By: Thomas Yoon
One of the most frightening phenomenon for operators of diesel
engines is the crankcase explosion. Although many
force-lubricated, totally enclosed, reciprocating machines like
diesel engines, steam engines, air compressors and many others
had been running for many hours without any such problems, still
the problem of crankcase explosion is ever present and we cannot
forget about it.
In order to understand the phenomenon of crankcase explosion, we
have to understand the nature of fire, because, after all, an
explosion is a very rapid propagation of fire.
A fire will only start whenever three conditions are met: fuel,
oxygen, and heat.
A fire can very well start inside the crankcase of a diesel
engine when the conditions are just right. For all the recorded
occurrences of crankcase explosions, one factor is common, namely
a hot spot. That is the heat source.
Now, let us take a look inside the crankcase. It houses the
crankshaft, connecting rod, piston rod, cylinder liner, piston,
drive gears or chains and the lubrication oil. To prevent
lubrication oil loss, protect persons from the moving mechanical
parts, prevent contamination of the oil, and many other reasons
the crankcase is totally enclosed and separated from the external
First, let us look at the moving parts. There is the reciprocating
mechanism consisting of the crankshaft, journal bearings, and
connecting rod. If it is a crosshead engine, the crosshead sliding
and reciprocating mechanism. For the trunk type engine, there is
the piston and the small end bearings.
There are also gears or chains to drive the camshaft. For
reversible engines, the reversing drive mechanisms. There is also
the thrust bearings at the end of the crankshaft to take up the
driven load. There may also be cooling oil pipes, or cooling water
pipes sliding inside the crankcase for piston cooling. The piston
rod itself may also be sliding through a gland assembly at the
under piston space.
All the sliding parts can become a hotspot whenever there is
insufficient lubrication to reduce the friction, probably during
starting of the engine or any abnormal interruption in the force
lubrication oil system.
Next, the use of fuel oil in the engine. Dripping fuel injectors
will result in incomplete combustion of the fuel above the piston
top. If the dripping is serious, the liquid fuel can find their way
through the piston rings aided by the high pressure of the
combustion process to eventually find its way into the crankcase.
For trunk type engines, this is a direct path to the crankcase. It
can become a source of low flash point fuel when mixed with the
For dripping fuel injectors, it is common to find unburnt carbon that
will cause the piston rings to stick within their grooves, thus
destroying the sealing function of the piston rings. This will not
only cause the fuel to drip through, but can also cause fire from the
combustion space to blow past through the gaps between the piston
rings and the cylinder bore. This can be a source of heat!
There are other conditions favorable to cause an explosion, for
example the quality of the oil and the effects of oxidation after a
long period of use, the generation of oil mist due to agitation of
the oil spray, the property of the oil, etc.
It is impossible to guarantee that any engine will operate for the
whole of its life without, somewhere, at some time, a hot spot
appearing. Therefore it is essential that should a hot spot occur and
if it goes undetected, an explosion will not result.
That could be the subject of another article... Meanwhile procuring
hard-to-find tools is just as important for making engine adjustments.
Many years of working experience in Marine, Facilities,
Construction has given the author material for writing e-books
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With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, my thoughts go not to chocolate and flowers, but instead to V-Day, Eve Ensler’s foundation to support stopping violence against women and girls. Since this column is never going to be about chocolate and flowers, let’s talk about how to stop violence against women and girls. And let’s go straight to one of the worst manifestations of violence against women–acid attacks.
Are you not familiar? It’s horrible. While men are sometimes the victims of acid attacks, the vast majority of the perpetrators are men, and the victims women. Specifically, 80 percent of the victims are women, and 70 percent are under the age of eighteen. Usually out of jealousy or revenge, layered with a deep-seated sense of misogyny, the perpetrator throws strong acid in the face of the victim, causing intense pain, scarring, and sometimes blindness. The acid can be so strong that it can destroy bones. The intent is not to kill the victim (and, indeed, acid attacks are rarely fatal.) Instead, it is to cause her pain and disfigurement. Common motivations for acid attacks include disputes over dowries, domestic disputes, and allegations of infidelity–all aspects of society where men hold the upper hand. In cultures where marriage is nearly required, women who have been attacked with acid are virtually unmarriable, due to their changed appearance, and sometimes blindness. Victims are usually known to their attackers–these are, by and large, personal attacks.
Acid attacks occur throughout Southeast Asia, especially in Pakistan, India, Cambodia, and Bangladesh. Part of the reason attacks are prevalent in this part of the world is because acid is so readily available for legitimate reasons such as manufacturing. Acid attacks have also occurred in parts of Africa, as well as in the developed world, but these tend to be one-off cases, rather than a pervasive problem.
I’m focusing on Bangladesh today, as this form of violence against women is especially common there. Since 1999, there have been over 3,000 recorded acid attacks in Bangladesh. (Emphasis on RECORDED. Everyone assumes the actual number of attacks is higher.) A tiny bit of background on Bangladesh: The place is CROWDED, with a population of 158 million living in 145,000 square kilometers; basically, imagine half the population of the entire United States living in an area slightly smaller than Iowa. The country is impoverished, with more than half living on less than a dollar a day, and has been politically violatile since its creation in 1971, though much of that has calmed down recently. Militant Islamism has been a growing problem (the country is about 90% Muslim and 10% Hindu.)
In terms of overall women’s rights, Bangladeshi women are well represented politically, thanks in part to a quota guaranteeing women a certain number of elected seats. There is also an increase in economic opportunities for women, partially due to the growing export garment industry. Economic opportunities, even if they’re in less-than-ideal factories, tend to give a measure of gender empowerment. A law against domestic violence was passed in October of 2010, though it’s effectiveness is up for debate. There are several laws attempting to prevent acid attacks, both by making it harder to obtain acid, and by imposing stricter penalties for acid attacks compared to other crimes. While all of that is encouraging, women are still far less educated compared to men (the female literacy rate is 41% compared to men’s 54%) and women are seen as subservient to men. (I would once again like to point out that, really, there are only a handful of places on this Earth where that ISN’T true.) Still, there are degrees of subservience, and the fact that throwing acid in a woman’s face because she refused to date you is seen as an acceptable action by hundreds of men a year makes it safe to say that there is some heavy sexism prevalent in Bangladeshi culture.
Aside from the prevalence of this issue, the other reason I’ve focused on Bangladesh when discussing acid-throwing is because Bangladesh has been internationally recognized as being the most pro-active in combating this scourge.The government, as mentioned earlier, has passed several laws on the issue, tightly regulating the sale and transport of acid as well as enacting harsher penalties for perpetrators–those accused of throwing acid, for example, are always held without bail until their trial, and the sentencing is much harsher. Since these laws were enacted in 2002, the number of recorded acid attacks had decreased by 15-20% every year, as seen in the chart on the left. It should be pointed out that in India and Cambodia, two other countries where acid attacks are all too common, the attacks have only gotten increasingly frequent in the past decade.
In addition to the government, there are some incredibly good NGOs. Every piece of research I’ve come across mentions the Acid Survivors’ Foundation, (ASF) an organization co-founded by a Bangladeshi woman (and a British man, with lots of international support, but let’s take what we can get.) Moira Rahman, co-founder and Executive Director of ASF, is not a survivor of an acid attack herself, but has worked tirelessly for 13 years supporting survivors and fighting to decrease the prevalence of acid attacks. ASF works in a variety of ways. They provide support and medical care, both physical and emotional, for victims of attacks, provide legal support and help to survivors who are trying to return to normal lives as part of society. However, it is their public awareness campaign that has garnered a great deal of attention. ASF’s “Use water-save life” campaign, which consists of media segments instructing people to immediately treat acid victims with water, has garnered significant international attention, and now, in the case of an acid attack, bystanders will immediately douse an attacked person with water, significantly decreasing the extent of the damage. ASF has also lobbied the government for stricter laws regarding acid attacks, and both pieces of legislation that the Bangladeshi government has passed are due in part to the hard work of ASF.
In addition to ASF (and indeed, ASF would not exist without the following organization) there is Naripokkho, a women’s development organization. Within Naripokkho, an activist named Nasreen Huq founded a campaign against acid violence in the mid 1990s. This campaign was the first of its kind, and it was the work of Ms. Huq that inspired the founding of ASF. Sadly, Nasreen Huq was killed in 2009, in what was either an accident or an assassination. (The worldwide trend of murdering women’s rights activists is a topic for another day.) In addition to this specific campaign, Naripokkho also works to monitor treatment of survivors of violence against women, stationing volunteers in police stations and hospitals to ensure that women receive the legal and medical attention they deserve.
There is also Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), a women’s rights organization with it’s roots in the liberation movement of the 1970s. Founded by a poet named Sufia Kamal, BMP fights for women’s rights in every aspect of society, and this includes an end to acid attacks. Among many other things, BMP provides legal support, rehabilitation, and lobbying on behalf of women’s rights in Bangladesh–it has been referred to as THE women’s rights organization in the country. BMP also conducts research and writes publications about women’s rights in Bangladesh, an essential element of bringing attention to this issue, as well as providing concrete statistics on acid attacks. Indeed, one of the most comprehensive works on violence against women in Bangladesh is a joint effort between BMP and Naripokkho.
While I usually end these pieces with some vague “women can fix this problem!” type of statement, today I’ve got statistics. Look at the chart up there. Acid attacks in Bangladesh are HALF as prevalent now as they were a decade ago. Because of the work of these organizations, women who are attacked have access to medical, emotional, and legal support, and the country as a whole is so aware of the problem that bystanders now jump in and throw water on victims to try and prevent an acid attack from becoming as severe as it could be. That’s huge. That, right there, is proof that it is possible to create societal change. That people are aware that this is an inexcusable crime, that it is punishable by harsh law, and that it is simply culturally unacceptable, is due to the hard work of the organizations above, and others like them.
Sources: (Note: the starred links below contain images of women who have survived acid attacks. These photos can be hard to look at, so I wanted to warn you, even though I worry that warning you further stigmatizes the survivors.)
Acid Attacks in Bangladesh: A Voice for the Victims*
Acid Survivors Foundation*
Bangladesh Mahila Parishad
Baseline Report: Violence Against Women in Bangladesh
CIA World Factbook: Bangladesh
Combating Acid Violence in Bangladesh, India, and Cambodia * (Source of chart above, also, VERY sad/graphic photos here.)
Naripokkho, Non-Governmental Organization


Is This the Earliest?
There is no evidence that natives of the Western Hemisphere knew about kites or kite-flying when Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492. But Columbus had read about Marco Polos travels, which included a discussion of kites, and it is possible some of his sailors had been exposed to them on their voyages to the Middle East. However, there is no substantial evidence of any kiting activity in North or Central America until the 1700s. This excludes Hawaii, which is considered Polynesian.
Shirley Gluboks book Home and Child Life in Colonial Days contains an exhaustive description of games, pastimes, toys and childrens activities in the 1600s and 1700s. The first mention of a kite is in the late 1700s. However, we know Benjamin Franklin flew his famous kite with a key to attract lightning in l752 and also flew kites as a youngster.
In a letter written sometime during 1773, Franklin said to a friend: "When I was a boy...(I) amused myself one day with flying a paper kite, and approaching the bank of a pond, which was near a mile broad, I tied the string to a stake, and the kite ascended to a very considerable height above the pond while I was swimming. In a little time, being desirous of amusing myself with my kite and enjoying at the same time the pleasure of swimming, I returned; and, loosing from the stake the string with the little kite which was fastened to it, went again into the water, where I found that, lying on my back and holding the stick in my hands, I was drawn along the surface of the water in a very agreeable manner. Having then engaged another boy to carry my clothes round the pond, to a place which I pointed out to him on the other side, I began to cross the pond with my kite, which carried me quite over without the least fatigue and the greatest pleasure imaginable....I have never since that time practiced this singular mode of swimming, though I think it not impossible to cross in this manner from Dover to Calais. The packet boat, however, is still preferable."


Explain the importance of learning to understand financial accounting.
WhatsApp Management Accounting and its Role in Organization Management accounting is the process of preparing management reports and accounts that provide accurate and timely financial and statistical information to managers to make short-term and long-term decisions.
It identifies, measures, analyzes, interprets, and communicates information to enable an organization to pursue its goals. Management accounting differs from financial accounting. While financial accounting provides information to people inside and, more importantly, people outside the organization, management accounting is mostly aimed at aiding managers inside the organization with decision making.
Forecasting aids decision-making and answering questions, such as: Should the company invest in more equipment? Should it diversify into different markets?
Should it buy another company? Management accounting helps in answering these critical questions and forecasting the future trends in business. Helping in Make-or-buy Decisions: Is it cheaper to procure materials or a product from a third party or manufacture them in-house?
Cost and production availability are the deciding factors in this choice.
Through management accounting, insights will be developed which will enable decision-making at both operational and strategic levels. Predicting cash flows and the impact of cash flow on the business is essential. How much cost will the company incur in the future?
Where will its revenues come from and will the revenues increase or decrease in the future?
Management accounting involves designing of budgets and trend charts, and managers use this information to decide how to allocate money and resources to generate the projected revenue growth. Helping Understand Performance Variances: Business performance discrepancies are variances between what was predicted and what is actually achieved.
|Step 2 - Filter by:||Financial Mathematics One CreditAdopted|
Management accounting uses analytical techniques to help the management build on positive variances and manage the negative ones. Analyzing the Rate of Return: Before embarking on a project that requires heavy investments, the company would need to analyze the expected rate of return ROR.
If given two or more investment opportunities, how should the company choose the most profitable one? In how many years would the company break even on a project? What are the cash flows likely to be?
These are all vital questions that can be answered through management accounting. Tools of Management Accounting Management accounting employs various tools to forecast business trends: Ratios Skills and ability to read and analyze financial statements Management information systems MIS.2 This paper reviews a broad range of innovations in business financing and highlights examples of good practice in developed and emerging economies.
In an environment that is constantly evolving, studying Business and Financial Management gives you an understanding of the challenges faced by governments and organisations worldwide, as well as the skills and knowledge to work in a high-level business or managerial.
§ Implementation of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Finance, Adopted (a) The provisions of this subchapter shall be implemented by school .
The common misconception after obtaining an accounting degree or a Chartered Accountant qualification would be to assume that one should pursue the career of an auditor or a role working closely with financial numbers.
Chapter 1 Why Is Financial Accounting Important? Video Clip What do investors actually hope to learn about a company from this financial information? and the like has been enormously helpful in my investment management business.
Anyone majoring in any aspect of business needs that knowledge. Blue Rocket Accounting is a firm of bookkeepers and chartered accountants based in Dartford, Kent.
We are dedicated to helping small businesses grow and become more profitable.


Msyophobia (or germophobia) : fear of germs
What is a germ: Simply, germs are very small organisms, or living things, that can cause people to get sick, and they’ve probably existed since the beginning of time. They are everywhere.
A stunningly short history of germs:
Bacteria were pretty much the first form of life on earth,
3,500 million years: How long germs have been around
1670s: Anton van Leeuwenhoek first looked at microorganisms under a microscope
1860s: Louis Pasteur developed the “germ theory” in the 1860s (the idea that they were living and caused disease).
Today: Scientists estimate there are trillions of micro-organisms inside us — specifically, in our intestines, nasal passages and on our skin and tongue and elsewhere. Some are bad germs, others are good germs.
There are 4 main types of germs:
Bacteria: single-celled creatures (so small you need a microscope to see them) that live just about everywhere on earth. You name it in the air, in soil, in water, and yes, in and on humans.
Virus: need a host to survive. Can grow and reproduce on their own if they have enough food, viruses need to be INSIDE the cell of a living plant or animal (including humans), or even inside a bacterium!
Fungi: made up of many cells; lives off of animals and other plants.
Protozoa: like bacteria, are extremely small. Of the 20,000 different types of protozoa, most live in water, oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds.
Why people fear germs:
With all the talk about antibiotic-resistant infections and life-threatening flu strains, it’s easy to see why some people actively worry about what they touch and breathe.
7 Deadliest Germs:
E Coli: pathogens that cause deadly illness and disease in their human hosts.
Salmonella: takes two forms. One, typhi causes typhoid fever, which is responsible for the death of 216,000 persons a year in endemic areas.
Tetanus: Dirt carrying spores
Staphylococcus: one of the largest groups of bacteria with 40 subspecies. Normally found in small amounts on your skin, and a normal immune system can deal with it.
Syphilis: Easily treatable in the first and second stages now, the tertiary stage is still a big problem.
Streptococcus: This killer is responsible for numerous cases of pneumonia throughout the world, and meningitis.
Tuberculosis: has ravaged the world for centuries, also known as consumption. It has been found in the spines of mummies.
Fight the Power of Germs: Innovative germ fighting in hospitals now being used
Germ fighting robots to deal with superbugs
Using good germs to fight bad germs: Patients swabbed with pro-biotic bacteria called Lactobacillus plantarum 299 escaped infection as well as those cleaned up using the antiseptic chlorhexidine.
Sharkskin: Sharklet Technologies makes sheets of plastic imprinted with a raised sharkskin-like pattern. The sheets can be adhered to germ-prone surfaces to prevent bacteria from settling in for up to 30 days. An institutional version of the product is being tested for hospital use and is slated to debut next year.
Germ-fighting metal. Copper and Light. Blasting germs with beams of light or replacing surfaces with an electrically conductive metal may sound far-fetched, but these practices are becoming reality as hospitals search for innovative ways to combat infection.
Use of antibiotic to fight germs: A promising antibiotic simply named GSK1322322 targets gram-positive bacteria.
Chemically treated clothing: Researchers from a new start-up company called LaamScience have discovered an assortment of chemicals that can be used as a nano-thin layer and be coated on clothes materials such as cotton, nylon, and polyester. The chemical coating is toxic to a wide assortment of harmful microbes, but is completely harmless to humans.
Plasmas: Engineered to zap microorganisms. Hospital workers would bathe their hands in the plasma gas.
Innovative germ fighting around the home
Disinfect your home
Wash your hands: Soap and water pack a powerful punch against harmful microorganisms
Get a flu shot: To protect against the flu, anyone 6 months or older should get vaccinated, but shots aren’t 100 percent effective.
Don’t share dinnerware: If your child contracts a stomach bug, make sure he refrains from sharing food, drinks, and silverware with the rest of your family.
Close the toilet lid, then flush: Flushing the toilet with the lid up can launch germs into the air, landing them on the door and faucet handles as well as (gasp!) toothbrushes.
Change towels and sheets
Sneeze into sleeves
Scrub school gear: Your child’s backpack and lunchbox can house germs and carry them into your home.
Be extra careful with your storage, cleaning, food preparation, and shopping practices.
Be smart about your phone. Forget Tweets — a phone is far more efficient at transmitting germs. There are safe sanitizers.
But HEY, It’s not all bad news
FACT: Penicillin was called the “Miracle Drug” when it was first discovered because it cured many diseases caused by bacteria that made people very sick. It comes from a mold – another type of germ.
6 Famous People who are Germophobics
Howie Mandel, comedian: does not shake hands with anyone unless he is wearing latex gloves
Michael Jackson, superstar: suffered from many fears, including the fear of dogs, the fear of flying, the fear of getting fat, the fear of crowds, and an extreme fear of germs.
Howard Hughes, billionaire: Tried to protect himself from germs by using tissues to pick up objects. He even stuffed all the cracks in his windows with tissues to keep the germs out.
Donald Trump, millionaire: doesn’t shake hands because he’s afraid of germs.
Cameron Diaz, actress: She repeatedly washes her hands throughout the day and uses her elbows instead of her hands to open doors.
Saddam Hussein, dead Iraqi dictator: Often ordered visitors to strip and wash with antibacterial soap.


When setting up a home network, the most essential piece of equipment is the router. The way that most home networks are set-up is to have a router as the only device connected to the internet. Learning to configure your router is an important step towards customizing your home network.
How To Find Your Wise Routers IP Address
In order to login to your router, you need to know it's Internal IP Address. This is confusing because routers have 2 IP addresses: an Internal IP Address, and an External IP Address. Right now, you are only concerned with the Internal IP Address. You can do one of the following to find your router's Internal IP Address:
- Try all the known Default Wise IP Addresses default IP addresses
- Follow our How To Find Your Routers Internal IP Address Guide
How To Find Your Wise Default Username and Password
We have collected a list of all known Default Wise Router Passwords.
- You can try all known Default Wise Router Passwords
- You can try following our How To Reset Your Router Guide
You may need to try all combinations of usernames and passwords in your router. If none of them work and you don't know your router's password, then you can contact your ISP and ask them if they know. If you are unable to find your router's username and password, then you may have to follow our How To Reset Your Router Guide.
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Located 26 kilometres from Kutaisi in the Imereti region, the village of Esteri was for a good place for employment due to its proximity to the second biggest city in Georgia. Champagne production and tea growing were two of the Esterians' main economic activities.
There are 700 household and 2,030 people living in Esteri today. Back in 2002, there were 1,200 households and 6,700 residents.
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the slow decay of local enterprises, the village's recipe for survival became migration.
'There are no private companies in the village. The only employment you can get is in working your own land, which might or might not produce enough for your own needs' – Lali Kapanadze, former tea farmer.
According to one of the inhabitants, Tamaz Sumalanidze, 30% of Esteri's inhabitants left the village. There were two alternatives, as far as migration was concerned. One meant moving to Tbilisi; the other meant travelling to Russia, Turkey or Greece.
The migrants have been sending remittances back to their families. Women are mainly going to Greece; for them, finding jobs there is easier than for the men. They are working as babysitters, cleaners, etc. Until the crisis in relations between Russia and Georgia, the villagers were moving to different cities in Russia, mostly to work in construction. After Russian-Georgian relations deteriorated, however, they were expelled. It was now to Turkey that they travelled in search of seasonal jobs. These are one- or three-month jobs, primarily related to processing tea and collecting hazelnuts.
Imereti farm house. Photo: flickr/SusanAstray
Tea cropping used to be central to the village economy.
Over a cup of imported tea from India, Lali Kapanadze, a former tea farmer, said:
'Tea used to be one of the main exporting items of Georgia but now it is all imported.'
According to agricultural statistics for 2007, tea leaf production decreased in Georgia from 581,000 tons in 1985 to 7,500 tons in 2007.
Due to economic conditions and migration, the village population is shrinking. With the birth rate significantly lower than the death rate, the village is also rapidly aging. In 2007, only 11 people were born and 42 died.


The genus Dieffenbachia was named after Herr Joseph Dieffenbach, head gardener and later administrator, at the Royal Palace Gardens Schönbrunn, Vienna during the 1830s. It is said that Dieffenbach brought Dieffenbachia seguine to Austria from Brazil around 1830. If true, Dieffenbachia was one of the plants returned to Europe by the Austro-Brazilian expeditions (1817-35) that began the expansion of our understanding of the plants of Brazil and South America.
There are 25 to 50 Dieffenbachia species originating from tropical America. Dieffenbachia seguine is grown for its distinctively marked, paddle-shaped leaves which can be up to 40 cm long. The leaves have a broad, creamy white midrib, with varying degrees of marking to other veins, and some spotting set on a glossy-green backdrop. Numerous named cultivars have been selected for their leaf markings which may make identification of Dieffenbachia seguine difficult. The stems are strong and thick and can reach 2-3 m in height in the wild, although in cultivation they are usually much shorter since if they do get too tall they tend to fall over. The tiny flowers are clustered on a spadix about 15 cm long, with the uppermost male flowers separated from the female flowers by a row of sterile flowers. The flowers are surrounded by a large, pale-spotted, light green spathe. The fleshy fruits are orange-red in colour.
In Oxford Botanic Garden, Dieffenbachia seguine grows in the Palm House, where the light levels mimic the low light of the forest floor, the species' natural habitat. Dieffenbachias prefer high humidity and a minimum temperature of 12° C, although preferred temperatures are nearer 18° C. Propagation is by tip cuttings, stem cuttings, division and air layering during the growing season. Dieffenbachias tend to be relatively pest and disease free, although, as in any tropical glasshouse situation, mealy bugs and red spider mites can be a problem.
The sap of dieffenbachias contains calcium oxalate, and is poisonous. Consequently, great care must be taken when handling dieffenbachia plants, especially over getting sap into the mouth and eyes. One response the sap provokes is swelling of the throat, resulting in speechlessness; hence the common name 'dumb cane'. In Amazonia, indigenous people use the sap to poison their arrows and it used to be used as a punishment for slaves, causing a very painful, swollen mouth and excessive saliva. In spite of the dieffenbachias toxicity, they are widely sold as pot plants.
Beckett KA 1987. The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopaedia of houseplants. Century Hutchinson Limited.
Huxley A 1999. The New Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening. Groves Dictionaries Inc.
Llamas KA 2003. Tropical flowering plants. A guide to identification and cultivation. Timber Press.
Oakeley HF 2012. Plants named after physicians. The Royal College of Physicians.


The FindLaw Legal Dictionary -- free access to over 8260 definitions of legal terms. Search for a definition or browse our legal glossaries.
dangerous instrument n: an object capable of causing bodily injury either because of an inherent quality or because of the manner in which it is used called also dangerous instrumentality NOTE: An object is more likely to be deemed a dangerous instrument on the basis of how it is used in criminal cases than in tort cases. For example, a sidewalk has been held to be a dangerous instrument in a criminal case in which the defendant struck the victim's head against it. In tort cases, esp. where strict liability is to be imposed, the object usually has to have some inherently dangerous quality.
Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.


Fibrous dysplasia is a genetic disease caused by activating missense mutations of the gsa gene the disease has variable severity and often combines with extraskeletal disorders which like the bone lesions reflect the adverse effects of the mutation. Fibrous dysplasia is a disorder where normal bone and marrow is replaced with fibrous tissue resulting in formation of bone that is weak and prone to expansionas a result most complications result from fracture deformity functional impairment and pain disease occurs along a broad clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic incidental lesions to severe disabling disease. Fibrous dysplasia is an uncommon bone disorder in which scar like fibrous tissue develops in place of normal bone this irregular tissue can weaken the affected bone and cause it to deform or fracture in most cases fibrous dysplasia occurs at a single site in one bone but can occur at multiple sites in multiple bones. Fibrous dysplasia fd is a rare bone disorder bone affected by this disorder is replaced by abnormal scar like fibrous connective tissue pairs of human chromosomes are numbered from 1 through 22 and the sex chromosomes are designated x and y males have one x and one y chromosome and females have two x chromosomes cherubism is a
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19/02/2002 11:20 am
This impressive image is one of the first images generated from ATSR-2. It was obtained from ATSR-2's nadir view, during a day-time pass of the area around the Larsen Ice Shelf, part of the Antarctic Peninsula. The dividing line between the ice shelf and the sea ice is clearly visible running from the bottom right up through the centre of the image. The oval-shaped piece of ice at the northern extremity of the ice shelf is a large iceberg formed from the disintegration of part of the shelf. This iceberg, was first seen in February 1995 and has since moved approximately 50km further north.
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Food Safety Myths And Facts Of Home Cooked Meals Debunked
The Ad Council is shining the spotlight on food safety – relating some common myths and facts about home cooked meals. The subject is one of their featured national campaigns that seek to inforrm the general public about a variety of issues.
I found some of the information they passed along as interesting stuff – especially if you’re a foodie.
- MYTH: Microwaving food kills bacteria so the food is safe. FACT: Harmful bacteria might still remain, as food in a microwave heats unevenly. Always follow instructions and know the dangers.
- MYTH: You can tell whether or not food is cooked by looking at it or touching it with a finger; You don’t need to use a thermometer. FACT: Color, texture, and steam are not proper indicators of whether or not food is cooked to temperature. The only safe way to know is by using a thermometer.
- MYTH: You can’t re-freeze food once it’s been thawed. FACT: Yes, you CAN re-freeze food after it’s been thawed. However, you need to be aware of how long the food has remained out and how it was thawed. Never re-freeze foods that were thawed in a microwave or in cool water.
- MYTH: You need to wash bagged salad greens. FACT: You don’t need to wash pre-washed lettuce and greens. Food sold as “ready to eat”, “washed”, or “triple washed” does not to be washed in the home.
To learn more, click here.


Tilapia aquaculture has grown dramatically in the past 20 years. More than 90 countries in the tropics and subtropics produce tilapia species and they remain popular products among consumers. Tilapia farming is viewed as a strategic asset since it provides both lucrative employment and an affordable and protein-rich food item. The sector is also a critical source of export revenue for many lower-income countries.
Despite the positives, the sector faces significant challenges from disease. Multiple infectious agents target tilapines and viral infections are a major setback for production. Intensive aquaculture has made tilapia more prone to disease-causing microorganisms – high stocking densities and varying levels of water quality can expose tilapia to stress and weaken their immune systems.
The most well-known virus to target tilapines is tilapia lake virus. Since its discovery in 2014, the disease has been widely researched and reported on. However, it isn’t the only threat to tilapia farms. Other viral infections cause similar damages and losses but haven’t received the same attention from researchers and industry members. Strategies to monitor and control disease outbreaks have been slow to materialise as well – indicating an enduring challenge for the industry’s future.
It isn’t tilapia lake virus – but it might be…
Aquabirnavirus can be found worldwide and causes infections in both freshwater and marine fish. The strain that infects tilapia species causes infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPVN). Researchers exploring IPVN infections report that it can have a 25 percent mortality rate.
However, current literature doesn’t list the transmission route of the virus – there is evidence that it can be spread both horizontally and vertically and that sub-clinical infections can spread to fertilised eggs, but these findings were reported in pilot studies.
Additionally, researchers aren’t able to list precise symptoms – outbreaks of IPVN have occurred concurrently with Streptococcus infections or have presented as a sub-clinical disorder.
Betanodavirus causes viral nervous necrosis (VNN), a disease that targets the central nervous system in tilapines. In a 2011 outbreak in Thailand, VNN had a mortality rate between 90-100 percent. Analysis from other outbreaks has shown that the virus can infect larvae, fry and fully developed tilapia.
Larvae that tested positive for VNN had lesions on the organs of their central nervous systems (cerebrum, spinal cord, olfactory bulb and retinal tissue). Infected fish were lethargic, swam erratically and spent time floating at the top of the tank. The fish also became anorexic and developed dark pigmentation. Tissue analysis showed significant damage in the eyes, spinal cord and brain. The tilapia also showed neuronal necrosis. During other outbreaks of VNN, tilapia displayed neurological disorders (loss of balance and corkscrew-like swimming) before dying.
Researchers caution that sub-clinical infections are possible and that tilapia who have survived VNN outbreaks could potentially carry the disease.
The most common herpesvirus infections in tilapines are tilapia larvae encephalitis (TELV). Symptoms usually include whirling swimming patterns and dark pigmentation over the fins and skin. Further examination of infected larvae showed herpes virions in portions of the brain tissue and extensive damage to the central nervous system. TELV causes high mortalities, in some cases mortality rates were between 92 and 98 percent.Researchers concluded that sexually mature males and females could carry and transmit the virus to their offspring. Other research projects demonstrated that TELV can be spread between different species of fish after cohabitation.
Bohle virus infection (Ranavirus)
Bohle virus (BVI) was first detected in a lab in Australia. In that study, infected tilapia had a 100 percent mortality rate. Infected fish exhibited corkscrew-like swimming (spinning) and had significant lesions on organ tissues – especially the kidneys and spleen. BVI can be transmitted laterally (from infected fish to naïve populations) via feeding.
Currently, there isn’t a BVI molecular detection method for tilapia species.
This DNA virus causes infectious spleen kidney necrosis (ISKNV) and has been reported in Nile tilapia and red hybrid tilapia. Other iterations of the virus infect both freshwater and marine species.
ISKNV was first observed on a tilapia farm in the United States in 2012. Infected fish were lethargic and carried excess fluid in the abdominal cavity. Further examination showed megalocytes (large, abnormally shaped red blood cells that usually indicate anaemia) in the gills, kidney, spleen, liver and intestinal cells. The facility reported a 50-75 percent mortality rate over a two-month period.
A study in Thailand showed that ISKNV could be transmitted vertically from sub-clinical broodstock, with females being more adversely affected than males. Megalocytivirus infections often occur concurrently with other disease outbreaks in farmed tilapia.
This infection was first reported on a Canadian fish farm in 1998. Diseased fish were lethargic, and either swam slowly or rested at the bottom of the tank. The fish exhibited discolouration around the gills and had redness under the jaw area. Infected fish also had bulging eyes – occasionally popping out of the sockets (exophthalmia).
Autopsied tilapia had multiple protein-rich fluid deposits in their abdominal cavities and their internal organs were pale. Researchers observed some petechial haemorrhaging in the liver and identified scattered necrotic cells and cell debris.
Researcher’s couldn’t uncover extensive information on the virus. The molecule that causes symptoms in tilapia hasn’t been fully isolated – researchers were only able to identify Iridoviridae family virions.
Staying ahead of the curve
The researchers recommend that producers who wish to increase their chances of avoiding viral infections should use using specific pathogen-free tilapia for breeding programmes. Similarly, they advise that investing in advanced molecular diagnostics will allow farmers to determine if individuals are virus-free at different points in the tilapia life cycle. They also recommend implementing a vaccination programme as part of a long-term development strategy.
However, they warn it will be difficult to fully implement these solutions – especially vaccination. Many of the viral diseases the researchers’ reviewed infect larvae and fingerlings that don’t have fully developed immune systems. This would make vaccination ineffective. There could also be an economic barrier when implementing a vaccine protocol. Many tilapia farms are in lower income countries and have tight profit margins. Some farmers lack the capital to invest in vaccines.
The researchers also caution that viruses aren’t the only challenge facing tilapia producers. Parasites and bacteria can infect tilapine species and cause significant losses.
To respond to these challenges, the authors recommend expanding research into genetic technologies. Gene editing breakthroughs could allow researchers to enhance certain genetic traits or create disease-resistant broodstock.
The case for widespread disease surveillance
The researchers also recommend initiating virus surveillance in tilapia farming countries. Approaching viral diseases epidemiologically will help researchers and producers understand the global distribution and transboundary movements of infections.
Establishing disease monitoring systems would bolster the industry. Tracking and sharing this information would also allow authorities to create containment policies to limit future outbreaks. Additionally, it could catch sub-clinical infections or identify fish that shed viruses without being symptomatic themselves.
The authors also recommend implementing biosecurity and good management practices. This will limit the introduction of new pathogens to ponds and limit the geographic distribution of outbreaks. Managing farming sites will also allow producers to monitor inputs like water quality and feed while also adhering to biosecurity standards.
Certification regimes would also help disease surveillance efforts. Certifying that tilapia are disease-free will streamline inspection processes and ensure exports aren’t delayed. Though tilapia-producing countries may not have the ability to fully monitor farming operations, passive surveillance and knowledge sharing would allow farmers to report disease events to local authorities.


Half electric, half combustion engine – plug-in hybrids combine the advantages of both powertrain technologies. You can read about how that works, and which manufacturers include plug-ins in their range, here.
The market for electric is booming – not just for pure e-cars, but also for plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) cars. In 2020, sales of PHEVs in Germany rose a staggering 342 percent, to 200,469 units sold. That made it the powertrain type with the strongest sales growth in 2020 in Germany. But in other countries, too, PHEVs are proving increasingly popular. Thus in Europe in 2020, a total of 619,129 plug-in hybrids were sold – an increase of 210 percent on the previous year, and around a 5.2 percent share of total sales. In Q1 2021, that figure has even been surpassed once more: With 212,859 units sold, PHEVs have reached a share of around 8.6 percent of all new registrations. That’s strong growth for a type of powertrain which is set to play a key role in decarbonizing the mobility sector. But how exactly do PHEVs work?
Hybrids are vehicles with both a combustion engine and an electric motor. However, there can be very significant differences in how exactly the two powertrain technologies work together. On ‘mild hybrids’, for instance, the electric motor is only there to support the combustion engine when accelerating. Conversely, full hybrids are able to run for some kilometers in pure electric mode; the installed battery is recharged via recuperation (energy recovery during braking). Plug-in hybrids go a step further: They have a large battery, with a range of up to 60 kilometers in pure electric mode, which can be recharged externally via a power point. As such, PHEVs are intended to combine the advantages of the two types of powertrain: The energy efficiency of e-cars for short journeys, and the capability of combustion engines to handle long journeys.
One car, two engines: With plug-in hybrids, drivers can choose the appropriate powertrain at all times – whether commuting to work, shopping in town or heading off on vacation. That allows the driver to run the car as economically and adaptably as possible. When they are driving in pure electric mode, they don’t emit any local emissions. In addition, using the e-motor and the right driving style can save between 30 and 80 percent on fuel consumption. And thanks to recuperation, they are also able to convert braking energy into electrical energy and store it in their battery. However, all these advantages are only realized if the PHEV driver also regularly employs the electric powertrain or hybrid mode and charges the battery via the cable. If a plug-in is only driven in combustion mode, the hybrid concept tends to bring disadvantages: Two engines increase the weight, and thus fuel consumption.
The costs of buying plug-in hybrids are generally somewhat higher than those for their sister cars in the combustion engine segment. The reason for that is the need to install an e-motor and a large battery in addition to the combustion engine, which impacts the price accordingly. But there’s plenty of potential for savings with plug-in hybrids. That’s because, if you regularly top the battery up with electricity and drive in electric mode a lot of the time, there’s a saving at the pump. Per kilometer, you are generally paying more at the pump than at the charging point – albeit the difference here is dependent on the current prices of fuel and electricity, and on the respective consumption of the vehicles. A further advantage on costs is the lower wear on e-motors, since they have significantly fewer parts than petrol or diesel engines. Over the long term, that has a positive effect on maintenance costs.
Taking all the cost advantages and disadvantages together, some PHEV models even come out better on price than their combustion-powered sisters. For instance, ADAC tests show the Mercedes B-Class as a plug-in achieving an overall average cost of EUR 0.59/km. The diesel and petrol options average around EUR 0.70/km. If the plug-in is a company car, there are also additional cost advantages on tax.
In Germany, a further major cost advantage with PHEVs currently is the environmental bonus (“Umweltbonus”) paid on them; the Federal government has recently raised this again, and extended it to 2025. Under it, plug-ins costing no more than EUR 40,000 currently attract a grant of EUR 6,750, with EUR 4,500 coming from the state and EUR 2,250 from the manufacturer. For PHEVs costing between EUR 40,000 and EUR 65,000, the level of the grant is EUR 5,625 (EUR 3,750 from the state, EUR 1,875 from the manufacturer). Grant programs for plug-in hybrids exist not just in Germany, but in many other European countries too. Behind Germany, where the grant is up to EUR 6,750, grants in Italy and Ireland are comparable, at EUR 6,000 and EUR 5,000 respectively. In other EU countries, however, the amounts are considerably lower; in Sweden, the grant is just EUR 965. And in fact, some EU countries – such as Denmark and Belgium – don’t offer any grants for purchases. Overall, plug-in hybrids currently attract grants in 12 out of 28 EU states.
Nowadays, practically all manufacturers offer plug-in hybrids. In Europe, particularly popular models in 2020 included the Mercedes A-Class, Volkswagen Passat, BMW 3 series, Mitsubishi Outlander and Volvo XC40. In addition to a wide choice of different manufacturers, there is also plenty of choice on PHEVs when it comes to models too: Whether SUV, compact or sedan – right down to the mini-car, everything is available now. Unlike pure e-cars, this means there’s a far wider choice for hybrids too.
(Stagephoto: © Mercedes; Stagephoto: © Volvo)
The IAA MOBILITY is transforming itself from a pure car show to an international mobility platform with four pillars: the Summit, the Conference, the “Blue Lane” and the downtown Munich Open Space. Under the slogan of “What will move us next”, it stands for the digital and climate-neutral mobility of the future. From 7 to 12 September 2021, the car, bike and tech industries come together at IAA MOBILITY in Munich.


If your kid consumes a restricted diet, is unable to absorb nutrients efficiently, or is a fussy eater, they may benefit from vitamin supplementation.
Always consult a healthcare practitioner before administering supplements to your kid. Choose first day kids vitamins that are designed exclusively for children and avoid megadoses that surpass children’s daily dietary requirements.
Is Vitamin Supplementation Necessary for a One-Year-Old?
This is the age at which many children transition from breast or bottle feeding to food, and any dietary shift may result in the emergence of new nutritional deficiencies. For instance, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests supplementing infants under the age of one with 400 IU of Vitamin D. As children often fall short of reaching their Vitamin D requirements as they grow, it may be beneficial to continue supplementing with Vitamin D (at least 600–1000 IU) as your kid develops.
Reasons to give your toddler a vitamin
Regardless of how hard you try, your child is unlikely to constantly consume healthful meals. (How can you argue with someone who believes the only meals worth eating are those that are white?) In such an instance, see your doctor to determine if a daily multivitamin supplement might assist close any nutritional gaps in your toddler’s diet. Consider the multi as a little insurance policy for your child and a measure of peace of mind for you.
Another reason to offer your child a multivitamin is that if he or she is on a special, limited diet, he or she may benefit greatly from an additional boost of nutrients. For example, children who do not consume milk due to lactose intolerance may need additional calcium and vitamin D. Additionally, children who follow a vegan diet (no meat, eggs, or dairy products) may need additional B12 and D vitamins, as well as riboflavin, calcium, and iron. In some instances, a multivitamin may be beneficial or even necessary – check with your doctor and obtain his or her advice.
What Are The Vitamin Benefits For Children?
Vitamins and minerals are critical for children’s growth, development, and general well-being. Each vitamin has a distinct and specialized function in the body. Calcium and vitamin D, for example, contribute to the development of strong bones. If your kid is allergic to dairy products, a calcium supplement supplemented with vitamin D may help ensure that your child receives an adequate amount of these critical bone-building elements throughout the first years of life.
Alternatively, if your kid is vegetarian or vegan or generally avoids animal products, they may choose to supplement with Vitamin B12, which is only found in animal-based diets.
3 If your kid is allergic to fish, and Omega-3 supplement may be a convenient method for him or her to get heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids without eating seafood.
Each vital vitamin (all 27 of them) has distinct qualities and works in concert with the other nutrients in the body to promote your child’s overall health. And it is critical that your children have enough levels of essential nutrients throughout their lives, but particularly during their formative years.
Top Vitamins and Minerals for Kids
Among the vitamin and mineral alphabet soup, a few stick out as vital for developing children.
- Vitamin A supports regular growth and development, as well as tissue and bone regeneration and the health of the skin, eyes, and immune system. Milk, cheese, eggs, and yellow-to-orange vegetables such as carrots, yams, and squash are all good sources.
- The B vitamin family – B2, B3, B6, and B12 – is involved in metabolism, energy generation, and maintaining a healthy circulatory and neural system. Meat, poultry, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, cheese, beans, and soybeans are all good sources.
- Calcium aids in the development of strong bones in children. Milk, cheese, yogurt, tofu, and calcium-fortified orange juice are all good sources.
- Iron helps develop muscle and is necessary for the formation of healthy red blood cells. Iron insufficiency is a danger throughout adolescence, particularly for females who begin menstruating. Beef and other red meats, turkey, pork, spinach, beans, and prunes are also good sources.
- Megavitamins — supplements containing excessive amounts of vitamins — are not recommended for youngsters. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble and may be harmful in excess in children. Likewise with iron. Your children may consume an excessive amount of a good item.
Is It Necessary To Give Vitamins To My Toddler?
Toddlers have significant dietary requirements to support all of the growth and development that occurs throughout this stage of development. However, dietary restrictions and allergies, as well as their mood that day, might impact the amount of nutrients parents can smuggle into their children’s meals.
Children aged 2–4 years received a 61 out of 100 on the Healthy Eating Index, suggesting that their total diet quality is relatively low.
Having said that, there are three critical vitamins to keep in mind at this age:
- 74% of youngsters between the ages of 1 and 2 do not get the appropriate amount of vitamin D.
- 82 percent of youngsters between the ages of one and two years do not receive enough vitamin E
- 42% of youngsters between the ages of 1 and 2 do not receive enough vitamin K.
Consult your pediatrician to determine if supplementing with these nutrients or taking a multivitamin that contains them is appropriate for your child.


The Red men paid the utmost attention to the words as they dropped from Margaret Godfrey’s lips. The grave was then filled in and the mourners dispersed to their homes along the river, leaving Paul Guidon to rest beside his mother.
For more than a century the “Young Lion of the Woods” has slept on the banks of the St. John. His loyal spirit took its flight to another sphere about the time thousands of united loyal spirits were forming a city near his tomb. The few thousand people that had settled in the colony in the days of Paul Guidon, were the ancestry of the nearly one million true, loyal subjects who inhabit the Maritime Provinces at the beginning of this year 1889. The colony, of which the noble Iroquois was a citizen, was confined within narrow bounds. Now the sons of the Loyalists are on the shores of the Pacific. Our country extends there. It is a noble faculty of our nature which enables us to connect our thoughts with the past as well as with the future, and by contemplating the example and studying the character of Paul Guidon, we must come to the conclusion that were that Indian living now his heart would glow with patriotic pride at the strides the country has taken, and that our destiny is Canadian, not American.
It is a pleasure to be able to exhibit to the present generation something of the splendid character of the Iroquois, whose ashes, commingled with those of the Union Jack, repose near the loyal City of St. John.


Without family harmony, one cannot be genuinely happy in life, cannot be successful and cannot live a life that is worth living. Complete family harmony is the key to happiness, prosperity and success.
Family harmony means that there is an atmosphere of absolute peace, relaxation, unconditional love, fearlessness, understanding (and not misunderstanding), freedom of expression and longing for each other within the family.
Although the responsibility for creating such harmony lies with every member of the family, but however, the initiative is expected from the elder members of the family. And in case they fail to take this initiative, then the responsibility falls on the younger generation.
It is imperative that parents should be more like friends to their children rather than always being parents. They should neither talk negatively to their children nor abuse or hurt their feelings, as depressed feelings will often impede the progress of children. Conversation between parents and children should not always be a teaching conversation but it should be a learning conversation too.
Daughters are to be taken care of with more love, affection and maturity. They are more emotional and fragile in nature in comparison to the male child and are generally expected to live with their husbands separately after marriage. It is said that a son is a son till he gets a wife but a daughter always remains a daughter throughout her life.
This six point (A, B, C, D, E, F) formula can work wonders for complete family harmony: A for Acceptance: Accept every family member as they are without any complaint or comparison. Every soul who comes to a family comes with a distinct attitude, behaviour, knowledge, karma and experience based on the previous birth and thus has distinct thinking, attitude, behaviour, etc. Any comparison with another soul is neither appropriate nor desirable.
B for Be a child and not a grown up: A child is always in an egoless state, is happy without any reason, forgets quarrels and becomes friends in no time, does not carry any impressions (good or bad) in his mind and is always in a playful and relaxed state of mind.
C for Conflict avoidance: Every family member should try to avoid conflicts, frictions and quarrels among themselves. A winner in a quarrel or argument is actually a loser because even if one wins an argument, one loses the harmony of the relationship.
D for Dil (Heart) and not Dimaag (Mind): The heart is always in a mode of compassion, love and giving but the head is full jealousy, hatred, ego, revenge, etc. So never allow your head to rule over your heart.
The difference between the heart and the head is that the heart says “let me apologise” but the head will say “let them apologise first”.
E for Expect less: Expectations are the major causes for anger, irritation, frustration, disappointment and depression. Reduce expectations from family members and be happy all the time.
F for Forget and Forgive: Every member should develop the habit of forgetting past quarrels, seeking forgiveness and forgiving others (irrespective of who was right and who was wrong). Carrying the dead load of past incidents without forgiving takes away the happiness of the present.
Sadguru Rameshji is a modern age spiritual guru and the force behind Poorna Ananda, a Hyderabad-based centre for spiritual evolution and joyful living. He can be contacted at www.poornaananda.org...


These videos are a real drag, but do not let that keep you from watching them.
These videos were produced by the same National Committee for Fluid Mechanics Films that made the films I wrote about a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, these videos do not have the PDF transcript files that those other videos have. But fluid dynamics drag is such an immensely important subject, I had to write about it.
By the way, something does not appear to be quite right with the videos. The third video seems to really be the end of the second one. Most of the third video is a blank screen. The information that they do contain is great, but I wonder if a video or two is missing.
Fluid Quantity and Flow
There are four videos in the drag series. The last four videos below belong to an entirely different series entitled Measurement. It is really about different ways of measuring fluids, both standing and flowing. There are no transcripts for these videos, either, but they look newer than the drag series. In fact, they look to me like converted VHS tapes.
That is the good news. The bad news is that they have terrible background noise. It is a real shame that a better attempt was not made at cleaning up the sound. But if you can look past this deficiency, you will be rewarded by another well-made educational video series.
There is a lot of discussion in these videos about measuring liquid fluids such as water and gasoline. The stuff that you are looking for is towards the end. There is an excellent discussion there of measuring air pressure using a pitot tube, for example. Ways of visualizing an air flow over a wing, for example, are also covered.
As expected, these videos are all jam-packed full of information. Everything is not just discussed, but also demonstrated. They are really quite good.
School-Wide Modular Program for Fluid Mechanics
An interesting related link is the School-Wide Modular Program for Fluid Mechanics. Also sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), it is an attempt to locate in one place information for teaching fluid mechanics principles.
In particular, one of the modules already online is about low Reynolds number flows. This is still very much a work in progress, and the information contained in the modules is very incomplete.


Est. reading time: 8 minutes
Author: Steph Locke
Chatbots are computer programmes that provide a (primarily) text-based interface to help people access information or perform tasks. Chatbot conversations can help you improve customer service whilst reducing demand on staff. They can process text using natural language processing and build a conversational workflow to support a intuitive interaction with people.
Chatbots are computer programmes that provide a text-based interface to help people access information or perform tasks. Chatbot conversations can help you improve customer service whilst reducing demand on staff.
Bots are the new apps. People-to-people conversations, people-to-digital assistants, people-to-bots, and even digital assistants-to-bots. That’s the world you’re going to get to see in the years to come. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
Chatbots are great for providing a natural language interface for accessing information. You can use existing knowledgebases as the basis for surfacing answers to common queries. This cuts down time spent getting information for customers, and reduces load on staff who would normally have to respond to these basic information requests.
Aberdeen City Council1 recently released a chatbot named ‘AB-1’ to answer internal and customer queries.
AB-1 allows us to divert really important resources onto frontline services that require that face to face contact. We’ve managed to release approximately six people’s worth of work and we’ve recovered our costs, which is absolutely fantastic in the first year of delivery. Andy MacDonald, Director of Customer Services
You can develop your business processes into conversational workflows to help people perform tasks. This can be wide ranging; from looking up records to do with their accounts, through to engaging in new services. There are many processes that can be turned into an effective conversational workflow. This typically helps people perform activities more inclusively and conveniently or helps reduce grunt work for employees.
Brisa2, an automotive company, developed a bot to help find company data and perform tasks like password resets, helping to free up the IT team for other tasks.
This […] saved us 400 working hours İsa Kedikoğlu, Software Development Specialist
A chatbot doesn’t have to do just one thing. You can build up a chatbot that routes people to the right business process or information component seamlessly when they say things like “book an engineer” and “what are your SLAs”.
There are some critical pieces of functionality that chatbots have or can use that are key to what you can achieve with chatbots.
Language understanding (LU)
One reason bots are really useful is their Natural Language Processing (NLP) – a subset of Artificial Intelligence (AI). NLP can help translate text we type into a set of meaningful instructions for our processes or knowledge bases. It can account for typos, different ways of typing and more.
There are LU services that can be used to build your model for making relevant translations from plain text to instructions.
Language generation (LG)
Another big area of NLP that’s key to bots is how the bot responds back to people after prompts. This enables you to go from a single fixed response to something that can feel more “human-like” for comfort.
You can use predefined templates in simple processes and answers from knowledgebases. More complex bots can surface information dynamically. These bots construct sentences that sound natural using complex LG based on NLP techniques.
Speech to text and vice versa
We can make use of bots in hands-free situations and more inclusive by supporting speech interactions. This area of AI can take audio and turn it into text, perform translations of different spoken languages into a single language text string, and turn text into human-like speech.
A bot can’t solve all the problems a person might encounter. Keeping people stuck in the bot without a means to talk to a human is a recipe for frustration. As well as providing contact information, you can also perform a hand-off to a human who is using a live chat system.
A bot doesn’t just have to deal in text. You can integrate videos, images, information cards and more into your bot. This enables you to provide a rich experience that can match well with the needs of the people using your bot. This opens your bot up to support ecommerce and browsing experiences.
Bots can be used in many different situations and places. Most frameworks people use for building chatbots come with a range of existing methods that can be integrated into different platforms or channels.
- Internal bots If you make a bot to help your staff access information or perform tasks, then your productivity and communications platform is the ideal place to integrate your bot. You can integrate chatbots with tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack to help staff use your bot seamlessly in their day-to-day.
- B2B bots If you’re using your bot to support other businesses, then your website or application is a key place to integrate it. You can make your bot available for them to implement. Your bot can also be integrated into your email capabilities to provide an automated process or information experience.
- B2C bots If your bot is to help consumers, then you can integrate the bot wherever your consumer is. You can let customers use Alexa, they could tweet your bot, or they can talk to it on social media. Ultimately, the only restriction on where you can integrate your bot is where there is value for you to do so.
You may have heard of user experience (UX) and user interface design but what about conversational design? The way people interact with a chatbot is very different to the way people interact with webpages.
You can’t simply turn a 400-field process into a chatbot process asking one question at a time. In conversation design, you work out what an effective conversation flow would be that works for the person using the bot. This can involve testing with users, producing mock-ups, and analysing the bot analytics.
Conversational design also helps you make sure your brand voice and ideals are reflected into the experience, preventing the bot from being a jarring experience.
Planning a bot project
The first step in planning a bot project is to decide where a chatbot can most help and what goal is. This helps you determine your success measures. If you want your bot to perform several functions, choose the most important to focus on and extend later.
You can then start designing the workflow and designing the conversation you want to happen. This is typically a very business-oriented task involving flowcharts. Next you need to identify the appropriate technologies, compliance needs, and what skills you’ll need to deliver your chatbot. Are you a Microsoft shop? Do you use open source only? Do you need to use technologies and store data only in the UK? Do you need to use a service provider to build your first bot and train your team? Once you know what you need to build and roughly how, you’ll usually kick off the project at a prototype level. This gives you something you can trial and get early indicators of impact. It will also help you uncover any areas where the knowledgebase might have gaps, or edge cases to the processes.
You can then start iterating and scaling your bot across more channels and capabilities taking a demand-driven approach from the data generated by the bot. Monitoring your bot is key. Keep track of the types of questions and answers going in and out, and check whether it is helping people achieve the desired goal. Validating that the bot is working for people is important, and part of continuous improvement.
The ROI of a chatbot manifests typically as cost savings and revenue gains. Success measures also depend on the application of your bot. If you deployed a bot to assist with customer service, cost savings come from reduced load on staff should be measurable. Faster and more convenient handling of problems can improve customer satisfaction and reduce churn, increasing profitability.
LEGO reported a 71% reduction in cost per conversion (compared to email) when using a campaign bot.3
If your bot includes processes or tasks, you can look at process completion rates, data quality, user satisfaction, and more.


It is always a good idea to conserve energy because it is good for the earth and good for any homeowner’s pocketbook. When the summer sun shines down on a house, the HVAC system must work harder to keep occupants comfortable. The blazing sun seems want to burn its way right through the windows and walls. In circumstances like this, the air conditioning system is forced to work harder to maintain the desired indoor temperature. The afternoon sun is particularly brutal. Some steps can be taken to conserve energy, like planting trees. The shade a tree provides cuts energy costs and adds beauty to landscaping.
Where To Plant Trees
When deciding where to plant trees, you need to consider the direction of where the shade in your yard is For optimum advantage from shade, planting on the southwest and west side is a good idea. This area gets the greatest amount of direct afternoon sun. Early morning sunlight is not as intense and that makes this side less critically in need of shade.
In southern regions of the United States, where it is warm throughout the year, the best choice for sun protection is trees that retain their leaves all year. However, in northern climates, the sun can be beneficial in the winter by introducing natural heat into the home through its windows. Therefore, deciduous trees are the best choice. Nevertheless, by strategically placing evergreen trees, it is possible to shield the structure from bitter winds during the winter. This too can save on energy costs.
Trees Also Benefit Outdoor Air Conditioning Units
Shade can also benefit the air conditioning system’s intake area by keeping that area cooler. One or two trees strategically positioned to provide shade here will shield this unit. It keeps the temperature of the surrounding air lower and that allows the unit to work more efficiently. As moisture evaporates from the leaves, this too naturally helps keep the area cooler. All of this adds up to lower energy bills. Just remember to never plant low-hanging evergreens or shrubs near the HVAC unit itself. This can interfere with appropriate air flow.
Trees casting the most shade offer greater efficiency in shielding home’s from the sun’s heat. As one might expect, full-grown trees are much more efficient than younger, smaller ones. Nevertheless, small trees do grow into larger ones when given enough time. Also, the energy savings grow with them.
The ideal situation is to plant trees that will reach twenty-five feet in height at maturity. These trees need to be planted ten or twenty feet from the west side of the home. This is where you get maximum energy-saving benefits from the shade that will extend over the structure. Trees planted on the southwest side of the home, however, cannot be expected to cast their shade over the home unless branches are allowed to grow over the roof.
It is good to remember that paved areas collect and hold heat longer than the earth around them. This heat affects the air conditioning system and the house. For that reason, planting trees to shade the pavement near the house and HVAC unit is also beneficial. Air conditioning costs will be lower especially when shade is provided for dark pavement like asphalt.
Choosing Your Tree Type
It is vital that you research the types of trees according to their height at maturity. Avoid selecting those that will become too large. It is also important to plant trees at the proper distance from structures, power lines and paved areas to prevent their branches and roots from causing damage. As trees grow, they should be carefully pruned to maintain them at the appropriate size.
Air Conditioner Tune-Up Union NJ
While you are decreasing energy costs through the wise use of shade trees, you will also be adding value to your home. Another great idea for creating a more energy efficient home is scheduling annual air conditioning tune-up. This helps reduce energy costs that can skyrocket during the hot weather. It also makes your system last longer which prevents a costly premature replacement. Be sure to find a reputable HVAC company to handle all of your heating and cooling services.
Skylands Energy Service provides trusted heating and cooling services and has been doing so for many decades. We install, maintain, and repair all makes and models of heaters and air conditioners. Additionally, we offer heating oil delivery and plumbing services. The spring season is a great time of year to have your air conditioner tuned up. This will help reduce your home cooling expenses and it gives your unit the ability to make your home feel more comfortable. Be sure to give us a call today.
We service Cranford NJ 07016, Elizabeth NJ 07201, Garwood NJ 07027, Hillside NJ 07205, Irvington NJ 07111, Kenilworth NJ 07033, Linden NJ 07036, Maplewood NJ 07040, Millburn NJ 07041, Roselle NJ 07203, Roselle Park NJ 07204, South Orange NJ 07079, Springfield NJ 07081, Union NJ 07083, Vauxhall NJ 07088, and surrounding areas in New Jersey.


Everyday life goes by so
fast --but does it go so fast that you can't even remember what a real
penny looks like?
We all use them! Learn
how mnemonic devices help you remember -- then make your own personalized
How well can you remember a list of words? Learn
about factors that affect your performance, and read a brief explanation
of how memory works!
Can you recite the numbers
back after hearing various kinds of interference? Learn about how the
mind works when something interferes with your short-term memory!
After seeing words or pictures
or hearing sound, see how much of it you can remember!
Recognition | Mnemonic | Recall | Interference | Encoding
to the NASA Cognition Lab


In previous posts I have referred to the FADGI standard for still image capture when describing still image creation in the Digital Production Center in support of our Digital Collections Program. We follow this standard in order to create archival files for preservation, long-term retention and access to our materials online. These guidelines help us create digital content in a consistent, scalable and efficient way. The most common cited part of the standard is the PPI guidelines for capturing various types of material. It is a collection of charts that contain various material types, physical dimensions and recommended capture specifications. The charts are very useful and relatively easy to read and understand. But this standard includes 93 “exciting” pages of all things still image capture including file specifications, color encoding, data storage, physical environment, backup strategies, metadata and workflows. Below I will boil down the first 50 or so pages.
The FADGI standard was built using the NARA Technical Guideline for Digitizing Archival Materials for Electronic Access: Creation of Production Master Files – Raster Images which was established in 2004. The FADGI standard for still image capture is meant to be a set of best practices for cultural heritage institutions and has been recently updated to include new advances in the field of still image capture and contains more approachable language than its predecessor.
Full disclosure. Perkins Library and our digitization program didn’t start with any part of these guidelines in place. In fact, these guidelines didn’t exist at the time of our first attempt at in-house digitization in 1993. We didn’t even have an official digitization lab until early 2005. We started with one Epson flatbed scanner and one high end CRT monitor. As our Digital Collections Program has matured, we have been able to add equipment and implement more of the standard starting with scanner and monitor calibration and benchmark testing of capture equipment before purchase. We then established more consistent workflows and technical metadata capture, developed a more robust file naming scheme, file movement and data storage strategies. We now work hard to synchronize our efforts between all of the departments involved in our Digital Collections Program. We are always refining our workflows and processes to become more efficient at publishing and preserving Digital Collections.
Dive Deep. For those of you who would like to take a deep dive into image capture for cultural heritage institutions, here is the full standard. For those of you who don’t fall into this category, I’ve boiled down the standard below. I believe that it’s necessary to use the whole standard in order for a program to become stable and mature. As we did, this can be implemented over time.
Boil It Down. The FADGI standard provides a tiered approach for still image capture, from 1 to 4 stars, with four stars being the highest. The 1 and 2 star tiers are used when imaging for access and tiers 3 and 4 are used for archival imaging and preservation at the focus.
The physical environment: The environment should be color neutral. Walls should be painted a neutral gray to minimize color shifts and flare that might come from a wall color that is not neutral. Monitors should be positioned to avoid glare on the screens (This is why most professional monitors have hoods). Overhead lighting should be around 5000K (Tungsten, florescent and other bulbs can have yellow, magenta and green color shifts which can affect the perception of the color of an image). Each capture device should be separated so that light spillover doesn’t affect another capture device.
Monitors and Light boxes and viewing of originals: Overhead light or a viewing booth should be set up for viewing of originals and should be a neutral 5000K. A light box used for viewing transmissive material should also be 5000K.
Digital images should be viewed in the colorspace they were captured in and the monitor should be able to display that colorspace. Most monitors display in the sRGB colorspace. However, professional monitors use the AdobeRGB colorspace which is commonly used in cultural heritage image capture. The color temperature of your monitor should be set to the Kelvin temperature that most closely matches the viewing environment. If the overhead lights are 5000K, then the monitor’s color temperature should also be set to 5000K.
Calibrating packages that consist of hardware and software that read and evaluate color is an essential piece of equipment. These packages normalize the luminosity, color temperature and color balance of a monitor and create an ICC display profile that is used by the computer’s operating system to display colors correctly so that accurate color assessment can be made.
Capture Devices: The market is flooded with capture devices of varying quality. It is important to do research on any new capture device. I recommend skipping the marketing schemes that tout all the bells and whistles and just stick to talking to institutions that have established digital collections programs. This will help to focus research on the few contenders that will produce the files that you need. They will help you slog through how many megapixels are necessary, what lens are best for which application, what scanner driver is easiest to use while balanced with getting the best color out of your scanner. Beyond the capture device, other things that come into play are effective scanner drivers that produce the most accurate and consistent results, upgrade paths for your equipment and service packages that help maintain your equipment.
Capture Specifications: I’ll keep this part short because there are a wide variety of charts covering many formats, capture specifications and their corresponding tiers. Below I have simplified the information from the charts. These specification hover between tier 3 and 4 mostly leaning toward 4.
Always use a FADGI compliant reference target at the beginning of a session to ensure the capture device is within acceptable deviation. The target values differ depending on which reference targets are used. Most targets come with a chart representing numerical value of each swatch in the target. Our lab uses a classic Gretagmacbeth target and our acceptable color deviation is +/- 5 units of color.
Our general technical specs for reflective material including books, documents, photographs and maps are:
- Master File Format: TIFF
- Resolution: 300 ppi
- Bit Depth: 8
- Color Depth: 24 bit RGB
- Color Space: Adobe 1998
These specifications generally follow the standard. If the materials being scanned are smaller than 5×7 inches we increase the PPI to 400 or 600 depending on the font size and dimensions of the object.
Our general technical specs for transmissive material including acetate, nitrate and glass plate negatives, slides and other positive transmissive material are:
- Master File Format: TIFF
- Resolution: 3000 – 4000 ppi
- Bit Depth: 16
- Color Depth: 24 bit RGB
- Color Space: Adobe 1998
These specifications generally follow the standard. If the transmissive materials being scanned are larger than 4×5 we decrease the PPI to 1500 or 2000 depending on negative size and condition.
Recommended capture devices: The standard goes into detail on what capture devices to use and not to use when digitizing different types of material. It describes when to use manually operated planetary scanners as opposed to a digital scan back, when to use a digital scan back instead of a flatbed scanner, when and when not to use a sheet fed scanner. Not every device can capture every type of material. In our lab we have 6 different devices to capture a wide variety of material in different states of fragility. We work with our Conservation Department when making decisions on what capture device to use.
General Guidelines for still image capture
- Do not apply pressure with a glass platen or otherwise unless approved by a paper conservator.
- Do not use vacuum boards or high UV light sources unless approved by a paper conservator.
- Do not use auto page turning devices unless approved by a paper conservator.
- For master files, pages, documents and photographs should be imaged to include the entire area of the page, document or photograph.
- For bound items the digital image should capture as far into the gutter as practical but must include all of the content that is visible to the eye.
- If a backing sheet is used on a translucent piece of paper to increase contrast and readability, it must extend beyond the edge of the page to the end of the image on all open sides of the page.
- For master files, documents should be imaged to include the entire area and a small amount beyond to define the area.
- Do not use lighting systems that raise the surface temperature of the original more than 6 degrees F(3 degrees C)in the total imaging process.
- When capturing oversized material, if the sections of a multiple scan item are compiled into a single image, the separate images should be retained for archival and printing purposes.
- The use of glass or other materials to hold photographic images flat during capture is allowed, but only when the original will not be harmed by doing so. Care must be taken to assure that flattening a photograph will not result in emulsion cracking, or the base material being damaged. Tightly curled materials must not be forced to lay flat.
- For original color transparencies, the tonal scale and color balance of the digital image should match the original transparency being scanned to provide accurate representation of the image.
- When scanning negatives, for master files the tonal orientation may be inverted to produce a positive The resulting image will need to be adjusted to produce a visually-pleasing representation. Digitizing negatives is very analogous to printing negatives in a darkroom and it is very dependent on the photographer’s/ technician’s skill and visual literacy to produce a good image. There are few objective metrics for evaluating the overall representation of digital images produced from negatives.
- The lack of dynamic range in a film scanning system will result in poor highlight and shadow detail and poor color reproduction.
- No image retouching is permitted to master files.
These details were pulled directly from the standard. They cover a lot of ground but there are always decisions to be made that are uniquely related to the material to be digitized. There are 50 or so more pages of this standard related to workflow, color management, data storage, file naming and technical metadata. I’ll have to cover that in my next blog post.
The FADGI standard for still image capture is very thorough but also leaves room to adapt. While we don’t follow everything outlined in the standard we do follow the majority. This standard, years of experience and a lot of trial and error have helped make our program more sound, consistent and scalable.


Few of those visiting Switzerland know that the country is still a military fortress where every male not only has to serve in the armed forces but keeps his assault rifle together with a soldered up can of ammunition in his wardrobe. Somehow this is a tradition for in the Middle Ages Swiss soldiers were known for their crossbows, their halberds, and their bravery. On many occasions they had fought and won battles against the Kaiser and the Habsburgs. As a result the Eidgenossen (confederates) eventually gained independence from the Holy Roman Empire in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648. Swiss soldiers were coveted by European powers and were fighting on all fronts. In many a battle Swiss stood against Swiss and frequently the country paid a high death toll. Nowadays the only Swiss soldiers serving outside Switzerland are those of the Swiss Guard protecting the Pope.
|Defending the Swiss border in 1914 (© DLM)|
|Even the historical wooden bridge crossing the Rhine at Bad Säckingen |
had explosive chambers filled with TNT (©dpa)
Only recently Switzerland had emptied all
|Explosive chamber in the |
Bad Säckingen bridge (©Lipp/Der Sonntag)


Oral hygiene is very important. Poor oral hygiene can lead to a number of problems — painful, expensive and embarrassing problems. An individual must try to keep their teeth and gums healthy to avoid painful and costly dental work. Below are the top 15 dental care tips.
Brushing may seem like the most obvious way to have good oral hygiene because it is the most important thing one can do to keep one’s teeth and gums healthy. Brushing gets rid of plaque, which if left in the mouth can lead to dental problems. Brushing should be done at least twice a day, and it is even better if it’s done after each meal. Brushing should be done for a full two minutes, paying attention to each tooth. One needs to be careful to not use too much pressure.
Pick the Right Toothbrush
There are many different kinds of toothbrushes, and it is essential that each person chooses one to suit his or her needs. People with braces should get a toothbrush designed for orthodontic care that can clean teeth with braces more effectively. Those with limited dexterity or arthritis may find an electric toothbrush easier to use or one with large handle. For children there are toothbrushes with a timed light to help them brush for the full two minutes that dental professionals recommend. Toothbrushes should be replaced every three months for best results.
Floss Every Day
Flossing should be done every day to remove food particles and plaque from between the teeth. Unfortunately many people forget or skip flossing because they don’t realize its importance.
Avoid Sugary Foods and Beverages
Foods and beverages with a high sugar or starch content make the most acids in the mouth, so anyone wishing to eat a diet that is optimal for healthy teeth should keep sugary and starchy foods to a minimum. Hard candies, lollipops and sugary gum should be avoided since they linger in the mouth, bathing the teeth in sugar. The length of time that teeth are exposed to sugars is important because continuous exposure is worse. Sucking on candy and sipping sugary drinks throughout the day is harmful. Fruits and fruit juices, although natural and healthy, are high in sugar and should be watched.
Have Regular Dental Cleanings and Check-ups
Regular dental check-ups and cleanings are important to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Tooth decay may not start with any obvious pain or symptoms. A dentist can discover problems early, before painful symptoms appear and before more expensive, involved dental work is required. Dental problems, when they occur, can get worse if they are left alone.
Start Thinking About Oral Hygiene Early
Parents should start thinking about the oral health of their children in infanthood. A baby shouldn’t be put to bed with a bottle that contains milk, formula, juice or any sugary liquids. An infant’s gums can be cleaned, even before teeth are showing, by wiping them with a moist cloth.
Dental sealants can be useful for giving teeth some protection against decay. Sealants are a thin, protective coating painted onto the top chewing surfaces of teeth, and they are usually applied to the back teeth. Children and teenagers are usually candidates for sealants; however some adults without any decay or fillings in their molars may get sealants.
Selecting a Dentist
Selecting a dentist can be a big decision. When selecting which dentist to visit, one should ask friends and family for recommendations, along with some other considerations. The dental practice should be in a convenient location with suitable hours of operation. Other important factors are whether or not a provider is covered on the patient’s insurance plan the helpfulness of the staff.
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking water has several benefits. It is thirst quencher that doesn’t have any sugar to harm teeth. It also helps to rinse away particles from the mouth, decreasing the bacteria that could lead to plaque and decay. It is also a good habit to rinse the mouth out with water after eating.
Need for Calcium
Calcium is essential to strong teeth. A diet of foods that are rich in calcium is important. Cheese, yogurt and soybeans all contain plenty of calcium. Vitamin D is also necessary; since it helps the body absorb calcium.
Help Sensitive Teeth
People with sensitive teeth should use a very soft bristle brush and use toothpaste made especially for sensitive teeth. Heat, cold, acidic foods or sweet foods may trigger sensitivity. If something causes a reaction, then it should be avoided.
Treat Dry Mouth
Saliva is important to keeping the mouth healthy. Without enough saliva the mouth becomes dry and oral health problems can develop. Many common medications can cause dry mouth. Dryness can also occur from breathing through the mouth during sleep, which can occur with asthma, sinus problems or other health conditions. If someone is experiencing dry mouth, he or she should consult a doctor to find the best solution.
Most experts advise smokers to give up this habit because it can lead to many health problems, including oral health issues. For some people, smoking is not an easy habit to stop. Smokers may consider using toothpaste designed for smokers. They are specially formulated to combat bacteria and stains, which increase in the mouth from smoking.
Consult a Doctor about Acid Reflux Symptoms
Acid reflux or GERD can lead to tooth enamel getting eroded by acid. People experiencing symptoms of acid reflux should consult with their doctor to control the symptoms to prevent further problems.
Teeth can be delicate and should be protected from damage. They shouldn’t be used for cracking nuts, ripping things or holding things. People involved in sports or athletic activities that could potentially lead to injury should use a mouth guard to protect teeth. Mouth piercings also put teeth in danger of being chipped or cracked
Most people want to put their best food forward, and one of the most noticeable traits is a person’s smile and their teeth. It’s good to start with good oral hygiene to prevent dental issues and to help teeth last a lifetime.


Allegation is a term whose etymological root is found in allegātus, a word from the Latin language. An allegation is an address, testimony or exposition that is pronounced against or in favor of a person or something.
For example: “The religious leader made a plea for peace in a mass meeting”, “The prosecutor is scheduled to make his plea tomorrow before noon”, “The actor made a strong plea against journalism after photos were released of your privacy in a magazine. ”
Take the case of an experienced soccer player who, tired of criticism of his team’s coach, decides to offer a press conference to defend him. In his argument, the footballer highlights that the technical director in question has won ten titles throughout the race, including one last year. It also lists the injuries suffered by the campus as an explanation of why the poor results in recent times. Therefore, the player asks that criticism of the coach cease and that his work be valued.
In the judicial field, according to the dictionary of the Digopaul, the presentation made by a lawyer to substantiate the right of the defending party and to refute the reasons given by the other party is called an allegation.
In his plea, the legal specialist makes a statement, analyzes the evidence, challenges the arguments of the counterparty and makes a legal basis for his claims based on legislation and jurisprudence.
The allegations can be presented in two ways:
* orally, in the hearing when the evidence is completed, a concept that includes the process that the judge carries out when he checks and validates the evidence that each party has alleged, before the trial is held;
* in writing, either when the closing period opens or when the hearing has ended.
It is worth mentioning that the allegation constitutes a procedural burden for both parties, although it is also important to note that there is no obligation on the part of the judge to rule on them.
Although it is normal that there is no specific form established by procedural laws regarding the structure of the allegation, it must be borne in mind that it must involve a reasoned and methodical exposition of the following:
* the facts stated in the lawsuit;
* the evidence that the party wishes to provide to demonstrate it;
* the value of such tests;
* the challenge of those brought by the opposing party;
* the denial of the events indicated by the opposite party;
* the reasons that can be extracted from the facts that are proven;
* the doctrinal and legal reasons that can be adduced in favor of the right that is invoked.
A word from the allegation family that is often used in everyday speech is the verb allegar, whose definition can provide a certain background to better understand the concept in question. It is the action that a person performs when he cites an example, certain words or a fact that can serve to prove his innocence or to defend himself in a certain situation.
Another meaning of the verb to allege defines it as the act of presenting services or merits that serve to base a certain claim on them. In the particular case of Law, the area in which the concept of allegation is usually focused, it is the action carried out by a defendant or his defense attorney to argue, in written or oral form, rights and events that serve to defend its cause.