tag instead if enclosed text represents deleted text, otherwise use the CSS\ntext-decoration property, with the\nThe basic syntax of the\n tag is given with:\nThe example below shows the\n tag in action.\nExampleTry this code »\nHere is some strikethrough text.
\n tag doesn't have any specific attribute.\nLike all other HTML tags, the\n tag supports the global attributes in HTML5.\n tag also supports the event attributes in HTML5.\n tag is supported in all major modern browsers.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "- In honor of \"Winning on Reducing Food Waste Month,\" the Trump administration recently announced a six-point strategy to advance the U.S. goal of 50% food waste reduction by 2030. Priorities include interagency coordination, consumer education, measurement, food safety and labeling, private industry collaboration and waste reduction at federal facilities.\n- The EPA, USDA and FDA signed an agreement with national nonprofit ReFED to partner on these goals over at least the next two years. Priorities include collaboration with various levels of government, data collection and reporting on trends in the field, among other items.\n- More than $110,000 in EPA grant funding was also announced for small-scale projects related to anaerobic digestion. Recipients include Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation, Washington State University and Madison, Wisconsin — which is exploring a regional organics collection program.\nEstablished by the Obama administration in 2015, the 2030 food waste reduction goal was once assumed to be a likely casualty of the Trump administration's environmental agenda. Amid the initial months of concern about possible EPA budget cuts and other shake-ups, it was often unclear even to some of the initiative's most active stakeholders where things stood. However, the participation of numerous federal officials at last summer's U.S. Food Waste Summit and the subsequent interagency rebranding in the fall indicate that the issue has been able to gain traction.\nThe release of this latest interagency plan is seen as historic in itself — and notable because it draws on many of the recommendations published by leading groups such as the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic — even if the framing might be different than some had originally envisioned. Rather than focusing on the climate implications of methane emissions from organic waste, the Trump team is more driven by economic opportunities.\n\"In one sense, this is a problem derived from America's incredible achievements in agriculture and technology,\" said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler at an April 9 event, going on to recount a story about former Russian President Boris Yeltsin's surprise when he saw the bounty of a Texas grocery store in 1989. \"Together, we can promote American prosperity and turn wasted food into solutions that can feed America's communities, fuel our economy and maximize our resources.\"\nUSDA Secretary Sonny Perdue acknowledged the topic didn't seem like a natural fit for the Trump administration until it recognized the economic and moral potential. \"We produce an abundance of food to feed the world and we want that abundance to feed and nourish people, not filling the trash and landfills across the country,\" said Perdue during the event.\nTeaming up with ReFED, an increasingly dominant player in this area with close ties to interested philanthropic and corporate parties, suits the administration's market-driven approach. Combined with a variety of policy initiatives and infrastructure funding in the 2018 Farm Bill, this latest set of actions has the potential to bring a new wave of federal resources to bear on an often-overlooked national issue.\nUnlike at the state or local level — where jurisdictions are taking more steps to mandate organic waste reduction, donation and recycling — the federal government isn't expected to exert any regulatory pressure in the near term. Instead, it's looking to voluntary commitments from 23 (and counting) corporate \"champions\" that have pledged to work toward the 2030 goal in their supply chains.\nAs recognized by the UN in a 2018 progress report on its own 2030 food waste goal, the pace will need to intensify soon — with much better measurement methods to track progress — if these targets will be anywhere close to attainable over the coming decade.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Prescribed (Controlled) Burns Clear out Invaders and Restore Diversity\nUntil recent times, fire was a natural part of life for our native woodlands, wetlands, and prairies. Ecosystems native to the Midwest depend on periodic fire events to rejuvenate growth and ensure long-term survival. Modern tendencies to suppress fire allow invasive plants to out-compete native grasses and forbs, therefore reducing plant and animal diversity. Fire is one of the best management tools for continued invasive plant control.\nUnderstanding More About Controlled Burns: it’s a science\nWHY: Prescribed burning is essential in the management of prairies, glades, wetlands and open woodlands. Fire bares and blackens the ground so that sunlight can warm the soil and stimulate plant growth. It promotes many native wildflowers and thins out overzealous woody plant growth. New growth following a fire attracts and sustains a diversity of herbivorous and other animal species. And of great importance to the Kansas City’s Wild Lands – fire helps control many of the exotic invasive plants that continually threaten our remnant wild places.\nWHEN: Controlled burns are conducted when adequate fire lines or breaks have been established and factors such as humidity, temperature and wind fall within an acceptable and predetermined range. Fires on WildLands sites are conducted by burn-trained Kansas City land managers and their trained volunteers from fall through very early spring. This is the prime window for stimulating forb (wildflower) growth. Spring burns – like those conducted in the Flint Hills – stimulate grass growth at the expense of forbs, so they are avoid in the management of our biologically diverse wild land sites.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Welcome to IEA Wind and Task 27\nProviding a standard consumer label for small wind turbines\nThe safety, reliability, and productivity of small wind turbines pose a challenge both to consumers and to governments. Since consumers want a good turbine and governments want to promote safe equipment, most countries with wind energy development programs want to ensure the performance of small wind turbines.\nIn response to this worldwide need, IEA Wind organized Task 27 Consumer Labeling of Small Wind Turbines. Beginning in 2009, Task 27 participants* developed and IEA Wind approved (in 2011) simplified standard tests and a label to provide understandable information on small wind turbines (up to 200 m2 rotor swept area).\nThe Recommended Practices for Wind Turbine Testing and Evaluation 12. Consumer Label For Small Wind Turbines provides both a standard label for small wind turbines and the procedures for conducting the tests needed to provide the information on the label.\nEstablishing an association for testing organizations\nStandard test protocols and standard presentation of this information will give customers and governments information about the safety and performance of small wind turbines. The acceptance of this label by the public should encourage manufacturers to improve the technical reliability and performance of small wind turbines.\nA successful consumer label requires qualified testers to carry out the production, sound, and endurance tests specified in the Recommended Practices for Wind Turbine Testing and Evaluation 12. Consumer Label For Small Wind Turbines. Task 27 has created the Small Wind Turbine Association of Testers (SWAT) to promote standardized testing for small wind turbines (See SWAT link at left).\nNext: small wind turbines and buildings\nBecause many of the problems with small wind turbines occur in city environments, Task 27 will work over the next two years to develop consumer information for this special application. The result will be new Recommended Practice for Design of Small Wind Turbines in the Built Environment. It will address the special resource assessment needed for the built environment and the special testing and design standards needed for small wind turbines operating in communities.\nBuilt-environment Wind Turbines (BWT) (See Figure 1) are installed on the roofs of buildings, side-mounted to a building, integrated into the building design, or otherwise operate in the urban setting. This new Recommended Practice will extend the consumer label to small wind turbines in the built environment.\nFigure 1. Examples of small wind turbines in the built environment. Left to right: Side-mounted to building, roof-mounted, ground-mounted near buildings, building-integrated\n*The Task 27 participants worked for three years with the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) IEC 61400-2 Design Requirements for Small Wind Turbines, MT2, a new initiative approved by the TC88 Committee in October 2008. The IEC initiative is still underway. IEA Wind consumer label is included in the IEC 61400-2 third edition draft as Informative Annex N.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "If you need to model things like the worlds weather, nuclear reactions, molecular dynamics or simulate the first few seconds after the big bang, you’re going to need some pretty serious computing power but just how much more powerful are the top 10 supercomputers compared to the PC on your desktop or the latest iPad Pro for example.\nIn this video we’ll see just how powerful supercomputers have become but first we need to know how do you measure a computers performance.\nThere are lots of way to do this but the most common for high performance systems and simplest to understand is to measure how many calculations per second they are capable of.\nThe unit of measurement is called the FLOP or Floating Point Operation.\nA FLOP is a calculation that would be either adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing 2 numbers with decimal points in them.\nFor example, 10.545 multiplied by 6.387 would be a single FLOP. Modern computers can do this billions of times per second.\nAt the time of making this video Feb 2016 the latest iPad Pro with the A9x dual core cpu is capable of about 1.5 gigaflops, that’s 1.5 thousand million FLOPS per second\nTypical $1000 pc with a single Intel 5820 6 core CPU is capable of around 100 GigaFLOPS that’s 66 times more that the iPad pro\nYou can measure the performance of your own Intel based PC or MAC or mobile device with the same type of Linpack software as they use to benchmark supercomputers, look for the link in the description of this video.\nBecause supercomputers are so much powerful they are measured in PetaFLOPS. 1 PetaFLOP is equal to 1000 TeraFLOPs and 1 TeraFLOP is = 1000 GigaFLOPS and remember our PC was 100 GigaFLOPS and the Ipad Pro 1.5 GigaFLOPS\nA petaflop is equal to about one million billion calculations per second. One estimate suggests it would take a human about 32,000,000 years to complete the same task.\nNow we know what an everyday computing device that you or I can own is capable of let see the how it compares to the top 10 supercomputers in the world. All the figures given are correct as of Nov 2015 and gathered from the top500 list of supercomputers.\nSupercomputer at the Texas Advanced Computing Center at the University of Texas, United States\nThis supercomputer made by dell has a maximum Linpack performance of 5.1 PFLOPS, that’s\nThats equivalent to 51,000 of our PC’s or 3.4M ipads pro’s. It has 462,462 processing cores, 192 Terabyes of RAM and consumes a maximum of 4.5 Mw of power\n9. Shaheen II\nCray XC40 , at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia\nThis supercomputer is made by Cray and has a maximum Linpack performance of 5.5 PFLOPS.\nThats equivalent to 55,000 of our PC’s or 3.66M ipads pro’s. Its cost aprroximatly $51M to buy and install.\nIt has 196,608 processing cores, 790 Terabytes of RAM and consumes a maximum of 2.8 Mw of power.\n8 Hazel Hen\nCray XC40 at HLRS in Stuttgart, Germany\nThis is another supercomputer made by Cray Inc and it has a and has a maximum Linpack performance of 5.6 PFLOPS and is the fastest supercomputer in the European Union.\nThats equivalent to 56,000 of our PC’s or 3.73M ipads pro’s. It has 185,088 processing cores and consumes a maximum of 3.2 Mw of power.\n7. Piz Daint\nCray XC30 at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), Lugano, Switzerland.\nYet another Cray built supercomputer it has a and has a maximum Linpack performance of 6.2 PFLOPS\nThats equivalent to 62,000 of our PC’s or 4.13M ipads pro’s. It has 115,984 processing cores, 169 TB of RAM and consumes a maximum of 2.3 Mw of power.\nCray XC40 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, United States\nYes, is another Cray supercomputer a and has a maximum Linpack performance of 8.1 PFLOPS\nThats equivalent to 81,000 of our PC’s or 5.4M ipads pro’s. It has 301,056 processing cores and cost $174M\nBlueGene/Q at the US Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois, United States.\nThis supercomputer is built by IBM has a maximum Linpack performance of 8.5 PFLOPS\nThats equivalent to 85,000 of our PC’s or 5.66M ipads pro’s. It has 786,432 processing cores, 768 Terrabyte of RAM and consumes a maximum of 3.9 Mw of power. No cost has been released by IBM but it’s believed to be about $50M.\n4. K computer\nAt the RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science, Kobe, Japan\nBuilt by Fujitsu the K supercomputer it has a maximum Linpack performance of 10.5 PFLOPS\nThats equivalent to 105,000 of our PC’s or 7M ipads pro’s. It has 705,024 processing cores, 1,410 Terrabyte of RAM and consumes a maximum of 12 Mw of power.\nA simulation of the human heart which had taken two years, for instance, is accomplished in just one day on the K computer.\nBlueGene/Q at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California, United States.\nThe number 3 on the top 10 list is built buy IBM and has a maximum Linpack performance of 17.1 PFLOPS\nThats equivalent to 171,000 of our PC’s or 11.4M iPads pro’s. It has 1,572,864 processing cores, 1,572 Terrabyte of RAM and consumes a maximum of 7.8 Mw of power.\nThe primary use of the sequoia is for Nuclear weapons simulation but will also be used for study of the human Genome, climate change and astronomy to name a few.\nCray XK7 at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennesse, United States\nAnother Cray built Supercomputer is the number 2 and has a maximum Linpack performance of 17.5 PFLOPS\nThats equivalent to 175,000 of our PC’s or 11.6M iPads pro’s. It has 560,640 processing cores, 710 Terrabyte of RAM and consumes a maximum of 7.1 Mw of power.\nAlthough the main CPUs are AMD 16 core Opterons the full power comes from the Nvidia K20 GPU’s or graphics processing units , they are similar to the top end graphics cards used in many home and gaming PC’s.\nThe 17.5 PFlops Linpack test was obtained using only the K20 GPU’s\n1. Tianhe-2 (MilkyWay-2)\nAt the National Super Computer Center in Guangzhou City, Guangdong province, China\nThis was built by the Chinese National University of Defense Technology and has a maximum Linpack performance of 33.8 PFLOPS\nThats equivalent to 338,000 of our PC’s or 22.53M iPads pro’s. It has 3,120,000 processing cores, 1024 Terrabyte of RAM and consumes a maximum of 17.8 Mw of power.\nIf you were to stack all the equivalent ipad pro’s flat on top of each other the pile would be 155km high.\nThe Tainhe 2 has been the top supercomputer for the last 3 years in the top500 list which comes out twice a year.\nWhere do we go from here, well, If anyone can figure out how to build a real quantum computer, IBM has previously said that if one could be made with just 50 quantum bits (qubits), and that can detect both types of errors and scale to large systems, no combination of today’s TOP500 supercomputers could successfully outperform it.\nUntil then we will look forward to the first 1000 Peta FLOP or 1 Exa Flop machines in hopefully around 2025.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The content below will give you user-friendly access to a wide range of teaching tools and resources that have been designed and used by teachers of OCR A Level PE.\nClick on the topics below or become a member to gain access to lessons and resources. Alternatively, contact us for more information or to request an invoice.\nFirst time user? Three topics (shown in red) are free for you to use – simply sign up for a ‘Trial Membership’ here.\nApplied Anatomy & Physiology\n1.1.a – Skeletal & Muscular Systems Try out this topic for free with a ‘Trial Membership’\n1.1.b – Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems\n1.1.cd Energy Systems & Environmental Effects on Body Systems\n1.2.a – Diet & Nutrition\n1.2.b Preparation & Training Methods – Try out this topic for free with a ‘Trial Membership’\n1.2.c Injury Prevention & the Rehabilitation of Injury\n1.3.ab Biomechanical Principles, Levers & the use of Technology/Linear, Angular & Projectile Motion and Fluid Mechanics\n2.1.ab Skill Acquisition, Practice & Transfer/Stages & Theories of Learning, Guidance, Feedback & Memory Models\n2.2.ab Personality, Attitudes & Arousal/Motivation, Anxiety, Aggression & Social Facilitation\n2.2.cd Goal Setting, Confidence & Attribution/Leadership, Groups & Stress – Try out this topic for free with a ‘Trial Membership’\nSport & Society\n3.1.ab Emergence & Evolution of Modern Sport/Global Sporting Events\nContemporary Issues in Physical Activity & Sport\n3.2.abc Ethics & Deviance in Sport/Commercialisation & Media/Routes to Sporting Excellence in UK & Modern Technology in Sport", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Tooth is the action of maintaining people’s oral cavity and the teeth exempt from disorder along with other unsafe challenges by common scrubbing, at times and using dental floss dental care cleansing. Also, it is vital that dental care is carried out using a ongoing basis to prevent bad breath and inevitable dental care contamination. Nevertheless, a lot of people brush and use dental floss erroneously, which leads to tooth caries. If you’re not washed at standard intervals can propagate very quickly towards the gumline and intrinsic lining from the the teeth, so showing all dangerous to your tooth eventually.\nSeparate, from plaque and dental rot, poor tooth can lead to common ailments like Alzheimer’s disease and all forms of diabetes, these poor blotches. Alzheimer’s is a condition that is affecting the psychological performance and influences memory space, judgment, thinking and dialect and bodily activities. Its signs or symptoms are generally forgetfulness, swift changes in mood, anxiety and depression. All forms of diabetes is actually a junk food diet illness that produces an important rise in blood sugar hence diabetes mellitus is associated to a number of other health concerns such as cardiovascular illnesses, help disorder and rheumatism.\nDental treatment but not only makes certain balanced pearly white’s but also stops other health problems from developing. Correct tooth incorporates standard check-check out, washing and advantages-ups. using dental floss and Discovering twice a day are classified as the simple necessity for a wholesome oral cavity. Other than cleaning your teeth, using dental floss is usually a proposed action in order to avoid tooth decay and nicotine gum challenges. Typical dental hygiene enables the bacterias to ease off within the lips, therefore defending one’s teeth from cavities and chewing gum diseases.\nTooth manufactured uncomplicated together with the development of those unfortunate dental surgeons providing their services on the internet. A lot of the dental consultants who provide on-line services are expert and properly trained of their industry which enable it to provide entire preventative teeth’s health treatment. Quite a few have a very good reputation and provide excellent providers at cheap pricing, so that it is simple for people to help keep very good wellness.\nDental care assures overall fitness and dental care therefore boosts the general health on the affected person. Dental problems may affect an entire body like the blood pressure, cholesterol degree, the respiratory system troubles and in some cases anemia. Very poor teeth’s health can bring about cardiovascular cardiovascular system and health conditions attacks. Thus, just before they are able to obtain enamel cleaned out, it is critical for anyone to take care of superior oral health.\nAffected individuals which do not have dental insurance plan wait around for a few months. Waiting for time period is frequently from six-eight weeks and make your best effort numerous challenges can occur which could mess with process. A few of these issues incorporate internal bleeding gumline, uncomfortable jaw,abscess and infections, and tooth loss. Very long waiting time period also affects the psychological overall health of a affected individual because they can not commit their selves to dental services.\nDental treatment is additionally crucial due to by mouth many forms of cancer. Verbal cancer malignancy can strike any part of your respective lips, but is most commonly encountered in your neighborhood involving the intelligence the teeth and your molars. Such a most cancers can spread on the teeth along with sections of your body and for that reason dental treatment can stop the distribute of by mouth many forms of cancer. To truly will have balanced tooth, though it can also alleviate problems with tooth loss, trigger an increase potential for coronary disease.\nDental care is crucial not just in prevent dental problems. Healthful pearly white’s enable you to consume properly and teeth with assurance. Balanced the teeth enable you to experience delighted and guaranteed and so dental treatments needs to be in your dental aim at every chance. Keep in mind in case you call at your dental professional often, that you are bound to achieve beautiful tooth for years to come.\nIf you have any sort of inquiries relating to where and exactly how to use best invisalign sydney https://www.fineorthodontics.com.au/treatments/invisalign/, you could call us at our web-page.\nContinue on your pursuit for much more connected blog posts:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "IF YOU LOVE THE MOUNTAINS but visiting or living at altitude makes you toss and turn in bed, you’re not alone. Oxygen levels in most Utah’s ski areas are about 30% lower than at sea level, and according to altitude physiology experts most people have difficulty sleeping in our thin mountain air.\nWhen you come up to higher altitude, every lungful of air you take provides fewer oxygen molecules to your body. Because there is less pressure at altitude, air is not condensed, and because it’s not concentrated you’re breathing thinner air. Consequently, at altitude you’re getting less oxygen.\nLack of Oxygen\nInsomnia is a common reaction to visiting high altitude areas, along with other symptoms that include headaches, fatigue, digestive issues and nausea. Yet altitude-induced insomnia is different than altitude sickness and may not improve even with long term acclimatization.\n“One of the main reasons many people often don’t sleep well at altitude is because when you go to altitude your body goes through a variety of adaptations as it’s trying to make up for the lack of oxygen,” says Larry Kutt, CEO of Altitude Control Technologies.\nLack of oxygen triggers an unstable breathing pattern during sleep as the body struggles to restore normal oxygen levels. These breathing patterns — deep breaths followed by 5- to 15-second pauses in breathing — occur even in healthy people at altitudes above 6,000 feet and disrupt sleep even for people who sleep well at sea level.\n“So instead of sleeping all through the night, you’re going through this period of breathing, not breathing, waking, dosing back off, waking back up, and you get into this cycle where you just don’t get good rest, and that’s why people can feel pretty bad at altitude,” Kutt explains.\nAdding oxygen to your bedroom can create the same oxygen levels found at sea level and eliminate the cause of high altitude insomnia. An in-home system created by Altitude Control Technologies extracts oxygen from ordinary air, via a molecular sieve, then delivers the oxygen to your bedroom. Sensors for oxygen, air quality, and barometric pressure coordinate with ACT’s proprietary control system. The system restores normal oxygen levels and simulates a lower altitude in your bedroom that is the equivalent of descending about 7,000 feet. While your house may be at 9,000 feet, this technology produces an oxygen level equivalent to 1,500 feet, and eliminates altitude-related sleep issues.\n“A lot of our customers are full-time residents of the mountains,” Kutt explains, “and as they get older they don’t always process the oxygen as well as they’d like too, and consequently they don’t feel well. So for many people who are trying to stay in the mountains, this helps to make them feel healthy and energetic again.”\nAltitude Control Technologies provides altitude simulation systems to thousands of customers including Harvard Medical School, Naval Air Systems Command, the FAA, and the Smithsonian. The company is advised by a renowned group of science advisors comprised of leaders in the field of altitude physiology from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the University of California School of Medicine, the Institute for Altitude Medicine, and William and Mary’s Altitude Research Center.\n“It’s just about physiology — how your body responds to different oxygen levels, and we understand that,” says Kutt. “We understand what needs to happen to make the body respond in the way it needs to for you to feel better at altitude.”\nThe system meets CDC standards for safe oxygen, NFPA standards for fire safe oxygen use, and OSHA standards for air quality. The system is usually installed in about two days. Anyone who is interested can talk to a specialist at Altitude Control Technologies and they’ll come out and take a look at your house, measure it, and provide a proposal.\nAltitude Control Technologies can be reached at (970) 528-1300 for additional information or at their website, www.ACT-O2.com", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Riodinid Butterfly Caria mantinea amazonica\nThe butterfly members of this Order of insects include the popular and usually colorful species. Butterfly groups include monarchs, satyrs, dagerwings, leaf-wings, owls, buckeyes, admirals, checkerspots, crecents, fritillaries, heliconids, riodinids, blues, hairstreaks, coppers, whites, orange-tips, sulphurs and swallowtails.\nThis beautiful Riodinid jewel boldly presented its emerald metallic scales as it sampled minerals provided by a puddle on the trail on Southern Brazil. Although small, this Riodinid has strong flight. This species exhibits a midday sunning characteristic, while others Riodinids are much more elusive, rarely venture out of their forest retreat. Some Riodinids are attracted to fish and carrion. Metallic coloration is achieved through the diffraction of sunlight by a series of minutely spaces ridges on each scale of the butterfly wing.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Wilder Compound visits garden April 5 for opening event and to build geodesic greenhouse dome\nA group of 30 volunteers, including many college and high school students, worked through sleet and snow to put up a greenhouse dome at the Southwest Community Garden Saturday, April 5. The workshop, part of The Canary Project, is meant to teach youth “hands-on skills” in sustainability and gardening, according the project organizers.\nSusannah Sayler, co-founder of The Canary Project, said Hurricane Sandy inspired the project. “There was a lot of discussion at the time about communities not being resilient and prepared for extreme weather,” Sayler said.\nThe project involves producing art and other media, such as documentaries and books, to teach about climate change, said Sayler. But organizers also wanted to produce a workshop series so that community members actually had something to take away from it. Sayler said that other than education, the greenhouse will also lengthen the garden’s season and give farmers more control over their climate.\nThe Canary Project is part of an ongoing program called Modern Primitive Exchange. Ethany Uttech, the program director for Modern Primitive Exchange workshops, said she hopes the projects inspire conversation about climate change while still helping the community.\n“We wanted to do something really concrete that would be educational through actual hands-on skills related to sustainability,” Uttech said.\nUttech said that Modern Primitive Exchange is based on the idea that people should bring together modern tools and technologies with primitive skills that are more environmentally efficient, which can help in urban gardening and maintaining water systems, among other things.\n“Climate change is a fact, and is happening now, and to be more resilient in the face of climate change, we need to think about where these so-called primitive skills can intersect with modern technologies,” Uttech said. “We are trying to get people to think about these things through the workshops.”\nJessica Maxwell, the urban agriculture educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, a group focused on working with municipalities throughout the state to provide better ecological sustainability and social well-being, said neighborhoods like Southwest have been historically subjected to environmental racism. She added that the Southwest area has a poverty rate of over 70 percent and is mostly a neighborhood of minority residents.\nMaxwell said that the sewage treatment plant the city put in this neighborhood a few years ago was a product of this environmental racism. She said that the community started fighting against it, and eventually the sewage plant was halted and the garden was built.\n“A community garden project and growing fresh, healthy food seemed like such a great counter to the proposal of a dirty, old technology sewage treatment plant in the neighborhood,” Maxwell said.\nShe said she hopes the uniqueness of the project will draw other people from the community to come to the garden and create more community engagement.\nEdward Morris, another co-founder of The Canary Project, said it is funded mostly by a $25,000 grant from the David Rockefeller Center, with some of the money also coming from Syracuse University. The university offers a class for credit where students work on the Canary Project and Modern Primitive Exchange.\nMorris said that the grant was to run these workshops and then create an online presence. Online, they want to document all of their projects, workshops and lesson plans.\n“We wanted to launch a concrete program here in Syracuse and build a foundation from that and do it next year as well, and make it so many people can access it via the web,” said Morris, who hopes other communities can use their model and start their own programs.\nMorris said that the history of the project is mostly in media and art. Originally, it started out as a photography project to show landscapes being impacted by climate change, and the project organizers are currently working on a documentary series, a book, and a blog about climate change and sustainability. The art and media is meant to be educational and start conversations about climate change, but these workshops are supposed to provide the hands-on real-world experience of it, said Morris.\nMorris said there will be a big event at the garden on Saturday, May 3, with live music and food. It is to show what they have been able to do at the garden throughout the past few months. This month, on April 19, volunteers will complete the dome building and hope to move some seedlings into the greenhouse. Syracuse Grows will also hold a resource drive and the garden will be the main hub for distribution of a generous compost donation from OCRRA.\n— Photos from WILDER compound, Wildly Interdependent Living + Design Education for Resilience, Instagram account", "label": "No"}
{"text": "To start our discussion of visual literacy at ALA, we broke out into small groups, and each group generated ideas about specific components of visual literacy. Each idea got its own post-it note. Groups then discussed which components/competencies should be included in a definition of visual literacy, and wrote definitions based on their discussion and conclusions. Groups reported out on their ideas and definitions, and we discussed as a large group.\nHere are some of the ideas for components of visual literacy participants came up with (in no particular order, unedited):\nusing images as communication tool\ndiscourse – recognizing the use of images in communities\nunderstanding aesthetic values\ninterpreting meaning of an image\nrecognizing subjectivity of images\nunderstand moving images/videos\ncreator important to give context, intent, and credit\nexpress need to find image\nlearning to use multiple access mechanisms\nmetadata – making it access\ntechnical issues – file formats, storage, resolution\nimages about multiple meanings\nevaluating image – appropriateness\nevaluating data – appropriateness, accuracy\nhow to use images in multiple applications – ppt, written paper\ncopyright, fair use, legalities – for different applications\nmanaging own collections of images\nfinding images in text sources\ncritical thinking – aesthetic, historical, manipulated?\nunderstanding different image resources – open web, licensed databases, proprietary\npresentation of images\nunderstand social & cultural context of image\nfinding images – high quality, high resolution, color fidelity\nwho is the creator, when, where manipulated?\nwhat do you need\nPlease add to the list and discuss.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Oil palm is a perennial tree that well fits the humid tropical climate; fresh fruit bunchesare the palm raw fruit for oil mills. Palm oil is the world highest yielding oil crop determining that palms are extensively planted in South-East Asia, especially in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia where plantations have been spreading in response to the increasing market demand. Cultivation of oil palm in tropical countries is an important economic factor, but it has already proved of endangering biodiversity and degrading environment with a global impact related to forest loss. Remote sensing well fits requirements of precision farming that many stakeholders involved in palm oil production are currently approaching to decrease or monitor environmental impacts. In this work, an enhanced vegetation index (EVI) time series of 415 images was obtained from the MODIS Vegetation Index 16 days composite product (MOD13Q1-v5) to explore tropical vegetation changes. The EVI time series covers a period of 18 years; it was processed aiming at mapping new oil palm plantations in the reference period, giving an estimate of their age, production, and economic value. In this work, a new methodology for oil palm detection and characterization was presented based on local EVI temporal profile analysis. Pixel EVI temporal profile proved to be effective in describing both vegetation macro-phenology and forest loss at that position. Consequently, the proposed algorithm looks for abrupt changes along the local EVI time series (sudden decreasing). The minimum EVI value recorded in the detected changing period is assumed as a predictor of the starting date of new plantations, being the latter reasonably related to forest loss and preliminary soil preparation. Starting date is then used by the algorithm to estimate oil palm age and, consequently, the present local (potential) production. Accuracy assessment showed an overall accuracy in new palm oil plantation detection of about 94%. Starting age estimation proved to be accurate enough: 76% of the estimates, in fact, were placed in a range of uncertainty of 1 year.\n|Titolo:||Detection and characterization of oil palm plantations through MODIS EVI time series|\n|Data di pubblicazione:||2019|\n|Digital Object Identifier (DOI):||10.1080/01431161.2019.1584689|\n|Appare nelle tipologie:||1.1 Articolo in rivista|\nFile in questo prodotto:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Most credits are generated through investment in specific emission reduction projects. Although not an exhaustive list, the most common projects to invest in are bio energy and clean non-emitting electricity generation (for example, harnessing wind, solar, and hydro power). These projects not only generate credits but provide investment in renewable sources that reduce our long-term reliance on fossil fuels. As well as new technologies, maintaining the planet’s ability to absorb CO2 through nature is also important. For this reason forest-based carbon sequestration projects are also common and play an important role in tackling climate change, although some have doubts about the permanent carbon storage of such projects. Where a sequestration project is offered, look for information on how the forest is managed and risks are addressed. As a general rule, look for projects that provide evidence on how they contribute to sustainable development and whether they provide a genuine “additional” benefit (in other words, they finance projects that would otherwise have not taken place). This task is usually carried out for you where a project complies with a recognised standard. Also, you can also check to see whether any advice or information is provided by from local/national government.\nSome companies and sectors have their emissions regulated and can be subject to a cap. Each regulated entity has a carbon allowance equivalent to the cap. Some offset providers offer the consumer the ability to purchase and cancel these allowances, forcing the regulated entity to make additional emission reductions to meet their cap.\n[Ref. 1] Clean Development Mechanism allows emission-reduction (or emission removal) projects in developing countries to earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2. These CERs can be traded and sold, and used by industrialized countries to a meet a part of their emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol.\nThe mechanism stimulates sustainable development and emission reductions, while giving industrialized countries some flexibility in how they meet their emission reduction limitation targets. The projects must qualify through a rigorous and public registration and issuance process designed to ensure real, measurable and verifiable emission reductions that are additional to what would have occurred without the project. The mechanism is overseen by the CDM Executive Board, answerable ultimately to the countries that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol. UNFCCC website http://cdm.unfccc.int/about/index.html\nJoint Implementation allows a country with an emission reduction or limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Party) to earn emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission-reduction or emission removal project in another Annex B Party, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting its Kyoto target.\nIn general, the price of an offset credit is no guarantee of its quality. The price of a project credit is determined by the investment required to generate a carbon saving, and the administration cost. Project investment will vary by location and the nature of the project, even if the quality is the same. Administration costs also vary. Some projects claim to invest 100% of your money directly in projects, but somewhere between 80-90% is typical. In practice, there may be little difference as some schemes attribute overheads and verification costs directly to the project.\nLike the carbon markets generally, prices can and do fluctuate. This makes it difficult to provide accurate information on the average price of carbon offset credits at any moment in time. Some indicative information can be found by looking at the trends in the carbon markets. Various carbon markets are in operation, some are mandatory like the European Union (EU) emissions trading scheme and others are on a voluntary basis.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Today is the fast day of 17 Tammuz where we remember the breach of the walls of Jerusalem. Less than a month later on the 9 Av the Temple was destroyed.\nA silver half shekel coin was discovered at the Emek Tzurim National Park during the sifting of rubble from the Temple Mount dumped by the Waqf in the Kidron Valley. The coin, weighing 7 grams, is from the Great Revolt against the Romans (66-70CE). A branch with three pomegranates and the words “Holy Jerusalem” appear on one side of the coin, while the words “Half Shekel” appear on the other, in proto-Hebrew script. The use of Hebrew (and not Jewish Aramaic that came into wide use during the Second Temple) and proto-Hebrew script is popular on Jewish coins from that period. During the period of the Great Revolt, they replaced the Tyrian shekels for the annual half shekel tax that every Jewish male adult gave to the Temple treasury and Jerusalem.\nA Babylonian arrowhead was also discovered in the sifting of archaeological rubble from the Temple Mount. Only a small number of arrowheads from the 6th century BCE, the period of the destruction of the First Temple, was found as it was Babylonian army practice to gather up the used arrows. Arrowheads were found close to the top of the City of David hill, in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and in Ketef Hinnom evidence of the heavy fighting.\nToday is very appropriate to see the multi-media presentation about this period at the Burnt House in the Jewish quarter in the ruins of a house destroyed during the Great Revolt.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "3D-printed plant-based steak could help eradicate world’s hunger\nGiuseppe Scionti, an Italian bioengineer from a Spanish startup known as Novameat, has invented the world’s first meat-free steak that is 3D-printed. It mimics the texture of beef and is made from vegetable proteins. Vegan ingredients that provide amino acids for a healthy diet such as peas, seaweed, and rice are turned into a food paste to form a 3D-printed steak-like substance.\nScionti found that the market has an abundance of such meat-free products that taste similar to other animal meats but are limited only to meatballs, chicken nuggets, and imitation burgers. But none of these can reproduce fibrous flesh identical to that of chicken breast or steak. To improve people’s nutrition and reduce the impact of animal agriculture, the Milan based researcher is on a mission to create an alternative to meat products, and that is plant-based.\nThe bioengineer mixed paella colorant with the protein-rich ingredients to form a bright red paste, which can then be 3D-printed to develop a raw steak-like product. He created a vegan product by combining bio-printing and tissue engineering with modern cooking methods that boast the same appearance, nutritional properties, and appearance as animal meat products. With the help of 3D printing, the scientist generated the micro-structured complex tridimensional forms which are impossible to achieve if other techniques are used.\nScionti mixed a specific amount of protein with paella colorant for his first prototype that resulted in a red jelly-like substance. The 3D printing method developed by Scionti takes around 30 minutes to print a piece 100-gram steak. Another purpose of creating this alternative ethical meat was to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gas from livestock that accounts for almost 14.5 percent of the total human-made greenhouse gas emissions.\nThe Italian scientist was also successful in creating a light brown meat-free chicken breast. He also went on to develop a plant-based chicken breast – as well as a fake steak – with higher protein concentrations that included ingredients like fibers, vitamins, lipids, and minerals to mimic the nutritional properties of animal meat. However, it is light brown as it does not contain any colorant and is similar to ordinary cooked meat.\nFor production on mass-scale, Scionti predicts that the technology will be able to reduce manufacturing costs and time by ten times, compared with current values. The scientist is also researching how specific drugs can be incorporated into food products to help people in the world who are suffering from endemic diseases.\nAll Photos: © Novameat", "label": "No"}
{"text": "We show that the absence of the Greenland ice sheet would have important consequences on the North Atlantic Ocean circulation, even without taking into account the effect of the freshwater input to the ocean from ice melting. These effects are investigated in a 600year long coupled ocean-atmosphere simulation with the high-resolution global climate model EC-Earth 3.0.1. Once a new equilibrium is established, a cooling of Eurasia and of the North Atlantic and a poleward shift of the subtropical jet are observed. These hemispheric changes are ascribed to a weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) by about 12%. We attribute this slowdown to a reduction in salinity of the Arctic basin and to the related change of the mass and salt transport through the Fram Straita consequence of the new surface wind pattern over the lower orography. This idealized experiment illustrates the sensitivity of the AMOC to local surface winds.\nImpact of Greenland orography on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation / Davini, P.; von Hardenberg, J.; Filippi, L.; Provenzale, A.. - In: GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS. - ISSN 0094-8276. - 42:3(2015), pp. 871-879. [10.1002/2014GL062668]\n|Titolo:||Impact of Greenland orography on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation|\n|Data di pubblicazione:||2015|\n|Digital Object Identifier (DOI):||http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014GL062668|\n|Appare nelle tipologie:||1.1 Articolo in rivista|", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Memory loss and poor concentration due to chemotherapy\nChemotherapy performed as part of cancer therapy can create changes in the brain. This would explain why cancer patients often suffer from memory problems or poor concentration during and after such treatment. US researchers first published their study results at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting.\nWith positron emission tomography (PET), which was combined with computed tomography (CT), scientists were able to demonstrate physiological evidence of the negative effects of chemotherapy on the brain. It was shown that the agents used sustainably damage brain metabolism. Brain areas that are responsible for planning and assigning priorities are particularly affected. For this reason, cancer patients often complain during and after chemotherapy with difficulty concentrating and with poor memory.\nMental disorders with an organic cause\n\"Chemotherapy patients also describe the phenomenon as mental fog and loss of coping strategies,\" says Rachel A. Lagos, a diagnostic radiologist at the West Virginia University School of Medicine and West Virginia University Hospitals in Morgantown. So far, the causes of the side effects were still unclear.\nThe so-called \"chemo-brain\" is not a subjective experience, but a result of the treatment, emphasizes the researcher and study author. The research work has shown that \"the functional disorders triggered by chemotherapy can be visibly identified during brain scans\".\nFor the study, Lagos and colleagues examined the functions of the brains of 128 patients who were prescribed chemotherapy for breast cancer. The brain regions were recorded before and after therapy. With the help of PET, the scientists were able to measure the blood flow and examine different brain activities in individual areas. A specially programmed software then searched the recordings for differences in brain metabolism.\nChanges in the brain are clearly visible\n“When we saw the results, we were surprised because the changes were very obvious,” says Dr. Lagos. The so-called “chemo-brain phenomenon” is therefore more than just a feeling. It is not a patient depression. It is a change in brain function that is observable on PET / CT imaging. ” After chemotherapy, the images showed a significantly weakened metabolic activity for several regions in the brain than before. \"The study shows that certain areas of the brain used less energy after chemotherapy,\" said Dr. \"These brain regions are responsible for planning and prioritization.\" According to the scientist, the observed effects were more pronounced the more the subjects suffered from cognitive disorders.\nPrevious research had shown that patients could benefit from the help of nutritionists and exercise therapists. During the study, for example, participants complained that they found it difficult to prepare a meal for their family. \"With shopping lists and written menus, the women were once again able to buy groceries,\" says Dr. Lagos.\nLagos, her colleagues, now hope that they have paved the way for better treatment so that the side effects of chemotherapy are reduced. \"The next step should be a prospective study,\" said the expert. Further research could identify and narrow down the causes more precisely. This could also lead to improved treatment or prevention. (sb)\nChemotherapy can be counterproductive to cancer\nChemotherapy for breast cancer is not always useful\nBreast cancer: genetic test to prevent chemotherapy", "label": "No"}
{"text": "SURREY, United Kingdon - A University of Surrey-based team have filed the first patent applications for inventions created by a machine. Applications were made to the US, EU and UK patent offices; they are for a machine using artificial intelligence as the inventor of two ideas for a beverage container and a flashing light, reports Nancy Cohen for TechXplore.com.Continue reading original article\nThe Intelligent Aerospace take:\nAugust 7, 2019-Aerospace and military computer experts have been utilizing hardware to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline decision making and implement automation among myriad other areas. But what happens when you use AI to produce new hardware? Can the AI's \"invention\" be patented? The interesting piece by Nancy Cohen for TechXplore.com. The United Kingdom, where the University of Surrey is located, requires that inventions are made by an inventor - a human being. Similarly in the United States, a person needs to author a book or take a photo for copyright to take effect, but people have AI snapping pics and writing predicatively. Companies no doubt would be keen to patent clever discoveries made by AI, but there will likely have to be changes made to laws for legal protections to be enacted.\nJamie Whitney, Associate Editor", "label": "No"}
{"text": "(BPT) - Did you know that you could be slowly getting sicker with artery blockage, even if you are symptom free and not diagnosed with heart disease?\nYour gender, age and whether you have diabetes all affect the prevalence of certain kinds of peripheral vascular disease, which is a condition that affects the blood vessels, according to a new study led by researchers at New York University Langone Medical Center. This study analyzed data from 3.6 million patients who were screened by Life Line Screening.\nThis insight could help doctors have a better understanding of who is at risk for which diseases.\nYounger women: Peripheral artery disease\nPeripheral artery disease is a narrowing of the blood vessels to the limbs, especially the lower limbs, caused by an increase of fatty deposits in the arterial walls. Most patients describe numbness or pain in the calf, hip, thigh or buttock, but up to 40 percent of people who are diagnosed do not feel any symptoms. Though often associated with older age groups, the NYU study found a distinction in younger age groups: The disease is actually more prevalent in younger women than younger men to a dramatic degree. Screening for peripheral artery disease can be as simple as comparing blood pressure in your ankle as your arm, known as an ankle brachial index.\nOlder men: Carotid artery stenosis\nA narrowing of the arteries that carries blood to the brain is known as carotid artery stenosis, usually caused by an increase of fatty deposits. Most commonly, symptoms are not apparent until the patient has a stroke. The NYU study found a more pronounced and higher prevalence of this blockage in older men than in older women. If a patient does opt for screening, a non-invasive method is recommended, such as one offered by Life Line Screening, which uses ultrasound to visualize the arteries.\nMen and women: Abdominal aortic aneurysms\nThe aorta is a major blood supply line to your body, running from your heart to your abdomen. When an aneurysm occurs, an area in this vital artery become enlarged and could eventually grow and rupture. These ruptures are serious, as they are life threatening and difficult to operate on. Causes are not known, but researchers have found a correlation with tobacco use, a hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure. Most people are unaware of having this condition, but a major symptom is a feeling of pulsation from the navel. According to the NYU study, prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms was similar across all age groups. Annual screening can be done with a simple ultrasound.\nDiabetes patients: Peripheral vascular disease\nPatients with diabetes are often screened for heart disease, just because of the great risk factors present in these patients. But the NYU study results indicate that doctors might want to consider the onset of peripheral vascular disease in their diabetes patients as well. Patients with diabetes were at a very high risk of developing peripheral vascular disease in the lower extremities or the carotid artery — even if they were not diagnosed with heart disease, according to the study.\nFuture study is needed to see if screening could lead to better health for diabetes patients, says senior investigator Dr. Jeffrey S. Berger, an associate professor in the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU Langone.\n“We know that if you have carotid artery stenosis, you’re at an increased risk for stroke, and we know that if you have lower extremity arterial disease, you’re at increased risk for significant impairment in your daily activities like walking, and even amputation,” he says. “What these studies show is the power of large data sets to provide insight into the prevalence of and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.”", "label": "No"}
{"text": "E-Commerce: Its Improvement and Long run Views\nEven which has a sizeable word wide web revolution now, digital commerce, usually often called e-commerce continues to be a comparatively new and rising location of conducting and controlling a business. E-commerce is truly a system of buying and marketing of various items and providers about electronic structures such as the internet along with computerized programs. It consists of an internet procedure that may be comprised of advertising, promoting, delivery, and servicing of programs. The event within the online, its availability, and usage has considerably elevated the quantity of corporations performed electronically from the new yrs. A multitude of organisations are having fun with the net infrastructures to greatly slice down costs of conducting internet business, achieve a broad scope in internet marketing, and provide awareness for his or her different solutions. The internet revolution and growth results in a far better upcoming viewpoint for e-commerce, owing to raised idea of digital commerce, its software, and importance to enterprise management.\nThe advancement of e-commerce commenced aided by the infamous sluggish world wide web infrastructure and underdeveloped on the net platforms.methodology for dissertation sample Nevertheless, the continual development of the the web and internet based technologies has led to big enhancements in conducting business in excess of the internet. A lot of service providers right away have introduced the multi-billion-dollar sector closer towards buyers inside of the internet business. Multiple businesses reformed e-commerce by introducing the point-and-click website browsing that pioneered other web based retail web sites in these days. Ongoing developments in e-commerce enabled one-click buying process that merged marketing and sales and profits. E-commerce progress also confronted a variety of pitfalls. Some over the internet seller suppliers were being pressured to shut down their online business products given that their profits were overwhelmed because of the demand. For example, Netscape reformed e-commerce by introducing a user-friendly system that authorized easy execution of opportunity functions that include marketing and advertising and sales. Amazon and E-bay adopted suit and launched the point-and-click word wide web browsing that eased the entire process of e-commerce. For the other hand, other enterprises which include Boo.com shut opportunity seeing as the organization was not able to sustain the online desire for its products and solutions.\nThe advancement of e-commerce offers a multitude of alternatives to vary the normal modes of conducting organization. This involves the elimination of intermediaries which includes brokers and various other dealers in the majority of from the industries. Analysis implies that e-commerce improvement will cause popular elimination if venture intermediaries so aiding in decreasing price of conducting online business and strengthening income margins. Additionally, conducting small businesses on the net decreases the stress of laying physical infrastructures and allows in rising geographical coverage and achieving a substantial number of possibilities potential consumers. Involving internet business intermediaries in location up this kind of physical buildings and promoting will increase business’s fees and decrease the revenue. Manheim Auctions, as an example, is a really organisation involved in auctioning automotive for automakers and rental institutions. An intermediary is considered the rental provider, Manheim Auctions that connects the vehicle house owners plus the visitors. However, e-commerce can help in removing the intermediary consequently enabling the car owners to handle the customers immediately. This example exhibits the real adjustments of e-commerce for venture and generates a far better future perspective for all business owners.\nThe progression of e-commerce results to transformation of from the internet firms. The enhanced web platforms and web infrastructure has supplied the spine for the e – commerce revolution. A wide range of organizations today implement simple net searching guidelines that enable each smaller and large corporations to carry out their organisations via the web. Improved speed and systems allows via the internet firms in increasing service recognition and achieving goal marketplaces effortlessly. E-commerce also will help in eradicating the non expense effective old fashioned ways of conducting opportunity. Managing the customers specifically has enabled numerous organizations cut down the price or working them and enhances their revenue margins.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Conjunction Worksheets For Grade 2\nusing conjunctions kids worksheet conjunction but worksheets pictures coordinating and or year full screen medium size subordinating grade 2 pdf worksh.\nconjunctio and interjectio worksheets grade on for 5 quiz worksheet subordinating print n examples de.\nconjunction worksheets grade pennies worksheet conjunctions have fun teaching free for printable coin firs printa.\nfirst grade worksheets free printable st grades martin conjunction for 2 library download and print on.\nconjunctions worksheets for grade 5 with answers subordinating worksheet 2nd.\ncoordinating conjunction worksheet activities and subordinating conjunctions worksheets grade subordinatin.\nwriting worksheet subordinating conjunctions worksheets grade 2 pdf with projects to try.\nidentifying subordinating coordinating conjunctions worksheets for grade 5 and conjunc.\nsmart kids worksheets home endearing kindergarten grammar for free of conjunction year 2 wor.\nconjunctions worksheets year 4 2 1 a 2nd grade pdf info.\nsubordinating conjunctions worksheets for grade 6 coordinating worksheet third free printable conjunction.\nlater developing worksheets and activities blank 2 conjunctions grade pdf free language stuff.\ncollection of free conjunction worksheets grade ready to download or print please do not use any for commercial subordinating conjunctions.\nconjunctions and but 1 conjunction worksheets for 2nd grade worksheet free printable.\nusing a comma with coordinating conjunctions free printable worksheet commas are necessary before some practice for conjunction worksheets year 2 and.\nin this worksheet your student will add the missing conjunction to sentences its a great drill for grade common core standards but worksheets 2 conjunctions connecting.\n1 2 3 blank later conjunction worksheets for grade pdf conjunctions free language stuff.\nconjunctions worksheets for grade 2 conjunction worksheet or correlative.\nother conjunctions worksheets and activities basic blank 2 english grade free language stuff.\nbest images of free conjunction worksheets first grade conjunctions s practice worksheet 2nd subordinating junction.\npage 5 conjunctions worksheet grade 3 grammar worksheets conjunction for year 2 topic lets share knowledge.\nsubordinating conjunctions worksheets grade 5 connectives exercises conjunction practice worksheet for class 3 with answers fanboys.\nnew stock of conjunctions worksheets worksheet and on l w choose the connectives x conjunction but for gra.\nconjunctions worksheets for grade 2 3 from happy learners on conjunction year with answers 2nd free grammar.\nsubordinating conjunctions worksheet grade lovely conjunction worksheets fanboys best of interjection interject.\ncoordinating and subordinating conjunctions worksheets the best image collection download share for grade 6 prepositions f collect.\nand so but because fun activities games 1 conjunctions worksheets grade 2 pdf worksheet free printable made.\nconjunction worksheets grade subordinating conjunctions worksheet 2nd for all download and.\n5 blank basic 1 subordinating conjunctions worksheet 2nd grade free language stuff.\ngrammar grade common core picture interjections prepositions and conjunctions worksheets conjunction for kids examples conjunc.\nconjunction junction worksheet 1 subordinating conjunctions 2nd grade fourth resources.\nother conjunctions worksheets and activities basic fill in the blank common 2 conjunction for year free language stuff.\ncorrelative conjunctions worksheets prettier coordinating and of best circle the.\nnew subordinating conjunctions worksheet worksheets level exercises conjunction practice high school and e.\nlater developing connectives worksheet preview time worksheets for grade 7 conjunction 2 counting number ks sheet.\nfind the conjunction worksheet printable activity conjunctions worksheets 2nd grade.\ne extend sentences by using a range of conjunctions lesson ideas and resource pack 2 conjunction worksheets grade connectives.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "THE SITUATION ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 1\n\"L\" 11, 13, 17, 22 and 22 had gone up during the night for\nan early reconnaissance. At 5.10 A.M. \"L 11 \" reported a squadron of twelve\nEnglish battleships, numerous light craft and destroyers on a northerly course\nabout the centre of the line TerschellingHorns Reef, and immediately\nafterwards enemy battleships and battlecruisers north of the first unit. The\nairship was heavily fired at but kept in touch until compelled to retire and\nlost sight of the enemy in the thick atmosphere. The airship's reports taken\nfrom its we. diary are as follows:\nReconnaissance Trip of \" L 11 \" on June 1,\n\"On June 1 at 1.30, after midnight ' L 11' went up at\nNordholz with the following orders: As fourth airship to cover flank of High\nSea forces, course N.W. to W. by Heligoland. Full crew on board, fresh\nsouth-westerly wind, visibility limited owing to ground fog and later to a\nfog-like atmosphere high up extending over 2 or at most 4 nautical miles.\nHeligoland was not visible through the fog. At 5 A.M. clouds of smoke were seen\nnorth of the ship in Square O 33 B and were made for. At 5.10 it was possible\nto make out a strong enemy unit of twelve large warships with numerous lighter\ncraft steering north-north-east full speed ahead. To keep in touch with them '\nL 11 ' kept in the rear and sent a wireless report, circling round eastwards.\nAt 5.40 A.M. east of the first unit the airship sighted a second squadron of\nsix big English battleships with lighter forces on a northerly course; when\nsighted, they turned by divisions to the west, presumably to get into contact\nwith the first unit. As this group was nearer to the Main Fleet than the first\none, ' L 11 ' attached itself to it, but at 5.50 a group of three English\nbattle-cruisers and four smaller craft were sighted to the north-east, and,\ncruising about south of the airship, put themselves between the enemy Main\nFleet and ' L 11.' Visibility was so poor that it was extremely difficult to\nkeep in contact. For the most part only one of the units was visible at a time,\nwhile, apparently, the airship at an altitude of 1,1001,900 m. was\nplainly visible- to the enemy against the rising sun.\n\"At 5.15, shortly after sighting the first group of\nbattleships, the enemy opened fire on the airship from all the vessels with\nantiaircraft guns and guns of every calibre. The great turrets fired\nbroadsides; the rounds followed each other rapidly. The flash from the muzzles\nof the guns could be seen although the ships were hidden by the smoke. All the\nships that came in view took up the firing with the greatest energy, so that '\nL 11 ' was sometimes exposed to fire from 21 large and numbers of small ships.\nAlthough the firing did not take effect, that and the shrapnel bursting all\naround so shook the ship's frame that it seemed advisable to take steps to\nincrease the range. The firing lasted till 6.20 A.M. At that time the\nbattle-cruisers bearing down from S.W within close distance of ' L 11 ' forced\nher to retire to N.E. to avoid their fire. At the same time the visibility\nbecame worse and the enemy was lost to view.\n\"' L 11 ' again took a northerly course and went as low down\nas 500 metres, in the hope of better visibility. It was impossible to see\nbeyond 1 to 2 nautical miles, and as under these conditions no systematic plan\nfor keeping in contact could be made, N. and S. course was followed so as to\nkeep between the enemy and our own Main Fleet. The enemy did not come in sight\n\" At 8 A.M. the Commander-in-Chief of the High Sea Fleet\ndismissed the airship, and ' L 11 ' returned. On the way back the ship came\nacross a number of our own torpedo-boats exchanging bases, and messages were\ngiven for further transmission. The airship remained close to those boats as\nfar as Sylt. Landed at Nordholz at 2 P.M.\"\nAt 4 A.M., 50 nautical miles west of Bovbjerg, \"L 24\"\nsighted a flotilla of enemy destroyers, was fired at and returned the fire with\nbombs, then got away further north, and at 5 A.M. discovered a unit of twelve\nships in Jammer Bay, steaming rapidly to the south. It was impossible to keep\nin contact for further reconnaissance as there was a bank of cloud as low down\nas 800 m.\nFrom the Main Fleet itself no signs of the enemy were\nvisible at daybreak. The weather was so thick that the full length of a\nsquadron could not be made out. In our opinion the ships in a south-westerly\ndirection as reported by \"L 11 \" could only just have come from the Channel to\ntry, on hearing the news of the battle, to join up with their Main Fleet and\nadvance against us. There was no occasion for us to shun an encounter with this\ngroup, but owing to the slight chance of meeting on account of visibility\nconditions, it would have been a mistake to have followed them. Added to this\nthe reports received from the battle-cruisers showed that Scouting Division I\nwould not be capable of sustaining a serious fight, besides which the leading\nships of Squadron III could not have fought for any length of time, owing to\nthe reduction in their supply of munitions by the long spell of firing. The\nFrankfurt, Pillau and Regensburg were the only fast light\ncruisers now available, and in such misty weather there was no depending on\naerial reconnaissance. There was, therefore, no certain prospect of defeating\nthe enemy reported in the south. An encounter and the consequences thereof had\nto be left to chance. I therefore abandoned the idea of further operations and\nordered the return to port.\nOn the way back, west of List, the Ostfriesland, at\n7.30 A.M., struck a mine, one that evidently belonged to a hitherto unknown and\nrecently laid enemy minefield. The damage was slight; the vessel shipped 400\ntons of water, but her means of navigation did not suffer, and she was able to\nrun into harbour under her own steam. I signalled, \" Keep on.\" The last ships\npassed through the area without coming across further mines.\nSeveral submarine attacks on our returning Main Fleet failed\nentirely, thanks partly to the vigilance of the airmen who picked up the Main\nFleet over List, and escorted them to the mouth of the river. During the course\nof the day all the ships and boats were safely in their haven, Special mention\nmust be made of the bringing-in of the Seydlitz (Captain von Egidy)\nbadly damaged at her bows. That the vessel ever reached the harbour is due to\nthe remarkable seamanship of her commander and crew. Finally she was run astern\ninto the dock at Wilhelmshaven.\nThe U-boats lying off English harbours were told to remain\nat their posts a day longer. At 6.20 P.M., 60 miles north of Terschelling, the\n\" U 46 \" came across a damaged vessel of the \"Iron Duke\" class (the\nMarlborough). She was, however, so well protected that it would have\nbeen impossible to get within firing distance of her. A torpedo was fired, but\nfailed to reach the objective. Among the U-boats lying off enemy harbours the \"\nU 21 \" on May 31 and \"U 22 \" on June 1 both succeeded in hitting a destroyer.\nIn each case, however, the sinking could not be observed owing to enemy\ncounter-action. Besides this, one of our minelayers, occupied in laying mines\nwest of the Orkney Islands, achieved an important success. The English armoured\ncruiser Hampshire (11,000 tons) struck one of these mines on June 5 and\nsank; with her perished Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener and all his Staff.\nLOSSES ON BOTH SIDES\nAccording to careful estimation made by us the enemy lost:\n||Dreadnought of \"Queen Elizabeth\" class\n||Battle-cruisers(Queen Mary, Indefatigable\n||Armoured Cruisers (Black Prince, Defence,\nWarrior and one of the \"Cressy\" type)\n||Battle-cruiser (Lützow )\n||older Battleship (Pommern)\n||Light Cruisers (Wiesbaden, Elbing, Rostock and\nThe enemy's were almost complete losses, whereas we had\nrescued the crews of the Lützow, Elbing, Rostock and half of those\nof the torpedo-boats. [In my first report of the battle sent to the Admiralty\nat Berlin the loss of the Lützow was mentioned. The announcement of\nthis loss was suppressed by the Naval Staff, though not at my request. The\nenemy could not have seen the ship go down. In the interests of naval warfare\nit was right to suppress the news. Unfortunately the secrecy observed produced\nthe impression that it was necessary to enlarge our success to that extent.]\nOur losses in personnel amounted to: 2,400 killed; 400\nwounded. The enemy's losses may be estimated at over 7,000 killed. According to\na list which he added to his report of June 18, 1916, Admiral Jellicoe\nendeavoured to exaggerate our losses in the following manner:\nBATTLESHIP OR BATTLE-CRUISERS\n||Battleships, \"Dreadnought\" type (certain)\n||Battleship, \"Deutschland\" type (certain)\n||Battleship or Battle-cruiser (probable)\n||Battleship, \" Dreadnought \" type (probable)\n||Light cruisers (certain)\n||Large ship or light cruiser (certain)\nTORPEDO- BOAT DESTROYERS\n||Torpedo-boat destroyers (certain)\n||Torpedo-boat destroyers (probable)\nWith regard to the submarines he was totally mistaken, as\nnone took part in the battle. I sent my final impressions of the battle in a\nwritten report of 4/7/16 to H.M. the Emperor as follows:\n\" The success achieved is due to the eagerness in attack,\nthe efficient leadership through the subordinates, and the admirable deeds of\nthe crews full of an eminently warlike spirit. It was only possible owing to\nthe excellence of our ships and arms, the systematic peacetime training of the\nunits, and the conscientious development on each individual ship. The rich\nexperience gained will be carefully applied. The battle has proved that in the\nenlargement of our Fleet and the development of the different types of ships we\nhave been guided by the right strategical and tactical ideas, and that we must\ncontinue to follow the same system. All arms can claim a share in the success.\nBut, directly or indirectly, the far reaching heavy artillery of the great\nbattleships was the deciding factor, and caused the greater part of the enemy's\nlosses that are so far known, as also it brought the torpedo-boat flotillas to\ntheir successful attack on the ships of the Main Fleet. This does not detract\nfrom the merits of the flotillas in enabling the battleships to slip away from\nthe enemy by their attack. The big ship battleship and\nbattle-cruiseris therefore, and will be, the main strength of naval\npower. It must be further developed by increasing the gun calibre, by raising\nthe speed, and by perfecting the armour and the protection below the\n\" Finally, I beg respectfully to report to Your Majesty that\nby the middle of August the High Sea Fleet, with the exception of the\nDerfflinger and Seydlitz, will be ready for fresh action. With a\nfavourable succession of operations the enemy may be made to suffer severely,\nalthough there can be no doubt that even the most successful result from a high\nsea battle will not compel England to make peace. The disadvantages of our\ngeographical situation as compared with that of the Island Empire and the\nenemy's vast material superiority cannot be coped with to such a degree as to\nmake us masters of the blockade inflicted on us, or even of the Island Empire\nitself, not even were all the U-boats to be available for military purposes. A\nvictorious end to the war at not too distant a date can only be looked for by\nthe crushing of English economic life through U-boat action against English\ncommerce. Prompted by the convictions of duty, I earnestly advise Your Majesty\nto abstain from deciding on too lenient a form of procedure on the ground that\nit is opposed to military views, and that the risk of the boats would be out of\nall proportion to the expected gain, for, in spite of the greatest\nconscientiousness on the part of the Chiefs, it would not be possible in\nEnglish waters, where American interests are so prevalent, to avoid occurrences\nwhich might force us to make humiliating concessions if we do not act with the\nI followed up my report on the battle with a more detailed\naccount on July 16, 1916, after Admiral Jellicoe's report had appeared in the\nEnglish Press. I quote here from the above mentioned account:\n\" Admiral Jellicoe's report, published in the English Press,\nconfirms as follows the observations made by us:\nGrouping of the English Forces\n- Under Vice-Admiral Beatty:\n- 1st and 2nd Battle-Cruiser Squadrons.\n- 5th Battle Squadron (\" Queen Elizabeths \").\n- 1st, 2nd and 3rd Light Cruiser Squadrons.\n- 1st, 9th, 10th and 13th Destroyer Flotillas.\n- Admiral Jellicoe led:\n- 1st, 2nd and 4th Battle Squadrons (Fleet Flagship at the\nhead of 4th Battle Squadron).\n- 3rd Battle-Cruiser Squadron (\" Invincibles \").\n- 1st and 2nd Cruiser Squadrons.\n- 4th Light Cruiser Squadron.\n- 4th, 11th and 12th Destroyer Flotillas.\nIntervention in the Battle by the English Main Fleet\n\" When he first had news that the enemy was sighted,\nAdmiral Jellicoe was north-west of Admiral Beatty's forces. He thereupon\nadvanced at full speed in column formation on a S.E. course, put the 1st and\n2nd Cruiser Squadrons for reconnaissance at the head of his formation, and sent\nforward the 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron (apparently reinforced by the\nAgincourt ), to support Admiral Beatty. The 3rd Battle-Cruiser Squadron\npassed east of Admiral Beatty's leader at 7.30 P.M.; they heard in the\nsouth-west the thunder of guns, and saw the flashes, sent out the light cruiser\nChester to reconnoitre, and themselves took a N.W. course. Shortly\nbefore 8 o'clock the Chester encountered our Scouting Division II and\nwas set on fire by them. After pursuing the Chester, Scouting Division\nII came across the 3rd Battle-Cruiser Squadron, which opened fire on them. The\nattacks at 8 P.M. by our Torpedo-Boat Flotilla IX and the 12th Half-Flotilla\nwere launched against this 3rd BattleCruiser Squadron.\n\" Admiral Beatty sighted the 3rd Battle-Cruiser Squadron at\n8.10 P.M., and at 8.21 P.M. had it ahead of the 1st and 2nd BattleCruiser\nSquadrons he was leading.\n\"At 7.55 P.M. Admiral Jellicoe sighted the fire from the\nguns. It was impossible for him to make out the position of our Fleet. The\ndifference between his and Admiral Beatty's charts added to the uncertainty in\njudging of the situation. The report says it was difficult to distinguish\nbetween friend and foe. At 8.14 P.M. the battleship squadrons turned east into\nthe line between the 1st and 2nd Battle-Cruiser Squadrons and the 5th Battle\nSquadron. At 8.17 P.M. the 1st Battle Squadron opened fire on the leaders of\nour ships of the line. Up to 10.20 P.M. those squadrons, with some few pauses,\ntook part in the fighting.\n\" Shortly before the battleship squadrons arrived, the 1st\nCruiser Squadron, together with light forces from the Main Fleet, joined in the\nfighting. At 8.50 P.M., therefore, between our first and second blows, Admiral\nBeatty put the 3rd Battle-Cruiser Squadron in the rear of the 2nd. At 9.6 P.M.\nthe leaders of the battleships made for the south. The total impression\nreceived by us of the battle is made more complete by the statements in the\nEnglish Press, and is not altered.\nThe Enemy's Action during the Night\n\"At 9.45 P.M. Admiral Beatty had lost sight of our forces.\nHe sent the 1st and 3rd Light Cruiser Squadrons to reconnoitre in the west, and\nat 10.20 P.M. went to their support with the 1st and 2nd Battle-Cruiser\nSquadrons, also on a westerly course. Immediately after came the encounter\ndescribed in my report with the leading ships of our Main Fleet, consisting of\nScouting Divisions IV and I and Squadron II. The fact that our forces turned\nwestward must have led the English Admiral to assume that our Main Fleet had\ntaken a westerly course, and made him follow in that direction. The fact that\nwe at the same time put Squadron II in the rear, and with the new leader,\nSquadron I, again took a S.E. course, resulted in Admiral Beatty's forces\npassing west in front of us and ultimately losing contact. It was obvious that\nafter the battle the English Main Fleet was divided into two. Admiral\nJellicoe's report makes no mention of this. The one portion, consisting of\nlarge battleships and light craft, took apparently northerly and easterly\ncourses, as one group of ships was sighted by 'L 24 ' at 5 A.M. on June 1 in\nJammer Bay, close under land. It may perhaps have been both those rear\nsquadrons which made off on the attack by our TorpedoBoat Flotillas VI and IX,\nand then apparently lost touch with the Main Fleet. The other portion, under\nAdmiral Jellicoe, consisting, according to observations by ' L 11,' of eighteen\nlarge battleships, three battle-cruisers (probably the 3rd Battle-Cruiser\nSquadron) and numerous light forces, had, up to 10.46 P.M., been steering south\nand then south-west. It would appear, from intercepted English wireless\nmessages, that he covered 15 nautical miles. Based on these courses and the\nspeed, he must have crossed our course at midnight, 10 to 15 nautical miles in\nfront of us, and have taken later a course to the centre of the line Horns\nReef Terschelling, where he was seen at 5 A.M. by ' .L 11 ' on a N.N.E.\nThe Consequence of the Enemy's Action during the Night\n\"Admiral Jellicoe must have intended to resume the battle\nwith us at dawn. It is inexplicable, therefore, why a portion of the Main Fleet\nmade for Jammer Bay during the night. Nor can it be understood how it was that\nthe enemy's light forces, which were engaged with our Main Fleet up to 4.36\nA.M. and thus were in touch with us the whole night, could find a way to inform\nAdmiral Jellicoe and Admiral Beatty of our course and navigation. But even\napart from that, it must be assumed that the fire from our guns and the enemy's\nburning cruisers and destroyers would have pointed out the way to the English\nMain Fleet. In any case it is a fact that on the morning of June 1 the enemy's\nheavy forces were broken up into three detachments; one in the North, a second\nwith Admiral Beatty in the North-west, and the third with Admiral Jellicoe\nSouth-west of Horns Reef. It is obvious that this scattering of the\nforceswhich can only be explained by the fact that after the day-battle\nAdmiral Jellicoe had lost the general commandinduced the Commander to\navoid a fresh battle.\"\n¹ According to English accounts, it comprised the\nBarham, Warspite, Valiant and Malaya. Mention is made of four\nships only. According to various observations on our side (by Squadron III and\nthe leader of Scouting Division II) there were five ships. If Queen\nElizabeth, or a similar type of ship , was not in the unit it is possible\nthat another recently built man-of-war replaced her\n² In comparing the time given in the German and English\naccounts it must be remembered that there is a difference of two hours, for the\nreason that we reckon according to summer-time in Central Europe, while the\ndifference between ordinary Central Europe and Greenwich time is one hour.\nTherefore 4.28 German time corresponds to 2.28 English time.\n³Admiral Jellicoe admits that torpedoes reached his\nline, but claims to have escaped further damage by the clever handling of his\nships. Our assumption that he had already turned back before the attack by the\ntorpedo-boats is thus confirmed\nLAST SECTION °\nNEXT CHAPTER »", "label": "No"}
{"text": "We’re coming to a parting of the ways in energy storage development for electric cars. Or we may be coming to a joining of technologies in new and previously unimagined ways. One side, led by Elon Musk and his Tesla Empire, promotes battery power and development. Yet, in Tesla’s home state of California, government and private investments in hydrogen vehicles is growing. Several Asian and European automakers are bringing out fuel cell powered vehicles in the face of low numbers of existing fueling stations.\nFor all the promotion from either side, future “green” cars may become too expensive for private ownership, and various approaches to providing personal mobility may replace the traditional owner-driver model. Regardless of the outcomes or market shares, the technology will be applicable to personal aviation, although perhaps at a significant price.\nBattery-Powered Vehicles Lead – For Now\nAccording to EV World, “In the last year, global registrations of electric vehicles from the first three years of the market reached 500,000 units. The U.S. plays a dominant role, with 200,000 vehicles registered, more than one-third of those in California.”\nThe article lists the different types of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) available and speculates that the wide range of technologies helps explain their rapid acceptance.\n- Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs – i.e. Ford Fusion); similar to HEVs, but with bigger batteries and the ability to store electricity from plugging into an outlet.\n- Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs – i.e. Chevy Volt); similar to PHEVs, with increased electric range.\n- BEVx: (BMW i3 with range extender); similar to BEVs, but with a small internal combustion (ICE) engine to extend driving range\n- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs – i.e. Nissan LEAF); utilize rechargeable battery packs\n- “Large Battery BEV” (Tesla Model S); BEVs with range similar to gasoline vehicles.\nWith Tesla leading the charges for its own “Gigafactory” for battery production, the company’s blog predicts that the operation will, “reduce cell costs much faster than the status quo and, by 2020, produce more lithium ion batteries annually than were produced worldwide in 2013. By the end of the first year of volume production of our mass market vehicle, we expect the Gigafactory will have driven down the per kWh cost of our battery pack by more than 30 percent.”\nCompetitors such as A123 in America, Kokam in South Korea, Panasonic and Toshiba in Japan, and a multiplicity of European and Asian manufacturers produce enormous numbers of pouch and cylindrical cells for everything from laptops and cell phones to buses and trucks.\nBatteries, because of their high count in electric vehicles, command interest for large-scale mass production, exactly where Elon Musk is directing his energies. Between Superchargers being installed nationwide by Tesla, strategically-placed chargers installed on state and federal highways, and thousands showing up in parking lots throughout urban areas, locating a place to “fill up” is getting to be less anxiety provoking for battery-driven EV owners. Home chargers are dropping to as low at $395.\nAside from the 20-minute full charge a Tesla Supercharger makes possible, “topping up” ones batteries is still time consuming for most cars – fine with a home charger, or one in the boss’s parking garage, but less desirable on long trips.\nThe Hydrogen Alternative – Starting Late but Coming on Strong\nOthers are banking on hydrogen as the fuel of the future, using fuel cells to power the motors in their electric cars. With fuel cell cars coming from Toyota, Honda and Hyundai, the Calfornia Energy Commission is pressing ahead to open new H2 fueling stations in the state by 2015. Using $27.2 million in CEC grants and $7.2 million from Toyota, FirstElement Fuel will build 19 of these, another nine will come from grants to other proposals, and other stations are either already in place or being planned by automotive or fuel companies.\nH2 advocates say their vehicles can go 400 miles between fill-ups – much like modern gasoline vehicles. Tesla claims 265 miles between charging stops, and Leafs generally manage about100 miles on a “full” battery. Others are limited to being city cars because of even lower range.\nEven quadrupling the number of hydrogen refueling stations will limit fuel cell cars to Bay Area and SoCal locations for the time being. One wonders how many stations exist in the area where Hyundai is releasing its first fuel cell vehicles.\nToyota’s FCV, destined for sales initially in California, will still be stretching its 300-mile range to make it from LA to San Francisco. Developers will need to work hard to even come close to the 13,500 gasoline stations that dot the landscape in the state.\nToyota’s National Manager of Advanced Technologies Craig Scott says that although fuel cell cars have been practical options for years, the infrastructure doesn’t yet exist to support their common use.\nAccording to Techcrunch.com, “The simultaneous expansion of hydrogen infrastructure and the release of cars that can take advantage of them from Toyota, Honda and Hyundai in 2015 will have accelerating effects on the industry overall. Because of the availability of stations, Toyota is now able to move their hydrogen platform into mass production, which brings significant cost savings as the company can start bringing in parts from its other powertrains and build fewer parts “by hand” in limited quantities.” The FCV’s price of $65,000 puts it solidly in Lexus/Audi/Porsche territory, and may prevent broader acceptance even as Tesla brings out its projected $35,000 Model III.\nJoel Ewanick, FirstElement’s CEO, thinks costs for new H2 stations will drop by up to 50 percent over the next decade, and that those stations will be profitable within five years. He claims that 33 percent of hydrogen at his stations in southern California will come from renewable biogas, a mandated minimum required by the state. 35 percent of H2 in northern California will come from similar renewable energy, a necessary condition to make such fuels truly clean. By comparison, electricity used to charge competitors in the Green Flight Challenge came from geothermal sites in Geyserville, making GFC competitors truly green aircraft.\nDonald Sadoway, Professor of Materials Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), thinks neither battery nor hydrogen cars are ready for prime time, but he reserves the greater criticism for fuel cells, citing their expense, the use of high-priced platinum, questions of safety, and lack of infrastructure. Elon Musk and Renault-Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn both back batteries and downplay fuel cells. So why are other demonstrably smart players in the market backing hydrogen and investing huge amounts on a very big bet?\nAlternatives come in the form of the BMW i3, which offers an optional “range extender” to supplement the car’s on-board batteries. Like a hybrid, the small internal combustion engine kicks in to carry the i3 beyond its limited battery range. Despite this hedging of their bets, BMW’s board member Ian Robertson predicts greater battery development in the next three to four years than in the previous 100 years. Dr Sadoway doesn’t expect that much even by 2030 without “massive new investment.” He thinks that a $20,000, 125-mile range EV could be successful.\nAs the Detroit News suggests, this battle between battery backers and H2 proponents may leave plug-in hybrids as the current victors in the sales battle.\nRolling Your Own\nOf course, creative types may turn to generating their own hydrogen. After all, if one can spend $1,000 to install a 240-Volt electrical service to connect a $500 EV charger, why not install a hydrogen system to power the house, fuel the car and possibly the fuel cells for the personal aircraft? Initial costs of around $100,000 may stunt such interests, but we will undoubtedly see those costs go down, just as they have for batteries and charging systems. When such changes at higher levels take place, they inevitably become part of daily life – witness flat screen TVs, personal computers, and even cell phones – once toys for the One Percent, and now commodities for all.\nCompetition will probably sort out the eventual winners, or we will learn to live with multiple choices that could provide better, cleaner technology for our future flights.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Resilience is talked about a lot these days and for good reason.\nGenerally speaking, resilience is often defined as the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. It does not mean an absence of stress, emotional upheaval or suffering in one’s life, rather an ability to work through emotional pain and suffering when it occurs.\nRegardless of how you look at it, resilience is important because it gives people the strength they need to overcome challenges and work through problems. If you lack resilience, especially as a young person, you can easily get overwhelmed and may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms.\nHow Much Does Resilience Matter to Learning?\nA well-known 2011 meta-study by Durlak et al, reviewed 213 school-based, universal social and emotional learning programs involving over 270,000 US students from kindergarten to high school and found significantly improved social and emotional skills, improved positive attitudes about self, others and school.\nOn the back of improved behaviours lasting at least 12 months, many studies show a remarkable gain in academic achievement among students who exhibit strong resilient characteristics.\nAs the folks at Resilient Youth say, how you nourish and promote resilience may be the most influential action you take as a school leader.\nFor most of us, we often do not know where to start, so they produced a wonderful free document that shares 101 ways to build resilience and wellbeing in young people.\nThis document is jam-packed with dozens and dozens of low-cost or no-cost practical tips, tools and suggestions that will help you build the resilience of your students in their ordinary daily lives.\nThe 101 ideas were compiled by experienced educators and organised by Resilient Youth’s CPR Framework – Connected, Protected and Respected.\nHere are just three really simple, effective ideas you will discover inside:\nUse the language of optimism and empathy, eg show that you are listening by actively paraphrasing back what has been said. This illustrates you understand how the student feels.\nTeach a lesson about ‘How we behave towards each other.’ The PDF shares a free lesson plan about ‘How we behave towards each other’ to get you started.\nInclude Brain Breaks in your lessons. As described in last week’s post, research clearly tells is regular short breaks not only provide valuable downtime (or rests) but they can also lead to increases in productivity, creativity and social skills.\nYou can never have enough ways to build resilience. Download Resilient Youth’s free PDF today, you’ll be glad that you did.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Tourism could be the training and strategy of attracting, appealing and helpful and in any other case compelling site visitors the art and science of bringing people alongside one another, the self-discipline of operating vacations, the group of coordinating, marketing, and investing in travelers. The saying is derived from the Greek concept tou Thesauropathy, which suggests \"the mailing or benefiting from of guests.\" The very first form of holidays generally seems to have already been practiced in Egypt about 5 1000 in the past. From that point, via the generations, many forms of vacation have been and arose highly processed.\nIf you adored this write-up and you would like to receive additional details concerning https://trexperienceperu.com/salkantay-trek/ kindly go to our web page.\nToday, most of the world's society functions holidays to make an income. A comparatively small number of vacationers really take in any revenue from holidays. The bulk of visitors, in virtually any state, typically only views the inbound tourism outbound rather than engages in a outbound tourism by any means. Usually, the bulk of their revenue is through direct holidays income. This is why it is so important for virtually every vacationer vacation spot to develop an focused tourist system.\nAt any residential stage, especially in primary city areas, there are two different types of travel and leisure: the \"inbound travel\" plus the \"outbound vacation.\" While the inbound travel and leisure is made of expending customers' money in the destination's usual atmosphere, the outgoing tourist is actually the opposite. Here, travelers normally commit their cash, together with their time, at even more remote as well as situations. The two are tightly connected. The inbound tourism is centered on the visitors' pursuits.\nHence, in certain regions, for example, national holidays includes browsing, going out to restaurants at a variety of eateries, browsing motif recreational areas, using long hard disks in busses, sightseeing via the seaside, and so on., in contrast to in other places, e.g., the Native indian subcontinent, it calls for expending funds, eating dinner out at a range of \"specialization\" eating places, as residential travel is primarily dedicated to the visitors' surroundings. Moreover, inbound travel and leisure features spending time in the town itself. However, the latter type of tourist has been escalating profoundly over the last several years or more, whilst inbound vacation continues to be over the improve since the mid-1990s. The growth in the quantity of dangerous visitors can even be attributed to the truth that many building regions are getting to be far more ready to accept the outside world.\nIt may be inaccurate to state that inbound holidays describes vacation redirected in the direction of paying dollars, and, alternatively, to talk about that outbound travel means hanging out. Whereas the outgoing travel represents wasting income, for the reason that the inbound travel describes passing time. Household tourist centers mainly on spending time, though ultimately, which means the latter means a myriad of spending. Even if this may seem like an oversimplification, it is really an simple to comprehend 1.\nAnother oversimplification is that residential tourism is focused on enjoying the regional way of life. Although visitors do make this error, it is really not the standard. Instead, most vacationers would like to try dealing with so much on the visitor way of life as they are able. Such as, although many tourists would like to try such a selected portion of the country's historical past is a lot like, addititionally there is interest in what that exact area can give travelers nowadays.\nThere are a number of several ways in which the vacation industry of a country might be assessed. These distinct specifications consist of the level of holidays funds which might be devoted each and every year by residential individuals, foreign travellers, point out and nationwide agencies, intercontinental agencies, companies, government departments and in many cases unique organizations. The number of tourism varies greatly within one area of the state to a different. For instance, tourist inside the Eastern Cape of South Africa seems to pay attention to the beach, even though Victoria tourists are certainly more focused on wines and sweets. Travel and leisure income deviates drastically by gender, age and family members variety.\nThere is a thing that most of these unique variations of holidays share also: they all make a lot of earnings to obtain a region. It truly is projected which the tourism field of Jamaica generates roughly $3.2 billion dollars 12 months. Together with tourism becoming an economical electrical generator, it is also crucial that travel and leisure is usually a societal assist. Many individuals depend upon travel and leisure since their source of income, making it a vital global financial, green and sociable investment.\nFor more in regards to Salkantay trek 5 days stop by our own page.\nExcellent ideas connected with the issues in this post, you will like:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Science is a field that grows day by day. Its development does not stop. Man invent or try to discover new things, new facts every day. As year 2020, COVID-19 makes certain science related to promote vaccines and upgrades the […]\nScience is a field that grows day by day. Its development does not stop. Man invent or try to discover new things, new facts every day. As year 2020, COVID-19 makes certain science related to promote vaccines and upgrades the virus testing kits.\nIn 2020, COVID-19 vaccine is on the frontline of every one’s mind. But scientists do many researches in many other fields. We must appreciate them for their valuable work. Here are some achievements of those scientists in 2020.\n3D STRUCTURE OF PROTEIN\nIn November 2020, one of the largest scientific researches came out. Alphabet’s DeepMind Al made the huge progress and being able to predict the 3D structures of protein accurately.\nIn the field of biology, the folding problem is the crucial confront that biologist try to solve it for more than a half century. DeepMind Al has made quick progression in the biological field.\nThis scientific highlight of 2020 is very helpful in the biological research. It is also use in imputation of medicines.\nROOM TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTOR\nIn New York at the University of Rochester, first time in the world the world’s 1st room temperature superconductor was invented in 2020. By using organic compound in physics, led a research team invented it by using carbonaceous Sulphur hydride made out of carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur under high pressure.\nTeam invented material which has property of superconductor 14.5 degree Celsius. Superconductor is a material that holds or conducts electricity without resistance at the point when it becomes colder than a critical temperature.\nThey have property that they conduct electric current indefinitely without any power source. They used to form powerful magnets which are used in fusion reactors, CT scanners, and maglev trains. This invention is also the scientific highlight of 2020\nBRAIN CANCER VACCINE\nIn 2019 researchers published a study showing that they’d successfully treated bone cancer in dogs with the new type of immune therapy.\nThey had managed to create a vaccine from the cancerous tumors themselves. By summer 2020 these finding were being used to develop vaccine for human cancers specifically certain brain cancers.\nEvery time the clinical trials are conduct, every time make a breakthrough in a dog or a cat with the new excellent response to a novel therapy. It thinks about the people that can benefit from that. It’s still early days but the treatment has been approved to enter clinical trial by the FDA it the US.\nIf successful it could not mean that we have an amazing new treatment for human cancer that does not require chemotherapy and at the very least it is good news for the man’s best friend\nSYNTHETIC RED BLOOD CELL\nWe may not have superpower blood cells yet but we could soon have super powered blood cells. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin which is what make them red and carry oxygen from our lungs to our heart and then to the rest of the body. Scientist have managed to create synthetic red blood cell that can do even more.\nThey have created by coating donated cells in silica which is then covered with positively and negatively charge polymers. This creates artificial cells that are same in size and shape and just as flexible.\nThey have worked well in mice and could become a new way to detect toxin deliver therapeutic drug and fight cancer. It is also one of the scientific highlights in 2020\nFIRST VIDEO OF ATOMS FORMING CHEMICAL BONDS\nAtoms are so small that we need extremely powerful electrons microscope to study them. A lot of our inference rather than actually watching then doing their things but now the first ever video of atom forming and breaking bonds to create molecule has been filmed by physicist.\nWho trapped two rhenium atoms in carbon nanotube? It may be hard to believe that the grainy footage came from 2020 but it is the cutting edge of science and one of the most remarkable things ever seen. This technique will enable scientists to study atoms like never before\nSIGNS OF LIFE ON VENUS\nPhosphine detected in the Venusian cloud belt could be a sign of microbial life. Finding the gas like this on Venus is really exciting because of the possibility that it could have also been produced by life like it is on the earth. It is one of the major scientific highlights in 2020.\nWATER ON THE MOON\nWe have known that there is ice on the moon for the long time but in 2020 it was confirmed that liquid water exists on the lunar surface.\nIt already knew that there was water ice hidden on the moon’s desert like surface. But now the thinking is these pockets of water some know bigger than a penny could be much more common and accessible than we previously thoughts.\nNASA’s Sophia a flying observatory loaded onto an airline has detected water molecule on the near side of the moon. The molecules are not close enough each other pools but this is still incredibly significant with space agencies planning to return to moon.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Painting light and shadow in environmental design. Painting Light and Shadow study environmental concept design or visual storyboard scene. This post is a study of light and shadow and how figures or objects in shadow appear differently from the figures or objects that get expose to light.\nI am just taking an excerpt from the older post, color vs values tip for artists and what was quoting from the great master Craig Mullins, “Decide what is in light and what is in shadow and don’t mix them up. Two major values, but if they are well thought out and designed and drawn they can look totally real. Think like that, but instead of making the light white and the shadow black, make the light a 70 and the shadow a 30.”\nThen look around from some images that have similar lighting situation and compose my own using some part of story I come up with. These guys are running away from something and alley would be a good place to put the kind of lighting into use. So one figure that was ahead run into the shadow of a building when he turns in the corner. And the rest still get expose to light as they just came down the street. I hope that make sense. =)\nHere is light and shadow study for environmental concept design.\nBelow are step by step process from the beginning to final light and shadow exercise.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "- Pine flatwoods, scrub, sandhill, wetlands, grassland, agriculture\n- Check FNAI species profile to determine seasonal occurrence\nSurvey Technique References:\nShort-tailed snake (FNAI)\nEastern indigo snake (FNAI)\nAtlantic salt marsh snake (FNAI)\nFlorida pine snake (FNAI)\nFor federally listed species, check the USFWS area of responsibility map and visit the appropriate field office web site for species- specific guidelines.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The death penalty in the United States should be abolished because it functions as a potent agent of racism and class oppression. African Americans and Latino/as represent the majority of those on death row. And executions are reserved almost exclusively for the poor. Ninety percent of those awaiting execution could not afford to hire a trial attorney.\nIn addition, death penalty abolitionists have known for decades that many of those executed are also innocent.\nThe article goes on to mention the highly publicized case of Todd Willingham, in which the arson experts proved he was innocent after he'd been executed. The thrust of the article is that the disproportionate number of black and Hispanic prisoners on Death Row, like Wllingham, is due to racism and poverty.\nI'm not sure why they call this \"another reason.\" I thought this was one of the main reasons right along, as we've discussed before.\nOf course, Texas appeared prominent in the article.\nAs Shaka Sankofa lay strapped on the gurney in Huntsville on June 22, 2000, he said, “They know I’m innocent. They’ve got the facts to prove it. ... But they cannot acknowledge my innocence, because to do so would be to publicly admit their guilt.”\nSankofa continued, “Slavery couldn’t stop us. The lynchings in the South couldn’t stop us. This lynching will not stop us tonight. We will go forward . ... It’s state-sanctioned lynching, right here in America and right here tonight. Our destiny in this country is freedom and liberation. We will gain it by any means necessary. We must avenge this murder and continue to move forward to stop all executions of the poor and of Black people.”\nWe must put Shaka Sankofa’s words into action and abolish the racist and anti-poor death penalty.\nWhat's your opinion? Do you agree that capital punishment is racist and anti-poor? Does the fact that a disproportionate number of minorities are executed prove anything? Do you think it's fair to call the death penalty \"modern lynching?\"\nPlease feel free to leave a comment.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Although we spend a great deal of time teaching children to think critically, it actually does not take a great deal of insight or education to uncover moral flaws in the world around us. For example, when it comes to the market economy, no one has much difficulty coming up with an objection to the arrangement under which affluent western consumers line up to pay $3 for a fancy cup of coffee, while the farmers who grow the coffee beans earn less than that in a day.\nIndeed, the hard part is not really spotting these problems, but figuring out what to do about them. Some people are quite optimistic that solutions can be found. The great economist Kenneth Arrow once declared that “when the market fails to achieve an optimal state, society will, to some extent at least, recognize the gap and non-market social institutions will arise attempting to bridge it.” Would that it were so!\nArrow made this remark in 1963, in the context of a prescient discussion of health care, where he pointed out that the combination of uncertainty and ignorance made it very difficult for ordinary commercial transactions to take place in this area. (As a patient, you have little choice but to trust your doctor. But if your doctor is just trying to make money, like Adam Smith’s infamous “butcher and baker,” then why ever would you trust your doctor?)\nArrow’s response to this was in many ways typical of mid 20th-century optimism about our capacity to respond effectively to market failure. With respect to health care, his thought was that some people genuinely do have specialized medical knowledge, and other people are not only in need of this knowledge but are willing to pay good money for it. Thus there is a mutually beneficial transaction that is simply waiting to occur. If the parties are unable to organize this transaction using the resources of ordinary commercial law, then they will begin casting about for other institutional arrangements that can make it happen.\nWhat is striking about the example of doctors and healthcare services is that the “non-market” institution that arises, which allows the parties to work around the market failure, does not require government intervention. In this respect health care is quite different from other markets. To the extent that you trust the butcher, it is because you know that there is a government inspector in every single slaughterhouse, with the power to close down the entire operation in response to even a single infraction. The trust that you have in your doctor, by contrast, is not achieved primarily through government regulation and oversight, but rather through professional self-regulation on the part of doctors.\nThis serves as an important reminder that not every market failure needs to be resolved by the state. Market actors themselves often have an interest in correcting these failures (or can be persuaded to develop such an interest). So the mere fact that there is pollution, or safety problems, or exploitation, does not automatically mean that the government needs to get involved. It is far too easy to make the jump from saying “Someone should do something about this!” to saying “The government should do something about this!”\nThis observation is one that acquired greater significance toward the end the 20th century and into the 21st, thanks to waning enthusiasm for the regulatory state and, beginning in the 1980s, the growing power of political actors committed to deregulation. In part this was due to the very success of regulation, particularly in the areas of environmental and consumer protection. Since the low-hanging fruit was the first to be picked—the regulations that would produce the greatest benefit at the lowest cost were the first to be implemented—over time regulation began to extend into areas where the ratio of benefits to costs did not favour state action quite so obviously.\nThe problems are well known: the law is a blunt instrument; compliance and enforcement costs can be significant; regulation creates rigidities, making it difficult for market actors to respond flexibly to new circumstances. Furthermore, with increased international trade, market actors began to encounter problems stemming directly from the limits of state power. (Canada can set the terms for logging in its own forests, but it has no power over the way that timber is cut in Indonesia.) As a result of these forces, western governments became both less willing and less capable of regulating. Social activists therefore became more and more interested in working around the state, in many cases trying to deal directly with private actors to resolve some of the problems caused by poorly structured markets.\nThis confluence of circumstances gave rise to the development of what is known as private governance—namely, initiatives taken by private actors that start with the bare bones rules that govern market exchange, then layer over them a more demanding set of constraints aimed at improving environmental stewardship, improving labour standards, and so on. Perhaps the most important form of private governance to emerge in the past few decades has been the voluntary certification systems in certain sectors. Most consumers are aware of these because of fair trade coffee (and, to a lesser extent, organic vegetables). But voluntary certification has also been an important force in forestry and seafood.\nSome of the pioneering academic work on the subject of self-regulation has been done by a klatch of Canadians: Ben Cashore, Graeme Auld and Steven Bernstein. Auld’s new book, Constructing Private Governance: The Rise and Evolution of Forest, Coffee and Fisheries Certification, is a comparative study of the rise of voluntary certification. Although aimed at an academic audience, it contains material and analysis that will also be of interest to anyone with a practical commitment to improving and extending business self-regulation. This is primarily because private governance has not been an unequivocal success in any of these areas, and so it is useful to compare the different sectors to see what patterns can be found, and which strategies have proven more or less effective.\nIn order for any of this private governance to get off the ground, there must be some deviation from the intensely competitive conditions that govern a standard commodity market. If products are entirely undifferentiated, then the only thing left to compete on is price, which in turn does not leave much room for social responsibility. The lowest-cost producer simply wins.\nThere are, however, many markets where these conditions do not prevail, and so producers have some respite from the tyranny of the lowest price. The first deviation occurs in markets where there is significant international trade. As is well known, states impose a wide range of restrictions on goods that are exchanged internationally, and so market competition is almost never straightforward. Furthermore, different states impose vastly different regulatory conditions, with developing countries often having much laxer standards. This provides an important point d’appui for the emergence of certification standards, since not only western consumers, but often western retailers, not to mention western governments, are less than enthusiastic about purchasing goods that are produced under conditions that would be illegal domestically.\nBecause of this, an arrangement similar to the popular ISO standards (issued by the International Organization for Standardization) provides one template for the emergence of certification systems. This is the model that has developed most clearly in the forestry sector, for example, with the Forest Stewardship Council certification program, which provides one instance of what Auld refers to as a “global-first” initiative.\nThe second major deviation from the competitiveness of standard commodity markets involves the role that brands play in consumer markets. It has often been observed that, although tap water is free, consumers have demonstrated a willingness to pay as much as $8 per litre for tap water that has been filtered and bottled by the Coca-Cola Company. So obviously price competition is not the major driving force in this market. This gives rise, quite naturally, to the idea that “ethical” sourcing or production might become a part of brand identity, or that it might even become the brand.\nThus the second major template for the emergence of a certification system is that it might function like a brand—underwritten, ultimately, by the willingness of consumers to pay a premium for products that have the certification. This is the business model that has predominated in the coffee sector, particularly with the various fair trade programs, which are an instance of what Auld refers to as a local-first initiative.\nNow, of course both timber and coffee are traded internationally, the latter in great quantities. The primary difference in strategy, Auld observes, is that forestry is subject to significant barriers to entry in both production and retail, which means that it is very difficult for new firms to get into the business. Coffee, on the other hand, has very low barriers to entry at every level, in growing, roasting and retail. Fishing, by contrast, is more like forestry, because even though the industry has relatively low capital requirements, most states manage access through long-term permits or quotas, which are already fully allocated.\nIt is obvious once Auld says it—but only after he says it—that these barriers to entry are going to be a crucial determinant of which strategy is effective. With low barriers to entry, certification systems can emerge like brands, in a local-first way, simply because there is very little to stop someone from setting up a coffee shop, roasting their own beans, sourcing them from suppliers who produce it under conditions that they approve of. With forestry, by contrast, because of barriers to entry, there is little choice but to work with existing firms. Thus one must approach the entire initiative from a different angle, in order to get buy-in from the major industry players.\nThis is just one of many insights to be gained from Auld’s book, which contains a wealth of material, all presented in a cogent and accessible format. He has done an admirable job of separating out the different threads that make up the complex skein of initiatives and interests in each of these different sectors. If there is any criticism to be made, it is perhaps that he takes the social science thing too far, producing an analysis so dispassionate that it is difficult to tell which overall approach he favours. I came away with the sense that he leans in the direction of the forestry model, because it has achieved an outcome closer to what regulation might achieve. The local-up initiatives, by contrast, are not only plagued by a hodgepodge of overlapping labels and certification systems, but are also often limited in their ambitions.\nIf Auld plays his cards a bit too close to his chest, Gavin Fridell is very much the opposite. His recent book, Coffee, which appeared in Polity Press’s “Resources” series, is actually not so much about coffee as it is about the injustice of the world, as illustrated by the case of coffee. Fridell is the sort of writer who finds it important to observe that the hardships suffered by farmers as a result of failures in the Central American coffee crop, ostensibly caused by leaf rust, are actually the consequence of “an unequal and unjust global coffee economy forged through the actions of imperialist and autocratic states over hundreds of years of colonialism, slavery, and the expansion of the capitalist world system.”\nPerhaps needless to say, Fridell does not have much enthusiasm for the forms of private governance that interest Auld. Indeed, he tips his hand at the outset of the discussion, when he chooses to refer to them as “neoliberal governance” initiatives.\nAnd yet, for a book that is entirely focused on the injustices of the world system (including, incidentally, the complicity of nation-states through the “coffee statecraft” they practise) Fridell says almost nothing about his own framework of assessment. One gets the sense that his visceral reaction to the contrast between affluent western consumers and impoverished coffee farmers is so strong that it relieves him of any sense of the need to produce an argument to show that the former are exploiting the latter.\nMore problematically, Fridell does not feel any need to show that the inequalities at work in the coffee sector are somehow greater, or more egregious, than the inequalities that characterize the production of any other agricultural good. Even a simple comparison chart between coffee and, say, corn, rice and maybe cacao, would have been highly informative.\nCoffee does have two features that might make it at least slightly distinctive. The first, as Auld notes, is that it has very low barriers to entry. It is simply not hard to get into the coffee-growing business. This makes the market intensely competitive, and thus puts constant downward pressure on the price of green beans. The second feature is that it takes between two and five years for the bushes to reach maturity, as a result of which the market is more likely to suffer from periodic gluts and shortages.\nWhat this all adds up to is that an individual coffee farmer, working a small plot of land, is going to be leading a poor and precarious existence, because the value of the product is not very high and the prices are volatile. And yet one is tempted to describe this, not so much as an injustice, but rather as just an immediate consequence of engaging low-productivity, non-mechanized, monocultural agriculture.\nThe standard prescription is to change the conditions of production, through mechanization and increased scale, intensification through green-revolution technology, and diversification to protect against volatility. Yet Fridell appears to reject all of the latter expedients, in favour of some combination of price supports and welfare-state transfers. This is a controversial position, and yet it is not clear how he gets there. Given that the entire book is motivated by social justice concerns, one would like to see the structure of the moral argument laid out explicitly.\nAnd yet if Fridell’s ideal seems utopian, the real world of private governance that Auld describes falls desperately short of what we require. The easy optimism that Arrow expressed, when he suggested that non-market institutions will naturally arise to correct flaws in existing markets, remains more of a pious hope than an empirically supported generalization. There can be no doubt that people try to create these institutions, but the obstacles that they face are formidable.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "This falling behind is called the “summer slide,” and parents and summertime caregivers (like grandparents and babysitters) are the most effective force in preventing it. While you probably don’t have the heart to enroll in your kids in summer school if they performed well the year before, there are lots of activities — organized and non-official — that will keep your kids’ brains active. Here’s what parents need to know about fighting the summer slide.\n•If my child slides, does that mean he or she will be behind all year?: Most kids fall behind a little during the summer, especially if they aren’t pursuing any sort of educational activity, like going to day camp. But that doesn’t mean they’re stupid or will continue to slip once they’re back in a classroom. Think of it like practicing an instrument: if you stop playing for three months, your first few lessons will be harder than you remembered, and it may take you a few weeks to get back on track, no matter how great you performed before.\n•How are math skills affected?: A recent Time magazine story estimated that most students fall at least a month behind in math skills during the summertime.\n•What about reading?: The same article points to students from low-income schools and backgrounds as suffering the most when it comes to reading: many from those communities fall up to three months behind in reading development, even if they made similar progress as middle-income students during the academic year.\n•Is it possible to reverse the slide?: Yes. Some children — particularly those from higher income backgrounds who typically have access to more educational opportunities during the summer — actually improve skills and are better prepared for the new school year than they were when they finished in May or June.\n•Do kids even want to learn during the summer?: Of course your kids want and deserve a break, but the Today show reported that over 50% of students expressed interest in some sort of summer learning program.\nHow Kids Slide\nSummer is about being a little lazy, playing with friends, and having a more relaxed schedule. But if you see your kids spending too much time with the following activities, you need to direct them to something more educational and productive, or at least find a way to incorporate learning into their summertime indulgences.\n•Going to the pool every single day (and not bringing a book)\n•Watching re-runs (or too much TV in general)\n•Playing video games\n•Texting and playing with smart phones\n•Sleeping way too late\nActivities and Learning Opportunities\nKeep your kids learning with these activities. They’ll still have fun and get to enjoy more quality time with family members and friends, too.\n•Read books: Reading may be one of the most effective ways to prevent the summer slide. Early readers won’t lose ground at all if they take on 30 or more books per summer, according to a Denver, CO, principal.\n•Read everything else, too: Turn your kids on to newspapers, magazines, menus, maps, blogs, and everything else, just so that they can get the practice. They’ll also learn about new media, current events, and work on developing critical thinking and more complex reading comprehension skills.\n•Get the whole family involved: Don’t isolate your child the same way he or she might feel during traditional homework time. Instead, get everyone involved for a library trip, puzzle night, or even reading out loud.\n•Have dinner together: Actually have a conversation that includes your kids during dinner time, like studying a map before taking a trip or reviewing a movie you all just watched.\n•Free museum days: Most city museums have a free day once a week or a couple of times a month. Take your kids and their friends on these days, and let them explore the exhibits. Ask them to write down their favorite memory, and something they learned from the trip.\n•Embrace hands-on learning: Let kids try out new recipes they see on TV or work out science experiments in the backyard.\n•Summer classes: Sign up your child for one or two summer classes that are run more like a camp. You don’t have to schedule them for math or history classes — any class that teaches them a new skill in a subject they’re interested in like creative writing or painting will keep them motivated.\n•Tutor: Hire a private tutor to come to your house for a few weeks to help your child practice math and reading skills in a workbook or by playing games. Keep the lessons casual and relaxed.\n•Embrace online learning resources and games: Not all video or online games are bad, and as many more schools are using technology in the classroom, your child actually should have a solid understanding of computers and the web. Experiment with virtual reality games, open courseware, and even podcasts for learning.\n•Camp: Day camps and sleep-away camps provide social interaction, outdoors adventures, arts and crafts and other activities that sneak learning and development in without kids really knowing it.\n•Go on vacation: Vacations — even ones close to home — are terrific learning opportunities for kids and adults. Visit tourist centers to learn about the area, go to museums, and invite your children to help with the planning process, too.\n•Performing arts: Get tickets to free summer concerts or plays to introduce children to the arts.\n•Make up your own field trip: Draw up a scavenger hunt outlining local history and culture, and then take your kids and a camera around the city for an educational game.\n•National Summer Learning Association: This group started at Johns Hopkins University when students tutored Baltimore-area kids during the summer. Parents can find tips, stories and a blog if they want ideas on keeping their kids engaged and learning on school breaks.\n•Reading is Fundamental: Learn about literacy programs supported by this group, and check out the parents page to find reading tips and activities by age group.\n•Reading Rockets: Find reading guides and help discovering how to best teach your children how to read on this site.\n•Family Education: This website features printable worksheets, and lots of family activities that promote learning.\n•KidsKnowIt.com: Let your kids play the games on this site, categorized by subjects like memory, history, math and astronomy.\n•PBS Kids: Young children can watch videos and play games to help with math, spelling, and more.\n•LearningPlanet.com: From word searches to daily quizzes, kids can play games for free, and parents can subscribe to access even more activities.\n•Discovery Channel: The Discovery Channel has great videos, games, news stories, and info pages about everything from shark week to technology.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Remembering the Lamed-Heh on the 70th anniversary of the battle that killed 35 fighters trying to save Gush Etzion during the War of Independence\nREPRINTS FROM THE JERUSALEM POST; BY GOL KALEV, JANUARY 19, 2018\nOn November 29, 1947, Jews in Jerusalem and throughout Palestine were glued to their radios. Paper and pens in hand, they were tallying the UN General Assembly vote for the partition of Palestine, which would end the British Mandate and establish a Jewish state.\nWhen it was declared the vote had passed, a burst of joy erupted. A spontaneous party formed in front of the Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem.\nHundreds of people danced, sang and wept – including some British policemen.\nAs truckloads of people arrived to join the festivities, Zionist leader and future prime minister Golda Meir stepped onto the balcony and addressed the exuberant crowd below.\n“For 2,000 years we aspired for redemption,” she said and then addressed the Palestinian Arabs: “This partition plan is a compromise – not what you wanted, not what we wanted. But now let us live together in friendship and in peace.”\nBut the Arab reaction was neither friendship nor peace. Two days later, an Arab mob stormed out of Jaffa Gate, axes in hand, and assaulted Jewish passersby. Elsewhere in Palestine, sporadic violence broke out, including shots fired at Jewish buses.\nIn other parts of the Middle East, Jewish homes and stores were set ablaze. In Aleppo, Syria, 75 Jews were massacred. In Aden, Yemen, 85 Jews were murdered. These riots led not only to the eventual cleansing of Jews from communities in which they lived for centuries, but it also sent a message to the leaders of the Middle East: the “Arab street” wants them to come to the aid of Palestine.\nIndeed, in early January, a “rescue army” was sent by the Arab League. The army was comprised of fighters from Iraq, Jordan and elsewhere, many of whom previously had been trained by the British military.\n“This was a way for governments to give an answer to popular sentiments,” Prof. Alon Kadish of the Hebrew University explains. “The Palestine issue was popular in the street, but not with Arab governments. Also, this was a way for opposition groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, to create legitimacy and arm themselves.”\nThe British, focused on a dignified and orderly withdrawal on one hand and protecting their interests in the Middle East on the other, looked the other way when the armed Arab fighters arrived – while extensively monitoring the seafront in search of incoming Jewish weaponry and immigrants.\nArabs inside Palestine began organizing into militias. Training camps were established, such as in Tzurif, south of Jerusalem near Gush Etzion – a bloc of Jewish kibbutzim in the Judean hills.\nTHE ARABS quickly identified a Jewish soft spot: the roads. Ambushes were set to cut off supply lines to isolated Jewish villages and to Jerusalem.\nJewish drivers were not allowed to carry weapons. The British, asserting that they were the sole keeper of law and order, set up roadblocks, confiscated weapons and at times arrested Jews carrying them.\n“There was a procedure to coordinate convoys with the British,” Kadish explains, “but the Hagana [predecessor to the Israel Defense Forces] feared that some British would leak the information to the ambushing Arabs, and hence there was no coordination.”\nSupply convoys turned into death traps while isolated villages fell under a de facto siege. Such was the case with Gush Etzion.\nJust as Arab leaders encouraged Arab civilians to evacuate to aid incoming fighters, so did the Jews in some cases. By early January, the children and non-fighting adults of Gush Etzion were evacuated to the Ratisbonne Monastery in Jerusalem.\nOne of those children was Yochanan Ben-Yaacov, today a historian specializing in the Gush Etzion region. The hostilities, he said, came as a surprise.\n“Right up to the very beginning of the war there was peace with the Arab villages. Two days before the outbreak of violence, people from Gush Etzion went to [neighboring Arab village] Beit Ummar to invite friends to a wedding.”\nA week after the children were evacuated, an escalation occurred: A massive force led by the Tzurif training camp militia, accompanied by local Arab villagers, assaulted Gush Etzion on January 14. Ben-Yaacov, whose father stayed in the Gush to defend it, describes the local dynamics.\n“The villagers did not want to cooperate with the Tzurif militia, but they were told that the Jewish settlements were about to be destroyed and that there will be ample bounty. They came to loot.”\nThe offensive represented a turning point for the Arabs in the war – a shift from sporadic riots to an organized effort to conquer territory.\nIn spite of limited weaponry, the Gush’s Jewish fighters were able to repel the assault, inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Arabs. Gush Etzion prevailed – for a while. Kadish points to a contributing factor:\n“The Arab attack ended because night fell and because their militia did not have supply lines. Hence, once it was dark, the attackers returned to their respective villages and base.”\nIt was clear, though, that they would be back.\nWith an imminent threat of another attack, a severe shortage of ammunition, medicine and fighting men, and with transportation lines cut off, a decision was made to send reinforcements to the Gush by foot. An unsuccessful attempt was made late that night to send such a force from Jerusalem.\nThe next evening, on Thursday, January 15, a group of 40 students on a botanical research expedition drove from Jerusalem to the village of Hartuv, near today’s Beit Shemesh. The elite unit planned to begin their 28-km. march toward Gush Etzion somewhere between 7 and 8 p.m. and to arrive at their destination between 2 and 3 a.m.\nBut while the unarmed students/fighters were able to make their way through the roadblocks and arrive at Hartuv on time for the operation, the pickup truck carrying their weapons and equipment was late. The British patrols forced them to take extra precautions and conceal the weapons in the double-edged parameters of the vehicle. That also required extra time to retrieve the weapons once the truck arrived. It then became evident that there were only 38 machine guns that could be collected for the 40 fighters. Two men had to stay behind.\nSHORTLY AFTER 11 p.m., the group of 38 was ready to depart, but the Hartuv regional commander, Rephael Ben Aroja, pleaded with the force to postpone the mission until the next night, pointing out that it would be daylight by their arrival time and hence they were likely to be discovered. Danny Mass, the mission commander, argued back that by daybreak they would be close enough to Gush Etzion and if compromised, they would be able to fight their way into the Gush.\nSo, the force left Hartuv some time after 11 p.m., armed with supplies and ammunition, but not with a communication device – a luxury not yet available in the Jerusalem arena (pigeon posts which were used instead were not effective at night).\nA little over an hour into the journey, one of the fighters stumbled over a small cliff in the dark and sprained his leg. This caused a delay as the medic attempted to improvise a solution that would allow him to continue. Mass eventually decided to send him back, accompanied by two other soldiers. The original group of 40 was now down by five and will forever be known as the Lamed-Heh (“35” in Hebrew letters).\nIt was now 1 a.m., with only five hours left of darkness. As to what happened at that point, conversations with Arabs who took part in battle as well as with British police commanders paint a fairly clear picture. Ben-Yaacov, who participated in such conversations, recounts his recollections.\n“Around 6 a.m., two advance scouts paving the way for the force, encountered two Arab women chopping wood [for fuel]. Those scouts were immigrants from an Arab country and told the women in Arabic that they were part of the Arab force. The women did not believe them, dropped their wood and ran to their village, yelling Jews! Jews!”\nOnce it was confirmed that there were Jewish fighters in the field, a battle call went out. The fighters from the Tzurif training camp were once again joined by the local villagers. Hundreds of Arabs poured into the field and surrounding areas in search of the Lamed-Heh group. Gunfire soon erupted, which subsided after some time, probably due to the Lamed-Heh fighters’ ability to hide.\nBen-Yaacov recounts what likely happened after a few hours of quiet: “In the afternoon, the Lamed-Heh decided to go up a hill. It is not clear if it was on their own initiative, or because they were attacked in their hiding place.”\nAs soon as they took the hill, they were engaged from multiple directions. Now entrenched on what is known today as the “battle hill,” the remaining fighters were likely hoping to prolong the battle until nightfall and then run the five km uphill to Gush Etzion. They were fully aware that there were no forces from the Gush that could come to their rescue. After all, they themselves were the Gush’s rescue force.\nThe battle on the hill lasted for several hours. Between 4:30 and 5 p.m., as sun was setting, the last gunshots were heard. Arab fighters testified that the Jewish force began throwing stones at them once they ran out of bullets. The British police commander who arrived at the scene the next morning reported that indeed one of dead fighters on the Jewish side was still clutching a stone in his hand.\nMeanwhile, at the Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem from which Golda Meir had called for peace just six weeks prior, Intelligence commanding officer and future president Yitzhak Navon was in the listening room. One of his team members asked him to listen to something peculiar. Navon recounted those moments in a TV interview decades later.\n“I put on the headsets and heard calls of joy in Arabic: ‘We killed them, we slaughtered them!’ I walked downstairs to the regional commander and told him, something is happening near Gush Etzion.” Realizing that this concerned the Lamed-Heh team, the commander pulled out the list of fighters. That is when Navon saw that one of the fallen soldiers was his cousin, Yaakov Ben-Atar. “He was a genius,” Navon reflected. “If this group had not been slaughtered, you would have found among them a prime minster, foreign minister, speaker of Knesset, head of the army… such a terrible loss.”\nTHE LAMED-HEH story remains of strong interest. It raises issues of war ethics, as the force did not kill the two women who went on to inform on them, nor an older Arab shepherd who according to some Arab sources discovered them along the way. We will never know if their decisions were based on operational or ethical considerations, but we do know that they decided to persevere with the mission in spite of being compromised.\nThe Lamed-Heh could have aborted and withdrawn to safety four times: At the outset, at 11 p.m., when they realized they would not get to Gush Etzion by daylight; at 1 a.m., when they were delayed by treating an injured comrade, making their discovery a near certainty; at 6 a.m. when exposed by the two Arab women; and possibly also later in the day, after they were engaged by the Arab force.\nYet they decided to proceed. Their withdrawal could have meant the fall of the Gush and the massacre of its residents. Thus, aborting was simply not an option for them.\nAll 35 fighters died, but their deaths were not in vain. Paradoxically, they accomplished their mission to protect the Gush from an imminent attack. Based on his conversation with Abu-Ibrahim, the mukhtar (village head) of Jaba, Ben-Yaacov explains how.\n“The Arabs assumed that the Jewish fighters were there to attack the Tzurif training camp and the villages in retaliation for the Arab assault two days prior.”\nThat, in turn, deterred the Arabs from attacking the Gush again.\nMoreover, this had implications for the progress of the war.\n“That same night, on Friday night, a meeting was held at Jaba of all the region’s Arab mukhtars [village leaders],” Ben-Yaacov recounts. “They reportedly said to one another, if Jews fight the way they fought today, we will have no chance to defeat them.”\nRefraining from attacking Gush Etzion again that winter allowed the scarce Jewish resources to be deployed elsewhere. The war expanded to other fronts and involved other tactics. Jewish centers were targeted with car bombs, including The Palestine Post (today The Jerusalem Post), as well as the same Jewish Agency building, where Golda Meir called for peace and where Navon learned about the tragic fate of the Lamed-Heh.\nGush Etzion held out for another four months, but in early May, the Jordanian Legion, joined by local villagers and militia, assaulted the Gush again. The defenders were able to hold off the attackers for two days, but on Thursday, May 13, the Arabs conquered the Gush and massacred its residents. Of 131 defenders, 127 died, among them Ben-Yaacov’s father. Gush Etzion had fallen.\nThe next day, on Friday, May 14, the British withdrew and Israel declared independence. The war was to rage on for another 10 months. By the time it was over, the Jews had lost fully 1% of their total population and the Arabs also suffered tremendous casualties. The war produced 800,000 Jewish refugees and nearly the same number of Arab refugees.\nFor the Jews, the joy of survival was clouded by the agony of national losses. The Old City of Jerusalem had fallen, ending centuries of continuous Jewish presence in the walled city. Gush Etzion had fallen, ending centuries of continuous Jewish presence in the region close to Hebron.\nFor 19 years, Gush Etzion stood in ruins, but in June 1967, war erupted. Israel once again defied the analysts’ predictions – it not only survived but gained territory.\nBen-Yaacov was fighting on the Gaza front. On the seventh day, as the ceasefire was announced, he pleaded with his commander for a few hours’ leave.\n“I told him that I wanted to go see my home.”\nBen-Yaacov made his way to the ruins of Gush Etzion. He found there dozens of the Gush’s widows and former children, now soldiers, there for the same reason.\n“I recognized everything,” he said. “The lone oak tree, the landing strip. For 19 years, I grew up on stories about my home. Now I was standing there and I could not decide if it was real or if I was in a dream.”\nThree months later, Gush Etzion was revived. Ben-Yaacov moved back to the kibbutz where he was born, and where his father, Yaacov Klapholtz, died fighting for its defense. He changed his last name to commemorate his father and raised his six children in the Gush.\nMore than 50 years later, Gush Etzion is flourishing. Residents recount that for the first 30 years, good relations with the Arab neighbors have been restored. The outbreak of the First Intifada sabotaged relations, but amicable interactions and even friendships are formed through the Gush’s workplaces and shopping centers. The main assault on the Gush these days comes from the outside, such as from the European Union’s attempt to boycott regional products and businesses, which employ both Arabs and Jews.\nPerhaps the message of the Lamed- Heh that was so clearly received by the local Arabs can now reach those who are attempting to boycott and harm Israel: there is no chance of defeating the Jewish State.\nThe memory of the fallen lives forever, and with it, as Golda Meir expressed the day before war erupted, the relentless quest to live in friendship and peace.\nFor more articles by Gol Kalev: europeandjerusalem.com\nClick for PDF of the print edition. In photos, Abu-Ibrahim, the Jaba mukhtar who fought the Lamed-Heh, recounts the battle to Ben-Yaacov and other Gush Etzion residents in 1970:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Why Do I Need to Floss Every Day?\nFlossing is a crucial piece of oral hygiene. In fact, it is just as important as brushing because it gets into hard-to-reach spots between the teeth that even the best toothbrush can’t get to. At Prescott Dentistry, we understand that flossing is often the hardest component of the daily oral hygiene routine. So today we’ll look at why you actually do need to floss every day.\nWhy do I need to floss?\nThere are many benefits of flossing—including the prevention of tooth decay and gingivitis and improved breath. People who don’t floss are more likely to have a buildup of plaque between the teeth, which leads to gum disease and cavities. There has been some debate in the news in recent years about the necessity of flossing, however, as dentists, we can always tell the difference between those who floss and those who don’t.\nWhy do I need to floss every day?\nIf plaque isn’t removed from between the teeth daily, it builds up and ultimately hardens into a sticky substance called tartar, or calculus. A buildup of tartar can lead to gum disease. The ADA recommends flossing at least once per day to remove plaque, bacteria and food debris, helping to prevent cavities and gum disease.\nWhen is the best time to floss?\nThe most important thing about flossing is that you actually do it every day. As long as you do a thorough job, the time of day isn’t as important. Doing it at the same time every day can help you remember. Setting an alarm might help. Whenever you decide to do it, pick a time of day when you can dedicate an extra couple of minutes to your dental care. If you are tired at night, try doing it in the morning.\nIs it possible to floss too much?\nNo, you can’t floss too much as long as you’re doing it correctly. In fact, you may need to floss more than once a day, especially after meals, to clean out food or debris that’s stuck between your teeth. Keep in mind that cleaning between your teeth should not be painful. If you apply too much pressure or move the floss back and forth too vigorously, you may damage your enamel and your gums. It’s normal to feel some discomfort at first, but with daily brushing and cleaning between your teeth, that discomfort should lessen after a week or two. If you continue to have pain or bleeding with flossing, let us know.\nWhat kind of floss should I use?\nThere are a number of different kinds of flosses, although any of them will work. Here are some tips about the characteristics of different types of flosses:\n- Wide floss—also known as dental tape, this option may be a better choice for people with bridgework. This is also better for people who have teeth that are spaced farther apart than most.\n- Waxed floss—easier to slide between teeth that are close together.\n- Unwaxed floss—thinner and easier to hold and results in using less floss.\n- Water flosser—easier to hold and good for people with dental appliances; however, does not remove all plaque and should not be used as a replacement for dental floss.\nIf you are unsure of what kind of floss is best for you, ask us for recommendations at your next appointment.\nHolistic Dentist in Prescott\nRefer to this 2019 blog for our guide on proper flossing technique to make sure you’re doing it right! Daily flossing, along with good brushing and regular dental cleanings done by our staff here at Prescott Dentistry, will go a long way to helping your teeth and gums stay healthy, strong, and beautiful. Give us a call to schedule an appointment with our compassionate, dedicated team.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Unique depictions and illustrations are a play area of visual enjoyments. In dynamic workmanship, the craftsman can make universes of shading and examination. Dynamic specialists utilize shape, shading, line, surface, example, arrangement and procedure to exhibit thoughts and summon feelings in a beautiful, nonlinear design. A dynamic painting can be about any one or blend of these components.\nAlbeit Abstract Art exists as a general style portraying non-target workmanship, there are numerous, a wide range of styles inside the class. Each style of unique craftsmanship serves its own specific importance or plan. Furthermore, every craftsman has his or own individual style. For instance, a few craftsmen utilize many hues, while others utilize negligible shading. Some conceptual specialists fuse bunches of examples and subtle elements, and others simply paint immense squares of shading. There are craftsmen who concentrate on the push and draw of negative and positive space (or other formal qualities), while others concentrate on visual narrating. To put it plainly, there are various approaches to approach digest workmanship!\nThe fundamental bringing together component among all types of dynamic workmanship is that the work is non-objective and non-authentic. This implies the craftsmanship does not purposefully appear as though anything. Theoretical workmanship can be founded on a frame that exists in all actuality, or it can be construct simply in light of the creative ability. In theoretical craftsmanship, the procedure is regularly similarly as vital (if not more essential in the experience of the craftsman), than the last item. There are numerous ways that a craftsman can apply paint to theoretical paintings, for example, moving, brushing, splattering, dribbling, scratching or drenching the paint. Their brushstrokes might be unpleasant and rough, or fine and fragile. They may work altogether instinctively, making the unique painting off the highest point of their head. Or, then again they may adopt the pre-arranged strategy, precisely penciling in the points of interest before putting the brush to canvas. What’s more, unique craftsmen can likewise append sand or different types of surface to the canvas to make an additional measurement to the fine art. For more information, please visit our site https://angelasimeone.com/", "label": "No"}
{"text": "One of the more common contaminants reported by residents of Stoughton is iron. The EPA maximum allowable level for iron in water as a secondary contaminant is .3 parts per million and for manganese is .05 parts per million (or 50 ppb). These contaminants often show up together. Small amounts of these minerals can create very noticeable, even devastating affects on your home’s water quality. They can interfere with many cleaning tasks, from doing the laundry to washing dishes to taking a shower. Washing your hair may leave it feeling sticky and dull or even discolor it. Dishes and glasses get spotted and a film may build up on shower doors, bathtubs, sinks and faucets. Clothes can look dingy and feel rough and scratchy. Iron can also cause a residue to build-up in pipes that can lower water pressure.\nIron (see photo below) can build-up inside your water using appliances. Some other affects include corrosion and scaling inside pipes and major staining throughout the home’s showers, bathtubs, and sinks. For those using their water for outside lawn irrigation, iron and manganese can cause major staining of outside walkways, house siding and anyplace the water touches. See the link at https://h2ocare.com/irrigation/.\nA water softener is effective in removing dissolved forms of iron & manganese and hardness minerals. To remove particulate forms, water filtration utilizing a cartridge filter with proper micron rating will be effective. Depending on the specific situation, this could require a series of filters with different size micron ratings to handle heavier levels in the water. Selecting the appropriate micron rating and style of filter can be determined by a water treatment professional based on water test results and other symptoms. Water softeners vary, including up-flow versus down-flow which can make a big difference, particularly if there are elevated levels of iron or manganese in the water. For more on hard water, see hard water epa.\nIf properly designed, a combination of water softening and sediment filtration can resolve even extremely high levels of iron.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Bolivia (/bəˈlɪviə/, Spanish: [boˈliβja], Quechua: Buliwya, Aymara: Wuliwya), officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia (Spanish: Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia locally: [esˈtaðo pluɾinasjoˈnal de βoˈliβja]), is a landlocked country located in western-central South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west.Prior to European colonization, the Andean region of Bolivia was a part of the Inca Empire – the largest state in Pre-Columbian America. The conquistadors took control of the region in the 16th century. During most of the Spanish colonial period, this territory was known as Upper Peru and was under the administration of the Viceroyalty of Peru, which included most of Spain's South American colonies, although the area enjoyed substantial autonomy under the jurisdiction of the Royal Court of Charcas. After the first call for independence in 1809, 16 years of war followed before the establishment of the Republic, named for Simón Bolívar, on 6 August 1825. Bolivia has struggled through periods of political instability and economic woes.Bolivia is a democratic republic that is divided into nine departments. Its geography is varied from the peaks of the Andes in the West, to the Eastern Lowlands, situated within the Amazon Basin. It is a developing country, with a Medium Human Development Index score, and a poverty level of 53%. Its main economic activities include agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and manufacturing goods such as textiles, clothing, refined metals, and refined petroleum. Bolivia is very wealthy in minerals, especially tin.The Bolivian population, estimated at 10 million, is multiethnic, including Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians and Africans. The main language spoken is Spanish, although the Guarani, Aymara and Quechua languages are also common, and all four, as well as 34 other indigenous languages, are official. The large number of different cultures within Bolivia has contributed greatly to a wide diversity in fields such as art, cuisine, literature, and music.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Soybeans originated in China. It wasn’t until the late 1800s and early 1900s that the Western Hemisphere started growing the crop. In the 1920s, soybeans were grown on approximately 1 million acres in the United States. Today, soybeans are the largest crop grown in Brazil, planted on more than 72 million acres, and the second-largest crop grown in the United States, planted on more than 70 million acres.\nSoybeans are legumes. They are high in protein and oil, making it a very useful crop for feed for livestock and food for humans. In fact, every 60-pound bushel of soybeans produces 48 pounds of soybean protein meal and 11 pounds of soybean oil. The crop is also useful in replenishing the soil with nitrogen. These benefits swelled farmer adoption of the crop.\nIn 2012, the world consumed 181 million metric tons of soybeans as a source of protein. That’s the most ever, and up 100 percent since 1997. With current population trends and a growing middle class’s demand for more protein, the world will need more soybeans.\nAs crop adoption has grown, farmers, universities and seed companies have worked to improve the soybean plant’s ability to grow and adapt to various climates and conditions. Soybeans are grown in nearly every state in the United States and just about everywhere in South America, as a result of a focus on breeding programs.\nWith this as a backdrop, Monsanto is working on various projects that will aim to help farmers produce more soybeans by protecting the soybean’s production potential from weeds, bugs and diseases. Our soybean pipeline has projects that are designed to: provide herbicide tolerance in soybeans, which will enable farmers to control weeds in soybean fields; provide protection against bugs that eat the soybean plant; and deliver improved soybean oils. Monsanto sells both conventional and GM soybean seed to farmers.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "As Saigon was falling to the North Vietnamese in April 1975, those who were caring for babies and children orphaned by the war worried about the fate of their charges. A series of evacuation flights called “Operation Babylift” carried several thousand young children to other countries around the world.\nSkrypuch (Daughter of War, 2008) tells the story of the last Canadian airlift through the memories of one child, Son Thi Anh Tuyet. Nearly 8 years old, the sad-eyed girl on the cover had lived nearly all her life in a Catholic orphanage. With no warning, she and a number of the institution babies were taken away, placed on an airplane and flown to a new world. Tuyet’s memories provide poignant, specific details. The nuns expected her to be useful; she helped with the babies. Naturally, she assumed that John and Dorothy Morris had chosen her to help with their three children; instead, she had acquired a family. In an afterword, the author describes her research, including personal interviews and newspaper accounts from the time. But Tuyet’s experience is her focus. It personalizes the babylift without sensationalizing it. The author has researched carefully and reported accurately, except where South Vietnam’s soldiers are called Viet Cong.\nImmediate and compelling, this moving refugee story deserves a wide audience. (historical note, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 10-15)", "label": "No"}
{"text": "When teaching a phonics skill it s often helpful to use a key word and picture to help the students remember the sound to the letter combinations. A selection of words that can be rubbed off added to as part of a lesson introducing different ways of spelling the sound er in a whole class session.\nIt models sounding out and.\nEr ir phonics. This is the ur digraph often called an r controlled vowel. 4 6 based on 15 votes.\nNever fear for this ir ur er words worksheet is here to the rescue to help your child learn these to read and spell using these difficult to differentiate digraphs. Fun phonics song for kids. For the ir er ur phonics bundle my fabulous artist created bird themed borders and game boards and they turned out absolutely adorable.\nAnd um er a er cloze sentence worksheets using er words and read cover write check and also quite a clever read draw worksheet. Best kids songs stories free download. Look out for bossy r fun phonics song for kids english song for children jack hartmann duration.\nThis phonics bundle contains 11 hands on activities for teaching. Jack hartmann kids music channel 696 752 views 2 56. Help your children learn how to pronounce the er level 6 phonetic sound with this fun educational video.\nNessy spelling strategy er ir ur words learn to read nessy. Ir ur er words worksheet ir ur er words worksheet. A colorful animated music video to learn how to pronounce the vowel digraphs.\nLearn the sound made by er ir and ur. This is a fun vowel digraphs ur ir er phonics song for learners of english. This selection is er it s a worksheet with er er pictures on it to label using the er words in the box.\nPhase 3 phonics ur digraph learn sounding out blending using this series of simply phonics videos.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Helping our Hoodies – Stage 3\nTuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th November\nThe South Coast is home to many threatened shorebird species including the critically endangered Hooded Plovers. This program allows students to be immersed into the world of the shorebird through photographs, an interactive iBook and discussion about the life and habitat of these local birds. The students use this knowledge to create an animation using iStopMotion on iPad to share the message of how we need to save our shorebirds from extinction. The students learn how to use iStopMotion, then create a storyboard for their animation. Props and a backdrop are made and then the animation is filmed. The animation can then be shared back at school.\nProgram cost – $2 per student.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "|Compiled on||#Nationalcomplimentday, #Complimentday|\n|Related Hashtags||#Compliments, #Thankyou, #BeNice, #Compliment, #Bekind, #Complimentsomeone|\n|2023 Date||24 January 2023|\n|2024 Date||24 January 2024|\n|UK & Common Holidays|\n|Misc. & Int'l. Observancesℹ|\nNational Compliment Day History\nNational Compliment Day seeks to encourage and promote admiration and politeness. Compliments are comments or statements that boost another’s self-esteem or confidence. They can be big or small, what matters is intention. This day serves as a reminder to compliment the ones that teach, help, and inspire you on your daily routine. Compliments are easy to give and they have a tremendous impact on the one receiving them.\nNational Compliment Day was created in 1998 by New Ha Kathy Chamberlin and Debby Hoffman. It is observed annually on January 24th.\nTop Tweets for National Compliment Day -Updated\nNational Compliment Day Facts & Quotes\nIn the News and Trending for National Compliment DayUpdated It's National Compliment Day! Treat people with extra kindness today\n947.co.zaNational Compliment Day - Make someone smile with a genuine compliment.\nsimplybook.meNational Compliment Day 2023: Date, Background, Facts\neduvast.comYou Really Know Your Stuff! National Compliment Day is January 24 - My City Magazine\nNational Compliment Day Top Events and Things to Do\nNational Compliment Day References and Related Siteswww.wmur.com: National Compliment Day www.sciencedaily.com: Effects of a Compliment", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Bringing Storytime Home for Your Little Ones\nby Jennifer Bergen, Program and Children’s Services Manager\nThe Children’s Room of the library was eerily quiet the afternoon I went in to gather as many storytime supplies as I could tote out to my car. After I delivered some puppets, books and silly hats to my co-workers, we set about creating a few online storytimes. Our hope is to reconnect in this way with the families we miss seeing at the library, and with new families who are looking for something fun for their young children to do. Our “Storytime Online” sessions will be released on Thursdays in April on the library’s Facebook page, @manhattanpubliclibrary, and you can view the first two on our youtube channel at https://bit.ly/3bUhcjM.\nIf you’ve got young children at home, you may be looking for more ways to keep them interested and happy, as the usual diversions of trips to the zoo or days at daycare are not available. Here are a few of our favorite places to look for early literacy activities for children ages 0-5 to help them get ready for kindergarten. The great news about teaching young children is that it is super fun, and this is what our storytimes are all about.\nColorado Libraries for Early Literacy, or CLEL (clel.org), is a well-organized website that covers everything from tips to reading with your child to early STEM experiences. One spot our librarians like to visit is the “Every Child Ready to Read” section. If you’ve attended a storytime, you might have noticed the storyteller throwing out little tricks to incorporate rhyming into your day, or encouragement to talk and sing to your baby and basically “narrate” all your activities. These tips have been found to increase a child’s vocabulary exponentially, and to prepare them for sounding out words when they learn how to read. This site may provide you with fresh, fun ideas you can add to your regular routines. Here’s a simple one – “Play ‘I Spy’ in the car using descriptive words to give clues.” You could also do this on walks or even around the house. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of remembering the things you used to enjoy doing when you were a kid, and knowing that it is more than just a game: it’s learning while having fun.\nHere’s a little secret – most of the storytellers at our library had zero experience doing storytimes when they started their jobs (including me). Anyone can learn how to be a great storyteller with some practice, good advice, and a lack of fear of embarrassment. Storytime Underground (storytimeunderground.org) is one of those spots where you can find expert-level ideas and advice in under 5 minutes if you’re feeling a little humdrum about daily reading time. Why not create your own “storytime” at home? Get goofy – grab a stuffed animal and make it your storytime mascot. Sit in a chair in front of your kids and read a book or make up a story. Overly dramatize the characters’ voices in the story, and then sing a silly song. You can let your child have a turn as the storyteller. Even if they cannot read, they will probably put on a pretty good show.\nFor those who may be experiencing a heightened level of stress with young children at home 24/7, plus other responsibilities and worries, the Zero to Three webpage offers guidance and support for the emotional aspects of parenting. You can find brief videos, fact sheets and a special section of Coronavirus resources for families. Single parents, parents in the military, and others in unique situations will find helpful information about fostering relationships, self care, and developmental milestones.\nReading Rockets is a packed website with headings like “teaching reading,” “helping struggling readers,” and a wide range of topics related to early literacy and reading. The section on children’s books and authors includes booklists, award winners, and excellent videos. Check out Kansas author Bill Martin, Jr., reading (actually singing) his most popular book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? during his interview. This is just another way to add reading connections.\nThe library has several great options for viewing, streaming or downloading kids’ books from BookFLIX, Hoopla, Libby app, TumbleBooks, and more options on the state library’s Digital Book eLending page with TumbleMath and AudioBookCloud. If you need to get a library card so you can access thousands more children’s books online, just visit our webpage to find out how Manhattan residents can now register for an eCard online. Then, try out all our digital book options, and contact firstname.lastname@example.org if you need assistance.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Control your Meccano models (or anything else) from your Windows PC!\nDiodes allow electricity to flow in only one direction. The arrow of the circuit symbol shows the direction in which the current can flow. Diodes are the electrical version of a valve and early diodes were actually called valves.\nForward Voltage Drop\nElectricity uses up a little energy pushing its way through the diode, rather like a person pushing through a door with a spring. This means that there is a small voltage across a conducting diode. It is called the 'forward voltage drop' and is about 0.7V for all normal diodes which are made from silicon. The forward voltage drop of a diode is almost constant whatever the current passing through the diode so they have a very steep characteristic (current-voltage graph), as shown in figure 1.\nWhen a reverse voltage is applied a perfect diode does not conduct, but all real diodes leak a very tiny current of a few μA or less. This can be ignored in most circuits because it will be very much smaller than the current flowing in the forward direction. However, all diodes have a maximum reverse voltage (usually 50V or more) and if this is exceeded the diode will fail and pass a large current in the reverse direction; this is called 'breakdown'.\nOrdinary diodes can be split into two types:\nIn addition, there are also Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and Zener diodes (discussed later in this article).\nConnecting and Soldering Diodes\nDiodes must be connected the correct way round, and circuit diagrams may be labelled 'a' or '+' for anode and 'k' or '-' for cathode (yes, it really is 'k', not 'c', for cathode!). The cathode is marked by a line painted on the body of the diode. Diodes are labelled with their code in small print, and you may need a magnifying glass to read this on small signal diodes! Figure 2 shows the orientation of two common diodes, the 1N4148 and the 1N4001.\nSmall signal diodes can be damaged by heat when soldering, but the risk is small unless you are using a germanium diode (codes beginning OA...) in which case you must place a heatsink, such as a crocodile clip, on the lead being soldered. Rectifier diodes are quite robust and no special precautions are needed for soldering them.\nSignal Diodes (low current)\nSignal diodes are used to process information (electrical signals) in circuits, so they are only required to pass small currents of up to 100mA. General purpose signal diodes such as the 1N4148 are made from silicon and have a forward voltage drop of 0.7V.\nGermanium diodes such as the OA90 have a lower forward voltage drop of 0.2V and this makes them suitable to use in radio circuits as detectors which extract the audio signal from the weak radio signal.\nFor general use, where the size of the forward voltage drop is less important, silicon diodes are better because they are less easily damaged by heat when soldering, they have a lower resistance when conducting, and they have very low leakage currents when a reverse voltage is applied.\nProtection Diodes for Relays\nSignal diodes are also used with relays to protect transistors and integrated circuits from the brief high voltage produced when the relay coil is switched off.\nFigure 3 shows an example of how a protection diode is connected across the relay coil - note that the diode is connected 'backwards' so that it will normally not conduct. Conduction only occurs when the relay coil is switched off, since at this moment current tries to continue flowing through the coil and it is harmlessly diverted through the diode. Without the diode no current could flow and the coil would produce a damaging high voltage 'spike' in its attempt to keep the current flowing.\nRectifier Diodes (high current)\nRectifier diodes are used in power supplies to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), a process called 'rectification'. They are also used elsewhere in circuits where a large current must pass through the diode.\nAll rectifier diodes are made from silicon and therefore have a forward voltage drop of 0.7V. The table shows maximum current and maximum reverse voltage for some popular rectifier diodes. The 1N4001 is suitable for most low voltage circuits with a current of less than 1A.\nThere are several ways of connecting diodes to make a rectifier to convert AC to DC. The bridge rectifier is one of them and it is available in special packages containing the four diodes required. Bridge rectifiers are rated by their maximum current and maximum reverse voltage. They have four leads or terminals: the two DC outputs are labelled '+' and '-', the two AC inputs are labelled '~'.\nThe operation of rectification circuits are discussed in detail in the article The Rectifier.\nZener diodes are used to maintain a fixed voltage. They are designed to 'breakdown' in a reliable and non-destructive way so that they can be used in reverse to maintain a fixed voltage across their terminals. Figure 4 shows how they are connected, with a resistor in series, to limit the current.\nZener diodes can be distinguished from ordinary diodes by their code and breakdown voltage which are printed on them, as shown in figure 5. Zener diode codes begin BZX... or BZY...\nTheir breakdown voltage is printed with V in place of a decimal point, so 4V7 means 4.7V for example. Zener diodes are rated by their breakdown voltage and maximum power. The minimum voltage available is 2.7V. Power ratings of 400mW and 1.3W are common.\nOrder the above items from Rapid Electronics via our Circuits Shop and help support the Electronics in Meccano website, without affecting the price you pay! Just click on an item for information about it and/or to add it to your Rapid order.\nOrders can also be placed by telephoning Rapid on 01206 751 166 or visiting their website at www.rapidonline.com. Prices quoted include VAT at 20%.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Remember the ‘two tree-length rule’\nA 55-year-old logger was seriously injured when struck by a section of a falling tree.\nThe worker was helping during the break-out phase of a logging operation. Edge trees were being felled by pushing them with a skidder after they were scarfed and back-cut.\nThinking he would be safe, the worker stood to the rear of the skidder.\nAs the skidder operator pushed the trees, one small tree fell away from the intended direction over the skidder canopy. The top section broke on impact and struck the worker standing at the rear of the skidder.\nThe investigation determined that the accident was caused by:\n- the operator because he failed to ensure that other workers were in a safe position at least two treelengths away before pushing the trees\n- the worker because he positioned himself within two tree-lengths of the trees being felled.\nWorkSafe New Zealand advice\nSection 18.9 of the Logging Code applies. Rules as stated in the: Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Forest Operations\n14: Rules for tree felling\n3. SAFETY AREAS\n1. Tree fallers shall ensure that no:\n- other person\n- operating ropes\n- other operations\nis/are within two tree-lengths of the tree being felled.\n2. No person shall be closer than two tree-lengths to a tree being felled, unless:\n- assisting with felling\n- training others\n- being trained.\nTo which industries/sectors or matters will this information be relevant?\n- Mobile plant\nPublished: December 2010. Updated August 2017.\nWhile this bulletin has not been updated to reflect current work health and safety legislation (the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and regulations), it may still contain relevant information and practices to keep workers and others healthy and safe. Please read this guidance in conjunction with all relevant industry standards that apply to you as a PCBU. This guidance will be progressively reviewed and either updated, replaced with other guidance, or revoked.\nMedia contact details\nFor more information you can contact our Media Team using our media request form. Alternatively, you can:\nPhone: 021 823 007 or", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Study Finds Novel Gene Involved in Muscular Dystrophy\nA study recently published in the journal PNAS revealed new insights into a gene called Smchd1 that is involved in muscular dystrophy development. The study is entitled “Genome-wide binding and mechanistic analyses of Smchd1-mediated epigenetic regulation” and was conducted by a team led by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Australia.\nFacioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an inherited form of muscular dystrophy characterized by progressive muscle weakness. The disorder affects the skeletal muscles of the face (facio), shoulders (scapula) and upper harms (humeral). FSHD is a rarely fatal disorder although it can be very debilitating. It is most commonly diagnosed in teenage or early adults, and is estimated to affect 1 in every 8,000 children. Currently there is no cure for the disease.\nThe gene Smchd1 is involved in DNA management and plays an essential role in X chromosome inactivation. In the study, researchers analyzed this gene as it has been reported to be dysfunctional in patients with FSHD2, a rare form of the disease that accounts for up to 5% of all FSHD cases.\n“Our colleagues at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands work with patients who have FSHD2 and have been studying the genetic changes in these families,” explained the study’s co-lead author Kelan Chan in a news release. “We reproduced in the lab the genetic change to Smchd1 found in one of the families to better understand how this mutation alters Smchd1 and its ability to function in the cell. We discovered that just a single change to one molecule that makes up the DNA can affect the ability of Smchd1 to reach and bind to the DNA properly, and it is no longer able to do its job.”\nSmchd1 encodes an epigenetic factor that can switch off genes, suppressing their function. “Epigenetic factors are like the punctuation marks on the DNA that enables the cell to read and comprehend it correctly for the functioning of the cell,” explained the study’s co-lead author Dr. Marnie Blewitt. “We knew that Smchd1 was an epigenetic suppressor — a factor that switches off genes that are unnecessary for that particular cells’ function — but we were in the dark about where and how it was acting on the DNA.”\nResearchers have now discovered how Smchd1 interacts with the DNA molecule. “Smchd1 is enormous, I think of it as a massive ‘Goliath’ molecule,” said Dr. Blewitt. “So I had expected that this Goliath molecule would be greedy and crude, spreading out across the DNA to ‘exert its power. (…) In fact the opposite was true. Smchd1 is still a Goliath, but it very delicately squeezes itself into a tiny ‘seat’ on the DNA. It binds at just a few discrete sites on the DNA, then draws these pieces together to ‘shield’ them from being activated.”\nThe team believes that their findings can be of value in the development of future therapies for FSHD. “FSHD is a progressive disease, and we don’t begin to see symptoms until the affected person is in their teens or early 20s,” noted Dr. Blewitt. “By understanding the function of Smchd1 and how mutations affect its function, we could in the long term develop drugs that would substitute for its activity and prevent the debilitating muscle wasting which occurs in FSHD.”", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Northwestern Hawaiian Islands\nFor more information about the project or additional project publications, visit the Research Project Page\nThis project began in January 2004 and was completed in December 2007. We developed benthic habitat maps for shallow (<30 meters) areas around the main islands of the Republic of Palau to help local managers and researchers develop reef fish management strategies, optimize biological monitoring sampling design, and develop place-based action strategies to address key issues and remedy specific threats to coral reefs. For more information about this projects data contact Steve Rohman, Tim Battista or John Christensen.\nA Marine Biogeographic Assessment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands\nData and Maps\nNorthwestern Hawaiian Islands Atlas\nAssisted Files and Data for All Islands\nProcess of map development described in detail\nShapefiles - Arc and PCI legend files for the NWHI maps/shapefiles. When (.avl and .rst extension) added to your Arc or PCI project, these files will cause the vector colors to match the geotiffs.\nMap products for NWHI include georeferenced truecolor images derived from IKONOS satellite data, estimated bathymetry (in meters) derived from the imagery, benthic habitat cover, and detailed benthic habitat classes. Files are available for download on the individual atoll pages.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "|Pretty good semaphore!|\nHelmet-orchids are popping out of the ground in our Boho South, Manna Gum-Peppermint-Blue Gum forest in exceptional numbers this year. Even in the last few dry years we’ve usually found a few, but this year there seem to be plenty.\nThis species has a single, shiny, flat leaf up to 20mm diam. and the helmeted flower shines like a light advertising a runway. The helmet has toothed lower margins. There are several similar species of Helmet-orchid that are all very similar and several new species have been recently described. This species used to be in the genus Corybas, but is now Corysanthes (as far as I can tell). Its similar to both Corysanthes diemenica and C. dilatatus.\nBut like so many orchids, they’re small and easily overlooked; they often occur as colonies. Orchids are very special plants.\n|A colony of Helmet-orchids|\nDid you know that…\n- Orchid seed germination & growth relies on ‘infection’ by mycorrhizal fungi Some orchid species have even lost the ability to photosynthesize, being completely dependent on their fungi for energy.\n- Most orchids have specialised relationships with pollinating animals, with many species each only pollinated by a single species.\n- Deceptive pollination systems are common among orchids, the most common form of deceit being food mimicry. At least six lineages of Australian orchids have independently evolved sexual deception. In this syndrome, a flower mimics the female of the pollinating insect species. Male insects are attracted to the flower and attempt to mate with it, and pollinate it in the process.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "What Is The Best Way To Enroll in Osteoarthritis Clinical Trials?\nThe clinical trial definition describes it as a research process in which researchers subject humans to different procedures to reach a medical breakthrough regarding a specific condition, like osteoarthritis.\nOsteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects the cartilage in the joints and the underlying bone tissue. The condition can occur in any joint, but it usually affects the knees, hips, neck, back, fingers, and toes.\nClinical trials on osteoarthritis focus on alleviating different symptoms with methods that can vary depending on the phase.\nWhy Are Clinical Trials for Osteoarthritis of the Knee Important?\nOsteoarthritis is the prevalent type of arthritis, usually affecting the knee joints.\nThe condition causes symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness, loss of movement, swelling, deformity, or crackling of the joints, and is also one of the major causes of disability.\nIf you are suffering from this condition, you can find clinical trials focused on discovering various treatment options, a potential cure, diagnostic procedures, or preventive measures. Pain management clinical trials are also quite common when it comes to this particular health problem.\nOsteoarthritis clinical trials work by testing different drugs and methods and can range from simple osteoarthritis medical surveys to innovative full-term research, like stem cell knee cartilage clinical trials.\nHow Do Osteoarthritis Clinical Studies Work?\nOsteoarthritis studies are randomized clinical trials, which means that the participants are split into two groups.\nOne group receives the drug that is being tested depending on the type of clinical study. There are two options for the other (control) group.\nThe randomization can take three approaches:\n- The open-label trials establish a full disclosure of the treatment program—everyone is familiar with who is receiving the treatment/placebo\n- The single-blind research constitutes that only the researchers know who receives the tested treatment\n- The double-blind method keeps any info on who gets which drug hidden. The randomization is done automatically\nWhat Are the Phases of Clinical Trials for Knee Osteoarthritis?\nOsteoarthritis trials develop in four stages. Each stage has a particular purpose, criteria for selecting participants, and its own set of rules.\nRegardless of the stage, the participants have to sign an ICF (clinical trial informed consent form). It’s a document that provides complete info on the clinical trial, addressing any ethical issues, and ensuring that the clinical trial is safe.\nThe phases of a clinical trial are:\n|Phase One||The purpose of phase one is to find the highest dose that a healthy person can take without any side effects.\nThe subjects are usually healthy people taking part in the clinical study for money\n|Phase Two||This stage involves several hundred people.\nThe goal is to check if the drug has the desired effect on osteoarthritis.\nParticipants in phase two are usually in a similar stage of the disease\n|Phase three||The aim is to compare the tested drug with the best one already available on the market.\nFollowing this phase, the drug has to receive the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to be distributed further\n|Phase four||Follows the participants over an extended period to establish any long term effects of the drug|\nHow To Sign Up for Osteoarthritis Knee Clinical Trials\nThere are better ways to find clinical trial databases or platforms providing lists of drugs currently in clinical trials than hitting Google with “clinical trials near me” or “highest-paid clinical trials near me” queries.\nHere is a list of trustworthy websites offering clinical trials for osteoarthritis:\n- ClinicalTrials is one of the largest clinical trial registries in the world. You can find info on the participants, deadlines, conditions, locations, and more\n- CenterWatch is a platform that promotes trials actively looking for participants\n- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a website with a section dedicated to Bethesda-based publicly supported clinical trials\n- ResearchMatch is a nationwide clinical trial index created to match volunteers with research teams\n- PolicyLab is a U.S. based clinical trial resource center with the goal to connect patients and available research studies\n- Mayo Clinic is a website with a listing of Mayo Clinic clinical trials implemented within the institution\n- Pfizer is one of the largest research-focused pharmaceutical companies in the world. The website hosts an assortment of Pfizer clinical trials for various conditions\nHow To Sign Up for Clinical Trials for Osteoarthritis With DoNotPay\nIf you don’t want to surf the internet in search of a perfect study on osteoarthritis, the good news is—you don’t have to.\nDoNotPay is your all-in-one app created to find the osteoarthritis clinical trial suitable for you.\nOur extensive database covers anything from psychological surveys to full-term clinical trials.\nOur app is powered by a matching algorithm and a fully customizable search engine—you can filter the search based on your preferences.\nHere is how it works:\n- Open DoNotPay in your web browser\n- Tap the Clinical Trials feature\n- Select Get Started\n- Set up your filters—you can customize the search based on the location, estimated compensation, safety measures, type, and other factors.\n- Click on the osteoarthritis clinical trial you want to join\n- Tap Contact\nDoNotPay will email the research team on your behalf to maximize your chances of enrollment.\nThe researchers should respond in a few days, but you can also check the status on our homepage.\nIt is constantly updated with the latest studies, which means you can use it as an info point. Another option is to bookmark any trial to keep track of it. You can also enable the text-notification feature, and the app will notify you about new trials as soon as they appear.\nDiscover Other DoNotPay’s Features!\nDoNotPay is created to manage any annoying task you would rather avoid.\nIn case you need help with managing medical bills and paying hospital bills after insurance, DoNotPay will provide you with smart and effective solutions for those problems. We can also show you how to get favorable loans for medical bills.\nWe can also cut down the time you waste on research and present you with clear and straightforward information about the consequences of not paying medical bills and whether you can go to jail in certain cases.\nWe can do a lot more for you. Check out how by opening DoNotPay in your web browser.\nHere are some of the tasks we can take over:\n- Protecting yourself from stalking and harassment\n- Booking appointments with the DMV\n- Appealing parking tickets\n- Obtaining refunds and compensation from airlines for delayed or canceled flights\n- Fighting robocall scammers\n- Getting refunds and chargebacks from companies\n- Putting an end to email spam\n- Dealing with credit card issues\n- Terminating unwanted subscriptions or memberships\n- Disputing traffic tickets\n- Jumping the phone queue when calling customer service reps\n- Fighting speeding tickets\n- Suing anyone in small claims court\n- Dealing with bills that are impossible to pay\n- Protecting your work against copyright infringement\n- Subscribing for free trials without a credit card\n- Preventing spam texts\n- Discovering suitable clinical trials", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Determining how best to speed ethanol and other alternative fuels from refinery to gas pump would rest with the government under legislation the House passed Thursday.\nPresident Bush is promoting such fuels as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil and cut air pollution. But their widespread use has been hampered by problems with the current system of transporting and storing the fuels.\nEthanol and some biodiesel blends, for example, can corrode tank and pipeline materials, build up sediment, clog filters and cause emissions volatility. In addition, it costs tens of thousands of dollars for the nation's 160,000 gas stations to refit pumps to dispense biofuels.\nThe bill, which passed by a 400-3 vote, directs the Environmental Protection Agency to study new technologies that would eliminate some of these infrastructure problems.\nThe bill by House Science Committee chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., also directs the government to develop an affordable and quick way to test the sulfur content of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel.\nAt issue is whether such low sulfur diesel may absorb enough residual sulfur as it moves from the refinery through pipelines and trucks to exceed EPA limits.\n\"This bill not only addresses our energy independence issues but it also addresses clean energy issues by working to mitigate potential problems that can rise from transporting clean fuels,\" said Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Texas, the committee's top Republican.\nThe measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.\nBush said in his State of the Union address last month that alternative fuels are essential to his goal of cutting U.S. gasoline usage by 20 percent in the next 10 years. He said there should be a requirement of 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017, nearly five times the current target.\nThe House spent nearly two hours on an amendment supporting the use of domestically produced alternative fuels on aircraft.\nThe measure, which passed 385-23, gave Republicans a platform to complain about the expense of the Pentagon's supplying Speaker Nancy Pelosi with a jet large enough to travel nonstop to her home in California.\nHouse Republicans also demanded second votes on four amendments to protest a new Democratic-generated rule that allows the delegates from the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and three territories to vote on amendments, but not on final passage of legislation.\n\"We're creating the record in case there is a lawsuit\" regarding the constitutionality of the new rule, said Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb.\nOn the Net:\nInformation on the bill, H.R. 547, can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/\nNews stories provided by third parties are not edited by \"Site Publication\" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "From Superstition to Scientific Reasoning\nThe seventeenth century was a time of great advancement for science, but it also presented a curious juxtaposition between superstition and science. A part of Europe's Early Modern period and the birth of the Baroque cultural movement, the 1600s also encompassed the early years of the Scientific Revolution, when superstition and religion gave way to scientific reasoning. Furthermore, the Enlightenment, which attempted to replace ideas based on faith or tradition with scientific method, began to take hold later in the century.\n|Monsters! Physica Curiosa.|\nBy the end of the 17th century, electricity, the telescope and microscope, calculus, universal gravitation, Newton's Laws of Motion, air pressure and calculating machines had entered the scene. And yet, as with all great shifts in cultural thinking, the transition from superstition to science was not instantaneous. Many of the era's great thinkers attempted to reconcile previous beliefs with new discoveries. Case in point: Monsters.\nMonsters and the 16th and 17th Centuries\nMany of the publications of the 17th century, while beginning to embrace scientific method and conclusions based on experiments, still also accepted fantastical explanations for marvelous occurrences. Books depicting monsters were extremely popular, and many recycled the same illustrations repeatedly, introducing them to new generations (case in point: Gessner hydra, 1560; Aldrovandi hydra, 1640; Joannes Jonstonus hydra, 1657). Furthermore, global exploration had begun on an unprecedented scale, and those that traveled published accounts of biodiversity from regions they visited. However, they recorded not only the creatures they saw with their own eyes, but also those described by locals - many of which were beings of myth and folklore. While fantastic to us today, for most during this time, there was no division between magic and reality - they simply coincided. Thus, these fabulous beasts could be a reality. Many were based on briefly-glimpsed real creatures given religious or superstitious twists. What's more, many \"monsters\" heralded during the time were actually humans or animals with deformities.\nFor example, Ambroise Paré, a surgeon of the 1500s, authored \"the\" monster book of the Renaissance: Des Monstres et Prodiges (1573). Translating to \"Monsters and Marvels,\" the work depicted malformed humans and animal-human hybrids. Conjoined twins were a popular example of human \"monsters.\" For instance, Paré illustrates a pair of 15th century female pygopagus conjoined twins that were exhibited in Italian cities for curious spectators.\n|Conjoined Twins. Physica Curiosa.|\nGaspar Schott: Jesuit, Mathematician, Natural Historian, Monster Authority\nAn exceptional example of the \"monsters\" proliferated during the 17th century can be found in Gaspar Schott's Physica Curiosa. Schott (1608-1666), a German scientist and Jesuit, specialized in the fields of physics, mathematics, and natural philosophy. He wrote extensively on the mechanical developments of his time, and produced the first published account on Otto von Guericke's experiments on vacuums. His most famous works include Magia Universalis, Technica Curiosa, and Physica Curiosa - essentially encyclopedias magical, mechanical, and natural history knowledge. Schott was a great compiler, and relied on an extensive library for his own research. Most of Schott's publications are aggregations of the writings and research existing on various topics.\n|Centaur and Satyrs, Physica Curiosa.|\nPhysica Curiosa's target audience was other scholars, educators, and the rich nobility of the time, as this was the demographic that could afford the publication. Though books were beginning to be more prolifically published in relation to the previous century, they were still made by hand and very expensive. The illustrations in this work are copper engravings, which were very practical for scientific illustration as they allowed for much more detail than wood blocks. A single printing of 500-1,000 copies concluded the run of this publication.\n|Monk Fish (Upper Left), Bishop Fish (Lower Right), Sea Devils (Upper Left, Lower Right).|\nPhysica Curiosa not only depicts deformed humans as monsters, but also Centaurs, Satyrs, Monk and Bishop Fish, and Sea Devils, to name a few. Human deformities as monsters has been discussed at length, but many other creatures presented by Schott exemplify the practice of misrepresenting real creatures, or imposing religious elements on natural entities. For example, the monk and bishop fish, which were popular beings illustrated throughout the 16th-17th centuries, demonstrate how religious tensions resulted in the association of clerical figures with monsters. Nevertheless, many authors still purported these creatures to be real. In the late 1600s, Johann Zahn wrote that the bishop fish he illustrated in Specula Physico-Mathematico-Historica was fished out of the Baltic Sea in 1531.\nThe Sea Devil was also a popular monster, which Conrad Gessner, in the 16th century, recorded as having been captured in both Norway and Rome. Historians today postulate that this creature was actually based on the monk seal. Seals were extremely disliked by both fisherman and farmers as nuisances. Aristotle recorded accounts of seals raiding orchards, which Gessner and Ulisse Aldrovandi maintained.\nWhile Schott clearly saw a distinction himself between fantastical creatures and those found in the natural world (as evidenced by the division within his book), he still asserts some incredible beliefs associated with real animals. For instance, he claims that \"both fish and bird are made from water,\" barnacle geese are born from rotting wood, and that angels may have carried men and animals to the New World and distant islands. This demonstrates the tie between magic and science that still permeated Baroque Europe.\nImpact on Science\n|Mermaids, Demons and Monsters, oh my!|\nThus, Physica Curiosa represented a critical step along the journey of accepting science over superstition. Furthermore, this work and the others of its time, by aggregating the fanciful beliefs of the era in a single publication, presented an excellent body of work against which those of the Enlightenment could react. By comprehensively recording what was accepted as truth during the time, the authors made it easier for future scholars to pinpoint and address widespread, unscientific doctrine.\nIn conclusion, the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were a fascinating time in history, as we watch science battle superstition, and see scholars like Schott struggle to make sense of their cultures and their reasoning. Monsters were a inherent part in this discovery process. Deciphering truth from myth, and exploring medical and natural explanations for the unexplained, is what science is all about.\nPhysica Curiosa Illustrations\nGet the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer\nYou can see more books about the Curious and the Bizarre in BHL and our iTunes U collection. See a collection of fascinating \"monster\" illustrations in Flickr. See illustrations from the first six parts of Physica Curiosa in Flickr and the slideshow above.\nSpecial thanks to Lilla Vekerdy, Head of Special Collections, Smithsonian Libraries, for her consultation on this post. The Smithsonian Libraries' collection contains 16 books by Schott. The version of Physica Curiosa digitized for BHL is from the Smithsonian Libraries' collection.\nProgram Manager | Biodiversity Heritage Library\n- Gillispie, CC. \"Schott, Gaspar.\" Dictionary of Scientific Biography. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1980.\n- Thorndike, L. A History of Magic and Experimental Science. New York and London: Columbia University Press, 1923. 596-608.\n- Michon, Scott. \"Sea Monsters.\" Strange Science, 16 May 2013. 17 May 2013. http://www.strangescience.net", "label": "No"}
{"text": "We are searching data for your request:\nUrgent health warning: Do not bathe in lakes and rivers in Southeast Asia.\n(27.08.2010) The Center for Travel Medicine (CRM) is currently warning of bathing in rivers and lakes in the countries of Southeast Asia. Numerous cases of leptospirosis have been reported from the areas. Leptospirosis is a dangerous infectious disease that is caused by bacterial pathogens. If the disease or secondary illnesses take a severe course, the liver and kidneys can fail, which in turn leads to death.\nThe pathogens of the disease are found mainly in waters such as rivers and lakes. The infection occurs through open wounds on the skin. Even mosquito bites can be enough to pave the way for the leptospirosis pathogen. As reported by the travel center, several people have died of the disease in Malaysia, and two tourists have already been infected in Laos.\nTravelers who have returned from vacation and complain of flu-like symptoms such as fever and body aches should definitely see a doctor. This also applies if a few weeks after the return from vacation. Because the incubation period of leptospirosis can vary widely. In some cases, the disease appears after a few days after infection, in other cases after a few weeks.\nThe CRM particularly advises backpackers (\"backpackers\") to seek advice from a travel doctor or qualified pharmacist before traveling to Southeast Asia. The symptoms resemble flu, patients complain of fever, muscle and joint pain. Very severe forms are found in Weil's disease, where the liver and kidneys can fail completely. The disease can then lead to death. Conjunctivitis as a result can last up to 4 weeks. Other complications of leptospirosis include meningitis, jaundice and liver function disorders. A disease is usually treated with penicillin, which however is only effective up to 5 days after the onset of the disease.\nAround 170 people in Germany contract leptospirosis every year. The disease is therefore very rare in our latitudes and was mostly introduced from Far Eastern countries. (sb)\nImage: Rosel Eckstein / pixelio.de", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Police brutality is the intentional utilization of extreme power, normally physical, completed amid law implementation exercises with the populace. This kind of conduct likewise involves verbal assaults and mental threats by a cop. Extensive police brutality occurs in numerous nations, even those that indict it. It is one of a few types of police wrongdoing, which involve: false capture; threats; ethnic profiling; political constraint; reconnaissance insults; sexual mishandle; and police defilement. Albeit unlawful, it can be performed under the shade of law.\nThere have been various prominent instances of asserted police cruelty, including 2010 G-20 Toronto talks’ dissents, the 2012 Quebec understudy dissents and the shooting of Sammy Yatim.\nAmid the 2014 Hong Kong dissents, there have been various cases of police cruelty. Seven cops have been gotten on video kicking and beating a noticeable political extremist who was at that point chains.\nIn the United States, main political and social activities have included extreme power by police, including the social liberties actions of the 1960s, anti-war exhibitions, the battle on Drugs, and the Total War on Extremism.\nCops are legitimately allowed to utilize power, and their bosses and the populace anticipate them to do as such. In managing to a great extent with confused factors of the general public, a few individuals working in law implementation might slowly exploit an opinion or feeling of power over society, especially under customary response based policing display; in some instance the cops trust that they are exempt from the acts.\nThere are numerous reasons regarding why cops can at times be too much forceful. It is felt that some identity qualities make a few officers more vulnerable to the utilization of extreme power than others. A wide cover the reasons for offense in order calls it \"a shortsighted clarification that allows the association to accuse defilement for people and individual flaws – behavioral, foundation reasons, mental, instead of tending to general causes.\nIn Serbia, police cruelty happened in various instance amid dissents against Milošević, and has likewise been documented amid challenges against governments since Milošević lost force.\nPolice brutality scenes against serene demonstrators showed up amid the 2011 Spanish dissents\nSome late scenes of police cruelty in India incorporate the Rajan case, the demise of Sampath and of Udayakumar.\nThe 2007 Amnesty International account on human rights likewise records across the board police delinquency in numerous different nations, particularly nations with dictator administrations..\nLastly, Police cruelty is marked based off the record of individuals who have encountered or seen it, along with the juries who are available for trials including police cruelty instances. This is due to the fact that there is no real way to measure the utilization of extreme power for a specific circumstance. Since police cruelty is with respect to a circumstance, it relies on if the alleged individual(s) is (are) fighting back.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "By Bruce A. Smith\nThe DB Cooper skyjacking is a stunning true-crime mystery – one of the top whodunits of American lore.\nThe case is unsolved for decades, but now new investigatory techniques are being used, such as DNA testing, but the most exciting – and controversial – is the use of remote viewing, most commonly known as ESP.\nBut first, the background of the case and why it has been so difficult to solve using traditional means:\nIn 1971, a man known as DB Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient airliner and after exchanging the passengers for $200,000, he parachuted into the night skies north of Portland, Oregon. He has never been seen since.\nAdditionally, we don’t know who Cooper was or if he survived, and nothing has ever been found of the skyjacking—no parachutes, no body or clothes, nor any of the money except for $5,800 that a kid found eight years later buried on a Columbia River beach.\nAdding to the intrigue, no one knows how the money got there or when.\nThe DB Cooper case remains the only unsolved skyjacking in the history of the United States – and the Big Question these days is, why.\nThe case has become resurgent in recent years as new technology is added to the hunt, and besides DNA testing, the power of the Internet, where citizen sleuths have unprecedented access to information, is also changing the investigatory landscape. These private eyes have revealed that the FBI has bungled its Cooper investigation.\nIn response, the FBI has grown exceptionally tight-lipped.\nFortunately, a truly dynamic forensic tool has entered the Norjak case, a process called “remote viewing,” which some might call it psychic sleuthing or Extra-Sensory Perception (ESP).\nThis process might be able to bypass the informational restrictions from the FBI, or even reveal if a cover-up at work. Imagine talking to DB Cooper, or viewing the events of the skyjacking directly via enhanced conscious awareness!\nDespite the controversial nature of these techniques, the scientific legitimacy of remote viewing is substantive. Dr. Hal Putoff of the Stanford Research Institute organized the first large-scale investigation of ESP, and eventually his research attracted the interest of the CIA.\nBy the 1980s, the agency had placed Puthoff in charge of their remote viewing research, and several years later that effort coalesced into the US Army’s Stargate Program.\nSeveral of the early Stargate “RV’ers,” as they are called, have written extensively about their work, especially David Morehouse in Psychic Warrior, and Joe McMoneagle in Mind Trek: Exploring Consciousness, Time and Space Through Remote Viewing.\nAdditionally, I have spent over twenty years studying the methodology of remote viewing at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE), in Yelm, Washington, and what I learned there I have encompassed with my undergraduate studies in biology and my current research on the New Physics.\nThe New Physics is an expanding field of study that explores how consciousness influences physical reality. In effect, the New Physics asks, how do your thoughts effect your life?\nThis research suggests that thoughts interact with physical reality in a dynamic manner, even changing it materially, and this science is the underpinning of remote viewing.\nFurther, our thoughts can transcend the usual boundaries of time and space, so a successful remote viewer would be able to re-visit November 24, 1971 and observe Norjak unfolding in person.\nHere is my understanding of how this radical science works:\nThe customary five senses of perception, sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste, involve the higher brain functions of the neocortex, frontal lobes and the complex part of the brain known as the cerebrum.\nHowever, recent neuro-physiological research indicates that there is another part of the brain that is much different, and its capacities are very unusual. This section is deep within the center of the brain and is called the limbic system. It is filled with glands and tissues that specialize in emotions and feelings.\nFurther, the limbic system also has the capacity for a deeper level of perception – one that is often characterized as psychic awareness. As a result, it is hypothesized that the limbic system gives us to access expanded realms of consciousness.\nBut what exactly is consciousness, and how can the limbic system overcome the barriers of time and space? That in turn begs the question: what exactly is time and space?\nEinstein’s Theory of Special relativity shows us that time and space are not static or concrete. Time changes as one moves differently through space, and the 2014 movie “Interstellar” portrays the phenomena exquisitely.\nFurther, PBS’ Dr. Brian Greene offered simple and concrete examples of how time changes relative to movement through space in a recent Town Hall meeting in Seattle.\nGreene said that if two people had absolutely synchronized watches and sat together on a couch watching TV, when one of them went over the television set and changed the dial and returned, their watch would read a different time than the person still sitting.\nGreene said the concept has been proven many times by flying clocks around the world non-stop. When they get back to their airport of origin, the clocks aboard the aircraft read differently than those at their home base. Similarly, the clocks on the International Space Station have to be re-calibrated periodically to get back into synch with their earth-surface bases.\nAs for consciousness, it seems to be a vast awareness that spreads beyond what we usually consider to be time and space, even if those concepts are mutable.\nSpecifically, as I understand Ramtha the Enlightened One, thoughts are created by consciousness interacting in our brain. Similarly, mind, and a concept Ramtha calls “deeper mind” seem to be various levels of consciousness. Further, all of reality actually exists in a kind of eternal, endless “Now.”\nWith that model it is possible to envision moving through the Eternal Now via consciousness; in particular, being in another time and space through focused thought.\nIn essence, we shift our conscious awareness and relocate to a different position within the Eternal Now. Thus, with a precise, focused change of consciousness we could travel back to the night of the skyjacking and visit Flight 305 for ourselves.\nI have attempted to do just that, and then aided by a hypnotherapist named Gloria Peach.\nI have also contacted RV’ers Morehouse and McMoneagle and asked them if their programs investigated Norjak, or if they would like to join my efforts. Unfortunately, they have not replied. I have also been unsuccessful in enlisting other professional remote viewers to joint this effort.\nI leave it to you to judge the validity of my experiences. To me they are earnest, initial steps in penetrating the veils that surround Norjak.\nAdditionally, I am ever-mindful that the Stargate guys considered their best work to be only 20% accurate. I suppose the big question is: how does one know which remote views fall into the 20%. As a result, I consider all of my experiences as possibilities and use them as a place from which to conduct more conventional investigatory efforts.\nIn March 2010, I began my remote viewing sessions. Despite its fancy name, my sessions would appear to most folks as a typical meditation routine –I sat crossed legged in a comfortable position, closed my eyes, and breathed slowly and deeply.\nAs I entered my meditative trance, I envisioned Flight 305 flying through the clouds. I felt excited. Soon, I saw the red tail of a Northwest Orient 727 in my mind’s eye.\nNext, I heard the roar of the engines, and then the smell of jet fuel. At that point I focused on the sketch of DB Cooper’s face, and I felt myself inside the cabin of Flight 305. I was immediately enveloped into an environment that I can only describe as a “70’s vibe.” Specifically, I looked around and saw men with long side burns and 1970s dress – polyester clothing and bell-bottomed trousers. Oddly, I felt oppressed by these sensations and began getting nauseous.\nTo counter that experience I re-focused on DB Cooper’s face. I sensed him sitting next to Tina and I tried to envision what they were doing and saying, but little came from it. I kept trying to drill into the focus but I only got more nauseous. After a couple more attempts I stopped. I was surprised how difficult the experience was and how awful I felt.\nI ended the meditation. However, I needed several more time than usual to come back to my normal state of mind, or even open my eyes. When I did, I got dizzy if I moved too quickly.\nLater, I found it very difficult to write any notes. At best, I scribbled cursory notes before the memory faded, somewhat like recording a dream.\nI repeated these meditative efforts for several more days, through March 2010, but received little new information. Oddly, to this day I can re-visit these “in-flight” scenes easily, but I can’t get any more detail. It always makes me nauseous, too.\nAs a result, in subsequent meditative sessions I shifted my focus slightly. In my mind I merely focused on the sketch of DB Cooper. Within a few moments I saw a face. Then I asked questions, and the first was obvious: “Who are you?”\n“I am Charles!…Bar…ka…ley…clay,” I heard the face say, pronouncing his first name quite loudly. But his last name was garbled to me, and I heard variations of Bar-Clay, Bark-Lee and Berkley. I wondered if I was superimposing my memory of the famous basketball player over what I was receiving through my limbic system.\nThis confusion persisted, but I returned to the meditation several times over the next few days. Finally I heard him say, “Barclay, like the bank in Great Britain.”\nClear, I proceeded and asked, “Where are you?”\nSpontaneously, in a little squeaky voice like a child, I heard, “I’m in heaven.”\nA couple weeks later I re-visited Charles. He confirmed he was Charles Barclay and was now out of his body and in a place he called heaven. I continued with my questions.\n“Where did you land?”\n“In a field,” he replied.\nI saw an image of a flat, open terrain with a small stand of older saplings thick along the perimeter to the east. I heard road noises nearby. The scene felt rural, but not wilderness. Seeking more detail I asked again.\n“Can you tell me where you landed exactly? What state or area?”\nI heard no reply, so I offered a prompt. “Washington or Oregon?”\nAgain, I received no response, but the visualization of the field came back into my mind. After a long pause, I received a thought from Charles.\n“I’m protecting someone who is still alive,” I heard him say, and I sensed the person he was shielding was a woman.\nI thought of the relationship between Clara and DB Cooper, as described in Max Gunther’s novel, DB Cooper – What Really Happened.\nIn this book a character known as Clara was house-sitting a cabin in the Cooper’s LZ and met the skyjacker in the woods shortly after he landed. He had a sprained ankle and Clara took him home to nurse his injury. Eventually they fell in love and moved to New York, spending the ransom money after laundering it in Atlantic City casinos.\nAlthough I maintained my focus on the face of DB Cooper, no other information came forward. I felt like I was interviewing a very reluctant witness, and I wondered how reliable any of this was.\nSeveral months later, a hypnotherapist named Gloria Peach volunteered to me search for DB Cooper. I heartedly agreed.\nOver the next few weeks we had six sessions. Gloria put me into a trance-like state reminiscent to my solo work, and then used guided-imagery techniques to lead me through successive levels of consciousness. Eventually, I was able to interact with DB Cooper and others in the case, such as Tina Mucklow and Ted Braden.\nOur first session was September 19, 2011. Gloria guided me back to the plane in flight, and I found it very helpful to have a guide.\nHere is my report:\n“The smoke – UG! – the cigarette smoke.”\nI lingered and observed the cabin, especially Cooper and Tina. I saw that Tina was in control of the situation even though Cooper had the bomb on his lap. She looked and acted confident, smooth but not flirty. She appeared to be emotionally neutral.\nGloria put me a little deeper into trance:\n“I can’t get a good read on his face,” I wrote later in my notes. “He’s leaning into her. Tina jokes with Cooper, they light cigarettes. She is comfortable. He seems comfortable, or ‘not tense.’ He’s tall and lean.”\nI asked Cooper why he hijacked the plane.\n“Airline safety improved didn’t it!” he said emphatically, following the line that is espoused by Bob Knoss.\nI asked about the hijacking and got the following tidbits:\nI was told Cooper boarded in Pittsburgh and got off in Chicago, but this was not the actual itinerary of Flight 305.\nI asked him his name again, and I was surprised when he said “Richard.” I have no idea what happened to the Charles Barclay persona.\nCooper, or “Richard,” confirmed that the hijacking was a quasi-military operation, with a “General Sherman” in charge.\n“He was a major at the time,” Richard told me.\nRichard told me about his upbringing and background. He said that his father was in WW II as an intelligence officer, a “General Brack” or “Brock.” Again, it came across garbled.\nHowever, no family was involved in the skyjacking, but Richard was “part of a team.”\nRichard said that he had died in 1986 and that he was in heaven. I asked him to describe it.\n“You can say that I’m on a cloud,” he said, smirking and chuckling.\nMy second session with Gloria occurred a week later. I was able to go more deeply into “absolute elsewhere,” as Ramtha describes the experience, and covered a range of topics pertaining to Norjak. First, I visited Ralph Himmelsbach.\nI saw a basement filled with lots of file cabinets. It was dark, and file cabinets surrounded a conference table. I opened a cabinet drawer and was surprised to see it was mostly empty. The files themselves were skinny.\nNot much in here, I told myself.\nGloria told me to “see something new,” and I left Himmelsbach. Within moments I encountered a dark haired woman who told me her name was Doris.\nShe was an older woman and seemed like she was a WAC in WW II, or she looked like a picture of a WAC pilot – short curled hair, styled. But I knew she was something else.\n“Are you a flight attendant?” I asked.\n“Yes,” she answered. I heard her last name as “Berdanke,” or Bern-Danks.”\nShe said she knew DB Cooper from the composite drawings, and she was part of 305’s originating crew from Washington, DC. Doris told me she had served Cooper drinks as they flew into Chicago from Pittsburgh, and said the skyjacker had a bag in the overhead compartment. She said she remembered Cooper getting off in Chicago, and has never told anyone this information. She said she was never questioned by the FBI.\nGloria told me to move on. I encountered DB Cooper, who again called himself “Richard.” I looked him in the eye.\n“Can I talk with you?” I asked.\nRichard didn’t answer; then he shrugged.\n“Why?” I asked. The following is what I received:\n“It was a job. It was an operation. Our identities were totally protected. We never talked about it. We never talk about jobs. To talk is like deciding not to breathe – it’s just not done. It’s not a problem. I don’t need to talk and never have. It’s how things are, in my world. Lots of us are like this. Keeping quiet is part of the job, part of who we are. It’s like looking in a mirror and seeing that we are physically fit – that our workouts keep our bodies in tip-top shape. Our training is top-notch, too. Keeping your mouth shut and not needing to talk, is all part of the conditioning, the make-up of who we are. Nobody is flabby and gabby. Nobody. Nobody ever talks about any job. Nobody would think to do that. If they did, they’d never be here.”\nI asked Richard where “here” is. He launched into another soliloquy on his professional life. He told me his “world” is an isolated, hidden one, cloaked by the rural geography of military bases and veiled by the culture of military life. He said he has “minimal interaction with the world,” meaning life outside the military. He continued and said the military world is so separate from the civilian world that it’s easy to stay silent.\n“No one ever asks, so no one ever has to say anything,” he told me.\n“Why?” I ask.\n“It’s a warrior’s code,” he tells me. “It’s what we do. Why did I do it? (the skyjacking). Because that’s what we do, that’s what I do. I had a job to do and I did it. It’s like counting coup. Am I prepared enough? Is my gear good enough? Is my team organized and smart enough? Am I tough enough? It’s a personal challenge.\n“You (reporters) will never find us,” he added. “The only way is to do what you’re doing now (remote viewing).” He continued:\n“It was a military job. We eat the FBI’s lunch. They’ll never know. It was an operation. Purpose? I don’t know. Could have been a lot of reasons – test the SAGE radar? Improve airlines safety? Check out the radios? Test law enforcement on the ground? Who knows? It could have been a lot of reasons depending on who was involved. It’s a game, a test of one’s skills. It’s all a game – our dreams, our jobs, whatever we do.\nRichard continued and told me he has no particular pride in being DB Cooper.\n“Why did you pick the name, Dan Cooper?” I asked.\nRichard laughed loudly. “I liked the name,” he said, and laughed again. “But it got changed right away! DB Cooper – who the fuck is that? Unless others changed the name on purpose.”\nRichard then appeared very somber and serious, even a little anxious.\nIs the game still afoot? I wondered.\nI asked Richard if he will re-incarnate. He shrugged.\n“I might be an intelligence operative,” he says. I always had a job, always had a pay check – that’s how the world is. If the world doesn’t want you, they don’t pay you.”\nRichard told me about his father, again, and said, “military intelligence is a father-son thing. It’s like passing down a trade. You know how it is.” He told me his brother was also in military intelligence.\nHe said his unit was part of the army, but that his particular outfit was not SOG. “It’s deeper than that,” he said, meaning that it was more covert and hidden. However, he acknowledged that his unit was under the same command as SOG.\nI asked Richard how he died. He shrugged. I asked again. He hesitated, but realized I was going to be insistent.\n“I was drinking. I got tired of living and died.”\n“Can we talk again?” I asked.\n“If you can find me,” he said smiling.\nMy next session with Gloria was special – I visited with Tina Mucklow, the flight attendant who spent five hours with Cooper and is considered the primary witness to the skyjacking.\nActually, I felt I spoke with only a part of Tina, the not-angry-at-Bruce part, since she and her family have been exceptionally frosty to me.\nTina told me first about her life and then the hijacking. She also told me that she feels that she “never really disappeared.”\n“People were looking for Tina Mucklow,” she told me, explaining that her main cover was using her ex-husband’s name.\nHowever, to reveal anymore of this session I feel that I must get Tina’s consent.\nA few days later I went looking for Ted Braden, the Vietnam Special Operations Group commando touted by many in the Special Forces as DB Cooper. It was a very difficult session, even with Gloria’s help. I felt I went into a very deep trance and was very groggy afterwards. I believe one of the reasons for the difficulty is that I sought more specific information, not just general impressions. I wanted facts that could be verified.\nAfter Glory put me into a trance, I focused on an image of Ted in a Vietnamese field. Here is what I received in response:\nTed said he was dead, having passed away in 2006.\n“2007 was a mistake,” he told me, apparently correcting some clerical error that still haunted him. He added that he died of a heart attack.\nI asked him if he actually drove a truck in the second half of his life.\n“Yeah, I needed a job,” he told me.\nContinuing, I asked him if he was DB Cooper, and he denied it. Ted told me that the skyjacker was a covert CIA operative named “John Romano.” Ted also said that he wanted to be part of John’s group but was denied. He also said that John is still alive.\nAt this point something unusual happened – a silvery hue enveloped the figure I knew to be Ted Braden. He was back-lit, and I saw an opening that appeared to be a staircase.\nThe aft stairs to a 727? The Stairway to Heaven? I wondered.\nThen, the scene shifted back to Vietnam. Ted was on bivouac and seemed aware of how I was communicating with him.\n“You would have learned a lot in Vietnam,” he told me. “That’s how we stayed alive there – we had to focus!”\nAfter a long hiatus from remote viewing caused by family visits, financial difficulties and my heart attack, I resumed my sessions with Gloria in June 2012. I re-visited DB Cooper, and received my fourth name change.\nNow, Cooper said he was “Richard Bengstrom.” However, he did confirm that he died in 1986.\nWe spoke at length about his team. He called it “The Group.” He said they had all served in covert ops in Vietnam together, and had been stationed at Fort Lewis before deploying.\nRichard told me that The Group had three members, and they acted as his ground retrieval team. He identified them as Ralph Munce, a second soldier named Jim – whose last name I never got – and a third trooper, Pete Stupinski.\nAccording to this Richard, Munce found him in a field and took him to the Portland airport, where Richard flew home to Fort Bragg.\nRichard said that The Group buried the money and chutes in a field just south of Ariel, near a line of trees. He said that they communicated with radios.\nRichard also said that he didn’t know either Sheridan Peterson or Ted Braden. Richard characterized the skyjacking as a “private job done on military time.” He added that most of the preparation for the skyjacking was done as part of their normal covert training in the military.\n“The taxpayers paid for it,” he said simply.\nAfter these sessions I decided to stop the remote viewing. Frankly, the information seemed too chaotic for me to corroborate, nor did I have the resources to investigate more fully.\nNevertheless, I needed to start somewhere on this remote viewing business, as it has the potential to circumvent all of the people and events that have thwarted the hunt for DB Cooper.\nAnd I did have a lucid dream that touched upon this work:\nI was walking down the aisle of Cooper’s Flight 305 and approached seat 18-E.\n“Excuse me, Mr. Cooper,” I said, “my name is Bruce Smith, and I’m a reporter with the Mountain News. Do you mind if I sit down and talk to you about what is going on?”\nHe looked at me in a non-plussed manner, and nodded to his left, sure, sit down.\nHe looked me over a bit and eyed my lanyard and credentials, my short hair and polar fleece jacket.\n“You’re from the future, aren’t you,” he asked.\n“Yes, I am,” I replied.\nDB Cooper sat back in his seat and smiled. “Then you’re my ticket out of here.”\nEditor’s Note: The above article is an excerpt from my book, DB Cooper and the FBI – A Case Study of America’s Only Unsolved Skyjacking, which is available at Amazon Kindle:\n© 2015 Bruce A. Smith\nThe Mountain News-WA", "label": "No"}
{"text": "This is a historic day for conservation and a sign that in a divided world, protecting nature and people can triumph over geopolitics.\nNations have reached a historic agreement to protect the world's oceans following 10 years of negotiations. The High Seas Treaty aims to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030, to safeguard and recuperate marine nature.\nThe negotiations had been held up for years over disagreements on funding and fishing rights. The last international agreement on ocean protection was signed 40 years ago in 1982 - the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.\nThese new protected areas, established in the treaty, will put limits on how much fishing can take place, the routes of shipping lanes and exploration activities like deep sea mining - when minerals are taken from a sea bed 200m or more below the surface.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "What is Endometrial Cancer?\nCancer occurs when cells in the body change and start growing out of control. Cancer cells can form lumps of tissue called tumors. Cancer that starts in the lining of the uterus is called endometrial cancer.\nUnderstanding the uterus and endometrium\nThe uterus is part of the female reproductive system. It's the organ that holds the baby when a woman is pregnant. The endometrium is the inside lining of the uterus. Each month, from puberty to menopause, the lining grows and thickens to prepare for pregnancy. This thickened lining helps to nourish a growing baby. If a woman doesn’t become pregnant, the lining of the uterus is shed. This is her period.\nWhen endometrial cancer forms\nThe endometrium is the most common place in the uterus for cancer to begin. It's the most common type of gynecologic cancer (cancer in the female reproductive system). Cancer can destroy tissue in the uterus. Cancer cells may spread to nearby organs. They can also spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastasis. In general, the more cancer spreads, the harder it is to treat.\nTreatment options for cancer of the uterus\nYou and your healthcare provider will discuss your treatment options. These may include:\nSurgery to remove the uterus (hysterectomy).\nRadiation therapy. This uses directed rays of high-energy to kill cancer cells.\nChemotherapy. This uses strong medicine to kill cancer cells.\nHormone therapy. This may help slow the growth of cancer cells.\nBiologic therapy (immunotherapy). This uses medicines that act like your body's own immune system to fight cancer. (In clinical trials)", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Digging a tunnel is a big deal. Excavating something so large underground may cause some impacts above-ground, especially during construction. DART wants you to have all the information before we hit the ground (literally) in the construction phase. As a member of the North Texas community, we want to create transit projects that bring value to our entire region, while making sure we remain a conscientious neighbor during the construction process.\nCreating a safe and serviceable tunnel is an engineering feat, and DART is pulling back the curtain, letting you in on some of the thinking and strategy we use when we consider different excavation methods. Last week we told you about the tunnel-boring method. This week, we are looking at the two other excavation methods DART will employ when building the D2 Subway.\nSequential Evacuation Method\nYou may have already guessed, the Sequential Evacuation Method (SEM) is a construction method that is executed just like it sounds. A tunnel is divided into sections and the soil in the tunnel is moved in a specific order to create space underground. Equipment, such as a backhoe, is used to help mine this space sequentially. Conditions must be dry in order to complete this type of excavation. Why would DART consider using this method when building the D2 Subway? While this process is slower than the tunnel boring method, it can be useful when trying to navigate around underground infrastructure such as a sewer system or utilities.\nCut and Cover Method\nFinally, the cut and cover tunneling method is very common in subway construction, especially for digging shallower tunnels, creating stations, or inserting portals. This method starts by breaking through the surface and utilizing trenches to remove soil. Most similar to road construction, this method starts from the ground and goes MUCH deeper than your normal freeway. When a large portion of a subway is constructed using the cut and cover method many times, a temporary road deck is used to allow traffic to continue to flow above the work site. DART may use the cut and cover method when creating stations or when creating portals that shift the tunnel from below-ground to an above-ground track.\nCurious about how stations are constructed? What should North Texans expect to encounter below ground when hopping aboard the D2 Subway and what parts will they see above-ground? Stay tuned for our next piece in the series Anatomy of a Subway: Exploring Stations!", "label": "No"}
{"text": "We are searching data for your request:\nFalling icicles can cause life-threatening injuries. That is why the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) is currently warning of the acute risks for passers-by that have increased due to the permanent frost. Falling icicles pose a high risk of serious head injuries, as doctors can also confirm from their practical experience.\nThe meter-long and heavy icicles that are currently forming on many roof edges can pose a serious danger to the health of passers-by, according to the latest warning from the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). \"House owners, pedestrians and drivers should keep an eye on the roof edges, otherwise it can be dangerous,\" emphasized the spokeswoman for the Techniker Krankenkasse Niedersachsen, Ulrike Fieback. Above all, \"pedestrians should always look up near buildings and avoid icicles,\" the TK spokeswoman continued.\nProfessor Christian Krettek, Director of the Clinic for Trauma Surgery at the Hannover Medical School (MHH), also knows what the consequences of falling icicles can be. \"Over the past few years, we have had to treat injuries of various degrees of severity every winter in the trauma surgery clinic,\" the physician explained, adding: \"A head injury caused by icicles even led to permanent facial paralysis of a patient.\" In particular, severe head injuries are one of the common injuries caused by falling ice. In order to keep the risk for passers-by as low as possible, the fire brigades are deploying almost every day in most cities in Germany and removing the meter-long ice formations from the roof edges. In Hamburg, for example, the fire brigade had to deploy twelve times on Tuesday to remove threatening icicles from the roof edges. (fp)\nPicture: Daniel Lucas Egger / pixelio.de", "label": "No"}
{"text": "What Vegans Should Know About Vitamin Infusions and Nutrition\nA Vegan’s diet does not include any meat/animal products and as a result, they do not always receive the right amount of nutrients for the nutritional balance they need to keep healthy. This could lead to various nutritional deficiencies that could wreak havoc on the body.\nThere are certain essential nutrients your body needs and if your plant-based diet doesn’t offer them, then you have to take the necessary steps to provide your body with these vital vitamins and minerals. Some of the common nutritional deficiencies include:\nThis vitamin is produced by bacteria and is mostly found in beef, lamb, shellfish, the yolk of eggs, milk and some cheeses. B12 is required for DNA synthesis, cell division and it maintains the layer that surrounds the nerve cells. Without the proper amounts of B12 in your body you can feel tired, experience poor memory, lack of concentration and even depression. If the Vitamin B12 deficiency is severe it can result in irreversible nerve damage as well as psychiatric conditions such as psychosis.\nThis mineral is mainly found in red meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy but also in various grains and seeds. Zinc is necessary for many biochemical reactions, cellular metabolism, promotes wound healing and also helps boosts the immune system.\nOmega-3 Fatty Acids\nThis is an essential nutrient that is not produced by the body. It can be found in fish and eggs. This fatty acid is important for maintaining heart health and helps to lower blood pressure.\nVitamin Infusion or IV Therapy\nAlthough plant-based diets provide health benefits, it’s clear that is crucially important to keep your intake of nutrients at the proper levels to reduce the risk of health conditions associated with nutritional deficiencies.\nHowever, though many people assume that not getting enough nutrients on a plant-based diet would be an issue, that is not necessarily the case. One way to get reliable sources of vitamins and minerals is through vitamin infusions.\nIntravenous therapy or IV therapy is when a liquid solution is administered directly into your vein. With Vitamin infusions, this involves the direct infusion of hydrating fluids and high-dose vitamins directly into your bloodstream.\nHow Does Vitamin Infusion Work?\nAt each appointment, the treatment is customized to your needs during a consultation with a doctor who will go over your health history with you. The doctor then administers a small thin tube to access your bloodstream, connecting an IV bag containing your chosen vitamins and minerals. This solution is drip fed into the small tube and then directly into your bloodstream. The entire treatment typically takes between 30 to 45 minutes.\nLife Fusion IV Therapy at CanoHealth\nOur Life Fusion IV Therapy or Intravenous (IV) Nutritional Therapy does what would not be possible through supplements. The IV Nutritional Therapy delivers a quick and safe powerful dose of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream. These high doses have a 100% absorption rate. If you want to boost your vitamins intake through IV Infusion Therapy, call CanoHealth at (305) 823-2433 to make an appointment or you can request an appointment. We look forward to meeting you and helping you with your health and well-being journey.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The successful carriage of marriage equality into Australian law in 2017 reflected a triumph for LGBTIQ+ inclusion. However, the recognition of marriage equality as a right is only part of the story as LGBTIQ+ people face ongoing and entrenched social, cultural, political, religious and economic discrimination and exclusion from being full participants in society. The challenges regarding the human rights for people based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics occur in the everyday, through the lived experience at home, in the workplace and in education.\nIn a rapidly changing Higher Education environment, how can Ally Networks contribute to enabling and ensuring the human rights of students and staff in relation to questions of sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics?\nMichael Kirby observes, “LGBTIQ people continue to live with social exclusion and homophobia in the broader society, in their studies and in the workplace. It is through education and networks, such as the Ally Networks that these attitudes and experiences are changed. Australia’s universities have a significant role to play in educating their students about the importance of diversity and inclusion. Universities also have a leading role as major employers in ensuring they promote best practice and equity in the workplace. By creating a respectful and supportive culture the universities’ Ally networks contribute substantially to that environment and change.”\nThe 2018 Ally Conference will open up a national and international conversation on how to activate human rights in relation to sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics for all people well into the future, setting new pathways to policy, innovation and enduring change. The Conference will bring together academic and professional staff, students, activists and practitioners from across Ally and LGBTIQ+ communities in the education sectors and industry and beyond, and will showcase best practice of Ally networks in diverse institutional contexts.\nWe invite presentations in key focus areas that might address aspects of the following: Lived experience, education and pedagogy, workplace, theories and practices of queer solidarity and alliances, activism, queer scholarship and intersectionality.\nContributions outside these areas are also welcome.\nWe welcome papers/presentations from all interested persons including academics, professional staff, activists, students, industry, and others. This can include updates on projects, policies and practices; theoretical and/or applied research; creative and/or artistic explorations, creative artefacts, poster presentations; interactive Q&A, workshops, or short screenings with discussion that can be situated thematically within the list of suggested topics.\nIndividual paper presentations are 20 mins long. Please submit an abstract including Title, Name, Organisation, Email, Abstract (250 words), Bio (100 words).\nPanel proposals are also welcome. Panels need to include 3-4 papers. In addition to submitting a 250 word abstract for each presenter, please submit an abstract (100 words) and a title (15 words max.) for the panel as a whole. Please indicate lead panel contact person.\nSubmission must be sent by 22 June 2018 via email to: firstname.lastname@example.org\nPlease include a short bio or bios (if panel) note at the end of your abstract or panel.\nMore details about the conference, including a list of confirmed speakers, are available here.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "General Information: FAQ\nWhat is hepatitis B?\nHepatitis B is the world's most common liver infection. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which attacks and injures the liver. It is transmitted through blood, unprotected sex, shared or re-used needles, and from an infected mother to her newborn baby during delivery. Most infected adults are able to get rid of the hepatitis B virus without any problems. However, some adults and most infected babies and children are unable to get rid of the virus and will develop chronic infections.\nThe good news is that there is a safe vaccine to prevent a hepatitis B infection and new treatments for those already infected with hepatitis B.\nHow many people are\naffected by hepatitis B?\nWorldwide, 2 billion people (1 out of 3 people) have been infected with hepatitis B. 400 million people have become chronically infected (which means they are unable to get rid of the virus). An estimated 1 million people die each year from hepatitis B and its complications.\nIn the United States, over 12 million people have been infected (that’s 1 out of 20 people). Almost 100,000 new people are infected with hepatitis B each year. An estimated 5,000 Americans die each year from hepatitis B and its complications.\nWhy is hepatitis B\nHepatitis B is dangerous because it is a “silent infection” that can infect people without them knowing it. Most people who are infected with hepatitis B are unaware of their infection and can unknowingly pass the virus to others through their blood and infected bodily fluids. For those who become chronically infected, there is an increased risk of developing serious liver disease later in life. The virus can quietly and continuously attack the liver over many years without being detected.\nWhat is acute hepatitis\nA hepatitis B infection is considered to be \"acute\" from the time of exposure until 6 months afterward. This is the typical amount of time it takes for a healthy adult to successfully clear a hepatitis B infection and develop the protective antibodies. During an acute infection, a person is contagious and able to pass the virus on to others.\n90% of healthy adults are able to \"recover\" by getting rid of the virus, which is confirmed by a blood test. Once a person has recovered, they are no longer contagious and are immune to future hepatitis B infections.\nWhat is chronic hepatitis\nA person is diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B if they test positive for the hepatitis B virus for longer than 6 months. A chronic hepatitis B infection may stay with the person for a lifetime. About 10% of adults who contract hepatitis B will develop chronic hepatitis B.\na cure for hepatitis B?\nFor an \"acute\" infection, there is generally no treatment other than rest and supportive measures to manage any symptoms. For \"chronic\" hepatitis B, there are several approved drugs in the US:\nIntron A, Pegasys, Epivir-HBV, Hepsera, Baraclude, Tyzeka and Viread. These drugs slow down the virus and reduce potential liver damage. In rare cases, they may even get rid of the virus completely. For a complete list of other promising drugs in development for hepatitis B, visit our Drug Watch.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Wave glider robots await launch from San Francisco in this first expedition blog post in Google Earth.\nFrom the Google Earth blog:\nJoin a journey of discovery virtually in Google Earth, as Liquid Robotics launches four wave-powered robotic gliders to cross the Pacific ocean in their Pacific Crossing (PacX) Challenge Expedition. The wave gliders are attempting to set a new world record for the longest distance ever attempted by an unmanned vehicle and will be collecting data about the Pacific ocean for use by scientists and students back on dry land. These R2D2s of the sea will cross 25,000 miles over 300 days and collect over 2 million data points, helping build the record of oceanic knowledge.\nTo follow the wave gliders in Google Earth, download the expedition KML file or open the PacX Gallery page and click on the ship icon. You will be able to read updates from scientists sharing the latest robotic observations, from wave height in storms to weather measurements like barometric pressure, wind speed and air temperature. The ship icon will represent the location of the wave gliders, starting in the San Francisco bay.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "(Update: This post is attracting significant traffic, so I have indicated three Austrian-School primers throughout the text. Please click the images for the publications.)\nIt seems everyone is talking about swine flu and the financial crisis, but they seem to be most persistently interested in what has gone wrong with the economy. After I explained the key points of this Nobel Prize Lecture by F A Hayek to my hairdresser this morning, she had confirmed in her mind what she always knew: that economists cannot discover all they need to make accurate predictions.\nThis is something we all need to understand.\nWhat follows is a precis of that 1974 lecture (sometimes quoted verbatim). It explains why and how the economic policies of the time contributed to inflation and unemployment and it points the way out of our present and coming difficulties.\n- Physical scientists can observe and measure the things that drive the sytems they are studying.\n- Society, and therefore the economy, is not like a physical system: many of the most important factors cannot be seen or measured. Consider the thoughts and intended actions of millions of people at different times, for example.\n- Economists and other social scientists, in their attempt to be scientific, ignore what they cannot measure.\n- Therefore, many of the most important factors affecting the economy are not considered, while some of those factors which can be measured are deliberately controlled.\n- The results are incorrect predictions and actions which positively harm society.\nIn a sentence: society is not a machine to be controlled, but a garden to be cultivated.\nBy the way, the remark about making astrologers look good is attributable to the Keynesian economist J K Galbraith:\nThe only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.\nA Precis of “The Pretence of Knowledge”\nThe topic of this lecture is the chief practical problem of economists, who must now explain how to stop the accelerating inflation they have caused. In imitating the techniques of the physical sciences, economists have made grave errors of economic policy.\nThe assertion guided policy that there exists a positive correlation between total employment and the aggregate demand for goods and services. It implies we can permanently ensure full employment by maintaining total expenditure. This is fundamentally false and very harmful.\nEconomics deals with fundamentally complex phenomena: we cannot obtain all the data and we may not be able to find the important ones. The physical sciences reasonably assume the important factors will be measurable but, in the market, which depends upon the actions of many individuals, the circumstances determining the outcomes will hardly ever be fully known or measurable. The social sciences often treat as important only that which is measurable, sometimes in order to fulfill a demand to state theories in those terms.\nSuch a demand limits the facts which may be admitted as causes of real events. It is a fiction that only the measurable factors are relevant; to think that this is scientific is naive.\nThe relation between aggregate demand and total employment, though approximate, is accepted as the only relation which counts because it is the only relation for which there is quantitative data. On this standard, false theories may be accepted because they are seen as more scientific and valid explanations rejected for lack of quantitative evidence.\nThis can be illustrated by sketching the chief cause of unemployment which appears to be the existence of discrepancies between what people want to buy and what people have been assigned to produce. We have a fairly good understanding of the forces which bring about an alignment of supply and demand, of the necessary conditions, and of the obstacles. An account of this understanding relies on the facts of everyday experience and few would disagree with the logical conclusions. We have good reason to believe that unemployment indicates that the structure of relative prices and wages has been distorted and that to restore balance requires some transfers of labour.\nBut when we are asked for quantitative evidence for the structure of prices and wages that would bring ‘equilibrium’, we must admit we do not know. We know the general conditions for ‘equilibrium’, but we cannot know the particular prices and wages which would be established. Ours is not a theory which can provide predictions of prices and wages.\nWhy should economists have to plead ignorance of the sort of facts physical scientists would have to explain? The social sciences, unlike the physical sciences, must deal with structures of essential complexity, that is, models made up of large numbers of variables.\nSome fields can overcome this by using probability, but this is valid only for systems of unorganized complexity. The organized complexity dealt with by the social sciences relies on the interdependence between individual elements, not just their properties and frequency of occurrence. Statistical information about individual elements in isolation is therefore not enough: we require full information about each element in the system. Without such information, we can only predict patterns, not specifics.\nThis is particularly true of relative prices and wages. We cannot observe and measure the subjective information known by each person in the market, nor can any one mind fully comprehend it. This is the essential superiority of the market system. We cannot know what particular structure of prices and wages would bring about an equilibrium of supply and demand nor can we measure deviations from that order or statistically test our theory that it is those deviations which make it impossible to sell some products and services at their offer price.\nThe mathematical method is a great advantage in describing the general character of patterns but it has led to the illusion that we can determine and predict specific numerical values. This has led to a vain search for constants. While the founders of modern mathematical economics provided equations that could in principle predict prices and quantities, they were under no illusion that it would be possible. Pareto said it would be “absurd” to assume we could ascertain all the data. It has been historically well known that the price depends on so many factors it can never be predicted: this is not a young branch of research.\nThe superstition that only measurable magnitudes can be important has created few instances of positive harm in economics. However, in inflation and unemployment, it has produced policies which have made matters worse. It is preferable to have true yet imperfect knowledge instead of a pretence of exact knowledge which is likely to be false. Unwarranted credit for seemingly simple but false theories has grave consequences.\nIn fact, the very measures recommended as a remedy for unemployment — raising aggregate demand — have become the source of a large-scale misallocation of resources which is likely to make later large-scale unemployment inevitable. Continuously injecting additional amounts of money where it creates temporary demand, together with an expectation of continuously rising prices, draws labour and resources into use in areas which will last only as long as the supply of new money. These policies bring about not so much a raise in the level of employment, but a distribution of employment which cannot last and which eventually can only be maintained by ruinous levels of inflation. The position is precarious, in which we cannot prevent substantial unemployment from reappearing. Unemployment is not deliberately brought about to combat inflation; it is a deeply regrettable but inescapable consequence of mistaken policies as soon as inflation ceases to accelerate.\nReturning to errors concerning the nature of social science, there is reason to be apprehensive about the long-run danger of the uncritical acceptance of assertions which appear to be scientific: what superficially looks like the most scientific procedure is often the most unscientific. In these fields, there are definite limits to what we can expect science to achieve. To entrust to science, or deliberately to control scientifically, more than the scientific method can achieve, may have deplorable effects. The progress of natural science has been such that there are those who will resist the insight that our increasing power of prediction and control cannot be used to mould society to our liking. It sometimes almost seems as if the techniques of science were more easily learnt than the thinking that shows us what the problems are and how to approach them.\nThe conflict between public hopes for the achievements of science and what is in its power is serious. Even if true scientists recognize the limits of what can be achieved in human affairs, there will always be some who wish to meet the public hope. Distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate scientific claims can be difficult or impossible. The silence of the media on the critiques of The Limits to Growth in contrast to the report itself is a a source of apprehension. Economics is not the only field in which far-reaching claims are made on behalf of a more scientific direction of all human activities in place of spontaneous processes.\nIf we are to safeguard the reputation of science, we must debunk the arrogations of those who make specious claims for what science can achieve in the fields of social science. In these fields, there are absolute obstacles to the prediction of specific events; to act as if we possessed transcendent scientific knowledge may hinder the advance of the human intellect.\nThe chief point to remember is that physical science advanced rapidly in fields in which explanation and prediction could be based on functions of relatively few variables. To derive a prediction from a large number of observed facts, we must obtain those facts. Given modern computers, deriving predictions from those facts should be easy enough. The real difficulty, to which science has little to contribute, is the determination of those facts.\nConsider a ball game played by a few people of approximately equal skill. If we knew some additional facts, such as the state of their attention and their physiology, at each moment in the game, we could probably predict the outcome. But of course we cannot obtain those facts and the result of the game is outside the scientifically predictable. That does not mean we can make no predictions at all, but our capacity to predict will be general and not specific.\nAs we advance further into systems of organized complexity, we find increasingly that we cannot ascertain all of the facts which determine the outcome of a given process. Often all we can predict is some abstract characteristic of the pattern that will appear, yet we still have predictions which can be falsified and which are therefore significant.\nOf course compared to the predictions of physical sciences, this sort of pattern prediction is a second best with which one does not wish to be content. Yet the danger is the belief that to have a claim accepted as scientific, one must do more. To act as if we have the knowledge and the power to shape society to our liking, when in fact we do not possess these, is likely to do us much harm. In the physical sciences, attempting the impossible may be beneficial but in the social field, the erroneous belief that some power would have beneficial consequences is likely to lead to new coercive authorities. Even if such power is not bad in itself, its exercise is likely to impede those spontaneous processes on which we rely.\nIf man is not to do more harm than good in his efforts to improve the social order, he will have to learn that he cannot acquire the full knowledge which would make mastery of events possible. He will therefore have to use what knowledge he can achieve not to control but to cultivate in an appropriate environment, as a gardener does for his plants. The recognition of the insuperable limits to his knowledge ought to teach the student of society a lesson of humility which should guard him against becoming an accomplice in men’s fatal striving to control society – a striving which makes him not only a tyrant over his fellows, but which may well make him the destroyer of a civilization which no brain has designed but which has grown from the free efforts of millions of individuals.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The last time anyone had a close view of the USS Independence, a light WWII aircraft carrier, was January 26th, 1951—until now. Boeing’s unmanned underwater vehicle, Echo Ranger, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) research vessel and Coda Octopus’ Echoscope 3D sonar imaging technology merged for a mission to capture the most detailed, colorful look at the sunken vessel in more than six decades.\nThe U.S. Navy intentionally scuttled the Independence about 30 miles off the coast of Half Moon Bay, Calif. Its dark, watery resting place lies 3,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean’s surface—too deep for divers and a challenging task for remotely operated vehicles. With its ability to dive to depths of 10,000 feet autonomously, Echo Ranger provided a platform to get an up close look at the Independence. The bright yellow underwater submersible launched from NOAA’s research vessel, the Fulmar, in a multi-day mission. Incorporating Coda Octopus’ 3D sonar imagery software, Echo Ranger brought back colorful high definition images that reveal the features of the aircraft carrier and a snapshot in time. “Technology meets history in an exciting way,” said James Delgado, Director of Maritime Heritage, NOAA office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “It’s not just a ship that is deep under water, it’s the human dimension and the stories that go with it.”\nCheck out the Boeing video to view the images, watch Echo Ranger’s diving skills and discover maritime archeology. There are also some great shots of the Echo Ranger being tested in this Flickr album.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Core elements of security\nThere are five different methods for implementing security: these are the basic aspects of authentication, data integrity and data security as well as anti-tampering and anti-counterfeiting.\n- Authentication ensures distinct identification of system components. For instance the system realizes that only truly approved components for drive and control, or terminals for remote maintenance are connected with it.\n- Data integrity concentrates on protecting against corruption of data during communication. This aspect is essential to protect firmware updates via the Internet, but also to make sure that the transmitted sensor data is really trustworthy.\n- Data security deals with the encrypted data communication using technologies for encryption and decryption.\n- Anti-tampering is the manipulation protection of a device. In case of manipulation, the system automatically deletes the corresponding security keys so the manipulation becomes apparent.\n- Anti-counterfeiting is simply a protection against reproduction implemented in hardware and software, where certain keys are stored in a cryptographic chip. The device functions only when the keys in the crypto-chip and in the related software fit together. This is one way the problem of overbuilding (unauthorized production of additional devices beyond the agreed production orders) with contract manufacturers can be tackled.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "By: Thomas Yoon\nOne of the most frightening phenomenon for operators of diesel\nengines is the crankcase explosion. Although many\nforce-lubricated, totally enclosed, reciprocating machines like\ndiesel engines, steam engines, air compressors and many others\nhad been running for many hours without any such problems, still\nthe problem of crankcase explosion is ever present and we cannot\nforget about it.\nIn order to understand the phenomenon of crankcase explosion, we\nhave to understand the nature of fire, because, after all, an\nexplosion is a very rapid propagation of fire.\nA fire will only start whenever three conditions are met: fuel,\noxygen, and heat.\nA fire can very well start inside the crankcase of a diesel\nengine when the conditions are just right. For all the recorded\noccurrences of crankcase explosions, one factor is common, namely\na hot spot. That is the heat source.\nNow, let us take a look inside the crankcase. It houses the\ncrankshaft, connecting rod, piston rod, cylinder liner, piston,\ndrive gears or chains and the lubrication oil. To prevent\nlubrication oil loss, protect persons from the moving mechanical\nparts, prevent contamination of the oil, and many other reasons\nthe crankcase is totally enclosed and separated from the external\nFirst, let us look at the moving parts. There is the reciprocating\nmechanism consisting of the crankshaft, journal bearings, and\nconnecting rod. If it is a crosshead engine, the crosshead sliding\nand reciprocating mechanism. For the trunk type engine, there is\nthe piston and the small end bearings.\nThere are also gears or chains to drive the camshaft. For\nreversible engines, the reversing drive mechanisms. There is also\nthe thrust bearings at the end of the crankshaft to take up the\ndriven load. There may also be cooling oil pipes, or cooling water\npipes sliding inside the crankcase for piston cooling. The piston\nrod itself may also be sliding through a gland assembly at the\nunder piston space.\nAll the sliding parts can become a hotspot whenever there is\ninsufficient lubrication to reduce the friction, probably during\nstarting of the engine or any abnormal interruption in the force\nlubrication oil system.\nNext, the use of fuel oil in the engine. Dripping fuel injectors\nwill result in incomplete combustion of the fuel above the piston\ntop. If the dripping is serious, the liquid fuel can find their way\nthrough the piston rings aided by the high pressure of the\ncombustion process to eventually find its way into the crankcase.\nFor trunk type engines, this is a direct path to the crankcase. It\ncan become a source of low flash point fuel when mixed with the\nFor dripping fuel injectors, it is common to find unburnt carbon that\nwill cause the piston rings to stick within their grooves, thus\ndestroying the sealing function of the piston rings. This will not\nonly cause the fuel to drip through, but can also cause fire from the\ncombustion space to blow past through the gaps between the piston\nrings and the cylinder bore. This can be a source of heat!\nThere are other conditions favorable to cause an explosion, for\nexample the quality of the oil and the effects of oxidation after a\nlong period of use, the generation of oil mist due to agitation of\nthe oil spray, the property of the oil, etc.\nIt is impossible to guarantee that any engine will operate for the\nwhole of its life without, somewhere, at some time, a hot spot\nappearing. Therefore it is essential that should a hot spot occur and\nif it goes undetected, an explosion will not result.\nThat could be the subject of another article... Meanwhile procuring\nhard-to-find tools is just as important for making engine adjustments.\nMany years of working experience in Marine, Facilities,\nConstruction has given the author material for writing e-books\nand articles related to engineering, and management. Subscribe\nto facworld ezine at mailto:email@example.com\nMore information at http://www.free-marine.com and\nM & E Engineer", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nAre 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.\nAcid 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.\nI’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.)\nIn 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.\nAside 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.\nIn 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.\nIn 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.\nThere 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.\nWhile 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.\nSources: (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.)\nAcid Attacks in Bangladesh: A Voice for the Victims*\nAcid Survivors Foundation*\nBangladesh Mahila Parishad\nBaseline Report: Violence Against Women in Bangladesh\nCIA World Factbook: Bangladesh\nCombating Acid Violence in Bangladesh, India, and Cambodia * (Source of chart above, also, VERY sad/graphic photos here.)\nNaripokkho, Non-Governmental Organization", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Is This the Earliest?\nThere 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.\nShirley 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.\nIn 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.\"", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Explain the importance of learning to understand financial accounting.\nWhatsApp 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.\nIt 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.\nForecasting aids decision-making and answering questions, such as: Should the company invest in more equipment? Should it diversify into different markets?\nShould 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?\nCost and production availability are the deciding factors in this choice.\nThrough 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?\nWhere will its revenues come from and will the revenues increase or decrease in the future?\nManagement 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.\n|Step 2 - Filter by:||Financial Mathematics One CreditAdopted|\nManagement 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.\nIf 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?\nThese 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.\nIn 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.\n§ Implementation of Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Finance, Adopted (a) The provisions of this subchapter shall be implemented by school .\nThe 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.\nChapter 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.\nAnyone majoring in any aspect of business needs that knowledge. Blue Rocket Accounting is a firm of bookkeepers and chartered accountants based in Dartford, Kent.\nWe are dedicated to helping small businesses grow and become more profitable.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Msyophobia (or germophobia) : fear of germs\nWhat 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.\nA stunningly short history of germs:\nBacteria were pretty much the first form of life on earth,\n3,500 million years: How long germs have been around\n1670s: Anton van Leeuwenhoek first looked at microorganisms under a microscope\n1860s: Louis Pasteur developed the “germ theory” in the 1860s (the idea that they were living and caused disease).\nToday: 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.\nThere are 4 main types of germs:\nBacteria: 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.\nVirus: 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!\nFungi: made up of many cells; lives off of animals and other plants.\nProtozoa: like bacteria, are extremely small. Of the 20,000 different types of protozoa, most live in water, oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds.\nWhy people fear germs:\nWith 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.\n7 Deadliest Germs:\nE Coli: pathogens that cause deadly illness and disease in their human hosts.\nSalmonella: takes two forms. One, typhi causes typhoid fever, which is responsible for the death of 216,000 persons a year in endemic areas.\nTetanus: Dirt carrying spores\nStaphylococcus: 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.\nSyphilis: Easily treatable in the first and second stages now, the tertiary stage is still a big problem.\nStreptococcus: This killer is responsible for numerous cases of pneumonia throughout the world, and meningitis.\nTuberculosis: has ravaged the world for centuries, also known as consumption. It has been found in the spines of mummies.\nFight the Power of Germs: Innovative germ fighting in hospitals now being used\nGerm fighting robots to deal with superbugs\nUsing 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.\nSharkskin: 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.\nGerm-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.\nUse of antibiotic to fight germs: A promising antibiotic simply named GSK1322322 targets gram-positive bacteria.\nChemically 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.\nPlasmas: Engineered to zap microorganisms. Hospital workers would bathe their hands in the plasma gas.\nInnovative germ fighting around the home\nDisinfect your home\nWash your hands: Soap and water pack a powerful punch against harmful microorganisms\nGet a flu shot: To protect against the flu, anyone 6 months or older should get vaccinated, but shots aren’t 100 percent effective.\nDon’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.\nClose 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.\nChange towels and sheets\nSneeze into sleeves\nScrub school gear: Your child’s backpack and lunchbox can house germs and carry them into your home.\nBe extra careful with your storage, cleaning, food preparation, and shopping practices.\nBe smart about your phone. Forget Tweets — a phone is far more efficient at transmitting germs. There are safe sanitizers.\nBut HEY, It’s not all bad news\nFACT: 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.\n6 Famous People who are Germophobics\nHowie Mandel, comedian: does not shake hands with anyone unless he is wearing latex gloves\nMichael 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.\nHoward 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.\nDonald Trump, millionaire: doesn’t shake hands because he’s afraid of germs.\nCameron Diaz, actress: She repeatedly washes her hands throughout the day and uses her elbows instead of her hands to open doors.\nSaddam Hussein, dead Iraqi dictator: Often ordered visitors to strip and wash with antibacterial soap.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nHow To Find Your Wise Routers IP Address\nIn 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:\n- Try all the known Default Wise IP Addresses default IP addresses\n- Follow our How To Find Your Routers Internal IP Address Guide\nHow To Find Your Wise Default Username and Password\nWe have collected a list of all known Default Wise Router Passwords.\n- You can try all known Default Wise Router Passwords\n- You can try following our How To Reset Your Router Guide\nYou 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.\nWe do not currently have any Wise port forwarding articles. We have the following related Wise articles:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nThere are 700 household and 2,030 people living in Esteri today. Back in 2002, there were 1,200 households and 6,700 residents.\nWith the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the slow decay of local enterprises, the village's recipe for survival became migration.\n'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.\nAccording 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.\nThe 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.\nImereti farm house. Photo: flickr/SusanAstray\nTea cropping used to be central to the village economy.\nOver a cup of imported tea from India, Lali Kapanadze, a former tea farmer, said:\n'Tea used to be one of the main exporting items of Georgia but now it is all imported.'\nAccording to agricultural statistics for 2007, tea leaf production decreased in Georgia from 581,000 tons in 1985 to 7,500 tons in 2007.\nDue 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.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nThere 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.\nIn 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.\nThe 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.\nBeckett KA 1987. The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopaedia of houseplants. Century Hutchinson Limited.\nHuxley A 1999. The New Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening. Groves Dictionaries Inc.\nLlamas KA 2003. Tropical flowering plants. A guide to identification and cultivation. Timber Press.\nOakeley HF 2012. Plants named after physicians. The Royal College of Physicians.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The FindLaw Legal Dictionary -- free access to over 8260 definitions of legal terms. Search for a definition or browse our legal glossaries.\ndangerous 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.\nSource: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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\nHow it works:\n1. Register Trial Account.\n2. Download The Books as you like ( Personal use )", "label": "No"}
{"text": "19/02/2002 11:20 am\nThis 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.\nThank you for rating!\nYou have already rated this page, you can only rate it once!", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Food Safety Myths And Facts Of Home Cooked Meals Debunked\nThe 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.\nI found some of the information they passed along as interesting stuff – especially if you’re a foodie.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- 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.\nTo learn more, click here.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nDespite 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.\nThe 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.\nIt isn’t tilapia lake virus – but it might be…\nAquabirnavirus 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.\nHowever, 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.\nAdditionally, 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.\nBetanodavirus 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.\nLarvae 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.\nResearchers caution that sub-clinical infections are possible and that tilapia who have survived VNN outbreaks could potentially carry the disease.\nThe 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.\nBohle virus infection (Ranavirus)\nBohle 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.\nCurrently, there isn’t a BVI molecular detection method for tilapia species.\nThis 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.\nISKNV 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.\nA 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.\nThis 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).\nAutopsied 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.\nResearcher’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.\nStaying ahead of the curve\nThe 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.\nHowever, 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.\nThe researchers also caution that viruses aren’t the only challenge facing tilapia producers. Parasites and bacteria can infect tilapine species and cause significant losses.\nTo 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.\nThe case for widespread disease surveillance\nThe 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.\nEstablishing 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.\nThe 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.\nCertification 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.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nThe 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?\nHybrids 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.\nOne 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.\nThe 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.\nTaking 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.\nIn 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.\nNowadays, 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.\n(Stagephoto: © Mercedes; Stagephoto: © Volvo)\nThe 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.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "If your kid consumes a restricted diet, is unable to absorb nutrients efficiently, or is a fussy eater, they may benefit from vitamin supplementation.\nAlways 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.\nIs Vitamin Supplementation Necessary for a One-Year-Old?\nThis 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.\nReasons to give your toddler a vitamin\nRegardless 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.\nAnother 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.\nWhat Are The Vitamin Benefits For Children?\nVitamins 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.\nAlternatively, 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.\n3 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.\nEach 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.\nTop Vitamins and Minerals for Kids\nAmong the vitamin and mineral alphabet soup, a few stick out as vital for developing children.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- Calcium aids in the development of strong bones in children. Milk, cheese, yogurt, tofu, and calcium-fortified orange juice are all good sources.\n- 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.\n- 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.\nIs It Necessary To Give Vitamins To My Toddler?\nToddlers 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.\nChildren aged 2–4 years received a 61 out of 100 on the Healthy Eating Index, suggesting that their total diet quality is relatively low.\nHaving said that, there are three critical vitamins to keep in mind at this age:\n- 74% of youngsters between the ages of 1 and 2 do not get the appropriate amount of vitamin D.\n- 82 percent of youngsters between the ages of one and two years do not receive enough vitamin E\n- 42% of youngsters between the ages of 1 and 2 do not receive enough vitamin K.\nConsult your pediatrician to determine if supplementing with these nutrients or taking a multivitamin that contains them is appropriate for your child.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nFor 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.\nIt 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.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nFamily 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.\nAlthough 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.\nIt 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.\nDaughters 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.\nThis 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.\nB 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.\nC 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.\nD 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.\nThe difference between the heart and the head is that the heart says “let me apologise” but the head will say “let them apologise first”.\nE 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.\nF 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.\nSadguru 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...", "label": "No"}
{"text": "These videos are a real drag, but do not let that keep you from watching them.\nThese 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.\nBy 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.\nFluid Quantity and Flow\nThere 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.\nThat 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.\nThere 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.\nAs expected, these videos are all jam-packed full of information. Everything is not just discussed, but also demonstrated. They are really quite good.\nSchool-Wide Modular Program for Fluid Mechanics\nAn 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.\nIn 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.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Est. reading time: 8 minutes\nAuthor: Steph Locke\nChatbots 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.\nChatbots 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.\nBots 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\nChatbots 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.\nAberdeen City Council1 recently released a chatbot named ‘AB-1’ to answer internal and customer queries.\nAB-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\nYou 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.\nBrisa2, 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.\nThis […] saved us 400 working hours İsa Kedikoğlu, Software Development Specialist\nA 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”.\nThere are some critical pieces of functionality that chatbots have or can use that are key to what you can achieve with chatbots.\nLanguage understanding (LU)\nOne 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.\nThere are LU services that can be used to build your model for making relevant translations from plain text to instructions.\nLanguage generation (LG)\nAnother 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.\nYou 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.\nSpeech to text and vice versa\nWe 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.\nA 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.\nA 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.\nBots 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.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- 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.\nYou 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.\nYou 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.\nConversational design also helps you make sure your brand voice and ideals are reflected into the experience, preventing the bot from being a jarring experience.\nPlanning a bot project\nThe 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.\nYou 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.\nYou 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.\nThe 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.\nLEGO reported a 71% reduction in cost per conversion (compared to email) when using a campaign bot.3\nIf your bot includes processes or tasks, you can look at process completion rates, data quality, user satisfaction, and more.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nWhere To Plant Trees\nWhen 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.\nIn 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.\nTrees Also Benefit Outdoor Air Conditioning Units\nShade 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.\nTrees 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.\nThe 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.\nIt 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.\nChoosing Your Tree Type\nIt 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.\nAir Conditioner Tune-Up Union NJ\nWhile 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.\nSkylands 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.\nWe 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.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Everyday life goes by so\nfast --but does it go so fast that you can't even remember what a real\npenny looks like?\nWe all use them! Learn\nhow mnemonic devices help you remember -- then make your own personalized\nHow well can you remember a list of words? Learn\nabout factors that affect your performance, and read a brief explanation\nof how memory works!\nCan you recite the numbers\nback after hearing various kinds of interference? Learn about how the\nmind works when something interferes with your short-term memory!\nAfter seeing words or pictures\nor hearing sound, see how much of it you can remember!\nRecognition | Mnemonic | Recall | Interference | Encoding\nto the NASA Cognition Lab", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nThe 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.\nFull 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.\nDive 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.\nBoil 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.\nThe 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.\nMonitors 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.\nDigital 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.\nCalibrating 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.\nCapture 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.\nCapture 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.\nAlways 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.\nOur general technical specs for reflective material including books, documents, photographs and maps are:\n- Master File Format: TIFF\n- Resolution: 300 ppi\n- Bit Depth: 8\n- Color Depth: 24 bit RGB\n- Color Space: Adobe 1998\nThese 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.\nOur general technical specs for transmissive material including acetate, nitrate and glass plate negatives, slides and other positive transmissive material are:\n- Master File Format: TIFF\n- Resolution: 3000 – 4000 ppi\n- Bit Depth: 16\n- Color Depth: 24 bit RGB\n- Color Space: Adobe 1998\nThese 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.\nRecommended 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.\nGeneral Guidelines for still image capture\n- Do not apply pressure with a glass platen or otherwise unless approved by a paper conservator.\n- Do not use vacuum boards or high UV light sources unless approved by a paper conservator.\n- Do not use auto page turning devices unless approved by a paper conservator.\n- For master files, pages, documents and photographs should be imaged to include the entire area of the page, document or photograph.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- For master files, documents should be imaged to include the entire area and a small amount beyond to define the area.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- 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.\n- The lack of dynamic range in a film scanning system will result in poor highlight and shadow detail and poor color reproduction.\n- No image retouching is permitted to master files.\nThese 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.\nThe 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.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\n|Defending the Swiss border in 1914 (© DLM)|\n|Even the historical wooden bridge crossing the Rhine at Bad Säckingen |\nhad explosive chambers filled with TNT (©dpa)\nOnly recently Switzerland had emptied all\n|Explosive chamber in the |\nBad Säckingen bridge (©Lipp/Der Sonntag)", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nBrushing 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.\nPick the Right Toothbrush\nThere 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.\nFloss Every Day\nFlossing 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.\nAvoid Sugary Foods and Beverages\nFoods 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.\nHave Regular Dental Cleanings and Check-ups\nRegular 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.\nStart Thinking About Oral Hygiene Early\nParents 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.\nDental 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.\nSelecting a Dentist\nSelecting 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.\nDrink Plenty of Water\nDrinking 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.\nNeed for Calcium\nCalcium 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.\nHelp Sensitive Teeth\nPeople 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.\nTreat Dry Mouth\nSaliva 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.\nMost 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.\nConsult a Doctor about Acid Reflux Symptoms\nAcid 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.\nTeeth 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\nMost 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.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "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.\nFor 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. ”\nTake 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.\nIn 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.\nIn 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.\nThe allegations can be presented in two ways:\n* 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;\n* in writing, either when the closing period opens or when the hearing has ended.\nIt 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.\nAlthough 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:\n* the facts stated in the lawsuit;\n* the evidence that the party wishes to provide to demonstrate it;\n* the value of such tests;\n* the challenge of those brought by the opposing party;\n* the denial of the events indicated by the opposite party;\n* the reasons that can be extracted from the facts that are proven;\n* the doctrinal and legal reasons that can be adduced in favor of the right that is invoked.\nA 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.\nAnother 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.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Our executive director and founder, Carole Richards, is highly passionate about education — especially reading. Carole taught in the Cleveland Metropolitan Schools for 10 years before starting North Coast Tutoring Services.\nAs a classroom teacher, Carole tailored her teaching to fit the individual goals of each of her students. Today, nothing has changed. We understand that no two students learn in the exact same manner; and so, we treat each student as an individual and adjust our approach to meet their needs.\nIn this article from February 2016, Carole shares her concerns about today’s children actually learning in the classroom, as opposed to just doing “stuff”.\nLearning vs. “Stuff”\nby Carole Richards\npublished February 1, 2016\nAs I consult with parents about children’s learning needs, I am baffled by how often the focus is on the number of problems or the number of worksheets a child completes. It concerns me because children should spend quality time on actual learning not on proving they can finish yet another worksheet.\nFor example, one parent wanted us to help their child complete homework. The eight-year-old was spending two hours a night on homework. This is after spending five and one-half hours in school. Many children soon burn out from this schedule, and both parent and child fight to complete the burden on a daily basis.\nFor homework, this child was to write his spelling words five times each and also write a sentence using each word. Do the spelling skills relate to actual understanding of the spelling process, or is the child merely memorizing a series of words that they study from Monday until their test on Friday and forget them by Monday?\nRecently I visited a classroom. Two first grade girls in the classroom were working hard on listing all the “A” words in a story they were to read. Hopefully first graders know the letter “A” but I cannot imagine the purpose of copying words beginning with a letter. These words had both short and long “A” sounds so they weren’t really decoding or learning to spell the words.\nIn another classroom, children were stamping words with letter stamps. Finding the correct letters for the words they were creating was challenging for them. Yet the real purpose of the activity is difficult to figure out.\nIt is my sincere wish that children could focus on learning concepts not doing “stuff”. The word “learn” is defined as “acquire knowledge” or “absorb a skill”. Acquiring and absorbing how to learn is far more important than how many addition problems, how many spelling words, how many worksheets a child must complete in a day.\nThink about your child or grandchild. What knowledge are they acquiring in school? Is it vital to their future? If it is not, be bold and question the purpose of an assignment.\nWhat I am describing does not negate the importance of repeated practice. For example, mastering multiplication facts are very important to many math skills. You can’t do fractions or algebra efficiently without mastering this skill. Learning math facts makes learning math skills easier.\nOften our schools find it important for a child with a reading disability to labor over reading a sixth grade text when they only read at a fourth grade level. Would it not be better to read the information to the child and then ask him to answer questions? Often children are required to complete assignments that require reading and they don’t comprehend the information at the level of the text. Then the parent or teacher celebrate that the child completed the “stuff”. Most children with reading difficulties are so frustrated that they begin to hate the idea of reading and writing. Separating the skill of learning to read from the understanding what you read until the child is proficient can make a difference in the child’s school success and motivation.\nThe most important skills to learn for our children are fairly simple. They include reading (the ability to actually read the printed word) and spelling (the ability to write the printed word). Of course they must then comprehend what they read and organize what they write as well. In math, understanding math concepts includes: place value, fractions, and whole number computation skills, etc. Children need to learn their facts and then their focus can be on solving the problems without the facts slowing them down. With the three “R’s” mastered, children are able to explore science, social studies and many other interests with great enthusiasm. Their ability to learn anything becomes exciting.\nI watch my two and one-half year old granddaughter master concepts way beyond her age. She is determined and excited about learning and mastering skills. Yet, I worry that as she goes to school, despite her intelligence, she will be bogged down with completing endless “stuff” that won’t stimulate her fine brain.\nOur schools keep raising the bar on standards. Yet most of the fun has been taken out of the child’s day. Children should be encouraged to love school, love learning and explore those interests with passion. As they master the basics, they are ready to learn.\nLet’s tell our schools to help our children learn, not just do “stuff” to keep them busy. Then our children will be better prepared for college and the workforce.\nCarole Richards is president of North Coast Tutoring Services, president/director of the Academic Fun & Fitness Camp at Lakeland Community College, author of Richards Learning Systems ®. She is a frequent guest on radio and TV. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "dominant in that shop. The layout in figure 5-1 maybe used as a guide in laying out a carpentry shop.\nIn planning the arrangement of equipment, consider such factors as sequence of operations, working space, clear shop entrance and exit, adequate workbenches, and safety. The positioning of equipment, layout tables, and so on, do NOT have to be the same in one shop as in another.\nTry to place stationary machines so that the work will flow in an orderly and logical sequence. It is probably easier to do this in a specialized shop than it is in a general-purpose shop where the work differs considerably from one day to another.\nIn shops where there is a series of operations to be performed, the relative position of the various pieces of equipment has an important bearing on efficient operations. Not only should the equipment be accessible, but it should also be arranged to save wasted motion and to reduce walking distance.\nThis will enable your personnel to turn out more work when their equipment is close at hand. Clearance between adjacent machines should be such that the operators will NOT get in the way of one another. Electrical outlets should be readily available to the workbenches. Needless delays are caused by having to rig extension cords from poorly located outlets.\nYour plans should include adequate means for storing tools and materials. When considerable amounts of materials must be kept on hand and space permits, a special storeroom maybe used for storage of materials. Where desirable, a portion of this storeroom may also be used for storage of tools and equipment. When a storeroom is available, however, it may still be advantageous to store certain material in the shop near the machines or equipment on which it is used. Refer to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, Code of Federal Regulations (29 CFR PART 1910) for more information on storage of tools, material, and equipment.\nThe amounts and types of materials stored in your shop will depend largely upon the space available and the intended purpose of your shop. In most shops, you will probably need facilities for storing such items as bolts, nuts, nails, screws, and paint. Whatever the type of shop, you should make an effort to see that your storage facilities are arranged to give the greatest possible amount of free working space.\nIn today's industry, concrete is the most widely used flooring material and possibly the most unsatisfactory flooring material for shops. Even when painted or sealed to eliminate dust, the concrete floor is\nFigure 5-1. - Typical layout of a carpentry shop.Continue Reading", "label": "No"}
{"text": "About 15 billion years ago a tremendous explosion started the expansion of the\nuniverse. This explosion is known as the Big Bang. At the point of this event\nall of the matter and energy of space was contained at one point. What exsisted\nprior to this event is completely unknown and is a matter of pure speculation.\nThis occurrence was not a conventional explosion but rather an event filling all\nof space with all of the particles of the embryonic universe rushing away from\neach other. The Big Bang actually consisted of an explosion of space within\nitself unlike an explosion of a bomb were fragments are thrown outward. The\ngalaxies were not all clumped together, but rather the Big Bang lay the foundations for the universe.\nHelium and Deuterium, Oxygen and Hydrogen and traces of lithium and beryllium were some of the Gas particles formed. The amounts of these gas particles can be calculated given the volume and pressure at certain given constants. See sample problems below, related to different planets.\nThe notion that the expanding universe was extremely hot in the beginning provides a reasonable explanation for why helium and deuterium seem to have existed even before star formation. Both these species are created by nuclear fusion. Fusion of a proton and a neutron produces deuterium (also known as heavy hydrogen), while fusion of two deuterium nuclei produces helium. These reactions can occur only at very high temperatures, such as in the interiors of stars. In 1946, George Gamow, once a student of Friedmann, suggested that nuclear fusion must have taken place when the universe was so hot in the beginning. This process, called the “big bang nucleosynthesis”, would have created helium and deuterium (plus trace amounts of elements like lithium and beryllium) out of an initial sea of energetic protons and neutrons.\nIn the early 1960s, spectroscopic studies of local stars showed that the abundance of helium was about 20-30% by mass, the rest being mostly hydrogen. Stars and hydrogen bombs are the only things we know of that make helium in the present universe.\nThey both combine hydrogen nuclei (protons) into helium nuclei through nuclear fusion, releasing great amounts of energy. Astronomers calculate that the night sky should be much brighter if all the helium we now observe had come from stars burning (or bombs exploding). Some, if not most, of the helium must have existed before star formation.\nProblem #11: The mean molar mass of the atmosphere at the surface of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon is 28.6 g/mol. Titan’s surface temperature is 95 K and its pressure is 1.6 atm. Assuming ideal behavior, calculate the density of Titan’s atmosphere under these conditions.\n1) Let us assume the presence of one mole of gas. Determine its volume under the conditions of Titan’s atmosphere:\nPV = nRT\n(1.6 atm) V = (1.00 mol) (0.08206 L atm / mol K) (95 K)\nV = 4.8723125 L (I kept some guard digits)\n2) Calculate the density:\n28.6 g / 4.8723125 L = 5.87 g/L\nProblem #12: The mean molar mass of the atmosphere at the surface of the Earth is 29.0 g/mol. Earth’s surface temperature is 298 K and its pressre is 1.00 atm. Assuming ideal behavior, calculate the density of Earth’s atmosphere under these conditions.\n1) Let us assume the presence of one mole of gas. Determine its volume under the conditions of Earth’s atmosphere:\nPV = nRT\n(1.00 atm) V = (1.00 mol) (0.08206 L atm / mol K) (298 K)\nV = 24.45388 L (I kept some guard digits)\n2) Calculate the density:\n29.0 g / 24.45388 L = 1.186 g/L\nComment: Titan’s atmosphere is five times more dense than Earth’s atmosphere.\nProblem #13: A gas mixture composed of helium and argon has a density of 0.704 g/L at a 737 mmHg and 298 K. What is the percent composition of the mixture by (a) mass and by (b) volume.\nSolution to a:\n1) Calculate total moles of gases present:\nComment: assume that the volume of the gas mixture is 1.00 L\nPV = nRT ⇒ n = PV / RT\nn = (737 torr / 760 torr/atm) (1.00 L) / (0.08206 L atm/mole K) (298 K)\nn = 0.039656 mol\n2) Set up two simultaneous equations:\nComment: let x = mass He and y = mass Ar\nEquation #1 ⇒ x + y = 0.704 g\nEquation #2 ⇒ x/4.0026 g/mol + y/39.948 g/mol = 0.039656 mol\n3) Substitute x = 0.704 – y into the second equation and solve for y:\nComment: I left off the units until the end.\n(0.704 – y)/4.0026 + y/39.948 = 0.039656\n(39.948) (0.704 – y) + (4.0026) (y) = (0.039656) (39.948) (4.0026)\nMore algebra results in:\ny = 0.606 g Ar\nx = 0.098 g He\n4) Calculate mass percent of each gas:\nAr ⇒ (0.606 / 0.704) x 100 = 86.61%\nHe ⇒ 14.06%\nSolution to b:\n1) Let us determine the volume 0.606 g of Ar occupies at the stated T and P:\n(737/760) (x) = (0.606/40) (0.08206) (298)\nx = 0.382 L\n2) Since combined volume was 1.00 L, the volume percents are:\nAr ⇒ 38.2%\nHe ⇒ 61.8%\nProblem #14: A sample of gas (1.90 mol) is in a flask at 21.0 °C and 697.0 mm Hg. The flask is now opened and more gas is added to the flask. The new pressure is 795.0 mm Hg and the temperature is now 26.0 °C. How many moles of gas are now in the flask?\n1) Use PV = nRT with the first set of data to get the volume of the container:\n(697.0/760.0) (x) = (1.90 mol) (0.08206 L atm/mol K) (294.0 K)\nx = 49.9819572 L\n2) Use PV = nRT with the second set of data, using the volume just calculated. Solve for moles:\n(795.0/760.0) (49.9819572 L) = (x) (0.08206 L atm/mol K) (299.0 K)\nx = 2.13 mol\n1) Set up two uses of PV = nRT:\na) (0.9171 atm) (V1) = (1.90 mol) (R) (294.0 K)\nb) (1.046 atm) (V1) = (1.90 + x mol) (R) (299.0 K)\nV1 represents the volume of the flask, which does not change.\n2) Since V1 = V1 and R = R, divide (a) by (b):\n(0.9171 atm / 1.046 atm) = [(1.90 mol) (294.0 K)] / [(1.90 + x mol) (299.0 K)]\n(0.9171) (1.90 + x) (299.0) = (1.046 atm) (1.90) (294.0)\n521.00451 + 274.2129x = 584.2956\nx = 0.23 mol\nThis is the amount of moles of gas added, not the total moles.\n3) Total moles of gas in the flask:\n1.90 + 0.23 = 2.13 mol\nProblem #15: In an experiment 350.00 mL of hydrogen gas was collected over water at 25.0 °C and 720.00 mmHg. Then, one-third of the gas leaked out of the container. What would the new volume be?\n1) Remove vapor pressure of water:\n720.00 mmHg – 23.76 mmHg = 696.24 mmHg\n2) Calculate moles of gas:\nPV = nRT\n(696.24/760.00) (0.3500) = (n) (0.08206) (298)\nn = 0.013111901 mol\n3) Allow one-third to escape:\n0.013111901 mol x (2/3) = 0.008741267 mol\n4) Assume gas is still over water. Calculate new volume:\n(720.00/760.00) (V) = (0.008741267) (0.08206) (298)\nV = 0.22563 L = 225.63 mL\nNotice that I did not reduce the vapor pressure value by one-third. All vapor pressures are independent of the actual volume above the liquid. They are dependent only on the temperature.\nProblem #16: What volume of SO2 at 25.0 °C and 1.50 atm contains the same number of molecules as 2.00 L of chlorine gas measured at (Standard Temperature and Pressure) STP?\n1) Calculate moles of Cl2:\nPV = nRT\n(1.00) (2.00) = (x) (0.08206) (273.0)\nx = 0.089276229 mol (I kept some guard digits.)\nSince moles is a direct measure of the number of molecules, we do not have to determine how many molecules this is.\n2) Determine volume of SO2 that holds 0.089. . . moles:\n(1.50) (x) = (0.089276229) (0.08206) (298.0)\nx = 1.46 L\nProblem #17: A mixture of CO2 and Kr weighs 35.0 g and exerts a pressure of 0.708 atm in its container. Since Kr is expensive, you wish to recover it from the mixture. After the CO2 is completely removed by absorption with NaOH(s) the pressure in the container is 0.250 atm. How many grams of CO2 and how many grams of Kr were initially present?\n1) Calculate the mole fractions of CO2 and Kr:\nCO2: 0.458 atm / 0.708 atm = 0.6469\n2) Change these to “gram fractions:”\nCO2: 0.6469 x 44.0 = 28.4636\nKr: 0.3531 x 83.8 = 29.59\nCO2: 28.4636 /58.05 = 0.49\nPlease be aware that “gram fractions” is not a standard term.\n3) Calculate grams in the mixture:\nCO2: 35.0 x 0.49 = 17.15 g\nKr: 17.85 g\nComment: Based on this ratio (0.458/0.250) the CO2:Kr molar ratio is 1.83 to 1. Is the above gram ratio also a 1.83 to 1 molar ratio?\nYes. Convert 17.15 g and 17.85 g to their respective moles and divide moles of CO2 by moles of Kr.\nProblem #18: Which of the following is constant for 1 mole of any ideal gas?\nPV = nRT\nPV/T = nR\nSince the right-hand side is constant, the answer is B.\nProblem #19: Our atmosphere is a mixture of gases (roughly 79% N2, 20% O2 and 1%Ar).\n(a) What is the partial pressure (in atm) of each gas in the atmosphere?\n(b) A mixture of He and O2 gases is used by deep sea divers. If the pressure of the gas a diver inhales is 8.0 atm what percent of the mixture should be O2, if the partial pressure of O2 is to be the same as what the divers would ordinarily breathe at sea level?\nSolution to (a):\n1) Determine the mole fraction of each gas. Assume 100 g of atmosphere:\nN2: 79 g / 28.0 g mol¯1 = 2.82 mol\nO2: 20 g / 32.0 g mol¯1 = 0.625 mol\nAr: 1 g / 40 g mol¯1 = 0.025 mol\n2) Determine mole fraction of oxygen:\n0.625 mol / 3.47 mol = 0.180\n3) Determine partial pressure of oxygen:\n1.00 atm x 0.180 = 0.180 atm\nSolution to (b):\n1) Calculate mole fraction of He/O2 mixture:\n0.180 / 8 = 0.0225 mol of O2\n7.820 / 8 = 0.9775 mol of He\n2) Convert each to grams:\nO2: 0.0225 mol x 32.0 g mol¯1 = 0.72 g\nHe: 0.9775 mol x 4.00 g mol¯1 = 3.91 g\n3) Calculate percent of O2 in the mixture:\n0.72 g / 4.63 g = 0.1555 = 15.55%\nProblem #20: 600.0 mL of a mixture of O2 and O3 weighs 1.00 g at NTP. Calculate the volume that the ozone in mixture would occupy at NTP if it were alone.\nBefore the solution, a comment. I will take the N in NTP to mean ‘normal,’ with a synonym being ‘room,’ as in RTP. These values are taken to be 1.00 atm and 25.0 °C.\n1) Use PV = nRT to calculate the number of moles of gas:\n(1.00 atm) (0.6 L) = (x) (0.08206) (298 K)\nx = 0.024536 mol\n2) Determine grams of oxygen and ozone in the mixture:\nx/32 + (1-x)/48 = 0.024536\nmultiply each term by 32 to get:\nx + 2/3 – (2/3x) = 0.785152\n1/3 x = 0.118485\nx = 0.355 g of O2 (to three sig figs)\nSo, ozone = 0.645 g\n3) Calculate moles, then volume of ozone at NTP:\n0.645 g / 48.0 g/mol = 0.0134375 mol\n(1.00 atm) (x) = (0.0134375 mol) (0.08206) (298 K)\nx = 0.329 L = 329 mL\nProblem #21: A mixture of Ar and N2 gases has a density of 1.419 g/L at STP. What is the mole fraction of each gas?\n1) At STP, the following is true:\na) the volume of one mole of gas occupies 22.414 L\nb) the mass of one mole of Ar is 39.948 g\nc) the mass of one mole of N2 is 28.014 g\n2) Determine the mass of 22.414 L of the gas mixture:\n1.419 g/L times 22.414 L = 31.805466 g\n3) The mass of the gas mixture is the weighted average of the molar masses (since the molar masses occupy 22.414 L):\n31.805466 = (x) (39.948) + (1 – x) (28.014)\n31.805466 = 39.948x + 28.014 – 28.014x\n3.791466 = 11.934x\nx = 0.3177\nx is the mole fraction for Ar; the mole fraction for nitrogen is 0.6823.\nProblem #22: You are given an envelope containing a piece of magnesium and a piece of zinc with a total mass of 0.0833 grams. The volume of gas collected (at 25.0 °C and Pressure atm = 755 torr) is 59.74 mL. Liquid column height is only 15 mm. Calculate the mass of each piece of metal in the envelope.\nComment: I’m going to assume the hydrogen gas produced was collected over mercury. Assuming the gas was collected over water makes it a bit more complicated.\n1) Get the pressure in the gas collection tube:\n755 torr minus 15 torr = 740 torr\n2) Determine moles of gas produced:\nPV = nRT\n(740 torr / 760 torr/atm) (0.05974 L) = (n) (0.08206) (298 K)\nn = 0.0023787 mol\n3) Set up first equation (of two):\nm + z = 0.0833\nwhere m = mass of Mg and z = mass of Zn\n4) Set up second equation:\n(m / 24.305) + (z / 65.38) = 0.0023787\nm / 24.305 = moles of magnesium\nz / 65.38 = moles of zinc\nThe sum of the moles of Mg and Zn equals the total moles of gas collected because of the 1:1 stoichiometry of each reaction:\nZn (s) + H2SO4 (aq) —> H2 (g) + ZnSO4 (aq)\nMg (s) + H2SO4 (aq) —> H2 (g) + MgSO4 (aq)\n5) Solve the two equations:\nHere is the solution via a Cramer’s rule (the method of determinants) on-line calculator:\nm = 0.04273415 g\nz = 0.04056585 g\nTo three sig figs:\nm = 0.0427 g\nz = 0.0406 g\nIf you use the on-line app, make sure to use these values for the second equation:\nm / 24.305 = 0.0411438m\nz / 65.38 = 0.015295z\nAs an additional exercise, you may wish to solve the equation system by hand.\nProblem #23: A mixture of oxygen and helium is 92.3% by mass oxygen. It is collected at atmospheric pressure (745 torr). What is the partial pressure of oxygen in this mixture?\nLet’s assume a big, big volume such that this volume holds 100 g of the mixture at 745 torr and whatever the temperature is.\n92.3 g of the 100 g is O2 and 7.7 g is He.\nCompute moles of each because pressure is proportional to the number of particles:\nO2 —> 92.3 g / 32.0 g/mol = 2.884375 mol\nHe —> 7.7 g / 4.0026 g/mol = 1.92375 mol\nWe now will calculate what we need to solve this equation: partial pressure = mole fraction x total pressure.\nGet total moles:\n2.884375 + 1.92375 = 4.808125 mol\nGet mole fraction of O2:\n2.884375 / 4.808125 = 0.599896 = 0.600\nGet partial pressure of O2:\n0.600 times 745 torr = 447 torr\nProblem #24: If 20 percent of 100 mL sample of oxygen is converted into ozone, what would be its final volume?\nLet us split the volume into two: one of 20 mL and one of 80 mL. Leave the 80 mL untouched and allow all the 20 mL to react.\n3O2 —> 2O3\nWe will keep the pressure and temperature constant.\nWe will use Gay-Lussac’s Law of Combining Volumes:\nthree volumes of O2 will react to form two volumes of O3\n3 is to 2 as 20 is to x\nx = 13.3 mL\nCombine the two volumes:\n80 + 13.3 = 93.3 mL\nProblem #25: Low-pressure gauges in research laboratories are occasionally calibrated in inches of water. The density of mercury at 15 °C is 13.5 g/cm3 and the density of water at that temperature is 1.00 g/cm3. What is the pressure (in torr) inside a gas cylinder that reads 1.40 in. H2O at 15 °C?\nMercury is 13.5 times denser than water, so it takes 13.5 times as much water to indicate the same pressure as compared to mercury.\nAnother way to express this is that the pressure times the density of the indicating liquid (water or mercury) is a constant.\n(1.40 inch) (1.00 g/cm3) = (x) (13.5 g/cm3)\nx = 0.1037 inch of mercury\nThe pressure unit torr is measured in millimeters of mercury.\n0.1037 inch times 25.4 mm/inch = 2.63 torr (rounded to three sig figs)\nBased on theories of the big bang nucleosynthesis, physicists in the mid-1960s calculated that roughly 1/4 of mass was converted into helium in the beginning, while the rest remained as hydrogen. This would be consistent with the earlier measurements of 20-30% helium abundance if most of the observed helium were present, from the big bang, even before stars began producing more. In the early 1970s, spectroscopic studies in other galaxies have confirmed that the majority of the observed helium did exist before any star formation. The figure shows the helium abundance of many galaxies having various oxygen abundances. Oxygen abundance indicates in general how much nucleosynthesis has taken place in stars because stars produce “heavy” elements (like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and helium) from hydrogen through nuclear fusion. If all observed helium was created in stars like all oxygen was, we would expect to find no helium in galaxies that have no oxygen because these galaxies must have formed before any stars created heavy elements. Yet, as the plot shows, the abundance of helium decreases very little as the abundance of oxygen approaches zero. The galaxies must have formed with an initial composition of about 24% helium. This observational result supports the theory that there must have been a big bang in the beginning which converted about 1/4 of mass into helium through nucleosynthesis.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "of the Lost Ten Tribes\nby Yair Davidiy\nThe Blessings of\nthe Lost Ten Tribes in Exile\nJacob was promised a healthy climate,\nagricultural plenty and mineral riches\n(Genesis 27:28). These blessing were repeated in the blessing to Joseph (Genesis 49:25).\nGIVE THEE OF THE DEW OF HEAVEN, AND THE FATNESS OF THE EARTH, AND PLENTY\nOF CORN AND WINE:\"\nAgricultural plenty and great\n\"EVEN BY THE\nGOD OF THY FATHER, WHO SHALL HELP THEE; AND BY THE ALMIGHTY, WHO SHALL BLESS\nTHEE WITH BLESSINGS OF HEAVEN ABOVE, BLESSINGS OF THE DEEP THAT LIETH UNDER,\nBLESSINGS OF THE BREASTS, AND OF THE WOMB:\"\n<>: climate and agriculture. BLESSINGS OF THE DEEP: Water and mineral resources.\nTHE BREASTS, AND OF THE WOMB: Health\nand fertility and bounty from the Almighty.\nIn the Blessing of Moses (Deuteronomy\nchapter 33) tells us that Joseph\nwill be blessed with agricultural plenty and mineral resources (33:15-16):\n\"AND OF JOSEPH\nHE SAID, BLESSED OF THE LORD BE HIS LAND, FOR THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF HEAVEN,\nFOR THE DEW, AND FOR THE DEEP THAT COUCHETH BENEATH,\"\nThis says that Joseph was\nblessed with agricultural prosperity, healthy lands, and mineral resources in plenty.\n\"AND FOR THE\nPRECIOUS FRUITS BROUGHT FORTH BY THE SUN, AND FOR THE PRECIOUS THINGS PUT\nFORTH BY THE MOON,\"\nSome plants need a set number\nof hours of both daylight and darkness. Certain plants require moonlight.\n\"AND FOR THE\nCHIEF THINGS OF THE ANCIENT MOUNTAINS, AND FOR THE PRECIOUS THINGS OF THE\nFood products and Mineral resources.\n\"AND FOR THE\nPRECIOUS THINGS OF THE EARTH AND FULNESS THEREOF, AND FOR THE GOOD WILL\nOF HIM THAT DWELT IN THE BUSH: LET THE BLESSING COME UPON THE HEAD OF JOSEPH,\nAND UPON THE TOP OF THE HEAD OF HIM THAT WAS SEPARATED FROM HIS BRETHREN.\"\n<>: agricultural plenty. <>:\nJoseph was apart from his brothers\nand still dwells apart from them in physically separated areas.\nHoshea also says that the Lost Ten\nTribes un their place of exile, as well as being extremely numerous shall enjoy great\nagricultural bounty and other material\nWINE, AND OIL, AND MULTIPLIED HER SILVER AND GOLD.\"\nNations we identify as having the\nLost Tribes amongst them produce nearly all of the worlds agricultural surpluses: Beef,\nsheep (mutton and wool), wheat,\nmaize, cotton, sugar, wine (France, USA, Australia, South Africa, Israel), fruits, vegetables, etc. Lands of Joseph\nare especially prominent in this\nregard and Joseph was bequeathed a double portion.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Each electronic sensory device is made to do carry out a specific operation: read a temperature, record the atmospheric pressure, sense an applied force, and so on. Other sensors (usually more complex) are better suited for human interfaces, calculations and/or data storage. But almost all sensors, sooner or later, need to communicate data to other devices.\nA temperature logger for example needs to pass the daily logged data, rather than the current temperature, to a personal computer. Conversely, the personal computer might need to talk with that sensor in order to request the current temperature, or to specify how often the sensor has to collect the data.\nFurthermore, the data collected to a single device may need to be aggregated along with data from other sensors, in order to obtain more complex information, process it with apropriate hardware and software that can make the right decisions, present it in a nice way and – why not? – share the obtained results in the web. Thus, the communication method which links sensors with other devices is thus one of the key features of any system.\nUsually that communication is done through a cable, but in some cases this is not comfortable, practical or even possible. In many of these cases we could switch to a wireless solution. Wireless communication poses significant limitations when it comes to real-time data, but it is adequate and cheap for general not time-critical data exchange. In this article we introduce an example of Bluetooth wireless communication, showing the way it can be implemented with a basic example.\nLet’s introduce a basic example on low-level side, showing a simple microcontroller configuration. In this example we will assume control of 2 LEDs in two different ways: one in an ON/OFF fashion, and the other with PWM, in order to control its brightness.\nTo carry out this task, we used the following components:\n- a power source (in this case a USB power bank)\n- a microcontroller (an old and cheap Arduino Duemillanove)\n- A Bluetooth modem (a BlueSMIRF Gold)\n- 2 LEDs, 2 resistors and some jumper wires\nYou can find the detailed schematics of the circuit here.\nThe microcontroller receives the desired status of the LEDs via the Bluetooth modem and controls them accordingly. This is the simple Arduino sketch that does what we want. The sketch essentially reads characters from the Bluetooth modem (Serial.read), if available, until it finds a delimiter. Then it parses the received string in order to extract the desired value and apply it to the correct LED.\nA message similar to “$PWM,100” will set the PWM LED lightness to the corresponding value;\n– The message “$LED,1” will switch on the ON/OFF led;\n– The message “$LED,0” will switch off the ON/OFF led;\n– The microcontroller will reply with the executed command;\nNote: Remember to temporarily disconnect the RX and TX wires from the BlueSMIRF to the Arduino, when you program the Arduino from the computer via USB.\nThe Android Device\nThere are many characteristics that makes a smartphone an ideal high-level master device:\n- It has great computational power\n- It is suitable for human-machine interfaces\n- It implements a lot of ways to communicate with other devices\n- It can store and share a large amount of data\n- It is relatively small and cheap\n- A large amount of people has one of them and is able to use it\nIn this example we use an Android smartphone in order to set the microcontroller led values.\nIf you want to run the test application, you have to:\n- Activate the Bluetooth on your phone\n- Pair the Bluetooth remote device with your Android device\n- Start a new empty project, then use the manifest and the BluetoothHelperExample.java file into it\n- Find the line:\nprivate String DEVICE_NAME = \"RNBT-729D\"\nin BluetoothHelperExample.java and change the current value with the name of your paired device\n- Compile and run the test app\nThe application automatically connects the Smartphone to the remote microcontroller and, when connected, it controls the 2 LEDs sending the appropriate command strings when the user clicks the LED button (switching the ON/OFF LED) or moves the slider (changing the lightness of the dimmable LED). In order to easily set up and manage the communication, we made a Java Helper class.\nThe BluetoothHelper Class\nThis Java Class implements an easy message-based Bluetooth wireless communication layer between an Android device (the client) and a microcontroller (the server). It is compatible with Android devices v. 4.0+.\nThe scope of this class is to make simple and direct the wireless communication between a low level device, that typically collects data and does simple stuff, and a higher level device that is able to present the collected data, store all the information in a file and offer the user a simple interface to send requests and control the behavior of the microcontroller.\nUsing this class you can Connect, Disconnect, Send String messages, Receive String messages via Listener (best way) or with explicit polling, by automatically reconnecting and checking the status of your Bluetooth connection in a simple and thread-safe way.\nThis class is a work in progress, some additional functions will be added in the future.The class is released under GNU GPL 3 license and freely downloadable here. Download the API documentation from here. All downloads are also available in the GitHub repository. The GitHub repository contains:\n- Android/BluetoothHelper.class – The Helper Class for Android\nThe repository also includes the presented example, that shows how to use the helper class:\n- Android/BluetoothHelperExample/ – Example app for Android\n- Arduino/BluetoothHelperExample/ – The sketch for Arduino\n- doc/ – The related documentation", "label": "No"}
{"text": "KidWind Challenge - Teacher Workshop\nThursday, September 26, 2013 9:00 am - 12:00 pm\nDescription: Did you know wind is the fastest growing energy source?! But how do you get energy from the wind? Wind turbines are your answer. A wind turbine is a device that produces electricity from the kinetic energy of the wind. Now your students can be engineers to design and construct their own wind turbine.\nThe KidWind Challenge encourages students to learn about renewable energies. It also stresses the importance of wind technologies and their role in helping to make the world less dependent on fossil fuels for the production of electricity!\nThe KidWind Challenge is opened to both middle school and high school students. Please note, pre-registration is required. The last day to register a KidWind team is one week before the event, Wednesday, September 23, 2013.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Mastitis in cats can be a very painful condition, although it is not considered an emergency situation most of the time.\nIt is almost always localized, but if it is severe, it can spread to other parts of your cat and can become septic which is a bacterial infection that attacks your cat’s blood.\nMastitis is a bacterial infection that affects the mammary glands.\nThese are any of the milk producing glands and consist of lobes of alveoli with a system of ducts that transport the milk in a female cat to an external nipple.\nThese glands will almost always occur in pairs and begin secreting milk after the birth of a litter.\nThis infection can occur in just one gland, or it can affect multiple glands and is generally caused by an infection that enters into your cat from an opening.\nIt can also be caused by a trauma from the litter such as biting, or it can be spread in the blood, especially if it is an older female.\nIf it is localized to just one gland, your cat may show no symptoms at all or any signs of an illness.\nHowever, if it has spread and is in several glands, you cat can become very ill. For this reason, the mammary glands should be checked daily.\nIf these glands are warm, hard, or painful at all to your nursing cat, they are infected.\nIt is also a good idea to check the milk daily as well. If the milk is off colored or clumping, it has become infected with bacteria.\nThere are several symptoms with Mastitis in cats that you can watch for other than checking the volume of the glands or the milk.\nWhen checking the glands to see if they are warm or hard, you can also check for swelling, as this symptom will surface before the gland actually becomes painful to your cat.\nRedness will also start to occur in the teats before they become painful and are usually followed shortly after by the discoloration of the milk as well as a discharge from the glands themselves.\nIf there is a discharge, the next symptom you can watch for is an abscess.\nThis is an especially dangerous symptom as the abscess can easily break and cause the infection to spread to other parts of your cat’s body.\nA sudden fever is also another symptom to watch for.\nHowever, perhaps the two most obvious symptoms that your cat not only has this infection but the infection has become serious will be kittens that are chronically crying or sick.\nThese symptoms need to be treated very seriously as it could easily lead to the death of the newborn litter.\nThere will be several different forms of treatments for Mastitis in cats and the exact treatment will depend on the severity of the infection.\nThe first form of treatment for mastitis is antibiotics, and which kind will all depend of the pH tests of your cat’s milk which is extremely important in effectively treating this infection.\nThe pH level of your cat milk is the measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of the milk, and it is measured in ranges from 0 to 14.\nThe neutral number is usually considered to be at 7.0, but most cats’ pH levels rest between 6.6 and 6.9. If it is 7.0 or higher, it is a risk.\nIf your cat nurses at levels above 7.0, it may be toxic to the litter and the result is Mastitis in cats.\nOnce your veterinarian has determined this level, the antibiotics are usually given by the owner at home unless it is a severe infection, in which case they will be administered intravenously.\nUntil the pH level is brought down to a safe level, it may be recommended to feed the litter with a milk re-placer.\nA warm water compress such as a hot water rubber bottle container will also be used to help with the draining of the infected fluid.\nIt is very important to make absolutely certain, however, that it is warm and not hot.\nUntil the fluid is properly drained, if you decide not to use a milk re-placer, manual milking may also be a form of treatment for Mastitis in cats.\nIn most all but the severest of cases, this warm compress therapy will accomplish two things.\nFirst, it will help with the flow of the blood as well as helping the antibiotics to penetrate the infected tissues much more effectively.\nIf there has been an abscess develop, the treatment for this infection will be to surgically drain it as this will assist the effectiveness of the antibiotics.\nThis form of treatment will have to be monitored by your veterinarian to ensure that all of the infection has been removed.\nIf not, it may have to be drained again until it is totally removed.\nIf this infection has become severe and has killed several of your cat’s tissues, the only effective treatment may be a mastectomy, or the removal of the mammary gland.\nHowever, this form of treatment is extremely rare.\nIf the infection is considered very severe and has become septic, meaning that it has spread, the form of treatment will be intravenous fluid therapy.\nThis can be very expensive and will take several days for your cat to fully recover.\nHowever, in most all cases they will fully recover.\nThe final form of treatment for Mastitis in cats will be to weigh the litter every day.\nIf the treatments are effective, it will show in the kitten’s weight as they will be getting the proper nutrients back in their body.\nMastitis in cats can be very painful to the nursing mother and potentially life threatening to the litter. However, the treatments are usually very successful, depending on the severity of the infection.\nOnce completed, the mother and the litter should be free of the infection and live healthy and normal lives.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "A new study suggests the long-term use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs can inhibit muscle growth in young athletes who lift weights.\n“The results are extremely interesting since the use of anti-inflammatory drugs is so globally widespread, not least amongst elite athletes and recreationally active individuals,” said researcher Tommy Lundberg of the Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Laboratory Medicine in Sweden.\nHealthy men and women, aged between 18 and 35 were assigned to two groups. One group took a high dosage of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and the other a low dose every day for a period of eight weeks. During the same period, participants engaged in supervised weight training regimen two to three times a week. Certain variables such as muscle growth, muscle strength and anti-inflammatory markers were measured by the researchers. After eight weeks the increase in muscle volume was twice as large in the low dose group as in the high dose group.\n“Our results suggest that young people who do weight training to increase their muscle mass should avoid regular high doses of anti-inflammatory drugs,” Lundberg stated.\nThe results partly contradict studies performed in older individuals, which have indicated that anti-inflammatory drugs can protect against age-related muscle-mass loss. The researchers think, therefore, that the mechanism regulating muscle mass differs between the old and the young weight lifters.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The Parkes 21-cm Multibeam System: surveying the universe\nDr Lister Staveley-Smith and his team\nDr Warwick Wilson, Mr Malcolm Sinclair and Dr Trevor Bird\nCSIRO's radio telescope at Parkes (NSW) has the world's first 21-cm multibeam receiving system, giving astronomers 13 simultaneous radio beams on the sky.\n\"Dr Lister Staveley-Smith and his team (Dr Warwick Wilson, Mr Malcolm Sinclair and Dr Trevor Bird) have combined leading edge engineering solutions with state-of-the-art astronomy,\" says Dr McIntosh.\n\"Since the Multibeam System became operational in March 1997, it has been discovering a new galaxy on almost a daily basis, including an unexpectedly large number of 'dwarf' galaxies. The Multibeam project is internationally recognised as one of the most significant radio-astronomical developments ever, and has ensured that Australia retains its acknowledged position as world leader in science and engineering for astronomy.\"\nCongratulations to Lister Staveley-Smith, Mal Sinclair, Warwick Wilson (ATNF) and Trevor Bird (CTIP) who yesterday received one of this year's four CSIRO medals at a ceremony in Melbourne, for their part in the multibeam project for the Parkes telescope.\nCopies of a video about the project will be available next week.\nThis page is maintained by Sebastian Juraszek", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Opinion article* published in The Conversation written by Surinder Baines, Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics at University of Newcastle.\nHere’s an interesting stat to bring up at the dinner table: for each human cell in your body, you have roughly ten non-human cells living in your gut. In other words, there are around 100 trillion microorganisms living in your intestines.\nSo how does this mass of microorganisms affect our health and ageing?\nLast month, researchers from China and the US showed in Nature that these trillions of gut microorganisms, also called microbiota, are affected by the food we eat – and, in turn, may play a role in longevity.\nREAD the full opinion article in The Conversation.\n* Opinion pieces represent the author’s views.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "What does \"Iatrogenic\" mean? Iatros means \"physician\" in Greek and -genic, means \"induced by\" - derived from the International Scientific Vocabulary. Thus, iatrogenic means \"physician-induced\". Medical definition: \"induced by a physician's words or therapy (used especially of a complication resulting from treatment). Thus Iatrogenic death is death resulting directly or indirectly from a physician's words or therapy.\nIn 2000, a presidential task force labelled medical errors a \"national problem of epidemic proportions.\" Members estimated that the \"cost associated with these errors in lost income, disability, and health care costs is as much as $29 billion annually.\" In the same year the Journal of the American Medical Association carried a study by Dr. Barbara Starfield (John Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health) that put Iatrogenic deaths in America at the astounding number of 225,000!\nDr. Starfield cautioned that as startling as this research was, it only represented hospitalized patients - it did not include deaths in nursing homes, emergency rooms, or in doctor’s offices. It did not include negative effects that are associated with disability or discomfort. And, these estimates of death due to error are lower than those in other published reports. Nevertheless, 225,000 iatrogenic deaths per year constitute the third leading cause of death in the United States, after deaths from cancer and heart disease! The most significant number of these unnecessary deaths, 106,000, were due to the negative effects of properly prescribed drugs, making them the fourth leading cause of death in America.\nOn a strictly monetary basis, depending on which published study you use, this adds up to $58.5 to $100 billion in extra costs! Walter Cronkite, well-known news anchor, painted a dismal picture: “America’s healthcare system is neither healthy, caring, nor a system.” (1990)\nNo wonder some have also dubbed this 20th century disease Acquired Iatrogenic Death Syndrome (AIDS)\nIn 2003 a independent review of government-approved medicine (Death by Medicine - Authors: Gary Null PhD, Carolyn Dean MD ND, Martin Feldman MD, Debora Rasio MD, Dorothy Smith PhD) compared thousands of published, peer-reviewed scientific studies. The numbers generated were higher than those cited in the JAMA article, but the conclusion was the same: there is something dreadfully wrong with American medicine. Too often it does more harm than good. Compelling evidence from this study unveiled astounding statistics on the 783,936 iatrogenic deaths per year that have resulted from conventional medicine at the staggering cost of $282 billion. Depending on which of the above studies one finds more credible, it still adds up to between two and six jumbo jets falling out of the sky each and every day! This phenomena is not limited to the U.S. Similar percentages were seen in Britain, Canada, and Australia.\nAnnual Physical and Economic Cost of Medical Intervention\nWorse drug offenders\nThe leading causes of adverse drug reactions are: antibiotics (17%), cardiovascular drugs (17%), chemotherapy (15%), and analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents (15%).\nDr. Richard Besser, of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2003, said the number of unnecessary antibiotics prescribed annually for viral infections was in the tens of millions. The CDC posts this public awareness on its website: “Are you aware that colds, flu, and most sore throats and bronchitis are caused by viruses? Did you know that antibiotics do not help fight viruses? It’s true. Plus, taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do more harm than good. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.”\n(1) Lazarou J, Pomeranz B, Corey P. Incidence of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients. JAMA. 1998;279:1200-1205.\n(2) Suh DC, Woodall BS, Shin SK, Hermes-De Santis ER. Clinical and economic impact of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients. Ann Pharmacother. 2000 Dec;34(12):1373-9.\n(3) Thomas et al., 2000; Thomas et al., 1999. Institute of Medicine.\n(4) Xakellis, G.C., R. Frantz and A. Lewis, Cost of Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Long Term Care, JAGS, 43 - 5, May 1995.)\n(5) Barczak, C.A., R.I. Barnett, E.J. Childs, L.M. Bosley, \"Fourth National Pressure Ulcer Prevalence Survey\", Advances in Wound Care, 10- 4, Jul/Aug 1997\n(6) Weinstein RA. Nosocomial Infection Update. Special Issue. Emerging Infectious Diseases. Vol 4 No. 3, July Sept 1998.\n(7) Forth Decennial International Conference on Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), February 25, 2000, Vol. 49, No. 7, p. 138.\n(8) Greene Burger S, Kayser-Jones J, Prince Bell J. Malnutrition and Dehydration in Nursing Homes:Key Issues in Prevention and Treatment. National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform. June 2000. http://www.cmwf.org/programs/elders/burger_mal_386.asp\n(9) Starfield B. Is US health really the best in the world? JAMA. 2000 Jul 26;284(4):483-5. Starfield B. Deficiencies in US medical care. JAMA. 2000 Nov 1;284(17):2184-5.\n(10) Weingart SN, McL Wilson R, Gibberd RW, Harrison B. Epidemiology of medical error. West J Med. 2000 Jun;172(6):390-3.\n(11) Calculations detailed in Unnecessary Surgery section, from two sources: (13) http://hcup.ahrq.gov/HCUPnet.asp and (71) US Congressional House Subcommittee Oversight Investigation. Cost and Quality of Health Care: Unnecessary Surgery. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1976\n(12) Zhan C, Miller M. Excess Length of Stay, Charges, and Mortality Attributable to Medical Injuries During Hospitalization. JAMA. 2003;290:1868-1874.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Intensive Care Medicine\nWith methodic persistence, hospitals and medical researchers explore ways in\nwhich patient care can be improved. One area that has been studied rather\nextensively is the intensive care unit or ICU. Patients in the ICU have the\nmost complex medical and surgical problems in the hospital, and these patients\nare at the highest risk for complications.\nAt any given time, the ICU patient census will include people who have\nsuffered heart attacks or respiratory failure; people recovering from traumatic\ninjuries, neurosurgery, or other complex surgical procedures; and people with\nlife-threatening cases of pneumonia or other serious illness. ICU patients\noften require ventilator assistance to support their breathing. They are on\nheart monitors and they may be taking intravenous medication, fluid, and\nnutrition. As a result, patients in the intensive care unit require a team of\nmultidisciplinary physician specialists, registered nurses with expertise in\ncritical care, and other health-care specialists to address the many different\naspects of their care.\nData from a number of studies have determined that patient outcomes are\nlikely to be better in intensive care units that are managed by intensivists. Intensivists are\ninternal medicine specialists, anesthesiologists, or surgeons who have also\nchosen to subspecialize in critical care medicine.\nThey practice medicine only in the hospital critical-care setting, directly\nmanaging or coordinating the care of critically ill and injured patients in the\nICU. This is a model of intensive care that is widely practiced in Europe and other countries where physicians typically\nspecialize in either inpatient or outpatient care.\nA growing number of the nation's hospitals already have board-certified intensivists directing care in their intensive care units,\nand Cayuga Medical Center\nis part of this group.\nThe role of the hospital intensivist is to manage\nthe team of caregivers and to be on site in the ICU. Being located in the unit\nallows the intensivist to monitor medication and\nventilation support closely, making adjustments on a frequent basis with better\nresults for the patients.\nIntensivists are very accessible to families. When\na patient enters the ICU, this physician can bring together the patient's case manager,\nclergy, and other members of the support team to share information with the\nfamily or the patient's designated health-care proxy. In addition to family\nmeetings, the intensivist meets regularly with the\nmultidisciplinary care team including nurses, respiratory therapists,\npharmacists, and nutritionists to evaluate the entire ICU census. At these\nmeetings, the care plans for each patient are discussed from the perspective of\neach team member. This model, which is followed at major medical centers, is in\nplace at Cayuga Medical Center.\nIntensivists also work as consultants for other\nphysicians such as family practitioners, internists, and surgeons. By being in\nthe ICU, the intensivist can make an intervention\nquickly if a patient takes a turn for the worse, while staying in close contact\nwith the admitting physician. This collaboration results in the best possible\ncare for the ICU patient at a time when his or her doctor may be seeing\npatients in the office or operating room.\nIntensivist medicine has been a recognized\nspecialty in this country for at least three decades and is part of the growing\ndistinction between inpatient and outpatient medicine. As outpatient physicians\nbecome increasingly busy with their office practices, the need for hospital-based\nphysicians has grown. The result has been the emergence of intensivists\nskilled in caring for the sickest patients in the hospital setting. Intensivist-staffed ICUs are now the standard of care.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "In 2007, I began scouring the net, searching for information on colony collapse disorder, the ‘mysterious’ phenomenon killing honeybees worldwide.\nOn YouTube, I came upon an eerie and beautifully sad short animation hailing from Lithuania created by a young animator named Antanas Skucas. It was called Colony Collapse Disorder, An Unfinished Story.\nIn it, a boy is dreaming; he opens his mouth and an elongated bee buzzes out in search of nectar in a stark, steel world ruined by industrialization.\nThere is a devil’s silhouette, an abandoned swing moving in the wind, creaking; people are scrambling; it’s mayhem. And still the honeybee tries to spread sweetness and pollinate.\nMy co-director George Langworthy insisted a bug coming out of a human’s mouth would both disturb and disgust our audience.\nI didn’t understand. The image had captivated me. It was symbolic. Was this a topsy-turvy dream where we as a society were waging war on our planet? The bee is seen as a messenger, an ancient creature that preceded humans on Earth by 10 to 20 million years and is now flying toward extinction.\nThe image reminded me that, according to one Egyptian myth, honeybees are the tears of the sun god Ra. When the tears fall onto the soil they are transformed into bees that build honeycombs and produce honey.\nWe showed a cut of our film, and indeed viewers perceived the image of an insect exiting a boy’s mouth as disgusting and disturbing. I still wanted to keep it in. Wasn’t art meant to provoke?\nWe did, however, include other clips from Skucas’ short Colony Collapse Disorder, An Unfinished Story. Here is the original piece in full. Tell us what you think. Leave a comment and earn BeeBucks.\nMaryam Henein is an investigative journalist, professional researcher, and producer of the award-winning documentary Vanishing of the Bees.\nSubmit your story or essay to Buzzworthy Blogs.\n- 13 Banned Foods Still Allowed In The U.S.\n- A Scary Look Inside The McRib\n- Dangerously High Pesticide Levels In Brand Name Tea\n- ‘Natural Flavor’ Comes From A Beaver’s Butt\n- 8 Foods People Think Are Healthy (But Aren’t)", "label": "No"}
{"text": "We Aren’t Eating More; We are Exercising Less\n~ September 1999 No.78 ~\nIt goes against what many experts have been telling us for a long time and it may be bad news for all of those “no fat” products, but nutritionist Dr. Alison Steven (University of Saskatchewan, in Saskatoon, Canada) says that her review of the literature shows that the average caloric intake of North Americans is slowly going down.\nDr. Steven has looked at diet surveys carried out over the last fifty years in which people were asked what they ate - usually in the past three days. Such diet recall studies are often criticized as being unreliable, because it is generally believed that people (intentionally or unconciously) under report what they have eaten. For people who have a hard time remembering what they had for lunch just a few hours ago, it is easy to understand how things could get left off the list. But, as Dr. Steven argues, there is no reason to believe that the under-reporting in the most recent studies should be any worse than in the earlier studies.\nSo how does she explain the rise in obesity ? It’s a simple matter of energy from the diet in and energy used during exercise and for metabolism out. To a nutritionist the weight gain problem is simple to explain if we are taking more calories in than we are burning up, the excess becomes body fat. If the amount of calories we eat is going down - as Dr. Steven believes - and we are still putting on fat, that can only mean that we are not burning up enough calories. So it is not illogical to say that North Americans are getting fatter while at the same time they are eating fewer calories.\nIt is perhaps too early to say whether the trend that Dr. Steven has seen in her analysis of the data is significant or not. But it is evident that just cutting down on high fat foods and replacing fatty foods by ones that are high in carbohydrates is not enough if you are going to reward yourself with an extra hour in front of the television. Yes calories count - the ones we eat and the ones we burn off when we exercise.\n|1 bottle of beer:||145|\n|100 g of french fries:||200|\n|100 g vanilla ice cream:||201|\n|data from USDA National Nutrient Database|\n|1 hour of tennis:||508|\n|1 hour of slow walking:||159|\n|1 hour of aerobics:||381|\n|1 hour of curling:||254|\n|1 hour of golf (carrying clubs):||350|\n|data from NutriStrategy - applicable to a body weight of 64 kg or 140 lb|", "label": "No"}
{"text": "A balanced diet needs to contain foods from all the main food groups in the correct proportions to provide the body with optimum nutrition. Confused about what constitutes a healthy diet. The best way to understand the different types of food that make up a healthy balanced diet is to use the to plan your daily food choices. Your goal is to fill half your plate with vegetables and fruit at every me Choose recipes with plenty of vegetables.\nOr, if your kids wanted to take up smoking, would you allow that too. The quest for protein is relentless, and the stakes are high: if a cricket stops moving, it becomes an easy source of protein for its companions, and it will be eaten. By: EatingWell:' Try to eat at least five portions of different kinds of fruit or veg every day to stay in top condition. Lower.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "NATO today is without a doubt the most powerful military and political alliance in the world. This image is meant to convey that the organization is up-to-date with technology, even advanced in it , and socially modern. The “binoculars” represent one of the most important principles of NATO; to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members. By guarding all the member states of the alliance, NATO aims to prevent conflict inside and outside the organization. The alliance focus its aims in directions which will benefit interest of each member country. The “binoculars” are the challenge of identifying and agreeing the common interest of its member countries. Being a collective-security alliance, the military power comes predominantly from the United States, but NATO’s real power derives from the fact that it combines the United States’ military capabilities and economic power with Europe’s collective political and economic weight, that makes a combination globally significant. As we know the future is unpredictable. It brings known and unknown dangers, and NATO can serve as a “lighthouse in the deep sea of various dangers.” NATO can face the ever changing medium that pushes it towards growth, unity, and change.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The original patent was issued in 1834 to a parisian pharmacist joseph grard dublanc and pharmacy student franois achille barnab moths for the invention and manufacture of gelatin capsules 1 the basic idea of a capsule is to enclose the drug or active pharmaceutical ingredient api in an odorless tasteless elegant easy to . Softgel capsules are a drug delivery form that offers pharmaceutical manufacturers a tool to overcome the growing formulating challenges presented by poorly soluble drugs and highly potent apis advances in softgel technology are making it possible to use this drug delivery approach for a wider selection of apis including those that must be . The drugs and the pharmaceutical sciences series is designed to enable the pharmaceutical scientist to stay abreast of the changing trends advances and innovations associated with therapeutic drugs. Previously published as hard capsules this updated and expanded second edition covers all aspects of capsule technology including history standards methods and equipment used in manufacture filling printing weighing cleaning and inspecting of both hard and soft capsules pharmaceutical capsules is an essential resource for all those involved in the development manufacture and testing\nHow it works:\n1. Register Trial Account.\n2. Download The Books as you like ( Personal use )", "label": "No"}
{"text": "No rational or reasonable person could argue that America is a less free nation today than it was ten years ago, 100 years ago, or at the time of our founding. Even our freedom to worship, our freedom of speech, and now our freedom of the press are all controlled by the government. How and why is this happening? To understand this we must understand who we were at the time of our founding and who we are today. Only then can we determine why and determine what we must do if we again want to be free.\nThe most important characteristic of America is freedom. The early Americans and Founders of our nation believed that their freedom came not from their position in society—most were commoners—or from any man, ruler, or government. Rather, it came from a Creator who endows all human beings, by virtue of their humanity, with natural rights including life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. No man can take away these rights. These rights are irremovable or unalienable because they originate from God. Armed with this belief that their freedom was a gift from God—not a privilege that could be granted or taken away by a man—the early American patriots sought national independence over subjection to England. They committed their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to this cause. In this sense, America historically has been a God-loving nation. Though citizens are free to believe in or not believe in God, the American philosophy is based on the idea that God is the source of man’s rights and freedoms.\nToday the people of America have been indoctrinated and inundated with propaganda to believe just the opposite of what our Founders believed. Our schools, our government, and even our churches are telling Americans that government is the source of freedom, it is government that endows people with life, liberty, property, and protects the pursuit of happiness. This is the same as removing faith in God and placing our faith in government or men. This is a demand by Marxism that all of man’s faith be in the state which is, under communism, the communist party. This is what the Democrat party in the United States is requiring of each American.\nSo long as Americans choose to follow the current path of placing their faith in government or man, we will continue to lose more and more freedom and become slaves to a state that demands total conformity to its dictates. If we are to once again become a free people we must understand, as did early Americans and the Founders of our nation, that our rights and liberties are endowed upon us by God and neither man nor government can take them from us.\nThe question as to whether a people is free or not is answered when we learn where they place their faith. That principle not only applies to our lives under a government but to each of our individual lives. It is faith in God that allows us to be free from the evils imposed on man by governments.\nWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "05/02/2013 12:01 pm\nForest biomass in Estonia in 2010. Accurately estimated forest biomass and its distribution is a key parameter for forest inventories, vegetation modelling and understanding the global carbon cycle. It is also required by the UN and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to provide a comprehensive analysis on estimates of terrestrial carbon fluxes for climate change reports.\nThank you for rating!\nYou have already rated this page, you can only rate it once!", "label": "No"}
{"text": "You may have noticed some small moths flying about the kitchen at dusk or at night – not something that would normally bother you. However, you then find some strange webbing material in some open biscuit packets and a bag of flour. You look closer and find a small pale caterpillar. You investigate further and notice some webbing and a small brown case (the pupae) up on the ceiling. The penny drops – you have a pantry moth infestation!\nThe Summer months are the peak season for pantry moths. Although there are a few species of “Pantry moth”, the main species in Australia is the Indian Meal moth. Eggs are laid by the adult moths on or near a suitable food source. They will eat a wide range of food including cereals, biscuits, flour, nuts, dried fruit, spices and cocoa. It is the larvae that hatch that cause all the damage. The larvae are very adept and persistent in seeking out suitable food. The small larvae are capable or moving around the thread of a screw top container, even with the top on! Larger larvae are capable of chewing through plastic wrappers on unopened food packets.\nSince the adults do not fly great distances, unless the adults moths have flown in from a neighbour’s house, the likelihood is that they will have come in on some of the food items you have bought. Once you have a pantry moth infestation, they can be difficult to eradicate unless you are thorough in your treatment. There are a number of key steps to eliminate the infestation;\n1) Inspect all your food cupboards and each container individually. Don’t assume just because the container looks secure or unopened that it will not have been affected.\n2) Throw out all affected food. Place into sealed bags and remove from house immediately.\n3) Clean all food cupboards. Vacuum all shelves and corners, then wash with soap and water. This is to remove all eggs and pupae.\n4) Spray all shelves with an insecticide. Spraying cupboards, particularly the edges and corners of shelves with provide lasting protection from the larvae. Make sure the product is labeled for this use and ensure no food comes into contact with the treatment. (see below)\n5) Place all food in insect proof containers. This means hard plastic containers with sealed lids. (Remember they can crawl around the thread of screw tops!).\n6) Spray any adult moths with a “fly spray”. This targets the adults before they can breed or lay (any more) eggs. Pantry moth sticky traps can be used as part of a treatment. However, they only target male moths as they use female pheromones as their attractant.\nOnce you have gained control, make sure you maintain a good cleaning and storage regime in the kitchen and don’t forget to inspect incoming good for unwanted hitch-hikers.\nPestXpert products for pantry moths treatments\nTo target larvae\nTo target larvae\nTo target adults", "label": "No"}
{"text": "THE TELLING TALE OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH AMENDMENT:\nBy JOHN W. DEAN\n|Friday, Sep. 27, 2002|\nOn September 24, 1789, in the first-ever effort to amend the new Constitution, Congress submitted to the states twelve amendments designed to resolve problems that had arisen during the ratification debates. By 1791, ten of these, relating to individual rights and liberties - the \"Bill of Rights\" - had been adopted. But two, relating to the structure and operations of the legislative branch, were passed over.\nThe second, however, was awakened after a two-hundred-year snooze, and is now part of the Constitution. Now called the Twenty-seventh Amendment, it places limitations on Congress' increasing its members' compensation without an intervening election.\nThis Rip Van Winkle amendment's revival is a telling tale on many levels - yet one that is little known. It was a student, interestingly, who found the sleeping amendment, and pursued the work started two hundred years earlier by James Madison and the First Congress. I tracked him down and spoke to him about his successful one-man constitutional campaign.\nThe Two Sleeping Amendments: Congressional Apportionment and Pay\nA bit of background, first. In 1787-88, Anti-Federalists, who opposed a new constitution, made a powerful and persuasive case for their position during the ratification debates. They contended that not only did the new constitution, unlike most state constitutions, fail to provide protections for individual rights with a Bill of Rights, but it also failed to address the size and compensation of the Congress. These failures, they said, gave unrestricted powers to the new government.\nArticle I of the Constitution, creating the legislative branch, only provided temporarily for the size of the House of Representatives. It allocated sixty-five House seats among the states, with no more that one Representative for every thirty thousand people (with each slave being counted as three-fifths of a person) and each state having at least one Representative. But it was silent on Congressional salaries.\nProponents of the new constitution were hammered by opponents on these issues. Size and pay were not esoteric questions of political theory; rather, they were easily understood by the public. For this reason, the First Congress proposed that the first amendment to the Constitution control the size of the House of Representatives, and the second amendment prohibit Congress from voting itself a pay raise without an intervening election of the House of Representatives.\nIn March 1789, when the First Congress convened, James Madison had already been studying a pamphlet published by Virginia printer Augustine Davis, who had gathered more than two hundred proposed amendments to the Constitution recommended by the ratifying conventions. Madison had initially thought amendments unnecessary. But after corresponding with Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, he decided otherwise.\nAccordingly, Madison sought to adopt amendments that would assure the public's trust in the new government, bring the states of North Carolina and Rhode Island back into the Union, honor the promises the Federalists made in campaigning for the Constitution, and remedy the defects that the ratification debates had made apparent.\nMadison was anything but alone. Indeed, the House of Representatives ultimately would adopt seventeen amendments to send to the states. The Senate, however, cut the number back to twelve. The House then agreed upon the twelve, after some changes in language. (Senate debate on these amendments was not recorded, for at that time the Senate met behind closed doors, without an official recorder.)\nActually, Madison wanted to amend the text of the Articles of the Constitution, rather than tacking on a Bill of Rights and further amendments. But Congressman Roger Sherman disagreed.\nSherman felt to interweave amended text with the current text of the Constitution would destroy the fabric of the Constitution - which he believed was an act of the People, whereas amendments were acts of state governments. Sherman's approach was adopted, and set the precedent for all future amendments, which followed, rather than altering, the document's text.\nFailure To Ratify The Congressional Compensation and Size Amendments\nArticle V of the Constitution requires that three-fourths of the states must ratify any amendment for it to be part of the law of the land. By December 15, 1791, eleven of the fourteen states of the Union - the necessary three-fourths - had approved ten of the twelve proposed amendments (proposed amendments three through twelve). They had not, however, approved the original first and second proposed amendments, relating to Congressional compensation and apportionment.\nBetween submission to the states in 1789 and December 1791, the first proposed amendment (relating to Congressional apportionment) was ratified by ten states and rejected by one. Meanwhile, the second proposed amendment (on Congressional pay) was adopted by six states and rejected by five states.\nAccordingly, in 1791, the ten adopted amendments were renumbered, and made the first ten amendments to the Constitution - known as the Bill of Rights.\nBecause no time limit had been placed on ratification of these initial amendments by Congress, the two amendments which had not been ratified simply remain in a limbo-like state of existence somewhere between life and death. The subject of the two amendments that were not ratified was addressed by legislative action, when Congress wrote a law dealing with apportionment and salaries.\nTime has shown that the proposed first amendment would have been less than a provident law for Congressional apportionment. In contrast, time only has exacerbated the issue of Congressional pay - and, in particular, the issue of Congress' giving itself a pay raise without voters' being able to express their views on the matter.\nCongressional Apportionment: Why The Amendment Was Unwise\nThe first proposed amendment, however, looked to the future. It provided a formula to adjust the size of the House of Representatives to accommodate the nation's population growth.\nUnder the proposed amendment, there was to be one Representative for every thirty thousand persons, until the House had one hundred members; then there would be one Representative for every forty thousand, until the House had two hundred members. If and when one Representative would have fifty thousand constituents, Congress was to provide new ratios.\nHad this amendment been adopted, the House of Representatives would have become massive. The United States population reached 250,000,000 in 1990. Under the first proposed amendment, the House would have grown to 5,000 members.\nBy legislation, however, Congress has locked the number of House members at 435, which has worked well. This first proposed amendment for Congressional apportionment is best left sleeping forever.\nCongressional Salaries: A Long-Sleeping Amendment Is Revived\nThe second proposed amendment on Congressional salaries, however, went thorough an unusual two-hundred-and-three-year ratification process. Today, it is the Twenty-seventh Amendment, but notwithstanding its standing as the law of the land, it has yet to be enforced.\nThe First Congress experienced bitter and divisive debates over Congressional salaries. Sadly, the intervening two centuries have not much improved the debate.\nYears, even decades, often pass without Congress addressing its compensation. There always have been, and probably always will be, people who believe members of the House and Senate are either paid too little or too much - and those of the latter belief are quite resistant, of course, to salary change.\nFor example, in 1817 Congress tried to increase its salaries, placing them on an annual rather than per diem basis. But the public outcry was so severe, Congress repealed the effort, and its members did not dare adjust their salaries for another forty years.\nUnder the 1975 law, members of Congress were still forced to vote for the COLAs - and thus to take flack for raising their own salaries. Later, this law was amended so that unless the Congress votes down a COLA, it automatically takes effect.\nReviving The Proposed Second Amendment: A Student's Campaign\nNowadays, many both inside and outside Congress are unhappy with the way Senators and Representatives take such good care of their compensation - salaries, health benefits, and countless perks.\nIn 1982, Gregory D. Watson, a twenty-year-old college sophomore majoring in economics at the University of Texas, Austin, was looking for a topic for a paper in his course on government. While browsing, Watson found the un-ratified 1789 Congressional compensation amendment.\nAfter a bit more digging, Watson also found that six states had ratified it, and five had rejected it. But then he discovered that another state, years later, had ratified it, too.\nIn 1873, during the second term of the Grant administration, Congress increased its salary from $5,000 a year to $7,500 - retroactively, giving each member a $5,000 windfall. The great \"Salary Grab\" as it was known, produced public clamor, forcing the Congress to repeal their salary increase.\nAlso in 1873 - as Watson discovered - the Ohio General Assembly ratified the Congressional compensation amendment, eighty-four years after it had been submitted by Congress. The ratification was, in effect, a protest of the Salary Grab, for the 1789 amendment outlawed this very type of action the Salary Grab represented. The Amendment stated simply that: \"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.\"\nWatson decided that since the 1789 amendment had no time limit on it, it was still viable, and could be adopted by other states. After all, the issue of Congress' voting itself pay raises remained a problem.\nWatson wrote up his analysis, recommending that the 1789 amendment be adopted by the rest of the states. Watson's government professor was unimpressed and gave him only a \"C\" for his efforts. But he remained intrigued by what he had discovered.\nGregory Watson undertook his own campaign to get the 1789 Congressional compensation amendment to become part of the Constitution. Remarkably, he succeeded. I wanted to learn more, so I tracked him down.\nWhen Watson started, he believed only seven states had ratified what is now the Twenty-Seventh Amendment: Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Vermont and Virginia - all of which had ratified between 1789 and 1791 - plus Ohio, which had ratified in 1873. But he needed thirty-eight states total - three-quarters of fifty - to make it the supreme law of the land.\nWatson told me he thought his best chance was to start with states where both the House and Senate of the state's legislature were controlled by one party. So he started with Maine. Maine bought his arguments and ratified in 1983. Then in 1984, Colorado did the same.\nAfter State Legislatures magazine reported the new ratifications, another state, Wyoming, reporting that it had ratified the 1789 amendment too - back in 1977. Much like Ohio in 1873, Wyoming had done so to protest a Congressional pay raise.\nWatson's one-man bandwagon soon attracted a few big name players, who wanted to join him. Paul Gann, the California tax gadfly who with Howard Jarvis had authored California's Proposition 13 (limiting state property taxes), was one of them. Gann started a movement to get all states to adopt the 1879 compensation amendment.\nRalph Nader also joined the effort, urging that the amendment, be adopted. And much later a few members of Congress would make noise on behalf of the amendment, too. But as I see it, none of these \"heavies\" (my word, not Watson's) had any real impact. Rather they came and were gone. Yet Watson, like the Energizer bunny, kept at it.\nWorking on his IBM Selectric typewriter at home and on weekends, Watson, who had become a legislative assistant with the Texas State Legislature, kept papering state legislatures. His goal was to get the proposed amendment ratified by the two-hundredth anniversary of its passage by Congress - September 1989. He didn't make it, but he came close.\nThe Final Push That Made the Amendment Part of the Constitution\nOn March 29, 1989, The Washington Post picked up the story. Watson had twenty-seven of the thirty-eight needed states. Several members of Congress had taken notice, and were encouraging their states to adopt the amendment. But, as the Post reported, constitutional scholars were very dubious.\nDellinger was referring to the Supreme Court's holding in Coleman v. Miller. However, this case sets no time limit. Rather, the decision leaves it to Congress to decide if it reflects a \"contemporary consensus.\" Greg Watson, not an attorney, believed he was gathering a contemporary consensus, so he kept going.\nSeven states ratified in 1989, two more in 1990, and in 1991 one more. Watson was on the home stretch. By the spring of 1992 Michigan and New Jersey were racing to become the thirty-eighth state and make it law. Michigan won the race, but New Jersey became the thirty-ninth state, followed by Illinois and California - taking the total number of ratifying states to forty-one. On May 18, 1992 the Archivist of the United States, Don W. Wilson, ruled the Twenty-seventh Amendment ratified.\nCongress did not know what had hit them. Speaker Tom Foley thought maybe the House should hold hearings, but then he decided that if the Archivist had certified it, that was good enough for him.\nSenate President pro tempore Robert Byrd said it was for the Congress to determine when and whether the Constitution has been amended, and they had not yet done so. Congress, however, knew that if it challenged the Amendment, it would be playing a dangerous political game with a highly sensitive subject - members' compensation.\nAccordingly, on May 20, 1992 the Senate voted 99 to 0 to approve the new Twenty-seventh Amendment, and the House voted its approval 414 to 3.\nA Remarkable Effort By A Single Citizen\nRemarkably, and singlehandedly, Greg Watson had amended the Constitution. Today, he is forty years of age, and a man who works three jobs, and seven days a week. In short, he is not a man of great means. Yet he spent his own money to mail countless papers to legislatures throughout the country, and to pay the long distance phone bill so he could give assistance. Watson says he also did all of his own research, running his campaign at nights and on weekends, using his own time.\nWhy? Based on my conversation with Watson, he strikes me as a concerned citizen - actually, a kind of super-citizen. He is modest and self-effacing - not someone seeking his fifteen minutes of fame. Rather, he is a person who sincerely believed this amendment, if ratified, would improve the Constitution in just the manner the First Congress had sought.\n\"The American people want a Congress that is honest, that has integrity. This Amendment is one vehicle by which some degree of decorum can be restored,\" Watson was quoted as saying in May 1992.\nHad she ever said anything about the lousy grade she gave him? He laughed, and said that a reporter had tracked her down, and told her Watson had gotten the Constitution amended. She was quite embarrassed, and called to apologize for giving him only a \"C.\"\nHow Long Can Congress Ignore The Twenty-Seventh Amendment?\nAfter my conversation with Watson, I thought: There's only one problem with Gregory Watson's efforts - so far they have been for naught. Congress has totally ignored the Twenty-seventh Amendment, proceeding as if it did not exist. In addition, there has been a lively scholarly debate as to whether the Twenty-seventh Amendment is, in fact, the supreme law of the land.\nSince 1997, Congress has taken four COLAs - and remained silent. Congress takes the position that they these pay raises are based on a law that existed before the Twenty-seventh Amendment.\nThus, they claim they have not passed a law in violation of the Amendment's prohibition; rather, they are just following a pre-existing law. The problem with this argument, though, is that the Amendment effectively repeals contrary prior Congressional enactments - or at least renders them unable to be enforced now, after it has been passed.\nSo far no one has been able to get standing in a federal court to force the Congress to comply with the Constitution, or to test the validity of this amendment. For that reason, I'm sending this column to the best plaintiff's constitutional lawyer I know -- Alan Morrison of Public Citizen in Washington, DC.\nIf anyone can find a way to resolve these not unimportant questions, I'm confident it is Public Citizen. And I have no doubt that Gregory Watson is himself a public citizen - one with the country's best interests in mind, and one who would like to see his efforts enforced, as well as recognized as valid constitutional law.\nSelect a Job Title", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Why study Drama?\nGCSE Drama is not just about acting. It is the study of theatre, performance and creation.\nDrama is amongst the oldest art forms, used to speak to vast audiences, deliver tales of comedy and tragedy and allow the audience to experience catharsis. Drama develops performance and collaboration skills, self confidence, and provides students with an opportunity to develop across many areas including acting, directing and designing.\nGCSE Drama is a lively and creative course designed to balance the practical and academic study of Drama. Students work together to understand and experience for themselves the roles and responsibilities of a theatre company. Working as part of a creative team of actors, directors, designers and technicians, students build confidence and develop skills in communication, cooperation and performance.\nThe course enables students to work imaginatively and develop their understanding of how to create thought-provoking and well-made theatre. In addition to acting and directing, students will be encouraged to consider a range of design and technical skills including stage lighting, sound design, set design, stage management, make-up, costume and puppet design.\nWhat does the course involve?\nThe course is divided into three components, which includes the study of a set text, audience experience of live theatre, devising original work and scripted performance.\nComponent 1: Understanding Drama (Written exam)\nThis component culminates in a written exam in which students are assessed on their knowledge and understanding of how drama and theatre is developed and performed, including in connection to a set play and on their ability to analyse and evaluate the live theatre work of others.\nComponent 2: Devising Drama (Practical non-examamined assessment)\nThis is a practical component in which students are assessed on their ability to create and develop ideas to communicate meaning for theatrical performance, apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance and analyse and evaluate their own work.\nComponent 3: Texts in Practice (Practical exam)\nThis is also a practical component in which students are assessed on their ability to apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance. Students must perform two extracts from two sections of a published and previously professionally produced play. This is attended and assessed by an external examiner.\nHow will the skills that I develop help me in my future career?\nThe course is an excellent preparation for A Level and provides a perfect foundation in creative, practical performance and production skills. With the focus on working imaginatively, collaborating creatively and communicating effectively, GCSE Drama provides a solid base for further studies in Drama and Theatre with a skills set that opens up many vocational opportunities. The course inevitably covers all sorts of transferable skills that will be useful throughout life: communication, presentation/public speaking, group and leadership skills, problem solving, time management, initiative and the ability to work to a deadline and get it right first time (there are no re-runs!). Drama is also a subject to take if you want a job in the entertainment industry, in front of an audience or behind the scenes. It is also relevant and interesting to people who are interested in culture or social issues.\nHow will I be assessed?\nThe Understanding Drama element is assessed through a written exam lasting 1 hour 45 minutes. It is worth 40% of the final grade. Devising Drama is worth 40% and is an NEA (Non-Examined Assessments) unit, while Texts in Practice is worth 20% of the final GCSE grade and is an externally assessed practical exam.\nWho do I need to contact?\nFor more information, contact Mr Martindale - email@example.com", "label": "No"}
{"text": "A cat's tongue is truly an amazing organ. In fact, it's like a feline Swiss army knife that can be used for multiple purposes. If you've never taken time to contemplate your cat's tongue before, you have to find out what you've been missing.\nAmazing Features of the Feline Tongue\nThe Tongue Is Covered in Barbs\nIf you've ever been licked by a cat, you can't help noticing the sandpaper-like texture. The reason the tongue is so rough is that it's covered in tiny barbs called filiform papillae which are made from keratin, the same material fingernails are made from. These barbs face toward the cat's throat and help push food in that direction for swallowing. Cats also use these barbs to scrape meat from bones when they eat.\nIt's the Perfect Grooming Tool\nThe tongue's rough texture is perfect for grooming. As the cat licks, loose hairs and other debris are caught on the barbs and removed from the coat. However, this can also lead to the formation of hairballs if you don't brush your pet often enough. Since the loose hairs are gathered by the barbs and directed toward the throat, the cat winds up swallowing the hairs. They collect in the stomach and form undigestible masses that can lead to blockages if the cat doesn't cough them back up.\nCat Tongues Have Limited Tastebud Sensitivity\nA cat's tongue isn't very good at discerning flavors because it doesn't have many tastebuds. In fact, it's largely insensitive to salt and sugar. Instead, cats seem to be attracted to the texture of particular foods on their tongues.\nThe Tongue Tests Food Temperature\nCats aren't fond of extremes, especially when it comes to their food. Overall, they tend to prefer foods at room temperature, and they use their tongues to test whether food is too hot, too cold, or just right.\nBathing Produces Evaporative Cooling\nCats actually use their tongues to cool off by grooming themselves. As they lick, the moisture left on the fur produces an evaporative cooling effect similar to sweating in humans.\nCat Tongues Lap Water in a Unique Way\nOne of the most amazing facts of all is how cats use their tongues to drink. Unlike dogs that tend to slop water all over when they drink, cats are dainty drinkers because of the way they use their tongues.\nA cat simply touches the tip of her tongue to the surface of the water and then quickly pulls it back up. This creates a column of water that the cat quickly closes her mouth around to trap the water inside just before it would naturally succumb to gravity and fall back into the dish. Since a cat laps about four times per second, this works out to a rate somewhere between four and five teaspoons of liquid consumed per second.\nThe Best Thing About Cat Tongues\nOf all the things cats use their tongues for, showing affection is the one that has the most positive effect on their owners. Kittens learn about licking from their mamas who lick them as they care for them. When your cat licks you, she's showing you she cares for you, and this is a generous expression since many felines tend to be somewhat aloof. Remember that and realize how lucky you are the next time you feel that rough tongue bathing the back of your hand.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Almost all children love to sing. Singing helps to feel the joy of life. Did you know that singing is not only interesting, but also useful? Every parent wants their child to grow and develop actively. An important role is played by creative development, because it is so important for a child to feel capable and talented, to show their imagination, to apply logical and spatial thinking. One of the creative directions is the musical development of the child. All parents love to hear their children sing.\nResearch scientists have repeatedly proven that music has a positive effect on mental development. Children involved in music learn to read faster and express their thoughts logically clearly. Musicality can be developed by teaching a child to play instruments, through dance or vocal lessons. Our article details the benefits of vocal development.\nConscious voice production, control of one’s own performance, work on sound extraction is possible from the age of five. Reaching this age, children sing, understanding what is required of them, they begin to meaningfully work on diction, articulation and sound production techniques. But this does not mean at all that it is too early to learn singing before the age of five. On the contrary, the earlier the baby begins to sing, the faster his musical abilities develop: hearing, musical memory, sense of rhythm, responsiveness to music. Therefore, if you notice how children sing, along with everything that sounds, it’s time to contact a vocal studio, where, under the guidance of a teacher, their further musical development will take place.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Now a new report released last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that sleep deprivation can be tied to coronary calcification. In the study calcification rates were as high as 27% of the study population who slept less than 5 hours per night. It dropped significantly with added sleep and according to the article one hour of added sleep was considered equal to lowering systolic blood pressure 17 mm Hg (the systolic number occurs at the beginning of the cardiac cycle and is the first number in a blood pressure reading - an average blood pressure is somewhere around 115/75).\nSleep hygiene is certainly an important part of our health. Avoiding caffeine later in the day; going to bed at approximately the same time every night; creating a sleep routine that signals your body that it is time to get ready for sleep; having a dark, comfortable room to sleep. These are all good practices to ensure that we are getting not only enough sleep but restful sleep.\nNutritionally there are a few things that you can do to help you sleep as well. As mentioned above, avoiding caffeine later in the day is important. Many people claim to not be affected by caffeine but reports from the National Sleep Foundation show that most people are not aware of how much of a sleep debt they are carrying and how it affects them. Try switching to decaffeinated or herbal drinks in the afternoon and evening. Carbohydrate cravings are another problem that can affect sleep and sleep quality. For many people the mid-afternoon carbohydrate cravings are because they are producing too much melatonin at the wrong time of day, this leads to a suppression of seratonin in the brain. This in turn leads to cravings for carbohydrates. Getting back onto a good sleep cycle with adequate sleep can help re-regulate your brain clock.\nMany people have problems staying asleep, they wake up around 2 or 3 am. The general suggestion here is to take calcium and magnesium before bedtime. Calcium has a calming effect and the magnesium balances the calcium and relaxes the muscles. Eating nuts (especially almonds), nut butters, cheese, or yogurt are good sources of these nutrients. Bananas, dates, figs, tuna or turkey are also good choices as they are high in tryptophan which helps to promote sleep. Remember, this is a small snack, not a meal, so don't overdo the amount that you eat.\nIf you take over-the-counter products to sleep please be aware that your body can become over conditioned to them and then require them to sleep. Melatonin and chamomile should not be taken on a long-term basis and if you are allergic to ragweed you should avoid chamomile altogether.\nTake care of yourself, sleep well, be well.\nphoto courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drabbad_nr_2.JPG", "label": "No"}
{"text": "By Jayaram V\nSummary: This essay is about what makes\ngood leaders, and seven important abilities or qualities which\nlead to excellence in leadership\nLeadership calls for courage, determination and an adaptive mindset.\nLeaders require strength, grit and humility to persevere, inspire\nand lead others. More often, they have to lead themselves and others\non perilous paths and through uncharted territories to accomplish\ntheir goals. Biologically, leadership is an offshoot of the natural\ninstinct, which is common to both humans and animals, to improves\ntheir chances of survival. Animals also choose their leaders. Human\nbeings follow a similar, but more complicated process.\nLeaders are all not alike. There are personality issues and cultural,\nsocial and other factors which influence their leadership styles,\ncharacter and behavior. However, no leader is born, but made by\ncircumstances and self-effort. What distinguishes true leaders?\nWhat puts them in a separate category as examples of excellence\nin leadership? How do they succeed in leading people to achieve\ncommon goals or realize an inspired or impossible vision? Leadership\nis required in all fields and in all aspects of life.\nLeadership is more a function than a status symbol or a position\nof authority. Everyone performs leadership functions as a part of\none�s survival and success, although many may not be even aware\nof it. It also becomes a necessity for many people in challenging\ntimes to overcome their hardships and realize their goals and dreams.\nWhat qualities do they possess, which make them extraordinary and\nexceptional? In order to be a great leader, certain qualities are\nvery necessary. The following are a few important ones.\n1. Clear vision\nGood leaders are driven by a clear vision. They know what they\nwant to achieve, where they want to go and by what means. They are\ndriven by clear purpose and mission. Because of that, they are able\nto formulate right goals and right strategies and gather right resources\nto fulfill their mission. Most people are driven by desires, goals,\nplans and even fears, but leaders are clearly driven by a defining\nand purposeful vision.\nto take risks\nTrue leaders do not hesitate to take risks or go where no one\nhas gone before. They are good decision makers who possess strength\nand courage to risks and explore various alternatives to accomplish\ntheir tasks. Most of them are also heralders of change and practice\ntransformative leadership, which often require great sacrifices\nfrom them and the prospects of failure, difficulties and strong\nopposition from those who resist change.\nTrue leaders are purpose driven. They remain focused upon their\nmission until they achieve it. They are committed and determined\nand persevere in their effort, going the extra mile, anticipating\nproblems, preparing for contingencies, learning from failures and\nsetbacks, adapting to situations and forging strong relationships\nand alliances whenever necessary. Their determination is a source\nof strength and inspiration to others.\n4. Help others\nGood leaders know that leadership is not a status symbol or a\nmeans only to gain personal power, wealth or dominance over others,\nbut a great obligation to lead others in the right direction and\naccomplish the tasks for which it is meant. Therefore, they possess\na caring and nurturing attitude, treating others with respect and\nconsideration, and helping them wherever possible, sometime at the\nexpense of their own interests.\n5. Take responsibility\nGood leaders are not afraid to account for their actions or accept\nblame for them if necessary. They do not find scapegoats, avoid\ncriticism or delegate their basic duties to others so that they\ncan shift the blame. They are always willing to assume responsibility\nfor the actions and the actions of those who act in good trust according\nto their instructions or guidance. When things go wrong, they may\nseek forgiveness, but do not evade accountability or consequences.\nLeadership requires a special mindset, purpose driven attitude\nand inspiring personality. Good leaders lead by personal example.\nThey possess pleasing personalities and know how to exert personal\ninfluence over their people, by appealing to their positive emotions\nand lead them in the desired direction. They also possess an understanding\nof human psychology. Hence, they make good use of their interpersonal\nskills, and emotional and social intelligence. They also know how\nto resolve conflicts and differences of opinion among their followers\nand build their unity and morale.\nLeaders are human beings with the usual flaws and drawbacks.\nWe have many leaders in various fields who are essentially psychopaths.\nThey do succeed in the careers and professions, but the people who\nwork for them or deal with them know who they are and the problems\nthey create. Despite these instances, character and integrity are\nstill important in leadership and those who possess them are remembered\nbetter than those who lack them. True leaders abide in good principles\nand stick with them despite the problems they face from those who\nEveryone is a leader in some way. In your normal and routine\nlife, you perform many leadership functions, when you help others,\nguide them or lead them to achieve common goals or goals that are\nimperative to your success and wellbeing. Being a good leader requires\neffort, discipline and vision. By knowing what distinguishes true\nleaders, you can learn from them and improve your leadership qualities.\nJayaram V is Founder President of Hinduwebsite.com and author\nof 14 books including Think Success and Being the Best. For\nmore information about Jayaram and his works, you may\nvisit the author's website.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "(a) Identification. A tympanostomy tube with a semipermeable membrane is a device intended to be implanted for ventilation or drainage of the middle ear and for preventing fluids from entering the middle ear cavity. The device is inserted through the tympanic membrane to permit a free exchange of air between the outer ear and middle ear. The tube portion of the device is made of silicone elastomer or porous polyethylene, and the membrane portion is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.\n(b) Classification. Class II. The special control for this device is FDA's \"Tympanostomy Tubes, Submission Guidance for a 510(k).\"\n[51 FR 40389, Nov. 6, 1986, as amended at 65 FR 17145, Mar. 31, 2000]", "label": "No"}
{"text": "This will be my last post in this little series about school skills for babies and toddlers. Social and emotional skills often get overlooked when people are thinking about what it takes for kids to be successful in school. As a former classroom teacher, however, I can assure you that these are some of the most important skills a child needs to develop in order to thrive (both in school and in the larger society that awaits them after graduation). Being able to cooperate, work with others, obey an authority figure, and follow the rules (at least most of the time) will go a long way in getting your child through school in one happy piece.\nPeople are social creatures. And, since babies are just little people, they are born as social creatures. Children need to learn how to get along with others from a young age because, let’s face it, they’ll never be alone. There will be many situations that your child will be in where they will need to use good social skills: sharing with a sibling, playing with a friend, or completing a project with a school mate. Here are a few things you can start doing with your budding socialite now!\n- Socializing baby- Introduce your baby to others and include him in your conversations. Baby will feel included and start to learn how to behave in social situations.\n- Practice playing with others- Young children don’t really play together, and they are psychologically not yet able to share. So don’t put that expectation on them. What you can do, however, is give them opportunities to practice playing (some day they will actually care that there’s another child there who wants to play with them). Have play dates with other kids who are about the same age (for young children, keep play dates small—1 or 2 friends at a time–so they don’t get overwhelmed) and let them each do their own thing while occupying the same space. If nothing else, they’ll learn that the world does not solely consist of them nor does it solely exist for them.\n- Solving Problems- Your toddler will throw a tantrum (“But MOM, I wanted to cut the dog’s hair with those scissors! How DARE you take them away!”). If your toddler is like mine, he will throw a tantrum every 15 minutes or so. This is good–it gives us lots of opportunities to practice problem solving. After he calms down from the tantrum, have him help you solve the problem (“Sorry, scissors are for grown ups. Let’s get a brush for the dog instead. Would you like to help brush her fur?”). Get those problem solving skills down solid now–you don’t want to get “that call” from your kid’s principal about the fist fight on the playground!\n- Obeying- Learning to obey authority figures (you, Grandpa, a preschool teacher) is an absolute necessity. Sometimes when I find David is not obeying particularly well we’ll sing a little song: (to the tune of “Farmer and the Dell”) “O is for obey. O is for obey. Obey is doing what you’re asked, right away.” It’s a little cue for him to listen up and obey (and he knows by now that discipline is coming next if he doesn’t). When I start singing he usually will stop what he’s doing and sing with me–a good sag-way into diverting his attention to some other activity, thus forgetting about the need to disobey in the previous activity.\n- Following Directions- This goes along with obeying. Play “Simon Says”, “Red Light, Green Light” or “Mother May I?” to practice. Cook together and follow the directions in the recipe. Tell your baby how you are following directions: “When I’m driving I put on my seat belt and always drive the speed limit because that’s the law.” (You’re welcome, officer.)\n- Teach them how to use manners: Say please, thank you, excuse me, and sorry. Even babies can learn how to say these words with sign language. As soon as your little one starts doing “bad things” on purpose, have them apologize. Then, say “I forgive you” and move on. As the parent, you can also demonstrate apologizing to your little one when YOU’VE done a “bad thing” (“I’m sorry I yelled. Sometimes Mommy gets frustrated when you don’t obey. Will you forgive me?”). If your child has wronged another, have them apologize to them (I even make David apologize to the baby. He’ll give Jacob a hug and a kiss, and then Jacob usually tries to eat his face. I love it!).\n- Role Playing Social Situations- Does your child get nervous every time they meet a new person? Does he like to hit to get what he wants? Does she scream to get your attention? Whatever your kid does that drives you nuts, practice it. Do a role reversal and pretend that you’re the kid and he’s the daddy–and throw a little temper tantrum for him (he’ll LOVE this!). Then show him the right way to get dad’s attention. Switch roles, and let him show you how to do things right and wrong. Or, before you go out for a play date, “play” play date at home. Practice how you might say hello to your friend, how you will ask to play with a toy, how you will help clean up, etc.\n- Have them help- Even toddlers can help with simple chores like putting away their toys, sorting laundry, and washing things (this is David’s favorite job! I give him a damp paper towel and he’ll spend the better part of an hour cleaning my cupboards, the walls, the floor, his toys. It’s fantastic.). This gives kids a sense of ownership and shows them that they can (and should) contribute.\n- Acknowledge and name emotions- Tell your child what the emotions are that they are feeling in a given situation. When your child is kicking and screaming because you have to leave the park, tell him that you know he’s frustrated by leaving something he enjoys. When your baby is giggling at your silly faces, tell her that you enjoy making her happy. Let your little ones know that it’s okay to feel _____ (mad, sad, shy, etc.).\n- Sing a song-We sing our own version of “If You’re Happy and you Know It” using lots of different emotions. Each verse has an emotion and an action (or a face) that goes with that emotion: If you’re happy and you know it, then you smile; If you’re sad and you know it, cry big tears; If you’re mad and you know it, make a frown; If you’re excited and you know it, jump up and down; If you’re scared and you know it, hide your eyes….and on and on until I can’t think of anything else to sing about.\n- Showing empathy-Help your child to notice how others are feeling: “Your brother is crying. He’s sad right now, but he’ll feel better soon. Let’s give him a hug to help him cheer up.”\n- Find emotions in books- Most children’s books have characters who express pretty obvious emotions. As you’re reading, ask your child (or tell your baby) how the puppy or the princess or the dinosaur is feeling right now.\nSo, that’s it! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my little series on school skills this week as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. You’re well on your way to having one savvy little student! Feel free to leave a comment with ways that you like to incorporate learning into your days–I’d love to get some new ideas!", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Forensic services conduct studies that play an important role in crime investigation, anti-terrorism, disaster victim identification, filiation studies (paternity, illegal adoption, burial pits, etc.). The continued exchange of information on forensic evidence between countries highlights the need to establish common standards for providers of these services. International and European forensic organisations are committed to the accreditation of these activities, which are pivotal in the fight against crime.\n- Support in the identification of persons: DNA profiling analysis, study and comparison of fingerprints or palmprints, study and comparison of facial images, voice identification.\n- Drug testing: Both in biological fluids (blood, saliva, etc.) and in materials from caches, or ethyl alcohol in blood.\n- Study of forensic elements: Graphistics, documentoscopy, identification of fire accelerants, gunshot residue, ballistics, shoe prints, etc.\n- Crime scene investigation: Technical ocular inspections for crime investigation. These inspections are performed for the recognition, registration, collection and transportation of crime-scene evidence for further forensic analysis in laboratories.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Rice plate or chicken biryani? Vanilla flavour or butterscotch with crispies? The attractive dumb girlfriend or the brainy plane Jane? Jogging or going to the gym? Professional degree or work experience? Job or business? Fresh blood or grey hair? Stock market or fixed deposits? Your happiness or parents’? Personal life over professional or vice versa?\nLife is full of choices that require us to make decisions. Some decisions are minor like the shoe or clothes you want to buy which can be easily exchanged later. Others can be life-altering decisions like the person you decide to marry or the house you invest in.\nA decision is simply the choice we make. In fact, our life is shaped by a series of decisions we make in different situations. Our perception of ourselves and the world plays a very important role in the kind of decisions we make. Whether you choose to feel elated in adversity or be miserable amidst abundance is a personal choice you make. The decisions that you make with confidence are more likely to work out in your favour than the ones made in self-doubt.\nDecision making can be a simple process once we understand how to go about it. We can add or remove the following components depending on the simplicity or the complexity of the decision you need to take.\nData: The first important thing to do when we face a decision making situation is to gather information. Ask questions till you get to the root of the problem. Understand trends and extrapolate from data available to understand the situation better. If there are any gaps, research a bit and fill them to complete the picture. Many times, data is the sole basis on which decisions are made. For instance, scientific research or sociological surveys about population.\nIntuition: This is a valuable part of every decision making process. Gut feel that something will work despite the odds against it can defeat neatly arranged information. Malcolm Gladwell, in his best-seller, Blink, talks about ‘thin-slicing’. Malcolm cites examples from diverse fields to show how the human mind can make decisions based on a thin slice of information that the subconscious mind processes even before the conscious mind can realise. For instance, taking on a fresher for a responsible job instead of an experienced person because of a hunch.\nAnalysis: Weigh the alternatives. Be an optimist and look at the positive consequences of your options. Also be a pessimist and consider all that can go wrong with your choices. Having a balanced view of the pros and cons of the possible outcomes will help reach a logical decision ensuring lesser errors.\nCreativity: Our creativity can bring in a lot more options than are obvious at first. So, think of more possible creative solutions that you can develop for the problem. Thinking out of the box can be refreshing to our thought process.\nResources: It is very important to consider the resources available to follow on the decision made. You can think out of the box and generate unique ideas, but if they can’t be put to practise due to lack of skills or support, the exercise is futile. Resources can be individual skill or sufficient funds to take up a project.\nInvolvement: Seek help of others who might be able to add value to your decision making. It can be members of your team in the office or your family at home or your friends. They can help by providing more useful data or can add fresh perspective to the situation. A bit of objectivity can be good to truly evaluate the worth of your decisions.\nRisks: Be prepared to take on challenges even if they involve risks as long as the facts are right and our intuition goes along. Warren Buffet wouldn’t have been the richest investor if he aimed at making every decision risk-proof. His decisions are based on his sound knowledge of the markets and the well-founded experience. Risks cannot be wished away but contingency plans can be made to deal with them. The ratio of risk you take should be proportional to the gain you expect from it.\nCommitment: Once you analyse the facts thoroughly and make a decision, stay committed to it. Changing the decision often robs the whole process of its seriousness. Remember not to get carried away by all the opinions that come to you in the process. You need to keep your head above all that and trust your judgement alone.\nHow to make your final decision?\nNow that you know points to consider to make decisions, lets now look at a few techniques by which you can bring your thoughts together. There are numerous tools and methods available to help you arrive at your decision. A few easy ones are discussed here:\nPros and Cons chart: The simplest way to analyse data by looking at the pros and cons of options available. Pull out a sheet of paper and make 2 columns on it. On one side, write down the positive outcomes of the decision and on the other side the negative outcomes. We can also give a rating on a scale of 1 to 10 for each factor and the total score will give a more accurate picture.\nBrainstorming: The most effective technique for ideas to emerge freely. It could be individual brainstorming or group brainstorming. As an individual, sit down in a quiet place and jot down all the ideas that come to your mind about your situation. Writing makes your thoughts concrete and you can always come back after analysis and cancel out the options that don’t work. There are no right or wrong options and at this point and don’t worry about whether an idea is possible or not. Once you are done, explore each idea further to reach feasible alternatives. Make sure you have enough data to make your decision. You will be surprised at the number of possibilities you can generate through this method.\nSWOT Analysis: An acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, this is another technique for in depth analysis before you make a decision. The first 2 represent the presence or absence of attributes in a person or company that aid or hamper achievement of goals. The last 2 denote favourable or unfavourable conditions in the external environment that boost or damage chances of fulfilling the objectives. This will help you leverage the strengths and opportunities while improving on weaknesses and being prepared to handle the threats. You can also be ready for any unexpected events that might upset your plans.\nThe most important thing that we need to remember while making any decision is that every decision causes ripples in the form of consequences. Choices, once made, control us and not the other way round. The good news is that keeping an open mind can present opportunities to rework decisions already made in life. There are people who gave up lucrative careers to pursue their passion. Some of us aren’t as adventurous and postpone our decisions forever. If a particular important decision needs deeper thought, sleep on it. But make sure that you act before it is too late.\nSo the next time you need to make decisions, dive for the facts with the confidence that your intuition and creativity will support you. Decision making is not rocket science. A bit of clear thinking with the right tools can help you make only the best choices in life.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "It follows one article published on the day (15/06) in the english website of the Agência FAPESP noting that an international group of scientists, with participation of Brazil, describes the first observation and measurement of antiparticles nuclei of helium-4.\nBy Fábio de Castro\nJune 15, 2011\n|International group including|\nBrazilians observes and\nmeasures anti-helium 4 nuclei\nfor the first time. It is the\nheaviest anti-matter ever\ndetected in a laboratory. The\nstudy was published in Nature.\nAgência FAPESP – In 1911, New Zealand scientist Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937) used nuclei from helium-4 atoms—the so-called alpha particles—to show that the atoms’ positive charge is concentrated in a small nucleus. The discovery was the kickoff to nuclear physics.\nExactly 100 years after the creation of Rutherford’s atomic model, an international group of scientists, including Brazilians, describes for the first time the observation and measurement of antiparticles in the nuclei of helium-4. It is the heaviest antimatter produced and measured in a laboratory to date.\nAccording to the authors, this has important consequences for future antimatter observation in the Universe. According to them, the antiparticle study is fundamental for the advance of knowledge in fundamental aspects of nuclear physics, astrophysics and cosmology.\nThe experiment, performed by the Star Collaboration—which brings together 584 scientists from 54 institutions in 12 nations—was produced in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) in the United States. The results were published this Sunday (April 24) in Nature magazine’s Letters section.\nThe Brazilian co-authors are Alexandre Suaide, Alejandro Szanto Toledo and Marcelo Munhoz – all professors at Universidade de São Paulo’s (USP) Nuclear Physics Department in the Physics Institute–, Jun Takahashi, professor at the Gleb Wataghin Physics Institute (IFGW) at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) and his doctoral students, Rafael Derradi de Souza and Geraldo Vasconcelos.\nThe same group had already produced the first experimental evidence of an anti-hypernucleus a year ago: this means that the scientists had obtained a nucleus that was not part of the periodical table. The study was published in the March 2010 edition of Science magazine.\nAccording to Suaide, in the 2010 work, the antiparticles were submitted to coalescence—a process similar to condensation—aggregating two antineutrons and one antiproton, forming an antitritium—in other words, an antimatter nucleus corresponding to the tritium atom--, the hydrogen isotope that has two neutrons and one proton.\n“In observing the anti-helium—an antimatter alpha particle—for the first time, we took one more step toward building a new periodical table. It was a difficult task, because the chances of having coalescence decreases as the complexity of the antinucleus increases,” Suaide told Agência FAPESP.\nIn the STAR experiment, the scientist said that nuclear collisions were performed with gold atoms at a speed near to that of light, an extremely high temperature creating an energy density similar to that which existed a few microseconds after the Big Bang. Both in the lab and at the beginning of the Universe, the collisions resulted in the formation of equal quantities of matter and antimatter.\n“Theoretically, we believe that the Big Bang came about because of a large concentration of energy in one singularity and, based on models, we concluded that this process must have produced a great deal of antimatter. However, when we look at the Universe we hardly find any antimatter at all. The experiment may help us to understand what happened in these initial moments,” said Suaide.\nIn order to detect the antiparticles, the scientists used sophisticated detectors—the largest of which is 10 meters wide and 15 meters long—that measure the trajectory of the particles and, based on this information, try to identify the type of particle observed.\nThe storage and analysis of the immense quantity of data produced, according to Suaide, demand the involvement of dozens of institutions the world over and a powerful computing infrastructure. “In the experiment we produced something around 1 billion collisions with the gold nuclei. Each of these produces millions of different particles. Of all these trillions of particles, we managed to find 18 anti-helium nuclei. The complexity of the task explains why the anti-alpha particles had never been observed before, even though the alpha particle was identified a century ago,” he said.\nScientists hope that laboratory antiparticle studies will allow them to create the conditions necessary to observe antimatter in the cosmos in the future. “These studies help us to know what to expect to observe. When measuring anti-helium 4, we are contributing to the possibility of cosmologists making predictions about how and where to look for antimatter,” he explained.\nSuaide says that the Brazilian group was part of the STAR experiment 15 years ago and played an important role in the development and construction of the main detectors.\n“The Brazilian researchers were actively involved in the experiment, very involved in coordination of the subgroups between which the work is divided. In this last project, we participated directly in the revision of the article,” he affirmed.\nThe article Observation of the antimatter helium-4 nucleus (DOI: 10.1038/nature10079) of the STAR Collaboration, can be read by Nature subscribers at www.nature.com/nature/journal/v473/n7347/full/nature10079.html.\nSource: English WebSite of the Agência FAPESP", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Series vs Parallel Resistance Measurement:\nGet two resistors and mount them in a breadboard/protoboard.\nCheck the resistance of each using the Ohm setting on the multimeter.\nResistance Activity Questions:\n- What is the resistance of R1? ___________ of R2? ___________\n- What is the resistance when they are placed in series? (in a row)\n- What is thetheoretical total resistance? (Rt = R1 + R2)\n- Measure the resistance when they are placed parallel (side by sde):\n- Calculate what the parallel resisance should be 1/Rt = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + ..\n- Does the difference between the calculated and measured values fall within the tolerance? Explain", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Nobody gave ‘informed consent’ for Brexit. That’s because, in the 2016 referendum, the electorate was not sufficiently informed.\nOn the contrary, we were grossly misinformed.\nLegally, informed consent means that consent has been given with full knowledge of:\n▪ the risks involved,\n▪ the probable consequences,\n▪ and the alternatives.\n– During the referendum, we were not fully aware of all the risks of Brexit.\n– During the referendum, who really understood the “probable consequences” of Brexit?\n– During the referendum, we were not told about the different Brexit alternatives. Brexiters were only given the option of one meaningless, undefined word: ‘Leave’.\nThat’s why, one day, there will have to be a new democratic reconsideration of Brexit.\nAnd when that happens, we need the people to be properly informed, so that next time they can truly give their INFORMED CONSENT.\nOnly those against democracy disagree.\nFor more articles by Jon Danzig, click here.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The article proposes a discussion on the process that engendered, in the West, the invention of a compositional formula that represented “the Chinese Garden”, from the nineteenth century onward. Without focusing on the widely known influence of chinoiserie in the construction of a Western idea of the exotic, it will discuss nineteenth-century Western travellers’ accounts of the gardens of China. Supporting the simplified visual image proposed by the willow pattern, verbal accounts contributed to the creation of a stereotyped idea of Chinese gardens based on the repetition of a few iconic elements. The article also discusses how, this popular Western image of an ideal “Chinese garden” has inspired, in more recent years, the design of Chinese-style gardens built outside China.\nThe Invention of the Chinese Garden: From Western Perception to the Construction of a Global Identity / Rinaldi, Bianca Maria. - In: DIE GARTENKUNST. - ISSN 0935-0519. - STAMPA. - 28:2(2016), pp. 257-270.\n|Titolo:||The Invention of the Chinese Garden: From Western Perception to the Construction of a Global Identity|\n|Data di pubblicazione:||2016|\n|Appare nelle tipologie:||1.1 Articolo in rivista|\nFile in questo prodotto:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Credits: 3 credits\nIn this course participants learn to evaluate and understand the complex forces involved in the development of the modern state. Topics include the French Revolution and Napoleonic Europe, the Congress of Vienna, the social and political struggles of the nineteenth and early twentieth century, and the fissures in European society during the interwar period. Lectures and seminars introduce the political, intellectual, cultural and social aspects of European society, and participants work with a variety of primary and secondary historical sources.\nFor more information, search for this course here.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The Six Components of Modern Milieu Therapy\nModern milieu therapy is a well-known approach in psychotherapy circles that can invoke a broad range of viewpoints due to its long history. For parents whose children have mental health or socio-emotional challenges, it can be helpful to understand this form of therapy as a treatment option in its modern form.\nThe milieu therapy concept took shape in the late 19th century, with roots that go back to the 18th, when French physician Philippe Pinel reframed psychiatric treatment from how it was traditionally provided at asylums, toward a form of care that emphasized compassion and empathy. Other everyday names, like Freud and Bettelheim, are synonymous with its application.\nWhen milieu therapy took root in a range of residential and in-patient settings in the 20th century, several treatment centers used the term to describe the care of emotionally troubled patients, particularly children.\nToday in the 21st century, full-time treatment programs, such as those offered by the O-School, continue to offer milieu therapy as one of the most effective modalities for treating students with severe emotional and mental health issues.\nWhat is Milieu Therapy?\nAt its most basic level, milieu therapy considers all aspects of a child’s experience to be therapeutic, allowing them to continually learn and practice skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives: everything from caring for themselves and maintaining a regular schedule, to learning how to set and work toward goals, to interacting with others and forming healthy relationships.\nAt the O-School, for example, this is achieved by working with both peers and staff in a 24/7, working therapeutic community based on the following six components:\n1. Supportive and therapeutic relationships\nOur belief is that change and growth of the individual cannot be forced. Instead, we apply a normative hand through skilled, caring clinicians who first seek to understand the child, then determine the best path to help them work through their various thoughts and emotional states based on that understanding. This wholly individualized approach has been proven to provide an effective path to real progress and sustained growth.\nMilieu therapy is all encompassing, across all of the child’s interactions. At the O-School, this is not accomplished through a pre-determined program or strict behavior modification approach. Rather, it is accomplished over time, allowing these interactions to grow into close relationships with both peers and clinicians.\nFormal, scheduled therapy sessions are still held even though therapy is essentially provided throughout the entire day. Every interaction between staff and peers is an opportunity to grow and learn. The ultimate goal is to build strong internal capacities within each child, rather than fostering change that is merely superficial.\n2. Daily routine and structure\nMilieu therapy combines school with typical classroom education during the day, along with a structured home-like environment (homework times, mealtimes, social and free times, etc.). This daily structure allows students to feel safe while also providing them with numerous opportunities to explore, learn and grow through an experience that is consistent and meaningful.\n3. Continuous exploration of life events\nThe experiences of daily life, whether positive or negative — and the chance to examine them fully — are at the heart of milieu therapy. With the help of skilled guides, students use their own experiences to understand how they perceive and respond to life’s many events. Through this process, they can learn something about themselves and the world. Exploration helps the child gain personal insight, identify strengths, accept challenges and feel capable of facing life.\nWithin modern milieu therapy, creating a treatment environment that is safe, predictable and empathetic helps children develop strong friendships within their peer groups. New friendships nurture a new sense of competence and success.\nRegular extracurricular and social activities inside and outside of the classroom are designed to foster these relationships. They help children discover and build on current interests and passions. During these activities, clinicians and educators engage with the children to ensure all interactions are positive and supportive. When needed, children may also receive coaching on how to initiate, reciprocate and sustain friendly exchanges.\n5. A focus on self-care\nModern milieu therapy directs hands-on experiences aimed at developing key life skills that will better prepare children for greater responsibility, independence and adulthood, including:\n- Personal Hygiene – There is often a connection between mental health challenges and how people care for themselves. The milieu therapy approach integrates hygiene into the students’ daily routines as a basic expectation to help them establish a consistent practice of physical care.\n- Organizational Skills – Executive functioning skills, such as planning, organizing and scheduling are essential for living an independent and productive life.\n- Personal Schedule – Children work within a daily schedule designed so that there are many opportunities throughout the day to be responsible for being on time and complete tasks or activities. Schedules are consistent and predictable, without being overly regimented or inflexible.\n- Healthy Boundaries – Part of getting along well with others, both authority figures and peers, is establishing healthy and adaptive interpersonal boundaries. These boundaries may include personal physical space, how to disclose and share personal information, or what to expect from others.\n- Life Skills Development – As mental health challenges diminish, there is a corresponding increase placed upon the child to resume responsibility to learn and practice life skills such as: personal laundry, money management, shopping, electronics use management, sleep hygiene and time management.\n6. A supportive physical space\nAn immersive milieu creates spaces that are warm and welcoming and that support learning and living.\nTo provide a safe haven for vulnerable students while keeping them connected to life outside school, the O-School has created surroundings that include both a rich learning environment and the familiar furnishings, variety and visual interest that make the space feel like a home.\nTogether, these elements form a carefully constructed learning and therapeutic setting that can bring lasting change to the lives of students, regardless of the challenges they face.\nWithout changing who they are as individuals, modern milieu therapy teaches, guides, encourages, and nurtures students to develop new skills that will help them better understand themselves and their relationships as they re-engage with the world at large.\nDiana Kon, Ed.D., is Co-Executive Director of the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School and the Brooke Whitted Center. She is an active advocate for students and young adults with exceptional needs. Reach Diana at firstname.lastname@example.org.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Staples uses his literal skills to tell us the stereotypes, censures, and biases he experiences by being black. Staples sets off by making us believe that he is an offender.He explains how he is always stereotyped as a mugger, gangster, and rapist, regardless of what he has done. The Staples story picks up from the early age of 20 and explores how he strives to be better than other blacks who have equal access to education. Despite his efforts, Staples realizes that he still suffers the same problems they suffer, despite his enlightened approach to life. Therefore, he concludes that the black man faces subconscious bias where people already have a conscious view of the person long before they get to know them better.AnalysisThe main thing that drives Staples into writing this text is his desire to demonstrate how unconscious bias propagates racism. In his quest, Staples uses a vast number of rhetorical statements that prompt the reader to see his perception actively. His writing format does not tell you what he thinks. It moves you to reason and ultimately ends up with a similar conclusion. His diction, in numerous instances, subconsciously hints on how blacks are thought of as violent and brutal by the public. For example, the author has lines like ‘Both hands shoved into his bulky’. In this case, the words shoved and bulky create aggressive imagery to the reader. His choice of words helps him push home the idea that we can stereotype people without actually saying what we think of them. Staples’ pathos is aimed at bringing out the emotions of his reader. It makes his text more interesting to read and makes us feel what a general audience would have thought about the black man or the white lady he describes when writing.Apart from using imagery, the author also taps into mockery and humor to draw in his readers. A good example is when he refers to his insomnia as pestering sleep. While this in itself is a simple case of mockery, it is punchier because it comes after a serious paragraph. The humor makes it easier to read his text that otherwise addresses important discrimination issues that black men and other minorities face in their daily life. Staples is always making essential observations about unfairness regardless of whether Staples actively airs them in the essay or not.Even though he is abhorrent of how black men suffer under deep-rooted bias, he takes a different approach when handling the topic in his essay. Instead of being confrontational like numerous essays about the issue, Staples decides to look at the issue from a white American’s point of view when writing. The author chooses to reason differently and aspires to understand why unconscious bias exists from people who have it. This is an unusual move in the topic as most public papers on the topic take a confrontational approach that occasionally makes affected parties defensive. To some extent, the authoring process might be deemed weak and submissive. However, it is clear to see that Staples is paying homage to the fact that the bias Staples is talking about is unconscious by using diction, humor, and imagery to convey his message subconsciously. While numerous black rights activists did not fancy this route, Staples is not alone in using this reconciliatory or pacifist approach. To some extent, we can say he channels antiwar activists like Martin Luther instead of his confrontational opposite, Malcolm X. Staples seeks to show that even though both stands have their own advantages and disadvantages, long-lasting victory and piece lies in a calm minded evaluation of facts and peaceful conclusions (Staples 266). The author takes time to acknowledge the black man’s belligerence when fighting racism but also highlights its flaws before explaining why he believes a pacifist approach would be more productive.Even though most of the points come from Staples’s public interactions and personal experiences, the essay still deliberates on external issues important to the topic. For instance, he talks about ‘My Negro Problem and Ours,’ a contentious text by Norman Podhoretz to look into the numerous problems the black men faced in their history as a people. Staples takes this opportunity to accept some of the negative traits blacks have and how they have played a role in fashioning the stereotype he is trying to fight in his text.While quoting Podhoretz somehow makes him deviate from his initial approach, we cannot ignore the fact that Staples has a lot of truths backing up his assertions on black men stereotyping. In the end, this makes the character aspire to change his public and confidential behavior. It even has an impact on his thoughts about people or himself. The author even portrays his lessons in the example he gives on how he changes any tense situations in more friendly occurrences (Staples 268). He shows us how his considerate stand always leads to better results and gets him out of public trouble on numerous occasions. In his classic style, he still refuses to instruct us to follow his model. Staples, in his writing, hopes that we would see it makes sense and adopt it on our own.Another notable thing the author does in the text is how he lets us know he studied at the University of Chicago. This subtle information is an excellent way to make the reader have confidence in his writing since he is learned. He further reveals that he was a Chicago journalist, a position that further cements his public authority and capacity to address the topic in his black oppression essay. To bolster his essay, he still quotes and refers to a well-known essay. For instance, the author references heavily in his text. The way he describes how a white female reacted to him also helps make the text more trusting. He focuses on making us understand her fear by just explaining how he walked and how she answered.He skillfully paints the picture that most white females or people feel frightened whenever they see a black man in an isolated place because they are robotically compelled to think of them as murderers, muggers, and rapists. By doing this, he highlights the fear most people have when around blacks. This brings us to the core message in the essay. Black men in public are often mistaken and misjudged because of reigning racial bias.It does not matter if the perpetrator of the discrimination knows what they are doing on not – the point is it affects the target. Staples also introduces the idea that blacks should try to make themselves agreeable instead of using the confrontational approach of daring the oppressor to stop profiling. This is reminiscent of the fact that he tried different approaches to diffuse tense situations by looking less threatening than other black men – all of which worked in his favor.ConclusionThis essay analyzes the conflict brought about by the bias levels against blacks. Brent acknowledges the fact that, in some instances, white people ensure the minority go through a lot of trouble by judging black men based on preexisting misconceptions. Other than just accepting the racism issue, he also brings out the fact that some of these stereotypes were formed and are still strengthened by how some minority members behave. His unpopular view is brought forth by how he feels, presenting himself as a less dangerous individual makes him more agreeable.Staples says that the few who still conform to the stereotypes cement the stand and make it harder to fight this form of unconscious bias directed towards black men. The essay is full of ethos and addresses a reigning problem from a different point of view. It would be more agreeable and easy to understand by more people who easily goes on the defensive as it is not outwardly confrontational.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Source: Dietary Minerals, Wikipedia\nAnti-fluoridation activists often assure us that fluorine (F) is not an essential element. But what does that mean? Literally I guess it means that there are no identified biological pathways essential to human life involving F. So anti-fluoridation activists often claim the only safe level of flourine in the human diet is zero!\nBut whether an element is essential or not is often unclear or undecided. Some sources claim about 16 elements seem to be essential to maintain life. Others claim over 20 elements are essential.\nFluorine is rather debatable, as the above Periodic Table of the elements suggests. The Wikipedia entry on Dietary Minerals does say, however:\n“Fluorine (as Fluoride) is not generally considered an essential mineral element because humans do not require it for growth or to sustain life. However, if one considers the prevention of dental cavities an important criterion in determining essentiality, then fluoride might well be considered an essential trace element.”\nSo F may well be considered an essential trace element, or a beneficial element. By the way, we should not let the fact that F is known to have harmful effects when in excess lead us to deny its beneficial effects. Probably all essential or beneficial elements and trace elements do.\nEssential and beneficial elements usually display a “beneficial window” of intake. This can be shown by a U shaped graph when we plot the incidence of negative effects against intake (see figure below).\nSource: Howd & Fan, 2007 – Risk Assessment for Chemicals in Drinking Water page 202.\nSo we expect to see that sort of relationship with F intake if the element is essential, or even just beneficial. If there are no benefits from F we would expect only an increasing incidence of negative effects when the intake increases from zero. Of course we also see that for essential or beneficial elements if we restrict our data to only high levels of intake.\nDoes F have benefits besides dental ones?\nDo the benefits of F extend more widely than the prevention of dental cavities? I have often thought they do because F has a clear effect on the structure and solubility of hydroxyapatites – an important and major componet of bones. A small amount of substitution of F for OH in the hydroxyapatite structure can strengthen such minerals and lower their solubility. Bioapatites are a major component of our skeletons, and play a role in many of our organs. This chemical substitution may actually have positive effects on bone health, and the properties of other bioapatites. Of course excessive substitution, or differentiation into different chemical crystalline phases, may also have negative effects when there is excessive intake.\nBy the way, F is not the only elements that substitutes at trace levels in bioapatites. There are many more and they can each influence the properties of the bioapatite.\nAnother way of looking at this is that pure chemically defined compounds rarely exist in the real world. Other minor elements are often incorporated into the crystal structure, or be present in a closely associated crystal phase. These “impurities” or substituted elements usually impart features to the natural material which are greater or lesser than, or perhaps not even seen, in the pure compound. These features can be important to the biological role of crystals in nature and life.\nBecause biological systems are always exposed to a whole range of chemical elements at varying concentrations there will be no such thing as zero F intake. Nobody’s body is “fluoride free.”\nBeneficial effects of F on human bones?\nI recently checked out a paper which shows beneficial effects of F on human bones along the lines I have suggested. The paper is Yiming Li et al., (2001): Effect of Long-Term Exposure to Fluoride in Drinking Water on Risks of Bone Fractures. The authors are a group of researchers from the US and China. You can download the PDF here and check out methodology and other details.\nHere’s one of the figures from their paper summarising the relationship of overall bone fractures to F content of the water supply used.\nEffectively, this displays the U-shaped curve mentioned for essential elements in Risk Assessment for Chemicals in Drinking Water.\nOr, perhaps more importantly – statistically significant increases in numbers of bone fractures occur at both low levels of fluoride in drinking water (<0.3 ppm) and at high levels (>4 ppm).\nThe authors express it this way:\n“The data appear to suggest that there may be a “beneficial window” of fluoride intake for bone health, because an increased risk of overall bone fractures was detected in both the populations with deficient and excessive fluoride in drinking water.”\nNot surprisingly this window corresponds approximately to current New Zealand advice for oral health – concentrations of fluoride in the water supply in the range 0.7 to 1.0 ppm are beneficial.\nSo perhaps we should consider F as an essential, or at least, beneficial trace element as Wikipedia suggests. And perhaps health authorities in New Zealand should include bone health, together with oral health, in their advice on fluoridation.\nThe quality of research studies is critical\nOther groups have produced similar conclusions to that of Yiming Li et al. – particularly that the incidence of bone fractures are reduced by fluoride doses in the beneficial range of F intake. But, these sort of investigations are very complex so it’s possible to find other studies which don’t show this result, or show only the effects of high fluoride intake. This raises the question of the quality of such investigations and the need for readers and reviewers to be particularly informed about such issues.\nMany of these sorts of studies produce results of questionable quality because they ignore the role of other factors besides F in the water supply. For example, in many developed countries, and many developing ones, dietary intake of fluoride also comes from toothpaste, mouthrinses and dietary supplements. The high mobility of modern populations also makes it difficult to relate clinical effects to simple factors in the current environment of the individuals. It’s no wonder that attempts to relate health effects to fluoride concentrations in the public water supply produces controversial findings.\nMind you, that’s a great gift to the unscrupulous cherry-picking, uncritical reviewer with an ideological or activist axe to grind. If you are selecting studies to support a preconceived viewpoint the influence of other factors is not important – you just choose what suits your argument and ignore the quality. But if you are trying to establish a reliable picture of what is actually happening, as we hope our health professionals and scientists are, it’s important to consider the quality, and reliability, of each study.\nMy impression is that this particular study is considered of high quality because it used populations with a defined history of fluoride exposure. The authors say:\n“In contrast to the U.S. population, residents of rural China rarely change residences, and most have been using the same water supply throughout their life. Because of its unique environmental and cultural conditions, such as virtually no residential mobility and a relatively consistent lifestyle, rural China has been considered a perfect “living laboratory” for studying the relationship between various factors and diseases. The survey results of our study sites and data from individual subjects show that fluoride exposure in rural Chinese communities is still limited to water and diet.”\nAnd in their methodology:\n“The residency of each subject was determined by the following three measures: (1) objective assessment by checking the Family Registry Book, an official document issued by the government; (2) a subject survey questionnaire; and (3) confirmation by village officials who were familiar with the subject.”\nThis sort of reliability of information is just not available for modern populations in most countries, making these sort of studies unreliable.\nThe lesson here is that there must employ intelligent and expert consideration when reading or reviewing research in this sort of area. People consulting such studies and reviews should also be aware of the dangers. When public debates, like that over fluoridation, occur we need to be aware of the way activists may draw unreliable conclusions from the literature and promote those unreliable conclusions to the public.\nAs an aside – this study also considered possible effects of factors like gender, smoking and alcohol – not surprisingly bone fracture were higher for men, and for those consuming alcohol!\nSo, is fluoride an essential element? I don’t know and I am hardly the person to decide. But clearly it is possible to argue the case that it may be, or that it is at least a beneficial element, provided dietary intake is neither too low or too high. It’s a complex area – just beware of activists with an axe to grind and a simple picture to support their claims.\nFluoridation – are we dumping toxic metals into our water supplies?\nTactics and common arguments of the anti-fluoridationists\nHamilton City Council reverses referendum fluoridation decision\nScientists, political activism and the scientific ethos", "label": "No"}
{"text": "If your livelihood involves fishing illegally, your chosen profession looks like it might become a little more interesting, soon. A partnership has been established among the Pew Charitable Trusts, the United Kingdom’s Satellite Applications Catapult, and exactEarth Europe. Their mission is to turn the tables on those fishermen illegally attempting “Deadliest Catch” re-enactments in protected waters.\nIt looks like exactEarth will provide the ship tracking data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to be combined with other information (maybe satellite “pictures” of ship lights at night) from Satellite Applications Catapult. AIS is a radio transmission signal, primarily used in shipping, for tracking ships. Simply explained, AIS works by using GPS on board ships that hooked into the AIS to determine a ship’s location. Then the AIS sends a signal to a receiver, whether on a satellite or attached to a radio tower, to let other people know where the ship currently is, and where it looks like it’s heading.\nThe number of times the radio signal is sent from the ship to the receiver can be as often as every 2 seconds, but might average once every 60 seconds. The number of times an automatic message is sent every minute can vary, since each AIS station can determine its own radio transmission schedule (you can find out more about AIS from this handy Coast Guard page). ExactEarth Europe specializes in vessel tracking using small satellites. The whole idea of this effort is to use exactEarth’s data, plus other data (not really elaborated on) from Satellite Applications Catapult to figure out which fishing ships might be dropping a net or two into areas listed as “verboten” and protected from fishermen and fishing factories.\nThey would then pass this information on to governments, agencies, and the like. Basically the information is available to anyone who might be interested in knowing which fishing vessel is breaking the law and is possibly able to enforce the law once the pernicious piscine pilferer is caught. Of course, this only really works if most offenders have AIS on-board, AND if AIS isn’t somehow “turned off.” Or maybe a fishing vessel’s circuit breaker for AIS “popped” if it happened to be near protected water.\nThat may be why Satellite Applications Catapult is getting involved. Again, there was no clear information on exactly what they’re supplying, but apparently their data or collection tools can be used along with AIS to help pinpoint fishy filchers. Hopefully they’ll come forth with more information (or maybe it’s there, and I’m not seeing it…). It would be interesting to know if this kind of use of the data is violating particular agreements with the AIS customer base.\nWhile the tech is definitely different, this seems akin to the little “black box” insurance agencies ask customers to put on a car. Originally its justification is for gathering accident data, but then someone decides the data can also be used to see if you “violated” the speeding laws, stopping laws, etc. Then that someone would hand that data over to law enforcement.\nWhile the justifications sound good, is this kind of monitoring and data gathering truly beneficial? Would this kind of monitoring get people to think twice about AIS and having it on-board their ships?", "label": "No"}
{"text": "As political change rocks Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya, another African country is braving a crisis of its own: Côte d’Ivoire. Laurent Gbago, the incumbent president, lost the country’s presidential election last November, but refuses to step down. Alassane Ouattara, the winner, has so far been unwilling to agree to a power-sharing arrangement with Gbago. With violence breaking out in several cities, it looks like Côte d’Ivoire may be headed for civil war.\nFor anyone familiar with the history of diamonds and civil wars in Africa, it’s reasonable to be concerned that events are repeating themselves. Côte d’Ivoire is a diamond-rich country. Not long ago, terrible civil wars in Sierra Leone, Angola, and Liberia were being fueled by diamonds. However, in response to those wars, an international certification scheme for diamonds—the Kimberley Process —was launched in 2003. At its core, the purpose of the Kimberley Process is to prevent diamonds from funding civil wars. So with the Kimberley Process in place, there’s no reason to be concerned that diamonds will underwrite violence in Côte d’Ivoire—right?\nActually, there is. The present crisis in Côte d’Ivoire is really a flare-up in a longstanding civil conflict. And for years, the Kimberley Process has tried to prevent the export of diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire—but without success.\nSince 2002, the country has been split between a rebel-controlled north, where Ouattara has his base of support, and a government-controlled south, which has been supportive of Gbagbo. Although there has been little violence since 2004, both sides have been preparing should hostilities erupt once again. In the north, the location of most of the country’s diamond deposits, a tax on diamond sales has been providing rebels with money for supplies and weapons. (Gbagbo’s government, meanwhile, has been receiving funding from the production of cocoa, used to make chocolate.)\nTo staunch the flow of conflict diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire, the Kimberley Process placed a ban on Côte d’Ivoire’s diamonds in 2005—that is, Kimberley Process member countries were prohibited from importing diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire. The United Nations also banned Côte d’Ivoire diamonds. What happened next? Surprisingly little. Rebels just turned to smuggling. Estimated diamond exports from Côte d’Ivoire barely dropped at all. Every year, about $20 million worth of Côte d’Ivoire diamonds are smuggled into the international diamond supply. Although this is a small percentage of world diamond production, it’s enough to provide rebels with money for guns and ammunition.\nDiamonds are notoriously easy to smuggle. However, the Kimberley Process could make it more difficult to sell diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire on the international market – for instance, by increasing Kimberley Process monitoring capabilities and requiring Kimberley Process members to improve internal controls. What makes the situation all the more frustrating is that Côte d’Ivoire is one of the only countries whose diamonds the Kimberley Process has banned. The ease with which the Kimberley Process is being thwarted on its principal diamond ban is truly astonishing. The Kimberley Process should have addressed this problem, long ago.\nThe Chair of the Kimberley Process, Matheiu Yamba of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has issued a letter urging countries to “exercise strong vigilance” against Côte d’Ivoire’s diamonds. But this letter may be too little, too late. Rebels in Côte d’Ivoire already have benefited from years of uninterrupted diamond revenues. War in Côte d’Ivoire may still be averted, but the possibility of another diamond-driven civil war should be enough for the world to take notice. The Kimberley Process isn’t working. It’s high time to reform it.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "In the past 3 decades, drug overdoses have killed approximately 870,000 people. Since the first wave of the opioid epidemic began in the 1990s, the epidemic has expanded to include synthetic, illicit drugs, including heroin and fentanyl. As new CDC data and other studies offer updates on the epidemic, here are 5 things to know.\nIn the past 3 decades, drug overdoses have killed approximately 870,000 people. Since first wave of the opioid epidemic began in the 1990s, the epidemic has expanded to include other synthetic, illicit drugs, including heroin and fentanyl. As new CDC data and other studies offer updates on the epidemic, here are 5 things to know.\n1. Rates have dropped for the first time since 1990\nProvisional data released by the CDC in July indicate that drug overdose deaths have dropped for the first time since 1990. Between the 12-month period ending December 2017 and the 12-month period ending December 2018, there was a 5.1% decline in overdose deaths, dropping from 72,000 overdose deaths to 68,000.\nIn June, provisional data for the 12-month period ending in November 2018 compared with the 12-month period ending in November 2017 hinted that deaths would fall. At the time, Robert N. Anderson, PhD, chief of the Mortality Statistics Branch of the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC, said in an email to The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) that the data suggests the epidemic had reached its peak in the United States.\n“That said, the number of deaths for 2018 is still predicted to be nearly 70,000,” he added. “That is a lot of people dying much too young. Even if the decline holds once the data are final, it is too soon to declare victory.”\n2. Not all states are seeing drops in overdose deaths\nThe CDC data were encouraging for some states that have historically been hit hardest by the epidemic. For example, drug overdose deaths in Ohio dipped 22.4% from 5155 to 4002 between the 12-month period ending December 2017 and the 12-month period ending December 2018. Rates in Pennsylvania dropped 19.6% from 5600 to 4503 during the same time period.\nBut while the nation as a whole is headed toward a drop in overdose deaths, not all states are seeing decreases. Missouri and Rhode Island experienced the biggest increases in overdose deaths between the 12-month period ending December 2017 and the 12-month period ending December 2018 (16.3% and 16.7% respectively). In Missouri, drug overdose deaths increased from 1406 to 1635 and from 342 to 399 in Rhode Island.\nOther states that saw increases include California, South Carolina, Vermont, Louisiana, and Arizona.\n3. Urban areas see higher overdose death rates than rural areas\nCDC data released this week revealed geographic shifts in where the epidemic is having the biggest impact. In 2016 and 2017, urban counties saw higher drug overdose death rates compared with rural areas (22.0 vs 20.0 per 100,000, respectively). These increased rates were seen across overdose deaths involving heroin (5.2 vs 2.9), synthetic opioids other than methadone (9.3 vs 7.0), and cocaine (4.6 vs 2.4).\nThe age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths in urban counties jumped from 6.4 per 100,000 in 1999 to 22.0 in 2017 while the rate in rural counties increased from 4.0 to 20.0 during the same period.\nThe data also revealed gender differences in drug overdose death rates. For men, the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths was higher in urban counties than in rural counties (29.9 vs 24.3). Meanwhile, the rate of drug overdose deaths for women was higher in rural areas than in urban areas (15.5 vs 14.2).\n4. Synthetic opioids continue to drive overdose death rates\nWhile rates of heroin, cocaine, and natural opioid overdose deaths have started to level out, overdose death rates involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, have continued to increase. In the 12-month period ending December 2018, synthetic opioid overdose deaths increased to over 31,000 compared with the approximately 29,000 reported in the 12-month period ending December 2017.\nSince the 12-month period ending December 2015, deaths have increased from approximately 9000 to the 31,473 in the 12-month period ended December 2018.\nRates of overdose deaths involving fentanyl specifically doubled each year from 2013 through 2016, from 0.6 per 100,000 in 2013, to 1.3 in 2014, to 2.6 in 2015, and to 5.9 in 2016. While death rates involving fentanyl have increased significantly across both men and women, 3 times as many men as women are dying from the synthetic opioids.\n5. Heroin overdose rates are higher among the Medicaid population\nA study published in the July issue of AJMC® analyzed 2010 to 2014 IBM MarketScan Databases and calculated annual heroin overdose rates, finding that rates were persistently higher among the Medicaid population than the commercially insured, except among those aged 15 to 24 years.\nHowever, rates increased faster among the commercially insured during the time period. While heroin overdose death rates increased 94.3% among the Medicaid population, rates increased by 270% among the commercially insured. Overdose rates were consistently higher among male enrollees, regardless of insurance type. In 2014, rates of heroin overdose among male and female enrollees were 10.5 and 4.1 per 100,000 commercial enrollees, respectively, and 34.9 and 28.0 per 100,000 Medicaid enrollees, respectively.\nThe study findings also showed that nearly all enrollees with heroin overdose had at least 1 healthcare encounter in the 6 months prior to their first overdose.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Serious Games moving into fields that deal with complex topics\nVia: Social Technologies - Learning From Playing\nGames that provide players with opportunities to learn and understand complex situations or different points of view have emerged as a distinct subset of videogames.\nIncreasingly, creators are taking the definitions of “play” and “learn” in new directions, often blending the two creatively.\n“This shows the maturity of the gaming industry as a medium for educating children—and adults,” explains Simeon Spearman, an analyst at the futurist research and consulting firm Social Technologies.\n“This new genre of games moves beyond entertainment into fields that deal with complex topics such as healthcare, governance and poverty.”\nSerious Games also show that organizations are realizing the potential for videogames to spread their message to larger audiences—for they provide an interactive experience that draws people in, he says.\nThe trend is spurred by the spread of technology and game culture. In fact, due to their viral nature and ease of development, Serious Games are propagating.\nThey are now on a trajectory to become a mainstream genre of gaming applications, in both the commercial and noncommercial spheres.\nDriving The Game\nA number of trends are converging to drive the Serious Games movement, including:\n- Growth in popularity of simulation games. From simple simulator games like NeoPets to the bestselling computer game of all time, The Sims, games that allow players to “manage” sophisticated, multi-choice environments and determine outcomes have been popular since the 1990s, and their growth shows no signs of slowing.\n- Improving technology. From more intelligence and processing power to better displays and broadband access, powerful personal-computing technology is available to ever-growing numbers of people. They are using it not only for work and entertainment, but increasingly for learning and training as well.\n- Digital learning on the rise. Younger consumers worldwide are receiving more education via game and digital play environments, and educational theorists are beginning to explore the application of more sophisticated games to prepare students for complex situations in the real world.\nSerious Games are evolving into several distinct genres, which can be broken down into at least five types of applications based on each genre’s principal goals. However, many games serve multiple purposes by design. Most are available for free or at a low cost to encourage broad distribution.\n- Education and training. Games in this genre aid learning or vocational training. Examples include Making History, which teaches history to students, and Incident Commander, designed to help officials and first responders prepare for emergency situations.\n- Politics and governance. Some of the most widely known Serious Games have emerged as training tools for political movements, public administrations, and governance. A Force More Powerful, for instance, is an interactive game that teaches nonviolent techniques for handling conflict. It was developed by the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict with assistance from Ivan Marovic, leader of Otpor, the group that helped bring down Slobodan Milosevic’s regime in Serbia.\n- Marketing, communication, and advocacy. A broader, expanding group of games includes both marketing and nonprofit issues advocacy. Some, like America’s Army, are explicitly intended as recruitment tools; these run on commercial videogame platforms and issue new releases as commercial videogames do. From 2003–2005, America’s Army ranked among the top six online games in terms of concurrent players.\nSimeon Spearman is a futurist and contributing writer for ST’s Technology Foresight and Global Lifestyles multiclient projects. He also contributes to custom client projects, and tracks emerging trends, values, and segments for the Futures Observatory, Social Technologies’ trend-feed program.\nSimeon’s professional interests include digital lifestyles, contemporary Japanese culture, and development in emerging markets. He is currently pursuing his MS in studies of the future at the University of Houston, and graduated with a BS in International affairs and modern languages from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He spent a year abroad in 2004–2005 as an exchange student at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan.\nAbout Social Technologies\nSocial Technologies is a global research and consulting firm specializing in the integration of foresight, strategy, and innovation. With offices in Washington DC, London, and Shanghai, Social Technologies serves the world’s leading companies, government agencies, and nonprofits. A holistic, long-term perspective combined with actionable business solutions helps clients mitigate risk, make the most of opportunities, and enrich decision-making.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "(MS) -- Did you know that your kitchen actually contains more bacteria than any other room in your home and the type of countertops you have may be making matters worse? Recent studies have found that porous material countertops can harbor dangerous bacteria, such as E. coli.\nA recent University of Arizona at Tucson study identified the kitchen as the most germ-contaminated area in the home. The study reported that countertops are one of five key \"hot zones,\" or sites with the highest bacteria counts. These hot zones can spread infections when germs are transferred from a contaminated item -- your kitchen counter -- to your hands to your body.\nA second study conducted by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management (HITM) revealed that nonporous surfaces, such stainless steel countertops or other NSF 51 certified material, such as quartz, are least likely to harbor dangerous bacteria, such as E. coli, when compared to other popular household countertop materials.\nThe study highlighted the fact that consumers need to consider wear-and-tear when selecting a countertop surface. After a few years, most porous surfaces, such as granite, laminate, marble, wood, concrete, tile, and limestone wear down; lose their protective coating, scratch, and warp -- all decreasing the ability to be effectively cleaned and sanitized.\nWith stainless steel being very limited as a household countertop solution, other nonporous materials such as quartz are becoming more and more popular with consumers as they try to combine healthier choices with the latest designs for their homes.\n\"Quartz surfaces are growing in popularity because although they have the beautiful appearance of natural stone, unlike granite, these surfaces never need to be sealed,\" explained Mark Hanna, President of Leeza Distribution Inc., one of North America's leading distributors of HanStone Fine Quartz Surfaces.\nThat's because quartz countertops are not only highly scratch resistant, but also nonporous so they don't require sealing. As a result, they show very little wear, will not promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria can be easily maintained for years.\nUnlike stainless steel, however, quartz surfaces bring strength, resilience and extraordinary beauty and elegance to your kitchen decor with its dramatic colors, vibrant patterns and luxurious sheen.\nQuartz surfaces are so hygienic most brands are approved surfaces for food preparation by the National Sanitation Foundation, with the NSF 51 certification in the United States.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly) Detox And Withdrawal Symptoms And Timeline\nMedically reviewed byIsaac Alexis, M.D., AAMA, AMP-BC\nJune 11, 2019\nMDMA (ecstasy/molly) is a common party drug used for its psychedelic effects. Physical dependence on MDMA may cause withdrawal symptoms with stopped use. Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can be managed within a medical detox program.\nMDMA, also known as ecstasy and molly, is classified as a ‘club drug’ capable of altering mood and perception. MDMA can cause hallucinogenic effects, affecting sounds, sights, and other sensations.\nMDMA can be taken in several forms, including pill, powder, or liquid form. Ecstasy affects chemicals in the brain responsible for regulating mood, appetite, heart rate, and other functions. The effects of a single dose of MDMA typically last three to six hours. This may then be followed by a ‘crash’ period.\nMany symptoms experienced during a ‘crash’ – such as depression, anxiety, and irritability – have been likened to molly withdrawal symptoms. Although ecstasy is not known to be very addictive, people who use ecstasy on a regular basis may develop dependence.\nMDMA dependence, like dependence on most other drugs, can cause a reaction in the body known as withdrawal. Symptoms of MDMA withdrawal are unlikely to be severe, but can be very uncomfortable and last for up to ten days.\nWhat Are The Effects Of Ecstasy (MDMA) Withdrawal?\nMDMA (ecstasy/molly) affects several systems throughout the body as a result of changes it makes in the brain. Although less common than addiction to illicit drugs like heroin and cocaine, several reports indicate that ecstasy has a potential for addiction.\nGet treatment when\nand how you need it.\nEcstasy dependence and addiction is more likely to occur after chronic use. This can cause the body to adapt to the presence of MDMA in your system, resulting in withdrawal with stopped use. Ecstasy that is mixed or cut with other substances, like cocaine or amphetamines, can affect side effects and symptoms.\nIn addition to dependence, long-term abuse of MDMA can also cause:\n- sleep disturbances\n- low appetite\n- poor concentration\n- heart disease\n- increased impulsivity\nEcstasy Withdrawal Symptoms\nThere is little research documenting the range of symptoms that can occur during MDMA withdrawal. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the most common symptoms are psychological.\nSymptoms of ecstasy withdrawal may include:\n- difficulty concentrating\n- loss of appetite\n- low energy\n- muscle twitches\n- runny nose\n- teary eyes\n- unpleasant dreams\nMolly withdrawal symptoms can be difficult for people to manage, and may lead to relapse if symptoms become too intense. In rare cases, withdrawal may cause seizures.\nEcstasy Symptoms and Timeline During Treatment\nAcute withdrawal from MDMA can last up to ten days. After this, some mental and psychological symptoms may persist, depending on biological and personal factors.\nDays 1 to 3: MDMA withdrawal symptoms are likely to begin within 12 hours of a person’s last dose. Initial symptoms can include anxiety, irritability, loss of appetite, inability to concentrate, and depression. People can also feel fatigued and have trouble sleeping during this time.\nDays 4 to 10: Symptoms of withdrawal tend to peak after the first couple days without MDMA. At this point, people can feel extremely agitated, and may continue feeling sluggish and depressed. Experiencing mood swings and being unable to concentrate is also common.\nAfter 10 days: After seven to ten days, most acute withdrawal symptoms should be gone. Depending on how long a person used ecstasy, and the severity of their dependence, feelings of agitation, mental fogginess, and depression may continue.\nPeople that are overcoming long-term ecstasy abuse can continue experiencing some mental and psychological symptoms for time. Chronic abuse of MDMA can also have lasting effects on a person’s ability to feel pleasure, resulting in low mood.\nTreatment through therapy and medications can be helpful for people that continue experiencing anxiety, depression, and other difficulties following withdrawal.\nFactors That Can Affect Withdrawal\nThe withdrawal process is not going to be the same for every person coming off MDMA. The symptoms a person experiences, and their severity, can differ depending on a variety of factors. This includes a mix of personal, biological, and lifestyle factors.\nFactors that can affect MDMA withdrawal:\n- amount taken\n- polysubstance abuse (abusing more than one drug or substance)\n- co-occurring mental health disorders\n- overall health\n- duration and frequency of use\n- severity of dependence\nSome people that abuse ecstasy do not experience withdrawal symptoms. This can vary based on a mix of the factors listed above.\nEcstasy Addiction Detoxification Options\nDetoxification, or detox, is the process of removing a drug from a person’s system. This occurs through a natural metabolizing process, and can trigger withdrawal symptoms.\nCan You Detox From Home?\nThere has been little assessment on the safety of detoxing from MDMA dependence in a home environment. Although withdrawal is unlikely to trigger life-threatening symptoms, it can be a highly-distressing process.\nHome detox also has a higher risk for relapse, as people can sometimes take another MDMA dose to relieve withdrawal symptoms. Medical support is advised during any drug detox process, both to reduce risk for relapse and provide treatment for symptoms as needed.\nMedical detox programs provide a safe setting for people to withdraw from drug dependence and can offer several benefits. First, formal detox programs offer medical support from professionals trained to treat drug withdrawal. This can involve administering certain medicines able to ease intense or uncomfortable symptoms.\nFinally, entering a medical detox program can connect patients to resources for MDMA addiction treatment. While detox can treat physical effects of dependence, it is not a complete treatment program.\nPeople overcoming MDMA addiction may benefit from entering a rehab program where they can receive therapy and explore holistic treatment options.\nGetting Help and Recovery For Ecstasy Abuse, Withdrawal And Dependence\nMany addiction treatment programs can offer effective methods for treating MDMA abuse and dependence. This includes treatment services such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which addresses how thoughts and emotions can influence substance abuse behaviors.\nEntering a rehab center for MDMA abuse can provide patients with the time and space to learn how to live a balanced and sober life. Recovery is not always an easy journey, but it doesn’t have to be faced alone.\nContact us today to learn more about MDMA (ecstasy/molly) detox and addiction treatment options.Article Sources\nNational Institute on Drug Abuse - MDMA (Ecstasy) Abuse\nU.S. National Library of Medicine: PubMed - Test-re-test reliability of DSM-IV adopted criteria for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) abuse and dependence: a cross-national study", "label": "No"}
{"text": "|Source: Environmental Monitor|\nA new study of mercury levels in bats links higher concentrations in some colonies to the acidity of nearby lakes and rivers, further illuminating the paths this global atmospheric contaminant follows though aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.\nPrevious research has shown that fish and other organisms in lakes with higher acidity tend to have higher mercury concentrations. This study from Nova Scotia shows the effect appears to extend to little brown bats, which feed on adult insects that live in aquatic habitats as juveniles.\n“What we found was that the average water acidity in surrounding freshwater systems may be an important factor in increasing bioavailability of mercury in aquatic food chains leading to little brown bats,” wrote Linda Campbell, study co-author and a senior research fellow in environmental science at Saint Mary’s University, in an email.\nThe study, published online by the journal Environmental Science and Technology, came about after a bird ecotoxicologist, a bat biologist and a limnologist got together.\n“While we didn’t all walk into a bar, our interests and expertise overlapped nicely,” said Campbell, the limnologist of the group.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "WISE OWL EXERCISES\nVISUAL BASIC EXERCISES\nVISUAL BASIC EXERCISES\n- Drawing forms (2)\n- Form events (1)\n- Variables and data types (2)\n- Enumerations and constants (2)\n- Form validation (3)\n- Menus and toolbars (2)\n- Files and folders (1)\n- Basic DataGridViews (1)\n- Reacting to DataGridView events (3)\n- Advanced DataGridViews (2)\n- Creating classes (4)\n- Coding in VB.NET (2)\n- Variables and constants (3)\n- Testing conditions (2)\n- Passing arguments (3)\n- Using arrays (2)\n- Loops (2)\n- Working with files (3)\n- Lists (3)\n- Creating properties (3)\nVisual Basic | Lists exercise | Create a list of dates which are on Friday 13th\nThis exercise is provided to allow potential course delegates to choose the correct Wise Owl Microsoft training course, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any format without the prior written consent of Wise Owl.\nThe answer to the exercise will be included and explained if you attend one of more of the courses listed below!\nYou need a minimum screen resolution of about 700 pixels width to see our exercises. This is because they contain diagrams and tables which would not be viewable easily on a mobile phone or small laptop. Please use a larger tablet, notebook or desktop computer, or change your screen resolution settings.\nPress CTRL + D to add the file called frmUnluckyDates.vb from the above folder into your project (or right click on the project and choose to add it as an existing item). Change your project's properties to make this the default form for your project.\nAttach code to the left-hand button so that when you click on it you see something like this:\nClicking on the button shown should generate a list of Friday 13ths, then set this list as the data source for the listbox.\nSome hints on how to proceed are shown below.\nYou can use the AddMonths method to add a given number of calendar months on to any given date. You may also find this code excerpt useful:\n'get the 13th of this month\nDim startDate As Date = System.DateTime.Today\nstartDate = New DateTime(startDate.Year, startDate.Month, 13)\nWhen you've got the first button working, attach code to the Fridays only button using the FindAll lambda function (or some other method) to count only those dates which fall on a Friday:\nWhat you should see when you click on the right-hand button.\nRemembering that this is a silly superstition, touch the table for luck anyway and close down your application and any open forms.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Child Safety and Fractures\nSchool age kids. Fractures and road safety (whatevery kid needs to know about crossing the street and riding a bike).\nChildhood is fraught with danger. From birth to adulthood there are so many ways a kid can get hurt that even a 20 year veteran emergency room nurses are still amazed at the imagination and innovation children use to injure themselves. Before children, most adults hardly know where the local hospital is. After kids, they know the way and every possible shortcut.\nMost accidents can be avoided with proper supervision, the proper tools and knowledge. Teach your children to cross the road safely and re-inforce it every time you are out together. Teach your children the rules of the road when on foot and when on a bicycle and how they are different. You can obtain this information from your local police station. When you go to the station bring your kids with you to have a look around and to met a policeman. They need to be able to trust public figures if they find themselves alone. Teach them to dial 911 so if you are the one in trouble the child does not panic, because he know he can call for help and be taken seriously.\nIf your child has been helping in the workshop be sure that they know that the are not to go there without an adult present. A power saw in the hands of a 6 year old equals disaster of major proportions. Teach them to use tools in the proper way and to wear the appropriate gear, such as safety goggles, ear plugs, work gloves, and anything else that may be warranted.\n[Editor's note: Similarily, teach your children that cars are not for playing in. And firearms should be inaccessible, with firing pin, ammunition, and gun locked in separate cabinets.]\nWhen riding a bicycle, insist on helmet, lights, a rear view mirror, knee and elbow protectors. The helmet has been shown to save lives, especially in children who by nature have a proportionally heavier head than adults. This means in a fall, the head falls faster that in an adult. Teach your children to use the hand signals well and all the time, even if they know there is no one behind them. Another bike ridden by an adult may be behind them but your child be unaware of it. In making a sudden move the bike behind could plow right into your child.\nFractures are common in childhood. Fortunately, God put in a great repair system.\nYou should suspect a broken bone if:\n-The victim can't move the injured part.\n-The part is deformed, or appears to be out of shape. (one leg shorter than the other)\n-Movement is painful.\n-Sensation is lacking (can't feel anything)\n-The skin is swollen and bruised.\nA simple fracture exists under unbroken skin and may not be obvious. A compound fracture shows bone protruding from the skin, or and open wound at the fracture site; frequently there is severe bleeding from the wound.\nPRICIPLES OF FIRST-AID FOR FRACTURES.\n-Do not move the person unless he or she is at risk to\nfurther injury. Great harm can can be done if the\npatient is moved hastily, pulled, bundled into the back\nseat of a car, or allowed to stand or sit up, or to move\nthe injured part.\n-If moving is absolutely necessary, pull at the legs or from the armpits along the axis of the body.\n-Examine the person first for other injuries. Stop serious bleeding by hand pressure or a gauze dressing over the wound.\n-Check the victim's mouth and throat for possible obstruction of breathing (Chewing gum?)\n-Keep the patient warm and lying down.\n-Do not put a pillow under the person's head if the neck is injured. Instead block the head with padding to prevent neck movement.\nIF THERE IS A DELAY IN TRANSPORT:\n-Do not try to set bones.\n-Always apply splints before moving or transporting the patient. Splint the patient where he or she is.\n-Apply a clean dressing and bandage (no antiseptic) if a bone protrudes through the skin. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PUSH THE BONE BACK INTO PLACE.\nProperly cared for, a fracture will heal in less than a month. More severe may take up to 3 months but generally the patient will be back to their old selves in no time.\nReturn to Health Page.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "By Claire Georgiou, Reboot Naturopath, B.HSc ND\nWe’ve all had them. Those red, sometimes white bumps, that appear out of nowhere. Or so we think.\nAcne is the most common skin problem. Most people are affected by acne at some stage of their life and it often develops in teenage years due to hormonal changes but it also can develop in earlier adult years and even later in life. It consists of mild to severe outbreaks of pimples and cysts mainly on the face, back, arms and chest. Acne can be caused from overproduction of sebum (oil), build-up of bacteria or irregular shedding of dead skin cells. When the openings of hair follicles become clogged and blocked with oil secretions, dead skin cells and sometimes bacteria then turns into pimples with pus, cysts and blackheads.\nAnyone may get a pimple here and there but acne is a chronic problem that can be caused by:\nA high GI diet consuming plenty of sugar laden foods and refined processed carbohydrates will contribute to poor skin health and acne.\nLack of nutrients:\nNutritional deficiencies are highly implicated in poor skin health, skin infections and poor shedding of dead skin, blocked pores and other skin disorders.\nHormonal changes and/or imbalances:\nTestosterone is one of the main culprits for the increase in acne in teenage years. Testosterone is an androgen hormone that stimulates the oil glands to become larger and secrete more oil (sebum). This hormone is responsible for acne breakouts in both girls and boys. Girls and women will often experience an increased acne breakout in the week leading up to their periods.\nPoor liver and intestinal health:\nInefficient detoxification pathways can increase acne breakouts, a build-up of toxins can cause unhealthy bacteria in the gut and this can affect your skin health. Some people who are cleansing will find an increase in pimples, this is certainly a detox reaction that some may experience. Keep going and your skin will never look better!\nPoor skin cleaning practices or excess products:\nPeople who may be prone to acne and who do not keep the skin clean and tend to touch their face, back, chest and arms often with dirty hands will aggravate acne and further increase infections. It is important to be aware that over cleansing and cleaning the skin can also aggravate acne, when you dry the skin out too much the skin tries to compensate by producing more sebum(oil) in the skin.\nNatural Solutions to Heal Acne:\n1.) Load up on Nutrients: Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Selenium are very specific for the treatment of acne. They help balance the hormones, support immune function to reduce infection, support liver detoxification pathways, support healthy mucus membranes in the skin and digestive system, wound healing, anti-inflammatory and may reduce excess oil secretion.\n2.) Avoid Dairy Products: Dairy can aggravate acne for some people, it can be beneficial to eliminate dairy for 6-12 weeks to see if there is any significant improvements to the skin.\n3.) Reduce Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates: This includes white flour based products like breads, bagels, biscuits, processed breakfast cereals and crackers. These foods elevate insulin which can increase acne breakouts. Low GI-diets have also been shown to be beneficial for acne.\n4.) Increase Fiber: Fiber improves glycemic control and fiber also binds with hormones that are excreted from the liver and then via the bowel. You can increase your fiber by including extra foods such as hemp seeds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, oat bran or psyllium husks in smoothies, juices, breakfast dishes or simply take with water to move things along.\n5.) Hydrate: Drink up for natural skin cleansing! Keep up those 8 glasses of water every day!\n6.) Consume More Fruits and Vegetables: Important for their cleansing benefit, they also help balance hormone levels by improving detoxification pathways. Dark green leafy vegetables improve skin radiance and reducing excess oil production. I always think of the expression ‘Greens Clean!!’ I always think of green juices as the best nutritional aid for acne.\n7.) Hormonal Acne: All these suggestions will aid in balancing hormonal health. Female acne can also be helped with the herb Chaste Berry and vitamin B6 which may alleviate some cases of premenstrual acne.\n8.) Anti-Microbial Agents: Eating raw garlic and consuming some herbal medicines such as a tea, powder or liquid such as calendula (marigold), echinacea, yellow dock, blug flag and burdock can help your skin from the inside out. Make sure you eat foods naturally containing bacteria to improve digestive health as this is also very important for reducing harmful bacteria which can contribute to acne.\n9.) Stop Picking! Touching your face is another problem which further aggravates acne by increasing the infection rate of the pimples. People often pick and squeeze their pimples which will encourage more breakouts. Our hands are often covered in bacteria so it is important not to touch the skin when you have small open wounds that occur when the pimples are squeezed.\n10.) Use Topical Lotions and Creams: These can help enormously to reduce bacterial infections getting into the pores and causing acne. Cleansing morning and night can reduce the incidence considerably.\nNatural essential oils that are antiseptic can reduce acne such as tea tree, neem, oregano and lavender oil in face washes. Honey and propolis can also be beneficial.\nSome make-up and oily face products can increase acne by clogging up the pores and increasing infections.\n11.) Make Your Own Toner: 1 part apple cider vinegar and 8 parts filtered boiled water in a bottle and spritz on face after cleansing can reduce acne breakouts.\nDRINK THESE JUICES TO IMPROVE ACNE:\nAND Check out the FACE MAP: The location of your pimples means something.\nThere are some face maps that indicate the problem depending on the location of the acne (I always find this very interesting and relevant)…\nTemples and forehead – this is commonly related to a food intolerance, excess processed foods, alcohol, unhealthy fats, poor blood sugar control and lack of hydration.\nBetween the eyes – this can be caused from poor liver and digestive health. Cut back on the sugar, sodas, caffeine, and alcohol and drink plenty of water and herbal teas for their natural cleansing effect.\nTemples – this relates to the kidneys, drink more water and keep well hydrated.\nAlong the jaw-line and chin – is commonly related to hormonal disturbances and for some women this will be more evident leading up to your period. This is a critical time to get adequate sleep and rest.\nChin – can also mean it’s time to do that cleanse! This can be from eating heavy rich foods, high GI foods and lack of nutrients.\nCheeks – this can be related to your lung health – smoking, air pollutants & allergies can contribute.\nNose – this is related to the heart health – maintaining a healthy heart is important.\nWhat have you found that has helped your acne?", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Table of Contents Show\nWant to know if agave is better than sugar? Then why did you stop, and keep reading?\nAgave belongs to the genus Monocots, native to warm and arid regions in the southern United States, like Latin America. However, some agave species are also found near tropical areas of South America.\nThe class Agave is fundamentally known for its juicy and xerophytic species that ordinarily shape huge rosettes of solid, meaty leaves.\nMiel de agave used to sweeten foods is formulated from the agave plant sap.\nStay with us to know, is agave better than sugar?\n1. Facts about the Agave plant\nThe Agave plant is specialized for its sweetening properties. In ancient times, Agave was used for medicinal purposes. Agave sugars are fermented to make tequila. Eventually, it became popular in the health and wellness world.\nIt is considered a healthier substitute for sugar and a diabetic-friendly sweetener. But the question here is, is it?\nThe agave plant grows from the southwestern U.S. through the northern part of South America. It’s the same plant used to produce tequila in Mexico.\nMost of the agave sweeteners originate from the blue agave plant. The agave plant moreover produces nectar containing huge sums of sugar called fructose.\nMany health-conscious people are directed away from refined white sugar and pick agave nectar or stevia to satisfy their sugar needs. These elective sweeteners are frequently more characteristic or less highly processed than table sugar and counterfeit sweeteners.\nHowever, both are determined from multistep preparation strategies.\nAgave nectar is processed by heat, altering crude agave’s natural nutrition values and bringing down its antioxidant content.\nIt subsequently does not have a noteworthy nutritional value and contains less potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Agave contains less glucose and more fructose. The plant’s core contains aguamiel, the sweet substance used to produce agave syrup.\n2. What Is Agave Syrup and What Are Its Nutritional Facts?\nAgave syrup is commonly used to replace sugar, honey, or maple syrup. After extracting the juice from the fruit, it is cleaned, processed, and concentrated into a syrup.\nIt’s an exceedingly refined extract that sustains the craving for sweet-tasting nourishments and drinks. High Fructose Corn Syrup is cheaper and sweeter but leads to insulin resistance and is unsafe to intake.\nIts flavor resembles molasses that becomes darker in color. If you prefer a low-calorie diet, whatever sweetener you use to bliss your taste buds like maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup, use as little as possible.\nAgave syrup is commercialized as natural and relatively healthier than sugar. It has a calorie and protein content similar to sugar but contains far fewer sugars.\nAgave contains around twice as many calories as white sugar in this case. It’s best to use about 5% agave for sweeter foods. The processing of agave syrup alters the raw nutrients in raw agave.\n3. Agave and Its Health Effect\nA higher glycemic index in the diet increases blood glucose content, indicating a drop in insulin sensitivity. The glycemic index for agave is low as compared to table sugar. So, we can say that Agave is better than sugar in terms of the glycemic index.\nIt also contains significantly more fructose than sucrose, which is sweeter, but fructose is differently metabolized than sucrose.\nSome people have difficulty absorbing fructose and experience unpleasant side effects, including bloating or abdominal irritation. If you are experiencing digestive pain, you can avoid agave.\nAgave syrup contains between 45% and 55.3% fructose and 18% to 30.5% carbohydrates per serving.\nFructose has a lower glycemic index than glucose, but it has much higher glycemic activity and causes seven times as much cell damage as glucose.\nThe percentage of fructose found in agave syrup is not similar to glucose and thereby gets broken down in the body in a different way, this might ultimately lead to insulin resistance. So, it can often be suggested as a better choice for people who already have diabetes.\nHowever, agave syrup is not recommended due to its high fructose content (sometimes higher than fructose wheat syrup). The plant-releasing Agave nectar is a more natural, healthier alternative to table sugar that doesn’t spike blood sugar levels as much.\n2.1. The Adverse Effect of High Fructose Content\nAgave Nectar: A sweetener that’s even worse\nIndividuals prone to gastrointestinal discomfort must take a step away from agave. Agree that it has less sugar content and will have minimal impact on your blood sugar levels due to its low GI score, but the high fructose content may make it more difficult for your body to process.\nGlucose and fructose look comparatively the same, but they have entirely diverse impacts on your body.\nGlucose is an inconceivably imperative molecule. It is found in numerous healthy nourishments, such as natural products and vegetables, and your body produces it to create beyond any doubt that you continuously have enough.\nIn reality, all living cells harbor glucose since this molecule is imperative to live.\nDevouring excess added fructose can wreak havoc on your metabolic health and may contribute to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, as suggested by various studies.\nAs already mentioned earlier, agave contains 85% of fructose, which is more than a normal body intake.\nThis can cause significant increases in long-term blood sugar and insulin levels, strongly raising your risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.\nHigh fructose consumption can increase LDL (bad) cholesterol and oxidize LDL.\nIt may also cause belly fat accumulation, as suggested by another study.\n3. Is Agave Syrup the Best Sweetener for Diabetes?\nAgave syrup is a high-fructose sweetener that offers more calories than table sugars. Table sugar contains sucrose which is deadly to the elderly or persons with diabetes. Nonetheless, fructose is a different sugar type linked with fatty liver disease.\nAgave offers no miraculous health benefits, as its high fructose content has harmful effects on diabetes.\nPeople with diabetes should avoid adding sugar wherever possible. Studies on mice eating agave nectar had lower blood glucose levels than those consuming table sugar and losing weight.\nSo, Agave may be marginally better than table sugar, but it does not necessarily constitute an excellent addition to the diet. Using a healthy diet to prevent diabetes can help reduce one’s intake instead of swapping between two different foods that contain sugar.\n4. What Are the Healthiest Alternative Sweeteners?\nAlternative sweeteners are regularly seen as more characteristic or less highly processed than table sugar and counterfeit sweeteners.\nStevia is considered a low-calorie sweetener inferred from the takes off of the South American bush Stevia rebaudiana. Stevia leaves and extricates are sold as tabletop sweeteners in characteristic nourishment stores.\nThis plant-based sweetener can be extricated from one of two compounds called glycosides — stevioside and rebaudioside A. These compounds don’t contain any calories and may taste marginally different from sugar.\n4.2. Sugar alcohols\nSugar alcohols, also known as polyols, are a sort of carbohydrate typically found in natural products and vegetables. Popular sugar alcohols utilized as sugar choices incorporate erythritol, xylitol, and maltitol.\nThe microbes in your mouth don’t age sugar alcohols, so they don’t harm your teeth the way that standard sugar does.\nAdditionally, they have significantly fewer calories and don’t essentially influence blood sugar levels, making them a savvy elective for those with diabetes. Erythritol contains 0.2 calories per gram, whereas xylitol gives 2.4 calories per gram. For reference, sucrose — or table sugar packs have 4 calories per gram.\nAlthough sugar alcohols are considered, for the most part, secure, a few may cause stomach-related disturbances when consumed in massive amounts.\n4.3. Monk Fruit Sweetener\nMonk natural product extricate derived from the Siraitia grosvenorii plant, local to China.\nMonk fruit sweetener, also known as Luo Han Guo, is a natural sweetener derived from the extract of a small, round fruit grown in Southeast Asia.\nIt is 150-200 times sweeter than sugar but contains no calories or carbohydrates, making it a popular alternative sweetener for people with diabetes or on low-carb diets.\nMonk fruit sweetener is considered safe for people with fructose intolerance. Also, it is known as monk fruit extract, monk fruit powder, and luo han guo extract.\nThis sweetness comes from compounds called mogrosides.\nDates are the dried natural products of the date palm tree. These sweet, chewy natural products are an amazing elective to refined sugar and offer health benefits.\nUnlike refined sugar and numerous other sweeteners, dates are a great source of supplements, including fiber, potassium, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B6, and carotenoid and polyphenol cancer prevention agents.\nTheir sweet taste of dates makes them favorable for different recipes for energy bars, cakes, and cookies. Furthermore, you can blend them to flavor homemade nut pints of milk and smoothies.\nDates are high in calories and normal sugars, but they don’t essentially influence blood sugar levels as table sugar does, indeed among individuals with diabetes.\nIn a 16-week study of 100 people with type 2 diabetes, one group ate 3 dates daily, and the other ate none. The date-eating group had significant reductions in total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, while their HbA1c — a marker of long-term blood sugar control — remained unaltered.\n4.5. Applesauce and Other Fruit Purées\nSupplanting sugar with applesauce — or purées of other natural products like bananas — is an amazing way to diminish your refined sugar admissions.\nConsider this swap in formulas for cakes, treats, biscuits, and bread. All-natural products offer well-being benefits due to their supplements. For case, squashed bananas are tall in folate, manganese, magnesium, and vitamins B6 and C.\n4.6. Yacon syrup\nYacon syrup is extricated from the yacon plant (Smallanthus sonchifolius), local to South America. Its sweet taste, dull color, and thick consistency make it comparable to molasses.\nThis item is rich in fructooligosaccharides, a sort of sugar particle that your body can’t process. Since these sugar atoms are undigested, yacon syrup contains one-third of the calories of regular sugar, or approximately 1.3 calories per gram.\nIn any case, yacon syrup is less sweet than table sugar, so you will require more to coordinate the sweetness of refined sugar. The fructooligosaccharides in yacon syrup may offer well-being benefits.\nFor case, these compounds act as prebiotics, which offer assistance to bolster the inviting microbes in your intestine.\nIt has trace amounts of vitamins and minerals and an abundance of plant compounds that give anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.\nAdditionally, honey has a lower GI value than sugar, so it is a safe alternative. But one thing to keep a note of is that it is slightly sweeter than sugar.\nHoney is a natural sweetener that is derived from the nectar of flowers. It is composed mostly of glucose and fructose and is sweeter than sugar. It is used as a sugar alternative in many recipes and can be used in baking, cooking, and as a sweetener for drinks.\nHoney has some health benefits compared to refined sugar. It contains antioxidants, enzymes, and minerals such as iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, and phosphorous. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.\nHowever, it’s important to note that honey still contains sugar and calories, so it should be consumed in moderation. Additionally, honey should be avoided by infants under one year of age due to botulism risk.\nAlso, it’s worth mentioning that not all honey is created equal, some honey is heavily processed and may lose its nutritional value during the process.\n5. Is Agave Better than Sugar?\nAfter knowing everything about agave, we can say that agave is more natural and less harmful than sugar. It is not a healthy replacement.\nIt has more calories than table sugar. And it doesn’t add much nutritional value to your diet. And since agave nectar has a much higher content of fructose than table sugar, it causes severe health effects in the long run.\nIt’s worth noting that not all agave nectar is created equal, some agave nectar is highly processed and may lose its nutritional value during the process.\nSo, if you think of cutting sugar entirely and looking for an alternative, we would say agave is not the way to go.\nOverall, it’s best to consume both agave nectar and sugar in moderation and consider other natural sweeteners as well.\n6. Frequently Asked Questions\n6.1. Is agave nectar really a healthier alternative to sugar?\nAgave nectar is often marketed as a healthier alternative to sugar because it has a lower glycemic index, which means that it does not cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. However, it’s important to note that agave nectar is not a healthier option than sugar.\nAlthough it has a lower glycemic index, agave nectar is high in fructose, which can contribute to obesity and other health problems such as fatty liver disease. Research suggests that consuming large amounts of fructose can lead to an increase in fat storage, particularly in the liver and abdominal area, which can increase the risk of metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.\nAdditionally, many commercial agave syrups are highly processed and may lose some of their nutritional value during the process. They are often heated and treated with enzymes, which break down the carbohydrates into simple sugars, such as fructose. Some of these commercial agave syrups are also blended with high fructose corn syrup, which is not healthy either.\nOverall, it’s best to consume both agave nectar and sugar in moderation and consider other natural sweeteners as well. If you’re looking for a natural alternative to sugar, you might consider honey, maple syrup, or Stevia.\n6.2. If fructose is worse than sugar, then why is blue agave supposed to be good for you?\nBlue Agave is a specific type of agave plant that is commonly used to make tequila, but it is also used to make agave nectar. The sap or juice of the blue agave plant is very low in fructose and high in inulin, which is a type of dietary fiber that has been linked to benefits such as weight loss, improved digestion, and better blood sugar control.\nHowever, most commercial agave syrups are not made from the sap of the blue agave plant, but rather from the cooked and processed starch of the plant’s root bulb. These processed agave syrups are high in fructose and have been treated with enzymes to break down the carbohydrates into simple sugars.\n6.3. Is there any sweetener that’s actually good at any size or dose? Is every single sugar substitute bad in the end?\nFor sweeteners, no sweetener is good at any size or dose. Even natural sweeteners should be consumed in moderation as they still contain calories and sugar. It’s best to use a variety of natural sweeteners in small amounts and to be aware of the potential health effects of consuming large amounts of any sweetener.\nIt’s also worth noting that reducing overall sugar intake is important for overall health, and it’s a good idea to look for other ways to flavor your food, such as using spices, herbs, and citrus fruits.\n6.4. Is blue agave better than honey?\nBlue agave and honey are both natural sweeteners that have been used for centuries. Both have some potential health benefits, but they also have some drawbacks.\nThe sap or juice of the blue agave plant is low in fructose and high in inulin, which is a type of dietary fiber that has been linked to benefits such as weight loss, improved digestion, and better blood sugar control. Some studies have suggested that agave nectar may have benefits for blood sugar control, and it is often marketed as a natural alternative sweetener for people with diabetes or on low-carb diets. However, these studies are inconclusive, and further research is needed to understand the effects of agave nectar on blood sugar control.\nHoney is a natural sweetener that is derived from the nectar of flowers. It is composed mostly of glucose and fructose and is sweeter than sugar. It is used as a sugar alternative in many recipes and can be used in baking, cooking, and as a sweetener for drinks. Honey has some health benefits compared to refined sugar. It contains antioxidants, enzymes, and minerals such as iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, and phosphorous. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.\nWhen comparing blue agave and honey, both sweeteners have their own unique benefits. Blue agave is lower in fructose, but honey contains antioxidants and minerals, and it also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.\nIt’s worth noting that not all honey is created equal, some honey is heavily processed and may lose its nutritional value during the process. Also, it’s important to consume both agave nectar and honey in moderation, as they still contain calories and sugar.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "“The ability to collect samples on demand enables us to better target areas of scientific interest, potentially allowing us to collect specific samples more efficiently. I am excited about the future of autonomous vehicles, such as the Wave Glider, as innovative ways to meet our scientific and monitoring goals.”\nHarmful algal blooms (HABs) can kill fish, mammals and birds, and contaminate water and shellfish that make people sick. Satellite imaging can detect these blooms, but cloud cover adversely affects coverage and so it is not unusual to go several days without a good image covering shelf sea areas such as the southern North Sea. In addition, the colonies often disappear before the next good image is available, possibly due to predation, a diminishing supply of nutrients, or simply sinking below the water surface.\nThe Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) needed a way to track and sample algal blooms in the right place at the right time. If they could confirm the presence of the Karenia sp. dinoflagellate—known to produce toxins that can cause significant mortality in fish—within an algal bloom, then they could help improve the satellite algorithms used in the production of satellite products. This, in the longer term, offers improvements in the remote detection of HABs.\nDr. David Pearce, Cefas’ Marine Observations Systems Manager and the officer in command of this mission, was looking for a way to collect samples on demand, in areas of particular interest based on satellite data. Previous approaches, included the Cefas water sampling sensor integrated into its SmartBuoys or on a ship, but these approaches were limited by lack of mobility or cost and control, respectively. By integrating the Cefas Water Sampler onto the Wave Glider, and engaging the Liquid Robotics Operations Team to remotely pilot it 24/7, the team had a mobile, responsive solution for on-demand autonomous water sampling.\nThe Wave Glider was deployed in the southern North Sea about 60km off Lincolnshire, UK coastline. Using experimental daily satellite images of a harmful algal bloom (courtesy of NEODAAS, Plymouth Marine Laboratory), Cefas scientists navigated the Wave Glider to a small suspected bloom of Karenia sp. north of the Dogger Bank. Once in the area of the bloom, scientists monitored the near-real time data from the on-board chlorophyll sensor to confirm its presence. They then commanded the water sampler onboard to take two samples that have since been confirmed to contain the phytoplankton Karenia sp.\nThe remote triggering of the Cefas Water Sampler was a success, and it is believed to be the world’s first “on-demand” marine water sampling using an unmanned surface vehicle. Scientists collected 11 samples, on demand, over the duration of the mission by sending commands over the Iridium satellite network to the Wave Glider.\nThe area in which the Wave Glider operated successfully was extremely challenging for an unmanned surface vehicle. Over 48 days and 2700 km at sea, the Wave Glider had to contend with strong currents, navigate around many shallow sandbanks in the southern North Sea, and avoid numerous ships and stationary gas platforms.\nCefas scientists are now planning to use the Cefas Water Sampler on additional upcoming Wave Glider missions. The sampler can be used to pump out “tracer” material. When combined with the on-board sensors, this extends the research applications of this innovative technology to, for example, mapping localized areas of sea surface. The Wave Glider expands Cefas’ research and monitoring capabilities in areas such as water quality monitoring, fisheries assessments, aquaculture health and ambient noise measurement.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "In our last article we gave instruction on how to deal with anger. The same techniques can be applied to grief, anxiety, and any root emotion associated with stress. The techniques should work with you whether you have an explosive type of anger, or if you are one of those people who just hold anger in, and allow it to slowly wear away at your stomach, liver, heart and other parts of your body. Through much research Aryuvedic practitioners have discovered, and have reported, that a large percent of illness is caused by stress.\nInternalized anger, or anger turned inward, is a source of stress that is very much related to depression.\nMany people in the world today, especially in the west, suffer a great deal from depression—especially those who have traditionally not been allowed to express their anger openly. It is not surprising that another name for depression is learned helplessness. An example of learned helplessness can be understood through an experiment done a long time ago with a dog. The dog was put into a big box with a metal grate on the floor and a partition in the middle. Scientists would push a button and send an electric current through the grate. Each time the dog would jump over to the other side.\nAfter doing this several times the scientists decided to tie the dog down so he couldn’t jump, and see what happened. They hit the button several times. He whimpered and hollered trying to escape. Eventually he just laid there, stopped struggling, and took the pain. When they released him they hit the button again expecting him to jump over the partition. To their surprise he just stood there and took the pain until they let go of the button each time. He never jumped again. They also noticed that the dog became very depressed.\nThe dog had accepted that he couldn’t do anything about his circumstances except bear the pain. He was depressed because he had learned that he was helpless and had accepted it. What was the difference between the pre-depressed dog and the post- depressed dog? One fought and struggled to be free each time, and for a moment, after he jumped the barrier he was free. The other one had accepted that he was helpless and from that moment on, during the shock or not during it, he was tied down. The same thing happens with many people in our society. They learn to be helpless and become depressed.\nWhen horrible circumstances happen in people’s lives, they often hold on and struggle to live joyful lives until the circumstance pass. After the circumstance they usually, slowly rebound from the sadness or fear that comes with their loss. They expand their awareness of self, and realize that they are more then anything that has been lost. Sometimes, however, what happens is that the person gives up in the midst of the struggle. They, like the dog, begin to just wait for one painful episode after the next to pass. The outcome of this is depression and also a living death.\nA major part of life is the struggle. We struggle to be born, we struggle to learn to walk, we struggle to talk, and we struggle with awkwardness during our teenage years…life is about struggle and overcoming circumstances. If we are not working to overcome circumstances and to be fully engaged in the world and with life, we are not living completely; we are only existing. It is important to live fully and completely in the midst of the storm, even if we are feeling lonely or depressed if we ever want to come out of the circumstances as whole, more powerful individuals. We can do this by: Doing the opposite that our emotions suggest. Instead of separating from people and breaking relationships we should start spending time with others and building more meaningful, supportive relationships; If we are more lethargic, we should become engaged in an exercise program that gives more strength and vitality—one where we can see a physical change to our bodies, not sleep more and gain weight; And instead of avoiding the problem, or trying to shove it under the rug or forget it, we should be working on whatever the core problem is, not the outgrowth.\nThe Shaolin say that many people work on the outgrowth of a problem when they are trying to solve it, and not the root. This is like trying to heal an ailing tree by working on the branches, instead of the root. According to the Shaolin it is important to find the root of the problem, and then bring all of our gifts and talents to bear to work on the root. Above we have suggested ways to work on the physical—the body, through physical exercise to improve self image, the mental through social interactions with friends and loved ones, but the most important is to work on the core of the problem.\nWhat is the core of the problem? It is probably different for everyone, but it is likely that it is the same problem that the dog had in our previous example, with some variation. I once knew a man who said that he learned the cure for depression. He said that he was depressed for a long time. He discovered that he was only depressed when he stopped trying to live the way that he really wanted. When he couldn’t do that, or stopped trying to do what we refer to in our philosophy as his life work, or that which he felt called to, he was depressed. “All I do now,” he said, “is keep trying to do what I want.”\nVery simple, yet profound. This basically means that you shouldn’t give up on life. As long as we keep jumping over the barriers, as long as we struggle and strive to do our life work, we will never be depressed. And we will see each little step—each little leap, as a victory, because that, after all, is what it is. It only takes one step at a time to make the longest journey. If you are a person inclined to be depressed, or if you know someone depressed consider this article. Work on the self image, work on your social life, and find the core of the problem and work to correct that. In the next three articles we will give you some techniques for doing one step at a time. Perhaps then you will find life more satisfying and you will discover your life work and be able to do it one step at a time.\nDr. J. W. Gilmore is a Writer, Spiritual Director, Anti-oppression Consultant and Wellness Consultant. He is a Certified Massage Therapist and Reflexologist, a Reiki Master Teacher, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Spiritual Coach living in Costa Rica. For more article like this or similar information visit: http://www.dswellness.com\nArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Gilmore", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Then on December 23 in 1688, that same James (James II and VII) escaped from his Dutch guards in Rochester, Kent and fled for France. The leaders of the Glorious Revolution in Parliament took that flight as abdication and soon William and Mary would succeed to the thrones of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.\nMore seasonally, Clement C. Moore's \"A Visit from St. Nicholas\" (or \"The Night Before Christmas\") was anonymously published on December 23 in 1823 in the Sentinel of Troy, New York:\n'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house\nNot a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;\nThe stockings were hung by the chimney with care,\nIn hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;\nThe children were nestled all snug in their beds,\nWhile visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads . . .\nAccording to the Poetry Foundation, Moore wrote the poem for his family and was quite a learned man, but we remember him for this one poem:\nDuring his lifetime Moore wrote on a variety of subjects. He produced a two-volume A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language (1809), a translation from the French of A Complete Treatise on Merinos and Other Sheep (1811), and the historical biography George Castriot, Surnamed Scanderbeg, King of Albania (1850). Throughout his life he also wrote poetry, which was published in the Portfolio and similar periodicals. The New-York Book of Poetry (1837), an anthology of works by New York poets, contained some written by Moore, including \"A Visit from St. Nicholas,\" although \"Anonymous\" was still listed as the author. Not until 1844, when Moore's collection Poems was published, was \"A Visit from St. Nicholas\" acknowledged in print as having been written by Clement C. Moore, LL.D.\nAnd finally, Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretel was first performed on December 23, 1893 in Weimar, conducted by Richard Strauss. This Engelbert Humperdinck of course should not be confused with Arnold George Dorsey!\nHere, Herbert von Karajan gives the Dream Pantomime its full Wagnerian due;\nAnd you can see an excerpt from the 1982 Metropolitan Opera live Christmas Day broadcast here:\nAnd tonight, the last O Antiphon:\nO Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof,\ncome to save us, O Lord our God!\nO Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio gentium, et Salvator earum:\nveni ad salvandum nos Domine Deus noster.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "While there is no certain or perfect way to prevent cancer, there are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood. You can take action to lower those risks through healthy lifestyle choices such as eliminating smoking, reduction of excess body weight, increased physical activity and getting recommended cancer screenings.But let’s talk about breast cancer. We are often told that breast cancer is linked to hormone levels such as high estrogen. While there is true correlation there, the devil is in the details. The real risk and danger comes from our body not properly metabolizing or eliminating that estrogen and new research points to estrogen metabolites (breakdown) that damage our DNA causing mutations that can initiate breast and other human cancers. So how can we take action on safe estrogen metabolism and reduction of DNA damage? There are some over the counter options that have been shown to help! Diindolylmethane, better known as DIM, has been shown to support healthy estrogen levels, especially in estrogen dominant conditions. Estrogen dominance has been linked to a variety of health issues, including certain types of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and are associated with both environmental toxins mimicking estrogen and compromised metabolism of estrogens. Other things that have been shown to enhance estrogen metabolism are increasing cruciferous vegetables in your diet and having 1-2 bowel movements per day. If your bowels aren’t moving, your estrogen sticks around longer than it should and goes back into circulation in the body. Let’s move on to other over-the-counter supplements that can help you take action on cancer prevention. Two antioxidants, N-Acetylcysteine and Resveratrol, are prime candidates to prevent breast and other human cancers because in various in vitro and in vivo experiments, they reduce the formation of estrogen–DNA damage. Antioxidants are chemicals that interact with and neutralize free radicals, thus preventing them from causing damage. Free radicals are produced either from normal cell metabolisms or from external sources such as pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, and medication. When an overload of free radicals cannot gradually be destroyed, their accumulation in the body generates a phenomenon called oxidative stress. This free radical and oxidative stress process plays a major part in the development of chronic illnesses such as cancer. Antioxidants, also known as “free radical scavengers”, are one of the ways the human body counteracts oxidative stress and the damage it can cause. But how do you choose and how do you know what to take? While the above article mentions some excellent suggestions, your compounding pharmacist may also be able to help. Since compounding pharmacists have extra experience with hormone and nutrition recommendations, they can likely walk through this supplement decision with you. And when in doubt, reach out to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about starting any new supplements or medications.\nhttps://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/antioxidants-fact-sheetPham-Huy LA, He H, Pham-Huy C. Free radicals, antioxidants in disease and health. Int J Biomed Sci. 2008;4(2):89-96.\nThank you to the Partnership for Personalized Prescriptions for the content of this blog.\nVisit and support their website at www.p3rx.org\nAbout the Partnership for Personalized Prescriptions\nP3 is a subsidiary of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding. APC is the voice for pharmacy compounding, representing compounding pharmacists and technicians in both 503A and 503B settings, as well as prescribers, educators, researchers, suppliers, and patients.\nIn traditional compounding, pharmacists create a customized medication, most often from pure ingredients, for an individual patient pursuant to a prescription. Pharmacists’ ability to compound medications from pure ingredients is authorized in federal law and for good reason: Manufactured drugs don’t come in strengths and dosage forms that are right for everyone, and prescribers need to be able to prescribe customized medications when, in their judgment, a manufactured drug is not the best course of therapy for a human or animal patient.\nEvery day, APC members play a critical role in patients’ lives, preparing essential, custom medications for a range of health conditions, including autism, oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, women’s health, animal health, and others.\nCONNECT WITH US\n6095 Pine Mountain Rd. NW,\nKennesaw, GA 30152\n(800) 547-1399 Ph.\n(866) 635-2329 Fax\n9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. M-Th\n9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Fri", "label": "No"}
{"text": "When a City Becomes a State\nTransforming relationship between cities and their nation as world’s growing population settles in urban centres\nBy: Fatima Syed, Staff Writer\nGreater Shanghai has a population surpassing 20 million; Mexico City and Mumbai are home to approximately another 20 million each. These cities have become bigger than entire nations in the world and are continuing to grow at an astonishingly rapid rate. Functioning as the key economic centres of the world, and involved in serious national and international political debates, the rise of these cities is forcing a change, or the very least a question, in their relationship with the countries they are in.\nMost great cities in the world today function separately from their nation-state in terms of economics; the main streams of international investment now occur between big cities rather than big nations: London to New York, New York to Tokyo, Tokyo to Singapore.\nThe root of this power is, of course, the expansion of infrastructure. Size matters in geography and great cities across the world have recognised this. They campaign for increasing shares of the national budget to build and develop a solid transport and housing structure to cater for a booming urban population.\nIn this, the city landscapes of today are reminiscent of the European tradition of city states like Rome, Athens, Sparta, and Babylon, which were centres of power, culture and trade.\nBack then, the rise of cities forced the rise of agriculture and innovation. City centres became the root of prosperity and happy dwelling as more and more people were attracted towards them.\nIn the 18th century, 3% of the world’s population lived in cities. In the 19th century this increased to 14%. By 2007 this figure rose to 50% and is estimated to become 80% by 2050.\nThis rise of population naturally meant cities had to grow bigger and work better.\nToday, the top 25 cities in the world account for more than half of the world’s wealth. The five largest cities in India and China now account for 50% of those countries’ wealth. Nagoya-Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe in Japan is expected to have a population of 60 million by 2015 and will be the effective powerhouse of Japan while a similar effect on an even larger scale is occurring in fast-growing urban areas such as that between Mumbai and Delhi.\nIn a Foreign Affairs article “The Next Big Thing: Neomedievalism,” Parag Khanna, Director of the Global Governance Initiative at the New America Foundation, argues that this sentiment needs to come back. “Today just 40 city-regions account for two-thirds of the world economy and 90 percent of its innovation,” he notes, adding that “The mighty Hanseatic constellation of well-armed North and Baltic Sea trading hubs in the late Middle Ages, will be reborn as cities such as Hamburg and Dubai form commercial alliances and operate “free zones” across Africa like the ones Dubai Ports World is building. Add in sovereign wealth funds and private military contractors, and you have the agile geopolitical units of a neomedieval world.”\nIn this respect, cities have remained the most pertinent governmental structure on earth and the most well-inhabited: Syria’s capital-city Damascus has been continuously occupied since 6300 BCE. Because of this consistency, growth, and the recent destabilisation and diminished effectiveness of federal governments after the global economic collapse, the focus on cities has increased even more. How to protect their burgeoning population and all the economics and politics that it requires, becomes a serious problem to resolve.\nThe argument stands that if national policies – a set of practices implemented for the betterment of the entire nation rather than a specific aspect of it – becomes a road-block for growing urban centres such as Toronto and Mumbai, then shouldn’t the same cities be allowed their independence?", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Please Read How You Can Help Keep the Encyclopedia Free\nDiscrimination is prohibited by six of the core international human rights documents. The vast majority of the world's states have constitutional or statutory provisions outlawing discrimination. (Osin and Porat 2005) And most philosophical, political, and legal discussions of discrimination proceed on the premise that discrimination is morally wrong and, in a wide range of cases, ought to be legally prohibited. However, co-existing with this impressive global consensus are many contested questions, suggesting that there is less agreement about discrimination than initially meets the eye. What is discrimination? Is it a conceptual truth that discrimination is wrong, or is it a substantive moral judgment? What is the relation of discrimination to oppression and exploitation? What are the categories on which acts of discrimination can be based, aside from such paradigmatic classifications as race, religion, and sex? These are some of the contested issues.\n- 1. The Concept of Discrimination\n- 2. Types of Discrimination (in its Moralized Sense)\n- 3. Challenging the Concept of Indirect Discrimination\n- 4. Why Is Discrimination Wrong?\n- 5. Which Groups Count?\n- 6. What Good is the Concept of Discrimination?\n- 7. Intersectionality\n- 8. Conclusion\n- Academic Tools\n- Other Internet Resources\n- Related Entries\nWhat is discrimination? More specifically, what does it mean to discriminate against some person or group of persons? It is best to approach this question in stages, beginning with an answer that is a first approximation and then introducing additions, qualifications, and refinements as further questions come into view.\nIn his review of the international treaties that outlaw discrimination, Wouter Vandenhole finds that “[t]here is no universally accepted definition of discrimination” (2005: 33). In fact, the core human rights documents fail to define discrimination at all, simply providing non-exhaustive lists of the grounds on which discrimination is to be prohibited. Thus, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights declares that “the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status” (Article 26). And the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights declares, “The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, color, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status” (Article 14). Left unaddressed is the question of what discrimination itself is.\nAny viable account of what discrimination is will regard it as consisting of actions, practices, or policies that are—in some appropriate sense-- based on the (perceived) social group to which those discriminated against belong. Moreover, the relevant groups must be “socially salient,” as Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen puts it, i.e., they must be groups that are “important to the structure of social interactions across a wide range of social contexts” (2006: 169). Thus, groups based on race, religion and gender qualify as potential grounds of discrimination in any modern society, but groups based on the musical or culinary tastes of persons would typically not so qualify.\nDiscrimination against persons, then, is necessarily oriented toward them based on their membership in a certain type of social group. But it is also necessary that the discriminatory conduct impose some kind of disadvantage or harm on the persons at whom it is directed. In this connection, consider the landmark opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education, holding that de jure racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. The court writes, “Segregation with the sanction of law . . . has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system” (1954: 495). Thus, the court rules that segregation amounts to illegal discrimination against black children because it imposes on them educational and psychological disadvantages.\nAdditionally, as Brown makes clear, the disadvantage imposed by discrimination is to be determined relative to some appropriate comparison social group. This essential reference to a comparison group explains why duties of non-discrimination are “duties to treat people in certain ways defined by reference to the way that others are treated” (Gardner 1998: 355). Typically, the relevant comparison group is part of the same society as the disadvantaged group, or at least it is governed by the same overarching political structure. In Brown, the relevant comparison group consisted of white citizens. Accordingly, it would be mistaken to think that the black citizens of Kansas who brought the lawsuit were not discriminated against because they were treated no worse than blacks in South Africa were being treated under apartheid. Blacks in South Africa were not the proper comparison class.\nThe appropriate comparison class is determined by normative principles. American states are obligated to provide their black citizens an education that is no worse than what they provide to their white citizens; any comparison with the citizens or subjects of other countries is beside the point. It should also be noted that, whether or not American states have an obligation to provide an education to any of their citizens, if such states provide an education to their white citizens, then it is discriminatory for the states to fail to provide an equally good education to their black citizens. And if states do have an obligation to provide an education to all their citizens, then giving an education to whites but not blacks would constitute a double-wrong against blacks: the wrong of discrimination, which depends on how blacks are treated in comparison to whites, and the wrong of denying blacks an education, which does not depend on how whites are treated.\nDiscrimination is inherently comparative, and the Brown case seems to suggest that what counts in the comparison is not how well or poorly a person (or group) is treated on some absolute scale, but rather how well she is treated relative to some other person. But an important element of the court's reasoning in Brown suggests that the essence of discrimination does not lie in treating some persons more favorably than others. Thus, the court famously writes, “Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” (1954: 495). In other words, the harm of discrimination lies in the very act itself of racially separating black and white children, quite apart from the educational or psychological impact of the separation. On this understanding, treating blacks differently from whites amounts to discrimination, even if they are treated as well as whites.\nHowever, there is a critical problem with the view that the essence of discrimination is differential treatment rather than disadvantageous treatment. If this view were correct, then, under Jim Crow segregation, not only blacks but also whites would be victims of discrimination. Differential treatment is symmetrical: if blacks are treated differently from whites, then whites must be treated differently from blacks. But it is implausible to hold that the South's system of racial segregation discriminated against whites. The system arguably held back economic progress for everyone in the South, but that point is quite different from the implausible claim that everyone was a victim of discrimination. Accordingly, it is better to think of discrimination in terms of disadvantageous treatment rather than simply differential treatment. Discrimination imposes a disadvantage on certain persons relative to others, and those who are treated more favorably are not to be seen as victims of discrimination.\nAn act can both be discriminatory and, simultaneously, confer an absolute benefit on those discriminated against, because the conferral of the benefit might be combined with conferring a greater benefit on the members of the appropriate comparison group. In such a case, the advantage of receiving an absolute benefit is, at the same time, a relative disadvantage or deprivation. For example, consider the admissions policy of Harvard University in the early twentieth century, when the university had a quota on the number of Jewish students. Harvard was guilty of discriminating against all Jewish applicants on account of their religion. Yet, the university still offered the applicants something of substantial value, viz., the opportunity to compete successfully for admission. What made the university's offer of this opportunity discriminatory was that the quota placed (potential and actual) Jewish applicants at a disadvantage, due to their religion, relative to Christian ones.\nOne might think that it downplays the harm done by discrimination to say that the disadvantage it imposes only need be a relative disadvantage. However, the Brown case shows how the imposition of even a “merely” relative disadvantage can have extremely bad and unjust consequences for persons, especially when the relevant comparison class consists of one's fellow citizens. Disadvantages relative to fellow citizens, when those disadvantages are severe and concern important goods such as education, can make persons vulnerable to domination and oppression at the hands of their fellow citizens. (Anderson 1999) The domination and oppression of American blacks by their fellow citizens under Jim Crow was made easier by the relative disadvantage imposed on blacks when it came to education. Norwegians might have had an even better education than southern whites, but Norwegians posed little threat of domination to southern whites or blacks, because they lived under an entirely separate political structure, having minimal relations to American citizens. Matters are different in today's globalized world, where an individual's disadvantage in access to education relative to persons who live in other countries could pose a threat of oppression. Accordingly, one must seriously consider the possibility that children from poor countries are being discriminated against when they are unable to obtain the education routinely available to children in affluent societies.\nThe relative nature of the disadvantage that discrimination imposes explains the close connection between discrimination and inequality. A relative disadvantage necessarily involves an inequality with respect to persons in the comparison class. Accordingly, antidiscrimination norms prohibit certain sorts of inequalities between persons in the relevant comparison classes. (Shin 2009) For example, the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1866 requires that all citizens “shall have the same right, in every State and Territory in the United States, to make and enforce contracts, to sue, be parties, and give evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, and convey real and personal property, and to full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of person and property, as is enjoyed by white citizens” (Civil Rights Act 1866). And the international convention targeting discrimination against women condemns “any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women … on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms” (CEDAW, Article 1).\nTo review: as a reasonable first approximation, we can say that discrimination consists of acts, practices, or policies that impose a relative disadvantage on persons based on their membership in a salient social group. But notice that this account does not make discrimination morally wrong as a conceptual matter. The imposition of a relative disadvantage might, or might not, be wrongful. In the next section, we will see how the idea of moral wrongfulness can be introduced to form a moralized concept of discrimination.\nThe concept of discrimination is inherently normative to the extent that the idea of disadvantage is a normative one. But it does not follow from this point that discrimination is, by definition, morally wrong. At the same time, many—or even most—uses of the term ‘discrimination’ in contemporary political and legal discussions do employ the term in a moralized sense. David Wasserman is using this moralized sense, when he writes that “[t]o claim that someone discriminates is … to challenge her for justification; to call discrimination ‘wrongful’ is merely to add emphasis to a morally-laden term” (1998: 805). We can, in fact, distinguish a moralized from a non-moralized concept of discrimination. The moralized concept picks out acts, practices or policies insofar as they wrongfully impose a relative disadvantage on persons based on their membership in a salient social group of a suitable sort. The non-moralized concept simply dispenses with the adverb ‘wrongfully’.\nAccordingly, the sentence ‘Discrimination is wrong’ can be either a tautology (if ‘discrimination’ is used in its moralized sense) or a substantive moral judgment (if ‘discrimination’ is used in its non- moralized sense). And if one wanted to condemn as wrong a certain act or practice, then one could call it ‘discrimination’ (in the moralized sense) and leave it at that, or one could call it ‘discrimination’ (in the non-moralized sense) and then add that it was wrongful. In contexts where the justifiability of an act or practice is under discussion and disagreement, the moralized concept of discrimination is typically the key one used, and the disagreement is over whether the concept applies to the act. Because of its role in such discussion and disagreement, the remainder of this article will be concerned with the moralized concept of discrimination, unless it is explicitly indicated otherwise.\nThere is an additional point that needs to be made in connection with the wrongfulness of discrimination in its moralized sense. It is not simply that such discrimination is wrongful as a conceptual matter. The wrongfulness of the discrimination is tied to the fact that the discriminatory act is based on the victim's membership in a salient social group. An act that imposes a relative disadvantage or deprivation might be wrong for a variety of reasons; for example, the act might violate a promise that the agent has made. The act counts as discrimination, though, only insofar as its wrongfulness derives from a connection of the act to the membership in a certain group(s) of the person detrimentally affected by the act. Accordingly, we can refine the first-approximation account of discrimination and say that the moralized concept of discrimination is properly applied to acts, practices or policies that meet two conditions: a) they wrongfully impose a relative disadvantage or deprivation on persons based on their membership in some salient social group, and b) the wrongfulness rests (in part) on the fact that the imposition of the disadvantage is on account of the group membership of the victims.\nLegal thinkers and legal systems have distinguished among a bewildering array of types of discrimination: direct and indirect, disparate treatment and disparate impact, intentional and institutional, individual and structural. It is not easy to make sense of the morass of categories and distinctions. The best place to start is with direct discrimination.\nConsider the following, clear instance of direct discrimination. In 2002, several men of Roma (“gypsy”) descent entered a bar in a Romanian town and were refused service. The bar employee explained his conduct by pointing out to them a sign saying, “We do not serve Roma.” The Romanian tribunal deciding the case ruled that the Roma men had been the victims of unlawful direct discrimination. (Schiek, Waddington, and Bell 2007: 185) The bar's policy, as formulated in its sign, explicitly and intentionally picked out the Roma qua Roma for disadvantageous treatment. It is those two features—explicitness and intention—that characterize direct discrimination. More precisely, acts of direct discrimination are ones which the agent performs with the aim of imposing a disadvantage on persons for being members of some salient social group. In the Roma case, the bartender and bar owner aimed to exclude Roma for being Roma, and so both the owner's policy and the bartender's maxim of action explicitly referred to the exclusion of Roma. It is clear that the policy of the bar was wrong, but the question of what makes the policy and other instances direct discrimination wrongful will be put on hold until section 4.1 below.\nIn some cases, a discriminator will adopt a policy that, on its face, makes no explicit reference to the group that he or she aims to disadvantage. Instead, the policy employs some facially-neutral surrogate that, when applied, accomplishes the discriminator's hidden aim. For example, during the Jim Crow era, southern states used literacy tests for the purpose of excluding African-Americans from the franchise. Because African-Americans were denied adequate educational opportunities and because the tests were applied in a racially-biased manner, virtually all of the persons disqualified by the tests were African-Americans, and, in any given jurisdiction, the vast majority of African-American adults seeking to vote were disqualified. The point of the literacy tests was precisely such racial exclusion, even though the testing policy made no explicit reference to race.\nNotwithstanding the absence of an explicit reference to race in the literacy tests themselves, their use was a case of direct discrimination. The reason is that the persons who formulated, voted for, and implemented the tests acted on maxims that did make explicit reference to race. Their maxim was something along the lines of: ‘In order to exclude African-Americans from the franchise and do so in a way that appears consistent with the U.S. Constitution, I will favor a legal policy that is racially-neutral on its face but in practice excludes most African-Americans and leaves whites unaffected.’ As with the Roma case, there are agents whose aim is to disadvantage persons for belonging to a certain social group.\nAccordingly, direct discrimination is intentional discrimination. Without the intent to disadvantage persons based on their race, sex, religion and so on, there is no direct discrimination; with such an intent to disadvantage, there is direct discrimination (in the moralized sense), as long as imposing the disadvantage on the basis in question is wrong. In American legal doctrine, the more opaque term, ‘disparate treatment’, is used to refer to this type of discrimination, although courts will often simply talk of intentional discrimination.\nIt might be thought that one big problem with the concept of direct discrimination is that it makes no room for unconscious discrimination. It is plausible to think that in many societies, unconscious prejudice is a factor in a significant range of discriminatory behavior, and a viable understanding of the concept of discrimination must be able to accommodate the possibility. In fact, there is growing evidence that unconscious discrimination exists. (Dasgupta 2004) But it is a mistake to assume that direct discrimination must be conscious discrimination. As Amy Wax (2008: 983) has argued, the mistake rests on a conflation of the intentional-unintentional distinction with the quite distinct conscious-unconscious distinction. Intentions and aims can be unconscious. Thus, an agent might engage in direct discrimination without any consciousness of the fact that she is aiming to disadvantage persons on account of their group membership.\nIn contrast to the Roma and the literacy cases are those in which acts or policies are not aimed—explicitly or surreptitiously, consciously or unconsciously- at persons for being members of a certain social group. Yet, the acts or policies have the effect of disproportionately disadvantaging the members of a particular group. According to many thinkers and legal systems, such acts can, in some circumstances, count as a form of discrimination, viz., “indirect discrimination” or, in the language of American doctrine, “disparate impact” discrimination. Thus, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has held that “[w]hen a general policy or measure has disproportionately prejudicial effects on a particular group, it is not excluded that this may be considered as discriminatory notwithstanding that it is not specifically aimed or directed at that group.” (Shanaghan v. U.K. 2001: para. 129) Indirect discrimination is different from the direct form in that the relevant agents do not aim to disadvantage persons for being members of a certain group.\nIt is important to note that the ECHR says that policies with disproportionate effects may be discriminatory even if that is not the aim of the policies. So what criterion determines when a policy with disproportionately worse effects on a certain group actually counts as indirect discrimination? There is no agreed upon answer.\nThe ECHR has laid down the following criterion: a policy with disproportionate effects counts as indirect discrimination “if it does not pursue a legitimate aim or if there is not a reasonable relation of proportionality between means and aim” (Abdulaziz et al. v. U.K., 1985: para. 721). Swedish law contains a different criterion: a policy with disproportionate effects is not discriminatory if and only if it “can be motivated by a legitimate aim and the means are appropriate and necessary to achieve the aim” (Osin and Porat 2005: 864). The Human Rights Committee of the United Nations has judged that a policy with disproportionate effects is discriminatory “if it is not based on objective and reasonable criteria” (Moucheboeuf 2006: 100). Under the British Race Relations Act, such a policy is discriminatory if the policymaker “cannot show [the policy] to be justifiable irrespective of the … race … of the person to whom it is applied” (Osin and Porat 2005: 900). And in its interpretation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that, in judging whether the employment policies of private businesses are (indirectly) discriminatory, “[i]f an employment practice which operates to exclude Negroes cannot be shown to be related to job performance, the practice is prohibited” (Griggs v. Duke Power 1971: 431). Despite the differences, these criteria have a common thought behind them: a disproportionately disadvantageous impact on the members of certain salient social groups must not be written off as morally or legally irrelevant or dismissed as mere accident, but rather stands in need of justification. In other words, the impact must not be treated as wholly inconsequential, as if it were equivalent, for example, to a disproportionate impact on persons with long toe nails. Toe-nail group impact would require no justification, because it would simply be an accidental and morally inconsequential feature of the act, at least in all actual societies. In contrast, the thought behind the idea of indirect discrimination is that, if an act has a disproportionately disadvantageous impact on persons belonging to certain types of salient social groups, then the act is morally wrong and legally prohibited if it cannot meet some suitable standard of justification.\nTo illustrate the idea of indirect discrimination, we can turn to the U.S. Supreme Court case, Griggs v. Duke Power (1971). A company in North Carolina used a written test to determine promotions. The use of the test had the result that almost all black employees failed to qualify for the promotions. The company was not accused of intentional (direct) discrimination, i.e., there was no claim that race was a consideration that the company took into account in deciding to use the written test. But the court found that the test did not measure skills essential for the jobs in question and that the state of North Carolina had a long history of deliberately discriminating against blacks by, among other things, providing grossly inferior education to them. The state had only very recently begun to rectify that situation. In ruling for the black plaintiffs, the court reasoned that the policy of using the test was racially discriminatory, because of the test's disproportionate racial impact combined with the fact that it was not necessary to use the test to determine who was best qualified for promotion.\nIn many cases, acts of discrimination are attributed to collective agents, rather than to natural persons acting in their individual capacities. Accordingly, corporations, universities, government agencies, religious bodies, and other collective agents can act in discriminatory ways. This kind of discrimination can be called “organizational,” and it cuts across the direct-indirect distinction. Confusion sometimes arises when it is mistakenly believed that organizations cannot have intentions and that only indirect discrimination is possible for them. As collective agents, organizations do have intentions, and those intentions are a function of who the officially authorized agents of the institution are and what they are trying to do when they act as their official powers enable them. Suppose that the Board of Trustees of a university votes to adopt an admissions policy that (implicitly or explicitly) excludes Jews, and the trustees vote that way precisely because they believe that Jews are inherently more dishonest and greedy than other people. In such a cases, the university is deliberately excluding Jews and is guilty of direct discrimination. Individual trustees acting in their private capacity might engage in other forms of discriminatory conduct; for example, they might refuse to join clubs that have Jewish members. Such a refusal would not count as organizational discrimination. But any discriminatory acts attributable to individual board members in virtue of some official power that they hold would count as organizational discrimination.\nStructural discrimination—sometimes called “institutional” (Ture and Hamilton 1992/1967: 4)—should be distinguished from organizational: the structural form concerns the rules that constitute and regulate the major sectors of life such as family relations, property ownership and exchange, political powers and responsibilities, and so on. (Pogge 2008: 37) It is true that when such rules are discriminatory, they are often—though not always—the deliberate product of some collective or individual agent, such as a legislative body or executive official. In such cases, the agents are guilty of direct discrimination. But the idea of structural discrimination is an effort to capture a wrong distinct from direct discrimination. Thus, Fred Pincus writes that “[t]he key element in structural discrimination is not the intent but the effect of keeping minority groups in a subordinate position” (1994: 84). What Pincus and others have in mind can be explained in the following way.\nWhen the rules of a society's major institutions consistently produce disproportionately disadvantageous outcomes for the members of certain salient social groups and the production of such outcomes is unjust, then there is structural discrimination against the members of the groups in question, apart from any direct discrimination in which the collective or individual agents of the society might engage. This account does not mean that, empirically speaking, structural discrimination stands free of direct discrimination. It is highly unlikely that the consistent production of unjust and disproportionately disadvantageous effects would be a chance occurrence. Rather, it is (almost) always the case that, at some point(s) in the history of a society in which there is structural discrimination, important collective agents, such as governmental ones, intentionally created rules with the aim of disadvantaging the members of the groups in question. It is also likely that some collective and individual agents continue to engage in direct discrimination in such a society. But by invoking the idea of structural discrimination and attributing the discrimination to the rules of a society's major institutions, we are pointing to a form of discrimination that is conceptually distinct from the direct discrimination engaged in by collective or individual agents. Thus understood, structural discrimination is, as a conceptual matter, necessarily indirect, although, as empirical matter, direct discrimination is (almost) always part of the story of how structural discrimination came to be and continues to exist.\nAlso note that the idea of structural discrimination does not presuppose that, whenever the rules of society's major institutions consistently produce disproportionately disadvantageous results for a salient group such as women or racial minorities, structural discrimination thereby exists. Because our concern is with the moralized concept of discrimination, one might think that disproportionate outcomes, by themselves, entail that an injustice has been done to the members of the salient group in question and that structural discrimination thereby exists against the group. However, on a moralized concept of structural discrimination, the injustice condition is distinct from the disproportionate outcome condition. Whether a disproportionate outcome is sufficient for concluding that there is an injustice against the members of the group is a substantive moral question. Some thinkers might claim that the answer is affirmative, and such a claim is consistent with the moralized concept of structural discrimination. However, the claim is not presupposed by the moralized concept, which incorporates only the conceptual thesis that a pattern of disproportionate disadvantage falling on the members of certain salient groups does not count as structural discrimination unless the pattern violates sound principles of distributive justice.\nThe distinction between direct and indirect discrimination plays a central role in contemporary thinking about discrimination. However, some thinkers hold that talking about indirect discrimination is confused and misguided. For these thinkers, direct discrimination is the only genuine form of discrimination. Examining their challenge to the very concept of indirect discrimination is crucial in developing a philosophical account of what discrimination is.\nIris Young argues that the concept of discrimination should be limited to “intentional and explicitly formulated policies of exclusion or preference.” She holds that conceiving of discrimination in terms of the consequences or impact of an act, rather than in terms of its intent, “confuses issues” by conflating discrimination with oppression. Discrimination is a matter of the intentional conduct of particular agents. Oppression is a matter of the outcomes routinely generated by “the structural and institutional framework” of society. (1990: 196)\nMatt Cavanagh holds a position similar to Young's, writing that persons “who are concerned primarily with how things like race and sex show up in the overall distributions [of jobs] have no business saying that their position has anything to do with discrimination. It is not discrimination they object to, but its effects; and these effects can equally be brought about by other causes” (2002: 199). For example, the disproportionate exclusion of certain ethnic groups from the ranks of professional violinist could be the result of discrimination against those groups, but it also might be an effect of the fact that there is a lower proportion of persons from those groups who have perfect pitch than the proportion found in other ethnic groups.\nThe arguments of Cavanagh and Young raise a question that is not easy to answer, viz,, why can indirect and direct discrimination be legitimately considered as two subcategories of one and the same concept? In other words, what do the two supposed forms of discrimination really have in common that make them forms of the same type of moral wrong? Direct discrimination is essentially a matter of the reasons and aims that guide the act or policy of a particular agent, while indirect discrimination is not about such reasons and aims. Even conceding that acts or policies of each type can be wrong, it is unclear that the two types are each species of one and the same kind of moral wrong, i.e., the wrong of discrimination. And if cases of direct discrimination are paradigmatic examples of discrimination, then a serious question arises as to whether the concept of discrimination properly applies to the policies, rules, and acts that are characterized as “indirect” discrimination.\nMoreover, there is a crucial ambiguity in how discrimination is understood that lends itself to conflating direct discrimination with the phenomena picked out by ‘indirect discrimination’. Direct discrimination involves the imposition of disadvantages “based on” or “on account of” or “because of” membership in some salient social group. Yet, these phrases can refer either to a) the reasons that guide the acts of agents or to b) factors that do not guide agents but do help explain why the disadvantageous outcomes of certain acts and policies fall disproportionately on certain salient groups. (Cf. Shin, 2010.) In the Roma case, the disadvantage was “because of” ethnicity in the former sense: the ethnicity of the Roma was a consideration that guided the acts of the bar owner and bartender. In the Griggs case, the disadvantage was “because of race” in the latter sense: race did not guide the acts of the company but neither was it an accident that the disadvantages of the written test fell disproportionately on blacks. Rather, race, in conjunction with the historical facts about North Carolina's educational policies, explained why the disadvantage fell disproportionately on black employees.\nThe thought that the policy of the company in Griggs is a kind of discrimination, viz., indirect discrimination, seems to trade on the ambiguity in the meanings of the locutions ‘based on’, ‘because of’, ‘on account of’, and so on. The state of North Carolina's policy of racial segregation in education imposed disadvantages based on/because of/on account of race, in one sense of those terms. The company's policy of using a written test imposed disadvantages based on/because of/on account of race, in a different sense. Even conceding that both the state and the company wronged blacks on the basis of their race, it appears that the two cases present two different kinds of wrong.\nHowever, one can reasonably argue, to the contrary, that the two wrongs are not different in kind, because they are both instances of wrongs done to persons in which membership in some salient social group explains why the wrongful disadvantages fell on the individuals in question. In order to understand why the persons in the Roma case were thrown out of the bar, it is necessary to understand that their identity as Roma was the key practical reason guiding the actions of the bartender. In order to understand why the employees in the Griggs case were unable to get promotions, it is necessary to understand that their identity as blacks was a key factor explaining why they failed to achieve high enough scores on the company's written test. The types of explanation operate at different levels. In the Roma case, the explanation works at the retail level of particular agents, explaining why individual Roma were harmed by appealing to the practical reasons of the bartender. By contrast, in the Griggs case, the explanation involves considerations at the wholesale level of general social facts, explaining racially disproportionate exam outcomes by appealing to factors about a population's access to educational opportunities, factors that did not play a role in the practical reasoning of the company. But in each case, the appropriate explanation for why certain individuals were disadvantaged concerned their group membership. Additionally, for both forms of discrimination, the wrongfulness of the discriminatory act or policy derived from the connection between the disadvantages and the salient-group membership of the persons who were disadvantaged.\nStill, one might argue that the concept of indirect discrimination is problematic because its use mistakenly presupposes that the wrongfulness of discrimination can lie ultimately in its effects on social groups. Certainly, bad effects can be brought about by discriminatory processes, but, the argument claims, the wrongfulness lies in what brings about the effects, i.e., in the unfairness or injustice of those acts or policies that generate the effects, and does not lie in the effects themselves. Cavanagh seems to have this argument in mind when he writes that people who characterize an act or policy as discriminatory on the basis of its effects are really objecting to the effects and that “these effects can equally be brought about by other causes” (2002: 199). Addressing this argument requires a closer examination of why discrimination is wrong, the topic of section 4. Before turning to that section, it would helpful to address a suspicion that might arise in the course of pondering whether indirect discrimination is really is a form of discrimination.\nOne might suspect that any disagreement over whether indirect discrimination is really a form of discrimination is only a terminological one, devoid of any philosophical substance and capable of being adequately settled simply by the speaker stipulating how she is using term ‘discrimination’. (Cavanagh 2002: 199) One side in the disagreement could, then, stipulate that, as it is using the term, ‘discrimination’ applies only to direct discrimination, and the other side could stipulate that ‘discrimination’, as it is using the term, applies to direct and indirect discrimination alike. However, the choice of terminology is not always philosophically innocent or unproblematic. A poor choice of terminology can lead to conceptual confusions and fallacious inferences. Cavanagh argues that precisely these sorts of infelicities are fostered when ‘discrimination’ is used to refer to a wrong that essentially depends on certain effects being visited upon the members of a social group. (2002: 199) Moreover, the critics and the defenders of the term ‘indirect discrimination’ presumably agree with one another that the concept of discrimination possesses a determinate meaning that either admits, or does not admit, of an indirect form of discrimination. So it seems that the disagreement over indirect discrimination has philosophical significance.\nThe possibility should be acknowledged that the concept of discrimination is insufficiently determinate to dictate an answer to the question of whether there can be an indirect form of discrimination. In that case, there would be no answer, and any disagreement over the possibility of such discrimination would be devoid of philosophical substance and should be settled by speaker stipulation. However, it would be hasty to arrive at the conclusion that there is no answer before a thorough examination of the concept of discrimination is completed and some judgment is made about what the best account is of the concept. And a thorough examination must take up the question of why discrimination is wrong.\nAs we have seen, discrimination, in its moralized sense, is necessarily wrongful, and the wrong is connected in some way to its group-based character. But these points do not yet tell us why discrimination is wrongful. Let us begin with direct discrimination and then turn to the indirect form, in order to shed some light on whether the wrongs involved in the two forms are sufficiently analogous to consider them as two types of one and the same kind of wrong, viz., the wrong of discrimination in general.\nSpecifying why direct discrimination is wrongful has proved to be a surprisingly controversial and difficult task. There is general agreement that the wrong concerns the kind of reason that guides the action of the agent of discrimination: the agent is acting on a reason that is in some way illegitimate or morally tainted. But there are more than a half-dozen distinct views about what the best principle is for drawing the distinction between acts of direct discrimination (in the moralized sense) and those acts that are not wrongful even though the agent takes account of another's social group membership.\nOne popular view is that direct discrimination is wrong because the discriminator treats persons on the basis of traits that are immutable and not under the control of the individual possessing them. Thus, Richard Kahlenberg asserts that racial discrimination is unjust because race is such an immutable trait. (1996: 54–55). And discrimination based on many forms of disability would seem to fit this view. But Bernard Boxill rejects the view, arguing that there are instances in which it is justifiable to treat persons based on features that are beyond their control. (1992: 12–17) Denying blind people a driver's license or persons with little athletic ability a place on the basketball team is not an injustice to such individuals. Moreover, Boxill notes that, if scientists developed a drug that could change a person's skin color, it would still be unjust to discriminate against people because of their color. (1992: 16) Additionally, a paradigmatic ground of discrimination, a person's religion, is not an immutable trait, nor are some forms of disability. Thus, there are serious problems with the popular view that direct discrimination is wrong due to the immutable nature of the traits on the basis of which the discriminator treats the persons whom he wrongs.\nA second view holds that direct discrimination is wrong because it treats persons on the basis of inaccurate stereotypes. When the state of Virginia defended the male-only admissions policy of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), it introduced expert testimony that there was a strong correlation between sex and the capacity to benefit from the highly disciplined and competitive educational atmosphere of the school: those who benefited from such an atmosphere were, for the most part, men, while women had a strong tendency to thrive in a quite different, cooperative educational environment. This defense involved the premise that the school's admissions policy was not discriminatory because the policy relied on accurate generalizations about men and women. And in its ruling against VMI, the Supreme Court held that a public policy “must not rely on overbroad generalizations about the different talents, capacities, or preferences of males and females” (U.S. v. Virginia 1996: 533). But the court went on to argue that “generalizations about ‘the way women are’, estimates of what is appropriate for most women, no longer justify denying opportunity to women whose talent and capacity place them outside the average description” (U.S. v. Virginia 1996: 550).(ital. in original) This reasoning implies that, even if gender was a very good a predictor of the qualities needed to benefit from and be successful at the school, VMI's admissions policy would still be discriminatory. (Schauer 2003: 137–141) The Court's reasoning here seems sound, because it is possible that there was something discriminatory about the way in which the school had defined success. For example, the school might have focused on those forms of discipline and competition that generally favored men and might have ignored those forms that favored women. In such a case, the discrimination would not rest on an inaccurate stereotype, but, perhaps, on the undue devaluation of qualities accurately associated with women. Whether or not VMI's policy involved such a consideration, an account of why direct discrimination is wrong should be consistent with the possibility of discrimination that is based on accurate gender generalizations.\nA third view is that direct discrimination is wrong because it is an arbitrary or irrational way to treat persons. In other words, direct discrimination imposes a disadvantage on a person for a reason that is not a good one, viz., that the person is a member of a certain salient social group. Accordingly, Anne-Marie Cotter argues that such discrimination treats people unequally “without rational justification” (2006: 10). John Kekes expresses a similar view in condemning race-based affirmative action as “arbitrary” (1995: 200), and, in the same vein, Anthony Flew argues that racism is unjust because it treats persons on the basis of traits that “are strictly superficial and properly irrelevant to all, or almost all, questions of social status and employability” (1990: 63–64).\nHowever, many thinkers reject this third view of the wrongness of direct discrimination. John Gardner argues that there is no “across-the-board-duty to be rational, so our irrationality as such wrongs no one.” Additionally, Gardner contends that “there patently can be reasons, under some conditions, to discriminate on grounds of race or sex,” even though the conduct in question is wrongful. (1998: 168) For example, a restaurant owner might rationally refuse to serve blacks if most of his customers are white racists who would stop patronizing the establishment if blacks were served. (1998: 168 and 182) The owner's actions would be wrong and would amount to a rational form of discrimination. Additionally, Richard Wasserstrom argues that the principle that persons ought not to be treated on the basis of morally arbitrary features cannot grasp the fundamental wrong of direct racial discrimination, because the principle is “too contextually isolated” from the actual features of a society in which many people have racist attitudes. (1995: 161) For Wasserstrom, the wrong of racial discrimination cannot be separated from the fact that such discrimination manifests an attitude that the members of certain races are intellectually and morally inferior to the rests of the population.\nA fourth view is that direct discrimination is wrong because it fails to treat individuals based on their merits. Thus, Sidney Hook argues that hiring decisions based on race, sex, religion and other social categories are wrong because such decisions should be based on who “is best qualified for the post” (1995: 146). In a similar vein, Alan Goldman argues that discriminatory practices are wrong because “the most competent individuals have prima facie rights to positions” (1979: 34).\nOpponents of this merit-based view note that it is often highly contestable who the “best qualified” really is, because the criteria determining qualifications are typically vague and do not come with weights attached to them. (Wasserman, 1998: 807) Another line of criticism claims that merit does not entitle a person to a position. For example, the most meritorious worker might be an obnoxious person whose fellow workers would dislike working with him. It would seem that an employer has the right to hire a less meritorious but more likable person. Even if the company profits fell a bit as a result, no wrong is done to the meritorious but obnoxious applicant. Thus, Cavanagh suggests that “hiring on merit has more to do with efficiency than fairness” (2002: 20). Cavanagh also notes that a merit principle cannot explain what is distinctively wrong about an employer who discriminates against blacks because the employer thinks that they are morally or intellectually inferior. The merit approach “makes [the employer's] behavior look the same as any other way of treating people … non-meritocratically” (2002: 24-25).\nA fifth view, developed by Sophia Moreau, regards direct discrimination as wrong because it violates the equal entitlement each person has to freedom. In particular, she contends that “the interest that is injured by discrimination is our interest in … deliberative freedoms: that is, freedoms to have our decisions about how to live insulated from the effects of normatively extraneous features of us, such as our skin color or gender” (2010: 147). Normatively extraneous features are “traits that we believe persons should not have to factor into their deliberations …as costs.” For example, “people should not be constrained by the social costs of being one race rather than another when they deliberate about such questions as what job to take or where to live” (2010: 149).\nYet, it is unclear that Moreau's account gets to the bottom of what is wrong with discrimination. One might object, following the criticisms leveled by Wasserstrom and Cavanagh at the arbitrariness and merit accounts, respectively, that the idea of a normatively extraneous feature is too abstract to capture what makes racial discrimination a paradigmatic form of direct discrimination. There are reasons that justify our belief “that persons should not have to factor [race] into their deliberations …as costs,” and those reasons seem to be connected to the idea that racial discrimination treats persons of a certain race as having a diminished or degraded moral status as compared to individuals belonging to other races. The wrong of racial and other forms of discrimination seems better illuminated by understanding it in terms of such degraded status than in terms of the idea of normatively extraneous features.\nA sixth view, developed by Deborah Hellman, holds that direct discrimination is wrong because it demeans and denigrates those against whom it is directed, thereby treating such persons as morally inferior. Thus, she contends that “the act of demeaning is the wrong of wrongful discrimination” (2008: 172). For example, it is demeaning, she argues, for an employer to require female employees to wear cosmetics because such a requirement “conveys the idea that a woman's body is for adornment and the enjoyment by others” (2008: 42). Patrick Shin proposes a similar account in his discussion of equal protection, arguing that “to characterize an action as unequal treatment is to register a certain objection as to what, in view of its rationale, the action expresses” (2009: 170). Offending actions are ones that treat an individual “as though that individual belonged to some class of individuals that was less entitled to right treatment than anyone else” (2009:169).\nClosely related to Hellman's account is a seventh view, holding that direct discrimination is wrong on account of its connection to prejudice, where prejudice is understood as an attitude that regards the members of a salient group, qua members, as not entitled to as much respect or concern as the members of other salient groups. Prejudice can involve feelings of hostility, antipathy, or indifference, as well as belief in the inferior morals, intellect, or skills of the targeted group. Returning to the case of the Roma who were excluded by the policy of a bar, we could say that the policy was discriminatory because it was the expression of prejudice against the Roma, whereas a bar's policy of excluding men from the women's restroom would fail to be discriminatory because it would not be an expression of prejudice.\nJohn Hart Ely defends a version of this seventh view, holding that discriminatory acts are those that are motivated by prejudice. (1980: 153–159) Ronald Dworkin has formulated an alternative version, arguing that discriminatory acts are those that could be justified only if some prejudiced belief were correct. The absence of a “prejudice-free justification” thus makes a law or policy discriminatory. (1985: 66)\nThe seventh view, along with the accounts of Hellman and Shin, rest on the intuitively attractive idea that the wrongfulness of direct discrimination is tied to its denial of the equal moral status of persons. This idea is also at the heart of Wasserstrom's complaint that understanding discrimination in terms of arbitrariness is too abstract to capture the wrongfulness of racial discrimination as it has actually been practiced and Cavanagh's related objection to the merit view that what is wrong with the discriminatory acts of a racist cannot be adequately grasped strictly in terms of the denial of merit. However the details are to be worked out, the essential wrong of paradigmatic acts of direct discrimination seems to be that they violate the equal moral status of persons by treating the victims in ways that would be appropriate only for individuals having a diminished or degraded moral status.\nThe most egregious forms of indirect discrimination are typically structural, due to the pervasive impact of a society's basic institutions on the life-prospects of its members. (Rawls 1971: 7) Indirect discrimination is structural when the rules and norms of society consistently produce disproportionately disadvantageous outcomes for the members of a certain group, relative to the other groups in society, the outcomes are unjust to the members of the disadvantaged group, and the production of the outcomes is to be explained by the group membership of those individuals. Cass Sunstein nicely captures the wrong of this form of indirect discrimination in the course of explaining his antidiscrimination principle, which he calls the “anticaste principle.” He writes, “The motivating idea [for the anticaste principle] is that without good reason, social and legal structures should not turn differences that are both highly visible and irrelevant from the moral point of view into systematic social disadvantages. A systematic disadvantage is one that operates along standard and predictable lines in multiple and important spheres of life” (1994: 2429). In a similar vein, Catharine MacKinnon finds structural discrimination against women to be intolerable because it consists of “the systematic relegation of an entire group of people to a condition of inferiority” (1987: 41).\nTwo related wrongs belonging to structural discrimination can be distinguished. First is the wrong that consists of society's major institutions imposing, without adequate justification, relative disadvantages on persons belonging to certain salient social groups. Accordingly, it is wrong for society's basic rules to deny to women or to racial or religious minorities opportunities for personal freedom, development, and flourishing equal to those that men or racial and religious majorities enjoy. Second is the wrong of placing the members of a salient social group in a position of vulnerability to exploitation and domination as a result of the denial of equal opportunities and the imposition of other kinds of relative disadvantage. Accordingly, it is wrong for a society to make women vulnerable to sexual exploitation and domination at the hands of men by the imposition of various economic and social disadvantages relative to men.\nIn contrast, the wrongs of non-structural forms of indirect discrimination seem to be dependent on structural (or direct) discrimination. Consider the Griggs case. The company's promotion policy was not part of the wrong involved in society's basic institutions imposing relative disadvantages on blacks. But the policy did have some connection to structural racial discrimination and to the widespread direct discrimination against blacks that existed prior to and contemporaneous with the policy. The policy helped to perpetuate the unjust disadvantages that were due to such structural and direct discrimination, even though the policy was not needed to serve any legitimate business purpose and that was why the policy was wrong. Or at least that is what the proponents of the idea of indirect discrimination appear to have in mind when they talk about non-structural forms of indirect discrimination.\nAre the wrongs of indirect discrimination sufficiently similar to the wrongs of direct discrimination that it is reasonable to say that they are, in fact, two different types of one and the same wrong? We have seen that the accounts of the wrong of direct discrimination are many and various. But abstracting from those differences, critics of talk of “indirect discrimination” might argue that discrimination is essentially a process-based wrong, rather than an outcome-based one, and that only direct discrimination is process-based. In other words, only with direct discrimination is there a defect in how some outcome is brought about, rather than in what the outcome itself is. On this view, discriminating against people is similar to having an incompetent person judge an ice-skating competition: just as the incompetent judging taints the process by which places are awarded in the competition, discrimination taints the process by which opportunities and other social goods get distributed among the members of society.\nHowever, one can understand indirect discrimination as involving process-based wrongs, although the wrongs do not necessarily occur at the retail level of the practical reasoning of specific agents. Consider the structural form of indirect discrimination. Disproportionately disadvantageous outcomes do not, by themselves, amount to structural discrimination, even when those outcomes fall on the shoulders of the members of a salient social group such as women or racial or religious minorities. There must also be a linkage between membership in the group and the disadvantageous outcomes: group membership must help explain why the disproportionately disadvantageous outcomes fall where they do. This explanation will proceed at the wholesale level of macro-social facts about the population and the various groups that constitute it. But the requirement of a linkage shows that how the disproportionate outcomes are brought about is essential to the existence of structural discrimination. There must be social processes at work that, as Sunstein puts its, “turn differences that are both highly visible and irrelevant from the moral point of view into systematic social disadvantages” (1994: 2429). It is true that the differences do not need to be literally visible; they need only be socially salient. But the main point is that there is something morally wrong with social processes that consistently but avoidably turn such differences into relative disadvantages for the members of salient groups, such as women or racial or religious groups. A parallel is thereby established with direct discrimination, in which there is something morally wrong with a practical-reasoning process that treats sex, race, or religion as grounds for treating persons as having a degraded or diminished moral status.\nWith the non-structural form of indirect discrimination, the parallel to the wrong of direct discrimination is even stronger, because the morally flawed process does occur at the retail level. Consider the Griggs case. The company's decision to use certain exams to determine promotions contributed to the unjust disadvantages suffered by blacks from structural and direct discrimination. Yet, the use of the exams was apparently not necessary to determine who could best perform the jobs in question or to meet any other legitimate purpose of the business. It is plausible to say, then, that the company's decision process wrongly counted for nothing the promotion policy's contribution to the perpetuation and even exacerbation of unjust disadvantages from which blacks already suffered. This process-based wrong is at the level of a specific agent, albeit a collective agent. The difference with direct discrimination is that it is a moral failure of omission, i.e., failing to count for something the impact of the promotion policy on blacks, rather than a failure of commission, such as deliberately excluding blacks from better-paying positions. In either case, though, an agent has engaged in a morally flawed process of practical reasoning in which the flaw concerns the role that considerations of salient group membership play.\nThere is a case to be made, then, that the wrongs of indirect discrimination, structural and non-structural, are importantly parallel to those of direct discrimination. For that reason, it can be argued that direct and indirect discrimination are usefully conceived as different versions of the same moral wrong, viz., discrimination in general, and that the term ‘indirect discrimination’ is a valuable part of our moral vocabulary.\nDiscrimination wrongfully imposes relative disadvantages or deprivations on persons based on their membership in some salient social group. But which salient groups count for the purpose of determining whether an act is an act of discrimination? This question is at the heart of many heated political and legal disputes, such as the controversy over gay marriage. The question is also central to a question that is less politically prominent than such disputes but which has important political and philosophical implications. The question is whether the members of socially dominant groups can, in principle, be victims of discrimination. It is sometimes said that, in the United States and other Western countries, whites cannot really be discriminated against on account of their race, because whites are the socially dominant racial group whose members are systematically advantaged by their being white. Thus, in his account of racial discrimination, Thomas Scanlon acknowledges that his view entails that, in the U.S., at least, whites can discriminate against blacks but not vice-versa. He holds that discrimination is “unidirectional, [applying] only to actions that disadvantage members of a group that has been subject to widespread denigrations and exclusion.” This implication derives from his claim that it is “crucial to racial discrimination … that the prejudicial judgments it involves are not just the idiosyncratic attitudes of a particular agent but are widely shared in the society in question and commonly expressed and acted on in ways that have serious consequences” (2008: 73–74). The idea that discrimination is unidirectional is also implied by Owen Fiss's understanding of discrimination in terms of “the perpetual subordination” of “specially disadvantaged groups …[whose] political power is severely circumscribed” (1976: 154–155).\nAlthough is it undeniable that the members of socially dominant groups typically enjoy a host of unfair advantages, it seems mistaken to conclude from this fact that such persons cannot be victims of discrimination. Even if any disadvantages that might be imposed on them based on their group membership are too small to outweigh the sum total of the unfair advantages that they enjoy, it still does not follow that the members of socially dominant groups cannot be discriminated against by others in society. And even though the members of dominant groups enjoy many unfair advantages, it is possible, for example, for them to be wronged by some agent deliberately imposing on them disadvantages because of their race, religion, or some similar consideration. Thus, direct discrimination against whites because they are white is possible in a white-dominated society: non-whites can wrongfully deny them opportunities such as a job or a place of residence, based on their being white, even when almost all of the direct racial discrimination in the society is perpetrated by whites against non-whites. The same is true with respect to indirect discrimination: even if whites in a certain society constitute a dominant group, individual whites might confront indirect discrimination in the form of policies that unjustly, though unintentionally, disadvantage them on account of their race.\nThe concept of discrimination itself places no substantive restrictions on which salient social groups could, in principle, count for purposes of determining whether an act is an act of discrimination. Thus, suppose there were some society and historical context such that a) the length of one's thumb determined membership in some salient social group, b) it was wrong to impose a disadvantage on a person based on membership in a certain thumb-length group, and c) the wrongness was due to the fact that the imposition was based on membership in the thumb-length group. In such a scenario, thumb-length groups would count in determining which acts were acts of discrimination. Put another way, the fact that, in our society and its historical context, thumb length does not count, but race and religion do count, is not because the concept of discrimination includes race and religion, while excluding thumb length. Rather, it is because the formal elements of the concept of discrimination are properly specified—or made more concrete—in terms of race and religion (among other categories), given our social and historical context, while those elements are not properly specified in terms of thumb length, given that same context.\nPerhaps the most heated of contemporary debates over the question of which social groups count for purposes of determining whether an act is an act of discrimination are the debates concerning sexual orientation. Many persons hold the view that it is discrimination whenever gays and lesbians are denied the same set of legal rights and powers that heterosexual persons have, but others reject such a view. Philosophers and political theorists can be found on both sides of this divide, although the predominant view among such thinkers is that it is discriminatory to deny gays and lesbians the same legal rights and powers as heterosexuals. (Macedo, 1996; Corvino, 2005; and, dissenting, Finnis, 1997) The debate is ultimately one of moral principle, resting on the question of whether government wrongs gays and lesbians if it denies them any such rights or powers. The concept of discrimination cannot, by itself, settle the question, because the concept only tells us that it is properly applied to the imposition of wrongful disadvantages on account of salient group membership. The concept does not specify whether it is wrongful to impose disadvantages on persons on account of their sexual orientation. Substantive moral reasoning is needed to address the question concerning wrongfulness.\nThe concept of discrimination picks out a kind of moral wrong that is a function of the salient social group membership of the person wronged: persons are treated as though they had diminished or degraded moral status on account of their group membership, or they are, because of their group membership and the relative disadvantages that they suffer due to that membership, made vulnerable to domination and oppression. But why have such a concept? Why not simply have the concepts of domination, oppression, and degrading treatment, abstracting from whether or not the reasons for such wrongs involve group membership?\nUntil the middle of the 19th century, critical moral reflection and discussion proceeded largely without the concept of discrimination. But over the course of the first half of the 20th century, moral reflection became increasingly sensitive to the fact that many, even most, of the large-scale injustices in history had a group-based structure: certain members of society were identified by others as belonging to a particular salient group; the group members were consistently denigrated and demeaned by the rest of society and by its official organs; and many serious relative disadvantages connected to this denigration and demeaning, such as material deprivation and extreme restrictions on liberty, were imposed on the members of the denigrated group. It is this historical reality, apparently deeply rooted in human social life, that gives the concept of discrimination its point and its usefulness. The concept highlights the group-structure, and the relative deprivations built around this structure, that are exhibited by many of the worst systematic wrongs that humans inflict on one another.\nAt the same time, the group structure of these injustices does not mean that the group as such is the party that is wronged; rather, the wrongs are ultimately wrongs to the individual persons making up the group. Accordingly, the concept of discrimination has become a useful tool for representing many serious wrongs, while avoiding the implication that these wrongs are ultimately done to the groups as such.\nHowever, this understanding of the significance of the concept of discrimination is challenged by Young, who claims that the concept is inadequate for capturing group-based wrongs. She argues that the concept “tends to present the injustices groups suffer as aberrant, the exception rather than the rule.” Accordingly, she contends that “[i]f one focuses on discrimination as the primary wrong that groups suffer, then the more profound wrongs of exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence that we still suffer go undiscussed and unaddressed.” (1990: 196–97)\nNonetheless, Young's understanding of discrimination seems to rest on some misconceptions. First, the concept of discrimination does not, strictly speaking, present injustices as ones that groups suffer. The injustices are suffered by the members of the group and not by the group as such. This point might seem to play into Young's hand, as one might infer from it that the idea of discrimination cannot capture injustices that are systemic rather than aberrant, the rule rather than the exception. But such an inference would be mistaken, and that mistake leads to a second misconception in Young's account. Discrimination against the members of a group can be, and often is, systemic. The reason is that wrongs against individuals on account of their group membership typically are not aberrant but form broad social patterns. Accordingly, the idea of discrimination can capture the profound systemic wrongs to which Young refers, while preserving the key moral thought that the wrongs are done to individuals. At the same time, Young is right insofar as she is claiming that exploitation, powerlessness, and her other profound wrongs do not necessarily have a component involving direct discrimination. The claim is important, because the failure to appreciate it would incline one to think mistakenly that, to the extent that direct discrimination recedes, so must exploitation, powerlessness and so on. Accordingly, if direct discrimination recedes, the profound injustices referred to by Young could persist with their present force or even grow worse.\nKimberlé Crenshaw (1998) introduced the idea of intersectionality in her account of the distinctive form of discrimination faced by black women. Intersectionality refers to the fact that one and the same person can belong to several distinct groups, each of whose members are victimized by widespread discrimination. This overlapping membership can generate experiences of discrimination that are very different from those of persons who belong to just one, or the other, of the groups. Thus, Crenshaw argues that “any analysis that does not take intersectionality into account cannot sufficiently address the particular manner in which Black women are subordinated” (1998: 315).\nCrenshaw's idea of intersectionality applies beyond race and gender to cover any social groups against which discrimination is directed: discrimination is inflected in different ways depending on the particular combination of social groups to which those persons discriminated against belong. And one implication of intersectionality is that the disadvantages suffered by some persons who are discriminated against on account of belonging to a certain group might be offset, partially or fully, by advantages those same persons gain by being discriminated in favor of due to their belonging to other groups. As Crenshaw notes, women who are wealthy and white are “race- and class-privileged,” even as they are disadvantaged by their gender. (1998: 314)\nThe idea of intersectionality threatens to destabilize the concept of discrimination. The idea highlights what is problematic about any account of discrimination that abstracts from how different salient identities converge to shape the experiences of persons. But, taken to the hilt, the idea of intersectionality might appear to undermine any feasible account of discrimination. Reflection on Crenshaw's own intersectional account illustrates the point: she examines the intersection of race and gender but abstracts from other salient social identities, such as disability status, sexual orientation, and religion. Any of those additional identities can and do converge with race and gender to form distinctive experiences of discrimination, and so abstracting from those identities seems problematic from the perspective that the idea of intersectionality opens to us. Yet, no feasible treatment can take into account all of those identities and the many more socially salient identities that persons have in contemporary societies.\nNonetheless, judgments about discrimination can and do reveal genuine wrongs that persons suffer due to their salient group membership and expose actual patterns of disadvantage and deprivation that amount to systemic injustices against the members of certain salient groups. It is not necessary to take account of everything relevant to a phenomenon in order to understand and represent important aspects of it. Thus, notwithstanding the complications introduced by intersectionality, judgments about direct and indirect discrimination can tell us something important about who is wrongfully disfavored, and who wrongfully favored, by the actions of individual and collective agents and by the rules of society's major institutions.\nThe concept of discrimination provides an explicit way of thinking about a certain kind of wrong that can be found in virtually every society and era. The wrong involves a group-based structure that works in combination with relative deprivations built around the structure. The deprivations are wrongful because they treat persons as having a degraded moral status, but also because the deprivations tend to make members of the group in question vulnerable to domination and oppression at the hands of those who occupy positions of relative advantage. It is true that there has been confusion attending the concept of discrimination, and there will long be debates about the best way to understand and apply it. However, the concept of discrimination has proved to be a useful one, at the national and international levels, for representing in thought and combating in action a kind of wrong that is deeply entrenched in human social relations.\n- Abdulaziz et al. v. U.K. European Court of Human Rights, App. No. 9214/80; decided 28 May 1985. [Available online]\n- Brown v. Board of Education 347 U.S. 483 (1954). [Available online]\n- Civil Rights Act of 1866. [Available online]\n- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). [Available online]\n- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. (CERD) [Available online]\n- European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights. [Available online]\n- Griggs v. Duke Power 401 U.S. 424 (1974). [Available online]\n- Shanaghan v. U.K. European Court of Human Rights, App. No. 37715/97; decided 4 May 2001. [Available online]\n- United States v. Virginia 518 U.S. 515 (1996), [Available online]\n- Anderson, Elizabeth. 1999. “What is the Point of Equality,” Ethics, 109: 283–337.\n- Boxill, Bernard. 1992. Blacks and Social Justice, revised ed. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.\n- Cavanagh, Matt. 2002. Against Equality of Opportunity, Oxford: Oxford University Press.\n- Corvino, John. 2005. “Homosexuality and the PIB Argument.” Ethics, 115: 501–34.\n- Cotter, Anne-Marie Mooney. 2006. Race Matters: An International Legal Analysis of Race Discrimination, Burlington, VT: Ashgate.\n- Crenshaw, Kimberlé. 1998/1989. “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics,” rpt. in Anne Phillips, Feminism and Politics, New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 314–343.\n- Dasgupta, Nilanjana. 2004. “Implicit Ingroup Favoritism, Outgroup Favoritism, and Their Behavioral Manifestations,” Social Justice Research, 17: 143–169.\n- Dworkin, Ronald. 1985. A Matter of Principle, Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press.\n- Ely, John Hart. 1980. Democracy and Distrust, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.\n- Finnis, John. 1997. “The Good of Marriage and the Morality of Sexual Relations,” American Journal of Jurisprudence 42: 97–134.\n- Fiss, Owen. 1976. “Groups and the Equal Protection Clause,” Philosophy and Public Affairs, 5: 107–177\n- Flew, Anthony. 1990. “Three Concepts of Racism,” Encounter, 75: 63–66.\n- Gardner, John. 1998. “On the Ground of Her Sex(uality),” Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, 18: 167–187.\n- Goldman, Alan. 1979. Justice and Reverse Discrimination, Princeton: Princeton University Press.\n- Hellman, Deborah. 2008. Why is Discrimination Wrong?, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.\n- Hook, Sidney. 1995. “Reverse Discrimination,” in Steven Cahn, ed. The Affirmative Action Debate, New York: Routledge, pp. 145–152.\n- Kahlenberg, Richard. 1996. The Remedy, New York: Basic Books.\n- Kekes, John. 1995. “The Injustice of Affirmative Action Involving Preferential Treatment,” in Steven Cahn, ed. The Affirmative Action Debate, New York: Routledge, pp. 293–204.\n- Lippert-Rasmussen, Kasper. 2006. “The Badness of Discrimination,” Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 9: 167–185.\n- Macedo, Stephen. 1996. “Sexual Morality and the New Natural Law,” in R.P. George, ed. Natural Law, Liberalism, and Morality, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.\n- MacKinnon, Catharine. 1979. Sexual Harassment of Working Women, New Haven: Yale University Press.\n- –––. 1987. Feminism Unmodified, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.\n- Moreau, Sophia. 2010. “What is Discrimination?” Philosophy and Public Affairs 38: 143–179.\n- Moucheboeuf, Alcidia. 2006. Minority Rights Jurisprudence, Strasbourg: Council of Europe.\n- Osin, Nina and Dina Porat, eds. 2005. Legislating Against Discrimination: An International Survey of Anti-Discrimination Norms, Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff.\n- Pincus, Fred L. 1994. “From Individual to Structural Discrimination,” in Fred L. Pincus and Howard J. Ehrlich, eds. Race and Ethnic Conflict, Boulder, CO: Westview, pp. 82–87.\n- Pogge, Thomas. 2008. World Poverty and Human Rights, second edition. Malden, MA: Polity Press.\n- Rawls, John. 1971. A Theory of Justice, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.\n- Scanlon, Thomas. 2008. Moral Dimensions, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.\n- Schauer, Frederick. 2003. Profiles, Probabilities, and Stereotypes, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.\n- Schiek, Dagmar, Lisa Waddington, and Mark Bell, eds. 2007. Non-Discrimination Law, Oxford, UK: Hart Publishing.\n- Shin, Patrick. 2009. “The Substantive Principle of Equal Treatment,” Legal Theory, 15: 149–172.\n- –––. 2010. “Liability for Unconscious Discrimination? A Thought Experiment in the Theory of Employment Discrimination Law,” Hastings Law Journal, 62: 67-102.\n- Sunstein, Cass. 1994. “The Anticaste Principle,” Michigan Law Review, 92: 2410–2455.\n- Ture, Kwame and Charles V. Hamilton. 1992/1967. Black Power, New York: Vintage Books.\n- Vandenhole, Wouter. 2005. Non-Discrimination and Equality in the View of the UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies, Oxford, UK: Intersentia.\n- Wasserman, David. 1998. “Discrimination, Concept of,” in Ruth Chadwick, ed., Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics, San Diego, CA: Academic Press, pp. 805–814.\n- Wasserstrom, Richard. 1995. “Preferential Treatment, Color-Blindness, and the Evils of Racism,” in Steven Cahn, ed. The Affirmative Action Debate, New York: Routledge, pp. 153–168.\n- Wax, Amy, 2008. “The Discriminating Mind: Define It, Prove It,” Connecticut Law Review, 40: 979–1022.\n- Young, Iris. 1990. Justice and the Politics of Difference, Princeton: Princeton University Press.\nHow to cite this entry. Preview the PDF version of this entry at the Friends of the SEP Society. Look up this entry topic at the Indiana Philosophy Ontology Project (InPhO). Enhanced bibliography for this entry at PhilPapers, with links to its database.\n- Anti-discrimination Laws in the European Union\n- Disability Discrimination Act (UK)\n- Employment Discrimination Laws in the United States\n- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights\n- International Convention on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights", "label": "No"}
{"text": "**** **** **** * * * * * * **** **** **** * * * * * * **** **** * * **** HEADLINES - a digital monthly publication\nContents of This Issue:\nSulfur is essential for all life, but it plays a particularly central role in the metabolism of many anaerobic microorganisms. Prominent among these are the sulfide-oxidizing bacteria that oxidize sulfide to sulfate. Many of these organisms can store elemental sulfur in \"globules\" for use when food is in short supply. The chemical nature of the sulfur in these globules has been an enigma since they were first described as far back as 1887; all known forms (or allotropes) of elemental sulfur are solid at room temperature, but globule sulfur has been described as \"liquid\", and it apparently has a low density - 1.3 compared to 2.1 for the common yellow allotrope alpha-sulfur. Various exotic forms of sulfur have been proposed to explain these properties, including micelles (small bubble-like structures) formed from long-chain polythionates, but all of these deductions have been based upon indirect evidence (for example, the density was estimated by flotation of intact cells), and many questions remained. Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the sulfur K-edge recorded on SSRL's Beam Line 6-2, Ingrid Pickering, Graham George and Eileen Yu (SSRL) together with co-workers from Arizona State University, University of British Columbia, and ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co. have resolved this long-standing conundrum and the results are described in a recent publication.\nMore information regarding this research, including the reference to\nthe publication in Biochemistry can be found at:\nIn conjunction with a visit to Stanford University and discussions with Stanford President John Hennessy on January 17, 2002, Catalonian President Jordi Pujol visited SSRL to gain a better insight into the broad range of scientific research conducted at a synchrotron radiation facility. Following an overview presentation given by SSRL Deputy Director Jo Stöhr, President Pujol was given a tour of the SSRL experimental hall. At BL9-2, staff scientist Ana Gonzales described how high energy x-rays are used in the determination of 3-D protein structures. Katharina Baur then introduced him to a research effort currently underway on BL6-2 involving trace impurity analysis on semiconductor surfaces and its importance to the semiconductor industry. Other delegates joining the tour included, Pujol's Deputy Minister of Education, Ramon Farre; Minister of Industry and Commerce, Antoni Subira; Minister of Universities, Technology and R&D, Andreu Mas-Colell and Science Advisor and Physics Professor Ramon Pascual. Relevant to plans for construction of a Catalonian synchrotron facility by 2006, the group learned that SSRL attracts scientists from more than 200 institutions and has become a nucleus for national and international collaborations involving pharmaceutical design, environmental monitoring and detection of impurities in high-tech materials - among many others.\nAs users should be aware, plans and preparations for SPEAR3 have been underway at SSRL for several years. Users will not have access to SSRL beam lines during the installation and commissioning of this third generation light source, which is scheduled from approximately April 2003 through January 2004. A subcommittee of the SSRL Users' Organization has been formed to represent users' issues related to the shutdown and to suggest ways that SSRL may be able to mitigate the resulting loss of beam time to users. The subcommittee members include Uwe Bergmann, Corwin Booth, Paul Foster, Lipika Basumallick, Ben Bostic, Nicholas Pingatore and Vittal Yachandra.\nThe SSRL Users' Organization Executive Committee has scheduled their\nnext meeting on Friday, March 15, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The\nmeeting will be held in the Orange Conference Room, which is located in\nthe SLAC Central Lab Building 40 (adjacent to the SLAC cafeteria). The\nagenda includes a SPEAR3 update as well as a presentation on beam line\ndevelopment. All interested SSRL users are invited and encouraged to\nattend. If there are other issues that users would like to bring to the\nattention of the Users' Organization, please feel free to contact anyone\non the Executive Committee. A listing of the SSRLUO-EC members, agenda\nand site map can be found at:\nDespite a forward-looking focus on SPEAR3 and future developments such as the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), we want to take this opportunity to mark an important anniversary - it has now been 10 years since the injector synchrotron complex was commissioned and SPEAR became a fully dedicated synchrotron radiation source.\nIn 1992 we reported that 26 beam line stations served 280 experiments from 130 different principal investigators. In all, 550 experimenters came to SSRL during the experimental run that spanned from February 17 - September 7, 1992. In comparison, during the most recent experimental run ending July 3, 2001, 776 individual experiments were scheduled across 32 beam line stations and approximately 900 users came to the facility to run these experiments. The dedicated injector, with its reliable operation and \"on demand\" injection was one of the main underpinning factors in vastly improving SPEAR beam time delivery and performance that contributed to this strong growth. We thank both the staff who managed the project so efficiently and the DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences for providing the funding.\nNon-coincidentally, several SSRL staff members, including Dave Calloway, Ian Evans, Chris Hoover, Craig Haggart, Thomas Nguyen and Howard Page, were recently honored at a SLAC Service Awards program for employees who had completed 10 years of service during 2001. Jonathan Dorfan, SLAC Director, congratulated the honorees for their contributions and presented each with a service pin and a gift. While 10 years of service for these individuals or any other SSRL staffers cannot be easily summed up, we do know that Ian, SSRL's Safety Officer, has reviewed upwards of 5,290 experiments for safety concerns during his tenure, and Dave, Chris, Craig, Thomas and Howard, members of the behind-the-scenes Accelerator Operations group responsible for keeping beam in SPEAR, have steered a lot of beam and logged in thousands of shift reports.\nThe last two weeks of 2001 were marked by the closure of Beam Line 2 for vacuum reasons. During the December 10-11 Accelerator Physics period the BL2 moveable mask was being cycled normally when a leak in the bellows that allows the vertical motion of this water-cooled copper mask occurred. The initial indications were that BL2 tripped closed on a vacuum fault with a subsequent SPEAR vacuum fault. Vacuum personnel immediately mobilized and the Accelerator Physics program was terminated to find the source of the leak. It was at this time that the leak was isolated to the BL2 mask bellows. A temporary repair was effected by spraying the bellows with a vacuum sealant. Since further cycling of the bellows would almost certainly have reopened the leak and vented SPEAR, the decision was made to leave the beam line closed until more permanent repairs could be made.\nMinimizing the impact on users on other lines and bringing BL2 back up as soon as possible required that we be in a position to replace the bellows at the beginning of the 2001 Holiday shutdown, basically giving the lab two weeks to prepare. This would allow the Holiday shutdown period to be used for pumping the quadrant of SPEAR that had to be vented. Building a new mask in two weeks time seemed out of the question so we removed an unused mask from Beam Line 7 and modified it to fit Beam Line 2. The Accelerator Department managed to finish preparations with two days to spare and the beam was shut down early on Friday, December 21, for installation. Since this is a part of the Machine and Personnel Protection Systems (PPS), SSRL staff were required to come in between Christmas and New Year's Day to certify proper operation of the mask. BL2 was then opened for operation on January 2 along with all the other beam lines. Initial lifetimes were degraded but the normal lifetimes were recovered after the first 24 hours of operation with beam.\nAs we find news highlights that involve research done at SSRL or other items, we will provide links (or citations if not available on line) in SSRL HEADLINES where we feel that these articles will be of interest to the SSRL community, our users or our sponsoring agencies. Please let us know if you become aware of any \"news\" that can be highlighted in this section.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Four convictions motivate this paper.1 First, nuclear power could make a significant contribution to climate change mitigation. To do so, however, nuclear power would have to be deployed extensively, including in the developing world. A “one-tier” world will be required – that is, a world with an agreed set of rules to govern nuclear power that are the same in all countries.\nSecond, the world is not now safe for a rapid global expansion of nuclear energy. Nuclear-energy use today relies on technologies and a system of national governance of the nuclear fuel cycle that carry substantial risks of nuclear weapons proliferation. There are still more than 20,000 nuclear weapons in the world, and in the current international system, nations see these weapons as instruments of power and sources of prestige. These nations have competing interests and long-standing conflicts. There are also subnational groups that resort to force. The risks that a global expansion of nuclear power will facilitate nuclear proliferation and incidents of nuclear terrorism, or even lead to regional nuclear war, are significant. Nuclear war is a terrible trade for slowing the pace of climate change.\nThird, a world considerably safer for nuclear power could emerge as a co-benefit of the nuclear disarmament process. The national-security community is currently engaged, to an unprecedented degree, in seeking progress toward nuclear disarmament. A by-product of this process could be different technology choices and innovations in the governance of nuclear power – notably, a halt to spent-fuel reprocessing to separate plutonium as well as multinational ownership and control of uranium enrichment facilities. These developments could begin to decouple nuclear power from nuclear weapons.\nFinally, the next decade is critical. While several approaches to climate change mitigation are available for immediate, rapid scale-up, nuclear power could be so in maybe 10 years, provided the coming decade is used to establish adequate technologies and new norms of governance. Nuclear power ought to be deployed seriously as a mitigation strategy only when and if it can provide a sustainable contribution. The world will not benefit if nuclear power’s contribution is withdrawn a decade or two after global scale-up begins, as a result of flaws related to its coupling to nuclear weapons.\nThere are 3,000 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere today, about 800 billion tons more than there were 200 years ago. For centuries further back, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere was about constant: the forests and oceans and atmosphere were in approximate equilibrium. Disequilibrium is increasing with every passing year, as human beings bring carbon from deep underground to the surface (in fossil fuel) and burn it.\nThe climate science and policy communities have positioned warning lights between 3,500 and 4,000 billion tons of CO2, levels that would be reached in 30 and 60 years, respectively, at today’s rate of growth. For such CO2 levels, although the most favorable outcomes could be benign, the worst outcomes could be catastrophic for human civilization, which has built many of its cities on coasts and has matched its choices of crops to relatively predictable snowmelt, rainfall, and temperature patterns. We are confronted with a risk-management problem of unprecedented complexity.\nEverything about climate change is global. The global atmosphere is well stirred and scarcely registers where CO2 is emitted. Demand for electricity and fuels is driven by middle-class consumption, which takes similar forms in countries with a wide range of per capita CO2 emissions.2 Electricity serving air conditioner compressors, computer circuits, incandescent lights, and appliances arrives along wires that, worldwide, run from power plants of only a few kinds. To be sure, nations differ in their endowments of resources; but, even so, a good strategy for mitigating climate change in one country will be a good strategy in many other countries.\nA “wedge model,” published in 2004, quantifies the task of global climate change mitigation.3 We human beings today emit 30 billion tons of CO2 per year by burning fossil fuels. We would emit 60 billion tons per year in 2050 if we were oblivious to climate change (the so-called business-as-usual world), and we can congratulate ourselves if we cut the anticipated 2050 emissions rate in half, emitting CO2 at the same rate in 2050 as today. A stabilization wedge is a campaign or strategy motivated by climate change (that is, not happening for other reasons) that results in 4 billion tons of CO2 per year not emitted in 2050.\nAvailable options for wedges include energy efficiency wedges, wind wedges, nuclear wedges, and wedges from CO2 capture and storage (CCS)– capturing the CO2 produced at coal plants and burying it deep below ground. About eight wedges are needed to pat ourselves on the back, and we can choose a portfolio of them in many ways. A portfolio of wedges is needed because solving climate change with only one or two kinds of wedges is close to impossible. Moreover, there are enough options for the portfolio that none is indispensable. Thus, climate change mitigation can succeed without nuclear power, or any other single option, at some increased overall cost for mitigation.4\nA nuclear wedge is equivalent to 700 large base load nuclear power plants on the scene in 2050 and 700 equally large base load coal plants not built.5 The world has the equivalent of about 350 large nuclear plants today, so phasing out nuclear power in favor of coal power is minus half a wedge.\nArguments for giving priority to climate change mitigation are uncomfortable bedfellows with arguments for nuclear power. The dissonance arises among a political constituency, particularly powerful in Europe, for which mitigating climate change is seen as an opportunity for pursuing deep changes in social and economic structures and in values – away from consumerism and centralized authority. To meet this aspiration, climate policy often promotes wind power, solar thermal and solar photoelectric power, and other forms of renewables, relative to nuclear energy. This perspective also underpins the climate-policy focus on energy efficiency as a way to reduce global energy demand.\nOn the other hand, putting a price on CO2 emissions as a way to mitigate climate change helps nuclear power. Roughly, an emissions price of $20 per ton of CO2 gives nuclear power a 2¢/ kWh boost relative to power from coal and a 1¢/kWh boost relative to power from natural gas – in both cases assuming that these fossil fuel plants vent rather than capture and store CO2.6 Moreover, serious CO2 management may be accompanied by support for accelerated electrification of the economy to reduce dispersed emissions from transportation and space heating, which would increase overall demand for electric power.\nIn this paper we consider a nuclear future where 1,500 GW of base load nuclear power is deployed in 2050. A nuclear fleet of this size would contribute about one wedge, if the power plant that would have been built instead of the nuclear plant has the average CO2 emissions per kilowatt hour of all operating plants, which might be half of the value for a coal plant.7 Base load power of 1,500 GW would contribute one fourth of total electric power in a business-as-usual world that produced 50,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity per year, two-and-a-half times the global power consumption today.8 However, in a world focused on climate change mitigation, one would expect massive global investments in energy efficiency – more efficient motors, compressors, lighting, and circuit boards – that by 2050 could cut total electricity demand in half, relative to business as usual. In such a world, 1,500 GW of nuclear power would provide half of the power.\nWe can get a feel for the geopolitical dimension of climate change mitigation from the widely cited scenarios by the International Energy Agency (IEA) presented annually in its World Energy Outlook (WEO),9 even though these now go only to 2030. The WEO 2008 estimates energy, electricity, and CO2 emissions by region. Its 2030 world emits 40.5 billion tons of CO2, 45 percent from electric power plants. The countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) emit less than one third of total global fossil fuel emissions and less than one third of global emissions from electric power production. By extrapolation, at midcentury the OECD could contribute only one quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.\nIt is hard for Western analysts to grasp the importance of these numbers. The focus of climate change mitigation today is on leadership from the OECD countries, which are wealthier and more risk averse. But within a decade, the targets under discussion today can be within reach only if mitigation is in full gear in those parts of the developing world that share production and consumption patterns with the industrialized world.\nThe map (see Figure 1) shows a hypothetical global distribution of nuclear power in the year 2050 based on a high-nuclear scenario proposed in a widely cited MIT report published in 2003.10 Three-fifths of the nuclear capacity in 2050 as stated in the MIT report is located in the OECD, and more nuclear power is deployed in the United States in 2050 than in the whole world today. The worldview underlying these results is pessimistic about electricity growth rates for key developing countries, relative to many other sources. Notably, per capita electricity consumption in almost every developing country remains below 4,000 kWh per year in 2050, which is one-fifth of the assumed U.S. value for the same year. Such a ratio would startle many analysts today – certainly many in China.\nThe Geography of a Hypothetical Nuclear Expansion to 1,500 GWe\nIn this scenario, 58 countries would be using nuclear energy, but only about 40 percent of the capacity would be in non-OECD countries. Source: Based on information from The Future of Nuclear Power (MIT, 2003).\nIt is well within limits of credulity that nuclear power in 2050 could be nearly absent from the United States and the European Union and at the same time widely deployed in several of the countries rapidly industrializing today. Such a bifurcation could emerge, for example, if public opposition to nuclear power in the United States and Europe remains powerful enough to prevent nuclear expansion, while elsewhere, perhaps where modernization and geopolitical considerations trump other concerns, nuclear power proceeds vigorously. It may be that the United States and other countries of the OECD will have substantial leverage over the development of nuclear power for only a decade or so.\nChange will not happen overnight. Since 2006, almost 50 countries that today have no nuclear power plants have approached the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for assistance, and many of them have announced plans to build one or more reactors by 2020. Most of these countries, however, are not currently in a good position to do so. Many face important technical and economic constraints, such as grid capacity, electricity demand, or GDP. Many have too few trained nuclear scientists and engineers, or lack an adequate regulatory framework and related legislation, or have not yet had a public debate about the rationale for the project. Overall, the iaea has estimated that “for a State with little developed technical base the implementation of the first [nuclear power plant] would, on average, take about 15 years.”11 This lead time constrains rapid expansion of nuclear energy today.\nA wedge of nuclear power is, necessarily, nuclear power deployed widely – including in regions that are politically unstable today. If nuclear power is sufficiently unattractive in such a deployment scenario, nuclear power is not on the list of solutions to climate change.\nNuclear power is not just another wedge. Briefly, here are some of the many distinctive attributes of nuclear power:\n- Time-tested. Relative to competing wedges like renewable energy and CCS, nuclear power has been in place longer. Commercial nuclear power has been deployed for about 50 years and today is found in 30 countries. Deployment is highly concentrated, however; 10 countries operate more than 80 percent of all power reactors.\n- Small physical flows. The thermal energy required to produce 1,000 MW of power for a year is released from the fission of only 1 ton of uranium in fuel produced from 200 tons of uranium, but from the burning of 3 million tons of coal. The flip side of compactness, of course, is that danger comes in very small packages: it takes only a few kilograms of fissile material to make a nuclear weapon.\n- Minimal CO2 emissions. About 90 percent of the CO2 is expected to be excluded from the atmosphere if coal power and gas power are combined with CO2 capture and storage. (The economic optimum percent, to be sure, depends on the CO2 emissions price.) In that case, the CO2 emissions from CCS power, nuclear power, and most forms of renewable energy are likely to be comparably small – all emitting less than 100 grams of CO2/kWh, one-tenth of the value for today’s coal plants.\n- Large, centralized plants with fixed output. To be economic, nuclear plants are large and connected to extensive electricity grids that distribute power over long distances. The power output of nuclear power plants is not easily ramped up and down, rendering it an inflexible component of an electric power system. The inflexibility of base load nuclear power and the intermittency of wind and solar energy share the feature that neither of these low-CO2 emitters can meet a time-varying demand for electric power without assistance from complementary systems: load-following and peaking plants and storage.\n- Safety makes all plants mutual hostages. The Three Mile Island and Chernobyl accidents of 1979 and 1986, respectively, taught the world that a nuclear power accident anywhere in the world affects the prospects for nuclear power everywhere. Nuclear energy is more “brittle” than other strategies to mitigate climate change, as one major future accident could overnight nullify the resources and time invested in nuclear power made up to that point.\n- Nuclear power plants are potential military targets. It is all too likely that a commercial nuclear power plant in a country at war would be attacked, with horrendous consequences. No taboo on such attacks exists today.12\n- Storage of spent fuel remains a problem. At the advent of nuclear power, its advocates promised that no future generation would need to attend to our wastes. That goal of early final disposal has proven to be overly ambitious. Today, the second best approach to the waste problem is interim dry-cask storage of nuclear spent fuel, now widely deployed, which provides a century-scale solution while the search for solutions that isolate nuclear wastes for millennia continues.\n- Coupling to nuclear weapons. With a nuclear power plant comes a fuel cycle, with a front-end that can require uranium isotope enrichment and a back-end that can entail the separation of plutonium and its insertion into commerce. Both the front- and back-end present significant and enduring challenges.\nFor the rest of this paper, we focus only on the last of these aspects of nuclear power. In our view, the fact that nuclear power is coupled to nuclear weapons is the most disabling attribute of global nuclear power at the present time.\nSeparated plutonium and highly enriched uranium are the key ingredients for making nuclear weapons. It is widely accepted that the production or acquisition of these fissile materials is the most difficult, visible, and time-consuming step in the proliferation process. Reprocessing and enrichment under national control essentially removes this obstacle and offers – intended or not – important latent proliferation capabilities.\nRegarding reprocessing and plutonium recycle, the world is now divided. Six countries reprocess their commercial spent fuel today. France, India, Japan, and Russia are deeply committed to reprocessing; China operates a pilot reprocessing plant and is contemplating commercial reprocessing today; and the United Kingdom is on the verge of abandoning reprocessing. The United States does not reprocess civilian spent fuel nor does it introduce plutonium into its power plants, policies established under Presidents Ford and Carter.\nThe principal arguments against plutonium recycling are that separation, stockpiling, transport, and use of plutonium create risks of diversion to military purposes and risks of theft, the latter being of particular concern in the context of efforts to prevent nuclear terrorism. Compared to other types of nuclear facilities, reprocessing plants are extremely difficult and costly to safeguard.\nThe bar graph (see Figure 2) shows the quantities of separated plutonium in the world today. Civilian-separated plutonium and military-separated plutonium are both roughly equal at about 250 tons.13 Military plutonium is in two categories: material in the weapons complex and material declared “excess” as a result of reductions from previous warhead levels. The bar graph also shows the substantial further reductions in military plutonium associated with nuclear weapons if the world’s weapons stockpile is reduced first to 15,000 and then 4,000 warheads.14 In this process, additional military stocks would become excess and would need to be disposed of. Over time, unless reprocessing of civilian spent fuel swiftly draws to a close, the world can expect to become increasingly preoccupied with latent proliferation and “breakout” 15 associated with civilian-separated plutonium – even if nuclear power does not expand significantly. A global nuclear power expansion with reprocessing makes matters much worse.\nMilitary- and Civilian-Separated Plutonium Today, and Military Plutonium in Weapons in a Disarming World\nWe assume an average of 4 kg of plutonium per warhead and a working stock of 20 percent. Civilian stockpiles are based on the latest declarations for the beginning of 2008. The current military stockpile carries an error bar of plus or minus 25 tons, largely because of the uncertainties in the estimate of Russia’s inventory. Source: Based on information from International Panel on Fissile Materials, Global Fissile Material Report 2009 (Princeton, N.J.:I PFM, forthcoming).\nSo far, no country that decided to pursue commercial reprocessing has managed to balance the rates of separation and use of plutonium, which has led to a continuous increase of civilian plutonium inventories over the past decades – hypothetically enough for more than 30,000 weapons.16 The flow of plutonium could be enormous in a world with much more nuclear energy. The 2003 MIT report works out the plutonium flows for a scenario with 1,500 GW of nuclear power where 40 percent of total capacity is from breeder reactors.17 About 1,000 tons of plutonium would be separated from the spent fuel each year to fabricate new fuel for these reactors. The IAEA cannot reduce the overall uncertainty of measurements for the annual material balance in reprocessing plants much below 1 percent.18 Assuming that 20 large-scale reprocessing plants existed in this world, the uncertainty would be equivalent to 500 kg of plutonium every year for every plant – enough for 60 bombs per year from each of these plants. Within these margins, the IAEA would be unable to confirm with high confidence that all material is accounted for. It is hard to see how these flows and levels of uncertainty could ever be acceptable, in particular with fuel cycles under national control.\nMany discussions of a potential global nuclear expansion posit that uranium resources will run short unless the world moves to the “closed” fuel cycle. In the case of the once-through fuel cycle, as noted above, about 200 tons of uranium are mined and purified for every ton of material fissioned each year in a 1GW reactor. This “inefficiency” has plagued nuclear engineers and reactor designers from the very beginning of the nuclear era. Already in 1944, a group of eminent scientists of the U.S. Manhattan Project devised the concept of the breeder reactor, which would produce more fuel than it consumes, because they were concerned that uranium might be too scarce to build even a small number of bombs.19 And since the 1950s, several countries have launched plutonium breeder reactor programs, motivated in part by concern that deposits of high-grade natural uranium ore might become scarce as nuclear power expanded.20\nThe argument for reprocessing based on the scarcity of uranium, however, is a weak one. Plutonium fuels will remain non-competitive compared to uranium fuels until the price of uranium increases to more than $500/kg of uranium, about four times its price today.21 The estimated global reserve is sufficient to fuel thousands of reactors. Even with a major expansion of nuclear power, availability and price of uranium will not significantly affect the viability or competitiveness of the once-through fuel cycle through 2050 and probably even beyond.\nUnlike reprocessing, uranium enrichment is an essential part of the nuclear fuel cycle today.22 As with reprocessing, however, even a relatively small enrichment plant is sufficiently large to support a significant military program. A standard 1 GW reactor requires about 20 tons per year of low-enriched uranium (LEU), which in turn requires 200 tons of natural uranium input to an enrichment plant. The same enrichment plant (the size that Brazil and Iran are currently building) with the same natural uranium input can be used to produce about 600 kg per year of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium (HEU), enough for 25 to 50 weapons per year.\nCentrifuge enrichment plants now dominate the modern nuclear fuel cycle, even though it was always understood that the technology is highly proliferation prone.23 They can be converted quickly from production of LEU to production of HEU.24 And they can be built clandestinely, a primary concern with Iran’s program today.\nEven if we assume that the accumulation of separated plutonium can be stopped in a world with a greater role for nuclear power, we are left with the problem of the spread of other sensitive nuclear-fuel-cycle technology (notably, centrifuge enrichment) to non-weapons states. Multinational ownership and control of sensitive fuel-cycle facilities would therefore seem to be a necessary element of a world where nuclear power is deployed widely but risks of nuclear war and nuclear terrorism are smaller than today.\nCan nuclear power be decoupled from nuclear weapons? From the very beginning of the nuclear age, it was understood that allowing nuclear facilities to operate under national control, even under international monitoring, carried serious risks. Nonetheless, civilian nuclear energy use and related proliferation risks received little attention for the first 25 years, while the nuclear arms race of the two superpowers was unfolding and the weapons programs in other countries were largely unconstrained.\nThe debate over alternative, multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle first engaged the world in the mid-1970s, and is now with us again.25 The nuclear industry, however, has traditionally been reluctant to acknowledge the connection between civilian and military use of nuclear energy. The Director General of the World Nuclear Association, an industry lobby group, recently said, “[T]he global non-proliferation and safeguards system effectively curtails any link between civil and military programs.”26 He added, “[W]hatever proliferation risk we face would be unaffected even by a 20-fold increase in the global use of safeguarded nuclear reactors.”\nWhat degree of decoupling of nuclear power from nuclear weapons could be accomplished with multilateral approaches? To answer this question, one must consider the points of view of both providers and recipients of nuclear technology.27\nNuclear-supplier states and today’s nuclear-weapons states emphasize the objectives of preventing the further spread of sensitive nuclear technologies and of ensuring that they are used only for peaceful purposes where they remain. Many states, however – in particular, recipient and non-weapons states – have different priorities. For them to support and participate in multilateral approaches and to forgo research and development of certain elements of the fuel cycle, they require specific incentives. Increased energy security through fuel assurances is often not one of them, because most states are already satisfied with the current market structure characterized by several independent and reliable fuel suppliers. The interests of many recipient states lie elsewhere.\nAmong many non-weapons states, there is broad dissatisfaction with the status and prospects of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Their priority is limiting any differential nuclear weapons capability in their region, but they are also unhappy about the implementation of Articles IV and VI, which define rights and obligations with respect to peaceful use and disarmament.28 The current system of supplier states, which is based in the nuclear-weapons states and a few closely allied countries, is seen as a major expression of a distorted implementation of Article IV.\nSome proposals for multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle tend to increase this tension further by creating a two-tier world of “suppliers” and “users.” But other approaches recognize this dilemma. They envision a more active role for non-weapons states in the supplier market, for example, featuring participation in multinational enrichment plants.\nFuel-cycle facilities under multinational ownership and control are not a silver bullet, but they offer several important advantages vis-à-vis plants under national control. At a minimum, multinational plants can serve as a confidence-building measure through regional cooperation and make breakout politically more costly. Moreover, if sensitive technologies are used on a “black-box” basis, as they often are today in the case of centrifuge enrichment plants even in weapons states, participants would not unnecessarily acquire latent proliferation capabilities. Over time, multinational ownership and control could therefore alleviate concerns about parallel clandestine programs.\nIn support of sustainable one-tier arrangements, multinational ownership of fuel-cycle facilities in the nuclear weapons states and supplier states will be a necessary complement to similar arrangements in non-weapons states and recipient states. Eventually, conversion of all existing national enrichment plants to multinational ownership and control will be required. Enrichment providers will not easily cede control of their existing facilities and place them in a new, and initially uncertain, institutional framework. However, if nuclear disarmament proceeds and deeper cuts in nuclear arsenals are agreed upon, the weapons states – all of which have built or are building large-scale uranium enrichment plants – would themselves have strong incentives to embrace multinational controls as a way to constrain national breakout capabilities and reduce the risk of clandestine enrichment plants.\nNuclear power will confront two major tests in the coming decade. First, issues related to coupling to weapons must be resolved. Second, the cost of nuclear electricity must be demonstrated to be competitive. How should this next decade be used? We identify four priorities.\nFirst, to address the coupling to weapons, the once-through fuel cycle must become the norm. The trend of accumulating stockpiles of civilian plutonium must be stopped and reversed. Current reprocessing must be phased out so that there are no additions to the massive overhangs of separated plutonium now in place in countries that have been reprocessing, and work toward the safe disposal of existing separated plutonium stocks must begin. Moreover, all enrichment plants must be brought under effective multinational ownership and control.\nSecond, to improve the competitiveness of nuclear power relative to other sources of energy supply, reductions in construction and operating costs will be required. Broadly based sharing of information about the construction of new nuclear power plants is in the interest of the industry; such sharing should result in a firm understanding of the costs when best practices are pursued.29 Similarly, plant operation procedures for both new and existing plants (including operator training) could be coordinated internationally beyond the levels today.\nNot much new capacity is likely to be added to the grid in this decade,30 but the bottlenecks that today thwart expansion must be addressed. These include production of pressure vessels and other distinctive high-technology components, trained people, and regulatory and legal frameworks. To promote innovation and reduce concerns about the safety of older plants worldwide, incentives that today strongly favor plant-life extension should be revised in favor of retirement and new construction.\nThird, during the coming decade, the social contract between the nuclear industry and the public regarding burdening future generations with the management of nuclear waste must be renegotiated, so that interim storage of nuclear waste can become the option of choice for at least several decades. Drycask storage can be widely implemented. Development and exploration of potential sites for long-term geologic disposal of nuclear wastes can continue, but with reduced pressure to authorize long-term repositories.31\nFinally, research and development undertaken in the next one or two decades must support the transition to a nuclear fuel cycle compatible with nuclear energy on a larger scale and in more countries.32 Some of this activity must explore advanced safeguards techniques and further expand the idea of safeguards-by-design, which recognizes that plant design can “facilitate or frustrate” IAEA safeguards efforts.33\nWe end with four questions that we believe deserve much more discussion, and we provide tentative answers.\nWill nuclear energy fare better in a world where climate change is a priority? Not necessarily. Climate change policy could handicap fossil fuels but forcefully promote renewable energy and efficiency. Nuclear power’s short-term fate depends more on other factors, notably capital and operating costs, safety record, coupling to nuclear militarization, and the overall sense of competence and responsibility that the industry projects.\nCan we have much more nuclear energy without nuclear disarmament? Only with great difficulty. A multilateral nuclear disarmament process might be the most effective way – perhaps the only way – for states to move away from enrichment and reprocessing plants under national control. Proposals for multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle need to take the nuclear disarmament process, rather than traditional nuclear nonproliferation efforts, as their main frame of reference.\nCan we have nuclear energy in a nuclear-weapons-free world? A nuclear-weapons-free world would be more stable and more secure without nuclear energy. But a new framework for the nuclear fuel cycle could make nuclear energy compatible with a nuclear-weapons-free world.\nWill the nuclear power cure for climate change be worse than the disease? Every “solution” to climate change can be done badly or well. Done badly, it can be worse than the disease. Making climate change the world’s exclusive priority is therefore dangerous. It results in an overemphasis on speed of transformation of the current energy system and a dismissal of the very large risks of going too fast. Looming over energy efficiency is the shadow of excessive regimentation; over renewables, land-use conflicts (with food, biodiversity, and wilderness values); over carbon dioxide capture and storage, the environmental abuses that continue to characterize the fossil fuel industries; and over geoengineering, granting excessive authority to a technocracy. Looming over nuclear power is nuclear war.\nThe upper limits of climate change are terrifying, amounting to a loss of control of the climate system as positive feedbacks of various kinds set in. Nonetheless, at this moment, and conceding that such calculations can only embody the most subjective of considerations, we judge the hazard of aggressively pursuing a global expansion of nuclear power today to be worse than the hazard of slowing the attack on climate change by whatever increment such caution entails.\nIf over the next decade the world demonstrates that it can do nuclear power well, a global expansion of nuclear power would have to be – indeed, should be – seriously reexamined.\n1 The authors have benefited from numerous suggestions from Zia Mian. We are also indebted to Jan Beyea, Harold Feiveson, Steven Fetter, José Goldemberg, Robert Goldston, Robert Keohane, Scott Sagan, Sharon Squassoni, and Frank von Hippel for close readings of an earlier draft.\n2 Shoibal Chakravarty, Ananth Chikkatur, Heleen de Coninck, Stephen Pacala, Robert Socolow, and Massimo Tavoni, “Sharing Global CO2 Emission Reductions among One Billion High Emitters,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106 (29) (2009): 11884–11888; www.pnas.org/content/106/29/11884.\n3 Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow, “Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years with Current Technologies,” Science 305 (2004): 968–972. Here, we slightly redefine a wedge to refer to 4 billion tons of CO2 per year not emitted in 2050, versus 1 billion tons of carbon not emitted in 50 years in the 2004 paper.\n4 For the purposes of this paper it is a detail that the center of gravity of discussions since wedges were introduced in 2004 has moved toward tougher targets. The “two-degrees” target widely discussed today – an average surface temperature rise limited to 2°C greater than its pre-industrial value – requires that global CO2 emissions fall to half of today’s value by 2050. For such a tough target, less than 10 percent of the job is done by one wedge.\n5 We define a large plant to be one with a capacity of 1,000 MW, that is, 1 GWe, and base load to mean operating 8,000 hours per year. Our reference base load coal plant, somewhat more efficient than the coal plant one can build today, emits 800 grams of CO2 for every kilowatt-hour of electricity, or 6.4 million tons of CO2 per year. The nuclear plant displacing the coal plant has life cycle emissions of about 50 grams of CO2/kWh; its carbon intensity is 16 times less than a coal plant. Rounding off, 700 nuclear plants emit 4 billion tons less a year than 700 coal plants.\n7 Think of a nuclear plant displacing a coal plant half the time and a carbon-free renewable power plant the other half of the time, or, equivalently, a nuclear plant displacing a natural gas plant. Confirming this view, in 2006 the carbon intensity of average power was 56 percent of the carbon intensity of coal power; International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook 2008 (Paris: OECD/IEA, 2008), www.worldenergyoutlook.org.\n10 The Future of Nuclear Power (MIT, 2003), web.mit.edu/nuclearpower. In MIT’s high-nuclear scenario, 14,100 TWh of nuclear power are produced in 2050, which corresponds to 1,760 GW of base load power running 8,000 hours per year. The MIT report calculates 1,609 GW of “equivalent capacity” by assuming constant output throughout the 8,760 hours of the year. The map rescales the mit totals to 1,500 GW of base load power to match the deployment scale chosen here.\n12 Several nuclear reactors were attacked and destroyed while under construction (that is, without risking radiological contamination): Iraq attacked Iran’s Busher reactors during the Iraq-Iran War; Israel destroyed Iraq’s Osirak research reactor in 1981 and perhaps another reactor in Syria in August 2007. Attacks on operational reactors were also considered. In 1991, Iraq fired a Scud missile with a cement warhead at Israel, apparently in an attempt to damage the Dimona reactor. The United States considered destruction of North Korea’s Yongbyon reactor in the early 1990s to prevent plutonium recovery from the irradiated fuel in the core. India and Pakistan are a notable exception: they have signed an agreement not to attack each other’s nuclear installations in the case of war.\n13 Separated means unaccompanied by large amounts of radioactivity, and therefore relatively easily accessed. Today, more than 1,500 tons of civilian plutonium have not been separated and are still in spent fuel.\n14 Under the planned START Follow-on Treaty, the United States and Russia have agreed to reduce their strategic nuclear warheads to 1,500–1,675 by 2016. According to estimates by the Federation of American Scientists, however, each country is expected to retain a total of about 7,000 warheads since they will continue to have non-strategic warheads, weapons in reserve, and weapons awaiting dismantlement. The global stockpile of nuclear weapons could therefore be on the order of 15,000 warheads. In a subsequent reduction, the United States and Russia might reduce to 1,000–1,500 total warheads on each side, which could correspond to 4,000 nuclear weapons worldwide.\n15 Breakout describes a scenario in which a host state begins production of fissile materials for weapons purposes (without concealing this effort) at a facility that was previously used for peaceful purposes.\n16 International Panel on Fissile Materials, Global Fissile Material Report 2008 (Princeton, N.J.: IPFM, October 2008), Appendix 1A; www.ipfmlibrary.org/gfmr08.pdf. Germany is the only country that managed to stabilize and gradually draw down its plutonium stockpile after having stopped shipping spent fuel for reprocessing (in France and the United Kingdom) in 2005.\n17 This is a balanced thermal and fast reactor system in which the plutonium generated in the spent fuel from the fleet of light water reactors is used to fuel a fleet of fast reactors operated in a burner mode. The Future of Nuclear Power, Appendix Chapter 4, 124–126.\n18 Shirley Johnson, The Safeguards at Reprocessing Plants under a Fissile Material (Cutoff) Treaty, IPFM Research Report 6 (IPFM, February 2009), www.ipfmlibrary.org/rr06.pdf.\n20 Thomas B. Cochran, Harold A. Feiveson, Frank von Hippel, Walt Patterson, Gennadi Pshakin, M. V. Ramana, Mycle Schneider, and Tatsujiro Suzuki, Fast Breeder Programs: History and Status, IPFM Research Report 8 (IPFM, forthcoming).\n21 For this estimate, we assume typical transaction costs for the various steps of the fuel fabrication process, in particular $1,000/kg and $1,500/kg for reprocessing and MOX fuel fabrication. For the methodology, see The Future of Nuclear Power, Appendix Chapter 5.D. Our value for reprocessing is conservative. For example, the levelized cost of reprocessing at Japan’s new reprocessing plant is about $3,750/kg. In general, fuel costs of nuclear energy are small compared to capital costs. Costs of standard LEU fuel add up to about 0.9¢/kWh, which is on the order of 10 to 20 percent of the levelized cost of electricity from nuclear energy.\n22 The most common reactor type requires LEU (3 to 5 percent uranium-235, as compared to 0.7 percent of this isotope in naturally occurring uranium). LEU is not usable for weapons, but the same enrichment facility can in principle produce weapons-grade HEU(for instance, 90 percent uranium-235). In principle, nuclear energy can be deployed and used without relying on enrichment or reprocessing. For example, Canada’s original CANDU reactor design, which is natural-uranium fueled and heavy-water moderated and cooled, requires about 25 percent less uranium than a typical light water reactor.\n23 More than 25 years ago, Allan S. Krass and coauthors recommended a shift toward proliferation- resistant enrichment technology, with plants operated under the authority of an International Nuclear Fuel Agency (INFA). With regard to centrifuge technology, they concluded: “Unfortunately . . . a number of operating facilities already exist. Preferably, these facilities should be shut down and dismantled”; Allan Krass, Peter Boskma, Boelie Elzen, and Wim A. Smit, Uranium Enrichment and Nuclear Weapon Proliferation (London and New York: Taylor & Francis/Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 1983); free electronic access at books.sipri.org. Besides centrifuge enrichment technology, there is now also renewed interest in laser isotope separation (LIS), a technology that has been explored off and on since the 1970s as a “next-generation” process for uranium enrichment. In July 2009, Global Laser Enrichment, a joint venture, submitted a license application for a large laser-enrichment plant in the United States; if it decides to move forward, it wishes to begin commercial operation in 2012. Little is known about the details of the LIS process, and no dedicated IAEA safeguards approach now exists. It is likely that the technology will raise proliferation concerns similar to those of centrifuges.\n25 The current debate gained momentum in October 2003 when The Economist published an article by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, in which he acknowledged the shortcomings of the current nonproliferation regime; “Towards a Safer World,” The Economist, October 16, 2003.\n26 John Ritch, The Necessity of Nuclear Power: A Global Human and Environmental Imperative, World Nuclear University, “Key Issues in Today’s World Nuclear Industry,” Balseiro Institute, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, March 10, 2008, www.world-nuclear.org.\n27 For detailed discussion, see: Multilateral Approaches to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Expert Group Report Submitted to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, INFCIRC/ 640 (Vienna, Austria: International Atomic Energy Agency, February 22, 2005); Alexander Glaser, Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, ICNND Research Paper No. 9, February 2009; and Y. Yudin, Multilateralization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Assessing the Existing Proposals (New York and Geneva: United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, 2009).\n28 From this perspective, Article IV is particularly unbalanced. Besides guaranteeing the “inalienable right . . . to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination,” Article Ⅳ also specifies that states with advanced nuclear technologies should cooperate in contributing to “the further development of the applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially in the territories of nonnuclear-weapon States Party to the Treaty.”\n30 A new study by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences estimates that “as many as five to nine new nuclear plants could be built in the United States by 2020.” The National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, America’s Energy Future: Technology and Transformation, Summary Edition (Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press, 2009), 112; http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12710.\n32 For example, increasing the burn-up of standard LEU fuel could improve overall economics of the once-through fuel cycle and also reduce uranium requirements to some degree. Using thorium fuel in new light water reactor types as a partial substitute for standard LEU fuel could be another productive field of mid-term research. If implemented sensibly, thorium use would also reduce the total amount of plutonium embedded in spent fuel from light water reactors and perhaps reduce some proliferation concerns of the once-through fuel cycle.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The Crystallisation Crucible is a crafting machine added by GregTech 6. It creates Silicon and Redstone Alloy Boules from molten Silicon or Redstone Alloy, Silicon or Redstone Alloy Dust, and a noble gas. It is required for creating circuits.\nThe Crystallisation Crucible is powered by heat or HU provided by a burning box or electric heater.\nRecipe[edit | edit source]\nUsage[edit | edit source]\nThe Crystallization Crucible crafts a single Boule from four units of Silicon or Redstone Alloy, plus 1000L of a noble gas (one of Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, or Radon, obtained by centrifuging compressed air cells). The four units of material are provided as one tiny dust plus the remainder (560L) as molten material. The Crucible may also craft nine Boules in one extended operation, if provided with one normal dust, 35 units (5040L) of molten material, and 9000L of noble gas.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "BRUSSELS, Belgium_The European Commission urged EU nations Tuesday to force airlines to cut carbon dioxide emissions to help bring down greenhouse gases in line with the 1997 Kyoto treaty.\nEU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said EU nations may miss the 2012 emission targets unless further measures are taken to bring down greenhouse gases.\n\"I therefore urge them to do this swiftly,\" he told a news conference.\nDimas said emissions from the EU's 15 most industrialized nations - including Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands - in 2005 were 2 percent below those of 1990.\nHe estimated this will rise to 7.4 percent below by 2010, just shy of the Kyoto treaty's ultimate target of an 8 percent cut by 2012.\nTo make that happen, Dimas has proposed forcing airlines to contribute to the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions. Currently exempted, the airline industry opposes his suggestion, now being debated by EU governments.\nEU officials say the 15 most industrialized EU nations can cut greenhouse gases by 11.4 percent by 2012 if the airlines participate in meeting Kyoto targets, and if tax breaks and incentives such as traffic congestion charges for cars are implemented.\nAt a Dec. 3-14 climate conference in Bali, the EU will push for a 'roadmap' for a new UN climate change agreement to succeed the Kyoto treaty that expires in 2012.\nEU officials said the ambition must be to halve global greenhouse gases emissions by 2050 from the 1990 level.\nIn a series of reports leading up to the Bali conference, a U.N. panel of scientists has called global warming \"unequivocal,\" forcing sea levels up and threatening water and food supplies.\nOn Tuesday, EU officials welcomed the plan of Australia's incoming government to ratify the Kyoto agreement after a decade on the sidelines with the United States.\nEU officials, speaking privately, said they see a growing awareness in the United States and China to be more active in reigning in global warming.\nLast March, EU leaders pledged the EU would cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 if other developed countries do likewise. If not, the EU will cut its emissions by at least 20 percent by 2020.\nOn the Net:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Guest post by Francois Galgani, IFREMER\nBecause of its energy independence, its long-duration persistence and its cost-effective operation, the Wave Glider platform is able to collect and transmit data over distances of thousands of miles across wide geographic areas and specific areas of interest and operation. Many applications have been described but to date, the use of video has not been tested for regular and long distance surveys. A first application of video camera to monitor surface/subsurface marine litter at sea was tested in 2013 (Galgani et al., 2013), using a a HD GoPro HERO2 Long-Play camera in resistant tube fixed on ballast, sea surface oriented to enable observation in the 0-4.5 meters subsurface layer. A speed never above 1.5 knots and the immersion of the camera provided consistent and stable images along straights routes.\nDuring an additional experiment performed recently by IFREMER and Lamma using a Wave Glider (SV3 066, Lamma/IFREMER), the video system was replaced by a camera in order to facilitate the management and storage of data (images) and to support the future development of a data screening system using an image analysis software.\nThe robustness of the system was tested in July 2018 during a 4.5 day survey, and retested in 2019 in a large pelagic protected area (Pelagos Sanctuary, North Western Mediterranean Sea; analysis of 2019 data in progress).\nIn order to save space and autonomy, the prototype camera was supplied on board through a solar panel, allowing continuous use. The choice was made to shoot in “Photo” mode using a GoPro HERO3, with an acquisition every 7 seconds to limit the number of images, enabling full coverage of the track without overlapping images. The camera (256 GB memory card) was mounted on the sub ballast, oriented at 45° for a surface coverage of 12.4 meters in width.\nGood quality images were obtained enabling observations of both litter and large planktonic organisms or fish. Approximately 45,000 images were obtained over a period of 4.5 days (images taken between 07:00 and 21:00).\nIn July 2018, a survey was performed to test the possible long range survey of subsurface marine litter. The survey was possible with consistent data and 45,000 stable images recorded, enabling an assessment of marine debris in the sub surface layer (0-4.5m). 6 debris per km2 were counted, in the range of visual observations (Suaria et al., 2017).\nResults showed the possible long-term and large scale utilization of the Wave Glider as a tool for monitoring marine litter. It is well adapted to cover large coastal or oceanic zones, including large MPAs, to monitor surface (0-4.5m) debris, and demonstrates strong potential for remote areas.\nLearn more about the work IFREMER does to understand our oceans.\nPhotos: S.D’entrecolas and F. Galgani/IFREMER", "label": "No"}
{"text": "I don't entirely understand the why, but here is what I do know. The main reason for this convention is that F2-F1 gives a plot where the X axis better matches tongue position in back round vowels. The problem with bare F2 is that it makes vowels positions slope to the right as you go up (with [u o ɔ] not matching [ɯ ɤ ʌ]), but F2-F1 makes the back round vowels track actual tongue position, so that they slope to the left. The exact reason for this is somewhat mysterious to me.\nPart of the mysterious nature of the relationship between formants, tongue position and vowel charts comes from the traditional habit of thinking of vowel articulations as being a governed by two independent factors. However, a lifetime of work by Fant and others has demonstrated that a better model is a tube with a constriction, so there is as a first approximation only one factor (the second approximation adds differences in tube length, as a function of lip protrusion).\nRounding lengthens the tube, which lowers all formants. The effect of rounding is greatest on F2, and it is greatest in back vowels. This bit of subtractive magic has the effect of \"figuring out\" what the lowering contribution of rounding is, and mostly removing it from the vowel plot. What is left, then, is an X value more based on tongue position, rather than the total length of the front tube.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Rainbows always capture our imaginations, and we've started a story about one on this worksheet - the kids just need to carry it on...\nRainbow Story Starter\nTrace the outlines of the rainbow on this tracing page – fun for a weather-themed pencil control activity. Kids can colour in the rainbow after tracing the outline!\nHere's a fun printable about a rather interesting puddle, to encourage some creative writing. We've started the story - all the children have to do is write down what happens next!", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Exploring Lake Superior: Researching the water and waves\nTrue to Gitche Gumee’s character, a day spent on the UMD research vessel Blue Heron required preparation for all weather conditions.\n“We’re just headed up kind of near Stoney Point today,” Craig Hill said.\nHill is an assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.\n“I’m from Minnesota,” he said. “I spent my summers in northern Minnesota, and being able to come here to Duluth and have some of my research and some of the teaching I do centered around Lake Superior and the Great Lakes is really something that I love to do.”\nOne of his research goals is to see how new, lower-cost systems work collecting data on the Great Lakes.\n“We’ve completely designed and built in-house a small observation buoy,” Hill explained. “It measures air temperature, water temperature, wave heights and directions, GPS coordinates.”\nHill called the Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler that was being dropped into Lake Superior the “underwater workhorse” of the project. It will record 20 minutes of data every hour for the next couple of months.\nCheaper devices might help researchers like Hill fill a data gap.\n“I think over the last 40 years, about 98% of the measurements we have on the surface of the water come during a six- or seven-month period,” he said. “So we really have a big data gap in the wintertime.”\nJonathan Book, a senior mechanical engineering student at UMD, helped build the device.\n“This is designed to be a low-cost buoy that you can put out there as long as you need to. If the ice wrecks it or you lose it in a storm, it’s not that big of a deal,” Book said.\nThe whole project has been student-led and went through several semesters of design. So Book was excited to be there when it went in the water.\n“This was one of the first things I really got to start working on in a formal manner, not just a little project at home,” he said. “And seeing it on the CAD model and seeing it in real life all put together out in the water, I mean, that’s pretty cool.”\nIt’s the kind of experience that can mold a career.\n“I used to be steering towards aerospace, but now I think I’m steering more towards marine,” Book said.\nThe Big Lake’s unpredictability presents a fun challenge too.\n“We’re completely at the mercy of Lake Superior,” Hill said. “You come out here hoping everything’s going to go smoothly, and really it’s like a small ocean when you’re out here. The waves got maybe 4 or 5 feet tall when we were out there, but that’s nothing compared to the storms we’ll get this fall.”\nWhether it’s foggy and choppy, as it was when the Blue Heron left the dock, or sunny and smooth like when it returned, Lake Superior influences many lives.\n“The more data we have, whether it’s about water quality or what the surface conditions are like, that data helps us make informed decisions,” Hill said. “You have to have a lot of respect for Lake Superior.”", "label": "No"}
{"text": "A sample of an essay on to kill a mockingbird about symbolism story, but for the messages concerning education, racism, and other problems of her time. The next time someone doesn't understand systemic prejudice, send them running processes and executing rule-based symbolic manipulation,” from stop & frisk to unarmed black men getting killed on a regular basis. Keywords: racism, comfort zone, symbolic/realistic threats breed, a (2014, december 7) police killing data filled with many unknowns retrieved from.\nFree essay: analyse how symbolism was used to convey an interesting idea in an extended written text prejudice, in the 1930s, was an. Bias: an inclination of temperament or outlook prejudice is, in a sense, a form of bias and to a police officer being put on the case of their spouse's murder bias has a far more nuanced meaning and expresses a more nuanced feeling,.\nPrejudice is an idea or opinion that is not based on fact, logic or actual experience in to kill a mockingbird by harper lee, some citizens look down on the. To kill someone without hesitation, mercy, or discernment the general warned the rebels that they must either surrender or be killed with extreme prejudice. A secondary school revision resource for gcse english literature about the themes in harper lee's to kill a mockingbird.\nPrejudice is an affective feeling towards a person or group member based solely on that person's group membership the word is often used to refer to. Play on the term “terminate with prejudice” when an employee's employment is terminated, meaning “will not rehire employee to same position in future” (ie, prejudiced against rehiring), hence “terminate definitively, ie, kill. Harper lee effectively uses symbolism throughout her novel, to kill a mockingbird tim johnson is another symbol of prejudice and his shooting by atticus is. Symbolism of the mockingbird in to kill a mockingbird by harper lee boo radley represents a mockingbird slain by society's prejudice. Poll: majority sees confederate flag as southern pride symbol, not racist the confederate flag as a symbol of racism, just 25% of whites agree since nine african-american churchgoers were killed by a white man who.\nAfter the bubonic plague broke out in 1348 and eventually killed more than termed laissez-faire, symbolic, or modern racism, that amounts to a “kinder, gentler. The rabid dog is a symbol of the racism that is in the town racism, like the disease of rabies, will continue to spread unless it is shot down in its path the rabid. Accordingly, most prejudices have some functional significance for the ninety-two percent of black murder victims and 666 percent of white murder victims.\nThis article begins with the link of culture to prejudice, noting specific tutsis ( and many hutus) by hutus in rwanda to the mass killing of 70 people, mostly youths, this definition of culture, like most definitions that take a symbolic, process,. Get everything you need to know about prejudice in to kill a mockingbird analysis, related quotes, theme tracking. The title of harper lee's 1960 classic to kill a mockingbird is like that for me, to the plot, but it carries a great deal of symbolic weight in the book of democracy when prejudice, myth, and misinformation go unchecked.\nA social media post claims that levi's two horse logo is a racist symbol that represents a slave's being killed. Here, the analysis of religion as a meaning system illuminates how traditional psychological perspectives on religion and prejudice are.\nStereotyping often results from, and leads to, prejudice and bigotry 2 of receiving a death penalty than whites convicted of first degree murder, for example what was the significance of the us supreme court decision in brown vs. Prejudice definition is - injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of the stun belt and leg braces that arias wore during trial (as do most murder . They enforced prejudices and social hierarchies, but they also inspired unlikely of monsters reflect the ambiguities in the meaning of the word itself images like these—no less than those of dragons or child-killing. Free essay: “to kill a mocking bird” is a novel which was written by harper lee in my essay i will discuss how harper lee explores the theme of prejudice by.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "One of the main challenges of urban wind energy harvesting is the understanding of the flow characteristics where urban wind turbines are to be installed. Among viable locations within the urban environment, high-rise buildings are particularly promising due to the elevated height and relatively undisturbed wind conditions. Most research studies on high-rise buildings deal with the calculation of the wind loads in terms of surface pressure. In the present paper, flow pattern characteristics are investigated for a typical high-rise building in a variety of configurations and wind directions in wind tunnel tests. The aim is to improve the understanding of the wind energy resource in the built environment and give designers meaningful data on the positioning strategy of wind turbines to improve performance. In addition, the study provides suitable and realistic turbulence characteristics to be reproduced in physical or numerical simulations of urban wind turbines for several locations above the roof region of the building. The study showed that at a height of 10 m from the roof surface, the flow resembles atmospheric turbulence with an enhanced turbulence intensity above 10% combined with large length scales of about 200 m. Results also showed that high-rise buildings in clusters might provide a very suitable configuration for the installation of urban wind turbines, although there is a strong difference between the performance of a wind turbine installed at the centre of the roof and one installed on the leeward and windward corners or edges, depending on the wind direction.\nOn the Wind Energy Resource Above High-Rise Buildings / Vita, Giulio; ( (S))arki('(c))-Glumac, Anina; Hemida, Hassan; Salvadori, Simone; Baniotopoulos, Charalampos. - In: ENERGIES. - ISSN 1996-1073. - ELETTRONICO. - 13:14(2020), p. 3641. [10.3390/en13143641]\n|Titolo:||On the Wind Energy Resource Above High-Rise Buildings|\n|Data di pubblicazione:||2020|\n|Digital Object Identifier (DOI):||http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en13143641|\n|Appare nelle tipologie:||1.1 Articolo in rivista|", "label": "No"}
{"text": "This is an introduction to the key abstractions used in the Pyro Robotics system. This module provides an exploration of the objects and their attributes, properties, and methods. When completed, the reader should be able to discuss the design of robotics controllers.\nOverview of Pyro Objects\nPyro is written using object oriented programming (OOP) in Python. There are four main classes in Pyro: robot, brain, gui, and engine. This module will explore these objects and how they interact to form the core of Pyro.\nIn order to do anything in Pyro, you will need a Pyro robot instance. All robot types are extensions of pyrobot.robot. The following table shows the names of robots and their corresponding simulator or hardware.\n|Pyro Robot Name||Pyro Simulator Name||Robot Hardware|\n|Player6665, Player6666||StageSimulator, GazeboSimulator||Pioneer family, ER1, Khepera, B21R, etc.|\n|Khepera, Hemisson||N/A||Khepera 1 and 2, Hemisson|\n|Robocup, RobocupTeamA, RobocupTeamB||RobocupSimulator||N/A|\nEach simulator is actually a different process, and each one has its own method of talking to Pyro. For example, the simulator for the Pyrobot robots uses ports, while KheperaSimulated uses shared memory.\nIt is generally a requirement to start up any simulator before attempting to load the corresponding Pyro robot instance. On the other hand, you should stop Pyro before stopping a simulator. Consider a simulator to be the server, and Pyro the client. A server will stop when Pyro is stopped.\nRobot objects are responsible for the details of interfacing with the simulators and real hardware. All robots are defined in the pyrobot/robot/ directory. For example, the following files have the details of connecting onto the symbolic Pyrobot simulator, Player, and Khepera robots, respectively:\npyrobot/robot/symbolic.py pyrobot/robot/player.py pyrobot/robot/khepera.py\nFor some robots, this involves many details. You may find that some of the lowest-level details are in a lower-level directory of pyrobot/robot/. But all robots get their core definition from:\nRobot instances are passive objects: they only do things when a brain or gui object tells them to. They command the motors of real and simulated robots, but only as directed by a brain.\nEach robot has exactly one brain. All brains are extensions of:\nBrains are themselves extensions of threads. Thus, brains are capable of running on their own, in their own process. Sometimes a brain may have multiple behaviors, but they all run in a single thread.\nBrains may operate continuously, but they do so one step at a time. Most brain threads call their step() methods about 10 times per second. But you can implement your own brain that steps many thousands of times a second.\nIf you have loops (for or while loops, for example) in your step function, you may experience erratic behavior, either in the robot or in the gui. Remember that step() is already in a loop, and runs many times a second.\nEach brain/robot pair has an associated graphical user interface, or gui. The basic gui is defined in:\nThe gui is responsible for drawing things, if necessary. There are two main gui's, and they must be indicated on the command line:\npyrobot -g tty # A basic TTY console non-gui pyrobot -g tk # A Tk-based graphical interface\nThe tty gui is a bare interface to provide interaction and control over a slow connection, such as wireless. The tk gui will ask the robot (and its devices) for data so that it can render visual representations. Note that the tty GUI does not update devices' displays. If you run with the tty gui and wish to have graphical windows (for example, on a camera) then you will need an camera.updateWindow() call in your brain.\nFinally, the engine is the last main object. The engine is designed as a container for the brain/robot/gui trio (and some other overhead objects). The engine is the place where the above objects can find each other. You can find the engine definition in:\nYou can ignore engines, as they are not seen unless you want to write raw Python code to control multiple robots.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "or call us at: (832) 699-9265\nSinus infections are common problems for toddlers and children. A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, is the inflammation of a toddler’s nose and sinuses. Sinus infections, especially in children, should be treated as soon as possible. This is because children’s immune system is weak and might not be able to deal with such infections.\nIn addition to understanding the basics of treating sinus infections in toddlers, a parent must also understand the common causes of sinus infections in toddlers.\nIf the sinus infection occurs while a toddler is suffering from a common cold, it usually is a viral sinus infection. If it occurs following a common cold, then it’s a bacterial sinus infection.\nBecause of the possibility of a toddler experiencing a sinus infection associated with or following a common cold, great care should be taken to treat the symptoms of that common cold when they first appear.\nA toddler that experiences or suffers from seasonal allergies is quite likely to be afflicted with a sinus infection as well. As is the case with a common cold and an associated sinus infection, a parent is wise to take a proactive course in addressing the prospect of an allergy related sinus infection. If a parent detects that a child is suffering from the early symptoms of seasonal allergies, he or she should take immediate steps to address the allergies.\nBy taking a proactive stance, a parent is best able to prevent a toddler from experiencing a sinus infection associated with seasonal allergies. Because of the young age of a toddler, a doctor should be consulted to determine the most appropriate course of treatment for seasonal allergies.\nAs is the case with the common cold and seasonal allergies, the flu is another cause of a sinus infection in toddlers. Indeed, the flu is a serious condition for a toddler. A parent with a child who appears to have the symptoms of the flu should seek prompt medical attention not only to control the symptoms of that illness but to prevent or address the onset of a sinus infection as well.\nColds and flus can be passed from one child to another when they are in close proximity. Indeed, perhaps the most common cause of a sinus infection in toddlers is exposure of these young children to peers suffering from the cold or the flu.\nA toddler runs the risk of a sinus infection through his or her own unclean hands. A child can catch a cold or the flu in this manner, which can lead to a sinus infection. A parent needs to be diligent in keeping his or her child’s hands as clean as possible.\nSimilarly, unclean toys can be the source of a cold or the flu, which can lead to a sinus infection. For this reason, a parent need to be diligent in keeping a toddler’s toys as clean as possible.\nFinally, toddlers fairly regularly catch “bugs,” including a cold or the flu from a parent. Again, this can lead to a sinus infection. A parent needs to avoid contacting the child if or she is suffering from a cold or a flu.\nIf you suspect that your child little one has a sinus infection, you should seek help as soon as possible. Contact us today to book an appointment.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "National Naval Responsibility Initiative\nThe Navy and Marine Corps operate on—and above, under and from—the sea. The maritime environment extends from the sea floor to space and includes the land battlespace that is reached from the sea. It is complex and challenging, and it makes Naval operations inherently difficult and dangerous even under the best conditions. The Department of Navy (DoN) has therefore historically placed great emphasis on maintaining a vigorous science and technology program in those areas where research is critically important to maintaining naval superiority.\nMany of those areas, uniquely important to the Navy and Marine Corps, are simply not addressed by research investments from the other Services, or for that matter from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, other federal research establishments or even private industry. This means that the health, strength and growth of our scientific and technical capabilities in those fields depend upon the DoN.\nOn behalf of the DoN, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) must ensure continuing U.S. leadership in these vitally important scientific and technical disciplines. It does so through research, recruitment and education, all done with a view to sustaining an adequate base of talent and the critical infrastructure necessary to carry out research and experimentation.\nHow does DoN determine its National Responsibilities?\nIn consultation with experts drawn from the National Academies and elsewhere, ONR identifies National Naval Responsibilities. ONR looks at various scientific fields and assesses:\n- The scope of naval responsibility\n- Funding and funding trends\n- The scope, degree, stability and trend of non-Naval funding\n- The scientific and technological performer base—in academia, government and industry\n- The scientific and technological infrastructure\n- The scientific and technological knowledge-base—including graduate and post-doctoral programs in the area\n- The prospects of integration with and transition to engineering development and acquisition programs.\nWhat does DoN do to meet its National Responsibilities?\nAbove all, it seeks to keep the field healthy by giving it stability. ONR finds relevant programs and allocates resources to them. It keeps key areas of basic and applied research strong, and it balances theoretical, empirical and field work to sustain a research infrastructure. It actively seeks to attract talented investigators to the field through civilian and military fellowships, and by supporting entry-level faculty. And finally the ONR establishes centers, real and virtual, of integrated research when appropriate.\nWhat are the National Naval Responsibility Programs?\nONR-approved National Naval Responsibility initiatives include:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "1. Like any art, poetry is defined by Aristotle as what?\n2. In what three ways does Aristotle differentiate various art forms from one another?\n3. Aristotle explains that the medium specific to poetry is one that uses what?\n4. How does Aristotle differentiate poetry from prose?\n5. The object poetry portrays is what, according to Aristotle?\nThis section contains 6,101 words\n(approx. 21 pages at 300 words per page)", "label": "No"}
{"text": "What are some of the challenges with local anesthetic?\nOne of the parts of most visits to the dentist is local anesthetic or getting frozen as people often say. It is interesting to note that the first local anesthetic was actually cocaine. Cocaine was first isolated in the 1860’s and first used clinically in 1884. While the local anesthetic effect was a good thing, the addiction it produced, of course, was not. In 1905, chemists managed to change the cocaine molecule in such a way that the addictive effects were eliminated and much of the local anesthetic effect was retained creating procaine (Novocaine). The disadvantages of this new local anesthetic included a high allergic potential, it took a long time to produce numbness, and it wore off very quickly. The first modern local anesthetic was lidocaine which was invented in the 1940’s. Lidocaine produced much deeper local anesthesia, had a much shorter onset, and with the addition of epinephrine, lasted several hours. Lidocaine was the first of the broad category of the local anesthetics used today (called amide type anesthetics). The latest addition to the local anesthetic lineup is Articaine and represents a major advancement in anesthetic technology. It diffuses through bone much more effectively than previous types of anesthetic thus nearly eliminating the need for difficult and less reliable block type anesthesia on all but the lower molars. Articaine has been used in Europe since 1976, Canada since 1983, and was only approved for use in the USA in 2000. There are other kinds of anesthetic in this amide type group. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.\nFor all but the lower molars, infiltration (placing the anesthetic right next to the tooth needing to be numb) is the method of choice. Infiltration is reliable, usually gets only a small area numb, and takes effect within only a few minutes. This type of anesthesia presents little challenge most of the time. However, for the lower molars, the situation is quite different. The bone in the lower molar region is too dense for infiltration to be effective. This area requires another anesthetic technique called block anesthesia. In block anesthesia, the anesthetic is placed near the entrance into the lower jaw of the nerve supplying the lower molars (the inferior alveolar nerve) quite far behind where the teeth are located. Individual anatomy presents a unique challenge to anesthetizing (freezing) the lower molars. The opening for the inferior alveolar nerve can be located in a spot that is not the most common spot. As well, there can be several openings for the nerve, all of which would have to be anesthetized in order to achieve numbness of the lower molars. There is little chance the dentist will have access to the kind of imaging required to know of these significant anatomic irregularities in his individual patient. Block anesthesia typically anesthetizes a much larger area than infiltration and takes quite a bit longer to take effect and to leave the area after the work is done. Success rates for profound anesthesia to the desired teeth approach 100% when infiltration can be used, but when block anesthesia has to be used (for lower molars), success rates for the first cartridge of anesthetic deposited in the area range between 21% and 67%. Another cartridge is often required, and sometimes a supplemental technique is also required in order to achieve the required amount of numbness in the tooth to be treated.\nOther challenges to anesthetizing patients include substance abuse. Patients who abuse alcohol regularly or are recreational drug users present unique problems to effective anesthesia for dental procedures. Often, these patients require more anesthetic and more time for the anesthetic to begin to be effective. Active glue sniffing presents significant anesthesia problems that often cannot be overcome with regular techniques. As well, the mind is a powerful force. People who are very afraid or who are certain they cannot become numb will have difficulty being anesthetized. Medications to alleviate anxiety can be considered for this kind of person.\nThere is ongoing research on alternate anesthesia techniques including electrical devices as well as acupuncture. Continued advancement in the chemistry of injection type anesthetics is probable. Make sure you communicate any fears you might have or other concerns about local anesthesia to your dentist. Ask your dentist if you would like more information about local anesthesia.\n- This article was written by Dr. Mike Christensen and published in the Daily Miner and News, and Enterprise. Local Kenora News Publicatons (1998-2006)", "label": "No"}
{"text": "PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Identical twins Jocelyn and Haley Lehotsky have the same embarrassing problem — they sweat too much.\n“We would sweat through anything. Couldn’t wear, like, light clothing. You’d have sweat marks really bad,” says Jocelyn.\n“Presentations, too. When you get the anxiety and just make it even worse, then, and think, oh, am I sweating?” says Haley.\nThey have a condition called hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. It usually happens under the arms or on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. It affects three out of every 100 people.\n“It can be made worse by things like feeling stressed or maybe feeling embarrassed, but even in moments when you’re not under stress, it will just sort of occur,” says Dr. Brian Horvath of Hovath Dermatology.\nIt can be hereditary. Less commonly, it can be from a medicine or a tumor, but the sweating tends to be all over in those cases.\nThe twins have tried special antiperspirants.\n“You’d put it on before bed, and it would burn your armpits, or you’d get cuts from it, because it was so strong,” Jocelyn said.\nThey also tried pills.\n“With the pills, you get the dry mouth, and it’s just hard to like, talk to people for extended amount of time,” says Haley.\nThey even tried Botox.\n“Botox is a very effective treatment, that stops sweating for about six months,” says Dr. Horvath.\nSo, the need for something better and less painful led to a new option that has just come on the market — a wipe called Qbrexa.\n“That medicine actually stops the sweat glands from getting the signal to start sweating. They never sweat in the first place,” says Dr. Horvath.\nYou would still be able to sweat in other places, so you don’t overheat.\nSome people still have dry eyes, even with wiping just the armpits.\nIn studies, it was only used under the arms.\n“We have great hopes it might help with other areas, like the hands and the bottom of the feet, which are the two other most worrisome spots for sweating,” says Dr. Horvath, “A lot of people have sweating at the top of their forehead. We’ll have to see if we can use it in that area without having the dry eyes.”\nIt takes three to four days of once-a-day use to become effective.\nAnd as a new product, it is likely to be expensive.\n“We don’t know yet what the price is going to be of the medication, we don’t know yet what the insurance coverage is going to be,” Dr. Horvath says.\nEven so, the twins would like to try them.\n“I would definitely try it. I mean, we’ve tried three other things, might as well try one more. But, if it works, I mean I’d try it. It probably would be the easiest, too, to apply,” says Haley.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Sightline Maps is changing the way we view topographical mapping data with the help of 3D printing, and on the 8th of September they are launching a Kickstarter. The Californian based company created a web based platform that enables users to create custom 3D models of any area in the world.\nSightline Maps has many uses; construction, mining, city planning and even extreme sports like mountain climbing, but the most notable is education, and this is the focus of their Kickstarter. Two-dimensional images can explain only so much about the world we live in, so by easily creating 3D printed models students can have a much better learning experience. The aim of the Kickstarter is to get the platform into as many schools as possible. It works with any printer, and any operating system.\n“We initially created this software to improve the military’s mission planning capabilities – being Navy veterans – but quickly realized we could have an awesome impact in the classroom when we saw children work with our maps.” said Jason Ray, Operations Manager at Sightline Maps.\n“After giving the software to several schools, we realized a few things – 1) They all had great ideas for features that would make the tool better, all of which would cost money to implement, 2) selling to schools is a very challenging sales cycle, 3) we would have to figure out a way to raise money for the features so we can give the software to the schools,” added Ray. “So we came to the Kickstarter platform with the idea that not only will our backers get a really cool color 3D print of a topographical map for supporting us, but every penny they provide will go to sponsoring schools for subscriptions to our software and improving the site.”\nFor every $100 the Kickstarter raises, one school will receive a year long subscription to Sightline Maps. This includes:\n- Immediate access to existing and future features\n- Unlimited file downloads for every student and teacher\n- Lesson plans designed to support integration of Sightline Maps into existing curriculums\n- Direct influence on new feature development\nThe goal is to bring the platform to 400 schools, the Kickstarter preview page can be viewed here before it goes live on the 8th.\nFeatured image: Kim Rodriguez and her 5th grade class at Woodin Elementary with the Sightline Maps team. Image: Sightline Maps", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Ivy, the eternal green mystery\nA touch mysterious and quietly ever-present: ivy (Hedera) is the big provider of greenery which represents a stable element in the garden through all four seasons. This ground-covering or climbing foliage shrub is hardy and evergreen. There’s a wide range of leaf colours, whilst all ivy species grow quickly and are easily trained and can therefore cover fences, wire fencing, summerhouses or walls. As groundcover ivy gives weeds no chance, which makes it the most decorative garden helper ever.\nVarious ivy species are suitable for the garden. Green-leafed Hedera hibernica has large leaves and is very suitable as groundcover or to create partitions. H. colchica has more leathery leaves, whilst Hedera helix is the most common species and is available with various leaf shapes and colours such as green and variegated white or gold. Hedera helix ‘Arborescens’ is a more bushy plant which produces attractive black berries after flowering. A classic ivy is H. canariensis ‘Gloire de Marengo’, an impressive presence with its larger leaves and creamy white leaf edges, but not entirely hardy.\n- The name Hedera is derived from an ancient Indo-European sound which represents ‘seizing’ or ‘gripping’, which refers to the clinging roots.\n- Because the plant is evergreen, ivy symbolises eternal life.\n- Ivy also plays an important role in the garden’s ecology: birds like to nest amongst the greenery, and insects often drop by. Ivy therefore enriches the entire circle of life in its environment.\n- Ivy appears in ancient Celtic and Germanic legends as a protector (it provides excellent insulation against heat and cold when grown against a house), bringer of luck and provider of hope. Particularly when Nature is hibernating, ivy’s greenery reminds us that spring will come again.\nIvy is native to Asia, Europe and North Africa. In the wild the plant grows on trees and rocks and can climb to a height of 25-30 metres. It particularly thrives in cooler regions.\nWhat to look for when buying\n- The pot size and the number of stems or thickness of the plant must be in proportion.\n- With Hedera ‘Arborescens’ check the distribution of buds or berries.\n- Damaged or marked leaves are usually caused by the wrong storage or incorrect shipping.\n- Ivy is prone to red spider mite, which is shown by a faint grey discolouration of the leaf.\nSales and display tips for ivy\nDisplay ivy on a table in blocks or stripes by colour in order to draw more attention. Another way to bring this garden plant to life for consumers is to display it alongside other climbing plants such as clematis, passion flower or climbing roses for an inspiring effect. If you have the space, grow a green wall or hut using chicken-wire which can be re-styled appealingly every season.\nCare tips for consumers\n- Ivy thrives in both shady and light positions, but not in full sunlight.\n- The soil may not dry out, but excess water is also not good for ivy.\n- If the plant is in a sheltered spot, such as on a veranda or balcony, regular spraying helps to prevent red spider mite.\n- Give some plant food once a month, particularly if the ivy in is in a container or pot.\n- Good to know: the clinging roots can leave marks on walls.\n- Prune in late spring after the biggest growth spurt and in the autumn before winter arrives.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Intro to cron and editing your crontab schedule\nWhen managing data across different environments, there are a number of recurring processes that are essential to maintaining data integrity. For example, taking regular database backups, sending out data health reports, and monitoring systems for slow queries. Writing scripts to schedule these operations helps relieve the pressure of remembering to perform these tasks and ensures critical operations are happening consistently.\nOne of the most popular ways to schedule tasks is by using a crontab file. For example, you can set up a cron job to run your backup every day at 6:00 p.m., which ensures that your data will always be recoverable.\nIn this article we'll walk through how to schedule recurring tasks using cron jobs. We'll discuss crontab’s structure and syntax, real-life use cases, and some limitations. We'll also touch on some alternatives to cron.\nIntroduction to cron and crontab\nCron is a time-based job scheduler used on Unix-like operating systems. It executes recurring tasks at specified intervals (e.g., hourly, daily, weekly, yearly, and so on) using the cron daemon. A daemon is a program used to run background processes that perform system tasks; the cron daemon uses a crontab file to specify what tasks to run and when to run them on the system.\nA cron job is a command run by the cron daemon at scheduled intervals.\nA crontab, short for \"cron table\", is a file that contains a list of commands that get run using a cron command to schedule tasks.\nHere’s a code snippet that shows a sample crontab task when you run\ncrontab -l in your terminal:\n# Begin Whenever generated tasks for: /Users/florencenjeri/projects/slackbot/config/schedule.rb at: 2022-03-24 13:14:20 +0300 0 * * * * /bin/bash -l -c 'cd /Users/florencenjeri/projects/slackbot && RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake notifications_schedule:create --silent >> log/cron.log 2>&1' # End Whenever generated tasks for: /Users/florencenjeri/projects/slackbot/config/schedule.rb at: 2022-03-24 13:14:20 +0300\nAs you can imagine, crontab files can be used for a variety of practical purposes. Here are a few common use cases:\nA company might schedule weekly database backups of the data they have collected during the week. Since running a full database backup can utilize a large amount of system resources—thus impacting performance—many organizations perform backups at night, when fewer people are using the system.\nBatch operations occur when a computer performs batches of jobs in sequential order. They’re typically used for very large tasks that get broken down into a group of processes to maximize efficiency. Consider an online e-commerce store, which might have thousands of customers subscribed to get email notifications when certain items are back in stock. Using a cron job, you could schedule a batch update that sends 100 emails out to users on 10-minute intervals until every subscribed customer receives an in-stock update.\nRegular system updates ensure that your system is up-to-date with the latest security patches. Most of these security patches are done monthly—you may have noticed monthly update prompts on your phone, tablet, or laptop. These monthly updates can be scheduled using cron.\nTask scheduling with crontab files\nRecurring tasks are scheduled to run at a specified time by adding them to a crontab file. In this section, we'll walk through how to implement cron jobs using crontab files.\nCrontab syntax and structure\nThe commands in a crontab file are written using a specific structure, as shown in the following code snippet:\n# * * * * * command to be executed # | | | | | # | | | | | # | | | | | # | | | | |_______________ Day of the Week (0 - 6)(Sunday to Saturday) # | | | | # | | | |_______________ Month of the Year (1 - 12) # | | | # | | |_______________ Day of the Month (1 - 31) # | | # | |_______________ Hour (0 - 23) # | # |_______________ Minute (0 - 59)\nHere’s a breakdown of the cron command structure as displayed above:\n- Minute: The value expected is between 0–59 minutes.\n- Hour: The value expected is between 0–23, representing the 24 hours in a day.\n- Day of the Month: The value expected is between 1–31, representing the 31 possible days a month.\n- Month of the Year: The value expected is between 1–12, representing the 12 months of the year. This value can also be defined using the first three letters of the month, like JAN, FEB, NOV, etc.\n- Day of the Week: The value expected is between 0–6, from Sunday (0) to Saturday (6). You can also use the first three letters of the day, like SUN, WED, etc.\nPutting this all together, a cron command that says\n0 5 6 2 * would run every year on February 6 at 5:00 a.m. UTC, regardless of the day of the week. Similarly, the cron command\n0 0-7 * 1 0 would run every hour at minute 0 from midnight to 7 a.m. UTC on Sundays in January, regardless of the day of the month.\nAdditional cron components\nThere are a variety of symbols that can be used within cron commands that help to better define time-related details. Here’s are some additional specifications that can be included:\n- Any value (*): Asterisks are used as wildcards, which match all possible characters (e.g., every minute, every hour, every day, etc.). For example,\n0 5 * * *runs the task every day at 5:00 UTC and\n* * * * *would run every minute all of the time.\n- Multiple values (,): Commas are used to separate multiple items in a list. For example,\n2,4,8 * * * * commandwill run the task on the second, fourth, and eighth minute. For example, 1:02 and 2:08 would match.\n- Multiple ranges (-): Dashes are used to define a range of values. For example,\n* * 2-5 * * commandruns the task between February and May.\n- Interval repetition (/): Slashes are used to signify frequencies within a given time period. For example,\n*/4in the month field (\n* * * */4 * command) will run the task every four months. (Note: This would be virtually the same as writing\n4,8,12on the month field.)\nCrontab commands are used to list, edit, or remove cron jobs from a crontab file. Here's how you can use them:\nList cron jobs\nTo view all the tasks scheduled on your local machine, run the command\ncrontab -l in your terminal. You should see output similar to the screenshot below, showing a list of all your scheduled tasks:\nEdit crontab file\nTo edit a crontab file or create a new one, run the command\ncrontab -e. You will be redirected to an editor similar to the one shown in the screenshot below. You can then add your tasks (one per line), save, and then exit from the editor.\nRemove crontab file\nTo remove the current crontab file, run the command\nEdit another user’s crontab file\nTo edit other users’ crontab files, run the command\ncrontab -u . (Note: running this command requires that you have system administrator privileges.)\nExamples of cron jobs\nBelow are a few examples of schedules you can use for your cron tasks.\nScheduling tasks every minute\nThe following command allows you to schedule tasks to run every minute:\n* * * * * /bin/bash -l -c 'cd /Users/florencenjeri/projects/slackbot && RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake notifications_schedule:create --silent >> log/cron.log 2>&1\nThe command in the example above runs a task in a Ruby on Rails rake file. It has three parts:\n/bin/bash -l -c: the shell used to run the cron commands\ncd /Users/florencenjeri/projects/slackbot && RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake notifications_schedule:create --silent: the path to the task, as well as the name of task,\nnotifications_schedule:create, to be scheduled\n>> log/cron.log 2>&1: specifies where to log the output of your scheduled tasks\nScheduling tasks every 15 minutes\nThe following command allows you to schedule tasks to run every 15 minutes:\n*/15 * * * * command\nScheduling tasks every two hours\nThe following command allows you to schedule a task to run every two hours:\n0 */2 * * * command\nScheduling daily tasks\nThe following command allows you to schedule a task to run every day at midnight:\n0 0 * * * command\nScheduling weekly tasks\nThe following command allows you to schedule a task to run every week on Sunday at midnight:\n0 0 * * 0 command\nScheduling yearly tasks\nThe following command allows you to schedule a task to run at midnight on the first of January every year:\n0 0 1 1 * command\nScheduling tasks between specific hours\nFinally, the following command allows you to schedule a task to run once an hour (at minute 0) every day from midnight to 7:00 a.m.\n0 0-7 * * * command\nThe limitations of cron\nDespite cron being the most widely used job-scheduling command, it has some limitations that derail its efficiency as a job-scheduling mechanism. Some of these limitations include the following:\nDifficult to maintain\nWhen using cron, you have to build your own monitoring and alerting systems to make cron jobs usable. Most tasks scheduled using cron are crucial, such as performing database backups. If a server goes down, for example, you'll need to be able to quickly identify which of your jobs are no longer running. With cron, these checks need to be manually added as there's no support for failure handling or alerts when jobs have failed.\nLack of security\nAs an organization scales, hundreds of cron jobs created by several different people can proliferate across several servers. Not only is this tough to maintain, but it's also problematic from a security perspective. It's a good security practice to limit access to production servers as a company scales, but if several people need to maintain cron jobs they've written in the past, it may be harder to lock down prod access.\nCron doesn't provide a central place to see, update, and manage all the cron jobs you have running. Especially as your organization grows, it becomes very difficult to have visibility into how many and which jobs are running on which machines since cron doesn't easily surface that information.\nCron doesn't log by default so you have to explicitly add in logic to capture logs for every cron jobs that you have running. Doing this for every script can be time-consuming and makes it challenging to monitor and remediate failed jobs.\nUsing Airplane to schedule tasks\nAirplane is a developer platform for building internal tools. Airplane has first-class support for features like permissions and audit logs that make it an easier-to-use and safer alternative to cron. Scheduling tasks using Airplane can help you overcome some of the limitations described above.\nSome of the advantages of replacing cron jobs with scheduled tasks in Airplane include the following:\nAudit logging: Airplane automatically logs all tasks. The Activity page shows a log of all events with event details, actors, and timestamps.\nFailure handling: On the Activity page you'll also see the task's status which will show if tasks have succeeded or failed. You'll automatically receive notifications via Slack and email when tasks fail for increased security and easier system maintenance. This should also make debugging easier.\nSecurity and access controls: Using Airplane, you can set granular permissions for who can view, request, execute, and be an admin on a task-by-task basis. You'll be able to create group-based access controls which are not supported with crontabs.\nEasy-to-use UI: You can view, create, and edit tasks all in one place from the Schedules page. This will provide a quick view of the schedule, when it's expected to run, and who has scheduled it. Cron jobs only show the tasks themselves (not who scheduled them). Editing a scheduled task is also simple with Airplane. You can do this directly from the UI.\nAirplane provides a number of benefits that make it a simpler and safer alternative to cron. Airplane tasks are serverless, come with audit logs, permissions, and notifications, and can be used for scheduled tasks or for one-off operations that need to be run on-demand rather than on a schedule (such as testing your REST API).\nAuthor: Florence Njeri\nSubscribe to new blog posts from Airplane:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "7cad 3D Unfold\nThis programming project began when I tried to make a pottery model in paper, as a toy. Then I found making a 3D Unfold app is great not only for CAD users, but also for myself to perfect my geometry and polyline programming system.\nClick the Add-in ribbon tab and you can see the 7cad 3D Unfold ribbon.\n7cad_Unfold command's window has 2 tabs. The first tab is to unfold a general 3D model shape. It is recommended the 3D model is a decimated 3D mesh.\nThe second tab is for the case of unfolding an octagon revolve shape. No need a 3D model here. You only need to specify the rotating curve polyline and the axis.\nAfter unfold command has done the job, you can run 7cad_FoldUp command to see how the flatten unfold faces can be fold up and get back to the original. This command will create a block names \"Fold Up Animation\". Within the block, all animation items are put into layers name \"Fold Up Animation 1\", \"Fold Up Animation 2\", ... Click the \"Forward\" and \"Back\" arrow to see the animation. This command is for demonstration purpose only.\nFinally, it is 7cad_Cutout command. This command joins unfold pieces together in union polylines. Print the unfold layouts to papers, cut the union polylines out, fold up and stick them together, then you can have your favourite real world paper model!\nA web version of the app is available here, powered by Autodesk Forge Design Automation:", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Conceptual Building Blocks of Geometry 3-1-17 and 3-2-17: No Fee for CKEC Member Districts, Closed to Non-Member Districts\npeaker: Mark Helton\nTarget Audience: Middle School General Education and Special Education teachers, Elementary Gifted/Talented teachers, Algebra 1 teachers, High School Special Education teachers, Middle School and High School Interventionists and Instructional Coaches\nThe Conceptual Building Blocks is a series of three modules designed to build a teacher’s capacity to work with students in various settings. The approach is rooted in a conceptual understanding of key concepts in middle school mathematics. The objectives are:\n- 1. To build teacher knowledge around the foundational concepts in middle school mathematics\n- 2. To provide strategies for teaching content and differentiating instruction\n- 3. To develop a conceptual understanding of the core components of proportional reasoning, algebraic thinking, and geometry\n- 4. To catalyze change within the school through coaching sessions\nThis module uses the middle school Kentucky Academic Standards around geometry to focus our work. We will explore the big ideas of geometric thinking, including the van Heile levels of geometric thought, discover how to use the concreteàsemi-concreteàabstract sequence of instruction, explore misconceptions, and much more!\nNote: This is a two-day module. Attendance at both days is expected.\nPGES Connections: 1a, 1b, 2b, 3c, 4e\nLocation: CKEC Training Center", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Fatigue is a syndrome, which is highly prevalent in the general population, especially among the young women. This is generally diagnosed with the symptom of a feeling of lack of energy and tiredness, without any significant physical exertions. This is a syndrome which can manifest itself among women for a variety of reasons ranging from a lack of iron in the body to chronic fatigue syndrome and hormonal imbalances to some extent also. Here, we are listing out some of the possible causes of the fatigue syndrome among the young women nowadays.\nCauses Of Fatigue In Young Women\nChronic Fatigue Syndrome\nIt is an extensively debilitating medical disorder, commonly affecting people of 15-45 years, mainly women, which can cause depressions, fatigue, cardiac and respiratory problems without any immediate physical exertion or other medical conditions. Its symptoms can persist for 6-12 months or more and is generally not relieved by rest. The cause of this syndrome is not yet known, so the treatment is symptomatic.\nIt is one of the prime causal agents of extensive fatigue and tiredness among women. Generally caused by an improper balance between the estrogen and progesterone levels in the body, it can have severe effects on the body.Primary causes of this disorder may range from intake of contraceptive pills to stress and from inadequate diet to even pollution. Some medical procedures like the hormone replacement therapy are also known to cause this disorder.\nAnemia Or Iron Deficiency\nIt is commonly caused due to blood loss through uterine bleeding, low iron intake, reduced RBC production, folic acid deficiency and gynecological and gastroenteritis problems. As the hemoglobin count in the body decreases, it causes excess fatigue in young women. Its treatment is based on its severity as well as its cause.\nThyroid Gland Problems\nThyroid glands either producing inadequate or excess of hormone can also cause fatigue syndrome in young women. It generally causes fatigue and weakness, without any apparent symptoms. Thyroid test is required to diagnose this problem.\nOne of the prime factors affecting most of young women in today’s times is stress or anxiety. It causes various problems, both mental and physical.Often the most notable effects of stress is sleep deprivation. Inadequate sleep in turn causes fatigue and mental tiredness. Factors responsible for this may vary from work to education to other personal problems and social dilemmas. It can be relieved by regular exercise and meditation along with a good night’s sleep.\nPersistent bouts of depression arising due to various reasons such as happenings in life, family problems, work, relationship issues and stress can also cause severe fatigue in young women. Anti-depressant drugs can be taken to relieve the symptoms after consulting a physician.\nInadequate food intake or improper food habits, a rising phenomenon among the young women today due to reasons such as losing weight and tight work schedules are the main causes of anorexia, which in turn are causing fatigue in an ever increasing numbers. It can only be taken care of by proper eating habits and adequate food intake.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Back to Initiatives & Projects List\nQatar University Biofuels Project\nThe aim of the Qatar University Biofuels Project is to find a way of producing affordable, sustainable biofuels which do not rely on the use of valuable arable land and which can be produced efficiently in the harsh climate of Qatar.\nResearch & Development\nType of pathway\nStarting time and duration\nThe Qatar University’s project is a state-backed research program, carried out in cooperation with Qatar Airways and Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP). The first phase (USD 12 million) started in 2010 and is expected to finish end of 2013.\nIt focuses on the cultivation of single-celled photosynthetic organisms (cyanobacteria and microalgae) that are well suited to the Qatar local environment: extreme heat, strong sunlight and highly saline water. The main goals of the initial phase were to obtain candidate biofuel microalgae and test their performance outdoors in Qatar’s climatic conditions.\nThe plan for the second phase of the project is to capture CO2 generated by natural gas, oil and desalination industry for algal growth.\nThe ultimate goal is to build a pre-commercial pilot plant with an indicative volume of 1.5 million of litres and to produce one barrel of liquid biofuel per day.\nQatar University, Qatar Airways, Qatar Science and Technology Park\n|Achievements to date|\n- Selection of indigenous photosynthetic organisms with good growing capabilities under Qatar conditions, study of their growth characteristics, extensive biochemical and genetic characterization.\n- Successful outdoor cultivation trials in 1500 litres tanks.\n- Up-scaling to 25000 litres outdoor ponds underway (Qatar University Farm Demo Plant)", "label": "No"}
{"text": "\"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.\"This quote has been attributed to Sir Isaac Newton since it appeared in a letter he wrote to fellow English scientist Robert Hooke that was dated 5 February in either 1675 or 1676. There is no arguing that this quote in indeed Newton's.\nHowever, I suspect that the reason for your confusion is the phrase \"on the shoulders of giants,\" which was borrowed from earlier sources. This phrase was actually quite commonly used by authors and thinkers of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Though Newton's reference is probably the best known today, 12th century theologian and author John of Salisbury was another well-known source of the phrase. I've come across many variations of his quote, but one of the more commonly cited versions is:\n\"We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.\"This quote appeared in a religious book called The Metalogicon that was written by John in 1159. However, John's thought was also inspired by an earlier Christian thinker named Bernard of Chartres. John was born in France and studied there during the early 12th century. It is likely that John learned the phrase at this time, for he later moved to England where he continued his theological research. The only example of Bernard's quote I've come across thus far was from Robert Merton's book On the Shoulders of Giants. Merton quotes Bernard as saying, in about 1130:\n\"We are like dwarfs standing [or sitting] upon the shoulders of giants, and so able to see more and see farther than the ancients.\"In addition, Merton goes on to point out that at least the idea Bernard was attempting to convey goes back to a 6th century grammarian named Priscian, who wrote:\n\"The younger the scholars, the more sharp-sighted.\"The common theme of these thoughts is that modern researchers owe much to the knowledge that earlier scientists have discovered. While many believe that was the sentiment being expressed by Newton in his letter to Hooke, some researchers have suggested he was actually using the phrase \"on the shoulders of giants\" as a veiled insult of Robert Hooke, who was a rather short man. Newton had a reputation as a petty and vindictive man whose ego clashed with those of his rivals in the scientific and mathematical communities. One of these rivals was Robert Hooke, who had been in a long-running feud with Newton over which one had discovered the inverse square law. Although Newton's letter to Hooke appeared courteous on the surface, some historians have concluded he cleverly employed the phrase \"on the shoulders of giants\" to ridicule Hooke's lack of physical stature and imply that he lacked intellectual stature as well.\nAlthough Newton may have borrowed the phrase \"on the shoulders of giants\" from earlier writers, the specific quote referenced on our site is his and his alone. The phrase is indeed a commonly cited one, as the following examples illustrate.\n\"We are like dwarfs standing [or sitting] upon the shoulders of giants, and so able to see more and see farther than the ancients.\"\n- Bernard of Chartres, circa 1130\n\"Bernard of Chartres used to say that we are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they, and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness on sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size.\"\n- John of Salisbury, Metalogicon, 1159\n\"A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than a giant himself.\"\n- Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, 1621\n\"Dwarfs on the shoulders of giants see further than the giants themselves.\"\n- Stella Didacus, Eximii verbi divini CONCIONATORIS ORDINNIS MINORUM Regularis Observantiae, 1622\n\"A dwarf on a giant's shoulders sees farther of the two.\"\n- George Herbert, Jacula Prudentum, 1651\n\"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.\"\n- Isaac Newton, letter to Robert Hooke, 1676\n\"Newton won the race in part because, as he put it, he had stood on the shoulders of giants and in part because he just happened to be the biggest giant of them all.\"\n- Alan Cromer, Uncommon Sense: The Heretical Nature of Science, 1993\n\"In the sciences, we are now uniquely privileged to sit side by side with the giants on whose shoulders we stand.\"\n- Gerald Holton\n\"If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on my shoulders.\"Such commonality in thoughts is not at all unique to this phrase alone. Consider the following, somewhat more amusing example as well.\n- Hal Abelson\n\"I think, therefore I am.\"\n- René Descartes, Le Discours de la Mèthode, 1637\n\"I am, therefore I think.\"\n- Friedrich Nietzsche\n\"I think that I think, therefore, I think that I am.\"\n- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary, 1911\n\"I think I am. Therefore, I am . . . I think.\"\n- George Carlin\n\"I don't think, so, therefore I'm probably not.\"\n\"I think, therefore I am. But I'm micromanaged, therefore I am not.\"\"On the shoulder of giants\" has generated a great deal of interest in recent years, particularly after Great Britain included the phrase \"Standing on the Shoulders of Giants\" on the edge of its £2 coin starting in 1997. A new coin of the series is released every year, each one celebrating a significant contribution to science made by a British citizen.\n- Scott Adams, Dilbert comic strip, 1997\nA teacher named Carla recently pointed out what appears to be a grammatical error in Isaac Newton's quote. She suggested that we change the text from the following:\n\"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.\"to this:\n\"If I have seen farther, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.\"Carla's reasoning is farther refers to distance (e.g. \"I traveled FARTHER from home than my relatives\") while further designates degree (e.g. \"Critics charge that welfare encourages FURTHER dependence\"). Carla makes a valid point, but since the article describes a specific quote, we have chosen to leave Netwon's statement as is.\nRead More Articles:\n|Aircraft | Design | Ask Us | Shop | Search|\n|About Us | Contact Us | Copyright © 1997-2012|", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Circumcircle of a triangle\nFrom Latin: circum- \"around\"\nA circle which passes through all three vertices\nof a triangle\nAlso \"Circumscribed circle\".\nDrag the orange dots on each vertex\nto reshape the triangle. Note that the circumcircle always passes through all three points.\nThe circumcircle always passes through all three vertices\nof a triangle. Its center is at the point where all the\nof the triangle's sides meet. This center is called the circumcenter. See\ncircumcenter of a triangle for more about this.\nNote that the center of the circle can be inside or outside of the triangle.\nAdjust the triangle above and try to obtain these cases.\nThe radius of the circumcircle is also called the triangle's circumradius.\nFor right triangles\nIn the case of a\nof the circumcircle, and its center is exactly at the\nmidpoint of the hypotenuse.\nThis is the same situation as Thales Theorem,\nwhere the diameter\na right angle to any point on a circle's circumference.\nIf you drag the triangle in the figure above you can create this same situation.\nFor equilateral triangles\nIn the case of an equilateral triangle,\nwhere all three sides (a,b,c) are have the same length, the radius of the circumcircle is given by the formula:\nwhere s is the length of a side of the triangle.\nIf you know all three sides\nIf you know the length (a,b,c) of the three sides of a triangle, the radius of its circumcircle is given by the formula:\nIf you know one side and its opposite angle\nThe diameter of the circumcircle is given by the formula:\nwhere a is the length of one side, and A is the angle opposite that side.\nThis gives the diameter, so the radus is half of that\nThis is derived from the\nLaw of Sines.\nConstruction of a triangle's circumcircle\nIt is possible to construct the circumcenter and circumcircle of a triangle with just a compass and straightedge.\nConstruction of the Circumcircle of a Triangle has an animated demonstration of the technique, and a worksheet to try it yourself.\nRelated triangle topics\nPerimeter / Area\nCongruence and Similarity\nTriangle quizzes and exercises\n(C) 2009 Copyright Math Open Reference. All rights reserved\nMath Open Reference now has a Common Core alignment.\nSee which resources are available on this site for each element of the Common Core standards.\nCheck it out", "label": "No"}
{"text": "A new study coming out of the University of Guelph appears to have discovered why exposure to pesticides increases a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.\nWhile many studies in the past have demonstrated a link between Paraquat and Maneb (two commonly used agrochemicals) and Parkinson’s, this new study actually investigates the process and form that link takes within the cells themselves.\nProfessor Scott Ryan, lead researcher of the study, has determined that low-level of exposure to pesticides disrupts cells in such a way that mimics the mutations that cause Parkinson’s.\nWhen the effects of the chemicals are taken in concert with a genetic predisposition to Parkinson’s, the risk of Parkinson’s onset is drastically increased.\n“People exposed to these chemicals are at about a 250-per-cent higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than the rest of the population,” said Ryan, a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.\n“We wanted to investigate what is happening in this susceptible population that results in some people developing the disease.”\nParaquat and Maneb are used on a variety of Canadian crops with the former being used on crops during the growth period and the latter used in order to prevent spoiling after harvest.\nThe study, which was published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, used stem cells from people with Parkinson’s disease using a mutation in a gene called synuclein which is associated with an increased risk of the disease. The study also used normal embryonic stem cells in which the mutation was introduced via gene editing.\n“Until now, the link between pesticides and Parkinson’s disease was based primarily on animal studies as well as epidemiological research that demonstrated an increased risk among farmers and others exposed to agricultural chemicals,” said Ryan. “We are one of the first to investigate what is happening inside human cells.”\nRyan’s research team made dopamine-producing neurons — the neurons affected by Parkinson’s — from both types of the stem cells and then exposed them to the chemicals.\nThe exposure of the neurons to the chemicals prevented energy-producing mitochondria from moving where they need to go inside the cells which in turn depleted the neurons of energy.\nAccording to the University of Guelph press release, “Neurons from the Parkinson’s patients and those in which the genetic risk factor was introduced were impaired at doses below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s reported lowest observed effect level. Higher doses are needed to impair function in normal neurons.”\n“People with a predisposition for Parkinson’s disease are more affected by these low level exposures to agrochemicals and therefore more likely to develop the disease,” said Ryan. “This is one of the reasons why some people living near agricultural areas are at a higher risk.”\nRyan stated that the findings indicate that the current acceptable levels of these two agrochemicals should be reassessed.\n“This study shows that everyone is not equal, and these safety standards need to be updated in order to protect those who are more susceptible and may not even know it.”\nThis article was originally published by Natural Blaze", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Diet: needs differ for every person, but in general, some of the best foods you should regularly eat include: Tofu, tempeh, and other soy-based products are excellent sources of protein and are healthy alternatives to meat. Healthy fats are a great addition to every meal because we need the fat to absorb some of the vitamins from our greens and beans. When faced with foods in the category, search.\nA reduced-calorie eating plan that includes the right amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats will also help you to lose weight. All meals are created by a chef and approved by their nutritionist. Wrap vegetables and seafood in rice and seaweed for a delicacy called sushi. Strive to consume foods from each group throughout the day. You'll be cutting your calories because you're not having the food as often. The food we eat and how we produce it determines the health.\nDried fruit is four times as sweet as its fresh equivalent, which is great if you've got an exercise class or a gym session planned for the afternoon. A balanced diet refers to balance of food groups or protein fat and carbohydrate, fluid, and calories. Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, some cancers, gallstones and constipationimproves the immune.\nProtein from animal products is the best as it contains the complete range of important amino acids, but meat consumers must know that red meat has high levels of saturated fat that can lead to heart problems and other heart-related diseases. An article published in The of in noted that consuming adequate nutrients is an important contributing factor in strengthening and maintaining your immune system, while not eating sufficient nutrients could impair and suppress immune system.\nToo much salt can make you more at risk of high blood pressure and stroke. It is also found in biscuits, cakes, chocolate, toffees, takeaway foods, foods covered in batter and breadcrumbs as well as milk, cheese and yoghurt. They also contain calcium, which helps keep your bones healthy. Most nutrients are not stored in the body. It's also important to make sure your children's diet is well balanced Calories only come from food and only go through activity.\nNot only that, but seafood's high in protein. There are many ways you can eat to support your heart health and all of them are simple variations on a common dietary theme. Curciferous vegetables really have it all: vitamins, fibre, and disease fighting phytochemicals. The best sources of micronutrients in our diets are fruits and vegetables. Grains like bread, rice, quinoa, and pasta are an excellent.\nVisit our web for further information about healthy eating. But despite not having lost any weight, those who improved their diet experienced significant improvement in their symptoms, and one third of them experienced remission of their depressive disorder. Dive into our week-long healthy menu plans. Much of the energy in what we eat comes from carbohydrate. However, many.\nDon't assume that healthy-sounding dishes are always your best option. Sweet potatoes belong to vitamin food since half a cup of cooked sweet potatoes has mcg of biotin. A gluten-free diet is the primary treatment for celiac disease people with celiac sprue may have difficulty absorbing nutrients and vitamins, some people with this condition may also need calcium, iron, and vitamin supplements.\nIf you feel hungry after activity, choose foods or drinks that are lower in calories, but still filling. Eating a wide variety of superfoods daily will satisfy nutrient requirements for optimal body functioning. You need to know the commonly used food groups in order to advise the people in your community on how to have a balanced.\nFruit and vegetables and protection against diseases. What the diet guru says: ‘Every phase of the plan is based on proven scientific principles and is a completely safe, natural way to lose weight,' say. The provides recommendations on saturated fats as well as on solid fats because its aim is to improve the health of the U. In advance of her on the seminar, she shared of her top tips for healthy, mindful eating. Limit as much as.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "In laboratory studies, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have found that engineered stem cells from a patient’s own fat may have potential to deliver new treatments directly into the brain after surgical removal of a glioblastoma. The most common and aggressive form or brain tumor.\nCurrently, standard treatments for glioblastoma are chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, but even a combination of all three rarely leads to more than 1.5 year survival after diagnosis. Glioblastoma tumor cells are particularly nimble, migrating across the entire brain and establishing new tumors. This migratory capability is thought to be a key reason for the low cure rate of this tumor type.\nCalled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), these cells derived from fat tissue have an unexplained ability to seek out damaged cells, such as those involved with cancer. This ability can be utilized by clinicians to access parts of the brain where cancer cells can hide and proliferate anew. The researchers say harvesting MSCs from fat is less invasive and less expensive than getting them from bone marrow, a more commonly studied method.\nFor their test-tube experiments, Dr. Quinones-Hinojosa and his colleagues bought human MSCs derived from fat. They engineered these MSCs to secrete a protein, BMP4, which has been shown by other research groups to inhibit the malignant characteristics of brain cancer. Dr. Quinones-Hinojosa and his colleagues found that these engineered MSCs were able to chase down brain tumors and reduce the growth of the tumor.\nWhile further studies are underway, it will be years before human trials on MSC delivery systems can begin. Ideally, if MSCs work, a patient with a glioblastoma would have some adipose tissue (fat) removed – from any number of locations I the body – a short time before surgery. The MSCs in the fat would be drawn out and manipulated in the lab to secret BMP4 or other cancer fighting agents. Then, after surgeons removed the rain tumor, they cold deposit these treatment-armed cells into the brain in the hopes that they would seek out and destroy the cancer cells.\nDr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa (often referred to as Dr. Q) was born in 1968 in a little village near Mexicali, Mexico. He spent his childhood in Mexico until came to the United States at the age of 19. Speaking no English at that time, he worked on farms outside of Fresno, California earning money to take English classes. From there he took classes at San Joaquin Delta College in California and earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of California, Berkeley with highest honors. Dr. Q went on to receive a medical degree from Harvard University, where he graduated cum laude, and completed his residency in neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco.\nDr. Q is now an internationally renowned neurosurgeon and neuroscientist who leads cutting edge research to cure brain cancer. Named as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in 2008, Dr. Q was also selected by Popular Science magazine as one of their 6th Annual Brilliant Ten in their search for young genius influencing the course of science. He has also published an autobiography, “Becoming Dr. Q” about his journey from migrant farm worker to brain surgeon.\nDr. Q conducts numerous research efforts on elucidating the role of stem cells in the origin of brain tumors and the potential role stem cells can play in fighting brain cancer and regaining neurological function. He has received R01 funding from the National Institute of Health for his work with stem cells and cancer and his awards include also grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Physician-Scientist Early Career Award, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, an the Maryland Stem Cell Foundation . Dr. Q has given over 200 invited lectures nationally and internationally, including visiting professorships at several universities.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "- 1 Who was Jairus the synagogue leader?\n- 2 What is the name of the synagogue leader who comes to Jesus asking him to heal his daughter?\n- 3 Who died and came back to life in the Bible?\n- 4 Did Jesus raise the dead?\n- 5 Who healed Peter’s mother in law?\n- 6 Who was the first person Jesus brought back to life?\n- 7 What does Talitha Cumi mean?\n- 8 Where did Jesus go after he came back to life?\n- 9 Who will enter heaven?\n- 10 Who died and rose again apart from Jesus?\n- 11 Why did Jesus cry when Lazarus died?\n- 12 Who was Jesus betrayed by?\n- 13 How many times was Jesus seen after the resurrection?\nWho was Jairus the synagogue leader?\nJairus (Greek: Ἰάειρος, Iaeiros, from the Hebrew name Yair), a patron or ruler of a Galilee synagogue, had asked Jesus to heal his 12-year-old daughter. As they were traveling to Jairus’ house, a sick woman in the crowd touched Jesus’ cloak and was healed of her sickness.\nWhat is the name of the synagogue leader who comes to Jesus asking him to heal his daughter?\nJairus, the official from the local synagogue, had heard about Jesus’ reputation as a miracle worker and begged him to cure his sick daughter. Jesus was on his way to Jairus’ house when he was interrupted by a woman who touched his cloak to cure her bleeding.\nWho died and came back to life in the Bible?\nThe story of Lazarus is one of the most popular ones in the Bible. He was a close friend of Jesus Christ. Sadly, Lazarus of Bethany died two days after Jesus was told about his illness. He was later resurrected after being dead for four days.\nDid Jesus raise the dead?\nThis is the first of three miracles of Jesus in the canonical gospels in which he raises the dead, the other two being the raising of Jairus’ daughter and of Lazarus.\nWho healed Peter’s mother in law?\nThe Mighty Miracles Of Jesus Healing Of Simon Peter’s Mother-In-law. During His ministry, Jesus performed more than 40 miracles including healing the sick, changing the natural elements of nature and even raising people from the dead. A miracle is considered an event that occurs outside the bounds of natural law.\nWho was the first person Jesus brought back to life?\nThe miraculous story of Lazarus being brought back to life by Jesus is known from the Gospel According to John (11:1–45). Lazarus of Bethany was the brother of Martha and Mary and lived at Bethany, near Jerusalem.\nWhat does Talitha Cumi mean?\nTalitha (Classical Syriac: ܛܠܝܼܬ݂ܵܐ/ܛܠܻܝܬ݂ܳܐ ṭlīṯā or ṭlīṯō) is an uncommon feminine name meaning ” little girl ” in Aramaic, given in reference to the Biblical story in the Gospel of Mark in which Jesus Christ was said to have resurrected a dead child with the words “Talitha cumi” or “Talitha kum” or “Talitha koum,”\nWhere did Jesus go after he came back to life?\nIn Acts of the Apostles, Jesus appeared to the apostles for forty days, and commanded them to stay in Jerusalem after which Jesus ascended to heaven, followed by the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the missionary task of the early church.\nWho will enter heaven?\nJesus states in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of Heaven”, yet there are some who teach salvation by “faith only”, i.e. as long as someone believes, he/she will be saved.\nWho died and rose again apart from Jesus?\nLazarus of Bethany, also known as Saint Lazarus, or Lazarus of the Four Days, venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church as Righteous Lazarus, the Four-Days Dead, is the subject of a prominent sign of Jesus in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus restores him to life four days after his death.\nWhy did Jesus cry when Lazarus died?\nThe sorrow, sympathy, and compassion Jesus felt for all mankind. The rage he felt against the tyranny of death over mankind. Finally, at the graveside, he ” wept in sympathy with their sorrow over Lazarus ‘ death”.\nWho was Jesus betrayed by?\nAs told in the New Testament Gospels, Judas betrayed Jesus for “30 pieces of silver,” identifying him with a kiss in front of Roman soldiers. Later the guilt-ridden Judas returns the bribe and commits suicide, according to the Bible. The Gospel of Judas, however, gives a very different account.\nHow many times was Jesus seen after the resurrection?\nMatthew has two post-resurrection appearances, the first to Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” at the tomb, and the second, based on Mark 16:7, to all the disciples on a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus claims authority over heaven and Earth and commissions the disciples to preach the gospel to the whole world.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "I wish taxpayers who begrudge our summer break could see all of the June posts popping up on Facebook as World Language Teachers research and plan for the new school year.\nMany posts ask how to make a level one class 100% comprehensible so that both teachers and students can stay in the target language.\nI’ve always addressed this in pieces but it’s time to put it all three steps together as teachers recharge and envision the way they want their classes to run.\nIncorporate these three steps and you will have your 90% Target Language class . . . and superior classroom management.\n- Make a daily tech guide – it can be in PPT, ActiveInspire, Classflow, SmartNotebook, GoogleSlides, whatever works for you.\nCreate a slide for each activity and use a remote presentation device or remote mouse so you can click through the slides from any spot in the room, say near the students who go off task most frequently. Click here to download the first day and see videos of the first week to give you an idea.\nOther bundles are also Spanish Lessons here..\n2. Use transition videos before each slide to keep the students on task and in the target language.\n3. Use direct instruction to teach students 50 survival phrases set to music. Include the matching posters and desk reference sheet – focusing on the student – to – student slides so that they know how to talk to one another in the target language.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "A bird’s blind spot may be directly related to beak size\nLike many vertebrates – excluding humans – a bird’s eyes are located on the sides of its head. This anatomical specificity is believed to have several functions, including increased depth perception and greater visual coverage. However, not much has been known about the purpose of the blind spot in front of a bird’s head… until now.\nResearchers Luke Tyrrell and Esteban Fernández-Juricic from Purdue University published a study on Wednesday in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. In this study, they found that birds with longer beaks had a larger blind spot in front of their heads, which correlates to a narrower field of binocular vision.\nBinocular vision refers to vision that uses two eyes with overlapping fields of view, which allows for good depth perception. This is useful for a creature that might need to snatch an insect out of the air or land on a tiny branch without impaling itself.\nIn making this discovery, the researchers went through published data on the visual fields of 40 species of birds, and measured the beaks and skulls of museum specimens. Their findings suggest that the size of the blind area and the visibility of the beak play an important role in a bird’s vision.\nFurthermore, Tyrrell believes, “The evolution of binocular vision in birds appears to be driven, in part, by a blind area in front of the head.” This finding will help scientists better understand how individual species of birds use sight to their advantage, and how they progressed evolutionarily.\nBy Connor Ertz, Earth.com Staff Writer\nSource: PLOS ONE", "label": "No"}
{"text": "50,000 Australians visit hospital due to burns each year\nThe kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house for burns\n60 degree water can burn a child’s skin in only a second\nWhen exposed to fire, hot liquids or steam, or certain chemicals, your skin becomes damaged and its cells around the injured area die. Burns range from mild to severe – depending on how many layers of skin are damaged and how much of your body is affected. They cause redness, inflammation and blisters – and may lead to permanent scarring.\nCall for medical assistance immediately after any serious or extensive burn.\nTo avoid tissue damage, treat any burn straight away with a burn gel-infused dressing. This non-adherent dressing is non-toxic and the rapid cooling helps to relieve pain. It also hydrates the burn site, which encourages faster healing.\nWatch the video to learn how to apply a burn gen-infused dressing.\nFor effective healing and to prevent infection, it’s important to properly cover a burn with a sterile waterproof dressing – which acts as an antibacterial barrier. It allows the wearer to shower without needing to redress and can be kept in place for up to 7 days.\nWatch the video to learn how to apply a waterproof film dressing.\nDegrees of a burn refers to how much damage it’s done to the layers of skin, so how much damage does each degree do?\n1st degree burn\nAffects the top layer of skin only.\n2nd degree burn\nDamages the top layer of skin and the dermis underneath. Will blister and be sorer to the touch.\n3rd degree burn\nDestroys two layers of your skin completely and damages nerve endings.\n4th degree burn\nCatastrophically damages skin and muscles or tendons. Can be life threatening.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "If you had to estimate the amount of time you spent a day on digital devices, could you do it? What about, say, your kids? If your answer to either starts with some hesitation, don’t worry. It’s not easy to track deliberate usage of our digital devices – for example, to watch a movie – let alone incidental usage, every time we check our messages or reply to emails. Research finds that parents might be incorrectly estimating their children’s screen time.\nHow far were parents incorrectly estimating their children’s screen time?\nIt’d be even harder to estimate these numbers for our kids, especially when we don’t have the luxury of being beside them 24/7. A study published in 2020 reveals that, among a sample of 346 parents and guardians of children aged 3 to 5, around 70% either over or underestimated their child’s mobile device usage. The average amount that parents got it wrong by was 60 minutes and over, as compared to an app that monitors what mobile applications are being used, and for how long.\nThankfully, the study found that parents tended to overreport the time their child spent on mobile devices if their actual time was less than an hour. However, close to 60% of children whose parents or guardians took part in the study used their digital mobile devices for more than an hour a day. An hour isn’t a small amount of time – after all, we’ve only got 24 of them in a day. Shockingly, some 15% of children logged over four hours of usage a day. Just make sure they aren’t addicted!\nWith that much technology used every day, it’s no wonder parents are finding it difficult to accurately gauge their child’s usage. As we mentioned, incidental usage in short bursts was highlighted by researchers as one of the reasons why it’s difficult for parents to keep track of their child’s usage.\nFurther than that, it reveals how inaccurate our estimations tend to be. It’s important to note that if parents were aware that their child’s mobile device usage was being monitored they may have changed their usage patterns accordingly. It’s therefore unlikely that most parents would be significantly more accurate than what’s been reported here.\nHow can parents accurately track screen time then?\nTo help you monitor your children’s screen time when you can’t, look to the planoApp. Among encouraging other eye-healthy behaviours like keeping a suitable distance from one’s digital devices and finding a suitably-lit working environment, the planoApp’s child activity report yields a detailed breakdown of exactly when, and for what, your child is using their mobile device, taking the guesswork out of the equation.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The D’Hondt effects, explains German Rojas, an expert in electoral mathematics plays in favor of the great strengths and is reflected in the composition of the current legislature. In 2013, 100 of the 137 legislators of the Alianza Pais (AP) party won, resulting this in an absolute majority. In districts 1, 2 and 3 of the Pichincha province 11 parties participated and ten parties participated in District 4. In total, AP reached 13 of 16 seats in the province. Although in any district it obtained more than 57% of votes, it reached 81% of the seats. The same happened in other regions. The clearest example is Azuay, where AP won 56% of votes. 12 parties participated but none of the other 11 reached even 10% of the ballot.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Barium tests are used to help see the outline of the upper parts of the gut (gastrointestinal tract) such as the gullet (oesophagus), stomach and upper gut (small intestines).\nNote: the information below is a general guide only. The arrangements, and the way tests are performed, may vary between different hospitals. Always follow the instructions given by your doctor or local hospital.\nThe gut (gastrointestinal tract) does not show up very well on ordinary X-ray pictures. However, if you drink a white liquid that contains a chemical called barium sulphate, the outline of the upper parts of the gut (oesophagus, stomach and small intestines) shows up clearly on X-ray pictures. This is because X-rays do not pass through barium.\nDepending on what part of your gut is being looked at, you may have one or more of the tests listed below. In each test, the barium coats the lining of the gut being tested. Therefore, abnormalities in the lining or structure of the gut can be seen on the X-ray pictures.\nIn each of the following tests, several X-ray pictures are taken using low-dose X-rays. The total amount of radiation for each test is quite small and thought to be safe. The X-ray machine is usually linked to a TV monitor. Still pictures, or a video recording of X-ray pictures taken in quick succession, can be taken if necessary.\nIn this test you drink some barium liquid. The barium liquid is often fruit-flavoured so it is pleasant to drink. You stand in front of an X-ray machine whilst X-ray pictures are taken as you swallow. This test aims to look for problems in the gullet (oesophagus). These include a narrowing (stricture), hiatus hernias, tumours, reflux from the stomach, disorders of swallowing, etc. You will usually be asked not to eat or drink for a few hours before this test. A barium swallow test takes about 10 minutes.\nThis is similar to a barium swallow (above) but aims to look for problems in the stomach and duodenum such as ulcers, polyps, tumours, etc. You drink some barium liquid, but you then lie on a couch whilst X-ray pictures are taken over your abdomen. It may take a little longer to do than a barium swallow.\nSo that the barium coats all around the lining of the stomach, the doctor doing the test (radiologist) may do one or more of the following:\nAsk you to swallow some bicarbonate powder and citric acid before swallowing the barium. These 'fizz up' when they mix in the stomach and make some gas. (You may have to resist the urge to burp.) The gas expands the stomach and duodenum and also pushes the barium to coat the lining of the stomach and duodenum. This makes the X-ray pictures much clearer. It is the shape and contours of the lining of the stomach and duodenum which need to be seen most clearly on the pictures.\nAsk you to turn over on to your stomach on the couch. Various X-ray pictures may be taken whilst you are in different positions.\nGive you an injection of a drug that makes the muscles in the stomach and gut relax.\nYou will usually be asked not to eat anything for several hours before this test. (Food particles in the gut can make it difficult to interpret the X-rays.) However, you may be allowed sips of water up to two hours before the test.\nThis test is similar to a barium meal but aims to look for problems in the small intestine. Therefore, you drink the barium liquid but then need to wait 10-15 minutes before any X-rays are taken. This allows time for the barium to reach the small intestine. You may then have an X-ray every 30 minutes or so until the barium is seen to have gone through all the small intestine and reached the large intestine (colon).\nThis test is similar to a barium follow through. However, instead of drinking the barium liquid, a thin tube is passed down your gullet (oesophagus), through the stomach and into the first part of the small intestine. Barium liquid is then poured down the tube. This test is not commonly done, but can give some different information about the small intestine to the tests above.\nThis is a test to take X-ray pictures of the colon. See separate leaflet called Barium Enema.\nThis will depend on which of the tests listed above you need to have. Your local hospital will give you advice on what to do before the procedure.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The Helping Your Child in S4 Evening, held on 3 November 2016, was designed to support parents and pupils with S4 attainment. There were three workshops delivered touching on important areas of focus for S4 pupils.\nMr Munogee led a workshop designed to inform parents and pupils of effective study strategies. His presentation also takes a solution focused approach to some of the barriers S4 pupils might experience when studying.\nMr Falconer delivered a question and answer session about the National 4 and 5 qualifications. This allowed parents the opportunity to ask questions about course structures and the type of work expected of their children. Mr Falconer also spoke to the parents about “Growth Mindset” and the importance of young people being resilient learners.\nMrs Watson presented a strategy that could be employed by parents to support their child’s learning. She discussed the importance of pupils having an independent and reflective approach to their learning, whereby they are honest with themselves if something has not been understood or has to be re-learned and they then take the necessary steps to tackle that area; either by approaching a teacher or by studying at home. She then went on to explain how parents could be part of their child’s learning by keeping a Learning Log with their child and discussing and checking their child’s learning with them.\nThe presentations above and support booklet (below) should allow any parents who were unable to attend on the 3 November 2016, a chance to access the information delivered at the S4 evening. It may also be useful to recap on the information from that evening for those parents and pupils who did come along.\nThank you to those who were able to attend the meeting, your support is very much appreciated.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Featured Archive Item\nOn October 16, 1908, cowboy showman and kite enthusiast Samuel Franklin Cody became the first man in England to achieve self-sustained manned flight. To honor one of the kiting world’s most famous and certainly most illustrious personalities, the Drachen Foundation will be using this “Featured Archive” column to highlight some of the Cody items it houses in its archive.\nThis month focuses on a model of a Cody war kite, purchased by Executive Director Ali Fujino at the Sotheby’s auction of the S.F.C. Cody Archive. It was purchased grouped together with samples of fabrics used in kite construction, a sales brochure for the Cody War Kite and two copies of an advertising leaflet for Pearson’s Magazine entitled The Kite That Lifts a Man.\nThe model (25 cm wide by 15 cm long) is composed of card, wood and thread, and is complete with a hand carved lifting basket. On the front and the back of the kite sail, one can see the hand drawn pencil lines the maker used as guidelines. Only a minor amount of wear has damaged this early-1900’s model, as the kite is intact but for a detached back-right spar. Also, the glue used for affixation appears to have discolored the cardstock.\nCody’s purpose in having this model created is unclear, although speculation is that it was a promotional model created to show others the simplicity of his man-lifting system. This speculation is supported by the detail attended to the model—even the basket’s woven detail is hand-drawn in with pencil.\nBoth the brochure—written by Cody himself—and the Pearson’s Magazine leaflet included in the sale of this artifact promote the use of “the kite that lifts a man.” Together, they document Cody’s ambition “to play an important part in the complete conquest of the air.”\nFor more information about and images of this archive item, please email email@example.com .\nOaxaca's Day of the Dead Takes Flight\nIn collaboration with celebrated Oaxacan museums, the Drachen Foundation is organizing a celebration of arts, kites, and culture in Oaxaca, Mexico, for the Day of the Dead 2008.\n2007 JKA Fall Meeting, Aomori, Japan\nOn the northernmost tip of Japan's Honshu Island, in Fujisaki, Aomori, I and fellow Drachen board member Jose Sainz were the guests of Japan Kite Association President Masaaki Modegi at the JKA Fall meeting .\nDF Celebrates Drachen Kite Journal\nAfter 11 years and 25 issues, the journal team of Drachen says goodbye to our readers with this final issue. Under the research and journalistic expertise of Ben Ruhe, we have enjoyed learning new and exciting about the world of kites, its cultures and its people. Without fear and always with great enthusiasm, Ben has traveled more than four times around the world and visited almost every corner of kiting history, culture, art and sport. He yielded to no boundary—whether it geographic or political. He explored areas in kiting that hadn’t yet been touched, made many friends for Drachen and exposed many to kiting.\nThroughout this time, little information about Ben himself has been given to the journal’s readers. A professional journalist with some of the best US newspapers, he took time off to vagabond around the world. He visited castles, kings and monks, never afraid to take colorful jobs when he needed money. After his world travels, he settled back in the nation’s capitol, Washington D.C., as an information specialist for the Smithsonian Institution. Beside his job at the Smithsonian, he gave much time to a personal passion for the boomerang (another object that flies.) Interestingly, this passion gave him much of the background to go on and report on the world of kites.\nBen was an important confidante and advisor to me before the Drachen Foundation had been born. I had traveled with Drachen administrator Ali Fujino to Ben’s Washington D.C. apartment to talk about book possibilities. Nothing came of that, but I got a glimpse of this mildly eccentric and wonderful man.\nAfter closely examining every surface in the apartment, it was obvious that Ben was a voracious collector. More importantly, he had a variety of interests unlike anyone else—primitive spear points, modern art, boogie-woogie piano, and (his direct link to flying objects) boomerangs! A lasting memory from that visit was a visit to his artist friend’s apartment to see, first, his collection of art, but more importantly, his collection of marbles. Marbles! From then on, collecting, creating, and promoting kites seemed nothing more than mainstream to me.\nWhen the Foundation was born, Kitelines Magazine was ending its great run and German and French kite magazines were coming and going; it was understood that a publishing arm would be a part of Drachen’s functions. When we established the Drachen Foundation Kite Journal to this end, it was understood that Ben would be its editor and primary writer.\nBen helped to define the Foundation’s mission, and his legacy is the volume of original material contained in the Journal section of the Foundation’s website. He leaves us to begin another frontier, immortalized in a film documentary as the guru of boomerangs and will be a consultant for the film.\nBen Ruhe has been an indispensable part of the Drachen Foundation and has helped us to strive to always work harder. Our final issue is dedicated as a tribute to his work.\nI cannot thank you enough, Ben.\nNew Drachen Foundation Publications\nThe Drachen Foundation issues and offers a variety of publications, from scholarly studies of kite topics to overviews of kite cultures, pamphlets documenting special projects and special art “coffee table” books. Drachen has recently added two very special publications to its online store.\nIndia: Kite’s Eye View (sorry, no longer available in the Drachen store)\nBy Nico Chorier\nOffering majestic views of India captured through kite aerial photography, Nico Chorier’s new photography book India: Kite’s Eye View offers captivating documentation of India. Chorier’s unique images allow the viewer to appreciate the distinctiveness of Indian geography, archeology and humanity of this vast country.\nA full time professional kite aerial photographer, Chorier has wandered the world, capturing wonderful close-up views of the Taj Majal in, photographing whales in India, agricultural projects in Brazil and archeological sites in France.\nPaper in Flight \nBy Drachen Foundation\nWhat happens when you gather some of the best kite artists and turn them loose in the traditional paper making regions of Japan? Paper takes flight. This new publication from the Drachen Foundation gives a personal view of these artists as they are mentored in the appreciation of Japanese paper making and in joining these materials and their talent with the culture of Japan as their muse. Detailing a collaboration of kite artists István Bodóczky, Anna Rubin, Scott Skinner, Robert Trepanier, Nobuhiko Yoshizumi and their workshop guests Anthony Bodóczky, Eveline Bischof, Alessia Marrocu and Daniela Zitzmann, the process and results are documented in this colorful book.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "A quick and easy wax-dye art activity for kids.\nWax and Dye Pictures\nYou will need\n1. Let your child draw picture outlines with the wax crayons or alternatively, you draw a simple picture for your child.\n2. Paint over the drawing with some diluted food coloring or dye.\nIdeas for Wax-dye Art pictures\nPreschool Bible Craft - Golgotha Silhouette\nYou will need\nEasy crafts for kids submitted by visitors to this site.\nYou are invited to upload a pic and share your kids' craft activities too!\nA comprehensive list of preschool crafts listed in four categories: painting, drawing, cutting and pasting, and modelling and construction activities for kids.\nEnjoy this collection of printable crafts, including an alphabet coloring book, story-based lapbooks for children and other easy art projects.\nExplore some easy Christams craft ideas for kids to make gifts and decorations for the festive season.\nChristian Bible-based activities and Easter crafts for kids including recipes, art activities, Easter coloring pages, Easter poems/songs, background about Easter and the first Passover and more.\nNew! CommentsHave your say! Leave a comment in the box below.\nOcean Theme Lapbook\nUse this preschool ocean theme lapbook based on A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle to enhance your studies of marine life.\n[?] Subscribe To This Site\nCopyright © 2005-2016, Shirleys Preschool Activities.com|\nAll Rights Reserved.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Did your grandparents have food allergies? Mine sure didn’t. A stark comparison to the growing epidemic of food allergies, worsening with every generation.\nSo why didn’t your grandparents have food allergies? It’s really quite simple…\n1) They ate seasonal real food.\nFood came from farms and small markets in the early 1900’s, and because food preservatives were not widely used yet, food was fresh. Because of the lack of processed food, their diets were nutrient dense, allowing them to get the nutrition they needed from their food.\nFor babies, breast milk was valued and it was always in season.\n2) They didn’t diet, and play restrictive games with their body and metabolism. They ate food when food was available.\nOur grandparents did not fall victim to fad diets, food marketing, calorie counting, and other detrimental dieting habits that are popular today (in part because the marketing infrastructure didn’t exist yet). Because of this, they had a healthy metabolism, and ate according to their body’s needs and cravings.\n3) They cooked food at home, using traditional preparation methods from scratch.\nBuying processed food was not an option, and eating out was a rare luxury. Lucky for our grandparents, these habits actually increased their health.\n4) They didn’t eat GMOs, food additives, stabilizers and thickeners.\nFood was not yet treated with additives, antibiotics and hormones to help preserve shelf life and pad the pockets of food producers in the early 1900’s at the expense of the consumer’s health.\n5) They ate the whole animal, which included mineral-rich bone broths and organ meats.\nAnimal bones were saved or bought to make broths and soups, and organ meats always had a special place at the dinner table. These foods were valued for their medicinal properties, and never went to waste.\n6) They didn’t go to the doctor when they felt sick or take prescription medications. Doctor visits were saved for accidental injuries and life threatening illness.\nWhen they got a fever, they waited it out. When they felt sick, they ate soups, broths, and got lots of rest. They did not have their doctor or nurse on speed dial, and they trusted the body’s natural healing process a whole lot more than we do today. Their food was medicine, whether they realized it or not.\n7) They spent lots of time outside.\nOur grandparents didn’t have the choice to stay inside and play on their phones, computers and gaming systems. They played on the original play-station: bikes, swing-sets and good ol’ mother nature!\nAnd what do these things have to do with food allergies?\nNutrition affects EVERY cell in our body. The health of our cells is dependent on diet and lifestyle. Cells create tissues, tissues create organs, and we are made up of a system of organs. If your nutrition is inadequate, the integrity of each cell, tissue and organ in your body will suffer, thus you may be MORE sensitive to certain foods.\nWhat do you think? Please share in the comments!", "label": "No"}
{"text": "5 June 2013\n1888, FRAME STAMPED WITH THE KIEV PECHERSK LAVRA MARKS IN CYRILLIC, 1885 AND 1886, 84 STANDARD, SILVER PLAQUE FURTHER STAMPED WITH THE KIEV PECHERSK LAVRA MARK, 84 STANDARD.\n35 by 26 cm.\nProvenance: Sold to the West from the Gatchina Palace and Museum through the All-Union Society Antikvariat in 1928-1934.\nPrivate collection, Europe.\nRelated Literature: For similar icons dedicated to the 1888 event, see Auction Catalogue, Russian Art, Icons and Works of Art, MacDougall's, 28 November 2012, p. 340, lot 507.\nThis icon commemorates the occasion when Emperor Alexander III and his family were saved from a train crash on 17th October, 1888. On this day, ten of the fifteen coaches of the Imperial train were derailed close to Borki station, near Kharkov. Sixty eight passengers were injured and twenty one killed. The fact that the entire Imperial family escaped unharmed was regarded as a miracle. The date of 17th October was declared a national holiday; the Holy Synod ordered a Solemn Liturgy and prayers to be offered in every Orthodox church; chapels were built and icons created.\nIcons commemorating the events of 17th October 1888 usually depicted the namesake saints of the Tsar’s family members – or the Holy Prophet Hosea and St Andrew of Crete, whose Feast days were jointly celebrated on this date. As distinct from other icons dedicated to the same miracle, our image is composed of symbols. At the centre, the Theotokos holds the Protecting Veil, symbolising miraculous protection for the Imperial family. Above, is the New Testament Trinity and in the foreground are the Venerable Martyr, St. Andrew of Crete and the Prophet Hosea. On the lower border is the inscription: “Depiction of the Saints celebrated on 17th October”. The texts on the scrolls are from the writings of the two holy men and highly appropriate to the miraculous event: on St Andrew’s scroll are the first words from his Great Canon “The Lord has become a help and protector for my salvation” and the verse on Prophet Hosea’s scroll is about the powerlessness of Hell before God and the promise of eternal life: “I will ransom them from the power of hell; I will redeem them from death” (Hosea 13:14). Of further significance is the depiction of the icon of Christ of Edessa held by St. Andrew – a direct reference to the icon that had been on board the train at the time and which became linked to the Imperial miracle.\nOur icon is strikingly distinguished by the Tsar’s family depicted in silhouette form in the central background, between the two saints. Despite the sketchiness, seven figures are recognisable: Alexander III (centre), the Empress Maria Feodorovna (right), Grand Duke Georgiy and the Tsarevich Nikolai – the future Nicholas II – (left), Grand Duchess Xenia (extreme right) and the little figures of Grand Duchess Olga and Grand Duke Mikhail (front right). These same characters were depicted on the medal In Commemoration of the Miraculous Deliverance of the Tsar’s Family on 17 October 1888, designed by A. Grilikhis and issued by the St Petersburg mint. A silver memorial plate on the reverse of the icon testifies that it was specifically painted for presentation to Emperor Alexander III: “Earnest offering of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra to the Most Pious Lord Emperor Alexander Alexandrovich III in memory of the miraculous deliverance of His Majesty and his Most August Family from very great danger on the railway 17th October 1888. Platon, Metropolitan of Kiev.” Thus, this icon – aside from its “historical” subject matter – is also connected with one of the oldest and foremost centres of Orthodoxy, the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. To judge by certain artistic characterisitics of the icon, it may have been commissioned in St Petersburg from the famous Peshekhonov Workshop, particularly if its long-standing connections with Kiev are taken into account (in 1843-1853, M.S. Peshekhonov restored frescoes at the St Sophia’s Cathedral, Kiev).\nThe icon was reproduced by E.I. Fesenko’s Chromolithography in Odessa, 1895. The image caption reads: “A copy of the icon, presented to the Emperor Alexander Alexandrovich III by the Kiev metropolitan Platon in commemoration of the miraculous escape of His Majesty and the august family from the great danger on railway on 17 October 1888”. This plate was included in the Album of Reproductions of Sacred Icons, published by E.I. Fesenko’s Chromolithography in 1897. Repeated reproductions of the present lot are evidence that the icon was considered as a model for prayerful remembrance of the miraculous rescue of the Tsar’s family in 1888.\nThe icon is a genuinely historic artefact and of special significance in the year when the House of Romanov's quatercentenary is celebrated.\nNotes on symbols:\n* Indicates 5% Import Duty Charge applies.\nΩ Indicates 20% Import Duty Charge applies.\n§ Indicates Artist's Resale Right applies.\n† Indicates Standard VAT scheme applies, and the rate of 20% VAT will be charged on both hammer price and premium.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "QGIS is an excellent piece of free GIS software. This tutorial explains how to use Site Scan and QGIS together to generate topo/contour plots for earthwork, client updates, planning civil work, and accurately estimating jobs.\n5. Now, create contours by navigating to the Contour tool via Raster>Extraction>Contour.\nIn the Contour dialog box, select the newly created clipped raster as the input and select an output filename and file type.\nYou can produce contour/topos in the following formats:\nIn a couple seconds, the contour shapefile will be created.\n6. Right click the newly created file which now appears in the Layers window and select “Save As”\nOnce saved, you can use this file in whatever planning or earth work program you need.\n7. To create a KML file for viewing in Google Earth, select “Keyhole Markup Language” as the output format, and select a filename for the output file.\n8. Open resulting KML file in Google Earth!", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Solution heat treated and stabilized\nSolution heat treated, cold worked and then artificially aged\nSolution heat treated, artificially aged and then cold worked\nArtificially aged and then cold worked\nStrain hardened only\nStrain hardened and partially annealed\nStrain hardened and stabilized\nAdded suffix digits 2, 4, 6, B, to the H1, H2, H3 symbols indicate the degree of strain hardening ,i.e., 2=1/4 hard, 4=1/2\nhard, 6r 3/4 hard, and 8= full hard.\n4-13. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR HANDLING AND FABRICATION OF MAGNESIUM ALLOYS.\n4-14. There are two special major areas of safety precautions to observe in processing of magnesium alloys other than\ngeneral shop safety practices. One is the fact some alloys contain thorium, a radioactive element (e.g., HK31A, HM21A,\nHM31A) and the other is the low melting point/rapid oxidation (fire hazard) characteristics of the metal. Where the\napplication of heat is to be made to a thorium alloy, both of these areas must be considered.\nMagnesium thorium alloys shall be handled, stored and disposed of in accordance with T.O. 00-110N-4.\n4-15. MAGNESIUM-THORIUM ALLOYS (HK31, HM21, HM31, HZ32, ZH42, ZH62) are mildly radioactive but are within\nthe safe limits set by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and represent no hazard to personnel under normal\nconditions. A standard of 0.1 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m3) of thorium in air is a safe limit for continuous\natmospheric exposure and is readily met in processing magnesium alloys cont2ining up to 10% thorium, For Example:\nStirring alloy melt of 5% thorium content resulted in 0.002 mg/m3 atmospheric contamination and grinding air alloy of 3%\nthorium content gave thorium contamination in the breathing zone ranging from 0.008 to 0.035 mg/m3. Only long\nexposure to fine dust or fumes need cause concern as to radioactive toxicity of magnesium thorium. Normal dust control\nprecautions, followed to avoid fire hazards, can be expected to control any health hazards that might result from fine dust\nin grinding the low thorium content alloys. In welding these alloys without local exhaust, concentrations of thorium above\nthe tentative limitof0.1 mg/m3of air were found in the breathing zone. Use of local exhaust reduced thorium\nconcentrations to well within acceptable limits. If ventilation is such that the visible fumes flow away from the welder, it is\nadequate, providing such fumes are not permitted to accumulate in the immediate vicinity. An alternate practice\ninvolves use of a ventilated welder's hood, if there is not sufficient room ventilation to control contamination of the\ngeneral atmosphere. Thorium containing scrap and wet grinding sludge may be disposed of by burning providing an\nABC amendment is secured for the basic AEC license. If burned, the ashes which will then contain the thorium, must be\ndisposed of in accordance with AEC Standards for Protection Against Radiation 10 CFR Part 20. As an alternative the\nashes or scrap may be turned over to an AEC licensed scrap dealer, through applicable disposal procedures. See T.O.\n4-16. For indoor storage of thorium alloy sheets and plates, the size of stacks should be limited to 1000 cubic feet with\nan aisle width not less than one-half the stack's height. Such storage is within the normal recommendations for fire\n4-17. Radiation surveys have shown that exposure of workers handling the referenced thorium alloys is well within the\nsafe limits set by the AEC. Assuming hand contact, the body one foot away from the alloy for an entire 40 hour work\nweek, the exposure would be 168 millirems (mr) to the hands and 72 mr to the whole body. These are maximum values\nwhich probably would not be approached in actual practice. The corresponding AEC permissible safe limits are 1500\nmr/week for the hands and 300 mr/week for the whole body.\n4-18. Despite the relative safety present in the handling, storage and processing of thorium containing alloys, it is\nmandatory that all such actions be made according to the requirements and restrictions of the 00-100 series technical\norders, as applicable, and ABC regulations. As previously stated, the normal precautions taken in the shop processing of\nmagnesium will suffice for safe handing of thorium alloys. These precautions are noted in the following paragraphs on\n4-19. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR ALL ALLOYS (INCLUDING FIRE HAZARDS).\n4-20. Since magnesium will ignite and burn fiercely when heated to a point near its melting temperature, certain\nprecautions should be taken during working of it.\n4-21. Machining Safety Rules. During machining operations, observance of the following rules will control any potential\nKeep all cutting tools sharp and ground with adequate relief and clearance angles.\nUse heavy feeds to produce thick chips.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "In our continuing effort to enable the DIYer to build his own Air Data Computer, we’ve organized some code into a microcontroller-oriented standard library. The code is intended for the Teensy and Arduino boards. To let the user understand how the library can be used, we have prepared some fully working examples ([download id=”2584″] ).\nThis article presents the installation and operation of the library for a Teensy 3.1/3.2 board as a temperature logger.\nMain functions of the logger\nThis temperature logger is able to:\n- Record temperature readings to a Secure Digital (SD) memory card, as well as forward the measurements via USB\n- Accompany the recordings with a corresponding time stamp\n- Calculate certain physical properties of dry air using the AirDC library\nEach data packet contains the following information:\n- Air density,\n- Air temperature ()\n- Air temperature ()\n- Air temperature measurement uncertainty ( )\n- Reference pressure ()\n- Viscosity ()\n- Timestamp (year, month, day, hour, minute, second)\n- Program execution time ()\nPrerequisites and Components\nTo build a logger identical to the one presented, you will need the following hardware and software and basic soldering skills.\n- 1 x Teensy 3.1/3.2 microcontroller (Figure 4, pinout information)\n- 1 x DS18B20 temperature sensor, a low sampling rate digital temperature sensor from Maxim with a nominal accuracy of 0.5 (Figure 5)\n- 1 x Portable, battery powered USB charger with microUSB plug (Figure 6)\n- Some thin, multi-strand wire\n- 1 x 32.768Hz quartz crystal, to enable the real time clock operation of the Teensy (RTC) (Figure 7)\n- 1 x SD Card Adaptor for Teensy and SD card (Figure 9)\n- 1 x 4.7kΩ/0.25W resistor, regardless of accuracy\n- 1 x 3V coin battery and battery holder, to maintain RTC in case the USB charger is disconnected (Figure 8)\nDownload and install the latest public release of the AirDC Teensy library from our Github repository or here [download id=”2584″]. Once downloaded, place the whole AirDC folder within your Teenyduino libraries directory. Detailed third party libraries installation instructions for the Teensy/Arduino IDE can be found here.\nIf you want to keep your logger assembled and keep a small overall footprint, it is suggested that you solder every wire. Refer to Figure 9 for hints on soldering the SD Card Adaptor. Mounting the adaptor flush to the board will reduce the overall dimensions but soldering will be tricky. Instead, it is preferable to separate the adaptor from the Teensy board with pin header rows. There is also a relevant tutorial in the PJRC site. The adaptor schematics are available here.\nKeep in mind that the USB cable might obstruct you from ejecting the SD card, if you solder the adaptor in the position shown in Figure 9.\nThe coin battery holder should be connected to Vbat (+) and to Ground (-) pins.\nThree wires are required to be soldered between the temperature sensor and the Teensy board. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet. The following table describes the required connections.\nRun the Code\nYou can run the sketch without an SD card: just set:\n#define SDSAVE 0\nwithin the example sketch.\nThe complete, ready-to-run sketch your logger is “BasicSDDataLogger.ino”, situated within the Example folder. You can also find it from within the Arduino IDE in Files > AirDC > Examples. There are a few basic parameters you can set to personalize your temperature recorder. Open the “BasicSDDataLogger.ino” sketch and modify the following parameters values to fit your requirements. First of all you can choose the sampling period. Set the variable ios to the desired value in seconds. The minimum value is 2 seconds.\nThe logger calculates (among others) the air density and viscosity and log the values to the SD card and the print them in the serial output. We only have a temperature sensor onboard, so during the calculations for the density and viscosity, the ambient pressure is assumed to be 101325Pa by default. The relative humidity value is set to 0%. Still, those pre-supposed values can be changed within the sketch to reflect the desired pressure value and humidity. Pressure is given in Pa and relative humidity is a value between 0 and 1.\nYou can use the logger with or without a RTC. To operate without a RTC (No quartz crystal, no coin battery) you first need to declare the absence of the RTC:\n#define RTCPRESENT 0\nand then your desired initial log timestamp:\nsetTime(23, 40, 15, 8, 1, 2016);\nBy the default, time is set to 23:59:55 and date to 31/12/2016.\nTo use the RTC functionality, be sure to leave the relevant line of code intact.\n#define RTCPRESENT 1\nA demo video of the code execution can be found here below. The real-time output in the serial port can be seen.\n[youtube id=”S1dFmZvGPUA” align=”center” mode=”normal” maxwidth=”720″ grow=”yes”]\nConfiguring the RTC\nThe sketch will read the time from the RTC but is not able to setup the RTC time. To do so you can use the time library example File > Examples > Time > TimeTeensy3. You can configure the correct time and date and upload the logger sketch to the board afterwards. The RTC will maintain the correct time settings which will not be lost, as long as a battery is connected to the Teensy board\nWhen you upload the code, the board will immediately logging values. You will notice the serial port blinking every time new data is sent over Serial. If you use an SD card, be sure to insert it prior to power on.\nWhen you have finished data collection, unplug the power source from the board. Then, move the datalog.csv file from the SD card to your computer or any other convenient location. To plot, for example, temperature you can import the data file to Excel or LibreCalc. When you open the datalog.csv file from one of these applications, an import wizard will pop up. To convert the .csv file to LibreOffice or Excel select only comma (,) as separator for fields. With that conversion you can plot a graph similar to Figure 3 Suppose that every recorded measurement requires about 100 bytes of storage room on the SD (the size depends on measurement values) and the sampling period is 900 seconds. In one day the logger will write bytes. For every gigabyte of SD Card space, our logger can save 307 years of data. It’s apparent from this rough calculation that SD card capacity is not a critical design requirement for this device and application.\nThe employed temperature sensor has a “generous” measurement interval, in the order of 700ms. The measurement code is blocking (1000ms) and during that time the micro controller board is not executing other code. Consequently, this kind of sensor can be used only when fast response is not required from the program.\nThe sensor employed in our logger was shielded in a metal sheath, which can damp down the dynamic response of the sensor, in comparison to an unshielded sensor. The mass of the sheath implicates an increase in thermal inertia for the whole temperature probe, rendering any kind of fast dynamic application impossible. Considerations for sensor dynamics will be introduced when we deal with more demanding applications.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Life on Titan?\nTitan, Saturn's largest moon, is a mysterious place. Its thick atmosphere is rich in organic compounds. Some of them would be signs of life if they were on our planet.\nHow do they form on Titan? Will they help us to discover how life began on Earth?\nTitan's atmosphere is mostly nitrogen but there are also methane and many other organic compounds. Organic compounds form when sunlight destroys methane. If sunlight is continuously destroying methane, how is methane getting into the atmosphere?\nOn Earth today, it is life itself that refreshes the methane supply. Methane is a by-product of the metabolism of many organisms. On Earth, the simplest biological sources, such as those associated with peat bogs, rice fields and ruminant animals, continuously supply fresh gas to replace that destroyed by oxidation. Could this mean there is life on Titan?\nTitan is not a pleasant place for life. It is far too cold for liquid water to exist, and all known forms of life need liquid water. Titan's surface is -180°C. According to one exotic theory, long ago, the impact of a meteorite, for example, might have provided enough heat to liquify water for perhaps a few hundred or thousand years.\nHowever, it is unlikely that Titan is a site for life today. But scientists are still currently puzzled by the amount of methane that persists in Titan's atmosphere. Could there be oceans of methane on or under the surface?", "label": "No"}
{"text": "By Jeffrey Zilahy\nDo you're thinking that \"math = extraordinary\" is a real assertion? After examining this booklet, you may swap your solution to a certain. With \"jargon avoidance\" in brain, this leisure math publication promises the lowdown on why math is enjoyable, fascinating and proper in trendy society. meant for a person who's taken with math and the place it's circa 2010. This publication is much less considering exploring the mathematical information than it's with exploring the final impression of assorted discoveries and insights, and goals to be insightful, slicing edge-y and mathematically rigorous.\nRead Online or Download A Cultural Paradox: Fun in Mathematics PDF\nSimilar study & teaching books\nIf freshmen within the school room are to be considering arithmetic, academics have to be either good proficient approximately present tasks and ready to see how what's anticipated of them could be translated into wealthy and stimulating lecture room innovations. The e-book examines present tasks that impact instructing arithmetic and identifies guidelines for motion within the school room.\nNew 4th version thoroughly revised and up to date with new DVD now to be had; ISBN 1-56368-283-4\nOffers an exam of the historical past to trying out vocabulary wisdom in a moment language and specifically considers the impact that notice frequency and lexical assurance have on studying and communique in a international language. content material: factors and definitions -- be aware hassle, be aware frequency and acquisition : lexical profiles -- Frequency and insurance -- Measuring vocabulary breadth : passive attractiveness vocabulary -- Measuring different points of vocabulary breadth -- Measuring effective vocabulary wisdom -- Measuring vocabulary intensity -- Vocabulary acquisition and checks of language point -- Vocabulary acquisition and lecture room enter -- Vocabulary acquisition and casual language enter -- Implications for studying and educating : conception and perform.\nDeutsch als Fremdsprache im Klinikalltag meistern! Der berufliche Erfolg eines jeden Arztes basiert auf der gekonnten Kommunikation mit Patienten und Kollegen. Sei es im Anamnesegespräch, bei der körperlichen Untersuchung oder der Diskussion von Differentialdiagnosen. Internationale Ärzte stellt die Arbeit in deutschen Kliniken und Praxen vor eine besonders große Aufgabe, da sie sich sowohl in der fachspezifischen Ausdrucksweise als auch mit kulturellen Besonderheiten der Sprache zurechtfinden müssen.\n- Teach yourself Russian grammar\n- What Mathematics Do Students Know and How is that Knowledge Changing?: Evidence from the National Assessment of Educational Progress\n- Dissertation Writing in Practice: Turning Ideas into Text\n- Algebra I: Textbook for Students of Mathematics\nExtra info for A Cultural Paradox: Fun in Mathematics\nHe also does not exhibit Savant traits, indeed it is postulated that he developed his skills through his genetics. If this is true, it could mean that more people will naturally develop \"genius abilities\" in the future. A bunch of Toothpicks 39 CH 16: History of the TOE and E8 It appears that the most famous genius to have lived, Albert Einstein, actually spent the majority of his professional life frustrated at how to reconcile his powerful theories of Relativity with those of Quantum Mechanics.\nA bunch of Toothpicks 39 CH 16: History of the TOE and E8 It appears that the most famous genius to have lived, Albert Einstein, actually spent the majority of his professional life frustrated at how to reconcile his powerful theories of Relativity with those of Quantum Mechanics. While his theory was remarkably accurate in describing physics of the very large, his equations could not work in conjunction with physics of the very small. From this mathematical inconsistency, the quest of generations of brilliant scientists has been to determine what physical theory can explain both the large and small.\nHe is unique due to the fact that he never maintained a permanent residence, never married, never had kids, shunned worldly possessions and basically lived an entirely nomadic existence. He lived to be 83 years old and was a mathematician from a very early age. While his decision to live such a life probably has earned him a bit of a reputation as an eccentric, it also afforded him the opportunity to spend his long life dedicated entirely to mathematics and in the process become perhaps the most prolific mathematician ever in history as of this writing.\nA Cultural Paradox: Fun in Mathematics by Jeffrey Zilahy", "label": "No"}
{"text": "With the colder months approaching, critters living in urban areas like raccoons are looking for dry, warm spaces to curl up and settle down. Our heated homes are like an oasis to these animals during winter.\nBefore we get into how to deal with these creatures, let’s get acquainted with the raccoon itself. These animals are about the size of small dogs. They can weigh over 20 pounds and measure up to 95 centimeters long. Raccoons are extremely adaptable animals, and eat both vegetables and meat. They are agile, can run up to 24 kilometres per hour, and fall 11 to 12 meters without injury. In the wintertime, raccoons can lose up to 50% of their body weight. Female raccoons can give birth from between one and five babies, generally in April or May.\nTo keep raccoons out of your home this winter, here are a few useful tips from your local wildlife experts:\n1.Secure all access points. Raccoons will scratch, claw, dig, and pry their way into your home. To prevent these fluffy, curious critters from getting into your house, be on the lookout for rotting siding or holes where through which your home can be accessed. Look for weakened structures in chimneys, decks, garages, attics, and basements.\n2.Trim your trees. Raccoons are cunning, and will exploit any opportunity to reach your home. If a tree in your yard has branches long enough to reach your roof, you should consider cutting back the branches to prevent raccoons from accessing the top of your house. Fruit trees, especially, can encourage these pests to hang out around your home.\n3.Rid your yard of food sources. You may not find frozen food appealing, but hungry raccoons will make a meal of it. To keep raccoons away, ensure your garbage containers are firmly shut or closed away in a lockable unit. Ensure that any pet food is kept inside.\n4.Use light to your advantage. Raccoons are primarily nocturnal creatures. Keeping a well-lit backyard, or one with motion-sensor “predator” lights, might discourage raccoons from settling in on your property.\n5.Contact a professional. If you feel like you’ve tried all possible options, but you’re still having raccoon trouble, contact a knowledgeable professional to help you deal with the problem. Raccoons can carry rabies, roundworm, and leptospirosis, all of which are transmittable to humans and pets.\nRaccoons may look cute and relatively harmless, but they can do irreparable (not to mention expensive) damage to your home. To keep you and your family safe, scan the outside of your house for any openings, and ensure your yard contains no food.\nIf you have a raccoon problem that requires professional help, get in touch with the professionals at Raider Wildlife Control today.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Yoga Basics: What is Stretching?\nYoga is more than stretching. The definition of yoga is, in one word, is unity (of body, mind and spirit). Without discounting mind and spirit, understanding the physical aspect of yoga will enhance the overall experience of unity.\nAs you explore your body’s abilities on the yoga mat, you will undoubtedly experience the sensation of stretch. Stretching has many benefits including improved circulation, joint mobility and muscle elasticity. The common misunderstanding of yoga as merely “stretching” can lead to some not so smart or safe yoga practices. Understanding the science of stretching will improve your safety on the mat and your enjoyment.\nFour Stretching Methods In Your Yoga Practice\nThere are several methods of stretching. These include:\nStatic is considered to be a passive stretch (muscles not active during stretch) but pushed to end range/tolerance.\nPassive (or relaxed) stretching is a form of static stretching. However, with passive stretching, you relax into a pose letting your body weight, or gravity, stretch your muscles.\nActive stretching is when you use antagonistic muscle groups (muscles that oppose the muscle you are stretching) or agonist (the muscle group you are stretching) to facilitate a reflexive response that neurologically relaxes the muscle you are stretching. Active stretching is accomplished by the voluntary use of one’s muscles without external aid.\nBallistic is dynamic bouncing in and out of stretches\nThese methods of stretching can be combined. A stretch can start out passive but then become active as you contract muscle groups while in a yoga pose. Or, you may actively move into a position and then use your hands to assist holding your leg in a position. No method is right or wrong, but active stretching and active assisted stretching tend to offer more control and can therefore be safer.\nWhy the Type of Stretching Matters in Yoga\nWhen practicing yoga, it is important to move with control and to stay tuned to the sensations of the body. “No pain, no gain” is NOT a mantra of yoga. When doing static or passive stretching, it is useful to consider that we may be compressing a joint or straining a ligament which is usually accompanied by an unpleasant sensation. This is not generally a goal unless there is a therapeutic reason for doing so and you know what you are doing and why. More often a pleasant sensation of stretch in the center of a muscle is desired and therapeutic. This may seem obvious to some, but many people may feel that getting through the unpleasantness is part of the process. Perhaps this is true in rare cases, but for the most part, pain is a sign to back off.\nHow Hard Should I Push Myself in Yoga Poses?\nIt is generally not recommended to stretch a muscle at its tendon (its insertion point on a bone) or to stretch a ligament. This may happen if you push too hard, have weakness in a muscle, and/or lack the strength to control joint movement. Stretching a tendon doesn’t feel very good. If you find that certain poses result in discomfort despite your efforts to control the motion, you may need to work on muscle strength or modify until the sensation is less intense. Improving your body awareness and understanding your body’s limitations will help you determine when it’s safe to push, and when it’s smarter to yield.\nWhy am I so….Inflexible?\nLimitations in flexibility are due to more than just muscle tightness, and include joint structure, ligaments, tendons, neural mobility and genetics1. In fact stretching does not necessarily lengthen muscle fibers. Improved flexibility and range of motion in joints is due to increased stretch tolerance rather than increased muscle length.\nThe word “tolerance” in this context means adaptation. To tolerate also means to accept and endure. Through practice, repetition and technique we learn to let go (rather than accept and endure) which creates a shift in not only our physiology, but perhaps also in the psyche. Flexibility is defined as range of motion in your joints, but also as the ability to bend without breaking, or willingness to compromise. To consider these polysemous words in the bigger context of yoga, we start to understand that practicing yoga embodies more than the physical.\nStaying Safe in Yoga\nThe safest way to apply the principle of strength with flexibility is to stretch with the muscle around the joint while toned (in an active state). An example of this would be in Dhanurasana (Bow Pose). When you are on belly grasping ankles, you press the ankles into the hands to use the quadriceps (agonist) while you are stretching them. Likewise in Padangustasana (Hand-to-Foot Pose, mimicking a hamstring stretch) you activate the quadriceps (antagonist) to reciprocally relax the hamstrings. Actively moving into a pose and then gently contracting either the muscle(s) being stretched or the opposing muscles is the safest method of stretching. Passive stretching may be more intense, but is intensity necessary or safe?\nHatha yoga should be a balance between strength, flexibility and relaxation. An overly flexible muscle that has little strength may not function properly in everyday life. Similarly a very stiff muscle or joint may be unable to function properly. If we gently activate muscles while in stretching positions we protect the joints and we learn to respect our limitations and vulnerabilities at any given moment. The balance of wanting to go further and knowing when to stop is experienced, as is the understanding of what yoga is truly about. Now that is practicing smart, safe, yoga!\nYou May Also Enjoy:\nYoga basics: connective tissue, or fascia and stretching: explore more on this subject with YogaUOnline writer, Meagan McCrary.\nExplore gentle and relaxing yoga stretching with YogaUOnline’s back to basics course: Healthy Back, Healthy Body: Yoga for Flexibility and Back Pain Relief.\nReprinted with permission from SmartSafeYoga.com\nChristine Carr is the owner of Synergy Physical Therapy and Yoga, Inc. in Evergreen, Colorado. She incorporates both physical therapy and yoga in her work helping clients (synergyptyoga.com). She has been a physical therapist for 18 years and a yoga therapist for 11 years. Christine has studied with various yoga teachers and styles being drawn most to the Iyengar lineage and therapeutics in general. She now assists workshops in therapeutics for both the Professional Yoga Therapy Studies and Rachel Krentzman’s Yoga for a Happy Back Program. Her passion for learning and contributing to her field led her to Dr. Matthew Taylor, PT, PhD, E-RYT 500 for whom she is now contributing articles for his SMARTSAFE yoga blog.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Junior Solar Sprint Professional Development\nWednesday, March 4th from 9:00am - 12:00pm\nLocation: Cradle of Aviation\nDescription: Do you or your neighbors receive electricity for your home from solar panels?! Can you imagine cars running off the same panels?! The Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) incorporates uses solar technology to reinforce the need for renewable energy resources through engineering!\nJSS challenges students to use their knowledge of science, creative thinking, and teamwork to design and build solar electric vehicles. Then, students will have the opportunity to race to the finish!\nAt our workshop, you’ll engineer your own solar car and learn how math is essential to building the most efficient solar vehicle!", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Welcome to 4th Grade!\nDiscover what makes this year special, from world biomes dioramas and the Schooner Sultana, to St. Leonie Aviat's Mass and our spring show.\nEnglish Language Arts\nStudents focus on daily reading and writing. Instruction covers reading, writing, grammar, spelling, listening, and speaking.\nStudents are exposed to novels, short stories, articles, and the MacMillan/McGraw-Hill reading series, Treasures, from which reading strategies and vocabulary words are learned and applied. Weekly spelling, review, and challenge words are also an element of the program.\nFocusing on the Six Traits of Writing: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency & Conventions, and Presentation, students apply their writing skills to mini-lessons, grammar exercises, and a writing journal.\nThe backbone of the Singapore Math program is number sense instruction, model drawing, and mental math, which teaches students to progress from concrete to pictorial to abstract representations. Concepts covered include place value, comparing numbers, multiplying, dividing, fractions, decimals, line plots, calculating measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode, range), graphing, measuring angles using a protractor, and finding area and perimeter.\nStudents explore science through the LabLearner program. Units of study include: Microscopes & Magnification, Chemistry, Forms of Energy, Ecosystems & Adaptations, Light & Optics, and Nutrition. Investigations follow a pre-lab, hands-on lab study, and post-lab format.\nCurriculum consists of the U. S. government, the five major regions of the United States, including their people and customs, early American history, a study of the state of Maryland and its Colonial history, and map studies. Students learn all 50 states & capitals, as well as their location on the map.\nThrough the series, Christ Our Life, students know, proclaim, and share the Catholic faith. Each lesson integrates Scripture, Catholic doctrine and tradition, as well as the Church's social teachings. The Sacraments are studied in depth, as well as the Commandments and the Beatitudes.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "On Wednesday 6 January four scientists from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology gave an hour-long background press briefing on the science behind flooding.\nYesterday we posted a summary of the introductory hydrological points made by Professor Alan Jenkins, our Deputy Director and Director, Water and Pollution Science.\nToday’s post, by Prof Jenkins and colleagues Nick Reynard and Jamie Hannaford, is based on the parts of the briefing that examined natural flood management techniques such as tree planting, creation of woody debris dams and changes to upland management practices. In most cases the text below is based on the wording used by the scientists on the day. Questions from the audience were wide-ranging, so they’ve grouped the answers they gave on the day under a number of common areas.\nExamining the scientific evidence – what do we know about natural flood management?\nby Prof Alan Jenkins, Nick Reynard and Jamie Hannaford\n“Hydrology at large catchment scale is an extremely complex mixture of natural and man-made water processes, pathways and storages.”\nThe use of ‘natural’ techniques for managing floods is much in the news at present. Here at the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology we have a long history of research on catchment science covering upland and lowland areas across the UK (and further afield). CEH scientists have been involved with work at research catchments including Pontbren, Plynlimon, Balquhidder, and many more, as well as national scale hydrological monitoring and modelling over the last five decades.\nOn Wednesday the three of us attended a press briefing in London where we were asked a number of questions on natural flood management techniques. We’ve summarised our responses below. It’s important to note that our answers are based on our varied experiences as hydrologists working on a variety of projects. We haven’t provided references here and would be very happy to expand on the points, and engage further. Our contact details can be found in the links at the bottom of the post.\n“There is much still to be learnt about natural flood management techniques, and there is a pressing need to systematically review all the evidence to determine what works best in any particular catchment.”\nAt the very start of the briefing we were asked about the overall state of the evidence for flood management techniques. We replied,\nThere are many things that we believe can be done to mitigate floods, to stop floods happening or to reduce flood impact. Some of these things are perhaps manmade but some are more natural, such as rewilding of the environment which has been suggested many times over the last few weeks. All of them will work to some extent in some location. But hydrologically it's unlikely that any one of them will work to the same extent everywhere, or will provide a panacea for protecting all communities, all sites, against flooding.\nPhoto: Mixed land cover in an upland catchment, Plynlimon. (c. Simon Grant)\nThe discussion then moved onto the role of different types of upland management techniques. In response to a question about whether upland management could have reduced the flows seen during the extreme rainfall in the uplands during December 2015, we said,\n…there is very little published scientific evidence that changes in the way we manage the uplands would have helped to reduce the flood impact in those flooded areas over the last few weeks.\nWe went on to explain why we held this view…\n…although there's very little documented scientific evidence that different upland management would have helped, we were not saying that planting trees, or blocking drains, or removing sheep, would not have prevented flooding. We simply don't have the evidence to say that removing the sheep, covering the uplands with trees and building beaver dams, or having beavers build dams, would or would not have prevented the recent extreme flooding. Based on the published scientific evidence we don't yet know the answer.\nUnderstandably we were then asked by the audience whether “…is that a lack of evidence, or rather that you don't suspect it would be of beneficial...consequence? Because we've heard an awful lot about managing catchments, upper areas, might actually make a bit of impact.”\nWe replied that it's to do with scale and magnitude.\nA crucial point is the scale at which these kinds of scheme can operate and provide some kind of mitigation against flood peaks, and they will work in local and small catchments. They can provide some reduction in the flood peak or a slowing down of some of the water in local areas.\nWe added that it is also about the magnitude of the event, so they will work probably for events that are less extreme. However the more extreme events will overcome all of those sorts of schemes, and they'll cease to be effective on a large catchment scale for these very big events.\nWhat we have seen so far this winter is remarkable; the wettest calendar month on record and some extraordinary daily totals, including the new 24h record. Extreme rainfall was observed over very large areas of upland Britain. Fuller analysis will be released on Friday 15th January within the December 2015 Monthly Hydrological Summary for the UK.\nGraph right shows rainfall accumulation at COSMOS-UK sites during storm Desmond.\nSo it's not to say they don't work, there is some evidence from some of these schemes that have been put in with monitoring associated with them, which shows some attenuation for flood peaks, at local scales. The danger is then extrapolating that from a local scale benefit, to a national or even a large catchment scale, that it will reduce large flood peaks.\nTo conclude; there is some evidence from some smaller scale studies. The problem is that there’s quite a limited amount of research that's been done, and a lot of the work that has been done has all come to a similar conclusion that there would be some effect on some smaller flood peaks, but as soon as you get more extreme events then those local scale measures aren’t going to make much difference.\nAnother part of the briefing covered the need for a wide range of measures to help manage floods. We said,\nFlood management is about a basket of measures. Some of them about engineering, such as the flood defences we have in towns, and so on. But they work as absolute defences, and upland management schemes will contribute to those. So we think if you have a basket of measures you'll protect against some events, and you’ll protect against others using high-class engineering. So we're not saying one thing will solve it. We're not about flood defence, we're about flood management, so it's a whole range of things that will contribute to managing it.\nWe also talked about the work on infiltration rates at Pontbren, Wales, which was carried out by CEH scientists.\nOn the afforestation issue specifically, there's been a lot of selective use of results from the Pontbren experiments which CEH were involved in, there's a lot of quoting the figure around, “infiltration in forested areas being 60 times more than in grassland”. You have to be very careful in interpreting those things. The result is important, but going back to what we said earlier about very extreme events, the additional infiltration is very useful but just because water goes into the soil doesn't meant that that's problem solved.\nThink about the uplands, you've got very thin soils and the rocks underlying them are impermeable, i.e do not absorb water. So water doesn't just flow on the top of the soils, in fact often it doesn't, you've got flow in the soil itself, so just having more infiltration is not necessarily beneficial. Put simply you can't just extrapolate from these small plot experiments showing you have more infiltration to saying that forests will instantly be the solution. Even with greater storage, with big enough events stores will fill up.\nA good analogy is a sponge, people again have made analogies of the uplands needing to be like a sponge. However even a sponge has a capacity and once stores start to become full up then of course they start to contribute to flow further downstream.\nNext, there were questions on other types of natural flood management, such as debris dams. We said,\nDebris dams can be part of this raft of measures that we’ve talked about and they can be very small, log dams that just hold back some of the water and some of the sediments. They're good for all sorts of reasons, such as water resources, for water quality, for carbon storage, so there's lots of good reasons to do that and they also contribute to flood mitigation at a local scale. So it's the same sort of issue though, you can have these dams and they might work but remember, for example, flood retention areas only work if they're empty or half empty, once they're full then there's no more capacity for them to hold back any more water so they only work to a certain level as well.\nThe audience at the briefing also wanted to know what needs to be done next. On new experiments we said,\nThere are different ways of doing experiments…We could go out and undertake field experiments. They're difficult, we’ve talked about the difficulty of the extrapolation from the small scale. We can only do small scale, plot scale we would call them, a few tens of meters on a short time scale, for a whole catchment we have to monitor for a long time period. So you would have to make an intervention, either take the sheep away, or put the trees in, and then you've got to wait for some time, in fact you've got to do some pre-manipulation monitoring and hope that you get some storms, and then you've got to do some post-manipulation monitoring. So what we’re saying is it takes a lot of years. We do have the opportunity to look around at catchments that are similar from the historical record which we could go away and start to do because we've got a lot of data from a lot of catchments.\nWe also have a number of models, hydrological models that we can perturb, and have a look at the outputs, but some would argue that that's not really evidence, but rather give you an indication of what's likely to happen. So we can start that immediately. But the hard evidence is really in observing a changed response, and that's not easy in a short time span. So in terms of experiments, the EA, SEPA, Natural Resources Wales and the Forestry Commission, and others, they are all putting in quite a lot of these types of schemes, and they're putting them in with monitoring. So they've just started over the last few years, and this is happening across Europe as well, actually, so there will be data coming in about how the response might have changed, hopefully at places where we have historical records where we can compare against. So there are going to be data coming in on the effectiveness or not of these schemes. That still leaves the problem of scaling up. How do we then build up to a national picture, how will that contribute to flood mitigation? Much more science is needed here.\nAs the briefing drew to a close, we concluded:\nNatural flood management is one of those things that is 'no regrets', to use climate parlance. So we think that, although the evidence is limited, that on a big catchment scale, those measures will mitigate flooding, it is very likely that they will have some beneficial effect and that they will also have a lot of other positive environmental benefits. So it makes good sense to look into those policies where one can.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Oh! Are you looking at the globe and trying to understand the continents?\nLet me guide you with this.\nLet me guide you about all of it.\nAs you know the Planet Earth is like a huge ball with the surface made up of land and water.\nIf you look at the globe you will see that we can see only one side of the Earth at a time but if we strech the surface to get a map, it will look like this one.\nThis show the entire surface of the Earth: the dark blue areas are water, and rest of the area is land.\nThe whole land area of the Earth is divided into 7th parts, these are called: continents.\nThese continents are continuous Earth landmasses.These continents are: North America; Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Antarctica.\nLet's learn an easy way to remember these names, look at these sentence: \"Erin Ate Nine Sticky Appricots At Aprils\". \"E\", is for Europe, \"A\" is for Asia, \"N\" is for North America, \"S\" is for South America. Again, an \"A\" here is for Africa, another \"A\" for Australia, and yet another \"A\" for Antarctica. Remember: \"Erin Ate Nine Sticky Appricots At Aprils\". And now you can remember the names of all the continents.\nLet's now go to each continent to know more about these. Oh! Wow! You are riding an elephant! You are in Asia! It is the biggest continent. It is about one third of all land on the Planet Earth. And also, six out of every ten people on the Earth live here. Which is the world 60% of the population. China and India, World's most populated countries are here. Also, do you know that the ten highest mountain peaks of the World are in Asia? Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the World is also in Asia. Most of the World's religions like Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism originated here.\nOh! Well! You are wearing diamonds and you are eating a chocolate. You seem to be in Africa! Half of the World's diamonds come from Africa. Also, most of the chocolate which you and I love, comes from here. Which is around 50 percent of the total chocolate produced in the World.\nWorld's largest desert Sahara and the Wordl's largest River Nile, is also in Africa. It is the second largest continent among 7 continents. It is also said that the first human lived here. It is situated on the Equator, and that is whay it is very hot.\nOh! Don't be scared! These are kangaroos! These are found only in the Australian continent. In the Australian continent there is only one country which is Australia itself! Apart kangaroos, there are many other unique animals in this continent like Koala and Emus. It also has a sizable sheep population. They say there are 14 times more sheep in Australia than humans. Australia is also the largest Island in the world. In Australia seventy-five percent area is just dessert.\nOh my God! Save yourself! It is an Anaconda! The largest snake in the world. It is only found in South America. Hello! Cool down, have some coffee. Brazil. This country in South America is the World's largest producer of coffee. This continent has the World's Largest river, Amazon, the World's largest Mountain Range and the World's largest Salt Lake. It also has the World's highest volcano and the World's highest waterfall.\nOh! Look at that penguin dancing! This tells you we've come to Antarctica. 98% of this continent is covered with ice. That's why it is called the white or frozen continent. It is the World's coldest, windiest, driest and highest continent. Like desert, there's very less rain here. And that's why it is also called \"the cold desert\". There are no villages or cities here.\nWow! We are in Europe! the only continent with no deserts. The World's smallest country, Vatican City, is here. The Pope also lives here. All the countries in Europe have a single currency named Euro. The world's largest country by area, Russia, is situated here. Other important countries are: Britain, France and Germany.\nOh! You see the Statue of Liberty! Uh! We are in North America! Home of the world's largest innovative companies like Apple, Google and Facebook. It is also known as \"New World\" as it was discovered very late. You see this owl!? It's name is \"Elf\" and it is the World's smallest owl. It is found in this continent. It is the World's largest producer of mais, weat and soya bean. the world's thrid longest river, Mississipi is also in North America.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "General Program, Ponte Vedra: Manatees\nJun 1, 2009\nManatees are on the endangered species list. Their numbers have been increasing, but in 2008, a record number of infant Manatees died, raising the question of their continued survival.\nWe will find out about the successes and issues surrounding these gentle “sea cows” from Dr Gerald Pinto, Associate Research Scientist at Jacksonville University. Dr. Pinto helped develop and implement the state approved Manatee Protection Plan for Duval and Clay Counties. He also has an interest in research on the impact of freshwater withdrawals, sea level rise, and the impact of harbor deepening effects on our own St. Johns River.\nNortheast Florida Group\nThe main meeting room of the Ponte Vedra Beach Public Library on Library Road at AIA\n(blinking light south of the intersection of AIA and Solana Road, on A1A about two miles south of Butler Boulevard)", "label": "No"}
{"text": "An integrated project has been launched for the restoration of greenery to lessen the levels of pollution in the city and stabilise the groundwater table. The Srivarahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam has launched the Simhagiri Vanasamrakshana Yagnam, and plans have been made by the Simhachalam Devasthanam to take up a one lakh plantation programme by the end of December 2018.\nThe Simhachalam hills spread over a radius of 15 KMs have the potential to lessen carbon emissions by at least 10,000 tonnes per annum. They are one of the best sources of flora and fauna in the Eastern Ghats. The rapid urbanisation in the city has left the biodiversity damaged with exposed rock left on the hills. Several water springs along the hill have vanished with many on the verge of it.\nAndhra University studied the environmental emergencies on the hill and provided the devasthanam with a master plan. It was found that 74 varieties of plants existed on the hill, out of which 34 were extinct. The devasthanam has been alerted and asked to take immediate measures if it wants to conserve the flora and fauna on these hills. 200 varieties of fauna were also found at the hill, but a huge number of flora and fauna has disappeared in the last three decades.\nHudhud in 2014 also let the Simhachalam hills severely damaged. The devasthanam has accepted the master plan and kickstarted the SVY project last year. During the 2016 monsoons, they planted 16,000 saplings. The devasthanam has also started its own nursery, and at present, 32,000 varieties of saplings are ready at the nursery for plantation. This year, they will be planting 20,000 saplings by the end of August/September.\nOut of the 34 varieties lost, 30 have been recovered. 800 KGs of seeds have been covered with cow dung and the seedlings are expected to sprout during the monsoon rains. Arrangements are in place to plant one lakh saplings by the monsoon of 2018. Regarding the exposed rock, the devasthanam is adopting water seed management. Construction of trenches, circulation tanks and check damns have been taken up to conserve rain water.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Agricultural Chemicals in Iowa's Ground Water\nThe Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Geological Survey Bureau (GSB); the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory (UHL); and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have been working together to address this question. As part of the Iowa Ground Water Monitoring (IGWM) Program, water samples have been collected from selected Iowa municipal wells since 1982. An examination of this data identified two trends: 1) concentrations of atrazine were generally decreasing over time, and 2) concentrations of metolachlor were generally were increasing. Continuing ground-water sampling can determine if these trends represent long-term changes in chemical concentrations.\nIowa has some of the most productive farmland in the world. Agricultural chemicals (pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers) have become an integral part of farming in Iowa, where some of the most intensive applications are used (Battaglin and Goolsby, 1995). Intensive chemical use has focused investigations on Iowa to determine the occurrence of agricultural chemicals in ground water (Libra and others, 1987; Detroy and others, 1988; Hallberg, 1989; Kross and others, 1990). Research has documented that alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, and metolachlor historically have been the most frequently detected pesticides in Iowa's ground water. This research has increased public awareness of the occurrence of agricultural chemicals in ground water. A public concern has been whether concentrations of agricultural chemicals have changed over time. Few studies, however, have provided the consistency and longevity to adequately address this issue on a regional scale (Barbash and Resek, 1996). In response to this concern, the Geological Survey Bureau, the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory, and the USGS formed the IGWM in 1982 to monitor agricultural chemicals in Iowa's ground water. From 1982-95, 2,041 nitrate samples from 1,024 municipal wells and 1,375 pesticide samples from 730 municipal wells were collected for the IGWM (fig. 1).\nFigure 1. Location of the municipal wells repeatedly sampled from 1982-1995 for the IGWM.\nLaboratory measurements of nitrate, alachlor, atrazine, cyanazine, and metolachlor were examined to determine if concentrations of agricultural chemicals have changed over time. These compounds were selected because they tend to be the most commonly detected agricultural chemicals in Iowa's ground water (Detroy and others, 1988; Hallberg, 1989). Samples collected over time from the same set of wells are the best samples to use to evaluate whether chemical concnetrations in ground water are changing. From 1982-95, 89 of the municipal wells in the IGWM were samples repeatedly (fig. 1). An examination of the data from these 89 wells indicated no significant change between the 1982-86 and 1987-91 time periods for any of the chemicals examined. No significant changes were found in nitrate, alachlor, or cyanazine between the 1987-91 and 1992-95 time periods. Concentrations of these compounds increased or decreased in roughly equal numbers of wells (fig. 2). However, atrazine concentrations generally decreased through the later time periods, and metolachlor concentrations generally increased (fig. 2).\nFigure 2. Concentration differential for selected agricultural chemicals. This concentration differential was calculated by subtracting the median 1987-91 concentration from the 1992-95 concentration for the 89 wells having the longest record of agricultural-chemical data. The nitrate data is in parts-per-million and the herbicide data is in parts-per-billion.\nWHAT MAY BE CAUSING THE OBSERVED CHANGES?Two factors that could cause changes\nin the concentrations of agricultural chemicals in ground water are changes in precipitation (recharge) and in the amounts of chemicals applied to the land. Although precipitation is important, there are no obvious relations between precipitation and the temporal patterns found in this study for atrazine and metolachlor. However, changes in state-wide chemical use and application rates (table 1) suggest a link to the temporal trends of decreasing atrazine and increasing metolachlor concentrations in ground water. The more frequently and intensively a chemical is used, the more likely that it might reach ground water. Statewide atrazine use decreased and estimated 12 percent, along with an estimated 40 percent decrease in intensity of use (mass per unit area), whereas statewide metolachlor use increased an estimated 50 percent.\nTable 1. Estimated use of selected agriculural chemicals in Iowa, 1982-95.Average chemical use Compound (1000 pounds/year of Average intensity of use active ingredient) (pounds/acre) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1982-85 1987-91 1992-95 1982-85 1987-91 1992-95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nitrogen fertilizer(1) 1,931,824 1,844,520 1,839,168 138 129 118 Alachlor(2) 13,800 8,246 5,180 2.01 2.25 2.28 Atrazine(2) 8,179 7,451 7,195 1.46 0.96 0.90 Cyanazine(2) 9,440 5,852 6,988 2.06 2.06 2.32 Metolachlor(2) 6,744 10,910 10,378 2.40 2.05 2.09\n1. Vroomen, 1989; U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1995\n2. Hartzler and Wintersteen, 1991; U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1995; Hallberg and others, 1996 Agricultural Chemicals in Iowa's Ground Water -- Are Things Changing?\nWHERE ARE THESE CHANGES OCCURRING?\nChanging concentrations of atrazine and metolachlor in ground water were most likely to be observed in shallow wells (fig. 3). This relation between temporal variability and well depth occurs because, as the distance between the land surface and the open interval of the well decreases, the ground water generally is younger (fig. 4). Consequently, changes in chemical applications at the land surface are indicated most rapidly in the youngest ground water.\nThe changing concentrations of atrazine (decreasing) and metolachlor (increasing) were most apparent in alluvial aquifers (fig. 5). Alluvial aquifers are sand and/or gravel water-bearing deposits beneath floodplains along stream valleys (figs. 6,7). Chemical changes were observed most frequently in alluvial aquifers because water from these aquifers tends to be younger than that from other aquifer types. Research by others has also found alluvial aquifers to be more susceptible to contamination by agricultural chemicals than most other types of aquifers (Hallberg, 1989; Kolpin and others, 1994; Kolpin and others, 1997).\nFigure 3. Concentration differential for selected agricultural chemicals by well depth. This concentration differential was calculated by subtracting the median 1987-91 concentration from the 1992-95 concentration for the 89 wells having the longest record of agricultural-chemical data.\nFigure 4. Generalized ground-water movement and pesticide transport in the subsurface (modified from Roberts and Jones, 1996).\nFigure 5. Concentration differential for selected agricultural chemicals by aquifer type. This concentration differential was calculated by subtracting the median 1987-91 concentration from the 1992-95 concentration for the 89 wells having the longest record of agricultural-chemical data.\nFigure 6. Conceptual geologic ross-section and aerial view of typical alluvial aquifers in Iowa (Prior, 1991).\nFigure 7. Aerial view of an alluvial aquifer in northeast Iowa (Prior, 1991).\nMORE DATA NEEDEDIdentifying changing agricultural chemical concentrations in ground water is a primary benefit of a long-term program such as the IGWM. It is important, however, that data continue to be collected for the IGWM for several reasons. First, by collecting additional data can, it be determined if the changes in chemical concentrations observed for this study will continue over time.\nBecause the variability in rainfall has been extreme in recent years -- from the drought of the late 1980s to the record floods of 1993 -- more time and data are needed to fully understand the impact of these climatic trends.\nSecond, the types of chemicals being used in Iowa are continually changing as their marketing rises and falls (just think how the chemical advertisements you see have changed). Without adequate data, it cannot be determined how these changes in chemical use affect ground-water quality. Third, recent research (Kolpin and others, 1996, 1997; Potter and Carpenter, 1995) has shown that pesticides can degrade into other compounds (degradates) that are being commonly found in ground water throughout the United States. Without data on these degradates, an understanding of the environmental fate of agricultural chemicals will remain incomplete. Finally, more data may be needed to observe chemical changes in older ground water.\nThe results presented in this report were summarized from a previously published research paper. Additional information on the results of this study is available in this paper:Kolpin, D.W., Sneck-Fahrer, D.A., Hallberg, G.R., and Libra, R.D, 1996, Temporal trends of selected agricultural chemicals in Iowa's groundwater, 1982-95: Are things getting better?: Journal of Environmental Quality, v 26, n. 4, p.1007-1017.\nBarbash, J.E., and Resek, E.A., 1996, Pesticides in Ground Water: Distribution, Trends, and Governing Factors: Ann Arbor Press, Inc., Chelsea, MI, 588 p.\nBattaglin, W.A., and Goolsby, D.A., 1995, Spatial data in geographic information system format on agricultural chemical use, land use, and cropping practices in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 94-4176, 87 p.\nDetroy, M.G., Hunt P.K.B., and Holub, M.A., 1988, Ground-water-quality- monitoring program in Iowa: Nitrate and pesticides in shallow aquifers: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4123, 32 p.\nHallberg, G.R., 1989, Pesticide pollution of groundwater in the humid United States. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, v. 26, p. 299-367.\nHallberg, G.R., Riley, D.G., Kantamneni, J.R., Weyer, P.J., and Kelley, R.D., 1996, Assessment of Iowa Safe Drinking Water Act monitoring data: 1988-1995: The University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory Research Report No. 97-1, 132 p.\nHartzler, R., and W.K. Wintersteen, 1991, A survey of pesticides used in Iowa crop production in 1990. Iowa State University Extension Service Publication Pamphlet 1441, 11 p.\nKolpin, D.W., Burkart, M.R., and Thurman, E.M, 1994, Herbicides and nitrate in near-surface aquifers in the midcontinental United States, 1991: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2413, 34 p.\nKolpin, D.W., Thurman, E.M., and Goolsby, D.A., 1996, Occurrence of selected pesticides and their metabolites in near-surface aquifers of the midwestern United States: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 30, p. 335-340.\nKolpin, D.W., Kalkhoff, S.J., Goolsby, D.A., Sneck-Fahrer, D.A., and Thurman, E.M., 1997, Occurrence of selected herbicides and herbicide degradation products in Iowa's ground water, 1995: Ground Water, v. 35, n. 4, p. 679-688.\nKross, B.C., and others, 1990, The Iowa State-wide rural well-water survey -- Water-quality data, initial analysis: Iowa Geological Survey Technical Information Series Report 19, 142 p.\nLibra, R.D., Hallberg, G.R., and Hoyer, B.E., 1987, Impacts of agricultural chemicals on groundwater in Iowa: in Fairchild, D.M., ed., Ground water quality and agricultural practices: Lewis Publisher, Inc., Chelsea, MI, p. 185-217.\nPotter, T.L., and Carpenter, T.L., 1995, Occurrence of alachlor environmental degradation products in groundwater: Environmental Science & Technology, v. 29, p. 1557-1563.\nPrior, J.C., 1991, Landforms of Iowa: Iowa City, University of Iowa Press, 153 p.\nRoberts, L.M., Jones, J.L., 1996, Pesticides found in ground water below orchards in the Quincy and Pasco Basins: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 171-96, 4 p.\nU.S. Department of Agriculture, 1995, Agricultural chemical usage: 1994 field crops summary. National Agricultural Statistics Service and Economic Research Service. U.S. Dept. of Agric., Report Ag CH 1 (95).\nVroomen, H., 1989. Fertilizer use and price statistics, 1960-1988. Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, ERS Statistics Bulletin 780, 56 p.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "- Flickr / Howard Ignatius\nYellowstone National Park may be best known for its Old Faithful geyser and its stunning wildlife, but the national park also sits atop a supervolcano that simmers just under the surface.\nYou can see evidence of the volcano’s active state in the park’s famous hydrothermal activity, including Old Faithful, which shoots water every few hours.\nBecause the area’s still active, researchers have been trying to determine when it might erupt again. And according to new research presented at the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior conference, it might take much less time for the supervolcano to go from not a problem to erupting than experts realized. Based on minerals from the last major eruption, the researchers found that the changes leading up to an eruption may happen in a matter of decades rather than thousands of years in advance as previously thought.\n“It’s shocking how little time is required to take a volcanic system from being quiet and sitting there to the edge of an eruption,” Hannah Shamloo, a graduate student at Arizona State University who conducted the research told The New York Times.\nEven so, she said, it’s still too early to determine an exact time scale of when the supervolcano will erupt. And scientists still don’t think Yellowstone’s supervolcano will erupt anytime soon (at least not in the next thousand years).\nWhat constitutes a supervolcano\nYellowstone has had three major volcanic events in the past 2.1 million years, which led to the creation of the calderas, or large craters.\n- BI Video\nThe impact of an eruption\nThe odds of the supervolcano erupting within a given year are one in 730,000, according to the US Geological Survey. But if it did blow, it could have extreme effects on surrounding areas.\nFor starters, the eruption could emit ash that would expand over 500 miles. For comparison, this map shows the area that the ash reached in the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption in Washington.\n- BI Video\nThe eruption would likely cover the ground with as much as 4 inches of gray ash, which could be detrimental to crops growing in the Midwest.\nMolten lava at temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit could also ooze out, though that’d be less of a concern than the ash. And the supervolcano would spew a whole bunch of gasses as well, including sulfur dioxide, which can lead to acid rain as well as global cooling as it reflects sunlight away from the Earth.\nThe explosion likely wouldn’t wipe out human life, but it certainly would be destructive, especially to the western half of the US.\nIn the meantime, researchers are keeping a close watch on Yellowstone to check for warning signs that an eruption might be underway.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Criminals, terrorists, and others who wish to penetrate an airport’s business operations have gotten smarter about how to use the Internet to commit a host of cyber crimes. They have gotten more organized and sophisticated, using a diverse set of tactics to launch multi-pronged attacks aimed at specific targets. In response, airports are now considering a variety of technologies to help them to do a better job of screening travelers and personnel. The exact role of technology continues to be debated within the industry and at the federal level.\nThat said, if an airport business should choose to implement technology for additional security measures, and while it would certainly advance the security of the operations, there comes a hidden risk: identity theft.\nIn order to ensure security, the federal government and airports themselves are demanding more thorough background checks on employees. The Transportation Security Administration holds lists of banned or suspect travelers. All of this information is highly sensitive and subject to security risk. Determining who has access to this information and ensuring that only authorized personnel get access should be a priority.\nOne measure for airports to consider implementing is stronger authentication of employees. Passwords alone are no longer secure, no matter how complex or how often they’re changed. Password crackers (freely available on the Internet) have made it nearly impossible to choose a password that a user can remember but that cannot be quickly cracked. Forcing more complex passwords (and more changes), causes users to write down the password, which certainly does not improve security.\nToday, many organizations are exploring the use of strong authentication, which allows access based on at least two parameters: something you have and something you know — like ATM cards for the Internet.\nThis differs from the most prevalent authentication technologies in use today, which require a “shared secret” between the user and the application — usually a password — that the user must send over the network. The problem with this method is that identity thieves and hackers can intercept passwords, or they can break in, to back end directories and steal blocks of hashed passwords.\nMany of the mechanisms used today for strong authentication still have this vulnerability. For example, one-time password tokens, a widely deployed form of two-factor authentication, still require the user to send a secret (the one-time password) over the network and to store a secret (the seed) in a server at the back end.\nThough solid technology, one-time passwords need additional protection to be completely secure — the channel over which they are sent needs to be secured, and the seed should be stored in a specialized piece of hardware.\nAnother common form of two-factor authentication is the smart card, which provides very strong protection but does require physical provisioning of the cards. The underlying PKI infrastructure can be expensive and difficult to manage.\nIn formulating and implementing a strategy to ensure for proper identity information protection, airports must be proactive and account for current and future threats. Staying ahead of the bad guys requires just a few things:\nSecurity specialist shares what the feds, industry groups are doing\nThe Next Phase General aviation airports and businesses brace for tighter security By Jeff Price July 2002 About the Author Jeff Price is a consultant with...", "label": "No"}
{"text": "BACKGROUND: Bilateral tympanic membrane perforation may cause a loss of hearing resulting in impaired social interactions and academic performance, delayed language and cognitive development, and lower learning abilities in children, the overlay and the underlay techniques are the two standard methods for perforation repair, with much debate between which of the two is better, especially from the functional point of view. We compared the perforation closure rates and hearing improvement after surgery with the overlay and the underlay techniques to determine which of the two is preferable for tympanic membrane perforation repair in children. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 149 patients who had undergone myringoplasty. Pure tone audiometry was conducted before and after surgery and functional results were defined considering the air bone gap. RESULTS: The overall perforation closure rate was 91.9% in underlay and 90% in overlay technique and the air-bone gap <10 dB was respectively 60.6% and 38%. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, myringoplasty may be safe even in younger children and both techniques can achieve high rates of anatomical success. The optimal results after the underlay technique suggest that it should be more widely used and that it should be the first option when considering repair of tympanic membrane perforation.\nUnderlay or overlay myringoplasty in children: Which approach is better? / Canale, A.; Albera, A.; Gervasio, C. F.; Bruno, G.; Lacilla, M.; Albera, R.. - In: OTORINOLARINGOLOGIA. - ISSN 0392-6621. - 68:1(2018), pp. 6-11.\n|Titolo:||Underlay or overlay myringoplasty in children: Which approach is better?|\n|Data di pubblicazione:||2018|\n|Digital Object Identifier (DOI):||http://dx.doi.org/10.23736/S0392-6621.17.02145-2|\n|Appare nelle tipologie:||1.1 Articolo in rivista|\nFile in questo prodotto:\n|2018 - Underlay or overlay myringoplasty in children - which approach is better?.pdf||2a Post-print versione editoriale / Version of Record||Non Pubblico - Accesso privato/ristretto||Administrator Richiedi una copia|", "label": "No"}
{"text": "« PredošláPokračovať »\nfavourer of church-reform and a personal friend of Hus. He shared the latter's admiration of the writings of Wycliffe, and accepted the theories of the English church-reformer far more unconditionally than Hus ever did. Stanislas several times defended the famous articles of Wycliffe before the University of Prague. He afterwards entirely changed his views and became, with Palec and the infamous Michael de causis, one of Hus's bitterest enemies. It was, of course, the principal task of these enemies to maintain that Hus had expressed heretical opinions, and that they attacked him for this reason, not because he blamed the evil life of the Bohemian priests. Stanislas had written a book, known from its opening words as Alma Venerabilis. This book has not been preserved and we can only judge of its contents by Hus's refutation. It is certain that in his work Stanislas dealt largely with the power and authority of the pope, which he appears to have defined in a manner similar to that of the most extreme modern ultramontanes. His opinions were thus in direct opposition to those of Hus.\" As Hus very openly stated, Stanislas was to a great extent influenced by fear. Hus did not omit to draw attention to the strange contrast between Stanislas's former exaggerated praise of Wycliffe and his present equally exaggerated denunciations of the English divine. Replying to Stanislas's panegyric of the papal power, Hus naturally, though perhaps hardly fairly, alluded to the infamous character of Pope John XXIII., who then held the dignity of pontiff. After denying that it could be proved from Scripture that God had given unlimited power to a pope chosen at an election influenced by the favour of man, fear, and cupidity, Hus challenges Stanislas to prove John XXIII.'s claim to the throne\" by the sanctity of his\n· Stanislas quoted by Hus-stated that the pope was the head of the church in quo capite est fontalis et capitalis plenitudo ecclesiasticae potestatis supra terram propter quod illud caput omnes alias simul super terram dignitates officiarias, ecclesiasticas et seculares, Patriarchales, Episcopales, Sacerdotales, Clericales, Magistrales, Imperiales, Regales, Ducales, Marchionales, Comitales, Baronales, Militares, Consulares, etc., in dignitate transcendit innumerabiliter, in profunditate sicut fons, in altitudine sicut caput, in latitudine sicut alveus.” Responsio ad Scripta Stanislai (Hus Opera, 1715, vol. i. p. 324).\nlife and of his deeds, not by his desire for the comforts and honours of the world, not by the fulminations of terrible censures to show his power, not by the plundering of the subject fold, not by extortion and simony; for Christ hath said: 'Ye shall know them by their fruits.'\"1 The book generally somewhat recalls the treatise De Ecclesia. We meet here again with the defence of the claim of the temporal power to control the papacy and the church. They were the same views that had appeared so prominently in the writings of Marsiglio of Padua and of the other theologians of the court of Louis of Bavaria, as well as in those of Wycliffe. We find again in this controversial work of Hus allusions to the two great fables of the Middle Ages, the one papal, the other anti-papal. I refer to the \"donation of Constantine \" and the tale of the Popess Joan, whom Hus calls “Agnes.” Hus here again affirms that Jesus Christ, not the pope, is the head of the Catholic Church. In this mass of argument founded on the writings of earlier theologians, we meet here and there with opinions very characteristic of Hus, who always wished to be a moralist rather than a theologian. Thus, when animadverting on the evil choice often made by popes when appointing bishops, he writes: “Christ, the bridegroom of the church, would far better and more readily choose for the people of the Bohemian nation a bishop learned in its law, able to preach the gospel in Bohemian, one living soberly, chastely, piously, and justly.”\n?“ Non sufficit doctori (Stanislas) humana electio, quae ex favore humano, Timore vel cupidine processit, imo claudicat doctoris positio, nisi ipsam stabilitat a posteriori scilicet ex vitae et operum sanctitate ipsius Joannis, non ex aspiratione ad seculi commodum vel honorem, nec ex fulminatione censurae terrificae ad ostendendam dominationem, quam Petrus sequendo Christum prohibet, nec ex tonsione gregis subjecti per temporalium extorsionem, nec ex fomento publicanatus vel Simoniae. Cum dicat Christus, Dominus Joan, 10, Operibus credite; et Matth. 7, A fructibus eorum cognoscitis eos.” (Ibid. p. 342.)\n2 Hus Opera, 1715, vol. i. p. 348.\nHUS AT CONSTANCE\nHus and his companions, who had left Prague on October 11, 1414, were joined on their journey at Plzen (Pilsen) by Lord Henry of Chlum, surnamed Lacembok, who appears to have been sent by King Venceslas as a protector of Hus, and by John of Rejnstein, surnamed \"Kardinal.” John of Rejnstein, a parish priest of Prague and a great friend of Hus, had, with Lord John of Chlum, undertaken to represent at the council the University of Prague. Mainly through the influence of Gerson and Cardinal d'Ailly they obtained no hearing, and the University of Prague was, like King Venceslas, unrepresented at Constance. The Bohemians passed the frontier of their country at Bärnau and arrived at the free imperial city of Nuremberg on October 19. On their way through German territory they were everywhere well received by the people, who saw in Hus the champion of church-reform, which all thoughtful men and the worthier members of the clergy also desired. The difference of nationality proved no barrier, and it may here be mentioned that nothing can be less true than the ancient statement which accuses Hus of having been an enemy of the Germans generally. It is certain that Hus disliked the Germans in Bohemia who had taken possession of most of the ecclesiastical benefices and other important appointments in his country, while they-not only at the time of Hus-looked down on the Bohemians as intellectually their inferiors. Hus's views on this question have already been mentioned, and I shall again have to refer to them. The feelings of the Bohemians of this period were somewhat similar to those which the Italians of the earlier part of the nineteenth century entertained towards the tedeschi, who were considered as intruders. When Italy became free the hatred of Germans gradually ceased. Of Hus's stay at Nuremberg, Mladenovic, his faithful companion\non his last journey, writes: 1 “When he (Hus) then arrived at Nuremberg with the lords, whom I have mentioned, after they had dined, some magister, I think he was one Albert, parish priest of St. Sebaldus, came to them saying that he wished to discourse with them in a friendly manner. After he (Hus) had consented, some other priests came, among whom was a doctor of theology) and several members of the council of the town. They then discoursed with the master for four hours on various matters connected with him, and on what rumour had reported, and when they had conferred on each one of these matters, they said: 'For certain, master, this which we have heard is catholic (doctrine). We have for many years taught and held these doctrines and we now teach and believe them, and if there is nothing else against thee, thou wilt certainly leave the council and return from it with honour.' And then they all parted in a friendly fashion.\" At Nuremberg Hus was informed that King Sigismund had now prepared the letter of safe-conduct for him, and it was suggested that he should proceed to Spires, where Sigismund then stayed, to receive the letter and place himself under the king's immediate protection. Hearing that many members of the council had already arrived at Constance, and that Pope John XXIII. was already on his way there, Hus decided to continue his journey directly to Constance. He begged his friend Lord Venceslas of Duba to proceed to the imperial court and receive the letter of safe-conduct for him. Hus has often been blamed for this decision, which certainly bears witness to his innate belief in the goodness of human nature, and perhaps to his want of worldly wisdom. Yet if we take the nature of Sigismund into account and remember that he was acting in accordance with a preconceived plan, it is difficult to believe that the final result would have been different had Hus proceeded to Spires. From Nuremburg the Bohemians continued their journey through Southern Germany by Ansbach and Ulm to Biberach, then a free city, now an insignificant and decaying town in the kingdom of Würtemburg. Here, as everywhere, the Bohemians\n· Palacky, Documenta.\nshowed that fondness for theological discussions which was then characteristic of their nation and which only disappeared when, after the battle of the White Mountain, all religious liberty perished for centuries. When a discussion on religious matters began at Biberach, Lord John of Chlum took so prominent a part—while Hus spoke little-that the citizens believed him to be a doctor of theology. His companions henceforth gave Lord John the nickname, doctoralis de Pibrach. From Biberach the Bohemians proceeded by Ravensburg to Buchhorn, on the lake of Constance. They crossed the lake in a boat and arrived at the city of Constance on November 3, 1414. Hus was lodged in the house of “a good widow named Fida,\" as Mladenovic writes, which was situated in St. Paul's Street-now called Hus's Street-near the Schnetz gate. The house, which is probably little changed, is shown to visitors. A medallion with a bust of Hus and an inscription in Bohemian and German was placed on it some years ago. In his first letter 1 after his arrival at Constance Hus writes, on November 4: \"We arrived at Constance on the Saturday after All Saints without any annoyance, after having passed through different cities and after having everywhere distributed our proclamation (stating that Hus was going to Constance freely to clear himself of the accusation of heresy), written both in Latin and in German. We live at Constance near the pope's dwelling-place, and have arrived without safeconduct. The day after my arrival Michael de causis placed on the door of the church (cathedral) an information against nie written in large letters and stating that he accuses John Hus, a man excommunicated, pertinacious, and suspected of heresy and other such things. But with God's help I will not heed this, knowing that God sent him against me that he (Michael) should curse me because of my sins, and also to try me (my strength) whether I could and would endure suffering.” 2\n· Palacky, Documenta. When the contrary is not stated I have always quoted Hus's letters from Palacky's work, which contains far the most complete collection of documents referring to Hus.\n* The letter-written in Latin-ended with the words: Datum in Constantia. Oretis Deum pro constantia in veritate.\"", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Meets immovable object.\nFeb 23, 2009, Vol. 14, No. 22 • By ALONZO L. HAMBY\nTruman & MacArthur\nOn April 11, 1951, in the midst of the stalemated Korean war, Captain Harry S. Truman, 129th Field Artillery, 1917-19, aka, president of the United States, summarily fired General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, commander in chief, Far East (CINCFE). The widespread public reaction was shock and outrage. Few Americans thought that Truman, whose fragile popularity was already in decline, had the credentials to sack a five-star general widely believed to have been the greatest military leader of World War II.\nMacArthur, who had not set foot in the United States since 1935 when he left to develop and command the Philippine army, returned in a way that Julius Caesar would have envied. Making his way from San Francisco to Washington to the cheers of millions of Americans, he arrived in the nation's capital on April 19 to deliver a nationally broadcast speech to Congress. His gifts for oratory and self-dramatization undiminished by his 71 years, he charged the administration with denying him the opportunity for victory in the Korean War and concluded by telling his listeners, \"Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.\"\nMissouri Republican congressman Dewey Short voiced a widespread sentiment when he declared, \"We heard God speak here today.\"\nA Caesar, brought to the seat of power on such a tide, would have dispatched his enemies, assumed power, and waged war as he wished. If in a generous mood, he might have assigned Captain Harry to a tiny Pacific atoll. As it was, MacArthur simply faded away, remaining an icon to a cadre of hard-core supporters, but soon forgotten by a larger public drawn to the more enduring appeal of another five-star general, MacArthur's onetime aide Dwight D. Eisenhower.\nThe Truman-MacArthur controversy is most often remembered as a real-life morality tale that vindicates the vital importance of civilian control of the military. President Truman, so the narrative goes, was a doughty small-d\nThe Korean peninsula, divided between Soviet and American occupiers in 1945 at the 38th parallel, existed on the fringes of the Cold War in June 1950. China had, by then, fallen to Mao Zedong's Communist insurgency with little regret from the Truman administration. American civilian and military officials were contemptuous of Chiang Kai-shek's ineffective Kuomintang regime, convinced in any case that the United States could not defend every anti-Communist government, and hopeful that Mao would be an independent Communist in the mode of Yugoslavia's Marshal Tito. (American statesmen perennially assume their adversaries are rational actors: \"Fifty years later,\" Pearlman comments, \"Washington was still searching for reasonable leaders in Serbia, Iraq, and Iran, as well as the Taliban government of Afghanistan.\")\nImpoverished and strife-ridden, the new nation of South Korea had staggered along on the brink of anarchy under its autocratic president Syngman Rhee. American military forces were withdrawn in 1949. In January 1950, Secretary of State Dean Acheson delivered a major address at the National Press Club, outlining a Pacific defense perimeter that pointedly excluded both South Korea and Chiang's last redoubt, Taiwan.\nAcheson's pronouncement reflected an administration consensus that America could dominate the Pacific but not the Asian mainland. The major object of American foreign policy had to be the strategically and economically valuable regions of Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. The task required aid to Greece and Turkey in 1947. The Marshall Plan, approved by Congress in 1948, provided Western Europe the means for economic recovery. The North Atlantic Treaty and the establishment of NATO followed in 1949.\nAt the beginning of the effort, the president had proclaimed the Truman Doctrine: \"It must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.\" This bold statement resonated much more loudly than Truman's qualifier that such help would be mainly through economic aid. Having left the impression of a universal commitment to block Communist expansion, Truman made reliance on economic assistance all the more necessary by drastically cutting the defense budget.\nBy 1950, the European strategy was a manifest success, but a significant section of the Republican party--much of it isolationist before World War II--had emerged as \"Asia Firsters,\" criticizing the administration for the loss of China and arguing for support to Chiang. On June 25, the North Korean invasion of the South brought Asia to the center of American attention.\nHaving written off South Korea and sharply reduced American military capabilities, why did the Truman administration decide to fight there? If South Korea had fallen to internal subversion, the United States would have done nothing. But could it ignore a cross-border invasion of a client state without undermining the credibility of a NATO structure that existed mainly on paper? Munich, less than a dozen years in the past, was a living memory. Truman's instincts, moreover, were for intervention, whatever the difficulties.\n\"Dean, we've got to stop the sons of bitches no matter what,\" he told Acheson. The Europeans, responding with fulsome praise, seemed to agree. A United Nations resolution legitimized the effort.\nDriven into a perimeter around the southeastern port of Pusan, American troops and the remnants of the South Korean Army held the line. On September 15, 1950, a flawless amphibious landing at Inchon turned the tide. About two weeks later, with explicit permission from Washington,\nMacArthur sent his troops across the 38th parallel in an ill-coordinated dash for the Yalu River. China, he assured Truman in a mid-October meeting at Wake Island, would not intervene.A month later, at least a quarter million Chinese troops moved into North Korea without detection, struck hard at American units, and sent them on a long retreat. European allies who had lauded the decision to intervene were soon obsessed with the fear that American power and attention would be sucked into the quicksand of Asia.\nWhat the Europeans feared, MacArthur saw as an opportunity. Asia had been the focus of his career for a decade and a half. Convinced that Europe was the past and China the future, he saw the Korean conflict from the beginning as a vehicle for liberation of the mainland. Swallowing his own doubts about Chiang and not bothering to seek authorization from Washington, he had flown to Taiwan for talks with the Kuomintang leader. He thereby established the appearance of an alliance and fed Mao's paranoia.\nMacArthur astoundingly would tell Washington in February 1951 that 100,000 Kuomintang troops, landed with American support, could achieve \"the domination of South China behind the protective line along the Yangtze River.\" Neither the White House nor the Pentagon bought into this optimistic scenario, but the politics of the war compelled a commitment to the defense of Taiwan, previously written off as militarily insignificant.\nIn early 1951 Americans and South Koreans, under the command of General Matthew B. Ridgway, managed to stop the overextended Chinese offensive, then push the enemy back to the vicinity of the 38th parallel. Like most historians, Pearlman commends Ridgway's reinvigoration of a beaten army, and he especially lauds Marine General Oliver P. Smith, whose brilliantly executed retreat from the Chosin reservoir preserved his own force while doing great damage to the Chinese.\nThe Truman administration was ready for negotiations to end the war; it signaled MacArthur to establish a strong defense line and concentrate on inflicting maximum casualties. Eager to assuage European fears, it had already drafted General Eisenhower from retirement to command NATO. Now committed to a military buildup, it bolstered Ike's reassuring presence by sending fresh divisions to Europe rather than Korea.\nMacArthur, contrary to a widely held belief, seems never to have requested authority to use atomic bombs against the Chinese. Nonetheless, his protests were loud and clearly intended to benefit Asia-First Republicans. Truman, drawing on his study of the Civil War, had been inclined to leave military matters to the generals and give them support. Superficially plausible, his approach in practice failed to make a distinction between battlefield tactics and grand strategy. The president tolerated MacArthur's misadventures and insubordination until the general more or less openly aligned himself with the Republicans.\nBy then, MacArthur's dismissal was possible only because Truman could count on the support of General George Marshall (now secretary of defense), General Omar Bradley (chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and General J. Lawton (\"Lightning Joe\") Collins (Army chief of staff). Eisenhower, who had no love for MacArthur, remained silent, but his presence at the head of NATO did much to convince the American public of Europe's importance. They and other military eminences had already played key roles in the Truman presidency. Just three days before MacArthur's recall, the New York Times columnist James Reston had written that \"prominent soldiers are supplying much of the balance, statesmanship and confidence so sorely needed by the Administration.\"\nResolutely passing up every opportunity to dramatize a dramatic story, Pearlman eschews grand narrative. He uses military acronyms (especially the ghastly CCINFE) too freely, displays a sometimes confusing lack of respect for chronology, and seems to end every second sentence with a dangling clause. What distinguishes his work is its extensive research and an evenhanded skepticism that delineates the failures and weaknesses of both Truman and MacArthur.\nHe dissects Truman's temperament plausibly. It may be impossible to explain to a contemporary audience just how an elderly general who affected a corncob pipe and a ridiculous combover of a bald pate could overawe the American public, the Pentagon, and, for a time, the president. Still, the author has researched his subject extensively, frequently displays a fine sense of irony, and has produced probably the best study of this subject to date.\nMacArthur, he reminds us, was only the most spectacular example of a series of military officers after World War II who too openly argued with civilian leadership and were shunted aside. Ridgway himself would be forced into retirement in 1955 for arguing with President Eisenhower's budget cuts. Wesley Clark's zeal for combat in Kosovo 40 years later ended similarly. Admiral William Fallon's open skepticism about the surge in Iraq terminated his career. In these and other cases, the cashiered officers went quietly and with little public notice. All, in one way or another, protested against a policy that did not appear to be backed by adequate resources. Expansive ends and limited means still constitute a central dilemma of American grand strategy.\nToday, a prosperous South Korea seldom remembers the Korean war, pursues a romantic vision of reunification with the North, and as recent mass demonstrations show, seems gripped by the menace of U.S. beef. China has made a transition from Mao's primitive Communist socialism to a flourishing fascistic state capitalism. It has begun a long-term program of amassing naval power that could lead to the occupation of Taiwan in the not-so-distant future.\nAs in 1951, the United States remains the world's major defender of liberal values, possessing enormous firepower and technical capabilities. It also has an undersized military, allies even more reluctant to share in heavy lifting, and a far more uncertain sense of national purpose.\nAlonzo L. Hamby, distinguished professor of history at Ohio University, is the author, most recently, of For the Survival of Democracy: Franklin Roosevelt and the World Crisis of the 1930s.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Tokyo Electric Power Co. is expected this month to begin taking out fuel rods from a pool inside a reactor building at the tsunami-hit plant, in a technically challenging operation that will test the utility’s know-how after months of setbacks and glitches.\nExperts say the operation is a tricky but essential step in the decades-long decommissioning process after the worst atomic accident in a generation.\n|This file picture taken by Tokyo Electric Power Co. on April 17 shows members of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology inspecting the No. 4 reactor building of TEPCO’s crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima prefecture, Japan. (AFP-Yonhap News)|\nMore than 1,500 nuclear fuel assemblies ― bundles of rods ― need to be pulled out of the storage pool where they were being kept when the tsunami smashed into Fukushima in March 2011.\nThe reactor the pool serves ― No. 4 ― was not in operation at the time but hydrogen from Reactor No. 3 escaped into the building and exploded, tearing the roof off and leaving it at the mercy of natural hazards like earthquakes, storms or another tsunami.\nTEPCO says it has not yet found any damage to the assemblies at No. 4, which contain a mixture of uranium and plutonium, but will be monitoring for abnormalities.\nThe removal of fuel is part of regular work at any nuclear power plant, but “conditions are different from normal because of the disaster,” said company spokeswoman Mayumi Yoshida.\n“It is crucial. It is a first big step towards decommissioning the reactors,” she said. “Being fully aware of risks, we are determined to go ahead with operations cautiously and securely.”\nChunks of debris that were sent flying into the pool by explosions have largely been removed and a crane has been installed. A protective hood has been erected over the building‘s skeleton to contain any radioactive leaks.\nA remotely-controlled grabber will sink into the pool and hook onto a fuel assembly, which it will pull up and place inside a fully immersed cask.\nThe 4.5-meter bundles weighing 300 kilogram have to be kept in water throughout the operation to keep them cool.\nThe 91-ton cask will then be hauled from the pool ― containing as many as 22 fuel assemblies and a lot of water ― to be loaded onto a trailer and taken to a different storage pool, where the operation will be reversed.\nExperts warn that any slip-ups could quickly snowball and even minor mishaps will create considerable delays to the already long and complicated decommissioning.\nIf the rods are exposed to the air they could heat up, a process that if left unchecked could lead to a self-sustaining nuclear reaction. TEPCO says that is unlikely, but skeptics say that with so many unknowns in the novel operation, there is potential for a catastrophe.\n“This is the first practical milestone for the project,” said Hiroshi Miyano, a nuclear systems expert and visiting professor at Hosei University in Tokyo.\n“Any trouble in this operation will considerably affect the timetable for the entire project,” he said. “This is an operation TEPCO cannot afford to bungle.”\nMiyano’s comments reflect an increasingly widespread view that the giant utility is not capable of dealing with the mess its nuclear plant has created.\nMonths of setbacks have included multiple leaks from tanks storing the water used to keep reactors cool, and a power outage caused when a rat electrocuted itself on a circuit board.\nTEPCO’s management of the problems has been criticized as haphazard and uncoordinated, with one government minister saying it was like watching someone playing “whack-a-mole.”\nThe full decommissioning of Fukushima is likely to take decades and include tasks that have never been attempted anywhere in the world.\nMeanwhile, villages and towns nearby remain largely empty, their residents unable or unwilling to return to live in the shadow of the leaking plant because of the fear of radiation.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Three years ago, in May 2001, the World Health Assembly came to the\nconclusion that it was safe for the majority of infants to be exclusively\nbreastfed for the first 6 months of life, and extending the period of exclusive\nbreastfeeding to that age would also be beneficial. This conclusion was\ntranslated into a recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months,\nand while complementary feeding of high-quality should be introduced at\nthat age, breastfeeding should preferentially be continued beyond the second\nyear of life.\nImmune tolerance is an essential mechanism which maintains a state of\nunresponsiveness to autoantigens and food while generating protective\nimmunity against pathogens. This phenomenon was discovered by the fact\nthat exposure to an antigen before the development of an immune\nresponse specifically abrogates the capacity to respond to that antigen in\nlater life [1, 2]. Tolerance-inducing strategies have been demonstrated in\nanimal models of autoimmunity, allergy and transplant graft rejection and\ntherefore have opened the way for testing such approaches in human\ndiseases. Immune tolerance can be established by respiratory or oral\nexposure to the allergen.\nThe normal immunological response to food antigens is geared to the\ninduction of tolerance, that is to say, unresponsiveness in the case of their\nfurther ingestion. Allergic sensitization may be considered as a failure or a\nbreaking of immunological tolerance. It is becoming clearer and clearer that\nthe development of oral tolerance is highly dependent on the intestinal microflora;\nindeed the intestinal bacteria have the ability to induce the formation of\ncytokines of Th1 immunity (particularly of INF) and also IL-10 and IL-12,\nwhich counteract the Th2-dependent allergic sensitization and favor the state\nof Th1/Th2 equilibrium that prevails later in life in normal children .\nFrom the weaning period and onwards the intestinal mucosa is exposed\nto an increasing number of antigens, e.g. food components and microorganisms.\nOf all the antigens that reach the systemic circulation from the\ngut lumen, only a minority are potentially harmful to humans and need to\nbe defended against. The majority of intestinal antigens do not require a\nprotective immune response, but may even be beneficial for the individual.\nThus, the mucosal immune system must have the capacity to discriminate\nbetween when an appropriate protective immune response to harmful\nforeign antigens is required and when a muted or non-response is preferable.\nThe indigenous microbiota of an infant’s gastrointestinal tract is created\nthrough complicated contact and interaction with the microbiota of the\nparents and the infant’s immediate environment. Nature-induced initial\ncolonization is enhanced by galacto-oligosaccharides in breast milk and the\nmicrobiota of the mother. This process directs the later microbiota succession\nand health of the infant throughout the rest of his/her life [1, 2]. Thus,\nunderstanding and positive guidance of the process through dietary means is\nan important target when facilitating the mother–infant relationship through\nbirth, breastfeeding, weaning and the first years of life. This process forms\nthe platform for healthy gut microbiota throughout the entire life and is\ndescribed in figure 1 [3, 4].\nCarbohydrates are responsible for 25–50% of daily energy intake. The\ncarbohydrate composition of the diet changes with age. In breast milk and\nstandard infant formulas, lactose is the only or predominant carbohydrate;\nstarches and other sugars follow with the introduction of ‘beikost’. In the\nhealthy, balanced diet of children and adults starches (and fiber) should\nprevail. The small bowel only absorbs monosaccharides, so dietary carbohydrates\nhave to be hydrolyzed into their constituent monosaccharides\nglucose, galactose and fructose.\nOver the past half century, the entity known as chronic nonspecific\ndiarrhea of childhood or toddler’s diarrhea, has followed a path from case\ndescriptions to disease and finally, within the past 10 years, to a defined\nfunctional disorder. Chronic nonspecific diarrhea of childhood was originally\nthought to be part of the ‘celiac syndrome’. As Davidson and Wasserman \nnoted in their seminal paper published in the Journal of Pediatrics in\nDecember of 1966, the pioneering pediatric gastroenterologists of the time,\nhad defined a number of specific disorders within what was then called the\n‘celiac syndrome’, including gluten-induced enteropathy, disaccharidase\ndeficiencies, lympangiectasia and abetalipoproteinemia.\nAdvances in neonatology over the past 2 decades have resulted in the\nsurvival of very preterm infants. However, the major limiting factor to survival\nof such infants is the ability to initiate and maintain adequate nutrition.\nMultiple maturational events are necessary for successful enteral nutrition\nof the infant: coordination of sucking and swallowing; effective gastric\nemptying; forward propagation of small intestinal contents, and finally, colonic\nelimination. Since normal gastrointestinal function relies on the integrated\nmaturation of absorptive, secretory and motor function, a delay in any one of\nthese processes will result in disturbed gastrointestinal function. Immature\ngastrointestinal motility manifested by vomiting, abdominal distention, delay\nin stooling and constipation commonly postpone the time of full enteral\nfeeding in premature infants.\nFood allergy occurs in 6–8% of children and 1–2% of adults and is\npermanently increasing throughout the world [1, 2]. Most of the adverse\nreactions to food are immune-mediated reactions, and food antigens may\ncause IgE and non-IgE immune responses. Of the numerous symptoms of food\nallergy, at least in the early stages, gastrointestinal disorders, from food\nprotein-induced enterocolitis to constipation, are of paramount importance\nand are often associated with proctitis.\nSince the 1970s the importance of dietary fiber for human health has been\nacknowledged and investigated. In the 1970s a relation was found for the first\ntime between constipation, hemorrhoids and fiber-depleted food. The term\ndietary fiber is familiar to most people, although many do not fully\nunderstand the nature of dietary fiber and its role in the diet. Dietary fiber is\na normal constituent of healthy food. Both in enteral and oral feeding the\npresence of fiber is necessary; not only in the face of problems like\nconstipation and encopresis but also for a wide range of other disorders in\nadults and children such as diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, high\nblood pressure and colon cancer. In this chapter we will review the\nnomenclature, physiological properties and fate of fiber in man and its\napplications in pediatric gastroenterology .\nIn this review, the ‘early influences’ considered include genetic, prenatal,\nearly postnatal and childhood influences on perception and taste preferences.\n‘Taste’ is used in its broad sense, including taste, flavor, and texture.\n‘Preferences’ include responses to tastes and flavors, as well as to foods and\nDespite the widespread epidemic of overweight and obesity, little attention\nhas been given until recently to the potential of ‘junk foods’ in its causation.\nThis essay discusses the role of ‘junk food’ in nutrition-related disorders and\nsome associated factors that affect this problem. It also considers whether\n‘junk foods’ are intrinsically unhealthy, whether their pattern of consumption\nis contributory, and whether the term ‘junk eating’ is useful.\nAn epidemic of obesity is occurring in the US and many other developed\ncountries, and appears to be responsible for an associated increase in the\nprevalence of type-2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Alarmingly,\nthis trend for increasing adiposity and its comorbidities is not limited to\nadults, but is also threatening children at younger and younger ages. Over\nthe last three decades, the prevalence of overweight among children age\n2–19 years has nearly doubled in the US .\nType-1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease which attacks insulin-producing\nß cells in the pancreas. This autoimmune process is characterized by the\nappearance of circulating autoantibodies against ß-cell antigens, such as\ninsulin, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and tyrosine phosphatase. The\ninfants of mothers with type-1 diabetes do not have autoimmune diabetes\ndespite the transfer of IgG antibodies, including autoantibodies to ß cells, to\nthe child via the placenta.\nMuch is known about the short-term effects of complementary feeding\n(CF), especially how an optimal diet can prevent poor growth, malnutrition\nand nutrient deficiencies. The CF period has always been identified as a period\nduring which the infant has a high risk of developing stunting, protein-energy\nmalnutrition and specific nutrient deficiencies such as iron-deficiency anemia\nand rickets. Furthermore, during this period, the risk of infectious diseases\nincreases dramatically and the mortality from infectious diseases during this\nage is closely associated with the nutritional status.\nThere is relatively little systematic evidence on which to base any informed\nadvice about the introduction of foods other than breast milk or breast milk\nsubstitutes. Arguably once solids have become the major component of a\nyoung child’s diet there is even less evidence about optimum feeding .\nTypically diversification of an infant’s diet has been very much influenced by\nparental belief and cultural practice.\nIn the post-war period in the Western world, consumption of food has\nchanged from a daily activity to fill the stomach to a social event. Daily meals\nplay an important part in family life. Diners are used to tie friendships,\nrelations, to create a suitable climate for business deals and to celebrate. But\nat the same time concern about food as a factor that will influence health and\ndisease has been growing rapidly.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Analysis of temperature and other data from more than 1,000 meteorological stations worldwide has found 2013 was the seventh-warmest year since 1880, adding more evidence to the long-term rise in global warming, according to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York. Nine of the 10 warmest years in the 134 years covered by the analysis have occurred since 2000, and the 10th was 1998. The latest GISS analysis finds 2013 tied with 2009 and 2006 in global ...\nTHIS CONTENT REQUIRES SUBSCRIPTION ACCESS\nYou must be a paid subscriber to access \"Global Warming Trend Continues, NASA Reports\".\nCurrent Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) enterprise and individual members: please go to http://awin.aviationweek.com for access.\nNot currently a subscriber? Click on the \"Learn More\" button below to view subscription offers.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Excavations – Important – Punjab\nBara (30°17′; 76°47′), Dt Rupnagar, Punjab.\nBara is located 6 km east of Ropar and was excavated in 1955 and 1971 by Y.D.Sharma on behalf of the ASI. The 4 m thick accumulation here revealed a single culture throughout, although the deposit has been divided into lower, middle and upper levels.\nThe site is extremely rich in a distinct class of pottery made of well-levigated clay, the pottery is wheel-turned and possesses a fine and consistent texture. It is self-slipped or slipped with a brown-coloured clay which gets burnt to shades of brown-red. The designs consist of either painted in black or chocolate-brown or are incised with wooden points or brushes. Some of the basic pottery types bring to mind Harappan parallels, such as the dish-on-stand, large basin or bowl with flaring sides and large jar with a bulging convex profile, all possessing a thick and sturdy section. There are however certain features in these shapes where the correspondence breaks down; for instance, most of the Bara ware is embellished with painted or incised patterns, while a large proportion of the Harappa Ware is plain. The stem of the Bara dish-on-stand is generally short and wide, as distinct from the long and slender stem of the Harappa counterpart. The long stem of Bara has a projecting ledge below the dish. Among diagnostic shapes or features of the Bara pottery are: the large bulbous jar with long neck and flaring rim, jar with collared rim, the body being bulbous or bluntly carinated at the belly, cooking utensil or water jar incised on shoulder and rusticated at the bottom with ‘honeycombed’ ridges, brush-made spirals or fingered patch-work-all executed in Wet Ware technique.\nConversely such characteristic Harappa designs as intersecting circles, horizontally drawn opposed loops enclosing cross-shaped motif, pipal leaf, peacock and fish-scales are absent in the Bara paintings. Wavy, zigzag or looped lines form a basic element both in painted and incised Bara decoration. Characteristic among the painted motifs are: ‘horn’ like curve crowned by an arrowhead or some other motif; opposed triangles or semicircles; willow leaves in vertical or horizontal series; parallel wavy lines enclosing ‘eyes’ or lozenges; hatched ‘net’; loops with humps surmounted by lines; grouped triangles; squares or rectangles with alternate hatching in different directions; series of solid dots enclosed by horizontal bands; ‘eyes’ fringed by vertical lines; ‘wings’ surmounted by lines; square with ‘bastions’ or scrolls at corners; chain; and plain wide band on neck. Among fauna the fish is common, but other animals are rare. Several of these designs are absent from the Harappa repertoire but occur op the pottery of pre-Harappan Kalibangan, Kot-Diji, Amri (both in Pakistan), Mundigak (Afghanistan) and sites in north Baluchistan. All the characteristic elements of the Bara ware are present at the site right from the lowest levels.\nAmong the animal bones were those of Elephas maximus Linn. (Indian elephant), Bos indicus. Linn. (zebu or domesticated humped cattle of India), Bubalus bubalis Linn. (Indian domesticated buffalo), Capra hircus aegagrus Erxleben (domesticated goat), Ovis aries dolichura Duerst (domestic sheep), Axis axis Erxieben (chital or spotted deer) and Sus scrota cristatus wagner (domestic pig). Bara has given four C-14 dates,among the other three dates, two, 1890 + 95 and 1845 +155 B.C., come from the middle levels and the third, 1645+90 B.C., from the upper levels. Considering that there is a substantial deposit of 1.8 m below the level yielding the date of 1890 + 95 B.C., Bara would date at least to a span of 2000 to 1600 B.C.\nKotla Nihang Khan (30°57′; 76°32′), Dt Rupnagar, Punjab\nLying about 2 km s.-e. of Ropar on the eroded and flat SiwaIik formations. The mound is badely destroyed by modern construction and agricultural activities. Vats (1929) surmised that the value of his discovery lay in extending the zone of the Indus civilization to the Sutlej- Yamuna doab.\nKotla Nihang Khan continued to be regarded as an outpost of the Harappa culture till the excavation of Roper. The site was again excavated in 1955 by Y.D. Sharma on behalf of the ASI and three Periods: Harappa, Kushan and medieval were identified. Period I suggests two phases. The e. sector, with typical mature Harappa deposit while in the w. sector the Harappa deposit the Harappa pottery is interlocked here with some quantity of the Bara ware from the bottom to the top of Period I, suggesting that in Phase I the Harappans occupied the e. sector and subsequently in Phase 2 they spread also to the w. sector where the Bara people also joined them.\nThe evidence of Period II is provided by a very thin but unmistakably identifiable deposit of Kushan pottery overlying the Harappa levels in the w. sector. No structures or other objects of this Period have been noticed. Period III, medieval, is however substantial, with an average thickness of 2 m. The deposits are fairly rich in fragments of medieval glazed ware and Well-planned structures of lakhauri brick Archaeological importance of Kotla Nihang Khanlies in the fact that it is the only site\nknown so far on the Sutlej where mature Harappa pottery is prolific, with the Bara Ware accounting for not more than 5% of the total. Apparently it represents an earlier phase than that of the Harappa levels of ROPAR, where the characteristic shapes like the Indus goblet and flat thall are very scarce and where the Bara ware vies with the Harappa.\nRupar, Ropar (300 58; 76O 32′),Dt Rupnagar, Punjab\nLying on the left bank of the Sutlej. The excavations yielded a sequence of six Periods: I (Harappa, c. 2100 to 14OOB.C,); II (PGW, c. 1000 to 600 B.C.); III (NBPW or early historical, c. 600 to 200B.C.); IV (middle to late historical, c. 200 B.C. to A.D. 700); V (late historical, c. 700-1200); and VI (medieval, c.l200-1700). Some of these Periods are divided into-Sub Periods. There are three mounds at Ropar, n., S., and w. The s mound is occupied by the present-day town. Excavations were confined to the n. and w. mounds, the latter concealing a Harappa cemetery. Ropar has the distinction of being the site where the remains of the Harappa civilization were excavated for the first time in post-partition India.\nApart from mature Harappa objects named above, mention may also be made of beads and bangles of faience triangular terracotta cakes and chert weights. Compared with the mature Harappa as asemblage at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, it is the absence of the goblet with pointed base and terracotta figurines including the mother goddess which strikes one most. In I A levels only one mud-brick wall of three\ncourses has been encountered. The bricks are irregular in size but have a uniform thickness of 10 cm. The only wall noticed in I B at RPR-2 is built of river pebbles. Phase I C is however rich in housing remains with seven structures assignable to five phases. The building material consists of kankar stone, mud brick and kiln-burnt brick. One of the well-built houses has foundations of kankar stone and superstructure of mud brick. The kiln burnt bricks measure 20x 10×40 cm.\nA single Harappa seal found in RPR-1 in I C levels is made of steatite and bears three familiar symbols on the obverse and two concentric circles on the reverse. It is thin and small without any holding device. Another burnt clay lump with a hole to pass a string through bears impressions of three typical seals with bull motif and legend in the familiar script. Graffiti on pottery include the Indus script.\nA cemetery of the Harappa, recalling Cemetery R-37 of Harappa, lies to the w. of the n. mound. It has been considerably disturbed by later occupants, mainly by the users of the row, but some of the burials are sufficiently intact to give an adequate idea of the method of burial. The body is laid in a grave pit, measuring 2.45 x .91 m and 60 cm in depth. The head is placed usually on the n.-w. Most of the burials contain an assemblage of typical pots, and some of them also reveal personal ornaments, such as bangles of faience or shell, beads of faience and semiprecious stones and ring of copper. A faience bangle was intact on the left wrist of the wearer and a copper ring on the middle finger of the right hand. A single grave pit contained the skeleton of a dog at the bottom and that of a human being, presumably its master, above it. There is very little Bara pottery in the the graves and it is not known if the cemetery was common for both the Harappa and the Bara folks.\nAmong the animal bones of Period I are Chitra indica Gray, Gallus sp., Canis familiaris Linn. (the Domestic Dog), Rattus rattus Linn. (the common Indian Rat), Elephas maximus Linn. (the Indian Elephant), Bos indicus Linn. (the Zebu or Domesticated Humped Cattle of India), Bubalus bubalis Linn. (the Indian Domesticated Buffalo), Capra hircus aegagrus Em. (the Domestic Goat), Ovis aries dolichura Duerst (the Domestic Sheep) and Sus scrofa cristatus Wagner (the Domestic Pig).\nInformation on town layout and house-plans is lacking at Ropar, since the concerned levels were reached overan extremely limited area. The s. mound with its present habitation could not be probed, and one does not know if Ropar too did have twin settlements in the Harappa days as at Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi and Banavali. The excavators of Kalibangan date Kalibangan I to c. 2400-2250 B.C. on uncorrected 14C basis. With Kalibangan I pottery lying overlapped with the Harappa at the bottom layers of Ropar, c. 2100 B.C. could be thought of as the safest date for the beginning of Period I with an average thickness of over 2 m a span of 700 years, ending at c. 1400 B.C. appears reasonable. The evidence of Bhagawanpura where Bara and PGW cultures are found interlocked would also lend an indirect support to this date, for the Bara complex at Bhagawanpura appears to be only a devolution of the Sutlej complex.\nPeriod II. After a long break the site was occupied by the users of the row, identified with the early Aryans by some and with the contemporaries of the later Vedic texts by others. Wheel-turned from well-levigated fine- grained clay, the PGW is sometimes self-slipped orcovered with grey wash, but often it seems to have no surface treatment. After it is painted with designs in black it is subjected to even and gradually reduced tem- perature. The sagger-based dish with incurved side and deep bowl with straight side are the most common shapes in the PGW. The painted designs comprise bands, grouped verticals, oblique and criss-cross lines, Z sigmas, svastikas, apirals, chains, rows of dots and dashes and concentric circles or semicircles. Apparently; the PGW was mainly used for purposes of dining. The discovery of a PGW water-pot (lotii) at Ropar completes ,the normal set of dining utensils, consisting of a plate or dish (thali) bowl (katori) and a water-pot (loti). The design is sometimes whitish-grey, which is obtained by blocking the design from the application of the slip. Other associated wares in these levels are plain grey ware, Black-slipped Ware and dusty-red ware. The former two cover the same shapes as the PGW, but the vessels of the dusty-red ware are largely used for cooking and storage, such as the frying pan, cooking pot (handi), large bowl basin, water pitchers and storage jar.\nPeriod. III The introduction and disappearance of the NBPW define the span of Period III. Ropar was sufficiently removed from the Ganga plains of e. U.P. and Bihar, where the NBPW had its beginnings, yet over 450 sherds recovered from the limited excavated depths here proclaim its great popularity. It must have reached here obviously through pilgrinls and traders. That it was not locally manufactured and was a treasured piece of pottery is clear from the fact that broken NBPW vessels are often found joined with copper wire.Period III may be divided into Sub-Periods, m A and m B. In trench RPR-2, out of nearly 300 NBPW sherds 85% occur in III A and only 15% in m B, which, however, is richer in structural remains.\nPeriod IV. The beginnings of Period IV are identified more easily by the terracotta art forms than by new fabrics and types in pottery, although these do exist. The long span of Period IV, from c. 200 B.C. to A.D. 700, is divided into four Sub-Periods corresponding roughly to the rule of the Sungas (IV A), Saka-Kushans (IV B), Guptas (IV C) and the post-Guptas (IV D). Nude yaksha figures with wearing rich ornaments and beautifully modelled figures of yakhas standing under trees are among the terracotta cult images of the the Sunga period. Plain red ware and some grey ware are typical of Period IV A. The pear-shaped vase with rim section approximating to a vertical lozenge and pitcher with fluted neck and out-rurned rim are among the popular ceramic types. Potter stamped with motifs like svastika, nandi-pada, tri-ratna, human figure, fish, conch, etc., appears but becomes more prolific in the succeeding Sub-Period. Coinage now comes fully onto its own. A coin of the Indo-Bactrian Antialcidas, another of the nameless, possibly Indo-Parthian,ruler with the title of Soter Megas and a clay mould made from a coin of Apollodotus II bespeak at least contact with the dominions of the Indo-Bactrians and Indo-Parthians. Contemporary tribal coinage is represented by the coins of the Kudindas and Audumbaras, the latter in a fair frequency, suggesting that Ropar may have been a centre of the Audumbara authority.\nThe remains of Periods V and VI have been probed on a limited scale by sinking a trench in the courtyard of a house in the town. The excavation laid bare several houses of kiln-burnt brick one above the other bespeaking considerable prosperity. Among the pottery types of Period V are the jar with mace-headed or internally beaked rim and ribbed neck; carinated cooking pot (handi) with out-turned rim; bowl-cum-lid with internal carination; and handled incense-burner. Glazed polychrome ware is found in top fillings. Walls of lakhauri bricks,dated to the Mughal times, peep out of the exposed sections of the s.mound. A kiln of the lakhauri bricks is located at then.w. corner of the n. mound. A coin from the top fillings belongs to Mubarak-Shah, Sultan of Delhi (died 1434), while another coin from the surface belongs to Ibrahim Lodhi (1517-26).", "label": "No"}
{"text": "If the Great War of 1914-18 had any single root cause it surely was the desire of the French Army and Nation to avenge the humiliations of the Franco-Prussian or Franco-German War of 1870-71. Aware that France would never acquiesce to the unification of Germany under a Prussian King (or the appalling prospect of a German prince on the vacant Spanish throne), the ‘Iron Chancellor’ , Otto von Bismarck, manoeuvred the inscrutable (but weak and vacillating) French Emperor, Napoleon III, into declaring war (19 July 1870).\nContrary to all expectations the Imperial armies of France quickly proved inadequately prepared, equipped and led. Neither Austria nor the supposedly anti-Prussian states of South Germany showed the least inclination to form an anti-Prussian alliance. The German campaign was masterminded by Moltke. The Germans crossed the frontier on 4 August 1870 and won a series of victories over Marshal Bazaine’s optimistically named ‘Army of the Rhine’, culminating in his encirclement with 173,000 men at Metz. Napoleon III and Marshal MacMahon attempted to raise the siege but were surrounded at Sedan on 1 September 1870 and obliged to surrender with 83,000 officers and men. The Empress Eugenie fled from Paris to begin half a century in exile and the Third Republic was founded. A Prussia-dominated German Empire was proclaimed at Versailles 18 January 1871.\nWhen Paris was shortly afterwards besieged, fiery Republican minister of the interior, Leon Gambetta escaped by hydrogen balloon to organize a levee en masse in the still unoccupied provinces. The garrison and National Guard of Paris, faced heavy odds after the ignominious surrender of Metz (27 October 1870). General Trochu continued to defend the capital and even counterattacked until January when near-starvation and heavy bombardment made further resistance impossible. The armistice was succeeded by the draconian ‘Peace of Frankfurt’.\nTerms of the Treaty of Frankfurt 10 May 1871\n- 1. Cession of provinces of Lorraine & Alsace (less Belfort)\n- 2. German army of occupation to be stationed in 43 depts\n- 3. Reparations of 5 billion francs (£200 million) to be paid by instalments\n- 4. Trade: Germany to enjoy ‘Most Favoured Nation’ status vis-a-vis France\nThe last German garrison (at Verdun) quitted France in September 1873.\nLess than two months after the fall of Paris, a provisional government of Socialist and far-left Republicans was elected by the ‘Commune’ of Paris in response to an attempt by the right-wing National Assembly to disarm the Paris National Guard. Civil war broke out. In ‘Bloody Week’ (May 1871), MacMahon stormed the capital and at least 20,000 Communards and innocent citizens were massacred: ‘The last stage of the Commune was not a battle but a massacre… The victors were embittered by the shame of having to fight a fresh war against their own countrymen under the disdainful eyes of the Prussians … Despite … orders. from MacMahon that the lives of prisoners should be spared, the victors killed without mercy’ (The Development of Modern France by Sir Denis Brogan, London 1967).\nThe trauma of these catastrophic events was so severe that in 1889 a shallow opportunist general and Minister of War (Boulanger) was nearly able to provoke a war with his anti-German speeches. Seven years later, an accusation that Captain Alfred Dreyfus, born of a Jewish family at Mulhouse (Alsace), had betrayed the specification of France’s revolutionary soixante-quinze (75mm) quick-firing field-gun to Germany, sparked off a protracted series of crises. These more than once threatened to tear French society apart. Although the entirely innocent Dreyfus was brought back from the living hell of Devil’s Island (near the modern Kourou space centre), declared innocent on appeal and reinstated in his military rank (1906); the venom spewed out during the Affaire should have been a warning that if, and when, the opportunity ever arose for a renewed Franco-German trial of strength it could easily escalate into a bestial struggle for national survival.Moreover, this anticipated conflict would be made even more terrible and widespread by a whole series of so-called ‘defensive’ pacts and alliances concluded between 1878 and 1907. Germany – now an empire under William I – had allied herself with Austria. They were joined by Italy in 1882. This ‘Triple Alliance’ could also count on a large measure of support from the German-born rulers of Rumania, Bulgaria and Greece. In reply, France concluded military and political pacts with Russia (1892-4). Between 1902 and 1907 Britain concluded the so-called ‘Triple Entente’ with France and Russia and formed an alliance with Japan. Thanks in some degree to the influence of a Francophile English king, Edward VII, the Entente Cordiale was negotiated in 1904. A similar understanding between Britain and Imperial Russia was reached in 1907. The Kaiser’s ministers and generals responded by forging a close understanding with the ‘Young Turks’, the largely German-trained radical officers who seized power at Constantinople in 1908. A Turco-German treaty of alliance was signed in early August 1914.\nBoth Russia and Austria were eager to dominate the Balkans, where the once-omnipotent Ottoman armies of occupation had been pushed back almost to the gates of Constantinople in 1912-13. Germany, too, aimed at securing a trans-Balkan corridor as a key element of a grandiose Berlin-Baghdad rail link for which she had received a concession in 1899.All the European Powers (except moribund Russia) had colonial ambitions. They had partitioned Africa from the 1880s and exercised an almost complete stranglehold over the trade and economic life of China, whose ancient, but defunct, empire had collapsed in 1911. Japan, too, would soon demand a rich slice of the ‘Chinese cake’ as a reward for her continued adherence of the Allied cause, alter the occupation of Germany’s Asiatic and Pacific possessions by Japanese/British Empire forces in August-November 1914.\nImperial Germany nursed the conviction that she had been cheated of a fair share of the spoils in the 19th-century ‘Scramble for Africa’ proper. Between 1884 and 1890 she had established protectorates over Togoland, the Cameroons, South-West Africa and Tanganyika. But compared with France’s richly endowed and populous territories, stretching from Morocco to the lower Congo and east to the ‘Great Red Island’ of Madagascar, German Africa was of little account. Even so, Berlin felt impelled to initiate Tirpitz’s naval expansion programme from 1897, to safe ‘guard her developing overseas trade routes. This soon escalated into a deadly ‘Naval Race’ with Britain.\nFrom 1904 to 1914 a series of crises increasingly threatened the long-established European balance of power - Algeciras (1906); Bosnia-Herzegovina (1908); Agadir (1911); Italo-Turkish War (1911-12); First and Second Balkan Wars (1912-13); Sarajevo (1914). On 28 June 1914 the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the venerable Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph, was assassinated by Serb-armed nationalists during an official visit to the town of Sarajevo. Austria declared war on Serbia, 28 July 1914, with the aim of achieving a rapid, local conquest of a perceived South Slav nuisance. When Russia mobilized in that Balkan kingdom’s support, Germany declared war on Russia and France and invaded neutral Belgium, a country whose ‘perpetual neutrality had been guaranteed by all the Great Powers since the 1839 Treaty of London. Britain declared war on Germany (4 August) and Austria (12 August 1914).\nAlthough not legally bound to do so, the self-governing former British dominions, Canada, Australia and New Zealand joined forces with the Motherland in the hour of supreme trial. So did the Princes of the vast Indian Empire. Only South Africa hesitated. However, a pro-German Boer rebellion war was suppressed by Smuts and Botha and South Africa entered the war. Italy, invariably treated with condescending patronage by Germany and Austria (and not consulted by the latter after Sarajevo), saw no good reason to rush to the support of her Triple Alliance partners. Accordingly, she remained neutral until May 1915.The Great War was the apocalyptic climax of the Age of European (and American) Imperialism. But what had begun as a relatively straightforward struggle for territorial and economic gain, and (in the cases of Austria and France) for revenge on perennial neighbouring foes, inexorably developed into what the German strategist Ludendorff called ‘Der Totale Krieg’ (‘Total War’). In other words, not merely a contest between the armies, navies and embryonic air forces, but a life-or-death struggle between Peoples in which all the human, material and moral resources of the nation were utilized to the utmost.\nThree dynastic mighty empires – Germany, Austria and Russia – were swept into the dustbin of history. And a far flung but decrepit oriental despotism – Ottoman Turkey – also fell to be transformed into a compact westernized secular republic; her outer provinces ultimately becoming the new Middle East states of Arabia, Iraq (Mesopotamia), Syria and Jewish-settled Palestine.\nOut of the European melting-pot there soon emerged Communist Russia, a restored independent Poland, the new states of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, and later Fascist Italy followed by Nazi Germany.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Tikal is a magnificent Maya site. It holds remnants of the Maya culture, one of the many Ancient Civilizations that I saw during my travels.\nFrom the Tikal entry in Wikipedia:\nTikal is the ruin of an ancient city, which was likely to have been called Yax Mutal, found in a rainforest in Guatemala. It is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. Situated in the department of El Petén, the site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\nTikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. Though monumental architecture at the site dates back as far as the 4th century BCE, Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, c. 200 CE to 900 CE. During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily, while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as the great metropolis of Teotihuacán in the distant Valley of México. There is evidence that Tikal was conquered by Teotihuacán in the 4th century CE. Following the end of the Late Classic Period, no new major monuments were built at Tikal and there is evidence that elite palaces were burned. These events were coupled with a gradual population decline, culminating with the site's abandonment by the end of the 10th century.\nTikal is the best understood of any of the large lowland Maya cities, with a long dynastic ruler list, the discovery of the tombs of many of the rulers on this list and the investigation of their monuments, temples and palaces.\n|Name (or nickname)||Ruled||Dynastic|\n|Yax Ehb' Xook||c. 90||1||Yax Moch Xok, Yax Chakte'l Xok, First Scaffold Shark|\n|Foliated Jaguar||c. 292||?||–|\n|Animal Headdress||?||10?||Kinich Ehb'?|\n|Sihyaj Chan K'awiil I||c. 307||11||–|\n|Unen Bahlam||c. 317||12?||–|\n|K'inich Muwaan Jol I||? –359||13||Mahk'ina Bird Skull, Feather Skull|\n|Chak Tok Ich'aak I||360–378||14||Jaguar Paw, Great Paw, Great Jaguar Paw|\n|Yax Nuun Ayiin I||379 –404?||15||Curl Snout, Curl Nose|\n|Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II||411–456||16||Stormy Sky, Manikin Cleft Sky|\n|K'an Chitam||458–c. 486||17||Kan Boar, K'an Ak|\n|Chak Tok Ich'aak II||c. 486–508||18||Jaguar Paw II, Jaguar Paw Skull|\n|Lady of Tikal||Kaloomte' B'alam||c. 511–527+||19||Curl Head|\n|Bird Claw||?||20?||Animal Skull I|\n|Wak Chan K'awiil||537?–562||21||Double Bird|\n|Animal Skull||c. 593–628||22||–|\n|K'inich Muwaan Jol II||c. 628–650||23 or 24||–|\n|Nuun Ujol Chaak||c. 650–679||25||Shield Skull, Nun Bak Chak|\n|Jasaw Chan K'awiil I||682–734||26||Ruler A, Ah Cacao|\n|Yik'in Chan K'awiil||734–c. 766||27||Ruler B, Yaxkin Caan Chac, Sun Sky Rain|\n|Ruler 28||c. 766–768||28||–|\n|Yax Nuun Ayiin II||768–c. 794||29||–|\n|Nuun Ujol K'inich||c. 800?||30?||–|\n|Jasaw Chan K'awiil II||–869+||?||–|\nSite map by Burchell, Simon. 'Tikal Map.' Ancient History Encyclopedia.\nLast modified October 05, 2014. https://www.ancient.eu/image/3101/ (31k)\nThe Tikal National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\nAll pictures are © Dr. Günther Eichhorn, unless otherwise noted.\nThis page contains 38 pictures\nMain page for Guatemala\nPage last updated on Fri May 21 15:21:49 2021 (Mountain Standard Time)\nTikal on www.guenther-eichhorn.com", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Examples include NavAid installations, making minor facility renovations, and reconstruction of perimeter or security fencing. A CatEx is based on the FAA’s experience with a particular kind of action and its environmental effects. The FAA has studied the action in previous EAs, found no significant impact on the environment based on the analyses, and validated the lack of significant impacts after the implementation.\nWhen a proposed action is included in the FAA’s CatEx list, the airport must demonstrate and the FAA must check to make sure that no extraordinary circumstances exist that may cause the proposed action to have a significant effect in a particular situation. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include effects to endangered species, protected cultural sites, and wetlands.\nIf there are no extraordinary circumstances indicating that the proposed action effects may be significant, then FAA can approve the CatEx and allow the airport to proceed with implementation of the proposed action. Because of the FAA CatEx list and the experience FAA has within those categories, the CatEx is a simple and direct document that provides an airport the ability to satisfy NEPA requirements without enduring a lengthy process.\nThe EA is a more intense examination of the same NEPA criteria as a CatEx, and is intended to determine the significance of the environmental effects and to look at alternative means to achieve the FAA’s objectives. The public, other federal agencies, and outside parties may provide input into an EA — and then comment on the draft EA when it is published. According to FAA, an EA is intended to be a concise document that provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining whether to prepare an EIS.\nIf the EA demonstrates there is no significant impact to the environment, FAA will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI (which still can’t escape a wry smile when repeated to unknowing participants) is a document that presents the reasons why FAA has concluded that there are no significant environmental impacts projected to occur upon implementation of the proposed action. The FONSI may address measures that FAA will take to reduce or mitigate potentially significant impacts.\nEnvironmental impact statement\nWhen the EA determines that the environmental consequences of a proposed action may be significant, an EIS is prepared. An EIS is the most detailed evaluation of the proposed action and alternatives. The public, other federal agencies, and outside parties may provide input into the preparation of an EIS and then comment on the draft EIS when it is completed.\nIf FAA anticipates that a proposed action may significantly affect the environment, or if it is environmentally controversial, FAA may choose to prepare an EIS without having to first prepare an EA. After a final EIS is prepared and at the time of its decision, the FAA will prepare a public record of its decision, addressing how the EIS findings — including consideration of alternatives — were incorporated into FAA’s decisionmaking process.\nA Record of Decision (ROD) is the final step in the EIS process. The ROD is a document that:\n- states what the decision is;\n- identifies the alternatives considered, including the environmentally preferred alternative; and\n- discusses mitigation plans, including any enforcement and monitoring commitments.\nIn the record of decision, FAA discusses all the factors — including any considerations of national policy that were contemplated when it reached its decision — on whether to and how to proceed with the proposed action.\nThe terms CatEx, EA, FONSI and ROD are common framework elements that form the basis of NEPA documentation for federal actions. The terms and actions are not complex when understood from the perspective of NEPA’s basic interdisciplinary intent. From the CatEx to the ROD, each of these elements shares common characteristics and terminology that build on one another.\nUnderstanding NEPA as a multi-level framework serves to simplify an airport’s explanations when it engages the community and staff.\nDrilling for natural gas on land at Pittsburgh International Airport won't have a significant impact on the environment, Federal Aviation Administration officials\nMWAA’s proposal includes constructing an additional north-south and east-west runway, parallel and connector taxiways, Tier 3 concourse development, and navigational aids.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "New Jersey Theatre Alliance - American Sign Language Interpretation For The Theatre\nBased upon the last US Census and stats from the Center for Disease Control, there are approximately 800,000 citizens who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in New Jersey.\nTheatrical sign language interpretation translates from spoken language to American Sign Language (ASL) utilizing specific techniques for signing plays, and musicals.\nThis video provides you with some basic steps on what is involved in producing a theatrical interpreted performance. For assistance in preparing for a theatrical interpreted performance, please contact the New Jersey Theatre Alliance at firstname.lastname@example.org or call 973-731-6582, ext. 15.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "At steady state, in the governing equation of one-stage thermoelectric cooler, the heat resulting from Fourier conduction is balanced by heat generation due to the Joule and Thomson effects inside semiconductors. Since the heat flux observed at the junction of a semiconductor, r pair includes the Peltier effect and the Fourier heat flux caused by both the aforementioned contributions, the Thomson effect is easily masked by the Joule heat, which makes it elusive. With the aim of highlighting the contribution of the Thomson effect, measurements were carried out in the temperature range from 363 K to 213 K on different Peltier modules. The temperature dependence of the Seebeck and Thomson coefficients was evaluated as well as the electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity of the Peltier modules examined. The results obtained show that the temperature dependence of the thermoelectric properties can reduce the cooling capacity of the Peltier module compared to what is declared in the technical datasheets of the commercial devices. The analyses allow us to conclude that an increase in the Thomson effect could have a positive effect on the performance of the Peltier only if it were possible to reduce the Joule contribution simultaneously.\nThe elusive thomson effect in thermoelectric devices. Experimental investigation from 363 k to 213 k on various peltier modules / Giaretto, V.; Campagnoli, E.. - In: METALS. - ISSN 2075-4701. - 10:2(2020), p. 291.\n|Titolo:||The elusive thomson effect in thermoelectric devices. Experimental investigation from 363 k to 213 k on various peltier modules|\n|Data di pubblicazione:||2020|\n|Digital Object Identifier (DOI):||http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/met10020291|\n|Appare nelle tipologie:||1.1 Articolo in rivista|", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has begun working with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to evaluate the results from trials using contactless fingerprint verification technology.\nThe proof-of-concept tests involve assessing the effectiveness of touch-free scanners, developed by Advanced Optical Systems, which allow a traveler’s fingerprints to serve as their boarding pass and identity document.\nUse of the technology is currently limited to TSA Pre members, who provide their fingerprints when they enroll in the program. Once the scanner matches fingerprints to those in the TSA Pre system, it obtains the traveler’s boarding pass information and allows them to continue to their gate.\nArun Vemury, program manager, S&T Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, said, “A biometric process can actually be faster than scanning tickets and can identify travelers automatically with few errors. However, performance depends dramatically on the choice of technology and process.\n“Failure to acquire biometrics can be a major source of error for biometric systems, especially those serving hurried travelers who may not understand how to present their biometrics properly,” he added.\nThe proof-of-concept assessment is based on the results of trials taking place at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Georgia, USA, and Denver International Airport in Colorado.\nWhile contact-based fingerprint technology has existed for some time, non-contact fingerprinting is still relatively new, so rigorous evaluation is needed to determine its effectiveness and impact on how passengers move through security.\nSpeaking about the trials, one of the evaluators said, “Based on prior data collected at the Maryland Test Facility, we developed specific classes of use errors associated with fingerprint biometrics. Two of these include incorrect hand positioning and improper hand movement and speed. Our field observations with actual travelers were very similar to our simulated scenario tests in the lab.”", "label": "No"}
{"text": "An increasing number of developers are using Python scripts daily. Without a proper organizational tool, too many scripts can result in a mess of different folders, CLI commands, and individual files. Airplane can help with this!\nWe'll cover the following:\n- Prerequisites for this tutorial\n- Get set up in Airplane\n- Create Airplane Tasks using the CLI\n- Leverage Airplane Resources in Python tasks\nBy the end of this post, you should be able to organize your Python scripts into Airplane Tasks quickly and efficiently.\nWe'll look at two straightforward scripts running on Linux.\nIn this tutorial, you’ll need:\n- A free Airplane account\n- Access to a machine running Linux\n- Git, Curl, and Python 3 installed (most Linux distributions have them installed by default)\n- Familiarity with basic Unix commands like\n- SSH public/private keys set up (check out the instructions below on how to do so)\nSet up SSH authentication for Python scripts\nAdditionally, copy the public RSA key to the remote server. If you want to use a server other than\nlocalhost, you can use ssh-copy-id to distribute your public key.\nObtain the code\nYou can get a copy of the repository with the following code:\nNow, install the dependencies using a virtual environment:\nWhat do the scripts do?\nThe first script collects the SHA256 checksums of the files on a remote directory into your local machine. This is helpful for keeping track of unauthorized changes on sensitive files by saving their SHA256 checksums to a safe location.\nLet's run it using the following:\nThe output of running the script will be like the following, depending on the files on the remote server:\nThe second script\nsha256_to_table.py creates a table from the report generated by the\nremote_sha256.py script used earlier. Run it using this code:\nThis is the resulting table report of the original SHA256 checksum:\nThis simple two-script scenario already presents a few challenges:\n- The packaging of external dependencies is documented in the\nrequirements.txtfile, but installation likely requires creating a virtual environment and installing the dependencies with a tool like setuptools\n- Orchestrating the scripts’ proper execution is tedious. First, you need to call the SHA256 calculator/collector, then the table generation script. You may even need to write a third bash or a shell script to call them in the proper order\nImagine doing this for all your scripts! You might be able to invest significant time automating their deployment using a solution like setuptools, but that can still be exceedingly difficult — especially for loosely coupled scripts.\nFortunately, using Airplane can help solve these issues. Let’s go over what you need to prepare in order to create Airplane Tasks using Python scripts.\nGet set up in Airplane\nLet's start by ensuring that the Airplane environment is properly set up. We'll walk through installing the Airplane CLI on Linux.\nConsider enabling the auto-completion shell feature. This way when you start typing a command and press the Tab key, Airplane will predict and fill in the rest of the command. The following code will enable this feature:\nThe next step is to authenticate with Airplane using\nairplane auth login, which provides you with the URL needed:\nThen visit the provided URL in your browser and copy the API token as shown below:\nIn the terminal, type\nairplane auth login and then paste in the API code:\nFinally, confirm that you can communicate with the server using the command\nairplane tasks list.\nIn this example, you’ll see the test tasks created on the Airplane website. Your output will show something similar to the output below after typing\nairplane tasks list:\nNow you’re ready to start using the Airplane CLI.\nCreate Airplane Tasks using the CLI\nTo create a new task for the\nremote_sha256.py script, enter\nairplane init and then answer the questions when prompted. The output is shown below:\nYou now have a task file called\nremote_sha256.task.yaml. Time to check its contents using the following:\nThe task definition needs a few parameters so you can execute the script:\n--server— this tells you which machine contains the files\n--remotepath— this is the directory you want to inspect\n~/sha256-localhost-httpd-files— this is the name of the final report with the SHA256 checksums\nInclude the above parameters in the following code:\nAirplane scripts called from Python need a special function called\nmain to use as an entry point.\nmain function obtains the dictionary that’s used to receive parameters that you will specify when you call the script as an Airplane Task:\nThe refactored code is similar. For this, encapsulate the\nwrite_report method inside the\nmain method using the following code:\nThe next step is to replace the original\nremote_sha256.task.yaml contents with the arguments needed to pass to the\nremote_sha256 script using the following:\nYou can now test the task by executing it locally using the following:\nYou may receive the following error message:\nYou can fix this by installing the Airplane SDK with pip. This isn’t necessary during testing, but it’s helpful to see how the output will look when it’s run from inside Airplane.\nNow, set up the virtual environment to install the Airplane SDK using the commands below:\nThen, call Airplane on the developer mode, also passing the arguments on the command line instead of letting Airplane ask for it on an interactive mode:\nType the following to run your script in developer mode:\nAnd then you will get an output like this:\nNow that it is working, let’s deploy the scripts by typing\nairplane deploy remote_sha256.task.yaml:\nAnd you have now successfully defined an Airplane Task.\nBut what if you want to connect external systems to essential tasks in Airplane? Airplane Resources are a great way to do just that.\nLeverage Airplane Resources in Python tasks\nAirplane Resources allow you to quickly connect to external systems, such as databases and APIs, and use them in your tasks. Examples of resources that Airplane supports include REST API, Snowflake, Slack, and more.\nTo attach resources to tasks using the UI, go to the Build your task page. Find the Resources section and select Attach resource:\nAfter selecting the above, use the dropdown menu under Search resources to select the desired resource to attach:\nOnce done, hit Update task.\nLet's say the resource you'd like to attach isn't in your Airplane Resources repository yet. To create a resource using the UI, navigate back to the Build your task page and select the plus icon next to the Search resources dropdown:\nThis will open a window where you can select which resource you'd like to connect and attach to your existing task:\nUsing this process, you can connect external systems to your Airplane Tasks quickly and efficiently.\nUsing Airplane to turn useful Python scripts into tasks will help improve your productivity by organizing your scripts and eliminating repetitive tasks such as setting up virtual environments. It also allows you to control how to execute code in a production environment and define relationships between scripts.\nNow you’re ready to explore some more possibilities with Airplane. With Airplane, you can create SQL-based tasks, schedule API requests, and more. If you'd like to test out Airplane's extensive features, you can sign up for a free account or say hello at [email protected].", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The process for selecting Sustainable Development Indicators (SDI) is as important (or perhaps more important) than the SDI themselves. If people have faith in the selection process, they will believe in the SDI. Fair and open selection with wide participation will produce a comprehensive set of SDI relevant to a broad range of views and philosophies. Only a well documented process will assure the broad participation necessary to select useful SDI. To this end, this defines the process, procedures, and rules used by the SDI Group to select SDI for the United States.\nThe SDI Group's annual selection process chooses a small number of indicators most relevant to sustainable development. The process repeats every year to assure that the selected indicators evolve over time as our knowledge and experience on sustainable development increases. Anyone can participate in the selection process. The SDI Group will provide participants with appropriate procedures and instructions.\nStep 1, Define Goals and Objectives: The SDI Group will develop the goals and objectives of sustainable development indicator selection process. As the primary goal, the SDI Group will select the 1997 SDI by the end of the 1996 calendar year. The SDI Group will also construct an SDI Framework and develop a suitable selection process.\nStep 2, Define SDI Framework: The SDI Group will create an SDI Framework SDI Framework based on the concept of endowments, their output, and the processes that act upon them. The SDI Framework should be all-inclusive, use existing classification systems (when possible), and relate to other frameworks.\nStep 3, Develop Candidate SDI List: The SDI Group will develop a list of Candidate SDI. A Candidate SDI is an indicator identified as related to or relevant to sustainable development. Each Candidate SDI must relate to the SDI Framework and to issues of concern as well as meet form and format requirements.\nStep 4, Review Candidate SDI and Select Proposed SDI: The SDI Group will select a set of 10-20 Proposed SDI from the Candidate SDI List. A Proposed SDI is a Candidate SDI that most directly measures at least one aspect of sustainable development in the United States. Selection criteria ensure that Proposed SDI represent those multi-generation, large-scale, high-cost (or high gain) phenomena most related to sustainable development.\nStep 5, Review Proposed SDI: The SDI Group will present the Proposed SDI List for internal and external review. Review criteria ensure consistancy and balance.\nStep 6, Get Data: The SDI Group will select the most appropriate data available for each Proposed SDI. Schedule and budget constraints limit the selection to \"off-the-shelf\" data sets already routinely published by the Federal government. Selection criteria will assure that the SDI Group will choose the best data available that most closely represents the Proposed SDI.\nStep 7, Write Final Report: The SDI Group will write a report summarizing the results of the 1996 selection cycle.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Techniques to compensate for the effects of parasitic inductances and capacitances have been developed as part of an effort to improve the performances of low-pass filters in electronic power circuits. As used here, \"parasitic\" refers to departure from an ideal inductive or capacitive characteristic. No inductor, capacitor, or other electronic component is ideal: wherever a current loop exists, there is inductance, and wherever two conductors are near each other, there is a capacitance between them. Parasitic capacitances in inductors and parasitic inductances in capacitors degrade the performances of low-pass filters, especially at high frequencies.\nHeretofore, the usual approach to improving the high-frequency performance of a low-pass power filter has involved adding filter stages and components, thereby adding significantly to cost and weight. The present compensation techniques make it possible to achieve order-of-magnitude reductions in effects of parasitic inductances and capacitances with smaller increases in cost and weight.\nThe compensation techniques, denoted inductance cancellation and capacitance cancellation, are useful for improving the high-frequency performance of a filter capacitor or a filter inductor, respectively. The details of implementation of these techniques are complex and highly susceptible to application- specific variation. Notwithstanding this complexity, the underlying principles can be stated simply:\n- Inductance Cancellation — The effect of parasitic inductance in a capacitor can be shifted from a circuit branch where it is undesirable to other circuit branches where it is desirable or at least acceptable. In inductance cancellation, this shift is accomplished by use of magnetically coupled windings. From the perspective of traditional lumped-element circuit analysis, the net effect is to place a negative inductance in series with the parasitic inductance while placing larger positive inductances in the other circuit branches. Although the total inductance is increased, the effective decrease in the parasitic inductance improves the high-frequency performance of the affected capacitor.\n- Capacitance Cancellation — The undesirable effect of parasitic capacitance in a filter inductor is to couple highfrequency current from a noisy input port to an output port that is desired to be quiet. In capacitance cancellation, one introduces additional passive components to inject a high-frequency current approximately equal in magnitude and opposite in sign to the current flowing through the parasitic capacitance so that the net high-frequency current arriving at the output port is greatly reduced. In the example illustrated in the figure, capacitance cancellation of a toroidal filter inductor is effected by adding a compensating winding in series with a compensating capacitor. To a first approximation, cancellation could be achieved by choosing m(1-m)Ccomp = Cp, where m is the ratio between the number of turns in the compensating winding and the main winding, Ccomp is the compensating capacitance, and Cp is the parasitic capacitance of the main winding.\nThis work was done by Timothy C. Neugebauer, Brandon J. Pierquet, and David J. Perreault of Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the Naval Research Laboratory. For further information, download the free white paper at www.defensetechbriefs.com under the Electronics/Computers category. NRL-0003\nThis Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).\nCompensating for Parasitic Effects in Low-Pass Filters\n(reference NRL-0003) is currently available for download from the TSP library.\nDon't have an account? Sign up here.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Maps | Excavation Images\n|1. What is the site?\n|The Fort Des Moines\nsite (officially called the Fort Des Moines No. 2 site, 13PK61)\nwas a U. S. military post from 1843-1846. This fort was the core\nfrom which modern Des Moines grew. Over the years, the site has\nbeen covered by flood deposits from the Des Moines River and historic\nlandfill, which is why the site is now located under the current\nground surface. The area being excavated was the center of the fort,\nthe officers’ quarters extended to the north along Water Street,\nand the enlisted men’s quarters extended to the west along\nElm Street. In the excavation area several fort buildings once stood.\nView west on south side of Elm showing\ncurrent levee to be removed\n2. Why is the site being excavated?\nThe Fort Des Moines site will be impacted\nby a new road and bridge that will connect Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway\nwith the east side of Des Moines. Archaeologists are excavating the\nsite to investigate the impacts and save information about the people\nwho once lived here.\n|3. Who are the archaeologists?\n|The University of\nIowa’s Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) was selected\nby the City of Des Moines to conduct the archaeological investigation\nof the Fort Des Moines Site. The supervisors and crew members are\nhighly qualified archaeologists with extensive previous experience\nthroughout the U.S., especially in Iowa and the Midwest.\nView east from west side of SW 2nd\nSt. showing the 13PK61 mitigation area\n|4. How was the site\nView east showing current levee\nto be removed and historic cabin to be preserved in place\n|Fort Des Moines has\nalways been known to exist in this general area, but the exact location\nwas not discovered until archaeological excavations encountered\nfort foundations. Other portions of the fort were excavated by the\nfirm Brice, Petrides and Associates in 1985 and by Louis Berger\nAssociates in 2001 during other city projects.\n5. What happened at Fort Des Moines?\nFounded in 1843 by the First U.S. Dragoons\nled by Captain James Allen, the fort was established to oversee the\nwestward expansion of Euroamerican settlement. The fort was comparatively\nsmall and was never stockaded, consisting of five officers’ quarters\nalong the west side of modern First Street and an undetermined number\nof soldiers’ barracks to the west, which was called Raccoon Row.\nOther features of the fort were guard houses, stables, pastures, a hospital,\nand a well. The fort was abandoned by the Army in 1846, when the area\nwas fully settled by Euroamericans and the Indians removed. The fort\nbuildings were immediately taken over by settlers.\n|6. What are the archaeologists\n|They are trying to\nfind remains of foundations, cellars, fireplaces, refuse pits, tools,\nand food debris left by the fort’s occupants and the residents\nof the early town of Fort Des Moines, as well as earlier Indian\npeople that may have lived in the area.\nProject Archaeologist Bill Whittaker\nwith ground-penetrating radar at 13PK61 prior to archaeological\n|7. Why is this site\nCrew Chief Carrie Christman with\nground-penetrating radar at 13PK61 prior to archaeological investigation\n|The Fort Des Moines site was occupied\nduring a period of great change in the American frontier. The system\nof long-distance trade and exchange established by Indians and traders\nwas rapidly disappearing, as was the traditional Indian life of\nfarming and hunting. Indians were being pushed out of the Midwest,\nto make way for Euroamerican settlers. Soldiers brought new technologies,\ngoods, and ways of living, but their presence was short-lived, and\nis poorly understood. The modern city of Des Moines emerged from\nthis fort, but we know very little about these early days.\n8. Are there any human remains?\nNo human remains were found during previous\ninvestigations of the Fort Des Moines site, and none are anticipated\nduring these excavations. The City of Des Moines the OSA, and Iowa’s\nIndian community have procedures in place in the unlikely event that\nany human remains are found. Iowa's burial site protection and reburial\nprogram has been a national model for more than 25 years.\n9. What happens to the excavated objects?Click here to see more images of the Fort Des Moines Site excavation.\nAll artifacts collected will be cleaned\nand studied at the University of Iowa. These materials will be retained\nin secure and climate controlled storage for future research. A public\nexhibit of some of the more interesting artifacts is being planned for\nDes Moines. Archaeologists will complete reports on the site in compliance\nwith State and Federal laws and provide updates to the community. The\nknowledge gained from the archaeological work being conducted at this\nsite will help increase the understanding and appreciation of the lives\nof Des Moines’ early inhabitants.\n|For more information\nCity of Des Moines\nJohn F. Doershuk, Ph.D.\nOffice of the State Archaeologist\nUniversity of Iowa\nhere for larger and more detailed maps of the site.\nhere to view a printable pdf file of information on\nthe Fort Des Moines Archaeology Site Excavations.\nMaps | Excavation Images\nUpdated by Tricia R. Bender, Web Designer\nMary De La Garza, Web Master\nClick here to go back\nto the OSA homepage.\nClick here to go to\nThe University of Iowa website.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "(Click on any image below for a larger version)\nChinstrap Penguins are widely distributed in Antarctica. We saw them on Elephant Island, Deception Island and Livingstone Island.\nChinstrap Penguins leap out of the water like a school of dolphins.\nChinstrap Penguins are easily distinguished by the narrow black stripe under the white face.\nThe Chinstrap Penguin rookery is thickly coated in pink penguin guano. The constant dampness supports a thick, old fish market kind of odor.\nDirty Chinstrap Penguins are constantly waddling into the water as clean penguins haul themselves onto land along the spit.\nThe air is filled with the constant display cries of male penguins looking for mates.\nHear the Chinstrap Penguins.\n\"I don't know. Where do you want to go for dinner?\"\nChinstrap Penguin chicks sit waiting patiently for their parents to return with food.\nChick feeding is a constant operation in the rookery. The gray chicks tickle the beaks of the adults to trigger a regurgitation of the krill stored in their crops. It is possible to see the pink, shrimp-like crustaceans come up into the mouths of the adults before the chicks reach in to grab them. Krill grow to be nearly two inches long, and large krill wouldn't look out of place on a cocktail shrimp platter.\nThe downy chicks accumulate a crust of guano on the lower parts of their bodies.\nThe Chinstrap Penguin chicks rest their heads behind their wings as they napped.\nThe penguins pay scant attention to the Zodiacs cruising through the strait.\nThe flat areas near the rocky outcrop are covered in penguins. Other penguins have to climb to higher ground to find a place to raise their chicks.\nSome of them climb several hundred feet up the slope to find their chicks.\nIt must take hours for some of them to climb up to their chicks on the mountainside above the cape.\nSheathbills perch on a high point, keeping an eye out for an opportunity to get some food.\nA lone Chinstrap Penguin standing on the shore of Whaler's Bay on Deception Island. The rookeries are all on the perimeter of the island. Penguins don't rook inside Port Foster because they need direct access to the open ocean.\nBoth Gentoo Penguins and Chinstrap Penguins rook at Hannah Point on Livingstone Island. Their colonies are right next to each other, but they do not mix with each other very much.\nThe Chinstrap Penguin rookery is much messier than the Gentoo Penguin rookery.\nChinstrap Penguins advertise their availability for mating by flapping their wings and singing at the sky.\nHear the Chinstrap Penguins.\nAdult Chinstrap Penguin.\nThe Chinstrap Penguin Chicks accumulate a coating of guano as they sit around the rookery waiting for their parents to return from feeding at sea.\nThere are occasional disagreements over territory between the adult penguins.\nThe pairs of chicks beg the adult penguins to cough up some lunch.\nA Chinstrap Penguin and a Gentoo Penguin encounter each other at the boundary between the rookeries.\nBackground information about the Chinstrap Penguin.\nYou can buy a 2016 Calendar featuring my photographs of penguins taken in Antarctica and the Falkland Islands.\nA dozen pictures of penguins taken in Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. Penguin species pictured include:\nLocations where the photographs were taken in the Falkland Islands include:\nAntarctic locations include:\nCape Lookout on Elephant Island. Put a copy of the Penguins 2016 Calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.\nSend a message to Brian.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 129,293 pages of information and 204,290 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.\nJohn Fowler and Co, agricultural engineers of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds.\nSee sub-sections on -\n1850 John Fowler, Junior started work on application of steam-power to agricultural uses, in the first instance for drainage.\n1861 July. Leed's trial of steam ploughing. Fowlers steam cultivator of 12 hp ploughed and scarified four acres in four hours. It is made by Kitson and Hewitson Fowler's apparatus which he manufactures in his own factory at Leeds in connection with Kitson and Hewitson \n1862 January. Mention of the Steam Plough Works \n1862 The works were expanded. Around 100 employed.\n1862 May. Refers to a locomotive at the Airedale works of Kitson, Hewitson and Fowler \n1862 June. Refers to the steam plough business at Kitson, Hewitson and Fowler \n1862 August. Refers to the cultivator of Fowler powered by a 14 hp engine of Kitson and Hewitson. \n1862 November. Refers to Kitson and Hewitson's steam plough works \n1863 Established John Fowler and Co.\n1863 August. Steam Ploughing trials at Linton-on-Ouse mentions Fowler's plough and a 14 hp engine by Kiton and Hewitson. \n1864 400 employees\n1864 John Fowler was killed in a hunting accident aged 38 years. His brother Robert Fowler became a partner in the company.\n1865 The Steam Plough Works enters the locomotive building trade \n1867 Patent by D. Greig of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds for improvements in railways and railway engines \n1870 November. 800 men employed \n1871 Making agricultural machinery for Germany, locomotives for Brazil and winding engines for Cleveland \n1871 Employing 950 hands and Robert W. Eddison is in charge \n1872 Beam engine. Exhibit at Anson Engine Museum. (See photo).\n1876 Exhibitor at the Royal Agricultural Show at Birmingham with engines of 6, 8 and 14 hp in a new very dark green colour. \n1876 Members of the Iron and Steel Institute visited their works. \n1881 Employing 1,100 hands and Robert W. Eddison is in charge \n1881 December. The works are badly damaged by fire. 1,500 men affected. David Greig is a partner in the company. Premises are on a nine acre site and border those of Kitson and Co and close to Shepherd and Hill \n1882 Patent to David Greig and Max Eyth for improvements in governors. \n1886 The name John Fowler and Co (Leeds) Ltd was registered and listed as a manufacturer of steam traction engines. The company, John Fowler and Co (Leeds) Ltd was registered on 13 August, to acquire the business of engineers of the firm of the same name. \n1887 Started manufacturing lead-covered electric cables under the patents of Eddison and Tatham.\n1888 Robert Fowler died\n1888 Building locomotives for an American railway company \n1889 Showed a compound horizontal engine at the RASE at Windsor. \n1891 Supplied horizontal twin-cylinder, Cornish and drop valve winding engine for Abercynon Colliery. Works number 6029.\n1891 David Greig J.P. of the Steam Plough Works dies at Headingley Hill age 63. \n1894 Burton-on-Trent Electric light Works. Article and illustration in 'The Engineer'. \n1894 Eight-furrow turnover steam plough. Article in 'The Engineer'. \n1894 June. Royal Agricultural Society's Show. Turnwrest Plough for Steam Cultivation. \n1900 Article and illustration on armoured train made. \n1900 June. Royal Agricultural Show at York. Showed 'Several fine engines'. \n1908 June 24th. Made a Private company \n1910 Produced agricultural tractors and machinery.\n1911 Smithfield Club Show. Exhibited steam cultivating tackle, road locomotives etc. \n1913 'The manufacture of Road Locomotives, Traction Engines, Tractors, Steam Ploughing Engines, and Road Rollers was commenced at the Steam Plough Works about the year 1850, and our modern engines are the outcome of accumulated experience gained since then. Our works cover an area of over fourteen acres and about 2,800 to 3,000 men and boys are now employed almost exclusively in the manufacture of various types of Steam and Oil Engine and Implements, an obvious proof of the constantly increasing demand for our engines.'\n1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of Steam Motor Wagons, Tractors and Ploughs etc. see the 1917 Red Book including the Tiger range.\n1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of Petrol Motor Commercial Vehicles see the 1917 Red Book\n1920 Royal Agricultural Show at Darlington. 8-Furrow Turning Plough. \n1920 October. New steam ploughing engine rated at 70 hp and 6,000lb on the rope. \n1924 Built steam powered lorries until 1935 and built 117 in this period.\nIn 1927 the Gyrotiller was produced, having been designed to work on sugar cane plantations. Its rotary tines could penetrate the soil to a depth of 500 mm. It was successful not only at the sugar estates but also gained interest from contractors. The last Gyrotiller was produced in 1937.\n1927 See Aberconway for information on the company and its history\n1931 Produced the Marathon 6, their first diesel powered lorry for 6/7ton payloads.\n1935 Ceased production of lorries and railway locomotives. It is estimated that they made between 150-300 of the latter.\n1937 The last steam engine, a road roller, was produced.\nWWII Made Churchill tanks; invented the gyro tiller.\n1944 Producing the 2DY diesel marine engine.\n1945 June 9th. Made a public company \n1947 June 24th. The petrol and diesel industrial engine part of the business was sold to Associated British Engineering\n1948 November. Share prospectus \n1949 As part of the Marshalls group, Fowlers were making tractors at Leeds coordinated with the production at Gainsborough; continued to make diesel-engined rail locomotives up to 300hp\n1961 Manufacturers of diesel crawler tractors and diesel locomotives. 1,100 employees. \n1964 & 1966 Chairman is Arnold Carr \n1974 Company ceased trading.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Last week, The Associated Press reported that in California, Latinos have reached population parity with whites. Both groups represent 39 percent of the population of the nation's largest state.\nThis demographic landmark was followed by the prediction that the parity would be short-lived. The state Department of Finance that released these figures further noted that by early next year, Latinos would be the largest ethnic population, exceeding whites. The increase in the Latino population, moreover, will continue to rise so that in 2030, it will account for 44 percent and in 2060, for close to 50 percent.\nThe report did not explain the reasons for the Latino increase, but most demographers say it is a combination of higher birth rates among Latinos -- since they represent a younger population than whites, blacks and Asians -- and immigration, though scholars also note that even if immigration were to be cut off, this increase would still occur because of high birth rates.\nLatinos in California are already the largest so-called minority group, but now they are the largest group, period. Many of the same Latino demographics are also occurring in other states, such as Texas. But in the case of California, the future is already here. Demographically, Latinos will be dominant in California, which sets the trend in many ways for the rest of the country.\nOne trend is political. Latinos are now the backbone of the Democratic Party. No candidate for statewide office, whether Democrat or Republican, can win without the Latino vote. While Latinos have voted Democratic since the New Deal days of the 1930s, the surge in Latino support for the Democrats came in the wake of Proposition 187 in 1994, in which voters passed a resolution that would deny all state benefits to undocumented immigrants and to their undocumented children, excluding them from public schools.\nLatinos, whether immigrants or not, were outraged, particularly at Republicans for leading the charge that implied that all Latinos were undocumented and welfare cheaters. Proposition 187 was not just about immigrants; it was perceived by most Latinos as an anti-Latino movement. Not only did even more Latino citizens vote for the Democrats in a backlash against the Republicans, but many unnaturalized Latino residents moved to become U.S. citizens to vote overwhelmingly Democrat. This Latino voter surge has made California into a secure blue state and impressed politicians, though not all Republicans, with Latino political power. The demographic increase of Latinos has only furthered this process. Demography has political implications.\nThis is the reality now spreading throughout the country as Latinos grow in numbers in many key electoral states. This is the reality that the national Republican Party has to face and that increases the political stakes on the passage of comprehensive immigration reform. Some Republicans are finally waking up to what has happened in California and what is happening and will happen in many other states over the next decades. The Latino vote already was perhaps the most determining factor in the 2012 presidential elections, pushing swing states such as Florida, Virginia, Colorado and Nevada into President Barack Obama's column. Unfortunately, many other Republicans still don't get it, especially the House Republicans who appear to be prepared to vote against comprehensive immigration reform that in particular provides legalization to the millions of undocumented in the country. But they do so at the political peril of the future of their party in national elections. What has happened in California will happen nationally, and the Republicans will be the biggest losers.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "For individuals living with a treatment-resistant form of the seizure disorders known as “the epilepsies,” each day can bring debilitating seizures as well as challenges from co-occurring conditions that dramatically impair quality of life. This brochure, for people with the disorders, their caregivers, and advocates, outlines the state of progress made in the past decade toward achieving the Epilepsy Research Benchmarks, a set of widely recognized objectives aimed at prioritizing the efforts of scientists and health care providers to find cures for the epilepsies. Much of this work has been funded by grants from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).\nAt least 2.3 million adults and nearly 500,000 children in the U.S. currently live with some form of epilepsy, a disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally, causing seizures. Each year, another 150,000 people are diagnosed with epilepsy. The disorders affect both males and females and can develop at any age. In the U.S. alone, the annual costs associated with the epilepsies are estimated to be $15.5 billion in direct medical expenses and lost or reduced earnings and productivity.\nThe disturbances of neuronal activity that occur during seizures may cause strange sensations, emotions, and behaviors. They also sometimes cause convulsions, abnormal movements, and loss of consciousness. In some people, seizures happen only occasionally. Other people may experience hundreds of seizures a day. There are many different forms of epilepsy, and symptoms vary greatly from one person to another. Recent adoption of the term “the epilepsies” underscores the diversity of types and causes.\nAbout three-quarters of the individuals diagnosed with the epilepsies can control their seizures with medicine or surgery. However, about 25 to 30 percent will continue to experience seizures even with the best available treatment. Doctors call this treatment-resistant epilepsy. In some cases, people experience a type of seizure called status epilepticus, defined as seizures that last for more than five minutes or seizures that recur without recovery of consciousness. Prolonged status epilepticus can damage the brain and may be life-threatening.\nSection 1: About Epilepsies\nSeizures can be classified as focal or generalized. Focal seizures begin in one area of the brain and may or may not spread to other areas. Generalized seizures are the result of abnormal neuronal (nerve cell) activity on both sides of the brain from the beginning of the seizure.\nAbout 60 percent of people with epilepsy have focal seizures. Some focal seizures cause unusual sensations, feelings, or movements, but do not cause loss of consciousness. Other focal seizures cause a change in or loss of consciousness and may produce a dreamlike experience or strange, repetitive behavior. Focal seizures are often named for the area of the brain in which they originate. For example, temporal lobe epilepsy, or TLE, begins in the temporal lobe located on either side of the brain. TLE is the most common type of epilepsy to feature focal seizures and can sometimes be difficult to treat with available medications.\nGeneralized seizures impair consciousness and distort electrical activity of the whole or a large portion of the brain, leading to falls or abnormal movements. There are several different types of generalized seizures. In absence seizures, which usually begin in childhood or adolescence, an individual may appear to be staring into space or may have jerking or twitching muscles. Tonic seizures cause stiffening of muscles. Clonic seizures cause repeated jerking movements of muscles on both sides of the body. Myoclonic seizures cause jerks or twitches of the upper body, arms, or legs. Atonic seizures cause a loss of normal muscle tone, which may lead to falls or sudden drops of the head. Tonic-clonic seizures cause a combination of symptoms, including stiffening of the body and repeated jerks of the arms or legs as well as loss of consciousness.\nEpilepsies with Childhood Onset\nCompared to adults, infants and children have a relatively high risk of developing the epilepsies. Many epilepsy syndromes, such as infantile spasms, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Rasmussen’s encephalitis, begin in childhood. Infantile spasms usually begin before the age of six months and may cause a baby to bend forward and stiffen. Children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome have severe epilepsy with several different types of seizures, including atonic seizures, which cause sudden falls called drop attacks. Rasmussen’s encephalitis is a rare, chronic inflammatory neurological disease that usually affects only one hemisphere of the brain. It causes frequent and severe seizures and a loss of motor skills, and can lead to severe intellectual disability. Hypothalamic hamartomas can cause another rare form of epilepsy that presents during childhood and is associated with malformations in the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. People with hypothalamic harmatomas have seizures that can resemble laughing (gelastic) or crying (dacrystic). Such seizures frequently go unrecognized or are difficult to diagnose.\nSome childhood epilepsy syndromes, such as childhood absence epilepsy, may go into remission or stop entirely as a child matures, although this is not true in all cases. Other syndromes, such as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, are usually present for the rest of the person’s life.\nChildren with delayed brain development and neurological disorders are more likely to have seizures. Seizures are more common, for example, among children with autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), or Rett, Aicardi, or Down syndromes. In one study, one-third of children with autism spectrum disorder had treatmentresistant epilepsy.\nFor about half of all people with an epilepsy, a cause for the disorder is not identified. In other cases, the epilepsies are clearly linked to genetic factors, infection, head trauma, stroke, brain tumors, or other identifiable problems.\nThe epilepsies have many possible causes. Almost anything that disturbs the normal pattern of brain circuit activity—from abnormal brain development to traumatic brain injury (TBI) or illness—can lead to seizures and epilepsy. For example, seizures may develop because of an abnormality in brain wiring that occurs during brain development, an imbalance of neuronsignaling chemicals called neurotransmitters, or a combination of these factors. Researchers believe that some people with epilepsies have abnormally high levels of responsiveness to excitatory neurotransmitters, chemicals that increase the activity of nerve cells. Other people may have an abnormally low level of responsiveness to neurotransmitters that inhibit nerve cell activity. Either situation can result in too much neuronal activity and cause epilepsy. In some cases, inflammation and neuronal damage after a head injury, stroke, or other trauma may lead to epilepsy. In addition, the brain’s attempts to repair itself after such injury may inadvertently generate abnormal nerve connections that lead to seizures. Supportive cells (known as glial cells) in the brain may play a role in certain types of epilepsy.\nSidebar: The Role of the National Institutes of Health\nThe U.S. Federal government supports research to better understand the epilepsies and to reduce their burden through improved treatments and prevention. Much of this research support comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is the lead NIH institute for research on the epilepsies. Several other NIH Institutes also fund epilepsy-related research. Representatives from NIH institutes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work together as part of the Interagency Collaborative to Advance Research in Epilepsy (ICARE), which was formed to facilitate communication and opportunities for coordination among institutes and agencies sponsoring research related to the epilepsies.\nSection 2: Research Progress on the Epilepsies\nIn 2000, NINDS and epilepsy research and advocacy organizations co-sponsored a White House initiated conference, “Curing Epilepsy: Focus on the Future.” The conference has been viewed as a turning point for research on the epilepsies by shifting the focus from treating seizures to identifying cures, defined as “no seizures, no side effects, and the prevention of epilepsy in those at risk.” The first Epilepsy Research Benchmarks grew out of the momentum created by this conference, as a way to communicate and address important research priorities and as a framework for periodically “benchmarking” progress. A second conference in 2007, “Curing Epilepsy: Translating Discoveries into Therapies,” reassessed the state of research on the epilepsies and revised the Epilepsy Research Benchmarks, adding emphasis to the conditions that co-occur with the epilepsies and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). A third conference in 2013, “Curing the Epilepsies: Pathways Forward,” provided an update on the state of research and will result in another revision of the Benchmarks.\nToday, more than a decade since they were first developed, the Benchmarks are increasingly embraced by the entire epilepsy community, including NIH, researchers, and professional and advocacy organizations. While the ultimate goal of curing the epilepsies has not yet been achieved, researchers have made substantial progress. Research on the epilepsies has yielded exciting advances across all areas of the Benchmarks.\nWhat New Discoveries Have Been Made About the Causes of the Epilepsies?\nTo understand how to prevent, treat, and cure the epilepsies, researchers first must learn how they develop. Where, how, when, and why do neurons begin to display the abnormal firing patterns that cause epileptic seizures? This process, known as epileptogenesis, is the key to understanding the epilepsies. Researchers are learning more about the fundamental processes—known as mechanisms—that lead to epileptogenesis. The discovery of each new mechanism involved in epileptogenesis has the potential to yield new targets that can be affected by medications or other therapies to block that mechanism. Among this growing list of candidate mechanisms, two stand out as being closest to yielding potential targets for drug therapy: 1) the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signal transduction pathway; and 2) activation of the cytokine protein interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß).\n- The mTOR pathway is a master regulator that is involved in several genetic and acquired forms of epilepsy. An inhibitor of the mTOR pathway is being studied for the prevention of seizures related to tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a rare genetic disease that causes the growth of noncancerous tumors in the brain and in other organs such as the kidney, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin.\n- In various types of epilepsy, inflammatory processes may play a key role. Cytokines are signaling molecules that, among other functions, help regulate the body’s inflammatory responses. Researchers are exploring why IL-1ß appears to be activated in different types of epilepsy. An inhibitor of IL-1ß synthesis is being tested in people with treatment-resistant epilepsy.\nOther Areas of Epileptogenesis Research Include:\n- Proteins in the cell membrane are crucial for generating the electrical impulses that neurons use to communicate with one another. For this reason, researchers are studying the membrane structure and the channels that allow molecules like sodium, calcium, and potassium to move across them to generate electrical impulses. A disruption in any of these processes can cause changes that may lead to epilepsy.\n- Studies have suggested how a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier may lead to seizures. When proteins from the blood cross this important barrier between the circulatory system and fluid surrounding the brain, they trigger a reaction that leads to hyperactivity of neurons in the area of the brain surrounding the breakdown.\n- Glial cells are non-neuronal cells that play a critical supportive role in the brain. For example, astrocytes are a type of glial cell that acts as a “housekeeper” by removing excessive levels of glutamate, a major neurotransmitter that mediates excitatory signals in the central nervous system. When astrocytes are impaired, levels of glutamate rise excessively in the spaces between brain cells, which may then contribute to the onset of seizures. In animal studies, the introduction of ceftriaxone, an antibiotic that supports the housekeeping role of astrocytes, has been shown to reduce seizure frequency.\n- The body’s immune system may contribute to the development of certain forms of epilepsy. In aggressive forms of the disorders, antibodies may impair the function of brain receptors, leading to abnormal neuronal activity. Testing for many of these antibodies is already available, and findings from early-stage clinical trials suggest that strategies aimed at adjusting the body’s immune system may provide a means of treating these otherwise untreatable forms of epilepsy.\nResearchers are studying the membrane structure and the channels that allow molecules like sodium, calcium, and potassium to move across them to generate electrical impulses. A disruption in any of these processes can cause changes that may lead to epilepsy.\nRecent studies have yielded substantial progress in the identification of genetic mutations involved in the epilepsies. Several types of epilepsy have been linked to defective genes for ion channels, the “gates” that control the flow of ions in and out of cells and that regulate neuronal activity.\nMutations in single genes have been found among family members affected by certain epilepsy syndromes. For example, some infants with Dravet syndrome, a type of epilepsy associated with seizures that begin before the age of one year, carry a mutation in the SCN1A gene that is believed to cause seizures by affecting sodium channels in the brain. Surprisingly, the SCN1A mutations and other epilepsy mutations are often de novo mutations, meaning that they are not present in the parents. Building on that genetic discovery, researchers have created models of Dravet syndrome in the fruit fly, zebrafish, and mouse that are now being used to test potential therapies for controlling seizures. In addition, researchers have successfully taken connective tissue cells from individuals with Dravet syndrome, reprogrammed them to create induced pluripotent stem cells (cells that can become any type of cell in the body), and differentiated them into neurons that also can be used to test potential drugs and to study the mechanisms that lead to Dravet syndrome.\nContinued progress in the identification of genetic causes of the epilepsies could guide the care and medical management of individuals. In the case of heritable mutations, this will help affected families understand their risks.\nA major driver of success on the genetics front is the advent of next-generation sequencing—highthroughput methods of genetic sequencing that have revolutionized the search for the genetic underpinnings of diseases and disorders. Next-generation sequencing has significantly cut the time and costs required to identify genes involved with the epilepsies, as well as other diseases.\nMajor collaborative efforts have enabled researchers to efficiently investigate the effects of many risk factors, including genetic ones, among large populations of people affected by the epilepsies.\nResearchers have taken skin cells from people with Dravet syndrome, turned them into stem cells, and then turned those stem cells into brain cells. Electrical activity among the brain cells can be measured, creating a testing ground for studying the disorder.\nIdentify Biomarkers of Seizure Onset and Epileptogenesis\nResearchers see a potential opportunity to prevent the epilepsies before the onset of recurrent spontaneous seizures. Surrogate measures of epileptogenic processes, or biomarkers, could aid in the development of interventions that would prevent epilepsy in at-risk individuals. Other types of biomarkers could help researchers and health care providers better identify and monitor seizure-onset zones or predict seizure occurrence, which could enable more targeted treatments. The identification of reliable biomarkers for the epilepsies is one of the more critical areas in need of research advances.\nA number of changes in the brain shown on imaging and electroencephalography (EEG) are known to be associated with epilepsy-related processes. The challenge is that people without epilepsy also can have similar brain changes and there is little evidence to show clearly which of these changes is predictive of someone who will develop a form of epilepsy.\nNewer technologies are allowing researchers to map epileptic networks and track seizure generation with increasing resolution. Implantable “microelectrodes” are revealing complex brain activity during seizures. Using microelectrodes, researchers are able to better characterize high-frequency oscillations (HFOs). Abnormal HFOs have been linked to seizureonset zones and may serve as a biomarker of epileptogenesis; this could help identify people at risk for developing epilepsy after an initial insult to the brain, such as a stroke or TBI.\nInvestigators also have improved devices for measuring electrical activity in the brain. New electrode arrays are flexible enough to mold to the brain’s complex surface, providing unprecedented access for recording and stimulating brain activity. While these arrays have not yet been used in humans, they are a promising advance toward expanded options for epilepsy diagnosis and treatment.\nEpilepsy researchers have increasingly explored how connections between different brain regions—structurally and functionally—may explain how seizures start in the first place. Much of this research grows out of observations that seizures are not merely the result of focal areas of hyperactivity, but arise from the complex interactions of the network. A better understanding of how this network operates may explain, for example, why some people do not improve even after focal areas of hyperactivity, which appeared to be the source of seizure, are surgically removed.\nDiffusion tensor imaging, a type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that shows microstructural detail of tissues based on the diffusion of water molecules, has shown abnormal structural connectivity during focal and generalized seizures. Advances in MRI have shown that functional connectivity patterns in people with epilepsy differ from those of normal controls. Interestingly, patterns of abnormal functioning occur both during seizures and during the “resting-state” period between seizures.\nNewer technologies are allowing researchers to map epileptic networks and track seizure generation with increasing resolution. Implantable “microelectrodes” are revealing complex brainactivity during seizures. Using microelectrodes, researchers are able to better characterize high-frequency oscillations.\nDevelop New Animal Models for Studying Epileptogenesis and for Testing Treatments\nThe diversity of epilepsy syndromes and their causes precludes investigators from using any single animal model system for learning about the epilepsies and for testing potential therapies. Multiple syndrome-specific models are therefore needed to advance research on the epilepsies.\nSeveral substantial advances in the development of animal models have occurred over the last few years, including new models of Dravet syndrome, infantile spasms, cortical dysplasia, and viral encephalitis, as well as for stroke, TBI, and other conditions that can lead to acquired forms of epilepsy.\nThe zebrafish has emerged as a promising model for screening new drug compounds for antiseizure activity. Fish that are bred to express mutations known to be associated with particular types of epilepsy can be quickly and cost-effectively produced for research. The drosophila, or fruit fly, is another model developed to investigate the cellular mechanisms of the epilepsies.\nParamedics stopped status epilepticus seizures earlier thanks to drug delivery with an autoinjector. Similar to the EpiPen used by people with serious allergic reactions, the autoinjector may someday be on hand for people with epilepsy and their families.\nDevelop New Treatment Strategies and Optimize Existing Treatments\nThere have been several key advances in diagnostics, therapeutics, and technologies that are either approved or in various stages of approval in the U.S. and Europe. New chemical entities have been developed for treatment-resistant epilepsy. For example, ezogabine (also called retigabine) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2011 for the prevention of focal seizures by a novel mechanism of action. Several other potential drugs and chemical compounds (brivaracetam, perampanel, YKP3089, VX-765) are in development and also are aimed at preventing seizures by novel mechanisms.\nIn addition, several agents have been approved for specific seizure types or syndromes: rufinamide (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome), stiripentol (Dravet syndrome), adrenocorticotropic hormone also known as ACTH (infantile spasms), and vigabatrin (infantile spasms). mTOR inhibitors (such as everolimus) are being tested for the treatment of seizures and other manifestations of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The drug everolimus has been approved by the FDA for preventing the growth of tumors in individuals with TSC.\nProgress has been made in determining the best single-agent therapy for childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), the most common pediatric epilepsy syndrome, occurring in 10 to 17 percent of all children with epilepsy. People with CAE tend to have several seizures each day. In the interest of finding a drug regimen that would limit an individual’s exposure to drug-related side effects, researchers compared ethosuximide, lamotrigine, and valproic acid to treat CAE. Ethosuximide was found to be the best single-agent therapy because of its optimal balance between effectiveness and relatively few side effects.\nNINDS-funded researchers have made significant strides in improving the management of individuals with status epilepticus seizures. These prolonged seizures can be particularly challenging to treat given the difficulty of establishing an intravenous line (IV) when a person is having convulsions. The results of the randomized controlled trial, known as Rapid Anticonvulsant Medication Prior to Arrival Trial (RAMPART), showed that seizures stopped significantly earlier in people treated with midazolam delivered by an autoinjector compared to individuals treated with lorazepam by IV. The autoinjector is similar to the EpiPen drug delivery system used to treat serious drug reactions. Faster resolution of seizures also translated into fewer people requiring hospitalization.\nOngoing basic research efforts continue to identify targets for therapy development. For example, studies have focused on the role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a key neurotransmitter that inhibits activity in the central nervous system. Other studies are investigating ways of blocking the activity of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate.\nGiven that the epilepsies involve so many different underlying mechanisms, the development of a single therapy is unlikely. Instead, management approaches will need to be tailored for specific syndromes.\nSidebar: Anticonvulsant Screening Program\nIn 1975, NINDS established the Anticonvulsant Screening Program (ASP) to promote the development and evaluation of new antiseizure drugs. At the time, few incentives existed for the pharmaceutical industry to support epilepsy research on the development of therapeutic agents. Since its launch, the ASP has been instrumental in bringing new antiseizure medications to the marketplace by giving researchers a common platform for submitting potential therapeutic agents to standardized testing in animal models. The resources provided to researchers through the ASP can save years in development time.\nASP’s priorities have evolved to focus on the development of therapies aimed at preventing epileptogenesis, modifying the course of disease progression, finding therapies for the cases that do not respond to currently available treatments, and identifying specific epilepsy subtypes and their unmet needs. The ASP maintains a database of more than 30,000 submitted compounds, and plans are underway to improve the usefulness of the data for researchers pursuing novel compounds. NINDS continues to look for new ways to improve the ASP. New assays and procedures are being developed and implemented to significantly expand the sensitivity of the traditional screening approach to identify novel pharmacotherapies targeting the major unmet medical needs in epilepsy.\nSurgery remains an effective option for individuals with treatment-resistant epilepsies. The most common type of surgery involves the removal of a seizure focus, the small area of the brain where seizures originate. In some extremely severe cases, surgeons perform a procedure called multiple subpial transection, which involves making cuts designed to prevent seizures from spreading into other parts of the brain while leaving the person’s normal abilities intact. Doctors also may use surgical procedures called corpus callosotomy (severing of the nerve fibers that connect the two sides of the brain) or hemispherectomy (removal of half of the brain). Researchers continue to refine surgical techniques to make them less invasive and to prevent cognitive and other neurological deficits that can result from surgery.\n- New imaging technologies are key advances for localizing the effects of surgery and minimizing adverse events. Many epilepsy centers have begun to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to “map” language and memory zones prior to surgery. NIH-funded researchers are aiming to verify whether fMRI actually improves surgical outcomes and to standardize best practices for its use.\n- Researchers also are looking for ways to combine imaging modalities to more accurately map language zones. In one study, for example, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is being used along with fMRI and magnetoencephalography (MEG), another brain mapping technique based on magnetic fields, to evaluate preoperative language processing and preserve key language zones during surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy.\n- Evidence suggests that high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) measured in the neocortex and temporal lobe may be biomarkers of epileptic networks, and can therefore help in surgical mapping and predicting outcomes after epilepsy surgery. Retrospective studies show that the removal of zones generating HFOs is associated with improved results following surgery.\n- Minimally invasive MRI-guided laser surgery is being studied for the treatment of epilepsies associated with tumors, such as hypothalamic hamartomas and tuberous sclerosis complex. The technique involves drilling a very small hole in the skull through which a thermal laser is inserted to ablate an epileptogenic zone under MRI-guidance.\nNew imaging technologies are key advances for localizing the effects of surgery and minimizing adverse events. Many epilepsy centers have begun to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to “map” language and memory zones prior to surgery.\nElectrical stimulation of the brain remains a therapeutic strategy of interest. The types of stimulation include: deep brain, intracranial cortical, peripheral nerve, vagal nerve, and trigeminal nerve. So far, deep brain stimulation has involved either the thalamus or the hippocampus, and only thalamic stimulation has been tested in a large clinical trial.\nA clinical trial of deep brain stimulation in the anterior thalamic nucleus showed significant seizure reduction over the long term, and the majority of participants saw benefit. Thalamic stimulation has been cleared for use in Europe, but not in the U.S.\nA report on trigeminal nerve stimulation showed efficacy rates similar to those for vagal nerve stimulation, with about half of the people responding (a responder is defined as having greater than a 50 percent reduction in seizure frequency). Freedom from seizures, although reported, remains rare for both methods.\nNINDS-supported investigators are developing methods to predict seizures by analyzing brain activity patterns that precede their onset. A promising application of this research is the development of implantable devices that can detect a forthcoming seizure. Once detected, the implanted device administers an intervention, such as electrical stimulation or a fast-acting drug to prevent the seizure from occurring. The first generation of seizure control devices in clinical trials uses such seizure prediction technology. The NeuroPace RNS system is among these devices, known as responsive stimulation or closed-loop devices.\nOptogenetics is an emerging experimental technique that may eventually lead to future generations of closed-loop devices. It involves the genetic delivery of light-sensitive proteins to specific populations of brain cells. The lightsensitive proteins can be inhibited or stimulated by exposure to light delivered by fiber optics. Although optogenetic methods are not currently used in humans, such an approach could allow highly targeted regulation of network excitability, providing a means for intervening at or before the onset of a seizure.\nA high-fat, very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet is an age-old treatment for medicationresistant epilepsies and there has been a renewed interest in recent years in how it works. The diet effectively reduces seizures for some people, especially children with certain forms of epilepsy. Studies have shown that more than 50 percent of people who try the ketogenic diet have a greater than 50 percent improvement in seizure control and 10 percent experience seizure freedom. However, for some people, the regimen is difficult to maintain.\nResearchers are trying to learn exactly how the ketogenic diet prevents seizures. They hope to find ways to mimic its seizure-blocking effects without the dietary restrictions. Studies have advanced the understanding of the connection between energy metabolism and neuronal excitability, and in the process and may contribute to a better understanding of how the ketogenic diet promotes seizure control.\nIn addition, researchers are looking at modified versions of and alternatives to the ketogenic diet. For example, studies show promising results for a modified Atkins diet and for a low-glycemicindex diet, both of which are less restrictive and easier to follow than the ketogenic diet. However, well-controlled randomized controlled trials have yet to assess the approaches, and many questions remain about the optimal circumstances of their use.\nResearchers are trying to learn exactly how the ketogenic diet prevents seizures. They hope to find ways to mimic its seizure-blocking effects without the dietary restrictions. Studies have advanced the understanding of the connection between energy metabolism and neuronal excitability..\nGene and Cell Therapies\nThe discovery of genetic mutations that are linked to specific epilepsy syndromes suggests the possibility of using gene-directed therapies to counter the effects of these mutations. Gene therapies remain the subject of many studies in animal models of epilepsy, and the number of potential approaches continues to expand. A common approach in gene therapy research, called transfection, uses modified components of viruses to introduce new genes into brain cells, which then act as “factories” to produce potentially therapeutic proteins.\nSeveral proteins have been targeted for transfection. Animal studies have shown that it is possible to introduce a new protein into a cell, and in some cases, there has been an associated reduction in the frequency, duration, and severity of seizures.\nCell therapy differs from gene therapy in that instead of introducing genetic material, it involves the transplantation of whole cells into a brain. In animal studies, for example, NINDS-funded researchers have successfully controlled seizures in mice by grafting special types of neurons that produce the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA into the hippocampus of their brains.\nGene and cell therapies remain attractive and promising strategies for treating, and potentially curing, some forms of epilepsy. However, their advancement as a viable treatment option in people will require new technologies and methods that can target specific neurons in the brain. These approaches need to be able to create more long-lasting changes.\nViruses are introduced into brain cells, which then act as “factories” to produce potentially therapeutic proteins.\nPreventing the Development of the Epilepsies\nUntil recently, therapy development for the epilepsies focused largely on treating seizures in people already affected by the disorders. Now, in addition to efforts to develop new and improved antiseizure treatments, researchers are striving to prevent the epilepsies among people at risk.\nMeasures that reduce the risk of head injury and trauma—such as improvements in automobile safety and the use of seat belts and bicycle helmets—can prevent epilepsies related to TBI. Good prenatal care, including treatment of high blood pressure and infections during pregnancy, can prevent brain damage in developing babies that may lead to epilepsy and other neurological problems later in life. Treating cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, infections, and other disorders that affect the brain during adulthood and aging also may prevent some types of epilepsy.\nHowever, while such measures can prevent brain damage from occurring in the first place, there are currently no interventions known to specifically reduce the risk of seizure onset once damage to the brain has occurred. None of the available antiseizure medications have been shown to modify the development of the epilepsies in people. Researchers are working to change this.\n- Recent animal studies have helped clarify the mechanisms of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) seizures (caused by a lack of oxygen in the brain), and clinical studies involving newborns have begun to assess potential treatment strategies. These include drugs both alone and in combination with each other or in combination with a strategy that involves deliberately cooling babies with HIE for the prevention of epilepsy.\n- Adenosine is an inhibitory neuromodulator that is believed to promote sleep and suppress arousal. Studies in animal models have shown that increasing adenosine levels in the brain can inhibit the development of spontaneous recurrent seizures after an initial injury.\nSection 3: Reducing the Risk of Conditions that Co-occur with the Epilepsies\nCo-occurring psychiatric conditions are relatively common in individuals with epilepsy. In adults, depression and anxiety disorders are the two most frequent psychiatric diagnoses. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and anxiety frequently affect children with epilepsy.\nTherapies commonly used to treat depression in the general population have been shown in randomized controlled trials to be effective in treating depression in people with epilepsy. In those trials, depression medications did not appear to be associated with an increased risk of seizures. However, larger trials with longer followup would be required to provide reliable estimates of seizure exacerbation risk.\nBasic research investigations currently are exploring the possibility that the development of depression, anxiety, and seizures may involve similar causes. In addition, studies of antiseizure drugs have focused on determining whether there may be an increased risk of suicide associated with specific medications.\nPeople with neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, and learning disabilities are known to be at higher risk for epilepsy. Further investigation is needed to better understand these associations and if there is a shared mechanism between these neurodevelopmental disabilities and the epilepsies. Sleep disorders are common among people\nwith the epilepsies. By one estimate, fully 70 percent of people with epilepsy had some form of disordered breathing during sleep. In another study, researchers found that certain types of seizures were associated with sleeping, while others were more common during times of wakefulness—suggesting that more research is needed on how these patterns might inform medication adjustment.\nSudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)\nSome people with epilepsy are at risk of SUDEP, which for years was largely unrecognized. Estimates of SUDEP risk vary, but some studies suggest that each year approximately one case of SUDEP occurs for every 1,000 people with the epilepsies. For some, this risk can be higher, depending on several factors. People with more difficult-to-control seizures tend to have a higher incidence of SUDEP.\nOne study suggested that use of more than two antiseizure drugs at one time is a risk factor for SUDEP. However, it is not clear whether the use of multiple drugs causes SUDEP, or whether people who use multiple antiseizure drugs have a greater risk of death because their epilepsy is more severe or more difficult to control. People with tonic-clonic seizures, uncontrolled seizures, or epilepsy combined with other neurological disorders also have an elevated risk for SUDEP.\nFindings from an analysis of four studies showed that the highest risk of SUDEP can be seen in men younger than 60 years of age with at least a 15-year history of epilepsy from unexplained causes, who had frequent generalized tonicclonic seizures, and who were taking multiple antiseizure drugs. Although SUDEP is considered rare in children, some evidence suggests that children with certain types of epilepsies, such as Dravet syndrome, may have an elevated risk for SUDEP.\nSeizures are known to alter breathing and cardiac activity. Research suggests that drug therapies that address respiratory arrest and implantation of cardiac devices may reduce the risk of SUDEP in some individuals.\nEarly studies have described certain EEG patterns that may help identify people at elevated risk for SUDEP. In addition, several devices in the early stages of development aim to provide a warning when a seizure has the potential to put someone at risk for SUDEP.\nNINDS, nonprofit lay and professional organizations, and the CDC are providing significant funding toward studies aimed at better understanding SUDEP risk factors and mechanisms, which may yield strategies for screening and prevention. Plans are underway for an Epilepsy Center without Walls initiative devoted to multi-disciplinary research on SUDEP and increased surveillance and epidemiology studies.\nProgress in Managing Specific Populations\nPregnancy and the Epilepsies\nUnderstanding how to treat epilepsy in pregnant women and the impact of antiseizure medications on an unborn child are of paramount importance and have been the focus of several studies. The American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society conducted evidence-based systematic reviews of pregnancy-related studies among women with epilepsy.\nEmerging data from the NINDS-funded Maternal Outcomes and Neurodevelopmental Effects of Antiepileptic Drugs study, as well as multiple hospital- and population-based registries, are helping to better characterize the risk of birth defects associated with antiseizure medications. In general, higher doses of these\nmedications are associated with an increased risk of major congenital malformations. Findings from the registries and other studies include:\n- Valproate is consistently associated with an increased risk of major congenital malformations, and studies suggest a specific increased risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. Prenatal exposure to valproate has been shown to be associated with symptoms of autism in humans and animals. Valproate exposure in utero also has been shown to adversely affect a child’s cognitive function, particularly verbal abilities.\n- Carbamazepine may increase the risk of neural tube defects, but this is not a consistent finding. Verbal cognitive skills also have been shown to be impaired among children who were exposed to carbamazepine during gestation.\n- Topiramate increases the risk of oral clefts (birth defects in which the tissues of the lip or mouth do not form correctly during fetal development) as demonstrated in multiple studies. The FDA has classified it as a category D drug in pregnancy, meaning that evidence shows that the drug involves risk to a developing fetus, but the potential benefits from the drug may warrant its use in pregnant women despite potential risks.\n- Levetiracetam appears to have a lower risk of major congenital malformations than other antiseizure drugs.\n- Motor, adaptive, and emotional behavioral functioning were impaired in children of mothers who had taken phenytoin, lamotrigine, valproate, or carbamazepine during pregnancy, with dose-response effects seen with valproate and carbamazepine. Breastfeeding did not affect cognitive health of the studied children.\nInfants and Children\nFebrile seizures occur in infants and young children and involve convulsions brought on by high fever. The vast majority of febrile seizures are brief and harmless. In rare cases, however, some children—including those with cerebral palsy, delayed development, or other neurological abnormalities—have an increased risk of developing epilepsy.\nResults from an ongoing NINDS-funded study suggested that MRI and EEG may help determine which children with febrile seizures are subsequently at increased risk of developing epilepsy.\nEpidemiological studies demonstrate that the elderly are at a substantially higher risk for the development of the epilepsies. In addition to stroke (hemorrhagic and ischemic), seizures in the elderly may be associated with brain tumors, TBI, and Alzheimer’s disease.\nNIH-funded researchers have found that blood concentrations of antiseizure medications fluctuate markedly among many residents of nursing homes even when there is no change in dosage and no change in other medications the resident may be taking. Prospective studies will continue to follow older adults in nursing homes to help determine optimal levels of antiseizure drugs and to identify factors that may contribute to such fluctuations in drug levels.\nDiagnosing, Treating, and Preventing Non-epileptic Seizures\nAn estimated five to 20 percent of people diagnosed with epilepsy actually have nonepileptic seizures (NES) which outwardly resemble epileptic seizures but are not associated with seizure-like electrical discharges in the brain. A history of traumatic events is among the known risk factors for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, which are largely thought to be psychological in origin.\nA NINDS-funded pilot trial showed a reduction in NES frequency when individuals with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures were treated with sertraline compared with a placebo. Two other studies showed a reduction in seizures and fewer comorbid symptoms following treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy.\nSection 4: Furthering Research on the Epilepsies\nThere are several ways in which individuals with epilepsy and their families can help move research forward. Resources include:\n- People with epilepsy can help researchers test new medications, surgical techniques, and other treatments by enrolling in clinical studies. Information about finding and participating in clinical studies can be found at the NIH Clinical Trials and You website (www.nih.gov/health/clinicaltrials). Additional studies can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov and through many pharmaceutical and biotech companies, universities, and other organizations. A person who wishes to participate in a clinical trial must ask his or her physician to work with the doctor in charge of the trial and to forward all necessary medical records.\n- To learn more about why clinical trial research is important, visit the Human Epilepsy Research Opportunities (HERO) website at www.epilepsyhero.org.\n- Pregnant women with epilepsy who are taking antiseizure drugs can help researchers learn how these drugs affect unborn children by participating in the Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. This registry is maintained by the Genetics and Teratology Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital. For more information, call 1-888-233-2334 or visit the website at\n- People with epilepsies can help further research by making arrangements to donate tissue either at the time of surgery for epilepsy or at the time of death. Researchers utilize the tissue to study epilepsy and other disorders so they can better understand what causes seizures. Some brain banks accept tissue from individuals with epilepsy. Each brain bank may have different protocols for registering a potential donor. Individuals are strongly encouraged to contact a brain bank directly to learn what needs to be done ahead of the time of tissue donation. These banks include:\nNICHD Brain and Tissue Bank for Developmental Disorders\nUniversity of Maryland School of Pediatrics\n655 West Baltimore Street, 13-013 BRB\nBaltimore, MD 21201-1559\nUniversity of Miami Brain Endowment Bank\nUniversity of Miami Department of Neurology\n1951 NW 7th Avenue, Suite 240\nMiami, FL 33136\n305-243-6219 or 800-862-7246\nNational Disease Research Interchange/National Human Tissue Resource Center\n8 Penn Center, 15th Floor\n1628 JFK Boulevard\nPhiladelphia, PA 19103\n215-557-7361 or 800-222-6374\nThe Human Brain and Spinal Fluid\n11301 Wilshire Boulevard (127A)\nBuilding 212, Room 16\nLos Angeles, CA 90073\nThe pace of research on the epilepsies has accelerated considerably over the past few decades. Progress has been made in understanding how and why the epilepsies develop and how they might be prevented. Investigators have identified a variety of potential new treatments, and they may soon be able to use knowledge about genetic variations and other individual differences to tailor treatment for each person. With time and continued work, the missing pieces of the puzzle will be filled in to form a complete picture of how to treat and prevent all types of epilepsy", "label": "No"}
{"text": "As a commonly used insulating material in industry, glass fiber not only has many types, but also has outstanding performance, and has applications in many fields.\nGlass fiber cloth overview:\nGlass fiber is a kind of inorganic non-metallic materials with excellent performance, and there are many kinds of them. The advantages are good insulation, strong heat resistance, good corrosion resistance and high mechanical strength; but the disadvantages are brittleness and poor wear resistance. Glass fiber is usually used as a reinforcing material in composite materials, electrical insulation materials, thermal insulation materials, and circuit boards in various fields of the national economy.\nGlass fiber cloth features:\n1. Used for low temperature -196℃ to high temperature 300℃, with weather resistance.\n2. Non-adhesive, not easy to adhere to any substance.\n3. Chemical resistance, resistance to strong acid, strong alkali, aqua regia and various organic solvents.\n4. With low friction coefficient, it is the best choice for oil-free self-lubrication.\n5. The light transmittance is 6-13%.\n6. With high insulation performance, anti-ultraviolet, anti-static.\n7. High strength. Has good mechanical properties.\n8. Drug resistance.\nGlass fiber cloth application:\nGlass fiber cloth is mostly used in hand lay-up process. Glass fiber reinforced material grid cloth is mainly used in ship hulls, storage tanks, cooling towers, ships, vehicles, tanks, and building structural materials. Glass fiber cloth is mainly used in industry: heat insulation, fire prevention and flame retardant. The material absorbs a lot of heat when it is burned by a flame and can prevent the flame from passing through and isolate the air.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2013 - New Zealand\n|Publisher||Minority Rights Group International|\n|Publication Date||24 September 2013|\n|Cite as||Minority Rights Group International, State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2013 - New Zealand, 24 September 2013, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/526fb739b.html [accessed 20 August 2017]|\n|Disclaimer||This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.|\nMāori, New Zealand's indigenous people, make up approximately 15.4 per cent of the country's population, with nearly a quarter living in the greater Auckland area. The relationship between the Māori and the New Zealand government is grounded in the Treaty of Waitangi, which contains a powerful expression of the Crown's moral obligations to act honourably in its dealings with Māori.\nThere are also more than 22 different Pacific communities in New Zealand – each with its own distinctive culture, language, history and health status. Collectively known as Pasifika, the biggest Pacific groups in New Zealand are the Samoan, Cook Islander, Tongan, Niuean, Fijian, Tokelauan, and Tuvaluan communities. To date, the majority of the Pacific communities in New Zealand originate from Polynesian states, however migration to New Zealand from Melanesian states has also increased, and predictions indicate that New Zealand can expect much larger numbers of migrants from Melanesia in the coming decades.\nIt is also important to note that there has been a rapid increase in the last decade of the number of Asians in New Zealand. By 2001, Asians had displaced the Pasifika communities as the third most populous ethnic group, with the 2006 Census data estimating the Asian population of New Zealand at around 9.2 per cent, with predicted growth to up to 16 per cent of the national population by 2016. Chinese (46 per cent) and Indian (29 per cent) are the majority groups, with populations from other Asian communities including Koreans, Filipinos, Japanese, Sri Lankans, Cambodians and Thais.\nDespite significant gains in recent years, Māori continue to have the poorest health of any New Zealand group. Māori have a higher mortality rate than non-Māori, as well as higher rates of illness. Māori infants die more frequently from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), have lower birth weight than non-Māori and also experience higher rates of illness. Māori are 2.3 times more likely to experience and die from cardiovascular disease than non-Māori and Māori life expectancy is also significantly lower than the life expectancy for non-Māori.\nOther minority groups in New Zealand also experience poorer health than the majority New Zealand European population. In particular, Pasifika still experience poorer health outcomes than the majority population. For example, Māori and Pacific communities have higher rates of diabetes. Māori and Pacific communities experience consistently higher infant mortality rates than the total New Zealand population, although this appears to be decreasing. Moreover, the obesity rates are greater for Māori and Pasifika.\nThe New Zealand government has taken some important strides to address Māori health disparity. He Korowai Oranga: Māori Health Strategy sets the direction for Māori health development in the health and disability sector. The vision of He Korowai Oranga is the achievement of whānau ora (healthy families), and recognizes the desire of Māori to have control over their future, and to seek their own solutions and to manage their own services.\nThe New Zealand government has developed targeted action plans that set objectives for Māori health. Whakatātaka – the Māori Health Action Plan – was implemented in 2002, and was built upon by the second Māori Health Action Plan, Whakatātaka Tuarua 2006-2011.\nAs part of Whakatātaka Tuarua, the Ministry of Health has identified the following areas for priority: building quality data and monitoring Māori health; developing whānau-ora-based models; ensuring Māori participation; and improving primary health care.\nUnder the 2000 New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act, health services require community participation and have been decentralized. The Act created 21 district health boards (DHBs), which provide services that meet local needs. This system is important for Māori health as every board is legally required to have at least 2 Māori members out of its 11, and Māori membership of the board must also be proportional to the number of Māori in the district's resident population. Moreover, DHBs must include Māori health and whānau ora as priority criteria in resource allocation and disincentives decisions, and should set funding targets for investment in Māori health and disability, and report on targets for their regions to increase funding for Māori initiatives. However, in the 2012 assessment the auditor general found that DHBs have not always performed adequately and noted a lack of monitoring and reporting.\nAnother important initiative for Māori health is the fact that each DHB must develop a Māori Health Plan (MHP), which aims to improve Māori health and reduce the disparities between Māori and non-Māori. As key planning and monitoring documents, the MHPs provide a summary of a DHB's Māori population and their health needs. The plan then documents and details the interventions and actions the DHB plans to undertake to address health issues in order to achieve indicator targets set nationally, regionally and at district level.\nThe New Zealand Ministry of Health has also been working together with Māori traditional healing practitioners. Rongoā Māori, the traditional healing, is formulated in a Māori cultural context; it encompasses the understanding of events leading to ill health and its impacts are addressed through a range of culturally bounded responses. These responses include rakau rongoā (native fauna herbal preparations), mirimiri (massage) and karakia (prayer). In December 2011, a new national Rongoā governance body – Te Kāhui Rongoā Trust – was established to protect, nurture and promote Rongoā Māori, and aimed to become fully operational by June 2012.\nAlthough it is too early to measure the success of the initiative, it remains significant, in particular in light of old repressive laws which banned traditional Maori healers (Tohunga) and outlawed Rongoā Māori. Although the law was repealed in 1962, the new Trust is one of the first initiatives to formally promote Rongoā Māori on the national level.\nHealth of Asian New Zealanders\nIt appears that many Asian migrants who arrive in New Zealand are relatively healthy, however this has been attributed to the 'healthy immigrant effect', which requires most migrants to be in good health in order to be allowed to immigrate to a new host country. However, this positive effect on health is reported to gradually diminish with increased length of residency.\nIn particular, data has demonstrated low use of primary health care, emergency health care and cancer screening for Asian people in New Zealand, particularly for Chinese New Zealanders. For youth this is particularly worrying, and 15 per cent of young Chinese New Zealanders reported accessing no health services at all, which was over three times the rate reported by other New Zealanders.\nAnother key issue is cardiovascular disease and diabetes for South Asian people. Indian people show the highest rates of self-reported diabetes of any ethnic group in New Zealand and they also show high levels of cardiovascular disease, similar to Māori.\nSome of these challenges appear to arise from underlying structural obstacles for Asian New Zealanders as a minority group: these include a lack of knowledge of the New Zealand health system, cultural beliefs and approaches to health care that differ from the New Zealand system, and linguistic barriers. Mental health also remains a challenging area because of the degree of stigma attached to such illness in many Asian cultures, resulting in potential treatment delay and possible worsening of prognosis.\n17. New Zealand Government, Third periodic report to the CESCR, E/C.12/ NZL/3, para. 472, available at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/cescrs48.htm.\n18. See: Controller and Auditor-General NZ, 'Part 5: Reducing health disparities for Māori', in Health Sector: Results of the 2010/11 Audits, retrieved July 2013, http://www.oag.govt.nz/2012/health-sector/part5.htm.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "The Problems of Obesity, Obesity is problematic overweight caused by excessive accumulation of fat. It is a serious problem that can have serious ramifications in the long run. Recently, it has become a worrying issue due to numerous public health problems.\nObese people encounter social stigmatization, negative stereotypes and discrimination in society. They are endangered to many life-threatening diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, cancer, heart disorders, etc. Additionally, the World Health Organization reveals that the greatest epidemic in the 21st century is obesity.\nIn this essay, I will discuss several bad effects that cause obesity. Thus, there are three main causes of obesity involved in eating unhealthy foods, neglecting physical activities and following wrong practices.\nFirst and foremost, obesity is caused as a result of eating unhealthy foods. There are plenty of unhealthy food items which people think are healthy. A very good example is fast food and food additives. The former is like hot pies, burgers, chips, pasties, donuts, pizza, etc. The latter is like flavored yoghurt, flavored milk, flavored ketchup, flavored beverages, etc. People are tempted to eat fast foods because they have no time to wait for fresh foods. They also crave for food additives because of its flavor and delicious taste. In addition, frozen foods and some snacks fall under unhealthy foods which are the best friend of obesity. Therefore, if we believe in avoiding such types of foods is not the problem; then, eating unhealthy foods is will not be the solution. In fact, fast food is typically low in nutrition and high in sodium, calories, saturated fat and trans fat that lead to fatness.\nMoreover, it is found that neglecting physical activities gives rise to obesity. Many people neglect aerobics, and are lazy to do different types of physical activities in their life, such as walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming, etc. Because of ignoring aerobics and the state of laziness, fats are heaped up in the body with the course of time.\nConsequently, the body gains weight and brings about fatness. For this reason, people need to be taught the significance of these physical activities, and that ignoring them would lead to overweight and obesity.\nFurthermore, obesity is caused as a consequence of following wrong practices. For instance, obesity results when people regularly take in imbalanced diet, immoderate calories and excessive sleep. For this reason, the body stores these undue calories as body fat, and over time the extra pounds add up.\nNowadays, some people go for a serious diet or toe the line of unhealthy foods that affect the metabolism which ends up with fatness. Therefore, they endanger themselves to obesity by following their own prescriptions and false instructions. So, metabolism affects the body as a result of following wrong practices in life.\nIn summary, obesity is merely caused by consuming too many calories, lack of physical exercises, unbalanced diet, flavored drinks etc. In this regard, Lee Haney recommends that “exercise is one of the best ways in preventing the rapid growth of obesity”. Besides, we should bear in mind that “rich, fatty foods are like destiny: they too, shape our ends”. Meanwhile, unbalanced diet leads to the illness of obesity. In short, this essay demonstrates several factors that cause obesity, such as eating unhealthy foods, neglecting physical activities and following wrong practices.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Misidentifying Twos and Fives\nThis is an extremely unlikely mistype. Few people of either type would be likely to mistype themselves as the other type, but others might occasionally be fooled. Surprisingly, it is more likely for some Fives to be mistaken for Twos, but only in very narrow circumstances. Because Fives do not form emotional bonds easily, they can be highly dependent on the few they do form, and can become needy with their significant others. At such times, they do not want their loved ones far from them, somewhat like average Twos.\nOtherwise, these types are almost opposites. Twos are emotionally expressive and highly people-oriented. Fives are emotionally detached and can be the true loners of the Enneagram. Both feel rejected easily, but Twos cope by winning people over and Fives cope by detaching from the hurt and isolating themselves further. Twos go by their feelings and can get flustered or irritated by overly intellectual approaches or complex ideas and procedures. Fives get flustered or irritated by sentimentality and gushiness: Fives feel that they are in their element with intellectual concepts and complexity. Twos tend to move toward others: Fives tend to withdraw from others, and so forth.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Stress hormones help firm up memories of emotional events so that we can avoid or deal with the challenge if it occurs again. For example, cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, has receptors in many parts of the brain—especially the hippocampus, a nexus of emotion and memory.\nMany disorders can result from improperly functioning cortisol, including anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and some forms of depression. Scientists seeking treatments need a detailed picture of how cortisol works through its receptors to affect the brain. One player in the relay appears to be mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which previous studies show is activated in tandem with cortisol receptors.\nIn the May issue of Nature Neuroscience, Pier Vincenzo Piazza of the Bordeaux Institute for Neurosciences, France, and colleagues set out to establish cause and effect. They found that in cultured cells, activating cortisol receptors with the hormone increased levels of MAPK and the genes under its control.\nIn mice, the researchers found that the stress of being briefly restrained increased MAPK expression. When the mice were injected with a MAPK inhibitor, they lost the ability to form fear-related memories: in a conditioning test involving a mild shock to the foot, the treated mice showed none of the normal “freezing” behavior.\n“Our data indicate a direct link between cortisol receptor activation, the MAPK signaling pathway and its target genes, and stress-induced enhanced memories of emotionally arousing experiences,” the researchers write.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "“How Shall We Then Laugh?” in his Literature and Theology as Amiable Companions\nVan der Weele, Steve J.\nprivately published, 2010\n“Just what it is that prompts laughter has engaged some of the best minds in history. It is a phenomenon which Christopher Fry calls ‘the surest touch of genius in creation.’ From Aristotle and Plato down to the present, the fact that man is the only creature that laughs has evoked great interest and voluminous comment.” Freud, for example, in a two-hundred-page treatment said that laughter, comedy, humor are deeply connected with the highest of human gifts, with music, literature, the arts. “Laughter, he says, happens when a breakthrough in one’s perception occurs, when old things are suddenly exhibited in new patterns.” Laughter can also be a potent weapon to expose folly, as every satirist knows. But the great comedic writers (especially Shakespeare) know that laughter is cousin to joy. In Shakespeare, satire is relegated to the subplots, and joy to the main street. There are plenty of troubles, but in the end, restoration, reconciliation, joy. Every one of Shakespeare’s comedies ends “with multiple weddings.”", "label": "No"}
{"text": "White Paper: Medical\nThe Liquid Lens Evolution\nBefore liquid lenses, a user would have to design some type of mechanical focusing into their optical system, which meant having a device to raise and lower the optics to enable them to refocus on different heights of an object. With liquid lenses and EDOF software, a user can expand depth of field and eliminate the need for mechanical refocusing, leading to simpler and faster inspection.\nDon't have an account? Sign up here.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Mesothelioma is a rare but deadly form of cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, the thin layer of issue surrounding major organs. Mesothelioma can grow in a number of places within the body including the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), testicles, and the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma accounts for about 70% of all cases. Mesothelimoa rarely appears without the negligence of someone else. If you or a loved one has or had mesothelimoa, call 800-553-8082 or get a free on-line case review.Overview of the Asbestos Exposure\nMesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. Because asbestos fibers are resistance to heat, asbestos has been used for insulation, brakes, flooring, electrical wiring, and many other common products.\nDuring the process of mining and using asbestos, dust is often created. If inhaled or ingested, the dust particles settle in the lungs or stomach and can eventually lead to mesothelioma. It usually takes between 30 and 40 years for exposure to result in cancer. Mesothelioma has also been reported in people who were not directly exposed to the asbestos particles. Common examples include spouses who washed the clothes of contaminated workers or who were otherwise in close contact with those workers. This is referred to as second hand mesothelioma and can be deadly.Symptoms and Treatment\nMesothelioma symptoms vary depending on where the cancer has grown. Plural mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, painful coughing, weight loss, and lumpy tissue in the chest area. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal pain, swelling, and weight loss.\nTreatment options often combine surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. After diagnosis the average patient lives, tragically, only for 18 months.The Mesothelimoa Tragedy\nPeople working with asbestos and those living with exposed workers are at an increased risk for developing mesothelioma. Even after the risks of exposure had been established, asbestos companies continued to use the mineral thus exposing thousands of construction workers, military members, and others. Because of the industry's efforts to profit off of a substance they knew to be dangerous, US courts have established asbestos trusts in the amount of $30 billion. These trusts are meant to compensate victims who developed cancer after exposure. Most asbestos settlements are tied to the costs of related medical expenses. Where a plaintiff can prove that a manufacturer actively concealed the dangerous nature of their product or where they failed to provide adequate worker protections, the damages can be much higher.Maryland Asbestos History\nMaryland holds a unique place in the history of asbestos use, exposure, and litigation. The state is home to over 20 asbestos deposits and at least four have been mined. Further, Maryland residents have a statistically increased risk of exposure because of the state's shipyards, power plants, chemical factories, and construction companies that boomed during and after World War II. Overall, Maryland ranks 16th in a nationwide survey of mesothelioma cases. There were 1,074 mesothelioma deaths from 1979-2001. At least 553 - more than half - of these fatalities were in Baltimore.\nMaryland has a statute of limitations for asbestos claims that applies to injured parties as well as their heirs. The statute begins to run when the plaintiff has knowledge of the asbestos- related injury. If you or a relative have been exposed to asbestos, we encourage quick action to ensure that your claim can be considered.\nStrict liability - also called \"enterprise liability\" or \"absolute legal responsibility\" is when a defendant has legal responsibility for damages or injures regardless of whether or not the person or company was at fault for the harm caused. In its pure form, it means that the defendant is responsible for the plaintiffs losses even if they did absolutely nothing wrong.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "A Fulbright Teacher in Bogota, Colombia, A Special Series – Air Travel in Colombia – by Laura Blasena. The North Star Reports: Global Citizenship and Digital Literacy, at NorthStarReports.org and facebook.com/NorthStarReports\nColombia isn’t a big country. About 1.15 km2. For comparison (because that number means very little by itself), the United States is about 9.85 km2.\nTherefore, traveling using the country’s extensive private bus companies is easy, right? Wrong. The issues is that three giant ridges of the Andes mountains run right through Colombia, meaning that, historically, ground travel in the country was an issue (which lead to the huge regional differences that we see today) and remains an issue today.\n(The different regions of Colombia presented on a clay map made by one of my elementary students. Learning the geography of the country seems to be a very integral part of the school system here.)\nTo get from Bogota…\nView original post 1,159 more words", "label": "No"}
{"text": "At least 40 visible sea stars were alive and well in the Treasure Island tide pools in South Laguna at noon this past Saturday. But by 3 p.m., eight had disintegrated like wet bread.\nAn epidemic, which has destroyed sea stars along the West Coast beginning last June, has reached the shores of Laguna Beach.\nSnorkelers reported finding sea star legs piling up in underwater rocky crevices near Crescent Bay and Shaw’s Coves in North Laguna and rolling eerily along the ocean bottom. The limbs will eventually wash up on shore.\nOf 76 sea stars spotted last Sunday at Treasure Island, a quarter of the population exhibited signs of what scientists have named sea star wasting disease, said Jeff Rosaler, director of education and research at the Laguna Ocean Foundation and a Treasure Island tide pool educator.\nScientists categorize sea stars as a “keystone” species, which means they keep their prey – mussels, snails and urchins — in check. Without them, as with the extinction of other species, the balance of nature runs amuck. Urchins have been known to overpopulate and do deadly damage to local kelp forests.\nIn the tide pools on Sunday, observers watched as legs fell off the sea stars, their bodies split in half, small lesions became rips in the sea stars’ spiky skin, and white flesh and orange gills spilled out.\nAn octopus, about 15 inches long, crept out from under a nearby rock and tore a dangling leg off a melting sea star. The next day, only the empty external skeleton of two limbs remained. Seagulls fought and feasted over other dismantled sea stars lodged in rock crannies.\nWhile the affliction is not an anomaly, scientists are stumped and finding the massive outbreak “particularly troubling,” said Pete Raimondi, of UC Santa Cruz, who is the lead investigator into the disease.\nIn the past, unusually warm water caused the wasting of sea stars, particularly during an El Nino, but that’s clearly not the case this time, said Raimondi. “That’s what’s so concerning about this. In the past, when the die-off was associated with warm water, you had this idea that things would get back to normal. But it’s not warm water. We’re in a cool water period.” Sea stars usually thrive in normally cool Pacific Ocean temperatures.\nAlso disturbing to Raimondi is how far the disease is spreading and the number of sea stars it’s affecting.\nThe culprit is believed to be an infectious microorganism, which appears to be attacking a specific marine species and would not likely affect humans, scientists say. Raimondi said researchers are “pretty clear” what the infectious agent is but they are unsure of its origin and decline to disclose whether it’s naturally occurring or manmade.\n“These guys are epidemiologists and they have a protocol that they follow,” said Raimondi. ”They don’t release anything until they follow the protocol. They’re in the process now of challenging organisms. Once that work is done, they’ll be able to release the information.”\nThe sea star death-rate along the West Coast was described as “catastrophic” by Ian Hewson, an assistant professor in microbiology at New York’s Cornell University, who is collaborating with Raimondi in collecting data and testing possible causes of sea star wasting. Raimondi contributed to a report released last month, published by UCSC’s ecology and evolutionary biology department’s Pacific Rocky Intertidal Monitoring project.\nHewson is overseeing experiments at UCSC and the University of Washington to establish the suspected cause of the disease. Scientists are inoculating two healthy sea stars with possible infectious agents. If healthy sea stars also contract the disease, which could be as soon as two days, the cause will then be definitive and results will be published in scientific journals before being released to the public, which could take up to six weeks.\nTsunami debris and radioactive fallout from the Fukushima nuclear power plant melt-down in Japan have not been entirely ruled out as a cause Hewson said, but Raimondi called it unlikely.\n“The path of the debris and presumably the radiation is far to the north of here,” said Raimondi. “It’s mostly in the Pacific Northwest. No one’s been able to detect levels of radiation that are even above background in North America. There’s no possibility at this point that the stuff has gotten here.”\nHewson added that human pollutants are also being considered. “The ocean is really subject to a great deal of human influence,” he said, “everything from run-off and fertilizer use to actual toxicants in various products and treatments that end up in the sea. We haven’t been able to disprove any of these pollutants as a cause.”\nSigns of the current epidemic in Laguna were noticed last fall, when water temperatures were more summerlike, hovering around 70 degrees, said Laguna Ocean Foundation’s chair, Louise Thornton.\nOver the past two weeks, the mortality rate has become epidemic, said Rosaler, the tide pool educator.\nFormer episodes of the wasting disease occurred in the early 1980s and late ‘90s. Warm El Nino currents washed in from Mexico and destroyed sea stars as well as the local kelp forests, which were scavenged by ravenous sea urchins that had lost a once-abundant food source.\nBiologist Nancy Caruso, who helped replant the 100-acre kelp forest now flourishing off Laguna’s coastline, doesn’t expect a surge in the urchin population or damage to kelp forests because of the die-off of sea stars.\n“I don’t see anything going on with the kelp,” she said. “It’s a stress-induced problem with the sea stars and we need to figure out what the stress is.”", "label": "No"}
{"text": "An Introduction to Connective Knowledge\nRevised and Updated (minor corrections and typos only) and placed in MS-Word Document form, November 27, 2007. Click here. The version that follows below is the original (uncorrected) version).\nYet another article, describing new forms of knowledge as probablistic, has crossed my desk today, and consequently it seems appropriate at this time to type a few words on the nature of distributed knowledge.\nIt should go without saying that these are my own thoughts, and this discussion should not therefore be considered an authoritative reference on the subject. Moreover, this is intended to be a brief overview, and not an academic treatise on the subject.\na. Types of Knowledge\nYou probably grew up learning that there are two major types of knowledge: qualitative and quantitative. These two types of knowledge have their origin in major schools of history and philosophy, the former in the works of the ancient Greeks, and the latter in Arabic and then later Renaissance philosophy.\nDistributed knowledge adds a third major category to this domain, knowledge that could be described as connective. A property of one entity must lead to or become a property of another entity in order for them to be considered connected; the knowledge that results from such connections is connective knowledge.\nThis is more than just the existence of a relation between one entity and another; it implies interaction. A relation - such as 'taller than' or 'next to' - is a type of quality. It describes a property of the object in question, with reference to a second object. But the fact that I am, say, 'taller than' Fred tells us nothing about how Fred and I interact. That is something different.\nThis is why it is incorrect to represent distributed knowledge merely as a type of probabilistic knowledge. The logic of probability implies no connection between correlated events; it merely observes a distribution. A connected system will exhibit probabilistic characteristics, but it is not itself probabilistic.\nProbabilistic knowledge is a type of quantitative knowledge. It is based on the counting of things (or events, or whatever) and of comparisons between one count and another (one needs only to read Carnap to see this clearly). A poll, for example, gives us probabilistic information; it tells us how many people would vote today, and by inference, would vote tomorrow. But the fact that Janet would vote one way, and I would vote one way, tells us nothing about how Janet and I interact.\nConnective knowledge requires an interaction. More to the point, connective knowledge is knowledge of the connection. If Janet votes a certain way because I told her to, an interaction has taken place and a connection has been established. The knowledge thus observed consists not in how Janet and I will vote, nor in how many of us will vote, but rather, in the observation that there is this type of connection between myself and Janet.\nWhat we 'know' about the world is irreducibly interpretive. That is to say, we do not through our senses and cognition obtain any sort of direct knowledge about the world, but rather, interpret the sensations we receive. This is true not only of connective knowledge, but of all three types of knowledge.\nConsider qualities, for example. We take it as basic or atomic (see people like Ayer for example) that a statement like 'this apple is red' represents a pure and unadjusted fact. However, looking at this more closely tells us how much we have added to our original sensation in order to arrive at this fact:\nFirst of all, the apple itself has no inherent colour. Colour is a property (specifically, the wavelength) of light reflecting off the apple. In different coloured light, the apple will appear to us differently - it appears white in red light, for example, or grey in diminished light. Yet we say the apple is 'red' - standardizing our colour descriptions to adapt to the natural light that surrounds us day to day.\nSecond, our perception of the apple as 'red' depends on our organizing light patterns in a certain way. When I was a child, the spectrum had six colours - red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. As an adult, I find that a seventh - indigo - has been added. It's not that a new colour came into existence when I was twenty, it's that our nomenclature changed. In a similar way, we can divide the colours of the spectrum in numerous ways: 'red', for example, can include shades as varied as 'crimson' and 'cherry'. Or '#ff0000'.\nAnd third, when we say that 'the apple is red' we are drawing on our prior linguistic ability to use the words 'apple' and 'red' correctly and apply them to appropriate circumstances. Indeed, our prior knowledge often shapes our perceptions themselves: were you shown an apple in diminished light, so that all you could see was grey, and asked what colour it was, you would still respond 'red' because of your prior expectations about apples and redness.\nLess intuitively so, but equally clearly, interpretation applies to quantitative knowledge as well. It is easy to say that a sentence like 'there are twenty schoolchildren in the yard' is a basic fact, but this all depends on how you classify schoolchildren. Suppose, unknown to us all, one of the children had just been expelled; is our statement now false? Not obviously so. Perhaps one of them is over sixteen - is this person still a child (and hence, a schoolchild)? It depends on your point of view.\nQuantification is essentially the enumeration of members of a category or set. Consequently, it depends crucially on how that set is defined. But membership in a set, in turn, is (typically) based on the properties or qualities of the entities in question. So such membership is based on interpretation, and hence, so is counting.\nOne might be tempted to say that even though applied instances of counting are based on interpretation, mathematics itself is not. But in my view, this too would be mistaken. For one thing, as people such as Mill and Kitcher argue, the rules of mathematics depend on empirical verification for their importance: we say that one plus one is two, not out of some innate sense of goodness, but because when we put one sheep together with another, we observe that there are two. Nothing but our observations prevents us from saying that one plus one is three, and in some contexts such a statement makes perfect sense.\nEmergence is a hard concept, but at this point I can gloss it with a simple characterization: emergence is interpretation applied to connections.\nThere are two (equally valid) ways of thinking about this:\nFirst, we may perceive an actual set of connections linking a group of entities as a distinct whole. For example, when one domino topples another, and so on, in turn, and we observe this from a distance, we may observe what appears to be a wave moving through the dominos. The wave that we observe can be said to be an 'emergent phenomenon' - it is not a property of the dominos themselves, or even of the falling of the dominos, but of the connectedness of the falling - because one domino causes the next to fall, we see a wave.\nSecond, we may perceive something as a distinct whole and interpret this as a set of connections. For example, when we look at the image of Richard Nixon on the television, we do not perceive the individual pixels, but rather, the image of a person. But our inference goes beyond merely the observation of the person; if asked, we would say that the appearances of the pixels are connected to each other, through the mechanism of having a common origin (Richard Nixon himself) and the mechanism of video broadcasting.\nEmergence is fundamentally the result of interpretation. As mystics (and Spinoza) are fond of arguing, everything is connected. At a certain point, as the old saying goes, when a butterfly flaps its wings in China, the result is a thunderstorm in Halifax. But broadcasters in Halifax do not watch butterflies in China in order to predict the weather, because this connection will be of no use to them. Typically, they will look at more intermediate events, themselevs emergent properties, such as waves of air moving through the atmosphere (known locally as 'cold fronts').\nIn the same way, the observation of sets of connections between entities depends a great deal on what we already believe. That is why we see swans in clouds or faces on Mars when, manifestly, there are none. We have brought our prior knowledge of connected entities to bear on our interpretations of these phenomena. As Hume would say, our 'perception' of a causal relationship between two events is more a matter of 'custom and habit' than it is of observation.\nWe generally think of knowledge as being about facts, and about facts in turn as being grounded in an independent reality, a physical reality. Consequently, it is natural for us to say, for example, that when we see that something is red, that there is a physical basis for that statement, that even if we bring some interpretation to bear, there is some physical fact of the matter than makes the apple red, and not blue.\nCertainly, were we not to think of things this way, we would be hard pressed to say anything about anything. Physicality provides us with a substrate on which to hang our interpretations, as Kant would say, a necessary condition for the possibility of perception. Physicality moreover offers us a means of sorting between what might be called 'correct' interpretations and 'misperceptions', between reality and a mirage.\nAll this may be the case, but nonetheless, there is nothing in our interpretations that is inherently based in physical reality, and hence, nothing that precludes our discussion of them without reference to this foundation. Indeed, this has been enormously useful in other domains. Despite the empirical basis of mathematics, it is much more productive and useful to refer to quantity without reference to the physical entities being counted, to (in other words) think of quantity in the abstract. The same is true of quality. Thinking of quality in the abstract leads to Aristotle's syllogisms and the basis of categorical reasoning.\nMoreover, non-physical entities may have (or be attributed) properties that are themselves (on this theory) based in physical properties. In our ideas and dreams, we think of vivid colours and large numbers. And the ideas are transferable. Consider the concept of 'purple prose' - an expression which is in all cases either meaningless or false, yet of significant utility and meaning.\nWhat is to be learned from this? That the entities in the various categories of knowledge - be they properties or numbers - are themselves not real. When we talk about 'redness', we are not talking about something that has an independent, concrete existence in the world, but rather, in something that exists (insofar as it exists at all) only in our own minds. When we talk about the number 'four', we are not describing some Platonic entity, but rather, nothing more than our own thoughts or sensations.\nThat does not make them less 'real'. Our perception of the colour 'red' is as real as any phenomenon in the world. It is merely to distinguish between the perception, which results from a complex of factors, from the physical entity, which ostensively caused it.\nIn a similar manner, our interpretations of connections is distinct from the actual set of interactions that may exist in the world. Consider, for example, conspiracy theories - the postulation of a complex and inter-related set of people and events leading to the conclusion that someone is out to get you. Such theories, notoriously, have no basis in the physical world. But they may nonetheless be contemplated, and discussed, and passed along, as though they were real. And the experience of a conspiracy theory may be, to the perceiver, every bit as real to the person having the experience.\nThere is a tendency on the part of readers, whether of talking about crickets, or of Shirky talking about power laws, to represent connections as something 'natural' and 'real' that is simply 'out there' - as though what is said about networks of connections represents some immutable law of nature. Quite the converse is the case; our understanding of the existence of connections, and the nature of the networks they form, is something we bring to the table, an interpretation of what we think is salient.\ne. Salience and Inference\nOur knowledge consists of interpretations of perceptions, which are in themsleves distinct from any physical reality that may have caused them. In this sense, one might say that these interpretations are 'constructed' - that is, they are the result of some mental or cognitive process, rather than something that comes delivered to us already assembled.\nInference is, broadly speaking, the manipulation of these bits of knowledge, in the abstract, to produce new bits of knowledge. In our mind, for example, we can postulate that if a red light is added to a yellow light, the result will be an organce light. Or that two sheep added to two sheep will result in four sheep. Often, subsequent perceptions will confirm such predictions, thus leading us to rely more greatly on the manipulations that resulted in them (and less greatly on manipulations that did not result in them, though the human mind is notoriously fickle in this regard).\nAll such inferences, however, are the result of a complex process of selecting what might be called the most 'salient' data. The counting of sheep, for example, is of utility only to people who own sheep (or are reading philosophy papers). Normally, during the course of our everyday lives, we have little need to count sheep, and so for the most part we ignore the actual number of sheep present to us at any given time. In a similar manner, when we perceive an orange light, we do not typically view it as a confirmation of the idea that red and yellow make orange. Unless we are visual artists we see it merely as an instance of 'orange'.\nOur inferences, therefore, are based on salience, where salience may be thought of as the importance, relevance or vivacity of some property or perception. We 'pick out' those perceptions that will be of use to us, and disregard the rest. This is not often even a conscious process; it is based in part on innate reactions (such as jumping when we hear a loud sound) and largely on prior expectations. Our past knowledge has led us to recognize that something that looks and sounds like a tiger is something we should pay attention to, and so our inference engine kicks into high gear.\nIn the same way, some connections are more salient than others. Think about your sense of place or location. It is centered on the city or town in which you are located, the streets spreading out from you in a pattern unique to your position. Change your location, and your map of the world changes with it; WalMart, which was once 'two blocks away', is now 'one block away'. Or consider your circle of friends: again, you are at the centre, with your closest associates at near proximity, with acquaintances more distance. Your friend, however, will count a different set of people as being most proximate, and others, including some you hold more close, as more distant.\nThings become even more complex when considering the mind. We know that the mind is a massively connected set of neurons, but where is the point of view from which we regard these connections? While we can consider the bird's eye view in the abstract, and speak dispassionately about the hippocampus or the corpus callosum, we cannot adopt such a frame of reference with respect to our own thinking. And yet, it seems manifest that there is a point of view with which we regard our own mind; it is the essence of conscious thought, that we are aware of our mental processes at the same time we are having them.\nAgain, it is that which is most salient that comes to the fore here. You may have mental representations of hundreds or even thousands of people but, if you are enamoured, be thinking only about one. Your body consists of millions of nerve ends, but if you have a toothache, your attention is focused only on those few related to the tooth. In a similar manner, it is only your most active and your most consistent thoughts that intrude on your consciousness, and it is through the lens of those thoughts that you interpret phenomena (and through phenomena that you have those thoughts).\nInference is the observation of salient similarities among thoughts and perceptions. It is the recognition of common properties - qualities, quantities and connections - among varied perceptions, and the consequent drawing of connections between those entities, and between other properties of those entitites. Seeing that two sheep and two sheep make four sheep, you are led (via the salience of quantity, and the newly found salience of cows) to contemplate the idea that two cows and two cows might make four cows.\nThis process of inference has a history in philosophy under the heading of 'associationism', a type of reasoning associated with (until the advent of logical positivism) empirical philosophy and people such as Hume and Mill.\nThe central idea of associationism is this: two things that are relavantly similar become connected in the mind. This connection or association in turn allows knowledge about one to be inferred of the other. Thus, if we experience one tiger-like creature, and it tried to eat us, then if we see a relevantly similar tiger-like creature, we are led (as hume would say, naturally and senselessly) to believe that it will try to eat us as well. Eventually, a complex of beliefs about tiger-like creatures is formed, and some indeed become strong enough to allow us to contemplate a new (and dangerous) category of entity, given the name 'tiger'.\nVarious types of associationism exist, from association of impressions postulated by Hume to the similarity of phenomena described by Tversky. Two major types of associationism are relevant to us here:\nThe first is simple associationism, sometimes known as 'Hebbian associationism', which is postulated to be (and probably is) foundational in the forming of neural connections in the mind (its applicability to the world outside the mind is much less evident). The principle, specifically, is that if two neurons fire at the same time, a connection will tend to be formed between them. This is, of course, an 'all else being equal' hypothesis: the neurons have to be the sort of neurons than can form connections, there needs to be some sort of proximity between them, and they need to be (computationally and physically) compatible with each other. A lot like a love story.\nThe second may be classified under the (inaccurate) heading of Boltzmann associationism. Derived from the idea of the Boltzman machine, this sort of associationism is an expression of (something like) thermodynamic forces. Think of it as the network attempting to settle into a 'balanced' or 'harmonious' state. The idea behind Boltzman associationism is that a certain amount of energy applied to a system will create a certain amount of kinetics - in other words, your brain goes on thinking even though its not receiving input. In the absence of external influences to cause Hebbian connections, the brain settles into a (thermodynamically) stable configuration.\nWhether such modes of associationism, or any other method of connection-forming, is at work within any particular system, is a question for empirical observation. Probably, in any given system, it will be a combination. And as before, in addition to specific connection-building mechansisms, there will be a requirement for enabling factors, such as proximity.\nWe understand similarity well enough with respect to quality and quantity. Things can be more or less alike - large, round and orange, say. And we can see how though this similarity how an association can be formed - our perception of (what we interpret to be) orange phenomena leads us to draw an association between them. Quantities, as well, are associated: we have never experienced a rainfall of six inches of milk, but we can easily imagine what it would be like, based on our experiences with six inches of water.\nIn the case of connections, the concept of similarity is less intuitive, but breaks into two major categories:\nFirst, we can say that two entities are connectively similar if they share connections with the same set of entities. For example, Michael and I may be connectively similar, even if we have never met, if we share the same group of friends. Of course, such a similarity makes it more likely that a connection would form between us: but it is important to note the directionality here. The similarity preceeds the connection.\nSecond, we can say that two entities are connectively similar if they share similar sets of connections. For example, Paul and Michelle may be political activists, but working for different political parties. In such a case, they will share the same types of connections, but with different sets of friends. Such sets of connections are (more of less) isomoprphic. It is worth noting that this isomorphism will tend to lead to a connection between the two groups (political paries tend to interact with other political parties, but much less so with hockey teams) which in turn again leads to connections between the members.\nAt this point we reach a central concept of distributed knowledge, that of distribution itself.\nIn the previous section we looked, a bit glibly, at the possibility of political parties interacting with each other. And this is a concept we can intuitively grasp; we see it every day in political debates, in the legislature, and as represented in political polls and newspaper articles.\nBut a political party is not (per se) a self-contained entity: it is an assemblage of individual people where these people are connected through some sort of common process (usually but not always involving a commonality of belief and participation in a membership process, such as signing a membership card and paying five dollars, along with an organized and often guided set of interactions between the members, such as are evidenced through a primary process or political convention).\nThe political party is a distributed entity. What is important to note is that it is more than merely a collection of associated or even similar people. A group of people, even if they all hold the same beliefs, and even if they all know each other, does not constitute a political party. Nor is it a question of quantity: a group of five people may constitute a (very unpopular) political party, while a very large group may not have any political existence at all. What makes a political party (and similar entities, such as corporations, hockey teams and university faculties) is the set of connections between its members, the existence of which is often manifest and recognized with special documents and legal standing.\nIt's a nebulous concept. The political party does not exist, is not contained, in any of its members, nor is it a mere aggregation of the properties or number of its members, but it would not exist without its members. The existence of the political party is distributed - there is no single place it could be said to be, but many places in which its existence could be said to be manifest. Each member forms a part of the political party, but they are not a miniature version of the party as a whole. The properties of the party are separate and distinct from those of the members.\nWe have here once again reached the concept of emergence, but from a different direction. Any property the political party may have is an emergent property. Consequently, it is a property that exists (in our minds) solely by virtue of it having been recognized or interpreted as such (which is why we have a formal process of 'recognizing' political parties). And yet, while this property depends on the constituent members, it is not in turn a property of the members (Davidson calls this 'supervenience'). The emergent properties of a distributed entity exist solely as a consequence of the organization of its parts, and not its membership, and specifically, from the fact that these parts are connected in a certain recognizable way.\nStrictly speaking, every entity in the world is a distributed entity (save, perhaps, indivisible subatomic particles - and (in my view) these may exist only by virtue of a reverse distribution, consisting entirely of entities that are larger than they are, much like a point in a moire pattern - but this is very speculative). Every entity is composed of additional entities, and the properties of the entity in question are not all mere reflections of the smaller entities, but rather, unique properties, that come into existence because of the organization of those entities. Thus the same collection of carbon atoms may result in very soft charcol or a very hard diamond.\nWhen we speak of one of those properties, therefore - say, the hardness of a diamond - there is no place that we can point to where this property is located. There is no specific instance of the hardness of the diamond, save in our perception and interpretation that carbon atoms, when organized this way, are what we call 'hard'. The property of being hard, in addition to being distributed across the carbon atoms that constitute a diamond, in addition exists only as a result of our perception of it. Strictly speaking, were there no perceivers to recognize diamonds as being 'hard', there would be no 'hardness' for diamonds to have.\nAbove, we discussed the possibility of considering properties separated from the physical entities that are instances of them. Thus, for example, we can think of 'red' without thinking of a 'red thing'. At the time, we said that it does not follow that there is any specific entity such as 'redness'. But now we have to ask, in what does 'redness' consist. Because there is a sense in which 'redness' is real: it is something we all understand, a concept that is useful in our daily lives. The sentence, \"This photo needs more redness\" is not something we would immediately dismiss as nonsense.\nThe concept of 'redness' is an example of distributed meaning. There is no particular place we could point to where the 'meaning' of 'redness' is located. Indeed, that we have a concept such as 'redness' in our minds is in itself only something that we could know through interpretation of the myriad patterns presented in our consciousness and our behaviour. No doubt we have numerous other similar concepts, however, because they are not salient - because they never play a role in higher order cognitive behaviour - we do not recognize them. We are, in a sense, blind to them, until through some process (such as a Rorschach test) they are searched for and observed.\nIn a sense, having the concept of 'redness' in our own mind is similar to having 'liberal' as a description of a political party. low-level subsymbolic concepts exist in our minds - collections of connected neurons that themselves do not have meaning we would recognize, but which in combination eventually form higher-order structures that do correspond with the meanings of words (or melodies, or icons, etc), such as 'redness'. Saying that we have the concept of 'redness' in our mind is to pick our a particularly salient set of collections of connected neurons.\nWe can understand intuitively how the meaning of a word is distributed in this way if we reflect on the meaning of a specific word. For example, consider the word 'Paris'. We would at first blush take this word to refer to - and be - something concrete and definite, a city in north-central France. But the use of the word 'Paris' conjures different associations for different people. For example, 'city', 'France' and 'Eiffel Tower'. And some people think of plaster, other people think of Hilton, other people think of the left bank, other people think of Kurt Vonnegut.\nBut more: when we say that the meaning of the word 'Paris' is distributed, what we mean in addition is that the meaning of the word is constituted in part out of the same elements that constitute the meanings of these other words. We might say (loosely) that the connection between subsymbolic entities A,B,and C constitute the meaning of 'Paris', while the connection between B,C and D gives us the meaning corresponding to 'plaster' (obviously this is a vast oversimplification). When the meanings of words are distributed, the basis of their meanings - the smaller subsymbolic entities that make up the meanings - are intermingled. In a certain sense, you can't understand what 'Paris' means unless you at the same time understand what a set of other words, and indeed, other concepts (such as 'naming') mean.\nThis may seem like a hard, even impossible, concept, but it is one that we work with and manage every day. One might ask, for example, \"where is Edmonton?\" The answer to that question does not exist as some sort of determinate, singular entity; it is mixed in with a variety of other concepts. \"Edmonton is in Alberta,\" we might answer, which draws the concept of 'Alberta' into our understanding. \"Edmonton is in the Palliser Triangle,\" a geographer might say, which in turn draws in another set of associations as part of the answer. Edmonton is at latitude 52 north, a cartographer might respond, involving in our underlogiststanding the nature and employment of Cartesian geometry. The answer to the question 'where is Edmonton' and the meaning of the word 'redness' are of a similar nature, entrenched in a complex and interwoven networks of other meanings.\ni. Shared Meaning\nFrom the writings of people like Wittgenstein we get the idea that meanings, in the truest sense, exist only when they are shared by a community of speakers. Wittgenstein even went so far as to say there could be no private language, that meaning is possible only if it is shared publicly.\nThis strikes many people as wrong because they think of meaning as reference or (following Kripke) following a necessary order of things in the world. The Tarski definition of truth - \"'Snow is white' is true if and only if snow is white\" strikes an intuitive chord with people, as it establishes an observable empirical basis in the meanings of words.\nAnd indeed, it is our common experience of an independently existing physical world that also leads us to such intuitions. Never mind old folk tales like \"The Eskimos have 22 words for 'snow,\" the fact remains that when an Inuit says 'snow' and when a Brazilian says 'snow' they mean the same physical entity, specifically, crystalline H2O.\nAnd yet - an Inuit would say 'snow' in Inuktitut, and a Brazilian in Portugese, and the words in these two languages are different, and reflect different interpretations of reality. Languages are not isomorphic (Chomsky notwithstanding). The basis of English structure lies in the distinction between myself and the other, while in the French it is myself, my body, and the other. Neither is factually incorrect; snow is 'white' in each instance, and yet meaning diverges (or may diverge; as Quine says, we can't know for sure).\nMeaning, for Wittgenstein, is established in the act of communicating. From the perspective of the current discussion, we would say something like this: the shared meaning of the word 'Paris' is an emergent property of the set of specific interactions between people involving the use of the word 'Paris' or of words accociated with the word 'Paris'. Or as Wittgenstein said it, \"Meaning is use.\"\nIt is important at this juncture to understand that this account of meaning does not contradict, nor even compete with, the account of meaning given above. Just as we can examine two different people to find different meanings of the word 'Paris', so also can we examine two distinct types of entity - a person and a society - in order to understand its meaning. Because there is no single and distinct entity which the meaning of the word 'Paris' must be. What connections are salient, what entities are salient, in our determination of the meaning of the word is a matter of context, a matter of interpretation.\nWhen Wittgenstein says that there can be no private langauge he is, strictly speaking, wrong. I have numerous private words (which I won't share here, for otherwise they wouldn't be private, and I wouldn't have an example any more) and could in principle have a private langauge. Because having a language is not a case of knowing the language, as Wittegenstein (on some interpretations) argues. Having a language is being organized in a certain way. This organization is the 'black box' that gives us, as Ryle would say, \"dispositions\" to behave in certain ways, to (for example) utter the word 'Paris' when presented with a certain phenomena.\nIndeed, to turn this around, 'knowing' anything is of a similar nature. To 'know' something is not to be possessed of a certain fact. There is no 'instance' of a piece of knowledge in our head. To 'know' is to be organized in a certain way, to have, if you will, a certain regularly occurring pattern of neural activity (and consequently, disposition to behave). Knowledge is, as Hume said, a 'habit of the mind'.\nIndeed, if speaking a language, using a language, required 'knowing' a language (in the cognitive sense), then a child would not be able to speak a language, for a child employs linguistic constructions that he or she could not possibly identify or name (as a student of French, it is very frustrating to see a six year-old exercise more capacity in the langauge than I can). This is the sort of phenomenon that was perplexing to Chomsky: how could someone speak a language without the mental capacity to 'know' it? But this is not sufficient reason to suppose Chomsky's syntactic structures are innate; it makes as much (if not more) sense to believe that they are (subsymbolic) organizations of neural connections.\nNone of this, though, should be interpreted to mean that language is merely a mental phenomenon. We remarked above that the meaning of the word 'Paris' could be understood both from a personal and social point of view. But additionally, it should now be noted, that the personal and the social do not operate independently of each other. It is, after all, no coincidence that children grow up speaking the same langauge as their parents. The experience of linguistic elements as perceptions leads to the formation of linguistic elements as neural and mental structures, and the interaction of these back and forth lead to their being associated, and over time, more similar. Use of the language influences the speaker; use of the language influences the language.\nIt may seem odd at this juncture to speak of a language as a social phenomenon, and a language as a mental phenomenon, in much the same terms, and indeed even, interchangable.\nBut it is not odd, nor even unintuitive, when it is recognized that meaning, both socially and neurally, have the same origin: meaning is an emergent phenomenon, arising from the connections between underlying entities. Socially, the underlying entities are speakers of the language, while mentally, the underlying entities are neurons and sybsymbolic neural structures.\nHow could these be the same? One might ask. But that's a bit like asking how a neural cell and a popsicle could both be pink. Or a bit like asking how there could at the same time be a thousand neural cells in a layer and a thousand people in a market. What makes language, both social and personal, similar is that both are derived from the same set of principles. And, indeed, it due to their following the same principles that makes language possible at all! If we could not in society replicate the same sort of things that happen in our own minds, there would be no means by which we could communicate at all. Consider rabbits, who have active (though rabbit-like) mental lives: without the capacity to share meaning though networks of organized interaction, they are utterly unable to form a language.\nThe principles of organized networks of connections have received much attention in recent years, and deservedly so. We understand a great deal about how such networks work and about their properties. Conceptually, they have been studied under the heading of graph theory. Concrete instances of networks have been studied in the words of Watt and Buchanan, among others. Computationally, networks have been the locus of investigation by people like Minsky and Papert, Rumelhart and McClelland. Social networks, and social networking software, have become a minor industry. And, of course, the internet itself has given us a large scale network to study up close and in detail.\nMost work (to my observation) has been centered in two major areas: first, the properties of different types of networks (for example, random networks, loosely coupled networks, etc), and secondly, properties of the propogation of information through networks (as instanced in, for example, the 'six degrees' phenomenon). Additionally, though the investigation of dynamic networks, it has been shown how networks can grow naturally, with no intent or design, on the basis of a few very simple principles. Observation of these phenomena have explained such things as power laws, which describe disparate numbers of connections between nodes in the networks, and cascade phenomena, in the process of examining the propagation of ideas and diseases through a society (or through a human body).\nMuch less has been said about what is probably the most important implication of this work: if a human mind can come to 'know', and if a human mind is, essentially, a network, then any network can come to 'know', and for that matter, so can a society. Just as the meaning of a word can be both personally based and culturally based, so also can knowledge itself be both personally and culturally based. Moreover, because we know that people can learn, we can now also that societies can learn, and conversely, through the study of how a society can learn, we can understand more deeply how a person can learn.\nk. Social Knowledge\nSocial knowledge is to a society what personal knowledge is to a person. It is a result of the connections between the individual members of society, resident in no single one of them, but rather a property of the society working as a whole. Numerous instances of such connections occur; where certain of those connections become salient, and are frequently activated through use, they are recognized as forming a distinct entity, producing a distinct type of knowledge.\nAs an example, consider the knowledge of 'how to fly a person from England to Canada in a 747'. No single person possesses this knowledge, because it is the result of combining numerous instances of personal knowledge - from how to make tires to how to navigate a 747 to how to execute a landing while keeping the airplane intact. What makes these individual bits of knowledge combine to form an instance of social knowledge is that they are connected; knowing how to land an aircraft depends on, and makes sense, only in the context of knowing how to fly an aircraft, or to build an aircraft.\nThough many instances of social knowledge go unobserved and unremarked, numerous examples may be adduced. For example, the knowledge of 'the value of wheat' at a given time is a type of social knowledge; it is the knowledge that results through the connections of millions of wheat buyers and wheat sellers in a marketplace. No individual has a grasp of 'the value of wheat' - they each make decisions to buy or to sell based on their own individual knowledge and needs. It is true that there is a 'market value' of wheat - but again, this is an interpretation of that social knowledge - not all instances of wheat-trading are taken into account, only those expressed in financial terms, and not all wheat-traders are considered (the child receiving wheat from her mother, for example).\nSmith's 'invisible hand of the marketplace' is but one way of looking at particular types of social knowledge, specifically, those that may be expressed quantitatively, and on the basis of quantitative reasoning. Wheat may be valued non-quantitatively - by its taste, for example. Consider how society values chocolate, in comparison. The 'value of wheat', looked at from a connective perspective, is a consideration of the interaction between all statements concerning 'value' and all statements concerning 'wheat', and an interpretation of those statements. That we today express the value of wheat in economic terms says as much about the salience of financial value in today's society as it says about wheat.\nSocial knowledge has recently attained recognition (and value) under the heading of Surowiecki's 'wisdom of crowds'. But it is worth noting that many of Surowiecki's examples are cases where individual guesses \"aggregated and then averaged.\" While Surowiecki stresses (correctly) the autonomy of those guesses, he does not so stress the equally important fact that those guesses are not independent events - they are connected, in some key way, to each other (for example, the people guessing the temperature of a room have also the property of being in the same room; those estimating the weight of objects all see the same objects, and in trhe same way).\nSocial knowledge is not merely the aggregation and averaging of individual knowledge (as if there could be such a thing - consider how in guessing weights we use a medium, which in electing leaders we use a mode). That is why such aggregation is not necessarily reliable - an aggregation that is considered independently of the connections between entities is like a count that is considered independently of the membership of a set. Consider, for example, counting sheep without worrying about whether what is being counted is a sheep. It can work sometimes - in sheep-filled rooms, for example. But more often, it will mislead.\nl. Power Laws and Inequalities\nMuch of the work in networks has been on what are called 'scale-free' networks. A scale-free network is (as people like Barabasi have shown) distinct from a random network in that some entities in the network have a much higher degree of connectedness than others. True, in a random network, there will be a certain variance in distribution, but in a scale free network this variance is extreme. Consider, for example, a network like the internet, where some sites, such as Google, have millions of visitors, while other sites have only one or even none.\nA scale-free network of this sort forms through a dynamic process where the presence of one entity leads others to connect to it. For example, consider the act of creating links on a web page. In order to create a useful link, it is necessary to connect to a site that already exists. This means that, all other things being equal, a site that was created first will obtain the most links, because it will have been a candidate for linkage for all subsequent websites, while a site that was created last will have the fewest links, because it has never been a candidate for links.\nThis effect can be magnified when preferential attraction is considered. For when creating a link on a web page, a designer wants not merely to link to a random page, but to a good page. But how does one judge what counts as a good page? One way is to look at what other people are linking to. The probability that the first page created will be found is greater than that for any other page, which means that the first page will obtain even more links that it would receive through random chance. With this and similar drivers, some websites obtain millions more links than others.\nWhat's interesting is that though a similar process leads to the formation of scale-free networks in other areas, not in all cases is such an extreme inequality reached. What happens is that in some cases a structural upper limit is reached. Consider, as Barabasi does, the cases of airports and the power grid. Both are developed according to similar principles (airlines want to land flights, for example, where other airlines land flights). And, not unexpectedly, a power-law distribution occurs. But there is an upper limit to the number of aircraft that can land in a single airport, and consequently, a limit to the size of the inequality that can occur.\nVarious writers (for example Shirkey) write and speak as though the power law were an artifact of nature, something that develops of its own accord. And because it is natural, and because such systems produce knowledge (we will return to this point), it is argued that it would be a mistake to interfere with the network structure. This argument is remarkably similar to the argument posed by the beneficiaries of a similar inequality in financial markets. The rich get richer, benefiting from an inequal allocation of resources, but efforts to change this constitute 'intereference' in a 'natural phenomenon', the invisible hand of the marketplace, intelligently allocating resources and determining priorities.\nThis may be true, if we think of networks as natural systems. But the absence of limits to the growth in the connectivity of some nodes should alert us that there is something else going on as well. And it is this: the networks we describe, and in some cases build (or through legislation, protect), are interpretations of the multifarious connections that exist in an environment or in a society. They depend, essentially, on a point of view. And, arguably, the inequalities of links on the web or money in society represent the prevalance of one point of view, or some points of view, over others. But to understand how this could be so, we need to look at networks, not as physical systems, but as semantical constructs, where the organization of links is determined as much by similarity and salience than by raw, epistemologically neutral, forces of nature.\nWhat does it mean, even to say that a sentence has semantical import? To say, similarly, that we 'know' something? As suggested above, most of us remain committed to something like a Tarski semantics: we know something just in case what we know happens to be true. But of course, thi fails to tell the whole story. The knowledge needs to be, in some way, in our mind (or in our society); it needs to be a 'belief'. And (so goes the argument) it needs to be in some way justified, through a process of verification, or at the very least, says Popper, through the absence of falsification.\nThis view has its difficulties, as the Gettier counterexamples suggest. But (in my view) its most significant difficulties emerge when we try to articulate what it is that we know. Consider, for example, 'snow is white'. Sure, one could check some snow in order to determine that it is white, but only of one first understood what is meant by 'snow' and 'white' (not to mention, as Clinton taught us, 'is'). But as discussed above, that constitutes the meaning of, ay, 'snow', is far from clear. there is no such single entity. What it means is a matter of interpretation. So, for example, does enumerating what constitutes instance of snow. Does 'yellow snow' count? Does snow procuded by artificial ice machines count?\nThe behaviourist response to such dilemmas is to define 'knowing' that snow is white as a disposition to utter the word 'white' when presented with the question, 'what colour is snow'. And while we most certainly employ such tactics in the evaluation of knowledge (measuring responses is, after all, the basis of testing and examinations), it remains unsatisfactory, because we need to know what puts the disposition to say 'white' into a student's mind in the first place. Is it the whiteness of snow? Is it the memorization of the sentence 'snow is white'? Is it a comprehensive understanding of the process of crystalizing H2O?\nFrom the discussion above, it should be clear that on the account being given here, to 'know' that 'snow is white' is to be organized in a certain way (one that is evidenced by uttering 'snow' when asked). To be organized in such a way as to have neural and mental structures corresponding to the words 'snow', 'is' and 'white', where those structures are such that the concept 'snow' is closely associated with (in certain contexts) the concept 'white' (obviously this is a gloss). Knowing that 'snow is white' is therefore being organized in a certain way, but not in any particular way (we couldn't examine one's neural organization and be able to say whether the person knows that snow is white).\nThis is a very different model of what it means to 'know' - for one thing, because it is beased on organization and connectedness in the brain, the concept of justification and even of belief are nowhere present. What we 'know' is, if you will, a natural development that occurs in the mind, other things being equal, when presented with certain sets of phenomena; present the learner with different phenomena and they will learn different things. Like the Portugese word for 'snow', for example. And whether something counts as 'knowledge' rather than, say, 'belief' or 'speculation', depends less on the state of the world, and more on the strength or degree of connectedness between the entities. To 'know' something is to not be able to not know. It's like finding Waldo, or looking at an abstract image. There may be a time when we don't know where Waldo is, or what the image represents, but once we have an interpretation, it is not possible to look without seeing Waldo, without seeing the image.\nNo wonder Dreyfus and Dreyfus talk about 'levels' of knowledge, up to and including an almost intuitive 'expert' knowledge. As a particular organization, a particular set of connections, between neural structures is strengthened, as this structure becomes embedded in more and more of our other concepts and other knowledge, it changes its nature, changing from something that needs to be triggered by cue or association (or mental effort) into something that is natural as other things we 'know' deeply, like how to breathe, and how to walk, structures entrenched through years, decades, or successful practice. Contrast this to a cognitivist model of knowledge, where once jutification is presented, something is 'known', and cannot in later life be 'more known'.\nThere is no 'magic' to obtaining knowledge, no secret short-cut, save for practice and reflection - Hebbian and Boltzman connectivism.\nn. Public Knowledge\n'Public knowledge' is the explicit representation of social knowledge in language or some other concrete form. Public knowledge is what most people think of as 'knowledge' per se, it is what we attempt to teach our children, it is what is embodied an a canon and passed on to successive generations.\nThere are things known only by myself (cf again, Wittgenstein's private language argument), such as who I like and why, or where I last stubbed my toe, that society either cannot or has no desire to come to know as a part of social knowledge. Such knowledge, personal knowledge, does not externalize, because there is either no need or no mechanism with which to place it in the public domain.\nKnowledge that is, for example, subsymbolic defies communication (it is not imposible to communicate, through a shrug, a sigh, a knowing look). In order for private knowledge to become public knowledge, it must have some means of connecting with everything else that is considered public knowledge - through commonly understood utterances or actions.\nBut the mere communication of private knowledge in the public domain does not thereby convert it to public knowledge. It must be interpreted as such, recognized as such, in the public domain. In order for this to happen, the set of utterances ('Paris is the capital of France', say) must form a part of of the communications, of the interactions, in the social network as a whole. Then this pattern of communication must in turn be recognized by some perceiver (or group of perceivers) as constituting a relevant underlying organization of communication informaing (say) the behaviour of a society as a whole. Merely saying 'Paris is the capital of France' doesn't make it so; many other people must say it, and even then, the mere public utterance doesn;t make it so; it be recognized as a constituent element of the body of knowledge possessed by a society.\nIt becomes evident that one's demonstration of having acquired 'knowledge' is very different in the case of public knowledge than it is for private knowledge, even when the instance known is the same. Knowing privately that 'Paris is the capital of France' may consist merely of writing the appropriate word on a piece of paper, but knowing the same thing publicly involves a complex of interactions and behaviours, consisting essentially of immersion (becoming a part of, and entity within the organization) in the knowing community, so that utterances of the word 'Paris' reflect, and are seen to reflect, an instance of the (generally recognized fact that) 'Paris is the capital of France'.\nKnowing publicly is, as Kuhn said, knowing 'how to solve the problems at the end of the chapter'. It involves being able not only to produce specific behaviours, but in providing evidence of sharing in the same network of associations and meanings as others in the community, sharing a language, methodologies, riverbed assumptions. Failure to personally know something creates only a personal risk - one might travel to Leiges looking for the French parliament instead of to Paris. Failure to know publicly carries a greater risk: that of not being considered to be a part of the knowing community, of being, therefore, excluded from its interactions, and of being misunderstood when attempting to communicate.\nThis is why writers such as Wenger find such importance in communities of practice, and more, see such involvement as a process of (as he says) personal becoming. Interaction in a community of practice is to a significant degree an alignment of (certain parts of) one's personal knowledge with public knowledge - immersion produces a salience of certain utterances, certain practices, and thus promotes the developement of corresponding (but probably not isomorphic) structures in the mind. It exposes a person to instances of knowledge statements and pratcices which, if they are sufficiently similar to pre-existing organizations of neural and mental structures, increase, through association, their strength and importance. personal knowledge is distinct from public knowledge, but the two go hand in hand, and a person who is considered 'highly learned' is one who has internalized, to an expert degree, a great deal of public knowledge.\nBut on what do we base public knowledge? What is the process of interpretation and recognition by which we, say, accept the theory of gravity and reject stories about flying saucers? What makes some knowledge part of 'social knowldge' and other knowledge (merely?) personal knowledge? Why would a community accept some things as 'known' and not others?\nKnowledge is a network phenomenon, to 'know' something is to be organized in a certain way, to exhibit patterns of connectivity. To 'learn' is to acquire certain patterns. This is as true for a community as it is for an individual. But it should be self-evident that mere organization is not the only determinate of what constitutes, if you will, 'good' knowledge as opposed to 'bad' (or 'false') knowledge.\nConsider public knowledge. People form themselves into communities, develop common language and social bonds, and then proceed to invade Europe, or commit mass suicide, or in an example that poppup up today, starve themselves to death. Nor is personal knowledge any reliable counterbalance to this. People are as inclined to internalize the dysfunctional as the utile, the self-descructive as the empowering.\nThese are examples of cascade phenomea. Such phenomena exist in the natural world as well. The sweep of the plague through medieval society, the failure of one hydro plant after another, the bubbles in the stock market. Cascade phenomena occur when some event or property sweeps through the network. Cascade phenomena are in one sense difficult to explain, and in another sense deceptively simple.\nThe sense in which they are simple to explain is mathematical. If a signal has more than an even chance of being propagated from one entity in the network to the next, and if the network is fully connected, then the signal will eventually propagate to every entity in the network. The speed at which this process occurs is a property of the connectivity of the network. In (certain) random and scale free networks, it takes very few connections to jump from one side of the network to the other. Cascade phenomena sweep through densely connected networks very rapidly.\nThe sense in which they are hard to explain is related to the question of why they exist at all. Given the destructive nature of cascade phenomena, it would make more sense to leave entities in the network unconnected (much like Newton escaped the plague by isolating himself). Terminating all the connections would prevent cascade phenomena. However, it would also prevent any possibility of human knowledge, any possibility of a knowing society.\np. Structure and Process\nNothing guarantees truth. It is tempting to suppose that we could easily sure the excesses of cascading communities through a simple application of knowledge obtained through other domains, but in practice we gain no increased certainly or security.\nConsider, for example, qualitative knowledge. We are as apt to be misled by the information given by our senses as by any wayward community. Descartes records simple examples, such as miraches, or the bending of a stick in water, to make the point. Today's science can point to much deeper scepticism. Perception itself consists oif selective filtering and interpretation. The mind supplies sensations that are not there. Even a cautiously aware and reflective perceiver can be misled.\nQuantitative knowledge, the cathedral of the twentieth century, fares no better. Though errors in counting are rare, it is a fragile a process. What we count is as important as how we count, and on this, quantitative reasoning is silent. We can measure grades, but are grades the measure of learning? We can measure economic growth, but is an increase in the circulation of money a measure of progress? We can easily mislead ourselves with statistics, as Huff shows, and in more esoteric realms, such as probability, our intuitions can be exactly wrong.\nIn the realms of observation and mathematics, we compensate for these weaknesses by recognizing that a single point of view is insufficient; we distribute what constitutes an 'observation' through a process of description and verification. If one person says he saw a zombie, we take such a claim sceptically; if a hundred people say they saw zombies, we take it more seriously, and if a process is described whereby anyone who is interested can see a zombie for themselves, the observation is accepted.\nEven then, we demonstrated caution though an explicit recognition that in the process of seeing we are interpreting. An observation of a certain phenomenon may be labled the observation of 'zombies', but we consider alternative explanations. This is aided by ensuring that the observers of the phenomena have different sets of prior experiences, different worldviews, different ways they could interpret the phenomenon. Having every member of a religious sect report seeing zombies is less reliable than having members of different sects, scientists and sceptics report the same thing.\nIn quantitative reasoning, we take care to ensure that, in our measurements, we are measuring the same thing. Through processes such as double-blind experimentation, we additionally take care to ensure that our expectations do not influence the count. In statistical reasoning, we take care to ensure that we have a sufficiently random and representative sample, in order to ensure that we are measuring one phenomenon, and not a different, unexpected phenomenon. I(n both we employ what Carnap called the requirement of the total evidence: we peer at something from all angles, all viewpoints, and if everybody (or the preponderance of observers) conclude that it's a duck, then it's a duck.\nq. Reliable Networks\nConnective knowledge is supported through similar mechanisms. It is important to recognize that a structure of connections is, at its heart, artificial, an interpretation of any reality there may be, and moreover, that our observations of emergent phenomena themselves as fragile and questionable as observations and measurements - these days, maybe more so, because we do not have a sound science of network semantics.\nWhere structures of connections (ie., networks) differ from sets of observations or measurements is that there is in principle no external entity to which we can appeal in order to check our understanding. In a networked society, every person is a member of the network, and all things being equal, there is not some other networked society against which we can test our conclusions (prior to the days of global communications, societies did test themselves one against the other, but unfortunately though war and other conflict, a solution that was worse than the problem and which clouded their ability to interpret connections in a rational and dispassionate way).\nWe have already seen that there are different types of networks - different ways sets of connections between entities can be generated and organized. Where the mechanisms that support knowledge in other realms come into play in the world of networks is that these mechanisms become properties of the networks we rely upon to generate and contain knowledge.\nIn a network, a cascade phenomenon is akin to jumping to a conclusion about an observation. It is, in a sense, a rash and unthinking response to whatever phenomenon prompted it. The mechanisms that push a stock market into a bubble are skin to a person being convinced by looking at the same thing over and over again. A network in the throes of a cascade needs the internal equivalent to a 'second set of eyes' to act as the bearer of sober second thought.\nThis capacity is crucially dependent on the structure of the network. Just as a network with no connections has no capacity to generate knowledge, a fully connected network has no defense against jumping to conclusions. What is needed is to attain a middle point, where full connectivity is achieved, but where inpulses in the network ebb and flow, where impulses generated by phenomena are checked against not one but a multitide of competing and even contradictory impulses.\nThis is what the human mind does naturally. It is constructed in such a way that no single inpulse is able to overwhelm the network. A perception must be filtered through layers of intermediate (and (anthropomorphically) sceptical) neurons before forming a part of a concept. For every organization of neurons that achieves an active state, there are countless alternative organizations ready to be activated by the same, or slightly different, phenomena (think of how even a seed of doubt can destabilize your certainty about something).\nKnowledge in the mind is not a matter of mere numbers of neurons being activated by a certain phenomenon; it is an ocean of competing and conflicting possible organizations, each ebbing and subsiding with any new input (or even upon reflection). In such a diverse and demanding environment only patterns of organization genuinely successful in some important manner achieve salience, and even fewer become so important we cannot let them go.\nr. Network Structure\nIt is with these considerations that we return to the consideration of scale-free networks.\nAs mentioned above, a scale free network is characterised by a small number of entities is numerous connections, and a large number of entities with much fewer connections. It is worth noting that such networks are very tightly connected - in a scale free network a piece of information can reach an entire network very quickly.\nWhile the human brain exhibits some scale-free properties, it is nonetheless not as imbalanced as even things like the economic system or the World Wide Web. Some neurons (or neural clusters) play important and central roles in the brain, but they are not millions of times more connected than most of the others. The brain is densely connected, but the connections are more equitably distributed.\nThis is no doubt a result of the physical limitations of neurons. But even more importantly, reducing the scale of the inequality between neurons also slows the propoagation of impulses through the brain. It allows sub-organizatuons to develop - the alternative interpretations we can experience when observing a Gestalt phenomenon, for example. Were the structure of human thought to be replicated at the social level, what we would see is essentially a community of communities - the part of us (society) that likes knitting, the part of us that is a hedonist, the part of us that enjoys a good novel.\nNetworks that exhibit extreme power law distributions are untable. Because, though the mechanism of highly connected nodes, a single impulse can be broadcast and accepted by the entire network all at once, there is no constraint should the impulse prove to be destructive or dysfunctional. The extremes in human social behaviour, wrought on a smaller scale by chieftans and kings, and on a global scale by mass media, should serve as ample evidence of this. With nothing to counteract an irrational impulse, the charateristic of the one becomes the characteristic of the whole, and the society spirals into self-destruction.\nChieftans, kings and broadcast media are inventions. They are ways we represent, in physical form, the set of connections we perceive to be extant in a society. But as interpretations of a complex set of connections, they are subject to individual points of view, prior conceptions and prejudice. As Rousseau observed, when the mechanisms of the whole are put into the hands of the few, the very nature of the whole is interpreted in such a way as to serve the needs of the few.\nIn order therefore to successfully counterbalance the tendency toward a cascade phenomenon in the realm of public knowledge, the excesses made possible by an unrefrained scale-free network need to be counterbalanced through either one of two mechanisms: either a reduction in the number of connections afforded by the very few, or an increase in the denisity of the local network for individual entities. Either of these approaches may be characterized under the same heading: the fostering of diversity.\nFor, indeed, the mechansism for attaining the reliability of connective knowledge is fundamentally the same as that of attaining reliability in other areas; the promotion of diversity, through the empowering of individual entities, and the reduction in the influence of well-connected entities, is essentially a way of creating extra sets of eyes within the network.\nRecently a series of discussions took place regarding the relative 'truth' of entries in Wikipedia, a collection of articles created through a process of collective authoring, and Encyclopedia Britannia, a collection of articles about similar topics written by a series of experts.\nSuch discussions are difficult to resolve because, as we have seen, what constitutes the 'truth' of the matter is very much a matter of interpretation. Truth, as commonly conceived, is said to be based on facts (and mediated through 'truth-preserving' inference), but if even the simplest observation depends to a great degree on interpretation, then the foundation of truth itself is equally suspect.\nAnd yet this post-modernist attitude to knowledge is difficult to reconcile with our intuitions. We do rely on facts, there is knowledge, and what counts as knowledge has the virtue of being true. And when a body of work such as Wikipedia is examined, some statements are regarded as, and universally aknowledged to be, true, while others (happily a much smaller set) are found to be 'not true'. This, indeed, was the basis on which the Nature comparison of the two encyclopedias was based.\nWhat distinguishes Wikipedia from Britannica is not so much the account of truth it embraces as the process through which it arrives at truth. Wikipedia, much more so than Britannica, represents an instance of connective knowledge - it is an attempt to capture, as public knowledge, what can be observed via the interactions of numerous instances of private knowledge.\nIt should be clear and obvious at the outset that this is not some process whereby individual points of view are aggregated and averaged - such mechanisms are more evident in entities such as Google and Technorati and Digg. Rather, Wikipedia, through iterations of successive editing, captures the output of interactions between instances of private knowledge. The majority, typically, does not rule on Wkipedia; what matters is what is produced through the interaction.\nIn the case of Britannica, the same is the case. The authors, as experts, are typically those immersed in a knowledge community, who have in turn internatized the knowledge (both social and public) possessed by that community. The expert serves as a dedicated interpreter of that knowledge, an interpretation that is additionally subject to subsequent interactions with proof-readers and editors.\nA priori, each approach has an equally plausible claim to being an effective (and reliable) generator of knowledge, which raises the question of how we will resolve the truth of the matter when (inevitably) there exists a point at which one encyclopedia says a statement is true and the other says the opposite.\nTruth, in such a case, will come to depend not so much on the facts of the matter, but rather, through an examination of the process through which various types of knowledge are accumulated and interpreted. Just as the reliability of an observation report depends on how the observation is made, so to will the proclamations of connected communities of knowers.\nt. Knowing Networks\nArguably, the following criteria will determine the difference:\nFirst, diversity. Did the process involve the widest possible spectrum of points of view? Did people who interpret the matter one way, and from one set of background assumptions, interact with with people who approach the matter from a different perspective?\nSecond, and related, autonomy. Were the individual knowers contributing to the interaction of their own accord, according to their own knowledge, values and decisions, or were they acting at the behest of some external agency seeking to magnify a certain point of view through quantity rather than reason and reflection?\nThird, interactivity. Is the knowledge being producted the product of an interaction between the members, or is it a (mere) aggregation of the members' perspectives? A different type of knowledge is produced one way as opposed to the other. Just as the human mind does not determine what is seen in front of it by merely counting pixels, nor either does a process intended to create public knowledge.\nFourth, and again related, openness. Is there a mechanism that allows a given perspective to be entered into the system, to be heard and interacted with by others?\nIt is based on these criteria that we arrive at an account of a knowing network. The scale-free networks contemplated above constitute instances in which these criteria are violated: by concentrating the flow of knowledge through central and highly connected nodes, they reduce diversity and reduce interactivity. Even where such networks are open and allow autonomy (and they are often not), the members of such networks are constrained: only certain perspectives are presented to them for consideration, and only certain perspectives will be passed to the remainder of the network (namely, in both cases, the perspectives of those occupying the highly connected nodes).\nEven where such networks are open and allow autonomy (and they are often not), the members of such networks are constrained: only certain perspectives are presented to them for consideration, and only certain perspectives will be passed to the remainder of the network (namely, in both cases, the perspectives of those occupying the highly connected nodes).\nThis new knowledge is not inherently any more reliable than the old. A community that limits its diversity, that becomes closed, is as liable to err as a person who refuses to look around, refuses to take measure. A person, exposed only to limited points of view, with limited opportunities to interact, will be similarly bereft of insight.\nIt is, after all, a form of knowledge we have had all along, just as we have always have qualities, always had quantities.\nConnective knowledge is no magic pill, no simple route to reliability. As the examples mentioned above (part o) demonstrate, a knowledge-forming community can be easily misled or deluded, just as as a person can suffer from delusions and misunderstandings.\nIndeed, if anything, the sort of knowledge described here is perhaps even more liable to error, because it is so much more clearly dependent on interpretation. Knowledge derived from a pattern may be formed from a partial pattern; the perceiving mind fills in the gaps of perception. From these gaps spring the seeds of error.\nMoreover, as we enter the connected age, we live with remnants of the previous eras, years when connectivity in society was limited, control over perspective maintained by the beneficiaries of scale-free communications networks. History is replete with examples of the mind of one man, or one group in power, distorting the mechanisms of media to their own ends.\nThe examples range from very large to very small, from the rise of totalitarianism to the propagation of genocide to gender sterotypes, mass media marketing, and propaganda. Practitioners vary from dictators to slave owners to misogynists. The history of repression walks hand in hand with the history of the distortion of connective knowledge.\nThe purpose of this paper is not to provide truth, but to point the way toward the correction of these errors, both in ourselves and in our society. To show that, through attention to the underlying framework informing social and public knowledge, we can find a new renaissance, not perfection, but perhaps, a world less filled with ignorance and superstition.\nFreedom begins with living free, in sharing freely, in celebrating each other, and in letting others, too, to live free. Freedom begins when we understand of our own biases and our own prejudices; by embracing autonomy and diversity, interaction and openness, we break through the darkness, into the light.\nSUBSCRIBE TO OLDAILY DONATE TO DOWNES.CA\nWeb - Today's OLDaily\nWeb - This Week's OLWeekly\nEmail - Subscribe\nRSS - Individual Posts\nRSS - Combined version\nJSON - OLDaily\nNational Research Council Canada\nAll My Articles\nAbout Stephen Downes\nAbout Stephen's Web\nSubscribe to Newsletters\nPrivacy and Security Policy\nStephen's Web and OLDaily\nHalf an Hour Blog\nGoogle Plus Page\nHuffington Post Blog", "label": "No"}
{"text": "We are searching data for your request:\nRapid increase in the diabetes incidence rate: By 2030, around 1.5 million people in Germany will be diagnosed with type II diabetes\nAccording to an analysis by the German Diabetes Center, the number of diabetics will increase by 1.5 million people by 2030. This increases the number of people affected more than has been generally assumed by health experts. A healthy and nutritionally conscious lifestyle could, however, stop the rapid increase even without medication.\nAround 1.5 million people aged 45 and over will develop Type II diabetes in the next 20 years. A large proportion of new cases would be avoidable, experts warn. Because a healthy diet and a lot of exercise could prevent the breakdown of the chronic metabolic disease. The estimate is based on a survey by the German Diabetes Center DDZ.\nMore and more people are developing type II diabetes\nAround six million people in Germany suffer from type 2 diabetes. A few decades ago, older people were particularly affected, but today there are more and more children, adolescents and young adults who become diabetics at a young age. The main reasons for this are overweight and a mostly unhealthy diet. Despite numerous education campaigns, many young people resort to fast food, cola and Co.\nMen particularly affected\nA particularly rapid increase is forecast by the Diabetes Center in the male age group of 55 to 74 year olds. In a model-based calculation, the researchers predict an increase of around one million new male patients in the next two decades. That corresponds to a whopping plus of 79 percent compared to today. Since women generally live healthier, an increase can also be seen here, but this is somewhat smaller than that of men. By 2030, around 500,000 women will be diagnosed with type II diabetes. This corresponds to an increase of 47 percent.\nEast-south divide in disease rate\nMeasured by the total share of the German population, around eight percent of adults already suffer from type 2 diabetes. It is striking that according to analyzes by the Vice Director of the Institute for Biometry and Epidemiology at the DDZ in Düsseldorf, Dr. med. Wolfgang Rathmann, there is a clearly recognizable northeast-southwest gradient in the disease rate. While twelve percent of older people aged 45 and over already suffer from diabetes in Halle, it is only six percent in southern Augsburg, for example. Germany also has a sad top position in a European comparison. \"Germany holds a top position in the Diabetes Atlas of the International Diabetes Federation,\" explained Dr. Rathmann. However, the data must be used with caution, because there are differences in the data collection, restricted the physician. \"What is certain, however, is that the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus will continue to increase over the next few decades,\" said the doctor.\nA proportion of new cases that should not be underestimated would be avoidable, as experts report. Numerous studies have already shown that a lifestyle change in the form of physical exercise, maintaining or gaining normal weight and a main diet consisting of whole grains, vegetables and fruit could avoid around half of all diabetes diseases. \"According to the current study, if every second adult in the older population with a pre-diabetes stage successfully and permanently took part in measures for better nutrition and weight loss, 21 percent of future diseases in men and 31 percent of cases in women could be avoided,\" emphasizes Dr. Rathmann.\nSensible prevention can protect against diabetes\nThere are a number of studies that consistently show that diet and exercise are two essential elements for diabetes prevention. According to a study by the University of Leicester, green leafy vegetables in particular reduce the risk of illness. Cabbage vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and spinach in particular had an extremely positive effect during the course of the study. When subjects ate about 100 grams of cabbage vegetables a day, the risk of diabetes was reduced by 14 percent. Another evidence-based study by the \"Harvard Medical School\" examined the effects of wholemeal products. If you use wholemeal bread, brown rice or wholemeal pasta instead of white flour products, you can reduce your risk by a further third No more worries and long-term protection against type II diabetes. The first signs of type II diabetes are excessive thirst, visual disturbances and poor wound healing. If you notice such symptoms, you should take a blood test at your family doctor. (sb)\nWhole grains can prevent diabetes\nDiabetes is not a fate\nHerbal active ingredient for diabetes discovered\nHigh-fat fish prevents diabetes and heart disease\nDiabetes: sports and nutrition beneficial\nActive ingredients in milk protect against diabetes\nImage: Thomas Schubert / pixelio.de", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Virtual reality therapy has been on the rise in popularity among mental healthcare professionals.\nA recent study from the American Psychological Association found that VR therapy is being used to treat a variety of conditions including PTSD, anxiety, and addiction. In just a few decades, virtual reality has expanded from strictly an entertainment device into one that can offer therapeutic relief for many people. What's more, it's a more affordable option for those with low-incomes or without access to insurance coverage.\nThe move towards virtual reality therapy is the latest example of the way technology is changing mental health care. Doctors are taking advantage of video chat services like Skype to offer remote therapy sessions at a reduced cost. These services are more accessible than ever before and allow people to get treatment when they need it most, instead of waiting for an appointment or struggling to find an in-person therapist in their area.\nArtificial Intelligence is the process of converting raw data into information that leverages computers to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of a human mind. This obviously leads us to the ultimate question - will machines replace us (at least in the job market)?\nThe purpose of Computer Vision in the field of Law Enforcement enables officers with a powerful tool that helps detect, analyze and produce information that results in reduced response time, increased efficiency and will eventually lead to safer neighborhoods.\nThe current process to maintain road assets is a time-consuming, manual labor-intensive process, error-prone and costly.\nComputer Vision will eliminate the limitations of the traditional survey process & deliver efficiency across the value chain. This will result in better response time to fix road asset issues, making roads and highways safer.\nComputer Vision (CV), your everyday term for some of the most cutting-edge technologies, is set to turn into your second-in-command (and may eventually get to be the first). The term applies to any tech-innovation that can enable computers to see (visualize) and interpret digital content, such as, images and videos. The concept straddles between the ever-evolving fields of AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning. Today, computer vision successfully dominates major global sectors, starting from healthcare and finance to emergency and automotive industries. In fact, it is the latter where this phenomenon appears to be leaving its most noticeable mark. With much progress having already been made, experts are looking to optimize the role of computer vision in assisting both drivers and road-safety projects in the near future.", "label": "No"}
{"text": "Fed up with Thoreau trying to convince you how much better trees are than people? Then let the beavers chew them down and save a Scottish hamlet from flooding in the process. Welcome to the strange world of rewilding: the revamped call of the wild.\nThere are multiple usages of the term ‘rewilding’, however these can be broadly grouped into two interconnected strands; the rewilding of society and the rewilding of landscapes.\nRewilding of society is founded on the premise that Western society has prioritised culture at the expense of nature for too long. It points to the existence of ‘genetic memories’, residual traces of nature that exist in society, which society attempts to sate through synthetic substitutes. It argues that reintroducing nature to the equation could be for the benefit of society as a whole, as demonstrated by studies which have shown more frequent interactions with nature lead to better health, lower blood pressure, and higher levels of happiness.\nThe rewilding of landscapes is based on the recognition that we live in an ecological shadowland, one in which the ghosts of extinct species haunt an almost vacant landscape. This shadowland is maintained by decisions made to conserve it. This is due to ‘shifting baseline syndrome’, each generation defines the ‘natural’ environment to be what was present when they grew up. The issues with this are exemplified by the case of the Cambrian mountains, which have been ‘sheepwrecked’. Sheep grazing has created a putting green carpet of grass over much of these Welsh uplands, which is now conserved by environmentalists and propagated by farmers. This landscape, as well as being a biological desert, is economically unproductive, with these farmers’ main harvest being neither wool nor meat, but subsidies.\nHowever, there is a solution. Once re-introduced, apex predators could unwittingly re-engineer the environment, down to the very composition of the soil itself. These ‘keystone species’ would generate trophic cascades; shockwaves which would reverberate down the food chain, reconfiguring the proportion of species at each trophic level and creating a more productive ecosystem.\nRewilding of these landscapes could have environmental, economic and social benefits. Upstream rewilding of catchments has been proposed as a way to mitigate damaging downstream floods, with beavers especially effective in creating natural flood barriers. Subsidised, unproductive farming could be replaced by a more financially lucrative eco-tourism industry.\nRewilding is a plausible solution as, due to globalisation of the food market, there has been a retreat of farming from unproductive areas. It is estimated that an area of Europe the size of Poland will have been abandoned by farmers by 2030.\nHowever, there are significant issues with rewilding, such as a naïve lack of engagement with rural politics and doubts over the potency of trophic cascades. Furthermore, there is a certain spatial bias to rewilding: it tends to focus on a certain types of place at specific spatial scales.\nThere is an overly romanticised emphasis on large areas with small populations which can be properly independent of the influence of man. At the moment rewilding does not engage with nature in urban or semi-urban places, or even in lowland farmed areas. Currently, all it stands as is a continuation of the David Attenborough brand environmentalism, one in which wolves roam on vast empty plains and people are conveniently hidden behind the lens. This is just not realistic in a world predicted to contain 9.6 billion people by 2050.\nRewilding focuses on the regional, or national scale. On the global scale, rewilding flirts with environmental neoimperialism in its treatment of poorer countries. The land abandonment and expansion of nature in the developed world would be built on the back of industrialising agriculture and curtailing nature in the developing world. If more people can shoot megafauna in Scotland, would they travel to the Serengeti? Rewilding fails to solve the environmental problem, it just shifts it spatially.\nRewilding is undoubtedly based on an important observation; that the Earth’s sixth mass extinction event is rapidly approaching. However, ultimately it uses the same romantic argument, that nature must be left alone in wild, large places. It just argues using modern parlance to rehash an old argument. Rewilding has no fresh input on the old division between nature and culture, the very term reinforces the distinction between ‘wild’ nature and ‘tame’ society. To this end, rewilding is a spatial contradiction, it aims to reconnect people and nature while separating them. In order to actually achieve the ‘rewilding of society’ the ‘wild’ and society must be spatially conflated; the messy, in-between spaces that capitalism forgot in the urban landscape are just as important as large tracts of upland Wales. Conservation is like an ageing rockstar: it must stop playing the old classics, move with the times and focus on its next hit.\n1,455 total views, 2 views today", "label": "No"}