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Prefix Lists From IRR Objects Each AS can originate or advertise routes depending on prefixes assigned to it and the relationship it has with other networks. For instance, a network service provider selling transit to its customers will re-advertise the routes of its customers back to other networks it is peering with. It will also most likely advertise its own routes. For security reasons, autonomous systems tend to setup BGP filters with prefix lists to prevent them from learning routes advertised by peers which are not supposed to. To know which prefix an AS is allowed to advertise, networks use Internet Routing Registries (IRR) and the objects they hold. Networks that are used to peer with other networks usually publish AS-SET objects. These objects define which other AS-SETs or autonomous systems a network will probably advertise. These objects can be translated into prefix lists by using tools such as bgpq3 and bgpq4. Peering Manager can use bgpq3/bpgq4 to fetch prefix lists in a JSON format to store them in its database and/or to provide them within the templating engine. One of the mentioned tools must be installed on the same host and the BGPQ3_PATH value must be set. It is possible to influence the way bgpq3/bgpq4 is going to be called by changing the BGPQ3_ARGS value. To resolve autonomous system or AS-SET into a prefix list, bgpq3/bgpq4 needs to query a host and to ask for values found in one or more sources. Both of these parameters can be tweaked by changing BGPQ3_HOST and BGPQ3_SOURCES respectively. To store prefixes in the database, Peering Manager provides a command. It can be run regularly, like housekeeping. It will take care of fetching prefixes for each autonomous system for both IPv4 and IPv6 address families. # venv/bin/python3 manage.py grab_prefixes History is not kept when it comes to prefixes. It means that each run of this command will override known prefixes and replace them with the new ones. Building prefix list with hundreds of thousands lines can be quite time consuming and sometimes even useless. For example, if you have a transit provider advertising a full routing table, keeping a prefix list for this AS does not always make sense. To avoid caching prefix list that are too long, --limit=N parameter can be passed to the command, which, as a result, will not store prefix lists exceeding N prefixes. # venv/bin/python3 manage.py grab_prefixes --limit=1000

Climate change will keep millions trapped in poverty: World Bank 19 June 2013 A report from the World Bank out today concluding that a warmer world will “keep millions of people trapped in poverty” provides a further wake-up call to the international community which is still not doing enough to confront now-inevitable humanitarian impacts of climate change. Food shortages in Sub-Saharan Africa; shifting rain patterns in South Asia, leaving some areas underwater and others with too little; loss of reefs in South-East Asia, making coastal communities vulnerable to increasingly violent storms – these are but a few of the likely effects of a possible global temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius in the next few decades, the World Bank says. Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts, and the Case for Resilience looks at the probable impact of both 2°C and 4°C warming on agriculture, water resources, coasts and cities across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia. The Bank has already cited scientists who believe the world will warm by 4°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century if concerted action is not taken now. The World Bank Group says it is stepping up its “mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk management work,” and is looking at all its business through a climate lens. Walter Cotte, Under Secretary General for Programme Services Division at the IFRC, said the new report once more highlights the importance of preparing now for a future certain only to be hazardous. “The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has made huge strides toward fully embracing the vital climate issue over the past decade,” he said. “As part of our Strategy 2020, we too are taking a twin-track approach, incorporating climate mitigation – advocating reduced carbon emissions and cutting back our own footprint – and adaptation, supporting community resilience and climate-proofing our operations. “Using our National Red Cross Red Crescent network in all regions of the world we are working to confront the humanitarian and developmental consequences of changing climate through the creation of a coherent, inclusive and participatory approach, as part of our subsidiary role with national governments supporting their National Adaptation Plans.” Dr Maarten van Aalst, director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and a lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said that we are already living in a changed climate. “Funding to help developing countries adapt to climate change is starting to flow,” he said. “But it tends to be re-purposed development assistance, and isn’t anything like enough.” Since the IPCC report on extreme weather and disasters two years ago – SREX – there have been at least two events that exactly fit the “general pattern of rising risk” predicted by climate scientists, Dr Van Aalst believes. “One was Typhoon Bopha that hit Mindanao in the Philippines last year; another is the devastating flood, linked mainly to intense rainfall, that swept across Central Europe earlier this month. “Neither of these ‘hydrometeorological’ disasters is directly attributable to climate change – no single disaster ever is – but they certainly fit the pattern of rising risks in a changing climate.” Typhoon Bopha caused massive destruction on the island of Mindanao; and left nearly 2,000 people missing or dead. Among other rehabilitation work, the Philippine Red Cross this month began to help 2,500 affected people build sturdier homes better able to resist typhoons. The IFRC’s emergency appeal for 16.2 million Swiss francs (€13.2m) on behalf of the Philippine Red Cross, however, remains only 44 per cent funded by donors. Turn Down the Heat is an analysis of how the latest climate science and the impacts it forecasts will bear on development progress. The full IPCC report on the global climate, its fifth, will be released in stages starting later this year. A woman made homeless by Typhoon Bopha last year tends to a piglet outside her temporary home – a tent provided by the Kuwait Red Crescent via the IFRC in Davao Oriental, Mindanao. (Photo: Alanah Torralba/IFRC)

A project aimed at lifting the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers and principals in Australia has released a detailed workforce profile it hopes will lead to lasting reform. It confirms Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers are significantly under-represented in schools. Using data from 2012, researchers estimate there are 3700 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers, comprising just 1.2 per cent of the total school workforce. That compares to a student cohort of 4.9 per cent. The More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers Initiative (MATSITI) report, published today, is described as an ‘unprecedented benchmark study'. 'For the first time we can accurately quantify the numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers in our schools, and plan effective workforce reform strategies for our people with the confidence they are based on robust evidence,' MATSITI Director, Professor Peter Buckskin, tells Teacher. The academic says that although the total number of Indigenous teachers identified by the National Teacher Workforce Dataset (NTWD) was larger than anticipated, a three-fold increase by 2018 would be required to meet the Close the Gap employment target (in the education sector), as agreed by all Australian governments. The $7.5 million, four-year MATSITI project is managed by the University of South Australia and funded by the Australian Government. Buckskin believes the detailed workforce profile will inform several objectives. 'Firstly, the need for a proactive assertive recruitment campaign amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their schools promoting the teaching as a career of choice. 'Secondly, increasing the visibility of employment reform required to attract Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work with school jurisdictions and improve retention and career opportunities for those already employed. 'Thirdly, to secure long term commitment from teacher education providers to stem attrition rates and increase retention and graduation rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments to enable the diversity of our teaching population to better match that of students.' Buckskin says it also tackles the common misconception that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers are predominantly living and working in remote communities: the NTWD shows only 10.5 percent are working in remote or very remote areas. 'Surprisingly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers have a higher completion rate of Bachelor degree (60 percent) than the total teaching workforce (54 percent), challenging a common stereotype,' he adds. 'Another encouraging statistic is that the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander principals to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers is the same as that of the entire teaching workforce (i.e. that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers can progress to leadership positions at the same rate as non-Indigenous teachers).' The report found Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers are more likely to be working in low SES schools: 39 per cent work in schools in the lowest SES quintile; for non-Indigenous teachers the figure is 23 per cent. At the other end of the scale, 10 per cent work in schools in the highest SES quintile; for non-Indigenous teachers the figure is 20 per cent. Buckskin says that's not surprising, given that 'a disproportionate percentage of our people are living in low SES locations with high unemployment ... experiencing the detrimental effects of poverty' and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers have a strong sense of community and commitment to making the schooling of Indigenous students more culturally appropriate. Other findings from the MATSITI Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teacher Workforce Analysis report include: - The median age of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers is two years less (43 years of age) than for all teachers (45 years of age); - 77 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers are female, slightly higher than the national average of 72 per cent; - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers are more likely to be teaching in low SES schools than all teachers; - There are 78 Indigenous principals, comprising a similar percentage (3.8 per cent) of all Indigenous teachers as that (3.9 per cent) of all principals to all teachers; - The median number of years with current employer for Indigenous teachers is 11 years, compared to 13 years for the total teacher workforce; - Indigenous teachers work in primary schools in a similar proportion (55 per cent) to the total teacher workforce (54 per cent); - Indigenous teachers have higher completion rate (60 per cent) of a Bachelor Degree than all teachers (54 per cent), but are less likely to have completed postgraduate studies; - Between 50 per cent and 60 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education graduates in the last five years have gone on to gain employment in teaching positions in schools. On recruitment, Buckskin praised the New South Wales education department as a 'standout jurisdiction'. '[It] recently achieved a milestone of 1000 Indigenous teachers through a mix of strategies. These include reach into Aboriginal communities, scholarships, targeted recruitment and placement and early career support. 'This demonstrates that this agenda of creating a teaching workforce that better matches the diversity of students is achievable.' The MATISITI team now plans to present its findings to workforce officials and Indigenous education units in school jurisdictions as part of its push for recruitment and retention strategies. In the tertiary sector, 20 universities have already signed an agreement through the Australian Council of Deans of Education to improve the engagement and success of Indigenous students. Buckskin says the team will continue to work with schools, faculties of education and Indigenous higher education units to 'improve the pipeline from year 12 to enrolments in Initial Teachers Education programs and the retention and completion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teacher education students'. A snapshot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers is planned for 2015, giving a longitudinal perspective of trends and helping set future benchmarks. The MATSITI report follows its submission in June to the Australian Government's Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group (TEMAG). The submission proposes five priorities for reform and includes recommendations for Initial Teacher Education providers to expand culturally appropriate and flexible pathways for Indigenous people, all graduates to complete a 'comprehensive sequence' of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies during their education degree, and a national review considering the challenges of preparing teachers to work in remote Indigenous communities. MATSITI has previously published a Teacher Workforce Scoping Plan - a blueprint for a national effort to increase the number and capacity of Indigenous teachers and leaders in the government and non-government school sectors. The More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers Initiative (MATSITI) report was published today. To read the report in full, click the link.

Implementation of Creative Problem Solving Model to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Skills in Chemistry Lessons Implementation of the 2013 and prototype curriculum requires students to master critical thinking skills. This study aims to determine differences improvement of students' critical thinking skills who were taught using Creative Problem Solving (CPS) and direct learning model in chemistry learning. This research is quasi-experimental research. The research sample was 64 student from class 10th grade, which are 32 students in experimental class and 32 students in control class. The sample was taken by purposive sampling. The instrument used is critical thinking skills test consisting of 15 questions. Data collection was carried out pretest and posttest. Data analysis used N-gain test and independent sample t-test. The results showed that the experimental class's average N-gain of critical thinking skills was 0.84 (high) and the control class was 0.61 (medium). There are differences in students' critical thinking skills taught with CPS and direct learning model. The difference in the highest increase is found in the inference indicator which only exists in the CPS learning model. This proves that the application of the CPS model affects critical thinking skills better than the direct learning model.

Chinese Language · Linguistic Typology · Writing Systems · Cognitive-Functional Linguistics Liulin Zhang 张榴琳 Language belongs to human beings: it distinguishes homo sapiens from other species. Writing belongs to civilization: it serves and records the development of human civilization. Homo sapiens has a history of hundreds of thousands of years, while human civilization only has a history of thousands of years: human beings lived for a long time without writing. Then why do we need writing now? What does writing do to human beings? What is the relationship between language and writing? As a native Chinese speaker with some knowledge in English and Japanese, I am trying to answer the above questions from a contrastive perspective. · 普通语言文字学 · 语言类型学 · 文字系统 · 语言意识形态 · 认知功能语言学· The Effects of Writing on Language Written signs stabilize the basic units of a language, and affects users' understanding of language in general, thus having an effect on language ideology. On Phonology: Those phonetic units and features that are clearly represented in writing have less variation than those units and features that are not represented in writing. On Morphology: The smallest meaningful unit of a language, i.e., morpheme, cannot be smaller than one sign in writing. On Language Ideology: Written signs foreground the linguistic units that they represent in users' perception of language, thus making them salient in language ideology. Lability of Verbs and the Change-of-State Construction Labile verbs can alternate between the transitive use and the intransitive use. They prototypically denote change-of-state events that can either happen spontaneouly or caused by external forces. The complex event structure of change-of-state events can be profiled in two competing ways in human conceptualization: the agent-oriented way and the theme-oriented way, resulting in the transitive structure and the intransitive structure respectively. The transitivity of labile verbs is negatively correlated with the likelihood of the spontaneous occurrence of the event. Analytic languages such as Chinese are particularly rich in labile verbs.

I came across this rather by accident (or curiosity) rather than design and as it looked interesting, I read up on it. The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information This theory of Miller’s Law is mentioned by Malcolm Gladwell in The Tipping Point which was my starting point, although Gladwell doesn’t actually call it Miller’s Law. I found that its source is an academic paper by the cognitive psychologist George A. Miller. In 1956, Harvard University-based Miller published a paper in Psychology Review that provided a fascinating insight into human memory. Miller researched how much we can remember in our short-term memory compared with long-term memory and the difference between the two. Miller was one of the founders of the cognitive psychology field and worked on mathematical, computational and psychological aspects of that field. I’m interested in mathematics, computational things and psychology (my MBA thesis embraced it) so I burrowed further. Reading Wikipedia informed me that Miller’s paper, The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on Our Capacity for Processing Information” is one of the most highly cited papers in psychology. You can read it here. It’s often interpreted to argue that the number of objects an average human can hold in working memory is 7 ± 2. This is frequently referred to as Miller’s Law – but the question is: is it only a rule of thumb rather than a scientific fact? A Word of Warning A Word of warning… Before you conclude that Mr Miller’s focus on the number 7 provides absolute certainty on memory recall, I recommend that you visit the uxmths.com website and read this page. It provides a list of several articles debunking Miller’s Law, albeit from a webpage design perspective. The Magic of 150 In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell doesn’t seem to say anything directly about Miller’s Law but rather refers to it as the Channel Capacity. This is a concept in cognitive psychology that refers to the capacity of the brain to store/recall certain information. Without getting into all the different experiments described in the Tipping Point, the idea is that the average human brain is wired to store about 7 ± 2 (plus or minus) categories/bits of information before mistakes are made in recalling. Malcolm Gladwell continues in The Tipping Point to discuss the idea of Social Channel Capacity. The idea is that humans become less effective as a group when they reach around 150 people or more because with a group of this size, people cannot maintain emotional ties with each other. In other words, there is a limit to the amount of relationships one person can have and maintain. Groups of less than 150 members usually display a level of intimacy, interdependency, and efficiency that begins to dissipate markedly as soon as the group’s size increases over 150. This concept has been exploited by a number of corporations that use it as the foundation of their organisational structures and marketing campaigns. The Magic of 10,000 Also, see my blog, Does it add up? Is 10,000 hours really the key to success? You can read it here. After Malcolm Gladwell wrote in Outliers that 10,000 hours of dedicated practice is what it takes to truly master any skill, he came in for some criticism: Critics argue that the “10,000-hour rule” is over-simplified and doesn’t account for genetic differences. In The Sports Gene, former Sports Illustrated senior writer David Epstein (author), points out some contradictions to Gladwell’s rule – for example, that athletes at the same level of competition can have very different amounts of practice time or playing experience, and that success in sports isn’t determined only by how much an athlete practices What do you think?

How to gather the data you need? There are three elements to gathering the necessary data. The first is creating the data in the first place. Then comes the need to access the data which might be stored across other governmental departments and private sector suppliers. Finally there is the need to collect the data, which is the act of gathering, storing and using the data. Creating the data Governments like the private sector, are increasingly becoming aware of the value of data and the accumulation, linking and usage of datasets from across the public and private sector. Unlike the private sector, however, public procurement is in an advantageous position to influence their datasets through the levers of law and mandate. Ways to create the data include mandates for companies to submit their CO2 emissions as part of the procurement process and to release this information. Governments can be more ambitious still and mandate yearly publication by companies as part of those companies’ other returns such as tax returns and financial account submissions. This of course raises concerns about the burdens on business for instance around sole traders. These can be alleviated through introducing thresholds for reporting and limiting mandatory reporting to the largest firms or larger contracts. By way of example, mandatory carbon measurement and reporting might only apply to the largest 1000 firms in a country. Mandatory carbon reporting in procurement might only apply to firms bidding on a contract with a value of more than $10m. Where the same financial data is required by multiple agencies, but no central repository for this data exists, it may be desirable to collect data on suppliers in a central bidders database, so that suppliers can record and post required information once and multiple agencies can use this data when assessing bids. Accessing the data - Public bodies to public bodies Data should flow between governmental departments to allow all parties the information they need to better serve their public. The way this is typically achieved is through data sharing agreements between departments, where both departments agree to share defined data. One example of this is a registry of public bodies held by a Ministry of Finance or Ministry of Public Administration that is shared between other governmental departments or even openly published. Such a list would make inter-departmental spending and communications easier because there is a canonical reference to a body certified by that Ministry. Such a registry would also make data sharing agreements between departments easier to achieve. This is because there are two defined bodies making a commitment to share data with each other. A data sharing agreement in place would reduce the need for administration and negotiation around sharing data between parties for each and every instance of data transfer. At the most optimal form, a cross department data sharing agreement organised by a Ministry of Public Administration reduces the need for multiple data sharing agreements and the administration around this. Of course, the easiest way, especially for datasets around Sustainable Public Procurement, is to release this information openly so that departments and even regions or states can access this data Accessing the data - Private bodies to public bodies It is not uncommon for a Government to hold their data on private sector hosted systems, for instance e-procurement portals. In order for data to be usable and analysable, it is important that the governments that rely on these solutions have unfettered access to the data and that the license rights belong to the government in question. This is because a tender notice from a buying authority that is legally owned by a third party creates liability issues with real cost implications for that body later on. If a government analyses data around procurement it needs to be without limitations to access of the data, and the threat of cost claims from suppliers. Open licensing and open identifiers get around this issue as these can be shared and reused without limitation. Extracting the data for use. Public sector organisations around the world all create rich datasets whether its data on cities, taxation, companies or procurement. This can take many forms, whether from excel spreadsheets to servers hosted on site to cloud storage. Access cases can depend from department to department and even country to country, ranging from a SQL analyst make queries from across datasets to APIs feeding into a central data repository to a mixture of these. Regardless, the important point is for the data cleaned and standardised in one place to allow meaningful analysis of the data and create evidence based policy and action.

People often think of teen vandalism as innocent pranks or typical adolescent behavior. However, vandalism is a crime and can warrant felony charges. If your teen faces criminal charges, it is crucial to understand the laws in your state to prepare an effective defense. What are acts of vandalism? Vandalism occurs when someone intentionally destroys or defaces another person’s property. Some activities that may result in criminal charges include: - Ruining property with graffiti - Breaking windows or car windshields - Defacing street signs - Carving your name into property - Destroying school equipment - Keying someone’s car What are the penalties for juvenile vandalism? The juvenile justice system decides the penalties when your teen faces a criminal accusation. In this system, the courts have a wide range of penalty options for vandalism offenses and analyze various factors to determine the sentence. Some possible punishments your child may face include: - Fines paid to the court: These monetary damages vary widely depending on the circumstances of your case - Restitution to the property owner: Courts often require a juvenile to pay the money necessary to replace or repair the vandalized property - Juvenile diversion program: You may be able to get the prosecution to agree to drop the charges if your child completes a diversion program - Probation period: This sentence typically lasts around 12 months and requires your teen to complete and maintain specific tasks - Juvenile detention center: In more severe cases or those involving repeat offenders, courts may order a detention punishment It is essential to know your defense options for challenging the prosecution’s evidence to avoid serious vandalism consequences charges that can affect your child’s future.

Chandra (Sanskrit चन्द्र lit. “shining”) is a lunar deity in Hinduism. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma (lit. “juice”). The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. On the inner level on consciousness, Chandra is the reflective light of the mind, and Soma is the sacred nectar of higher states of awareness. Chandra is also the word in Sanskrit, Hindi and other Indian languages for moon and means ‘shining’. Originally a feminine deity, representing the goddess or the female archetype in general, Chandra has been depicted in a male form in many sculptures and images as a symptom of patriarchal dominance in the the Hindu society. The name Chandra and Soma are still common names for girls in India. Chandra is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and having in it’s hands a club and a lotus. Chandra rides on a chariot across the sky every night, pulled by ten white horses or an antelope. She is connected with dew, and as such, is representative of fertility which draws back to it’s origins as the mother goddess of the universe. The Hindu god Shiva, ‘lord of the universe’, has a crescent moon (Chandra) as an adornment on his head, representing his eternal union with the goddess Shakti within, thus allowing him to maintain the supreme state. This representation of Chandra is also associated with it’s form as the divine nectar (Soma.) In Vedic astrology Chandra represents the subconscious mind, emotions, intuition, higher perception, sensitivity, softness, imagination, queen and mother. Traditionally, the mother goddess in pre-Vedic religion was always associated with the worship of the moon. On the elemental level, Chandra represents the water, and the infinite flow which binds and seperates all existence. Chandra is the aspect of the psyche that allows us to feel, perceive, and understand the world in a subtle and gentle way.include 'social-white.php'; ?>

Female Pattern Hair Loss Female Pattern Hair Loss consists of diffuse thinning of the hair generally involving the central aspect or top of the scalp (crown) while the patient usually maintains hair around the front and sides. Studies have shown that 27% of women in their thirties and 64% of those between 40 and 70 suffer from hair thinning. Hair thinning in women is a normal part of the aging process and especially increases after menopause when Estrogen levels drop off. In some women, the process of hair loss is accentuated. Another study showed up to 75% of women older than 65 suffer from hair loss. The vast majority of patients who have thinning of the hair have absolutely normal hormones and there is no disease present in these women. In these patients, the Female Pattern Hair Loss is believed to be due to an inherited problem similar to Male Pattern Baldness. One can think of it as specific inherited genes which when present in a man would cause balding in the typical male pattern (where there is recession of the hairline and loss of hair at the crown of the scalp), but when inherited by a woman, they are protected by their hormones, and consequently they do not go “bald.” Their hair just becomes thin. Thus, in many women who develop Female Pattern Hair Loss, there are other members of their family, either men or women, who have had problems with baldness or thinning of the hair. It is normal to lose about 100 hairs a day. This loss, however, is balanced by continuous re-growth. Women who develop Female Pattern Hair Loss do not generally have more hair loss, but they do tend to get an underproduction of new hair, and thus, the hair gradually becomes thinner. The amount of hair loss in women is far less than occurs in men, and women are generally able to cover the area of hair thinning very well with their existing hair. - Make sure you consult a dermatologist to ensure there are no other underlying factors contributing to your hair loss. Certain virilizing tumors, low iron levels, thyroid problems and even lupus have all been associated with hair loss. Stress can also accelerate the amount of hair that is shed. - Shampoo your hair regularly (daily if necessary) and use a good commercial shampoo – one that you like. - After shampooing, you should put on a conditioner which tends to strengthen the hair shaft. - Keep up your general health, avoid crash diets, and cut down on smoking. - You can use permanents so as to fix your hair in such a way that it covers the area of hair loss maximally. - Biotin (a vitamin) has been shown to strengthen hair and nails. It is a safe and natural way to strengthen the hair. - Minoxidil is a topical preparation which has been shown to cause significant growth of new hair after applying this medication twice daily for at least four months. Other patients may notice a decrease in the speed of hair loss after applying this medication. Many patients, unfortunately, will not notice any beneficial effects. - If a hormonal component is suspected, your dermatologist might recommend a hormonal therapy, such as a birth control pill or Spironolactone. - Finally, in many women, surgical hair transplantation may also be an option. Contact Sanova Dermatology If you would like more information, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced dermatologists, please contact us today.

How could You tear a bride from her husband’s lap and send her into exile? How could You shoo the nesting mother without caring for the fledglings? How could You abandon Your sheep among devouring lions? (Hakham Yehuda Fetayah) These lines penned in 1940 could have been written today. Newlywed widows were taken captive. Orphaned children torn from their beds, and towns consumed, blackened. Many of us have been asking ourselves and each other – How?! The above excerpt is entitled Zekhut Rahel, ‘The Merit of Rachel,’ and our matriarch Rachel asks God, ‘How?!’ Few figures in Jewish history evoke as profound an emotional resonance as Rachel Imenu – our mother, Rachel. She exemplifies an unbreakable bond between a mother and her children, transcending time and space. Rachel stands out as the eternal mother of Israel, standing up for and protecting us through her prayer and merit. This paradigm is rooted in Yirmiyahu (Ch. 31), where the prophet depicts Rachel crying for the entirety of Benei Yisrael. רָחֵ֖ל מְבַכָּ֣ה עַל־בָּנֶ֑יהָ מֵאֲנָ֛ה לְהִנָּחֵ֥ם עַל־בָּנֶ֖יהָ כִּ֥י אֵינֶֽנּוּ Rachel weeps for her children she refuses to be comforted for her children because they are gone. In the context of Yirmiyahu, baneha refers to the Jewish nation in exile, not solely Yoseph and Binyamin, her biological children. She is seen as determined and inconsolable, refusing to be comforted until her children, all of the children of Israel, are brought back from captivity and exile. According to the Midrash, Rachel’s empathy and selflessness are first manifested when she allows her sister to marry her betrothed. She chooses Leah’s dignity over her own happiness, transcending personal desire and making real sacrifices in her life on behalf of her flesh and blood. In the end, as Yirmiyahu notes, Rachel’s cries are heard, and her children are returned home. כִּי֩ יֵ֨שׁ שָׂכָ֤ר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ֙ נְאֻם־ה’ וְשָׁ֖בוּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ אוֹיֵֽב׃ וְיֵשׁ־תִּקְוָ֥ה לְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ נְאֻם־ה’ וְשָׁ֥בוּ בָנִ֖ים לִגְבוּלָֽם׃ …there is a reward for your efforts, says God, and they shall return from the enemy’s land. And there is hope for your future, says God, and your children shall return to their border. Rachel’s resilience continues to inspire me. These famous words of Yirmiyahu have given me hope for the fate of our brothers and sisters in captivity – those taken hostage by Hamas just three months ago on October 7th, 2023, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. In this article, I will highlight two particularly poignant poems: the first composed by the 18th-century Jewish-Italian poet Rachel Luzzatto-Morpurgo and the second in 1940 by the Iraqi kabbalist Hakham Yehuda Fetayah excerpted above. Rachel Morpurgo is said to be the first modern Hebrew female poet. In Morpurgo’s poem, we hear the voice of our Mother Rachel, in deep pain and sorrow, pleading relentlessly for the protection and salvation of her children, the nation of Israel. In Morpurgo’s portrayal, Rachel’s voice is not merely a cry of sorrow but a testament to the strength of maternal love, transcending the boundaries of time and space. Morpurgo’s poem, קול ברמה נשמע, referencing Yirmiyahu, draws on the imagery of Rachel’s direct plea to God. It follows this arc of longing to reconnect with her children, ensure their safety, and their eventual return home, beginning with an impassioned, painful cry and ending with a hopeful, high note. אֶבְכֶּה אֶזְעַק וְאֶתְחַנַּן / חוּס נָא חֲמוֹל עַל עַם נִפְעָם I will cry, I will scream, and I will beg. Save, please, have mercy on the startled people. אִם יִתְמַהְמַהּ לוֹ אֲיַחֵל / וּבְשִׁיר חָדָשׁ תָּשִׂישׂ רָחֵל Even if He is delayed, I will have hope / And with a new song Rachel will be gladdened. Rachel’s enduring presence in our prayers underscores her role as a constant source of strength and inspiration. Hakham Yehuda Fetayah, too, turned to our Matriarch, Rachel, with an incredibly bold prayer in 1940. Hakham Yehuda Fetayah is my wife’s great-great-grandfather, making his poem and its history even more meaningful and personal to me. Hakham Fetayah was born in Baghdad in 1859 and finally successfully settled in Israel in 1933. His works, especially his commentary on the Kabbalistic work of Isaac Luria, are held in high esteem. His teachings are still revered today. In December 1939, Hakham Fetayah awoke from a nightmare that shook him to his core. He was trembling in fear, restless, and terrified at what he understood would be the great disaster unfolding in Europe, which eventually culminated in the Holocaust. He composed special prayers in a pamphlet called asirei hatiqvah, Bound By Hope, with the intention of public gatherings for prayer and supplication. Leading up to the final prayer are three units: one for Sarah, one for Rebecca, and one for Leah. Each of these is between 5 and 9 lines. The final, Zekhut Rahel, ‘The Merit of Rachel,’ is astounding in its comparative length of 54 lines and its emotive power. In his introduction to these prayers, he wrote: “… Compelled by these circumstances, we published this work to ensure its accessibility to all, uniting us in a singular heart. Together, we fervently pray and supplicate before the Divine, harboring the hope that He will extend His mercy to the remnants of His flock, preventing their blood from being shed like water…” Throughout Jerusalem, people gathered under his guidance to recite these special prayers, along with a specific set of practices, including fasting and sitting on the floor, as well as sounding seven shofars and two trumpets that were to be sounded by kohanim. Through the voice of Rachel, Hakham Yehuda Fetayah’s broken, anguished, and pained voice bursts forth with tears and an emotional plea to finally bring redemption and save Am Yisrael, the nation of Israel, from its enemies. Rachel, in his poem, brazenly challenges God: “אֵיךְ תִּדּוֹם לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם הַמַּקְרִיבִים מֵהֶם זְבָחִים,” “How can You remain quiet while the People of Edom [Germany] turn them into sacrifices?” Hakham Fetayah’s voice, as he personally recited Zekhut Rahel, was a heart-wrenching cry that echoed the collective pain of the people. The prayer itself is a journey through the pleas of Rachel, who, unlike the forefathers in the midrash, refuses to relent and is forceful in her defense of her children. The prayer recounts Rachel’s conversations with biblical figures, each being passive in their responses to her inquiries about her children’s fate. She moves from one patriarch to another until she breaches the heavens with her powerful plea. The imagery is heartrending and poignant: Rachel, at the ruins of the Temple, sees no priests, Levites, or sacred artifacts. Her response is one of wrenching grief—tearing her clothes, wearing sackcloth, and wailing in agony. She then leaps to the heavens and addresses God Himself directly, challenging Him as a mother who would fight for her beloved children. Continuing beyond the lines we opened with, Rachel demands: Were they not punished enough? Were they not engulfed by vicious waters? Are a thousand years not enough for You? The sun is already setting on the second millennium, and the pain is not letting. Where is the miraculous sign? When is the Time of Times? When will you have mercy? When will you console us? You keep putting us away, day after day! Almighty God, redeem us already! Do not soothe us with words! Rachel is not only a historical or religious personality – she is an active protester, demanding for God to end their suffering and bring them home now. God then responds, underscoring the impact of her words, and He promises: I shall not rest until I revenge the spilled blood of my servants, And shortly I will sever and destroy the wicked. I will cut the stone, smash the idol, breaking it to shards. I will open the sealed coffers and release the swallowed souls. Rise up, shake away your sorrow, and wear your precious clothes (Translations of ‘The Merit of Rachel’ from the original Hebrew by Rabbi Haim Ovadia) Her prayers are not left unanswered. God allays her with soothing words and declares his commitment to justice and rectification for His people. As Yirmiyahu noted, Rachel’s faith was in that she refused to be comforted, me’anah lehinahem, for her children that were missing, al baneha ki einenu, until they were returned. The Jews did return and then rebuilt the second Temple. One hundred days have passed with our brothers and sisters in captivity. We will not be silent. We will continue to pray. Our cries and our advocacy, like our mother Rachel’s, will be rewarded.

Why Should You Consider Using Solar Panels? Solar panels have become increasingly important and popular in recent years, as a sustainable and cost-effective energy solution. By harnessing the power of the sun, solar panels offer numerous benefits that make them a worthwhile investment for both individuals and for our environment. 1. Renewable and Clean Energy Source Solar panels generate electricity by converting sunlight into energy. Unlike fossil fuels, which contribute to air pollution and climate change, solar energy is clean and renewable. By using solar panels, you can reduce your carbon footprint and help combat global warming. 2. Lower Energy Bills One of the most significant advantages of using solar panels is the potential for significant cost savings on your energy bills. By generating your own electricity, you can reduce your reliance on the grid and avoid the rising costs of traditional energy sources. Over time, the savings can add up, making solar panels a smart financial investment. 3. Energy Independence With solar panels, you can become more self-sufficient when it comes to your energy needs. By producing your own electricity, you are less dependent on utility companies and the fluctuating prices of electricity. This energy independence provides stability and peace of mind, especially during power outages, energy crises or an emergency situation. For self-sufficient Off Grid living, solar panels are ideal, easy to install and set up with many portable options if you're travelling from place to place. 4. Long-Term Durability Solar panels are built to last. They are designed to withstand various weather conditions, including rain, snow, and high winds. Most solar panels can produce energy for 20 to 25 years or more, ensuring that you can enjoy the benefits of solar energy for decades to come. 5. Increase in Property Value Installing solar panels can increase the value of your property. Many homebuyers are now looking for energy-efficient homes or passive houses, with renewable energy systems in place. By having solar panels already installed, you can attract buyers and potentially sell your property at a higher price. 6. Government Incentives and Tax Credits Various governments and organisations offer incentives and tax credits to encourage the use of solar panels. These incentives can help offset the initial installation costs and make solar panels more affordable for homeowners and businesses. It's worth researching the available incentives in your area to take full advantage of the financial benefits. In some cases you can even sell your excess solar power back to the grid. Using solar panels offers numerous benefits, including clean energy, cost savings, energy independence, durability, increased property value, and access to government incentives. By harnessing the power of the sun, you can make a positive impact on the environment while enjoying the financial advantages of renewable energy. What's not to love! From portable, wearable Solar Panels to Solar Panel set ups for living off grid, the Little Green Earth Shop has you covered.

Restoration work following a sediment disaster or volcano disaster may be executed in extremely dangerous places. Construction in such dangerous places can be executed safely if it can be done using construction equipment that can be operated remotely while observing camera images. Construction using such remote control type construction machinery is called 'unmanned construction', and it has been carried out more than 150 sites in disaster prone Japan. From the experience in the construction site so far, it is said that construction efficiency of unmanned construction is about 50% compared to normal construction, so it is necessary to improve its construction efficiency in order to enhance the productivity of restoration work. In order to improve construction efficiency using unmanned construction, we think that it will be necessary to organize the information that each operator needs and reflect this organization in the interface. In this study the operators' lines of sight during remote operation was measured in an effort to clarify the relationship between construction efficiency and line of sight. As a result, in order to clarify the situation around the excavator, it was found that only the information from inside camera is insufficient and that from the outside camera is also necessary. And also it was found that operators must have the ability to effectively use multiple images obtained by inside and outside cameras.

Now in this fast generation world technology changing quickly with different shades, the technology helped us to connect to others in simple ways with so much comfortless and flexible. The technology is now evolving everywhere in every industry, everything becoming digitalised. Every information stored in the digital space with security and it can be accessed from everywhere with simple net connectivity. There are so many software companies/tech related companies established worldwide, which is providing tremendous technical support given to the humans, but as far it concerned about the data integrity there are so many risks and attacks were done earlier on system to steal data related financial, security, classified and national security. Whatever the organization you work for, check these security settings are setup on the network. A firewall is a network security program that filters the incoming and outgoing data packets. The firewall follows certain rules and standard to filter the traffic, if any suspicious data packets are incoming then it will block those data and drops it from the incoming traffic. It can be installed to filter incoming traffic both from an intranet or internet to your system. There are different types of firewalls available in the software security world you need to choose based on the organization level and threat levels you face. It is a software application which monitors network traffic. For the desktops point of view, it searches for the suspicious activities which tries to enter into the network. It follows certain security policies and algorithm which are by default defined inside, so it detects activities based on these rules. When a malicious activity arises in a network or system, it reports in the admin and temporarily block that activity. DDOS is an attack on the system which reduces the capacity of responding, each system has to respond to the incoming request, but attackers use bulk no of streaming request which occupies the most of the bandwidth and makes the server to respond slowly to request. Due to this response will delay to the requestor, on continuous the server or system may collapse due to over a stream of incoming data requests. To detect these kind of attacks we have to utilize certain tools for preventing. These tools will filter the packets which are coming from suspicious IP address and having malicious behaviors. There are numerous no of application standards available for preventing these kind of attacks.

Basic Training for Model Engineers Part I This three day course run (one Saturday a month) is aimed at people who would like to get started in the hobby of model engineering. It makes no assumptions about previous experience but does assume that you want to make things rather than buy ready made models. The bulk of the time is spent discussing how to set up a workshop, what tools you might need, how you should go about selecting them and finally a little about how to use them. The second course follows on from this and covers the use of tools in greater depth. Choice of projects Clearly your interests and ambitions will affect what sort of workshop facilities you need. Our members have experience of all sorts of projects from passenger hauling steam locomotives to clock making. There are many options available ranging from the kitchen table through the back of the garage to a custom made building. The options are discussed and guidance given. Bench and storage space are important issues as is safety which must be taken into account when planning a layout. There is a core set of tools that most model engineers require or might aspire to. We discuss what these tools are used for, how and where to obtain them and a bit about their use. The following topics are covered. Measuring and Marking Out Accurate measuring and marking is essential for any construction project. A few basic tools will do to start with but in time more sophisticated equipment may be required. Any workshop will contain a number of hand tools. For instance a vice, files, saws, drills, taps & dies, etc. Equally important is the equipment required to sharpen and maintain them. Drilling and Grinding A bench drill and off hand grinding machine are central to almost all workshops. Since they are frequently used the choice of machine is important. Most engineers will require a lathe, many a milling machine. There is a wide choice available and since they are expensive it is important to make the right choice. In addition accessories will be needed together with cutting tools that must be selected and kept sharp.

What is planting by the Moon? – Well if you were alive in ancient times it was cutting-edge technology, and no, it isn’t going out under the moonlight to plant/sow, so your neighbours are not going to think that you have gone “saft in the ‘ed” (as Chris’s Grandma would say). 3 different methods of ‘Planting by the Moon’ - They Synodic cycle – which works with the waxing and waning cycle of the Moon and divides the 29.6 day cycle into the four common quarters. - The Bio-dynamic cycle – which uses the actual positioning of the 12 Zodiac signs in the sky as the Moon moves through them. - The Sidereal Cycle – similar to the Bio-dynamic cycle except using the Moons orbit around the Earth divided into 12 equal 30 degree sections which may not be the same as the Moon’s current position. Both the Bio-dynamic and the Sidereal systems are reasonably complicated and may not prove to be any better than the Synodic system – so we concentrate on the latter. The Synodic System of Planting by the Moon New Moon to 2nd Quarter WAXING MOON PHASE – Strongest gravitational pull at this time coupled with increasing moonlight creates balanced root and leaf growth. Sow lawns & above ground plants and seeds. Plant annual crops such as lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower & grain crops. Cucumbers like this phase as well. Fertilise, graft fruit trees. Mow lawns & prune foliage to increase growth. 2nd Quarter to Full Moon WAXING MOON PHASE – Gravitational pull is a little less now, but the increase in moonlight supports good leaf growth. Sow above ground plants such as flowers, lawns & annual crops on vines or with seeds that form inside such as; beans, peas, capsicum, squash, tomatoes. Mow lawns & prune foliage to increase growth. Full Moon to 3rd Quarter WANING MOON PHASE – Gravitational pull is high but moonlight is decreasing & therefore bulb and root crops thrive. Plant trees, shrubs, biennials & perennials. Sow below ground plants such as root vegetables, potatoes, carrots & onions. Good time for transplanting. Mow lawns & prune foliage to retard growth. 3rd Quarter to New Moon WANING MOON PHASE – Gravitational pull & moonlight has decreased at this point. Weed, eradicate pests, clear ground, turn soil & remove rubbish. Mow lawns & prune foliage to retard growth. Whilst there have not been any major scientific studies conducted that prove the link between phases of the moon and crop yield there is scientific evidence that suggests why it may work; water absorption seems to be greater at full moon but by far may be the plants own circadian rhythms

Rising intonation with in questions is so widespread that there is no historical evidence regarding pre-modern English. The best that we can do regarding explaining the observation is (1) to say more precisely what seems to be true about human language and (2) to conjecture about functional explanations. It seems to be true that polar questions are more associated with a conventionalized intonation pattern with distinctive pitch rise towards the end, than with distinctive pitch fall (although more accurately, there is most often a longer rise and a short final fall). When declarative and interrogative sentences are distinguished intonationally, languages most often do so with rising intonation for questions and some other pattern for declaratives. Why then would it not be the case that declaratives generally have rising intonation and interrogatives have falling intonation. I should also point out that rising and falling intonations are not exactly symmetrical, in that rising intonation typically reaches a higher pitch that falling intonation starts from. As is the case with many "why" questions in linguistics, the answer requires seeking functional the functional underpinnings that can lead to language evolution. There is a social (pragmatic) difference between questions and declarations, that a question is a request made of another person, a request for information. A request is generally understood to be subject to the willingness of the requestee, though of course you can demand an answer, that is not a typical question. People tend to react positively to small things, such as children, puppies and kitties. Small things generally have higher pitch in whatever acoustic outputs they produce (for direct physical reasons). A higher pitch is therefore more likely to engender a positive response than a negative response (tendencies, not an absolute law of human behavior). Higher pitch in questions is therefore more likely to generative a positive reaction and compliance with the request than low pitch is.

Try to sing as soft as possible and then suddenly start to increase loudness evenly and gradually. Now do the same the other way around. How did it go? In this article we will tell you why the ability to sing with different intensity levels in a large scale is a sign of a skillful singer and why everyone should practice it. The Possibility To Regulate Vocal Loudness Is A Sign Of An Elastic Singer Being vocally agile, mobile and elastic is a sign of advanced control of the vocal folds. Being vocally dynamic (meaning being able to sing softly or loudly and being able to alternate between them fluently) indeed shows that the vocal apparatus is adaptable in different situations as the style of singing requires. This is essential for example when the goal is to sing with different sounds and/or styles and when changing fluently between styles is needed. A Vivid And Expressive Voice Is A Consequence Of A Dynamic Voice A flexible voice brings out many benefits: - voice is full of different tones and shades of color - you can remain in wanted loudness and/or sound - you can change from loud to soft, or the other way around if you want to; this enables you to change your role fluently from a solo singer to chorister or background singer (or the other way around) if needed - you may change from breathy voice to non-breathy voice, or the other way around - you are able to interpret songs vividly A Pliable And Vivid Singing Voice Brings Out Emotions With Authenticity A strong scale of emotional expression can be brought out by a singer who knows how to use their instrument in a pliable and vivid way. This can for example mean that the singer is able to change loudness of the voice even in the middle of a single word, if emotional expression asks for it in an exact moment. Dynamic singing touches the listener – and feels freeing and empowering to the singer. In order for the singing instrument to work in a pliable way it has to be able to work in a balanced way, subtly changing its internal points of balance. So that this can be realized, understanding what aspects truly have an affect on the changes within the dynamics of singing is crucial. Understanding this is also how pushing can be avoided. Here are some examples of skillful control of vocal dynamics: A Pliant Singing Voice Can Be Practiced And Learned Having a pliant voice can be learned. There are lots of tools that help to learn and practice it, many of which are relatively easy to bring into use. It all comes down to practice motivation; developing one’s singing voice’s dynamics is all about trying out, realizing, understanding and becoming aware of – and the stability built with repetition. The essence of vocal training is to create conditions in which these aspects of learning can be realized.

The Benefits of Xylitol You know that eating sugar isn’t just bad for your diet – it is bad for your teeth! Eating sugar creates an acidic condition in the mouth. Acidity strips minerals from tooth enamel, causing it to weaken and be more vulnerable to bacteria. As a result, tooth decay occurs. But what if you don’t have time to brush after lunch? Or after a sugary snack? Simple. Grab some Xylitol! Xylitol is a naturally occurring compound that actually creates an unwelcome environment for oral bacteria; they simply cannot stick to teeth in a Xylitol-rich environment. In fact, studies show a dramatic reduction in new tooth decay in patients who chewed Xylitol sweetened gums. And it isn’t hard to find anymore. Xylitol is found in some sugar free or whitening gums such as Trident. Just check the label and keep some handy for those times you indulge in sweets!

Hydrogen is a clean and sustainable form of carrier of energy that can be used in mobile and stationary applications. At present hydrogen is produced mostly from fossil sources. Solar photoelectrochemical processes are being developed for hydrogen production. Storing hydrogen can be done in three main ways: in compressed form, liquid form and by chemical bonding. Near term spaceport operations are one of the prominent applications for usage of large quantities of liquid hydrogen as a cryogenic propellant. Efficient storage and transfer of liquid hydrogen is essential for reducing the launch costs. A Two Stage Reverse Turbo Brayton Cycle (RTBC) CryoCooler is being developed at University of Central Florida. The cryocooler will be used for storage and transport of hydrogen in spaceport and space vehicle application. The efficiency of the compressor and motor of the cryocooler depends mainly on the friction and wear between the mating parts. Tribological coatings having extremely high hardness, ultra-low coefficient of friction, and high durability at temperatures lower than 60 K are being developed with an aim to reduce the friction and wear, thereby resulting in improved efficiency of the cryocooler. Extremely hard and extremely low friction coatings of DLC, TiN coatings and DLC/MoS2 and TiN/MoS2 bilayer coatings have been chosen as part of this ongoing research aimed for this application. This paper presents preparation; characterization (SEM and XRD), microhardness and tribological measurements carried out on TiN and TiN/MoS2 coatings on aluminum and glass substrate. Development of TiN/MoS2 Composite Tribological Coatings for Cryocoolers Dhere, NG, & Pai, AU. "Development of TiN/MoS2 Composite Tribological Coatings for Cryocoolers." Proceedings of the ASME 2004 International Solar Energy Conference. Solar Energy. Portland, Oregon, USA. July 11–14, 2004. pp. 325-329. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ISEC2004-65050 Download citation file:

The following is an excerpt from the book Designing Secure Software: A Guide for Developers by Loren Kohnfelder, Copyright 2022, No Starch Press We traditionally build software security on three basic principles of information security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Formulated around the fundamentals of data protection, the meanings of the three pillars are intuitive: Confidentiality: Allow only authorized data access—don’t leak information. Integrity: Maintain data accurately—don’t allow unauthorized modification or deletion. Availability: Preserve the availability of data—don’t allow significant delays or unauthorized shutdowns. Each of these brief definitions describes the goal and defenses against its subversion. In reviewing designs, it’s often helpful to think of ways one might undermine security, and work back to defensive measures. All three components of C-I-A represent ideals, and it’s crucial to avoid insisting on perfection. For example, an analysis of even solidly encrypted network traffic could allow a determined eavesdropper to deduce something about the communications between two endpoints, like the volume of data exchanged. Technically, this exchange of data weakens the confidentiality of interaction between the endpoints; but for practical purposes, we can’t fix it without taking extreme measures, and usually the risk is minor enough to be safely ignored. (One way to conceal the fact of communication is for endpoints to always exchange a constant volume of data, adding dummy packets as needed when actual traffic is lower.) Notice that authorization is inherent in each component of C-I-A, which mandates only the right disclosures, modifications of data, or controls of availability. What constitutes “right” is an important detail, and an authorization policy needs to specify that, but it isn’t part of these fundamental data protection primitive concepts. Maintaining confidentiality means disclosing private information in only an authorized manner. This sounds simple, but in practice it involves a number of complexities. First, it’s important to carefully identify what information to consider private. Design documents should make this distinction clear. While what counts as sensitive might sometimes seem obvious, it’s actually surprising how people’s opinions vary, and without an explicit specification, we risk misunderstanding. The safest assumption is to treat all externally collected information as private by default, until declared otherwise by an explicit policy that explains how and why the designation can be relaxed. Here are some oft-overlooked reasons to treat data as private: An end user might naturally expect their data to be private, unless informed otherwise, even if revealing it isn’t harmful. People might enter sensitive information into a text field intended for a different use. Information collection, handling, and storage might be subject to laws and regulations that many are unaware of. (For example, if Europeans browse your website, it may be subject to EU law, such as the General Data Protection Regulation.) When handling private information, determine what constitutes proper access. Deciding when and how to disclose information is ultimately a trust decision, and it’s worth not only spelling out the rules, but also explaining the subjective choices behind those rules. Compromises of confidentiality happen on a spectrum. In a complete disclosure, attackers acquire an entire dataset, including metadata. At the lower end of the spectrum might be a minor disclosure of information, such as an internal error message or similar leak of no real consequence. As an example of a partial disclosure, consider the practice of assigning sequential numbers to new customers: a wily competitor can sign up as a new customer and get a new customer number from time to time, then compute the successive differences to learn the numbers of customers acquired during each interval. Any leakage details about protected data is to some degree a confidentiality compromise. It’s so easy to underestimate the potential value of minor disclosures. Attackers might put data to use in a completely different way than the developers originally intended, and combining tiny bits of information can provide more powerful insights than any of the individual parts on their own. Learning someone’s ZIP code might not tell you much, but if you also know their approximate age and that they’re an MD, you could perhaps combine this information to identify the individual in a sparsely populated area – a process known as deanonymization or reidentification. By analyzing a supposedly anonymized dataset published by Netflix, researchers were able to match numerous user accounts to IMDb accounts: it turns out that your favorite movies are a very effective means of unique personal identification. Integrity, used in an information security context, is simply the authenticity and accuracy of data, kept safe from unauthorized tampering or removal. In addition to protecting against unauthorized modification, an accurate record of the provenance of data—the original source, and any authorized changes made—can be an important, and stronger, assurance of integrity. One classic defense against many tampering attacks is to preserve versions of critical data and record their provenance. Simply put, keep good backups. Incremental backups can be excellent mitigations because they’re simple and efficient to put in place and provide a series of snapshots that detail exactly what data changed, and when. However, the need for integrity goes far beyond the protection of data, and often includes ensuring the integrity of components, server logs, software source code and versions, and other forensic information necessary to determine the original source of tampering when problems occur. In addition to limited administrative access controls, secure digests (similar to checksums) and digital signatures are also strong integrity checks. Bear in mind that tampering can happen in many different ways, not necessarily by modifying data in storage. For instance, in a web application, tampering might happen on the client side, on the wire between the client and server, by tricking an authorized party into making a change, by modi- fying a script on the page, or in many other ways. Attacks on availability are a sad reality of the internet-connected world and can be among the most difficult to defend against. In the simplest cases, the attacker may just send an exceptionally heavy load of traffic to the server, overwhelming it with what looks like valid uses of the service. This principle implies that information is temporarily unavailable; while data that is perma- nently lost is also unavailable, this is generally considered to be fundamentally a compromise of integrity. Anonymous denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, often for ransom, threaten any internet service, posing a difficult challenge. To best defend against such attacks, host on large-scale services with infrastructure that stands up to heavy loads, and maintain the flexibility to move infrastructure quickly in the event of problems. Nobody knows how common or costly DoS attacks really are, since many victims resolve these incidents privately. But without a doubt, you should create detailed plans in advance to prepare for such incidents. Many other kinds of availability threats are possible as well. For a web server, a malformed request that triggers a bug, causing a crash or infinite loop, can devastate its service. Other attacks can also overload the storage, computation, or communication capacity of an application, or perhaps use patterns that break the effectiveness of caching, all of which pose serious issues. Unauthorized destruction of software, configuration, or data (even with backup, delays can result) also can adversely impact availability.

The pervasive influence and conceptual complexity of gender as a scientific construct has lead to attempts to explain it from multiple perspectives. When each of these perspectives is offered, it tends to be presented as a complete explanation. Each perspective, however, likely offers only a partial truth concerning the enactment of gender. The recognition of the partiality of these perspectives indicates that each should be considered in some form when trying to address the full complexity of gender. It also makes clear that none should be privileged above any other. Through the application of the Integral model and Integral Methodological Pluralism (IMP), this article develops a broader and deeper conceptual and operational model for the study of gender than those that have been typically applied. Even before we take our first breath we are proscribed a “gender.” In childhood, we are taught, based on our biologically determined sex, what appropriate and inappropriate behavior is. As adolescents, we are pressured by peers and other social groups to conform to societal gender- oriented roles, which are often highly inflexible. Finally, in adulthood, we are proscribed even more specific gender-roles. These gender-roles are again based, if not solely, on biological sex. However, as will be discussed throughout this article, gender-roles are heavily influenced not only by biology, but by psychology and culture as well. Gender not only influences our individual experiences but our collective experiences as well. For example, in foraging societies, gender has relatively little impact on social interaction outside of biological sex. As more advanced agrarian societies develop and the recognition of gender (primarily in the form of biological sex) increases, it begins to interact to a greater degree with the dominant modes of production. With the introduction of even more technological advancements (e.g., the industrial revolution), however, the influence of biological sex on culturally defined gender-stereotypes, our individually defined gender-identities, and socially proscribed gender-roles begins to decrease. As new modes of production are developed, societies are freed from their reliance on biologically driven gender-roles, and males and females experience decreased gender-role rigidity. As discussed in more detail below, this same general path towards decreased rigidity can be found when looking at gender-stereotypes and gender- identity as well. Even biological sex, something that is often viewed as a dichotomy, shows signs of decreased polarization as individuals develop across the life-span. Become a member today to access this Journal article and support the global emergence of Integral consciousness Membership benefits include: Receive full access to weekly conversations hosted by leading thinkers Receive full access to the growing Journal of Integral Theory & Practice library Stay connected by participating in Integral Life live events and discussions Courses & Products Get unlimited 20% discount off all products and courses from our friends and partners Free Bonus Gifts Download The Integral Vision eBook by Ken Wilber (worth $19 on Amazon) & The Ken Wilber Biography Series Support of the movement Support our mission of educating and spreading integral consciousness that is more critical than at any time in its history About Jeff Cohen JEFF COHEN is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Jeff is also an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Worcester State College. He is currently completing his dissertation research, which includes an application of the Integral model to the measurement and conceptualization of gender within several social science disciplines. Some of his recent research is published in the Journal of Men’s Studies and Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice.

The agriculture industry in India is a complex trade. It is a puddle of challenges and policy neglect. The agriculture sector employs more than half of the country’s workforce. Farming consumes about 90 percent of our freshwater resources and uses nearly half the available land. Yet, despite all this, it generates barely 13 percent of the GDP. There are, however, many upsides to it too. Production has consistently outgrown the population, leading India forward in the realm of agriculture. We’re one of the largest producers of grain, milk, fruits, and vegetables in the world. This has been a result of The Green Revolution in the 1970s. Agriculture was converted into a modern industrial system. High-yielding disease-resistant crops, mega-irrigation projects, and chemical fertilizers were some of the major technological advancements. These led to increased agricultural productivity. Over the years, many innovations have pioneered production in agriculture. 500 agri-tech start-ups have raised ₹5,000-6,000 crore of funding by 2015. Their purpose is to enable greater consumer access, build digital marketplaces for farmers, and introduce branding. More investment needs to penetrate into various areas like agri-biotech. For our future strategy, India must balance greater output and yield with higher nutritional quality and sustainability. We also must move up the value chain to enhance individual farmer and national income. By 2030, can India proclaim itself as a world-leading agricultural innovator? The Agricultural Collaboratory (TAC) aims to strengthen our systems of agricultural innovation and technology. It plans to create a holistic and well-connected farming platform. The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has announced to fund 234 more Agri startups. A decided total of Rs 24.85 crore will go to agriculture sector businesses under a central scheme. The government is working on encouraging the cultivation bionetwork under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). It has already funded 112 startups. These start-ups have originated from 29 prestigious agri-business incubation centers across the country. In total, the Ministry has funded 346 new ventures with a sum of Rs 36.71 crore. The said companies will deliver innovative farming solutions and also devise methods to increase the income of farmers. Activex Animal Health Technologies, also known as Vetzz, is one such start-up that connects pet owners directly with vets. The business provides teleconsultation and doorstep visits. The Ministry is also taking a step for women’s empowerment and independence. It is encouraging agriculture start-ups led by women. A2P Energy Solution is an example of such a venture sponsored by the Ministry, which works with farmers to collect biomass waste tracked by AI. In conclusion, while Indian agriculture faces complex challenges, we have made many strides in innovation and technology. More investment in research and greater political willingness will ensure that India fulfills its aim of being a global ago-tech leader.

Thermoregulation, which can be the skin’s main role, many very important functions are attributed to the skin, including protection from external physical, chemical and biological “aggressors” and prevention of excess water loss. Intrinsic skin aging is definitely an inevitable physiological process; skin cells are consistently shed after which renewed. Even so, aging impairs skin renewal and is linked using a loss of structural integrity . 2. Skin and Cell Regeneration The skin is composed of 3 layers of tissue: the hypodermis, the dermis as well as the epidermis. Epidermal cells and dermal fibroblasts play a essential part in defining the skin’s architecture and function. Their mutual interactions are closely connected to skin development, homeostasis and repair. Many epithelial stem cell (SC) populations also contribute to skin homeostasis. The human epidermis consists of four stratified layers mainly composed of keratinocytes (in several stages of progressive differentiation) and melanocytes. The epidermis is stratified, in ascending order, into basal, spinous, granular, and cornified layers. The dermis tends to make up the majority of the skin mass. The structure of the dermis is dense fibroelastic connective tissue that supports in depth vascularity, nerve networks,Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 2598; doi:10.3390/ijms21072598 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijmsInt. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21,2 ofand specialized sweat glands and hair appendages. The dermis is colonized by fibroblasts surrounded by the components of the dermal extracellular matrix (ECM). Collagen, elastic fibers, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans are present within this matrix. Many genetic and acquired illnesses are a outcome of impaired function of skin ECM or its elements . In the skin, integrins are cell surface receptors that mediate cell-to-ECM and cell-to-cell adhesion. These integrins also lead the ECM to physically link the intracellular actin cytoskeleton, therefore making a mechanical force. Integrin v6, that is exclusively expressed in epithelial cells, activates transforming development factor-1 (TGF-1), major towards the modulation of innate immune surveillance of the skin. Interestingly, upregulation of integrin v6 in wounds coincides with regeneration from the basement membrane zone . The basal layer consists of mitotically active cells that populate the outer epidermis, which is composed of a minimum of 80 keratinocytes. The basal layer is deemed the headquarters of cell regeneration. This regeneration is achieved in a hierarchic manner by SCs and transit-amplifying cells. SCs are in a position to self-renew and are maintained Compound 48/80 Data Sheet throughout a person’s lifetime. They contribute to epidermal renewal and repair by constantly producing pools of transit-amplifying progenitors . The precise nature of SC division has been studied. The functions of this population of cells have already been examined, principally in connection using the properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are multipotent SCs which have proliferation potential, high self-renewal, and differentiation potential. MSCs are critical cells in the skin as they contribute to the ongoing regeneration from the epidermis . The skin is equipped with nerve fibers that convey sensory data for touch, Siglec Proteins custom synthesis temperature, and pain. These nerves are probably slowly conducting, unmyelinated C-fibers and thinly-myelinated A-fibers. Our sense of touch is controlled by a big program of nerve endings called the somatosensory technique . When the skin is inflamed, keratinocy.

Vedānta is the very heart of Indian philosophy. The various schools of Vedānta have been explored under diverse categories including ontological and epistemological, but they are a storehouse of so much more. “Hermeneutics” in simple words can be the theory of interpretation and this book has studied the critique of the Advaita hermeneutics by Rāmānujācārya based on Vedic statements like tat tvam asi, tadaikāta bahu syāma, neha nānāsti kiñcana and many others in his book Vedārthasaṁgraha which mirrors a complete vision of the Upaniṣads. Rāmānujācārya has shown how the Śruti statements can be seen in a coherent manner resolving the conflicts of bheda and abheda. The nature of a word and its various śaktis, followed by how successful are words in describing the concepts of sat, cit and ānanda, are also discussed here. This book is an initial effort in the hermeneutic studies of Indian texts, which have been kept limited to the scope of philosophy, theology or religion alone. Many more linguistic treasures can be found here.

What Is Variable Cost? If you're a small business owner, you undoubtedly want to keep a close eye on your finances. Small businesses don't have the same monetary buffers as large corporations, so every penny really counts. Up-to-date, accurate accounting will allow you to track cash inflow and outflow and monitor where you're gaining - or losing - money. This information will then allow you to streamline your finances, cutting losses and ultimately boosting the bottom line. Variable cost is one factor you want to keep in mind. This refers to a type of expense that fluctuates in proportion to your business's production output. So, if you are producing a lot of goods, variable costs increase. If you aren't producing a lot of goods, variable costs decrease. Examples might include the cost of raw materials needed to produce your goods or the packaging you use to ship finished products to customers. The below guide provides greater detail on what variable cost is, demonstrates how to calculate it, and explains how tracking variable costs benefits you as a business owner. What Is Variable Cost? A variable cost is a type of ongoing expense that fluctuates in value depending on your production output. Types of variable costs might include raw materials, packaging, direct labor, sales commissions, utility costs, and distribution expenses. Variable costs tend to also run in direct proportion to demand and sales volume: If there is a great demand for your product, you will logically produce more (meaning higher variable costs) and then sell more. In this way, variable costs can also be an indicator (among many) of your business's success. Variable Cost vs. Fixed Cost Variable costs are defined as opposite fixed costs. Fixed costs are expenses that don't change in relation to production levels or sales revenue. Examples might include commercial property rent and business insurance. Differentiating between fixed and variable business expenses in your small business accounting can help inform smart decision-making. Here's an example: Say you run a sandwich shop. You find that the money it takes you to run the shop (e.g., pay rent, labor, utilities) is more than the money you are making with the shop. You took out a one-year lease on your commercial business space. You opened your shop in January. Now, it's June, and you are trying to figure out if it's worth staying open. Your monthly revenue totals $2,500, but your monthly losses total $3,000, meaning you're minus $500 every month. If you maintain operations as is, you'll end up with a loss of $500 per month over six months (July to August), resulting in an overall loss of $3,000 by the time the year ends and your commercial lease is up. But what happens if you close down now? To figure it out, you make a breakdown of your fixed expenses versus variable expenses every month. Let's say in a single month, your fixed versus variable costs broke down like this: - Fixed costs: $1,400 - Rent: $700 - Utilities: $100 - Worker salaries: $600 - Variable costs: $1,600 - Sandwich supplies (bread, meats, vegetables): $1,000 - Total labor costs: $600 You now know that your variable costs exceed your fixed costs. If you cease operating, you'll still have to pay the fixed costs of $1,400 per month regardless. You have six months left on your commercial lease. So, you will lose $8,400 after six months. However, if you stay open, you will continue to lose just $500 per month - so, you will lose $3,000 after six months. (Remember: You are making money every month, with monthly revenue of $2,500. The problem is just that your fixed and variable costs add up to $3,000, so you aren't turning an actual profit). With this information, you decide to stay open. You also look for ways to cut those variable costs and see if you can make your sandwich shop profitable. Instead of the expensive artisanal parmesan you've been splurging on, for example, you might go for something cheaper. Examples of Variable Costs We mentioned a few possible types of variable costs above. Here's a more detailed breakdown of what might be considered a variable cost when looking at your business operating expenses: - Materials used for production, notably physical goods like cloth, parts, food, and more - Equipment used for production, including automation equipment and software - Wages for staff, which will likely increase the more products you make - Sales commissions paid to salespersons - Credit card fees and online payment platform fees incurred from customer transactions made via card or platforms like PayPal - Packaging and shipping costs paid to get products to customers Breaking down an example of a variable cost in action can clarify how this cost changes with production volume. Let's take the sandwich shop example above. Say you have your signature sandwich, the Big Faux Turkey Deluxe (a vegetarian sandwich made with imitation turkey breast). Each sandwich requires $3 of raw material to make, including bread, faux turkey, and the standard fixings (lettuce, tomato, and mayo). Then, there's direct labor to account for. Here's how variable costs change depending on the number of sandwiches your business produces: |Cost of materials |Direct labor costs |Total variable costs As output increases, variable costs rise. Your fixed costs and variable costs combined equal the total cost. This can help to determine your business profits. Here's the formula: |− Total Costs So, if you sell a Big Faux Turkey Deluxe with pricing starting at $8, you will just break even. However, if you can reduce your total costs (by reducing fixed and/or variable costs), you'll be able to turn a profit. What Is the Formula for Variable Cost? So, how can you know your business's variable cost? First, note that there are two types of variable cost to calculate: total variable cost and average variable cost. Your total variable cost is the sum of all variable costs that go into producing each product you sell. To calculate the variable cost for each product, multiply the number of units produced by the variable cost of a single unit. Here's the formula: |Total Quantity of Output |× Variable Cost per Unit of Output |= Total Variable Cost Say you sell branded T-shirts and baseball caps. Including all variable costs (materials, labor, packaging, shipping, and payment fees), it takes $10 to make one T-shirt and $15 to make one baseball cap. Let's say you have sold 10 T-shirts and 10 baseball caps: |10 T-shirts produced |$10 variable costs per T-shirt |$100 total variable costs for T-shirts |10 caps produced |$15 variable costs per cap |$150 total variable costs for caps |$250 total variable costs Then, there's your average variable cost. This is calculated by dividing your total variable cost by the number of units produced. Here's the formula: |Average Variable Cost So, in the example above, you'd divide $250 by 20 to get $12.50. Why Is Variable Cost Important? Variable costs are essential if you want to conduct a break-even analysis of your business. If a company has high variable costs, it generally doesn't need to produce as much to break even. We alluded to this briefly above with our sandwich example (the Big Faux Turkey Deluxe). A break-even analysis determines how much revenue you need — or, in this case, how many units (sandwiches) you need to sell — to cover your total costs. Here's the break-even formula: |Break-Even Point (in Units) Knowing your break-even point can help inform your business planning. Once you know how many units you need to sell to break even, you can ramp up your marketing, for example. Alternatively, you might look at ways to lower the break-even point by bringing down the total costs needed for production. Generally, if you can reduce variable costs, your gross profit margin should increase. Skynova Is Here to Help Answer Your Small Business Questions Understanding variable costs can guide smart business decision-making. To accurately calculate variable costs, you have to track and record expenses. Skynova's accounting software for small businesses can help you organize and manage your finances. Skynova further offers a diversity of other products, including business templates and more. Discover how Skynova's software can help support your small business's profitability. Notice to the Reader The content within this article is meant to be used as general information about variable cost and may not apply to your specific situation. Always consult with a professional accountant to ensure you're meeting accounting standards.

Open heart surgery is a complex and critical field of medical intervention that addresses a wide range of cardiac conditions, often involving the repair or replacement of damaged heart structures. Research in open heart surgery is instrumental in advancing surgical techniques, improving patient outcomes, and ensuring the safety and efficacy of these intricate procedures. It is a cornerstone of modern cardiac care that continues to evolve, saving countless lives. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): Investigating innovations in CABG procedures, including the use of arterial grafts, minimally invasive techniques, and strategies to reduce postoperative complications in patients with coronary artery disease. Valve Replacement and Repair: Researching advancements in valve surgery, such as the development of bioprosthetic and tissue-engineered valves, and refining techniques for repairing and replacing diseased heart valves. Studying improvements in cardiopulmonary bypass technology and techniques, including the use of miniaturized pumps and oxygenators, to reduce the risk of complications during surgery. Postoperative Care and Complication Management: Investigating strategies for optimizing postoperative care, including pain management, infection control, and early mobilization, to enhance patient recovery and minimize adverse events. Innovative Surgical Approaches: Exploring novel surgical approaches and adjuncts, such as hybrid procedures combining open surgery with minimally invasive techniques or the use of 3D printing for surgical planning, to improve patient outcomes and expand the scope of treatable conditions. Introductions of Cardiac Devices and Implants Cardiac Devices and Implants Research plays a pivotal role in advancing cardiovascular medicine, aiming to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and management of various heart-related Introductions of Cardiac Imaging Cardiac Imaging Research plays a vital role in the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of cardiovascular diseases by employing cutting-edge imaging technologies. This field is dedicated to Introductions of Cardiac Nursing Cardiac Nursing Research: Cardiac nursing research plays a critical role in advancing our understanding of cardiovascular health and improving patient care in this specialized field. It Introductions of Cardiac Rehabilitation Cardiac rehabilitation research is at the forefront of efforts to enhance the recovery and overall well-being of individuals who have experienced cardiovascular events or undergone cardiac Introductions of Cardiac Surgery Cardiac surgery research occupies a crucial place in modern medicine, constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation and surgical techniques to improve the outcomes of patients with Introductions of Cardiac Surgery Types Cardiac surgery is a diverse and continually evolving field that encompasses various types of surgical procedures aimed at treating heart diseases and disorders. Cardiac surgery Introductions of Cardiology Cardiology research is at the forefront of medical science, dedicated to understanding the intricacies of the cardiovascular system and advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of heart-related Introductions of Cardiovascular Pharmacology Cardiovascular pharmacology research is a critical domain within the field of cardiology, focusing on the development and optimization of pharmaceutical interventions for the treatment of heart-related Introductions of Cardiovascular Researches Cardiovascular Researches is a dynamic and vital branch of medical science dedicated to unraveling the complexities of the heart and circulatory system. It encompasses a wide Introductions of Case Reports Case reports are a fundamental component of medical and scientific literature, offering valuable insights into rare, unusual, or noteworthy clinical cases encountered in healthcare practice. They

Did you know the importance of grooming for dogs? Grooming your dog is an essential part of maintaining their health and hygiene. Regular grooming not only keeps your dog looking good, but it also helps prevent health problems associated with matted fur, overgrown nails, and dirty ears. In this blog, we will discuss the different types of grooming, such as brushing, bathing, and nail trimming, and provide tips for maintaining a regular grooming routine for your furry friend. Bathing your dog is another important aspect of grooming. How often you should bathe your dog will depend on their activity level and coat type. For most dogs, a bath every 4-6 weeks is sufficient. However, if your dog is frequently outdoors or has skin issues, they may require more frequent baths. When bathing your dog, use a mild dog shampoo and warm water. Avoid getting water in their ears and eyes, and make sure to rinse thoroughly. After the bath, use a towel to dry them off, and then let them air dry or use a blow dryer on a low setting. Overgrown nails can cause discomfort and even lead to infections or injuries. To prevent this, you should trim your dog's nails regularly. The frequency of nail trimming will depend on your dog's activity level and the rate of nail growth. When trimming your dog's nails, use a pair of nail clippers designed for dogs. Hold their paw gently but firmly, and make sure to avoid cutting the quick, which is the pink part of the nail that contains blood vessels and nerves. If you accidentally cut the quick, use styptic powder to stop the bleeding. Dirty ears can lead to infections and discomfort for your dog. To prevent this, you should clean their ears regularly. The frequency of ear cleaning will depend on your dog's breed and activity level. To clean your dog's ears, use a gentle ear cleaning solution and cotton balls or gauze pads. Gently wipe the inside of their ear, being careful not to go too deep. If you notice any discharge or foul odor, consult your veterinarian, as this may be a sign of an infection. In conclusion, grooming is an essential aspect of maintaining your dog's health and hygiene. Regular brushing, bathing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning can prevent health problems and keep your dog looking and feeling their best. By establishing a regular grooming routine, you can ensure that your furry friend stays healthy and happy.

Every April, millions of people around the world mark Earth Day – a day created to flood the world with hope, optimism and action, all around our beautiful planet Earth. It’s not uncommon to see homeowners practice terrible lawn care habits in their zeal for the most beautiful lawn on the block. Overwatering, watering at the wrong time of day, and planting the wrong type of plants and grass, can lead to a lot of extra money spent on landscaping, as well as an unsustainable approach to lawn care. At Greensleeves we like to believe that ‘every day is Earth Day’ and April is the perfect month to adopt some eco-friendly lawn care habits that may also help you to save money in the long run. Maintain your turf and save the planet! Some of the smaller details can have a great big influence on whether your grass helps or hurts the environment. Mowing a lawn too short can introduce weeds, which in turn opens the door for herbicide use that can harm the environment.A lawn that’s allowed to get overly weedy, under-fertilised or irrigated improperly can make lawns patchy and more likely for soil erosion. The healthier a lawn, the less pesticides and fertiliser will be required. Conserving water is important, but overwatering is remarkably destructive and wastes the most precious resource on the planet. Conventional wisdom suggests watering your lawn two to three times a week is plenty, and that conserving water during times of drought is more important than having a lush green lawn. You may need to experiment for a few weeks or months to find the right spring and summertime balance for watering your lawn. When your lawn is established and healthy, it can actually survive a few weeks without water and recover without too much extra work from your watering hose. You shouldn’t need to water lawns in the spring unless conditions become extra dry or hot, and your grass needs a helpful boost. You could empty grey water (like washing up water) onto your lawn or use water from your water butt or mains source. LAWN MAINTENANCE HABITS HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON CO2 REDUCTION Would you like to create a lawn that’s green, lush, beautiful and healthy for the planet, too? With help from the lawn care experts at Greensleeves Lawn Treatment Experts, you can enjoy a beautiful lawn every day. As one of the leading lawn care treatment specialists in the UK, we are committed to minimising the impact of our activities on the environment. At Greensleeves Lawn Care, we ensure all our activities are as environmentally friendly as possible, this being when undertaking all treatments and working in each of our franchises. Please feel free to contact our helpful team either by calling 0808 100 1413 or completing the form on the contact us page for more information.

Lee esta nota de prensa en español aquí. Following the completion of critical mirror alignment steps, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope team expects that Webb’s optical performance will be able to meet or exceed the science goals the observatory was built to achieve. On March 11, the Webb team completed the stage of alignment known as “fine phasing.” At this key stage in the commissioning of Webb’s Optical Telescope Element, every optical parameter that has been checked and tested is performing at, or above, expectations. The team also found no critical issues and no measurable contamination or blockages to Webb’s optical path. The observatory is able to successfully gather light from distant objects and deliver it to its instruments without issue. Although there are months to go before Webb ultimately delivers its new view of the cosmos, achieving this milestone means the team is confident that Webb’s first-of-its-kind optical system is working as well as possible. “More than 20 years ago, the Webb team set out to build the most powerful telescope that anyone has ever put in space and came up with an audacious optical design to meet demanding science goals,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “Today we can say that design is going to deliver.” While some of the largest ground-based telescopes on Earth use segmented primary mirrors, Webb is the first telescope in space to use such a design. The 21-foot, 4-inch (6.5-meter) primary mirror – much too big to fit inside a rocket fairing – is made up of 18 hexagonal, beryllium mirror segments. It had to be folded up for launch and then unfolded in space before each mirror was adjusted – to within nanometers – to form a single mirror surface. “In addition to enabling the incredible science that Webb will achieve, the teams that designed, built, tested, launched, and now operate this observatory have pioneered a new way to build space telescopes,” said Lee Feinberg, Webb optical telescope element manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. With the fine phasing stage of the telescope’s alignment complete, the team has now fully aligned Webb’s primary imager, the Near-Infrared Camera, to the observatory’s mirrors. “We have fully aligned and focused the telescope on a star, and the performance is beating specifications. We are excited about what this means for science,” said Ritva Keski-Kuha, deputy optical telescope element manager for Webb at NASA Goddard. “We now know we have built the right telescope.” Over the next six weeks, the team will proceed through the remaining alignment steps before final science instrument preparations. The team will further align the telescope to include the Near-Infrared Spectrograph, Mid-Infrared Instrument, and Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph. In this phase of the process, an algorithm will evaluate the performance of each instrument and then calculate the final corrections needed to achieve a well-aligned telescope across all science instruments. Following this, Webb’s final alignment step will begin, and the team will adjust any small, residual positioning errors in the mirror segments. The team is on track to conclude all aspects of Optical Telescope Element alignment by early May, if not sooner, before moving on to approximately two months of science instrument preparations. Webb’s first full-resolution imagery and science data will be released in the summer. Webb is the world’s premier space science observatory and once fully operational, will help solve mysteries in our solar system, look beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners at ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency. For more information about the Webb mission, visit: Natasha Pinol / Alise Fisher 202-358-0930 / 202-617-4977 Natasha.email@example.com / firstname.lastname@example.org Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Statement of Problem The consensus regarding exercise is that it is beneficial to health. However, the extent to which exercise has a positive impact on the body, in particular the immune system is limited. Therefore, targeting the correct level of exercise to induce optimal outcomes has been debated. Aims: This report intends on highlighting the effects exercise has on the innate and adaptive immune response and explore the medical considerations in educating the public and future cases. Methods: A literature search of peer reviewed articles using the terms, “exercise”, “immune system” and “inflammation” was carried out using Medline and EMBASE databases. Results: Exercise demonstrated to enhance the hosts immunity by increasing the levels of dendritic cells. Although, some studies highlighted the negative impact of exercise on the numbers of neutrophils and type 1 T-cells. Moreover, exercise provided some level of resistance against chronic inflammatory diseases, via an increase in interlukin-6 levels. The effects of physical activity on athletes and non-athletes was also reviewed and it was demonstrated that the intensity of exercise relates to the effect it has on the individual. In addition to this, exercise helps improve the psychological state, by reducing stress and anxiety, thus improving the immune response. Discussion: The impact exercise has on the immune system is dependent on the unique factors of the individual carrying out the activity. Therefore, the level of intensity of exercise, BMI of the individual and gender are important considerations to be taken into account, to understand the effect exercise will have on the immune response. Understanding the positive impacts of exercise on immunity can be useful in educating the public to live a healthier lifestyle and recommended in advising patients in a primary care setting. Luqman Ali has completed his BSc in Biomedical Sciences at the age of 22 years from the University of Manchester and has begun studying for his MBchB at Anglia Ruskin University in 2019. He undertook his dissertation on the impact of exercise on the body and focused with great attention on immunology. He completed his final year project as part of his BSc, focusing on pedagogical approaches and epigenetics on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Apart from his academic studies, he has worked as PASS mentor, BLS instructor, captained his University football team at a national medic’s football tournament and has been nominated by his peers as a Student Representative of the year.

News - 01 August 2019 Bulldozing koala habitat needs to stop By Gemma Plesman, Queensland Campaign Manager Deforestation and land clearing is currently the greatest threat to native species in Queensland, and is largely responsible for the sharp decline in koala populations. When habitat is bulldozed, many koalas die instantly—while others are left with nowhere to go. Wildlife carers are struggling to cope with mounting numbers of sick and injured animals, saying the destruction of bushland is to blame. As a result, koala populations are down by almost 50% in Queensland. In South East Queensland it's even worse—down 80%. It’s unbelievable to see that koala habitat is still being bulldozed at huge scales around the state. If the government is serious about protecting koalas, then it must stop the bulldozing of koala habitat. In July 2016, the Queensland Government commissioned a Koala Expert Panel to provide recommendations on priority actions to address the relentless decline in koalas in South East Queensland. This Panel released its final report in September 2017, which singled out habitat destruction as "the threat having the greatest impact on koalas”. But two years on, the bulldozing has continued unabated. It was people power that convinced the Queensland Government to look into the issue at all. This came after thousands of wildlife carers, Movement For Life volunteers and concerned residents came together to demand stronger protections for forest and bushland in their local communities. They made phone calls, held events, spoke to their neighbours and blew the lid off this issue. We also held a 'Meet your Member of Parliament' workshop in July to provide community members and wildlife carers with the tools they need to continue pushing Queensland Parliament—and parties of all stripes—to address this issue with greater urgency. This is the responsibility of our entire parliament, no matter which party they represent. Everyone left the workshop with a meeting request submitted to their elected representative and plans to have a powerful conversation. When we work together and sing in chorus about what needs to be done, we are powerful. Gemma Plesman is the Wilderness Society's Queensland Campaign Manager. For the last two years she has worked on the campaign to end deforestation in Queensland and Australia. She is currently a member of the Koala Advisory Council—a body established by the Queensland Government. Gemma completed a Bachelor of Education with Honours in Education for Sustainability and is a graduate of the Change Agency’s Community Organising Fellowship. Before coming to the Wilderness Society, Gemma worked for the Australian Marine Conservation Society where she was successful in stopping port proposals in the Fitzroy Delta, Mackay, the Whitsundays and Cairns as well as securing State and Federal support for a ban on dumping dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef.

The USA is the lowest scoring G7 nation on the Happy Planet Index, mainly due to its high ecological footprint. If all countries matched the USA’s resource use, we would need more than 5 planets to maintain our consumption levels. The 2020 Happy Planet Index score for the United States increased to its highest point in the last 14 years. This is important, and it points to gradual progress in the US, as well as strong improvements over the previous four years. The measure for ecological footprint dropped by over one full point from 8.21 to 7.20 between 2019 and 2020, and this factor is what resulted in the country’s best HPI score in well over a decade. The ecological footprint measures how much each person in the US impacts the environment. We know from other data that carbon output and other environmental impacts went down in the US at the highest rate since World War II as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. People drove less, flew less, and consumed less as a result of working from home and cutting back on travel. This year, as travel reopens and people begin commuting to work again, this trend is likely to reverse. The US then needs to act quickly on reducing ecological footprints by transitioning to electric vehicles, supporting clean public transportation, and changing our patterns of consumption, including using fewer plastics and showing greater support for circular economies. Policy changes at the local, regional, and national level will go a long way toward these kinds of changes. In order for the United States to continue improving on the Happy Planet Index, we need to design policies that address the overall satisfaction or wellbeing of our residents. This part of the HPI, called the Ladder of Life, went up slightly from 2019 to 2020. On the whole, however, it has decreased gradually over the past several years. This measurement of wellbeing places the United States lower than Canada and the lowest of any G7 nation on the Happy Planet Index. Gallop describes the Ladder of Life score as correlating strongly with things such as economic opportunity, the amount a country spends on an individual’s health, and measures of citizen engagement. If the US is to improve on its wellbeing score, we will have to increase the kinds of social services that enable people to worry less about their long-term health and wellbeing and that encourage participation in the kinds of decisions that most affect their lives. The US needs to ensure fair and equal access to democratic processes, like voting. Additionally, we would be well served by expansions of government provided healthcare for lower income groups, such as we have seen in a number of states around the country. The US has the opportunity to start designing policies that support not only basic needs but also a holistic approach to satisfaction. Recent studies have shown that policies touching on diverse sectors can positively affect wellbeing. This could include funding for the arts, for recreation in local communities, ensuring access to affordable and healthy food, and supporting community programs that build a sense of pride and belonging. Each of these have ties to economic opportunity for all and work toward healthier and more engaged citizens. We've built a personal Happy Planet Index test to help you reflect on how you can create your own "good life that doesn't cost the earth".Take the test

If prices are determined by the laws of supply and demand, and wages are just a term for the price of labor, then how does a worker’s increased productivity (say at a factory where the worker is unskilled but now has better tools thus increasing his productivity) raise his wage assuming nothing has changed with the supply and demand for labor? If the answer is that his real wages increase because there are now more goods produced relative to his wage, i understand; but, what about those Multinational Corporations who hire workers for their sweatshops and take all the produced goods out of the local economy to sell in American retail stores? Will increased worker productivity in sweatshops in the Developing World really raise their wages if the produced goods are removed from their local economy? A worker who produces more will generate more revenue for the entrepreneur when the additional output his greater productivity generates is sold. Because of the greater revenue to be earned, the entrepreneur will pay more for such labor. In other words, entrepreneurs’ demand for more productive labor will be greater than their demand for less productive labor. It doesn’t matter where the entrepreneurs’ sell the output produced by labor. What they’re willing to pay for labor depends on the revenue generated by customers who buy their output, wherever they might reside. If diary products produced in rural Pennsylvania are sold to consumers in NYC, diary workers receive higher wages than if they had to sell to their neighbors locally. Dairy workers then realize their higher real wage by purchasing products produced by other workers in other places. Take a look at the work of Ben Powell on sweatshops:

Whooping cough is such a big topic in our community and is constantly mentioned to parents to be extremely wary about. The danger of whooping cough in young bubs is that they may not be able to breathe in properly after a coughing fit and may also find feeding difficult if they are vomiting frequently. The incubation period of whooping cough lasts for around 7-21 days and is infectious for around 3-4 weeks after the illness first appears. The first signs include: 1. A slight fever and runny nose 2. This is followed by a loose cough 3. Then the mucous begins to thicken and extended, uncontrollable coughing fits occur to bring it up, the child then draws air back into the lungs resulting in the characteristic ‘whoop’ 4. Other symptoms can also be found such as nosebleeds, vomiting and blueness of fingers. It is important to seek help if you feel your child has whooping cough. Croup sounds almost frightening and usually occurs in children under 4 years of age. kids with a history of asthma, eczema and other respiratory disorders are usually more prone to croup. It starts with: 1. Hoarseness and fever 2. Then develops into a loud, barking, ringing and harsh sounding cough that usually wakes the whole house. 3. The child will often breath noisily too. It’s important to stay with your baby all the time in cases of croup, steam can alleviate the symptoms but you should always seek help if your baby is having trouble breathing or you notice a blue tinge to the lips. Re-occurrences are best treated with good constitutional homeopathic prescribing however there are many remedies that can assist with the acute exacerbation’s of the croup. Aconite repeated is usually prescibed for the first initial stages of croup, spongia is effective when the cough becomes a ‘bark’ and hepar sulph can help clean up the infection towards the end of the cough. Coughs can occur for many reasons. Some children develop coughs around the time they start teething (the teething doesn’t cause the cough, more the stress of the teething on the body). If the babies lungs are a vulnerable area, a cough is likely to develop whenever their vitality is low. Pretty much every remedy in our repertory has a cough picture, there are of course some main remedies that differentiate the different symptoms at hand, some include: Bryonia – for the classic dry and hard cough, it is often a painful cough where you may see your bub clutching at their chest Hepar sulph – is usually a loose, noisy, barking cough with yellow-green mucous. Often it accompanies the sensation of having a splinter stuck in the throat. The cough is worse from cold drafts and better for warm moist air. Ant-Tart – is a noisy, rattling, wheezy cough with copious mucous which cannot be spit up Aconite – is for a dry cough with a sudden onset, the kind that appears in a flash as you are sitting there cheering on your 8 year old at the soccer game on a Saturday afternoon – exposure to dry, cold winds are key factors to bringing this cough along. Coughs and colds are often common after vaccination. Seek advice if you feel this to be the case. Good constitutional treatment will always raise the immune system to assist in less frequent exacerbation’s of coughs, croup and other lung disorders but its great to know there are a few simple remedies that can reduce the longevity and intensity of the cough.

By Rebecca Mead Via the tip of 1914, virtually each Western country and territory had enfranchised its girl electorate within the maximum innovation in participatory democracy for the reason that Reconstruction. those Western successes stand in profound distinction to the East, the place few ladies voted until eventually after the ratification of the 19th modification in 1920, and the South, the place African-American males have been systematically disenfranchised. How did the frontier West bounce sooner than the remainder of the kingdom within the enfranchisement of nearly all of its citizens?In this provocative new examine, Rebecca J. Mead exhibits that Western suffrage happened because the results of the unsettled kingdom of neighborhood politics, the complicated nature of Western race kin, vast alliances among suffragists and farmer-labor-progressive reformers, and complex activism by means of Western girls. She highlights suffrage racism and elitism as significant difficulties for the circulation, and areas unique emphasis at the political adaptability of Western suffragists whose improvisational strategies earned them progress.A interesting tale, formerly overlooked, How the Vote was once gained reintegrates this crucial area into nationwide suffrage historical past and is helping clarify the last word good fortune of this radical reform. Continue reading Read e-book online How the Vote Was Won: Woman Suffrage in the Western United PDF By H. Schmeets On thirteen and 14 September 1997, municipal elections happened in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This publication commonly covers the findings of the 363 foreign observers on either polling days. have been the elections `free and fair'? What did the observers checklist in regards to the conditions, approaches and defense measurements on the polling stations? Which events saw the elections, and why? How did the election approach and the vote count number evaluate to the 1996 elections? This e-book offers a neighborhood profile and descriptions particular difficulties within the a variety of varieties of polling stations. The commentary method and layout of the statement stories are mentioned. eventually, techniques are made for the approaching 1998 election observations, and destiny missions. The publication will be of curiosity to scholars, students and others operating within the fields of statement and research of elections, ethnic conflicts within the Balkans, and the function of foreign companies in democratisation and peace processes. Continue reading H. Schmeets's The 1997 Municipal Elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina: An PDF By Michael Gallagher, Michael Marsh, Paul Mitchell How eire Voted 2002 offers an in-depth research of the Irish normal election. carrying on with a longtime sequence of election stories, it units out the context of the crusade, assesses the influence of the political events' advertising and marketing options, and offers first-hand candidate crusade diaries. It analyzes vote casting styles utilizing either mixture info and survey proof, discusses the post-election negotiations resulting in the formation of the hot govt, and considers the consequences for the way forward for the Irish get together system. Continue reading Michael Gallagher, Michael Marsh, Paul Mitchell's How Ireland Voted 2002 PDF By Frank Newport, Jeffrey M Jones, Lydia Saad, Alec M Gallup Jr., Fred L Israel This research refers to Barack Obama's historical win in November 2008, recounting this attention-grabbing presidential crusade. It gains greater than a thousand polls taken in the course of the crusade via Gallup, the oldest and most useful polling corporation on this planet. Continue reading Download e-book for kindle: Winning the White House 2008: The Gallup Poll, Public by Frank Newport, Jeffrey M Jones, Lydia Saad, Alec M Gallup By Cliff Zukin, Scott Keeter, Molly Andolina, Krista Jenkins, Visit Amazon's Michael X. Delli Carpini Page, search results, Learn about Author Central, Michael X. Delli Carpini, In trying to find solutions as to why adolescents fluctuate drastically from their mom and dad and grandparents in terms of turning out the vote, a brand new Engagement demanding situations the traditional knowledge that cutting-edge formative years is suffering from a critical case of political apathy. so one can comprehend the present nature of citizen engagement, it's severe to split political from civic engagement. utilizing the consequences from an unique set of surveys and the authors' personal basic examine, they finish that whereas older electorate take part by way of balloting, teens have interaction via volunteering and being lively of their groups. Continue reading Download e-book for iPad: A New Engagement?: Political Participation, Civic Life, and by Cliff Zukin, Scott Keeter, Molly Andolina, Krista Jenkins, By Melvin J. Hinich, Michael C. Munger Empirical experiences in Comparative Politics provides a suite of papers studying the political platforms of ten countries. It intends to impress a wakeful attempt to match, and examine, the general public number of comparative politics. there were many courses by way of public selection students, and lots of extra through researchers who're not less than sympathetic to the general public selection viewpoint, but little of this paintings has been built-in into the most movement of comparative political technological know-how literature. This paintings, despite the fact that, provides an empirically orientated examine of the politics, bureaucratic association, and controlled economies of specific countries within the canon of the comparativist. It as a result offers a public selection view on the point of countries, now not of platforms. This compendium of labor on comparative politics meets standards: - In each case, a version of human habit or institutional impression is certain; - Also in each case, this version is faced with facts acceptable for comparing no matter if this version comes in handy for realizing politics in a single or extra international locations. Continue reading New PDF release: Empirical Studies in Comparative Politics By Bruce E. Cain, Elizabeth R. Gerber Seventy two tables, thirteen line figures California's adoption of the blanket basic in 1996 awarded a different normal scan at the effect that election principles have on politics. Billed as a degree that may bring up voter participation and finish ideological polarization, Proposition 198 positioned California citizens once more at the frontier of political reform. using numerous info assets and methodologies, the members to balloting on the Political Fault Line practice their wide-ranging services to appreciate how this modification in political associations affected electoral habit and results. This authoritative examine analyzes the results of California's scan with the blanket fundamental, together with the occurrence of, motivations at the back of, and endurance of crossover vote casting; the habit of applicants and donors; the consequences on candidate positions and get together structures; and the results for girls, minorities, and minor-party applicants. released in organization with the Institute of Governmental reviews, collage of California, Berkeley Continue reading New PDF release: Voting at the Political Fault Line: California's Experiment

Is Pork Really the Other White Meat? By Omodolapo Familusi, RN MSN ANP-C and Michele Lubin, MS RD CDN Over the years, pork has built something of a bad reputation. Perhaps that’s because the most popular products are all very fatty and loaded with sodium. So, you may ask yourself, is pork healthy? But maybe you shouldn’t write off this versatile food just yet. Perhaps, it deserves a spot in your diet after all. Consider this: in comparison to other meats, lean cuts of pork are high in protein, low in fat and have more B- vitamins like thiamine and vitamin B12. These vitamins play an important role in a range of body function including energy production and metabolism. Myoglobin is an oxygen-carrying protein in animal muscle that determines the color of meat. Pork contains less myoglobin than beef, but it contains more than chicken or fish. Any livestock product like beef, lamb and veal is classified as red meat. Pork is a livestock product therefore it is categorized as a red meat although, when cooked it lightens in color. According to the USDA definition of lean, the meat product must contain less than 10 grams of fat, less than 4.5 grams of saturated fat and less than 95 mg of cholesterol per three ounce serving. To be classified as extra lean, the meat product must contain less than 5 grams of fat and less than 2 grams of saturated fat per serving. If you are looking for the healthiest pork options, you want the lean cuts. Examples include tenderloin, loin chops and sirloin roast. Processed meats such as bacon, sausage, ham and lunch meats are not only high in saturated fats and cholesterol but contain nitrates and nitrites as well. These give foods their reddish hue. Processed meats have been linked to a higher cancer risk in several studies. So remember, pork is still a red meat but the leaner cuts can be a great source of satisfying protein.

Trauma to the foot and ankle region is extremely common. You don’t have to be extremely active to experience painful sprains, fractures and tears. Women over the age of 30 and men between 15- to 24-years old are the most susceptible to ankle sprains. Around 50 percent of sprains occur during physical exercise or athletics. Approximately 25,000 people in the United States sprain their ankle every day, leading to over 1 million emergency room visits per year. Ankle injuries are caused by damage to the bone, ligament or tendon where three structural bones intersect: the tibia and fibula (lower leg) and talus (foot). Ligaments within the ankle joint keep these bones connected with strong elastic bands of tissue that provide a range of motion and support. Meanwhile, tendons attach muscles to the bones to help stabilize the joints and allow your ankle and foot to move on command. Ankle injuries have many causes, but are often the result of tripping, falling, awkward landings, uneven surfaces, sudden impact, twisting or rolling. Symptoms include sudden and severe pain, swelling, bruising and/or inability to walk or stand. Common Ankle Traumas - Fracture: breakage of one or more of the three bones in the ankle - Sprain: damage or tear to ligaments (connective tissue) - Strain: damaged muscles and tendons from overstretching or exertion Most often, the tendons in the ankle strained or inflamed (tendinitis) are the peroneal tendons that defend the ankle. When abrupt trauma occurs, the peroneal tendons tear. Tendons may also suffer smaller, microscopic tears recurrently, but fail to heal due to tendinitis. Tendinitis is a chronic condition that worsens over time, usually initiating intermittent pain, ankle weakness or overarching of the foot. Tendons may also split or slip out of place (subluxation). At your first appointment, we administer scanning to determine the precise point of trauma for optimal treatment. If a fracture is detected, we’ll discuss both surgical and nonsurgical rehabilitation methods (cast). The need for surgery mostly depends on whether your ankle is stable enough and bones are still in place. If not, we will use surgical methods to place a metal plate and screws to hold the bones together for ideal restoration. After the operation, patients are required to wear a splint and/or a cast. Bones typically heal in about six weeks, but ligament and tendon damage will take longer to recuperate. Keeping weight off the injured ankle is necessary for proper healing and re-positioning. Once mended, a few months of physical therapy helps patients regain normal function. Please call us at (208) 666-0605 or fill out the form below to submit your information

Belize’s National Heroes and Benefactors Day is considered to be one of the biggest holidays in Belize. It is a national celebration in honor of Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, commonly known as Baron Bliss. The celebration was commonly referred to as Baron Bliss Day until 2008 and is observed on Monday closest to the 9th of March. Baron Bliss’s Contribution to Belize Victor Bliss willed two million Belize dollars to a trust fund, for the benefit of the citizens of the then-colony of British Honduras. To this day, that contribution has helped fund the arts and sciences. Most notably contributing to the establishment of the Bliss Institute, a theater and museum, and the Bliss School of Nursing. A generous part of the trust has been designated towards an annual boat regatta in Belize City; every year Belize holds a boat race on Baron Bliss Day to celebrate his love of being at sea. Local boat races and parties are held in smaller towns. The people of Belize celebrate and respect Baron Bliss so much because he exhibited his love and appreciation for the people of Belize and their kindness towards him. Once World War I was over, Bliss commissioned the construction of Sea King II- a yacht that Bliss had specifically built for tropical sea travel. Once she was finished, Bliss left England, and his wife, and never returned. The years following were spent living off the coast of the Bahamas, and eventually, he settled down in Belize where he, unfortunately, fell gravely ill and passed away. Demonstrated in his charity in death, the people of Belize and the country itself are said to have given him a great sense of contentment in his last days- something that he had been searching for his whole life.

Malicious hacking against enterprise and government computing infrastructure is relentless. Cyberattack statistics are widely available, but in one sense irrelevant. The number of attacks has never stopped increasing, and neither has the severity of the potential damage. The attacks always get more sophisticated, and malicious hackers are increasingly prone to coordinating their efforts. Hacking tools are also more accessible and easier to use. Data centers and large server clusters are particularly enticing targets. If a hacker's goal is to steal information, data centers are virtual treasure chests of valuable data. If a hacker's goal is to cause disruption, however, then interfering with data centers can be just as damaging as cutting off a public utility or service. The industry's response is becoming more sophisticated and coordinated as well. It was once mostly up to individual companies to address cybersecurity, but the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) and trade group the Open Compute Project (OCP) now perform lead roles, encouraging the coordinated development of cybersecurity countermeasures—technologies, techniques, and best practices—and disseminating information about them. The recommendations from NIST and OCP have proven effective enough they are now being adopted in contracts for new equipment, conferring de facto standards status on their specifications. NIST and OCP address how to mitigate against both data theft and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, but with the largest and most advanced data center operators largely resistant to the former, hackers seem to be attempting the latter more frequently. Denial of Service DoS attacks that succeed are usually highly visible, almost always embarrassing, frequently costly and sometimes dangerous. That all makes it especially important to be cognizant of the best approaches for fending off DoS attacks. There are different forms a DoS attack can take, but the concept underlying most of them is to try to corrupt or disrupt some system device, process, or procedure, usually by injecting malicious code. There are plenty of places to hide malicious code. It's bad enough to corrupt an operating system but malware that makes its way into firmware can be particularly insidious. Data centers can be inoculated against most DoS attacks by protecting several key areas that hackers are known to probe most frequently for vulnerabilities: devices and the code for those devices, along with data addresses and data movement. The equipment in data centers is perpetually being supplemented or upgraded. Operators add new cards and new drives to servers all the time. It is important to verify that each of these devices is authentic. The device might be authentic, but it may still have been compromised with malicious code. Therefore, it is critically important to verify the authenticity of device code. Devices that are swapped out of the most advanced data centers may no longer be cutting edge but are typically still fully functional, and they often go to other data centers. The next owners should be just as diligent adopting measures to verify those devices and their code are authentic when they get them. Every single transaction in a data center is an opportunity for hijacking or corrupting data. As data is moved, it is important to verify that the addresses that data is being saved to are secure, and that the devices that are being read from, and written to, are also secure. Lastly, do not neglect to consider all the equipment in a data center that is not integral to the main function of processing data. A poorly defended connected device can also become a source of attack for other more critical nodes. A security camera connected via Wi-Fi could be used to create infinite pings to a financial server, thus rendering it useless. That’s only one example of a DoS attack coming from a seemingly innocent direction. Paying attention to every connection is better security. Cybersecurity starts with a root of trust. The idea is that if you start with a completely trustworthy reference in a cryptographic system, then every check in a chain of checks building off that reference should be trustworthy too. The process should start with the microprocessors (MPU) and microcontrollers (MCU) themselves. MPUs/MCUs should start from a boot source that is immutable. Because peripherals are a potential attack vector, it is recommended that peripherals, including debug, are disabled during the boot process. The security technology should be set up to subsequently verify (or authenticate) each subsequent code block prior to its execution. That can provide adequate security in many cases but adding an attestation process adds yet another layer of protection. In this case, the device itself needs to go through an attestation process before it is allowed to participate in its electronics ecosystem. Different companies supply integrated circuits or trusted platform modules that provide that root of trust. NIST and OCP keep track of levels of cryptographic strength that should provide adequate cybersecurity. Suppliers are free to exceed recommendations, either to satisfy customer requests or simply to differentiate their products. The chips and modules that establish a root of trust can also be used to perform a variety of other checks, for example authenticating boards and cards, measuring platform configuration registers at various steps during boot sequences and providing real-time firmware monitoring and protection, among other tasks. Chips and modules of this nature are available not only for servers themselves, and not only for add-in cards, but also for peripheral devices, which can include anything from attached storage to power supplies. Security is a Complex Issue The front lines of data center cybersecurity may be in servers and their peripherals, but potential vulnerabilities can exist almost anywhere. Consider the humble timing chip. Servers generate timestamps for files and all transactions. However, most computer timing devices tend to drift over time. That makes it tempting to rely on internet-based clocks. But all data on the public internet, including clock data, is subject to packet manipulation, opening a data center operator to DoS attacks. Windows, for example, relies on Kerberos as its default authentication protocol, and Kerberos uses workstation time as part of its authentication ticket generation process. If system timing is off, the authentication/logon process between domain controllers and clients may not succeed, which can impair the proper operation of the network. Data center operators can inoculate themselves against this type of DoS attack by making sure they have their own clocks or dedicated clock servers, which should be as reliable and accurate as possible. The reason to offer the preceding example has less to do with alerting network operators of that specific vulnerability than it does with conveying that cybersecurity is a vastly complex issue, and that security vulnerabilities can be inherent in even the most basic functions of a data communications network. It is always advisable to consult with partners with established and extensive expertise in cybersecurity technologies, techniques, and best practices. NIST and OCP have emerged as two of the most authoritative sources for techniques and technologies to guard against cyberattacks of all kinds. NIST offers its Cyber Security Framework (CSF), a set of recommendations that cover everything from servers, smartphones, and Internet of Things devices to the networks that connect them. NIST published its original CSF in 2014. The agency has issued several modest revisions and was working on CSF 2.0 at the time of writing. The OCP was formed with the specific goal of moving away from closed systems. A closed system has the potential to be a particularly secure system because the manufacturer can thoroughly understand and control every aspect of that system, both in terms of how it operates and in terms of what devices can or cannot be attached, and under what circumstances. On the other hand, an open computer system allows data center architects to mix and match equipment from different suppliers as suits their needs. Moving to open systems almost always serves to drive costs down. OCP members were aware that moving to open systems would likely create security vulnerabilities and made sure that cybersecurity was an intrinsic component of the open compute specs. The OCP's open specification for a Data Center-ready Secure Control Module (DC-SCM) with a standardized Datacenter-ready Secure Control Interface (DC-SCI) is only one example of this. Server management, security and control features commonly used to reside on a motherboard; the DC-SCM spec moves all of that into smaller module. A single DC-SCM can cover more platforms. DC-SCMs are also upgradeable, so if more sophisticated security technology becomes available, data center operators do not have to swap out entire modules. As noted above, the recommendations from NIST and OCP are now being adopted as requirements in bids for data networking gear and in contracts for data networking services. Companies vying for such business are increasingly demanding that their equipment and semiconductor vendors comply with OCP and NIST specs.

Author: Samuel Mann, PhD Researcher in Sexual Orientation and Well-being, Swansea University In recent years LGBT+ rights have improved dramatically. Same-sex marriage is now legally performed and recognised in 28 countries. Equality laws protect LGBT+ people at work and increased media coverage is improving knowledge and awareness of sexual orientations. More to be done, however, to ensure equality for all, and researchers have been looking into how different factors like these contribute to the happiness and life satisfaction of people with minority sexual identities. Studies have shown that, on average, homosexuals and bisexuals report lower levels of life satisfaction than heterosexuals. This has been linked to homosexuals and bisexuals experiencing heteronormativity (the assumption that heterosexual orientation and binary gender identity are “normal”, which has led to the world being built to cater to the needs and desires of heterosexual life), which leads to stigmatisation. For our new study we looked deeper into the links between sexuality and life satisfaction, and found that people with an “other” sexual identity – such as pansexual, demisexual, or asexual – also experience lower levels of life satisfaction than heterosexuals. Using 150,000 responses collected over five years as part of the Understanding Society survey, we analysed whether the happiest heterosexuals are happier than the happiest sexual minorities, and if the least happy sexual minorities are less happy than the least happy heterosexuals. When looking at the data, we controlled for a number of things – such as age, employment, personality, and location – to make sure our results focused solely on sexual identity. While other studies have looked at the “average” effect of sexual identity on happiness (where it has been shown that sexual minorities report lower levels of life satisfaction), my colleagues and I considered the whole well-being distribution. That is, we looked at the differences between heterosexuals and sexual minorities at the lowest, average, and highest levels of self-reported life satisfaction. Our results are clear that sexual identity is correlated with life satisfaction, but it is a nuanced picture. We found that homosexual males are less happy with their lives than heterosexual males, except for at the very top of the well-being distribution (where they are happiest). We also saw that homosexual females are happier with their lives than heterosexual females. Although interestingly that is except for at the lowest levels of well-being. Bisexuals – irrespective of gender – report the lowest levels of life satisfaction, and the loss to well-being associated with being bisexual (rather than heterosexual) is at least comparable to the effect of being unemployed or having ill-health. In fact, out of all the sexual identities analysed we found that bisexuals are the least satisfied with their lives. “Other” sexual identities are associated with lower levels of life satisfaction in the bottom half of the distribution, but higher life satisfaction in the top half. This means that the least happy people with an other sexual identity are less happy than their heterosexual counterparts. But the happiest people with an other sex identity are actually happier than their heterosexual counterparts. While our findings highlight the importance of gender (or more precisely its interaction with sexual identity), this is only relevant for homosexuals. As noted above, the results for homosexual males and homosexual females are drastically different This makes sense considering that other research has highlighted that societal attitudes towards lesbians are more preferential than to gay males. So it is likely that the higher life satisfaction reported by lesbians (compared to heterosexual women) is associated with these more positive societal attitudes. Identity and acceptance Looking to our findings for other sexual identities, we believe that growing awareness (for example due to increased representation on television) is likely to have reduced the need for some people to “explain” their identity to others. This will have made reaffirming the validity of their sexuality to themselves easier too. If we couple this with increasing self-awareness of an identity that gives meaning to attractions (or lack thereof), the positive well-being identified for this group is understandable. While it could be argued that the same should be true of bisexuals, there is a significant difference between bisexuality and “other” identities. Bisexuality is an identity that has existed significantly longer and was part of the original LGBT movement. And yet the greater minority stress experienced by bisexuals is likely a reflection of how they experience stigmatisation from both heterosexual and homosexual communities through bi-erasure and lack of acceptance of bisexuality. Overall our research shows that people with a minority sexual identity are on average less satisfied with their lives, but across the distribution of well-being a more positive picture emerges. If we look at other research into the different societal attitudes and growing acceptance towards certain sexual identities, it is clear that being accepted is important. Facing ostracisation on the basis of your sexual identity has a large negative impact on how satisfied you are with your life. This article was first published by The Conversation.

The idea of ghost ships has always fascinated people across the world. It may sound eerie and creepy, but the phenomenon of ghost ships is real. Ghost ships are vessels that appear to be abandoned and are found drifting on the high seas with no crew aboard. Some ghost ships are mysteries that have never been solved, while others have been explained by natural causes, pirates or even criminal activities. There are many different myths and legends about ghost ships in folklore, particularly amongst sailors who have to spend extended periods of time at sea. Some believe that the ships are cursed, while others think they are haunted by the ghosts of the crew who died at sea. Whatever the reason for their appearance, there is no denying that ghost ships have a history. One of the most famous ghost ships was the Marie Celeste, discovered on December 4, 1872, in the Atlantic Ocean. Its lifeboat was missing, but the decks and sails were still intact. There was no sign of any struggle or distress, and all the crew members had simply vanished. Despite many investigations, no one could explain what happened to the crew, and the mystery remains unsolved to this day. Other notable ghost ships include the Flying Dutchman, which is said to be a cursed ship that is doomed to sail the seas forever. Another ghost ship that gained attention recently was the MV Alta. In 2019, the vessel was discovered after it had been adrift for over a year with no crew onboard. Though it is now believed that the vessel’s last crew safely abandoned the ship before it was set adrift, the reason for its abandonment is still a mystery. Ghost ships are not just the stuff of legends; they have also been a threat to seafarers throughout history. Abandoned vessels have been known to break free from their moorings and pose a risk to other boats at sea. In some cases, pirates or other criminals have used ghost ships to smuggle drugs or weapons across oceans undetected by authorities. The reasons behind ghost ships are not always supernatural or unexplainable. There are instances where ships are simply left adrift due to technical failures, and the crew has abandoned the vessel in an attempt to save their own lives. Ships have also been sunk, causing sailors to be stranded in the middle of the ocean with no way to call for help. In conclusion, the phenomenon of ghost ships is a strange, fascinating, and sometimes terrifying subject. Whether they are haunted by the spirits of the dead or simply abandoned vessels, there’s no denying that ghost ships are a part of maritime history, and they continue to spark curiosity and speculation.

When restoration procedures such as root canal therapy, crowns, or fillings are not enough to save a tooth, it may need to be pulled, or extracted. Tooth extraction procedures today are far less painful than ever before, thanks to powerful anesthetics and sedatives. In many cases, a patient who has tooth pulled experiences little or no discomfort, and only minor bleeding. Before a tooth is extracted, the area surrounding the tooth is numbed with a topical/and or injectable anesthetic. Patients with extracted teeth sometimes need to take an antibiotic, and at the very least, take precautions following the procedure to ensure that infection doesn't occur. Smoking, vigorous brushing and rinsing, and drinking liquids through straws are discouraged during the post-operative period because they hinder healing and may cause the wound to open. Cold compresses applied to the outside cheek near the extraction area can help reduce any swelling and promote faster healing. Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that erupt in the back corners of the upper and lower normal adult mouth. Unfortunately, most people experience problems from wisdom teeth; in most cases, this is because the teeth erupt too close to existing permanent teeth, causing crowding, improper bites, and other problems. If wisdom teeth are causing a problem and are not pulled, they can sometimes become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can be extremely painful, as well as harmful to your oral health. Symptoms are easy to spot: severe discomfort, inflammation, and some kinds of infections. These poorly positioned impacted teeth can cause many problems. When they are partially erupted, the opening around the tooth allows bacteria to grow and will eventually cause an infection. The result is swelling, jaw stiffness, pain and illness. The pressure from the erupting wisdom tooth may cause pain in the general area. The most serious problem occurs when tumors or cysts form around the impacted wisdom tooth, resulting in the destruction of the jaw bone and healthy teeth. Removal of the offending impacted tooth or teeth usually resolves these problems. Early removal is recommended to avoid such future problems and to decrease the surgical risk involved with the procedure Many people need to have their wisdom teeth extracted to avoid future serious problems. In general, the lack of the four wisdom teeth does not hamper one's ability to properly bite down, speak or eat. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may have an impacted wisdom tooth: - Facial Swelling - Gum swelling Soft tissue grafts are small pieces of tissue taken from other areas such as the palate and surgically implanted in the affected area. Grafts can correct dental deformities and other problems such as severe gum disease, as well as cover exposed roots, stop bone loss, the recession of gums, and even reduce pain-causing root sensitivity. Replacing lost gum tissue can restore the natural contour of your smile. Gum tissue can change or even shrink. There are many reasons for this, including receding gums (from gingivitis or periodontal disease), and loss of one or more teeth (which causes tooth-less gum tissue to shrink). Gum tissue can be augmented or replaced by a variety of means, including soft tissue grafts, which are small pieces of tissue taken from other areas such as the palate and surgically implanted in the affected area. Gum augmentation procedures can also be used to cover painful, exposed tooth roots. Other GAMA Dental Oral Surgery Services: Extractions made without any care to the Alveolar Bone/Socket usually results in irregular contour when healed. This procedure is done to smoothen out this irregularly shaped bone in order to receive the prosthesis. Extractions render the residual ridge flat. Vestibuloplasty recontours the vestibule to augment ridge so as to prepare it to receive the denture. Infected toot/teeth wherein root canal treatment is not enough due to presence of enormous infection at the apex. Apicoectomy is done, where the apex is cut and removed with the lesion. The advent of synthetic bone materials gave more options to dental practiotioners to save the tooth of their patients. Bone support the tooth in the dental arch. Infected/compromised bone health will lead to tooth loss. But because of this procedure, it can be prevented. Removal of oral cysyts Incision and Drainage Long-standing infection with pus which cannot be arrested by antibiotic must be incised and drained. For severe cases of periodontal diseases which do not respond to routine deep scaling and root planning, a flap is raised and direct scaling and debridement is done to involved root. Gums are re-shaped/re-contoured. Usually this is done when the tooth is to receive a prosthesis or lamintes. Pathologic reconsiderations are also taken into view. Gingival hyperplasis and the like. Some tooth/teeth are naturally short that makes it difficult to restore using crowns and jacket. This procedure is done so as to lengthen its clinical crown.

Paul C. Hutton Published 3 years ago. About a 4 minute read. Image: Silver Oak Cellars is the world's first production facility to earn ILFI's Living Building Certification. | ILFI/Facebook / This article is sponsored by The language and terms we use influence our approach to the problems we face. Switching from sustainable to regenerative design enables us to more easily leave behind strategies that are no longer equal to the challenges we face. Architects and others involved in the design of the built environment have been promoting sustainable design for the better part of the last three decades. It evolved out of prior movements — including both environmental protection and energy efficiency in the 1970s. In that era, however, the terms sustainable design and sustainability were not yet in the common vocabulary. Those of us who were designing buildings used terms such as “solar architecture” or “ecological Beginning in the 1980s, sustainability began to creep into our vocabulary; and in 1987, the United Nations’ Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This definition builds on time-honored traditions including the Iriquois’ Great Law of in which our actions consider the needs of the next seven generations. By the 1990s, sustainable design was a commonplace term associated with design and construction practices that minimized harm to the environment and has been firmly entrenched ever since. Now that sustainable design has been in place for nearly three decades, it is fair to ask what has been accomplished under that banner? According to Architecture 2030, total global floor area from 2010 to 2017 rose by 17 percent while energy use increased only 6 percent. In the United States, building sector CO~2~ emissions declined 27 percent from 2005 to 2020, even as building area increased substantially. More energy-efficient new buildings are a success story of sustainable design. Beyond energy use, sustainable buildings have made significant advances in terms of using materials with fewer harmful providing healthier interior and consuming less water. And yet, the sustainable design movement has fallen far short of the progress needed to prevent substantial environmental damage and climate change. Our current trajectory in energy use and resource consumption all but guarantees we will exceed 1.5°C warming, even as critical habitat continues to be destroyed at an alarming rate. We need to think differently about how we design the built environment and a new term is appropriate; it’s time to retire “sustainability” from our vocabulary. In our practice, we have begun using “regenerative design” to describe the desired outcomes of our work. Regenerative design seeks to not merely lessen the harm of new development, but rather to put design and construction to work as positive forces that repair natural and human systems. The diagram below illustrates the path from sustainability to regenerative design. We are nearing the point of inflection on this graph where we transition from doing “less bad” to “doing good.” We have a long way to go, and have much to learn, before we can routinely implement regenerative design — and, it will be a gradual process. Fortunately, there are examples of successful regenerative designs, even though they are limited in scope and few in number. Sustainability applies to many more fields than design. Businesses, communities and governments all refer to sustainable practices in their efforts to ensure continuing prosperity. Although we take no exception to that use of the term in such context, we believe it will eventually be replaced by newer concepts. One of those may be circular in which there is no waste. The language and terms we use influence our approach to the problems we face. Switching to regenerative design enables us to more easily leave behind strategies that are no longer equal to the challenges we face. One organization that has emerged as a leader in clarifying and codifying regenerative design is the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). Its summary matrix consists of seven categories or “petals,” each of which has two to five imperatives. Those petals Health + Happiness An aspect of this approach that we find intriguing is the inclusion of aspects normally considered outside the scope of design. Health + Happiness and are examples. As designers, we embrace the opportunity to think more broadly about our work and its implications for those who inhabit our creations or are simply affected by the process of construction, wherever they are located. In conclusion, sustainable design was a worthy movement and it helped us get to the point where we are poised to do more. In another decade or two, we may be ready for the next descriptor of our efforts design with, rather than in opposition to, Nature. In the meantime, welcome to the new era of regenerative Published Jan 25, 2021 1pm EST / 10am PST / 6pm GMT / 7pm CET Paul Hutton, FAIA, NCARB is a LEED Fellow, and Chief Sustainability Officer at Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc. This article, produced in cooperation with the Sustainable Brands editorial team, has been paid for by one of our sponsors.

What is HPV? The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common type of viral STI in Ireland. HPV can cause Genital Warts and certain types of cancer, most commonly cervical cancer in women. As the HPV types which cause Genital Warts are considered to be low-risk, you are not at high risk of developing a cancer from these viral types. Sexually transmitted HPVs fall into two categories: - Low-risk HPVs which do not cause cancer but can cause skin warts on or around the genitals or anus. Types 6 and 11 cause 90% of Genital Warts. - High-risk HPVs which can cause cancer. Fourteen high-risk HPV types have been identified. Two of these, types 16 and 18, are responsible for the majority of HPV-caused cancers. What are Genital Warts? Genital Warts may be either flat or bumpy, resembling raspberries or cauliflowers in appearance. The warts begin as small red or pink growths. In some cases, warts can grow as large as four inches across, interfering with intercourse and childbirth. However, they are usually much smaller. Growths may also be hidden or invisible, so regular HPV testing is recommended. Did you know? … HPV are a group of over 100 viruses, some of which can be sexually transmitted and cause Genital Warts, cervical cancer and other cancers. Click here to see the full article. How can I catch it? HPV is highly infectious and can be transmitted through touch including sexual contact. This includes oral, anal, or vaginal sexual intercourse. It is possible for you to catch it or pass it on, even if you or your partner is wearing a condom. This is because the condom does not cover the whole genital area. It is very difficult to know if your partner is carrying the virus as the infected person will often have no symptoms. There is no reliable test in men who do not have symptoms. Genital Warts do not have to be present on the carrier for their partner to become infected with the virus as it can also be caught from touching the skin of the infected person as well as through sexual fluids. What are the signs and symptoms? It is difficult to tell whether you have the virus because many types of HPV cause no symptoms. Some types cause Genital Warts, which may look like small pink spots, raised bumps or cauliflower shaped warts. In men, these warts tend to form on the shaft, head or base of the penis. In women, these warts may form in or around the vagina or the labia or "lips". The more serious types of HPV (High Risk HPV) are those which cause cancers and usually do not have any visible symptoms. Therefore, the only way to find out if you have any type is to get tested. For women, it is extremely important to get tested regularly through cervical smears, given the risks of developing cervical cancer. For MSM, having regular anal swabs is equally important. How can I test for HPV? Better2Know offers a comprehensive suite of tests for women and men. For women, we offer a full examination of your HPV status and cervical health. For women, the following testing options are available: - Better2Know combined PAP smear and HPV test - Recommended for women who are concerned about their HPV status and cervical health. This combined test will look for any changes to the cells of your cervix as well as testing you for 20 types of the virus. - Better2Know PAP smear - Uses a small brush to collect cells from your cervix and these cells will be examined for any trace of abnormalities. With this test, and only if any abnormalities are detected, the sample will be automatically tested for the relevant virus types. - Better2Know HPV test - Obtains a sample from an appropriate site that is tested using a PCR method to detect up to 20 high-risk and low-risk viral types. It should be noted that this test may disrupt the cells of the cervix rendering them unsuitable to PAP testing for a period of time. For men, Better2Know offers swab tests. Your Better2Know doctor will determine the appropriate site (visible wart, urethra, or anus) for sampling. Results are available five days from when your sample is received in the testing laboratory. If left untreated, what are the health risks? Genital Warts may enlarge during pregnancy due to hormones. If the warts become large enough, they could become an obstacle to delivery, resulting in a caesarean section. In some instances, warts are passed from mother to child during childbirth, leading to a potentially life-threatening condition for new-borns in which warts develop in the throat (Laryngeal Papillomatosis). Persistent HPV infections are now recognised as the major cause of cervical cancer and may play a role in some cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and penis. Studies have also found that an oral HPV infection is a strong risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer (cancer that forms in tissues of the oropharynx, which is the middle part of the throat and includes the soft palate, the base of the tongue and the tonsils). What if I test positive for HPV/Genital Warts? If you do test positive for HPV or Genital Warts, Better2Know will arrange an appropriate confidential follow-up consultation to access treatment as needed. You will be referred to a specialist who will be able to recommend follow-up tests and provide advice on the most appropriate treatment for you. Alternatively, this can be arranged through your own GP. Genital Warts can be managed and treated through various methods including creams, lasers, surgery and cryotherapy (which involves freezing the infected cells). Repeat courses of treatment may be required to remove the infected tissue fully. The virus itself, however, cannot be cured by external treatment although, in some people, it will clear naturally over time. There are organisations who can support you such as The STI Project, an online forum for people to share their stories. Can I get an HPV vaccine? You can choose to be vaccinated against types 6 and 11 (which cause 90% of Genital Warts) and types 16 and 18 (which cause 70% of cervical cancers). See our vaccines page for more details. Book your HPV test Better2Know is the world’s largest private provider of sexual health testing services. We will arrange a confidential appointment at a clinic near you with fast and accurate results for your peace of mind. Book online or call our Sexual Health Advisors now.

Improving food donation policies is key to fighting food waste - Impact Area BY EMILY BROAD LEIB AND DOUG O’BRIEN As much as one third of all food produced is lost or wasted. Rather than reaching the estimated 820 million people who face hunger around the world, that food is thrown away and decomposes, contributing 8%-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Loss and waste occur across food supply chains: On farms, because of surplus or imperfect products, and downstream due to inadequate storage infrastructure and consumer confusion or inefficient behavior. There is another important—if less obvious—culprit: Policies and laws that prevent safe, nutritious surplus food from being redistributed to those in need and away from landfills.

We use examples from different parts of the world, including Sweden. We explore how different types of agroforestry systems are adapted to different conditions, how system design affects biological processes and microclimate, how agroforestry affects the environment, the advantages and disadvantages of different agroforestry systems and the economic, environmental and social sustainability of agroforestry. The course offers lectures by teachers and invited speakers, discussions, study visits and a considerable amount of independent study. The course evaluation is now closed Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report. Additional course evaluations for LB0123 Academic year 2022/2023 2022-11-01 - 2023-01-15 Academic year 2021/2022 2021-11-02 - 2022-01-16 Syllabus and other information LB0123 Agroforestry, 15.0 CreditsAgroforestry Education cycleBachelor’s level Advanced study in the main fieldFirst cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements Bachelor’s level (G1F) The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest. Prior knowledgeKnowledge equivalent to at least 30 credits in any of the educational areas social sciences and/or natural sciences, and English B or equivalent. The course gives an overview of different types of agroforestry systems, with the aim to develop the students’ understanding of the interactions between organisms and processes in cropping systems combining agricultural crops (including grazed crops) with woody perennials. On completion of the course, the students will be able to: give an account of different types of agroforestry systems and on a general level explain how they can be adapted to climatic, economic and landscape-related conditions; discuss how the design of an agroforestry system affects biological processes and microclimate; compare environmental impacts of agroforestry systems to those of other cropping systems; discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different agroforestry systems, taking into account practical aspects, productivity and profitability; discuss the economic, environmental and social sustainability of different agroforestry systems. The course combines teacher led and student led activities, such as lectures, literature studies, case studies, project work, group presentations, study visits and field exercises. The course connects to the surrounding society through invited speakers and study visits. The teaching is linked to national and international research, through lectures and literature studies. The course conveys knowledge about different types of agroforestry systems, for example alley cropping, silvopastoral systems and permaculture. The course presents examples of how agroforestry systems have been developed and applied under varying conditions (climate, landscape, farming intensity etc.), and how management interacts with biological processes and microclimate. Through literature studies, lectures and projects, individually and in groups, the student will gain a deeper understanding of environmental advantages of agroforestry systems, but also insight into the challenges and possible trade-offs related to management feasibility, productivity and profitability of agroforestry systems. Grading formThe grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest. Formats and requirements for examination Passed written exams and assignments. Active participation in scheduled compulsory elements such as group presentations, exercises and seminars. If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so. The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam. If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course. For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook. The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on. If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook. Additional informationBasic prior knowledge is recommended in the main fields of study agricultural science, horticultural science, biology, environmental science or landscape architecture. Department of Biosystems and Technology

The first step in finding an answer to a clinical question is to ask an effective question. This was the subject of the previous installment in this series, in which the PICOT question format was introduced (see The Hospitalist, Nov. 2005, p. 32). This format leads naturally to effective search strategies, so we optimize our chances of finding quality answers if they exist. There are many possible sources of information that can be searched, however, and the type of question asked can provide valuable guidance as to which sources should be first up for review. Types of Questions and Where to Look for Answers Many clinical questions pertain to basic medical knowledge rather than cutting-edge current research. These so-called background questions typically involve such issues as the underlying pathophysiology of a disease, the incidence of the disease, the general treatment considerations for the disease, and overall prognosis for patients with the disease. These questions usually do not require evaluation of the most recent medical literature and can often be answered by reviewing sources of established medical knowledge such as medical textbooks, MD Consult, or UpToDate. In fact, searching for basic knowledge in the current research literature can be exhausting because the focus of most papers is necessarily narrow and therefore too restrictive to properly address knowledge of a general nature. The main limitation of these more general sources is that it takes years for medical knowledge to become established, so the most current results will seldom be incorporated. For background questions this is usually acceptable, but if a major breakthrough in our understanding of a disease occurs it is unlikely to be found in these sources. An additional limitation is that the statements found in these sources are often not truly evidence-based—at least not in a transparent or reproducible manner. These limitations are becoming less problematic as resources such as UpToDate strive to add evidence-based reviews and quality measures to their summaries, and also begin to update information much more rapidly as online materials become more standard. In contrast to background clinical questions, foreground clinical questions are more likely to relate to the management of an individual patient in a specific clinical setting, and are therefore too narrow in scope to be addressed well by the sources best suited for background questions. For example, consider the question posed in the last installment of this series, “Among men over the age of 65 with Stage II renal cell carcinoma, does post-resection chemotherapy result in greater five-year survival than nephrectomy alone?” No textbook will answer a question with this narrow focus. To find an answer we need to be able to sift through the current medical research literature. Searching for the answers to well-constructed clinical questions is obviously a crucial step in the EBM process. How to Search Research Databases The number of medical journals has increased dramatically in the past 20 years. As a result, while it may be more likely that your question has been addressed somewhere, it can be more difficult to locate the paper you need. One approach to this problem is to become skilled in developing search strategies. We will return to this, but an alternative is to utilize secondary journals such as ACP Journal Club (www.acponline.org) or prefiltered sources such as the Cochrane Library (www.cochrane.org). Secondary journals typically screen articles for both clinical relevance and methodologic quality, making them efficient resources for busy clinicians. The Cochrane Library focuses mainly on systematic reviews of controlled trials of therapeutic interventions. The main downside of these sources is that they may not address your particular question. Therefore, one effective search strategy is to first search a secondary journal or prefiltered source and stop if you find what you need. If you don’t find what you are looking for, you will need to enter the world of the large medical research database armed with a search strategy.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Many believe it’s simply an ovarian condition, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Instead, PCOS is a whole-body hormone condition that affects the ovaries. Hormones are the problem, ovaries are the victims. What is PCOS? Despite the misleading name, polycystic ovaries are not specific to PCOS and can actually occur in any woman (and do about 25% of the time). There is controversy over the exact diagnostic criteria for PCOS and there are different ways to make the diagnosis, but according to the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society, you qualify for PCOS if you meet ALL of the following criteria: - Irregular periods OR polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (polycystic ovaries are not a requirement and may or may not be present) - High androgens (i.e. testosterone, DHEA-S) on a blood test OR symptoms of high androgens (i.e. facial hair, acne, male pattern balding) - Other reasons for high androgens have been ruled out. To cut through some of the medical jargon, PCOS is a failure to ovulate regularly and androgen excess.#PCOS isn't just a period problem, it's a whole-body hormone condition! Follow this 6 Step Protocol to take back control of your PCOS today! #saslife Click To Tweet Below is a list of potential signs and symptoms associated with PCOS. Every woman with PCOS is unique so you may experience some or all of these symptoms (or have additional ones not listed). The good news is many of your PCOS associated symptoms can be alleviated and/or managed with diet and lifestyle changes! But again, PCOS isn’t just a period problem and is a whole-body hormonal condition that can last a lifetime, past reproductive age and into menopause. If left untreated, it can increase your risk for other health conditions such as: - Cardiovascular disease - Diabetes and gestational diabetes - Metabolic syndrome Follow the Roots! In order to get results from natural approaches, you have to dig deeper and address your underlying drivers of PCOS which can include some or all of the following: - Insulin resistance - Sex hormone imbalance - Gut health imbalance Chronic inflammation is more than just pain and redness, it’s about whole-body communication and is a key piece to the PCOS puzzle. Inflammation disrupts hormone receptors, suppresses ovulation and stimulates the adrenal glands and ovaries to make more androgens. Each component of the following 6 Step PCOS Protocol works to support a healthy inflammatory response which is essential in truly addressing and alleviating the symptoms associated with PCOS. 6 Step PCOS Protocol 1. Nourish Your Body with Whole Foods Be careful to not eat too few carbohydrates or calories. This stresses the body and disrupts hormones, increasing fatigue and possibly exacerbating PCOS symptoms. Optimize your weight. Not all women with PCOS are overweight, but if you are, moderate weight loss can improve PCOS-related symptoms. Get Off the Blood Sugar Roller Coaster! - Protein, fat and fiber- the trifecta for blood sugar management Opt for Nutrient Dense, Low Glycemic Foods: - Incorporate lots of colorful fruits and vegetables (organic when possible) - Aim for 2-3 servings of omega-3 rich fish per week (wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring) - Aim for ½ plate worth of colorful non-starchy vegetables and balance the rest of the plate with adequate: - High-quality protein (grass-fed, pasture raised meats when possible) - Healthy fats (raw nuts and seeds, avocado, cold pressed olive oil) - Nutrient dense, whole food carbohydrates (sweet potatoes, quinoa, whole fruit) Limit or Avoid: - Processed carbohydrates (white rice/bread/pasta, chips, pretzels, pastries, etc.) - Added sugar - Artificial sweeteners - Oxidized fats, industrial seed oils (hydrogenated oils, soybean/corn/cottonseed oils, etc.) - Caffeine (from all sources, not just coffee) Regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity and metabolism. Balance is the key! Too much exercise can actually worsen PCOS, so start simple and incorporate a variety of cardio, strength training and flexibility activities. 3. Manage Stress Chronic stress triggers your body to dump MORE sugar in the blood, adding to the vicious cycle of insulin resistance while also robbing your body of ‘ingredients’ needed to make sex hormones. Rewrite your relationship with stress. Have a variety of stress management tools in place such as meditation, biofeedback, yoga, deep breathing or even play, and consider acupuncture. Master your sleep. Inadequate sleep disrupts hormones and ovulation. Aim for 7-9 hours nightly. 4. Reduce Toxins Do the best you can to reduce overall toxin load (you can’t eliminate them all!). Pay attention to food quality (organic, grass-fed, pasture raised when possible), limit plastics, choose cleaner personal care products (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) and avoid “fragrance.” Check out the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for guides on everything from produce to sunscreen. 5. Optimize Gut Health A healthy gut removes excess estrogen and other waste from the body. You need to poop daily! Be sure to address any issues with constipation and get things moving! Build a Better Microbiome: - Avoid foods that you react to (wheat, dairy, etc.) - Minimize processed foods and artificial sweeteners - Eat for diversity, eat the colors of the rainbow! - Consume fermented foods regularly 6. Supplement (as needed) Food first, supplements second! Start with a high-quality multivitamin or prenatal vitamin and then add other nutrients and supplements as needed. The following nutrients are key players in managing PCOS. Include plenty of these in your diet and supplement if necessary: - Magnesium: Better known as the "miracle mineral for periods"! Food sources include beans, greens, grains, nuts and seeds. If you need additional magnesium, choose a high-quality magnesium glycinate supplement. - Zinc: Another miracle mineral and the second most recommended supplement for period problems. Food sources include oysters, grass-fed red meat, nuts, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds. If you need additional zinc, choose a high-quality zinc citrate or picolinate supplement (max of 30mg daily). - Vitamin D: Have your levels checked and supplement if deficient. Your body can synthesize vitamin D from sunlight, but this is an unreliable source. Food sources include egg yolks, cod liver oil, salmon, mackerel, tuna and dairy products. - Omega-3 Fatty Acids: We can’t forget about good ole omega-3s! The ever powerful anti-inflammatory agents EPA and DHA can be found in wild-caught salmon, sardines, mackerel or herring. Aim for 2-3 servings of these fatty fish weekly and/or take a high-quality fish oil supplement to boost EPA/DHA intake. Additional PCOS support supplements MAY include: - Inositol (combined myo- and d-chiro-inositol at 40:1, from supplements such as Ovasitol) - N-acetylcysteine or NAC (from high-quality supplements) This list is not intended to be a blanket recommendation. Everyone is different and needs a unique blend of nutrients and supplements. Before starting any new supplements, consult with a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist to get a personalized recommendation. PCOS is a complex condition and there isn't a quick fix or overnight cure. It can take 3-12 months of consistent lifestyle and dietary changes, along with other natural therapies, to bring about real change in the body. Be patient and believe in yourself! You can do this! Pumpkin Seed Pesto Spinach, Quinoa and Grass-Fed Skirt Steak Salad This low glycemic recipe is packed full of PCOS supporting nutrients magnesium and zinc and is perfect to enjoy outside on a nice summer evening! Skirt Steak Spice Rub 4-6 garlic cloves, minced ¼ cup olive oil 1 Tbsp salt 1 Tbsp ground cumin 2 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste 1 Tbsp paprika 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp onion powder 1½ - 2 lbs grass fed skirt steak, trimmed of silver skin Pumpkin Seed Pesto (makes about 2 ½ cups) 2 cups unsalted hulled pumpkin seeds (green) ¼ - ½ cup water ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, or to taste 3 cloves garlic 1 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste 1 cup quinoa, dry 1½ cups water or chicken stock Fresh baby spinach, preferably organic - Combine spice rub ingredients together in a bowl. - Trim steak of silver skin, leaving most of the fat. - Rub steak with spice mixture and let marinate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight in the fridge. (The longer it marinates, the more tender the meat will be.) - Combine quinoa and water or chicken stock in a medium-sized saucepan, bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat. Cook for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Set aside to cool. - While quinoa is cooking, place pumpkin seeds in a skillet over medium-low heat. Toast, tossing every 30-60 seconds, for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned and popping a bit. Set aside to cool. - Once cool, combine toasted pumpkin seeds in a food processor with water, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and cilantro. Pulse until it forms a coarse paste (or to desired texture). Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and chill until ready to use. - Heat outdoor grill or stovetop grill to medium-high heat. Place steak on hot grill and cook 5-7 minutes on each side, or until desired doneness. Be careful not to burn the spice crust! - Let steak rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into thin strips. (Cut on the bias, against the grain). - Combine cooked quinoa and a few generous handfuls of fresh baby spinach with 2 Tbsp pumpkin seed pesto. - Top with sliced steak and a dollop of pumpkin seed pesto. High Zinc Foods: grass-fed beef, pumpkin seeds, mushrooms, spinach High Magnesium Foods: pumpkin seeds, spinach, quinoa

Plastic ocean litter boosts deadly infections in corals Garbage like disposable diapers, plastic bags and snack wrappers is getting into the ocean and snagging on coral reefs, leading to deadly infections that literally eat the corals alive, a new study suggests. A four-year survey of 125,000 corals in 150 reefs in the Asia-Pacific region found that corals in contact with plastic debris had an 89 per cent chance of having three nasty diseases: - Skeletal eroding band disease. - White syndrome. - Black band disease. As their names imply, those diseases are kind of like flesh-eating disease and typically deadly. “Those pathogens eat the tissue,” said Joleah Lamb, a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University and lead author of the new study published today in Science. Corals that weren’t in contact with garbage had just a four per cent chance of being visibly diseased. While the researchers didn’t check to see whether the sick corals recovered, Lamb thinks it’s unlikely. And sadly, the chance of corals coming in contact with plastic in some places is quite high. A 2015 study estimated that 4.8 million to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic washed into the world’s oceans in 2010 alone, and the problem was particularly bad in the Asia Pacific region, home to more than half the world’s coral reefs. Lamb was part of an international team of researchers that began surveying corals in the Pacific and Caribbean in 2011 to see what kinds of factors, such as climate and cyclones, impacted coral diseases. The surveys involved stringing a measuring tape over about 15 metres of coral reef, and having divers examine all the corals within a metre on either side of the measuring tape to see whether they were healthy or diseased. That was a pretty nice gig in places like Australia’s Great Barrier reef that were relatively pristine except for the occasional snagged fishing line, recalled Lisa Kelly, a Canadian from Chapeau, Que. Kelly, now a PhD student at Carleton University in Ottawa, participated in the Australian surveys while doing her master’s degree at James Cooke University in Townsville, Queensland: “I didn’t mind one bit.” But Lamb found a different environment in Southeast Asia, home to some of the world’s most diverse and beautiful coral reefs. In the waters around Indonesia, the researchers found themselves swimming through raw sewage and dodging plastic garbage that ranged in size from Q-Tips, to potato chip bags, to big plastic sacks — an average of around 26 items per 100 square metres. (In Australia, there was less than one item in an area twice as big). Overall, the researchers estimated 11.1 billion items are snagged or lodged in coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific region. At one point, the researchers realized they were inadvertently contributing to the problem –— the garbage they carefully collected in waste containers aboard the boat they lived in during the survey was being dumped overboard each morning by the local crew. “That horrified me,” Lamb recalled. Eventually, she realized she should analyze the data see if there was a link between the garbage and the coral diseases — and there was a big one. Based on other studies, the researchers think there are a couple of ways the plastic could be causing disease. The plastic may stress the corals by blocking light and oxygen from reaching them or cut into the coral’s flesh or rub against it, creating a wound that bacteria can get in. It may also create a comfortable environment for bacteria and bring them in contact with the corals, Kelly said. “The bacteria kind of hitch a ride on the plastic.” The team’s discovery adds to a long list of stresses on corals — from frequent and widespread bleaching linked to climate change, to overfishing and pollution. Corals are important habitats for a huge range of marine organisms and key spawning areas and nursery areas for commercially important fish. They also protect coastlines from storms, waves, and erosion, and help nutrients enter and move through the ocean’s food webs. Lamb said the good news in light of the findings published in Science is plastic pollution is something that can be more easily dealt with in the short term than many of the other problems, by helping countries in Southeast Asia reduce the amount of plastic garbage going into the ocean. Lamb said the study made her more aware about plastic pollution and guilty about her own use of plastic. It prompted her to take steps like replacing the plastic bags that line the wastebaskets at home with bags made of potato starch. Kelly said she no longer uses plastic straws and shopping bags. Besides Lamb and Kelly, the study involved other researchers from Australia, the U.S., Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia. It was funded by The Nature Conservancy, the Australia Institute of Marine Science, the U.S. National Research Council, the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Australian Research Council, the Environmental Defense Fund and Cornell University. Photo credit: Kathryn Berry. Article by Emily Chung, CBC News

People with ADHD often have difficulty with Executive Functions.Planning, organising and completing tasks are not areas they excel in. Even though they try their very best not to forget things, sometimes they just can’t get it right. Repeatedly letting themselves and others down leads to feelings of worthlessness, that no matter how hard they try people are still left disappointed. They make a commitment to try better next time and start to plan their time – even sometimes excessively in an effort at not letting anything slip. But this approach quickly leads to feelings of overwhelm as they are unable to prioritise effectively and can’t seem to commit the right amount of energy to tasks and burn out from their efforts. Finding a “niche” of interest people with ADHD will dive in and learn as much as they can, while they are interested in it. However, when it comes to being able to communicate this knowledge with others, retrieve it from the memory store and articulate it, they often fall short, jumbling facts and having a hard time presenting information in a coherent manner, leaving their listener a bit confused and underwhelmed by their efforts. In social settings, people with ADHD may try hard to be themselves and to not let everything get them down, however they may then act in a way that is “over the top” and eventually isolate themselves as people don’t always want to be around this type of energy.This constant cycle of trying hard and falling short leads to low self-esteem as the person starts to believe that they are incapable of living up to the expectations placed on them. They start to believe they are worthless and unreliable and that they should rather not try in the first place.Over time this is bound to lead to symptoms of depression. Adults who have walked a long road with untreated ADHD, learn to formulate habits to hide what is really going on, damaging relationships along the way.By not getting a handle on what is going on in your child’s brain and helping them effectively, we run the risk of them developing other comorbid psychological problems and developing habits that are damaging and hard to break.Often the first step in the process is to acknowledge that your child is struggling – this takes the pressure off of them to perform to certain expectations and allows them to slip up from time to time. While using a diagnosis as an excuse is never a good idea, approaching the situation from a place of understanding can go a long way in the healing process.Making a decision on treatments will also empower the individual to take charge in an effective way, one that shows results and rebuilds their self-esteem.A Quantitative EEG should be the first step in identifying what is really going on in your individual child’s brain and can guide you in making the most appropriate treatment decisions for your child and your family. Neurofeedback therapy will empower your child to control their own brainwave activity, resulting in improved focus, concentration and motivation. There is no quick fix, or one size fits all treatment – but the sooner you can start your child on a path to healing and coping, the more comorbid conditions you can avoid!

The SIGN-HUB is a resource hub created by a European research team. It aims to document, assess, and exchange knowledge about the legacy of the Deaf community innovatively and inclusively. The use of sign languages remains marginalized and under threat in most European countries despite renewed interest and legal recognition in some. Developing a theoretically informed comparative approach to sign language grammar is a fundamental step towards its’ preservation and dissemination. Contributes to the description of the human faculty of language, whose study is heavily skewed toward spoken languages. The project has invested in and created an open, state-of-the-art digital platform with customized accessibility interfaces. The project has made available core content in the following domains, which can be expanded to other signing languages in the future: - “digital grammars of 5 sign languages, produced with a new online grammar writing tool; - an interactive digital atlas of linguistic structures of the world’s sign languages; - online sign language assessment instruments for education and clinical intervention; - the first digital archive of life narratives by elderly signers subtitled and partially annotated for linguistic properties.” Specifically, the components will explore and value Deaf signing communities’ cultural, historical and linguistic assets, advance linguistic knowledge, and impact the diagnosis of language deficits among minorities. The public and specialists will access them for the first time through a centralized platform. “The project is an essential and invaluable step towards progress. It provides recognition, access to imperative information, and further knowledge for the public and researchers. Several efforts are underway to recognize sign language and make heritage and history accessible. However, it is not as common to find a centralized and multifaceted approach that addresses the root cause and creates resources, setting SIGN-HUB apart. I want to learn more:

Extreme cold weather can have a significant impact on the structural integrity of a roof. The effects of low temperatures on roofs are often underestimated, yet they can lead to costly repairs if not addressed promptly. In this section, we will explore how winter weather can affect roofing systems and discuss the potential damage that can occur as a result. When temperatures drop below freezing, several factors come into play that can compromise the stability and functionality of a roof. From freezing rain and snow accumulation to ice dams and thermal expansion, these conditions pose unique challenges for homeowners and property managers alike. Understanding the potential risks associated with cold weather is crucial for maintaining the longevity of your roof. By recognizing the effects that extreme cold can have on roofing systems, you can take proactive measures to prevent damage and ensure the safety and durability of your home or building. In the following sections, we will delve into specific ways in which low temperatures impact roofs, including common issues such as leaks, cracks, weakened materials, and structural damage. We will also provide practical tips on how to mitigate these risks and protect your roof during winter months. So let’s explore in detail how cold weather can impact the structural integrity of a roof and what steps you can take to safeguard your property from potential winter-related damages. The Role of Freezing Temperatures in Roof Material Deterioration Freezing temperatures can have a significant impact on the deterioration of roof materials. One of the main concerns is frost damage, which occurs when water freezes and expands within the roofing system. This expansion can lead to cracks, fractures, and other forms of damage in roofing materials such as shingles. Ice dams are another consequence of freezing temperatures that can contribute to roof degradation. Ice dams occur when snow on the roof melts due to heat escaping from the interior of the building and then refreezes at the edges or in gutters. As ice builds up, it can cause water to back up under shingles, leading to leaks and further damage. Furthermore, freeze-thaw cycles play a significant role in accelerating the deterioration of roofing materials. These cycles occur when moisture penetrates into small cracks or gaps in the roof during warmer periods and then freezes during colder temperatures. The expansion caused by freezing can worsen existing damage or create new ones, ultimately compromising the integrity of the roof. To mitigate these issues, it is crucial for homeowners and property managers to ensure proper insulation and ventilation in their roofs. This helps minimize heat loss and prevents ice dams from forming. Regular inspections and maintenance are also essential for identifying any early signs of damage caused by freezing temperatures so that repairs can be promptly addressed. In conclusion, freezing temperatures pose a threat to roofs through frost damage, ice dams formation, and freeze-thaw cycles. Understanding these risks allows homeowners and property managers to take necessary precautions to protect their roofs from deterioration caused by freezing conditions. Potential Risks: Common Roof Problems Caused by Extreme Cold Weather Extreme cold weather can cause the formation of ice dams. Ice dams occur when ice/snow on the roof melts due to heat escaping from the interior of the building and then refreezes at the eaves. This ice buildup prevents proper drainage and can lead to water penetration through the roof, causing damage to ceilings, walls, and insulation. Snow accumulation on roofs can also pose risks in cold weather conditions. Excessive snow loads can put significant stress on a structure, potentially leading to roof collapse if not properly addressed or cleared in a timely manner. Additionally, condensation issues may arise in colder climates. When warm air from inside meets cold surfaces within an attic or crawl space, condensation can form. This moisture buildup can lead to mold growth, rotting wood, and other structural problems if not properly ventilated or insulated. It is crucial for homeowners in areas with extreme winter weather conditions to be proactive in preventing these common roof problems. Regular inspections, proper insulation and ventilation measures, as well as prompt removal of snow accumulation are essential steps towards maintaining a safe and intact roofing system during cold spells. Proper insulation and ventilation play a crucial role in protecting structures from cold-related damage. In cold climates, effective insulation is essential to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature and reduce energy consumption. Insulation acts as a barrier, preventing heat loss through walls, ceilings, and floors. In particular, insulation in the attic is vital for preventing ice dams during winter months. Ice dams occur when warm air from the interior of a building escapes into the attic, causing snow on the roof to melt and then refreeze at the eaves. This can lead to water damage inside the building and potential structural issues. By ensuring proper attic insulation, such as using materials with high R-values and sealing any air leaks or gaps, homeowners can minimize heat transfer between their living spaces and the attic. This helps maintain a consistent temperature throughout the home while reducing energy costs. Ventilation systems also play a critical role in protecting roofs during extreme temperatures. Proper airflow allows for efficient moisture control by preventing condensation buildup that can lead to mold growth or rotting of roof materials. In colder climates, ventilation systems help prevent ice dam formation by maintaining uniform temperatures on the roof surface. By allowing cold air to circulate under the roof deck, these systems help keep snow from melting unevenly and refreezing at eaves. Furthermore, adequate air circulation during extreme temperatures helps prevent excessive heat buildup in attics or crawl spaces. This reduces strain on cooling systems during hot summers while promoting energy efficiency. Investing in proper insulation for cold climates and implementing effective ventilation systems are crucial steps in protecting buildings against cold-related damage. These measures not only ensure comfort but also contribute to energy savings and prolonging the lifespan of structures by minimizing potential issues caused by extreme temperatures. Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Roof from Extreme Cold Conditions To ensure the longevity and integrity of your roof, it is essential to follow a winter roof maintenance checklist. This includes taking proactive steps to remove snow safely from the roof and clearing gutters to prevent ice buildup. One of the most important tasks in winter roof maintenance is removing ice/snow safely from the surface. Accumulated snow can add excessive weight to your roof, leading to structural damage or even collapse. Using a roof rake with a long handle can help you safely remove snow from the ground without having to climb up on the roof. Clearing gutters is another crucial step in protecting your roof during extreme cold conditions. When gutters are clogged with leaves, debris, or ice dams, they can obstruct proper drainage and cause water backup. As temperatures drop, this trapped water can freeze and expand, leading to gutter damage and potential leaks into your home. Regularly clearing out gutters will help prevent ice buildup and maintain proper water flow. In addition to these specific tasks, it’s also important to inspect your roof for any signs of damage or vulnerability before winter sets in. Look for loose or damaged shingles, cracks in flashing or seals around vents and chimneys, as well as any areas where moisture may be penetrating. By following these maintenance tips and incorporating them into your winter routine, you can protect your roof from extreme cold conditions and ensure its durability throughout the season. Remember that regular inspections and timely repairs are key to maintaining a healthy roofing system all year round.

What is Bike to School Week? Organised by the charity Sustrans, Bike to School Week runs between 28th September and 2nd October 2020. In a bid to promote and celebrate the benefits of cycling, scooting and walking, parents and children are being urged to ditch the car or public transport and get active on the school run. Bike to School Week is a great opportunity to promote the positive impact that an active lifestyle can have on pupils’ wellbeing and health. With various activities and resources available on the Sustrans website for use in the classroom, it is easy for schools to get involved. Who are Sustrans? Tasked with the challenge of making walking and cycling more appealing and accessible for people nationwide, Sustrans are the custodians of the National Cycle Network, a labyrinth of nearly 13,000 miles of signed routes. As such, they make regular improvements to the maps, signage and pathways across the country, over 5,000 miles of which are traffic-free. They are working in partnership with the Bikeability Trust, the organisation who deliver the government’s cycling education programme in primary schools, on this exciting project aimed at increasing activity levels among parents and children. Sustrans and their partners work hard to deliver the message that walking or cycling to school not only reduces air pollution, but helps to embed healthy behaviours in our children and young people which in turn will help to prevent ill health. The key stats - Whilst Covid-19 encouraged many of us to dust off the bikes in the garage, evidence shows only 2% of children regularly cycle to and from school. - Over 50% of school journeys 2 miles or less on public transport need to make the switch to cycling or walking. This is to ensure social distancing on public transport for pupils needing to make longer journeys. - The government’s Chief Medical Officer recommends children and young people (5-18 years) should be regularly getting 60 minutes of physical activity every day, half of which should be provided by schools. - Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health problems among children with an estimated prevalence up to 20% - Higher levels of physical fitness have been associated with lower anxiety levels in children. How can you get involved? - Promote Bike to School Week – Run a competition to see which class has the highest percentage of participants throughout the week. - Deliver the activities – Spend a few minutes each day on the activities from the Sustrans website. - Register for Bikeability – If your primary school doesn’t currently offer a Bikeability course (usually targeted at Year 5 pupils), check out their website where you’ll find all the information you need to get started. Register with Bikeability - Provide 30 minutes physical activity every day – We know how busy your school day can be, but the health and wellbeing of our young people is more important now than ever. Endeavour to find ways of embedding physical activity within your core curriculum subjects.

The most prominent evolution in the new future is the development of high speed trains running across Europe at speeds reaching 320 km an hour. High-speed railways in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland have joined to form Rail team. A number of technical issues and language complications still have to be resolved, but the trains have the potential of taking some business from airlines and the road. High-speed trains require that railway staff gain new skills. Developing new and unconventional transport systems can take a long time. New transport modes are emerging in a more distant future and cannot be expected to influence the markets in a five to 10-year perspective. Proposals for vehicle automation have been around for decades. Automating the guidance of cars is attractive for utilization of highway space and safety. Smart cars of the future will use advanced technology to perform such functions as automatic cruise control, lane departure warnings and correction, hazardous object avoidance, driver awakenings, position and satellite monitoring, self-parking and driverless transportation (www.future-car.net). Emerging transport telematics technologies offer many possibilities for improving vehicle control, comfort and safety. New materials and nanotechnologies will reduce weight and energy use. Promoting the development of cars that are smarter, safer and cleaner, will boosts growth of jobs in the digital economy. Rapid Urban Flexible (RUF). The Rapid Urban Flexible (RUF) is a system where electric vehicles can drive on normal roads or on top of a monorail for longer distances. A substantial part of the system is automated and the system design promises higher efficiency in transport, low energy use and increased safety. Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has developed a superbus, which switches seamlessly between ordinary roads and dedicated super tracks. The bus reaches speeds of 250 km an hour. The project plans to unveil a fully functional prototype at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Magnetically levitating (maglev) trains are already operating in Shanghai, China, at speeds of up to 430 km an hour (http://www.maglev.de). Germany plans to build a 37 kilometre stretch of maglev tracks from Munich Central Station to the airport. The train will travel at up to450 km an hour

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is often caused by exposure to asbestos, a mineral fiber commonly used in insulation and building construction materials. Mesothelioma can affect the lungs, heart, and abdomen, with the most common form being pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s important to have an open and honest dialogue with your doctor about your diagnosis and treatment options. Here are some questions to ask your doctor about mesothelioma pleural cancer: 1. What is my diagnosis? It’s important to understand your diagnosis and the type of cancer you have. Ask your doctor questions such as: What type of mesothelioma do I have? What stage is my cancer? What is the prognosis? 2. What treatment options are available to me? Your doctor will likely discuss the various treatment options available to you, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Ask questions about each option such as what the side effects may be, how successful the treatment has been in other patients, and how long the treatment will last. 3. Are there any clinical trials or experimental treatments I can participate in? Clinical trials and experimental treatments offer new and innovative ways to treat cancer. It’s important to understand the risks and benefits associated with these options. Ask your doctor if there are any clinical trials or experimental treatments you can participate in. 4. What can I do to manage my symptoms? Mesothelioma can cause a variety of symptoms, such as pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Ask your doctor what you can do to manage and reduce symptoms. They may suggest lifestyle modifications, such as quitting smoking or increasing physical activity, or medications to manage pain. 5. What should I do if my symptoms worsen? Some symptoms of mesothelioma can worsen over time. It’s important to know what to do if your symptoms worsen. Ask your doctor what signs or symptoms you should look for and when it’s time to call the doctor or seek emergency medical care. 6. What support services are available to me? Living with mesothelioma can be difficult and it’s important to have support. Ask your doctor about any support services that are available to you, such as counseling, support groups, or home health care services. Talking to your doctor about mesothelioma pleural cancer can be overwhelming, but it’s important to ask questions and understand your diagnosis and treatment options. With the right information and support, you can make informed decisions about your health.

How to create affordable, safe, high-quality housing for everyone who needs it - Most housing is privately owned by people who live in it. - Ukraine has no unified systemic approach to housing provision, this task is divided between different government bodies and institutions. - The existing housing programs are not effective, either socially or economically. - The most widespread mechanism for funding housing construction carries risks for the people who wish to buy housing. - New housing construction is often associated with corruption, breaking the law, and protests. - The government invests resources in developing mortgage loans, but it is not very successful. - Real estate taxation does not work effectively. - Housing management is fragmented and inefficient. - Major repairs of housing are barely ever conducted, so the condition of housing is deteriorating. - Rental housing is poorly regulated, tenant rights are poorly protected. - Social and temporary use housing stocks are practically non-existent. - There is unsuccessful experience of using modular housing to accommodate internally displaced people. - Communities do not receive fair compensation for providing land for construction. - Outdated, missing or contradictory city planning documents lead to chaotic development. - The system of collecting data about housing does not allow us to properly assess the current state or to plan the future. - The labor rights of employees in the construction sector are often infringed. - Newly built housing and communal infrastructure can be destroyed again. - It will be more difficult to rebuild and update housing policies without up-to-date information on the condition of the housing stock, the movement and needs of the population. - Without updating the principles and priorities of public policies, the housing crisis will deepen. - If unrealistic expectations of the speed and comprehensiveness of rebuilding are not fulfilled, it can lead to increased social tensions. - Continuing ineffective housing provision programs will prevent the achievement of goals expected by society. - Without a clear system of distribution of the new housing, which would account for the needs of different social groups, many people will not be able to realize their right to housing. - Without understanding the actual period of exploitation, there is a risk of creating low-quality temporary housing in which people will be forced to live long-term. - Without government regulation of the rental housing sector, its unaffordability and insecurity will increase. - Dominance of the interests of developers can lead to the construction of a lot of low-quality housing and deterioration of the urban environment. - Central and local governments may lack institutional capacity to deal with all the challenges of the housing crisis. - The updated housing policy must center the person and their needs. - Ensuring access to housing is of higher priority than restoring assets. - Public funding must increase access to housing and account for the urgency of needs. - Government regulation and support for the private rental sector is required to protect the rights of tenants. - The government must support and develop the non-profit rental housing sector. - Real estate taxation should provide revenue to local budgets and reduce the share of empty housing and the spread of speculative investment. - Effective mechanisms should be introduced to prevent deterioration of the quality of the housing stock and excessive energy use. - Restoration of the housing stock must be complex in nature. - Housing policy must be well-founded, based on high-quality and updated data. - Housing policies should be developed and implemented in a participatory way while taking into account the needs of various groups of people. - A high-quality update of housing policies requires improving the institutional capacity of central and local governments. Housing policy is one of the strategic subjects in Cedos’s work. We have conducted a complex study of the current state and prospects of the development of housing policy in Ukraine, published a learning course, analyzed the impact of the pandemic on housing, prepared legal guidelines on renting, and prepared dozens of relevant materials in the media as well as discussions. Today, our organization continues to monitor the impact of war on access to housing and analyze the options for crisis housing provision. To coordinate the work on the search for sustainable solutions for rebuilding housing and updating housing policies in Ukraine, we have founded Re.Housing for Ukraine, a platform for analysis and discussion; this document has been prepared as a part of the platform. Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has provoked an unprecedented housing crisis which has affected the majority of Ukraine’s population. As of May 22, according to the UN estimate, about 8 million people in Ukraine have become internally displaced. Tens of thousands of people saw their homes destroyed or damaged as a result of war. In early April, the Ministry of Community and Territory Development reported 6,800 destroyed or damaged buildings. This number is incomplete, since some of Ukraine’s territories remain temporarily occupied, and it’s impossible to evaluate the scale of destruction there. The number of damaged housing units can grow as shelling and missile strikes continue. War has also exacerbated and made visible the problems in housing policy which existed even earlier. Overcoming this crisis is impossible without updating the principles and approaches to housing provision. Housing is a fundamental human right guaranteed by both international documents and the Constitution of Ukraine. Housing plays an important role in both economic and social processes in society. On the one hand, real estate can be an investment asset. On the other hand, home is a space of social reproduction where people rest and spend time with their families. The location and quality of housing can affect access to education, clean air, and public transit. The government’s job is to create and implement a balanced housing policy which supports and develops long-term renting, a non-profit housing sector with various forms of ownership, and which supports responsible housing ownership. The updated housing policy in Ukraine should be based on the principles of economic and social effectiveness and fairness. It should be well-founded, based on high-quality data, and should meet the needs of different groups of people. Housing policy should be transparent and participatory. Its reform will not be possible without reducing the scale of corruption in the construction industry and expanding access to housing. In order to respond to the existing challenges and solve the housing crisis, it is also extremely important to increase the institutional capacity of government bodies, conduct research in the housing sphere, and develop public discussion. In this text, we offer our own vision of the future housing policy which will center people, their needs and means. 1. Most housing is privately owned by people who live in it. Modern Ukraine’s housing policy started forming after the collapse of the Soviet Union. 1992 saw the beginning of free transfer of housing to the ownership of people who lived in it. On the one hand, it was a way to support the population in an economic crisis. On the other hand, privatization shrank the publicly owned housing stock and launched the process of commodification of housing. As of 2013, only around 6% of housing stock was owned by the state or municipalities. In 2018, Ukraine was among the countries with the highest share of privately owned housing (over 90%). In Ukraine, the owners are often individual households. The majority of people who obtained housing as a result of privatization use it as their home. 2. Ukraine has no unified systemic approach to housing provision, this task is divided between different government bodies and institutions. The Ministry of Community and Territory Development (MinRegion) shapes and implements the state housing policy in Ukraine. Its structure includes a separate Department of Housing Policy and Urban Planning. The State Fund for Facilitating Housing Construction for the Youth implements national and local housing provision programs, particularly by providing discount loans. The Affordable Mortgage program is funded by the government via the private joint-stock company called the Ukrainian Financial Housing Company. Housing stocks for social and temporary use are updated and managed by local governments which can also introduce local housing programs. Subventions for construction or purchase of housing for the temporary use stock for internally displaced people are managed by the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories; the same Ministry also partially manages housing for internally displaced people in general. Various sectoral ministries and central executive government bodies work to provide housing to the employees in their respective industries (medical workers, police, military, etc.). The Ministry of Social Policy is responsible for solving the problems of homelessness at the national level, while municipal social security agencies work on this at the local level. Housing policy in Ukraine is regulated by the Housing Code and some provisions of the Civil, Family, Land, and Economic Codes. However, the Housing Code of Ukraine was developed and adopted back in the Soviet Union, in 1983. The latest draft of a new edition of the Code was developed by the MinRegion in 2021. The Concept of the State Housing Policy, adopted in 1995, also needs updating. Other legislation that regulates housing policy includes, among others, the laws “On mortgage,” “On housing stock for social use,” “On property,” “On land lease,” “On financial-credit mechanisms and property management in housing construction and real estate transactions,” “On privatization of public housing stock,” as well as the Cabinet of Ministers Decree “On approving the Procedure for forming housing stocks for the temporary accommodation of internally displaced persons” and other documents. 3. The existing housing programs are not effective, either socially or economically. In the past thirty years, the government housing policy in general has been aimed mainly at supporting the institution of private housing ownership. This has been facilitated by both public programs for co-funding housing purchases and by low property tax rates. One of the main implementers of the government’s housing programs has been the State Fund for Facilitating Housing Construction for the Youth. The Fund uses various mechanisms of compensating part of the cost of housing: paying a part of the price, interest, loans at discount rates, etc. However, in the thirty years of its operation, the Fund has only provided housing to around 50,000 families. Despite the low efficiency of this approach, housing programs continue working to increase the share of housing in private ownership—by paying part of the cost, subsidizing the servicing of mortgage loans (tax benefits, compensation of part of the interest), renting with future purchase programs, or free-of-charge transfer of housing to private ownership. Sectoral housing provision programs for medical workers, military, police, and internally displaced people work according to the same principles. Such priorities in housing policy have fostered unrealistic expectations among the population regarding housing from the government. Ukraine still has a “housing queue,” which is a list of people who need to improve their living conditions; the list was inherited together with the Soviet Housing Code. It is based on requirements regarding square footage and the number of rooms depending on the composition of households and does not take into account their financial resources or incomes. In the Soviet Union, the housing stock was state-owned, and housing which people received according to the “queue” was impossible to privatize. However, after Ukraine declared independence, the housing queue mechanism was not adapted to the privatization legislation. As soon as people received the apartments to use, they privatized them. After 1991, the housing queue shrank from 2 million to 650,000 people in 2013. This reduction was in part caused by the elimination of queues at specific companies (due to restructuring of companies, layoffs, abandonment of housing construction). At the moment, the list is not managed in a centralized manner, the information on it is not being updated or coordinated with the information on people who have already used other government programs. 4. The most widespread mechanism for funding housing construction carries risks for the people who wish to buy housing. Commercial housing construction in Ukraine is usually funded by people who buy this housing. A land plot lease cannot be used as collateral for loans. So due to the lack of their own funding, developers engage funds from the population. Developers can sell property rights to future housing at the “zero” stage of construction. People who buy housing this way are called “investors” even if they need the property to live in it. This system was used for the first time by the KyivMiskBud corporation, which founded the Arcada joint-stock bank for it. This system of funding housing construction carries numerous risks. One of them is that the company can go bankrupt, and the construction can be left unfinished. This is exactly what happened to Arcada, which went bankrupt in 2020, leaving 39 buildings unfinished. 5. New housing construction is often associated with corruption, breaking the law, and protests. Priorities in housing policy have facilitated active construction of new housing, particularly in large cities with high property prices. According to the State Statistics Service, the number of housing units commissioned in Kyiv and Kyiv Region has been growing constantly since 1995, remaining the highest in the country. Thus, land for construction has become a matter of deals and bribery between developers and government representatives. Developers themselves often run for office in local councils or work at local executive government bodies. For the past 30 years, big Ukrainian cities have been the epicenters of development scandals and anti-development protests. For instance, in Kyiv in 2021, activists opposed development in the territory of Osokorky, a unique landscape park. Arcada and companies linked to it received land plots with violations of legislation; later they went bankrupt and were unable to finish construction. For several years, their cheated investors have been demanding that city and state government bodies fund the completion of the construction. Another infamous story was the attempt to demolish the modernist building called the Flowers of Ukraine in Kyiv in 2021. Representatives of Rockwill Group first cut down the old vine covering the building and then tried to dismantle its facade. This caused the locals to protest and occupy the Flowers of Ukraine temporarily as a squat. The court later arrested the building and banned any operations with it, and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy included the Flowers of Ukraine in the registry of architectural monuments of local significance, which means a ban on its demolition or reconstruction. These are not isolated incidents; they are often the reason why buildings constructed in violation of regulations are not completed for years. Sometimes apartment owners start living in a building which has not been officially completed, so they have to pay utility fees based on industrial rates. Sometimes such buildings are never finished, and people live there without centralized water supply, power or gas supply. 6. The government invests resources in developing mortgage loans, but it is not very successful. The development of mortgage loans in Ukraine started in the mid-2000s. However, after the financial crisis of 2008, mortgage lending was frozen. In 2021, the ratio of mortgages to GDP was 0.7%. The same year, a new public program, Affordable Mortgage 7%, was launched. However, the program does not provide mortgages in the classic sense; it allows the government to compensate the difference between the discount rate and the actual interest on the mortgage to banks. The real mortgage interests in 2021, according to experts, were set at 15–16% annual interest and depended on the length of repayment, the amount of the loan and the type of housing. Due to the features of funding and the corruption risks of new housing construction, it was easier and cheaper to get a loan to buy housing on the secondary market. For many people, obstacles to taking a mortgage included not just their price but also the requirement to make the first contribution (15%). As of November 2021, only 1,000 households had received loans at the discount rate. Another risk is the lack of state funding for this program. Even in 2021, there was no separate budget line to cover it; the plan was to compensate the rates from the Entrepreneurship Development Fund. 7. Real estate taxation does not work effectively. Real estate tax was introduced in Ukraine in 2013. One of the main goals of this tax is to provide additional revenue to local budgets. Real estate tax is set at the local level, but it cannot exceed 1.5% of the minimum wage. The tax base is the area of a property, which means that the tax rate does not depend on its price. There is also tax relief for apartments up to 60 square meters and houses up to 120 square meters. In addition, the tax is not progressive—that is, for each new property its owner pays the same rate as for their first property. However, if someone owns a residential property of more than 300 square meters in case of an apartment and 500 square meters in case of a house, this person must pay an additional 25,000 UAH for each such property annually. Due to the availability of tax relief and the administration difficulties, real estate owners often pay small amounts or do not pay the tax at all. For instance, as of January 2021, owners were supposed to pay only 90 UAH per year for each 1 “excessive” square meter of real estate in Kyiv. The share of local budget revenue coming from real estate taxes has been growing every year. However, revenue from taxing residential real estate made up only 11% of all real estate taxes paid in 2018. 8. Housing management is fragmented and inefficient. Ukrainian law defines three forms of management for apartment buildings: independent, association of co-owners of an apartment building (ACOAB), manager. ACOABs have been created in about 21% of apartment buildings, 3% are managed by a housing and construction cooperative (HCC), 7% have chosen the independent form of management, and 41% have a manager selected by co-owners on their own or appointed by the local government on a competitive basis. Around 28% of apartment buildings are still managed by housing exploitation bureaus (HEBs). Having an ACOAB allows the co-owners to receive help from the government for major repairs and energy efficiency improvements. However, even despite this, the dynamics of establishing ACOABs have been rather slow: as of July 2021, only 36,050 buildings were managed by ACOABs. One of the barriers to the management of apartment buildings is complete or partial lack of technical documents. In addition, proper management is often hindered by the lack of information about all of the co-owners in the State Registry of Property Rights to Real Estate. Even if an ACOAB has been created and mandatory contributions to the maintenance fund are made, it is almost impossible to conduct major repairs or reconstruction without co-funding programs. 9. Major repairs of housing are barely ever conducted, so the condition of housing is deteriorating. A significant fraction of Ukraine’s housing stock was built back in the USSR. According to the State Statistics Service, as of 2018, around 89% of households lived in buildings built before 1990. Therefore, without repairs and renovations, the quality of some buildings has been deteriorating every year. The structures have been wearing down, which has led to the destruction of some buildings. Residential buildings which have been in use for over 30 years are in an unsatisfactory technical condition and do not meet the modern energy efficiency requirements, which leads to significant energy losses. According to the MinRegion, around 40,000 apartment buildings require urgent thermal modernization. Ukraine now has an Energy Efficiency Fund which provides grants to introduce energy efficiency measures in buildings with ACOABs on a co-funding basis. However, only a small share of all apartment buildings have ACOABs. The rest of apartment buildings, as well as single-family houses which are home to almost half of the Ukrainian population, cannot receive financial support from the government to improve energy efficiency. The total area of outdated housing in Ukraine is growing. According to the State Statistics Service, it doubled between 1991 and 2019 in Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv Regions. In 2021, the area of outdated housing in Ukraine was 4.31 million square meters, around 0.43% of the total area of housing. In the past 15 years, various governments have announced multiple times that outdated housing needs to be renovated. Discussions of a bill on housing reconstruction have been held at the MinRegion since 2018. However, neither the 2007 Law on Reconstruction nor the new bill propose any mechanisms of protection against deterioration of the quality of housing in the future. One of the causes of outdated housing is the lack of mandatory contributions to the major repairs fund in the fees paid for the maintenance of apartment buildings since 1998 (ACOABs have been able to introduce these contributions and accumulate funding since 2001, but all the other buildings only got this option in 2015). That is, managing companies do not have enough funding to renovate buildings on their own. On the other hand, a large share of privately-owned housing does not mean that the owners are able to maintain this housing and save up for thermal modernization or major repairs. For instance, according to the findings of a study by Cedos, about half of Ukrainian families spend 20–40% of their income on utility fees. When utility fees were raised, the number of insolvent housing owners increased. In 2015–2020, the government spent around $11 billion on subsidies. At the same time, utility fee debts were also increasing: in 2020, the collective debt reached more than $3 million. 10. Rental housing is poorly regulated, tenant rights are poorly protected. The rental market in Ukraine mainly consists of private individuals. The rental relations are contractual and partially regulated by the Civil Code of Ukraine (Chapters 58 and 59, Articles 29 and 311), as well as by Article 47 of the Constitution. At the same time, housing rent prices are not regulated, and owners can set the prices at their own discretion. In violation of the law, landlords often do not pay income taxes on the income from renting out their properties. As of 2019, according to a Cedos survey, at least 8% of people rented housing in major Ukrainian cities. However, the real number of renters can be much higher. Tenants are more vulnerable than people who own their housing. They spend a higher share of their income on housing, face biases and illegal evictions. According to the findings of our research, 41% of tenants spend from a third to a half of their income on housing; 46% of the respondents noted that they had to save up, particularly limit their spending on vacations, to be able to pay rent on time. The rights of both tenants and landlords are poorly protected in Ukraine. Most conflicts are resolved by tenants and landlords personally, without involving courts. Due to the lack of policies on the development and protection of the rental sector, many people cannot live a full life in rental housing. According to our survey, only about a half of people feel safe in rental housing, one fifth are afraid of eviction without notice. Since the sector is unprotected, people perceive rental housing as “temporary,” and most of the respondents agree that one can only treat a house as their own if it is their property. Around 18% of people who rent housing say that they have faced prejudice during their search for an apartment to rent. The biases are most often associated with having kids or pets, or with one’s background or place of official registration. 11. Social and temporary use housing stocks are practically non-existent. Ukraine has formalized institutes of non-profit public renting. The Law “On social housing” encodes the existence of social-use housing stock which can be rented long-term to people who need social protection. The existence of public temporary-use housing stock is also encoded in law. It includes housing units for citizens who have no permanent place of residence or who have lost it. Housing of this kind is leased free of charge for 1 year with an option to extend. The issue of availability of temporary-use housing became more urgent in 2014 as Crimea was occupied, the war in Donetsk and Luhansk Regions began, and people from these territories were displaced. Until 2022, both social and temporary housing remained underfunded at the state level. At the same time, local governments had limited resources to supplement these stocks on their own. As of January 2021, only 12 regions had implemented local programs to develop social housing. The highest number of housing units (26) set to be purchased according to these programs was in Zhytomyr Region. Thus, one of the problems was the lack of both social and temporary housing stocks. For instance, according to the Kyiv City State Administration, Kyiv only had 72 apartments in its social housing stock as of January 2021. And the capital did not have a temporary housing stock at all. Another problem was the low number of vacant units in both social and temporary housing stocks. It was especially important for the temporary housing stock, since this was the stock which should have provided urgent shelter to people in case of emergencies. According to the MinRegion, even the regions with relatively large temporary housing stocks had barely any free units left. For instance, in Zaporizhia Region, only 9 of 329 apartments and housing units were vacant in January 2021. That is, temporary housing often became permanent, and people lived in it for longer than a year. Receiving social or temporary housing is also difficult, because a lot of documents are required in order to register on the list. In case of temporary housing, people need to confirm their need and renew the lease every year. The low number of social and temporary housing units is the reason why access to them is limited. In particular, social housing can only be applied for by people who are recognized by the state as low-income. As for temporary housing, since 2014, it has mainly been built for internally displaced people. In addition, the program only targets the most vulnerable. This targeted approach overlooks the people who, on the one hand, do not belong to any of the categories, and on the other hand, do not have enough money to rent or purchase housing on their own. This also does not allow the government to assess how many people in Ukraine may need such housing. 12. There is unsuccessful experience of using modular housing to accommodate internally displaced people. Since the beginning of the war in 2014, seven Ukrainian cities—Kharkiv, Pavlohrad, Nikopol, Zaporizhia, Dnipro, Kamyanske, Kryvyi Rih—have created transit container towns for internally displaced people. They were built with support from the German government company GIZ and intended to be used for up to 3 years. However, many people still live in these towns even in 2022. One of the important problems of such housing is the social isolation of its residents, because some of the settlements are located far from cities and not connected to them with proper public transit. In addition, modular houses are designed as temporary housing, the materials are not intended for long-term exploitation, so they wear out quickly. 13. Communities do not receive fair compensation for providing land for construction. At the same time as the process of housing privatization, Ukraine also launched the process of restructuring land ownership. In 1992, collective and private land ownership was introduced in Ukraine along with state ownership. Land within cities, towns and villages was deemed communal property. Residents of these localities could obtain land for private housing construction, and the land of enterprises was divided between their workers. The abrupt switch to market economy was accompanied by a lack of corresponding legislation. Gaps in legislation enabled corruption schemes, particularly in the land sector. Along with the lack of complex planning and zoning, this led to chaotic development in cities. In Kyiv, one of the most well-known schemes was obtaining land for fake student cooperatives, a scheme which was associated with the former mayor Leonid Chernovetsky. Another problematic issue is land taxation and use. Land tax in Ukraine is different from real estate tax. If a developer does not own any land, it rents land from a community. While a company builds real estate, it pays rent to the local budget. As the building is completed, the land under it returns to communal ownership. An ACOAB or another managing company can sign a long-term lease for the land under their building and therefore pay money for it to the city budget. However, most land plots just remain in communal ownership. On the one hand, the community loses access to the land forever because housing has already been built on it. On the other hand, revenue from its use goes to the developer and the owners of the real estate, while proper compensation is not reclaimed by communities through land tax. 14. Outdated, missing or contradictory city planning documents lead to chaotic development. The main city planning documents in Ukrainian cities are General Plans (which determine the foundations of development, planning and construction), zoning plans (which determine the functional zones in cities), and detailed territorial plans. Many Ukrainian cities do not have up-to-date or complete city planning documents. De jure, development in a particular city can only take place in accordance with its General Plan. De facto, however, violations are quite widespread, particularly because the detailed territorial plans are often not coordinated with the General Plans, in violation of regulations. In Kyiv, for instance, some detailed plans allow construction in territories which are defined by the General Plan as green areas. Detailed territorial plans are often commissioned by investors who are interested in construction in a particular territory. As a result, the plans often reflect business interests rather than the needs of the city community. The procedures of public engagement in the development of city planning documents are too complicated and often implemented only formally, so many people cannot participate in them in practice. As of the beginning of 2022, Kyiv was in the process of developing a draft of its new General Plan for the period until 2040. The draft itself was criticized for supporting development in the city without taking into account infrastructural capacities, the needs of residents, or environmental impact. The drafting process was criticized for its lack of transparency and low level of engagement of independent experts or civil society. 15. The system of collecting data about housing does not allow us to properly assess the current state or to plan the future. Some of the information is collected by the State Statistics Service. In its annual collection, it publishes information on the total area of the housing stock, its condition, the number of housing units completed, etc. However, these data do not allow us to assess the effectiveness of housing policies. For several years now, the list of citizens who need to improve their residential conditions has not been maintained in a centralized manner. There are several different lists and queues in which people are waiting for housing, particularly social and temporary housing. Some people are registered on several lists at once, which improves their chances of obtaining housing but makes it more difficult to assess the need for housing. The State Registry of Property Rights to Real Estate was launched in 2013. However, it is incomplete, because it only contains digitized information about properties with which transactions (purchase or sale) have been made after 2013. Most of the data about its population is gathered by Ukraine through the official system of registration of the place of residence. However, this source of information is not entirely accurate, because as of 2019, at least 12% of people did not live at their place of registration (around 25% among those who rent their housing). The latest census in Ukraine was done in 2001. The next wave of the census was supposed to be conducted in 2020, but the government decided to postpone it until 2023. Censuses and housing stock inventory are sources of crucial information for public policy planning, particularly in the field of housing. A census can provide unique information about the housing stock, its condition and ownership structure. The lack of accurate data on the number, composition and places of residence of the population makes it more difficult to develop long-term land, housing, and social policies. 16. The labor rights of employees in the construction sector are often infringed. The Union of Construction Workers of Ukraine emphasizes that one of the key problems is non-compliance with safety rules at construction sites, which leads to traumas and deaths among workers. In addition, many construction workers are not employed officially and have no labor contracts, which makes them vulnerable to various violations (unpaid or delayed wages, lack of social security, lack of paid sick leave or vacations). 17. Newly built housing and communal infrastructure can be destroyed again. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Russian army has already destroyed thousands of buildings. This number can increase, since shelling and bombing of Ukrainian territory continues. Some cities are under temporary occupation, so it is impossible to assess the scale of destruction there. One of the key risks of rebuilding is repeated destruction of newly built housing and communal infrastructure. 18. It will be more difficult to rebuild and update housing policies without up-to-date information on the condition of the housing stock, the movement and needs of the population. To properly plan the rebuilding of housing, we need information on the needs and resources of its future residents, the level of damage to infrastructure, and potential costs of restoration. The war makes it more difficult to collect and analyze data and limits the possibilities for planning the future. 19. Without updating the principles and priorities of public policies, the housing crisis will deepen. The old principles of housing policy in Ukraine, particularly subsidizing the purchase of housing, have already proven their low effectiveness. The need for housing is much wider than effective demand. Housing policies aimed at expanding ownership make it more difficult to develop the non-profit rental sector and hinder the creation of social and temporary housing. The lack of an updated approach to housing provision can lead to an increase in the number of homeless people; overcrowded housing; slower reconstruction of the housing stock; increased costs of purchasing and renting housing; lower quality and obsolescence of housing, particularly newly built units; and lower access to housing. 20. If unrealistic expectations of the speed and comprehensiveness of rebuilding are not fulfilled, it can lead to increased social tensions. Today, several possible sources of funding for housing reconstruction are discussed: the state budget, grants and loans from international partners, reparations. Each of these options has its own risks and shortcomings. State budget funds can be insufficient to cover the reconstruction of the entire housing stock that has been destroyed. Grants and loans from international partners will come with their own terms and requirements, and in case of credit funding money will need to be set aside to service the loans. The process of receiving reparations, particularly from the frozen assets of the Russian Federation, can take years. These challenges should be taken into account while planning and communicating the process of reconstruction. Not meeting the high expectations of the speed and comprehensiveness of rebuilding may exacerbate social tensions, feelings of injustice, and reduce trust in the government. 21. Continuing ineffective housing provision programs will prevent the achievement of goals expected by society. Funding discount loans and supporting mortgages are not the mechanisms that will allow Ukraine to solve the problems of as many people as possible under the conditions of a housing crisis and limited resources. They fund the purchase of a low number of apartments and target people who already have savings. In the conditions of war and postwar reconstruction, it is risky to issue many such loans due to the lack of means among the population and economic instability. 22. Without a clear system of distribution of the new housing, which would account for the needs of different social groups, many people will not be able to realize their right to housing. The process of rebuilding will take at least several years. The challenge is to create a transparent and clear system of distribution of the new housing. Without setting the order of priorities, there is a risk that many people will not be able to realize their right to housing. People who need housing include not only those whose homes have been destroyed or those who were displaced to another part of the country. There are also other groups of people whose needs should be taken into account while planning housing policies and distribution, including homeless people who did not have homes before the full-scale war began, as well as people who were renting housing and lost the means to pay rent. 23. Without understanding the actual period of exploitation, there is a risk of creating low-quality temporary housing in which people will be forced to live long-term. One of the major challenges for local governments is the search for temporary housing. In the first month of the full-scale war, they managed to mobilize and refurbish thousands of residential and non-residential units (dormitories, schools, kindergartens, sports and culture institutions, subway stations) for the needs of IDPs and people who have lost their homes. However, the issue of searching for more sustainable, comfortable and long-term solutions arose soon. One of the options for medium-term housing is the construction of so-called modular towns. Officials present these houses as temporary, but they can turn into permanent homes for many people. Without understanding the actual period of exploitation, there is also a risk of creating uncomfortable housing which will not be integrated with the rest of the city or town. If there is no planning or development strategy for such settlements, their residents may not have convenient access to schools, hospitals, kindergartens, cinemas, public transit, and they eventually risk ending up in isolation. 24. Without government regulation of the rental housing sector, its unaffordability and insecurity will increase. The number of people living in rental housing has already increased and will continue increasing. Without government support for the rental sector, there can be more cases of illegal evictions and contract violations. There is a risk that the uncontrolled rise of rent prices will make renting unaffordable for even more people and further exacerbate the housing crisis. 25. Dominance of the interests of developers can lead to the construction of a lot of low-quality housing and deterioration of the urban environment. Since large construction and development companies have more resources to lobby their interests, they can gain more influence on shaping public policies than other stakeholders, including people who need housing. The indicator of the effectiveness of housing reconstruction can be defined as the number of square meters built rather than the affordability or quality of new housing. Given our previous experience of corruption in the construction sphere, introducing new transparent and integrity-based approaches can be a challenge. Without clear rules and strategies for the restoration of the housing stock, there is a risk of getting a lot of low-quality, uncomfortable housing which will not be adapted to climate change. Thus, a few decades later, Ukraine may face another problem of decrepit and outdated housing stock. There is a risk that dishonest developers will use the crisis to solve their old conflicts with communities in their own favor. Communities can end up with new construction at the cost of green areas, public spaces and architectural monuments. 26. Central and local governments may lack institutional capacity to deal with all the challenges of the housing crisis. In the first month of the full-scale war, local governments were rather successful at providing shelter to people who had lost their homes. However, the need for reconstruction and permanent housing increases the number of challenges, and dealing with them becomes more difficult. The development of the draft of the updated Housing Code was not preceded by an updated state housing policy concept. The lack of complex conceptual vision of the required change can be a challenge in the process of rebuilding as well. Both at the national and at the local level, there is a lack of experience or proper tools to maintain and manage housing in communal or state ownership, regulate the real estate market, develop the non-profit rental sector and alternative forms of ownership. 27. The updated housing policy must center the person and their needs. Nobody should be left without a roof over their head: this is the goal which housing policy should be aimed at. The state housing policy must create and develop the housing provision models which will best meet the needs and means of various people. It is necessary to abandon the exclusive stimulation of private ownership of housing, because not everyone can afford it, and not everyone needs or wants it. The government’s goal is balanced development of all mechanisms of housing provision allowed by the Constitution of Ukraine: not just the purchase of housing, but also its construction and renting. To make this possible, the government should not only restore the destroyed housing stock, but also update the state housing policy which will prevent us from recreating the existing problems and risks. 28. Ensuring access to housing is of higher priority than restoring assets. Reconstruction must start with providing high-quality and comfortable housing to all the people who need it. The goal of comfortable housing provision does not completely overlap with the goal of restoring lost property, particularly real estate. Some of the people who need homes now did not own any housing before the full-scale war began. At the same time, some of the destroyed properties were unused, so their reconstruction is not related to restoring access to housing and is less urgent under the current circumstances. 29. Public funding must increase access to housing and account for the urgency of needs. Due to limited funding, the importance of its proper distribution increases. The key principle must be the urgency of the needs of various groups of people. The priority in housing provision must be those who have no resources of their own; the next in order of priorities are people who have money to rent but need help to purchase homes. The most effective use of resources requires that they should not be fragmented, and a system of priorities should be developed. First of all, the government must fund the programs for creating and developing social and non-profit housing. The next step can be support for alternative forms of ownership, such as cooperatives, as well as for people who purchase housing for the first time. State housing programs should be reformed in accordance with this. To increase their effectiveness, taxation mechanisms must be reformed so that they, on the one hand, support the development of affordable housing, and on the other hand, limit speculative investment in real estate. A necessary step is to end free-of-charge privatization of housing. All housing units purchased or built with budget funding or funding from international donors must remain non-profit and should not be eligible for privatization. 30. Government regulation and support for the private rental sector is required to protect the rights of tenants. Renting from individuals makes up the majority of the rental sector in Ukraine, so it is an important mechanism of housing provision. We need to develop effective mechanisms for protecting both tenants and landlords from illegal eviction, property damage and other contract violations. One tool for achieving this goal can be regulating rents—for instance, setting rent caps for different regions, limiting the annual raises of rent within the same contract, or other mechanisms. In the short term, one of the solutions can be a moratorium on evictions from rental housing, particularly for the duration of martial law. Support for the rental sector can be one of the ways to solve the current housing crisis. Possible transitional solutions to consider are state subsidies (vouchers) to rent housing from individuals; public insurance of properties owned by individuals who rent them at discount prices; establishing social rental agencies which sign long-term contracts with landlords and sublet housing units to other people. 31. The government must support and develop the non-profit rental housing sector. In the long term, the government should not only regulate and support the private rental sector, but also develop the non-profit rental housing sector. This housing can be owned by public institutions, cooperatives, private non-profit organizations which receive public subsidies. Ukrainian legislation already includes the categories of “social” and “temporary” housing stocks which are managed by local governments. The state should develop and implement programs which will allow for regular expansion of these housing stocks. In addition, the government could help private non-profit organizations to enter the housing market through subsidies and tax credits. Access to social and temporary housing should be simplified to allow different categories of people to apply for it. This will help avoid the marginalization of social housing. New additional supply of good-quality rental housing at affordable prices will limit the rising rents in the private sector. The availability of non-profit housing of various forms of ownership, particularly state-owned housing, will allow Ukraine to effectively respond to and overcome future housing crises which can be due to wars, natural or technological disasters. 32. Real estate taxation should provide revenue to local budgets and reduce the share of empty housing and the spread of speculative investment. It is necessary to improve the administration of the real estate tax and reform the tax base. Real estate tax is viewed as a “good tax” because it has no significant effect on economic behavior (manufacturing, investment in labor force and human capital). Real estate tax is predictable and stable. In addition, it is difficult to evade, since buildings cannot be moved to another city or country. If real estate tax is administered at the local level and makes up a significant share of local budget revenue, it facilitates more autonomy for local governments and encourages them to spend on local infrastructure (such as schools, hospitals, public transit). The most reasonable way to use revenue from taxing residential real estate is to improve infrastructure, because these taxes will mostly be paid by local residents who will then use the infrastructure. Reforming this tax will allow communities to get their fair share of revenue from the use of land plots they provide for construction. It will also facilitate the effective use of real estate and the appearance of new, previously empty rental units on the market. One of the principles for updating the housing policy may be the introduction of vertical real estate taxation. The tax should be progressive and increase for every new property owned. In order to effectively reform the real estate tax and increase local budget revenue, it is necessary to reconsider the tax base, which is currently related to square meterage. The tax base can be the assessed value of property which will be different both for different types of real estate and for different locations. 33. Effective mechanisms should be introduced to prevent deterioration of the quality of the housing stock and excessive energy use. First of all, a mechanism of accumulating funds to maintain and renovate the housing stock should be set up—for example, by restoring mandatory contributions for major repairs in building maintenance fees. Another option can be mandatory housing insurance. It is also necessary to solve the problem of managing apartment buildings. First of all, managers need to be appointed for buildings whose form of management is still undetermined. The system of housing management must be improved to optimize the costs of exploitation of buildings throughout their life cycle and to extend it while preserving a comfortable standard of living. The most economically appropriate way to reduce the use of energy resources is to improve energy efficiency. Given the mass nature of new construction after the war, it is reasonable to increase the current minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of new buildings from the existing class C to class A. This will help reduce energy use for heating and cooling by almost a half, save energy resources, and reduce the cost of utility fees for residents; it will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the exploitation of these buildings. 34. Restoration of the housing stock must be complex in nature. Restoration of the housing stock must go along with the renovation of water supply and heating systems as well as other communications, and the construction of accessible transit and social infrastructure (kindergartens, schools, hospitals, green areas, public transit). It is also worth introducing an integrated approach to city and neighborhood planning. It will help account for the residential, social, and infrastructural needs of residents. It is necessary to develop and adopt up-to-date city planning documents using modern and participatory approaches to reduce the risks of illegal and chaotic development in cities. New construction and reconstruction must be based on the principles of human-centered approaches, social and physical inclusivity, gender sensitivity, and transit-oriented planning. 35. Housing policy must be well-founded, based on high-quality and updated data. The first step should be to examine the damaged housing stock to assess the losses. This will provide information about the amount of housing that cannot be restored and about the buildings that can be repaired. It is also worth conducting a complex audit of the housing stock in order to better understand what kind of housing exists in Ukraine and what it is used for. An audit will help us understand how many vacant housing units are available to provide temporary accommodation to people. It is important to restore the technical documents for residential buildings. In addition, centralized data collection and registration of people who need housing should be restored. This applies not only to people who have lost their homes due to war, but also to people who had no homes before the war. It is important to reform the system of registration of the place of residence substantially, not just on the surface, and to conduct a census and housing stock inventory when it becomes possible. Without high-quality, up-to-date and reliable data, it is impossible to clearly define problems, develop solutions for them, or evaluate the effectiveness of previous policies. 36. Housing policies should be developed and implemented in a participatory way while taking into account the needs of various groups of people. Clear and accessible mechanisms should be developed to engage citizens in making urban planning decisions. Citizen participation should be ensured at all stages, from ideas to decision implementation. Information campaigns and discussions should start at the early stage of concept development. The participation process should be accessible, and everyone should be able to join regardless of their occupation. Updated housing policies should also be developed with maximum possible engagement of all stakeholders, particularly the population, civil society representatives and independent experts. The simplification of construction procedures in Ukraine should be done without weakening protections for the labor rights of construction workers. In addition, opportunities for public participation in the process of decision making regarding construction should not be reduced. 37. A high-quality update of housing policies requires improving the institutional capacity of central and local governments. A lot of time and human resources are needed to develop and implement effective decisions based on the updated principles of housing policy. These tasks are impossible to complete through volunteer initiatives or NGOs. In order to successfully overcome the current housing crisis, capable government institutions are required to undertake leadership in this process and engage broader circles of independent experts, activists and researchers. Government bodies and institutions that are going to form, maintain and manage the social, temporary and non-profit housing stocks must have transparent rules and procedures as well as safeguards in the form of public and expert control. These safeguards can include, for instance, supervisory boards and tenant associations (unions). The areas of responsibility of different government bodies and institutions, particularly at the local and national levels, must be clearly divided and reviewed if needed. A new concept of the state housing policy has to be developed to serve as the basis for creating the new edition of the Housing Code.

At HomeQuestionsAnswered, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge. A roof ridge vent is a fixed vent installed on the ridge of a roof to ensure proper air ventilation within the house or building. Ridge vents are typically made of metal. Once installed on the ridge line and possibly covered with shingles, the vents are inconspicuous. The main purpose of a roof ridge vent is to optimize airflow under the roof. Global concerns about energy-efficient building products and design has put roof ridge vents in the energy savings spotlight. If a house or building is outfitted with a ventilation system that provides the right amount of airflow, it is more efficiently heated, cooled and protected from moisture. Roof ridge vents supply that airflow underneath a roof, keeping attic space sufficiently ventilated. A balance between airflow in and out must be achieved for a ventilation system to work properly. A roof ridge vent supplies the constant ventilation required in an energy-efficient home's attic space. Cool air from a home enters the attic through the floor. It rises and exits at the top because hot air, being less dense, rises. Unless new air enters to replace it, the risen air will not leave, or vent. Installing a roof ridge vent as well as soffit vents under the eaves aids airflow. A roof ridge vent typically has a baffle to resist wet or windy weather. High-performance products may have internal weather filters. The more rain and snow that is resisted, the drier it stays underneath the roof and in the attic. The temperature of an attic can vary greatly, reaching high temperatures that can harm its contents. Plus, a home's cooling system is over-taxed, resulting in high energy bills. On the other hand, the temperatures of colder climates can cause condensation on a roof's underside. Left unchecked, moisture can cause extreme damage to a home's roof and insulation. Repairs to boards and shingles, in addition to high heating bills, prove costly. Roof ridge ventilation is beneficial for low-pitched roofs as well as cathedral ceilings. The home's style is usually irrelevant. Roof ridge vents are manufactured for roofs covered with cedar shakes, asphalt shingles or metal. Widths vary to accommodate customized home roofs or those with wider beams. Roofers are qualified to install a roof ridge vent. Homeowners should be aware of when an older roof needs to be replaced, as many older houses have outgrown their ventilation systems. This is an opportune time for a roofer to install an updated ventilation system.

The ASEM Education Compendium for Higher Education’s glossary provides definitions of common terms related to education and training, as well as more specific entries related to credit systems, assurance and validation mechanisms. It is intended to promote communication and understanding between ASEM countries and beyond. The purpose of this glossary is not to establish standard universally applicable definitions, but rather to be provide a working reference for all education and training stakeholders. Annual teaching or examination period during which students attend courses or take final examinations, not taking minor breaks into account. It may be shorter than 12 months, but would typically not be shorter than 9 months. It may vary for different levels of education or types of educational institutions within a country. This is also referred to as the school year, mainly for the pre-tertiary level.Source: ISCED 2011 UNESCO Institute for statistics The process by which a (non-)governmental or private body evaluates the quality of a higher education institution as a whole or of a specific educational programme in order to formally recognise it as having met certain pre-determined minimal criteria or standards. The result of this process is usually the awarding of a status (a yes/no decision), of recognition, and sometimes of a license to operate within a time-limited validity. The process can imply initial and periodic self-study and evaluation by external peers.Source: Enic-Naric Net (2016) ‘GLOSSARY’ ASEAN Credit Transfer System (ACTS) ASEAN Credit Transfer System (ACTS) is a student-centered system applied to student mobility among AUN (ASEAN University Network) Member Universities. This system was developed to facilitate student mobility under AUN Student Exchange Program. ACTS has been designed to accommodate differences in the implementation of credit systems among the member universities without any requirement to modify the existing institutional or national credit system.Source: AUN Secretariat https://www.aunsec.org/discover-aun/thematic-networks/aun-acts AUN-ACTS Secretariat https://acts.ui.ac.id Assessment of Learning Assessment of learner’s achievement the primary purpose of which is to provide information about what has been learned at a particular point in time. This process often involves the use of standardized tests or examinations. It is often, though not always, used for the purpose of promotion and/or graduation.Source: UNESCO-IBE (2013) ‘IBE Glossary of Curriculum Term’ Assessment of Learning Outcomes Assessment of an individual’s achievement of stated learning outcomes, using a variety of methods (written, oral and practical tests/examinations, projects and portfolios) during or at the end of an education programme or a defined part of that programme.Source: UNESCO-IBE (2013) ‘IBE Glossary of Curriculum Term’ A self-contained, formally structured learning experience. It should have a coherent and explicit set of learning outcomes, defined learning activities consistent with the time allocated within the curriculum, and appropriate assessment criteria.Source: European Union (2018) ECTS Users’ Guide Unit in which the successful completion of courses or modules is earned and documented during and at the end of an educational programme. Credits express the volume of learning based on the workload students typically need in order to achieve the expected learning objectives.Source: ISCED 2011 UNESCO Institute for statistics A process that allows credits awarded by one higher education awarding body to be recognised and count towards the requirements of a programme at another institution; or that allows credit gained on a particular programme to contribute towards the requirements of a different one. In the simplest terms, ‘curriculum’ is a description of what, why, how and how well students should learn in a systematic and intentional way. The curriculum is not an end in itself but rather a means to fostering quality learning.Source: UNESCO-IBE (2013) ‘IBE Glossary of Curriculum Term’ The process of measuring and judging the extent to which the planned courses, programmes, learning activities and opportunities as expressed in the formal curriculum actually produce the expected results. If carried out effectively, this process can enable decisions to be made about improvements and future progress.Source: UNESCO-IBE (2013) ‘IBE Glossary of Curriculum Term’ Diploma Supplement (DS) The Diploma Supplement (DS) is a document accompanying a higher education diploma, providing a standardised description of the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies completed by its holder. It is produced by the higher education institutions according to standards agreed by the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO. The Diploma Supplement is also part of the Europass framework transparency tools. It has the following eight sections of information: - the holder of the qualification - the qualification - its level and function - the contents and results gained - certification of the supplement - details of the national higher education system concerned (provided by the National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARICs)) - any additional relevant information Graduates in all the countries taking part in the Bologna Process have the right to receive the Diploma Supplement automatically, free and in a major European language.Source: European Union (2018) ECTS Users’ Guide European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) A learner-centred system for credit accumulation and transfer, based on the principle of transparency of learning, teaching and assessment processes. Its objective is to facilitate planning, delivery and evaluation of study programmes and student mobility by recognising learning achievements and qualifications and periods of learning.Source: European Union (2018) ECTS Users’ Guide. European Qualifications Framework (EQF) The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) acts as a translation device to make national qualifications more readable across Europe, promoting workers’ and learners’ mobility between countries and facilitating their lifelong learning. The EQF aims to relate different countries’ national qualifications systems to a common European reference framework. Individuals and employers will be able to use the EQF to better understand and compare the qualifications levels of different countries and different education and training systems.Source: Enic-Naric Net (2016) ‘GLOSSARY’ Grades describe the quality of learning achievements and rate the performance of a student at a particular level.Source: Enic-Naric Net (2016) ‘GLOSSARY’ Higher Education Institution (HEI) An educational body which carries out higher education activities based on legally approved study programmes.Source: UNESCO (2007) ‘Quality Assurance and Accreditation’ Totality of information, knowledge, understanding, attitudes, values, skills, competencies or behaviours an individual is expected to master upon successful completion of an educational programme.Source: ISCED 2011 UNESCO Institute for statistics National Qualifications Framework (NQF) An instrument for the classification of qualifications according to a set of criteria for specified levels of learning achieved, which aims to integrate and coordinate national qualifications subsystems and improve the transparency, access, progression and quality of qualifications in relation to the labour market and civil society.Source: European Union (2018) ECTS Users’ Guide. A set of educational components – based on learning outcomes – that are recognised for the award of a qualification.Source: European Union (2018) ECTS Users’ Guide Quality Assurance (QA) The process or set of processes adopted nationally and institutionally to ensure the quality of educational programmes and qualifications awarded. Quality assurance should ensure a learning environment in which the content of programmes, learning opportunities and facilities are fit for purpose. Quality assurance is often referred to in the context of a continuous improvement cycle (i.e. assurance and enhancement activities).Source: European Union (2018) ECTS Users’ Guide. https://ec.europa.eu/education/sites/education/files/document-library-docs/ects-users-guide_en.pdf Internal and external quality assurance IQA is the ongoing, continuous process of evaluating, monitoring and improving the quality of a higher education institution and its study programmes. A distinction is typically made between internal quality assurance (IQA) – whereby practices to improve the quality takes place within the university – and external quality assurance (EQA), which is often performed by a national agency, sometimes together with professional bodies or private providers of QA services.Source: UNESCO http://www.iiep.unesco.org/en/how-does-internal-quality-assurance-impact-employability-3551 An estimation of the time learners typically need to complete all learning activities such as lectures, seminars, projects, practical work, work placements, individual study required to achieve the defined learning outcomes in formal learning environments.Source: European Union (2018) ECTS Users’ Guide. An official (e.g. certified) document which provides a complete summary of the student’s academic record at that institution(s)/leading to a qualification.Source: Enic-Naric Net (2016) ‘GLOSSARY’ Vocational Education and Training (VET) Education and training which aims to equip people with knowledge, know-how, skills and/or competences required in particular occupation or more broadly on the labour market.Source: Cedefop (2014), Terminology of European education and training policy: a selection of 130 terms.

When a predatory fish prepares to strike at an unsuspecting victim, it twists its body into a deadly S-shape, ready to straighten instantaneously as it lunges forward. But as any parent knows, it can take a while for youngsters to get to grips with feeding themselves, and fish larvae are no exception. Although some lack the speed and accuracy to intercept a moving target, opting for a more sedentary diet until their coordination improves, others manage to seize passing snacks successfully despite their diminutive size. Yet it was unclear whether these feisty larvae follow in their parents’ S-shaped footsteps, or tread a different path to snap up their prey. Intrigued by the possibility that the larvae that target live dinners do something different from mum and dad, Lillian Tuttle, Eve Robinson, Mary Fashingbauer, Daniel Hartline and Petra Lenz from the Pacific Biosciences Research Center, Hawaii, USA, with Rudi Strickler from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA, decided to catch clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) larvae in the act of pouncing on scrumptious plankton to find out how their attacks unfurl as they age. After rearing minute freshly hatched clownfish newborns in the lab, Robinson offered the hungry larvae – ranging in age from 1–5, 6–9 to 11–14 days old – the chance to strike at nippy home-grown copepods while she and Strickler filmed the youngsters’ high-speed lunges. ‘It was challenging to film microscopic interactions between a freely swimming fish larva and a copepod while keeping both in focus’, chuckles Robinson, adding that Strickler's camera system was perfectly designed to follow the larvae's strikes with high precision. When Fashingbauer painstakingly digitised the larvae's postures as they curled their bodies in preparation for a strike, it was clear that instead of coiling into a curvy S, they twisted their rear ends into a general J-shape; the youngest (∼5.5 mm long) larvae struck a question-mark-shaped pose, while the oldest pulled a looser hockey stick-shaped posture, bending their tails to one side before striking at a passing copepod. Analysing the youngsters’ manoeuvres in fine detail, Fashingbauer and Tuttle could also see that the oldest larvae (6.7–10.3 mm long) were able to accelerate up to speeds of 240 mm s−1, while the youngest and smallest larvae still managed a respectable 160 mm s−1, capturing their copepod treats in 9 ms. In addition, Tuttle and Lenz realised that the stealthy hunters depend on their pectoral fins to stabilise their body position by wafting them to and fro alternately as they creep forward before unleashing their powerful tail beat, unlike anchovy larvae, which continue beating their tails until the final push. Also, the youngest clownfish larvae appeared to target the youngest plankton larvae, whereas the more mature larvae graduated to consuming adult copepods. ‘The combination of the clownfish's extreme J-shaped posture and alternate sculling of its pectoral fins likely minimises disturbance during its predatory approach while precisely aligning it with the prey’, says Tuttle, explaining that the copepods are worthy adversaries, capable of making a rapid escape when they sense an approaching larva. And she suspects that the clownfish's lopsided strategy may represent one example of many possible alternative strategies adopted by larval fish in their progression to adulthood.

Miles Tisserand bounces into his Kindermusik class with his dad in tow, digging in his purple music bag to extract a homemade instrument before his jacket even comes off. The 5-year-old holds up his butter tub-turned-shaker and beams. “It’s full of Mardi Gras beads,” he says, giving it a shake for good measure. Miles slips off his sneakers and joins the rest of the 4- and 5-year-olds in a circle on the carpet. The six children clutch their creations—a drum, a rain stick and more shakers among them—and take turns telling the group how they made them. Allison Ashley listens carefully to each presentation, then asks whether each of the instruments sound like rain, wind or thunder. Determining that they have enough tools for a full-blown thunderstorm, she weaves a story about a rainy day at the playground, leaving plenty of opportunities to insert sound effects. The kids chime in with enthusiasm. “The class is a social experience,” Ashley says."I try to take ideas from the kids, so I’m more of a facilitator. And they get ideas from one another, which is good for their self-esteem, creativity and problem solving.” Social skills aren’t the only benefits kids glean from taking music lessons early on. The so-called"Mozart effect” may be in question these days, but the advantages of real interaction with music—not just passive listening—never were. Research shows that young children who are provided with music instruction score higher on tests of spatial abilities and arithmetic, not to mention the lessons they learn in discipline, confidence and problem solving. What the experts say Frances Rauscher, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, has concentrated her 14 years of research in music and cognition on the 3- to 10-year-old set. One particular study from her ongoing research took low-income preschoolers and put them in carefully structured weekly piano lessons. After two years, they tested the kids on spatial reasoning tasks—such as assembling known objects like dogs and parrots from cardboard cutouts—and compared the results to control groups who received weekly computer instruction or no extra lessons. What Rauscher found in the piano students was a significant increase in their ability to perform on these tests. They increased their scores 30 to 33 percent more than the control groups, and the effects lasted at least two years. Fancy terminology aside, spatial reasoning is a skill that people use every day. When you rotate a bulky arm chair to fit it through a narrow doorway, that’s a spatial-temporal task. So is packing suitcases into a trunk, rearranging the refrigerator to squeeze in new groceries or shifting piles of kid-sized sweaters to fit your child’s freshly laundered clothes into a drawer. “A spatial reasoning test requires the child to imagine an object in the absence of a physical model and spatially configure the pieces over time to create it,” Rauscher says."In a way that’s what we’re doing when we make music.” This connection between music and spatial reasoning offers at least one piece of the explanation for the rising test scores in the piano group. According to Rauscher, if you play middle C and G together you’ll get a"wider” sound than when you play C and E. Because kids can experience this correlation in a tangible way, it forges a link between the visual, audio and spatial reasoning centers of the brain. This translates to an intrinsic understanding of space and time and gives a basis for understanding math concepts such as proportions and fractions. The grouping of notes into measures and measures into phrases also gives kids a sense of ordering and repetition that comes in handy when concepts such as addition and multiplication come up in math. “We study chords, scales, the structure and language of music,” says Julie Lovison of the piano lessons she teaches at Lake Shore Music Studio in Old Town."It’s the flow that you have to keep track of in your mind. You have to retain a memory of what just happened and put it in the context of what’s coming up, which is something that can help in math class.” And although there are still questions as to how it happens, Rauscher says she believes that learning to play and read music has a measurable physical effect on the brain. “Children are born with basically all the neuron cells that they’ll have in their lifetime, but music is strengthening the synaptic connections,” she says."Making music is actually changing the physical structure of the brain.” Rauscher hopes the effects of music on the brain are long-lasting, but she doesn’t yet know what happens to kids more than two years down the road if music lessons are phased out of their routines. Her research does show, however, that when a child starts before age 7, her test scores are likely to rise for about two years, then plateau whether the lessons continue or not. If they start after second grade, there is no measurable effect brain-wise. Rauscher allows for the possibility, too, that music lessons give kids a boost in the short term, but that other kids will catch up later on. One certainty in the research data is that quality instruction is a must. That means an enthusiastic, qualified teacher moving among a small group of students in an adequate space. Put more than 10 students in a class with a single teacher and no helpers and the positive effects drop fast. Teaching kids to read music adds a distinct benefit as well. “When they’re reading music, they’re translating knowledge into sound into physical motor activities,” Rauscher says."It’s a whole brain activity.” Putting it in practice Outside of the research arena, real teachers like Ashley weave these concepts into their lessons every day. After teaching Kindermusik classes for 18 years, Ashley can rattle off a list of how music education benefits kids. Every week, she transforms a bland classroom in Northwestern University’s Music Administration Building in Evanston into a kid-friendly area with a floor rug, kid-sized stools and a plethora of instruments and joyfully tackles the task of instructing boisterous 4- and 5-year-olds. Since kid participation is a fundamental component, Ashley’s classes are known to be consistently engaging, occasionally noisy and always entertaining. Programs like Kindermusik are specifically structured to help kids develop skills in everything from sequencing to memory. When Ashley’s students clap out rhythms from flash cards, they’re learning to keep time and follow a string of commands. When they are given instruments to play together as a group, they learn to pay attention to what they’re doing as well as what’s going on in the rest of the class. Concepts stick because they’re using multiple senses and different parts of their brains, a detail that Ashley makes sure to point out to the kids. “We’re teaching concepts with the whole body,” she says."We’re singing it, saying it, moving it. It really celebrates the different kinds of learners we have.” And the kicker is that the kids don’t even realize they’re learning. They just think they’re having fun. Getting Mom and Dad in on the fun Fifteen minutes before the end of Ashley’s class, Michael Tisserand heads back into the classroom with the rest of the Kindermusik parents. He takes off his shoes and joins Miles on the rug, shaking rattles and jumping around with a zeal that matches that of the kindergartners. Tisserand is a veteran of the program. When their family moved to Evanston from New Orleans after the hurricane, a Kindermusik program was one of the first things they sought out. “We have some activities that we go back and forth on whether we really need to do them, but Kindermusik is never on that bubble,” he says."This seems like a necessary thing for their development, not just something extra that we do.” Their dedication to exposing the kids to music has not gone unrewarded. Tisserand’s 8-year-old daughter went all the way through the Kindermusik program before moving on to piano lessons. Miles also has his sights set on starting an instrument once he completes Kindermusik. And while Tisserand encourages a love of music for its own sake, the academic benefits aren’t lost on him. “Miles loves math and we’re always finding connections between music and math,” he says. Although Rauscher’s years of research point towards the brain benefits of music, she still believes that a life-long appreciation of music and the personal pleasure that it can bring far outweigh the extra percentage points it might equal on a spatial reasoning test. “We need to justify music education for its own sake,” she says."The fact that there are these extra-musical effects is sort of icing on the cake.” Easy ways to get your kids excited about music According to Kindermusik teacher Allison Ashley, a child’s parents are her best resources when it comes to music. Even parents who can’t tell a Mozart from a Chopin or a clarinet from an oboe can nurture a love of music in their kids. The following tips from Ashley provide some simple ways even the busiest of parents can make music an integral part of their home. Be aware of sounds around you. Take walks around the neighborhood and listen for familiar sounds in your environment. Point out bird calls, rustling trees and tinkling windchimes. Provide a soundtrack for playtime. Check out a variety of music from the library (classical, jazz, world music, etc.) to test out different kinds that your family might enjoy. If the music has words, encourage kids to sing along with you. Have instruments around the house. Suggestions include a drum, something that makes a long sound (like a triangle) and something that makes a short sound (like a wood block). Supplement these with homemade instruments such as shakers made from paper towel tubes filled with popcorn kernels. Play echo or pattern games. Using your voice or an instrument, sing a phrase or play a few notes and let the child repeat it back to you. Then switch roles. Attend live music performances. If it’s a fun experience, the child is more likely to want to go again, so don’t feel like you have to stay until your antsy child has a meltdown. If 20 minutes is all they can handle, just sneak out quietly between songs.

Free speech is still an American right. Expressions of free speech are protected by the First Amendment, and gatherings of these types have increased in numbers since the death of George Floyd in May. While many demonstrators were peacefully protesting, others were not, leading to violence and destruction in Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Charlotte, and other cities around the Tar Heel State. Police nationwide have arrested both peaceful protesters right alongside looters and violent mobs to prevent more vandalism and harm to residents. What do you do if you were in one of these protests and found yourself arrested? The Right To Protest Protesting comes under the First Amendment and “free speech.” This means that you have the right to express an opinion in public, anytime, anywhere, with some limitations. (Not all speech is “protected” by the First Amendment, such as inciting riots or “fighting words.”) Protests and demonstrations on private property, such as a place of business or employment, are not as protected. However, protests that evolve into more than civil disobedience and involve illegal activity such as rioting, burning, looting, and other conduct that can cause injury or property damage can lead to arrest and other police intervention. Large-scale demonstrations generally require permits to accommodate the additional police presence for the protection of attendees. “If any person shall willfully and unlawfully resist, delay or obstruct a public officer in discharging or attempting to discharge a duty of his office, he shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.” In addition to resisting arrest when you’re told, it also means interfering with any police officer who is doing his or her job. This includes the act of interfering when an officer is arresting someone else. Additional causes include using abusive language towards law enforcement, giving false information such as name and address, refusing to accept a citation, and preventing an officer from doing his or her job, such as interfering with another arrest. Not complying with a police request can also be considered “resisting arrest,” based on the officer’s judgment. Therefore, it’s important at such a public event to allow the police to do their job, and comply with their requests. If you’re charged with a different offense, such as disorderly conduct, actively resisting arrest can bring a second charge, even if the first one for disorderly conduct is eventually dropped. If you’re innocent of the original charge, resisting arrest is a separate charge for which you will be tried. Should you be part of an arrest during a protest that turns dangerous or violent, you have the right to the criminal defense attorney of your choice. A defense attorney can help you through the court process and work to have the charges reduced or even dropped. Need Help With Resisting Arrest Charges? Contact Raleigh’s Criminal Defense Attorney Dewey P. Brinkley is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Raleigh, NC. Before working as a defense attorney, he was a Wake County Assistant District Attorney. He understands the criminal justice system and has experience with resisting arrest as both misdemeanor and felony charges. If you have been charged with resisting arrest, call the law offices of Dewey P. Brinkley today for a free initial consultation to discuss your criminal defense case at (919) 832-0307. You can also use our online contact form.

We have always talked about plants you can grow either in your garden or indoors. For the most part, these plants grew in soil. But what about if you have a fish tank and you want to grow plants there for landscaping purposes? That’s where the hornwort plant comes in. Not only will it give your fish tank the natural marine look, but it also gives the fish shelter from excessive light and anything that might disturb them like an overcurious cat. Hornwort is one of those aquatic plants that grow practically on their own without much help from you. Suffice it to say that this plant has spread in every body of freshwater except the frozen arctic. If it can do well in the wild, how hard can it be to grow in the safety of your fish tank? Not hard at all. Hornwort at a Glance Of all the freshwater aquatic plants, hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) is perhaps the most popular one. With over 300 Ceratophyllum species to choose from, you will undoubtedly find the right species to fit with the type of fish you grow and the design concepts you have in mind. However, we recommend the hornwort, or coontail, as it is known sometimes, for its lush green appearance. In the wild, hornwort is considered an invasive species. That’s because it’s a hardy plant that can withstand harsh conditions and even poor oxygen in the water. While that’s bad news for environmentalists and marine life officials everywhere, it is good news for anyone looking to grow hornwort at home. It means it is easy to grow even if you know next to nothing about aquatic plants and how to care for them. From New Zealand where it gets inside the hydraulic power generators to the Amazon river, hornwort claims every freshwater pond, lake, or river as its own territory. Since it doesn’t have roots, it tends to float in the water. However, special leaves will anchor the plant in the water. Each plant has many stems. These stems tend to grow out of control in the wild and reach about 10 inches long. In a limited tank, they would usually grow to 3 feet unless you intervene. The leaves of the hornwort are more like needles and grow in clusters or whorls of 10 on average. Each needle is about one inch tall and, in the filtered light of the fish tank, they have an astonishing green color. And while there are male and female hornworts, both genders tend to flower. The flowers themselves are lackluster. They are usually brown and about half an inch in diameter. After pollination, the flowers are replaced by a small nut with three spines. Benefits of Hornwort Ask anybody who has a fish tank and grows hornwort about that plant and they’d gush about its beauty and the natural look it gives the aquarium. But apart from its landscaping purposes, hornwort has other more practical benefits. - Improves the oxygen levels in the water to the delight of the fish swimming around. Sometimes you won’t need to use an air pump when your hornwort is growing well. - Adds more color to the aquarium whether it’s floating at the surface or tethered to the bottom of the tank. - Creates a more dynamic current in the aquarium which helps distribute oxygen and improves the health of the fish. - Acts as a natural shelter for fish swimming around. Fish don’t like bright light and if two fish don’t get along in the same aquarium, hornwort offers protection. - It’s suitable as a nursery for fry just like java moss. - The fallen leaves and dead flowers serve as an easy source of food for the fish. - Hornwort also cleanses the water as it feeds on fish droppings and other pollutants in the water. - In the tank, hornwort inhibits the growth of blue-green algae. How to Grow Hornwort With so many benefits and advantages, you can see why this particular hornwort is popular in many aquariums. So when it comes to growing this aquatic plant you need to think of two things. The aquarium and whether to float or plant it. The Aquarium Conditions As an aquatic plant, you won’t need to worry about soil or pots. It’s all about the aquarium size and condition. The good news is, you can just about use any tank or aquarium to grow hornwort. It’s a hardy plant that survives in different conditions in the wild. However, you need to have a tank that takes at least 15 gallons before you consider growing hornwort. As mentioned, it grows to a few feet and doesn’t do well in limited spaces. The water temperature should be between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below that, the plant will struggle to grow and the leaves will turn dark brown. Higher temperature also isn’t ideal for its survival. As for the water pH, make sure it’s not below 6 or above 7.5. Pay attention to any nitrogen pile up in the tank. Higher levels of ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites will suffocate the plant. For hornwort to produce oxygen and thrive in the tank it needs bright light. You can keep the aquarium near a window that gets plenty of sunlight or you can use fluorescent lights for at least 10 hours a day. The clarity of the tank and water also affects the quality of the light that the plant gets. So make sure the tank walls are clean and the water is clear. Plant vs. Float The other pressing matter here is whether you should plant hornwort in the substrate or let it float to the surface. The choice comes down to personal preferences, yours as well as that of the fish. Some fish would like to swim around the stems of hornwort and hide behind them. Others would prefer to have the water space all to themselves in which case you should let hornwort float. For example, if you have fish like the hatchetfish that spend most of its time near the surface, then floating hornwort not only will give it shelter but also a place to lay its eggs. Meanwhile, fish species such as loaches or tetras prefer an anchored hornwort since they swim near the bottom of the tank for the most part. Either way, make sure the plant is not close to the water filter since it will be covered with a lot of debris. Once you get your hornwort growing nicely in the aquarium, you won’t have to worry about much. It has enough light, adequate temperature, and the water is clear and filtered. That’s practically all it needs to grow and thrive. However, it just might grow well beyond the size of the tank. In the right conditions, hornwort will grow about 5 inches a week. It’s one of the fastest aquatic plants when it comes to growth rates. You can even encourage it to grow more by simply giving it more light. But pretty soon, you’ll find that you have a problem on your hands. The hornwort whether it’s floating or anchored is taking up more space in your aquarium. If that’s not what you have in mind, then you’ll need to prune it. Simply trip the top of the stem to the desired length and watch it grow again. As for nutrition, make sure no other plants are competing with your hornwort for food and nutrients. That can impact its growth. You can use plant nutrient supplements about once a week to help it grow. Also, check the water temperature since any sudden changes will impact the growth of hornwort. Before you drop a hornwort stem in the aquarium and hope for the best, you need to make sure that your fish can live with it. While the majority of fish species won’t have a problem with a hornwort in the tank, some species don’t tolerate the needle-like leaves floating in the water. In general, you can grow hornwort in an aquarium that houses guppies and common mollies. They hide in the stems and use them for protection. If you grow angelfish or gouramis, they feed on hornwort leaves which helps with managing the growth of the plant. Just make sure you don’t have too many fish of these species in the tank since they could strip the hornwort stems bare and kill it. If you have a shedding problem, hornwort sheds a lot which pollutes the water, then consider growing shrimps, snails, or any type of scavenging fish. They feed on the falling leaves and keep the water clean. This helps you with the care and maintenance of both the aquarium and your aquatic hornwort. As an aquascaping plant, hornwort is one of the least demanding plants you can grow in a fish tank. Its hardiness along with its many benefits make it the ideal candidate that keeps your fish protected, enriches the water with oxygen, and creates a natural marine habitat for fish of all types and species.

FOG = Fats, Oils and Grease The Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Control Program is designed to help reduce wastewater (sewer) pipe blockages and related overflows from the improper disposal of fats, oils and grease from sources such as cooking oils, salad dressings, meat fats, dairy products, butter and margarine, to name a few. With everyone’s support we can reduce blockages in the community’s wastewater system, which help us keep everyone’s wastewater costs down. By following these six simple rules, you too can help prevent clogs and sewage overflows: - Never pour any fats, oils, or grease down the sink or garbage disposal. - Before washing, scrape and dry wipe pots, pans and dishes with paper towels and dispose of materials in the trash. - Pour fats, oils and grease after it has cooled into a sealable container and place it in the trash. - Use sink strainers that will catch food scraps and empty them into the trash. Home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system. - Don’t put diapers or sanitary napkins down the drain. - Plant trees away from your wastewater pipes because eventually their roots will grow into the pipe and cause a blockage. Don't Flush Those Wipes! No matter what the label says, wipes and paper towels do not break down like toilet paper does in water. They are stronger, and many wipes include plastics and materials like nylon. That means bad news for sewer systems. Flushing wipes, paper towels and similar products down toilets will clog sewers and cause backups and overflows at wastewater treatment facilities. Even wipes labeled “flushable” will clog pipes and interfere with sewage collection and treatment. They should be thrown away in the trash after use. If you decide to flush them, the pipe you block may be your own. You can block your own sewer lateral to the street. Then your toilet won’t flush. Your shower won’t drain. As a homeowner, you're responsible for maintaining the plumbing in your home and the sewer lateral from the home to the sewer main under the street.

Introduction to the dental code for extraction The dental code for extraction is a standardized system that dentists and insurance companies use to categorize and communicate the various tooth extractions. This code is a crucial tool that helps dentists accurately document and bill for their services while also providing transparency and clarity for patients. Understanding the dental code for extraction is essential for dentists and patients to ensure proper communication, accurate billing, and effective treatment planning. Why understanding the dental code for extraction is important. A clear understanding of the dental code for extraction is vital for dentists to accurately document the services provided, streamline the billing process, and avoid potential reimbursement issues. By using the correct code, dentists can ensure that insurance claims are properly processed and that patients receive the benefits they deserve. Additionally, knowledge of the dental code for extraction allows dentists to communicate more effectively with insurance companies, colleagues, and other healthcare providers, facilitating seamless care coordination. Patients also benefit from understanding the dental code for extraction. By familiarizing themselves with the codes, patients can better understand the procedures their dentist recommends and the associated costs. With this information, people can make smart choices about oral health and treatment possibilities. Furthermore, understanding the dental code for extraction allows patients to navigate their dental insurance coverage more efficiently, ensuring they receive the maximum benefits. Common dental codes for extraction There are several common dental codes for extraction that dentists frequently use to document teeth removal. One such code is D7140, which represents a simple extraction of a single tooth. This code is typically used when a tooth can be easily removed without extensive surgical techniques. Another standard dental code for extraction is D7210, which denotes the surgical removal of an erupted tooth. This code is used when a tooth is impacted or when the extraction requires more advanced techniques, such as bone removal or tooth sectioning. D7220 is another dental code for extraction commonly used when multiple teeth need to be extracted. This code represents the removal of erupted teeth in a quadrant or section of the mouth. It is often used when a patient requires full-mouth extractions or when multiple teeth in a specific area must be removed. How to properly use dental codes for extraction For dentists to correctly use dental codes for extractions, they need to carefully record the steps of the process and choose the code that best describes the extraction difficulty. The dental code should reflect the specific tooth or teeth being extracted, as well as any additional procedures or circumstances that may affect the complexity of the extraction. It is important for dentists to review and understand the American Dental Association’s Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes, which provide a comprehensive list of codes for various dental procedures, including extractions. Familiarizing oneself with the CDT codes ensures accurate and consistent use of dental codes for extraction. When documenting the extraction, dentists should include important details such as the tooth number, the reason for extraction, any complications encountered during the procedure, and any adjunctive procedures performed, such as bone grafting or socket preservation. Accurate documentation of these details helps support the selected code and provides a comprehensive record for future reference. Dental code examples for different types of extractions To illustrate the use of dental codes for extraction, let’s consider a few examples: Example 1: A patient presents with a severely decayed tooth that requires a simple extraction. The appropriate dental code for this procedure would be D7140 – a simple extraction of a single tooth. Example 2: A patient requires the surgical removal of an impacted wisdom tooth. The correct dental code for this procedure would be D7210 – surgical removal of an erupted tooth. Example 3: A patient must have multiple teeth extracted due to advanced periodontal disease. The dental code for this full-mouth extraction would be D7220 – removal of erupted teeth in a quadrant or section. By using the appropriate dental codes for extraction, dentists can accurately document the procedures performed and ensure proper reimbursement from insurance companies. Insurance coverage for dental extractions and the dental code Insurance coverage for dental extractions varies depending on the individual’s insurance plan. Some dental insurance plans cover extractions fully or partially, while others may have limitations or exclusions. Understanding the dental code for extraction is crucial when navigating insurance coverage, as it helps dentists and patients communicate effectively with insurance providers. When discussing treatment options with patients, dentists should explain the coverage limitations and any out-of-pocket expenses that may arise. By giving people this information right away, you help them make smart choices about their oral health and plan their budgets properly. Dentists can also assist patients by submitting pre-authorization requests to insurance companies, ensuring that the extraction procedure is covered before it takes place. It is important to note that insurance coverage for dental extractions may also depend on the patient’s oral health condition. Some insurance plans may limit coverage to only medically necessary extractions, while others may cover a broader range of extractions, including cosmetic reasons or orthodontic treatment. Dentists should help their customers understand how their insurance works and ensure they get the most out of it. Tips for dentists when using the dental code for extraction To effectively use the dental code for extraction, dentists should consider the following tips: - Stay up-to-date with the latest coding guidelines: The dental code for extraction is periodically updated, so it is crucial for dentists to stay informed about any revisions or new codes. - Use accurate and detailed documentation: Accurate documentation is essential for proper code selection and reimbursement. Dentists should ensure that the procedure and any associated complications are accurately recorded. - Verify insurance coverage: Before performing an extraction, dentists should verify the patient’s insurance coverage for the specific procedure. This can help avoid potential claim denials or unexpected out-of-pocket costs. - Train staff on dental coding: Dentists should provide training to their staff members to ensure consistent and accurate use of dental codes for extraction. This can help streamline the billing process and reduce coding errors. - Seek professional guidance: If dentists have any uncertainties or questions regarding the dental code for extraction, It is suggested that you get professional advice from dental associations, coding experts, or consultants. This can help ensure compliance with coding guidelines and optimize reimbursement. Frequently asked questions about the dental code for extraction. - What is the purpose of the dental code for extraction? The dental code for extraction serves as a standardized system to categorize and communicate the various types of tooth extractions. It helps dentists accurately document and bill for their services while providing transparency and clarity for patients. - How do I find the appropriate dental code for an extraction? Dentists can find the appropriate dental code for an extraction by referring to the American Dental Association’s Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes. The CDT codes provide a comprehensive list of codes for different dental procedures, including extractions. - Can patients use the dental code for extraction to estimate costs? Yes, patients can use the dental code for extraction to estimate costs. By familiarizing themselves with the codes, patients can better understand the procedures their dentist recommends and the associated costs. However, consulting with the dentist and insurance provider for accurate cost estimates is essential. - How often are dental codes for extraction updated? Dental codes for extraction are periodically updated to reflect changes in dental procedures and practices. Dentists should stay up-to-date with the latest coding guidelines to ensure accurate code selection. Resources for dentists and patients to learn more about the dental code for extraction For dentists and patients interested in learning more about the dental code for extraction, the following resources can be helpful: - American Dental Association (ADA): The ADA offers resources and educational materials on dental coding, including the dental code for extraction. - Dental insurance providers: Insurance companies often provide educational resources and guidelines on dental coding and coverage. Dentists and patients can refer to their insurance provider’s website or contact customer service for more information. - Dental associations and organizations: Various dental associations and organizations offer seminars, webinars, and publications focused on dental coding and billing. This useful information can provide valuable insights and updates on the dental code for extraction. - Dental coding experts and consultants: Dentists can seek professional guidance from coding experts or consultants specializing in dental coding. These dental experts can provide personalized advice and support in navigating the dental code for extraction. Understanding the dental code for extraction is essential for both dentists and patients. For dentists, accurate use of the dental code ensures proper documentation, streamlined billing, and effective communication with insurance providers. Patients benefit from understanding the dental code for extraction by making informed decisions about treatment options and navigating their insurance coverage efficiently. By familiarizing themselves with the dental code for extraction and utilizing the appropriate codes, dentists and patients can enhance the quality of dental care and optimize reimbursement.

Avoid school germs with 5 best practice tips from a doctor. While many parents may look forward to their kids returning to school and getting back into a routine, many kids pick up more than just new friends from the school yard. Nothing says school like picking up a new cold, flu or even a fresh crop of lice. At Your Doctors Online we want to prevent sickness before it happens. Our Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Richard Honaker, shares his best tips to avoid germs in the classroom. Tip to Avoid Back to School Germs #1: Pack Good Nutrition One of the best ways to safeguard your kids against the viruses and bacteria that may be present in the classroom is to fill them full of healthy foods. Choosing healthy options for breakfast can have a positive impact for the entire day. Eating breakfast has been linked to improved Eeatingnglish and math skills in children. Children who skip breakfast may be lacking sufficient fiber, minerals, and vitamins including iron, zinc, calcium and B2. Kids who eat breakfast are also more likely to eat healthier overall. Your child’s ability to fight off illness and infection depends on their immune system. As the immune system is a complex system made up of many moving parts, there is not one single food that can be consumed to boost your child’s natural defenses. Instead, choosing to pack healthier choices in your child’s lunch every day can keep their immune system working well. Allowing your child to help pack their lunch and choosing healthy options that your child enjoys can help make this process easier. If you are worried about your child’s nutrition, you can speak to one of our doctors about any growth concerns and whether your child would benefit from a multivitamin. Tip to Avoid Back to School Germs #2: Encourage Good Hand Washing One of the best ways to prevent your child from bringing viruses and bacteria home is to practice good hand washing. While children may be familiar with the fact that they need to wash their hands after using the washroom, they may not be washing their hands long enough or thoroughly enough. It is also important to remind children that door handles and the hot/cold handles can be very germ ridden. Using paper towels to create a barrier between these items and their hands can avoid a lot of unnecessary exposure. Although this can be difficult to teach a young child, modeling this behavior for your children can help them pick up these habits. This is important for young children because germs from feces (poop) can cause germs like Salmonella, E. coli O157, and norovirus. When these germs enter the body you child may experience diarrhea or respiratory infections like adenovirus and hand-foot-mouth disease. Children often touch their eyes, nose and mouth without even realizing it. These are easy ways for germs to enter their bodies. Children also may not properly cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. In a classroom setting where supplies and toys are often shared, germs can easily spread. Teaching your children to wash their hands often, especially before eating, can help safeguard them from germs. Germs from unwashed hands can get on food that you consume. In certain conditions, germs on foods or beverages can even multiply and make you sick. Encouraging your children to wash their hands before eating at home can help this habit to transfer into the classroom. Parents may want to send hand sanitizer with their child to school. Although not as beneficial as good handwashing habits, it is better than no protection for your children. Tip to Avoid Back to School Germs #3: Don’t Share Head Wear While many parents may fear the dreaded ‘L’ word during the summer months, lice can also happen in the fall. While most lice is spread by hair to hair contact, it can also be spread through the sharing of clothes, especially head wear. Children in classrooms do tend to spend lots of time close together learning and playing. Since this is the primary way that lice spreads it is important to focus on prevention. Children should be taught to never share hats, brushes, combs or helmets. Children with long hair benefit from having their hair tied back and/or braided to avoid hair to hair contact as much as possible. While some people may try natural deterrents such as tea tree oil, they are not proven to help prevent lice. If you suspect that your child has lice, it is important to make sure that the treatment option you choose is safe to use. Never treat a child for lice who does not have lice with lice treatments. Not all treatments are safe for young children. Tip to Avoid Back to School Germs #4: Sleep Right Inadequate sleep has a direct impact on the immune system. Many studies have shown that those who lack quality sleep are more likely to become sick after being exposed to a virus. Poor sleep can also increase recovery time when you become sick. The reason for this is because your immune system releases proteins called cytokines during sleep. Some of these cytokines actually promote sleep, but others are needed when you have an infection or inflammation in the body. When you are sleep deprived the production of these proteins is decreased. The production of infection-fighting antibodies is also reduced without adequate sleep. How can you increase your child’s sleep? Setting a good nighttime routine can be essential for children’s development and growth. Studies have demonstrated the importance of a consistent bedtime routine which includes reading with your children, a dark and quiet space for sleep, a consistent bedtime and a cool room to sleep in. When we suggest a cool room, we are not speaking to your decor choices, but rather the temperature in which your children sleep. Warm air on your child at night can weaken their mucous membranes and make it easier for germs to enter. A humidifier and cooler temperatures can help avoid this problem. As well as a consistent bedtime, it is also important to ensure your child is getting enough hours of sleep each night. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends the following amounts of sleep, based on age group: - 4 to 12 months =12 to 16 hours - 1 to 2 years =11 to 14 hours - 3 to 5 years =10 to 13 hours - 6 to 12 years =9 to 12 hours - 13 to 18 years =8 to 10 hours Children who are not getting enough sleep have more problems at school and may develop slower than their peers who are getting adequate rest. In a review of several sleep studies by the University of British Columbia it was determined that caffeine before bed, technology before bed and the lack of a good night time routine in general, such as sharing an evening meal, can have a negative impact on sleep. To ensure your child is getting an adequate amount of sleep start setting a regular bedtime, establish a good evening routine and try to reduce technology before bed. Tip to Avoid Back to School Germs #5: Don’t Spread Germs One of the hardest decisions for any parent each morning is to decide whether their child is too sick to go to school. Many parents waver between wanting to give their child adequate time to rest and recover from their illness and worrying about their child missing too much time from school. Of course, there is also the concern that sending your child to school could cause another child to get sick. No parent wants to put another child at risk, but many may do that unknowingly. Many germs are spread through the air when a child coughs or sneezes. While children may have these cough-like symptoms for an extended period, there are markers to know when you should keep your child home and when it is safe to send them to school. When to Keep Your Child Home: - If your child is experiencing aches, chills, or a fever. - Digestive upset, such as diarrhea or vomiting - Any undiagnosed rash When to Send your Child to School: - When they have been fever free for 24 hours - 24 hours without vomiting or diarrhea - Your child’s rash has been diagnosed and is not infectious Get a Quick Answer Day or Night No matter what health concerns your child is presenting, they never seem to happen during normal business hours. Get an easy answer by connecting with Your Doctors Online. Simply download our app and connect to a real north American doctor. You can reach us day or night with the touch of a button. Getting the advice of a doctor has never been easier.

Navigating the Green Landscape: How the Video Game Industry is Going Sustainable In the ever-evolving world of technology and entertainment, the video game industry is making significant strides towards sustainability. From eco-conscious game development to environmentally friendly gaming accessories, let’s explore the green side of gaming. Eco-Friendly Game Development: A Growing Trend Creating Virtual Worlds with a Green Touch Game tambang888 developers are increasingly recognizing the importance of sustainability in their craft. From using energy-efficient servers to optimizing game codes, the industry is taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint. Sustainable game development not only benefits the environment but also sets a positive example for gamers worldwide. Energy-Efficient Gaming Consoles: Powering Up Responsibly Play Responsibly, Conserve Energy Leading gaming console manufacturers are investing in energy-efficient technologies. Consoles now come with power-saving modes, ensuring that gaming sessions don’t unnecessarily contribute to energy consumption. By adopting eco-friendly practices in manufacturing and encouraging responsible energy use, the gaming industry is aligning itself with the global push for sustainability. Recycled Materials in Gaming Accessories Leveling Up with Environmentally Conscious Gear The shift towards sustainability extends to gaming accessories. Companies are now using recycled materials to manufacture gaming peripherals, reducing the environmental impact of production. From controllers to headsets, these accessories prove that gaming can be both high-tech and eco-friendly. Green Gaming Events and Initiatives Uniting for a Sustainable Future Industry events and gaming conventions are increasingly incorporating eco-friendly practices. From reducing paper waste to promoting sustainable merchandise, these initiatives aim to create a positive impact on both the gaming community and the planet. Gamers are encouraged to participate in green initiatives, fostering a sense of environmental responsibility within the gaming community. The Future of Sustainable Gaming Game On, Sustainably As technology continues to advance, the video game industry’s commitment to sustainability is expected to grow. Gamers, developers, and manufacturers alike are realizing the importance of preserving the planet while enjoying the virtual realms they love. The future of gaming is not just thrilling adventures and immersive experiences; it’s also a commitment to a greener, more sustainable world. In conclusion, the green side of gaming is gaining momentum. From eco-friendly game development to sustainable accessories and events, the video game industry is embracing its role in promoting environmental responsibility. As gamers, we can play a crucial role in supporting and demanding sustainability, ensuring that the joy of gaming doesn’t come at the cost of our planet’s well-being.

Learn what a bully is and what a bully does. Just like their immature little brothers and sisters on the schoolyard, workplace bullies use same tools of intimidation and manipulation to bring you down. Learning to recognize their behavior is the first step in putting a stop to it and getting back to work in a comfortable environment. - A bully gains enjoyment from tormenting others. You might not always get along with everyone at work, but that doesn’t mean you’ve got a bully on your hands any more than you’re a bully yourself. Distinguish between the two by recognizing this trait–does this person seem to make special effort in messing with you, tripping you up, or bringing you down? Do they seem to enjoy it? If the answer is yes, this might suggest a bully.

These ideas are derived from concepts of Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy. Be easy as you step into the world of twelve senses. Understanding each of these senses will bring you closer to knowing yourself, knowing your children better and understanding the way individuals and the collective interact with one another. The interplay of these senses can be mystic and fascinating to say the least. If you get overwhelmed then stop and rewind a bit to where you last understood the ideas. Begin again after a good night’s sleep, or a stretch of meditation or a dose of nature. In this narrative we have combined the knowledge shared by Steiner and applied it to the current manifestation of Autism. We have used the terms hyper (excessive) and hypo (minimal) to describe these sensory experiences. According to Steiner human beings actually have twelve senses. Everything we have in us, even everything we experience in our soul, is related to the outer world through our twelve senses. These are the senses of touch, life, movement, balance, smell, taste, sight, warmth, hearing, speech, thinking, and the sense of the I. The twelve senses are what unite the inner and outer world of the individual and what allows us healthy interaction with other people at the highest developed levels. The twelve senses can be broadly classified in two categories namely unconscious (sleeping) processes and conscious (waking) processes for the purpose of schooling ourselves about them. - Sense of Touch With the sense of touch we bump into the world around us through the organ of the skin. This includes what is inside of me and what is outside of me. The sense of touch is barely connected with the conscious life of our soul. You can see for yourself that this is true when you consider how easily we can store the impressions of our other senses in our memory and how difficult it is to remember the impressions of the sense of touch. Just try it and you’ll see how difficult it is to remember, for example, the feel of a piece of fabric you touched a few years ago. Indeed you’ll find you have little need or desire to remember it. The impression sinks down in the same way as the light fades into twilight when the sun descends into the night. Your tactile sense delineates your body. It indicates where you end and something else begins. Without the sense of touch you would not feel this boundary, and you would not know where you stop being. You would literally be boundless and flow into the other. Without a sense of touch, you would have no physical self-awareness. This is the reason many of our children bump into others and things or do not know boundaries of personal space. Our children may have a heightened or diminished sense of touch. This imbalance can cause them not to properly incarnate into their bodies which in turn can cause them to have a diminished quality of life. You can help improve this by various desensitizing therapies such as massages, baths, rubs and hugs. Cloths made of synthetic fibre can cause static electricity which can be torturous for children who are hyper in this sense. Ill fitting cloths, clothing tags even starched cloths can cause deep discomfort that comes in the way of effective day to day functioning. - Sense of Life The sense of life enables us to feel our life in us, but only when that life has been disturbed, when it is sick, when something causes us pain or hurts us. Then the sense of life tells us we are hurting here or there. When we are healthy, we are not aware of the life in us but can sense a general well being and vitality within us. The sense of life is the internal sense of our organs and internal life processes. Our life sense tells us that we are full, that we have indigestion, or that we have to go to the toilet. We do not sense anything as long as our life processes are all following their normal, harmonious course. We do not register the life sense until one of the life processes is disturbed, or when we are ill. Other examples of observations made by our life sense are stomach-ache, congested nose or sinusitis. We do not perceive our organs or life sense unless something is wrong. Another type of observation that the life sense can make is the perception of our body as having substance. Our life sense makes us perceive ourselves as a physical, material body. If we only had a sense of touch, we would only be able to feel our body’s boundary, so that our body would feel like an empty shell. Yoga to feel the breathing in and out of air is a good way to start experiencing this sense of life force. Our children have challenges feeling hunger, thirst or fatigue. They sometimes do not even recognize that they need sleep. Bringing in healthy life rhythms and cycles will help tremendously to the ease of their lives. - Sense of Movement The sense of movement allows us to perceive what is happening in us when we have set some part of our body in motion. The way joints impact on one another for example when we bend our finger, this joint impacts on that one — tells us about the movements our body is carrying out. The previous two senses observed the body’s boundaries, the body’s internal state and the space it takes up. The sense of movement, or of muscles, enables us to perceive our body’s movements and posture. Our body – limbs, eyes, mouth, tongue, forehead, chest – is never still. All these movements are perceived, and very accurately, too. Not only do we perceive our movements, we are also aware of the exact position of our limbs and all the other moving parts of our body. At any given moment, we know exactly where our arms and feet are. This is essential information; if we are going to execute a new movement, we have to know where the movement is to begin. We don’t even have to think about this, the sense of movement is always present. However our children have a hyper or hypo presence associated with this sense of movement. Combine this with other senses which may or may not be imbalanced we have a situation where the children perceive themselves much differently in the world than what you and I do. Yoga is a wonderful way to integrate this sense with the body, mind and soul. Brain Gym exercises may help and so will occupational therapy and sensory integration therapy. Nature walk, sea baths, working with pebbles in water, dancing to music and many more activities can de-sensitize and soothe the children in their day to day lives. - Sense of Balance We acquire this sense of balance only gradually in life; we just don’t think about it because it also remains in the unconsciousness. Infants have not yet acquired this sense, and therefore they can only crawl. The organs for perceiving the sense of balance are the three canals in our ears; they are shaped like semicircles and are vertical to each other in the three dimensions of space. If these canals are damaged, we get dizzy; we lose our balance. We have the outer ears for our sense of hearing, the eyes for the sense of sight, and for the sense of balance we have these three semicircular canals. We use our sense of balance to orient ourselves in the world. Observations made with this sense let us know what is up and down, left and right, in front and behind, above and below. The sense of balance perceives the smallest changes in our vertical position. Our body has a dynamic equilibrium. We maintain our balance by making very small adjustments in muscle tension in muscles all over our body. Every time we stand up we have to rediscover our balance, by using this sense. This sense also refers to the balance of life and being able to be centered, which again goes back to rhythm and the idea of in-breath and out-breath. Children with a hyper or heightened sense of balance tend to toe walk, run, spin around, hang upside down, climb to heights even within their home such as window, table etc., in effect they are keenly aware of their confidence in using their body in space and are very secure of the law of gravity. Children with a diminished or hypo sense of balance tend to fear heights, movement, stairs, swings and walk slowly than others among other challenges. Gentle de-sensitizing is called for if at all. - Sense of Smell With this sense of smell we move gradually from the unconscious into the consciousness. You can still make the same experiment mentioned before concerning the sense of touch, and you will find it very difficult to remember the perceptions of the senses of smell. Only when we enter more deeply into our unconscious with our soul do the latter consciously perceive the sense of smell. It is not the fragrance that rises up out of memory, but the soul processes connected with the sense of smell emerge into consciousness. A sense without boundaries, the life sense can be overwhelmed, permeated by an odour. Our ability to make moral judgments is due to this sense, which automatically determines things to be either “good” or “bad”. We cannot block out scents without holding our breath, which we can never do for long. When we have been exposed to a scent for a while, we stop noticing it, nor will we notice a gradual strengthening of the scent. We only notice it if we go away from it for a while and then come back to it. In that case, we will probably be amazed that we did not notice it before. Our sense of smell is quite primitive compared to that of animals. A dog’s sense of smell is a million times more sensitive than ours. A dog has no trouble smelling the fear of a passer-by and responds directly. Because of the short reaction time, instinct is closely connected to the sense of smell. An animal’s behaviour is thus determined to a large degree by what it smells. If our sense of smell was as good as an animal’s, we would constantly be making strong judgments and be incapable of more objective observation. Our sensitivity to scents would leave no scope for a personal response, and our thoughts would be more instinctive. As a result, we would be at the mercy of what our sense of smell told us. This may be the reason many of our children who are hyper sensitive to the sense of smell act instinctively and apparently without reason. We can even say that they can smell our current emotional and vibrational state. - Sense of Taste The sense of taste, however, is for most people almost in the light of consciousness, though not quite; it is still partly in the unconsciousness for most of us. After all, very few people will be satisfied with the soul impression of taste alone. Otherwise we should be just as pleased with remembering something that tasted good as we are when we eat it again. As you know, this is not the case. People want to eat again what tasted good to them and are not satisfied with just remembering it. Taste is intimate because it takes place inside. It has a lasting effect because what are taken in become us. The judgment of the common-sense-soul seeks two criteria, whether something tastes wholesome or unwholesome. The observation of taste is made up of two components, the actual taste of something and its smell. When something is in your mouth, its smell enters your nose. When you put something in your mouth, its smell can change as new scent particles are released. Actual taste is limited to four possibilities: sweet, sour, salty and bitter. If you hold your nose and put something in your mouth, you will only be able to distinguish these four tastes. Our judgment of food, and whether or not it is healthy, is determined in part by taste. Children are very clear about what to eat and what to avoid maybe in part by the strong association with smell. When our children look at the food presented to them they seem to be able to clearly distinguish when the food is fresh, cooked with love and whether it will according to their taste. Our children use the combined sense of smell and taste to soothe their lives. The senses of smell and taste are the doorways of the waking consciousness, the earthly life. They may sometimes heighten or diminish these senses to soothe themselves in their physicality. Ultimately the children want to have a comfortable and easy life. They do not wish to struggle and iterate the perception of these senses to manage their life in this Autistic body. The children also use the composite of these senses along with other senses to reflect back to us our own energetic vibrational countenance. This is so that we may learn and move to a better place so that we can all live a good life. - Sense of Sight The sense of sight, on the other hand, is the sense where the sun of consciousness rises, and we reach full waking consciousness. Where the eye finds light, colour arises, created out of the interaction between light and darkness. We meet through the eye, the mirror and direct representation of the human soul. It is the sense that encompasses all other sense abilities. We can see shapes, motion and proportions because our eyes move and work together with the senses of movement and balance. It is easier to block visual stimuli than smells or tastes. There is a distance between us and what we see and thus we observe more consciously. Of all our senses, sight contributes most to our awareness. We are an organism with conscious thought, which is intricately involved with the act of seeing. This also means that it is easier to be mistaken about what we see than what we smell, for example. Sometimes, our thoughts determine what we see. Goethe discovered that colours are a result of the play between light and dark. You see red, orange and yellow when you look out of the dark at something light, the sunset for instance. Blue and violet predominate when you look from the light at something dark. That is why the sky is blue: it is light here on earth, but black in space. Hence colours can affect your mood depending on whether you are moving towards light of darkness at the emotional-soul level. Try this for yourself. Goethe put it this way: light’s victory over darkness results in active colours (red, orange and yellow), while the victory of darkness over light brings out passive colours (blue, indigo and violet). You can verify this by looking at a rainbow. The sky is always darker at the top of the rainbow than at the bottom, and the red is always on top where it is darker, and the violet on the bottom, where it is lighter. You can find evidence for this rule in brown eyes, where the iris is red nearest the pupil, and green or bluish nearest the white of the eye. Most people can see about 150 colours, though some can see more. Our children can probably perceive many many more colours and hues than we can imagine. This gives them an advantage over us that their inner world is so much more richer and gorgeous than us. Just knowing this can release you from the bondage of attempting to remedy what is naturally the children’s way of seeing things which is different from ours. - Sense of Warmth The sun rises higher and higher. It rises to the sense of warmth (pouring out into the world with one’s interest, non-materially). This can only be experienced when there is flow; something must happen between us and the outer world in order to sense temperature. When our soul opens and we want to meet the world, one of two things happens. We get nothing back, and experience cold, or our interest is met and we experience warmth. We use our sense of temperature to observe how hot or cold objects or our surroundings are. The sense of temperature is made up of distinct sensory receptors for hot and cold located all over the skin. There are more receptors for cold than for hot. As with the sense of touch, every part of our skin senses temperature. There is a difference, however. When something touches us, we feel which part of our body is touched. Our sense of temperature is closely connected to our own temperature. In other words, we do not measure absolute temperatures, but temperatures relative to our own. The ability to feel through the sense of warmth or temperature is closely related to the ability to feel and give love. The challenges faced by our children in this ability to perceive the sense of warmth has to do with their ability to perceive the energy of other person or of an environment. Since our children respond to authenticity in others when the vibration is of mixed nature, they do not respond. And the most important thing is they don’t care what you think of them. Your opinion of them is irrelevant to their well being. Something to learn from our children right? - Sense of Hearing Hearing penetrates more deeply into reality than sight. Sound comes from the external and then is made internal. Our ears are positioned at the side of our head. Our ears are open to sounds from our entire surroundings; it is not necessary to position the ears directly in front of a sound. We cannot close our ears, so that we are connected with the world of sound during all our waking hours. Listening – conscious hearing – requires us to be quiet. We must keep still yourself and take a back seat, as it were. Listening is a social activity focused on others, but it is also an internal activity. Looking at an object gives us an idea of its exterior. Listening to an object gives us an idea of what is within. Listening to people can also reveal information about their inner lives. People might look smart, but if they feel bad inside it is immediately apparent in their voice. Someone’s intonation betrays whether they are sad, happy or excited. In order to resonate, objects must be solid and free-standing. A free-standing copper bell rings, but a bell standing on the ground is like a soft chunk of clay: it makes no or muffled sound. Sound is considered an unearthly non-physical phenomenon. The spiritual implication of this is that to perceive the world a human being need to resonate in a free standing manner. If we feel imprisoned or bound by life’s circumstances then we cannot perceive the world in a balanced way. - Sense of Speech We could never understand the higher meaning of spoken words with the sense of hearing alone. The ability to hear language seems simple, but there is a deep secret behind languages. The kind words spoken to us have a direct effect on us, just as colour affects our eyes directly. The love living in the other’s soul is borne into your soul on the wings of the words. There is a difference between the perception of sound and music, and the perception of speech. When listening to human speech, you perceive the vowels and consonants which make up all words. Your ears perceive both the acoustic and the musical aspects of language, but not the essence, or meaning of speech. The actual words are perceived by another sense that we refer to as the sense of speech. When you meet someone, their posture and facial expression, the look in their eyes, the gestures of their hands and body, and the sound of their voice all reveal information about their inner state and character. By listening to the words people say, you can observe their thoughts, opinions, judgments, experiences and personality. When listening to someone speak, the first thing you perceive is not what is being said, but the rhythm and intonation. Rhythm and intonation – reveal agreement or rejection, scorn or admiration, good or bad intentions, and so on. You hear more than just the meaning of the words. Brief reactions can be interpreted quite accurately on the basis of context and – nuances of tone alone. You can perceive how the speaker intended to convey the message, and in doing so you have observed something about the speaker’s inner being. Letters, words and stories have a different quality to tones and melodies. Words harbour connotations, or gestures, that can be perceived. Quick has a different gesture to fast, sluggish is not the same as slow. The basic meaning might be the same, but the letters that make up the word make a different gesture. A word is in effect a phonemic image of a series of letters. Observation of the phonemic image is not the same as hearing. Rudolf Steiner pointed out that our understanding of language is made possible by the fact that we have a musculoskeletal system. Our flesh-and-bones body is the sensory organ for words. Speech sounds are perceived with the ears. Nerves travel from the organ of speech down the spinal cord and branch out to all the muscles in the body. This is why you make unconscious micro-movements in response to speech sounds, and why you physically experience the gestures of sounds. In other words, language is not heard just by your ear, it is heard by your whole muscular system. Together, these form the sense of speech. The sense of speech can interpret more than just the spoken word. You also observe visible gestures, such as hand signals and body language. The sense of speech observes both words and gestures. Speech is perceived and used at a subtler realm than other senses. Our children are present in this realm within themselves and also in engagement with the world. Being sensitive to the non-physical energy and vibrations in others and in the environment, our children tend to use the gestural part of speech rather than language for communication. That is why many choose to remain silent and choose to communicate telepathically the image of the gestures to others rather than speak overtly. We can live a better quality of life with our children if we could understand this aspect of their life choices and to school our self to lovingly co-exist with them. The zenith of our inner life lies between the senses of hearing and speech. - Sense of Thinking Then we have the sense of thinking. This is the ability to understand, comprehend, to picture what is said. While words indicate that there are such things as concepts, you can never really totally express them with words. They exist on a higher plane. When speech and language is erased, you enter the realm of pure concept. Our sense of thought observes the thoughts of others. Specifically, we observe the views, considerations and questions that others have, and thus get an idea of what they are thinking. When we focus on someone’s way of speaking, which is on the phonemic image, the substance of what they are saying will pass us by. But when we concentrate on the substance, we do not hear the way in which the message is conveyed. This is most apparent when we hear a language being spoken that we do not understand. We can pick up certain tones, but we do not have the faintest idea what is being said. Clearly, our sense of speech and sense of thought perceive different complementary aspects of human communication. Our children use imagery predominantly to make sense of the world. Therefore they have difficulty shifting focus from the phonemic image of intonation and rhythm of speech to the substance of what is being said. Therefore they tend to think differently from us. They appear to be dreamy and lost in their individual thoughts while in actuality they are quite happy processing it their way. Learning to look at substance of what is being said is cumbersome and sometimes it is tiresome for them to receive someone who is projecting themselves not so authentically through their speech. - Sense of I The I sense or the sense of the ego is not the sense for perceiving our own I but that of others. After all, it is an organ of perception, a sense. What is important here is not so much knowing about our own I, but meeting other people who reveal their I to us. We live with the souls of others just as we live with colours and sounds. Anyone who does not realize this knows absolutely nothing of our inner life. This is the sense through which we can become aware that another person is an individual. We not only hear language, or grasp concepts, but become aware that there is a he or a she who means something by what is said. This sense develops only when we are able to break through a wall, then withdraw and allow others to find their place within us. This sense needs to be activated, because in practice – with people tending to be distracted by their own and others’ habits and emotions – the sense of ego is barely used. In other words this sense is activated when we are aligned with our soul and can see through our soul’s view at another person. If we want to get to know someone’s personality, we must allow him into our inner being. But we can only tolerate this intrusion for a little while. Before long we need to have our inner being to our self again, and so we throw the other out. You can observe someone’s individuality most directly in their eyes. The eyes give you an unfettered view of the other’s ego. Unless you are in love with that person, you can only do this for a short while before you start feeling uncomfortable. When we look into someone’s eyes and encounter them, something gets sent back to us. There is resistance as us have entered the other’s private space. We will probably experience little trouble in looking children in the eyes for a longer period of time, as their return gaze is a soft one. The same applies to the return gaze of animals. The difference between humans and animals can also be experienced in this way. The ego sense functions similarly to the sense of touch: we touch the other and let the other touch us, we absorb the other. That is why we feel uneasy when eye contact lasts too long. Many children have difficulty having eye contact for this reason. On no account should we force the children to have direct eye contact as this corrupts their whole being with the others and the world. Let the children gaze wherever they wish, however they wish, for however long they wish. Do not impose yourself into their space without their permission. Coherence of the Senses Each sense makes a different observation. But the observations and the senses which make them are complementary, so that together they form a coherent whole. It is important to remember that you cannot use your senses well unless you train them well. Practice makes perfect! Adults can train their senses consciously, but young children cannot. It would be wrong to give young children exercises directed at developing their senses and their observational capacities. They develop their senses in the way that comes most naturally to them, by doing. A child develops its sense of balance by climbing trees, its sense of hearing by listening to music, its sense of speech by listening to stories being read out loud, and its senses of thought and ego by developing real, substantial relationships. Summarising the need to understand the reason why Steiner classified human senses into twelve, we need to gradually deepen our understanding of the mysteries of human evolution and to realize that what will someday become reality in various stages has been expressed symbolically or otherwise in human wisdom throughout millennia. Today we are only at the stage of mere groping toward this reality.

Applications are becoming a common part of our daily life. There are applications for every type of activity. If you want to know what’s happening in the world, you have news applications. If you want your food delivered to your doorstep, you have food delivery apps. If you want to work out at your home, you have workout apps. If you want to buy something, you have online shopping apps. The point is that there are so many types of applications that have made our lives easy. The credit goes to the developers who have created the applications and the ones who came up with innovative ideas for these applications. Well, creating an app is a complex task that involves paying attention to a lot of areas. In the further sections, we will discuss the basic steps to creating an app to bring professionalism to the app development process. Steps in an Application Development Process App development is an intricate task that has to be done with proper planning and strategy. The top developers follow a standardized process to create an app. This process includes some basic steps to utilize all the resources and create an outstanding application for the users. Let’s see what are these steps to create an app. Everything starts from an idea, and so does the application development process. The first thing any developer has to decide is the very idea of the app. If you do not have an excellent app idea, then how would you be able to create it properly? So, the idea of the application is the foundation, which has to be effective. The idea of your application can be a new and unique one or an improved version of something existing. If you are going to improvise an existing application idea, then you must include something impressive in it which can leave a good impact on the audience and they will consider your version to be better than the original one. This is the step that requires extensive thinking as the entire success of an application depends on it. In this step, the idea needs refining to turn into a concept. The developers use their skills to conceptualize the idea and create a systematic list of features that can be included in the application. This step also provides the opportunity to revisit the idea and introduce new changes if required. In this step, the developers convert the ideas and concepts into reality. Wireframes are templates that are created by UX designers. These are the slides on which the graphic designers add the graphic elements to make the app appealing to the users. Wireframes are nothing but the different screens which we see in an application. You can understand this as the prototype of the actual application. It offers a clear visualization of the resultant app. This is the step that makes the application attractive to the users. Graphics make the app visually appealing and opens the scope of creativity. This part includes font size and style, app theme, motion effects, button size, etc. These decisions make the app presentable to the audience. Another purpose of graphic designing is that it provides coders and programmers with the exact knowledge of what they have to do. It gives them a guideline to define the codes and set the programs. The most important aspect of any app development process is the programming and the coding. It makes the application work and brings life to the idea, the concept, and the prototype of the app. The real development task is here and it requires different types of coding. It is an extensive process and thus all the approval from the client regarding any app feature is almost done at the previous stages. Once the coding is done, the application becomes live. The task of app development does not stop once the application is ready. A very significant thing is yet to be done — testing. Among all the steps to creating an application, this is the most significant one. Without testing, the app can not be made available to the targeted audience. This is the most exhaustive part of the app development process. But this is also the step that improves the overall quality of the application. Whenever an app fails in any test, it brings the opportunity for the developers to improve the errors and make the app more effective for the end users. Requirements of Application Development It has been mentioned that app development is a complex process, thus it has certain requirements which need to be fulfilled. These requirements form the base of the application and make it functional. It is very important for the success of the app that these necessities are met appropriately. Following are the basic requirements of an app development process. A Strategic Plan Strategy is the core of any process. This defines the reason for your application development and provides you with the answer to “WHY?”. The answer to the question “Why to create an application” is as important as “How to create an application”. If you know the purpose of your application, then you can effectively implement a good plan and make your app a leading one in the market. A Tech stack is the combination of various technologies which are required to complete any web/app development process. It is a highly notable requirement of any app development process. This determines the quality of the app and its success in the market. The right technology takes the application in the right direction. Advanced technologies bring trendiness to the application. Thus, selecting an appropriate tech stack becomes important. An Excellent Development Team The application development process is completely dependent on the development team. If you have an effective development team who can give you excellent results then this ensures the success of your app. If your team lacks efficiency, then you may fall behind in the competition race. So, you have to select your team carefully for a successful app.

Step 6: Continuing the Journey I Can Fix It! Five easy things you can do starting right now to end racism. Read more Cultural Humility: People, Principles and Practices - How do you act when you come across someone from a different culture? Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life Racial microaggressions are the brief and everyday slights, insults, indignities and denigrating messages sent to people of color by well-intentioned white people who are unaware of the hidden message being communicated. Read more Cultural and Linguistic Competency Self-assessment to identify areas to improve cultural and linguistic competency for healthcare workers. If you want to be a more effective communicator in today's diverse workplace, this book is for you. Ouch That Stereotype Hurts This book helps readers understand and combat racism in themselves. Overcoming Our Racism: The Journey to Liberation The struggles of a Hmong refugee family and their interactions with the health care system. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down An entertaining story to share important lessons about why diversity efforts are bound to fail unless we really understand how we unconsciously respond to difference and how to move to beyond it. The Loudest Duck While African Americans managed to emerge from chattel slavery and the oppressive decades that followed with great strength and resiliency, they did not emerge unscathed. Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome A surgeon describes her struggles to bring modern medicine to the Navajo reservation in Gallup, New Mexico. The Scalpel and the Silver Bear Although Jim Crow laws have wiped off the books, an astounding percentage of the African American community remains trapped in a subordinate status. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration n the Age of Colorblindness A black woman's reflection on how dilemmas of class and race are intertwined. Where We Stand: Class Matters Please forward any comments you would like to share about these resources: firstname.lastname@example.org

The World’s Largest Living Lizard, The Komodo Dragon All About The Komodo Dragon The World’s Largest Living Lizard, The Komodo Dragon has long been a part of many myths and legends. The folklore of the Komodo Dragon is a mystical and interesting one that many Indonesian people on the island of Flores, still talk about today. The native people of the islands called the Komodo Dragon, or Monitor Lizard, one of three names. The Ora or Orah, the Buaya Darat or Land Crocodile or the Biawak Raksasa meaning Giant Monitor. No matter what you believe, the sight of a living Komodo Dragon in the wild is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience. The once mysterious Komodo Dragons of Indonesia are now considered one of the most fascinating creatures on earth. The Komodo, also known as the Komodo Monitor, is the largest and heaviest lizard. Residing on just a few of the Lesser Sunda Group Islands in Indonesia, they are of course native to the island of Komodo. Are you interested in learning more about these powerful and remarkable creatures? Read on to find out more as we answer a selection of key questions about Indonesia’s Komodo Dragon. Where does the Komodo Dragon live? The natural habitat of the Komodo Dragon is in Indonesia. Indonesia is in Asia and borders Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, and East Timor. With over 17,000 islands in the Indonesian Archipelago, the Komodo is known to be in the Lesser Sunda Islands, specifically, Komodo Island. It is known on some of the neighboring islands which are part of the Moluccas in the far East of the region. This group of islands extends out from the Malay Peninsular and includes Sumba, Flores, Alor, and Timor. Who discovered the Komodo Dragon? The first documented discovery of The World’s Largest Living Lizard, Komodo Dragon was by European explorers in 1910. Lieutenant Van Steyn Hensbroek who traveled to Komodo Island to try and find the giant lizards is said to have found them and sent a sample of the lizard he killed for studies to a laboratory. His discovery was later found to be a monitor lizard by the Zoological Museum and Botanical Garden in Bogor Java. How much does a Komodo Dragon weigh? A fully grown Komodo Dragon (Varanus Komodoensis) can weigh an impressive 300 pounds (135 kilos) and grow to over 3 metres (10 feet) in length. On average, they will weigh about 70 kilos. Therefore, they are the largest and heaviest lizard known to be alive at this present time on earth. A newly hatched Komodo Dragon is roughly 45 cm in length, and they have an expected life span of 30 years in the wild. Are Komodo Dragons endangered? The increasing interest in the tourism sector has helped to raise awareness of this species and encourage its protection by the Indonesian Government. The illegal trafficking of the species to the Asian market for medicinal purposes is an area that the authorities are actively working to prohibit. A Komodo Dragon can sell for 500 million rupiahs on the illegal wildlife market. Police in East Java have made arrests of those involved in selling the animal as recently as early 2019. The Komodo National Park was established in 1980 to help protect vulnerable species both from over-tourism and the destruction of their natural habitat. The park is now a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site with active work to educate the local people about the wildlife that resides there including the Komodo Dragons. While not considered endangered, they have been listed as a vulnerable species. Can a Komodo Dragon swim? Surprisingly, yes; the Komodo Dragon can swim! They can run, climb and swim, making them a serious predator. The Komodo has been said to swim in a similar style to a crocodile which is why the local people gave the monitor lizard its native name ‘Ora’ which means ‘land crocodile. They have been seen in the ocean away from the shore and swim between places in search of food. They have been known to swim for hours at a time. How many Komodo Dragons are there in the world? It is estimated that there are less than 6000 Komodo Dragons remaining in the wild. There are roughly 1700 residing on Komodo Island, 1300 on Rinca Island, 100 on Gili Motang Island and 2000 on Flores Island. This rare species is vulnerable to human activities that threaten their natural existence. How often do Komodo Dragons eat? The largest lizard on earth is said to eat ‘just about anything. A Komodo Dragon can live off just 12 meals a year as it has a slow metabolism and can eat a massive 80% of its own body weight in each feeding. A Komodo does not have a diaphragm and can not drink water without allowing the water to fall to the back of its throat by tilting its head back. A Komodo will commonly eat dead animals and animal meat and are aggressive when it comes to eating their prey. This species has a venomous bite which is what they use to poison their prey when they hunt. Are Komodo Dragons poisonous? It is true – the Komodo Dragon does have venom glands in their lower jaw. The venom is said to cause a drop in blood pressure and prevent blood from clotting. It has been a much-studied and debated topic for researchers to find out if the bite is a toxic bacteria or a poisonous venom. Recent research has shown that they have venomous saliva but that the strength and size of the dragon itself are what injures and kills their prey. Much is still being learned about this historic lizard, with scientists and researchers from around the world finding themselves fascinated with the Komodo Dragon. Additional Quick Facts About the Komodo Dragon: - The Komodo Dragon can run up to 20klms on land. - The female can reproduce and lay eggs on her own due to something called parthenogenesis, meaning individual egg cells can fertilize each other. - The sense of smell is heightened and highly useful to the Komodo as they can smell using their forked tongue which compensates for their considerably poor vision. - The baby dragons are vulnerable to adults who are known for eating their young, and it makes up roughly 10% of their diet.

A tikkun is a special printed edition of the Torah to facilitate learning to chant the Torah. We examined numerous tikkun books and this is our favorite. As is well known, the Torah scroll used in the synagogue contains neither vowels nor punctuation. Therefore, the student must memorize the correct pronunciation of each word and verse. A tikkun lays out the text of the Torah in two identical columns – identical in every way except that the column on the right has vowels and punctuation, while the left column looks exactly like the Torah scroll. What do we like about this tikkun? In a word: typesetting. Click here for a sample image. This book is so nicely done not only is it useful for a child (or adult!) learning to “lein” (chant) the Torah, it’s also a true keepsake

By Professional Physical Therapy Do you ever have numbness or tingling in your hands, have trouble gripping things tightly or are experiencing pain that extends to your elbow? You might have carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition occurs most often in people ages 30-60 and is more common in woman than men, according to research done by the Mount Sinai medical team. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) gets its name from an area in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. Running through this tunnel is the median nerve, which Provides sensation to your palm and most of your fingers. When you do the same task repeatedly especially flexing and extending the wrist, you put pressure on the median nerve. Over time, swelling will occur inside the carpal tunnel until the median nerve is compressed or pinched causing a progressively painful condition that can decrease sensation and strength of the hand. The good news is there are lots of ways to ease your symptoms. One of those is through physical therapy with an occupational therapist or a certified hand specialist. Common causes of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome The most common cause of this inflammation in the wrist is an underlying medical condition that causes swelling in the wrist. Some conditions linked to carpal tunnel syndrome are: - Thyroid dysfunction - High blood pressure - Rheumatoid arthritis - Fractures or trauma to the wrist Symptoms can become worse if the wrist is overextended or flexed repeatedly or if the wrist is positioned in these extreme positions for an extended period. This may be the result of: - Positioning of wrist while using the keyboard or mouse. - Over flexing the wrist while sleeping for a prolonged period - Prolonged exposure to vibrations from using hand tools or power tools. - Any repeated movement that overextends your wrist, such as playing the piano or typing. How can Therapy with a Certified Hand Specialist Help Physical and Occupational therapists that specialize in hand therapy treatment can help reduce carpal tunnel pain and help you regain strength and increase mobility. Treatment options include: - Joint mobilization: hands on treatment technique to increase range of motion. - Wrist splinting: custom splints fabricated by a certified hand therapist for your wrist. - Manual therapy: includes soft tissue compression over the muscles and swelling reduction techniques. - Sports Injury rehabilitation: changes to an athlete’s activity like frequent hand repositioning. - Exercise therapy: specific exercises to improve grip strength. - Flexibility training: wrist stretches to improve extension mobility, including median nerve mobilization. - Health and wellness strategies: education on ergonomic changes at work, home and in your leisure time. How to Prevent Carpal Tunnel No proven strategies are available to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, but you can minimize stress on the hands and wrists to help. Professional’s Robert Wilutis, MS, OTR, CHT makes the following suggestions to aid in prevention. - Try a softer touch by reducing your force and relaxing your grip - Take short breaks, frequent breaks - Watch your form and positioning of your wrist and hands - Improve your posture - Ergonomic changes, i.e., change your computer mouse or keyboard - Keep your hands warm At Professional Physical Therapy, our Occupational Therapists and certified hand specialists can help you recover from carpal tunnel syndrome or any other condition effecting your wrists and hands. If you’re experiencing hand pain or discomfort, contact us at one of our hand therapy locations, so we can customize a rehabilitation plan just for you.

The lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn for a prize. There are several types of lotteries, including state-sponsored games like Powerball and Mega Millions, as well as private and commercial lotteries. Regardless of the type, the goal is to win a prize based on random chance. The term “lottery” is also used to describe a system for selecting jurors or other members of an administrative body using a random process. Lottery winnings are taxed, and it’s important to know the rules before you buy a ticket. In addition to the standard federal income tax, some states have additional taxes that must be paid on winnings. These additional taxes can add up to a significant amount of money, which is why it’s important to consider your options carefully before purchasing a ticket. Some people believe that the odds of winning the lottery are stacked against them, but there are a number of ways to increase your chances of winning. The most popular method is to purchase more tickets. If you aren’t able to afford to purchase many tickets, you can join a lottery group or pool your money with friends and family. This can significantly improve your odds of winning the jackpot. Another way to increase your odds of winning the lottery is to play a smaller game with fewer participants. For example, instead of playing Powerball, try a local state lottery or EuroMillions. The less number combinations a game has, the more likely you are to select a winning sequence. You can also increase your odds by playing a scratch card game, which is more likely to yield a big prize than other lottery games. In the 17th century, it was common in Europe for towns and cities to organize public lotteries. These lotteries raised money for a variety of public uses, from poor relief to building bridges and roads. In the American colonies, Benjamin Franklin organized a lottery to raise funds for cannons to defend Philadelphia, and the Continental Congress voted to use lotteries to fund the American Revolution. Privately-organized lotteries became more widespread in the United States as a way to sell products and property for more money than could be obtained by regular sales. While many people believe that winning the lottery is a waste of money, others say that it can be a great way to make a profit. For instance, a Romanian mathematician named Stefan Mandel has won the lottery 14 times and shared his strategy with the world. His formula involves getting a group of investors together to buy tickets that cover all possible combinations. He says that his formula is a great way to increase your odds of winning the lottery. However, some people claim that his strategy is just a scam to take advantage of unsophisticated investors. Other lottery strategies include choosing numbers that are close to each other or that have sentimental value. However, you should always remember that the odds of winning are still very low.

Kenya is one of Africa’s most dynamic and entrepreneurial economies, but one with increasing water security risks. These risks are of growing concern to the poor. It is clear that current poverty metrics do not capture the impact and implications of water shocks or long-term human exposure to water risks. This working paper highlights four significant but uncertain developments that will interact to determine Kenya’s progress in its quest to reach middle-income status by 2030 and improve water security for its 17 million poor people: (1) the impacts of decentralisation, (2) resilience to climate shocks, (3) reducing inequality, and (4) harnessing mobile ecosystems. The working paper presents potential locations to establish Water Security Observatories that address these key issues. Through a risk-based approach and science-practitioner partnerships, the observatories are proposed to examine ‘small towns in fragile lands’ and ‘build water secure institutions’ with the goal of reducing water security risks for the poor.

Together We Learn has been running a successful school linking programme for over twenty years. We invite schools to join us in changing lives through education by engaging young people to learn more about the world around them. A school link is a sustainable partnership between your school and a school in Ethiopia. Each link is a way of developing understanding between international schools, and Together We Learn works to support and sustain collaboration between teachers and students involved. Start your link journey today. A School-to-School Connection is the best option for schools wanting to work with an Ethiopian school directly, enabling you to build a relationship over several years. The link allows students to learn about a new culture and gain in-depth knowledge of another country. We provide themed lesson plans each half-term, facilitating shared learning activities between your schools, and regular newsletters from our staff. Education Ethiopia Connection An Education Ethiopia Connection is the best option for schools who are looking for a way for thier pupils to engage with another culture and the power of practical action, without making a long-term financial commitment. The link allows pupils to gain knowledge over the year about Ethiopia and daily life there while providing an opportunity to support an educational project in Ethiopia through a fundraising activity. What are the Benefits of School Linking? - Linking offers a unique opportunity to communicate with and learn from young people of different cultures and helps students develop confidence and self-esteem, as well as practical skills to work towards a fairer world. - Linking encourages your pupils to appreciate diversity both locally and globally and to challenge stereotypes. - Links give teachers from both schools the opportunity for personal and professional development. - School link resources and shared learning activities enrich lessons across the curriculum. Our lesson plans integrate with Geography, PSHE, Economics, Citizenship, RE and other subjects. The school links programme is designed to encourage children in developed countries to question the single story about ‘poor Africa’ which is often told, using the example of Ethiopia. Our teaching resources and newsletters: - Introduce children to different aspects of Ethiopian culture they may not be aware of, such as the food, music and history; - Present different stories from Ethiopia outside of the aid and development narrative, so they learn about things such as developing industries, trading health foods, and political systems; - Invite pupils to question what they may have been told in the media about different countries and peoples, and investigate whether they are being told the full story. What Does a School Link Look like? At the start of new school link, a member of staff from our UK team can come to your school to deliver a welcome assembly. The assembly will introduce students to Ethiopia, explain the purpose of the link and provide students with an opportunity to ask questions about the country and international linking. When our staff visit from Ethiopia, they can also come to your school to do a workshop or assembly directly with the pupils. Each half-term you will receive a newsletter from our UK team with selected stories about news from Ethiopia, a teaching resource recommendation with notes to relate to current events and updates and case studies from the work we are doing with children in Ethiopia. We encourage teachers to go through the newsletter with pupils and make it available on their school link noticeboard. Our teaching resources are comprehensive packs including presentations and lesson plans. Each resource explores a different aspect of Ethiopia, encourages children to consider how their own situation relates, and is connected to the current curriculum. The resources are available on our website and each half-term we recommend a teaching resource that is related to current events. Shared Learning Activities School-to-School Connection links complete an annual shared learning activity together. This involves students from both schools working on the same exercise and producing drawings or letters that are then exchanged with their link school. The activities are designed to get both schools thinking from the other’s perspective and learning a little from each other along the way. Student and Teacher Exchanges Visits by teachers or students either to or from Ethiopia are a great way to cement the relationships forged through school linking. We have supported dozens of schools to successfully apply for teacher visit funding, and can support you to arrange your own student visit, or facilitate a development project visit with our partner Inspire Worldwide. Fundraising and Taking Action We facilitate schools to hold fundraising activities to support education projects in Ethiopia. These might include providing safe drinking water and clean toilets, building new classrooms, or stocking a school library with books. On completion of a fundraising project, students in the UK get a certificate to commemorate their efforts and a photo update of the completed project. Backwell and Angereb School Link Backwell Secondary school in Bristol has had a School-to-School Connection with Angereb Secondary in Gondar since 2007. This has allowed a generation of Backwell and Angereb students to communicate directly through shared learning activities and school visits. The students have participated in a shared learning activity every year and even contributed to our lesson resources by developing a curriculum on water use and sustainability in 2010. Backwell students have driven the link themselves, developing practical skills and global learning, by organising fundraising activities to build new IT and toilet facilities in Angereb and through visits to their partner school as teaching volunteers.

There's been a lot of space stories this week, including rockets going up, satellites coming down and supply craft doing both, but not in the right order. Not to be deterred, NASA is talking up its next big experiment which will send a probe to examine the contents of the Cygnus Loop, a remnant of a supernova that exploded 20,000 years ago. The mission will involve a sounding rocket, which will sniff the x-rays that are still being emitted from the stellar event, which scientists hope will help them understand what it's made up of. It's also hoped that scientists will gain a better understanding of how the universe is built and maybe even spot some as-yet unobserved matter in the process. OGRESS, short for Off-plane Grating Rocker for Extended Source Spectroscopy, will launch from the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, at 4:30am ET on May 2nd. A following voyage is planned for 2018, although this time the target is the star Capella. [Image Credit: NASA / Hubble Space Telescope/ J. Hester]

Sunday, March 3, 2019 WATER REPELLENCY OF THE FABRIC Water repellency: The water repellency of the fabric is the ability to resist the fabric to absorb the moisture. The factors affecting the water repellency are given below: GSM, yarn count and construction of the fabric: The fabric having higher GSM does not always repel more water than lighter GSM fabric. The water repellency of fabric is directly associated with the airspace present in the fabric. The higher GSM fabric having the lowest possible airspace poses better water repellency. If the heavyweight fabric has more air space than lightweight fabric, the lightweight fabric will show better water repellency because of the lowest air space present in it. Generally, in the heavyweight fabrics, the end to end or pick to pick gap minimizes up to the lowest possible level, hence the heavyweight fabric shows better water repellency. The water repellency of fabric has great concern with the yarn count and construction of the fabric. If the two fabrics have equal threads per square inch, then the fabric woven with coarser count will show improved water repellency. If two fabrics have similar warp and weft count, then the fabric having more threads per square inch will show better water repellency. This thing happens due to airspace present in the fabric. Thus we can say that the water repellency of the fabric is inversely proportional to the airspace present in the fabric. Type of material used: the material having hydrophobic nature always shows better water repellency. The synthetic fibres have better water repellency than natural fibres. The continuous filament yarn shows improved water repellency in comparison of synthetic spun yarn. The monofilament yarn always poses better water repellency than multifilament yarn. The degree of yarn twist: the degree of yarn twist also influences the water repellency of the fabric. As the amount of twist increases, the airspace also decreases in the yarn. Now the yarn becomes more compact. In this way, the increased degree of yarn twist helps to improve the water repellency of the fabric. Weave: the weave of fabric has a great impact on the water repellency of a fabric. If two fabric has all fabric parameters except weave, then the fabric having plain weave will show better water repellency than satin or twill weave because of the minimum possible air space present in the plain weave fabric. Calipers: The calipers are very useful instruments. These instruments are used to measure the diameter of the cylinder, bore, bearing size, ... FABRIC COSTING: The fabric costing is a very important aspect for any fabric manufacturer, merchandiser, textile exporter and Weaving t... please click on the below link to read this article in Hindi यार्न की परिभाषा और यार्न के विभिन्न प्रकार या यार्न का वर्गीकरण VARIOUS TYPE... CARDING PROCESS, OBJECTIVES OF CARDING, STRUCTURE OF CARDING MACHINE, WORKING PROCEDURE OF CARDING MACHINECARDING: The carding is the second process of spinning which converts fed material (lap) into the uniform strand of fibres called “... Yarn count conversion from one to another system, yarn count conversion table, table of yarn count calculation formulaplease click on the below link to read this article in Hindi एक सिस्टम से दूसरे सिस्टम में यार्न काउंट का रूपांतरण CONVERSION OF YARN COUN...

“How do I finish the armbar?” This is a common question that beginning students ask. The typical response to this question is “Squeeze your knees together, point your opponent’s thumb away from your chest then raise your hips”. This is fine instruction for a raw beginner. Once the beginner starts to gain more experience, they receive more details “Pull your heels towards your butt, touch your toes together, hug your opponent’s arm to your chest”. Students can easily be left with the idea that to get better at a technique, you must learn more details for that technique. The problem with this detail oriented approach is that the student doesn’t understand why the armbar works. This means they can’t troubleshoot when it fails. Consider the fight between Georges St. Pierre and Dan Hardy during UFC 111. During the first round, GSP has a tight armbar on Hardy, but Hardy escapes. Why did the armbar fail? What mistake did GSP make that allowed Hardy to escape? A detail oriented student will claim the armbar failed because GSP didn’t squeeze his knees together, as this is the obvious detail that is absent. If you do an Internet search you will find many people claiming this to be the reason. This is incorrect. If GSP did squeeze his knees together, Hardy would have escaped even earlier. To understand why the armbar failed, we must first understand the principles behind the armbar. The arm is essentially two rods connected with a hinged joint. The goal of the armbar is to hyper-extend this joint beyond its maximum extension, using the strong muscles of the legs and hips. The armbar is achieved by clamping the ends of these rods (shoulder and wrist) in place while the hips push into the joint to hyper-extend it. The obstacle to performing the armbar is that the shoulder can rotate so that the elbow is no longer in line with the force applied by the hips. This rotation removes the hips ability to hyper-extend the elbow. The principles behind the armbar are: - Immobilise both the wrist and the shoulder - Ensure the elbow is in line with the hips - Raise the hips to hyper-extend the elbow All the details we know about performing the armbar are to assist with these principles. If we re-examine the GSP vs Hardy match, we see that initially GSP has immobilised Hardy’s wrist and shoulder. Hardy manages to rotate his elbow to prevent the hyper-extension. GSP changes his grip on the wrist from a tight elbow hook to a double wrist grab. This is the mistake that causes the armbar to fail. GSP would like to rotate Hardy’s hand so the elbow also rotates to become in line with his hips, but he cannot got a good grip due to the gloves. The double wrist grab is not strong enough to immobilise Hardy’s wrist, so it is only a matter of time before Hardy escapes. Squeezing of the knees would not have solved GSP’s problem. Squeezed knees might have made it slightly more difficult for Hardy to rotate his elbow, but it was the loss of wrist immobilisation that allowed Hardy to escape. Beginners respond well to a detail oriented approach to learning BJJ. But to move beyond mere competence, student’s require the principles involved so they can understand the purpose behind the details.

Brag Social presents some of the most renowned historic events held on February 5. In 2019, Pope Francis made history by performing papal mass in the Arabian Peninsula to relax the severe ties between the two communities of Muslims and Christians. Apollo 14 mission successfully completed, as it landed on the moon. In 1930, New Orleans introduced the first tireless, soundless, shock-less streetcar tracks. The first US telegraph company incorporated in Maryland. In 1997, Brook Lee got the title of the 46th Miss USA at the age of 26. 1847– 1st US telegraph company established The first long-distance telegraph system came up in the US on February 5, 1847. The establishment took place between Baltimore-Washington. The government of the US provided Samuel Morse with about USD30000 for the same. After that, he laid the telegraph line between Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Maryland. They came across several challenges while the construction. The whole process began on April 1, 1844. During this, about 500 chestnut poles with a height of 23 feet (7 m) high and spaced 200 feet (60 m) were installed. Moreover, copper wires insulated with cotton thread, shellac, and a mixture of “beeswax, resin, linseed oil, and asphalt, were also expanded between Washington and Baltimore. 1930 1st tieless, soundless, shockless streetcar tracks, New Orleans In the early years, horses pulled the trains. After, as the tech-savvy scientist introduced advanced technology, new systems of rail service came. On February 4, streetcars expansion begun in New Orleans. Some striking features of these were that they were wireless, soundless, and shock less. Unlike other countries where public transports consisted of buses or cabs, streetcars in New Orleans were an integral part of the public transport in New Orleans. In contemporary New Orleans, the New Orleans Transit Authority regulate and operate the streetcars. 1971–Apollo 14 mission successfully lands on the moon The United States initiated the Apollo program, under which Apollo 14 was the eighth crewed mission. Besides being the third one to land on the Moon, it is also the first to land in the lunar highlands. On February 5, it landed on the moon near Fra Mauro. Moreover, Alan Shepard and Edward Mitchell walked on the moon for 4 hours. As a result, they collected Moon rocks of about 94.35 pounds (42.80 kg). Additionally, a lot of scientific experiments were held. This trip to the moon is well-known for Shepard’s incident wherein he had hit 2 golf balls. 1997- Brook Lee crowned as the 46th Miss USA Brook Antoinette Mahealani Lee, popularly known as Brook Lee, crowned as Miss USA. She is an American actress, television host, model, and beauty queen. Moreover, in 1997, she won as Miss Hawaii USA, Miss USA, and Miss Universe. Her nationality is a blend of many cultures like Chinese, Korean, Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English. She is also the oldest ever to win the crown of Miss Universe. The pageant that she won was held in Honolulu, Hawaii for the very time. The reason behind this was Al Masini and Lee had worked hard to gather funding for the same. 2019 – Pope Francis visits and performs papal mass in the Arabian Peninsula Pope Francis marked the day February 5 in history by being the first pope ever to perform papal mass in the Arab peninsula during his visit to Abu Dhabi in 2019. A papal mass is basically when people gather to attend a small ceremony. The ceremony, conducted by the pope, is to celebrate certain occasions such as papal coronation, an ex-cathedra pronouncement, canonization of a saint, on Easter or Christmas, or other major feast days. However, in 2019 the Pope concluded the ceremony in the UAE. This was done to promote the Christian leaders and Muslim leaders to work together in peace and harmony. As a result, he celebrated one of the most prestigious ceremonies in Christianity on the land where Islam had its origin to prove the same. For more such articles, visit www.bragsocial.com.

The home of the future needs to be prepared for the harsh weather events that will surely come about as a result of climate change. That’s why a startup by the name of Geoship is designing buildings made from a new material that can withstand disasters: bioceramic. Geoship is using the new material to build new dwellings in the form of a geodesic dome and has plans to produce both backyard cottages and full communities. The material has a long list of advantages. To start with, the ceramic is fireproof up to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning it won’t burn in a fire. It also reflects more than 80% of the heat from the sun, helping keep the inside cool in heatwaves. On top of that, the material resists insects and mold and absorbs little water—which is key during hurricanes and floods. All of this, the company claims, can cost 40% less than traditional construction as the geodesic shape shrinks the amount of material needed—a dome might use half the material of a two-story traditional house of the same square footage. Sound too good to be true? Well, we’ll soon find out as shoe giant Zappos is working with Geoship to build a small “village” of the domes in Las Vegas near the online shoe retailer headquarters. The plan is to offer them as free housing for some of the many people who are experiencing homelessness in the city.

Author: Glenn Tafe The “Dancing Plague of 1518” was an event in which hundreds of citizens of Strasbourg, France danced uncontrollably and apparently unwillingly for days on end. The mania was said to have lasted for two months. The plague started when a women by the name Frou Troffea walked into the street and began dancing erratically, and seemed unable to stop. She kept dancing and soon collapsed from exhaustion. After taking a break she began dancing again and continued this way for days. The number of dancers began to increase, and the civic and religious leaders theorized that more dancing was the solution. They arranged for spaces for dancers to dance in, musicians, and professional dancers to help the afflicted continue dancing. It only worsened the contagion, and more than 400 people died because of the compulsion. Theories of the plague were that the afflicted may have eaten bread made from rye flour which contained a very dangerous fungal disease called ergot. Other theories include demonic possession, overheated blood, etc. In this video posted by HistoryPod, he describes the history of the mania, and how it spread in the German city of Aachen. The people of the city began suddenly dancing in the streets and didn’t stop for weeks on end. Other names for the mysterious dancing include St John’s Dance, St Vitus’ Dance, or the ‘dancing plague’. Many of the victims danced until exhaustion, and foamed at the mouth and twitched their limbs until they recovered only to begin dancing again. Some died of injuries sustained from the dance, others died of cardiac arrest. Some speculated the cause of the ‘dancing plague’ was religion or punishment from Saints John or Vitus who were closely associated with both the cause and the cure. People also thought that the dancers were members of cults performing rituals. Its been noted that the disappearance of the outbreaks curiously coincided with the spread of Protestantism and its rejection of the veneration of saints. In Aachen, Germany, in 1374, the worst outbreak of dancing mania was recorded. It was said to have spread to towns in Belgium and the Netherlands along the Rhine River. Many villagers danced in the streets to music nobody else could hear. The dancers seemed as if they were stuck in a trance, unable to control themselves. Some dancers screamed, and cried out in pain, but couldn’t stop. The dancing mania went on for weeks, affecting thousands of people. One theory of what caused the plague was the ergot fungus which grows on rye and grains. One of the key chemical components of ergot is lysergic acid, which is the ‘LS’ in LSD. This has been known to cause delusion, and hallucinations. Another theory was psychogenic illness or mass hysteria, which is a contagion of an idea or belief can spread through a population, usually during times of stress. Although many scientists, and psychologist have expressed their theories on the cause of the plague, “The Mystery of the Medieval Dancing Plague” is still unsolved to this day. Sanj. “The unsolved mystery of the medieval dancing plague”. Guiness World Records, 5 Dec. 2022. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/12/the-unsolved-mystery-of-the-medieval-dancing-plague-728701. Links for Further Research: “The Strasbourg Dancing Plague | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror.” YouTube, uploaded by Fascinating Horror, 24th April 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPGqyiSutF8. This video uploaded by Fascinating Horror, goes into further detail about the Strasbourg dancing plague. He explains how a Catholic saint by the name St Vitus was believed to be able to curse the sinful to dance themselves to death. “What caused the deadly ‘dancing plague’ of 1518?” History Skills, https://www.historyskills.com/classroom/year-8/dancing-plague/. This article posted by History Skills goes into the probable causes/theories of the plague, such as a mass ritual or protest carried out by Catholics and Protestants since the city of Strasbourg was a religiously diverse city. Some historians believe that the dancing may have been a form of ecstatic religious experience or a protest against social and religious hierarchies. “A forgotten plague: making sense of dancing mania” The Lancet, https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736%2809%2960386-X/fulltext. This article published by John Waller on February 21st, 2009, tells us of another incident of the ‘dancing plague’ outside a church in the German town of Kölbigk. The priest of the church was unable to perform mass due to the constant clapping, leaping, and chanting of the dancers. Due to this the priest cursed them to dance for their failure to listen, and the dancers began to regain control of their limbs

The First Four Points of the 15 Criteria Points of Genuine, Meaningful Sustainability 1) What people commonly refer to as “sustainability” is not truly sustainable. For example, people will refer to “sustainably harvested lumber”. Lumber may be harvested in a manner that is not destructive of forest ecosystems, but in order for lumber to be sustainably harvested, not only would the chainsaws and logging trucks need to be running on something other than fossil fuels, but the chainsaws and logging trucks would need to be MANUFACTURED using something other than fossil fuels. When you consider the amount of energy required to make a large metal object like a logging truck, it is clear that even Forest Stewardship Council certified lumber is far from sustainable. 2) Genuine, meaningful sustainability is defined by a rigorous set of criteria including, but not limited to the use of nonrenewable resources and the impossibility of infinite growth on a finite planet. 3) It therefore follows that achieving genuine, meaningful sustainability is a dauntingly complex, remote, far-flung ideal. It will be VERY difficult to achieve. 4) As difficult as it may be, genuine, meaningful sustainability WILL be achieved because to do anything less is unsustainable. Whatever the human family fails to do voluntarily, we WILL do involuntarily. It is possible that we will become a sustainable, advanced, complex civilization. On the other hand, dust blowing on the wind is sustainable.

Female choice scores and Peak Frequency and Duration in calls from Wood frog chorus recordings Cite this dataset Calsbeek, Ryan (2022). Female choice scores and Peak Frequency and Duration in calls from Wood frog chorus recordings [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5mkkwh77q A limitation in bioacoustic studies has been the inability to differentiate individual sonic contributions from group-level dynamics. We present a novel application of acoustic-camera technology to investigate how individual wood frogs calls influence chorus properties, and how variation influences mating opportunities. We recorded mating calls and used playback trials to gauge preference for different chorus types in the laboratory. Males and females preferred chorus playbacks with low variance in dominant frequency. Females preferred choruses with low mean peak frequency. Field studies revealed more egg masses laid in ponds where males chorused with low variance in dominant frequency. We also noted a trend towards more egg masses laid in ponds where males called with low mean frequency. Nearest neighbor distances influenced call timing (neighbors called in succession) and distances increased with variance in chorus frequency. Results highlight the potential fitness implications of individual-level contributions to a bioacoustic signal produced by groups. To evaluate female choice between choruses, we combined recordings of individual males to construct three chorus types: 1) LFLV choruses had low peak frequency (e.g., PF ~1542 Hz) with low variation in peak frequency (measured as the interval above and below PF before the amplitude dropped 20dB below the peak e.g., 1329-1937 Hz). 2) HFLV choruses had high peak frequency (e.g., 1808 Hz) with low variation (e.g., ±20 dB range= 1413-2037 Hz) and 3) HV choruses had both high and low frequency calls (PF 1807 and 1542 Hz) and thus high variance in call frequency. Two versions of each chorus-type were produced and were used in alternating order between trials. Each frog heard the HFLV and LFLV choruses, LFLV and HV choruses, or HFLV and HV choruses from two of four speakers. Choruses were played through alternate pairs of speakers in each consecutive trial. The other two speakers served as silent controls. Trials lasted ten minutes or until the focal frog had moved to within 5cm of a speaker and remained at that speaker for at least one minute. Trials in which the focal frog did not move towards a chorus or did not make a definitive choice (14, 10, and 13 trials in the three treatments respectively) were recorded ‘NA’. We recorded natural choruses at each of 11 ponds using an acoustic camera mounted to a tripod. All recordings were made between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Acoustic cameras integrate a digital video-camera with a microphone array to map sound onto acoustic still or video images. Frog choruses were recorded using a Ring48 AC Pro Polytech acoustic camera. This configuration consisted of a 0.75-meter rigid carbon fiber ring with 48 calibrated microphones (+/- 0.5 dB sensitivity) and a centrally located video camera. Data were aggregated in a Polytech Multi Channel Data Recorder (mcdRec). Data were extracted using the NoiseImage software v. 4.11 (Gfai tech). The NoiseImage software uses time of arrival differences among microphones to reconstruct sound sources on the video of the scene, producing a video with an overlaid heatmap of sound sources. All videos were reconstructed with a framerate of 25 frames/second and an overlap of 3 frames. This process resulted in one WAV file per frog that contained all calls of that individual. To extract acoustic measurements from these recordings, we compiled all of the WAV files into a multichannel file, with one channel per frog. We then converted the video frame numbers into time stamps using the frame rate of the video and used a custom script to build a selection table for the Raven Pro sound analysis software. To maximize the precision of the measurements, we used two different sets of spectrogram parameters. We exported peak frequency values using an FFT (Hanning) size of 4096 samples to facilitate frequency resolution, giving a 3 dB filter bandwidth of 33.7 Hz. We exported 90% duration values using an FFT of 256 samples, resulting in FFT bins of 0.0027 sec. All spectrograms were computed with 50% overlap. Missing values are coded NA Readme file contains all relevant information National Science Foundation, Award: DEB-1655092

OK, in this post I will be reviewing some R functions for phylogenetics, walking you through some ways of working with phylogenies within the R environment. First, install R on your computer. Also install the phylogenetics packages APE, geiger and caper on your machine using links at these URLs, or using the ‘Install packages’ option within the ‘Packages’ dropdown menu of the R gui), in the appropriate library folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\R 2.xx\library… on Windows). Within the 64-bit R console on my MacBook Pro, I just go to ‘Packages & Data’ and click on the ‘Package Installer’ to get new packages. First steps, and getting trees into Now, let’s do some stuff with phylogenetic trees in R. Our first step is to obtain trees of interest, then get them into R to play with them and to conduct analyses with them. If you have no tree, but you have a data matrix, you can construct phylogenetic trees using a variety of R packages (e.g. phangorn, bblme). For the rest of this particular post, I will assume you already have one or more phylogenies to work with. I will also assume you understand some basic R commands (e.g. “gets,” or = , and that you know bigdata[,x] is a column, etc.) already. Please read up on the basics beforehand if you haven’t. Before taking our first step and reading in a treefile, we need to make sure that the packages we will be using are ready. Type library(ape); library(geiger); library(caper) to load the appropriate packages. All code below will assume that you have loaded these packages; these codes will not work without them, thus this is an important point. Also put any tree files (newick text, .NEX, .tre formats, etc.) you are interested in into your current working directory. You can find out what your current working directory is by typing getwd(), and then you can change this using setwd() and filling in the parenthesis with the location of the desired directory location (note: use forward slashes, not backslashes when typing this in). Assuming the tree file of interest is called “bigtree.tre”, type bigtree = read.tree(file='bigtree.tre') #or you could also try: bigtree = read.nexus(file='bigtree.tre') #if you would like to read in a nexus file. To view your phylogeny, type Add an axis representing your branch lengths, after the tree graph shows up in a separate window within your R gui, by typing the following code: #...or add a small scale bar like this: Alternatively, to get a tree file in manually, you might insert your tree (copy and paste in standard newick format with or without branch lengths, and making sure that you have no spaces in your tip labels) in between the first set of quotation marks (“”) that I have left blank here: cat('', file = 'treename.tre', sep = '\n') This creates the tree file “treename.tre” in your working directory with your tree in it. Simply type treename , then plot(treename) to see your phylogeny. Now that your tree is in R, you probably will want to save it. To save your tree in NEXUS format, simply use the command write.nexus("treename", "treename.nexus"). To see a summary of the features of your tree type its name treename. To see a summary of tip labels along the phylogeny, type something like treename$tip.label. To see branch lengths, type treename$edge.length. More basic tree features, and changing how trees look Now that you have learned to input trees of object class “phylo” in R, it would be useful to know how to do some basic editing/tree handling procedures. First, you might like to know your node numbers. The fastest way to get this information any particular node is to use the following code then click near the node of interest, and watch as the value will be returned. ## For a tree named x: Click close to a node of the tree... However, you could also open your tree in Mesquite, open it in a tree window, then click on the text tab to see your tree in text format. That would also give you node numbers. To get all of the node numbers while visualizing your tree in R, try something like this (again for a tree named x): Another thing you might also be interested in would be plotting branch lengths along the branches, or looking at different branch length parameters. Try this (again for a tree named x): ## This code gives all of the branch lengths: ## This code plots branch lengths along the tree: ## Get the root branch length itself like this: Branch length transformations One of my favorite things to do with phylogenies in R is to play around with different branch length transformations. Changing the branch lengths of your phylogeny might be something you might would want to do in a number of different ways, at different times, and with several important consequences. For example, branch length transformations allow you to alter your phylogenetic hypothesis to reflect different relative rates of evolution. Trees with different branch lengths, hence representing different evolutionary models, can then be compared with likelihood ratios or AIC scores… or placed into statistical phylogenetic models of trait data (e.g. logistic regression models or different models of character evolution), which can also subsequently be compared using model selection techniques. You might also need a bank of trees with the same topology but different branch lengths to test which set of branch lengths is most appropriate for a given analysis, or test which tree has branch lengths that provide the best fit to a certain model of interest. References and links Here are some links to some content related to phylogenetics and R from the Berkeley Integrative Biology (IB) program and a couple other places, which I have drawn from and will continue to use as resources as I add more content to my blog about phylogenetics in R. I’m going to draw up a little bibliography on the best reading in phylogenetic comparative methods as well, as I develop these new sections of the blog further… Berkeley resources, mostly developed by Nick Matzke (Thanks Nick!): Ape package installation issues: http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.comp.lang.r.phylo/month=20100601 phylo wikido stuff: http://phylo.wikidot.com/intro-to-r-continued:phylogenies-continuous-characters Cutting a tree at a given time interval: https://stat.ethz.ch/pipermail/r-sig-phylo/2011-July/001495.html Phylogenetic comparative methods wiki resource: http://www.r-phylo.org/wiki/Main_Page Charles Nunn’s AnthroTree website, phylo branch length transformations, evolutionary models, and detecting evolutionary trends: http://nunn.rc.fas.harvard.edu/groups/pica/wiki/a6fd9/Chapter_5Modeling_Evolutionary_Change.html, http://nunn.rc.fas.harvard.edu/groups/pica/wiki/ccf76/47_Detecting_Evolutionary_Trends_from_a_Dated_Phylogeny.html

Today marks the centenary of Terence MacSwiney’s death while in prison during the War of Independence. A playwright, poet, mayor of Cork and IRA commander, MacSwiney passed away after 74 days on hunger strike, bringing worldwide attention to the nationalist cause in Ireland. One hundred years since those solemn scenes in Brixton prison, since the famous funeral cortege through the streets of London, since the crowds filed passed the starved, ascetic corpse of a man who had dedicated his life to his Fatherland, what is Modern Ireland to think of such events? Do the ideals of MacSwiney and his generation survive in the cosmopolitan Ireland of today? An honest survey of the country cannot help but conclude to the contrary. The Nation seems committed to advancing an ideology and culture which is utterly at odds with the ideals and spirit of the Revolutionary era. The fundamental concepts of the national revival – the right of the Irish people to a homeland of their own, the necessity of restoring the Gaelic culture, the need for Irishmen to love and serve their country, have all been rejected or diluted in modern Ireland. The very existence of an Irish people is denied, as “Irish people” becomes defined as anyone residing on the island’s landmass. In this context, the events of the early 20th century are incomprehensible. Would men have suffered and died for such a meaningless “Nation”, a community of consumers? Not content with having eroded national cohesion and identity by attacking the very nature of Irishness, the ideologues have implemented a literal policy of colonisation, radically altering the demography of the nation with mass immigration. There exists the very real possibility that the native Irish will constitute less than half the population in the coming generations due to such a policy. Despite the endless regime distortions of history, nobody can claim plausibly that the Irish revolutionaries would have supported today’s demographic change. The explicit ethno-nationalism of the central figures in Irish nationalism is simply too pronounced. When they did write in favour of assimilation of peoples into the Nation, it was usually out of necessity, ie.with regards to those already on the island, not a future “open borders” scenario. While the state commemorations have continued, the ideals of the Revolutionaries have been silently dispensed with. With each passing year, the nation’s historical experience is deliberately forgotten, or distorted to validate today’s ideological presuppositions. However, no amount of distortion or historical revisionism will succeed in changing the past – the Irish rebels died for an Irish people, a distinct race which had the right to their own homeland. Cognisant of this fact, the current regime intends to slowly move away from remembrance and commemoration of such figures. The final stage of globalist Ireland, when the people are completely divorced from the “weight” of the past, seems the goal of our elites. Among the ever-diminishing amount of people interested in our history, there still remains a delusional group which somehow tries to reconcile traditional Irish nationalism with the globalist values of today. Sinn Féin, a party which is eager to hold 1916 commemorations, yet simultaneously promotes a new plantation of Ireland, is the clearest example of this absurdity. The official commemorations for MacSwiney have resembled the lifeless, half-hearted pattern by which most historical events are remembered in Ireland. Politicians have made speeches of platitudes, careful to avoid any reference to MacSwiney’s “extremism” or his obvious belief in a distinct Irish race. He is described in shallow, meaningless terms such as having fought for “justice” or “a better Ireland”. Similarly, the media treatment of the centenary has been equally sterile and uninspiring. At best, McSwiney is treated as an interesting historical figure, but nothing more. National cohesion and sentiment has decayed to the degree that Irish history no longer seems personal to us, it no longer holds the power to move the population’s emotions. Dry, impersonal history should be the preserve of academe. In order for a nation to thrive, its people must possess a personal sense of history, a sense of belonging to a people which has experienced suffering and triumphs through the ages, which have in turn moulded and formed the national character. The drab manner in which the national history is currently promoted amongst the public makes such a sentiment impossible, it prevents any real understanding and appreciation of one’s people and country. Among Ireland’s cultural and intellectual elite, there is the sense that Ireland should “move on” from the “extremism” of her past. The nation has entered a time of modernisation and openness to the world, leaving behind the “bitterness” of history. While such a belief may sound reasonable and attractive, what has it actually constituted in practice? -The near annihilation of national cohesion, the decay of Irish culture, the constant undermining of the national idea in favour of a merciless globalist project. It is supremely arrogant for this generation to view our ancestors as “extremists”. Have we constructed a nobler, more heroic worldview than theirs? How does our new society, saturated with moral degeneracy, drugs, abortion and porn, compare to theirs? In almost every case, the sophistry which seeks to undermine notions of patriotism or self-sacrifice is motivated by moral failure. Modern Ireland scorns patriotism not because it has become more mature and wise, but because it finds love of anything but the individual incomprehensible. Ireland has not “grown up”, it has merely degenerated in virtue, and lost a sense of history and duty. The end stages of a civilisation are usually characterised by a loss of understanding of “the heroic”. Irish journalists may think they are being “objective” when penning dry accounts of the nation’s heroes, describing acts of heroism as “propaganda”. Such attitudes don’t demonstrate any sophistication or maturity, they merely betray the perversion, cowardice and acrimony of an unheroic age. The current state of the nation is quite bleak. However, hope should not be lost. We must remind ourselves that the national revival of the last century sprung from a small group of individuals. So long as the example of MacSwiney survives, there will still be those willing to love and defend this country, regardless of the derision, cynicism and mockery of the times. Our elites can continue their empty rituals of commemoration, but nothing can change the fact that the Ireland they are constructing, is not the Ireland for which Terence MacSwiney suffered over 74 long days.

Key ProgrammesFirst ResultsScience PapersTechnical PapersTalksLinks The PACS instrument The Photoconducting Array Camera and Spectrometer PACS provides HERSCHEL with far-infrared imaging and spectroscopic capabilities from 60 to 210 μm. It hosts four detector arrays consisting of two bolometer arrays and two Ge:Ga photo-conductor arrays. The bolometer arrays are dedicated for imaging and photometry, while the photo-conductor arrays are used for pointed and integral field spectroscopy leading to images at individual wavelengths or selected ranges of the spectral bands. The MPIA is the largest co-investigator institute participating in the PACS instrument which was developed jointly by eleven European institutes under the leadership of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Garching, Germany. PACS turned out to be the instrument most strongly requested by scientists and has a share of HERSCHEL operations of more than 50%. In order to precisely measure the weak signal of a cosmic source against the large thermal background signal of the 80-90 K "warm" HERSCHEL telescope, PACS is operated with a focal plane chopper. This device (see Fig. 3) is a 32 x 26 mm2 "tipping" ("chopping") mirror comparing two neighbouring sections of the sky by using a square-wave modulation with frequencies of up to 1.25 Hz. By subtracting the background radiation identical in both fields, the brightness of the cosmic source can be extracted. The chopper has also been proven to be useful to identify long term thermal and instrumental trends. It is one of MPIA’s important contributions to PACS. After a successful prototyping phase at the institute, the company Carl Zeiss in Oberkochen, Germany, has been selected as the industrial contractor for building the flight models of the chopper. To prove the demanding specifications, several models of the chopper had to be manufactured: A lifetime model successfully passed 650 million chopper movements at an operating temperature of −270°C. Additional flight spare models were built to substitute flight models in the case of damage or other problems with the flight model. They are now being used as a laboratory twin of the flight model in order to verify and test its behaviour in space. MPIA is also responsible for the characterisation of the PACS far-infrared low stressed Gallium doped Germanium (Ge:Ga) detectors as used in the integral field spectrometer of the PACS instrument (Fig. 5). The observed field of 5 x 5 spatial pixels is converted into a single row of 25 signals by an image slicer and is then dispersed via a grating. The resulting spectra are analysed by the 16 x 25 pixel Ge:Ga photo-conductors with the rows of 25 elements representing the spatial information and the 16 columns containing the dispersed spectra. Two wavelength ranges can be observed simultaneously (called blue and red covering 55-105 μm and 105-210 μm, respectively). Pre-flight Test Support After the work for the instrument was completed at MPIA, a phase of intense testing followed and extended until the launch of the telescope. Scientists from Heidelberg were heavily involved in the cold and warm tests of the PACS flight model at MPE in Garching. Upon integration of the HERSCHEL 3.5m mirror onto the cryostat assembly and the cool-down of the instruments to liquid helium temperature at the European Space Agency (ESA) technology centre ESTEC in Noordwijk (NL), a series of tests of all instrument components and software systems was conducted including an end-to-end test simulating the observatory operations with the satellite in the Large Space Simulator Chamber. The instrument had to survive 15 cold-warm cycles (−270°C → +300°C → −270°C). These tests comprised a large number of short functional tests before and after shaking the whole satellite and simulating an Ariane 5 rocket launch that exerts acceleration loads of up to 30 times the Earth’s gravity. A final set of functional tests were executed just before the launch after the transport of the HERSCHEL satellite to the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. Instrument Control Centre After successful delivery and check-out of the PACS hardware contributions, MPIA is now heavily involved in many PACS Instrument Control Center tasks. The Instrument Control Centre (ICC), located at the PI institute MPE in Garching, has the responsibility for operations, calibration and data quality of the PACS instrument. MPIA is one of four institutes of the PACS consortium which are main manpower contributors to the PACS ICC. MPIA coordinates the calibration of the PACS instrument and has been responsible for establishing the PACS Performance Verification Phase plan, the central PACS calibration document and the PACS Routine Science Phase calibration. The MPIA is also reponsible for the revision and approval of HERSCHEL operational days that contain PACS calibration or engineering observations. During the two months lasting Commissioning Phase the coordination of all PACS instrument activities and their mission planning was executed by the MPIA team. It also ensured the optimum in-flight set-up of the Ge:Ga spectrometer detector arrays following a procedure developed in the MPIA lab. All 64 operational days of the PACS instrument and HERSCHEL telescope pointing performance verification, lasting from mid July until end of November, were coordinated and scheduled by the MPIA ICC team, which also maintained the overall PV Plan. This also included the planning for the first light images of HERSCHEL. The PV activity established an initial calibration in space and verified the validity of astronomical observation templates (AOTs), which are the basic observing blocks to be used by all observers later. Setting up the PV plan was a complex and challenging task since a large number of boundary conditions, such as source visibilities and properties as well as interdependencies of observations, had to be accounted for in the mission planning. The MPIA team has exclusively carried out the detailed mission planning of all PACS PV phase operational days, utilising dedicated software tools, and has delivered the observational data bases to the HERSCHEL Science Center at ESAC in Villafranca (Spain) and the Mission Operations Center at ESOC in Darmstadt (Germany). The principles of planning and executing calibration observations still hold during the Routine Science Phase (RSP), although only a few hours during an observing cycle of 14 days are reserved for PACS calibration. By the end of 2009, the PACS spectrometer pipeline, which had been built with significant contributions and under the coordination of MPIA, had already reached the maturity to populate the HERSCHEL archive with science products. Currently, the MPIA is taking a lead role in optimising the calibration and data quality that is affected by pointing inaccuracies. The photometric calibration of the PACS photometer is another important task in which the MPIA plays a key role. Together with colleagues of the MPE, the accuracy of point sources measured with the PACS photometer has already been pushed beyond the initial expectations. The remaining uncertainties are dominated by the models of the standard sources, which are accurate to 5%. By analysing calibration data that were obtained throughout the entire HERSCHEL mission, and in which the PACS chopper is a crucial tool, the prospects are that by calibrating out thermal effects of the telescope mirror and the bolometer cooler, the relative point source calibration accuracy will be of the order of 0.5%.

Electrical installation is an essential part of any construction or renovation project. From wiring to lighting, it takes a lot of effort to set up and maintain a safe electrical system. However, with the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), electrical installation has become more efficient than ever before. This technology has revolutionized the way we operate, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes and buildings. In this article, we will explore how AI is transforming electrical installation, and how you can power up your home with some useful tips and tricks. Shockingly Satisfying: The Basics of Electrical Installation - AI is now helping engineers and electricians to design and install electrical systems with greater accuracy. The technology makes it easier to detect any flaws or defects in the system before the installation process begins. This helps to save time and money while ensuring that everything runs more efficiently. - AI algorithms can also help to optimize energy consumption in buildings. The technology can analyze power consumption patterns and determine the best times to run certain appliances, thus reducing energy bills. - Safety is also a major concern when it comes to electrical installation. AI-powered safety systems are now available to monitor the entire electrical system and detect potential problems. The systems can alert users when there is a risk of fire, short circuiting, or any other hazard, ensuring that the electrical system remains safe. - Maintenance is another critical aspect of electrical installation. AI can help to monitor the condition of electrical systems and predict when maintenance is needed. It can also identify the root cause of any malfunction and make recommendations to resolve the issue. - With AI, the testing process for electrical installation can also be automated. Testing and inspection can be carried out more quickly and accurately without the need for manual labor. - AI-powered robots are now being used to install electrical systems in hard-to-reach areas. These robots are equipped with sensors and cameras to navigate complex spaces and install wiring and lighting fixtures correctly. - With AI-powered sensors, it is possible to detect and locate leaks in electrical systems that were previously undetectable. This means that maintenance and repairs can be carried out more efficiently with minimal disruption. - AI can also help to improve communication between contractors and clients. Contractors can use AI-powered software to create 3D models of electrical systems that clients can easily visualize and understand. - Overall, AI has significantly improved the accuracy, efficiency, and safety of electrical installation. It has also made the process quicker and more cost-effective. As the technology continues to advance, we can expect that AI will play an even more significant role in electrical installation in the future. Power Up Your Home: Tips and Tricks for Successful Installation - If you are planning on installing electrical wiring or lighting fixtures in your home, always hire a professional electrician. Attempting DIY electrical work is not only dangerous but can also lead to expensive mistakes. - Conduct a thorough evaluation of your home’s electrical needs before installation. This includes assessing the electrical load requirements of your appliances, determining the number of power outlets you need, and checking the location and condition of existing wiring. - Opt for energy-efficient lighting fixtures and appliances during installation. Not only will this help to save on energy bills, but it is also better for the environment. - When it comes to wiring, consider using copper wires instead of aluminum wires. Copper wires are more durable and have better conductivity, making them a better choice for electrical installation. - Ensure that your electrical system meets all safety standards before using it. This includes installing a circuit breaker, using grounded power outlets, and using a surge protector to protect against power spikes. - Keep an eye on your energy bills after installation. If you notice an increase in energy consumption, you may need to re-evaluate your system to identify any faults or defects. - Don’t forget to maintain your electrical system regularly. This includes checking the condition of wiring, switches, and outlets, and repairing or replacing any damaged components. - Consider installing smart home technology as part of your electrical installation. This will allow you to control lighting, heating, and other electrical systems using voice activation or a mobile app. - Make sure to keep a record of all installation and maintenance work, including receipts and warranties. This will come in handy when you need to make any claims in case of unexpected failures. - Lastly, always prioritize safety when it comes to electrical installation. Follow all safety procedures, wear protective gear, and never attempt to work on live electrical wires. In conclusion, AI is rapidly transforming the electrical installation industry, making the process more efficient, accurate, and safe. As we have seen, the technology can optimize energy consumption, ensure safety, and facilitate maintenance and repairs. By following the tips and tricks outlined here, you can power up your home with an electrical system that is safe, efficient, and sustainable.

When we talk about oral health, what we picture most are a set of pure white smiles. Oftentimes, we spend so much on the whitening and aesthetic aspect that we forget that there is more to dental health than the color of your teeth. Gum health and the strength of your teeth in my opinion, are the more important parts of a healthy mouth. People who have sensitive teeth or painful gums are likely to complain more than those who have whiter teeth. Of course, that is not to say that one thing is more important than the other. A regular visit to the dentist is a must in order to maintain strong and healthy teeth. Regular visits to the dentist can be costly and sometimes it is impossible to afford them. This is why oral hygiene is so important. Maintaining your oral health is key to maintaining your teeth. Regular toothbrush, proper gum care. All these things are crucial for healthy teeth. Oral probiotics are another option. For those of you who prefer a more visual experience, here is a video review from Health And Fitness Tips USA YouTube channel. To get a comprehensive overview of ProDentim, you may still want to check out our article below. Oral Probiotics Dental Probiotics Before Or After Antibiotics Probiotics refers to a combination of live good or beneficial bacteria and yeast that naturally live in your body. That’s right! Not all bacteria are bad. Some can help your body function well and effectively. Your body’s microbiome is made up of good bacteria. Most people have definitely heard of probiotics. Despite this, I’m willing to wager that most people are not aware of probiotics. It isn’t surprising really. As our body processes food inside the stomach. The idea of oral probiotics is a rather remarkable one. This is something that most people don’t know about, and many would be uncomfortable with the idea of bacteria living in their mouths. However just as the gut has its own set of bacteria, so does the mouth. Oral probiotics contain specific strains that work hard to improve your oral health and maintain a healthy smile. They cultivate good bacteria and prevent the growth of bad bacteria. Oral probiotics can prevent many conditions, including periodontitis or gingivitis, bad breath, tonsilitis, oral cancer, and some respiratory infections. Biofilms are also created by the good bacteria found in oral probiotics. These new biofilms support the health of teeth and gums, reduce inflammation, and block bad bacteria from reaching enamel or gum tissue from invading. Unlike gut probiotics, oral probiotic supplements are usually taken by taking chewable tablets or lozenges. In this way, the good bacteria is delivered directly to the mouth. Tablets should not be taken as they dissolve in your stomach. You need the bacteria in you mouth. ProDentim is among these probiotic supplements. ProDentim: An Overview ProDentim is an oral supplement that improves your gums’ health. This is done by augmenting the oral microbes. People who suffer from or struggle with dental problems will find oral supplements especially beneficial. Oral supplements allow you to maintain dental health in a less pricey way. It removes the need for following specific procedures, expensive medicines and frequent dental visits. Supplementary medications like ProDentim may be helpful in preventing problems that cannot be stopped by the recommended dental procedures. As such, it is important to remember that ProDentim may not work if you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly or even use mouthwash. Probiotics that are included in ProDentim can also benefit the body in its other functions. They can aid in metabolism, fat absorption and breakdown, as well as energy production. Regular use of the oral supplement also has the added benefit of a brighter and stronger teeth. This even includes damage that was caused by age. While ProDentim mainly focuses on the teeth, this supplement also targets your respiratory system and protects your body from allergies. It may also promote restful sleep and healthy digestion. The Benefits of ProDentim ProDentim is specifically formulated in order to help your good oral bacteria. ProDentim is specifically formulated to help your good oral bacteria. Your mouth will be healthier than you could ever imagine. ProDentin contains approximately 3.5 billion probiotics. This adds diversity to your body’s microfauna. This is vital as it helps to maintain the balance between good and bad bacteria. The following benefits can be achieved by regular use of ProDentim: - Improved immune system - Improved digestive health - Stronger teeth and gums, - Fresher breath - Reduced allergies - Whiter, more prominent teeth Ingredients: What’s Inside ProDentim? It is a good idea to verify the ingredients used to make food supplements. This is because food supplements are not usually prescribed by doctors. Some even add harmful rather than helpful ingredients. Sometimes, you may wonder why a product isn’t working for you. Or if it has caused you more grief than it helped. The answer for these problems might lie in the ingredients. Sometimes, a product contains an allergen or ingredient that you are not allergic to. Sometimes, the supplement may react poorly with your current medications or diet. Both synthetic and natural products can experience this. Dental Probiotics Before Or After Antibiotics It is for these reasons that we provide an ingredient overview of ProDentim, to make sure that you, as a buyer, would be able to judge for yourself if ProDentim would be worth your money. In the case of ProDentim, it is formulated with around 3.5 strains of good bacteria to reinforce those found in your mouth. Some natural ingredients were also included that have been proven to be beneficial for oral health. These are the active ingredients in ProDentim: Lactobacillus Reuteri, a probiotic, is well-known for its ability to colonize many mammalian species. It can be found in the skin, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal tracts of many mammals, including humans. It plays a key role in digestion and metabolism. The body’s balance with L. Reuteri can be upset, causing many problems including disruptions in the digestion and absorption of food. L. Reuteri can also be beneficial for dental health, as it stops bad bacteria from growing. These bacteria may cause infections and inflammations. L. Paracasei can be found in the human intestinal tracts, and in particular in the mouth. It is among the most studied good bacteria because of its benefits towards gut health. Its primary purpose is to aid in digestion and increase immunity. People who are lactose intolerant should consume foods and supplements that include L.Paracasei, such as ProDentim. This is because it can aid in digestion of lactose rich foods, including milk. L. Paracasei is also a great way to keep your sinuses open, and your gums healthy. BLIS M-18 and BLIS K-12 These two Streptococcus salicyrius strains support natural immune defenses. They prevent infections of the oral cavity. They protect the teeth, gums and respiratory tract against infectious microbes. An imbalance in these strains can lead to various issues, such as allergies, gum disease, and respiratory illness. Dental Probiotics Before Or After Antibiotics B. Lactis (BL-04) Bifidobacterium Lactis Bl-04, a rod-shaped bacterium, is found mainly in the large intestines. Overall, it restores metabolic and digestive processes and overall gut health especially after taking medication or treatment Antibiotics are one such medicine. They don’t discriminate between good bacteria and bad bacteria. B. Lactis restores this damaged microflora and brings back the balance in the body. Aside from that, B. Lactis is also known for strengthening the body’s overall immunology and health. Malic acid is one of the natural ingredients found in ProDentim that is not a probiotic. It is a known ingredient that helps in healing the skin as well as helping improve muscle endurance. It is also known to aid in the formation of saliva. Overall, it can be found all throughout the body and maintain the microflora found in them. It even covers the oral cavity and the vaginal cavity. Inulin, another prebiotic, is also found in common foods. This includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Herbs like dandelion root also carry inulin.. This prebiotic is not absorbed or digested in the stomach, but rather stays in the bowel to aid in the growth of beneficial bacteria. Other effects of inulin include its benefits in food control, weight loss, and appetite training by being responsible in giving a food’s “fullness” effect. It also protects the body from cardiovascular diseases as well as helping maintain the functions of the immune system. Dicalcium Phosphate, a ubiquitous chemical, is a versatile ingredient. It can be easily included in a healthy smoothie, ice cream or baked goods. Dicalciumphosphate is used to increase calcium and phosphorus levels in the body. People with low levels of calcium and phosphorus often recommend dicalcium phosphate. Dental Probiotics Before Or After Antibiotics In the case of ProDentim, it was added as it also promotes stronger teeth and can help prevent tooth decay or breakage. Spearmint is among the few ingredients found in ProDentim that is not a probiotic. In this case, it is a minty herb that can be used in various forms. Spearmint can be used as an oil, tea, and supplement to introduce more antioxidants in the body. Spearmint also can lower blood sugar levels as well as balance hormones. In terms of oral health and hygiene, it helps improve digestion, and can control vomiting, gas, and nausea. Another ingredient that isn’t a probiotic. Like spearmint, peppermint can be used for different purposes. For dental purposes, peppermint is widely used as a way to combat bad breath. It prevents the growth of bacteria that could cause halitosis. ProDentim Use and Dosage ProDentim, an oral health supplement is available in a chewable candy form rather than a capsule or tablet. The ingredients found in ProDentim, especially the 3.5 billion strains of probiotics, need to be delivered in the mouth directly. ProDentim comes in a 30-capsule package. You should take ProDentim at the recommended daily dose of 1 tablet. This instruction may cause adverse reactions in your body. You can take one of these capsules, with one drink and any drink at that. It should not be taken with any alcoholic beverages. ProDentim must not be mixed with food, despite its flexibility. You can take your ProDentim tablet at any time of the day. However, the best time to take the supplement is during the morning. ProDentim works especially well on an empty stomach because the tablet absorbs faster. Aside from the dosage, another thing to consider before Getting ProDentim is if you are taking other supplements and how many of these supplements are you taking. While there might be a chance that nothing bad would happen, it is better to consult your doctor first. The same goes for pregnant women and younger children. The advice of a doctor can help you save lots of money in the long-term. ProDentim can be used for as long as you wish. ProDentim’s effects will be apparent within a few weeks. ProDentim’s large amount of probiotics makes it easier to see results faster. That said, missing a dose could delay and reduce the effectiveness of the supplement. It would be like coming back to square one every dose you miss. Different effects may also appear at different times. Some benefits might take longer while others appear much earlier. Also note that lifestyle, diet, and other factors will affect your usage of ProDentim and its effects. Tip: You can get the best benefits of the ProDentim supplement by maintaining a healthy oral routine. This can include but are not limited to: - Brushing your teeth regularly (twice a day, every day) - Using the proper toothbrush and brush strokes - Changing your toothbrush every few months - Use a fluoride toothpaste - Stopping smoking cold turkey (or gradually) - Sugary foods should be avoided - Doing regular dentist visits - Adding probiotic foods in your diet Side Effects and Safety Concerns about ProDentim ProDentim is carefully formulated using only the most natural ingredients to prevent any adverse effects. However, some people may experience side effects from some ingredients. As such, check with your dentist if you are safe to take ProDentim. Follow the recommended dosage. Each tablet is designed to only be taken once daily by one adult. Negative and harmful side effects can be caused by taking more than the recommended amount of capsules. There are no shortcuts when taking this supplement. ProDneitm should not be taken by pregnant women, nursing mothers, or anyone who is taking hormonal therapy. Dental Probiotics Before Or After Antibiotics ProDentim can only be purchased at their website. You could be scammed if you buy from Amazon, Ebay, or other retail outlets. ProDentim can be purchased at the following prices: - 1 bottle (30-day supply) – $69.00 - 3 Bottles (90 days supply) – $177 ($59 per bottle) - 6 bottles (180 day supply) – $294 ($49/bottle). Customers who aren’t satisfied with the product can request a 60-day money back guarantee. Both the pros and cons - It has 3.5 billion colonies forming units of prebiotics and probiotics, which ensures the formula works faster and is more effective. - There are no toxic or habit-forming ingredients - Uses only the best natural and high quality ingredients - Combats bad breath - Helps against teeth stains - Probiotic ingredients may improve overall gut health - Improves oral health - Helps prevent gum and tooth infections - You can easily access the website - A single capsule includes various nutrients - Affordable price - It is simple to use - Only available in their website - Cannot be sued by children - The results may differ from one user to another (this includes the time). - Limited stock Final Thoughts Dental Probiotics Before Or After Antibiotics I was one of those people who didn’t know much about oral probiotics. ProDentim helped me become a regular user and I was able to share the benefits with friends. ProDentim makes my mouth feel clean and fresh every day. Gone were the days when I woke up feeling my mouth dry because of this product. Dental Probiotics Before Or After Antibiotics ProDentim has also made my smile whiter and more brilliant. It was out of nowhere too. So I was out one night with my friends, doing our stuff when this girl suddenly went to me and complimented my smile. That surely made my day. I did not get her number though. ProDentim was not at fault. Frequently Asked Questions Is ProDentim real? It is 100% true. Is ProDentim effective? Yes, it is. Although I cannot speak for others, ProDentim has made my mouth feel fresher. My teeth look whiter, and I don’t experience indigestion or other problems. Why should I not use ProDentim? While ProDentim is safe for everyone to use, you should avoid it if you are an expecting or breastfeeding mother, you are undergoing hormonal treatment, or you have a current medical condition. Ask your doctor whether it is safe to take oral and dietary supplements. While ProDentim is formulated with an all-natural ingredients, some ingredients might react badly with other medications. ProDentim should not be used if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the formulation. ProDentim was formulated for adults. This product is not recommended for children. Where Can I get my hand on a bottle? You can get ProDentim at the official website. There are no licensed retailers of the product. It is best to avoid selling the product through any other website. How do I take ProDentim? It is recommended that one adult should chew a tablet of ProDentim once a day in the morning. ProDentim should be taken regularly to see the results at the earliest possible time. ProDentim can be taken anytime of the day, as long as one tablet is consumed per day. If ProDentim doesn’t work for me, may I return it? ProDentim offers a 60-day guarantee for customers who are not satisfied. You can return any bottles that you haven’t used and there will be no questions asked.

What Is Mindset Shifting? How Does Mindset Shifting Work? Here are 3 Useful Tools for Mindset Shifting: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is therapy that changes negative thought patterns and behaviors. It identifies negative thoughts and beliefs and replaces them with positive and realistic ones. CBT is effective in treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Mindfulness meditation focuses on the present moment, accepting it without judgment. It reduces stress, anxiety, and depression and improves well-being. It can be practiced through sitting, meditation, walking, and body scan. Positive affirmations are used to challenge negative self-talk and empower oneself. They can boost self-esteem, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. They can be written down, said out loud, or repeated silently to oneself. Mindset shifting is a powerful tool that can be used to overcome mental barriers that prevent us from achieving our tasks and goals. By changing the way we perceive and interpret the world around us, we can create a more positive and productive mindset. With the use of CBT, mindfulness meditation, or positive affirmations, mindset shifting can help us get through each day.

THE CHALLENGE POSED BY RECYCLING PROCESSES Waste tyre is one of the manifold challenges that are faced in today's world which pose so much threat on environmental safety due to the high level of fossil fuel contained in it, and this fossil fuel, when released into the soil can cause great harm. Apart from that we also know that tyres are non degradable material, yet we can find people comfortably accumulate heaps used tyres around them especially in land fills. Some places without proper waste disposal management plan even burn them and this can cause air pollution by releasing toxic chemical compounds like nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. We must also understand that not all recycling processes are safe for the Eco system. Some processes achieve the goal of recycling a product but also releases very harmful chemicals into the environment so this makes the tyre reusable but at the expense of human health. So what we should look out for are methods that will efficiently utilize waste tyres to the best of it's possible capacity and keep the environment safe all together. There are few companies like De'Dzines that have succeeded in being able to maximally utilize all waste rubbers (tyres) and still create a safer environment. THE VERSATILITY OF RECYCLING The recycling process is not only for making products reusable in the same form it was made or for the same initial purpose it was made for, it can also be used to make somany other products that might be very different from its original form. Its quite difficult, especially when you're considering Tyres, to imagine the possibilities of making something entirely new, efficiently classy and durable with tyres. De'Dzines have proven to be quite successful with the safe and eco friendly products. You can click here https://dedzines.com to see some amazingly creative things that are done with scrap tyres. The main point of this write up is to look at other safe and better ways to efficiently keep the environment safe and encourage green life. It's a very great ground to cover but if we all keep researching and encouraging companies that have already towed this path, we will be able to have beneficially contributed to the safe keeping of the Eco system and mitigate global warming.

(This article was originally co-authored with Steve Philips and published in the November 1993 newsletter; it was expanded and updated for this issue.) Did you know that in recent years birding has become one of America’s favorite pastimes? Birding is second only to gardening across much of the country. More people are involved with birds, in the backyard, in the field or in both, than all the spectators of all live sports combined. (Not counting athletics on TV like the Super Bowl, the World Series, the World Cup, or the Olympics.) Several organizations, such as the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the Wild Bird Feeding Institute, and even the U.S. Department of the Interior, keep annual statistics on this phenomenon. Much assembled new information and research comes from “citizen scientists” like ourselves. And with each passing year, the numbers continue to grow. When I was a kid and just beginning to get involved with birds, I found out quickly that two types of people constituted the majority of birders: nerds and seniors. It wasn’t information was easily shared with my peers. By the time I started this business 25 years ago, things had already changed quite a bit from when I was growing up. Now, as a senior myself, I have watched the popularity of birding grow among the larger public and know it is no longer limited to special interest groups. Today, birding is generally considered a fun activity. Whole families go birding nowadays. Parents realize this is a stimulating, engaging, entertaining, and educational pursuit. Backyard birding brings nature right to your door. Birds are the most watchable of wildlife, even in dense urban settings. Today, I have customers whose children are far more knowledgeable about birds than I was at their age. Birding is an excellent way to introduce children to the wonders of nature. Many books have been written to assist new birders, also called birdwatchers, in learning how to identify birds, both in your backyard and in the field. Any of these books will provide valuable and essential information for those who are just beginning to enjoy this hobby, which brings us closer to and more appreciative of the natural surroundings of our environment.This article will attempt to distill and condense some of the basic information which helps form the foundation of understanding and identifying wild birds. Tools of the Trade: Binoculars All that birders need, besides a will to learn and patience, are two essential tools to achieve the best results. A good pair of binoculars and at least one good field identification guide are all that’s required. We always advise beginning birders to purchase the best pair of binoculars they can afford, even if it means waiting another paycheck or two. Unlike computers and cell phones which change yearly with the addition of new features, a good pair of binoculars should be considered a lifetime investment. Some who are tentative about spending will buy an entry-level pair of optics and find after six months of use, give or take, that they should have bought the better optics right from the start. Good binoculars will never disappoint and will give you many years of happy, sharp-focused viewing. Better optics reveal more details and increase the satisfaction derived from the hobby. The Vortex optics we feature are professional grade, priced from about to $100 to $1600, and all models come with an unconditional lifetime guarantee. The most popular models we sell are in the $300 price range. Tools of the Trade: Field Guides There are several excellent field guides available. Any major guide should be considered essential equipment for birders and having more than one field guide enables cross-referencing, an abundance of information, and multiple pictures. Most field guides come in Eastern and Western Regions. Buy the guides for the regions you intend to bird in the most. The Peterson series of guides and the National Geographic field guides are perhaps the best known and most popular, especially with beginners. The Sibley field guides are excellent for birders of all levels. There are other, more limited, geographic guides, but having a major guide will provide a wider range of birds and information. All three of those recommended guide books feature paintings of birds rather than photographs of birds. I have found that the guide books that feature photographs don’t quite measure up to the ones that feature paintings of birds. A photograph may not be as good for several reasons. It shows an individual bird of the species and that individual bird may not always be representative of the species as a whole. It may have been hard to photograph, the angle of view or the posture of the bird may be very different from the typical view. There may be several minor reasons why photographs are not as reliable as paintings. Paintings take into account the species as a whole, not just one individual. The paintings are created to show what the bird would typically look like from the viewer’s vantage point. It takes into consideration the physical changes birds may go through throughout the year. Seasonal plumage changes as a result of breeding and winter and summer morphs; plumage also differs among adults and juveniles and males and females [differences between males and females, etc. are not seasonal—note changes]. Most birds will molt at least once per year. Molting birds may be difficult to readily identify without the aid of a good guide. Most guides will have short chapters like “How to use this book” or “How to identify birds.” These sections are at the front of the guide books and are essential reading as they explain what to look for and exceptions to the general rules. By reading these opening chapters you will learn that there’s more to learn about identification than simply observing, although most birders rely most heavily upon visual identification. Additionally, vocalizations are a more reliable way to identifying birds. All of the guides will have descriptions of each species’ calls and songs. Having a CD of bird calls and songs is an excellent way to learn to identify birds as even the most visually similar birds (sparrows, warblers, flycatchers, raptors, etc.) will each have a unique and distinctive vocalization. Knowing your bird sounds means you can positively identify birds by sound even if you don’t actually get to see them! So, as with binoculars to help you see details the naked eye can easily miss, field guides are indispensable tools. Using Field Guides Utilize your field guide to aid in your analysis. Look up one of your backyard birds in your field guide, read the text about that bird, then study the illustration from bill to tail noticing the field marks, especially any marks emphasized by the author or pointed to with little arrows. These tend to be the most important and reliable marks to look for on that particular species. Next, look for these markings on the actual bird in your yard. Don’t be too tempted to go to your field guide too quickly. Spend as much time as possible, before the bird flies off, to better remember all the special things you observed about that bird. Then, when you look up that species in your guide, you will be better able to more quickly identify the bird correctly. It is definitely worth the time to observe the bird for as long as possible before taking your eye off it to look in the book. Being familiar with the layout of the book will also be an aid in quickly finding the bird in the book. Even without a bird in front of you to identify, casually thumbing through your field guide can also prove beneficial. This is a very satisfying way to spend a free moment. From just enjoying the plethora of colors, to reminiscing about the experiences that accompanied spotting a particular bird, to dreaming about birds yet to be seen some day, browsing is a worthwhile venture. At the same time you are learning the layout of the field guide, you’re actually learning the birds’ names, their habitat, their conservation status, vocalizations of their calls and songs, the ranges they are found in, their relative and actual size, and a host of other good-to-know information. What to Look For Trying to identify birds in the field can initially be a little frustrating but, as with learning anything, the more one practices, the better one becomes. You can’t sit at the piano for your first lesson and expect to play like Mozart. With repeated attempts, your birding skills will develop. The more birding you do, the quicker your skills will sharpen. There are a few things you can do to develop the necessary skills just from watching the birds you’ve been feeding in your backyard. For example, even without binoculars, you can recognize that the large bird that arrives in your yard with long swooping and undulating glides and lands clinging to the side of the tree is a Gila Woodpecker. Gilas are the most common of the woodpecker family present in the Sonoran Desert. And those small birds that have some red color and tend to hang out in groups are probably House Finches, one of the most numerous species we have year around. Relative size comparisons will also prove helpful in quickly narrowing down the possibilities of correct identification. For instance, and this is an extreme example, by size alone a hummingbird cannot be mistaken for a Flamingo. Recognizing different types of behavior, from flight patterns to flocking, tail wagging to hopping, sitting still or exhibiting constant nervous movement, and food and habitat preferences, are good clues to take with you into the field. Thoroughly analyze the birds in your backyard. Absorb everything you can about their colors, sizes, shapes, physical features, foods they eat, how they move on the ground (hop or walk), how they fly (more flapping or more gliding), and any other obvious habits, traits, or characteristics you can observe and remember. Any of these characteristics that you learn will give you a firm foundation that can help you narrow down the possibilities of which species you are seeing in the field or, at least, which specific group of family of birds. When you head out into the field, bear in mind that many birds are very skittish and the slightest noise or movement can cause a bird to fly off or hide deep in nearby vegetation. So when you’re out birding, try to be as quiet and stealthy as possible. Birding by yourself or with a companion or two is preferable to going in large groups. Arrange for a babysitter if you have an infant or toddler. Leave your pets at home. The more you can keep a quiet atmosphere and the least disturbance to the birds will help you listen for any songs or calls that the birds might be making. Without distractions, you can more carefully scan with your binoculars for birds that are perched and not necessarily noticeable due just to their movements. Little brown jobs (LBJs) are birds that may appear more nondescript, as they may be plain looking and lack the flashy colors and distinctive field marks other birds may exhibit. But good binoculars will bring into focus the finest details that will aid in identification. Develop Your Critical Vision Once you’ve spotted a bird, remember that one of the most definitive features, especially for beginners, is going to be color. However, in your processing of where and how the colors are arranged, you will also be picking up other clues (i.e., size, shape, behavior, etc.) which will assist in making the final determination of the exact species. Let’s say you’ve managed to locate the bird with your binoculars before it flew away. Note precisely where the color is and its shape. For example, is there a stripe above or through the eye, a throat patch, a wing bar, a spot on its belly, or an eye ring? Are there streaks on its breast, spots on its breast, streaks on its side, is it clear-breasted, or does it show a combination of more than one of these features? Next get a feel for its overall size. At this point you can draw on your field guide to help you narrow down the possibilities to a few birds if not the exact bird. See what feature the author has pointed out as distinguishing and if you didn’t notice that feature and the bird is still around and visible, take another look at the bird. (I call this critical vision. You’re looking for all the details you can discover as opposed to casual looking where you didn’t notice all the details. Developing your critical vision will enable you to master the basic skills much more effectively.) Repeat this procedure for other birds. Sometimes the difference between two species might be that one has an eye ring and one doesn’t, or one bird has a reddish bill and the other a yellow bill; this happens to be one of the major identification characteristics for distinguishing Northern Cardinals from Pyrrhuloxia. One Last Thing One good last check is to look at the range maps in your guides to see if that Horned Puffin sitting on top of that saguaro could be expected to be found in this area. If you still can’t determine the exact species, don’t be discouraged. Remember, patience and practice will be well rewarded! Some species are extremely difficult to correctly identify in a short time. Some species of birds can only be told apart by their songs and calls or by experts who have the bird in hand (such as banders and other researchers) and have been studying birds for years and have lots of in-the-field experience. As a final tip, let me say that in all your hurried glances with the binoculars and frantic rifling through your field guides, make sure you relax and enjoy your surroundings and the creatures you are mingling with. So, while you can teach yourself almost everything you need to know, it’s important to remember how awesome nature is and that birding should be a relaxing, enjoyable experience. Have fun!

The 23rd meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP23)which took place from December 5 to 8, 2023, in Portoroz, Slovenia, marked a significant advance in the protection of biodiversity in the Mediterranean. In the face of the growing impacts of the triple crisis of planetary change: climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution, it has decided to protect 6 species. Sous l’impulsion d’une initiative française, des décisions cruciales ont été prises en faveur de la conservation des espèces marines menacées et en voie de disparition lors de la réunion de la COP23. These measures fall within the framework of specially protected areas and biodiversity (SPA/BD Protocol). This decision expands the sphere of protection to six additional species of sharks and rays, establishing specific management measures for three species of rays. Furthermore, it aims at the restoration of the Pinnae nobilis and the strengthening of the existing network of specially protected areas (Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance –SPAMIs). Mediterranean states that have ratified this convention are required to implement national protective measures for the species listed. The six new species added to the list are: - Cow eagle ray (Aetomylaeus bovinus)- « Critically Endangered » - Bigeye thresher shark. (Alopias superciliosus) – « in danger » - Brown Ray (Bathytoshia lata) – « vulnerable » - Common Stingray(Dasyatis pastinaca) – « vulnerable » - Common Eagle Ray (Myliobatis aquila) – « vulnerable » - Lusitanian Mourine (Rhinoptera marginata) – « Critically Endangered » Three new species of cartilaginous fish have also been included in the “List of species with regulated exploitation”: Dasyatis marmorata, Hexanchus griseus, and Pteroplatytrygon violacea. They are now listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List as “Near Threatened”. Robin Degron, Director of Plan Bleu, emphasizes that “COP23 has delivered on its promises by further strengthening collaboration between Mediterranean countries and key stakeholders committed to the sustainable development of the region. In just a few days, and thanks to the initiative of France, the meeting has represented a significant step forward in the protection of Mediterranean biodiversity.” Robin Degron concludes by reminding us that biodiversity is the synonym of life. Plan Bleu, is delighted both by this progress in biodiversity protection and by the initiative that has enabled this historic decision. This decision reflects the collective commitment to the preservation of biodiversity in the Mediterranean. It also highlight the importance of international cooperation in the fight against threats facing these vulnerable species. In applauding this initiative, Plan Bleu hopes that other positive actions will follow, thereby strengthening the resilience of Mediterranean biodiversity in the face of current and future environmental challenges. Legend (1st line from left to right): Common Stingray, Brown Ray, Cow eagle ray Legend (2nd line from left to right): Bigeye thresher shark, Lusitanian Mourine, Common Eagle Ray Photo credit: Xavi Salvador Costa, Shutterstock, Fishpedia, Roberto Pillon, Christophe Dehondt

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL Undergraduate - Unit Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered. - Second semester 2019 (On-campus) ATS1301, ENV1022, ESC1022 This unit is a core unit for further studies in Geology, Atmospheric science, Climate studies, Earth science, Environmental earth science and Geographical science. We live on a constantly changing planet. This unit looks at the forces and processes that have shaped the planet over time, and the fossils and other biological, chemical and physical factors that provide evidence that these changes. Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, tornadoes, cyclones and other high impact events shape the very nature of life on Earth. We look at the science that we use to understand and model these hazards, and our attempts to predict and minimize the adverse effects of these processes and events. We will study the natural resources that are required to maintain our society - minerals, energy, water, soils and food - their origin, use, and limits, and sustainable management. At the completion of this unit, students will have a clear understanding of society's impact on the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere. On completion of this unit, students should be able to: - Describe the processes that have shaped and changed the Earth's surface over time. - Identify, and describe the formation of, different rocks and minerals that comprise the Earth's crust. - Describe the evidence for plate tectonics, the forces which drive it, and the resulting natural hazards, as well as the science used to monitor their occurrence, and mitigate their outcomes. - Describe and understand the origin of key weather and climate hazards. - Identify the key mineral and ecosystem resources required for life to exist on Earth, the impact of humans on the environment, and the sustainable management of these resources. - Understand the science involved in modelling future environments, based on our past and present understanding of Earth's surface processes. NOTE: From 1 July 2019, the duration of all exams is changing to combine reading and writing time. The new exam duration for this unit is 2 hours and 10 minutes. Continual assessment (prac quizzes/reports): 40% Field trip: 10% Examination (2 hours): 50% Three 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour practical per week See also Unit timetable information

Table of Contents Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack): Symptoms and More What is the main cause of a myocardial infarction?What are 3 symptoms of a myocardial infarction?What are the 4 types of myocardial infarction?What is the difference between a heart attack and a myocardial infarction?myocardial infarction types, myocardial infarction ecg,myocardial infarction treatment,myocardial infarction symptoms, myocardial infarction causes,myocardial infarction ppt,myocardial infarction pathophysiology, myocardial infarction risk factors,myocardial infarction ecg,myocardial infarction treatment, myocardial infarction symptoms,myocardial infarction types,myocardial infarction causes, myocardial infarction – ppt,myocardial infarction symptoms,myocardial infarction treatment, myocardial infarction ecg,myocardial infarction ppt,myocardial infarction causes,myocardial infarction pathophysiology,myocardial infarction pronunciation,myocardial infarction types, myocardial infarction diagnosis,acute myocardial infarction,anterior myocardial infarction,types of myocardial infarction,st elevation myocardial infarction,non st elevation myocardial infarction,inferior myocardial infarction,type 2 myocardial infarction,pathophysiology of myocardial infarction,causes of myocardial infarction,anteroseptal myocardial infarction An acute myocardial infarction, more commonly referred to as a heart attack, is a disorder that can be life-threatening that happens when the blood supply to the muscle of the heart is suddenly cut off. This results in tissue damage. The majority of the time, this is the consequence of a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries. Plaque is a substance that is primarily composed of fat, cholesterol, and cellular waste products. A blockage can develop either as a result of a buildup of plaque or as a result of a rapid blood clot that forms on the obstruction. In the event that you or someone you know may be experiencing a heart attack, you should dial 911 or your local emergency number as soon as possible. What are the signs and symptoms of a myocardial infarction that’s occurring suddenly? In the event of a crisis If you or someone around you is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, immediately dial 911 or go to the emergency room of the hospital that is located closest to you. Chest discomfort and shortness of breath are two of the most common symptoms of a heart attack; however, the symptoms of a heart attack can be fairly diverse. The following is a list of the most common symptoms of a heart attack. a sensation of heaviness, fullness, or pressure in the chest Pain in the chest, back, jaw, and other areas of the upper body that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back with shortness of breath sweating nausea vomiting anxiety feeling like you’re going to faint a fast heart rate sense of impending doom shortness of breath pain in the chest, back, jaw, and other areas of the upper body that lasts more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back shortness of breath It is essential to keep in mind that not everyone who has a heart attack will suffer the same symptoms or the same level of severity associated with those symptoms. Pain in the chest is the symptom that people report having most frequently, both in men and in women. On the other hand, compared to men, women have a slightly higher risk of exhibiting a greater number of “atypical” symptoms, such as the following: a feeling of difficulty breathing jaw pain upper back ache In point of fact, some women who have suffered a heart attack have reported that the symptoms they experienced seemed quite similar to the symptoms of the flu. What are the causes of an acute infarction of the myocardium? The heart is the most important component of your circulatory system, which also consists of a variety of blood veins of varying sorts. The arteries are among the vessels that are considered to be of the utmost significance. They transport oxygen-rich blood to all of your organs and the rest of your body. Your coronary arteries are responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood directly to the muscle of your heart. When these arteries become clogged or restricted as a result of a buildup of plaque, the blood flow to your heart can dramatically reduce or totally cease. This can be a life-threatening condition. A heart attack could result from this. Who should be concerned about having an acute myocardial infarction? The amount of fat that diet contains can be a major contributing factor in the development of cardiac issues. People who consume a diet high in processed and fried meals, as well as certain meat and dairy products that contain unhealthy saturated and trans saturated fats, are at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease. This risk may be elevated in obese individuals. One study found that consuming 2 percent of one’s total calorie intake as trans fat rather than carbohydrates could potentially increase one’s chance of developing coronary heart disease. Additionally, your blood contains a type of fat called triglycerides, which are responsible for storing any additional energy that your body receives from the food that you consume. There is a correlation between having a high blood level of triglycerides and an increased likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease. If you also have a high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in your blood, then the likelihood of you developing cardiovascular disease is considerably higher. This is due to the fact that LDL cholesterol has the ability to adhere to the walls of your arteries, which can then lead to the formation of plaque, a rigid substance that can obstruct blood flow in the arteries. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that is low in processed foods and, if necessary, taking statins are the medications that are required to lower your cholesterol levels and the amount of harmful fat that is stored in your body. Your primary care physician is in the greatest position to advise you on an appropriate diet and ascertain whether or not you require the use of any drugs. YOU MAY LIKE THIS: Victoza: Side Effects, Dosage, Alternatives, Cost, and More In addition to the foods you eat, the following elements can also put you at a greater risk of developing heart problems: Hypertension is often known as BP. This can cause damage to your arteries and speed up the accumulation of plaque in them. High quantities of sugar in the blood. High blood sugar levels can cause damage to blood arteries, which can potentially lead to coronary artery disease. Smoking. It is possible that smoking will increase your risk of having a heart attack as well as contribute to other disorders and diseases related to the cardiovascular system. Age. The likelihood of suffering a coronary attack rises in tandem with one’s chronological age. After the age of 45, men are at a greater risk of having a heart attack, but women are at a greater risk of having a heart attack after the age of 55. Sex. Not only do men have a dramatically increased risk of having a heart attack compared to women, but they also frequently experience heart attacks at a younger age. The past of the family. If multiple people in your family have had cardiac problems at an early age, your risk of having a heart attack increases. If you have male family members who were diagnosed with heart disease before the age of 55 or if you have female family members who were diagnosed with heart disease before the age of 65, then your risk is extremely high. Stress. Stress may also be a cause of acute myocardial infarction, however, there is still insufficient data to support this theory. Reducing the amount of prolonged anxiety or stress in one’s life can help lower one’s chance of having a heart attack or developing other heart-related conditions over time. Inactivity in terms of the body Regular physical activity can assist in the maintenance of a healthy heart by assisting in the maintenance of a healthy weight, as well as assisting in the reduction of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Drug use. The use of some substances, such as cocaine and amphetamines, can cause the blood vessels to constrict, which can lead to an increased risk of having a heart attack. Preeclampsia. If you have a history of preeclampsia, often known as high blood pressure during pregnancy, you may be at an increased risk of developing heart problems later in life. Preeclampsia can also be caused by genetics. How exactly does one go about diagnosing an acute myocardial infarction? Your doctor will review the history of your symptoms in conjunction with your vital signs, such as your blood pressure, to establish whether or not you have just experienced a heart attack. After that, your physician will conduct a full physical examination, paying particular attention to your heart. If your doctor has reason to believe that you’ve had a heart attack, they will conduct a variety of diagnostic procedures on you. It is possible to measure the electrical activity of your heart with an electrocardiogram, sometimes known as an EKG. In addition, blood tests will be performed to look for substances like troponin that are known to be associated with damaged heart tissue. In addition, your doctor might carry out an angiography in conjunction with a coronary catheterization in order to look for places in your arteries that are blocked. What kind of treatment is there for an acute myocardial infarction? Because rapid medical attention is required for heart attacks, the majority of therapies start in an emergency room. As part of the treatment, you can be prescribed medication to break up blood clots, lessen the intensity of the pain, or slow the rate of your heartbeat. Percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI for short, was once known as angioplasty with a stent. Your doctor may also recommend that you go through a less invasive surgery called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This treatment is performed to unclog the arteries that provide blood to the heart in order to restore normal blood flow. It is estimated that approximately 36 percent of hospitals in the United States have the necessary equipment to carry out this treatment. In the event that your current facility is unable to perform an angioplasty, you may be transferred to a different facility that can. During the surgery, your surgeon will thread a catheter, which is a long, thin tube, through your artery to get to the area where the blockage is located. After that, they will inflate a little balloon that is attached to the catheter in order to reopen the artery and enable blood flow to continue normally. Your surgeon may also use a device known as a stent, which is a tiny tube made of mesh and placed at the location of the blockage. With the stent in place, the artery should not constrict once more. In addition, your physician can recommend that you get a coronary artery bypass transplant (CABG). During this operation, your surgeon will reroute your veins and arteries so that the blood may move around the obstruction. This will result in the restoration of blood flow. A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation is occasionally performed shortly after a heart attack. However, in most circumstances, it is conducted a few days after the trauma so that your heart has time to mend before it is operated on again. Another operation that your physician may recommend for you is a technique known as bypass surgery. This procedure is carried out in order to create new pathways for blood to go on its way to the heart. A heart attack can be treated with a variety of different drugs, including the following: It is a common practice to treat blood clots and increase blood flow through arteries that have become constricted with blood-thinning medications such as aspirin. In order to break up blood clots, thrombolytics are frequently administered. Clopidogrel and other antiplatelet medications can be taken to stop the growth of existing blood clots and stop the formation of new clots altogether. Nitroglycerin is a substance that can be used to dilate the blood arteries in your body. Beta-blockers are medications that reduce blood pressure by relaxing the muscles of the heart. The degree of damage to your heart may be reduced as a result of this. In addition to lowering blood pressure, ACE inhibitors can reduce the amount of stress that is placed on the heart. To alleviate any pain or discomfort you might be experiencing, pain medications can be of assistance. The accumulation of fluid in the body can be made less taxing on the heart by the use of diuretics. Management following a coronary attack Your odds of surviving a heart attack are directly proportional to the extent of the damage done to your heart and the speed with which you obtain emergency medical treatment. When you get therapy sooner rather than later, your chances of surviving increase significantly. Remember that getting better is a long process that could take several weeks or even months after you leave the hospital, so keep that in mind. It is possible that you will be at a greater risk of experiencing more heart problems in the future if you have already suffered a heart attack. If you’ve sustained significant damage to the muscle of your heart, for instance, it’s possible that your heart won’t be able to pump an adequate amount of blood to the rest of your body. This increases the risk of developing heart failure. Damage to the heart also raises the likelihood that you may experience difficulties with your heart valves and will develop an abnormal heart rhythm known as arrhythmia. Additionally, the likelihood of you experiencing a subsequent heart attack will increase. It is anticipated that one in every five patients who have previously experienced a heart attack will be readmitted to the hospital for a second heart attack within the span of five years after their initial event. After having a heart attack, many people also have chest pain, particularly after having a large meal or indulging in physical exercise. This is especially common after having a heart attack. If you experience chest pain, you should make an appointment with your primary care physician very once. They may advise you to try a certain medicine or fitness regimen in order to assist alleviate the symptoms. It is possible that you will be needed to take drugs or participate in a cardiac rehabilitation programme as part of the treatment plan that has been developed for you. This kind of programme can assist you in gradually regaining your strength, teach you about adjustments you can make to lead a healthier lifestyle, and guide you through the treatment process. Altering one’s food and way of life, in consultation with one’s physician, is one of the many approaches that may be taken to reduce the risk of having another heart attack and speed up the recovery process following one. During the time that you are recovering, it is essential that you discuss any concerns you have with your attending physician. Because anxiety and despair are common feelings experienced by many people who have had heart attacks, it may be good to attend a support group or chat with a counsellor about what you are going through. After suffering a heart attack, the majority of patients are able to return to their previous levels of activity. To get back into any kind of strenuous physical exercise, though, you will need to ease into it. Your physician will assist you in developing a particular plan for your recuperation. How exactly can one avoid having an acute myocardial infarction? Even if you’ve already had one, there are still numerous things you can do to lower your risk of having another heart attack. Eating a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol is one of the best things you can do for your heart. The majority of this diet should be composed of: healthy grains, fruits, and vegetables, with a focus on lean protein Additionally, you should make an effort to cut back on the following in your diet: meals containing processed sugar People who have conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol should pay particular attention to this. Your cardiovascular health will also improve if you engage in physical activity on multiple occasions per week. Before beginning a new fitness routine, you should consult with your physician if you have recently recovered from a heart attack. If you are a smoker, it is essential that you give up the habit immediately. If you want to greatly reduce your risk of having a heart attack and enhance the health of both your heart and lungs, you should quit smoking. You should also stay away from places where people are smoking around you. An acute myocardial infarction, also known as a heart attack, is a dangerous ailment that develops when the heart suddenly loses its blood supply. This emergency situation calls for quick medical attention. The good news is that there are a lot of things you can do to avoid the difficulties that come along with this condition and to lessen the impact it has on your health over time. Alterations to one’s food and way of life can not only hasten to heal after a person has suffered a heart attack, but they can also reduce the risk of further heart attacks happening in the future.

Cancer doctors and cancer specialists universally agree that making good lifestyle choices is the best form of cancer prevention. The cancer specialists at St. Joseph Health Cancer Center encourage you to make good lifestyle choices, according to the advice of the Cancer Prevention Foundation. Despite conflicting reports about what does and does not cause cancer, the CPF offers seven foundational steps for preventing cancer. These seven lifestyle changes can help tremendously. 1. Don't use tobacco Using any type of tobacco puts you at a much higher risk of cancer. Smoking has been linked to several types of cancer, including lung, bladder, cervix and kidney. Even if you don't personally smoke tobacco, being exposed to secondhand smoke can increase your risk of lung cancer. Chewing tobacco has been linked to tongue, gum, and pancreatic cancer. Not using tobacco is one of the best actions you can take for your health, including cancer prevention. If you have decided to quit tobacco use, your doctor or cancer specialist can refer you to products and other strategies to help you quit. 2. Eat a healthy diet Making healthy selections at the grocery store and for your meals can go a long way toward improving your health and meeting your goal of cancer prevention. Though research findings differ, no informed cancer specialist would argue against the benefits of a healthy diet. Here are some guidelines for making good choices: - Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Your diet should consist primarily of fruits, vegetables and other foods from plant sources, including whole grains and beans. Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale are considered beneficial for cancer prevention. These score high for containing many anti-cancer substances, such as isothiocyanates. - Limit fat. Choose fewer high-fat foods. High-fat diets tend to be higher in calories and might increase the risk of overweight or obesity which can, in turn, increase cancer risk. - Avoid these foods. Avoid all charred food, which create known carcinogens. Little or no red meat is best. It’s also best to avoid sugar, both white and brown, and heavily salted, smoked and pickled foods, which can lead to higher rates of stomach cancer. It’s a good idea to avoid soft drinks, French fries, chips and snack foods that contain trans fats, and food and drink additives such as aspartame. - Drink alcohol only in moderation. The risk of various types of cancer, including breast, colon, lung, kidney and liver, increases with the amount of alcohol you drink, and with the number of years you’ve been a drinker.

What Does a Data Scientist Do? Most companies sit on untapped treasure troves of data varying from documentation of internal processes to customer data. A data scientist's role is to tap into that data to deliver business value. They accomplish this through a variety of approaches. A typical data science job description will have the following responsibilities: - Preprocess and clean data - Analyse and model data to find actionable insights or make predictions - Produce data visualizations to present information to stakeholders so they can inform data-driven business decisions - Interact with cloud storage and processing services - Build statistical and machine learning models for regression, classification, clustering, optimization, time series, etc. - Write high quality code that will scale - Interact with stakeholders including management, data engineers, and devops engineers Overall, the responsibility is about writing code to prepare and analyse data to help make decisions, and build statistical and machine learning models to deliver business value. An Example of Data Science You might not realise it, but you interact with data science products everyday. How it is that Netflix always seems to know what you want to watch? Although we don't know the exact recommendation algorithm, they likely use a form of collaborative filtering to accomplish this. You're probably wondering what that is. It's actually surprisingly simple. Netflix tracks every interaction you have with its website - every show you hover your mouse over, how long you watch any show, what time of the day it is and much more. The algorithm then matches you with other Netflix users who have similar behaviour profiles, and recommends you titles that they've watched which you may not have. The idea is that people with similar behaviours will have similar tastes. When Is a Data Scientist Needed? Let's say you run an online bakery selling products ranging from cakes to pastries to cookies. You're wondering "What products should I release next?" Your data science friend can help you figure this out. They make hypotheses about which factors influence the sales of a product and analyze to find patterns. For example, they may think that product descriptions influence sales so analyse the correlation between sales and words used in the description. Through this they may realise that sales for products which have the word "soft centre" in the description have been increasing 80% every month. Seeing this emerging trend, you know you should release more cookies which have a soft centre as they are likely to sell well. So when do you need a data scientist? You know you need a data scientist when you have data and questions that need answering but the insights you're looking for can't be found by a simple calculation. Skills and Tools Used by Data Scientists Data science demands a being able to apply a strong quantitative toolkit as well as an understanding of business processes. It's about more than just understanding the maths behind predictive models or being able to implement machine learning models in Python. When working on industry AI applications, data scientists need to interoperate with other technical engineering teams and even non-technical stakeholders. That means that they are required to write production-grade software, and need to be able to communicate well with others. Here are some of the key tools and skills which we've seen most widely used by data scientists in industry: - Data visualisation libraries like Plotly - Data processing libraries like Pandas - Apache Spark - Cloud storage data lakes and warehouses - Cloud service SDKs and CLIs - Git & GitHub - Virtual cloud compute - Machine learning libraries and frameworks such as Scikit-learn or PyTorch How Much Does a Data Scientist Make? Entry level data scientists in the UK can expect a salary of £35,000 and above. With a few years of experience, mid level data scientist salaries are around £70,000. If you stay in the industry, keep building on your skills and gain experience managing teams, senior positions pay upwards of £91,250. What Is the Demand for Data Scientists? The high demand for data scientists has continued growing steadily for over a decade. The number of open roles citing data science grew by 37% between 2019 and 2021. The role was labelled the "Sexist Job of the 21st Century" by Harvard. Even though competition has increased compared to when the role first started taking off around 2012, a data science career continues to be a strong, future-proof choice. Data Analyst vs. Data Scientist vs. Data Engineer - What’s the Difference? The line between where data analysis ends and data science starts differs depending on which company you go to. Both roles are responsible for analysing data to extract insights, creating visualisations and presenting their findings to stakeholders. The main difference is in the complexity of the algorithms use to find those insights - a data analyst would typically use simple statistical testing whereas data scientists would build complex predictive machine learning models. As a result, analysts do not need to know any programming languages as there are platforms that help them perform these analyses without code, such as Power BI or Tableau. Data analysts perform a subset of the tasks that a data scientists would be responsible for so is often seen as a less advanced role. Many data analysts move into data science roles once they have built a solid foundation in coding and machine learning. On the other hand, data engineers play a completely different role. They are responsible for building infrastructure to collect, process and store the data in a format that is accessible by analysts and scientists. How To Become A Data Scientist Data scientists need to have a good foundation in mathematics, scientific thinking and programming so mostly come from STEM backgrounds. There is no single path to becoming a data scientist. However, the fastest way we know to launch your career in data scientist is through the AiCore programme. The 18 week programme delivers the most industry-informed, hands-on education in data science. You will learn from established experts how production-grade data science algorithms work then get experience by building systems that are currently deployed at companies such as Uber and Pinterest. [fs-toc-omit]Launch Your Data Science Career Today With AiCore! Are you considering becoming a data scientist, trying to figure out if it's right for you? Maybe you are certain you want to become a data scientist and are trying to find the fastest route into this lucrative career. In either case, the AiCore team would be delighted to help you. Book a 15 minute call here.

At TheHealthBoard, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge. The differences between metronidazole and tinidazole include, antimicrobial action, methods of administration, and prescribed dosages. While both anti-infective agents treat bacterial and protozoal organisms, they exhibit effective action against different organisms. Physicians may prescribe mthese medications for oral use, but metronidazole can also be administered intravenously or topically. Patients typically require a higher dosage of tinidazole but take the medication for a shorter length of time. Studies indicate that both anti-infectives have carcinogenic properties and similar side effects and that both will interact with other drugs. Uses of metronidazole and tinidazole include the treatment of gastrointestinal or systemic infections and sexually transmitted diseases caused by susceptible gram-negative, gram-positive, and amebic organisms. Metronidazole eliminates Bacteroides and Clostridium along with Trichomonas. The medication enters the cells and undergoes a molecular change that releases free radicals, causing cell death. Tinidazole also an effective treatment for Trichomonas, but physicians also prescribe this medication for the Gardnerella and Haemophilas genuses of bacteria. After entering the cell, tinidazole breaks down and produces nitrites that harm the cell. It also breaks the organism's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) chains and alters DNA formation. The combination of these actions causes cell death. Metronidazole dose depends on the organism requiring treatment. Patients with sexually transmitted organisms require 375 milligrams (mg) twice a day for up to seven days. Systemic bacterial or protozoal infections require 7.5 mg per kilogram (1 kg = 2.2 pounds) of body weight every six hours for up to 10 days. Amebic infections require 750 mg three times a day for 5 to 10 days. In topical gel, lotion, or ointment preparation, patients generally apply the anti-infective once or twice daily for the prescribed number of days. Patients generally take one oral 2-gram tinidazole dose daily for up to three days. Instructions advise taking the medication with food. Metronidazole and tinidazole interact with alcohol, and patients may experience abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Taking the medications with warfarin increases the anticoagulant effects of the drug. Using metronidazole and tinidazole with phenobarbital or phenytoin hastens elimination of the anti-infective medications. Side effects of metronidazole and tinidazole include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea or constipation. Patients taking either medication may develop a metallic taste in their mouths. The medications also contribute to systemic yeast overgrowth. Patients may experience allergic reactions with a range of symptoms including skin rashes to anaphylaxis. Both anti-infectives have the potential to cause central nervous system symptoms, which produce drowsiness, dizziness, and fatigue or generalized weakness. Some patients experience convulsions in addition to seizures and aseptic meningitis. Other adverse effects include numbness and tingling from peripheral nerve damage. Both formulations may adversely affect the liver, causing darkened urine and nausea, along with joint and muscle discomfort.

Special Issue "Eco-Friendly Polymer Composites" Materials consisting of combinations of (various kinds of) polymers and other types of soft-matter components that are eco-friendly, which can for example be recycled or are degradable, may be referred to as eco-polymer composites (ePCs). Examples of such composite materials are cellulose-based nanofibers and nanocrystals, which are today partially replacing plastic bags and packaging materials, and several types of disposable medical products (such as gloves, masks, pads, and gowns). There will certainly be an increasing demand for low-cost large-scale production of ePCs in a wide variety of applications. There are several challenges in the design and mass production of ePCs. From a fundamental scientific point-of-view, novel composites should be designed with many similar properties to those of well-known polymeric materials used today. Such properties typically include elastic properties, long-term stability against stress exposure, electric conductivity, flow properties of paste-like substances, and stability against various kinds of chemicals. The replacement of these well-known polymeric materials by ePCs requires a major scientific effort. To apply these new composite materials in daily use, it is first needed to confirm that they can be produced in large quantities at low cost. The corresponding upscaling of the synthesis of ePCs toward industrial quantities is a second highly non-trivial scientific challenge. This Special Issue on “Eco-friendly Polymer Composites” welcomes papers addressing the design/characterization/properties of novel polymer–composite materials that might be useful for future use as eco-friendly polymer–composite materials, and/or addressing the upscaling of the synthesis of such materials. Submission deadline: May. 15, 2021. Dr. Kyongok Kang (firstname.lastname@example.org)