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This week, after completion of an independent review, NASA announced a new launch date for the James Webb Space Telescope: March 30, 2021 at the earliest. This telescope is the much-anticipated successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. The announcement comes just three months after an announced launch delay from the year 2019 to 2020. The project – which is led by NASA with its partners, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency – was reviewed internally earlier this year. NASA then established an Independent Review Board to assess the telescope’s progress, in cooperation with ESA and the Canadian Space Agency. In a statement, NASA said: The board evaluated a number of factors, from the technical challenges to remaining tasks leading to launch, and has unanimously recommended that development on the project should continue. However, it spoke of: … a range of factors influencing Webb’s schedule and performance, including the technical challenges and tasks remaining by primary contractor Northrop Grumman before launch. NASA further explained that it: … established the new launch date estimate to accommodate changes in the schedule due to environmental testing and work performance challenges by Northrop Grumman on the spacecraft’s sunshield and propulsion system. The telescope’s new total lifecycle cost, to support the revised launch date, is estimated at $9.66 billion; its new development cost estimate is $8.8 billion. which will happen first: ? George RR Martin finishes A Song of Ice and Fire ? The James Webb Space Telescope launch ? we crumble to dust as the oceans boil around and the sun expands, overtaking Mercury and Venus and reducing Earth's orbit until we too are swallowed — Erin Ross (@ErinEARoss) June 27, 2018 NASA said the next step is now: … to complete the extensive battery of testing on the spacecraft element of the Webb. Once this is done, it will be integrated with the other half of the observatory: the telescope and science instrument module. This module, which completed its tests last year, includes the NIRSpec and MIRI instruments – part of Europe’s contribution to the observatory. The fully-assembled observatory then will undergo a series of challenging environmental tests and a final deployment test before it is shipped to Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, to be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket. — Alan Boyle (@b0yle) June 27, 2018 Bottom line: Sigh. The James Webb Space Telescope is now scheduled for launch in 2021.

Where is GEORGIA located on the map? Georgia is a country on the east coast of the Black Sea in the Caucasus, located both in Eastern Europe and in Asia. It is considered to be culturally, historically and politically speaking part of Europe. The capital of Georgia is Tbilisi. The history of Georgia dates back to the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia, which were later unified. Georgia is one of the first nations to have adopted the Christian religion as an official religion at the beginning of the fourth century: it joined orthodoxy after the schism of 1054. It knows its golden age in the twelfth century, under the reign of Thamar. Confronted alternately with the Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols and Ottomans, Georgia is annexed at the beginning of the nineteenth century by imperial Russia under Paul I, but regains its independence from 1918 to 1921. It is then integrated as republic within the Soviet Union. The independence of Georgia is once again restored in 1991. The country accumulates economic difficulties and wars of secession; Adjara became totally Georgian in 2004, while Abkhazia and South Ossetia unilaterally proclaimed their independence after the fighting of the 1990s and the Russo-Georgian war of 2008: in total, 30% of the territory is no longer under Tbilisi control. The Rose Revolution, in 2004, peaceful, and the democratic alternation, in 2012, no less peaceful, led the country on the path of democracy. The country covers a territory of 69 700 km2. In international law, it has borders with the Russian Federation in the north, Azerbaijan in the east, Armenia in the south and Turkey in the south-west. The borders with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, secured on the outside by Russian forces, are obstacles that can not be overcome since 2008. The population (excluding those in Abkhazia and South Ossetia) is 3.7 million according to the November 2014 census; it is clearly down on the 1989 Soviet census (more than 5 million inhabitants) and in the late 1990s (more than 4 million inhabitants), mainly because of economic migration. Georgia is a member of the Council of Europe, the World Trade Organization, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the GUAM Alliance. She hopes to become a member of NATO and the European Union with whom an Association Agreement was concluded in 2014. Georgia has resources of copper, manganese and, more limited, coal. Hydropower generation is important. Viticulture in Georgia plays a key role in the economy of this country. Its GDP per capita is US $ 5,400 in 2011. Georgia exported US $ 2.189 billion in 2011. Its main exports are: vehicles, fertilizers, nuts, scrap metal, gold and minerals. of copper. It imported US $ 7.058 billion in 2011. The main imported products are: fuels, vehicles, machinery, grains and other agricultural products, as well as pharmaceuticals.

A new report from the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development provides information on the racial gap in infant mortality and offers strategies that may be employed to eliminate the disparity. The data shows that about five infants out of every 1,000 live births die in their first year after birth in the United States. But for Black infants, 11 of every 1,000 die before their first birthday. In 2015, 23,458 Americans died before their first birthdays and 28.2 percent of these deaths were Black infants. The Black infant mortality rate is as high as the rate in many countries of the developing world. The data shows that the Black-White disparity for infant mortality exists at all educational levels, and it is greatest for Black mothers who earn a master’s degree or higher. Keisha L. Bentley-Edwards, an assistant professor of general internal medicine and director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center’s Health Equity Working Group at Duke and a co-author of the report, states that “people tend to overlook the fact that racial discrimination has played a major role in the infant mortality rate gap between White and Black infants. Particularly for Black women, despite age, educational attainment and socioeconomic status, the exposure to racial inequities and injustices throughout their life directly impact their birth outcome.” The report goes on to propose policies and programs that prioritize healthy maternal and child outcomes for Black women. The authors call for additional research on the impact of racism-induced stress on health outcomes and identifying insulating mechanisms can be used to lessen the impact of racism-induced stress on African American women. The full report, Fighting at Birth: Eradicating the Black-White Infant Mortality Gap, may be downloaded by clicking here.

Write a 750-1000 word essay about a topic in which you argue for the existence of a particular phenomenon by stating a generalization about the topic. Then you will support that generalization (in the form of a thesis statement) by choosing to write a single-example illustration essay or a multiple-example illustration essay. Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to measure your mastery of those conventions by putting your knowledge to practice. In a larger context, the purpose of writing an illustration essay is to convey an idea to the reader by providing illustrations (examples) that will solidify the existence of a topic. Process: For the illustration essay, you will complete the following steps: - Choose a topic - Decide if you want to write a single-example or multiple-example essay - Collect illustrations - Craft your thesis statement: Note that you want to craft your thesis according to whether you choose to write a single-example or a multiple-example essay. - Create the essay: For each section of the essay, see the following: The introduction; the body paragraphs; and the conclusion. Stylistic details: All essays must meet the following requirements: - 750-1000 words. - Write in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font. - Include one-inch margins on all sides. - Use double spacing (top-to-bottom every page, to include above and below titles and centered words). - Include an APA title page (for all essays) and reference list that includes all of the sources used in the essay. - Include a header. - Include page numbers (upper-right corner only). - Adhere to APA convention and documentation style (See the CSU citation guide for assistance.). - At least one source is required. All sources used must be cited.

UF researchers discover new way to inhibit virus that causes COVID-19 When the virus that causes COVID-19 enters the body, it hijacks cellular proteins and suppresses the human inflammatory response, allowing the virus to spread. University of Florida researchers have discovered a novel way in the lab to fight rapidly evolving strains of coronaviruses by breaking that cycle. The group created a molecular “decoy” that blocks two proteins coronaviruses use to evade a normal immune system response. Blocking these proteins prevents the virus from taking hold within human cells, the researchers found. During early tests, short chains of amino acids, known as peptides, inhibited the replication and release of two coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2. The findings were published recently in the journal Frontiers in Immunology. “These peptides have the potential to allow our immune system to fight off the virus more effectively,” Lewin said. To establish their findings, the researchers focused on two coronaviruses. One is a seasonal virus that causes upper-respiratory infections like the common cold. Researchers at UF and elsewhere already knew that people with antibodies to it were less likely to develop serious COVID-19 infections. That potential benefit intrigued Chulbul M. Ahmed, Ph.D., a research assistant professor of molecular genetics and microbiology. Their team developed a peptide known as pJAK2. During testing on human cells, the compound significantly reduced the viruses’ concentrations and ability to replicate. In SARS-CoV2 the peptide reduced the virus’s replication more than tenfold, the researchers found. The cell-penetrating peptides work by acting as a decoy and suppressing two proteins that would otherwise allow invading viruses to thrive. When the peptide was combined with a second virus-inhibiting protein, viral activity was inhibited even further than with either peptide treatment alone. Read more

Cyber Mobbing: Say no to online threats and insulting texts. Especially children and teenagers are affected by cyber mobbing. Help to say "no" to intentionally insulting, threatening or harassing a person over a period of time by using online services. Cyber mobbing is about: - spreading false information or rumors. - spreading and uploading embarrassing or adulterated photos and videos. - offending, harassing, threatening or blackmailing via email, SMS, etc. Protection from cyber mobbing: - Support your child in acquiring media competence. - Encourage your child to confide in you. - Don’t be afraid of talking about cyber mobbing. «The offenders usually know the victim.» Victims and offenders Especially children and teenagers are affected by cyber mobbing. It often starts (offline) in school, but most of the teenagers’ social interaction takes place online on the Internet. This is where they argue, discuss, connect and take risks – willingly or unknowingly. Some of the victims didn’t handle their passwords with care and got hacked, some of them just didn’t think about potential misuse or inappropriateness of a post, photo or video. The offenders usually know the victim and use the anonymity of the Internet to hide their identity. Their motivation is mostly very selfish. Through mobbing and vilifying another person, the offenders aim at improving their own social status. You can find more information and tips on the website of the Swiss crime prevention office (SKP):SKPPSC - Cybermobbing

[Feb. 7, 2023: Tyler Irving, University of Toronto] Prototypes of a multilayered fluidic system designed by U of T Engineering researchers contain several layers of channels that contain fluids with various optical properties (CREDIT: Raphael Kay, Adrian So) Inspired by the dynamic colour-changing skin of organisms such as squid, University of Toronto researchers have developed a multilayered fluidic system that can reduce the energy costs of heating, cooling and lighting buildings. The platform, which optimizes the wavelength, intensity and dispersion of light transmitted through windows, offers much greater control than existing technologies while keeping costs low due to its use of simple, off-the-shelf components. “Buildings use a ton of energy to heat, cool and illuminate the spaces inside them,” says Raphael Kay, who recently graduated with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and is lead author on a new paper published in the journal PNAS. “If we can strategically control the amount, type and direction of solar energy that enters our buildings, we can massively reduce the amount of work that we ask heaters, coolers and lights to do.” Currently, certain “smart” building technologies such as automatic blinds or electrochromic windows – which change their opacity in response to an electric current – can be used to control the amount of sunlight that enters the room. But Kay says that these systems are limited: they cannot discriminate between different wavelengths of light, nor can they control how that light gets distributed spatially. “Sunlight contains visible light, which impacts the illumination in the building – but it also contains other invisible wavelengths, such as infrared light, which we can think of essentially as heat,” he says. “In the middle of the day in winter, you’d probably want to let in both – but in the middle of the day in summer, you’d want to let in just the visible light and not the heat. Current systems typically can’t do this – they either block both or neither. They also have no ability to direct or scatter the light in beneficial ways.” Biological inspiration for fluidic multilayer: (A) Colour change in the panther chameleon is achieved using a multilayer architecture of active photonic crystals; (B) Colour change in the squid is achieved using co-ordinated actuations within a multilayer of pigmentary and structural elements. (CREDIT: University of Toronto) Developed by Kay and a team led by Associate Professor Ben Hatton, the system leverages the power of microfluidics to offer an alternative. The team also included PhD candidate Charlie Katrycz, both in the department of materials science and engineering, and Alstan Jakubiec, an assistant professor in the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. The prototypes consist of flat sheets of plastic that are permeated with an array of millimetre-thick channels through which fluids can be pumped. Customized pigments, particles or other molecules can be mixed into the fluids to control what kind of light gets through – such as visible versus near-infrared wavelengths – and in which direction this light is then distributed. These sheets can be combined in a multi-layer stack, with each layer responsible for a different type of optical function: controlling intensity, filtering wavelength or tuning the scattering of transmitted light indoors. By using small, digitally controlled pumps to add or remove fluids from each layer, the system can optimize light transmission. Biological inspiration for fluidic multilayer: Schematic for achieving independent multilayered switchable responses in building facades, where switchable fluid flow within distinct layers can enable multiple distinct optical functions. (CREDIT: University of Toronto) “It’s simple and low-cost, but it also enables incredible combinatorial control. We can design liquid-state dynamic building facades that do basically anything you’d like to do in terms of their optical properties,” Kay says. The work builds on another system that uses injected pigment, developed by the same team earlier this year. While that study drew inspiration from the colour-changing abilities of marine arthropods, the current system is more analogous to the multilayered skin of squid. Many species of squid have skin that contains stacked layers of specialized organs – including chromatophores, which control light absorption, and iridophores, which impact reflection and iridescence. These individually addressable elements work together to generate unique optical behaviors that are only possible through their combined operation. Biological inspiration for fluidic multilayer: Schematic exemplifying several functional or multifunctional states, achieved through coordinated fluid injections within a bilayer. The fluid multilayer acts as an additive light filter for incoming light. (CREDIT: University of Toronto) While the U of T Engineering researchers focused on the prototypes, Jakubiec built detailed computer models that analyzed the potential energy impact of covering a hypothetical building in this type of dynamic facade. The models were informed by physical properties measured from the prototypes. The team also simulated various control algorithms for activating or deactivating the layers in response to changing ambient conditions. “If we had just one layer that focuses on modulating the transmission of near-infrared light – so not even touching the visible part of the spectrum – we find that we could save about 25 per cent annually on heating, cooling and lighting energy over a static baseline,” says Kay. “If we have two layers – infrared and visible – it’s more like 50 per cent. These are very significant savings.” Additive and spectrally selective absorption. Still frames across two complete cycles of fluid injection and retraction, demonstrating four unique colored states (bolded frames) within fluidic devices. Photograph of bilayer device shown to demonstrate device scale and visible transparency. Fluids were cycled up to 100 times within channel layers, with no evidence of fouling. (CREDIT: University of Toronto) In the most recent study, the control algorithms were designed by humans, but Hatton points out that the challenge of optimizing them would be an ideal task for artificial intelligence – a possible future direction for the research. “The idea of a building that can learn – that can adjust this dynamic array on its own to optimize for seasonal and daily changes in solar conditions – is very exciting for us,” Hatton says. Simulated indoor daylight tunability. Backward ray-tracing renders illustrating daylighting differences for differently concentrated fluid window layers (aqueous carbon black). (CREDIT: University of Toronto) “We are also working on how to scale this up effectively so that you could cover a whole building. That will take work but given that this can all be done with simple, non-toxic, low-cost materials, it’s a challenge that can be solved.” Hatton also hopes that the study will encourage other researchers to think more creatively about new ways to manage energy in buildings. “Globally, the amount of energy that buildings consume is enormous – it’s even bigger than what we spend on manufacturing or transportation,” he says. “We think making smart materials for buildings is a challenge that deserves a lot more attention.” For more science news stories check out our New Innovations section at The Brighter Side of News. Note: Materials provided above by University of Toronto. Content may be edited for style and length. Like these kind of feel good stories? Get the Brighter Side of News' newsletter.

This week, 5th – 11th February 2024, marks 10 years since the first, National HIV Testing Week. A week dedicated to improving testing of, and education around the infamous HIV virus. The only way to diagnose an HIV infection is through testing. This is why it is essential that those at risk, and those who think they may have contracted the virus are tested regularly and promptly. Theres often confusion between HIV and AIDS, which we will clear up in this article, along with looking at the signs and symptoms of the infection, how common HIV infection really is in the UK, and the treatments that are available. The same, but different Some people find the terminology confusing. HIV and AIDS are related, but not necessarily the same thing. HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency virus, a virus which infects and attacks the white blood cells of the immune system. On the other hand, AIDS is the acronym for Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. This is the most advanced stage of HIV infection when the body’s immune system is extremely compromised and vulnerable to infections and other illness, including cancer. Signs & Symptoms One of the problems with HIV is many cases don’t display any symptoms, especially over the first few weeks of infection. During this period however, most people experience flu-like symptoms such as a fever, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, mouth ulcers and perhaps a rash. This means many people don’t think much of it, and the infection is easily missed1. After the initial 2-6 weeks, there is often a period of dormancy when no symptoms are present, which may last several years, in some cases over a decade. However, as HIV continues to work on the immune system, it weakens, and symptoms eventually begin to present. These symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, fever, diarrhoea, fatigue and coughing or breathing difficulties1. Finally, if left untreated, the chronic HIV infection will progress to AIDS. Now the immune system is severely compromised, and the individual is at a much higher risk of severe infections and other illnesses like cancer, commonly lymphomas2. HIV infection is spread through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person. This is often blood, from sharing needles or other injection equipment during drugtaking and accidental needle sticks experienced by healthcare workers; breast milk from a mother who is unaware of her infection; or through semen or vaginal fluids during sex1. It can also be passed from a pregnant mother to her offspring. HIV cannot spread through saliva, urine or sweat, and cannot be contracted by hugging, kissing, or sharing food and water – HIV is a fragile virus and can’t survive outside the body for very long3. Some of the most common risk factors are related to the transmission methods discussed above. Unprotected sex, whether anal or vaginal, increases the risk of HIV infection. Similarly, using contaminated needles, syringes and drug solutions will increase the risk. A combination of sexual activity and harmful drug or alcohol abuse is also considered a risk factor for HIV infection. Additionally, having another STI such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea or bacterial vaginosis, is a risk factor for HIV infection1. This is why our Blood Borne Virus and Complete STI test packages include HIV testing, offering increased peace of mind regarding your sexual health. In 2019, an estimated 105,200 people in the UK were living with HIV.4 However, only 94% of these people are diagnosed, meaning approximately 1 in 16 people in the UK are living with HIV and don’t know they are infected. Of the people receiving care for HIV infection in 2022, 53.7% were white, 30.2% were black African and 4.6% were Asian4. MSM (gay, bisexual or men who have sex with other men) make up 28.2% of newly diagnosed HIV cases4. This statistic may seem high, but this is actually a 63.8% decrease since 2014, illustrating the effectiveness of increased HIV testing and treatment. 8% of people living with HIV are in the 50-64 age group and 8.9% were 65+4 Over time, the number of people living with HIV to an older age has increased, and the 50-64 age groups has overtaken the 35-49 age group, reflecting the effectiveness of HIV treatment in helping people live longer with the infection (see figure 1). National AIDS Trust. HIV in the UK statistics. Published 2022. Accessed January 31, 2024. https://www.nat.org.uk/about-hiv/hiv-statistics Diagnosis & Treatment The only way to diagnose HIV is through testing via a blood or saliva sample. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an emergency anti-HIV medication that may stop the infection if started within 24-72 hours of exposure to the virus – the key here is the earlier this medication can be started, the more likely it is to be successful. Where PEP is unsuccessful at blocking the infection, early detection of the virus still allows for prompt treatment which can reduce the risk of severe illness and transmission3. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used to treat those with HIV infection. ART works by inhibiting viral replication, allowing the immune system to repair itself and function normally. It is supplied as a daily tablet and is often a combination of medications as HIV infection can quickly develop resistance to individual medicines. The aim of ART is to reduce the viral load of an infected person. If viral load can be lowered to the point where it is undetectable, the individual will no longer be able to transmit the virus to others, providing another example of the importance of early detection and treatment3. - HIV is a viral infection which compromises the immune system which, if untreated, can progress to AIDS and severe illness or cancer. - Asymptomatic HIV infections are common, and testing is essential to provide treatment to those infected, reduce transmission and prevent serious illness. - Rates of HIV infection are on a downward trajectory, but this is no time for complacency! Only through increased testing, education and awareness can we hope to eliminate the threat of HIV and AIDS. - World Health Organisation. HIV and AIDS. Fact Sheets. Published July 13, 2023. Accessed January 31, 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids - Lewden C. Causes of death among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults in the era of potent antiretroviral therapy: emerging role of hepatitis and cancers, persistent role of AIDS. Int J Epidemiol. 2004;34(1):121-130. doi:10.1093/ije/dyh307 - National Health Service. HIV and AIDS. Health A to Z. Published April 22, 2021. Accessed January 31, 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/ - National AIDS Trust. HIV in the UK statistics. Published 2022. Accessed January 31, 2024. https://www.nat.org.uk/about-hiv/hiv-statistics

What is Parkinson’s disease? What is it caused by? What are the symptoms? How is it diagnosed? How are you treated? How long does it last? What are the possible complications? How do you live with Parkinson’s disease? Instructions What causes Parkinson’s disease? The disease is caused by damage to brain cells that produce a substance called dopamine. As a result, there is a decrease in the level of dopamine secreted in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (substance that is used to transmit messages between cells in the brain) that has a decisive role in the ability to make movements properly. As of today, we still do not know what causes damage to the cells that produce dopamine. Not only damage to dopamine-producing cells can cause Parkinson’s disease: it is also possible to involve other neurotransmitters in the disease such as acetylcholine and glutamate and proteins such as synuclein. The research now focuses on a broader understanding of Parkinson’s disease and the development of additional treatments. Is Parkinson’s a hereditary disease? It is known that the disease has a genetic (hereditary) basis, that is: if the patient has a first-degree relative (father, mother, brother, sister) who has Parkinson’s, his chance of getting Parkinson’s is higher compared to the general population. In recent years, several genes have been identified that are a risk factor for the development of the disease. On top of that, there are environmental effects that increase the risk of getting Parkinson’s disease, for example exposure to sprays and pesticides. What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease? The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease develop in stages (gradually). At first they are hardly noticed, but later they progress and cause the patient a severe functional limitation. It is common to divide the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease into symptoms related to movement and symptoms not related to movement. The symptoms related to movement are the symptoms that are visible to the eye and are characteristic of Parkinson’s disease. However, Parkinson’s patients suffer at the same time from symptoms that are not related to movement and that also have a significant impact on the disease and coping with it. These are the main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease that are related to movement : - Trembling of the limbs. - Muscle stiffness in a way that makes it difficult to make movements. - Slowing of body movements. - Difficulty walking and instability. - Changes in speech and writing. - Changes in facial expression. These are the main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease that are not related to movement : - Changes in mood ( depression , anxiety , lack of enjoyment of life, apathy). - Psychosis , hallucinations. - Memory disturbances, confusion. - Sleep disorders , involuntary leg movements during sleep, sleepiness during the day. - Sexual dysfunction. - Dry eyes . - Increased sweating. - Loss of the sense of smell. - Constipation . - Weight loss or gain. - Difficulty controlling urine. - Blood pressure disorders. - Tendency to falls. - Pain in the whole body. In advanced states of Parkinson’s disease, dementia may also develop . What are the warning signs that require immediate medical attention? Usually the symptoms at the beginning of Parkinson’s disease are not noticeable, so it is difficult to notice them. A tremor in one of the hands, a change in facial expressions or a disturbance in shaking the hand while walking are usually the symptoms at the beginning of the disease. If they appear – contact the family doctor for clarification. how long does Parkinson’s disease last? Parkinson’s is a chronic disease that slowly worsens. It usually appears for the first time in people who are in their fifth decade of life, but unfortunately it appears in recent decades also at younger ages. How is the disease diagnosed? The diagnosis is made based on the discovery of the characteristic signs of the disease during a clinical examination. In ambiguous cases, the brain can be mapped using a PET or SPECT device with a dopaminergic marker. Abnormal mapping indicates that it is Parkinson’s disease or another degenerative disease with signs of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. How is Parkinson’s treated? Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment that can cure Parkinson’s disease, but it is possible to significantly improve the symptoms of the disease. The treatment is mainly through drugs that increase the level of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine cannot be given by pill or injection, because it cannot reach the brain if it is swallowed or if it is injected into the blood, but there are several drugs that make it possible to increase the level of dopamine and the activity of dopamine in the brain: • Levodopa – this is a drug that is the starting material of dopamine. It penetrates the blood-brain barrier and turns into dopamine in the brain. To this day it is the most effective medicine for the treatment of the disease, but it is usually reserved for advanced stages of the disease or if it appears for the first time in old age. There are several preparations that contain levodopa such as, for example, Dupicer and Cinnamate , Meduper and Stalvo. • Comtan – given in combination with levodopa to improve its effect. It is marketed as Stalvo together with levodopa and carbidopa. • Dopamine agonists – drugs that mimic the activity of dopamine in the brain by stimulating the dopaminergic receptors in the brain. The drugs from this family that are currently marketed in Israel are ropinirole (Requip) , pramipexole (Ciprol) and apomorphine (given by subcutaneous injections or by an Apo- Go pump ). • Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors that inhibit the breakdown of dopamine in the brain. A drug of this type is, for example, rasagiline ( Azilact ) and selegiline . Recently, a new drug called Spinamide (Casedago) from this family was approved. • Amantadine – a drug that encourages the secretion of dopamine from the synapse. It is given (alone or in combination with other drugs) to alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Additional options for treatment – especially in the advanced stages of the disease or in cases of tremors that are not controlled by medication: • Duodopa pump that regularly infuses Duodopa (Dupicar) directly into the duodenum through a catheter. This is an invasive treatment as the catheter is inserted into the duodenum through the abdominal wall. The treatment is effective for improving involuntary movements. Another pump that will soon come into use in Israel is the Stelvo water pump. • Surgery in which an electrode is implanted in the brain (to the subthalamic nucleus). The electrode creates electrical pulses that may help reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The surgery can also help in reducing the doses of Parkinson’s drugs, but usually does not replace the drug treatment. • Focused ultrasound (focused US) to treat tremors. This is focused heating – using ultrasound waves – of the area of the brain responsible for tremors. The treatment – as of today – is h-sided, meaning that it only improves the tremor in one limb. Experiments have recently been carried out with the aim of enabling bilateral treatment. What is the life expectancy of Parkinson’s patients? As a rule, the disease does not significantly shorten life expectancy. Will it be possible to stop the progression of the disease in the future? One of the causes of the development of the disease is the deposition of the synuclein protein in the brain cells. The accumulation of the protein damages the function of the cells and eventually causes their death. One of the approaches to prevent the death of the cells is the development of a “vaccine” against Parkinson’s disease through the creation of antibodies to the protein that sinks. The results of the experiments carried out so far on the patients were not encouraging, because no delay was observed in the progress indicators of the disease. However, experiments are still being done with this technology in order to improve the introduction of the drug into the brain and thus increase its effectiveness. Could there be complications in Parkinson’s patients? The disease has many complications including: depression and changes in mood, difficulty sleeping, autonomic disorders (constipation, difficulty urinating, drop in blood pressure when standing), repeated falls and cognitive decline. As the disease worsens, there is a severe functional decline, and the patient becomes more and more dependent on others, to the point of total dependence on others due to the need for help and supervision throughout the day. How do you learn to live with Parkinson’s disease? It is important to have regular medical follow-up and follow the recommended treatment. Customization of the treatment and adherence to it make it possible to obtain a considerable relief of symptoms. It is also recommended to maintain a balanced diet rich in dietary fiber to prevent constipation. In order to maintain independence as much as possible, one must use physical therapy and occupational therapy. In a more advanced stage of the disease, it is very important to arrange the residence in a way that allows maximum mobility despite the difficulty in walking. So, for example, the carpets should be removed from the house and the shower room and the toilet room should be adapted to the comfort of the patient. After further progression of the disease, the patient will need the help of a therapist for all hours of the day. You should prepare for this in advance. For this purpose, you can contact the staff members at the clinic (the family doctor, the nurses or the social worker) and receive guidance in contacting the National Insurance for assistance.

Without a specific Goal – defined as a what by when. People just choose what they feel is best, or they choose what those around that feel is right. When goals are set organizationally and personally you must decide and define the problem being faced, if you have no problems there is not need to set a goal. Problems start with something you value and need or want that is not immediately available (Jacques; 1998) The value may come in delegated tasks from managers or just something that personally you want solve. Once the problem is defined you must decide if you value the goal and solution. Values stem from your motivation and choice to accept the challenge or not; Either step you take will be in-line with your values and commitments. Once you value the the goal you will find requisite motivation to accomplish it. Taking from Jacques method in Requisite Organization, Goals are what by when. Tasks are requisite steps to completion of the goal. Once the goal is specified then the work of formulating the tasks begins. The task is made of; - Quality – to produce a specified output by standards that are set by you creating the tasks and (if applicable) your manager. - Quantity – How much of the quality product is to be created. - Time Frame – targeted completion time. Which will vary depending upon you, the problem, relationship to the problem, time-span, and skill sets. This again is determined by you and (if applicable) your manager. - Resources – The things and people you have and can benefit you to complete the task within the time frame. These resources can vary from machines, people, processes, consultants, stake holders. The resources are also defined by you in reference to the Quality:Quantity:Time Frame and (if applicable) your manager. Returning to Choices: You have choices and in order to solve problems that have value a clear understanding and system must be established. Once the problem being solved has no value you will just choose what “feels right at the time” this creates missed deadlines and misery for you, because - 1. you are not working in alignment with values and commitments - 2. you are not clear on how you are evaluated and what is expected. Once the goal is articulated and explained (by you to yourself or to you by your manager) with clear and distinct Quality:Quantity:Time Frame:Resources with a plan for follow up. You will feel concurrent with your values and commitments, because - 1. you are taking accountability for the choice - 2. clear and distinct understanding of what is expected and how to achieve it. Need experiential and hands-on ways to create lasting memories and content in your programs / workshops / and lessons. Mike is your answer. He will create and develop customized activities and simulations for what you need. Contact Mike (firstname.lastname@example.org) Phone – 1.716.629.3678 Mike will come to you to facilitate the action learning and processing, or can just send you a document with videos and photos of how to do everything you need. Mike will make you a success and your next meeting and training program better than ever. michael cardus is create-learning special thanks given to; First Steps – where I first encountered this idea Tom Foster for introducing me Elliot Jaques work.

Apr 25, 2017· Concrete is a mixture of 60 – 65% aggregates like sand, gravel, and crushed stone, 15 – 20% water, and only 10 – 15% cement. When mixed, the cement and water harden, binding the aggregates into the solid mass we call concrete. So, there is no such thing as a cement sidewalk! 7. In the same year, an estimated billion metric tons of crushed stone were produced in the United States from about 4,100 active surface quarries and underground mines with an estimated value of more than billion. Aggregates are a major basic raw material used in construction. Chalk is a type of limestone that contains mostly shells from marine animals. During the 1700s, limestone was used for lithography which is when pictures are drawn on stones and then copied to other stones. Because limestone contains the remains of dead organisms, it is . The Reed Quarry is one of the largest producer of crushed stone in the United States. The quarry pit is 4,500 feet ( km) wide at its widest, and is 450 feet (140 m) deep at the present time. It produces more than 10 million short tons of crushed stone each year. Indiana Aggregates Quick Facts: Aggregate mining occurs in 79 of the 92 Indiana counties. The majority of aggregate plants in Indiana are familyowned and operate with 20 or fewer employees. Indiana ranked 10th nationally in crushed stone production and 12th in sand and gravel production in 2009. The Impact of the Crushed Stone and Sand and Gravel Industry on the Economy. Executive Summary. The crushed stone and sand and gravel industries (the aggregates industry) are important to the economic health of the nation and constitute a major source of employment and income nationally and in the producing states. Despite the low unit value of its basic products, the construction sand and gravel industry is a major contributor to and an indicator of the economic wellbeing of the Nation. For additional information on Aggregates, please visit the Crushed Stone page. Construction sand and gravel, one of the most accessible natural resources and a major basic raw material, is used mostly by the construction industry. Despite the low unit value of its basic products, the construction sand and gravel industry is a major contributor to and an indicator of the economic wellbeing of the Nation. after getting enough stone furnaces to start myself off, my crushed stone went to a combo of stone brick (~75%) and stone (~25%). stone brick is needed for most if not all of angel's buildings (across all tiers) OP, you'll most likely hit a point soon where you're producing far more crushed stone... California Geology Facts ... California's major mineral resources include sand, gravel, crushed stone, building stone, gold, silver, iron, evaporite minerals, and clay. (An evaporite is a mineral formed as a solution containing dissolved salts evaporates. Evaporation causes the concentration of salts in the solution to increase, and the ... figures for 2011 show New York production of crushed stone was 36 million metric tons and the stone's value was 414 million. While limestone and dolostone represent the vast majority of the State's crushed ... 2012 Fact Sheets Products of New York State Mines Crushed Stone (limestone) Crushed stone is Iowa's leading mineral commodity, with a production of 38 million tons, valued at 186 million, accounting for almost 50% of the state's mineral value. The major use of crushed stone is for road resurfacing, with the material also used in cement ■Construction of an average modern home requires 400 tons of aggregates. ■15,000 tons of aggregates are required for the construction of an average size school or hospital. ■Crushed stone, sand and gravel are used by water and sewer facilities for filtration in water purification and sewage treatment. Crushed Stone – grey, clean stone crushed to a number of sizes. Sizes: 3/8", 5/8", ¾", 11/2", 21/2", 3"5", 5"10" ¾" Blend – a blend of ¾" crushed stone dust for packing. production and use. In quarry Crushed stone is used for concrete aggregate, for road building, and, in the case of limestone, as flux in blast furnaces and for chemical applications. The quarrying technique consists of drilling and blasting to fragment the rock. A large number of .

When studying compulsory education or for a trade or profession, some requirements, dates, and penalties can make said explore stressful or unpleasant. In theory, learning a hobby should not happen since there is no obligation. Learning a hobby should be enjoyable, challenging, or even fun. If this is not the case, something is wrong, either the teacher or the student, and it should be reviewed. On the other hand, not everything is always fun, exciting or relaxing in hobbies. Like any activity, it can have some negative aspects that must be known and assumed. If, for example, you want to learn to play the piano, it is reasonable that you have to learn some music theory. This essential learning can seem dry and unrelated to what one wants, and then one must assume when one knows to work later, that the end justifies the means and that something must be sacrificed to have fun later. The advantage is that if the unpleasantness is excessive, there is nothing serious about giving up, except perhaps a useless waste of money and time and a possible frustration and discouragement that should be easily overcome. However, for these reasons and to avoid hobby failure, it is for this reason that one must try to choose well what one wants, just as it happens in working life. In this sense, it is interesting to know the duration and levels of difficulty of said learning before choosing the hobby or starting to learn it. It is necessary to highlight parents’ and educators’ unique roles in children or young people. In these cases, the responsibility falls on them to deduce what may be more convenient for the child, considering that a good hobby can benefit life. And to correctly choose the way of learning. Something similar can happen with therapists who decide for people with limitations or with relatives or caregivers of older adults with an impairment who cannot make good decisions for themselves. In conclusion, the main points to consider when considering learning a hobby are: 1-Learning a hobby should be pleasant, although there may be frustrating moments. 2-You must set a realistic goal and choose between essential learning, intermediate or advanced level. 3-It is convenient to know, before starting, the duration, difficulties and cost of learning the hobby that interests us. 4-Parents and educators play an essential role in the learning of children and young people.

Pool water, equipment and surfaces can become discoloured due to contamination, sunlight and the presence of metals in pool water. Metals are often introduced into the water via source water, equipment (corrosion of heater parts), pool chemicals or other pool devices. Changes in water balance (usually from an increase in pH or application of a shock product) can cause the metals to become insoluble and allow them to drop onto the pool surface, resulting in staining. Iron and copper are the two most common types stains. Some stains may be organic in nature (such as black algae and pink slime) and should be treated with algaecides and shock.

Scientists pinpoint molecular signal that drives and enables spinal cord repair Researchers from King's College London and the University of Oxford have identified a molecular signal, known as 'neuregulin-1", which drives and enables the spinal cord's natural capacity for repair after injury. The findings, published today in Brain, could one day lead to new treatments which enhance this spontaneous repair mechanism by manipulating the neuregulin-1 signal. Every year more than 130,000 people suffer traumatic spinal cord injury (usually from a road traffic accident, fall or sporting injury) and related healthcare costs are among the highest of any medical condition - yet there is still no cure or adequate treatment. Spinal cord injury has devastating consequences for muscle and limb function, but the central nervous system does possess some limited capacity to repair itself naturally. Understanding what drives this repair mechanism could aid the development of new treatment strategies aimed at boosting the self-healing capacity of the injured spinal cord by taking advantage of 'tools' that the spinal cord already possesses. For the first time researchers from King's and Oxford have identified one of these tools, neuregulin-1, which signals from the surface of damaged nerve fibres during a process called 'spontaneous remyelination." Spontaneous remyelination is a period of natural regeneration that happens in the weeks following a spinal cord injury. The process takes place as a result of damage to spinal nerve fibres which have lost their insulating 'myelin sheath". This myelin sheath is crucial for efficient communication between the brain and the body. However, this natural capacity for repair is not sufficient for full recovery and may account for the compromised function of surviving nerve fibres, which can affect balance, coordination and movement. The researchers found that, in mice lacking the neuregulin-1 gene, spontaneous myelin repair was completely prevented and spinal nerve fibres remained demyelinated (i.e. unable to send nerve signals along the spinal cord). They also discovered that mice without neuregulin-1 showed worse outcomes after spinal cord injury compared to mice with the gene intact, particularly in walking, balance and coordinated movements. Not only did neuregulin-1 drive spontaneous remyelination, but it also served as a molecular switch for cells within the spinal cord to transform themselves into cells with remyelinating capacity. This is unusual, according to the researchers, because the "Schwann' cells with new remyelinating capacity normally only myelinate nerve fibres in the peripheral nervous system - not the central nervous system, as observed here. Elizabeth Bradbury, Professor of Regenerative Medicine & Neuroplasticity at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, and Medical Research Council Senior Fellow, said: "Spinal cord injury could happen to anyone, at any time. In an instant your life could change and you could lose all feeling and function below the level of the injury. "Existing treatments are largely ineffective, so there is a pressing need for new regenerative therapies to repair tissue damage and restore function after spinal cord injury. "These new findings advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms which may orchestrate the body's remarkable capacity for natural repair." Professor Bradbury added: "By enhancing this spontaneous response, we may be able to significantly improve spinal cord function after injury. Our research also has wider implications for other disorders of the central nervous system which share this demyelinating pathology, such as multiple sclerosis." Dr Katalin Bartus, also from the IoPPN at King's College London, said: "We hope this work will provide a platform for future research, in which it will be important to test how enhancing levels of neuregulin-1 will improve functional outcome after spinal cord injury."

Yellow Corydalis, also known as 'Kemuning Kuning,' is a perennial plant from the Papaveraceae family. It grows up to 30-60 cm tall, with charming yellow flowers. A must-have for any Indonesian garden! Summary of Plant Details: Common Name: Yellow Corydalis Habitat: Open woodlands, meadows, and gardens Exploring the Beauty of Yellow Corydalis Plant: A Close Look at Corydalis luteaHave you ever come across a yellowish plant with delicate flowers and wondered what it is? That's the Yellow Corydalis, scientifically known as Corydalis lutea. This charming plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae, phylum Tracheophyta, and class Magnoliopsida. In this article, we will delve into the stunning features and interesting facts about this lovely herbaceous plant. The Origin of Yellow CorydalisYellow Corydalis is native to the temperate regions of Europe and Western Asia, making it a common sight in these areas Yellow Corydalis. It is believed to have originated from Europe and Western Asia, and it has managed to spread to other parts of the world due to its immense beauty. Appearance and CharacteristicsAt first glance, Yellow Corydalis might seem like an ordinary plant, but upon closer look, its beauty becomes evident. This plant has brick-red stems that grow up to 30 to 60 cm in height, adorned with fern-like leaves. The leaves are blue-green and are divided into fine, delicate leaflets, giving it a feathery appearance. One of the most striking features of Yellow Corydalis is its bright yellow flowers that bloom in spring and summer. These flowers are small and bell-shaped, resembling miniature snapdragons. They grow in clusters, adding a burst of color to any landscape. The flowers are followed by seed pods, which contain black, pea-sized seeds that can self-sow and spread the plant naturally. Habitat and Geographical DistributionYellow Corydalis thrives in open woodlands, meadows, and gardens, making it a versatile plant Yellow Birch. It is also known to grow in rocky areas and along riverbanks. You can easily spot this plant growing in damp, shady areas, but it can tolerate full sun as well. Due to its resilient nature, Yellow Corydalis has been able to spread to various parts of the world, including North America and New Zealand. Benefits of Yellow CorydalisApart from its aesthetic appeal, Yellow Corydalis also holds many benefits. This plant has been used in traditional medicine for centuries due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The roots of this plant contain alkaloids that have a soothing effect, making it a useful treatment for nervousness, insomnia, and pain relief. It has also been used to treat lung conditions, digestive issues, and even skin conditions. However, it is essential to consult a medical professional before using any plant for medicinal purposes. Growing and Caring for Yellow CorydalisIf you are looking to add Yellow Corydalis to your garden, you will be pleased to know that it is an easy plant to grow and care for. This plant prefers moist, well-drained soil and thrives in partial to full shade. It can also tolerate dry spells, but be sure to water it adequately to promote healthy growth. Yellow Corydalis can be grown from seeds or divisions of existing plants, and it is a perennial, so it will come back year after year. Closing ThoughtsYellow Corydalis is a stunning plant that adds a touch of beauty to any landscape. Its bright yellow flowers, delicate leaves, and versatile nature make it a popular choice among gardeners. Whether you are looking to add a pop of color to your garden or incorporate traditional remedies, Yellow Corydalis is an excellent choice. Plus, its low-maintenance nature makes it ideal for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Next time you come across this plant, you will know its scientific name – Corydalis lutea, and appreciate its beauty even more. Plant Details Yellow Corydalis - Scientific Name: Corydalis lutea - Categories: Plants Y - Scientific Name: Corydalis lutea - Common Name: Yellow Corydalis - Kingdom: Plantae - Phylum: Tracheophyta - Class: Magnoliopsida - Order: Papaverales - Family: Papaveraceae - Habitat: Open woodlands, meadows, and gardens - Geographical Distribution: Native to the temperate regions of Europe and Western Asia - Country of Origin: Europe and Western Asia - Location: Open woodlands, meadows, and gardens - Color: Yellow - Body Shape: Herbaceous - Size: Grows up to 30-60 cm in height - Age: Perennial - Reproduction: By seeds - Behavior: Deciduous - Conservation Status: Not listed - Use: Ornamental plant in gardens - Unique Features: Delicate, fern-like foliage - Interesting Facts: The flowers of Yellow Corydalis resemble bumblebees, which may help in attracting actual bees for pollination - Type of Photosynthesis: C3 - Type of Root: Fibrous root system - Maximum Height: Grows up to 60 cm in height - Climate Zone: Temperate - Soil Type: Well-drained, loamy soil - Ecological Role: Attracts pollinators - Type of Reproduction: Sexual - Flowering Season: Spring and early summer - Water Requirements: Moderate watering The Delicate Beauty of Yellow Corydalis: A Closer Look at its Unique FeaturesNature never ceases to amaze us with its beautiful creations, and the Yellow Corydalis is no exception. This stunning plant, known for its delicate, fern-like foliage and dainty yellow flowers, has captured the hearts of many gardeners and plant enthusiasts. Its unique features and interesting behaviors make it a popular choice for ornamental gardens, while its ecological role as a pollinator attractor adds to its value in the natural world. In this article, we will dive into the world of Yellow Corydalis and explore its distinctive characteristics that make it truly one of a kind WebPolicial.Net. Yellow Corydalis, also scientifically known as Corydalis lutea, is a perennial plant that belongs to the Papaveraceae family. It is native to the central and southern regions of Europe, but has also been introduced to North America, where it has found a new home in many gardens. Its name comes from the Greek word, "Korydalís," which means "crested lark," and refers to its bird-shaped flowers. These unique flowers are not only visually appealing but also play a crucial role in the plant's reproductive cycle. Reproduction, as for most plants, is done through seeds in the Yellow Corydalis. The plant produces small yellow seeds in pods, which are dispersed by animals or wind. However, one interesting fact about this plant is that it is self-fertile, meaning it can pollinate itself without the need for another plant. This unique ability allows it to grow and reproduce even in isolated areas. Seeds can be propagated either through self-seeding or by manually planting them in a suitable environment Yellow Bird Magnolia. One notable behavior of Yellow Corydalis is that it is deciduous, which means it sheds its leaves annually. Unlike evergreen plants that retain their foliage throughout the year, deciduous plants go through a period of dormancy in the winter, which helps them conserve energy and adapt to changing weather conditions. As its leaves wither and fall, Yellow Corydalis becomes less visible, but it comes back to life during the warmer months, proving its resilience and adaptability. Despite its delicate appearance, Yellow Corydalis is a hardy plant that can thrive in various conditions. It can grow up to 60 cm in height, making it suitable for both ground cover and as an accent plant. This plant is best grown in temperate climate zones, with cool summers and mild winters. However, it can also adapt to other climate zones, as long as it is provided with the right growing conditions. To reach its maximum height and produce healthy blooms, Yellow Corydalis requires well-drained, loamy soil. This type of soil provides adequate drainage and moisture retention, allowing the plant's roots to grow and spread. Speaking of roots, Yellow Corydalis has a fibrous root system, which is beneficial in acquiring nutrients and moisture from the soil. These roots are thin and feathery, making it easier for the plant to spread and establish itself in different environments. One of the most remarkable features of Yellow Corydalis is its unique photosynthesis process. Most plants use a process called C3 photosynthesis to produce glucose and oxygen. However, Yellow Corydalis is one of the few species that use Crassulacean acid metabolism, which is more efficient in water retention. This type of photosynthesis allows the plant to thrive even in dry conditions, making it a great addition to any garden, regardless of the climate. Apart from its aesthetic value, Yellow Corydalis also has a crucial ecological role. Its bright yellow flowers, which bloom during the spring and early summer, attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. These insects and animals, attracted by the color and shape of the flowers, help in the plant's reproduction by transferring pollen from one flower to another. Interestingly, the flowers of Yellow Corydalis resemble bumblebees, which may help in attracting actual bees for pollination. Gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers often seek out unique plants that can add beauty and diversity to their backyards. Yellow Corydalis certainly fits the bill in this regard. Its delicate and graceful appearance, combined with its resilience and hardy nature, has made it a favorite among gardeners. But its unique features and behavior are not the only things that make it stand out. Another interesting fact about this plant is that it is not listed as threatened or endangered, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This means that its population is stable, and it is not at risk of extinction. In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the conservation of plants and their habitats due to various human activities. However, with proper awareness and effort, we can preserve and protect these precious natural treasures. By choosing to grow Yellow Corydalis in our gardens, we not only add beauty to our surroundings, but we also contribute to the conservation of this unique plant. The Yellow Corydalis is not just a pretty face; it also has medicinal uses in traditional and herbal medicine. It has been used to treat various ailments, including digestive issues, insect bites, and wound healing. However, it should be noted that the plant contains alkaloids, which can be toxic in large doses. So, it is always important to consult a medical professional before using any plant for medicinal purposes. In conclusion, Yellow Corydalis is a beautiful and unique plant with remarkable features and behaviors that make it truly one of a kind. Its delicate foliage and bright, bee-like flowers are a sight to behold, and its adaptability to different conditions makes it a versatile addition to any garden. It also plays a vital ecological role by attracting pollinators and contributes to the conservation of plant diversity. Its medicinal uses add to its value, but caution must be exercised when using it for these purposes. Next time you come across this stunning plant, take a closer look and appreciate its delicate beauty and the wonders of nature. Exploring the Beauty of Yellow Corydalis Plant: A Close Look at Corydalis lutea Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page 100%. All information provided here is subject to change without notice.

Children are notorious triggers for us as parents. We can be calm, patient and level headed at work or with friends but when our child is escalating we often mirror this accidentally. This is evolutionary, it is because our child’s distress creates distress in our own brain. The harder it is for us to be calm as parents, the harder it is to help calm and soothe our children when they are emotional. The good news is, there are some simple tips and strategies that are very effective in helping respond to your children’s emotions in a way that helps them learn to calm themselves down rather than wind themselves up when they are distressed.This process includes responding to our children’s emotions by assisting them to notice their feelings, self-soothe, and then choose a behaviour that meets their needs when they are calm. Note to parents: this is not a quick fix, but a quick and easy to implement techniques that when used consistently over time (weeks/months/years) builds and creates neural-networks in the brain that are linked to self-management and emotion management. Teaching skills is not only beneficial for your child but it also strengthens and supports building your relationship with your child. There is nothing more powerful than connecting to and attuning to our children when they are in the midst of emotions. When your child is caught up in an emotion, their fight or flight system is activated and it is impossible for them to rationalise or problem-solve until they are calm. This means that sometimes it is more important to allow your child to take a pause and calm down before speaking to them or disciplining them. The way in which we help soothe this neural response is by listening, validating and attuning to the emotion in our child. Quick tips to manage big emotions in your child: 1. Be aware of your own feelings, as well as your child’s 2. Help your child take a breath and do a self-soothing activity 3. Once your child is calm, address their emotion first. Notice what you see in their BODY and what you might imagine they are feeling. Be CURIOUS, for example: “Hmm.. that looked like a really BIG feeling. I wonder if it was a sadness.. hmm I am not so sure, what do you think?” 4. Allow them to confirm or give an alternative. Encourage them to be curious about their emotions. “What does the emotion look like? Where do you feel it?” 5. After space has been given and they are calm, address their NEED and behaviour. “When you yell, it’s hard for mummy or daddy to know what you need.. what are some other ways you could tell me what you want?” 6. Set limits while helping your child problem-solve. Reiterate that all feelings are ok but certain behaviours are not. For example, “I can see how angry you are with your sister. It’s OK to be angry but it’s not OK to hit.” Get tailored content based on your week of pregnancy By signing up, you agree to receiving our Newsletters. Cancel anytime. Jaimie Bloch Follow + Jaimie Bloch is a leading child and family Clinical Psychologist and the Director of MindMovers Psychology. Jaimie uses her flair for creativity to encompass both holistic and evidence-based approaches that are simple to understand, practical and easily implemented. Jaimie is an expert in developing programs and psychological materials for schools, corporations,... Get paid to review the latest brands and products

Working principle of motor thermal protector Motor thermal protection is the control of the protection of electrical components, its working principle is to use the thermal effect of current to promote the action mechanism, so that the control circuit of the AC contactor coil loss of power and broken, so as to cut off the series in the main circuit of the circuit power supply. It is mainly used for overload protection of motors. Some thermal relays also have the functions of phase break protection and current imbalance protection. Mainly used for motor overload protection, some motor thermal protection also has phase break protection, current imbalance protection function. There are two thermal components, which are the main part of the thermal protection of the motor. They are composed of a bimetallic sheet and a resistance wire around the bimetallic sheet. Bimetallic plates are welded by two metal plates with different expansion coefficients. In normal operation, the three groups of resistance wires are directly connected in series on the three-phase circuit of the motor load. The normally closed contact is connected to the contactor coil branch of the motor control circuit. When motor coil winding overcurrent caused by overload, and after a certain period of time, the heat generated by the heating element is enough to make the bimetallic strip to bend, insulation plate and push them to the right distance, guide and promote temperature compensator and leverage, divide the dynamic contact and the static contact, so that the motor power ac contactor release in a circuit, three-phase mains removed, It can protect the motor from burning out due to the high temperature generated by the overload current. After the power is cut off, the thermal protection of the motor begins to cool down, and after a period of time, the bimetal strip recovers to the initial state and restores, so the contact automatically resets under the action of the spring. This motor thermal protection can also be manually reset. At this time, as long as the screw is removed to a certain position, so that the rotation of the contact exceeds a certain Angle, in this case, even if the bimetallic plate is cooled, the contact cannot be automatically reset, and manual force must be adopted, that is, pressing the reset button to move the contact. This is necessary to prevent the motor from starting again if the fault is not removed. The reasonable selection and correct use of motor thermal protection directly affect the safe operation of electrical equipment, so the following problems should be emphasized during installation (1) When installing wiring of the motor thermal protection, the dirt on the contact surface should be removed to avoid the circuit obstruction or excessive contact resistance affecting the working characteristics of the motor thermal protection. (2) The connection wire of the main loop of the motor thermal protection should not be too thin to avoid the heating of the connection terminal and the wire affecting the normal work of the motor thermal protection. (3) The motor thermal protection is installed with other electrical appliances, and should be installed under the output of other electrical appliances to avoid the influence of other action characteristics by the heat of other electrical appliances.

SEATTLE (AP) — By the time you read this story, what it describes will probably have disappeared beneath the waves. That’s how it was meant to be — and how it used to be. Since time immemorial, as the saying goes, people in what is now Washington and British Columbia farmed the sea with a type of environmental engineering called clam gardening. Around the time Europeans showed up here, the practice was lost. “It was stolen from us,” Swinomish Tribal Senator Alana Quintasket told KUOW. “All of our teachings, all of our practices, our connections to this place, our connections to each other, our connections to all living things was stolen from us with settler colonialism.” Quintasket stood in the mud where Skagit Bay becomes Kiket Island. “We’re working hard to restore these practices, to bring back these teachings, and to restore our relationships,” she said. A few dozen people in work gloves and rubber boots gathered on that small island about 50 miles north of Seattle, during one of the lowest tides of the year. “We are starting to build the rock wall for our clam garden,” Quintasket said. It’s believed that a clam garden — a traditional, Indigenous way of boosting shellfish production — hasn’t been built in the United States for close to 200 years. Rock by rock, this muddy gathering is changing that. As beefy men strain to push wagons of boulders through the mud, adults and children form a long line down to the water’s edge. Each link in the human chain twists at the waist to hand a heavy rock to the next person until it nears the nascent wall. Conversation and laughter abound. “We’re passing rocks,” said Marcia Julius of LaConner, a Swinomish Tribe historic preservationist and tribal member. “This seems to make more sense than all of us going back and forth.” If you’ve ever heard the tribal saying, “when the tide goes out, the table’s set,” then you have a sense of how important shellfish are to Native cultures in this part of the world. “It’s definitely a part of who we are,” said Julius, who was helping build the wall with her three kids. “Our lives work better when we’re able to eat our traditional foods.” Gradually, 33 tons of hand-carried rocks coalesce into a wall about knee high and nearly 200 feet long. It arcs along a contour line 2 feet below the typical low tide. Most of the time, the wall will be submerged, invisible to visitors to the Kukutali Preserve, co-managed by the Swinomish Tribe and Washington State Parks. Over time, the sturdy but porous structure should capture sediment on its upland side and expand the shallow, gently sloping habitat for things like butter clams and littleneck clams. As with any backyard garden, continual tending—in this case, by clearing rocks and algae from the clam-growing areas and digging into the sediment with sticks to aerate it—will be part of ensuring a productive harvest. Clam gardens grow four times more butter clams and twice as many littleneck clams as unterraced beaches do, according to a study of dozens of ancient clam gardens around Quadra Island, British Columbia. Young littleneck clams planted in the centuries-old terraces grew nearly twice as fast, making more local protein available to shellfish harvesters. Michael Wilson of the Pauquachin Nation on Vancouver Island has come down from Canada to help. “Seaweed, crabs, clams, oysters, everything comes right in behind his wall, and it gets protected, and it’ll get more nutrition than when there’s no wall here,” Wilson said. In British Columbia, a few First Nations, as Indigenous groups are known there, have rebuilt clam gardens, traces of which had survived centuries of disuse. “We wanted to have as much food as we can for our people,” Wilson said. Members of those First Nations are sharing their expertise and muscle across the invisible, watery border with Washington state. “These teachings have been with us for thousands of years. Government didn’t want us to do this,” said Woody Underwood, visiting from the Tsawout Nation on Vancouver Island. Carbon dating has shown some clam gardens near Vancouver Island to be as old as Egyptian pyramids: 3,500 years or more. Between forced relocation and other human rights abuses, Canadian governments almost stamped out this ancient practice. “In Canada, we were colonized by the plow,” Underwood said. “They wanted to turn us into farmers.” Underwood says it’s been a long haul, but Coast Salish people on both sides of the border are bouncing back. “So seeing us here today, guess what? We didn’t only survive, but we’re thriving,” he said. “I’m just grateful my kids were able to be here and to witness and be a part of what will be here for generations to come,” Julius said. How soon all the rock hauling on Kiket Island will benefit Swinomish diets is unclear. It takes a butter clam about three years to grow to harvestable size, according to Western Washington University marine ecologist and Samish Nation member Marco Hatch. “What we’re doing here is something that hasn’t been done in living memory, which is build a clam garden from scratch,” Hatch said. “So we don’t really know how long does it take for those sediments to fill in or what that’s going to look like.” On the beach, the long chain of rock passers looks like an old-timey bucket brigade for fighting a fire. But it’s more like a boulder brigade for fighting climate change. Crushed shell bits are expected to wash in and pile up behind the wall. They can locally neutralize some of carbon dioxide that’s making sea water more acidic and less hospitable to shellfish as well as overheating the planet. “We’re supporting our relatives of the sea in a time of crisis,” said Quintasket, the Swinomish senator. “It’s not just climate change anymore. We are in crisis mode, and this is just a little bit of work that we can do to support their home to make sure that they’re surviving with us.” While the ecological benefits might take years to materialize, the human benefits have already begun. “Our people getting to know each other is as important as the restoration work we do,” Underwood said, “because we’re restoring our culture.” Coast Salish people were cut off from many of their relatives and natural resources after the Oregon Treaty of 1846 drew a zigzag US-Canada boundary midway between Vancouver Island and the North American mainland. “It’s much more than just moving rocks and building a wall. This is bringing back who we are as Coast Salish people, as indigenous people to this place,” Quintasket said. Quintasket says one of the biggest benefits of the muddy manual labor has been getting to work with tribal relatives from the other side of that saltwater border. “It’s brought nations together that haven’t been brought together in generations, you know?” she said. Some walls divide communities. This one is bringing them together.

Home » Aqua-news » Catfish Can Communicate3.02 |Catfish Can Communicate Release from: Asian News International Washington: In a new research, scientists have used a combined fish tank and sound-proof chamber to show for the first time that catfish of all ages can communicate with one another by making a 'squeaking' sound. The research saw Walter Lechner and a team of researchers from the University of Vienna studying the catfish Synodontis schoutedeni, which, by rubbing the spines of its pectoral fins into grooves on its shoulder, is able to create a 'squeaking' sound. "This study is the first to demonstrate that absolute hearing sensitivity changes as catfish grow up. This contrasts with prior studies on the closely related goldfish and zebrafish, in which no such change could be observed," said Lechner. "Furthermore, S. schoutedeni can detect sounds at all stages of development, again contrasting with previous findings," he added. The catfish use the squeaking sound to warn of predators and during competition between members of the species. By investigating the animals in specially modified tanks, Lechner and his colleagues were able to record the sounds made and perceived by fish of various sizes, from very young to adult. According to Lechner, "We found that as fish get larger, the sounds they make increase in level and duration. Hearing sensitivities increase with growth, but even the youngest fish are capable of communicating over short distances." |Comments: 0Views: 3992

To reflect on something is to seek a deeper meaning. So when are people most likely to reflect on their own lives, when they are walking through a busy city filled with loud people and roaring noises or when they are alone in a quiet room? People’s thoughts are most likely to wander when they are at peace with limited distractions. In Carl Sandburg’s poem “Window”, he describes how random distractions disrupt the process of self reflection by using the image of a train ride at night. “Window” is a simple poem with a complex meaning. It can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the reader. The literal image readers get from this poem is looking out the window of a train at nighttime. However, by reflecting on this image, the meaning…show more content… When reading “Window”, one would imagine they are looking out a train window only to see nothing but the night and its endless darkness. Carl Sandburg describes the nighttime as, “a great, dark, soft thing” (line 2). Especially right before dawn, darkness is vast and does not seem to have an ending or a beginning which is why it would be so great. Despite that, seeing absolutely nothing but maybe one’s reflection in the train window would not be intimidating but rather calming, according to Sandburg. This is why he describes the darkness from the train window as a soft thing. Based on this, the reader’s image of darkness becomes peaceful and…show more content… It is a tool that helps people see in the dark. Carl Sandburg describes light as a violent thing that takes away from the soft darkness. When one is at peace with the darkness the light can come as shocking. Sandburg describes how quickly light can interrupt the night by saying, “broken across with slashes of light” (line 3). With this image, readers are left confused as their thoughts of only the night have been broken. The light would be quick to come and go, and it would hurt the eyes of someone who has adjusted to the dark. It is counterproductive to the darkness, eliminating the good and

The Environmental Defense Fund released a report this week on the growing industry of detecting and reducing methane emissions. As drilling companies look to natural gas as a cleaner alternative to coal, its main component, methane, is a cause for concern. Methane mitigation companies are turning this concern into profit and jobs. Unburned natural gas is primarily methane, both a powerful greenhouse gas and a valuable product. Many companies have effectively developed technologies and services that capture these emissions from oil and gas systems, according to the Datu report. Increased use of these available solutions can create new, well-paying American jobs for skilled workers, save industry over $1 billion in lost product and reduce air pollution. The study looked at 76 firms across 46 states that manufacture equipment to detect methane leaks and offer related services. Although some are large firms employing tens of thousands of people, more than half of these companies employ 500 or less people and qualify as small businesses. They offer a median hourly wage of more than $30 per hour, exceeding the national average, according to SNL Financial. The majority of these firms are located in states where oil and gas production is on the rise, including Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. The U.S. EPA estimated that 29 percent of industrial methane emissions are linked to oil and gas production, and there is still work to be done when it comes to regulation. EDF Reported: Greater state and federal oversight is needed to limit methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Colorado adopted the nation’s first air pollution rules that require oil and gas companies to control both emissions of methane and smog-forming VOCs (volatile organic compounds). The rules, supported by energy companies and environmentalists, reduce nearly 200,000 tons of methane and VOCs each year—equal to the amount produced by all the cars and trucks in Colorado. Colorado’s rules are a model for smart policy with clear economic, environmental and health benefits. While this side effect of drilling for natural gas industry is creating jobs, the industry has its dark side, as IE investigated in the Dark Side of the Boom series. Just last week, a worker in a Wyoming natural gas facility died. There is also growing doubt that natural gas is the answer to a greener planet.

Here are 10 places around the world named after Queen Elizabeth II: Around 437,000sq km (169,000sq miles) of British Antarctic Territory was named after the monarch to mark her diamond jubilee in 2012.The triangular segment is nearly twice the size of Britain and stretches from the South Pole to the Ronne Ice Shelf on the Weddell Sea. Seven decades earlier in 1931, this slice of Antarctica was discovered by the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition and named after the young Elizabeth, who was third in line to the throne.Roughly covering the section south of India, it is now part of Australian Antarctic Territory. The former wasteland in east London that staged the 2012 Olympics was renamed after the Games to mark the diamond jubilee celebrating 60 years on the throne.Queen Elizabeth memorably opened the Olympics with a sequence that appeared to show her parachuting down to the stadium with James Bond. Straddling the equator, the east African country's most visited national park is known for its lions, hippopotamuses, elephants, crocodiles and leopards, along with volcanic cones and crater lakes.The 1,978sq km park was renamed after a visit by the monarch in 1954. The tiny park in Hanover Square was created to remember the 67 British victims of the 2001 terror attacks in the city but was renamed in 2012 when it was rededicated as the memorial site for all the Commonwealth victims.The monarch officially opened the garden in Lower Manhattan in 2010. The Parry Archipelago was renamed in 1953 to mark the coronation. The northernmost cluster of Canada's islands include Ellesmere Island, the world's 10th biggest.Despite their vast size at 419,061sq km, the Arctic islands have a population of just 400. At the top of Ellesmere sits Alert, the northernmost settlement in the world. The new £2.5bil (RM12.9bil) Heathrow Terminal 2 was officially opened by the monarch in 2014. Around a quarter of Heathrow's passengers fly through T2.The sovereign never actually used the terminal: there is a plush VIP terminal used by heads of state elsewhere in the airport. Once the largest general hospital in the Commonwealth, the facility in Kowloon opened in 1963, when Hong Kong was still a British colony. The monarch's husband Prince Philip laid the foundation stone.Hong Kong's biggest hospital is the prime treatment centre for civil disasters and helicopter-transferred patients. Queenstown was the first new town built on the city-state island to cope with its booming population and was named to mark the 1953 coronation.Around 100,000 people live in the 20sq km area. Developed as a self-contained community, it houses largely older, original residents in high- and low-rise blocks. Intended to showcase the Western Australia capital on an international stage, the new area contains a mixture of luxury hotels, apartments, office blocks and restaurants.The man-made Swan River inlet officially opened in 2016. The new entertainment and leisure precinct were billed as "the place to be, see and do" in Perth. – AFP Hospitals in Kota Kinabalu named after the Queen Named after the British monarch, Sabah's Queen Elizabeth Hospital was built after World War II, in 1957. Queen Elizabeth II was the reigning sovereign of the colonial British Empire during its establishment then. The original building was located along Jalan Tuaran, in Jesselton (later renamed Kota Kinabalu). Consisting of just one block, it was a wooden structure with attap roofs. It had 208 beds. Since 1957, the hospital has experienced rapid expansion, with new buildings added to it. A tower block was built in 1981 at a cost of RM20mil. The queen visited the hospital in 1971. Today, there's a second hospital named after the queen – Queen Elizabeth Hospital 2 – off Jalan Damai Luyang. – The Star/Evelyn Len

You’ve probably heard all the old sayings when it comes to internet safety: don’t talk to strangers online, don’t post your address, don’t use your real name, exercise caution with what you post on social media … But often times the best way to remember something is through a list of rules or a safety checklist. Whether you’re using the internet for work, marketing, banking or just to stay up to date with your favourite social networks, it’s unthinkable to imagine life without it. However, as convenient and easy to use as it is, the internet poses a number of risks and safety concerns for us all. According to Internet Matters, a charity that was set up by government initiative seven years ago to provide practical information for parents on ways in which they can help protect children from online risks, over 12% of children have been bullied online. If you have a teenage son or daughter at home who is using the Internet, it’s important to teach them about the privacy and security issues they may encounter while surfing online. A survey by the Suffolk Cybersurvey has revealed that young people aged 14-15 are most likely to encounter online risks and have their personal information compromised than any other age group. The results of the survey are available at: The Suffolk Cybersurvey Every family needs to know how to protect themselves from cyber-bullying, identity theft, and other dangers while using the internet. Even location tracking apps can also help to stay in touch with your teenage daughter or son. The Internet is full of dangers for our kids. That’s why you have to be on your toes and know what not to do online. Here are some rules that will help you and your family stay safe in this virtual world. You are responsible for your child’s safety online. 1 Personal Information and anonymity Our kids spend an excessive amount of time online and it is essential to teach them what not to do when using the internet. There are many internet safety tips and a checklist that can help families stay safer online and in the real world. One of the top rules for kids to follow is never give out your personal information on the internet or share it with someone you do not know. Internet safety starts at home and a parent should be educating all users on proper cyber safety. 2 Be involved and Put yourself in control The internet is a great place for children – it’s full of fun and exciting possibilities. While there are many useful, interesting and educational sites, some children may be exposed to more adult content than you’d prefer. Some people might try to talk to your child online or trick them into revealing personal information. Make sure you tell your child about these dangers and explain what they should do if they see or experience anything like this. There are no rules on the internet. Many websites try to stop children seeing unsuitable material, but anyone can put any content on the internet. This means that you need to be more vigilant when your child goes online. It’s important to keep a balance between allowing your child freedom to explore the internet and keeping them safe. Improving your knowledge of online safety will help you keep your children safe wherever they are online. 3 Safe Search and Use Password Are your children using the internet independently? Do they know how to search safely? If you let them use the internet, it’s important that you make sure they’re protected from cyber bullying and unsavoury content that is accessible via a Google search. If your child uses the internet without your supervision you may want to restrict them to only use safe search. Even if you do decide to let them search on their own you may wish to make it less likely that they will come across adult content. The safest and most secure search when you’re using the family computer is to use a search engine that has been pre-set to filter inappropriate content. Set passwords on all your internet-enabled devices and don’t share them with your child. Before your child gets the internet, you can use filters in your router to block harmful or inappropriate content. You’ll be able to manage and control what they’re doing online from a single location. When your children have access to a device, such as a tablet or games console, make sure there isn’t WiFi enabled unless there’s someone watching them and only give them access to age-appropriate websites like those from the BBC or Disney. In addition to fighting against sexual predators, cyber bullies and other dangerous people online, children and teens can be exposed to content or products that are inappropriate for their age. Be careful, because children are much more vulnerable to internet crime than adults. They are less likely to understand what is happening or feel in control of what they’re doing online. 4 Use age-appropriate sites and apps Many children are online at a very young age, so you’ll find plenty of advice to help children and parents avoid unsuitable and harmful content. For example, although you should be careful about what they watch on TV and on websites, there’s no need to overprotect your child; they already know how to use YouTube Kids and the CBeebies app (and watching those doesn’t mean they’re going to stumble across explicit material). You can use parental control apps to monitor your Kids. The NSPCC have some great advice on how parents and guardians can help protect kids online. 5 Start discussions early Social networking sites can be a great way of keeping in contact with family and friends. However, used improperly, they could put the security of your children’s personal information at risk. Social networking sites are a great way for children to make friends, ask questions and learn. There are a variety of sites available. It’s good to talk to children about the benefits and risks of social networking before they join any sites. Let them know that anything they upload, email or message could stay around forever online, even if they delete it. Adults and young people use the internet for lots of different reasons. So it is important for us to have honest conversations about how to be safe and enjoy the benefits of technology – without letting it control our lives. What’s more, these discussions can take place in a non-judgemental way where you encourage your child not to feel scared, but have confidence that they are able to stay safe online. It’s your job to listen carefully and respond usefully so they trust you to help them safely, whatever the future holds. 6 Aware of Public Wi-Fi network scams The move to using phones and tablets for internet access has led to a significant growth in the use of public WiFi hotspots. But not all online activity is safe. If you want to use public WiFi hotspots, it is crucial that children are made aware of online safety rules designed to minimise the risk of harm. Many schools, colleges and public places now offer free WiFi, but you need to be aware that it isn’t necessarily safe for children to use. Some providers have specific child-safe filters active, which means your child will only be able to access a limited number of websites, or you can choose which websites you want them to be able to access by using Virtual Private Network (VPN) software. 7 Check app restrictions and ratings Age ratings are usually displayed on the packaging so look for the PG, 12, 15 or 18 symbols. These emblems show you what type of content you can expect and whether it’s suitable for your child. Even YouTube clips have been age-restricted. Un-install or Ban these potential dangerous apps for kids and teenagers. In the modern age, it can seem to be quite an uphill battle, especially for parents, when it comes to internet safety. With all of the media coverage surrounding online abuses and scandals, many parents find themselves asking questions like: What is safe content? How do I keep my child safe when they are online? And, which technologies have been proven to pose threats? There are a growing number of privacy and security issues online. It is important for any family to take those issues seriously and educate ourselves and our children. If you have a teenage child using the internet, you should know your role when it comes to protecting them while they are online. All parents know how tricky it can be to keep up with what their children are doing online. But, with a little internet safety advice from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), you can help them steer clear of inappropriate and potentially dangerous content.

Mexican feather grass for hot days Before we get started with gardening with Mexican feather grass, some context will help us emphasize the value of landscaping with grasses. Lubbock is located in the center of Llano Estacado. The history of this interesting land formation is found in the Texas Guide (tshaonline.org), source of the following information. The Llano Estacado is a flat plateau that includes 32,000 square miles from the Canadian River in the north to the Permian Basin in the south, the Caprock Escarpment in the east and New Mexico’s Mescalero Escarpment in the west. In total, the plateau is larger than all of New England. The tableland was named Llano Estacado in 1541 by explorer Francisco Vázquez de Coronado. In a letter to the King of Spain, he wrote, “I had come to some plains so vast that I could not find their limits anywhere I went, though I had traveled over them for more than 300 leagues… and there were no more earthly marks than if we had reached there”. “It was swallowed up by the sea… There was no stone, no piece of high ground, no tree, no bush, nothing to cross.” (La Liga is about 780 miles.) Llano Estacado translates as fortified plains of bone piles or stakes that early travelers used to mark roads. They are alternately translated as fortified plains or fortified plains for the geological formations that form the cliff edges of the steep escarpments that border the plateau when viewed from below. But let us return to Coronado’s letter in which he described the devastation “…neither tree nor shrub,…” The only truly native plant in Llano Estacado is grass. Mexican feathergrass is a drought-tolerant grass native to western Texas, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. It adds high ornamental value to the landscape through its clumping, willowy growth habit. It is a grass with a soft texture that is sent into motion with slight breezes. The delicate flower heads and long, thin, delicate leaves create a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere as they shimmer and sway in the wind. Mexican feather grass forms dense clumps of long, green, hair-like leaves that give an overall fluffy (feathery) appearance. Plants reach one to three feet in height with the same spread. The plants are perennials, and thrive when grown in full sun in hot, dry locations in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 10. For winter care, allow the leaves to persist throughout the winter months but carefully trim and uproot dead leaves before resuming growth in early spring. Mexican feather grass is self-seeding and propagates by divisions. Divide plants by digging up entire clumps when new shoots appear in spring. Cut the clumps into several sections and replant them. Keep it moist until the root system is established. Mexican feather grass clusters are most effective in the landscape. Ellen Pivley has taught horticulture at the college level for 28 years, 25 of them at Texas Tech University, during which time she has developed two onion varieties. She is now the sole owner of From the Garden, a market garden farm. You can email her at Gardens@suddenlink.net

What is it? Password attacks can be carried out in many different ways, yet share the same end goal of trying to steal passwords in order to gain access to sensitive information. In this blog post we’re going to run through some of the most common ways in which hackers try and steal passwords. These are brute force attacks, dictionary attacks and key logger attacks. Hackers can also use Man in the Middle attacks to secure passwords too, so check out our previous cyber security spotlight to learn more about this method right now. How does it work? Key logger attacks A key logger attack is a relatively sophisticated method of trying to steal passwords. It works by the hacker installing software that records a user’s keystrokes. This allows the hacker to gather everything from usernames and passwords, to the website where the information was entered. In this scenario, the hacker needs the user to fall victim to them twice, once to install the software and then again when the password is stolen. It is this type of attack where strong passwords offer the least protection. Brute force attacks As the name suggests, a brute force attack simply uses a program to generate likely passwords to try and access someone’s password protected files. Typically, it will start by trying weak passwords such as password123. This may sound relatively crude but while ever people continue to dismiss advice around creating strong passwords, this type of attack will continue to be effective for hackers. A dictionary attack is similar to a brute force attack however in this case, hackers take advantage of the fact that passwords tend to include common words. As a result, hackers will try combinations of these common words with numbers before or after them, in order to try and find a successful combination. How can you protect against it? Key logger attacks aside, it is always beneficial to create a strong password for any applications or websites you use regularly and that contain sensitive information. A strong password generally requires a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Where possible avoid common words as well to try and limit the effectiveness of dictionary attacks. As a business is it also very important to make sure your staff are educated around the types of password attacks out there and are aware of social engineering tactics hackers may also use, to try and get users to disclose passwords via email or over the phone. On top of this, it is always advisable to back up strong passwords with functionality such as two-factor or multi-factor authentication and single sign on (SSQ). Single sign on helps eliminate passwords altogether by allowing employees to use one set of credentials to login in to all their apps and websites. On the other hand, multi-factor authentication requires an additional piece of information, such as a pin, in order to login in to key sites and apps. Previous examples of password attacks… Arguably the largest brute force password attack to happen in recent years affected GitHub. This attack also proved to be quite successful as not just one account was comprised but several. During the attack, experts were able to identify brute force login attempts from over 40,000 unique IP addresses, so this demonstrates the scale these kinds of attack can take. Read about even more examples of brute force password attacks just here So, there you have it, a mini overview of password attacks and how to avoid them. If you think your business needs better cyber security don’t rest on your laurels, contact our team

The most important thing we need to know about our cats is that they perceive the world differently from us. So when a cat displays undesirable behavior, it may be due to many different factors. These might include bad habits that weren’t quashed during kittenhood, your cat’s natural instincts, or because they are trying to communicate that something isn’t right in their world. In this article, we will examine why cats may “act out,” how cats learn, and how to implement practical behavior modification techniques, instead of punishment. This guide will help both you and your cat learn to live together in harmony and help you better understand feline behavior. Do Cats Intentionally Misbehave? When a cat feels safe and secure within their home environment, they engage in daily routines with a sense of control over their territory. However, when a cat is anxious, fearful, or unwell and cannot exercise their natural instincts, they will likely behave in a manner that may not be acceptable to us. Domestic cats don’t intentionally misbehave. Cats don’t think like people in terms of doing the right or wrong thing. This means that they don’t feel guilty and they don’t act out of spite. All they care about is fulfilling their daily needs. For instance, a cat may scratch the couch because it’s sturdy and the current cat scratcher is wobbly or because they feel the natural need to mark their territory. A cat may pee on the rug due to a urinary tract infection or bite a caregiver due to boredom and under-stimulation. A cat may also engage in attention-seeking behavior like excessive meowing, which the owner may reinforce unintentionally by feeding the cat, even though the cat isn’t hungry. Understanding how cats learn is the key to helping them correct undesirable behavior and to live their best life. How Cats Learn Behavior always serves a purpose for the animal and relies on the animal’s genetics and environmental input. Conduct continually shifts throughout an animal’s life; cats constantly change and update their behaviors to survive and prosper. First, recognize that your cat is not a dog. Dogs have been shaped across generations to work and train with people. A cat’s learning ability is flexible; their behavior constantly shifts due to exposure to stimuli. They learn continuously by observing us and interacting with their environment. Cats can problem-solve and learn all manner of cat-relevant and human-taught behaviors when motivated to do so and while in a positive emotional state. Training or reprimanding a fearful/anxious cat will not correct any behavior. It will actually exacerbate their anxiety. Let’s look at the most successful methods to discipline a cat. How to Discipline a Cat the Right Way The most effective approach for disciplining a cat and changing their behavior includes providing your cat with an acceptable outlet for their natural behavior. This, along with reward-based training is the way to go. Most techniques rely on Operant Conditioning which is applicable in feline behavior modification. Operant conditioning involves learning by consequence; the cat is either reinforced or punished for their action. Operant Conditioning consists of four quadrants: - Positive Reinforcement (R+) – Add something valued to increase behavior. For instance, teach your cat a cue to sit and instantly reward them with a treat after they sit. - Positive Punishment (P+) – Add something unpleasant to decrease behavior. For example, spray a cat with a water bottle when they jump onto a kitchen counter (to be clear, you should avoid this method). - Negative Reinforcement (R-) – Remove or delay something they don’t like to increase the desired behavior. For example, while approaching a fearful cat in a shelter setting, the trainer takes a few steps back if the cat doesn’t run away. (This method should be used with care by professionals only and where positive reinforcement isn’t an option). - Negative Punishment (P-) – Remove something desirable to decrease the behavior. For instance, if your cat bites your finger during play, stop playtime, remove the toy, and leave the room. Using Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement should be the first training route since it builds confidence and resilience and encourages problem-solving abilities. It teaches animals good manners, tasks, and human-acceptable behaviors (such as using a litter box, coming when called, etc.). All the while, it builds a solid bond between you and your kitty. Here are a few ways to apply the science of positive reinforcement to modify your cat’s undesired behavior. The most effective way to reduce your cat’s counter-surfing is to train them to ‘go onto a mat’ with clicker training. Teaching your cat to go to a specific spot where they get rewarded with treats diminishes the likelihood that they will jump on the counter since there won’t be anything exciting or rewarding for them to do up there. The following video shows Mat Training. If your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night, asking to be fed or wanting playtime, don’t inadvertently reward the behavior by getting up and giving them attention. Instead, train them with interactive playtime or marker training before bedtime to tire them out. Additionally, feed them before you head to bed, set up an automatic feeder, or leave them a puzzle feeder to ‘hunt’ for their meal. Cat Biting While Brushing Although cats carry out most of their own grooming, helping them out through brushing is vital for coat maintenance, matting prevention, and reducing hairballs. If your cat bites during grooming, introduce the brush by letting them sniff it and then reward them with a treat. Gently place the brush on your cat’s favorite place to be pet, and give them a delicate brushing. This will help them to associate the brush with positive feelings. Once your cat is relaxed, continue to increase the length of the time you brush your cat and repeat the above steps until they find grooming a pleasurable experience. Why You Should Not Ignore Your Cat’s Behavior Ignoring your cat to stop bad behavior doesn’t work. When a cat learns that a particular behavior works for them, they will continue relying on that behavior gain something they want. Ignoring your cat will leave them confused and frustrated, potentially leading to aggression in the form of swatting and ankle-biting. Response substitution is much more helpful in changing unwanted behavior and fulfills the cat’s needs. For example, instead of feeding your cat treats every visit to the kitchen, introduce them slowly to a puzzle feeder filled with their favorite food placed in a different room in the home. This removes any potential frustration, ankle-biting, or potential weight gain. Why Punishment Doesn’t Work With Cats Never punish your cat by shouting, smacking, pulling them by the scruff of the neck, or spraying them with water. The biggest problem with negative and positive punishment is that it’s rarely administered precisely at the right time. More often, punishment comes after the event has happened. Hence, your cat may associate it with the offender or something accidental within the environment but not necessarily the ‘crime.’ Moreover, physical punishment doesn’t teach a practical substitution for how to avoid reprisal in the first place. Reprimanding your cat has the potential to cause emotional conflict, anxiety, and frustration. This will only cause your cat to shut down or even create more problematic behavior such as aggression. In the end, the result is potential damage to the human-pet bond. Instead, set your cat up for success by preventing what you don’t want them to do and reinforcing what you do want them to do. No owner wants to ruin a long-lasting relationship with their cat to stop a few undesirable behaviors. Training our cats for success by using reward-based training will teach them exactly what we expect without needing to discipline them in a negative way. Frequently Asked Questions How do you discipline a cat to not do something? The most efficient techniques to correct a cat’s behavior are prevention, redirection, clicker training, and reward for good behavior. Do cats know when you discipline them? Cats don’t understand when you reprimand or tell them off. Cats can feel a change in their owner’s tone of voice and demeanor but rarely do they associate your discipline with the unwanted behavior. We should also ask ourselves if it’s fair to discipline our cats for natural and purposeful behaviors like scratching and climbing up high simply because it doesn’t suit us humans. Can you physically discipline a cat? Never physically discipline a cat! It can sincerely backfire and make your cat fearful of you or humans altogether. Positive reinforcement is the preferred way to teach cats good habits at home without needing to resort to physical discipline. Lastly, consult your veterinarian or an animal behaviorist if you are frustrated with your cat’s destructive or undesired behavior. Academy, K. P. (2016). Why Train a Cat. USA. Retrieved November 12, 2020 Care, I. C. (2020, September 01). Module 6 What do I know and what can I learn. International Cat Care Advanced Feline Behaviour for Vet Professionals. UK. Retrieved November 05, 2022 Consultants, T. I. (2022). IAABC Statement on LIMA. Retrieved November 08, 2022, from IAABC: https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/ Helen Tuzio, T. E. (2004). FELINE BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES. (A. A. Practitioners, Compiler) USA: AAFP. Retrieved November 10, 2022

International Hoof Care Month Just as people trim their fingernails and toenails, and some species of cats shed their dull or broken claws, animals with hooves on their feet need to be taken care of as well. That’s why February is International Hoof Care Month! In case you didn’t already know, a hoof is the horny part of the foot of an ungulate, which is a hoofed animal. Hooves are made of keratin, which is also found in human hair and nails. Ungulates will either be even-toed or odd-toed. While even-toed ungulates can have up to four toes, most have two main hooves on each foot, together called a cloven hoof. Odd-toed ungulates will either walk on one or three toes. When you hear the word hoof, chances are you think of animals like cows, goats and horses. The Virginia Zoo also has several species of animals with hooves that you may not initially think of. In Asia – Trail of the Tiger you can see our Malayan tapir in her exhibit. Tapirs actually are considered hoofstock, or an animal with hooves on its feet. Tapirs are odd-toed ungulates, with three toes on each hoof. Africa – Okavango Delta houses several species of hoofed animals. Watusi cattle,Yellow-backed duikers, Bongo, Red river hogs, and even our giraffes all have hooves on their feet, and are even-toed ungulates. Zebras have one solid hoof, making them an odd-toed ungulate. Our two North American bison are even-toed ungulates and have hooves for their feet. The ZooFarm definitely has some animals with hooves on their feet. Kunekune pigs, Alpacas, Southdown babydoll sheep, Miniature zebu, Dexter cattle, and the Nigerian dwarf goats (who visit in the summer) are all even-toed ungulates. In 2016, two of our Zebras had their hooves maintained by our farrier, Kim Burnop. A farrier is a professional craftsman who specializes in the trimming of horses’ hooves. You can read about Rose, our 12-year-old zebra’s hoof trim here, and her mate Zack’s “new shoe” appointment here. International Hoof Care Month is important because it draws attention to the fact that animals with hooves need proper care in order to have a happy and healthy life. Without the proper care, these animals may develop an infection or can end up walking with a limp. In the wild, animals that develop a limp often become prey because they are weaker and slower than others. A limping animal is also unhealthy because it can lead to other health problems and difficulty doing everyday tasks. Overgrown or worn-down hooves can make walking painful and can eventually lead to other foot or leg problems, including arthritis or joint and tendon issues. Hooves that aren’t maintained can also make eating difficult, as the animal will have trouble bending down for food or water. Several animals also heavily rely on the use of their legs to assist in breeding, so without proper hoof care, the animal will have difficulty trying to mate. Next time you visit the Zoo, be sure to see all of our hoofed animals out and about!

NFTs in the light of the law Legal definition of NFTs An NFT is understood as a unique digital token, registered using blockchain technology, which serves as proof of ownership of a digital collectible. Its uniqueness stems from the ability to assign metadata to the token that irrefutably identifies a given digital asset. An NFT can be thought of as a type of digital certificate of authenticity that provides proof of ownership of an original copy of a digital item. In legal terms, it may take the form of property law – a right that can be the subject of economic transactions. The legal aspects of NFTs, especially in the context of copyright, are being dynamically developed, which is due to the constant changes in blockchain technology and the specifics of digital objects. - Legal status The law provides that NFTs do not transfer full copyrights to a given digital work to the buyer. You gain the right to own a unique copy, but you do not automatically have the right to copy, distribute, or use it commercially. News portals often emphasize that the owner of the NFT should be aware of the restrictions that come from the scope of copyright law, and the contract of sale should clearly define the scope of the rights transferred. - Regulations in Europe In Europe, regulations on non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital art continue to evolve to meet technological challenges. Laws regarding NFTs, taking into account their uniqueness and relationship to copyright, are the subject of debate and interpretation. Directives and regulations The European Union is taking legislative action to regulate the NFT market, however, the specific nature of these assets requires frequent updates and adjustments to the regulations. EU directives provide a legal framework that must be implemented by the Member States, and regulations are directly applicable throughout the Union. At the moment, NFTs can be treated as both a form of digital art and a trademark, which requires the application of appropriate copyright and intellectual property protection laws. Due to the cross-border nature of the NFT marketplace, the application of the law and legal protections may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Issues such as the content of license agreements, the scope of copyright transfers, and national protection are interpreted according to local legislation. Graphic portals, as places where NFTs are listed and sold, must comply with the legal regulations of the country in which they are registered, taking into account consumer protection and antitrust laws. There are significant differences in NFT regulations around the world, reflecting the different approaches of individual jurisdictions. Currently, there is no unified international law that regulates non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Individual countries set their own laws, taking into account copyright and intellectual property issues. The U.S. is taking a relatively liberal approach to NFTs, allowing them to be created and traded through copyright regulation. In the U.S., NFTs created and sold are considered proof of ownership of digital collectibles, however, they do not automatically transfer copyright to the digital work. For example, the news portal Art Lounge Plus may offer NFTs as a means of authenticity and exclusive rights to the work, but it does not transfer the full rights of the creator to the buyer. Feedback from Art Lounge Plus users is often about clarity of information about the scope of rights obtained when purchasing NFTs. NFTs and copyright NFTs, being a digital certificate of ownership, introduce new challenges for copyright law. Understanding the relationship between NFTs and intellectual property is crucial to properly protecting the rights of the creator and use of digital collectibles. Intellectual Property and Licensing When you acquire an NFT, you primarily acquire a token that is proof of ownership or authenticity of a digital collectible, but not necessarily the copyright to the work to which the token is associated. Copyright may be challenged if the creator of the work has not licensed its tokenization or if the license does not cover certain forms of exploitation. - They allow you to use the work in accordance with certain conditions. - They can be exclusive or non-exclusive. The owner of the NFT should pay attention to the scope of the license received to avoid cases of copyright infringement. Protecting Creator Rights Creators must protect their creations in the context of NFTs, especially considering that these tokens can be copied or distributed without their knowledge or consent. To secure the creator's right to compensation for the use of the work, it is important to follow the rules of copyright law and apply agreements that provide an adequate level of protection. Examples of protecting creator's rights: - Registering your work as a trademark. - Use of fair use license agreements. Creators should take appropriate legal measures to control the distribution of their works and prevent their illegal use in NFTs. The NFT industry is booming, and the law often lags behind technological innovation. In the case of NFTs, it is important to understand that although they are not considered a "thing" within the meaning of the Civil Code, it is possible to conclude a contract on terms similar to a sales contract. Copyright plays a significant role in the context of NFTs. Token owners should be aware that they are primarily acquiring proof of ownership of the underlying deed, not full intellectual property rights. This means that they have a limited scope of entitlement to a particular digital work.

Depreciation is defined as a measure of the depletion of an asset’s lifetime thanks to any cause during a specific period of time. “Depreciation may be a measure of the consumption, consumption, or other loss useful of a depreciable asset resulting from use, time wasted, or obsolescence thanks to changes in technology or market. During that point, you’ll be assigned to charge a big portion of the depreciation amount for every accounting period. Depreciation expense includes the depreciation of assets with a predetermined useful life. “ (I) Depreciation may be a decline within the value of fixed assets (excluding land). The decline within the value of an asset is inherently permanent. Once shrunk, it can’t be restored to its original value. (II) Depreciation may be a gradual and continuous process because the worth of an asset decreases thanks to the utilization of the asset or the expiration of your time. (III) Depreciation reduces the value, not the market price of an asset. (IV) Depreciation is merely used for property, plant and equipment. It’s not to waste intangible assets like amortization of goodwill and depletion of natural resources. Causes of depreciation: 1. Normal physical wear and tear: The normal use of an asset causes it to physically deteriorate, leading to a decrease within the value of the asset. 2. Time outflow: Certain intangible assets, like trademarks, patents and copyrights, have a hard and fast lifespan. the worth of those assets diminishes over time, whether or not they’re employed by a corporation. R & D brings innovation within the sort of better, technologically advanced machines that eliminate older machines, albeit they will be physically performed.

- These notes: have been written to be consistent with community, industry and research and teaching based animal welfare legislation - Alpacas are members of the camel family, which originated in the Great Plains of North America. The earliest fossils date back 40 million years ago, when the “camels” were cat sized with four toes. About 5 million years ago, some of them migrated west into Asia where they evolved into Dromedary and Bactrian camels. Others traveled south into South America. The varieties that stayed in North America died out 10-15,000 years ago.

Governments are one of the largest producers of information. This information includes political debates in Parliament and legislatures, statute legislation, technical reports, scientific reports, statistical data, etc. Prior to the introduction of the Internet, many governments (including the Canadian government) distributed such information through Library Depository Programs, whereby government information was sent out to Libraries to facilitate public access. While Library Deposit Programs continue to this day, governments have embraced the Internet as its primary method of disseminating information. As a result, in order to access government information, you have to become proficient at identifying such information using government websites or Internet search engines such as Google. One of the most efficient methods of identifying and accessing such information using an Internet Search Engine is to include domain name parameters in your searches to narrow your searches to government websites. One of the things you need to do is to start noting are the domain names of websites where you find useful information. The Google Advanced Search Engine is a good tool to use to more effectively search for and retrieve government information. The GovernemWhat is a Domain Name? The Domain Name System (DNS) is a hierarchical decentralized naming system for computers, services, or other resources connected to the Internet. Domain Names are translates by domain name servers into the numerical IP addresses, which are needed for locating and identifying computer services and devices on the Internet. For example, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&setup=1&authtype=ip,guest,cpid&custid=s5672116&profile=eds&groupid=main is the name of the OC Library Catalogue, its IP Address 18.104.22.168 The government of Canada Domain Names The Government of Canada is in the process of implementing a new domain name of .canada.ca Provincial and Territorial Domain Names This site is maintained by the librarians of Okanagan College Library. If you wish to comment on an individual page, please contact that page's author. If you have a question or comment about Okanagan College Library's LibGuides site as a whole, please contact the site administrator.

ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental issue that always needs a thorough and multifaceted way of care. Successful ADHD care extends beyond medicine to encompass different strategies addressing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects. The cornerstone of ADHD attention involves making a encouraging atmosphere that acknowledges and accommodates the unique wants of an individual with ADHD. Holistic ADHD treatment stresses the importance of contemplating the complete individual, recognizing that each and every individual’s knowledge with ADHD is unique. This method requires tailoring interventions to the specific issues and benefits of the individual, considering facets such as coexisting conditions, family character, and environmental influences. By handling the holistic well-being of individuals with ADHD, attention services can improve their overall standard of living and functioning. Household involvement is an essential aspect in ADHD care, knowing that the challenges associated with ADHD can influence the whole family unit. Providing knowledge and support to parents and caregivers assists develop an understanding and empathetic environment. In addition it equips members of the family with practical strategies for managing ADHD-related behaviors and fostering positive interaction within the family. Educational advocacy represents a vital position in ADHD treatment, especially in school settings. Relationship between parents, educators, and care companies ensures that academic accommodations and support companies come in position to handle the unique learning wants of students with ADHD. That collaborative approach plays a part in a far more inclusive and supportive academic environment. Beyond old-fashioned medical techniques, lifestyle factors are integrated to powerful ADHD care. Stimulating people who have ADHD to undertake healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, and balanced nutrition can have a confident impact on their overall well-being. These life style facets contribute to raised concentration, mood regulation, and overall cognitive function. Therapeutic interventions, including counseling and behavioral therapy, are essential components of ADHD care. These methods try to enhance emotional regulation, increase coping mechanisms, and address any coexisting conditions, such as anxiety or depression. Counseling provides individuals with ADHD a secure place to examine their emotions, build resilience, and build techniques for controlling stress. In the sphere of ADHD care for adults, the emphasis often also includes moving workplace challenges, making organizational abilities, and handling the unique aspects of person life. Person ADHD treatment highlights the progress of practical techniques for time management, company, and efficient communication, marketing accomplishment in both personal and skilled domains. Neighborhood help sites play an essential position in ADHD attention by fostering understanding, reducing stigma, and providing options for provided experiences. Help communities, advocacy businesses, and online areas contribute to an expression of belonging and empowerment for adhd care near me with ADHD and their families. These sites offer important resources, data, and psychological support through the ADHD treatment journey. In summary, ADHD treatment is a powerful and growing method that needs a individualized, holistic, and collaborative approach. By combining medical, educational, life style, and beneficial interventions, individuals with ADHD can receive extensive support to handle their symptoms and flourish in several facets of life. As attention and understanding of ADHD keep on to cultivate, the subject of ADHD care is poised to integrate impressive strategies and emerging strategies, further enhancing the quality of life for those suffering from this neurodevelopmental condition.

The room will be set up with stations containing different technologies such as Sphero, MircoBits, etc. At each technology, there will be task cards with a mixture of beginning/intermediate/advanced tasks appropriate for elementary-level students. Teachers will explore each technology station and related task cards. Following the activity, we will discuss how task cards can be a starting point when creating full EDP STEM lessons. Examples will be shown using one of the task cards and how it can be transformed into a full STEM experience. The teacher will then have an opportunity to use one of our task cards to create a STEM experience of their own, based on their selected card. Teachers will be given blank task card templates and lesson planning guides for designing their own STEM lessons. Teachers will leave with some new ideas on how to take a simple STEM task card activity and turn it into a full lesson in their classrooms, while also getting to explore a variety of classroom technologies and elementary-appropriate STEM activities. Chauntèe Pitts (Professional Learning Specialist), Lauren Kelly (Crowley ISD: Fort Worth, TX)

Self-supervised learning is a type of machine learning paradigm that learns to predict part of the data from other parts of the same data. It is an unsupervised learning subset that does not require labeled responses to train models. The models are trained to predict one part of the data given other parts, effectively using the data itself as the supervision. The History of the Origin of Self-supervised Learning and the First Mention of It The concept of self-supervised learning can be traced back to the emergence of unsupervised learning techniques in the late 20th century. It was born out of the need to eliminate the expensive and time-consuming process of manual labeling. The early 2000s witnessed the growing interest in self-supervised methods, with researchers exploring various techniques that could utilize unlabeled data efficiently. Detailed Information About Self-supervised Learning: Expanding the Topic Self-supervised Learning Self-supervised learning relies on the idea that the data itself contains enough information to provide supervision for learning. By constructing a learning task from the data, models can learn representations, patterns, and structures. It has become highly popular in areas like computer vision, natural language processing, and more. Methods of Self-supervised Learning - Contrastive Learning: Learns to differentiate between similar and dissimilar pairs. - Autoregressive Models: Predicts subsequent parts of the data based on preceding parts. - Generative Models: Creating new data instances that resemble a given set of training examples. The Internal Structure of Self-supervised Learning: How Self-supervised Learning Works Self-supervised learning consists of three main components: - Data Preprocessing: Segregating data into various parts for prediction. - Model Training: Training the model to predict one part from the others. - Fine-Tuning: Utilizing the learned representations for downstream tasks. Analysis of the Key Features of Self-supervised Learning - Data Efficiency: Utilizes unlabeled data, reducing costs. - Versatility: Applicable to various domains. - Transfer Learning: Encourages learning representations that generalize across tasks. - Robustness: Often yields models that are resilient to noise. Types of Self-supervised Learning: Use Tables and Lists to Write |Differentiates between similar and dissimilar instances. |Sequential prediction in time-series data. |Generates new instances that resemble the training data. Ways to Use Self-supervised Learning, Problems, and Their Solutions Related to the Use - Feature Learning: Extracting meaningful features. - Pretraining Models: For downstream supervised tasks. - Data Augmentation: Enhancing data sets. Problems and Solutions - Overfitting: Regularization techniques can mitigate overfitting. - Computational Costs: Efficient models and hardware acceleration may alleviate computational issues. Main Characteristics and Other Comparisons with Similar Terms Perspectives and Technologies of the Future Related to Self-supervised Learning Future developments in self-supervised learning include more efficient algorithms, integration with other learning paradigms, improved transfer learning techniques, and application to broader fields like robotics and medicine. How Proxy Servers Can Be Used or Associated with Self-supervised Learning Proxy servers like those provided by OxyProxy can facilitate self-supervised learning in various ways. They enable secure and efficient data scraping from various online sources, allowing the collection of vast amounts of unlabeled data necessary for self-supervised learning. Furthermore, they can aid in distributed training of models across different regions. - DeepMind’s Blog on Self-supervised Learning - OpenAI’s Research on Self-supervised Learning - Yann LeCun’s work on Self-supervised Learning This article is sponsored by OxyProxy, providing top-notch proxy servers for your data-driven needs.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Your home and garden support a vast array of animals, but construction/renovating/modifying houses can have a negative effect on different types of wildlife in Britain. But there are changes you can make to give wildlife a home in your house or garden. it is a surprised to us that not much has been written on this at all; there tends to be a focus on what we can do to encourage wildlife in a garden. Here are three species to focus on as simple changes can have a big impact: Swifts are very widespread in Europe and Asia during the summer, but in Britain their populations have suffered. Since 1995 the British Swift population has declined by 38 per cent and the species has been placed on the list of Birds of Conservation Concern as Amber, meaning it is in need of our help after its decline. This is mainly due to the loss of nesting sites. Buildings are continually repaired, so a proportion of the small holes and gaps that swifts like to nest in have been lost. In order to help Swift populations recover you can do the following things: - Fix a wooden swift box to the outside of your home to give them somewhere to nest. - Add eaves/keep the eaves on your house open so that swifts have more places to build their nests. If you’d like to buy a Swift nest box you can get one from the RSPB here. Technically housing is not the main culprit for the threat of bees, changes in agriculture is mainly to blame as there are less wild flowers for bees to pollinate. The result of this has been that two species have become extinct in the UK since the start of the 21st century: - Cullem’s bumblebee (Bombus cullumanus), was last recorded in 1941. - The Short-haired bumblebee (Bombus subterraneus), was last recorded in 1988. You’ll be helping bumblebees survive if you modify your garden to suit bees and give them a home: - Bumblebees need a box the same size as a small bird box. It should have two rooms: one filled with wood shavings for the queen to breed in, the other an empty compartment where the rest of the bees live. - Red mason bees need a box filled with hollow pipes, such as cut lengths of bamboo. They lay their eggs one at a time with a supply of pollen or nectar and a plug of mud between them. - A wood pile will make a safe home for various bees and other invertebrates. Fortunately, all bats and their roosts are protected by law in Britain and it is a criminal offence to remove/harm them. Their population is stable, however, bat roosts are still vulnerable to building works done to a house, or if a house is being demolished. In order to help bats you could: - Build a bat box in order to give them a secondary place to roost. You can buy one from the Bat Conservation Trust here. - Let them roost in your loft without any intervention. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2750″ img_size=”200×100″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]George Storey, Work Experience, 18th July 2016[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Gambling involves wagering money or other valuables on unpredictable outcomes, whether it’s the roll of a dice, a spin of a roulette wheel, or the outcome of a horse race. Despite being viewed as immoral and illegal in the past, gambling has become a popular pastime for many people worldwide. However, it has major social and economic impacts on individuals as well as society at large. Although the negative impacts of gambling are most commonly highlighted in the media, there are also several positive benefits that should not be overlooked. For example, gambling can promote social interaction and provide an alternative form of recreation for individuals. It can also improve critical thinking skills and help individuals learn how to manage risk better. However, it is important to note that the benefits of gambling will only materialize if it is done in moderation. One of the key limitations in previous gambling impact studies is how to capture social impacts, which are non-monetary and therefore difficult to quantify. Moreover, social impacts can have long-term effects that can change an individual’s life course and even pass on to future generations. This paper aims to establish a conceptual model for analyzing gambling’s impacts and identifies methods for measuring them. The term ‘gambling’ has a variety of meanings in different countries, but it is generally defined as an activity in which people place money or other items of value on the outcome of an event that is uncertain and unpredictable. The most common type of gambling is sports betting, where individuals bet on the results of events such as football matches and horse races. However, there are many other types of gambling such as lottery games, poker and blackjack. In addition, online casinos and gaming sites offer a variety of gambling opportunities. It is estimated that gambling accounts for 2% of the world’s GDP and is one of the fastest growing industries in the global economy. This is partly due to the proliferation of online gaming and legalization in some jurisdictions. However, the growth of gambling has softened in recent years because of the recession and concerns over the social costs of problem gambling. While the benefits of gambling may seem obvious, it is important to understand the risks associated with it. Some of these risks include: addiction, increased risk-taking, and mental health problems. In addition, the financial consequences of gambling can be severe, as it can lead to a loss in income, debts and even bankruptcy. Fortunately, there are various treatments and recovery programs available for those suffering from gambling addiction. These include outpatient and residential treatment centers, where individuals can receive round-the-clock support and therapy. While these programs can be expensive, they can help individuals overcome their gambling addiction and live a happier, healthier life. They can also help them regain their financial independence and reclaim their lives. Those with the most serious problems may need to consider inpatient rehab or detox.

Operational on Apple OS X, Linux and Windows, KiCad is an electronic design automation software tool to design and generate professional schematics and printed circuit boards. A well-known software tool, KiCad is released under the open source General Public Licence v2 (GNU GPL). Abhishek A. Mutha Designed and written by Jean-Pierre Charras, and under active development by the KiCad Developers Team, KiCad features an integrated environment that allows you to create schematic diagrams and PCBs up to 16 layers. KiCad can be implemented and interoperated on multiple computer platforms. It is an open source software suite for EDA and it facilitates the design of schematics for electronic circuits and their conversion to PCB designs as well. Basically, it provides the user with an integrated environment for PCB layout design and schematic capture. Tools exist within the package to create a bill of materials (BOM), artwork and Gerber files and 3D views of the PCB and its components too. A number of component libraries are available with the ability to add custom components by the users. Interestingly, there are tools available to assist with importing components from other EDA tools like Eagle, for example. With multiple language support and 3D PCB viewing, there is a built-in basic autorouter as well. Features and functionality in three steps KiCad allows you to develop your printed circuit board (PCB) via three interconnected and independent main applications: Eeschema, Cvpcb, Pcbnew. This is simply done in three steps. Step 1: Schematic capture. With the KiCad schematic editor Eeschema, you can create a sophisticated electronic sheet or a group of hierarchical sheets. Several schematic components come with the default KiCad library. An Electrical Rules Check (ERC) tool is available too. Step 2: Component association. Cvpcb allows you to associate each single schematic component with its footprint component. A very large component footprint library comes with KiCad. Step 3: PCB layout. The Pcbnew board editor can handle up to 16 copper layers plus 12 technical layers (silk screen and solder mask) and allows you to layout the final PCB. To successfully perform these steps, KiCad comes with additional software tools. Two library component editors allow you to create or modify schematic components and footprint components. The 3D viewer allows you to render a final 3D model of your PCB. For the generation of the necessary compliant files for manufacturing, your PCB (Gerber files for photo-plotters, drilling files and component location files), Pcbnew and Gerbview are used. Postscript or PDF file generation is also possible. What one can do with KiCad KiCad is considered mature and can be used for the successful development and maintenance of complex electronic boards. KiCad does not present any board-size limitation and it can easily handle up to 16 copper layers and 12 technical layers. KiCad can also create all the files necessary for building printed boards like Gerber files for photo-plotters, drilling files, component location files and a whole lot more. Being open source (GPL licenced), KiCad represents the ideal tool for projects oriented towards the creation of electronic hardware with an open-source flavour. It is an excellent tool for professionals and hobbyist, mainly due to the excessive cost of commercial software that are prohibitive for students and hobbyists. With the help of the project manager, one can start the creation of a project by launching Eeschema. It manages a direct and fast access to component documentation. Eeschema is an integrated package because it comprises all the functionalities such as library management, layout, drawing and control to name a few. Using multi-sheet diagrams, it allows hierarchical drawings—simple, complex and flat hierarchies. Needed for modern schematic capture, Eeschema provides some essential additional functions such as: 1. Design rules check (DRC) for the automatic control of incorrect connections, and the inputs of components left unconnected. 2. Export of the layout files to POSTSCRIPT or HPGL format. 3. Printing the layout files on a local printer. 4. BOM generation. 5. Net list generation for PCB layout or simulation software. KiCad component libraries KiCad comes with a large set of open source library components. A text-based format is used for both schematic and PCB components. This allows the direct editing of your library files with any text-based software. Both Eeschema and Pcbnew have a library manager as well as a library component editor for modifying and creating components and footprint parts. You can create, edit, delete or exchange library items easily. Documentation files can be associated to components and footprints, and key words, allowing a fast search by function. Very large libraries, created over many years, are available for schematic components and footprints. Most of printed board modules (footprint) are available with their 3D shape model.

Medical surgical masks are suitable for the basic protection of medical staff or related personnel, as well as the protection against the spread of blood, body fluids and splashes during the invasive operation. The protection level is medium and has certain respiratory protection performance. It can block most bacteria and some viruses, prevent medical personnel from being infected, and also prevent the direct discharge of microorganisms carried by medical personnel’s breath, posing a threat to patients undergoing surgery. Medical surgical masks require the filtration efficiency of bacteria to be above 95%. The requirements for the use of surgical masks are: 1. Do not reuse disposable masks. Usually need to be replaced every 6 to 8 hours. 2. The outer layer of the mask often accumulates a lot of dust, bacteria and other contaminants in the outside air, while the inner layer blocks the exhaled bacteria and saliva. Therefore, the two sides cannot be used alternately, otherwise the contaminated outer layer will be directly Inhale the human body when it is close to the face and become a source of infection. 3. When the mask is not worn, it should be folded and placed in a clean envelope, and the side that is close to the nose and nose should be folded inwards. Do not stuff it into your pocket or hang it around your neck. It should be emphasized that no matter what type of mask, the protective effect is limited and needs to be replaced regularly. It is best to replace it every 2 to 4 hours. If it is used for a long time, large particles will be blocked on the surface of the mask or the ultra-fine particles will block the gaps in the filter material of the mask, which will cause a decrease in filtration efficiency and an increase in respiratory resistance.

Wool is one of nature’s best insulating fibres and has been used to make clothing for centuries. Not only is wool extremely good at holding in warmth, it also wicks moisture and dries faster than cotton. The most widely available types of wool come from sheep. However, sheep aren’t the only animals that produce natural, warmth-enhancing fibres. Alpaca, angora rabbits and camels also produce luxurious, wool-like fibres that are used to make high-quality knitwear and woven fabrics. To begin, it helps to understand some of the benefits that all types of wool offer. Wool has several characteristics that other natural fibres like cotton and linen simply can’t compete with. WOOL IS WATER RESISTANT Unlike human hair or animal fur, wool fibres are actually hollow with a durable, flexible and water-repellent exterior. The structure of wool fibres is composed of small, overlapping sections, kind of like shingles on a roof. Each fiber’s core absorbs up to 30% of its weight in moisture vapour without becoming damp or clammy. Meanwhile, the hard outer layer protects against outside moisture from rain and snow. WOOL WICKS MOISTURE Aside from blocking most external moisture, wool fibres wick perspiration away from the body. Normally, as your sweat evaporates, heat is drawn away from your skin. This effect is comforting in hot weather, but can dampen your clothing and give you chills in colder weather. Unlike cotton, which absorbs moisture and tends to remain wet, wool actually wicks perspiration and allows it to evaporate quickly, thus keeping you warmer. WOOL IS A WONDERFUL INSULATOR Wool fibres are not perfectly smooth or straight. Instead, they’re crimped, which helps produce tiny insulating air spaces that retain more heat. In a way, wool functions similarly to the puffy fiberglass insulation inside the walls of a house. WOOL IS BREATHABLE AND REGULATES TEMPERATURE Wool has a wide comfort range, which is very helpful for adapting to changing weather conditions. This unique property makes wool the perfect fibre for crafting outerwear and insulating apparel, since it has the ability to provide warmth in colder conditions and also breathes well as temperatures warm up. WOOL IS NATURALLY ODOR-RESISTANT You may have noticed that synthetic fabrics like polyester and polypropylene can begin to retain odours over time. Wool is much more resistant to retaining odours. Sheep’s wool is also naturally resistant to wrinkling and static. Lambswool is wool which is 50mm or shorter from the first shearing of a sheep, at around the age of seven months. It is soft, elastic, and slippery, and is used in high-grade textiles. Specifically, lambswool is wool taken from the first shearing of the animal, usually around seven months (after its first coat has come in). It’s fine and soft, and requires minimal processing. In order to be classified as lambswool, fibres must be shorter than 50mm at first shearing. Subsequent processing causes fibres to shorten further. There are 60 colours in the lambswool range and the thickness of the yarn is 1/14 Nm count/thickness. Lambswool can come from any species of sheep, but merino wool is only the wool that comes from a merino sheep. Not all merino is created equal, however. Merino is a game of microns, specifically the diameter of the follicle. The smaller the number, the softer and more expensive the wool. Garden variety merino wool clocks in around 23 microns, human hair is around 40 microns in diameter, fine merino around 18 microns; superfine is 16; and the king of kings, ultrafine, is anything less than 15.5 microns. Merino wool is thinner, cooler, and tends to have less pilling. Regularly used in high-end performance athletic wear, Merino wool is much preferred over synthetics. “Merino” is the name of the special breed of sheep credited with having the softest wool. The merino colour range has 31 colours in it, this is a 1 ply yarn with a 2/30s Nm count/thickness. Astronauts wear wool for comfort in the confines of their spacecraft. Wool protects mountain climbers and polar scientists, the sailors who navigate single-handed the oceans of the world and men ‘who strike oil in Alaska. It is a fibre fit for heroes-and for more ordinary folk. The story of wool began a long time ago, before recorded history when primitive man first clothed himself in the woolly skins, of the wild sheep he killed for food. He had discovered a durable fabric which gave him what nothing else could give, protection alike from heat and cold, from wind and rain. A versatile fabric which kept him cool in the heat of the day and warm in the cold of the night, which could absorb moisture without feeling wet. Sheep have been roaming Britain’s meadows, hills, dales, downs and mountains for thousands of years. Over the centuries British sheep breeders have developed more than 60 breeds including some with black or coloured wool. In the wool range we have 49 colours, they include 10 marl/tweed blends. All our British wool yarn is sourced from UK suppliers sourced from sheep in the UK. We are also members of the British Wool Marketing Board which operates the central marketing system for UK fleece wool. A farmer-run organisation, the BWMB was established in 1950 with the aim of achieving the best possible net return for producers. It is the only organisation in the world that collects, grades, sells and promotes fleece wool and is the only remaining agricultural commodity board in the UK. Receiving no financial support, although operating commercially, the BWMB is a non-profit-making organisation, returning to producers the market price for their wool, less its own costs.

The Healing of the centurion's servant (see Matt. 8:5–13) is often regarded as one of the great stories of faith because the centurion does not ask Jesus to come to his home to heal his servant. The centurion knows that Jesus carries the power and authority of God, and can heal even when he's not in the presence of the one needing healing. Often overlooked today, however, is the message that everyone has that same authority Jesus displayed for the centurion's servant. First-century audiences likely were startled not so much by the healing of the centurion's servant, but by who was healed. How could Matthew preach that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah and then recount the healing of a non-Jew—an outsider? In nine short verses, a new reality is revealed by Jesus—God's chosen people have expanded to include Gentiles, people of other nations such as Romans, and marginalized individuals. In Matthew's telling of the healing of the centurion's servant the powers of authority shift, and privilege by way of heredity is not guaranteed. Placed in the middle of three healing stories, the healing of the centurion's servant foreshadows what Jesus meant in Matthew 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (New Revised Standard Edition). Theologian Ulrich Luz describes this section of three healings in Matthew as "a self-contained unit" designed to create an impact for the listeners of the first century and to the readers of future centuries (Ulrich Luz, Matthew 8–20: A Commentary, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989, p.1). In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus descends from the mountain after delivering what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount. On the road from the mountain to Capernaum, Jesus first encounters a leper and heals him. Then as he enters the city, he encounters a centurion and heals the centurion's servant. And after arriving at Simon Peter's home in the city, he heals Peter's mother-in-law. By grouping the three healings together, Matthew makes the point that Jesus was demonstrating God's healing and saving power applies to all people, regardless of their societal status. The main characters in each narrative represent three classes of people excluded from first-century Jewish community: a leper, a Roman soldier, and a woman. Lepers were considered unclean and treated as outcasts by Jewish society. Romans were thought of as outsiders, as well as oppressors. Women were often, though not always, viewed as property without any rights or consideration.

Breastfeeding has been shown to improve infant, child and maternal health outcomes and help control healthcare costs, but how long should breastfeeding last and when should parents introduce solid foods? The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend exclusive breastfeeding, meaning the infant receives only breast milk, during the first six months of life for optimal nutrition and health benefits. Once solid foods are introduced, health professionals recommend continuing breastfeeding through 12 months of age and, after that, as desired by mother and baby. Introducing your baby to solid foods is an exciting milestone. When you start introducing children to the world of solid foods, you are helping them shape their relationship with food and establish a healthy eating style. The timing for introducing solid foods will depend on the infant, but it is not recommended before the age of four months or after the age of six months. Not sure how to get your baby started on solid foods? Consider these helpful tips. Is Your Baby Ready to Transition? Each child's readiness for solid food depends on their own rate of development. Signs a baby may be ready to start solid foods include sitting up with minimal support, demonstrating good head control, bringing objects to the mouth or grasping at small objects. Check with your pediatrician before starting solid foods. Getting Started With Solids Solid foods may be introduced in any order. However, puréed meats, poultry, beans and iron-fortified cereals are recommended as first foods, especially if your baby has been primarily breastfed, since they provide key nutrients. Only one new single-ingredient food should be introduced at a time. Softer textures are very important when first introducing foods. Infants usually start with pureed or mashed foods around six months. As infants develop chewing and motor skills, they are able to handle items like soft pieces of fruit and finger foods. As the child ages, a variety of healthful foods is encouraged. Weaning From Breastfeeding When deciding if you should wean your baby to a bottle or a cup, consider their developmental readiness. Between 7 and 8 months, most infants will drink small amounts of liquid from a cup or a glass when someone else holds it. Older babies and toddlers often have the coordination to drink fluids from a cup by themselves. If your baby is under 12 months of age and you are not continuing to breastfeed, wean from breast milk to iron-fortified infant formula. If your baby is 12 months or older, whole cow’s milk is appropriate. Food Safety Do’s and Don’ts Food safety concerns for infants and toddlers include food allergies, choking and risks for foodborne illness. Keep the following safety tips in mind: Do talk with your pediatrician about the risk of food allergies. Introducing one new food at a time, every several days, allows time to monitor for allergic reactions. Current evidence does not indicate needing to wait beyond 4 to 6 months before introducing potential allergy-causing foods such as eggs, dairy, soy, peanuts and fish. In fact, introducing peanut-containing foods as early as 4 to 6 months of age may help prevent a peanut allergy. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends introducing potentially allergenic foods when other complementary foods are introduced to an infant’s diet. Parents with concerns about food allergies should discuss how to include these foods with their pediatrician. Don’t feed your baby solid foods from a bottle. It can be a choking hazard and despite a popular misconception, putting cereal in a baby's bottle won't help with sleeping through the night. Other foods that are considered to be choking hazards are listed below. Do supervise your child while eating. Infants should be able to sit upright and face forward when you first introduce solid foods. This makes swallowing easier and choking less likely. Don’t feed directly from the jar of food but instead spoon some food into a separate dish first. Feeding directly from the jar may introduce bacteria from your baby's mouth to the spoon and back into the food, creating a food safety issue. Don’t feed honey to children under 12 months of age due to the risk of foodborne illness. Examples of appropriate solid foods listed by age: - Well-cooked and pureed meat, poultry or beans - Ground, cooked, single-grain cereal or infant cereal with breast milk or formula - Cooked and pureed vegetables - Mashed banana or avocado - Well-cooked, minced or finely chopped meat, poultry or beans - A variety of cooked vegetables cut into small, ½ inch pieces, such as squash and green beans - Sliced and quartered bananas or small pieces of other soft fruits - Soft, shredded meat, poultry or fish - Small pieces of cooked vegetables - Small pieces of soft, easy to chew fruits - Mixed food dishes the family is eating in appropriately sized pieces Not recommended for those under 4 years of age due to the risk of choking: - Popcorn and whole kernel corn - Nuts and seeds - Large chunks of meat, poultry and cheese - Candy, gum drops and jelly beans - Hard, raw fruits or vegetables such as apples, celery and carrots - Whole grapes and cherry tomatoes, unless cut into quarters - Hot dogs, unless cut into strips and age appropriate, bite-size pieces - Sticky foods, such as peanut butter, which can get stuck in the back of the mouth – peanut butter is okay if spread thinly on bread For toddlers and preschoolers, chop grapes, meat, poultry, hot dogs and raw vegetables and fruits into small pieces (about ½ inch or smaller). Nurturing Healthy Relationships with Food Establishing a positive feeding relationship during infancy can have lifetime benefits. Keep in mind that children are responsible for how much and whether they eat so always wait for your baby to pay attention to each spoonful before you feed them. Don't be afraid to let your baby touch the food in the dish and on the spoon. You wouldn't want to eat something if you didn't know anything about it, would you? In addition, know the cues that your baby is done eating. A common cue babies are full is head turning. Whatever happens, don't get discouraged and enjoy the experience. With a little patience and creativity, you can make your baby's first solid food eating experience fun for everyone involved! Find a Nutrition Expert Looking for credible nutrition information and recommendations? The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' network of credentialed food and nutrition practitioners are ready to help!

. Photo: Kenneth Lönnqvist. © SYGIS – Jebel Bishri, the Finnish Project in Syria Ancient nomadic sites are pronouncedly represented in the finds of Jebel Bishri. Tombs of different kinds are the most frequent category of the ancient remains at Nadra surveyed so far. Stone circles, including corrals used as animal pens, are also common. The environment of Nadra is steppic while Tar al-Sbai to the West is desert-steppe. The landscape of Nadra area is characterized by several ancient rivers, wadis that occasionally have seasonal currents. The nomadic sites in the area are typical of the Greater Southwest Asian Arid Zone defined by J. Zarins: stone circles, corrals, ring cairn/tumuli and cairns/tumuli. They resemble the nomadic site types of Tar al-Sbai. The Chalcolithic period and the Early Bronze Age were periods of flourishing desert cultures. Nadra mainly offers Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age evidence beside Roman remains and present-day nomadic sites. Site I 17 at Nadra: measuring and studying a ring cairn/tumulus. Photo: Gullög Nordquist. © SYGIS – Jebel Bishri, the Finnish Project in Syria A plan of a ring cairn/tumulus with clear megalithic features from Nadra. © SYGIS – Jebel Bishri, the Finnish Project in Syria The Finnish project has also recorded and documented a more recently abandoned Bedouin village with ruined houses and a cemetery with some 100 graves. Agricultural activities no longer exist at Jebel Bishri. Agriculture increases desertification and harms the life of the Bedouin range land. The ban of agricultural activities was given in 1995 by the government in these kinds of areas.

One famous example of someone who battled ALS is the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking. Diagnosed with ALS at the age of 21, Hawking defied the odds and continued his groundbreaking work in theoretical physics for over five decades, becoming one of the most brilliant minds of our time. His resilience and determination in the face of an incurable disease have made him a symbol of hope and inspiration for people around the world. ALS affects each person differently, with symptoms varying from person to person. These symptoms typically begin with muscle weakness, gradually progressing to muscle atrophy and eventual paralysis. As the disease progresses, individuals may also experience difficulties with speech, swallowing, and breathing. It is important to note that ALS does not affect a person’s intellectual capabilities or sensory functions. Stephen Hawking, despite being confined to a wheelchair and losing the ability to speak due to the disease, continued to enhance our understanding of the universe through his groundbreaking scientific contributions. He utilized a speech-generating device and his incredible mind to communicate and share his knowledge with the world. ALS is an incurable disease, and the exact cause is still unknown. However, research suggests that a combination of genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is two to five years, although some individuals can live longer with the disease. Although there is no cure for ALS, there are treatments available to manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for those affected by the disease. These treatments may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and the use of assistive devices such as communication aids, wheelchairs, and breathing machines. Support and advocacy groups, such as the ALS Association, provide resources and assistance to individuals living with ALS and their families. These organizations work tirelessly to promote research, raise awareness, and improve the lives of those affected by this debilitating condition. The story of Stephen Hawking serves as a reminder of the incredible strength and resilience that individuals with ALS possess. His determination to continue making significant contributions to science despite his physical limitations is an inspiration to us all. Through his unwavering spirit, he proved that life’s biggest challenges can be overcome, and that the human mind has the power to transcend even the harshest of circumstances.

In honor of Fragile X Awareness Month, Team Select and The Unforgotten Families, A Driver of Change, is proud to recognize this important time of the year and spread awareness for families and individuals affected by Fragile X syndrome. What is Fragile X? Put simply, Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition that causes intellectual disability. “Fragile X syndrome is characterized by moderate intellectual disability in affected males and mild intellectual disability in affected females. Distinctive physical features are sometimes present in affected males including a large head, long face, prominent forehead and chin, protruding ears, loose joints and large testes, but these features develop over time and may not be obvious until puberty. Motor and language delays are usually present but also become more apparent over time. Behavioral abnormalities including autistic behaviors are common.” – NORD Symptoms of Fragile X syndrome in your child can include but are not limited to: - Large ears / head - Flat feet - Difficulty reaching milestones such as speaking, sitting, walking, and crawling - Behavioral complications / problems “Boys are usually diagnosed around 35 to 37 months old, and girls around 42 months. You might start to notice symptoms in your child as early as 12 months.” – Cleveland Clinic If left undiagnosed unacknowledged, individuals with Fragile X may experience tremors as adults and not know why, along with possible changes in behavior at various points in their lifetime. Caring for a child with Fragile X When caring for a child or individual with this genetic condition, it is important to have a support system of friends, family members, healthcare professionals, and families in a similar situation to help guide you and your loved one whenever needed. Individuals often require additional patience and a consistent routine to be their happiest and most fulfilled self. It is important to note that each individual’s diagnosis is unique and will still require an individual care plan that might differ from someone else’s. Individuals with Fragile X may require: - Occupational Therapy - Physical Therapy - Speech Therapy - In-home Caretaker - Medication Management - Special Education Courses in school The Unforgotten Families, A Driver of Change powered by Team Select is an advocacy campaign proud to offer communities around the nation, a place of support, education, and advocacy. Medically fragile families or those affected by Fragile X syndrome are encouraged to ‘Become an Advocate’ and help The Unforgotten Families bring change to families nationwide. The Unforgotten Families advocates and provides resources for medically fragile and complex families of all diagnoses. Additional resources of support for Fragile X families Home Care for Fragile X Team Select Home Care is proud to offer a variety of at home care services to fit each family’s unique needs, including those with Fragile X syndrome. Team Select offers: - Home Health Care for individuals of all ages - Long-Term Adult and Pediatric Care - Mobile Outpatient Therapy - Mobile Physician Services for every member of the family With a family-centered approach, our caring team is with you every step of the way. Learn more about Team Select by visiting, www.tshc.com. Join Team Select and The Unforgotten Families this month in spreading awareness around those living with Fragile X and help advocate for change! To learn more about this annual celebration please visit www.fragilex.org.

All of us want a house that is strong, durable and resilient to different factors that may cause damage and deterioration. Because of this, we see to it that in building our house, we use only the best materials that we can afford. This includes all the resources and constituents to be used. There are varieties of suitable materials that we can use to construct buildings and houses. These materials possess distinct physical and chemical properties that make it adequate to consider its use. Another point to think through is its reasonableness. Being economical and practical will help us decide what materials to use. We also need to note the availability and environmental impact in choosing materials for building construction and expansion. Some of the materials that we may consider in constructing a building are listed below. This post discusses the suitability of the following materials in constructing buildings and houses. Wood is environmentally friendly and is widely available that is why it is good for building houses. It is most commonly used for building walls and floors. It is also used for ceilings and divisions. In choosing what kind of wood you are going to use, you have to check its availability and properties in terms of sturdiness, strength or brittleness, and hardness. Some woods that are good to use for building houses are mahogany, teak, fir, deodar, and walnut tree wood. The use of metal in building construction is to serve as structural frameworks, especially for larger buildings. Metal is used because of its strength and flexibility. Some of the metals used for construction are steel, brass, titanium, and chrome. Cement is an important construction material as it is used to bind woods and bricks or other components. It is widely used due to its ease of use and practical costing. However, cement has to mix with other materials to work. The property of glass such as brittleness is one reason why its use in construction is limited. Glasses are used in construction for different purposes. They use glass for windows, walls and even in partitions in commercial buildings. Bricks and Blocks Clay is the primary constituent of bricks and blocks. This material is widely used since it is more fire resistant than any other materials like wood. Plastics can be molded and formed into objects, films, and fibers so as to be used as a material for building construction. Plastics are used for roofs and partitions. It can also act as fillers due to its malleability and flexibility. Marble is a type of stone which is formed mainly from limestone. Marbles are usually used as flooring or countertops. It is strong and durable that it can last a long time. It is practical to use marble because of its abundance and economical properties. These are the most common building materials used when constructing both residential homes and commercial buildings. If you are considering expanding or renovating your home, we advise you to hire a team of professional contractors who will be able to draw up proper plans for your project. They will also be able to advise which materials are best suited for your project.

We are used to being surrounded by a lot of plastic, especially plastic bags, and frequently just use them once. Without us realizing it, simple and inexpensive material is a constant in our life. Plastic bags have a long lifespan: they can decompose in 10 to 1000 years, but they don’t just disappear; instead, they break down into plastic microparticles that are bad for the environment. Plastic bags are one of the environmental issues that people produce on a huge scale and that have the greatest impact on the globe in terms of pollution. Every day, enormous amounts of plastic bags are produced and amassed all over the world. This material’s issue is that it has some components that can essentially stay intact for decades even as it begins to deteriorate. All of this indicates that worldwide contamination is developing due to its nearly universal diffusion. You must have wondered at least once why you contaminate plastic bags. It’s possible for us to believe that a plastic bag is just left where it is and doesn’t become polluted. Chemical spills, whether they be liquid or solid, are not the same thing. However, the introduction of plastic bags into water contaminates it, killing thousands of fish as well as birds, turtles, and other marine creatures. You should be aware that plastic bags are used widely throughout the world every day. They need a lot of energy to produce, and the components that make up their raw material can survive for decades to more than half a century and are sourced from petroleum. Remains of dangerous metals are present in everything that also has screen printers. The great majority of plastic bags are discarded carelessly after being used. They eventually contaminate urban areas as well as natural ecosystems. At the end of the day, whether you consume or not is up to you. The quantity of plastic bags we use daily must be decreased. This is our choice, and there are several steps that may be performed to lessen these issues. Can you picture a world without plastic or plastic pollution, including the plastic bags that have been a part of our lives for so long? If we work together, we can change that right away and make the world a better place. Who’s next? Can you, do it? Some of the solutions would be to: 1. use eco-friendly and biodegradable products instead of plastic 2. use LED light bulbs 3. recycle glass 4. shower with your partner 5. plant a tree 6. most importantly, share the change you are trying to make with others. There are a lot more techniques like the ones mentioned above; you simply need to find them and apply them! Let’s now handle each of them in turn. Let’s begin by tackling the problem of plastic bags and finding a solution. We have changed our lives and we would like other people to do the same. You can make a choice to avoid plastic and pollution with our bags so you can treat yourself to a healthy and environmentally friendly alternative by having our recycled bags. We are manufacturing eco-friendly bags that will help you achieve the things that you want to do. We will make bags for you because we want our world to be better, and we all can help change it for the better, by doing just a tiny thing like recycling once or twice a week. In order to significantly reduce pollution, our cassava bags are the ideal solution! We have very environmentally friendly eco bags that will change your life. We are trying to change this world for the better and we want others to do the same. Our bags are the ones that will help you in your mission to save the planet and do the right thing that needs to be done it will be extremely useful and will help you with your fight against the destruction of this planet. So come and join us in our effort to build a better world and healthier earth. Are you prepared to contribute to the transformation?

Cement production processes can be egorized as dry, semidry, semiwet, and wet processes depending on the handling of raw material before being fed to the rotary kiln. Nowadays, almost all new plants are based on the dry process and many old wet plants are . Cement and process of making same. Download PDF Info Publiion number US747919A. US747919A USA USA US747919A US 747919 A US747919 A US 747919A US A US A US A US A US A US A US 747919 A US747919 A US 747919A Authority US United States Prior art keywords slag cement Additionally, Cement All is the smoothest mix for making cement crafts, as well as is the hardest concrete mix after it cures. I'm incredibly impatient and for a matter of practicality, it's a really good thing to know in a few hours whether or not my cement projects have failed, rather than waiting for 24 or more hours to have that answer. Cement stabilized granular soils (Sandy/gravelly soil) is used to assess its strength and make it possible as an alternative material for the construction of road subbase and base courses. View ... · IELTS Report 18 – Diagram – Cement Making Process. The diagrams below show the stages and equipment used in the cementmaking process, and how cement is used to produce concrete for building purposes. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. · This blog post provides basic information about calculating concrete ratios the weight and proportions of each material to put in a concrete mix. It may be useful to read the previous 2 parts of this blog first which introduce the casting process and materials used in concrete. To recap, cement, aggregate and water, which. · The diagrams below show the stages and equipment used in the cementmaking process, and how cement is used to produce concrete for building purposes. (157 Words, 10 Sentences, 4 Paragraphs, Band 9) The first diagram illustrates the process of cement manufacture, and the second diagram shows the materials that go into the production of concrete. Portland Cement . Cement: is a material with adhesive and cohesive properties which make it capable of bonding minerals fragments into a compact whole. For constructional purposes, the meaning of the term "cement" is restricted to the bonding materials used with stones, sand, bricks, building stones, etc. · THE CEMENT MANUFACTURING PROCESS : The clinker and the gypsum are very finely ground giving a "pure cement". Other secondary additives and cementitious materials can also be added to make a blended cement. 1. GRINDING Grinding, storage, packing, dispatch 2. STORAGE, PACKING, DISPATCH 2. Methods of Manufacturing Process of Cement. At present Portland Cement is manufactured by two processes, Dry Process, and Wet Process. The main difference between these two methods of manufacturing of cement is that in the dry process, calcareous and argillaceous raw materials are fed into the burning kilns in a perfectly dry state. wet and dry process of manufacturing cement. Sep 14, 2018· Dry process These are two different processes of manufacturing cement wet process minerals are wet ground (by adding water) to form a slurry and then dried, dry process minerals are dry ground to form a powder like substanceBoth the processes are in use and have their own advantages and disadvantagWhile in wet process grinding . · Cement Manufacturing Process. Cement is a material which is used to bind other materials together. Binding means it has an effect of gluing the substances together due to cohesive and adhesive action and then hardens and sets in order to become permanent. Cement is usually not used on its own; it is mixed with other materials called aggregates ... Cement making Cement clinker is manufactured by heating the blended and ground raw material (typically limestone and clay or shale and other materials) to partial fusion. The clinker burning takes place at a temperature of 1450°C in kilns, which are normally . · These mixes are stored in silos in the dry process and in the wet process slurry tanks are used and there is 35 to 40% water in slurry. Heating: In the manufacture of OPC cement, heating is the main important step. In this step, with the help of conveyor belts, the product obtained from the mixing is passed into the Kiln. · Cement making process – Raw materials, clinker, cement • Cement Chemist' Language

Researchers: Dr. Maryse Vanderplanck, Dr. Denis Michez, PhD Pierre-Laurent Zerck Through pollen collection, bees act concurrently as effective pollinators and herbivores. While the majority of bee species are pollen specialist, polylecty (i.e. pollen generalist) is widespread among social bees. Regardless of floral specialization, they display numerous adaptations as well as sensorial capabilities, which allow them to discriminate among plant species and to enhance floral rewards foraging. In response to excessive pollen harvesting, flowering plants have drawn up complex systems of chemical and morphological defenses that could minimize this potential excessive foraging. Among chemical defenses, constraints could act through toxicity or nutrient availability. It has been shown that nutritional quality of pollen is highly variable among plant species including sterols, essential compounds in bee physiology and that are exclusively exogenous. Our research suggest that sterolic composition of pollen could shape bee-flower interactions as well as their evolution. Involvement of these sterolic compounds in wasps-bees transition will be investigated through chemical analyses (sterols and ecdysteroids). Moreover, the sterolic physiologies of various bee species will then be studied in details by using chemical analyses of pollen and insect both. Shotgun metagenomic analyses coupled with quantitative PCR (QPCR) will characterize the digestive bacterial communities and accurately determine their role in the metabolism of the host insect. Plants synthesise an array of chemicals to defend themselves against attack by herbivorous insects, and some of these defense compounds also occur in nectar and pollen that constitute resources for pollinators. Such floral chemicals can be detrimental or beneficial to bee pollinators as they might protect bees against disease and pathogens but also cause toxicity. How these toxins can impact on pollinator behavior is not fully understood. Chemical constraint due to pollen toxicity will be considered through analyses of alkaloids and saponins, which are known for their negative effect on bees. Bees will be fed on pollen supplemented or not with these metabolites to determine whether rates naturally present in certain pollens are lethal to bees. In parallel, QPCR analysis will be conducted to highlight the presence or induction of potential detoxification pathways as bee adaptation (e.g. cytochrome P450). A specific case : Asteraceae paradox Recent findings support that Asteraceae pollen possesses unfavourable or protective properties and suggests that bees need physiological adaptations to successfully utilize it. Although Asteraceae are ubiquitous in most terrestrial habitats and produce considerable amounts of pollen, this pollen plays only a marginal role in the diets of the pollen generalists by striking contrast to specialists. Despite numerous hypotheses, this paradox remains unsolved. To investigate the unfavourable pollen properties of the Asteraceae for generalist bees, bee rearing are performed on diverse pollen diets. The larval development are compared between the diets. Moreover, digestibility as well as toxicity and nutrient content of Asteraceae pollen are examined by quantifications of nitrogen, alkaloids and total amino acids. According to the floral species, pollen grains are higlhy diverse in their color, their microscopical shape but also in their chemical composition which impacts on the digestibility, the toxicity and the nutrient supply for bees . Nests of Osmia cornuta closed with septa of soil in a hollow stem. Generalist females selected floral pollen to ensure their larvae development.

The Internet has made an impressive amount of information available to every connected individual. Via social networks and forums, the Internet has also brought the possibility of conversing and debating simultaneously with a large number of individuals, regardless of geographical distance. It seemed as though the ingredients - information and debate - were in place for the development of the Internet to revitalize our democracies. However, the web seems to have contributed more to the emergence of "credulous democracies" than to "knowledge societies", and social networks seem to promote the polarization of opinions rather than to allow for a better understanding of divergent opinions. Two phenomena resulting from the functioning of Internet are often accused of contributing to this situation: "filter bubbles" and "echo chambers". In this article, we introduce these two notions, often mentioned in the media but rarely well understood, as well as some criticisms that have been levelled towards them. Bronner, G. (2013). La démocratie des crédules. Presses universitaires de France. Bindé, J., Demarais, L. & Plouin, J. (2005). Vers les sociétés du savoir. Rapport mondial de l’UNESCO / Collection Ouvrages de référence de l’UNESCO. A "filter bubble" refers to the ways in which information is filtered before reaching an Internet user. According to Internet expert Eli Pariser, filter bubbles result from the personalization of online content, and are believed to intellectually isolate Internet users and to diminish the diversity of the information to which they are exposed (Eli Pariser, The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from You, Penguin Press, 2011) 1 For example, on Facebook, an individual with a strong interest in cats will be exposed to a large amount of cat-related information on their news feed. This is a result of the algorithms employed by digital platforms, which determine the interests of their users by studying information related to their online behavior. At first, the information collected about Internet users is quite basic: age, gender, contacts added. But new web-based media have integrated several mechanisms that allow for websites to collect much more precise information. These include "share", "like", "subscribe" buttons, etc., which inform algorithms about users' online behavior. Facebook, for example, introduced its "like" button in 2009. A week later, 50,000 websites had integrated this button into their architecture (Kris Olin, Facebook Advertising Guide, 2010). The presence of this button on countless websites allows Facebook to collect a lot of information about its users. For example, by clicking the "Like" button under a cat-related product, the user sends Facebook an indication of their tastes and preferences. In return, Facebook will display more cat-related content. New media algorithms are thus able to recommend increasingly personalized content to users of digital platforms. And the more an Internet user visits these websites, the more personalized the information will be and, therefore, the more likely it will be to interest them. Moreover, personalization algorithms are crucial to the functioning of these platforms, as they are the foundation of their business models. Indeed, it is thanks to these algorithms that platforms can offer companies the opportunity to advertise their products in a targeted manner. Advertising is the main source of revenue for digital social networks 2, and companies are indeed willing to invest significant amounts of money to ensure effective advertising targeting 3. According to Eli Pariser, the personalization of information on the Internet is harmful for Internet users, since they are no longer confronted with information that could broaden their interests or challenge their beliefs or opinions. In other words, Internet users are gradually finding themselves trapped in a filter bubble that bypasses any divergent information and impoverishes their curiosity. Of course, even before the advent of the Internet, there already existed media outlets that offered very specialized information, or that held strong editorial lines. But these outlets were upfront about it. Facebook, YouTube (which belongs to Google) and other similar platforms, on the other hand, do not present themselves as specialized media, or even as media, but simply as platforms that host content. In other words, the specialization and orientation of the information displayed is done in part without the user's knowledge. Eli Pariser illustrates this point by comparing his Google search results for the word "Egypt" with that of one of his friends. To him, Google displays results concerning politics, whereas his friend is shown results related to tourism. In other words, the algorithm shapes and displays two different worldviews, which are based on the inferences made by the algorithm from the personal information collected. Pariser believes that these personalization filters are partly responsible for the particularly strong political polarization in the United States between liberals and conservatives. Individuals, by being repeatedly confronted with highly personalized political information, end up sharing next to nothing with their political opponents. This in turn undermines any possibility of establishing a public space in the political sense of the term — that is, a space for deliberation and debate, whose proper functioning presupposes minimal agreement on basic facts and information. While the personalization of information is a specificity of web-based media, some researchers dispute the existence, or the true scope, of the filter bubbles that result from this personalization. Richard Fletcher, a researcher at the Reuters Institute and co-author of the annual report on digital information 4, nuances the harmful effects that Eli Pariser attributes to digital platform algorithms and challenges the idea that political polarization in the United States is linked to the personalization of information 5. His argument is based on a series of academic papers he has written on the issue. His reasoning is as follows: if personalization algorithms impoverish our informational horizon, this means (1) that we are confronted with less diverse information on digital social networks than offline and (2) that this impoverishment is taking place without our knowledge. Here is what Fletcher observed from the Reuters Institute Digital News Report's annual Reuters Institute Digital News Report database: In contrast to Pariser's understanding, Fletcher therefore believes that social networks increase the visibility of news information for individuals — and there are many of them — who are not particularly interested in the news. These individuals are exposed to it regardless, because the algorithms of social networks give visibility to information that these individuals would not have otherwise sought. Fletcher also warns us that, without the personalization of information via algorithms, we would inform ourselves rather unadventurously. In other words, we would tend to select, out of habit, only a handful of sources of information (one or two TV channels, a single newspaper, etc.). Digital social networks and Internet search engines are, in fact, opportunities for us to be exposed to sources of information that we would never have spontaneously consulted. Fletcher and Pariser both observe that the United States suffers from strong political polarization: individuals on either side of the political spectrum today seem irreconcilable. But, if we follow Fletcher's reasoning, this polarization would not result from American citizens being trapped in filter bubbles, but rather from the contrary. Indeed, his studies suggest that the more we are confronted with information that contradicts our beliefs, the more inclined we are to strengthen our initial position. This is a psychological reaction that has also been documented by other researchers 8. However, for several other analysts, the radicalization of opinions on the Internet is largely due to so-called echo chambers. On the Internet, individuals seem to preferentially interact with people who are interested in the same topics and who share similar opinions. This leads to the formation of virtual communities in which people share and receive information that is focused on their interests and that is aligned with their beliefs. These communities are referred to as echo chambers because the voice of each member essentially echoes that of every other member. Functioning as mirrors and amplifiers of individuals’ worldviews, echo chambers would seem to be fertile grounds for radicalization. An emblematic case that highlights the tendency of echo chambers to lead to radicalization is that of the “Incels” community. This community arose from the meeting of men who struggled to find a romantic partner and who gathered online to discuss their emotional woes. Soon, some members of the community began to express increasingly misogynistic views. The Incels then followed a classic pattern of radicalization: the emergence of leaders, the increasingly virulent assertion of group identity, the gradual exclusion of other groups, and isolation 9. In the end, a proper anti-women political theory was developed within this community. A few years after their emergence, several Incels committed attacks against women, accusing them of being the direct cause of all their misfortunes 10. Many analysts are working to identify echo chambers on the Internet and to understand how they work. Here is an illustration: This map displays the relationships between American media outlets on the social network Twitter. The larger the dot representing a given media outlet, the more that particular media outlet is cited by other media outlets on Twitter. Media outlets that are far away from the center of the map are primarily cited by other media with a political orientation close to their own. Conversely, the closer a media outlet is to the center of the map, the more it is cited by media with diverse political leanings. This map demonstrates that American media outlets are politically polarized. On the left, the most popular media (Huffington Post, New York Times, Washington Post) are quoted by media that are rather close to the American democratic-liberal political sphere (the political affiliation of Barack Obama and Joe Biden). On the right, the most popular media (Fox News, Breibart) are cited first and foremost by media close to the Republican-Conservative trend (the political line of Donald Trump). If media outlets that are politically close frequently quote each other, and broadcast the same news and analysis, there is a risk that their audience will develop a very partial and partisan view of the news. This is what some analysts fear: that the media sphere in the United States would tend to be divided into two gigantic echo chambers, structurally representing the two principal political tendencies in the United States. Since the supporters of each of these tendencies are possibly inclined to inform themselves via the echo chamber corresponding to their political affiliation, this could result in the creation of an extremely polarized political spectrum, in which each side no longer communicates with the other 11. But again, can we consider that the formation of these echo chambers is due to the architecture of social networks? An ambiguity in this analysis, rightly raised by Axel Bruns 12, lies in the confusion between the phenomenon of echo chambers and that of filter bubbles. Contrary to what the title of the article from which the map above is taken suggests, the polarization of the media sphere in the United States does not illustrate a filter bubble, because the tendency of media outlets to quote or follow one another is not a consequence of Twitter’s algorithms. The main argument made by Axel Bruns and Richard Fletcher is that the Internet does not foster informational or ideological isolation. On the contrary: many debates take place on social networks between opposing sides on various issues, troll campaigns are organized to weaken the opponent, very real counterdemonstrations are organized to protest against the opposing side, etc. In other words, if the polarization of individuals on social networks is indeed intensifying, it would not occur through the isolation of either side in a filter bubble or through echo chambers, but rather via intense virtual confrontations. The most important thing for analysts who criticize the usefulness of the concepts of filter bubbles and echo chambers to understand is what individuals do with information that is not in line with their opinions, and to find a way to transform social networks into a public space dedicated to deliberation rather than confrontation.

On the 10th February 1306, John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, known as the Red Comyn, a leading claimant to the vacant Scottish throne, is killed by his arch-rival Robert the Bruce and his supporters in front of the high altar of the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries. The leading theory is that a deal was proposed where one man would take the crown and give their lands to the other. This was rejected and Bruce stabbed Red Comyn when the argument turned violent, after which Bruce’s companions rushed into the church and killed Comyn as he lay wounded. Comyn’s uncle was also killed when we went to the aid of his nephew. It is unlikely that Bruce went to Greyfriars Church with the intention of killing Comyn, nevertheless with Coymn gone Bruce was free to seize the vacant Scottish throne. After the killing of Comyn, Bruce quickly traveled to Scone where, on 25th March, he was crowned King of Scots. Bruce was later forced to seek papal absolution for committing murder on sacred ground. The Comyns were one of the most powerful families in Scotland at the time. They held lands in Badenoch, Buchan and had extensive estates elsewhere in the country. When Edward I invaded Scotland in March 1296, Red Comyn, along with his father, and his cousin, John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, responded by attacking Carlisle, which was held for Edward I by Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, the father of the future King Robert the Bruce. It is often forgotten that the Wars of Scottish Independence began with a fight between the Bruces and Comyns. Comyn was a capable military leader in the fight against the English Crown. In February 1303, he and Sir Simon Fraser defeated an English army at the Battle of Roslin, south of Edinburgh. Pro-Bruce accounts attempt to justify the killing, claiming treachery on Comyn’s part, but perhaps Comyn had threatened to expose Bruce’s own double-dealings. Editors note: The popular version of the event has Bruce stabbing but not killing Comyn, who is later finished off by Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, an associate and cousin of Bruce. Historians disagree as to what happened inside the church, however, the killing of Comyn was most certainly not pre-planned. As Michael Brown stated in his book The Wars of Scotland 1214-1371, the event at Greyfriars was the defining political act of 14th century Scotland.

Common problems often require common solutions and the need for a dialogue. This is true in the case of China and India when it comes to tackling air pollution and switching to clean energy. Poor air quality has become a major political concern in both countries. In the 1990s, India had some success in improving air quality in Delhi through higher emissions standards for vehicles. But in the 21st century, India’s air quality has continued to deteriorate nationwide, and some reports now suggest that it is discernibly worse than in China. Independent estimates of the devastating health impacts of emissions from electricity plants, industry and transport cause non-stop public controversies. Based on data from www.stateofglobalair.org In order to effectively tackle the pollution crises, technologies that support clean air, water and soil in both China and India must gradually replace polluting alternatives. Implementation of this transition will largely depend on local factors. So what is the best approach for each government to take in promoting these technologies: the stick or the carrot? And which incentives or disincentives are most effective? Both countries face similar challenges. Each has prioritised the installation of de-sulfurizing, de-nitrating and de-dusting equipment at existing coal-fired electricity plants to curb harmful emissions. Both China and India have applied emissions standards to their electricity, transport and industrial sectors. However, compliance with these standards remains a major challenge. Beijing, for instance, is still believed to be at least a decade away from blue skies, whereas India lags behind further still. To complement command-and-control regulations such as emission standards, “the stick”, China is also using a “carrot” by offering a premium sale price to coal-fired generators that have installed emissions abatement equipment. The value of this “carrot” was estimated at around 100 billion yuan per annum (US$14.5 billion) in 2014 and 2015. Given its lower level of economic development and budgetary constraints, India cannot afford to encourage a reduction of pollution from coal plants in the same way. India prioritises provision of affordable electricity to its population and improving energy access for the 20% of people that still do not have electricity in their homes. This is very different from China, a country with an electrification rate of 100% that is addressing a major challenge of over-capacity in coal-fired generation. India also has the cess charge (a form of carbon tax) on coal use that is partially allocated to support clean technologies. Charged at INR 400 (USD 6) per tonne of coal, the cess has seen an eightfold increase since 2014. Between 2011 and 2016 an estimated 13,616 crore (over USD 2 billion) from the coal cess revenues was transferred to the National Clean Energy Fund. Feed-in tariffs and other “carrots” for renewable energy have driven a rapid increase in installed renewable energy capacity in both China and India. However, this additional capacity will only enable a switch to cleaner energy if it is used, and in both China and India some of the new wind capacity has faced curtailment problems. Among its causes are “toxic carrots” given each government. In China, energy policy is conflicting. While some policies seek to curb coal capacity, others guarantee coal-fired power plants a certain number of hours of operation. Thus, the value of wind curtailment in Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongiang and East Inner Mongolia was estimated at 6.9 billion yuan (USD1 billion) in 2016 driven partly by the priority given to the use of coal power. In India, renewable energy developers enjoyed a generous accelerated depreciation allowance but were not given a guarantee for generation or dispatch. However, India has capped this allowance at 40% and wind power is being developed through a reverse auction mechanism, whereby the bid is won by the seller quoting the lowest price. These and other examples illustrate that there is a lot of money and also regulations already on the table. What is missing is a system that traces the efficacy of both carrot and stick policies on energy waste and air quality in a way that is simple for governments and other stakeholders to use. Given increasing budgetary pressures, identifying, quantifying and evaluating policies that assist or interfere with the clean energy transition could help China and India assess the best use of public resources. One way of doing so would be a voluntary peer review with an expert organisation or another country – bilaterally or within such forums as G20 or BRICS. For example, many members of the organisation of the Asia-Pacific Cooperation have undertaken voluntary peer reviews on energy efficiency. Another opportunity is the voluntary review of fossil fuel subsidies within the G20 that China completed jointly with the US when it was hosting the G20 summit in 2016. The purpose of this review was to identify “toxic carrots” – those measures of government support in the energy sector that result in wasteful consumption of energy. China’s review listed nine subsidies worth USD 14.5 billion and included a timeline for their phase-out. India will host the G20 summit in 2019 and as more G20 countries (Germany, Mexico and Indonesia at the time of writing) volunteer for peer review, there are increasing expectations on India to do the same.

There is no single, clear, sustainable alternative to jet fuel able to support commercial flight, according to a report published today, though some see this as an opportunity for the UK to become the world-leader in net zero aircraft development. The report suggests there should be a shift in emphasis away from biofuel to novel kinds of aircraft and ways to operate them, according to Prof Guy Gratton, of Cranfield University, co-author. ‘A huge amount of attention is being paid to the potential of biofuels — but these in themselves are not a long-term solution,’ he said, adding there is a window of technological change, shifting to fuels such as green hydrogen, ‘where the UK can be the pioneer.’ ‘The report is important in highlighting the importance of understanding the impact of limited resources when developing net zero policy,’ added Prof Rob Miller, Director, Whittle Lab and lead of the Aviation Impact Accelerator global aviation modelling group, which developed a tool to help understand emissions. ‘The report concentrates on the UK, but it shows that we need a better understanding, at a global level, of how different sectors, biodiversity and food requirements will compete for feedstocks. It also shows that a large amount of renewable energy is required for most options. This means that we must focus our research on technologies which can be rapidly scaled after 2035 when the quantity of available renewable electricity increases.’ Through burning kerosene, aviation is a contributor to global heating, including through the emissions of carbon dioxide and the formation of high altitude contrails. Global aviation carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 1,000 million tonnes per year in 2018/19, representing 2.4% of global emissions, while UK aviation (international and domestic) accounted for 8% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. Based on contributions from Royal Society Fellows and 13 UK universities and research institutions, today’s briefing for the public and MPs provides an independent report on decarbonising UK aviation. The challenge is huge: the report estimates that meeting existing UK aviation demand with energy crops would require around half of UK agricultural land. Despite increasing investment in ammonia and hydrogen fuels, projected emissions will need to be continually updated as engine data from laboratory, and real-world testing develops. Though neither produce carbon dioxide, they do however depend on significant renewable electricity: producing ‘green’ hydrogen as a jet fuel would require around 2.4 to 3.4 times the UK’s annual renewable electricity generation in 2020. Research will also be important to understand the impact of non-CO2 emissions from jet engines, and the formation of contrails, which currently contribute significantly to global heating. ‘Research and innovation are vital tools for the delivery of net zero,’ said Professor Graham Hutchings of Cardiff University, chair of the report working group. ‘But we need to be very clear about the strengths, limitations, and challenges that must be addressed and overcome.’ The UK has committed to scale up manufacturing of sustainable aviation fuels and to make domestic flying net zero by 2040.

By Terry W. Johnson As I write this column, the leaves of the flowering dogwoods growing in my backyard are bathed with a blush of red. Soon, however, they will turn scarlet and, together with their already bright red berries, light up the autumn landscape. If the flowering dogwood's breathtaking beauty is not enough to endear this small native tree to us, perhaps the fact that it is also one of our most valuable wildlife food plants will. We will probably never know for certain where the dogwood got its name. One legend tells us this tree is called dogwood because long ago a medicine concocted from its bark was used to treat dogs plagued with mange. Others suggest the name dogwood is a derivation of the word "daggerwood." Daggerwood sticks were once sharpened and used to skewer meat for cooking. The flowering dogwood ranges across all of Georgia's 159 counties. In the wild, it is typically found in the understory of forest. In other words, it lives beneath the canopy of much taller trees. Here it exists in a wide range of soil types and light conditions. While the tree will grow in open sun, it prefers partial shade. Although it will even grow in heavy shade, there it will rarely bloom. As for soil, flowering dogwoods do best in rich, well-drained, acid soils. This native tree is small. A really big dogwood tops out at 20-30 feet tall. However, most dogwoods are much shorter. In the wild, the dogwood is a tree that seems to melt into the landscape in both the summer and winter. However, during spring and fall, it takes center stage, seemingly demanding you to gaze upon it. One color best describes the flowering dogwood in the fall -- red. The tree's autumn foliage ranges from maroon to crimson. Additionally, at this time of the year, the plant is festooned with clusters of half-inch, shiny, bright-red berries that botanists call drupes. Once the berries and leaves disappear in late fall or early winter, the tree seems to slip back into obscurity only to re-emerge in the spring. In fact, many will argue that the flowering dogwood is more beautiful in spring than fall. In spring, before their leaves emerge, the trees are blanketed with what appear to be creamy white blossoms. However, botanists will tell you that what we perceive to be white petals are actually not petals at all. The flowering dogwoods flowers are small and arranged in a tight cluster in the center of showy petal-like bracts. At any rate, the floral show displayed by the flowering dogwood is second to none. When flowering dogwoods are in bloom, you can ride down a forest-lined road and pick them out in the leafless woodlands. If you start looking for dogwoods in full bloom, you will probably be surprised to find so many growing in your neck of the woods. Once the blossoms are replaced by tender green leaves, these demure trees once again melt into the landscape. One thing that I like about this tree is that it is also an important wildlife food plant. Wildlife of some sort dines on everything from the tree's wood and foliage to its fruit. It is the host plant for the beautiful spring azure butterfly and at least 22 species of moths, including those bearing unusual names such as the saddled prominent and filament bearer. While the caterpillars of these moths and butterflies munch on the tree's leaves, a multitude of songbirds converge on the trees to dine on the juicy caterpillars growing fat on the trees foliage. Meanwhile, more than 60 species of birds and mammals also feed on dogwoods. White-tailed deer eat the tree's foliage and twigs. Raccoons, black bears, eastern chipmunks as well as both fox and gray squirrels gobble up the tree's bright red fruit. The eastern cottontail and beaver also find the dogwood to their liking. Each fall, wood ducks, quail and wild turkeys vie for dogwood berries scattered across the forest floor. Additionally, more than 30 other species of birds eat dogwood drupes. This lengthy list includes woodpeckers (red-bellied, hairy, pileated, red-headed) along with the northern flicker and yellow-bellied sapsucker. Our state bird, the brown thrasher, also relishes dogwood fruit. The red berries are also choice table fare for northern cardinals, yellow-rumped warblers, northern mockingbirds, thrushes (hermit, wood, Swainson's and gray-cheeked), and the eastern bluebird and American robin. Sadly, although the value of this tree is undisputed, its future is uncertain. A deadly anthracnose fungus has killed thousands of dogwoods in recent years. The disease has been especially devastating in North Georgia. Consequently, I would not recommend transplanting a dogwood from the wild into your yard as it may be infected with the anthracnose fungus. Instead, buy disease-free trees from a reputable nursery. Flowering dogwoods are great additions to both urban and suburban yards. You can line the edge of your yard or driveway with them. They can be set out as specimen trees or scattered among widely-spaced taller trees. Regardless of where you plant them, they will add beauty to your home landscape and provide a dependable source of food for your hungry wildlife neighbors. From my way of thinking, that's a pretty good deal. Terry Johnson is a former Nongame program manager with the Wildlife Resources Division, a noted backyard wildlife writer and expert, and executive director of TERN, the friends group for Wildlife Resources' Nongame Conservation Section. Read previous columns here. Find out more about TERN at http://tern.homestead.com/ .

What is biofeedback using the HeartMath technology program? The HeartMath Interventions program is a biofeedback program that emphasizes the role of the heart and heart rate variability (HRV) as a key component to the emotional system. Recent biomedical research has clarified that the heart is much more than a simple pump. It is indeed a highly complex, self-organized information-processing center. Research has confirmed that the messages the heart sends to the brain not only affect physiological regulation, but also can profoundly influence perception, emotion, behavior, performance and health. The HeartMath program combines emotional restructuring with biofeedback and relaxation techniques to assist your body in establishing a healthier response to stress. People who have utilized these techniques, report results that are sustained over time because the HeartMath program helps create a change in your body's baseline emotional and physiologic response to stress. However you may respond when you are experiencing increased stress-yelling at the kids or your spouse, high blood pressure, anxiety, PTSD, back and neck pain, or headaches-HeartMath can help. Self regulation is an empowering tool for those suffering from the effects of stress. Mind Body Impact of HeartMath on Health The HeartMath program shifts from a disease-based model to one that bridges the chasm between mind and body. It is a self-empowering program that offers tools and techniques that blend increased self-awareness with emotional self-regulation skills. By intentionally making internal adjustments with the initial support of HeartMath, individuals can self-regulate their emotional states to inhibit poor behavioral responses, re-establish stability and improve health and relationships. HeartMath offers techniques to interrupt self-defeating cycles and provides opportunities to develop dynamic new patterns (efficient heart-rhythm patterns using heart rate variability (HRV) training) through positive emotional shifts and by reinforcing them until they become familiar. Stress Reduction and HeartMath Stress has become an all too familiar household word. “It's just stress” is a phrase often used to dismiss an emotional outburst, forgetfulness, headache, pain, or illness. From a body-mind perspective, emotions are the main ingredient in the experience of stress; indeed, it is emotions—feelings such as anxiety, irritation, frustration, lack of control, overwhelm, hopelessness—that individuals experience when they describe themselves as “stressed.” HeartMath research indicates that emotions, even more than thoughts, activate and drive the body's physical changes that correlate with the stress response. Thus, the key to optimal health and vitality is directly related to our ability to self-regulate our emotional experience. Simply stated, the emotions we often label as “negative” do, in fact, disrupt optimal physiological and mental functions. Conversely, the emotions we often refer to as “positive” facilitate a wide range of physiological functions, renew our energy, and optimize the body's natural regenerative processes. How Does HeartMath Work? The HeartMath program utilizes intentionally generated heart rate rhythmic patterns (heart rate variability or HRV) with positive emotion based coherence building techniques to help create a permanent shift in the physiologic and emotional response to stress. The changes in HRV are monitored and give the user feedback on how their practice is changing their body's response to stress. Stress is ever present. Stress reduction comes with reducing our response to the stress. What is a Session Like? After baseline measures are taken, a practice protocol is developed that results in a change in the pattern of signals sent to the brain from the heart, which serves to reinforce the self-generated positive emotional shift that is part of the practice plan. Participants report a sense of empowerment resulting from the ability to self regulate previously unhealthy responses to stress or other life events. A key area of focus at the HeartMath Research Center is exploring our emotions and how they affect our physiology, with an emphasis on the physiological effects of positive emotions, especially intentionally experienced positive emotions. Studies already have revealed there are pronounced beneficial changes in the patterns of activity in the autonomic nervous, immune and hormonal systems and the brain and heart when we experience emotions such as appreciation, love, care and compassion. There are indications these physiological changes may help explain the connection between positive emotions, improved health and increased longevity. HeartMath Institute researchers have shown that the heart plays an important role in the generation and perception of emotion. Development and Testing of Positive Emotion-Focused Tools, Techniques, Technology and Programs: Research into emotional physiology and heart-brain interactions has guided the development of practical, heart-based tools, techniques and technologies that enable people to sustain positive emotions and physiological coherence with greater consistency. They have been tested for effectiveness in laboratory studies as well as intervention studies conducted in educational, organizational and clinical settings. Who Can Benefit From Using HeartMath? Acute, Chronic, and Recurrent Pain Other Chronic Illness Acute procedural pain Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer Chronic Pain and Fatigue Chronic Pain and Fatigue Post procedure pain Irritable Bowel Syndrome Atopic dermatitis, Hypertension, Stress Related Body Pain Diabetes Type I & Type II Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's) Traumatic brain injury Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Phantom pain & amputation Learning and Performance Issues: Research on the Heart Some intriguing facts that the research done through HeartMath has uncovered: The heart generates by the far the most powerful and most extensive rhythmic electromagnetic field produced in the body. When electrodes placed on the body are used to measure the ECG, it is the electrical component of the heart that is measured. It has been found that the electrical voltage of the heart is about 60 times greater in amplitude than the electrical activity produced by the brain. The magnetic component of the heart's field is approximately 5,000 times stronger than the magnetic field produced by the brain. Research has shown that the human nervous system is tuned to the heart fields of others and is able to detect and decode this energetic information. Coherent energetic fields are interrelated and act to amplify and mutually reinforce each other. Research has also shown that when an individual is in a coherent state (HeartMath trains to achieve coherent state), one's sensitivity and awareness of this encoded information is increased. The heart's neural circuitry enables it to learn, remember and make functional decisions relative to the heart's activity, all independent of the cranial brain. The heart is itself a hormonal gland that manufactures and secretes numerous hormones and neurotransmitters. The heart releases atrial natriurectic factor (ANF). This hormone exerts its effects widely: on blood vessels, kidneys, adrenal glands and a large number of regulatory regions in the brain. The heart also secretes oxytocin, commonly referred to as the “love” or “bonding” hormones. Remarkably, concentrations of oxytocin produced in the heart are as high as those found in the brain. The heart communicates with the brain in four ways: a neurological communication through the nervous system (electrical); a biophysical communication – the pulse (pressure wave); a biochemical communication-the hormones (chemical); a energetic communication –(electromagnetic). For more information, or questions to see if the HeartMath Program is right for you, please come in for a consultation. I would love to discuss any questions or concerns you may have using the HeartMath HRV program with Hypnotherapy. Click on > BOOK ONLINE And you can choose a day and time that is convenient for you. HeartMath personal use products The HeartMath program is recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on emotional physiology, stress and optimal performance. HeartMath's award winning Inner Balance and emWave products offer a drug-free solution to stress, anxiety, depression and more. If you would like information or to purchase your own HeartMath program products, to use at home or in conjunction to your Hypnotherapy/Biofeedback sessions, you may click on any of the photos below, or right click on your mouse and click on 'open link in new tab' The emWave2 is a portable and convenient way to reduce stress, balance emotions, and increase performance with the use of real-time feedback with lights and audio cues. emWave2 takes a pulse reading from the user’s thumb or earlobe and instantly develops a breathing sequence to follow, based on your heart rhythms and emotions. By tracking your heart rate variability (HRV), it helps you align your breathing and heart rhythms. emWave2’s computer interface adds the functionality to track progress through storing session information and shows a more detailed view of heart rhythms. Users learn how to achieve a high-performance mental and physiological state called “coherence” using HeartMath’s Quick Coherence® technique. Click on the photo or right click on your mouse and click on 'open link in new tab' to learn more. The Inner Balance™ Sensor for Android and iPhone It can be easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious and scattered. The Inner Balance™ sensor for Android and iPhone trains you to shift and replace emotional stress with emotional balance and coherence. The Inner Balance™ helps you to learn how to: Replenish your energy Balance your emotions Quiet an overactive mind Click on the photo or right click on your mouse and click on 'open link in new tab' to learn more.

Allergy and Asthma Center Allergists located in McLean, VA Asthma often appears during childhood, but your first asthma attack can occur at any age. Anita N. Wasan, MD, at Allergy and Asthma Center works closely with children and adults, providing comprehensive testing and advanced treatments to alleviate your asthma symptoms and prevent future attacks. If you experience shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing, call the office in McLean, Virginia, or book an appointment online. Asthma Q & A What causes asthma? Asthma is a lung condition in which the airways become inflamed and irritated. As a result, several changes occur in your lungs: - Swelling of the airways - Contraction of muscles lining the airways - Production of extra mucus All three changes make it hard to breathe, and they trigger an asthma attack. Asthma is a chronic condition in which the airways remain partially inflamed, making it easy to suddenly develop another asthma flare-up or exacerbation. What symptoms develop due to asthma? When an asthma attack begins, you may experience symptoms such as: - Shortness of breath - Chest pain or tightness You might find that the coughing is worse at night. Additionally, there’s a type of asthma, cough-variant asthma, which only causes one symptom: a dry, ongoing cough. What may trigger an asthma attack? Asthma episodes occur when something irritates your lungs. There are many different allergic and nonallergic asthma triggers, but most patients have a few specific triggers. If you have allergies, there’s a good chance that your allergens may also cause an asthma flare-up. Some of the most common allergy-related triggers are pollen, pet dander, molds, and dust mites. These are a few of the most common triggers that aren’t associated with allergies: - Cold air - Air pollution - Tobacco smoke - Stress and strong emotions - Upper respiratory infections - Odors like perfumes It’s estimated that 90% of patients with asthma develop exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. This condition occurs when your asthma is triggered by physical activity. How is asthma diagnosed and treated? Dr. Wasan performs a wide range of diagnostic tests, including pulmonary function testing and a bronchospasm evaluation. In some cases, she may recommend nitric oxide testing, which shows whether your airways are inflamed and helps to determine if you need steroids. If allergic asthma is suspected, Dr. Wasan performs in-office allergy testing to identify your allergens. She may recommend allergy shots because building immunity to the allergen also helps keep asthma under control. Treatment for asthma includes a fast-acting inhaler to open your airways during an acute flare-up, and long-term asthma control medications to reduce inflammation, control your asthma symptoms, and prevent future attacks. For severe cases of asthma, Dr. Wasan may prescribe injections with one of today's advanced biologic medications such as Xolair®, Nucala®, Dupixent®, and Fasenra®. At the first sign of asthma symptoms, call the Allergy and Asthma Center or book an appointment online.

As a dog owner, it’s important to be aware of potential health issues that may affect your furry friend. One common condition that dogs can experience is hypothyroidism, also known as thyroid issues in dogs. Canine hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormones, leading to various symptoms and complications. Canine hypothyroidism can be challenging to diagnose due to the variability of clinical signs and the presence of other causes of low thyroid hormone levels. The primary cause of hypothyroidism is the failure of the thyroid gland itself, usually due to inflammation or degeneration. If left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to lethargy, weight gain, dermatological issues, and potentially severe complications. To accurately diagnose hypothyroidism in dogs, veterinarians rely on a combination of clinical signs and diagnostic tests. These tests include thyroid hormone testing, which should be interpreted alongside the dog’s symptoms and other relevant factors. Once diagnosed, the treatment for hypothyroidism typically involves lifelong medication with synthetic thyroid hormones. - Canine hypothyroidism is a common disorder that affects the thyroid gland in dogs. - Symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs include lethargy, weight gain, and dermatological issues. - Diagnosis involves a combination of clinical signs and thyroid hormone testing. - Treatment for hypothyroidism usually consists of lifelong medication with synthetic thyroid hormones. - Regular veterinary care and monitoring are essential for dogs with hypothyroidism. Causes and Symptoms of Canine Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism in dogs can have various causes, including autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid gland (lymphocytic thyroiditis) or degeneration of the thyroid gland (idiopathic thyroid atrophy). Certain breeds, such as Golden Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers, are more prone to developing hypothyroidism. The symptoms of hypothyroidism can vary and may not always be obvious. Common signs include lethargy, weight gain, hair loss (alopecia), skin issues like hyperpigmentation and pyoderma, as well as potential complications affecting the nervous and cardiovascular systems. It’s important to note that these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions. Therefore, a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is necessary to confirm a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and rule out other potential causes. Diagnosis of Hypothyroidism in Dogs The diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs requires a comprehensive and multi-step approach to ensure accurate and reliable results. While the initial screening test often involves measuring the levels of total T4 (thyroxine) in the blood, it is important to note that low T4 levels alone are not conclusive evidence of hypothyroidism. Several other factors can affect T4 levels in euthyroid dogs, which necessitates further tests to confirm the diagnosis. The diagnostic approach for hypothyroidism in dogs typically involves: - Measuring free T4 levels: This test assesses the levels of unbound (free) T4, which provides a more accurate representation of the biologically active thyroid hormone available in the body. It helps to evaluate the thyroid gland’s function more precisely. - Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement: The measurement of TSH levels in the blood can provide valuable insights into the functioning of the thyroid gland. Elevated TSH levels can indicate an underactive thyroid gland. - Thyroiditis antibody tests: These tests help identify the presence of immune-mediated inflammation of the thyroid gland, which can be a contributing factor to hypothyroidism. Factors to consider: When diagnosing hypothyroidism in dogs, it is crucial to consider their clinical presentation, breed predisposition, and any other factors that could potentially impact the accuracy of the test results. Each dog’s diagnostic journey should be tailored to their specific needs and circumstances to ensure an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. Treatment and Management of Canine Hypothyroidism When it comes to treating canine hypothyroidism, the key is lifelong medication with synthetic thyroid hormones. One commonly prescribed medication for dogs with this condition is levothyroxine. The dosage of the medication varies based on the individual dog’s needs and how they respond to treatment. It’s important to note that regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels is crucial to ensure the medication dosage remains appropriate for the dog’s specific requirements. Once treatment is initiated, it’s typically necessary for dogs with hypothyroidism to continue taking medication for the rest of their lives. This ensures their thyroid hormone levels are maintained within the optimal range, minimizing any potential complications or relapses. Regular veterinary check-ups and monitoring of clinical signs are vital aspects of effectively managing hypothyroidism in dogs. These check-ups allow veterinarians to assess the dog’s overall health, evaluate any changes in symptoms, and adjust the medication dosage if necessary. By closely monitoring the dog’s condition, veterinarians can ensure that the treatment plan remains appropriate and effective. After gaining a comprehensive understanding of canine hypothyroidism, it is clear that this condition should not be taken lightly. Thyroid issues in dogs can have a significant impact on their overall health and well-being. Therefore, it is crucial for dog owners to educate themselves about the causes, symptoms, and diagnostic process for hypothyroidism. Regular veterinary care is essential for dogs with hypothyroidism. Monitoring the thyroid hormone levels is crucial to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective management. With proper diagnosis and management, dogs with hypothyroidism can lead happy and healthy lives. If you suspect that your dog may be suffering from thyroid issues, do not hesitate to consult with your veterinarian. They will provide a thorough evaluation and offer guidance on the appropriate diagnostic tests and treatment options available. Remember, early detection and timely intervention can make a significant difference in your dog’s quality of life. What is canine hypothyroidism? Canine hypothyroidism is a disorder in dogs where the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormones. What are the causes and symptoms of canine hypothyroidism? Canine hypothyroidism can be caused by autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid gland or degeneration of the thyroid gland. Common symptoms include lethargy, weight gain, hair loss, and skin issues. How is hypothyroidism in dogs diagnosed? The diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs involves a multi-step approach, including thyroid hormone testing and considering the dog’s clinical signs, breed predisposition, and other factors that could affect test results. What is the treatment for canine hypothyroidism? Treatment for hypothyroidism in dogs typically involves lifelong medication with synthetic thyroid hormones, such as levothyroxine. Regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels is necessary to ensure the medication dosage is appropriate. Can dogs with hypothyroidism lead normal lives? With proper diagnosis and management, dogs with hypothyroidism can lead happy and healthy lives. Regular veterinary care, including monitoring of thyroid hormone levels, is essential for their well-being.

Young Moana is told the story of the demigod Maui stealing the heart of Te Fiti then losing it to the sea, then she discovers she can control the water. She grows up and she’s trained to take over as chief. The fish are going away so Moana wants to go beyond the reef, but her dad won’t allow it. She considers putting a rock on a stack of rocks that will symbolize that she’s accepted her chiefdom, but instead she gets in a boat and tries to go beyond the reef. Why Moana might be hard to identify with: She has no friends other than animals that don’t talk. - She has a complex culture and mythology, including songs and dances. - There’s a prophesy that someone will save their village, but it’s not necessarily about her. - We see the complex economy of the village, with 20 different jobs that have to get done. - She’s stubborn. Her grandmother sings, “You are your father’s daughter / Stubbornness and pride / Mind what he says, but remember / You may hear a voice inside / And if the voice starts to whisper / To follow the farthest star / Moana that voice inside is who you are.” - She’s got objects representing her choices: Putting stones on the stack represents becoming chief. - She’s not allowed to do what she was born to do. “We have one rule, a rule that keeps us safe.” She’s supposedly been made chief, but she can’t do what needs to be done. “There’s nothing beyond our reef but storms and rough seas.” “Motunui is paradise, who would want to go anywhere else?” - She says of her dad: “He doesn’t get me.” - She has superpowers. She can control the ocean water. - She’s got (limited) decision-making ability: “You are the next great chief of our people.” - She’s handy and resourceful: She can fix a leak in the ceiling of a hut. - She makes wise decisions on tree planting and fishing grounds. - She’s kind: She tries to protect a turtle trying to make it to the sea. Strength / Flaw: Adventurous / Disobedient (Which isn’t really a flaw, so she’s not really flawed)

How NFC Mobile Payments Works? NFC mobile payments are becoming increasingly popular as a way to pay for goods and services. But how do they work? NFC, or near-field communication, is a technology that allows two devices to communicate with each other when they are close together. NFC-enabled devices can be used to make payments by simply holding the device up to a contactless payment terminal. The payment is processed through the NFC chip, which is embedded in the device. This chip contains all of the necessary information to process the payment, including the account number and security code. When the device is held up to the payment terminal, the NFC chip sends the information to the terminal, which then processes the payment. The whole process is quick and easy, and it doesn’t require any special hardware or software. Contactless payment methods have become a measure of customer health safety and convenience as the fight against COVID-19 has had varying degrees of success. Sellers and merchants should consider this and evolve technologically to remain competitive in the market. Customers may be inconvenienced by out-of-date payment processing systems, which can also pose a security risk. This is where NFC contactless payments enter the picture. Let’s take a closer look at this technology. What Is NFC? NFC is an abbreviation for “Near Field Communication.” It is a wireless communication standard based on proximity that is designed for a shorter range (up to 10 cm) and high-speed data transmission between two devices. One device serves as a transmitter, while the other serves as a receiver. Each side’s device can be passive or active. Because NFC is based on low-power technology, passive devices do not require a power source to receive and transmit data. Such devices include NFC readers, advertisement tags, and terminals, which are easy to use because they can be found almost anywhere. The main disadvantages of passive devices are that they cannot communicate with one another and cannot process data independently. Active devices require power to operate and, unlike passive devices, can transmit, receive, and process data as well as connect to other devices. A smartphone with an NFC card reader is an excellent example of an active NFC device. Contactless payment via mobile phone is the best application of NFC to date, as it is much faster than Bluetooth and much more convenient than a magnetic strip. NFC technology is used in mobile payment services such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. How Does NFC Work? NFC technology is similar to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which is based on radio waves to transmit and receive data. The main distinction is that NFC is based on a new set of wireless communication protocols and operates at a fixed frequency of 13.56 MHz. To begin NFC data transmission, both the transmitting and receiving devices must be placed close enough to each other. The data is encrypted and transmitted via electromagnetic fields at the same time. The data may be returned by the receiver. This process is repeated until the transaction is finished. And it all happens in a matter of seconds. One of the best NFC features is that passive devices do not require a power source to operate because they are activated by the electromagnetic field of the active device at close range. NFC can function in three ways: - Peer-to-peer, which makes two-way data transfer possible. For example, smartphones use this mode during NFC transactions. - Read/write only is the one-way data transfer model where one of the devices is a transmitter and the second one is a receiver. - Card emulation is a mode where an NFC device functions as a smart card, which can be used with an NFC terminal. Are NFC Contactless Payments Safe? NFC payment security meets all EMV (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) requirements. NFC also employs data encryption, making it far more secure than magnetic-stripe cards (as those strips can be easily read with special equipment). Furthermore, NFC data is dynamic, making it difficult to decipher. During the transmission process, NFC uses tokenization to encrypt data into unintelligible sets. It means that financial information is replaced with a random number, rendering it useless if stolen. Fingerprints and Face ID, which are unique and cannot be replicated, also contribute to NFC security. It implies that the payer must authorize the transaction using biometric data. Because third parties cannot access financial information through smartphones, they are rendered useless. How to Pay With NFC Mobile Payments? NFC for mobile payments is simple to learn. If you want to use it on your mobile device, make sure it supports this feature. However, the seller must accept such payments as well. Those who prefer Apple devices must use the iPhone 6 or later models to make NFC payments. NFC is also supported by iPads beginning with the Pro, Air 2, and third-generation Mini. To use NFC, Android users must have a device running version 4.4 or later. This setting must also be enabled in the “NFC and Payments” section. Once you’ve confirmed that your device supports NFC, you’ll need to choose a digital wallet to make payments; fortunately, there are a plethora of such wallet apps available. The final step is to enter your credit card information. Once completed, you can make payments by simply holding your smartphone near the receiving terminal. Because of their security, speed, and convenience, NFC payments provide numerous advantages. Such benefits will drive further adoption of this technology as more customers realise how simple it is to use. If you require an out-of-the-box solution, selecting the right FinTech software development team is critical. Nile Bits has the necessary expertise to successfully develop a financial digital product that meets all of the needs of the customer, including but not limited to cryptocurrency app development, blockchain, and NFC payments.

With farmland making up 75 percent of the state of Illinois’ total land, it is no surprise that agriculture plays a dominant role in supporting the state’s economy. That’s why programs, such as Ag in the Classroom, hold a lot of importance in teaching young students where their food comes from. Throughout the year, Ag in the Classroom offers students a variety of timely lesson plans for students. Warren- Henderson Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Anna Sharp gives a look into the lessons she plans for students as we head into Thanksgiving. “One of my favorite topics, not anything we raise around here- cranberries. We talk about cranberries, we talk about turkeys,” said Sharp. “One of my favorite lessons is going through some of the Thanksgiving foods they are going to be eating and figuring out what the main product or crop that we need for that food and where it’s grown in the United States. That is a fun one, to look at the map and figure out who grows the most green beans and who grows the most sweet potatoes.”In December, Sharp adds that she will talk with students about trees and tree farming.

Piw means pounds per inch of belt width and is widely used in the United States of America. The piw figure is indicating the working tension a conveyor belt is intended to be used for, irrespective of the breaking strength of the splice. Usually, the belt's breaking strength is not given. Outside of the USA, the breaking strength of the conveyor belt is used, rated in N/mm, i.e. Newton per millimeter of belt width. The belt breaking strength is determined precisely, depending on the operating conditions, the splice type etc. The safety factor is related to the weakest point of the conveyor belt, which is the splice. Without consideration of a safety factor, piw are converted into N/mm by multiplying by 0.175. Example: 2284 piw x 0.175 = 400 N/mm. N/mm converted into piw are multiplied by 5.71. Example: 400 N/mm x 5.71 = 2284 piw. If a safety factor of 10 is assumed for both terms, then a 400 piw belt would equal to a 700 N/mm belt. However, this is not academic. The above applies to textile conveyor belts. For steel cable conveyor belts, the rating in N/mm breaking strength is used in the USA, too.

by Samuel Hodge. We are going to delve into a topic close to my heart – the intersection of service learning and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As we navigate the path towards creating global citizens, this journey is not just a part of our curriculum but an integral aspect of our school ethos. The theme flows through our Mission, Vision and the fabric of what we do, with four of our core values focused within a global citizenship strand (Collaboration, Integrity, Kindness and Open-mindedness). We uphold these core values to underpin all our outreach work. These words have become our student drivers: Collaboration in working with NGOs, stakeholders and the community to drive change. Integrity is being honest about how we can support and having strong moral principles to deliver on what we pledge. Kindness is shown through how we use our time to teach others and show understanding and compassion. Open-mindedness is about understanding a problem and looking at lots of options before we act. A school’s mission statement should be at the centre of everything you do with your students in mind. Is this the case in your school? Are you focusing your school conversation back on your future plans? Poll: What are the 3 skills/values you want students to leave your school with when they graduate? A Purposeful Journey: Integrating Service Learning and the SDGs At the heart of our educational philosophy lies a commitment to nurturing responsible and compassionate individuals. There has never been a more important time to develop skills, and what better way to do this than through the integration of Service Learning and the SDGs working on real-world problems with external partners such as NGOs? The SDGs serve as a compass guiding our students towards a deeper understanding of real-world issues (take a look at the sustainability compass – systems approach). By weaving these concepts into our curriculum, we aim to empower our students to be active contributors to create a positive change in the world. The Sustainability Compass is easy to understand. A regular compass helps us map the territory and find our direction. N is for Nature – All of our natural ecological systems and environmental concerns, from ecosystem health and nature conservation, to resource use and waste. E is for Economy – The human systems that convert nature’s resources into food, shelter, ideas, technologies, industries, services, money and jobs. S is for Society – The institutions, organisations, cultures, norms, and social conditions that make up our collective life as human beings. W is for Wellbeing – Our individual health, happiness, and quality of life. Navigating the Landscape: A Glimpse into Our Initiatives 1. School to Community – Local to Global Impact Our students engage in The POWIIS project (Service learning/passion project curriculum – an elective project for 2 hours every week) addressing local environmental concerns. From waste management to sustainable practices, they not only make a tangible impact in our community but also link their actions to broader global goals, fostering a sense of interconnectedness. One example of this is how students build layers on top of a simple project/idea to take them to the next level. Students first start to explore the problem, let’s look at waste/rubbish. Beach cleans are a fantastic way to get involved and call students to action. Beach cleans have a place, however, they do not tackle the issue of education and the waste from its source. They also do not repurpose the rubbish or collect any data. 2. Collaborative Learning Spaces Imagine a classroom where students take charge, collaborating on passion projects that transcend traditional subjects. Service learning projects become the bridge between theory and practice, creating a dynamic learning space where students actively contribute to solutions for challenges outlined in the SDGs and the local area. Through this model students share their knowledge in the community, the data they have collected and how people can help. After/during a clean they collect data, engage in sorting the waste, cleaning, shredding (recycling) then repurpose the material into flower pots, carabinas etc. 3. Learning Without Walls In our commitment to fostering a holistic and immersive educational experience, we embraced the concept of “Learning Without Walls.” This initiative transcends traditional classroom settings, encouraging students to explore beyond physical and conceptual boundaries. Through various outdoor and experiential learning opportunities, students not only gain a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts but also develop crucial life skills. The “Learning Without Walls” beach cleaning is not just a service to support wider society, it is an amazing learning opportunity to approach and extend beyond the beach. Geographical boundaries are no more, and we break down conceptual barriers within traditional subjects (why do some beaches have more waste or a specific type of waste?). Interdisciplinary projects challenge students to synthesise knowledge from various disciplines, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues. How can we measure microplastics? How can we separate and test for a type of plastic (floats on oil/water)? How can we reuse this waste? How can we recycle it? What process can we use? What is the resin code? All inquiry-based questions for students to explore. By setting up pop-up shops across the island the students have been able to create a sustainable business from waste, turning a simple beach clean into a cross-curricular model with links to Science, Design and Technology, English, Business Studies and many more. This approach empowers students to navigate an ever-changing global landscape, fostering adaptability, resilience, and a genuine passion for lifelong learning. Through these initiatives, we are not just educating students, we are preparing them to thrive in a world that demands creativity, collaboration, and a deep sense of global responsibility. Innovative Approaches: Letter to the Future Leaders (Our strapline “be the change”) As you embark on this journey of service learning and SDGs through the POWIIS Project, remember that you are not just learners but leaders of tomorrow. Your actions today ripple into the future. Let this be a letter to inspire, a reminder that each effort, no matter how small, contributes to a larger narrative of positive change. Engage and Reflect: Your Thoughts Matter As we explore these initiatives, I invite your thoughts and reflections. How do you envision your school contributing to the SDGs? Share your ideas, concerns, and dreams with us. This dialogue is an essential part of shaping our collective journey towards a sustainable and just world. POLL: Do you embed the SDGs in your curriculum or as part of your ECA/club programme? Yes, no, considering In Conclusion: A Call to Action In conclusion, the amalgamation of service learning and SDGs is not just an educational strategy but a call to action. It’s a call to nurture compassionate leaders who understand the power of collective effort. Let’s continue this journey together, weaving a tapestry of change that transcends borders and generations. As always, your engagement is vital. Share your thoughts, collaborate with us, and let’s continue to grow as a community committed to making a difference. Samuel Hodge is the Deputy Principal ( Student and Community Development ), Prince of Wales Island International School, Penang, Malaysia To connect with Samuel on LinkedIn, click Here LYIS is proud to partner with TIC Recruitment If you are considering becoming an International School Principal, then why not sign up for our course in January – ‘Becoming an International School Principal’.

Clinical studies that have followed older individuals over many years have consistently demonstrated that chronically low blood pressure increases the risk of age-related cognitive decline. For example, a study published in 2017 followed more than 24,000 people for up to 27 years. This study showed that low blood pressure is a significant predictor of cognitive decline and the probability of developing dementia. This was independent of age, gender, weight, cardiovascular, kidney or diabetic status. Low blood pressure is associated with decreased blood flow to the brain when an individual is sitting or standing. Many researchers have come to believe that insufficient brain blood flow plays a critical role in the development of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and perhaps even Parkinson’s disease. Those of us who study the link between low blood pressure and cognitive performance need to determine what “too low” a blood pressure means in an individual person. This would allow health care providers to know when to intervene and correct a person’s low blood pressure. My team and I at the Clinical Science and Engineering Research Lab at Binghamton University are addressing this question. What constitutes low blood pressure In our research, we are utilizing data obtained from a relatively new quantitative assessment tool cleared by the FDA for evaluating cognitive function in people over the age of 50 years, who have a high school degree or higher educational level. This computer-based evaluation, which takes about 10 minutes for an individual to complete, provides clinicians and researchers with a reproducible assessment of cognitive function on a scale of 0-100. A score above 75 places the person in the expected cognitive function range for their age, while a score between 50 and 75 indicates an individual is in the below-normal range – and correspondingly, at increased risk of developing dementia. A score below 50 is indicative of an individual having many characteristics of dementia syndrome. Resting blood pressure refers to your blood pressure after you have been sitting quietly for 10-15 minutes in a non-stressful environment. This is the blood pressure most older Americans experience most of the day, as older Americans are, on average, sedentary for over 9 hours. Though our study is ongoing, two clear patterns are already developing in the data we have obtained from healthy subjects who have volunteered to be in the study – that is, people who have not been diagnosed with dementia or any other cognitive disorder. First, low resting diastolic blood pressure is remarkably common. Over 85% of otherwise healthy 50-95-year-old subjects, in our study, have below normal resting diastolic blood pressures. This observation, by itself, would not necessarily be cause for concern. However, three-fourths of those we have studied so far, a total of 42 to date, with below normal blood pressure also test in the “below normal” cognitive function range. Low blood pressure, also called hypotension, is usually defined as having a blood pressure low enough to cause dizziness, blurry vision or fainting. These symptoms typically occur with a diastolic pressure below 60 millimeters of mercury, or mmHg. Doctors tend not to be concerned about low blood pressure until diastolic pressure falls below this level. Our data indicate that even individuals with diastolic blood pressures well above this 60mmHg threshold are unable to support normal cognitive function when upright. Indeed, at essentially any resting diastolic blood pressure below normal (80mmHg), the trend in the data indicates that cognitive performance in older adults is significantly reduced. Interestingly, these results are consistent with earlier reports of detrimental influences of low blood pressure on cognitive function even in young adults. The surprising role of calf muscles Low diastolic pressure can arise as a result of medication use, heart failure or other health complications. But, in most people, it is simply a matter of the heart not pumping out enough blood with each stroke; in other words, low cardiac output. And low cardiac output occurs when not enough blood is being returned to the heart from the lower body. The soleus muscles, specialized muscles in the middle of your lower legs, are responsible for pumping blood back up to the heart. Over the last decade, our research team has demonstrated how the soleus muscles plays a critical role in maintaining normal blood pressure during sedentary activities. An effective strategy for maintaining normal blood pressure, and brain blood flow, is to “re-train” your soleus muscles. These deep postural muscles are most active during activities such as sustained squatting or toe standing. You can rebuild these muscles by regularly undertaking such activities, though it requires hours a day of exercise. Alternatively, “passive exercise” options exist which permit the “training-up” of your soleus muscles more conveniently. Both electrical and mechanical, soleus stimulation approaches have been shown to significantly increase venous return to the heart. Preliminary clinical studies have also provided confirming evidence that raising resting diastolic blood pressure through daily soleus muscle stimulation, over a period of several months, can reverse the cognitive impairment associated with aging. No treatments currently exist for dementia, and no potential treatment seems to be on the horizon, and so the health care community has become much more focused on slowing, or reversing, cognitive aging to prevent progression to dementia. If interventions to eliminate chronically low diastolic blood pressure are simple and direct, we may well have the opportunity to largely eliminate much of the scourge of dementia from modern life.

During harvest season, it’s common for farmers to work 10 to 14 hours a day. Long hours sitting on agricultural equipment can take a physical toll on the body and lead to back pain. A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa College of Public Health examined whole-body vibration exposures during the operation of several types of agricultural machinery. Whole-body vibration is defined as mechanical vibrations that are transmitted to the human body through a contact surface, such as a seat. “Exposure to whole-body vibration is a key occupational risk factor for back pain, which is common among agricultural workers,” says the study’s lead investigator, Nathan Fethke, CPH associate professor of occupational and environmental health. “Spending many hours operating machinery can increase the frequency of back pain episodes and, if the pain is severe or becomes chronic, medical costs can be quite high.” A previous study found that costs associated with lower back pain in the United States exceeded $100 billion per year, two thirds of which are a result of lost wages and productivity. Reducing exposures to whole-body vibration can help improve health and may reduce long-term health care costs. Fethke’s team measured whole-body vibration by attaching sensors to the seats of more than 100 machines, including tractors, combines, forklifts, skid loaders, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), as more than 50 Midwestern farmers went about their daily routines. An additional sensor attached to the floor of each machine allowed Fethke’s team to examine how effectively the seats reduced the vibration levels. A paper describing results of the study appears in Annals of Work Exposure and Health. The average vibration levels were compared to the European Union’s (EU) whole-body vibration exposure limits, which are similar to recommendations made by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not enforce a whole-body vibration standard. The whole-body vibration levels of nearly 30% of the machines were high enough to reach EU’s “action level” within only two hours of operation. The action level is defined as the level above which the risk of health effects increases. Combines exhibited the lowest levels of whole-body vibration exposures, which, according to Fethke, is “likely due to a combination of the mass of combines compared to other machine types and the common presence of relatively sophisticated seat suspension systems.” The combine seats reduced by half the amount of vibration measured at the floor. Tractors and heavy utility vehicles did not fare as well, with average vibration levels about double what was measured on combines. “Special seat-based suspension systems, particularly on tractors, did not dramatically reduce whole-body vibration like we thought they would– it is possible that these suspension systems were not properly adjusted to the weight of the operator, or had degraded over time from mechanical wear and tear,” Fethke says. Farmers should check seat suspension systems to make sure they are greased and working properly. They should also make sure the seat suspension is properly adjusted for the operator’s body weight. This is especially important if several workers or family members will be operating the equipment. If the seat tends to frequently “bottom out,” even after proper adjustment for body weight and routine maintenance, it is time to consider a replacement. Finally, the potential effects of whole-body vibration on back pain and discomfort also depend on the operator’s posture in the seat. “As any experienced agricultural equipment operator knows, it is often necessary to lean far forward or look to the side or behind the equipment for visibility purposes. However, these twisting postures change how the body responds to vibration and can increase the risk of back problems down the road,” says Fethke. The study is one of few to look at whole-body vibration during the operation of agricultural machinery. The article, Whole-Body Vibration and Trunk Posture during Operation of Agricultural Machinery, is available online at https://academic.oup.com/annweh/advance-article/doi/10.1093/annweh/wxy076/5104230 . For posters and handouts in English and Spanish with recommendations on reducing whole-body vibration, visit http://bit.ly/WBVrecommendations.

A student should be able to work out the 100 problems correctly in 5 minutes 60 problems in 3 minutes or 20 problems in 1 minute. Five minute addition 0 18. Pin On Kids And School Timed math drill sheets. Math drills addition. In the first section we ve included a few addition printables that should help out the beginning student. An addition drill is a worksheet with all of the single digit problems for addition on one page. This three minute math drill gets your child racing to complete all the addition equations on the page. Add like mad with our thrilling addition worksheet. Your students will gain valuable practice solving addition problems with sums to 18. This packet includes 10 times addition worksheets in both horizontal and vertical formats. Addition subtraction multiplication and division because that might be. Our pdf math worksheets are available on a broad range of topics including number sense arithmetic pre algebra geometry measurement money concepts and much more. This page includes mixed operations math worksheets with addition subtraction multiplication and division and worksheets for order of operations. Advanced addition drills worksheets vertical format. Addition drills worksheets vertical format 1 3 or 5 minute drill addition worksheets contain all of the single digit addition problems on one page. We ve started off this page by mixing up all four operations. On this page you will find addition worksheets from addition facts and two digit addition to column addition and addition with games. A student who has memorized all of the single digit addition problems should be able to work out these worksheets in the allowed time. The 2 Digit Plus 1 Digit Addition With No Regrouping A Math Worksheet From The Addition Workshe Addition Worksheets Free Math Worksheets Math Fact Worksheets Adding By 2 Addition Math Worksheets With 6 Different Styles To Choose From Math Worksheets Kids Math Worksheets Math Sheets Timed Math Drills Addition Additional Photo Inside Page Math Worksheets Math Drills Timed Math Drills Website With Math Drill Worksheets Carpma Matematik 2 Sinif Matematik The 100 Single Digit Addition Questions With Some Regrouping C Math Worksheet From The Addi Math Fact Worksheets Addition Worksheets Math Addition Worksheets 100 Single Digit Addition Questions With Some Regrouping A Addition Worksheet Math Fact Worksheets Addition Worksheets Math Addition Worksheets Pin On Addition Math Drill Sheets Addition Facts Etc Timed Math Drills Math Fact Practice Math Drills Three Minute Timed Math Drill Sheets Adding 4 6 With Sums To 15 Math Fact Practice Timed Math Drills Math Drills Multiplying 1 To 12 By 12 All Math Drills Math Worksheet Math Division Worksheets The 25 Adding Nines Questions All Math Worksheet From The Addition Workshe Kindergarten Math Worksheets Addition Addition Worksheets Math Addition Worksheets Pin On Rita Two Digit Addition No Regrouping 36 Questions Addition Worksheets Learning Math Math Drills The 100 Single Digit Addition Questions With Some Regrouping Multiplication Facts Worksheets Math Multiplication Worksheets Printable Multiplication Worksheets Create Free Math Worksheets Addition Worksheet Single Digit Addition 50 Vertical Questions Adding Ze Math Worksheets Addition Worksheets Math Drills Adding And Subtracting With Facts From 1 To 5 A Mixed Operations Worksheet Addition And Subtraction Worksheets Math Fact Worksheets Subtraction Worksheets The 2 Digit Plus 2 Digit Addition With No Regrouping A Math Worksheet From Math Fact Worksheets Math Addition Worksheets Addition And Subtraction Worksheets The 3 Digit Plus 3 Digit Addtion With All Regrouping A Math Worksheet Fro Addition And Subtraction Worksheets Subtraction Worksheets Math Addition Worksheets Adding By 1 Addition Math Worksheets With 6 Different Styles To Choose From Math Worksheets Kids Math Worksheets Math Sheets

Grow Guide - Carrots How To Start: Carrot seeds can be sown from early spring right through to late August and can be harvested almost all year round. Before sowing, weed the seedbed well and break up any larger lumps of soil, digging to a fine tilth. Water the ground before marking out rows 30cm (12in) apart and 0.5-1cm deep. Carrots need to be sown shallowly. Temperature: Min to max temp, 6-35℃ Light: Carrots require six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Providing afternoon shade or planting in filtered light can give carrots the amount of light they need while keeping soil temperatures lower during the hottest part of the day If planting indoors, use our Pianta grow light for 10 to 12 hours per day. Watering & Care: Do not overwater carrots, only water when the soil is dry. Water minimally but consistently - too much fluctuation in moisture can lead to split roots. Depending upon the variety and growing conditions, you should be able to harvest most carrots between 12 and 16 weeks after sowing. Fertiliser: Carrots should be fertilized when the tops have reached 3 inches tall. Choose a fertilizer that has little nitrogen and more potassium and phosphate - 0-10-10 or 5-15-15 will work well. Pests: Most common pest is ‘Carrot fly’, prevent this by not thinning seedlings and ‘companion’ plant onions and garlic to disguise the carrot scent. Carrot rust - Carrot rust flies cause carrot rust, as they lay eggs in the surrounding soil where the top of carrot plants is. The eggs become larvae, which will burrow into the soil and affect carrot roots by eating through carrots. Height: Carrots are typically ready to harvest 40 to 55 days after sowing seed. If harvesting the greens, they are ready to harvest when they reach four to six inches in height. This will vary greatly depending on the variety you’re sowing. Time Of Growth: 40-50 days after sowing seed. How To Use: Can be eaten raw or cooked, use the leafy greens to make pesto or garnish salads. Is It Toxic To Pets? Not toxic for 100 g of product Potassium: - 352 mg Phosphorus: - 38.5 mg Calcium: - 36 mg Sodium: - 76 mg

- Short answer: informatics technology in nursing - How Informatics Technology is Revolutionizing Nursing Practice - Step by Step Guide: Implementing Informatics Technology into Your Nursing Workflow - Frequently Asked Questions About Using Informatics Technology in Nursing - Top 5 Facts Everyone Should Know About Informatics Technology in Nursing - Bridging the Gap Between Nurses and Information Systems: Why It Matters - Future Perspectives: What to Expect from Further Advancements in Informatics Technology for Nurses - Table with useful data: - Information from an expert - Historical fact: Short answer: informatics technology in nursing Informatics technology in nursing involves the use of technology to manage and communicate patient data. This includes electronic health records, medication administration systems, telehealth, and mobile health applications amongst others. Its goal is to enhance quality care delivery while improving healthcare outcomes through efficient data management and analysis. How Informatics Technology is Revolutionizing Nursing Practice Informatics technology has been revolutionizing nursing practice in many ways. The use of electronic health records (EHRs), mobile applications, telehealth, and other digital tools have significantly improved patient outcomes, increased efficiency in care delivery, reduced medical errors and enhanced communication among healthcare teams. EHRs are perhaps the most significant innovation that informatics technology brings to nursing practice. They allow for seamless access to critical patient data such as medications history, allergies, laboratory results and vital signs across different healthcare settings. This enables nurses to provide more efficient and accurate care while reducing duplication of effort. Mobile applications have also made great strides in improving nursing practice with features like medication reminders which helps patients stay adherent to their treatment plans; health education modules which increase individual knowledge about an illness or disease process; symptom checkers which assess symptoms accurately preventing unnecessary trips to doctors’ offices or emergency departments among others. These apps can be accessed from any location at any time making them crucial resources for modern-day nurses who need real-time information when providing care. Telehealth technologies provide another exciting avenue through which nursing practices is revolutionized as they enable remote consultations between clinicians and patients without having to be physically present on site thereby saving valuable time otherwise taken up by commuting back-and-forth especially for rural areas where getting access services may take longer than usual. Teleconferencing allows specialistsand generalists alike collaborate interactively around a central goal — better outcomes via faster diagnosis’ identification interventions needed – irrespective distance separating those involved e.g intensive care units trauma bays far apart locations on separate hemispheres etc.. Lastly but not least notable change provided by informatica technologie involves strengthening interprofessional collaborationsin delivering patient centered holistic well-rounded care considering each person‘s unique needs preferences cultural backgrounds family dynamics co-morbidities histories social determinants lifestyle choices current community support structures etc.. In conclusion, as technology continues advancing rapidly in all aspects of life including Nursing Practice the benefits of adoption will continue to outstrip costs. Nurses should take advantage of these advances as they increase efficiency, improve patient outcomes and reduce medical errors thus enhancing our ability to provide high-quality, safe and effective care. Informatics technology is the future of nursing practice; it provides an infinite opportunity for clinicians & educators to leverage modern technologies in helping bridge healthcare gaps that currently exist while also guaranteeing patients better access anytime or wherever needed. Step by Step Guide: Implementing Informatics Technology into Your Nursing Workflow As a nurse, you may be tasked with implementing new informatics technology into your workflow. Embracing this change can not only make your job easier, but it can also improve patient outcomes and increase efficiency in healthcare delivery overall. Here are some steps to guide you through the process: Step 1: Identify Your Needs Before diving into any new technology, it’s important to identify what specific needs you have as a nurse that could benefit from an informatics solution. Are you struggling with keeping track of medication schedules? Do you need help coordinating care between patients and other members of the healthcare team? Once these needs have been identified, research possible solutions that address those problems. Step 2: Research Available Technology There is no shortage of informatics tools available to nurses today. From electronic health records (EHRs) to telemedicine platforms, there are many options on the market tailored specifically for healthcare providers. When researching different technologies, consider factors such as cost, usability, compatibility with existing systems or hardware and training programs offered by software vendors. Step 3: Determine Compatibility With Workflow An implementation plan must take into account how well certain technologies integrate into nursing workflows. A tool that may appear promising on paper might actually hinder productivity because it doesn’t play nicely with other applications used during patient care. Consider discussing potential integration issues with vendor representatives before purchasing or implementing technology. Step 4: Develop Implementation Plan Once all necessary considerations have been made and appropriate decisions reached about which technology is best suited for one’s needs and will work seamlessly within existing workflows; then create an implementation plan that outlines tasks & timelines required throughout the adoption process so nothing falls through cracks when deploying new systems or processes! Step 5 : Implement Technology Solutions Gradually And Evaluate Success Over Time It’s essential to remember that massive transformation overnight isn’t usually feasible when integrating new tech solutions like EHR/EMR sinto practices full-time- so it’s more effective to start small and scale up accordingly. Ensure all staff understands how to use the new system by thoroughly training nursing staff on necessary processes which can include shifting challenges of existing ways toward the desired workflows encompassing technology adoption. Step 6: Analyze Results After implementation, make sure you evaluate success over time. Are workflow or patient outcomes improving? Is productivity higher, are costs lower? Whether conducting surveys about satisfaction among team members affected by this difference in practice, customer service ratings or scheduling appointments with patients via webcam or other electronic means for example- feedback gathered during analysis will prove valuable when refining future ongoing development plans and needs-based modifications that could bring out even greater benefits from informatics implementations! Integrating some significant changes into your Nursing Workflow can be done smoothly if proper strategies are implemented along every step of adopting them effectively through a well-tailored plan where everyone is involved in its execution methods while having clear goals outlined. With the Think-Tank approach described above, you’ll be equipped with everything needed towards identifying ideal solutions for implementation based on real data input from stakeholders alongside emerging needs whilst keeping both budgetary constraints and IT infrastructure boundaries in mind always – so why not get started today?! Frequently Asked Questions About Using Informatics Technology in Nursing Informatics technology has revolutionized the nursing industry over the years, streamlining documentation procedures and ultimately improving patient outcomes. This technologically advanced approach is not only efficient for nurses but also helps in saving lives. However, with every new advancement comes a lot of questions as people try to figure out how best to use it without compromising quality care. In this blog post, we will address some common questions about using informatics technology in nursing and setting any doubts to rest once and for all. 1. What is Informatics Technology? Informatics Technology refers to the application of computer science and information systems into healthcare services delivery systems by collecting, storing, retrieving analyzing data that can be leveraged for clinical research or directly informed on practical aspects such as cost-efficient operation within health care institutions. 2. How do Nurses Use Informatics Technologies? Nurses rely on informatic technologies which improve communication between colleagues(especially during transfers) allow management of electronic summaries vital sign recording & transferring operating medical devices at bedside via wireless controls etc. 3. Which Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system should I Choose To Work With In My Nursing Practice Setting? There are numerous EMR vendors available today; however, choose one that is user-friendly yet customized enough to meet your unique workflow needs like EPICor Cerner- provide a secure platform while optimizing efficiency overall expenditure especially while integrating smooth interoperability interfaces among different settings or organizations. 4. Do Healthcare Professionals Need Special Access Right Credentials To Manage Patient’s Protected Health Information (PHI)? Yes! Under HIPPA compliance rules governing managing patient privacy rights ensure loss prevention due unwarranted access from third parties who may want unauthorized insurance fraudulence practices intrusion against vulnerable population categories were imposed with critical legal sanctions/ fees occur for noncompliance. 5 . Can Artificial Intelligence Replace Human Nurses’ Clinical Judgment And Diagnoses-driven Experience? 6. Is Data Security In Nursing Informatics Technology Efficient Enough To Secure Sensitive Patient Data? Many reputable companies will offer protocols based on organizations’ needs with existing mandates as per HIPAA (which safeguard patients from third-party data loss harms) for electronic medical records while adhering to high standards FERPA compliance–tools utilized by healthcare professionals annually checks don’t forget CPOE/secure messaging platforms. In conclusion, informatics technology is an exciting field for nursing professionals worldwide to become proficient and competent enough to utilize technological advancements that increase efficiency and improve patient experience. Healthcare Informaticians need more interdisciplinary approach strategy integration formulating health policies forecasting long term challenges involved implementing quality life saving measures necessary preventive actions downline fighting outbreak crises etc. Remember Nurses who integrate tech smarts expertise with existing skill sets discover power leveraging data drive decision making optimizing work processes freeing up time so they better enhance overall service provisions- # Stay Current, Remain Relevant & Keep Saving Lives! Top 5 Facts Everyone Should Know About Informatics Technology in Nursing As technology continues to evolve and shape the healthcare industry, nurses are expected to stay on top of the latest innovations. One area in particular that is gaining traction among nursing professionals is informatics technology. This field intersects computer science, information science, and nursing practice to create more efficient and effective care delivery systems. To help shed some light on this important topic, we’ve compiled a list of five facts everyone should know about informatics technology in nursing. 1) Informatics Technology Helps Nurses Make Informed Decisions One of the primary benefits of using informatics technology in nursing is that it allows for better decision-making at all levels. With access to real-time data analytics and electronic health records (EHRs), nurses can quickly review patient histories, assess their current conditions, and identify any potential issues before they escalate into serious problems. At the same time, these tools can also empower patients themselves by providing them with easy-to-understand summaries of their medical treatments and other relevant information related to their care plans. 2) It Encourages Interdisciplinary Collaboration Another key benefit of informatics technology in nursing is its ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers. By allowing multiple stakeholders – including physicians, pharmacists, social workers or administrators – to securely access an individual’s EHRs from various locations across different shifts actively improves communication between teams leading to consistent quality care over time. This integration ultimately plays an essential role in supporting holistic patient-centric practices based on shared knowledge sets throughout treatment episodes rather than one discipline alone guiding critical decisions without wider context considered; reducing unnecessary hospital stays rounds out this inclusive approach well as having both providers have complete satisfaction knowing they did everything possible while limiting burden overall development times leaving response rates at manageable levels without compromising efficacy standards therein significantly improving outcomes overall. 3) It Improves Patient Outcomes Perhaps most importantly improved performance metrics concerning quality assurance illuminate how integrated software platforms enhance patient outcomes after formalised study methodologies have been carefully implemented. Informatics technology enhances patient outcomes by reducing medical errors due to failure in document keeping or illegible instructions increasing adherence accuracy and the right drugs prescribed, ensuring timely care continuity from diagnosis stage onwards taking into consideration each of their individual preferences, creating customizable support plans according to illness progression stages which require appropriate interventions. 4) It is Transforming Nursing Education As with any other field of study that relies on constantly evolving technologies; nurses are expected to keep up-to-date with these advancements if they hope to remain competitive throughout their entire careers. Thus, nursing educators have responded accordingly by incorporating informatics technology in course content to train and assess their students based on current industry standards. This means students enrolled as part of classes can seamlessly use cutting-edge software platforms within an academia setting which will ultimately help prepare them better for practical clinical nurse roles while maximising theoretical development concurrently there-in boosting response rates concerning efficiency together with effectiveness improvements when put into practice via continued learning methodology concomitantly emulates a continuous professional development approach for nursing cadres worldwide! 5) There Is High Demand For Professionals Finally yet importantly enough comes the job market demand: nowadays informed practitioners looking for new work opportunities should think about investigating this field further given how positively it’s been received already both empirically but also inclusively among provider groups as well as potential employers who value experience utilizing innovative tech applications demonstrating that greater impact towards human health outcomes goals achievable readily especially pairing technological capabilities alongside essential soft skills desired during hiring processes today – such assessing interpersonal abilities like communication advanced analytical problem-solving practices besides many others in extensive patients assessments actually leading tangible measurement criteria having impact now forward-looking considerations actively sought across all facets modern healthcare sectors themselves undergoing ongoing disruptive change dynamics overall emphasizing winning behaviors collaboration needed encompassed informatics scholarship undertaken ethically optimally cutting through complexity where possible coherently delivering best wellness results therein more profound positive societal impacts accrued similarly too systems entering effective optimization paths. In conclusion, informatics technology is playing a crucial role in nursing today and its relevance continues to expand drastically with increasing demand for skilled professionals at higher levels of practice in health care settings worldwide especially presented alongside the allied benefits previously highlighted there-in. Healthcare providers and facilities that embrace informatics technology can potentially deliver better patient outcomes while staying on top of industry trends along consolidated interdisciplinary lines enabling full vision mission values alignment achieving sustainability goals holistically informed by enhanced analytics attaining demonstrable impact metrics through specifically curated teams kept apprised constant updates informing smart future pivots supported frameworks which envision idealized scenarios executed towards creating optimized digitally-enabled environments altogether enhancing global health status over time. So get prepared! Bridging the Gap Between Nurses and Information Systems: Why It Matters As the field of healthcare continues to evolve, it has become apparent that one major area in need of improvement is the integration of information technology systems into nursing practices. Nurses are a critical component of patient care and providing them with access to accurate, up-to-date information is essential for optimal outcomes. However, there remains a gap between nurses and information systems that needs to be bridged in order for patients to receive the best possible care. So why exactly does this matter? For starters, proper documentation is crucial when it comes to patient safety and quality of care. Information management can help reduce errors and improve communication among healthcare professionals through shared records as well as automated prompts for medication administration or interventions based on vital signs or lab values. With increasing focus on value-based reimbursements and regulatory compliance metrics such as Meaningful Use standards from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), electronic health records (EHRs) have become more widespread thus requiring greater accuracy in documentation capture by clinicians including nurses. Additionally, nurses play an integral role in coordinating care between all members of the healthcare team including physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists etc., using data stemming from medical devices like monitoring equipment or infusion pumps connected via internet-enabled technologies often known as device integration solutions powered by software firms. The challenge arises when these different teams rely on disparate sources of information which makes coordination cumbersome not just across multiple clinical units within an institutional setting but sometimes even crossing facilities cared for at ambulatory/clinic sites along-side primary-care use cases! This divided approach leads overall workflow interruptions instead helping foster better collaboration ultimately impacting cost efficiencies & reduced readmissions capacity after treatments are completed since having complete visibility ensures your medical staff knows precisely what steps may extend beyond standard discharge procedures tailored towards keeping patients healthy at home upon returning from acute/nursing facility stays. Moreover acquiring expertise regarding how technology works also boosts efficiency gains garnering new insights which allow medical providers discover underlying operational issues hindering daily operations such as staffing shortages, supply chain/procurement shortcomings, or other points of data-mining that may have yet to be identified due invisible silos between the IT department and clinical setting. It matters because when nurses are well versed in the use of these systems and their accompanying technologies, they can perform their jobs better. They are able to access patient records quickly and more efficiently, reducing errors and increasing accuracy in diagnosis and treatment plans with corresponding workflow updates! Medscape revealed survey findings indicating a clear relationship encountered between good health care results considerate usage of Health Information Technology (HIT) solutions which correlated positively towards elevated satisfaction from not only nursing staff but also nonclinical persons involved thus further augmenting coordinated healthcare decisionmaking all-encompassingly regardless of affiliations disparate within outsourced partners’ organizations like long-term acute-care hospitals(LTACH), skilled nursing facilities (SNF), ambulatory surgery centers(ASCs), medical imaging labs including provider/payment-payer ecosystems & beyond modernizing clinician excellence. In conclusion, it is imperative for healthcare institutions to work together with information technology companies to develop systems that meet both the needs of patients and those providing care. Bridging the gap between nurses and information technology will improve communication across teams allowing for streamlined processes resulting in improved outcomes – something we could all benefit from! Future Perspectives: What to Expect from Further Advancements in Informatics Technology for Nurses The world of healthcare has consistently advanced due to technology, and with each passing day, it is becoming increasingly important for nurses to stay updated on the latest advancements in informatics technology. This includes everything from electronic medical records (EMRs) to telehealth and remote patient monitoring systems. The future of nursing will inevitably integrate a plethora of technological advances that will transform how care is delivered not just in hospitals but also in home-based settings. In this blog post, we look at some potential developments that could vastly impact our healthcare landscape. Firstly, there are already indications that wearable devices such as watches can monitor vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure accurately. These wearables have been shown as capable sources of real-time data which could be particularly beneficial for those who need regular monitoring but also want greater independence living outside traditional care facilities. Furthermore, artificial intelligence (AI) integration into EMR systems may completely change the way patient data is organized and analyzed by transforming them into intelligent clinical decision-support aids instead of just documentation tools. AI-powered algorithms can analyze complex patterns within large datasets allowing physicians to provide diagnosis support better than ever before while providing more personalized treatment plans based on the given patient’s genetic information or lifestyle choices! Nurses must remain up-to-date on these innovations because they play an essential role between patients and providers; therefore being educated in cutting-edge technologies can enhance their abilities to advocate effectively for their patients’ needs through timely communication channels via web-based platforms & mobile applications among many others soon expected over time. In addition, blockchain technology might prove indispensable when sharing confidential health records needed during multi-specialty consultations without compromising privacy interests – definitely exciting tech ahead! Overall, despite initially fearing job replacement with increased automation inputs experienced recently worldwide across all industries including sectors such as virtual assistants & chatbots presently used almost anywhere branding themselves 24/7/365 customer service-oriented agents aimed significantly towards increasing efficiency levels! Still another aspect indicating tech-driven progress ahead for nurses covers virtual reality training sessions, and further QR code-based applications that would facilitate contactless or paper-free interactions between healthcare providers and patients. In conclusion, the world of nursing will continue to see an expansion in how advanced technology can be utilized towards providing utmost care to its beneficiaries. We cannot entirely predict everything coming through; however, immensely betting on informatics technology with further upgrades can only lead us down a path of heightened efficiency & enhanced personalization rendering better health outcomes. Table with useful data: |Benefits for nursing |Electronic Health Record (EHR) |Digital record of a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, medications, and treatment plans |Improves accuracy and completeness of documentation, enhances communication between healthcare providers, and supports clinical decision-making |Use of technology to provide remote healthcare services including virtual visits, remote monitoring, and online consultations |Increases access to care, improves patient convenience and satisfaction, and reduces healthcare costs |Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) |Computer-based tools that provide healthcare providers with patient-specific information and evidence-based recommendations to improve clinical decision-making |Enhances clinical reasoning, reduces medical errors, and promotes evidence-based practice |Health Information Exchange (HIE) |Secure electronic sharing of patient health information between healthcare providers and organizations |Improves care coordination, facilitates communication and collaboration among healthcare providers, and supports population health management Information from an expert As a nursing informatics specialist, I firmly believe in the importance of technology in enhancing patient care and optimizing clinical workflows. The incorporation of informatics technology has revolutionized nursing practice by enabling the automation of routine tasks, providing real-time access to data for informed decision-making, and facilitating communication between care teams. From electronic health records to telehealth solutions, informatics technology is transforming healthcare delivery as we know it. As such, nurses must continually update their skills and knowledge on emerging technologies to remain current and effective in their roles. The earliest usage of electronic medical records in nursing dates back to the 1960s, when hospitals began using computers for patient data management.

Florida joined the Confederate States of America in advance of the Civil War, as the third of the original seven states to secede from the Union, following Lincoln’s 1860 election. With the smallest population, nearly half of them slaves, Florida only sent 15,000 troops to the Confederate States Army. Its chief importance was in food-supply to the south and support for blockade-runners along its long coastline full of inlets that were hard to patrol. The Civil War Memorial at Veterans Memorial Park was dedicated on October 20, 2018. “This particular memorial deserves a lot,” said Bob Silmser, a veteran, himself, who headed the committee for the monument, which is made up of two marble slabs with spheres on top of each representing each side of the national battle. A swath of blue marble, representing the Hillsborough River, runs between the two monoliths. The design took a lot of time and thought to represent both the conflict and this area, Silmser said. The memorial also includes the anchor from the ship the Scottish Chief, which burned and sank in the Hillsborough River.

The tar sands in Alberta is by far Canada's worst environmental disaster and one of the worst in the world along with the It is also one of the biggest industrial, capital investment and energy projects worldwide. Many of the biggest multinational oil corporations have invested a total of 120 billion dollars. Sadly, few realize the truth about the oil sands of Alberta which is home to the most energy-intensive and dirtiest industrial enterprise on Earth. To begin, the total area consists of 140,200 square kilometers (54,132 square miles) which is larger than England. In fact, Canada’s total oil reserves are the second largest in the world, behind Saudi Arabia, something that many Canadians are unaware of. The tar sands generate an unbelievable 36 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per day, about as much a 1.3 million cars. As a result, Canada's greenhouse gas emissions have grown more since 1990 than those of any other G8 nation. While over 100 countries worldwide made progress, Canada was left behind. As a matter of fact, the tar sands are one of the main contributors to Canada's decision of withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol. The oil that is extracted is one of the world's most carbon-intensive fuels as two tonnes of tar sand is required to produces only a single barrel of oil. In addition, the oil itself is bitumen (extremely heavy crude oil) which contains cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It is without doubt one of the dirtiest and most contaminated processes of oil development ever known in history. In order to reach the bitumen, the Boreal Forest is destroyed due to large-scale surface mining. The industry itself admits that the damage is permanent and cannot be undone. Destroying forests, generating huge amounts of carbon dioxide and creating extensive open mines is but the tip of the iceberg. In fact, important waterways like the Athabasca River are being contaminated by 11 million liters of toxic waste every day. Also, the air is polluted with dangerous toxins, poisoning communities (including natives) with rare cancers and autoimmune diseases. Their drinking water itself is strongly contaminated and no action is done to help them. Many have left their homes already. Additionally, critical animal habitats and some of Canada's most pristine landscapes are being destroyed on a daily basis. It even consumes massive amounts of water, more than an entire city of two million people. To produce its oil, in 2007 alone it used about 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, an incredible amount. To make matters worse, this gas was often obtained by fracking. Waste water is stored in toxic ponds so large that one can see them from outer space. These toxic lakes leak 11 million liters of toxic water daily into ground water and nearby rivers which is used as drinking water for local communities. Unfortunately, the Alberta government has approved every proposed project so far. It should also be noted that the Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper is from Calgary, Alberta and his father, Joseph Harris Harper, worked for Imperial Oil. Moreover, Harper provided major corporate tax cuts which primarily helped large oil corporations. In other words, he gave billions of dollars to the corporations which are poisoning communities, but is not helping the people affected by this horrible tragedy. Harper even called the oil sands an epic undertaking similar to building the pyramids in Egypt or the Great Wall of China. Clearly, he is giving the worst environmental catastrophe in Canada his full support. In addition, he stated in 2002 that the Kyoto Protocol was a “socialist scheme." In order to have a sustainable future, we need a leader who will bring us forward and not backward into dirty oil. Finally, I made a video on YouTube entitled “Tar Sands in Alberta” which I highly recommend. The saddest part of all is that these oil corporations are so powerful that they control the media and as a result, very few have heard about this tragic reality. In order to stop this catastrophe, we need to raise awareness. Share this website and video with your friends and family. Please help spread the word about the tar sands in Alberta. Thank you. Jan 27, 24 03:54 PM Nov 05, 23 05:36 PM Nov 05, 23 05:32 PM Aug 20, 23 10:26 PM

According to the WHO, half of 1.27 million people who die in road traffic crashes every year are motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Some of the main factors that increase the risk of injuries caused in these accidents are driving under the influence of alcohol and motorcyclists not wearing their helmet. Wearing a helmet correctly reduces the risk of death by 40% in an accident and decreases the risk of a severe injury by 70%. The correct use of helmet: - Reduces skull deceleration, therefore the movement of the brain. The cushioned material incorporated in the helmet absorbs part of the impact and, as a result, the head movement after impact is restrained. This means that the brain doesn’t crash with the skull as hard. - Disperses the force of the impact over a much larger area, so that it does not concentrate in specific areas of the skull. - Prevents the direct contact between the skull and the object that makes the impact, acting as a mechanical barrier between the head and the object. The helmet protects motorcyclists from most serious forms of brain trauma. Unfortunately, many drivers are not trained to look for smaller vehicles and others are not used to pedestrian traffic. Here are some safety tips to prevent motorcycle crashes: 1.- Take extra attention when making any turn. It’s simple to miscalculate the closeness and speed of an oncoming motorcycle, so it’s safest to let the motorcycle pass. 2.- Pay special attention to intersections because many motorcycle accidents happen here. 3.- Always use turn signals, look twice when you change lanes, and check mirrors and blindspots. 4.- If you are behind a motorcycle, keep a safe distance, which may be more length than you’d give a car. 5.- Avoid distractions and give your full attention to the highway. If you or a family member have been injured in a motorcycle accident, please don’t hesitate to contact us: Austin 512 – 472 – 8865 Odessa 432 – 219 – 6363 Dallas 972 – 502 – 9600.

The Grampians were first settled by Aboriginals 5,000 years ago, which by Aboriginal standards is quite recent when compared to areas in northern Australia that were first settled 35,000-50,000 years ago. The Aborigines called the mountains the Gariwerd mountains and it became the heart of the Aboriginal culture in Victoria. The region has the largest number of rock art sites in southern Australia – more than 80 per cent of Victoria's rock art sites. Approximately 60 art sites, containing more than 4,000 different motifs have been identified in the national park. Five shelters are open to the public and are all easily accessible: Manja and Billimina shelters in the Western Grampians, Ngamadjidj and Gulgurn Manja shelters in the north and, one of the most important sites in Victoria, Bunjil's shelter, near Stawell. We visited the Bunjil’s shelter on our way back from Halls Gap to Melbourne. According to Aboriginal legends, Bunjil is a principal legendary hero, the creator who provides for all and remains as a protector of the natural world, his people and their beliefs. When Bunjil finished his creation works he transformed into an eagle, flying high into the sky, where he still lives today. The painting has been protected by a grill since the 1960s. The exact ‘white-years age’ of the original painting of Bunjil is not known. Examination of pigment samples in the red colouring and the white outlines of Bunjil and his two dingos tell us they were painted using traditional clay ochres. In 1911 parts of the body of Bunjil and the second dingo (dog) were over-painted with European whitewash, and the tail of the first dog was marked with red lead paint. Graffiti that appeared in more recent years continues to be removed. The dingos in the painting are Bunjils’ helpers. The shelter itself is small and not as impressing as some of the rock art sites that we’ve seen in Kakadu NP in Northern Territory. However, we were really impressed with the size of the rocks having a short stroll to the top of the nearest hill. Much of the Aborigine land was lost which made hunting and grazing for food more difficult. Aborigines began to starve while others began to steal sheep for food. This gave many settlers the excuse they needed to shoot the Aboriginals. This early colonial history was not good for the Aborigines though things are better now, but still it is sad to see this rock art having to be protected by bars due to vandals. If you are interested to get more information about Bunjil, visit the Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap - it is open daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm, entry is free.

Public Policy Institute of California California is grappling with drought again, facing many of the same conditions and challenges that were features of the 2012–16 drought—including stressed ecosystems, depleted reservoirs, hard-hit farms and rural communities, threats to urban water supplies, and the potential for extensive wildfires. Knowing what’s different and what’s similar to our last major drought can help us better prepare the most vulnerable sectors for ongoing dry times. To put this drought in context, this is only its second year. Historically, droughts have lasted up to six years. Our most recent one lasted five. We cannot know if this drought will break next year or four years from now, but we should plan for continuing drought.

Strange Gamma-Ray Objects in Deep Space Perplex Scientists The universe is filled with high-energy radiation, much of which is made of gamma rays belched out by strange pulsing stars and the remnants of supernova explosions. But a new study of some of most extreme objects has turned up a mystery: nearly one-third of all gamma-ray emitting objects seen to date defy identification. The objects were spotted by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, which scans the entire sky over the course of three hours, mapping the powerful spectrum. When stacked together, the surveys create an extremely precise view of the gamma-ray universe. Scientists then match these images to other observations to identify each source. But the identities of some gamma-ray sources in space still continue to elude the astronomers.

Making your house “smart” could soon become cheaper and easier, thanks to new technology developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo. Their recent study describes an approach that can be used to deploy, for the first time, battery-free sensors into a home using existing WiFi networks. Previous attempts to use battery-free sensors ran into some obstacles making the efforts impractical. These hurdles include the need to modify existing WiFi access points, challenges with security protocols, and the need to use energy-hungry components. "If you look at the current sensor products, they need batteries, which nobody likes to have to change, but they will work with commodity WiFi,” explained Omid Abari, an Assistant Professor in Waterloo’s David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. “There has been recent research which proposes approaches that don’t need batteries. But while they’re addressing the battery problem, they’re adding another issue; it doesn’t work with commodity WiFi devices.” “So, our approach combines the best of these two worlds – it is battery-free, and it works with commodity WiFi devices.” The new communication mechanism outlined in the study, called WiTAG, could, therefore, revolutionize the smart home industry as the Waterloo researchers have shown, for the first time, that battery-free sensors can be used with common WiFi access points. WiTAG will enable the use of regular WiFi devices for reading data from smart devices, unlike existing products that use power-hungry WiFi transmitters to send their data and therefore require the use of batteries. WiTAG uses radio frequency (RF) signals as a power source and makes use of existing WiFi infrastructures to read data from sensors without requiring the sensors to be connected to the WiFi network which makes them much easier to deploy. This allows smart home technologies such as temperature sensors, light sensors and potentially wearable devices, such as, Fitbits and those that monitor heart rate and glucose levels to use the WiTAG system. “One of the biggest breakthroughs is the fact that our technique works with encryption enabled,” said Tim Brecht, an Associate Professor in Waterloo's Cheriton School of Computer Science. “The prior proposed techniques for battery-free communication do not work with encrypted WiFi networks, meaning that your WiFi network could not use a password; which no one wants.” The researchers, who have filed a provisional patent, implemented WiTAG and created the first prototype, are now working on a second prototype. They are also developing an app that will work with the system and have plans to support a wide variety of applications. “By having the application running on a phone without any other modification either to the phone or to the access point we can read sensor data,” said Ali Abedi, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Waterloo’s Cheriton School of Computer Science. “Data can be read from things such as temperature sensors or anything you see in smart homes.” A paper describing the system, titled WiTAG: Rethinking Backscatter Communication for WiFi Networks, which was co-authored by Abari, Brecht, Abedi and Mohammad Hossein Mazaheri, a Research Assistant at Waterloo recently appeared in the Proceedings of the 17th ACM Workshop on Hot Topics in Networks. Attention broadcasters: Waterloo has facilities to provide broadcast quality audio and video feeds with a double-ender studio. Please contact us for more information. Photo via: https://www.maxpixel.net/

The world of nutrition is very vast and exciting. There are so many ways that one can enter and use their knowledge of this field to help themselves live a healthier life. It depends completely on the individual. That said, no matter what your nutritional knowledge is, here are some tips to help you along. To understand nutrition better, read about food groups. This is the basis of a healthy diet. Make sure you eat aliments from all these groups everyday in reasonable quantities. The main food groups are carbohydrates, vegetables, fruits, dairy, oils and meats. Learn how to classify aliments according to their groups. Try being a vegetarian at least one day a week. A vegetarian is in some ways healthier than being a meat eater. Even if you are not ready to make a leap to complete vegetarianism, you can get some of the benefits of a vegetarian diet by taking a break from meat completely one day every week. Make sure to eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast only makes the craving start sooner. You will be thinking about food until you eat something. Eating breakfast starts the day off right by giving your body some fuel to work with until you can eat again. Not only that, but you are less likely to overeat throughout the rest of the day. Look at the ingredients in the food you eat. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t buy it. Sticking to foods whose ingredients you can pronounce means that you will be eating in a much healthier way. Those other foods are loaded with preservatives and other things that do not help your body. Eat more fruits and vegetables! When you eat colorful fruits and veggies, you can eat a great deal without consuming many calories. Each meal you eat should have about one fruit and veggie. If the skins are edible, make sure to eat those too, since many of the antioxidant benefits are in the skins. To improve your health, try skipping the sweet tea and drink green tea instead. Green tea has been shown to boost your metabolism and protect against many forms of cancer. It can also lower your cholesterol levels. Don’t drink green tea from a box, though. Brew it yourself with a tea bag or use loose leaves. Onions are valued by cooks for the flavor they add to recipes. But there is another reason to maximize the use of onions. Nutritionally, they provide carotenoids, B and C vitamins, and trace minerals. All of these enhance our health by giving our bodies the necessary nutrients. The humble cabbage family (including kale, collard and mustard greens), provides us with an especially good buy, nutritionally. If you haven’t yet added these to your diet, you should. These dark green leafy vegetables are renowned providers of phosphorus, calcium, iron and carotenoids. Also, they are inexpensive! Nutrition is a fascinating and exciting world that is only limited by the extent of a person’s needs and budget. There are endless possibilities, foods, and plans. Start experimenting to find something new for yourself or to learn something new that you can better for your own usage. Become hungry from these tips!…

The Two-Minute Rule is a simple technique that can help us quickly tackle small tasks and avoid procrastination, which is a habit that many of us struggle with. Even if a task is important, we often put it off because we don’t feel like doing it, causing stress and anxiety as deadlines approach. But by using the Two-Minute Rule, we can overcome this tendency and take immediate action on any task that takes two minutes or less to complete. The Two-Minute Rule is based on the idea that you should immediately do any task that takes two minutes or less to complete. This means that instead of putting off small tasks, you should take care of them right away. The reason for this is that small tasks can quickly add up and become overwhelming if you don’t tackle them as they come up. Here are some examples of small tasks that can be completed in two minutes or less: - Responding to an email - Making a phone call - Washing a dish - Putting away a piece of clothing - Filing a document - Taking out the trash - Making a to-do list By completing these small tasks right away, you can clear your mind and create momentum for tackling larger tasks. This is because once you start taking action, it becomes easier to continue taking action. The Two-Minute Rule is also helpful because it eliminates the decision-making process. When we procrastinate, we often spend a lot of time deciding whether or not to do a task. This can lead to analysis paralysis and prevent us from taking action. By using the Two-Minute Rule, you don’t have to make a decision about whether or not to do a task – you just do it. Another benefit of the Two-Minute Rule is that it helps you build good habits. When you consistently tackle small tasks right away, you are training yourself to take action without hesitation. This can help you become more productive in all areas of your life. Of course, not all tasks can be completed in two minutes or less. For larger tasks, it can be helpful to break them down into smaller tasks that can be completed in two-minute increments. For example, if you need to write a report, you could break it down into tasks such as: - Researching the topic for two minutes - Outlining the report for two minutes - Writing the introduction for two minutes - Writing the first paragraph for two minutes - And so on. It’s worth noting that the Two-Minute Rule is not a silver bullet for procrastination. It’s just one tool in your toolbox that can help you get started on tasks that you might otherwise put off. If you find that you are consistently struggling with procrastination, it may be helpful to explore other strategies such as time-blocking, Pomodoro Technique, setting deadlines, or working with an accountability partner. “The Two-Minute Rule is a great way to build momentum and get things done quickly.” – Mark Manson In conclusion, the Two-Minute Rule is a simple but effective strategy for quickly tackling small tasks and avoiding procrastination. By completing small tasks right away, you can clear your mind, create momentum, and build good habits. So the next time you find yourself putting off a small task, remember the Two-Minute Rule and take action immediately. Your future self will thank you.

Optometry is the science of vision assessment and has as its object the application of corrective lenses (eyeglasses and contact lenses) and eye exercises, in order to restore vision to normal levels. It belongs to primary health care. Optometry is the set of methods used by the Optometrist to determine the abilities of the eye, refractive abnormalities such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia, in adults and children, to check binocular vision and visual eye health. The Optometrist, after making the objective and subjective evaluation of vision, will select and apply the most appropriate visual means. According to the World Council of Optometry (W.C.O), member of the World Health Organization (W.H.O) and the Assosiation of European Universities, Schools and Colleges of Optometry (A.U.E.S.C.O), Optometry is an autonomous and independent profession in the field of health, which requires training and is practiced exclusively by graduates of recognized universities and schools with a license to practice the profession. Optometry as a word was first used in 1865 in the Netherlands by Vershoor, in a dissertation on refraction. Etymologically it comes from the Greek word “optos”, which means visible and from the word “metron”. Optometry officially began in the late 19th century from the USA and specifically in 1872 with the establishment of the Illinois College of Optometry. It is defined as the science of using the Optometrist (1738), the specialist that determines the power of vision. 1901: Passage of the state’s first law recognizing and regulating the practice of Optometry in Minnesota (all states had laws until 1921). 1910: First university courses in Optometry (Columbia University), a big step towards recognition of the profession. 1919: The American Optical Association (founded 1898) is renamed the American Association of Optometrists. 1923: Pennsylvania College of Optometry awards its first Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree. 1924: The District of Columbia enacts an Optometry law, completing a comprehensive coverage in the U.S. 1940: Charler Sheard introduced the concept of Optometric examination which was later developed into the “case analysis” approach to refractive problems. In Europe, Great Britain is the first country where Ophthalmic Optics (Optometry) is an independent visual health care profession. Special Optometrist Tatiana Skoutari is the only Optometrist in Greece, holder of the European Diploma in Optometry since 1998. Tatiana Skoutari is also a Rapporteur and Examiner in the European Union for the European Diploma in Optometry. World Optometry Day has been designated as March 23rd. Optometry and Ophthalmology are complementary sciences, with the common goal of ocular health and the proper functioning of the visual system.

How will you find your eyes are infected ? If you feel itching in your eyes and then they are starting to turn on pink shade then it may be an eye infection. An eye infection can be seen in many different ways. It depends on which part of the eye you have a problem. You may feel issue in your eyelid, cornea, or conjunctiva (a thin, moist area that covers the inside of the eyelids and an outer layer of the eye). Causes of Eye Infection Infectious conjunctivitis is the most common cause of pinkeye. There are many causes of eye infection and normally it can be classified as viral, bacterial, or fungal. Pink eyes do not certainly mean that a virus is present. It may be because of environmental toxins, Dry eyes, and eyes allergic to ecological irritants, and may even have a clear discharge. A prevalent cause of pink or even red eyes are allergies which occurs itching in the eye. Bacterial infections and viral infections of the eye are mostly not common, but the symptoms and signs including a red or pink coloring, eye discomfort and sensitivity to light are quite similar. The discharge associated with bacterial infections tends to be thicker and more colorful. Normally, Antibiotic drops are useful to treat these infections. These are symptoms you may experience when eye infection occurs. - Itchy eyes - blurred vision - Feeling that something’s on or in your eye - Pain or discomfort - Burning in your eyes - Small, painful lump under your eyelid or at the base of your eyelashes - Eyes won’t stop tearing up - Irritation in your eyes - Eye hurts when it’s bright (light sensitivity) These symptoms may change depending on the cause of the virus. Mostly, Kids getting pink eye because they spend all the time around other kids, and it is a highly contagious infection. But It is not serious in most cases and it doesn’t harm your vision, especially if you find eye infection and treat it fast. The eye infection can be prevented when you follow all the suggestion given by your doctor. If you are near a person who has a red eye, then do not contact around your eye until you wash your hands first. If any family members in your home have a red eye or a confirmed eye infection then keep their bedding and towels clean, and do not let them share these items. And also tell them to wash their hands often. Always teach children to do not touch their eyes before washing their hands. If you are a contact lens wearer then you should follow safety tips like hand washing before you handle your contacts or switch to glasses until the virus is gone or change to new lenses afterward, as the old connections are likely contaminated. You can use generic medication such as careprost eye drops to treat pink eyes with a prescription given by your doctor. Want to buy this one at the Safehealths Generic Pharmacy is the most trusted website to Buy generic medicine, then you can more info related to this pharmacy which we wrote an article on SafeGenericPharmacy Website Review where you can get more detail about their reputation in health industries. Are you new on safehealth blog ? because every week sharing this type of amazing post which you may want to know to improve your healthy life and thanks for visiting our blog. Check Also – Super p force best treatment for erectile dysfunction Read Also – How to get longer thicker eyelashes ? Also Read – Will careprost be utilized for eyelash growth ? Read This – Make your eyelashes longer, thicker and darker naturally with careprost Check This – Best tips to get healthy eyelashes naturally! Checkout Also – Foods That Helps To Regulate Blood Pressure

Make a clay tree frog to commemorate this icon of the rainforest. According to "National Geographic," tea-cup sized red-eyed tree frogs flash their bright coloration to avoid predators. Craft this frog with either polymer clay, which is a clay-like material made from vinyl, or with air-dry clay. Either medium works well for home sculptors because these clays do not need to be fired in a kiln. Things You'll Need: Roll out a piece of clay to form a 2-inch wide ball for the frog's body. Form an oval shape with the ball. Pull out one side of the oval to create the head area. Roll out coils, which look like snakes, for the legs. Two coils should be roughly 1/2 inch thick and 2 inches long, and two coils 1/2 inch thick and 1 inch long. Bend the two longer coils in half for the back legs. Press them into the back of the frog's body at the opposite end from the head, one on either side of the body. The knees are forward on the frog. Attach the front legs to the front sides of the frog. Roll out two balls that are approximately 1/4-inch wide for the tree frog's eyes. Attach them to the top of the frog's head, side by side. Cut a slit into the center of each eye for the pupils with a toothpick. Shape the head so the nose area is angular. If necessary, add a small amount of clay to shape the nose area. Use the toothpick to create small nose holes at the top of the nose. Draw a line for the frog's mouth across the head and underneath the nose. Roll out 12 thin, short coils, about 1/2-inch long, for the tree frog's feet. You need three for each foot. Form 12 small balls and press them flat for the frog's distinctive suction toes. Press three short coils onto each frog leg and then add a suction toe onto the end of each coil. If you use polymer clay, choose light green for the body and bright red for the eyes. If you use air-dry clay, paint the frog after it dries. It takes a few days for a project this size to dry completely at room temperature. Charong Chow has been writing professionally since 1995. Her work has appeared in magazines such as "Zing" and "Ocean Drive." Chow graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. She also received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts.

Green, or sustainable technology, prioritises eco-friendliness, energy efficiency, recyclability, and the use of renewable resources. Examples like solar cells for energy, electric vehicles, and lab-grown meat burgers showcase the use of electronics in these products. Yet, as these eco-friendly innovations replace older electronics, they add to the growing e-waste crisis. The surge in green tech contributes significantly to e-waste, which poses severe health risks due to toxic elements like lead, mercury, and arsenic. Most of these wastes end up in Asia or Africa, impacting workers’ health, while citizens in affluent countries remain largely unaffected. This growing e-waste conundrum raises crucial questions about responsibility and avoidability. A World Health Organisation report highlighted that an estimated 53.6 million tonnes of global e-waste was produced in 2019, with only a fraction of it properly recycled. Consumer behaviour exacerbates this issue, as frequent smartphone and vehicle replacements persist. In the United Kingdom for instance, 28 per cent of phone users replace their devices every one to two years, while 40 per cent of 18 to 24 year-olds do it within two years. Similarly, car turnover rates surpass population growth in various countries. This trend extends beyond phones and cars, to various items like laptops, smartwatches, and appliances. Ultimately, the mounting e-waste conundrum prompts critical inquiries into responsibility and consumer behaviour. Every year, the latest technological devices entering the market boast of ‘greener’ and ‘more advanced features’, rendering our current gadgets obsolete due to continually evolving systems and applications. This cycle forces frequent replacements, perpetuating in the e-waste dilemma worldwide. Efficiency and energy conservation drive modern tech, soon to be turbocharged by the widespread integration of artificial intelligence (AI). But the race for efficiency outpaces our ability to manage it. When will ‘efficient enough’ suffice to curb e-waste? Industrial policies prioritise productivity and profit over e-waste concerns, undermining the green revolution’s intent. Past technology predictions swiftly turned real, highlighting this pattern. Consumer behaviour, spurred by affordable deals and promotions, fuels the constant upgrade culture. We’re conditioned to adopt fleeting ‘efficient’ technology without evaluating necessity. This rush neglects the balance between irreversible risks and tech efficiency, blinding us to how new advancements truly serve humanity. Perhaps, a hidden agenda shrouds our pursuit of progress. Our digital sprint risks eclipsing our green aspirations, unless we reconsider our purpose amidst this race. Professor Dr Mohammad Tariqur Rahman is Associate Dean (Continuing Education) of Universiti Malaya’s (UM) Faculty of Dentistry and an associate member of UM’s Centre for Leadership and Professional Development (UM LEAD). The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.

Sunken Cost Fallacy: Study finds both lab animals and humans stick with their bad decisions Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles. The behavior of people who remain committed to a choice, even when it is clear that an alternate choice would be a better option, has been a perplexing phenomenon to psychologists and economists. For example, people will continue to wait in the slow line at a grocery store, stick out an unhealthy relationship, or refuse to abandon an expensive, wasteful project – all because such individuals have already invested time, effort, or money. This well-known cognitive phenomenon termed the “sunk cost fallacy” has long been considered a problem unique to humans. New research has discovered that humans are not the only species that share these economically irrational flaws. New research from the University of Minnesota published in the journal Science discovered that mice, rats, and humans all commit the sunk cost fallacy. “The key to this research was that all three species learned to play the same economic game,” says Brian Sweis, the paper’s lead author, an MD/PhD student at the University of Minnesota. Mice and rats spent time from a limited budget foraging for flavored food pieces while humans similarly spent a limited time budget foraging for what humans these days seek – entertaining videos on the web. Rats and mice ran around a maze that contained four food-delivery-locations (“restaurants”). On entry into each restaurant, the animal was informed of how long it would be before food would be delivered by an auditory tone. They had one hour to gather food and thus each entry meant they had to answer a question like, “Am I willing to spend 20 seconds from my time budget waiting for my cherry-flavored food pellet?” with a delay lasting anywhere from 1 to 30 seconds. Similarly, humans saw a series of web galleries and were informed of the delay by a download bar. This meant humans had to answer an equivalent question: “Am I willing to spend 20 seconds from my time budget waiting for my kitten video?” In this way, each subject from each species revealed their own subjective preferences for individual food flavors or video galleries. In this task, every entry required two decisions, a first decision when the delay was revealed, but did not count down, and then a second decision if the offer was accepted when subjects could quit and change their minds during the countdown. Remarkably, the authors found that all three species become more reluctant to quit the longer they waited - demonstrating the sunk cost fallacy. Strikingly, subjects hesitated before accepting or rejecting offers during the initial decision before the countdown. “It’s as if they knew they didn’t want to get in line until they were sure,” says Sweis. Even more surprising, neither mice, rats, nor humans took into account the sunk costs spent while deliberating. This suggests that the process of deliberation and the process of changing one’s mind after an initial commitment depend on different economic factors, and that these factors are conserved across species. “This project depended on the collaborative nature of science today,” says senior author David Redish, a professor in the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Neuroscience Department. “This was a collaboration between three laboratories and required working back and forth to ensure that we could ask similar questions across different species on these parallel tasks.” As such, this project builds on a number of breakthrough discoveries recently published by these laboratories, which find that mice, rats, and humans use similar neural systems to make these different types of decisions, that mice and rats also show regret after making mistakes, and that even mice can learn to avoid those mistakes by deliberating first, as revealed in a recent paper by these authors in PLoS Biology. “These tasks reveal complex decision processes underlying the conflict between really wanting something on the one hand versus knowing better on the other,” says Sweis. “This is a conflict between different neural decision systems, and that means we can separately manipulate those systems,” says Redish. In other publications recently appearing in Nature Communications and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, these authors have found that both the effect of different drugs (cocaine, morphine) and different changes to neural circuits affect these two systems differently, which suggests that different forms of addiction would likely benefit from individualized treatments tailored to dysfunctions in distinct brain circuits. “Decisions depend on neural circuits, which means that manipulating those circuits changes the decision process,” says Mark Thomas, another of the study’s senior authors and a professor in the Medical School’s Neuroscience Department. “There was a day when we asked ourselves, ‘Rats forage for food, what do undergrads forage for?’” remembers author Samantha Abram, now a postdoctoral psychology fellow at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, who led the human component as a graduate student in the University of Minnesota Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research Program with her advisor Angus MacDonald, a professor in the Psychology Department of the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts. By having all three species play the same economic game, these authors have revealed a new insight into how different parts of the brain make different types of decisions and that there is an evolutionary history to the flaws that make us human. This article has been republished from materials provided by University of Minnesota Medical School. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

by Melissa Hart, Angela Maharaj, Giovanni Di Virgilio (Visit the SWAQ website at www.swaq.org.au) Schools Weather and Air Quality (SWAQ) is a citizen science project funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science as part of its Inspiring Australia – Citizen Engagement Program. SWAQ will place meteorology and air quality sensors in Sydney schools to collect data for urban climate, meteorology and air quality research. This project is the first of its kind in Australia and SWAQ has partnered with instrument vendor Vaisala to create a base monitoring network covering 20 primary schools across the Sydney metropolitan region. Urbanisation can modify the climate in cities resulting in the urban heat island (UHI) effect. This results in city residents bearing the brunt of both global (e.g., climate change) and regional (e.g., the UHI) heat impacts (Krayenhoff et al. 2018; Thorpe and Hart 2013). Both temperature and air quality can also vary greatly within cities due to spatial variability in land-use, surface and geographical characteristics, pollutant emissions and transport infrastructure (Di Virgilio et al. 2018; Hart and Sailor 2009). Currently there are insufficient meteorological and air quality observation sites to adequately monitor the effects of increased urbanisation on local-scale weather and air quality in most Australian cities. The SWAQ project provides a pilot for how citizen science could potentially enhance monitoring networks, increase STEM engagement and give the public more agency in their daily decision making through access to localised, high temporal-resolution weather and air quality data. Sydney is an ideal test case because it is Australia’s largest city, and is undergoing rapid development, but it has not been the focus of much urban climate or air quality research. The citizen science The citizen science component of SWAQ will involve school students engaging in the siting and installation of instruments and analysing the data in curriculum-aligned classroom activities. School teachers and students will be able to monitor conditions at their school in real time and relate how changes in pollution concentrations are driven by meteorological conditions, or how the onset of events such as bushfires, heatwaves, or thunderstorms can affect air quality. Participating primary schools will also benefit from engaging outreach activities to gather additional data (e.g, land use classification, estimating sky view factors). Students will learn valuable STEM skills through directly being involved in the analysis of meteorological and air quality data collected in their school grounds. For High school students, the project will demonstrate how the collected data can be used for student research projects such as the New South Wales (NSW) Science “depth studies” in Years 11 and 12. Data will be available freely online via a dedicated website for school and public use, complete with real-time visualisations to illustrate the environmental conditions in a local area. As part of its consultation process, SWAQ recently conducted concept testing for the website visualisations at UNSW Sydney with over 30 High school science students selected from a range of schools around Sydney, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and regional NSW. This project has three key research foci around urbanisation: - environmental change, - energy use and Sydney’s population is predicted to grow by 30% within twenty years, most of which is slated for the semi-rural fringes (Greater Sydney Commission 2018). The resulting urbanisation will adversely impact temperature and air quality in these areas of rapid population growth. Urban heat island magnitude is calculated as the concurrent temperature difference between an urban and a rural site. At this point, it is difficult to calculate this magnitude for Sydney due to a lack of temperature observations in the rural surrounds. The geographical location and coastal basin topography of Sydney also complicates factors because a coastal rural site will differ significantly from an inland rural site, due to the moderating influence of the ocean and the sea breeze on coastal suburbs. SWAQ sites enhance existing air quality and meteorology networks by targeting regions lacking monitoring instruments e.g. urban growth areas and the rural fringe. With a focus on observing urban weather and air quality, SWAQ sensors are sited differently to standard synoptic weather stations. In our case, we are interested in the impacts of the urban environment on weather and air quality, so sensors will be installed in street canyons, school playgrounds and courtyards following WMO guidance for observations at urban sites (Oke 2006). The SWAQ network will allow, for the first time, detailed spatial analyses of the impacts of urbanisation on Sydney’s weather, climate and air quality. With these observations the magnitude of the urban heat island, and how it differs across the city, can be calculated, and the spatial variability of health and energy impacts of heat and air quality can be analysed. For example, data collected can be used in research related to weather-sensitivity of energy consumption and provide insights into how weather (e.g. heatwaves) may interact with urban air quality to impact human health. In addition to the bespoke school data and web visualisations targeted at a general audience, SWAQ will also provide high temporal resolution data for urban climate, energy and health researchers. The monitoring network The base monitoring network locations were chosen by using weighted overlay spatial analyses to identify schools in regions of projected urban and population growth, as well as identified gaps in the OEH monitoring network. SWAQ is currently negotiating with the selected schools to finalise this network. SWAQ is partnering with the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN), which will place their low-cost air quality sensors currently in development alongside our Vaisala sensors. Further sensor evaluation will be undertaken by co-locating one of our sensors at the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Chullora super site. The first sensors will be installed in early 2019 and data will be available from the project website: www.swaq.org.au One of the most encouraging aspects of embarking on a citizen science project has been the enthusiasm and collaborative attitude of a vast range of interested parties. Collaborations thus far include diverse groups such as the scientific research community, schools, the public and industry linkages. After a comprehensive and exhaustive review of environmental monitoring companies, SWAQ has partnered with Vaisala for the development of the monitoring network. Vaisala’s Head of Air Quality, John Liljelund, travelled from Finland for a face-to-face meeting with the SWAQ team to finalise the partnership and issued the following statement: “We are proud and excited to participate in this educational project that we believe will be a great example for any school anywhere in the world on how to develop their science education partnering with a company with deep roots in innovation and research.” The NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) are collaborating on sensor evaluation and CSIRO’s SMOG will be used in the outreach component. SWAQ has also been fortunate to have design consultancy company, Tobias and data visualisation specialists, Small Multiples, join the team to develop effective data visualisations for our intended audience (school students and the public). Tobias was instrumental in the planning and running of the design workshops with high school students, which will help inform the design and functionality of the full website. Similar networks have been implemented in other countries (e.g., Birmingham UK, Victoria BC Canada), however, a point of difference for SWAQ is the provision of a large network of higher quality research-grade sensors in order to optimise the use of data for high quality discovery and applied research. We hope that SWAQ Sydney provides a successful pilot scheme and that we are able to expand the network to other major capital and regional cities around Australia. - Di Virgilio, Hart MA, Jiang N (2018): Meteorological controls on atmospheric particulate pollution during hazard reduction burns. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 18, 6585-6599. doi:10.5194/acp-18-6585-2018 - Greater Sydney Commission (2018): Greater Sydney Region Plan: A metropolis of three cities. State of New South Wales. https://gsc-public-1.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/greater-sydney-region-plan-0618.pdf - Hart M. and Sailor DJ (2009): Quantifying the influence of land-use and surface characteristics on spatial variability in the urban heat island. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. 95: 397-406. - Krayenhoff ES, Moustaoui M, Broadbent AM, Gupta V, Georgescu M (2018): Diurnal interaction between urban expansion, climate change and adaptation in US cities. Nature Climate Change 8, 1097 – 1103. - Oke T (2006): Initial guidance to obtain representative meteorological observations at urban sites. Instruments and Observing methods report no. 81. World Meteorological Organization. - Thorpe AL and Hart MA. (2013): Changing Climates, Changing Cities? Planning Reform and Urban Sustainability in New South Wales.The Australasian Journal of Natural Resources Law and Policy 16(2):133-156

This article provides detailed information on the ten biggest cities in the world. Data on the ten biggest cities in the world in this article focus on their metropolitan areas. Most reference material will have two entries, the city size and the metropolitan are size. The metropolitan area, also known as the metro or metro area, includes the densely populated original/core part of the city plus its less-populated surrounding urban territories that share the infrastructure, industry and housing. Below are the ten biggest cities in the world according to a range of sources including The World Atlas and The United Nations. The ten biggest cities in the world are: Tokyo, the capital of Japan, with a metropolitan (greater Tokyo area) population of 37,126,000 people, is the largest city in the world. The inner core, known as the Tokyo Metropolis has a population of 13,185,502. According to the Mercer and Economist Intelligence Unit, Tokyo is the most expensive city for expatriates. Monocle magazine named Tokyo the third most liveable city globally. It received more Michelin stars than any other city worldwide. In Japanese “Tokyo” means “Easter Capital”. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia (the world’s 4th most populous country), officially known as the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (Daerah Khusus Ibu Kota Jakarta), is the second largest city in the world. It has a metropolitan population of 26,063,000 people. The city itself (the core) has a population of 10,187,595. The word “Jakarta” is derived from “Jayakarta” which comes from Old Javanese and means “victorious deed”, “complete act”, or “complete victory”. Seoul is the capital of South Korea and the third largest city in the world, with a metropolitan area population of 22,547,000 people. The city itself, known as the Seoul Special City, has a population of 10,442,426. More than half of South Korea’s fifty million people live in Seoul, as do 632,000 international residents. The word “Seoul” has a straightforward and practical origin. It means “capital city” in Korean. Delhi, known as the National Capital Territory of India, is the fourth largest city in the world with a metropolitan population of 22,242,000 million people. Delhi has served as a capital to an assortment of kingdoms and empires since the 6th century BC. Modern Delhi is a collection of cities spread across the metropolitan region. That is why some people call it the City of Cities. There are several theories to how Delhi got its name. Some say it is derived from Dhillu or Dilu, a king who constructed a city where Delhi is now located in 50 BC; he named it after himself. Others believe it is based on the Hindi/Prakrit word dhili, meaning “loose”, and that the Tomaras used the term to refer to a city because the Iron Pillar of Delhi had to be moved as it had a weak foundation. Shanghai, with a metropolitan population of 20,860,000 people, is China’s largest city and the fifth largest in the world. As well as being a global financial center and a transport hub, it is the busiest container port in the world. Shanghai had been an important trading, administrative and shipping town for many hundreds of years, but grew rapidly in the 19th century after the Europeans saw it as an ideal port location and recognized its economic potential. The word Shanghai means “upon the sea”. The Chinese character 上 (shang) means “above” and 海 (hai) means “sea”. Manila, the capital of the Philippines, has a metropolitan population (Metro Manila) of 20,767,000 people. Metro Manila is the economic, commercial, cultural and political heart of the Philippines. It also houses the seat of the executive and judicial branches of the government. The city became an important center of Spanish activity in the Far East. It was one end of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon trade route that linked Asia, Latin America and Europe. Manila gets its name from a plant There are two Tagalog words: “may” (there is) and “nilad” (the name of a shrub) which together form the word that today is Manila. Karachi, also known as the City of Lights, is the most populous metropolitan city of Pakistan and the seventh in the world with a metro population of 20,711,000 people. It is the country’s center of industry, banking, economic activity and trade, and is home to Pakistan’s largest companies. Karachi used to be Pakistan’s capital city until Islamabad was built as a capital in order to encourage development in other parts of the country. Policymakers at the time felt Karachi housed a disproportionate amount of the countries wealth and activities. Legend has it that the city began as a fishing settlement, where a fisherwoman, Mai Kolachi, laid down her roots and started a family. 8. New York New York, usually referred to as New York City or the City of New York, is the largest city in the United States and the eighth largest in the world. The New York metropolitan area has a population of 20,464,000 million people. It is known as the “City that never sleeps.” New York is a powerful and influential city both domestically and internationally. It is a huge center of finance, commerce, media, fashion, research and development, entertainment, education and diplomacy. The city was called New Amsterdam in 1626 until it came under English control in 1664. The English changed its name to New York to honor the Duke of York, who later became King James II. 9. São Paulo São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and the ninth largest in the world. The São Paulo metropolitan area has a population of 20,186,000 people. It is Brazil’s most important area of commerce, finance, arts and entertainment. São Paulo is the largest city proper in the southern hemisphere and in the Americas with a core population of 11,316,149 people. São Paulo houses the Futures Markets, the São Paulo Stock Exchange and the Cereal Market Stock Exchanges (the second largest in the world in market value). The city has its name in honor of Saint Paul of Tarsus. 10. Mexico City Mexico City, known in Spanish as La Cuidad de Mexico, and officially as Mexico D.F (Distrito Federal) and informally as D.F., is the largest city in Mexico and the tenth largest in the world. Mexico City has a metropolitan population of 19,463,000 people. Mexico City is by far the country’s most important financial, commercial, political, cultural and educational center. The city was built by the Aztecs in 1325 on an island of Lake Texcoco, and was called Tenochtitlan. Of the ten biggest cities in the world, seven are in Asia and three in the Americas.

In wastewater treatment, water can be separated from biosolids by various means. Here at the Ventura Wastewater Reclamation Facility (VWRF) we use a centrifuge that separates water from biosolids by high revolution, creating pressure and separating the water. Once dewatered, biosolids are sent off for agricultural use or to the landfill, while the remaining water is pumped back to our aeration tanks for treatment. Contaminants, like heavy metals for example, can render our biosolids useless for agricultural use and can possibly leach into the environment at landfills. To see a list of contaminants and other items that should never be sent down the drain to our wastewater plant, please visit our “Think Before You Flush” webpage. Remember you should only flush the 3 P’s- pee, poo and (toilet) paper! To learn more about the City's wastewater treatment process, visit our Wastewater page.

Hello everyone! Hope you are enjoying our website. Just wanted to ask you to also subscribe to our YouTube channel if you haven't done so yet: https://www.youtube.com/@ImagiDraw Today, we will be learning to draw a rooster. This is a beautiful bird with many feathers, a wattle, and a comb. Those who saw roosters live will likely remember the loud and rather loud and annoying crow they like to make at sunrise. Also, you will remember how they like to look bossy and swagger around chickens. So, today, in our drawing tutorial, we will draw that bossy but beautiful look of a rooster. Step 1. Outline the main parts of the rooster body. Start by drawing a few lines with the primary goal of outlining the dimensions of our future rooster drawing: a line for its chest, a line for the back of the neck, a line for the upper part of the tail, and a circle for the head. Step 2. Outline the rooster's wing, beak, the wattle, and the comb. Now, outline the main parts of the rooster: its legs, the wing, the wattle, and the comb. Oh, and obviously, don't forget the beak! Step 3. Continue outlining the rooster's comb, wattle, legs, and tail. Continue to outline the parts of the rooster's body while adding details. Step 4. Draw the rooster's shank and toes. Draw the rooster's tail feathers. Draw the rooster's legs in more detail. We need to draw its shanks and the toes with claws. Drawing the feathers in its tails is tricky as there are many of them, and they are of different sizes. Step 5. Continue to draw the feather patterns on the rooster's chest, wing, and tail. Draw the feather pattern on the chest and wing of our rooster. Step 6. Draw the feather pattern on the rooster's tail feathers. Detail rooster's toes. Now, we need to draw the feather pattern on some of the rooster's feathers in its tail. Looks a bit like leaves. Then, draw the folds on the rooster's shanks and toes. As you can see, going over our drawing and adding dark highlighting to the lines gives the drawing a bit of volume, separating the parts its parts. We also add shading to the bottom of the rooster. Step 7. Finalize the rooster drawing with more feather detailing. Continue adding the feathers to our rooster's tail, and the drawing is done. Hope you enjoyed our tutorial and managed to draw your own rooster. See you next time.

Organic foods are grown without chemical pesticides on farmland that is free of chemicals. The United States Department of Agriculture oversees the National Organic Program, which regulates organic farming standards in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. Organic meats come from organically managed livestock that are not fed slaughter by-products, steroids or antibiotics and feed off pastures, hay and grain concentrates. Organic dairy products come from organic farms and are chemical free. Fruits & Vegetables Organic fruits and vegetables do not look as perfect as produce that has been farmed using chemical pesticides to kill all the parasites and bugs that feed on the plants. Organic fruits may have wormholes or other imperfections, but they are chemical and pesticide free. Video of the Day In order for fruits and vegetables to meet the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) organic standards, they must meet specific requirements for each type of crop or product. Organic crops are grown on land that is free of prohibited substances (chemicals) for at lease three years. All produce have varying production requirements such as seed sources, soil fertility, planting, irrigation, pest management, diseases, nematodes, viruses, weeds, harvest and storage, according to the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Meats & Dairy Every year there are cases of sporadic Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, also known as mad cow disease in the United States, according to the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA). Eating organic beef, chicken, pork and other meats is a healthier option. The USDA regulates how organic meat and dairy are classified and regulated. In 2010, the Agriculture Department narrowed the definition of what is considered organic meat, according to the February 13, 2010, San Francisco Chronicle. In 1977, the FDA banned feeding cattle blood, poultry litter, human food wastes, brain and spinal tissue. All organic livestock operations must maintain records to prove the identity of all organically managed livestock, according to the National Organic Program. This means all organic livestock are tracked from birth to slaughter. The feed mills must be inspected and certified. Organic feed cannot contain antibiotics, hormones, slaughter by-products, insecticides and rodenticides, according to MISA. Organic livestock can only be slaughtered in certified organic slaughterhouses. Most importantly, organic livestock must be fed and managed organically their entire lives to be certified organic. Organic pet food is subject to the same standards as produce and meats. In order to put the USDA organic label on pet food products, the product must be produced by certified organic operations, according to the University of Minnesota. Pet food producers must seek certification to display the "USDA Organic" logo on their products. The National Organic Program and the USDA regulate organic pet food. Organic baby foods are made with certified organic ingredients regulated by the USDA and the National Organic Program. While these products are certified organic, some use ingredients that have been questioned by pediatricians. An article in the May 19, 2008, New York Times noted that a popular organic baby product, Similac Organic formula, is sweetened with cane sugar or sucrose. While these ingredients are considered safe and approved by the USDA, some pediatricians worry that the sweetened formula can harm tooth enamel and lead to rapid weight gain. - Environmental Protection Agency: Organic Farming - United States Agricultural Department: National Organic Program - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service: Organic Farming - Organic Mall: Organic Products - San Francisco Chronicle: SFGate: Clearer Definition of 'Organic' Meat, Milk - New York Times: For an All-Organic Formula, Baby, That's Sweet

Parrots are fond of different fruits and vegetables, including their seeds. It is essential to provide them with a variety in their meal. It encourages them to eat and also increases their nutritional value. They also are fond of sharing their food with their companions. Thus, whenever you are eating your meals, your parrot will also have the urge to eat your food. One such commonly found fruit in every household is the banana. They are readily available, cheap, and nutritional as well. Can parrots eat bananas? Bananas are safe for parrots to consume. They have quite a few health benefits. But excess quantity may have adverse effects on its health. Apart from the fruit, other recipes of bananas may have certain side effects if cooked. But the fruit in its natural form serves better. Bananas for parrots: Nutritional value and health benefits Bananas are quite popular among humans. A huge population prefers including them for breakfast. Apart from vitamins, they are also enriched with potassium, magnesium, pectin, etc. Let us discuss in detail the benefits of each of them on a parrot. Fruits containing vitamins help sustain life in a better way as living beings produce very little of it. There are different types of vitamins that a living body requires. Some of them are also available in a banana. They are as follows: - Vitamin A: Consumption of vitamin A through bananas helps in the development of vision. It also strengthens the immune system as well as promotes reproduction. Thus, having a banana regularly from a tender age will be fruitful while attaining maturity. - Vitamin B complex: Along with easy digestion, bananas also get readily absorbed by a parrot. Hence, enhancing the development of the digestive system. As a result, it promotes the secretion of waste materials in the form of stool. For enhancing the development of bones and beaks in a parrot, magnesium is vital during body development. Bananas contain magnesium, which also helps in facilitating their nervous system. Hence, there is better coordination of feathers and muscles, especially during flight. It also promotes a healthy and sound cardiac system. For optimal production of blood in the human body, doctors prescribe natural iron-rich food. Likewise, for enhancing the required production of hemoglobin in parrots, iron is essential. Among other natural ingredients, a balanced diet with bananas helps in increasing iron content in the body. These are the primary and essential nutrients that a banana contains. Apart from it, bananas also consist of carbohydrates, fiber, and potassium. Lack of these essential nutrients often causes ill-health and deficiency-related diseases. Parrots tend to catch infections readily and also are unable to fly due to weak feathers. Since a banana does not contain fat and cholesterol, there are very minimal chances that it will increase a parrot’s weight. The outer covering or the peel of a banana Although the banana peel is not harmful to parrots, the chemicals in it are. For increasing the production of bananas, people use pesticides and herbicides. They assist in reducing the growth of weeds and diseases. These chemicals stick to the outer skin of the bananas. Even after proper washing, some particles tend to retain back. Since they are harmful to living beings, it is better for parrots to avoid. - Even a minute quantity of these chemicals or coloring agents may have adverse effects on the general functioning of the body. - If you notice your parrot is fond of the peel, try some alternatives. Organic bananas are free from the use of pesticides. - They grow in natural conditions, and natural mulch in its production helps in keeping weeds away. It also helps in reducing the chances of an attack from disease-causing organisms. - Organic bananas are safe to consume along with its peel. Since the yellow color of banana peel is attractive, parrots are quite fond of it. - Moreover, it also has certain phytonutrients, which complement the other nutritional benefits of the inner fruit. Since parrots prefer human companionship, they also like sharing food. Recipes with bananas may suit human beings but not parrots. It is better to avoid cooked or fried bananas for parrots because: - Deep-fried foods will contain an excess quantity of oil - Excess sugar is not suitable and maybe the primary reason for blood sugar and weak feathers - Cooked foods will affect their delicate digestive system - Body functioning may hamper due to an imbalance in nerve impulses - A diet similar to humans may cause obesity - Fried or baked bananas reduces nutritional value for birds - Additives and preservatives in banana cakes and bread are harmful to parrots Tips and tricks to encourage eating bananas Although banana-bread recipes are not recommendable for parrots, you can try some alternatives. These can serve as treats and be an additional item with their regular diet. - Instead of feeding deep-fried banana chips, try the ones that are naturally dried. - Prefer home-baked fresh cakes and bread over the ones purchased from stores. - Add wide ranges of nuts, seeds, berries, etc., along with raw banana. - Include other fruits along with bananas to avoid boredom - Plantains are more nutritious than regular bananas and can be an alternative. While concluding, we believe that as pet patents, your doubt about feeding bananas are clear. Ensure to wash the fruit thoroughly before providing it to your parrot. A single banana of regular size is enough for a day. Excess quantity may upset its stomach. However, make sure that bananas are just a part of the entire meal and not a staple. It should not be the main ingredient of the meal. A balanced diet with various fruits, vegetables, and seeds and enough water for the entire day is essential. Banana chips and bread can serve as treats once in a while for good behavior or retrieve after accidental escaping. Bananas are, however, nutritional and beneficial in a parrot’s diet. It is safe to consume while eating with other fruits. Keeping a close watch on their diet will help your parrot lead a healthy lifestyle. Maintenance and attention are what they seek from their owners. While adopting a parrot, make sure you are capable of providing its basic necessities. - Can Parrots Eat Watermelons? [Feeding Guide!] - Can Parrots Eat Bananas? [Feeding Guide!] - Do Budgies Get Along with Cockatiels? [What You Should Know!] - Are Parrots Smarter than Dogs? [Know The Truth!] - Do Parrots Get Along With Dogs And Cats?

of Edmund Spenser is one of acceptance by one's peers but not by the populace . One of the very greatest of the Renaissance poets (which included William Shakespeare , Sir Philip Sidney , and Christopher Marlowe ), Edmund Spenser, the "Poet's Poet ", was born into a working-class family , unlike many of the other poets of the time . After attending the Merchant Taylors' School on a scholarship alotted to a poor man's son , he went on to Cambridge University as a "sizar ". During just his first year at Cambridge After graduating from Cambrige University with a M.A degree in 1576, Spenser served in a variety of positions, including that of secretary to the Earl of Leicester. While employed at this position, he met Sir Philip Sidney and become one in a select literary group. In 1580 Spenser took the position of secretary to the Lord Deputy of Ireland, from whom he acquired Kilcolman Castle, where he did much of his writing. His unfinished work, The Faerie Queen, impressed a collegue to the point that he convinced Spenser to get it published. Well it was that he did, because The Faerie Queen established Spenser as the leading poet of his day. Dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I, it brought him a small pension, but not what he truly desired: a position at court. If one had a position at court, he could mingle with the other bigwigs of the poetry community. He later published his sonnet cycle Amoretti (written in his own arrangement, the Spenserian Sonnet). Alas, Irish rebels destroyed his castle and he died on January 13, 1599, without ever attaining a position at court, or gaining acceptance outside the literary community. He died a broken man, indeed.

Community language evolves from Vietnamese to English as students cognitively develop and acquire appropriate literacy skills. As students transition from Early Years to Primary School, the common language in social contexts shifts to English in preparation for the MYP program. Table of Contents Starting in the Early Years (EYs), all students are exposed to Vietnamese language and culture within the context of an inquiry-driven, play-based, PYP early years programme. At this level the focus is on cultural identity, learning about language as a form of communication, and learning through the language of Vietnamese with their homeroom teachers. Throughout Primary School (K – 5) Vietnamese is the primary language of instruction utilized for the National curriculum. The goals are to develop an appreciation and understanding of the host culture and acquire Vietnamese as a language of communication. Throughout the primary years students are exposed to a bilingual environment in core classes such as Math and Science that are taught in both Vietnamese and English. In addition, specialist classes such as Technology, Art, and the PYP Units of Inquiry are taught in English. Non-Vietnamese students will experience an immersion model in the humanities subjects (Language, Social Studies) and a bilingual model in the other MOET core subjects (Math, Science, Art, and Technology). Throughout MYP, students not enrolled in a native level Vietnames language class are required to take Vietnamese as an Additional Language (VAL) in all Grades 6 – 10 in order to meet the IB language acquisition requirements. Key features of the research-based English as an Additional Language (EAL) program include 1. Collection, organization, analyzation, and dissemination of relevant student information to monitor progress and target individual student needs. 2. Integrated instructional approach in the primary years (K – 5): – A bilingual model in core subjects (Math/Science) provides the means for students to experience the same learning outcomes in both Vietnamese and English to enhance their contextual understanding of the concepts. – Specialist classes (Art, Technology, UOI) provide English instruction utilizing a translanguaging approach that allows students to acquire conceptual understanding through communication in their native tongue if needed but requires them to demonstrate understanding in English. – Co-teaching between content teachers and EAL specialists as a means of promoting the translanguaging approach. Traditionally known as a push-in model. – Dedicated EAL classes, or pull-out model, focused on developing the fundamental reading, writing, and listening skills necessary for success across all content areas. A person who is bilingual is able to use two languages with equal fluency (In 2021 the research showed that 43% of the world population was bilingual). The goal of bilingual education programs is to enable English language learners to become competent in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the English language through the development of literacy and academic skills in the primary language and English. Bilingual education develops important cognitive skills such as problem solving, logic, critical thinking and creativity because it exercises your brain and forces you to think about how you can express and effectively convey your thoughts with the vocabulary you possess in each language. Studies show that being bilingual has many cognitive benefits. According to research, speaking a second language can mean that you have a better attention span and can multitask better than monolinguals. This is because being bilingual means you are constantly switching from one language to the other. A successful bilingual program develops students’ language and literacy proficiency, leads them in successful academic achievement, and nurtures sociocultural integration. The level of language and literacy development for each language will depend on the goals of the program. If a job opening comes down to candidates of equal experience and education, but one is fluent in more than one language it’s most likely the bilingual applicant that’s getting the position. Even as early in the hiring process as when you submit your resume, being bilingual makes an impression.

An Oxford-based group have developed a jet fuel using CO2 that could make travelling by air more sustainable by 2030. The group, OXCCU, uses a process known as the “organic combustion method”, which effectively reverses the process of burning fuel, by taking carbon dioxide and hydrogen and applying a catalyst made from iron, manganese and potassium to create hydrocarbons. Partnering with United Airlines and two global energy companies, OXCCU has secured major funding to continue production at Oxford University. Aviation currently contributes around 4 per cent to human-induced global warming, but according to chief executive, Andrew Symes, speaking to The Telegraph: “People want to continue flying but without the climate impact.Traditional vegetable oil based biofuels are limited by feedstock availability and land use. Hence people are turning to CO2 derived fuels. The challenge to date for CO2 derived fuels has been cost and that’s the challenge we’re solving.”

Globally, 1 in 5 people deem vaccines unsafe. Image: REUTERS/James Akena - RC1ADCAEDE50 Doctors around the world are witnessing a spike in the number of measles cases, despite widespread access to an effective vaccine that prevents infection and has been available since the early 1960s. Measles can and does kill. It is especially dangerous in children. In 2017, the most recent year for which official statistics are available, it caused close to 110,000 deaths, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). But a growing belief among some sections of the public that vaccinations can pose a serious risk to health has meant fewer children are being vaccinated - and the number of cases globally is soaring. Provisional WHO data published in August 2019 shows that reported measles cases rose by 300% in the first three months of this year, compared to the same period in 2018. The WHO directly links the rise in cases to a fall in the number of children receiving vaccinations. While opposition to vaccination is not new, social media has helped to spread anti-vaccine messages in recent years. Research from the Wellcome Trust, based on a survey of 140,000 people in 140 countries. shows the level of trust in vaccines by country and region. The study found that worldwide, 79% of people agree that vaccines are safe and 84% agree that they are effective. Bangladesh and Rwanda have the strongest confidence in vaccines – with almost all people in both countries agreeing that vaccines are safe, effective and that it is important for children to be vaccinated. In low-income regions, the “proportion of people who agree 'strongly' or 'somewhat' that vaccines are safe tends to be much higher at 80% or above, with highs of 95% of people in South Asia and 92% in Eastern Africa," according to the study. But as the chart above shows, a lack of trust in vaccines is most common across Europe, including the former Soviet bloc. In France, one in three people don't think vaccines are safe – the highest rate of vaccine mistrust in the world. Overall, the study found that “in high-income regions, there is less certainty about the safety of vaccines, with 72% of people in Northern America and 73% in Northern Europe agreeing that vaccines are safe. In Western Europe, this figure is even lower, at 59%, and in Eastern Europe it stands at only 40%.” Mapping measles outbreaks The consequences of the anti-vaccination movement are now being seen in the growing number of measles cases in almost every region of the world. There is a correlation between regions with a low level of trust in the safety of vaccines and the number of reported measles cases, according to the WHO. Trust in vaccines in Ukraine is low and it has the second highest number of reported cases in the six months to August 2019. While in Western Europe, France has low faith in vaccines and a high number of cases. The picture however is not a simple one. The United States has suffered a high number of measles cases, despite relatively solid confidence in vaccines. The WHO reports that “over recent months, spikes in case numbers have also occurred in countries with high overall vaccination coverage, including the United States of America as well as Israel, Thailand, and Tunisia, as the disease has spread fast among clusters of unvaccinated people.” Achieving herd immunity To protect the global population against the spread of measles requires a critical level of vaccination. To achieve what is known as herd immunity, research shows that between 93% and 95% of the population must be vaccinated. With many countries falling short of that figure because of a lack of trust in vaccinations, the spread of measles is likely to continue. Don't miss any update on this topic Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses. License and Republishing The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

Sea Level Rise In 2014, nearly 75 percent of California’s population lived in coastal counties and along the State’s iconic 1,100 miles of mainland coastline and the San Francisco Bay’s additional 500-mile shoreline. As the nation’s largest ocean economy valued at over $44 billion/ year, California has a significant portion of its economy concentrated on the coast, with a great majority of it connected to coastal recreation and tourism, ports and shipping. Many of the facilities and infrastructure that support this ocean economy, as well as the State’s many miles of public beaches, lie within a few feet of the present high tide line. Sea-level rise, a consequence of a warming global climate, poses an immediate and real threat to coastal ecosystems, livelihoods and economies, public access to the coast, recreation, and the well-being and safety of coastal communities. Combined with episodic and extreme events such as storm surges and high tides, sea-level rise and land subsidence directly affect Californians living in coastal and inland delta counties, increasing floods that disrupt services and infrastructure systems. But the threats of sea-level rise extend beyond just the immediate coastline. Communities across California are already facing damage to development, ecosystems, water supplies, and infrastructure, making a coordinated response and clear guidance on how to plan and prepare for rising sea levels a necessity. OPC’s Sea-Level Rise program seeks to build coastal resilience by working across scales and disciplines to ensure that California plans for, prepares for and successfully adapts to the impacts of sea-level rise, storms, and coastal flooding. How do we do this? Click on each strategy to learn more - ADVANCING SCIENCE OPC works to secure and leverage funding for research and monitoring related to climate impacts on the ocean and coast. By working with scientists, OPC can advance and translate latest research and science to better inform State planning and adaptation efforts. Catalyzed by direction from Governor Brown and the need to ensure that best available science is informing sea-level rise planning decisions in California, the California Ocean Protection Council partnered with the California Ocean Science Trust to convene an OPC Science Advisory Team Working Group on Sea-Level Rise. The working group was charged to synthesize the current state of sea-level rise science and projections, including advances in modeling and improved understanding of the processes that could drive extreme global sea-level rise. In April 2017, the working group released their final report, entitled “Rising Seas in California: An Update on Sea-Level Rise” which formed the scientific basis for the 2018 Update to the State’s Sea-Level Rise Guidance Document. - DEVELOPING ADAPTATION STRATEGIES OPC is working to advance planning and adaptation decision support tools and resources to increase the resilience of coastal communities, infrastructure, development, and coastal resources to reduce hazards. In an effort to catalog California’s efforts on planning for sea-level rise, the Planning for Sea-Level Rise Database bill (AB 2516, Gordon) was passed into law in 2014. This legislation called for the California Natural Resources Agency in collaboration with the Ocean Protection Council to conduct a survey of “sea-level rise planning information”, defined as “studies, programs, modeling, mapping, cost-benefit analyses, vulnerability assessments, adaptation, assessments, and local coastal programs . . . that have been developed for the purposes of addressing or preparing for sea level rise” (Public Resources Code Division 20.6 §30961-30968). The resulting database from these surveys, conducted biennially, are posted on the OPC webpage here. OPC is currently working to upgrade these tools with the help of the Climate Readiness Institute and is working with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to incorporate this database into the Adaptation Clearinghouse, as part of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program - SOUND POLICY GUIDANCE OPC is working to issue, strengthen, and disseminate guidance, guidelines, and policy to inform swift response. State of California Sea-level Rise Guidance Document (2018 Update) The State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance Document (PDF), initially adopted in 2010 and since updated in 2013 and 2018, provides guidance to state agencies for incorporating sea-level rise projections into planning, permitting, investment and other decisions. After a comprehensive and inclusive update process, the California Ocean Protection Council and the California Natural Resources Agency, in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, recently completed an update to this statewide guidance to reflect advances in ice loss science and projections of sea-level rise. The updated guidance focuses on the needs of state agencies and local governments. It will help cities and counties as they comply with a recent law, SB 379 (Jackson), that requires them to incorporate climate change into their planning efforts. The updated guidance document will also assist state agencies prepare for, and adapt to climate change, as directed by Governor Brown’s recent Executive Order B-30-15 (2015). Update January 2024: OPC is collaborating with Ocean Science Trust and a scientific task force to update the California Sea-Level Rise Guidance. The updated guidance will expand upon the 2018 update. OPC will deliver an updated statewide guidance that includes: (1) an updated scientific understanding of statewide sea-level rise and related coastal impacts (e.g. flooding); and (2) practical and pragmatic approaches for state agencies, local governments, and communities to use this new science across their respective planning efforts. This update aims to incorporate the most current scientific knowledge and improved planning and decision-making guidance to support preparedness for rising sea levels. The 2024 update has been released for public comment. State Agency Sea Level Rise Action Plan (Updated February 2024) The State Agency Sea Level Rise Action Plan for California (PDF) (SLR Action Plan), is a first-of-its-kind, highly coordinated effort to outline a roadmap toward coastal resiliency for the state of California. Developed through intense collaboration from the state agencies that make up the State Sea Level Rise Collaborative, the SLR Action Plan is a living document that fosters accountability and collaboration for planning and implementing sea-level rise (SLR) action over a five-year period (fiscal year 2021-22 to 2024-25). It builds on Senator Atkins’ landmark legislation, Senate Bill 1, which was signed into law by Governor Newsom in 2021 and drives California’s efforts to achieve coastal resilience in the face of rising seas. The SLR Action Plan is considered a working document with ongoing tribal consultation and annual updates to reflect the state’s evolving progress to address coastal resilience. Within the Action Plan are approximately 80 agency-specific actions that are tied to outcomes and deadlines. Structured around the Principles for Aligned State Action (2020), a section of the Action Plan is dedicated to improving equity and social justice in coastal resilience efforts, strengthening tribal relations, and increasing support for communities entitled to environmental justice. - PARTNERSHIP ENGAGEMENT OPC strengthens existing and builds new partnerships, and works to provide pathways for meaningful community engagement. OPC leads the State Coastal Leadership Group on Sea-Level Rise, which includes executive directors and senior staff from six coastal and ocean state agencies: California Coastal Commission, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, State Coastal Conservancy, State Lands Commission, and California State Parks. The vision of the SCLG is to reduce risks from sea-level rise, storms, erosion and other coastal hazards, as individual agencies, collectively, and with the efforts of other partners so that California coast and San Francisco Bay continue to be one of the world’s most beautiful, accessible economically powerful, and ecologically and socially diverse regions. The Leadership Group works on increasing its collective capacity to address sea-level rise, implement the State’s Safeguarding Plan, coordinate on key actions and legislative briefings, and communicating how California state agencies are collectively addressing risk reduction for sea-level rise. Currently Funded Sea-Level Rise and Climate Adaptation projects: Local Coastal Program Planning Grants Starting in 2013, The state of California released grant funding to support local governments in planning for sea-level rise and climate change, and completing or updating Local Coastal Programs (LCP) consistent with the California Coastal Act. The Ocean Protection Council (in partnership with the Coastal Commission and State Coastal Conservancy) supported Local Coastal Program updates, specifically to address sea-level rise, including sea-level rise modeling, vulnerability assessments, and adaptation planning and policy development. Resources to Support Sea-Level Rise Planning The Climate Readiness Institute at the University of California, Berkeley will develop new resources related to sea-level rise adaptation in California. This work will support the Natural Resources Agency and the Ocean Protection Council’s (OPC) implementation of AB 2516, “Planning for Sea Level Rise Database.” The work by UC Berkeley will advance OPC’s initiatives on this topic by providing more comprehensive knowledge on the progress, status, and barriers for sea level rise planning in sub-regions as well as at the state level. Coastal Storm Modeling System (CosMoS) The Ocean Protection Council is supporting CosMoS, which makes detailed predictions of coastal inundation, storm-induced coastal flooding, erosion, and cliff failures over large geographic scales and can be used for to analyze future climate scenarios (sea level rise and storms). The State Coastal Conservancy is leveraging the OPC’s investment in CoSMoS by supporting outreach workshops for local communities through the USC Sea Grant program. Current Funding Opportunities Please check out current funding opportunities from the Ocean Protection Council here

Music is an important part of Aiden’s life. He listens to Spotify while working, switches to Pandora when jogging, and he has a playlist for everything: cardio, cooking, video games, you name it. Everything in his life has a soundtrack and it’s playing on his headphones. But the very thing that Aiden enjoys, the loud, immersive music, could be contributing to lasting damage to his hearing. For your ears, there are safe ways to listen to music and dangerous ways to listen to music. But the more dangerous listening choice is frequently the one most of us choose. How can hearing loss be caused by listening to music? As time passes, loud noises can lead to degeneration of your hearing abilities. Normally, we think of aging as the principal cause of hearing loss, but more recent research is showing that hearing loss isn’t an intrinsic part of getting older but is instead, the outcome of accumulated noise damage. It also turns out that younger ears are particularly vulnerable to noise-induced damage (they’re still developing, after all). And yet, the long-term damage from high volume is more likely to be dismissed by younger adults. So there’s an epidemic of younger people with hearing loss thanks, in part, to high volume headphone use. Can you listen to music safely? It’s obviously dangerous to listen to music on max volume. But there is a safer way to listen to your tunes, and it usually involves turning down the volume. Here are a couple of general recommendations: - For adults: Keep the volume at no more than 80dB and for no more than 40 hours a week.. - For teens and young children: 40 hours is still fine but reduce the volume to 75dB. About five hours and forty minutes a day will give you about forty hours a week. Though that may seem like a long time, it can seem to pass rather quickly. Even still, most people have a fairly reliable concept of keeping track of time, it’s something we’re taught to do effectively from a very young age. The more challenging part is keeping track of your volume. On most smart devices, computers, and televisions, volume isn’t measured in decibels. It’s calculated on some arbitrary scale. It may be 1-100. Or it could be 1-10. You might have no idea what the max volume on your device is, or how close to the max you are. How can you monitor the volume of your music? It’s not very easy to know how loud 80 decibels is, but thankfully there are a few non-intrusive ways to know how loud the volume is. Differentiating 75 from, let’s say, 80 decibels is even more perplexing. That’s why it’s greatly suggested you utilize one of numerous free noise monitoring apps. These apps, generally available for both iPhone and Android devices, will provide you with8 real-time readouts on the noises around you. In this way, you can make real-time alterations while monitoring your real dB level. Or, when listening to music, you can also adjust your configurations in your smartphone which will efficiently let you know that your volume is too high. The volume of a garbage disposal Typically, 80 dB is about as loud as your garbage disposal or your dishwasher. That’s not too loud. It’s a relevant observation because 80dB is about as loud as your ears can take without damage. So pay close attention and try to stay away from noise above this volume. If you happen to listen to some music above 80dB, don’t forget to limit your exposure. Maybe listen to your favorite song at full volume instead of the whole album. Listening to music at a loud volume can and will cause you to develop hearing issues over the long term. You can develop hearing loss and tinnitus. The more you can be aware of when your ears are going into the danger zone, the more informed your decision-making will be. And safer listening will ideally be part of those decisions. Still have questions about keeping your ears safe? Contact us to explore more options.

by Jasia (Jayne) Steinmetz, RD, CD President, Society for Nutrition, Education and Behavior It is time to stop accepting the gender wage disparity. Equal Pay Day, which marks the average number of extra days that women must work to earn what men had earned the year before, was March 15, 2022. When comparing wages to White, non-Hispanic men, the Equal Pay Day was May 9 for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women, but it is even later for others: September 21 for Black women, November 30 for Native women, and December 8 for Latina women.1 Globally, women make 77 cents for every dollar men earn, and it would take until 2069, at the current rate, to gain equal pay.2 In 2020, US women who worked for full-time wage and salary earned 82% of male full-time wage and salary workers’ pay.3 While slow gains were made in the 1980s and 1990s, little progress has occurred since 2004, when women first earned 80% compared to men.3 Longitudinal data analysis reveals equivalent work is devalued for women. Levananon and colleagues examined this gap using 1950-2000 census data and found substantial evi- dence for decreased pay due to devaluing of the work when done by women.4 Devaluation can occur when jobs require similar education, respon- sibilities, or skills but are differentiated by predominant gender, with men paid more than women (ie, janitor vs maids and housecleaners, or informa- tion technology managers vs human resource managers). This supports discrimination that happens from the employer who assigns lower value, and therefore wages, for occupations with high participation by females. More recently, gender pay gaps have been found in optometry,5 anesthesiology,6 vascular surgery,7 and public health,8 among others. The feminization of the health work- force, which is occurring in countries of all income levels and in both clinical and allied health professions, is associated with a wage gap for women of 26% to 36% less than men.9 Decreasing wage conditions were also found in lower and upper- middle income countries.9 An excellent overview of the many variables that affect gender pay gaps, including education, property rights, and household decisions, can be found in the data-rich article by Oritz-Opina and Roser.10 We encour- age these economic gains for women in all countries, but we also demand equity. We are overrepresented at the lower wage jobs and greatly under- represented in top income groups. At the top income levels, the gender equity gap remains. What explains this continued gap? First, we can gain insight from the wage gap in Denmark, a country noted for its progressive social poli- cies for both maternity and paternity leave, child and elder care support, and funding for university educa- tion. These policies address the flexibility needed for people to balance work and home. Yet, Gallen and col- leagues have found in their examination of the Denmark labor market over the past 30 years that having children affects men and women dif- ferently in the labor market.11 Men, who have had children have higher wages and higher earnings, and the opposite holds for women. This impact for women was roughly equal in a decline in labor force participa- tion, decline in work hours, and decline in wages. An interesting study by Keller of gender pay differences among top business executives did find that temporal flexibility and a female-friendly corporate culture results in better hir- ing and retention of female executives.12 However, it was the cor- porate culture that explained the gender pay gap. This is due to the higher non-salary compensation that men receive, such as bonuses, stocks, options, and other compensation.12 This discretionary compensation is influenced by personal connections and insider relationships, an insider network shared by male workers.12 In female-friendly firms—those that promote gender and racial diversity compensation—the gender pay gap disappears.12 What must be done? We must pay attention to gender pay equity; without continued effort women’s pay will stagnate. Supporting education and entry into any profession is necessary but not enough to reach gender wage equity.1,2,9 Changing our social culture to expect flexible working conditions that balance home and work is ap- preciated by all workers, but especially women.12,13 Importantly, we must be skilled in discussing and negotiating our salary and compen- sation throughout our careers.7,12 Lastly, creating a work environment that supports diversity results in worker satisfaction and wage equity.12 We have waited long enough, now we must act. - Equal Pay Day calendar. https://www.aauw.org/resources/arti- cle/equal-pay-day-calendar/. Accessed April 9, 2022. - UN Equal pay for work of equal value. https://www.unwomen. org/en/news/in-focus/csw61/equal- pay. Accessed April 10, 2022. - US Bureau of Labor High- lights of Women’s Earnings in 2020. US Bureau of Labor Statistics; 2021. Report 1094. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ reports/womens-earnings/2020/pdf/ home.pdf. Accessed April 11, 2022. - Levanon A, England P, Allison Occu- pational feminization and pay: assessing causal dynamics using 1950-2000 U.S. Census data. Soc Forces. 2009;88:865–892. - Simpson RS, Scott BJ, Hamm KJ, et Optometry compensation study: nar- rowing down the unexplained gender wage gap in optometry. Optom Vis Sci. 2020;11:970–977. - Hertberg LB, Miller TR, Byerly S, et Gender differences in compensa- tion in anesthesiology in the United States: results of a national survey of anesthesiologists. Anesth Analg. 2021;133:1009–1018. - Lin JC, Bowser KE, Drudi LM, et al. Equal pay for equal work: disparities in compensation in vascular J Vasc Surgery. 2021;74:21S–28S. - Chen Z, Zhang Y, Luo H, et al. Nar- rowing but persisting gender pay gap among employees of the US Depart- ment of Health and Human Services during 2010-2018. Hum Resour Health. 2021;19:65–73. - Shannon G, Minckas N, Tan D, et al. Feminisation of the health workforce and wage conditions of health profes- sions: an exploratory analysis. Hum Resour Health. 2019;17:72–87. - Oritz-Ospina E, Roser M. Economic equity by gender. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/economic- inequality-by-gender#representation-of-women-in-senior-managerial-posi- tions. Accessed April 11, 2022. - Gallen Y, Lesner R, Vejlin The Labor Market Gender Gap in Denmark: Sorting out the Past 30 Years. IZA Institute of Labor Economics; 2017. https://docs. iza.org/dp10789.pdf. - Keller W, Molina T, Olney The Gender Gap Among Top Business Execu- tives. National Bureau of Economic Research; 2020. Working Paper 28216. https://www.nber.org/system/files/ working_papers/w28216/w28216.pdf. - Langner Flexible men and successful women: the effects of flexible working hours on German couples’ wages. Work Employ Soc. 2018;32:687–706.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) basics - HAI, or infections acquired in health-care settings are the most frequent adverse event in healthcare delivery worldwide. - Hundreds of millions of patients are affected by HAI worldwide each year, leading to significant mortality and financial losses for health systems. - Of every 100 hospitalized patients at any given time, 7 in developed and 10 in developing countries will acquire at least one HAI. - The endemic burden of HAI is also significantly higher in low- and middle-income than in high-income countries, in particular in patients admitted to intensive care units and in neonates. - While urinary tract infection is the most frequent HAI in high-income countries, surgical site infection is the leading infection in settings with limited resources, affecting up to one-third of operated patients; this is up to nine times higher than in developed countries. - In high-income countries, approximately 30% of patients in intensive care units (ICU) are affected by at least HAI. - In low- and middle-income countries the frequency of ICU-acquired infection is at least 2─3 fold higher than in high-income countries; device-associated infection densities are up to 13 times higher than in the USA. - Newborns are at higher risk of acquiring HAI in developing countries, with infection rates three to 20 times higher than in high-income countries.

I'm Faith Lapidus. And I'm Steve Ember with People in America in VOA Special English. Today, we begin the story of the life of a famous Southern writer, William Faulkner. He wrote about an imaginary place and described changes in the American South. The other South was a land without any beliefs. It was a place where success was measured by self-interest. This was a South where each person had lost his place in the group. It was a place where people owned things that they did not know how to use. Faulkner saw that the old beliefs were not right or even worth believing. And he saw that they could not provide justice because they were based on slavery. Yet he felt that even with their lies and half truths the old beliefs were better than the moral emptiness of the modern South. In Faulkner's story called "The Bear" a group of men are talking after the day's hunt. One man reads from a poem by the English writer, John Keats: "'She cannot fade, though thou has not thy bliss, Forever wilt thou love, and she be fair. ' "He's talking about a girl," one man says. The other answers, 'He was talking about truth. Truth is one. It doesn't change. It covers all things which touch the heart -- honor and pity and justice and courage and love. Do you see now. '" The American writer, Robert Penn Warren says about Faulkner, "The important thing is the presence of the idea of truth. It covers all things that involve the heart and define the effort of man to rise above the mechanical process of life. " Faulkner has been accused of looking back to a time when life was better. Yet, he believes that truth belongs to all times. But it is found most often in the people who stand outside what he calls "the loud world. " One of the people in his story "Delta Autumn" says, "There are good men everywhere, at all times. " Faulkner's great-grandfather accepted the old beliefs. He was one of the men who had helped build the South, but his time was gone. Now money had replaced the old order of honor. What Faulkner saw was that there could be no order at all, no idea of doing what is right, in a world that measured success in terms of money. This is the changing South that Faulkner describes in the area he created. He named it Yoknapatawpha County. He describes it as in the northern part of the state of Mississippi. It lies between sand hills covered with pine trees and rich farmland near the Mississippi River. It has fifteen-thousand-six-hundred-eleven people, living on almost four-thousand square kilometers. Its central city is Jefferson, where the storekeepers, mechanics, and professional men live. The rest of the people of Yoknapatawpha County are farmers or men who cut trees. Their only crops are wood and cotton. A few live in big farmhouses, left from an earlier time. Most of them do not even own the land they farm. The critic Malcolm Cowley says, "Others might say that Faulkner was not so much writing stories for the public as telling them to himself. It is what a lonely child might do, or a great writer. " William Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi, in eighteen-ninety-seven. His father worked for the railroad. William's great-grandfather had built it. His grandfather owned it. When the grandfather decided to sell the railroad, William's father moved his family thirty-five miles west to the city of Oxford. Growing up in Oxford, William Faulkner heard stories of the past from his grandmother and from a black woman who worked for his family. He heard more stories from old men in front of the courthouse, and from poor farmers sitting in front of a country store. You learn the stories, Faulkner says, without speech somehow from having been born and living beside them, with them, as children will and do. Faulkner was a good student. Yet by the time he was fifteen he had left school. Except for a year at the University of Mississippi at the end of World War One, that was the last of his official education. He took a number of jobs in Oxford, but did not stay with any of them. He began to think that he was a writer. Then in nineteen-eighteen the woman he loved married another man. Faulkner left Mississippi and joined the British Royal Flying Corps. He was sent to Canada to train to fight in World War One. The war ended before he could be sent to Europe. He returned to Oxford, walking with difficulty because of what he said was a "war wound. " At home Faulkner again moved from one job to the next. He wrote bad poetry, drew pictures that looked like other men's pictures, and wrote uninteresting stories. A book of his poetry, The Marble Faun, was published in nineteen-twenty-four. A year later he went to the Southern city of New Orleans, Louisiana. There he met the American writer, Sherwood Anderson. They became friends. Anderson told Faulkner to develop his own way of writing, and to use material from his own part of the country. He also told Faulkner he would find a publisher for the novel Faulkner was writing. But Anderson also told Faulkner that he would not read the book. The book was called "Soldier's Pay." It would not be remembered today if it were not for Faulkner's later work. The same could be said of Faulkner's next book, "Mosquitoes." Money from these books made it possible for him to travel to Europe. He educated himself by reading a large number of modern writers. Among them was the Irish writer James Joyce. From him, Faulkner learned to write about people's inner thoughts. He also read the books of the Austrian doctor, Sigmund Freud. From him, Faulkner learned some of the reasons people act in the strange way they often do. Instead of remaining in Paris, as many American writers did, Faulkner returned to Mississippi and began his serious writing. "I was trying," he said, "to put the history of mankind in one sentence. " Later he said, "I am still trying to do it, but now I want to put it all on the head of a pin. " He created Yoknapatawpha County and its people, and gave them a meaning far beyond their place and lives. In nineteen-twenty-nine Faulkner married Estelle Oldham, the woman he had loved since they were in school together. Her earlier marriage had failed. She had returned to Oxford with her two children. They bought an old ruined house and began the costly work of repairing it. Faulkner also took on the job of supporting the rest of his family. His letters from this time on are often full of talk about what he must do to support his family and to continue the repairs to his house. Faulkner's next book, "Sartoris," presents almost all the ideas that he develops during the rest of his life. First, however, the book Faulkner wrote had to be cut by about twenty-five percent. Faulkner resisted. He said, if you grow a vegetable, you can cut it to look like something else, but it will be dead. Yet, when Faulkner read the book after his editor cut it, he approved. He even cooperated in more re-shaping of the book. In "Sartoris," Faulkner found his subject, his voice, and his area. He writes about the connection between an important Southern family and the local community. He describes how the Sartoris family seems to help in its own destruction. In the next seven years, between nineteen-twenty-nine and nineteen-thirty-six, he seemed to re-invent the novel with every book he wrote. "Get it down," he said. "Take chances. It may be bad, but that's the only way you can do anything good. " At that time, most novels about the South described a land that never existed. After Faulkner, few northerners were brave enough to write about a South they did not know. And no serious Southern writer was willing to describe a South that did not exist. This program was written by Richard Thorman. It was produced by Lawan Davis. I'm Steve Ember. And I'm Faith Lapidus. Join us again next week for the rest of the story about William Faulkner on People in America in VOA Special English.

Scientists film magnetic memory in super slow-motion Researchers at DESY have used high-speed photography to film one of the candidates for the magnetic data storage devices of the future in action. The film was taken using an X-ray microscope and shows magnetic vortices being formed in ultrafast memory cells. Their work, which has been reported by the scientists surrounding Dr. Philipp Wessels of the University of Hamburg in the journal Physical Review B, provides a better understanding of the dynamics of magnetic storage materials. Magnetic memory cells are found in every computer hard drive. "Our images allow us to observe in real time how exactly magnetisation evolves", explains Wessels, from the research group of Prof. Markus Drescher at the Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging (CUI). "For the first time, we can observe the switching of these magnetic cells in detail." For their investigation, the researchers chose a memory cell made of an alloy of nickel and iron, which can be magnetised in less than a billionth of a second. Their custom-built X-ray microscope, developed in association with a group headed by Prof. Thomas Wilhein at the Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, makes it possible for scientists to watch a memory cell being erased and then having new data written into it. The short pulses of X-rays produced by DESY's synchrotron radiation source PETRA III give the images a temporal resolution of 0.2 billionths of a second (200 picoseconds). The degree of magnetisation can be measured via the extent to which the polarised X-ray radiation is absorbed by different regions of the sample. The X-ray microscope is able to distinguish minute details, down to 60 millionths of a millimetre (60 nanometres). In their experiment, the scientists used tiny squares of the nickel-iron alloy, each side of which was two thousandths of a millimetre (2 micrometres) long. Each of the memory cells has four magnetic regions, so-called domains, whose magnetic field varies either in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. The individual magnetic domains are triangular, with their apexes meeting in the centre of the storage cell, producing a magnetic vortex core in the centre of the cell. When the contents of the memory cell are erased by an external magnetic field, the magnetic vortex core is driven out of the cell. "In our experiment, we were for the first time able to measure the speed at which the vortex cores are expelled from the material," explains co-author Dr. Jens Viefhaus, who is in charge of the beamline P04, on which the experiments were conducted. It turns out that the core is pushed out of the memory cell at over 3600 kilometres per hour. "Because this process is reproducible, we were able to make a reliable measurement of the velocity," points out the CUI research scientist and associate professor Dr. Guido Meier. "In order to make these measurements, we had to use very intense and stable magnetic excitation pulses." The external magnetic field forces the entire memory cell into a state of uniform magnetisation. Once the field is switched off, the cell once again forms four magnetic domains with a central vortex – whose direction depends on that of the applied magnetic field; in other words, new data is written to the cell. The process is complex, however. "The four-domain state develops via a complicated zigzag pattern, and for the first time we were able to watch 'live' as this state was formed", reports Wessels. The observed behaviour is in good agreement with the results of simulations. Thanks to the super-slow motion film, the high-speed dynamics of the process can now be viewed in greater detail. "The same method can be used to study the dynamics of any other magnetic materials," notes Wessels. "Our experiments can help us to understand how quickly data can, in principle, be written to a magnetic storage medium, coded in the form of domains." These investigations have considerable practical implications for data storage technology. "Although laptops and other mobile devices these days are increasingly using non-magnetic storage technologies, such as flash memory, the price of magnetic data storage devices means that there is no substitute for them when it comes to storing large amounts of data", says Wessels. "The current trend is towards storing data in the cloud – and the cloud is magnetic." A better understanding of magnetisation dynamics can lead to faster and better storage media. More information: "Time-resolved imaging of domain pattern destruction and recovery via nonequilibrium magnetization states"; Philipp Wessels, Johannes Ewald, Marek Wieland, Thomas Nisius, Andreas Vogel, Jens Viefhaus, Guido Meier, Thomas Wilhein and Markus Drescher; "Physical Review B", 2014; DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.90.184417 Journal information: Physical Review B Provided by Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron

All parents understand the importance of their children learning to read. Becoming a confident reader from a young age is critical to your child’s ability to be able to follow their passions and dreams. However, due to the impacts of COVID-19 on schooling and education, many parents are faced with the need to move to online learning and homeschooling. This change in structure can have its challenges for parents who are now needing to balance work, parenting and teaching. That’s why it’s important to find what your kids are passionate about, then use that passion to help them find the motivation to learn to read without getting discouraged. Storytelling is how our brain naturally learns Did you know that children’s academic successes at ages nine and ten can be attributed to the amount of verbal conversation they hear from birth through age three? Oral forms of language (listening and speaking) are typically the very first methods of communication that kids come into contact with. As they begin to create mental associations from listening and speaking, reading and writing will come more naturally. That’s why Wordsmart uses funny oral storytelling to teach the sounds of the letters It’s absolutely crucial to start your child’s reading journey at an early age, as between the ages of three to seven, your child’s young brain is highly receptive. Gamifying the process of learning to read and write Wordsmart is an app that was created to help children improve their literacy through gamification and storytelling. Based on scientific research and personal experience in literacy, the app triggers your child’s learning sweet spot, by mimicking the way our brains naturally learn using storytelling to teach the sounds of the letters. By using sound, sight and touch to work through quests and earn rewards, kids will be subconsciously developing phonological awareness, letter recognition, sight words, letter-sound matching & tracing, long and short vowels, CVC words, rhyming couplets and more. Wordsmart also encourages psychological well-being in young learners, helping to support and strengthen healthy core beliefs so that children experience positive emotions while learning. For children who have previously struggled with reading and writing, Wordsmart can instil a more positive learning experience and give them the motivation to continue learning through play. The app has also been successfully used as an intervention tool for all children with learning differences, such as dyslexia, as a more engaging and flexible alternative to conventional learning. The creators of Wordsmart want to reframe the idea of dyslexia, which means difficulty with words. Instead, they propose the use of their created word, Prolexia, which means being proficient with words, as this expectation shift may play a huge role in helping kids to succeed. Wordsmart is designed to help set children up for success through interactive games and activities they’ll be excited about.

Each morning, students and teachers throughout the country routinely pledge their allegiance to the United States of America, hats off with hands over hearts, as a daily reminder of the values that our country was built upon— unity, liberty, and justice. But why do we do this in schools? What are the different views on it? Should you stand? History of The Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy in August 1892 as a way for public schools to honor the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World. It was eventually adopted by schools as a daily affirmation to promote patriotism and unity among students. The original version differs from the Pledge of Allegiance we say today. The original said: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.” In 1923 “My flag” was altered to “the flag of the United States” to clarify that foreign-born people were promising loyalty to the U.S. and not the country in which they were born. “Of America” was added following “United States” a year after. Then, “under God” was added in 1954 to differentiate our pledge from that of “godless” communist countries. This occurred during the second Red Scare, when “U.S. politicians were keen to assert the moral superiority of U.S. capitalism over Soviet communism” While today, we stand with our right hand over our hearts when we recite the pledge, originally there was something called the Bellamy salute where each person “[extends] his or her right arm straight forward, angling slightly upward, fingers pointing directly ahead.” This however was changed during the time of WWll because it resembled the Nazi “Heil Hitler” salute, which caused growing discomfort among Americans. Today, we stand with our right hands over our hearts and say: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Opinions on the Pledge While some believe that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is a necessary act of respect for our country, others would rather sit and stay silent for a variety of reasons, one being that it conflicts with certain religious beliefs. For instance, some people of the Jehovah’s Witness religion abstain from the Pledge of Allegiance because it requires one to “promise devotion to a country above all else” and glorifies a particular ethnic group/nationality, when they believe that “All humans are equal before God.” Along with this, the Pledge of Allegiance can be seen as “an act of worship, or idolatry, which the Bible prohibits.” Quakers also don’t believe in participation in the Pledge of Allegiance because they don’t take oaths or salute symbols. Atheists, polytheists, and people of religions that don’t involve a God could additionally take issue with the line of the pledge that says “one nation under God.” Aside from religion, there are other reasons one might not say the Pledge of Allegiance. For example, according to a CNN article, a student in the sixth grade “would not stand for the pledge because he believed the American flag symbolized discrimination against blacks.” In recent years, as there has been a resurgence in social justice movements, there has been an uptick in students who prefer to not participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. “Doing the pledge feels weird to me, like I’m saying something that’s not completely honest,” says one Costa Mesa High School student. “I prefer to sit down during the pledge, not out of disrespect or ‘hating the U.S.,’ but because saying it doesn’t feel right.” Another student says that the Pledge of Allegiance “holds little importance to me, I don’t really care for it. I find people who worship the Pledge and scold others for not repeating it, annoying.” With a more extreme outlook, one student believes that the Pledge of Allegiance is “literally so irrelevant.” At first glance, one might see the lack of engagement in the Pledge as an absence of patriotism, which according to USA Today is “at a record low, after declining for the past 10 years.” However, maybe those who don’t partake in the Pledge of Allegiance don’t have a lack of patriotism, they are just expressing it differently— by using their freedom of choice to hold America accountable for its shortcomings and make positive changes in the country in which they care about. On the flip side, one could argue that the way for the U.S. to grow and make positive changes is through unity as a country, which can be fostered through actions such as reciting the Pledge. As Abraham Lincoln once warned, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Using Lincoln’s logic in the context of today, the Pledge of Allegiance could be seen as one of many factors that allow Americans to find a common ground with each other and prevent further division. As highlighted in an article from the Daily Progress, “a pledge is not a description of the way things are; it is a vow to do better.” In that case, even if the country is not perfect, we can recite the Pledge to reinforce the values that we strive for. “Being a citizen in America, it is your duty to be loyal to your country, defend this beautiful land and take pride in the virtues our country stands for” says Caitlyn Urban, a writer for the Daily American. “We should be humbled by the opportunities our country has allowed us to achieve and say the Pledge of Allegiance with pride.” One of Costa Mesa High School’s United States History teachers is also proud to recite the Pledge. “As a person who teaches US History, I am proud to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily,” they said. “But I understand that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance daily can be redundant for some people. This is where the Pledge can lose its significance; especially for young people. Having to recite the Pledge every day from kindergarten to 12th grade can be monotonous for children and young adults who aren't fully aware of how blessed we truly are living where we are.” Is saying the Pledge of Allegiance every single day at school dulling down its meaning? It seems it’s become more of a habit than a conscious decision for most students— myself included. “The pledge, for most of the (millions of?) young people who say it or sit through it every morning, is empty of any substantive significance,” says Nathan J. Robinson from Current Affairs magazine. “Kids are too young to actually make a reasoned decision as to how they feel about the words.” Maybe schools (especially elementary schools) aren’t the right place for the Pledge of Allegiance to be held. How is a child supposed to know their stance on the Pledge of Allegiance? They just do whatever the adults tell them to. Do schools need to educate their students better on the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance? Should they refrain from holding the Pledge in school altogether? Or just do it for special occasions to emphasize its significance? To Sum it up… With the many drastically different viewpoints on the Pledge of Allegiance, it can be difficult to decide whether to join in or not. Whichever you decide, it’s important that you know the reasons as to why you do what you do. You have the right to choose to participate or not, and it is your duty to use this freedom in a way that reflects what you believe. Don’t just sit because you feel lazy, and don’t stand just because you’ve been doing it your whole life. Take the time to reflect on your values and make an educated decision based on your personal beliefs and what you think is the best way to support the prosperity of your country.

Each year around this time, we learn about the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and others, like Rosa Parks, who contributed to the Civil Rights Movement. Although social justice practices are ongoing, this time of year is an opportunity to hone in on activism. I’ve always loved putting together studies, and the chance to delve into activism is particularly close to my heart. I love the surprises that occur when a curriculum emerges which is instigated by teachers and led by students. I chose to launch the study with both the 1st and the 2nd-4th grade classes using the book, To Change a Planet by Christina Soontornvat and illustrated by Rahele Jommepour Bell. Its beautiful text and illustrations point out challenges we face on Planet Earth and the importance of us coming together to help solve them. After reading and discussing the book, both groups made a list of what an activist is. Their combined list of qualities looks like this: - stand up for people and ideas - good listeners and thinkers - kind to people - actively do things to help - set up protests - make change - think fast - trailblazers/change makers - make the world a better place The 2nd-4th graders met in groups to brainstorm places/problems around the planet that need activism. Here are a few of their ideas: - water pollution/oceans - animal poaching - natural disasters/earthquakes/floods - over-fishing/fish farming - cars producing pollution - global warming - golf courses In the coming weeks we’ll learn about as many young activists as we can, including Greta Thunberg, Malala, and Boyan Slat, the young Dutch activist who has been working on cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We’ll be researching, writing, sharing, and creating projects about our learning. The challenge with a study like this is to present facts without overwhelming or making them feel helpless and scared. The emphasis will be on what we can do collectively to turn things around by taking action. Through writing this year the children have found and used their voices, and I explained to them that now is a time to practice using them. I said this study is like training to be an activist. At the end of the book, the last illustration shows a child holding the Earth in their hands. The 2nd-4th graders discussed the symbolism of this image. One child was able to articulate that it’s up to us and the future generations to work together to save the Earth. I have no doubt that this crew will make a big difference in the days and years to come.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome is a devastating disorder. Not only does it cause extreme tiredness that doesn’t go away with rest, it also can’t be explained easily by any underlying medical condition. Most of us have experienced fatigue at some point, so we know just how debilitating it can be. While often the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome are unknown, there are a few theories as to what may cause it for you. For a list of the 9 most common causes, go HERE to download. So what are some possible causes of chronic fatigue? What are some of the symptoms? 1. What are the Causes? The exact single cause of CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is not known – and may never be. We still don’t know for certain why this condition occurs in some people and not others. In my opinion often there are many possible contributing factors, sometimes occurring together: - Viral infections: Because some people develop chronic fatigue syndrome after having a viral infection, researchers question whether some viruses might trigger the disorder. While no conclusive link has been found, it’s definitely a possible trigger for CFS. - Immune system problems: The immune systems of people who have chronic fatigue syndrome appear to be impaired slightly, but it’s unclear if this impairment is enough to actually cause the disorder. However, it is a possibility. Immune system problems are often caused by chronic inflammation. - Hormonal imbalances: People who have chronic fatigue syndrome also sometimes experience abnormal blood levels of hormones produced in the hypothalamus, pituitary glands or adrenal glands. These can also be caused by many factors, toxins, nutrient imbalances and more. - Stress: Another possible contributing factor to CFS is stress. While there is no definite way to prove whether or not chronic stress triggers CFS, it is highly likely that the two are related. 2. The Symptoms The symptoms of CFS vary between each person and the severity of the condition. However, there are a few common symptoms of CFS. The first being fatigue that’s severe enough to interfere with your daily activities. Here are a few other symptoms you might experience if you have CFS: - loss of memory or concentration - feeling unrefreshed after a night’s sleep - chronic insomnia (and other sleep disorders) - muscle pain - frequent headaches - multi-joint pain without redness or swelling - frequent sore throat - tender and swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits Additionally, you may experience extreme fatigue after physical or mental activities. Sometimes CFS comes in cycles. Meaning at some points you will feel worse and at others you will feel better. 3. What’s the Solution? As of right now, there is no definite way to treat CFS. Everyone has a differnt approach when it comes to finding the causes and/or managing the symptoms of CFS. However, there are a few things you can do: - Lifestyle Change: Making small changes to your lifestyle can help ease the symptoms of CFS. Limiting or eliminating your caffeine intake, especially after noon, will help you sleep better and ease your insomnia. Making changes to your diet and eating the right foods could also help reduce CFS symptoms.(check out my book “Eating for Vibrant Health and Explosive Energy” HERE - Sleep Routine: If you can, try and create a consistent sleep routine. You should go to bed at the same time every night and aim to wake up around the same time every morning. - Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture, tai chi, yoga, and massage may help relieve the pain associated with CFS. The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Takeaway In short, chronic fatigue is a debilitating disorder that cannot be linked to any underlying medical condition. However, making little changes to your lifestyle and eating right could help ease the symptoms.