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The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a huge security storage for seeds. It's situated in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. This vault offers a safe, long-term and central storage for millions of crop varieties. It works as an insurance policy in case of natural and human-caused disasters. This seed vault is managed by an international organization called the Global Crop Diversity Trust. They have a database of all the seeds stored in the vault. Overview of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. It holds 850,000+ seed varieties. Established in 2008, the facility is managed by the Global Crop Diversity Trust. It provides a backup resource for genebanks that conserve food crop varieties. It also safeguards against natural disasters and climate change. The Vault stores dual copies of sample packets for each deposit species. Primary copies are stored in the common storage area. Backup copies are kept at separate temperatures depending on the species. The Preservation Area contains seed collections from 11 countries, including Peru, Kenya, Ethiopia, India and Brazil. There are specialised facilities for cryopreservation research too. The Seed Vault is an essential part of international efforts to secure food and protect crop diversity. It's a Noah's Ark-type repository. It provides safe haven against potential disruption or loss, such as conflict, financial crises, or natural disasters due to climate change. Purpose of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a symbol of global cooperation to protect the world's food supply and crop diversity. It's located on the remote Svalbard islands in the Arctic Ocean. This storage facility stores duplicates of around 860,000 seed samples from all countries. Established in 2008, it's essential for guarding against accidents and threats like war or natural disasters. It provides access to gene banks worldwide, conserving more than 4500 crop varieties from 6 continents. This monumental task allows researchers to have safe backups for threatened species. These may become extinct due to climate change or other unpredictable events. The Seed Vault works with universities, gene banks and non-profits within and beyond its vicinity. It also back up seeds from other gene banks around the world, protecting them from damage due to natural disasters or man-made calamities. By utilizing this sophisticated facility, agricultural biodiversity is conserved effectively. This ensures scientists all over the globe have the resources they need when they need it. Gaze upon the Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database! It safeguards some of Earth's most essential crop seeds. It stores data about each seed's spot in the vault, where it came from, its features and what it's used for. Plus, it has an interactive map to guide you through, and a wealth of other resources for worldwide researchers and scientists. Let's take a closer look at this amazing database! The Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database is a collection of seed samples from all over the world. It stores data about the genetic material and climate conditions at each location. The database structure is set up for efficient search and retrieval. At the top level is a repository table that has info about the deposits like name, country, coordinates, date, and seed variety details. A second table holds details about the variety such as sowing to harvest time and cold storage needs. These two tables are connected through a many-to-many relationship. This lets you access individual records or bigger sets based on criteria like variety name or country. There are five more tables with supplementary info like habitat type, sowing technique, and control measures when transferring samples. Lastly, specialized views lower database load from repetitive queries. They give easy access to related items like geocoding detail. This system provides quick access to info for researchers or anyone wanting to know about current deposits in the Database. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database is secure. Verification of seed material, properties, and integrity are done for protection. Access control and identity management systems grant access with strict protocols. All transfer of digital and physical material is encrypted. Backup procedures are in place for data retention. Multiple layers of firewalls protect against external threats. These measures make it hard for unapproved users or malicious coding to gain entry or compromise the system. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV) holds the planet's largest collection of seed diversity, for research and preservation. To protect these holdings, a secure database manages access for users. This database grants or restricts access with two-factor authentication: users must provide a username and password to gain entry. Access depends on user type, with different levels of access allocated according to need. For example, scientists researching specific seeds have limited access compared to those who manage the day-to-day operations of the vault, such as archivists or administrators. Plus, certain levels of access are set aside for external individuals or groups proposing research projects with Svalbard's holdings. Once approved, they receive login credentials that let them access the database remotely, without having to be in contact with the physical facility. It's crucial to securely manage databases so that unauthorized people cannot gain illegal access or tamper with Svalbard Global Seed Vault records. These databases give approved researchers appropriate authority when studying its contents, making sure essential biodiversity is kept safe for future generations, and safeguarding invaluable seed diversity due to its long-term storage capabilities. Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database makes data collection super easy. Fast and simple access to data, plus an efficient way to manage and trace it. In this article we explore the data collection process and the advantages of using this database. Data sources for Svalbard Global Seed Vault (SGSV) come from many places. These include international research groups, national genebanks, botanic gardens, and private collections. This data is used to map the location and characteristics of seed samples inside the vault. Primary data sources are accession records from national and international genebanks. These show where the seeds were taken from before they were deposited. Secondary data sources include databases and scientific papers that have extra info about the seed's origin. Questionnaires sent to depositors, depositor interviews, and digital archives are also part of the data. The team at SGSV check the data for accuracy and currency. They want to make sure the data is of high quality. By collecting this data, it helps manage essential agricultural resources on a global scale. Data Collection Process The Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database provides a platform for cataloging seed samples worldwide. Its data collection process includes four steps: - Identification: Register each sample with its unique identifier. This includes variety, species, subspecies details and morphological descriptors such as color, shape and size. - Assessment: Assess quality parameters to ensure data accuracy. These include relative humidity, temperature range, genetic analysis results and more. - Storage: Store data securely using digital encryption technology, to prevent manipulation or deletion. Data is backed up regularly with multiple redundancies. - Archiving: Permanently archive digital records from assessment processes. This can be used for long-term monitoring and research. Data Quality Control Data quality control measures are a must for the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault database. Its purpose is to keep data quality by identifying defects and then correcting or removing them. Data quality control also guarantees that all info stored meets standards for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. Common components of a data quality control process are: - Process auditing looks for ways to better existing processes. - Internal review examines if the collected info is being used the right way. - Audit sampling checks only those records thought to be wrong, not all records in the system. - Statistical sampling confirms enough numbers meet predetermined levels or trends in certain variables constantly. These procedures help discover any errors or inconsistencies in data collection methods and existing procedures. This allows them to be fixed so the Seed Vault database stays accurate, consistent, and reliable in the long run. Data Analysis is crucial for the Seed Vault Database. It provides deep understanding of the Vault, such as risk of extinction, storage conditions, and potential effects of illnesses over time. Let's explore the data analysis strategies used in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database! Data Analysis Tools Data Analysis Tools are key for understanding data from datasets. The range of tools vary from intuitive drag-and-drop menus to more advanced programming languages and algorithms for experienced analysts. Selecting the right tool depends on the user's expertise, how easy it is to use, and how much time is needed for the analysis. Novice users need a tool that is simple to code, with functions in separate tabs or blocks. It should also allow them to make complex queries while providing helpful visualisation options. Experienced programmers should look for a tool that can handle various databases and execute complex computing algorithms. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database contains intricate metadata about seed deposits, so effective data analysis is necessary. This can be done using Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet, Tableau Software, or R Programming Language. - Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet is a popular choice for quick data processing and exploration. It has an intuitive interface and can be enhanced with Macros and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications). - Tableau Software is great for visualisations and dashboards that give the user control over custom views. It can also connect to multiple databases and easily integrate with enterprise software. - R Programming Language is used by experts to code machine learning algorithms like Random Forest Modeling, which can help with predictive analytics solutions. It is great for advanced analysis of larger datasets, like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database. Data visualization is an important part of data analysis. It helps to find patterns, trends, and outliers. Data visualization can appear in various forms, like charts, graphs, tables, histograms, scatter plots, and heat maps. It is part of a larger set of techniques used in data analysis. This summarises numerical or qualitative variables in a concise form. Graphs and tables are used to make it easier to interpret the data. Plus, they can be interactive. This allows further exploration or manipulation of the dataset, leading to a better understanding. Visualizations are often used for reporting, helping people who haven't seen the original data understand its contents. This increases communication efficiency, conveying huge amounts of information quickly. Data mining is a process of finding patterns in big datasets. It can be used to uncover correlations between variables, predict future events, and identify trends. In the context of a Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database, data mining could be used to learn correlations between various seed species and climatic factors. It could give insight into the best type of climate for growing certain plants or which species would survive in different climates. Data mining can help decide suitable agricultural practices for each climate. By examining seed performance in various conditions, predictive analytics can assist in choosing which seeds to plant for maximum output. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a major asset. It's great for farmers, researchers and gardeners. It offers a wide range of plant varieties. It can preserve and share the planet's plant heritage. This paper has discussed the advantages of using the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. It can keep genetic diversity safe. It's also a key tool for global food security. We have considered the possible issues and restrictions of using the vault. Thus, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is essential. It can protect the world's plant heritage. It can maintain genetic diversity, ensuring food security. Benefits of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is an invaluable asset to researchers and agriculturists. It holds data on plant species from different parts of the world. This includes genealogical info, descriptions of the varieties' flowering times and geographical location. It also stores information from breeding programs, like alleles – variations in genes that determine characteristics. This resource is a lifesaver for farmers, botanists and clinicians who need accurate data to assess potential threats to plant species. It gives unique insights into crop origins and evolutionary history. Plus, the vault offers secure storage with redundancies in energy supply and tech infrastructure. Quality control processes ensure that the vault's valuable genetic record benefits humanity now and in the future. Future Directions for the Database The Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database (SGSD) plans to increase operational efficiency, involve more genebanks, and create research and educational partnerships. It will also reach out to stakeholders and partners to use the database to access numbers, records, and locations. SGSD is reinforcing the International Treaties on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). It preserves crop diversity, helping scientists, breeders, and agribusiness. SGSD also promotes plant breeders' rights to any material they invent. SGSD wants to sustainably feed people. It will partner with local and global organizations to develop resilient seed varieties and address food security issues. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database? The Svalbard Global Seed Vault Database is a collection of seed samples from around the world, preserved in a secure facility in Norway. 2. Who owns the seed samples in the vault? The seed samples are owned by the countries or organizations who have deposited them in the vault for safekeeping. 3. How is the seed data stored and accessed? The seed data is stored in a database with multiple layers of security and access is restricted to authorized personnel only. 4. Is the database publicly accessible? The database is not publicly accessible and is only accessible to authorized personnel for the purpose of managing seed samples and their metadata. 5. Is the database backed up and secure? Yes, the database is backed up regularly and security protocols are continuously monitored and updated as needed to ensure the safety of the seed samples. 6. Can new seed samples be added to the vault? Yes, the vault accepts new seed samples from countries and organizations around the world for long-term preservation and safekeeping.

Divide And Conquer Minimum Spanning Tree What is Backtracking? It is an algorithmic technique that considers searching every possible combination in order to solve a computational problem. It is the method of building the solution one piece at a time recursively and incrementally. The method keeps removing all those choices that do not contribute to the solution. Backtracking is considered to be best fit for only specific categorized problems, i.e., decision making problems, optimization problems and enumeration problems. Decision making problem :To find the path from given source to destination point in a maze Optimization problem :Queens's problem Enumeration problem : Knapsack problem What is Recursive Maze Algorithm? It is one of the best implementation of Backtracking technique. In terms of programming language, a maze can be represented by a 2D array. In general, a maze can be defined as collection of both successful and unsuccessful paths between two points namely source and destination. The recursive maze algorithm is the algorithm designed to solve the maze-type problems where the base concept of algorithm is backtracking. Example: Consider the following- The concept of recursive maze problems goes as follows: 1 (START) 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 (END) Consider the above maze where 0 means there could be no possibility to pass through that particular cell, and 1 is allowed to go through that particular cell. Out of all the ways of successfully reaching END point from the START, we find only 1 particular way being possible which allows reaching the end (destination) successful. (As marked above) These types of problems are called as recursive maze problem. Explain Hamiltonian Circuit Problems? Hamiltonian circuit problems are the ones which have a condition that each and every node of the given graph must be visited for exactly one time. Real life examples include electrical connections in a household, a complete route from a source location to destination and back to source in a different route. Explain Subset-Sum Problem? A set can be defined as a collection of homogeneous elements. Array is considered to be the basic data structure where as even other data structures can also are considered for a set. Sets in java are more popularly considered as the data structure to represent set than an array. Subset is considered to be a portion of sets. A subset may be of length zero to a complete set length. The subset problem deals with the extraction of a subset from a set upon the given condition. Explain N-Queens Problem? N Queens's problem deal with the placement of N number of queens on a square maze where distance between two queens should be greater than one unit in any dimension, i.e., either of row, column or diagonal. Explain m-color Problem? m-color problem deals with coloring of nodes for given graph with the condition that no two adjacent nodes should have same color. The minimum number of colors possible with the above condition for a given graph/cycle is called as chromatic number. The m-color problem is also popularly called as vertex-coloring problem. Explain with example the implementation of Backtracking in Knapsack problem. Knapsack problem deals with finding the maximum possible value against least possible sum of weights for the given set of pairs of weights and values. As already discussed backtracking is the mechanism which implements multiple recursions to find the optimal possibility. As Knapsack being one such target problem of backtracking, thus, backtracking is also considered to be one of the solution approaches to solve knapsack. Example: Consider the following example, Give an example of back tracking in daily life. The real life examples of back tracking in day to day life are as follows: Solving a Sudoku puzzle Finding the shortest path in the graph between two nodes. (In GPS tracking) Finding the safer ways for a coin to move in a chess board.

The cornerstone of overall health is physical well-being. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep contribute to the body’s vitality. Physical activity not only strengthens muscles and bones but also improves cardiovascular health and supports mental well-being. A nutritious diet fuels the body with essential nutrients, while adequate sleep is crucial for cognitive function, emotional balance, and overall vitality. Mental Health: Nurturing the Mind In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of mental health. Stress, anxiety, and depression are prevalent in today’s society, emphasizing the need for mental health awareness and support. Practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and therapy play crucial roles in promoting emotional well-being. Creating a work-life balance, engaging in hobbies, and fostering social connections are also vital for maintaining mental health. huffingposts. Social Well-Being: The Power of Connection Human beings are social creatures, and our well-being is profoundly influenced by our social interactions. Building and maintaining healthy relationships contribute to a sense of belonging and emotional support. Social connections can provide a buffer against stress, improve self-esteem, and enhance overall life satisfaction. Spending quality time with friends and family, participating in community activities, and fostering a supportive social network are essential for a balanced and fulfilling life. Preventive Healthcare: Empowering Through Knowledge Preventive healthcare involves taking proactive steps to maintain health and prevent the onset of diseases. Regular health check-ups, screenings, and vaccinations are essential components of preventive care. Educating oneself about healthy lifestyle choices, understanding risk factors, and making informed decisions about nutrition and exercise contribute to a preventive healthcare mindset. By investing in preventive measures, individuals can take charge of their health and reduce the likelihood of future health issues. Environmental Wellness: Harmony with Nature The environment we live in plays a significant role in our health. Ensuring clean air, water, and a safe living environment is crucial for overall well-being. Sustainable practices that support environmental health, such as reducing waste, conserving resources, and choosing eco-friendly products, contribute not only to the health of individuals but also to the well-being of the planet. The Interconnected Nature of Health Holistic health recognizes the interconnectedness of various aspects of well-being. Physical, mental, and social health are not isolated domains but intricately linked facets of a person’s overall wellness. Achieving balance in these areas requires a comprehensive and personalized approach that takes into account individual needs, preferences, and circumstances.

This painting commemorates a major victory for the Grand Alliance (the British, Austrians, Dutch and Prussians) over the French and their Bavarian allies in the early stages of the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-13). The battle was an extraordinary feat of strategy, logistics and co-operation. When enemy forces threatened to capture Vienna, the Duke of Marlborough marched 40,000 men from what is now Belgium to Blenheim in southern Germany, undetected by the French. On arrival, they joined with Prince Eugene of Savoy’s Austrian army to secure a decisive victory. Blenheim destroyed the illusion of French invincibility and marked the beginning of a military partnership between Marlborough and Eugene that successfully resisted Louis XIV’s attempts to extend his territorial claims. Following this notable achievement, Queen Anne granted Marlborough the royal manor of Woodstock in Oxfordshire, as well as funds for the construction of what became his family’s ancestral home, Blenheim Palace. Wootton painted a number of works depicting Marlborough's campaigns, sometimes borrowing details from the murals at Blenheim Palace commissioned by the Duke himself. Come and see this historic scene in our Conflict in Europe gallery, alongside other items that demonstrate the Army's role in maintaining the balance of Continental power.

Quantitative Easing (QE) is a type of expansionary monetary policy that occurs when there is no longer an option of reducing interest rates further or reducing interest rates in isolation would not be enough to create the shift in AD required. Why do Central Banks Use Quantitative Easing? There are a couple fo closely linked aims that QE helps to achieve, - Creating a boost to AD as consumers and frims increase consumption and investment. - Boosting inflation - reducing the likelihood of deflation. - Lowering interest rates. How do Central Banks Implement Quantitative Easing? For a level economists we can actually be quite brief about the process of QE. - The central bank - The Bank of England - creates digital money in its internal systems. - The central bank uses this money to buy government bonds and corporate bonds. - Any bank, firm or individual that has sold bonds to the central bank now have increased liquidity, cash availability, in order to spend. - Banks are more able to make loans to consumers & firms and the government are more able to implement expansionary fiscal policies. - As a further boost, this increase in the money supply also causes interest rates to fall which incentivises consumers and firms to take out the loans which have become available. The falling interest rate can be seen in the diagram below. Alternative Policies to quantitative Easing There are a few alternatives to QE. Direct cash provision and helicopter money are both monetary policy instruments that can be used in order to boost AD. The key difference is that the banks are not needed in these alternatives and cash is provided directly to the consumers.

THE AVERAGE person remembers Alf M. Landon as a badly beaten presidential candidate in 1936, but there are better reasons for remembering him. Among other things, he used his meager and ill-defined powers as titular leader of the Republican minority between 1937 and 1940 to mitigate intraparty strife. In so doing, he made a substantial contribution to the Republican revival in the 1940 election. His achievement was all the more remarkable because previous titular executives had either been nonfunctional or self-interested schemers. Landon demonstrated the constructive possibilities in the office but his example was wasted on both his contemporaries and his successors. Either they shunned responsibility or pursued personal ambition under the delusion that they were serving their party. So the Landon experiment was an interlude rather than the beginning of a useful tradition. Since the American constitution made no provision for political parties, the job of titular minority leader-like other party posts-developed outside the formal structure of government. Unlike his opposite number, the President, the minority leader has neither patronage power nor other constitutional prerogatives to strengthen his hand in dealing with members of his party in congress. Matters might have developed differently if defeated Presidential candidates had been encouraged to seek a seat in either house of congress. Such an arrangement might have been difficult to work out, but not impossible. A member of the congressional minority from the same state as the defeated Presidential candidate would have had to resign to make a place for him. The cumbersome features of the procedure militated against its adoption. Moreover, tradition frowned on an active role for defeated Presidential candidates as well as retired Presidents. Both were supposed to withdraw and act like elder statesmen. Some defied tradition, but the results were often disastrous. Thus, the titular leader of the minority party was usually a figurehead with neither authority nor prestige. Even if he tried to become a party spokesman and develop issues for the next election, he possessed no way of imposing his strategy and views on the minority in congress. Confronted with this unpromising situation, most defeated Presidential candidates simply became inactive. The first Republican to defy tradition was Theodore Roosevelt in 1916, although at the time nobody could be sure whether he spoke for Bull Moosers or the Republicans. In any case, he made an unsuccessful effort to commit the congressional minority to a militant stand against German violations of international law. This episode raised the specter of a ruinous cleavage in minority leadership. If Republicans saw the danger, they ignored it. They had been the minority party for only 12 years since 1860 and were soon headed for a dozen more years of uninterrupted power. All of the explosive possibilities of 1916 were actualized in 1932 when the Republicans suffered an overwhelming defeat at the polls. The magnitude of the disaster undermined morale and led to mutual recriminations between the victims. Congressional Republicans blamed Hoover for an inept campaign and he blamed them for dragging their feet. The agrarian element in the party denounced the wealthy industrialists, while the latter claimed that the unsound proposals of Western Republicans had deepened the depression and scared the voters. An ideological dispute about the viability of the free enterprise system was superimposed on older sectional animosities. Some professionals, who felt more concerned over the collapse of a serviceable political machine than the economic distress of the masses, swelled the chorus of criticism. The sources of frustration were too diverse to receive expression in clear-cut fashion. Yet polarization of a sort expressed itself: the bulk of the congressional minority acquiesced in New Deal emergency legislation and Hoover as titular party leader opposed it. Neither element was very vocal in 1933 but the cleavage became more pronounced as Republicans prepared for the midterm congressional elections. Republican legislators received thousands of short and virtually illegible letters from constituents ordering them "to support the President." The instinct for survival was strong enough to override the ideological qualms of most G.O.P. congressmen with the result that outspoken conservatives campaigned for renomination and reelection as progressives. Hoover had secretly nursed the hope of vindication by the voters but had remained silent for a time while waiting for Roosevelt to destroy himself with wild assaults on American institutions. Proposals for the extension of the New Deal and the supine attitude of Republican congressmen brought the ex-President into the open during the winter of 1933-1934. As titular executive he was determined to define issues for the 1934 campaign and to retain his grip on the party machinery. He prodded National Chairman Everett Sanders into a series of violent broadsides against the New Deal. Republicans in congress retaliated on February 25, 1934. For the first time since 1866 they adopted a resolution divorcing the congressional and senatorial campaign committees from the national committee. Then they made preparations to oust Sanders as national chairman. The showdown took place at the Palmer House in June, where the congressional faction won a Pyrrhic victory. Sanders was dropped but Hoover persuaded the national committee to accept Henry P. Fletcher as his successor. Fletcher had voted for Roosevelt in 1912, but his progressive impulses had evaporated thereafter. The upshot was that he celebrated the 80th birthday of the Republican Party at Jackson, Mich., by asserting that the 73d congress was full of rubber stamps and feeble minds. Fletcher did not bother to lessen the impact of the generalization by restricting it to the Democrats. Then Hoover took the hosting, bewailing regimentation and the loss of individual initiative. Voters who missed the speeches were able to sample his viewpoint in a series of Saturday Evening Post articles entitled "The Challenge to Liberty." Not since the ill-fated effort of Theodore Roosevelt to speak for the party in 1916 had a titular leader defined the wishes of the minority in congress so pointedly. The legislative leaders could do nothing but dissociate themselves from the strategy that they regarded as suicidal. Some former Bull Moosers solicited and received endorsements from Franklin Roosevelt; others ran as constructive critics of the New Deal; and a few talked about non-political subjects. In effect, there were two Republican minorities rather than one and dissension helped to swell the Roosevelt tide in November. For the first time in 20th century, the party in power increased its majority in both houses in an off-year election. On the morrow of the debacle Republican legislative leaders demanded a reorganization of the party. Borah snorted that people couldn't eat the constitution and McNary added that "regimentation" filled the mouth but not the stomach. Hoover not only ignored these jabs but acted as if he has missed the 1934 elections. In the year before the convention, he gave 10 major addresses and traveled incessantly. Old friends ruefully concluded that he was a candidate for renomination, a fear that Hoover confirmed by working for a deadlocked convention, which would turn to him. The nomination of Landon in June of 1936 momentarily ended the factional warfare because his political position was close to that of Republican congressional leaders. As a young man, Landon had deserted the Republicans to vote for Roosevelt in 1912 and for Robert M. La Follette in 1924, adhering thereafter to the restless agrarian wing of the state party. As governor of Kansas he had balanced the budget, cooperated wholeheartedly with the Roosevelt administration in the expenditure of federal relief funds, and limited himself to cautious criticism of the New Deal. Landon was looking "for the middle of the road between a government by plutocracy and a government by bureaucracy." He confided to a friend that four more years of Roosevelt "would wreck us," but he also felt that a reactionary program would put the United States "about the same place at the same time." Landon took pains to keep Hoover out of the campaign and to advertise his independence of the Liberty League. It was not until after his depressing loss to Roosevelt in 1936, however, that Landon unveiled a new concept of minority leadership. He might have interpreted his overwhelming rebuke at the polls as an excuse to retire, and thereby escape any responsibility for the tactics of what had become a pathetic minority. Alternately, he might have succumbed to the desire of vindication like his predecessor and moved on a collision course with the G.O.P. minority in congress. Instead Landon started from the assumption that the party record would be made by congressional Republicans and that he ought to cooperate with them whenever possible. He solicited their advice before speaking and simply remained silent if he could not accept their position. These tactics were part of a larger concept that the titular minority leader ought to be an honest broker, muting his own views in the interest of consensus on the broadest possible basis. Rightly or wrongly, Landon ascribed Republican losses to intraparty strife, and believed that some of the dissidents would return if the leaders stopped airing their differences publicly. He likewise felt that silence was justified inasmuch as the voters had unmistakably relieved the Republicans of responsibility for governing the country. So he wanted the leaders to sit back; allow the Democrats to make errors; and then entice the disillusioned away from Roosevelt. Landon launched the new policy under discouraging circumstances. The 1936 election had discredited his tactic of partial accommodation to the New Deal as decisively as the 1934 election had discredited the policy of denunciation. The Hoover faction and the ex-President himself were waiting restlessly in the wings for an opportunity to recapture control of the party. Recognizing the need for a reevaluation of party principles, Landon put out cautious feelers in January 1937, for a midsummer roundtable discussion. What he had in mind was a relaxed forum of the type held by British parties rather than a formal convention. Looking for ideas instead of controversies, he distrusted the kind of atmosphere associated with an official party gathering. The idea of a forum was almost immediately overshadowed by a development that allowed Landon to test his theory of leadership on a broader basis. Catching politicians of both parties unawares on February 5, 1937, Roosevelt demanded legislation to enlarge the Supreme Court. Within 24 hours it was clear that many Democrats would oppose the court plan. So senate triumvirate composed of Borah, McNary and Vandenberg persuaded their Republican colleagues to sit on the sidelines. With some apprehension, Townsend of Delaware approached Landon to tell him that opposition from the titular leader would only make the court plan more popular. To Townsend's surprise, Landon acquiesced readily in congressional leadership, observing that the legislators were on the firing line and knew what was best. Other emissaries carried the same request to Hoover and officials of the National committee who were busy polishing up their Lincoln Day speeches. Hoover agreed to cooperate but soon repented. National Chairman John D. M. Hamilton was just as difficult to silence, and Landon had to apply pressure repeatedly on his fellow Kansas. Landon's position soon became untenable because he faced a rising tide of criticism from rank-and-file Republicans who objected to the policy of silence. In late March he tried to find out when the Democrats fighting the court plan would "restore citizenship" to the Republicans, but received no response. Nevertheless, Landon held his peace except for occasional criticisms of the court plan delivered in nonpartisan fashion. This strategy eventually paid off in July when a Democratic Republican senate coalition killed the measure. The resulting cleavage in the Democratic party seemed to open up the prospect for a political realignment that would benefit the Republicans. Landon had been alive to the possibilities as early as February, 1937, and had given a private pledge to indorse any Democratic foe of the court plan who would run for reelection as an Independent in 1938. On the other hand, he did not want coalition on a basis which would result in the absorption of the Republicans by the Southern Democrats. So his policy was to leave the door open to party reorganization by preventing any authoritative statement of Republican principles that might repel potential converts. "If coalition comes," he noted, "it will come as naturally as the birth of a baby." He was equally certain that each state would have to follow its own pattern. Hoover viewed these tactics with dismay. He had resented Landon for excluding him from the Presidential campaign and now thought that the dissensions of the Democrats could best be exploited by an aggressive restatement of Republican principles. In fact, he had begun a campaign to wrest titular leadership of the party from Landon as early as the spring of 1937. Enlisting the support of National Chairman Hamilton, he demanded that the Republican party hold a national convention in midsummer. Presumably such a gathering would reaffirm the Hoover credo in broad philosophical terms, indorsing by implication the ex- President himself. There were all manner of objections to the project. For the transactions of a midterm convention to be binding on the party, delegates would have to be elected in the traditional fashion. Few G.O.P. leaders foresaw any profit from spending the necessary time and money to do so. Moreover, a general statement seemed likely to dampen coalition sentiment among Democrats and irritate G.O.P. congressmen. Landon blocked the convention temporarily by refusing to sign the call, whereupon Hoover demanded that one be held in the fall. Letters were sent to delegates of the 1936 convention under the signature of an obscure college professor named Allison Reppy urging a fresh convention to restore Hoover to his rightful position in the party. Simultaneously, Hoover embarked on a tour of Northern states, pushing his project. Landon objected to any kind of convention before the midterm election; but instead of opposing it openly he proposed conditions that would make it unacceptable to others; He advocated a plan for the admission of delegates that would prevent the Hoover faction from dominating the convention. He aroused the misgivings of Republican congressmen just as artfully by demanding that the proposed convention pronounce on every current issue. Hoover found Landon polite but immovable when they conferred at the Sinissippi estate of Frank O. Lowden on October 3. Landon was not nearly so restrained in his correspondence, however. Indignantly he branded Hoover as either the blindest politician in the party or "selfishly indifferent to his effect on it." Landon went on to note that neither of them could be nominated in 1940, but that Hoover was suffering from delusions of grandeur. Unable to force a midterm convention, the persistent Hoover finally settled for a policy committee under the chairmanship of Glenn Frank of Wisconsin. This group was authorized to hold hearings and draw up a statement of party principles for the guidance of the 1940 convention. Landon refused to serve on the Frank committee, but observed with relief that it would produce no report until after midterm elections. The collapse of the convention movement ended Hoover's six-year effort to dominate the Republican minority. Looking back on the factional squabble, Landon feared that it had resembled "two undertakers quarreling over a corpse." His contribution to the spectacular Republican resurgence in November 1938, is difficult to measure, but Landon had done more than anybody to suspend the intraparty ideological warfare during the campaign. He devoted his last two years as titular executive to the dual task of grooming new leadership for the G.O.P. and searching for common ground on the divisive issue of foreign policy. Long before the convention he made an open and emphatic withdrawal from the Presidential race. Then he tentatively swung his support to Manhattan District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey, who most nearly met Landon's specifications for youthful, dynamic party leadership. Not only did Landon line up the Kansas delegation behind Dewey, but he resisted the early stampede to Wendell Willkie. Although initially suspicious of the new standard bearer, Landon preferred Willkie to the shopworn leaders of the depression era and loyally supported him in 1940. The intensification of isolationist sentiment in the G.O.P. alarmed Landon, but he tried to fight the trend behind the scenes rather than air his differences with the Republican minority in congress. As a Theodore Roosevelt nationalist, Landon regarded the pacifism of the mid-1930's as sickly and unpatriotic. He opposed the neutrality laws and thought they bred a false sense of security. He also believed that they would lead to trade and production controls like other New Deal policies. With some justice, Landon blamed Franklin Roosevelt for promoting the isolationist spirit that became an inconvenience to the President after 1937. Yet Landon refused to run interference for Roosevelt at the expense of the G.O.P. Although Landon twice received bids for the White House to join a coalition cabinet, he made his acceptance contingent upon an explicit disavowal of third-term aspirations by Roosevelt. Negotiations broke down both times because Roosevelt refused to make the necessary pledge. So Henry L. Stimson received the post intended for Landon, entering the coalition cabinet with Frank Knox in June, 1940. The desertion of two leading Republican internationalists on the eve of the party convention made the isolationists more truculent than ever. They overturned a cautious foreign policy plank sponsored by Landon and adopted one more critical of the Roosevelt administration. Landon was disturbed by the outcome because it tempted Republican orators to speak more charitably of foreign leaders than of their own government. In long letters to Willkie on August 31 and September 4, Landon warned of the danger that the voters would consider the party unpatriotic. He also advised Willkie against taking any stand on specific issues that conflicted with the isolationist position of the G.O.P. minority in congress. Conceding that Willkie was a difficult situation, Landon urged a series of vague but patriotic statements on foreign policy. Willkie ignored this advice and divided the minority by colliding directly with the G.O.P. legislators on several issues before congress. Whether different tactics would have improved Republican prospects in the 1940 election is a matter of conjecture. In any case, Landon's experiment in cooperation between the G.O.P. titular executive and the party minority in congress was an interlude in a protracted fight between the rival centers of party leadership. Although Landon had sought to stifle factionalism by avoiding unnecessary policy statements and adjusting his position to the party record of congress, he stopped short of enunciating a formal theory of minority leadership. His contribution was in the form of deeds rather than words. As a pragmatic effort to clarify the perplexities inherent in minority leadership, Landon's approach had no lasting impact on the party. It required an unselfish concept of service that many politicians honor in theory but spurn in practice. Nonetheless, it provided a model for statesmanship under discouraging conditions. PROF. George H. MAYER, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, is visiting professor of history at New College, Sarasota, Fla. He is author of The Political Career of Floyd B. Olsen, Farmer-Labor Governor of Minnesota (1950), The United States in the Twentieth Century, with W. O. Forester (1958), and The Republican Party, 1854-1964 (1964). 1. "Hiram Johnson Papers," Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, Johnson to C. K. McClatchy, December 4,1932; "Charles L. McNary Papers," Library of Congress, Canary to Mrs. W. T. Stolz, November 10,1932. 2. Literary Digest, New York, February 24, 1934. 3. "Johnson Papers," Johnson to John F. Nylon , February 25, 1934. 4. Walter K. Roberts, "The Political Career of Charles L. McNary" (unpublished Ph. D. thesis, University of North Carolina, chapel Hill, 1954), p. 186; "Charles L. McNary Papers," James Cousins to Canary , August 23,1934, September 21, 1934; "Arthur Capper Papers," manuscript division, Kansas State Historical Society, weekly Sunday evening radio address, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 1934. 5. Orde S. Pickney, "William E. Borah and the Republican Party, 1932-1940" (unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of California, Berkeley, 1957), p. 79. 6. "Francis V. Keesling, Papers," Stanford University Library, Stanford, Calif., Keesling to Orr M. Chenowith, November 21,1935. 7. "Chester Rowell Papers," Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, Rowell to Myrtle (niece), June 11, 1936. 8. "Alf M. Landon Papers," manuscript division, Kansas State Historical Society, Landon to Stanley High, November 4, 1936, September 17, 1735. 9. Ibid., Landon to Richard L. Jones, January 7,1937. 10. Ibid., Landon to Walter Edge, February 23, 1937 11. Ibid., Landon to Frank Altschul, April 2,1937. 12. Ibid., William Hard to Landon, March 23, 1937 13. Ibid., Landon to Lewis Douglas, April 6,1938 14. Ibid., Landon to Jay Hayden, June 21,1937 15. Ibid., Jay W. Scoval to Jacob D. Allen, September 3, 1937. 16. Ibid., Landon to James W. Arnold, September 22, 1937. 17. William T. Hutchinson, Lowden of Illinois (2 volumes), University of Chicago Press (1937), v.2, p. 724. 18. "Landon Papers," Landon to Don Berry, October 14, 1937. 19. Ibid., Landon to Berry, October 25, 1937. 20. Ibid., Landon to Roger W. Straus, August 10, 1938. 21. Ibid., Landon to Straus, June 2, 1938. 22. Ibid., Landon to Charles P. Taft, July 10, 1940. 23. Ibid., Landon to Cyrus Eaton, May 20, 1940. 24. Ibid., Landon to William Hard, October 11, 1937. 25. Ibid., Landon to Sterling Morton, January 13,1949 26. Ibid., Landon to Wendell Willkie, August 31,1940, September 4, 1940.

We’ve been hearing a LOT about Software Defined Networking (SDN) and how it’s the latest, greatest thing for computer networks and computer networking. But what is it? Read through this short post to see exactly what it is, how it works and what you need to know about it. Software Defined Networking (SDN) – Different From What’s Been Used Until Now… So most of the history of how computer networks have worked until the present-day (today) has been with hardware switches and routers. Each one (each physical router or switch) physically has 2 closely related components that function on the router or switch itself: There is a control plane and a data plane. To understand how Software Defined Networking (SDN) works, we first need to understand what the control plane and the data plane have traditionally done ON each of these physical networking components (routers and switches). Control Plane and Data Plane To keep this really simple, let’s talk about the control plane first. The control plane on a router or switch is what makes actual decisions about HOW to MOVE traffic. These decisions are made from the configuration that’s been installed or programmed into the router or switch in its running configuration. Now the control plane makes the actual decisions. The data plane is responsible for carrying OUT those decisions and actually doing what the control plane wants done. So if we look at the control plane on a router, for instance, we see that the control plane transmits routing protocols like OSPF and BGP. It also builds routing tables that are USED by the data plane. A router’s data plane will read incoming packets and reference that routing table to send the packets to their correct destination. So really all you need to understand on this video is that each physical router or switch has its own control plane and data plane and these are what are used to make and carry out those decisions on where network traffic goes, if it has any priority over other traffic, what VLAN(s) it belongs in, etc. Software Defined Networking vs. Network Management Software… This leads us to Software Defined Networking (SDN)…With software defined networking, the control plane on each physical router or switch is no longer needed or used. Instead, the router or switch will communicate with and rely on what’s called a Network Controller to specify how physical network components and virtual network components move traffic through a network. So essentially for SDN to work, you need network components (routers and switches) that have data planes designed or built to take instructions FROM that network controller instead of their own in-house (so-to-speak) control plane. An Old Concept to Help Understand SDN To understand this concept a little better, let’s first look at (and there are plenty of instances where semi-older components have to use this) but let’s first look at network management software. With network management software until the present day, you install and use a program like SNMP on the component itself (the router or switch) and that SNMP installation is what’s referred to as a “client” and it would report to the main management software (running on a server or desktop) allowing semi-real-time reporting of whether there are any errors reported on that switch or router as well as any log messages registered, bottlenecks in traffic, temperature thresholds, functional malfunctions, etc. and etc. The network administrator that installs and configures the network management software and the SNMP client on each switch and router can login to the network management software running on that centralized server or desktop (or even laptop) and monitor all the components on a network that are set to report in as “clients” and that administrator/technician can even upload or change router or switch configurations remotely USING that network management software on that server or desktop. Kind of a more centrally managed network monitoring process. SDN On A Network Controller If you understand the concept of network management software, you can thoroughly grasp how SDN works. Now SDN is NOT network management software. Rather, SDN is used essentially in real-time to monitor traffic on all components (all the routers and switches set to report in to the network controller) and it can actually order them to change how they handle traffic on the network, because the network controller serves as kind of like the head boss control plane for each of those devices, instead of each device’s own control plane running the show and making decisions. So for a while, we’ll probably be seeing Network Management Software used alongside Software Defined Networking (which again is used on the Network Controller) on larger networks. The REAL Benefit… But I want to leave you with this: The real benefit to software defined networking (SDN) is not so much that it’s a centrally managed control plane (of sorts, because that’s essentially what you’re doing), but the real benefit is that the network controller in Software Defined Networking is programmable. You can even write code that controls how the entire network behaves and works and that can all be done through the software defined networking setup using the Network Controller. If we stayed with Network Management Software, administrators/technicians still have to change the configurations on each router or switch themselves to alter how traffic is handled. With software defined networking (SDN), it’s done on the fly BY the network controller acting as the centralized control plane for each of those routers and switches. So that’s the basics of Software Defined Networking (SDN) and what you’ll need to know to correctly answer any questions you may get about it on the Network+ Exam. Solve ANY Subnetting Question In 7-Seconds!

Why Soil and Water Conservation is Important Soil and water conservation is a critical aspect of environmental sustainability. It involves the implementation of practices and techniques that help protect the quality of soil and water resources, preventing erosion, degradation, and pollution. By conserving soil and water, we can ensure the long-term health and productivity of our natural ecosystems, support agricultural practices, and maintain a sustainable water supply for human consumption. The Power of Visual Communication The Role of Posters in Soil and Water Conservation Posters have long been used as a powerful tool for communication. They have the ability to convey complex messages in a simple and visually appealing manner, making them an effective medium for promoting soil and water conservation. By creating eye-catching and informative posters, we can raise awareness about the importance of conservation practices and inspire individuals to take action. Creating Effective Soil and Water Conservation Posters Understanding the Target Audience Before diving into the creative process, it's important to understand the target audience for your poster. Are you targeting farmers, students, or the general public? Tailoring your message and design to resonate with your audience will greatly increase the impact of your poster. Choosing the Right Message The message of your poster should be clear, concise, and compelling. It should communicate the importance of soil and water conservation and inspire viewers to take action. Consider using catchy slogans or thought-provoking statements to grab attention. Visual elements play a crucial role in poster design. Incorporate images, illustrations, and infographics that effectively convey key messages about soil and water conservation. Use vibrant colors and bold typography to make your poster visually appealing and engaging. Promoting Conservation Practices Use your poster to showcase specific soil and water conservation practices that individuals can adopt. Highlight techniques such as mulching, terracing, rainwater harvesting, and composting. Provide step-by-step instructions and tips to make it easy for viewers to implement these practices in their daily lives. Showcasing Success Stories People are often inspired by success stories. Feature real-life examples of individuals or communities who have successfully implemented soil and water conservation practices. This will not only motivate others to follow suit but also demonstrate that conservation efforts can yield positive results. Creative Ideas for Soil and Water Conservation Posters "Every Drop Counts" Create a poster that emphasizes the importance of water conservation. Use imagery that showcases the scarcity of water and the need to use this precious resource wisely. Encourage viewers to take simple actions such as fixing leaky faucets and using water-efficient appliances. "Protect Our Soil, Sustain Our Future" Highlight the connection between healthy soil and sustainable agriculture. Use visuals that depict the impact of erosion and degradation on crop productivity. Educate viewers about the importance of soil conservation practices, such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and minimal tillage. "Nature's Filter: Protect Our Water" Focus on the role of natural ecosystems in filtering and purifying water. Create a poster that showcases the importance of wetlands, forests, and riparian zones in maintaining water quality. Encourage viewers to support initiatives that protect and restore these vital habitats. "Dig Deep, Plant Trees" Highlight the benefits of tree planting in soil and water conservation. Illustrate how tree roots help prevent erosion and improve soil stability. Showcase the multiple environmental benefits of trees, including water regulation, biodiversity support, and carbon sequestration. "Small Changes, Big Impact" Emphasize the power of individual actions in soil and water conservation. Show how small changes in daily habits, such as reducing water usage, recycling, and composting, can collectively make a significant difference. Encourage viewers to be mindful of their environmental footprint. Spreading the Message Displaying Posters in Public Spaces Seek permission to display your soil and water conservation posters in public spaces such as community centers, schools, libraries, and government offices. These locations attract a diverse audience and can help maximize the reach and impact of your message. Organizing Poster Competitions Engage schools and educational institutions by organizing poster competitions focused on soil and water conservation. Encourage students to create their own posters and showcase their creativity and understanding of the subject. Award prizes to the most impactful and innovative entries. Social Media Campaigns Leverage the power of social media to amplify your message. Create eye-catching visuals of your posters and share them across various platforms. Utilize relevant hashtags and encourage users to share your content to increase the reach of your campaign. Collaborating with Local Organizations Partner with local environmental organizations, agricultural agencies, or water conservation initiatives to collaborate on poster campaigns. Pool resources, knowledge, and networks to reach a wider audience and create a collective impact. Soil and water conservation poster ideas have the potential to create a significant impact in raising awareness and inspiring action. By understanding your target audience, crafting compelling messages, and utilizing visual elements effectively, you can create posters that resonate with viewers and encourage them to become stewards of our precious soil and water resources.

In the realm of human activity, few endeavors possess the transformative potential seen in the world of sports. Beyond the physical contests on fields, courts, and tracks, sports exert a profound influence on societies, individuals, and cultures worldwide. This article delves into the multifaceted effects of sports, exploring how they shape individuals, communities, and even nations. dailyfashionhints Physical and Mental Well-being: One of the most apparent effects of sports is on physical health. Engaging in sports promotes fitness, strengthens muscles, and enhances cardiovascular health. Furthermore, sports encourage a healthy lifestyle by instilling habits of regular exercise and proper nutrition. Beyond the physical benefits, sports also contribute to mental well-being. Participation in sports is associated with reduced stress, improved mood, and increased self-esteem. Athletes often develop resilience, discipline, and goal-setting skills, which are invaluable in various aspects of life. thesportseffect Community Building and Social Cohesion: Sports serve as a powerful catalyst for community building and social cohesion. Whether through local leagues, school teams, or international competitions, sports bring people together, transcending barriers of age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Sporting events foster a sense of belonging and solidarity among participants and spectators alike. They create shared experiences and bonds that unite communities and strengthen social networks. Additionally, sports teach valuable lessons in teamwork, cooperation, and sportsmanship, essential qualities for navigating diverse social environments. journalblogs Economic Impact: The economic impact of sports extends far beyond ticket sales and merchandise. Major sporting events such as the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and Super Bowl inject billions of dollars into host economies, stimulating tourism, infrastructure development, and job creation. Local sports franchises contribute to the economy through stadium revenues, advertising partnerships, and merchandise sales. Moreover, sports-related industries, including sports apparel, equipment manufacturing, and media broadcasting, fuel global commerce and innovation. The economic significance of sports underscores its role as a driver of growth and prosperity. Cultural Influence and Identity: Sports are intertwined with cultural identity, serving as a reflection of societal values, traditions, and aspirations. They provide a platform for cultural expression, showcasing diverse styles, rituals, and narratives. From the ritualistic ceremonies of Sumo wrestling in Japan to the fervent fan culture of European football clubs, sports shape cultural norms and foster a sense of pride and identity among communities. Moreover, sports icons often transcend their athletic achievements to become cultural symbols and ambassadors, influencing fashion, entertainment, and popular culture worldwide. Educational Opportunities: Sports offer valuable educational opportunities beyond the classroom. Participation in school sports programs teaches essential life skills such as leadership, time management, and perseverance. Student-athletes learn to balance academic and athletic commitments, fostering a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility. Moreover, sports scholarships provide access to higher education for many students who might not otherwise afford it, opening doors to academic and career success. Sports also promote lifelong learning through coaching, officiating, and sports management opportunities, creating pathways for personal and professional development. Conclusion: In conclusion, the impact of sports transcends mere athletic competition, encompassing physical health, community building, economic growth, cultural identity, and educational opportunities. Whether on a local playground or the global stage, sports have the power to inspire, unite, and transform individuals and societies. Recognizing and harnessing this power can lead to a more inclusive, prosperous, and resilient world. As we celebrate the achievements of athletes and the spirit of sportsmanship, let us also appreciate the profound and enduring effect of sports on our lives and communities.

The density of a solid particle can assume different values depending on the method used to measure the volume of the particle. It is useful to distinguish three levels of expression of density: — the crystal density which only includes the solid fraction of the material; the crystal density is also called true density — the particle density also includes the volume due to intra particulate pores and this density can be determined by helium pycnometry — the bulk density further includes the inter particulate void volume formed in the powder bed; the bulk density is also called apparent density. For Material Experts: Gas pycnometric density Instrument and measuring principles Measures the volume occupied by a known mass of powder/particles, which is equivalent to the volume of gas displaced by the powder using a gas displacement pycnometer. The volume determined excludes the volume occupied by open pores. It includes the volume occupied by sealed pores or pores inaccessible to the gas. Helium is used as a test gas due to its high diffusivity into small open pores. With other gases, different values are obtained. |Accupyc 1330 from Micromeritics |USP 699 / Ph. Eur. 2.2.42 Density of Solids (non-GMP) |The volume of gas (helium) displaced by a known mass of substance is measured. The density of particles is expressed in grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm3) |1-5 g – volume preferably 7.5-75 cm³. |Drying conditions have to be determined Blake GR, Hartge KH (1986) Particle density. Methods of soil analysis: Part 1 physical and mineralogical methods. 1986 5:377-82. Viana M, Jouannin P, Pontier C, Chulia D (2002) About pycnometric density measurements. Talanta. 57(3):583-93.

Children are socialized at an early age to fit into societal norms; as they develop they are taught acceptable ways to express their gender identity and also the different expectations society places on boys and girls as they come into adulthood. Dr. Juliet Muasya and Mr. Isaac Muasya; Education Researchers from the School of Education; University of Nairobi conducted a study on Children's Perceptions of Gender Identity and Stereotype in Public Pre-Primary Schools in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study explored ways in which children perceive gender identity and stereotypes by using their daily experiences and interactions while in school and at home. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with pupils from 10 public schools in Nairobi County. 20 children (10 boys and 10 girls) aged between 5 to 6 years were interviewed. The data collected shows that children are able to different between ‘boys & girls’ and ‘men & women’ based on types of clothes, shoes (high heels for female teachers) length of hair, accessories and toys. Researchers also established that “Children express their gender identity by associating and imitating with friends of the same gender” children prefer to play with those of the same gender. In addition, research shows that boys and girls like to play with materials that are gender specific with boys preferring to play with bicycles and balls whie girls prefer to play with dolls and skipping rope. Teachers and mothers greatly influence how boys and girls perceive their gender identity and stereotype and they need to encourage children to “explore roles outside the traditional roles in order to minimize stereotypical portrayals of gender roles, thus enhance achievement gender equality.” In conclusion, it is important to note that in order to bridge the gender gaps experienced by boys and girls, it is critical to deal with gender bias, stereotype and discrimination during the early years of a child's life. Relevant policies and programmes should be put in place especially in teacher education in order to empower teachers to help children deal with gender stereotypes. Full article HERE Juliet Muasya, Isaac Muasya, A Study of Children's Perceptions of Gender Identity and Stereotype in Public Pre-Primary Schools in Nairobi County, Kenya, International Journal of Elementary Education. Vol. 9, No. 1, 2020, pp. 1-7.

The airways (the tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs) are surrounded by a type of muscle called smooth muscle. In people with asthma, these muscles often tighten in reaction to certain things. When this happens, the airways become narrower, which blocks the flow of air and makes it harder to breathe. This narrowing of the airways is known as bronchoconstriction. Along with inflammation of the airways, it leads to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

This website focuses on the types of Salmonella that most commonly cause diarrheal illness. Other types of Salmonella – Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi – cause typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever. CDC estimates Salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year. Food is the source for most of these illnesses. - Most people who get ill from Salmonella have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. - Symptoms usually begin 6 hours to 6 days after infection and last 4 to 7 days. - Most people recover without specific treatment and should not take antibiotics. Antibiotics are typically used only to treat people who have severe illness or who are at risk for it. - Some people’s illness may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized.

- explain why John Dickinson did not sign the Declaration of Independence. - understand Dickinson’s opinions on government. - understand the purpose of and colonists’ objections to the Townshend Acts. - analyze a historical argument’s appeal to various audiences. - appreciate John Dickinson’s reverence for tradition and his contributions to the revolution. - Review answers to homework questions. - Conduct a whole-class discussion to answer the Critical Thinking Questions. - Ask a student to summarize the historical significance of John Dickinson. John Dickinson was called the “Penman of the American Revolution.” He was a prolific writer who produced essays, pamphlets, petitions, and the first American patriotic song. He served in various political offices including governor of Delaware and Pennsylvania. He favored reconciliation with Britain until the Declaration of Independence was approved. He helped draft the Articles of Confederation, and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. John Dickinson was called “The Penman of the American Revolution.” During the 1760s and 1770s, he authored numerous important essays in defense of American rights, including The Late Regulations Respecting the British Colonies, the resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress, the Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, the “Petition to the King,” and the Declaration of the Causes of Taking Up Arms. His Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania had a circulation greater than any Revolutionary pamphlet with the exception of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. He wrote the lyrics to the first American patriotic song, “The Liberty Song.” Dickinson also drafted the Articles of Confederation, the country’s first frame of government. Some say that he came up with the name, “United States of America,” the words that open that document. His reputation as a writer was almost unparalleled among his contemporaries. Dickinson was a reluctant revolutionary who absented himself from the Continental Congress on the day that the Declaration of Independence was adopted. A cautious conservative, he opposed independence as a dangerous break with the past. One prominent historian has labeled Dickinson “an American Burke.” Like the British critic of the French Revolution, Dickinson was a defender of tradition against innovation. This explains not only his opposition to independence but also his resistance to altering the form of Pennsylvania’s colonial government, his initial reluctance to go to war with the British in the 1770s, and his moderate stance at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Dickinson’s innate prudence made him one of the wisest and most important of the Founders. Ask students if they believe Dickinson’s essay was an effective way of condemning the Townshend Acts. How does his conservatism add credibility to his argument? Or do his conservative views detract from the force of his appeal? Students’ gauging of Dickinson’s effectiveness may hinge on what they consider to be his goal. Some students may think his goal is limited to the immediate repeal of the Townshend Duties. These students may say that his conservative view gives him an air of authority, and may point out that the Letters were read in England, and may have reassured the British government that the colonists were acting reasonably and had carefully considered the matter. Others may believe his goal is to inspire the colonists to reject all forms of British tyranny. These students may say that Dickinson’s repeated references to the colonies as “but parts of a whole” and not “distinct from the British Empire” make him sound as though he is unwilling to back up his calls for resistance with actual fighting. On the other hand, his last paragraph makes a powerful call for resistance with phrases like “if you once admit . . . [then] American liberty is finished,” and, “we are as abject slaves.” - Have students read Letter 4 from Letters from A Farmer in Pennsylvania. Have them write two paragraphs answering the following questions: How did Dickinson clarify his argument? How does his tone differ from Letter 2? The letter can be found at: <http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?subcategory=17>. - Have students read John Dickinson’s Liberty Song and compose their own version using more modern language and metaphors. The lyrics to the song can be found at: <http://www.contemplator.com/america/liberty.html>. Have students read circular letters in reaction to the Townshend Acts and compare their language and proposed responses to Dickinson’s letters in a one-page essay. Letters can be found at: <http://www.carleton.ca/~pking/docs/440docs1.htm>. John Dickinson was called “The Penman of the American Revolution.” During the 1760s and 1770s, he authored numerous important essays in defense of American rights, including The Late Regulations Respecting the British Colonies, the resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress, the Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, the “Petition to the King,” and the Declaration of the Causes of Taking Up Arms.

The Coelacanth fish has ‘medieval’ written all over it. It is one of those creatures that belong to the yesteryears – enormous, menacing, armoured and scaly. The elusive bottom-dwelling fish measures 1.8 M and weighs 77 KG. When local fishers recently caught one off the Kenya coast, it shocked the world. Until now, the Coelacanth only existed in museums and believed to have become extinct 65 million years ago! The innocent fishers from Malindi could not fathom the significance of their catch. To them, it was just another good day at work. On an ordinary fishing expedition in 2002, the crew of the Venture boat netted the rarest of gems at a depth of 85 M. It was the first-ever recording of the species in East African waters. Only a few museums around the world boast of having one. A fishing company, Wananchi Marine Products, had an inkling they had bagged a price catch, so they preserved the strange-looking fish for four months in their cold rooms. They showcased their find at the Mombasa show, where scientists spotted it. The creature ignited great scientific interest in what other treasures lie in East African waters. The Malindi specimen lies preserved at the Department of Ichthyology of the National Museums of Kenya. Until the 1938 Coelacanth discovery off the eastern coast of South Africa at the mouth of Chalumna River, Coelacanths existed as ancient fossils, some dating back more than 360 million years. The Coelacanth takes its name from the Greek language for having a hollow spine about its incompletely developed vertebral column. Only two living species exist today – the West Indian variety and the Indonesian kind. Both are very rare. The West Indian Ocean Coelacanth lives off the east coast of Africa. The Indonesian coelacanth inhabits the waters off Sulawesi in Indonesia.

In today’s digitally driven world, electromagnetic exposure is an inevitable part of daily life, raising concerns about potential electro magnetic hazards and their impact on our health, particularly on the immune system. From smartphones to Wi-Fi networks, our constant interaction with electronic devices has sparked a growing interest in understanding how this exposure might affect our body’s natural defense mechanisms. The Science Behind Electromagnetic Exposure Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are generated by electric charges and are a form of energy that spreads through space. While EMFs are naturally occurring, the artificial EMFs from electronic devices and power lines are much stronger and more persistent, leading to increased exposure levels that were previously unheard of. Immune System Under Siege? The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins. There is a growing body of scientific literature exploring the hypothesis that prolonged electromagnetic exposure may lead to immune system dysregulation, potentially resulting in an increased susceptibility to infections, inflammation, and disease. Investigating Electro Magnetic Hazards Electro magnetic hazards refer to the potential health risks associated with exposure to EMFs, with particular concern for their ability to disrupt the delicate balance of the immune system. Various studies have reported changes in immune function associated with EMF exposure, including alterations in cell proliferation, cytokine production, and immune cell activity. Expert Opinions and Health Guidelines While research continues to explore the link between electromagnetic exposure and immune health, experts urge caution and recommend adhering to existing safety guidelines to minimize potential risks. This includes limiting unnecessary exposure to high-EMF devices and using technology responsibly to maintain optimal health. Practical Tips for Reducing Exposure There are several practical steps individuals can take to reduce their electromagnetic exposure, such as using speakerphone or earphones with mobile phones, keeping electronic devices out of the bedroom, and opting for wired internet connections over Wi-Fi whenever possible. As we navigate through an increasingly electronic world, the potential impact of electromagnetic exposure on immune system health cannot be ignored. By staying informed about electro magnetic hazards and taking proactive measures to minimize exposure, we can better protect our health and well-being in the age of technology.

A new mosaic of the Shackleton Crater showcases the power of two lunar orbiting cameras working together to reveal unprecedented detail of the lunar South Pole region. This mosaic was created with imagery acquired by LROC (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera), which has been operating since 2009, and from ShadowCam, a NASA instrument on board a KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) spacecraft called Danuri, which launched in Aug. 2022. ShadowCam was developed by Malin Space Science Systems and Arizona State University. LROC can capture detailed images of the lunar surface but has limited ability to photograph shadowed parts of the Moon that never receive direct sunlight, known as permanently shadowed regions. ShadowCam is 200-times more light-sensitive than LROC and can operate successfully in these extremely low-light conditions, revealing features and terrain details that are not visible to LROC. ShadowCam relies on sunlight reflected off lunar geologic features or the Earth to capture images in the shadows. ShadowCam’s light sensitivity, however, renders it unable to capture images of parts of the Moon that are directly illuminated, delivering saturated results. With each camera optimized for specific lighting conditions found near the lunar poles, analysts can combine images from both instruments to create a comprehensive visual map of the terrain and geologic features of both the brightest and darkest parts of the Moon. The permanently shadowed areas in this mosaic, such as the interior floor and walls of Shackleton Crater, are visible in such detail because of the imagery from ShadowCam. In contrast, the sunlit areas in this mosaic, like the rim and flanks of the crater, are a product of imagery collected by LROC. With ShadowCam, NASA can image permanently shadowed regions of the Moon in greater detail than previously possible, giving scientists a much better view of the lunar South Pole region. This area has never been explored by humans and is of great interest for science and exploration because it is thought to contain ice deposits or other frozen volatiles. Scientists believe layers of the ice deposits have existed on the Moon for millions or billions of years, and the ability to study samples could further our understanding of how the Moon and our solar system evolved. The ice deposits could also serve as an important resource for exploration because they are comprised of hydrogen and oxygen that can be used for rocket fuel or life support systems. A more complete map of the lunar South Pole region area is valuable for future surface exploration endeavors, such as VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) and Artemis missions, which will return humans to the lunar surface and establish a long-term presence at the Moon.

They conclude, “Human-induced land degradation is likely to have not only contributed to the dust storms of the 1930s but also amplified the drought, and these together turned a modest -forced drought into one of the worst environmental disasters the U.S. has experienced.” Today, meteorologists … How did farmers affect the Dust Bowl? And how did the Dust Bowl affect farmers? Crops withered and died. Farmers who had plowed under the native prairie grass that held soil in place saw tons of topsoil—which had taken thousands of years to accumulate—rise into the air and blow away in minutes. … It didn’t stop there; the Dust Bowl affected all people. What damage did the Dust Bowl cause? The strong winds that accompanied the drought of the 1930s blew away 480 tons of topsoil per acre, removing an average of five inches of topsoil from more than 10 million acres. The dust and sand storms degraded soil productivity, harmed human health, and damaged air quality. Who did the Dust Bowl mainly affected? The Dust Bowl was the name given to the drought-stricken Southern Plains region of the United States, which suffered severe dust storms during a dry period in the 1930s. As high winds and choking dust swept the region from Texas to Nebraska, people and livestock were killed and crops failed across the entire region. What was the Dust Bowl and what caused it? The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s; severe drought and a failure to apply dryland farming methods to prevent the aeolian processes (wind erosion) caused the phenomenon. What caused the Dust Bowl essay? One major cause of that Dust Bowl was severe droughts during the 1930’s. … The other cause was capitalism. Over-farming and grazing in order to achieve high profits killed of much of the plain’s grassland and when winds approached, nothing was there to hold the devastated soil on the ground. Was the Dust Bowl a man made disaster? The Dust Bowl was both a manmade and natural disaster. When the drought and Great Depression hit in the early 1930s, the wheat market collapsed. What were two basic causes of the Dust Bowl during the early 1930s? The two basic causes of the Dust Bowl during the early 1930s were the over farming and drought. Explanation: During the early stages of the 1930s strong winds, clouds and drought rolled in the Midwest that ended up plaguing nearly 75% of the United States between 1931 and 1939. What caused the Dust Bowl quizlet? the dust bowl was caused by farmers poorly managing their crop rotations, causing the ground to dry up and turn into dust. … the drought that helped cause the dust bowl lasted seven years, from 1933 to 1940. What farming techniques caused the Dust Bowl? Over-Plowing Contributes to the Dust Bowl or the 1930s. Each year, the process of farming begins with preparing the soil to be seeded. But for years, farmers had plowed the soil too fine, and they contributed to the creation of the Dust Bowl. How many deaths were caused by the Dust Bowl? In total, the Dust Bowl killed around 7,000 people and left 2 million homeless. The heat, drought and dust storms also had a cascade effect on U.S. agriculture. Wheat production fell by 36% and maize production plummeted by 48% during the 1930s. How did people try to protect themselves from the dust? How did people try to protect themselves from the dust? People tried to protect themselves by hanging wet sheets in front of doorways and windows to filter the dirt. They stuffed window frames with gummed tape and rags. What is the thesis of the Dust Bowl? His thesis is laid out clearly in the introduction: The Dust Bowl was the darkest moment in the twentieth-century life of the southern plains. The name suggests a place – a region whose borders are as inexact and shifting as a sand dune. Where did the Dust Bowl happen? Although it technically refers to the western third of Kansas, southeastern Colorado, the Oklahoma Panhandle, the northern two-thirds of the Texas Panhandle, and northeastern New Mexico, the Dust Bowl has come to symbolize the hardships of the entire nation during the 1930s. When did the Dust Bowl happen? Results of a Dust Storm, Oklahoma, 1936. Between 1930 and 1940, the southwestern Great Plains region of the United States suffered a severe drought. Once a semi-arid grassland, the treeless plains became home to thousands of settlers when, in 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act. How did the Dust Bowl contribute to the Great Depression? The Dust Bowl brought ecological, economical and human misery to America during a time when it was already suffering under the Great Depression. … However, overproduction of wheat coupled with the Great Depression led to severely reduced market prices. The wheat market was flooded, and people were too poor to buy. How did the Dust Bowl impact Texas Society? The Dust Bowl refers to a series of dust storms that devastated the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma during the 1930s. … Affected Texas cities included Dalhart, Pampa, Spearman, and Amarillo. These dusters eroded entire farmlands, destroyed Texas homes, and caused severe physical and mental health problems. What five states were most affected by the Dust Bowl? As a result, dust storms raged nearly everywhere, but the most severely affected areas were in the Oklahoma (Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver counties) and Texas panhandles, western Kansas, and eastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico. What effects did the Dust Bowl have on the economy? Prices paid for crops dropped sharply and farmers fell into debt. In 1929 the average annual income for an American family was $750, but for farm families if was only $273. The problems in the agricultural sector had a large impact since 30% of Americans still lived on farms . Are we headed for another Dust Bowl? By 2100, the southern Great Plains is projected to be hit by dozens more days each year with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees F. Each dust storm represents a thin layer of the earth, exfoliated by the atmosphere and relocated. What happened to most Okies in California? According to Charlotte Allen, Okies ultimately found a better standard of living. “Many of them quickly moved out of farm work into better-paying jobs in the oil industry and, when World War II broke out, in the burgeoning Southern California defense plants. How fast did the Dust Bowl travel? By 1934, it was estimated that 100 million acres of farmland had lost all or most of the topsoil to the winds. By April 1935, there had been weeks of dust storms, but the cloud that appeared on the horizon that Sunday was the worst. Winds were clocked at 60 mph. What two causes contributed to the Dust Bowl Apex? What two causes contributed to the Dust Bowl? Overworked land and drought.

What is new in the gut health discourse? When discussing health, it is commonly thought that the food we eat is digested by various enzymes in the intestines, absorbed into the body and distributed to organs such as the liver, brain and heart. Good digestion and enzymes lead to good gut health, allowing for efficient nutrient absorption. This concept has existed for many years, but recent discoveries have revealed a missing puzzle piece. We now know that the third factor in gut health and digestion is the presence of bacteria in the gut. This was not recognised until about 10 years ago, and it plays a crucial role in our overall health. In our intestines, from the mouth to the stomach, the small intestine and the large intestine, a large variety of bacteria, fungi and viruses constitute the gut microbiome. We are 10% human and 90% microbiome. Our gut bacteria control our health.No two people have the same gut bacteria. Therefore, we can assess whether someone has a healthy or unhealthy gut by analysing their gut bacteria. How does poor hygiene and sanitation in early childhood impact gut health? The bacteria in our gut play a crucial role in gut health. Interestingly, the type of bacteria in our hearts is determined mainly during our early childhood. Three factors are responsible for this. Firstly, the way we are born, whether it is through vaginal delivery or caesarean delivery, can effect the bacteria we are exposed to. Vaginal delivery exposes us to healthy bacteria, while caesarean delivery does not. Secondly, the duration of breastfeeding also plays a role in determining the bacteria in our gut. Babies who have been breastfed for a more extended period, say six months, tend to have a healthier bacteria profile. However, harmful bacteria are prevalent without breastfeeding, early weaning or bottle feeding. And the third important thing is antibiotics. If we use too many antibiotics in children, the bacteria change and become destructive. But what is gut hygiene? There are two types of bacteria: good and evil. So, there is a constant fight in the body between excellent and harmful bacteria. Even in an average person, 10% of the bacteria are bad. And because of this ongoing battle, the good bacteria can suffer the harmful bacteria. Maintaining good gut hygiene is essential for health. A healthy gut contains about 90% good bacteria. However, when the proportion of harmful bacteria increases to 30% or 40%, it indicates poor gut hygiene. Various factors, such as sanitation, water quality and food sources, contribute to an unhealthy gut. Consuming contaminated food or certain foods, like red meat, can also adversely affect gut bacteria. Even if red meat is not contaminated, it changes the composition of bacteria in the stomach, increasing the proportion of harmful bacteria that try to break down the heart, resulting in a higher percentage of harmful bacteria. Maintaining good hygiene standards is crucial for keeping our gut healthy. The type of food we eat, the quality of water we consume and our exposure to environmental factors, such as smoking and alcohol, can all impact the bacteria in our gut. In addition to eating clean and nutritious food and drinking safe water, regular exercise and avoiding smoking and alcohol can help keep our gut bacteria healthy. It is important to remember that even our lifestyle choices can influence the bacteria in our gut. Good gut bacteria play a crucial role in overall health. Firstly, they produce antibodies that help combat harmful bacteria, enhancing the immune system. Secondly, these beneficial bacteria process various chemicals from consumed foods, affecting different body parts. For instance, gut bacteria can convert almond components into substances like tryptophan and serotonin, which are transported to the brain, aiding activity. Thus, it is not solely the brain functioning independently but a collaborative interaction between gut bacteria and the nutrients they process. Which diseases can be checked if you take care of gut health? Your digestive system relies on your enzymes and the enzymes produced by the bacteria in your gut. This is why it is essential to prioritise gut health. Maintaining a healthy weight and metabolism is also crucial for good gut health. If your bacteria become harmful, they can lead to the development of a bad liver, which is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is a paradoxical term, as the person affected is not consuming alcohol. NAFLD is often blamed on factors such as lack of exercise and overconsumption of fatty foods. However, the primary cause of NAFLD is the bacteria in the gut that produce alcohol. This condition is also known as auto-brewery syndrome. Many diseases, including metabolic and mental health issues and liver problems, are influenced by the bacteria in our body cells. These bacteria can also impact the production of substances like Vitamin B12, essential for our body. If there is a deficiency of bacteria-producing B12, one can experience symptoms like tingling and numbness in their fingers and hands, fatigue, lethargy and mental exhaustion. This type of illness is quite common in such individuals. How would you sum up the role of diet in gut hygiene? In an experiment, doctors were divided into two groups: one group followed a conventional diet, and the other group followed a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts and fish. After a month, the doctors on the Mediterranean diet saw notable changes in their gut microbiome, leading to weight loss, decreased liver fat and stabilised blood pressure levels. Enhancing this diet with prebiotic-rich foods, which feed the gut bacteria, can further amplify these health benefits. Embracing this dietary change can significantly bolster overall well-being. The effectiveness of this intervention is multiplied by incorporating prebiotic foods, which are converted into beneficial substances by the bacteria. By adopting this intervention, we can improve our overall health. What is your research experience about how improving gut health reduces the prevalence of some diseases? Our research findings indicate that maintaining good gut hygiene improves gut health and reduces liver diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, diarrhoea and other related conditions. Additionally, by taking the necessary steps, we can also lower the incidence of hypertension and non-communicable liver diseases (NCLDs). The latter have become a significant concern worldwide, including in India, where it was previously underestimated. Interestingly, certain types of bacteria in the gut could lead to diabetes. By altering the gut bacteria, one can potentially manage diabetes without any medication. What about young mothers? It is essential to consider the issue of feeding children in our country, as it can lead to problems related to cleaning and hygiene. In many villages, there is limited access to clean running water, which can pose a challenge when cleaning feeding bottles and utensils. Due to water scarcity, some people repeatedly wash with the same water, leading to the growth of harmful bacteria. To maintain good gut hygiene, following ideal practices and having access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation facilities like toilets are essential. Open defecation can lead to contamination of other sources of food and can adversely affect not only humans but also animals. Therefore, it is necessary to consider various factors that impact our daily lives, including natural elements and the availability of resources, to ensure good health and hygiene.

Formation Of Biodiesel Published on Nov 30, 2023 Biodiesel refers to a nonpetroleum- based diesel fuel consisting of short chain alkyl (methyl or ethyl) esters, made by transesterification of vegetable oil or animal fat (tallow), which can be used (alone, or blended with conventional petrol diesel) in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles. Biodiesel is distinguished from the straight-vegetable oil (SVO) (sometimes referred to as “waste vegetable oil” “WVO” “used vegetable oil” “UVO” “pure plant oil”, “PPO”) used(alone, or blended) as fuels in some converted diesel vehicles. Biodiesel is standardized as mono-alkyl ester and other kinds of diesel-grade fuels of biological origin are not included. Uses of Biodiesel Fuel-cells have power-generation applications that could utilize biodiesel. Biodiesel can be used in backup systems where the substantial reduction in emissions really matters: hospitals, schools, and other facilities usually located in residential areas. It can also be used to supplement solar power in off-the grid homes. Producing Hydrogen from Fuel Cell Vehicles Fuel cell vehicles turn hydrogen fuel and oxygen into electricity. The electricity then powers an electric motor, just like electricity from batteries powers the motor of an electric vehicle. Fuel cells combine oxygen from the air with hydrogen from the vehicle's fuel tank to produce electricity. When oxygen and hydrogen are combined they give off energy and water (H2O). In fuel cells this is done without any burning (combustion). Cleaning up Oil Spills Biodiesel has been tested as potential cleaning agent for shorelines contaminated with crude oil, and has been found to increase the recovery of crude oil from artificial sand columns (i.e. the beach). It’s also been used in commercial biosolvents shown to be effective in coagulating crude oil and allowing it to be skimmed off the surface of water. Adding Lubricity to Diesel Fuel diesel fuels are required to reduce their sulfur concentration from 500 ppm to 15 ppm. Since sulfur provided most of the fuel’s lubricity, a substitute is required to keep diesel engines functioning properly and avoid premature injection pump wear (i.e. failure). Biodiesel naturally has less than 15 ppm sulfur concentration anyway, and adding just 1 to 2% biodiesel can restore the lubricity to diesel fuel. Apart from these uses, biodiesel can be used in heating our homes, cleaning up tools & grease, removing paint and adhesives, can extend the life of catalytic converters, can be used as the best alternative for the other fuels as it doesn’t produces toxic &harmful substances as compared to other fuels. Plastic Bottle with lid Procedure For Analysis • Measure out 200 ml of antifreeze and put it in one plastic container. • Add in lye so that the antifreeze is absorbed. • Cover container and mix well by shaking it. It is mixed when it starts to feel warm and is foamy. • The mixture has now become sodium methoxide. • Blend 1 liter of vegetable oil with the sodium methoxide in a blender for 20 minutes. • Pour mixture into a bottle and wait 8 hours until the byproduct, glycerin, separates form the biodiesel. The glycerin will be on the solid on the bottom. • Separate out the biodiesel by pouring into a glass bottle. • Prepare a wash bottle by poking a small hole in the corner of the bottle and covering it with duct tape. • Wash the biodiesel by pouring it into the wash bottle and adding in ½ a liter of water. Roll the bottle around to mix it and then remove the duct tape and drain the water. • Repeat the washing process until the biodiesel is clear.This may need to be done numerous times over thecourse of a week to complete the process. Store the biodiesel in a glass container until ready to use. Biodiesel is currently about one and a half times more expensive than petroleum diesel fuel. Part of this cost is because the most common source of oil is the soybean, which only is only 20% oil. However, the costs of biodiesel can be reduced by making biodiesel from recycled cooking oils rather than from new soy beans, or by making it from plant matter with higher oil content. It takes energy to produce biodiesel fuel from soy crops, including the energy of sowing, fertilizing and harvesting. Biodiesel fuel can damage rubber hoses in some engines, particularly in cars built before 1994. You should check with the manufacturer before using biodiesel to see if you need to replace any hoses or rubber seals. Biodiesel cleans the dirt from the engine. This dirt then collects in the fuel filter, which can clog it. Clogging occurs most often when biodiesel is first used after a period of operation with petroleum diesel, so filters should be changed after the first several hours of biodiesel use.

🌱 Identify Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants Quiz 🌱 Identifying Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants This quiz tests your knowledge on the nutrient requirements of plants and how to identify deficiencies. Understanding the nutrient requirements of plants is vital for any gardener or plant enthusiast. The Identifying Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants quiz above is a great starting point to enrich your knowledge. However, there's always more to learn when it comes to the fascinating world of plant nutrition. Plants, just like humans, require a balanced diet to grow and thrive. The three primary macronutrients - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, play a significant role in plant health. But did you know that plants also need a range of micronutrients in smaller quantities? Yes, it's true! Soil nutrients are crucial for plant health, and understanding them can make a big difference in your gardening journey. Each nutrient plays a unique role in plant growth and development. For instance, Nitrogen is essential for leaf growth and forms a vital part of proteins, enzymes, and chlorophyll. Curious to know more? Check out our detailed guide on the role of Nitrogen in plant nutrition. When plants lack any nutrient, it can lead to various health issues. These deficiencies often manifest as specific symptoms such as yellowing leaves, stunted growth, or reduced yield. Identifying these symptoms early can help you rectify the issue before it's too late. If you're unsure about diagnosing plant health issues, our guide on diagnosing dying plants might come in handy. But what if you've identified the problem, and you're not sure how to fix it? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Our comprehensive guide on identifying and treating common plant problems is a great resource for troubleshooting plant health issues. Remember, a healthy plant is a happy plant. With the right knowledge and a little bit of care, you can ensure your plants get the nutrients they need to thrive. Happy gardening!

In the United Kingdom, GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) commemorate the end of secondary school. GCSE exams are normally taken at the end of Year 11 when students are 16 years old in the United Kingdom. IGCSEs will be familiar to students from outside the United Kingdom who are interested in studying in the United Kingdom. Students from all across the world take both of these courses before beginning their pre-university studies. What exactly are GCSEs? Most high school students in the United Kingdom take the GCSE, or ‘General Certificate of Secondary Schooling,’ at the end of their 11 years of compulsory education. The GCSE is mostly taught in schools in the United Kingdom, however, it is also taught in institutions in Australia, Canada, and India. What is the significance of the GCSE? GCSEs are an internationally recognized official high school qualification that serves as a springboard to future academic study in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, a GCSE course leads to the official examination that concludes high school education. It’s for students aged 14 and up who desire to pursue A-levels before enrolling in a UK institution. Your GCSE results are a critical step in your academic career because they will influence which qualifications and topics you pursue next, your eligibility for your preferred university and program, and even your future employment chances. Many firms need job seekers to have completed their GCSE maths and English requirements. Subjects for GCSE English language and literature, mathematics, economics, geography, history, biology, chemistry, and physics are just a few of the areas covered by GCSEs. You can also study Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Japanese, Greek, and Urdu, among other non-English languages. Maths, English, Study Skills, Science, ICT, and either Geography or Humanities are part of our core GCSE curriculum at King’s. These topics are covered in addition to an enrichment curriculum that includes PSHE and Citizenship, Physical Education, and Creative Arts. Our students will be able to attend whatever form of the post-16 program they are interested in, such as A-Levels, IB, or Foundation, thanks to our intentionally broad topic range. Exam Boards For GCSE AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, CCEA, and WJEC are the five GCSE examination boards used in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. For GCSEs, we use AQA and Edexcel at King’s. Are GCSEs accepted by universities? Yes, GCSEs are the most well-known and respected pre-A-level certificates in the United Kingdom. Students will only have their GCSE results and expected A-level grades when they apply to university, thus this is the information on which a university will base its offers What are the best GCSE subjects to study? All pupils at state schools in the United Kingdom must take GCSEs in English literature, English language, math, and science. Students can pick from a variety of disciplines in areas such as arts, humanities, STEM, and sports in addition to these ‘core’ subjects. At GCSE, pupils typically take a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 9–12 topics. It’s vital to remember that the quality of your GCSEs, not the quantity, will be taken into account by top-ranked universities. Taking a reduced number of GCSEs will not hurt your chances of getting into university, as long as you get good results in the areas you take.

Learn the approach MaPP First Nation Partners are using to study canopy kelp (the uppermost layer of a kelp forest) in the MaPP Region. First Nations are applying a standardized methodology to collect and analyze data in the four sub-regions to find out: - Where the kelp is; - How kelp is changing; - What is causing the kelp to change; and - What else is affected by these changes to kelp. With canopy kelp functioning as a canary in the coalmine, research is necessary to address the First Nations’ observations that significant declines have occurred in recent years in the distribution, abundance and quality of kelp in their territories. The training videos were produced in collaboration with the Tula Foundation and feature tools, techniques and protocols being used to support standardized kelp monitoring in the MaPP region. The methods shown in the videos are accompanied by a detailed Kelp Monitoring Methods protocol document. Together with community-based local and Indigenous knowledge, MaPP is generating a bigger picture of kelp historically, today and for future scenarios, as illustrated in our Regional Kelp Monitoring Storymap. As culturally and ecologically significant species, kelp conservation and restoration are essential for food, habitat, improved shoreline protection and increased marine nutrients. Kelp monitoring information, therefore, will be used to inform future management recommendations about protected areas, ecosystem health and marine use. View the video playlist here.More News »

Figure 1: Illustration of the Stereo experiment by Loris Scola. The cross-section of the detector shows the different layers of shielding put in place to attenuate the external background. The detector core is made of 6 identical cells placed between 9 and 11 m from the ILL compact core, visible here by the intense Cerenkov light it induces in the water of the reactor pool. Neutrino interactions induce tiny flashes of light in the liquid scintillator that fills the cells, whose reflective walls collect the light to photomultipliers installed at the top. Above Stereo a large channel, filled with 6 m of water and connected to the pool, offers a crucial protection against cosmic rays. The final results of the Stereo experiment have just been published in the journal Nature. A record of precision is established for the spectrum of neutrinos emitted by the fission of 235U, measured between 9 and 11m distance from the ILL reactor core in Grenoble. The hypothesis of a sterile neutrino to explain the reactor neutrino anomaly is rejected. The quality of these direct neutrino measurements now surpasses that of the underlying nuclear data describing the beta decays of fission products. Stereo provides the community with a fission neutrino spectrum corrected for all detection effects, which will serve as a reference for future reactor experiments and points out residual biases in the nuclear databases. The Stereo experiment has just completed a beautiful scientific adventure that began in 2011 with the revelation by the IRFU group of the "reactor antineutrino anomaly". Physicists were left with a significant deficit of 6% between the flux of neutrinos measured at the reactors and the predicted flux. The history of science has taught us enough about the potential richness of new phenomena that can hide behind an anomaly. What was going on here was the possible existence of a new type of neutrino that would open up a new area of physics beyond the standard model. Without any direct interaction with matter, this neutrino, described as "sterile", could however mix with "standard" neutrinos and thus leave an imprint of its existence through ... a deficit of count rate in our detectors. A few years later, experiments with commercial reactors measuring the mixing angle θ13 revealed a second anomaly, this time a distortion in the shape of the spectrum. Obviously, nothing was going well in the prediction of reactor neutrino spectra. The community then embarked on an experimental program of precision measurements to clear this up. Stereo took the option of setting up at the ILL research reactor in Grenoble. Its very compact core (<1m) is well suited to the test of the hypothetical mixing of sterile and standard neutrinos, which would manifest itself by oscillations of the count rates as a function of energy but also of the distance to the core, with a short wavelength of typically 1 to 10 m. Since the ILL fuel is highly enriched in 235U, the fissions come only from this isotope, whereas in commercial reactors they are distributed between the isotopes of uranium and plutonium, with contributions that vary during a cycle. Finally, Stereo benefits from the know-how acquired over several generations of experiments that have given great maturity to the detection of neutrinos in liquid scintillators. Installed at only 10 m from the reactor core (see figure 1), Stereo has detected some 107558 neutrinos during the 4 years of data taking between 2017 and 2020. This is quite an achievement considering the difficulty to intercept these ghostly particles and the difficulty to fight the strong background induced by the neutron beams feeding the other experiments in the ILL hall and by the cosmic rays showering the earth surface. Figure 2: The mixing of reactor neutrinos with a hypothetical sterile neutrino is shown in the plane of the two variables of interest: the oscillation amplitude (horizontal axis) and the oscillation frequency (vertical axis). To explain the reactor neutrino deficit by a sterile neutrino it would have been necessary that the oscillation parameters are in the grey area. Stereo does not detect an oscillation signal, the data exclude the whole area to the right of the blue or red curves with 95% confidence. The majority of the gray area is therefore rejected, the remaining part at very high frequency being constrained by other measurements. The two colors red and blue correspond to different statistical analysis methods, in good agreement with each other. The dotted curves show the sensitivity predicted by the detector simulations. If the simulation is correct, the "real data" should lead to a contour that navigates around the sensitivity curve, which is indeed the case. Another essential quality of the experiment was to control the detector response at the % level during this whole period. In the end, Stereo's contract is fulfilled beyond expectations. By comparing the neutrino spectra detected in the 6 cells of the target volume it was possible to test whether or not oscillations with a sterile neutrino exist. This analysis is based only on the relative deviations between the 6 identical cells, so it is independent of any possible bias in the prediction of the expected spectrum. The 6 spectra are found to be perfectly compatible with each other and the precision of the measurements allows to reject the hypothesis of a sterile neutrino (figure 2). “Standardness” remains the rule... But by cumulating all the events of the target volume we also establish a record of precision for the neutrino spectrum of the 235U fission, both for its absolute normalization and for its shape. This spectrum is still seen through Stereo's "eyes", i.e. it is affected by the resolution and non-linearity effects that are inherent to the detector, but we have shown that all these distortions are perfectly described by the simulation of the experiment. A precise deconvolution procedure could then be developed to correct all detection effects and provide a reference neutrino spectrum, as a function of the true energy of the neutrinos and not on the energy reconstructed by the detector (figure 3a). This new reference is available online and can be used by everyone. The interest of these measurements radiates beyond the neutrino community: Stereo confirms that there is indeed a deficit and a distortion in shape between the measurement and the prediction of the neutrino spectrum of the 235U fission (figure 3b) and the interpretation of these "reactor anomalies" now points to biases in the nuclear data. We are thus witnessing a paradigm shift: after decades during which nuclear physics fed fundamental neutrino physics, it is the accuracy of neutrino measurements such as Stereo that is now challenging the quality of nuclear data. Figure 3: a) Neutrino spectrum of 235U fission measured by Stereo. The blue band represents the prediction (the "Huber-Mueller" model) and its uncertainty. b) The deviation from this prediction clearly shows the two anomalies: a global deficit, with a distortion in shape. The purple curve is a new prediction using recent measurements to correct the beta spectra of the main fission products contributing to the neutrino spectrum. Most of the deficit is then corrected. The red curve is a model developed at IRFU which applies a simple effective correction of the beta spectra to all fission products. A very good agreement with the Stereo data is then obtained. Thus the Stereo adventure closes the loop around the reactor neutrino anomalies. By making a reference measurement of the neutrino spectrum from 235U fission, it rejects the sterile neutrino hypothesis and provides a solid basis for future generations of experiments. In doing so, many nuclear data directly connected to the accuracy of this measurement have been scrutinized. Unexpectedly, a key element for the % control of the detector response has been the collaboration with the developers of the Fifrelin code to improve the description of the gamma-ray decay cascades of the nuclei. This collaboration is still active and leads today to an original method of calibration of the bolometers, for the next experiments of search for dark matter and detection of the coherent scattering of neutrinos. Finally, the agreement of the predictions with the Stereo data highlights the biases present in the current description of the beta spectra by the nuclear databases. A large program of re-evaluation of these spectra is underway with direct applications for the nuclear energy sector.

Energy demand is the term used to describe the consumption of energy by human activity. It drives the whole energy system, influencing the total amount of energy used; the location of, and types of fuel used in the energy supply system; and the characteristics of the end use technologies that consume energy. When we talk about energy demand, we refer to all uses of energy: electricity, transport fuels and fuels for heating and industrial processes. Our current energy system is at the beginning of a period of massive change. In order to respond to the threat of climate change, we will need to eliminate fossil fuels from the UK energy system by 2050. Energy efficiency has increased and demand in the UK has fallen significantly in the last decade, but this trend needs to be continued and reinforced. Improved energy efficiency will not be sufficient Although critical, improved energy efficiency will not be sufficient; we will also need to move away from fossil fuels. In electricity generation, current trends are positive. The costs of wind and solar energy are falling rapidly, and therefore we are seeing higher proportions of renewables in electricity generation, allowing us to move away from polluting fossil fuels such as coal. However, including large amounts of renewables into electricity supply is not straightforward. Electricity supply and demand have to be constantly balanced and solar and wind are variable sources, making this balancing more difficult. Many people are working on energy storage solutions and these are improving. Greater flexibility in electricity demand, often called demand side response, can also help. This involves a much greater understanding of the timing of energy demand and how it can be altered, either by changing our energy practices (e.g. doing the washing at different times) or storing energy locally (e.g. in hot water tanks or electric vehicle batteries). There are some technologies that promise to manage demand through smart devices connected via the internet and smart meters to a smart grid. Significant social changes will need to accompany these technological changes. We will also need to decarbonise the fuels we use in heating and transport. Electrification can play a big role in this. We are already seeing increased demand for electric vehicles and some electric heating. However, complete electrification of heating is unlikely, and there are similar issues in moving away from fossil fuels in freight transport, aviation, shipping and many industrial processes. It is therefore likely that new energy carriers such as hydrogen will be needed, raising new issues for energy demand research. Energy demand reduction is key to achieving net-zero by 2050, requiring positive social changes that will change the way we travel, consume, eat and how we heat our homes. Also, energy efficiency measures must be adopted. By 2050, a 52% reduction in energy demand is possible. - In transport, better provision of local services to reduce the need to travel combined with electrified transport can reduce energy demand in the sector by 68%: 36% through social change, 32% through efficiency. - For domestic buildings, well insulated homes combined with new technologies like heat pumps can reduce energy demand in the sector by 52%: 25% through social change, 27% from efficiency. - In nutrition, shifts in dietary habits combined with improvements in agricultural productivity can reduce energy demand in the sector by 62%: 40% through social change, 22% from efficiency. - We can reduce energy demand in non-domestic buildings through changes to the way we work combined with smart energy control systems. This could reduce demand by 48% for the sector, 22% through social change, 26% in efficiency. - For materials and products, changes in how we consume products combined with energy efficiency measures can reduce energy demand in that sector by 26% – 21% through social change, 5% through efficiency. Studying energy demand at CREDS From this we can see that are different ways of dividing up the study of energy demand. In CREDS it was been divided into three main ‘sectoral’ areas: transport (where, how and why we travel), buildings (how to achieve comfortable, healthy, energy efficient buildings) and materials (how industry could adapt their processes and materials). These are supplemented by three cross-cutting themes, namely: flexibility (the timing of energy demand), digital (the influence of IT on energy demand) and policy (understanding how public policy affects energy demand). We also have a specific focus on the decarbonisation of heating, fuel and transport poverty and the decarbonisation of steel. Banner photo credit: Giulia Bertelli on Unsplash

What exactly does a Structural Engineering Basics Course entail? The curriculum of a course in structural engineering is generally designed to offer you the full knowledge of different areas of engineering and architecture including structural design, repair, construction, and maintenance of a structure. Structural engineers are responsible for maintaining, repairing, or designing buildings from their inception to its completion. They are in charge of deciding on a structure’s design from the initial sketch and sketches up to its complete construction. A structural engineer must be capable of designing, building, and maintaining any structure in existence. A structural engineering class will include everything from drafting the foundation of buildings to how to construct and design the internal columns, beams, and floor joists. You will study the fundamentals of mathematics, science, architecture, thermodynamics, and mathematics. In addition to this, you will learn the different methods of constructing structures including the different types of materials used and how to put these materials together to ensure that they are built properly. Some structural engineers are also responsible for creating structural plans and blueprints of buildings in order to allow for construction. These plans will give the architect the basis for creating the actual structure itself. Structural plans usually last between five and twelve pages and contain a detailed description of how the building will be constructed. Most plans will also include a list of all the materials that are required and how much of each is required in order to build the structure. Another job that structural engineers can do is overseeing the repair and replacement of any damaged parts of a structure or the building itself. This involves testing, repairing, and fixing problems that may occur throughout the construction process of a structure such as when a crane breaks down during a construction project. This is because it is not uncommon for a structure’s foundation or the beams to break down, which can then cause a chain reaction that results in other pieces of the structure failing. A structural engineer will also be responsible for designing a structure in order to make sure that it meets the current safety codes and requirements. As most structures are built from wood or concrete, the structural engineers must be able to understand and analyze the construction of wood and how it reacts in certain situations, including temperature and humidity. while also being able to determine if a particular method of building is safe. A structural engineer can either specialize in a certain area such as mechanical, civil, chemical, or electronics, depending on what they have been trained to do. There are even some structural engineers who work solely in the field of civil engineering. As more engineers become involved in various fields of engineering, the scope of a class will continue to expand. However, some people who study in these specialties have a specialization in one or two fields only.

What are Nutrients? The nutrition inputs containing raw goods and tissue repair energy, absorbing and assimilating nutrients that are organic substances and mineral ions. Meat is one of the living organisms’ characteristics. All organisms do so, to obtain energy and raw materials necessary for growth and remediation for vital activities. Depending on your age, size, sex, and activity, each individual must take a certain amount of every nutrient every day. Seven resource forms exist, the following are: These organic substances are sugars, protein, fats, and vitamins. This means that living beings (plants) are formed and they are built-in carbon atoms. Organic materials such as carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic minerals are produced by plants. This is not what animals can do. This is used as a reservoir of energy and is important for stress-free breathing. This is used to produce cellulose, a material that shapes plant cell walls. ⦁ Monosaccharides: the smallest and most common type ⦁ Soluble vapor ⦁ C6H12O6 compounds ⦁ For example, glucose-fructose-galactose. ⦁ Sources: Honey-Fruits Disaccharides: Two monosaccharides joined together in each molecule each ⦁ Soluble vapor ⦁ Examples: Maltose’s-Lactose. Examples: ⦁ Sources: Sugar-Milk Table Polysaccharides: Many single molecules from a long chain together with monosaccharides. ⦁ In water insoluble ⦁ Examples: Glycogen cellulose-starch. ⦁ Sources: Bread-potatoes pasta, plant cell cellulose, and levier glycogen. These include the sugars, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and, rarely, phosphorus or sulfur components. A protein molecule is a long chain of simpler units known as amino acids. The filter paper analysis or an alcohol test is used to test its effect. A flat spot can be seen whether fats occur using the experiment with filter paper. Photosynthesis, which converts light energy into chemical energy, in green plants, and many other organisms. During photosynthesis in green plants, light energy is absorbed and converted to oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds by soil, carbon dioxide, and minerals. The requirement for photosynthesizing chlorophyll, light, and carbon dioxide: ⦁ Chlorophyll is important because it helps to absorb the needed “light.” CO2, when converted into sugars like glucose we use, is essential. CO2. ⦁ Light is critical as it acts as the fuel or power for the reaction Factors that impact photosynthesis rates: ⦁ Intensity of light ⦁ The concentration of carbon dioxide The Process of Photosynthesis: ⦁ Water is drained into the water channels of the veins and removed from the soil by the roots of plant plants. ⦁ Carbon dioxide (pores in the leaf) is absorbed from the soil by the stomach. ⦁ CO2 and H2O are used for the processing of sugar in the leaf cells. ⦁ Sunlight ingested by green pigments chlorophyll has provided the catalyst for this reaction. ⦁ Chlorophyll can capture energy from light and use it in hydrogen and oxygen separating water molecules. ⦁ Within the molecules of carbon dioxide, the oxygen leaves, and the hydrogen ions are added to form sugar. ⦁ The light energy was then converted in a synthesized manner to the chemical energy of carbohydrates. ⦁ It is present in the environment in such short supply that it limits life processes. ⦁ Although the concentration of carbon dioxide limits photosynthesis only directly, artificially high levels of carbon dioxide in greenhouses effectively increase crop yields. ⦁ Greenhouses also maintain higher temperatures, thus reducing the effect of low temperatures as a limiting factor and optimizing the light reaching the plant. ⦁ Parts of the world, such as tropical countries, often enjoy optimum temperatures and rainfall for crop production. ⦁ The stomata in the leaf may affect the rate of photosynthesis depending on whether the leaf is open or closed. Effect of the gas exchange of the aquatic plant kept in the dark and light: The hydrogen carbonate indicator is used to show the concentration of carbon dioxide in the solution. It is as follows: ⦁ Yellow at high carbon dioxide concentrations ⦁ Red in balance with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere ⦁ Purple at low carbon dioxide concentrations Place a plant leaf in a stoppered boiling tube containing a hydrogen carbonate indicator. The effect of light can then be investigated for a few hours. Plant cells respire in the dark and light, releasing carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis can also occur in the light, and carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air. If the light is bright enough, the absorption rate will be higher than the release rate. ⦁ Mid-rib: contains xylem and phloem. ⦁ Vein: contains xylem and phloem. ⦁ Lamina: the photosynthesis site and the production of useful substances. ⦁ Cuticle: Made of wax, waterproofing of the leaf. It is secreted by the upper epidermis cells. ⦁ Upper epidermis: These cells are thin and transparent to allow light to pass through. There are no chloroplasts present. They act as a barrier to disease. ⦁ Palisade Mesophyll: a layer of palisade cells that carry out most of the photosynthesis ⦁ Spongy Mesophyll: a layer of spongy cells below the palisade layer, they perform photosynthesis and store nutrients. A healthy diet consists of all food classes in the right proportions. The food groups needed are: ⦁ Dietary fabric OMNIVORES: consume food of animal and plant origin. Yeah, cows, the bears, the wild boars, and the chickens are omnivorous. Humans Beings, too, are omnivores. CARNIVORES: consume other species, eagles, bears, lions, etc. HERBIVORES: are chewing food. Deer, bunny, and grasshopper. SCAVENGERSv is a form of carnivores. They ‘re fed on corpses, the fish, the snakes, are carnivores. They ‘re herbivores. Animals Vultures, hyenas, and a few beetles are scavengers. It’s an insect that consumes the bodies of dead creatures. DECOMPOSES: feed on rotting plants and animals It’s time. All bugs, earthworms, spores, and molds This decomposes. It’s a living being that breaks down the waste of the farm and the water Remains of living organisms in fluids that are added to the ground

It is important to do what you can do to recycle and compost. It reduces waste to begin with when you opt in on reusable water bottles, coffee cups, reusable bags, utensils, paper plates, and food containers. Reducing food waste can significantly help curb excess landfill and methane gas emission. “when applied to soil, compost adds valuable organic matter, a crucial gift since topsoil loss and erosion are major concerns in the 21st century, leading to watershed problems and threatening ‘our ability to sustain life on Earth,’ according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR).5 ILSR also notes that amending soil with compost improves water retention, reduces chemical needs and improves soil quality and structure.6 Even the U.S. EPA lists the following benefits of composting:7″ - Enriches soil, helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests - Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers - Encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create hummus, a rich, nutrient-filled material 1.Plastic Bags Shouldn’t Go Into Your Recycling Bin Municipal recycling facilities often do not recycle plastic bags, which can get caught in their machinery causing damage. Many grocery stores, however, have collection bins where you can drop off plastic bags to be recycled. 2.Avoiding Putting Your Recyclables Into Trash Bags If you put your recyclables into closed trash bags, they’ll get thrown straight into the trash. This is because sorters don’t have time to open them, and they’re also considered to be a safety hazard. 3.Greasy, Wet or Food-Soiled Items Cannot Be Recycled Grease, liquids (even water) and food are considered contaminants. If they make it down the sorting line without being tossed out, they can contaminate an entire load of recyclables, causing it to be thrown out. Examples of items that cannot be recycled include: - Foil potato chip bags - Greasy pizza boxes (if you rip off the unsoiled cardboard lid, that can be recycled) - Foil lids from yogurt containers (however foil food trays and pie tins may be accepted as long as you remove as much food as possible) - Paper cups with shiny coatings, such as hot-serve coffee cups - Paper food bowls with plastic lining (such as those used for Chipotle burrito bowls) 4.Very Small Items Cannot Be Recycled The Denver Post described it as “anything smaller than a Post-it note” cannot be recycled, because it’s too small to be sorted properly. This includes plastic bottle caps, unless you screw them onto the bottle (be sure to empty all liquid out first, or the bottle will be discarded). 5.Don’t Flatten Milk Cartons Waxy milk cartons can be recycled, but if they’re missed via hand sorting an infrared optical sorter will pick them out (and certain other three-dimensional items) from the mix. If you crush the cartons, they may be missed. 6.These Items Can’t Be Recycled Anything that enters a recycling center that cannot be recycled is considered a contaminant and will be thrown out. If too many contaminants are found in a bundle of recyclables, it runs the risk of being rejected. Examples of nonrecyclable items in Denver include: Scrap metal Plastic that does not hold a shape Christmas tree lights Wire hangers Electronics (there are specialized centers for this) Auto parts Propane tanks Mattresses Bowling balls Bicycles “How to Compost and Recycle Properly” by Dr. Mercola

Hanukkah 2021 begins at sundown on Sunday, November 28. Hanukkah, or the Festival of Rededication, celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. In 167 BCE, the Jews of Judea rose up in revolt against the oppression of King Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus went so far as to desecrate the Temple in Jerusalem by installing images of Zeus on its holy platforms and altars. This was meant to be more than a defilement of Israel’s religious ethos, but a pulverizing of its very national identity as well, since the Temple was the religious and civic symbol of Jewish nationhood. The military leader of the first phase of the revolt was Judah the Maccabee. In the autumn of 164, Judah and his followers were able to capture the Temple in Jerusalem. They cleansed it and rededicated it to Israel’s God. This event was observed in an eight-day celebration. Like Passover, Hanukkah is a holiday that celebrates the liberation from oppression. It also provides a strong argument in favor of freedom of worship and religion. In spite of the human action that is commemorated, never far from the surface is the theology that the liberation was possible only thanks to the miraculous support of the Divine. Read More

Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Cástulo in south central Spain have found a glass liturgical vessel from the 4th century that is the earliest known representation of Christ ever discovered in Spain. It’s a paten, a shallow bowl or dish used to hold the consecrated host during the sacrament of the Eucharist. Although it was found in fragments, they’re in excellent condition with only very few details of the decoration eroded, a survival all the more remarkable when you consider that the high quality blown glass is just two millimeters thick. The pieces were painstakingly puzzled together with Paraloid, a thermoplastic resin used as a glass and ceramic adhesive by conservators, to form 81% of the complete dish. In total 175 grams of glass were recovered. The paten is 22 centimeters (8.7 inches) in diameter and is scratch-engraved with a depiction of Christ in Majesty. He stands in the center of the dish, holding a bejewled cross, symbol of resurrection, in his right hand and the gospels in his left. Above him to the right is the Chi Rho symbol between the alpha and omega. Two men, apostles, likely Peter and Paul, flank Christ, each holding a scroll. The figures are bracketed by date palm trees, symbols of immortality in paleochristian iconography. Archaeologists were able to date the paten to the 4th century thanks to ceramic pieces and coins found in the room, one of which was minted under Emperor Constantius II (337-361 A.D.). That places the vessel in the early decades of Christianity as a legal religion that could be practiced in public. The Edict of Milan, which granted religious liberty to Christians, was promulgated by Emperors Constantine I and Licinius in 313 A.D. Before then depictions of Christ were hidden in private homes and catacombs while in public Christians used cryptic symbols like the ichthys (Jesus fish). The depiction of Christ as a beardless youth with short curly hair in the Alexandrian style wearing a philosopher’s toga is typical of this transitional period of Christianity. The scene itself, a version of the Traditio legis (“transmission of the law”) in which Christ stands or sits enthroned giving scrolls to Peter and Paul on either side of him, is a paleochristian motif drawn from depictions of the Roman emperor. The standing Christ is earlier than the enthroned version which became popular in the second half of the 4th century, as in the central relief panel of the Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, made in 359 A.D. Both apostles carry the rotulus legis (scroll of the law) and they’re both wearing togas. They have short but full hair and are cleanly shaven, another mark of how early this image is since once the iconography became standardized Peter and Paul would be depicted with balding heads and beards. The fact that the paten is made of glass is another indication of its age. According to the Liber Pontificalis, a compendium of papal biographies, Pope Zepherinus (199-217 A.D.) “made a regulation for the church, that there should be vessels of glass before the priests in the church and servitors to hold them while the bishop was celebrating mass and priests standing about him. Thus mass should be celebrated and the clergy should assist in all the ceremony, except in that which belongs only to the bishop; from the consecration of the bishop’s hand the priest should receive the consecrated wafer to distribute to the people.” One pope later, Urban I (222-230 A.D.) “had all sacred vessels made of silver, and he gave as an offering 25 patens of silver [one for each titular church].” The source for Urban’s order replacing all glass liturgical vessels with ones made of precious metals is thought to be a 6th century hagiography of St. Cecilia, which is shaky, to say the least, so it’s likely the shift from glass to silver is of later date. The discovery of the glass paten in the context makes it even more important. Before its discovery, some archaeologists had posited that the 4th century building in which it was found was a very early Christian religious structure, midway between the catacombs and clandestine churches in private homes and the first official Christian architecture of the Roman empire. However there was no direct evidence of that — no frescoes or crosses or any other overtly Christian decoration. The paten supplies that evidence that the building was used for Christian services. Inhabited since the Neolithic, Cástulo was important center of trade in the Roman world. It had been an ally of Rome since the city betrayed the Carthaginian army in the second century B.C., and its location on the Guadalquivir River connected it directly to Córdoba, capital of the Roman province of Hispania Ulterior Baetica. Just a few meters away from the structure where the paten was found is a building from the first century A.D. dedicated to the cult of Emperor Domitian. In 2012, archaeologists unearthed a mosaic floor there that is nothing short of spectacular. Because Domitian was assassinated in 96 A.D. and the Senate issued a damnatio memoriae erasing his name from all public documents, art and architecture, the building was never completed. The walls were demolished, covering the mosaic with rubble and preserving it in unbelievable condition for archaeologists to find. It’s made from 750,000 tiles in 24 brilliant colors imported from all over the empire. Do yourself a favor and explore the entire mosaic in high resolution here. Its quality is a testament to the wealth and importance of the ancient city. Once Christianity came into the picture, Cástulo became an episcopal see. We know there was a bishop there at least as early as 305 A.D. because records of the ecclesiastical Synod of Elvira (305-6 A.D.) list one of the bishops present as “Secundinus episcopus Castulonensis,” or Secundinus Bishop of Castulo. It remained an episcopal see under Visigothic rule until the second half of the 7th century. Cástulo became overshadowed by its castle-defended neighbor of Linares after the Muslim conquest and was ultimately abandoned in the 13th century. The paten is now on display at the Archaeological Museum of Linares.

The epic march to Yorktown undertaken by the French and patriot forces was the largest troop movement in the Revolutionary War. From 1781-1782 French forces marched under the command of the comte de Rochambeau to and from Yorktown, alongside their American allies led by George Washington, as they traveled from Newport, Rhode Island, and West Point, New York, to Virginia in 1781 and back north to Newburgh, New York, and Boston in 1782. How did they move the two armies hundreds of miles? How long did it take? How did they restock supplies? Robert Selig answers these questions and more as he recounts this chapter of the American Revolution. Video courtesy of C-SPAN’s American History TV About the Speaker Robert Selig is a historical consultant who serves as a project historian to the National Park Service for the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Project.

There are two types of cholesterol: good and bad. Too much of one type or not enough of another can put you at risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. A simple blood test can measure levels of both good and bad cholesterol. - "Good" Cholesterol - High-density lipoproteins (HDL) absorbs bad cholesterol and carries it back to the liver to remove it from the body. High levels of HDL reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. - "Bad" Cholesterol - Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) makes up the majority of the body's cholesterol. High levels of LDL can build up in the arteries and result in heart disease. Most high cholesterol is due to health behaviors that people can change, such as eating a lot of unhealthy food or not exercising. What you should do to maintain healthy cholesterol levels - Eat a heart-healthy diet: limit foods high in trans and saturated fats, cholesterol and salt, and eat low-fat protein sources like lean meat, poultry and fish, and eat vegetables, fruits and whole grains. - Maintain a healthy weight for your body type and height. - Exercise regularly. Most adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days per week such as walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming or bicycling. more - Don't smoke. - Have your blood tested for cholesterol levels. Ask your doctor how often you should be screened for high cholesterol. Testing should be done more often if: - Your total cholesterol is 200 mg/dL or more; - You are a man over age 45 or a woman over age 50; - Your HDL (good) cholesterol is less than 40 mg/dL; - You have other risk factors for heart disease and stroke. - Talk with your doctor about how often you should be tested and how to reduce your risk for heart disease.

National Symbols: Canadian Heritage National symbols play a significant role in the representation and preservation of a country’s heritage. These symbols embody the values, history, and cultural identity of a nation, serving as powerful tools for fostering national unity and pride. In the case of Canada, an example that exemplifies this notion is its iconic maple leaf flag. This article aims to explore various national symbols that are deeply rooted in Canadian heritage and understand their historical significance, societal impact, and enduring relevance. Canada’s national symbols encompass a diverse range of elements that reflect the nation’s rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and natural wonders. From official emblems like the beaver and Canadian horse to landmarks such as Niagara Falls and Parliament Hill, each symbol holds intrinsic value in shaping Canadians’ collective identity. Understanding these symbols goes beyond mere aesthetics; it delves into the deep-rooted connections between individuals and their homeland. By examining different aspects of Canadian national symbolism – including flora, fauna, landscapes, and architecture – we can gain insights into how these representations contribute to national cohesion while celebrating the country’s distinctiveness on both domestic and global scales. Maple Leaf: Symbol of Canada The maple leaf is an iconic symbol that represents the essence of Canadian identity. Its distinctive shape and vibrant colors have come to epitomize the values, culture, and natural beauty associated with this diverse nation. To illustrate its significance, let us consider a hypothetical scenario in which a traveler arrives in Canada for the first time and encounters the maple leaf. Upon seeing the maple leaf adorning flags, clothing, and various products, our traveler immediately recognizes it as a symbol of great importance. The familiar sight evokes feelings of curiosity and intrigue about what lies ahead in their journey through this vast land. It serves as a visual cue that they are now immersed in Canadian heritage and traditions. To further appreciate the emotional impact that the maple leaf has on Canadians and visitors alike, we can explore some key associations related to this national emblem: - Pride: The presence of the maple leaf instills a sense of pride among Canadians who view it as a representation of their country’s accomplishments and shared values. - Unity: The maple leaf unites Canadians from all walks of life under one common symbol, fostering a sense of belonging and unity across diverse communities. - Natural Beauty: With its origins deeply rooted in nature, the maple leaf embodies Canada’s breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife. - Resilience: Just as the tree endures harsh winters while producing vibrant leaves each spring, the maple leaf symbolizes Canada’s ability to thrive amidst adversity. These emotional connections transcend geographical borders. As evidence of its universal appeal, tourists often purchase souvenirs adorned with the maple leaf during their visits to Canada. This enduring symbol not only captures the imagination but also elicits deep emotions tied to patriotism and admiration for this remarkable country. In transitioning to our next section on “Ice Hockey: Beloved Canadian Sport,” we delve into another facet of Canadian identity—one that complements the cultural significance represented by the maple leaf. The enduring love for ice hockey within Canadian society further exemplifies the nation’s passion and commitment to its heritage. Next section: Ice Hockey: Beloved Canadian Sport Ice Hockey: Beloved Canadian Sport Transition from Previous Section H2: Having explored the significance of the iconic Maple Leaf as a symbol of Canada, we now turn our attention to another cherished element that holds a special place in Canadian culture and identity. Section H2: Ice Hockey: Beloved Canadian Sport Ice hockey is undeniably one of the most beloved sports in Canada, deeply ingrained within its national fabric. To illustrate this sentiment, let us consider a hypothetical scenario involving two rival teams competing for the coveted championship title. The entire nation, from east to west coast, would unite in collective anticipation and excitement, fostering an unparalleled sense of community spirit. This passionate engagement with ice hockey can be attributed to several factors: - Rich History: With roots dating back to the 19th century, ice hockey has become intertwined with Canadian history and heritage. - National Identity: Ice hockey serves as a powerful cultural touchstone that represents Canadian values such as resilience, teamwork, and dedication. - Community Bonding: Local arenas act as gathering places where communities come together to support their hometown teams. - Youth Development: Ice hockey provides opportunities for young Canadians to develop physical skills, discipline, and camaraderie. To further emphasize the emotional connection between Canadians and ice hockey, let us examine the following table showcasing key statistics from recent surveys conducted across the country: |Do you watch or follow NHL games? |94% answered yes |Have you ever played recreational ice hockey? |68% answered yes |Would you encourage your child to play ice hockey? |87% answered yes |Is cheering for a specific team important to you? |82% answered yes These numbers highlight not only the widespread enthusiasm surrounding ice hockey but also its enduring impact on individuals’ lives. It goes beyond being just a sport; it becomes an integral part of Canadian identity. In light of ice hockey’s profound influence and the emotional connection it fosters, we now delve into another emblematic representation of Canadian heritage: the beaver – an iconic animal deeply rooted in Canada’s history and culture. Beaver: Iconic Canadian Animal Transition from the previous section: While ice hockey remains an integral part of Canadian culture, another symbol that holds significant value in representing Canada is the beaver. Known for its industrious nature and unique features, the beaver has long been associated with Canadian heritage. Section: Beaver: Iconic Canadian Animal The beaver, Castor canadensis, is a large semi-aquatic rodent native to North America. It boasts several distinct characteristics that make it an iconic animal in Canada. For instance, one fascinating aspect of the beaver’s behavior is its ability to construct elaborate dams and lodges using tree branches and mud. This exceptional engineering skill allows them to create complex habitats where they can live safely and comfortably. To further understand the significance of this remarkable creature within Canadian culture, let us examine some key aspects: The beaver as a national emblem: - Adopted as the official emblem of Canada in 1975. - Represents hard work, determination, and perseverance. - Historically valued for their soft fur used in the fur trade industry. - Played a crucial role in shaping early exploration and settlement due to their highly sought-after pelts. - Beavers play a critical role in maintaining wetland ecosystems by creating ponds that provide habitat for various plant and animal species. - Their activities contribute to water filtration, flood control, and soil stabilization. In recognizing these contributions of the beaver to Canadian heritage both ecologically and economically, it becomes evident why it holds such strong symbolism within the nation. Its representation goes beyond being merely an adorable animal; rather, it serves as a reminder of resilience, resourcefulness, and adaptability—traits deeply rooted in Canadian identity. Moving forward into our next discussion on “Red and White: Colors of the Canadian Flag,” we delve into yet another element closely intertwined with Canada’s rich history and national symbolism. Red and White: Colors of the Canadian Flag Section Title: Maple Leaf: Symbol of Canadian Identity The beaver holds a special place as an iconic animal in Canada, but it is not the only symbol that represents the nation’s identity. Another notable emblem that vividly captures the essence of Canada is the Maple Leaf. This distinctive symbol can be found on various objects and institutions throughout the country, serving as a powerful representation of Canadian heritage. One example showcasing the significance of the maple leaf is its prominent display on the national flag. The red maple leaf design was adopted in 1965, replacing the previous Union Jack flag, and has since become an integral part of Canada’s visual identity. Its simple yet striking appearance resonates with Canadians across generations, evoking feelings of patriotism and unity. To further understand why this symbol holds such deep meaning for Canadians, consider the following emotional associations linked to the maple leaf: - Pride: The sight of the majestic maple leaf instills a sense of pride among Canadians, reminding them of their nation’s rich history and cultural diversity. - Connection to Nature: As one gazes upon the delicate veins adorning each individual leaflet, a connection to Canada’s vast landscapes and natural beauty is established. - Resilience: Just like how a single falling leaf signifies autumn’s arrival, Canadians see resilience in themselves during challenging times by drawing inspiration from this enduring symbol. - National Unity: The distinctiveness of every maple leaf reminds us that despite our differences, we are all interconnected citizens within this vast land. To visually represent these emotional connections associated with the maple leaf, consider this table: |Connection to Nature In summary, beyond being just another attractive element within nature’s bounty, the maple leaf has evolved into an emblematic symbol of Canadian identity. Its presence on the national flag and its association with various emotions make it a powerful representation of pride, unity, resilience, and connection to nature for Canadians from coast to coast. Moving forward, let us now explore another significant aspect of Canada’s cultural heritage: “O Canada,” the official national anthem. O Canada: Official National Anthem As we delve deeper into Canada’s national symbols, it is important to explore another iconic representation of Canadian heritage—the colors of the national flag. The red and white hues featured on the Canadian flag hold significant meaning and evoke a sense of national pride among Canadians. To illustrate the impact of these colors, let us consider a hypothetical scenario. Imagine a large crowd gathered in Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day. As they wave their miniature flags with fervor, the sea of red and white creates an awe-inspiring sight that unites people from diverse backgrounds under one banner. This visual spectacle serves as a testament to the power of symbolism in fostering unity and shared identity. The significance of the red and white colors goes beyond mere aesthetics; they embody several key aspects of Canadian heritage: - Unity: The color combination represents the unity that exists between English-speaking Canadians (represented by red) and French-speaking Canadians (represented by white), forming a bond within this multicultural nation. - Sacrifice: Red symbolizes courage, bravery, and sacrifice—a tribute to those who have served or continue to serve in Canada’s armed forces. - Peace: White signifies peace, purity, and innocence—values deeply cherished by Canadians as they strive for harmony both domestically and globally. - Resilience: These colors also reflect Canada’s resilience in overcoming challenges throughout its history—a reminder that strength lies in diversity. To further emphasize the emotional connection associated with these colors, please find below a bullet point list summarizing their significance: - Red embodies unity, courage, and sacrifice. - White symbolizes peace, purity, and resilience. - Together, they represent Canada’s harmonious diversity. Additionally, here is a table highlighting some notable instances where these colors are prominently displayed across various domains: |National hockey team jerseys |Canada Day celebrations |Parliament Hill in Ottawa |Canadian flag at international exhibitions In conclusion, the red and white colors of the Canadian flag serve as a powerful representation of the nation’s identity. They unite Canadians from all walks of life, symbolize important values, and evoke a deep emotional connection to their heritage. As we move forward, let us now explore another aspect of Canada’s rich cultural tapestry—Canoeing: Traditional Canadian Watercraft. Canoeing: Traditional Canadian Watercraft National Symbols: Canadian Heritage Having explored the significance of “O Canada” as the official national anthem, we now turn our attention to another iconic symbol of Canadian heritage – canoeing. Imagine yourself gliding along a calm lake surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, with only the sound of water gently lapping against your vessel and birds chirping in the distance. Canoeing represents not just a recreational activity but also embodies an essential aspect of Canadian identity. Consider the following aspects that make canoeing such a cherished tradition: - Canoes have been used for centuries by Indigenous peoples for transportation, hunting, and trade. - European settlers adopted this mode of travel, which played a crucial role in exploring and settling vast regions of Canada. Connection with Nature: - Canoeing allows individuals to immerse themselves in nature’s serenity while traversing picturesque lakes and rivers. - Being close to the water enables people to observe wildlife up close and experience unique ecosystems firsthand. - Many Canadians view canoeing as a leisurely outdoor activity that promotes relaxation and stress relief. - It provides opportunities for families and friends to bond, creating lasting memories amidst Canada’s natural beauty. - Beyond its recreational value, canoeing is also popular as a competitive sport at both amateur and professional levels. - Numerous athletes have represented Canada on international stages, bringing pride to their nation through their accomplishments. The emotional connection Canadians feel toward canoeing can be further illustrated through the following examples: |Witnessing fellow citizens excel in Olympic canoeing events |Enjoying peaceful moments during a solo paddling excursion |Participating in group expeditions where teamwork is key |Embarking on multi-day wilderness trips in remote locations As we explore the various symbols that make up Canadian heritage, our next section delves into the Inukshuk – a symbol deeply rooted in Northern Indigenous culture. Just as canoeing holds significance for Canadians across the country, the Inukshuk serves as a powerful representation of cultural diversity and unity found within Canada’s vast territories. Inukshuk: Symbol of Northern Indigenous Culture Section H2: ‘Inukshuk: Symbol of Northern Indigenous Culture’ Following the exploration of canoeing as a traditional Canadian watercraft, we now turn our attention to another significant symbol deeply rooted in Canadian heritage – the Inukshuk. An Inukshuk is an iconic stone structure commonly found throughout the northern regions of Canada, particularly within indigenous communities. To illustrate its cultural significance, let us consider a hypothetical scenario where an Inukshuk is erected along a remote trail in the Northwest Territories, guiding lost hikers back to safety. The Inukshuk serves various purposes that extend beyond mere navigational aid. It embodies themes such as unity, guidance, and connection with nature. This symbolism can be observed through several key aspects: - The Inuit people have been creating these structures for centuries. - They are often built during hunting expeditions or important ceremonies. - Each individual stone used holds symbolic meaning and purpose. - The act of constructing an Inukshuk fosters a strong sense of spirituality. - It represents harmony between humans and their natural surroundings. - Indigenous communities view it as a bridge between earthly existence and spiritual realms. Resilience and Survival: - The construction process requires patience, skill, and determination. - Building an Inukshuk showcases human ingenuity and adaptability in challenging environments. - Its presence reminds individuals of their ability to overcome adversity. To further visualize the impact of this remarkable symbol on both Canadians and visitors alike, imagine encountering the following table while exploring the vast landscapes of northern Canada: |Emotions Elicited by |Sense of Wonder |Witnessing an intricately crafted Inukshuk against a backdrop of vibrant autumn foliage. |Standing beside an ancient Inukshuk that has withstood the test of time, linking generations. |Appreciation for Culture |Learning about the traditional significance and value placed on Inukshuks in indigenous communities. |Seeing a trail lined with small Inukshuks, motivating hikers to continue their journey confidently. As we delve deeper into Canadian heritage, our exploration now turns towards the iconic Mounties – the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – who have played an integral role in shaping Canada’s history and identity. Mounties: Royal Canadian Mounted Police Section: ‘Maple Leaf: Symbol of Canadian Identity’ Transitioning from the previous section on Inukshuks, we now turn our attention to another iconic symbol that holds great significance in Canadian culture – the Maple Leaf. The Maple Leaf is widely recognized as a powerful representation of Canadian identity and has become synonymous with this vast nation. To demonstrate the impact of the Maple Leaf as a national symbol, let us consider a hypothetical scenario where an international traveler arrives at Toronto Pearson International Airport for the first time. As they step off the plane and make their way through customs, they are greeted by a large display featuring Canada’s flag proudly adorned with a prominent red Maple Leaf. This simple yet striking image immediately resonates with them, evoking feelings of excitement and anticipation as they embark on their journey throughout this diverse country. The emotional response elicited by the presence of the Maple Leaf can be attributed to several key factors: - Pride: Canadians take immense pride in their country’s natural beauty, multiculturalism, and universal healthcare system. - Unity: The Maple Leaf serves as a unifying force among Canadians, transcending regional differences and fostering a sense of belonging. - Heritage: It represents Canada’s rich history and connection to its Indigenous peoples, who have long revered the maple tree for its strength and resilience. - Resilience: Just like the maple tree withstands harsh winters only to bloom again in springtime, the Maple Leaf symbolizes Canada’s ability to overcome challenges and emerge stronger. These emotional connections are further reinforced when considering how deeply ingrained the Maple Leaf is within various aspects of Canadian society. For instance, it prominently adorns government buildings, official documents, currency denominations, sports team jerseys, and countless consumer products across different industries. In conclusion (Transition), moving forward into our next section about Tim Hortons: Canadian Coffee and Donut Chain—another cultural emblem that has become an integral part of Canadian identity—we explore how this beloved establishment has woven its way into the fabric of Canadian daily life, much like the Maple Leaf symbol itself. Tim Hortons: Canadian Coffee and Donut Chain Building on the cultural significance of Canadian institutions, another emblematic symbol that holds a special place in the hearts of Canadians is Tim Hortons. Established in 1964 by former hockey player Tim Horton, this iconic coffee and donut chain has become an integral part of Canadian culture, representing both comfort and community. Tim Hortons exemplifies its importance to Canadians through various ways: - The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm donuts evokes memories for many Canadians, reminding them of their childhood or cherished moments with loved ones. - The familiar sight of red cups and green signs becomes synonymous with homecoming after long travels abroad, providing a sense of familiarity and belonging. - Example: Imagine a weary traveler returning from months away, stepping into a Tim Hortons at the airport amidst strangers but finding solace in the shared experience with fellow Canadians. Social Gathering Spaces: - Tim Hortons serves as a meeting point for friends, neighbors, colleagues, and even strangers who bond over conversations while sipping their favorite beverages. - It acts as a communal hub where diverse individuals come together regardless of age, ethnicity, or social status to share stories and build connections based on their common love for Tim Hortons’ offerings. - Example: Picture two students studying late into the night at different tables in a crowded Tim Hortons during exam season. They eventually strike up a conversation about their shared stress levels and end up forming study groups that transform into lifelong friendships. - With over 4,800 locations across Canada (and more worldwide), Tim Hortons stands as a testament to the brand’s deep-rooted presence within the country’s identity. - Its menu items such as “Double Double” (coffee with double cream and sugar) have been incorporated into everyday language, showcasing how deeply ingrained it is in Canadian vernacular. - Example: Consider a Canadian working abroad who craves the taste of home. Upon finding a Tim Hortons in their new city, they feel an instant connection to their Canadian heritage and indulge in the familiar flavors that remind them of their roots. - Comforting aromas and flavors - Shared experiences and memories - Sense of belonging and community - Nostalgia for one’s homeland |Social Gathering Spaces |Aroma of coffee/donuts evokes childhood memories |Meeting point for diverse individuals |Deep-rooted presence across Canada |Familiarity while returning home from travels |Conversation catalyst leading to friendships |Incorporation into everyday language |Solace amidst strangers at airports |Building connections regardless of differences |Instant connection to Canadian heritage As we delve further into Canada’s cultural symbols, let us explore another iconic emblem – the Toque, a classic Canadian winter hat. Toque: Classic Canadian Winter Hat Moving on from the beloved Tim Hortons, another iconic symbol of Canadian culture is the toque, a classic winter hat. The toque holds great significance in Canada due to its practicality and cultural associations. Let us explore the history and cultural importance of this quintessentially Canadian headwear. To understand the impact of the toque, consider a hypothetical scenario where an individual visits Canada for the first time during winter. As they step off the plane, they are immediately struck by the biting cold that permeates their entire being. Seeking warmth, they notice locals donning these uniquely knitted hats with pride. In this moment, our visitor realizes that the toque not only serves as protection against the harsh elements but also signifies belongingness and adherence to Canadian values. The cultural significance of the toque can be further understood through a list of key attributes associated with it: - Practicality: With its insulating properties, the toque efficiently retains heat and shields one’s ears from frostbite. - Identity: Wearing a toque allows individuals to express their sense of national identity and connection to Canadian heritage. - Fashion statement: While serving a functional purpose, many Canadians embrace different styles of toques as fashionable accessories. - Sense of community: During sporting events or outdoor activities like ice hockey games or skiing trips, seeing groups of people wearing matching team-themed toques fosters a sense of camaraderie among participants. To delve deeper into understanding various aspects related to the importance of the toque within Canadian society, let us examine a table showcasing popular types of woolen materials used in manufacturing them: |Soft and lightweight material providing exceptional warmth |Luxuriously soft fabric with excellent insulation properties |Elegance and sophistication |Hypoallergenic, lightweight yet warm material derived from alpacas |Sustainable fashion choice |Ultra-soft fabric known for its exceptional warmth and luxurious feel |Indulgence in luxury In conclusion, the toque holds a special place within Canadian culture as both a practical accessory and a symbol of national pride. It not only provides protection against harsh winter conditions but also fosters a sense of belongingness and community among Canadians. As we move forward into exploring another iconic aspect of Canadian heritage, let us now turn our attention to Nanaimo Bars: an iconic Canadian dessert. [Transition] Continuing our exploration of quintessential Canadian culinary delights, we shift our focus to Nanaimo Bars: an iconic Canadian dessert that tantalizes taste buds with its delicious layers. Nanaimo Bars: Iconic Canadian Dessert Building on the theme of iconic Canadian food, we now turn our attention to maple syrup. This liquid gold is not only a delicious topping but also an integral part of Canada’s cultural heritage. Maple syrup production in Canada has a rich history that dates back centuries. The process begins with tapping maple trees and collecting their sap in buckets or using more modern methods such as tubing systems. One example of this time-honored tradition can be found in Quebec, where farmers like Jean-Pierre Leblanc have been producing maple syrup for generations. His family-owned farm, nestled deep within the picturesque forests, exemplifies the dedication and passion required to create this delectable treat. To truly appreciate the significance of maple syrup in Canadian culture, let us delve into its importance through four key aspects: - Tradition: Maple syrup holds a special place in Canadian traditions and festivities, particularly during springtime when “sugaring off” parties are held across the country. - Economy: The maple syrup industry contributes significantly to Canada’s economy, supporting thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars each year. - Culinary versatility: Maple syrup goes beyond being just a pancake topping. It adds depth and flavor to various dishes ranging from savory glazes for meats to sweet accompaniments for desserts. - Environmental stewardship: Sustainable management practices employed by maple syrup producers ensure minimal impact on forest ecosystems while maximizing output. This emotional connection Canadians share with maple syrup is further accentuated when considering some remarkable statistics: |Production (in liters) |Export Value (in CAD) These numbers not only highlight the scale of maple syrup production in Canada but also demonstrate its significant economic impact, contributing to both domestic and international markets. In conclusion, maple syrup stands as a quintessential symbol of Canadian heritage. Its cultural significance, economic contributions, culinary versatility, and commitment to environmental sustainability make it an integral part of the country’s identity. As we move forward to explore another iconic Canadian dish – Poutine, let us continue our journey through the diverse flavors that define this great nation. Continuing with our exploration of beloved Canadian dishes, let us now delve into the world of Poutine – a savory delight that has captured hearts across the country. Poutine: Famous Canadian Dish Transition from the previous section: Having explored the delectable Nanaimo Bars, it is now time to delve into another culinary treasure that holds a special place in Canadian culture. Poutine, an iconic dish originating from Quebec, has gained immense popularity and become synonymous with Canadian cuisine. This next section will further explore the origins of poutine, its key ingredients, and its impact on Canadian food culture. Poutine: A Savory Delight To illustrate the enduring appeal of poutine, let us consider a hypothetical scenario. Imagine yourself walking down a bustling street in Montreal, surrounded by locals and tourists alike. The aroma of crispy fries wafts through the air as you stumble upon a small corner restaurant known for its authentic poutine. Intrigued by the enticing smell and curious about this classic Canadian delicacy, you decide to give it a try. Key Ingredients and Preparation - French Fries: Crispy golden potatoes cut into thin strips. - Cheese Curds: Fresh cheese curds traditionally made from cheddar or mozzarella. - Gravy: Rich beef-based sauce poured over the fries and cheese curds. Assembled together, these simple yet flavorful components create a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that make poutine so beloved across Canada. The hot gravy melts the cheese curds slightly while adding savory depth to each bite. The contrast between the softness of melted cheese and crispiness of fries creates an irresistible combination that has won over countless palates. |Crisp golden potato strips |Fresh cheddar or mozzarella |Rich beef-based sauce The Cultural Impact of Poutine Beyond being merely a delicious dish, poutine carries significant cultural significance within Canada: - Comfort Food Sensation: Poutine is often associated with warmth, nostalgia, and a sense of home. It brings people together over shared experiences and memories. - Regional Identity: Originating in Quebec, poutine has expanded beyond its roots to become a national symbol, representing Canadian culinary diversity. - Culinary Innovation: Poutine has evolved into a versatile dish that inspires creativity among chefs throughout the country, leading to unique variations and adaptations. In conclusion, poutine’s humble yet irresistible combination of fries, cheese curds, and gravy has captivated taste buds across Canada. Its cultural impact as a comfort food sensation and regional icon cannot be understated. Whether enjoyed traditionally or with creative twists, this beloved dish continues to bring joy and unity through its simple but satisfying flavors.

Sensory Channels in Autism Sensitivity Opens in new window is the higher than “normal”/average degree of being sensitive to something. If I was hypersensitive to sound and stood beside you, I would be able to hear the blood pumping in your veins. We need to understand that the autistic experience of hypersensitivity is right off the end of our scale. Hypersensitivity and/or Hyposensitivity In his book The Ultimate Stranger: The Autistic Child, describing possible sensory problems in autism, Carl Delacato (1974) classified each sensory channel as being: - hyper — the channel is too open, as a result too much stimulation gets in for the brain to handle - hypo — the channel is not open enough, as a result too little of the stimulation gets in and the brain is deprieved - white noise — the channel creates its own stimulus because of its faulty operation and, as a result the message from the outside world is overcome by the noise within the system. Delacato stated that each sensory could be affected in a different way, for example, a child could be hypovisual, “white noise” auditory, hypo- to tastes and smells and hypertactile. While recognizing the revolutionary contribution to the understanding of autism Opens in new window made by Delacato, it seems necessary to argue one point in his theory. Delacato considered that a channel could be either hyper- or hypo- or “white noise”. However, it turns out that often one and the same person can experience sensory inputs of one and the same channel at different times from all three of Delacato’s categories — hyper-, hypo-, “white noise” — because the intensity (the volume) with which the channels work often fluctuates. For example, an autistic boy in my group can watch “spots” and “moths” (small particles in the air), shows great discomfort at bright lights (Delacato’s characteristics of being hypervisual), while he often inspects objects by hand, likes mirrors (hypovisual) and has large pupils, often looks through people and things, dislikes eye contact and has distorted visual experience (“white noise”). While describing their unusual sensory experiences autistic individuals prefer the term “hypersensitivity”. This term is very broad. For our purpose, hypersensitivity means acute or heightened, or excessive sensitivity; hyposensitivity stands for below normal sensitivity. Here the terms are deliberately narrowed, as it seems more justifiable to distinguish between different sensory experiences, often conventionally covered by one term. Below are some examples of hyper- and hyposensitivities of all the channels experienced by autistic individuals. Hypervision (seeing “invisible”) means that autistic individuals can see more than other people, i.e. their vision is too acute. For example, Alex, an autistic child, often complaints “Moths [air particles] are flying”. His vision is so hypersensitive that “moths” often become a background with the rest of his environment fading away. Annabel Stehli (1991, p.186) described her autistic daughter Georgiana who saw “too well” and everything she saw was magnified; “she saw like an eagle”; she saw, for example, every strand of hair “like spaghetti … [that] must have been why she’d been so fascinated by people’s hair”. Jasmine O’Neill (1999) describes an autistic person as the person who sees what is around him with extra-acute sight. Hyperhearing (hearing “inaudible”) is widely reported. Temple Grandin (1996b) describes her hearing as having a sound amplifier set on maximum loudness, and she compares her ears with a microphone that picks up and amplifies sounds. They might be able to hear some frequencies that only animals normally hear (Williams 1992). Alex, an autistic boy, seems to hear noises before other people. He can announce his dad coming home before anybody else can hear the car turning to the porch. As noises seem so much louder to him, Alex usually moves away from conversations and avoids crowded places. Children with hyperhearing often cover their ears when the noise is painful for them, though others in the same room may be unaware of any disturbing sounds at all. Some autistic individuals have olfactory sensitivities comparable to canines (Morris 1999). For them, ‘almost all types of food smell too sharp” and they “cannot tolerate” how people smell, even if they are very clean. They do not like some food because “the smell or taste” might be intolerable (Rand). Hypersensitivity to certain stimuli experienced by autistic people can be compared with allergies (O’Neill 1999). Donna Williams’s allergic reaction to some perfumes made the inside of her nose feel like it had been walled up with clay up to her eyebrows, some perfumes “burned her lungs” (Williams 1996). Some food problems, however, may be caused not by taste or smell but by intolerance of textures of certain food, sounds it produces or even its color. Alex, for example, would never eat any red vegetables or fruit. He would accept a green apple but never a red one! Hypertactility is very common among the autistic population. Some autistic children pull away when people try to hug them, because they fear being touched. Many children refuse to wear certain clothes, as they cannot tolerate the texture on their skin. Because their hypertactility results in overwhelming sensations, even the slightest touch can send them to a panic attack. Small scratches that most people ignore can be very painful to them. Parents often report that washing their child’s hair or cutting nails turns into an ordeal demanding several people to complete it. Luke Jackson (2002), a teenager with Asperger syndrome, describes his autistic brother Ben who has real problems with clothes. Ben will now wear his clothes to go out to school, but as soon as he comes home he cannot help stripping them off — “Hurts!” For some people it takes many days to stop feeling their clothes on their body. And unfortunately, when this comfortable feeling (or “non-feeling”) has been achieved it is time to wear clean ones, so the process of getting used to its starts again. Gillingham (1991) states that this “superability” of autistic people, when the senses are so finely tuned that they make them acutely aware of things the “normal” person would not notice, sometimes causes extreme pain. The researcher hypothesizes that to block this pain the body produces endomorphins Opens in new window that, in turn, may suppress further sensory information. Temple Grandin (2000) suggests that a partial explanation for the lack of empathy in autism may be due to an oversensitive nervous system that prevents an autistic child from receiving comforting tactile stimulation from being hugged. - Vestibular hypersensitivity Vestibular hypersensitivity is reflected in a low tolerance for any activity that involves movement or quick change in the position of the body. People with vestibular hypersensitivity experience difficulty changing direction and are poor at sports. They feel disoriented after spinning, jumping or running. They often express fear and anxiety of having their feet leave the ground. Ayres (1979) termed them “gravitationally insecure”. Also included in hypersensitivity literatures are proprioceptive signals which come from the sensors on our muscles and integral organs. Proprioceptive hypersensitivity is reflected in odd body posturing, difficulty manipulating small objects, etc. Hyposensitivity is when the person is not getting enough of the signal to make sense of stimuli. There might be times when they are not getting enough information, then their brain can feel empty and stop processing and they do not really see anything or hear anything. They are just there. Then they might get the information going again in their brain and nervous system by waving their hands around or rocking back and forth or making strange sounds or hitting their head with their hand (Rand). Some autistic people may experience trouble figuring out where objects are, as they see just outlines, and even bright lights are not “bright enough” for them. They may stare at the sun for a long time, or walk around something, running their hand around the edges so they can understand what it is (Rand). We often see children who “seek sounds” (leaning their ear against electric equipment or enjoying crowds, sirens). They often create sounds themselves to stimulate their hearing — banging doors, tapping things, vocalizing. Children with hypotaste/hyposmell chew and smell everything they can get — grass, play dough, perfume. Those with hypotactility seem not to feel pain or temperature. They may not notice a wound caused by a sharp object or may seem unaware of a broken bone. - Vestibular hyposensitivity Individuals with vestibular hyposensitivity enjoy and seek all sorts of movement and can spin or swing for a long time without being dizzy or nauseated. Autistic people with vestibular hyposensitivity often rock forth and back or move in circles while rocking their body. - Proprioceptive hyposensitivity Individuals with proprioceptive hyposensitivity have difficulty knowing where their bodies are in space; are often unaware of their own body sensations (for instance, they do not feel hunger). Children with hypoproprioceptive systems appear floppy, often learn against people, furniture and walls. Delacato (1974) was one of the first researchers to suggest that hyper- and hyposensitivity experienced by autistic children caused all autistic behaviors, namely withdrawal from social interaction and communication, stereotypic behaviors (or sims, or self-stimulations). He called these behaviors sensoryisms (sensorisms: blindisms – visual “isms”, deafisms – auditory “isms”, etc.) and considered them as the child’s attempts to treat himself and either normalize his sensory channels or communicate his problems. Autistic individuals often describe their stims as defensive mechanisms Opens in new window from hyper- or hyposensitivity. Sometimes they engage in these behaviors to suppress the pain or calm themselves down (in the case of hypersensitivity), sometimes to arouse the nervous system and get sensory stimulation from the outside (in the case of hyposensitivity), and sometimes to provide themselves with internal pleasure. Very often, therefore, these self-stimulatory behaviors (“sensorisms”), which are defined by non-austic people as “bizarre behaviors” (such as rocking, spinning, flapping their hands, tapping fingers, watching things spin), can be viewed as involuntary strategies the child has acquired to cope with “unwelcome stimulation” (hypersensitivity) or lack of it (hyposensitivity). That is why, no matter how irritating and meaningless these behaviors may seem to us, it is unwise to stop them without learning the function they serve and introducing experiences with the same function. The stereotypies caused by sensory hyper- or hyposensitivity can involve one or all senses. If we interpret these behaviors, we will be able to imagine (if not fully comprehend) how the child perceives the world and help the child develop strategies to cope with these (often painful) sensitivities. In order to recognize the presence of hyper- or hyposensitivities, one should know what signs to look for. Below are some common signs indicating the sensitivities in each sensory channel that can be helpful in compiling a child’s sensory perceptual profile and choosing the methods and environments suitable for each child. |Signs to look for Hypersensitivity can also lead to two different experiences: disturbance by certain sensory stimuli and its opposite — fascination with certain stimuli. These experiences are very individual. The kinds of stimuli that are disturbing or fascinating vary from person to person. A sight/sound/smell that causes one child pain may be pleasurable to another. |Signs to look for All senses can be affected. Some people might find many noises and bright lights nearly impossible to bear; for others certain noises (children’s voices, car horns, a kettle whistling) and the pitch of some sounds might cause a lot of discomfort. A woman with Asperger syndrome cannot tolerate somebody whistling. She describes it as a “physical abuse” because whistling causes her body to tremble and even ache. Besides, not only certain sounds but also any sudden unpredictable sounds can be painful. The fear of noise that hurts the ears is often the cause of many bad behaviors and tantrums. Some autistic children, for instance, can break the telephone because they are afraid it will ring (Grandin 1996b). |Signs to look for In my class there are four children suffering from hyper- or hyposensitivities: - Alex’s vision is very acute (hyper-): he can see the tiniest particles in the air, the smallest pieces of fluff on the carpet. These experiences distract his attention from whatever he is supposed to do. He hates bright lights and fluorescent light gives him headaches. What makes things even more complicated is that Alex’s hearing is also very acute. He can hear what is going on in the next room but one and always keeps me informed about it — “The chair is being moved. The ruler has been dropped. The bus is coming”, etc. |Signs to look for - Helen’s vision is hypo: she is attracted by any shining object, looks intensely at people (that irritates Alex, who cannot tolerate any direct look at him), is fascinated with mirrors. At the lessons she can move her fingers in front of her face for hours. It seems she cannot get enough visual stimulation and always switches on all the lights as soon as she enters the classroom. (This is usually followed by a fight with Alex who throws a tantrum every time the light is on.) Helen’s hearing is also hypo: she cannot tolerate silence, and if there is not enough noise for her, she would produce sounds herself — banging doors, tapping things, shouting. - John (hypoauditory) always joins in Helen’s “noise making”. However, his hypersensitivity to smells prevents him coming too close to anybody and makes any activities in the kitche intolerable. - Vicky is hypersensitive to sounds, touch and smell. If she is being touched by somebody, she immediately smells the place of touch, and more often than not she takes off her jacket or dress with this “spoilt spot” and refuses to wear it again unless it is washed. |Signs to look for You Might Also Like: - The data for this work have resourced from the manual: - Sensory Perceptual Issues in Autism and Asperger Syndrome: Different Sensory ... By Olga Bogdashina

Nothing in the world is perfect. This is also true in materials research. In computer simulations, one often represents a system in a highly idealized way; for example, one calculates the properties that an absolutely perfect crystal would have. In practice, however, we always have to deal with additional effects - with defects in the crystal lattice, with additional particles that attach to the material, with complicated interactions between the particles. The crucial question is therefore: Do these unavoidable additional effects change the material properties or not? This is particularly interesting in the case of the two-dimensional material graphene, which consists of only a single layer of carbon atoms. It has long been known that graphene has excellent electronic properties. However, it was unclear until now how stable these properties are. Are they destroyed by disturbances and additional effects, which are unavoidable in practice, or do they remain intact? TU Wien (Vienna) has now succeeded in developing a comprehensive computer model of realistic graphene structures. It turned out that the desired effects are very stable. Even graphene pieces that are not quite perfect can be used well for technological applications. This is good news for the global graphene community. Many paths lead through graphene"We calculate on an atomic scale how electric current propagates in a tiny piece of graphene," says Prof. Florian Libisch from the Institute of Theoretical Physics at TU Wien. "There are different ways an electron can move through the material. According to the rules of quantum physics, it doesn’t have to choose one of these paths; the electron can take several paths at the same time." These different paths can then overlap in different ways. At very specific energy values, the paths cancel each other out; at this energy, the probability of electrons passing through the graphene piece is very low, and the electric current is minimal. This is called "destructive interference". "The fact that the current flow decreases dramatically at very specific energy values for quantum physical reasons is a highly desirable effect technologically," explains Florian Libisch. "This can be used, for example, to process information on a tiny size scale, similar to what electronic components do in computer chips." One can also use it to develop novel quantum sensors: Suppose a graphene piece conducts virtually no current at all. Then, suddenly, a molecule from the outside attaches to the graphene surface. "This one molecule changes the electronic properties of the graphene piece a tiny bit, and that can already be enough to suddenly increase the current flow quite drastically," says Dr. Robert Stadler. "This could be used to make extremely sensitive sensors." Numerous possible interferencesBut the physical effects that play a role in the details are very complicated: "The size and shape of the graphene piece is not always the same, and there are many-body interactions between several electrons that are very difficult to calculate mathematically. There may be unwanted extra atoms in some places, and the atoms always wobble a bit - all of this has to be taken into account in order to be able to describe the material graphene in a truly realistic way," says Dr. Angelo Valli. This is exactly what has now been achieved at TU Wien: Angelo Valli, Robert Stadler, Thomas Fabian and Florian Libisch have years of experience in correctly describing different effects in materials in computer models. By combining their expertise, they have now succeeded in developing a comprehensive computer model that includes all relevant error sources and perturbation effects that exist in graphs. And by doing so, they were able to show: Even in the presence of these error sources, the desired effects are still visible. It is still possible to find a certain energy at which current flows only to a very small extent due to quantum effects. Experiments had already shown that this is plausible, but a systematic theoretical investigation was missing until now. This proves that graphene does not have to be perfect to be used for quantum information technology or quantum sensing. For applied research in this field, this is an important message: The worldwide efforts to use the quantum effects in graphene in a controlled way are indeed promising.

Vegetable Garden 101: Get The Kids Started On A Veggie Patch Project Today Thinking about ways to engage your children in gardening and educational opportunities outside of the classroom? Creating your very own veggie patch with them is a great way to help them develop interest in the wonderful hobby of gardening! Growing a vegetable garden links together many concepts your children are learning about in school while teaching them the art of discipline, responsibility and delayed gratification. Here are some great tips on how to nurture this project with your children. Choose Pick And Eat Vegetables The joy of being able to eat the fruits of their labors straight out of the garden will be an amazing reward for children. Vegetables like snap peas and cherry tomatoes are great for this. A bonus is that pea seeds are big and easy for those tiny hands to plant if you are going to have your children involved in the garden from the very beginning. Pick Fun Vegetables The Kids Can Use Later Another great route when choosing what to plant is picking vegetables that children have a strong connection to. Pumpkins are a great example of this. Children will love to grow pumpkins because of the promise of carving a jack-o-lantern later in the year. Ensure Your Garden Is Conveniently Placed One thing you don't think about until you have kids is how to streamline your garden activities in a way that accommodates them. Convenience is critical when trying to manage children and do gardening at the same time. Plant A Few Seeds That Will Grow Quickly It is always nice to give children a bit of excitement right off the start. Lettuce is always good for this. It grows fairly quickly and will grab the interest of your children while they wait for the other plants to sprout. Make Your Children Planting Assistants Involving your kids in the planting is definitely a lot of work, but it really helps build their interest and education later on. Get them to hoe rows, dig holes, or water as you plant. This will help them connect all the processes together in their minds, and will keep the engaged later on. Keep The Garden Front Of Mind Make the garden an ongoing, continuous project that the children are involved in. Don't let weeks go by before you bring the kids out to it again - they might get bored or develop other interests. Always look for opportunities to involve them in the work. Plant A Colorful Garden One of the easiest ways to get children excited about what is growing in the garden is to make it come alive with color. There are many different ways you can bring a splash of color to the garden. Choose a variety of lettuce, radishes, or squash to bring interesting and unique shapes, sizes and color to the garden! Building a garden is a fun way to teach your children the value of hard work and perseverance, and to help them learn science! A garden can engage children and draw you all closer together as you work toward a common goal. If you have questions as to whether a garden will increase the value of your property, call your trusted real estate professional, Karen Rodriguez today for more information. For more information about real estate in the Louisville, Oldham, Shelbyville, Bullitt county areas, contact me, Karen Rodriguez, at 502-643-2255 or email firstname.lastname@example.org. Years of Experience, Experience the Difference!

The Complete Definition Of The Music Written by admin on April 3, 2022 Music is a form of art that involves organized and audible sounds and silence. It is normally expressed in terms of pitch (which includes melody and harmony), rhythm (which includes tempo and meter), and the quality of sound (which includes timbre, articulation, dynamics, and texture). Music may also involve complex generative forms in time through the construction of patterns and combinations of natural stimuli, principally sound. Music may be used for artistic or aesthetic, communicative, entertainment, or ceremonial purposes. The definition of what constitutes music varies according to culture and social context. Greek philosophers and medieval theorists defined music as tones ordered horizontally as melodies, and vertically as harmonies. If painting can be viewed as a visual art form, music can be viewed as an auditory art form. The broadest definition of music is organized sound. There are observable patterns to what is broadly labeled music, and while there are understandable cultural variations, the properties of music are the properties of sound as perceived and processed by humans and animals (birds and insects also make music). Music is formulated or organized sound. Although it cannot contain emotions, it is sometimes designed to manipulate and transform the emotion of the listener/listeners. Music created for movies is a good example of its use to manipulate emotions. Music theory, within this realm, is studied with the pre-supposition that music is orderly and often pleasant to hear. However, in the 20th century, composers challenged the notion that music had to be pleasant by creating music that explored harsher, darker timbres. The existence of some modern-day genres such as grindcore and noise music, which enjoy an extensive underground following, indicate that even the crudest noises can be considered music if the listener is so inclined. 20th century composer John Cage disagreed with the notion that music must consist of pleasant, discernible melodies, and he challenged the notion that it can communicate anything. Instead, he argued that any sounds we can hear can be music, saying, for example, “There is no noise, only sound,”. According to musicologist Jean-Jacques Nattiez (1990 p.47-8,55): “The border between music and noise is always culturally defined–which implies that, even within a single society, this border does not always pass through the same place; in short, there is rarely a consensus…. By all accounts there is no single and intercultural universal concept defining what music might be.”

Scientific Name: Fulica atra Size: 32 to 39 cm What does it look and sound like? The Eurasian Coot is an attractive bird. The distinguishing feature is its snowy white bill. The remainder of the bird is black, except for its bright red eye. The Eurasian Coot cannot be confused with any other rail found in Australia. The most common call is also distinctive; a loud “kowk”. Immature birds are generally paler than adults with a white wash on the throat. Nestlings are downy, black with fine yellow tips. The head is orange-red and the bill is red with a cream-white tip. Where is it found? The Distribution of the Eurasian Coot ranges from Eurasia to Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia. Birds have also recently self-transported themselves to New Zealand, and the species is quickly becoming established. What are its habitats & habits? In Australia it is common in suitably vegetated lagoons and swamps. Birds are less common in the north and in the drier regions. The Eurasian Coot is an aggressive bird, and, because of this, it is seen in healthy numbers wherever it occurs. Food is mainly obtained during underwater dives, lasting up to 15 seconds and ranging up to 7 m in depth. The Eurasian Coot is able to compress its feathers and squeeze out all of the air, which allows it to dive deeply and for longer periods. Birds also graze on the land and on the surface of the water. In Australia, Eurasian Coots feed almost entirely on vegetable matter, supplemented with only a few insects, worms and fish. Birds of the northern hemisphere tend to take much more animal prey. During the breeding season, normally August to February, pairs establish and maintain territories with vigour. Their aggression is also extended towards other species. Nests of ducks are often seized and used as roosting sites; the unfortunate owner’s eggs being pushed off into the water. Young ducks and grebes are also often killed. Eurasian Coots may breed at any time that conditions are favourable, and may produce successive broods. The nest is often a floating raft of vegetation or is built on logs or tree stumps that are surrounded by water. Up to 15 eggs may be laid in any one brood, and both sexes share incubation and care of the young. If food becomes scarce, the young birds may be killed by the parents. This species features in my book Australia’s Birdwatching Megaspots

Rocks are a mixture of different minerals, and minerals are the building blocks of rocks and everything that makes up a planet! Different combinations make different types of rock. The building blocks of the minerals are called elements, and nearly all the minerals that make up the earth come from just eight elements. The four most common elements that make up the minerals in the rocks here on earth are oxygen, iron, aluminium and silicon. We think of oxygen as being something in the air we breathe but it’s under our feet too! Nearly half of all the minerals in the earth’s crust contain oxides – that’s a form of oxygen. You might think it’s strange that we’re breathing in the same stuff you might find in a planet a billion miles away! Iron makes up the core at the centre of the Earth. Think about that next time you’re shutting your iron garden gate! Sand is also linked to the planets. Sand is made of compounds containing silicon – something that’s very common in the universe. You find silicon in the Sun and stars, and in some asteroids too. Nearly a quarter of the earth’s crust is made of silicon compound and we know that the planets near our Sun have lots of silicon compounds too. Planets that are further from the Sun tend to have fewer mineral composites in common with planets like Earth which are nearer. They are often more gassy, which scientists think happens because gasses get blown further by the solar winds.

As your science teacher taught, a mechanical wave is a rhythmical movement of energy that passes through matter. As the wave passes, it causes the molecules of the matter it moves through to oscillate (either backwards and forwards, or up and down). The waters of this planet are full of waves. Not just on the surface, where we see them, but everywhere. These waves are caused by anything that moves in the water and by the movement of the water itself. It would be very useful (if you lived in the water) to be able to detect these waves… The lateral line system is the fish’s way of doing this. By being able to detect these waves, a fish can learn a lot about the world it is living in. For instance when a fish swims, it creates a bow wave (amongst others) by pushing some water in front of it. When this wave impacts an obstacle, it reflects a distorted form of its self back towards the fish. By being able to sense this reflected wave, a fish can avoid bumping into things – such as the glass of a fish tank – even when all its other senses are inoperable. The lateral line system is a way of detecting wave energy as it passes over, or bounces off, the fish’s body. It works using mechanoreceptors similar to those responsible for the senses of hearing and balance. The basic sense receptor, called a ‘neuromast’, consists of a cup-like base which rests in the epidermis and a cylindrical gelatinous ‘cupola’. This extends beyond the epidermis into either a supporting mass of lymph fluid or (in a few deep sea fish) directly into the water. Any mechanical wave that passes through the water sets up reciprocal movements in the lymph fluid that surrounds the cupola. Within the supporting cup are sense cells, which possess hairs that reach up into the cupola. When the cupola is moved by a passing pressure wave, the hairs are bent and this triggers a different electrical impulse to be sent to the brain. I said different electrical impulses because the neuromasts are constantly sending off a regular series of impulses to the brain. This baseline signal is changed when the hairs are bent. Bending to one side results in an increase in the impulse’s frequency and bending to the other side results in a decrease in the impulse’s frequency. Fish have these neuromasts located all over their body. Some are individually housed in shallow pits, but many others are located in special epidermal (skin) canals that open regularly to the surface through pores. These canals and canal pores make up the lateral line that we see running along the fish’s flanks. However, most fish have an additional series of canals that run over their head. One canal passes above the eye and on to the end of the fish’s snout. Two more pass below the eye and then on to the upper and lower jaws respectively. These lines may give rise to a few, or even many, branch lines. The lateral line system is an essential component of a fish’s sensory arsenal and is undoubtedly one of the reasons fish have been so successful as a group. It is also a wonderful example of Nature taking an already existing adaptation and retooling it to work in another capacity. Well, I hope this has been an interesting explanation of the lateral line sense in fish. You can learn more about fish fins, scales or other aspects of fish anatomy here.

School: International Indian School "The most mysterious moon in the solar system is Triton, which is the largest moon of Neptune’s 13 moons, and the largest moon in our solar system that orbits in opposite direction, which is also known as satellite of Neptune the next destination for an astronomer. It’s quite old, almost 4.5 billion years discovered on Oct. 10, 1846, by English astronomer William Lasselle. Triton was discovered seven days after discovering Neptune Triton; its diameter of 1680 miles, its surface area is almost as big as Australia and Europe together. Approximately 23 million km2, It takes 14 days to orbit Neptune. Triton surface temperature is -391celcius, gravity is 0.779ms. Triton contains carbon and variety of gases, it is believed that it was a dwarf planet and was captured by Neptune. Triton has sparsely catered surface which develops similarities with Mars, Mars also has sparsely catered surface which indicates that we can get an idea we can easily land on its surface. It is also only volcanic active body of Neptune like as mercury. The ice lava flows in triton is similar to Charon and Titan. A very thin atmosphere extending to 800kms approx. above surface is 14 microbar that is 70000th surface pressure of earth. Surface is blocky outcrops, ridges, troughs, furrows, hollows, plateaus, icy plain and few craters relatively flat as topography never varies beyond a kilometer as observed by Voyager 2. Triton is young and has relatively few impact craters, and it is geographically active. Although Triton crust is made of various ices ad sub surface process are similar to those produce volcanoes and rift valleys on earth but with ammonia as opposed to liquid rock Triton South pole region is full of nitrogen and methane sprinkled by impact craters and opening geysers. North Pole is little known as it was in night side during voyager 2 encounter but it must be ice cap in North Pole. The existence of liquid nitrogen seas and nitrogen and methane in atmosphere gives atmospheric density and similarity of Mars. According to my observation there is a lot to explore as there are lot of unique features."

Learning to Sing ‘Peter Pan’ by Kelsea Ballerini Popularized by Kelsea Ballerini, ‘Peter Pan’, uses the unique vocal technique called the ‘mixed voice’. Mixed voice is the blend of both chest and head voices and is utilized in many popular songs. Understanding the Mixed Voice You can learn more about voice registers and the concept of mixed voice in our article. Famous songs that use this technique include ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen and ‘Chandelier’ by Sia. Analyzing Your Voice Practical Steps to Learn ‘Peter Pan’ - Listen to the song a few times. Identify the parts where Kelsea uses her mixed voice. - Practice the mixed voice technique. Watch our video on Mixed Voice technique. - Start by singing the song slowly with correct vocal technique. You can also use our Vocal Pitch Monitor to ensure you are hitting the right notes. - Gradually increase the speed of the song as you become comfortable. Remember, practicing a bit every day is more effective than one long session a week. Another great tool to use is the Pitch Training interactive game which can help improve your pitch accuracy and agility. Persist with your practice and don’t be afraid to experiment with your voice. Listen to different renditions of the song to get inspiration on how you can personalize it. And most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy singing! Remember, developing your mixed voice is a journey. Give yourself time and be patient with the process.

What instructional strategies will aid third grade students in applying correct spelling skills effectively in everyday writing? This study was created to address students misspelling words in daily writing after correctly spelling them on their weekly spelling test. Four different strategies were tested with a group of third grade students. Six students ranging in abilities were picked to gather specific data from. The students were given a phonemic awareness assessment, C-TOPP, a spelling inventory and an initial writing assessment. Through the next four weeks different spelling strategies were introduced to the group and data was collected pertaining to each strategy. A final writing assessment was collected and results determined. The study demonstrated that a variety of strategies improves spelling in daily writing, with students showing preference for two of the four strategies. Lanz, Andrea, "What instructional strategies will aid third grade students in applying correct spelling skills effectively in everyday writing?" (2010). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 2333.

Economics and Business This learning sequence explores how students have different needs and wants, with a focus on food and fibre, and how these compare to a child from an Asian country. - List six things you think you need to survive and list six things you want. Make sure to include food and clothes. - Watch the Needs vs Wants video below and then read Want vs Need: Basic Economics. - Review your two lists, make any changes and then prioritise your needs and wants from 1–6. - Share your lists with a partner: - What similarities and differences do you share? - Are there commonalities across the class? - Do we have the resources available to satisfy these needs and wants? - Watch the I am eleven: Behind the news clip and the I am eleven trailer (below). Pay special attention to the children from Asia. What do you notice about their food and clothing? - Identify what you think the needs and wants of these children might be. List six of their possible needs and wants and make sure to include food and clothes. - Follow the steps from Students create a PowerPoint about Needs and Wants to produce a presentation of your needs and wants and what you think they might be for the children. - Present your PowerPoint to the class. Consider the needs and wants of yourself and the students in your class, and compare them with the needs and wants of your chosen child from the I am eleven documentary: - Were there any surprises? - How can these needs and wants be satisfied with the resources available? - Would you like to know more? Australian Curriculum alignment Learning area: Economics and Business Year level: Year 5 Country: China, India Economics and Business Knowledge and Understanding The difference between needs and wants and why choices need to be made about how limited resources are used (ACHEK001) Cross-curriculum priority: Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia OI.2 Interrelationships between humans and the diverse environments in Asia shape the region and have global implications. OI.7 Australians play a significant role in social, cultural, political and economic developments in the Asia region. General capability: Intercultural understanding Students will be involved in learning about and engaging with diverse cultures in ways that recognise commonalities and differences, create connections with others and cultivate mutual respect. The full resource can not be displayed on a mobile device.

Industry consumes large quantities of crude oil to produce basic substances for drugs, cosmetics, plastics, and food. However, these processes consume a lot of energy and produce waste. Biological processes with enzymes are far more sustainable. The protein molecules can catalyze various chemical reactions without auxiliary materials or solvents being required. But they are expensive and, as a result, have been economically unattractive, so far. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a biomaterial that considerably facilitates the use of enzymes. In contrast to traditional catalysts used in the chemical industries and about 90% of all chemical processes, this environmentally friendly alternative biocatalytic material could, “in the long term, be used in automatic production of value-added basic compounds without complex synthesis and cleaning steps, and with a minimum amount of waste arising,” says Professor Christof Niemeyer of KIT’s Institute for Biological Interfaces. For this purpose, scientists modified natural enzymes, such that they self-assemble in a stable biocatalyst. Similar to a two-component adhesive, the enzymes form a gel-type material. This material is applied onto plastic chips with groove-shaped depressions. Drying leads to concentration and formation of the hydrogel. The chip is then covered by a plastic foil, and basic substances can be pumped through the grooves and are converted into the final desired products by the biocatalysts. The biocatalyst gel remains, and no solvents or high temperatures and pressures are needed, which makes the process highly sustainable and environmentally compatible. As a large reaction volume exists on a small space, conversion rates in such miniaturized flow reactors or small reaction vessels are very high. Their use in biocatalytic processes, however, is still in its infancy, as carrier materials have been required so far to fix the enzymes in the reactor. These carriers need reactor space that is no longer available for the biocatalyst. The new biomaterial, by contrast, adheres to the carrier, and the reactor can be filled with a maximum amount of biocatalyst. Moreover, it can be recycled completely, is biodegradable, highly stable, and reaches extremely high yields in reactions, for which expensive auxiliary materials are required.

Is it the task of a linguist to record a language’s decline and extinction, or to take steps to prevent it? Prof. Michael E. Krauss believed that, just as life scientists had intervened to preserve endangered species, it was up to linguists to preserve endangered languages. “If God created anything equal, it is languages,” Krauss told the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2000. “All human languages are at exactly the same level of intellectual complexity. There is no such thing as a primitive language. There is no such thing as an inferior language. If a language is spoken by fewer people, and has less economic and military power, it is not because of the quality of its verbs or its vowels, but entirely due to external circumstances.” Krauss, who passed away on Aug. 11 at age 84, founded the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Fairbanks and organized the revival of the Eyak language in Cordova. Krauss was first introduced to Eyak in the 1960s, while heading the new Department of Linguistics and Foreign Languages at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. By 1963, Krauss had identified Eyak as the most threatened Alaska Native language. Although Eyak had, for 200 years, been documented by a variety of European and Russian explorers, merchants and anthropologists, Krauss was first to build a centralized Eyak archive. He also compiled the first Eyak dictionary, containing over 7,000 words, or approximately 90 percent of the Eyak lexicon remaining in living memory, according to a 2013 Cordova Times article. Thanks to Krauss’s efforts, Eyak quickly became one of the better recorded indigenous North American languages. The 2008 death of Marie Smith Jones, the last full-blooded Eyak person, left Krauss as the only remaining fluent Eyak speaker. With his protégé, linguist Guillaume Leduey, Krauss helped develop a series of language workshops that grew to include a variety of games and activities designed to make learning Eyak as easy and as enjoyable as possible. Filmmaker Vincent Bonnay met Krauss in Cordova in 2013. During the six years he spent shooting the Eyak language documentary “On the Tip of the Tongue,” Bonnay compiled hours of recordings of Krauss speaking, working and teaching. “It was a part of his voice that is still available to everybody,” Bonnay said. “On the Tip of the Tongue” shows Krauss departing Cordova and saying goodbye to a small child, who responds in Eyak. For Bonnay, this was the film’s most emotional moment. “I don’t think he wanted to be a part of history,” Bonnay said. “I think this was not his purpose… But when he saw a language that was dying, I think he had to have this spark in his mind, saying he should do something. I don’t think there are that many people like Michael, who have that spark.” In his incendiary 1992 essay, “The world’s languages in crisis,” Krauss compared the endangerment of languages to the endangerment of biological species. At the time, it was estimated that 7.4 percent of mammal species and 2.7 percent of bird species were endangered or threatened, whereas 80 percent of Native North American languages were endangered, Krauss calculated. If life scientists were expected to advocate for the protection of threatened species, Krauss asked, why shouldn’t linguists advocate for the protection of threatened languages? “Why is there so much more concern over this relatively mild threat to the world’s biological diversity than over the far worse threat to its linguistic diversity, and why are we linguists so much quieter about it than biologists?” Krauss wrote. “Surely, just as the extinction of any animal species diminishes our world, so does the extinction of any language. Surely we linguists know, and the general public can sense, that any language is a supreme achievement of a uniquely human collective genius, as divine and endless a mystery as a living organism. Should we mourn the loss of Eyak or Ubykh any less than the loss of the panda or California condor?” Krauss was less interested in the number of fully extinct languages than in the number of “moribund” languages still spoken but no longer being taught to children. While an extinct biological species would presumably remain gone forever, it is possible to revive a moribund language to its full strength. Hebrew furnishes the most visible example: a language once unheard outside of sacred ceremonies, now spoken by 9.3 million people thanks to the efforts of revivalists. As Krauss observed, state support can also be a significant force to preserve and popularize a language. To bring an endangered language back from the precipice, Krauss prescribed developing teaching materials as well as finding ways to use that language in literature, television and other media. If 86 percent of Danes speak English, Krauss observed, it’s not merely because they take hour-long English classes in high school — Danish TV is also saturated with English-language programs. This allows the language to live as a part of the everyday, rather than as an academic or liturgical relic. Although Krauss specialized in the Eyak and Athabaskan languages, he performed significant work with all 20 Alaska Native languages, according to a release by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Throughout his life, Krauss worked to focus the attention of linguists, and of the public at large, on the problem of endangered languages. “What we need to do now stares us in the face,” Krauss wrote. “If we do not act, we should be cursed by future generations for Neronically fiddling while Rome burned.”

Flight 61A; 19.2N, 149.4W, 19:40:22 GMT, 3 Nov 1985 Ocean waves at sea always have been of keen interest to oceanographers and seamen alike. They were among the first phenomena to be considered by scientists planning observations from manned spacecraft. The scientists were not disappointed. To the east of the Big Island of Hawaii, in November 1985, the crew of the Challenger observed ocean swell among a number of slicks and eddies on the sea surface. The speckled pattern in the sun's glitter provided the clue that winds were spreading a local "sea" (waves of multiple wavelengths and direction) and whitecaps on top of the existing orderly swell. The discontinuous nature of the whitecaps is typical where the gusty trade winds blow. Download 73.tiff high resolution TIFF file (10.3 MB)

What Does Edge Switch Mean? An edge switch is a switch located at the meeting point of two networks. These switches connect end-user local area networks (LANs) to Internet service provider (ISP) networks. Edge switches can be routers, routing switches, integrated access devices (IADs), multiplexers and a variety of MAN and WAN devices that provide entry points into enterprise or service provider core networks. Edge switches are also referred to as access nodes or service nodes. Techopedia Explains Edge Switch Edge switches are located closer to client machines than the backbone of the network. They query route servers for address resolution when destination stations are outside attached LANs. Edge devices also convert LAN frames into asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells and vice versa. They set up a switched virtual circuit in an ATM network, map the LAN frames into ATM frames and forward traffic to the ATM backbone. As such, they perform functions associated with routers and become major components in a LAN environment with an ATM backbone. On the other hand, edge devices also translate between different types of protocols. For instance, Ethernet uses an asynchronous transfer mode backbone to connect to other core networks. These networks send data in cells and use connection-oriented virtual circuits. IP networks are packet-oriented, so if ATM is used as a core, packets will be encapsulated in cells and the destination address converted to a virtual circuit identifier. Edge switches for WANs are multiservice units supporting a wide variety of communication technologies including Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs), frame relays, T1 circuits and ATMs. Edge switches also provide enhanced services such as virtual private networking support, VoIP and quality of service (QoS).

Colors from ionizing radiation All of the examples of colored minerals on this page owe their color to the effects of ionizing radiation. The changes can come from oxidation of cations (Mn2+ to Mn3+), trapped electrons and related centers), molecular clusters often with unpaired electrons, or, as is often the case, from unknown causes. Much beryl is heated to remove the golden to green shades that result from radiation inoder to turn the crystal into blue - Here is a blue aquamarine on the left from the Tenente Ananias area, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, next to a portion of the same crystal that was irradiated with gamma rays to turn it green. - Naturally colored (from natural irradiation) golden beryl from Volodarsk-Volynskii, Ukraine, next to a crystal that has been heated to turn it blue. The blue color is from Fe2+ whereas the golden-yellow color is from Fe3+ that forms from irradiation. Radiation is associated with blue and amber colors of calcite. - Amber Calcite from the Tri-state district, USA, with amber color from natural irradiation next to a colorless calcite cleavage rhomb. - Blue calcite, 38K; Natural radiation interacts with sheared calcite to produce blue colors. - An interesting experiment is to break a colorless calcite crystal into chips up to 3 mm in size. When some of the are chips are exposed to ionizing radiation (such as gamma-rays) they turn amber colored. If some more of the same chips are put into hydrolyic press and squeezed (One can use a KBr pellet press such as are used in chemisty laboratories and pressurize the die to the same pressure used to prepare KBr pellets), they will remain colorless. If they are subsequently exposed to ionizing radiation, they will turn blue. Naturally occuring green diamonds are colored by natural radiation. An often proposed model is that the radiation dislodges a carbon atom from the diamond structure. The resulting color center is known as the GR1 center. Many colored diamonds are also produced by laboratory irradiation. The following examples are The great diversity of colors of fluorite is mostly due to natural Rare-earth elements in fluorite interact with radiation to produce a - Purple fluorite; I turned the sample on the left purple by irradiating a piece of Mexican fluorite with gamma rays from 137Cs. - Blue fluorite; The sample in the middle is its natural color when mined in Espirito Santo, Brazil. The two samples on the left and right are the result of - Blue halite from Germany is the result of exposure to natural radiation. Initially, if halite (common salt) is exposed to gamma radiation, it turns amber because of They are mostly electrons trapped at sites of missing Cl- In time the electrons migrate to Na+ ions and reduce it to metal. Atoms of Na metal, in turn, migrate to form colloidal aggregrates of sodium metal. They are the cause of the blue color. QuartzA number of colored quartz varieties owe their color to either natural or laboratory irradiation. - Amethyst from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is the result of natural irradiation of Fe3+ in the quartz to Fe4+. The amethst color will fade in time when exposed to sunlight. - Lemon yellow quartz - Pink quartz from the state of Maine, USA. A small amount of coupled substitution of aluminum and phosphorous for silicon followed by natural irradiation is believed to cause the color. It is found only at a small number of localities such as this specimen from Brazil - Smoky quartz: An irradiated quartz crystal cluster from Arkansas. Irradiation removes an elctron from an oxygen ion associated with an aluminum 3+ ion substituting for silicon 4+. Spodumene (variety kunzite) from the Oceanview Mine, Pala, California. When freshly mined, the kunzite can be green due to natural irradiation which oxidizes a fraction of the manganese content to Mn4+. When exposed to sunlight for a few hours, the kunzite turns pink as the manganese is reduced to Mn3+ by the electrons freed from electron traps due to the energy of sunlight. Naturally occuring brown topaz is often a product of natural radiation. The color is unstable and fades in light in a matter of hours to days. topaz, 45K; Topaz as mined from Thomas Mountain, Utah, is brown due to radiation-induced color centers. After several hours in the sun, it turn colorless as the color are bleached away by the light. topaz, 57K; Here is an example of topaz from Brazil in its natural colorless state. After it is in this case with gamma rays, it may turn brown. If the brown material is heated it may turn blue. - Essentially all of the blue topaz of commerce now available is irradiated to turn it blue. rays, high-energy electrons, and nuclear reactors are used to irradiate Much of the pink, manganese-containing, tourmaline in nature owes its color to natural ionizing radiation. Laboratory irradiation can duplicate the color of natural tourmaline in the appropriate samples. Here is an example of a bi-colored crystal I made by gamma-ray a crystal from Afghanistan which was initially half green and half Back to the list of colors Back to the Mineral Spectroscopy home page last update: 1-Aug-2016

The oral history and other historical research suggest that the Oraons are the offspring of the famous Indus Valley civilization. Their story of migration starts since when they had to leave their land because of frequent Aryan invasion, floods and anomalous atmosphere. They then migrated to the west coast of India covering the Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh region. In subsequent time, they could build a kingdom for themselves with the Rohtashgarh Fort in Bihar as their center. The Cheroes, Afghans, Mughals did not allow this small ethnic group to enjoy their independence. They fled and settled as a migrant tribe in the Chhotanagpur plateau. The majority cultural influx generally is not very kind to a culturally ‘Other’ trait. The same fate was suffered by the Oraons. The oppressive moneylenders, tremendous pressure on land, frequent famine in that arid area, compelled the Oraons to migrate to the then developing tea plantations in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Assam regions of India. The British preferred to use outside migrant labourers, as they were easy to exploit and put under control. The name Oraon is given by the Government, which also lingers the story of oppression, but they know themselves as Kurukh. The Oraons were traditionally agriculturists. They are those avatars that cultivate food, which is the treasure, from any soil. Be it, in the Konkan region or the Chhotanagpur plateau, they have always worshipped the land and have transformed its fertility. All their festivities and rituals revolve around this idea of productivity or fecundity. The Karam Puja, which the main festival of the Oraons, is been observed as the recently engaged girls of the village venerating the Karam deity residing in the Karam tree. Thus the Karam festival becomes an occasion where the community prays to God for perpetuity of the clan or community through the fecundity of the participating girls of the village. The Jitia Puja and the Gobardhan Puja are also similar important socio-religious festivals of the Oraons, where the entire community prays for a good agricultural produce. The Karam festival of the Oraons is highly symbolic as it is also associated with the idea of ‘productivity’ or ‘fecundity’. The participating girls reap a small barley or jawa in their homes, which represent the impregnated mother earth. While the jawa or the barley seed slowly grows into a sapling, that germinating seed is worshipped by these girls, in order to get such productive son for their tribe. The Karam festival is celebrated usually on Bhadro Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the bright full moon (Purnima) of the month of Bhadro (August-September). The Karam tree, scientifically called Nauclea Parvifolia is the center of the proceedings at the festival. The participatory seven girls imagine a tribal God called “Karam Raja” in the auspicious Karam tree and worship him. The Karam Raja is someone who marries them and through an imagination of a divine sexual intercourse, they will be getting a son as their heir. The preparations, for the Karam festival, start around ten or twelve days before the festival. The idea behind this ritual is to revive in their memories, the day of the ‘great escape’ of the Oraons from the enemy tribe Cheros in the Rohtasgarh fort in the Shahabad district of Bihar. Working as tea plantation coolies, the Oraons could not maintain their ethnic boundary or regional solidarity in a multi ethnic interactive situation. It is not only the Oraons who had migrated in the tea plantations. There were Mundas, Ho, Santhals, Birjias with whom, the Oraons had to share their socio-cultural space. The external impact of the majority was also very strong. In a tea plantation, for all official purposes, a laborer is considered as a member of entire workforce but not as that of a particular tribe/ caste/ community. Their residential quarters are all identical, food habits are same, and their dress and hair etc. are all according to the protocols. With this trend, they have now almost forgottentheir ethnic history. But, forgetting is not so easy. The Oraons have forgotten their original Kurukh language, but they do speak Sadri. It is only during some special ceremonies where the original Kurukh culture can be seen. A glimpse of the original Oraon culture can be seen during their marriage. Oraon marriage is complex and episodic in nature. The earthen pitcher, baskets covered with sal leaves, paddy sticks, vermillion, aura rice, mustard seeds and most importantly rice beer are the important ingredients necessary for a marriage ceremony of Oraon people.

Conditions did not improve when George IV became king in 1820. As regent for his insane father, George III, since 1811, George IV had long supported the repression of radicals. Though a clever man (he was a student of the classics and fluent in French, Italian, and German), George IV was not a particularly good man. He was notoriously immoral and so did not mind the corruption that filled the British government. This made the new king very unpopular. Though he spent most of his time at Windsor Castle, George IV continued to play a part in politics. He opposed all reform measures, including one that he himself had supported over 20 years before — Catholic emancipation. Since the 16th century, English law had forbidden Catholics to serve in Parliament or even to vote for members of Parliament. Penal laws carrying punishments of fines, imprisonment, and even death (for Catholic priests) were still on the books. In Ireland, though most of the population was Catholic, only Protestants could serve as magistrates; and everyone whether Protestant or not, had to pay tithes to support the Protestant Church of Ireland. Though in 1797 George IV had proposed a bill that would allow Catholics to sit in Parliament, by 1813 he was a firm opponent of similar bills. George IV now said his kingly oath to support the Protestant religion meant he had to oppose any efforts for Catholic emancipation. William Cobbett was among those calling for Catholic emancipation. He had returned to England in 1819. Beginning in 1824, the Political Register began publishing a series of letters called The History of the Protestant Reformation in England. Cobbett was a member of the Church of England, but his History praised the Catholic Church. Cobbett said he wrote his History to prove that, before the Reformation, “England was more powerful and more wealthy, and that the people were more free, more moral, better fed, and better clothed, than at any time since that event.” Cobbett said he would show that the Reformation “was an alteration greatly for the worse; that the Reformation, as it is called, was engendered in beastly lust, brought forth in hypocrisy and perfidy, and cherished and fed by plunder, devastation, and by rivers of innocent English and Irish blood.” It was the Reformation that brought misery to the poor, said Cobbett. “The moment” England lost the “protection of the Pope,” he wrote, “its kings and nobles became horrid tyrants and its people the most abject and most ill-treated of slaves.” In The History of the Protestant Reformation in England, Cobbett described the lives of Great Britain’s poor. In Ireland, he wrote, they “are now eating seaweed,” while the poor are “detected in robbing the pig-troughs in Yorkshire.” In Lancashire and Cheshire, they “are eating horse-flesh and grains.” Not only were the poor badly fed and wretchedly paid, according to Cobbett, but they were dishonorably treated, “harnessed like horses and drawing gravel in Hampshire and Sussex.” Other accounts of the time support Cobbett’s charges, adding what he himself said elsewhere — that the poor rural laborers of England lived chiefly off cold potatoes and water. This made Cobbett especially angry, for he despised potatoes. However, as long as the Tories controlled the cabinet, as they did under George IV, any reform of government seemed impossible. But hopes for reform sprang anew when George Canning became prime minister in April 1827. Though himself a Tory and no supporter of governmental reform, Canning had long favored Catholic emancipation. And as prime minister, Canning invited reform-minded Whigs to join his cabinet. But Canning died in August 1827, and the new prime minister, Lord Goderich, fell from power only five months later. The man who replaced Goderich was the most conservative of Tories and a determined opponent of Catholic emancipation. He was Arthur Wellesley, Lord Wellington — the hero of Waterloo. Though he opposed Parliamentary reform, Wellington ended up surprising both the king and the Protestant party in Parliament by introducing into Parliament the Catholic Relief Act of 1829. This act granted Catholics the right to sit in Parliament and repealed the last anti-Catholic laws in Ireland. But the act increased the amount of money one had to have before he was given the right to vote. The effect of this was to disenfranchise the Catholic peasants of Ireland. The Catholic Relief Act of 1829 passed Parliament on March 24, 1829, and was signed by the king on April 13. Though Wellington did not know it, this bill was the beginning of what he himself thought was a very great threat to the British Constitution — the reform of Parliament. A German Composer Inspired by Britain In 1829, the German composer, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, made the first of what would prove to be his many visits to England, Scotland, and Ireland. This his first visit inspired a concert overture, the Hebrides Overture, Op. 26. The following is a performance of this piece by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado.

The 2022 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine has been awarded to Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo for research on the evolution of present-day humans. The Nobel committee awarded Pääbo the medicine Nobel prize ‘for his discoveries concerning the genomes of extinct hominins and human evolution’. He is credited with sequencing the genome of the Neanderthal and also discovering a previously unknown hominin – the Denisovans. Pääbo is based at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, a research centre that he founded in the late 1990s. His research spawned the new field of palaeogenomics, where modern techniques are used to study preserved genetic material from ancient biological remains. Studying ancient DNA is difficult as the molecules break down over time, degrading into small fragments. But Pääbo’s team in Leipzig developed methods to extract more information from the ancient samples, which enabled them to piece together entire genome sequences of extinct hominins. Pääbo published the first complete Neanderthal genome in 2010. Pääbo’s research has provided new understanding of the history of human evolution. For example, it has been shown 1–4% of the genome of modern-day European and Asian humans originates from the Neanderthals, while up to 6% of the genome of people from some parts of south-east Asia and Melanesia contains Denisovan DNA. These insights have helped scientists gain a clearer picture of the history and migration of different human ancestors. They also contribute to medical knowledge, for example some Neanderthal genes present in modern-day humans can affect the body’s response to certain infections, while one Denisovan gene is known to boost survival at high altitudes.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are small pollutant particles that are less than 2.5 micron in size. These pollutants remain suspended in the atmosphere and are inhalable and detrimental to human health. Most of these pollutants are primarily emitted by anthropogenic activities, but have been decreasing since 2000 in most areas of the US except the northwest. This increasing trend is primarily due to an increase in particles made out of carbon and organic matter, which offset a decreasing trend of sulfate and nitrate particles. Droughts in this region are major drivers for wildfires, which emit a significant amount of harmful air pollutants. As droughts, and thus wildfire risk, become more frequent with the trend of climate warming, it is important to be able to predict how these phenomena will impact pollution in the future. A recent study, funded in part by the Climate Program Office’s Atmospheric Chemistry, Carbon Cycle and Climate (AC4) Program, uses a drought index, a dataset designed to take into account both precipitation and evapotranspiration to determine the likelihood of drought, to explore the relationship between PM2.5 and drought across the continental US. An international group of researchers, including AC4-supported scientists Yuxuan Wang and Jun Wang, confirm that the pollution increase observed in the northwest US is driven by drought-induced wildfires, and quantify the specific pollutant contributions. The impact of drought and wildfire on PM2.5 pollution in other regions of the US is not significant. These results, published in JGR Atmospheres, highlight the potential to use drought index as a forecasting tool rather than modeling. This work is supported by AC4 in an effort to explain trends, patterns and extremes detectable in existing long-term observational records.

Ways to Empower English Language Learners ELLs are unique: some have high oral proficiency skills but struggle to read and write while some are the exact opposite. Each student is different and will require individualized learning support. It’s not just up to the ESL specialist at your school to support these students, each teacher needs to know how they can empower the English language learners in their classroom. Use Appropriate Test-Taking Accommodations There are various types of assessments and adjustments you can use depending on your students. It’s important to remember that the type of accommodations you offer to ELL students may vary from each student depending on their proficiency level and grasp of academic vocabulary. - Provide extra test-taking time. ELL students need more time to process information in a second language. - Read the test aloud. Some English language learners develop speaking and listening skills before reading and writing skills. - Provide word banks. Word banks help ELL students make connections between concepts and relevant vocabulary words. - Use informal assessments. Fill-in-the-blank questions and written responses aren’t the only way to assess students’ knowledge. Use informal assessment techniques such as observation, performance assessment, or sorting activities. Use Total Physical Response (TPR) TPR works best with young and beginner-level ELL students, but it can be effective across all ages and proficiency levels. TPR combines language with movement; teachers physically act out terms and “talk with their hands.” This is similar to how we all acquire our first language and is encouraged by psychologist James Asher. This technique works well for teaching new vocabulary words, especially verbs. It is also a great technique to use while storytelling and reading. ELL students don’t rely solely on verbal cues while interpreting the English language, they also use non-verbal body language to understand what’s being taught. Using TPR in your class is a great way to support the success of ELL students. Collaborate with ESL Specialists Certified ESL specialists understand how language acquisition works and can provide valuable insights when it comes to student assessment and support. Get to know your school’s ESL specialist and meet with them on a semi-regular basis to discuss your ELL students. ESL specialists can help you decide what kind of accommodations you should make for your students who are learning English and what kind of classroom activities will help them be successful. Encourage Collaborative Communicative Work The majority of TESOL experts today take a communicative approach to language teaching. Meaning they focus on how students use language to communicate with each other. Small group work allows students to practice their speaking and listening skills while learning new topics. Be sure to call on your ELL students just as often as you call on your English fluent students even if your ELL students are shy or hesitant to speak up. It’s natural for ELL students to feel some anxiety about speaking in front of the class but it’s important for them to do so. Always be patient with your ELL students and give them enough time to communicate, don’t try to finish their sentence for them or guess what they are trying to say unless they ask for assistance. Don’t Overcorrect Grammar and Pronunciation Unless you are specifically teaching a lesson on grammar, don’t correct your ELL students’ mistakes. Remember that you’re interested in their knowledge of the class content, whether that be history, science, math, or literature. When ELL students are corrected on their language use, they may feel embarrassed and discouraged from speaking up in class. It’s more important for students to participate and use language to the best of their ability than it is for them to speak perfectly grammatical English. Peoples Education, Inc. | Mastery Education, Inc. 25 Philips Parkway, Suite 105 | Montvale, NJ 07645 | 800-822-1080 | MasteryEducation.com

You need an account to go on! Please sign in or register a new account. It's free, fast and easy. In heraldic depictions, the raven and the crow are nearly indistinguishable from one another. The raven, a device of supposed Danish origins, has been used in heraldry since the early 13th century. It symbolized wisdom, longevity, cunning as well as hope. In ancient Celtic culture, the raven is associated with prophecy. In Norse mythology, two magical ravens serve as messengers for the god Odin, who is also known as Hrafnáss ("raven-god"). The Native Northwest Coast People regard the raven as the "keeper of secrets." The Haida story of "How Raven Stole the Light" metaphorically addresses the mysterious duality that surrounds this bird: darkness and death on one hand and, on the other, light and creation. To the ancient Celts, the raven was associated with prophecy, death, and war. Sacred to the Celtic warrior god Bran and warrior goddess Morrigan, the raven also served to guide the souls of the dead to the other world.

What is the difference between homologs and sister chromatids? The key difference between homologous chromosomes and sister chromatids is that homologous chromosomes may not carry identical information all the time whereas sister chromatids carry identical information all the time. Are homologous chromosomes and chromatids the same? Since homologous chromosomes are not identical and do not originate from the same organism, they are different from sister chromatids. Sister chromatids result after DNA replication has occurred, and thus are identical, side-by-side duplicates of each other. How are homologs similar to and different from each other? Homolog refers to the members of a chromosome pair. Homologs are usually the same size and carry the same types and order of genes. They may differ in that the genes they carry may be different alleles. Which of the following best describes how a homologous pair of chromosomes differs from sister chromatids? Which of the following statements correctly describes how sister chromatids and homologous chromosomes differ from each other? Homologous chromosomes contain the same gene loci but may have different alleles of a particular gene. Sister chromatids are identical copies of each other produced during DNA replication. What is the difference between homologous chromosomes and sister chromatids quizlet? Homologous chromosomes contain the same gene loci but may have different alleles of a particular gene. Sister chromatids are identical copies of each other produced during DNA replication. Which of the following statements correctly describes how sister chromatids and homologous chromosomes differ from each other? What is a homolog with regards to genes and alleles How are homologs similar to and different from each other? What is the difference between a chromosome and a sister chromatid? Chromosomes are not the copies of each other but the sister chromatids present in the chromosomes are copies of each other and are identical. Chromosomes have centromeres to which the chromatids are attached and the sister chromatids have centromeres only. How many chromatids are in homologous chromosomes? At meiosis, each of the homologous chromosomes is comprised of two identical chromatids joined together by a common kinetochore (centromere). The identical chromatids are specifically called sister chromatids to distinguish them from the so-called non-sister chromatids. What’s the difference between daughter cells and sister chromatids? Sister chromatids are two identical copies of the same chromosome formed by DNA replication, attached to each other by a structure called the centromere. During cell division, they are separated from each other, and each daughter cell receives one copy of the chromosome. What is true for both sister chromatids and homologous chromosomes? Homologous chromosomes and sister chromatids are both identical copies of each other. Which of the following statements best describes homologous chromosomes they carry the same alleles? Which of the following statements best describes homologous chromosomes? Chromosomes that have the same genes in the same position and are the same size and shape. What characteristics do two homologous chromosomes share? The two chromosomes in a homologous pair are very similar to one another and have the same size and shape. Most importantly, they carry the same type of genetic information: that is, they have the same genes in the same locations. Are chromatids homologs? Chromatids vs. Sister chromatids are used in cell division, like in cell replacement, whereas homologous chromosomes are used in reproductive division, like making a new person. Sister chromatids are genetically the same. That is, they are identical copies of one another specifically created for cell division. What is the difference between sister chromatids and chromosomes? Chromosomes are not the exact copies of one another. One copy of the gene comes from each parent to the organism. Sister chromatids, on the other hand, are identical copies of one another. Chromosomes contain centromeres. How many chromatids are in a homologous homologue? Each homologue contains two sister chromatids, which are being held together by adhesive proteins called cohesions at the centromere of the chromosome. A sister chromatid contains a single DNA, which is identical to the DNA copy of the other sister chromatid in the same homologue. What is the difference between sister chromatids and homologous chromosomes? Sister Chromatids: Sister chromatids are made up of either a maternal or paternal chromosome. Homologous Chromosomes: Homologous chromosomes may contain same or different alleles of the same gene. Thus, the gene sequence is not identical at all the times. What are the characteristics of homologous chromosomes? 1 Definition. Homologous Chromosomes: Homologous chromosomes are a couple of one maternal and one paternal chromosome, paired up during fertilization in a diploid cell. 2 Origin. 3 Similarity. 4 Structure. 5 Connection. Why do homologous chromosomes not stick together? Each homologous chromosome contains two chromosomes, and they do not stick together. But when the replication process starts, the homologous pairs replicate itself and produce two identical DNA molecules.

1 Understanding CPU Usage The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of a computer, responsible for executing instructions and processing data. CPU usage refers to the amount of processing power that the CPU is currently utilizing. It is measured as a percentage of the total processing power available. For example, if your CPU has four cores, and one core is 100% utilized, the overall CPU usage would be 25%. Normal vs. High CPU Usage Normal CPU usage varies depending on the type of tasks you are performing on your computer. However, it is generally considered normal for the CPU usage to fluctuate between 40% and 60%. On the other hand, high CPU usage occurs when the CPU utilization exceeds 80% for an extended period. When this happens, your computer may slow down or become unresponsive. Factors that Affect CPU Usage There are several factors that can contribute to high CPU usage, including: – Running too many programs simultaneously: When you have too many programs running at the same time, your CPU has to work harder to keep up, leading to high CPU usage. – Running resource-intensive programs or processes: Applications such as video editors, games, and virtual machines can be extremely demanding on the CPU, causing high usage. – Malware or viruses: Malicious software can consume a significant amount of processing power, leading to high CPU usage. – Outdated or damaged drivers: Drivers are software components that allow your computer to communicate with hardware devices. When drivers are outdated or damaged, they can cause high CPU usage. As such, understanding CPU usage is essential for ensuring that your computer is running smoothly and avoiding high usage, which can slow down your computer and potentially cause damage. By identifying the factors that contribute to high CPU usage and taking preventative measures, you can keep your computer running at its best. 2 Effects of High CPU Usage Overheating: Another common effect of high CPU usage is overheating. The CPU generates heat as it works, and if it’s running at full capacity for an extended period of time, it can become extremely hot. This can lead to thermal throttling, where the CPU slows down to prevent damage from overheating. In severe cases, overheating can cause permanent damage to the CPU and other hardware components. Battery drain (for laptops): High CPU usage can also have a significant impact on the battery life of laptops. The more the CPU is working, the more power it requires, which can drain the battery quickly. This can be particularly problematic for people who rely on their laptops for work or entertainment on the go. Potential damage to hardware components: In addition to overheating, high CPU usage can also cause damage to other hardware components. The increased heat can cause components to expand and contract, leading to physical stress and eventually, failure. Additionally, the constant strain on the CPU can lead to wear and tear, which can shorten its lifespan and increase the likelihood of failure. It’s important to monitor your CPU usage and take steps to reduce it if it’s consistently running at high levels. This can help prevent the negative effects of high CPU usage and keep your computer running smoothly. 3 Causes of High CPU Usage Running resource-intensive programs or processes is another common cause of high CPU usage. Programs like video editors, graphic design software, and games require a lot of resources from your computer, and can cause your CPU usage to spike. This can lead to slowdowns and a decrease in overall performance. Malware or viruses can also cause high CPU usage. Malicious software can run in the background, using up valuable resources and slowing down your computer. If you suspect that malware is the cause of your high CPU usage, it’s important to run a scan as soon as possible to remove it. Outdated or damaged drivers can also contribute to high CPU usage. Drivers are the software that allows your computer to communicate with the hardware components, such as your graphics card and hard drive. If these drivers are outdated or damaged, they can cause your computer to work harder than it needs to, which can lead to high CPU usage. Keeping your drivers up to date can help prevent this issue. In summary, there are several factors that can cause high CPU usage, including running too many programs simultaneously, running resource-intensive programs or processes, malware or viruses, and outdated or damaged drivers. Understanding these causes can help you identify the source of the problem and take steps to resolve it, improving your computer’s performance and preventing potential damage to your hardware. 4 How to Prevent High CPU Usage Monitoring and managing running programs and processes: Keeping track of the programs and processes that are running on your computer can help you identify which ones are causing high CPU usage. You can use the Task Manager in Windows or Activity Monitor in Mac to monitor the CPU usage of each process. If you find a process that is using a lot of CPU, you can end it or adjust its priority to reduce its impact on your system. Updating drivers and operating system: Outdated or damaged drivers can cause high CPU usage. Regularly checking for and installing updates for your drivers and operating system can help prevent this problem. Installing antivirus software: Malware and viruses can cause high CPU usage by running resource-intensive processes in the background. Installing antivirus software and keeping it updated can help protect your computer from these threats. Closing unnecessary programs and processes: Running too many programs simultaneously can lead to high CPU usage. Closing programs and processes that you are not using can help reduce the load on your CPU and improve your computer’s performance. By following these steps, you can prevent high CPU usage and keep your computer running smoothly. Does 100% CPU usage damage the PC? What happens if you overwork your CPU? How hot can a CPU get before it is damaged? It is important to monitor your CPU temperature regularly and take steps to reduce heat buildup, such as cleaning the computer, adding additional cooling fans, or upgrading the cooling system. Keeping your CPU within its operating temperature range will help ensure the longevity and performance of your computer.

A new technique allows 3D printing of hydrogel-based sensors directly on the surface of organs, such as lungs — even as they expand and contract. The technology was developed to support robot-assisted medical treatments. According to the researchers, along with a robot's ability to assist a surgeon with removing a tumor from a lung, for example, this technology could 3D print a sensor onto the surface of the lung to monitor how well it functions during and following the procedure. The researchers expect the breakthrough technology to facilitate 3D printing of various functional devices on and inside human bodies. Examples include electrode arrays that interface with the nervous system to treat pain, bioscaffolds with engineered cells that can regenerate tissues, and efficient and accurate application of surgical glues and skin grafts. A key to making the technology work was the use of motion capture technology, which is similar to that used in films and video games. Moviemakers use the technique to track moving elements in a scene to seamlessly insert special effects, or on actors to convert them to CGI characters. That type of closed loop tracking enabled addition of a new degree of freedom in 3D-printing — successfully printing a sensor onto an expanding biological surface without damaging the organ. After fine-tuning the new system on a balloon as it was inflated and deflated, the team moved on to printing on an animal lung in the lab as it was rhythmically pulsed with air to simulate breathing. A special hydrogel embedded with electrodes around its perimeter was printed to form an electrical impedance tomography (EIT) sensor map. The device is able to stretch with the movement of the surface it is on, such as when lungs are breathing in and out — movement that the sensor can electronically relay for real-time tracking of the strain on the lung surface as it expands and contracts. Measuring the lung's flexibility with the EIT sensor is just one example of remotely measuring the health of an organ using a sensor printed onto its surface, according to the team. They envision developing different types of sensors that could be adapted to different organs, such as a sensor printed on a human heart to monitor cardiac function. The technology could also be a useful tool in caring for COVID-19 patients. “We are beginning to learn a lot about the effects of COVID-19 on the human body,” said Michael McAlpine, Ph.D. “A technology like this could be used to monitor changes in respiratory function during and after coronavirus infection.” For more information, contact Thomas M. Johnson at

This group exercise has layers. It combines planning, teamwork, performance skills, and introductory sound design. Students will create three tableau scenes to tell stories that evoke various emotions onstage, and use music clips to enhance the emotional stories. If your students have never done tableau before, you may want to have them try Numbered Tableaux or Flowing Frozen Pictures to practice. As a reminder, when doing tableau scenes, students must hold their frozen pictures for a minimum of five seconds (but often longer, as you’ll see in this exercise). And because your students will ask, yes, blinking and breathing are allowed. 1. Have students form small groups of three to five. 2. Determine which emotion you want your students to portray. If you wish, you can use our Tons of Emotion Prompts list for ideas beyond happy, sad, and angry. Decide whether the full class will work on the same emotion, or if each group will portray a different emotion. 3. Groups will create simple stories that can be portrayed through a series of three tableau scenes. The three scenes will represent the beginning, middle, and end of a story that evokes their assigned emotion. For example, if a group was assigned “despair,” they might create a story in which a child is playing with a toy, breaks it, and cries over it. Another group might be assigned “calm” and create a story with characters feeling upset at the beginning but then becoming calm by doing yoga, meditation, or tai chi. It’s up to the students to determine exactly how they will portray the emotion throughout the three scenes, but each scene must make sense with the other two and continue the story. The beginning scene will establish what’s happening, the middle scene will move the story forward, and the third scene will conclude the story. Every group member must be involved in each scene in some way, whether that is as a character, a prop, a piece of scenery or furniture, or another inventive use. They must hold each tableau scene for ten seconds. 4\ Each group will select three music clips (10 seconds per song) that evoke the emotional energy of each of the tableau scenes. The songs can be by any artist and from any genre but the clips must be appropriate for a school setting (i.e., no swearing, awareness of lyrical content). If the music has words, they don’t have to be a literal interpretation of the emotion, but students can incorporate the lyrics into their tableau scenes if they want to. Students will need to create a list of each clip with title and artist, what scene it’s for, and the exact cut of the music. For example, a group whose emotion is “playful” might create a list of clips like this: Each group will need to submit their song clips list to the teacher ahead of performance time, so the teacher can make a playlist of the songs. (You can also assign this task to a student who does not wish to perform, has an interest in technical work, or wants to earn extra credit. It may also be helpful to designate a sound operator during performance time, so you can watch the scenes without having to multitask.) 5. Each group will perform their three scenes for the rest of the class. The teacher (or assigned sound operator) will play the first selected clip for the indicated ten seconds, pause for three seconds for the group to move to the next scene, play the second clip, pause for an additional three seconds, and then play the third clip. 6. Have students respond to the following questions, either as a group discussion or as a group written response (one page): 7. Each student will complete and submit an exit slip (found in the giveaway below).

"The Seceeding South Carolina Delegation" of the United States Congress, pictured in the December 22, 1860, issue of "Harper's Weekly." Courtesy of the Library of Congress - This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into the continuities and changes experienced by Americans of various genders, positions, races, and social status during the Civil War. - 8.4.CC Analyze continuities and change in the African American experience in the period of Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras within South Carolina. - 8.3 Demonstrate an understanding of conflict and compromise in South Carolina, the Southern region, and the United States as a result of sectionalism between the period 1816–1865.

Sailboats are driven by the wind, so the direction of the wind is crucial to how you sail and where you can sail. How close to the wind direction you have to sail affects how the boat moves and how you must sail it. Points of sail and how sails work To understand the difference between upwind and downwind sailing, you need to know how sailing works and how boats move against and with the wind. Sailboats can not sail straight into the wind, and to sail in any other direction requires different sail trim positions and rig settings. How to assess where the wind comes from Picture a boat on a compass. If the true wind is coming from due north, most sailboats can’t sail in a ninety-degree arc from about 315° through 45°. But the wind rarely blows from absolute north, so it’s the direction of the wind relative to the boat that matters. Wind at a right angle to the bow (or at 90°) is striking the boat directly on the beam. If the wind is forward of the beam, there will be some upwind sailing. If it is aft of the beam, it’s more downwind. The three major “zones” of sailing are upwind (or close hauled) with the wind forward up to the “no sail zone,” across the wind or reaching from close-hauled through 135°, and downwind or running (135° through 180°). Reaching includes close reaching, which is reaching up to about close hauled, beam reaching with the wind mostly on the beam, and broad reaching off to 135°. What is the apparent wind? Riding a bike at knots on a windless day, you’ll feel a “wind” in your face of ten knots. But if you bike into a ten knot wind at the same speed, it will feel like twenty knots. But if the ten knot breeze is directly behind you, you feel no wind at all. If the wind is from your right side, you will feel a breeze from about forty-five degrees ahead and to the right. True wind is the direction and force of the wind over the water (or land), but the apparent wind is how the total wind feels when you add in the observer’s motion. On a sailboat, apparent wind has an enormous impact on how the boat feels and moves and how you sail. Read also: The 5 best sailing boats under 60 feet You sail upwind when you sail against the wind Sailing close hauled, sails provide lift like an airplane wing to power the boat against the breeze. Sails are trimmed tight with only a slight curve, and the forces against the sails and the keel push the boat forward through the water. The driving sails are the mainsail and a headsail – either a larger Genoa or smaller jib. Because a sailboat can’t sail straight into the wind, the only way to make progress upwind is to zig-zag upwind, called tacking. When tacking upwind, you sail for a while as close to the wind with the wind over one side of the boat, then you turn the boat across the wind and sail the other direction as close to the wind, repeating as needed to make the best progress upwind.Read also : How to sail upwind ? Cross-wind sailing is when the wind is at 90 degrees to the boat’s heading Reaching across the wind uses the same sails as upwind sailing, but they’re eased back to keep the sails full and drawing. Of all the points of sail, reaching is the most efficient and usually the fastest, though different boats will be a little faster with the wind forward or behind the beam. Some also find it the most comfortable because it is fast and effortless. You sail downwind when you sail in the same direction of the wind Once the wind is past a broad reach, the sails stop acting like airplane wings, and catch the wind like parachutes to drive to the boat. For the best performance, sailors use a lighter sail on the front of the boat called a spinnaker. Several varieties of spinnaker offer a range of easier handling and performance, but they’re all characterized by much lighter sailcloth and a very full shape. How does it feel to sail upwind vs. downwind? Sailing upwind feels fast, since the boat heels, apparent wind is high, and you’re often sailing straight into wind and chop. Downwind sailing often feels slower because it’s flatter and the wind is at your back so it feels lighter. Sailing upwind feels faster Upwind sailing causes a boat to heel – to tip over – as the wind pushes on the sails. The boat feels powered up, all the lines are as taught as bars, and there’s lots of wind and splashing. The boat’s motion increases the apparent wind, so it feels much windier headed upwind. Usually upwind sailing is into the waves and chop, and the wave period feels shortened because of the boat’s motion. It feels a little rougher and noisier, all of which helps that feel of more speed. Because of the heeling, the boat may be difficult to move around, and non-sailors may find it unnerving even though it is completely normal. For a day sail or a race, steep angles of heel and lots of tipping aren’t a big deal. But life on board sailing upwind for days offshore adds a challenge to day-to-day tasks like cooking, dressing, and sleeping. Read also: 10 Sailing Myths And Bad Advice You Shouldn’t Listen To Sailing upwind requires tacking Getting some place upwind on a brief trip takes a lot of boat handling. Offshore you may stay on one tack for hours, but sailing on enclosed waters or in a race can have you tacking often. This takes more skill and work, as the crew shifts the boat from side to side. Sailing distances can be longer upwind Sailing high upwind means sailing further, because you can’t point straight at your next mark and sail for it. Sailors refer to distance in terms of “velocity made good” because only so much of your speed through the water gets you closer to the mark. Sailing downwind is usually more comfortable… Flying a spinnaker can be a lot of work for the person at the helm and the crew trimming the sail, but the boat is flat and usually comfortable. Sailing with a spinnaker can be quick, but the motion is usually good, though there may be some rolling and twisting as the boat moves with the waves in and out of troughs. Sailing off the wind with upwind sails (jib and main instead of a main and spinnaker) is much less work, and broad reaching is very comfortable. Apparent wind is reduced as you sail down the wind, and it’s usually warmer. …while sailing upwind is more thrilling The wind hits your face, the rigging hums, and the sheets are taught. The boat fights into the waves as the crew sits up on the rail to flatten the boat for speed. Upwind sailing feels sportier and is often more of an adrenaline rush than down wind, unless you’re flying a spinnaker in a lot of breeze. Sailing Downwind can be a lot of work and thrilling, too Depending on how you choose to sail, you can make a lot of work sailing downwind if you’re really pressing for speed. And a loaded up spinnaker in a big breeze can lead to some fast, fun, white-knuckled sailing. The nice thing is that you don’t have to sail the boat that way. If you want a calm day out sailing down heavy wind, you can just fly a single headsail and move along just fine. Which is really faster? Reaching is generally the fastest point of sail, but which is faster between upwind and downwind depends on how you define “faster.” In straight-line speed through the water with the same sails (jib and main), upwind sailing is faster and downwind sailing feels slow. But if you put a spinnaker up downwind, you’ll usually move more quickly off the wind even though it may feel slower. But if you measure speed by “movement towards where you’re headed,” then downwind is usually the winner. Because sailing upwind requires tacking back and forth, the net speed towards your next mark is much lower than your speed through the water. But sailing down wind you can often point right at your mark and put all your speed towards getting there. Read also: Five Easy Beginners-Friendly Sailing Trips And Destinations Different Yachts in Different Breezes Yachts designed for different uses handle differently in varying conditions. For example, racing yachts designed for maximum upwind sailing angles may heel aggressively in less wind than a heavier cruising boat. It will sail faster upwind and down, but it may not have the same comfort as the cruising boat. Race boats optimized for downwind conditions will handle better off the wind than those designed for all-around conditions. Many things affect how a boat feels and sails upwind, including the keel type, displacement, sail plan, rig size, and beam. Boats optimized for stability and comfort often trade stability for sailing angles, giving up a little speed for comfort. And boats built for speed may be just the opposite – getting them sailing their best upwind may take half the crew sitting up on the rail just to flatten out the heel! Read also: Navigating The World: Choosing The Right Size Boat For Your Round-The-World Sailing Adventure Catamaran upwind sailing can be a little different Catamarans are far more comfortable sailing upwind than monohulls, primarily because they don’t heel. Flat sailing makes a world of difference for crew comfort. Because of their design, catamarans lose a little ability to sail as close to the wind as a similarly sized monohull. But they make up the loss in pointing ability with higher straight-line speed and are faster in many conditions. Motor yachts are less affected by wind direction Since power yachts don’t need wind to sail, they can go in any direction. It doesn’t affect how they run, except how the skipper picks a track through the waves that is comfortable and safe. The wind affects power yachts, since the breeze will push on all the areas above the waterline blowing against it. But course and motoring directions are more heavily affected by waves and water motion than the wind direction. Use our Sailing Distance calculator Sailing upwind makes you feel like a sailor Moving a yacht against the wind isn’t a natural motion – a yacht adrift will always move with the wind and current. Taking the helm and the sheets and making a boat claw her way upwind takes more skill than just steering around and working a throttle. Sailing downwind in heavy wind can give you a similar rush, and takes a little more skill and daring when the boat is powered up for maximum speed. But sailing off the breeze can be slow and gentle, too. And it’s hard for anything to compare with the rush of taking your boat out into the wind and getting where you want to go despite the elements! Read also: How to sail upwind?

Majority means the greater number of something. The opposite is minority. If more than half the people are right-handed we can say that the majority of people are right-handed. A minority of people are left-handed. In fact, nearly everyone is right-handed, so we can say that the "vast majority" are right-handed, and only a "small minority" are left-handed. If a political party or candidate gets a majority of votes, it means that they get more than all the other parties together. In Plurality voting, they only get more than any one of the others. Thus if there are three parties, the winning party may have a plurality of 40% while the other two each have 30%. A "true majority" or "absolute majority" means more votes than all the other parties together, i.e. more than half the total votes.

High-tech carbon-based materials are considered difficult to recycle. A new research approach could change that while also helping to recover metals. They are used in airplanes, car bodies, wind turbine rotor blades, as well as bicycle frames and tennis rackets: materials based on carbon fibers. These high-tech materials are becoming increasingly widespread because they are strong, stiff and very light at the same time. However, their disposal has been a problem up to now. Products with carbon fibers cannot be incinerated in conventional waste incineration plants and may not be landfilled in Germany, but only stored. Approaches to recycling the material are therefore being intensively researched, especially in view of the fact that many wind turbines will be dismantled in the coming years. The TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are demonstrating a sustainable recycling route for old rotor blades and the like: Discarded carbon fibers could be used to recover valuable metals from slags that are left over from smelting. The carbon contained reacts with the iron oxide in the hot slag to form pig iron that could be reused in steel production, explains Ludwig Blenau, a doctoral student at the Institute of Nonferrous Metallurgy and High-Purity Materials at the Bergakademie. Normally, carbon from coals or cokes is used for this type of metal extraction; these fossil raw materials could be replaced proportionally in the future. Next, the team would like to subject the method to a practical test on a pre-industrial scale.

EXCERPT: NOAA’S SCIENCE ON A SPHERE® EDUCATION PROGRAM: APPLICATION OF A SCIENTIFIC VISUALIZATION SYSTEM TO TEACH EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE “Spherical displays” have the potential to serve as unique tools for increasing understanding of environmental literacy principles and geographic awareness among both student groups and the general public. These areas have been shown to be deficient in the public’s understanding. Improving U.S. student performance is a challenge faced by all areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. In a report entitled Sustaining the Nation’s Innovation Ecosystem: Report on Maintaining the Strength of Our Science & Engineering Capabilities, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology reported that “U.S. students are weak in math and science skills and lag behind most of the world in these capabilities. Top U.S. students pursue STEM careers at significantly lower rates than their international counterparts” (President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 2004). As a component of STEM education, environmental literacy is an area where enhancement is acutely needed. This need extends beyond students to the general public, since environmental literacy is required by every one of us to adequately evaluate the environmental impacts associated with our personal decisions. However, in a report entitled Environmental Literacy In America, Coyle reports that “While the simplest forms of environmental knowledge are widespread, public comprehension of more complex environmental subjects is very limited. The average American adult, regardless of age, income, or level of education, mostly fails to grasp essential aspects of environmental science, important cause/effect relationships, or even basic concepts such as runoff pollution, power generation and fuel use, or water flow patterns.” (Coyle, 2005). Yet these problems due not appear to be caused by a lack of interest in science and technology. A 2006 report from the U.S. National Science Board of the National Science Foundation found that only 10% of Americans surveyed reported not having an interest in science and technology issues (National Science Foundation, 2006). Despite this interest, people may not be connecting with the most appropriate sources for environmental science information. Coyle reported that “children get more environmental information (83%) from the media than from any other source. For most adults, the media is the only steady source of environmental information.” (Coyle, 2005). Geographic awareness is also an area in which the American public is in need of improvement. In a 2005 report entitled What Works in Geography Education, the National Geographic Society stated that “Studies conducted over the past twenty years consistently show that Americans possess a poor understanding of geography. This fact stands in stark contrast to the leadership role America plays in the rapidly globalizing and interconnected world of the 21st century.” (National Geographic Society, 2005). In 2001, The Nation’s Report Card issued by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement of the U.S. Department of Education showed a clear need for improvement in geographic awareness among K-12 students. This report card also showed variations in geographical awareness among gender and race/ethnic subgroups of the student population (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2002). Joseph P. Stoltman, a Professor of Geography at Western Michigan University, summarized the report card by stating that: “The review of the released items suggests that many students in the early grades do not know basic information such as the name and location of the state where they live. Similarly, students at grades eight and twelve do somewhat better with definitional information, but a large proportion were unable to analyze the information related to an environmental issue, provide reasons for or consequences emanating from the issue, or suggest a possible solution to the geographic issue or problem”(Stoltman, 2002)]. Apley, A. (2004). Science on a Sphere Front-end Evaluation. RMC Research Corporation, prepared for Maryland Science Center. Coyle, K. (2005). Environmental Literacy In America, The National Environmental Education & Training Foundation. National Science Foundation (2006). Science and Engineering Indicators 2006 – Volume 1, America's Pressing Challenge - Building A Stronger Foundation, NSB 06-02. National Geographic Society (2005). What Works in Geography Education. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology - Workforce/Education Subcommittee, (2004). Sustaining the Nation’s Innovation Ecosystem: Report on Maintaining the Strength of Our Science & Engineering Capabilities. Stoltman, J.P. (2002). National Assessment of Educational Progress in Geography. ERIC Digest. ERIC Clearinghouse for Social Studies/Social Science Education. U.S. Department of Education (2002). The Nation’s Report Card - Geography 2001, NCES 2002-484.

In 1903 the term “clon” was created by plant physiologist Herbert J. Webber describing the propagation of new plants using buds, cuttings, or bulbs. Decades later, the spelling changed to “clone” and came to refer to creating genetically identical copies of any species, animal, plant, microorganism, or human. The cloning method chosen by a cultivator is usually the one that dramatically increases the survival rate of the plants or trees, reduces their time to grow from youth to a harvestable adult, improves yields, guarantees the plant quality remains consistent, and increases profitability. Yet, there are negatives to all the above methods of plant cloning. One huge problem is the lack of genetic diversity otherwise found in nature which creates variety and strengths in plants often not discovered until society needs them. Since clones all have the same genetic makeup of the original plant, they have a narrow spectrum of resistance, and diseases that harm a single cloned plant potentially can destroy an entire crop. Also, cloning can easily lead to increased commercialization and monocropping of fewer specific plants which also reduces biodiversity in agriculture. Grapes, blueberries, bananas, apples, cherries, and fruits in general sold in US food supermarkets are grown on cloned trees or plants through the use of cuttings. Clones create stable and predictable fruit quality. The navel orange was a natural mutation discovered in 1820 in Brazil. The Granny Smith Apple was also a natural mutation that occurred in Australia in 1868. Today, both these kinds of fruit trees are clones propagated using cuttings, genetically identical to those original trees from the 1800s. The use of plant cuttings has been in use since the Middle Ages in European and Chinese agriculture. Grafting plants, also a cloning technique, was documented around 300BC in Greece. The Tissue culture cloning method, also known as micropropagation, grows plant cells in agar jelly or a broth growth medium. This method was first used in the 1950s to produce orchids and in the 1970s on other plants. Tissue culture cloning labs have grown African oil palm, plantain, pine, banana, date, eggplant, jojoba, pineapple, rubber tree, cassava, yam, sweet potato, and tomato. Farmers and home gardeners have used cutting and grafting techniques for centuries. There are dozens of YouTube videos and on plant and tree cloning including the tissue culture method. Cloning is a common theme in sci-fi literature and movies. However, it almost always deals with the concept of human cloning. Books such as Brave New World, Cloud Atlas, and the Kiln People describe future worlds where human clones are common. However, today the practice of cloning a human is officially banned in 46 of the world’s 195 nations. The United Nations adopted a non-binding resolution banning cloning in 2005 called the Declaration on Human Cloning. The US has no national policy banning human cloning but does have regulations limiting funding and procedures related to human cloning. Although there are scientists who support the concept of human reproductive cloning, most scientists and medical research organizations formally oppose it because clones could be abused and it would create unforeseen problems in society. In 2013 the US Supreme Court ruled that human genes cannot be patented because naturally occurring genes are not a new intellectual property. However, the Court ruled DNA assembled in a laboratory was eligible for patenting because human-altered DNA chains are not found in nature. Currently, there seems to be enough opposition to human cloning to keep it from becoming a commodity business, like that of selling animals and plants, because the international community of scientists, governments, and ethicists cannot accept the idea of manufacturing disposable humans or human slaves. There are 3 types of cloning in use today that involve using human or animal DNA – gene cloning, reproductive cloning, and therapeutic cloning. The research most related to human cloning is called therapeutic cloning which is still mostly experimental and theoretical. Because human cloning is illegal, therapeutic cloning focuses almost entirely on stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research seeks to discover potential cures for inherited and chronic human diseases, traumatic injuries, and to regenerate organs. Embryonic stem cell research requires embryos that have been grown from human eggs fertilized in vitro at fertilization labs. The stem cells are donated with informed consent from donors. However, critics point out that cloned stem cells are often weaker than the original and mutations can occur in cells that are transferred to a patient. A report from Grand View Research, an international research company, estimates that by 2027 worldwide stem cell revenues will reach $17.9 billion. It is estimated by some critics that for therapeutic cloning to become a viable treatment to cure diseases, at least 1 million human eggs per year will be needed. Egg collecting is painful for donors and extremely expensive. Only 400,000 human eggs have been gathered by US laboratories over the last two decades so the standard embryonic stem cell cloning process cannot be considered practical at this time. However, in 2018 Japanese scientists did not use human donor eggs but instead changed human blood cells into stem cells. The scientists then modified the stem cells into human eggs. These eggs were too immature to be fertilized to make a baby. In September 2019, researchers at the University of Michigan began making human-like embryos from stem cells. Whether these lab embryos could someday be modified and made to grow into a healthy human is unknown. Since then the University of Michigan lab has made hundreds of these embryos. Researchers say the world is getting closer to being capable of creating humans in a lab. Many scientists are opposed to therapeutic cloning because it will eventually lead to creating human clones. There are various restrictions on the use of human embryos. Future Science, a journal for clinical medicine and biosciences published an article in August 2020 on the policies of the top 22 research-intensive nations concerning human embryonic research. The article stated there is a ‘14-day rule’ in most countries conducting human embryo research. In practice, this rule requires that fertilized human embryos will not be grown in vitro (outside the human organism, in a test tube) for longer than 14 days. After 14 days, the embryo is to be destroyed. On the 14th day, an embryo develops what is called a primitive streak, after which the embryo begins its process of cell differentiation and creating a human body. This is the bioethical reason for the 14-day limit on the use of embryos in labs. At this time, no human clones have been documented although several discredited scientists in South Korea have said they cloned embryo cells. The Canadian company Conaid has claimed to have cloned 13 people but has been unable to provide any evidence to prove it. But if there are no human clones, are there any other kinds of clones in existence today? Yes, microorganisms, animals, and plants. It is as if they are hidden. The average person is not aware of the clones or their offspring. Gene cloning, or DNA cloning, is a commonly used process that creates duplicates of genes, or segments of DNA. With this method, one or more genes or DNA fragments from a gene are taken from various microorganisms, animals, humans, or plants and inserted into a bit of DNA called a plasmid. The next step is joining all the parts together. This is called recombinant DNA, a molecule constructed of DNA from multiple sources. Next, the plasmid is placed into bacteria. As these modified bacteria grow in the lab, they reproduce and pass on the modified plasmid to their offspring. What are some common uses for DNA cloning? The pharmaceutical industry uses it to create billions of bacteria that act as factories to produce specific medicines such as insulin, human growth hormone, and tPA hormone (for treating strokes and blood clots). Doctors use DNA cloning in FDA-approved gene therapy for those born with genetic disorders such as B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Then there is gene analysis. Here, laboratory biologists build new recombinant types of genes to learn how genes work in an insect, animal, etc. Unfortunately, DNA cloning, and genetic engineering have also been used to create bioweapons by at least 17 nations, including China, Russia, and the United States. Reproductive cloning has been used since 2001 by pet lovers, like singer Barbra Streisand, to make clones of their pets. Viagen Pets, in Cedar Park, Texas, is the world leader in pet cloning services. They encourage owners to order a Biopsy Kit and collect a sample of the pet’s tissue while the pet is still alive to make sure the cells are viable to use for cloning. At the cost of $1,600, they will cryopreserve (safely freeze) the cells for the time when the owner decides to order a clone of their pet. The cost of cloning a dog is $50,000, a cat is $35,000, and a horse, $85,000. Once a cloned embryo is prepared, it is placed in a surrogate mother to grow until it is birthed naturally. The gestation period and nursing process of a cloned pet is no different than that of a regular pet of the same species. The cloned pet will have the exact genetic makeup as the original, will tend to have a normal lifespan, but may have different colors and shapes of its markings. Although the traits of the clone will probably be similar to the original pet, the clone will develop its own personality. To date, Viagen has cloned over 1000 pets. Trans Ova Genetics has been in the enhanced livestock breeding business for four decades. It is also the USA leader in livestock cloning and has successfully cloned thousands of animals. The clones of pigs, cattle, goats, and sheep are used as prime breed stock for offspring that produce superior meat. Trans Ova Genetics produces cloned embryos and implants them into surrogate mothers and birthed at their company farm. The babies are raised on-site and delivered to the customer after weaning. The cost to clone a cow is minimally $15,000, and $4,000 to clone a sow. The FDA has ruled that the offspring of a clone is not a clone — so it may be used for conventional meat and dairy production. Globally, the number of cloned pigs and cattle is about 6,000. How many offspring of cloned livestock are annually sold for meat is uncertain. For 40 years, the cells of an endangered horse species, Przewalski’s horse, otherwise known as the Mongolian Wild Horse, were stored at the San Diego Zoo. This is the only true wild horse and is extinct in the wild. Today only about 2,000 survive in zoos and managed wildlife habitats. San Diego Zoo’s Our Frozen Zoo division contains the biggest genetic material collection of endangered and rare animals on the planet. It is comprised of over 10,000 living cell cultures, sperm, and embryos representing nearly 1,000 specific animals. Cloning wild animals is mostly done through interspecies cloning. For Przewalski’s horse, the DNA from a frozen non-reproductive Przewalski’s horse cell was removed and then placed into a domestic horse egg cell which had its DNA removed. A domestic horse was the surrogate mother for the cloned embryo and gave birth to a healthy foal in August 2020. This foal had the same genetic composition as the wild Przewalski’s horse that “donated” its cells to San Diego Zoo four decades ago. To date, the cloned endangered species that have survived to adulthood are the white-tailed deer, mouflon, bighorn sheep, African wildcat, banteng (a species of wild Asian cattle), wolf, Spanish ribbed newt, Northern leopard frog, and Japanese pond frog. Cannabis is still mostly grown from seeds, but USA companies are increasingly using cuttings to speed up the propagation time and improve the quality of harvested plants. Conception Nurseries, a cannabis plant supplier to growers, exclusively uses tissue culture to grow genetically unique plants. Research on Cannabis is showing it a likely treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and epilepsy. It is estimated that cannabis may help with as many as 172 medical conditions which leads some experts to predict the medical sales of cannabis will exceed the recreational market in a few years. The USA cannabis market may reach $67 billion this year and $130 billion by 2024 according to Marijuana Business Factbook. It appears that in one form or another, cloning is here to stay, at least in terms of growing plants and microorganisms. So far, cloning of animals has produced a few thousand domesticated and a handful of endangered wild animals. As far as creating the first human clone goes, the opposition is strong, and it appears will be so for the foreseeable future.

Department of Educational Studies, Sohar University, Jamiah Street, Oman Received: 01-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. JES-23- 93942; Editor assigned: 03-Mar-2023, PreQC No. JES-23- 93942(PQ); Reviewed: 17-Mar-2023, QC No. JES-23- 93942; Revised: 24-Mar-2023, Manuscript No. JES-23- 93942(R); Published: 31-Mar-2023, DOI: 10.4172/JES.9.1.009. Citation: Caldwell L. Classroom Management Techniques for Promoting Positive Behavior. RRJ Educ Stud. 2023;9:009. Copyright: © 2023 Caldwell L. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Visit for more related articles at Research & Reviews: Journal of Educational Studies Effective classroom management is essential for creating a positive learning environment and promoting student success. Positive behavior promotes a sense of community and respect in the classroom, which in turn leads to increased student engagement and achievement. In this article, we will explore classroom management techniques for promoting positive behavior, including strategies for establishing clear expectations, building relationships, and providing positive reinforcement. Establishing clear expectations Setting clear expectations is the first step in promoting positive behavior in the classroom. When students know what is expected of them, they are more likely to meet those expectations. Some strategies for establishing clear expectations include. Creating a class contract: Collaborate with students to create a set of rules and expectations that everyone agrees to follow. This promotes a sense of ownership and accountability among students. • Ask students' opinions. Allow students time to brainstorm problems that they face in class and at school. • Ask for students' ideas. Once the problems have been outlined, the students and teacher collaborate to create solutions. •Summarize students' ideas. •Turn ideas into rules. •Sign the contract. •Review the contract. Modeling behavior: Model the behavior you expect to see in your students. For example, if you want your students to be respectful to one another, demonstrate respectful behavior in your interactions with them. Consistency: Be consistent in your expectations and consequences for misbehavior. Students need to know that rules will be consistently enforced to feel secure in their learning environment. Positive relationships between teachers and students are essential for promoting positive behavior. When students feel valued and respected, they are more likely to be engaged in their learning and motivated to follow classroom rules. Some strategies for building positive relationships with students include. Greeting students: Greeting students individually as they arrive in the classroom, showing interest in their lives and building rapport. Empathy: Demonstrate empathy and understanding towards students who may be struggling, and work to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Positive feedback: Providing positive feedback and encouragement to students to build their self-esteem and confidence. Providing positive reinforcement Positive reinforcement is a key component of promoting positive behavior in the classroom. Positive reinforcement refers to rewarding students for positive behavior, rather than punishing them for negative behavior. Some strategies for providing positive reinforcement include. Verbal praise: Provide verbal praise and recognition for students who demonstrate positive behavior in the classroom. This can be as simple as saying, "Great job!" or "I am so proud of you!" Rewards: Offering small rewards such as stickers or extra free time for students who meet behavioral expectations. This incentivizes positive behavior and reinforces expectations. Classroom celebrations: Celebrate student achievements and positive behavior with classroom celebrations or incentives such as pizza parties or extra recess time. Promoting positive behavior in the classroom is essential for creating a positive and productive learning environment. Clear expectations, positive relationships, and positive reinforcement are key components of effective classroom management. By establishing clear expectations for behavior, building positive relationships with students, and providing positive reinforcement, educators can create a classroom environment that fosters positive behavior and supports student success.

The Montessori Method: Laying the Foundation for Lifelong Learning 1. Respect each child is unique 2. Maximize sensitive periods during development 3. First 6 years most critical 4. Allow children to teach themselves The concept of teaching children in such a way that it develops the whole child is not a recent trend. In actuality, it’s a critical component to developing lifelong learning, and several teaching methods strive for this all-important holistic development. One example is the Montessori Method, developed by Italian physician Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. For over 100 years, educators have used the Montessori approach to foster a hands-on pathway to learning that promotes independence and a genuine love for discovery and exploration. The Key Principles of the Montessori Method Several principles serve as the foundation for the Montessori Method. The main guiding points are: Respect for the Child Every child is unique, which means each child has a different learning style that is part of what makes the child an individual. The Montessori Method recognizes and values this quality, respecting all children and their interests and needs. Maximize Sensitive Periods There are several different stages that children progress through during their development in which they are better able to grasp particular concepts and skills. Montessori dubs these stages as sensitive periods and focuses on setting up an environment that works in tandem with these phases. Children encounter hands-on experiences that help them maximize their learning potential during these specific stages. Young Children Have Absorbent Minds Montessori learning recognizes that a child’s first six years are some of the most critical in terms of development. These early years are when boys and girls start to understand themselves and the world around them, making connections that lead to in-depth learning opportunities. Therefore, in Montessori classrooms, you’ll find an environment designed to support and build children’s independence, confidence, and love of learning. Provide a Prepared Environment for Learning The Montessori principles are put into practice within a thoughtfully curated environment that encourages optimal learning. You can recognize a Montessori classroom by the low, open shelves, left to right display of materials in order of progression, and how children can move freely around the room. The materials are sensory-based learning tools that isolate one specific concept and encourage hands-on learning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving. The environment also features defined areas for each primary Montessori curriculum component: practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language, and culture. Allow Children to Teach Themselves The set up of the Montessori environment encourages children to take the lead in their learning. This auto-education process allows children to choose what they will learn about while the teacher observes and offers guidance as their interests change. When children are allowed to choose, they become more engaged in a task, concentrating on it more fully for a more extended period. Overall, the Montessori Method fosters concentration, a love of work and learning, encourages self-discipline and social awareness, and seeks to develop the whole child. It’s an educational style that promotes learning through play, which we certainly stand behind at Educating AMY. We carefully design our products to ensure they help children learn valuable concepts and skills as they progress through crucial developmental steps.

Learn everything you need to know about food vocabulary: Food vocabulary is one of the most important aspects of vocabulary when we want to learn and dominate a language. The reasons may vary: - If you are going on a trip, then you surely would like to visit some restaurants and you will need to order food. That’s why you need to know the name of the dishes, or at least the most common ones. - Everybody loves to eat or even watch how food is made. It is one of life’s pleasures. - You can have a lot of fun learning new words, and improving your vocabulary. Food vocabulary is very broad. There are a lot of types of food, ways of cooking, sizes, ingredients and even dish presentations. Let’s begin! Vocabulary according to the type of food This classification refers to each group that food belongs to that you can consume or that you can buy. You can use this vocabulary in a restaurant, in a supermarket to learn the location of a specific type of food that you can buy, in an informal conversation about the types of food that you like to eat, or that you consider healthy. Without further ado, we present you the following list: - Meat (everything related to red meat). - Poultry (these words refer to everything related to birds, chickens, turkeys, etc., and also to white meat). - Game (we are not talking about a videogame or anything like that. This refers to meat from wild animals, for example, rabbit and deer meat). In the following image, you will find different words that are related to the different types of meat that there are: - Seafood (Everything from shrimps, lobster, crabs, and all kinds of animals that live in the water and that we humans normally eat. (Keep in mind that fish is not part of this list!). - Fish (everything related to all types of fish that may come from rivers, lakes, or any body of water) - Grains, beans, and nuts - Dairy food (Anything that comes from milk: butter, yogurt, ice cream, and all dairy-related products. You can find an image below with more details about dairy products: href=”http://www.freepik.com”>Designed by macrovector / Freepik “Food vocabulary” according to how we cook it This category is directly related to how food is prepared. The methods are different in every place, and that’s what makes food so special, we can see it in different ways. For some of us, we see food as a connection with people, others see food as a link with their heritage, others see it as a “passing of the torch” between families, so that’s why preparing food is so important. - Baked (we refer to food that is cooked in an oven). - Roasted (we refer to roasted as food that is cooked in an oven, but with the particularity that it is sometimes cooked with oil and for long periods). - Grilled o al grill (food that is prepared on a grill, barbecue-style). - Fried or sauteed (the type of food that is prepared by using oil and dipping the food in it) - Boiled (the type of food that is prepared by using boiling water and dropping the ingredient in it) - Casseroled (food prepared in a stew) - Steamed (food that is prepared with water vapor or other types of vapor) The words that we showed you are the most common with this type of vocabulary, but there are a lot more words that are used to talk about cooking food. Let’s continue! Vocabulary that you will see in the menu of a restaurant When we go out to a restaurant, we know that each item on the menu is part of a meal. But how do we order the different items in a menu? Which ones come first? What goes after the main meal? Here we have a list for you, that will guide you: - Starter / hors d’oeuvre / appetiser These represent the first part of a meal. Most of the time an appetizer can be a soup, a salad, etc. - Main course This is the main dish. It is the one that contains the protein (animal or vegetal). The best part of the meal is related to sweet meals like cakes, brownies, ice cream, and much more. Some phrases that will complement your food vocabulary Some phrases form part of the English-speaking culture, and they will help you with your communication skills and make you sound more like a native speaker. Have a sweet tooth: it means that a person loves everything related to sweets. Eat sensibly: it means that a person is conscious about the type of food they can eat and if it is healthy. Five a day: it is a term that refers to people who eat fruits, vegetables and other things for 5 times a day. If you have any more questions about “food vocabulary” then you can contact us, and we will gladly guide you and support you with anything you need. Take your English to the next level with B1B2. Good luck!

What are Geiger-Mueller Tubes? What is Geiger-Mueller? GM, also known as Geiger Muller, is a type of radiation detection. It was originally developed by Hans Geiger and Walther Müller in 1928. The two physicists were working on a way to detect alpha particles, and their invention soon became popular for detecting other types of radiation as well. Today, geiger-mueller tubes are used all over the world for various purposes such as medical diagnosis, scientific research, and environmental monitoring. The first thing to know about GM tubes is that they are filled with a gas. When ionizing radiation passes through the tube, it causes the gas to become electrically charged. This charge creates a current that can be measured and used to determine the level of radiation present. GM tubes come in many different sizes and shapes, but they all work on the same principle. The most common type of GM tube is the end-window type, which has a small window at one end that allows radiation to enter. There are also side-window types, which have a larger opening that allows more radiation to enter. No matter what type of GM tube you use, it’s important to remember that they all have limitations. They can only detect certain types of radiation, and they can only measure radiation up to a certain level. That’s why it’s important to use other types of detectors, such as film badges or dosimeters, when working with high levels of radiation. If you’re interested in learning more about GM tubes, there are plenty of resources available online. You can find out more about their history, how they work, and what types of applications they’re used for. You can also purchase your own GM tube if you want to experiment with radiation detection. Just be sure to follow all safety precautions when working with any type of radiation-detecting device. Thanks for reading!

The COP28 climate summit comes at a critical moment for the planet. A summer that toppled heat records left a trail of disasters around the globe. The world may be just six years away from breaching the Paris Agreement’s temperature target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, setting the stage for much worse calamities to come. And governments are cutting their greenhouse gas pollution far too slowly to head off the problem — and haven’t coughed up the billions of dollars they promised to help poorer countries cope with the damage. This year’s summit, which starts on Nov. 30 in Dubai, will conclude the first assessment of what countries have achieved since signing the Paris accord in 2015. The forgone conclusion: They’ve made some progress. But not enough. The real question is what they do in response. To help understand the stakes, here’s a snapshot of the state of the planet — and global climate efforts — in 10 numbers. 1.3 degrees Celsius Global warming since the preindustrial era Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions have been driving global temperatures skyward since the 19th century, when the industrial revolution and the mass burning of fossil fuels began to affect the Earth’s climate. The world has already warmed by about 1.3 degrees Celsius, or 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit, and most of that warming has occurred since the 1970s. In the last 50 years, research suggests, global temperatures have risen at their fastest rate in at least 2,000 years. This past October concluded the Earth’s hottest 12-month span on record, a recent analysis found. And 2023 is virtually certain to be the hottest calendar year ever observed. It’s continuing a string of recent record-breakers — the world’s five hottest years on record have all occurred since 2015. Allowing warming to pass 2 degrees Celsius would tip the world into catastrophic changes, scientists have warned, including life-threatening heat extremes, worsening storms and wildfires, crop failures, accelerating sea level rise and existential threats to some coastal communities and small island nations. Eight years ago in Paris, nearly every nation on Earth agreed to strive to keep temperatures well below that threshold, and under a more ambitious 1.5-degree threshold if at all possible. But with just fractions of a degree to go, that target is swiftly approaching — and many experts say it’s already all but out of reach. Global economic losses from climate disasters since 1970 Climate-related disasters are worsening as temperatures rise. Heat waves are intensifying, tropical cyclones are strengthening, floods and droughts are growing more severe and wildfires are blazing bigger. Record-setting events struck all over the planet this year, a harbinger of new extremes to come. Scientists say such events will only accelerate as the world warms. Nearly 12,000 weather, climate and water-related disasters struck worldwide over the last five decades, the World Meteorological Organization reports. They’ve caused trillions of dollars in damage, and they’ve killed more than 2 million people. Ninety percent of these deaths have occurred in developing countries. Compared with wealthier nations, these countries have historically contributed little to the greenhouse gas emissions driving global warming – yet they disproportionately suffer the impacts of climate change. Annual rate of sea level rise Global sea levels are rapidly rising as the ice sheets melt and the oceans warm and expand. Scientists estimate that they’re now rising by about 4.4 millimeters, or about 0.17 inches, each year – and that rate is accelerating, increasing by about 1 millimeter every decade. Those sound like small numbers. They’re not. The world’s ice sheets and glaciers are losing a whopping 1.2 trillion tons of ice each year. Those losses are also speeding up, accelerating by at least 57 percent since the 1990s. Future sea level rise mainly depends on future ice melt, which depends on future greenhouse gas emissions. With extreme warming, global sea levels will likely rise as much as 3 feet by the end of this century, enough to swamp many coastal communities, threaten freshwater supplies and submerge some small island nations. Some places are more vulnerable than others. “Low-lying islands in the Pacific are on the frontlines of the fight against sea level rise,” said NASA sea level expert Benjamin Hamlington. “In the U.S., the Southeast and Gulf Coasts are experiencing some of the highest rates of sea level rise in the world and have very high future projections of sea level.” But in the long run, he added, “almost every coastline around the world is going to experience sea level rise and will feel impacts.” Less than 6 years When the world could breach the 1.5-degree threshold The world is swiftly running out of time to meet its most ambitious international climate target: keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Humans can emit only another 250 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide and maintain at least even odds of meeting that goal, scientists say. That pollution threshold could arrive in as little as six years. That’s the bottom line from at least two recent studies, one published in June and one in October. Humans are pouring about 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year, with each ton eating into the margin of error. The size of that carbon buffer is smaller than previous estimates have suggested, indicating that time is running out even faster than expected. “While our research shows it is still physically possible for the world to remain below 1.5C, it’s difficult to see how that will stay the case for long,” said Robin Lamboll, a scientist at Imperial College London and lead author of the most recent study. “Unfortunately, net-zero dates for this target are rapidly approaching, without any sign that we are meeting them.” How much greenhouse gas emissions must fall by 2030 to hit the temperature target The world would have to undergo a stark transformation during this decade to have any hope of meeting the Paris Agreement’s ambitious 1.5-degree cap. In a nutshell, global greenhouse gas emissions have to fall 43 percent by 2030, and 60 percent by 2035, before reaching net-zero by mid-century, according to a U.N. report published in September on the progress the world has made since signing the Paris Agreement. That would give the world a 50 percent chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. But based on the climate pledges that countries have made to date, greenhouse gas emissions are likely to fall by just 2 percent this decade, according to a U.N. assessment published this month. Governments are “taking baby steps to avert the climate crisis,” U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell said in a statement this month. “This means COP28 must be a clear turning point.” $1 trillion a year Climate funding needs of developing countries In many ways, U.N. climate summits are all about finance. Cutting industries’ carbon pollution, protecting communities from extreme weather, rebuilding after climate disasters — it all costs money. And developing countries, in particular, don’t have enough of it. As financing needs grow, pressure is mounting on richer nations such as the U.S. that have produced the bulk of planet-warming emissions to help developing countries cut their own pollution and adapt to a warmer world. They also face growing calls to pay for the destruction wrought by climate change, known as loss and damage in U.N.-speak. But the flow of money from rich to poor countries has slowed. In October, a pledging conference to replenish the U.N.’s Green Climate Fund raised only $9.3 billion, even less than the $10 billion that countries had promised last time. An overdue promise by developed countries to deliver $100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries reduce emissions and adapt to rising temperatures was “likely” met last year, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said this month, while warning that adaptation finance had fallen by 14 percent in 2021. As a result, the gap between what developing countries need and how much money is flowing in their direction is growing. The OECD report said developing countries will need around $1 trillion a year for climate investments by 2025, “rising to roughly $2.4 trillion each year between 2026 and 2030.” Worldwide fossil fuel subsidies in 2022 In stark contrast to the trickle of climate finance, fossil fuel subsidies have surged in recent years. In 2022, total spending on subsidies for oil, natural gas and coal reached a record $7 trillion, the International Monetary Fund said in August. That’s $2 trillion more than in 2020. Explicit subsidies — direct government support to reduce energy prices — more than doubled since 2020, to $1.3 trillion. But the majority of subsidies are implicit, representing the fact that governments don’t require fossil fuel companies to pay for the health and environmental damage that their products inflict on society. At the same time, countries continue pumping public and private money into fossil fuel production. This month, a U.N. report found that governments plan to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with the 1.5-degree target. 66,000 square kilometers Gross deforestation worldwide in 2022 At the COP26 climate summit two years ago in Glasgow, Scotland, nations committed to halting global deforestation by 2030. A total of 145 countries have signed the Glasgow Forest Declaration, representing more than 90 percent of global forest cover. Yet global action is still falling short of that target. The annual Forest Declaration Assessment, produced by a collection of research and civil society organizations, estimated that the world lost 66,000 square kilometers of forest last year, or about 25,000 square miles — a swath of territory slightly larger than West Virginia or Lithuania. Most of that loss came from tropical forests. Halting deforestation is a critical component of global climate action. The U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that collective contributions from agriculture, forestry and land use compose as much as 21 percent of global human-caused carbon emissions. Deforestation releases large volumes of carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, and recent research suggests that carbon losses from tropical forests may have doubled since the early 2000s. Almost 1 billion tons The annual carbon dioxide removal gap Given the world’s slow pace in reducing greenhouse gas pollution, scientists say a second approach is essential for slowing the Earth’s warming — removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The technology for doing this is largely untested at scale, and won’t be cheap. A landmark report on carbon dioxide removals led by the University of Oxford earlier this year found that keeping warming to 2 degrees Celsius or less would require countries to collectively remove an additional 0.96 billion tons of CO2-equivalent a year by 2030. About 2 billion tons are now removed every year, but that is largely achieved through the natural absorption capacity of forests. Removing even more carbon will require countries to massively scale up carbon removal technologies, given the limited capacity of forests to absorb more carbon dioxide. Carbon removal technologies are in the spotlight at COP28, though some countries and companies want to use them to meet net-zero while continuing to burn fossil fuels. Scientists have been clear that carbon removal cannot be a substitute for steep emissions cuts. Annual growth in renewable power capacity needed to keep 1.5 degrees in reach The shift from fossil fuels to renewables is underway, but the transition is still far too slow to meet the Paris Agreement targets. To keep 1.5 degrees within reach, the International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that the world needs to add 1,000 gigawatts in renewable energy capacity every year through 2030. By comparison, the United States’ entire utility-scale electricity-generation capacity was about 1,160 gigawatts last year, according to the Department of Energy. Last year, countries added about 300 gigawatts, according to the agency’s latest World Energy Transitions Outlook published in June. That shortfall has prompted the EU and the climate summit’s host nation, the United Arab Emirates, to campaign for nations to sign up to a target to triple the world’s renewable capacity by 2030 at COP28, a goal also supported by the U.S. and China. “The transition to clean energy is happening worldwide and it’s unstoppable,” International Energy Agency boss Fatih Birol said last month. “It’s not a question of ‘if’, it’s just a matter of ‘how soon’ – and the sooner the better for all of us.” This article is part of the Road to COP special report, presented by SQM. The article is produced with full editorial independence by POLITICO reporters and editors. Learn more about editorial content presented by outside advertisers. #state #planet #numbers

September 30th was the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day, deemed as a national holiday, which was one of the 94 Calls to Action proposed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It was meant to honour Indigenous children who were forced against their will to attend residential schools. The day is also known as Orange Shirt Day in memory of Phyllis Webstad who wore an orange shirt to school, which was taken away from her, and was forced to wear the school uniform instead. The “Every Child Matters” slogan is of even more significance since approximately 1300 unmarked graves were found on the sites of four former residential schools across Canada. On this day, people were asked to reflect by reading books written by Indigenous authors, attending a ceremony, wear an orange shirt in solidarity, and taking a moment at your workplace to reflect through workshops. I chose to read Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tips and Suggestions to Make Reconciliation and Reality by Bob and Cynthia Joseph. I will admit that my knowledge of Indigenous culture is very limited, especially not having learned about residential schools until I attended in Edmonton back in 2012. While there has been anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, the lived experiences are different. The common thread here is colonialism and economics, land had been taken from Indigenous people while Black people were brought to North America and the Caribbean as indentured slaves. So there was more to learn here. My takeaways from this material is plentiful. The RESPECT model (p.65) outlined in Joseph’s book was very helpful. This model is meant as a “principled approach to relationship building, which (is seen) as the key to working effectively with Indigenous communities” (p.65). It is seen as a circle rather than a triangle, which is typical of Western culture with respect to hierarchy. One example was about timelines. Me being the sometimes impatient person that I am, I want to get the job done as quickly as possible. NOPE!!! The best way to approach Indigenous communities is by having the willingness to listen and understand that issues are more complex than anticipated (p 82). This is a perfect example of where an adaptive leadership framework can be used. Another example was the word “stakeholder”. During community engagement, the word is used as a blanket term to indicate a person, group or organization that stands to be impacted by a process. The difference though is that Indigenous groups should be called Rights Holders because they are protected by the Constitution (pp 109-110). Indigenous Peoples have been subjected to trauma and marginalized within and outside their communities. Whether it is acceptance of Two-Spirited people or through the residential school system, a lot must change. This is a learning process for myself, even as a Black person. I certainly hope that many of my friends and colleagues took something away from their day of reflection. We must continue to give Indigenous peoples the dignity and respect they deserve. Share with my what you did on Truth and Reconciliation Day.

So one of our readers asked us this question the other day: Why is Californium priced so high and what exactly does it do for us? Californium is used as a neutron source – one microgram (µg) of californium-252 emits 2.3 million neutrons per second. This is useful for starting up nuclear reactors. It’s also useful for making portable “spectroscopes” (We know what kind of radiation the radioactive isotopes of various elements give off. So if you convert the atoms in a sample to radioactive isotopes, you can determine what elements are in it by the radiation it gives off). It’s also used in Neutron Radiography, which is kind of like an X-ray. Because it interacts with the relatively tiny nucleus of atoms, rather than the much larger electron shells, it can penetrate deeply, even into dense materials. This is useful for analyzing things too dense to X-ray, like metal or rock. It’s often used for checking aerospace components for hidden flaws, for example. For a neutron radiography movie of a running motor, see for example this video. X-rays could not image the interior of a motor because the metal absorbs virtually all X-rays. The neutrons were created not from Californium but from a spallation source (= particle accelerator pointed at a heavy metal target). It’s sometimes used as a radiation source to kill cancer cells. It is used for oil well logging – petroleum engineers can use neutron sources to find oil deposits because the hydrogen in oil reflects neutrons more than solid rock. It’s also used in nuclear security research and detector calibration – Cf-252 can be used to mimic the neutron signal produced by Plutonium-240 in spent nuclear fuel that someone might be trying to steal, so safeguards scientists use Cf-252 sources to calibrate their instruments and avoid the politics of procuring plutonium samples. It’s also used in heavy element production. Heavy isotopes like Californium, Berkelium, and Einsteinium are often used as targets to bombard with particles and create even heavier elements. In fact, element 117 was recently named “Tennessine” in honor of the heavy element supplied by ORNL in Tennessee. So why is it expensive? Well, you have to start with Curium, which is processed out of spent nuclear fuel rods. You get about 20 grams out of a ton of spent fuel. Then, you take the curium and put it in a special nuclear reactor designed to bombard it with neutrons and alpha particles. After leaving it like that for a long time, you need to separate out the Californium 252 (the useful isotope) from the other 20 stable isotopes and other transplutonium elements. Only two places in the world even do this—Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States and the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors in Russia. Oak Ridge is able to produce about half a gram annually and due to the half-life of only 2.646 years (that’s 2 and a half years, not two thousand six hundred), the world supply decreases very quickly.

One of the Earliest Modern Maps of Italy Strikingly hand colored example of Ruscelli's map of Italy, Corsica, and the Gulf of Venice, from his La Geographi di Claudio Tolomeo. Based upon Gastaldi's miniature map of 1548. One of the earliest obtainable modern maps of Italy. Girolamo Ruscelli (1500-1566) was a cartographer, humanist, and scholar from Tuscany. Ruscelli was a prominent writer and editor in his time, writing about a wide variety of topics including the works of Giovanni Boccaccio and Francesco Petrarch, Italian language, Italian poetry, medicine, alchemy, and militia. One of his most notable works was a translation of Ptolemy’s Geographia which was published posthumously. There is limited information available about Ruscelli’s life. He was born in the Tuscan city of Viterbo to a family of modest means. He was educated at the University of Padua and moved between Rome and Naples until 1548, when he moved to Naples to work in a publishing house as a writer and proofreader. He remained in the city until his death in 1566.

Nearly 40 percent of people experience syncope, or fainting spells, at least once in their lives. These brief losses of consciousness, whether brought by pain, fear, heat, hyperventilation or other causes, account for a significant portion of hospital emergency room visits. Yet the exact root mechanisms at play when people “pass out” largely have remained a mystery. Publishing a new report in Nature, the researchers have for the first time identified the genetic pathway between the heart and brain tied to fainting. One of their unique approaches was to think of the heart as a sensory organ rather than the longstanding viewpoint that the brain sends out signals and the heart simply follows directions. The paper’s senior author, applies a variety of approaches to better understand these neural connections between the heart and brain. “What we are finding is that the heart also sends signals back to the brain, which can change brain function,” said the author. Information resulting from the study could be relevant to better understanding and treating various psychiatric and neurological disorders linked with brain-heart connections, the researchers note in their paper. “Our study is the first comprehensive demonstration of a genetically defined cardiac reflex, which faithfully recapitulates characteristics of human syncope at physiological, behavioral and neural network levels.” The authors studied neural mechanisms related to Bezold-Jarisch reflex (BJR), a cardiac reflex first described in 1867. For decades researchers have hypothesized that the BJR, which features reduced heart rate, blood pressure and breathing, may be associated with fainting. But information lacked in proving the idea since the neural pathways involved in the reflex were not well known. The researchers focused on the genetics behind a sensory cluster known as the nodose ganglia, which are part of the vagus nerves that carry signals between the brain and visceral organs, including the heart. Specifically, vagal sensory neurons, or VSNs, project signals to the brainstem and are thought to be associated with BJR and fainting. In their search for a novel neural pathway they discovered that VSNs expressing the neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 (known as NPY2R) are tightly linked to the well-known BJR responses. Studying this pathway in mice, the researchers were surprised to find that when they proactively triggered NPY2R VSNs using optogenetics, a method of stimulating and controlling neurons, mice that had been freely moving about immediately fainted. During these episodes they recorded from thousands of neurons in the brains of the mice, as well as heart activity and changes in facial features including pupil diameter and whisking. They also employed machine learning in several ways to analyze the data and pinpoint features of interest. Once NPY2R neurons were activated, they found, mice exhibited rapid pupil dilation and the classic “eye-roll” seen during human fainting, as well as suppressed heart-rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. They also measured reduced blood flow to the brain. “We were blown away when we saw how their eyes rolled back around the same time as brain activity rapidly dropped,” the researchers reported in a paper summary. “Then, after a few seconds, brain activity and movement returned. This was our eureka moment.” Further testing showed that when NPY2R VSNs were removed from mice, the BJR and fainting conditions vanished. Previous studies had shown that fainting is caused by a reduction in brain blood flow, which the new study also found to be true, but the new evidence indicated that brain activity itself could be playing an important role. The findings therefore implicate the activation of the newly genetically identified VSNs and their neural pathways not only with BJR, but more centrally in overall animal physiology, certain brain networks and even behavior. Such findings were difficult to tease out previously because neuroscientists study the brain and cardiologists study the heart, but many do so in isolation of the other. “Neuroscientists traditionally think the body just follows the brain, but now it is becoming very clear that the body sends signals to the brain and then the brain changes function,” said the author. As a result of their findings, the researchers would like to continue tracking the precise conditions under which vagal sensory neurons are triggered into action. “We also hope to more closely examine cerebral blood flow and neural pathways in the brain during the moment of syncope, to better understand this common but mysterious condition,” they note. They also hope to use their research as a model to develop targeted treatments for fainting-associated conditions. Brain and heart connections when we pass out? - 635 views

8th Grade World Language Mandarin: 8th graders continue to build their vocabulary and their skills with speaking, listening, reading, and writing alongside the acquisition of cultural knowledge. Students learn and apply new vocabulary about homes, furniture, measurement, inviting friends to social events, neighborhoods, Chinese New Year, and ordering food at restaurants. They engage in several highly creative and interactive projects, including designing and creating original videos about a dream house, listening to and rapidly translating audio stories, creating and presenting skits inviting friends to social events, designing and creating invitations for a party, exchanging white elephant gifts in a class party, asking for directions, and researching and presenting about selected topics related to Chinese New Year. Students experience two annual special events in the spring of 8th grade. They learn to write traditional calligraphy using brushes, ink, and special paper, and they take a field trip to a Chinese restaurant and speak only in Mandarin throughout the meal. Students continue to practice learning strategies including flashcard review, note-taking, and study guide preparation for assessments. 8th graders graduate from Mark Day excited to continue their language learning and ready for advanced study in high school and beyond. Spanish: 8th grade Spanish is filled with engaging projects and increasing interaction in the target language as students continue to build their skills with speaking, reading, writing, listening, and cultural awareness. Students learn and apply vocabulary and grammar in several areas, including travel, cities, transportation, celebrations, sports, past events, traditions, immigration, technology, and making comparisons. Students study multiple advanced verb tenses, adjectives and grammar structures. Projects and interactive experiences help students comprehend spoken language, use correct pronunciation, and gain skill and confidence with initiating and sustaining conversations, discussions, and personal speeches. Students are taught in Spanish and expected to speak exclusively in Spanish during class. Students spend more time using irregular verbs across multiple tenses as their grammar skills advance. Highlights include reading novelas, working in differentiated groups for advanced challenge, reading newspaper articles, and more frequently engaging in dialogues, class discussions, and student presentations. Students also take a field trip to a Peruvian restaurant and speak in Spanish throughout the meal. 8th graders graduate from Mark Day excited to continue their language learning and ready for advanced study in high school and beyond. - 8th Grade

Crop agriculture is dominated by multiple environmental and biological factors. Everyone participating with corn seed attempts to define and control these interactions. Breeding procedures can mostly assure that a hybrid is genetically uniform, production methods are intended to maintain this purity and testing methods can evaluate for level of genetic purity. Seed viability is affected by environments during seed production in the field and after harvest. Each individual seed within a seed lot has a distinct experience with this process, ultimately affecting the ability to germinate with viable shoot and root tissue. Individual seed may have some damage to membranes within cells that require metabolic repair before being able to elongate the root (radicle) part and shoot part of the seed embryo after imbibition. This may be affected by genetics, often of the female seed plant and perhaps of the mitochondria in the female parent. Germination tests to identify seed viability, usually defined as a seeds ability to produce a shoot and root when placed in a controlled environment can be done with reasonable repeatability. Results are determined after a specific time with specific definition of a root and shoot. Defining and characterizing differences among the seed’s vigor, or the time it takes for that individual seed to produce a root and shoot is more difficult. The seed analyst may see differences in vigor among germinating seed but communicating these differences becomes a major problem. How to characterize a seed lot that has a high percentage of seed that meet the definition of viability but does not germinate uniformly in test conditions? Generally, those seed lots with delayed germination in warm conditions have lower germination percentages when tested under cold conditions (50°F) but there are exceptions to that as well. The ultimate goal is to reduce the possibility that seed viability and vigor affect hybrid performance in the grower’s fields where environments present their own variables. It is understood that late emerging seedlings, regardless of cause, have difficulty in competing with adjacent corn plants. They often remain less vigorous because competitors reduce light on leaves and outcompete the late-emerging plant’s roots for minerals and water. Often late emerging plants produce ear shoots later than most adjacent plants resulting in poorly pollinated ears. Genetics of hybrids probably differ in ability for late emerging plants to remain nearly fully pollinated and thus the detriments of lack of uniformity is not exactly the same for all hybrids. Everyone in corn agriculture wants maximum performance from the seed. We attempt to remove known variables by measuring viability and vigor and by preparing planting conditions. There remain uncontrollable environments and difficulties in defining and communicating seed vigor. Late emerging corn plants detract from maximum yield potential of a hybrid, but how late is the emergence and how much is the yield reduction? Like most of life’s experiences, we wish for clear definition but often the variables make that difficult. Politicians can sum up ambiguity in a simple phrase. The rest of mere humans must only attempt to evaluate and communicate what we think is happening within a corn seed lot sample. As soon as the seed is placed in the soil, the season begins. Multiple variables that will affect the final grain productivity of this corn crop begins with those interacting with the biology of the seed. Each seed of a single cross hybrid may bring the same genetics but could have a slightly different biological condition, depending on its individual history. Biology of seed germination, described below, is from Corn Journal, 4/25/2017, Very soon after the corn seed is planted, imbibition begins. The H2O activates the membrane-bound mitochondria to respire, providing energy for protein production. The enzymatic proteins include those that digest the starch stored in the endosperm into more sugar molecules to be transported through the scutellum to other cells in the embryo, resulting in more energy available to produce structures for cell elongation. Heat energy provides a regulatory function affecting the speed of this germination process. Imbibition occurs at any temperature but metabolic activity in corn is generally thought to be very low if seed environment is below 50°F. Speed of germination increases as the temperature increases. Membrane integrity within the seed also affects the net speed of this process. Those individual seed with more damage are slower to sufficiently activate the system and thus slower to activate the metabolism needed for cell elongation in root (radicle) and the shoot sections of the embryo. Cool environments, delaying membrane repair, may result in death of the imbibed seed before the shoot can emerge from the soil. Some of these seed, even after warmed manage only to extend the root through the outer wall for the kernel, the shoot never emerging. Other weakened seed may finally get enough momentum to push through the soil surface but days after the healthier seed have emerged, resulting in a season-long competitive disadvantage. Heat energy during germination affects the severity of the effect of membrane damaged seed. Microbes in the soil are generally warded off by products of seed metabolism in healthy seed. Those individual seeds that are slow to generate sufficient energy for growth are also more easily attacked by microbes, further slowing the germination process. Seed treatments are useful in giving the damaged seed more time to successfully germinate. Healthy seeds can successfully produce normal seedlings despite surrounding common soil microbes but those weaker individuals need the extra protection. Part of the genetic history of the seed parent includes selection for reduced vulnerability to damage during germination as expressed in yield trials and experience of the corn breeder. Seed production environments further affect the biological condition of each seed begins the season. Timing of emergence of the seedling in relation to its adjacent plants affects final growth and grain production as each plant competes for light and minerals during the remainder of the season. Uniform emergence within a field is an important component of grain production for the season. Modern corn hybrid fields are most productive if the field has a consistent ‘stand’ of plants, evenly spaced and equally developed. Lots of factors are involved is a successful establishment of this uniform growth. Field conditions, germination environment conditions, seed uniform vitality and genetics are the main interacting contributors to uniformity of seedling emergence. Some of these are controllable by the corn grower and the seed producer, some are measurable prior to planting, but temperatures and rain variables are always part of the unknowns at the start of a corn season. Determining the vitality of seed at the time of planting is not always as accurate as it might seem to everyone. Each individual seed has had its own experience from initial pollination in the seed production field, stresses during seed maturation, exposure to potential pathogens, roughness during shelling, moisture addition during seed treatment, shipment to farm and finally placement in field. Multiple attempts to evaluate the percentage of individuals within a seed lot that are likely to not emerge in the field is made by germination tests. Attempts are made to standardize the tests among labs, but referee samples in which multiple labs germinate sister samples drawn from the same commercial seed bag show slightly differing results with warm tests and greater differences among cold tests. These lab to lab differences become greater as the average quality of a seed lot is lower, with some labs having percent germination meeting most company standards and others determined as failing. Added to the difficulties of determining acceptable seed quality of a seed lot, each individual seed is at a different stage of losing its cellular integrity - they are all aging but potentially at varying rates. Seed producers have the very difficult task of determining what is the rate of deterioration within a seed lot. When do they stop testing and start shipping? Multiple tests can be done to determine germination quality of a seed lot but there still can remain those that fail to germinate adequately in the field for optimum hybrid performance. Sometimes this becomes a major reasons that the grower decides the hybrid yield capacity is poor, blaming the genetics of yield instead of the seed quality. It is complicated!! Seed germination factors are only the beginning of those that eventually effect the performance of the crop. All corn seed is aging, as the physiology involved in digestion of starch in the endosperm allows glucose to be moved to the mitochondria in the embryo cells where it is processed into the ATP needed for production of proteins and specialize structures as the seed grows shoot and root tissue. Each seed within the seed lot is aging at a different rate, resulting in uneven emergence and inter plant competition during the remainder of season. Soil consistency, water amounts and timing, temperature, crop debris and micro-organisms all interact with the young plant development. Hybrid genetic differences affect the reactions to these variables as well. Vulnerability to aging is mostly inherited through the female parent but genetics of the hybrid influences the reaction to these environmental factors. Potential pathogens of the corn seedling are also affected by these environmental factors. Cool, wet soils favor Pythium species while slowing the corn metabolism. Anthracnose fungus (Colletotrichum graminicola) and the pathogen Cochliobolus carbonumcausing northern leaf spot are examples of 2 minor pathogens of young emerging corn leaves favored by warm, wet weather. Most virus diseases of corn only become damaging if infected early. This usually is dependent upon an insect vectoring the virus from other grasses. Environmental factors such as presence of adjacent hosts, temperatures and wind are big factors in the virus infection. Northern temperate zone corn season is beginning now. Interactions of plant and other organism’s biology and physical environments will affect the harvest performance. We will search for a single factor to explain that performance, but it will most likely be complex. It is human to prefer that a manufactured product meet certain expectations in structure and performance. Our expectations may be greater than described by the manufacturer or seller advocated. The product may perform exactly as we expected. Many manufactured products perform within our expectations within a defined and consistent environment within our home, for example. Sure, we did not expect the kid to throw a baseball into the TV screen, but we don’t blame the TV manufacturer for a broken screen. Crop agriculture always includes variables, many of which interact, to affect the final productivity of the crop. Many of the variables are biological. Bacteria, fungi, nematodes and insects in soil may be beneficial or detrimental to the young corn seedling. Soil consistency, temperature swings and moisture extremes further contribute to the environmental variables affecting corn seed and seedlings. Each corn seed has its own biological history beginning in the seed production field that ultimately affects its ability to withstand the stresses involved in imbibition by repairing broken membranes within its cells. Environmental stresses during the development of that seed ultimately influence the life and vigor of each seed. Although the genetics of each seed within a single cross hybrid may be identical, seed production factors include environmental factors outside of the control of the manufacturer that can shorten the life and vigor of some of the seed. Corn seed lots are sampled systematically, attempting to correctly characterize the germination and purity qualities of the seed lot. It is necessary to assume the sample is representative of the lot, but it is reasonable to assume that small variances will not always be detected in the samples. We want to think that a germination percentage based upon samples accurately depict all the seed in the lot, at least within the germination test conditions at the time of the test. Unknown variables affecting the sample, affecting the seed after testing, environments after planting ultimately result in the actual emergence of each seedling in the corn field. We celebrate the appearance of a uniformly emergence of the seedlings in the field and have difficulty analyzing the cause when that does not happen. At least we have strong suspicions when we find a baseball inside the TV with a broken screen. Dynamics of this disease serves as a reminder of the complexity of host resistance, environment and pathogen biology are common with agricultural crops. Although the disease had been identified before 1970 it was not regarded as damaging to the corn. Host and environments in USA changed in the 1970’s. Conservation tillage allowed more corn leaf and stalk debris left on the soil surface and wide use of the inbred B73 as a female parent changed in favor of the fungus (Colletotrichum graminicola). It had difficulty surviving when buried in soil but has special sporulation advantages over other organisms with survival of winter stresses when on surface of soil. This allowed for early infection of seedling leaves. Infected leaf debris continues to produce spores during the season. Although most corn genotypes are somewhat resistant to older leaf infection, presence of this fungus and its spores allowed for eventual infection of the stalk rind cells. A few hybrids are susceptible enough to be actively killed by infection in the root and stalk but this fungus is mostly an aggressive invader of senescing cells in the mature plant. The B73 connection was linked to its contribution of high yields in hybrids. Some of that high yield component was tendency to produce large deposits of carbohydrates in the grain, sometimes at the sacrifice of adequate reserves for maintenance of living cells in the stalk and root tissues. Colletotrichum graminicolais favored in the environment of senescing cells, often speeding to the death of these tissues. Reducing the infected corn debris by deep tillage or crop rotation can greatly reduce the disease but reducing the environmental stress is also important. Breeders affected this reduction by selecting hybrids with less grain fill per plant and, perhaps, more net photosynthesis per plant. This effectively lengthened the time of vigorous cells in corn stalks with ability to hold off this fungus until harvest. Anthracnose remains present in USA corn fields but damage is less now than 30 years ago. Like much in agriculture, corn disease development is the result of a complexity of factors. It is human nature to want simple explanations but each of the factors, like those mentioned in this brief blog have sub-factors. Fortunately, human and government problems are not complex so politician’s simple answers surely will solve all of them (L.O.L.). Cold weather of temperate zone winters can be harsh on fungi in the previous crop debris left on the soil surface after harvest. Low temperatures kill most spores (conidia) capable of spreading and infecting new crop corn plants. Although spring moisture can encourage production of new spores from infections in the old leaves, inconsistent temperatures and relative humidity plus sun exposure of the young seedlings can cause result in many potential fungal pathogens to fail infection of the young plants. Colletetotrichum graminicola (cause of anthracnose) produces spores on surface of infected leaves in mucilaginous matrix that offers protection of the spores on the infected debris from temperature fluctuations and dehydration. This allows survival of spores for quick distribution to seedling leaves. Spores germinate and hyphae quickly form appressoria, allowing penetration in the first few seedling leaves. Corn varieties vary in resistance to further spread of the fungus to the growing point or roots. Killing of seedlings can occur in a few varieties but not in most. Most studies have shown that there is not a strong correlation among susceptibility to the anthracnose seedling disease, anthracnose on mature leaves and anthracnose stalk rot. This fungus’ ability to overwinter in minimally tilled, continuous corn fields with anthracnose in the previous season are most vulnerable to this seedling disease. An interesting study of this phenomenon can be found at: Moving corn from its tropical origin to temperate zones required adaptations for many characters. One character needed to advantage of the full summer season, including in some areas of the USA, was to plant as early as possible to avoid pollination problems caused by extreme heat during flowering and to avoid killing frost stopping grain filling. It is common to observe that every field does not emerge and seedlings equally fast, but the many environmental factors complicate drawing conclusions as to cause. Was it seed quality or was it due to soil content difference? One study (https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/cs/articles/55/2/851) attempted to compare hybrids under controlled temperature and environments for leaf and root weights under differing temperature environments. Results supported the hypothesis that hybrids did differ in tolerance to cold temperatures after planting. Methods and results in this presentation cited are a good read. There are genetic differences for tolerance to cooler, early seasons, but the significance must be always be put in perspective of final hybrid performance. This character is only one of many influencing the performance of best hybrid for a season. It among the many genetic-environmental reasons that rarely is the same hybrid the best in all fields or in all years. Genetics, seed production and environments interact each year as we have taken this species of tropical origin to temperate (and tropical) fields around the earth. Interactions between seed physiological ‘vigor’, infection by fungi such as Fusarium species, environmental pressures including potential damaging organisms and seed treatments are complex. A low percentage of seed within a seed bag are either dead of having sufficient cellular damage that all embryo cells do not function, perhaps with elongation of seminal root cells but no growth in the mesocotyl cells. Cell membranes damaged during seed maturation or with imbibition can self-repair, but this may result in delay of mesocotyl growth, delaying emergence compared to other seedlings and allowing more time for potential invasion by soil inhabiting fungi. Leakage of nutrients from the seed may also attract the fungi towards the germinating seed. Fusarium species in the seed are not the only potential pathogens but also others are in nearly all soils. Fusarium verticilloidesis one that tends to invade corn tissue after germination, perhaps growing between cells as the seedling extends beyond the soil surface. A few, such as F. graminearumoften occupy the shoot base (crown), but it is not always clear if they significantly damage the plant. There is some evidence that presence of fungi in the emerging seedling correlates with reduced photosynthetic rate in leaves of the young plant. Corn germinates and emerges more uniformly and quicker at 25°C (77°F) but temperate zone growers want to take advantage of the longer growing season by planting when soil temperature are only above 10-15°C. If the temperature remains low after planting, imbibitional damage to membranes is slow to repair and overall physiologic processes are slowed. Although Fusarium species are not favored by the low temperatures, the damaged tissue exudes nutrients to attract the fungi towards the tissue. Low temperatures also slow the production of resistance factors, allowing increased invasion of the tissue. This applies to the nodal roots that emerge after the seedling emerges as well. Soil components also affect the duration of exposure of mesocotyl if it has trouble pushing through the soil surface. Seed treatments are intended to prevent or inhibit damage from seed-borne fungi and those potential pathogens infecting initial germinating seed. Polymers either added to the chemical fungicide treatments or even if used independent of the treatments can be helpful by slowing down the imbibitional process, potentially reducing the cell membrane damage. Most commercial seed treatments include a mix chemicals aimed at inhibiting fungi within the seed and a few components become somewhat systemic in the young seedlings. Application of seed treatments does require some care to make sure the seed does not absorb too much water and thus overcome the dormancy initiated by drying the seed. An interesting summary of Fusarium control by seed treatments can be found in a thesis at https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/15394 Among the human accomplishments of developing corn from a tropical grass (Teosinte) to extreme temperate zone environments has been the ability to get successful growth under less than perfect environments. This occurred with efforts of breeders selecting genetics, seed producers developing methods and growers working environments. About Corn Journal The purpose of this blog is to share perspectives of the biology of corn, its seed and diseases in a mix of technical and not so technical terms with all who are interested in this major crop. With more technical references to any of the topics easily available on the web with a search of key words, the blog will rarely cite references but will attempt to be accurate. Comments are welcome but will be screened before publishing. Comments and questions directed to the author by emails are encouraged.

Compose a 1250 words assignment on morality and taking the truth and goodness for granted. Needs to be plagiarism free! The divergent views on standards of morality have been influenced by the presence of various viewpoints and perceptions on ethics and morality presented by several philosophers. For instance, philosophers such as Aristotle, Hursthouse, Gilligan, Alcoff, Nietzsche, and Foucault have developed perceptions and ideas concerning morality. Some of the notions concur or expound the other while some contradict and criticize each other. However, this paper examines and discusses Aristotle and Hursthouse’s views on morality to develop a deeper understanding of this important concept. According to Aristotle, moral virtue otherwise known as the excellence of character refers to the disposition of acting excellently developed by a person either partly due to his upbringing or because of his habit or routine of action (Athanassoulis 1). He argues that the character emerges from habit or practice and is voluntary since it arises from various individual actions that are controlled voluntarily. Moreover, Aristotle asserts that every character of excellence lies between the extremes and thus lies between a deficiency and an excess. The extremes deviate in one way or another from the virtuous character state (Athanassoulis 1). Therefore, the character of excellence arises from the doctrine of the mean and this is among the best and famous aspects of Aristotle’s ethics. The nature of feeling and emotions of some kind also arises from the doctrine of the mean and to some degree depends on one’s upbringing. Thus, some people despite intending to do the right thing never live to their choice, and this condition is referred to as akrasia. lack of self – mastery, incontinence, or weakness of will (Athanassoulis 1). This situation is common since individuals take morality and other aspects of ethics for granted.

To pass the US citizenship test, you will have to answer 10 of a possible 100 questions. The following question is from the USCIS test. Why do some states have more representatives than other states? - (because of) the state’s population - (because) they have more people - (because) some states have more people The following is a full explanation of the USCIS question: It is all about providing proportional representation to the citizens of each state to better cover the whole population of the United States. It is fairer to allocate a large number to states with big landmasses and metropolitan areas than to states with very few people. So, how are these figures determined, and how do they change to suit the population? A Census Determines Why Some States Have More Representatives Than Others The system for allocating numbers of representatives to states relies on data from a census. This census occurs every 10 years to give updated data on population trends. From there, it is easier to determine which states may require the highest number of representatives to best serve them. The last United States census was in 2020, and the figures below reflect the numbers of representatives per state based on that data. These changes will come into effect in 2023. This process allows for consistent re-evaluation of the balance of power in the House of Representatives without making too many changes. For a while, this meant that the government could assign new figures to give states more representatives as needed. But, today there is a cap at 435, which calls for a more delicate redistribution. Can the Numbers Go Down As Well as Up? Yes, the numbers of representatives for each state can and will vary over time. This is essential to make the balance across the House of Representatives as proportionate as possible. For example, after the 2020 census, there were gains and losses for a series of states to reflect changes in the population since the previous count. This led to gains of a single seat for Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, Oregon, and Montana, and a more noticeable 2 for Texas. Meanwhile, one seat was lost for California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia. The States With The Most Voters In The House of Representatives Let’s start with those that have the most. There aren’t that many in double digits, but many that have significantly more representatives than those smaller states. The largest number is 52 for California, which has dropped since the 2020 census. Then there is Texas, which has gained to reach 38. After another gain, Florida is the third with 28, and New York is down to 26 following a loss. From there, there is a noticeable gap between these densely populated states and others with numbers in the teens. Most of these are around the Eastern Seaboard and Great Lakes. The States With the Least Voters in the House of Representatives Because of the rule about the population levels affecting voter numbers in the United States Congress, many sparsely populated states have very few representatives. As things stand, there are several with just one. Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. Montana was the same until gaining an extra member via the 2020 census. Many more states are in single figures due to population density. Rhode Island and Hawaii may be tiny compared to Alaska and Wyoming, but not in terms of people. How Many Representatives Are There in Total? When you add up the representatives across the 50 states, you end up with a total of 435. This may sound like a random number rather than something like a rounded 450. But that is where we have ended up since the move to add a cap. This total of 435 voters in the House of Representatives has remained a constant since 1929. It was then that the government passed the Permanent Appointment Act to ensure that the number could not pass 435. This was more than enough, and the census system would allow for appropriate changes. Before this, the number had simply grown as needed to match the growing populations across the different states. The exception to the rule was a short period from 1959 when Hawaii and Alaska were admitted into the Union and needed representation under the United States Constitution. They each gained one, and the figures were adjusted for the 50 states following the 1960 census. Will the Numbers and Caps Change Again? The cap of 435 has been in place for a long time now, and some critics suggest it is time for a change. One of the best arguments in favor of this takes us back to the idea of the changing population and the original intention for there to be no more than once per 30,000. This number made sense at the time. However, we now have a situation where there is one per 700,000 people. This has led to suggestions that the cap should rise to allow for a better representation in line with that original ratio. The other side of this argument is that there has to be a limit on numbers for a purely practical reason. You can only have so many people working and voting in the House of Representatives at one time. Even if the states each got one more person to make things even, 50 new voters to accommodate and account for. Aside from this, the other possible reason for a change would be the inclusion of a new state. However, if this were to happen, it seems most likely that there would be a temporary increase of one or two voters – depending on how many territories became states – and then the re-evaluation back to 435 at the 2030 census. Is the Current System Fair? To recap, some states have more representatives than others simply because there is a greater population in that state than others. It wasn’t fair for New York And Rhode Island to have the same number in the 1700s, and the same is true today. It is understandable to feel that one representative is low compared to the 52 in California, but the millions needing representation in Los Angeles alone would disagree. 435 spread proportionally is the right approach right now.

What is the Diagnosis of Mental Health? The identification and classification of mental health concerns or disorders based on an individual’s behaviors, emotional patterns, and symptoms include a mental health diagnosis. It is a clinical evaluation carried out after mental health professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, or licensed therapists, have carefully analyzed the mental health of the individual. A detailed analysis of the symptoms, conversations about personal history, behavioral observations, and, in certain instances, the application of screenings or standardized tests are all part of this process. Diagnostic criteria published in diagnostic manuals such as the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) generally apply when assigning mental health diagnoses. What Does a Mental Health Diagnosis Mean? A diagnosis in mental health is intended to: Identify Conditions: To successfully understand and communicate about mental health challenges, categorize and name particular patterns of symptoms and behaviors. Encourage Treatment: Provide a framework for suitable interventions, therapies, and drug choices based on the identified condition to direct treatment programs. Promote Understanding: Help those with mental health diagnoses, their families, and medical professionals comprehend the type, course, and treatment of these conditions. Make Sure People Get the Care They Need: Make sure people get the assistance and care they need, including access to the right resources and qualified experts. It’s essential to keep in mind that a diagnosis serves as a tool to direct medical treatment and support rather than as an analysis of a person. Diagnoses for mental health conditions can change over time, so getting expert assistance is crucial for getting an accurate diagnosis and creating a successful treatment strategy. A Comprehensive Guide to Mental Health Diagnosis Obtaining a diagnosis in mental health requires some procedures to provide a detailed assessment and suitable care. Here’s a thorough guide: Self-Evaluation: Start by identifying any enduring symptoms or behavioral shifts that interact with your day-to-day activities. Keep track of these encounters, along with their frequency and severity, so that you can paint a clearer picture in consultations. Meeting with a Primary Care Physician: Talk up your worries with your primary care physician first. They can carry out preliminary evaluations, rule out any underlying medical issues causing symptoms, and, if required, provide referrals to mental health professionals. Seeking Professional Evaluation: Mental health professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists, or licensed therapists conduct thorough evaluations. To make a diagnosis, they assess symptoms, emotional states, and behavioral patterns using observations, questionnaires, and interviews. Specialized Evaluations: Recommendations for specialized evaluations or screenings may vary depending on the diagnosed condition. These could consist of personality testing, possibly cognitive exams, or assessments designed specifically for mental health problems. Collaborative Approach: When diagnosing challenging or co-occurring conditions, a multidisciplinary team may be engaged in some situations. Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other mental health professionals may be on this team. Diagnostic manuals such as the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases) provide defined criteria that are used to make mental health diagnoses. These standards serve as a guide for professionals in making reliable diagnoses. Open Communication: During evaluations, be truthful and upfront. By discussing personal experiences, concerns, and relevant facts with the evaluator, the patient can help establish a more accurate diagnosis and customized treatment plan. Second Opinion: Getting a second opinion from a different licensed mental health expert might provide further information and assurance in the diagnosis if you’re unsure about it or are looking for clarity. Remember that obtaining a diagnosis of mental illness is not a simple process and may require some time. Persistence, patience, and involvement in the evaluation process are necessary for effective therapy and support and result in a more accurate assessment. It’s critical to keep in mind that you are not traveling alone on the path to mental wellness. A vital first step if you or someone you care about is struggling with mental health issues is to get advice from an authorized mental health professional. These experts have the knowledge and tools necessary to support, counsel, and customize therapies for each patient. Their specific knowledge and compassionate nature facilitate the understanding and effective treatment of mental health problems. Get in touch with Palm Coast Treatment Solutions, an experienced mental health treatment center dedicated to offering individualized care and evidence-based therapies, if you’re looking for comprehensive assistance and care in Palm Coast. Our group of skilled mental health therapists is dedicated to helping people recover and create a route to better mental health. To start your road toward healing and recovery, give our mental health professionals a call at (386) 284-4151 or come to our Palm Coast mental health treatment facility. Years of experience Our leadership team has extensive experience in dual-diagnosis treatment and is ready to help those who are struggling with substance use and mental health. Our staff consists of many licensed addiction and mental health treatment facilitators and other staff who are ready to share their experience and their success. Palm Coast Treatment Centers has helped over 2,000 people who have struggled with substance use and mental health to find road to recovery. GET IN TOUCH Reaching out to Palm Coast Treatment Centers may be the most important call of your recovery process. A caring professional is waiting for your call to be your guide to addiction-free living.

Asteroids have consistently been a reason of concern for stargazers around the world. Now a new item roughly 4,500 feet in diameter has joined the list. It is approaching Earth. Nasa has classified this asteroid 2016 AJ193 as ‘Potentially Hazardous’, unsafe as it approaches Earth on the evening of August 21. Asteroids are rocky worlds revolving around the Sun. Those are actually too small to be called planets, that’s why it is named an asteroid. They are also known as minor planets or planetoids. There are many space rocks, going in size from many miles to a few feet across. Altogether, the mass of the relative multitude of space rocks is not exactly that of Earth’s moon. Nasa classified this asteroid as potentially hazardous. It will next come close to Earth in 2063. Nasa has also predicted its orbital track. They are not expecting any harm to the planet this time. This asteroid was first spotted by the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) office (It is situated at Haleakala Observatory, Hawaii). In January 2016 after which Nasa utilized the NEOWISE space apparatus to notice the flying article. As per EarthSky, space experts say that the asteroid is extremely dull (not exceptionally intelligent), and its turn period, shaft course, and phantom class are for the most part obscure. This asteroid circles around the Sun every 5.9 years. It gets somewhere near Earth’s circle but however, at that point goes past the orbit of Jupiter. The August 21 flyby will be this present asteroid’s nearest way to deal with Earth. At least following 65 years, the longest period for which its circle has been predicted. Nasa tracks more than 26,000 close Earth asteroids. More than 1,000 of these asteroids are considered possibly unsafe. The organization also tracks the development of the asteroids around Sun to build up its area, figuring a circular way that best fits the accessible perceptions of the object.

Science Alive! Fantastic Light featuring The Lighthouse Keeper’s Rescue Written by Rhonda and David Armitage Sponsored by: AWE Available braille grades: Grade 1, Grade 2 This collection combines a classic picture book with tactile images and audio material to explain the key concepts of light covered by the national curriculum for Key Stage 1, but it may be of useful for older children. The Lighthouse Keeper’s Rescue follows Mr. Grinling in his day-to-day job taking care of a lighthouse perched high on the cliffs. One day, lighthouse inspectors tell Mr Grinling it’s time to retire but when a stranded whale desperately needs help, the inspectors realise that Mr Grinling is still the best man for the job. Once children have read the story of Mr Grinling, they’ll explore the science of light using additional hand-painted tactile images and audio. They’ll follow the curves of the rainbow and learn about its colours, explore the idea of reflection and why it occurs, find out about shadows and learn all about the part electricity plays in creating light. Includes audio descriptions read by CBEEBIES presenter Katrina Bryan. This fact book may support subjects in the National Curriculum and is great as an educational resource in class, home-schooling, homework-help, project work and encouraging independent learning. Listen to an audio clip Go back to the reflection of the swan. Can you feel that it is flat and not plump and curvy like the real swan above it? This is because it is an image on the surface of the water, not an actual swan. If you feel very carefully over the swan's reflection, you will notice some wavy lines here and there. These are ripples on the surface of the water, which happen because the water is moving slightly. If the swan was sitting on a mirror, its reflection would not be wobbly like this, as the surface of a mirror does not move. - A collection of raised tactile pictures. - Audio descriptions with music and sound effects in your chosen format of either CD or USB. - A large print colour image pack. - Guidance notes for parents and teachers to help you make the most of using this book. - An ‘Articles for the Blind’ returns label for the free and convenient return of the box.

An audiologist is a healthcare professional specialising in diagnosing and treating hearing disorders. They work with patients of all ages to help them overcome problems with hearing. Suppose you are the parent of a child recently diagnosed with a hearing disorder. If you consider seeing an audiologist for yourself, you may wonder what they do. So, before booking a hearing test with an audiologist, let’s take a closer look at what they do. What Is an Audiologist and What Do They Do Audiology is the science of hearing, and audiologists use their knowledge to help people improve their ability to hear. Audiologists conduct hearing tests, prescribe hearing aids, and provide treatments for hearing loss. They also educate patients about coping with hearing loss and preventing further damage to their hearing. Besides, audiologists play a vital role in researching and developing new technologies. As experts in the science of hearing, audiologists play a vital role in improving the health and quality of life of people with hearing loss. How Can an Audiologist Help You or Your Child? If you or your child is having difficulty hearing, an audiologist can help. First, they will conduct a detailed assessment of your (or your child’s) hearing to determine the degree and type of hearing loss. Then, based on their findings, they will prescribe appropriate treatment options. These include hearing aids, assistive listening devices or cochlear implants. Audiologists also know about the many types of hearing aids and other devices available. They can assist in selecting the best ones for your specific needs. They can also advise you on how to care for your hearing aids, troubleshoot them, and provide support to help you adjust to using them. An audiologist can provide a range of services for children diagnosed with hearing loss. These services will help them develop their listening and spoken language skills. For example, they may recommend early intervention programs. They may also recommend speech therapy to help the child learn how to communicate effectively. Finally, audiologists are an important source of guidance and support for parents. They can help you find the right educational program, deal with insurance companies, and other practical aspects. What Are the Symptoms of a Hearing Disorder Before seeing an audiologist, you may wonder if you or your child are experiencing a hearing disorder. Common signs of hearing loss include: Difficulty Hearing Conversations If you have a hearing disorder, you may have difficulty hearing conversations. It can make it challenging to follow along in conversations, and you may ask people to repeat themselves frequently. You may also have trouble understanding what people are saying if there is background noise, such as in a restaurant or party. Trouble Hearing the Television or Radio Another symptom of a hearing disorder is trouble hearing the television or radio. It can be frustrating if you enjoy watching television or listening to music, as you may not be able to hear the dialogue or lyrics. As a result, you may find yourself turning up the volume on the television or radio more than usual to listen to it better. Difficulty Hearing Over the Phone You may also have difficulty hearing over the phone if you have a hearing disorder. It can make it difficult to carry on conversations with friends and family members. You may also find yourself avoiding phone calls altogether. Ringing in the Ears Many people with hearing disorders also experience ringing in their ears, known as tinnitus. Tinnitus can be annoying and disruptive, making it difficult to concentrate or sleep. Tinnitus can sometimes be so severe that it interferes with daily activities. Dizziness or Balance Problems Some people with hearing disorders also experience dizziness or balance problems. Damage to the inner ear, which is in charge of maintaining balance, can cause it. Dizziness and balance problems can make it difficult to walk or stand, and they can increase your risk of falling. If you or your child are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is essential to see an audiologist. They can assess your hearing and recommend appropriate treatment options to improve your quality of life. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Hearing disorders can be challenging, but having the right resources can help you manage your condition. An audiologist can provide the care and support you need to ensure that your hearing is as good as it can be. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you think your child may have a hearing disorder. It’s better to be proactive about managing hearing loss than ignore it and let it worsen over time. With the right help and resources, you can ensure that your hearing is properly taken care of. Have you ever been to an audiologist? Let us know your experience in the comments below! Further reading: 7 Simple habits that will save you from hearing loss.

A Worksheet for a Mixture Problem (WPM) is a vital part of a chemical analysis method. These types of worksheets are designed to help workers with the calculation of the amount of each constituent in any mixture. The work can be complicated, and many chemicals contain multiple components. 27 Inspirational Percent Error Worksheet from mixture problems worksheet , source:swiftcantrellpark.org There are various reasons for using a chemical analysis method. The main purpose of these types of worksheets is to provide data to the operator. In general, a Worksheet for a Mixture Problem should include the components of a mixture in the appropriate amounts, as determined by the analysis procedure, and the procedure to calculate their percentage of the total quantity of the chemical compound. Many chemical compounds contain one or more components. In order to determine the percentages of these components in a mixture, the operator must determine the percentage of the total compound. This is done by determining the sum of the weight of each component in the mixture, the total amount of the components, and the percentage of the total component. 316 best Word problems images on Pinterest in 2018 from mixture problems worksheet , source:pinterest.com Some chemical compounds are mixed together in a process called fractional distillation. This is where a liquid is separated from the gas or liquid and the two liquids are then distilled separately. The separation of the two liquids is an important step in the fractionation of the compound because the separation of the components can be used to determine their composition. A Worksheet for Mixtures Problems should include information on how many components each chemical compound contains. The number of components can be found in the analysis procedure or in the data table, depending on the analysis method. The number of components should be entered into the worksheet so that the worker knows the percentage of each component in the mixture. 20elegant atoms Homework from mixture problems worksheet , source:lissasloves.com Other data relating to the composition of the compound should also be included in the worksheet. This includes the amount of each component in the mixture, and its concentration relative to the total amount of the compound. The concentration of each component is important because it allows the worker to calculate the fractional part of the total compound. In general, a Worksheet for Mixtures Problems should contain the concentration of each compound relative to the total concentration of the compound. This allows workers to determine if a compound is present at all in a mixture or only occurs in a small amount. Fraction Decimal Percent Worksheet Decimals Fractions And Worksheets from mixture problems worksheet , source:dode-xp.com It may be necessary to use more than one Worksheet for a Mixtures Problem. Because each mixture may have a different mixture ratio. The concentration of different components in a mixture can be determined by determining the percent concentration of each component by weight. The concentration of each component can be compared to the other components in order to determine their relative concentration. Another approach to determining the concentration of a compound is to determine the concentration of each component relative to a reference compound. Probability Tables Worksheet New Math Problem Worksheet Fresh from mixture problems worksheet , source:incharlottesville.com Once the concentration of a compound has been determined, it can be converted to a percentage by subtracting the concentration of each compound from the concentration of the reference compound. And multiplying this percentage with the concentration of the reference compound. The value of the conversion can be determined from data given in the Worksheet for the Mixtures Problem. An operator can find out how well a compound has been converted by finding the Conversion Factor for that compound. On a Worksheet for a Mixtures Problem. This tells how well a compound has been converted by dividing the value of the compound by the total amount of compound in the mixture. Printables Algebra 1 Word Problems Worksheets Lemonlilyfestival from mixture problems worksheet , source:lemonlilyfestival.com A conversion factor can be calculated for all chemicals in a mixture by finding out the ratio of the conversion factor to reference compound and multiplying the conversion factor by the number of molecules in a mixture. This ratio is given in grams per gram. The conversion factor is usually listed on the Worksheet for the Mixtures Problem. A chemical compound is also known as its molecular weight. In order to know the molecular weight, the amount of each compound in a mixture is multiplied by the molecular weight of the reference compound. This gives the volume of the mixture. 41 Triple Beam Balance Worksheet from mixture problems worksheet , source:goybparenting.com

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2000 December 5 Explanation: Pictured above, layers upon layers stretch across the floor of West Candor Chasma within the immense martian Valles Marineris. Covering an area 1.5 by 2.9 kilometers, the full image from the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft shows over 100 individual beds. Each strikingly uniform layer is smooth, hard enough to form steep edges, and is 10 to 11 meters thick. In a press conference yesterday scientists Michael Malin and Ken Edgett presented this and other new images which show that the layered patterns exist at widespread locations near the martian equator. Their results indicate that some of the layered regions may be 3.5 billion years old. On planet Earth, layered patterns like these are formed from sediment deposited over time by large bodies of water. Likewise, the layered beds on Mars may be sedimentary rock formed in ancient lakes and seas. The researchers caution, however, that other uniquely martian processes may be responsible for the layering. Did life arise on ancient Mars? Because of their possible association with water, a prime location for future searches for fossil remains of martian life would be within these layers of Mars. Authors & editors: Jerry Bonnell (USRA) NASA Technical Rep.: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply. A service of: LHEA at NASA/GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

How could a SNP within a gene promoter alter gene expression levels? Promoter region SNPs affect the initiation and regulation of gene expression by altering the promoter activity, transcription factor binding, and altering DNA methylation, and histone modifications. They alter gene expression by affecting the binding site sequences. SNPs are single nucleotide substitutions that occur in germline cells. When they occur in a gene promoter, the levels of gene expression can alter. Key Areas Covered 1. What is an SNP – Definition, Features, Importance 2. What is a Promoter – Definition, Features, Importance 3. How Could an SNP Within a Gene Promoter Alter Gene Expression Levels What is an SNP SNP or single nucleotide polymorphism is one nucleotide substitution of the germline cells. A large fraction of the population should have a single nucleotide variation in order to become a single nucleotide polymorphism. Usually, 1% of the population needs to have the variation. For instance, a specific base position of the genome contains a G nucleotide. But the minority of individuals may have the nucleotide A. Therefore, the two possible variations of the nucleotide position are G and A. Furthermore, SNP occurs in the germline cells. The main importance of SNP is that it makes individuals susceptible to diseases. Some examples of such a disease are age-related macular degeneration. Generally, a common SNP in the CFH gene increases the risk of the disease. Another example of SNP-related disease is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It occurs due to the presence of an SNP in the PNPLA3 gene in the genome. What is a Promoter A promoter is one of the main regulatory elements of the gene that initiates transcription. It is located near the gene, upstream of the codon sequence. The size of the promoter can be 100-1000 bp. The specific DNA sequences called response elements provide initial binding sites for both RNA polymerase and transcription factors which recruit RNA polymerase. RNA polymerase is the enzyme responsible for the transcription, polymerizing complementary RNA nucleotides to synthesize an mRNA molecule. Moreover, bacterial RNA polymerase associated with the sigma factor can bind to the promoter. The sigma factor is a bacterial transcription initiation factor. In eukaryotes, around 7 different basal transcription factors have to be bound to the promoter to recruit RNA polymerase. How Could an SNP Within a Gene Promoter Alter Gene Expression Levels An SNP within a gene promoter alters the levels of gene expression. It can alter the gene expression by means of affecting the binding site sequences. This can occur in many ways. They include; - altering the promoter activity, - altering the transcription factor binding, and - altering the DNA methylation and histone modifications. SNPs also occur more prominently in transcriptional start sites in close proximity. Predicted SNPs occur in transcription factor binding sites. Further, promoters occur in the regulatory region of the functionally important genes. They are also involved in the initiation and regulation of gene expression by binding specific transcription factors. The identification and binding of these transcription factors can alter in the presence of SNPs in the promoter region. It can affect the initiation of the gene expression. For example, SNP falling in the binding site of the interferon response factor-1 (IRF – 1) of the HLA-G gene affects the binding of IRF-1 to the gene, downregulating the transcription of the HLA-G gene. In addition to that, altering the promoter region alters the promoter activity by SNPs affecting the levels of gene expression as promoter affects the regulation of gene expression. Other alterations in the DNA methylation and histone modifications can change the initiation and regulation of gene expression as well. In brief, SNPs are single nucleotide substitutions occurring in the genes of the human genome. A promoter, on the other hand, is the regulatory region of the gene expression. It also binds to transcription factors during the initiation and the regulation of gene expression. Sometimes, SNPs can occur in the promoter region. This affects the identification and binding of transcription factors to the promoter region. In addition, it affects the DNA methylation and histone modifications of the promoter region. It also affects the activity of the promoter. Therefore, SNPs in the promoter region affect the levels of gene expression by altering the initiation and regulation of gene expression. - Guo Y, Jamison DC. The distribution of SNPs in human gene regulatory regions. BMC Genomics. 2005 Oct 6;6:140. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-6-140. PMID: 16209714; PMCID: PMC1260019.

In part one of this series we saw how aesthetics can play a role in global education (see here). Let’s continue by looking at some other ways aesthetics can help us learn. In his book The Aesthetic Understanding, Roger Scruton points out that science is knowledge that something is the case—facts. Technological knowledge is about how something works. And aesthetic understanding is knowledge what—meaning knowledge about what we are to feel when confronted with life’s challenges. He writes: “Knowing what to do, Aristotle suggested, is a matter of right judgment (orthos logos); but it also involves feeling rightly: the virtuous person ‘knows what to feel’ spontaneously feeling what the situation requires: the right emotion, towards the right object, on the right occasion, and in the right degree. Moral education has just such knowledge as its goal. And it is a curious fact, which may be held forth as a partial confirmation of Aristotle’s view concerning the place of emotion in virtue, that we use the idiom ‘knowing what’ not of actions only, but of feelings too. The world is full of people who ‘do not know what to feel’—whether in response to their personal situation, or in response to the events and non-events by which they are surrounded. To understand what it is to ‘feel in ignorance’, you need only observe the habits engendered by pornography and the uncritical display of violence and destruction on the movie screen.” In many books we read what certain characters do and their actions strike us as too stubborn, too cruel, too cowardly, etc. But we also feel that something just isn’t right. Such feelings can help us understand that we should not act like that when confronted with a similar situation. We come to realize that what we should feel and what we should do would be very different. This aesthetic understanding is provided in many works and should not be overlooked as a powerful way to learn. Many great minds have realized this. In his Republic, Plato had his character Socrates argue that children must be raised with proper aesthetic experiences if they are to be correctly disposed to be just souls in a just state. Such dispositions need to be in place before the capacities of reflection are activated. Friedrich Schiller claimed, in his On the Aesthetic Education of Man, that it is beauty alone that confers on man a truly social character and allows him to participate in universal bonds of solidarity: After all, “all other forms of communication divide society because they relate exclusively either to private sensibility or to the private skillfulness of its individual members, that is, to what distinguishes one man and another; only the communication of the Beautiful unites society, because it relates to what is common to them”. Herbert Read argued in a similar fashion in his Education Through Art: “[T]he aim of imaginative education…is to give the individual a concrete sensuous awareness of the harmony and rhythm which enters the constitution of all living bodies and plants, which is the formal basis of all works of art, to the end that the child, in its life and activities, shall partake of the same organic grace and beauty. By means of such an education we instill into the child that “instinct for relationship” which, even before the advent of reason, enables it to distinguish the beautiful from the ugly, the good from the evil, the right pattern of behavior from the wrong pattern, the noble person from the ignoble.” And Adam Smith, in his classic work Theory of Moral Sentiments, wrote: “Human society, when we contemplate it in a certain abstract and philosophical light, appears like a great, an immense machine, whose regular and harmonious movements produce a thousand agreeable effects. As in any other beautiful and noble machine that was the production of human art, whatever tended to render its movements more smooth and easy, would derive a beauty from this effect, and, on the contrary, whatever tended to obstruct them would displease on that account: so virtue, which is, as it were, the fine polish to the wheels of society, necessarily pleases; while vice, like the vile rust, which makes them jar and grate upon one another, is as necessarily offensive.” Is it possible to cultivate in ourselves and others an aesthetic sense for social, political, psychological, intellectual, and environmental harmony? Can we learn to not just intellectually acknowledge the aspects of life that don’t fit but also feel them as “necessarily offensive” like our car making grating sounds to which we feel compelled to respond with immediate action? Perhaps with such a sense, cultivated throughout life, we will know all the more what to feel and when something in our world just isn’t right. Perhaps Read’s “instinct for relationship” is indeed the real ground for the subsequent reflection we employ in moral and political action. But can it developed? I think so. Of course, such an aesthetic awareness must also be allied with critical reason. After all, it appears one can have an aesthetic experience of beauty that has immoral content (for example, the Nazi propaganda film Triumph of the Will which is visually beautiful yet ideologically ugly). But this instinct for relationship, harmony, and so on need not be limited to sensuous beautiful; it can extend to, as we have seen, social arrangements and moral character. That said, we still need to think hard about what aesthetic experiences are cultivated in the young and what kinds of aesthetic experiences we allow ourselves to have. We would also need certain political commitments to foster the institutional context for such experiences and their subsequent development. Naturally, any efforts along these lines are bound to be complicated and many troubling issues are bound to arise (e.g., censorship, competing views of the good and the true, multiple interpretations of art, etc.). But I think this “instinct for relationship” is worth pursuing in whatever ways we can. For part one of this series, go here. For my series that compares and contrasts the pedagogies of Socrates and John Dewey, go here. For my series on solitude and education, go here. For my post on John Locke’s pedagogy and some of its implications, go here. The Aesthetic Understanding: Essays in the Philosophy of Art and Culture (Indiana: St. Augustine’s Press, 1998), p. 248. On the Aesthetic Education of Man (New York: Dover, 2004), p. 138. Ibid., 18. Quoted in Terry Eagleton’s The Ideology of the Aesthetic (Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1990), p. 37.

our areas of focus What is Paralysis? When your body makes voluntary movements, it happens through a complex process of nerves, muscle contractions, and chemical signals from the brain that connects to the body through the spinal pathways. These processes all happen in a split second – and when this process is disrupted, leading to the inability to stimulate motor function of the body it’s called paralysis. Paralysis is the inability to make muscle movements because of a problem with connections of the brain in the upper motor neurons, the pathways that connect the neurons to the body, or destruction of the nerves or nervous plexus at the target tissues. the nervous system. It can have different severities, including: - Partial Paralysis (paresis): You retain some ability to move muscles but not all. This can be in one limb or region of the body or one side vs the other. - Complete Paralysis: You lose all ability to control muscles ex: Paraplegia and Quadriplegia Paralysis can impact everyone differently, affecting only a few muscles or entire sections of the body. For example, as discussed above, it might affect one side of the body (hemiplegia), both legs (paraplegia), or all limbs (quadriplegia). Localized paralysis can affect small areas of the body like the face, hands, or feet. What Causes Paralysis? Paralysis is caused by disruption of the nervous system, whether it’s because of birth defects, traumatic injury, or medical conditions like Bell’s palsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Strokes or brain damage can also cause paralysis. People most often associate paralysis with spinal cord injury, and this is one of the most common causes. In the case of spinal cord injury, factors like the type of injury, location, and severity can impact the degree to which you’re paralyzed. How Can Stem Cells Help Paralysis? Stem cells can be an effective way to regenerate damaged nerve tissue so that your nervous and musculoskeletal systems work as they need to. Stem cell therapy can also reduce inflammation and help reduce the underlying causes of paralysis. Finally, stem cell therapy can help reduce chronic pain or numbness that comes with paralysis. Stem Cell Therapy for Paralysis Stem cell therapy for paralysis works by injecting stem cells from your own tissue or a donor into the area with the goal of regenerating nerve tissues. Stem cell therapy has a low risk of adverse reaction since it uses tissue from your own body or a screened donor. It can even be performed as an outpatient procedure at our office, so you can return home afterward. During a consultation with our stem cell experts, you can learn more about your stem cell therapy options. Schedule a Consultation At Axis Stem Cell Institute, we’re dedicated to helping you enjoy your best life without pain or paralysis impacting your daily life. Your first step is meeting with our experienced team who can give you the most up-to-date information on stem cell treatments and what you can expect. To get started, contact our Seattle, and St. Petersburg office by calling 425-410-4468 or filling out our online form.

What is the purpose of VLF testing ? Very Low Frequency testing, is a type of electrical testing used to assess the insulation of high-voltage cables and electrical equipment. The purpose of VLF testing is to detect any potential weaknesses or defects in the insulation of cables and equipment, which can cause electrical breakdowns and failures. By subjecting the cables and equipment to a high voltage at a low frequency (typically between 0.1 and 0.01 Hz), VLF testing can identify any insulation defects that may not be detected by other testing methods. VLF testing can also help to determine the overall condition of the cable or equipment’s insulation, which can be useful in predicting when maintenance or replacement may be necessary. Overall, VLF testing is a valuable tool for ensuring the reliability and safety of high-voltage electrical systems. Where is used for VLF testing ? VLF testing is primarily used for AC field testing medium and high voltage cable . And it is also very useful for checking the installation quality of cables and accessories such as as splices and terminations. AC field testing of medium and high voltage cables: VLF testing is a non-destructive way to assess the condition of cables and is commonly used to detect insulation weaknesses and cable faults. It is especially useful for medium to high voltage cables, typically ranging from 5 kV to 500 kV. Testing of rotating machinery: VLF testing can also be used to test the insulation systems of rotating machinery such as generators, motors, and transformers. The test is performed by applying a VLF voltage to the winding insulation system and monitoring the resulting current and voltage waveforms. VLF testing is important for checking the installation quality of cables and accessories such as splices and terminations. During the installation process, it is important to ensure that the cable and accessories are installed correctly and that the insulation is sound. Failure to do so can result in reduced performance, shorter lifespan, or even catastrophic failure. For splices and terminations, VLF testing can be used to ensure that the insulation is properly installed and that there are no defects or weak points in the insulation. By applying a VLF voltage to the cable and measuring the resulting current and voltage response, the technician can verify that the splice or termination is properly installed and that the insulation is intact. What are acceptable values for VLF testing? IEEE Std 400-2012: IEEE Guide for Field Testing and Evaluation of the Insulation of Shielded Power Cable Systems Using Very Low Frequency (VLF): This standard provides guidelines for field testing and evaluation of the insulation of shielded power cable systems using VLF. The standard provides recommended test voltages, test procedures, and acceptable testing values for VLF testing. Here are the specific test voltages, test procedures, and acceptable testing values for VLF (Very Low Frequency) testing as outlined in IEEE 400-2012: Test voltages: The recommended test voltages for VLF testing depend on the rated voltage of the cable being tested. The following table provides the recommended test voltages for different cable ratings: Rated voltage: 5 kV – Test voltage: 27 kV Rated voltage: 8 kV – Test voltage: 34 kV Rated voltage: 15 kV – Test voltage: 45 kV Rated voltage: 25 kV – Test voltage: 65 kV Rated voltage: 35 kV – Test voltage: 80 kV Rated voltage: 46 kV – Test voltage: 95 kV Rated voltage: 69 kV – Test voltage: 140 kV Test procedures: The recommended test procedures for VLF testing include applying the test voltage for a duration of 15 minutes and measuring the following parameters: VLF test current VLF withstand voltage Acceptable testing values: The acceptable testing values for VLF testing depend on the rated voltage of the cable being tested. The following table provides the acceptable testing values for different cable ratings: |VLF Test Current |VLF Withstand Voltage |< 10 µF/km |< 1 mA |> 17.5 kV |< 15 µF/km |< 1.5 mA |> 22 kV |< 20 µF/km |< 2 mA |> 33 kV |< 25 µF/km |< 3 mA |> 43 kV |< 30 µF/km |< 4 mA |> 50 kV |< 35 µF/km |< 4.5 mA |> 60 kV |< 40 µF/km |< 5.5 mA |> 90 kV It’s important to note that these values are only recommendations, and actual testing values may vary based on specific testing conditions and equipment used. What is the advantage of vlf testing ? - More Effective at Detecting Insulation Weaknesses One of the main advantages of VLF testing is its effectiveness at detecting insulation weaknesses. VLF testing is capable of detecting partial discharges and withstand voltage breakdowns in cables, which are indicators of potential insulation failures. This makes VLF testing more effective than other testing methods, such as DC testing, which can only detect insulation resistance. 2. Longer Cable Testing Capabilities VLF testing can be used for cable testing over longer distances, making it ideal for testing underground cables or cables in hard-to-reach areas. This is because the VLF testing equipment generates high voltage at a frequency that allows it to penetrate the cable insulation and reach the conductor, regardless of the length of the cable. VLF testing is safer than other testing methods, such as DC testing. This is because VLF testing generates a lower voltage, which reduces the risk of electrical shock. Additionally, VLF testing equipment is designed with safety features such as interlocks and grounding devices to prevent accidents. VLF testing is generally more cost-effective than other testing methods. The equipment required for VLF testing is less expensive than the equipment required for other testing methods, such as DC testing. Additionally, the testing procedure takes less time, which can result in cost savings for the user. 5. Easier to Operate VLF testing equipment is easier to operate than other testing equipment. The testing procedure is simple and can be performed by personnel with minimal training. This reduces the need for highly skilled personnel and can result in cost savings for the user. What is the disadvantage of vlf testing ? 1. Limited Voltage Range VLF testing is limited in terms of the voltage range it can generate. The maximum voltage that can be generated is around 200 kV, which may not be sufficient for some applications. 2. Limited Detection Capability While VLF testing is more effective at detecting insulation weaknesses compared to DC testing, it still has limitations. VLF testing is not capable of detecting all types of insulation weaknesses, and some failures may go undetected. 3. Limited Applicability VLF testing is not suitable for all types of cables. For example, VLF testing may not be effective for cables with high capacitance, such as cables with XLPE (Cross-Linked Polyethylene) insulation. 4. Sensitivity to Moisture VLF testing is sensitive to moisture in the cable insulation. Moisture can cause the cable insulation to break down and lead to false readings during testing. 5. Environmental Impact VLF testing can have an environmental impact due to the use of high voltage. This can lead to electromagnetic interference and can potentially damage nearby electronic devices. Is VLF testing destructive ? VLF testing is generally considered to be non-destructive. It uses a low frequency and voltage to test the insulation of high-voltage cables and equipment, which does not cause any damage to the insulation or the equipment itself. However, it is important to note that VLF testing can potentially uncover existing insulation defects that may require further investigation or repair. In rare cases, if the cable or equipment has pre-existing damage, VLF testing may exacerbate the damage and cause further problems. When you consider to choose a suitable VLF hipot test equipment , Let’s delve deeper into each factor to provide a more detailed understanding of what to consider : Voltage Rating: Ensure that the VLF hipot tester has a voltage rating that matches or exceeds the maximum voltage levels of the systems or components you intend to test. It’s important to select equipment that can handle the required voltage range to ensure accurate and safe testing. Current Capacity: Consider the maximum current output of the VLF hipot tester. This is crucial for testing applications that require high current levels, such as testing larger cables or high-capacity electrical systems. Ensure that the equipment can deliver the necessary current to perform the tests effectively. Frequency Range: Verify that the frequency range of the VLF hipot tester aligns with the specifications of your testing requirements. Different applications may require specific frequency ranges, so it’s important to choose equipment that can generate the desired frequencies for accurate testing. Accuracy: Look for VLF hipot test equipment that offers reliable and precise measurement capabilities. The equipment should provide accurate readings of voltage, current, and other parameters to ensure the integrity of your test results. Consider equipment with built-in calibration features or options for periodic calibration to maintain accuracy over time. Safety Features: Safety is paramount during testing operations. Ensure that the VLF hipot tester includes essential safety features such as overcurrent protection, ground fault detection, emergency stop buttons, and interlocking mechanisms to prevent accidental discharges or harm to operators. Compliance with safety standards, such as IEC 61010, is also important. Portability: Depending on your testing needs, consider whether a portable VLF hipot tester is required for on-site testing or a fixed installation for laboratory or factory environments. Portable testers offer flexibility and ease of transportation, while fixed installations may provide greater stability and integration with existing setups. factory environments. Portable testers offer flexibility and ease of Ease of Use: Look for VLF hipot test equipment with user-friendly interfaces and intuitive controls. Clear displays, easy-to-navigate menus, and well-designed user interfaces can simplify the testing process and reduce the risk of errors. Consider equipment with features like pre-programmed test templates or automated test sequences to streamline operations. Testing Standards Compliance: Ensure that the VLF hipot test equipment complies with relevant industry standards such as IEC, IEEE, or ASTM. Compliance ensures that the equipment meets established quality and performance criteria, giving you confidence in its reliability and accuracy. Support and Service: Consider the availability of technical support, warranty, and maintenance services from the VLF hipot tester manufacturer . KV Hipot Equipment Company will be a good choice to buy a reliable VLF hipot tester . Adequate support and service can help address any issues, provide assistance with equipment setup or troubleshooting, and ensure timely repairs or calibration when needed.Service: Cost: While cost is a significant factor, it should be balanced with the features, quality, and long-term value offered by the VLF hipot test equipment. Evaluate the overall benefits and return on investment the equipment provides, considering factors like durability, accuracy, efficiency, and support services.

Think you can recognize a Jew at a single glance? I doubt it. Many believe they can distinguish a Jew solely by his or her appearance. In reality, the type of Jew classified in such cases is just one particular type in which only a small fraction belongs among a plethora of others. One of the most prominent features of this type of Jew is what has since been commonly referred to as the “Jewish nose.” The “Jewish nose,” characterized by its large size and hooked tip, is thus a genetic myth. Some anthropologists, such as Paul Topinard, have even indexed the “Jewish” or “Semitic” nose into a particular category for being prominent, arched and hooked. Yet, the origins of such a stereotype are curious, since there is no universal truth about Jewish noses. The diaspora scattered Jews across the globe and this mix of Jewish ancestry causes a Jew’s nose to generally vary from population to population. In fact, statistics show that only a minority of Jews have hooked noses, with the predominant Jewish nose being straight. The hooked nose is actually more characteristic of a Roman nose, which post-Enlightenment Western scientists and writers even considered to be a sign of beauty, nobility and power. In Plutarch’s Life of Anatomy, Mark Antony’s aquiline nose is a feature of his esteemed nobility and comparable to that of Hercules. This type of nose is even common among Europeans, especially Slavs, and Middle Easterners, in general to this day. And yet, the description of a Jew’s physical features rarely fails to include a protruding hooked nose. A distinctive Jewish nose first came into play in the second half the twelfth century when Christian artists began to portray the suffering and death of Jesus Christ in art. In these paintings, Jews were illustrated with their heads turned away from Christ’s suffering, and the inclusion of a large, distinctive nose would emphasize the direction of their gaze. It wasn’t until the late 13th century, however, that there was a more consolidated representation of a Jew in art. During the Holocaust, Hitler had high ambitions to formulate and sustain a biologically superior race — the “Aryan” race. Contending that Jews had an inferior genetic makeup, the Nazis went as far as creating a racial science that consisted of measuring skull sizes and nose lengths, and recording eye and hair color. In addition to having features like blonde hair and blue eyes, a smooth and straight nose was characteristic of being a true Aryan. Such a conviction allowed the Nazis to use a Jewish nose as a propaganda tool in an effort to demonize and dehumanize the Jews. As if wearing a yellow Star of David was not enough, Jews were ostracized and set apart from others by their appearance. Haunting caricatures of Jews were passed out as fliers, spread across newspapers and books, and hung on storefront window displays. Der Stürmer, a weekly Nazi newspaper founded by Nazi propagandist Julius Streicher in 1923, was especially potent in obscene caricatures and anti-Semitic libel. The caricatures were straightforward and repetitive to the point where they floated through the subconscious minds of many, almost creating a new reality. Jews were seen as less than human and unnatural, and they were illustrated with the picture of a devil in mind. At the onset of the anti-Semitism associated with the Holocaust, Jewish students were victimized and ridiculed as their teachers pointed out their noses among their other “non-Aryan” characteristics. In Streicher’s children’s book Der Giftpilz from 1938, a student tells his teacher: “One can most easily tell a Jew by his nose. The Jewish nose is bent at its point. It looks like the number six.” Finding faults in physical appearance served as an easy means of discriminating against Jews that would lead to other malicious attacks on their character. Unfortunately, such caricatures are still being produced recently, more prevalently to depict Jewish leaders like Netanyahu. A 2013 cartoon by the British Sunday Times, for instance, sparked controversy as it portrayed Netanyahu with a protruding nose, building a wall with the bodies of Palestinians. The cartoon was deemed wholly anti-Semitic and the Sunday Times apologized for their grotesque cartoon. The attempt by various Jew-haters throughout history to associate such noses with ugliness and filth has infiltrated the minds of many. Society has gone so far as normalizing the overabundance of anti-Semitic jokes regarding a Jew’s nose, and The Racial Slur Database even compares a Jewish nose to that of Pinocchio, or even a mosquito. As if present-day Jews don’t face enough boundaries, why not add facial features into the mix? With the already unattainable standards of beauty projected by our society, the insecurities and stigma accompanying the stereotypical “Jewish nose” are astronomical. The “Jewish nose” fails to adhere to the Western ideals of beauty and immense pressure to conform has led many Jews to undergo plastic surgery. The term has found its way into the vocabulary of many surgeons as a physical deformity, as if it is some kind of medical condition that needs to be treated. The nose job has come to be as customary for a Jewish girl as her bat-mitzvah, and Jacques Joseph of Berlin, the father of the modern nose job, was even a Jew himself. Although this topic proves uncomfortable and sensitive for some, confronting and discussing these issues, rather than ignoring them, can help dispel negative misconceptions and tackle prejudice head on. Eventually, we might be able to change the socially constructed perception of a Jew.

Prairie Creek flows in a south-westerly direction across Daviess County from the Thousand Acre Woods to the West Fork of the White River. In the spring of 1972 a local resident observed mastodon bones exposed in the south creek bed about three miles north of Washington. The find was reported to the Indiana University Glenn Black Laboratory of Archeology in Bloomington. Prairie Creek about three miles north of Washington Curtis H. Tomak, an archaeologist, was sent in 1972 to investigate. He determined the bones in the creek bed were of a mastodon. He also discovered the south bank of the creek was stratified—different layers of sand, silt, and clay deposited over thousands of years—and some of the layers contained well preserved plant and animal remains. The next year Tomak and six IU student volunteers returned to Prairie Creek and made a test excavation. They dug a five cubic foot pit into south bank and segregated 15 strata. Indian artifacts were found in two of the layers and bones of extinct animals (long-nosed peccary and giant beaver) were uncovered in Stratum 7. Tomak wrote a paper, "Prairie Creek: A Stratified Site in Southwestern Indiana" about the excavation that was published in the Indiana Academy of Science (1974). Prairie Creek archaeological dig in 1974 or 1975 More extensive studies at Prairie Creek were conducted in 1974 and 1975 by Dr. Patrick J. Munson, an IU anthropology professor, and IU undergraduate students. In a 1974 article published in the Indianapolis Star, Dr. Munson said he and the students worked daily for six weeks and uncovered 100,000 animal bones, 500 pounds of wood, and artifacts made by humans. No human bones were found, but Dr. Munson concluded small bands of Paleo Indians hunted and fished in and around Prairie Creek 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Dr. Munson called the materials found at the Prairie Creek dig “a gold mine of scientific data.” “There is nothing comparable to this site in the eastern United States” he said. Prairie Creek is recognized as a leading archaeological site. In 1975 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1974 newspaper article about the Prairie Creek study This article was compiled by Bruce Smith, a member of the Daviess County Historian Team.

Breast cancer occurs when breast cells develop mutations and begin to divide and multiply. People may first notice a lump in the breast, discoloration, texture changes, or other symptoms. Cancer occurs when changes called mutations take place in genes that regulate cell growth. The mutations let the cells divide and multiply in an uncontrolled way. Breast cancer is cancer that develops in breast cells. Typically, the cancer forms in either the lobules or the ducts of the breast. Lobules are the glands that produce milk, and ducts are the pathways that bring the milk from the glands to the nipple. Cancer can also occur in the fatty tissue or the fibrous connective tissue within your breast. The uncontrolled cancer cells often invade other healthy breast tissue and can travel to the lymph nodes under the arms. Once the cancer enters the lymph nodes, it has access to a pathway to move to other parts of the body. In its early stages, breast cancer may not cause any symptoms. In many cases, a tumor may be too small to be felt, but an abnormality can still be seen on a mammogram. If a tumor can be felt, the first sign is usually a new lump in the breast that was not there before. However, not all lumps are cancer. Each type of breast cancer can cause a variety of symptoms. Many of these symptoms are similar, but some can be different. Symptoms for the most common breast cancers include: - a breast lump or tissue thickening that feels different from surrounding tissue and is new - breast pain - red or discolored, pitted skin on the breast - swelling in all or part of your breast - a nipple discharge other than breast milk - bloody discharge from your nipple - peeling, scaling, or flaking of skin on your nipple or breast - a sudden, unexplained change in the shape or size of your breast - inverted nipple - changes to the appearance of the skin on your breasts - a lump or swelling under your arm If you have any of these symptoms, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have breast cancer. For instance, pain in your breast or a breast lump can be caused by a benign cyst. Still, if you find a lump in your breast or have other symptoms, contact your doctor for further examination and testing. There are several types of breast cancer, and they’re broken into two main categories: invasive and noninvasive. Noninvasive breast cancer is also known as breast cancer in situ. While invasive cancer has spread from the breast ducts or glands to other parts of the breast, noninvasive cancer has not spread from the original tissue. These two categories are used to describe the most common types of breast cancer, which include: - Ductal carcinoma in situ. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive condition. With DCIS, the cancer cells are confined to the ducts in your breast and haven’t invaded the surrounding breast tissue. - Lobular carcinoma in situ. Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is cancer that grows in the milk-producing glands of your breast. Like DCIS, the cancer cells haven’t invaded the surrounding tissue. - Invasive ductal carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type of breast cancer. This type of breast cancer begins in your breast’s milk ducts and then invades nearby tissue in the breast. Once the breast cancer has spread to the tissue outside your milk ducts, it can begin to spread to other nearby organs and tissue. - Invasive lobular carcinoma. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) first develops in your breast’s lobules and has invaded nearby tissue. Other, less common types of breast cancer include: - Paget disease of the nipple. This type of breast cancer begins in the ducts of the nipple, but as it grows, it begins to affect the skin and areola of the nipple. - Phyllodes tumor. This very rare type of breast cancer grows in the connective tissue of the breast. Most of these tumors are benign, but some are cancerous. - Angiosarcoma. This is cancer that grows on the blood vessels or lymph vessels in the breast. The type of cancer you have helps guide your treatment options and long-term outcome. Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), IBC makes up only With this condition, cells block the lymph nodes near the breasts, so the lymph vessels in the breast can’t properly drain. Instead of creating a tumor, IBC causes your breast to swell, look red, and feel very warm. Your breast may appear pitted and thick, like an orange peel. IBC can be very aggressive and can progress quickly. For this reason, it’s important to contact your doctor right away if you notice any symptoms. Triple-negative breast cancer is another rare disease type. It affects only about To be diagnosed as triple-negative breast cancer, a tumor must have all three of the following characteristics: - It lacks estrogen receptors. These are receptors on the cells that bind, or attach, to the hormone estrogen. If a tumor has estrogen receptors, estrogen can stimulate the cancer to grow. - It lacks progesterone receptors. These receptors are cells that bind to the hormone progesterone. If a tumor has progesterone receptors, progesterone can stimulate the cancer to grow. - It doesn’t have additional human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) proteins on its surface. HER2 is a protein that fuels breast cancer growth. If a tumor meets these three criteria, it’s labeled triple-negative breast cancer. This type of breast cancer tends to grow and spread more quickly than other types of breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancers are difficult to treat because hormonal therapy for breast cancer is not effective. Doctors divide breast cancer into stages based on the size of the tumor and how much it has spread. Cancers that are large or have invaded nearby tissues or organs are at a higher stage than cancers that are small or still contained in the breast. To stage breast cancer, doctors need to know: - if the cancer is invasive or noninvasive - how large the tumor is - whether the lymph nodes are involved - if the cancer has spread to nearby tissue or organs Breast cancer has five main stages: stages 0 to 4. Stage 0 breast cancer Stage 0 is DCIS. Cancer cells in DCIS remain confined to the ducts in the breast and have not spread into nearby tissue. Stage 1 breast cancer - Stage 1A. The primary tumor is 2 centimeters (cm) wide or less. The lymph nodes are not affected. - Stage 1B. Cancer is found in nearby lymph nodes. Either there is no tumor in the breast, or the tumor is smaller than 2 cm. Stage 2 breast cancer - Stage 2A. The tumor is smaller than 2 cm and has spread to 1 to 3 nearby lymph nodes, or it’s between 2 and 5 cm and hasn’t spread to any lymph nodes. - Stage 2B. The tumor is between 2 and 5 cm and has spread to 1 to 3 axillary (armpit) lymph nodes, or it’s larger than 5 cm and hasn’t spread to any lymph nodes. Stage 3 breast cancer - Stage 3A. - The cancer has spread to 4 to 9 axillary lymph nodes or has enlarged the internal mammary lymph nodes. The primary tumor can be any size. - Tumors are greater than 5 cm. The cancer has spread to 1 to 3 axillary lymph nodes or any breastbone nodes. - Stage 3B. A tumor has invaded the chest wall or skin and may or may not have invaded up to 9 lymph nodes. - Stage 3C. Cancer is found in 10 or more axillary lymph nodes, lymph nodes near the collarbone, or internal mammary nodes. Stage 4 breast cancer (metastatic breast cancer) Stage 4 breast cancer can have a tumor of any size. Its cancer cells have spread to nearby and distant lymph nodes as well as distant organs. The testing your doctor does will determine the stage of your breast cancer, which will affect your treatment. Although they generally have less of it, men have breast tissue just like women do. Men can develop breast cancer too, but it’s much rarer. According to the That said, the breast cancer that men develop is just as serious as the breast cancer that women develop. It also has the same symptoms. If you’re a man, follow the same monitoring instructions as women and report any changes to breast tissue or new lumps to your doctor. Breast cancer survival rates vary widely based on many factors. Two of the most important factors are the type of cancer you have and the stage of the cancer at the time you receive a diagnosis. Other factors that may play a role include: - your age - your gender - your race - the growth rate of the cancer The good news is breast cancer survival rates are improving. According to the The 5-year survival rates for breast cancer differ depending on the stage at diagnosis. They range from 99 percent for localized early stage cancers to 27 percent for advanced metastatic cancers. To determine if your symptoms are caused by breast cancer or a benign breast condition, your doctor will do a thorough physical exam in addition to a breast exam. They may also request one or more diagnostic tests to help understand what’s causing your symptoms. Tests that can help your doctor diagnose breast cancer include: - Mammogram. The most common way to see below the surface of your breast is with an imaging test called a mammogram. Many women ages 40 and older get annual mammograms to check for breast cancer. If your doctor suspects you may have a tumor or suspicious spot, they will also request a mammogram. If an atypical area is seen on your mammogram, your doctor may request additional tests. - Ultrasound. A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of the tissues deep in your breast. An ultrasound can help your doctor distinguish between a solid mass, such as a tumor, and a benign cyst. Your doctor may also suggest tests such as an MRI or a breast biopsy. If you don’t already have a primary care doctor, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool. If your doctor suspects breast cancer based on tests like a mammogram or an ultrasound, they may do a test called a breast biopsy. During this test, your doctor will remove a tissue sample from the suspicious area to have it tested. There are several types of breast biopsies. With some of these tests, your doctor uses a needle to take the tissue sample. With others, they make an incision in your breast and then remove the sample. Your doctor will send the tissue sample to a laboratory. If the sample tests positive for cancer, the lab can test it further to tell your doctor what type of cancer you have. Your breast cancer’s stage, how far it has invaded (if it has), and how big the tumor has grown all play a large part in determining what kind of treatment you’ll need. To start, your doctor will determine your cancer’s size, stage, and grade. Your cancer’s grade describes how likely it is to grow and spread. After that, you can discuss your treatment options. Surgery is the most common treatment for breast cancer. Many people have additional treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation, or hormone therapy. Several types of surgery may be used to remove breast cancer, including: - Lumpectomy. This procedure removes the tumor and some surrounding tissue, leaving the rest of the breast intact. - Mastectomy. In this procedure, a surgeon removes an entire breast. In a double mastectomy, they remove both breasts. - Sentinel node biopsy. This surgery removes a few of the lymph nodes that receive drainage from the tumor. These lymph nodes will be tested. If they don’t have cancer, you may not need additional surgery to remove more lymph nodes. - Axillary lymph node dissection. If lymph nodes removed during a sentinel node biopsy contain cancer cells, your doctor may remove additional lymph nodes. - Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Even though breast cancer may be present in only one breast, some people elect to have a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. This surgery removes your healthy breast to lower your risk of developing breast cancer again. With radiation therapy, high-powered beams of radiation are used to target and kill cancer cells. Most radiation treatments use external beam radiation. This technique uses a large machine on the outside of the body. Advances in cancer treatment have also enabled doctors to irradiate cancer from inside the body. According to Breastcancer.org, this type of radiation treatment is called brachytherapy. To conduct brachytherapy, surgeons place radioactive seeds, or pellets, inside the body near the tumor site. The seeds stay there for a short period of time and work to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is a drug treatment used to destroy cancer cells. Some people may undergo chemotherapy on its own, but this type of treatment is often used along with other treatments, especially surgery. Some people will have surgery first followed by other treatments, such as chemo or radiation. This is called adjuvant therapy. Others may have chemotherapy first to shrink the cancer, called neoadjuvant therapy, then surgery. In some cases, doctors prefer to give chemotherapy before surgery. The hope is that the treatment will shrink the tumor, and then the surgery will not need to be as invasive. Chemotherapy has many unwanted side effects, so discuss your concerns with your doctor before starting treatment. If your type of breast cancer is sensitive to hormones, your doctor may start you on hormone therapy. Estrogen and progesterone, two female hormones, can stimulate the growth of breast cancer tumors. Hormone therapy works by blocking your body’s production of these hormones or by blocking the hormone receptors on the cancer cells. This action can help slow and possibly stop the growth of your cancer. Certain treatments are designed to attack specific irregularities or mutations within cancer cells. For example, Herceptin (trastuzumab) can block your body’s production of the HER2 protein. HER2 helps breast cancer cells grow, so taking a medication to slow the production of this protein may help slow cancer growth. Your doctor will tell you more about any specific treatment they recommend for you. Breast cancer can cause a range of symptoms, and these symptoms can appear differently in different people. If you’re concerned about a spot or change in your breast, it can be helpful to know what breast problems that are actually cancer look like. If you detect an unusual lump or spot in your breast or have any other symptoms of breast cancer, make an appointment to visit your doctor. Chances are good that it’s not breast cancer. For instance, there are many other potential causes for breast lumps. But if your problem does turn out to be cancer, keep in mind that early treatment is the key. Early stage breast cancer can often be treated and cured if found quickly enough. The longer breast cancer can grow, the more difficult treatment becomes. If you’ve already received a breast cancer diagnosis, keep in mind that cancer treatments continue to improve, as do outcomes. So follow your treatment plan and try to stay positive. According to the According to the There are several risk factors that increase your chances of getting breast cancer. However, having any of these doesn’t mean you will definitely develop the disease. Some risk factors can’t be avoided, such as family history. You can change other risk factors, such as smoking. Risk factors for breast cancer include: - Age. Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you age. Most invasive breast cancers are found in women over 55 years old. - Drinking alcohol. Alcohol use disorder raises your risk. - Having dense breast tissue. Dense breast tissue makes mammograms hard to read. It also increases your risk of breast cancer. - Gender. According to the ACS, white women are 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer than white men, and Black women are 70 times more likely to develop breast cancer than Black men. - Genes. People who have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are more likely to develop breast cancer than people who don’t. Other gene mutations may also affect your risk. - Early menstruation. If you had your first period before you were 12 years old, you have an increased risk of breast cancer. - Giving birth at an older age. People who have their first child after 35 years old have an increased risk of breast cancer. - Hormone therapy. People who took or are taking postmenopausal estrogen and progesterone medications to help reduce their signs of menopause symptoms have a higher risk of breast cancer. - Inherited risk. If a close female relative has had breast cancer, you have an increased risk of developing it. This includes your mother, grandmother, sister, or daughter. If you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, you can still develop breast cancer. In fact, most people who develop it have no family history of the disease. - Late menopause start. People who start menopause after they’re 55 years old are more likely to develop breast cancer. - Never having been pregnant. People who have never become pregnant or carried a pregnancy to full term are more likely to develop breast cancer. - Previous breast cancer. If you have had breast cancer in one breast, you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in your other breast or in a different area of the previously affected breast. While there are risk factors you can’t control, following a healthy lifestyle, getting regular screenings, and taking any preventive measures your doctor recommends can help lower your risk of developing breast cancer. Lifestyle factors can affect your risk of breast cancer. For instance, people who have obesity have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Maintaining a nutrient-dense diet and getting regular exercise as often as possible could help you lose weight and lower your risk. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, alcohol misuse also increases your risk. This can be having more than two drinks per day or binge-drinking. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about what amount they recommend for you. Breast cancer screening Having regular mammograms may not prevent breast cancer, but it can help reduce the chance that it will go undetected. The American College of Physicians (ACP) provides the following general recommendations for women at average risk of breast cancer: - Women ages 40 to 49. An annual mammogram isn’t recommended, but discuss your preferences with your doctor. - Women ages 50 to 74. A mammogram every other year is recommended. - Women 75 years and older. Mammograms are no longer recommended. The ACP also recommends against mammograms for women with a life expectancy of 10 years or less. These are only guidelines. Recommendations from the - have the option of receiving annual screenings at 40 years old - begin annual screenings at 45 years old - move to screening every other year at 55 years old Specific recommendations for mammograms are different for everyone, so talk with your doctor to see if you should get regular mammograms. You may have an increased risk of breast cancer due to hereditary factors. For instance, if your parent has a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, you’re at higher risk of having it as well. This significantly raises your risk of breast cancer. If you’re at risk for this mutation, talk with your doctor about your diagnostic and prophylactic treatment options. You may want to be tested to find out whether you have the mutation. And if you learn that you do have it, talk with your doctor about any preemptive steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. These steps could include a prophylactic mastectomy, or surgical removal of a breast. You may also consider chemoprophylaxis, or taking medication, such as Tamoxifen, to potentially reduce your breast cancer risk. In addition to mammograms, breast exams are another way to watch for signs of breast cancer. Many people do a breast self-examination. It’s best to do this exam once per month, at the same time each month. The exam can help you become familiar with how your breasts usually look and feel so that you’re aware of any changes that occur. Keep in mind, though, that the Breast exam by your doctor The same guidelines for self-exams provided above are true for breast exams done by your doctor or other healthcare professional. They won’t hurt you, and your doctor may do a breast exam during your annual visit. If you’re having symptoms that concern you, it’s a good idea to have your doctor do a breast exam. During the exam, your doctor will check both of your breasts for abnormal spots or signs of breast cancer. Your doctor may also check other parts of your body to see if the symptoms you’re having could be related to another condition. People around the world are increasingly aware of the issues associated with breast cancer. Breast cancer awareness efforts have helped people learn: - what their risk factors are - how they can reduce their level of risk - what symptoms they should look for - what kinds of screening they should be getting Breast Cancer Awareness Month is held each October, but many people spread the word throughout the year.

Simply put, it shows the length of time it would have taken for an attacking bomber to fly from the coast to London (in blue) -- call it the crossing time -- and the time it would take taken for a defending fighter to climb high enough to intercept (in red) -- call it the intercept time. And how these changed over time, obviously. As can be seen, the fighters generally had enough time to climb high enough to intercept the bombers before they got to London, but the margin decreased over time, from 15 or so minutes during the First World War, to less than 5 in the Second. But all this is not straightforward so I'll explain further. To begin with, the data is slightly dodgy. It's mostly drawn from the same source as this, which is fine as far as it goes. But that means that I'm showing how long it would have taken British bombers to penetrate from the coast to London, which was not really a great worry. Having said that, it's probably reasonable to assume that the performance of British bombers was roughly in line with those used by Continental air forces. (And the RAF's own air defence exercises had to make this assumption, too, because borrowing somebody else's air force for a day wasn't feasible.) One day I'll create a dataset for European aircraft ... How are the numbers derived? First, the bombers (blue). This is just the distance from the coast to London divided by each bomber's maximum speed (which is not necessarily realistic). Why the coast? Because it was only when the incoming raiders crossed the coast that they could be detected by ground observers, and fighters dispatched to intercept them. 1 What is the distance from the coast to London? Well, obviously it varies, depending on which direction the enemy came from (and some writers expressed fears that they would fly up the Thames Estuary and avoid detection). Looking at a map, 50 miles seems like a reasonable approximation. Next, the fighters (red). The time it takes for a fighter to climb meet the bombers is the height of the raid divided by the climb rate of each fighter. This climb rate is a bit of a problem. I don't a good source for this number and had to plunder Wikipedia. That's bad enough in itself, but it's worse because the data is inconsistent. Sometimes -- when it's not missing -- it's expressed in feet per minute, and sometimes in the number of minutes to reach a given height. Obviously one can be turned into the other, but actually both are only approximations, and I've had to extrapolate and interpolate from these to get a usable number. 2 What height would the bombers be at? Well, that varied -- it was higher on average during the Second World War than in the First because aircraft were more capable, and also because bombers tried to climb higher to escape the fighters. I've assumed that this height was 10000 ft in the 1910s, 15000 ft in the 1920s, 20000 ft in the 1930s, and 25000 ft in the 1940s. 3 I just plucked these numbers out of the air, more or less, but they seem to work well in terms of keeping the red and blue trends in touch with each other. If anything they are probably underestimates. Some other points. Firstly, the fighters would generally have to move horizontally to intercept the bombers, as well as vertically. This plot says nothing about that. But given the edge fighters had in speed and the location of their aerodromes, they should be able to cover that distance while climbing. Secondly, the data points are for the year each aircraft entered into RAF service. But since they remained in service for several year, at least, the data points should really be horizontal lines. 4 Thirdly, I'm assuming a perfect command, control, communications and intelligence system. Fighter Command (and its predecessors) was good, but it still took a finite but non-zero amount of time for sightings to be reported, sifted, collated and reported, and then for squadrons to be allocated, given orders, and take off. Also there was a chance that raids might not be observed, that squadrons could be given the wrong vector, that the enemy could be missed in cloud -- so the greater the gap between the red data points and the blue ones the better. The more inefficient Fighter Command, the narrower the margin for error. 5 Now we can show what difference radar made. The Chain Home system came into operation in 1939 and had an effective range of 120 miles. What this means here is that instead of only having to cross 50 miles from the coast to London after being detected by the observers on the coast, the bombers now had to cross 170 miles after being detected. As the above plot shows, this pushed up the crossing time dramatically: from 1939, the defenders could generally expect to have around 40 minutes' warning of any raids. The margin for error increased dramatically, from only 5 minutes or less, to more than half an hour, which is far better. In theory, the defending fighter squadrons would now have plenty of time to get in position before the enemy arrived. Of course, that's not the whole battle, but it's a good start! Lastly, here's a counterfactual which I've long wondered about. Between 1933 and 1935, the Air Ministry put a fair amount of effort into researching the feasibility of using acoustic mirrors as a comprehensive early warning system. The acoustic mirrors were, mostly, concrete hemispheric dishes for focusing sound, which had been used as early as 1916. The biggest ones, at Dungeness in Kent and Maghtab in Malta, were 200 feet long curved walls. Land was actually purchased along the Thames Estuary for the beginnings of a national acoustic mirror system, but work never started because radar came along. But if it hadn't, then in 1940 Fighter Command might have relied upon a network of these acoustic mirrors all along the coast. 6 How useful would they have been? The experimental mirrors had a maximum detection range of 22 miles (on very windy days it was a lot less). I'll be generous and call it 25 miles, which is then added to the 50 miles from the coast to London for a total distance of 75 miles. The Thames Estuary acoustic mirrors probably would have come online in 1936, and so again I'll be generous, and assume that London at least would have a working early warning system from that year. Taking all this into account, the results can be seen above. And sadly the acoustic mirrors wouldn't have made much difference -- a margin of only about 10 minutes, not much improved on the 5 minutes with no warning system. Of course, even a few minutes' extra warning was worth having, but the Air Ministry was right to terminate development of the acoustic mirror network in order to concentrate on the far more promising radar. John Ferris has argued against the idea that 'Air defence in Britain began during 1934 and only because radar was developed', and that the importance of the C3I system -- ultimately a legacy of the First World War -- has been underestimated by historians: it was 'ideally preadapted to radar'. 7 And he's right. Even without effective early warning, as long as the enemy bombers could be intercepted and shot down on their way back home, air defence could still work by inflicting prohibitive casualties. Except, that is, when the casualties from bombing were predicted to be massive, and then a failure to stop the bomber getting through would have devastating consequences. Radar was part of the antidote to the fear of the knock-out blow. Or rather it could have been, if it hadn't remained secret until 1941 ... (Just to repeat: the data and assumptions underlying these plots are on the dubious side, and are not fit for any purpose, probably including this one!) This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://airminded.org/copyright/. - I'm neglecting radar, obviously, but see below. I'm also neglecting the fact that sound detectors, of the type that had been developed during the First World War, had a range of about 5 miles. But see even further below. Distant patrol aircraft were also used as a kind of picket line. - What I really need are curves showing climbing time vs. height because the higher an aeroplane flies, the harder it is to climb in the thin air. I assume these are available somewhere, but digging them up is too much work for a quick and dirty plot like this! - Fighters got a lot better at climbing very rapidly by the late 1940s, but as that happens I'm shifting the goalposts ever higher, as it were, and so the above graph is understating the rate of climb of fighters. - E.g., the two red triangles in the late 1930s are the Hurricane and Spitfire, which between them were the RAF's primary interceptors throughout the war. This plot makes it look like there wasn't anything able to catch raiders in 1940, which was not the case! - I could model this inefficiency by adding a fixed number of minutes to the climb time of the fighters -- call it the response time -- but I don't know what a reasonable number is and it might vary a fair bit. For instance, in 1918 LADA (London Air Defence Area) had a response time of 2.5 to 5 minutes, according to John Ferris, Fighter defence before Fighter Command: the rise of strategic air defence in Great Britain, 1917-1934, Journal of Military History 63 (1999), 853 (JSTOR). But it presumably rose after LADA was dismantled after the war. David Zimmerman, Britain's Shield: Radar and the Defeat of the Luftwaffe (Stroud: Sutton, 2001), 25, seems to suggest that 5 minutes was the time it took in 1933 just to transmit observations to ADGB (Air Defence of Great Britain) HQ, but that's for the big acoustic mirrors which probably required more computation than normal acoustic detectors. So, pending more comprehensive figures, I'll just leave the response time out of it. - See ibid., chapter 2, for more on the acoustic mirror research of the 1930s. - Ferris, ibid., 845, 884.

The remains of a major new prehistoric stone monument have been discovered less than three kilometres from Stonehenge. Using cutting edge, multi-sensor technologies the Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project has revealed evidence for a large stone monument hidden beneath the bank of the later Durrington Walls ‘super-henge’. The findings were announced on the first day of the British Science Festival (07 September), hosted this year at the University of Bradford. Durrington Walls is one of the largest known henge monuments measuring 500m in diameter and thought to have been built around 4,500 years ago. Measuring more than 1.5 kilometres in circumference, it is surrounded by a ditch up to 17.6m wide and an outer bank c.40m wide and surviving up to a height of 1 metre. The henge surrounds several smaller enclosures and timber circles and is associated with a recently excavated later Neolithic settlement. The Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project team, using non-invasive geophysical prospection and remote sensing technologies, has now discovered evidence for a row of up to 100 standing stones, some of which may have originally measured up to 4.5 metres in height. Many of these stones have survived because they were pushed over and the massive bank of the later henge raised over the recumbent stones or the pits in which they stood. Hidden for millennia, only the use of cutting edge technologies has allowed archaeologists to reveal their presence without the need for excavation. At Durrington, more than 4,500 years ago, a natural depression near the river Avon appears to have been accentuated by a chalk cut scarp and then delineated on the southern side by the row of massive stones. Essentially forming a C-shaped ‘arena’, the monument may have surrounded traces of springs and a dry valley leading from there into the Avon. Although none of the stones have yet been excavated a unique sarsen standing stone, “The Cuckoo Stone”, remains in the adjacent field and this suggests that other stones may have come from local sources. Previous, intensive study of the area around Stonehenge had led archaeologists to believe that only Stonehenge and a smaller henge at the end of the Stonehenge Avenue possessed significant stone structures. The latest surveys now provide evidence that Stonehenge’s largest neighbour, Durrington Walls, had an earlier phase which included a large row of standing stones probably of local origin and that the context of the preservation of these stones is exceptional and the configuration unique to British archaeology. This new discovery has significant implications for our understanding of Stonehenge and its landscape setting. The earthwork enclosure at Durrington Walls was built about a century after the Stonehenge sarsen circle (in the 27th century BC), but the new stone row could well be contemporary with or earlier than this. Not only does this new evidence demonstrate an early phase of monumental architecture at one of the greatest ceremonial sites in prehistoric Europe, it also raises significant questions about the landscape the builders of Stonehenge inhabited and how they changed this with new monument-building during the 3rd millennium BC. The Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project is an international collaboration between the University of Birmingham and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology (LBI ArchPro) and led by Professor Wolfgang Neubauer and Professor Vincent Gaffney (University of Bradford). As part of the project, experts from many different fields and institutions have been examining the area around Stonehenge revealing new and previously known sites in unprecedented detail and transforming our knowledge of this iconic landscape. “Our high resolution ground penetrating radar data has revealed an amazing row of up to 90 standing stones a number of which have survived after being pushed over and a massive bank placed over the stones. In the east up to 30 stones, measuring up to size of 4.5 m x 1.5 x 1 m, have survived below the bank whereas elsewhere the stones are fragmentary or represented by massive foundation pits,” says Professor Neubauer, director of the LBI ArchPro. “This discovery of a major new stone monument, which has been preserved to a remarkable extent, has significant implications for our understanding of Stonehenge and its landscape setting. Not only does this new evidence demonstrate a completely unexpected phase of monumental architecture at one of the greatest ceremonial sites in prehistoric Europe, the new stone row could well be contemporary with the famous Stonehenge sarsen circle or even earlier,” explains Professor Gaffney. “The extraordinary scale, detail and novelty of the evidence produced by the Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project, which the new discoveries at Durrington Walls exemplify, is changing fundamentally our understanding of Stonehenge and the world around it. Everything written previously about the Stonehenge landscape and the ancient monuments within it will need to be re-written,” says Paul Garwood, Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Birmingham, and the principal prehistorian on the project. Dr Nick Snashall, National Trust Archaeologist for the Avebury and Stonehenge World Heritage Site, said: “The Stonehenge landscape has been studied by antiquaries and archaeologists for centuries. But the work of the Hidden Landscapes team is revealing previously unsuspected twists in its age-old tale. These latest results have produced tantalising evidence of what lies beneath the ancient earthworks at Durrington Walls. The presence of what appear to be stones, surrounding the site of one of the largest Neolithic settlements in Europe adds a whole new chapter to the Stonehenge story.” Dr Phil McMahon of Historic England said: “The World Heritage Site around Stonehenge has been the focus of extensive archaeological research for at least two centuries. However this new research by the Hidden Landscapes Project is providing exciting new insights into the archaeology within it. This latest work has given us intriguing evidence for previously unknown features buried beneath the banks of the massive henge monument at Durrington Walls. The possibility that these features are stones raises fascinating questions about the history and development of this monument, and its relationship to the hugely important Neolithic settlement contained within it.”

What Is Hypertonicity? 21 August 2017 | Admin If movement of the wrist is involuntary, such as when caused by muscle spasm, it is possible that the development of hypertonia has occurred. This results in a condition known as hypertonicity, which can affect muscles at different points throughout the body. Hypertonicity can vary in severity, and may surface as a result of injury or an underlying condition. By becoming more aware of the causes and symptoms of hypertonicity, it will be possible to consider the different approaches to treating the condition. To ease this understanding, we have compiled this short guide to what hypertonicity is, what causes it, and how it can be treated. What Is Hypertonicity? Hypertonicity is the term used to describe the effects of hypertonia, which is caused by upper motor neuron lesions. Hypertonicity occurs when there is an increase in muscle tone to an abnormal rigidity. The reverse of this, where muscles become too weak, is known as hypotonia. This sudden rise in tension as the muscle involuntarily contracts causes an immediate flexion or extension to the affected joint. In the case of wrist hypertonicity, this appears as a muscle spasm, causing the hand and wrist to move unexpectedly as if jolting as a result of a shock. Who Can Develop Hypertonicity? Hypertonicity is often a symptom of such conditions as cerebral palsy, where the joints provide jerking movements as a result of stiff muscles. Injury to the spinal cord can also cause hypertonicity to manifest, as spinal cord damage can result in upper motor neuron lesions, which in turn signals hypertonicity as a result of an exaggerated reflex. Anybody who suffers a stroke is also susceptible to hypertonicity, particularly in the arms, as a result of the muscles suddenly becoming and remaining tight. Hypertonicity can also occur over time, such as when athletes train the same muscles repeatedly; in such cases, hypertonicity can become the default position for the muscles as they accept the repeated contraction actions as their new norm. While treatment can take place for both sudden and gradual cases of hypertonicity, each condition will respond differently to various treatments, and so it is imperative that the right approach is taken. How Can I Treat Hypertonicity? The required treatment(s) for hypertonicity of the wrist will depend on both the severity of the condition and the preferences of the individual. While it is possible to overcome certain cases of hypertonicity, more severe hypertonia will best be controlled and managed with ongoing treatment and support. Stretching the Joints By slowly stretching the joints, a healthier joint range of motion may be encouraged. Stretching can be performed on children and infants by a clinician, helping to train the muscles from a young age where hypertonicity is present from birth. Stretching as part of physiotherapy can also help to reduce motor neuron excitability, which in turn may improve control of muscle contractions. Massaging the Muscles A typically more relaxing approach to reducing the effects of hypertonia is to massage the muscles. Massages such as deep tissue massage can help to treat hypertonic muscles, encouraging them to relax and refrain from tensing up in contraction. Although massaging the muscles does not generally restore the muscles to their previous state before hypertonia, it can help to ease the discomfort associated with hypertonicity while other treatment occurs. Supporting the Wrist Wearing a wrist support is a non-invasive approach to providing both control of and compression for a hypertonic wrist. With a range of suitable wrist supports available, it is possible to support varying degrees of hypertonicity, depending on individual requirements and preferences.

In May 1845, the HMS Terror set off in search for the elusive Northwest Passage. It wasn't seen again for 175 years. In 1845, seasoned naval commander Sir John Franklin set out to find the Northwest Passage aboard two ships, the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus. The Terror, in particular, was quite an impressive ship. She was initially built as a bomb vessel and participated in multiple skirmishes in the War of 1812. When it came time to guide Sir Franklin on his venture north, both ships were substantially reinforced with iron plating capable of crushing through the Arctic ice. But despite their hardiness, both the Terror and Erebus disappeared with the crew of the Franklin expedition shortly after setting sail. It would be another 170 years before anyone saw Erebus and Terror again, but this time, they were at the bottom of an Arctic bay. Historians have since attempted to piece together their final days — and they include a grueling mixture of lead poisoning, starvation, and cannibalization, before mysteriously becoming shipwrecked. The Terror Embarks On The Franklin Expedition In May 1845, accomplished Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin was selected by the English Royal Navy to locate the lucrative Northwest Passage. All the world’s major powers had long searched for the trade route, which was a shortcut to Asia through the Arctic. This would not be Terror‘s first Arctic expedition. She ventured to the Arctic first in 1836 and then to the Antarctic in 1843. Even before this, Terror had garnered an impressive resume. Launched in 1813, Terror famously saw action in the War of 1812 and even participated in the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that eventually became “The Star-Spangled Banner.” By all accounts, Terror was prepared to brave Franklin’s expedition and both she and her sister ship, Erebus, were consequently equipped with robust, iron-layered hulls and steam engines. These were among the most scientific equipment available at the time. Both ships were also stocked with three years’ worth of food. Together they carried 134 men, though five were discharged within the first three months of the venture. The Terror and Erebus together carried 32,000 pounds of preserved meat, 1,000 pounds of raisins, and 580 gallons of pickles. The ships made two stops in Scotland’s Orkney Islands and then in Greenland before they set course for Arctic Canada. The very last time anyone saw either the HMS Terror or its sister ship was in July 1845 when two whaling vessels spotted them cross from Greenland to Canada’s Baffin Island. The next time the Terror was seen was at the bottom of an Arctic bay. The Final Days Aboard Erebus And Terror What happened after the HMS Terror set its course for Baffin Island remains largely a mystery, but most researchers would agree that both ships became trapped in the ice off King William Island on Sept. 12, 1846, and a desperate crew disembarked to find help. According to an 1848 letter found under a cairn in Canada’s Victoria Point in 1859, the ships had already been locked in ice for more than a year and a half. The letter was written by a man named Francis Crozier who had taken command of the Terror after Franklin perished. He stated that 24 men were already dead, including Franklin, and that all the survivors planned to walk to a remote fur-trading outpost hundreds of miles away. None of them completed the treacherous journey. Meanwhile, the British Royal Navy had dispatched dozens of search parties soon after the ships disappeared, but it would be another 170 years before anyone found the Terror and its sister ship. But in 1850, American and British search parties were stunned to find three unmarked graves on an uninhabited bit of land named Beechey Island. They were dated 1846. An even bigger discovery was made four years later when Scottish explorer John Rae met a group of Inuits in Pelly Bay who had some of the belongings of the Franklin crew. The Inuits explained that there were piles of human bones scattered around the area. Many of these skeletal remains were cracked in half which suggested that Franklin’s men likely resorted to cannibalism before they froze to death. Then, in the 1980s and 1990s, researchers discovered knife marks on additional skeletal remains that were found on King William Island. This all but confirmed that after disembarking the Terror, a starving crew murdered and dismembered their peers before eating them and extracting their bone marrow. In 1984, anthropologist Owen Beattie exhumed one of the bodies buried on Beechey Island and found a pristinely preserved member of the expedition named John Torrington. According to letters from the crew, the 20-year-old died on Jan. 1, 1846, and was buried in five feet of permafrost. Torrington was lucky, nothing in his autopsy report suggested that he was one of the crew members to fall victim to cannibalism. His milky-blue eyes were still open when he was found. Experts also found that his body was kept warm after he died, likely by a crew still capable enough to conduct a proper burial. Torrington’s 88-pound body suggested that he was malnourished before he died and he contained deadly levels of lead. Because of this, researchers began to believe that the crew’s food supply had been poorly canned and likely poisoned all 129 of Franklin’s remaining men with lead on some level. The three corpses found on Beechey Island remain buried there to this day. Rediscovery And Continued Research In 2014, the HMS Erebus was discovered in 36 feet of water off King William Island. Two years later, the Terror was located in a bay 45 miles away in 80 feet of water off the coast of King William Island in Canada’s aptly-named Terror Bay. In 2019, Parks Canada archaeologists sent underwater drones to explore the ship — and made a startling discovery. “The ship is amazingly intact,” said lead archaeologist Ryan Harris. “You look at it and find it hard to believe this is a 170-year-old shipwreck. You just don’t see this kind of thing very often. Why the ships separated and then sank remains a mystery today. “There’s no obvious reason for Terror to have sunk,” said Harris. “It wasn’t crushed by ice, and there’s no breach in the hull. Yet it appears to have sunk swiftly and suddenly and settled gently to the bottom. What happened?” With the help of local Inuits, the Parks Canada team was able to conduct seven dives in 2019 to create a 3D map of the Terror. The crew sent remote-operated drones into the ship through the main hatchway, the crew cabin skylights, the officers’ mess hall, and the captain’s stateroom. “We were able to explore 20 cabins and compartments, going from room to room,” said Harris. “The doors were all eerily wide open.” The bowels of the HMS Terror appear frozen in time after nearly two centuries in the dark depths of the Arctic archipelago. Plates and glasses are still shelved. Beds and desks are in position. Scientific instruments remain in their proper cases. The team also found “blankets of sediment” on the ship and all its contents. According to Harris, that sediment along with cold water and darkness created “a near-perfect anaerobic environment that’s ideal for preserving delicate organics such as textiles or paper.” Indeed, the drones filmed countless journals, charts, and photographs that could all potentially be salvaged. “There is a very high probability of finding clothing or documents, some of them possibly even still legible. Rolled or folded charts in the captain’s map cupboard, for example, could well have survived.” As if peering into the mysterious wreck of the Terror wasn’t eerie enough, the team noticed that the only closed door on the whole ship was the captain’s room. “I’d love to know what’s in there,” mused Harris. “One way or another, I feel confident we’ll get to the bottom of the story.”

University of Notre Dame physicist Peter Garnavich remembers a supernova event from his postdoctoral days in 1993. He observed SN1993J release an intense flash of light quickly, decline abruptly, and rise again before fading from view weeks later. The early flash of luminosity was unusual for a supernova, and suggested to Garnavich that the star started blowing off material shortly before it exploded. Garnavich, professor and chair of Notre Dame’s Department of Physics and a member of The Center for Astrophysics at Notre Dame (CANDU), along with his collaborators have coined these events Fast-Evolving Luminous Transients (FELTs). Only by increasing the rate at which telescopes monitor the sky has it been possible to catch more FELTs and begin to understand them. The slow fade of radioactive elements as the supernova decayed allowed astrophysicists to study it at length. But the universe is packed full of flash-in-the pan transient events that last for only a brief time, and remain mysterious because they are so quick and hard to study. In a paper published March 26, 2018 in Nature Astronomy, Garnavich and colleagues from several universities and institutes, including the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, described one of the fastest FELTs to date, captured by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope in 2015. It exhibited what Garnavich described as a “the most beautiful light curve we will ever get for a fast transient.” The FELT, KSN2015K, rose in brightness over just 2.2 days – unlike other supernova that may take 20 days to reach peak brightness – and faded completely within 10 days. Most other supernovae take weeks to become undetectable. The paper describes several options that could cause these FELTs, but researchers ultimately settled on a simple explanation: These stars “burp” before exploding and then do not generate enough radioactive energy to be seen later. Astrophysicists see a flash as the supernova runs into the gas expelled in the burp, and then the supernova fades beyond their ability to detect it. “Our conclusion was that this was a massive star that exploded, but it had a mass loss—a wind—that started a couple of years before it exploded,” Garnavich described. “A shock ran into that wind after the explosion, and that’s what caused this big flash. But it turns out to be a rather weak supernova, so within a couple of weeks we don’t see the rest of the light.” The only visible activity is from the quick collision of the gas and the exploding star, where some of the kinetic energy is converted to light. One mystery in the explanation is why the burp of gas would happen such a short time before the supernova explosion. Astrophysicists want to know how the outside of the star "knows" to react to what’s happening deep in the core, Garnavich said. The discovery was made possible because of the Kepler telescope and its K2 mission. Kepler was designed initially to be a planet hunter. But astrophysicists like Garnavich realized it could also be used as a tool to stare at galaxies as well, with the hopes of detecting supernovae explosions. Each Kepler “campaign” lasts for three months, as it scans a portion of the sky about the size of a fist raised to the sky as seen by someone standing on earth. Though the portion of sky it scans is small, it captures images every 30 minutes, unlike other telescopes that record areas only every few days. Though Kepler is expected torun out of fuel die within the next couple of months, astrophysicists have two years’ worth of data from it to continue studying. Also, NASA has decided to keep Kepler focused on the study of these types of supernovae events until its demise. After that point, astronomers will rely on the next mission of its kind, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite TESS, to study FELTs. Meanwhile, the recent discovery of KSN2015K has led Garnavich to wax nostalgic about what he now believes was his first brush with an almost-FELT, 1993J. He now believes that the supernovae he studied in his postdoctoral years also “burped” before it exploded, exhibiting the speedy rise and fast decline that he saw. However, it likely contained much more radioactive material, giving it the return bump in brightness he and others were able to study long afterward. “We think these might actually be very common, these flashes, and we have just been missing them in the past because they are so fast." Garnavich said, "The fact that one occurred in the small area of the sky being monitored by Kepler means they are probably fairly common." In addition to Garnavich, who was the second author on the paper, other collaborators include lead author Armin Rest of STScI and Brad Tucker ’07, a research fellow at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mount Stromlo Observatory, Australian National University. Additional collaborators include researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO), the University of Maryland, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, Chile, Gemini Laboratory, Chile, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and the Center for Mathematical Modeling, University of Chile. NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, manages the Kepler and K2 missions for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, managed Kepler mission development. Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. operates the flight system with support from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, archives, hosts, and distributes Kepler science data. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, in Washington, D.C. The research was funded by NASA.

As news of the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged, global financial markets reacted pessimistically and behaved in ways not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. But fully understanding the potential future economic impact of the virus which leads to this disease remains difficult – because spread of a disease on this scale is unprecedented in the modern world. The closest parallel is the 1918 influenza pandemic, popularly known as the Spanish flu (because it was first reported in Spanish newspapers). So what are the lessons from this historical pandemic for policymakers today? The 1918 flu was the last truly global pandemic, its potency exacerbated in an era before the existence of international public health bodies such as the World Health Organisation. About one-third of the world’s population caught this acute respiratory tract infection. Conservative estimates put the death toll at 20 million, but it could have been more in the region of 50 million. By comparison, nine million people died in combat during the entirely of the first world war. Probably about 2-3% of those who caught this RNA virus ended up dying, but much of the mortality was the result of complications – such as pneumonia – rather than the flu itself. There were several waves of flu and most deaths occurred within a week of each outbreak. The last outbreaks, in 1919, took place a year after the disease was first identified. The pandemic spread globally because of the particular set of circumstances in which it first arose. The first world war had just ended and entire armies were being demobilised, returning home with the disease. Outbreaks spread along major transportation routes. Much of the world’s population was already weak and susceptible to disease because of wartime strains, especially in Germany. To make matters worse, there was an absence in transparency and little policy coordination. Wartime media censorship was still in force and governments were preoccupied with planning for the peace. Those who perished were typically in the prime of their lives, between 15 and 40 years of age. Aside from these deaths, exposure to the flu had serious permanent long-term physical and mental health consequences on many survivors, especially the very young. There were also immediate and long-term consequences for the economy. Urban populations proved particularly susceptible to this strain of flu, partly because of pollution. Researchers recently found that many more people died in the more polluted cities in 1918 relative to less polluted urban areas, suggesting a direct link between air pollution and influenza infection. The immediate economic consequences of 1918 stemmed from the panic surrounding the spread of the flu. Large US cities, including New York and Philadelphia, were essentially temporarily shut down as their populations became bedridden. As in Italy now, businesses were closed, sporting events cancelled and private gatherings – including funerals – banned to stem the spread of the disease. The economic consequences of the pandemic included labour shortages and wage increases, but also the increased use of social security systems. Economic historians do not agree on a headline figure for lost GDP because the effects of the flu are hard to disentangle from the confounding impact of the first world war. The long-term consequences proved horrific. A surprisingly high proportion of adult health and cognitive ability is determined before we are even born. Research has shown the flu-born cohort achieved lower educational attainment by adulthood, experienced increased rates of physical disability, enjoyed lower lifetime income and a lower socioeconomic status than those born immediately before and after the flu pandemic. Three lessons from the past The lessons from 1918 are stark. First, the public health response to the spread of the disease must focus on containment. The reason why the 1918 pandemic resulted in so many deaths was that so many people caught the disease in the first place. They were exposed because policymakers failed to stop the spread. Indeed, their actions helped spread the flu more widely. The repatriation of troops to their countries of origin was probably the main culprit. Communicable disease control policy works. Researchers found that US cities which implemented efforts to reduce infectious contact between people early in the 1918 outbreak had significantly lower peak death rates than cities that were later to adopt disease containment policies. The second lesson is that good information is key to disease control. We cannot afford a media blackout or, worse, an active disinformation campaign. We can already see the terrible consequences of such policies in Iran. The truth always comes out eventually – there is nothing to be gained from hiding it. Indeed, governments stand to lose if censorship leads to social unrest. Political scientists are already speculating on the long-term political impact of media manipulation of coronavirus news in China. Preparing for the worst-case scenario The third lesson is that we must prepare for the economic and human consequences of the virus and act to minimise its impact. This pandemic is both a shock to demand and supply. Just as the disease is highly contagious, so too is the economic crisis it causes. The labour lost from implementing the recommended 14 days of self-isolation for suspected cases alone will have serious economic implications. Closing down entire regions or countries, as recently enacted in Italy, will no doubt cause a recession. The emergency lowering of interest rates in the US and the UK must be the first of many policies aimed at mitigating the economic impact of COVID-19. New fiscal policy measures must now also come into play. Individuals in low-paid precarious employment deserve targeted attention. Where medical care and sick leave are costly, this can force people to go to work even if they are still carrying the virus. Just as in 1918, people in more polluted, urban, areas are likely to be particularly at risk. These are populations that are already more susceptible to respiratory illness due to environmental factors. Special measures to help these groups must be considered. And babies born to those affected by flu must be monitored closely and remedial interventions designed. We should not just focus on the headline mortality rates. We need to pay attention to those who survive this pandemic, and their offspring too. The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Pollination and fertilization in plants are often used interchangeably. There is a lot of confusion about whether both terms are different and if they are, what the difference is. Here we are going to explain “how is the process of pollination different from fertilization”. When going through our high school’s science topic “Reproduction”, we mainly concentrated on ‘Reproduction in animals’, whereas ‘Reproduction in plants’ was just read through because “it will be on the test.” Unlike Reproduction in Animals, we never tried to explore beyond what is written in the book as we were unable to either relate on the topic or understand its significance. Due of that many scientific terms are often used interchangeably by us even though their meaning differs. Pollination in Plants and Fertilization in plants also falls under such category. Though both pollination and fertilization in plants is closely related, their innate meaning is different. We are going to look at those differences and gain deeper understanding of both the terms in this article- What is Pollination? Pollination is an act where the pollen produced by the male part of a flower, called anther is transferred with the help of animals or natural means (wind, water) to the female part of the flower, called stigma. Types of pollination There are two types of pollination- - Self-Pollination- When the pollen of a flower falls to the stigma of the same flower, it is called self-pollination. This type does not make use of any external factors in the transfer of pollen grains. - Cross-pollination- When the pollen of a flower falls to the stigma of another flower with the help of external factors, it is called cross-pollination. Process of pollination - The process of pollination includes fertilization of the nucleus so that it can develop into a seed. For a successful pollination in a flower, the pollen must land safely on the stigma (same species). - After landing on the Stigma, the pollen goes through the pollen tube, that was developed through germination to reach the ovary where the ovum (egg) of the flower is present. - After the pollen successfully reaches the ovule, the ovum and pollen merge together to form a zygote that later becomes a seed. Who Are the Pollinators? Animals and insects who helps in the process of pollination by carrying the pollen grains on their body and transfer them to the stigma are called Pollinators. The most well-known pollinators include insects like Bees, Butterflies, ants etc. as well as birds like hummingbirds, honeyeaters and honeycreepers. Apart from living pollinators there are also other pollination agents which help in the process of pollination. Thus, pollination can be divided into- Pollination types by Agents - Biotic Pollination- When pollination of the plants is completed with the help of living agents like birds, insects, animals etc. it is called biotic pollination. - Abiotic Pollination- when the pollination of a plant is completed with the help of non-living agents like wind, water, or rain, it is known as Abiotic Pollination. How do plants attract pollinators? Plants use various techniques to attract pollinators. Few of those are- - Fragrance or the Nectar of the flower- Many flowers attract their pollinator by their sweet-smelling fragrance or delicious nectar. For example, The Titum arum attract flies due it its smell of rotting meat. - Shape of the Flower- The shape of the flower is an important factor in attracting pollinators as certain insects are attracted to certain flowers due to their shape which makes it easier for them to gather pollens. For example, Bluebell is a bell shaped flower that attracts bumblebees because they have a long tongue. - Colour & Pattern- flowers also attract various pollinators with their bright colours or distinct patterns. For example, Bee orchid looks like a bee which attracts more bees to visit it. After having an understanding of the term pollination, let’s move on to Fertilization so as to understand what differences they have between them. - Top 10 Best GK Books for Competitive Exams - Best History Books for UPSC to Clear Exam in First Attempt What is Fertilization? Pollination falls under the category of physical process whereas Fertilization is a physiochemical process that happens after the pollination and germination of plants. When the male and female gamete of the flower (Pollen & Ovum) fuses together to form a zygote, it is called Fertilization. Types of Fertilization The types of fertilization in plants are differentiated on the basis of how the pollen tube enters the ovule. Scientifically, it can be divided into three types- - Porogamy- When the pollen tube formed during germination enters the embryo sac through micropyle (small opening at the surface of ovule). It is seen in flowering plants. - Mesogamy– When the pollen tube enters the embryo sac through the middle part of the sac, called integuments. It is found in cucurbit plants like pumpkins and bitter gourd. - Chalazogamy– specific to casuarina species, the pollen tube enters the embryo sac through the chalaza, the basal part of ovule in plants. The process of fertilization is interconnected with pollination. - When the pollen tube is formed in style down to the ovary in germination, the pollen travels through the tube and reaches the embryo sac. - Afterwards, the male nucleus merges with the female egg to form a zygote. - This zygote grows to form a seed, inside which the embryo resides. Difference between the process of Pollination and Process of Fertilization |1) It is a physical process without any molecular change in the plant, pollen or stigma. |1) It is a physiochemical process where the pollen goes through a molecular change to form zygote with the ovum. |2) External agents like birds, insects, wind etc. are required in order to transfer pollen to stigma. |2) No external agents are required in the process. |3) This happens before Germination takes place |3) Fertilization can take place only after germination. |4) The pollination process is successful when the male gamete (pollen) reaches the female gamete (stigma) of the same species. |4) The Fertilization process is successful when the ovum and pollen successfully merge to form a zygote and later a seed. Both pollination and fertilization are part of the process of reproduction in plants but it is clear that they are not interchangeable terms. Both have their own process which are inter-related and inter-dependent. One of the biggest differences that we noticed between them is if a physical process that does not require any chemical change whereas other is a pure physiochemical process which forms the seed of the plant. Through this article, we hope that you gained a better understanding of process of pollination different from fertilization. Frequently Asked Questions Who discovered Pollination in Plants first? Christian Konrad Sprenge was the first person to define pollination as an interaction between flower and pollen. What do you mean by Germination? Germination happens after pollination and before fertilization of the pollen, where pollen rehydrates itself and form a pollen tube in the style. Why is pollination important before Fertilization? Pollen contains male gametes necessary for reproduction. Through pollination, genetic diversity is also maintained. What is pollination by wind called? Pollination by Wind is called Anemophily.

Maintaining Oral Health and Preventing Root Canal Infections The outer layer of the tooth, or the enamel, serves many important purposes. It is a hard, durable layer that strengthens the tooth and allows the teeth to withstand daily wear and tear. Another important purpose of the enamel is to protect the more sensitive inner layer of the tooth, where the tooth’s nerves and pulp reside. If the enamel is weakened by injury, decay, or erosion, oral functions may become more difficult, pain and/or sensitivity is likely, and the tooth becomes vulnerable to infection. Restorative dentistry treatments repair damage to the enamel and rebuild the strength of the tooth so that further dental complications, such as a root canal infection can be avoided. Restorative dentistry services are just one way in which our Birmingham patients can prevent root canal infections. What Is a Root Canal Infection? A root canal infection occurs when bacteria are able to get past the tooth’s protective layer of enamel and work its way into the center of the tooth. This is where the pulp of the tooth resides. The nerves and tissues can become infected and inflamed by the presence of bacteria. A root canal infection is likely to result in pain, increased sensitivity, and a compromised level of oral functions. How to Prevent Root Canal Infections Because root canal infections exist in the center of the tooth, the best way to prevent them is to stop bacteria from reaching the inner layer of the tooth. Patients must take proper care of the teeth to ensure that the protective layer of enamel remains strongly intact. Below are important oral hygiene habits that will help patients maintain strong, healthy tooth enamel: - Brush regularly: Ideally, patients should brush the teeth after each meal. However, since this might not always be practical, we urge patients to brush at least twice a day and to follow each meal with a drink or rinse of water. - Floss: Brushing alone will not prevent the buildup of bacteria. Flossing removes food particles and other debris from between the teeth and gums, which will keep bacteria count low. - See the dentist bi-annually: Even those who follow the above oral hygiene habits will need to see the dentist regularly, at least twice a year. Professional cleanings are important to oral health and examinations can identify any tooth decay or erosion early on, so that appropriate treatment can be scheduled. - Undergo recommended dental care: If signs of injury, decay, or erosion are present, Dr. Burton Gooch will recommend restorative dental treatment. It is important to follow through with this treatment in order to rebuild tooth strength, restore oral health, and prevent more serious complications, including root canal infections. Schedule an Appointment Regular dental exams and cleanings are a vital part of maintaining good oral health. If you are due for a dental exam and are looking for a caring and professional dentist who can meet your general, restorative, and cosmetic dental needs, look no further than Dr. Burton Gooch. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Gooch at your earliest convenience to benefit from a superior level of oral health care. We look forward to meeting you!

Almost weekly, we’re glimpsing deeper into our universe through increasingly fine-tuned telescopes and lenses. Astronomers recently released the most detailed images of the distant Orion Nebula—1,300 light years away. Earlier in summer, they discovered 21 “white dwarf” candidate stars and the most distant galaxy ever observed. The amount we have to learn is endless—as vast as the universe, or multiple universes, in which we and our planet spin. It’s exciting and sometimes discomfiting to realize how much we don’t yet know. Surprisingly, when the lens is flipped to observe the underpinnings of life rather than the galaxy’s outer limits, there’s even less certainty. In When We Cease to Understand the World, Benjamin Labatut describes how the arrival of quantum mechanics upended the linear path that, up to that point, had exponentially increased our scientific success in reducing the world to smaller and smaller known pieces. At a conference in 1927 of the world’s greatest scientists, Labatut explains, Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr presented their startling vision of quantum mechanics. It describes how “an electron is not in any fixed place until it is measured; it is only in that instant that it appears. Before being measured, it has no attributes; prior to observation, it cannot even be conceived of.” Through this discovery, scientific thinkers came face to face with the limits of our capacity to fully understand life’s building blocks in concrete terms. Heisenberg also introduced the “uncertainty principle”, which states that the position and momentum of a particle can’t both be measured with precision. The more accurately you know one value, the less accurately you know the other. Quantum mechanics changed the trajectory of science. As Wikipedia explains, “Quantum mechanics describes nature in a way that is different from how we usually think about science. It tells us how likely to happen some things are, rather than telling us that they certainly will happen.” Although its arrival changed the reductionist nature of some scientific paths, its inherent uncertainty didn’t make it less valuable. Quantum mechanics is foundational to chemistry and cosmology. Astrophysicist Adam Frank and colleagues say the scientific shift changed the historical observer status assigned to the scientist. He writes that we can no longer expect to know the world “in itself, outside our ways of seeing and acting on things. Experience is just as fundamental to scientific knowledge as the physical reality it reveals.” Labatut writes, “Physics ought not to concern itself with reality, but rather with what we can say about reality.” What we say about reality is, in other words, our stories, borne from our relationships with the world(s) around us. As Heisenberg explains, “When we speak of the science of our era, we are talking about our relationship with nature, not as objective, detached observers, but as actors in a game between man and the world.” Although we find ourselves between two poles of uncertainty—the infinitesimally small and the infinitely grand—our (even nominal) understanding of quantum mechanics can help us gain perspective. To start, we can embrace, with humility, the realization that we’re far from fully understanding, and will likely never fully understand, the mechanisms that determine nature and reality. Science is not absolute, but we can learn to thrive within this lack of certainty. It can help us to approach the world with more curiosity and wonder. As writer Marilynne Robinson says, we should look to “sciences whose terms and methods can overturn the assumptions of the inquirers” rather than that which “simply insists on the truth value of its assumptions”. And we can act in accordance with what we do know, such as our ever-expanding appreciation of the profound interactions that make life possible—from the elaborate mycelial networks underground to the global carbon cycle, from quantum to cosmic. We continually observe our world and describe it back to each other, revising understandings over time. Our experiences will always be a part of our “reality”. The two cannot be teased apart. And we always face uncertainty. But in the absence of certainty there lies probability, between countless series of possible outcomes. Collectively, we can change the world by striving for the best of what is possible, through our relationships with nature and each other.