Ministry in Berlin, Germany the first full week of December 2017 – witnessed a lively debate about not only how to define Biofortification but also whether or not the very word “Biofortification” should be used at all. However, this was not the beginning of the debate. The NHF had two delegates there.
At the 2016 CCNFSDU meeting, the Chairwoman Pia Noble (married to a former Bayer executive) had started off the Biofortification-definition discussion by giving her incorrect personal opinion that the definition should be as broad as possible and that recombinant technology should be included.
Her statement, though, directly contradicted Australia’s admission at the 2015 meeting that if the Committee were to refer to the original 2012 document on the scope of Biofortification, we would see that Biofortification only refers to conventional breeding and so we should clearly exclude GM techniques. At last year’s CCNFSDU meeting, however, Australia was silent on the issue.
In other words, the original mandate for creating the Biofortification definition was that it was to be defined as a process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through conventional plant breeding with the aim of making the nutrients bioavailable after digestion.
Not surprisingly, though, soon enough, the Monsanto minions got their grubby little hands on the definition through influence peddling with Codex delegates and the Chairwoman, and the definition began changing into one that would include genetically modified “biofortified” foods.
So, the battle is on at Codex as to whether or not GM foods will be included within the definition of Biofortification. I am sure that Monsanto would be thrilled to be able to market its synthetic products under a name that began with the word “Bio.”
As of 2017, the definition of “biofortification” – including GMOs – under Codex has morphed into:
…the process whereby any nutrients or related substances of all potential source organisms (e.g. animal, plant, fungi, yeasts, bacteria)of]/[and] foods are increased by a measurable level [and/or] become more bioavailable for the intended purposes. The process applies to any method of production [and excludes conventional fortification].” [footnotes excluded]
Not only is the term “biofortified” for GMO foods confusing here in the U.S., but in European countries the prefix, bio, is used to denote “organic.”
NHF took opposition with the term biofortified falling under these vague parts of the definition:
- ‘all potential source organisms’
- ‘The process applies to any method of production’ and
- Footnote 4 (‘Method of production should be determined by National/regional authority’)
Dr. Noble retired, so hopefully her “heavy-handed” and crafty tactics of dictating the meeting to get the term biofortification to apply to GMOs will have left with her.
According to NHF,
Monsanto’s attempt was recognized by many delegates for what it was and denounced in the meeting.
The fight, however, will carry over to next year’s meeting to be held in Berlin in November 2018. And that meeting will be chaired by the Committee’s new chairwoman, Ms. Marie-Luise Trebes.
As always, Big Biotech will be back to try again.


Software: ArcGIS Desktop
Problem: Broken links
Often you may need to repair data sources and broken links in your MXDs. The idea of fixing this problem manually can be tedious, particularly when having data from multiple sources. ArcMap has an ability to store the pathname to the data within the map document (MXD) so when you reopen your map document, ArcMap locates the data using these stored pathnames. By default, ArcMap references the data source using absolute file or full paths. A full path begins with a drive letter followed by a colon, such as D: An example of an absolute full path is: Y:\GIS\data\DB\Provinces.shp.
The problem with absolute paths is when you share or move the MXDS, everyone who uses the map must have the data on their computer exactly the same folder structure. If not you are likely to get the following error
ArcMap provides an option to set Data sources in case the links are broken, you can manually reset the paths to your data.
The best practice, however, is to store relative paths to a current directory in your ArcMap. Relative paths make use of two special symbols, a dot (.) and a double-dot (..), which translate into the current directory and the parent directory. Where your pathnames would be saved as: ..\GIS\data\DB\Provinces.shp.
This option points ArcMap to the location of the data contained in the map relative to the current location on disk of the map document itself. This also allows you to easily move the map and its data to a different hard drive on your computer, or give the map and its data to another person to copy onto their computer without having to change the file paths.
Here is how to save your MXD with relative paths:
- Open ArcMap
- Open you MXD
- Click on the File menu.
- Select the Map Properties option.
- Click on the Data Source Option button.
- Change the radio button to “Store relative path names”.
- Click OK.
- Click OK Customise Menu and select ArcMap Options.
- Check the Make relative paths the default for new map documents radio button.
Note: To benefit from relative paths, you have to move the MXD and its data. Therefore, if you copy its parent folder with the MXD, its data and any the sub-folders, your data sources will be maintained. Now you don’t need to do the exercise of going to the file menu and changing the Map Document Properties. All new MXDs will be set to relative paths. Note that existing ones will still need to be changed in the Map Document Properties.


October 2, 2020 | Taylor Sidak
Today Mrs. Thompson’s grade 1-2 class headed into the school field to learn all about Bats! We focused first on categorizing a bat- do you think a bat is more closely related to a mouse or a bird? Turns out bats are more related to humans than other animals! The students tried to flap their bat wings as fast as they could but sadly no one took flight. We ended the lesson learning how bats use echolocation and their sense of smell to maneuver about. The students then were challenged with a hide and seek game as mother bats searched for their babies via sound.


Equine-assisted psychotherapy involves clients in roles with horses where the clients take responsibility for leadership, develop teamwork relationships, and acquire confidence. According EAGALA, this “is a powerful and effective therapeutic approach that has an incredible impact on individuals, youth, families, and groups.” It addresses mental health and human development needs including “behavioral issues, attention deficit disorder, PTSD, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, relationship problems and communication needs.”
The therapy is grounded on a number of theoretical practices: person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, behavioral, Adlerian, psychoanalytic, Gestalt, existential, reality, and solution-focused counseling, for example.
The attachment that develops between horses and humans is largely a result of their natural ability to mirror our emotions and the power of horses to influence people.
However it has evolved, “the remarkable elements of the horse,” according to psychologist Jane Karol, author of an article on the application of individual psychotherapy modes to equine-assisted psychotherapy, the “—power, grace, vulnerability, and a willingness to bear another—combine to form a fertile stage for psychotherapeutic exploration.” The method “relies not only on the therapeutic relationship with the clinician, but is also fueled by the client’s compelling attachment to the therapeutic horse. As both of these relationships progress, the [client’s] inner world and interpersonal style come to the forefront and . . . allows the clinician to explore [his or her] intrapersonal and interpersonal worlds on preverbal, nonverbal and verbal levels of experience.”
According to its website, EAGALA believes that equine-assisted psychotherapy "Fosters emotional learning and growth . . . . Horses do not judge, harbor resentments, or have biases. They do not ask what one did in the past, whether the person was addicted to drugs or alcohol, or spent time in prison. Equine emotions are decodable even to the novice, allowing people to interpret the horse’s meaning in relation to their mutual interactions. Horses demand transparency; that is, the relationship cannot be faked. Because of the relationship that develops with these animals, people feel understood, as if the horse understands the depth of one’s pain and confusion. Moreover, having the horses follow directions becomes a way of 'realizing' that the individual does have some control over his or her environment."
Karol, Jane. "Applying a Traditional Individual Psychotherapy Model to Equine-facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP): Theory and Method" Clinical Childhood Psychology and Psychiatry, 2007.