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Police, local execs still clueless on location of abducted Europeans
More News from Inquirer Mindanao
ZAMBOANGA CITY—Police and local government officials remain clueless about the location of the Europeans who were kidnapped in Tawi-Tawi on February 1.
Governor Sadikul Sahali told the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Wednesday that they did not even know the motive of the abduction.
"We are all clueless until now," he said, adding that it made him think that the abduction was politically motivated.
"Is this abduction a simple vengeance against me? Is this beyond political like an act of terrorism or pure kidnap for ransom?" he said.
Since the abduction, Sahali said, "not a single call or a text message or a letter" was sent by the abductors.
Village officials in Tawi-Tawi's 11 towns have been tapped to assist government forces in combing their respective islands to search for victims Swiss Lorenzo Vinciguerrra and Dutch Ewold Horn, who were in the province on a bird-watching trip.
Senior Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, the provincial police chief, told the Inquirer that they believed, as of Wednesday, that the captives were being kept on one of the islands in the province.
"What I can say is that they are in a forested area, and just imagine we have 307 islands and islets here covering about 3,000 hectares and we are told the two Europeans were kept in one of them," Jocson said.
Jocson could not say how many local leaders have joined the search-and-rescue operations. He said Filipino Ivan Sarenas, who escaped from being kidnapped, has joined the search.
Jocson said he was confident Horn and Vinciguerra have not been moved out of the province.
"If they were transferred to Sulu, by this time we would be getting information about captors or captives establishing contacts with either their relatives or to our government, or a negotiation may have been established. But as of today, we have not monitored anything," Jocson said.
He added that it would "not be easy" for the suspects to bring the victims to Sulu, the nearest province from Tawi-Tawi, because of the naval blockades and the ongoing pursuit operations conducted by the government forces against Abu Sayyaf Group bandits.
Acting Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said he had instructed the crisis management committee of Tawi-Tawi to "intensify the efforts to locate the victims."
"Involve the communities because I know the villagers are afraid of military operations in their areas, and that is the last thing they would want to happen," Hataman said.
Hataman also called on civil society organizations and religious groups to help locate the two Europeans.
But more than a week after the abduction, authorities still do not have an idea where the victims are.
Sahali said embassy officials of The Netherlands and Switzerland have been calling him twice a day, "but like me, they have not received any calls."
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An apparatus for providing therapeutic electric current to a treatment site of a patient is disclosed, which provides two oscillating or pulsing electric alternating currents, of frequencies which differ from each other by as little as 1 Hz and up to about 250 Hz, but each being of frequency at least about 1 KHz. The apparatus requires only one feed electrode adapted to feed the electric currents to selected feed sites on or beneath the epidermal or mucous surface of the patient, and only one return electrode adapted to be positioned on or beneath the epidermal or mucous surface of the patient, locally to the treatment site. The apparatus includes a feedback subsystem to detect impedance changes in the patient and accordingly adjust the output of the apparatus.
1. An electro-therapy apparatus for providing therapeutic electric current comprising:
electrical circuitry configured to produce first and second signals and create a therapeutic signal from said first and second signals;
a single feed electrode pad connected to the electrical circuitry and adapted to output said therapeutic signal; and
a single return electrode pad configured to cooperate with said single feed electrode pad, when said therapeutic signal is output.
2. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
3. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
4. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
5. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
6. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
7. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
8. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
9. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
a signal generator forming said first and second signals, said first and second signals being sinusoidal alternating current signals having a frequency difference of between 1 Hz and 250 Hz, each signal having a frequency at least about 1 KHz.
10. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
11. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
12. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
13. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
14. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
15. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
16. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
17. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
18. An electro-therapy apparatus for providing therapeutic electric current comprising:
electrical circuitry configured to produce first and second signals and create a therapeutic signal from said first and second signals;
a single feed electrode pad connected to the electrical circuitry and adapted to output said therapeutic signal; and
at least one return electrode pad configured to cooperate with said single feed electrode pad, when said therapeutic signal is output; wherein
only one feed electrode pad outputs the therapeutic signal, at any given instant.
19. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
20. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
21. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
a plurality of feed electrode pads; and
a first electronic switch configured to selectively apply the therapeutic signal to exactly one of said plurality of feed electrode pads at any given instant.
22. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
23. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
24. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
a plurality of return electrode pads; and
a first electronic switch configured to selectively activate exactly one of said plurality of return electrode pads at any given instant.
25. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
26. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
27. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
28. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
29. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
30. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
31. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
a signal generator forming said first and second signals, said first and second signals being sinusoidal alternating current signals having a frequency difference of between 1 Hz and 250 Hz, each signal having a frequency at least about 1 KHz.
32. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
33. The electro-therapy apparatus according to
34. An electro-therapy apparatus for providing therapeutic electrical energy to a treatment site of a patient comprising:
a signal generator forming first and second sinusoidal voltage signals having a frequency difference of between 1 Hz and 250 Hz, each signal having a frequency at least about 1 KHz;
a single feed electrode connected to the signal generator and adapted to output said first and second signals to at least one feed site on or beneath a first epidermal or mucous membrane surface of the patient; and
at least one return electrode adapted to be positioned on or beneath a second epidermal or mucous membrane surface of the patient, locally to said treatment site;
a therapeutic signal is formed from said first and second signals prior to being output to said at least one feed site; and
only a single feed electrode is adapted to output said therapeutic signal.
35. The electro-therapy apparatus of
a feedback system configured to monitor at least one of a voltage or a current associated with the patient's use of the apparatus, and control an amplitude of at least one of said first, second, and therapeutic signals in response thereto.
36. The electro-therapy apparatus of
37. The electro-therapy apparatus of
38. The electro-therapy apparatus of
39. The electro-therapy apparatus of
40. The electro-therapy apparatus of
This is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/756,999, filed Jan. 8, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,584,358, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/175,003, filed on Jan. 7, 2000 and also to U.S. provisional application No. 60/183,258, filed on Feb. 17, 2000. The contents of all of these applications are incorporated by reference.
This invention relates to an electro-therapy method and apparatus and more particularly to a method and apparatus for relieving pain arising from temporary or chronic conditions or during or after surgery.
Nemec in U.S. Pat. No. 2,622,601 issued on Dec. 23, 1952 disclosed one of the earliest electro therapy apparatuses and method. The Nemec system disclosed an apparatus comprising at least two means for producing alternating currents of frequencies between 1000 and 10,000 cycles with each of means connected with a separate pair of electrodes. The difference frequency between the means was made less than 100 cycles. The electrodes were placed upon the patient such that the two currents would intersect at a proposed therapeutic site. The basic concept was that the higher frequencies would be transmitted, but the low frequency need for therapeutic action would occur only at the common transmission point.
Nemec in U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,574 issued May 17, 1977 disclosed three separate pairs of electrodes are attached to a body part to be treated, spaced apart around said part of the body. A primary alternating electrical current having a primary frequency of between 100 Hz and 100,000 Hz is passed between one of the electrode pairs. A similar second alternating electrical current having a secondary frequency in the same range as the primary frequency but differing by between 50 Hz and 100 Hz from the primary frequency is passed between another of the pairs of electrodes. A tertiary alternating current is passed between the third pair of electrodes and has a tertiary frequency differing by at most 1 Hz from the frequency of either the primary current, the secondary current, or the arithmetic means of the frequency of these two currents.
Hunsjurgens' U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,620 issued on Nov. 27, 1973 disclosed an electro-medicinal apparatus for use in interference current therapy. The apparatus has at least two circuits that act on the patient through electrodes, the currents producing s stimulus active interference on a target area on the patient by superimposing the two or more currents, which by themselves have no stimulating effect, the currents differing from each other by a low frequency value. A particular feature of the apparatus is that the circuits produce an optimum interference at the treatment area and include a current strength-regulating member, which can operate during treatment.
Rodler disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,577 issued on May 25, 1976 an apparatus for producing interference and beat-currents in a selectable point of the body, particularly for electrotherapy on the human body, which comprises at least two pairs of electrodes adapted to be applied to the human body. Each of the pairs of electrodes has associated therewith an output amplifier. The latter supplies independently selectively pulse and alternating current for each pair of the electrodes. A voltage proportional in amplitude to the current flowing through the patient is taken. The voltage relates mathematically each individual setting voltage with a common setting and is subtracted. The difference voltage is produced separately for each circuit and used for the amplification control on the corresponding of the amplifiers, and the voltage is so polarized that an increase in patient current resulting in a decrease of the amplification and an increase in the joint voltage resulting in an increase of the amplification.
Nawracaj et al. disclosed in their U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,033 issued on Jan. 31, 1978 that a master oscillator, whose output is split and applied to two frequency dividers that divide the frequency by different numbers, initiates stimuli. The two frequencies thus derived are applied to wave shapers to provide a desired waveform such as a half sine wave, and also each signal is further divided by a common number. The two signals are then amplified, and applied to the body through a probe whose contacts are arranged so that the two stimuli currents are orthogonal to each other. The two high frequency signals heterodyne within the human muscle to produce a single low frequency stimuli, useful for the production of muscle contraction, hyperemia, electro analgesia and muscle relaxation.
Masaki disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,124 issued on Oct. 2, 1990 a apparatus for low-frequency electrotherapy wherein the output current of a low-frequency oscillator is applied to the subject's body through a pair of electrodes placed on the subject's body, comprising a first oscillator circuit that generates a low-frequency square wave voltage when the load is in connection with the electrode pair; and a second oscillator circuit that generates a therapeutic voltage when the output voltage of the first oscillator circuit is not zero.
Matthews' U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,304 issued on Dec. 14, 1993 discloses an electro-therapy apparatus that includes at least two electrodes adapted to feed oscillating current to selected sites on or beneath the epidermal or mucous surface remote from a treatment site. A common return electrode is provided at the treatment site that is subjected to the sum of the currents from the two feed electrodes. The feed electrodes may be contact feed electrodes or capacitive feed electrodes. The feed electrodes may operate at different frequencies so that the treatment site is stimulated by the beat frequency. This may be at or about 80 or 130 Hz, if an anaesthetizing effect is required.
Reiss' U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,317 issued on Jun. 28, 1994 discloses an interferential stimulator for applying two medium frequency alternating currents of slightly differing frequencies to the body of a living being so that they cross and interact to produce a low frequency therapeutic current at a selected point. A fixed frequency is generated and applied to the skin through a first electrode pair. A second frequency, differing from the first by from about 1 to 150 Hz is applied through a second electrode pair. The electrodes are arranged to deliver a localized stimulation. At the crossing point of the four electrodes, the heterodyne process for specific point stimulation produces a low frequency beat or pulse. The stimulator may be operated in any of several modes. First, constant stimulation may be applied at fixed frequency difference between electrodes. Second, the frequency difference can be decreased abruptly and returned to the original frequency difference over about 1 second. Third, the frequency difference can be decreased abruptly about 50% and returned over a typically 8 second period. Fourth, a gradual about 50% drop in frequency difference may be accomplished gradually and returned over typically a 10 second period. This device has been found to be useful in reducing pain, and appears to provide benefits in reducing edema and inflammation, increasing blood flow and reducing muscle spasms.
Each of the above devices or methods has one or more undesirable effects or deficiencies that the disclosed invention solves.
An electro-therapy apparatus and method for providing therapeutic electric current to a treatment site of a patient, having means for providing two oscillating or pulsing electric alternating currents, of frequencies which differ from each other by as little as 1 Hz and up to about 250 Hz, but each being of frequency at least about 1 KHz. The apparatus and method requires only one feed electrode adapted to feed the electric currents to selected feed sites on or beneath the epidermal or mucous surface of the patient opposite the source of pain, and only one return electrode adapted to be positioned on or beneath the epidermal or mucous surface of the patient, directly over or next to the source of pain.
The method of electro therapy includes providing a generator that generates two oscillating or pulsing electric alternating currents, of frequencies which differ from each other by as little as 1 Hz and up to about 250 Hz, but each being of frequency at least about 1 KHz. The method also includes providing a single feed electrode and a return electrode placed on or beneath the epidermal or muscular surface of a patient coupled to the generator feeding via the feed electrode two or more oscillating or complex morphology electric currents to a patient, with respective selected feed sites placed opposite one another on the patient's body with a pain site located on a line vector in between the electrode pads with the line vector perpendicular to each skin surface on which the pads reside, the currents each being of frequency at least about 1 KHz and differing as little as 1 Hz from each other by up to about 250 Hz. A non-linear action of nerve fiber membranes causes a mixing of the two independent high frequency signals in a volume of tissue surrounding and beneath a pain site pad along an axis between a pain site pad and an opposite pad to produce a therapeutic effect. The mixing yields a distribution of synthesized sum and difference frequencies among which is a therapeutic low frequency equivalent to a beat frequency of the signals.
A feedback control system for patient electro therapy includes a generator for outputting a pair of therapeutic currents feeding a single feed electrode and a return electrode. A measurement subsystem determines an impedance of the patient and a control mechanism controlling an output level of said generator.
A computer program product with an electro therapy device, includes a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for controlling the electro therapy device. The computer program product having computer readable program code means for causing a computer to control the generation of a pair of signals; computer readable program code means for causing said computer to maintain a preset frequency difference said signals; computer readable program code means for causing said computer to control an amplitude of said signals; computer readable program code means for causing said computer to detect a changed impedance of an output of said device and computer readable program code means for causing said computer change an output of said device to maintain a preset output with changing impedance of a connected patient.
Electro-therapy electrodes for providing therapeutic electric current to a treatment site of a patient are coupled to a generator providing two oscillating or pulsing electric alternating currents, of frequencies which differ from each other by as little as 1 Hz and up to about 250 Hz, but each being of frequency at least about 1 KHz. The electrodes include only one feed electrode adapted to feed said electric currents to selected feed sites on or beneath the epidermal or mucous membrane surface of the patient and a return electrode adapted to be positioned on or beneath the epidermal or mucous surface of the patient, locally to said treatment site.
Description of Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Function
Unlike other available methods discussed above, the embodiment disclosed introduces two high frequency electronic wave-forms ("Feed Signals") into the body non-invasively through a single proprietary disposable pad placed on the skin opposite the pain site ("Opposite Pad") as shown in FIG. 3. The Feed Signals pass through the body to a second proprietary disposable pad at the treatment site ("Pain Site Pad") as shown in FIG. 4.
The Feed Signals are exponentially multiplied by materials within the body giving rise to a low frequency component, the beat frequency, in the form of an electric field within the volume of tissue defined by the geometry of the body between the electrodes. The size of the volume of tissue affected can be changed and is dependent upon electrode placement, geometry and materials, as well as the amplitude of the Feed Signal.
The two electrode pads are placed opposite one another on the patient's body with the pain site located on a line vector in between the electrode pads. Prior electro-therapy technology applications require placement of the electrode pads (typically two or more) adjacent and in the same plane as the pain site but not in an opposing placement. The ratio of the area of the pad sizes used in conjunction with one another is important in the shaping of the electric field gradient and in determining the current density through the target volume. The ratio of the area of the Opposite Pad to the area of the Pain Site Pad must be at least 2:1. The pad size ratio depends upon the application and location of the pads on the body.
The application of physiologically high frequency Feed Signals (1 kHz-100 kHz), introduced through spatially opposed electrodes gives rise to a spectrum of frequencies as a consequence of the nonlinear operations performed by polarized structures, for example nerve membranes, along the path between the electrodes, within the volume of tissue around and beneath the treatment site. This nonlinear operation yields both sum and difference frequencies from the two original Feed Signals. One of the frequencies generated, the difference between the Feed Signals, is called the Beat Frequency and is within the range (1 Hz-250 Hz) that has been determined to have a therapeutic effect with respect to pain suppression, pain management and range of motion.
Mechanisms of Action
The inventors have discovered and developed a novel way to electronically block pain in the body non-invasively. Pain signals from receptors that are large enough to exceed the trigger threshold for the exchange of sodium and potassium ions across a nerve cell membrane do so through changes in the ion permeability of this membrane. This ion exchange causes a polarity change across and along the cell wall of the nerve fiber affecting the transmission of pain information along certain C type fibers as shown in Part A of FIG. 1. The inventors believe that there are several mechanisms of action caused by the Beat Frequency to reduce pain, namely (1) Frequency Conduction Block (also called Hyperpolarization), (2) Gate Control, (3) increased blood flow and (4) the release of endorphins or other opiate-like analogs.
Frequency Conduction Block
In Part B of
A further explanation of the therapeutic Hyperpolarization mechanism is that the resulting beat frequency, its signal morphology and current densities within the volume of tissue around and below the return electrode, causes an alteration in the nerve cell membrane's sodium/potassium ion concentrations or ion exchange kinetics. As a result, the charge polarity of the nerve cell wall is prevented from changing and is therefore unable to transmit pain impulses.
Empirically, the difference signal does not affect the sensory fibers, however, after a prolonged period of exposure to the difference signal and/or after exposure to the difference signal at high amplitudes, some sensory anesthesia can be achieved. Generally though, the resulting difference signal does not affect the transmission of touch, vibration, pressure or location awareness (proprioception). As a result, while the pain signal is blocked, patients still have sensory awareness and little numbness.
Gate Control
Gate Control focuses on interactions of four classes of neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord as shown in FIG. 2: (1) C fibers which are unmyelinated, (2) A□/A□ fibers which are myelinated, (3) projection neurons whose activity results in the transmission of pain information, and (4) inhibitory interneurons which inhibit the projection neuron, thus reducing the transmission of pain information.
The projection neuron is directly activated by both A□/A□ and C fibers. However, only the A□/A□ fibers activate the inhibitory interneuron. Thus when A□/A□ fibers are stimulated by the beat frequency from the electric field, the inhibitory interneuron is activated and prevents the projection neuron from transmitting pain information to the brain. The C fiber is left in a state analogous to an open electrical circuit so that transmission of the sensation of pain is suppressed.
Increased Blood Flow
An additional mechanism of action is that the resulting low frequency currents passing to the Pain Site Pad cause the formation of an electrical field that can accelerate any charged species under its influence. This may lead to an increase in local blood flow. Medical studies have shown that proper blood flow is required for the healing of any wound or injury. With the treatment application of the apparatus, there appears to be a concomitant increase in blood flow in the volume of tissue where the electric field is present that accelerates healing. Clinical evidence shows there is also a concomitant increase in range of motion for up to 24 hours following the treatment.
Release of Endorphins or Other Opiate-Like Analogs
Empirical evidence suggests that residual pain relief and an increase in range of motion can last for up to 24 hours following a twenty (20) minute treatment. The residual effect involves either a refractory mechanism involving the membrane itself or the local release of endorphins, enkaphlins or other opiate-like analogs.
Primary Residual and Secondary Residual Effects
In the preferred embodiment of the electrotherapeutic apparatus, a series of sinusoidal Feed Signals are generated and applied either individually or electronically summed to a patient via a single feed electrode. These Feed Signals or signal appear at the return electrode as a series of signals representing the sum, difference and original input frequencies. The potential difference between the inside and outside of a nerve membrane is around—75 millivolts. Due to the potential difference and differences in ion mobility, activity and half-cell electrical potential, a nerve cell membrane can be modeled as a weakly rectifying junction. Weakly is used to describe the nerve cell membrane's performance because of large deviations in its behavior from an ideal diode. Deviations in the nerve cell membrane's behavior arise due to shunt capacitance and leakage conductivity arising from membrane's aqueous ion environment. The membrane is still capable of exponential response to an electrical signal. As a result the membrane acts as a device causing mixing of the Feed Signals, and yields a distribution of synthesized sum and difference frequencies among which is a therapeutic low frequency equivalent to a beat frequency of the Feed Signals.
The Feed Signals, that are generated by the oscillators in the electrotherapeutic apparatus, form within the body, a complex combination of the sum and differences of such signals. The sum signals are at a frequency far from the capture range or physiological effect range (physiological effect range <<1 KHz) of the nerve membranes of nerve fibers that control pain signal transmission. However, the difference signal (Beat Frequency signal), when the initial Feed Signal frequencies are set properly, is within the therapeutic range (1 Hz to 250 Hz.) and interacts with nerve membranes at the rate of this low frequency beat.
Depolarization of afferent A-fibers, is believed to switch-on an inhibitory neuron that inhibits the action of a projection neuron at the dorsal horn of the spine. This effectively disconnects the pain receptors (C fibers) from the brain. This is known as the gate control mechanism and is well known and accepted by the neuroelectrophysiology community. Additionally, it is possible that the driven polarization/depolarization afforded by the electro-therapeutic apparatus saturates the nerve's ability to transmit information to the spine. The exact effect is not absolutely known. The effect of the signal on pain is the perception of numbness or dulling without loss of heat or mechanical response to external stimuli. The method has an effect that appears to last longer than the time of the application of the electrical fields. Empirical evidence suggests the Primary Residual Effect can last for up to 60 minutes before nerve membrane cells can begin changing polarity again and allow transmission of some pain signals. The Secondary Residual Effect involves either a refractory mechanism involving the membrane itself or the local release of endorphins, enkaphlins or other opiate-like analogs and empirical evidence has shown this effect to last up to 24 hours.
Both Primary Residual and Secondary Residual effects described above, (which can be referred to as "flywheeling"), affords the electrotherapeutic apparatus some additional capabilities. Among these capabilities include large area pain control. If one properly multiplexes or switches between several feed and/or return electrodes at a rate of 10-50 Hz, the flywheel effect will fill in the gap when a particular area is not under the influence of the electric field. This proper multiplexing includes the timing corresponding to the zero crossing of the sine wave so as not to induce spikes in the signals due to abrupt current collapse in the output transformers or inductor-based filter network (if they are used). This allows the apparatus to synthesize a large effective area without the need for a much more complex apparatus or physically moving the electrodes which would cause the area not under the field's influence to feel sensation again.
Unique Method
The electro-therapeutic apparatus disclosed is unique in that it can mimic multi-electrode (more than two or a pair) apparatuses with much greater precision and control, and additionally and more importantly, can interrupt the transmission of a pain signal, or more generally, place an AC signal within the body using only one feed electrode and one return electrode.
In simple terms, the electro-therapeutic system is either turning off a particular pain fiber, proximal to the treatment site, or inhibiting pain signal transmission via the stimulation of inhibitory neurons that control pain transmission to the dorsal horn of the spine and brain. As is well known in the art, all pain signals travel first through the dorsal horn of the spine and then onto the brain.
Current TENS type apparatuses in use rely on either pulse operation or multiple signal application to affect nerve fibers. In TENS type apparatuses a unipolar or bipolar pulse is applied to the target area. These pulses are of short duration and can cause undesired stimulation of other tissues especially muscle. Multiple signal application requires that two or more feed (signal) electrodes be placed at different points on the body so that the resulting electric field and current can be summed at the return electrode thereby causing the desired effect. TENS type apparatuses suffer from the need for multiple electrodes and power amplifiers for each signal channel. As the number of signals increases, so do the demands on electrode placement and circuit design.
The disclosed electrotherapeutic apparatus is an "instant system" because the sinusoidal signals of the desired frequencies are electronically summed in the power amplifier stage. If desired, the signals can be individually amplified and the resulting high-level signals summed at the pad (s) through load leveling resistors. There are several advantages to the "instant system" design. There is need for only one feed electrode regardless of the number of signals to be summed. If one assumes that the relative amplitudes and in turn the signal envelope morphology is known for a given target region, a more precise control of the final field at the return electrode is afforded. This is because the path lengths and interposed electrical properties of the tissues along this path appear nearly the same to the Feed Signals. In a system with feed signals fed through multiple feed electrodes the paths can vary greatly, altering the fidelity and bioelectric characteristics of the resultant signal. For instance, current for each feed signal can differ widely due to variations in path length and the chemical/anatomical environment along such a path. Degradation of individual feed signals can also be caused by the need for multiple signal electrodes. No electrode/body interface is perfect. Each electrode attachment introduces impedance that differs from place-to-place where the attachments take place. This is due to a myriad of factors such as skin moisture/ion content, skin mechanical condition and surface shape, site prep and electrode manufacturing variability. The use of a single signal feed causes the outcome of these variables to impact all the desired signals in parallel. This effectively nullifies the problems that arise from the differential effects that arise when multiple variables impact multiple signals independently.
The use of a single feed also reduces the computational burden and circuit complexity of a feedback mechanism that is used in the disclosed apparatus. Feedback and fuzzy logic computation enables the output of the apparatus and the resulting field to be maintained within limits that afford much greater patient comfort and in turn compliance and results in the use, on average, of the minimum signal amplitudes required for the desired effect. This differs importantly from apparatuses with no physiological (i.e. body impedance) feedback process. In these systems any instantaneous variability in impedance can cause a rapid rise in applied signal amplitude that can be extremely unpleasant to the patient. The side effect of this is the patient altering the output to eliminate the signal change and eventually, when the impedance changes again, not having the correct amplitude to cause the desired level of pain control.
Since the electro-therapeutic apparatus generates a set of sine waves or an admixture of sine waves of arbitrary frequency, its concept can be extended to generate an arbitrary waveform of any intensity and harmonic content. The arbitrary waveform generation (see also discussion of direct digital synthesis) is a consequence of the Fourier series where a subset of a basis set of sine waves can be algebraically summed to generate any waveform. This technique can be used to tailor a pulse that can be useful in pacemaker or cardioverting applications.
Studies have shown that variations in patient posture and blood flow can alter the impedance seen by the device. These impedance changes can cause the voltage of the applied signal to increase. This effect is due to the non-ideal output regulation of the device. Some patients perceive this instantaneous increase in applied voltage as an unpleasant sensation. In order to insure patient compliance with the proper use of the device it is necessary that some form of feedback be employed to insure that the applied signal levels are appropriate for a given load. The feedback network consists of two functional parts: 1) a circuit (Hardware), that monitors the patient-applied current and voltage and 2) software that determines if the values measured require an output level change (Software). The parameter derived from the current and voltage is the impedance across the patient-applied electrodes. This parameter has been found by studies to be essentially invariant at a particular frequency (frequency interval for this device) and over the range of applied potentials used clinically. Further, any impedance change due to a change in patient position essentially disappears when he or she either returns to the position held before the impedance change or after there is a equilibration of blood flow.
Additional Features
In the preferred embodiment of the electrotherapeutic apparatus, the Feed Signals are summed at a low level before the power amplifier. An alternative would be to send each Feed Signal separately from the output (s) of the power amplifier (s) and cause them to be mixed at the pad itself.
The electrotherapeutic apparatus allows the amplitude of the Feed Signals to be adjustable and controlled by the patient so that treatment level and comfort can be customized to each individual patient.
The electrotherapeutic apparatus also has an optional automatic mode setting that memorizes the amplitude settings of the Feed Signals during the course of the entire treatment. The apparatus stores this information in memory for a given treatment location and creates an auto Feed Signal profile for the patient. The patient then has the option during future treatments to run the electrotherapeutic apparatus in an automatic mode so that they do not have to manually increase the amplitude of the Feed Signals. The auto profile would be updated with each new set of data points that were manually generated.
The pads that connect the instrument to the body are of a certain conductive material that allows propagation of the physiologically high frequency signal. The connection between the lead wire and the electrodes is of a unique low profile design that allows for easy connection and comfortable use under clothing.
Circuit Description-Method 1
The electro-therapeutic apparatus can be useful in any situation where either an AC field, within a physiologically active frequency range, is needed (pacemakers, part of pain control, local healing, bone growth, cartilage regeneration) or where information transmission, i.e. sensory prosthetics, would be useful (vision, sound, touch).
The reference frequency for the synthesis of the signals ultimately applied to the patient is derived from the micro controller clock 16. This clock source is a crystal oscillator with an error of 50 ppm and slow aging characteristics. An exemplary clock frequency is 6 mHz. In a two signal system (these methods are easily extended to multiple signals) one frequency is fixed to the output of a divider chain 20 of the system clock 16. The clock 16 is coupled to the input of the divider chain 20. The derived frequency can be set anywhere within the apparatus's exemplary operation frequency range of 1 Hz to 150 KHz. The output of divider 20 is coupled to a precision limiter 24 to generate a square wave of a limited value. The output of precision limiter 24 is designated Signal 1 44 and is coupled the output circuitry described in
Outputs of the clock 16 and micro controller 12 are also coupled to elements of circuitry that generates any frequency between 2 Hz and 200 KHz 42. The clock signal is coupled to a "divide by n PLL reference" block 22 that is coupled a first input a "phase lock loop block" 26. The phase lock loop 26 is controlled by two loops. The first loop comprises an output coupled to the switched capacitor 5th order DC corrected low pass filter 28 which has its output coupled to the phase locked loop 26. A second loop comprises an oscillator output of phase locked loop 26 which in turn is coupled to a combination of a pre-divider 34, a programmable divide by 2 to 65535 divider 32 and a post divider 30 each of which are coupled to an output of microprocessor 12. The output of post divider 32 is coupled to a feedback input of the phase lock loop. This subsystem 42 generates any frequency between 2 Hz and 200 Khz with a 1 Hz resolution. The Oscillator output of phase lock loop 26 is coupled to a divide by two block 36 providing a filter clock and a combination of a divide by 100 block 38 and precision limiter 40. The precision limiter 40 provides a limited signal output 46 similar to Signal 1 44. In situations where a variable range for Signal 2 is not necessary a divider system as outlined for Signal 1 can be substituted for the PLL network. This option necessitates the use of a non-standard custom crystal for the main clock so that the proper frequency separation can be maintained.
Circuit Description-Method 2
The second method used to develop an arbitrary waveform morphology involves the method of Direct-Digital-Synthesis (DDS). With this subsystem the above phase-locked-loop, frequency divider and filter sections discussed below, are not used. The DDS instead involves downloading to the Apparatus a binary representation of the desired waveform from a host computer that calculates these coefficients as a table. These values transferred to the Apparatus's memory space are saved in EEPROM and are used as a lookup table to drive, at a rate determined by a micro controller derived clock a high-speed precision digital-analog controller (DAC). The DAC converts the calculated values into analog form (either voltage or current) that is subsequently low-pass filtered to eliminate any high frequency content in the synthesized signal. This high frequency content is a consequence of the discrete nature of the reconstructed signal. The output of the DDS system is a low distortion representation of an arbitrary waveform. The DDS is used in any embodiment of the apparatus where a limited number of sine's or cosines will not adequately lead to the formation of the desired signal morphology.
The signals from above are buffered 60 and 62 and applied to a power gain stage. The power stage consists of one or more amplifiers 67,69 capable of supplying a wide range of voltages into any physiological and electrode load over the frequency ranges used. Depending on the desired level of system integration and/or portability required, this amplifier stage can be either of the linear Classes A or AB1 or the nonlinear switching Class D type. For the linear amplifiers a high power operational amplifier is operated in either a ground-referenced mode or in a bridge configuration. In the bridge configuration the load is connected differentially to the outputs of two power amplifiers that operate 180 degrees out-of-phase with respect to one another. In either configuration the amplifier's DC offset is nulled by a servo correction amplifier. Since the amplifiers are also setup as AC coupled amplifiers essentially no DC current flows to the load. In the ground referenced mode higher output voltages are developed by passing the amplifiers output to a high efficiency transformer (s). In the bridge topology the amplifiers, when in balance, generate essentially no net DC current. Additionally, this composite amplifier can swing an output level twice that of the individual amplifiers. This, amplifier topology will, in most circumstances, eliminate the need for an output transformers) and its weight, circuit board real estate requirements and power losses. Factors very important to a small, portable and lower battery current embodiment of the Apparatus. The second class of amplifiers, which also improves performance in a portable system, is that of Class-D 70, such as seen in FIG. 6B. For this amplifier a high-speed comparator varies the pulse width of a switching power transistor (MOSFET type). This modulation is called pulse width modulation and is driven by the original signal's frequency, amplitude and desired gain. The sampling of the reference signal, derived from either the PLL reference or DDS, is sampled at a rate at least one order of magnitude higher than the highest frequency component in said reference. The output of the power transistor is lowpass filtered by a passive LC network to yield the amplified signal. The mode of amplifier operation is particularly attractive since power conversion efficiencies of over 90% can be obtained as opposed to the efficiencies of linear amplifiers that are around 40%. The micro controller sets, via electronic switching 68, whether the signals are summed at an amplifier to create the mixed signal or applied individually to the power stage and thereby allow the mixing to take place within the patient's body. Additionally, one or more channels and/or return signal paths can be multiplexed with electronic power switching during zero crossing of the sine wave signals (via processor control). This multiplexing or switching allows multiple electrodes to be fed from the amplifiers or connected to the analog return. This is done to synthesize a larger effective target region on or within the patient. The patient is electrically isolated from leakage to power mains by the isolated plastic housing of the Apparatus and by the use of a battery power supply.
To monitor and subsequently control the signals applied to the patient a set of multiplexed ammeter and voltmeter circuits 86 as illustrated in
Feedback Hardware
A feedback system is illustrated in
The second section of the feedback control network is the software controller 220. This collection of routines determines if the measured impedances require any change to the device's output level to maintain patient comfort. The flow chart in
Ambulatory Design
Many applications of electro-therapy require portability. Treatments are more efficiently administered by a wearable apparatus, preferably hand held or attached to the belt or other location on the body. The design of the apparatus is such that one embodiment of the apparatus is easily packaged in an apparatus that the patient can use in a wearable/portable manner. Such applications for an ambulatory apparatus include use while walking, working, sitting at a desk; use at home, while watching TV, sitting in a car, or in a manner prescribed by the physician. The programming capability permits the company or the physician to program the portable apparatus to fit the patient's needs. This may include an elapsed timer within the apparatus, to limit the patient's use if that is desirable from a medical point of view.
Empirical Results
In addition to pain relief, other significant effects resulting from the generation of a low frequency electric field in deep tissue are increased blood flow in the volume of tissue where the electric field is present as well as an increase in opiatelike analogs such as endorphins, serotonin and enkaphlins. Empirical results from clinical trials suggest that either hyperpolarization of nerve cells or gate control is the likely mechanism of action for pain relief while the apparatus is on and the electric field is present. Increases in range of motion are believed to be a consequence of increased blood flow at the joint or source of pain. The residual effect of both pain relief and increased range of motion are possibly due to an increase in the concentrations of aforementioned opiate analogs. Additionally, at excitation frequencies above 4 Hz (sinusoidal), muscle tension holds at a fixed level. This tension acts to hold a muscle in stretch thereby possibly conditioning it. This effect is similar to isometric exercise where a fixed load is presented to a muscle group held in place. This effect also helps explain why the current embodiment of the invention causes little or no uncomfortable muscle twitch as seen with pulse-type (TENS) devices: It is quite likely that some combination of these three mechanisms all produce the efficacious results acquired in clinical studies.
Benefits of the Pain Control Apparatus
Benefits of the Pain Control Apparatus include:
There are a number of pain applications for the system including, but not limited to, acute and traumatic pain, chronic and arthritic pain, surgical pain, postsurgical pain, and cancer pain. Specific locations on the body which can be treated include: face, jaw, neck, back, shoulders, hips, arms, elbows, wrists, hands, fingers, legs, knees, ankles, feet, toes.
Other Applications
Other applications include:
Electronic Epidural for Childbirth
For childbirth, the electronic epidural system has in addition to the benefits of the pain control apparatuses, other important attributes as well:
Electronic Anesthesia for Dermatological Procedures
The system can be used to provide local anesthesia for skin surgery, wart removal, electrolysis, shaving, application of tattoos and other dermatological procedures.
Acceleration of Bone Growth. It has been known for quite some time that the application of an electric field through implanted electrodes can stimulate the rate of bone growth and rates of healing of bone. The electro-therapeutic apparatus can be used to deliver a precise electrical field non-invasively of the proper frequency content to a targeted region. This action would take place with better control of the electrochemically driven reactions around the targeted region. The system can be used to accelerate osseointegration non-invasively, i.e. reduce the time required for bone to grow into and bond with prosthetic apparatuses including dental implants, knees, and hips while simultaneously reducing postoperative pain. The apparatus also has the potential to accelerate the healing of broken bones non-invasively.
Cartilage Regrowth
Clinical Studies have been performed at University of Nebraska Medical Center and at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine which have shown that TENS devices can cause cartilage growth in the knee. Since, unlike TENS, the disclosed system is able to deliver low frequency signals into deep tissue, it should in theory be able to cause cartilage growth much more effectively than TENS devices and as a result be much more efficacious. Advanced Hearing Aid Systems. The disclosed technology can be used in the audio frequency range and be tailored to deliver audio information to the cochlea in a safe and effective manner. Current cochlea-implanted hearing aid systems use pulsed DC signals to deliver the representation of audio information. Pulsed DC signals leads to nerve and cell damage over time. The disclosed technology allows information to be delivered into a volume of tissue including the cochlea with a DC-suppressed AC signal that significantly lessens the potential for nerve damage.
In this embodiment of the apparatus, the use of a PLL system allows the apparatus to have one channel modulated while another is fixed (FM modulation). The frequency modulation of the nth reference frequency allows the signal or envelope to convey information into the body of the patient. Additionally, the use of a slowly varying difference signal may lessen any effect of habituation if it is found during chronic use. Information exchange could be another big factor in the utility of the apparatus. Currently, cochlea implants for deafness rely on pulse stimulation to convey auditory information to the brain. These pulses, even with the use of DC blocking, still have a considerable DC component. This component can cause irreversible tissue damage via the production of chemical intermediates arising from the electrochemical effect of the DC current. However, the disclosed apparatus is a suppressed-DC AC signal generator whose resultant field should not have little or no net electrochemical effects. One way to affect the auditory informational transfer is to hold one frequency fixed and use the ambient audio level to vary the input level to the phase locked loop voltage control oscillator. The resulting signal would contain the auditory information. Theoretically, the nerves within the cochlea could operate on the signals and extract from the modulated beat the information that is a representation of an electrically converted acoustical field.
Accelerated and Targeted Drug Delivery
A consequence of the disclosed technology is that it causes increased blood flow in the volume of tissue at and beneath the treatment site. This technology might be employed as an adjunct to a chemical drug delivery system to accelerate and target the delivery of certain drugs into deep tissue.
The present invention can be embodied in the form of computer implemented processes and apparatuses for practicing those processes. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits.
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
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Small Changes, Big Results: A 12-Week Action Plan to a Better Lifeby Ellie Krieger
Synopses & Reviews
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An easy-to-start, simple-to-maintain, scientifically sound, and eminently usable twelve-week program of small steps on the road to better health
Small Changes, Big Results is not about cutting all the carbohydrates out of your diet. Or replacing every single gram of sugar with omega-3 fatty acids. It's not about doing one hundred sit-ups a day, or getting on the treadmill whenever you have a free second. In fact, it's not about any of the total lifestyle-replacement gimmicks—whether diet, exercise, or pop psychology—that have swept our culture in recent years, putting untold millions of Americans on the risky roller coaster of success and failure that defines fad diets and programs.
Not here.
Small Changes, Big Results is about reality—the reality of what you can do, the reality of what you want to do, and the reality of what works. It's about introducing a series of small changes each week for three months in the three core areas of diet and nutrition; exercise and fitness; and emotional wellness. For each of the twelve weeks, nutritionist Ellie Krieger introduces a very finite, completely practical action plan for the week—and not only are these tasks incredibly doable, they're in fact so accessible that it's tough not to be inspired.
For example, in Week 1 the nutrition task is merely to go shopping, buy some healthful pantry items, and start keeping track of what you eat; the exercise consists of taking three twenty-minute walks; and the wellness aspect is to do a five-minute breathing exercise. That's it. And it doesn't really get any harder.
But these small changes do in fact lead to big results. At the end of twelve weeks, a totally unhealthy diet has been overhauled: armed with easy, delicious recipes and tips, you've removed unhelpful munchies and replaced them with healthful snacking, you've cut down on lethal trans fats while adding beneficial fat choices, you've replaced refined grains with whole grains, you're eating more fish and less red meat, and so forth. Yet you've never been forbidden to eat a single thing: instead of prohibiting entire food groups, Ellie categorizes foods as Usually, Sometimes, and Rarely—and now you should be eating more from the Usually choices, less from the Rarely category. Furthermore, you've integrated physical activity into your life, and you've developed a set of tools to help you deal with stress—you're not only eating better, but you're also exercising better and feeling better.
The beauty of this program is that none of these action steps is remotely intimidating, because they're not a full immersion into a totally new lifestyle. Instead, it's a series of incremental changes—removing bad habits one by one, while at the same time adding good ones. There's nothing to scare you off—on the contrary, here's a whole book full of small changes that produce big results.
From the Hardcover edition.
A noted nutritionist eschews dietary fads and conflicting diet advice to present a sensible approach to losing weight and keeping it off, offering a program that emphasizes three small, scientifically based changes a week over the course of three months--small steps in diet, exercise, and emotional wellness--that provide lasting benefits. Reprint. 15,000 first printing.
Ellie Krieger's book is so powerful because it gives a step-by-step approach on how to transform your life. People tend to get overwhelmed when they're trying to lose weight. So be patient and don't lose faith. Just keep making small changes, one step at a time, and big results will happen. -Kathy Smith, leading fitness expert and author of Flex Appeal
Spend just 12 weeks with Ellie and she will motivate you to make small, sensible changes to your eating and activity patterns that add up to better health and fitness. -Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., professor and Guthrie Chair in nutritional sciences, Pennsylvania State University, and author of The Volumetrics Eating Plan
In a world of diet fads and exercise gimmicks, it's so nice to find a friendly voice of reason. Ellie has a way of giving commonsense advice without sounding parental and preachy. And she doesn't leave you hanging. She's a helping hand guiding you through every step of the way. She's my friend-let her be yours. —Paige Davis, host of TLC's Trading Spaces
From the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
\Ellie Krieger received her undergraduate degree from Cornell and her master's in nutrition from Columbia, and is a registered dietitian who teaches nutrition at New York University. Ellie was a fashion model for Wilhelmina, then turned her attention to a TV career as host of the nationally syndicated Living Better in 2001 and 2002. She had a New York City–based nutrition counseling practice, and she's been an on-air fitness expert for, among other outlets, Today, CNN, Food Network's In Food Today, and CBS's The Early Show. She has been featured or quoted in print outlets from Self, Fitness, Prevention, Glamour, and Ladies' Home Journal to GQ and Men's Journal. Ellie is in her late thirties, married to an Outward Bound expedition leader, and the mother of young Isabella. This is her first book.
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OK, so I have seen multiple pictures of this car with and without the side stripe and "Hemi" lettering. So, does anyone know if there were two versions or what the deal is? Also, if anyone knows what kit may have the correct mirrors for this car, please let me know. The ones in the Monogram 70 Roadrunner don't seem to be anything near what I need. I may just go with something close.
Edited by Skydime, 19 March 2013 - 04:41 PM.


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Carlsbad teen awarded for 'repairing the world'
"The program is amazing," he proudly said. "I have the opportunity to lead and create a program focusing on elementary and middle school students teaching them entry-level conflict resolution."
This is the first year of what is intended to be an annual Diller award, said Berns, the foundation spokeswoman. Sachs was chosen from 75 statewide applicants because the foundation believes Sachs and his inaugural class embody the ideals Diller aimed for in creating the award.
"For Helen, service starts at an early age," Berns said. "Over a lifetime what they can do to repair the world is limitless. It was inspirational."
The prize money must be used for college or furthering altruistic goals, she said.
"Either way it will further their vision of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world," Berns said.
Sachs said he believes that if awards such as Diller's proliferate, more youths would respond to service.
"When you look at the amount of scholarship and recognition our college and high school sports players get, if we have more scholarships like the Diller award, I think it will create more inspiration and more motivation to get into community service and make an impact," Sachs said.
Parks said that when he heard Sachs had won the award, his joy in aiding in someone's lifetime of giving was overwhelming.
"To have such integrity, he is really quite something," Parks said. "He's always been inspired by the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam and being a leader in service."


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Softbank Bets $150M on Zynga
Wade Roush7/29/10
Follow @wroush
Zynga, the San Francisco-based maker of wildly successful Facebook games such as FarmVille and Mafia Wars, has picked up a $150 million investment from Japan's Softbank, the two companies announced last night. The companies also unveiled a joint venture, Zynga Japan, that will develop and distribute social games in Japan, a market where Zynga has not previously ventured. Zynga games have over 230 million monthly active users.


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Finally, The Rock HAS COME BACK to the HaHa Hole in Sarasota.
Finally, The Rock HAS COME BACK to the HaHa Hole in Sarasota.
For the most party, LinkedIn profiles are pretty damn boring, even though it's pretty fucking important to have one depending on what industry you're in after college.
Spoiler alert: Most of what we do know is pretty useless.
If you've opened your internet today, there's a decent chance you stumbled across this tremendous new tumblr, which consists solely of Jay Cutler and photoshopped cigarettes.
[inline:mangina2] Why is it that we love people with funny-sounding names so much.


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Chris has a discussion with his guest C.J. Chilvers on why you shouldn't trust someone like Chris telling you how to do your photography. Also a look behind the scenes of how to build a wall paper pack with 20 images at 12 different crops, making this a whopping 240 individual files and another great watch-this video tip, today a photoshoot with Benedict Cumberbatch. More here
Show Links:
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- The Real New York Inside/Out – Oct 2015 – Photo Workshop with Chris Marquardt and Princeton Photo Workshop
- Viewfinder Villa House-Warming Party: March 28 2015
- C.J. Chilvers – A Lesser Photographer Blog
- A LESSER PHOTOGRAPHER – the book
- The new Iceland 2015 wall paper pack
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Oct 2015: San Diego, CA
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2016: Ethiopia - Danakil Desert
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7227 Edinger Ave Huntington Beach, CA 92647
"The comedians were absolutely hilarious and we all laughed so hard the whole time." -Debi S.
"Nice clean and comfortable comedy club where you are NOT packed in so tightly seating wise like at the Improv." -Kane B
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"Great date night. Great staff .. great service. . Cheaper and closer than improv.. laughed our Butts off!!! And coldest beer in town!" -Christina Z.
Brand-new line-up of accomplished comedians each week.
Doors open 6:30PM.
We are located inside FUZION
Seating is first come first serve.
Full food and drink menu.
Two item minimum in the showroom.
If you paid via this site your name will be @ Will Call.
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This is an activity about size and scale. Learners will construct a 3-D model scale model of one of the MMS satellites. After, they will calculate the octagonal area of the top and bottom of the satellites, given the measurements of the satellite.... (View More) Then, learners will compare the octagonal cross-section area of the satellites with the circular cross-section area of the launch vehicle to determine if the eight-sided spacecraft will fit the circular rocket hull. This is lesson one as part of the MMS Mission Educator's Instructional Guide. (View Less)
This is an activity about rockets. Learners will research facts about Atlas V rockets, which will launch the MMS satellites. After, they will compute the speed of the launch rocket, given a data chart of time vs. distance from lift-off. Then, they... (View More) will write a report synthesizing their researched information. This lesson requires student access to internet accessible computers. This is lesson two as part of the MMS Mission Educator's Instructional Guide. (View Less)
This is a lesson about the solar wind, Earth's magnetosphere, and the Moon. Participants will work in groups of two or three to build a model of the Sun-Earth-Moon system. They will use the model to demonstrate that the Earth is protected from... (View More) particles streaming out of the Sun, called the solar wind, by a magnetic shield called the magnetosphere, and that the Moon is periodically protected from these particles as it moves in its orbit around the Earth. Participants will also learn that the NASA ARTEMIS mission is a pair of satellites orbiting the Moon that measure the intensity of solar particles streaming from the Sun. (View Less)
This is a lesson about how to plan a mission to explore another world in the Solar System. Learners will discuss the path of a spacecraft traveling between planets, examining the journey from the Earth to Mars as an example. In Activity 1, students... (View More) determine the pros and cons for different ways we can explore another world, either by observing from the Earth or by sending a spacecraft to fly by, orbit, or land on the world. In Activity 2, the students plan a complete mission to explore another world in the Solar System. By the end of the lesson, the students come to understand that what scientists want to learn about an object determines how they plan the mission, but real-life constraints such as cost and time determine what actually can be accomplished. (View Less)
In this activity, learners replicate the scientific processes of observing, forming an explanation, revising and communicating about a model of a comet. Learners construct a model of features of a comet using an assortment of common craft supplies.... (View More) This activity relates to several NASA comet missions such as Deep Impact, Stardust, Stardust-NExT, and EPOXI and can be used to emulate a process that scientists and engineers follow on all missions. (View Less)
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This is a lesson about the shape of objects in space. Learners will observe the surface of rotating potatoes to help them understand how astronomers use variations in reflective brightness to determine the shape of asteroids.
In this activity, students are introduced to the importance of maintaining biodiversity and to citizen science. The resource includes three student worksheets, a data sheet, answer keys, and Web links. This is Lesson 2 in Biodiversity, part of... (View More) IMAGERS, Interactive Media Adventures for Grade School Education using Remote Sensing. The website provides hands-on activities in the classroom supporting the science content in two interactive media books, The Adventures of Echo the Bat and Amelia the Pigeon. (View Less)
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This is a lesson about robotic exploration of the solar system. Learners will explore the difference between natural and artificial satellites and use images taken by robotic spacecraft and telescopes to gain an understanding of the Earth's place in... (View More) space. Requires the books "Me on the Map" by Joan Sweeney and "My Place in Space" by Robin and Sally Hirst. This is lesson 1 of 16 in the MarsBots learning module. (View Less)
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In this learning activity, students create a 3D model of part of their local landscape, then make a series of observations from different directions. Using the bird's eye view, they translate the 3D model into a 2D map with a scale and key, and... (View More) explore concepts related to remote sensing, including scale, resolution, and perspective. This is one of three Odyssey of the Eyes activities, part of the Land Cover Biology chapter of the GLOBE Teacher's Guide. Resource includes a student worksheet. (View Less)
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This learning activity familiarizes students with the concept of modeling as it is related to remote sensing and to the process of digitizing images. Students create a digitized image of a map that they have created, and through this activity... (View More) understand the importance of ground verification of remotely-sensed images. The maps and models that are created in Odyssey of the Eyes: Beginner Level are needed for this activity. Both activities are part of the Land Cover/Biology chapter of the GLOBE Teacher's Guide. GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide, hands-on, K-12 school-based science education program. (View Less)
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The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four MealsPaperback
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- Publisher: Penguin USA
- Format: Paperback | 464 pages
- Dimensions: 140mm x 214mm x 30mm | 360g
- Publication date: 1 September 2007
- Publication City/Country: New York, NY
- Edition statement: Reprint
- Sales rank: 6,437
Product description
One of the "New York Times Book Review's "Ten Best Books of the Year Winner of the James Beard Award Author of #1 "New York Times" Bestsellers "In Defense of Food "and "Food Rules" Today, buffeted by one food fad after another, America is suffering from what can only be described as a national eating disorder. Will it be fast food tonight, or something organic? Or perhaps something we grew ourselves? The question of what to have for dinner has confronted us since man discovered fire. But as Michael Pollan explains in this revolutionary book, how we answer it now, as the dawn of the twenty-first century, may determine our survival as a species. Packed with profound surprises, "The Omnivore's Dilemma "is changing the way Americans thing about the politics, perils, and pleasures of eating. "Thoughtful, engrossing ... You're not likely to get a better explanation of exactly where your food comes from." -"The New York Times Book Review" "An eater's manifesto ... [Pollan's] cause is just, his thinking is clear, and his writing is compelling. Be careful of your dinner!" -"The Washington Post" "Outstanding... a wide-ranging invitation to think through the moral ramifications of our eating habits." "--The New Yorker" "If you ever thought 'what's for dinner' was a simple question, you'll change your mind after reading Pollan's searing indictment of today's food industry-and his glimpse of some inspiring alternatives.... I just loved this book so much I didn't want it to end." "-The Seattle Times" Michael Pollan's newest book "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation"--the story of our most trusted food expert's culinary education--was published by The Penguin Press in April 2013.
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The Omnivore's Dilemma
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Author information
MICHAEL POLLAN is the author of six previous books, including "Food Rules," "In Defense of Food," "The Omnivore's Dilemma," and "The Botany of Desire," all "New York Times "bestsellers. A longtime contributor to "The New York Times Magazine," Pollan is the recipient of the James Beard Award and is also the Knight Professor of Journalism at Berkeley. In 2010, "Time" magazine named him one of the one hundred most influential people in the world. His most recent book, "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation," was published by The Penguin Press in April 2013. www.michaelpollan.com
Review quote
A brilliant, eye-opening account of how we produce, market, and agonize over what we eat. ("The Seattle Times")
Table of contents
The Omnivore's DilemmaIntroduction: Our National Eating Disorder I. Industrial: Corn One. The Plant: Corn's Conquest Two. The Farm Three. The Elevator Four. The Feedlot: Making Meat Five. The Processing Plant: Making Complex Foods Six. The Consumer: A Republic of Fat Seven. The Meal: Fast Food II. Pastoral: Grass Eight. All Flesh Is Grass Nine. Big Organic Ten. Grass: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Pasture Eleven. The Animals: Practicing Complexity Twelve. Slaughter: In a Glass Abattoir Thirteen. The Market: "Greetings from the Non-Barcode People" Fourteen. The Meal: Grass Fed III. Personal: The Forest Fifteen. The Forager Sixteen. The Omnivore's Dilemma Seventeen. The Ethics of Eating Animals Eighteen. Hunting: The Meat Nineteen. Gathering: The Fungi Twenty. The Perfect Meal Acknowledgments Sources Index