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Weight training is one of the world's most popular sporting activities. It is also a leading cause of sports injuries, especially among young people whose bodies are still developing. Learn in detail how to avoid injury when weight training, and what you should do if an injury occurs. Pre-training preparation is vital, and this book discusses everything from selecting the right gym and using equipment properly to mental training and proper warm-up routines. The causes and cures for weight-training injuries are clearly described, with a particular emphasis on developing good technique. Methods of self-treatment for injury are given priority, but the book is also clear about when you should see a doctor. Discover: • How to rehabilitate a shoulder injury. • How simple changes in posture can protect your back. • What type of weight training routine you should follow if you are under eighteen. • The importance of good nutrition. • The dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.

The scientists detail how inflammasomes act as integral components of mega-cell death complexes called PANoptosomes for host defense in live viral and bacterial infections. The immunologists have identified how immune sensors in infected cells organize and launch a multi-faceted innate immune response to infections with live viruses and bacteria. The discovery appears in Nature. The findings offer a new paradigm for understanding the functional and regulatory role that inflammasome sensors and cell death complexes play in infections. The work also highlights new therapeutic targets for treatment of diseases such as cancer and inflammatory autoimmune disorders that are associated with abnormal inflammasome sensor activation. Inflammasomes are protein complexes that form in infected cells or cells that sense damage. The complexes include sensors that recognize different viruses, bacteria and other pathogens or danger signals. Inflammasomes drive inflammatory signaling. Those signals activate inflammatory cell death pathways and eliminate the infection but can also contribute to pathological inflammation. Previous research has focused on inflammasomes working alone. “This new work builds on our quest to identify inflammasome regulation,” said corresponding author. “Our study highlights how inflammasomes and multiple cell death components can and do work together in a mega-protein complex called the PANoptosome to activate the innate immune response and unleash PANoptosis.” The laboratory showed that regulatory and molecular interactions among three inflammasome sensors, in concert with cell death proteins, drive formation of a mega-cell death complex called a PANoptosome. Rather than regulating one type of inflammatory programmed cell death, PANoptosomes control three - pyroptosis, apoptosis and necroptosis, referred to as PANoptosis. Investigators also determined that the AIM2 inflammasome sensor served as a master regulator of PANoptosome assembly in response to infections with herpes simplex virus 1 and the Francisella novicida bacterium. AIM2 also proved essential for helping mice survive the infections. “The findings address a central question in the fields of innate immunity, cell death and inflammasome biology,” the author said. The findings build on previous research from the laboratory, which is a pioneer in the field. The author identified one of the first inflammasome sensors and helped to establish inflammasome research. Researchers in the field have focused on how individual inflammasome sensors detect invading pathogens or other threats. Inflammasomes were historically thought to respond by activating one inflammatory cell death pathway. The laboratory has a longstanding interest in understanding regulation of inflammasomes and have identified redundancies among cell death pathways. In 2016, the researchers reported for the first time that influenza infections activated molecules in all three cell death pathways. The scientists called the process PANoptosis. Investigators also determined that a single innate immune sensor called ZBP1 regulated PANoptosis in flu-infected cells. This study laid the foundation for the development of the PANoptosis research area. Now, the group has identified AIM2 as the master regulator of a new PANoptosome. First author used immunoprecipitation, microscopy and other techniques to show that AIM2, other inflammasome sensors Pyrin and ZBP1, and cell death molecules were part of this AIM2-PANoptosome. The PANoptosome drove inflammatory cell death. “This was critical evidence that the inflammasome sensors and molecules from multiple cell death pathways are in the same complex and highlighted the PANoptosome’s role in protecting the host during live pathogenic infections,” the first author said. Live pathogens broadcast their presence more widely to the immune system, which helps to explain why the infections trigger PANoptosome assembly and a more robust immune response. Pathogens can also carry proteins that prevent activation of specific cell death pathways. PANoptosis provides an immune system workaround to protect the host. “Our working hypothesis is that while the sensors involved may vary, most infections will induce formation of these unique innate immune complexes called PANoptosomes to unleash inflammatory cell death, PANoptosis,” the senior author said. The PANoptosome assembly during infections! - 1,371 views

Acne is possibly the most common of all skin conditions, predominantly in young adults and teenagers. At the same time as acne is usually little more than an uncomfortable nuisance, severe cases of acne can outcome in several of the pimples becoming cystic, which can be to a certain extent painful. Acne is usually caused by excess oil creation and bacterial infectivity. Despite the fact that it was once believed that eating certain foods was also a cause of acne, this has been on the whole proven to be wrong. Acne is an inflammatory state of the skin in areas of the body where oil glands are on the whole widespread. The manifestations take account of all symptoms that are associated with a disorder in the oil glands. These take account of the proliferation of blackheads and whiteheads, the emergence of pimples and nodules. Pinheads and nodules are analogous in appearance to pimples but outsized and with the infectivity setting deeper into the skin. They can be very excruciating, in particular at what time found in areas of the body where strain is usually exerted. What Are The Causes of Acne? Regarding what is the cause of acne, the indirect causes of acne are the several changes occurring in the body as an individual reaches the age of teens. In both genders, this stage is marked by an increase in the discharge of the male hormones. These hormones inspire the growth of the organs of the human body over and above in the production of bigger and more many strands of hair; in the same way the sebaceous or oil glands of the skin are in the course of action of growth. The immediate cause of acne At what time looking at how to treat acne, you need to understand that it may be accompanied by infectivity or not. The creation of whiteheads and blackheads all through teenage years is owing to the fact that the pores of the skin are blocked by the emissions of the sebaceous or oil glands. On the other hand, most instances of acne are convoyed by infections of the skin. Very time and again, the quick increase of the hair produces tiny lesions in the skin where bacteria can penetrate. Under normal conditions, the bacteria are forced out all the way through the sweat pores of the skin. Nevertheless, at what time sebaceous glands are widespread; these can clog the pores such that the bacteria are ensnared underneath the skin. There they shape colonies which we make out as pimples, nodules and boils. Can acne be prevented? Keeping in view what is the cause of acne, the growth of the hair cannot be prevented in view of the fact that that is part of the cycle of human progress. What individuals can do to prevent the emergence of the many manifestations of acne is to reduce on their fatty eating. During the period of teenage years, young children should learn to consume green, leafy vegetables. Going time and again to steam baths is very good for softened the oils that have hardened beneath the skin and allowing the sweat to come all the way through. In most cases, activities wherein individuals sweat are recommendable for preventing the build up of fatty substances in the minute openings of the skin. How To Cure Acne Effectively First of all, we must know what is the cause of acne? The bacteria themselves can be eradicated by the precise topical solutions, creams or by the ingestion of anti-microbial drugs. On the other hand, it is not advisable for young those to take the freedom of buying antibiotics from drug stores devoid of a prescription from their family practitioner. Remember that the efficiency of antibiotics counts on how they are applied and only a certified physician will be in a position to establish the right dosage for individuals depending on their body weight. Those ointments and creams that are publicized as efficient to get rid of acne should also be employed with immense care. Even if they worked for acquaintances, keep in mind that the skin types of different individuals will be different from one another. The ointment that works for a buddy may not accomplish any results for you, may even be detrimental. Over and above medical treatments, there are a number of acne home treatments and remedies that, at the same time as never scientifically established to be effectual, are all the same generally used in combating the causes of acne. Even as some of these might in point of fact be useful, most are a bit doubtful. One common home cure is to merge ground nutmeg in the midst of milk and apply to the spot of the acne. Home remedies for acne have been something like for years, but not any have been found to be seriously useful. The best cure for acne is to consult with your general practitioner to find out which course of treatment would be most useful for your meticulous condition and combating the causes of acne.

Develop a plan for consumer participation and engagement in decisions about service provision Outline who you would collaborate with during this process (e.g., internal and external stakeholders) The program will include several internal stakeholders including the students, teachers and the school board. External stakeholder will consist of the religious leaders, parents, counsellors and the government representatives. What individual needs, rights, difference, and preferences do you need to consider Every individual has different needs. Therefore several considerations will be given priority during the process. Privacy, religion, age, beliefs, origin, and traditions are some of the critical issues that will be considered. Mode of communication is also important. What internal and external services do you need? In this case, internal services needed will include teachers providing counseling to the students to prepare them psychologically for the program. External service for the program may involve referring addicted students to rehabilitation centers. Additionally, the organization would need health services for the students in cases of any sexual abuse reported. Lastly, catering services would be required during the program, which can be an internal or external service. List the financial, human and physical resources required and create a budget. Government and organizational funding. Staff managing the program Payment of organization’s staff Payment of counsellors What supporting systems and procedures do you require? First, the organization should inform the school management of the program schedule. Second, the students, external stakeholders such as the parents and professional counsellors should also be informed of the primary goal of the program as well as its scheduled time. Systems to ensure confidentiality of students’ feedbacks should be in place as well. Lastly, the chain of reporting and communication should be known to everyone to achieve the set goals and objectives. - Develop a feedback form that is age appropriate. Please provide feedback on the following issues - Age __________________________________________ - In your view is sexting a good behavior? Why? ______________________________ - Do you think it should be discouraged and punished? Why? ____________________________________________________________________ - Do you think this kind of program is helpful? _______________________________ - Was the counsellor elaborate enough? _____________________________________ - If the same program was to be run what changes would want made? ___________________________________________________________________ - Provide a summary of the timelines, prorates and responsibilities of the program. Since the program is only allocated a single day, by 8:00 am, the venue will be ready and all the students seated. Depending on the circumstances, all stakeholders will be present by 9:00 am. The program will take approximately six hours between 30 and 60 minutes breaks. By the close of business hours, 5:00 pm it is expected that the process will be complete. The primary goal/responsibility of the program is, therefore, to make the students aware of their actions and try to educate them on their impacts. Since there would be a question time, the organization would be able to evaluate and know whether the program was successful as well as get feedback from the students afterward. - Outline the standards, codes, and legislation required to ensure your program is compliant with your organization's policies and procedures and service agreement. As an organization that deals with children, youth and family as a whole, there should be respect to every participant. Respecting the beliefs, cultural values and traditions, religion and mental status is paramount during the program. Furthermore, t freedom of thoughts for every student should be upheld. The students are allowed to make a complaint in case anything makes them uncomfortable as the program proceeds. - Outline possible risks, regulatory and sustainability considerations. Risks that can be encountered include disclosure of the student’s information. Therefore, the feedbacks should be based on anonymity, and no student should be subjected to ridicule by revealing his/her identity. On regulations, the content of the program needs to be ethical and age appropriate. To ensure sustainability, the teachers will be encouraged to hold such independent events more frequently. Implementation and monitoring of the program - Explain the roles and responsibilities of the relevant stakeholders. The students are the major stakeholders in this program because they are meant to benefit from this program. They are therefore responsible for showing cooperation and during the entire exercise. Parents have to be supportive of their children and avail them on the day of the program. The teachers are responsible for ensuring the environment is ample for holding the program. Finally, the government should provide all the required resources like finance and representatives. - Outline how you would monitor service delivery against agreed objectives and budgetary framework for the group. The questionnaire being the means of feedback used, it would assist in finding out whether objectives were met and students enlightened on the dangers of sexting. The parents would also help in finding out whether the program was successful since they can easily observe their children’s reactions and behaviors and provide feedback at a later date. Monitoring of the budget would be done by checking the expenditure against the available funds, both from the organization and the government. - Discuss the way you would monitor service delivery against the objective and budgetary framework Monitoring service delivery will be achieved through an evaluation of the feedback from the students as well as their level of engagement during the program. To cross-check service delivery against the objectives, attendance and compliance of the students in contributing during open forum sessions will be essential. Furthermore, after the program, the school’s administration can be tasked with reporting whether the sexting behavior have subsided. This will further be an indication that the program has met its agreed objectives. Monitoring the budget will be done through an evaluation of successfully delivered services against the costs. In this case, the allocations for the various categories of services will be monitored to ensure they stay within the limits and services provided optimally. - Explain how you would make feedback part of the monitoring process. Having discussed the issue of sexting and guidance given accordingly, the organization would get feedback from the students. The information will assist in finding out if the perception of the students has changed after the listening to various counsellors and speakers on the issue. Furthermore, combining the feedback and observation of their reactions during the process would assist the organization monitor the success of the program. - List the documentation required for the group and ways you would maintain these. The documentation needed for this program includes the following items: - A schedule for the program - Handouts on sexting behavior and its impact on students –to be availed to all stakeholders present during the event. - Feedback form designed for the students – to be given at the end of the program. - A report template to fill in the proceedings of the program. - Explain how your program meets the objectives of the organization. The organizations primary objective is to have program that guide the community on ways of maintaining a sound environment for all and address any other concern they may raise. Therefore, by carrying out the program, the organization’s mandate of intervening in youths’ issues will be met. Furthermore, by ensuring the funds they get from the government are used for a noble course as this, the organizational objectives of accountability and transparency will also be met. - Discuss how you would seek feedback and evaluate this. Feedback is essential since it assists the organization to evaluate whether it was able to meet the set goal and objectives. It also gives room for healthy criticism for future improvement and considerations. In this case, the organization would acquire feedback through the feedback forms as well as following up on the progress of the student behavior after the exercise. The compliments from other stakeholders would also be quite reliable in ascertaining the degree of effectiveness in management and accountability aspects of the organization. From this feedback, what modifications would you implement to meet the changing needs of the clients and budgetary frameworks? The organization should view the criticism as a way of learning. Documenting these concerns would assist the organization in ensuring the same mistakes are not repeated. Therefore to meet the needs and interests of the students in future, having more breaks the middle of the program would assist the students to concentrate and sit still. Additionally, an adjustment on the content to proactively involve the audience through presentations will solve the issue of monotony. Snacks can be offered during the breaks to tackle the issue food insufficiency. On size, there would be the need to have fewer people at each session. To stick to the budgetary allocations, areas with enormous costs will be strategically reduced to balance the deficits in some expenses without necessarily inflating the costs further. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: My Assignment Help. (2020). Implementing A Program To Address Sexting In Schools. Retrieved from https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/chcccs007-develop-and-implement-service-programs-for-external-stakeholder. "Implementing A Program To Address Sexting In Schools." My Assignment Help, 2020, https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/chcccs007-develop-and-implement-service-programs-for-external-stakeholder. My Assignment Help (2020) Implementing A Program To Address Sexting In Schools [Online]. Available from: https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/chcccs007-develop-and-implement-service-programs-for-external-stakeholder [Accessed 24 February 2024]. My Assignment Help. 'Implementing A Program To Address Sexting In Schools' (My Assignment Help, 2020) <https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/chcccs007-develop-and-implement-service-programs-for-external-stakeholder> accessed 24 February 2024. My Assignment Help. Implementing A Program To Address Sexting In Schools [Internet]. My Assignment Help. 2020 [cited 24 February 2024]. Available from: https://myassignmenthelp.com/free-samples/chcccs007-develop-and-implement-service-programs-for-external-stakeholder.

Socialism in 17th and 18th century France, pp. 750–862 in Die Vorläufer des neueren Sozialismus (ed. Kautsky, 1895) vol. 1, part 2. (+ a review by Bax) A review of it by Bax: Socialism in France in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries occupies the concluding section of the present instalment of the History of Socialism.1 After a brief characterisation of the conditions leading up to the “reforms” of Colbert, Dr. Hugo devotes a long chapter to an exhaustive discussion of the conditions and principal grievances of the peasantry under the “ancien régime.” France, in the period from Louis XIV to the Revolution, Dr. Hugo observes, underwent, agriculturally, and almost identical development to Germany. What in the latter case was accomplished by the thirty years’ war was just as thoroughly effected in France by the religious wars of the second half of the sixteenth century, by the Fronde, and by the glorious government of Louis XIV. (pp. 770–1) In spite of increased taxes, the general position of the peasant in the first half of the sixteenth century had rather improved than become essentially worse. From this time began, however, that desertion of the country for the towns on the part of the nobility which, less than two centuries later, ruined the French peasant under one of the most oppressive systems of absentee landlordism known to history. Accustomed to increased luxury, by the sudden change of economic conditions and the increase of wealth of all kinds at the close of the Middle Ages, the noble was little able to endure the ruin which the religious wars had in many cases brought upon him. The extravagant Court life of the period, to which he had accustomed himself, made demands upon him that could only be met by “squeezing” the peasant in ways and to a degree before unknown. This tendency which the economic development was pressing forward was forced to its utmost limits by the centralising policy of Louis XIV, whose aim it was to turn wealthy and powerful nobles entrenched in their castles into obsequious Court parasites dependent upon his royal bounty. After a short sketch of the industry and legislation of Colbert, Dr. Hugo proceeds to deal with one who may be regarded as the direct ancestor, longo intervallo, of the great Utopian Socialist writers (Owen, Fourier, St. Simon) of the beginning of the present century. Denis Vairasse was a Frenchman, who, after service in the Royal Army, came to England, apparently soon after the advent of Charles II to the throne, for the purpose, as he expressed it, “of penetrating the intrigues of the Court at London, and of investigating the maxims of the Government of this land.” He afterwards wrote a French grammar, “composed for the particular benefit and use of the English.” His great work was also first published in English [online here], and bears the following title-page:- The History of the Sevarites or Sevarambi, a Nation inhabiting Part of the third continent commonly called Terra Australes Incogitae, with an account of the admirable Government, Religion, Customs and Language written by one Captain Siden a worthy Person, who together with many others was cast upon these coasts and lived many years in that country. London, Printed for Henry Broome at the Gun at the West End of St. Paul’s Church Yard, 1675. A second part was published in 1679, “more wonderful and delightful than the first,” which is described, however, as a jejune composition from another hand. The book passed through several editions in France, besides being translated into Dutch, German, and Italian. The form of the narrative recalls More’s Utopia, and earlier works of the same character, but is distinguished from them by its more obviously didactic purpose, and it is this latter aspect which gives its transitional character as a cross between the earlier Utopian writers whose productions meant no more than literary jeux d’esprit, and the later earnest seekers after a “new moral world.” The work of Vairasse called forth numerous imitations even in the eighteenth century, the most important of which are shortly described by Dr. Hugo. 1. Die Klassengegesätze im 16. und 17. Jahrhundert I. Der Calvinismus und die Liga II. Die Zeit der Fronde III. Ludwig XIV IV. Die Getreidepolitik des Ancien Régime 2. Die Bauern und die Landgeistlichkeit I. Die Bauern II. Die Landgeistlichkeit 3. Jean Meslier 4. Die Industrie im 16. und 17. Jahrhundert 6. Die Staatsromane und Reisebeschreibungen des 17. und 18. Jahrhunderts I. La Terre Australe (de Foigny) II. Jacques Massé III. Die Republik der Philosophen (Fontenelle) IV. Restif's La découverte australe und Lettre d'un singe V. Fénelon's Telemach VI. Ramsay's Les Voyages de Cyrus VII. Pechméja's Télèphe. - 1Translated parts of this are e.g. Bernstein 1895: Cromwell and Communism, as well as the contribution of Kautsky (partly): Communism in Central Europe in the Time of the Reformation - 2The wiki-entry on Vairasse mentions that: The conflicts between Protestants and Catholics forced Vairasse into exile in England where he wrote his major work Histoire of Séverambes, a Utopian novel set in Australia. A travel story akin to Thomas More's Utopia and Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Authors such as Bayle, Rousseau, Kant and Cabet read it and were probably inspired by some of it and the book was directed referenced by Montesquieu in chapter VI of his book "Spirit of Laws". One of the originalities of this book, presented to the manner of the works of geography or anthropology, is the integration in the novel construction of a direct criticism of the revealed and imposed religions, and in particular of the Catholicism, as practised by the Christians in the 17th century.

Have you ever deleted a bunch of text or graphics from a Word document but found that the words and text below it did not shift up. That can be quite annoying but the problem is easy to fix. What you need to do is turn on the Hidden Characters and Commands in MS Word and then delete the hidden page breaks. Page breaks are simply an instruction that is hidden in Microsoft Word that tell it to put all text and graphics below this point onto a separate page. To add a page break you simply click the INSERT tab on the MS Word ribbon and then click the PAGE BREAK icon. The problem is the Microsoft instructions on how to see and remove page breaks is incomplete, as it does not tell you or show you what to click on inside either the Microsoft Word Desktop application or the Microsoft Word Online app. The short answer is to click the HOME tab on the MS Word Ribbon and then click the old paragraph break icon: and then find the ——— PAGE BREAK ——– line and delete it. If you are still confused watch this 2 minute video tutorial on how to find and remove page breaks in Microsoft Word:

There can be a number of reasons why a voice becomes hoarse. If you remain hoarse for a long period of time you should always seek an opinion from a specialist and have your voice examined for a diagnosis. A medical voice specialist is known as a Laryngologist or Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon specialising in voice problems or Phoniatrician. They should look at your vocal cords with either a small, rigid telescope introduced through the mouth or a fibre optic endoscope passed through the nose into the throat. It is really important that the specialist is able to examine the vibratory pattern of the vocal cords. To do this s/he must use stroboscopy, high speed digital imaging or videokymography. Most will use stroboscopy whereby a flashing light is used to examine the vibratory pattern of the vocal cords. You should ensure that your specialist uses one of these methods otherwise more subtle abnormalities may be missed. Most specialists should be able to record the images of your larynx onto a computer or video recorder so that you too can see the images if you wish. Some may be able to give you a photograph or digital image so it is worth taking a USB (memory) stick with you when you are seen in the clinic. Hoarseness does not necessarily mean the voice is so strained that you should not use it. In most cases it is caused by new uncontrolled constrictions that have affected the voice but no permanent damage to the voice has been done. The singer sounds hoarse but the voice is not damaged. This uncontrolled constriction can usually be released within a few hours. When this is done the voice is fine and sounds normal. The hoarseness can be due to: • too much or inappropriate muscle tension (i.e. muscle tension imbalance) leading to constriction due to: - singing or speaking with incorrect technique • inflammation due to: - irritation, such as smoke - drying of the vocal cords - acid reflux coming up from the stomach - some medications • structural changes in the vocal cords such as: - the early stages of nodules on the vocal cords - a cyst - a polyp - a bleed into the vocal cord • nerve damage (very rare) When the voice is strained If you have severe and long term uncontrolled constriction the mucous membranes of the vocal cords can become irritated and swell (medical term ‘oedema’). This makes it difficult for the vocal cords to vibrate as rapidly as before resulting in a lower pitch and a darker sound. The swelling also prevents the vocal cords from closing properly, allowing air to whistle through them, creating the hoarse, dark and breathy sound. Singing when the voice is hoarse If a singer sings despite having a hoarse voice (perhaps because of a scheduled concert) s/he must strain to make the vocal cords close properly. This puts large amount of pressure on the cords, especially at the point of the swelling. It takes a lot of strength to ‘squeeze out’ a clear sound from swollen vocal cords. It is, however, possible. Many singers complete concerts even though the high notes may fail. Singing with incorrect technique when the voice is hoarse usually makes your voice even more hoarse. The vocal cords may swell so much after a concert they are no longer able to vibrate normally and the voice simply goes. You often hear singers say, ‘How strange! I was hoarse before I went on stage. When I was singing it went all right but afterwards I couldn’t utter a sound’. This phenomenon is not so strange when you know the physiology of the voice. To sing, the performer has to ‘squeeze out’ notes from swollen vocal cords by constricting them uncontrolledly even more. The vocal cords react afterwards by swelling up even more. A vicious circle Many singers do not believe that singing with swollen vocal cords causes problems because the voice works when the cords are forced together, so the singer keeps on singing and uncontrolled constricting. But the swelling only gets worse the more the singer continues to irritate the vocal cords, especially at the area most affected by the uncontrolled constriction. Eventually this swollen part will stop the rest of the cords from closing properly. This sets up a vicious circle. Only the swollen areas come together which again increases the pressure on the swollen areas which again causes further swelling. At a certain time the vocal cords get a more or less permanent thickening opposite each other at the most swollen area. This thickening gets larger and larger and finally it stops the cords from working. Now the voice fails to the extent that the singer cannot continue her/his career. The singer sees a doctor who diagnoses ‘nodules on the vocal cords’ or ‘singer’s nodes’. By definition, you talk about nodules when there are swellings on both vocal cords opposite each other. Voice rest, speech therapy, or operation If you get nodules it is a sign that something is wrong with your technique. You can try a period of complete voice rest, i.e. no singing, speaking or whispering for 4 – 7 (sometimes 10) days after which most nodules will have disappeared all by themselves. This is usually the fastest way to solve the problem. You can also be referred to a speech therapist who assists the singer in performing exercises which either reduce the effect of the nodules on the voice or cause them to disappear. This is usually a prolonged process. The throat specialist might also suggest an operation where the nodules are removed from the vocal cords. About ten days after the operation the vocal cords are healed. The singer must not speak or sing during this period. As a starting point I always recommend singers to take the period of voice rest as it works fast, is cheap, and has no side effects. Whichever method is used, it is important the singer learns the correct technique so that s/he avoids damaging the voice in the future. Otherwise the singer will become hoarse again, continue to sing on the hoarse voice, get even more hoarse, and the voice fails yet again as the cycle is repeated. This may require another period of voice rest, more speech therapy or another operation. Hoarseness is the first sign that a singer is going wrong. If you continue to be hoarse or suspect the development of nodules, get a diagnosis from a specialist. If the specialist diagnoses nodules, whether they are early or permanent, there are plenty of things you can do and maybe avoid an operation. Prevention is better, give the voice a rest It is better to prevent damage before the voice gets misused and hoarse. If the voice is strained, the vocal cords need rest! Just like getting blisters, the voice needs rest for swelling to disappear. If you keep irritating the vocal cords they will remain swollen. To get rid of a blister on the foot you should give the foot a rest by not wearing the tight shoes that caused the problem. Treat your vocal cords the same way. Do not speak, let the voice rest and spend a few voiceless days without saying a single word – writing notes to the world. If you have been diagnosed with nodules on the vocal cords I recommend a period of total voice rest for 4 – 7 (sometimes 10), depending on how established the nodules are. By total voice rest I mean DO NOT MAKE A SINGLE SOUND! Do not whisper because that tires the voice even more than ordinary speech. Even avoid clearing your throat. Give the vocal cords a rest and write notes instead. This method is very effective and has no side effects. Many discover that it is actually a valuable experience not to speak for two weeks. You may find a whole new side to yourself. If it is absolutely necessary to speak, do so clearly and with conviction with plenty of support and no uncontrolled constriction. It is not a good idea to whisper or be ‘cautious’ because often singers put more uncontrolled constriction on the voice as a result. By doing this, singers often forget all about supporting the voice when they speak quietly, but it is difficult and requires good technique to speak quietly in a correct manner. It is better to add a bit more sound and remember to support well. Relax the voice You must avoid uncontrolled constriction in the throat even when you are not speaking or singing. This is also important when the voice is healthy. Try to relax, inhale deeply, and imagine that the throat is opening up during the inhalation. Hold on to this openness when you exhale and generally be careful not to tighten the muscles around the throat. It is important not to be too worried about the vocal cords. The throat instantly reacts to our emotions. You know the sensation when you are sad: you get an uncontrolled constriction or a ’lump’ in your throat and lose control of the voice. Try to think positively and send happy, warm thoughts to the vocal cords. Exercise while resting the voice You do not have to sit still during a voiceless period. You may use steam inhalations and it is a good idea to use the time to work on breathing and supporting exercises as these do not involve the cords directly. You can also work on body awareness and strengthening the muscles to supply you with the stamina to protect your vocal cords in the future. Be careful not to tighten the throat muscles during physical exercise. If you remain focused about your work throughout a voiceless period you will improve your singing technique more rapidly when you start singing again. After a week or two you should get reviewed by your specialist: - If the nodules are gone you can start to exercise the voice using correct technique to avoid problems in the future. - If small areas of the nodules or the swelling remain, you could try a further week of voice rest until they are completely gone. - In only a few cases, if nothing has changed, may an operation be necessary. But even if it is, the period of voice rest will not have been in vain if you had worked on your technique during the time. Avoid uncontrolled constriction When the vocal cords are back to normal, either due to the voice rest, speech therapy or an operation, you must learn to use the voice without the uncontrolled constriction that caused the problem in the first place. If you avoid this straining constriction it is possible to sing without ruining the voice again. Uncontrolled constriction can be avoided by using the three overall principles. Imagine that you are creating a circus ring, a large opening, or a fortress wall around the vocal cords so they have plenty of room to stretch. The vocal cords can cope with extensive use for long periods of time but CANNOT endure working under the extra strain of uncontrolled constriction. Too much mucus If a singer has too much mucous on the vocal cords, it may be because the mucous membranes of the vocal cords are being irritated. When the mucous membranes dry out or become irritated, mucous is automatically produced to protect the cords. You must find the reason for this irritation; it might be due to a slight infection, an allergy, or uncontrolled constriction. Constantly getting mucous on the vocal cords might be sign of incorrect technique. It is quite common for the voice to protect itself by producing large amounts of mucous, for example after a strenuous performance. If you suspect your technique might be wrong you must remember the three overall principles: use support, use necessary twang and avoid protruding the jaw and tightening the lips. At the initial stages of an infection you should avoid straining the voice. Sing and speak as little as possible and gather strength to fight the infection. Depending on how ill you are, you may need to see a doctor and get a prescription for antibiotics. If at all possible you should avoid singing when you have a fever. If the singing sounds as it should, if the singer does not feel any discomfort while singing, if s/he does not feel ill or have any pain in the throat, then too much mucous may be caused by an allergy. Try to find the cause of the allergy. Perhaps you already have a suspicion of what you may be allergic to? When did the symptoms start? What changes might be related to the symptoms? Try to eliminate whichever factor(s) you think may have caused the allergy and observe if your condition improves. Try to find out what your body is sensitive to and avoid it. Perhaps consult an allergy specialist who can test you for allergies. When you wake up in the morning the voice often sounds ‘woolly’. You have been drawing air back and forth over the mucous membranes all night, maybe you have even slept with an open mouth. This may have dried out the mucous membranes. When you wake up and speak, the dried out mucous membranes cannot make the rapid vibrations which produce a sonorous sound, causing the sound to be husky and irregular – known as the ‘morning voice’. You should let the natural production of mucous take its course. The mucous membranes will soon be moistened and the voice will sound normal again. If you start to clear your throat which dislodges the mucous off the membranes, they will only produce more to cover the exposed, dry area. This makes some singers clear their throat again, compelling the mucous membranes to produce yet more, which the singer dislodges again, and so on. The singer and the mucous membranes can keep each other occupied like this for the rest of the day. Clearing the throat When you clear your throat you dislodge the mucous off the mucous membranes of the vocal cords. It is not damaging to clear your throat. It can be a function of vital importance if mucous is entering the windpipe, but it might irritate the mucous membranes if you do it too often and too vigorously. Instead of clearing your throat to clear mucous let it remain there until it has covered the dry spots on the membranes. Go ahead and use your voice and disregard the woolly sound. Start by humming or speaking, carefully at first, and soon the rapid vibrations of the vocal cords will shake loose the excess mucous. There is another safe way of making excess mucous disappear. Closing your mouth and nasal passage (or block the nose) and at the same time suck inwards and swallow. This creates a partial vacuum that sucks the excess mucous off the vocal cords. Prevention and Emergency Aid Even though a singer’s voice might sound as if it is strained or that it has perhaps completely disappeared, it can often be repaired within a few hours. A large part of our work at Complete Vocal Institute is to give ‘Emergency Aid’. This means I am called out to recording studios or concert tours where singers needs help, either with technically difficult assignments or because they have acute vocal problems. What needs doing depends on the circumstances, but first I ask the singer to see a specialist who can make a diagnosis by looking at the vocal cords, using either a rigid or fibre-optic endoscope and ideally stroboscopy. - Often the report from the doctor is that s/he actually cannot see anything wrong, even though everyone can clearly hear the singer is hoarse and unable to go through with the concert. In this case, just a few hours of working on removing uncontrolled constriction restores the voice as if nothing happened. The support however, will require more physical strength. If the singer is strong and able to supply this extra strength there is no reason why the concert cannot go ahead. - Often the vocal cords are inflamed and irritated, but there are no distinct signs of damage. Also in this case releasing uncontrolled constriction may avoid further irritation to the vocal cords and allow the singer to fulfil the concert engagement. - Sometimes the vocal cords show sign of strain, perhaps with developing nodules. There is not much that can be done as the vocal cords need rest! These days, doctors can administer medicines to reduce the swelling for the singer to get through a concert. It is not always to be recommended as the vocal cords ideally need rest and the condition may be prolonged or may be worsened if the singer keeps on singing. Even very experienced singers can suddenly create uncontrolled constriction around the vocal cords, sometimes to such an extent that s/he can not utter a sound. Emergency Aid over the phone Sometimes there is not enough time to get to the singer before a concert so we have to work over the phone. In order to be able to give Emergency Aid over the phone it is helpful to have worked with the singer previously. The reason for vocal problems Dried out mucous membranes, too much mucous and bad monitoring systems (loudspeaker systems used on stage so the singer can hear her/himself) can give the impression that the voice is not working as it should and the singer can be knocked off course regarding the technique. When the voice does not respond normally, the singer often compensates with uncontrolled constriction. This uncontrolled constriction hinders the voice in working even more which again can lead to even more uncontrolled constriction. It is important not to go astray and start this vicious circle where good technique is replaced by uncontrolled constriction. The importance of physical strength Often problems occur because a singer runs out of strength. If a singer starts getting tired on tour or during extended recording sessions, s/he will lack the necessary strength to support the notes to avoid uncontrolled constriction. Many singers experience this at the end of a concert. With no more physical strength left the voice feels tired. The uncontrolled constriction puts a strain on the vocal cords and you have to use even more strength to sing with this uncontrolled constriction which is yet more tiring. Typically, the high notes are the first to fail and the volume decreases. If a singer does not remove uncontrolled constriction by having a good rest and gathering new strength, new uncontrolled constrictions develop. The singer begins to feel hoarse and the hoarseness grows worse over time. Finally, the voice might become so hampered by uncontrolled constriction that Emergency Aid is required to avoid cancelling the rest of the tour or recording sessions. It is essential to get enough sleep, especially on demanding tours. Without enough sleep the vocal cords do not get time to recover from the irritation that might have developed during the day. Sleep is also necessary for rebuilding physical strength vital to support. How much sleep a singer requires varies. You must know and respect your needs if you want to survive a demanding period. Eating and drinking Many singers are flooded with well-intentioned advice if they become hoarse, e.g. “a raw egg yolk with Tabasco”, “warm milk with honey (you know, honey lubricates so well)”, “a few drops of ink taken in a glass of water”, “definitely not chocolate”, “always something hot”, “always something cold” and so on. How is one supposed to know what advice works and what does not? It is not possible to try them all! If you are familiar with anatomy you will know the vocal cords are at the top of the windpipe (trachea) and that everything you eat and drink enters the gullet (oesophagus), not the windpipe. Food and drink, therefore, never come into contact with the vocal cords unless it goes down the wrong way and you choke. And I have heard many suggestions but I have never heard THAT suggestion! So it is not logical that food and drink should be used to lubricate the voice. On the other hand, certain foods and drinks can have an effect on some singers. It could just be comforting or have a psychological effect. You are the best judge of whether it helps to eat or drink something or not. If you feel that it helps, then carry on as long as it does no harm. Breathing in steam means that moisture goes straight to the mucous membrane of the vocal cords. If you are hoarse you may ‘steam’ your cords and mucous membranes by inhaling the steam from a bowl of hot water with camomile or other herbs such as thyme added. Experiment to find out what suits you best. Use a bowl, a large towel, and an alarm timer. Put a handful of camomile flowers into the bowl and pour boiling water over them. Set the timer for a maximum of ten minutes, put the towel over your head and inhale the steam. Be careful not to burn or scald yourself but do not let the water cool off before you put your head above it. Within the first ten minutes various essential oils are released into the steam which are beneficial to the mucous membranes. Inhale through the nose and mouth. You must wait at least thirty minutes before speaking after the inhalation as it is important to let the membranes rest. When you begin to speak, do it softly to start with. Do not clear the mucous off the membranes, i.e. by clearing your throat. Let it stay even though the voice may sound strange. When the membranes are ready, they will loosen the excess mucous. You may steam the vocal cords as often as you think is necessary, but remember not to speak for thirty minutes afterwards. Let the excess mucous remain until it loosens itself and stop the steaming approximately four hours before you have to sing. Alcohol can make singing more difficult as it dilates blood vessels. After a big ‘night out’ the whites of your eyes often turn red because blood vessels that are not usually visible dilate and become visible. The blood vessels in the mucous membranes of the vocal cords also dilate and the vocal cords become slightly swollen. Some singers will experience this as increasing difficulty and requires more strength to reach high notes. How much alcohol a singer can take before their mucous membranes swell varies from singer to singer. Some are aware of difficulties after just a couple of beers, while others seem to be able to drink inconceivable amounts without problems. You must get to know your limits and respect your body’s warning signals. When smoke is inhaled it comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the vocal cords causing them to become irritated and dry increasing the likelihood of developing uncontrolled constriction. Avoiding smoke is difficult in the music business. How different mucous membranes react to smoke varies a great deal. I know singers who cannot tolerate a single cigarette and others who inhale cigars all day long with no audible effect on their voices. You must know your limits and respect your body’s signals. I must emphasise that I do not recommend that singers smoke but if you are a smoker, you should be aware that it is not necessarily a good idea to stop just before an important assignment such as a studio recording or a tour because also the sudden ABSENCE of smoke may have an intense effect on the voice of a smoker. If the mucous membranes of the cords are continuously exposed to smoke they compensate by producing more mucous to counteract the drying effect of the smoke. As a result the balance of the smoker’s mucous membranes are maintained. If you then stop smoking the cords will continue to produce the same amount of mucous but this will now be too much as there is no drying effect from smoke. Therefore there will be too much mucous and the cords will be harder to control. This means that even though a singer may want to give the voice extra favourable conditions in preparation for a demanding job it may be counter-productive. All things being equal a non-smoker is generally healthier than a smoker, not only their voices, so there are definite advantages to quitting smoking. The voice’s adaptation to new conditions is variable and can take anywhere between a few weeks to three/four months. Stick to correct technique The best you can do as a singer, whatever challenges you are subjected to, is to stick to techniques you are familiar with and KNOW work. Even if the voice does not sound normal, keep using your technique. If you are becoming hoarse and the notes require double the normal amount of strength, give them double the support and maintain the sensation of singing without uncontrolled constriction. Likewise, if the monitoring conditions are bad, you should do as you usually do. Try not to sing more powerfully just because you cannot hear yourself. Get used to singing more on the basis of the physical sensation of correct singing rather than just on what you can hear. That way these hurdles will not lead you astray.

Although AI is a technology, its development and use are activities that require changes in human behavior. The challenges related to using AI are therefore the same as with any other organizational development and change management processes. The three pillars of AI 1. Business orientation – AI applications need to solve real business problems. 2. Competence – competence in the organization must be sufficient for the development of AI solutions. 3. Data – data must serve a purpose, be of high quality, and be systematically maintained. In order for the three pillars to support each other and work together, the right kind of organization and interaction are also required. In this section, we’ll examine the challenges related to organizations and interaction. The three pillars from the picture above – business, competence, and data – will be covered in Chapter 3. Managing AI projects and development work means continuous change management. As we’ll see with the industry-specific AI solutions presented later in this chapter, there is no single right way to structure an organization when it comes to AI development. An organization is a balance between hierarchical structures and self-guided ways of working, both of which have their advantages and disadvantages (see chart below). The challenge is to identify, design, and implement a model that supports the strengths of both approaches. Hierarchical structures support centralized management, while decentralized ones support self-guided. Some degree of centralization helps promote the development of competence. In a more decentralized model, internal networks can help achieve the same effect. Harvard Business Review’s article, “Building the AI-Powered Organization” in the “Organizing for Scale” section, illustrates the dynamics of decentralization and centralization. Tools for an agile organization Whether an organization’s model is centralized or decentralized, there are well-established ways of organizing teams and activities. There are a few principles, practices, and tools that work and some of these will be covered here. Virtual teams are usually decentralized and communicate digitally. However, virtual teams are not the only route to success. Regardless of the organization type, it’s essential to find the right combination when it comes to the distribution of the budget, the allocation of people's work, and the flow of information between different stakeholders. AI projects and development usually require technology and IT architecture changes that the IT department may not be able to implement in an agile way. The cure for this is the “dual IT solution”, where there is a software interface between new application development and traditional systems for necessary data transfer and use of server resources. The use of a ready-made agile development framework promotes cooperation and communication between relevant parties, as well as working towards a common goal. There are many useful frameworks and tools available. An example of this is the scaled agile framework. For AI development, it’s worth learning about the development of digital services, where cross-disciplinary teams and service design are commonplace. The development of AI is multidisciplinary and always requires several different perspectives. The composition of the team should also adapt to the different phases of the development project. In AI projects, interaction is often about managing expectations. AI projects are people-centered projects. Indeed, deficiencies in communication, building common understanding, and change management are the most common reasons where AI projects fail – not the technology itself. In the most successful projects, the teams responsible for AI development (technology) and exploitation (business) spend the time required to reach a clear common understanding of goals and metrics. Before starting a project, it’s only possible to create a superficial level of consensus. If participants do not deepen this during the project, the result can be a situation where goals and metrics mean different things to different participants. The time spent on careful goal definition and interaction therefore pays for itself many times over. The power of examples Often the same AI technology is suitable for many different uses. It’s therefore worth inviting people from different organizations to talk about their own AI solutions and applications. Concrete examples can inspire people to think about how a similar solution could be used for their own activities. One of the most effective ways to increase AI interest and knowledge is through internal events, where your own people talk about their development projects and their successes and potential failures. One day a year is too rare for this purpose. We recommend holding regular events on a quarterly or monthly basis, or even more frequently. As with staff training in general, systematic and long-term sharing of experiences produces the best results. In internal and inter-organizational events, demos are the most effective means of communication. Technically, simple demo versions tend to work better than just slideshows. Agile development of an AI solution There is a company that builds AI solutions based on an agile development model using two-week cycles. At the end of each development sprint, the developers organize a demo for a group of business representatives where they present the progress, discuss the outputs, and explain what happens next. AI projects are often on the edge of something new, and this is why it’s important to clarify the concepts in order to talk about them. You should also use concepts everyone can understand. A simple way to ensure a common language and understanding is to visualize the stages of the project by answering the questions: who, what, how, and when? In AI projects, the organizing and interaction do not depend too much on the industry or the size of the company – instead, they are based more on the company’s way of operating. These key factors should be kept in mind when planning development projects, as they are easily forgotten when implementing. Sign up to solve exercises In the first chapter, you learned about the following: How artificial intelligence is already a part of our everyday lives Examples of natural language and machine vision artificial intelligence applications as well as numerical artificial intelligence solutions Basic information on artificial intelligence and machine learning How to identify three categories of machine learning: supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning How artificial intelligence is currently narrow, and not yet the self-conscious, general artificial intelligence of science fiction The basic pillars of artificial intelligence utilization: business orientation, competence, and data Managing artificial intelligence projects involves continuous change management where organization and interaction are crucial factors

A 15-Year-Old Jack Andrake May Have Revolutionized How We Detect CancerA child-prodigy, 15-year old Jack Andrake may have changed the course of medicine. The school boy from Crownsville, Maryland, invented a simple test for detection of mesothelin, a biological indicator for early stage pancreatic cancer. This dangerous cancer killed Steve Jobs, and it kills 19 out of 20 patients after five years. (Image courtesy of the BBC)Pancreatic cancer is very difficult to detect, but Andrake may have unlocked the disease and in route to save millions. His test works in a similar way to diabetic tests. It uses paper and a drop of blood or urine to determine if patients carry the mesothelin. After early results, it is said that this almost instant test is 90 percent accurate. Incredibly it costs only 3 cents! Andraka says that these tests are “cool” because they are applicable to other diseases, like other forms of cancer, tuberculosis, HIV, and environmental contaminants like E Coli or salmonella. “Fabulous story. Very inspiring. I love this kid!! We need to hear more stories like this! Pancreatic cancer is a devastating killer and this brilliant young man may have found a way to detect it early! Sad to read that so many scientists blew him off, probably because of their lack of respect for a teenager’s mind’.”, said Manhattan Orthopedic Care physician, Dr. Armin Tehrany.Last month, Andraka, 15, won $75,000 in scholarship funds at the 2012 Intel Science Fair for his invention.

Most people are aware of the fact that fizzy drinks are not good for your teeth and health generally but did you know that a standard can of regular Coke contains over 9 teaspoons of sugar! That’s a lot of empty calories and potential tooth rotting capability. So, quite naturally people are choosing what they perceive to be healthier alternatives. However, new research by the Universities of Liverpool and London published in the online medical journal BMJ Open highlights the fact that some fruit juices and smoothies aimed at children contain free sugars which are still contributing between 2-4 teaspoons of sugar per drink. My advice is to check the labels first before buying – look out for labels such as “Fructose”, “Dextrose”, “Glucose” or “Dextrin’ and look at how much combined sugar is in the product. As a guide: High: more than 22.5g of total sugars per 100g Low: 5g of total sugars or less per 100g

“India is on a path towards sustainable development by achieving Energy Independence”, said Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, US Department of Energy. The whole world is stepping forward to make ambitious energy development infrastructure in their countries and In this race, India could be a winning horse, as predicted by the US Department of Energy in their research study. As the World’s largest economy, India is focusing on the development of Energy infrastructure. To fulfill its energy requirements for the upcoming decades and achieve self-reliance, India has set a target of investing $3 trillion in the development of its energy infrastructure as a part of the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Mission’ reported PTI news. Becoming self dependent in the Energy sector, it is not as simple but as a leading economy, India’s priority lies in the growth and modernization of its energy industry. By achieving Energy independence, India would have had significant positive effects on its economy, as savings up to $240 billion, India’s 90% of yearly spending on fossil fuel imports, also this will save India’s $2.5 trillion by 2047. India’s unexpectedly rapid strides towards global competitiveness will enhance its position in the international market sooner than anticipated. “According to our research, India’s energy infrastructure is in need of a massive investment of $3 trillion in the upcoming decades, and it is imperative to prioritize the development of new energy assets that are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable to ensure long-term financial stability”, said Amol Phadke, Berkeley Lab staff Scientist. The Indian Government has already set a target to generate more than 500 GW of non-fossil electricity by 2030 to achieve energy independence through which 80% of the clean grid would regulate till 2040 and 90% of clean grid till 2047. Recently, India has discovered almost 6 million metric tons of lithium deposits in Indian-administered Kashmir and this could be used for the production of Lithium-ion batteries and new electric vehicles. According to the report, all the vehicles would be replaced with EV’s by 2035. Renewable hydrogen energy would also be use in most cases.” In upcoming decades, India will adopt a positive environment for the development of energy infrastructure”, said author and researcher at Berkeley Laboratory, Priyanka Mohanty. As a leading economy in the world, the Indian Industry must adapt the thought for clean technology such as production of electric vehicles and green steel. This will keep India driving towards its goal to accomplish self-dependence.

Can Ketamine Treat PTSD? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition caused by exposure to a terrifying or traumatic event. Individuals with PTSD may experience flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable or intrusive thoughts about the event. About eight percent of the population will experience PTSD over the course of their life. This condition is significantly more common among combat veterans, with nearly a quarter developing it during their lifetimes. The standard treatment involves some form of psychotherapy, oral anti-depressants, or some combination. Many psychotherapies (e.g., exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, etc.) require patients to confront aspects of the traumatic event or how they think about it. While these therapies can be effective, they can also be stressful, causing many to stop treatment early. The FDA has approved two medications, sertraline, and paroxetine, for the treatment of PTSD. These medications have several drawbacks. They take four to six weeks to start working. They also come with many side effects that lead many to stop taking them. Even when patients stick with the medications, only around 30 percent achieve remission. While other medicines have been used, the evidence for their efficacy remains questionable. As a result, there is a desperate need for faster, more effective, and more tolerable treatments for PTSD. Why Test Ketamine for PTSD? Over the past few years, ketamine has been explored as a potential solution. Researchers have turned to this medication for several reasons. One reason has to do with how ketamine acts in the brain. Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) receptor antagonist. This means that it increases the amount of glutamate (a chemical messenger in the brain) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which helps neurons grow and form new connections. Early animal studies indicate that glutamate and BDNF play important roles in PTSD. One study found low levels of glutamate in mice exhibiting PTSD-like behavior after exposure to stress. Other experiments have found that several brain regions associated with fear and mood regulation had shrunk in mice after similar stress tests, suggesting BDNF might help rebuild these atrophied areas. Ketamine is also well-established as a rapid-acting antidepressant. Since depression is a prominent symptom of PTSD, it should help with this part of the condition. With all this in mind, researchers turned theory into practice and began testing ketamine as a treatment for PTSD in human participants. In a 2013 study, an army veteran who was given a single infusion of ketamine experienced rapid and robust relief of his PTSD symptoms that lasted 15 days. Following this finding, another group of researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT), meaning they gave one group ketamine and another a placebo. They found that PTSD levels were significantly lower in the ketamine group 24 hours after the infusion, and the effects persisted for around seven days. Experimenters, hoping to extend the amount of time before symptoms returned, tried giving subjects repeated infusions of ketamine. In one study, patients received six infusions over two weeks. Eighty percent of patients achieved remission for 41 days on average. Ketamine With Psychotherapy While 41 days is a significant amount of time, more sustained relief would be ideal. Instead of using more ketamine treatments, some researchers have explored whether the effect could be extended when combined with psychotherapy. One of the commonly cited reasons for doing this is that PTSD is associated with deficits in what is known as “memory reconsolidation,” which occurs when a recalled memory is changed or altered in some way. Normal memories decay or degrade over time. Some theorists believe that for patients with PTSD, their trauma memories remain as clear and vivid as the day they were formed. Many therapies target this process of reconsolidation. Ketamine is associated with neurogenesis. Recent studies have found that neurogenesis is important in reconsolidation. As a result, researchers have tested whether therapy might extend the effects of ketamine. One study which combined ketamine with prolonged exposure therapy found that after 90 days, the ketamine group had lower PTSD symptoms when compared to the group that received a placebo. Prevention Vs. Treatment Aside from comparing ketamine with and without therapy, researchers have tested its effects on PTSD when administered at different stages in the PTSD process. A recent meta-analysis compiled all the research on combat veterans and found some surprising results. Most notably, they found that when given during the early stages of PTSD (1-3 months after the traumatic event), ketamine exacerbated their symptoms. However, when administered beyond this stage, ketamine was consistently helpful. Exactly why the timeline is so important is unclear. Ketamine appears to be a powerful treatment for PTSD. With that said, there are some caveats. When administered on its own, the effects are short-lasting. Repeated infusions can extend the benefits, but only to around 41 days. Psychotherapy may prolong the therapeutic results further, but more research will need to be done to confirm this. Lastly, the treatment may not work for all PTSD patients, especially those who experienced their trauma more recently. If you feel you need to see a mental health professional or could use help deciding which service is right for you, please give us a call at 805-204-2502 or fill out an appointment request here. We have a wide variety of providers, including therapists, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and nutritional therapists who can see you in as little as one day via teletherapy. Want to find out if Heading is right for you? Complete our consultation form and an intake specialist will get in touch.

Runes to text→ Text to Runes * Paste in some rune text or use the keyboard below Text to runes Want to translate a regular text into runes instead? Then check out the rune converter! It currently features three futharks - elder, younger, anglo-saxon and can be used to turn text into either of those Good to know about the runes Meaning that each rune symbolizes a certain noise that you can make with your mouth - instead of having a one to one conversion between a latin letter and rune letter. For example the rune ᚦ makes a noise that is similar to the english written "th" and you can see we need two letter to express that sound. Similar differences occur even nowadays between different languages, for example the English letter A and Estonian letter A - even though they are written the same way they express a different sound. So this is something to keep in mind when using runes, they transfer better when using phonetically. The translator on here I've used the most common and agreed upon way of transfering runes to the English sounding alphabet. The runic alphabet is called a futhark Our current collection of letters is called an alphabet because alpha-beta are the two first letters. It's the same for runes, the first six letters are F U Th A R K. There is no agreed reason or evidence why it's so different from all the other writing systems where always an alphabet is used. The main speculated reasons are that it's an alternate greek alphabet that was written this way or that the futhark sequence we know nowadays is some magical/cryptic sequence instead of the regular ABC sequence and that for unknown reasons it became the widely used version. Runes were used to write different languages As you can see here - there are three different futharks, they each symbolize a different language. There are actually more futharks in the world with one of the oldest being a Portugese one, if you're interested in that look up on youtube Arith Härger as he has done an amazing job exploring that. There's also a gothic futhark and numerous others as well. With the futharks depicted on here the oldest is the Elder Futhark and that was used to write the proto-norse language. The Younger Futhark was used to write Old Norse and was the one in common use during the Viking age. The Anglo-Saxon futhark was used in England by the inhabitants of that land to write Old English. The runes have names At least the Anglo-Saxon and Younger Futhark ones do. We know these from old poems that were used to remember the runes - similar to some of the childrens songs you see today where they sing something along the lines of "a is for apple, b is for bee, c is for cat and d is for dog". The rune poems we know are from Icelandic, Old Norwegian and English backgrounds and you can find them on the interenet, I believe wikipedia has them all listed out as well. The runes did have magical purposes even in the old days Now it's some-what debated if the runes were only used to write a language or for magical purpose as well. I think it's very clear they had magical meanings to them, as you can see from for example the Kragehul spear shaft or Lindholm amulet that they feature sequences of runes that make no sense. Now unless the person was having a seizure while writing these things it's pretty clear they are some kind of chants. For example the lindholm amulet that was likely created around the years 100-400 AD reads "ᛖᚲᛖᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉᛋᚨ[ᚹ]ᛁᛚᚨᚷᚨᛉᚺᚨᛏᛖᚲᚨ᛬ | ᚨᚨᚨᚨᚨᚨᚨᚨᛉᛉᛉᚾᚾ[ᚾ]ᛒᛗᚢᛏᛏᛏ᛬ᚨᛚᚢ᛬" and as you can see features a row of ᚨ runes. We know this rune means "god" in the rune poems so it's speculated it's calling upon a certain god (Odin perhaps?) or a number of gods. It's very clear that the magical purpose of the runes is not a medieval/modern creation but was already at play back then - of course there is a lot of new age nonsense attributed to the runes as well. Bindrunes were a thing back in the day A lot of the runic inscriptions we find feature some kind of a bindrune. Meaning two runes are written as one. If this was done for some magical purpose or to save space is unknown - perhaps both. They do look beautiful though, some examples are: The Kragehul spearshaft (ᚷᚨ written as one rune), Kylver runestone (Stacked tiwaz runes, these could actually indicate to the 3 aetts), The rök runestone(ᛅᚦ written as one) and so on

Throughout the growing season, farmers utilize stewardship practices for proper pesticide use while protecting crops from insect pests and also protecting pollinators. NCGA supports the BeSure! campaign as one way to support farmers, protect bees and other wildlife. Some of the other groups we work with include: - Honey Bee Health Coalition - Farmers for Monarchs - EDF Monarch Butterfly Habitat Exchange - Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund You can find a wealth of information on protecting pollinators in NCGA’s publication Best Management Practices for Pollinator Protection in Field Corn at https://cdn.ncga.com/file/133/HBHC_Corn_030119.pdf. Keystone Monarch Collaborative also offers an excellent resource called the Insect Pollinators and Pesticide Product Stewardship guide. Knowing and following label instructions is a key step to protect all pollinators. Farmers and applicators know that reading and following labels are the first and most important consideration when handling any pesticide. Cooperation and communication among farmers, landowners, applicators, crop advisors, and local officials greatly increase successfully protecting insect pollinators and habitats. Here are a few additional factors to consider for integrated pest management: - Understand Pollinator Habits: Pollinators are most at risk from pesticides applied to crops or other plants that are blooming. Before applying pesticides, be aware of the crop’s bloom stage, and nearby pollinator habitat. - Evaluate the Weather: Applying pesticides before hot weather can lead to vapor drift, which could impact neighboring pollinator habitat. Farmers should also assess wind strength and direction to avoid drift. - Nozzle Selection: Adjust your nozzle(s) and pressure to make bigger droplets. Bigger droplets fall faster, so they are less likely to drift with the wind. - Buffer Regions: Develop buffer regions beyond the field or land that are designated to be free of pesticide application. - Choose appropriate chemicals: Look for chemistries that are softer and have lower residual toxicity values, compare labels, and look for and understand the EPA symbols on labels. - Apply only when needed: Scout regularly to ensure that you are only treating crops when necessary when they meet or exceed the recommended thresholds for pests or contamination.

Ever wondered what those adorable little axolotls munch on in the wild? Well, get ready to dive into the fascinating world of their diet. These aquatic creatures have quite the appetite for meaty treats, gobbling up insects, worms, slugs, snails, and even small crustaceans. They’re like underwater hunters with their rudimentary teeth that allow them to snap down on their prey. But here’s the interesting part: they can’t chew or tear their food! Instead, they open wide and suck in water along with their meal, swallowing it whole. Now, if you’re thinking of keeping an axolotl as a pet (which I highly recommend because they’re just too cute), you need to know how to replicate their natural diet. Earthworms, daphnia, bloodworms – these live food sources are way more nutritious than boring old pellets or freeze-dried options. So stick around as we explore everything from hunting techniques to seasonal changes affecting these critters’ meals. Trust me, it’s going to be a wild ride! - Axolotls in the wild have a varied diet that includes insects, worms, slugs, snails, small crustaceans, crickets, mosquito larvae, small fish, and other small animals. - They have rudimentary teeth and cannot chew or tear their food, so they swallow it whole. - In captivity, axolotls should be fed a similar diet to what they eat in the wild, including live food sources like earthworms, daphnia, bloodworms, blackworms, brine shrimp, and tubifex. - Live food sources are more nutritious than pellets or freeze-dried options, and offering a variety of meat-based foods is important because not all axolotls enjoy the same types of food. The Diet of Axolotls in the Wild To ensure the nutritional needs and overall health of axolotls in the wild, it’s important to understand their diet. Axolotls are carnivorous predators. They feed on a variety of animals, including worms, insects, tadpoles, brine shrimp, and small fish. Their diet should consist of live food sources that provide essential nutrients for their growth and development. By meeting their specific dietary requirements, axolotls can maintain optimal health and thrive in their natural habitat. According to research by the Amphibian Foundation, axolotls, being carnivorous, enjoy a smorgasbord of aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and even fellow amphibian larvae. An eclectic mix, indeed! |Frequency of Consumption Nutritional Needs and Health A balanced diet is the cornerstone of any organism’s health and well-being, and axolotls are no exception. Their diet in the wild is an intricate interplay of nutritional needs and environmental availability, fostering their fascinating physiology and quirky feeding habits. An axolotl’s diet must be rich in protein, as they are carnivorous creatures by nature. Live foods like earthworms, brine shrimp, and small fishes offer a wellspring of essential nutrients. Proteins, rich in earthworms and brine shrimp, are essential for tissue repair and growth. They also play a crucial role in enzymatic reactions within the axolotl’s body. Then, there are vitamins and minerals, essential micronutrients obtained from their diverse diet. For instance, Calcium, abundant in snails, contributes to the robustness of their skeletal structure. A study in the “Journal of Experimental Zoology” underscores the importance of a balanced intake of these nutrients for the axolotl’s overall health. |Provide a rich source of protein and essential nutrients |Earthworms, brine shrimp, small fishes |Should form the majority of an Axolotl’s diet |Vitamins and Minerals |Essential for overall health and robustness |Obtained from a variety of live foods |Regular part of an Axolotl’s diet |To cater to individual dietary preferences |Invertebrates, snails, small fishes |Mix of different food types should be given regularly |Useful supplement when live foods are not available |Axolotl-specific pellets, frozen brine shrimp |Can be given occasionally but should not replace live foods |Size of Prey |Suitable size is crucial for Axolotls to ‘snap and swallow’ |Foods not larger than the space between their eyes |Always consider when feeding Axolotls Feeding Behavior of Axolotls Ever watched an axolotl eat? It’s a sight to behold! Unlike us humans, axolotls lack the ability to chew or tear their food. Instead, they have a fascinating ‘snap and swallow’ technique where they snap down on their prey and gulp it whole. This behavior emphasizes the importance of appropriately sized food items in their diet. Natural Habitat of Axolotls The natural habitat of the axolotl plays a crucial role in determining its diet. The specific environment in which they live influences the availability and types of food sources they have access to. As a result, the diet of axolotls can vary across different habitats, depending on factors such as water temperature, vegetation, and the presence of other organisms. Understanding these variations in diet is important for studying their ecological niche and ensuring proper care in captivity. Role of the Axolotl’s Habitat in Determining Its Diet In the wild, the axolotl’s habitat plays a crucial role in shaping its diet. Diet adaptations of axolotls are influenced by various environmental factors, including prey availability and foraging behavior. Axolotls are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will consume whatever food sources are readily accessible to them. Their ability to capture and consume live prey is dependent on the composition of their natural environment. Environmental factors such as water temperature, water quality, and vegetation cover can impact the abundance and diversity of potential prey items for axolotls. Additionally, nutritional diversity is important for axolotls to obtain all the necessary nutrients for their growth and development. Therefore, the availability of different types of prey in their habitat directly affects their dietary choices and overall health in the wild. Diet Variations Across Different Habitats Across various habitats, axolotls may have different dietary preferences and adaptations based on the availability of prey items and environmental factors. Their diet variations are influenced by their foraging behavior, prey selection, seasonal changes, and the impact of pollution. Here are some factors that contribute to diet variations in axolotls: - Prey availability: Axolotls will consume prey that is abundant in their specific habitat. - Foraging behavior: Axolotls may exhibit different foraging strategies depending on their environment. - Prey selection: They may selectively choose certain types of prey based on taste or nutritional value. - Seasonal changes: The availability of certain prey species may vary throughout the year, leading to changes in axolotl diets. - Impact of pollution: Pollution can affect the abundance and composition of prey species, indirectly influencing the diet of axolotls. These factors highlight the adaptability of axolotls to different environments and emphasize the importance of understanding their natural habitats when considering their dietary needs. Main Food Sources: Typical Prey Items for Axolotls Axolotls feast on a veritable smorgasbord of critters in their natural habitats. Their diets stretch beyond the usual aquatic invertebrates and small fish, revealing a diverse palette befitting these unique creatures. Aquatic Invertebrates: The Primary Component of an Axolotl’s Diet Aquatic invertebrates form the cornerstone of the axolotl’s diet. Consider these the axolotls’ go-to grub, a consistent source of nutrition available in ample quantities within their environment. Different Types of Aquatic Invertebrates Consumed by Axolotls Axolotls don’t hold back when it comes to the varieties of invertebrates they consume. From Daphnia, or “water fleas,” to arthropods and annelids, axolotls relish a range of invertebrate dishes. - Daphnia: These water fleas are akin to the axolotl’s favorite snack. Abundant and nutritious, Daphnia forms a substantial part of the axolotl’s diet. - Mollusks and Insects: Mollusks and insects like chironomid larvae, colloquially known as “bloodworms,” and various crustaceans frequently end up on axolotl’s menu. - Arthropods and Annelids: These lesser-known critters might not be an axolotl’s top pick, but they do add a touch of variety and additional nutrients to their diet. Hunting Strategies For Aquatic Invertebrates Mealtime for axolotls showcases a fascinating mix of skill and strategy. They employ a unique suction mechanism, akin to a built-in vacuum cleaner, swiftly inhaling unsuspecting prey with a quick mouth movement. It’s a spectacle that underscores their predatory efficiency. Small Fish and Amphibian Larvae: Additional Sources of Nutrition When the invertebrate population dwindles, axolotls expand their menu to include small fish and amphibian larvae. These secondary food sources ensure that axolotls receive a balanced mix of nutrients, vital for their growth and survival. As opportunistic predators, axolotls are prepared to pounce on any small fish or tadpole within their reach. Their specialized teeth and suction strategy enable them to snag and swallow their prey whole, contributing to their success in their aquatic ecosystems. Both small fish and tadpoles are protein-rich, a crucial element for axolotls’ growth and development. By diversifying their diet, axolotls not only ensure optimal nutrition but also help maintain the equilibrium of their habitats. Worms And Crustaceans Worms and crustaceans fulfill a significant role in an axolotl’s diet, furnishing essential nutrients crucial for their overall growth and health. Axolotls have specific nutritional needs, and these tiny creatures, teeming with proteins, vitamins, and minerals, meet those dietary requirements effectively. How Axolotls Hunt And Capture Their Food In The Wild Axolotls employ unique strategies to capture their prey in the wild. With their primitive teeth and wide mouths, they latch onto their prey and rapidly suck it into their mouths, water and all. They have evolved this distinct way of hunting to effectively navigate their dietary habits and natural environment. Opening their mouths wide, axolotls create a strong suction that pulls in both water and their targeted prey. This specialized method of feeding allows axolotls to swallow their prey whole as they lack the ability to chew or tear food. The way axolotls hunt does come with certain risks, though. When capturing larger prey, they can become susceptible to predation themselves. Still, these salamanders continue to thrive in the wild, their survival testament to the effectiveness of their hunting strategies throughout their lifespan. Frequency and Timing of Feeding in the Wild Wild axolotls exemplify opportunistic feeding behavior, consuming food as per its availability rather than adhering to a specific schedule. The frequency of their meals can fluctuate, influenced by factors such as prey accessibility and their metabolic demands. They may feast multiple times a day when food sources are abundant or go several days, even weeks, without eating during times of scarcity. Understanding Axolotl Feeding Frequency in the Wild Axolotls, leading a laid-back lifestyle in the wild, do not follow a strict feeding regimen. Prey availability and metabolic needs shape their feeding patterns, and they demonstrate an impressive ability to sustain extended periods without food. This adaptability permits them to navigate fluctuations in prey availability effectively, consuming any small live creature they encounter opportunistically. Axolotl Feeding Times: A Matter of Opportunity In terms of feeding times, axolotls don’t operate on a clock. Instead, they capitalize on opportunities, deploying their keen senses to detect and capture a variety of small prey like insects, worms, slugs, snails, small crustaceans, and even smaller fish. Although the frequency of their meals may vary, axolotls can comfortably endure longer intervals without food, flexibly adjusting their feeding patterns in response to the ebb and flow of prey availability in their habitats. Comparing the Diets of Wild and Captive Axolotls Axolotls, whether wild or kept in captivity, are predominantly carnivorous creatures. Their feeding habits differ significantly due to environmental factors and food availability. Here’s an in-depth comparison of their diets, focusing on nutritional value, food sourcing, feeding frequency, and the importance of dietary variety. |Their natural diet consists of a variety of small invertebrates, crustaceans, fish, and amphibian larvae, which are rich in essential nutrients. |Standard fare includes specially formulated pellets, and frozen or freeze-dried food options that are often enriched with necessary nutrients. |Sourcing Live Food |They are active hunters, preying on small animals like insects, worms, snails, and small crustaceans. |Owners often provide live earthworms (nightcrawlers) which can be sourced from chemical-free gardens or bred at home. |They are opportunistic feeders, eating whenever food is available, adapting to the ebb and flow of the food supply in their habitat. |Adult axolotls in captivity are fed 1-2 earthworms every other day, while juveniles require daily feedings due to their faster growth rates. |Importance of Variety |In the wild, axolotls enjoy a diverse diet due to the multitude of small animals present in their ecosystem. |Owners are encouraged to provide a range of food to captive axolotls to mimic the dietary diversity they would experience in the wild. The wild and captive diets of axolotls differ significantly in terms of their nutritional content. - Wild Axolotls: Their natural diet consists of a variety of small invertebrates, crustaceans, fish, and amphibian larvae. The high-protein content and diversity of these food sources offer a balanced diet, rich in essential nutrients. - Captive Axolotls: The standard fare for captive axolotls includes specially formulated pellets, and frozen or freeze-dried food options. While these are often enriched with necessary nutrients, they typically don’t match the nutritional value of fresh, live food. Sourcing Live Food The way axolotls source their food is influenced by their habitat: - Wild Axolotls: They are active hunters, preying on whatever small animals they can catch, including insects, worms, snails, and small crustaceans. - Captive Axolotls: Owners often provide live earthworms (nightcrawlers), a highly nutritious option. These can be sourced from gardens free of chemicals or bred at home. Feeding frequency is another critical aspect of axolotls’ dietary habits: - Wild Axolotls: Being opportunistic feeders, they eat whenever food is available, adapting their feeding habits to the ebb and flow of the food supply in their habitat. - Captive Axolotls: Adult axolotls in captivity are typically fed 1-2 earthworms every other day, while juveniles require daily feedings due to their faster growth rates. Importance of Variety Regardless of their habitat, dietary variety is essential for axolotls: - Wild Axolotls: In the wild, axolotls enjoy a diverse diet thanks to the multitude of small animals present in their ecosystem. This variety ensures they receive a balanced intake of nutrients. - Captive Axolotls: Owners are encouraged to provide a range of food to captive axolotls to mimic the dietary diversity they’d experience in the wild. This also helps cater to individual food preferences. While captive diets strive to mimic those in the wild, the nutritional value of live food sources in the wild remains superior. Therefore, sourcing live food carefully and providing a diverse diet are crucial elements for maintaining the health of captive axolotls. Impact of Seasonal Changes on the Diet of Axolotls Axolotls, as ectothermic animals, are heavily influenced by seasonal changes, particularly temperature fluctuations. These changes can impact their metabolism, which in turn affects their feeding behavior and diet. Influence of Seasonal Variations on Prey Availability Seasonal changes can have a significant effect on the availability of certain prey species. For example, some aquatic invertebrates that axolotls consume may breed more prolifically in certain seasons, leading to an increase in prey availability. Conversely, other food sources may be scarce during colder periods. Axolotls adapt to these changes by shifting their diet accordingly. They are opportunistic predators and will consume a wide range of prey species available in their habitat. In periods of plenty, axolotls may feed more frequently and grow at a faster rate, while during lean periods, they may slow down their feeding and growth. Studies have shown that axolotls’ growth rate can vary significantly with seasonal changes. For instance, during warmer months when more food is available, axolotls tend to grow at a faster pace. However, during colder months, their growth rate slows down due to reduced metabolic rates and decreased food availability. Adaptations of Axolotls to Seasonal Changes in Food Supply To cope with these seasonal variations in food supply, axolotls have developed several adaptive strategies. Axolotls have the ability to adjust their metabolic rate based on the ambient temperature and the availability of food. During colder seasons when food is scarce, they can reduce their metabolic rate, which slows down their growth but conserves energy and reduces the need for frequent feeding. Another remarkable adaptation of axolotls is their ability to store energy in the form of lipids. During periods of abundant food supply, axolotls can accumulate lipids which can be used to fuel metabolism when food is scarce. So, seasonal changes significantly influence the diet of axolotls. Their ability to adjust their feeding behavior, metabolic rate, and energy storage based on seasonal variations in prey availability plays a critical role in their survival in the wild. Threats to Axolotl’s Natural Diet One of the major threats to the natural diet of axolotls is habitat degradation and pollution. As their natural habitats are being destroyed or polluted, axolotls face challenges in finding their preferred food sources. The impact of pollution on the water quality can disrupt the availability of insects, worms, snails, and other small animals that axolotls rely on for nutrition. Additionally, competition for food resources with invasive species can further hinder their ability to find suitable prey. Habitat destruction caused by human activities such as urban development and agriculture also limits the availability of food for axolotls. Moreover, climate change effects like changes in water temperature and precipitation patterns can influence the distribution and abundance of their prey species. Overall, these threats pose significant challenges to maintaining a healthy and diverse diet for axolotls in the wild. Frequently Asked Questions Can Axolotls Eat Fruits And Vegetables? Ironically, axolotls have no nutritional requirement for fruits and vegetables. Their diet should consist of meaty foods like insects, worms, and small crustaceans. Plant-based foods can’t be effectively digested by axolotls due to their digestive system. Do Axolotls Need To Eat Live Food In Order To Survive? Live food is important for axolotls’ survival as it provides essential nutrients and mimics their natural diet. However, providing live food can be challenging in captivity. Alternatives like freeze-dried options may lack nutritional value and impact their health and behavior. Are There Any Specific Types Of Insects That Axolotls Prefer To Eat In The Wild? Axolotls in the wild have a dietary variety that includes insects. While they do not have specific preferences, they rely on their hunting strategies to capture and consume small insects. This dietary variety is important for meeting their nutritional needs and has an impact on the ecosystem. How Do Axolotls Find Their Food In Their Natural Habitat? Axolotls find their food in their natural habitat through their feeding habits and hunting strategies. They rely on their keen sense of smell and vision to locate prey. Their natural diet consists of a variety of meaty foods, including insects, worms, crustaceans, and small fish. Axolotls have adapted by having rudimentary teeth that allow them to snap down on their food and swallow it whole. However, environmental factors can impact the availability of food for axolotls in the wild. Is It Possible To Overfeed Axolotls In The Wild? Overfeeding can have negative effects on axolotl health. It can lead to digestive issues, obesity, and poor water quality. Signs of overfeeding include bloating, decreased activity, and excess waste production. Axolotls should be fed in the wild 1-2 earthworms every other day. In conclusion, understanding the diet of axolotls in the wild is crucial for their overall health and well-being. These fascinating creatures rely on a varied diet consisting of insects, worms, crustaceans, and small animals to meet their nutritional needs. Interestingly, did you know that live food sources are more nutritious for axolotls compared to pellets or frozen options? This fact emphasizes the importance of providing them with natural prey items in captivity. By sourcing food from reliable places and maintaining a proper diet, we can contribute to the longevity and vitality of these unique amphibians.

After getting valuable information about hang gliding, the adventure sport in our previous two articles, now it is time to know some interesting facts about hang gliding. As the name suggest hang gliding means hanging while gliding. Hang gliding can be very interesting flying adventure so let us know some of the interesting facts about it as well. Interesting Facts about Hang Gliding - The idea of hang gliding is as old as the imagination of the humans to fly in the air someday like a bird. Otto Lilienthal built the first ever controllable gliders in the year 1890 by using wood and fabric. His first try to fly was by using a spring board. - Thermals, ridge lifts, mountain waves and convergence along with thermal lifters are used by the hang gliders especially during their launch. - The thermal lifts take place only when the air is heated by the sun and thus it makes a rise. - This kind of lift is also known or called as slope soaring because a vertical slope is used for the lift and it redirects the hang gliders in the air. - The Aussie hang gliders use a rare lift phenomenon which is called ‘the Morning Glory’. - When a group of pilots fly together a specific term is used which is called ‘the Gaggle’. - All the hang gliders carry a Varometer which helps them to perceive acceleration forces when they catch thermals. This gadget also enables the gliders to determine the sink and climb rates as it beeps each time. - The open distance hang gliding world record is 700 km which was achieved by Manfred Ruhmer when he hang glided from Zapata to Lamesa in Texas, USA. - A cross country hang gliding requires an Altimeter which helps the gliders to decide the distance. - The first ever foot launched hang gliding was done in Australia in the year 1972. - The modern hang gliding blue print for the Rogallo wing was found by Francis Melvin Rogallo in the year 1948. - The American Space agency NASA has also made significant research in Hang Gliding which has made the professional hang gliders feeling more safer as they are well equipped with the technology now. - It is also believed that the idea of making of an air craft was actually came from the success of hang gliding in early 1900s. Relative search terms: hang gliding facts, facts about gliders, hang glider facts, facts about hang gliders, hang gliding information, gliders facts, otto lilienthal facts, used hang gliders, 10 facts about gliders, hand gliding or hang gliding, hang glider fabric, about hang gliding, hang glider for kids, hang glided, information about hang gliding, wooden hang glider

Where did coffee come from? How are coffee beans grown today? How do the beans get from the coffee plantations into the roaster at Trees Organic Coffee & Roasting House — and ultimately, into your cup? Well, it’s a long story. Here it goes… Kaldi the Ethiopian Goat Herder and the Coffee Tree Legend has it that coffee was accidentally discovered by Kaldi, a goat herder who lived in Ethiopia. One day, Kaldi observed his herd of goats chewing on red cherries from a tree he had never noticed before. The goats started to dance. Astonished, Kaldi tried the cherries himself and felt energized. He brought the cherries to a local monastery to see what the wise men might say. However, the monks tossed them in the fire as they disapproved of the idea of using the strange fruit. Instead of burning the beans, it actually roasted them. Those roasted beans were used to create the first coffee. (There is no word on whether Kaldi subsequently opened up a pleasant little cafe for his fellow goat-herders, but we like to think that might have happened). From Ethiopia, coffee cultivation and consumption spread over centuries to the Arabic world and India. Europeans began drinking coffee in the 1600s (the first coffee house in Europe opened in 1645 in Italy), but they were essentially locked out of the coffee growing regions by geopolitics and the sad fact that coffee doesn’t grow well in northern climates. As European nations began colonizing territories around the world, they succeeded in creating coffee plantations to generate a secure supply from their Caribbean holdings, the East Indies and South America. Coffee farms in the New World and in other areas that are now independent from Europe are descended from those pioneering efforts. As with many other sectors, the Industrial Revolution and later innovations of mass production and supply-chain management was good and bad for coffee markets and consumers. On the one hand, coffee became accessible to millions upon millions of people around the world. For a nickel, you could get that zip in your step that Kaldi had first experienced in Ethiopia from just about anywhere. You could buy a tin of coffee and make it yourself from home. Convenience was king. But this convenience came with a downside. As in other commodified industries, a race to the bottom developed in which quality was sacrificed for quantity. Growers and manufacturers cared less about the taste of beans than how many bags they could ship to a growing market. The typical coffee drinker never knew what he was missing, even though true coffee aficionados could tell what was happening. Meanwhile, coffee farmers were often exploited by big corporations who only cared about the bottom line. There were plenty of people who still craved a great cup of coffee. They understood that if we changed the process for how we got our coffee, starting with the coffee growers, we could get out of this rut that the chase for pure profit had led us into. They kept the dream alive… The coffee you drink today at our cafes is an evolved product. We use only fair trade organic beans from places like Ethiopia (thanks, Kaldi!), Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Sumatra, Mexico and Guatemala. We pay growers what they deserve and ensure that the growing and packaging process is sustainable, ensuring a safe future for the coffee we love so much. While it’s true that you can’t get a cup of coffee (or much else) for a nickel like in the 1930s, you’re getting much better value in terms of taste, aroma and texture than past generations have experienced. We like to think that the true Old World coffee lovers of the past, who helped keep this dream alive, would be proud of our cafe and the coffee drinks that we serve in the New World of Vancouver. Did you like this story? Are you a coffee aficionado with some interesting facts about the history of coffee? Leave a comment!

Managers of businesses have become more aware of the potential for workplace bias due to the Starbucks incident back in April. This prompted Starbucks to close 8,000 of their stores to address an underlying bias issue, which then caused other companies to reevaluate how they solve major bias issues in their own workplaces. A common approach many firms take is called diversity training – programs devoted to increasing diversity and reducing bias through employee education. These initiatives are generally well-intentioned, and in high profile cases such as Starbucks, can serve to raise awareness for very important issues. There’s only one problem with them: They don’t work. When it comes to influencing how people act toward one another in the workplace, behavioral science gives us a general rule of thumb: Information doesn’t change behavior. Restaurants ,may include calorie labels on their menus, yet people eat even more. Despite the millions annually spent on financial literacy programs, people are no better at saving. And sadly, when firms “teach diversity” through corporate education programs, people show no change in attitude, let alone in action. The cognitive biases our unconscious brains use to make automatic decisions and judgements on our behalf are just too deeply ingrained. Instead, we humans are much more influenced by our environment, including the programs and policies we use to guide and implement our workplace decisions. To cultivate a culture that embraces diversity, don’t bother appealing to reason or attempting to change implicit bias. Focus on de-biasing the system, instead. With that in mind, here are five behaviorally informed solutions managers can implement to address workplace bias: 1. Blind yourself — As a hiring manager, check your own biases at the front door, with behaviorally informed hiring policies. Organizations can learn from orchestras, who use blind auditions to eliminate gender bias. By shifting auditions from the open stage to behind a curtain, the orchestra world welcomed a dramatic increase in female musicians, from less than 5% in 1970, to over 40% today. Before reviewing resumes, try removing the names on them. There are several tools available today that will do that. Several go further and remove other elements that could give away gender or ethnicity. 2. Give your gut a break — When it comes to hiring decisions, structure is crucial. To reduce bias in evaluating candidates, start by identifying necessary skills, and an objective scale for each. Immediately after each candidate interview, rate them on each of those skills. When it’s time to make your decision, compare the candidates “horizontally,” one trait at a time, down the list, and make your decision based on an objective overall score. Another way to reduce gut feel bias is to give the candidates a sample work task to complete as a test. Whatever you do, stop going with your gut! Free-flowing chats are useless for evaluation, and unfairly favor memorable story-teller candidates over those most likely to succeed. 3. Mind the self-promoters — Performance evaluations are a notorious platform for bias. For example, women are 1.4 times more likely to receive critical subjective feedback, than are men. If you incorporate self-evaluation feedback in your evaluation of employee performance, remember that order matters. Thanks to the anchoring effect, we tend to skew our personal evaluation of something in the direction of the first value we hear. When we hear an employee’s rating of themselves before we make our own decision, we can’t help but skew our review accordingly. One big problem with this is that men are more likely to overrate their own performance than women, so anchoring on self-reviews can create an unfair evaluation ground. The lesson: ask for employee self-reviews after you write yours down – and check their subjective evaluation against more objective measures. Research suggests that conducting more frequent and objective feedback reviews may also help dramatically. 4. Establish diverse role models — One of the biggest barriers toward a thriving diverse community is stereotype threat, an unconscious tendency people have to fulfill the prophecy of stereotypes held against them. Combat stereotype threat by showcasing aspirational individuals of diverse identities. Encourage a diverse range of leaders to speak at company events, and make sure that commemorative hallway portraits are broadly representative. One study found that women who were shown a picture of Hillary Clinton or Angela Merkel before giving a public speech performed better than those who were shown a photo of Bill Clinton or no photo at all. Seeing is believing. 5. Lead like a scientist — Don’t just do it – test it! Any new policy or program change should be carefully designed and measured, to know whether it had the intended effect. Identify up front, exactly what outcome you intend to influence with the new program, how you plan to measure it, and where that metric stands now. Then pilot the concept in a random sample of offices, measure the results, and decide whether and how to implement across the whole organization. Even data driven organizations like MIT are finding that in addressing workplace bias, as in all things, measurement is the first step toward progress. The university doubled their number of female faculty in STEM disciplines in 12 years, following a more focused analysis of gender bias. Best of all, share your journey with the world, by publishing your findings. Business leaders are waking up to the pervasive problem of bias in the workplace. Behavioral science shows us that the greatest levers for change, are already in our hands. We can use behavioral insights, and our own company data, to transform our workplace for a more inclusive and thriving future.

Food allergies can cause a lot of problems You could have food allergies and not realize it unless you have had a serious reaction to food, such as peanut products or tree nuts. Even with these foods, if your reaction was subtle, like a slight tingling in your mouth or you developed diarrhea later in the day, you may not associate these symptoms with the peanuts or tree nuts that you ate. The one way to know for sure if you have food allergies is to get tested by an allergist or immunologist. These doctors are specialists that are able to find the cause of your allergic reaction. An allergist is a specialist who treats allergies If you have had a serious reaction to peanuts or to tree nuts, you have probably been told to see an allergist as soon as possible. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction to only a few foods, and peanuts and tree nuts are two of them. If you have experienced this serious allergic reaction from a peanut allergy, your allergist will probably want to test you to see if you are also allergic to tree nuts. According to the National Peanut Board, the most common food allergies are to cow’s milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and crustacean shellfish. Your allergist will probably test you to see if you are allergic to these foods Pollen allergies can make a person very sick and miserable, but they are not a cause of death like anaphylaxis can be from peanuts or tree nuts. For this reason, if an allergy to these foods is suspected, your allergist will want to test you to see if you need to avoid foods that contain any kind of peanut product or nuts. There is no known cure for allergies to these, and children seldom outgrow their allergy to peanuts or tree nuts, although they do often outgrow allergies to milk, eggs, and other foods. You will probably be told to stop taking antihistamines before your appointment for testing People with allergies often take non-drowsy Benadryl or another antihistimine to prevent allergic reactions, but they are not effective in preventing life-threatening allergic reactions to peanuts or tree nuts. When you arrive at the doctor’s office for your appointment, you may be given one of several types of tests. If a peanut allergy is suspected, you may be injected with a tiny amount of peanut or nut under your skin. The medical staff will observe you, and if you are allergic you will be in a safe place where medication is available to treat you if your reaction is severe. Other types of food allergy tests The allergist may also draw a vial of blood that will be sent to a lab. If you are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, antibodies will be present in your blood. Antibodies are made by the body in response to the food that you are allergic to, and they are what causes allergy symptoms like a rash, hives, trouble breathing, wheezing, or other symptoms of a peanut or nut allergy. Meet with your doctor for the results You may discover what you are allergic to the day that you are tested, but you may need to wait a few weeks for your blood work to get back from the lab if you had a blood test. Your allergist or immunologist will tell you which foods to avoid, and you may be referred to a nutritionist or dietitian who can help you eliminate the foods that are causing a problem from your diet. If you’re allergic to peanuts, they are hidden in many different foods that you may not realize. You will also need to carry epinephrine with you wherever you go. It is medication that you can inject if you accidentally eat some food with peanuts or tree nuts in it.

About this course Computer Engineering is a very dynamic discipline and its impact is all pervasive. Data science is the creation and application of powerful new methods to collect, curate, analyze, and make discoveries from large-scale data. Big data often refers to the massive amounts of complex information that are difficult to manipulate and understand using traditional processing methods. Data science is focused on the concepts, methods, and applications for extracting meaning from big data—it has become one of the key emerging disciplines of the 21st century. This new Program, Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Data Science has a dual objective: provide solid foundations in Computer Engineering and introduce Data Science and the new tools it provides to manage huge amounts of data to lead us to better understand and, ideally, solve some of the greatest challenges facing the world today in medicine and health, energy and the environment, economics and politics, and many other areas. The employment potential and career options are huge as data science impacts all sciences, business, and our everyday lives. · High Market Acceptance · Higher Studies: Students are also highly accepted by foreign Universities for Higher Education. · High Demand: For professionals in this domain for Software Developer, Consultancy, Business Analysist, Data Scientist, AI developer etc. also demand for skills among Automation industry players.Vision & Mission PEO PSO

NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Hindi Kshitij With the help of the solutions, you can anticipate the type of questions asked in the exam. It gets easy to understand the subject with the help of these solutions. The NCERT Solutions are divided into different topics/chapters according to the CBSE Question Paper. You get to know a deeper comprehension of the topics in a simple and understandable language. The solutions provided are well analysed and well designed for the students. Students can easily download Class 9 Hindi Kshitij NCERT Solutions pdf for free. A list of chapters provided in Class 9 Hindi Kshitij NCERT Solutions free pdf.

Unveiling the Netherlands in Spanish Eyes: A Cultural Medley The Netherlands’ Spanish Legacy: More Than Just a Historical Footnote Oh, how the mighty Habsburg Empire left its indelible ink on the canvas of Europe! The Netherlands, known as ‘Países Bajos’ in Spanish, is no exception. Way back in the 16th century, it was under Spanish rule, a time that has stitched intricate patterns into Dutch culture. You might think, “Surely, that was ages ago,” but ah! History has a funny way of lingering, doesn’t it? The Eighty Years’ War wasn’t just a tiff over turf or faith—it was a clash of cultures, crafting a Netherlands that knew how to say ‘hey’—or should we say ‘hola’—to Spanish influences. A Lingual Fiesta: Tracing Spanish Influence on Dutch Vocabulary It’s uncanny how languages can mingle, adopting elements from each other like old friends swapping stories. Dutch is no couch potato, and through its interactions with Spanish, we’ve seen a few words pop up that’ll make you do a double-take. ‘Coche’ zooms in as ‘auto’ and ‘bebé’ crawls its way to ‘baby’—a mini but mighty representation of two cultures that have danced the language tango for centuries. The Spanish Pacific, A Reader of Primary Sources (Connected Histories in the Early Modern World) “The Spanish Pacific, A Reader of Primary Sources” is an invaluable collection that dives deep into the history of the Spanish Empire’s influence in the Pacific region during the early modern period. This anthology provides an array of primary sources, including letters, official documents, and personal accounts, to offer an authentic perspective on the connected histories of regions under Spanish rule or influence. Researchers, students, and history enthusiasts can immerse themselves in firsthand accounts that shed light on the political maneuvers, cultural exchanges, and economic trends that shaped the era. By bridging the gap between past and present, these documents allow readers to critically analyze the complexities of colonial dynamics spanning from the Philippines to the Americas. Expertly curated to represent a wide range of voices, the reader offers insights into the experiences of colonizers, indigenous peoples, and those of mixed heritage, highlighting the diversity of narratives that stem from the Spanish Pacific. The book’s editors have meticulously annotated the collection, providing context and commentary that helps interpret the significance and impact of each document within the broader tapestry of global history. This scholarly work serves to unravel the multi-layered relationships established during the period, offering clarity on how these relationships evolved to form the modern geopolitical landscape of the Pacific. As a resource, it is indispensable for understanding the transcultural interactions and legacy of Spanish colonialism. Crafted for an academic audience yet accessible to a broader readership, “The Spanish Pacific, A Reader of Primary Sources” is an essential tome for libraries and individual collectors alike. Each primary source within the reader is introduced by a short essay that situates it within the time period and explains its relevance, making the material approachable even for those new to the subject. The collection not only advances the scholarship on the Spanish Empire’s role in world history but also encourages critical thinking about the enduring effects of colonial encounters. It is a cornerstone text that enriches the dialogue on the connected histories of the Early Modern World, especially within the vast and complex oceanic expanse of the Pacific. Netherlands in Spanish: ‘Países Bajos’ through the Lens of Spanish Culture The Warmth of Two Suns: ‘Hot in Spanish’ – ‘Caliente’ – in Dutch Summer Days When the Dutch sun graces the skies, it’s ‘caliente’, baby! It’s a fiesta of sunbeams reminiscent of the Spanish ‘sol’. And let’s be real, basking in the glow on those vibrant summer days can send anyone into a daydream of Spanish shores, no matter if you’re chilling in Amsterdam or Alicante. Indulgence Without Borders: From ‘Dinner in Spanish’ to Dutch Banquets From the hearty hug of a traditional ‘stamppot’ to the smoky whispers of ‘salsa roja’ drizzled on tapas, you’ll find the Spanish soul of ‘cena’ nestling into the Dutch dinner experience. There’s a shared love for good food and company that makes every meal feel like a feast that knows no boundaries. |Holanda, Países Bajos |Kingdom of the Netherlands |Holland (refers only to two provinces: Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland) |“Lower Countries” due to low elevation and flat topography |Known for beer and biking culture |Average -40 meters; 26% below sea level |From the Netherlands, born in the Netherlands, citizen of the Netherlands |July 18, 2017 Daily Life in the Netherlands: A Spanish Perspective All the Colors of the Rainbow: From ‘Black in Spanish’ to ‘Purple in Spanish’ Even something as universal as colors take on special hues under the influence of another culture. The Dutch landscapes, with ‘negro’ and ‘morado’ peeking through historical architecture or nature’s own artwork—think of the regal tulip fields—are a testament to this visual blend. Tastes and Traditions: A Hispanic Spin on Dutch Classics Picture this: a Spaniard sitting in a quaint Dutch café might order a slice of ‘queso’ or a plate of ‘huevos’, drawing a delicious line between familiar tastes and new surroundings. These simple pleasures connect the ‘Países Bajos’ to the warmth of Spanish kitchens and hearts. LEVLO Netherlands Map Iconic Traditional Souvenir Gift Holland Travel Pouch Bag Netherlands Vacation Gift Netherlands Zipper Pouch Bag (Netherlands) Introducing the LEVLO Netherlands Map Iconic Traditional Souvenir Gift, an exquisite travel pouch that captures the essence of Holland’s rich cultural tapestry. Each bag showcases a meticulously designed map of the Netherlands, adorned with iconic symbols and landmarks that are synonymous with Dutch heritage. Crafted from durable materials, this versatile zipper pouch is an ideal companion for securing your travel essentials, whether you’re wandering through the tulip fields of Keukenhof or exploring the historic canals of Amsterdam. This travel pouch is not only a functional accessory but also a perfect sentimental keepsake for anyone who holds the Netherlands dear. With its vibrant colors and detailed illustrations, it serves as a constant reminder of memorable experiences in this charming country. The high-quality zipper ensures your belongings are safely tucked away, while the compact design makes it easy to slip into a suitcase or carry-on bag. The LEVLO Netherlands Zipper Pouch Bag isn’t just for travelers but also makes a thoughtful gift for friends and family who appreciate Dutch culture or are planning a visit to the Netherlands. It’s an exceptional choice for special occasions, such as birthdays, holidays, or as a farewell present for someone embarking on a Dutch adventure. Owning this travel pouch means carrying a piece of the Netherlands with you wherever you go, making every journey a little more special. Celebrations and Observances: Uniting Cultures and Festivities ‘Day of the Dead in Spanish’ Meets Dutch Memorial Traditions The sacred ‘Día de los Muertos’ may don different garb as it mingles with the Dutch custom of remembrance. Yet, both honor the past with a richness that transcends borders, showing that in the Netherlands, Spanish traditions can intertwine with local customs in a beautiful mosaic. The Pulse of Celebration: ‘Basketball in Spanish’ and the Netherlands’ Sports Fervor Basketball, or should I say ‘baloncesto’, brings its energetic pulse to the Netherlands, unifying crowds with reverb laden with expectancy and exhilaration. It’s proof that the love for the game is as infectious as a rhythm that gets everyone on their feet. Intimate Spain: Personal Effects and Fashion Fused with Dutch Sensibilities From ‘Beach Bags’ to ‘Hat in Spanish’ – A Blend of Style and Utility When you think ‘sombrero’, you might picture a sunny Spanish plaza, but that same hat finds its way onto sandy Dutch beaches. Whether it’s beach bags or elegant attire, the palpable blend of Spanish flair with Dutch practicality marks every seaside escape. Bilingual Love and Life: ‘Queen in Spanish’, ‘Bride of Chucky Cast’, and Pop Culture Mashups The Dutch cultural milieu soaks up Spanish zest, with terms like ‘reina’ flowing off the tongues, while on-screen, a cast as eclectic as the ‘Bride of Chucky’s’ could enthrall audiences no matter the language. It’s a pop culture smorgasbord that serves a cocktail of shared excitement. Unique Interactions: Adapting to the Netherlands through Spanish Prisms Describing Dutch Scenes with Spanish Flair: From ‘Rain in Spanish’ to Urban Landscapes The ‘lluvia’ might pour down on the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam, but to Spanish eyes, it adds a layer of enchantment. Every raindrop, every canal, every cycling lane is observed through a Spanish lens, translating everyday moments into scenes rich with intercultural poetry. The Language of Compassion: ‘Hungry in Spanish’, ‘Tired in Spanish’, and the Power of Words Whether it’s ‘hambre’ or ‘cansancio’, the language might change, but the sentiment remains universal. These are the little threads of familiarity that bind the communities within the ‘Países Bajos’, empathizing and bonding over shared human experiences. The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road, The Logistics of Spanish Victory and Defeat in the Low Countries’ Wars (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern History) “The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road, 1567-1659,” part of Cambridge Studies in Early Modern History, is an in-depth scholarly examination of the logistical framework that underpinned Spanish military campaigns in the Low Countries during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This detailed study, penned by historian Geoffrey Parker, explores the complexities of the Spanish Road the artery of supply that connected Spanish-held territories in Italy with their forces operating in the Netherlands. Parker’s work meticulously delves into the factors that contributed to the success and eventual decline of Spanish military power in the region, bringing to light the significance of military logistics in early modern warfare. This comprehensive tome outlines the innovative administrative and operational logistics that allowed Spain to maintain its armies so far from their native bases. It further investigates the role of geography, climate, and local politics, serving not just as a military history but also a geo-political analysis. Parker employs an impressive array of sources, including archival materials and contemporaneous accounts, to provide readers with a nuanced understanding of how Spain managed to project its power across the treacherous terrain of the Low Countries. “The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road” constitutes essential reading for history enthusiasts and academics specializing in military logistics, the Spanish Empire, or the Early Modern Period. The book not only illuminates the oft-overlooked aspects of supply, recruitment, and funding which are crucial to any military endeavor but also serves as a testament to the importance of logistical considerations in the outcomes of wars. Parker’s blend of rigorous scholarship and accessible writing ensures that this study remains an authoritative and engaging contribution to the field of early modern European history. Conclusion: Celebrating a Tapestry of Connections Between the Netherlands and Spain The Netherlands, or ‘Países Bajos’ in Spanish, presents a dazzling tapestry, interwoven with threads of Spanish heritage. It’s more than just coexistence; it’s a partnership where every ‘hola’ and ‘tot ziens’ adds another stitch to this cultural quilt. As we gaze into the future, one can only imagine the beautiful patchwork that will emerge as these bond within the ‘Países Bajos’ continue to deepen and flourish—a melding of heritages that colors daily life with a vibrancy found only in the heart of such a unique and interconnected community. Discovering the Netherlands in Spanish When you think about the fusion of cultures, the blend of the Netherlands and Spanish heritage sure has a fascinating tale to it, right? Let’s dive into some quirky trivia and entertaining facts that tie these two vibrant cultures together. Grab a stroopwafel, kick back, and let’s embark on this cultural mash-up journey, exploring the Netherlands in Spanish! The Legacy of Spanish Influence First off, let’s time travel a bit, shall we? Did you know that from 1556 to 1648, the Netherlands was a part of the mighty Spanish Empire? Yup, that’s when the Dutch said “Hasta la vista” to Spanish rule during the Eighty Years’ War. This period left a mark on Dutch culture, architecture, and even language. The Spanish word Ñoño, which translates to something like ‘dull’ or ‘boring, probably wasn’t how the Dutch felt after gaining independence, considering they kicked off that Golden Age of theirs! A Language Mash-Up Now, fast-forward to modern times. When you want to say When in Spanish, there’s a nifty phrase “cuándo, and the Dutch have a similar word “wanneer. Language is a hoot like that, sharing little bits, right? Speaking of which, on a side note, I stumbled upon this curious read about in porn Movies why do men cum Himself, and, lo and behold, even in the adult industry, language plays a tricky role! Speaking of influence, did you know that the Spanish-born King of Netherlands, Willem II, was quite the character? And let’s not forget the artists! For instance, in the Duluth Trading Co ads, you might catch a whiff of that practical, no-nonsense Dutch design flair, a distant cousin to Spanish utilitarian yet stylish fashion sense. Pop Culture Crossovers Now, here’s a twist—imagine if we had a series focusing on the high-stakes drama of the Dutch-Spanish cultural exchanges, kind of like Swat Season 7, but with more tulips and flamenco. Now that’s what we call a spicy cultural crossover, don’t you think? And we can’t talk about the Netherlands in Spanish without mentioning young talents blending cultures. Take Walker Scobell, the actor known for “The Adam Project. If he were to star in a film about a time-traveling hero bouncing between Spain and the Netherlands, how cool would that be? From learning arts in Barcelona to cycling through Amsterdam—talk about a performance-worthy trip! Today’s Language Blends Lastly, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty—the language blend. You’ve probably heard of “Spanglish,” but have you heard of “Dutchlish”? Okay, it might not be a thing (yet), but there’s something charming about mashing up languages. Sometimes it sounds as eccentric as Whoe, which, by the way, is one funky way of typing ‘who’ with extra pizzazz. So, there you have it, amigos and vrienden! The Netherlands in Spanish heritage is a cultural cocktail that’s as rich and entertaining as it is historically significant. Next time you’re sipping on some sangria or munching on Gouda, remember, these two distinct worlds have more in common than you might think. ¡Salud, of zoals ze in Nederland zeggen, proost! What is Netherlands called in Spain? Oh, if you’re in Spain and feeling chatty with the locals, you’d call the Netherlands “Países Bajos”. It’s their go-to for what we know as the Netherlands, and boy, does it roll off the tongue! Is Holland same as Netherlands? Alright, let’s settle this once and for all: Holland is to the Netherlands as a slice is to the whole pizza. Holland actually refers just to two provinces in the Netherlands, but hey, it’s often used to mean the whole country. Not exactly the same, but close enough for jazz. Why is Netherlands called Países Bajos? Let’s take a quick trip to Europe – the Netherlands is called “Países Bajos” because it literally means “Low Countries,” and no joke, it’s super flat there. Makes sense, right? The majority of the land is at or below sea level. Go figure! What does Netherlands translate to? You know, “Netherlands” translates into “Low Countries” in English. And, nope, it’s not because they’re into limbo dancing; it’s simply ’cause much of the land is as flat as a pancake and low-lying. Why was it called Spanish Netherlands? Ah, the Spanish Netherlands! It was a bit of a throwback to the 16th century when a chunk of what we now call Belgium, Luxembourg, and, yep, the Netherlands was all cozied up under Spanish rule. Kinda has a ring to it, doesn’t it? What country is called the Netherlands? So, “what country is called the Netherlands?” you ask. Well, let me tell you, it’s that teeny-tiny powerhouse of a country in northwestern Europe, well-known for its canals, tulips, windmills, and bicycles. And, not to forget – the epic cheese! What 4 countries make up the Netherlands? Now, this one’s a bit tricky! The Netherlands itself is one country, but hold your horses, it’s also part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which has a total of four countries: the Netherlands itself, plus Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten. Who knew, right? Should I say Holland or Netherlands? Hey there, word nerd! So, should you say Holland or Netherlands? Well, the Netherlands is the official name of the country, but Holland, that’s like a nickname for just parts of it. Stick to the Netherlands to be on the safe side and not ruffle any feathers. What language is spoken in Netherlands? Dutch is the word! That’s right, Dutch is what people speak in the Netherlands. It’s their mother tongue, and they’re pretty proud of it, too. So, if you swing by, maybe learn a phrase or two. It’ll be a hoot! Is it OK to call the Netherlands Holland? Is it OK to call the Netherlands Holland? Well, it’s not the end of the world, but it’s kinda like calling your vacuum cleaner a Hoover when it’s not. People will get what you mean, but for the full picture, it’s the Netherlands – Holland’s just part of the whole shebang. What do the Dutch call themselves? The Dutch call themselves “Nederlanders,” and hey, they love their bikes, their orange color during sports, and their gezelligheid – that’s coziness for us non-Dutch speakers. What is Netherlands famous for? Oh, the Netherlands is famous for a bagful of goodies: stretches of tulips, windmills, mind-boggling bike paths, legal pot cafés, stroopwafels, and not to mention, a little painter you might’ve heard of – Vincent van Gogh. What do I call someone from the Netherlands? If you bump into someone from the Netherlands, just call them Dutch – simple as that. Sure beats saying “Netherlandian” or something equally tongue-twisting, don’t you think? What do the Dutch call the Netherlands? So, what do the Dutch call the Netherlands in their own lingo? It’s “Nederland”, my friend – rolls off the tongue after a stroopwafel or two. What are people from Holland called? If you’re hanging out in Holland (I mean, the provinces), you’d be chillin’ with the “Hollanders.” But remember, that’s just part of the crew from the Netherlands! What is the other name for Netherlands? Looking for the other name for the Netherlands? Say no more; it’s the “Low Countries”. But honestly, keep it simple and just stick with the Netherlands. Why complicate life? What was Netherlands previously called? Back in the day, before it was the Netherlands, it was known as the “Republic of the Seven United Netherlands.” A bit of a mouthful, and let’s face it, times change! When did Spain lose the Netherlands? History time! Spain waved goodbye to the Netherlands in 1581 when the northern territories said “adios” and declared their independence. It was quite the historical mic drop. Where do Dutch go in Spain? Whenever Dutch folks need some sun and fun, they jet off to Spain. Spots like Costa del Sol, Mallorca, and Ibiza are like magnets for them – beach, sun, and sandal-ready weather, they’ve got it all.

A tool to increase the utility of ocean observations Life in the ocean is the focus for the major new EU project BioEcoOcean. One main task will be developing a working method for supporting the development and coordination of ocean observations and measurements to make them comparable from one country, research group and management agency to the next. The project will last four years and has a budget of SEK 67.5 million. “Today, marine organisms are observed and monitored in various ways around the world. Nor is there any well-developed overall strategy for doing so,” says Lina Mtwana Nordlund, who is coordinating the project from Uppsala University. The lack of standardised methods makes it difficult to unequivocally answer questions about how organisms and ecosystems are responding to, for example, climate change. “I work a great deal with seagrass. But what should I be measuring? Someone might measure coverage – i.e., how large an area the plants cover – another how many plants there are and a third something else entirely. Globally standardised and coordinated measurements will allow us to compare our measurements with one another wherever one is on Earth, as one does with temperature for example,” explains Nordlund. Development of a tool The main task of the project, which is part of the European Commission’s key funding programme for research and innovation, Horizon Europe, will be to build a system that facilitates equivalent and more useful marine observations. Work will begin in earnest in early 2024. “We will be developing a tool to facilitate cooperation between planners, researchers, managers, data analysts and policymakers, among others. Development will take place in a co-creative process involving many different stakeholders. It is intended to support everyone involved with ocean observations in communicating with one another and thinking bigger,” says Nordlund. It is particularly important to standardise measurements of what are known as essential ocean variables, i.e., things that are measurable and considered particularly important to understanding populations and ecosystems. This may, for example, be a matter of the distribution or quantity of fish and submerged aquatic vegetation. Understanding natural variations and what causes them is necessary if we are to create better models of future scenarios. Studies of living organisms Aside from developing the tool, the project will also encompass a number of studies of living organisms at several locations around Europe. The aim is to work on many different types of ocean observations while simultaneously testing, adapting and developing the tool together with stakeholders. “I have what is known as a living lab on Gotland where I work with seagrass, fish and invertebrates. Among other things, we will see whether measurements can be taken more effectively. Aside from what we’re already measuring, what else can we measure in order to understand both positive and negative changes?” ponders Nordlund, for whom the organisation of marine environment observations on a global scale is nothing new. Since last year, she has been a member of the expert panel on biology and ecosystems for the Global Ocean Observing System, a programme led by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

A lottery is a gambling game where people pay for a chance to win a prize, such as money. In the United States, state governments run lotteries. These lotteries have a large profit margin, which they use to fund public projects, such as schools, roads, and bridges. There are also private lotteries that raise money for private organizations. Lotteries have a long history, and have been used by many cultures throughout the world to determine ownership of land, property, or other rights. In colonial America, lotteries played a vital role in raising funds for towns, wars, colleges, and canals. While most players think that they are simply playing for fun, the reality is that lotteries make billions of dollars every year. This money gets distributed among the retailers, overhead for the lottery system itself, and the state government. The state governments then use these funds to support infrastructure, education, and gambling addiction initiatives. However, some of this money is also spent on advertising to lure people to buy tickets. Super-sized jackpots are one way that lottery marketers get people to play, and they are also a great way to earn free publicity on news sites and television. Despite the high odds of winning, many people still play the lottery. This is because people want to be rich and it is a human instinct. Some people play the lottery for the money, but most do it because they believe that it will change their life for the better. The big problem with this is that people who win the lottery often spend all of their money on bad investments and end up in financial ruin. Most states allow people to purchase lottery tickets online, but many do not regulate the process. As a result, some of these sites may not be safe for you to use. To protect yourself, you should always check the site’s security policies before submitting any personal information. You should also check whether the website is secure before making a payment. In the United States, there are forty-four state lotteries and the District of Columbia. In fiscal year 2006, they took in $17.1 billion. Some of this money goes to educating children, while others go toward state government budgets, and some is even earmarked for fighting gambling addiction. Some of the state governments that began lotteries did so in order to raise money for social safety net programs. They saw the lottery as a way to expand those programs without having to increase taxes on the middle class and working class. They believed that the lottery could be a permanent source of revenue and would allow them to get rid of taxes altogether. This arrangement lasted for a while, but it eventually collapsed because of inflation and the cost of the Vietnam War. In addition, some states began to view the lottery as a form of hidden tax.

The South African Constitution as a Role Model for the United States 9 Pages Posted: 15 Feb 2011 Date Written: January 24, 2011 This article emphasizes the opportunity Americans have for considering whether the United States can push for constitutional amendments or statutory reform based upon lessons learned from South Africa. Adrien Wing was an adviser for several years to the African National Congress Constitutional Committee during the time period leading up to the adoption of the first democratic South African constitution. The 1996 permanent South African Constitution has provided equality on a much more sophisticated basis than the U.S. Constitution, overcoming a legacy of very recent de jure discrimination similar to, but also different from, the discrimination prevalent in the U.S. context. In this article Adrien Wing advocates for the U.S. to consider passing an amendment reinventing the U.S. Constitution equality clause along the lines of the South African equality clause. She also advocates, on a smaller scale, reestablishing a national dialogue on the defeated Equal Rights Amendment could successfully add gender into the U.S. Constitution. Additionally or in lieu of this approach, if the political process rejects it, this article calls for an intersectional approach to race and other identities in U.S. statutory law along the lines of South Africa Keywords: South African Constitution, Gender, Dialogue, Overcoming Discrimination, South Africa, Lessons Learned, U.S. Fourteenth Amendment, Reform, Critical Race Femenism, LGBT, Lesbian, Gay Constitutional Rights JEL Classification: K10, K49, K30, K39 Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

There is plenty of noise surrounding the conversation of hip-hop and harmony. Part of the confusion is rooted in the way hip-hop is defined but this is something we’ll talk about later. I remember reading a newspaper report a long time ago where the writer appeared to insinuate that hip-hop and rap, at their core, weren’t even music because they didn’t have harmony or melody. It’s a really funny thing to read if you know anything about the genre, or if you’ve even listened to it for more than 30 minutes at a time. However, what the writer argued was actually kind of true – in a way – because of what I’m about to explain to you now. Hip-hop and rap music, in their simplest form, do not have harmony because there has to be more than one melody to create harmony. However, once there is more than one rapper or a musical context such as a beat, then hip-hop and rap can be as harmonically rich as any other genre. The fact of the matter is you need more than one melody at a time for harmony to exist, and the same thing can be said about singers as well – not just rappers. A great singer without instrumentation or backup singers doesn’t have harmony either. It’s melodic, not harmonic. Moving on though, let’s talk more about when hip-hop, rap, and other genres do have harmony. Why Hip-Hop and Rap Music Contain Harmony Every type of music contains harmony, of course, but some people ask the question of whether it does or not because one single rapper, on their own, technically can’t create harmony. As I said before, there needs to be more than one melody at once, by definition, for harmony to exist. It helps to understand what melody is in the context of rap and hip-hop, so we’ll briefly explore that without making the whole article about it. Melody is that part of the song that gets stuck in your head when you listen to a track over and over again. Fundamentally, hip-hop melody can embody the piano, the MC, or any other instrument in the composition. In hip-hop and rap what happens is that the melody and harmony often take a backseat while the rapper and the rhythm act more as the centerpiece. This was especially true for the 1990s-era style hip-hop where rappers hadn’t started singing melodically as they do now. Someone like Nas, or DMX, for example, both of those guys are rappers in the traditional sense. New artists have blurred this line between rapping and singing. Regardless, there were still harmonies in hip-hop/rap of the 1990s too for a simple reason which is what I’ll talk about right now. By the way, Mark Sarnecki’s Complete Elementary Rudiments and then the Answer Book are a great start to some of these basic theory concepts. I talked about it in this video down below: 1) Hip-Hop Artists Rap Over ‘Beats’ Which Consist of Harmonies (By Definition) When producers and rappers talk about beats, they’re talking about the actual music. It’s the part of the song with the drums, the piano, synths, guitars, flutes, saxophones, and so on and so forth. Rappers get their hands on one of these beats and then they record their performance over it. This, by definition, is harmony. Try not to overthink it. The definition of harmony is different notes and sounds played together at the same time in a way that sounds good. And that’s precisely what rappers are doing when they rap over a beat that has a piano and a flute in it. They’re creating harmonies. Here’s a beat that I made that I think has some pretty nice harmonies in it: One of the cool things about rap and hip-hop is that it’s fairly versatile and adaptable. In other words, it’s easy to combine other genres with it like Middle Eastern sounds, maybe Chinese instrumentation like the Erhu, and so on. So rap beats can often include harmonies that would normally be associated with a different culture or style of music. Rap music can be melodic, although according to Eric Bernsen from Sonic Bids – a professional music journalist and specialist in the genre – hip-hop has a whole sub-genre known as melodic rap. Although hip-hop dates back to the 60s and 70s New York scene, it’s amazing how over the decades it has circulated throughout the known world and been infused with new flavors. These influences change and influence hip-hop harmonies all of the time. Check out Algerian hip-hop artist Soolking infusing elements of raï (Algerian folk music) into his productions. He is just one of many artists around the world who are influenced by hip-hop harmonies. People like this are introducing a new wave of harmonic sounds into mainstream hip-hop. 2) Harmonies Contain 2 or More Melodies – And Most Hip-Hop Songs Have This As I stated earlier, the presence of 2 or more melodies creates harmony in hip-hop. Harmonies can be made up of chords and chord progressions in the beat. An example that comes to mind is the aforementioned track “a lot” by 21 Savage ft. J. Cole. What do we hear in this sample? The rapper 21 Savage flows while a female voice produces a floating melody in the background. Another hip-hop track that demonstrates harmony and counterpoint is the track, “What’s Poppin,” featuring DaBaby, Tory Lanez, Lil Wayne, and Jack Harlow. You can hear how the vocal melodies move independently while complementing each other at the same time. Another song playing in my head that reminds me of great melody is James Blake’s “Life Round Here” featuring Chance the Rapper. The song is packed with harmony. Take a listen to the various textures the melodies and the harmonies create. Hip-hop culture is known for beatboxing. Technically a form of a cappella music, these people are gems who can imitate musical instruments to create the beat. Rappers then use this beat as musical context to deliver their verses and hooks. I recommend you listen to artists like Juice WRLD, Doja Cat, Post-Malone, slowTHAI, and Nas for more rich harmony. This is not an exhaustive list, by any means, but only a starting place. You’ll develop a palette for hip-hop harmonies that appeal most to you. 3) Rap and Hip-Hop Use Samples There are thousands of hip-hop and rap songs that use samples of harmonically rich music like jazz, soul, funk, R&B, and blues (here’s my guide on how to sample, by the way). Drake’s “Nice For What” uses the loop of Ms. Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” from her album Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. There are jazz and blues harmonies in Kanye West’s “Drive Slow” from a sample of Hank Crawford’s 1973 track “Wildflower.” Let’s not forget Kanye West’s “All Falls Down.” This track lights up the harmony in Lauryn Hill’s melodic sample “Mystery of Iniquity.” Sampling is what makes hip-hop harmonies sound fresh. Most listeners don’t know that a song is sampled unless they are familiar with the source. For example, Motown and Diana Ross fans may catch the sample of the “I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love)” in 21 Savage and Metro Boomin’s “Runnin.” Doja Cat’s song “Streets” starts off with a nostalgic sample from Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” 4) Modern Rappers such As Drake Sing More in Their Songs Drake is the kind of rapper that sings more than other rappers. He even sings when he is featured in other rappers’ songs. When you listen to a song like “Sicko Mode,” it is easy to pick up on Drake’s part among the multiple harmonies. Drake’s singing has become very much a part of his signature style. Drake is featured in the Migos hit “Walk It Talk It.” Listen to how you can clearly pick up that it is Drake’s part when he sings. 6LACK and J. Cole’s “Pretty Little Fears” is another great example of singing in harmony. Notice 6LACK is more of a singer than J. Cole. 6LACK harmonizes so well with the aid of the percussion set. The point is that the song consists of chord progressions and 6LACK sings melody over them. In its most practical form, this is the definition of harmony. Another great example of singing in harmony that comes to mind is Travis Scott’s “Can’t Say,” produced by Saint Laurent. And let’s not forget how Travis Scott and James Blake harmonize with each other in “Mile High.” This collaboration between Metro Boomin, James Blake, and Travis Scott is among my favorites in hip-hop harmony. Modern rappers choose to sing to diversify the kind of harmonies and melodies found in their songs. This creates space for the listener to experience the emotions of the song in between harmonies. In the sentimentally-charged harmony of “Ride Slow,” Russ’ tenor vocals harmonize to the beat, creating ballad-like drumming and humming patterns. 5) Beat Makers Use Arpeggiator and Soundscape Instruments Which Have Harmony By Definition In some songs, it may be challenging for certain parts to stand out as different from one another. It helps to introduce pads and other tools to spice up the harmonies in a song while still honoring what makes each part unique. Let’s explore creative ways beatmakers use technology in their favor to create harmony in hip-hop tracks. Tools like arpeggiator and soundscape instruments are popular in synthesizing hip-hop harmonies. All you have to do is play a C in an arpeggiator instrument, and it’ll play all kinds of notes and sounds that are in harmony with each other. This makes using these tools both fun and relatively easy. Using an arpeggiator instrument gives beat makers options to play chords in various patterns (i.e., think ascending, ascending and descending, random). LANDR gives a shortlist of how to get started on using arpeggiators in your tracks. Similarly, soundscape instruments offer a comparable luxury to beatmakers. Since chords and chord progressions are the foundations of hip-hop harmony, technology like this, with built-in harmony, supports beatmakers in creating more captivating loops. Given these digital instruments have harmony by definition, it keeps the – sometimes – arduous creative process simple. In the song “What They Want,” Russ plays with funky beats that are reminiscent of a dancehall-like rhythm. The harmony created here highlights accented claps, and the rapping reminds me of listening to a dancehall rhythm. This feeling comes from the way his raps harmonize with the kick. 6) 808 and Bass Patterns Are Made in Harmony With the Instrument and Vocal Melodies This is self-explanatory but worth mentioning on its own. Whenever a producer makes a beat, they have to make sure their 808 pattern is in the same key as the rest of the song. Metro Boomin’ is really good at making 808 patterns that sound great (here’s my guide on how to make sure your 808s are in tune, by the way). Metro Boomin-produced bangers “Space Cadet” and “No Complaints” are good examples of his classic 808 patterns. And we can’t forget the 808s in Rich the Kid’s “Plug Walk.” I also like the 808 patterns on Post Malone’s “Zack and Codeine.” They are well defined and you can almost hear a reverb-like quality to them. When a producer wants to round out the sound of the kick they actually increase the attack time on the kick. According to Anthony Albanese from LANDR, this is a good way to help your 808 bass pop from the other low-bass elements in your track. Let’s listen to an example of these bass patterns harmonizing with the vocal melodies of Kanye West in ScHoolboy Q “That Part.” Contrast this harmony to the aesthetic in the well-defined kick sound of Post Malone’s “Motley Crew.” Each time the 808 and bass patterns hit, they’re are aligned with the harmony and other instruments and vocal melodies. Important Things to Note About Hip-Hop and Harmony 1) Some People View Hip-Hop As One Giant Culture Which Rap Is Merely A Part Of I didn’t want to make this article about semantics, so I added this section down here. There is a lot of variation in the genre due to personal style and preference. For instance, you could say that one rapper, on their own, actually can create harmony because they can just rap over a recording of a beat – which many of them do. I’m thinking of Dreamville “Sacrifices” featuring EarthGang, J. Cole, Smino, and Saba. Rap by itself, or rap with only a beatboxer, is not as harmonically rich as other kinds of rap. Viewing hip-hop as a cultural phenomenon, and rap as its musical expression pushes us to approach and appreciate harmony in a new and interesting way. It can include dance, rap, music, style, fashion, etc., whereas rap almost exclusively refers to rap music. According to MIDI Nation, the differences between rap and hip-hop do exist. In this view, while rap is a music genre, it is born from hip-hop. Hip-hop, in turn, is more than merely a musical genre. It is also a lifestyle and a way of life.

Lake Titicaca is not only the highest navigable lake in the world, it’s also the place where you’ll discover the incredible Uros islands. These unique islands made of totora reeds hold historical and cultural value. In this blog post, we’ll learn more about the floating islands of Uros, as well as the locals that live there for more than hundreds of years already. Let’s get started and explore the unique connection between nature and culture in this post. What are the Uros Islands and How are They Built? A visit of the Uros Islands is one of the top things to do in Puno. They are not your typical islands, because they are artificially created from totora reeds, a local species that is widely available on Lake Titicaca. These reeds are skillfully woven by the Uros people, who produce floating platforms for their homes, schools and community spaces. The totora reeds that exist in the lake is used to create and maintain their floating islands. Reeds are placed in layers, anchored to the lakebed, and attached to stop them from moving. Fresh layers of reeds must be added to existing layers on a regular basis to maintain the islands’ stability and durability. There are around 60 to 70 islands in total. The number might vary yearly, though, due to the possibility of one island disappearing or merging with another island. History and Culture of the Uros People Origins of the Uros People The Uros people, whose history spans thousands of years, are thought to have started close to Lake Titicaca. Historical legend says that they retreated to the lake in search of safety in its great expanse of waters after encountering battles with nearby tribes. On the floating reed islands, their unique culture was created as a result of this movement. Lifestyle of the Uros People On the Uros Islands, a close relationship with nature and a sustainable way are central to daily life. They are very dependent on fishing and traditional crafts made from totora reeds. The inhabitants have developed complex weaving processes, creating beautiful crafts that serve as both a means of generating money and a way to maintain their cultural legacy. Nevertheless, you’ll find many fascinating buildings that reflect the unique lifestyle and architectural excellence of the Uros people. Some of the most impressive buildings are: Champa Houses: Serve as the Uros community’s homes and are located in the center of the Uros Islands. Community Meeting Halls: On the Uros Islands, important meetings and social events, such as weddings or other celebrations take place in these halls. Watchtowers: Watchtowers that rise above the floating islands offer breath-taking views of Lake Titicaca and the surrounding area. These tall buildings are used as observation posts to keep an eye on the shifting weather patterns and any dangers Handicraft Workshops: There are a number of small buildings dedicated to weaving and producing exquisite handicrafts spread out across the Uros Islands. Beautiful baskets, textiles, boats, and other distinctive objects are expertly crafted from totora reeds by Uros artisans. Next to these unique buildings, you’ll also find schools, hospitals and even a community radio station. Preservation of Local Traditions The Uros people have made impressive attempts to maintain their traditional way of life despite the effects of modernity. The Uros communities have successfully preserved their traditions, language, and distinctive attire while some islands have embraced tourism. During your visit to the islands, you will have the opportunity to participate in and observe local customs, such as their typical weaving or the unique fishing techniques they use to catch trout and other fish, as well as a boat ride on Lake Titicaca. The tribe of the Uros are an example of adaptability and resilience since they have survived for many years in a strange and difficult environment. Around 2000 Uros still live in Peru today, and 1200 of them do so on floating islands of Lake Titicaca. The Pukaras (1500 B.C.) were one of the earliest communities in America, and they left behind descendants who now live on the Islands of Uros. Furthermore, very little is known about this mystery society because there are no written records of it. For instance, we are aware that the Pukaras’ mythological “Pukina” language was spoken by the inhabitants of Uros. But when they started to trade and engage with the Aymara people, residents of the Titicaca lake borders, 500 years ago, they lost this and began to speak another ancient tongue known as Aymara. The Uros currently speak in their native Aymara tongue. The majority of their original culture is still present, despite the fact that they no longer speak their mother tongue. Journey to the Uros Islands How to Get to Lake Titicaca By plane: You can take a flight from Lima to Juliaca that takes 1:30 hours. By bus: The bus ride takes 20 to 24 hours, making it a lengthy trip. To make the journey more enjoyable, many bus companies provide cozy seats and onboard extras like meals and entertainment. By plane: There are only 1-stop flights via Lima that take 3.5 – 6 hours. The direct flights have been suspended for now. By bus: Depending on the route and rest stops, the bus trip takes about 6-7 hours. By plane: There only 1-stop flights via Lima that take 4 – 5 hours. By bus: Depending on the route and rest stops, the bus trip takes about 5 to 6 hours. For more information, have a read at our ultimate guide to exploring Lake Titicaca and its Islands. Uros Island Homestay Experience with Exploor Peru Once you arrive in Puno you’ll take a boat journey across the glimmering waters of Lake Titicaca to the Uros Islands. During your time on the island, you will be able to see firsthand the amazing craftsmanship and determination of the Uros people to build and maintain the island. The homestay is not luxurious, but includes a level of comfort that you won’t find on any other island. Apart from enjoying the beautifully decorated rooms with a view of Lake Titicaca, you can also try some traditional activities like fishing or canoeing, to truly immerse yourself in the local culture of the Uros. Before the first day ends, you will enjoy an unforgettable sunset on the highest navigable lake and enjoy regional food. Last but not least, you get to gaze at the sky full of stars at night. You’ll start your second day quite early to embrace a romantic sunrise before it’s time for breakfast and a tour to various Uros islands. After this adventure, you’ll continue your journey to the breathtaking Taquile Island. There, you can learn more about the local culture and the customs of the island’s people with the enormous lake in the back. This inaccessible island is one of the reasons to visit Lake Titicaca in Peru. As you can already see from our tour on Lake Titicaca, you will experience a unique adventure where you will embrace the beauty of the surroundings while learning more about the rich history of the locals. All of our local guides speak great English and will make your time unforgettable. These two incredible days are part of our 16-day tour through Peru. Best Time to Visit Uros Islands Lake Titicaca is a unique destination that is home to several islands and a must-visit during your time in Peru. The best time to visit Uros Islands is during the dry season, which lasts from May to September. In this season, temperatures range from 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F) in the day and as low as 5°C to 0°C (41°F to 32°F) at night. Around this time, the weather is frequently bright and mild, with clear sky and little chance of rain. However, the temperature can drop at night, so be careful to pack thick clothing. Due to intense rainfall and regular flooding, traveling during the rainy season, which lasts from October to April, can be more difficult. During the rainy season (October to April), temperatures can drop as low as 0°C to -5°C (32°F to 23°F) at night. Daytime temperatures typically range from 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F). Generally, it’s recommended to visit in the dry season, but the rainy season also has its advantages as there as less people and prices tend to be lower. Don’t Miss Out on this Must-See Destination The trip to the Uros Islands is a truly amazing experience that leaves a lasting impression with you. A privilege that shows the determination, creativity, and rich tradition of this unique group is to set foot on these floating reed islands and to immerse oneself in the lively culture of the Uros people. We highly recommend our readers to visit the Uros Islands on their own so they can see the breathtaking scenery, interact with the kind locals, and give back to the community. If you are interested in including this unique place to your itinerary then feel free to contact us.

When dealing with forward and futures contracts, calculating the implied interest rate is a necessary step in assessing the rate of returns across assets. Whether you deal with exchange rates, commodity prices or stock prices, you may need to calculate the implied interest rate. If you have a financial advisor, they may be able to assist you in determining the implied interest rate on your assets. This concept can be a bit complicated for novice investors to calculate on their own. What Are Implied Interest Rates? An implied interest rate conveys the difference between a forward/future rate and the spot rate. It's used most often when comparing returns across multiple assets and situations involving a forward or futures contract. Video of the Day When calculating the implied interest rate, the three values to know are the forward or future rate, representing the expected future value of the asset; the spot rate, which is the asset's current market value; and the amount of time until the contract matures. A positive implied rate indicates that future borrowing rates will increase. Conversely, a negative implied rate means that future borrowing rates will decrease. What Are Forward and Futures Contracts? Implied interest rates are most often used any time a forward or futures contract is involved. Investors use both contracts to hedge against risks by locking a specific price for an asset in place. While very similar, there are a few differences in terms of when each contract is used. Forward contracts are used to ensure the buying or selling of a specific asset at a set price, known as the forward price, and at a specified time, known as the contract maturity or expiration date. While similar, futures contracts, more commonly referred to as "futures," are settled daily, not at maturity. This allows futures to be bought or sold at any time. According to the team at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), most futures are liquidated prior to contract maturity. Futures also differ from forward contracts in the parties who make them. While forward contracts are private agreements made between two parties, futures are traded on public exchanges. Used in trading, futures are agreements between individuals or corporations to buy or sell a specific commodity at a future date, most often between hedgers and speculators, or those who profit from price changes in futures contracts, the CFTC writes. In a futures contract, the commodity price and amount are fixed at the time of the agreement. Additionally, some contracts allow a cash settlement instead of delivering the commodity. Calculating Implied Interest Rates Once you have the forward/futures, the spot rate values and the length of time, you can calculate the implied interest rate. The formula is as follows: Implied Rate = (Forward or Futures rate / Spot rate)1/Time - 1 For example, suppose you're calculating the implied interest rate on a stock that is currently trading for $100 and have a forward contract trading at $150 with a two-year maturity. The values for the equation are as follows: the forward rate is 150, the spot rate is 100 and the time is 2. Implied Interest Rate = (150/100)(1/2) - 1 = 22.5% Divide the futures rate of 150 by the current spot rate of 100. Since the contract matures in two years, raise the value to the power of 1/2, since the formula calls for 1 to be divided by the amount of time. Finally, subtract 1 from the value to find the implied interest rate. Consider also: Definition of Implicit Interest Rate

How Automated Software Testing Helps to Speed Up Delivery Automation testing is not new to the software industry. Innovators have used automation to create more efficient, intelligent, and personalized software products, ranging from chatbots to data analysis solutions. Development teams have implemented internal automation to streamline critical aspects of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). For example, automated software testing simplifies repetitive, time-consuming, and laborious manual testing. Increasing the speed and accuracy of each test case reduces overall testing effort and cost. This approach is discussed in depth in our quick guide to automated software testing and its importance in modern software delivery. Manual Testing vs. Automated Testing Services Manual software testing is when a tester runs the application and verifies the results. Manual testers document any flaws they discover. They may also determine the root cause of defects, recommend solutions, and validate fixes. Automation testing is the execution of test scripts using an automated software testing tool. The tool runs pre-recorded test cases or scripts that the user specifies. These tools automate much of the manual effort required to perform functional tests. Automated testing services can perform pre-defined tasks, compare results to expected behaviour, and report status. The tool can run single or multiple tests in a single environment. It can also manage the life cycle of automated tests, such as data management, script creation, and test execution. Read more: Different Types of Software Testing Automated software testing yields faster feedback. Automated software testing provides the team with immediate feedback to resolve issues before releasing code to production. The team can use automation to run scripts multiple times in a row. Furthermore, the test software automatically starts when the developer checks their code. Automated feedback at code check-in Automation software takes a snapshot of the test environment before running tests. A testing snapshot is a record of the test environment’s current state. It keeps track of which tests were run, passed and failed and optionally stores the actual test results in a database or spreadsheet. Snapshots are also known as “test passes” or “test runs.” If something goes wrong, developers receive immediate feedback. This allows them to address the issue quickly. This is especially useful in large teams, where a developer can run all their tests before checking in their code, allowing them to see if any other developers have broken anything. Allows teams to carry out testing early in SDLC Once development is complete, teams typically perform manual testing. There are two issues with this approach. To begin, waiting until development is complete necessitates the team mass testing the entire software at once. The second disadvantage of deferring until the end of development is that testers will almost certainly have a large backlog of issues. Automated testing services enable teams to evaluate software earlier in the SDLC, allowing them to catch issues sooner. The combination of Development and Operations (DevOps) is the key to testing earlier in the SDLC. The goal is collaborating with DevOps teams to deliver high-quality software more quickly. Teams can integrate automated testing software into the DevOps process in practice. As a result, the DevOps tools will run the tests automatically as part of the building and deploying code. Automation testing reduces delivery bottlenecks. According to a GitLab study, software testing is the most significant bottleneck in software delivery. These bottlenecks frequently cause delays as teams scramble to fix issues, lengthening time to market or resulting in sparse releases as features are cut due to bugs. So, what are the most common causes of bottlenecks? Teams are frequently forced to revisit unclear or outdated tests, update the test cases, and re-run them due to tester inconsistency. When testing must scale to meet the growth of a software product, manual testing becomes inefficient because each tester is limited by bandwidth. Automation simplifies testing. Machines, unlike humans, require precision and specificity in test cases, implying that testing is consistent and exact. Automation, similarly, enables teams to scale their testing efforts. They can add an unlimited number of tests and run them in parallel without hiring additional personnel. Furthermore, automation can run tests repeatedly, providing feedback early and frequently in the SDLC. These benefits enable teams to address issues before delivery, avoiding a bug bottleneck. Automated software testing allows for better test coverage Software test coverage is the percentage of a program’s code executed by one or more tests. The more code that is tested, the less likely it is that a program will contain errors. However, automation testing allows for more granular testing than manual testing. Additional types of testing include: Functional testing verifies the functionality of a software application by utilizing its user interface. Unit testing is a type of evaluation that examines the functionality or code within individual units, modules, and methods. This method can be applied to a single class at a time, or it can be applied to multiple classes with different input parameters. Assume a method is used to calculate the total cost of a purchase order. The method is called several times with different arguments in a unit test. If one of the calls fails, both the test and the code have failed. Integration testing ensures that all components of the system function properly. Integration testing is software testing that ensures that all of a system’s components work together. Integration testing is more complicated than unit and functional testing and may involve multiple components. Because the integration of new features can have an impact on the existing system, integration testing is a continuous process. Why Choosing Bestarion as Your Software Testing Partner Bestarion, leading software development and consulting firm, can provide your organization with the appropriate test environment and test automation tools to ensure that your company delivers the highest quality software product to the market. Bestarion evaluates your existing platform and collaborates with you to create a custom automation strategy using agile methodology and proven best-in-class test automation tools. Our software development pioneers help pave the way for a faster product release for your company by leveraging automation earlier in the delivery cycle.

While Christmas is an enjoyable time, there’s no doubt that food is a central component. This can make it a challenging time if you struggle around food or have a difficult relationship with foods. Learning to eat more mindfully and intuitively can help you feel more in control around food, feel less guilt about food choices and is a valuable skill to practice throughout the year, not just at Christmas. Learning to eat mindfully takes time, however, here are our top tips for getting started: Eat foods that make you feel good – physically and mentally. For some people, this could be a creamy hot chocolate while watching your favourite Christmas movie or a mince pie with a friend. These foods might nourish our mind and our mood. Other times you might crave a piece of fruit, an extra helping of veg with your dinner or an alcohol-free day because you feel like your body is craving this. There are no ‘good or bad’ foods, just food. Same as we are not ‘good or bad’ depending on the foods we eat. Removing feelings of shame or guilt around food gives us so much more freedom and ultimately, we are more likely to choose a balanced diet. Check in with your hunger and fullness signals. Sometimes we can become out of touch with our hunger and fullness signals and not trust ourselves to know when we are hungry or full. This can often be a result of years of dieting, following restrictive meal plans and being told exactly what and when to eat. No wonder we can be scared to trust ourselves. However, we can learn to connect with these signals again. You can do this by regularly using the hunger scale (right). Ideally you would like to be around a 4 before a meal and 6 after a meal. Look out for hunger signals like stomach grumbling, constant thoughts about food, low energy levels, feeling faint or irritable. It’s also important to check in with your fullness signals, particularly at Christmas when we tend to be surrounded by endless supplies of food. We can override the feeling of fullness and intentionally eat more, sometimes to the point of feeling uncomfortably full. Check in with yourself while you are eating and if you’re starting to feel satisfied, stop. You an always come back and finish the meal later if you are still hungry. Check in with your mood. If you are craving something to eat, but you don’t actually feel hungry, check to see if this is more of an emotional hunger rather than a physical hunger. Often, we crave certain foods in response to emotions such as stress, boredom, loneliness, tiredness etc. Ask yourself ‘What emotion am I feeding?’. Over time this helps us to separate physical and emotional hunger and can help us to learn other ways of coping with our emotions. Some things that can help would be to include some gentle movement of exercise, getting stuck into your favourite hobby or taking 10 minutes to practice some mindfulness. Ditch the weighing scales. Your value is not measured by a number on the scales. Your health cannot be measured by a number on the scales. If, like a lot of people I work with, you find the scales can affect your mood and your behaviours then get rid of it. Focus on measuring your progress in other ways – are you noticing an improvement in your mood, energy levels, sleep, fitness? Do you feel like you are developing a better routine and healthier habits? Have you noticed improvements in your blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes control? These are the ways you should measure your progress, not by a number on a weighing scales. Don’t plan to start a diet in January. You may be familiar with the cycle – restrict in November, go all out in December, and then come January 1st clear out the cupboards and go cold turkey. Only to eventually fall back into old habits after a few weeks. This approach doesn’t work long term. Finding a way of eating and exercising that is sustainable, that doesn’t restrict foods and doesn’t make us feel guilty or ashamed when we inevitably go ‘off plan’ is a much healthier and more effective approach. Why not try set goals that are realistic and achievable? For example, aim to start eating 3 meals per day and not skipping lunch, try to get one less takeaway per week and aim to go for at least 3 half hour walks each week. These are much more realistic goals than ones like saying you will cut out all sweets, chocolate, takeaways, cook all meals from scratch and exercise every day for the next year. Don’t set yourself up to fail. If you would like to find out more about mindful and intuitive eating, Croí will be running intuitive eating group programmes in 2024. Please click here for more information. Written by Aisling Harris, Croí Cardiac and Weight Management Dietitian

Whether you’re a middle-aged thrill seeker or a senior that has trouble walking up the stairs, as you age through life, you likely become more aware that your body isn’t as durable as it once was. Bruises that used to fade within a couple of days can last for weeks and appear much more quickly than they used to. Also, as you age, your bones become more brittle. Falling off of a bike as a ten-year-old is often no big deal, but as a middle-aged person or a senior, such a fall is no joke. It’s not always wise to swear off physical activities that bring you enjoyment — like biking or hiking. Injuries can happen in our home, from a slip in the shower to falling down the stairs. The good news is, there are some ways you can prevent injuries as you age. Staying fit is essential to preventing injury, especially for people over the age of 40. As you age, it becomes more difficult to maintain muscle mass, so it’s imperative that you continue to exercise to keep your body strong and resilient. Consider exercises that focus on strength training, flexibility, and balance. Warm Up Before Physical Activity If you are still staying active and enjoy playing sports, exercising, or engaging in other physical activities, as you age the need to warm up your body becomes more apparent. Warming prepares the body for physical exertion by increasing your heart rate and increasing blood flow to your muscles. This is a great way to prevent injury while exercising, playing sports, or doing any other physical activity. After you warm up, your muscles will become more flexible and it will make stretching easier. Stretching will prepare your body for the exercise and prevent injury to your muscles, tendons, and joints. If you’re going on a run or a walk, start off slow and gradually increase your speed until you’re at a comfortable pace. The same goes for other forms of exercise and physical therapy. This will prevent you from over-exerting yourself and sustaining any injury. Cooling down after your exercise will help prevent sore muscles and bring your body back to its natural resting state. Cool down with some light cardiovascular exercise and some stretching. If you’re the type of person who likes to stay active 7 days a week, consider choosing one day to rest and recover. Resting will prevent you from overworking your body and will help to prevent injury while maximizing gains. A good diet is a great way to prevent injury. Try replacing processed foods with whole foods and cutting down on your sugar intake. Pay attention to your protein and nutrient intake. A healthy diet will make your body stronger and more resilient, while a poor diet may contribute to muscle weakness. Also, make sure to stay hydrated. A healthy body needs plenty of water and electrolytes to stay healthy and resilient. So whenever you engage in physical activity, make sure to bring enough water. Check In With Your Body If you have any chronic pain or physical problems, it’s best to get it checked out early. Sometimes, chronic pain in our body may be caused by an injury elsewhere. An early diagnosis and treatment are always the most effective, so check in with your body to make sure you aren’t ignoring any warning signs. While we don’t want to recommend that anybody completely abandon their favorite hobbies, if you are someone who engages in dangerous activities, such as rock climbing, mountain biking, or downhill skiing, as you get older, it’s wise to scale back for injury prevention. Rather than challenging yourself and taking big risks, consider taking a more leisurely approach. To learn more about preventing injuries as you age, contact your physical therapist at ProFizix in Los Angeles at 310-742-2230.

Yet not all is rosy with the lander, apparently — it last communicated with Rosetta two weeks ago (on July 9). Part of the problem appears to be in establishing a solid link between the two spacecraft. The task has become harder as the comet approaches the Sun and becomes more active, forcing mission controllers to move Rosetta farther from the nucleus and making communications between the two probes difficult. The comet’s activity should peak around its closest approach to the Sun, which arrives August 12/13. ESA scientists hope to reestablish consistent contact with Philae so that it will be able to monitor the surface during this critical period. But in any case, Rosetta will continue its daring reconnaissance from above as scientists strive to learn more about these visitors from the solar system’s depths. Here we present some of the best recently released images from Rosetta showing many incredible landforms on Comet 67P’s surface.

One day inventor Dean Kamen saw a young man in a wheelchair struggling to get over a sidewalk. He realized that the problem wasn’t an ineffective wheelchair, it was that the world was built for people who could balance. Subsequently, he and his team created the Independence IBOT Mobility System, a self-balancing mobility device that enables users to climb stairs and negotiate uneven surfaces. After that, the thought arose that a balance machine had far-reaching possibilities for people with full mobility as well. Our inspiration for the name Segway came from the word segue, which is defined as transitioning smoothly from one state to another. Segway transforms a person into an empowered pedestrian, allowing him/her to go farther, move more quickly and carry more.

A lottery togel pulsa is a game where people pay for tickets to win prizes. The winnings can be anything from a small prize to a big jackpot. The odds of winning are very low, but many people play for fun or as a way to improve their lives. In the United States, lotteries generate billions of dollars each year. A popular example of a lottery is the state-run contest where people buy tickets and hope to win money. However, a lottery can also refer to any type of contest where the winners are chosen at random. These can include things like selecting students for a school or choosing units in a housing project. Regardless of how the lottery is run, there are a few important things to keep in mind. While there are no guarantees, you can increase your chances of winning by choosing numbers that appear less frequently. This will reduce the competition you have to face. Mathematically, the best tool you have to win a lottery is to understand the probability of each number pattern and choose combinations that have an adequate chance of winning. The word “lottery” comes from the Latin “loterie,” meaning the drawing of lots. Its first recorded use was in the Roman Empire, where it was used as an amusement at dinner parties or other social events. Prizes were usually fancy items such as tableware. Increasingly, the lottery became popular throughout Europe as an alternative to paying taxes or buying goods with cash. Publicly organized lotteries began to raise money for various purposes, including building colleges such as Harvard, Dartmouth, and Yale. Privately organized lotteries were also common in America. Lottery profits are often claimed to benefit some public good such as education, but research shows that this is not always the case. In fact, lotteries have become even more popular when state government budgets are tight. This is because the profits of a lottery are often perceived as an alternative to raising taxes or cutting essential services. As with any business, lottery operations are designed to maximize revenue through advertising and the promotion of gambling. This has led to controversy over whether or not the lottery is in the public interest. Some critics argue that it promotes gambling by encouraging people to spend more than they can afford, and it may have negative consequences for poorer populations or problem gamblers. Others point to the fact that state lotteries tend to evolve incrementally with little or no oversight, making it difficult to ensure that their policies are consistent with the general public interest. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide whether or not to play the lottery. If you’re lucky enough to have a winning combination, you’ll be happy you did! However, remember that luck and persistence are key factors in any successful lottery strategy. If you don’t have any of the latter, you might find it helpful to consult a mathematical expert like Stefan Mandel, who has won the lottery 14 times.

Good grammar isn’t just something your primary school teacher tried to beat into your head – it’s a necessity in today’s world. And it doesn’t matter if you’re doing academic research, writing a quarterly report or crafting the next great novel, the quality of your writing is a direct reflection of your professionalism and your credibility. To be able to write in a way that’s refined, engaging, interesting and most importantly readable, you have to have good grammar. But what actually goes into grammar analysis and how do you do it? Let’s take a closer look and discover the ways that you can take your writing from “meh” to marvelous! Why Good Grammar Matters Grammar is at the very heart of your writing. It’s the set of rules that dictate how words can be used and how sentences should be structured. Good grammar makes your writing easier to understand and conveys what you want to share in a way that’s clear and straightforward. Bad grammar can lead to misunderstandings, confusion and unfortunately, stain your reputation as a content creator. Good grammar goes beyond just communicating your message clearly though. It also speaks volumes in professional settings and shows your attention and respect for the reader and their ability to understand what you’re writing. Good grammar can help make your arguments or perspectives more persuasive. So as you can see, writing good well is not just a skill that’s “nice to have”, it’s a must-have in order to engage your readers and keep them coming back for more. And although we’re often taught the rules and structure and how grammar works in our writing, we’re never really shown how to do an accurate and detailed grammar analysis. Fortunately, we at Originality.AI are here to help! There are several ways to do a grammar analysis. The good news is that you can often pick and choose the method that works best for you depending on your needs. Before we jump right in though, it’s important to take two preliminary steps. These will ensure that you’ve not only got a good grasp on grammar itself, but will also help you sidestep any major errors in your writing before you even get to the analysis part. Before You Begin: Review the Basics Before you even jump into analyzing the grammar of your writing, it’s important to review the basics if you’re a little rusty. There are plenty of great resources online that can walk you through it painlessly. Refresh your knowledge of things like parts of speech, sentence structure, verb tenses, punctuation and every grammarian’s favorite, dangling participles. Once you’ve got a clear grasp on the fundamentals, it’s time to move onto the first step. The First Step: Self-Editing Once you finish a draft, take a break. You’ve read over that draft dozens of times already and because your brain thinks that it knows it already, it’s easy to gloss over the same sentences and words without realizing that there’s anything wrong with them. Next, come back and review your work with fresh eyes. Look for common issues like subject-verb agreement, misplaced modifiers and comma splices. Once you’ve given your work a once-over, it’s time to dive into the grammar check test. Online Grammar Checkers Having an article grammar checker by your side can be a great way to save time and make sure that your writing is as polished as possible. There are several online tools that help you check text grammar, including Grammarly, ProWritingAid, Hemingway and many others. All of them have their pros and cons. For example, true to its name,Hemingway encourages more concise and straightforward writing, but this can lead to an oversimplification when trying to explain more complex ideas. It also doesn’t understand context and nuance to the level of depth that a human writer does and will often flag things unnecessarily. Having a peer or colleague review your writing is a great way to get another set of eyes on your content. It’s entirely possible that through their reading, they’ll catch errors you missed. You can also seek out online forums and other communities for an unbiased review. For important documents, it may be worth hiring a professional editor. Their background in grammar, punctuation, flow and other aspects of writing can provide you with a detailed analysis and give you ideas and suggestions for improvement. Reverse reading can be a great way to “trick your brain” and force it out of its familiarity rut. Read your work backwards sentence by sentence or even word by word. It helps to break the flow of reading which in turn helps you focus on individual sentences and words, bringing errors more clearly to the forefront so you can correct them. Using different colors to highlight different parts of speech (including nouns, verbs, adjectives and so on) can help you quickly identify common grammatical issues like the overuse of passive voice or adverbs). This throwback to your primary school days may be old-school, but in some instances it can be incredibly helpful. By visually mapping out the structure of your sentences into individual components, you can see how their grammatical relationships are defined and spot errors more easily. Read at a Different Speed Remember how I said that your brain likes to jump over things you’ve already read because it’s familiar? Reading at a different speed helps to break that pattern. A slow, deliberate read can help you focus on the details of grammar while a quick read can help you spot issues with the overall flow of your piece. Read Out Loud Record yourself reading your work out loud. Listening to yourself read aloud, especially areas where you might stumble, can help you uncover grammatical errors or awkward phrasing that you might not notice when reading silently. Common Grammar Pitfalls to Avoid Even the most skilled writers can fall victim to certain common grammatical pitfalls. Here are some of the most common ones to watch out for: Subject verb agreement - The team of researchers are presenting their findings tomorrow, versus the team of researchers is presenting their findings tomorrow. Team is singular, so the verb should be singular as well. Run-on sentences and fragments - The conference was enlightening it provided many networking opportunities. This run on sentence needs a semicolon after enlightening. A sentence fragment example would be “Although the storm was approaching.” Although the storm was approaching…(what happened next?) Misplaced modifiers - I almost saw all the paintings in the museum in one hour versus the correct I saw almost all the paintings in the museum in one hour. “Almost” should be placed before “all the paintings”. Incorrect punctuation - My friend, who lives in New York, and loves jazz, is visiting next week uses the comma incorrectly versus My friend, who lives in New York and loves jazz, is visiting next week. Or, The Smith’s are coming to the party versus the correct version: The Smiths are coming to the party. Passive voice overuse - One of the most common grammatical errors. An example would be The new product was launched by the company last week, versus The company launched the new product last week. How to Make Your Writing Sound More Polished The bottom line is that if you want to grammar check text beyond what an article grammar checker covers, it’s important to read your work aloud, simplify where possible and as with any skill worth knowing – practice! Be consistent in your tone of voice and your stylistic choices. The more you write, the better you’ll become! Try Originality.AI’s comprehensive collection of writing tools to help you improve your writing, including our free Sentence Rewriter and Readability Checker and see the difference for yourself!

Firefighters are a rare breed. They rush in when all others flee. They sacrifice themselves in ways little and large. And since the actions of the First Responders and their brethren on September 11, 2001, awareness of what firefighters do has heightened. Over that decade, firefighters countrywide have become even more revered, perhaps nonewhere more so than in New York City. The best place to learn about the history of firefighting in New York City – as well as to view artifacts, see collections, absorb the culture of firefighting, and learn about fire prevention and safety – is the New York City Fire Museum. The original museum opened in 1934 as the Fire College Museum in Long Island City. A quarter of a century later, the collection moved to a working Manhattan fire station, where it stayed for just over two decades, until the Home Insurance Company, in 1981, presented its own collection of firefighter and firefighting paraphernalia and memorabilia. This paved the way for The Friends of New York City Fire Department Collection. A non-profit, the collection was meant to raise funds for the renovation of the former Engine Company No. 30, an early twentieth century firehouse on Spring Street. Six years later, the New York City Fire Museum swung open its doors. The museum houses one of the country’s most impressive – and most important – collections of fire-themed art and artifacts, some dating as far back as the 18th century. Visitors can view such pieces as helmets, lanterns, tools, leather buckets, and early motorized gadgets and devices. Additional items on display include parade belts and hats, uniform parts and insignia, horse-drawn vehicles, and hand pumped fire engines from before the Civil War. One of the most impressive pieces of the collection is the “Farnam”-style fire engine, one of the earliest fire engines in North America. This amazing engine was built in New York in the 1790s. Of course, the museum has extensive collections of modern tools such as the Halligan forcible entry apparatus and the Jaws of Life. A display focusing on the evolution of firefighter clothing is also presented, including bunker gear and turnout coats (displayed on mannequins). As you would expect, the Museum contains a moving memorial to the 343 firefighters of the Fire Department of New York who gave their lives on 9/11. Included with the memorial is a display of a number of artifacts that were recovered from the World Trade Center site on that fateful day. As visitors stroll through the museum and take everything in, firefighters are on hand to answer questions, explain firefighting maneuvers, pose for pictures, and impart their wisdom not only on how to contain a fire but also how to prevent one. There’s a mock apartment with an articial smoke machine to mimic real conditions of a fire, as well as a video room for viewing and black lighted fire hazards that supplement the museum’s fire education program for schoolkids from kindergarden to high school seniors. 40,000 visitors from all over the country and world find their way to the museum to take in the amazing collection and have a chat with active and retired FDNY firefighters. For more information, including museum hours and directions, please click here.

Gottwald Science Center Gottwald Science center Gottwald science center before 2002 renovations Backstory and Context The Gottwald Sscience Ccenter is one of the most prominent buildings on the Westhampton College side of campus because of its size and style. The building’s unusualodd shape and unusual form of the combined with the fact that it only vaguely follows the gothic architecture trendthat defines of the rest of the campus makes the buildingit a stand out. Despite the building’s oddities, it is a perfect breeding ground for innovative collaboration between different science fields in both lab and classroom spaces. The sciences were not always held in Gottwald, but instead a two- story wood-framed building called Heavenward, that positionedfell between the lake and the power plant called Heavenward. This building was later destroyed in a terrible fire in on October 21, 1925 that. The fire began around 11:30 pm and completely consumed the building in flames by 1:30 am. The fire spread quickly and set off small explosions when storerooms of chemicals caught fire. In all, around $50,000 worth of property was lost[i], including: expensive equipment, manuscripts, and chemical formula[ii]. Because the science building was so close to the power house, that facility the power house was put in serious danger. In the end, the flames were contained before they could spread beyond the Heavenward, but the building was in complete disarray and nothing could be salvaged from the building. The science classes were moved to the Pplayhouse, which was one of the original structures of the amusement park that occupied the land before the university took over in 1910. Later, in April 1927, Puryear Hall opened as the chemistry building; in October 1930, Richmond Hall opened as the physics building; and in April 1933, Maryland Hall opened as the biology building. Ground was broken for the new science center, what is now known as The Gottwald Science Center, in march of 1976, after funds were raised in a campaign called “Our Time in History.”. A planning committee visited 39 undergraduate science facilities to see what other college’s’ and universities’ science buildings were like. The design of the building was based on the science center at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. Gottwald is a three-storyied building that houses three natural sciences, chemistry, biology, and physics. Each science has its own section that spreads vertically to all three floors, and all of the departments surround one combined library. for all three natural sciences. This design allows for the interdisciplinary nature of science because of the proximity of the departments horizontally. The building also has a unique structure, with no load bearing walls on the interior. This feature allows for quick and easy expansions and development to the building, with the change and advancement in technology and the field of science. When it first opened opened, the building housed 26 student-faculty research laboratories, 27 teaching labs, five classrooms, an auditorium, faculty offices, “computational areas,” a shop complex, a radionuclide complex, an electron microscope suite, a greenhouse, and animal facilities, and the science library. The building was dedicated over two days in March of 1978, with the overarching theme of “tThe importance of undergraduate science education.”. The building was not named The Gottwald Science center until a year later, after a 4-million-dollar gift was donated to the school in honor of Floyd D. Gottwald, who served as a board member. The donation covered half the cost of the project and was then the second largest gift tThe University had ever received. The bBuilding remained the same until 2002 when 35 million dollar in renovations were approved. From Tthe first plans, brought they foresaw about 28,000 newextra square feet to the facility[iii]. The plan incorporated the newest technologies and included adding new lab spaces, and as well as adding more flexibility for the building to be upgraded as new technologies arose. Cosmetically, the plan included a new entry to the building to so it could more closely fit the gothic style of the rest of campus. The building created space for Even though the science center mainly held biology, chemistry and physics in the past, the science department added five innovative interdisciplinary science discovery centers, including centers for material science, nuclear and particle physics, neuroscience, biological chemistry, and environmental science. The science center was completed and dedicated in 2005 and 2006 respectively[iv]. The renovation and expansion totaled 37 million dollars. The project did comehis was not without some inconvenience[v]. Despite the building being semi-complete in the fall of 2004, noise cluttered hallways, and water damage caused many science classes to be held in other buildings. The chemistry department felt the largest impact of this. Because the department was not complete, it had to be absorbed into other science areas or completely different buildings. This limited the chemistry curriculum that year. The addition of tThe Gottwald Science Building played a major role in the evolution and development of the science program at university of Richmond. In 2015, the lab facilities were ranked number three in the nation[vi]. Because of Richmond’s superior science facilities, it competes with many leading research universitiescolleges. With the growth in interest in the science programs, the University of Richmond will likely keep evolving its science program with the times, bringing changes and upgrades to the current Gottwald building.

What are the traditional Russian dachas (cottages) If you ever decide to visit Ukraine or Russia, make sure you take a trip outside the city into the rural communities which host dachas, the traditionally small homes many Russian’s and Ukrainian’s escape to. For those who have never heard of a dacha, here is a little history lesson for you! The Russian dachas (stemming from the Russian word to give – davat) date back to about 400 years ago, when tsars would give land to the people as a gift. By the 17th- 18th century, the Russian nobility would host parties, gatherings and retreats at their dachas which transformed dachas into a symbol of status, wealth and prestige in the eccentric Russian society. In addition to dachas serving as an escape from the bustling of everyday life, Russian writers, poets and artists, such as Pushkin are known to have written some of their most famous Russian works in their family dachas. The idea of dachas swiftly changed with political and civil unrest in the beginning of the 20th century. World War I, World War II and the Bolshevik movement transformed the understood concept of dachas. WWI and WWII became a pivotal moment for rural communities because many villages and towns were heavily destroyed. The Bolshevik movement gave power to the working class people and distributed dachas among the population. Restrictions in the Soviet Union shortly prohibited people from dwelling solely in their dachas and enforced a maximum size for lots. This ensured that there was a strong workforce in the cities. Instead, little dachas were built in close proximity to one another and only into the 80’s was the land restriction lifted to allow for larger lots sizes. Consequently, a new wave of sustainable living emerged! How are Dachas sustainable? Over the last couple of decades, dacha communities have become a sustainable living environment. With lot sizes being relatively bigger than what we see in typical North American cottage communities, dacha owners resort to growing their own fruits and vegetables, and farming animals such as goats, chickens, pigs and cows. Many dacha communities have rivers, ponds and/or makeshift lakes which is perfect for those who enjoy fishing, swimming or water sports! Dacha communities are generally a few hundred houses, therefore, the transportation of choice is bikes, scooters, or walking! In general, dacha villages are perfect for anyone who is seeking to leave a smaller ecological footprint while enjoying fresh, natural produce and outdoor activities. Dacha communities have become not only vacation homes, but full time living communities for some families. Many Russians and Ukrainians prefer the outdoor lifestyle at their dachas to the bustling city life. According to Moscow Times, about 60 million Russians owned dachas in 2019; nearly half of the population of Russia. However, dachas have yet again become a symbol of status for some prominent Russian and Ukrainian figures. The original small, wooden and brick facade of dachas have taken on a new face. Most dachas now have full plumbing, heating, electricity and others more expensive dachas even have indoor Russian banyas, and pools. Russian Dachas vs. Canadian Cottages Dachas have been at the forefront of Russian and Ukrainian living for many centuries. They started off as small vacation homes, often times lacking essential amenities. Overtime, they were transformed into a status symbol and they continue to be a means for a healthy and natural lifestyle. Canada as a much younger country possesses an equally up-and-coming Cottage culture. However, the purpose of Cottage ownership within Canada is extremely similar to that of the Dacha. It is a location where family and friends can come to relax and enjoy some quality time together.

Infant birth weight is a significant predictor of the immediate and future health status of a newborn and low birth weight (LBW) and is a major public health concern and one of the strongest single risk factors for early neonatal mortality and morbidity. The study investigated the inequalities in rural and urban area in low birth weight in India. The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), 2015-16 has been used for this study. Fairlie (1999) decomposition technique has been used to estimate the rural-urban differentials and the contribution of a set of variables to low birth weight. Result suggested that rural disadvantages in terms of birth weight of newborn compared with urban area for the same especially in lower and middle ages of mothers at the time of birth. Decomposition results indicated that 50 percent contribution from cooking fuel and 84 percent from mother’s education to widening the rural-urban gap in low birth weight. Presented in Session 7. Migration & Urbanization

June 22, 2003 June 22, 2003 June 25, 2003 8.591.1 - 8.591.14 Games as Teaching Tools in Engineering Mechanics Courses Timothy A. Philpot, Nancy Hubing, Richard H. Hall, Ralph E. Flori, David B. Oglesby, Vikas Yellamraju University of Missouri-Rolla The computer as a teaching medium affords new opportunities for creative instructional activities that are not possible in the traditional lecture and textbook format. One such type of activity is the use of interactive games. Several games have been developed and implemented in the Statics and Mechanics of Materials courses at the University of Missouri – Rolla. These games focus on fundamental topics such as centroids, moments of inertia, shear force and bending moment diagrams, the first moment of area Q, and Mohr’s Circle for plane stress. These games seek to develop the student’s proficiency and confidence in narrowly defined but essential topic areas using repetition and carefully constructed levels of difficulty. The game format provides students with a learning structure and an incentive to develop their skills at their own pace in a non-judgmental but competitive and often fun environment. Performance improvements and student reaction to the games are discussed. Engineering mechanics courses such as Statics and Mechanics of Materials are courses that seek to develop the student’s ability to analyze basic engineering machines, mechanisms, and structures and to determine the information necessary to properly design these configurations. Fundamental calculations such as centroids, moments of inertia, shear force and bending moment diagrams, and Mohr’s circle transformations are building blocks that students must employ to solve problems and develop designs in a variety of situations. Accordingly, the likelihood of a student’s success in engineering mechanics courses is enhanced if they master these fundamentals. It is often assumed that repetition leads to proficiency; however, few students relish working dozens of problems on a particular topic. To make the learning process more enjoyable, repetition and drill on a specific topic can be encapsulated in a game context. Through the challenge of the game, the student can receive the benefits of repetition without the sense of labor that they might feel otherwise. A game context provides students with a structure for learning and permits students to develop their skills at their own pace in a non-judgmental but competitive and often fun environment. Since the computer is a medium that is well suited for repetitive processes and for numeric calculations, computer-based games focused on specific calculation processes offer great potential as a new (or perhaps updated) type of learning tool for engineering mechanics courses. At the University of Missouri – Rolla, several computer-based games have been developed to supplement the Statics and Mechanics of Materials courses. These games focus on narrowly defined topic areas with the intent of helping students develop proficiency in basic calculations. In this paper, games targeted on three fundamental calculation skills – centroids, the first Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education Hall, R., & Hubing, N., & Oglesby, D., & Yellamraju, V., & Flori, R., & Philpot, T. (2003, June), Games As Teaching Tools In Engineering Mechanics Courses Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--11926 ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2003 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015

What is Process Documentation? Process documentation is the method of recording, mapping, and describing business processes as they are being executed by staff members. It is designed to help employees and managers gain a better understanding of process workflows—essential for determining opportunities for optimizing performance and operational agility. Although procedures and policies are referenced within the process documentation, it is important to note that process documentation is not the same as documenting procedures and policies. Whilst documentation of procedures and policies outline step-by-step directions and guidelines or laws for carrying out a process, process documentation outlines the necessary activities needed for completing the process or task from beginning to end. Processes are what keep a business running. It is for that reason that processes need to be continually analyzed and reviewed, to determine which are still working and which ones need eliminating or changing. Why document it though? “Whether your organization is looking to create new processes or refine existing ones, it is crucial to have processes documented.” Whether your organization is looking to create new processes or refine existing ones, it is crucial to have processes documented. Process documentation serves as a roadmap for the organization. While it may be a task that’s seemingly tedious and time-consuming, it actually provides organizations with a number of benefits, some of which are: - Ensures consistency – Process documentation removes the guesswork from processes. This is especially important for processes that are repetitive and are being completed by multiple people; without a documented process, it ends up being reinvented. - Tracks effectiveness – Stay in the loop of what is happening in the organization. Process documentation allows organizations to get an insight into how processes are actually being executed by staff members. These insights allow them to create well-thought decisions in process optimization. - Creates a knowledge base – A knowledge base is a collection of documentation that typically includes information about a process such as how-to’s and troubleshooting. Process documentations are an excellent way of preserving process knowledge from employees that are exiting the organization. It also becomes advantageous in facilitating smooth onboarding and training for new employees. Simply put, process documentation becomes valuable for standardizing and scaling operations. To better visualize the tasks involved in creating a successful process documentation, below is a brief overview of its 5 stages: During the preparation stage, there are a few process documentation requirements you need to fulfill before getting started. First, there should be a case for the key stakeholders, the people involved in the process, and the middle managers. It is important to tackle why it’s needed, what’s involved, and what it means for them and the organization. Next, you will need the resources in making the documentation (e.g., necessary commitment, the amount of time it will consume you and the parties involved, and means for publishing) and the process you will be choosing for your process documentation. Have a look into your operational, supporting, and management processes and determine what needs refining. Along with that, you want to think about how feasible tackling that process would be and how impactful it would be for the organization. Finally, have a plan on how to execute it, manage it, and set a realistic deadline of when it should be published. This way, you don’t go into the rabbit hole of information gathering and analysis, to a point that it takes up more time than you intended. - Process Discovery This stage involves gathering information from the people directly involved in the process. Understand and document how they perform activities associated with the process. Methods of capturing the data about the process can be done through interviews, checklists and forms, or by mining it from information systems that the organization has. - Document Discovery During this stage, documents associated with the process are identified. Documents such as standard operating procedures, policies, best practices, and how-to guides are referenced to. Once you’ve gone and done the process documentation, you would want it published or made available to the people in your organization so they can use and refer to it. - Maintaining Process Documentation Change is inevitable, whether that be in life in general or in business. As mentioned earlier, process documentations serve as a roadmap for the organization. Therefore, any alterations made should also reflect in the process documentation. Instead of editing the original documentation, it is best to make a copy and edit that one instead. This way, the organization gets to keep the original as a point of reference for future optimizations. Process Documentation Example As a technique for collecting, analyzing, and communicating experiences in contextually appropriate ways, documenting change plays a significant role for learning from and improving upon the work carried out in companies. Derived from the Process Documentation PDF Report of IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, here is an example of process documentation for a development initiative in the Middle East: Title: Euro-Med Participatory Water Resources Scenarios (EMPOWERS) Project Objective: To expand the poor’s access to water through improved water resource Process Documentation Goal: To reveal underlying social and cultural patterns, particularly those that could become obstacles to the project’s main objective. Focus Areas: Changes in decision-making, gender issues in villages, and protectorate levels in participating countries - One dedicated process documentation (PD) specialist in each country team - Some villagers and officials were asked to keep diaries of change and their reactions or take pictures - Concepts and on-the-job training and support were provided by the IRC Period Covered: From the beginning and all throughout the four-year project - Conducting interviews - Facilitating meetings - Creating minutes and reports - Taking photos Outputs: Allowed those most involved in the project to take a step back and reflect on trends, patterns, opportunities, and warning signs, and to adjust their approach - Ambiguous position of PD specialist in the team at first - Sensitivity of information because it was not always possible to openly write about observations - Bringing it into a coherent storybook using available materials such as web stories, newsletters, and documentary films Process Documentation Training Process documentation training is a series of practical lessons to help employees develop skills for documenting processes. Adequate training enables workers to maximize their time and effort when introducing new or updating existing processes. Training for general process documentation includes courses on effective communication and problem solving, among others. 5 Tips for Doing Process Documentations 1. Manage expectations It is inevitable that during interview sessions, the people involved in the process will have ideas of their own to improve the process. Some may feel excitement and have expectations that their everyday tasks are bound to get easier, but when you don’t meet those expectations, you may end up disappointing them which may result in damaging morale. This is why you must be cautious, and, if possible, directly set their expectations. Remember that the goal of your process documentation is to map out or capture current processes as a reference for future improvements. 2. Take advantage of multimedia Depending on what medium you will choose for publishing your process documentation, consider adding visuals like flowcharts, diagrams, and screenshots of ideas and processes that are difficult to express. If the platform you’re using allows video tutorials, you can add that in, too. 3. Using structured templates for process documentation A template serves as a framework. It makes documentation a lot easier and simpler since it already gives you an idea of what data is needed. The success of process documentation relies on how accurate the collected data is going to be. That said, having a clear and structured process documentation template contributes to collecting accurate data. Create Your Own Process Documentation Template Eliminate manual tasks and streamline your operations.Get started for FREE 4. Create a revision schedule for your process documents Earlier we mentioned that maintaining documentation plays a part in the success of process documentation. Creating a revision schedule will guarantee that the process documentations stay up-to-date. 5. Take advantage of process documentation tools Process documentation should be recorded and shared with the company through any means but paper. Not only does it cost more to have it done by paper, but it also tends to get lost along with other paper documents in the long run. It is best to choose a medium that makes storage easy and secure, can be shared and accessed by people in your organization, and is easily maintained or updated. Since we now live in the technological era, there are a bunch of tools available that can satisfy those needs. It’s just a matter of finding the right one for you. How SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor) can Support Process Documentations During process discovery, SafetyCulture can serve as an excellent data mining tool, as it allows you to not only monitor the performance of employees in executing a process in real-time but also reveals flagged issues associated with it and the corrective actions they took. SafetyCulture also saves all process documents securely in the cloud. Having your documents stored on the web, allows you to easily access and share documents with the people in your organization. Templates can be created, updated, and scheduled for employees, this allows easy maintenance and standardization across teams.

Power supply circuits require designs that limit the cost of operation but as portability becomes a focus and harmonics of switch frequencies become common, heating of the winding becomes an issue. To increase pressure resistance, there are times when gap is necessary for the core; however, with magnetic flux fringing near the gap, local heat generation may occur due to proximity effects in the winding. Local heat generation will not only drop the conversion efficiency of electrical power but it will also cause degradation in the insulating film so it is important to control it as much as possible. The Litz wire is one wire separated into multiple thin wires, painted with enamel film, and twisted together. Separating one wire into multiple thin wires controls the concentration of current due to the skin effect. By adding twisted structure to the bundle wire, it is expected that the current flows more evenly, and local heat generation is controlled. This document introduces confirms the effects on copper loss due to the presence or absence of a twisted structure in the winding regarding the copper loss that occurs in the small switching transformer structured with PQ cores. Current Waveform, Copper Loss Waveform Fig. 1 shows primary and secondary current waveform depending on whether twisted wire is used or not, and Fig. 2 shows primary copper loss waveform. Fig. 1 shows that it has reached the steady state after 0.0006(sec) and whether or not it has twists, there are responses at approximately the same times. Also, Fig. 2 confirms that the average value of copper loss in winding for the primary winding has dropped by approximately 26(%) for the case with twists compared to the one without. It is assumed that with local flux linkage inside the winding dropping due to twist effects, local biases of eddy current caused by time variations have been resolved.

Share your medical reports and get an exclusive offer tailored to your needs, requirements and preferences In the Sushruta Samhita, Sushruta states that a great surgeon is someone who has the courage, presence of mind, sweat-free hand, tremor-free grasp of sharp and good instruments, and the ability to carry out operations to the satisfaction of the patient who has trusted the surgeon with his life. The age-old wisdom of Sushruta remains valid, despite the fact that robotic arms are gradually taking the place of surgeons' tremor-free hands. Because of robotic technology's enhanced ergonomics, motion scaling, and tremor filtration, surgeons are now more capable of performing complex surgeries even after a certain age. In a nation like India, where there is a constant need for surgeons, it is especially advantageous. Robotic surgery, also known as robot-assisted surgery, enables surgeons to perform a wide range of intricate surgeries with greater accuracy, flexibility, and control than traditional techniques. Robotic surgery is commonly associated with minimally invasive surgery, which involves surgeries executed through small incisions. It is also used in certain traditional open surgical procedures. The most common clinical robotic surgical system consists of a camera arm and mechanical arms with surgical instruments affixed to them. The surgeon operates the arms while sitting at a computer console near the surgical table. The console provides the surgeon with a high-resolution, magnified 3D view of the surgical site. The surgeon directs the other teammates who assist with the operation using those images. When compared to traditional techniques, surgeons who use robotic systems report that they have improved control, precision, and flexibility during many procedures and have a better view of the surgical site. Surgeons can carry out intricate and delicate procedures with robotic surgery that would be challenging or impossible to accomplish with other techniques. Minimally invasive surgery can often be rendered possible by robotic surgery. Minimally invasive surgery has the following advantages: Complex procedures can be completed precisely and successfully with the help of robotic surgery. There are complex mechanisms involved in many diseases. Robotic surgery helps the surgeon maintain control and flexibility in such circumstances. To get the best results, many Indian doctors now use robotically assisted surgery. Following are the procedures that can be performed using robotic systems: Nearly every medical specialty is utilizing the latest advancements in robotic surgery. Robots are being used successfully in surgical specialties such as urology, cardiology, and gynecology. There are innate advantages to robotic surgery as research indicates that this technology is both safe and efficient when compared to conventional surgical techniques. However, success rates for some robotically assisted surgeries range from 94% to 100%. A large number of cases, standardization of all surgical procedures, and recurrent exposure to the same disease are necessary for any surgical programme to be successful. These factors reinforce the strict management protocols and guarantee the economical and efficient use of resources. Despite being a significant social concern, India's alarmingly high population growth means that a single surgeon is accountable for treating a very high patient load. For most robotic surgeons, this high patient load has come out as a blessing in disguise. As this has resulted in an early summit of the learning curve and plenty of opportunities for continued education. Over 12,800 robotic surgeries have been executed in the past 12 years with robotic assistance. As more robotic surgeons receive training and as other surgical specialties use this platform with greater frequency, the numbers are expected to rise. The pattern indicates that robotic surgery has been and will continue to grow rapidly and significantly in India. Although robotic surgeries may take center stage and become commonplace in all medical specialties in the near future, there is currently insufficient evidence to support the safety, efficacy, and advantages of robotically assisted surgeries over traditional surgeries in terms of long-term survival. India received its first urologic robotic installation in 2006 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, following the US FDA's 2000 approval of the da Vinci system. The next ten years in India witnessed an unparalleled rise in the use of robotic surgery. As of July 2019, our nation had 66 centers and 71 robotic installations, housing over 500 skilled robotic surgeons. Over 12,800 surgeries have been carried out in the past 12 years with robotic assistance. As more robotic surgeons receive training and as other surgical specialties use this platform more frequently, the numbers should rise. According to data, it is suggested that the rise of robotic surgery in India will be rapid and huge in the coming years. The multidisciplinary application of robotic surgery presents an opportunity to lower the maintenance cost associated with it, making it significantly more cost-effective, as other specialties in India which gradually come to accept the role of this technology. Due to its abundance of top-notch doctors and surgeons who can provide care on par with that of any Western country, as well as its friendly people, affordable prices, and short wait times, India is a popular destination for patients from around the globe. India currently has a $2 billion USD medical tourism industry. The availability of robotic surgery would draw in more overseas patients who might need both nonrobotic and robotic surgical procedures. Following are the factors affecting the cost of robotic surgery in India: India is well known for offering excellent healthcare at reasonable prices. The medical tourism sector in India offers excellent local and international medical care for around 60–70% less than what is typically charged in most Western countries. In India, the cost of robotic surgery in India can range from INR 1,42,000 ($1715) to 11,00,000 ($13300). |Head and Neck Medflick provides access to realistic healthcare cost comparisons, medical counseling, real-life bookings, and hospital assistance. It facilitates you to: Which hospital in India has robotic surgery? The following are a few of the hospitals for robotic surgery in India: The Fortis Gurgaon Hospital, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, Manipal Hospitals, Bangalore, and many more How much does robotic surgery cost in India? In India, the cost of robotic surgery can range from INR 1,42,000 ($1715) to 11,00,000 ($13300). What is the success rate of robotic surgery in India? Success rates for some robotically assisted surgeries range from 94% to 100%. Subscribe to our Newsletter and make your informed health decisions. Get essential health insights and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Join now for a healthier you.

Whether and how protective clothing and utensils can be reused against droplet infections is currently part of the public debate. But despite the increased incidence of infection and associated supply bottlenecks, the medical community has been hesitant to respond – for good reason, as conventional disposable clothing offers reliable protection that must first be ensured and proven for many uses with reusable textiles. A new study on the wettability of coated cleanroom garments takes an important step. The materials studied as part of a research collaboration showed very good liquid-repellent properties, as required to shield infectious droplets. The contact angle method, which was the focus of the study, proved to be valid and can potentially be used as an easily accessible method for testing medical protective clothing. In addition to the Hamburg-based measuring equipment manufacturer KRÜSS, the study involved Dastex Reinraumzubehör (engl. Cleanroom accessories) GmbH & Co. KG, and OHB System AG, which played a key role in initiating the study. How cleanroom coveralls become droplet-repellent protective clothing The textiles under investigation are actually used for cleanroom clothing in satellite manufacturing, where they primarily protect the environment. For potential use in infection protection, the fabrics were given a hydrophobic PTFE coating. This modification ideally prevents wetting by infectious droplets and their absorption so that they fall off or evaporate on the surface. The detection of such hydrophobic properties is a typical issue in contact angle measurement technology, in which KRÜSS specializes. Practical wetting tests prove good hydrophobic properties First, the fabric was certified to have excellent liquid-repellent behavior on the basis of larger water droplets. To further investigate the protection in contact with coughing or sneezing patients, tiny droplets were applied to the materials at high speed. Microscopy-based contact angle measurements also demonstrated a good protective effect for this situation, which could even be verified on the basis of individual fibers. Reuse was also shown to be feasible. After 120 washing cycles, no impairment of the water-repellent material properties could be detected. Contact angle measurement as a valid test method for protective clothing Until now, the protective effect of medical clothing could only be determined in specialized laboratories. In contrast, coated textiles for other uses are often tested using improvised methods that are hardly scientifically adequate. Contact angle measurements, on the other hand, are not only valid for characterizing hydrophobic textiles, but can also be carried out quickly, easily and on a mobile basis. In parallel, scientists at Helmholtz Zentrum Geesthacht at DESY, together with quality analysis (Nürtingen) and Volume Graphics (Heidelberg), have visualized the round shapes of non-wetting droplets in high-resolution computed tomographic studies. There is still a long way to go before every sector can switch to reusable protective clothing. But it is certainly worthwhile, not only for ecological reasons and in the event of supply bottlenecks. Protective clothing users could also benefit from more comfortable and breathable materials. Results of the study will be presented online by Dr. Thomas Willers of KRÜSS at the World Congress on Textile Coating on February 18, 2021. A medical publication is initially planned in the Norwegian magazine Dagens Medisin.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative ailment after Alzheimer’s disease, with no known cure and no early diagnostic test. Without an accurate test for early onset, people may gradually develop symptoms over years before receiving a PD diagnosis. There are currently no effective treatments for PD that can reverse existing motor dysfunctions or arrest the progression of the disease; instead, they are focused on symptom relief. While earlier studies have amply demonstrated that exosomes play a significant role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD), recent research suggests an intriguing prospect for employing exosomes as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in the fight against PD. Exosomes in Parkinson’s Disease Exosomes produced by stem cells may act as a mediator for the therapeutic actions of stem cells. Recent advancements in stem cell therapy have given hope to those with parkinson’s. For instance, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has been demonstrated in clinical studies to be helpful in reducing the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Exosomes could be beneficial in the treatment of people with neurodegenerative conditions because of their capacity to regulate regeneration processes within our bodies. The anti-inflammatory effects of exosomes may be accountable for at least some of the therapeutic success. This might be due to the capacity of exosome therapy to pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), where they stimulate neuron differentiation and growth while suppressing inflammatory pathways in the nerve cells. The Role of Exosomes in Parkinson’s Disease Propagation of Pathological Proteins: Exosomes can transport misfolded proteins like alpha-synuclein, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease pathology, from one neuron to another. This process may contribute to the spread of pathology throughout the brain. - Neuroinflammation: Exosomes can also trigger neuroinflammation, which is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. This inflammation can further damage neurons and exacerbate the disease. - Potential protective roles: Many research focuses on the detrimental aspects of exosomes in Parkinson’s disease, it’s essential to note that exosomes also have the potential to play protective roles. Neurons can release exosomes containing neuroprotective factors that may help counteract some of the damage caused by the disease. Harnessing these protective properties is a subject of ongoing research. How Exosome Therapy Works? Exosome therapy involves the isolation and purification of exosomes, typically from a donor source, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These exosomes can then be delivered to the patient, where they may exert therapeutic effects. The potential mechanisms of exosome therapy for Parkinson’s disease include: - Neuroprotection: Exosomes may contain neuroprotective factors that help preserve dopaminergic neurons and reduce neuroinflammation. - Modulation of Alpha-Synuclein: Exosomes may be engineered to target and clear pathological alpha-synuclein aggregates, potentially slowing the disease’s progression. - Stimulation of Neurogenesis: Exosomes could promote the generation of new neurons to replace those lost in Parkinson’s disease. What Can You Expect After Exosome Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease? Exosome therapy for Parkinson’s disease is an experimental approach that holds promise in the quest to manage and potentially slow down the progression of this neurodegenerative condition. While the field of exosome therapy is still in its early stages, it is essential to understand what individuals can expect after undergoing this innovative treatment. Exosome therapy for Parkinson’s disease is being explored for several potential benefits, which may include: - Symptomatic Improvements: One of the primary goals of exosome therapy is to improve the motor and non-motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. While the extent of symptom improvement can vary, individuals may experience: - Reduced Tremors: Exosome therapy may help alleviate tremors, making daily activities more manageable. - Improved Mobility: Some individuals may notice increased mobility and a reduction in bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and rigidity. - Enhanced Quality of Life: Overall, the treatment aims to enhance the quality of life by alleviating symptoms and improving daily functioning. - Potential Neuroprotection: Exosomes may contain neuroprotective factors that could help preserve existing dopaminergic neurons in the brain. This potential neuroprotection could slow down the progression of the disease, although more research is needed to confirm this effect. - Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Exosome therapy may help reduce neuroinflammation, a common feature of Parkinson’s disease. By mitigating inflammation, it may contribute to the preservation of neurons and the reduction of non-motor symptoms associated with inflammation While the potential benefits of exosome therapy are promising, it is essential to manage expectations. Exosome therapy is still in the experimental stage, and much research and clinical testing are needed to establish its safety and efficacy fully. Some key points to consider include: - Varied Responses: Individual responses to exosome therapy can vary significantly. What works well for one person may not have the same effect on another. This variability underscores the need for personalized treatment approaches. - Long-Term Effects: The long-term effects of exosome therapy for Parkinson’s disease are not yet fully understood. Research is ongoing to assess the durability of the treatment’s benefits and its potential to modify the disease’s course over time. - Complementary Therapies: Exosome therapy is not a stand-alone treatment. It should be seen as a potential complement to existing Parkinson’s disease management strategies, including medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications. - Continued Monitoring: After exosome therapy, individuals with Parkinson’s disease should continue to be closely monitored by healthcare professionals. Regular check-ups and assessments are crucial to track progress and adjust treatment plans as necessary. Stem Cells And Exosome Therapy For Parkinson’s The combination of stem cell therapy and exosome therapy holds immense promise for advancing the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Stem cells, particularly mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have the capacity to differentiate into various cell types, including neurons, and can contribute to neural repair and regeneration. However, their therapeutic effects extend beyond cellular replacement. MSCs secrete exosomes, small vesicles packed with bioactive molecules, including growth factors, cytokines, and microRNAs, which can modulate the microenvironment, reduce inflammation, and promote neuroprotection. When utilized in tandem, stem cells and their exosomes offer a multifaceted approach to tackling the complexities of Parkinson’s disease. Stem cells can potentially replace damaged dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, addressing the root cause of dopamine deficiency. Additionally, the exosomes released by these stem cells act as paracrine signalling agents, influencing neighbouring cells and orchestrating various neuroprotective and regenerative processes. This combination strategy aims to not only alleviate motor and non-motor symptoms but also slow down or halt the disease’s progression, which is a significant challenge in Parkinson’s treatment. Exosome therapy for Parkinson’s disease represents a promising avenue of research and potential treatment. While there is hope for symptom improvement, neuroprotection, and disease modification, it is essential to approach this experimental therapy with realistic expectations. The field of exosome therapy is evolving, and ongoing research and clinical trials will provide a more comprehensive understanding of its safety and effectiveness. If you or a loved one is considering exosome therapy for Parkinson’s disease, it is crucial to consult with healthcare professionals who are experienced in the field and to stay informed about the latest developments in Parkinson’s disease research and treatment options. While exosome therapy offers hope, it is just one piece of the puzzle in the ongoing effort to improve the lives of individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. Reach out to us at [email protected] for more information on stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s Disease.

This program introduces underprivileged rural school children to the digital world providing them with a means for self-expression through alternative and fun learning methods. We teach media literacy skills to kids in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Exposing them to the forms of media and equipping them to create their own media enables them to communicate in insightful and imaginative ways. India's underprivileged youth, who often lack a voice, can share their unique experiences. School education in rural India is divorced from strong arts and cultural components. This deprives students of channels for exploring their creativity and imagination. Moreover, children and community members are exposed to all kinds of information and media (word-of-mouth, mainstream etc.) without the ability to question and comprehend this information and thereby end up developing misinformed opinions. This in turn leaves these children open to exploitation. Our facility is currently equipped with video cameras and computers. We would like to include activities on sound and film appreciation to expand the scope of the program. The program will benefit over 4500 children (ages 12-15) from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. For a rich and robust democracy, it is important for citizens (especially youth) to understand information and communicate in an engaging manner. The Media Arts and literacy program will instil in young learners an independent voice. It will allow them to explore the ways in which society communicates with them and equip learners to expertly convey their own impressions and thoughts. In doing so, these young citizens will become active participants of the debates that inform tomorrow's society.

Investigating the limestone quarries as geoheritage sites: Case of Mardin ancient quarry MetadataShow full item record CitationKarataş, L., Alptekin, A. & Yakar, M. (2023). Investigating the limestone quarries as geoheritage sites: Case of Mardin ancient quarry. Open Geosciences, 15(1), 20220473. https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2022-0473 Abstract: Abandoned quarries are valuable as a tourism element, as they exhibit the building material of the buildings built in the geographical area they are located in as historical objects. However, in order to determine how the quarries can be used for tourism purposes, it is necessary to determine the constraints on the choice of solution in spatial arrangements. The aim of this study is to investigate how the ancient limestone quarry of Mardin, which is a natural and cultural geological heritage, can be used for tourism and to develop suggestions. Within the scope of the study, in order to examine the possibilities of how an idle quarry located in Mardin province in Turkey can be used for tourism, the constraints in the selection of the post-use solution will be determined. In order to determine whether the Mardin quarry is accessible and safe to visit, various field studies were carried out in the study area, laboratory experiments and analyses. The caves were scanned with a 3D laser scanner, and its plans and sections were obtained. The findings were evaluated and suggestions were developed for the use of the ancient limestone quarry for tourism.

Toxic workplace cultures, and attempts to rectify them, have been hitting the headlines recently, from Elon Musk giving Twitter employees an ultimatum to commit to “long hours at high intensity” or leave, to Revolut enlisting psychologists to track whether employees are being respectful in the workplace, says Professor Binna Kandola. Overcoming toxic workplace cultures requires taking action to create an environment of psychological safety. The concept was explored in Google’s Project Aristotle (2012), which found that psychological safety was the number one factor that makes an effective team. It showed that having a team environment in which everyone feels safe in making their voice heard is critical to team performance. So, what is psychological safety and how can it be achieved within the modern workplace? Psychological safety explained Psychologist William Kahn said that psychological safety is about having the ability to show yourself without being afraid of negative consequences to your self-image, status or career. What is clear from his definition is the relationship between authenticity, inclusion and safety. Without psychological safety, the idea of bringing your whole self to work has no meaning. Where psychological safety exists you feel respected and heard by those around you; you feel able to share your ideas and to critique those of others. To understand the broader concept of psychological safety, it is important to consider ‘psychological standing’. This refers to whether or not someone will be taken seriously when they do something, and can be age-, position- and occupation-dependent. In the workplace, some individuals who are visibly in the minority may be made to feel like their views are less important or are not valued as much as those who are in the majority. There are numerous benefits to having an environment of psychological safety, such as: - It can serve as a buffer against negative experiences that may occur in the workplace - People are more likely to report adverse events - People feel that they have a voice - Reduced anxiety at times of stress and uncertainty - Increased decision-making quality for top management teams - Individuals are more willing and able to change their behaviour when the organisation is faced with challenges - Less defensiveness which leads to more focus on organisational goals - Better team performance where there is uncertainty and lack of resources - Greater sharing of information and knowledge - More collaboration - Higher retention of employees Creating psychological safety: being aware of mirroring When we do not understand what is going on around us, we tend to look to the group for guidance on how to behave or respond. This is known as mirroring and it becomes a problem when the rest of the group responds in the same way and then no action is taken. It is important that all employees, but especially leaders, have the capacity to analyse and understand what is happening in any given context. This is known as situational awareness. Conversely, when you don’t recognise the factors in an environment which are impacting behaviour it is known as situational blindness. We all need to learn how to interpret situations and the techniques of how to intervene and challenge these situations appropriately. It is crucial to inform all staff on how to be active bystanders. When employees do not feel comfortable speaking up, they may take action that is inappropriate because they do not want to bring mistakes or problems to the attention of their manager or colleagues. On the other hand, when employees feel comfortable speaking up, they are more likely to follow processes and procedures relating to safety. This is because they feel able to discuss mistakes that have been made and to share them with other team members as well as the leader. When employees feel safe they can grow and adapt more easily at work. For example, in a study of hospital nurse teams, issues to do with lack of equipment or information were more likely to be reported and acted upon where there was greater psychological safety and where the nurses were encouraged and had the skills to solve problems themselves. For improved performance, team autonomy has to work together with psychological safety. The role of leaders Leaders have a key role to play in creating environments of psychological safety. Inclusive leadership results in a greater quality of work and higher staff engagement which in turn results in higher psychological safety. Authentic leaders are self-aware, humble and look out for the welfare of others. This fosters a higher degree of trust with their colleagues. Inclusive and authentic leaders should: - Be concerned for their employee’s feelings and needs - Provide positive feedback - Encourage people to voice their concerns - Encourage people to learn from their mistakes - Engage in discussions with team members on how to approach a particular problem Having weekly meetings to discuss events, share experiences and find ways of getting around potential obstacles is a great way to create this environment. Leaders will also learn of any organisational changes that may affect the team. Sometimes just having one more piece of information is enough to transform our understanding of a situation, so enabling staff to share details with one another is key to ensuring that groupthink does not prevail. There are a number of organisational factors which also impact psychological safety, such as working remotely. For virtual teams, that feeling of psychological safety can be lower than in-person teams. Virtual team members do not have a sense of belonging to an office, which means they will feel less secure in speaking up. This also leads to reduced team performance. Certain team members may be left out of the decision-making process because they are not physically present, potentially resulting in less attention and effort from those individuals. As remote working has become the norm, establishing trust in virtual teams is something that needs more conscious effort than one that meets physically. Teams need to be trained in how to effectively work remotely. If this is not addressed, the feelings of exclusion that some members face will be exacerbated. Increased psychological safety facilitates effective learning behaviours regardless of where employees are working. Building psychological safety in the workplace is crucial for employees to feel heard, reducing their stress levels and anxiety, and optimising team performance. Leaders and organisations can become more inclusive through listening to the experiences of colleagues and fostering open dialogue conducted in safe and respectful environments. Everyone has a role to play. Professor Binna Kandola is Business Psychologist, Senior Partner and Co-Founder of Pearn Kandola.

Have you ever wondered what the big deal is with Czech Tramping? Why do they walk around with cowboy hats or military fatigues? Who are they, and what kind of a movement it is? The following was written by Jan Pohunek of the Institute of Ethnology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. It was published in FOLKLORICA 2011, Vol. XVI. It is reprinted here with permission of Jan Pohunek, to whom we are very grateful. (Note: The photos and videos in this post have been added by us, Tres Bohemes.) We recommend you read it all the way through. The article describes the history and major characteristics of an independent Czech youth movement called “tramping.” The movement originated in the 1910s-1920s as an unorganized offshoot of boy scouting and E. T. Seton’s Woodcraft and quickly became popular among urban teens and young adults. It was simply a way of spending time outdoors with friends at first, heavily influenced by early Western movies and Wild West aesthetics in general, but it became a distinctive subculture and cultural phenomenon during the following decades. Some of its unique aspects include specific music, slang, art, and dress code. Czech tramping is also an interesting example of an early youth subculture, which is comparable to post-WW2 subcultures and which survived into the present day, although its participants were often persecuted, especially under the communist regime. Another topic discussed is the fact that the movement kept its independence even under political pressure, rejected all attempts to organize it hierarchically, and while it sometimes had a dimension of protest culture in the 20th century, it can be considered to be apolitical in general. It is now almost a hundred years since an interesting modern folk cultural phenomenon began to establish itself in Bohemia. ‘Tramping’ (1), as it is called nowadays, can be described as an unorganized youth >movement, or a subculture, that is heavily inspired by the romantic image of the American Wild West, and that manifests itself mostly through outdoor social activities such as hiking or camping, accompanied by specific styles of music, slang, architecture, art and clothing. The tramping phenomenon has influenced modern Czech folklore and mainstream culture, but it has also always been on the brink of legality. This article attempts to present an overview of the history of the movement, its characteristics, and its importance to social anthropology and folklore studies. AHOJ KAMARÁDE, Settlers club, 1931 The history of tramping in Bohemia is tied to the history of scoutlike youth movements and modern outdoor sports activities. Organizations related to outdoor sports were becoming increasingly popular in Czech society during the 1880s. Some of them were inspired by universal gymnastic movements, especially by their precursor Sokol (2), while others, like the Czech tourist club or clubs of first skiers, were more related to specific emerging sports. Some of these organizations also had their own divisions for children and young adults. Both Lord Baden-Powell’s boy scouting and E. T. Seton’s Woodcraft movements were introduced as a novelty in 1912 by various enthusiasts [Břečka 1999: 11-12]. However, there were also groups of young people, including some former Boy Scouts, who were inspired by these movements and interested in hiking and camping regularly but disliked the tight control and official nature of established organizations. Such groups of “friends” (kamarádi), usually factory workers, apprentice craftsmen, or students, spent their weekends camping in wooded, romantic valleys in the area south of Prague [Hurikán 1990: 14-15; Moidl and Moidlová 2010: 10]. A significant increase in the number of these unorganized campers came after the end of the First World War and the formation of Czechoslovakia. Camping and hiking became more popular among young people from Prague and, increasingly, from other large cities. The reason was that such activities allowed young people to spend weekends together in nature without having to belong to an official organization. The experience of the war contributed to both their desire for personal freedom and their outdoor skills. Another key factor in this process was the notable increase of the influence of American culture, a phenomenon related to American support for the young Czechoslovakia, to the post-war international importance of the United States, and also to the activities of organizations like the YMCA. Films and novels contributed to the popularity of things American as Westerns were imported in great numbers and attracted large audiences (3) [Waic and Kössl 1992: 9, 12-22; Břečka 1999: 11]. Young independent campers were called “wild scouts” because the number of former Boy Scouts had increased after the war. Most of these were recruited from the first generations of Boy Scouts who had outgrown their early teenage years. The concept of rovering as a way to keep such people attracted to scouting even as they become young adults did not fully develop until after 1917 [Břečka 1999: 43], and scouting organizations, with the exception of a few leading Boy Scout clubs, had little to offer them. The “wild scouts” quickly embraced the romantic life of the Wild West and did so in a playful manner, seeing it as a kind of game or a weekend lifestyle (4). They introduced Western-like items of clothing into their camping equipment, which otherwise consisted mostly of civilian and army surplus clothing. The specifically Western pieces of clothing included studded wide belts, brass sheriff stars, and “Stetsons” created by refashioning old hats; all were homemade. Some groups of “wild scouts” combined their garments in an eclectic manner while others kept a unified style, for example, dressing in black cowboy-like clothing heavily inspired by Tom Mix movies. M1910 US army haversacks became quite popular at this time and became one of the “trademarks” of the movement in the following decades(5) [Hurikán 1990: 19-21; Waic and Kössl 1992: 63; Moidl and Moidlová 2010: 11; description of the haversack available at Rottman and Volstad 1989]. These groups of wild scouts also began to use permanent camping places, sometimes with the consent of the landowner and sometimes without. Cover names were occasionally used for dealing with the authorities when renting a place for camping. Such names included “The Table Fellowship,” “The Fellowship of Filmmakers,” “The Friends of America,” “The Settled Scouts,” and even “The Association of Catholics of the municipality of Prague.” Many names had aspects of a practical joke [Hurikán 1990: 55]. Tents, simple huts, and log cabins were erected, and the term Osada (“settlement” or “colony”) began to be used for both a particular place and the group >linked to it. Osadas adopted romantic names (6) and had their own symbolism, which was represented by flags, badges, and similar items. However, the transition from hiking (7) to sedentary camping was not universal – less frequently visited, smaller, more simple, and rent-free campsites, called campy or kempy, remained in use, especially in areas where it was not possible or necessary to build a larger cabin osada. The term “wild scouts,” used to describe these campers, was perceived as somewhat pejorative, and around the mid-1920s, they began to call themselves trampové, with the word tramp likely taken from the works of Jack London. The movement spread into other cities during the second half of the 1920s, and its popularity was increased even more by the Great Depression, which forced more people to spend their free time on a low budget. Tramp campsites became centers for amateur sports such as volleyball, canoeing, and even boxing, and for social and cultural life [Waic and Kössl 1992: 14-16, 23-24, 64; Hurikán 1990: 16-19, 23-25; for regional examples see Vinklát 2004: 17; Krško 2008: 13]. Performing music was especially popular. Initially, “wild scouts” used to sing military-themed songs describing the hard life of soldiers, national and folk songs, and contemporary Czech and American hits. They especially favored melodramatic pieces. The most popular musical instrument was the guitar, but others like the violin, accordion, banjo, or comb were also used. This song repertoire was soon partially replaced with new songs made up by the tramps themselves. At first, these were only rewritten versions of older songs, but with time the song repertoire evolved into a distinct and original genre of “traditional tramp songs”. These original songs were often created by amateur composers and writers with professional (8) skills. Traditional tramp songs were still heavily musically inspired by contemporary popular music but were usually composed for the guitar and were intended to be sung together by friends around the campfire. Texts of the first original tramp songs were often semi-anonymous and spread and evolved both as oral folklore and through hand-written songbooks (řevníky – “roarbooks”). The typical subject matter of these songs was either humorous or sentimental [Waic and Kössl 1992: 66-67; Mácha 1967: 6 et seq., 26 et seq.; Noha 2007: 22-23]. The word potlach (a word-play on the American Northwestern native term potlatch and Czech verb tlachat – to tattle) was used to describe larger and more ceremonial tramp meetings that included activities such as playing music, reading short stories and poetry, and playing various games by the campfire. Campfires lit at potlachs had a “sacred” status inspired by the symbolism of E. T. Seton’s Woodcraft. To wit, the campfire was usually placed in a decorative stone circle, and it was forbidden to use it for “profane” activities such as burning waste and cooking. The symbol of Woodcraft – a circle with buffalo horns – was later (possibly as late as after WW2) adopted as a symbol of tramping. Other communal activities of tramps included sports tournaments, meetings in country pubs, and playing practical jokes. Typical practical jokes popular among tramps were called kanadské žertíky (Canadian jokes). These were usually attempts to disconcert friends or other groups of tramps in a funny way, sometimes even in a rather harsh but socially acceptable manner. A “Canadian joke” had to be accepted stoically and repaid in kind when possible. The tramp movement and mainstream culture often found themselves in conflict for a number of reasons. There was a strong leftwing, or even pro-communist faction in tramping, including some people who dressed in a “Soviet” style and used Red Army equipment and Communist badges. This styling was, however, more romantic than violent or radical. It should also be noted that some tramps joined the Interbrigades in the Spanish Civil War. But while this left-wing faction was notable, tramping remained apolitical and unorganized on the whole. [Waic and Kössl 1992: 45-49, 91-92; Krško 2008: 89-102; Noha 2007: 29-30] Tramps were seen as a disturbance by many figures of authority either because of their disrespect for rules or because of their supposed low level of morals, even though tramping was not fundamentally anti-system, nor was it a free love movement. It was, however, part of the more liberal wing on the First Republic’s social scale. Tramps were both welcomed in the countryside because tourism as a whole increased revenue in poor regions and shunned because they did not behave “properly” and were sometimes, often unjustifiably, suspected of petty thievery and misbehavior. The most important attempt to get tramping under control was the “Kubát’s Law” of 1931, a decree of the Czech provincial president Hugo Kubát, which forbade unmarried couples camping together, swimming where prohibited, and swimming without proper bathing attire. It also outlawed the carrying of firearms and the singing of “indecent” songs. This decree led to an increase in the persecution of tramps by the gendarmerie and also inspired unsuccessful attempts to organize the movement to increase its importance. These attempts mostly originated among left-wing tramps, but all of them were short-lived and did not succeed in encompassing the majority of tramping culture. [Waic and Kössl 1992: 37-60; Hurikán 1990: 246-247] The decree of 1931 was ruled to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1935 [Hurikán 1990: 247], and tramping rapidly became even more widespread, reaching more regions, Slovakia included, and encompassing more social classes. It became a part of the recognized popular culture in the 1930s, especially because of the popularity of prolific singers and composers of tramp music, some of whom became professional performers. Some tramp music was performed by professional singers who were not tramps. The movement, while still viewed ambivalently by the authorities, prospered. More magazines published by tramps and for tramps, like Tramp, Naše osady (Our colonies) or pages in Ahoj na neděli (Ahoy for Sunday), were printed on both amateur and commercial levels [Hurikán 1990: 230-232]. (Note: See 1929 Tramp Magazine covers here – opens a new window.) Sports and clothing shops sold professionally manufactured equipment for tramping. Movies and books about Czech tramps were two more indications of tramping’s public acceptance. There were, however, rumors that the movement was losing its edge and becoming too close to mainstream culture. (9) [Waic and Köosl 1992: 33-34] The Nazi occupation of the former Czechoslovakia and the Second World War did not influence tramping directly; being a tramp was not in and of itself a reason to be persecuted, but the personal freedoms associated with this pass time were limited, and some tramps drew suspicion to themselves by participating in resistance activities or joining foreign armies [Waic and Kössl 1992: 91-98; Noha 2007: 34-36]. More intensive persecution, leading to a temporary decline in tramping, came in the 1950s after the Communist coup d’état of 1948. The Communist regime attempted to destroy or control all youth movements, replacing them with a unified supplemental education model based on the Organization of Young Pioneers (Pionýrská organizace) and the Union of Czechoslovak Youth (Svaz československé mládeže – SČM). Junák, the most important and largest organization of Czech and Slovak scouts, was taken over by Communist collaborators and dissolved in 1951. A similar fate befell other scouting clubs and organizations, such as the gymnastic movement Sokol, the League of Czech Woodcrafters, and the YMCA. Scout leaders and older Boy Scouts were persecuted and subjected to lengthy imprisonments and judicial murders. They were described as members of counter-revolutionary imperialist organizations and potential fifth-column organizations. Some of them went into exile; others drastically limited their activities or managed to recreate undercover scout clubs illegally or under the guise of various sports and tourism clubs. After the regime solved the “problem” of scouting, its repressive forces also increased their pressure on tramping [Břečka 1999: 221-226]. The position of tramping was, however, different from that of organized sports and scouting – there was no central organization of tramps, and even various osadas or other communities were organized in an informal manner and based on personal friendships. Legalized weekend cabin colonies usually had some formal structure, and it was possible to destroy that organization, but much harder to destroy shared community places, as these colonies often consisted of private properties too small to be nationalized. The most common methods of persecution included various bans on communal activities, brutal police attacks on potlachs, roundups of tramps on railway stations, and everyday minor harassment, including random police patrol destruction of any items of clothing which looked too “American”.[Vinklát 2004: 56; Mácha 1967: 80-84; Kučerová 1997: 13-15]. It should be noted that there was a lack of commercially available clothing acceptable for tramping because of the general supply problems of the post-war economy, while many uniforms and army surplus items were readily available. Parts of American uniforms were especially sought after and became quite prevalent in Western Bohemia, the only region liberated by the Americans. Military clothing became increasingly popular with tramps because it was practical for outdoor activities, unobtrusive when worn in forests, and, if they were items of Western origin, included an aspect of symbolic passive resistance [Altman 2003:266]. Tramps also began to wear emblems with symbols of their Osada on their left sleeves; these emblems were called domovenka and were possibly inspired by military emblems or scouting badges (10). Such personal usage of symbols also reflected changes in tramping, as it was not easy to create new colonies of cabins, and there were many osadas that had no permanent legal, communal place and preferred to hike and use simple hidden campsites (campy). The number of tramps decreased, and a partial generation divide appeared for the first time – many older tramps reduced their activities and found inner exile in communal life in their cabin colonies. On the other hand, younger tramps, who were not very numerous, preferred hiking to sedentary camping and understood, and sometimes even proudly accepted, the role of pariah assigned to them by the communist regime. Tramping was still a kind of escapism and inner exile, not an official, fully-fledged resistance movement, but its antagonism to official structures was more pronounced [for comparison, see Kučerová 1997: 13-15: Noha 2007: 37]. The decline in tramping was reversed during the 1960s when the Communist regime was undergoing the slow liberalization that culminated in the events of the Prague Spring of 1968. The first positive mentions of tramping in the official press appeared in 1963, and the movement’s popularity among a new generation of young adults increased steadily [Vinklát 2004: 72-73; Kučerová 1997: 16-21; Petrová 2009: 61-63]. There were several reasons for this. More people joined the ranks of tramps because the level of persecution was lower, and thus the activity was more acceptable. At the same time, tramping still included aspects of disrespect for authority, informal friendship, and personal freedom. American culture remained popular with young people, and new Westerns, some filmed in the Eastern Bloc, were shown in cinemas. Traveling abroad became possible in the late 1960s, but it was still fraught with bureaucratic and economic obstacles. Thus the idea of tramping remained as a kind of game that allowed participants to create their own little romantic adventures, using the Czech landscape as a backdrop for the projection of their imagination. The 1960s also introduced some other changes in tramping. While there was a strong and sometimes politically active left-wing in pre-war tramping, the actual Sovietization of Czechoslovak society and the stigmatization of tramps after 1948 proved to be a fatal blow for this leftist part of the movement. The social structure of tramps changed too. Many tramps of the 1920s and 1930s were members of the lower social classes: workers or apprentice craftsmen. By contrast, the society of the 1960s was more homogeneous, and tramping was no longer a predominantly blue-collar form of recreation [Kučerová 1997: 16-21]. The general consensus in post-war tramping was that the movement was apolitical, which actually constituted a political statement in its own right because it took place in a society where almost everything was expected to have a political dimension. Another reason for tramping being apolitical dates back to pre-war times and was based on the belief that tramps should be friends with each other. Heated political debates, it was felt, could quickly turn personal and thus did not belong at a campfire [see Hurikán 1990: 246-247; Waic and Kössl 1992: 48-49]. Communist control of the formal, totalitarian organization of all aspects of Czech and Slovak society and the permanent presence of political propaganda had only increased the need for escapist, egalitarian, and informal social space. Post-war changes included the further evolution of tramp music, which had absorbed influences from American country music, bluegrass, and modern folk. This transformation had been taking place since the 1950s but culminated in the late 1960s with the appearance of a new and powerful generation of tramp musicians represented, among others, by the groups Greenhorns and Hoboes. New tramp music was more open to being intermingled with other genres, and song lyrics included not only the relatively simple sentimental, exotically-romantic, and humorous motifs found in earlier times but also more complicated symbolic, sarcastic, or earthy motifs, similar to those used by non-tramp modern folk singers and songwriters. This experimentation was sometimes criticized by older tramps who felt that earlier and now traditional tramp music was endangered and might disappear. But both old and modern songs coexist in the common tramp repertoire today [Vinklát 2004: 72; Mácha 1967]. Liberalization ended abruptly with the Warsaw Pact invasion of 1968 and the beginning of political “normalization”. Scouting, renewed for a short time in 1968, was forbidden again and again continued under the guise of various other organizations [Břečka 1999: 239]. While undoubtedly totalitarian and able to use coercive violence, the regime was not as brutal as in the 1950s. The secret police were everywhere, and dissidents were persecuted, but almost nobody, including the more pragmatic Party members, actually believed in the victory of Communism, and the regime focused on preserving the status quo. This included allowing people to pursue their hobbies instead of participating in political life as long as these activities did not clash with the desired image of a socialist society and did not include potentially suspicious acts like traveling to Western countries or publishing uncensored texts or music. Many people from the cities turned to summer huts and former German cottages in the countryside and used them as second homes. This process led to an additional increase in recreational suburbanization near large cities, often at places where ramp cabin osadas, which had lost part of their historically simple character, had been located (11). The invasion of 1968 also initiated a wave of emigration; some of these emigrants were tramps, and they adhered to their lifestyle even in exile. There are still tramp ex-pat osadas in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. The regime was antagonistic to tramping but did not attempt to destroy it completely as it had in the 1950s. Instead, it kept tramping under surveillance and practiced a certain level of police harassment while still permitting sanctioned pro-government organizations to run events such as music festivals featuring folk and country music and granting some space to tramps in the popular youth magazine Mladý svět (Young World). The most important music event sanctioned by the government was the competitive festival Porta, a massive non-political but politically supervised event. The Porta was popular with tramps, but not only with them, and introduced many genuine new musical talents, including young tramp musicians.[Vinklát 2004: 182-183] Not all cultural activities related to tramping were official, however. Some were, and some were not. Many tramps were prolific amateur writers and poets, and their works were published in legal, semi-legal, and samizdat publications [Petrová 2009: 61-72]. The submissions to an influential contest for amateur tramp writers and poets named Trapsavec were established in 1971, then banned for political reasons, and then their publication was renewed in 1979. (consulted 26 June 2011)]. The themes of tramp poems and stories most often centered on poetic descriptions of nature and tales from the lives of tramps; they could also be related to tramp outdoor experiences in other ways. There was also a prominent element of the fantastic and of mystery fiction in these tales. Some of them included science fiction elements, often presented in a light-hearted manner, while others were based on contemporary legends popular among tramps. These were usually tales about ghosts and strange murders with motifs taken from campfire legends or related to legend tripping [for definitions, see Tucker 1999: 205-208]. The revolution of 1989 opened many new possibilities for Czech tramps, including freedom of speech and association. At the same time, the number of actual tramps dwindled noticeably over the course of the 1990s. (12) The reasons for this decline have not yet been analyzed, but there are probably three main factors. The first one is freedom of movement combined with the affordability of foreign travel. Since 1989 it has been relatively easy to visit other countries, even exotic and distant ones, and there has been no need to find substitutes for such experiences by romanticizing the Czech landscape. The second factor was tied to the increasing diversity of possibilities for self-realization. Under the Communist regime, there had been lots of free time because there was a lack of emphasis on effectiveness in many jobs. Simultaneously, recreational possibilities were limited, and the system made it difficult for talented hobbyists or people with organizational skills to stand independently and turn their hobbies into professions. This was reversed after the Velvet Revolution – there were suddenly many more possibilities of self-realization in occupational and recreational activities. This was combined with an increasing emphasis on effectiveness on the job and work productivity. These factors negatively affected the amount of leisure time that most people, especially minor entrepreneurs, who have started their own businesses, could enjoy. The third factor is generational and related to the role of tramping as a passively anti-establishment subculture with ties to the “second culture” of the more politically active underground. Tramps, with their escapist mentality and emphasis on freedom and friendship, can be considered to be a part of the “inner exile” movement, communities located in the grey zone between the social world of the communist party and the underground of dissenters. After the revolution, however, the need for such lifestyles was lost. Most young people did not feel the need to participate in such mild and passive anti-establishment activities, and competition from other subcultures and movements of possible anti-establishment or generational significance increased. The youth of the 1990s and 2000s were also more interested in participating in specialized out-of-school activities that were more profitable than scout-like clubs based on universal education. And there were fewer young people with outdoor skills and inclinations toward spending their free time out in nature – which meant that there were also fewer potential tramps. It is, however, interesting that while tramps are not the subject of political persecution in today’s Czech Republic and Slovakia, tramping itself as an outdoor activity still remains on the brink of legality because of the manner in which it utilizes the landscape [Altman 2003: 260]. Czech forests, and the landscape in general, are free access areas according to law. This applies to privately owned forests as well as public land, although access may be limited for justifiable reasons such as game-keeping, the protection of property from vandalism, military training, and, most significantly, the protection of nature. Camping in forests without a permit, and especially making campfires, is illegal in most cases for safety reasons. This leads to a conflict of interests between tramps, with their disrespect for authority, and state agencies for the protection of nature and wildlife. Such conflicts became most apparent in sandstone areas such as the so-called Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland or Bohemian Paradise. These were popular with Czech tramps who built their camps under sandstone abris. The management of these areas, which were often archaeological sites dating back to the Mesolithic era, attempted to restore them to as nearly a natural state as possible and tried actively to locate and fine groups of tramps. The management was in turn, attacked by tramps for an indiscriminate and excessively severe approach [Jenč and Peša: 2006: www.ontheroads.net; www.roverky.cz (consulted 26 June 2011)]. Such conflicts of interests sometimes problematize relations between tramping and environmental movements in general – even though both groups are claiming to be nature-friendly and had occasionally cooperated in the past when both were members of the “grey zone” of Communist Czechoslovakia [Petrová 2009: 77-78]. Tramping in 2010 is certainly different from the tramping of the first “wild scouts,” but the difference has been achieved more by accretion than by replacement. There is a generational difference between younger tramps, who tend to prefer hiking and simplicity, and older ones, who are focused on weekend communal life in cabin colonies. However, these are not two separate groups but two sides of one continuum. Both old pre-World War II and modern tramp songs are played by campfires, and large potlachs are usually attended by all generations. There is also a difference in clothing: younger tramps prefer either simple clothing in natural colors or parts of military uniform (13), while decorative cowboy-like and western-styled clothing is more often seen among members of the older generation. Defining tramping today as a single unit may be problematic, as it is both a way of spending time outdoors and also a lifestyle. The movement has its core of traditionalists and lifestyle tramps, but there is no formal divide between these and the fringe represented by occasional campers or people who have some of the attributes of tramps but do not consider themselves to be members of the movement. The attributes in question include wearing tramp-like clothing, adhering to the unwritten ethical code of tramping (which includes friendship even with unknown tramps and respect for nature), spending leisure time in a tramp-like manner (camping and hiking), respecting the traditions of the movement and following tramp customs (e.g. using a special handshake, greeting others with the word ahoj (14), addressing all other tramps as kamarád and using special tramp nicknames for friends (15)), being a member of an osada, considering oneself to be a tramp, and being considered a tramp by other tramps. Tramping has left a deep mark on Czech culture over the hundred years of its history. It has been one of the preferred forms of recreation and socializing for several generations of young people, especially in the 1920s-1930s and the 1960s-1980s. The tramp lifestyle has contributed to the general popularity of tramp music and related genres such as folk and country (16). Tramp songs are often played by campfires, even by non-tramps, and constitute a large part of the folk repertoire. Tramping has also influenced the character of the suburban landscape and recreational architecture because tramp osadas function as a nucleus and inspiration for other recreational colonies. Various artifacts produced by members of the movement, such as carved totems, invitation cards (video), diaries (cancák), small clothing accessories, communal event memorabilia, and others, can be considered to be a part of modern folk art. The subculture also has its own legends, traditions, and slang. From a social scientist’s point of view, tramping, because it originated as an offshoot of scouting and a unique reflection of the romantic image of America in Czech society, also represents a much bigger and multi-faceted social phenomenon. It is an unorganized, open-ended, self-sustaining movement that can be considered to be both a precursor to post-WW2 youth movements such as the Hippies or the rock subculture – and also a distinct alternative to them. Tramping bears characteristics that allow it to be labeled as a youth subculture from a sociological point of view. It was and still is usually adopted in the late teenage years, a liminal period in which the constraints placed on social behavior are challenged and independence from the family is sought. It leads to the creation of distinct communities which offer belonging and status. It also has a dimension of collective rebellion directed against mainstream society. This countercultural aspect is relatively mild in the case of tramping but ever-present and part of the movement’s moral code. The movement’s distinctive identity is supported by its symbols in material culture, art, and folklore [for details on youth subcultures, see Hodkinson 2007: 2-5 and following]. The history of tramping also provides a unique insight into a youth-subcultural movement whose evolution was partially rebooted by outside influences. The tramping of the first half of the 20th century began as the hobby of a few and a fringe offshoot of a respected scouting movement. It then gained mass popularity during the 1920s as a prominent youth subculture with countercultural aspects and was heading for absorption by mainstream culture in the 1930s. These development stages seem typical for many youth-subcultural movements of the 20th century, but this was probably the first modern and large-scale youth subculture to be born and experienced in Bohemia. A possible local precursor, the romantic movement of the 19th century, was influential but more an expression of generational protest than an attempt to create an independent social space. As it turns out, tramping was not allowed to be completely absorbed (or exploited) by the mainstream culture. The Communist regime pushed it back into the grey zone and, through attempts to tame it, paradoxically boosted its aspects. By then, however, the movement was already deeply rooted in Czech society, and mainstream culture embraced tramp motifs whenever it was politically possible. This development of acceptance, which took place in the late 1960s and also in the 1980s-1990s, in some ways mirrored the original evolutionary stages of the movement. Tramping has been repeatedly described as a unique phenomenon in the previous paragraphs. The aforementioned primacy of tramping as a modern Czech youth-subcultural movement is only one of the reasons for making such a statement. Another reason lies in the fact that it has always been limited to Czech and Slovak populations: all known tramp osadas in other countries are formed by ex-pats, and while the word “tramping” is still used in English to describe various hiking activities, the meaning is different. It is, therefore, advisable to use the term “Czech tramping” or something similar in cases of possible confusion. Czech tramping, while not officially connected with a specific nationality, was not adopted by many members of other groups, the large German minority of pre-war Czechoslovakia included. A similar movement of slightly different origin, the Wandervogel, was more popular among Germans. Wandervogel was (and still is) a youth romantic hiking scoutlike movement officially founded in 1901. It differs from tramping in terms of its slightly higher level of organization and the fact that is draws its inspiration from German mythology and history rather than from the American Wild West. [http://www.wandervogel.de/ (consulted 26 June 2011)] There is no mention of tramping bearing any relationship to the Wandervogel. Rather, it is more likely that both movements sprung up independently and grew to fill similar niches. There were friendly contacts between representatives of the two groups, but these were more accidental than frequent [Vinklát 2004: 8-9]. The relationship between tramps and Czech scout-like organizations was often verbally antagonistic, at least on the official level, as there was competition between them; at the same time contacts on the personal level were far less tense. There were many people who were active in both, especially when the communist regime banned scouting. In such times, the “them” of the “us versus them” divide were the Communists. Totalitarian regimes also indirectly forced banned Boy Scout clubs and similar organizations to create proxy clubs under a “false flag,” and if such clubs were also banned, their leaders and older members often continued their activities as tramps, at least for a while. This blurred the borders between the different movements and eased the transmission of customs, songs, symbolism, and people between them [Makásek 2004: 5- 6; Krško 2008: 62-69]. For example, the typical tramp handshake is now often also used by cavers, rock climbers, young tourists, folk musicians, and others. Western reenactment and living history of Euro-Indian groups also became part of this milieu around the 1970s [http://indiancorral.cz/cz/index.php?p=3 (consulted 26 June 2011)]. But whilst there certainly were personal connections between them and tramping and attempts to recreate Native American customs in a realistic way had already existed previously (especially among woodcrafters), their focus was often different. Tramping stresses hiking and communal activities with friends and does not favor the introduction of many rules. Their dress code is forever under discussion, but a tramp’s clothing does not need to be realistic. Tramps of today usually do not go outdoors to imagine that they are cowboys, as they more often did in the 1920s and 1930s. The movement has stabilized; it has a long tradition and most tramps leave their homes on weekends simply to be tramps. (17) - The word tramping was introduced into the Czech language from English as a description of an activity – similar to the introduction of camping or, more recently, bungee-jumping. Its meaning has shifted from the original English and is used solely for describing the subculture in question or the behavior of its participants. Other transcriptions include trempink or trampink. Tramping as an activity may be called trampování or trempování; a participant in the activity is a tramp or tremp. This variance does not indicate a difference in meaning of the word; it just represents different attempts to resolve conflicts between Czech and English pronunciation.[Pergelová 2004: 30-31] - For example the Catholic gymnastic movement Orel or the social-democratic Dělnické tělovýchovné jednoty (Workmen’s Gymnastic Unions).[Břečka 1999: 12] - Popular authors included J. F. Cooper, J. O. Curwood, Z. Grey, B. Hart, J. London and E. T. Seton. One of the most popular early movies was the 1917 American serial Bull’s Eye directed by J. W. Horne featuring Eddie Polo. [Waic and Kössl 1992: 13; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0008935/ (consulted 26 June 2011)] - “Aničkas, Máničkas and Boženkas became Annies, Maries, Bobinas or Daisies, Betsies and Virginies overnight; it was even worse concerning boys. Jarda became Harry, Pepík became Bob, Ota turned into Brandy, Zdeněk into Iron Fist or Wintrop, Edie and sometimes even Swenny, Grizly, Káča, Říman, Bill, Old Saterhand (sic), Farnum, Dawson, Jack etc. etc. (…) There were never so many sheriffs in the world as in Bohemia in 1919-1920. There was not a group without a sheriff, not even a couple without a sheriff.” [Hurikán 1990: 16-17] - The haversack, of all pieces of camping equipment used by tramps, probably has the most slang terms attached to it. Most of them are derived from the term US torna (U.S.backpack) – usárna, úeska, uzda, usařina or usranec (the last one being a word play on US ranec – a US pack – and usranec – a slang neologism which also refers to a piece of excrement or a “shitty” person) or its shape – hadraplán (a rag plane), špekbuřt (a speckwurst) or mrtvý dítě (dead child). The style of packing a haversack is considered to reflect the personality and skills of its owner.[http://www.ontheroads.net/rubrics/tramping/batoh_uska/uska.php (consulted 26 June 2011)] - The Name of an osada was often preceded by the abbreviation T.O. (standing for trampská osada). Other letters were sometimes added to emphasize the place of origin of the osada or its other characteristics – for example T.O.P. could mean trampská osada pražská (a tramp osada from Prague). Some examples of characteristic names of various tramp osadas and camps follow: Ztracená naděje (Lost Hope, 1918), Měsíční údolí (Moon Valley, 1922), El Paso (1927), Fort Adamson (1930), Grey Grizzly (1931), Askalona (Ashkelon, 1933), Pistolníci (Pistolleros, 1944), Zlatý klíč (Golden Key, 1956), Mimo zákon (Out of the law, 1963), Cabaléro (Caballero, 1966), Mississippi (1967), Mývalové (Racoons, 1976), Ministerstvo vnitra (Ministry of the Interior, 1979), The Thirten Stars (sic, 1986), Zlatokopové (Gold Diggers, 1987), Kamarádi dlouhých cest (Friends of Long Journeys, 1988), Galadriel (1994), Pod Psí skálou (Under the Dog Rock, 2002), Krakonošovo Quantanamo (Rübezahl’s Guantanamo, 2008). Selected from an extensive list in [Moidl and Moidlová 2010: 136-163]. - The most common terms used for tramp trips were vandr (from Czech version of German wandern – to wander, to hike) and čundr (from German tschundern – to wander, to walk in a sliding manner) [Pergelová 2004: 31, 25]. - Some popular early composers and performers of traditional tramp music were Jenda Korda, Pedro Mucha, Jarka Mottl, Eda Fořt, Géza Včelička and Eduard Ingriš.[Hurikán 1990: 201-210; Mácha 1967] - There is a word in tramp slang that describes a non-tramp in a pejorative manner – paďour. The word is etymologically unclear, but probably related to the word padavka (weakling) or the word djaur – a non-Muslim person – which was taken from the adventure novels of Karl May and other authors and used by tramps as ďaur – a playful, non-serious invective. Thus pa-ďour acquires the meaning of “false or imperfect djaur” – a double invective. The process of tramping or of individual tramps losing their edge was called zpaďouření (a process of turning into a paďour). A term used for a passively malevolent nontramp is mastňák (greaser), stereotypically a fat, sweaty bourgeois-like person leaving waste in the forest, especially greasy papers left after a picnic. [Waic – Kössl 1992: 64-65; Pergelová 2004: 28] - An extensive online collection of domovenkas, flags of tramp osadas and other related art may be seen at: [http://picasaweb.google.com/nastramp (consulted 26 June 2011)]. - [Zapletalová 2007] offers an overview of the Czech summerhouse phenomenon; discussion of its relation to tramping appears on pages 24-25. - There are almost no estimates of the total number of tramps during different historical periods, including the present. Researchers studying tramps often base their comparisons on the numbers of tramps at the most popular suburban passenger train lines. According to them, there was usually at least one wagon full of tramps on weekends for each day train during the 1920s, 1930s, 1970s and 1980s. Today, the number is just 10 tramps on such a train. [personal opinion: P. Borský, Jílové u Prahy, 2010] - The wearing of these uniform components is usually motivated by tradition, their suitability for outdoor activities, simplicity, and unobtrusiveness in nature. Since the 1990s there are also some groups of tramps who consider themselves to be fans of military history. They wear real uniforms (usually post-WW2 American ones) and combine their trips with activities such as airsoft games or survival training. Such “war games”, while taken quite seriously during the course of play, still retain their recreational character and are not necessarily linked to political extremism. [Krško 2008: 102; Moidl and Moidlová 2010: 13-16] - The word ahoj! probably originates from the English sailor’s greeting a hoy! [Pergelová 2004: 24], it was extensively used by canoeists and tramps and later entered mainstream Czech language, where it is used as a common informal greeting. - The nicknames of tramps are most often Americanized versions of their given names (Marie = Mary), word-plays on their names (Rudolf = Rudan), animal names or attempts to characterize the tramp metaphorically or by a typical feature of their body or behavior [Pergelová 2004: 18-19]. - Examples of both old and contemporary tramp music may be found on many Czech internet sites. Searches for keywords “Ryvola” and “Hoboes”, “Greenhorns” and “Vyčítal”, “F. T. Prim”, “Nedvědi” or “Wabi Daněk” on YouTube usually offer representative examples of modern tramp music sung by professionals and advanced amateurs. Older songs dating to 1920-1930 are less well represented on the internet, but searches for “stará trampská píseň” or “Vlajka vzhůru letí” on YouTube also yield some results. Texts with chord markings for guitar may be found at [http://www.zpevnik.wz.cz/?id_a=82 (consulted 26 June 2011)] for example. A Facebook group dedicated to tramp songs up to the 1970s also exists and many examples, both recordings and movies from recent live plays, are posted there: [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=87010509354 (consulted 26 June 2011)] - A collection of photographs of modern tramps may be seen for example at Jan Moravec’s online gallery: [http://www.etf.cuni.cz/~moravec/fotky/ind-tr.html (consulted 26 June 2011) Altman, K. 2003: “…jak někteří trampují” […how do some of them tramp], in Rajče na útěku. Kapitoly o kultuře a folkloru dnešních dětí a mládeže s ukázkami [Tomato on run. Chapters about culture and folklore of today’s children and youth with examples], J. Pospíšilová, (ed.) Brno: Doplněk. Břečka, B. 1999. Kronika čs. skautského hnutí [Chronicle of Czechoslovak scouting movement]. Brno: Brněnská rada Junáka. Hodkinson, P. 2007. “Youth cultures: A critical outline of key debates,” in Youth cultures. Scenes, Subcultures and Tribes. Hodkinson, P. and W. Deicke, (eds.). New York – London: Routledge. Hurikán, B. [pseud. of Peterka, J.] 1990. Dějiny trampingu [History of tramping]. Praha: Novinář. Jenč, P. and V. Peša. 2006. “Projekt Obnova skalních dutin stavu přírodě blízkému v CHKO Český ráj” [Project “Renewal of rock cavities into a state close to nature”] in Pískovcový fenomén Českého ráje [Sandstone phenomenon of Bohemian Paradise] Jenč, P. and L. Šoltysová (eds). Turnov: ZO ČSOP Křižánky 41-50. . Krško, J. 2008. Meziválečný tramping na Rakovnicku [Interwar tramping at the Rakovník region]. Rakovník: State provincial archive at Prague – State provincial archive at Rakovník. Kučerová, B. 1997. Tramping po roce 1945 [Tramping after 1945]. Diploma thesis. Charles University – Faculty of gymnastic education and sports: Praha. Makásek, I. H. 2004: Kluci z Neskenonu. Cesta ekumenického skautingu [Boys from Neskenon. Path of ecumenical scouting.] Nika: Praha. Mácha, Z. ed. 1967: Kronika trampské písničky [Chronicle of tramp song]. Praha: Bonton. Moidl, Z. and O. Moidlová. 2010. Sbírka trampských domovenek a jiných atributů [Collection of tramp sleeve patches and other attributes]. Liberec: ROSA. Noha, R. 2007. Odlesky táborových ohňů [Reflections of campfires]. Jílové u Prahy: Regional museum at Jílové u Prahy Pergelová, K. 2004. Trampský slang ve slovanském kontextu [Tramp slang in Slavonic context]. Intermediate term thesis. Prague: Charles University – Department of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies. Also available at: teketapa.sweb.cz/Slang_-_Klara.doc Petrová, J. 2009. Zapomenutá generace osmdesátých let 20. století. Nezávislé aktivity a samizdat na Plzeňsku [Forgotten generation of the eighties. Independent activities and samizdat at Plzeň region]. Plzen: Jana Petrová. Rottman, G. and R. Volstad. 1989. US Army Combat Equipments 1910-1988. London: Osprey Publishing. Tucker, E. 1999. “Tales and legends”. in Children’s Folklore – A Source Book. B. Sutton-Smith, J. Mechling, T. V. Johnson and F. R. McMahon (eds.). Logan: Routledge, 193-211 Vinklát, P. D. 2004. Kronika trampingu v Jizerských horách. 1934-2004 [Chronicle of tramping at Jizera Mountains 1934-2004]. Liberec: Knihy, 555. Waic, M. and J. Kössl. 1992: Český tramping 1918-1945 [Czech tramping 1918-1945]. Praha: Práh, Liberec: Ruch. The following were all consulted on June 26, 2011. (We have removed the ones which are no longer active.) - Bull’s Eye (1917). - Der Wandervogel - Domov trampů v zahraničí - Indian Corral. Indian Hobby in the Czech Republic - Klasické trampské písně – zpěvník s akordy [Classical tramp songs – a - songbook with chords] - On the Roads – Diskuze – Tramping vs ochrana přírdy, ubývání “divočiny”, … [On the Roads – Discussion – Tramping vs. protection of natre (sic!), diminution of “wilderness”. - Sdružení Avalon – Trapsavec [Avalon Association – Trapsavec] - Zakládací listina nezávislé občanské iniciativy Roverští patrioti [Foundation charter of independent civic initiative Patriots of Roverrocks]. Guest Post Author Jan Pohunek currently works at the Department of Ethnography, National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic. Jan does research in Archaeology, Historical Anthropology and Cultural Anthropology. His skills and expertise include Folklore, Ethnography, and Social and Cultural Anthropology. See his profile and read some of his other works at Academia.edu. We tirelessly gather and curate valuable information that could take you hours, days, or even months to find elsewhere. 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An interesting theory emerges when analyzing the cryptocurrency market. Cryptocurrency is the newest financial phenomenon, and the reason for this is the failure of the fiat system. Throughout history, political and economic chaos usually stem from a currency failure. Currency failure leads populations into massive speculation, where a run into an asset that is perceived to be undervalued can lead to a full-fledged bubble. Our current state of affairs shows us that assets of every kind are at peaks only seen a few times in history. Commodities and cryptocurrency are not currently in bubbles, but the speculation in cryptocurrencies will lead to one at some point. The cryptocurrency market capitalization is at around $145 billion, with Bitcoin trading at around $70 billion. Cryptocurrency supporters view these digital assets as money, and it does have that component. If we look at a theory known as Catallactics, the digital asset may be viewed as something different. Catallactics is a theoretical discipline that investigates the exchange of goods in a free society. Catallactics is the basis of classical economics and the Austrian School of Economics. Government money is not a test of this theory because it forces influence of the state on ordinary people. When exchanging goods for money, both the buyer and seller will subjectively value the goods side of the transaction. When this transaction takes place, there need not be any subjectivity in the value of the money being exchanged. Essentially, the good or service will be subjective, while the value of money will be objective, otherwise the transaction will lead to barter. This is better known as regresses in infinitum, where the value of money is traced back to its subjective value as non-money before it became objective money. In the 19th century, when silver was dropped for gold as money, silver’s price then dropped back to its value as a good. Money is needed because we divide our labor, with all individuals specializing in their production to maximize output. The only money ever used by the free markets to achieve this is gold and silver. Gold and silver were chosen because they have subjective value in alternative uses. Additionally, gold and silver are the only forms of money that were used in which the buyers and sellers issued the money they were transacting in. When the purchasing power of sound money changes, they view this as a change in the price of the good and not in the money supply, also known as an objective value. This change in the value of goods happens as a price discrepancy is noticed in one market versus another. Money will flow into this market to readjust the price to equilibrium or a more competitive price amongst that good’s overall market. Currently, state money works to provide equilibrium to prices and terms of goods, as they are relatively stable. This is the same logic as gold expressed in fiat or cross rates between fiat currencies. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have no use case outside of money. They do not have subjective value outside of objective value, and they are way too volatile to be used as money. Although, I say this because only 1.5% of the population has any idea of cryptocurrencies. Sound money has to be stable, durable, and reliable. Sometime in the future, when the populations of the world move more heavily into cryptocurrencies and the market capitalization is in the trillions, we will have a better idea of its store of value. Once the bubble-like frenzy is over, we will see which coins and tokens are left after the 1,000-currency market dwindles down. As Georg Knapp said in his book The State Theory of Labor, ”Money is the creature of law.” Will governments crack down further, or will cryptocurrencies become much more stable in their price swings? Once price swings and market caps are stable, they might be used as money, but as of now, they’re nothing more than speculation. However, they have elements of fiat money and sound money, which make them something of interest. I do believe owning a small fraction in cryptocurrency is a hedge against the dollar.

Dice Head Light, Castine, Maine Established in 1829. DICE HEAD LIGHT PENOBSCOT RIVER MOUTH Station Established: 1829 Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1829 Foundation Materials: NATURAL/EMPLACED Construction Materials: GRANITE RUBBLESTONE/BRICK LIN. Tower Shape: CONICAL Markings/Pattern: WHITE W/BLACK LANTERN Relationship to Other Structure: ATTACHED Original Lens: LEWIS PATENT APPARATUS 1828 On the tip end of the peninsula that forms the mouth of the Penobscot River stands the now unwatched Dice Head Lighthouse. Built in 1829 and remodeled in 1858, the lighthouse is now just one more monument to the historic "Pentagoet" region. Here the first white settlers of 1614, French traders under La Tour, gave way to the British from the Plymouth colony led by Isaac Allerton in 1629. The French retook Castine in 1635 only to be again driven out by the British in 1654. Sixteen years later Hubert d’Andigny once more occupied this strategic key town to the Penobscot River for the French. In 1674, a Flemish corsair captured the garrison. Two years later the wealthy and adventurous Baron de St. Castine took over the town, which still bears his name. Married to the daughter of the Indian Chief, Madoca-wando, he became a powerful influence among the Indians and the town became a thriving shipping port. Six years after the original light was built in 1829 Capt. Henry D. Hunter of the United States revenue cutter Jackson inspected it. "This light," he reported, "should be located on the northern head of Holbrook Island, at the eastern entrance to Castine Harbor. It would then answer as a guide up the Penobscot River and a harbor light." The lighthouse was rebuilt in 1937 and is now a white skeleton tower on the north side of the entrance to Castine Harbor, 27 feet above water. Its 8,000 candlepower acetelyne light flashes white every 4 seconds and is visible for 10 miles.

Non-metallic fittings are an alternative to traditional metallic fittings used in water pipes. They are made from various materials, such as plastic, PVC, CPVC, ABS, PEX, and others. Non-metallic fittings offer several advantages over metallic fittings, including: Corrosion resistance: Non-metallic fittings are resistant to corrosion and rust, which can be a significant problem with metallic fittings. Lightweight: Non-metallic fittings are much lighter in weight than metallic fittings, making them easier to install and handle. Flexibility: Non-metallic fittings can be more flexible than metallic fittings, making them easier to install in tight spaces or around corners. Lower cost: Non-metallic fittings are typically less expensive than metallic fittings, which can make them a more cost-effective option. No scaling: Non-metallic fittings do not scale, which can help maintain the flow of water and prevent blockages in the pipes. Reduced noise: Non-metallic fittings can reduce the noise of water flowing through the pipes, which can be beneficial in residential and commercial buildings. Non-metallic fittings are commonly used in a variety of plumbing applications, including water supply, drainage, and irrigation systems. They are available in a range of sizes, styles, and configurations to fit different types of pipes and meet specific installation requirements. When selecting non-metallic fittings for water pipes, it is important to choose high-quality, durable products that are designed to withstand the demands of the application. Non-metallic fittings are available in a wide range of types and configurations, depending on the specific requirements of the water pipe system. Here are some common types of non-metallic fittings used for water pipes: PVC fittings: PVC (polyvinyl chloride) fittings are widely used in water supply systems due to their resistance to chemicals and corrosion. They are available in a variety of sizes and configurations, including couplings, elbows, tees, and reducers. CPVC fittings: CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) fittings are similar to PVC fittings but are designed to withstand higher temperatures and pressures. They are commonly used in hot water supply systems. PEX fittings: PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) fittings are commonly used in residential plumbing systems due to their flexibility and ease of installation. They are available in push-fit and crimped configurations. ABS fittings: ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) fittings are used in drainage and waste systems due to their resistance to chemicals and impact. They are available in a variety of sizes and configurations, including elbows, tees, and wyes. HDPE fittings: HDPE (high-density polyethylene) fittings are used in water supply and irrigation systems due to their resistance to chemicals and corrosion. They are available in a variety of sizes and configurations, including couplings, elbows, and tees. PP fittings: PP (polypropylene) fittings are commonly used in chemical processing and water treatment applications due to their chemical resistance. They are available in a variety of sizes and configurations, including couplings, elbows, and tees.

The Canada Southern Station, completed in 1873, embodies the contribution the city of St. Thomas made to the railroad industry in North America. During its busiest period, in the 1920s, as many as 2,000 passengers passed by the station per day. The building was constructed between June 1871 and April 1873. Once completed, the Canada Southern Railway Station worked double-duty. The passenger station occupied the ground floor and the corporate headquarters of the Canada Southern Railway (CSR) were located on the upper floor. A large formal dining room, which occupied approximately a third of the ground floor, served meals to passengers. Modest living-quarters for the kitchen staff were located on the second floor. The CSR built 31 railway stations in Ontario during the 1870s; the station in St Thomas stands out from the rest in two respects. It is the largest of them all and the only one that was built in the Italianate style of architecture. The building comprises two storeys and is 107.9 metres (354 feet) long and 10.9 metres (36 feet) wide, and has 162 arched windows. It took 400,000 white bricks to construct the station. The exterior was painted red at a later date. Originally, the station had eight chimneys and a canopy that wrapped around the entire building; the chimneys were dismantled over time and the canopy was removed in the late 1960s. Over the years, the station was owned by various railroad companies, including: the Canada Southern, Michigan Central, New York Central, Pennsylvania Central, Conrail, and Canadian National/Canadian Pacific. It is presently owned by the North America Railway Hall of Fame. The St. Thomas station stands as a reminder of the intense competition amongst regional rail lines in the 19th century and of the influence of foreign capital in railway construction and profitability.

Do you know that you could use hydrogen peroxide in your garden to give it a little extra boost? While plenty of fertilizers and plant foods are on the market, there’s one solution you may not have considered yet: hydrogen peroxide. Are you a gardening enthusiast? Check out these helpful articles to take your gardening game to the next level: That’s right, the same solution you use to disinfect cuts and scrapes can work wonders in your garden. In this article, we’ll explore how hydrogen peroxide can benefit your plants and share some tips for incorporating it into your gardening routine. Get ready to learn how to use this common household miracle solution in your garden. What is Hydrogen Peroxide and How Does it Work? Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound that consists of two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. It is a colorless and odorless liquid that is commonly used as a disinfectant for wounds and surfaces. However, in recent years, hydrogen peroxide has gained popularity among gardening enthusiasts for its ability to benefit plants. So, how does it work? When hydrogen peroxide is applied to soil or plants, it releases oxygen molecules that help to improve soil aeration. This, in turn, promotes root development and growth. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide has antimicrobial properties that can protect plants from harmful bacteria and fungi. Incorporating hydrogen peroxide into your gardening routine can benefit your plants. From helping to ward off diseases to promoting growth, it’s a versatile solution that can help take your gardening game to the next level. Continue reading to discover the many benefits of using hydrogen peroxide in your garden. Benefits of Using Hydrogen Peroxide in Your Garden In addition to being an effective solution for combating plant diseases, hydrogen peroxide has numerous other benefits for your garden. For starters, it can help to improve soil aeration by releasing oxygen molecules. This can promote root development and growth, which ultimately leads to healthier and more robust plants. Another benefit of using hydrogen peroxide in your garden is its ability to protect plants from harmful bacteria and fungi. Its antimicrobial properties make it an excellent solution for preventing diseases like root rot, powdery mildew, and even some types of blight. But the benefits don’t stop there. Hydrogen peroxide can also help to increase the availability of oxygen in the soil, which can further promote healthy growth and development. Because it’s a natural solution, you won’t have to worry about harmful chemicals or toxins contaminating your garden – a win-win for both you and your plants. Now that you know the benefits of using hydrogen peroxide in your garden, it’s time to learn how to incorporate it into your routine. How to Use Hydrogen Peroxide in Your Garden To start incorporating the benefits of hydrogen peroxide in your garden, it’s best to use a diluted solution. One option is to mix one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water and use it to water your plants. This can help to boost overall plant health and vigor. Fighting Plant Diseases In addition to its remarkable benefits in enhancing plant growth, hydrogen peroxide can also be utilized to fight plant diseases. By using a solution of hydrogen peroxide and water, you can prevent and treat a variety of fungal, bacterial, and viral infections on your plants. To create a natural homemade pesticide, mix 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide with 1 cup of water. Next, test the solution on a small area of the plant. Furthermore, wait at least three days before spraying it generously across the entire surface. This solution also serves as an effective preventative measure against mold and mildew growth in your garden. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide can be used to sanitize your gardening tools between uses, thus, reducing the spread of disease. Improving Soil Quality Another amazing benefit of hydrogen peroxide in gardening is its ability to improve soil quality. Soil structure and nutrient content play a crucial role in the growth of plants. Unfortunately, over time, soil quality can diminish due to various factors, such as overuse and poor maintenance. When the soil is deficient in essential nutrients, plants may struggle to grow and become susceptible to disease and pests. Hydrogen peroxide can help improve soil quality by increasing oxygen levels in the soil, which promotes healthy root growth. Additionally, it can break down organic matter, making it easier for plants to absorb essential nutrients from the soil. The use of hydrogen peroxide in the soil can also help balance the pH level, which is vital for the proper absorption of nutrients. By integrating hydrogen peroxide into your gardening routine, you can achieve healthy soil and, in turn, healthier plants. To use hydrogen to aerate your soil, mix a pint of peroxide with a gallon of water and water your established plants with this solution weekly for the best results. Boosting Seed Germination with Hydrogen Peroxide When it comes to starting a new garden or planting new seeds, hydrogen peroxide can be an effective tool. By soaking your seeds in a hydrogen peroxide and water mixture (1-2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide per cup of water), you can increase the chances of successful germination. The hydrogen peroxide helps to kill off any harmful bacteria or fungus on the seed’s surface, preventing its growth and promoting a healthy start for your new plants. In addition to soaking seeds, hydrogen peroxide can also be used to water your young plants. When mixed with water (1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water), it can help break down any organic matter in the soil, providing valuable nutrients to your growing plants. This can not only improve the health of your plants but can also stimulate growth, leading to more significant yields. With hydrogen peroxide as a secret weapon, your garden can thrive. In the next section, we’ll explore how hydrogen peroxide can also be used to kill weeds, providing a natural and effective weed control method for your garden. Killing Weeds with Hydrogen Peroxide Another great use for hydrogen peroxide in the garden is as a natural weed killer. Many weed killers on the market contain harmful chemicals that can harm both your plants and the environment. However, hydrogen peroxide is a safe and effective alternative. To use hydrogen peroxide as a weed killer, simply mix it with water (1 part hydrogen peroxide to 2 parts water) and spray it directly onto the weeds. The hydrogen peroxide will break down the cell walls of the weeds, killing them off without harming surrounding plants. Not only is this method eco-friendly, but it’s also cost-effective. You can purchase hydrogen peroxide at any drugstore for a fraction of the cost of commercial weed killers. Using hydrogen peroxide in your garden is a great way to naturally and effectively control weeds while keeping your plants healthy and thriving. In the next section, we’ll explore how hydrogen peroxide can prevent root rot in your plants, helping them grow even stronger. Preventing Root Rot Hydrogen peroxide is not only a great way to control weeds in your garden, but it can also prevent root rot in your plants. Root rot is a condition where the roots of a plant start to decay due to overwatering, poor drainage, or fungal infection. This can lead to stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and eventually, the death of the plant. To prevent root rot, mix one part hydrogen peroxide with three parts water and water your plants with the solution once a week. The oxygen in the hydrogen peroxide will help to kill any harmful bacteria or fungi in the soil, while also promoting healthy root growth. In addition to preventing root rot, using hydrogen peroxide in your garden can also accelerate composting. By adding a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to your compost pile, you can help to break down organic matter more quickly, resulting in nutrient-rich soil for your plants. Overall, hydrogen peroxide is a versatile and eco-friendly tool that every gardener should have in their arsenal. Whether you’re looking to control weeds or promote healthy plant growth, hydrogen peroxide is an affordable and effective solution that can help you achieve your gardening goals. Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Accelerate Composting Adding hydrogen peroxide to your compost pile can be a game-changer for gardeners. Composting is an essential part of creating nutrient-rich soil, but it can often take a long time for organic matter to break down completely. By introducing hydrogen peroxide into the mix, you can speed up the process and have usable compost in a shorter amount of time. This means more nutrient-rich soil for your plants and more efficient use of your gardening space. Plus, as an eco-friendly solution, hydrogen peroxide doesn’t harm the environment or pollute the soil in any way. With all these benefits, it’s no wonder hydrogen peroxide is a secret garden tool every gardener should have. And if that’s not enough, keep reading to learn how hydrogen peroxide can also help deter pests from your garden. Hydrogen peroxide isn’t just useful for accelerating composting; it can also help deter pests from invading your garden. Pests like aphids, spider mites, and even fungi can harm your plants and reduce the yield of your garden. By mixing one part hydrogen peroxide with nine parts water, you can create a natural and non-toxic solution to keep pests away. Simply spray the mixture directly on your plants or soil to deter pests. It’s important to note that hydrogen peroxide should be used with caution and in moderation, as using too much can harm beneficial organisms in your soil. In addition to deterring pests, hydrogen peroxide can also revive sick plants. If your plants are suffering from root rot or other fungal diseases, hydrogen peroxide can help by increasing oxygen levels at the root zone and killing harmful bacteria. Simply mix one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide with one cup of water and water your plants as usual. This can help revive your plants and improve their overall health. With all these benefits, it’s no wonder hydrogen peroxide is a must-have tool for any serious gardener. Reviving Sick Plants Hydrogen peroxide not only helps keep pests at bay, but it can also come in handy when reviving sick plants. When plants are suffering from root rot or other fungal diseases, the solution can increase oxygen levels at the root zone and kill harmful bacteria. A simple mixture of one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide with one cup of water can be used to water your plants as usual. This can help revive your plants and improve their overall health. However, caution must be taken when using hydrogen peroxide as using too much can harm beneficial organisms in your soil. With all the benefits of hydrogen peroxide, it’s a valuable tool for any serious gardener. In addition to its pest deterrent and plant-reviving properties, it can also be used to clean garden tools. By diluting hydrogen peroxide with water and using it to clean your tools, you can prevent the spread of plant diseases and ensure that your tools are clean and ready to use for your next gardening task. Cleaning Garden Tools Keeping your garden tools clean is essential for maintaining the health of your plants. Dirty tools can easily spread diseases and pests to your garden, ultimately leading to poor plant growth and production. That’s where hydrogen peroxide comes in handy. To clean your garden tools, simply mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts water and soak your tools in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes. After soaking, rinse your tools thoroughly with water and dry them off completely before storing them. This simple process not only ensures that your tools are clean and ready to use but also helps prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and fungi in your garden. It’s important to note that while hydrogen peroxide is a powerful cleaning agent, using too much can harm beneficial organisms in your soil. It’s best to use it in moderation and always dilute it with water before using. With its many uses in the garden, hydrogen peroxide is a versatile tool that no gardener should be without. Incorporating hydrogen peroxide into your gardening routine can provide many benefits for both you and your plants. However, it’s important to keep in mind some safety precautions to ensure that you’re using it properly. Safety Tips for Using Hydrogen Peroxide in Your Garden Incorporating hydrogen peroxide into your gardening routine can provide incredible benefits for your plants. However, safety should always come first. Here are some tips to ensure you’re using hydrogen peroxide safely in your garden: - Wear protective gear When handling hydrogen peroxide, it’s essential to wear protective gear such as gloves and eyewear. Hydrogen peroxide can be harmful if it comes into contact with your skin or eyes, so precautions must be taken. - Dilute appropriately Hydrogen peroxide can be very potent in its undiluted form, so it’s important to dilute it appropriately. A ratio of one part hydrogen peroxide to six parts water is recommended for most gardening applications. - Follow instructions Always read and follow the instructions on the hydrogen peroxide container. Different brands and strengths may require different handling or dilution methods. - Store properly Store hydrogen peroxide in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight. Keep it out of reach of children and pets. By following these safety tips, you can enjoy the benefits of using hydrogen peroxide in your garden without any harm to yourself or your plants., In conclusion, hydrogen peroxide is not just a medicinal solution, it’s also a game-changer for gardening enthusiasts. With its ability to enhance soil health, prevent root rot, and boost plant growth, this unassuming solution has proven to be a versatile tool in any gardener’s toolkit. Don’t forget to check out our helpful tool to plant your garden right for your hardiness zone: By following a few simple tips on how to use hydrogen peroxide safely, you can take your gardening skills to the next level and watch your plants thrive. So go ahead and give it a try – your garden and your green thumb will thank you. As the saying goes, “healthy soil equals healthy plants,” and hydrogen peroxide is the natural miracle solution that can help make that a reality.

At Dr Golding Medical Practice we check ferritin levels (iron storage levels) and if iron stores are too high we do venesection (blood letting) on site for our patients. Why would we do this? As you age, iron accumulates in your brain. The latest research finds that too much iron in your brain tissues may contribute to memory decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to stop iron-related memory damage before it’s too late. What makes iron so dangerous to your memory? The danger has to do with brain cell oxidation. When iron reacts with oxygen and water in our environment, it forms rust. Something similar happens in the brain when abnormal iron metabolism triggers the production of highly toxic free radicals – the process called oxidation, which damages a cell’s structure, including its fats, proteins, and DNA – ultimately leading to cell death. Excess iron also contributes to formation of beta amyloid brain plaques and tau protein tangles that are both strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, high iron levels in the brain have been linked to Alzheimer’s for decades. Specifically, brain imaging shows damage occurs where iron accumulates in deep gray matter structures including the hippocampus, a key memory area. But iron’s role in damaging the neocortex, the deeply grooved outer layer of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functioning, hasn’t been explored until now. Biomarker for Predicting Alzheimer’s Neurologist Reinhold Schmidt and his colleagues at the University of Graz in Austria used a special version of an MRI machine called 3T, because it’s difficult to scan the neocortex using a conventional MRI. Using this special imaging technology, Dr. Schmidt’s group created a map of brain iron in 100 patients with Alzheimer’s and 100 healthy control patients. 56 of those 200 patients had a follow up MRI and cognitive testing 17 months later. “We found indications of higher iron deposition in the deep gray matter and total neocortex, and regionally in temporal and occipital lobes in Alzheimer’s disease patients compared with age-matched healthy individuals,” reported Dr. Schmidt. “These results are all in keeping with the view that high concentrations of iron significantly promote amyloid beta deposition and neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s disease.” He went on to say that the iron mapping technique could be used as a biomarker for predicting the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and that drugs called chelators, which remove excess iron from the body, could play an important role in the treatment of the disease. Long-time readers of this newsletter might remember that we’ve written about the importance of detoxifying the body and the brain from heavy metals to preserve a healthy memory. This new research seems to reinforce what we’ve learned from many natural doctors that we’ve interviewed throughout the years. Now, even top conventional doctors are pointing to the danger of iron accumulation in the brain. Harvard Doctor: “Iron Single Most Dangerous Element” in Your Diet Why iron accumulates in the brain with aging is unknown. However, the body can only obtain iron from the diet, and some scientists believe that older people should limit intake. One such scientist is Dr. Preston Estep, Director of Genome Sequencing and part of the senior management team of the Personal Genome Project at Harvard Medical School. He describes iron as “the single most dangerous element in modern…diets.” He thinks the RDA of eight mg for adults aged 51 years and older is way too high. Instead, that age group should aim for no more than three to five mg of iron per day. How to Avoid Iron Overload like - Eliminate any food fortified or enriched with iron such as fortified grain products. The adjectives “ferric” or “ferrous,” rather than iron, may be listed on the label. Organic flour does not usually come with added iron, while conventional flour is often iron-enriched. - Limit red meat consumption, which is rich in the highly-absorbable form of heme iron. - Drink tea and coffee with meals to reduce iron absorption. - Eat a nutrient-rich, whole food diet filled with vegetables since these contain oxalates, phytates, polyphenols and fiber, all of which reduce iron absorption. - If using a multivitamin and mineral supplement, make sure it’s labeled iron-free. - Take vitamin C supplements away from food, especially meat, as this increases the absorption of iron. - Donate blood regularly. Dr. Estep maintains that long-lived populations around the world have low body stores of iron. For instance, Japanese women have the lowest levels of iron in the developed world, live the longest, and have low rates of Alzheimer’s disease.

19th Century Scotland was a hard place for a family man to make a living. Alexander Davidson, or Sandy as he was known, was a tenant craftsman working out of the local blacksmith’s at Netherton hamlet in the Angus parish of Aberlemno. The work was a continuous round of making and repairing cartwheels, fashioning wooden shafts for implements and repairing agricultural carts. He and his wife Margaret lived with their six children in a tied cottage next to the blacksmith’s; accommodation they also shared with two other workers. They lived on the estate of Lord Minto who owned the land and largely governed the lives of the people who lived and worked there. At Netherton cottage, four adults and five children shared a tiny two-bedroomed cottage almost certainly at the discretion of the estate. If the cottage had any bucolic charm then it would have been quickly erased by the hardship of daily life. The working day routinely began at dawn and didn’t finish until after the sun went down in the evenings. Sandy’s work for the laird is highly likely to have included any additional tasks for which his skills could be deemed useful. These may well have included repairs and renovation work that involved his carpentry skills, for there is evidence that Sandy made furniture after he arrived in the New World. Margaret also would have been busy from dawn to dusk. Her daily life included setting the stove, fetching water, cooking, baking bread and caring for her children. There would also have been livestock to maintain and a kitchen garden planted out with vegetables to tend. Living on the estate did offer a degree of security in the form of steady and relatively assured employment. Certainly, a supply of coal from the blacksmith’s was available in order to keep the home fires burning. Water came from a nearby well and a very rudimentary outhouse served as a toilet. The midden, or dump, had been sited in the southwest corner of the garden and no doubt generated a ready supply of good quality compost to add to the already fertile soil. The self-sufficiency they enjoyed may not be recognizable as The Good Life, but they did not suffer extreme want. Why then, when Sandy was already fifty-two years old, did emigration to a land they barely knew, and a wholly uncertain future suddenly seem so much more attractive? One possibility is that they had no life of their own and few tangible alternatives for their children. The laird, his factor and his land agent may have been quite benign towards those working upon his property, but estate life meant deference to their decisions and few rights as sitting tenants. Certainly, intolerable overcrowding of families into inadequate accommodation in both town and countryside was a nineteenth century malaise that persisted in Scotland well into the 1900’s. Some members of Margaret Davidson’s family, including her mother, had already made the journey across the Atlantic and were quite settled in Wisconsin. There is some evidence from communications between them that America offered the possibility of a different kind of life, an alternative future for their children, and the chance to prosper. The family story of the Davidsons and the remarkable destiny that lay in wait for them is one that arcs across the miles and down through the generations. It is the chronicle of a bloodline through three American-born Davidson grandsons who founded a great enterprise with Englishman William Harley. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though. First and foremost, there is much still to understand about the hardship of the migrants’ tale and small beginnings in backyards and machine shops in Wisconsin.

Saints Name Days of Greece The Saints Name Days celebrated in Greece for January 26 are: - Xenofon, Xenofontas, Xenofontos, Xenia In Greece, name days, which are the Feast Days of Greek Orthodox Saints, are more important than birthdays. Children are typically named after the Patron Saint of their region with the eldest son often being named after his paternal grandfather and the oldest daughter after her paternal grandmother. Children sharing paternal grandparents often have the same first name. Traditionally, the person whose name day it is treats their friends to drinks and food at the local café. Greek Name Day Search Tool Enter full name, not abbreviations. If your name day does Not display, try another spelling.

Religion has long been a topic of philosophical discussion, but only relatively recently have neuroscientists begun to investigate faith and spirituality, too. Several different strands of research now indicate that there are specific parts of our brains that relate to belief in God, and that if certain parts of the brain are stimulated or damaged, it can lead to a dramatic change in faith or spirituality. Endeavoring to investigate this question, Dr. Cosimo Urgesi of the University of Udine, Italy, led a study, which was published in Neuron, to assess the likelihood of self-transcendence (ST) in patients who had received brain surgery. Self-transcendence was defined as a decreased sense of self, with an ability to identify yourself as being “at one with the universe,” an integral part of it. The researchers assessed patients’ ST levels both before and after they had surgery, taking precise care to note exactly where brain lesions occurred as a result of surgery. They found that damage to the posterior parietal areas — usually associated with visuospatial processing, for example, being able to reach for an object, as well as the online representation of one’s own body (body schema) — caused changes in the patients’ self-transcendence, increasing the likelihood of a person experiencing it. Yet it is not necessary to undergo brain surgery to experience a dramatic change in how you view your spirituality or beliefs; a substance called psilocybin appears to be very effective in this regard. In research at Johns Hopkins University, psilocybin — the active ingredient in the sacred mushrooms used by Indian tribes in Central America as a religious sacrament for over 2,000 years — has been administered as the primary tool in exploring these alternative states of consciousness. Psilocybin is a tryptamine alkaloid, similar in structure to serotonin and dimethyltryptamine, which are produced naturally in the human brain. Dr. William Richards, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, has conducted around 500 psychedelic therapy sessions. Given appropriate dosage in a supportive setting, many of these sessions follow a familiar pattern: The study participant reports initial sensory changes, often vibrant colors and patterns with closed eyes; then they may move on to a more introspective or psychodynamic stage, where personal life history and relationships may become focal. “Then,” says Richards, “a spiritual (or transpersonal) form of consciousness may become predominant, in which visionary imagery (of gods, goddesses, precious metals and stones, ancient civilizations, or cosmic panoramas) may occur, finally opening into unitive-mystical states of awareness beyond the limits of the usual everyday personality. This phase often entails a reported sense of oneness and interconnectedness, as well as intuitive insights about religious and philosophical issues such as the ultimate structure of reality and immortality.” It’s tempting to view studies such as this with suspicion. The fact that people undergo spiritual experiences while under the influence of a mind-altering chemical could be as meaningless as a person who feels more confident when they are drunk. But results indicate that this is not the case. Dr. Roland R. Griffiths, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience also at Johns Hopkins University, has worked with Richards on some of the psilocybin studies — and their results indicate that the effects of the psilocybin experience are not just profound; they are also long-lasting, as published research in the Journal of Psychopharmacology indicates. When Griffiths and his study’s co-authors followed up with participants 14 months later, more than half maintained that the experience had been among the five most spiritually significant experiences of their lives, with 64% saying that the experience had increased their well-being or life satisfaction. So if physical changes to the brain can create religious or spiritual experience, does religious experience also cause changes to the brain? Possibly. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center analyzed data from 268 older adults, using high-resolution MRI images to assess hippocampal volumes in relation to life-changing religious experiences. They found that those who had experienced such life-changing events had significant hippocampal atrophy compared to those who hadn’t. With this study published in PLOS One, the researchers can’t say for certain just why this should be so, and they are keen to point out that no causal relationship has been shown. One theory is that the atrophy is caused by stress. The study participants who considered themselves dedicated to a religion but had not had a life-changing religious experience didn’t show the same atrophy in the hippocampus. So the researchers suggest that sudden and dramatic change in religious beliefs — such as becoming a born-again Protestant or Catholic, as many of the affected study participants did — could cause stress to the individual as they struggle to adjust or come to terms with their new beliefs. Stress is known to reduce the size of the hippocampus. We know that the environment we live in affects our religious and spiritual choices; now there appears to be substantial evidence indicating that we are also biologically programmed for some kind of faith or spirituality. But why? Matthew Alper, author of “The ‘God’ Part of the Brain,” was one of the first philosophical thinkers to investigate this question, amassing a wealth of scientific evidence to support the idea, which, he says, is fairly straightforward: “Every culture, from the dawn of our species, has believed in some form of a spiritual realm, in spiritual entities and a soul that perseveres after physical death.” He says there are two distinct instincts at work here: the religious and the spiritual. “The function of the religious instinct is to strengthen the group dynamic by providing societies with a set of spiritual norms, guidelines, and rituals that bond and regulate the community,” he says. “The spiritual instinct constitutes a more sensory experience — often prompted by prayer, chant, or meditation — that calms and comforts us by releasing us from the psychic strains of daily life as well as the debilitating anxiety that comes with our species’ unique awareness of death. As we tend to interpret this altered state as a feeling of being connected to a ‘higher’ power, it acts to bolster our beliefs.” So if there is a function or purpose for believing in god, or having faith in something beyond ourselves — as well as a part of the brain used for this purpose — why do some people not indulge in this kind of behavior? What of the atheists and agnostics of the world? “As with any inherent predisposition — be it for music, math, or language — we fall into what we could call a ‘cognitive bell curve,’ ” Alper says. “Every human culture has, for example, displayed a proclivity for music. This suggests that there must be parts of our brain which provide us with this capacity. Though our species possesses this inherent proclivity, because of genetic variance, however, each individual is born with a particular musical potential that falls somewhere into a bell curve. Whereas most of us are born with average musical potential — representing the bulge of this curve — on the tapering extremes some are born gifted while others are tone-deaf.” Alper applies the idea of a cognitive bell curve to religiosity or spirituality. “The majority of humans will possess an inherent predisposition to believe in a spiritual reality — there will be those on the tapering extremes of this same curve who will be less inherently inclined to believe in a spiritual world or practice a religion. On the opposing side of that same curve, there will be those born spiritually or religiously gifted; those whose religious and spiritual beliefs will play a more important role in their conscious experience.” Just as with music, he says, we shouldn’t ignore the important role that one’s environment plays in one’s religious or spiritual proclivities. “Therefore, I would say that spirituality and religiosity — as would be true for any inherent set of behavioral predispositions — is dependent on the interplay of one’s nature and nurture.” This article is updated from its initial publication in Brain World Magazine’s print edition. More From Brain World - Assimilated: The Clout of Cults on Identity - Finding the Rhythm of the Universe Through Movement and Music - Many Ways of Connecting: Where Spirituality and Technology Meet - Morality and the Brain: An Interview with Neurophilosopher Patricia Churchland - The Neuroscience Behind Rationalizing Our Mistakes - Understanding Belief: Delving Into the Big Questions Behind “Big Gods”

Do you have a Math test tomorrow? Here are some tips to help you prepare for a math test the night before. 1. Remain Calm On the day before a test, your mind switches to panic mode. The trick is to calm the mind and assure yourself that you can sort things out. Stress and anxiety can ruin your focus and concentration. Take a 10- minute break before you start studying and relax. When your ten minutes are up, prepare yourself for studies. 2. Find a Nice Quiet Spot to Study Choose a quiet study spot that is away from television and other distractions. Let your family members know that you are preparing for a test. Make sure it’s not too comfortable because you might end up falling asleep. 3. Gather Your Materials Ensure that you have all your study material. Organize the necessary materials so that you are less likely to lose focus during your study time. 4. Don’t Try to Learn Anything New Go through all your notes and study materials and decide what you know already. Once that is sorted, you can concentrate on learning them better. Cramming new things the night before the exam can be difficult, as sometimes the stress and panic can make you forget things you learned before. Even if you know just 70% of the syllabus, you are guaranteed to pass. Solve at least one problem of each type in order to get the basic idea of how to approach the question. It will help you solve tricky problems in the exam and also saves time. 6. Use Flash Cards to Remember Formulas Flashcards are a student’s best friend when it comes to exams. It is the most simplified form of your actual course notes. Write down the formulas and rules and review them frequently. They’ll help you remember things clearly during the exam. On the night before the exam, glance over flashcards and go back over the quiz questions and homework problems. Make sure you are clear about everything. Work some problems and review the things you’ve done. 8. Get a Good Night’s Sleep Staying up all night will make you tired in the morning. Get up at least 30 minutes earlier and recall once again the important formulas and concepts. 9. Eat Healthy Food Eat something healthy so that you won’t feel hungry when you take the exam. Drink lots of water; This will stimulate your brain and help you memorize during the exam. 10. During Exam Start the exam with the questions you already know and leave the rest at the end. Don’t panic if you find yourself clueless about the problem. Take a deep breath and recall what you have studied and try to solve it with confidence. I hope these tips will help you prepare for a math test the night before the exam. Keep calm, stay positive and prepare for finals and focus. If you are still struggling, ask us-Can I pay someone to take my online class?. We will help you with exams, quizzes, and homework assignments. Our take my online class tutors are graduates of Ivy League universities and have experience of over 6+ years. Sign up today. They will help you earn an A or B in exams. Can I hire someone to take my online class? Yes, call us at +1 (800) 698-3712…

Next week Barack Obama will give the annual Nelson Mandela lecture in Johannesburg to commemorate the centenary of the birth of South Africa’s first post-apartheid leader. South Africans will be exhorted “to find the Mandela in each of us” while scores of business leaders and media celebrities are spending a night inside the prison cells on Robben Island — where Mandela spent the majority of his 27 year incarceration — to raise funds for good causes. Many Jews in South Africa will recall the life and times of Nelson Mandela because he attempted to bring harmony to South Africa’s diverse communities through the healing of past wounds. Mandela even put on a kosher lunch for the zealous prosecutor at his trial in 1963, Percy Yutar, an Orthodox Jew and president of the United Hebrew Congregation in Johannesburg. In 1998 42 per cent of South African Jews stated that they were likely to stay in the new South Africa. By 2006 after Mandela’s tenure as president, this figure rose to 79%, but may be lower today after former President Zuma’s misrule. Mandela and other leaders of the struggle against apartheid crossed paths with Jews early on in their careers because they were lawyers who used the courtroom to fight for black rights and against discriminatory legislation. Mandela was famously hired by Lazar Skidelsky as a legal clerk in his first job in the 1940s. The Pan-Africanist Congress leader, Robert Sobukwe, similarly studied law while banished to the town of Kimberley. The journalist, Benjamin Pogrund, was in regular correspondence with Sobukwe during his previous six years on Robben Island and sent him works on Judaism by Leo Baeck and Martin Buber. Pogrund was also the first non-family member to visit Mandela in Pollsmoor prison — yet in the early days, at the height of the anti-apartheid regime, he was kept at arms’ length by many in the Jewish community. The disproportionate number of Jews involved in anti-apartheid activities worried the communal leadership. At the Treason trial in 1956, half the whites arrested were Jews. Defendants in other political trials with names such as Yetta Barenblatt and Hymie Barsel, rekindled the pre-war anti-Jewish sentiment of Afrikaners nationalists. The defense counsel at the Treason trial was the communal leader, Israel Maisels while one of the prosecutors was Oswald Pirow, a leading nationalist and Nazi sympathiser in the 1930s. When Mandela and the leadership of Umkonto we sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, were arrested, most of the whites apprehended were Jews. Privately liberal and consistent voters for Helen Suzman, the Jewish and often sole defender of human rights in the South African parliament, communal leaders projected an external policy of non-interference when it came to apartheid. Despite harsh criticism from many Jews, they believed that they could somehow weather the storm. It was only in 1985 that the Board of Deputies in South Africa first admonished the propagators of apartheid. Many ordinary members of the community desired stability and a quiet life while trying to deal with the contradictions raised by Jewish tradition and history for someone living under apartheid. There were exceptions such as the outspoken orthodox rabbi, Louis Rabinowitz and the progressive rabbi, Arthur Super. Others, often more assimilated and acculturated Jews, such as Joe Slovo, Ruth First, Ronnie Kasrils and Sam Kahn joined the Communist party to fight apartheid. Courageous in their beliefs, critical of Zionism while turning a blind eye to Stalin’s crimes, they often occupied pivotal positions in the ANC. The Israeli academic and chronicler of Jewish life in South Africa, Gideon Shimoni, has written about the “double marginality” of such figures — alienated from both the Jewish community and white society. Such problems became more accentuated in the aftermath of the Sharpeville massacre in 1960. At this time Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir, were strongly cultivating newly emergent African nations. In October 1961, Eric Louw, the South African Foreign Minister, spoke at the UN — and the Liberian delegate asked for it to be struck from the record. When it came to a vote, the UK and its allies abstained — only the Netherlands and Israel voted in favour. Louw then warned that “South African citizens who have racial and religious ties with Israel would also disapprove of the hostile and ungrateful action of Israel”. Just before the outbreak of World War II, Louw, told parliament in Pretoria that he was convinced that “if it were possible to remove Jewish influence and pressure from the press and from the news agencies, the international outlook would be considerably brighter than it is today”. An unnerved Board of Deputies put out a statement which combined understanding with mild criticism of Israel’s action, advocating freedom of expression and suggesting that an abstention would have been more appropriate. This provoked irritation from liberal sections of the community. One asked whether Louw’s freedom of speech was more important than that of Albert Lutuli — the ANC president who had been banned for many years and confined to his home. Another motion at the UN which advocated diplomatic and economic sanctions against South Africa was similarly supported by Israel. In retaliation, the South African Treasury refused to renew special privileges that allowed the transfer of gift funds to Israel. A private letter from prime minister Verwoerd to a local Jew was then published. It suggested that Israel’s voting behaviour was “a tragedy for South African Jewry” and might cause local antisemitism. He further wrote that during the previous election “so many Jews had favoured the Progressive party and so few the Nationalist party, did not pass unnoticed.” The intimidatory nature of this message brought back memories of Verwoerd’s past history. As editor of Die Transvaler in the 1930s, anti-Jewish opinions were propagated through the columns of his newspaper. He had suggested a quota system for Jews in each profession: “Jews should be refused further trading licences until every section of the population has its proper share.” Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir refused to back down and repeatedly evoked Jewish values and experience in condemning apartheid. Their policies in cultivating the African states came to nothing however when there was a mass breaking off of diplomatic relations after the Yom Kippur war due to Arab economic inducement. An isolated Israel then began a clandestine rapprochement with the apartheid regime which included the sale of arms. It was therefore unsurprising that Mandela on his release was not well-disposed towards Israel. Even so, on receiving news that he had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Mandela said that Yitzhak Rabin was more deserving than himself because of his forging of the Oslo Accords with Yasser Arafat. He finally visited Israel in 1999. In 2018 in a leaderless world, Mandela remains an inspiring figure. During his final speech at the Rivonia trial, which resulted in a sentence of life imprisonment, Mandela told the court: “I hate the racial arrogance which decrees that the good things of life shall be retained as the exclusive right of a minority of the population and which reduces the majority to a position of subservience and inferiority and maintains them as voteless chattels to work where they are told and behave as they are told. I am sustained in that hatred (of race discrimination) that the overwhelming majority of mankind both in this country and abroad are with me.” It is a sentiment with which all Jews with an understanding of their history will undoubtedly identify.

I have an amateur interest in economics so forgive me if I display my ignorance. From my understanding, both in the Keynesian and monetarist theory of recessions, the recession occurs because aggregate demand decreases and wages are sticky/rigid. Measures like quantitative easing or government stimulus spending try to raise the level of aggregate spending relative to these "sticky" wages. However, what is to prevent a government taking a much more direct method and just mandating a wage cut throughout the whole economy? Wouldn't this be far more effective and far less prone to abuse than fiscal or monetary stimulus? I will only attempt to give a partial answer, since the full answer is very large. You could possibly create new questions that are narrower to follow up. (My feeling is that this website works best on narrower questions.) - One possibility is that New Keynesian theory is just plain wrong. As a disclaimer, that is my view. However, that is a controversial view. - The next issue are practical problems that standard New Keynesian models ignore. I am not going to discuss (1) in great length. I think the standard critique of sticky prices (which goes back to Keynes) is that you are cutting nominal demand at the same time. The economy will not return to full employment, partly for reasons I cover in (2). The problems with trying to cut wages and prices are as follows. - Legal. Does the government have the authority to do so? - Practical. How do we know whether a firm has complied, without having a ministry in charge of price administration? It’s not as if workers will voluntarily run to the government to say that their wages were not cut. We cannot put in place such a ministry during a recession, which typically lasts months. - Ignores the effect of debt. Most people and firms have mortgages and other fixed obligations. Broad-based income cuts would result in a mass default event, which will cause a recession to turn into a full-fledged financial crisis. - The government has just seized control of price setting (which was historically done in the 1970s to control inflation). How does it set prices in order to achieve its objective? How does the government exit?

The Impact of Air Quality on Data Center Performance Undoubtedly, air quality directly impacts the performance and longevity of data center equipment. High temperatures and contaminants in the air can cause various issues, including premature equipment failure, reduced efficiency, and increased operational costs. Therefore, maintaining clean and properly cooled air is vital for optimal data center performance. One of the primary concerns in data centers is heat management. The servers and other equipment generate a significant amount of heat, which, if not properly dissipated, can lead to overheating and subsequent system failures. Air conditioning systems and cooling mechanisms are employed to regulate the temperature and prevent any adverse effects on the equipment. In addition to temperature control, air quality plays a crucial role in preventing the accumulation of dust and other contaminants. These particles can infiltrate the sensitive components of the data center equipment, leading to malfunctions and reduced performance. Air filters are used to trap and remove these contaminants, ensuring a clean and particle-free environment for the equipment to operate in. Different Types of Air Filters for Data Centers There are various types of air filters available for data centers, each offering unique advantages based on specific requirements. Understanding the different types can help data center operators make informed decisions when selecting the appropriate filters for their facilities. Pleated filters are one common type of air filter used in data centers. These filters have a larger surface area compared to flat filters, allowing for better particle capture and extended filter life. They are often made from synthetic materials that are resistant to moisture and microbial growth, ensuring a clean and healthy environment for the equipment. HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are another popular choice for data centers that require a higher level of filtration. These filters are capable of capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns with an efficiency of 99.97%. HEPA filters are essential in environments where sensitive equipment is present, such as research laboratories or cleanrooms. Electrostatic filters utilize an electrostatic charge to attract and capture particles. These filters are effective in removing both larger and smaller particles from the air. They can be either washable or disposable, providing flexibility in terms of maintenance and cost. When selecting the right filter type for a data center, factors such as the desired level of filtration, air flow requirements, and budgetary considerations must be taken into account. Collaborating with HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) professionals can help ensure that the chosen filters align with the specific needs of the data center. Key Benefits of Air Filters in Data Centers Installing air filters in data centers provides several significant benefits that directly contribute to the efficiency, longevity, and cost-effectiveness of data center operations. Enhancing Equipment Longevity By ensuring clean and filtered air, air filters help extend the lifespan of data center equipment. Removing contaminants prevents the build-up of dust and debris on sensitive components, reducing the risk of equipment failure caused by overheating or electrical shorts. This longevity not only avoids costly repairs but also allows businesses to extract maximum value from their IT investments. Improving Energy Efficiency Air filters help optimize energy efficiency in data centers by facilitating better airflow management. When unfiltered air with particulate matter circulates through the data center, it can restrict airflow and cause cooling systems to work harder. By improving air quality, filters reduce the strain on cooling systems, leading to reduced energy consumption and lower operating costs. Reducing Maintenance Costs Implementing air filters in data centers can also result in significant savings on maintenance costs. By preventing the build-up of dust and debris on equipment, filters reduce the frequency and complexity of cleaning operations. This not only saves time and labor but also minimizes the risk of damage during maintenance activities. Selecting the Right Air Filter for Your Data Center Choosing the appropriate air filter for a data center involves considering various factors to ensure optimal performance and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Factors to Consider When Choosing an Air Filter When selecting an air filter, it is essential to consider the specific needs of the data center. Factors such as the required level of particle filtration, airflow capacity, installation space, and environmental conditions all play a role in determining the most suitable filter for the facility. Understanding Air Filter Ratings Air filters are classified based on their efficiency in removing particles of different sizes. Understanding the different ratings, such as the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) or the High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) standard, is vital for making an informed decision regarding the level of filtration necessary for the data center.

A collection of 54 witty children’s verses about poop and the bathroom we never knew. - Book Intro Pffft Poop Expedition A story of poop, fascinating and fun, not dirty and smelly. Poop plays a very important role in our lives. It holds a lot of nutrients and is a good fertilizer, helping plants to grow. Human poop can also tell us the health status of that person. Pffft Poop Expedition by the poet Kim Kyoung-gu, who captures subjects easy to miss in our daily lives and creates captivating stories, presents fifty-four children’s verses on the topic of poop and the bathroom. The various shapes and uses of animal and insect dung The wombat, a plant-eating animal that lives in Australia, releases square-shaped poop. Cow dung is used to make bricks for houses. Baby koalas that eat the excrement of their mothers, whose intestines are rich with bacteria, can easily digest toxic eucalyptus leaves. In the desert, where trees can’t grow, dry camel dung is an excellent substitute for firewood. In the cold winter, pandas roll around in horse dung, covering their body with it. That’s because there is a substance in the horse dung that helps them withstand the cold. In this world, there are as many colorful stories of poop as there are a number of diverse animals. From bathrooms in our memories to bathrooms of the future There is no one who never goes to the bathroom in a day. That’s how close bathrooms are to our daily lives, and they conceal many stories. In the days of pit latrines, they say people made poop cakes and prayed to the outhouse ghost not to let anyone fall into the hole. There was a time when not every house had a bathroom, so several people had to share a public toilet. How will the shape of the bathroom change in the future and what kind of bathroom do space people use? From the time children had to take a bean-sized poop in a paper envelope to undergo a stool examination, to the story of the bio bus, which uses poop as fuel in an eco-friendly age, the stories of poop and bathrooms are limitless. In the appendix, the book introduces Korean proverbs related to poop, along with their meanings. It also presents the music of a children’s song by Rema, who composes music for poetry. When you read Pffft Poop Expedition, a collection of children’s verses telling colorful stories of poop and the bathroom, you will feel as if poop, which quietly handles important tasks by our side, is a close and interesting friend. - About the Author (English) Kim Kyoung-gu began his writing career after he won the Chungcheong Ilbo Spring Literary Contest in 1998 with a children’s story, and after his children’s poem won in the 2009 Cyber Jungnang Spring Literary Contest. He authored Gulp! Swallowing the Wind, a collection of children’s poems; Nine-tailed Fox Club at the Afterschool School, a collection of children’s stories; Hwarok Cave and Child, a picture book for children; Thanks for Being by My Side, a poetry collection for adolescents; and A Name from the Heart, a collection of poetry. He writes radio scripts and lyrics for children’s songs and publishes his writing serially in newspapers. (English) Bak In is a member of Hwaul. She has taken part in watercolor exhibitions and worked on illustrations for a collection of children’s poems. She wants to create heart-warming paintings even as an old lady, like Grandma Hoho.

Looking for some diverse children’s books to add to your children’s library? Check out our favorite kids’ picture books that happen to include people of color as the main character. As the mother of two children of (varying shades of) color, I am always on the lookout for diverse picture books. Considering how important it is for kids to see people who like them in print and in the media, it is actually pretty shocking to me how few books feature characters that aren’t white (or aren’t animals for that matter, but that’s not what we’re talking about today). And while I love books that explicitly teach kids about differences (Happy in My Skin and It’s Okay to Be Different being two of our favorites), my favorite thing is finding great books where the child’s ethnicity/race/culture is not the focus of the story, but simply a part of who the child is. The character might (and should!) live in a world that is cognizant of their culture, but they are going through things the common kid goes through- like getting a new pet, being scared of monsters, or participating in the school’s science fair. So, here’s a list of our favorite diverse children’s books that just so happen to feature children of color in a starring role. This post contains affiliate links. You can read more at our legal page.Thank you for supporting the Salty Mamas! We are also thankful for the sponsorship of Sterling Children’s Books. This book may seem to be all about culture (it is written in both English and Spanish), but it also has a great storyline about a little girl who can be whatever she wants to be. From her red hair and brown skin to wearing green polka dots with purple stripes, Marisol McDonald doesn’t care if she matches, as long as she’s being true to herself. This book is simple but oh-so-sweet, with gorgeous illustrations full of color and short, rhyming verses. It’s a fun, short read that my daughter just loves. When Winifred Schnitzel runs into some Monster Trouble (She’s not afraid, they’re just not letting her sleep!), she puts on her thinking cap and finds a way out of the problem herself. She is a bold and clever little lady, and the rhyming words are fun for me to read. One of Lila’s favorites, for sure! This is the sweetest little story about sharing. When Kama and Nani have too many mangos to eat themselves, they share them with the neighbors, and get lots of fun surprises in return. The pictures are just too cute, and there’s plenty of culture without making a thing of it, if you know what I mean. I love this book, for both the storyline and the STEM tie-ins. Scott builds a spectacular robot for the science fair, but all kinds of chaos starts happening as soon as he introduces it. Luckily, he and his robot are able to save the day. Fun story structure and lots of silly happenings made my daughter giggle out loud, which is actually a rarity. Truly is one of those wonderful little girls- the kind that loves to get her hands dirty while wearing a tutu. She’s the kind of little girl I want my strong-willed daughter to look up to, knowing that she can be different things at different times, and still be her true and powerful self. This book is sweet and catchy, an easy read to teach girls that they can do and be who they want to be. This story has illustrations that are just AMAZING. The pages are bright and simple, and each one focuses on a different shape for kiddos to find in a cityscape. It’s almost like a seek-and-find book, but with a storyline, too. Poor Norman is a little salty about getting a goldfish as a pet, when what he really wanted was a dog. Through the course of the story, he falls in love with his new pet, and so did my daughter. We love this little board book that features a big sister helping her little brother to participate in her daily activities. It’s just a portrait of a normal day, but honestly, that seems to be what my kids relate to most of all (Especially since Lila is on a daily mission to mother her little brother within an inch of his life). When it comes to picture books with diverse main characters, this is by far one of our favorites. Ada is a little girl with a passion for science. She is full of curiosity and “why,” and is a strong and bold little lady who goes after her dreams with abandon. A wonderful role model for kids everywhere, and once again, we are loving the STEM tie-in here. Adding a few diverse children’s books featuring people of color to your library is so important- whether you have children of color at home or not. These fun titles are the perfect chance to diversify your library, while getting a few giggles out of your littles in the process. What children’s books are your kids’ favorites? Looking for more books to read with your kids? Check out some of our other favorites-

Medilink Action on World Diabetes Day 2018 That the World Health Organisation (WHO) needs to hold an annual World Diabetes Day is testament to the disturbing statistics showing that this chronic disease is increasing at an alarming rate globally. World Diabetes Day is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. It is aimed at keeping the disease in the spotlight and at the top of national health agendas worldwide. Since the 1980s, the global incidence of diabetes has nearly quadrupled from 108 million people affected to around 422 million in 2014. By the same year, statistics showed that 8.5% of adults aged 18 years and older had diabetes; even more worrying is the rise in child diabetes. The WHO treats diabetes as one its priorities especially as type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent, can be prevented. In addition to its annual action days, the WHO dedicated its World Health Day 2016 to diabetes awareness. It is for these reasons that Medilink is participating in the WHO World Diabetes Day on 14 November this year to help raise awareness among our clients, their employees and our own staff of the causes and effects of diabetes and to promote measures we can all take to reduce our chances of contracting diabetes. Types, Causes and Prevention of Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels. Two types of diabetes are defined: Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent, or adult-onset) can be the result of lifestyle issues such as excess body weight and a lack of physical activity. The causes of type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent, juvenile or childhood-onset) are in contrast not known and it is not preventable with current knowledge. Both types of diabetes share the same symptoms which include: the need to pass water frequently; extreme thirst and the need to drink a lot; hunger; extreme and constant fatigue; blurred vision; and open cuts and sores that don’t heal well. These symptoms may be dismissed by a sufferer thereby leaving diabetes undetected until it results in more severe symptoms. Without a diabetes management plan and prescribed medication, type 2 diabetes may lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. Latest figures (2018) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), estimate that in the US alone, some 14 percent of U.S adults have diabetes; 10 percent are aware of it and four percent are undiagnosed. The center’s most recent annual Diabetes Report Card (2017) does show a drop in the number of new, diagnosed cases of diabetes. However, the data also shows that apart from lifestyle indicators, socio-cultural and -economic factors have a role to play in determining the likelihood of an individual developing diabetes. It also shows a year-on-year increase in child and adolescent diabetes. The CDC stresses that even if a person has pre-diabetes symptoms, it is a not a foregone conclusion they need contract full diabetes. The center, echoing the WHO policies, is an advocate of what it calls a ‘prevention lifestyle change program’ to help people reduce or even reverse in some cases their pre-diabetes condition. By maintaining healthy-living measures and routines, it may well be possible to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use just some ways in which we can all minimise our chances of contracting diabetes. Medilink Initiative for World Diabetes Day Awareness and early detection of diabetes through a simple, quick, non-intrusive test can make a substantial difference to the onset, management and effects of diabetes on an individual’s life. Detection is therefore key to helping prevent or delay what can result in life-threatening complications caused by diabetes. Many of our clients’ industries operate in extreme locations and are manned by expatriate staff working remotely. This type of peripatetic lifestyle, away from the support of family and friends, can engender a variety of personal and occupational health issues. At Medilink, we offer not just in-the-field, remote medical support but also reach out to clients and their employees to help tackle lifestyle-related health concerns. Through events such as the free drop-in tests offered to mark World Diabetes Day, as well as periodic lectures on topical medical issues, we support our clients and their staff in improving their overall health and well-being.

During the photolithography process, thin film interference effects can influence a substrates surface properties. Common interference effects include the standing wave effect, reflective notching, edge bead formation, and under/over baking. The Platypus Technologies engineers have enhanced our standard operating procedures to account for potential defects caused by thin film interference effects. A phenomenon known as the standing wave effect occurs when reflected light from a substrate interferes with a light wave traveling downwards, causing a ripple like appearance to occur on a photoresist pattern. When a light wave strikes the surface of a photoresist, light is either transmitted or reflected. The amplitude of a standing wave depends on substrate reflectivity and resist absorption. Reducing the severity of standing waves can be done through anti-reflective coatings, and a post-exposure bake (PEB). Anti-reflective coatings have a high absorption of incident light which can help to reduce the reflectivity at the substrate and resist interface. The effectiveness of anti-reflective coatings depends on its thickness which can either be increased or decreased depending on the photoresist thickness. In addition, post-exposure baking can be used to reduce and eliminate standing wave formation. The high temperatures that are used during PEB initiate diffusion in both the exposed and unexposed photoproducts within a photoresist, creating a more uniform surface. Reflective notching can also occur causing exposure in unwanted regions as well as irregular patterns. This is commonly encountered when working with Aluminum which has reflective surface properties that case interference effects. Adjusting photoresist composition can help to alleviate reflective notching through the addition of a dye. Anti-reflective coatings also contribute to reducing reflections. Edge beads can accumulate on a substrate surface during spin coating due to surface tension. The presence of edge beads leads to contamination, wafer breakage, increased processing times, and inaccurate pattern transfer. Preventing edge beads is done through calculating appropriate spin speeds based on photoresist viscosity. Chemical edge bead remover (EBR) can be directly applied to the affected region of a substrate to effectively remove the impurity. The soft and hard baking steps in the photolithography process may affect the adhesion between the photoresist and the substrate. Soft baking is performed directly following spin coating. Hard baking is commonly done after UV exposure. Under-baking causes inadequate resist to substrate adhesion where over baking can induce cracking and peeling. Depositing a metal adhesion layer can enhance substrate to metal adhesion. However, a more cost-effective solution is through UV ozone treatment. UV ozone has been shown to improve substrate adhesion by increasing metal to substrate bond strength by forming a monolayer on the metal surface . Treating a substrate prior to metal deposition can increase surface wettability and surface roughness, contributing to improving metal to substrate adhesion . The engineers at Platypus Technologies have conducted multiple QC experiments in order to optimize our photolithography processing and manufacturing. Contact us today to inquire about our photolithography services! Hai Le-The, Roald M. Tiggelaar, Erwin Berenschot, Albert van den Berg, Niels Tas, and Jan C. T. Eijkel. ACS Nano 2019 13 (6), 6782-6789. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b01403

Governance, risk management and compliance or GRC is the umbrella term covering an organization’s approach across these three areas: Governance, risk management, and compliance. The first scholarly research on GRC was published in 2007 where GRC was formally defined as “the integrated collection of capabilities that enable an organization to reliably achieve objectives, address uncertainty and act with integrity.” The research referred to common “keep the company on track” activities conducted in departments such as internal audit, compliance, risk, legal, finance, IT, HR as well as the lines of business, executive suite and the board itself. Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) are three related facets that help assure an organization reliably achieves objectives, addresses uncertainty and acts with integrity. Governance is the combination of processes established and executed by the directors (or the board of directors) that are reflected in the organization’s structure and how it is managed and led toward achieving goals. Risk management is predicting and managing risks that could hinder the organization from reliably achieving its objectives under uncertainty. Compliance refers to adhering with the mandated boundaries (laws and regulations) and voluntary boundaries (company’s policies, procedures, etc.). GRC is a discipline that aims to synchronize information and activity across governance, risk management and compliance in order to operate more efficiently, enable effective information sharing, more effectively report activities and avoid wasteful overlaps. Although interpreted differently in various organizations, GRC typically encompasses activities such as corporate governance, enterprise risk management (ERM) and corporate compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Organizations reach a size where coordinated control over GRC activities is required to operate effectively. Each of these three disciplines creates information of value to the other two, and all three impact the same technologies, people, processes and information. Substantial duplication of tasks evolves when governance, risk management and compliance are managed independently. Overlapping and duplicated GRC activities negatively impact both operational costs and GRC matrices. For example, each internal service might be audited and assessed by multiple groups on an annual basis, creating enormous cost and disconnected results. A disconnected GRC approach will also prevent an organization from providing real-time GRC executive reports. Like a badly planned transport system, every individual route will operate, but the network will lack the qualities that allow them to work together effectively. If not integrated, if tackled in a traditional “silo” approach, most organizations must sustain unmanageable numbers of GRC-related requirements due to changes in technology, increasing data storage, market globalization and increased regulation.

Abstract: This research presents an in-depth analysis of challenges and opportunities in Arabic language education, with a focus on a global perspective. Arabic plays a crucial role on the international stage, serving not only as a religious language but also as a language of culture, science, and administration. However, Arabic language education in various countries faces several challenges that can impact the quality of learning and student comprehension. This literature review investigates some key challenges in Arabic language education, including non-aligned curricula, insufficient learning resources, and issues in developing Arabic language skills. Meanwhile, the research also highlights opportunities that can be utilized to enhance Arabic language education, such as the use of innovative educational technology, inter-institutional collaboration, and the promotion of cultural exchange programs. By analyzing various concepts and findings in related literature, this research provides profound insights into the global conditions of Arabic language education. By understanding the challenges faced and leveraging existing opportunities, effective strategies can be formulated to improve the quality of Arabic language education worldwide. This research is expected to contribute to the development of more holistic and sustainable Arabic language education policies, as well as motivate practical steps to enhance the teaching and learning of Arabic globally. Copyright (c) 2024 Abdul Manan, Ulyan Nasri This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The Open Access Journals of Jurnal Ilmiah Profesi Pendidikan University of Mataram provides quality journal publication services to documenting and preserving scientific article from the results of your research.

In Europe, 59 million people have diabetes (1 out of 11 inhabitants) and this will grow to 1 out of 9 in 2045. Every 20 seconds, someone in the world loses a leg because of diabetes. Almost every amputation is preceded by a foot ulcer, the lifetime prevalence of which is 19-34% in people with diabetes. Foot ulcers are the leading cause of hospitalisation, reduced mobility, loss of social participation, and lower quality of life; in fact, people with diabetes may fear loss of a limb more than death. The burden of diabetic foot disease is ranked in the top-10 of all medical conditions. Thus, the prevention of foot ulcers and amputations is crucial. While various general treatment approaches are available and recommended (such as foot screening, patient and family education and protective footwear), the success rate of this approach is still too low. The incidence of foot ulcers, in particular ulcer recurrence, remains high: 40% of patients re-ulcerate within 1 year after healing. These statistics show that we fail to successfully combat diabetic foot disease, as we are not preventing foot ulcers and amputations, and emphasise the urgency and timeliness of DIALECT’s main objective: To establish an innovative, interdisciplinary and intersectoral research and training effort on diabetic foot disease to deliver the next generation of leading, entrepreneurial, and creative scientists who have the expertise, skills and experience to lead the paradigm shift towards personalised medicine to successfully combat diabetic foot disease and prevent ulcers and amputations. The reasons we fail to significantly reduce the burden of diabetic foot disease for so many patients and for society at large are knowledge gaps and lack of tools, methods and products to properly identify patients at risk, monitor outcomes, and provide them with personalised, culturally- and gender-appropriate treatments to successfully prevent foot ulcers and amputations. See Aims for further information.

Facial expressions and gestures are key elements of communication in Japan, as a considerable amount of communication with Japanese takes place on a non-verbal level. For a successful conversation or negotiation, it is absolutely necessary to understand these verbal and non-verbal cues. Japanese facial expressions and gestures in business life are very uniform. Feelings such as disappointment or annoyance will rarely be seen in Japan during day-to-day business. It is particularly important to hide your true emotions during meetings and negotiations. So curb your enthusiasm and try to keep your gesticulations to a minimum during speeches or presentations. Smiling is often a sign that you have put your interlocutor in an unpleasant or embarrassing situation. When a Japanese manager is confronted with a mistake or business failure, they will smile to conceal their embarrassment. It is considered to be inappropriate to laugh openly when doing business. Many Japanese women even hold their hands in front of their mouths when laughing. On the other hand, you will be surprised at how exuberantly Japanese people can party and laugh during an evening of entertainment and in their personal lives. You should of course always pay attention to your posture. This is especially important when dealing with people from Japan, as an upright posture shows good character, healthy self-confidence and respect. If you are standing together with Japanese people, at receptions or welcome talks, for example, you should keep your arms to the side of your body. Do not put your hands in your trouser pockets; you will come across as loutish. Try to sit up straight at the conference table or restaurant as well and place your hands on your lap or the edge of the table. It’s also inappropriate to cross or stretch your legs out. In many countries, constant eye contact is important both during greetings and conversations. This shows respect and openness. In Japan, you still keep eye contact while talking, but much less so. It is even considered disrespectful to constantly look higher-ranking people in the eye. Silence as an element of communication is also important in meetings and negotiations in Japan. Not only do the Japanese remain silent when they are thinking, but also when they do not want to respond negatively to questions and are trying to circumvent an answer. In other words, silence can also mean rejection. However, it can also be used to unsettle foreign business partners, e.g. in negotiations. Westerners in particular find it difficult to cope with long periods of silence. Try to stay calm in such a situation and hold out against the silence. And if you say something to break the silence, don’t make any concessions; just repeat what you have just said. Sometimes it also helps to silently count up to ten. Please be aware that shrugging shoulders mean ”no idea” in the West, but just confuses the Japanese. Also, do not point your index finger at others, as this will appear disparaging. Instead, point with your whole hand at someone or wave at them if necessary with your hand down. Let me show you a few more gestures that are useful in dealing with Japanese people: As you know, Japanese traditionally greet each other by bowing with their hands in front of their breasts. The more deeply a Japanese person bows, the more respect they are showing to their counterpart. Employees bow more deeply to the head of the company than the head of the company will bow to them. By the way, bowing can also mean that you are sorry, that you made a mistake. When you speak at a meeting or during business negotiations, you will notice that your listeners will nod their heads a lot. This is only a signal to show you that they are paying attention. Nodding their heads doesn’t mean they agree with what you’re saying. It’s more like “I’m listening to you, you have my attention”. So don’t confuse frequent nodding of the head with approval! A Japanese fanning his hand in front of his nose means “no”. Crossed fingers, crossed hands and crossed arms also mean “no”. By the way, this is why you should never cross off the options on a list in Japan. A cross always means no. It would be better to circle the answer! If your business partner puts their head to one side and sucks in some air, you can take this to mean: “I’m not sure, 90 per cent no”. If their gaze also goes towards the ceiling, it means “99 per cent no”. And here’s one last gesture I’d like to show you: Sometimes when we talk about ourselves, we point our index fingers at our chest. “Me? Do you mean me?” There is a very similar gesture in Japan. However, here, people point their index finger to their nose!

The oceanographic toolbox for the collection of sinking and suspended marine particles Published Web Locationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2015.01.007 Marine particles play a central role in controlling the transport, cycling, and inventories of many major elements and trace elements and isotopes throughout the oceans. Studies seeking to elucidate the biogeochemical roles of marine particles often require reliable ways to collect them from the ocean. Here, we review the oceanographic toolbox of techniques and instrumentation that are employed to collect both suspended and sinking particles. With these tools, it is possible to determine both the concentrations and vertical fluxes of important elements and individual particle types. We describe the various methods for quantifying the concentrations of particulate matter with in situ pumps, towed sampling devices, bottle collectors, and large volume capture devices. The uses of various types of flux collection platforms are discussed including surface tethered, neutrally buoyant, and bottom moored devices. We address the issues of sediment trap collection biases and the apparent inconsistencies that can arise due to differences in the temporal and spatial scales sampled by the various methodologies. Special attention is given to collection considerations made for the analysis of trace metals and isotopes, as these methodologies are of high importance to the ongoing GEOTRACES program which seeks to identify the processes and quantify fluxes that control the distributions of key trace elements and isotopes in the ocean. With the emergence of new particle collection methodologies and the continued reliance on traditional collection methods, it is imperative that we combine these multiple approaches in ways that will help improve their accuracy and precision while enhancing their utility in advancing understanding of the biogeochemical and ecological roles of marine particles.

A new study from Harvard's famous McLean Hospital indicates that certain foods could have an antidepressant effect similar to that of prescription drugs such as Prozac and Celexa--at least if you're a rodent. The results are very early--they have not even been validated in humans. Nobody should stop taking their Zoloft over this study. But they do hint that foods could have a potentially powerful effect on treating and preventing depression--basically a recapitulation of the old-school thought: "eat right, feel good." "The things that we eat provide the raw fuel for our body," says Bill Carlezon, director of McLean's Behavioral Genetics lab, who led the study. "We know that neurotransmitters in the brain and the neurons and how they talk to each other is really important for how people act and feel so if you're getting low quality fuel, it shouldn't be surprising that people don't feel well. On the flipside, it shouldn't be surprising that these things can make you feel better." Carlezon's methods were the same as those used to discover many treatments for depression. But keep in mind that these results have not been validated by the kind of rigorous testing that antidepressant pills have undergone. Often, what seems to work in animals eventually fails in humans. For instance, What the researchers did was give rats two substances found in foods: Omega-3 fatty acids, a kind of fat that the body can't make enough of on its own, and uridine, one of the building blocks of DNA, which promotes a cell's energy-making process. The researchers gave a second group of rats a cocktail of antidepressants. The Omega-3 diet showed results after one month, and uridine was effective as long as the rats were fed enough of it. But when given both together, within ten days the rats who were eating the good foods behaved as well as those on medications. The reasons lay in cell membranes. Dietary fats and cholesterols build up there, making the membrane rigid and impeding the fluid movement of chemicals within it. Omega-3s clear the buildup, allowing those chemicals to get where they're going easier. This is especially important in mitochondria, organs within cells that produce energy. Uridine fuels mitochondria, and paired with the lubricating effect of the Omega-3s, helps them make more energy more efficiently. "Mitochondria are something we're going to hear about a lot more about in the future in terms of psychiatric diseases," Carlezon predicts. The study has led Carlezon and his research team to ask new questions. Can uridine and Omega-3s together make people feel as well as giving them a standard antidepressant treatment? Is uridine safe for humans in large quantities? Should we be taking uridine supplements? It remains to be seen. For now, he says, "If people can get these things into their bodies more we will at least have them pointed in the right direction." So what to eat? Foods high in both Omega-3s and uridine might be a good place to start. At the worst, you'll be eating a healthier diet. Omega-3s are clearly good for the heart. Additional reporting by Vanessa Gisquet Video: Healthy Mind, Healthy Body

You don’t need us to tell you that there’s a lot going on in your body during puberty. But one thing you may not have given a lot of thought to is what happens to your mouth when your body starts producing all those extra sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone. This sends a lot more blood than normal to your gums, increasing their sensitivity to plaque, and causing them to become more easily irritated by food particles. It’s a condition you’ll hear referred to as puberty gingivitis and it’s hard to miss, leaving you with red, swollen gums that bleed more easily than usual. If you take good care of your teeth and gums by brushing twice a day and flossing once daily, you probably won’t develop this form of gingivitis. But it can crop up if some plaque or gingivitis was present in your mouth at the onset of puberty. The good news is that puberty gingivitis can be easily treated with brushing and flossing, and regular professional cleanings by a dentist. If you end up with a more severe case, you might need to have two or more professional cleanings in a year to keep on top of things. This is why it’s important that you keep seeing your dentist on a regular basis. We get that eating healthy foods is probably not your first choice when you’re with your friends, but eating well goes a long way to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. If you’ve got braces, you need to make sure you’re spending extra time to properly brush your teeth. This means taking out the removable parts of your braces such as elastics and bands, carefully cleaning around the wires and pins and brushing all the areas of your teeth. If you have any questions about the right technique you should use, you just need to ask your dentist.

Selecting a Corn Hybrid The Perfect Hybrid There is no perfect hybrid that fits every situation or need. Therefore, when selecting those hybrids for your farming operation, you’re the one that must assess your farming operation's strengths and weaknesses in order for you to properly evaluate hybrids. What Are Some Corn Hybrid Selection Factors to Consider? - Genetic Diversity Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket and plant one variety. No two years are the same and planting a portfolio of genetic backgrounds will give you diversity to help give you yield consistency from one year to the next. - Seedling Vigor Because you most likely can’t plant your entire crop in one day and in one field, chances are you will be planting in different weather conditions, soil types, soil temperatures, and overall environments. Plant the hybrids at the times and in the areas they can best handle. - Desired Population Each hybrid has its most advantageous population at which it expresses its uppermost yield potential. Consider ear type and its interaction with the corn production system you use in your farming operation. - Ear Type Ear types are either fixed or flex. Within reason, fixed ear types make the same size ear regardless of population while flex ears can make either longer or girthier ears if competition is decreased by reducing population. - Tillage Practices The less that you till the fields, the greater are the chances you will encounter cooler soil temperatures, wetter soils, and more residues which may well mean increased insect pressures at or after seed germination. - Continuous Corn or Rotation With Another Crop Crop rotation tends to break insect and weed cycles. It could also help in reducing some of the residue buildup that possibly will be the host for insect and disease survival. Poorer stalk quality might also be a problem in many continuous corn on corn fields. - Dryland, Irrigated or Drought Tolerance Hybrids that can flex in ear length or girth fit dryland or drought conditions better. Irrigated or adequate moisture situations are more manageable, so hybrids that can handle high populations, have high yield potential, or produce determinate ears are good choices. - Soil Fertility, Soil Type and Topography Lower fertility soils get the best yield potential from flex ear type hybrids and varieties that do not need higher populations to produce yields. Another advantage of flex ear hybrids in lower fertility soils is at lower populations less vegetative matter is produced. Lower plant population means a smaller amount of vegetative matter is produced so fewer plants means less demand for moisture and nutrients needed from the soil. Topography, what’s the lay of the land? Canopy cover is advantageous to help conserve moisture and shadow out weeds. Consider the hybrids height when planting in hills or on poorer soil types. - Plant Growth Type (early or late flower for hybrid maturity) Flowering or pollination in relation to length of grain fill is a yield consideration. Later flowering hybrids many times produces a larger stature hybrid, the grain fill period for yield potential is shorter, and yield may be hurt if a prolonged period of heat coincides with the shorter grain fill period. Shorter grain fill periods sometimes make softer kernels and lower test weights. Early flowering hybrids use longer grain fill periods to generate yields but plant stature may be smaller. Areas where heat could be a problem during grain fill choose to use early flowering type hybrids. - Stalk Quality and Root Lodging Resistance Stalk quality is the ability of the plant to stand and stay intact through harvest. The two main sources of stalk quality are rind thickness and staygreen. It is not necessarily the diameter of the stalk, but the thickness of the rind that provides resistance to lodging. The rind is made of lignin and lignin provides the rigidity that keeps the plant upright into the harvest season. - Drydown and Grain Test Weight Drydown, or the rate at which moisture leaves the kernel, is influenced by husk looseness, plant staygreen and test weight. Test weight is influenced by how staygreen a hybrid is. Hybrids that are fast-die and fast-dry are more apt to have lower test weights. - Corn Borer and Insect Tolerance Hybrids differ in tolerance to corn borer. Hybrids that are planted early or grow fast early are more attractive to first brood corn borer. Later planted or immature corn is more attractive to second brood corn borer. If other insects are a concern, consider genetically altered varieties or ordering specific seed treatments for the varieties you choose. - Herbicide Tolerance Herbicide tolerant hybrids are becoming more popular and work well when properly applied and utilized. However, we also need to be good stewards of herbicide use and understand that we still need to rotate herbicides. Good stewardship will help delay weed resistance to a herbicide and prolong its overall effectiveness. According to the chemical company’s representatives, no new herbicides are on the horizon. If we abuse the herbicides we are using today, and resistance becomes a problem, there is not a new lifesaving herbicide waiting to replace it!

Our teeth are constantly bombarded by sugary sweets, coffee to fuel our busy office lifestyle, or sports drinks to keep us hydrated during sports. Fortunately, your dentist Neutral Bay or North Sydney dentist is equipped with many modern solutions to fix the problems caused by these modern threats to oral health – including dental fillings, dental crowns, dental veneers, and root canal procedures. Education has also come a long way and many people are nowadays more aware of the risks of sugar consumption and poor oral hygiene. Still, it’s easy to succumb to tooth decay or to find that your child is suffering from tooth decay. Baby teeth have less enamel and children are less conscientious about their brushing routine, and are therefore more prone to this common dental condition. What is tooth decay, exactly? Tooth decay is the loss of minerals from the tooth, which often first presents itself as a white or black spot on the tooth. If left unchecked it commonly progresses and results in a cavity or a hole in the tooth, which may be visible from the outside or able to be felt with your tongue. The condition can be associated with toothache because it can reduce the level of protection the sensitive inner part of the tooth is receiving. This pain, or sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink, may be the first sign you are suffering from tooth decay. Tooth decay is the result of a person’s diet, combined with oral hygiene habits. The sugar in food and drink supports certain bacteria in the mouth that reside in dental plaque. The bacteria turn the sugar to acid, which then quite literally erodes the tooth, resulting in the loss of dental minerals (i.e., dentin, enamel). How can I prevent tooth decay? The best methods start at home. Eat a balanced diet with limited sugar intake, the drink tap water which may contain strengthening fluoride, and investigate health information on the back of food packaging so you are not consuming sugar without knowing it. Follow the advice of your dentist near me or Neutral Bay dental clinic on brushing and flossing, and on the correct techniques and products to use. Stay hydrated, because saliva can help fend off tooth decay. Regardless of your best efforts at home, a toothbrush available at the supermarket just isn’t as capable as the advanced equipment and experience at the disposal of your North Sydney dentist. Your dentist can perform a thorough clean to remove plaque, and therefore the conditions that lead to tooth decay. They can strengthen your teeth using fluoride or use fissure sealants to prevent decay-conducive conditions. They can use white-coloured fillings to fill in any cavities and restore the integrity of your teeth. If decay is more advanced, they can use a dental crown or a root canal procedure if needed to preserve the tooth. If the main concerns are cosmetic, your dentist Neutral Bay can provide Neutral Bay teeth whitening or Invisalign North Sydney.

Encountering The Cougar Mountain lions are not the largest predators in temperate North America, being far outweighed by grizzly and black bears, but bears are omnivores and rely more on plants than on meat. In this, and in the way they use their hands and feet, bears are like humans. Mountain lions are true carnivores, living almost exclusively on animals--preferably deer--that they themselves kill. Wolves have a similar diet, but they procure it through family cooperation in a way that is easily observed and appreciated by humans. Lions live and hunt alone, except for mothers with young. They seem magically elusive, able to remain invisible even when the landscape is clearly imprinted with signs of their passing. They are agile enough to traverse the roughest country, and strong enough to kill animals much larger then themselves. People rarely see these elusive cats, but when encountering the cougar for the first time, it is always indelibly etched on the consciousness.

You know the drill. You bought a load of vegetables, want to keep them fresh for as long as possible, so you throw them all in the fridge. It’s smart. It makes sense. And in most cases, it’s a good idea. But there’s one vegetable you really, really shouldn’t store in the fridge: uncooked potatoes. For one thing, keeping your potatoes at a chilly temperature will negatively affect their taste. The cold makes the starch in potatoes turn into sugar more quickly, leaving you with a sweeter, tougher potato. Sad times. But more importantly, popping your potato into a fridge can be dangerous. Once the starch becomes sugar, it can cause a potentially harmful chemical reaction once you finally get around to cooking your meal. The Food Standards Agency explains that when baked or fried, these sugars combine with the amino acid asparagine present in the potatoes and produce the chemical acrylamide. Acrylamide is a genotoxic carcinogen that’s been linked to an increased risk of cancer (although the FSA says more research needs to be done to establish the long-term effects of consuming large amounts of acrylamide). This doesn’t mean you should go ahead and throw away all your potatoes, vowing to go carb-free forevermore. There’s a simple solution: put your potatoes in the cupboard. They’re best stored in paper bag in a cool, dark place. Now go. Get your potato on. Never let your fridge ruin the joy of a baked potato again.

Chromolaena odorata, originating from South and Central America, is a bushy shrub invasive in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Several species of Mycosphaerellaceae have been reported on C. odorata in recent years as potential biological control agents. As a result, several exploratory trips were undertaken to south, north and Central America from 1988 until 1997 to survey for pathogens on C. odorata. Three new species of Passalora, and one species of Septoria and Pseudocercospora, respectively, are newly described. Furthermore, Septoria ekmaniana and Passalora perfoliati were also confirmed from Chromolaena during the course of this study. |Fungal Diversity Press |Gepubliceerd - 2006

The colonial occupation of the Kingdom of Benin by British troops in February 1897 marked the end of one of the most powerful West African kingdoms. In consequence thousands of works of art made of bronze, ivory and wood were looted from the royal palace and dispersed worldwide. In view of the planned restitution, the MARKK’s Benin collection will now be presented in its entirety. In addition to informing on the British colonial war and the current restitution debate, the show offers different perspectives on the original meaning of the objects, their outstanding artistic quality, and their significance for African art and cultural history. A specific focus is given on the provenance of the collection and its intertwined history with the Hamburg trade networks. For more information, visit: markk-hamburg.de/en/ausstellungen/benin-looted-history/.

Here are three “rules of engagement” that will enhance your conversations. Talk about them with those whom you frequently converse with and incorporate them in your dialogues. They can become “verbal shorthand” to improve communication. Sometimes a conversation grows stale because we’ve talked too long about one topic.There’s a limit to how long we need to talk about yesterday’s ballgame or the bill the Senate is voting on next week. A conversation often begins to stall but no one takes the initiative to change topics and there’s no mechanism to subtly do so. Here’s a solution: In our conversations, let’s adopt the term “ding” to indicate a change of topic. It’s reminiscent of clinking the side of a water glass with a spoon; just say, “ding” to let people know you intend to introduce a new topic. If the current conversation is not finished, someone can simply say, “Before we ‘ding’ let me say one more thing…” Sometimes, in a conversation, I may sense that someone is sharing a strong, heartfelt opinion or thought—there’s a strong emotional element to what he is expressing. If I immediately counter his thoughts or start to share my perspective, he may feel that I’m not listening and that I’m dismissing his thoughts. So the proper response is for me to be quiet and simply listen. But if the conversation ends and I’ve not had the opportunity to share my thoughts, he may think I agree with his position and conclusions. (I can imagine him saying at a later time, “You didn’t say anything so I just assumed you agreed with what I said.”) So, let’s use the term “dong” when we’re having a conversation in which one person is sharing strong convictions and the other person will be passive and not say much. But that doesn’t mean the quiet one agrees with what is being said. Either person can “dong” the conversation. At the beginning of the conversation, the person who has something strong to express may say “dong” as if to say, “I need to express my thoughts; please hear me out; if you don’t voice your thoughts about the issue I won’t assume you agree with me.” Or the person who is listening may plead the “dong-rule” during or at the end of the conversation as if to say, “I want to (or did) listen carefully to what you’re saying; I’m not going to share my thoughts about this topic at this time, but don’t assume my silence indicates my agreement.” Use this cue to suggest that the topic of conversation be postponed to a later time. The topic does need to be discussed but not here and now. When the “later” gesture is used, it might be helpful to immediately agree on when the delayed conversation will take place. This is particularly helpful if one person repeatedly defers conversations. In my family we consider these three expressions to be “terms of engagement”; they are useful conversational tools. [reminder]What are your thoughts about this essay.[/reminder]

Do traits of plant species predict the efficacy of species distribution models for finding new occurences? McCune, Jenny L. Bennett, Joseph R. Kharouba, Heather M. Species distribution models (SDMs) are used to test ecological theory and to direct targeted surveys for species of conservation concern. Several studies have tested for an influence of species traits on the predictive accuracy of SDMs. However, most used the same set of environmental predictors for all species and/or did not use truly independent data to test SDM accuracy. We built eight SDMs for each of 24 plant species of conservation concern, varying the environmental predictors included in each SDM version. We then measured the accuracy of each SDM using independent presence and absence data to calculate area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and true positive rate (TPR). We used generalized linear mixed models to test for a relationship between species traits and SDM accuracy, while accounting for variation in SDM performance that might be introduced by different predictor sets. All traits affected one or both SDM accuracy measures. Species with lighter seeds, animal-dispersed seeds, and a higher density of occurrences had higher AUC and TPR than other species, all else being equal. Long-lived woody species had higher AUC than herbaceous species, but lower TPR. These results support the hypothesis that the strength of species–environment correlations is affected by characteristics of species or their geographic distributions. However, because each species has multiple traits, and because AUC and TPR can be affected differently, there is no straightforward way to determine a priori which species will yield useful SDMs based on their traits. Most species yielded at least one useful SDM. Therefore, it is worthwhile to build and test SDMs for the purpose of finding new populations of plant species of conservation concern, regardless of these species’ traits. Open access article. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International LIcense (CC BY 4.0) applies Dispersal , Generalist , Lifespan , Niche models , Range size , Specialist , Species distribution models McCune, J. L., Rosner-Katz, H., Bennett, J. R., Schuster, R., & Kharouba, H. M. (2020). Do traits of plant species predict the efficacy of species distribution models for finding new occurences? Ecology and Evolution, 10(11), 5001-5014. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6254

Whether it is the national team or local club, sport plays an important role in Australian society. It offers a variety of benefits and opportunities for participants, including social interaction, self-esteem, physical activity and a sense of community. Sports teams Australia is home to a number of major sports leagues, each with its own set of rules and a distinctive cultural identity. These are key factors in determining sport participation and the popularity of specific sporting codes. Soccer in Australia is a popular sport played professionally. It is also an amateur sport. Soccer has a long history in Australia with waves of immigration bringing new communities that have a love of the game. This fueled the growth of soccer clubs throughout Australia. In recent times, migration has slowed down but there is still a strong presence of soccer among minority migrant communities. The most prominent are Greek, Macedonian and Italian clubs. Rugby league is a fast-paced, contact sport that originated in Australia in 1907 and quickly gained popularity. It was established by a group of discontented New South Wales Rugby Union players who were not paid for their efforts. In the early days, the only score in the game was a try or goal, which was scored when the ball touched down over the goal line. After the game’s first two years of competition, rugby league consolidated its position as a popular and financially successful sporting code. In Australia, rugby league is played by over 200,000 people in organized leagues throughout the country. It is also the national sport of Australia and is governed by the Australian Rugby League (ARL). Cricket is one of the most popular sports in Australia. It’s also played on the other side of the world in India, England and Sri Lanka. The Australian cricket team plays against other national teams in international matches like Tests, ODIs and T20Is. It also represents the country in events organized by the ICC like the ICC World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and ICC T20 World Cup. Cricket is a summer sport in Australia. It’s often not on people’s radar in other seasons, except for big matches such as the Ashes series. Basketball is one of the world’s most popular sports. It is mainly played in the United States, Canada and Europe, but Australia has a long history of basketball. A national introductory basketball program called Aussie Hoops has been established to encourage kids of all ages and abilities to take up the sport. The program is supported by local associations and trained professionals throughout the country. The National Basketball League (NBL) is the premier professional basketball competition in Australia and New Zealand. It is contested by eight Australian teams and one team from New Zealand. Swimming is a low impact sport that can be done by people of all ages and fitness levels. It is a great way to get fit, increase your heart rate and improve muscle strength and core stability. It is a popular sport for both children and adults in Australia because of its convenience and availability across the country. It can be done at public pools, beaches, lakes and dams. A recent study by Roy Morgan Research revealed that over 6 million Australians participate in swimming. This figure is higher than basketball, golf and tennis. The study also found that there are different types of swimmers. The three most common personas are Metrotechs, Aussie Achievers and Leading Lifestyles.

The 12-metre-long cantilevering structure known as the ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2016/7 is made from over 180 kilometres of woven resin-impregnated glass -and carbon-fibre. It is latest in an annual pavilion series built by students and researchers at the University of Stuttgart, which investigates the capabilities of carbon fibre as a building material by mimicking structures found in the natural world. The pavilions are overseen by Achim Menges, who heads up the school's Institute for Computational Design (ICD), and Jan Knippers from the Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE). This year researcher Marshall Prado also joined the team. Finding the previous robotically woven carbon-fibre structures limited by the working space of the industrial robotic arms used, this year the team wanted to develop a method for making larger-scale structures. "Within architectural scale production, where material self-weight is of high concern for larger-span structures, lightweight fibre composites provide unparalleled performance," said the team. "We currently lack adequate fibre-composite fabrication processes to produce at this scale without compromising the design freedom and system adaptability required for the architecture and design industries," they continued. "The aim was to develop a fibre-winding technique over a longer span, which reduces the required formwork to a minimum, while taking advantage of the structural performance of continuous filament." To create the long-span structure, the team combined strong and precise stationary robots with long-range drones. "In the specific experimental set-up, two stationary industrial robotic arms with the strength and precision necessary for fibre winding work are placed at the extremities of the structure," they explained, "while an autonomous, long range but less precise fibre transportation system is utilised to pass the fibre from one side to the other, in this case a custom-built Unmanned Aerial Vehicle." As with previous pavilions, the design started with biomimetic research into natural structures and the team worked in collaboration with the Institute of Evolution and Ecology and the department for Paleobiology of the University of Tuebingen. The team studied how the larvae of two species of leaf-miner moths – the Lyonetia clerkella and the Leucoptera erythrinella – spin silk "hammocks" that stretch between a leaves to develop key principles for long-span fibrous construction. Mimicking with the moth's webs, the resulting pavilion features a bending-active substructure combined with a wound fibre reinforcement, as well as alternating orientation fibres. The team also developed a multi-stage fibre-laying processes to make the complex three-dimensional geometries. Previous research pavilions have also included a robotically fabricated laminated-plywood pavilion based on the anatomy of a sea urchin. Photography is by Reichert Burggraf. Project team: Achim Menges from ICD Institute for Computational Design and Construction, and Jan Knippers from ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design Scientific development: Benjamin Felbrich, Nikolas Früh, Marshall Prado, Sam Saffarian, James Solly, Daniel Reist, Lauren Vasey System development, fabrication and construction: Miguel Aflalo, Bahar Al Bahar, Lotte Aldinger, Chris Arias, Léonard Balas, Jingcheng Chen, Federico Forestiero, Dominga Garufi, Pedro Giachini, Kyriaki Goti, Sachin Gupta, Olga Kalina, Shir Katz, Bruno Knychalla, Shamil Lallani, Patricio Lara, Ayoub Lharchi, Dongyuan Liu, Yencheng Lu, Georgia Margariti, Alexandre Mballa, Behrooz Tahanzadeh, Hans Jakob Wagner, Benedikt Wannemacher, Nikolaos Xenos, Andre Zolnerkevic, Paula Baptista, Kevin Croneigh, Tatsunori Shibuya, Nicoló Temperi, Manon Uhlen, Li Wenhan, with the support of Michael Preisack

Title I Grant About Title I Grants (U.S. Department of Education) Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. Federal funds are currently allocated through four statutory formulas that are based primarily on census poverty estimates and the cost of education in each state. Basic Grants provide funds to LEAs in which the number of children counted in the formula is at least 10 and exceeds 2 percent of an LEA's school-age population. Concentration Grants flow to LEAs where the number of formula children exceeds 6,500 or 15 percent of the total school-age population. Targeted Grants are based on the same data used for Basic and Concentration Grants except that the data are weighted so that LEAs with higher numbers or higher percentages of children from low-income families receive more funds. Targeted Grants flow to LEAs where the number of school children counted in the formula (without application of the formula weights) is at least 10 and at least 5 percent of the LEA's school-age population. Education Finance Incentive Grants (EFIG) distribute funds to states based on factors that measure: A state's effort to provide financial support for education compared to its relative wealth as measured by its per capita income; and the degree to which education expenditures among LEAs within the state are equalized. Once a state's EFIG allocation is determined, funds are allocated (using a weighted count formula that is similar to Targeted Grants) to LEAs in which the number of children from low-income families is at least 10 and at least 5 percent of the LEA's school-age population. LEAs target the Title I funds they receive to schools with the highest percentages of children from low-income families. Unless a participating school is operating a schoolwide program, the school must focus Title I services on children who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet state academic standards. Schools in which children from low-income families make up at least 40 percent of enrollment are eligible to use Title I funds for schoolwide programs that serve all children in the school. LEAs also must use Title I funds to provide academic enrichment services to eligible children enrolled in private schools.

Many parents like to tell their children, “You can be anything you want to be when you grow up.” That’s empowering, but in many cases, it turns out to be inaccurate. One adult friend of ours, for example, decided when he was five that he wanted to be a jockey when he grew up. But by the time he was in sixth grade, he was already too tall and heavy. (He decided to be an astronaut instead.) The fact is, our physical and, in some cases mental, capabilities either qualify or disqualify us from certain careers. What About Physical Strength? Fair or unfair, sheer physical strength is probably the first baseline criterion of all to consider when making a job choice. If you work at Home Depot and part of your job is loading 50 lb. bags of sand into customers’ cars, you simply must be able to pick up and move objects that weigh 50 lb., and there is no getting around that. According to data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobs that require the most physical strength are (in descending order of strength required): construction and extraction: installation, maintenance and repair; transportation and material moving; production; and healthcare support. The jobs that require the least physical strength are (all virtually tied): management; legal; community and social service; sales; architecture; and the arts. And What Traits Are Required for STEM Careers? “Which Skills Are Important for STEM Jobs in 2015?” by Dania Radi, published on AcademyCube.com on July 28, 2015, lists traits that include mathematical skills, critical thinking, the ability to solve problems, and organizational skills. Those are all important, definitely. But we would like to add the following physical and mental traits that qualify individuals for success in STEM careers: - Good corrected or uncorrected eyesight - Excellent hand/eye coordination and dexterity (for laboratory work) - Sufficient physical strength to meet the demands of the specific work being performed - The ability to focus and concentrate (individuals with ADHD can possess skills that make STEM-sector jobs both easier to perform and harder) - The ability to work while standing and good mobility (for laboratory work, outdoor work, factory work and certain other technical jobs) Opportunities for Counseling and Coaching Students Matching students to jobs that meet their abilities requires tact and sensitivity. Few students, after all, wants to be told, “I don’t think you have the raw abilities to succeed in that kind of work.” On the other hand, matching students to work that suits them is an opportunity to encourage and motivate them. Many students would like to hear “I think you would be great at field research, have you thought about that?” We can’t all be jockeys, but we can all find rewarding careers. Not sure which career is right for you? Participate in the National Career Pathway Study and you will be empowered with new information to make career and educational decisions that ultimately align with your interests, passions, and aptitudes. Do STEM Studies Prepare Students to Excel in the Humanities? STEM Opens the Doors to Your Chosen Career in Healthcare What Statistics Tell Us About Changing College Majors Spotlighting Students’ Readiness for #STEM

Here is a summary of the sort of records you can expect to find. It's my own compilation, and as such I take no responsibility for errors! - The only sources of information available are largely wills and property deeds, etc. - Virtually impossible to trace before this time, unless your ancestors were seriously wealthy or notorious criminals... 1538: Parish registers began - No specific format, records should simply be written down. - Births, marriages and deaths are often all mixed together. - Often in Latin - handwriting usually needs a professional palaeographer to translate. - If you find your ancestors in a parish with records back this far, and not destroyed by damp or eaten by mice - it's just possible to trace back this far. 1640s-1650s: English Civil War - Very few registers kept during this time; baptisms didn't happen, burials were not registered and marriages were before a magistrate. - Many registers before that time were destroyed. - It's difficult to prove a definite link between the period before and the period after this - it's usually a whole missing generation (at least), though if the same surname or family turns up in the registers either side of the gap, you may wish to take an educated guess. 1660: King Charles II returns to the throne - Parish registers begin again. - Difficult to read to modern eyes, and often inconsistent (depending on the incumbent), but often the earliest real records. 1660-1812: No real changes in legislation - Handwriting becomes easier to read from a modern viewpoint. - Inconsistencies continue, but possibilities increase greatly of being able to decipher entries. 1813: The first printed parish registers are used - Less need to rely on organisation of priest and parish clerk, easier to read. - Still no information about the parents of those being married and buried. - Things are becoming much easier. Especially if your ancestors have been good enough to stay in one place for a long time. - If they moved around - looking for work, etc. - the search becomes much longer, as events could have taken place anywhere within a fairly large radius, and there is still no civil registration to track them down. 1837: Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths - It is not yet a legal offence not to register, so many don't. - Addresses in rural areas are often given as a village, rather than a house or street. - Much more detail is available: - Baptisms: parents' names, place of residence, mother's maiden name - Marriages: names and professions of fathers; name, age, residence, profession of bride & groom - Deaths: date, place, cause of death, name and relationship of informant - To obtain this information, however, one needs to either find the original certificate in a County Records Office (if you know which village/town we're looking for), or pay for a certificate if you have the correct reference in the Family History Centre Indices. 1841: The first census using individual names - Ages are rounded up to the nearest five years. - Sex and profession given. - Place of birth is limited to "whether born in the same county" (as the place of census). - However modest the information available, if you can find the family it will often give a fair idea of the structure of the household - if only by looking at the ages (no relationships are given at this point). 1851: The first census including places of birth and relationships - This is much more helpful - precise ages are given (at least, as far as the subjects were willing or able to tell the truth!), and village or town of birth is given, together with relationship to the head of the household. - These are extremely valuable, as entire genealogies can be constructed from them, especially when backed up by parish registers and civil registration. - The censuses can often provide confirmation of whether or not your conclusions are correct about the relationships between individuals featured in parish registers. 1875: It becomes a legal offence not to register a birth, marriage or death - ... although some still manage to slip through the net! - You had six weeks after a birth to register; paid a fine if registered between 6 weeks & 6 months; after 6 months it couldn't be registered at all (this may lead to inaccurate dates of birth to make registration legal. One of my own family had two birthdays because of precisely this problem!) 1911: Civil registration indices become more detailed - ... and begin to include additional information: - the mother's maiden name against a birth - the surname of the spouse against a marriage - which makes it much easier to be certain that we have the correct family before paying out for a certificate!

MOTORISTS & BICYCLISTS Same Road, Same Rules, Same Rights The California Vehicle Code grants motorists and bicyclists the same rights and responsibilities on public streets–both are responsible for obeying the laws and rules of the road. Red Means Stop at Traffic Signals and Stop Signs Motorists and bicyclists must stop at red lights and stop signs, and yield at stop signs to those who arrive first. Beware of the “Door Zone” Motorists should take extra precaution when opening car doors into traffic to avoid collisions with oncoming bicyclists. And, bicyclists should allow at least five feet or more clearance while riding alongside parked cars to avoid the “Door Zone.” Stay Focused and Avoid Distractions With phones and technological devices there are more distractions for both drivers and cyclists than ever. Whether you drive a car or ride a bike, it’s illegal to talk or text using a hand-held cell phone. Wearing headphones that cover both ears is illegal.

Irvine, Calif., May 8, 2017 — University of California, Irvine vector biologist Anthony James will lead a multimillion-dollar effort to cultivate new strains of mosquitoes to fight malaria in Africa. A world leader and pioneer in creating genetically altered mosquitoes, James will direct the UCI Malaria Initiative, which will bring together experts in molecular biology, entomology, public health, community engagement and regulatory control to further develop and one day test these insects in the field. To aid this endeavor, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is providing $2 million for the generation of sustainable, genetics-based approaches to controlling malaria parasite transmission by the vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Grants from the National Institutes of Health and other funding sources will also support the highly collaborative work involving scientists from other University of California campuses. “Our goal is to see if prototype strains developed in partnership with UC San Diego geneticists Valentino Gantz and Ethan Bier can be refined into something appropriate for disrupting malaria transmission in Africa,” James said. UC Davis vector biologist Greg Lanzaro, UC Berkeley mathematical modeler John Marshall and remote sensing expert Ziad Haddad of UCLA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory-California Institute of Technology will focus on identifying field sites for a trial. They’re following guidelines established by the World Health Organization, the National Academies and others in which a phased protocol is used to test both safety and efficacy of the strains as the work progresses. These phases include strict adherence to national and international regulations and involve stakeholders from the disease-endemic countries. “There must be a multifaceted approach to the eradication of malaria,” said James, a Donald Bren Professor at UCI and a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. “Working hand in hand with thought leaders, scientists, public health personnel and government officials, we expect to lay the foundation for eliminating a disease that affects hundreds of millions of people globally.” In the most recent World Malaria Report, WHO estimates that there were 212 million cases of malaria and 429,000 malaria-related deaths in 2015, with more than 90 percent of the latter occurring in Africa. No effective transmission-blocking vaccine yet exists. Mosquito mitigation measures, such as insecticide-treated nets, have reduced malaria infections and mortality but aren’t enough to achieve eradication. Among the more promising new tactics is genetic modification of mosquitoes in order to disrupt transmission of the disease. In 1998, James was the first to create a genetically modified mosquito model, and his laboratory pioneered the development of synthetic antimalarial genes based on antibodies that prevent mosquitoes from transmitting the disease-causing parasites. Along with Bier and Gantz from UC San Diego, he employed a revolutionary genome editing method called CRISPR/Cas9 to insert these genes into mosquitoes and in late 2015 showed in laboratory studies that the antimalarial trait was successfully passed on to an astonishing 99 percent of the progeny. Previous techniques explored by James and others resulted in only half the progeny inheriting the anti-disease trait. What this means is that the antimalarial DNA could spread through a large mosquito colony much more rapidly, making the use of these altered insects in wild populations potentially much more effective. James plans to utilize this approach to create strains of Anopheles gambiae, which are the malaria-spreading mosquitoes in many parts of Africa. He said that once the mosquitoes are released in the wild, it will require two to five seasons to measure their impact on malaria rates. He emphasized that the people living in affected regions will have the ultimate say in whether or not the strategy will be utilized. In addition to launching its Malaria Initiative, UCI is joining UC San Diego to form the Vector-Borne Disease Consortium to promote the discovery and development of novel science. Its objective is to eradicate mosquito-transmitted diseases in India and Africa by allowing faculty and others at both UCI and UC San Diego to participate in research conducted with funding from the UC San Diego-based Vector-Borne Disease Project in the Tata Institute for Active Genetics & Society and from the UCI Malaria Initiative. UCI resources will be focused on Africa-related efforts; UC San Diego resources will be focused on India-related efforts. About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu. Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit wp.communications.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists.

A new sensor system that determines various parameters of the interior walls of the bore holes has been introduced into the market. Commercial development of the bore-hole sensor system has been the culmination of a project conceived by Micro-Epsilon. The new system called the confocal sensor is a small device that has a diameter of 3.5mm. Bore holes comprising a diameter of 4mm or above can be inspected by using this sensor. The device can be used to determine various characteristics of the bore holes. For instance, it can be used to measure the concentricity, straightness, tapers and diameter of the bore holes. An electric servomotor is used to rotate the sensor and a unique ball bearing device lends rotational stability. A sensor probe with a confocal sensor, a measuring head made of stainless steel and two controllers are incorporated in the sensor. The device can be used on a variety of surfaces. While using the sensor, the system does not have to use any reference points while measuring the bore holes since the device can easily identify both steps and edges. While taking the measurement for tapered bore holes, the sensor has to be operated at full power or else the light spot in the sensor will get reflected beyond the optical device and will make it difficult to measure the reflection. However, when the sensor is used on ideal surfaces, even diffused reflection can be determined at minimum power. Bore holes having a depth of 90mm can be measured with the help of the sensor. Users will need to utilize a linear unit to direct the sensor probe inside the bore holes. Based on the requirement, different types of surfaces can be determined. The sensor can also be used to produce spiral profiles of bore holes. The sensor probe can be replaced easily when different ranges of measurements are needed for a system. The sensor is suitable for research and development test labs and industrial uses where quality inspection of bore holes is required.

Located in Southern California, Poway Unified School District (USD) serves the educational needs of 33,000 students in grades K-12. In recent years, the district’s curriculum has increasingly included many more on-demand programs and applications which strain network bandwidth - almost to the point of overload. Marc Ludwig, systems engineer for the district, had the job of replacing the school’s Web filtering equipment, as it struggled to meet the federal Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirements. Poway needed a hardware-based product that ensured students weren’t able to turn off the proxy server on school workstations to access inappropriate material. And it needed a user-friendly Web filtering solution that would comply with CIPA – and do so economically. The district previously used a software-based Web filtering product that was unable to keep students from accessing inappropriate online content. Students frequently by-passed proxy servers to access unsafe Internet content, such as social networks and gambling sites. To remedy this problem, Poway upgraded to an appliance-based product. However, the new product lacked user authentication and was difficult to manage. To add to the frustration, IT staff often spent up to six hours a week adjusting access to sites that teachers needed for particular lessons, since the software didn’t let staff unblock sites at their discretion. Faculty also frequently inquired about the online activity of certain students or machines, so IT staff wanted a solution that could provide comprehensive, detailed reports when necessary. In addition, Poway was struggling to manage bandwidth needs required by the school’s curriculum. The constant activity was causing the district to reach maximum available bandwidth during school hours, which created bottlenecks of traffic that hampered productivity among staff and students. To help address this issue, the district upgraded from a 45 Mbps connection to a 100 Mbps connection, allowing room for additional bandwidth growth. Because of the increased bandwidth capacity, Poway now required a Web filtering solution that would support its current and future bandwidth needs while maintaining CIPA compliance. Before choosing iPrism from St. Bernard, Marc Ludwig researched other options, but ultimately chose St. Bernard’s h-Series appliance because of its price point and anti-virus feature. It was also appealing because of its ability to manage the district’s growing bandwidth requirements. The appliance was a one-time investment that would expand to meet the district’s future bandwidth demands. With the iPrism 100h Web Filter in place, students can't access inappropriate online content by bypassing the proxy, as they did with the previous software-based product. Ludwig depends on the on-box reporting to gather real-time details on students’ online behavior, allowing him more time to focus on critical issues. Poway faculty can now change settings at their discretion, freeing IT administrators from the lengthy process of adjusting policy and online access on a situational basis. Teachers simply unblock sites as needed in real-time, an activity that previously required 24 hours advance notice to be approved and configured by the IT staff. Additionally, bandwidth issues have disappeared. Ludwig no longer receives reports regarding bottlenecks of network traffic, and productivity of the staff and students is not subject to disruption.

My brother is a Trekkie. No, not a long-distance hiker – a Star Trek fan. He has watched all the films and TV shows met some of its stars at expensive conventions across the world and he has plastic models of ships adorning his living room. In his lifetime and mine, it will likely be possible for punters like us to go to space. We’ll be hitching a ride on the coattails of 70 years of scientists who have been working out how to shoot rockets into space and how to safely put people on them. There are few who don’t think that science is incredibly cool but Star Trek is about ethics and caring for humankind’s legacy – and what kind of legacy are we leaving in the wake of the space program? In short: Toxic soils, disease, ecosystem upheaval, resource depletion, and human and wildlife displacement. The group with the best cleanup record is NASA, and it is spending $6 million a year trying to decontaminate soil under its primary launch site Cape Canaveral in Florida. In the heady days of the Space Race, we sent 86 rockets off this planet by whatever means necessary. We used cutting-edge technology but dirty fuels – we’re talking plutonium, nitric acid, volatile amines like aniline and members of a truly nasty solvent family called trichloroethylene (known as “trikes” to their friends) that are known to cause birth defects and cancer. Through a Freedom of Information request, Florida Today found 2 square miles (some 90 ft deep) of contaminated soil and groundwater, and several decades of neglect in caring for the local environment. Bits of launcher rockets routinely come down over a Russian farming district, in some cases killing livestock and potentially poisoning the locals. Many of our spacecraft are powered by plutonium-238, which as you can imagine is not cheap or environmentally friendly to produce. In 2012, NASA began a project to make a new stock of plutonium or risk running out. And then there is what’s up there. More than 20,000 traceable pieces of space junk orbit our earth – that is, pieces bigger than a softball. A hand-sized piece nearly took out the International Space Station in November, which was saved only by some last-minute maneuvering by the crew. Another estimated 500,000 bits are too small to track. Imagine a cloud of bent satellite braces and bolts from spent rockets. Though just because they’re small doesn’t mean they are insignificant. As NASA points out, even flecks of paint going 17,500 mph can put paid to one of the 800 working spacecraft in orbit. And of course, even two defunct spacecraft smashing into each other will create more debris and exacerbate the problem. We have been here before. In the middle ages, we built water mills throughout Europe, changing watercourses and devastating ecosystems before developing more sustainable technologies for replenishing our civilizations. Without those early water mills, we might never have developed crop-rotation agriculture, universities, and gunpowder. Might the space program be in its own Middle Ages, experimenting with new technologies to find better ways to live and explore? The truth is, we can only guess at the long-term impacts of the space program – we haven’t been at it long enough to know. Does that mean we should stop space exploration in its tracks? Let’s look at the flipside, and all that the space program has to offer our own “pale blue dot.” Our lives have been greatly enriched by the “giant leaps” of the space program. You can thank NASA for iodine water filters and cochlear implants, and the Russians for carbon nanotubes and space food. More than the space program’s inventions, it is its commitment to innovation that we benefit from as it inspires generations of businesspeople, creators and nonprofit leaders to reach for the stars – literally in the case of future commercial space carriers Virgin Galactic and co. Beyond the Sea Through its vast array of satellites and other tracking equipment, NASA and co are giving us the quality weather and climate data we need to inform our environmental understanding, especially about climate change. In March, NASA announced plans to launch a climate satellite as part of a project called the Pre-Aerosol Clouds and ocean Ecosystem mission. The mission, scheduled to launch in 2022, will study ocean ecology and chemistry plus the impact of clouds and aerosols on our climate. It’ll do this by sensing what they call “ocean color”, which is measuring phytoplankton biomass from space. Phytoplankton lives in the top layer of the ocean, within reach of the sun’s rays, and produces at least half the oxygen on earth; as well as providing the foundation of the marine food chain. PACE project scientist Jeremy Werdell told NASA that the project would give the world a better understanding of the role of marine phytoplankton in the carbon cycle. “Knowing more about global phytoplankton community composition will help us understand how living marine resources respond to a changing climate,” Mr. Werdell said. Frequent readers may remember us breathlessly singing the praises of a type of phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, for its ability to knit our topsoil together. These little greeblies should be heroes to us all, and NASA is keen to give them their time in the sun. The Goldilocks Proposition The irony of our environmental inaction, of course, is that as mammals and top predators, we are among the most vulnerable to a changing climate. If we go too far and make this planet uninhabitable for us – as some think we already have – the human race will want to move. Once again, the space program is on the case. Since 2009, the Kepler mission has been using some seriously cool imaging techniques to identify what could be Earth-sized planets orbiting an appropriate distance from stars to be considered possible of supporting life. Scientists study Kelper’s high-resolution photographs of distant stars and by modeling the way light dips as an orbiting planet passes in front, they can make inferences about so-called “Goldilocks” planets. Even if we never find somewhere perfect, it will likely be the space program that will work out how to terraform a decent halfway home or build a craft capable of keeping us alive for the long distances required to find our new planet. Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Earth Despite its dirty history, NASA is one of our allies in one of the biggest environmental challenges – the battle for “hearts and minds”. Despite a constant barrage of criticism, most recently from Senate Space, Science and Competitiveness Subcommittee Chairman Ted Cruz, the space agency has made it part of its mission to doggedly collect, analyze and share scientific information on climate from hundreds of sources on earth and in orbit. Its outspoken, scientific discussion of our predicament is the even-handed, thoughtful elder the environment movement needs to grow its ranks and encourage more people to take action. Last month, a NASA report used historical climate data and soil moisture measurements to project a decades-long megadrought would seize my state of California, plus the southwest and the Great Plains region, possibly as soon as 2050. The area is home to roughly 60 million people currently and is the food bowl of the nation. California alone produces $46.4 billion in food each year – and has a near-monopoly on artichokes, walnuts, plums, celery, and garlic. If we lose the viability of our food lands, we risk more than the relocation of a few Orange County princesses. It is a dire prediction and the authorities are starting to take notice. Californian Governor Jerry Brown this year introduced the first-ever statewide water restrictions, citing the lowest ever snow season on record. The Sierra snowpack, which produces much of our water, is just 8 percent of the average. Space agencies have a vital role to play in measuring and advocating on behalf of our environment. Thanks to them, we are able to better understand the scale of the problems and how they interrelate, which gives us a better chance of innovating for a greener future. But more than that, I think the space race has given us permission to change our future. Going to the Moon once seemed uncanny, foolhardy and impossibly hard but we proved we could rise to the challenge. What NASA and co prove is that with good science and the support of our people, we can puzzle out climate change and find ways to make our own planet a destination for generations to come.

Age discrimination occurs when a person is denied a job, promotion, or other benefits simply because of his or her age. Age discrimination typically affects workers aged 40 or older, and as the workforce ages, it is becoming a larger issue. Fortunately, age discrimination is easy to recognize and easy to prove – and numerous laws are prohibiting it. Read on to learn how you can deal with age discrimination in the workplace. What is Age Discrimination in Hiring? As many workers over the age of 40 will tell, age discrimination is real. Some employers do try to discriminate on the basis of age, even though it’s blatantly illegal to do so. According to federal (and some state) legislation, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate on the basis of age when hiring, paying, promoting, giving out raises, or laying people off. Most ages discrimination laws apply to all employers that have 20 employees or more. With a few exceptions, mandatory retirement ages are also illegal. That means that a company can’t force older workers to retire when they reach a certain age. You should also know that when you’re applying for a job, a prospective employer cannot ask you for your age. You also cannot be forced to provide any other information that might give away your age, such as when you graduated from high school or college. Legally, there are several different types of age discrimination, including: - Workplace discrimination. This is the most common type of age discrimination, where older workers are subject to harassment, pay cuts, and layoffs based on their age. - Position-based discrimination. This type of workplace discrimination occurs when a qualified older worker is passed over for a position in favor of a younger worker at a lower level of pay. Employers sometimes do this to avoid paying higher salaries to older, more experienced employees. This type of discrimination also includes those instances where an employer hires a younger, less qualified worker over an older, more qualified one. - Reverse age discrimination. Sometimes age discrimination works the other way when an employer discriminates against a younger worker in favor of an older one. If you’ve lost a job or promotion to a younger competitor, or discover a younger co-worker is getting opportunities you aren’t, you may be a victim of age discrimination. Age Discrimination Facts Older workers need to know what they’re dealing with, so here are some relevant age discrimination statistics: - According to AARP, most people believe age discrimination starts when workers hit their 50s – although 22 percent say it can even affect people in the 30s and 40s. - Age discrimination may go hand in hand with gender discrimination. While 57 percent of older men say they face age discrimination at work, 72 percent of women say they’re discriminated against because of their age. - The most common type of age discrimination involves not getting hired for a new job. The second most common is getting passed over for a promotion because of age. - In addition to these existing laws prohibiting age discrimination in the workplace, 8 out of 10 Americans aged 50 and older say they want stronger age discrimination laws. How to Combat Age Discrimination To avoid being a victim of age discrimination, you need to act and work like your younger colleagues. Don’t give employers any excuse, legitimate or otherwise, to pass you by in favor of someone younger. When you’re applying for a new job, give the impression that you’re excited about the new position and ready to hit the ground running. Regardless of age, employers like energetic workers who plan to spend many productive years with the company. Be that person. Equally important, you need to keep up on all the latest trends, especially technology-related issues. Volunteer for training courses to stay up-to-date and make sure you can use all the latest apps and systems. Don’t let the young people get the better of you in a changing environment. Show your willingness to stay on top of things and keep learning. When you’re up for a performance review, be proactive about asking for feedback. You don’t want to let any age-related performance issues sneak up on you. Address any issues that might arise – and be aware of any signs your employer is discriminating against you because you’re older. Finally, you need to know your rights. If you feel you’ve been a victim of age discrimination, there are legal actions you can take. What to Do If You’ve Been Discriminated Against It is illegal for employers to discriminate against workers or job applicants on the basis of age. In addition to any relevant state or local age discrimination laws, there are several important pieces of federal legislation that protect your rights as an older job applicant: - The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects job applicants and employees aged 40 and older from hiring or wage discrimination on the basis of age. - The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits age discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal assistance. - The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990 (OWBPA) amends the ADEA to ban employers from denying specific benefits to employees over 40. - Section 188 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) prohibits age discrimination in programs and activities with WIA Title I financial assistance. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) handles all charges of discrimination for age and other factors. In 2017 (the last year for which statistics are available), the EEOC recorded 18,376 charges of age discrimination, which accounted for more than 20% of all discrimination charges received. If you feel you are a victim of age discrimination, you can file a charge with the EEOC. You can also lodge a grievance with the company’s HR department or hire a lawyer to file an age discrimination lawsuit against the company – although that can be expensive. However you choose to proceed, make sure you have documented all the facts regarding your case. Let Mapertunity Help You Get Hired If you’re looking for a new position, let Mapertunity help. Mapertunity is the world’s first fully transparent, interactive job map. We help people find the right job in the right location – no matter your age. When a new job is in your future, contact us at Mapertunity! We’re here to help.

What action steps can the American people and the government take to eliminate gun violence in the United States? Harold Pollack, a professor of Social Service Administration and Public Health Sciences at the University of Chicago, proposes three elements to help prevent the issue of gun violence: controlling military-style weapons, regulation of gun purchases by people under 25 years of age, and more severe punishments for illegal gun carrying. Pollack emphasizes the fact that dangerous individuals should be the main focus of the government as a first step in controlling this issue. In addition, stricter laws and regulations can definitely help prevent weapons from being in the wrong hands, which will ensure a safer environment. Military style weapons account for a small proportion of gun deaths and are less commonly used than handguns. Handguns still remain the most commonly used weapon in routine gun violence and homicides. Mass shootings, however, are more commonly associated with military weapons and gear such as rifles, body armor, and suppressors. The government could enforce stricter laws on businesses that sell military weaponry. Pollack states the Supreme Court is open to new ideas and changes to the regulation of assault weapons. Those opposing such changes include gun manufacturers and those businesses that sell guns, whom are represented by the National Rifle Association. According to Pollack, 8.9 percent of American adults experience impulsive anger symptoms and have guns in their homes. Although there are laws that prohibit felons and mentally ill people from legally having a gun, it is hard to identify dangerous individuals at first sight. Tightening regulations of gun purchases by anyone would make a change, but Pollack argues that those younger than 25 years old should be especially watched because it is harder to tell whether they may suffer from mental illnesses. In addition, they can be tracked later down the line in case they commit any crimes, which would prevent them from purchasing a gun in the near future. Further, states with fewer regulations on gun possession tend to export guns to other states, which increases the risk for gun violence and crime. Pollack also writes about Gun Violence Restraining Orders, which can help to monitor those who are mentally ill or troubled. Gun offenders don’t often purchase their weapons through the underground market which is heavily available to them, instead they buy from people they can trust. The government can take advantage of this fact and take action to deter illegal gun transfers and interstate trafficking. Harold Pollack, “What Can We Do About Gun Violence,” The American Prospect. March 16, 2016, http://prospect.org/article/what-we-can-do-about-gun-violence Student Researcher: Marius Manding (Diablo Valley College) Faculty Evaluator: Mickey Huff (Diablo Valley College)

True and False Animals By Mark Carnall, on 10 January 2014 When the language of biology meets common parlance there’s often a lot of confusion. Biological nomenclature (often called the scientific name, we are Homo sapiens sapiens* for example) is by and large controlled using strict rules, format and notations but there aren’t quite so strict rules when it comes to the common names of animals or groups of animals. Some animals we refer to by their taxonomic name, for example; Tyrannosaurus rex, Hippopotamus, Octopus** and Bison. For other animals however, their common, useful to most people and widely understood names create all kinds of problems for the pedantic as I’ve written about before when is comes to sea stars vs starfish. My colleague Jack Ashby wrote about when it comes to seals and sea lions. Consider also that a musk ox is a goat-antelope, horseshoe crabs aren’t crabs at all and the Grant Museum favourite: flying lemurs aren’t and don’t. The idea of ‘true’ and ‘false’ animals can also be misleading and a lot of pub discussions/arguments/bets come from animals which aren’t what they are often called or even named. How do some animals end up as the ‘true’ and ‘false’ versions of their group. Let’s have a look at some ‘true’ animals and see how the philosophical concepts of truth has ended up in our zoological lexicons. True Cobras We all know cobras right? The cobra we could probably all name is the king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah, except depending on your view it isn’t a true cobra at all. True or typical cobras are ‘considered’ those snakes in the genus Naja which can raise their bodies off the ground and widen their distinctive hoods around their heads. However, there are a number of snakes called cobras, this wikipedia page sums it up nicely which aren’t in the same group creating a similar confusion to whether or not humans, chimps and gorillas are monkeys or not. Spare a thought for Hydrodynastes gigas, the false water cobra which being neither in the genus Naja or in the ‘cobra family’ Elapidae can be considered a false false false water cobra if you want to go there. True Eels True eels are ray-finned fish in the order Anguilliformes including the conger and moray eel families as well as many others. However, the well known electric eel and the lesser known spiny eels aren’t ‘true eels’, they are eel-like fish in other groups. Triply confusing is that eel-skin products such as wallets aren’t made from eels at all they are made from the skin of hagfish or slime eels (not true eels) which are a completely different kind of fish altogether. True Salamanders Here’s where scientific nomenclature and common sense really break down. Salamanders are animals in the order Caudata. However, ‘true salamanders’ are those salamanders in the single family salamandriidae that aren’t newts. By this rationale giant salamanders, mole salamanders, lungless salamanders and torrent salamanders aren’t true salamanders despite their name. Oh and congo eels aren’t true eels or even eels or true salamanders. They are a kind of salamander. Confused yet? Don’t blame me I didn’t create this mess. True Jellyfish This is a common one, I’m often asked “Are Portuguese man o’ war jellyfish or not”, my ‘expertise’ is drafted in to settle bets amongst friends. Despite being perhaps the most well known jellyfish they aren’t true jellyfish but may be jellyfish depending on your opinion. True jellyfish are animals in the class Scyphozoa but this group doesn’t contain the box jellyfish, class Cubozoa, or the stalked jellyfish, class Staurozoa. Scyphozoa, Cubozoa and Staurozoa are in the subphylum Medusozoa which also includes the class Hydrozoa which is where you’ll find the Portugese man o’ war. If you’re a stickler for consistency then you could argue that everything in Medusozoa, including the Portuguese man o’ war is a jellyfish. Alternatively, you could argue that there’s no such thing as a jellyfish you should just be more specific. The ultimate litmus test? See how the coastguard reacts when you’re lying on the beach screaming in agony because you were stung by a “gelatinous zooplankton in the class Hydrozoa”. True Crabs True crabs are crustaceans in the infraorder Brachyura. You know what’s next right? This doesn’t include hermit crabs, king crabs, porcelain crabs, mole crabs or indeed the human parasite commonly referred to as crabs. King crabs, hermit crabs, sand crabs and coconut crabs are in the infraorder Anomura. Doubly confusingly porcelain crabs and squat lobsters are closely related but the porcelain crabs aren’t true crabs and squat lobsters aren’t lobsters at all. If only they knew about their identity crisis. The pubic lice we call crabs are in fact insects, I’d say lice but there’s many ways of being a louse, true lice are a superorder of insects and an excellent Arnie film. These are just some examples and I don’t think you’d find a zoologist who would dare to use the true and false monikers for groups in the scientific literature. Occasionally, the confusion seems to be the only reason behind a non-news story running and running. Last year’s ridiculous false widow spider scare mongering seemed to only have come from the similarity in the name between this and the notorious widow spiders ignoring the obvious ‘false’ clue. There are also false scorpions, true bugs, true frogs, wasps that are called ants, true antelopes, false stag beetles and tens of butterflies which are the ‘false’ versions of superficially similar butterfly species. Isn’t language funny? Drop some of your favourite false and true animals in the comments. Mark Carnall is the ‘True’ Curator of the Grant Museum of Zoology * Or not. A blog post for another time methinks. ** Only sometimes. There are over twenty genera of octopuses, only one of which is Octopus. I often lay awake at night wondering how the world would be different if the genus Wunderpus rather than Octopus was the colloquial name for these animals. Better. I think the world would be better.

On The Sense of Superiority The Bible teaches, “Let each of you regard one another as more important than himself” (Phil 2:3). A common weakness of man is pride - the sense of superiority. The Jews look down on the gentiles, some races discriminate against other races, the rich despises the poor. This should not be so. One who has received much from the Lord should be humble. The higher a bird flies the smaller it appears. One who feels that he is superior to others is self-righteous. We can see this in the prayer of the self-righteous Pharisee. He boasted about his good deeds and demeaned the tax collector. But the Lord said that the tax collector was more justified than the Pharisee (Lk 18:9-14). The glorious Lord, the Saviour, “though He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of man. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross” (Phil 2:6-8). This is the best example of humility that the Lord has left for us.

Voir dire is a legal term that refers to the process of questioning prospective jurors to determine their qualifications and suitability to serve on a jury in a particular case. The term “voir dire” is derived from French and means “to speak the truth.” This process is an essential part of jury selection and is used to identify any potential biases, prejudices, or conflicts of interest that may affect a juror’s ability to fairly and impartially decide the case. During voir dire, attorneys from both sides (prosecution and defense) have the opportunity to question potential jurors. The goal is to ensure that the selected jury will be fair and unbiased, and that jurors can render an impartial verdict based solely on the evidence presented during the trial. Attorneys may ask potential jurors about their background, experiences, beliefs, and any potential connections to the case or parties involved. The judge may also ask questions to ensure that the jurors meet the legal requirements for jury service. After the questioning, attorneys may exercise peremptory challenges (the right to dismiss a certain number of potential jurors without stating a reason) or challenge jurors for cause (if there is a specific reason to believe a juror cannot be impartial). The final selected jury is expected to fairly consider the evidence presented during the trial and reach a verdict based on the law and facts of the case. A voir dire may also be used as a pre-trial procedure to determine the admissibility of particular evidence. It occurs when one party challenges the admissibility of evidence the other party proposes to adduce. A voir dire consists of the court making findings of fact and applying the law after hearing evidence and submissions. Voir dires can occur in criminal and in civil matters. It will occur when it is necessary for a judge or magistrate to determine questions of evidence law prior to a trial or contested hearing. A voir dire can be used, for example, to determine whether an admission was made voluntarily, whether a witness is entitled to claim privilege, or whether a police search was conducted lawfully.

The Hermit Thrush is a personal favorite of mine, and if its understated but beautiful speckled brown plumage isn’t enough to tell you why, just wait until you hear one sing! The Hermit Thrush is known for its breath-taking flute-like song. This song is often described as nature’s most beautiful sound. This is high praise indeed, but the crystal clear ethereal notes of the Hermit Thrush’s song deserves every bit of it. Early 19th century naturalist F. Schuyler Mathews described the song of the Hermit Thrush in his book, A Field Book of Wild Birds and Their Music: “Now the Hermit Thrush is an altogether different kind of a singer, as the ensuing notations will show. He is brilliant in execution beyond description, as versatile in melody as a genius, and as pure in his tones as refined silver. It would be useless to attempt a representation of the song by a series of dots and dashes; the mechanical rhythm is completely overshadowed by the wonderful way in which the singer delivers his sustained tonic and then embroiders it with a rapid and brilliant cadenza.” With a name like the “Hermit Thrush,” you might think that this bird is hard to find. And despite being a fairly common songbird, these relatives of bluebirds and robins are shy and often hard to spot. They also closely resemble a few related songbirds, so it can be difficult for inexperienced birders to tell them from their doppelgangers. Still, even when you can’t see a Hermit Thrush, that song is unmistakable and often used to identify them. Fun Facts About the Hermit Thrush Though they may look unassuming, the Hermit Thrush is a bird that sticks with you. Its exceptional musical ability carries the beauty of nature itself in every note. Let’s take a look at some Hermit Thrush fun facts to learn more about this gorgeous bird. Territorial troubadour: I’ve already discussed the beauty of the Hermit Thrush’s famous song, but its purpose is also interesting. Although it might sound lovely, male Hermit Thrushes sing to defend their nesting territory. It’s a declaration to other Hermit Thrushes that says: “I am here. This is my spot. You’d better keep moving!” But territorial singing isn’t the only vocalization that Hermit Thrushes make. They also have calls for greeting each other in the nest, tending their eggs, and even one call that is said to sound like a mewing kitten. It’s free real estate: Hermit Thrushes normally nest in trees or bushes, but they occasionally make more interesting choices when it comes to real estate. They have been found with nests built atop cemetery graves, on golf courses, and inside of mine shafts. Suppertime tap-dance: Hermit Thrush’s have an interesting foraging method that might be confusing to a birdwatcher that hasn’t seen it before. Standing on the ground, a Hermit Thrush will shake or “quiver” its feet. This motion startles insects into action, causing them to move and revealing their location to the waiting bird that then snatches them up. Hermit Thrushes are far from the only birds to do this, but it is nevertheless a strange sight to witness. Vermont’s favorite: The Hermit Thrush is the state bird of Vermont. It was recommended by the Federated Women’s Club and officially chosen to represent the state in 1941. The Future of the Hermit Thrush As of its most recent assessment in 2020, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has determined the Hermit Thrush to be of “Least Concern” with stable populations throughout its vast range. Despite the delicate sound of its song, the Hermit Thrush is a relatvely hardy and adaptable bird. Popular Article: Species Spotlight: The Killdeer

The G7 chord is composed of the Root, Major Third, Perfect Fifth, and Minor Seventh You may find this chord denoted as: - G Dominant Seventh - G Dom The notes of this chord are G, B, D, and F. The b7 typical of dominant chords creates a tension that sounds great if resolved on the tonic. Notes in the G 7 chord: How the Dominant Seventh chord is built: Chord boxes are sorted from the easiest to the hardest. Learn how to read chord diagrams. If you have difficulties with bar chord shapes, check the Bar Chords Tips tutorial. Find more shapes on my all guitar chords online library. Want a printable pdf? Download the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf Play This Chord With Other Roots Pick some of the tones from the fretboard map below and play this chord in new ways.

When the Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Shinya Yamanaka succeeded to generate induced pluripotent cells (iPS cells) from specialized adult cells, the field of stem cells was completely revolutionized. Since Yamanaka’s paper on adult mouse fibroblasts back in 2006, scientists have been able to perform cellular reprogramming, but the process still isn’t mastered yet. One of the method’s barriers consists of an apoptosis phenomenon that limits the number of iPS cells produced, but this obstacle might be about to be cracked. In this context, the team of Fabrice Lavial from French INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) in collaboration with Patrick Mehlen’s team, has tried to identify new regulators in the genesis of iPS cells. To this end, researchers have focused on the factors affected by the four gene drivers at the start of reprogramming. They then selected from the list, those known to play a role in programmed cell death and whose expression varies during reprogramming. At the end of the sorting, a molecule appears: netrin-1. Netrin-1 is a protein naturally produced by the body. Interestingly, it is capable of preventing programmed cell death. At the beginning, as reprogramming on mice cells, researchers noted that their production of netrin-1 was greatly reduced. This deficiency, thus, considerably limited the effectiveness of the process. The researchers then tested the artificial addition of netrin-1 to compensate for its decrease in the early stages of reprogramming and this time, the amount of iPS cells produced from mice cells was much greater. The new discoveries are a promising step forward. From a therapeutic perspective, it is important to determine whether this treatment affects the quality of cellular reprogramming or not. Should this approach be successful, it would eventually be possible to replace diseased organs of patients with new organs derived from its own cells, thus eliminating any risk of rejection.

Lottery is a form of gambling, a hidden tax, and a military conscription. But did you know that Lottery is used to finance many government projects? In the American colonies, lotteries provided money for things like a battery of guns for Philadelphia, and the reconstruction of Faneuil Hall in Boston. While this sounds like an abuse, it was actually a great source of funding for the government. Lottery is a form of gambling Lottery is a form of gambling that involves buying a ticket and hoping you will win a prize. There are many types of lottery games. These games can range from sports team drafts to financial lotteries that distribute big cash amounts. While financial lotteries are considered a form of gambling, they are considered legal because the money raised by these games are used for a good cause. It is used for military conscription The lottery is used to determine the number of people that will be drafted into the military. The first lottery took place in 1798. This lottery triggered a debate about whether conscription was necessary. Many opponents argued that the lottery was unfair. It is used for commercial promotions Today, the Lottery is used for a number of commercial promotions. These can range from giving away property through a random drawing to selecting jury members from registered voters. The key is to structure the promotion properly to ensure compliance with state and federal law. It is a form of hidden tax Some people argue that the lottery is a form of hidden tax, because it allows the government to collect more money from lottery players than they actually spend. Others disagree, arguing that it is actually a form of consumption tax and that the government should not favor a specific good. Instead, they should create neutral tax policies that do not distort consumer spending. It is an addictive form of gambling There are a variety of reasons why lottery gambling is addictive. It’s not only because people love the money, but because it can be a difficult game to master. It can also lead to problems with self-control. It is a form of money pooling Lottery is a common form of money pooling that allows group members to contribute small amounts to a single prize. The winnings from each drawing are then divided between the group members. Often, the group chooses to put the prize amount toward purchasing more lottery tickets for the next drawing. In other situations, the group may save up the small winnings to be split between the group members during a fun group activity.