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If you’re running a young health tech business, here’s a resource you’ll want to know about. The healthcare industry giant athenahealth—a provider of cloud-based electronic health record, billing, patient engagement, and care coordination services with a market cap of $4.4 billion—wants to help entrepreneurs with innovative ideas designed to “driving connectivity and innovation across the continuum of care.”
The company, whose “More Disruption Please” events have convened over 2,500 health tech innovators and hackers since 2010, established a More Disruption Please Accelerator at its Watertown, Mass., headquarters in June. It is accepting applications on a rolling basis from startups that are committed to “open, interoperable, and disruptive technology.” Technologies must be provider-facing solutions and companies should have at least a beta version (cloud-based products preferred), pilot customers or active users, and a solid working team. Athenahealth says it is focused on high-potential early- or growth-stage companies that are committed to keeping at least half of their operation in the Boston area.
Smart Scheduling, the accelerator’s first portfolio company, gets mentorship from athenahealth’s in-house experts and partners, as well as access, through a developer portal, to the company’s APIs and exposure to its network of more than 55,000 health care providers. Smart Scheduling CEO Chris Moses calls those benefits “critical to the scalability and success” of his technology, which improves access to care by predicting doctors’ office no-shows and reducing scheduling errors.
Athenahealth says portfolio companies also get “substantial” seed funding in the form of a convertible note, free office space at the Watertown campus, introductions to its network of venture capitalists and angel investors, and direct feedback from a Physician Advisory Board and super users. During an 8-12 month residency, startups also have access to mentors who are experts in product strategy, development, marketing/PR, business development/sales, recruiting, culture, design, UX/UI, finance, government and regulatory issues.
The accelerator aims to bring “entrepreneurialism to health care through a tailored program that offers portfolio companies customized resources and programming to meet their individual needs,” says Kyle Armbrester, the company’s VP of business development. He says athenahealth “is deepening its commitment to creating a robust market for open health care technology—something doctors and patients demand to improve the quality of care.”
Learn more here about the More Disruption Please Accelerator eligibility criteria.For the past several years, market monetarists have promoted the change from inflation targeting to NGDP level targeting. The analysis was mostly empirical, a fact that made some “wrinkle their nose”. A new model based paper arrives at the same conclusion:
The design of monetary policy has been the subject of a voluminous and influential literature. In spite of widespread discussion in the press and policy circles, the normative properties of nominal GDP targeting have not been subject to scrutiny within the context of the quantitative frameworks commonly used at central banks and among academic macroeconomists.
The objective of this paper has been to analyze the welfare properties of nominal GDP targeting in comparison to other popular policy rules in an empirically realistic New Keynesian model with both price and wage rigidity.
We find that nominal GDP targeting performs well in this model. It typically produces small welfare losses and comes close to fully implementing the flexible price and wage allocation. It produces smaller welfare losses than an estimated Taylor rule and significantly outperforms inflation targeting.
It tends to perform best relative to these alternative rules when wages are sticky relative to prices and conditional on supply shocks. While output gap targeting always at least weakly outperforms nominal GDP targeting, the differences in welfare losses associated with the two rules are small.
Nominal GDP targeting may produce lower welfare losses than gap targeting if the central bank has difficulty measuring the output gap in real time.
Nominal GDP targeting always supports a determinate equilibrium, whereas output gap targeting may result in indeterminacy if trend inflation is positive.
Overall, our analysis suggests that nominal GDP targeting is a policy alternative that central banks ought to take seriously.
There are a number of possible extensions of our analysis. Two which immediately come to mind are financial frictions and the zero lower bound. Though our medium scale model includes investment shocks, which have been interpreted as a reduced form for financial shocks in Justiniano et al. (2011), it would be interesting to formally model financial frictions and examine how nominal GDP targeting interacts with those.
Second, our analysis abstracts from the zero lower bound on nominal interest rates.
It would be interesting to study how a commitment to a nominal GDP target might affect the frequency, duration, and severity of zero lower bound episodes.
On the last sentence, MM´s have little doubt that, when undertaken, the study will also corroborate their view that the frequency, duration and severity of ZLB episodes would essentially disappear! | 1.544942 | 1,017 | 1,015 |
When is it 'Too Late' for my Child to Start Montessori Schooling?
As a Montessori practitioner and teacher-educator, I can now see the reasoning behind this argument. The Montessori 3–6 classroom sets the foundation for the rest of the Montessori experience. The introductory lessons in Practical Life and Sensorial form the basis for the rest of the Montessori curriculum. In addition, the lessons in Grace and Courtesy help the child develop the skills he needs to work peacefully and independently. There is also the chronological progression of the three-year cycle and multi-age classroom to consider.
That said, I have accepted children who were not only older, but in the final year of the three-year cycle into my Montessori classrooms. Here are a few examples:
Benjamin – a 6th year boy who was previously homeschooled with five younger brothers. He was excited to attend school, and Montessori fit what he had experienced at home. The first weeks were rough and many days he ended up in tears. Although he was two years behind in math, he persevered and became a leader in our class. He excelled that year in math, thanks to the Montessori materials and lessons, and moved to the middle school with his peers, where he scored the highest algebra marks of his class. Jean-Marc – a 6th year boy from Côte d’Ivoire who, in addition to being new to Montessori, spoke no English. He spent two years with me as a 6th year. At the end of his second year, he was fluent enough to present his multi-media 6th year project to an audience of over 200 people. Katie – a 6th year girl who was so quiet and unassuming, she fell through the cracks of her conventional school. Diagnosed with severe ADHD, Katie could not finish work. It was painful to watch her learn how to choose a work and follow it through to the end. A gifted linguist, Katie taught the whole class how to speak a language she had made up and we spent the entire year practicing with each other. Katie’s proudest accomplishment was completing her 6th year research project. Sarah and Kylie – both 3rd year girls who had no previous Montessori experience. The third-year group they belonged to seemed to be ruled by boys that year. These two girls had to overcome their initial shyness and find their place among these boys. Sarah was especially nurturing and took the first-year girls under her wing. Kylie was so shy, she did not speak for months. But when it came to academics, these two made the boys work hard to keep up!
Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer to when a school accepts children. It is up to each school’s personal philosophy. Being an informed parent will help you make the right decision for your child.
For further reading:
My Most Rewarding Montessori Student - Making Friends
The Role of the Third Year Student in the Montessori Classroom
Answers to Real Questions About Montessori Mixed Age Grouping
As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community. © North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Wednesday, March 13, 2013.
© North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Wednesday, March 13, 2013.Publication: Research - peer-review › Journal article – Annual report year: 2009
Maintaining diversity is important for the performance of evolutionary algorithms. Diversity-preserving mechanisms can enhance global exploration of the search space and enable crossover to find dissimilar individuals for recombination. We focus on the global exploration capabilities of mutation-based algorithms. Using a simple bimodal test function and rigorous runtime analyses, we compare well-known diversity-preserving mechanisms like deterministic crowding, fitness sharing, and others with a plain algorithm without diversification. We show that diversification is necessary for global exploration, but not all mechanisms succeed in finding both optima efficiently. Our theoretical results are accompanied by additional experiments for different population sizes.
Citations Web of Science® Times Cited: 25 Keywords Diversity, Runtime analysis, Fitness sharing, Deterministic crowding, Exploration
Download as:
ID: 5175313 | 1.451463 | 969 | 967 |
Wordservice International
United Nations organizations are increasingly employing satellites and high-resolution imaging to combat desertification, pests and pollution. In one striking example, modern remote-sensing technology has come to the aid of Saudi Arabia's desert nomads, enabling them to locate fertile grazing areas without relinquishing their time-honored itinerant way of life. With the oil-rich Middle Eastern kingdom facing progressive urbanization and depletion of its natural resources, its estimated 400,000 nomads risked their centuries-old livelihood, as their camels, goats and sheep overgrazed rangeland. The traditional Bedouin vision ("Where next?") was blurred by sweeping changes imposed by modernization. The known oases were not as green as before and were steadily degrading, while nearby fertile grounds were undiscovered. Business as usual Now, a combination of satellites, the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), the LANDSAT Thematic Mapper (TM), video cameras on aircraft, and University of Arizona researchers' expertise on drylands, allow the Bedouins to carry on with the occupation inherited from their forebears. The satellites relay information on where to move so there will be no further loss of vegetation. Global positioning satellite technology finds suitable grasslands to the exactness of 10 m. The Saudi Environmental Support of Nomad Project relies on two satellite-based sensors, the AVHRR, TM and airborne video data collection. The AVHRR provides daily coverage over large areas, and TM supplies six spectral bands at 30 m and one thermal infrared band at 120 m for refining. An aerial video system, under the auspices of the University of Arizona, provides further refinement. The Bedouins have their input, too: Over tea and dates, they tell interviewers of their needs. As a result, Bedouins have access to information on when the rains will come, how plant growth might progress and the carrying capacity of certain areas. Although the project affects only Saudi Bedouins, it has potential for some 300 million inhabitants of drylands, about half of which are facing desertification. The Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development, a UN agency participating in the project, says it hopes to extend the experiment to nomads in other countries as well. One other UN agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization, has already used remote sensing technology to provide similar aid to Africa, other sections of the Middle East and parts of Asia by monitoring food shortages and crop damage.Document Type
Article
Comments
Intellectual Property and High Tech Handbook (Roger Blair & D. Daniel Sokol, eds.) (Cambridge University Press, Forthcoming)
Abstract
It is the standard view in the United States that U.S. antitrust law does not reach acts of exploitation by a monopolist, particularly monopoly pricing (“rent extraction”). Even more so for intellectual property, where U.S. courts have emphasized the right of an intellectual property right holder to raise prices and exploit its rights to the fullest, constrained only by market demand. Competition law in the rest of the world appears to be otherwise, however, with many countries generally condemning excessive high prices by dominant firms, even if often reluctant to invoke such provisions in practice.
Despite apparent differences in legal approaches, current enforcement practice worldwide with regard to price-raising exploitation of intellectual property rights by monopolists shows a uniform willingness to condemn such conduct as anticompetitive. This paper describes this concern for exploitation, focusing on competition law enforcement in the United States, China, Europe, Japan, and Korea in three substantive areas: patents subject to FRAND licensing obligations, disclosure requirements imposed on patent holders with monopoly power to prevent them from exploiting licensees or potential licensees, and post-expiration royalties.
This paper argues that this concern for exploitative behavior is consistent with sound competition policy. Preventing the undue exploitation of intellectual property rights is an important aspect of economizing on the reward we give to incentivize innovation. Antitrust has traditionally favored placing some limits on intellectual property rights and placing greater reliance on the incentives for innovation that competitive markets can provide.
Date of Authorship for this Version
7-2016
Keywords
Antitrust, monopoly, Section 2, abuse of dominance, intellectual property, patents, exploitation, monopoly pricing, FRAND, post-expiration royalties, European Union, China, Korea, Japan
Recommended Citation
First, Harry, "Exploitative Abuses of Intellectual Property Rights" (2016).
New York University Law and Economics Working Papers. 446. http://lsr.nellco.org/nyu_lewp/446 | 1.658574 | 950 | 948 |
Women And Winstrol
Winstrol is a popular type of anabolic steroid. Known chemically as Stanozolol, it is believed by many people to be one of the few steroids women can safely take. Women may choose to take Winstrol in order to complement their strength training or bodybuilding regimen. It is important to note, however, that the majority of people who use Winstrol or Winstrol Depot are men; even in very low doses, this steroid can cause very adverse reactions in women. Although it may be the safest steroid for females, it still carries a great deal of risk for them as well.
Why Women Might Take Winstrol When compared with most other anabolic steroids available today, Winstrol is believed to have a far greater anabolic effect on women. This means that it promotes muscle mass effectively and when combined with a regular bodybuilding routine it can help enhance the overall build of a woman's muscles. Obviously, this is primarily the same reason that men use Winstrol as well. However, many other types of anabolic steroids simply don't achieve very noticeable or dramatic results in women. This is why Winstrol or Stanozolol is one of the few types of steroid considered by females. At the same time, women usually face a great risk of androgenic effects when taking most anabolic steroids. This means that a woman can easily begin experiencing very unwelcome side effects like a deepening voice or hair in unwanted places that usually only occurs in males. In other words, a woman might begin to appear more masculine, which is usually not what most females want to have happen. Winstrol, however, is believed to have less of an androgenic effect on women. Regardless of the lessened likelihood of androgenic effects and the increased anabolic effects so prized by women, Winstrol still poses a nearly unacceptable risk of such things for most females. If a woman decides to take Winstrol, she needs to use very small doses in order to further decrease the chances of adverse effects. Most women simply stay away from all types of anabolic steroids, as even the most remote chance of having androgenic effects is unacceptable. Risks Of Winstrol In Women As noted above, even if Winstrol is taken in small doses it still poses a risk of causing androgenic effects in women. It should also be noted that these effects are usually permanent. Even if Winstrol use is stopped, the androgenic effects like a deepened voice or hair growth in unwanted place may continue for the rest of a woman's life. There is no way of reversing this effect, and women need to bear this in mind when they consider using Winstrol to enhance their strength training or bodybuilding routine. Extremely small doses of Winstrol are the best advised course of action for women who insist on using this steroid. In such applications, it primarily provides extra strength and endurance to a woman's abilities, rather than major anabolic enhancements. In fact, this is the most common use of Winstrol in women. Whether it is taken in pill form as regular Winstrol, or injected as Winstrol depot, this steroid still poses many risks for female bodybuilders."Hazy, hot and humid" will be the phrase to describe the weather for the next couple of days, and health officials at the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department are urging people to keep cool.
Medical Director, Dr. Vicki Whitacre said children and the elderly are the most at risk for heat-related ailments.
Whitacre said those who are outdoors and participating in strenuous activities should be drinking water frequently.
"The idea is to keep the urine almost a clear color, then you know you’re hydrated well enough. If they get ill, they’ll get dizzy nauseated when a child says, I don’t feel good, mommy, and they’re out in the heat, you need to get them in, and get them cooled off," said Whiacre.
Whitacre said to stay away from drinks high in sugar and to limit outdoor activities during the peak heating hours of the day.
Whitacre added that the elderly do not always have a good sense of hot and cold due to medications and chronic illness.
"Many of them tend not to drink a lot, they can also have chronic conditions where their kidneys don’t work as well, or they’re on water pills, so they’re at an even bigger disadvantage sometimes, some of their medications may even prevent them from sweating or being able to regulate their body heat well," added Whitacre.
Cooling centers are still open around the area.
A list of those cooling centers can be obtained by dialing 2-1-1. | 1.422247 | 971 | 969 |
Topic of the day: Junk mail. I know, exciting, right?
Junk mail, which includes retail catalogs, soliciting brochures, and those pesky pre-approved credit card offers, is a huge source of trash and waste. Consider this pile of mail below…
Out of the 3 inch high stack of mail, 90% of it (or all 3.75 inches of it) is going to end up in my recycling bin. Even though I’m recycling it, can you imagine how much raw resources were used to create these things that we automatically toss without a second thought? And also how much energy and resources have to go into recycling the paper products that didn’t serve any useful function in the first place?
Because I hated the thought of that and I hated sorting through ginormous piles of junk mail just to get to the important stuff, a while ago I started calling companies to PLEASE STOP sending me those stupid, useless, wasteful catalogs, brochures, and credit card offers. First off, even with my initial determination, it got pretty daunting. While some companies have their phone numbers printed on their mail, others didn’t and so I had to go searching on the internet for a phone number to call. Once I had the phone numbers, I had to jump through hoops and numerous automated options just to get a live person on the phone. Then I had to explain to them that I didn’t want their junk mail anymore and a lot of times they asked for customer numbers, name, address, etc, which became a long winded phone conversations. In essence, NO BUENO… After going through the first batch, I lost some steam. It was pretty discouraging that it was that time consuming and inconvenient just to get people to NOT send you stuff. Seriously?
Then I found out about PaperKarma. What a godsend. It’s a free mobile app and basically, all you have to do is take a photo of the “offending piece of mail” and PaperKarma does the leg work for you by contacting the companies and unsubscribing you from their distribution lists. No more time consuming phone calls to make!
Here’s how it works in PaperKarma’s own words:
In less than 24 hours, out of 34 requests, I had 20 successes, 4 pendings, and 7 fails. The failed requests were my fault though. Being a PaperKarma newbie and despite clear instructions to include the name of the company in the picture, I didn’t and therefore they didn’t know who to go to with the request. So don’t do what I did!
Less trips to take the recycling out, less mail to sort through, less junk mail produced, less raw materials used, less useless marketing $ spent by the companies, less work for the postal service, I say it’s a win-win-win-win. Definitely try it out!In an August column on the oil-and-chip process, South Whitehall Township Interim Public Works Director Bob Ibach said he's convinced that oiling-and-chipping a road surface prior to adding a thin layer of "real" asphalt is an effective method of roadway maitenance. PennDOT sometimes utilizes this procedue as well.
An example of the process got started today (and may have been completed, for all I know), on Broadway in the township's Cetronia area, where workers installed a "micro" layer of macadam. The chip-and-seal job was done on that stretch a month or so ago.
Busy Broadway (which connects to Cedar Crest Boulevard just to the east) was not closed, but it was restricted to a single lane with traffic controlled by flaggers. It wasn't too bad when I went through about 10 a.m. -- the group of eastbound cars I got stuck with waited for only three or four minutes before being waved through -- but it could have been ugly on both sides of noon for the lunch-time rush. I don't even want to think how it might look now, approaching 5 p.m., if the restriction is still in place. I hope they're out of there by now.
I still find it hard to believe, but all the traffic engineers, public-works directors and street superintendends I've ever asked about oil-and-chip have insisted that it adds a few years of life to deteriorating road surfaces, and that it is cost-effective. Despite my skepticism, I have no way of refuting these universal claims.
Yeah, this will be great until someone gets sued for using it because it caused an accident. When they do this the surfaces are very slippery for a week or two.
Also, once enough people realize that in PA, insurance companies can not raise your rates for comprehensive claims, and you may make a claim for broken windshields, chipped paint, etc. from poorly maintained roadways (think potholes that break your suspension), insurance companies will sue PENNDOT to recover their costs. | 1.714251 | 1,023 | 1,021 |
Commentary by Jack Kelley
Whether you’re following commentaries by prophecy scholars on the nearness of the rapture or predictions by financial experts on the nearness of the world’s economic downfall, the message is the same. This could very well be the last time we celebrate Christmas as we’ve come to know it.
And that’s a good thing. Because for most of the world, Christmas has become little more than an annual exercise in spending money we don’t have to buy things they don’t need for the people on our list, some of whom we don’t even like. Add to that the sad fact that millions of American families are doing this from homes they no longer own, adding to a debt load they can hardly carry now, and you can see the level to which the world has sunk. And the saddest fact of all is they aren’t doing this out of any gratitude for what the Lord has given them. They’re doing this because for a brief period of time they can pretend everything’s OK.
For believers it should be a different story, although most of us are totally unaware that the greatest event in Church history is looming on our horizon. The coming rapture should be energizing the body of Christ and causing a massive reorientation of our priorities and yet current polls indicate that over 90% of us are still focused on the secular world and the fading illusion of happiness it offers, rather than the incredible promises of the Bible.
Maybe that’s because what little we’ve been taught about the Lord’s promise to the Church is such a watered down version of the truth. Pastors and teachers have lowered our expectations of His promises to match our experience instead of teaching us that if our experience doesn’t match His promises then we’re doing something wrong. And because we don’t read our Bibles to learn what it says about Christian life here on Earth for ourselves, these promises simply have not come true for most. And as for His promises about our future with Him, well they’re hardly even mentioned anymore.
What Did You Get For Christmas?
With a little study we can conclude that the Lord was not born on December 25th, but more likely in the early fall. Therefore our celebration in December is more traditional than factual. But since it is the time we’ve been given to celebrate, let’s take a moment to review what the birth of the Lord really means to us. This won’t be an exhaustive list but maybe it will help us remember what Christmas is really about. Think of it as as the gift He gave us for Christmas.
First and foremost, He came to take away our sins. Just for believing that, we’ve been promised that the penalty of eternal suffering we deserve to pay has been canceled (
Colossians 2:13-14) and replaced by eternal blessing in the presence of God ( John 3:16).
Because He suffered in our place, we’ve been made forever perfect in God’s sight (
Hebrews 10:14) , a new creation ( 2 Cor. 5:17) as righteous as He is ( 2 Cor. 5:21). The law of sin and death no longer has any claim on us ( Romans 8:2).
That alone should make us jump for joy, but that’s not all He did. He came to take away our worries too. He promised that if we believe in Him, we’ll be adopted into the family of God (
John 1:12-13) and made heirs of God and co-with Christ in His inheritance ( Romans 8:17, Galatians 4:4-7).
If we’ll just focus on seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness, which is now our eternal destiny, He’ll provide for all our needs in the here and now. We should never worry about what we’ll eat or drink or wear because He promised our needs will always be met (
Matt. 6:31-33).
But more than just meeting our survival needs, He came to give us an abundant life (
John 10:10). He promised to make everything work together for our good ( Romans 8:28) and that nothing could ever separate us from Him ( Romans 8:38-39 and John 10:27-30).
Although He was rich He made Himself poor for our sakes, so that through His poverty we could become rich (
2 Cor. 8:9). But He wasn’t speaking only of spiritual wealth. He promised that we could be made rich in every way so we could be generous on every occasion ( 2 Cor. 9:11) while we’re still here. The more generous we are toward others, the more generous He’ll be toward us ( Luke 6:38).
He came to give us hope in times of trouble (
John 16:33) and told us to not be so concerned about this life because it’s | 1.364968 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
only temporary. It’s the next life that’s permanent and that’s the one we should always be thinking about ( 2 Cor. 4:17-18).
He promised to answer our prayers (
John 14:13-14) forgive our sins ( 1 John 1:9) and heal our diseases ( James 5:14-15).
He promised that if we stay connected to Him we’ll bear much fruit (
John 15:7-8) and will perform miracles even greater than His. He said the only limitation on the things we could do in His name would be our faith in His promises ( John 14:12). But Wait, There’s More!
All these things are just for this life. But He also came to give us a future that’s beyond imagining (
1 Cor 2:9).
He promised to rescue us from the time and place of the coming wrath (
1 Thes. 1:10), to separate us both by time and distance from the hour of trial that’s coming upon the whole world ( Rev. 3:10).
To accomplish this, He promised to meet us in the air (
1 Thes. 4:16-17), to change us from mortal to immortal ( 1 Cor. 15:52-53) and take us to His Father’s house ( John 14:2-3) where He’ll hide us from God’s judgment of Earth ( Isaiah 26:20-21).
He promised to make us into a royal priesthood (
1 Peter 2:9), kings and priests who will rule and reign with Him ( Rev. 5:10), and to create an entire planet made of gold and precious gems as our exclusive dwelling place. We’ll live with Him there as members of his royal family ( Rev. 21:9-27).
We’ll be seated beside Him in the heavenly realms so that by what He’s done for us he can demonstrate the incomparable riches of His grace in ages yet to come (
Ephesians 2:6-7). No other group of humanity ever has or ever will enjoy the blessings He’s lavished on the Church.
From the moment of His birth, these and many more promises began to come true for those who believe. It was such a momentous occasion that God dispatched a heavenly choir to announce His arrival on Earth. Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled to confirm the validity of His promises. All this and more is ours to a greater degree of certainty than anything else in our life. It’s the the gift He gave us at Christmas. Selah 12-11-13Personalise your image. Set yourself apart from your competitors. The market is changing daily: new products and services appear, trends change, a new fashion suddenly emerges… Offering lower prices is no longer enough, as undoubtedly there will be someone to improve upon such a price. Neither does being the best guarantee more sales…
And to evaluate those points, they seek information prior to deciding whether to buy. They analyze the company’s website, taking into account its image and the quality conveyed by the website, they read forums, blogs, check tweets and comments on Facebook about your company from their friends, acquaintances or strangers who provide their opinions on product and/or services.
And then they compare it with what other companies are offering them. In other words, as well as conveying what your Company is and what it offers, your company’s image must also have class, power and impact in order to create a good experience and help the client decide to contract you.
What does the corporate image of a Company encompass?
From the name, the logo, the communications, visual appearance, etc. For any company its corporate image is essential
in order to communicate clearly and accurately what the company is and what it seeks to achieve. A powerful corporate image conveys responsibility, trust and innovation. On the contrary, an unimpressive and careless corporate image may create disinterest in the client or a disconnect between products and company.
At heptagono.com we have professional designers who manage to connect a number of dots:
Consistency: Your corporate image must be consistent with the positioning of your products. It must be in line with what your company offers and the benefits it brings to its clients. Credibility: Your clients must perceive that you will actually do what you propose. For example, if your company has a significant commitment to the environment, this must remain visible to your clients. Effectiveness: For example, a company name that is easy to remember, with positive connotations, etc. Different: If your image in unique and personal, you will set yourself apart from your competitors.
Tell us what corporate image you are looking for and we will send you a no obligation quote | 1.636186 | 1,003 | 1,001 |
Why does BLS provide both the CPI-W and CPI-U?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. The CPI currently tracks the spending patterns of two population groups:
all urban consumers and urban wage earners and clerical workers. For 64 years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tracked the buying habits of only one population group. BLS then made several refinements to the CPI, one of which included broadening the population group. This move sparked controversy and has had a lasting influence on the CPI. This Beyond the Numbers article briefly looks at the history and evolution of the CPI, explains the reasoning behind the creation of two main indexes, and describes the debate surrounding this development.
BLS has calculated the CPI as far back as 1913. From 1913 through 1977, BLS focused on measuring price change for groups of urban wage earners and clerical workers, or what BLS now calls the CPI-W.
1 The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers is based on the expenditures of households in which more than one-half of the household's income comes from clerical or wage occupations, and at least one of the household's earners has been employed for at least 37 weeks during the previous 12 months. The CPI-W population represents about 28 percent of the total U.S. population.
In 1978, several improvements were made to the CPI. As part of the 1978 revision, BLS planned to introduce a broader target population, covering all urban consumers (the CPI-U). The all urban consumer group represents about 88 percent of the total U.S. population. It is based on the expenditures of almost all residents of urban or metropolitan areas, including professionals, the self-employed, the poor, the unemployed, and retired people, as well as urban wage earners and clerical workers.
2
There were two primary factors behind the change toward an expanded population group. First, the influential 1961 Stigler Report—which suggested several improvements to the calculation of the CPI—recommended broadening the CPI target population.
3 Second, the passage of Social Security legislation in 1972, tying annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to increases in the CPI, meant the CPI was being used by an ever-increasing share of Americans.
BLS initially announced in April 1974 its intention to replace the urban wage earner and clerical worker definition of the CPI population (the CPI-W) with the broader CPI-U population . That decision, however, was criticized by some labor union leaders, members of Congress, and members of other organizations who were CPI data users. Some users did not oppose the new index, but did object to discontinuing the older index. These users were worried that the broader index would no longer be “firmly grounded in the experience of low- and middle-income workers,” and they promoted the creation of a separate index covering additional workers. It was suggested that BLS continue to calculate and publish both indexes for at least 3 more years, and Congress provided an increased appropriation for the additional work.
4
As a result, when BLS introduced the CPI-U in 1978, it continued the traditional measure of consumer inflation (the CPI-W) as well. Of course, the CPI-W was not discontinued after 3 years after all—but the funds for conducting an independent survey of prices for both official populations were. As a result of these budget cuts and because little difference was seen between the CPI-U and CPI-W measures during this period, BLS discontinued the separate but overlapping samples of individual items and outlets maintained from 1978–1980 for the CPI-U and CPI-W.
Because maintaining two independent samples was not sustainable, BLS economists track spending and prices by using the CPI-U sample of geographic areas, outlets, items, and prices. The CPI-W is then derived by adjusting the weights for various spending categories, reflecting that the spending habits of the wage earner population differ somewhat from the all urban consumer population.
In addition to adjusting the spending weights, for a time the indexes had different treatments for measuring changes in shelter costs. In 1983, a rental equivalence approach for measuring changes in shelter costs was introduced into the CPI-U. The rental equivalence method was not introduced to the CPI-W until 1985.
As a result, since 1985, the two indexes have differed only in the expenditure weights assigned to item categories and geographic areas. While the CPI-W is used to calculate Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, most other COLAs cited in federal legislation, such as the indexation of federal income tax brackets, uses the CPI-U.
Current price trends: Overall inflation modest in 2013 All items
The U.S | 1.130582 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
. all-items index rose 1.5 percent in 2013, following an increase of 1.7 percent in 2012.
5 Aside from a 0.1-percent increase in 2008 and another 1.5-percent rise in 2010, the 2013 increase was the smallest increase in consumer inflation since 1986. Lower inflation for food, medical care, and tuition contributed to the slight moderation in overall inflation. Food
The food index rose 1.1 percent in 2013, the lowest increase since a 0.5-percent drop in 2009, and less than half its 2.6-percent average annual rate of the past 10 years. Prices in grocery stores rose 0.4 percent in 2013, with drops in 4 of the 6 major food store groups. Nonalcoholic beverages fell 1.4 percent in 2013, with coffee prices down 7.6 percent. Fruit and vegetable prices fell 0.1 percent, with apples down 6.1 percent. Dairy and related products fell 0.5 percent in 2013, its first drop since 2009, while a 7.5-percent decline in peanut butter in 2013 contributed to a 0.4-percent drop in the index for other food at home.
Two of the six major grocery store food groups rose in 2013. Cereals and bakery products rose 0.5 percent in 2013, with bread prices up 0.7 percent. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 2.9 percent, with bacon prices up 9.6 percent.
Prices for food away from home rose 2.1 percent, with modest increases in prices at both full and limited service restaurants.
Energy
Energy prices rose only 0.5 percent in 2013, the same as in 2012, well below its 5.9-percent average annual rate over the past 10 years. The small increase in energy prices in 2013 was due entirely to a 3.2-percent increase in electricity prices. The increase in electricity prices was its sharpest since an 8.6-percent increase in 2008.
The other three major energy components fell in 2013. Gasoline prices fell 1.0 percent overall in 2013. Prices at the pump in 2013 were as high as $3.79 a gallon in March, but had fallen to $3.33 a gallon by December.
Fuel oil prices fell 1.8 percent in 2013, its first December-to-December drop since a sharp 34.2-percent decline in 2009. Natural gas fell 0.1 percent in 2013, its fifth straight yearly decline.
All items less food and energy
The index for all items less food and energy rose 1.7 percent, its smallest increase since a 0.8-percent increase in 2010, and slightly below its 2.0-percent average annual rate over the last decade. While shelter inflation accelerated in 2013, inflation for medical care and college tuition was lower in 2013 than in the recent past.
Shelter prices rose 2.5 percent in 2013, its largest advance since a 3.1-percent rise in 2007, as rental markets continued to recover from the recent recession. Rents rose 2.9 percent, while owners’ equivalent rent rose 2.5 percent.
Other indexes within all items less food and energy rose as well. New vehicle prices rose 0.4 percent, while prices for used cars and trucks rose 2.0 percent. Apparel prices rose 0.6 percent in 2013. Alcoholic beverages rose 1.8 percent, while tobacco products rose 3.2 percent.
Other items showed low rates of inflation in 2013, or even fell in price. The index for medical care rose only 2.0 percent in 2013, its lowest December-to-December increase since 1949. A deceleration in inflation for both medical care commodities and medical care services contributed to the lower rate of inflation for medical care. Medical care commodities rose only 0.3 percent, due in part to the the availability of more generic brands. Medical care services rose 2.5 percent, its smallest 12-month increase since September 1972.
College tuition rose 3.9 percent in 2013. This increase, along with an identical increase of 3.9 percent in 1998, was the lowest rate | 0.919774 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
Poinar G Jr, Poinar R: What bugged the dinosaurs? In Insects, Disease and Death in the Cretaceous 1:6 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-1-6
© Jacobson; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2008
Received: 13 March 2008 Accepted: 16 March 2008 Published: 16 March 2008 Review
Have you ever wondered whatever happened to the dinosaurs? George and Roberta Poinar have put forward some evidence that maybe it was not just cataclysmic events, such as meteorites falling on the earth. They surmise that perhaps insects transmitted diseases that contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs. By studying the arthropods trapped in amber during the Cretaceous (65.5 – 145.5 million years ago) period, they have revealed some extraordinary micro-organisms concomitant with the ensnared invertebrates.
The period is well described in the opening chapters, showing that fossil evidence and especially amber tells us a great deal about the animal and plant kingdoms during those millions of years. Some chapters start with a speculative scene, painting a picture of life in the Cretaceous, the dinosaurs, the plants they feed from and the insects that breed around them, while others discuss in detail the known scientific facts. Herbivory, both by the dinosaurs and the insects is described in detail and the possibility that insects introduced plant viruses and fungi into the food supply, which may have led to the depletion in resources for the large animals. The dinosaurs did benefit from insects, like the dung beetles that removed the vast waste voided by 55–100 ton dinosaurs, and arthropods were part of the diet of the omnivores.
The authors describe how they believe that arthropods were able to acquire blood meals from the dinosaurs in antiquity. By studying the mouth parts of the insects trapped in amber, they have shown that regardless of the outer skin, whether cold or warm blooded, the micro-predators had found a way to obtain the necessary food for survival. Chapters 12 – 18 describe those blood-sucking arthropods that were extant during the Cretaceous, including, important Nematocera and Tabanids, fleas, lice, ticks and mites. For each group the method of haematophagy is discussed and which organisms could have been transmitted with a few examples of ancient parasites observed in amber. There are separate chapters on the worms, cretaceous diseases, and another on the evolution of pathogens, (erroneously Rickettsia are given as the cause of human plague). The numerous color plates illustrate the diversity of arthropods in the Cretaceous, while the original line drawings embellish the theory. This is an assiduously written book for entomologists and parasitologists who would like to lean more on the time-encapsulated data from the Cretaceous, and perhaps stimulate the search for more "paleoparasites".
Declarations Authors’ Affiliations Copyright
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.The Department for Work and Pensions has launched an electronic claim service that also has a facility for advising change of circumstances such as a new address or a different partner. The service is not totally electronic, because claims must be supported by a birth certificate. Research by the Department published recently makes it clear that unless the marketing challenge can be met, take-up will be modest.The Department surveyed its different client groups to assess interest in electronic services. Overall only 8% of respondents said they would use the Internet to contact the Department in the future. 57% preferred the telephone, 38 % face to face and 5% said they would write a letter.
Barriers to greater Internet usage were found to be limited access, usually resulting from the cost of owning a computer and lack of knowledge and experience. There was also widespread concern about Internet security. Respondents said they would not feel comfortable providing personal details over a government website, because of internet security generally, rather than the government’s use of information.
The survey revealed that raising awareness of the potential of the Internet increased the likelihood of people actually making use of it. At the end of the questionnaire people were asked how likely they would be to use it for the Department’s services and 28% said very likely, and 33% fairly likely. This marked difference to their earlier responses to the question of how they would contact the Department in the future shows that marketing could affect attitudes substantially. | 1.505929 | 1,017 | 1,015 |
But the world has changed. To achieve its mission in the twenty-first century, the United Nations must reflect those changes. It must adapt to new realities, and be equipped to deal with new challenges.
This is so, whether we are fighting disease and hunger, or working to strengthen democracy; whether we are advancing human rights and the rule of law, or combating terrorism; whether we are building peace, or making the United Nations more effective and more accountable to the peoples it exists to serve.They agreed that development, security and human rights are not only vitally important in their own right, but that they reinforce each other.
They achieved an historic breakthrough by expressing their will to act collectively, through the Security Council, when a population is threatened with genocide, ethnic cleansing, or crimes against humanity.
They agreed to replace thelargely dysfunctional Human Rights Commission with a new Human Rights Council, which will have an all-encompassing responsibility for “promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind”.
And they reaffirmed a strong and unambiguous resolve to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
They gaveeffect to that resolve through a range of measures -- from pledging an additional $50 billion a year by 2010 for fighting poverty, to a promise by all developing countries to adopt national plans for achieving the Goals by 2006; from agreement to provide immediate support for quick-impact initiatives on anti-malaria efforts, education, and health care, to a commitment to innovative sources offinancing for development; from agreement to consider additional measures to ensure long-term debt sustainability, to commitment to trade liberalization.
If we succeed, we will improve the opportunities for all human beings to build better lives.
WORLD SUMMIT OUTCOME ‘REAL STEP FORWARD’ FOR UN, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
DeputySecretary-General Louise Fréchette to the Australian Institute for International Affairs:
the UN can’t build utopia, or solve all the world’s problems, but we want the UN to work effectively because we believe in strengthening international law, we value international cooperation, and we support the Organization’s work
Are they right to do so? I think they are. Because the forcesat work in today’s world mean that, for good or ill, we are all dependent on each other. Pick almost any issue confronting our world today: terrorism, nuclear proliferation, AIDS, bird flu, disaster response, global warming, poverty, trade. These issues affect us all, and we can’t address any of them without agreeing on norms, forging common strategies, and sharing burdens.
One of themain reasons the United Nations is under the spotlight today is precisely because, in our interdependent world, people have high expectations of it. People value the UN as a forum for dialogue, but they are not content with it being only a talk-shop. They want results, and rightly so.
It was with this goal in mind that, seven months ago, Secretary-General Kofi Annan put before theMember States an agenda for bold change, and called for decisions at last month’s World Summit in New York. You may have read that the World Summit was a failure. It was not. True, it did not achieve the kind of across-the-board transformation that the Secretary-General wanted. But it did achieve quite a bit. Let me explain how.
The Secretary-General is convinced that development,... largess of those earlier years, but at least you are spared from forming habits that are hard to shed. On the positive side, we in mechanics work on a vast array of subjects within engineering and science, and we draw our support form an equally broad range of sources, even if we have to scramble to do it. As a community, our interests are much more diverse than in the “good old days”, which of course presents both benefits and difficulties to the field of mechanics per se.
In closing I want to pay special tribute to the extraordinary colleagues with whom I have had the great fortune to share this profession, colleagues at Harvard and at many Universities in the US and abroad. Among these colleagues have been many exceptional graduate students. Indeed, some have been so exceptional that they needed almost no help from me at all, and I hardly remember them setting foot in my office. As I said at the start, the Timoshenko Medal is the recognition that means the most to me. From here on out, I’m happy and no further recognition is necessary. I’ll be working purely for the pleasure of mechanics itself. Some of you probably saw the interview with Duke Ellington in the Ken Burns series on American Jazz, held near the end of Ellington’s career when he was in his eighties. Ellington was asked, which of all the songs he had composed did he like the best. “The one I am working on at the moment”, Ellington replied. And so it is in mechanics! | 1.545016 | 1,019 | 1,017 |
Transitional Reinsurance Fee — HHS Issues Final Regulation
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published final regulations that will enable plan sponsors and insurers to calculate their liability under the transitional reinsurance fee (TRF) provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The fee is $63 per year, per covered life ($5.25 per month). It applies to insured and self-insured group health plans beginning in 2014. .
The TRF applies to calendar years 2014 through 2016. This fee is expected to decrease in 2015 and 2016. The first TRF payment will be owed to HHS in December 2014 with respect to the 2014 calendar year. Congress would need to amend the law to extend the TRF beyond 2016. The final regulation is effective May 10, 2013.
When drafting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Congress tapped employers and insurers to bear the cost of a temporary reinsurance fund that will seek to stabilize premiums for coverage in the reformed individual health insurance market (inside and outside the exchanges) for a three-year period from 2014 through 2016.
Insurers and plan sponsors are permitted to deduct the TRF expense as an ordinary and necessary business expense (unlike the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee, which is an excise tax and is not tax deductible).
The final rule provides that TRF contributions must be made with respect to “major medical coverage.” COBRA coverage generally qualifies as major medical coverage and if no other exception applies, it will be subject to the TRF contribution. The TRF contribution must be made for all “reinsurance contribution enrollees,” which includes
all individuals covered by a plan for which reinsurance contributions must be made — employee, spouse, and children. . The TRF contribution is determined by multiplying the average number of covered lives of reinsurance contribution enrollees during the applicable benefit year (the calendar year) by the contribution rate for the applicable benefit year.
The final rule provides several methods for counting covered lives. Insured plans may use an actual count method, snapshot method or member-months method. Self-insured plans may use an actual method, snapshot method or Form 5500 method. The preamble clarifies that a plan would not have to use the same counting method for the TRF calculation that is used for purposes of the PCORI fee.
As your TPA, we plan to offer this service to our clients. Details will be forthcoming.November 10, 2013
They fundamentally transform the way people in the developing world interact with one another and their governments, and access basic health, education, business and financial services. Source
March 12, 2013
Social conditions and poverty in Italy
March 12, 2013
Shocking Infographic created by Online Sociology Degree about the high cost of poverty, Why the poor pay more than the rich. Source
January 8, 2013
United States foreign aid spending: How much is spent, what percentage of the budget amounts to what is given in aid, where it goes and what the global impact is. Source
December 2, 2012
Millions of Americans don’t have reliable access to food. Here, we take a look at who’s affected and why. Source
November 17, 2012
American society prides itself on being a meritocracy, particularly with the fruition of the ‘American Dream’ being achieved by individuals from all types of backgrounds. Success today typically involves some form of higher education, to expand intellectual capacity and to hone one’s skill-set. However, the highest quality education is not the most easily accessible. This […]
October 15, 2012
Payday loans are a devious scheme perpetrated on the people most in need of real financial help. They are most insidious because they masquerade as a way out of debt, when in reality they are designed to dig the poor in even deeper. Source
September 23, 2012
Even in a recession, the United States remains one of the most powerful and wealthiest nations in the world. But where exactly is all the money? Who has it and why is there such a large gap between the haves and have-nots in America? This infographic looks at money in America and tries to figure […]
July 19, 2012
The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in pocerty. If a family’s total income is less than the family’s threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in poverty. Source | 1.330694 | 1,019 | 1,017 |
The
Priority Access to Student Supports (PASS) is an online service that enables instructors to identify and assist those students who are at risk of falling behind. Rather than simply "hoping" that students in difficulty will seek help, instructors are able to refer students for timely and targeted support from Student Services or other departments within the institution.
The system provides early intervention so small problems don’t turn into large problems. PASS connects students to the resources they need, when they need them.
Some typical examples of concerns or problems are:
Once an instructor checks-off his or her concerns, PASS will generate an email to the Student Services team. This team consists of members from Counselling, Educational Advising, Disability Resource Centre, and Financial Aid and Awards.
Together with the student, a PASS member identifies resources that could be most helpful. Whether that means a learning strategies workshop, visiting Financial Aid and Awards or other available supports. Connections are made with the student by email, phone and in-person. Students are also encouraged to speak with their instructor to discuss their concerns.
Instructors will need access to Faculty Information/Services and their class list at myUFV. If such access is NOT available, see the Alternate Access below.
In order to respect student confidentiality rights and to comply with UFV Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) practice, students must be informed before they are referred to PASS.
In addition, informing students of PASS before making a referral ensures that the supports are perceived as positive in nature, rather than punitive. It is best when students know that PASS' supports and resources are there to help them progress in their studies at UFV.
The paragraph below is an example of what you can insert in your course syllabus or outline; or on the bulletin board for an online course; or used as a statement to your class and/or individual student.
The UFV Priority Access to Student Supports (PASS) program connects students to the supports and resources that may help them to increase their chance of success. Such assistance may include putting students in touch with an academic advisor, financial aid, a counsellor or another resource. If your instructor is concerned about your progress, he/she may refer you to PASS. The referral is treated confidentially and is sent because your instructor cares about your progress and success in this course. Your response to PASS is entirely voluntary. If you do not wish your instructor to make a referral to PASS on your behalf, please let them know by email. Visit ufv.ca/studentservices/PASS for more information.
If you have any questions about PASS, contact the team at: passteam@ufv.ca(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Three of the Sub-Committees of the Regional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Steering Committee will begin next week to formulate a Draft Implementation Plan for the recently developed Draft Regional ICT Strategy.
The week-long meetings of the sub-committees will be convened in Trinidad and Tobago from Monday 25 October and will discuss issues pertaining to Access, Connectivity and Internet Governance; Business, Trade, Culture and Disaster Management; and Capacity Building.
The Draft Implementation Plan will outline the activities to be undertaken and the specific milestones and targets to achieve the objectives as set out in the Draft Strategy. It will also give guidance to the governance model that should be adopted for the execution of these activities.
The Regional ICT Strategy (Regional Digital Development Strategy – RDDS) outlines the level of ICT development in the Region and identifies existing gaps. It also points out critical Regional issues to be addressed and the approaches that should be taken to deal with these issues. Its mission is to “use ICT and other appropriate technologies to leverage and deepen the Region’s cultural resources, through high-speed ICT networks and trained human resources, and within good governance and sound operating partnership frameworks; in order to add social and economic value for the benefit of the Region.”
At their Meeting in July 2010, CARICOM Heads of Government mandated that the Implementation Plan for the Draft Strategy be developed and forwarded to the ICT Ministers Meeting and the next Inter-Sessional meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in 2011. The Implementation Plan for the Draft Strategy will also be presented at the Fifth meeting of the Regional ICT Steering Committee next month.
The Regional ICT Steering Committee – which comprises sub-committees – was established in 2004 and serves as an advisory body to the CARICOM Secretariat on issues related to ICTs. It comprises delegates from CARICOM Member States, Regional Organisations and Institutions, the Private Sector, Civil Society, and the CARICOM Secretariat.
The work that is conducted under the Steering Committee is geared towards advancing development of the Caribbean Information Society. The Committee is part of the Caribbean Information Society (Carib-IS) project which is funded under the 9th European Development Fund. | 1.497518 | 990 | 988 |
Record-breaking attendance numbers were seen at the PCMA 2014 Convening Leaders Event for both in-person and virtual attendees. The event held this past January in Boston had almost 5,000 attendees. 877 people attended via hybrid and 4,072 attendees participated face-to-face. Additionally, 76 of those face-to-face attendees attended both in person and hybrid over the course of the event making the total hybrid audience 953 people.
PCMA documented its reach to an audience that is unable to travel this year. When surveyed as to why they attend hybrid vs. face-to-face events, responders said:
48% said budget didn’t allow for face-to-face participation 23% weren’t able to leave the office because of their schedule 13% said work or home was too busy for them to leave 7% said they attended online because it was easy
PCMA has hosted a number of growing hybrid programs since 2011 which have either met or exceeded past attendance records. Deborah Sexton, PCMA president and CEO said, “Our numbers for both mediums prove our strategy is real and relevant – we continue to expand our audience globally as well as within our target audiences.” Virtual and hybrid events allow audiences to decide how they want to attend and participate in events. Attendees may decide to participate in an event virtually first to see if the event is worth traveling to the next time, or if attendees have a limited amount of time to attend, going virtually maybe the best option for them for that event. With more options, people can see the added benefits of hybrid events and have responded positively by attending virtually only or hybrid to better suite their availability and needs.
PCMA is not only seeing attendance numbers grow during hybrid events but titles of attendees may surprise you too, everyone from CEOs to meeting planners are attending hybrid events and 50% of all attendees to PCMA events report directly to senior staff.
Hybrid Events can increase attendance
People are now expecting to be able to connect to events regardless of where they are located. In 2011 17% of hybrid attendees spent over 10 hours at an event, in 2014 that number has jumped to 34%. Supporting the notion that the additional component of adding a virtual element to your event will produce higher engagement and attendance.
Many companies don’t want to abandon their physical events. Instead, it is increasingly common for companies to enhance existing physical events with hybrid event programs and content. Having a hybrid event will drive additional traffic to your events, conferences and summits and can lead to an increase in attendees to future face-to-face events. When asked if the experience of a hybrid event makes it more likely to attend the same event in- person only 7% of all responders said they wouldn’t.
What is the future of Hybrid and Virtual Events?
With cutting-edge advancements in video, audio, and integrated communication technologies companies now are doing more to reach a global online audience. We will begin to see more events including virtual and hybrid options to fulfill the needs of a large global audience with limited travel budgets and time spent away from the office or home. Hybrid events allow audiences to have the same experiences as if they were attending the physical event.
If you want to learn how to incorporate a hybrid experience into your current physical events, attend the Virtual Edge Summit to learn from industry experts on the future of digital events.
Let us know what you think about Hybrid Events!
How will you continue to meet the needs of your audience at your next event?
Will you be including a hybrid element to your event?
If you’re ready to take your events or presentations to the next level, or if you just have a question or a comment, we’d love to hear from you. To learn more, visit: www.inxpo.com, email us at contactsales@inxpo.com, or call us at (312) 962-3708.The present report focuses broadly on developments in the United Nations regarding violence against women, its causes and consequences, over approximately 20 years. The objective is to provide a snapshot view of these developments, including the expanding conceptualization of the theme of violence against women, its causes and consequences. The analysis of continuing challenges is underpinned by the work of the mandate as identified through thematic reports, country missions and participation in conferences and meetings.
جميع الحقوق محفوظة لشبكة " نساء في ظل قوانين المسلمين", 2009 | 1.784707 | 932 | 930 |
The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class (Nation Books) US: Mar 2011
The war on the American middle class has had its chroniclers in recent years, almost always after some new economic insult was already a fact of life. The crisis of the economy has usually been explored in various books from a postmortem perspective, examining the assault on everyday people with a focus on the Wall Streeters and corporate barons whose relationship with lobbyists and Congress is as much the cause of the problem as it is the substance of the books explaining the problem.
Last year, Senator Bernie Sanders, the Independent senator from Vermont, took on the more challenging task: examining Congress’ role in the United States’ economic woes from the perspective of a congressman, and doing it before one of its most pivotal votes. Sanders stood one December morning on the floor of the United States Senate and began a speech against extension of the Bush-era tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires, and the potential compromise of the integrity of the Social Security Trust Fund.
More than eight hours later, the senator had effectively altered the tone of the debate on the matter. What had been largely an argument of abstractions and ideals became accessible to ordinary wage-earning Americans. Millions of them watched the speech live on C-SPAN; others followed online, coming to the Senate Web site in numbers big enough to crash the servers.
Sanders’ was destined to be a losing effort; the gravitational forces of the White House, a Democratic-majority Senate inclined to accede to White House requests; and a House of Representatives newly stocked with Tea Party Republicans eager to throw their weight around overcame the objections of Sanders and other Democrats in the House and Senate. President Obama signed the extension of $858 billion in Bush-era tax cuts into law one week later, and did so in the face of a $13.8 trillion national debt.
It’s therefore obvious that
The Speech, the recently-published transcript of Sanders’ filibuster, has no surprise ending; the only potboiler aspect to the book might have been to wonder how long a 69-year-old man could go on standing and speaking without a break. But the book (whose author’s proceeds go to charitable nonprofits in Vermont) succeeds in being what we so rarely hear from our elected officials: a clear, reasoned, impassioned, populist argument expressed in a comprehensive way. The indefatigable Sanders manages to cut through the clutter of emotion and identity, appealing to his colleagues with both an argument of fierce practicality and a shoutout to the better angels of their nature.
In the book’s introduction, Sanders recalls the day in almost pedestrian terms:
On Friday, December 10, 2010, I woke up at my usual time, had my usual breakfast of oatmeal and coffee at the Dirksen Senate Building, and then had a typical daily discussion with some of my staff.
At 10:30 a.m. I walked onto the floor of the Senate and began a speech. It turned out to be a very long speech, a modern version of the filibuster. It went on for eight and a half hours—until 7 p.m.
Senator Sanders sets the tone for what’s to come from the beginning:
Mr. President [of the Senate], as I think everyone knows, President Obama and the Republican leadership have reached an agreement on a very significant tax bill. In my view, the agreement they reached is a very bad deal for the American people. I think we can do better.
I am here today to take a strong stand against this bill, and I intend to tell my colleagues and the Nation exactly why I am in opposition to this bill…
What followed in the next eight and a half hours (or 254 pages) is a sometimes repetitive but refreshingly clear-eyed warning of the triumph of corporate greed and the possible closing of the American middle class.
Sanders brought his rhetorical A-game to the floor of the Senate. More than just exercising a chance to spout off hours of opinion, Sanders supports his thesis with outside sources, borrowing from sources from
Third World America, Arianna Huffington’s dire but passionate call to arms, to figures on US infrastructure from the American Society of Civil Engineers. And Sanders — the longest-serving Independent member in the history of the Congress — speaks as someone liberated from reflexive salutes to either the Democratic or Republican parties. His status as an Independent thinker is clear in his willingness to go upside the heads of Democrats and Republicans alike.
Targets of opportunity were everywhere in his 10 December speech: the decline in American manufacturing; the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to foreign countries; the concentration of more and more wealth in fewer and fewer individuals; the tens of billions in tax breaks extended to the oil companies already recording record profits (like Exxon Mobil’s $19 billion in 2009); the pending rise of an American plutocracy aided and abetted by the American government. But Sanders always piv | 1.84451 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
ots back to an argument against the Bush-era tax cuts, one that it’s easy to get your head around:
Do you know what Warren Buffett is saying? Do you know what Bill Gates is saying? Do you know what Ben Cohen from Ben & Jerry’s is saying? Hey, thanks very much; I don’t need it. It is more important that you invest in our children. It is more important that we protect working families… In other words, we have this absurd situation that not only is this bad public policy, we are actually forcing tax breaks on people who don’t need them and don’t even want them.
We’re hard pressed to think favorably about filibusters. Despite its historically populist potential (popularly distilled by James Stewart in Frank Capra’s
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), the filibuster has an ugly history in the Congress, and a reputation for being a dilatory tactic cynically exploited in ways that held back needed social reform.
The years of the civil rights movement saw filibusters by segregationist senators. Senator Strom Thurmond set the individual record when he filibustered against the Civil Rights Act of 1957, speaking for 24 hours and 18 minutes. In a kind of tag-team event, a bloc of Southern senators collectively filibustered against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for 75 hours; West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd (before his evolution years later to a more liberal legislative mindset) railed against the bill for more than 13 hours.
Sanders borrows from this rhetorical tradition specific to the United States Senate, but he embraces the filibuster in what may be its highest, best use: not for scoring political points or as a soapbox for invective, but as a way to dissect a national problem and take a stand on advancing the national agenda.
In an era of politician sound bites, in a time when we’ve gotten accustomed to the Cliff’s Notes version of everything, a senator from Vermont has gone fully on the record, adding his voice to a growing call for common sense, charity and a reordering of the national priorities away from corporate recklessness and a governmental indifference eviscerating the middle class that’s historically defined the United States.
The Speech is a refreshing example of passion and principle in action — for once, our tax dollars truly, nobly at work. // Re:Print
"Ever wondered what the difference between cinnamon and cassia is?
The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs will teach you.Today, another study about the sexual habits of young people asserts something about Millennials that we almost all already know: child medicine journal
Pediatrics published the results of a six-year study their researchers did at a Texas High School, examining what comes first, sex or the sext? Are sexy pictures a precursor to sexy behaviors or more of a morning-after thing?
Looks like they are more of a preview than a recap. As study author Jeff Temple, told the
Washington Post:
“Sexting preceded sexual behavior in many cases… The theory behind that is sexting may act as a gateway or prelude to sexual behaviors or increases the acceptance of going to the next level.“
So talking about sex digitally as opposed to verbally tends to precede it? Can’t say I’m surprised.
At 22, I’m older than kids who were given smart phones in elementary school, but even those of us who are finished with college definitely began our sex careers with sexting. While the study narrowly defines sexting as the exchange of nude photos, more innocent versions of sexting certainly began at my middle school, starting with plain-old-fashioned flirting over flip phones (Sample text: "I mean, you’re the hottest guy at school, but you probably already know that…)
Like the kids in this study, kids of my cohort used sexting not just as digital foreplay but as an important part of discovering our own sexuality and desire. Over text messages, iChat, and social media platforms, we were allowed to play with sex long before we were actually having it. Sometimes this becomes a sad attempt at intimacy; other times it’s a way to step out of one’s isolated safety zone. The level of experience is diverse, and there’s much more going on than nude pics, which
Pediatric’s study seems to define as sexting in its entirety, eager to apply that information to their thinking on risk-prevention.
I think the next phase of the study should collect data on how long the average teen sexts before they have sex. For some of us, it’s years. For others, it’s weeks. In related demands, I also want to know who today’s true sexual instigators are. Boys still get a bad rap for pressuring girls to sleep with them, but after ample experience with today’s apathetic, porn-brained crop—my money is on the ladies. Always trust a woman to get the job done. | 2.069463 | 1,009 | 1,007 |
LETTERS Patient vs. “customer-owner” Fam Pract Manag. 2008 Apr;15(4):11.
The article “Transforming Your Practice: What Matters Most” [January 2008] was well done, but I take issue with one point. The authors, in discussing what the business is about, say: “It is about human beings. Alaska Native people are not just patients; they are customers and owners of the business. As such, we refer to them as ‘customer-owners.’” The implication is that the people are more than “just” patients; “customer-owners” is more inclusive.
I think the authors have it backward. The term “patient” is defined in Webster's dictionary as a person who is under medical care. This concept is not anathema, though we are being conditioned to think so. If a physician is seeing a person as a patient first, the physician will be respectful, compassionate and intent on relieving suffering or assisting in the cure of the individual. This approach is not about business; it is about resonating with vulnerable human beings who need our care.
Until we remember to treat the human first and the business second, the public will continue to complain about our profession's insensitivity and the way doctors are no longer “connecting.” Think about the last time you were treated for a medical condition with sincere compassion, communication and competence. I'll bet the first thing that came to your mind was not whether you, as an owner and customer, were being delivered a core product.
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Family Practice Management on massive volumes of documentation and that they are required to meet a certain productivity standard, they move on to another agency where they think it might be easier or they stay PRN to avoid requirements. I've seen quite a few hired without so much as a reference check. As long as they have a warm body, a license, and pass the background screen, they're in.
I also think that many agencies don't treat field staff well. They do not get a thorough orientation and are often surprised by standards they weren't told they had to meet. I think many agencies have unrealistic expectations of what field staff can do in a day. I have seen managers in the office get upset that clinicians are home by 3 while the manager is stuck in the office until 5 (or later), only to forget those days of doing paperwork and returning calls after hours. I have also had managers with the attitude of "I own you until 5 pm" but the reality of it is that there are really no set hours for home care. Some days may finish at 3, some may finish at 7, but it all evens out in the wash.
And hospitals often do a poor job of discharge planning with the attitude that "home care will take care of it." Discharge planners without experience with home care give patients unreasonable expectations of what homecare can/will do which disappoints the patients. Patients and families also have the idea that Medicare will cover everything they need, only to find that there are huge gaps in the coverage.
There is no one reason that nurses leave home care. Those that understand the nature of the beast and love it do well. Those who don't understand it and want it to flex around them will be perpetually disappointed. If you want regular hours with a job that doesn't follow you home, home care is not for you.
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The performance of English -speaking Caribbean-American students in the psychoeducational assessment process Abstract
This study examined the important aspects of three distinct phases of the assessment process, from referral to placement, for the English-speaking Caribbean-American child. Specifically, the study (a) investigated the significant factors that influence the performance of English-speaking Caribbean-American students on cognitive and academic achievement measures, (b) determined the Bannatyne pattern of performance on the WISC-R, and (c) established the degree of congruence between reason for referral and recommended special education program.^ The sample (228 boys, 116 girls; grades 2 through 8) was composed of 81 Caucasian, 92 Black, 84 native-born English-speaking Caribbean-American (CAC), and 87 foreign-born Caribbean-American immigrant children (CAIC) who were receiving special education services in the New York City Public School System. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R), the Metropolitan Achievement Test, and the Degrees of Reading Power were used to measure intellectual ability and academic achievement, respectively. A questionnaire was designed to gather data on social, demographic, and linguistic variables^ This study employed a quasi-experimental design. Statistical control was achieved by the use of the analysis of covariance and logistic regression analysis procedures. One-way analyses of variance, analyses of covariance, logistic regression analyses, and crosstabulational analyses were employed to analyze the demographic, intelligence, and achievement data. Reason for referral was positively correlated with program recommendation; the racial/ethnic groups did not demonstrate the predicted Bannatyne pattern of performance on the WISC-R with the appropriate levels of significance between the categories; the variables, recency of immigration, dialect usage, and socioeconomic status significantly influenced achievement; membership in a particular racial/ethnic group did not significantly influence academic achievement; and, placement for the CAC and the CAIC, was positively correlated with the reason for referral, but was not significantly related to their native-born/foreign-born status.^ Practical implications of the findings for the classroom curriculum, professional practice within the field of psychology in the schools, and recommendations for educational decision-makers are offered. The implications and recommendations are discussed within the context of the referral, assessment, and placement phases of the psychoeducational evaluation process. ^
Subject Area
Education, Tests and Measurements|Education, Educational Psychology|Education, Special|Psychology, Psychometrics
Recommended Citation
Leveque, Patricia Gill, "The performance of English -speaking Caribbean-American students in the psychoeducational assessment process" (1992).
ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI9226421. http://fordham.bepress.com/dissertations/AAI9226421GDP in Hungary increased by 2.6 percent during the second quarter of 2016, an outstanding figure in EU comparison and the second highest level of Q2 growth within the European Union. Despite the fact that the level of EU funding received by Hungary was again lower than expected in the second quarter of the year, the growth trajectory of the Hungarian economy continues to show promising signs. Hungary’s GDP is currently 10 percent higher than its 2010 level.
The total rate of growth for the first half of 2016 was 1.9 percent, which was significantly contributed to by the fact that practically every sector performed well between April and June.
Industrial production increased by 3.9% compared to the first quarter and despite flood, storm and frost damage agriculture is expected to produce an excellent harvest. The sector’s production increased by 13.4 percent compared to the same period last year, thanks to a significant extent to the fact that 8 million tons of maize are expected to be harvested in the autumn compared to 6.5 million tons last year.
The service sector also achieved significant growth, thanks in part to the fact that the population is gradually earning more money: gross incomes increased by 6-6.5 percent during the first half of the year. The demand-stimulating effect of the increase in real wages also led to growth of some 8 percent in the retail and tourism sectors. Thanks to the above, consumption broke a 13-year record: household consumption grew by 5.1 percent, the highest increase since 2003. Other factors leading to the increase in addition to the outstanding wage dynamics include the close to zero percent inflation environment and the significant year-on-year increase in employment of some 140 thousand people registered in Q2 of this year.
In addition to consumption, net exports also had a tangible stimulating effect on growth, in harmony with the increase in industrial production.
(Ministry for National Economy) | 1.452062 | 979 | 977 |
Objectives-To assess the relation between measured levels of exposure to soluble oil mists in a plant manufacturing ball bearings, and both respiratory symptoms and airway responsiveness in the workforce.
Methods-114 male workers exposed to oil mist and 55 unexposed male controls from nearby factories were studied.
Soluble oil mist concentrations were measured with area samplers.
Respiratory symptoms were assessed by questionnaire and measurement of airway responsiveness to methacholine with an abbreviated method.
Subjects were labelled positive to methacholine airway challenge (MAC+) if forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) fell by = 20%. The linear dose-response slope was calculated as the percentage fall in FEV1 at the last dose divided by the total dose given.
Results
Geometric mean concentrations of oil mists ranged from 0.65 mg/m3 (GSD 1.29) to 2.20 mg/m3 (GSD 1.55) based on 92 measurements obtained from 1979-93.
The prevalence of chronic cough or phlegm, bouts of bronchitis, and dyspnoea was greater among exposed workers than among controls (odds ratio (OR) 4.64, P=0.002 for chronic cough and phlegm).
After adjustment for smoking and age, dyspnoea was significantly related to an index of cumulative exposure to oil mist (OR 1.44, P=0.006/10 y. mg/m3).
The proportion of MAC+subjects was similar in the two groups. (...)
Mots-clés Pascal : Brouillard huile, Huile minérale, Roulement bille, Appareil respiratoire pathologie, Toxicité, Hypersensibilité, Epidémiologie, France, Europe, Exposition professionnelle, Métallurgie, Médecine travail, Homme Mots-clés Pascal anglais : Oil mist, Mineral oil, Ball bearing, Respiratory disease, Toxicity, Hypersensitivity, Epidemiology, France, Europe, Occupational exposure, Metallurgy, Occupational medicine, Human Notice produite par : Inist-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et Technique Cote : 97-0045267
Code Inist : 002B03L06. Création : 21/05/1997.The article points out that
The Gold Standard was the anchor of world finance in the 19th Century but began breaking down during the First World War as governments engaged in unprecedented spending. It collapsed in the 1930s when the British Empire, the US, and France all abandoned their parities.Unprecedented spending. Interesting. The unprecedented spending was due to the fact that the governments of Europe began inflating their currency on a massive scale, bankrupting themselves in the process, in order to be able to kill millions of people in the Great War. That's what inflation and debasement of currency allows them to do. The governments of the world, the US included, are all essentially bankrupt. It is only because they can create money out of nothing that they manage to stay afloat. That and the docility of the citizens who do not know they are being fleeced, believing as they do the old government fairy tale that it's all the fault of the free market. The world's fiat paper currencies have lacked any external anchor ever since. It is widely argued that the financial excesses and extreme debt leverage of the last quarter century would have been impossible - or less likely - under the discipline of gold.It is less likely, sure. But even with gold-backed currency, the Central Banks of the world, acting in concert, can still issue paper far in excess of the actual gold, as long as they inflate together and at the same rate. That's basically what all this talk about the new reserve currency to replace the US dollar is all about.
I wish I can say that it'll be fun to watch all this G-20 crap unravel but it won't be fun. There are hopeful signs, such as when European leaders, most notably Merkel, balked at more stimulus spending, but they'll toe the line soon enough. We're addicted to fiat money and credit and deficits and all those things that make this world a wonderful place to live in.
Update 03 April: Right. Doesnt take a genius to see this coming:
The deal agreed by the leaders of the world's largest economies included reform of the international banking system and the injection of more than $1 trillion into the world financial system. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had voiced concerns prior to the summit about the wisdom of pumping further public money into economies already in recession, welcomed Thursday's agreement -- though hinted at unresolved disagreements behind the scenes. | 1.380747 | 1,016 | 1,014 |
Aging & Health A to Z Fecal Incontinence Care & Treatment
Depending on what is causing or contributing to fecal incontinence, your healthcare provider may recommend one or more of the following:
changes in diet medications pelvic floor muscle exercises “bowel training” surgery other therapies a combination of the above Diet
Both constipation and diarrhea can contribute to fecal incontinence. If you have constipation, drinking enough water and other clear liquids (eight or more 8-ounce glasses daily) and adding high-fiber foods to your diet can make your stools softer and easier to pass. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, dried beans and other legumes are all good sources of fiber. Ask your healthcare provider whether you should also take fiber supplements. Be sure to increase the amount of fiber in your diet gradually. If you overdo it, you may develop diarrhea. Caffeine, which can also contribute to diarrhea and fecal incontinence as well, should be limited by cutting back on items such as cola drinks, coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate. Many sugar-free diet drinks, foods, and chewable medications contain artificial sweeteners, such as sorbitol, that can cause chronic diarrhea.
Medication
If necessary, your healthcare provider may prescribe drugs or recommend over-the-counter medications. He or she may recommend a “bulking agent” such as methylcellulose, to make stools bulkier and less watery. If you have diarrhea and it continues even after you make changes to your diet, your healthcare provider may prescribe an anti-diarrheal medication such as loperamide (Imodium). Some prescription and over-the-counter medications may cause diarrhea or constipation as a side effect, and your healthcare provider should check your regular medications for these potential problems.
Exercises and biofeedback
Exercises that strengthen your pelvic floor muscles may improve your ability to control your bowels. Your healthcare provider can show you how to do these exercises. Your provider may refer you to pelvic floor rehabilitation therapy, during which a specially-trained physical therapist will perform an evaluation and recommend an exercise plan. Your provider or physical therapist may recommend biofeedback—a technique for training your body by closely focusing on information it provides—to make sure you’re doing the exercises properly. Biofeedback can help re-train pelvic floor and nearby muscles.
Bowel Training
“Bowel training” can be particularly helpful if cognitive problems or physical disabilities are contributing to fecal incontinence. Training involves trying to have a bowel movement at scheduled times of each day—say, after every meal. It can improve constipation by getting the body in the habit of having regular bowel movements.
Surgery
When fecal incontinence is due to damage to the sphincters or to the pelvic floor, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery. One type of surgery, called sphincteroplasty, can repair damage to rectal sphincters due to childbirth or other injuries. Another type of surgery involves implanting an inflatable cuff, called an artificial sphincter, at the end of the rectum.
Updated: January 2017
Posted: March 2012.
BTW the police were actively stopping people trying to leave New Orleans, penning them in by force of arms. The police claimed roads were closed that were open just to keep "those people" from entering their townships and cities.
"Those people" did not mean Blacks per se, it meant the poor were to be kept out of some of these upscale communities.
Howard - it does seem like people ended up defending their own bailiwicks against crowds of marauders, and by doing so blocked routes out.
I do not want to criticize Nagin and Blanco until we have really had a chance to calm down, deal with the displaced people and get more accurate information. Both of them inherited a situation that was pretty bad. It is unfair to blame people until you look at how they used the opportunities they had.
I don't think they should be criticizing the feds, either.
I would prefer that for right now people looked at their own areas and considered what similar devastation would produce. As you pointed out on your blog (and Carl), there is simply no way to completely evacuate a major metropolitan area given the time frame. Most metro areas aren't built below sea level though.
When we have fixed up the holes in our own disaster planning perhaps we will be in a better position to understand what happened in LA, MS, AL and FL. I object to the idea that there was some magical way to avoid a large amount of deaths given the incredible power of this storm and the vulnerability of NO.
For now, rescue efforts and helping the people who are homeless, broke and desperate should take center stage.
I have a Hurricane Katrina blog. It pretty much covers hurricane related stuff.
Thank you - and keep up the thoughts!
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This post is originally written Daniel Rhodes-Mumby at his blog, “This, Our Earth“. I was very impressed with Daniel’s understanding of this subject, and his ability to communicate that understanding, especially considering that he is only 15 years old. So, I figured I’d share this post on the subject of feedbacks.
Greenhouse gases offer a direct forcing of our climate, but perhaps more important are processes called feedback mechanisms, which can serve to multiply a climate shift manyfold or, alternatively, blunt it. A simple example of a feedback mechanism is the melting of ice. If we take a bit of ice covering a bit of ground and then start directing heat energy at it then it will melt eventually, of course.
Now, ice reflects most of the energy directed at it back towards the sources. However, the ground doesn’t; it tends to absorb more heat than it reflects. Therefore, once a bit of ice melts, the ground beneath it warms more. This will warm any nearby ice as well and thus eventually reveal some more ground to warm, which will help melt more ice, which will warm more ground, and so on and so forth. This begins a cycle whereby the effect of a little thing at the start - a small piece of ice melting - can be amplified to have potential effects far beyond its actual scale.
This particular example is an example of a positive feedback cycle. There are two types of feedback mechanisms: negative and positive. A positive feedback cycle reinforces a trend; as the amount of ice goes down in the example, the warming trend quickens as less ice is available to reflect energy. A negative feedback cycle blunts a trend; an example is the increase in vegetation caused by larger quantities of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The vegetation takes advantage of the bountiful carbon dioxide and withdraws some from the atmosphere, helping keep carbon dioxide levels stable.
Feedback mechanisms vary in strength and time-scale. The melting of ice tends to happen slowly at first and then at an ever-increasing rate; the vegetation growth takes much longer and is variable in speed from then onwards. Sometimes a feedback mechanism of such magnitude and speed can occur that it can’t be blunted until it’s run its full course; an example would be the clathrate gun hypothesis, in which essentially solid methane at the bottom of the seabed is released by warming temperatures in such massive quantities that warming increases manyfold.
Feedback mechanisms are almost inevitably blunted at some point, though; when the ice runs out, when vegetation becomes overwhelmed with carbon dioxide or when the methane runs out. However, by the time they stop, the effects are usually all manifested, although some mechanisms can have effects which take years to come into play.
Feedback mechanisms can spawn new possibilities which wouldn’t even be considered otherwise; they can kick-start other feedbacks as well. And the new possibilities will be the topic of the next post.
Originally posted at This, Our Earth.
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Tags: feedbacks
reasic| 14th Sep, 2007 Water Vapor = Feedback This post is originally written Daniel Rhodes-Mumby at his blog, “This, Our Earth“. I was very impressed with Daniel’s understanding of this subject, and his ability to communicate that understanding, especially considering that he is only 15 years old. So, I figured I’d share this post on the subject of feedbacks. Categories:
Greenhouse gases offer a direct forcing of our climate, but perhaps more important are processes called feedback mechanisms, which can serve to multiply a climate shift manyfold or, alternatively, blunt it. A simple example of a feedback mechanism is the melting of ice. If we take a bit of ice covering a bit of ground and then start directing heat energy at it then it will melt eventually, of course.
Now, ice reflects most of the energy directed at it back towards | 1.696163 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
the sources. However, the ground doesn’t; it tends to absorb more heat than it reflects. Therefore, once a bit of ice melts, the ground beneath it warms more. This will warm any nearby ice as well and thus eventually reveal some more ground to warm, which will help melt more ice, which will warm more ground, and so on and so forth. This begins a cycle whereby the effect of a little thing at the start - a small piece of ice melting - can be amplified to have potential effects far beyond its
I agree that you’re confused as to the terms. the “initial force”, in the case of water vapor as a feedback, is global temperature. Temperature rises, causing an increase in water vapor concentration. The feedback occurs when that same increase causes an increase in temps, which causes an increase in H2O. Excluding other components, for simplicity, this process would continue in increasingly smaller increments until equilibrium is reached. That is a positive feedback.
How is that different from CO2? Well, to start, we are emitting CO2. The increase in CO2 concentrations over the last century or so is due almost entirely to human activity. So, the initial increase in CO2 is caused by us. Then, that increase causes an increase in global temps. Period. No feedback.
Granted, there are other forcings and feedbacks, but I’m just comparing the two in order to drive home the difference, so that you can more clearly see how water vapor is, without question, a feedback. Now, let’s put the two together, assuming that we only have water vapor and CO2 for the moment. Humans increase CO2, , , which causes an increase in temperatures, which causes an increase in water vapor, which increases temperatures, which increases water vapor, etc. Now, let’s add aerosols to the mix. Humans increase aerosols, which lowers temperature, which lowers water vapor, which lowers temperature, etc.
So, at no point does water vapor ever cause an increase or a decrease in global temps. It only reacts to changes in temperature. This is why it is not included as a forcing in IPCC literature.
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reasic| 13th Sep, 2007 Welcome to Reasic, Phil.
A newcomer to this blog has responded to an old post of mine with some misconceptions about climate change. I originally posted this response as a comment, but after giving it some thought, I figured I should post it. Seeing as it’s my blog, I can do that. Phil, this one’s for you.
Forget the 800 year lag. What you & a number of your correspondents seem to be ignoring is CO2�s impact on earth�s greenhouse effect. It is well known that CO2 accounts for very slightly less than 2% of earth�s greenhouse effect and that 98% of the effect is H2O (gas).
No one is �forgetting� the role of CO2 versus other gases in the overall greenhouse effect. It is definitely understood that water vapor plays a much larger role in the greenhouse effect than CO2 and other greenhouse gases. However, this proves nothing. In fact, it is a red herring, commonly used by skeptics in an effort to confuse the public about climate change. You see, the overall greenhouse effect has nothing to do with climate change, which is the concern here, correct? After all, the IPCC stands for �Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change�. So, in this context, we should be worried about what, specifically, drives climate change, including what causes a change in the greenhouse effect. This then leads us to the conclusion that excludes water vapor as an option because it is a feedback, not a forcing:
While water vapour is indeed the most important greenhouse gas, the issue that makes it a feedback (rather than a forcing) is the relatively short residence time for water in the atmosphere (around 10 days) � Compared to the residence time for perturbations to CO2 (decades to centuries) or CH4 (a decade), this is a really short time.
[�]When surface temperatures change (whether from CO2 or solar forcing or volcanos etc.), you can therefore expect water vapour to adjust quickly to reflect that. To first approximation, the water vapour adjusts to maintain constant relative humidity.
So, water vapor does not stay in the atmosphere long enough to initiate a change in temperature. Rather, it reacts to changes in temperature, amplifying the effects of other climate forcings.
For the statisticians out there, just try to show a validly statistical correlation between CO2 & annual global temperatures from 1940 to 2000, or for that matter, the whole 20th century.
This argument has also appeared elsewhere in the blogosphere. It is usually seen, though, in the form of a graph, showing 20th century warming, including the cooling period in the 40 | 1.617968 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
�s and 50�s, caused by an increase in aerosols, superimposed on a graph of CO2 concentrations, which have increased steadily over that time. What thie argument ignores is the complexity of our climate. It is understood that there are many other factors that influence our climate. CO2 is only one of these, but it makes the greatest contribution. So, since one must account for the effects of all other forcings and all feedbacks, in order to correlate cause and effect of temperature change, it should then be obvious that no direct correlation between CO2 and total global temperature change will be statistically valid. This is yet another red herring.
No one that I know of is claiming that CO2 causes 100% of global warming. However, according to the IPCC�s radiative forcing components chart on page 4 of the SPM1, it plays a major role among other known climate forcings. I recommend you give it a look, and let me know what you think about it:
IPCC WG1 SPM
Thanks for your response, Phil. I hope this has been helpful.
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reasic| 4th Sep, 2007 Earth’s Internal Heat Causing Climate Change
I’ve gone back and forth a couple of times over this internal heat issue in the comments, and finally decided to put together a post on it, so that it might be more thoroughly explained. The crux of my argument is that even the 0.075 W/m^2 figure is too high, because it is a constant, rather than a measure of change:
…the Earth started out internally warmer than it is now, and will gradually cool for a very long time. I then deduce that the amount of energy reaching the Earth�s surface will also decline over that time. However, the cooling takes place over such a long period of time that, over the time periods we are currently concerned with, the heat generated from within the Earth could be considered constant. In that case, the change in temperature from inside the planet is basically zero, which explains why the IPCC does not mention it.
When comparing apples to apples, we see that the contribution of the planet’s internal heat to a
change in climate is effectively zero. However, this only explains why it doesn’t matter that the IPCC has not addressed internal heat as a potential source for climate change. The reason it hasn’t been mentioned is that the IPCC reports are not intended to debunk skeptics:
The IPCC reports are a culmination of all of the relevant scientific research on the subject of climate change over the last 6 years from many different fields of study, not an attempt to refute misguided skeptical arguments.
These two points combined should help explain why internal heat is not an issue.
More at Celsias.
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reasic| 15th Aug, 2007 Green Myth-Busting: Global Average Temperatures Myth: Global temperature data is inaccurate and/or too sparse to be able to establish a meaningful average temperature over the entire planet. Therefore, any claims of global warming are unfounded. Fact: NASA has collected and acquired massive amounts of temperature data from various sources, including land-based, meteorological stations, sea surface temperature measurements from ships, and measurements taken from satellites. This data encompasses the entire planet, and is run through a method that is explained on NASA’s website, which results in a statistically significant global average temperature.
The first thing to note here is that there are not many who still make this argument, at least not among climate scientists. The IPCC, in its latest report, actually states that global warming is “unequivocal”. Even skeptical scientists, such as Richard Lindzen and John Christy, will admit that we are indeed warming. Their only argument is against the cause of the warming, which is where most skeptics’ arguments have shifted. This should be a clue that there is no argument against warming, however some continue to insist that the planet is not warming.
It seems that the major impetus for the recent resurgence of this argument is a website, www.surfacestations.org, which attempts to question data collection equipment. This is actually a very nifty little trick. This site, launched in June of this year, has established a fairly large following. These devoted followers are commissioned to go out and take pictures of the US meteorological stations. Armed with these pictures, surfacestations.org scrutinizes them, looking for indications that they might be susceptible to a warm bias. This has filled many contrarians’ minds with the idea that the entire temperature data set is flawed, which is ultimately the point. Not surprisingly, there is no mention on the site of existing methods for removing biases from temperature measurements. First, the thermometers are now protected by Stevenson screens (emphasis added):
A Stevenson screen or Instrument shelter is a meterological screen to shield instruments against precipitation and
direct heat radiation from outside sources, while still allowing air to circulate freely around them. It forms part of a standard | 1.855332 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
weather station. The screen creates, as near possible, a uniform environment in relation to the air outside. - Wikipedia
Second, NASA’s GISTEMP compares urban stations to rural stations, in an attempt to further remove any potential biases:
We modify the GHCN/USHCN/SCAR data in two stages to get to the station data on which all our tables, graphs, and maps are based: in stage 1 we try to combine at each location the time records of the various sources; in stage 2 we adjust the non-rural stations in such a way that their longterm trend of annual means is as close as possible to that of the mean of the neighboring rural stations. Non-rural stations that cannot be adjusted are dropped. - NASA GISS
Another common argument is that we simply don’t have enough temperature data to be able to compute a global average temperature. This argument usually comes with a map of the world, showing the locations of existing surface meteorological stations. Obviously, on such a map, there are very large areas that are not covered (oceans, deserts, mountain ranges, etc.). However, NASA states that they have sufficient data, dating as far back as 1880:
The NASA GISS Surface Temperature Analysis (GISTEMP) provides a measure of the changing global surface temperature with monthly resolution for the period since 1880, when a reasonably global distribution of meteorological stations was established…We limit our analysis to the period since 1880 because of the poor spatial coverage of stations prior to that time and the reduced possibility of checking records against those of nearby neighbors. - NASA GISS
A major problem for both of these arguments is that they only focus on land-based temperature readings. This is because there is a preponderance of evidence in favor of global warming outside of those temperature measurements, which are completely ignored by these objections. In order to truly call global warming into question, one would also have to prove satellite data, borehole analysis, glacial melt, sea ice melt, sea level rise, proxy data, and rising ocean temperature to be flawed.
UPDATE: A new instance of this questioning of temperature data occurred when NASA made some small corrections to data at the turn of the millenium, thanks to a tip from Stephen McIntyre from Climate Audit. This was a good tip, and NASA’s data is now more accurate for it, but some skeptics have tried to misrepresent it as proof that NASA’s temperature data is faulty. Recently, Fox News provided an excellent example of this misrepresentation:
On Special Report, Jim Angle reported that NASA was forced “to admit it was wrong when it said that 1998 was the hottest year on record” and that NASA “now says 1934 was the hottest year, followed by 1998, then 1921.” But Angle did not inform viewers that NASA’s revision affected annual temperature rankings for the United States only; it had no effect on the annual global temperature rankings. - Media Matters
As the fine folks at Media Matters pointed out, while the change did result in 1934 topping 1998 as the hottest year
in the US, it had literally no effect on global temperature trends, and actually even a very miniscule effect on US trends. Looking at the global temperature graph below, one can see that the global warming trend is still very much intact:
Cross posted at
Green Options.
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Categories:
reasic| 8th Aug, 2007 Green Myth-Busting: Occam’s Razor Myth: According to Occam’s razor, the theory that our current climate change is part of a natural cycle is correct. Fact: Occam’s razor does not apply for two reasons: the theory of natural variation is no simpler than that of anthropogenic global warming, and most importantly, natural variation is not a valid theory, which is a prerequisite for the use of Occam’s razor.
Many times, when engaged in a debate with a global warming skeptic, I will encounter an invocation of Occam’s Razor. According to this maxim, all other things being equal, the simpler of two competing theories is most likely the correct one:
Occam’s razor (sometimes spelled Ockham’s razor) is a principle attributed to the 14th-century English logician and Franciscan friar William of Ockham. The principle states that the explanation of any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible, eliminating those that make no difference in the observable predictions of the explanatory hypothesis or theory…This is often paraphrased as “All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one.” In other words, when multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest hypothetical entities. - Wikipedia
When global warming skeptics invoke Occam’s Razor, they generally mean that the idea that climate change is caused primarily | 1.401976 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
, if not solely, by natural factors is much simpler than the idea that human activity has caused such changes. Therefore, according to Occam’s Razor, the natural variations idea is the correct theory. As I stated above, this is an incorrect use of the maxim.
First, the natural variation theory is actually no simpler than anthropogenic global warming. The idea that current climate change is a natural phenomenon seems to be simpler to many skeptics because they generally don’t exercise the same amount of skepticism towards theories that agree with their ideologies, which results in a lack of any true examination of this idea. The argument I hear most often in favor of this idea is that our climate has always changed in the past, and humans weren’t around back then to influence it, so it must follow that our current climate is also due to natural factors. However, that is not a valid argument. Just because something caused changes in the past, it doesn�t mean that when a new variable is added, the new variability is not caused primarily by the new variable. So, in order to prove that climate change is indeed caused by natural factors, one must actually specify which natural factors are causing the change, and provide a statistically valid, quantified comparison of both natural and man-made causes, which shows that the natural factors outweigh human greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, if one put the necessary effort into proving the natural variation theory, it would no longer be considered any simpler than anthropogenic global warming.
Second, Occam’s razor requires that “all things [be] equal”. In other words, the prerequisite for the maxim is that both competing theories be equally verifiable. This is a major problem for skeptics who would like to use it because there is no valid theory which explains our current warming as being due to natural causes. Many of the largest changes in our planet’s temperature in the past were due to changes in the earth’s orbit and tilt, called Milankovitch cycles. This is does not explain our current warming because we are already in an interglacial period (between ice ages). Some believe the Sun is causing our warming, but the Sun’s energy output stays relatively constant. In fact, recent research has suggested that the Sun’s activity has declined in recent decades. Others blame cloud formation, or the lack thereof, due to cosmic ray flux, but this theory also remains unproven with many problems of its own. Namely, cosmic ray intensity has remained stagnant in the recent past. Conversely, anthropogenic global warming is verifiable. Nearly all research points to a warming due to anthropogenic greenhouse gases, which is what has given the IPCC the confidence to claim that it is “very likely” that global warming is due to human activity.
This argument is yet another attempt to obfuscate the issue, rather than an honest attempt at finding the truth.
Cross posted at
Green Options.
43 Comments
Categories:
reasic| 3rd Aug, 2007 Temperature Data Manipulation?
I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, and it’s been because of a very hectic schedule both at work and at home. I hope to be freed up soon.
This post is a response to a post by our friend, the Grit, at his new global warming blog. The Grit is continually struggling with the existing global temperature record, and whether it is sufficient to make determinations as to whether we are currently experiencing global warming. In his post, he questions the method used by scientists to determine the daily average temperature:
The temperature record, on which the Cult of Climate Change bases their case is built on data that only records the daily high and low temperature. I just now realized that, while these numbers are fun to follow, they really don�t reflect in any meaningful way the Global Average Temperature, any more that the high and low temperature of the leftover brew in my coffee pot reflects its daily average.
Read More…
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reasic| 25th Jul, 2007 Green Myth-Busting: Cosmic Ray Flux Myth: Our current global warming is due primarily to a decrease in cosmic ray intensity.
Fact: The fact is that this theory is extremely new, and has only recently been considered possible. There are still many questions left to be answered and more work to be done on quantifying its effect before such a statement could have any validity. Before we get into the details of why this is, I�d like to explain the theory itself a little better.
Basically, this theory, researched by a scientist named Henrick Svensmark, claims that the Sun indirectly affects our climate. The first thing to understand is that clouds generally have a cooling effect on the planet, through an effect called albedo: they reflect sunlight back into space. Next, we have cosmic rays, which are “energetic particles originating from space that impinge on Earth�s atmosphere”. Cosmic rays primarily consist of protons, and they originate from outside our solar system. The Sun also emits rays, called solar cosmic rays, which have | 1.66234 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
much lower energy than cosmic rays. When there is an increase in solar activity, the increased solar cosmic ray intensity causes a decrease in the other cosmic rays, called the Forbush decrease.
According to the cosmic ray flux theory, cosmic rays, upon entering our atmosphere, produce small particles called aerosols, which aid in cloud formation. So, more cosmic rays means more clouds and a greater cooling effect. However, this theory�s proponents claim that we are currently in a period of increased solar activity, which is causing less cosmic rays to enter our atmosphere. This means less clouds and therefore, a warming effect.
Read More…
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reasic| 24th Jul, 2007 Hurricanes in the Mediterranean
A new study has found that as global warming continues, the Mediterranean Sea could become warm enough that it could support the formation of hurricanes:
Global warming could trigger hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, over the Mediterranean sea, threatening one of the world�s most densely populated coastal regions, according to European scientists. Hurricanes currently form out in the tropical Atlantic and rarely reach Europe, but a new study shows a 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) rise in average temperatures could set them off in the enclosed Mediterranean in future. �This is the first study to detect this possibility,� lead researcher Miguel Angel Gaertner of the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Toledo, Spain, told Reuters on Monday.
More at Celsias.
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reasic| 19th Jul, 2007 Green Myth-Busting: 70’s Ice Age Predictions Myth: These same climate scientists predicted a coming ice age in the 70’s. They were wrong then, so why should we trust them now?
Fact: No, they didn’t. The situation in the 70’s was very different from our current situation. There was no scientific consensus on climate change. There was no international body of scientists looking into the matter, no global effort to deal with climate change, and no daily news articles on the subject. There were maybe a couple of magazine articles, a book, and some sporadic newspaper articles.
Today, by contrast, we have the IPCC, an organization of the world’s top climate scientists and its four reports, the latest of which claims with 90% certainty that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are primarily responsible for our current warming. We also have other scientific bodies that agree with this assessment, such as the National Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Should one ask for a scientific paper from that time period that makes such a claim, one would certainly be left empty-handed. The most common example used is an article that was published in Newsweek in 1975, titled “The Cooling World“, which provides an excellent example of the sensationalist reporting that existed within some media reports.
The situation was also different because the state of climate science was such that there was not enough research to be able to make these supposed predictions with any certainty. A 1975 National Academy of Sciences report stated as much, saying “…we do not have a good quantitative understanding of our climate machine and what determines its course. Without the fundamental understanding, it does not seem possible to predict climate…”. Climate science was in its infancy. There wasn’t yet enough data or research available on which to base such a prediction, and scientists were well aware of that fact. Scientists’ current statements on the future of our climate are based on decades of research and massive amounts of data that has been collected over that time.
Also, as the climate scientists at RealClimate have pointed out, we know that climate scientists could not have made such predictions based on the scientific information that was available at the time:
Firstly, there was a trend of cooling from the 40’s to the 70’s (although that needs to be qualified, as hemispheric or global temperature datasets were only just beginning to be assembled then). But people were well aware that extrapolating such a short trend was a mistake (Mason, 1976) . Secondly, it was becoming clear that ice ages followed a regular pattern and that interglacials (such as we are now in) were much shorter that the full glacial periods in between. Somehow this seems to have morphed (perhaps more in the popular mind than elsewhere) into the idea that the next ice age was predicatable and imminent. Thirdly, there were concerns about the relative magnitudes of aerosol forcing (cooling) and CO2 forcing (warming), although this latter strand seems to have been short lived. - RealClimate
This argument, like many other skeptical arguments, is simply an ad hominem attack. Rather than addressing the merits of the science behind anthropogenic global warming, it attempts to discredit climate scientists in general based on arguments and statements they never made. Such arguments hold about as much merit as recent attacks against Al Gore and claims that previous high levels of carbon | 1.559256 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
Although not everyone will be able to entirely avoid bankruptcy, most people asking the question will. That is, if they follow the right steps to realizing debt relief. That being said, here are 3 great ways to get your debts paid off, and hopefully avoid bankruptcy.
Option #1 - Debt Consolidation
Debt consolidation is a great process that's really been getting a bad rap lately for some reason. I think the biggest reason for this is the adverse effects it may have on consumer credit scores. The simple reality is, no debt relief program is going to have a positive effect on credit scores. That being said, debt consolidation is a great way for many to dig their way out of overwhelming debt.
There are 2 forms of debt consolidation. The first is to consolidate your debts all in one debt consolidation loan. The other, and more popular form of debt consolidation is negotiation and management driven. In this form, the company you hire will negotiate hardship interest rates with the lenders you owe money to. Once all is negotiated, they will give you 1 lump sum payment to send. That payment will be sent to the debt consolidation company and they will administer payments to the lenders. This process generally leads to lower interest rates and lower monthly payments.
Option #2 - Sell A Structured Settlement
Although, not everyone has a structured settlement, those who do can really make it work for them in times of overwhelming debt. Instead of settling for bi-weekly or monthly payments, it's possible to sell your settlement payments and get one big lump sum in return. In this case, you could use the lump sum payment that you receive as a way to pay off your debts in full, or pay them down to a manageable amount.
Option #3 - Debt Settlement
The final option, debt settlement is looked down upon by many. However, it's been the key to debt relief for tens and possibly even hundreds of thousands of consumers. Using this option, you would hire a company that will help you through the process of settling your debts for pennies on the dollar. Often times, debts can be settled for as little as 30% of the total amount owed.
Although there is a lot to this process, I can provide a short, to the point breakdown. Instead of sending your lenders payments, you would send them to the debt settlement company. Those payments will be held in a SPA (Special Purpose Account) until you had enough to pay off the settled amount of at least one of your debts. At this point, the debt settlement company will call the lenders you owe money to and make an attempt to negotiate the amount owed on the debt.
Final Thoughts
When you're in debt, it may seem like there’s absolutely no way out. The good news is, there is a way out. Not just one way, but many. Now, it’s up to you to do your research and find the option that works best for you! therapies. Furthermore, Limbaugh's statement which leads to calling her a slut and a prostitute is a brazen libel which has no basis outside of Limbaugh's intention to smear her with a patent falsehood. What Limbaugh was doing to Ms. Fluke is what Joseph Goebbels did to the Jews: defamation that has not the remotest pretext to actuality. (Rachel Maddow took on the factual and logical stupidities of Limbaugh's comments.)
Limbaugh's alleged apology to Ms. Fluke is merely an exacerbation of the original libel. He tried hide behind the entertainer's role by saying he did not intend the attack to get personal. That is a further lie. His comments were very personal misrepresentations about what she actually said and about her character. He did not acknowledge that his representations were totally concocted out of his own bent for malice and were efforts to portray her in ways that would stimulate the hatred and anger of his audience. Ms. Fluke wisely dismissed this so-called apology, because Limbaugh did not acknowledge the falsehood he created, but tried to cover it under another falsehood.
Sixteen years ago, Al Franken published
Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observationswhich confronted the deteriorating state of political discourse in America. That expose of Limbaugh's intellectually and morally deficient performances did little to affect his popularity among those who hung on and repeated his every word as drooling disciples. His reign as the voice of conservatism indicates something that has happened in our education system. And the current attempts to improve it by making teachers scapegoats for deficiencies imposed on it by intellectually challenged school boards and regents will only insure that there is an illiterate audience that can be duped and manipulated by Limbaugh and others like him.
The stupifaction of America that permits the absurd libels of Limbaugh to pass as political discourse shows no signs of relenting, certainly not in South Dakota with the passage of HR 1234 which purports to improve education. | 1.865992 | 1,009 | 1,007 |
Results 101 - 150 of 774 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >
Papacosta Elena - - 2011
Objectives: This paper discusses the use of saliva analysis as a tool for monitoring steroid, peptide, and immune markers of sports training. Design: Salivary gland physiology, regarding the regulation and stimulation of saliva secretion, as well as methodological issues including saliva collection, storage and analysis are addressed in this paper. ...
Buono Michael J - - 2011
The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of a locally administered non-selective β-adrenergic antagonist on sweat gland function during exercise. Systemically administered propranolol has previously been reported to increase, decrease, or not alter sweat production during exercise. To eliminate the confounding systemic effects associated with orally ...
Leicht Christof A - - 2011
PURPOSE:: To examine salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) responses and α-amylase activity following constant load and intermittent exercise in elite wheelchair athletes. METHODS:: Twenty-three wheelchair athletes divided into three groups (8 tetraplegic (TETRA), 7 paraplegic (PARA), and 8 non spinal cord injured (NON-SCI)) performed two randomised and counterbalanced 60 min ...
Economic evaluation within a factorial-design randomised controlled trial of exercise, manual therapy, ...
Pinto Daniel - - 2011
Clinical guidelines for the treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis recommend non-pharmacological and non-surgical treatments. Exercise treatments are recommended as primary strategies, but specific exercise programme components have not been specified. Early evidence indicates that manual physiotherapy is effective for hip and knee osteoarthritis. The Management of Osteoarthritis (MOA) Trial ...
Messan F - - 2011
AIMS: To evaluate the risk of disruption of distal airways in children exposed to pollutants automobiles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study included 156 children selected assigned in groups "Most Exposed" and "Less Exposed" separated respectively 15 meters and 150 meters of road traffic. Children in both groups were subjected to lung ...
Martarelli Daniele - - 2011
Diaphragmatic breathing is relaxing and therapeutic, reduces stress, and is a fundamental procedure of Pranayama Yoga, Zen, transcendental meditation and other meditation practices. Analysis of oxidative stress levels in people who meditate indicated that meditation correlates with lower oxidative stress levels, lower cortisol levels and higher melatonin levels. It is ...
Hough John P - - 2011
Hormonal responses to exercise could be used as a marker of overreaching. A short exercise protocol that induces robust hormonal elevations in a normal trained state should be able to highlight hormonal changes during overreaching. This study compared plasma and salivary cortisol and testosterone responses to 4 exercise trials; these ...
Fortes Matthew B - - 2011
Heat shock protein 72 (Hsp72) has been detected within saliva, and its presence may contribute to oral defence. It is currently unknown how physiological stress affects salivary Hsp72 or if salivary Hsp72 concentrations reflect plasma Hsp72 concentrations. We studied the effect of exercise upon salivary Hsp72 expression, and using caffeine ...
Gatti R - - 2011
Saliva contains cells and compounds, of local and non-local oral origin, namely inorganic, organic non-protein, protein/polypeptide, and lipid molecules. Moreover, some hormones, commonly assayed in plasma, such as steroids, are detectable in oral fluid and peptide/protein, and non-steroid hormones have been investigated. The sports practice environment and athletes' availability, together ...
Veijalainen Aapo - - 2011
Objective: Arterial stiffness index (SI) and reflection index (RI) from digital pulse contour analysis have been shown to be good measures of arterial stiffness and may be useful in the evaluation of endothelial function. Finger skin temperature (FST) is also considered to reflect peripheral circulatory functions. We evaluated the reproducibility ...
Noninvasive biochemical monitoring of physiological stress by Fourier transform infrared saliva spectroscopy.
Khaustova Svetlana - - 2010
Physical stress affects the immune system, activates the sympathetic (SNS) and parasympathetic (PNS) subsystems of autonomic nervous system (ANS), and increases the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). The specific response of the major regulatory systems depends on the human functional state. Saliva is a unique diagnostic fluid, the composition ...
Treadmill training restores spatial cognitive deficits and | 1.448096 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
neurochemical alterations in the hippocampus ...
Rodrigues Letícia - - 2010
The intracerebroventricular infusion of streptozotocin (icv-STZ) has been largely used in research to mimic the main characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including cognitive decline, impairment of cholinergic transmission, oxidative stress and astrogliosis. Moderate physical exercise has a number of beneficial effects on the central nervous system, as demonstrated both in ...
Adlard Paul A - - 2011
While chronic or severe stress generally has negative consequences in the brain, moderate stress has been shown to facilitate learning in young animals. It is unknown if stress facilitates or impairs learning in an aged animal. In this study, the effect of mild stress on learning and task retention (1 ...
Helbing Willem A - - 2010
Heart failure is an important problem after surgical correction of congenital heart disease. Timely recognition may be difficult. Recent developments in exercise testing and stress-imaging may change the management of patients with congenital heart disease. Exercise tests are commonly used in the follow-up of patients with congenital heart disease. Maximal ...
Physical activity, but not environmental complexity, facilitates HPA axis response habituation to ...
Nyhuis Tara J TJ Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA. - - 2010
Stress exacerbates several physical and psychological disorders. Voluntary exercise can reduce susceptibility to many of these stress-associated disorders. In rodents, voluntary exercise can reduce hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity in response to various stressors as well as upregulate several brain neurotrophins. An important issue regarding voluntary exercise is whether its effect ...
Waters R Parrish RP Department of Neurosciences, The Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. - - 2010
Physical exercise dampens an individual's stress response and decreases symptoms of anxiety and depression disorders. While the extrinsic relationship of exercise and psychological state is established, their intrinsic relationship is unresolved. We investigated the potential intrinsic relationship of exercise with stress responsiveness using NIH rats bidirectionally selected for intrinsic endurance ...
Coelho Ricardo Weigert - - 2010
The purpose was three-fold: (1) to investigate the effect of baseline, precompetition, and postcompetition stress on salivary cortisol levels in top-ranking Brazilian wrestlers (N = 17) participating in a national competition; (2) to estimate correlations among three stress measures (perceived stress, salivary cortisol, and physiological stress reaction); and (3) to ...
Stressor specificity of sex differences in hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis activity: cortisol responses to ...
Turner A I - - 2010
Sex differences in the stress-induced activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in sheep appear to be dependent on the stressor encountered and occur irrespective of the presence of gonadal steroids. We tested the hypotheses that cortisol responses to exercise, endotoxin, wetting (experiment 1), and isolation/restraint (experiment 2) stress differ between gonadectomized ...
Laitano Orlando - - 2010
Combined heat stress, dehydration, and exercise is associated with enhanced oxidative stress in humans, but the separate and combined effects of heat stress and exercise on circulatory markers of oxidative stress without the influence of dehydration remain uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of whole ...
Differential effects of mindful breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and loving-kindness meditation on ...
Feldman Greg G Simmons College, Department of Psychology, Park Science Center, 300 the Fenway, Boston, MA 02114, USA. - - 2010
Decentering has been proposed as a potential mechanism of mindfulness-based interventions but has received limited empirical examination to date in experimental studies comparing mindfulness meditation to active comparison conditions. In the present study, we compared the immediate effects of mindful breathing (MB) to two alternative stress-management techniques: progressive muscle relaxation ...
Keogh Justin W L - - 2010
The purpose of this study was to (a) characterize the temporal aspects of a popular strongman event, the tire flip; (b) gain some insight into the temporal factors that could distinguish the slowest and fastest flips; and (c) obtain preliminary data on the physiological stress of this exercise. Five resistance-trained ...
Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis responses to low-intensity stressors are reduced after voluntary ...
Campeau S - - 2010
Regular physical exercise is beneficial for both physical and mental health. By contrast, stress is associated with deleterious effects on health and there is growing evidence that regular physical exercise counteracts some of the effects of | 1.27861 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
stress. However, most previous studies have suggested that prior exercise does not alter the ...
Liu Xin - - 2010
Exercise could play a beneficial role in stress, but its underlying mechanism especially about heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in brain has not been fully clarified. Moreover, few studies have investigated swimming exercise and its effects on the combined stress of both chronic and ...
Budde Henning - - 2010
Little is known about the influence of physical and cognitive stress on the concentration of steroid hormones (SHs) in a school setting. Forty high school students from the 9th grade were randomly assigned to two intervention groups: physical and cognitive stress. Saliva collection took place before (pre-test) and after (post-test) ...
Huang Chun-Jung - - 2010
The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in heart rate (HR), catecholamines (norepinephrine [NE] and epinephrine [EPI]), pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-2 [IL-2] and interleukin-6 [IL-6]), and lymphocytes (CD8+ and CD56+) in firefighters exposed to a decision-making challenge (firefighting strategies and tactics drill) while participating in moderate intensity exercise. ...
Salim Samina - - 2010
Recent work has suggested correlation of oxidative stress with anxiety-like behavior. There also is evidence for anxiolytic effects of physical exercise. However, a direct role of oxidative stress in anxiety is not clear and a protective role of physical exercise in oxidative stress-mediated anxiety has never been addressed. In this ...
Puterman Eli - - 2010
Chronic psychological stress is associated with detrimental effects on physical health, and may operate in part through accelerated cell aging, as indexed by shorter telomeres at the ends of chromosomes. However, not all people under stress have distinctly short telomeres, and we examined whether exercise can serve a stress-buffering function. ...
Hargard?ttir H - - 2010
OBJECTIVE: Exercise testing can be used (i) to evaluate functional limitations of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and (ii) to study whether the inflammatory and oxidative systems are activated after a physical stimulus. The aim of this study was to determine exercise-induced inflammatory and oxidative responses in SSc compared with healthy subjects. ...
Shcheslavskaya Olga V OV Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. - - 2010
To investigate the effect of age on heart rate recovery (HRR) from cognitive challenge. Aging is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. HRR from exercise is an established predictor of cardiac morbidity and mortality, and evidence suggests that HRR from cognitive challenge is predictive of cardiac ...
Bloomer Richard J - - 2009
An individual's sex and exercise training status may influence oxidative stress. No study has compared postprandial oxidative stress in exercise-trained and untrained men and women. PURPOSE: To compare oxidative stress biomarkers and triglycerides (TAG) in 16 trained and 16 untrained men and women after ingestion of a high-fat meal. METHODS: ...
Ray Chester A - - 2010
The effects of aerobic exercise training (ET) on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and renal vascular responses to mental stress (MS) have not been determined in humans. We hypothesized that aerobic ET would reduce MSNA and renal vasoconstriction during MS. MSNA, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, renal blood flow ...
Arida Ricardo M - - 2009
Stress has been considered the most frequently self-reported precipitant of seizures in people with epilepsy. The literature documents that physical stress, that is, physical exercise, can have beneficial effects in people with epilepsy. In view of evidence indicating that sensitivity to stress is reduced after a physical exercise program, physical ...
Gerber Markus - - 2009
BACKGROUND: Understanding how exercise influences health is important in designing public health interventions. At present, evidence suggests that there is a positive relationship between exercise and health. However, whether this relationship is partly due to the stress-moderating impact of exercise has been less frequently investigated although more and more people ...
Trousselard Marion - - 2009
INTRODUCTION: The stress effects induced by diverse military scenarios are usually studied under tightly controlled conditions, while only limited research has addressed realistic scenarios. This study was designed to compare the effects of two levels of realism in stressful training for escape from a sunken submarine. METHODS: Thirteen qualified submariners ...
Lack of adequate appreciation of physical exercise's complexities can pre-empt appropriate design ...
Booth F W - | 1.365479 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
- 2009
Two major issues are presented. First, a challenge is made by us that a misunderstanding of physiology has led to incomplete or wrong functional designations of genes in some cases. Normal physiological processes are dynamic, integrated and periodic, and, therefore, it is difficult to define normal physiological function by looking ...
Möhlenkamp Stefan - - 2009
BACKGROUND: Exercise capacity and heart rate profile parameters obtained from exercise stress testing as well as the subclinical coronary atherosclerosis burden from cardiac CT have been suggested to improve cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification beyond traditional risk factors (RF) in persons at risk of CV events. AIM: To study the association ...
Milani Richard V - - 2009
BACKGROUND: Exercise training reduces mortality in patients with coronary artery disease. Behavioral characteristics, including depression, hostility, and overall psychosocial stress, have been shown to be independent risk factors for recurrent myocardial infarction and death in these patients. Exercise training can reduce these high-risk behaviors, but it remains uncertain as to ...
Rest before slaughter ameliorates pre-slaughter stress-induced increased drip loss but not stress-induced ...
Young J F - - 2009
One factor affecting meat quality is pre-slaughter stress. We investigated the effects of exercise stress on drip loss and toughness in relation to resting times of 0, 1 or 3h following exercise on a treadmill. This exercise stress was regarded as combined physical and physiological stress. Exercise stress increased the ...
Dattilo Giuseppe - - 2011
Stress echocardiography is today the best possible imaging choice in the field of noninvasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) and Dobutamine-atropine stress echocardiography (DASE) have been studied. Handgrip (HG) exercise has been rarely studied in stress echocardiography. We present a case of the use of isometric ...
Jouven Xavier - - 2009
AIMS: The aim of this study involves the early identification, among apparently healthy individuals, of those at high risk for sudden cardiac death. We tested the hypothesis that individuals who respond to mild mental stress in preparation for exercise test with the largest heart rate increases might be at highest ...
Toribatake Y - - 2009
AIM: In the detection of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the post-exercise ankle brachial index (ABI) using a treadmill is useful although time consuming. We developed a stress-loading device that induces fatigue in the calf muscles while remaining in the supine position, which is designed to reduce delay between completion of ...
Differences in myocardial velocities during supine and upright exercise stress echocardiography in ...
Bjällmark Anna - - 2009
BACKGROUND: Tissue Velocity Imaging (TVI) is a method for quantitative analysis of longitudinal myocardial velocities, which can be used during exercise and pharmacological stress echocardiography. It is of interest to evaluate cardiac response to different types of stress tests and the differences between upright and supine bicycle exercise tests have ...
Heinrich A - - 2009
The objectives were to determine the duration of the stress response associated with cautery dehorning and to assess the effectiveness of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam (Metacam, 20 mg/mL solution for injection) for reducing that response. Sixty Holstein heifer calves were blocked by age and randomly assigned to receive an ...
Marsden Alison L - - 2009
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this work is to evaluate the hemodynamic performance of a new Y-graft modification of the extracardiac conduit Fontan operation. The performance of the Y-graft design is compared to two designs used in current practice: a t-junction connection of the venae cavae and an offset between the ...
Yamazaki Fumio - - 2009
Cutaneous vascular responses to mental arithmetic (MA) and handgrip exercise (HG) were studied independently and combined at different local skin temperatures (T (loc)). MA and HG induced (P < 0.05) vasoconstrictor responses in glabrous and nonglabrous skin at a higher level of T (loc), resulting in a nonadditive effect of ...
Toribatake Y - - 2009
AIM: In the detection of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the post-exercise ankle brachial index (ABI) using a treadmill is useful although time consuming. We developed a stress-loading device that induces fatigue in the calf muscles while remaining in the supine position, which is designed to reduce delay between completion of ...
Su Jenny C - - 2009
Did the September 11 terrorist attacks elicit a subsequent increase in traffic fatalities? Gigerenzer (2 | 1.396165 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
Neck and shoulder pain and injury are common ailments these days because most of us sit at a desk hunched over a computer screen for like 9 hours a day.
And while rolling out and stretching are essential to getting rid of our knots and tight spots to lessen the pain, there is one essential exercise we all need to be including in our workout routines.
It isn’t a glamorous move. It isn’t a move that is going to smash you and make you feel like you got in a gnarly workout.
But it is a move that is going to get rid of your pain and help you get exponentially stronger in the long run.
The
Scapular Wall Hold is an essential move everyone should be doing, but no one really is.
It will help you activate your lower traps and the big muscles of your back so that when you perform a heavy back row, a pull up or a bazillion other exercises, you won’t injury your neck or shoulders.
Often because big muscles aren’t activated because of our posture from sitting all day, small muscles will try to do work they shouldn’t be doing.
And then we get injured.
Prevent injury and start including the Scapular Wall Hold in your workout routine.
Below is a break down of the move as well as a few variations.
Scapular Wall Hold Form:
Stand with your back to the wall.
Step a couple of inches away and bend your arms to 90 degrees. Keep your elbows in by your sides and drive them back toward the wall. Do not shrug your shoulders as you drive your elbows back and pinch your shoulder blades down and together.
With your elbows back, lean into the wall so that only your elbows are touching. Do not let your upper arms or back touch the wall.
Relax your head back instead of tucking your chin. Pinch your shoulder blades down and back while keeping your core tight as you lean into the wall. Squeeze your glutes and don’t arch your low back. Really press your chest out so that you feel this move low between your shoulder blades.
Variations:
There are many variations of the scapular hold that you can do if you want to mix things up. Every variation shown here can be done by everyone (beginners to advanced exercisers) with slight adjustments.
Below are variations and modifications so that any level can do each one.
For the
scapular wall hold, beginners will not want to put themselves at as much of an incline to the wall.
Another great variation is the
Prone Scapular Hold.
To do the Prone Scapular Hold, lie face down on a bench with your legs out straight behind you and your arms hanging down toward the ground. Bend your elbows to about 90 degrees. Advanced exercisers may grab weights in each hand. Then drive your elbows back and draw your shoulder blades down and together. Squeeze your glutes to protect your low back. You should feel this low between your shoulder blades. Hold at the top, pinching your shoulder blades together and driving your elbows back. Relax your head and neck as you hold. Do not shrug your shoulders.
A third form of the scapular hold can also be done on a bar or suspension trainer. I sometimes call it the
Inverted Row Hold.
To do the Inverted Row Hold variation, hold a suspension trainer strap in each hand or do the move off a bar. Walk your feet out so you are leaning back. The closer to parallel to the ground you get, the harder the move will be. Squeeze your core and glutes and press your chest out so there is tension between your shoulder blades. Then row up, keeping your body in a nice straight line. Row until your chest comes up to the handles and hold there. Do not let your hips sag or your body arch as you hold. Do not start to turn your hands in and rotate your wrists. Keep your hands and wrists in line with your forearms.You are currently viewing the abstract.View Full Text
Via your Institution Log in through your institution Log in through your institution Abstract
The provenance of water and organic compounds on Earth and other terrestrial planets has been discussed for a long time without reaching a consensus. One of the best means to distinguish between different scenarios is by determining the deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratios in the reservoirs for comets and Earth’s oceans. Here, we report the direct in situ measurement of the D/H ratio in the Jupiter family comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by the ROSINA mass spectrometer aboard the European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft, which is found to be (5.3 ± 0.7) × 10
−4—that is, approximately three times the terrestrial value. Previous cometary measurements and our new finding suggest a wide range of D/H ratios in the water within Jupiter family objects and preclude the idea that this reservoir is solely composed of Earth ocean–like water. | 1.284635 | 1,022 | 1,020 |
Profound Leadership Thoughts – The meaning of “Meaning” Meaning: Your Responsibility!
During a recent conversation with my colleague, Dean, a conversation had whilst driving through the beautiful Ascot in England, a thought was expressed to which Dean responded, “Keith, you really need to blog that thought”.
This then is the blog that captures that thought.
It is a simple thought but one that I believe is fundamental to finding meaning in life, or at least in our avocation – that which we do. It is something that we all need to engage with, regardless of our role and responsibility in the organisation or business in which we serve.
Dan Pink in his book
Drive, explores the science of human motivation. He makes a compelling case for the need to employ intrinsic motivators for the definitive tasks of the 21 Century rather than the more usual extrinsic motivators, which he describes as ‘carrots and sticks’. Intrinsic motivators he articulates as, autonomy, mastery and purpose.
Pink describes ‘purpose’ as the understanding that we are contributing to something bigger than ourselves; another way of perhaps understanding purpose would be to describe it as ‘meaning’. Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist and holocaust survivor wrote his classic book,
Man’s Search for Meaningin which he argues the fundamental need is for people to have a sense of meaning in their life. Frankl’s book is a ‘must read’ – at least it is on my list of books that every leader should read.
So then, what was this ‘must blog’ idea on meaning?
. It is that meaning is not to be found in what we do, but is rather, something we bring to that which we do
If meaning is to be found in what we do then for the majority of jobs and occupations would seemingly be ‘without meaning’? For those involved in saving the world, saving the rhino, feeding the orphans or restoring sight, it is not difficult to find meaning in what they do. But what then for those who pack boxes, clean-up, sort, file and do any number of tasks that might seem ‘meaningless’ when viewed in isolation?
Meaning is brought to work not found in work. Meaning is your responsibility. It is something that comes from within. It is a little like happiness in the sense that when we understand this, the agenda changes. Of course meaning can be found in work but then what if we no longer get to continue with that work? No, meaning is our responsibility and understanding it as such changes everything.
Of course this thought implies a journey, an inner journey, one that if you are willing to make, will yield rich dividends. It is a journey that has to be explored personally and although there can and should be help along the way, it is always an intensely personal journey.
So let me not clutter this thought with more words. Meaning is something we bring to that which we do.
That’s the thought. It is a thought that begs a question: So what meaning do you bring to work? Careful how you answer that!There are many factors that lead to the unequal access to preparation for college. In a high-tech American society, it is assumed that all children have access to quality technological education. It is also assumed that all pre-college students have the means to obtain quality non-technological resources. These assumptions are perpetuated because of those whom have reasonably easy access to these means and take them for granted. One of the reasons why there is inequality of preparation for college is the iniquity of the American school system.
The American high school system suffers from a severe case of iniquity. There are many high schools through out the United States of America that receive the necessary resources they need to well prepare their pupils for the next didactic level, college. However, there are an overwhelming amount of high schools in America that are not properly equipped to train their students to for elementary school let alone college.
In ill-equipped schools, problems range from lack of creditable books to unprofessional teachers. The students that are enrolled in these poorly maintained didactic establishments are face with not being properly challenged academically. These pupils also run in to difficulties with understanding technology and information structure, which their better-prepared counterparts have already mastered.
There are various schools in the American system that are set up to win. These schools have not only access to technology, up to date books, and many other quality tangible resources, but also parental input and professional task focus school staff. Students have a sense that education is a vital tool and they obtain this since through community. The community consists of parent, teachers, faculty, and peers.
Though there are a lot of factor for unequal preparation for college, the main reasons can be attributed to educational institutions and a... congestion charge. Londoners gave Livingstone another four year mandate. | 1.896725 | 990 | 987 |
Fgm: Ritual Abuse Essay, Research Paper
Female circumcision, also known as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), is a very
dangerous surgery. It is done to girls of any age, from a few days old to right
before their wedding. The most common age is three. In most countries where
FGM is practiced the clitoris is considered dangerous to the man. At one point
they thought that if a penis touched a clitoris, it would shrivel up and fall off.
Girls in Africa and parts of Asia are genitally mutilated for family honor,
cleanliness, protection against spells, insurance of virginity and faithfulness to the
husband, or to terrorize women out of sex. In the late 70?s and early 80?s parts of
Europe and the United States used circumcision as a way to ?cure? over-sexed or
neurotic women. No matter what the excuse for it, Female Genital Mutilation is a
form of sexual abuse.
There are three types of Female Genital Mutilation. The first type, Sunna,
meaning tradition, is the only form that can correctly be called circumcision.
Sunna is the removal of the tip of the clitoris. The second, clitoridectomy, is the
most commonly practiced type. Clitoridectomy is the total removal of the clitoris
and the adjacent labia (also know as the ?lips? of the vagina). The third type,
Infibulation, is the most severe and harmful type. In infibulation, the entire
clitoris and both labia are removed. Then the remaining tissue of the vulva are
pinned together by catgut or silk sutures. A tiny slit, for urination and
menstruation, is left open by inserting a sliver of wood, a matchstick, or reed into
the vagina. After the surgery, the girl is bound from hip to ankle and kept
immobile for 40 days. This allows scar tissue to form. All three types result in
many harmful effects.
Most of the effects of FGM are caused by the surgery taking place in an
unsanitary environment. Kitchen knives, scissors, razor blades, or pieces of glass
are the most common instruments used for the cutting. Unless performed in a
hospital, the cutting tool is generally rusty and very dirty. Instead of sterilizing the
instrument between surgeries, it is placed on dirt, ashes, or cow dung. This results
in many infections. Using the same tool on several girls also promotes the spread
of HIV. Due to loss of blood and pain many girls suffer from shock. Many
women suffer from pelvic complications. Also urinary retention and urinary tract
infections are common among circumcised women. Due to loss of blood many of
the girls suffer from week bones, often resulting in fractures and breaks. The loss
of the clitoris makes it impossible for the woman to have an orgasm. If the person
performing the surgery-either a mid wife or a barber- has bad eye sight or is
unsteady, surrounding organs may be damaged. There are no positive effects to
Female Genital Mutilation.
There is no definite origin for FGM, but there is a myth that may have
something to do with it. The myth is about Lamia, a beautiful seductive woman.
Lamia would ?unite? with young warrior men inside a cloud. When the cloud
would lift, Lamia was left standing with a pile of the warrior?s bones around her
feet. The bones were being gnawed on by a snake. The myth is that during
intercourse, Lamia?s clitoris ?ate? the young warrior. This myth was known
throughout the world with only a slight change from culture to culture. This myth
may be what started female circumcision.
In conclusion Female Genital Mutilation is sexual abuse. Women who have
experienced it, live in pain due to what was done to them as a child. Most of the
women are too afraid of either the men in their culture or changing tradition, that
they won?t speak up against it. No one should have to live in pain and fear all
their lives. Outliers: The Story of Success
The Mission of the
is to foster character building in a rising generation of public service aspirants by sharing the stories of successful and ethical leaders who presently serve others in government, public and private sector careers. Our vision is to expand the conversation about the importance individuals of good character can make to the lives of our fellow Americans. Continue reading Character Building Project | 1.532105 | 968 | 966 |
Most people fear and hate reptiles and insects, but love birds and furry animals and birds. Snakes are arguably the most feared and hated creatures of the world, sentiments that are inherent even from religion. Human beings are more susceptible to snake attacks, mainly because snakes have the ability to camouflage and slither closer to victims, and unfortunately pack potent venom. We pick out ten of the world’s deadliest venomous snakes, lethal to the point that air ambulance services are necessary for the survival of victims, serpents that still slither around. Although most of the snakes listed originate from islands, a few might be indigenous to your locality.
The Black Tiger Snake
Today, medical insurance coverage and advanced medical transport are necessities in Australia, this is mainly because it is a land filled with the most beautiful, albeit deadly and dangerous forms of life, and for individuals afraid of the dangers of Mother Nature, traveling to Australia would be unwise. Existing in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes, the Black Tiger Snake can cause fatalities in human being half an hour after an attack, thanks to a lethal dosage of venom combined with an ominous appearance, with consequent deaths commonly occurring inside a 6-24 hour window. A bite by a Black Tiger Snake will leave one feeling sweaty, tingly and numb, and an immediate injection of antivenin from a doctor of medicine offers the most favorable possibilities of recovery. Thankfully, Black Tiger snakes will more often than not, promptly slither away upon encountering human beings, but become aggressive and can easily attack when cornered.
2. Rattlesnake
Among the ten listed, the rattlesnake, technically of the Pit Viper genus, is the only snake indigenous to North America, and thanks to the rattling tail as well as its appearance in pop culture, it is among the most iconic snakes worldwide. Rattlesnakes commonly hunt birds, small rodents, and lizards, but packs venom toxic enough to kill just about any creature, in addition to an ability to strike from a distance equal to two-thirds of their body length. Despite rattling sounds warning of a readiness to strike, Rattlesnakes prefer to avoid contact with human beings and tend to flee unless they feel cornered. Fortunately, quick treatment of Rattlesnake bites by any doctor of medicine significantly minimizes the possibilities of death.
3. Death Adder
Of course, the Death Adder is indigenous to Australia, where a life insurance quote pertaining to a particular insurance policy is a necessity today, especially seeing the dangers that lurk all around this beautiful part of the world. This serpent can also be found in New Guinea, and some of its surrounding islands, and is considered to be quite deadly as a result of its potent venom, even though rather than being an active hunter, this serpent ambushes by patiently waiting for prey to cross its path. This tactic works perfectly; fallen leaves effectively camouflage this snake, rendering it almost invisible. A bite from the Death Adder causes a minor discomfort, which leads to paralysis and eventually to respiratory failure, all within a duration of six hours. Bites that go untreated for between 24-48 hours usually cause death. A Total recovery from the Death Adder bite is thankfully possible, especially after treatment using antivenin. It is additionally important to note that the Death Adder is arguably the fastest striking snake worldwide, and should therefore be avoided or viewed from a distance.
4. King Cobra
The King Cobra is common throughout Asia, and can easily be found in the Indian jungles. Apart from being quite famous, the King Cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake, and grows to a possible 18.8 feet in length. Within its classification, this snake is unique, particularly since it is not a “true cobra” and remains the sole member of its sub genus. Although this snake primarily hunts and feeds on other snakes, rodents and lizards, its venom contains enough neurotoxin to paralyze and even kill an adult elephant within a few hours, and without immediate medical attention, the survival rate for human beings after a King Cobra’s bite is approximated at 40 percent.
5. Russell’s Viper
In its entire genus, only one species exists, and although indigenous to Southeast Asia, this snake can be found throughout Asia. The Russell’s Viper, considered among India’s ‘Big Four’, was named after Patrick Russell, a herpetologist. This serpent is also known as the Daboia, and due to its habitual proximity to highly populated areas, combined with an aggressive nature, is considered one of the world’s deadliest snakes. Studies have revealed that in terms of the hiss, the Russell’s Viper is the loudest snake, information that we regrettably cannot offer first hand verification about. The Daboia primarily hunts and feeds on small rodents, scorpions, lizards, and birds, with its young ones being cannibalistic, a trait almost exclusive to the spider family.
6. The Indian Cobra
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You are strongly advised against travelling to India without a life insurance policy, seeing as India is one of the world’s most snake-infested countries, a place where the use of advanced medical transport systems such as an air ambulance, might significant improve life expectancy. The Indian Cobra, one of India’s ‘Big Four’ and among the most deadly snakes on the planet, is responsible for the majority of snakebites on human beings in India. The Indian Cobra, often used by snake charmers all over Asia, holds a high stature in India, mainly due to its inclusion in Indian culture and mythology. The proximity of this snake to human settlements in Indian is the most likely reason why the snake continually ranks top among the most active biting serpents of the world. The Indian Cobra often bites repeatedly; paralyzing movement in the victim’s nerves, which then leads to respiratory failures and occasionally, heart attacks. Despite the deadly characteristics, people in India voluntarily flock villages to get bitten by young Indian Cobras, merely seeking the euphoric and sedative feeling that follows a bite.
7. Saw Scaled Viper
On top of the continual violence in the Middle East, the Saw Scaled Viper is another cause of fatalities. These aggressive, exceedingly fast, and nocturnal saw scaled vipers are common in China, India, and most parts of Asia, and a bite from this snake immediately causes unbearable pain, which quickly leads to swelling and eventually to bleeding from the victim’s mouth. Once bitten, blood pressures plummet and heart rates slow, plus victims will most likely be in pain for as long as four to five weeks thereafter. Fatalities can occur within a day, especially without proper medical attention, and victims can also suffer for about two weeks before dying out.
8. The Common Krait
The Common Krait is also one of India’s ‘Big Four’, and grows to lengths between three and five feet. This snake is considered one of the most dangerous serpents on earth and features a very flat head while appearing to have no neck. The Common Krait is known to alter its ferocity quite regularly. This snake mostly hides during the day and reacts rather slow once encountered in the daylight, however, the Common Krait becomes quickly agitated at night and will rarely hesitate before attacking. Untreated Krait bites can cause muscle paralysis, damage to the nerves, and even brain damage.
9. The Inland Taipan
When it comes to venom, the Inland Taipan is undisputedly the deadliest among the ten listed snakes. The mixture of neurotoxin and taipoxin causes inability to breathe, paralysis, intense muscle damage, and blood hemorrhaging. Fortunately, as a result of the relegation of this snake to inland Australia, it is quite rare, though an encounter with one is something we would rather avoid even though the Inland Taipan is a shy and reclusive creature that mostly opts to flee rather than attack. It is unlikely for an adult human being to last for more than between 30 to 45 minutes once bitten by an Inland Taipan, unless immediate treatment is administered.
10. The Black Mamba
Because of its speed, proximity to human settlements, striking ferocity, and density of toxicity, the Black Mamba is among the leading causes of death throughout Africa, making it among the most deadly snakes on earth. Black Mamba’s have the ability to bite 12 times in succession, with each of the bites delivering massive quantities of neurotoxin. The amount of venom a Black Mamba pumps into victims in a single bite is enough to kill 25 times over, and if untreated, the fatality rate is almost at 100 percent, mostly occurring within 15 minutes.Middle Eastern Muslim men have been widely vilified as terrorists, religious zealots, and brutal oppressors of women.The New Arab Manchallenges these stereotypes with the stories of ordinary Middle Eastern men as they struggle to overcome infertility and childlessness through assisted reproduction.Drawing on two decades of ethnographic research across the Middle East with hundreds of men from a variety of social and religious backgrounds, Marcia Inhorn shows how the new Arab man is self-consciously rethinking the patriarchal masculinity of his forefathers and unseating received wisdoms. This is especially true in childless Middle Eastern marriages where, contrary to popular belief, infertility is more common among men than women. Inhorn captures the marital, moral, and material commitments of couples undergoing assisted reproduction, revealing how new technologies are transforming their lives and religious sensibilities. And she looks at the changing manhood of husbands who undertake transnational "egg quests"--set against the backdrop of war and economic uncertainty--out of devotion to the infertile wives they love.Trenchant and emotionally gripping,The New Arab Mantraces the emergence of new masculinities in the Middle East in the era of biotechnology. | 1.633612 | 1,004 | 1,002 |
Essential oils from plants have been found to provide relief and healing for a wide variety of human conditions.
What is essential oil?
“The term ‘essential oil’ is a contraction of the original ‘quintessential oil.’ This stems from the Aristotelian idea that matter is composed of four elements, namely, fire, air, earth, and water.
The fifth element, or quintessence, was then considered to be spirit or life force. Distillation and evaporation were thought to be processes of removing the spirit from the plant and this is also reflected in our language since the term “spirits” is used to describe distilled alcoholic beverages such as brandy, whiskey, and eau de vie.
The last of these again shows reference to the concept of removing the life force from the plant. Nowadays, of course, we know that, far from being spirit, essential oils are physical in nature and composed of complex mixtures of chemicals.” (2)
Through distillation, the essence of the plant is extracted; this includes the plant’s smell, taste, and phytochemicals—like boiling something down to its most fundamental components and structure. (3)
Plants produce these oils to protect themselves, attract insect pollinators, and ward off predators. Because of the nature of the concentrated extract, little of it is needed to reap its rewards. Therapeutic-grade essential oils are high-quality distillations and recommended when used for a specific health goal rather than only for their fragrances.
One use for select essential oils is the promotion of eye health.
Before we say anything more, don’t EVER put an essential oil directly in or on the eye. If contact occurs, place a small drop of carrier oil (olive or coconut) in the corner of the eye and blink. Don’t use water, which will spread the oil around the eye. The essential oil will join with the carrier to lift it out of the eye.
There are three effective methods for applying essential oils to treat the eyes; the first time, attempt treatment around one eye to check for sensitivity. You may mix the essential oil with a carrier (jojoba, olive, avocado, or coconut) to dilute:
Rub 1 drop of the oil between your hands and apply sparingly above the eyebrows and at the top of the cheekbones. The essence will be released and penetrate the eyes.
Apply 2-3 drops of essential oil to a warm cotton cloth and place over closed eyes for 10-15 minutes twice a day.
Rub 1 drop of oil between your hands and hold them cupped over—not on—open eyes for 3 minutes, then over the nose and inhale 6-8 times each day.
Essential Oils for Eye Health Frankincense – a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, this herb has implications for reversing cell degradation. (4) Because essential oils are plants in their most basic form, they permeate cells readily. Rosemary – reduces oxidative stress in eye cells, preventing degradation. (5) Blurred Vision Helichrysum – antioxidant and anti-inflammatory supports nerve function, improving vision. Lavender – reduces dry eyes, improves circulation, moisturizes, and assists in cell re-growth. (6) Peppermint – promotes oxygenation of eye cells and is vitamin-rich, including A and C—known for promoting eye health. General Eye Health Clary Sage – known in the Middle Ages as “clear eyes” for its ability to support vision; reduces eye strain and fatigue with antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals. Cypress – strengthens capillaries and improves blood circulation. Lemongrass – maintains and improves tissue health; dilates blood vessels, promoting oxygenation and blood flow. Sandalwood – promotes circulation and healing, hydrating surrounding tissues.73 751-4919 Fax: 573 635-3486 E-mail: diane.mcclain@epa.state.il.us Web site: www.epa.state.il.us/imes.html Services: Publishes a bimonthly catalog that contains listings for all types of nonhazardous and hazardous materials available for exchange from sources throughout the United States and some areas of Canada and Mexico; serves states in EPA Regions 5, 6, and 7.
Resource Exchange Network (RENEW)
EPA Region 5 Resource
Web site: http://www.zerowastenetwork.org/RENEWDEV/ Services: RENEW allows you to see materials available at a facility, or post your own materials. Facilities who post materials can avoid disposal costs, and possibly reduce their regulatory burden. Searching available materials helps you find materials for your facility at a reduced cost, often free.
Recycler's Exchange Web site: http://www.recycle.net/exchange/index.html Services: The Recycler's Exchange is a member based world wide information exchange designed for companies and individuals who BUY / SELL / TRADE goods and commodities. | 1.628263 | 1,018 | 1,016 |
On the basis of a supposed "leak" from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to the
Sunday Times, most newspapers today are hyperventilating about the Convention of Human Rights and the behaviour of the court in Strasbourg, announcing that the UK is variously "pushing for" or "demanding" reforms.
Buying almost completely into the FCO spin, the babies of the Fourth Estate breathlessly announce the government will "do such things", all in the name of curbing the powers of the errant court – thus demonstrating that Her Majesty's Government is still in control, and giving those foreign Johnnies what for.
However, not one of the babies seems to have checked with the Court itself, or its sponsoring organisation the Council of Europe. Although these organisations are closed down for the Christmas break – which is why, presumably, the FCO leaked the story now, when there were no court or Council press spokesman around – their websites are up and running, and give the background to a story which is very different from what is presented.
Turning to the actual media reports, the wibble from the
Failygraph, courtesy of the Great James Kirkup, is that "Britain tries to curb powers of European Court of Human Rights", with the strap, "Britain has launched a formal bid to curb the powers of the European Court of Human Rights, which wants British prisoners to have the vote".
The
Grauniadhas the headline "Ministers to urge changes to European court of human rights", with the quite bizarre strap, "Britain has recently taken over control of the Strasbourg based court that rules on human rights within its 47 member states".
This paper is telling us that "Ministers will this year push for changes to be made to the functioning of the European court of human rights or could defy the more controversial of its rulings that have included the decision to give prisoners the vote".
The
Daily Wail, is even more strident, declaring: "Ministers 'will defy meddling EU over votes for prisoners'" (later changed to "Europe" after it realised its mistake), asserting that the Foreign Office has drawn up blueprint to reform European Court of Human Rights and that Britain has Switzerland’s support in its campaign to 'address growing public and political concern'.
All this is focused on ministers who "are preparing to defy Europe over its insistence that Britain gives prisoners the right to vote", hence we are told (by the Foreign Office) that the Foreign Office "has drawn up a blueprint to reform the European Court of Human Rights, aiming to win back power for national governments".
The
pièce de résistance, though, comes from the Independent, which headlines: "Ministers' secret plan to stop Europe 'meddling'", with the legend that: "The Government has warned that it may defy the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that prisoners in UK jails should be allowed to vote in general elections".
What makes the these reports utter b******s, though, is that the FCO-inspired story refers to changes that are being negotiated through the system and are part of an ongoing process of "reform" that has been going on since 2009 and before. Thus, the "secret plan" is so unsecret that one can see elements of it on the Council of Europe website. So routine is this, in fact, is that the court itself has its own specific pages on "reform".
What is happening here, therefore, is that the FCO
spinmeistersare taking advantage of the shortage of hard news over the holiday period, to get their agenda into the frame.
The motivation is obvious. With hostile stories frequently in the media on the court of human rights, the administration is presenting itself as taking action, and reasserting control at a time when the papers are desperate for news, and will print almost anything. It is thus talking up minor administrative changes in the court system, and claiming credit for work in progress, then "leaking" them to a gullible media.
Look to the Interlaken Declaration last year, though, and one sees the "action plan" was already agreed in the dying days of the last Labour administration, to which effect, work is proceeding apace.
It is this to which our government is now reduced – spinning developments to give the impression that it is still in charge, in an attempt to conceal quite how emasculated our ministers have become. And the babies of the MSM fall for it every time.
COMMENT THREAD | 1.87796 | 920 | 919 |
SHRM Survey
According to a survey from the Society for Human Resource Management, employers are very concerned about healthcare costs and plan to curb them by continuing to shift more of the expense to employees.
The survey found 79% of organizations that provide healthcare coverage to their employees indicate they are "very concerned" about controlling healthcare costs and plan to reduce costs by increasing employees' contributions to healthcare costs. 26% of company respondents they planned to increase employees' share of these costs in 2015.
19% of organizations that provide healthcare coverage indicated use of consumer-directed health plans, such as health reimbursement arrangements and health savings accounts, was the most successful tactic for controlling health care costs. About one-half of organizations, 56%, offered educational initiatives related to health and wellness and 48% offered lower-cost generic prescription drugs to help control the costs of healthcare.
(Source: SHRM's six-part Strategic Benefits Survey).
Upcoming Events
Law Day IV - February 12, 2015, Livingston, NJ
Executive Leadership Conference - April 22-23, 2014 The Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
1 in 3 Workers Will Quit Without a Raise in 2015
35% of 900 people surveyed in New Jersey plan to look for a new job if they do not get a salary increase in 2015, according to a survey by the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University.
According to the New Jersey Business and Industry Association's 2015 Business Outlook Survey, 56 percent of companies gave pay raises to their employees in 2014. That number represents a steady increase from 2009, when only 31 percent gave pay raises. As for 2015, 61 percent said they plan to give raises, which is 5 percentage points higher than those who actually gave raises in 2014, and slightly more than the 57 percent who indicated in last year's survey that they planned to give raises in 2014.
The survey shows that of those who plan to give pay increases:
33 percent said they plan to keep hikes in the 1 to 3 percent range;
20 percent plan to give raises in the 3 to 5 percent range; and
7 percent plan to give raises of 5 percent or more.
Save The Date - Executive Leadership Conference
The NJSA's Executive Leadership Conference is planned for April 22-23 at The Borgata in Atlantic City. Mark your calendars for
"Your Staffing Tool Box: Build to Lead."
____________________________________________
Be among the top staffing firms in
New Jersey to attend this comprehensive one-day conference on legal matters that matter to you.
Eisenhower Conference Center * Livingston, NJ
Register Online Today!
Here's a great chance to hear from top speakers on the topics that matter most to you and our industry.
Robert Kulick, Regional Administrator, Region II
David Sprong & Timothy Szuhaj, Becker Meisel
Nick Florio, CPA, Partner, Citrin Cooperman
LaTanya James Rouse, ASA Assistant General Counsel
Helen Konrad, Esq., McCandish Holton P.C.
Marc Freedman, Esq., NJSA General Counsel
For complete bios and detailed conference, download
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Three of these approaches are well known: gas counterpressure, a movable core or cavity that withdraws after filling to allow foaming, and a textured mold surface to hide swirls or bubbles. A variation on the last approach is what Cramer calls a “structured” cavity surface, which is etched with geometric structures such as pyramids, that permit better venting of the escaping gas and also help conceal defects.
In addition, Cramer suggested using a heat-insulating coating on the cavity surface that’s designed to slow the cooling of the outer skin of the part to avoid freezing in gas bubbles or streaks. It does impose a minor increase in cycle time, Cramer concedes. | 1.746207 | 912 | 910 |
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Home > Community > Health Library > Asthma Attack
An
asthma attack (also called an acute asthma episode,
flare-up, or exacerbation) is a sudden increase in the symptoms of asthma,
including:
The symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how much
the airflow to the lungs is reduced. Attacks can be brief (about an hour) or
last for several days. They may be seasonal (similar to hay fever) or occur
during any season.
Asthma symptoms may start suddenly or up to several hours after you
or your child has been exposed to triggers, such as tobacco smoke or
animal dander. In some cases (such as with asthma that
happens during your job), symptoms may not occur until 4 to 12 hours after
contact. Although severe attacks may seem to occur suddenly, they usually occur
after several days of increasing symptoms.
Asthma attacks are caused by:
Although attacks can be serious, they can usually be treated at home.
Many people have an
asthma action plan, which is a written plan that tells
you what medicine you need to use, based on the severity of the attack, and
when you should call a doctor or seek emergency treatment. You and
your doctor create the action plan.
The best strategy for avoiding and treating asthma attacks is being
able to recognize an attack and know what to do. When creating an asthma action
plan, be sure to talk to your doctor about:
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerJohn Pope, MD - PediatricsSpecialist Medical ReviewerLora J. Stewart, MD - Allergy and Immunology
Current as ofMay 23, 2016
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Medical Review:
John Pope, MD - Pediatrics & Lora J. Stewart, MD - Allergy and Immunology
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Abstract
Purpose: Platelet extracts can stimulate cell growth and contribute to tumor biology. It was recently shown that they stimulate the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and decrease apoptosis. Doxorubicin is a commonly used HCC chemotherapy that increases apoptosis. We therefore examined the effects of platelet lysates (hPL) on doxorubicin-mediated HCC cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction.
Methods: Three human HCC cell lines, PLC/PRF/5, Hep3B and HepG2 cells, were grown in culture and growth was measured by the MTT assay and apoptosis was measured using Muse Annexin V assay kit. Cells were also probed by Western blot.
Results: hPL decreased doxorubicin-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in all three cell lines. When doxorubicin and hPL were added at separate time intervals, protection by hPL was also observed. WB showed that hPL caused prolonged and increased levels of phospho-JNK and phospho-p38. Furthermore, a p38 inhibitor abrogated the modulating effects of hPL on both growth and apoptosis, indicating its importance in mediating hPL actions. WBs also showed that hPL decreased doxorubicin-induced markers of apoptosis.
Conclusions: hPL modulate the actions of the cancer chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin. Platelets are part of the complex microenvironmental milieu and their effects may contribute to a modulation of chemotherapy actions. Conversely, drugs that alter platelet levels or degranulation could potentially augment doxorubicin actions on HCC cells. | 0.9303 | 1,005 | 1,003 |
ERIC Number:ED507117 Record Type:Non-Journal Publication Date:2009 Pages:35 Abstractor:ERIC Reference Count:58 ISBN:ISBN-978-1-921413-19-3 ISSN:N/A
Understanding Vocational Education and Training, Productivity and Workforce Participation: An Issues Paper
Evesson, Justine; Bretherton, Tanya; Buchanan, John; Rafferty, Mike; Considine, Gillian
National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
This issues paper reports on the findings from the first year of a three-year program of research by the University of Sydney's Workplace Research Centre. The overarching aim of the research is to investigate how, if at all, vocational education and training can make a difference in improving productivity and workforce participation. The authors describe four domains of social and economic practice in which to frame the second and third year's research, and the key challenges for workforce development in two particular industries: meat processing, and early education and care. The four domains described herein are: (1) the core service and/or product of interest; (2) the context of labour's deployment and development in production/service provision; (3) the pools and flows of potential workers and learners; (4) the formal system of vocational education and training. In understanding each of these different domains, researchers will be better able to map the interdependencies between employers, workers, potential workers and VET. This paper has three parts: first, it summarises categories crucial for untangling the complexities of "workforce development" to allow informed and clear analysis of the key issues; secondly, this report uses those categories to outline the primary workforce development issues as described by key informants expert in the two industries and contained in relevant literature; and, finally, a fieldwork research strategy is proposed that includes work site studies, local labour market studies and further analysis of the literature. (Contains 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Vocational Education, Job Training, Labor Force Development, Child Care Centers, Agribusiness, Industry, Productivity
National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd. P.O. Box 8288, Stational Arcade, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. Tel: +61-8-230-8400; Fax: +61-8-212-3436; e-mail: ncver@ncver.edu.au; Web site: http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/index.html
Publication Type:Reports - Research Education Level:Postsecondary Education Audience:N/A Language:English Sponsor:N/A Authoring Institution:National Centre for Vocational Education ResearchSource
J Agric Saf Health 2000 Nov; 6(4):245-247
Abstract
A farmer owns four tractors, all without Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS). He and his wife have worked their hilly, 600-acre farm for 25 years without an overturn. He knows three people in his region who died in tractor overturns and four others who survived overturns on tractors without ROPS, one who never fully recovered from his injuries. He has seen many stories and photographs in newspapers and farm magazines about fatal tractor overturns. Extension agents and equipment dealers have encouraged him to put ROPS on his tractors to protect himself and his family. He has the money to do so, but says, "Until I get a bigger and newer tractor, I'm not going to worry about getting a ROPS. And when I get a newer tractor it won't be for the ROPS!" How can the farmer's statement be explained?
Keywords
Accident-prevention; Accident-rates; Accidents; Agricultural-industry; Agricultural-machinery; Agricultural-workers; Agriculture; Families; Farmers; Safety-climate; Safety-education; Safety-measures; Safety-monitoring; Safety-personnel; Safety-practices; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Education; Educational-resource-centers; Tractors; Training; Risk-analysis; Risk-factors
Contact
University of Kentucky, Lexington
Document Type
Journal Article
Funding Type
Agriculture; Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U50-OH-007547
Source Name
Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health
Performing Organization
University of Kentucky | 1.186369 | 921 | 919 |
RN1263 4,800 Views
Joined Mar 19, '03.Posts: 487 (13% Liked)Likes: 101
I read about a proposal (by physician groups) to add a 40% increase for all salty foods to reduce hypertension world wide.Seriously? I eat super healthy 90% of the time and exercise over 5 hours a week and now the 2 times A year I buy chips I am going to pay 40% more?Inch by inch, step by step, all of this is getting so carried away. I believe I have the right to make my own good or bad decisions. No, it is not ok to drive drunk and harm others of course, but just because I might some day cost someone somewhere money because I have hypertension that may or may be sodium moderated?All these previous intrusions that have been allowed into what we do in our own non-working time have laid down the foundation for more and more of this.
If anybody wants to "look" at me or anyone else and use looks alone as a basis for making them their role model, they are an idiot. You should role model who people ARE, not what they look like. Helen Keller wasn't beautiful, but she turned darkness and silence into light and language. Eleanor Roosevelt was ugly as sin, but did more to advance the rights of minorities and women than any First Lady before or since. Mother Teresa was small, scrawny and wrinkled, but did more good in one day than I could hope to do in my whole life. If I'd had a daughter, I'd rather she came out like one of them, than a shallow idiot who bases their life on their looks. I have no desire to stand before God at the end of my life and when he says, "what good did you do with the life I gave you?" all I can say is, "I was thin and a snappy dresser."
I think it's such a touchy subject because there has always been an accepted fat discrimination. When a child is fat, he/she is teased in school and by his/her family etc.. all through life fat people are looked at as frumpy, lazy, dirty, pigs, etc. It's "OK" to call someone "fat pig" etc. It HURTS!!!! I believe that's where the passion comes from. And now to hear that fat people won't be permitted to work as well d/t their weight, DESPITE being a very good nurse and as competent as the next person, they are not judged by their individuality - but by their appearance. That's a GENERALIZATION! And we shouldn't generalize a population. Think of those nasty stereotypes.. I won't mention them out of respect.. but they're rampant, and they shouldn't be. Many MANY people do not represent that stereotype.SO.. now is it going to be.. "You're so fat you can't even GET A JOB!!!" ha ha ha... ???I can see the health issues long term.. but the cruelty doesn't help, it hinders! Call it whatever you want.. it still boils down to D I S C R I M I N A T I O N ! ! !
I'm so glad I don't have to work with you 8mpg since in your opinion I'm lazier than you and can't work as a nurse because I too slow and can't physically do the job. What a load of malarky. Since you think insults are the best way to get your point across, point taken.It's not logic, it's discrimination plain and simple whether you care to see it or not. You show a lot about your true self in your attitude towards your perceptions of your overweight coworkers and patients.Personally, I think this thread had run its course. It's sad that fellow nurses are "fine" with discrimination of any kind. It doesn't matter if the hospital can hire whomever they want, wrong is wrong. I guess the next thing will be to let go any of their employees over 50 because "the customer expects a certain look". And guess what, they can do it without crossing into age discrimination.
I am empathetic to everyone who struggles with weight. I do support the right of employers to make prudent decisions about whom they hire, and that includes excluding candidates statistically likely to miss more days of work and add to the health insurance burden. I do not support the current structure of insurance and for profit health care, but it is what it is, and so long as we are trying to operate within this framework tough and unpopular decisions will have to be made.
While we're at it, I think employers should start screening for caffeine use. Nurses that use any mind altering substance are just hypocrites when they talk to their patients about healthy lifestyles. Caffeine increases GER, causes hypertension, and leads to headaches, amongst many other things. And let's not forget | 2.011183 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
the irritability that caffeine withdrawal causes. We'd probably cure all the lateral violence and customer service problems if we just stopped allowing nurses to have caffeine.
I am empathetic to everyone who struggles with weight. I do support the right of employers to make prudent decisions about whom they hire, and that includes excluding candidates statistically likely to miss more days of work and add to the health insurance burden.
"Sane" and "insane" are legal concepts, not medical/psychiatric concepts, and I don't think the issue has anything to do with "contempt." The standard for being found "sane" and competent to stand trial is quite low. "Just" being seriously mentally ill is not, by itself, sufficient (and, indeed, the vast majority of the mentally ill, even the seriously mentally ill, never intentionally hurt anyone else or break the law in any significant, dramatic way). Lots of people are "bat **** crazy" without meeting the legal standard for being "insane." This is why defense attorneys never use an insanity defense unless they truly have absolutely no other option; and, even then, it's successful in only a small minority of cases."Consider the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Dahmer was arrested in Milwaukee in 1991 after he had killed at least 13 victims. His apartment contained the remains of many young men who he had brutally murdered and dissected. He poured acid on his victims, cut them into pieces and preserved their heads and genitals. He treated, preserved and decorated the skulls of his victims. His crimes are a litany of perversion and torture that is rare even for sexually motivated serial killers. In court, his attorneys attempted to plead Dahmer not guilty by reason of insanity. But prosecutors were able to prove that Dahmer knew full well that killing was against the law and what he was doing was wrong. The insanity plea was not accepted in his case. If someone like Dahmer could not be categorized as legally insane, then it stands up to reason that the criteria for insanity must surely be a difficult standard to meet.This is the reality of the insanity defense in America: difficult to plead, seldom used and almost never successful. But in that small number of cases where it is successful, it is sometimes manipulated or abused in a way that often grabs headlines and captures the imagination of the public. Ultimately, only a jury can decide the issue of insanity, which in itself may be the most controversial aspect about the insanity defense. In other words, people who have no training in the field, rarely come into contact with the mentally ill and have a minimal understanding of the issues involved, make legal, long-lasting judgments that are frequently based on shifting criteria."All about the insanity defense by Mark Gado Crime Library on truTV.com I, personally, am glad that it's not easier than it is to be successful with an NGRI defense in court. This is one of those "slippery slope" kind of things, IMO.
85% pass the first time that they take the exam.So that means that 15% will need to take it again.The number of questions that you get has no bearing on telling you if you passed or did not pass. I get quite a few e-mails and pms from those that did not pass with 75, as well as those that passed with 265. The number is just that, a number. Too much focus is placed on that, and too many ulcers are created.
It means you really really passed, or you really really failed. I think the test is designed to give you more leeway if you aren't doing well; to give you an opportunity to work off your test anxiety, etc. So I think that it is MORE likely to give you more questions if you aren't doing well and LESS likely to if you prove yourself.Most people that stop at 75 pass is my understanding.I'm just glad I took the paper test.~faith,Timothy.
I have been doing home health now for 6 months and I love it. YEs, when I had 18 patients the case management felt overwhelming but I have a good support system, and my learning curve has been long as far as Medicare regulations go but the one thing I know is that the harder I work, the more I get paid. Unlike in the hospital when the harder I work-hey thats just great, I kept them alive 'til 645. Its a matter of figuring out how to work smarter, not just harder.And yes I am one of those with a problem with authority and constant oversight. Thats what drew me to Home Health.
I think many home care nurses quit because they don't understand the nature of home care. They think that it will be an easy job and no one is looking over their shoulders. I think that home care draws a lot of "loner" -type nurses who balk at authority and don't always have the personality to maintain relationships. When they discover that home care is heavily regulated and relies | 1.918676 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
The Rs 15,000 crore organised retail business is having a cracking Diwali this year. Consumer spending at retail outlets in urban India is estimated to have grown by more than 50 per cent this festive season compared with last year’s season.
"With the economy doing well and gold prices shooting up, the middle-class is splurging on categories like apparel and footwear," said Kishore Biyani, chairman and managing director, Pantaloon Retail.
According to Biyani, sales in his Big Bazaar stores have nearly doubled this festive season, with the company clocking sales of nearly Rs 5 crore a day and Rs 20 crore on weekends.
"This Diwali is shaping up to be a very good one for the industry," said Sanjay Badhe, director (operations and customer care), Shoppers’ Stop.
Although the company would not comment on sales because of its impending initial public offer, executives said growth was over 50 per cent this year.
Shopping malls are also reporting a near 50 per cent increase in footfalls this season and sales have gone up by more than 30 per cent. Sahara Mall in Gurgaon, the upcoming mall capital of the country, has witnessed average footfalls of 25,000 on weekends and nearly 12,000 on working days. This is 50 per cent more than last season.
In Mumbai, some of the shopping malls are giving away gifts worth over Rs 50 lakh to woo customers. Crossroads, R Mall and Inorbit are wooing customers with holiday packages, shopping binges and gift vouchers.
Malls are also apportioning a significant percentage of their earnings towards promotions. Print and radio are the preferred mediums for the malls. Ad budgets for the malls are anywhere between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh but they are not complaining as footfalls are increasing.
Crossroads has an average footfall of 20,000 a day, which doubles during weekends and on special days. Sunil Nair, associate vice-president (mall operations), Crossroads, says: "On days like Dhanteras, the footfalls are anywhere between 40,000 and 50,000."
R-Mall has been experiencing 70,000 footfalls since November 7. It expects a 30 per cent increase in sales during this period, while Crossroads is looking at a 40 per cent rise.
Mall owners say customers are not shying away from splurging heavily on both consumer durables as well as jewellery and clothing. Some of the malls in the Capital like Centrestage, Citycentre and MGF have reported average sales of Rs 2,500 per person in this season.
Explaining the rush, Arvind Singhal, chairman of KSA Technopak, said consumer confidence in urban India was at an all-time high.
"There has been a significant amount of new job creation in urban India in the last 12 months. And it is not just the information technology or the IT-enabled services sectors that are contributing to this phenomenon, but others like retail, food services and telecom are also creating huge employment opportunities," he said.
Singhal, however, added that consumer spending in rural India for the same period may not be as healthy because of the poor monsoon in some regions.Determinants of Bank Selection Choices in Malaysia: A Demographic based Investigation
Celestine Fernandez, Dominic (2008)
Abstract
Banking is an important contributor to the economic growth around the world. The benefits of understanding consumer selection decisions will provide bankers with a competitive advantage as it has the ability to influence the marketing mix. With rising overheads and price competition, the profit margins earned from bank services are being narrowed. Banks will have to capture a sizeable customer base to sustain their profitability and turnover. Malaysia was chosen for this study as banks have been consolidating in recent times and the diversity of ethnicity, culture and demographic factors prevalent in this country would certainly have an impact of the bank selection behaviour in Malaysia. To accomplish this purpose, data for this study was obtained via a survey. The survey results indicated no attribute obtained was an outright determinant of bank selection choices. This was attributed to the diverse needs of respondents as revealed by this survey. While some determinants such as location was of prime importance when selecting a bank, other factors that emphasize of better social interaction between banker and client, is gaining prominence partly due to the influence of Asian culture. It also revealed the use of the consumer decision making model when selecting bank choices. As a whole, this study was able to achieve its objective in understanding and providing a snapshot of the important determinants in bank selection based on the feedback from survey respondents. How a larger sample over a greater length of time is deemed to provide a better understanding of trends in Malaysia.
Actions (Archive Staff Only) | 1.69601 | 1,017 | 1,015 |
Dance Your Way to a Healthier You!
Some people can't help but start tapping their feet, when music is playing. Others notice their body swaying in time to elevator music. Are you one of those people? I happen to recall being in elementary school and seeing a long, grocery aisle as an opportunity to perfect my leaps! Much to my mother's chagrin, I eventually was given the job of "pushing the grocery cart" to avoid making a scene. All of these examples are our bodies' way of getting movement into our daily lives. Did it ever occur to you that maybe you needed to move or dance as an outlet to stay healthy? Did you ever consider how many ways all of us can incorporate dance into our routines to encourage a healthier lifestyle? According to the AARP website, there are four building blocks to your health and fitness: flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance. Dance utilizes all four of these elements.
“Be more flexible,” they say! Flexibility is key in working relationships and personal matters, but in dance, flexibility is necessary. Flexibility increases our range of motion and helps prevent injury. Just as a football player wouldn't be tossed into a game if he hasn't warmed his body up, a dancer wouldn't dare enter the performance space without a proper warm up. The warm up can be as short as fifteen minutes or as lengthy as an hour, but it's purpose remains the same---to prepare the body to dance by engaging the large muscle groups into activity with flexion and extension. I stress to my own dancers that the most important part of our dance class are the warm up exercises to prepare your body and mind. All of those exercises are designed to initiate movement from head to toe, and each exercise leading into the next one gradually helps that movement become bigger and bigger. In a ballet class, we start at the ballet barre with tendu, keeping your toe on the ground and extending your leg away from the body. Later, we move to grand battement, which is a long, brushing kick while standing at the ballet barre. Those exercises prepare the body for grand jeté, which is a leap across the floor. In the first exercise the leg extends only a tad, followed by the brush kicks, and finally reaching full stretch in a leap. Flexibility allows your body the freedom of expression, without being hindered by a limited movement range.
Strength training and dance don't sound like they go together. Many of us see a petite, lithe ballerina and don't picture her with dumbbells. What many people don't know is that in dance, we resist against our own weight. The movements look light and effortless, but the energy involved and attention to each placement of the arm, head, and leg against the force of gravity weigh in at a hefty amount. For a dancer to hold her body in “ballet first position”, she presses down through her feet, at the same time lifting up through her head and spine. Her turnout muscles engage in her hip joint and spiral down her legs. Her stomach muscles are pulled upward and into her spine, while she's holding her arms out at her sides and feeling them from deep behind her shoulders in her back. All of this is just a fraction of what's going on in her head while she is “simply” standing still. We've all heard in news reports that strength training builds muscle, and muscle burns fat. Dancers may not use machinery or weights on stage, but their muscles are strong and their bodies are lean.
Immediately when I think of endurance, I think of Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France bike challenge. Pedaling continuously for so many days under warm conditions and keeping hydrated is enough to make you happy, you can watch it from your couch. Endurance and repetition go hand and hand. Have you ever seen a dancer do just one jump or one turn? NO! When you repeat that jump combination for the fourth time and still don't have it exactly right, you find yourself checking your pulse and monitoring your heart rate; however, after you've been dancing continuously for a few months, you find that same combination four tries later not to be as strenuous on your heart. Over the course of those months, your lung capacity has increased by proper breathing techniques that coincide with each movement and your endurance capacity is also on the rise. Dance is very physical and the well-trained dancer builds her endurance in rehearsals to combat the extra nerves and adrenaline rush for opening night.
Lastly, balance is more than being able to stand on your tiptoes. Dancing increases your well being by building confidence with each correct step and offering a social outlet too. The structured environment of a dance class builds self-discipline by; preparing you to always be on time, wearing the proper attire, learning how to follow oral and visual directions, and showing respect for your instructor and partner. Consider the calming effect of the yoga “om”. The vibration in your mouth and your concentration on the sound you are making quiets everything around you to | 1.811998 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
The 10 PLANKS stated in the Communist Manifesto and some of their American counterparts are...
1. Abolition of private property and the application of all rents of land to public purposes.
Americans do these with actions such as the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (1868), and various zoning, school & property taxes. Also the Bureau of Land Management (Zoning laws are the first step to government property ownership)
2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
Americans know this as misapplication of the 16th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, 1913, The Social Security Act of 1936.; Joint House Resolution 192 of 1933; and various State "income" taxes. We call it "paying your fair share".
3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.
Americans call it Federal & State estate Tax (1916); or reformed Probate Laws, and limited inheritance via arbitrary inheritance tax statutes.
4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.
Americans call it government seizures, tax liens, Public "law" 99-570(1986); Executive order 11490, sections 1205, 2002 which gives private land to the Department of Urban Development; the imprisonment of "terrorists" and those who speak out or write against the "government" (1997 Crime/Terrorist Bill); or the IRS confiscation of property without due process. Asset forfeiture laws are used by DEA, IRS, ATF etc...).
5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.
Americans call it the Federal Reserve which is a privately-owned credit/debt system allowed by the Federal Reserve act of 1913. All local banks are members of the Fed system, and are regulated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) another privately-owned corporation. The Federal Reserve Banks issue Fiat Paper Money and practice economically destructive fractional reserve banking.
6. Centralization of the means of communications and transportation in the hands of the State.
Americans call it the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Department of Transportation (DOT) mandated through the ICC act of 1887, the Commissions Act of 1934, The Interstate Commerce Commission established in 1938, The Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Communications Commission, and Executive orders 11490, 10999, as well as State mandated driver's licenses and Department of Transportation regulations.7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state, the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan. Americans call it corporate capacity, The Desert Entry Act and The Department of Agriculture… Thus read "controlled or subsidized" rather than "owned"… This is easily seen in these as well as the Department of Commerce and Labor, Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Mines, National Park Service, and the IRS control of business through corporate regulations.
8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.
Americans call it Minimum Wage and slave labor like dealing with our Most Favored Nation trade partner; i.e. Communist China. We see it in practice via the Social Security Administration and The Department of Labor. The National debt and inflation caused by the communal bank has caused the need for a two "income" family. Woman in the workplace since the 1920's, the 19th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, assorted Socialist Unions, affirmative action, the Federal Public Works Program and of course Executive order 11000.
9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries, gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equitable distribution of population over the country.
Americans call it the Planning Reorganization act of 1949 , zoning(Title 17 1910-1990) and Super Corporate Farms, as well as Executive orders 11647, 11731 (ten regions) and Public "law" 89-136. These provide for forced relocations and forced sterilization programs, like in China.
10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production.
Americans are being taxed to support what we call 'public' schools, but are actually "government force-tax-funded schools " Even private schools are government regulated. The purpose is to train the young to work for the communal debt system. We also call it the Department of Education, the NEA and Outcome | 1.643188 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Technavio’s latest report on the
global high-performance alloys market provides an analysis of the most important trends expected to impact the market outlook from 2016-2020. Technavio defines an emerging trend as a factor that has the potential to significantly impact the market and contribute to its growth or decline.
Chandrakumar Badala Jaganathan, a lead analyst from Technavio, specializing in research on
metals and minerals sector, says, “The market for high-performance alloys has increased considerably over the past few years. This can be attributed to the growing applications of these alloys in various end-user industries, including aerospace, electronics, oil and gas and gas turbines. The superior chemical and mechanical properties such as resistance to heat and corrosion, high tensile strength, and inertness toward alkaline chemicals are some of the characteristics that are increasing their acceptance.” Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=52635 Technavio’s sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.
The top three emerging trends driving the global high-performance alloys market according to Technavio
chemicals and materials research analysts are: Emergence of lightweight, high precision components in automotive industry Emerging applications of titanium alloys Growing prominence of nickel-based high-performance alloys Emergence of lightweight, high precision components in automotive industry
The automotive industry accounts for 16% of the total aluminum consumption. The metal is extensively used for the production of the individual body panel. The metal is also used in exhaust valve in diesel and racing car engines. Alloys containing composite aluminum fortified with aluminum silica fibers, aluminum reinforced, and titanium with silicon nitride are used as a lateral wear surface in diesel pistons.
Corrosion resistance, lightweight, and sturdy intermetallic properties have made alloys preferable for engine components such as rotor and turbochargers. These properties also help in extending the life cycle of the equipment made by using these materials. High-performance alloys also offer improved heat and sound insulation. They also help in reducing weight and increasing fuel efficiency. Further, these alloys are easy to handle, design, shape, and repair.
Emerging applications of titanium alloys
The growth in the industrial and marine application for titanium-based alloys will be supported by the development of new markets along with the expansion of existing ones. Properties such as resistance to erosion and corrosion, high strength, and low density of titanium are increasing their acceptance across many segments. The acceptance of titanium-based alloys in new application areas such as scrubber systems, flue gas desulfurization, sour gas and deep-well services, and various
marine
“Commercially, titanium-based alloys are becoming the standard material of construction in many services due to its corrosion resistance properties. The resistance of titanium to attack in many aggressive environments is allowing the end-users to plan on longer equipment life with reduced maintenance and downtime,” says Chandrakumar.
Growing prominence of nickel-based high-performance alloys
Nickel-based high-performance alloys are extensively used in the manufacture of aircraft and power-generation turbines, rocket engines, chemical processing plants,
nuclear power, and other challenging environments. These high-performance alloys are used widely in the production of aircraft parts and typically constitute 40%-50% of the whole weight of an airplane engine. They are mainly employed in combustors and engine turbines as these sections are subjected to extreme temperatures. Efforts toward reducing carbon emissions and improving fuel efficiency in jet engines are increasing in the aerospace sector. This factor is likely to drive the demand for nickel-based superalloys and lead to the development of new generation of superalloys.
Nickel-based high-performance alloys are also essential for improving the energy efficiency in steam turbines that are used to generate electricity. Nickel-based alloys have an excellent combination of high-temperature strength, resistance, and toughness to degradation in corrosive or oxidizing environments.
Browse Related Reports: Global Metal Additive Manufacturing Market 2016-2020 Global Zinc Market 2016-2020 Global Aerospace High Performance Alloys Market 2015-2019 Do you need a report on a market in a specific geographical cluster or country but can’t find what you’re looking for? Don’t worry, Technavio also takes client requests. Please contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and our analysts will be happy to create a customized report just for you. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.
Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range | 1.383729 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
The Human Auditory Development Lab (HADL) is located on the 3rd floor of the Boys Town National Research Hospital – East Campus. We study auditory development, and are particularly interested in understanding how infants and children hear and process target sounds in the presence of competing background sounds.
Infants and children must learn about speech and other important sounds in natural acoustic environments. These environments are usually noisy. There are several gaps in our understanding about the factors that influence how well children hear in noisy environments, including specific challenges faced by children who are hard of hearing.
We use behavioral measures to assess hearing in the laboratory. Some of our studies are focused on obtaining normative data from infants and children. Other studies are aimed at understanding how hearing loss influences the development of complex auditory skills. The results of our studies will improve our understanding of how hearing develops. Our results may also lead to enhancements in how sounds are delivered to infants and children who are hard of hearing.
We collaborate with faculty scientists, audiologists and trainees at Boys Town National Research Hospital. We also work closely with researchers at other US institutions, including The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Case Western Reserve University.
Lori Leibold, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Lori Leibold is the Director of Hearing Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital. She completed her Master's degree in Audiology at the University of Western Ontario. After working as a clinical audiologist, she completed her Ph.D. in Lynne Werner's Infant Hearing Laboratory at the University of Washington. Next, she completed postdoctoral training with Dr. Walt Jesteadt and Dr. Donna Neff at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Dr. Leibold was a faculty member in the Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for nine years before returning to Boys Town National Research Hospital in 2015.
Jenna Browning, Au.D., Research Audiologist (Jenna.Browning@boystown.org)
Jenna Browning's research interests include children's speech perception in complex listening environments and assistive listening technology for children with hearing loss. She completed her Au.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was a recipient of two grants that emphasized the training; of Pediatric Audiologists. While at UNC, she worked with Dr. Leibold in the Human Auditory Development Laboratory and then moved to Omaha to complete her clinical training in Audiology. She is grateful that Dr. Leibold and the lab moved to Omaha as well.
Heidi Lang, B.A., Research Assistant II (Heidi.Lang@boystown.org)
Heidi Lang studied English and Italian at Creighton University. Before joining Boys Town National Research Hospital, she worked as a marketing manager at MED-EL headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria. She plans to pursue graduate studies in speech-language pathology.
Margaret K. Miller, Au.D., Research Audiologist (Margaret.Miller@boystown.org)
Maggie Miller completed her clinical audiology training at the University of Texas in Austin in 2011. Before coming to Boys Town, Dr. Miller worked as a research audiologist at the New York University School of Medicine, with a focus on cochlear implant adaptation and bimodal listening. Currently, Dr. Miller is responsible for recruiting and testing research participants in a wide variety of auditory development studies, as well as general lab organization. In fall 2016, she will take on the position of project coordinator on an upcoming grant related to clinical bilingual speech perception. Dr. Miller's main clinical and research interests include cochlear implants and auditory development related to speech perception in complex listening environments in both pediatric and adult populations.
Paula Garcia, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow (Paula.Garcia@boystown.org)
Paula Garcia is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Human Auditory Development Laboratory at Boys Town National Research Hospital. Previously, she had completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Speech Perception and Acoustics Laboratory at Boys Town. She holds a B.S in Special Education from Universidad de Manizales, Colombia. After working as a school teacher for 10 years, Paula went back to school and completed a Master's degree in Neuroscience and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. In 2014, she received her PhD in Speech and Language Pathology from the same institution. Paula's doctoral work focused on examining behavioral and neurophysiological measures of non-native speech perception in bilingual children and adults. During the postdoctoral fellowship, she has been studying the effect of noise and linguistic maskers in the speech perception performance of Spanish-English bilingual children and adults.
Mary Flaherty, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow (Mary.Flaherty@boystown.org)
Mary Flaherty completed her Ph.D. in cognitive psychology at SUNY Buffalo, studying the effects of knowledge and experience on the perception of speech in humans and birds. Dr. Flaherty is currently transitioning into work | 1.144713 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
With next year’s election looming over Washington, housing may become a more critical political issue than ever as it becomes increasingly clear that the economy’s anemic recovery is unlikely to improve without a boost from the housing sector. What’s more, a recent poll of 2,000 likely voters found that Americans have strong opinions on the subject.
The poll, conducted in partnership by Lake Research Partners and Public Opinion Strategies, on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders, found that 73% of respondents felt it is “appropriate and reasonable for the federal government to provide tax incentives to promote homeownership.”
When asked about specifics, the strongest reaction came from the proposal to eliminate the home mortgage interest deduction (MID), which 71% of those surveyed opposed and 53% opposed strongly. That opposition held across party lines, with 76% of Republicans, 73% of Independents, and 67% of Democrats opposing the measure.
Lowering the MID was opposed by 63% of those surveyed, and eliminating the deduction for interest paid on a home equity loan was opposed by 58%. Even limiting the MID for mortgages over $500,000 or for those earning more than $250,000 per year met with disapproval among 53% and 55% of respondents, respectively.
And Americans are planning to take this deep-rooted support for homeownership to the polls. By a margin of two to one, those surveyed indicated that they are less likely to vote for a Congressional candidate who proposed to eliminate the MID. That opposition was strongest among Republicans, 60% of whom said they would be less likely to support such a candidate. Among Independents and Democrats, opposition stood at 56% and 55%, respectively. Even among Tea Party supporters, 61% of respondents would be less likely to vote for such a candidate.
“The bipartisan consensus outside the Beltway is that owning a home remains an essential part of the American dream, and voters would strongly oppose any efforts by lawmakers to increase barriers to homeownership,” said Calinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, in a press statement.
In districts held by freshman Republicans, 58% of those surveyed said they would be less likely to support a candidate who was in favor of doing away with the MID. And it’s not only congressmen who are likely to take notice, as there was another large group who said they would be less likely to support a candidate that wanted to do away with the MID: 54% of respondents in states that
The Washington Post’s Chris Cilliza designates as swing states in the race for president also said they would be less likely to support a candidate that wanted to do away with the MID. Claire Easley is senior editor, online, at Builder.
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Greenville, SC.ERIC Number:ED136851 Record Type:RIE Publication Date:1977-Feb Pages:6 Abstractor:N/A Reference Count:0 ISBN:N/A ISSN:N/A
Does Enjoyment Accompany Learning (A Student Perceptions Inquiry).
Blai, Boris, Jr.
A study was conducted at Harcum Junior College in order to ascertain what modes of learning students preferred and to determine which of these learning modes afforded the students the most enjoyment. A survey was distributed to the student body; a 50% rate of response was achieved. Results indicated that students felt they learned most from class discussion, lectures, and field trips, in that order, while independent study, movies, readings, and non-class rap sessions were ranked lower in terms of how much students felt they learned. For learning modes which offered students the most enjoyment, a plurality of students ranked field trips as being the most enjoyable, followed by movies and class discussions; independent study, non-class rap sessions, readings and lectures were ranked as being less enjoyable. Overall, the survey data did not reveal that student levels of enjoyment regarding the various modes of learning were congruent with their preferences among these learning modes. A number of teaching/learning techniques were perceived by students to be either a preferred mode of learning and/or of preferred enjoyment value, thus indicating that a variety of teaching techniques is the expressed group preference of students. (JDS)
Publication Type:Reports - Research Education Level:N/A Audience:N/A Language:N/A Sponsor:N/A Authoring Institution:Harcum Junior Coll., Bryn Mawr, PA. | 1.309089 | 921 | 919 |
Since Lesman started focusing on level instrumentation 15 years ago, we’ve seen a lot of change. High-tech solutions bring higher accuracy, the ability to automatically eliminate tank obstructions for fewer false readings, the ability to measure level in almost any medium, and even send data from remote tank level systems to a control room miles away.
So is there still a need for more traditional, pneumatic systems, like air bubblers? Absolutely! And why? Because there are still applications where DP, capacitance, ultrasonic, and radar level systems just won’t work.
An air bubbler system uses a tube with an opening below the surface of the liquid level.
A constant low flow of clean, dry air is passed through the tube by a filter-regulator. A constant-differential relay (regulator) maintains constant air flow under the varying head pressure of the liquid, and eliminates the effects of variations in the plant air supply.
A pressure transducer or transmitter monitors the tube’s back pressure, which is representative of the level head pressure. Any change in the liquid’s level corresponds to an equivalent change in the back pressure inside the tube. Digital pressure transmitters can also serve to provide local level indication.
Why use a bubbler for liquid level?
Because the only part of the bubbler that touches media is the air flow tube, it can be used for applications where you don’t want the liquid to contact a sensor. Plus, since the tube has no moving parts, bubblers are well-suited to measuring sewage, sludge, drainage water, or water with large quantities of suspended solids. And because the point of measurement has no electrical components, bubblers will work in hazardous areas.
Since bubblers can be used in small diameter pipes, they can allow for installations in tanks where other systems won’t fit.
Most importantly, where capacitance, ultrasonics, and radar level systems will fail when there’s foam on the surface of your liquid tank, a level bubbler will work. It also works reliably in the presence of vapors, and, unlike ultrasonics, can be used in media temperatures of more than 350°F. Bubblers are normally used in applications where foam, solid debris, sewage sludge, or turbulence make ultrasonic, radar, or float switch devices ineffective.
Bubbler level systems require extra care and maintenance
Every level technology has its disadvantages, and the bubbler is no exception. But proper maintenance and attention to the system can keep it performing for a long time.
The tip of the flow pipe can collect material from the process, which solidifies and plugs the hole. In cold environments and weather, moisture freezing in the air supply can cause the regulator to fail.
Bubbler system accuracy is dependent on a constant supply of clean instrument air, so if the air isn’t clean, the regulator will clog more frequently. (It’s not a matter of IF, it’s a matter of WHEN.) This means more regular maintenance, which brings a higher cost, even though the installation costs can be fairly low. Plus, since the accuracy is limited by the regulator, accuracy can vary by as much as 10% of full scale.
The need for system calibration is directly affected by changes in media density. So, if your medium is prone to change, your calibration time will increase. To avoid overfills, remember to calibrate at maximum temperature.
Sure, it’s an older technology, but the air bubbler is still viable for liquid level applications. Look here to learn more about liquid level bubbler systems.
Is a bubbler the right technology for you? If you’ve tried more advanced technologies in the past, you may want to consider them again. We’ve seen lots of improvements in ultrasonics and radar, for instance, since they were first released, making them work in applications where they couldn’t before. Check here for a comparison of level technologies and their strengths and weaknesses. cultivation,” explained Anwar. “We need better water management and more storage in the Indus.”
The Indus is literally the lifeline of the country and we need to be looking at the impacts of climate change on our water resources more seriously. We need to be talking about this challenge at various forums and raising awareness about the impending water crisis in the media, as veteran journalist Joydeep Gupta, the head of the Third Pole Network from India pointed out.
IWMI has been working on solutions that should be brought to the attention of our policy makers, farmers and urban dwellers: developing new storage and improving water infrastructure (repairing barrages and canals), growing more food with less water (using better water conservation technologies) and better managing groundwater resources. | 1.748751 | 952 | 950 |
The goal of this research is to create a collection of iPSCs reprogrammed from a unique source - the adult human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) - and use this to create a model of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases of aging. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in patients over age 50 and affects over 11 million patients, with vision loss in the macula, the center of the retina, needed for high acuity vision (reading, writing, recognizing faces). There ar no disease-altering therapies for AMD. A stem cell-derived RPE intraocular transplantation approach is in clinical trials, but this might not be an option for many elderly patients. A better understanding of the disease process could lead to new therapeutic options for this highly prevalent and devastating condition. Dry AMD is imperfectly modeled by murine species, which do not have a macula, or by transformed cell lines such as ARPE-19 that do not express key phenotypic features of human RPE. Human iPSCs can produce cells with the salient properties of native RPE. We propose that iPSC-derived RPE can form the basis of a valuable model of dry AMD. Several GWAS studies have demonstrated gene linkages for AMD, making it possible to screen iPSC lines for these SNPs to obtain a profile of known genetic risk. In addition a number of environmental factors have been shown to increase the risk of dry AMD, including the widely acknowledged factor, chronic oxidative stress. The macula RPE is exposed to an extraordinary level of oxidative stress due to focused light and to the diurnal phagocytosis of cone photoreceptor outer segments which contain very high levels of oxidized products. This stress causes significant changes within the RPE cells, resulting in inefficient phagocytosis and metabolism, and in some individuals, to the build-up of material into large excrescences that are deposited under the RPE causing inflammatory reactions and further damage - the hallmark of AMD is these 'drusen'deposits. Consequently, decades of chronic stress lead to alterations in the RPE, providing a strong rationale for producing iPSCs from this disease target tissue itself.
In aim 1 we will produce RPE cells from fetal, normal aged and AMD patient eyes, and from these generate iPSC lines that will be documented for AMD-related SNPs. In aim 2 we will differentiate these cells into RPE and characterize the cells with a comprehensive phenotypic and functional analysis. This aim will be carried out in collaboration with Sheldon Miller at NEI, an expert in RPE characterization. In aim 3, we will determine how these different lines respond to chronic oxidative stress in a novel model for dry AMD we developed for primary human RPE that measures production of several drusen proteins. Thus we will create a valuable iPSC-RPE based model for dry AMD. By comparing the responses of young, normal aged and AMD RPE-iPSC-RPE from several individuals, we will reveal changes associated with normal aging and macula disease. These CNS-derived iPSCs could be valuable for modeling other CNS aging diseases.
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly with over 11 million sufferers in the US alone and no effective treatments. Animal models do not have the correct retinal anatomy to model this disease, so alternatives are actively being sought. We propose to use the new human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to create a collection of young, old and AMD human iPSC lines, and use these to develop a novel model for AMD to accelerate progress towards therapeutics. This 'disease in a dish'model uses the relevant human retinal cells throughout the process, and therefore can help reveal the molecular pathways that decline with aging and that underlie AMD, a prevalent, devastating age-related neurodegenerative disease.Manitoba has become a leader in earth energy systems, also known as geothermal or ground source heat pumps. Earth energy provides the lowest cost heating and cooling in the world. Instead of burning fossil fuels or powering an electric element, a heat pump moves heat into or out of the ground. The only ongoing cost is the electricity to run the heat pump unit.
By installing a geothermal system, an average home could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately five tonnes each year – a 66 per cent or more reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional heating and cooling systems that use fossil fuels. Moreover, although an upfront investment is required to install geothermal, these systems can reduce annual heating and cooling costs up to 50 to 70 per cent. See the Manitoba Energy Division (www.manitobaenergy.ca ) for additional information on Manitoba’s geothermal sector and for information on programming support. | 1.397418 | 994 | 992 |
I'm here because I love genetics and football, but why have our other participants turned out? Matt Mealiffe MD is here because there's nothing worth watching on TV. Live results of genetic tests for breast cancer susceptibility really are a new low in televised entertainment, and going outside to play is a much more sensible way to spend your time.
Wenchypoo is here for the health benefits of exercise. Knowing your family's history of potentially genetic disease, and passing that information on to your kids, makes perfect sense in a world where health care is not universal. Good diet and lots of exercise are great ways to minimise the effects of any unhealthy genetic programming. If all else fails, we can always hope that the recent advances in biological data mining that David Hamilton has been telling us about will fulfill their promise of a better understanding of cancer and other diseases.
So that's one vote for football-better-than-TV, and one vote for exercise. Does no-one else want to share? Fair enough. Eric Michael Johnson points out that a person's involvement in processes such as voting may be genetically determined, so we shouldn't blame ourselves too much. The motivation to participate in democratic processes may be a byproduct of our evolved ability to co-operate with others, so it will be interesting to see whether the people that spoke up just now will make better team players.
It's getting cold out, so let's get this game started! It's Mendel's garden, so we'll let him kick off, even though I'm the only one who thought to bring a ball. (Luigi Guarino brought beer though. What a star! We're all very appreciative that barley, like some other crop and livestock species, was domesticated multiple times by our ancestors.) The maverick monk gets us started, and he's showing some nifty footwork for a religious man. Not quite the Hand of God, but some divine ball skills nonetheless. But the local favourite runs into a cloud of fruit flies and loses sight of the ball. He doesn't look too happy, in fact he seems to be taking the non-Mendelian mode of
Drosophila transposon inheritance a wee bit personally.
Greg Laden cues up the ball for the restart and plays a nice ball into the box. He's a very creative player, this one - or is he just reassembling existing moves into something that looks more creative than it is? Kind of like Craig Venter and artificial life? Hmmm. Let's just admire Greg's contribution to the beautiful game and leave the big questions to the philosophers on the next field over.
Eric picks up Greg's pass and plays a nice little one-two with David. He turns on a dime in the box. He shoots, he scores! 1-0. What a great demonstration of teamwork and inter-primate co-operation. Our intrepid goalie, Grrl Scientist, protests that she was distracted by a gang of wasps who were showing their own kind of co-operation and scaring the bejeesus out of her and the rest of the defense. Wasps have evolved group maternal and reproductive behaviour, switching between the two as their gene expression patterns change, and now they've evolved the ability to disrupt major international sporting events. They're worse than the bloody fruit flies. Maybe a garden is not the best place for this game.
The goal stands, regardless of insect interference, and the game resumes with a renewed passion as the other team tries to make amends. Dr Matt passes back to Grrl, who feeds the ball out to Luigi. Luigi nutmegs Mad Hatter - apparently defending against this feisty forward is almost as difficult as playing whac-a-mole with the constantly evolving polio virus - and threads the ball through to Wenchy, who's in acres of space.
Sudip Ghosh makes an impressive sliding tackle that gets the ball but unfortunately knocks Wenchy over. It looks like he may have mistaken Wenchy for James Watson, but instead of getting a Nobel prize rescinded, all he achieves is a free kick for the opposing team. Wenchy takes a shot at goal, it looks good, oooohhhh! Jesus saves, but I score on the rebound. 1-1.
That goal seems to have taken the competitive edge out of the game, and it's all gone a bit flat here in Mendel's garden. A few missed passes and long waits for the ball to be retrieved from behind the pea plants are making everyone feel that November cold and start thinking about the after-match hot chocolate.
But wait - Greg Laden has the ball again! The man from Minnesota is making maneuvers and heading for goal. Ohhhh, but he got distracted by some birds messing about in the pea plants. Avian adulterers might go for the best-looking mates, but that's no excuse for taking your eyes off the ball.
Luckily for Greg's team, Mendel picks up the ball in midfield (midgarden?) and gives us another glimpse of that magic | 2.147992 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
HBW 10 - Family text: Troglodytidae (Wrens) Class AVESOrder PASSERIFORMESSuborder OSCINESFamily TROGLODYTIDAE (WRENS) Very small to medium-sized, mostly insectivorous birds with finely pointed and often decurved bill, tail variously long and graduated to extremely short, one species with sturdy legs and bill; plumage colours mostly grey and brown, often with rufous tones. 9-22 cm. New World, one species also in Eurasia and north Africa. Forest, forest edge, scrubland, suburban gardens, marshes, desert brushland, rock faces. 17 genera, 85 species, 401 taxa. 6 species threatened; none extinct since 1600. Systematics Troglodytidae is essentially a New World family, most diverse in Central America and north-western South America, with only one species, the Northern Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), having escaped to the Old World. Everywhere, the members of this family are small, highly active, and highly vocal insectivores, perhaps seldom seen but always, it seems, dominating the soundscape.
The relationships of wrens to other avian groups have been debated over the years. In 1881, R. B. Sharpe, in the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum, classified the wrens as a subfamily within the Timaliidae, which also included the dippers (Cinclidae). A few years later, the American Ornithologists' Union, in its 1889 Check-list of North American Birds, included the wrens as one subfamily and the mockingbirds and thrashers (Mimidae) as another within the family Troglodytidae, which it placed just after the wagtails and pipits (Motacillidae) and the dippers, and before the treecreepers (Certhiidae) and the tits and chickadees (Paridae). In 1904, R. Ridgway discussed the long-suspected probability that other songbirds most closely related to the wrens were the treecreepers and the mimids, "not far removed" from the dippers. Ridgway used the relatively high degree of cohesion between the anterior toes to show that the wrens were more like the treecreepers and parids than like the mimids, the latter, which are often referred to as "mimic-thrushes", being in turn more like the true thrushes (Turdidae). E. Mayr and D. Amadon, in 1951, placed the wrens in the family Muscicapidae, which they subdivided into the seven subfamilies Muscicapinae, Timaliinae, Sylviinae, Malurinae, Turdinae, Miminae, and Troglodytinae. They thereby suggested a relationship with, among others, the Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae), the Old World warblers (Sylviidae) and the Australasian fairywrens (Maluridae). Another group that has often been associated with the wrens is the nuthatches (Sittidae). In a typical linear classification, Troglodytidae has been placed between the dippers and the mimic-thrushes, as by Mayr and Greenway in 1960, or between the treecreepers and the dippers, as by Ridgway in 1904.
In more recent decades, the data obtained by C. G. Sibley and J. E. Ahlquist from studies involving DNA-DNA hybridization suggested a novel hypothesis for the relationships of wrens. Their results indicated that the wrens, including the highly unusual Donacobius (Donacobius atricapillus), were the sister-group to the gnatcatchers (Polioptila), the gnatwrens (Microbates) and the Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps). The first two of these groups had traditionally been located within the subfamily Polioptilini of the Muscicapidae, while the Verdin had been included with the penduline tits in the family Remizidae. Furthermore, Sibley and Ahlquist suggested that the wrens, the gnatcatchers and the Verdin together formed a sister-group to the treecreepers of the genera Certhia and Salpornis, and proposed that they all be combined into a single family, the Certhiidae. This family, thus expanded, was a sister-group to Sittidae, which comprises the nuthatches (Sitta) and | 1.186127 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
the Wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria). In addition, these genetic data emphasized the groups to which the wrens appeared not to be closely related: the babblers, which were moved to the family Sylviidae, the mimic-thrushes, which were found to be a sister-group to the traditional starling family Sturnidae, placed in another superfamily, and the dippers, forming yet another superfamily.
These recent ideas concerning the relationships of wrens received considerable support from a subsequent genetic analysis undertaken by F. H. Sheldon and F. B. Gill, whose results were published in 1996. It was agreed that the wrens' closest relatives are the gnatcatchers and gnatwrens, the treecreepers and the nuthatches. These authors' data also supported Sibley and Ahlquist's hypothesis that the mimic-thrushes and Sturnidae, the starlings, are sister-groups, well separated from the wrens. The Verdin, however, remained with the penduline tits.
Many of these proposed relationships were, in turn, corroborated in 2002 by F. K. Barker and colleagues, and they seem now to be generally accepted. Thus, the sister-group to the wrens is Polioptila, and the two together are sister to the treecreepers. Somewhat less certain is that all of these birds are the sister-group to the nuthatches. Further, all of these groups appear together to represent a sister-group to a clade that includes the dippers, the starlings, the mimic-thrushes, the thrushes of the genus Turdus, and the Old World Muscicapa flycatchers.
Over the last century or so, the family itself has largely been accepted as comprising a cohesive, monophyletic group of species, once several members of the Timaliidae and the Sylviidae were removed. The one remaining problem, however, concerns the Donacobius, a puzzling marsh-nesting bird found throughout most of lowland tropical South America. Details of its anatomy, social structure and behaviour (see General Habits) have suggested that it is either a wren or a mimic-thrush, and classifications over the years have alternately placed this species in either the Mimidae or the Troglodytidae. One of the last public statements, in 1982, declared that the Donacobius is a wren, and not a mimid, a view based on a still unpublished study of pterylosis by M. H. Clench and colleagues. That declaration was accepted by the American Ornithologists' Union in 1983. A year later, the genetic data of Sibley and Ahlquist indicated that the Donacobius was, in fact, as genetically distant from the wrens as it was from the mimic-thrushes, although, somewhat surprisingly, Sibley and Ahlquist used this equivocal information to place the Donacobius among the wrens. More recent genetic analyses by Barker, however, suggest that this species is neither a wren nor a mimid but, rather, a unique "sylvioid", a group that includes the babblers and the Old World warblers, as it clusters close to Prinia and Zosterops.
For the time being, it is deemed best to retain the Donacobius among the Troglodytidae, pending its "official" transfer to a more appropriate taxonomic position.
Less effort has been expended in trying to determine the relationships among the genera within the wren family. Some debate has centred on the genera Hylorchilus, Catherpes and Salpinctes. In 1904, for example, Ridgway accepted all three genera, but in 1960 Mayr and J. C. Greenway placed the Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) with the American Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) in the genus Salpinctes. Sumichrast's Wren (Hylorchilus sumichrasti) was originally described in the genus Catherpes back in 1871, and then moved to Hylorchilus in 1897, although, 90 years thereafter, J. W. Hardy and D. J. Delany argued that, on the basis on vocal similarities, it should be returned to Catherpes. A vocally distinct former subspecies of Sumichrast's Wren was elevated to full species status in 1993, becoming Nava's Wren (Hylorchilus navai), and thereby providing a small point in favour of keeping these two closely related wrens in their own separate genus, Hylorchilus.
A recent survey of the wrens in the | 1.332722 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
genus Troglodytes, carried out by N. H. Rice and colleagues, is consistent with some suspected relationships, but it also offers some surprises. Most of all, it encourages further study not only of this genus but also of others within the family, especially the speciose Thryothorus. The genetic data obtained by Rice and co-workers indicate, not surprisingly, that the Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), the Southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus) and the Brown-throated Wren (Troglodytes brunneicollis) represent one major clade and, perhaps less expectedly, that the Rufous-browed Wren (Troglodytes rufociliatus) is a sister to this clade; in their analysis, the two house wrens are sister-taxa. An association of the same group of three species had been found in the analysis made just a few years earlier by R. T. Brumfield and A. P. Caparella, but these authors concluded that the Northern House Wren and the Brown-throated Wren were sister-taxa, a disagreement that will have to be settled through further analyses. Another major clade identified by Rice and colleagues included the Mountain (Troglodytes solstitialis), Tepui (Troglodytes rufulus) and Ochraceous Wrens (Troglodytes ochraceus). Surprisingly, the sister-group to these two clades was the Timberline Wren (Thryorchilus browni), and the Northern Wren fell well outside this grouping and was considered sufficiently different to be placed alone in a monotypic genus, Nannus. These various hypotheses of relationships are intriguing, but they are based on relatively limited genetic sampling, and the true relationships of these species to one another must remain a mattter of debate until further study is undertaken.
The only other proposed relationships among wren genera are those implied in various linear classifications, such as the sequence that is used in the present treatment. In such linear sequences, the genera Troglodytes and Thryorchilus, for example, are placed together, implying that they are closely related, but few data exist to support one linear classification over another.
Further genetic analyses, such as those by Barker, are likely to clarify relationships among the genera. In his thorough study, Barker drew genetic samples from 20 species among the traditional Troglodytidae, and from all genera except the monotypic Ferminia, Thryorchilus and Uropsila, although, as implied in the preceding paragraphs, Thryorchilus is assumed to be closely allied to Troglodytes. This study also incorporated close relatives of the wrens, such as treecreepers, nuthatches, mimids and a gnatcatcher, as well as several more distantly related species.
Barker's results conflict with the traditional linear series of genera, which had hitherto been the "best guess" of a sequence listed from "primitive" genera to "derived" ones. For example, although traditional linear classifications place Campylorhynchus first, and even within its own subfamily, these wrens are clearly not the sister-group to all other wrens, and phylogenetic trees show them nested well within, rather than basal to, the other troglodytids. In addition, such linear series place at the end those genera that tend to be ground-oriented, including Thryorchilus, Henicorhina, Microcerculus and Cyphorhinus, but this group is polyphyletic. Thryorchilus belongs to a clade that also includes Cistothorus and Troglodytes, while Microcerculus may be part of a basal radiation within the family, and Henicorhina and Cyphorhinus are sister-taxa, which in turn are probably sister to most Thryothorus.
Barker also concluded that Hylorchilus and Catherpes are sister-taxa, a result consistent with arguments based on similarity of song between the Canyon Wren and Sumichrast's Wren, with the distinct songs of Nava's Wren secondarily derived. It is possible that the sister-group of these wrens is the similarly petrophilous (rock-dwelling) American Rock Wren, which would permit all four of these species to be combined in the same genus, but other data suggest that Salpinctes, the rock wren, may be basal to all other wrens.
One of the more controversial of Barker's hypotheses is that the Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is a sister-taxon to Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii), the two being sister-taxa to the Campylorhynchus wrens. A discovery that Thryothorus is polyphyletic | 1.399394 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
, with, for example, Thryomanes nested within it, would not be so surprising in view of the large number of species currently contained in this little-studied genus, but the removal of the Carolina Wren to so distant a location is a rather novel hypothesis.
Clearly, these genetic data provide hypotheses for relationships that are worthy of further testing. Moreover, and above all, it is important to realize that the above-mentioned ideas are largely hypothetical, representing what are currently the best guesses based on limited data. It may be hoped that further research work will significantly clarify these relationships.
Research on vocalizations (see Voice) has suggested that recognition of additional species within the Troglodytidae may be warranted. The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris), for example, consists of highly differentiated eastern and western populations in North America, as also does the Northern Wren, the Old World population of which may represent a further one or more species. As revealed by D. E. Kroodsma and co-workers, the Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis), too, exhibits substantial variation in plumage, vocal behaviour and style of song development, and habitat selection (see Habitat) within its large range, which extends from North America down through South America, and it is almost certain that more than one species is involved.
So far as the Marsh Wren is concerned, not only do the eastern and western populations differ in many perceivable ways, many of these differences being based on genetic differences, but they also occur together in the same marshes in central Saskatchewan, where interbreeding between them is limited. Eastern and western males defend territories against one another, and analysis of mitochondrial DNA in the population largely reveals two types of wren, one eastern and one western, with little interbreeding. If they interbred freely, then one would expect a genetically homogeneous population of Marsh Wrens in this transition zone, but the two types of wren signal that they themselves distinguish each other as two species.
Another currently recognized species in which songs provide clues to past evolutionary history is the Northern Wren. In North America alone there are two strikingly different singers, again separated along east-west lines. Eastern and boreal males occur from Nova Scotia south to North Carolina, and west at least to Michigan and Minnesota, while western males have been documented from British Columbia south to California; it is not known where these two types of singer meet, if they do at all. In addition, the songs of Northern Wrens in the Old World are different from those in North America.
On the basis of singing behaviour alone, the emerging hypothesis is that the western Nearctic and eastern Nearctic Northern Wrens diverged first, followed by a divergence of eastern Nearctic wrens and Palearctic wrens. This hypothesis is now supported and enhanced by the work of Drovetski and co-workers, who analyzed the genomic DNA from 97 wrens from throughout North America and Eurasia. These authors estimate that the western Nearctic wren diverged from the Holarctic ancestor roughly 1·6 million years ago, and that the Holarctic ancestor diverged into eastern Nearctic wrens and Palearctic wrens about one million years ago. Within Eurasia, four more groups are now identified, having originated as follows: eastern and western Palearctic wrens diverged about 0·83 million years ago, and then each respective population diverged one more time, between 0·54 million and 0·67 million years ago. The proliferation of these groups thus occurred during the early and middle Pleistocene glaciations. How many species occur in this Holarctic distribution depends on one's definition of a species, but the best guess is that at least three should be recognized, two in North America and one in Eurasia, and that perhaps each of the four clades in Eurasia could also be recognized as a full species.
Very recently, differences in songs among supposed Grey-breasted Wood-wrens (Henicorhina leucophrys) were used in helping to identify a new species in the western Andes of Colombia. This new species, the Munchique Wood-wren (Henicorhina negreti), is found only at high elevations on the Pacific slope, in the extremely wet, stunted cloudforest that is almost continuously shrouded in fog. In the taller forest at lower elevations on the west slope, it is replaced abruptly by the Grey-breasted Wood-wren of the subspecies brunneiceps, and on the drier east slope by the nominate race of the latter. Compared with the adjacent populations of Grey-breasted Wood-wrens, the Munchique Wood-wren has a more distinctly barred abdomen, a darker juvenile plumage, relatively longer tarsi and a proportionately shorter tail.
It is likely that, were it not for the fact that these wrens learn their songs and therefore have geographically differentiated song dialects (see Voice | 1.636952 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
), far more species of wren would be recognized. New species are rather routinely described for various suboscines, such as the tyrant-flycatchers (Tyrannidae), the songs of which are not learnt and therefore represent a vocal signature for the genotype of the bird; in the case of Thamnophilus punctatus, another suboscine that presumably does not learn its songs, M. L. Isler and colleagues have suggested that what was previously considered a single species, the Slaty Antshrike, in fact consists of six or more species. Most species of songbird, however, offer no such obvious vocal clue as to how their populations are differentiated, and the conservative approach is therefore to keep the highly differentiated Northern Wrens in one species. The same reservations apply to the Marsh Wrens and the Sedge Wrens and, no doubt, to other troglodytids, too. Nevertheless, future research will surely lead to the elevation to species rank of a good number of these behaviourally and vocally distinctive taxa. Indeed, very recently published work suggests that the globally threatened Apolinar's Wren (Cistothorus apolinari) of Colombia may, in fact, consist of two species, differentiated not only morphologically and by habitat preference but also by song. One form, currently described as the subspecies hernandezi, not only has a different song from the nominate race, but additionally, and in contrast to the latter, indulges in communal group song, both antiphonal and in duet.
Morphological Aspects
None of the troglodytids is brightly coloured in plumage, and reds, bright yellows, greens and blues are entirely absent in the family. Instead, all wrens are various shades of brown or rufous, often with areas of black and white. Despite this modesty of coloration, some species, particularly in the genus Thryothorus, have very attractive patterns of plumage, especially around the head and chest. One feature characteristic of virtually all wrens, and largely absent in most other passerines, is the predominance of barring on both the remiges and the rectrices. This usually takes the form of narrow alternating sections of blackish or dark brown and lighter brown on the outer webs of the primaries and secondaries; the tertials and the rectrices are typically barred on both webs. In a few species, especially the ground-dwelling wrens inhabiting thick, wet, dark tropical forest, the barring is very muted or almost absent, but, on close examination, traces are still discernible, suggesting that the ancestral wrens were barred. The plumage of wrens tends to be soft and rather fluffy.
Most members of the family have twelve rectrices, although the Timberline Wren, the two members of the genus Hylorchilus and the enigmatic Zapata Wren (Ferminia cerverai) have only ten. The rectrices tend to be rounded, with the outer ones often significantly shorter than the central ones. The tail length differs widely among genera. In the genus Odontorchilus, containing two South American species that appear to be converging evolutionarily with the unrelated Polioptila gnatcatchers, birds of similar habits and lifestyle, the tail accounts for almost half of the bird's total length. In the cactus wren group, the genus Campylorhynchus, it is almost as long in relative terms. More usually, however, the tail is shorter, and in some genera much shorter. The Northern Wren, for example, has a tail that makes up only 25-28% of the total body length. The most extreme instance, however, is that of the ground-dwelling Microcerculus wrens, which appear almost tailless in the field, the rectrices being typically no more than one-fifth of the total length of the bird. This is a further example of convergent evolution, in this case with the small Grallaricula antpittas in the antbird family (Formicariidae), the habitat and habits of which they share.
All wrens have ten primaries. Although the tenth primary, the outermost, may be much reduced, it is always present. They have relatively short and rounded wings, with usually the middle primaries, P5 to P7, the longest. The primaries of some species, when spread out, seem almost to describe an arc of a circle. The wing shape has clearly evolved for a lifestyle centred around short flights in dense vegetation, rather than for aerodynamic efficiency. Notwithstanding this, some species, notably the Northern Wren and the Northern House Wren, undertake long migratory journeys (see Movements).
There is no sexual dimorphism in wren plumages. Males and females are essentially identical in virtually all cases. In addition, there is frequently little distinction between adults and young. In some members of the genus Campyl | 1.509028 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
orhynchus and a few of the genus Thryothorus, juveniles do differ markedly in plumage from the adults of the species, but in most genera the distinctions between adult and young plumages tend to be minor and subtle.
Although the troglodytid bill tends to be long and often substantially decurved, considerable variation exists within the family, the bill morphology being dependent on lifestyle and food preferences. Some genera, such as Salpinctes and Troglodytes, have a very fine bill. Members of Catherpes and Hylorchilus, two genera specializing in foraging on rock faces, have a bill that is especially fine and decurved; they also exhibit several other specific modifications, including a flattened skull, for obtaining prey from crevices in rocks. The two Odontorchilus wrens have a very fine bill with a peculiar little notch, of unknown function, two-thirds of the way down the cutting edge of the upper mandible. In the genus Campylorhynchus, several species of which include major quantities of hard vegetable matter as well as large, well-armoured arthropods in the diet, the bill may be quite heavy and powerful. Some members of this genus, such as the Band-backed Wren (Campylorhynchus zonatus), appear to specialize in probing for prey in epiphytes and, consequently, have a longer, finer bill.
The most peculiar bills in the family are found in the ground-dwelling genus Cyphorhinus. The bill is quite stout and powerful, with a curious upper mandible compressed into a sharp, wedge-shaped ridge along the upper surface, giving an odd "Roman-nose" appearance. The precise function of this character is not known. Another unique feature of this genus, shared with many other, totally unrelated South American suboscine passerines, is a patch of bare, coloured skin around the eye.
Rictal bristles are present in some troglodytid genera, such as Campylorhynchus, Henicorhina and Uropsila. In some cases, as in the three Cyphorhinus species and some Thryothorus wrens, they may be very short or unobvious, but in many genera, including Troglodytes, Cistothorus, Salpinctes, Catherpes, Hylorchilus and Microcerculus, rictal bristles are obsolete or absent.
As may be expected for a group of birds that spends most of its time in foraging near the ground, the legs and feet of wrens tend to be substantial in proportion to the small size of the birds, and in some cases they are rather heavy and powerful, with large claws. In contrast, the legs and feet of the canopy-dwelling Odontorchilus wrens are quite fine and dainty.
Finally, one species currently included in Troglodytidae, but almost certainly belonging elsewhere (see Systematics), differs in several respects from the "true" wrens. In general external appearance, the Donacobius resembles the mimids more than it does any wren. The wings are powerful and rather rounded, with very short primaries, and the tail is long and very graduated, almost fan-shaped in fact, with the outer rectrices much shorter than the central ones. The legs are long and very robust, and the bill is long and sturdy, with rictal bristles present but not very obvious. A unique feature of the Donacobius is the presence of a patch of bare yellow to orange skin on each side of the neck, not usually visible in the field, but distended during display.
Information on moult sequences is generally lacking for the great majority of wren species, namely those occurring in Central and South America; this would be a very fertile and productive area of study. More data are available for those species found in North America and Europe. Typically, the first moult that a bird undergoes, that in which it renews the original feathers that it grew as a nestling, occurs within a few months of fledging and is incomplete. The body feathers are replaced, but usually only some flight-feathers are renewed. The extent of this moult is variable, not only among species but also among different individuals of a single species. In Bewick's Wren, for example, some individuals replace no tail feathers at all in the first moult and some replace all of them, but about two-thirds of individuals replace only some of the rectrices. The more southerly races of this species tend to renew more feathers than do the northern ones. Among wrens, the replacement of the remiges in this first moult is frequently incomplete and often eccentric; rather than starting at the outermost or innermost primary or secondary and proceeding inwards or outwards in sequence, it begins several feathers in, thereby producing a mixture of old and new feathers in patches. In subsequent years, the prebasic mou | 1.419043 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
lt of all North American wrens is complete.
Most wrens do not undergo a pre-breeding moult, a spring moult that in some families, such as the parulid warblers, results in a characteristic bright breeding plumage. The exceptions to this are the Cistothorus wrens, which have a partial moult before breeding. In the case of the Sedge Wren, this results in the replacement of a variable number of greater wing-coverts, tertials and rectrices, but not, apparently, of the primaries or secondaries. A similar pattern is found in the Marsh Wren.
Habitat As a family, the wrens have been highly successful in adapting to a very wide range of habitats, occupying a variety of ecological niches which, in continents other than the Americas, are taken up by several different avian families.
The largest wren genus is Thryothorus, which has the greatest density of species occurring in southern Central America and north-western South America. Within this one genus there is a considerable diversity of habitat requirements, as may be expected since its members are found all the way from southern Canada south to Bolivia, but, in broad terms, all require areas of trees with substantial undergrowth. Some species, such as the Banded Wren (Thryothorus pleurostictus) and the Happy Wren (Thryothorus felix), are found in dry forest and bushland. The majority, however, favour more humid habitat, while some, such as the Bay (Thryothorus nigricapillus), Riverside (Thryothorus semibadius) and Coraya Wrens (Thryothorus coraya), show a preference for the vicinities of actual watercourses. Thryothorus wrens tend to live more at forest edge than in deep unbroken forest, doubtless owing to the presence of denser undergrowth in areas exposed to sunlight. Consequently, several members of the genus, such as the Plain Wren (Thryothorus modestus), have thrived in somewhat disturbed habitat where climax forest has been partially cut over or allowed to regenerate. Sometimes, there is an apparent division of habitat utilization between two species. In Colombia, for example, the Bay Wren tends to occur at forest edge, being replaced in the deeper interior by the Sooty-headed Wren (Thryothorus spadix), while in western Mexico a frequently sympatric pair of species, the Happy and Sinaloa Wrens (Thryothorus sinaloa), may have slightly different requirements, the latter being able to tolerate sparser woodland. Some species are largely associated with specific vegetation; among these are the Plain-tailed (Thryothorus euophrys) and Inca Wrens (Thryothorus eisenmanni), which usually occur in areas with Chusquea bamboo. Typically, the Plain-tailed Wren is the first colonist of highly disturbed land, such as landslips in the precipitous Andes, a habitat which is mimicked by spoil slopes from road construction. In Bolivia, Moustached Wrens (Thryothorus genibarbis) are often found in Bambusa bamboo, whereas Heliconia thickets in Costa Rica are the preferred habitat of both the Bay Wren and the Black-bellied Wren (Thryothorus fasciatoventris). Because of their preference for secondary growth, many species in this genus have survived, or even prospered, with man-made habitat change. The Stripe-breasted Wren (Thryothorus thoracicus) in Costa Rica has adapted well to cacao plantations at low altitudes and to shade coffee plantations at higher elevations.
The only temperate-zone Thryothorus, the Carolina Wren, which, according to recent studies, may not really belong in this genus (see Systematics), lives largely in highly modified habitats, such as abandoned farmland and well-vegetated suburbs. Its natural habitats included oak (Quercus) hardwoods and mixed woodlands of oak and pine (Pinus) having a variety of other tree species, such as hickory (Carya) and cottonwood (Populus). The two insular subspecies of the Carolina Wren, burleighi and nesophilus, are found in slash pine (Pinus elliottii) and palmetto stands.
In contrast to Thryothorus, the highly terrestrial members of the genus Microcerculus are much more restricted to undisturbed virgin lowland humid forest, and do not take at all well to habitat modification. The opening-up of the forest canopy induces lower-level growth unsuitable for these wrens. The four Microcerculus species are generally found at lower altitude, usually from sea-level to 1500 m, although the Flutist Wren (Microcerculus ustulatus) is a more montane species, being encountered at up to | 1.385791 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
2100 m on tepui summits in Venezuela.
Four troglodytids are closely associated with rocks. Ironically, the American Rock Wren exhibits the least morphological adaptation to this habitat, not differing greatly, in external form, from members of the genus Thryothorus. It occurs in habitats that range from fairly dry to very arid, and is usually to be seen in barren rocky places, including scree slopes, boulder falls and areas of bare, sunbaked mud. It will take advantage of mining and quarrying activities, occurring in areas of spoil and tailings, as well as colonizing areas temporarily made bare by clear-cut forestry. As a vagrant, with records over much of eastern North America, the American Rock Wren is often found in artificial situations which resemble its preferred habitat, such as concrete structures.
The three other rock-dwelling species are truly petrophilous, being associated with rock faces and showing major morphological adaptations to exploit this niche. Canyon Wrens are, indeed, associated exclusively with canyons, rock faces and, in California, sea-cliffs. Given this requirement, this species is quite catholic in its habitat choice, occurring in cool uplands at up to 3000 m, in dry oak-wood canyons or, in southern Mexico, in humid areas as low as 200 m. In contrast, the two members of the genus Hylorchilus are very specific in their habitat requirements and, as a consequence, have highly restricted geographical ranges. Both Sumichrast's and Nava's Wrens are found solely in forested karst limestone outcrops. The former can tolerate some slight changes to the forest cover, including the planting of shade coffee, since this does not impinge on the rock faces where it feeds, but for Nava's Wren any disturbance seems to be unacceptable.
Some wrens have radiated into marshland and swamp, exploiting niches that in the Old World are occupied mainly by various warbler genera of the family Sylviidae. The four species of Cistothorus have all specialized in wet, mostly monocotyledonous habitat of varying types. The Marsh Wren, as a breeding species, is usually confined to vegetation over standing waters, normally cat-tails (Typha), bulrushes (Scirpus) and reeds (Phragmites) in northern freshwater marshes, and cordgrass (Spartina) and sedges (Juncus) in brackish coastal marshes. Northern interior populations spend the winter in other fresh and brackish marshes, in the latter case frequently co-existing with resident, non-migrating individuals of the species. The Sedge Wren, on the other hand, in North America, usually avoids areas of standing water, preferring damp sedgy meadows, often with small bushes, although it may occur also in weedy rice paddies in the southern United States. In its extensive South American range, however, this wren's habitat varies enormously, from cold páramo in the Andes to open grassy savanna in Venezuela, dry cerrado grassland in Brazil, wet alder (Alnus) forest and bamboo bogs in Colombia, the borders of tidal marshes in Argentina and tussac grass in the Falklands. The great diversity of habitat occupancy, along with vocal differences, gives support to the argument for the separation of South American forms taxonomically from those in North and Central America (see Systematics).
The two subspecies of Apolinar's Wren differ markedly in their habitat requirements. The nominate race lives in similar lake-edge habitat to that occupied by the Marsh Wren, namely reedbeds dominated by cat-tails and bulrushes, albeit at altitudes of 2500 m to slightly over 3000 m. In contrast, the race hernandezi occurs higher up, between 3800 m and 3900 m, in boggy páramo with low shrubs and a hirsute leafy ground plant known locally as "frailejón" (Espeletia grandiflora).
Restricted to a very small area of Cuba, and one possessing a unique habitat, the enigmatic Zapata Wren has very specific habitat requirements. These are savanna-type swamp with sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) and rushes, and with some bushes which can be used as songposts. The water level in the Zapata Swamp is quite variable, but the Zapata Wren tends to live in drier areas, which allow it to forage on the ground.
Another wetland-dwelling species currently included within the family is the Donacobius. This relatively large bird, of uncertain taxonomic affiliation (see Systematics), inhabits brushy vegetation along riversides and the overgrown margins of water impoundments in the lowlands of tropical South America. Although it sometimes for | 1.572031 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
ages away from such areas, it invariably nests only in marshy vegetation.
In North America, the Northern Wren occurs in such boreal-type habitats as moist coniferous forest with extensive underbrush, but also in mixed hardwood-conifer stands. In addition, it is also found, in an extensive range of subspecies, on treeless or nearly treeless oceanic islands in the Aleutian chain. The same species, having invaded the Old World via the Bering bridge, has, in the absence of competition from other troglodytids, expanded into a catholic range of habitats in three continents. In western Europe, the most favourable habitat is damp woodland, either deciduous or mixed, with extensive undergrowth, but the species is also common in suburban gardens, in moorland scrub and on oceanic islands with scanty vegetation. In other parts of its Old World range it may be more restricted, as, for example, in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where it is largely confined to stream valleys and forests at altitudes between 1200 m and 1800 m; in Nepal, it is found at elevations of 2500 m to 4800 m.
In the Americas, the "house wren superspecies" (see Systematics) occupies many of the ecological niches exploited by the Northern Wren in the Palearctic Region, especially highly modified landscapes such as wood edges, well-vegetated suburban areas and regenerating abandoned farmland. The Southern House Wren, being unable to tolerate unbroken forest, does not occur over much of Amazonia, but it rapidly colonizes suitable clearings when they appear. Over the remainder of the continent, this species occupies a remarkable range of habitats, from quite highly urbanized situations to montane areas and arid regions with dry bushland, from sea-level up to 4000 m. In the Falkland Islands, the isolated Cobb's Wren (Troglodytes cobbi), obviously closely related to the mainland house wrens, has adapted to a harsh environment consisting of moorland and the tussac grass Paradiochloa; unlike any other troglodytid species, it has learnt to forage among seaweed on tidal shores, and it does in fact occur at higher densities in places where territories actually abut the sea. In contrast to the house wrens, the group of montane Troglodytes wrens occurring from southern Mexico southwards to northern Argentina is much more specific in its habitat requirements. This group, comprising the Mountain, Santa Marta (Troglodytes monticola), Ochraceous, Rufous-browed and Tepui Wrens, is usually restricted to various forest types, always in uplands and often at considerable altitude, in the case of the Santa Marta Wren up to 4800 m. Similar habitat, that of bamboo thickets in páramo and sub-páramo, is required by the appropriately named Timberline Wren.
Bewick's Wren often co-exists with, and perhaps suffers from competition from, the Northern House Wren in eastern North America. Here, it has benefited from European colonization, as semi-open habitat was created by the clearing of climax forest for farmland. In western North America, it occupies a very wide variety of habitats, including chaparral brushland, cactus-dominated scrub and riparian woodland, some of which are unsuitable for house wrens.
Forming a group of four closely related species, the wood-wrens are found in forested land from Mexico south to Bolivia. Notwithstanding their great morphological and behavioural similarities, they have developed distinct habitat requirements and only rarely occur together. The White-breasted Wood-wren (Henicorhina leucosticta) inhabits wet lowland broadleaf forest, mostly below 1500 m, whereas the Grey-breasted Wood-wren lives in humid mountain forest, usually above 1500 m, and extending up to páramo edge at 3800 m in Costa Rica. The Bar-winged Wood-wren (Henicorhina leucoptera) is found very specifically in a few high-altitude forests, usually very impoverished, with stunted trees and heavy ericaceous undergrowth, on leached quartzite soil, a habitat which it sometimes shares with the previous species. The fourth species, only recently distinguished as a separate species from the Grey-breasted Wood-wren (see Systematics), is the Munchique Wood-wren, which has hitherto been recorded only at 2250-2640 m in extremely wet, stunted cloudforest on the Pacific slope of the Colombian Andes. It is ecologically sharply separated from the two neighbouring subspecies of the Grey-breasted Wood-wren, one of which lives at lower elevations on the same slope, while the other occurs on the drier eastern | 1.521946 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
slopes of the Munchique massif. Although all three taxa can be seen within a distance of 1 km in some areas, no two of them have ever been found together.
The genus Cyphorhinus contains three species which, in appearance and habits, seem to be evolving convergently with the terrestrial antbirds, the habitat of which they frequently share. All occur in wet forest with extensive undergrowth. One, the Chestnut-breasted Wren (Cyphorhinus thoracicus), is a montane form, found in wet upland forest and cloudforest, often with a luxuriant growth of mosses and epiphytes. The other two, the Song Wren (Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus) and the Musician Wren (Cyphorhinus aradus), are lowland species, inhabiting humid forest and second growth with an extensive understorey, or várzea, from sea-level to 1000 m.
In the Andes, from Colombia southwards to northern Bolivia, the four species in the genus Cinnycerthia are very similar to one another not only in appearance but also in habitat requirements. All are found in wet mountain forest with a luxuriant understorey, usually between 1500 m and 3500 m, and often in association with thickets of Chusquea bamboo or in areas with extensive wet mosses growing epiphytically on tree boles and low branches. This genus as a whole does not tolerate extensive habitat modification.
The two Odontorchilus species are unusual among wrens in that they feed mostly in the forest canopy. As a consequence, both are restricted to areas of suitable forest, usually those which have not undergone much human modification. The Tooth-billed Wren (Odontorchilus cinereus) is a lowland species, found in tropical Amazonian forest below 500 m, while the Grey-mantled Wren (Odontorchilus branickii) lives in humid montane upper-tropical and subtropical forest of the Andes from Colombia south to Bolivia. The latter lives at 1400-2200 m on the Amazonian drainage, but can be observed as low down as 800 m on the Pacific slope.
The large wrens in the genus Campylorhynchus have succeeded in colonizing some habitats which are denied to smaller members of the family. No other troglodytid genus has been so successful in arid areas of Mexico and the south-western United States, although several other small insectivorous birds from different families, such as the Verdin and the gnatcatchers, have managed to exploit very arid landscapes. The Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) occurs in a number of different types of desert, although always with the proviso that there be spiny cacti, such as prickly-pear (Opuntia) or various species of cholla (Opuntia), in which to nest. In the absence of such cacti, as, for example, in uniform stands of mesquite bushes (Prosopis), the Cactus Wren is generally absent. Cactus Wrens adapt quite well, albeit at a lower density, to highly degraded and disturbed habitats, including such areas as gravel pits and junkyards, so long as sufficient suitable vegetation remains for foraging and nesting.
Several other members of the genus, such as the Fasciated (Campylorhynchus fasciatus) and Boucard's Wrens (Campylorhynchus jocosus), also specialize in semi-arid habitats, although none has been able to exploit true desert to the same degree as has the Cactus Wren. A number of species, such as the Grey-barred Wren (Campylorhynchus megalopterus), are found at higher altitudes in Middle America, when their habitats include pine and pine-oak forest. The Rufous-naped Wren (Campylorhynchus rufinucha) occurs mostly on the drier Pacific slope, where it is frequently associated with bull's-horn acacias (Acacia collinsii and A. cornigera). These trees are host to aggressive symbiotic ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex, which provide the nesting wrens with vicarious protection from predators such as white-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus) (see Breeding). In other parts of Middle and South America, species of Campylorhynchus have adapted to much more humid forest, where they may specialize in foraging in epiphytes, plant forms that are generally absent in arid areas. Troglodytids occurring in such humid biotopes include the White-headed Wren (Campylorhynchus albobrunneus) and the Band-backed | 1.281227 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
Wren, although, in areas where the two are sympatric, the former tends to be found in the wetter habitats. The Band-backed Wren is, in fact, a very adaptable species, occurring in a wider range of habitats than does any other member of the genus; it inhabits humid forest at sea-level in Mexico and Guatemala, palm groves, wet epiphytic and drier pure oak forest at intermediate altitude and, at 3000 m, cypress (Cupressus) forest. It can also tolerate substantially disturbed habitat, such as forest clearings and clumps of trees bordering farmland.
General Habits Among the different groups of wrens there is a considerable diversity of habits. The great majority of the species are found in forest of various types or at forest edges, mostly in tropical areas. These are complex biotopes, with several different ecological niches, the exploitation of which by different troglodytid genera has given rise to quite diverse behavioural patterns. Several groups of wrens keep on or close to the ground. The most highly terrestrial are the Microcerculus nightingale-wrens, which spend most of their time on the forest floor, walking with a mincing gait, constantly teetering the tail in the manner of an Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla). Nightingale-wrens fly only infrequently, and they are rarely caught in mist-nets, as they simply walk underneath them. In both behaviour and external appearance they are obviously converging evolutionarily with a group of small formicariids, the antpittas, the habitat of which they share. Almost equally terrestrial are the Cyphorinus wrens, which forage on or near the forest floor and which, again, share many morphological characteristics with the unrelated terrestrial antbirds.
Wrens enjoy a reputation for furtiveness. Indeed, the majority of species are relatively difficult to observe, as they readily disappear into dense vegetation at the slightest disturbance. The Microcerculus wrens have developed this behaviour to a fine art and can be extraordinarily difficult for even the most patient watcher to see. By contrast, the large wrens of the genus Campylorhynchus are raucous, boisterous and extrovert birds, frequently singing from exposed posts, in suburban areas even from the tops of lampposts, and generally acting in a rambunctious and uninhibited fashion, travelling in noisy groups that are very easy to locate. In terms of general behaviour, however, most members of the family fall somewhere in between these two extremes. Species such as Sumichrast's Wren can be very secretive, but frequently are overcome by a sense of curiosity that impels them to emerge in order to sneak a look at the intruder. Without their loud and persistent songs, many wren species, especially those inhabiting dense tropical forest, would go largely undetected.
The wrens living in temperate climates tend to be solitary or to occur in pairs, the young associating with their parents for only a limited period of time. Among tropical genera the situation is more variable. The genus Cinnycerthia is notably gregarious. The Rufous Wren (Cinnycerthia unirufa), for example, occurs in parties of up to 20 individuals, more than can be accounted for by an extended family, and frequently joins mixed flocks with other species. Several other tropical wrens occur in mixed flocks, as typified by the two Odontorchilus species, the Tooth-billed and Grey-mantled Wrens, which frequently associate with mixed parties of tanagers (Thraupidae), becards (Pachyramphus) and other canopy-dwellers. Similarly, the Stripe-throated Wren (Thryothorus leucopogon) routinely occurs in mixed flocks of antwrens (Thamnophilidae) and other species, whereas several of its congeners, such as the Plain-tailed Wren, apparently never do so. Some species routinely follow swarms of army ants (see Food and Feeding). For species with co-operative nesting strategies, notably the tropical members of the genus Campylorhynchus, groups of blood-relatives associate and act collaboratively to defend the nest and rear the young (see Breeding).
A few troglodytids, such as the Marsh Wren, will sing at night, especially in moonlight, but generally wrens are strictly diurnal. Most members of the family roost in cavities or in nests. Multiple nest-building during the breeding season is common among wrens, in some cases, as in the Marsh Wren, to an extraordinary degree, leaving numerous surplus nests for roosting. Some species, however, build nests for specific use as roosting sites. These include many of the Campylorhynchus wrens. Cactus Wrens | 1.50486 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
, for instance, build nests throughout the year, and the juveniles may make tentative efforts at nest-building within days of fledging, with serious construction by ten weeks, obviously long before there is any chance of the youngsters themselves breeding. Wood-wrens, too, construct special roosting nests. In the case of the lowland-dwelling White-breasted Wood-wren, these are quite different from the breeding nest, being of very flimsy construction, and often with little effort at concealment; they are usually placed higher up in forks of slender saplings, so that a predator climbing to the nest cannot avoid shaking the support and alerting the occupant. In contrast, the Grey-breasted Wood-wren, living in the colder highlands, builds a thick-walled, well-insulated and snug roosting nest. White-bellied Wrens (Uropsila leucogastra) also build two types of nest, one a flimsy, thin-walled construction that is presumably intended for roosting only.
Many wrens roost as family groups, or the female sleeps with the young. Juveniles may then roost alone, sometimes, as with the Cactus Wren, in nests not of their own construction. Communal roosting also occurs among Northern Wrens. In this case, the birds forage as individuals during the daytime, gathering together only at dusk, the incentive being mutual body-heat conservation during long, cold nights. Northern Wrens frequently roost in cavities, usually with up to ten individuals together, but up to 96 have been found in one site in Europe and 31 in North America. In roosting aggregations of this kind, the wrens position themselves in layers, and the individuals in each layer hold the head pointing inwards, so that a rough circle is formed.
One extraordinary type of behaviour, found among many wrens of different genera and in totally different habitats, is the destruction of the eggs and, sometimes, the young of other birds, sometimes of conspecifics but very frequently those of other species. Both the Giant Wren of southern Mexico and the Bicoloured Wren (Campylorhynchus griseus) of northern South America have acquired the local dialectal name of "chupahuevo", meaning literally egg-sucker, apparently owing to a propensity of these wrens to enter chicken coops and attack the eggs therein.
Other troglodytids have developed egg destruction to a much greater degree than an occasional raid on a hen-house. In temperate North America, the Northern House Wren can be extremely destructive of other species. House wrens will enter the nests of other cavity-using species, such as the Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis), the Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) or the White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), and either pierce the eggs or throw them out. Not all of the wren's aggression, however, is directed at cavity-nesters; species such as the Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) may also be victimized, and quail (Odontophoridae) eggs experimentally placed in open nests in Northern House Wren territories may be attacked. The destructive effect of this troglodytid on other avian species has been observed for more than a century, and gave rise to a superbly vitriolic paper by a certain A. Sherman, published in the Wilson Bulletin of 1925, entitled "Down with the House Wren boxes". Sherman documented in great detail the crimes of the "felonious House Wren", prophesying that "if no steps are taken to stop his unrestricted breeding it is safe to predict the time will come when all true bird lovers will wring his neck as cheerfully as they now wring the neck of the pestiferous English Sparrow". Her solution was that persons who put up nestboxes used by these wrens should take them down again, so that "a kind Providence need not protect his memory from the just execrations of future generations". In one interesting instance observed by Sherman, a Northern House Wren entered a building where there was a preserved shrike (Lanius) nest with blown eggs; the wren pitched the eggs out on to the floor. On being replaced, the eggs were again tossed out by the wren on a second raid, by which time they were a little the worse for wear.
There is circumstantial evidence that nest predation by house wrens may have been heavily implicated in the decline of Bewick's Wren in eastern North America. In most areas, the appearance of the one coincided with the disappearance of the other. Certainly, the Northern House Wren has a substantial impact on the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) in Canada, where this cavity-nesting parulid is considered endangered (see Status and | 1.588362 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
Conservation). In southern Ontario, nest predation by the wrens is one of the major causes of nesting failure among the warblers.
Although egg predation by Northern House Wrens has attracted the most attention by virtue of the species' close association with humans, other, non-cavity-nesting troglodytids, notably the marsh wrens in the genus Cistothorus, are also well known as predators of eggs. In eastern North America, the Marsh Wren frequently attacks the eggs of Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), as well as those of species up to the size of the Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis). Intraspecific egg destruction also occurs; females have been seen to kill the chicks of wrens in adjacent territories and to throw them out of the nests. Marsh Wrens can even be caught in traps baited with small eggs. Furthermore, incubating females of the Marsh Wren may show considerable hostility towards their mates, doubtless in order to protect their own eggs; these are unusually thick-shelled, perhaps as a defence against attack. Marsh Wren predation may have a significant negative effect on the breeding success of Red-winged Blackbirds, which, for their part, are very aggressive towards wrens. In western North America, a similar state of mutual hostility exists between Marsh Wrens and Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus); the blackbirds may destroy wren nests in order to prevent a brooding female from returning to her eggs. In Colombia, Apolinar's Wren appears to have an equivalent mutually hostile relationship with the local icterid, the Yellow-hooded Blackbird (Agelaius icterocephalus).
The Sedge Wren in North America exhibits the same behaviour towards marsh-dwelling icterids and may have a significant adverse effect on their populations. Sedge Wrens have been seen to attack the eggs of species as large as the Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera), but without being able to penetrate the shell. Several other troglodytids, such as the Plain Wren in the genus Thryothorus, have been seen to prey on other species' eggs or young, and additional observation and fieldwork would doubtless reveal that this behaviour is quite general.
A number of explanations have been advanced for the phenomenon of egg predation by wrens. In some cases the eggs may be wholly or partially eaten, but frequently they are not; eggs are not, therefore, a significant food source. Intraspecific egg destruction may be a useful way of reducing competition for food resources at the period of maximum demand, and it may be relevant that Marsh Wrens, for example, sometimes nest at very high densities with tiny territories. This explanation, however, is less plausible when applied to interspecific predation involving large unrelated species such as the Yellow-headed Blackbird. In the case of the cavity-nesting house wren, the act of destroying the nests of other cavity-nesting species may, in the long run, ensure a supply of nesting sites for the wrens; the latter, being migratory, arrive and commence nesting later than do some resident victims such as the Carolina Chickadee or the Tufted Titmouse. Perhaps significantly, the non-cavity-nesting Northern Wren appears not to prey on eggs. On the other hand, the highly predatory marsh wrens are also non-cavity-nesters.
The behaviour and general habits of the Donacobius resemble those of the mockingbirds more than they do those of the wrens, a fact that, prior to recent DNA investigations, was used by some authors to argue that this species belongs in the family Mimidae (see Systematics). This is a noisy, extrovert bird, usually occurring in small groups of up to four, blood-related individuals. Pairs perform ritualized mutual displays, with much flirting and wagging of the long tail, which is held such that the conspicuous white tips are on show. A more intense form of display involves the adoption of a hunched-back posture, with the head and tail held down, the throat grossly distended, and sometimes with the wings drooped to reveal the conspicuous white flash on the primaries. Both sexes sing. During mutual song sessions, the pair-members may sit close to one another, waving the long tail rhythmically from side to side, with the inflatable yellow throat patch distended. As the Donacobius seems to form long-term pair-bonds, breeds co-operatively and has a rather extended breeding season, it is somewhat difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish between possible breeding displays and general social activity.
For many troglodytids living in arid conditions, water-bathing is not an option. Indeed, even when water is available, the American Rock Wren and the Canyon Wren have not been observed to indulge in this activity, preferring instead to dust-bathe. Cactus Wrens, too, habit | 1.532349 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
ually dust-bathe, but they will bathe in water when it is present, even visiting suburban birdbaths for that purpose. Marsh Wrens, but not Sedge Wrens, have been seen to bathe in swamp water. Curiously, water-bathing has not been reported for Northern House Wrens, although both this species and the Carolina Wren do dust-bathe. Bewick's Wren bathes in both water and dust. There are a few reports of sun-bathing. Carolina Wrens have been seen to lie in the sun with the eyes half-closed, the wings and tail partially spread, and the feathers of the head, back and rump raised.
Most species of wren have been seen to preen, head-scratching being of the indirect type, with the foot lifted over the wing. Allopreening is apparently rare among troglodytids, although it has been observed for a few species.
Aggressive behaviour by wrens is generally associated with territoriality and breeding. Threat displays usually involve the fanning of the wings and the drooping and partial spreading of the tail, while pointing the bill at the object of aggression. Actual physical combat, however, is uncommon. Typically, two individuals will fly vertically upwards for a short distance, while flapping the wings into each other, grasping each other's feet and sometimes pecking. Occasionally, such efforts are directed against other species. American Rock Wrens, for example, have been seen to attack Northern House Wrens which were attempting to pilfer nesting material from their nest, and have also been observed to attack the much larger Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis).
Voice The Troglodytidae include some of the finest and most appreciated singers among all birds. The Northern Wren, for example, heard throughout the Holarctic Region, is appreciated for the long duration of its song and for the degree of expressiveness contained within its singing. This species' songs range from barely audible whispered ones, given while courting a female, to songs delivered with a truly surprising vehemence for so tiny a bird. It is the songs of wrens that define certain habitats throughout much of the New World. Examples are the cascading, sweet liquid whistles of the aptly named Canyon Wren, heard throughout canyons in western North America, the rhythmic "char char char char" of the Cactus Wren in the deserts of the south-west United States and northern Mexico, the unmistakable gurgling of Marsh Wrens, inseparably linked with cat-tail and bulrush marshes from the Pacific seaboard across to the Atlantic coast, the "tea-kettle tea-kettle tea-kettle" song of the Carolina Wren in the Deep South of the USA, and similar striking songs and duets of other Thryothorus wrens throughout Central and South America.
Although most wrens bear English names that helpfully allude to their distinctive plumages, or to the habitat or geographical area in which they are found, some have escaped such mundane appellations and have been given names drawing attention more to their vocal abilities. Thus, two of the Microcerculus species are known as nightingale-wrens and another as the Flutist Wren, while the Central American subspecies luscinia of the Southern Nightingale-wren (Microcerculus marginatus) is generally referred to as the Whistling Wren; and two of the three Cyphorhinus species are the Song Wren and the Musician Wren. Given the appealing qualities of these songsters, it is no surprise that they have attracted considerable attention, both aesthetically and scientifically.
Most members of the family achieve their remarkable songs by learning, the young birds imitating the songs of adults in the population. This was nicely demonstrated in a study of Bewick's Wrens undertaken by Kroodsma in the north-west United States. In the Willamette Valley of Oregon, where Bewick's Wrens are resident, a young male stays with his parents until four or five weeks of age, and then sets out to find a territory of his own. By eight weeks of age, he will probably already be on his own territory, one that he will retain for the rest of his life. There, the youngster begins to practise singing; his first attempts are only scratchy, continuous jingles, but his efforts gradually improve, and within a few weeks he is already singing what are clearly attempts at imitations of the songs of adult males around him. The young male perfects his songs during the autumn and over the winter, and by the following spring has acquired the songs of his immediate neighbourhood, as those are the ones that he must use in order to function there. Although he was capable of imitating his father's songs before dispersing, all of these were eventually rejected and replaced with the songs that he needed at his permanent breeding location.
This learning process is easily demonstrated also in laboratory experiments, | 1.524958 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
as with Marsh Wrens. If a ten-day-old Marsh Wren is removed from the nest and hears no songs over the next year, he sings "nonsense" songs, songs that are unrecognizable as to species. If he is allowed to hear some Marsh Wren songs over loudspeakers, however, he attends to the minutest of details in those songs, imitating them with remarkable precision. In the laboratory, males can begin to imitate songs broadcast from loudspeakers when they are as young as 15 days of age, with a peak of learning ability when between 25 and 40 days, and perhaps a secondary peak ending around day 60; little to no learning of additional songs occurs after 75 days. More realistic learning experiences can be achieved by allowing a juvenile to learn songs from an adult, singing male, and the sensitive phase for learning can then be extended well beyond 75 days, to the following spring, at a time when a migratory yearling male would establish his first breeding territory. Flexibility in where and when to learn is necessary for these wrens, as some nestlings hatch in the period after the adults have stopped singing for the year, and those nestlings must delay much of their learning until the following spring.
Most wrens probably learn their songs in this fashion, whereby young birds disperse to a breeding location and learn their songs there. One of the best forms of evidence for this is vocal dialects, in which the songs of the wrens vary over short geographical distances. Songs of Bewick's Wrens, for example, change gradually over distance, and sometimes change abruptly at discontinuities in habitat, so that the songs in a father's neighbourhood are different from those in the neighbourhood where his young male offspring establishes a territory. Songs of Marsh Wrens, and the sequences in which individuals use them, vary from one marsh to another, as J. Verner found in the 1970s. Similarly, Kroodsma recorded that songs of American Rock Wrens at a site in eastern Oregon were different from those uttered by the species at another locality only 160 km away. In Europe, the songs of Northern Wrens can differ over very short distances, a small lake being enough of a barrier that songs on one side are different from those on the other. Likewise, among Carolina Wrens in the United States, it was found that songs changed rapidly over a 145-km transect; most versions were heard at only a single locality, and most songs in the wren repertoires changed abruptly at dispersal barriers.
The one known exception to this process of precise song imitation and the formation of song dialects involves the North American population of the Sedge Wren, which is closely related to, yet so different from, the Marsh Wren. A nestling Sedge Wren, when taken into the laboratory and exposed to songs of adults of its species, imitates none of those songs. Instead of copying songs from the loudspeakers or from other young birds nearby, he improvises a sizeable repertoire of unique songs, such that few, if any, of the songs that he perfects are like those of others of the species. Consistent with this style of song development is the evidence from wild-living individuals in North America, where neighbouring males also have unique repertoires of songs. In effect, Sedge Wren songs are like snowflakes, as no two seem to be exactly alike, but each is instantly recognizable as being the song of a Sedge Wren because all songs are built on the same principle, a few introductory notes followed by a dry, staccato trill, "cut-cut-cut-trrrrrrrrrrrrrr".
Why the North American Sedge Wren seems to differ from all other troglodytids in its style of song development may perhaps be explained by its unique reproductive biology. Individuals that are ringed at one location early in the season, in the northernmost part of the range, typically leave there during mid-season, presumably going elsewhere to breed; as these wrens often arrive to breed at lower latitudes, such as Nebraska, Indiana and Kentucky, during July and August, it appears that they make a stopover to nest on their migratory route back to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. These Sedge Wrens are rather nomadic, and not at all site-faithful. They rarely return to the same breeding location in successive years; in one unpublished study, S. Johnson found that, of 300 individuals, only one returned to breed at the site where it had nested in the preceding year.
The uniqueness of these North American Sedge Wrens is highlighted by a brief survey of other Cistothorus wrens, based largely on the investigations of Kroodsma and colleagues. In Costa Rica and the Falkland Islands, other populations of the Sedge Wren are sedentary, and neighbouring males imitate songs | 1.631055 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
from one another, creating song dialects over relatively short distances. In Brazil, neighbouring male Sedge Wrens answer each other with identical songs, such behaviour being possible only if the birds learn their songs from each other. Similarly, the Merida Wren (Cistothorus meridae) of the Venezuelan Andes and the globally threatened Apolinar's Wren of Colombia are sedentary and, again, neighbouring males learn each other's songs, as evidenced by the readily documented song dialects of these species. Interestingly, the recently described subspecies hernandezi of Apolinar's Wren not only has a more varied repertoire of song types than the nominate form, but also lives in small groups in which several individuals, of both sexes, sing communally.. In North America, too, populations of the Marsh Wren are typically sedentary or, if migratory, individuals are highly site-faithful, returning annually to the same marsh.
It is likely that the unparalleled movement patterns among the North American Sedge Wrens have co-evolved with a reduced emphasis on song imitation. Local communities of birds are highly ephemeral, with individuals staying together just long enough to raise one family. They then move on to the next breeding location, either in the same year or in the following year. There is little time or opportunity to relearn large vocal repertoires at each breeding location; indeed, as the repertoire of a single male can number up to 300 different songs, it is perhaps impossible to accomplish such a feat twice in each breeding season. The solution for these Sedge Wrens is to improvise or invent songs, using some shared rules for generating species-typical songs. The result is that, no matter what the geographical origin of each singing individual, and no matter where he has been on his travels, he will instantly be recognized, both by other males and by females, as a Sedge Wren.
Geographical patterns in songs can be the first clues to the evolutionary history of the wrens that sing them. In Costa Rica, for example, F. G. Stiles discovered a sharp transition zone in the songs of nightingale-wrens, leading to the formal recognition of two species, the Northern Nightingale-wren (Microcerculus philomela) and the Southern Nightingale-wren. Farther north, in Mexico, the songs of two allopatric Hylorchilus populations were found by H. Gómez de Silva to be sufficiently distinct to warrant species status for both, as Sumichrast's Wren and Nava's Wren (see Systematics). In the Neotropics, likewise, careful listening to wood-wrens in Colombia led S. L. Hilty to suggest that the birds living at especially high altitudes represented a new species, as their songs were different from those of the wood-wrens throughout the rest of Colombia. In 2003, this high-elevation form was officially recognized as a new species, the Munchique Wood-wren (see Systematics). The songs of North American Sedge Wrens vary little, if at all, geographically, revealing what must be one large evolutionary unit in North America. In contrast, local dialects conceal these evolutionary groups to some extent in Central and South America, but major geographical differences in songs, from Costa Rica to Brazil and to the Falkland Islands, surely represent different evolutionary groups, which are perhaps, as suggested by M. T. Traylor in 1988, worthy of species status.
Another example in North America is that of the Marsh Wren populations, which almost certainly consist of two species (see Systematics), not one as currently recognized. From the Atlantic coast east to the central Great Plains one style of singer is found, and from the central Great Plains west to the Pacific another kind, and the differences between the two in behaviour are striking. The songs of western males are highly diverse, with harsh and grating sounds contrasting with loud tonal notes; those of eastern males are more liquid, without the harshness, and far less diverse. Western males introduce their songs with short, sharp "click" notes, whereas eastern males begin with a nasal buzz. In addition, western males have much larger song repertoires, containing an average of perhaps 150 different songs, far more than the 30 to 50 songs in the repertoires of eastern males, and western males race through their repertoires much faster than do eastern males. These differences in vocal repertoires are reflected in the song control centres of the forebrain, too, with western males devoting about 50% more brain space to controlling their much larger song repertoires. The extra brain space in western birds is not generated because the birds learn more songs, but, rather, it seems to be part of a genetic programme that generates sufficient brain space so that large repertoires can be learned.
Furthermore, many of these behavioural and neural | 1.625528 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
differences are based on genetic differences between eastern and western birds, as nestling males taken from eastern and western populations, respectively, behave differently when they experience the same laboratory environment. Juveniles from western North America still imitate about three times as many songs as do eastern ones, and the western individuals also allocate more brain space for controlling those larger repertoires. In the laboratory, western males also race through their repertoires faster than do the eastern males. The western males are simply more proficient at learning the larger repertoires than are the eastern birds, and these differences in ability are due to genetic differences that have evolved in the two respective groups since they diverged from their common ancestor. One possible explanation for the escalation in vocal behaviour among western Marsh Wrens is that territories in the west are often smaller, so that competing males are singing more closely together, and males are also more polygynous, so that the stakes in the singing game are higher. With these smaller territories, a small marsh reaches lek-like proportions, and prospecting females can choose from among all of the competing males, a situation that may have promoted the evolution of especially large repertoires and complex singing behaviour.
Just how complex these aspects of vocal behaviour are is revealed by Verner's study of western Marsh Wrens. At Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, in eastern Washington state, he found that neighbouring males have essentially the same repertoires of about 115 different songs, but they have learnt not only the songs, but also the sequences in which to use them. As the wrens countersing from neighbouring territories, they often answer each other with identical songs, not just once, but many times in succession; there is frequently a community effect, too, as other males within earshot are often heard to echo the same song. The possibilities for interactions are intriguing, as a male can respond to a neighbour with the song that he just sang, or jump ahead one song in the standard sequence, or give a song that is well removed from that particular sequence. The response choice that a male makes, or perhaps is allowed to make, may well signal important information to other individuals listening to this exchange, information that may indicate the relative prowess of the two singers. When a tape recorder plays a standard sequence of song within a territory, for example, a male routinely jumps ahead in the sequence, so that the tape recorder "sings" a particular song type after the resident male. It is possible that, by refusing to follow the recorder, the male signals his dominance to this simulated intruder.
As already initimated (see also Systematics), the eastern and western populations of the Marsh Wren almost certainly represent two separate species, and a similar situation prevails with the Northern Wren. The songs of males of the latter species in western North America consist of brief notes delivered at breakneck speed, so that human ears hear little more than a high-pitched blur. In contrast, eastern songs are far less complex; they are delivered more slowly, contain fewer notes, and have fewer notes per unit time. Repertoire sizes, too, differ, eastern males having an average of only two relatively simple songs apiece, whereas western males have perhaps a dozen basic songs, from which countless permutations are generated. Moreover, the non-learnt call notes differ, western Northern Wrens having a sharp, high-pitched note and eastern ones a lower-pitched, richer note. Predictably, perhaps, the songs of this species in the Old World, from Britain east to Japan, are different again. In tonal quality and organization, they are most like those of the wrens from eastern North America. Repertoires in Eurasia consist typically of six or seven songs, each given in a constant, repeatable fashion, much like the singing of eastern Nearctic wrens.
As the tropical biologist A. F. Skutch pointed out in 2001, we know far more about the few "odd" wrens that have invaded the north-temperate zone than we do about the 50 or so that have remained in the New World tropics. In the tropics, the vocal behaviour of troglodytids can be very different.
One immediately noticeable difference between the wrens in the north-temperate zone and the tropical wrens is that females in the tropics sing far more. In the case of the two house wrens, for example, females in North America sing occasionally in at least one well-studied population, in Wyoming, although perhaps not in some other populations; these Northern House Wrens are polygynous. In contrast, females of the Southern House Wren, which are monogamously paired to their males, sing far more regularly throughout the tropics. Females of the related Socorro Wren (Troglodytes sissonii), confined to the island of that name off western Mexico, also sing. Among the Cistothorus wrens, females of the temperate-zone Marsh Wren and Sedge W | 1.73158 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
ren do not sing, but those of the two Andean species do; female Merida Wrens emit a simple trill as their mates sing a more complex, whistled song, and female Apolinar's Wrens utter a prolonged trill that slowly rises and falls in pitch, the male then chiming in with a briefer, more complex song. In southern Mexico, Sumichrast's Wren, in the genus Hylorchilus, exhibits similar vocal differences between the sexes: the female's song is less complex than that of the male, being a dry, staccato chatter, much like that of a male Cactus Wren, whereas her mate's song is a rich series of descending whistles.
These differences between temperate and tropical representatives of a genus are especially pronounced among the Thryothorus wrens. Only one of these, the Carolina Wren, reaches North America, and the male of that species has a repertoire of 40 or so loud, rich songs; the female, in contrast, utters a simple rattle, typically in response to her mate's song during aggressive encounters with other wren pairs. In the tropics, however, female Thryothorus wrens often have songs that are just as complex as are those of the males. The songs of both sexes of the Rufous-and-white Wren (Thryothorus rufalbus), for example, consist of a series of pure whistles gradually or abruptly accelerating in tempo, with the female's song slightly higher in frequency than the male's; a male and a female often sing simultaneously, the songs overlapping in time but less so in frequency. In the Black-bellied Wren, too, male and female songs are an equally complex series of rich whistles, often overlapping in time, but that of the the female again perhaps a little higher in frequency. Most impressive among these Thryothorus wrens are those species, such as the Buff-breasted Wren (Thryothorus leucotis), in which the male and female sing such a tightly co-ordinated duet that their respective roles are indistinguishable, unless one happens to be standing between the two singers.
Careful study of one of these duetting species, the Bay Wren, has revealed how and, to some extent, why the sexes engage in such duets. R. N. Levin found that males and females duet precisely, even when they first meet, thereby dispelling the previously held notion that it would take time, in a long-term monogamous pair-bond, for such precision to be learnt. Rather, it seems that the birds follow some general rules that enable this precision, regardless of which particular song type each contributes. Further, a lone female or a lone male can maintain the territory by itself, dispelling still another idea, namely, that the duet is needed for joint territory defence. It is the female that begins each duet, the male then joining her, and it seems therefore to be the male's behaviour, not that of the female, that makes the joint singing a duet. Perhaps this is because the male can in this way announce to other males in the neighbourhood that this particular female is taken; in other words, he is employing "acoustic mate-guarding".
Equally enlightening is the way in which territorial males and females sing and respond to songs. A paired male responds strongly to both male and female song, as if territorial towards both sexes. When he becomes unpaired, he increases his singing substantially, just as do most unpaired songbird males, and he then responds more strongly to female song than to male song, suggesting that his abundant songs serve to attract a mate. A female that becomes unpaired, however, does not change her singing rate, and lack of a male song accompanying her clearly signals that she is unpaired. Whether she is unpaired or not, she responds strongly to songs of other females but not to those of males, suggesting that she uses her songs in order to defend her territory against other females.
Ongoing studies of another Thryothorus species in Costa Rica, by L. E. Molles and S. L. Vehrencamp, illustrate the diverse singing styles within this genus. In the case of the Banded Wren, males are the primary singers, and a typical repertoire consists of about 20 different songs. Females, too, sing, and their songs are of the same general form as those of the males, but of lower amplitude; a female occasionally sings jointly with her mate during a territorial dispute. As with some other troglodytids, such as the Sedge Wren and the Marsh Wren, males sing vigorously at dawn and switch to new song types more at that time than they do later in the morning. Among these wrens, the rate of singing and the frequency with which a male switches to a new song type may signal important information to listeners about his mood, but the exact | 1.543426 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
rules for conveying the appropriate information are not necessarily the same for all species.
What appears to be one of the most complex duets is that of the Canebrake Wren (Thryothorus zeledoni), a species restricted to the Caribbean slope of Central America. A study of this wren was recently undertaken in north-east Costa Rica by N. I. Mann and others, who captured and individually colour-ringed 24 territory-holding adults. Blood samples were analysed to enable these to be sexed. The researchers found that the duet of this species consisted of three main components, each one distinctive in structure. The male had a repertoire of very brief rapid phrases and the female had a repertoire of different, slightly longer phrases. In addition, the male possessed a second, separate repertoire of somewhat longer, higher-frequency phrases, each containing 4-6 elements; each duet was almost invariably introduced by one of these. Thus, a typical duet would consist of the male's introductory phrase followed by a very fast and highly co-ordinated alternation of female and male phrases. In a very few instances, the male's introductory phrase, which he also used as a solo song, was omitted. The Canebrake Wren is often considered conspecific with the Plain Wren, although it differs vocally and in plumage. Interestingly, Mann and colleagues' preliminary data on the nominate race of the Plain Wren, inhabiting the Pacific slope of Costa Rica, appear to suggest that this has a song pattern similar to that of the Canebrake Wren.
Vocalizations include more than singing, of course, and the members of this family have extensive repertoires of calls as well. Partly because wren songs are often so striking, the calls of these species have been studied relatively infrequently. The most thorough study in this respect has been done with the Stripe-backed Wren (Campylorhynchus nuchalis), a co-operative breeder (see Breeding) that occurs in Venezuela and Colombia. Price found that, in co-operative family groups, young males learn their repertoires of calls from adult males, and young females learn their calls from adult females. As a result, males in the same "patriline" have nearly identical call repertoires, no matter whether the young male stays at home or disperses to another group, and all females within a "matriline" have identical repertoires, too, but the calls are different from those of the males. This form of vocal tradition thus provides clues as to both sex and kinship, and studies using playback have shown that the males can readily distinguish male relatives from non-relatives. These wrens provide a rare example of individuals being able to recognize their kin on the basis of learnt vocal cues, and these cues undoubtedly prove useful in helping them to keep track of close kin within and among family groups, thereby enabling complex social relationships among individuals in this co-operative breeder.
Food and Feeding Arthropods make up the bulk of the food items eaten by most troglodytids. Among the different wren genera, however, there is considerable variation both in the food and in the techniques used as a means of acquiring it.
There is a substantial body of data on the diets of most of the North American wren species, as well as that of the Northern Wren in Europe, derived from examination of stomach contents of specimens. It should be borne in mind, however, that studies of stomach contents were typically undertaken in one geographical location and were often quite limited in scope; hence, published results may not be entirely representative of the diet of a species throughout its range, or even throughout the year. Broadly speaking, invertebrates of many kinds form most or all of the food of this family. For example, American Rock Wrens take such prey as locusts and grasshoppers (Orthoptera), earthworms (Oligochaeta) and grubs, and Canyon Wrens consume spiders (Araneae), beetles (Coleoptera), bugs (Hemiptera), planthoppers (Homoptera), ants (Hymenoptera), termites (Isoptera) and similar prey, ranging in length from 2 mm to 12 mm, while Bewick's Wrens feed on bugs, beetles, bees and wasps (Hymenoptera) and caterpillars. The Northern House Wren eats caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) and spiders, among others, and the Northern Wren's diet includes such items as grasshoppers, earwigs (Dermaptera), beetles, spiders, woodlice (Isopoda) and the like. Northern House Wrens are known to favour slower-moving prey, such as spiders and bugs, rather than such insects as flies (Diptera), the capture of which would be more challenging. This species has been seen also | 1.40458 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
to take calcareous matter, such as mollusc shells, and to feed such inorganic items to its young, presumably as a calcium supplement at a time when it is needed for bone growth. Larger, vertebrate prey is occasionally found in stomachs. The American Rock Wren, for example, will take young lizards. It is of interest to note, incidentally, that neither the latter species nor the Canyon Wren appears to drink, even when water is freely available.
Vegetable matter does figure to a minor extent in the diets of some of the smaller North American troglodytids. For instance, Bewick's Wren takes some vegetable matter, especially in winter, while the Northern Wren has been observed to eat berries, including elderberries (Sambucus) and blueberries (Vaccinium), as well as some seeds and even seaweed.
The large wrens of the genus Campylorhynchus have a dietary spectrum that is wider than that of smaller troglodytids. Most members of this genus eat substantial quantities of vegetable matter, such as cactus seeds. The only one which has been studied in any great depth is the Cactus Wren; in one case, 17% of the diet of this species consisted of vegetable matter. Campylorhynchus wrens also take relatively large prey, such as lizards and frogs, and the Spanish name for Boucard's Wren, "Matraca alacranera", implies that this species eats scorpions (Scorpiones). As previously mentioned (see General Habits), the Giant and Bicoloured Wrens are known in local Mexican and Colombian dialects as "chupahuevo", meaning egg-sucker, although whether they actually eat hens' eggs or merely vandalize them is not known. Bicoloured Wrens can also be quite destructive to soft fruit, such as mangoes.
For many of the Neotropical wren species, the data on prey items are very scanty and, in many cases, few relevant observations are available. Furthermore, the notes on stomach contents accompanying specimens frequently contain unhelpful and vague generalizations, such as "insects", "insect parts" and the like. As a result of the more meticulous work of A. Wetmore in Panama and of F. Haverschmidt in Suriname, the diets of most species in these two countries are known in better detail. According to the rather limited information published, the diet of the tropical Thryothorus wrens encompasses a very great variety of arthropods. These comprise many orders of insects, including lepidopteran larvae, ants, bugs, grasshoppers, cockroaches (Blattodea) and dipteran flies, as well as other groups, among them spiders, woodlice, centipedes (Chilopoda) and millipedes (Diplopoda). So far as is known, vegetable matter, usually in the form of seeds, is a very minor component in the food of these species. The sole North American member of this genus, the Carolina Wren, will also take small invertebrates, including lizards, tree-frogs and young snakes.
In its unique sawgrass habitat in western Cuba, the Zapata Wren has learnt to exploit a more varied range of food resources, including fairly large lizards of the genus Anolis, seeds, lichen, snail eggs, slugs and a wide variety of invertebrates. By contrast, the marsh-dwelling Cistothorus wrens are more purely insectivorous, although in mid-winter, with snow on the ground, the Sedge Wren in extreme southern South America does eat seeds. Snails have not been recorded as being consumed by any troglodytids with the single exception of Sumichrast's Wren, in the diet of which they may figure quite prominently.
The food of the Donacobius consists almost entirely of invertebrates, mostly gleaned from leaf surfaces, but also taken in flight. Recorded prey items of this species include beetles, hymenopterans, orthopterans, neuropterans and arachnoids.
The feeding techniques of wrens also exhibit considerable variation and adaptation to different habitats. The members of many genera spend most of their time in foraging in the lower levels of dense vegetation, where they examine leaves for prey or rummage in leaf litter. Henicorhina, Thryothorus and Troglodytes are typical examples of such unobtrusive wrens. Nevertheless, the various species have differing habits. Some, such as the Coraya and Buff-breasted Wrens, routinely feed quite high up in trees, whereas the Rufous-and-white Wren specializes in foraging in leaf litter and is rarely seen far from the ground. The only wrens which might be described as canopy feeders are the two species in the genus Odontorchilus, the Tooth | 1.521784 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
-billed and Grey-mantled Wrens, which are regularly found 30 m or more above the ground in the upper levels of tropical and subtropical forest.
Some tropical species have developed a technique employed by antbirds and many other Neotropical birds, that of following swarms of army ants, opportunistically snapping up invertebrate prey flushed from otherwise secure hiding-places by the insects. Typical in this respect are the terrestrial Cyphorhinus wrens, such as the Song and Musician Wrens, which bear a superficial resemblance to some of the formicariid antbirds. Others include the Sooty-headed Wren in the genus Thryothorus and, at least where its range overlaps that of army ants, in southern Mexico, the White-bellied Wren in Uropsila. The lowland White-breasted Wood-wren is also a typical ant-follower, but its relative, the highland Grey-breasted Wood-wren, is not, as it is altitudinally separated from army ants. Not unexpectedly, the degree of association with army ants varies. Some species, such as the Riverside Wren, will join swarms briefly, before losing interest and foraging elsewhere.
Northern Wrens are somewhat unusual within the family in that they have been seen to prey on tadpoles and tiny fish, by wading into shallow water and actually immersing the head as they search for these food items. They have also been observed while attending the European badger (Meles meles), much in the manner of Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis) following livestock, and catching prey disturbed by the mammal's foraging activities. The rock-dwelling wrens, the Canyon, Sumichrast's and Nava's Wrens, have developed special anatomical features, such as a long, decurved bill, a flattened skull and widely splayed legs, which enable them to forage deeply into crevices in rock faces. In addition, Canyon Wrens will often sally forth briefly from high rock walls to seize insects flying nearby. Classic flycatching behaviour, involving the mid-air pursuit of flying insects, is uncommon among the members of this family, although Northern Wrens may occasionally practise this method of foraging.
Most terrestrial wrens are very secretive, the two nightingale-wrens obsessively so, feeding only in places where they are well hidden. The Wing-banded Wren (Microcerculus bambla) appears to specialize in finding prey in rotten logs lying on the forest floor, where it vanishes for several seconds inside cavities in hollow fallen tree trunks. Campylorhynchus species, on the other hand, are anything but furtive. The Cactus Wren, for example, frequently feeds on the ground well in the open, even sometimes on suburban lawns.
Several troglodytids have developed opportunistic feeding strategies. Carolina Wrens, especially during the winter months, come to feeding stations, where they are especially fond of suet. They have also been seen to take sunflower seeds and to crack them open in the manner of a nuthatch, by wedging the seeds into a cranny and hammering them with the bill. Canyon Wrens may pilfer the paralysed spiders with which mud-dauber wasps (Scelifron cementarium) provision their nests, while the White-bellied Wren will steal prey from spiders' webs. On Guadalupe Island, off Baja California, the local subspecies guadeloupensis of the American Rock Wren, restricted to that island, has learnt to frequent slaughterhouses, where it feeds on flies attracted to the offal. Another example of opportunism concerns the Cactus Wren. In suburban situations in the American South-west, some individuals of this species have discovered that the squashed insects on the radiators of cars are a reliable source of conveniently pre-cooked protein.
Breeding Among different groups of wrens there exist a number of breeding features and strategies that are quite unusual in passerines. These include polygamy, usually in the form of polygyny but also, more rarely, polyandry, as well as co-operative breeding and an extraordinary degree of multiple nest-building. It should, however, be admitted that there are major gaps in our knowledge of the breeding biology of the Troglodytidae. Indeed, for more than a quarter of the tropical wrens, not even has the nest been described, and detailed studies of the breeding strategy exist for only a few species.
The fact that wrens build more than one nest in a single season has been well known for many years. In England, for example, many decades ago, every bird-nesting schoolboy was familiar with the phenomenon of the "cock's nests" of the Northern Wren. The degree of multiple-nesting varies greatly among wren genera, apparently not occurring at all in some, but reaching an extraordinary degree in the C | 1.553831 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
istothorus marsh wrens, and a peak in the Marsh Wren itself. Male Marsh Wrens may, in the course of a season, construct up to twenty separate nests. From among these the female will then choose a suitable one, which she then completes, or she may even, apparently, induce the male to build yet more. It takes the male perhaps two days to build a candidate nest, but it can require eight days for both sexes to complete the nest that is to be used for breeding. Given the very substantial resources demanded of the male for this construction bonanza, there must be a major payback in evolutionary terms. The precise nature of this is, however, a matter of considerable debate. Certainly, in the event of a disaster befalling a breeding nest, it is obviously advantageous to have a half-completed back-up nest at hand. In a cat-tail marsh, where it is not easy to conceal a nest, the presence of numerous "decoy" nests may confuse a predator, and it is perhaps significant that the Sedge Wren, which nests in more tangled vegetation where concealment is easier, builds only half as many surplus nests as does the Marsh Wren. It has been suggested that the sheer vigour of a male's nest-building activities may indicate to the female his breeding fitness. Surplus nests are also useful for roosting, but why would twenty such nests be required? Probably, no single hypothesis completely explains the phenomenon. The building of additional nests for roosting is widespread among the members of this family. In the case of some species, such as the White-breasted Wood-wren, the Riverside Wren and the White-bellied Wren, the dormitory nests are slighter in construction and more poorly concealed than are the breeding nests, and the roosting nest of the Plain Wren, for example, is so flimsy that the bird can make an emergency exit by bursting out through the back wall.
For a number of genera, among them Odontorchilus, Hylorchilus and Microcerculus, there is no documented evidence that multiple nests are built, although this may be due to a lack of observation. Many Thryothorus wrens build dormitory nests but not, apparently, multiple breeding nests. One species, the Carolina Wren, a debatable member of this genus (see Systematics), occasionally builds spare nests in the breeding season. By way of contrast, the constructing of multiple nests appears to be standard in the genus Troglodytes, at least for those of its members which have been adequately studied. In Europe, Northern Wrens build half a dozen or more nests in each breeding season, although the number is smaller in western North America, as it is also, evidently, in the case of island populations of this species. Similarly, male Northern House Wrens construct multiple nests and, indeed, throughout the breeding season, they seem incapable of resisting the temptation to drop a few twigs into suitable cavities, often to the discomfiture and annoyance of the rightful owners. Among the Campylorhynchus species, the Rufous-naped Wren in El Salvador builds at least eight nests for each one actually used for breeding, at least some of the remainder serving as roosting sites. In Arizona, USA, the male Cactus Wren habitually starts to construct a second nest while his mate is incubating the first clutch; after this brood has fledged and become independent, the female will join in the completing of the second nest, which is immediately used for the rearing of a further brood.
Detailed study, with individually marked birds, is required in order to establish whether a wren species is routinely polygamous. In view of the paucity of such studies with regard to the species not occurring in Canada and the United States, it is not surprising that reproductive strategies are known for only a few of the tropical members of the family. In North America, on the other hand, extensive investigations have revealed that Cistothorus wrens are frequently polygynous. In one Canadian study of Marsh Wrens, undertaken in Manitoba, a total of 120 males consisted of ten bachelors, 53 monogamists, 48 bigamists and nine trigamists, suggesting an unequal sex ratio of about 0·65 males for each female. In contrast, a study in Georgia, in the south-east USA, revealed only 5% bigamous males. Being mated to a bigamist has its disadvantages. For instance, female Marsh Wrens with promiscuous mates tend to receive short shrift from the partner when it comes to providing care for the nestlings, and are frequently left entirely to their own devices. Polygyny occurs also among Sedge Wrens, although less frequently than is the case with the related Marsh Wren. Female Sedge Wrens mated to an already mated male tend to nest later, | 1.537296 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
to lay fewer eggs and to rear fewer young when compared with females in a monogamous relationship, and they rarely attempt a second brood; furthermore, their nestlings tend to weigh less than do those of monogamous parents, no doubt because they receive less food.
Polygamy is known to occur in those species of Troglodytes which have been studied. In western European populations of the Northern Wren, about half of the males are polygynous, although polygyny is apparently rarer among the North American races of this species. Substantial levels of polygyny have, however, been discovered in some populations of the Northern House Wren, especially in situations where surplus nest-sites are available. Secondary females tend to be less successful in rearing young than are primary ones, the latter having the help of the male in the feeding of nestlings. Notwithstanding this, some female Northern House Wrens seem preferentially to choose an already mated male, even when surplus bachelor males are available. Presumably, in those cases, the advantage of passing on one's own genes in combination with the genes of a particularly fecund male outweighs the reduction in the absolute number of offspring produced. In contrast to its northern relative, the Southern House Wren appears to be only rarely polygamous. In one detailed study of this species in Colombia, no instances of polygamy were observed, although, in a Panamanian study, both the active displacement of the male of a mated pair by an intruding male and the opportunistic taking-over of a bereaved female were recorded.
In an interesting study of Northern House Wrens that utilized nestboxes at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station, N. E. Poirier and colleagues found that mate-switching during a single breeding season was fairly common. Although this was initiated by the male, it was not correlated with his paternity of the first brood. It was found that males were more likely to change partner when unmated females were nearby. Such males generally started to advertise for a new mate during the incubation stage or the early part of the nestling stage at their first nest, and they successfully paired with a different female during and just after the nestling period. As mate-switching males sired more or less the same number of young as did males that stayed with the same partner, they appeared not to benefit directly from switching mates. Of the females that were deserted, on the other hand, half did not find a second mate during the breeding season and thus incurred a reproductive cost.
Co-operative breeding by birds is a more common phenomenon than was previously believed, having been documented for a number of different, unrelated avian families. Typically, it involves the assistance of individuals other than the mated pair in defending territories against conspecifics, in rearing young and in defence against predators. The "helpers at the nest", to use the phrase coined by Skutch, are usually blood relatives of the primary breeding pair. By enhancing the survival of that pair's young, the helpers also ensure the propagation of their own genes, albeit in a more diluted manner. Among the troglodytids, co-operative breeding reaches its most developed form in some of the tropical members of the genus Campylorhynchus. In the Stripe-backed Wren of Venezuela and Colombia, breeding groups can contain up to 14 individuals, consisting of a dominant breeding pair and numerous assistants, which are mainly the pair's offspring from previous broods. Several group-members may sing, and all may participate in defensive activities against, for example, Shiny Cowbirds (Molothrus bonariensis); the two dominant individuals, are, however, the only breeders and are the most persistent singers. All members of a group may assist in the rearing of the young, and breeding success is strongly correlated with the number of assistants available. The young wrens usually remain with their natal group for up to a year, after which all females, and the majority of males, disperse to nearby groups, thus reducing the potential for incest. Vacancies in large groups are much sought after and are the subject of much competition; small groups, on the other hand, may have difficulty in filling vacancies. Individuals joining adjacent groups initially have a low rank within that group, but later rise to a senior breeding status.
The Fasciated Wren of western Ecuador and Peru has been less intensively studied than has its close relative the Stripe-backed Wren, but it appears to have a well-developed co-operative breeding strategy, with groups of up to ten individuals for each breeding pair, the young of one year remaining to assist with nesting in the next year. Conventional, unaided pairs do also exist, however. As for other members of the genus Campylorhynchus, the degree of co-operative breeding varies both among species and within a given species. In a Venezuelan study, for example, two different populations of Bicoloured Wrens had quite different strategies. In one | 1.512091 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
population, only 15% of nests had a helper, and then only a single one, whereas more than half of the nests in the other population had assistants, often several of them and of both sexes. Some other Campylorhynchus species show some degree of co-operative breeding, but the strategy seems to be less pronounced in the more northerly species. The Cactus Wren, resident in the southern United States and the northern half of Mexico, is essentially a conventional breeder. On rare occasions juveniles of one brood have been seen to bring food to a subsequent brood, but this seems to be exceptional.
Of particular interest is the reproductive behaviour of the recently described subspecies hernandezi of Apolinar's Wren, which differs from the nominate race in indulging in classic co-operative breeding, with group defence of the territory but only one pair nesting. This appears to be the first report of this reproductive strategy, as opposed to polygamy, for the genus Cistothorus.
Finally, co-operative breeding has been suspected also for the Peruvian Wren (Cinnycerthia peruana). In this case, the variable amount of white feathering on the face of adults may indicate social and breeding status.
With the exception of the cavity-nesting species, and disregarding the atypical Donacobius, all wrens build an enclosed, roofed nest with a side entrance. In the genera Henicorhina, Cistothorus, Troglodytes, Campylorhynchus, Thryorchilus and Ferminia, and in some Thryothorus, the general nest form is an ovoid ball made from grass, rootlets and fibres and with a hole at the side. In the case of the Marsh Wren, the breeding nests are distinguished from surplus or dummy nests by the fact that they have a sill at the entrance, which prevents the eggs from rolling out in windy conditions. The female usually lines the nest with finer material, hair and feathers. In other troglodytid genera, the nests are more elaborate in form, often with an entrance tube pointing downwards. That of the White-bellied Wren, in the monotypic genus Uropsila, is a beautifully woven structure resembling an old-fashioned chemical retort, with an ovoid nesting chamber and downward-pointing entrance tunnel. Some Thryothorus species, such as the Happy and Sinaloa Wrens, build a similar type of two-part nest, often draped over a twig so that the breeding chamber is on one side and the entrance on the other. A similarly shaped nest, suspended over a twig, is made by the Peruvian Wren, but the nests of the other three members of the genus Cinnycerthia have not been described. Likewise, the nest of the Song Wren, the best-known member of Cyphorhinus, is boomerang-shaped, an untidy structure of coarse roots and leaf skeletons placed over a thin branch.
Cavity-nesting wrens do not build a roof over the nest. Males of both the Northern House Wren and the Southern House Wren fill the nesting cavity almost completely with coarse twigs, or even with such items as bits of rusty wire, before the female, after adding more twigs, builds a cup and lines this with hair, wool and feathers. Information on the nests of the four Microcerculus species is scanty, but those described are open structures made from dead leaves.
The crevice-nesting Canyon Wren constructs an open cup of wool, hair and feathers on a base of twigs and moss. Frequently, extraneous matter is included. One especially larcenous Canyon Wren in California regularly pilfered an extraordinary collection of loot from a nearby office, to the total of 600 paper clips, 500 pins, 100 matches and such other miscellaneous sundries as pen-nibs, screws and similar odd items. The American Rock Wren, also a crevice-nester, has the peculiar habit of building a nest foundation of pebbles. The expenditure of energy for this is by no means trivial; one nest of this species, the only member of the genus Salpinctes, had 2·2 kg of pebbles, the equivalent of 120 times the 18-g body weight of the wren itself, with the largest pebble, at 6 g, weighing almost a third of the bird's own weight. The evolutionary advantage of this major expenditure of energy is obscure; curiously, similar behaviour is exhibited by the Black Wheatear (Oenanthe leucura), an inhabitant of rocky slopes in Spain and Morocco. The Thrush-like Wren (Campylorhynchus turdinus) of central South America also frequently includes extraneous objects in its nest, a habit which has given rise to local legend in Bolivia (see Relationship with Man).
In certain | 1.556489 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
cases, the form of the nest is dependent on the selected nest-site. Thus, the Carolina Wren usually builds a domed nest, but in totally enclosed sites, such as nestboxes, it may reduce or omit the roof. Bewick's Wrens, too, will build either an open nest or a domed one according to circumstances.
There is much variation in nest-sites among the Troglodytidae, and sometimes even among members of the same genus. Most wrens nest in vegetation of various kinds, the Thryothorus and some Troglodytes species typically in dense brush, Cistothorus and Ferminia in grasses and rushes, and Campylorhynchus in various bushes and cacti. Other species are cavity-nesters. In North America, for example, the Northern House Wren relies heavily on artificial sites, both nestboxes and such incidental locations as cavities in sheds, but it also uses natural cavities such as woodpecker (Picidae) holes and a variety of other sites; the latter include old nests of paper wasps (Polistes), from which the wren first removes some of the interior structure, and the riverbank burrows of Belted Kingfishers (Megaceryle alcyon), the mud-bottle nests of Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) and the pendent nests of Northern Orioles (Icterus galbula). The petrophilous wrens, those in the genera Salpinctes, Catherpes and Hylorchilus, nest in rock crevices, while the Southern Nightingale-wren, in Microcerculus, utilizes the disused burrows of other species, either in sandy banks or in old termite (Isoptera) nests.
Several members of the family have learnt to place their nests in naturally defended sites. A prime example is that of the Cactus Wren, which makes little effort to conceal its nests, instead building them in the savagely spiny cholla cactus, which acts as an effective deterrent to such predators as raccoons (Procyon lotor) and ring-tails (Bassaricus astutus). Some other troglodytids nest in spiny bromeliads or nettles. Several species, in different genera, routinely site their nests in places where they can obtain vicarious protection, by hostile insects, from such mammalian predators as monkeys. Thus, the Sinaloa and Happy Wrens frequently build in bushes next to the nests of hornets (Vespa). In the American tropics, there exists a curious symbiotic relationship between ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex and bull's-horn acacia trees. The ants nest in the hollow acacia thorns and feed on nectar and small nutritious corpuscles, called "Beltian bodies", provided by the tree; in return for this board and lodging, the ants defend the trees against predatory insects and, further, even remove weeds from the ground around the trunk of emerging plants. Bull's-horn acacias thus represent a very hostile environment, one where the ants are in effect "kept by the acacia as a standing army" and savagely attack the unwary intruder. Several wrens have learnt to capitalize on this, by siting their nests in such trees. The White-bellied Wren in Guatemala almost invariably nests in acacias, and in Costa Rica the Rufous-naped Wren goes even further, actively seeking out trees with the most aggressive ants and defending them against birds of other species. Wrens building in such secure locations appear to make little effort to conceal their nests. In contrast, the Bicoloured Wren, which does not routinely build in ant-inhabited trees, hides its nests much more effectively. Although the presence of wrens' nests would seem to confer no obvious advantage either on the tree or on the ants, the birds and their young are not molested by the insects.
The Troglodytidae exhibit considerable variation not only in nest-sites, but also in egg colour and in clutch size. Egg colour can vary within a genus, and sometimes even within a species. In the genus Thryothorus, some species lay immaculate white eggs or, more rarely, pale blue, bluish-green or deep sky-blue ones, while the eggs of other species are whitish or buff-white with a variable amount of brown or cinnamon speckling or blotching. Similar variation occurs in the genus Campylorhynchus: the eggs of the majority of its members are whitish with speckles or blotches of various shades of brown, but those of the Stripe-backed and Band-backed Wrens are plain white. In the case of the Cactus Wren, even different subspecies lay distinctive eggs, affinis in southern Baja California having paler eggs than those of the races in coastal California, and inland races having egg markings | 1.429673 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
that are more brightly coloured. Similarly, the Sedge Wren lays white eggs in most parts of its huge range, but in Tierra del Fuego the local race hornensis lays speckled eggs, and an Aleutian race of the Northern Wren, meligerus, has white eggs, in contrast to the heavily marked eggs of other subspecies. A further example of intraspecific variation is provided by the Marsh Wren, the eggs of which are usually chocolate-coloured or brown, spotted with darker brown, but some individuals appear to lay clutches of white eggs. Sometimes, single white eggs also appear in a clutch.
There is a general tendency among passerines for clutch sizes to be smaller in tropical regions than they are in temperate ones, while tropical species, perhaps as a means of compensating for this low fecundity, have longer breeding seasons and, often, more broods. This principle seems to hold for most troglodytids, and, indeed, is sometimes apparent even within one species. Thus, the wood-wrens, the Microcerculus wrens and the Cyphorhinus wrens, among other tropical species, lay only two eggs. The clutches of many tropical members of the genus Thryothorus often consist of only two or three eggs, whereas the Happy and Sinaloa Wrens, temperate representatives of the same genus in northern Mexico, usually lay five. For the Cactus Wren, the normal clutch in Arizona is of three to five eggs, rarely up to seven, but the same species in Baja California usually lays just two eggs. Similar variations are found in other species, representing several genera. Frequently, as demonstrated by the Northern Wren and the American Rock Wren, island subspecies have smaller clutches than those of their mainland counterparts.
Wrens are usually multi-brooded, insofar as the local climate allows. In temperate regions, with a constrained breeding season, there is a rush to launch one brood successfully before starting another one. Parental care of the fledged young tends, therefore, to be of short duration in North America and Europe, while in many tropical species the family-members remain together as a feeding party for several months after leaving the nest. This doubtless enhances the survival rates of offspring and thereby compensates for smaller clutches. An exception to this general tropical strategy is provided by the Southern House Wren. Athough the clutch size of this species is small when compared with that of the closely related Northern House Wren, the Southern House breeds rapidly and frequently, one female in Colombia having been observed to raise as many as seven broods in a period of just 17 months.
Incubation of the eggs seems to be the duty exclusively of the female. In come cases, she may be fed on the nest by the male, although in polygynous species, such as the Marsh Wren, she usually receives lamentably poor provision. Incubation periods tend to be longer among the larger species than among the smaller ones. For example, the Cactus Wren sits for up to 23 days and other Campylorhynchus species for 17-20 days, whereas the duration can be as short as 12 days for the American Rock Wren and the Canyon Wren. The incubation period of the small wood-wrens, however, is usually 18-20 days. The nestlings are generally fed by both parents, but in the case of polygynous species the contribution of the male may amount to little or nothing. Among the co-operative breeders, on the other hand, a variable number of helpers assist with brood-feeding.
In the tropics, the young wrens frequently associate with their parents for a prolonged period after fledging, in some cases for almost a year. Parental feeding of the fledglings is probably limited to a much shorter period, but with many species the parents and juveniles remain together as a family unit for months on end. It is easy speculate how such associations may evolve into the co-operative nesting behaviour so typical of the tropical Campylorhynchus wrens; after all, if the time is not right for the individual to reproduce, the next best option for it to propagate its own genes is to enhance the survival of its own siblings, even those of different broods.
Interestingly, in Costa Rica, young Southern House Wrens of one brood have been observed to assist in the feeding of their parents' subsequent broods, even though this behaviour seems to be rare for this Troglodytes species. Among temperate members of this genus, such as the Northern House Wren or the Northern Wren, parental care of fledged young is of short duration, usually lasting for no more than two weeks, after which the juveniles are left on their own. One could speculate that, for migratory species, the necessity of building up fat reserves prior to migration could have a greater survival benefit in | 1.435687 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
terms of "the selfish gene" than does the enhancing of the survival of one's siblings.
The domed nest form of most wrens and the cavity-nesting habit of the remainder appear to provide these birds with some protection from parasitic species. Nevertheless, brood parasitism is a significant factor in reducing the nesting success of certain troglodytids. In some parts of the United States, up to 25% of Carolina Wren nests fail as a result of parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater). In the Neotropics, the Shiny Cowbird is generally the main culprit in this respect, although it is not a major problem for troglodytids in this region. On the other hand, two Thryothorus species, the Rufous-and-white and Buff-breasted Wrens, are frequent victims of the American Striped Cuckoo (Tapera naevia) in South America, and the Northern Wren in Europe is occasionally parasitized by the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).
Finally, the nesting habits of the Donacobius exhibit several interesting features, formerly used by taxonomists to argue for this species' inclusion in or, paradoxically, its exclusion from the Troglodytidae. This is a co-operative nester, at least in situations where it occurs at high density. The breeding unit varies from simply the nesting pair alone to groups of up to four individuals. The nest is an open cup, quite unlike that of any other member of the family, and is built in vegetation, often over or at the edge of water. Over most of its range, which extends from east Panama across to the east coast of Brazil and southwards, east of the Andes, to north-east Argentina, the Donacobius lays a clutch usually of two eggs, but in Brazil frequently of three. The eggs, purplish-white and covered by heavy purplish blotches, are incubated by the female alone, for a period of about 16-18 days. A curious habit of the adults is that of cooling the nestlings by wetting them with water brought on the adults' breast feathers. The breeding success of this species is correlated with the amount of help available; pairs without helpers are usually able to rear only one chick to fledging, whereas those with helpers can succeed in raising two or three young. In contrast to most wrens, the Donacobius appears to be single-brooded.
Movements The great majority of wren species appear to be very sedentary. In other words, not only is the species found in a particular location throughout the year, but probably the very same individuals are present there in all months. After leaving the family group, the juveniles will disperse, probably in a random manner, until they encounter a vacant territory. In the case of the co-operatively nesting Stripe-backed Wren, the young of both sexes remain with the breeding group for a year or so, after which all females and the majority of males disperse to breed with nearby groups; the distance in terms of linear displacement may, however, be very short.
Most tropical wrens appear to be sedentary even when faced with major climatic fluctuations, such as the wet and dry seasons of Central America and northern South America. In a few cases, some altitudinal movement appears to occur, although the data are scanty and the precise nature of the movement not clearly understood. For example, the Merida Wren seems to vacate some habitats during the rainy season, and in El Salvador the Rufous-and-white Wren occurs in winter at sea-level in thickets of the palm Bactris subglobosa, a habitat known locally as "huiscoyol", whereas it is not found below 300 m in the summer. At the northern edge of its range, in the Sierra Madre of Mexico, the Happy Wren migrates vertically, but no such movements have been noted farther south in its range.
When one moves into temperate zones, however, it is noticeable that troglodytids become increasingly less sedentary. The North American populations of the Sedge Wren, for instance, are totally migratory, with no overlap at all between the breeding range, which extends from Saskatchewan east to Quebec and south to Kentucky and Pennsylvania, and the non-breeding range, mainly in the coastal states from Virginia south to north-eastern Mexico. These North American populations are also unique in that they are nomadic during the breeding season, abandoning some areas and, later in the same season, appearing in others. In contrast, the Sedge Wrens in Middle America, from the highlands of southern Mexico southwards to Costa Rica, seem to be entirely sedentary. In South America, too, the Sedge Wren populations, which may perhaps represent two separate species (see Systematics), are similarly non-migratory; here, the southernmost | 1.423846 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
subspecies, hornensis, experiences very harsh conditions during the austral winter, although the type specimen of this taxon was taken on a ship "twenty leagues south-east of Cape Horn", suggesting that some movement may occur at times.
A similar distinction in the movements of different populations is exhibited by the Marsh Wren complex of taxa. Those summering in the vast area from northern Alberta eastwards to New England are entirely migratory, spending the winter months along the Atlantic seaboard from New York south to Mexico, whereas the subspecies breeding in coastal habitat in the eastern United States are either partial migrants, in the north, or sedentary. In some coastal marshes in the southern-eastern United States, the Marsh Wren populations present in winter are a mixture of sedentary local breeders and winter visitors from farther north. A totally sedentary race is found in central Mexico. Vagrant Marsh Wrens have been recorded in Bermuda and Cuba, illustrating this species' ability to cross large expanses of open water.
In western North America, the American Rock Wren is partially migratory. It vacates the northern portion of its range, from British Columbia south to Colorado, in winter, whereas the species is present throughout the year in the remainder of the western United States and in Mexico; again, disjunct populations from south Mexico south to Costa Rica are totally sedentary. The American Rock Wren is a notable vagrant, stray individuals turning up, usually in October and November, in various places across eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and New Jersey south to Louisiana and Florida. The Canyon Wren, on the other hand, appears to be much more sedentary. Although it does undertake some altitudinal movements in the northern parts of its range, occurrences of vagrants are fewer, and in localities closer to the breeding area.
A very limited partial migration takes place in the case of Bewick's Wren, the eastern populations of which are more mobile than are the western ones. Carolina Wrens are essentially sedentary, but they do crop up extralimitally, sometimes in locations well removed from the breeding range. Of over 500 recoveries of individuals of this species ringed in North America, only 31 had made any movement at all, and only three demonstrated significant displacement, having covered distances of, respectively, 250 km, 150 km and 75 km. Extralimital movements made by the Carolina Wren may involve wandering by juveniles in their first season.
The two Troglodytes species breeding in North America are strongly migratory. For the Northern House Wren, a large body of data has been amassed from recoveries of ringed birds, and this information allows a detailed analysis of movements; for no other wren species in the Americas are there adequate data for such studies. The Northern House Wren is totally migratory; apart from a small area of southern California, there is no part of its range where it occurs in all months of the year. Individuals ringed on the breeding grounds in coastal eastern North America appear to winter in Florida. Inland breeders, from east of the Appalachians, migrate on a broad front to non-breeding quarters extending mostly from Texas eastwards to Georgia and Florida, those from the eastern part of the breeding range tending to winter farther east than do those from more westerly areas; there are, however, a few recoveries demonstrating strong longitudinal displacements, as, for example, from Ontario south-west to as far as Texas. Northern House Wrens breeding on the Great Plains and the Prairie Provinces of Canada, in contrast, have a strongly south-eastern orientation of migration. There are no significant recoveries of house wrens ringed in western North America. This species has occurred as a vagrant in western Cuba, the Bahamas, Newfoundland, and as far north as Churchill, in the Canadian province of Manitoba.
The Southern House Wren, incidentally, is essentially sedentary over most of its vast range, although it displays a remarkable ability to appear in small isolated patches of suitable habitat when these are created by human activity. The populations in extreme southern South America, however, are truly migratory, leaving southern Tierra del Fuego during the austral winter. The precise whereabouts of their non-breeding quarters are not known, and no information on their movements is available from any ringing studies.
For the other Troglodytes wren of the Nearctic, the Northern Wren, the situation is more complex. The bulk of the breeding range, from northern British Columbia across southern Canada to Newfoundland, is vacated after the breeding season, when the wrens migrate to a wintering range that extends from New England south to Florida, Texas and north-eastern Mexico; the species occurs in all months in southern Ontario and the Appalachian chain, but it is not certain that it is the same individuals that are present there throughout the year. Western North American populations may be partially migratory or sed | 1.511756 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
entary. The numerous endemic subspecies of the Aleutian chain and the Pribilof Islands are known to be totally sedentary, and those breeding in the region from Alaska south through northern California appear to be so. In southern California and Arizona, however, the species does occur in winter but is absent in the summer months.
In the Old World, the Northern Wren again comprises a mixture of sedentary and migratory populations. The species leaves most of Scandinavia and north-western Russia after breeding, as it appears unable to tolerate winter conditions north of the -7°C isotherm. In western Europe, from Iceland south to the Mediterranean Basin, and from the south Baltic region south to Poland and the Ukraine, the Northern Wren occurs throughout the year, as it does also in north Africa, Turkey, Cyprus, the Caucasus and northern Iran. Isolated island populations, such as those on the Faeroes and St Kilda, are also sedentary. Farther east, in the Himalayan region, eastern China, Japan and Taiwan, it is likewise observed in all months. The breeding grounds in northern China and eastern Siberia, including Kamchatka and Sakhalin Island, are vacated in winter, although the species is resident on the Commander Islands, east of Kamchatka.
Whereas there are, unfortunately, no worthwhile ringing data for the Northern Wren in North America, a substantial number of ringing recoveries exists in Europe. Individuals breeding in Norway have been encountered in winter in the region from northern Germany south to Belgium; wrens from Sweden and the Baltic area tend to have a generally, but not exclusively, south-western orientation, with recoveries reported from Hungary westwards, all the way to south-western France and eastern Spain. Northern Wren movements in Britain seem to be of two distinct types. The first is a short-distance movement of up to 50 km, and is essentially random in orientation, while the second is longer, up to 250 km, and with a markedly north-south orientation between summer and winter and the reverse heading in spring. A number of wrens that had been ringed at locations on the south coast of England have been recovered in France, including several in the south of that country. These may well have involved individuals that were already on migration when they were caught for ringing, since it is obvious that the vast bulk of British Northern Wrens, which are subspecifically distinct from mainland European ones, do not leave the British Isles.
Observations of birds striking tall buildings, TV towers, lighthouses and similar structures at night, or being found dead in the morning at such places, indicate that all migratory troglodytid species in North America and Europe migrate nocturnally. This can occasionally lead to considerable mortality (see Status and Conservation).
It is worth mentioning here that the Donacobius, almost certainly not a "true" wren (see Systematics), appears to be a very sedentary species. In one study in Peru, in which birds were individually marked, there was no evidence of any movement between patches of suitable habitat that were separated by a distance of only 2 km.
Relationship with Man
In contrast to the minimal economic interaction between the Troglodytidae and humans, the role of wrens in folklore and legend is extraordinarily widespread and pervasive. This is especially true of the Northern Wren in Europe. It is odd that a small, brown, inedible bird should be so important in the folklores of so many diverse cultures. Indeed, in western Europe, among passerines, probably only the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) figures more prominently. Doubtless, this is due in some measure to the loudness of its song. Certainly, the songs of the members of this family make them difficult to overlook. In Canada, for example, the name for the Northern House Wren in the Ojibway language of Ontario translates literally as "he who makes a lot of noise for his size".
One common feature in many different cultures is the recognition of the wren as the "King of the Birds". In a number of European languages, as diverse as Dutch, Classical Greek, Polish, Romanian and Lithuanian, among others, the vernacular name for the Northern Wren implies royalty. One example is the German Zaunkönig, meaning "king of the fence". In Britain and France, however, the mantle of royalty seems to have been taken over by the even smaller kinglet (Regulus), the roitelet in the French language.
How did the tiny wren become the birds' king? One legend, widespread among several European cultures, tells of a contest among the birds for the throne; the one which could fly the highest would inherit the crown. As might be expected, this was the eagle. As the eagle, exhausted and incapable of further climbing, was about to call down to the unsuccessful claimants below to proclaim his triumph, the wren | 1.530425 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
, which had concealed itself among the eagle's back feathers or, in some versions, under his wing, popped out and flew a few feet higher. The origin of this widespread legend is obscure, but it may have come from one of Aesop's fables, since lost. Aesop himself probably acquired many of his fables from Indian sources, although, curiously, an almost identical legend is found among the Canadian Ojibway people.
An obviously related legend, again widespread in western Europe, involves the bringing of fire, or light, to the world by the wren. This entailed a flight to the heavens from which the wren returned successfully, but with all of his feathers burnt off. In gratitude, all except one of the birds agreed to give the wren one of their own feathers so that he could clothe his nakedness. The single exception was the owl, which maintained that he had none to spare. As punishment for his stinginess, the owl was for ever thereafter condemned to a solitary life; harassed by small birds during the day, and spending the nights alone in the dark forest, making forlorn and mournful hooting noises. A variation of this story identifies the robin as the fire-fetcher, although in Breton legend it was Hell, not Heaven, that provided the fire. In eastern Europe, the fire-bringer was the swallow.
A remarkable tradition, formerly practised in much of western Europe, was the wren hunt. Typically, this took place on St Stephen's day, or Boxing Day, 26th December, although in some locations it happened on Christmas Eve, on Christmas morning, on the Epiphany, or "Twelfth Night", or even on St Valentine's Day. Basically, groups of young boys would catch wrens and attach them to decorated poles, a holly bush (Ilex) or, in Wales, a house adorned with ribbons. The unfortunate bird would then be paraded by a procession of boys and young men in strange and fantastic garb, some dressed as women, sometimes with blackened faces and carrying wooden swords; in Ireland, the parade took place to the accompaniment of doggerel verse and the music of flutes and the bodhrán, a traditional drum. The young participants then went from door to door, soliciting modest funds and treats. In the Isle of Man, the wren would sometimes then be interred with due solemnity and respect, to the sound of dirges sung in the now extinct Manx language. Wren-hunting occurred widely in the British Isles, not only in the Celtic areas but also in such counties as Suffolk and Surrey, as well as in parts of France. The tradition seems to have been strongest, however, in southern Ireland and the Isle of Man. Manx fishermen carried wren feathers with them to sea as protection against shipwreck, while in Scotland fisherfolk scattered wren feathers into the wind in the belief that this would enable them to predict the profitability of the herring (Clupea harengus) harvest.
The origins of the wren hunt are obscure. According to one legend, the wren betrayed St Stephen as he was trying to escape from jail, thereby causing his martyrdom. Several Irish legends exist. In one of these, the wren was cursed by St Moling for eating the holy man's pet fly. In another, a wren presumably of the Protestant faith was blamed for warning King William of Orange's sleeping forces of a stealthy Irish attack, by jumping up and down on a drum; most interestingly, exactly the same story existed seven hundred years earlier, but in this case it was somnolent Danes who were aroused. In all probability, the origins of the tradition date back to early or pre-Christian times. In Celtic mythology, for example, the wren was the king of the oak tree and the symbol of the Old Year, while the robin represented the New Year, hence the symbolic dispatch of the wren at a time close to the winter solstice.
In the New World, wren mythology seems to be less extensive or, in cultures lacking the written word, perhaps simply unrecorded. According to Cherokee legend, the wren closely observes women in labour, rejoicing in the birth of a girl but loudly lamenting the appearance of a boy, who will grow up to hunt the wren. In Suriname, the haunting and arresting song of the Musician Wren is reckoned to be a bad omen for hunters. In contrast, the Southern Nightingale-wren is considered to be a good talisman for deer-hunters in Brazil, although, to be efficacious for this purpose, the bird must be captured on a Thursday or Friday during a period when the moon is waxing. The habit of some species of incorporating human artefacts in their nests (see Breeding) has led to a number of superstitious beliefs. The Thrush-like Wren, for example, frequently includes | 1.598164 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
extraneous objects in its nest and, according to local legend in Bolivia, if one loses a banknote, one should examine all the local wren nests to ascertain whether the thrifty birds have incorporated it into their own nest structures.
Finally, there is the curious fact that, in the Creole languages of the West Indies, the Southern House Wren is endowed not with royalty, but also with divinity. On English-speaking islands it is called "God-bird" and on French ones "Oiseau Bon Dieu", while in Suriname it is known as "Gadofowroe".
Broadly speaking, wrens are looked upon with some affection by the general public. This is presumably due largely to their small size. This may perhaps have been in the minds of the members of the German Union for Nature Conservation when they selected the Northern Wren as the "Bird of the Year" for 2004. That body stated that the Northern Wren, although not threatened, is a symbol of a natural, diverse environment that must be maintained and protected.
Status and Conservation The fate of different troglodytids at the hands of man is very varied. Some species have greatly benefited from human activity, whereas others have suffered sorely. In North America, the clearing of continuous climax forest during the period of European settlement created the forest-edge habitat suitable for the Northern House Wren and Bewick's Wren, while artificial structures provided secure nesting sites, allowing for major expansions in the range of both species. In the United States, Northern House Wrens colonized western West Virginia by the late 1800s, North Carolina by the 1920s and South Carolina by the 1940s. Bewick's Wren had expanded into West Virginia by 1834, Pennsylvania by 1843, Georgia by 1854, Ohio by 1879 and New Jersey by 1890, and had reached southern Ontario, in Canada, by 1898. In contrast to the house wren, however, Bewick's Wren has suffered major declines in the eastern part of its range and now occurs only in isolated pockets east of the Mississippi; it has been proposed that the race concerned, altus, be listed as Endangered. The reasons for this major decline are not entirely clear, but one plausible explanation is the well-documented nest destruction by Northern House Wrens (see General Habits). The latter may, in fact, represent a conservation problem under some circumstances. In Canada, the cavity-nesting Prothonotary Warbler is confined to southern Ontario, the entire population totalling fewer than two dozen pairs. Its nesting success is adversely affected on a substantial scale by Northern House Wrens, being significantly higher in areas without these nest-destroyers. The wrens cause nesting failure by puncturing and sometimes throwing out the warbler's eggs, attacking nestlings and perhaps adults, and dropping twigs into nest-cavities already occupied by the warblers. The decline of Bewick's Wren in eastern North America seems to have coincided with the expansion of the range of the Northern House Wren. Although the attributing of the disappearance of Bewick's Wren to the Northern House Wren's activities may be a facile explanation of a more complex phenomenon, the evidence is suggestive.
The two Cistothorus wrens of North America have rather specialized habitat requirements, the Marsh Wren occurring in reeds, rushes and grasses over water and the Sedge Wren in damp sedgy meadows. Since Europeans settled in North America, Marsh Wren habitat has been extensively destroyed as wetlands have been drained for agriculture and other purposes. The species' total population has doubtless declined substantially, but it remains common or abundant in suitable habitat, which in some areas is now expanding as a result of the building of artificial water impoundments. It is probable that the Sedge Wren was helped by the creation of habitat through human clearances; this wren may also breed in weedy rice fields, although these are discouraged in modern farming practices. Nevertheless, Sedge Wrens are regarded as threatened in several US states. In Canada, breeding-bird surveys over the decade 1991-2000 indicate a slow population increase.
No species of wren has become extinct in historical times, but several give cause for concern, and a number of subspecies have indeed disappeared. Of these, the race exsul of the American Rock Wren, restricted to the island of Isla San Benedicto in the Revillagigedo Group, off western Mexico, became extinct in the most spectacular fashion in 1952, when its island home catastrophically erupted. A few wrens survived the initial eruption, which also killed tens of thousands of nesting seabirds, and lingered for a few months, but all ultimately perished. All other extinctions have been caused by man, usually | 1.47513 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
by the sadly familiar practices of habitat destruction and the introduction of alien predators. Two island subspecies of Bewick's Wren have been lost: brevicauda was one of several Guadelupe endemic taxa that vanished from that island, off Baja California, prior to 1892, and leucophrys, of San Clemente Island, California, became extinct by, probably, 1986. In the West Indies, the Martinique race of the Southern House Wren became extinct about 1900. Two other races of that species, guadeloupensis on Guadeloupe and mesoleucus on St Lucia, are hovering on the brink, if they have not already gone over it; the first was believed to be extinct, but a tiny population was rediscovered in 1969 and 1973, and the second still persisted, in very small numbers, in 1984. No recent information is available for either subspecies. On some other islands, such as Dominica, the local races of the Southern House Wren remain common. Given the ability of this species, over most of its range, to adapt to or, indeed, to benefit from human-wrought changes, the loss of some of the races is perhaps unexpected. It can doubtless be ascribed to the typical vulnerability of naive island populations to introduced predators, in these instances predominantly mongooses (Herpestidae).
Populations of some island races of the Northern Wren fluctuate, at times plummeting to alarmingly low levels. In Scotland, for example, the subspecies fridarensis, confined to the 7·6 km² of Fair Isle, between the Shetlands and the Orkney Islands, has numbered as few as ten singing males, but it rapidly bounced back to three or five times this level. When the taxon hirtensis was first described on St Kilda, the westernmost of the Outer Hebrides, in 1884, it was initially considered to be a new species; this unleashed a frenzy of collecting, with single skins fetching a guinea or more, the equivalent of £1.05 in modern British currency, which was at that time a huge sum of money for an impoverished local Gael. Notwithstanding this, hirtensis, now treated as a subspecies of the Northern Wren, was probably never in danger, mainly because of the physical inaccessibility of much of the population, and nowadays it typically numbers more than 200 pairs. At the eastern edge of the Northern Wren's Palearctic range, the subspecies mosukei on the Izu Islands, south of the Japanese mainland, is considered endangered, while the subspecies orii recently became extinct on the Daito Islands, about 800 km south of Kyushu.
Several troglodytid species are confined to islands of various sizes, but, in contrast to the sad condition of the West Indian races of the Southern House Wren, all of them should survive. The Cozumel Wren (Troglodytes beani) is restricted to the Mexican island of that name, where it is generally both abundant and tolerant of moderate habitat modification. Off the other, western coast of Mexico, in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, are the much smaller islands of Clarión and Socorro, each with an endemic wren. Because of the small size of their respective ranges, the Clarion Wren (Troglodytes tanneri) is classified by conservationists as Vulnerable and the Socorro Wren is considered to be Near-threatened. Both islands have suffered substantial habitat changes following the introduction of such animals as goats and cats, but the wrens appear able to tolerate this environmental alteration. This situation contrasts with that of the Socorro Mockingbird (Mimodes graysoni), which is in a very sorry state and is listed as Critically Endangered. Fortunately, the archipelago is now a biosphere reserve, and efforts are being made to remove alien species.
In the Falkland Islands, the endemic Cobb's Wren was probably widespread throughout prior to human settlement, but it has since retreated to offshore islands in the face of habitat destruction and the introduction of cats and rats (Rattus). Although classified as Vulnerable owing to its restricted range, it has an estimated population of 4000-8000 pairs, spaced over more than thirty islands of between 5 ha and 3000 ha, and does not seem to be in any real danger. Accidental introduction of either cats or rats to any of these islands, however, would almost certainly result in the disappearance of the local wren population. Efforts are currently being made to exterminate alien predators on several of the more suitable islands.
Most of the conservation worries concerning troglodytids refer to Central and South American members of the family. No fewer than four | 1.468864 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
species of concern occur in Colombia, a country in which an almost permanent state of severe civil unrest is not conducive to conservation efforts in remote regions. The species at the most serious and most immediate risk is Niceforo's Wren (Thryothorus nicefori), which was described in 1945 from a small area near Bucaramanga and was then not seen again until 1989, when one pair was observed. It appears to be dependent on acacia scrub, a habitat which is highly disturbed by burning, overgrazing and clearance for agriculture. Niceforo's Wren is presently classified as Critically Endangered.
Apolinar's Wren, "officially" listed as Endangered, is restricted to tiny patches of habitat in Colombia, where recent study has revealed the existence of two separate populations. These are currently treated as representing subspecies, but each is perhaps deserving of full species status (see Systematics). The nominate race is found only in reedbeds around a number of high-altitude lakes. Unfortunately, many of these are in heavily populated areas in the departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá, and much suitable habitat has been lost in recent years. Populations of 50 or so pairs exist at Laguna de Tota, in Boyacá, and at Laguna de Fúquene, in Cundinamarca; the species apparently still persists in some locations around Bogotá, and the type specimen was, in fact, collected only about 6·5 km from the capital city. Some of the breeding habitat of this taxon lies within national parks, but, given the current state of civil unrest in Colombia, park status may be no guarantee of protection. Recent estimates of the total population of the nominate race are in the region of 250 adults, justifying for this taxon a classification of Critically Endangered. A further cause for concern with this race involves a growing incidence of brood parasitism by the Shiny Cowbird, the local population of which appears to be increasing. The other subspecies of Apolinar's Wren, hernandezi, has so far been found in just two small locations. Its population density at these seems to be quite high, and the sites themselves do not appear to be under immediate threat. It is feasible that this race may occur also at other places with suitable habitat, but, because of concerns over security, it has not yet been possible to investigate these. In view of the tiny currently known range of hernandezi, it is suggested that it be afforded the conservation category of Vulnerable.
Although the Santa Marta Wren is not "officially" listed as globally threatened, it has a very limited total range, being confined to higher levels in the massif of Santa Marta, in north Colombia; notwithstanding the supposedly protected status of much of its range, which is encompassed within a national park, habitat destruction, including overgrazing, burning and forest-cutting, continues apace, suggesting that the species should be designated as, at best, Vulnerable. Similarly, the recently discovered Munchique Wood-wren (see Systematics) has a very small range of less than 100 km², greatly constrained climatically, not far from the city of Popayán, in the Western Andes. Despite the fact that its entire range lies within two protected areas, lack of adequate funds for effective wardening to prevent habitat destruction for agriculture gives reason for grave concern over its future, perhaps sufficient to recommend its being placed in the conservation category of Critically Endangered. By way of contrast, the Merida Wren of the Venezuelan Andes, despite its very restricted range, does not appear to be at any risk.
The two members of the Mexican genus Hylorchilus might almost be regarded as island species in that they live only in forest growing on isolated outcrops of karst limestone. Whether they ever occurred in the intervening non-karst areas is something of a moot point, since these have been largely deforested for agriculture. Both species are the subject of some concern. Sumichrast's Wren seems to be in the better shape. Although its total range is encompassed in an area of only 6000 km², in only a small proportion of which it is actually present, a total of twelve separate populations has been located. In some of these it is found at the very high density of one pair per hectare, and it is able to exploit very small patches of habitat, some as tiny as 0·5 hectares. In addition, it tolerates a degree of habitat disturbance. Sumichrast's Wren is currently considered Near-threatened, the greatest threats facing it being the cutting of forest for firewood and quarrying. Nava's Wren is classified as Vulnerable, with suggestions that it should be upgraded to the conservation category of Endangered. It appears to be less tolerant of habitat disturbance | 1.425104 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
than is its congener. Some parts of its range are protected, but the viability of both species can be guaranteed only by further land protection, either by direct acquisition for reserves or through long-term agreements with landowners.
Farther south, in El Salvador, the local subspecies nannoides of the Rufous-browed Wren is now restricted to a protected area of 600 ha on Volcán Santa Ana. Here, its population is estimated to number no more than about 4000 individuals.
The unique Zapata Wren, confined entirely to small areas of the Zapata Swamp, in south-western Cuba, is a source of very serious concern. It is currently classified as Endangered, and at one point it was feared that it was already extinct. Recent observations, however, suggest a population in the region of 80-100 pairs. The main threats to this species appear to be destruction of its habitat by fires and predation by introduced mongooses. Currently, management plans for the Zapata Swamp are in place, with the aim of preserving this and several other endemic species.
Twenty-one troglodytids, including five of the six globally threatened ones, are restricted-range species. Of the non-threatened species in this category, it is believed that their small geographical ranges would render them vulnerable in the event of major habitat destruction. In southern Mexico, for instance, the Giant Wren is restricted to a narrow coastal strip of the state of Chiapas. It seems to be abundant in parts of this small range, and to be able to co-exist well with present land uses, but any change in its environment could cause problems for this distinctive wren. On the Caribbean coast, the Yucatan Wren (Campylorhynchus yucatanicus) occupies an even smaller range, some of which is protected by national parks. This, however, is no justification for complacency, as the Yucatán Peninsula is currently undergoing extensive development for resorts. As a further example, the Bar-winged Wood-wren, already listed as Near-threatened, occurs in very limited areas on high mountains in southern Ecuador and northern Peru, where it is confined to stunted forest on impoverished soils. This choice of habitat, unattractive for human exploitation, is probably the species' best guarantee for survival. Also highly restricted in Peru is the Inca Wren, which does, however, seem to be common in suitable areas.
Although many members of the family have large geographical ranges, these are becoming increasingly fragmented. This is especially true of species which rely on lowland tropical forest and have limited tolerance of change, such as the Northern Nightingale-wren, large segments of the former habitat of which have been deforested. While such species may be abundant in areas where suitable habitat still remains, their populations as a whole have exhibited substantial declines in recent years. The future health and viability of these forest-reliant species will obviously depend on the capacity of the human population to reverse the present rate of habitat destruction in Central and South America.
Apart from habitat loss and degradation, there appear to be few threats to troglodytids. As mentioned previously (see Movements), non-resident populations of wrens migrate during the night-time. These nocturnal movements can at times involve certain hazards, chief among which is probably the risk of flying into stationary structures such as lighthouses, TV towers and various tall buildings. Observations suggest that, under certain weather conditions, Northern House Wrens, Marsh Wrens and Sedge Wrens in North America and Northern Wrens in Europe can suffer substantial numbers of casualties as a consequence of hitting tall obstructions in the dark. The level of mortality due to such accidents, however, is extremely minimal in terms of the total population of the species concerned.
Natural deaths resulting from starvation during prolonged periods of harsh weather can be more serious, sometimes depressing populations for several years. Nevertheless, wrens are generally capable of recovering to their former strength within a relatively short length of time.
General Bibliography Aldrich (1946), Allen (1914), Álvarez-Lopéz et al. (1984), Anderson & Anderson (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1973), Arizmendi & Márquez (2000), Armstrong (1955, 1958, 1975), Aspinall & Aspinall (1987), Atkinson et al. (1993), Austad & Rabenold (1986), Badzinski (2001), Bailey (1904, 1922), Bancroft (1946), Barbour (1926), Barker (2004), Barker et al. (2001), | 1.4728 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
Bart & Tornes (1989), Belles-Isles & Picman (1986a, 1987), Bent (1948), Borror (1956), Brewer (2001), Brewer et al. (2000), Brodkorb (1943), Brumfield & Capparella (1996), Brumfield & Remsen (1996), Bruner (1934), Bump (1986), Burns (1982), Catchpole & Rowell (1993), Christian & Roberts (2000), Clench et al. (1982), Colyer (2000), Crawford (1977), Creaser (1925), Crossin & Ely (1973), De Santo et al. (2003), Dickerman (1973, 1975), Drovetski et al. (2004), Farabaugh (1996), Fitzpatrick et al. (1977), Fleischer & Tarr (1995), Freed (1986, 1987a), Garrido & García (1965), Gilardi & von Kugelgen (1991), Gill (2003), Gochfeld (1979), Gómez de Silva (1997b), Grant (1966a, 1966b), Graves (1980), Griscom (1923), Gross (1968), Hardy & Delaney (1987), Hawthorn & Mead (1975), Hejl & Holmes (2000), Ingersoll (1923), Isler et al. (1997), Johnson & Kermott (1990), Johnson, Kermott & Lein (1993, 1994), Johnson, Merkle & Kermott (1992), Joyce (1993), Jullien & Cariveau (2001), Kattan (1993), Kendeigh (1941), Kiltie & Fitzpatrick (1984), Kirwan (2003), Krabbe & Sornoza (1994), Kroodsma (1974, 1975, 1978, 1988), Kroodsma & Pickert (1980, 1984), Kroodsma, Liu et al. (1999), Kroodsma, Wilda et al. (2001), Kroodsma, Woods & Goodwin (2002), Lanyon (1960), Laskey (1948), Leonard & Picman (1987a), Levin (1996a, 1996b), lldobler & Wilson (1994), Loetscher (1952), Lofberg (1931), Martin (1971), Martínez & Martínez (1991), Mayr & Amadon (1951), Mayr & Greenway (1960), McCracken & MacKenzie (2003), McLellan (1926), Meanley (1952), Merola (1995), Metz (1991), Meyer de Schauensee (1946a), Molles & Vehrencamp (1999, 2001a, 2001b), Morton (1987), Morton & Farabaugh (1979), Mousley (1934), Olivares (1969), Parker & O'Neill (1985), Parkes (1990), Pérez-Villafaña et al. (1999), Pernety (1771), Picman (1980a, 1980b, 1980c), Picman & Picman (1980), Picman et al. (1996), Piper (1994), Piper & Slater (1993), Price (1998, 1999), Rabenold (1984, 1990), Ragusa-Netto (1996, 1998), Rice et al. (1999), Richardson (1965), Selander (1964), Sheldon & | 1.213124 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
Who we are
The Headstart ABI Service has operated in the Hunter region for the past 27 years. We provide specialised support services for people with an acquired brain injury to live as independently as possible.
Brain injury is unique, complex and individual. The success of our service is a result of this long standing experience and our consumer driven approach.
We have some good ideas for what works and we know how to do Whatever it Takes to assist a person beyond the devastation of brain injury.
Each consumer with ABI has unique requirements. Our approaches are tailored to each person. Experience gives us the understanding of the issues faced by people with ABI and their families.
Our office is based in Hamilton –
49654420. What we do
Life after sustaining a brain injury can present many challenges – changes to memory, relationships, emotions, interests, work and life in general. People may feel alone, isolated and lose contact with family and friends.
We work within a framework that provides practical, psycho-social, emotional and behavioural support to meet the complex array of issues after injury.
We fully understand the difficulties if you and your family are not provided with the right support. Our staff understand the challenges and how life can change. We know what working in partnership means and how to apply it for the long term.
Brain Injury is known as the “invisible disability” .. it is often misunderstood.
Headstart is a bridge to understanding.
“my son was violent and aggressive after his injury …he has come such a long way with the support of Headstart…you are life savers”
How we work
We reconnect people to the things that are important to them. We reconnect people to quality support and day to day strategies that work for each individual. We link people together for social and fun connections.
We support new skills, new opportunities and new friendships.
We search for innovative ways to overcome barriers that result from brain injury and design meaningful supports that fit uniquely for each person. We hope for the person to lead a positive and rewarding life, of their choice. We embrace the “Whatever It Takes” (B Willer) approach where dreaming big can lead to more choices, greater control and a more satisfying life. We build a team based on the person’s choices, needs and our approach places the person with an ABI at the centre. See more “What People Say…..”Abra, a remittance service built on top of the Blockchain, has closed $12 million in Series A funding. Investors in the round include Arbor Ventures, RRE Ventures, and First Round Capital. Total funding to date by the company now totals $14 million.
The company’s app, which will launch soon to the general public, lets users around the world transfer funds denominated in any currency at a cost-effective rate.
Abra achieves this by instantly converting deposited currency to bitcoin, which are stored locally on the user’s device. This means that unlike services like Venmo, the company never actually touches any funds, meaning it isn’t required to deal with the regulatory issues of transmitting money.
Here’s how Abra works: Users can deposit money into the app either via a linked bank account, or by utilizing Abra’s network of Abra Tellers, which are like human ATM machines.
After setting their own fee, Tellers meet a user in person to accept a cash deposit and credit the user’s account with funds (or vice versa, if the user wants to cash out).
After a user’s account is credited with funds, the money is instantly converted to bitcoin behind the scenes, but still denominated in a traditional currency.
The important question is how does Abra combat bitcoin’s extreme volatility to allow the digital currency to always be pegged to fiat currency?
Bill Barhydt, CEO of Abra, explained that Abra instantly creates self-settling contracts for users, which are built on the Blockchain and assigned to a counter-party that will share in the hedge.
Basically, users are given a short contract to protect the price, while the assigned counter-party is going long on the hedge. Barhydt explained that the company has found willing counter-parties from across the bitcoin ecosystem, and they range anywhere from exchanges to mining companies.
While the behind-the-scenes work is complex, Barhydt stressed that users will be able to use the service without knowing (or even seeing) any of the complexities of bitcoin and the Blockchain. So two users could send each other $100 USD, and even though bitcoin is actually being transferred, both will just see the transaction denominated in dollars.
The company generates revenue by charging a .25 percent fee to a user whenever they transacts with an Abra Teller, and by charging a small fee to the counter-parties involved with the smart contracts.
The company, which will launch soon, is currently accepting Teller applications, and says it currently has Tellers signed up in over 80 countries.Featured Image: Julia Zakharova/Shutterstock | 1.765443 | 1,012 | 1,010 |
During the summer, faithful Mormons put on musicals (or pageants) as a way of illustrating their religious history, as well has encouraging the seeker to convert to their uniquely American faith. The early Latter-Day Saints were among the pioneers who trekked into the American West, carving out a place for themselves within the mountains of Utah and in the surrounding territories. Their sacrifice, bravery and perseverance are part of their heritage, and one they are justifiably proud of. Yet there is an incovenient truth about their faith which dims the glory of this often told story, which is this: when the pioneers moved into the western territories, they were leaving a democracy for a theocratic kingdom, which quickly became the greatest anti-democratic force of that era – with polygamy the most visible manifestation of that force. How the United States government broke that power is discussed in a recent Weekly Standard article by Stanley Kurtz. After outlining the complete economic and social control that the Church wielded, he goes on to note:
The 12-year federal drive to enforce Reynolds was far more than a quest to root out polygamy. In effect, the fight against polygamy was a slow, frustrating, expensive, ultimately successful campaign to democratize Utah. (The parallels to the war on terror are eerie.) As federal agents descended on Utah, the Mormon leadership went underground, sleeping in hay ricks, hiding under floorboards, dispersing to remote mountain valleys, communicating in code, and depending on early warnings from a sympathetic populace.
Given the demonstration effect of the Civil War, polygamists knew that armed resistance was futile. Yet by evading capture and withholding the evidence needed for conviction, the Mormon leadership hoped to win a legal war of attrition. Still, Mormon resistance was limited by the fear of provoking a full-fledged military occupation, and by the thirst for statehood.
For the better part of a decade, polygamist resistance seemed unbreakable. The railroads were supposed to bring civilization (a nineteenth-century version of globalization and the Internet). Instead they brought more Mormon converts. Elections and the female franchise were supposed to sweep polygamy aside. Instead, pious women and unlettered men voted to solidify the church’s power. Then the outlines of a demographic nightmare emerged. With a fertility boom fueled by four decades of polygamy, Utah’s population was spilling into Idaho, Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. Mormons bragged that, with the admission of the territories, they would hold the balance of power in a politically divided America.
Back East, these threats provoked a tougher line. Attending to the social and economic foundations of Mormon power, Congress set out to break polygamist rule. By 1833, the disestablishment of churches in the American states was complete, and it had been accomplished partly by state legislatures’ setting limits to the churches’ business and property holdings. Congress now applied these standards to the Utah Territory, modeling its legislation on the original “mortmain” laws that had curbed church power in England. In this way, church control of Utah’s economy was dissolved, and erstwhile church property was used to fund public education, with a curriculum designed around democratic values.
The result was capitulation. With the economic and social foundations of theocracy destroyed, a shooting war unwinnable, and the quest for statehood hanging in the balance, the Mormons renounced polygamy and set themselves on the path to democracy.
It’s to the LDS Church’s credit that once that power was broken, it became an enthusiatic defender of American democracy, but that doesn’t negate the unpleasant reality of its early ambitions. It should trouble Mormons (and seekers) that an analogy can successfully be made between our government’s current fight to democratize the Middle East and its effort to democratize Mormon dominated territories – and that the early LDS church embodied everything that is in opposition to what they today believe to be a divinely inspired document, the United States Constitution. This unfortunate history calls into question the spirit which motivated and controlled early Church leadership, and reduces its glorious story of pioneer faith to a pious fantasy. can be breathtakingly original. Overall, client brands will be better served. It's why General Motors, Ford and Procter & Gamble are now trying out incentive agreements. It's why Sears, Kraft and Colgate were using them back in 1996.
As incentives continue to gather steam, we may witness the birth of "CFO creativity." Innovative contracts will be needed. New ways to measure performance will be devised. And-who knows?-someday, there may even be a Cannes Festival award for "Most Creative Agency Incentive Agreement of the Year."
Keep your tux handy.
Mr. Emmerling, chairman and chief creative officer, Emmerling Post, New York like 'pornikinu' and 'hottnu'. Which. Um.) | 2.130232 | 1,010 | 1,007 |
The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, that secretive band of Pentagon geeks that searches obsessively for the next big thing in the technology of warfare, is 50 years old. To celebrate, DARPA invited Vice President Dick Cheney, a former Defense Secretary well aware of the Agency's capabilities, to help blow out the candles. "This agency brought forth the Saturn 5 rocket, surveillance satellites, the Internet, stealth technology, guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles, night vision and the body armor that's in use today," Cheney told 1,700 DARPA workers and friends who gathered at a Washington hotel to mark the occasion. "Thank heaven for DARPA."
Created in the panicky wake of the Soviets' launching of Sputnik, the world's first satellite, DARPA's mission, Cheney said, is "to make sure that America is never again caught off guard." So, the Agency does the basic research that may be decades away from battlefield applications. It doesn't develop new weapons, as much as it pioneers the technologies that will make tomorrow's weapons better.
So what's hot at DARPA right now? Bugs. The creepy, crawly flying kind. The Agency's Microsystems Technology Office is hard at work on HI-MEMS (Hybrid Insect Micro-Electro-Mechanical System), raising real insects filled with electronic circuitry, which could be guided using GPS technology to specific targets via electrical impulses sent to their muscles. These half-bug, half-chip creations DARPA calls them "insect cyborgs" would be ideal for surveillance missions, the agency says in a brief description on its website.
Scientist Amit Lal and his team insert mechanical components into baby bugs during "the caterpillar and the pupae stages," which would then allow the adult bugs to be deployed to do the Pentagon's bidding. "The HI-MEMS program is aimed at developing tightly coupled machine-insect interfaces by placing micro-mechanical systems inside the insects during the early stages of metamorphosis," DARPA says. "Since a majority of the tissue development in insects occurs in the later stages of metamorphosis, the renewed tissue growth around the MEMS will tend to heal, and form a reliable and stable tissue-machine interface." Such bugs "could carry one or more sensors, such as a microphone or a gas sensor, to relay back information gathered from the target destination."
DARPA declined TIME's request to interview Dr. Lal about his program and the progress he is making in producing the bugs. The agency added that there is no timetable for turning backyard pests into battlefield assets. But in a written statement, spokeswoman Jan Walker said that "living, adult-stage insects have emerged with the embedded systems intact." Presumably, enemy arsenals will soon be well-stocked with Raid.A controversial theory is surfacing suggesting that
children born to moms who delivered via C-section may be at higher risk of developing obesity later on in life, when compared to offspring born by vaginal delivery.
Brazilian researchers looked at 2,000 young adults, ages 23 - 25 years old. Of the group, 15% who were born by C-section were obese, compared to only 10% who were obese and born by natural delivery. The researchers then looked at other variables that could affect weight, including actual weight at birth, income, and education level (interesting enough, the wealthier women had higher rates of C-section). After those variables were removed, there still appeared to be a significant link between choosing or having a C-section, and offspring's risk of obesity. As is typical in these kinds of scientific findings a potential connection does not translate to causal relationship.
One theory being explored to explain the possible connection is the idea that when a baby is born vaginally, they are exposed to certain bacteria in the birth canal that may influence metabolic rate. One also has to factor in the reality that obese women are more likely to need C-sections and simply by the fact that they are obese, more likely to have obese children. Researchers also feel that weight during pregnancy and possible gestational diabetes needs to be looked at as possible links to obese offspring. Certainly researchers feel that studies measuring
intestinal flora in newbornsand identifying flora type, and then following these children and seeing milestones weights through adulthood while re-measuring flora types and amounts is needed. Brazil has one of the highest rates of C-sections among countries worldwide. C-section rates in the US are also quite high, hovering at 33% out of all births. Certainly one discussion point that has emanated from this research is a call to try and limit C-section rates, since many experts feel that the rates of unnecessary C-section surgeries are just too high. Did you have a scheduled C-section? If so, would you now, with this information re-think this choice?
Published On: September 02, 2011 | 1.666235 | 1,001 | 999 |
This information was last updated on February 1, 2013 prior to the CCHRSC’s dissolution. For more information, please see the message from the Board.
Labour Market Information (LMI) is data collected on a particular occupation or sector of the economy. Regularly collected labour market information is important because it helps paint a picture of trends in an occupation in the short and long term and can be used to inform decisions related to employment, work, and business by governments. In turn, it can help determine the type of investments or policies that would benefit the sector at the regional, provincial/territorial, and federal levels.
Specific types of labour market information include:
There are several different classification tools and data collection methods commonly used in Canada. Five of these include:
The NOC/NOC-S: The National Occupational Classification (NOC) and National Occupational Classification for Statistics (NOC-S) are classification systems designed to organize occupational information and data collected from various surveys. They provide a standardized language for describing the work performed by Canadians in the labour market by organizing over 30,000 job titles into 520 occupational group descriptions. The NAICS: The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is a classification system designed to organize industry-related information and data that is collected from various surveys. Data Collection Methods (Surveys): The Census: The Census of Canada (the Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture) is a national survey that collects information used to describe Canada’s people, housing and agriculture operations. Information from the Census provides a statistical portrait of Canada and its people. The Census tells us about the social, economic and demographic situation of Canadians living in various regions, including those living abroad. The Labour Force Survey: The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a household survey of the Canadian population 15 years of age or older in Canada’s provinces and territories. It measures how well the Canadian economy is performing by estimating employment and unemployment rates. The LFS provides useful information for the ECEC sector that can assist in determining the national employment and unemployment rates for occupations in the sector. The SEPH: The Survey of Employment Payrolls and Hours (SEPH) is designed to provide detailed information on the total number of paid employees, payrolls, and hours at detailed industrial, provincial and territorial levels. The SEPH is an employer-based survey, which means that self-employed lone operators are excluded. Within the ECEC context, the SEPH reflects employment, weekly and hourly earnings and hours worked for employees in centre-based care.
In order to understand and address key labour market and human resource issues facing the ECEC sector, such as turnover and recruitment and retention, it is important to have current, firsthand data and labour market information on the workforce. Employers, decision-makers and planners working in the sector can use the data to make informed decisions related to short- and long-term HR planning.For news and views from Triodos Bank, as well as the stories behind some of our customers 96684 1688364 24 https://www.triodos.co.uk:443/en/about-triodos/what-we-do/who-we-lend-to/results/ BioExport Fair trade (Social)
BioExport was founded in 2009 by four Paraguayan entrepreneurs with experience in the agricultural sector who wanted to develop better agricultural practices, while raising the income level in the family farming sector. BioExport’s main export is black and white sesame, but the company aims to further its production of chia, beans and rice, to name a few. Approximately 1,000 farmers are currently organic certified and it aims to add more.
Through financing from Triodos Sustainable Trade Fund, Bioexport will be able to purchase black and white sesame at the very beginning of the harvest, paying an immediate and fair price to the farmers and promoting further the organic practices. KEY INDICATORS as of 31 December 2015: - number of farmers: 14,700 - number of hectares: 25,500 hectares of sustainably cultivated land Fair trade
Smallholder farmers in developing countries do not necessarily reap the rewards of a complex international trade system. So, by financing fair trade enterprises we aim to make sure that individuals and their families are paid fairly for their products. ridiculous climate that allows people to characterize price negotiation as "price setting," it is a step in the right direction and we need to let our members of Congress know that we insist that they take it.
As for the rest of the scare tactics and half-truths used by Leavitt, it's not as if his credibility on this issue is anything to be proud of. I hope someone in authority takes the time to respond to his op-ed today. The forces opposed to a Medicare drug benefit that works for more than the insurance industry and Big Pharma shouldn't be able to get away with nonsense like that. | 1.658967 | 1,022 | 1,019 |
Students at Kipp Academy of Opportunity in Hyde Park, part of a charter group… (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles…)
The Arkansas-based Walton Family Foundation announced Wednesday that it is donating $20 million to a nonprofit that recruits talented college graduates to teach in public schools for two years. The largest number of instructors, more than 700, is slated for Los Angeles.
The gift is a continuation of support that has totaled more than $100 million to New York City-based Teach for America over its 24 years. Walton’s cumulative contribution to TFA in Los Angeles is more than $10 million, according to the foundation.
“With this critical investment, Teach for America will be able to bring effective teachers into some of the most under-resourced classrooms in the country while simultaneously working to develop more of our talented corps members as long-term champions of educational equity and excellence,” said Matt Kramer, co-chief executive officer of Teach for America, in a statement.
Support from the Walton foundation has attracted notice because it’s associated with funding and advocacy for “school choice” efforts around the country. These include independently operated, public charter schools. The foundation also supports government-funded vouchers to subsidize the tuition of low-income students at private schools.
The foundation is funded by members of the family that founded the Walmart Corp., which has opposed unionization in its operations. Most charters are nonunion.
For its part, TFA has always cast itself as politically neutral and notes that its teachers join unions when they work in school districts with collective bargaining agreements.
The group lobbies both the federal and state governments to allow its teachers to enter schools as rated “highly qualified” under the law. That designation is important because schools with lower numbers of highly qualified instructors face possible sanctions.
The Walton foundation said the essence of its support for TFA has to do with the group’s twin core missions: to provide effective teachers where they are needed for low-income students and to develop alumni who become leaders who care about education, whether they remain in school systems or enter other fields.
“Teach for America is doing a great job of recruiting highly talented individuals into education,” said Ed Kirby, deputy director of K-12 education reform for the foundation. “It is a fabulous talent pipeline.”
In the L.A. area, 42 TFA alums have risen to the position of principal or higher working for a school district; 60 have done so in local charter schools.
In L.A. this year, 94% of the incoming corps found jobs in charter schools, which have been expanding in number. It’s “a special value that TFA has embraced placement in charter schools,” Kirby said. Many alums, he noted, become charter school leaders: “It’s amazing when you get out into the charter school market to see the degree to which TFA alums populate the leadership throughout.”
Walton is TFA’s largest donor, but the group has a diverse funding base. The Walton donation will cover about 20% of TFA’s expenses this year in the L.A. region. Other local major donors include the Wasserman Foundation, Ahmanson Foundation and State Farm Companies Foundation.
Altogether, Walton’s donation will help recruit and train nearly 4,000 first- and second-year teachers in nine regions, including Denver; Milwaukee; Newark, N.J.; New Orleans and Washington. Three cities — Detroit; Indianapolis; and Memphis, Tenn. — are receiving direct support from Walton for the first time.
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Twitter: @howardblume | howard.blume@latimes.comSpeaking of heart transplants, Mary Burge, a pediatric heart transplant social worker at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, was on Talk of the Nation yesterday. In case you missed the segment, Burge discussed her work helping parents process the news that their child will need a new heart and providing support for families before and after the procedure.
She also commented on how getting a new heart can be a particularly emotional experience – more so than other types of transplant procedures -because of how the organ is viewed culturally:
In some ways I think it’s an unthinkable situation in life to consider getting someone else’s heart put into your body. People ascribe all kinds of emotions to the heart that they don’t, say, to the kidney or the liver. The heart is supposed to be the seat of feelings and love and emotion and spirituality. And changing your heart for the heart of someone else has – is more emotionally charged, I think, in many ways than, say, getting a kidney transplant, which is also very traumatic. | 1.517653 | 984 | 982 |
Sometimes You Need a Good Cry, but Why?
Over the weekend, my husband and I put our little guy to bed and snuggled up on the couch to watch the Tina Fey/Amy Pohler movie, “Sisters.”
While a bit crude at times, the movie has some incredibly hilarious parts and one scene made me laugh so hard that my stomach started to hurt. And then it happened. I went from laughing hysterically to crying really hard. I had no idea why. My little guy is a year and a half, so I can’t blame it on hormones anymore.
Do you ever wake up and feel like you need to cry, but don’t know why? Do you ever start laughing at something and end up crying? I was really curious why a switch was flipped inside of me and I went from extreme happiness to extreme sadness, so I decided to do a little research. What I found on WebMD was pretty interesting.
Stephen Sideroff is an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and explains that crying is, “
…a release. There is a buildup of energy with feelings.” He also says, “ Crying is a natural emotional response to certain feelings, usually sadness and hurt. But then people [also] cry under other circumstances and occasions.”
Jodi DeLuca, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist at Tampa General Hospital in Florida, dove even further and said ”
When you cry, it’s a signal you need to address something.”
When I got done with my good cry, I found myself thinking really hard about what might have made me so incredibly sad in the middle of something so funny and suddenly, the answer was clear.
In the movie we were watching, the parents sold their home, the one the sisters grew up in. Earlier that day, I’d grabbed a flier for a house that my husband and I have been eyeing for the last two years. Even though the sale price has been dropped by $50,000, we still can’t afford the house, and especially not the almost $10,000 a year in taxes. I’d been sad earlier in the day thinking about how much we want that particular home and how much we want to own our own place- an actual home of our own rather than renting a home. And it makes sense that watching the movie about a family who had what we want- their own home filled with memories- coupled with looking at the flier would make me cry. It wasn’t a random, hormonal cry- it was all tied together.
So, then next time you feel like you have a heavy heart and need a good cry, or you just erupt into tears, remember that it means there’s a buildup of energy inside you that needs to get out, and there’s something going on in your life that you might need to take a hard look at. And then cry it out. I promise that you’ll feel better.
[via WebMD]Chapter I INTRODUCTION Background of the Study
With the emergences of diseases brought about by different changes in the environment and advancement of technology rise also the need for more effective and efficient nurses that can respond to the demands not only of the patients but also the family and relatives of the patients.
In the earlier years nursing profession was left to the women with the thinking that nursing and nurturing are minimal jobs intended for the weaker gender. This was stressed by Blakely as she was interviewed by Meyers (2003) who said: "When people think of nursing, they think of women in nurturing roles, as handmaidens to doctors."
Many would frown on men taking up nursing with the thinking that a man who goes to the nursing profession is a homosexual-a gay one. And yet whoever believes such is misinformed. Readings have pointed out that even before the coming of Christ, nursing profession was intended for the male population.
Geocities (2008) attests on this fact:
The first nursing school in the world was started in India in about 250 BC. Only men were considered "pure" enough to become nurses. The Charaka (Vol I, Section xv ) states these men should be, "of good behavior, distinguished for purity, possessed of cleverness and skill, imbued with kindness, skilled in every service a patient may require, competent to cook food, skilled in bathing and washing the patient, rubbing and massaging the limbs, lifting and assisting him to walk about, well skilled in making and cleansing of beds, readying the patient and skillful in waiting upon one that is ailing and never unwilling to do anything that may be ordered."
Nursing must not be considered as the prime duty of women. It is both the responsibility of men and women. Earlier studies... | 1.754949 | 982 | 980 |
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” The_CravenI entered college as a freshman seven years after the end of World War II. There were many men on campus under the G.I. Bill. The unifying emphasis that pervaded all campus activities was: we can't let something like World War II happen again.
That emphasis was apparent in the role of the freshman composition course. It was conducted under the premise that you cannot deal competently with any intellectual activity if you do not have a grasp of what rhetoric is and what is good and bad rhetoric. My instructor was Dr. Traugott Richter, a rather stern and intimidating man. We spent much time on a section on propaganda and rhetorical fallacies to sharpen our critical knowledge of the relationship between logic and verbal competence. We had weekly papers to write which we turned in on Mondays. Toward the end of the week, Dr. Richter returned them, but he carried a stack of index cards on which he recorded writing errors he had encountered in our papers. He would give the cards to students and ask them to reproduce the offending writing on the black board, and he would lead us in an analysis and critical discussion of the errors. Students snickered and chortled at the logical fallacies and grammatical deficiencies, and it became a goal as we wrote our papers to not have an example from our papers put on the board. As the year progressed, the examples put on the board began to shift from examples of bad thinking and writing to examples of what was clear, logical, well supported, and well expressed.
That emphasis on composition established the foundation for discourse throughout the campus. My geology professor, who was internationally known, had majored in English as an undergraduate and graded our papers and examinations on the quality of writing as well as our command of geology. Twice a week, we were required to attend chapel, and the lectures were carefully written to illustrate careful and critical thought and expression. We discussed and debated ideas we had heard in chapel. In a social psychology course, the students were asked to write a report and analysis on advertising techniques they came across and identify those which used propaganda techniques or were based upon rhetorical fallacies. When we came across propaganda or fallacies during the course of our day, we often derided the attempts to dupe people. We felt insulted by advertisers or politicians who used such tactics. The place I went to college was typical in its approach to rhetoric and literary matters at that time.
A common observation among my contemporaries is that what passes for political rhetoric and discussion today would have been met with derision and contempt by people who claimed to be educated during our college days. Freshman composition was not a well-loved course in that time, because it was rigorous and one had to pass it to earn a college degree. A commonly used text book was
Modern Rhetoricby Cleanth Brooks, a prominent literary critic, and Robert Penn Warren, a celebrated novelist. I still have my copy. I used it as a reference in my writing courses, but over time, students lost interest in rhetoric as intellectual transaction and emphasized self-expression as the primary function of writing courses. They often said that everyone has opinions and a right to express them and that they are equal the opinions of anybody else. They resisted the premise that, to be accepted as worthy, opinions had to be based upon verifiable fact processed by logical reasoning that had to withstand knowledgeable criticism. As evaluations, which included student opinion surveys on instruction, became the criteria on which instructors were to shape their courses and students were regarded as consumers who were always right, the study of rhetoric as a discipline was de-emphasized in favor of expressive communication which was more pleasing to student egos and fawning evaluators. In colleges, the rule of what was popular led to reducing the number of required courses in the literary and communicative arts.
The reduction and elimination of the language arts in our education has led to a time when Barbara Bush has commented on the sleazy nature of rhetoric in the current primary campaign, and commentators are wondering if the state of political discourse can go any lower. That raises the significance of Rush Limbaugh's recent attack on Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown U. Law School student who was not allowed to appear before the Republican-run hearing on the coverage of contraceptives as medical necessities. Limbaugh claimed that the testimony she offered to a Democratic-convened hearing was that she was having so much sex that she could not afford the contraceptives. That representation of her testimony was an outright lie. Her testimony centered on the used of contraceptives for medical | 1.757699 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
The CGAP Technology Blog, operated by US-based think tank CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), recently posted an article by Kabir Kumar and Yanina Seltzer that reviews branchless banking in Brazil, whereby agents such as retailers and post offices serve as links between banks and customers. The article is the first of a planned series that examines the state of branchless banking in different countries.
The authors voice concern over the unclear trajectory of Brazil’s agent business in the light of new agent regulations and because: “Bank unions want agents to be considered bank employees and get paid accordingly. Courts have already ruled in their favor and it is possible the results of those rulings will unfold in the coming year” [1]. The authors also comment on the rapid growth of Brazil’s cell-phone market and indicates the possibility of growth in partnerships between banks and mobile operators to offer cell-phone-based financial services. The authors argue that there will be a need for increased regulation to keep pace with the developments in mobile banking.
The authors conclude by saying that the evolution of financial inclusion in Brazil will provide significant insights that could be useful to donors and others working to increase financial inclusion in Africa and South Asia.
By Medha Ravi, Research Associate
About CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor):
Housed at the World Bank Group, CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is an independent policy and research center dedicated to facilitating the provision of financial access to poor people worldwide. CGAP is supported by approximately thirty development agencies and private foundations. Its mission is to provide market intelligence, to promote standards and to offer advisory services to governments, microfinance providers, donors and investors.
Source and Resources:
[1] CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) Technology Blog, “Meanwhile in Brazil…are we there yet?”, http://technology.cgap.org/2011/04/21/meanwhile-in-brazil-are-we-there-yet/
MicroCapital.org story, March 1, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) Launches Online Branchless Banking Database”, http://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-cgap-consultative-group-to-assist-the-poor-launches-online-branchless-banking-database/
MicroCapital.org Article, December 14, 2009, “Branchless and Mobile Banking Could Become Top Microfinance Channel by 2020 Says CGAP Focus Note”, http://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-branchless-and-mobile-banking-could-become-top-microfinance-channel-by-2020-says-cgap-focus-note/
MicroCapital Microfinance Universe Profile: CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=CGAP+%28Consultative+Group+to+Assist+the+Poor%29
Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your entry to the wiki at: http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/ to Report Sexual Abuse,” September 3, 2015, http://www.adfmedia.org/files/PlannedParenthoodSexAbuseSummary.pdf (accessed September 9, 2015).
[15] Susan B. Anthony List, “Kermit Gosnell is Not an Outlier,” http://www.sba-list.org/negligence (accessed September 9, 2015), and Americans United for Life, “Exposing the Pervasiveness of ‘Back Alley’ Abortions,” 2011, http://www.aul.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Pervasiveness-of-Back-Alley-Abortions.pdf (accessed September 9, 2015).
[16] “Key Health Center Data by State, 2013,” National Association of Community Health Centers, https://www.nachc.com/client/2013%20Key%20facts%20by%20state%20data.pdf (accessed September 21, 2015), and “Federally Qualified Health Center,” Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, January 2013, https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/downloads/fqhcfactsheet.pdf (accessed September 9, 2015).
[17] Family Research Council, “A Passion to Serve: How Pregnancy Resource Centers Empower Women, Help Families, and Strengthen Communities,” 2011, http://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF12A47.pdf (accessed September 9, 2015). | 1.185863 | 1,018 | 1,016 |
By Maya Salem
Chicago’s Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart takes a deviant, anomie approach towards residential foreclosures. On Thursday October 9, 2008 Mr. Dart ceased evictions on foreclosed properties claiming that mortgage lenders maintained a false consciousness unwilling to acknowledge that they too are part of the blame. Bankers refusing to bestow a sociological perspective on a rapidly progressing issue among Americans said Dart was breaking the law. Tom Dart’s whole purpose was to prevent innocent tenants whose landlords were in the foreclosure process from being homeless.
“These mortgage companies only see pieces of paper, not people, and don’t care who’s in the building,” Dart said.
This typical story line features a societal paradigm where passion and nurture overcomes cultural capital. American citizens have grown accustomed to the “material culture” lifestyle, whose increased collection of paraphernalia is never sufficed. The Sheriff’s praxis on this whole matter was middle class subjects were lured into purchasing overpriced property through predatory lending. The people of our country are convinced that they can climb into an elite socioeconomic status simply by owning larger homes, thus ignoring the status inconsistency created by spending out of their means. One can see the faults in this closed system process or rather the dysfunction they have yet to incur. The bureaucracies offer easy access loans with hidden high interest adjustable rates while extending the “self-fulfilling prophecy” of the affordable 3-year fixed rate arm. Prior to the downfall of the real estate boom, this short term, low priced monthly payment enticed citizens into assuming the property could be flipped and profitably resold before the unaffordable adjustable rate kicked in. Bank innovators were trained to persuade consumers into experiencing the “real estate dream.”
Foreclosures are quickly becoming a social crisis affecting the economy by extreme measures. Cook County’s predicted foreclosure rate was likely to exceed 43,000 homes this year alone. That would be 43,000 unpaid mortgages in one county alone, hence affecting the stability of the lenders and banks. Financially unstable banks influence stock market negatively. Not only does it affect the stocks, it causes an induction of job layoffs, less people working would mean a decline in sales, a fluctuation in commodities, property value decline due to a surge of bank owned homes and quite a few other detrimental factors. Overall, a negative chain reaction is produced causing the whole country to suffer.
Although Tom Dart’s compassionate act of heroism towards his citizens may be noble, it does not solve the problem. Yes, people get an extended stay in their homes, but for how much longer? Our community as a nation needs to work together to provide a solution for this incoherent problem. And saving the rich is not one of them.The wrestling match in the development of social media guidelines is not confined to the health care industry, but as a highly regulated sector, there are some serious considerations for companies vis a vis social media. Direction is hard to find.
The approach some companies take to social media in the workplace is to try to ban it, which for a number of reasons is not very practical, but especially since increasing numbers of people access the Internet through mobile devices. They don't need your stinkin' computer to access social media.
The opposite tack is to develop some guidelines or principles that will help guide staff. Today Roche published their own Social Media Principles to help guide staff in the use of new and emerging media, which are downloadable and public.
In laying out ground rule, which are pretty common sense rules, the company also makes the point that cannot be made too often… "Always remember that engaging in social media is not a one-off activity." What is the long-term concept: who do you want to engage with, for what aim and result, what are the opportunities and risks?"
I would actually say that is true not only for social media, but for all forms of communications that seek to engage specific target audiences.
The Roche Social Media Principles are not a stand-alone document. Roche has apparently already done some work in developing a Group Code of Conduct and an overall Communications Policy. The social media principles incorporate those guidelines by reference and then outline separate rules for online activities – a set of 7 for personal activities and 7 for professional activities. The company provides more than a list, but also provides rationale, explanation and example for each. The principles are both concise and to the point and are not complex in the least.
One of the things I liked the best, however, was the fact that under the About Roche tab one could navigate one's way to a page that is exclusively about Roche's social media activities. There one can see them subdivided into corporate activities, local activities and branded activities. I love organization.
The publication of such guidelines is a noteworthy development. Now if we could only get the FDA to do the same. | 2.456889 | 996 | 994 |
Gold is steady on Tuesday, as the metal trades at a spot price of $1074.19 in the European session. In the US, all eyes are on Preliminary GDP. As well, the US will release CB Consumer Confidence. On Wednesday, there are two key major events – Core Durable Goods Orders and Unemployment Claims.
The guessing game continues, as the markets hunt for clues as to what we can expect from the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting in early December. Last week’s Fed minutes did not confirm a December rate hike, but most analysts feel that the long-awaited move will indeed occur next month. Market expectations have risen to 66% that the Fed will make a move next month, and recent comments by Fed policymakers have hinted that a rate move is a strong possibility. At the past two policy meetings, the vote against a rate hike was 9-1, but that clearly will not be the outcome at the December meeting. With the US economy showing improvement and employment and consumer indicators pointing upwards, the markets appear prepared for a small hike of 0.25% or 0.50%, and there is a growing view that modest, incremental moves would not cause unwanted turbulence on the global markets. One remaining question mark in the rate move puzzle is that of inflation levels. Recent inflation readings have been weak, and the Fed has repeatedly stated that inflation is a key consideration in any decision to raise rates. The markets will get a look at key inflation indicators shortly before the critical Fed policy meeting on December 16.
The economic slowdown in China and other emerging countries continues to affect markets worldwide, and one of the damaging results has been a sharp decline in commodity prices, including base metals such as gold. Somewhat surprisingly, gold has not been able to capitalize on its traditional reputation as a safe-haven in times of trouble, despite the attacks in Paris and terror alerts in France and other European countries. The precious metal has plunged since mid-October, losing some 9 percent of its value. There are a host of key releases, led by Preliminary GDP, prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, so we could see some volatility from XAU/USD during the week.
XAU/USD Fundamentals Tuesday (Nov. 24) 13:30 US Preliminary GDP. Estimate 2.0% 13:30 US Goods Trade Balance. Estimate -61.8B 13:30 US Preliminary GDP Price Index. Estimate 1.2% 14:00 US S&P/CS Composite-20 HPI. Estimate 5.2% 15:00 US CB Consumer Confidence. Estimate 99.3 points 15:00 US Richmond Manufacturing Index. Estimate 0 points Upcoming Key Events Wednesday (Nov. 25) 13:30 US Core Durable Goods Orders. Estimate 0.5% 13:30 US Unemployment Claims. Estimate 273K
*Key releases are highlighted in bold
*All release times are GMT
XAU/USD for Tuesday, November 24, 2015
XAU/USD November 24 at 10:40 GMT
XAU/USD 1068 H: 1076 L: 1067
XAU/USD Technical
S3 S2 S1 R1 R2 R3 980 1024 1043 1080 1098 1134 XAU/USD posted losses in the Asian session and has been flat in the European session. 1080 is an immediate resistance line. 1043 remains a strong support level. Current range: 1043 to 1080
Further levels in both directions:
Below: 1043, 1024 and 980 Above: 1080, 1098, 1134 and 1151
O ANDA’s Open Positions Ratio
XAU/USD ratio is showing little movement. Long positions continue to make up a strong majority (75%), indicative of strong trader bias towards gold prices reversing directions and moving to higher levels.
This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds. | 1.002243 | 966 | 965 |
Visit Freedom's Zone Donate To Project Valour Friday, September 09, 2005 Please Think Hard Overall, I cannot do justice to all the good I saw today just by writing. I wanted to try though. Basically, the operation set up down there at the New Orleans Airport is one eerily similar to that of Baghdad Int'l airport when I was there for over eight months. Just a hive of activity with people pushing their bodies and aircraft to the max. No one complains, they just get the job done and worry about the rest later. Every citizen of this country should be so proud of what their fellow citizens are doing for each other. The pressure they are working under knowing these sick and stranded people do not have time on their side is unexplainable. Our country is one of great strength and determination. It is evident in all the rescue and relief efforts that are taking place down there. If the hard work and pure grit of all the rescue and medical personnel I witnessed today are of any indication of the eventual outcome of this indescribable tragedy, then we are on the absolute fast track to victory.Second, please see this NY Times article which at least begins to address the issues about the feds taking control of the operation: As criticism of the response to Hurricane Katrina has mounted, one of the most pointed questions has been why more troops were not available more quickly to restore order and offer aid. Interviews with officials in Washington and Louisiana show that as the situation grew worse, they were wrangling with questions of federal/state authority, weighing the realities of military logistics and perhaps talking past each other in the crisis.Okay, it is clear that Blanco did resist federal control. Even the WaPo has reported that. My purpose is not to judge her for that, since I don't have all the information necessary, and I think no one does at this time. I want individuals to think about the legal and logistical issues involved in the president deciding, on his own behalf, that the feds should take over an entire relief effort instead of aiding a state-run effort. Our entire national response plan basically relies on the principle that the locals will be in control and that the federal government will respond to their requests for aid. Do we want to change that? I think not, but I am sure it will be proposed in Congress. To seize control of the mission, Mr. Bush would have had to invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows the president in times of unrest to command active-duty forces into the states to perform law enforcement duties. But decision makers in Washington felt certain that Ms. Blanco would have resisted surrendering control, as Bush administration officials believe would have been required to deploy active-duty combat forces before law and order had been re-established.
Howard has helpfully posted an excerpt from the Insurrection Act. What he does not say is that no president has invoked these powers purely by his own decision. In the case of civil rights uses, the Executive was enforcing either Congress's legislative act or the Supreme Court's decision. In those cases, the local authorities were actually in defiance of US law. In the case of New Orleans, the local authorities were not.
Think of the worst president in your lifetime (no need to specify your pick). Think of the worst president that you can imagine. Do you think that such a president should have the authority to take over a state simply because he believes the local authorities are being ineffective? I do not. Remember, the distinction here is between sending in federal resources in response to a request versus taking control of the situation by what is essentially armed force, which has been forbidden under these circumstances since after the Civil War. Furthermore, a President can't simply send in troops without a clear line of command, especially in a situation like this.
If you do believe that the Executive should have the power to invade states and supercede local authority on the basis that they were not doing a good enough job, where would you draw the line? Simply saying that lives are at stake is not good enough. Lives, many lives, are lost from traffic accidents, for example. Last year it was something like 40 or 50 thousand. Over the space of a decade it is very possible that an individual state could lose more lives to traffic accidents than to a storm such as Katrina. Should the president have the authority to demand at gunpoint that the locals change their traffic laws, eliminate traffic circles and lower speed limits?
How about a state that does not have really effective medical insurance programs? Is the loss of life and/or unnecessary disability significant enough for the federal Executive to order that state to provide for its citizens? These types of issues have always been handled by Congress and for good reason. Even Congress has had its overreaching curbed by the Supreme Court, which ruled that Congress can't require local and state law enforcement agencies to perform actions. They have sovereign powers under the Constitution.
Let's be honest and admit that the federal government doesn't have as much local knowledge as it needs to do the task too. I am sure that | 1.816288 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
Bush could have intervened and ordered (if he were controlling troops on the ground) that the Red Cross and Salvation Army be permitted into New Orleans to provide food and water to the flooded-out groups in the Superdome, the Convention Center and other gathering points. I am sure the local authorities didn't let them go in because they knew they would be shot at. In order to move these agencies in the President would have needed to get troops in to protect them. Were they available a couple of days after the disaster? Probably not.
Would the President have known where to send the agencies or how badly they were needed? FEMA did not even learn until Thursday that there were tens of thousands of people at the Convention Center in New Orleans. When a hurricane as huge as Katrina hits, it wipes out ingress to the area and also communications. Pre-positiioned assets are often lost, so FEMA and other resources (utility trucks, etc) are positioned outside the area so that they will be poised to go in. This was done. Even if Bush had declared martial law and taken control of the operation a day or two after the storm, I doubt all that much would have changed. It takes days to clear an airport and get significant assets into such a devastated area. See Tommy's explanation.
The President couldn't have stopped the flooding. The state was probably in the best situation to decide what additional law enforcement actions were needed and how to get them in the city before the storm, but remember that whoever they sent in were exposed to the same risks as the people left in the city. Hundreds of New Orleans police are still missing, and the suspicion is growing that many of them died in the flood.
It is quite possible that the feds could have taken over and evacuated more of the city before the storm hit, but to do so they would have needed to be in control of disaster planning. They would also have needed to have an infrastructure of shelters and resupply points set up in LA as a whole. To do that they would have had to be in control in LA months before to do what the locals weren't doing. Do you really believe that the federal government is going to be that much more effective than the locals all over the country? I don't. Furthermore, the effort to get significant help into the most devastated areas in other parts of the Gulf Coast took a similar length of time.
When harbors are wiped out, roads are wiped out and airports are wiped out, it takes time. You can chopper in small groups to clear up an airport, and then fly in a few more, and then clear up more and reestablish traffic control, but it takes time. From the land crews start working immediately to clear roads so that trucks can get in. When you have to clear 80 to 150 miles of road, that takes time. The area of Katrina's devastation was huge, which was the problem over four states. The problem in New Orleans was complicated by what appears to have been gang activity and the city's incredible vulnerability to flooding, but I doubt federal authorities could have done much about those issues if they had started working on them 10 years ago.
People need to stop and think hard before babbling about these matters. There will be a review in Congress. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. After the 2000 election Congress rushed to mandate electronic voting, and as a result we got uncheckable machines and long voting lines. Hasty legislation is usually bad legislation. Instead, question your local authorities about their plans. They will pass your concerns on to your state authorities. Eventually I believe that Katrina will result in Congress mandating more federal feedback and rating of state and local disaster planning, but it is a huge task which will have to be accomplished by publicizing failures so that citizens can exert pressure on their local and state governments.
Still, the legal principles here are what I think are important. If you follow the argument through to its logical conclusion, where you end up is a federal takeover of state powers against the will of the state.
You can't really do this partially, or you run into conflicts between state and federal authorities. I think Bush would have provoked a constitutional crisis if he had done this. I am glad he didn't.
Usually what occurs is that the legal position is that the federal government assets are considered to be an adjunct to state power. The legal authority is supposed to be the state's. And if the state tells the feds "okay, go in and do this", then you don't have the conflict so you avoid the legal issue.
The idea that the federal government should act unilaterally is what I don't like.
What is clear are the severe limitations of the Patriot Act and the huge mistake of putting FEMA under Homeland Security, thus robbing it of Cabinet Level power.
We have to look at the possibility of declaring disaster AREAS, not states so that FEMA, the National Guard, and some Army support allowed by Posse Comitatus can happen quickly | 2.015943 | 1,024 | 1,023 |
Beatrice Webb
challenges and difficulties
Webb fears of becoming emotionally dependent upon others, and may distance herself or deny her needs for relationships of closeness and intimacy so that she will not be vulnerable to rejection or abandonment. On the other hand, Beatrice Webb may cling excessively or need constant reassurance from loved ones and family. Developing a deep, inner sense of security, as well as the ability to give and receive nurturing are important tasks for Beatrice.
It may be difficult for Beatrice Webb to play spontaneously or just let her hair down, for she tends to inhibit that side of her by being too self-conscious and concerned with the impression she is making.
Beatrice may work very hard at some sport or creative medium in order to excel, for she wants very, very much to be noticed, acknowledged, and recognized as special in some way. Though she may indeed be outstanding, Beatrice Webb also needs to learn to relax and enjoy herself more.
Beatrice Webb has a serious outlook on life and a tendency to dwell on her own flaws as well as those of everyone else. Webb could be rather reserved with people and may find it difficult to express herself, giving a more negative impression than she intended.
Very cautious and reserved, Beatrice Webb could find it difficult to express herself. She is a bit inhibited around others and does not seem to get much cooperation from them, causing Beatrice to be disappointed.
Now we will discuss patterns of behavior which Beatrice Webb instinctively and habitually reverts to when under stress - a mostly subconscious process that she is apt to over indulge in because it is so familiar and hence easy for her. The direction Beatrice Webb needs to follow in order to develop balance, greater awareness, and wholeness is also described.
Cultivating the qualities of empathy, gentleness, and compassion will help counterbalance Webb's deeply ingrained perfectionism and critical nature. When under stress, she is apt to try to rigorously analyze and focus on what needs to be corrected or improved, and she can easily become problem-oriented and lose sight of the big picture.
Beatrice Webb has to learn to relax and surrender to the flow of events without having to figure everything out all the time. She should let her feelings and intuitions flow more freely, be more flexible and fluid, use her imagination and let her dreams emerge!
It is deep within herself, as Beatrice Webb faces her own demons, fears, and struggles - those aspects of life that are not easily or readily shared, those parts of her life that Beatrice Webb keeps hidden from public view where she is most likely to wrestle with these issues.
The qualities described above can also be beneficially channeled into some sort of charitable work, altruistic service or ministering to people in need.
The following are specific activities that will support Beatrice Webb in her growth. These may or may not feel natural to Webb, and she may initially resist or feel awkward about them, but they are crucial to her path to wholeness.
Beatrice Webb should become more aware of the spiritual side of life and its underlying unity by getting involved in charitable activities and opening up her psychic channels. Meditation that develops Webb's intuitive abilities, as well as learning about the unseen side of life through her own dream experiences or altered states of awareness, can be important steps in Beatrice's path.
Moreover, musical and artistic or imaginative endeavors will be important to her.
She is very social minded and it is easy for Beatrice Webb to show her affection. Her family or community probably provided good possibilities for her development. Webb may love to show off a little and she thrives on being involved with others in joyful group activities.
Beatrice Webb loves to show off the strength that she possesses and she has a strong desire to dominate others. Beatrice seems to have an exuberant craving for recognition and importance and a need to influence and lead large groups of people.
Astrological factors in this Astro Profile section:
Saturn in Cancer
Saturn in 5th house
Saturn Opposition Sun/Mercury
Saturn Opposition Mars/Asc.
N. Node in Pisces
N. Node in 12th house
N. Node Conjunct Neptune
N. Node Conjunct Sun/Jupiter
N. Node Conjunct Sun/Pluto. One of the most dreaded is HIV. The risk from a single feed of breast milk however is low. Breast milk from healthy mothers is not a risk.
Reviewed by April Cashin-Garbutt, BA Hons (Cantab)
Further Reading
Last Updated: Mar 25, 2014Objectives
Fatigue, depressive symptoms, and anxiety are frequently reported in sarcoidosis. However, the relationship between these debilitating symptoms is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this prospective follow-up study was to identify the prevalence of depressive symptoms and anxiety in sarcoidosis patients, stratified for the nature of fatigue. In addition, we examined whether depressive symptoms and anxiety predicted fatigue. | 1.843769 | 1,021 | 1,018 |
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