By Jayaram V
Summary: This essay is about what makes
good leaders, and seven important abilities or qualities which
lead to excellence in leadership
Leadership calls for courage, determination and an adaptive mindset.
Leaders require strength, grit and humility to persevere, inspire
and lead others. More often, they have to lead themselves and others
on perilous paths and through uncharted territories to accomplish
their goals. Biologically, leadership is an offshoot of the natural
instinct, which is common to both humans and animals, to improves
their chances of survival. Animals also choose their leaders. Human
beings follow a similar, but more complicated process.
Leaders are all not alike. There are personality issues and cultural,
social and other factors which influence their leadership styles,
character and behavior. However, no leader is born, but made by
circumstances and self-effort. What distinguishes true leaders?
What puts them in a separate category as examples of excellence
in leadership? How do they succeed in leading people to achieve
common goals or realize an inspired or impossible vision? Leadership
is required in all fields and in all aspects of life.
Leadership is more a function than a status symbol or a position
of authority. Everyone performs leadership functions as a part of
oneï¿½s survival and success, although many may not be even aware
of it. It also becomes a necessity for many people in challenging
times to overcome their hardships and realize their goals and dreams.
What qualities do they possess, which make them extraordinary and
exceptional? In order to be a great leader, certain qualities are
very necessary. The following are a few important ones.
1. Clear vision
Good leaders are driven by a clear vision. They know what they
want to achieve, where they want to go and by what means. They are
driven by clear purpose and mission. Because of that, they are able
to formulate right goals and right strategies and gather right resources
to fulfill their mission. Most people are driven by desires, goals,
plans and even fears, but leaders are clearly driven by a defining
and purposeful vision.
to take risks
True leaders do not hesitate to take risks or go where no one
has gone before. They are good decision makers who possess strength
and courage to risks and explore various alternatives to accomplish
their tasks. Most of them are also heralders of change and practice
transformative leadership, which often require great sacrifices
from them and the prospects of failure, difficulties and strong
opposition from those who resist change.
True leaders are purpose driven. They remain focused upon their
mission until they achieve it. They are committed and determined
and persevere in their effort, going the extra mile, anticipating
problems, preparing for contingencies, learning from failures and
setbacks, adapting to situations and forging strong relationships
and alliances whenever necessary. Their determination is a source
of strength and inspiration to others.
4. Help others
Good leaders know that leadership is not a status symbol or a
means only to gain personal power, wealth or dominance over others,
but a great obligation to lead others in the right direction and
accomplish the tasks for which it is meant. Therefore, they possess
a caring and nurturing attitude, treating others with respect and
consideration, and helping them wherever possible, sometime at the
expense of their own interests.
5. Take responsibility
Good leaders are not afraid to account for their actions or accept
blame for them if necessary. They do not find scapegoats, avoid
criticism or delegate their basic duties to others so that they
can shift the blame. They are always willing to assume responsibility
for the actions and the actions of those who act in good trust according
to their instructions or guidance. When things go wrong, they may
seek forgiveness, but do not evade accountability or consequences.
Leadership requires a special mindset, purpose driven attitude
and inspiring personality. Good leaders lead by personal example.
They possess pleasing personalities and know how to exert personal
influence over their people, by appealing to their positive emotions
and lead them in the desired direction. They also possess an understanding
of human psychology. Hence, they make good use of their interpersonal
skills, and emotional and social intelligence. They also know how
to resolve conflicts and differences of opinion among their followers
and build their unity and morale.
Leaders are human beings with the usual flaws and drawbacks.
We have many leaders in various fields who are essentially psychopaths.
They do succeed in the careers and professions, but the people who
work for them or deal with them know who they are and the problems
they create. Despite these instances, character and integrity are
still important in leadership and those who possess them are remembered
better than those who lack them. True leaders abide in good principles
and stick with them despite the problems they face from those who
Everyone is a leader in some way. In your normal and routine
life, you perform many leadership functions, when you help others,
guide them or lead them to achieve common goals or goals that are
imperative to your success and wellbeing. Being a good leader requires
effort, discipline and vision. By knowing what distinguishes true
leaders, you can learn from them and improve your leadership qualities.
Jayaram V is Founder President of Hinduwebsite.com and author
of 14 books including Think Success and Being the Best. For
more information about Jayaram and his works, you may
visit the author's website.


(a) Identification. A tympanostomy tube with a semipermeable membrane is a device intended to be implanted for ventilation or drainage of the middle ear and for preventing fluids from entering the middle ear cavity. The device is inserted through the tympanic membrane to permit a free exchange of air between the outer ear and middle ear. The tube portion of the device is made of silicone elastomer or porous polyethylene, and the membrane portion is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.
(b) Classification. Class II. The special control for this device is FDA's "Tympanostomy Tubes, Submission Guidance for a 510(k)."
[51 FR 40389, Nov. 6, 1986, as amended at 65 FR 17145, Mar. 31, 2000]


This will be my last post in this little series about school skills for babies and toddlers. Social and emotional skills often get overlooked when people are thinking about what it takes for kids to be successful in school. As a former classroom teacher, however, I can assure you that these are some of the most important skills a child needs to develop in order to thrive (both in school and in the larger society that awaits them after graduation). Being able to cooperate, work with others, obey an authority figure, and follow the rules (at least most of the time) will go a long way in getting your child through school in one happy piece.
People are social creatures. And, since babies are just little people, they are born as social creatures. Children need to learn how to get along with others from a young age because, let’s face it, they’ll never be alone. There will be many situations that your child will be in where they will need to use good social skills: sharing with a sibling, playing with a friend, or completing a project with a school mate. Here are a few things you can start doing with your budding socialite now!
- Socializing baby- Introduce your baby to others and include him in your conversations. Baby will feel included and start to learn how to behave in social situations.
- Practice playing with others- Young children don’t really play together, and they are psychologically not yet able to share. So don’t put that expectation on them. What you can do, however, is give them opportunities to practice playing (some day they will actually care that there’s another child there who wants to play with them). Have play dates with other kids who are about the same age (for young children, keep play dates small—1 or 2 friends at a time–so they don’t get overwhelmed) and let them each do their own thing while occupying the same space. If nothing else, they’ll learn that the world does not solely consist of them nor does it solely exist for them.
- Solving Problems- Your toddler will throw a tantrum (“But MOM, I wanted to cut the dog’s hair with those scissors! How DARE you take them away!”). If your toddler is like mine, he will throw a tantrum every 15 minutes or so. This is good–it gives us lots of opportunities to practice problem solving. After he calms down from the tantrum, have him help you solve the problem (“Sorry, scissors are for grown ups. Let’s get a brush for the dog instead. Would you like to help brush her fur?”). Get those problem solving skills down solid now–you don’t want to get “that call” from your kid’s principal about the fist fight on the playground!
- Obeying- Learning to obey authority figures (you, Grandpa, a preschool teacher) is an absolute necessity. Sometimes when I find David is not obeying particularly well we’ll sing a little song: (to the tune of “Farmer and the Dell”) “O is for obey. O is for obey. Obey is doing what you’re asked, right away.” It’s a little cue for him to listen up and obey (and he knows by now that discipline is coming next if he doesn’t). When I start singing he usually will stop what he’s doing and sing with me–a good sag-way into diverting his attention to some other activity, thus forgetting about the need to disobey in the previous activity.
- Following Directions- This goes along with obeying. Play “Simon Says”, “Red Light, Green Light” or “Mother May I?” to practice. Cook together and follow the directions in the recipe. Tell your baby how you are following directions: “When I’m driving I put on my seat belt and always drive the speed limit because that’s the law.” (You’re welcome, officer.)
- Teach them how to use manners: Say please, thank you, excuse me, and sorry. Even babies can learn how to say these words with sign language. As soon as your little one starts doing “bad things” on purpose, have them apologize. Then, say “I forgive you” and move on. As the parent, you can also demonstrate apologizing to your little one when YOU’VE done a “bad thing” (“I’m sorry I yelled. Sometimes Mommy gets frustrated when you don’t obey. Will you forgive me?”). If your child has wronged another, have them apologize to them (I even make David apologize to the baby. He’ll give Jacob a hug and a kiss, and then Jacob usually tries to eat his face. I love it!).
- Role Playing Social Situations- Does your child get nervous every time they meet a new person? Does he like to hit to get what he wants? Does she scream to get your attention? Whatever your kid does that drives you nuts, practice it. Do a role reversal and pretend that you’re the kid and he’s the daddy–and throw a little temper tantrum for him (he’ll LOVE this!). Then show him the right way to get dad’s attention. Switch roles, and let him show you how to do things right and wrong. Or, before you go out for a play date, “play” play date at home. Practice how you might say hello to your friend, how you will ask to play with a toy, how you will help clean up, etc.
- Have them help- Even toddlers can help with simple chores like putting away their toys, sorting laundry, and washing things (this is David’s favorite job! I give him a damp paper towel and he’ll spend the better part of an hour cleaning my cupboards, the walls, the floor, his toys. It’s fantastic.). This gives kids a sense of ownership and shows them that they can (and should) contribute.
- Acknowledge and name emotions- Tell your child what the emotions are that they are feeling in a given situation. When your child is kicking and screaming because you have to leave the park, tell him that you know he’s frustrated by leaving something he enjoys. When your baby is giggling at your silly faces, tell her that you enjoy making her happy. Let your little ones know that it’s okay to feel _____ (mad, sad, shy, etc.).
- Sing a song-We sing our own version of “If You’re Happy and you Know It” using lots of different emotions. Each verse has an emotion and an action (or a face) that goes with that emotion: If you’re happy and you know it, then you smile; If you’re sad and you know it, cry big tears; If you’re mad and you know it, make a frown; If you’re excited and you know it, jump up and down; If you’re scared and you know it, hide your eyes….and on and on until I can’t think of anything else to sing about.
- Showing empathy-Help your child to notice how others are feeling: “Your brother is crying. He’s sad right now, but he’ll feel better soon. Let’s give him a hug to help him cheer up.”
- Find emotions in books- Most children’s books have characters who express pretty obvious emotions. As you’re reading, ask your child (or tell your baby) how the puppy or the princess or the dinosaur is feeling right now.
So, that’s it! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my little series on school skills this week as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. You’re well on your way to having one savvy little student! Feel free to leave a comment with ways that you like to incorporate learning into your days–I’d love to get some new ideas!


Forensic services conduct studies that play an important role in crime investigation, anti-terrorism, disaster victim identification, filiation studies (paternity, illegal adoption, burial pits, etc.). The continued exchange of information on forensic evidence between countries highlights the need to establish common standards for providers of these services. International and European forensic organisations are committed to the accreditation of these activities, which are pivotal in the fight against crime.
- Support in the identification of persons: DNA profiling analysis, study and comparison of fingerprints or palmprints, study and comparison of facial images, voice identification.
- Drug testing: Both in biological fluids (blood, saliva, etc.) and in materials from caches, or ethyl alcohol in blood.
- Study of forensic elements: Graphistics, documentoscopy, identification of fire accelerants, gunshot residue, ballistics, shoe prints, etc.
- Crime scene investigation: Technical ocular inspections for crime investigation. These inspections are performed for the recognition, registration, collection and transportation of crime-scene evidence for further forensic analysis in laboratories.


Rice plate or chicken biryani? Vanilla flavour or butterscotch with crispies? The attractive dumb girlfriend or the brainy plane Jane? Jogging or going to the gym? Professional degree or work experience? Job or business? Fresh blood or grey hair? Stock market or fixed deposits? Your happiness or parents’? Personal life over professional or vice versa?
Life is full of choices that require us to make decisions. Some decisions are minor like the shoe or clothes you want to buy which can be easily exchanged later. Others can be life-altering decisions like the person you decide to marry or the house you invest in.
A decision is simply the choice we make. In fact, our life is shaped by a series of decisions we make in different situations. Our perception of ourselves and the world plays a very important role in the kind of decisions we make. Whether you choose to feel elated in adversity or be miserable amidst abundance is a personal choice you make. The decisions that you make with confidence are more likely to work out in your favour than the ones made in self-doubt.
Decision making can be a simple process once we understand how to go about it. We can add or remove the following components depending on the simplicity or the complexity of the decision you need to take.
Data: The first important thing to do when we face a decision making situation is to gather information. Ask questions till you get to the root of the problem. Understand trends and extrapolate from data available to understand the situation better. If there are any gaps, research a bit and fill them to complete the picture. Many times, data is the sole basis on which decisions are made. For instance, scientific research or sociological surveys about population.
Intuition: This is a valuable part of every decision making process. Gut feel that something will work despite the odds against it can defeat neatly arranged information. Malcolm Gladwell, in his best-seller, Blink, talks about ‘thin-slicing’. Malcolm cites examples from diverse fields to show how the human mind can make decisions based on a thin slice of information that the subconscious mind processes even before the conscious mind can realise. For instance, taking on a fresher for a responsible job instead of an experienced person because of a hunch.
Analysis: Weigh the alternatives. Be an optimist and look at the positive consequences of your options. Also be a pessimist and consider all that can go wrong with your choices. Having a balanced view of the pros and cons of the possible outcomes will help reach a logical decision ensuring lesser errors.
Creativity: Our creativity can bring in a lot more options than are obvious at first. So, think of more possible creative solutions that you can develop for the problem. Thinking out of the box can be refreshing to our thought process.
Resources: It is very important to consider the resources available to follow on the decision made. You can think out of the box and generate unique ideas, but if they can’t be put to practise due to lack of skills or support, the exercise is futile. Resources can be individual skill or sufficient funds to take up a project.
Involvement: Seek help of others who might be able to add value to your decision making. It can be members of your team in the office or your family at home or your friends. They can help by providing more useful data or can add fresh perspective to the situation. A bit of objectivity can be good to truly evaluate the worth of your decisions.
Risks: Be prepared to take on challenges even if they involve risks as long as the facts are right and our intuition goes along. Warren Buffet wouldn’t have been the richest investor if he aimed at making every decision risk-proof. His decisions are based on his sound knowledge of the markets and the well-founded experience. Risks cannot be wished away but contingency plans can be made to deal with them. The ratio of risk you take should be proportional to the gain you expect from it.
Commitment: Once you analyse the facts thoroughly and make a decision, stay committed to it. Changing the decision often robs the whole process of its seriousness. Remember not to get carried away by all the opinions that come to you in the process. You need to keep your head above all that and trust your judgement alone.
How to make your final decision?
Now that you know points to consider to make decisions, lets now look at a few techniques by which you can bring your thoughts together. There are numerous tools and methods available to help you arrive at your decision. A few easy ones are discussed here:
Pros and Cons chart: The simplest way to analyse data by looking at the pros and cons of options available. Pull out a sheet of paper and make 2 columns on it. On one side, write down the positive outcomes of the decision and on the other side the negative outcomes. We can also give a rating on a scale of 1 to 10 for each factor and the total score will give a more accurate picture.
Brainstorming: The most effective technique for ideas to emerge freely. It could be individual brainstorming or group brainstorming. As an individual, sit down in a quiet place and jot down all the ideas that come to your mind about your situation. Writing makes your thoughts concrete and you can always come back after analysis and cancel out the options that don’t work. There are no right or wrong options and at this point and don’t worry about whether an idea is possible or not. Once you are done, explore each idea further to reach feasible alternatives. Make sure you have enough data to make your decision. You will be surprised at the number of possibilities you can generate through this method.
SWOT Analysis: An acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, this is another technique for in depth analysis before you make a decision. The first 2 represent the presence or absence of attributes in a person or company that aid or hamper achievement of goals. The last 2 denote favourable or unfavourable conditions in the external environment that boost or damage chances of fulfilling the objectives. This will help you leverage the strengths and opportunities while improving on weaknesses and being prepared to handle the threats. You can also be ready for any unexpected events that might upset your plans.
The most important thing that we need to remember while making any decision is that every decision causes ripples in the form of consequences. Choices, once made, control us and not the other way round. The good news is that keeping an open mind can present opportunities to rework decisions already made in life. There are people who gave up lucrative careers to pursue their passion. Some of us aren’t as adventurous and postpone our decisions forever. If a particular important decision needs deeper thought, sleep on it. But make sure that you act before it is too late.
So the next time you need to make decisions, dive for the facts with the confidence that your intuition and creativity will support you. Decision making is not rocket science. A bit of clear thinking with the right tools can help you make only the best choices in life.


It follows one article published on the day (15/06) in the english website of the Agência FAPESP noting that an international group of scientists, with participation of Brazil, describes the first observation and measurement of antiparticles nuclei of helium-4.
By Fábio de Castro
June 15, 2011
|International group including|
Brazilians observes and
measures anti-helium 4 nuclei
for the first time. It is the
heaviest anti-matter ever
detected in a laboratory. The
study was published in Nature.
Agência FAPESP – In 1911, New Zealand scientist Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937) used nuclei from helium-4 atoms—the so-called alpha particles—to show that the atoms’ positive charge is concentrated in a small nucleus. The discovery was the kickoff to nuclear physics.
Exactly 100 years after the creation of Rutherford’s atomic model, an international group of scientists, including Brazilians, describes for the first time the observation and measurement of antiparticles in the nuclei of helium-4. It is the heaviest antimatter produced and measured in a laboratory to date.
According to the authors, this has important consequences for future antimatter observation in the Universe. According to them, the antiparticle study is fundamental for the advance of knowledge in fundamental aspects of nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology.
The experiment, performed by the Star Collaboration—which brings together 584 scientists from 54 institutions in 12 nations—was produced in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) in the United States. The results were published this Sunday (April 24) in Nature magazine’s Letters section.
The Brazilian co-authors are Alexandre Suaide, Alejandro Szanto Toledo and Marcelo Munhoz – all professors at Universidade de São Paulo’s (USP) Nuclear Physics Department in the Physics Institute–, Jun Takahashi, professor at the Gleb Wataghin Physics Institute (IFGW) at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) and his doctoral students, Rafael Derradi de Souza and Geraldo Vasconcelos.
The same group had already produced the first experimental evidence of an anti-hypernucleus a year ago: this means that the scientists had obtained a nucleus that was not part of the periodical table. The study was published in the March 2010 edition of Science magazine.
According to Suaide, in the 2010 work, the antiparticles were submitted to coalescence—a process similar to condensation—aggregating two antineutrons and one antiproton, forming an antitritium—in other words, an antimatter nucleus corresponding to the tritium atom--, the hydrogen isotope that has two neutrons and one proton.
“In observing the anti-helium—an antimatter alpha particle—for the first time, we took one more step toward building a new periodical table. It was a difficult task, because the chances of having coalescence decreases as the complexity of the antinucleus increases,” Suaide told Agência FAPESP.
In the STAR experiment, the scientist said that nuclear collisions were performed with gold atoms at a speed near to that of light, an extremely high temperature creating an energy density similar to that which existed a few microseconds after the Big Bang. Both in the lab and at the beginning of the Universe, the collisions resulted in the formation of equal quantities of matter and antimatter.
“Theoretically, we believe that the Big Bang came about because of a large concentration of energy in one singularity and, based on models, we concluded that this process must have produced a great deal of antimatter. However, when we look at the Universe we hardly find any antimatter at all. The experiment may help us to understand what happened in these initial moments,” said Suaide.
In order to detect the antiparticles, the scientists used sophisticated detectors—the largest of which is 10 meters wide and 15 meters long—that measure the trajectory of the particles and, based on this information, try to identify the type of particle observed.
The storage and analysis of the immense quantity of data produced, according to Suaide, demand the involvement of dozens of institutions the world over and a powerful computing infrastructure. “In the experiment we produced something around 1 billion collisions with the gold nuclei. Each of these produces millions of different particles. Of all these trillions of particles, we managed to find 18 anti-helium nuclei. The complexity of the task explains why the anti-alpha particles had never been observed before, even though the alpha particle was identified a century ago,” he said.
Scientists hope that laboratory antiparticle studies will allow them to create the conditions necessary to observe antimatter in the cosmos in the future. “These studies help us to know what to expect to observe. When measuring anti-helium 4, we are contributing to the possibility of cosmologists making predictions about how and where to look for antimatter,” he explained.
Suaide says that the Brazilian group was part of the STAR experiment 15 years ago and played an important role in the development and construction of the main detectors.
“The Brazilian researchers were actively involved in the experiment, very involved in coordination of the subgroups between which the work is divided. In this last project, we participated directly in the revision of the article,” he affirmed.
The article Observation of the antimatter helium-4 nucleus (DOI: 10.1038/nature10079) of the STAR Collaboration, can be read by Nature subscribers at www.nature.com/nature/journal/v473/n7347/full/nature10079.html.
Source: English WebSite of the Agência FAPESP


Series vs Parallel Resistance Measurement:
Get two resistors and mount them in a breadboard/protoboard.
Check the resistance of each using the Ohm setting on the multimeter.
Resistance Activity Questions:
- What is the resistance of R1? ___________ of R2? ___________
- What is the resistance when they are placed in series? (in a row)
- What is thetheoretical total resistance? (Rt = R1 + R2)
- Measure the resistance when they are placed parallel (side by sde):
- Calculate what the parallel resisance should be 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ..
- Does the difference between the calculated and measured values fall within the tolerance? Explain


Nobody gave ‘informed consent’ for Brexit. That’s because, in the 2016 referendum, the electorate was not sufficiently informed.
On the contrary, we were grossly misinformed.
Legally, informed consent means that consent has been given with full knowledge of:
▪ the risks involved,
▪ the probable consequences,
▪ and the alternatives.
– During the referendum, we were not fully aware of all the risks of Brexit.
– During the referendum, who really understood the “probable consequences” of Brexit?
– During the referendum, we were not told about the different Brexit alternatives. Brexiters were only given the option of one meaningless, undefined word: ‘Leave’.
That’s why, one day, there will have to be a new democratic reconsideration of Brexit.
And when that happens, we need the people to be properly informed, so that next time they can truly give their INFORMED CONSENT.
Only those against democracy disagree.
For more articles by Jon Danzig, click here.


The article proposes a discussion on the process that engendered, in the West, the invention of a compositional formula that represented “the Chinese Garden”, from the nineteenth century onward. Without focusing on the widely known influence of chinoiserie in the construction of a Western idea of the exotic, it will discuss nineteenth-century Western travellers’ accounts of the gardens of China. Supporting the simplified visual image proposed by the willow pattern, verbal accounts contributed to the creation of a stereotyped idea of Chinese gardens based on the repetition of a few iconic elements. The article also discusses how, this popular Western image of an ideal “Chinese garden” has inspired, in more recent years, the design of Chinese-style gardens built outside China.
The Invention of the Chinese Garden: From Western Perception to the Construction of a Global Identity / Rinaldi, Bianca Maria. - In: DIE GARTENKUNST. - ISSN 0935-0519. - STAMPA. - 28:2(2016), pp. 257-270.
|Titolo:||The Invention of the Chinese Garden: From Western Perception to the Construction of a Global Identity|
|Data di pubblicazione:||2016|
|Appare nelle tipologie:||1.1 Articolo in rivista|
File in questo prodotto:


Credits: 3 credits
In this course participants learn to evaluate and understand the complex forces involved in the development of the modern state. Topics include the French Revolution and Napoleonic Europe, the Congress of Vienna, the social and political struggles of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, and the fissures in European society during the interwar period. Lectures and seminars introduce the political, intellectual, cultural and social aspects of European society, and participants work with a variety of primary and secondary historical sources.
For more information, search for this course here.


The Six Components of Modern Milieu Therapy
Modern milieu therapy is a well-known approach in psychotherapy circles that can invoke a broad range of viewpoints due to its long history. For parents whose children have mental health or socio-emotional challenges, it can be helpful to understand this form of therapy as a treatment option in its modern form.
The milieu therapy concept took shape in the late 19th century, with roots that go back to the 18th, when French physician Philippe Pinel reframed psychiatric treatment from how it was traditionally provided at asylums, toward a form of care that emphasized compassion and empathy. Other everyday names, like Freud and Bettelheim, are synonymous with its application.
When milieu therapy took root in a range of residential and in-patient settings in the 20th century, several treatment centers used the term to describe the care of emotionally troubled patients, particularly children.
Today in the 21st century, full-time treatment programs, such as those offered by the O-School, continue to offer milieu therapy as one of the most effective modalities for treating students with severe emotional and mental health issues.
What is Milieu Therapy?
At its most basic level, milieu therapy considers all aspects of a child’s experience to be therapeutic, allowing them to continually learn and practice skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives: everything from caring for themselves and maintaining a regular schedule, to learning how to set and work toward goals, to interacting with others and forming healthy relationships.
At the O-School, for example, this is achieved by working with both peers and staff in a 24/7, working therapeutic community based on the following six components:
1. Supportive and therapeutic relationships
Our belief is that change and growth of the individual cannot be forced. Instead, we apply a normative hand through skilled, caring clinicians who first seek to understand the child, then determine the best path to help them work through their various thoughts and emotional states based on that understanding. This wholly individualized approach has been proven to provide an effective path to real progress and sustained growth.
Milieu therapy is all encompassing, across all of the child’s interactions. At the O-School, this is not accomplished through a pre-determined program or strict behavior modification approach. Rather, it is accomplished over time, allowing these interactions to grow into close relationships with both peers and clinicians.
Formal, scheduled therapy sessions are still held even though therapy is essentially provided throughout the entire day. Every interaction between staff and peers is an opportunity to grow and learn. The ultimate goal is to build strong internal capacities within each child, rather than fostering change that is merely superficial.
2. Daily routine and structure
Milieu therapy combines school with typical classroom education during the day, along with a structured home-like environment (homework times, mealtimes, social and free times, etc.). This daily structure allows students to feel safe while also providing them with numerous opportunities to explore, learn and grow through an experience that is consistent and meaningful.
3. Continuous exploration of life events
The experiences of daily life, whether positive or negative — and the chance to examine them fully — are at the heart of milieu therapy. With the help of skilled guides, students use their own experiences to understand how they perceive and respond to life’s many events. Through this process, they can learn something about themselves and the world. Exploration helps the child gain personal insight, identify strengths, accept challenges and feel capable of facing life.
Within modern milieu therapy, creating a treatment environment that is safe, predictable and empathetic helps children develop strong friendships within their peer groups. New friendships nurture a new sense of competence and success.
Regular extracurricular and social activities inside and outside of the classroom are designed to foster these relationships. They help children discover and build on current interests and passions. During these activities, clinicians and educators engage with the children to ensure all interactions are positive and supportive. When needed, children may also receive coaching on how to initiate, reciprocate and sustain friendly exchanges.
5. A focus on self-care
Modern milieu therapy directs hands-on experiences aimed at developing key life skills that will better prepare children for greater responsibility, independence and adulthood, including:
- Personal Hygiene – There is often a connection between mental health challenges and how people care for themselves. The milieu therapy approach integrates hygiene into the students’ daily routines as a basic expectation to help them establish a consistent practice of physical care.
- Organizational Skills – Executive functioning skills, such as planning, organizing and scheduling are essential for living an independent and productive life.
- Personal Schedule – Children work within a daily schedule designed so that there are many opportunities throughout the day to be responsible for being on time and complete tasks or activities. Schedules are consistent and predictable, without being overly regimented or inflexible.
- Healthy Boundaries – Part of getting along well with others, both authority figures and peers, is establishing healthy and adaptive interpersonal boundaries. These boundaries may include personal physical space, how to disclose and share personal information, or what to expect from others.
- Life Skills Development – As mental health challenges diminish, there is a corresponding increase placed upon the child to resume responsibility to learn and practice life skills such as: personal laundry, money management, shopping, electronics use management, sleep hygiene and time management.
6. A supportive physical space
An immersive milieu creates spaces that are warm and welcoming and that support learning and living.
To provide a safe haven for vulnerable students while keeping them connected to life outside school, the O-School has created surroundings that include both a rich learning environment and the familiar furnishings, variety and visual interest that make the space feel like a home.
Together, these elements form a carefully constructed learning and therapeutic setting that can bring lasting change to the lives of students, regardless of the challenges they face.
Without changing who they are as individuals, modern milieu therapy teaches, guides, encourages, and nurtures students to develop new skills that will help them better understand themselves and their relationships as they re-engage with the world at large.
Diana Kon, Ed.D., is Co-Executive Director of the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School and the Brooke Whitted Center. She is an active advocate for students and young adults with exceptional needs. Reach Diana at firstname.lastname@example.org.


Staples uses his literal skills to tell us the stereotypes, censures, and biases he experiences by being black. Staples sets off by making us believe that he is an offender.He explains how he is always stereotyped as a mugger, gangster, and rapist, regardless of what he has done. The Staples story picks up from the early age of 20 and explores how he strives to be better than other blacks who have equal access to education. Despite his efforts, Staples realizes that he still suffers the same problems they suffer, despite his enlightened approach to life. Therefore, he concludes that the black man faces subconscious bias where people already have a conscious view of the person long before they get to know them better.AnalysisThe main thing that drives Staples into writing this text is his desire to demonstrate how unconscious bias propagates racism. In his quest, Staples uses a vast number of rhetorical statements that prompt the reader to see his perception actively. His writing format does not tell you what he thinks. It moves you to reason and ultimately ends up with a similar conclusion. His diction, in numerous instances, subconsciously hints on how blacks are thought of as violent and brutal by the public. For example, the author has lines like ‘Both hands shoved into his bulky’. In this case, the words shoved and bulky create aggressive imagery to the reader. His choice of words helps him push home the idea that we can stereotype people without actually saying what we think of them. Staples’ pathos is aimed at bringing out the emotions of his reader. It makes his text more interesting to read and makes us feel what a general audience would have thought about the black man or the white lady he describes when writing.Apart from using imagery, the author also taps into mockery and humor to draw in his readers. A good example is when he refers to his insomnia as pestering sleep. While this in itself is a simple case of mockery, it is punchier because it comes after a serious paragraph. The humor makes it easier to read his text that otherwise addresses important discrimination issues that black men and other minorities face in their daily life. Staples is always making essential observations about unfairness regardless of whether Staples actively airs them in the essay or not.Even though he is abhorrent of how black men suffer under deep-rooted bias, he takes a different approach when handling the topic in his essay. Instead of being confrontational like numerous essays about the issue, Staples decides to look at the issue from a white American’s point of view when writing. The author chooses to reason differently and aspires to understand why unconscious bias exists from people who have it. This is an unusual move in the topic as most public papers on the topic take a confrontational approach that occasionally makes affected parties defensive. To some extent, the authoring process might be deemed weak and submissive. However, it is clear to see that Staples is paying homage to the fact that the bias Staples is talking about is unconscious by using diction, humor, and imagery to convey his message subconsciously. While numerous black rights activists did not fancy this route, Staples is not alone in using this reconciliatory or pacifist approach. To some extent, we can say he channels antiwar activists like Martin Luther instead of his confrontational opposite, Malcolm X. Staples seeks to show that even though both stands have their own advantages and disadvantages, long-lasting victory and piece lies in a calm minded evaluation of facts and peaceful conclusions (Staples 266). The author takes time to acknowledge the black man’s belligerence when fighting racism but also highlights its flaws before explaining why he believes a pacifist approach would be more productive.Even though most of the points come from Staples’s public interactions and personal experiences, the essay still deliberates on external issues important to the topic. For instance, he talks about ‘My Negro Problem and Ours,’ a contentious text by Norman Podhoretz to look into the numerous problems the black men faced in their history as a people. Staples takes this opportunity to accept some of the negative traits blacks have and how they have played a role in fashioning the stereotype he is trying to fight in his text.While quoting Podhoretz somehow makes him deviate from his initial approach, we cannot ignore the fact that Staples has a lot of truths backing up his assertions on black men stereotyping. In the end, this makes the character aspire to change his public and confidential behavior. It even has an impact on his thoughts about people or himself. The author even portrays his lessons in the example he gives on how he changes any tense situations in more friendly occurrences (Staples 268). He shows us how his considerate stand always leads to better results and gets him out of public trouble on numerous occasions. In his classic style, he still refuses to instruct us to follow his model. Staples, in his writing, hopes that we would see it makes sense and adopt it on our own.Another notable thing the author does in the text is how he lets us know he studied at the University of Chicago. This subtle information is an excellent way to make the reader have confidence in his writing since he is learned. He further reveals that he was a Chicago journalist, a position that further cements his public authority and capacity to address the topic in his black oppression essay. To bolster his essay, he still quotes and refers to a well-known essay. For instance, the author references heavily in his text. The way he describes how a white female reacted to him also helps make the text more trusting. He focuses on making us understand her fear by just explaining how he walked and how she answered.He skillfully paints the picture that most white females or people feel frightened whenever they see a black man in an isolated place because they are robotically compelled to think of them as murderers, muggers, and rapists. By doing this, he highlights the fear most people have when around blacks. This brings us to the core message in the essay. Black men in public are often mistaken and misjudged because of reigning racial bias.It does not matter if the perpetrator of the discrimination knows what they are doing on not – the point is it affects the target. Staples also introduces the idea that blacks should try to make themselves agreeable instead of using the confrontational approach of daring the oppressor to stop profiling. This is reminiscent of the fact that he tried different approaches to diffuse tense situations by looking less threatening than other black men – all of which worked in his favor.ConclusionThis essay analyzes the conflict brought about by the bias levels against blacks. Brent acknowledges the fact that, in some instances, white people ensure the minority go through a lot of trouble by judging black men based on preexisting misconceptions. Other than just accepting the racism issue, he also brings out the fact that some of these stereotypes were formed and are still strengthened by how some minority members behave. His unpopular view is brought forth by how he feels, presenting himself as a less dangerous individual makes him more agreeable.Staples says that the few who still conform to the stereotypes cement the stand and make it harder to fight this form of unconscious bias directed towards black men. The essay is full of ethos and addresses a reigning problem from a different point of view. It would be more agreeable and easy to understand by more people who easily goes on the defensive as it is not outwardly confrontational.


Source: Dietary Minerals, Wikipedia
Anti-fluoridation activists often assure us that fluorine (F) is not an essential element. But what does that mean? Literally I guess it means that there are no identified biological pathways essential to human life involving F. So anti-fluoridation activists often claim the only safe level of flourine in the human diet is zero!
But whether an element is essential or not is often unclear or undecided. Some sources claim about 16 elements seem to be essential to maintain life. Others claim over 20 elements are essential.
Fluorine is rather debatable, as the above Periodic Table of the elements suggests. The Wikipedia entry on Dietary Minerals does say, however:
“Fluorine (as Fluoride) is not generally considered an essential mineral element because humans do not require it for growth or to sustain life. However, if one considers the prevention of dental cavities an important criterion in determining essentiality, then fluoride might well be considered an essential trace element.”
So F may well be considered an essential trace element, or a beneficial element. By the way, we should not let the fact that F is known to have harmful effects when in excess lead us to deny its beneficial effects. Probably all essential or beneficial elements and trace elements do.
Essential and beneficial elements usually display a “beneficial window” of intake. This can be shown by a U shaped graph when we plot the incidence of negative effects against intake (see figure below).
Source: Howd & Fan, 2007 – Risk Assessment for Chemicals in Drinking Water page 202.
So we expect to see that sort of relationship with F intake if the element is essential, or even just beneficial. If there are no benefits from F we would expect only an increasing incidence of negative effects when the intake increases from zero. Of course we also see that for essential or beneficial elements if we restrict our data to only high levels of intake.
Does F have benefits besides dental ones?
Do the benefits of F extend more widely than the prevention of dental cavities? I have often thought they do because F has a clear effect on the structure and solubility of hydroxyapatites – an important and major componet of bones. A small amount of substitution of F for OH in the hydroxyapatite structure can strengthen such minerals and lower their solubility. Bioapatites are a major component of our skeletons, and play a role in many of our organs. This chemical substitution may actually have positive effects on bone health, and the properties of other bioapatites. Of course excessive substitution, or differentiation into different chemical crystalline phases, may also have negative effects when there is excessive intake.
By the way, F is not the only elements that substitutes at trace levels in bioapatites. There are many more and they can each influence the properties of the bioapatite.
Another way of looking at this is that pure chemically defined compounds rarely exist in the real world. Other minor elements are often incorporated into the crystal structure, or be present in a closely associated crystal phase. These “impurities” or substituted elements usually impart features to the natural material which are greater or lesser than, or perhaps not even seen, in the pure compound. These features can be important to the biological role of crystals in nature and life.
Because biological systems are always exposed to a whole range of chemical elements at varying concentrations there will be no such thing as zero F intake. Nobody’s body is “fluoride free.”
Beneficial effects of F on human bones?
I recently checked out a paper which shows beneficial effects of F on human bones along the lines I have suggested. The paper is Yiming Li et al., (2001): Effect of Long-Term Exposure to Fluoride in Drinking Water on Risks of Bone Fractures. The authors are a group of researchers from the US and China. You can download the PDF here and check out methodology and other details.
Here’s one of the figures from their paper summarising the relationship of overall bone fractures to F content of the water supply used.
Effectively, this displays the U-shaped curve mentioned for essential elements in Risk Assessment for Chemicals in Drinking Water.
Or, perhaps more importantly – statistically significant increases in numbers of bone fractures occur at both low levels of fluoride in drinking water (<0.3 ppm) and at high levels (>4 ppm).
The authors express it this way:
“The data appear to suggest that there may be a “beneficial window” of fluoride intake for bone health, because an increased risk of overall bone fractures was detected in both the populations with deficient and excessive fluoride in drinking water.”
Not surprisingly this window corresponds approximately to current New Zealand advice for oral health – concentrations of fluoride in the water supply in the range 0.7 to 1.0 ppm are beneficial.
So perhaps we should consider F as an essential, or at least, beneficial trace element as Wikipedia suggests. And perhaps health authorities in New Zealand should include bone health, together with oral health, in their advice on fluoridation.
The quality of research studies is critical
Other groups have produced similar conclusions to that of Yiming Li et al. – particularly that the incidence of bone fractures are reduced by fluoride doses in the beneficial range of F intake. But, these sort of investigations are very complex so it’s possible to find other studies which don’t show this result, or show only the effects of high fluoride intake. This raises the question of the quality of such investigations and the need for readers and reviewers to be particularly informed about such issues.
Many of these sorts of studies produce results of questionable quality because they ignore the role of other factors besides F in the water supply. For example, in many developed countries, and many developing ones, dietary intake of fluoride also comes from toothpaste, mouthrinses and dietary supplements. The high mobility of modern populations also makes it difficult to relate clinical effects to simple factors in the current environment of the individuals. It’s no wonder that attempts to relate health effects to fluoride concentrations in the public water supply produces controversial findings.
Mind you, that’s a great gift to the unscrupulous cherry-picking, uncritical reviewer with an ideological or activist axe to grind. If you are selecting studies to support a preconceived viewpoint the influence of other factors is not important – you just choose what suits your argument and ignore the quality. But if you are trying to establish a reliable picture of what is actually happening, as we hope our health professionals and scientists are, it’s important to consider the quality, and reliability, of each study.
My impression is that this particular study is considered of high quality because it used populations with a defined history of fluoride exposure. The authors say:
“In contrast to the U.S. population, residents of rural China rarely change residences, and most have been using the same water supply throughout their life. Because of its unique environmental and cultural conditions, such as virtually no residential mobility and a relatively consistent lifestyle, rural China has been considered a perfect “living laboratory” for studying the relationship between various factors and diseases. The survey results of our study sites and data from individual subjects show that fluoride exposure in rural Chinese communities is still limited to water and diet.”
And in their methodology:
“The residency of each subject was determined by the following three measures: (1) objective assessment by checking the Family Registry Book, an official document issued by the government; (2) a subject survey questionnaire; and (3) confirmation by village officials who were familiar with the subject.”
This sort of reliability of information is just not available for modern populations in most countries, making these sort of studies unreliable.
The lesson here is that there must employ intelligent and expert consideration when reading or reviewing research in this sort of area. People consulting such studies and reviews should also be aware of the dangers. When public debates, like that over fluoridation, occur we need to be aware of the way activists may draw unreliable conclusions from the literature and promote those unreliable conclusions to the public.
As an aside – this study also considered possible effects of factors like gender, smoking and alcohol – not surprisingly bone fracture were higher for men, and for those consuming alcohol!
So, is fluoride an essential element? I don’t know and I am hardly the person to decide. But clearly it is possible to argue the case that it may be, or that it is at least a beneficial element, provided dietary intake is neither too low or too high. It’s a complex area – just beware of activists with an axe to grind and a simple picture to support their claims.
Fluoridation – are we dumping toxic metals into our water supplies?
Tactics and common arguments of the anti-fluoridationists
Hamilton City Council reverses referendum fluoridation decision
Scientists, political activism and the scientific ethos


If your livelihood involves fishing illegally, your chosen profession looks like it might become a little more interesting, soon. A partnership has been established among the Pew Charitable Trusts, the United Kingdom’s Satellite Applications Catapult, and exactEarth Europe. Their mission is to turn the tables on those fishermen illegally attempting “Deadliest Catch” re-enactments in protected waters.
It looks like exactEarth will provide the ship tracking data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to be combined with other information (maybe satellite “pictures” of ship lights at night) from Satellite Applications Catapult. AIS is a radio transmission signal, primarily used in shipping, for tracking ships. Simply explained, AIS works by using GPS on board ships that hooked into the AIS to determine a ship’s location. Then the AIS sends a signal to a receiver, whether on a satellite or attached to a radio tower, to let other people know where the ship currently is, and where it looks like it’s heading.
The number of times the radio signal is sent from the ship to the receiver can be as often as every 2 seconds, but might average once every 60 seconds. The number of times an automatic message is sent every minute can vary, since each AIS station can determine its own radio transmission schedule (you can find out more about AIS from this handy Coast Guard page). ExactEarth Europe specializes in vessel tracking using small satellites. The whole idea of this effort is to use exactEarth’s data, plus other data (not really elaborated on) from Satellite Applications Catapult to figure out which fishing ships might be dropping a net or two into areas listed as “verboten” and protected from fishermen and fishing factories.
They would then pass this information on to governments, agencies, and the like. Basically the information is available to anyone who might be interested in knowing which fishing vessel is breaking the law and is possibly able to enforce the law once the pernicious piscine pilferer is caught. Of course, this only really works if most offenders have AIS on-board, AND if AIS isn’t somehow “turned off.” Or maybe a fishing vessel’s circuit breaker for AIS “popped” if it happened to be near protected water.
That may be why Satellite Applications Catapult is getting involved. Again, there was no clear information on exactly what they’re supplying, but apparently their data or collection tools can be used along with AIS to help pinpoint fishy filchers. Hopefully they’ll come forth with more information (or maybe it’s there, and I’m not seeing it…). It would be interesting to know if this kind of use of the data is violating particular agreements with the AIS customer base.
While the tech is definitely different, this seems akin to the little “black box” insurance agencies ask customers to put on a car. Originally its justification is for gathering accident data, but then someone decides the data can also be used to see if you “violated” the speeding laws, stopping laws, etc. Then that someone would hand that data over to law enforcement.
While the justifications sound good, is this kind of monitoring and data gathering truly beneficial? Would this kind of monitoring get people to think twice about AIS and having it on-board their ships?


As political change rocks Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya, another African country is braving a crisis of its own: Côte d’Ivoire. Laurent Gbago, the incumbent president, lost the country’s presidential election last November, but refuses to step down. Alassane Ouattara, the winner, has so far been unwilling to agree to a power-sharing arrangement with Gbago. With violence breaking out in several cities, it looks like Côte d’Ivoire may be headed for civil war.
For anyone familiar with the history of diamonds and civil wars in Africa, it’s reasonable to be concerned that events are repeating themselves. Côte d’Ivoire is a diamond-rich country. Not long ago, terrible civil wars in Sierra Leone, Angola, and Liberia were being fueled by diamonds. However, in response to those wars, an international certification scheme for diamonds—the Kimberley Process —was launched in 2003. At its core, the purpose of the Kimberley Process is to prevent diamonds from funding civil wars. So with the Kimberley Process in place, there’s no reason to be concerned that diamonds will underwrite violence in Côte d’Ivoire—right?
Actually, there is. The present crisis in Côte d’Ivoire is really a flare-up in a longstanding civil conflict. And for years, the Kimberley Process has tried to prevent the export of diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire—but without success.
Since 2002, the country has been split between a rebel-controlled north, where Ouattara has his base of support, and a government-controlled south, which has been supportive of Gbagbo. Although there has been little violence since 2004, both sides have been preparing should hostilities erupt once again. In the north, the location of most of the country’s diamond deposits, a tax on diamond sales has been providing rebels with money for supplies and weapons. (Gbagbo’s government, meanwhile, has been receiving funding from the production of cocoa, used to make chocolate.)
To staunch the flow of conflict diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire, the Kimberley Process placed a ban on Côte d’Ivoire’s diamonds in 2005—that is, Kimberley Process member countries were prohibited from importing diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire. The United Nations also banned Côte d’Ivoire diamonds. What happened next? Surprisingly little. Rebels just turned to smuggling. Estimated diamond exports from Côte d’Ivoire barely dropped at all. Every year, about $20 million worth of Côte d’Ivoire diamonds are smuggled into the international diamond supply. Although this is a small percentage of world diamond production, it’s enough to provide rebels with money for guns and ammunition.
Diamonds are notoriously easy to smuggle. However, the Kimberley Process could make it more difficult to sell diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire on the international market – for instance, by increasing Kimberley Process monitoring capabilities and requiring Kimberley Process members to improve internal controls. What makes the situation all the more frustrating is that Côte d’Ivoire is one of the only countries whose diamonds the Kimberley Process has banned. The ease with which the Kimberley Process is being thwarted on its principal diamond ban is truly astonishing. The Kimberley Process should have addressed this problem, long ago.
The Chair of the Kimberley Process, Matheiu Yamba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has issued a letter urging countries to “exercise strong vigilance” against Côte d’Ivoire’s diamonds. But this letter may be too little, too late. Rebels in Côte d’Ivoire already have benefited from years of uninterrupted diamond revenues. War in Côte d’Ivoire may still be averted, but the possibility of another diamond-driven civil war should be enough for the world to take notice. The Kimberley Process isn’t working. It’s high time to reform it.


In the past 3 decades, drug overdoses have killed approximately 870,000 people. Since the first wave of the opioid epidemic began in the 1990s, the epidemic has expanded to include synthetic, illicit drugs, including heroin and fentanyl. As new CDC data and other studies offer updates on the epidemic, here are 5 things to know.
In the past 3 decades, drug overdoses have killed approximately 870,000 people. Since first wave of the opioid epidemic began in the 1990s, the epidemic has expanded to include other synthetic, illicit drugs, including heroin and fentanyl. As new CDC data and other studies offer updates on the epidemic, here are 5 things to know.
1. Rates have dropped for the first time since 1990
Provisional data released by the CDC in July indicate that drug overdose deaths have dropped for the first time since 1990. Between the 12-month period ending December 2017 and the 12-month period ending December 2018, there was a 5.1% decline in overdose deaths, dropping from 72,000 overdose deaths to 68,000.
In June, provisional data for the 12-month period ending in November 2018 compared with the 12-month period ending in November 2017 hinted that deaths would fall. At the time, Robert N. Anderson, PhD, chief of the Mortality Statistics Branch of the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC, said in an email to The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) that the data suggests the epidemic had reached its peak in the United States.
“That said, the number of deaths for 2018 is still predicted to be nearly 70,000,” he added. “That is a lot of people dying much too young. Even if the decline holds once the data are final, it is too soon to declare victory.”
2. Not all states are seeing drops in overdose deaths
The CDC data were encouraging for some states that have historically been hit hardest by the epidemic. For example, drug overdose deaths in Ohio dipped 22.4% from 5155 to 4002 between the 12-month period ending December 2017 and the 12-month period ending December 2018. Rates in Pennsylvania dropped 19.6% from 5600 to 4503 during the same time period.
But while the nation as a whole is headed toward a drop in overdose deaths, not all states are seeing decreases. Missouri and Rhode Island experienced the biggest increases in overdose deaths between the 12-month period ending December 2017 and the 12-month period ending December 2018 (16.3% and 16.7% respectively). In Missouri, drug overdose deaths increased from 1406 to 1635 and from 342 to 399 in Rhode Island.
Other states that saw increases include California, South Carolina, Vermont, Louisiana, and Arizona.
3. Urban areas see higher overdose death rates than rural areas
CDC data released this week revealed geographic shifts in where the epidemic is having the biggest impact. In 2016 and 2017, urban counties saw higher drug overdose death rates compared with rural areas (22.0 vs 20.0 per 100,000, respectively). These increased rates were seen across overdose deaths involving heroin (5.2 vs 2.9), synthetic opioids other than methadone (9.3 vs 7.0), and cocaine (4.6 vs 2.4).
The age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths in urban counties jumped from 6.4 per 100,000 in 1999 to 22.0 in 2017 while the rate in rural counties increased from 4.0 to 20.0 during the same period.
The data also revealed gender differences in drug overdose death rates. For men, the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths was higher in urban counties than in rural counties (29.9 vs 24.3). Meanwhile, the rate of drug overdose deaths for women was higher in rural areas than in urban areas (15.5 vs 14.2).
4. Synthetic opioids continue to drive overdose death rates
While rates of heroin, cocaine, and natural opioid overdose deaths have started to level out, overdose death rates involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, have continued to increase. In the 12-month period ending December 2018, synthetic opioid overdose deaths increased to over 31,000 compared with the approximately 29,000 reported in the 12-month period ending December 2017.
Since the 12-month period ending December 2015, deaths have increased from approximately 9000 to the 31,473 in the 12-month period ended December 2018.
Rates of overdose deaths involving fentanyl specifically doubled each year from 2013 through 2016, from 0.6 per 100,000 in 2013, to 1.3 in 2014, to 2.6 in 2015, and to 5.9 in 2016. While death rates involving fentanyl have increased significantly across both men and women, 3 times as many men as women are dying from the synthetic opioids.
5. Heroin overdose rates are higher among the Medicaid population
A study published in the July issue of AJMC® analyzed 2010 to 2014 IBM MarketScan Databases and calculated annual heroin overdose rates, finding that rates were persistently higher among the Medicaid population than the commercially insured, except among those aged 15 to 24 years.
However, rates increased faster among the commercially insured during the time period. While heroin overdose death rates increased 94.3% among the Medicaid population, rates increased by 270% among the commercially insured. Overdose rates were consistently higher among male enrollees, regardless of insurance type. In 2014, rates of heroin overdose among male and female enrollees were 10.5 and 4.1 per 100,000 commercial enrollees, respectively, and 34.9 and 28.0 per 100,000 Medicaid enrollees, respectively.
The study findings also showed that nearly all enrollees with heroin overdose had at least 1 healthcare encounter in the 6 months prior to their first overdose.


Serious Games moving into fields that deal with complex topics
Via: Social Technologies - Learning From Playing
Games that provide players with opportunities to learn and understand complex situations or different points of view have emerged as a distinct subset of videogames.
Increasingly, creators are taking the definitions of “play” and “learn” in new directions, often blending the two creatively.
“This shows the maturity of the gaming industry as a medium for educating children—and adults,” explains Simeon Spearman, an analyst at the futurist research and consulting firm Social Technologies.
“This new genre of games moves beyond entertainment into fields that deal with complex topics such as healthcare, governance and poverty.”
Serious Games also show that organizations are realizing the potential for videogames to spread their message to larger audiences—for they provide an interactive experience that draws people in, he says.
The trend is spurred by the spread of technology and game culture. In fact, due to their viral nature and ease of development, Serious Games are propagating.
They are now on a trajectory to become a mainstream genre of gaming applications, in both the commercial and noncommercial spheres.
Driving The Game
A number of trends are converging to drive the Serious Games movement, including:
- Growth in popularity of simulation games. From simple simulator games like NeoPets to the bestselling computer game of all time, The Sims, games that allow players to “manage” sophisticated, multi-choice environments and determine outcomes have been popular since the 1990s, and their growth shows no signs of slowing.
- Improving technology. From more intelligence and processing power to better displays and broadband access, powerful personal-computing technology is available to ever-growing numbers of people. They are using it not only for work and entertainment, but increasingly for learning and training as well.
- Digital learning on the rise. Younger consumers worldwide are receiving more education via game and digital play environments, and educational theorists are beginning to explore the application of more sophisticated games to prepare students for complex situations in the real world.
Serious Games are evolving into several distinct genres, which can be broken down into at least five types of applications based on each genre’s principal goals. However, many games serve multiple purposes by design. Most are available for free or at a low cost to encourage broad distribution.
- Education and training. Games in this genre aid learning or vocational training. Examples include Making History, which teaches history to students, and Incident Commander, designed to help officials and first responders prepare for emergency situations.
- Politics and governance. Some of the most widely known Serious Games have emerged as training tools for political movements, public administrations, and governance. A Force More Powerful, for instance, is an interactive game that teaches nonviolent techniques for handling conflict. It was developed by the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict with assistance from Ivan Marovic, leader of Otpor, the group that helped bring down Slobodan Milosevic’s regime in Serbia.
- Marketing, communication, and advocacy. A broader, expanding group of games includes both marketing and nonprofit issues advocacy. Some, like America’s Army, are explicitly intended as recruitment tools; these run on commercial videogame platforms and issue new releases as commercial videogames do. From 2003–2005, America’s Army ranked among the top six online games in terms of concurrent players.
Simeon Spearman is a futurist and contributing writer for ST’s Technology Foresight and Global Lifestyles multiclient projects. He also contributes to custom client projects, and tracks emerging trends, values, and segments for the Futures Observatory, Social Technologies’ trend-feed program.
Simeon’s professional interests include digital lifestyles, contemporary Japanese culture, and development in emerging markets. He is currently pursuing his MS in studies of the future at the University of Houston, and graduated with a BS in International affairs and modern languages from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He spent a year abroad in 2004–2005 as an exchange student at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan.
About Social Technologies
Social Technologies is a global research and consulting firm specializing in the integration of foresight, strategy, and innovation. With offices in Washington DC, London, and Shanghai, Social Technologies serves the world’s leading companies, government agencies, and nonprofits. A holistic, long-term perspective combined with actionable business solutions helps clients mitigate risk, make the most of opportunities, and enrich decision-making.


(MS) -- Did you know that your kitchen actually contains more bacteria than any other room in your home and the type of countertops you have may be making matters worse? Recent studies have found that porous material countertops can harbor dangerous bacteria, such as E. coli.
A recent University of Arizona at Tucson study identified the kitchen as the most germ-contaminated area in the home. The study reported that countertops are one of five key "hot zones," or sites with the highest bacteria counts. These hot zones can spread infections when germs are transferred from a contaminated item -- your kitchen counter -- to your hands to your body.
A second study conducted by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management (HITM) revealed that nonporous surfaces, such stainless steel countertops or other NSF 51 certified material, such as quartz, are least likely to harbor dangerous bacteria, such as E. coli, when compared to other popular household countertop materials.
The study highlighted the fact that consumers need to consider wear-and-tear when selecting a countertop surface. After a few years, most porous surfaces, such as granite, laminate, marble, wood, concrete, tile, and limestone wear down; lose their protective coating, scratch, and warp -- all decreasing the ability to be effectively cleaned and sanitized.
With stainless steel being very limited as a household countertop solution, other nonporous materials such as quartz are becoming more and more popular with consumers as they try to combine healthier choices with the latest designs for their homes.
"Quartz surfaces are growing in popularity because although they have the beautiful appearance of natural stone, unlike granite, these surfaces never need to be sealed," explained Mark Hanna, President of Leeza Distribution Inc., one of North America's leading distributors of HanStone Fine Quartz Surfaces.
That's because quartz countertops are not only highly scratch resistant, but also nonporous so they don't require sealing. As a result, they show very little wear, will not promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria can be easily maintained for years.
Unlike stainless steel, however, quartz surfaces bring strength, resilience and extraordinary beauty and elegance to your kitchen decor with its dramatic colors, vibrant patterns and luxurious sheen.
Quartz surfaces are so hygienic most brands are approved surfaces for food preparation by the National Sanitation Foundation, with the NSF 51 certification in the United States.


MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly) Detox And Withdrawal Symptoms And Timeline
Medically reviewed byIsaac Alexis, M.D., AAMA, AMP-BC
June 11, 2019
MDMA (ecstasy/molly) is a common party drug used for its psychedelic effects. Physical dependence on MDMA may cause withdrawal symptoms with stopped use. Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can be managed within a medical detox program.
MDMA, also known as ecstasy and molly, is classified as a ‘club drug’ capable of altering mood and perception. MDMA can cause hallucinogenic effects, affecting sounds, sights, and other sensations.
MDMA can be taken in several forms, including pill, powder, or liquid form. Ecstasy affects chemicals in the brain responsible for regulating mood, appetite, heart rate, and other functions. The effects of a single dose of MDMA typically last three to six hours. This may then be followed by a ‘crash’ period.
Many symptoms experienced during a ‘crash’ – such as depression, anxiety, and irritability – have been likened to molly withdrawal symptoms. Although ecstasy is not known to be very addictive, people who use ecstasy on a regular basis may develop dependence.
MDMA dependence, like dependence on most other drugs, can cause a reaction in the body known as withdrawal. Symptoms of MDMA withdrawal are unlikely to be severe, but can be very uncomfortable and last for up to ten days.
What Are The Effects Of Ecstasy (MDMA) Withdrawal?
MDMA (ecstasy/molly) affects several systems throughout the body as a result of changes it makes in the brain. Although less common than addiction to illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine, several reports indicate that ecstasy has a potential for addiction.
Get treatment when
and how you need it.
Ecstasy dependence and addiction is more likely to occur after chronic use. This can cause the body to adapt to the presence of MDMA in your system, resulting in withdrawal with stopped use. Ecstasy that is mixed or cut with other substances, like cocaine or amphetamines, can affect side effects and symptoms.
In addition to dependence, long-term abuse of MDMA can also cause:
- sleep disturbances
- low appetite
- poor concentration
- heart disease
- increased impulsivity
Ecstasy Withdrawal Symptoms
There is little research documenting the range of symptoms that can occur during MDMA withdrawal. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the most common symptoms are psychological.
Symptoms of ecstasy withdrawal may include:
- difficulty concentrating
- loss of appetite
- low energy
- muscle twitches
- runny nose
- teary eyes
- unpleasant dreams
Molly withdrawal symptoms can be difficult for people to manage, and may lead to relapse if symptoms become too intense. In rare cases, withdrawal may cause seizures.
Ecstasy Symptoms and Timeline During Treatment
Acute withdrawal from MDMA can last up to ten days. After this, some mental and psychological symptoms may persist, depending on biological and personal factors.
Days 1 to 3: MDMA withdrawal symptoms are likely to begin within 12 hours of a person’s last dose. Initial symptoms can include anxiety, irritability, loss of appetite, inability to concentrate, and depression. People can also feel fatigued and have trouble sleeping during this time.
Days 4 to 10: Symptoms of withdrawal tend to peak after the first couple days without MDMA. At this point, people can feel extremely agitated, and may continue feeling sluggish and depressed. Experiencing mood swings and being unable to concentrate is also common.
After 10 days: After seven to ten days, most acute withdrawal symptoms should be gone. Depending on how long a person used ecstasy, and the severity of their dependence, feelings of agitation, mental fogginess, and depression may continue.
People that are overcoming long-term ecstasy abuse can continue experiencing some mental and psychological symptoms for time. Chronic abuse of MDMA can also have lasting effects on a person’s ability to feel pleasure, resulting in low mood.
Treatment through therapy and medications can be helpful for people that continue experiencing anxiety, depression, and other difficulties following withdrawal.
Factors That Can Affect Withdrawal
The withdrawal process is not going to be the same for every person coming off MDMA. The symptoms a person experiences, and their severity, can differ depending on a variety of factors. This includes a mix of personal, biological, and lifestyle factors.
Factors that can affect MDMA withdrawal:
- amount taken
- polysubstance abuse (abusing more than one drug or substance)
- co-occurring mental health disorders
- overall health
- duration and frequency of use
- severity of dependence
Some people that abuse ecstasy do not experience withdrawal symptoms. This can vary based on a mix of the factors listed above.
Ecstasy Addiction Detoxification Options
Detoxification, or detox, is the process of removing a drug from a person’s system. This occurs through a natural metabolizing process, and can trigger withdrawal symptoms.
Can You Detox From Home?
There has been little assessment on the safety of detoxing from MDMA dependence in a home environment. Although withdrawal is unlikely to trigger life-threatening symptoms, it can be a highly-distressing process.
Home detox also has a higher risk for relapse, as people can sometimes take another MDMA dose to relieve withdrawal symptoms. Medical support is advised during any drug detox process, both to reduce risk for relapse and provide treatment for symptoms as needed.
Medical detox programs provide a safe setting for people to withdraw from drug dependence and can offer several benefits. First, formal detox programs offer medical support from professionals trained to treat drug withdrawal. This can involve administering certain medicines able to ease intense or uncomfortable symptoms.
Finally, entering a medical detox program can connect patients to resources for MDMA addiction treatment. While detox can treat physical effects of dependence, it is not a complete treatment program.
People overcoming MDMA addiction may benefit from entering a rehab program where they can receive therapy and explore holistic treatment options.
Getting Help and Recovery For Ecstasy Abuse, Withdrawal And Dependence
Many addiction treatment programs can offer effective methods for treating MDMA abuse and dependence. This includes treatment services such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which addresses how thoughts and emotions can influence substance abuse behaviors.
Entering a rehab center for MDMA abuse can provide patients with the time and space to learn how to live a balanced and sober life. Recovery is not always an easy journey, but it doesn’t have to be faced alone.
Contact us today to learn more about MDMA (ecstasy/molly) detox and addiction treatment options.Article Sources
National Institute on Drug Abuse - MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse
U.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed - Test-re-test reliability of DSM-IV adopted criteria for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) abuse and dependence: a cross-national study


|Source: Environmental Monitor|
A new study of mercury levels in bats links higher concentrations in some colonies to the acidity of nearby lakes and rivers, further illuminating the paths this global atmospheric contaminant follows though aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Previous research has shown that fish and other organisms in lakes with higher acidity tend to have higher mercury concentrations. This study from Nova Scotia shows the effect appears to extend to little brown bats, which feed on adult insects that live in aquatic habitats as juveniles.
“What we found was that the average water acidity in surrounding freshwater systems may be an important factor in increasing bioavailability of mercury in aquatic food chains leading to little brown bats,” wrote Linda Campbell, study co-author and a senior research fellow in environmental science at Saint Mary’s University, in an email.
The study, published online by the journal Environmental Science and Technology, came about after a bird ecotoxicologist, a bat biologist and a limnologist got together.
“While we didn’t all walk into a bar, our interests and expertise overlapped nicely,” said Campbell, the limnologist of the group.


WISE OWL EXERCISES
VISUAL BASIC EXERCISES
VISUAL BASIC EXERCISES
- Drawing forms (2)
- Form events (1)
- Variables and data types (2)
- Enumerations and constants (2)
- Form validation (3)
- Menus and toolbars (2)
- Files and folders (1)
- Basic DataGridViews (1)
- Reacting to DataGridView events (3)
- Advanced DataGridViews (2)
- Creating classes (4)
- Coding in VB.NET (2)
- Variables and constants (3)
- Testing conditions (2)
- Passing arguments (3)
- Using arrays (2)
- Loops (2)
- Working with files (3)
- Lists (3)
- Creating properties (3)
Visual Basic | Lists exercise | Create a list of dates which are on Friday 13th
This exercise is provided to allow potential course delegates to choose the correct Wise Owl Microsoft training course, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any format without the prior written consent of Wise Owl.
The answer to the exercise will be included and explained if you attend one of more of the courses listed below!
You need a minimum screen resolution of about 700 pixels width to see our exercises. This is because they contain diagrams and tables which would not be viewable easily on a mobile phone or small laptop. Please use a larger tablet, notebook or desktop computer, or change your screen resolution settings.
Press CTRL + D to add the file called frmUnluckyDates.vb from the above folder into your project (or right click on the project and choose to add it as an existing item). Change your project's properties to make this the default form for your project.
Attach code to the left-hand button so that when you click on it you see something like this:
Clicking on the button shown should generate a list of Friday 13ths, then set this list as the data source for the listbox.
Some hints on how to proceed are shown below.
You can use the AddMonths method to add a given number of calendar months on to any given date. You may also find this code excerpt useful:
'get the 13th of this month
Dim startDate As Date = System.DateTime.Today
startDate = New DateTime(startDate.Year, startDate.Month, 13)
When you've got the first button working, attach code to the Fridays only button using the FindAll lambda function (or some other method) to count only those dates which fall on a Friday:
What you should see when you click on the right-hand button.
Remembering that this is a silly superstition, touch the table for luck anyway and close down your application and any open forms.


Child Safety and Fractures
School age kids. Fractures and road safety (whatevery kid needs to know about crossing the street and riding a bike).
Childhood is fraught with danger. From birth to adulthood there are so many ways a kid can get hurt that even a 20 year veteran emergency room nurses are still amazed at the imagination and innovation children use to injure themselves. Before children, most adults hardly know where the local hospital is. After kids, they know the way and every possible shortcut.
Most accidents can be avoided with proper supervision, the proper tools and knowledge. Teach your children to cross the road safely and re-inforce it every time you are out together. Teach your children the rules of the road when on foot and when on a bicycle and how they are different. You can obtain this information from your local police station. When you go to the station bring your kids with you to have a look around and to met a policeman. They need to be able to trust public figures if they find themselves alone. Teach them to dial 911 so if you are the one in trouble the child does not panic, because he know he can call for help and be taken seriously.
If your child has been helping in the workshop be sure that they know that the are not to go there without an adult present. A power saw in the hands of a 6 year old equals disaster of major proportions. Teach them to use tools in the proper way and to wear the appropriate gear, such as safety goggles, ear plugs, work gloves, and anything else that may be warranted.
[Editor's note: Similarily, teach your children that cars are not for playing in. And firearms should be inaccessible, with firing pin, ammunition, and gun locked in separate cabinets.]
When riding a bicycle, insist on helmet, lights, a rear view mirror, knee and elbow protectors. The helmet has been shown to save lives, especially in children who by nature have a proportionally heavier head than adults. This means in a fall, the head falls faster that in an adult. Teach your children to use the hand signals well and all the time, even if they know there is no one behind them. Another bike ridden by an adult may be behind them but your child be unaware of it. In making a sudden move the bike behind could plow right into your child.
Fractures are common in childhood. Fortunately, God put in a great repair system.
You should suspect a broken bone if:
-The victim can't move the injured part.
-The part is deformed, or appears to be out of shape. (one leg shorter than the other)
-Movement is painful.
-Sensation is lacking (can't feel anything)
-The skin is swollen and bruised.
A simple fracture exists under unbroken skin and may not be obvious. A compound fracture shows bone protruding from the skin, or and open wound at the fracture site; frequently there is severe bleeding from the wound.
PRICIPLES OF FIRST-AID FOR FRACTURES.
-Do not move the person unless he or she is at risk to
further injury. Great harm can can be done if the
patient is moved hastily, pulled, bundled into the back
seat of a car, or allowed to stand or sit up, or to move
the injured part.
-If moving is absolutely necessary, pull at the legs or from the armpits along the axis of the body.
-Examine the person first for other injuries. Stop serious bleeding by hand pressure or a gauze dressing over the wound.
-Check the victim's mouth and throat for possible obstruction of breathing (Chewing gum?)
-Keep the patient warm and lying down.
-Do not put a pillow under the person's head if the neck is injured. Instead block the head with padding to prevent neck movement.
IF THERE IS A DELAY IN TRANSPORT:
-Do not try to set bones.
-Always apply splints before moving or transporting the patient. Splint the patient where he or she is.
-Apply a clean dressing and bandage (no antiseptic) if a bone protrudes through the skin. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PUSH THE BONE BACK INTO PLACE.
Properly cared for, a fracture will heal in less than a month. More severe may take up to 3 months but generally the patient will be back to their old selves in no time.
Return to Health Page.


By Claire Georgiou, Reboot Naturopath, B.HSc ND
We’ve all had them. Those red, sometimes white bumps, that appear out of nowhere. Or so we think.
Acne is the most common skin problem. Most people are affected by acne at some stage of their life and it often develops in teenage years due to hormonal changes but it also can develop in earlier adult years and even later in life. It consists of mild to severe outbreaks of pimples and cysts mainly on the face, back, arms and chest. Acne can be caused from overproduction of sebum (oil), build-up of bacteria or irregular shedding of dead skin cells. When the openings of hair follicles become clogged and blocked with oil secretions, dead skin cells and sometimes bacteria then turns into pimples with pus, cysts and blackheads.
Anyone may get a pimple here and there but acne is a chronic problem that can be caused by:
A high GI diet consuming plenty of sugar laden foods and refined processed carbohydrates will contribute to poor skin health and acne.
Lack of nutrients:
Nutritional deficiencies are highly implicated in poor skin health, skin infections and poor shedding of dead skin, blocked pores and other skin disorders.
Hormonal changes and/or imbalances:
Testosterone is one of the main culprits for the increase in acne in teenage years. Testosterone is an androgen hormone that stimulates the oil glands to become larger and secrete more oil (sebum). This hormone is responsible for acne breakouts in both girls and boys. Girls and women will often experience an increased acne breakout in the week leading up to their periods.
Poor liver and intestinal health:
Inefficient detoxification pathways can increase acne breakouts, a build-up of toxins can cause unhealthy bacteria in the gut and this can affect your skin health. Some people who are cleansing will find an increase in pimples, this is certainly a detox reaction that some may experience. Keep going and your skin will never look better!
Poor skin cleaning practices or excess products:
People who may be prone to acne and who do not keep the skin clean and tend to touch their face, back, chest and arms often with dirty hands will aggravate acne and further increase infections. It is important to be aware that over cleansing and cleaning the skin can also aggravate acne, when you dry the skin out too much the skin tries to compensate by producing more sebum(oil) in the skin.
Natural Solutions to Heal Acne:
1.) Load up on Nutrients: Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Selenium are very specific for the treatment of acne. They help balance the hormones, support immune function to reduce infection, support liver detoxification pathways, support healthy mucus membranes in the skin and digestive system, wound healing, anti-inflammatory and may reduce excess oil secretion.
2.) Avoid Dairy Products: Dairy can aggravate acne for some people, it can be beneficial to eliminate dairy for 6-12 weeks to see if there is any significant improvements to the skin.
3.) Reduce Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates: This includes white flour based products like breads, bagels, biscuits, processed breakfast cereals and crackers. These foods elevate insulin which can increase acne breakouts. Low GI-diets have also been shown to be beneficial for acne.
4.) Increase Fiber: Fiber improves glycemic control and fiber also binds with hormones that are excreted from the liver and then via the bowel. You can increase your fiber by including extra foods such as hemp seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, oat bran or psyllium husks in smoothies, juices, breakfast dishes or simply take with water to move things along.
5.) Hydrate: Drink up for natural skin cleansing! Keep up those 8 glasses of water every day!
6.) Consume More Fruits and Vegetables: Important for their cleansing benefit, they also help balance hormone levels by improving detoxification pathways. Dark green leafy vegetables improve skin radiance and reducing excess oil production. I always think of the expression ‘Greens Clean!!’ I always think of green juices as the best nutritional aid for acne.
7.) Hormonal Acne: All these suggestions will aid in balancing hormonal health. Female acne can also be helped with the herb Chaste Berry and vitamin B6 which may alleviate some cases of premenstrual acne.
8.) Anti-Microbial Agents: Eating raw garlic and consuming some herbal medicines such as a tea, powder or liquid such as calendula (marigold), echinacea, yellow dock, blug flag and burdock can help your skin from the inside out. Make sure you eat foods naturally containing bacteria to improve digestive health as this is also very important for reducing harmful bacteria which can contribute to acne.
9.) Stop Picking! Touching your face is another problem which further aggravates acne by increasing the infection rate of the pimples. People often pick and squeeze their pimples which will encourage more breakouts. Our hands are often covered in bacteria so it is important not to touch the skin when you have small open wounds that occur when the pimples are squeezed.
10.) Use Topical Lotions and Creams: These can help enormously to reduce bacterial infections getting into the pores and causing acne. Cleansing morning and night can reduce the incidence considerably.
Natural essential oils that are antiseptic can reduce acne such as tea tree, neem, oregano and lavender oil in face washes. Honey and propolis can also be beneficial.
Some make-up and oily face products can increase acne by clogging up the pores and increasing infections.
11.) Make Your Own Toner: 1 part apple cider vinegar and 8 parts filtered boiled water in a bottle and spritz on face after cleansing can reduce acne breakouts.
DRINK THESE JUICES TO IMPROVE ACNE:
AND Check out the FACE MAP: The location of your pimples means something.
There are some face maps that indicate the problem depending on the location of the acne (I always find this very interesting and relevant)…
Temples and forehead – this is commonly related to a food intolerance, excess processed foods, alcohol, unhealthy fats, poor blood sugar control and lack of hydration.
Between the eyes – this can be caused from poor liver and digestive health. Cut back on the sugar, sodas, caffeine, and alcohol and drink plenty of water and herbal teas for their natural cleansing effect.
Temples – this relates to the kidneys, drink more water and keep well hydrated.
Along the jaw-line and chin – is commonly related to hormonal disturbances and for some women this will be more evident leading up to your period. This is a critical time to get adequate sleep and rest.
Chin – can also mean it’s time to do that cleanse! This can be from eating heavy rich foods, high GI foods and lack of nutrients.
Cheeks – this can be related to your lung health – smoking, air pollutants & allergies can contribute.
Nose – this is related to the heart health – maintaining a healthy heart is important.
What have you found that has helped your acne?