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What is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. An estimated 11% (around 6.4 million) of children ages 4-17 in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2011, and many continue to suffer from ADHD into adulthood. ADHD manifests in many negative ways involving school performance, friendships and behavior at home, but if diagnosed properly it is manageable through ADHD treatment.
There are three types of ADHD:
- Inattentive ADHD (formerly known as ADD)
- Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD
- Combined ADHD
The Symptoms of ADHD
Symptoms of ADHD develop over a period of time and must persist for at least six months to the point of being disruptive or inappropriate for the individual’s developmental level. The broad symptoms are:
- Hyperactivity or restlessness
- Disruptive behavior
Any of these symptoms on their own, or in combination, may indicate ADHD. Impulsiveness and hyperactivity are often noticed first, but that may be because the child that is talkative or exhibits extrovert behavior is often noticed before the “inattentive daydreamer.” Indicators vary from child to child depending on the environment they are in—and what that environment demands of them.
Symptoms of ADHD are exhibited in most children or young adults at some point, so it is important to remember that just because a child may exhibit these symptoms from time to time does not mean that they have ADHD. Exhibiting these symptoms over an extended period of time is an indicator that they may suffer from ADHD, but there are other potential causes of this behaviour.
Hyperactive children are always “on the go” and continuously talk. Sitting still or being quiet can be difficult. Those who suffer from this type of ADHD are internally restless, often feeling the need to keep busy and do many things at once. Hyperactive symptoms are often present at an early age.
Impulsive children cannot control immediate actions or reactions. They often do not “think before they speak” and show emotions without restraint. Those who suffer from this type of ADHD often act without a consideration of consequences. As an impulsive young adult a person may choose to engage in activities that offer instant rewards, rather than spending time with a more difficult but rewarding task.
Indicators of hyperactivity-impulsivity:
- Feeling restless, fidgeting, squirming
- Inability to sit still
- Talking excessively and out of turn
- Difficulty in playing quietly or engaging in quiet leisure activities
Children diagnosed with this type of ADHD have trouble focusing on any one task and may get bored with that task after only a few minutes, especially if it is new. They often have trouble organizing multiple steps or completing the job. These children have a significant problem paying attention and are regularly forgetful. They may process information more slowly and less accurately than other children. Children with this type are often better at socializing than those with Hyperactivity-Impulsiveness ADHD and may appear to be “quiet workers” which can make identifying the disorder difficult.
Indicators of inattention:
- Inability to sustain attention on activities
- Lacking attention to detail and making multiple mistakes
- Becoming easily distracted by irrelevant sights and sounds
- Inability to follow instructions
- Does not finish tasks like chores or homework
- Losing or forgetting things
- Not appearing to listen when spoken to directly
- Avoiding mental tasks that require concentration
- Disorganized work habits
Labelling and Misdiagnosing ADHD
A child that suffers from ADHD may experience labelling as a result of his or her behaviour. For example, an impulsive child may be labeled a “discipline problem” or the “class clown”. A passive child may be described as “unmotivated,” “careless” or “spacey.” These labels can have a negative affect on a child’s self-image and self-worth.
Labelling a child with ADHD may also have a negative impact by covering up a different, more significant problem—such as drug abuse. There are symptoms common to a number of disorders and proper diagnosis is essential to a healthy future.
The goal is to teach the child how to manage ADHD in a healthy and positive way so that it does not carry forward into adulthood. Wilderness Therapy provides a calming setting in which to teach participants behaviours, values and good habits that can make ADHD more manageable and less destructive. Holistic nutrition, meditation and physical activity are all components to a wilderness therapy program and have all been shown to have positive effects on managing ADHD. Often times, when participants embrace these components they no longer exhibit the symptoms associated with the disorder.
For information on ADHD, and suggested ADHD Treatment, call Rites of Passage at (800)794-0980 to learn how our programs can help. | <urn:uuid:fc0d6f05-6ba8-42c3-ae08-a3b34671cbae> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://ritesofpassagewildernesstherapy.com/what-are-the-symptoms-of-adhd/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510888.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20231001105617-20231001135617-00132.warc.gz | en | 0.95389 | 1,052 | 4.03125 | 4 |
Grey squirrels are a huge threat to the native red squirrels. Whilst being larger and more robust, they also compete more successfully than red squirrels for food. They also carry the squirrel pox virus, which although does not affect the grey squirrel, it can be fatal for red squirrels.
This guide will explain the threats and who to contact if you see an ill squirrel.
An infected squirrel is unable to see or feed properly and will become malnourished. The disease is highly infectious and a squirrel will die within 15 days.
- Scabs or discharge around the eyes, nose, mouth, feet, ears and genitalia.
- Lesions or swelling
- Skin ulcers
- Increasing lethargy as the disease progresses
What to do if you find a red squirrel with symptoms that could be squirrel pox:
- If you see a red squirrel, dead or alive, and it might have squirrel pox, contact a Project Officer from the Red Squirrels in South Scotland immediately.
What you can do to help prevent the spread of squirrel pox:
- If you are feeding a red squirrel, make sure that any feeders are kept as clean as possible to prevent the spread of disease. Click here for a guide on feeding squirrels.
- If both red and grey squirrels are seen using the same feeder, stop feeding immediately
Caused by a parasitic protoazoan which lives in the gut, it can be caught by red squirrels eating at feeders which harbour the parasite.
To help reduce the chances of red squirrels catching this disease, it is advised that squirrel feeders are cleaned regularly.
For more information on how to help red squirrels, click here. | <urn:uuid:772ef75e-ff67-415a-ae17-b1ab70ef2fa3> | CC-MAIN-2017-09 | http://www.itv.com/news/border/2014-09-03/red-squirrel-diseases-how-can-you-help/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-09/segments/1487501171176.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20170219104611-00156-ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952888 | 353 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Methods For Monitoring Tiger And Prey Populations 1st ed. 2017 Edition
This book addresses issues of monitoring populations of tigers, ungulate prey species and habitat occupancy, with relevance to similar assessments of large mammal species and general biodiversity. It covers issues of rigorous sampling, modeling, estimation and adaptive management of animal populations using cutting-edge tools, such as camera-traps, genetic identification and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), applied under the modern statistical approach of Bayesian and likelihood-based inference. Of special focus here are animal survey data derived for use under spatial capture-recapture, occupancy, distance sampling, mixture-modeling and connectivity analysees. Because tigers are an icons of global conservation, in last five decades,enormous amounts of commitment and resources have been invested by tiger range countries and the conservation community for saving wild tigers. However, status of the big cat remains precarious. Rigorous monitoring of surviving wild tiger populations continues to be essential for both understanding and recovering wild tigers. However, many tiger monitoring programs lack the necessary rigor to generate the reliable results. While the deployment of technologies, analyses, computing power and human-resource investments in tiger monitoring have greatly progressed in the last couple of decades, a full comprehension of their correct deployment has not kept pace in practice. In this volume, Dr. Ullas Karanth and Dr. James Nichols, world leaders in tiger biology and quantitative ecology, respectively, address this key challenge. The have collaborated with an extraordinary array of 30 scientists with expertise in a range of necessary disciplines – biology and ecology of tigers, prey and habitats; advanced statistical theory and practice; computation and programming; practical field-sampling methods that employ technologies as varied as camera traps, genetic analyses and geographic information systems. The book is a ‘tour de force’ of cutting-edge methodologies for assessing not just tigers but also other predators and their prey. The 14 chapters here are lucidly presented in a coherent sequence to provide tiger-specific answers to fundamental questions in animal population assessment: why monitor, what to monitor and how to monitor. While highlighting robust methods, the authors also clearly point out those that are in use, but unreliable. The managerial dimension of tiger conservation described here, the task of matching monitoring objectives with skills and resources to integrate tiger conservation under an adaptive framework, also renders this volume useful to wildlife scientists as well as conservationists.
ISBN 13: 978-9811054358 | <urn:uuid:174b8654-ef84-456a-8bfe-51c895ae7780> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | https://onekickshop.com/product/methods-for-monitoring-tiger-and-prey-populations-1st-ed-2017-edition/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232258058.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20190525124751-20190525150751-00181.warc.gz | en | 0.904379 | 497 | 3 | 3 |
What would happen if kids just stopped going to school because of the wireless radiation?
Would that get parents, teachers and schools to finally listen to what kids are trying to say about the dangers of wireless computers and cell phones?
Enter your info and we'll send you our Radiation Education Action Pack!
This is all the letters, forms, brochure and survey you can use to help protect yourself and get WiFi out of your school and neighborhood:
Wireless machines are dangerous for kids because the radiation makes our cells shut down
- so they can't breathe properly and they can't get rid of toxins. Then our DNA in our cells gets damaged and our cells don't work properly. After years of this harmful microwave radiation you can get leukemia or cancer. But, before you get cancer, look at these immediate results of WiFi radiation. Have you noticed that your friends have gone home early because of headaches, nausea, nosebleeds etc?
Here is a complete list of what kids can get from wireless (microwave) radiation:
You get headaches (3-5x per week, so bad you have to take medicine).
- You get dizzy. You feel like you want to puke. (only when you're at school).
- You're not seeing things normally - maybe the floor looks tilted, or downhill. The teacher's voice sounds higher or lower but she's just talking normally.
- You have trouble remembering what the teacher's saying and what you read.
You have trouble paying attention and trouble focusing in class.
- You get a skin rash (mostly lower legs, goes away on weekends or longer breaks)
- You get very, very hyper and you're crazy and you're not your normal self.
- Night Sweats - you sweat during your sleep and sometimes it's so wet your sheets get soaked.
- You don't get a good night's sleep - you either can't get to sleep or you go to sleep, but you keep waking up.
* Some parents have noticed their kids have not been acting normally. Some are also noticing their children don't want to have friends over, their grades have gone down, the teacher says they're disrupting the class.
So help us get wireless computers, cell phones and cordless phones out
of schools, stores and houses.
We don't have all the answers, but we do know you can start by educating yourself and…
YOU CAN STOP USING A CELL PHONE OR CORDLESS PHONE
Are you using a cordless phone in your house (these are worse than cell phones) or are you sometimes talking on your Mom or Dad's or friend's cell phone? You have to just stop.
And you can hand out this PLEASE STOP ZAPPING ME! card
to friends, family and even strangers who are using cell phones near you. Note: if you print it out on stiff, thick paper it works better.
We told our Nana and Grandada that we wouldn't come to their house until they got rid of their cordless phone – or at least unplugged it while we were there (remember you've got to unplug it both from the phone line and the power cord that goes to the electricity socket).
Lastly, listen to this teleseminar with world-renowned expert, Dr. Magda Havas, PhD
as she gives us all the details on how to assess and understand the different forms of this technology and how to protect your family. | <urn:uuid:97440136-577a-46f0-9ce5-55686c95e6c4> | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | http://www.radiationeducation.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917120206.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031200-00358-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958817 | 716 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Described as a unique archaeological and ethnological reserve by UNESCO, Kakadu National Park in Australia has been inhabited continuously for over 40,000 years. Keep reading to learn about the national park’s impressive ecological and biological diversity, its Aboriginal history, and the best things to do within its borders.
Kakadu National Park is located 171 kilometres (106 miles) southeast of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory. It’s 19,804 square kilometres (7,646 square miles) in size, which makes it the size of Slovenia and Australia’s largest national park. It surrounds the Ranger Uranium Mine, which is one of the world’s most productive uranium mines. Kakadu National Park is home to a variety of ecosystems, such as savannah woodlands, floodplains, open forest and tidal flats. It also has 300-metre-high rugged escarpments that stretch for hundreds of kilometres.
It’s home to an abundant and diverse range of wildlife as well. This includes 60 different mammals and 117 reptile species, like wallabies, dingoes and saltwater crocodiles. There are also more than 280 different birds — or one-third of Australia’s bird species — located in the park, which makes it one of the best places in Australia for birdwatching. There’s been over 1,700 plant varieties recorded within Kakadu National Park too. A final random fact: it’s surprisingly known as one of world’s most weed-free national parks.
Located in the tropics, Kakadu National Park experiences two distinct seasons: wet and dry. Dry season (from May until September) is the best time to visit the park, as humidity is low and rain is rare. Due to the wet season’s monsoonal conditions, travel within this time can be disrupted by closed roads and dangerous swimming conditions.
Aboriginal people have continuously inhabited the Kakadu region for over 40,000 years. There are more than 5,000 Aboriginal rock art sites located across Kakadu National Park that illustrate Aboriginal history over the centuries. Some sites date back an incredible 20,000 years, which makes them one of the longest historical records of any group of people in the world today. It’s this cultural significance that saw Kakadu National Park designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “Kakadu rock art provides a window into human civilisation in the days before the last ice age,” UNESCO states.
The most well-known Aboriginal rock art sites are Ubirr and Nourlangie Rock (Burrunguy). There are paintings of the Rainbow Serpent at Ubirr, as well as animals like the Tasmanian tiger and catfish. There are several traditional owners of the Kakadu land from various Aboriginal groups. They jointly manage the national park alongside Parks Australia, which is a division of the Federal Government’s Department of the Environment and Water Resources.
As mentioned, the rock art at Ubirr is one of the world’s best examples of traditional Aboriginal x-ray art. There’s a one-kilometre (0.6-mile) walking track to Ubirr. While visiting, climb up to Nadab Lookout for views across the floodplains, which look even more breathtaking at sunset. There’s also the 1.5-kilometre (0.9-mile) Nourlangie Rock Art Walk, which takes you past an ancient Aboriginal shelter to two main sites: the Anbangbang Gallery and Nanguluwur. To learn more about Aboriginal culture in Kakadu, visit the park’s Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
There are several walking and hiking trails to choose from within Kakadu National Park, and it will take you to rock art locations, waterfalls and wetlands.
Yellow Water (Ngurrungurrudjba) is a landlocked billabong, located at the end of Jim Jim Creek. It’s considered one of the best places in Australia to see native wildlife in their natural habitat. A Yellow Water Cruise is the best way to experience the billabong, where you could spot saltwater crocodiles, buffalo on the floodplain, egrets and sea eagles.
Jim Jim and Twin Falls are known as the national park’s most breathtaking waterfalls. Jim Jim Falls is a popular swimming spot, thanks to its (literally) cool deep-plunge pools and sandy beach. To visit Twin Falls, get a boat shuttle. Tickets are available from Bowali Visitor Centre, which has displays on the wildlife, habitats and geology of Kakadu National Park as well.
One of Kakadu’s best birdwatching spots, besides Yellow Water, is the observation platform at Mamukala Wetlands.
To see all the sights of Kakadu National Park in a limited time, consider a scenic flight. You’ll get up close to the waterfalls and witness the differing landscapes that make the national park a must-visit attraction in the Northern Territory.
Known as one of Australia’s best swimming holes and viewpoints, the crystal-clear Gunlom Plunge Pool is located on Waterfall Creek. There’s a shaded picnic area beside the pool and a popular camping site nearby. Maguk is another lesser-known swimming hole too. | <urn:uuid:32963416-3a76-4322-bcbf-728e683f6c2c> | CC-MAIN-2019-51 | https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/australia/articles/a-guide-to-kakadu-national-park/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-51/segments/1575540569146.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20191213202639-20191213230639-00296.warc.gz | en | 0.940946 | 1,128 | 3.453125 | 3 |
BY BROOKLYN PINHEIRO
Long before internet culture claimed cats as its official mascot there was born a town dedicated to the little hair balls.
In Kuching, Malaysia there are cats everywhere, in front of court houses, in the center of roundabouts, and scaling buildings. At the border between the Northern and Southern parts of the city a two and a half meter tall white cat sits waving at you. Of course these felines are statues and paintings, but the reason for there presence likely comes from the real thing.
One legend explaining the prevalence of cats in the city dates back to 1839 with the arrival of the first English Rajah of Sarawak named James Brooke. The story goes that he pointed towards the town asking for its name, a local thought he was pointing at a cat and replied ‘kucing’ and thus the city got its name.
Others think that the city was named that because of cats that would linger by the Sarawak River that runs through the city, or due to a tree that produced a fruit called mata kuching which translates to ‘cat’s eye fruit.’
Whatever the origin of the name, the city has fully accepted there title and ingrained it into their culture. There are references to felines everywhere, beyond all the visible statues, students study at ICATS (the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak), the radio station is called CatsFM, even the city’s crest has cats in it.
The city also boasts a cat museum with 4,000 artifacts and information about the history and importance of cats in the region. The diverse population of Kuching is home to many Chinese, Indian and Malaysian residents, all of which are known to regard cats highly. For the Chinese, they’re a sign of good luck and in Islam they have long been respected.
For the local Borneo population cats have played the role of helpers before. In the 1950s there was a vast spread of malaria in the region, the government spread the insecticide DDT to try and kill the mosquitoes, but this also had the effect of killing many of the islands cats, so the rat population began to grow and thus the plague started to infect the population. As a solution the United Kingdoms Royal Airforce executed “Operation Cat Drop,” dropping 14, 000 cats from the sky. Whether this story is true, or another dramatized tale, it adds significance to the local reverence of felines.
This urban landscape of feline appreciation makes for a unique destination, as long as you’re a cat person. | <urn:uuid:ea0bca60-f19f-4cad-b227-4066f9bb499b> | CC-MAIN-2018-17 | http://theplaidzebra.com/cat-lovers-rejoice-theres-a-feline-city-in-malaysia-photos/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125947759.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20180425080837-20180425100837-00633.warc.gz | en | 0.964261 | 539 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Back in the Sahara desert, it is now the eighth day, and the pilot and the little prince are both thirsty. The little prince suggests that they search for a well in the desert. Although he believes it is hopeless, the pilot nevertheless walks with the little prince, and as night falls, he begins to notice how beautiful the desert is. The pilot realizes that the beauty of the desert depends on the fact that there is water hidden in it somewhere.
The pilot finally opens up to the idea that they might find water in the desert and begins walking with the little prince. In this state, of experiencing and interacting with the desert rather than trying to escape it and focusing on his plane, he realizes the truth of the phrase, "What is essential is invisible to the eye."
The little prince falls asleep, and the pilot lifts him up and carries him as he continues walking. The pilot gazes upon the little prince and believes him to be very fragile and precious. The pilot admires how passionate the little prince is about protecting his rose. At daybreak, the pilot finds water.
The pilot wants to protect the little prince's innocence and loyal attachment to his rose. In addition, the pilot's thoughts about the prince's fragility and preciousness suggest that the prince and the pilot have now developed a true friendship. Now the pilot recognizes—feels—the prince's uniqueness to him. It is no accident that this is the moment where they find water, the essential thing in nature to keep them alive. | <urn:uuid:d3b725e4-8c99-488e-b365-e1a8424c461c> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-little-prince/chapter-24 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195526324.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20190719161034-20190719183034-00428.warc.gz | en | 0.964083 | 307 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Gene Predicts Better Outcome as Cortex Normalizes in Teens with ADHD
8/7/2007 12:32:58 AM
Brain areas that control attention were thinnest in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/adhdmenu.cfm) who carried a particular version of a gene in a study by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). However, the areas, on the right side of the brain’s outer mantle, or cortex, normalized in thickness during the teen years in these children, coinciding with clinical improvement. Although this particular gene version increased risk for ADHD, it also predicted better clinical outcomes and higher IQ than two other common versions of the same gene in youth with ADHD.
comments powered by | <urn:uuid:ce6318d0-b460-43fb-9a2c-7dafef38ca00> | CC-MAIN-2015-14 | http://www.biospace.com/News/gene-predicts-better-outcome-as-cortex-normalizes/65604 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-14/segments/1427131302318.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20150323172142-00198-ip-10-168-14-71.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932505 | 181 | 2.78125 | 3 |
What are the signs of depression in teens and children?
Many people wonder if kids and teens can really get depressed. In the case of teens, adults may attribute symptoms of depression to normal teenager emotional swings. But experts and pediatricians point out that children and teens really can get depressed, and may be afflicted with the true illness of depression.
What Causes Teens to Get Depression?
As in adults, depression may have multiple causes or one cause that varies among individuals. There are some factors that are unique to certain stages of life, however.
Children and Depression
Children may become depressed because of genetics (like adults). They may have inherited a tendency toward depression, and perhaps there was a trigger that caused it to surface. Children may become depressed due to divorce, as they are uniquely affected by their immediate family’s dynamic. Bullying at school is also something children may have to face that is not a factor for adults.
A child with a tendency toward perfectionism may be more prone to depression as well, sources say. Children with this tendency may “beat themselves up” unnecessarily over failures or perceived failures.
Teens and Depression
This age group is considered particularly prone to depression. This may be due in part to the hormonal upheavals that occur during the teen years. But be careful – it’s easy for adults to take this information and think “it’s just hormones” and therefore think the depression does not need to be addressed. Experts agree that depression, regardless of its cause, is something that should be addressed and treated.
Teens may also be dealing with bullying at school, or even just “harmless” teasing. They may be experiencing their first crush or rejection from the opposite sex. Other causes may be purely physiological; maybe nothing is particularly wrong in the teen’s life, but his or her brain just seems to run in a depressed mode.
What Are the Signs of Depression in Kids?
Parents should be vigilant for any talk about suicide or morbid fascination with death. Other sources point out that television and movies should be carefully monitored, both for the potentially depressing subject matter and for the psychological effects of TV viewing in general (studies show that children who watch six or more hours of TV a day are more prone to depression).
Signs of depression in kids.
Signs of Depression in Teens
Some of the signs of depression in teens are like those in children; some are different. As with children, parents of teens should be keenly aware of any indications of suicidal thoughts. Music, movies, and television are also sources of potentially depressing images and subject matter.
Signs of depression in teens.
Be vigilant in looking for any of these activities in your children. Talk to the child and try to discover the real meaning behind the behavior. Be patient and caring and you will help your child to deal with any problems. Knowing the signs of depression in teens and children will help you get the necessary medical help they need.
Have you any tips on how to help? Please share it below. | <urn:uuid:7aff8b59-88dd-4f05-946d-28b39e883306> | CC-MAIN-2020-45 | https://socialanxietyanswers.com/signs-depression-teens-children/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-45/segments/1603107882102.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20201024051926-20201024081926-00114.warc.gz | en | 0.960675 | 631 | 3.078125 | 3 |
This census enumerates the Spaniards, Indians, Mulattoes and Mestizos separately, and it
further breaks down the population by those who are married, widowers,
widows and single. For faster loading, different portions are on
different pages. Unmarried Spaniards was the third division. I copied the records as they were originally
published. If there are errors (other than typographical), then
they exist in the original transcription.
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
research project was begun in 1971 by The
Institute of Texan Cultures. The original intent of the research was
to prepare a draft containing information on Blacks in Texas prior to
1836. The research was broken down into three categories: statistical,
census, and general information (general manuscript series).
Since it was impractical to extract only the information concerning persons of Black origin, translation of the complete statistical and census reports of Spanish Texas was accomplished. This material includes demographic, statistical and qualitative data on many ethnic groups, and individual families can be traced for several generations. It also documents the existence of a large number of Blacks among the Spanish and Indian population in Texas long before the influx of Anglo Americans colonizers.
The general manuscript series, consisting in large part of translated summaries, documents the Black's experience in Texas. The translation of this series was not brought to completion. In 1973 the project ended after an evaluation of the work revealed that the intended scope had been surpassed and that the work had the potential for a scholarly publication.
In 1998 The Institute of Texan Cultures granted permission to The TXGenWeb Project to bring this very important collection of early Texas source material to the Internet where it will be freely available to researchers. If you have access to this 3 volume publication and would like to assist in bringing this work online please contact Trey Holt."
Census report taken by the Cavalry Lieutenant Don Manuel de Espada, Commandant of the Presidio of La Bahia del Espiritu Santo, and belonging to the year of 1790.
Census report which manifests the number of neighbors and individuals which reside in this jurisdiction, with particular distinction of their status, classes and castes, of all persons of both sexes, children included.
Pedro NEXERA, married; his occupation field worker; his family, one small son.
|2||Manuel VILLAFRANCA, married; his occupation herder; without a family.|
|3||Jose Marcelino CIRIO, married; his occupation herder; his family, one small son.|
|4||Diego CABRERA, married; his occupation farmer; his family, one servant.|
|5||Cayetano CASTRO, married; his occupation herdere; without a family.|
|6||Jose LARA, married; his occupation field worker; his family, one small boy.|
|7||Phelipe GAMEZ, married; his occupation herder; his family, four sons: one over 15 years and three small ones.|
|8||Santos LARA, married; his occupation field worker; without a family.|
|9||Juan FLORES, married; his occupation tailor; without a family.|
|10||Jose FLORES, married; his occupation tailor; without a family.|
|11||Reyes ALVARADO, married; his occupation tailor; his family three small sons.|
|12||Felis CORTES, married; his occupation field worker; his family, two small sons.|
|13||Juan NAVA, married; his occupation field worker; his family, one daughter 10 years old.|
|14||Jose Polinario PERES, married; his occupation field worker; his family, one small daughter.|
|15||Jose Antonio VALDES, married; his occupation servant; without a family.|
|16||Antonio CORTES, married; his occupation field worker; his family, two unmarried sons, and one small girl.|
|17||Felis de los REYES, married; his occupation cowboy; without a family.|
© Copyright 2009 to present - The TXGenWeb Project
Notice to Webmasters: | <urn:uuid:2ca39719-589c-4c3c-b3af-951138b736fd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txrefugi/LaBahia1790MarriedMulattoes.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708546926/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124906-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944999 | 908 | 3.125 | 3 |
Now that we are all proficient with modular exponentiation thanks to my previous post, it is time to tackle a more complicated issue, still in the realm of modular arithmetic.
While addition, subtraction and multiplication are “compatible with the congruence relation” introduced by modular arithmetic, the same doesn’t happen with division. This means that solving a simple equation such as a·x = 1 (mod m) is anything but trivial. In fact, determining x = a-1 (mod m) that fulfills that equation is the whole object of this post…
There is, as always, the brute force approach, which I always like to visit first, so that I can later congratulate myself on how much the efficiency has improved with my deep insight. In this particular case, brute force means trying every number between 1 and m-1, and see if the m-modulo of its product with a is 1. :
def modInv1(a,m) : """ Computes the modular multiplicative inverse of a modulo m, using brute force """ a %= m for x in range(1,m) : if a*x%m == 1 : return x return None
Do notice that the possibility of no multiplicative inverse existing is contemplated in the code. This will actually be the case if a and m have any common factors, i.e. if they are not coprime. So the previous code could serve as a moron’s approach to determining if two numbers are relatively prime. Not that I recommend it, though, as it should be clear that the code I have just produced will be very inefficient for large values of m.
The Extended Euclidean Algorithm
As stated, we are after a number x that fulfills a·x = 1 (mod m). This can of course be written as well as a·x = 1 + m·y, which rearranges neatly into a·x – m·y = 1. Since x and y need not be positive, we can write it as well in the standard form, a·x + m·y = 1. If a and m are coprime, this is a particular instance of a·x + b·y = gcd(a,b), where gcd(a,b) is the greatest common divisor of a and b. This equation is known as Bézout’s identity, and can be efficiently solved using the extended Euclidean algorithm. To find a solution to our particular equation, this algorithm would proceed as follows:
- Rewrite the equation as an·xn + mn·yn = 1, starting with n = 0
- Compute the quotient, qn, and the remainder, rn, of an divided by mn, and rewrite the original equation as (mn·qn + rn)·xn + mn·yn =1
- Rearrange the terms in the equation to get mn·(qn·xn+yn) + rn·xn = 1
- Do the changes of variables
- xn+1 = qn·xn+yn,
- yn+1 = xn,
- an+1 = mn, and
- mn+1 = rn
- Repeat the process, until an = 1, and mn = 0.
- Such equations has the trivial solution xn = 1, yn = 0.
- Work your way back to x0 and y0, noting that
- xn-1 = yn,
- yn-1 = xn – qn-1·yn
- x0 is the number we are after.
There is a certain component of faith in believing that, eventually, an = 1 and mn = 0. It is in fact not always the case, as if a and m are not coprime, then the values we will arrive at are mn = 0, but an = gcd(a,m). As a matter of fact, the gcd is normally computed using the Euclidean algorithm, dropping the adjective extended, which basically does the same as above, but without the back-tracking of the xn‘s and the yn‘s. With all of this in mind, we can write two functions, one calling the other, as follows:
def extEuclideanAlg(a, b) : """ Computes a solution to a x + b y = gcd(a,b), as well as gcd(a,b) """ if b == 0 : return 1,0,a else : x, y, gcd = extEuclideanAlg(b, a % b) return y, x - y * (a // b),gcd def modInvEuclid(a,m) : """ Computes the modular multiplicative inverse of a modulo m, using the extended Euclidean algorithm """ x,y,gcd = extEuclideanAlg(a,m) if gcd == 1 : return x % m else : return None
The gains in speed are tremendous with this new approach. Again, write your own testing function as an exercise, but mine spits out the following results…
Got 4 using method 1 in 0.0160000324249 sec.
Got 4 using Euclidean algorithm in 0.0309998989105 sec.
Got 31800 using method 1 in 59.4000101089 sec.
Got 31800 using Euclidean algorithm in 0.047000169754 sec.
So while brute force is good enough, or even the best choice, for very small values of m, as soon as it grows, the benefits of the more elaborate algorithm are all too obvious. According to wikipedia, the algorithm we have coded has complexity O(log(m)2), i.e. time required to compute the modular multiplicative inverse is proportional to log(m)2. | <urn:uuid:c2894334-e579-405d-b7a8-76f29174d222> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | https://numericalrecipes.wordpress.com/tag/modular-multiplicative-inverse/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321938.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627221726-20170628001726-00458.warc.gz | en | 0.912835 | 1,257 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
•A: Internal medicine doctors (also known as “internists”) specialize in adult medicine. Their training focuses on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases and they care for their patients at all stages of adult life, from teen to old age.
Some internal medicine doctors continue on in their training to become specialists such as cardiologists or pulmonologists. Many internal medicine doctors, however, practice primary care. They care for patients who are healthy as well as sick and treat a wide range of illnesses from acute to chronic, common to rare. Internists are trained to handle complicated patients including those with complex problems or multiple diseases. In addition to treating illness, internal medicine doctors also specialize in prevention of disease through the use of appropriate screening tests, counseling, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Internal medicine doctors treat a wide range of diseases, but do refer to other specialists when problems are outside their area or reach the limit of their expertise. Internists do not perform surgery (except for some minor office procedures) or deliver babies. And, they should not be confused with interns who are doctors in their first year of medical training.
For more information on internal medicine, go to:
Stephen Murk, M.D.
SeWee Internal Medicine
3044 Highway 17 North, Suite B
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 | <urn:uuid:5778f72a-2bd5-4544-a58f-6a8452a7df13> | CC-MAIN-2016-40 | http://www.moultrienews.com/article/20090408/MN08/130129873/1046/MN08/q-what-is-internal-medicine | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-40/segments/1474738662321.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20160924173742-00142-ip-10-143-35-109.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952027 | 280 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Heraldry schield partitions
Heraldry Shield Divisions- Ordinaries
The Divisions of the shield are called partition lines.
Fesse , Badge
References material are taken from following heraldry publications
a.) A practical manual of heraldry and of heraldic illuminations
- publish 1864
b.) A dictionary of heraldry - published 1889c.) The elements
of heraldry - published 1866
Bar, Fesse, Frett, Orle, Flanches
Division of the field
Escutcheons that have more then one tincture are divided by lines and each has an
heraldic name expressive of it's form. Partition lines are those which divide the field
of the escutcheon into any numbers of parts. Below are names and figures of
those most commonly used in heraldic design. | <urn:uuid:59132b4e-cc58-4424-933e-6679396efe79> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | http://www.familytreesandcrests.com/heraldry-shield-divisions-3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084889917.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20180121021136-20180121041136-00024.warc.gz | en | 0.890705 | 177 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Coreopsis lanceolata. Native to eastern North America, Lanceleaf Coreopsis has naturalized across much of the Prairies and even into the Rocky Mountains. It is a hardy perennial plant (hardy to Zone 4) that is both drought tolerant and able to endure high temperature and humidity. It will work in well drained containers and just about any garden soil, but it prefers well drained, nutrient-poor, sandy loam. This variety can reach 90cm (36") tall, but may grow shorter depending on exposure in the garden. It's stems are stiff and upright, so it makes a nice cut flower. It is attractive to a wide range of pollinators and beneficial insects. Avoid over-watering, and keep the spent flowers picked — otherwise it requires little care. | <urn:uuid:a392cee8-5d69-4608-a32b-11b3d621daab> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.ritchiefeed.com/products/coreopsis-lanceleaf-coreopsis-seeds | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100989.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20231209233632-20231210023632-00286.warc.gz | en | 0.938475 | 160 | 2.65625 | 3 |
The Demonstration Test Catchments (DTC) project is a UK Government funded initiative to test the effectiveness of on-farm mitigation measures designed to reduce agricultural pollution without compromising farm productivity. Three distinct catchments in England have been chosen to test the efficacy of mitigation measures on working farms in small tributary sub-catchments equipped with continuous water quality monitoring stations. The Hampshire Avon in the south is a mixed livestock and arable farming catchment, the River Wensum in the east is a lowland catchment with predominantly arable farming and land use in the River Eden catchment in the north-west is predominantly livestock farming. One of the many strengths of the DTC as a national research platform is that it provides the ability to investigate catchment hydrology and biogeochemical response across different landscapes and geoclimatic characteristics, with a range of differing flow behaviours, geochemistries and nutrient chemistries.
Although numerous authors present studies of individual catchment responses to storms, no studies exist of multiple catchment responses to the same rainfall event captured with in situ high-resolution nutrient monitoring at a national scale. This paper brings together findings from all three DTC research groups to compare the response of the catchments to a major storm event in April 2012. This was one of the first weather fronts to track across the country following a prolonged drought period affecting much of the UK through 2011–2012, marking an unusual meteorological transition when a rapid shift from drought to flood risk occurred. The effects of the weather front on discharge and water chemistry parameters, including nitrogen species (NO3-N and NH4-N) and phosphorus fractions (total P (TP) and total reactive P (TRP)), measured at a half-hourly time step are examined.
When considered in the context of one hydrological year, flow and concentration duration curves reveal that the weather fronts resulted in extreme flow, nitrate and TP concentrations in all three catchments but with distinct differences in both hydrographs and chemographs. Hysteresis loops constructed from high resolution data are used to highlight an array of potential pollutant sources and delivery pathways. In the Hampshire Avon DTC, transport was dominated by sub-surface processes, where phosphorus, largely in the soluble form, was found to be transport-limited. In the Wensum DTC, transport was largely dominated by rapid sub-surface movement due to the presence of under-drainage, which mobilised large quantities of nitrate during the storm. In the Eden DTC, transport was found to be initially dominated by surface runoff, which switched to subsurface delivery on the falling limb of the hydrograph, with the surface delivery transporting large amounts of particulate phosphorus to the river, with a transport-limited response. The lack of exhaustion of nutrient delivery in response to such extreme flow generation indicates the size of the nutrient pools stored in these catchments, and highlights the scale of the challenges faced by environmental managers when designing mitigation measures to reduce the flux of nutrients to UK river systems from diffuse agricultural sources. | <urn:uuid:9bf20cbf-bf60-4898-97b9-3a47e95a8fb3> | CC-MAIN-2017-13 | http://www.research.lancs.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/highresolution-monitoring-of-catchment-nutrient-response-to-the-end-of-the-20112012-drought-in-england-captured-by-the-demonstration-test-catchments(3fd3b01b-619e-4896-9765-02b690658a3f).html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218189313.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212949-00515-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945504 | 622 | 2.6875 | 3 |
2.3 Human Activity Impacts on Ecosystems
- Identify five threats to ecosystems from human activities.
- Understand what factors affect climate change and what the current trajectory and implications of climate change are for the next century.
- Discuss the role of population, affluence, and technology in driving human impacts.
Business and human activities can be direct threats to ecosystems. They can cause destruction, degradation, and the impairment of biodiversity and other natural resources. Ecosystem threats include (1) climate changeChanges in the climate system outside of historical norms. In the last 150 years, it refers to the deviation from historical climate patterns as a result of human activity., (2) pollutionContamination of the environment with harmful sources typically from man-made sources but can also occur from naturally occurring sources., (3) habitat destructionHuman activity that damages ecosystems., (4) overexploitationThe taking of a natural renewable resource (typically a biological species but can also apply to nonliving renewable resources) at a greater rate than it can replenish and sustain itself. This diminishes and can destroy the resource., and (5) introduction of invasive speciesThe accidental or intentional introduction of a species to a new ecosystem that results in damage to the ecosystem when the introduced species outcompetes or attacks indigenous species.. Business and human activities can stress the ecosystem they operate in reducing its overall health and at some point the accumulation of all negative impact from human activities can exceed the ecological thresholdA tipping point where the stresses on an ecosystem exceed its capacity to absorb them and feature a major loss of biodiversity and natural resource health and quality. of the planet. Driving these human activities are population, affluence, and technology.
Climate change is one of the greatest threats to sustainability. It is a controversial and contested topic. As highlighted in the previous section, the earth’s climateLong-term temperature, humidity, wind, and rainfall of a region of Earth, and it is impacted by its latitude, geography, and proximity to water. Climate differs from weather, in that weather consists of the same factors observed over a very short period of time. does fluctuate over time due to a variety of factors. However, there is a significant body of scientific research that indicates that global temperatures are rising and that rising global temperatures are directly linked to human activities involving the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG).“IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group III, Mitigation of Climate Change,” IPCC, http://www.ipcc.ch. GHG traps heat in the atmosphere allowing the planet to be a habitable place. The primary GHG of interest is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a vital gas in our earth system and is released from various sources, including the combustion of fossil fuels. Over the last two centuries, rapid industrialization and the corresponding increased burning of fossil fuels and deforestation of large tracts of land globally has caused the concentrations of greenhouse gases to increase significantly in our atmosphere. Current atmospheric carbon dioxide levels exceed the natural range observed over at least the last 800,000 years and are rapidly rising.
Source: Robert A. Rohde, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carbon_Dioxide_400kyr.png.
In January 2012, global carbon dioxide levels reached a high of 393 parts per million (ppm) at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. This was up from 391 ppm from January 2011 and continues a long-term trend of rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide,” National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends. The Mauna Loa Observatory has been performing continuous monitoring of atmospheric carbon dioxide since 1956.
Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CO2_data_mlo.svg.
Some greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Other greenhouse gases (e.g., fluorinated gases) are created and emitted solely through human activities. Not all greenhouse gases have the same impact. Global warming potential (GWP) is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere. GWP is standardized to carbon dioxide, which has a GWP of one.
The principal greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere because of human activities—also called anthropogenic—are as follows:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2; 72 percent of anthropogenic emissions; GWP of one)—emitted through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, trees and wood products, and chemical processes.
- Methane (CH4; 18 percent of anthropogenic emissions; GWP of twenty-five)—emitted during the production of coal, natural gas, and oil; from livestock and other agricultural practices; and by the rotting of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
- Nitrous oxide (NxO; 9 percent of anthropogenic emissions; GWP of 298)—emitted during agricultural and industrial activities as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.
- Fluorinated gases (< 1 percent of anthropogenic emissions; HFC-23 has a GWP of 14,800)—emitted from a variety of industrial processes and sometimes used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (i.e., CFCs, HCFCs, and halons). Although fluorinated gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, they are potent greenhouse gases sometimes referred to as high global warming potential gases (“high GWP gases”).
Average global temperatures have increased 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit since 1850, with the trend in warming in the last fifty years being almost double that of the prior one hundred years. The twentieth century’s last two decades were the warmest in four hundred years. Current projections have global temperature further increasing by a significant two degrees to twelve degrees Fahrenheit by 2100.“IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group III, Mitigation of Climate Change,” IPCC, http://www.ipcc.ch. Temperature increases of this magnitude will adversely affect the planet through rising sea levels, shrinking glaciers, changing of the range and distribution of plants and animals, lengthening of growing seasons, changing of weather patterns, and human health effects. People are affected by climate change through extreme periods of heat and cold, storms, climate sensitive diseases, prolonged and increased levels of smog, and economics (e.g., volatility in retail prices; resource scarcity; and changing work patterns, conditions, and incomes).“Climate Change—Health and Environmental Effects,” US Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/index.html#ref.
Steroids, Baseball, and Climate Change
Changes in global temperature are impacting the global climate in significant ways, including the following:
- Mountain glaciers and snow cover have declined significantly, contributing to rises in sea level. For example, Montana’s Glacier National Park now has only 27 glaciers, versus 150 in 1910. In the Northern Hemisphere, thaws also come a week earlier in spring and freezes begin a week later.
- Sea levels will rise dramatically. Thermal expansion has already raised the oceans four to eight inches (ten to twenty centimeters). There is a possibility for a three-foot sea rise by the end of the century, which would flood many cities along the US seaboard.“Warming to Cause Catastrophic Rise in Sea Level,” National Geographic, April 26, 2004, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/04/0420_040420_earthday.html.
- Average Arctic temperatures have increased at almost twice the global rate in the past one hundred years. Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040 or earlier. Polar bears and indigenous cultures are already suffering from the sea’s ice loss.
- Increased precipitation has been observed in the eastern parts of North and South America, northern Europe, and northern and central Asia.
- An upsurge in the amount of extreme weather events, such as wildfires, heat waves, and strong tropical storms, is also attributed in part to climate change by some experts. Examples of these types of extreme events are already occurring with greater frequency, including recent flooding in Nashville and extreme droughts in Russia.
- Coral reefs, which are highly sensitive to small changes in water temperature, suffered the worst bleaching—or die-off in response to stress—ever recorded in 1998, with some areas seeing bleach rates of 70 percent. Experts expect these sorts of events to increase in frequency and intensity in the next fifty years as sea temperatures rise. Coral systems are rich ecosystems providing breeding grounds for sea life and are major recreational draws. The loss of these vital resources has a devastating economic impact on local economies.
Current science suggests that to significantly reduce the threats of global climate change, worldwide reductions of carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent below current levels will be required by 2050.“World Needs to Axe Greenhouse Gases by 80 pct: Report,” Reuters, April 19, 2007, http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/04/19/us-globalwarming-idUSL194440620070419.
Figure 2.5 Historic and Projected Global Temperatureshttp://www.grida.no/publications/other/ipcc_tar/?src=/climate/ipcc_tar/vol4/english/figspm-10b.htm.
Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Table 2.2 Global Emissions of CO2 (2009)
|Rank||Country||Emissions (Millions of Metric Tons)||Global Total (%)|
|1||People’s Rep. of China||6,831.6||22|
|8||Islamic Rep. of Iran||533.2||2|
|131 Remaining Countries||9,426.2||30|
Source: “CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion—Highlights,” International Energy Agency, http://www.iea.org/co2highlights.
In 2008, global carbon dioxide emissions were 4.8 metric tons per capita. The highest per capita emission was Qatar with 49 metric tons per capita caused by their high emitting gas production sector and their small populations. The United States was the tenth highest per capita emitter of carbon dioxide emissions at 17.9 metric tons per capita. Even though China had the highest absolute level of emissions, it was ranked seventy-ninth at 5.3 metric tons of CO2 per capita. “CO2 Emissions (Metric Tons per Capita),” World Bank, http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/EN.ATM.CO2E.PC/countries/1W?display=default. Per capita emissions are on average higher in developed economies than emerging economies. Countries that were members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) had average emissions of 10.5 metric tons per capita while countries that were classified by the United Nations as the least developed countries had per capita missions of 0.24 metric tons per capita.
It is important to note that there are those that deny the significance of climate change on the human condition and the impact of human and business activity on climate change. Climate change denial dismisses the scientific consensus on the extent of global warming, its significance, and its connection to human behavior. As will be highlighted in the next chapter, climate change denial has been mostly associated with the energy lobby and free market think tanks, often in the United States.
A 2010 paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States (PNAS) reviewed publication and citation data for 1,372 climate researchers and drew the following two conclusions:William R. L. Anderegg, James W. Prall, Jacob Harold, and Stephen H. Schneider, “Expert Credibility in Climate Change,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, April 9, 2010, http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/06/04/1003187107.full.pdf+html.
- Of the climate researchers most actively publishing in the field, 97 percent to 98 percent support the tenets of ACC (Anthropogenic Climate Change) outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
- The relative climate expertise and scientific prominence of the researchers unconvinced of ACC are substantially below that of the convinced researchers.
Pollution is the contamination, harm, or disruption of the natural environment through the emissions of harmful substances. Pollution is most typically associated with anthropogenicA scientific term frequently used in discussing climate change and pollution; it means coming from human sources. sources but can also occur from natural activity, such as volcanic eruptions. Pollution can impact air, water, and land. Pollutants include domestic, industrial, and agricultural waste. It comes in many different forms and can be chemical substances or noise, heat, or light.
Pollution can be either point sourcePollution that is emitted from an easily identifiable source, such as a power plant. or nonpoint sourcePollution in aggregate from many small, difficult to individually identify sources.. Point source is a specific and easily identifiable source of pollution, such as a factory or power plant. Nonpoint sources consist of many small, distributed sources of a pollutant that are difficult to individually identify and on their own may not be that harmful but in aggregate are significant sources of pollution. A classic example of nonpoint source would be soap detergents, fertilizers, and other commonly used chemicals and products from many residences and businesses that then contaminate watershedsAn area of land where all water drains into the same water system. with high levels of nitrogen. Nonpoint sources tend to be more complex to regulate for pollution emissions.
Pollution is not just toxic substances; it can be pollutants that are actually part of a healthful ecosystem in the proper quantities, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, but that in excessive quantities alter the normal functioning of an ecosystem resulting in harm to the ecosystem. Pollution can range from highly dangerous radioactive materials to airborne dust (a substance that is typically benign) resulting from land erosion.
Air pollution, the contamination of the atmosphere by airborne pollutants, is most often related to combustion of fuel from either stationary or mobile sources. Stationary sources include the smoke stacks of factories, power plants, and furnaces or boilers. Mobile sources refer to motor vehicles, aircraft, and other forms of fossil-fuel-based transportation. Paints, chemicals, and aerosol sprays also can pollute the air. Natural sources of air pollution include dust, methane from livestock, volcanic activity, wildfires, and even vegetation.
Concerns over air pollution are not just a modern occurrence but date back many centuries. In 1272, King Edward I banned the burning of sea-coal in England after the smoke was having deleterious effects on the city of London. In fact, the punishment was pretty steep—death by hanging. And it was a punishment that was enforced. Nowadays, fines are a more typical punishment for any type of pollution.
In the United States, California has led the nation in regulating the emissions of air pollution, primarily because it was one of the first states in the nation to locally observe the detrimental impacts of air pollution. Los Angeles has been the focus point for air pollution in California with severe bouts of smog for at least the past one hundred years. The first “officially” recognized episode of smog occurred in Los Angeles during the summer of 1943. Visibility was reduced to three blocks and people suffered from stinging eyes, difficulty breathing, nausea, and vomiting.“The Southland’s War on Smog: Fifty Years of Progress toward Clean Air,” South Coast Air Quality Management District, http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/Archives/History/marchcov.html.
Figure 2.6 Photo Recording of Smog in Los Angeles
Source: Wikimedia, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aab_Pasadena_Highway_Los_Angeles.jpg.
Growing concern over the harmful environmental impacts of industry motivated the US environmental movement in the 1960s and 1970s. The movement resulted in the passage of many major environmental laws that impact the business climate of the United States today. See the chapter on government, public policy, and sustainable business for a more detailed discussion.
Pollution continues to be a major focus globally. China, which has become increasingly industrialized, now finds that half of its water can no longer be used for human consumption and over a quarter is so toxic that it is unsafe even for industrial use.“Over Half of China’s Water Polluted Beyond Drinkability,” Natural News, http://www.naturalnews.com/030630_China_pollution.html.
Municipal Solid Waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW)A form of waste commonly called trash, garbage, or refuse. is a waste product that becomes a form of pollution if not properly managed. MSW is more commonly thought of as garbage, refuse, or trash. Solid waste is not necessarily toxic but includes discarded materials that need to be properly processed and disposed. Examples of solid waste include household trash, used tires, discarded appliances, furniture, paints, and construction and demolition debris.
In 2008, the United States generated 389.5 million tons of solid waste. Only 24 percent of the waste was recycledReclaiming a material that has outlived its useful life and remanufacturing the material into a new product., 6 percent was burned to produce energy, and the remaining 69 percent was landfilled.“State of Garbage,” BioCycle, October 2010. With 70 percent of waste being sent to landfills, there is still considerable opportunity for waste recovery for recycling or as an energy source.
Energy can be recovered from landfill sites through different forms, such as methane gas. Methane gas can be used to generate electricity or be burned as a heat source. However, the vast majority of waste is being disposed of, even though it contains resources (metals, plastics, and paper) that could be reused or recycled to reduce the demand on new resources. For example, cardboard that is recycled helps reduce the demand for trees to be cut down to make new cardboard.
The EPA encourages MSW to be managed through source reductionAlso known as waste prevention; taking steps to avoid generating waste in the first place., recycling, and compostingCollecting organic waste, such as food scraps, and using natural processes to break the material down into an important soil component.. Source reduction involves taking steps to reduce the waste material produced. This can include using materials more efficiently, reusing materials, or switching to substitutes that generate less waste. The average US recycling rate is 24 percent but has the potential to be considerably higher.“Wastes—Non-Hazardous Waste—Municipal Solid Waste,” US Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/index.htm. There are opportunities for new sustainable businesses to better manage solid waste, including increasing the recycling rate and composting.
Ecomovement Consulting Composts Restaurant Leftovers
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has one of the highest numbers of restaurants per capita in the country and these restaurants generate a large volume of food waste that is expensive to dispose of. Entrepreneurs Rian Bedard and partner Marcel Miranda saw this waste as an opportunity and formed Ecomovement Consulting and Hauling (http://zerowastenow.com/) in 2009. Bedard stated, “I started to find out that no one was offering zero-waste services and everyone wanted it.”
Customers pay for compostable bags and put the food waste in a recycling tote outside, which are then collected regularly by Ecomovement. The food waste is then brought to a local farm to be converted to compost, a high-value soil component sought after by gardeners and landscapers. In addition to restaurants, other large food waste generators have signed up with Ecomovement, including hospital cafeterias. In North America, only two cities can boast that all of their restaurants compost, but with an entrepreneurial company finding a niche missed by traditional waste management companies, Portsmouth is well on its way to becoming the third.“City Eateries Compost with Eco Movement,” Seacoast Online, http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100614-NEWS-6140331.
Ecomovement Consulting can be followed on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/EcoMovement-Consulting-Hauling/172316763400.
Habitat destruction brought on by the activity of humans threatens resident species and ecosystems. Two examples of habitat destruction are deforestation and desertification. Deforestation occurs when a forest or stand of trees is removed, converting the land to a nonforest use. This changes the ecosystem drastically and results in a dramatic loss of biodiversity. Deforestation can be the result of timber harvesting or of clearing land for agricultural, commercial, or residential use. The loss of biodiversity and trees alters the ecosystem and can result in aridity and erosion. It also results in climate change and extinction, and it can lead to desertification if on a significant enough scale. The social impacts can include displacement of indigenous peoples.
Desertification is the degradation of land quality and features low biodiversity, dry conditions, and poor soil quality. Deserts are formed through both natural processes and human activity. However, desertification is occurring at a greater rate than past geological time scales due to human activity. The concept of desertification became well known in the United States in the 1930s, when parts of the Great Plains in the United States turned into the “Dust Bowl” as a result of drought and poor agricultural practices.“Desertification,” US Geologic Services, http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/deserts/desertification.
Overexploitation is a major threat to ecosystems and therefore sustainability. It is the consumption of a natural resource at a rate greater than that natural resource can maintain itself. Overhunting of species (see “What Happened to All the Fish” as follows) is one of the clearest examples of overexploitation, but there are other forms. Land degradations are human-induced changes that impair the capacity of the land to sustain life. Deforestation and overgrazing exploit the land and result in the exceeding of sustainable yield.
What Happened to All the Fish?
Grand Banks Annual Catch (Metric Tons)
Source: Annual Catch of Cod from 1850 to 2011, Myers et al., 1995; Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.
The Grand Banks along the shores of Newfoundland, Canada, were once so full of cod that explorer John Cabot remarked in 1497 that they appeared so thick that a person “could walk across their backs,” and sailors reported to be able to catch them just by throwing buckets over the side of the ship. From 1850 to 1950, the fishing industry yielded an overall annual catch of about 200,000 tons of cod. With new technology in commercial fishing boats, catches of cod increased in the late 1950s and early 1960s, peaking at 800,000 tons in 1968. Commercial fishing was catching cod faster than their stock could replenish itself, and by 1975, the catch had declined to 300,000 tons. The catch continued at approximately this level through the 1990s but only through the use of more damaging fishing techniques. In 1992, the cod fishery off Newfoundland collapsed. It was estimated that the entire cod population in the Grand Banks at that time was only 1,700 tons. In response, Canada set an indefinite moratorium on fishing in the Grand Banks. This collapse devastated the local economy with the loss of forty thousand jobs in the fishing industry. In response, the federal government put up nearly a $1 billion to assist with social welfare payments and retraining of people employed in the fishery trade.
The case of the cod in Newfoundland illustrates how the unsustainable harvesting of a resource, when the yield reduces the overall base of that resource, is not only bad for the environment but also bad for industry and for the economy. Overfishing and habitat destruction damaged nature’s ability to provide fish in the Grand Banks. This resulted in a loss to a significant portion of the eastern Canadian economy and the members of the fishery communities experienced true hardship due to the overfishing. Prior to the overfishing that occurred during the second half of the twentieth century, the fish had supported seaside communities for hundreds of years.
Invasive species are brought on by transporting species either intentionally or accidentally from other areas of the world. This can be devastating to existing species as invasive species are introduced on a timescale much more quickly than typically would happen with evolution over longer time periods. This can include outcompeting native species in the ecosystem, leading to the decline or extinction of local species, and overpopulation as these invasive species may not have any predators in this new ecosystem. They also can be a major economic cost.
Figure 2.7 Invasive Species the Zebra Mussel
Source: Wikimedia, http://bit.ly/MM1vb5.
The zebra mussel provides an invasive species that has had significant economic impacts. The zebra mussel is native to lakes in Russia but was accidentally introduced in the United States and Canada through the ballast water of commercial ships that were transporting goods to the Great Lakes region in the 1980s. They have been spreading ever since and have recently been found in lakes in Massachusetts; they attach to recreational boats and are transported wherever the boat may go. They colonize rapidly and have covered the undersides of docks, boats, and other marine structures and can grow so thick that they block municipal water and hydroelectric pipelines. The cost of pest management for zebra mussels at power plants and other water-consuming facilities is approximately $500 million a year in the United States.Center for Invasive Species Research at the University of California, Riverside.
Human population growth is a factor in human ecosystem impact. From 0 AD to the present, global population has increased from three hundred million to seven billion. While population growth was once considered to be one of the leading drivers of human impacts on ecosystems, it does not adequately explain all the impacts that come from human activities. One concept that is useful in understanding the multiple factors that interact to impact environmental quality is the IPAT equation. The equation was developed in the early 1970s by scientists John Holdren and Paul Ehrlich to explain the human factors that create environmental impact.I = P x A x T
Impact (I) was expressed as the product of population (P), affluence (A), and technology (T). This formula doesn’t quantify actual impacts, but is meant to state relationships. Also, P, A, and T are not independent variables but are interdependent. It does not show a simple multiplicative relationship among the main factors; research has shown that a doubling of population, for example, does not necessarily lead to a doubling of impact. Affluence is related to consumption where more affluent societies are able to consume more resources than less affluent societies can. Technology is a more complex factor as it can provide the means to extract greater quantities of resources but also can be used to limit consumption of resources.
The IPAT equation does not identify sustainable limits but does assist in increasing understanding of the general factors that increase or decrease environmental impact. By highlighting the interplay among a variety of factors in creating an impact, the IPAT equation demonstrates that there are multiple ways of reducing undesirable effects.
- There are five major ways that business activity can threaten ecosystems: climate change, pollution, habitat destruction, overexploitation, and introduction of invasive species.
- Climate change from human activity has already had an impact on the climate and is projected to cause significant harm to the earth system over the next century if not mitigated.
- Habitat destruction, overexploitation, and introduction of invasive species all negatively impact local ecosystems and should be considered in sustainable business activities.
- The IPAT relationship is defined as impact is the product of population, affluence, and technology.
- Find articles that link businesses with each type of the ecosystem-threatening activities discussed in this chapter. Discuss how the business activity either contributed to the threat or helped mitigate the threat.
- In class, role play the following scenario: A mining company has discovered a large deposit of oil in a pristine area of South America that features high biodiversity. A native village currently lives on the site of the discovery. Try to reach consensus on what should be done. Groups in the exercise include (1) the mining company who wants to extract the oil, (2) the native villagers who do not use oil currently, (3) the scientists researching the biodiversity of the area, and (4) the construction company in the closest city that would build the oil infrastructure if the mining company can move forward with the project and who would employ three hundred local workers. | <urn:uuid:27282c57-97e5-4804-9160-06e0d0f3e063> | CC-MAIN-2016-40 | http://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/bookhub/reader/3157?e=gittell_1.0-ch02_s03 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-40/segments/1474738660931.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20160924173740-00167-ip-10-143-35-109.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934231 | 6,120 | 3.59375 | 4 |
The first major heading in the introductory chapter to this book is "What is a Virus?" That question is also the title of the last chapter and of its final heading as well. In between are 17 chapters dealing with most of the new and exciting features of viruses: morphologic, structural, quantitative, taxonomic, biochemical, genetic, and biologic— in the broadest sense. Although the book ends without a clear definition of a virus or a direct answer to the thrice-posed question, the properties commonly attributed to viruses in general are recapitulated. But even the question of whether those characteristics establish viruses as living is not clearly answered.
Each chapter, in addition to extensive citations, contains a few references for further reading. There are also numerous illustrations of viruses in electron micrographs as well as diagramatic representations. The extensive bibliography at the end of the book is arranged alphabetically by first author | <urn:uuid:dab9e65c-f23f-40f6-9daa-8f462d52db8d> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=576093 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396945.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00061-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961084 | 184 | 3.703125 | 4 |
Fixing faulty heart rhythms may help kidneys filter better
Working to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar and to ease inflammation definitely helps the heart. It is also good for the kidneys. Now, Japanese researchers have found that treating atrial fibrillation (AF), the fast and uncoordinated beating of the heart's upper chambers, may improve the kidneys' filtering abilities.
In a study, 386 people with AF and mildly reduced kidney function received a catheter-based procedure called ablation to restore normal atrial beats. The tip of the catheter destroys (ablates) small patches of tissue in the left atrium that generate the electrical signals that incite AF (see illustration). | <urn:uuid:4b509f56-17e3-4a94-83fc-c4f72efaf908> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/fixing-faulty-heart-rhythms-may-help-kidneys-filter-better | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818688158.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20170922022225-20170922042225-00152.warc.gz | en | 0.935948 | 140 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Antivirus applications are a useful tool which could protect your computer from viruses, spyware, and also other malicious software. It can discover and take out malware from the computer. In the following paragraphs, we will look at the important things about using antivirus software. Read on to learn more. Keeping your computer clean is very important to prevent cyber criminals from slowing down your system. Aside from avoiding damage to your personal computer, antivirus software can also help protect your individual information and finances.
A virus could cause a huge amount of harm to your system. You will find millions of viruses and other vicious software effective within the Internet today. A computer’s security can often be compromised because of the presence of antivirus. These types of programs guard your computer through the latest webroot-reviews.com/how-does-antivirus-software-work/ threats by identifying and removing weaknesses. The global economy loses huge amounts of dollars a year as a result of these kinds of attacks. Nevertheless , antivirus application can be expensive to install and observe after.
While it might appear overwhelming, antivirus computer software protects your pc from adware and spyware and other hazards. Despite its high price, these types of programs are worth the expense. The global overall economy loses huge amounts of dollars yearly as a result of these kinds of infections and malicious software program. As a result, factors to consider you’re guarding your computer with antivirus software program. If you don’t have antivirus security software, download a single today and find out if it’s a good investment! | <urn:uuid:a33557c0-d36a-4afc-b2b2-323228bb31d6> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://teammomenta.com/2022/03/08/the-benefits-of-antivirus-software/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100172.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20231130062948-20231130092948-00853.warc.gz | en | 0.92431 | 326 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Following are frequently asked SAS Job Interview Questions for freshers as well as an experienced Data analyst.
1) What is SAS? What are the functions does it performs?
SAS means Statistical Analysis System, which is an integrated set of software products.
- Information retrieval and data management
- Writing reports and graphics
- Statistical analytics, econometrics and data mining
- Business planning, forecasting, and decision support
- Operation research and Project management
- Quality Improvement
- Data Warehousing
- Application Development
2) What is the basic structure of the SAS base program?
The basic structure of SAS consist of
==DATA step, which recovers & manipulates data.
==PROC step, which interprets the data.
3) What is the basic syntax style in SAS?
To run the program successfully, and you have the following basic elements:
- There should be a semi-colon at the end of every line
- A data statement that defines your data set
- Input statement
- There should be at least one space between each word or statement
- A run statement
For example: In file ‘H: \StatHW\yourfilename.dat’;
4) Explain data step in SAS
The Data step creates a SAS dataset which carries the data along with a “data dictionary.” The data dictionary holds information about the variables and their properties.
5) What is PDV?
The logical area in the memory is represented by PDV or Program Data Vector. At the time, SAS creates a database of one observation at a time. An input buffer is created at the time of compilation which holds a record from an external file. The PDV is created following the input buffer creation.
6) What are the data types does SAS contain?
The data types in SAS are Numeric and Character.
7) Which statement does not perform automatic conversions in comparisons?
In SAS, the “where” statement does not perform automatic conversions in comparisons.
8) What is a method to debug and test your SAS program?
You can debug and test your SAS program by using Obs=0 and systems options to trace the program execution in log
9) What is the difference between nodupkey and nodup options?
The difference between the NODUP and NODUPKEY is that NODUP compares all the variables in our dataset while NODUPKEY compares just the BY variables
10) Name validation tools used in SAS
For DataSet : Data set name/ debug Data set: Name/stmtchk
For SAS Macros variables: Options: mprint mlogic symbolgen
11) What does PROC print, and PROC contents do?
To display the contents of the SAS dataset PROC print is used and also to assure that the data were read into SAS correctly. While PROC CONTENTS display information about a SAS dataset.
12) What is the use of function Proc summary?
The syntax of proc summary is the same as that of proc means. It computes descriptive statistics on numeric variables in the SAS dataset.
13) What Proc glm does?
Proc glm performs simple and multiple regression, analysis of variance (ANOVAL), analysis of covariance, multivariate analysis of variance and repeated measure analysis of variance.
14) What is SAS informats?
SAS INFORMATS are used to read, or input data from external files known as Flat Files ASCII files, text files or sequential files). The informat will tell SAS on how to read data into SAS variables.
15) Name types of category in which SAS Informats are placed
SAS informats are placed in three categories,
- Character Informats : $INFORMATw
- Numeric Informats : INFORMAT w.d
- Date/Time Informats: INFORMAT w.
16) What function CATX syntax does?
CATX syntax concatenates character strings remove trailing and leading blanks and inserts separators.
17) What is the use of PROC gplot?
PROC gplot has more options and can create more colorful and fancier graphics.
18) What is PROC in SAS?
In SAS, PROC steps analyze and process data in the form of an SAS data set. It controls a library of routines that perform tasks on SAS data set options such as sorting, summarizing and listing.
19) What is the SAS data set?
A SAS data set is a file consisting of two parts.
- A descriptor portion
- A data portion
20) List out some key concept of SAS
Some key concept of SAS include,
- SORT procedure
- Missing values
- KEEP=, DROP= dataset options
- Data step logic
- Reset to missing, or the RETAIN statement
- FORMAT procedure for creating value formats
- Data types
- IN= dataset option
21) What is the difference between INPUT and INFILE ?
22) State the difference between INFORMAT and FORMAT ?
- INFORMAT: To indicate SAS that a number should be read in a particular format
- FORMAT: To indicate SAS how to print the variables
23) What is factor analysis?
Factor analysis is a common term used for a family of statistical techniques associated with the reduction of a set of observable variables in terms of a small number of latent factors. The main goal of factor analysis is data reduction and summarization.
24) How you can read the variables that you need?
You read the variables using input statement with column /line pointers, informats and length specifiers.
25) What are the special input delimiters used in SAS?
Special input delimiters used in SAS are DLM and DSD.
26) How SAS treats the DSD delimiters?
When you define DSD, SAS treats two consecutive delimiters as a missing value and removes quotation marks from character values.
27) What is the good SAS programming practices for processing large data sets?
The good SAS programming practices for processing large data sets is to sort them once using firstobs= and obs=.
28) How to include or exclude specific variables in a data set?
To include or exclude specific variables in a data set you can use DROP, KEEP Statements and Data set Options.
29) How SUBSTR function works in SAS?
The SUBSTR function is used to abstract substring from a character variable.
30) What SAS features do you use to check errors and data validation?
To check errors, use the Log, and for data validation use things like Proc Freq, Proc Means or sometimes Proc print to see how data looks.
31) What are the ways to do a “table lookup” in SAS?
There are five ways to do a “table lookup” in SAS which include:
- PROC SQL
- Match Merging
- Direct Access
- Format Tables
32) How will you generate test data with no input data?
You will generate test data with no input data using “put” statement and “Data Null”.
33) What are the difference between CEIL and FLOOR functions in SAS?
The “floor” returns the greatest integer less than/equal to the argument. Whereas the “ceil” function returns the smallest integer greater than/equal to the argument.
34) What are the difference between SAS functions and procedures?
The difference between SAS functions and procedures is that
- Procedures expect one variable value per observation
- Functions expect values to be supplied across an observation
35) How to remove duplicates using PROC SQL?
To remove duplicates using PROC SQL use following step,
Proc SQL noprint;
Create Table inter.merged1 as
Select distinct * from inter.readin ;
36) What are common programming errors committed in SAS
Common programming errors committed in SAS are,
- Missing semicolon
- Not checking log after submitting program
- Not using debugging techniques
- Not using Fsview option vigorously
37) How to limit decimal places for the variable using PROC MEANS?
By using MAXDEC=option, you can limit decimal places for the variable.
38) What are the difference between the SAS DATA STEP and SAS PROCs?
- SAS DATA STEP is used to read in and manipulate data
- SAS PROCs are sub-routines perform tasks on SAS data set
39) What is the use of STOP statement?
A STOP statement is used to control the continuous looping in SET statement.
40) What is RUN-Group processing?
RUN-Group processing allows submitting a PROC step using RUN statement without ending the procedure.
41) How to test the debugging in SAS?
For debugging in SAS use the Debug clause after ‘/’ in the data statement.
42) How to create a permanent SAS data set?
In order to create a permanent SAS data set, there are two steps necessary,
- Assign a library and engine.
- Create the data. Make sure to assign both a library (other than WORK) and data set name to make the data set permanent.
43) What is SLIBREF?
SLIBREF is a server-libref. It specifies the libref that is used by the server to identify the SAS data library when no physical name is determined, and the server libref is different from the client libref.
44) What are the default statistics that PROC MEANS produce?
The default statistics that PROC MEANS produce are,
- STD DEV
45) What is the command used to find missing values?
The command used to find missing values is
46) What is the difference between Match Merge and One to One Merge?
A one-to-one merge is suitable if both data sets in the merge statement are sorted by id, and each observation in one data set has a corresponding observation in the other data set. If the observations do not match, then match merging is suitable.
47) What are the scrubbing procedures in SAS?
The scrubbing procedures in SAS are Proc Sort with nodupkey option. It will eliminate duplicate values.
48) What is the use of the %include statement?
%INCLUDE statement reads an entire file into the current SAS program you are running and submits that file to the SAS System immediately. | <urn:uuid:2b26c8e7-93c8-473d-88d0-60ee0a702799> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://career.guru99.com/top-17-sas-interview-questions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514573124.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20190917223332-20190918005332-00218.warc.gz | en | 0.83711 | 2,180 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Ruqyah (plural: ruqa) derives from the past-tense verb raqa. It consists of words said or written in the form of dud or Dhikr for the purpose of protection or cure. It is sometimes accompanied with other actions, such as blowing or wiping over the thing to which it is applied.
A synonym for ruqyah in Arabic is "ta'with" and "ta’withah", from which derives the description "al-Mu’awwidhat" (the protecting ones) for the last three suras of the Qur’an, and "al-Mu’awwidhatan" (the two protecting ones) for the last two suras only (cited below).
People from most cultures and religions use various forms of ruqa. They are usually referred to in English as spells, charms, incantations, and so on. Most of those ruqa contain magic, shirk, senseless words, lies, etc. Because of this, the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) prohibited using ruqa at first. Ibn Masud (RA) reported that the Prophet (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:
‘Indeed, ruqa, amulets, and tiwala*, are all acts of shirk.’ Recorded by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and others. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani in as-Sahihah no. 331.
(*Tiwala: Beads or other objects, usually worn around the neck, believed by some people to have the power of making a husband love his wife.)
Later on, he (Peace and Blessing upon Him) allowed people to use only the ruqa that he approved, or that did not contain shirk. Jabir Bin 'Abdillah (RA) reported that Allah's Messenger (Peace and Blessing upon Him) prohibited ruqa. Then, some people from the tribe of 'Umr Bin Hazam came to him and said, "We have a ruqyah that we used to use for scorpion and snake stings; but you have now prohibited using ruqa." And they showed it to him. He (Peace and Blessing upon Him) said:
‘I do not see anything wrong in it. Anyone among you who can benefit his brother should do so.’ Muslim | <urn:uuid:df3b4c07-6667-4c5b-bb3b-ac2462eb2839> | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | http://ustazhanafi.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-is-ruqyah.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463607849.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20170524173007-20170524193007-00420.warc.gz | en | 0.951179 | 491 | 2.6875 | 3 |
What is this gamification?
Deterding and colleagues (2011) define gamification by “The use of design elements characteristic for games in non-game contexts” which when you take a step back and look around, is used everywhere. Anything that isn’t a game but has gaming elements such as avatars, ladders, point systems and/or interactive problem solving with reward systems attached can all be considered gamification.
For our purposes of educating in the workplace we are using gamification to motivate people to pay attention by making the training interesting and engaging. Our implementation should increase memory retention through habitual learning and make the overall workplace learning more efficient.
What is the problem we are trying to solve?
A lack of competence and awareness of cyber security in a workplace will undermine any well-designed data security control system thus the implementation of an effective security awareness training program is an integral part of an organisations cyber security strategy. (Baxter 2016)
How does gamification help?
Gamification allows us to select appropriate game elements for our target audience to inspire motivation and assist in acquiring knowledge through habitual learning. Adams and Makramalla (2015) proposed implementing the following four elements for a A story, Player Control, Problem Solving and Progress mechanics for a successful implementation of gamification of security and awareness training session. They also suggest implementing a perspective from the different attack agents an organisation faces. The conclusion of their article lacked evidence of a practical exercise to prove the results however gamification in cyber security training is already working in the real world and a revised training session based on Adams and Makramalla’s suggestions is in progress.
By implementing gamification we give participants in our training sessions an interactive method of engagement.
Does gamification work in the real world?
Gamification needs to be implemented appropriately for the audience and educational topics being taught. I’ve recently run a series of Cyber Security awareness sessions using a gamified application called Kahoots™. I compiled approximately 20 questions tailored to the organisation which participants answered using their phones or similar devices, after each question, I explained why the answer was what it was and engaged in conversation with the group with how it related to their environments. A case study video here:
The post survey results indicated 100% of participants felt engaged, and 100% of the results also showed they enjoyed their session and learnt something from it. This proved undoubtably more effective than previous non-gamified sessions where people fell asleep during the sessions that were delivered with one way communication as participants were lectured to.
Can it be done better?
Gamification, like technology and life, evolves. Implementing strategies and new elements as suggested by Adams and Makramalla and from other similar research should create more interesting, captivating and addictive elements to further create habits that make the boring subject of cyber security interesting and engaging. It is hoped that it will enable participants to make security a default subconscious factor when making decisions in the workplace.
Working together and sharing the results of our implementations will allow us to learn from each other what works in different scenarios.
My next session I will be researching and developing Cyber Security awareness training programs that are in two parts.
Part one: Online delivery
What I’ve learned is a lot of the content I deliver in my training is universal for all companies I visit, and whilst some participants find it intuitive, others are a little less savvy. The online delivery component will attempt to level that initial knowledge level prior to a face to face training session (more on that in part two).
The Online component will allow a participant to read a short introductory story to set the scene and define a set of security issues for a fictitious company. The player will create and customise their player avatar which they will use in the story to problem solve six threats to the organisation through decision making process online.
Part Two: Group training session
The group training session will be a shorter ~10 question session similar to before, however the participants will use their online profile to answer the questions and work as a team, as long as the group vote is correct they will proceed to the next question, the facilitator will guide them through discussion enabling customised discussion relevant to their organisation.
We’ll also make the training feedback as part of the gamified process to complete their attendance, the goal will be to obtain a 100% post session feedback result which will enable us to analyse the results of the training better and feed those results back to the community.
If you have had some success or even failures in implementing similar gamified training, or have any questions, I would love to hear from you. I can be contacted in the comments below or @ DanielCairns on Twitter.
Adams, M & Makramalla M 2015, ‘Cybersecurity Skills Training: An Attacker-Centric Gamified Approach’, Technology Innovation Management Review, Vol 5, Issue 1, pp 5-14, retrieved 20 April 2019, http://timreview.ca/article/861
Baxter, J Holderness, D & Wood, D 2016, ‘Applying Basic Gamification Techniques to IT Compliance Training: Evidence from the Lab and Field’, Journal of Information Systems, Vol 30, Issue 3, pp 119-133, retrieved 20 April 2019, DOI: 10.2308/isys-51341
Deterding and associates 2011, ‘Gamification: Toward a Definition’, retrieved 26 April 2019,< | <urn:uuid:8f37446e-1ee0-48e0-a925-10dd505e2e00> | CC-MAIN-2021-31 | https://danielcairns.com.au/blog/2019/04/26/gamifying-cyber-security-awareness-training-in-the-workplace/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046153931.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20210730025356-20210730055356-00080.warc.gz | en | 0.936821 | 1,125 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Marginal analysis is an important decision-making tool in the business world. Marginal analysis allows business owners to measure the additional benefits of one production activity versus its costs. This analysis can help an owner understand whether an activity is profitable and thus make a decision based on that information.
Marginal analysis involves a cost-versus-benefits comparison of various business activities. In marginal analysis, the cost of an activity is measured against incremental changes in volume to determine how the overall change in cost will affect the bottom line of a business. Marginal analysis can show the cost of additional production by a business all the way up to the break-even point. This is generally the maximum cost that a business can sustain without losing money.
When making a business decision using marginal analysis, take into account cost and production variables that will become the basis of your business decision. The quantity of the product purchased is one of those variables. In marginal analysis, the overall cost to the business owner will increase with each additional unit purchased. Other variables include the quantity of a goods you produce or the quantity of another cost added to the equation, such as shipping costs. To understand how your profitability changes, you make one of these your control variable, or the variable that you change. Changes are made in increments of one unit until your profitability decreases to zero. This will then provide you with a range of changes you can make with varying levels of profitability.
Assume, for example, that you produce a product that sells for $120 each and costs $100 a piece to produce if you produce 50 of those products. This will result in a total cost of $5,000 and a total revenue of $6,000. Once you produce the 51st unit of this product, your total revenue then goes to $6,120. Assume that your total cost goes to $5,150. In this case, the decision to produce the 51st unit would be a bad one because the cost of production per unit increases to $100.98 per unit. Your net benefit goes up by $120, while the overall cost increases by $150, meaning that the cost outweighs the benefit and that the production of the additional unit is not worth the extra cost.
In marginal analysis, continually increase the control variable to the point at which the marginal cost is either equal to or greater than the marginal benefit. The reason for this is simple. You can continue to experience some level of benefit, despite the increase in cost. In marginal analysis you are weighing the benefits versus the cost. When the additional benefits received do so at a greater cost per benefit, then you have reached the point where it is no longer reasonable to change the control variable.
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images | <urn:uuid:8275be4d-9a22-4337-a346-7d82400bde28> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://smallbusiness.chron.com/make-spending-decision-marginal-analysis-38351.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399425.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00175-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937732 | 558 | 3.34375 | 3 |
Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, is a special holiday in China.
I’ve written before about China’s wide variety of holidays and celebrations. It’s one of many aspects of Chinese culture that I find to be incredibly interesting.
Today we’ll delve into a celebration that sounds somewhat morbid, but is actually anything but.
So, let’s get into Qingming Festival!
What is Qingming Festival in China?
It’s a one-day holiday to celebrate, commemorate, and pay respect to your deceased family members and ancestors.
It’s also known as Tomb Sweeping Day or Ching Ming and is a Chinese folk tradition which dates back centuries.
Tomb Sweeping Day, or a variation of it, is also celebrated in quite a few southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Territories with strong ties to the Chinese mainland, like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, recognize Qingming Festival too.
Some scholars speculate that the celebration originated in the 7th century BC and is a more modern evolution of the Cold Food Festival, or Hanshi Festival as it was known in China.
This festival commemorated the death of a man named Jie Zitui.
And let me tell you, Tomb Sweeping Festival’s origin story is fascinating! We’ll delve into that a bit later.
For now, I’ll reveal that it includes assassinations, power struggles and sacrifice. And that’s all I’m saying!
When is Qingming Festival celebrated?
Qingming takes place in early April, 16 days after the Spring Equinox. The date changes each year depending on the equinox.
In 2023, it’s on the 5th of April but next year, 2024, it will be on the 4th of April.
It’s a celebration which doesn’t follow the lunar calendar, although some Chinese traditions do.
In mainland China, Tomb Sweeping Day is a public holiday so most businesses will close along with schools.
If the holiday falls mid-week, your work schedule could be adjusted to allow you several days off in a row. But you may have to work on the previous or following weekend in order to compensate this extended weekend.
Hey, life is all about balance, right?
However, for locals this day is about family past and present.
With this in mind, try not to be too jovial around the locals when making plans for the holiday.
How is Qingming Festival celebrated?
As the name alludes to, tombs and sweeping (well, cleaning) are involved.
If they can, families will pay a visit to their ancestral tombs and tend to them by cleaning and removing weeds from the surrounding area.
It’s quite common to also light special incense and say some prayers while visiting the tomb.
Traditionally, whole animals were presented as offerings alongside regional dishes special to the holiday, but this has changed in recent years, according to The New York Times.
Nowadays, people bring simpler gifts and food for their deceased relatives. This might be their go-to snack or drink, or even their favorite type of cigarette.
You may have also heard about people burning money to celebrate and honor the dead, and I’ll get to that in just a little while.
What are Chinese tombs like?
The word ‘tomb’ might invoke images of large, grand structures.
While I’m sure that some of them are just like that, for the most part, they’re more like tombstones or plaques over large mounds in which remains can be interred.
With China’s huge population, space for the deceased is a problem. While burial is the preferred method of laying loved ones to rest, cremation is more common these days.
Ashes can also be interred in the family tomb.
Generally, the laws of feng shui will be followed when selecting the location of your family’s tomb. This is to ensure that good energy, or chi, will then surround the family of the deceased.
I’ve mainly seen these grave-like tombs on hills or mountains surrounding cities, or way out in the countryside.
Sometimes, family tombs can be quite close to major roads connecting smaller towns or cities. I suspect the locations were selected in a time before these highways were constructed.
Nevertheless, around Qingming Festival, there’s something quite special about passing by families who have gathered together to honor and respect those who came before.
Where does burning money come in?
Among foreigners, this celebration is perhaps synonymous with the burning of paper money.
Spoiler alert: most of the time it’s not real money.
Stores will sell special paper money designed specifically for this purpose. You may even be able to buy other paper items such as boats, clothes and even cell phones.
These are also intended as gifts for those in the afterlife, just like the snacks I mentioned earlier.
There are different types and colors of paper money for different types of spirits, such as the newly deceased, royalty, and ancient ancestors.
The material used to craft these items is often known as joss paper. It’s typically made from bamboo paper or rice paper.
Often, right before Tomb Sweeping Day, the government will send out a mass text message discouraging people from partaking in the burning of joss paper. In warm and dry areas, they have massive potential to start forest fires.
Most of the time, locals turn a blind eye to the notice, while authorities turn a blind eye to these small fires fueled by centuries of tradition.
Elements of burning money can sometimes be included in the funeral ritual itself.
A friend of mine recalls visiting her grandfather’s grave for the first time and her mother making them buy paper items for him, even though it wasn’t around the time of Qingming Festival.
It’s no secret that the Chinese love their tea. I’m British, so I do kind of get it. To an extent.
Qingming Festival is quite a special day for tea in China as it helps classify the tea, in particular green tea.
Tea picked prior to the festival, known as Mingqian tea, is said to have a better taste and aroma than tea picked after this date. Therefore, it’s sold for a hefty price.
The window of tea-harvesting opportunity before Qingming takes place is relatively short. This makes the tea rare and prized.
There’s even a saying that goes: “Mingqian tea is as expensive as gold.”
To be honest, I’m not sure if there truly is that much difference in the taste of this tea, but if a local offers you some pre-Qingming tea remember to graciously accept it.
You must be quite special in their eyes to warrant the good tea!
Qingming Festival origin: the story of Jie Zitui
The Chinese culture is full of rich and interesting stories, and Qingming Festival has its own tale.
Take a read of the story below or watch the video where the mortician – yes, mortician – starts talking about the story from the 2-minute mark (but the whole video is quite fun).
During the spring and autumn period of the Zhou Dynasty, an aristocrat and poet named Jie Zitui served at the court of Chong’er, Prince of Jin.
When Chong’er was exiled, Jie Zitui remained loyal and followed him.
A civil war ensued and Chong’er was eventually offered the throne, which he declined. Instead, his younger brother took his spot and sent assassins after him.
After regrouping, Chong’er eventually gathered an army to defeat his younger brother’s son, who was now in power. Afterwards, Chong’er failed to acknowledge Jie Zitui’s loyalty, rewarding others instead as he went on to become the Duke of Jin.
Jie Zitui harshly criticizes Chong’er for failing to recognize his dedication, and speaks so poorly of those who did take credit that he now sees no other option than to exile himself.
He fears that his harsh words have ultimately put his own safety at risk.
Along with his mother, Jie Zitui disappears into the mountains and Chong’er eventually realizes his oversight.
This is where the story becomes murky, but the consensus is that Jie Zitui and his mother are never seen alive again.
The legend goes that, unable to find his loyal serviceman, Chong’er set fire to the mountainside to smoke him out. This had less than the desired effect as, after three days and nights, the raging fire subsided and Jie Zitui was found dead with his mother.
Chong’er then built a temple to honor Jie Zitui and instated the Cold Food Festival.
The festival has evolved over the dynasties. The observances and traditions have changed a lot, as has the length.
At one point in time, it lasted for a month, then only three days, and in the most modern incarnation – Tomb Sweeping Festival – it lasts only for a day.
Qingming Festival in Chinese characters
And finally, if you’re learning Mandarin, you’ll want to know how to write Qingming Festival in Chinese characters.
It’s 清明节 or Qīngmíng Jié in pinyin (the romanization of Chinese characters).
Just note that people don’t say “Happy Qingming Festival!” due to the nature of the day.
If you’re looking for an appropriate festival greeting, you could say something like “Qīngmíng píng ān” (清明平安). This means “Wishing you peace at Qingming Festival”.
Psst! A quick travel tip
If you’re headed for China soon, it’s worth knowing what you should and shouldn’t pack in your suitcase.
Here’s a free packing list for China which will help put your mind at ease.
Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day) in summary
During this holiday, Chinese people who live near their ancestors’ graves will spend time cleaning around the gravesite, just as the name ‘Tomb Sweeping Day’ suggests.
They’ll also burn incense and paper, and bring along some favorite food.
And with special tea, time with loved ones, and a day off from work, Qingming Festival is definitely viewed as a celebration by many.
It’s not the somber affair you might have imagined, even though the subject of death isn’t often a cheerful one.
I hope this insight into China’s Qingming Festival helps you see some light in the afterlife.
Main image credit: GuoZhongHua on Shutterstock.
FAQ about Qingming Festival in China
When is Qingming Festival celebrated?
It’s celebrated around the start of April, depending on the Spring Equinox. This means the date of the holiday changes each year. Qingming Festival in China is also referred to as Tomb Sweeping Day.
How is Qingming Festival celebrated?
People visit their ancestors’ graves to pay respect to the deceased. They clean up the area and remove weeds. They also bring along food and burn incense. Those who are unable to visit their ancestors’ graves may honor the deceased at home. Qingming is a public holiday in China and most people have the day off work.
Who celebrates Qingming Festival?
Chinese people celebrate Qingming Festival, as well as people in southeast Asian countries including Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. | <urn:uuid:4fff3ad6-c34b-472e-a58d-200e62d10c30> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thehelpfulpanda.com/qingming-festival-tomb-sweeping-day/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100304.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201183432-20231201213432-00276.warc.gz | en | 0.959613 | 2,526 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Learning to meditate can have a lot of benefits for our body which includes relaxation, energy, and perspective on your life. Health researchers take meditation seriously especially those who are interested in stress reduction and improving overall health.
People who suffer from anxiety, pain, depression, emotional problems, insomnia and stress are interested in meditation. Meditation is also the ultimate brain workout. Here’s how to get started.
1. Sit Comfortably
All you need to do is to spare your 20 minutes sitting comfortably. Find a place where you can relax and distress your mind from any disturbances. Some people find sitting on the edge of a cushion helps keep the back straight. But the most important thing is to sit with your back as straight as possible. The important thing is to sit comfortably and to practice meditation often. You can add in accessories whenever you want.
2. Set your time
Often during meditation, your sense of timing is lost and that leads to the feeling that you have gone past the time you set for meditation. At times when you are meditating, you may secretly be looking for any excuse to get up and do something else. Having a timer is a big help. It helps to assure you that you have not meditated too long. You will probably look at a clock or your watch every 30 seconds If you do not have a timer. So set a timer and then forget about time.
Think of breathing as how we can communicate with our bodies. If we breathe slowly, our bodies relax. Be aware of your breath during meditation. If your thoughts wander, just come back to breathing.
4. Bring Meditation Into Your Daily Life
Many of the skills learned in meditation can be applied during our daily life. You can easily access a peaceful state of mind simply by incorporating meditation into your everyday activities.Meditate when:
Take a two-minute breathing break several times during the day. Watch as your thoughts and ideas turn up at work, in conversation, or while you are solving a problem. Use the same experimental mindset and watch how you behave and think throughout the day.
5. Repeat Daily
Set a daily time for meditation and stick to it. Your brain will benefit from the endlessly fascinating journey into your own mind. Your body will benefit from the deep relaxation and stress reduction. | <urn:uuid:f4259578-140f-4c0c-86f2-0a880457e48c> | CC-MAIN-2019-39 | https://www.namasteveyoga.com/2017/10/01/meditation-as-an-ultimate-brain-workout/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514572964.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20190916220318-20190917002318-00131.warc.gz | en | 0.948848 | 467 | 2.609375 | 3 |
November 1, 2011
Cyle Moss, left, raises his hands in jubilation as his teammate, Dominic Miller, pours the last of the water into the barrel. Their team won this particular competition during the water conservation exercise at Green Valley Park, Friday, Oct. 21. Fourth-grade students were occupied during much of the day on the Project Water Education for Teachers (WET) festival at Green Valley Park on a hot October afternoon.
Stories this photo appears in:
Fourth-graders drink in lessons in science, conservation, groundwater at Project WET water festival
Nick Pfeifle, dressed in his Boy Scout uniform and working on his service hours, darted from one group of fourth-grade students to another during the Project Water Education for Teachers (WET) festival at Green Valley Park on a hot October afternoon. Nick, a student who is “12 going on 13,” kept track on his handy clipboard of student progress on an innovative, hands-on bundle of exhibits and games designed to get them excited about both science and water conservation. “Me and my friends set the whole thing up,” said Nick, a local Boy Scout. | <urn:uuid:17509e4f-ee68-4316-8bd9-1f32176746f5> | CC-MAIN-2016-18 | http://www.paysonroundup.com/photos/2011/nov/01/43057/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-18/segments/1461861718132.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20160428164158-00122-ip-10-239-7-51.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976701 | 242 | 2.59375 | 3 |
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan at 23:46 UTC on Aug 28. The agency is reporting a depth of 17.2 km (10.7 miles).
The epicenter was located 141 km (87 miles) ENE of Hachinohe (population 240,000).
“This earthquake poses no tsunami risk,” said the JMA.
Seismic and Volcanic activity has been correlated to changes in our sun.
The recent global uptick in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is likely attributed to the drop-off in solar activity, coronal holes, a waning magnetosphere, and the influx of Cosmic Rays penetrating silica-rich magma.
Check out these link for more info:
Grand Solar Minimum + Pole Shift | <urn:uuid:493014f1-1050-4d39-a07c-0f3fbfcd1eaf> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://electroverse.net/m6-1-earthquake-strikes-141km-ene-of-hachinohe-japan/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656104215790.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20220703043548-20220703073548-00546.warc.gz | en | 0.860955 | 263 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Intestinal parasitic worms had been traditionally an issue for individuals within the U.Ok, and people who lived within the British Isles throughout the Roman (43 A.D. to circa 140 A.D.) and late medieval durations (eleventh to sixteenth centuries) suffered probably the most from these dangerous organisms, in keeping with a brand new examine.
Zoologists and archaeologists teamed up and examined the stays of greater than 400 people who lived within the U.Ok. from prehistoric occasions to the Victorian period, to analyze how these parasitic infections modified over time within the U.Ok. The researchers hope that their findings will inform the battle towards parasites at present, significantly in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world.
“Defining the patterns of an infection with intestinal worms might help us to know the well being, weight loss plan and habits of previous populations,” examine co-first authors Hannah Ryan, an archaeologist, and Patrik Flammer, a zoologist each on the College of Oxford, mentioned in a statement. “Greater than that, defining the elements that led to modifications in an infection ranges (with out fashionable medicine) can present help for approaches to manage these infections in fashionable populations.”
Associated: 6 times parasites grossed us out in 2019
The eggs of intestinal parasitic worms, equivalent to nematodes and whipworms, are regularly discovered throughout archaeological excavations, as their eggs usually stay intact and the assorted species are simply recognized by their shapes, even after hundreds of years, the researchers reported within the examine. Furthermore, the presence of those eggs is often indicator that grownup parasites had contaminated a bunch, on this case the lots of of human stays analyzed within the examine.
The researchers studied 464 human burials from 17 completely different websites that date from the Bronze Age (2300 to 800 B.C.) to the Industrial Revolution (18th and nineteenth centuries), and examined parasitic worm eggs within the soil from the pelvises of contaminated skeletons. In all, 134 of the 464 people contained parasitic worm eggs. The very best ranges of parasitic an infection had been discovered within the stays courting from the Roman and late medieval durations, with the degrees being much like these seen within the worst-affected areas of the world at present, the researchers discovered.
Infections from parasitic roundworms Ascaris and whipworms (Trichuris) had been widespread throughout the medieval interval, the workforce famous, presumably due to commerce, elevated urbanization, points with waste disposal, sanitation or hygiene, and using evening soil (a euphemism for human excreta) as fertilizer.
Within the Industrial Age, worm an infection charges differed from website to website, with two of the burial websites having little to no proof of parasites, whereas a 3rd, in London, “contained excessive ranges of an infection,” the researchers wrote within the examine. This discrepancy may very well be as a result of various ranges of sanitation and hygiene in several areas of the U.Ok., the workforce mentioned. After the “Sanitary Revolution” of the Victorian interval, enhancements in sanitation on a nationwide stage meant the extent of worm infections decreased on a wider scale.
“The cholera outbreaks between 1831–1866, famously linked to contaminated ingesting water by John Snow, had been a key driver in sanitary reform (alongside endemic Typhoid) involving infrastructural enchancment, laws and promotion of municipal duty,” the researchers wrote within the examine. “Nonetheless, many interventions had been piecemeal with some areas benefiting sooner than others.”
The workforce behind this analysis will proceed to analyze extra infections from the previous utilizing their parasite-based strategy, together with additional large-scale explorations of human burials and research of DNA.
The examine was revealed on-line April 21 within the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Initially revealed on Stay Science. | <urn:uuid:115a5b9f-83fa-4dd0-af69-aa2e26cebc7c> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://aronhealth.com/study-of-nearly-500-human-pelvises-reveals-intestinal-parasites-plagued-early-uk/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296944452.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20230322180852-20230322210852-00780.warc.gz | en | 0.953561 | 811 | 3.359375 | 3 |
The sun unleashed a powerful X-class flare last week which caused a minor disruption to shortwave radios in North and South America. The flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection which sent a cloud of plasma in all directions. When the plasma hits the Earth’s atmosphere, it can cause geomagnetic storms which can impact power grids and orbiting satellites and spacecraft. The storms also power the auroras which can be seen at high latitudes. The recent flare is the latest in a series of powerful flares since late February which have sparked auroras as far south as California’s Death Valley. | <urn:uuid:b785e2b6-0a9b-400d-ad2b-0c8813a0aabb> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.morningstarjournal.com/2023/03/07/solar-activity-remains-high-with-more-large-flares/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100258.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20231130225634-20231201015634-00844.warc.gz | en | 0.956735 | 123 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Q:- Why does a ball bounce up upon falling?
Ans:- According to the Newton’s third law, to every action there is equal and opposite reaction.
When a ball falls, it is temporarily deformed. Because of elasticity, the ball tends to regain its original shape for which it presses the ground and bounces up (due to the Newton’s Third Law of motion)
Q:- Why do we perspire on a hot day?
Ans- Do you know that we have sweat glands in our body.
When the body temperature increases on a hot day then the sweat glands are stimulated to secrete perspiration. It is the nature’s way to keep the body cool. During the process of evaporation of sweat, body heat is taken away, thus, giving a sense of coolness.
Q:- Why do we perspire before rains?
Ans:- Sometimes before the rain falls, the atmosphere has lots of moisture or in other words atmosphere gets saturated with water vapor, therefore , the process of evaporation of sweat is delayed. Thus sometimes we perspire before rain.
Q:- Why does a thermometer kept in boiling water show no change in regarding after 100o C?
Ans;- Do you know that the boiling point of water is 100oC. Once water starts boiling at this temperature, thermometer records no change in temperature. The quantity of heat supplied is being utilized as latent heat of evaporation to convert the water at boiling point into vapor.
Q:- Why do we bring our hands close to the mouth while shouting across to someone far away?
Ans:- Do you know the phenomenon of diffraction? Diffraction is the bending of the light at the corners of an obstacle.
By keeping hands close to mouth the sound is not allowed to spread (phenomenon of diffraction of sound) in all directions but is directed to a particular direction and therefore the sound becomes louder. | <urn:uuid:effca905-4065-4e5e-9fd4-ab19be54510f> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://winnerscience.com/2011/12/28/daily-life-science-queries-8/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250603761.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20200121103642-20200121132642-00143.warc.gz | en | 0.935013 | 403 | 3.46875 | 3 |
Here's where you can find the most recent information
from our Maths workshop
We are often asked by parents for ideas about how you can help your child with their Maths.
We have some workbooks that are ideal for children to work through with you at their own pace at home.
The first are called 'Targeted Study and Question Book' and there is one for each year group.They have colourful pages that explain how to do the calculations and the vocabulary to use, followed by a page of practise questions for the children to complete.
We also have 'SATs Revision Books' for Year 6 children.
The cost of each book through school is £2.50.
If you would like to order a copy, please visit the school office. | <urn:uuid:1645aeb2-72e1-4635-a11b-14de78f63908> | CC-MAIN-2019-13 | https://www.curdworthprimary.co.uk/our-information/curriculum/maths/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-13/segments/1552912202523.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20190321112407-20190321134407-00254.warc.gz | en | 0.982848 | 158 | 2.640625 | 3 |
By Beth Kujan
President Trump’s decision to repeal the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the Obama-era policy that shields children of undocumented immigrants from deportation, sparked a demonstration this week in Morristown.
But Morristown’s embrace of immigrants goes back much further, back to when that concept became meaningful during the Gilded Age.
Reform-minded citizens established “settlement houses” in which volunteers provided services such as childcare, basic healthcare, language and vocational education to the newly arrived.
The idea was to settle foreign immigrants into the established social structure. The focus was on women and children as the keepers of culture.
Morristown’s settlement house evolved into the Neighborhood House. Naturally, the demographics of its constituents have changed over time.
Initially serving Southern European immigrants, during the Great Migration the House shifted focus to the African American population.
Later, the Nabe, as it’s now known, concentrated on needs of the growing population of Hispanics/Latinos.
Currently, the Nabe’s clientele is roughly 80 percent Latin in origin and 20 percent African-American.
As is consistent from the 1890s to the present, many families served have low- to very low incomes.
In 2015, the poverty rate in Morristown was about 5 percent. While that seems small, somewhere between 1,300 and 2,500 people above age 5 fell below the poverty line at one point or another that year, according to the US Census Bureau. Tight times.
So, might greater Morristown be home to Dreamers? The latest Federal statistics say yes. Six percent of Morristown residents are not US citizens.
Considering that Dreamers are non-citizens by definition, let’s look at what we know about these neighbors.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2011-2015), 75 percent of Morristown’s non-citizens speak Spanish at home, 15 percent speak English and 10 percent speak another language.
We also know that people move in and out of Morristown. Not very many of us have been here 40 years. The Census survey suggests most of us have been here between roughly 5-15 years.
Demographics don’t tell us much about Dreamers, but we might infer that many of them are aiming go beyond the ones who brought them here.
Consider the educational attainment statistics for Morristown residents. Of those who spoke Spanish at home, 14 percent have finished college, and nearly 60 percent finished high school level study.
In sum, we know that there are potentially many Morristown residents who might qualify as Dreamers. This is a good place to be a Dreamer.
While societal expectations of assimilation have changed over time, Morristown’s friendliness to newcomers appears to have been relatively steady. Let’s hope we can maintain our sanity.
Beth Kujan is a project manager who has lived in Morris Township for more than 20 years. READ MORE about the impact of the DACA repeal on New Jersey’s estimated 22,000 recipients. | <urn:uuid:a97a8504-62a3-4e6d-9167-62b17e4b3261> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | https://morristowngreen.com/2017/09/08/commentary-an-historical-perspective-of-daca-in-morristown/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934808133.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20171124123222-20171124143222-00696.warc.gz | en | 0.965951 | 661 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Everyone can make the choice to be kind—by helping someone, doing something nice for no reason, saying words of encouragement or practicing empathy for another.
The recipient of an act of kindness receives a little happiness because they know someone cares.
The kindness giver feels happy because doing something kind for someone else makes us feel good.
Being kind creates instant happiness for everyone involved.
Do your friends describe you as kind? | <urn:uuid:5cbda8cb-6900-4b2e-8731-7851cf8fa0e9> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://sohp.com/31-types-happiness-kind/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251776516.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20200128060946-20200128090946-00522.warc.gz | en | 0.924409 | 86 | 2.609375 | 3 |
"Slaves used secret codes and messages in quilts to help each other find the way to freedom," said Susan E. Paul of Minersville, during her informative lecture held recently at the Tamaqua Public Library called "Quilting a Path to Freedom."
Paul, a graduate of Tamaqua High School and teacher by profession, talked about how slaves and members of the Underground Railroad would utilize sewing methods, hidden compartments and messages in quilts, which would communicate coded messages to slaves and helpers concerning what to do on the trip, what to wear and even where to go.
"A secret code was sometimes assigned a meaning to each quilt block," said Paul, who is also a member of the Schuylkill County Quilters Guild.
For example, if there are four square knots on the quilt every three inches apart, that meant they escaped on the fourth knot and went to a "coded" area, such as Ontario, Canada.
Another example would be a quilt depicting a monkey wrench (shifting spanner) telling the wagon wheel to turn toward Canada on a bear's paw trail to the crossroads. These images or codes might appear normal on a quilt, but to a knowledgeable quilt code reader, it means much more. For example the words or even images of a "bear's paw" could refer to leaving large tracks or even spend a large amount of time near water, as water was very important on these long journeys.
Although these ideas and theories involving the use of quilts to assist slaves in escaping is not proven, it still reminds everyone of the harsh challenges and consequences escaping slaves encountered.
The quilt code and theories have also been discussed in various books, articles, and even on television. This theory has become a rising part of American culture, as many quilters and historians look more closely at quilts of the past. | <urn:uuid:d783e185-be4b-45d2-a16b-40d60252bba9> | CC-MAIN-2015-11 | http://www.tnonline.com/print/2011/dec/16/quilting-path-freedom | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-11/segments/1424936462720.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20150226074102-00251-ip-10-28-5-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97645 | 387 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Pragmatics is the study of the social use of language. It examines how people understand and produce communicative acts in real world situations. Speakers will style shift depending on the context of their talk. The form of utterances can be varied by altering morphology, syntax, vocabulary and phonology. The ability to consciously shift the style of speaking to suit the occasion is important in social contexts. This ability may be reduced in people with communication difficulties.
There are many stuttering problems for people who stutter. People with an established stutter are aware of the negative effect of repetitions, prolongations, hesitations and blocks on their speech. Their stutter (stammer) may be accompanied by facial tics and uncontrolled body movements. Stuttering can lead to the avoidance of certain activities and to social isolation. | <urn:uuid:96b056c8-a3d8-43d8-904b-ef6074e2ff98> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | https://www.sltinfo.com/page/55/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195526536.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20190720153215-20190720175215-00073.warc.gz | en | 0.94143 | 166 | 3.578125 | 4 |
The World Health Organization says the coronavirus outbreak does not yet fit the criterion for a pandemic — but warns a pandemic is possible and nations should prepare.
There are now more than 77,000 cases of the virus in China and more than 2,000 elsewhere, and the overall death toll stands at over 2,600. The sudden surge of coronavirus cases in South Korea, Iran and Italy over the past few days has created fears that what had been an epidemic is now becoming a pandemic.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the virus has a potential for becoming a pandemic, but that time is not yet here.
"Our decision about whether to use the word pandemic to describe an epidemic is based on an ongoing assessment of the geographical spread of the virus, the severity of the disease it causes and the impact it has on the whole society," Tedros said.
He says this is not a pandemic, but a series of epidemics in different parts of the world, requiring a tailored response to contain the spread of the disease.
"We must focus on containment while doing everything we can to prepare for a potential pandemic," Tedros said. "There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every country must make its own risk assessment for its own context."
The WHO chief says his agency continues to do its own risk assessment and is monitoring the evolution of the epidemic around the clock. He says there are several crucial measures countries should take to protect themselves and their people.
All countries, he says, must protect health workers, who are the front-line responders of the deadly disease. Additionally, steps must be taken to protect the elderly with underlying health conditions, who are most at risk of becoming seriously ill.
On a brighter note, Tedros says international experts investigating the origin and evolution of the disease in China found that the epidemic there peaked and plateaued between January 23 and February 2. Since then, they say cases have been declining steadily.
The experts say there has been no change in the DNA of the virus. The fatality rate in China's Wuhan province, the epicenter of the disease, is between two and four percent; outside Wuhan, it is less than one percent. | <urn:uuid:d9bfce8b-7491-4331-84ae-d8c9027e326d> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/coronavirus-infections-pandemic/5302055.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510734.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20231001005750-20231001035750-00540.warc.gz | en | 0.970523 | 468 | 2.9375 | 3 |
“Man is what he eats”. This was said by a German philosopher of the 1800s, Ludwig Feuerbach. Food science is increasingly convinced of this and despite almost 200 years having passed this sentence is more modern than ever. All doctors claim the benefits of the famous Mediterranean diet. The advice is always the same: eat fruit and vegetables at least 5 times a day. But we’re not always that good. So much so that the killer food of our heart would always be on our tables and could seriously damage our health.
We are wrong to think that he is an enemy of the line only
Sugar has always been considered the number 1 enemy of our line. We tend to associate sweets, snacks and candies with obesity and overweight. True, indeed very true. But sugar is also an enemy of heart activity. This is also confirmed by this study by the Umberto Veronesi Foundation. Simple sugars and sugars from processing would in fact be the cause of some heart diseases. We think that abusing sugars could lead to a doubling of mortality risks.
Our heart’s killer food would always be on our tables and could seriously damage our health
In addition to excess sugar in food, we should also beware of sodas and industrial juices. The key word is obviously always “abuse”. An evening with friends in front of a hamburger and fries can be there. The important thing is that it does not become a constant in our diet. Not to mention the importance of physical activity which would help not only to dispose of calories, but also to keep the heart healthy and trained. Just to get an idea, according to the food tables, the classic menu with burgers and fries would bring as a dowry:
- from 430 to 500 kcal.
- That is almost an hour of sport, or 50 minutes of ups and downs of the stairs.
How much sugar could we take on a daily basis
According to the WHO, every adult should never exceed on average:
- 70 grams per day of sugar for adult men;
- 50 grams for women.
On the other hand, it seems from world statistics that each inhabitant of the earth consumes about 80 grams per day. But the rule should be to keep around 30 grams of sugar daily. That is 5% of the amount of energy we consume daily. To give us an idea, 30 grams of sugar would correspond to 7 teaspoons of sugar.
These legumes low in fat and very rich in healthy nutrients are depopulating all over the world | <urn:uuid:d0a47d91-c2fa-4d4c-9a96-342940c077a8> | CC-MAIN-2021-49 | https://www.breakinglatest.news/health/our-hearts-killer-food-would-always-be-on-our-tables-and-could-seriously-damage-our-health/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964363327.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20211206224536-20211207014536-00295.warc.gz | en | 0.970923 | 524 | 2.640625 | 3 |
OBESITY: excess body fat that adversely effects health; it is a leading cause ofpreventable death in the world and its prevalence is increasing. OVERWEIGHT: having more body fat than is optimally healthy. More people are overweight than obese; obesity is worse than being overweight. This study only looked at obesity rates. 1) This is a prospective study examining whether in-utero exposure to magneticfields (MFs) increases the risk of childhood obesity. 733 pregnant women carried ameter measuring MF levels during pregnancy and their children were followed up to 13 years to collect clinically recorded information on growth patterns and weight. This is the first prospective study to look at this association. 2) The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing rapidly and has reachedepidemic proportions in both industrialized and newly industrialized countries. 3) It is estimated that this increase in childhood obesity will increase medicalcost by up to $66 billion per year in the U.S. alone. 4) About 20% of US children are obese. [significantly more are overweight] 5) The World Health Organization considers increased obesity the top publichealth challenge. 6) While the efforts to reduce obesity have focused on changing diets andincreasing physical activity with limited success, the causes of the obesity epidemicduring the last several decades remain unclear. 7) Diet and sedentary life style cannot totally explain such a steep world-wideincrease in obesity across countries with vastly differing dietary patterns anddegrees of physical activity. Otherenvironmental factors should be seriouslyexamined, especially in pregnancy, that may damage the formation anddevelopment of fetal endocrine and metabolic systems, predisposing offspring to ahigher risk of developing childhood obesity or becoming overweight. 8) A potential invisible physical risk factor influencing life-long health duringpregnancy is exposure to man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from microwaveovens to countless wireless devices. This parallel in the epidemic ofobesity/overweight with massively increased use of EMF-generating appliances, andwireless networks and devices during the last a few decades warrants closer examination. 9) EMFs exposures during pregnancy have been linked to: * asthma (5 references) * diabetes / overweight/ insulin resistance (2 references) * altered glucose metabolism (2 references) * ADHD (1 reference) * adverse offspring neurological development (1reference) 10) Exposure to EMFs during pregnancy could potentially impact the fetaldevelopment including fetal endocrine and metabolic systems, predisposingoffspring to a higher risk of obesity. 11) EMFs consists of both electric and magnetic fields, but the authors measuredonly magnetic fields. 12) Maternal MF exposure was measured objectively by a MF meter worn byparticipants during pregnancy. 13) The authors controlled for child gender, maternal age, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, race/ethnicity, education level, smoking during pregnancy, andbreastfeeding, maternal parity, preexisting or gestational diabetes, family income,preterm delivery, and childhood behaviors such as fruit and vegetable intake, TVwatching time, and amount of exercise. 14) In-utero exposure to medium/high MF level was associated with 69%increased risk of being obese or overweight during childhood. 15) There was a dose-response relationship with increasing in-utero MF levelbeing associated with increased risk of obesity/overweight, which was highlystatistically significant. 16) In this prospective cohort study, we present a new finding that a high in-utero MF exposure level in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk ofchildhood obesity. 3 17) The observed association and supporting evidence provide the firstepidemiological link between ever increasing exposure to environmental MFs(especially in-utero exposure) in the last few decades and the rapid rise inchildhood obesity during the corresponding decades. Given the world-wide epidemicof childhood obesity/overweight as a leading public health challenge, our findingshave the potential to reveal a new environmental risk factor for childhood obesity,which may lead to prevention of childhood obesity. 18) The authors hypothesize that the association between MF exposure andchildhood obesity, is linked to altered glucose metabolism [insulin resistance]. 19) It is biologically plausible that in-utero MF exposure have an adverse effecton fetal development including the metabolic and endocrine systems. 20) Both maternal high BMI and diabetes are known risk factors for childhoodobesity/overweight, and the association between in-utero MF exposure andchildhood obesity was much stronger in the presence of these known risk factors. 21) In conclusion, our study provides the first epidemiologic link between in-utero MF exposure and childhood obesity/overweight. Given the worldwide epidemicof childhood obesity and ubiquitous MF exposure, this finding, could haveimplications for possibly reducing childhood obesity and understanding the obesityepidemic. 22) Prenatal exposure to high MF level was associated with increased risk ofbeing obese in offspring than those with lower MF level [69% increased risk]. Theassociation demonstrated a dose-response relationship and was stronger (morethan 2.3 fold increased risk) among children who were followed up to the end of thestudy. 23) Maternal exposure to high MF during pregnancy may be a new andpreviously unknown factor contributing to the world-wide epidemic of childhoodobesity/overweight. | <urn:uuid:d83e8813-47b6-41ce-8b13-ad13ddec91ac> | CC-MAIN-2023-06 | https://forms.wehco.com/a-prospective-study-of-in-utero-exposure-to-magnetic-fields-and-the-risk-of-childhood-obesity/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-06/segments/1674764500250.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20230205063441-20230205093441-00410.warc.gz | en | 0.934766 | 1,078 | 3.25 | 3 |
One of the most important districts of Tamil Nadu, the Namakkal district consists of the Kottai (Fort) area on the west and Pettai area or the business area of the district on the east. The center of the district is formed by a rock named Namagiri, to which the district owes its name. if you are planning a trip to Tamil Nadu, make sure you include a tour to Namakkal in your itinerary.
Namakkal District was created as a result of a bifurcation from Salem district by an order issued by the government on 25th July 1996. However, it was almost a year later that Namakkal started functioning as a separate district with two revenue divisions at Namakkal and Tiruchengode and four taluks viz., Namakkal, Rasipuram, Tiruchengode and Paramathi-Velur. There are a number of legends associated with the birth and nomenclature of the district. it is said that the district was the site where Goddess Lakshmi prayed to Lord Narasimha, one of the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu. Pleased at her faith, the Lord granted her wishes which made this region one of the most important pilgrimage centers for Vaishnavities from all across India. The region was once the stronghold of the Adhiyaman rulers, who have left their mark on almost all the parts of the district.
The festivals of Namakkal are varied and add an extra spark of life to the town’s daily lives. Notable among these are:
A 10-day festival, this is celebrated in an attempt to seek the blessings of Goddess Mahalakshmi.
A typically tropical climate, the summer temperatures of Namakkal are extremely high. The best time to visit the region is thus between the months of October to March.
The major tourist attractions of a tour to Namakkal include :
Located on the western fringes of the district, forms one of the most important tourist attractions of Namakkal. Covering an area of almost one and a half acres the Fort is marked with the namam or mark of Lord Vishnu. The symbol is depicted with two white and one red vertical line. The fort is guarded by a giant Anjaneya, which has become such a characteristic feature of the city that is often referred to as the Namakkal Hanuman.
The important places of tourist interest located around Namakkal are :
Located around 35 kms away from the main city of Namakkal, this is one of the seven Sivasthalams in Kongunadu. The main presiding deity of the temple is a depiction of a half-male and half-female form, which represent Siva and Shakti worshipped as one form.
Located around 45 km from Namakkal town, these are known for their medicinal plants, the Arapaleswarar Temple, the Horticulture Farm, the Herbal Farm, Akasagangai waterfalls and the Telescope House | <urn:uuid:1e0f2e5c-65de-49e0-b86b-bc93cccdeaba> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | http://www.tourism-of-india.com/namakkal-tour/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464049275835.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524002115-00198-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968683 | 637 | 2.875 | 3 |
Serving Beverly Hills, Westlake Village, and surrounding areas of Los Angeles
Glaucoma is a type of eye disease that can cause damage to your optic nerve due to abnormally high intraocular pressure within the eye. The optic nerve is responsible for carrying information from your eyes to your brain. If glaucoma is left untreated, the optic nerve can eventually become so damaged that it leads to permanent vision loss.
The best way to prevent glaucoma from negatively affecting your vision is to schedule regular eye exams with an experienced eye doctor. If it’s been awhile since you last visited an eye doctor, please call the Beverly Hills eye doctor Rajesh Khanna today at (888) 339-8143 to schedule a comprehensive eye exam.
Types of Glaucoma
The two main types of glaucoma are:
- Open-angle glaucoma – Accounts for over 90% of all glaucoma cases. In open-angle glaucoma, the eye’s drainage canals slowly clog up over time, causing increasingly high intraocular pressure. In its early stages, symptoms and damage may not be noticeable, which is why it is so important to have regular eye exams.
- Angle-closure glaucoma – Also called “acute glaucoma,” this is a less common form that develops rapidly. Symptoms and damage are usually noticeable right away, and require immediate medical attention.
Other types of glaucoma include:
- Congenital glaucoma – Usually occurs in infants when their eyes’ drainage canals are not fully developed during the prenatal period. This condition is rare and can be inherited.
- Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) – This type of glaucoma can cause damage to the optic nerve even when your eye pressure is not necessarily high.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
Most people with open-angle glaucoma never notice early warning signs or painful symptoms. Since vision loss starts with peripheral (side) eyesight, and visual clarity is still sharp until the late stages of the disease, you can have glaucoma and not even be aware of it until it has reached its most advanced state. Regular eye exams are the only way to catch open-angle glaucoma in its early stages.
On the other hand, angle-closure glaucoma will begin showing symptoms right away, such as:
- Blurred or hazy vision
- Rainbow-colored circles appearing around bright lights
- Head and eye pain
- Sudden vision loss
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please contact The Khanna Institute or call (888) 339-8143 as soon as possible to schedule a glaucoma treatment appointment. We serve patients throughout the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills area of California. | <urn:uuid:a3eaf898-99f9-4fc2-ac57-b1dcd090200a> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.khannainstitute.com/glaucoma.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818687447.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20170920194628-20170920214628-00101.warc.gz | en | 0.907628 | 596 | 2.671875 | 3 |
It’s a popular hubris that we live in an age of unprecedented technological innovation – that our ancestors lived in a time where there were fewer technological advances, blinded as they were by their primitive superstitions and lack of access to the resources we have today.
While we certainly live in an era of amazing technology, it’s not necessarily true that our level of innovation is unprecedented. The fact of the matter is that our ancestors were just as smart as we are (in fact, given the human brain size has been shrinking for centuries, they might have been smarter.) And as archaeologists uncover more about the past, they’ve also learned that many technologies we take for granted today were first developed centuries or even millennia ago, only to be lost.
Take, for example, plastic surgery. It’s something we think of as a relatively new technology, right? But in fact, plastic surgery was practiced in India centuries before the birth of Christ. It continued to be practiced for thousands of years, but wasn’t “discovered” in Europe until the 18th century, when British doctors learned about it from India.
Recently, there have been two interesting engineering discoveries from Ancient Rome that have the potential to shake up some major areas of industry – discoveries that show we still have a lot to learn from our ancestors.
The first finding is rather astonishing. As noted earlier this month by Zeeya Merali, a 1,600 year old chalice known as the Lycurgus Cup have proved to be more than just a stunning work of art. It’s also an example of one of the earliest forms of nanotechnology.
The cup, as Merali notes, was actually a mystery for centuries. That’s because it appears green when lit from one angle, but red when lit from a different angle. It wasn’t until the 1990s, after decades of study in the 20th century, that it was determined how it was created. As it turns out, the glass itself was infused with particles of silver and gold that were only about 50 nanometers in diameter. The particular ratio of the mixture was definitely known, as other similar cups have been discovered.
In a paper from 2007, scientists who have studied the cup noted that “[e]ven using modern powerdriven tools, this type of vessel takes a great deal of time to complete.” But more than that, this technology might turn out to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry.
That’s because researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, using the same techniques the Romans used, earlier this year developed a device that enables them detect DNA and proteins without having to chemically modify them first. That lowers the overall costs and helps resist errors that occur in the process. The team estimates that their device is about “100 times better sensitivity” than any other similar product.
In their paper, published in Advanced Optical Materials, the research teams says that “We envisage extensive use of the device for DNA microarrays, therapeutic antibody screening for drug discovery and pathogen detection in resource poor setting and a low cost, higher sensitive alternative to existing SPR/LSPR instruments.”
But the Ancient Romans aren’t content to only revolutionize medicine. Soon, you may be living or working on a building or road that’s built with the same materials that the Romans built their own with – materials that, when created, also produce fewer carbon emissions.
That’s thanks to the work of a research team at the University of California at Berkeley, which has studied the ways that Roman concrete has managed to endure for over 2,000 years in the same conditions that cause modern concrete to degrade after about 50 years.
“Roman concrete has remained coherent and well-consolidated for 2,000 years in aggressive maritime environments,” said researcher Marie Jackson in a press release. “It is one of the most durable construction materials on the planet, and that was no accident.”
The key to the durability of Roman concrete was its mixture of lime and volcanic ash, which produces a concrete that includes aluminum, something most modern cements lack. Modern cements also rely on limestone, but the Roman recipe calls for much less of it. That means that Roman concrete can be created at temperatures nearly a thousand degrees lower than modern cements. As a result, using Roman cement means not only a more durable material, but also one that can be produced with less fuel in less time – making it both more efficient and more environmentally sustainable.
That’s a good thing, considering that “manufacturing Portland cement accounts for seven percent of the carbon dioxide that industry puts into the air,” as lead researcher Paulo Monteiro noted in a statement.
The research team’s chemical analysis of Roman concrete was recently published in the Journal of the American Ceramic Society, and more of their research will be published later this year.
These new applications of Ancient Roman technology have, I think, something powerful to teach us in the present day. Many of the problems that face civilization are as old as civilization itself. And as we look for innovative ways to deal with those problems, it’s a mistake to only look for guidance in new ideas. It may be that if we look backwards at what our ancestors did, we may find that they’ve already solved our problems for us. We just have to be humble enough to accept that. | <urn:uuid:1f61242d-2aa5-4b93-8c96-66f7b0b09b74> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2013/08/25/these-two-ancient-roman-techs-could-disrupt-modern-industry/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500830074.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021350-00098-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968538 | 1,133 | 3.296875 | 3 |
Thomas Sydenham (1624-1689) was the first person to describe measles and to recommend the use of quinine for relieving symptoms of malaria.
His original reputation as "the English Hippocrates" rested upon his belief that careful observation is more useful than speculation. Observadones medicae was published in 1676.
Why is Thomas Sydenham famous?
Thomas Sydenham was a English physician.
Thomas Sydenham Lists
|Thomas Sydenham Videos
Sydenham Hillside Football Club Juniors ANZAC Night Games
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Location: Bottom of the world.
What's so special? Home to eight species of whale, six sorts of penguin, four kinds of lichen and 32 million cubic kilometres of ice, the white continent is a seemingly endless sculpture of snow and abundant life. It is impossible for visitors not to be moved—Antarctica hints at what this planet may have been like before we etched our mark on it. It may be the last refuge on earth where wildlife can look humans in the eye unafraid. Even today, there are no permanent human residents; in this sense, the continent's harsh climate is its greatest asset.
Pressures: Climate change poses the greatest and most imminent threat to the polar regions. Both Antarctica and the Arctic are warming about two to three times faster than the rest of the world. Scientists estimate that over 13,000 square kilometres of Antarctic sea ice has melted in the last fifty years. The implications are far from certain, but melting ice caps will likely contribute to the rise of global sea levels and affect the entire planet.
Get involved: Canadian-based Students on Ice offers learning expeditions to Antarctica. The programs are all educational, beginning with preparatory study and research, and the expeditions include seminars and lectures by polar experts.The programs are all educational, beginning with preparatory study and research, and the expeditions include seminars and lectures by polar experts. Many other ship-based tours to Antarctica also host a range of scientific experts on board—check out GAP Adventures, Peregrine Adventures or Quark Expeditions.Many other ship-based tours to Antarctica also host a range of scientific experts on board—check out GAP Adventures, Peregrine Adventures or Quark Expeditions. The trip of a lifetime, a visit to Antarctica is no doubt an education—and hopefully one that is motivating more and more visitors to take action on climate change.
While you're there: Be careful not to walk on or otherwise damage the mosses and lichens. Harsh conditions mean that growth and regeneration of plants is extremely slow, and damage from human activity can last for decades. Most tour operators have very strict guidelines for visitor behaviour onshore, to help minimize the impact of tourism to this unique part of the world.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA, SOUTHWEST TIP
Location: A roughly triangular area in the state of Western Australia, about half the size of Alberta. It stretches along 1,000 kilometres of coastline on each side of Perth (to Denham in the north, and Esperance to the southeast) and inland to Merredin.
What's so special? In a country already cut off from the rest of the world, the southwestern tip of Western Australia is particularly isolated. Separated from much of the country by desert, many plant species can be found nowhere else in the world. The region's karri trees—a type of eucalyptus endemic to the region—are among the tallest trees on earth, with individual trees growing up to 80 metres in height.
Pressures: A number of species are endangered in the area, but the western swamp turtle is the most at-risk reptile in Australia and among the most threatened freshwater turtle species in the world. There are less than 100 of them found in the wild, though conservation efforts have increased their numbers. Logging, agricultural practices and introduced species like foxes and cats are threatening the natural habitat of many endemic plants and animals.
Get involved: Local conservation groups have organized a number of ambitious projects, and extra hands are welcome. Help with planting, collecting seeds, organizing events, or assisting researchers. Gondwana Link connects to many local groups looking for volunteers.
While you're there: Don't miss Albany, five hours southeast of Perth where, if you're lucky, you'll be able to spot humpback and southern right whales. Divers can head to the HMAS Swan, a prepared wreck offshore. Albany is also a good place to get up close to nature: the 1,000 kilometre long Bibbulman Track begins here, and offers hikers up to eight weeks of trekking through breathtaking forests and coastal scenery.
MADAGASCAR AND THE INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
Location: Western Indian Ocean, off the southeast coast of Africa.
What's so special? The island of Madagascar is only about 1.9 percent the size of continental Africa, but it holds a remarkable 5 percent of the world's plant and animal species. Around 160 million years ago, Madagascar broke off the super-continent, Gondwanaland. Plants and animals evolved in their own peculiar ways, in complete isolation from mainland Africa. As a result, Madagascar is home to an astonishing array of wildlife not to be found anywhere else in the world, including lemurs (an endangered primate that looks suspiciously like the result of a romantic encounter between a cat and a raccoon), more than 200 species of birds and nearly half the world's chameleon species. Of the country's 222 amphibians, only one can be found elsewhere in the world.
Pressures: Today, only about 10 percent of Madagascar's original forest cover remains—mostly due to agriculture practices like slash and burn, rice cultivation and cattle grazing. Hunting, mining activity and timber extraction are all real threats.
Get involved: Azafady works to promote forest conservation in Madagascar through environmental and poverty reduction initiatives, aimed to reduce pressure on resources. Reef Doctor takes on research assistants for 6 or 12 weeks, and trains volunteers to identify marine species along the coast of Madagascar. YouLead offers volunteer community service and teaching placements. For nearby islands, check out Global Vision International's Seychelles Marine Conservation volunteer programme, which combines scuba diving with collecting data on coral and fish, working on shark migration surveys and research on turtle nesting.
While you're there: Réserve Naturelle Intégrale des Tsingy de Bemaraha, in the west of Madagascar is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Forests of spectacular limestone pinnacles and a stunning display of wildlife make this reserve worth a visit. Renowned marine biologist Jacques Cousteau and his team once spent 6 months exploring Lac Vert, deep in the reserve.
EASTERN ARC FOREST, TANZANIA & KENYA
Location: Tanzania and Kenya
What's so special? This rugged series of mountain blocks towers above the coastal plains close to the Indian Ocean. Dubbed a continental Galapagos because of its enormous diversity of plants and animals, this habitat is home to the greatest concentration of endemic animals in all of Africa. Its proximity to the ocean means that rainfall is plentiful, even in the driest periods—enough to support wildlife not found elsewhere. One species of toad, the Kihansi spray toad, can only be found in the tiny two-hectare mist zone of Kihansi Falls in Tanzania. The forested mountains of the Eastern Arc are a critical a source of fresh water; almost 2.5 million people in Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam, are completely dependent on it.
Pressures: Most land in Kenya and Tanzania is dry, so the moist, fertile soil of the Eastern Arc Mountains is in high demand for agriculture. Forests in the area are being fragmented by small farms and plantations. And while large areas of forest are now protected by the Tanzanian government within national parks and forest reserves, there is still a significant amount of commercial logging as well as gathering for firewood and building material outside the protected areas.
Get involved:Frontier accepts five highly skilled volunteers every year to accompany scientists on a 10-week expedition to do hands-on investigations of undocumented tropical forests in Tanzania.
While you're there: Get yourself out to Pemba, an archipelago north of Zanzibar. The stunning white sand beaches and tropical forests see relatively few travellers. You can feel good about your visit: the Misali Island Marine Conservation Area uses tourism proceeds to protect the marine ecosystem, and support local communities that depend on the ocean's resources for their livelihoods.
Location: North-central Tanzania near the Kenyan border.
What's so special? In 1868, a German missionary reported seeing a colossal mountain with snow on the summit, three degrees south of the equator. The response of the Royal Geographical Society in London was predictable. Rubbish—no such thing as snow at the equator.
One of the world's seven summits—the highest points of land on the seven continents—Kilimanjaro is one of the largest volcanoes in the world. It towers nearly five kilometres above the semi-arid plains of Northern Tanzania. Designated a UN World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, the mountain and the national park which it occupies are visited by tens of thousands of travellers who attempt to reach the summit each year. This makes it an important source of revenue for the country. The area's abundant rainfall and rich volcanic soil support an incredible variety of flora, making the base of it a highly sought after area for agriculture, especially coffee plantations. In an arid country, the region is extremely important as a source of fresh water for the surrounding population.
Pressures: Unfortunately, too much of both tourism and agriculture have been practiced in an unsustainable way over the years, leading to deforestation, soil erosion, and pollution by agricultural fertilizers and pesticides. The national park is protected, but resources are stretched. Local tree planting and clean-up initiatives are helping.
Get involved:Volunteers For Peace can connect you to a variety of work camps run by the Tanzania-based organization UVIKIUTA. Work could involve reforestation, community service and education initiatives. Cross-Cultural Solutions offers projects for volunteers in Moshi, Tanzania, which is the starting point for many treks up Kilimanjaro. And Ventureco Worldwide offers a 12-week Kilimanjaro venture that combines travel and volunteer work in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania—including a Kilimanjaro climb.
While you're there: The celebrated journalist and author Alan Moorehead is reported to have said, "Anyone who can go to the Serengeti and does not, is mad." Every year around October, more than a million animals migrate from the hills in the north, toward the rains in the south, then make their way back again in April. And from May to early June, you can watch the annual migration of zebras and wildebeest as they search for water and food.
MANGROVES, SOUTHERN THAILAND
Location: Southern Thailand
What's so special? Even if you haven't been to Thailand, you're sure to recognize its plush turquoise waters from the blockbuster film based on Alex Garland's novel, ‘The Beach'—and the country really is as rich and diverse as the movie portrays. Key to the biodiversity are the mangroves—trees and shrubs that grow in saltwater habitats. They serve as nurseries for fish and support a wealth of wildlife on the water's surface like butterflies, birds, snakes, crocodiles and crabs.
Pressures: Mangrove forests in Thailand, as in other parts of the world, are disappearing quickly. In the area near Tha Po, it is estimated that more than half the mangroves have been destroyed to make way for commercial shrimp farms. And because shrimp farming has the potential to be so lucrative, this is not uncommon. In developing economies, where most mangroves are located, there are significant incentives to develop these high-yield operations.
Get involved:Projects Abroad offers volunteers the chance to do hands-on conservation work in Thailand, including beach cleanups and replanting mangrove swamps. The Mangrove Action Project is dedicated to conserving and restoring mangrove forests around the world; they offer research positions, work and eco-study tours in Thailand and other countries.
While you're there: The Ao Phang-Nga National Marine Park, on the Andaman Sea contains spectacular caves, rock formations and limestone cliffs. The best way to see its wonders is by canoe or kayak.
CORAL TRIANGLE, INDONESIA
Location: The Coral Triangle spans an underwater area of 5.7 million square kilometres, stretching from Eastern Indonesia through Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, parts of Malaysia, and the Solomon Islands.
What's so special? If you've travelled the world in search of the perfect diving site, this is it: scientists have called the Coral Triangle home to the richest marine life on the planet. This one underwater region supports 75 percent of all coral species known to science, and more than 3000 fish species.
Pressures: Scientists are adamant that the area needs environmental protection; it not only faces threats from over-fishing, but also from destructive fishing techniques, like fishing with explosives and cyanide. The human population in the area is immense and over two million fishermen are dependant on this marine life for their livelihood.
Get involved: The Nature Conservancy's Coral Triangle Center is dedicated to preserving the area's marine life. They take on volunteers in various locations in Indonesia for conservation projects.
While you're there: When in Indonesia, most visitors will head to Bali—possibly Indonesia's best known, picturesque beaches on the Indian Ocean. But if you feel like venturing off the beaten track, try Lombok instead. It's less developed than Bali, and its beaches are said to be even more striking.
Location: Borneo, Sumatra and about 17,000 surrounding smaller islands in the Indo-Malayan archipelago of Southeast Asia.
What's so special? The orangutans on the Sundaland islands have a certain celebrity appeal: even Julia Roberts dropped by a few years back to shoot a film and play surrogate mother for a day to a three-month old orangutan named Hughie. The region is best known for its large mammals: Sumatra and Borneo are the last remaining habitat to the highly endangered orangutan, and Java and Sumatra are home to the last of two Southeast Asian rhino species.
Pressures: Destruction of the forest is threatening the natural habitat of these mammals—and their populations are in rapid decline. Vast areas of forest have been cleared for commercial uses like rubber, and palm oil production. The Indonesian government's transmigration programme, which moves urban populations to rural islands, has increased pressure on the biodiversity of these smaller islands. Fires have become a significant threat since logging can create flammable conditions.
Get involved: Orangutan Foundation International (www.orangutan.org) offers volunteer opportunities and well as study/tours to the frontlines of the orangutan conservation effort in Indonesian Borneo. Volunteers help orangutan conservation by assisting in the improvement of the infrastructure of Tanjung Puting National Park and surrounding reserve areas.
While you're there: About 13 kilometres north of the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur are a remarkable series of caves and temples, known as Batu Caves. Local tribes are said to have known about the caves for a while, but they only became world-renowned when they were discovered in 1878 by an American naturalist. Also on your agenda, should be the Taman Negara National Park, a dense rainforest that is home to elephants, tigers, leopards, rhinos, monkeys and extensive birdlife.
Location: Caribbean coast of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras
What's so special? Aptly referred to as the jewel of the Caribbean, the Meso-American Reef is the largest coral reef system in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. These inviting turquoise waters teem with life: the reef is home to the largest population of manatees in the world, as well as several dolphin species and the mammoth whale shark—the world's biggest fish. Over 65 species of stony coral and 500 species of fish also thrive along its 700-kilometre length. Even Jacques Cousteau was impressed; the renowned explorer and pioneer for marine conservation filmed here, documenting some of the area's underwater wonders. Over two million people in the area depend on the reef for their livelihood.
Pressures: Some experts predict that within fifty years, many reefs like this one will be lost. Coral bleaching—an effect that scientists link to warming water temperature from climate change—is a particular issue. Visit the reef now, and contribute to efforts to document—and better understand—the ecosystem.
Get involved:Global Vision International supports and assists the work of local NGOs and government groups, international NGOs and universities on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Survey. Volunteer divers assist with data collection, marine monitoring, awareness initiatives, education and a number of other conservation projects.
While you're there: Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula has some of the world's most remarkable archaeological sites. Chichen Itza, the most famous of the Mayan ruins in the region, is located in the northern centre of the Yucatan. The Tulum ruins, located on the east coast overlooking the ocean, are a Mayan walled city that used to serve as a port.
Location: Down under.
What's so special? Some of the most varied and spectacular landscapes on the planet are crammed into the series of islands that make up New Zealand. Snow-capped mountains surround glacial valleys, rainforests contrast with volcanic plateaus. Isolated from other continents longer than any landmass outside the polar regions, New Zealand's ecosystem is distinct. None of its indigenous mammals, amphibians, or reptiles can be found elsewhere in the world. Kiwis' appreciation of their natural assets have served them well—one third of the country is protected by parks and reserves, and many visitors are drawn to this part of the world because of its natural beauty.
Pressures: Conservation-mindedness here stems not just from Kiwis' appreciation of their natural surroundings—but also their incredible vulnerability. Introduced species—both animals or plants—can wreak havoc with the ecological balance here. Problem species, like the Australian possum, have caused widespread damage to the natural environment. Today, the New Zealand Department of Biosecurity greets every arriving visitor to inspect the state of their boots and the contents of their luggage, in an attempt to safeguard against future eco-invasions.
Get involved:Global Volunteer Network offers hands-on programmes ranging from two to 12 weeks in the Wellington region; projects include working in wildlife reserves, forests, coastlines, and offshore islands. Pacific Discovery offers four-week programmes that combine conservation work with educational travel.
While you're there: Fiordland, a region on the southwest corner of South Island, is a must see. Hike or kayak amidst jaw-dropping scenery in this dramatic national park. Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain in the Southern Alps, is an idyllic place for hikers or climbers.
TAHUAMANU RAINFOREST, THE AMAZON
Location: Tahuamanú province of Peru, near the jungle border with Brazil and Bolivia.
What's so special? Some of Latin America's last remaining stands of old growth mahogany rainforest are found in the Tahuamanú Rainforest. The region borders on Peru's vast Manu National Park—more than 1.8 million hectares of biosphere reserve. This is home to nearly 15 percent of the world's known species of birds, 13 kinds of monkeys and the elusive giant otter, or "river wolf" as it is called by the local people. The giant armadillo also finds refuge here and jaguars are often sighted in the park. Four indigenous groups inhabit the park, and many of these people have had little or no contact with the outside world.
Pressures: While Manu National Park is strictly protected, the mahogany rainforest outside its boundaries is not. Highly valuable old-growth mahogany and cedar trees have been the target of large-scale illegal logging.
Get involved:Projects Abroad offers a number of conservation oriented volunteer placements in the Peruvian Amazon near Puerto Muldonado. They even manage their own reserve, where they conduct projects to monitor wildlife, contribute to wildlife conservation and develop sustainable livelihoods. A Mahogany plantation project, aiming to provide local people with sustainable sources of income, is particularly exciting and promising.
While you're there: Few visitors to Peru pass up an opportunity to see Machu Picchu. This Lost City of the Incas is perched high in the mountains near Cusco, at an altitude of 2,430 metres. Take the train from Cusco—or if you fancy a challenge, take a two to four day hike up the Inca trail.
CLOUD FORESTS, ALTO CHOCO RESERVE, ECUADOR
Location: Northern Ecuador, not far from Quito.
What's so special? Cloud forests are nature's water towers, producing billions of litres of fresh clean water for the earth. Located in tropical and subtropical mountainous areas, where cloud and mist shroud the cool mountain slopes, they capture water that would otherwise never fall as rain. The Choco reserve in Ecuador is just one of a string of cloud forests that extend from Panama to Northern Argentina. It is home to some amazing and rare species, including South America's only bear (the Andean or spectacled bear), the dwarf deer and a significant variety of orchids.
Pressures: Large areas of South America's cloud forests have been cleared; habitat fragmentation has contributed to the vulnerability of several species, including the Andean bear. While local groups are trying to create corridors connecting reserves, conservation must compete with industry. The recent discovery of copper and gold in the area near Alto Choco has sparked interest in the region on the part of the local government and big businesses.
Get involved:Fundación Zoobreviven is a South American charity dedicated to protecting Ecuador's natural environment, including its cloud forests. They are responsible for the management of Alto Choco, and they welcome volunteers who want to help. Alternatively, i-to-i also arranges placements in Alto Choco, where volunteers assist with reforestation and environmental education.
While you're there: Perhaps the country's biggest attraction is the Galápagos Islands—an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, off the Ecuadorian coast. Sometimes dubbed "the Enchanted Islands," the Galápagos is made up of 13 large islands, 6 smaller ones and 107 rocks and islets. An island not to be missed in the area is Isla Bartolomé, where you can climb a volcanic cone with a view of the area. And don't miss out on the underwater life here: where else could you come beak-to-snorkel with a penguin?
ATLANTIC FOREST REGION OF BRAZIL
Location: Southern Brazil, Northeastern Argentina, and Eastern Paraguay.
What's so special? The Atlantic Forest has long been isolated from other tracts of rainforest on this continent, and has developed distinct vegetation in three different altitude zones. A key biological centre, it houses some unique residents like the golden lion tamarind and the woolly spider monkey. A staggering one in 20 of the planet's vertebrates can be found here.
Pressures: The coverage of the Atlantic Forest used to be far more extensive—more than 90 percent has been cleared. What's left of the forest is in fragmented patches, leaving valuable plant and animal species in isolation from one another. Sugarcane and coffee plantations are responsible for a large part of its destruction, but one imminent concern is urban growth.
Get Involved:Iracambi is a Brazilian non-profit organization focused specifically on the conservation of the Atlantic forest. Volunteers tackle tasks like land-use management, forest restoration, GIS mapping and community education. Biosphere Expeditions offers educational expeditions to study jaguars and pumas in Brazil's Atlantic forest and assist with conservation efforts.
While you're there: Along the border of Brazil and Argentina are a cluster of about 270 waterfalls of up to 80 metres high—the Iguaçu Falls. Most of the falls are actually on the Argentinean side, but arguably the best views are from the Brazilian side of the border. You decide—for the full experience, why not visit both sides?Add this article to your reading list | <urn:uuid:8bed5fb7-56ea-4525-8f72-e02354204b9d> | CC-MAIN-2021-25 | https://www.vergemagazine.com/articles/beyond-the-guidebook/121-must-see-global-eco-hotspots.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623487586390.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20210612193058-20210612223058-00464.warc.gz | en | 0.934345 | 5,058 | 3.046875 | 3 |
As part of Black History Month, the Saklan fifth graders completed a novel study on the amazing book Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman by Dorothy Sterling. They learned about the incredible woman Harriet Tubman was, and her many important contributions to society.
To further their learning, each fifth grader chose an influential African American to learn more about, from historical figures to modern day icons. After they finished their research, each student created a lap book that detailed key dates, important accomplishments, famous quotes, and other inspiring aspects of their selected person’s life.
Several students shared their books with the broader Saklan community during Friday Flag, explaining why they chose the person they did, and highlighting some of the most important or most fascinating facts they’d learned. Awesome job, fifth graders! | <urn:uuid:1164c4c1-2663-45d5-83fe-a804f2487808> | CC-MAIN-2022-27 | https://saklanfridayblog.org/2021/02/26/fifth-grade-lap-books/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656103344783.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20220627225823-20220628015823-00487.warc.gz | en | 0.952054 | 173 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Basketball End Line
What is the Basketball End Line?
The end lines are one of two sets of boundary lines, along with the sidelines. A player that steps on or over the end line is considered out of bounds. The same is true for the ball, which is considered out of play once it contacts or sails past the end line. If a player’s foot touches the end line, the team currently on offense must forfeit possession of the ball to the other team. When the ball crosses the end line, the referee makes a ruling on which team touched it last. The team that last touched or possessed the ball before it goes out of bounds then loses possession of the ball.
End lines also indicate where a team must inbound the ball. Inbounding refers to a player behind the baseline throwing the ball to a player in front of the baseline to begin play. This takes place at the beginning of every quarter, as well as after every made shot. Boundaries are still in effect during an inbound, with a loss of possession occurring if either player steps on the end line while completing the exchange.
Dimensions of The End Line
There are two end lines, located at each end of the court. The end lines span the entire width of the court (approximately 50 feet). They are positioned 4 feet behind the basket, just before the area in which the home team is spelled out. Each line is thick enough to be easily spotted by players and fans, yet thinner than many of the lines included in the painted area (green and blue box-shaped areas pictured in the diagram above). | <urn:uuid:c2bc0b51-21ba-48e8-b6c3-7e12ebd675ab> | CC-MAIN-2022-40 | https://www.rookieroad.com/basketball/the-court/end-line/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030335058.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20220927194248-20220927224248-00063.warc.gz | en | 0.967626 | 326 | 3.296875 | 3 |
- Pickles have been around since ancient times, although there is some disagreement as to when exactly in history people started eating them. Some believe the first pickle was created in Mesopotamia in 2400 B.C.E. Others believe it was as early as 2030 B.C.E.
- Pickles are mentioned in the Bible and can be found in the works of Shakespeare.
- Cleopatra ate pickles because she believed they were one of the things that helped her stay beautiful.
- Explorers like Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci used pickles to help prevent scurvy amongst the crews of their ships.
- Napoleon offered a huge financial prize to anyone who could find the best way to used pickling to preserve food for his troops.
- H.J. Heinz used pins shaped like pickles to draw customers to his booth at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.
- The U.S. government commandeered 40% of all pickles made in the U.S. during WWII so that they could be used in rations for the soldiers.
Passionate about Pickles
- Several famous people throughout history are reported to have been or to be pickle fans including Queen Elizabeth I, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Bill Cosby, Fran Drescher, and Ed Koch.
- Elvis Presley loved fried pickles.
- George Washington was such a fan that he had a collection of more than 400 varieties of pickles.
- Americans love pickles so much, more than half of the cucumbers grown in the U.S. each year become pickles.
- Kool-aid pickles are made by soaking dill pickles in strong kool-aid and are very popular in parts of Mississippi.
- A town in Michigan that claims to be the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World holds an annual pickle parade led by the Grand Dillmeister.
- You can hear the crunch of a good pickle at 10 paces.
- In early times, people believed that pickles were essential to good health and helped to maintain the right balance of acid in the body.
Pickles Around the World
- Americans love dill pickles twice as much as their sweet counterparts and an average American eats more than 8 pounds of pickles a year.
- Throughout the islands of the Pacific, pickles are an important part of the culture. They are created using pits lined with banana leaves
- In Fiji, pickles are part of the courting process as pickle pits provide a valuable source of food in the event of a storm. Men use their pickle pits to prove they have the means to provide for a wife.
- In America and Canada, people prefer pickles with bumps and warts to those that are made from wartless cucumbers.
- Although most people consider pickles a vegetable because they are made from cucumbers, the U.S. Supreme Court has rules that they are technically a fruit, similar to tomatoes.
- In the U.S., pickles are made in 30 of the 50 states with Michigan and North Carolina making the most pickles.
Pickles in Arizona
Arizona has its own special pickle story, too! One family began Arnold’s Pickles right in downtown Phoenix! | <urn:uuid:555e438b-32e2-428f-a431-470922bebd8c> | CC-MAIN-2015-27 | http://fillyourplate.org/blog/fun-facts-about-pickles/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-27/segments/1435375096991.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20150627031816-00083-ip-10-179-60-89.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972084 | 683 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Lubrication and Lubricating Oils
Lubrication and Lubricating Oils
The principle of supporting a sliding load on a friction reducing film is known as lubrication. The substance of which the film is composed is a lubricant, and to apply it is to lubricate. All liquids provide lubrication of a sort, but some do it a great deal better than others. Lubrication oils are being used for the equipment lubrication since a long time and since then they have evolved from the conventional mineral-oil based to the synthetic lubricants.
The primary purpose of lubrication is to reduce wear and heat between the contacting surfaces in relative motion. While wear and heat cannot be completely eliminated, they can be reduced to negligible or acceptable levels. Because heat and wear are associated with friction, both effects can be minimized by reducing the coefficient of friction between the contacting surfaces. Other purposes of the lubrication include (i) reduce friction, (ii) reduce oxidation and prevent corrosion, (iii) disperse contaminants, (iv) act as a sealant against dust, dirt, and water, (v) transmit mechanical power in hydraulic fluid power applications, and (vi) provide insulation in the transformer applications. The properties which the that lubricants need to have are (i) extreme pressure resistance, (ii) high thermal stability, (iii) high wear resistance, (iv) consistency, (v) very good fluidity, and (vi) rust prevention capabilities.
Lubricated friction is characterized by the presence of a thin film of the pressurized lubricant (squeeze film) between the two moving surfaces. The ratio of the squeeze film (oil film) thickness to the surface roughness determines the type of the lubrication regime
The current period of lubrication began with the work of Osborne Reynolds (1842-1912). His work was concerned with shafts rotating in bearings and cases. He found that when a lubricant is applied, a rotating shaft pulled a converging wedge of lubricant between the shaft and the bearing. He also noted that as the shaft gained velocity, the liquid flowed between the two surfaces at a greater rate. This, because the lubricant is viscous, produces a liquid pressure in the lubricant wedge which is sufficient to keep the two surfaces separated. It was shown by him that under ideal conditions, this liquid pressure is to be high enough to prevent direct contact between the two metal surfaces. The three positions of a shaft in a bearing are shown in Fig 1.
Fig 1 Three position of a shaft in a bearing
Stribeck (Stachowiak and Batchelor, 2001) demonstrated that the coefficient of friction is directly proportional to the viscosity of the lubricant and the difference in the speeds of the contact surfaces, and inversely proportional to the pressure which is exerted on the contact surfaces. In the Stribeck curve, the coefficient of friction is plotted against the expression ZN/P (sometimes referred to as the Hersey number). ZN/P is defined as (lubricant viscosity Z × shaft speed N) / bearing contact pressure P. The Stribeck curve (Fig 2) has three distinct zones known as (i) boundary lubrication, (ii) mixed lubrication, and (iii) hydrodynamic lubrication. There is also an overlapping regime of elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication.
Fig 2 Lubrication regimes
In boundary lubrication regime, the surface contact to a mono-molecular film of lubricant is between 1 nm (nano metre) and 4 nm in thickness. Boundary lubricant film becomes very thin due to heavy load on its surface where the lubricant film breaks down. The surface contact is initiated at asperities junction, and initially load is supported by it. High friction and wear are generally encountered in boundary lubrication regimes.
A transition state between boundary and hydrodynamic lubrication regimes is known as mixed lubrication. In this situation, there is frequent asperity contact but at least a portion of solid surface is partially supported by a hydrodynamic film.
The lubrication regime known as elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication occurs in the lubricated contact of non-conforming bodies with high elastic modulus, such as most metals and ceramics. The very high local pressures which result from the geometry of such contacts produce both elastic flattening of the surfaces and also, generally, a very large increase in the viscosity of the lubricant. The combination of these two effects enables lubricant entrainment into the contact to form a separating film of oil despite the very high contact pressure.
Hydrodynamic lubrication is also known as full film or fluid film lubrication. The high lubricant viscosity creates enough fluid pressure to build a supporting film and eliminates all solid-surface contact. The film thickness is quite high in this type of lubrication system compared to others.
The formation of fluid film is influenced by several factors namely (i) the contact surfaces are to meet at a slight angle to allow formation of the lubricant wedge, (ii) the fluid viscosity is to be high to maintain adequate film thickness to separate the contacting surfaces at operating speeds, (iii) the fluid is to be adhering to the contact surfaces for conveyance into the pressure area to support the load, (iv) the fluid is to be distributing itself completely within the bearing clearance area, (v) the operating speed is to be sufficient to allow formation and maintenance of the fluid film, and (vi) the contact surfaces of bearings and journals are to be smooth and free from sharp surfaces which disrupt the fluid film.
The term lubricating oil is generally used to include all those classes of lubricating materials which are applied as fluids. The history of lubricating oil began as soon as man discovered that reduced friction meant greater efficiency. There are many types of lubricating oils and each type of lubricating oil has been developed over a period of time to serve a different purpose.
All liquids generally provide lubrication of a sort, but some do it a great deal better than others. The difference between one type of lubricating oil with other type of lubricating oil is often the difference between successful operation of a machine and failure. For almost every situation, petroleum products have been found to excel as lubricating oils. Petroleum lubricants stand high in metal-wetting ability. They possess the body, or viscosity characteristics, which a substantial film requires. These lubricating oils have many additional properties which are essential to modern lubrication, such as good water resistance, inherent rust-preventive characteristics, natural adhesiveness, relatively good thermal stability, and the ability to transfer frictional heat away from lubricated parts. In addition to this, nearly all of these properties can be modified during manufacture to produce suitable lubricating oil for each of a wide variety of applications. Lubricant oils have been developed hand-in-hand with the modern plant and equipment which they lubricate.
Base stocks are refined from crude oil to obtain products with the best lubricating properties. Base stocks generally make up 80 % to 95 % of typical engine oil with 5 % of additives. Base stock is used to describe plain mineral oil. The physical properties of the lubricating oil depend on its base stock. In most cases it is chemically inert. There are three sources of base stock namely (i) biological, (ii) mineral, and (ii) synthetic. The oils manufactured from these sources show different properties and they are suitable for different applications.
Biological oils are basically the vegetable (castor, palm, or rapeseed) oils and animal based oils. Vegetable based lubricating oils are less stable (rapid oxidation) than the mineral oil based lubricating oils at high temp. These lubricating oils contain more natural boundary lubricants than the mineral oils. Animal based lubricating oils (sperm, fish, and wool oils from sheep such as lanolin) have extreme pressure properties but they have issues related to their availability. Biological based lubrication oils are suitable in applications where the risk of contamination is required to be reduced to a minimum, for example, in the food or pharmaceutical industry. They are generally applied to lubricate kilns, and bakery ovens etc.
Mineral oils are the most commonly used lubricating oils. They are petroleum based and are used in applications where temperature requirements are moderate. Typical applications of mineral oils are in gears, bearings, engines, and turbines etc.
Synthetic oils are artificially developed substitutes for mineral oils. They are specifically developed to provide lubricating oils with superior properties than the mineral oils. Synthetic lubricating oils have viscosity which does not vary as much with temperature as in mineral oil. Their rate of oxidation is much slower but they are having high cost. The temperature resistant synthetic oils are used in high performance machinery operating at high temperatures. Synthetic oils for very low temperature applications are also available.
In the present day situation, the various industries and transportation facilities are is dependent upon on the petroleum based lubricating oils. These oils are complex mixture of hydrocarbon molecules and they represent one of the important classifications of products derived from the refining of crude petroleum oils, and are readily available in a great variety of types and grades.
General classification of the mineral oil based lubricating oils
Lubricating oils are made from the more viscous portion of the crude oil which remains after removal by distillation of the gas oil and lighter fraction. Although crude oils from various parts of the world differ widely in properties and appearance, there is relatively little difference in their elemental analysis. Thus, crude oil samples generally show carbon (C) content ranging from 83 % to 87 % and hydrogen (H2) content from 11 % to 14 %. The remainder is composed of elements such as oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), sulphur (S), and various metallic compounds. An elemental analysis, hence, gives little indication of the extreme range of physical and chemical properties that actually exists, or of the nature of the lubricating base stocks which can be produced from a particular crude oil.
The chemical structure of lubricating oils (Fig 3) contains of hydrocarbons of the crude oils which consist of namely paraffinic components (Fig 3a and 3b) , (ii) naphthenic components (Fig 3c), aromatic components (Fig 3d), and (iv) non hydrocarbon components. The classifying of hydrocarbon as paraffinic, naphthenic and aromatic groups which are generally used for characterizing the base oil is not to be taken as absolute but as an expression of the predominating chemical tendencies of the base stocks.
Fig 2 Chemical structure of lubricating oils
The paraffinic components determine the pour point and contain not only linear but also branched paraffins. The straight chain paraffins of high molecular weights raise the pour point of the lubricating oils (waxy compounds) and are to be removed by dewaxing processes. The branched paraffins are chemically interesting hydrocarbons and they are found in large quantities in lubricating oil fractions from paraffinic crudes. Lubricating oil rich in paraffinic hydrocarbons have relatively low density and viscosity for their molecular weight and boiling range. Also, they have good viscosity / temperature characteristics. In general, paraffinic components are reasonably resistant to oxidation and have particularly good response to oxidation inhibitors.
The naphthenic components have rather higher density and viscosity for their molecular weight compared to the paraffinic components. An advantage which naphthenic components have over the paraffinic components is that they tend to have low pour point and so do not contribute to wax. But, one disadvantage is that they have inferior viscosity / temperature characteristics. Single ring alicyclics with long paraffinic side chains, however, share many properties with branched paraffins and can in fact be highly desirable components for lubricant base oils. Naphthenic components tend to have better solvency power for additives than paraffinic components but their stability to oxidative processes is inferior.
The aromatic components have densities and viscosities which are still higher. Their viscosity / temperature characteristics are in general poor but pour point is low, though they have the best solvency power for additives. Their stability to oxidation is poor. As for alicyclics, single ring aromatics with long paraffinic side chain can be very desirable base oil components.
The non hydrocarbons in lubricating oil are analogous in many ways to the hydrocarbons. S and N2 compounds are found almost entirely in ring structures such as sulphides, thiophene, pyridine, and pyrrol types. More complex molecules are also considered to exist in lubricating oil in which N2 and S atoms are found in the same molecule. As in the case of hydrocarbons, these compounds probably also have paraffinic side chains and possibly be condensed with naphthenic and aromatic ring structures. Though these non hydrocarbons can be present in only trace amounts, they often play a major role in controlling the properties of lubricating oils. In general they are chemically more active than the hydrocarbon, and hence they may markedly affect properties such as oxidation stability, thermal stability, and deposit forming tendencies.
Important properties of lubricating oils
The important properties which the lubricating oils are required to have for their performance are described below.
Physical properties of lubricating oil
Viscosity – It is the measure of the internal friction within a liquid, that is, the way the molecules interact to resist motion. It is a vital property of the lubricating oil since it influences the ability of the oil to form a lubricating film or to minimize friction. The absolute viscosity of a liquid is defined as the ratio between the applied shear stress and the resulting shear rate.
Viscosity index – It is the most frequently used method for comparing the variation of viscosity with temperature between different lubricating oils. It is a dimensionless number. The kinematic viscosity of the lubricating oil sample is measured at two different temperatures (40 deg C and 100 deg C) and the viscosity is compared with an empirical reference scale. Viscosity index is used as a convenient measure of the degree of aromatics removal during the base oil manufacturing process, but comparison of the viscosity index of different oil samples is only realistic if they are derived from the same distillate feedstock.
Low temperature properties – When a sample of the lubricating oil is cooled, its viscosity increases in a predictable manner until wax crystals start to form. The matrix of wax crystals becomes sufficiently dense with further cooling to cause an apparent solidification of the lubricating oil. Although the solidified oil does not pour under the influence of gravity, it can move if sufficient force is applied. Further decrease in temperature cause more wax to form, increasing the complexity of the wax / oil matrix. Many lubricating oils have to be capable of flow at low temperatures and a number of properties such as cloud point, and pour point etc. are to be measured.
High temperature properties – The high temperature properties of oil are governed by distillation or boiling range characteristics of the oil. These are (i) volatility which is an indication of the tendency of the lubricating oil to be lost in service by vapourization, (ii) flash point of the oil which is important from a safety point of view because it is the lowest temperature at which auto-ignition of the vapour occur above the heated oil sample.
Other physical properties – Various other physical properties can be measured, most of them relating to specialized lubricant applications. Some of the more important physical properties are (i) density which is important, since lubricating oils can be formulated by weight, but measured by volume, (ii) demulsification which is the ability of oil and water to separate, (iii) foam characteristics which is the tendency to foam formation and stability of the foam which results, (iv) pressure / viscosity characteristics, (v) thermal conductivity which is important for heat transfer fluid, (vi) electrical properties such as resistively, and dielectric constant, and (vii) surface properties as surface tension, and air separation etc.
Chemical properties of lubricating oils
Ease of starting rapidity of warming up – The main aspect in the usage of lubricating oil is its viscosity. It is not enough that the lubricating oils are to have the proper viscosity but also they are to maintain the little viscosity change within the temperature range during and after its application. Hence, the viscosity controls not only frictional and thermal effect but also oil flow as a function of the load speed, temperature and design of the equipment being lubricated. In other words, if the equipment often does not make a cold start, then it is also important that the viscosity at starting temperature is not so high that the equipment cannot be started. The rapidity with which the equipment can be put to work is dependent on the speed of circulation and supply of oil to vital components. All forms of wear and even the safety of the equipment are influenced by rapidity of circulation of the lubricating oil.
Low carbon forming tendency – This property is important for high compression ratio petrol engine where The C deposit adversely affects the combustion quality. The extent as well as the composition of such formed deposits causes noisy and rough burning which subjects the engine to high thermal and mechanical stresses resulting in lowering of performance and reduction of engine life. The typical symptoms are knocking, pre-ignition and surface ignition. These call higher octane fuels which are more expensive and do not eliminate the need for ultimate decarbonizing.
Carbon residue test methods provide some indication about the relative coke forming tendency of the oil in some application and quality-controlled lubricating oils. So, the C residue test can be helpful in selecting lubricating oils for certain industrial applications such as heat treating, lubrication of bearing subjected to high temperature and air compressors. It is claimed that the presence of viscous oil (bright stock) in the base oils plays an important role in the formation of C deposits.
High oxidation stability – One of the most important requirements of the lubricating oil is that its properties are not changed during use. The lubricating oil is often subjected to several oxidizing conditions which are primarily due to the oxidative changes of the oil. While the temperature of the lubricating oil, presence of O2, and nature by products of the composition contribute to the oxidative change properties of the lubricating oil during use. Hence, it is essential that the lubricating oil, when exposed to high temperature, does not contribute to the forming of deposits even after a long period of continuous equipment running. So, the resistance of the lubricating oil to the oxidative depends mainly on the nature of the lubricating oil and the presence of the anti-oxidant additives.
Wear reduction – Wear occurs in lubricated systems by three mechanisms namely (i) abrasion, (ii) corrosion, and (iii) metal-to metal contact (adhesion). The lubricating oil plays an important role in combating each type of wear.
The abrasive wear is caused by solid particles entering into the area between the lubricated surfaces which physically erode these surfaces and can contaminate wear fragments. To cause wear, the solid particles are to be larger than the oil-film thickness and harder than the lubricated surfaces. The flushing action of the lubricating oil, especially in forced feed or once through systems, helps in removing the potentially harmful solid particles from the area of lubricated surfaces.
The corrosive wear is normally caused by the products of oxidation of the lubricating oil. The high S content of the fuel helps the corrosive attack. In other words, corrosion is the principal cause of wear in the internal combustion engines because the products of combustion are highly acidic and contaminate the lubrication oil, and the lubricating oils function to minimize corrosive wear. It is achieved by proper refinement along with the use of oxidation inhibitors which reduces lubricant deterioration and keeps the level of corrosive oxidation products low.
The adhesive wear can significantly affect certain parts of the equipment where metal-to-metal contact takes place. Adhesive wear takes place due to the breakdown of the lubricant film. It can also be the result of excessive surface roughness or interruption of the lubricant supply. A plentiful supply of the proper viscosity of oil is often the best way to avoid these conditions. The composition of the base oil and addition of certain chemical additives are also some of the important methods for the protection of equipment parts against the adhesive wear.
Detergency and dispersant property – With the exception of detergency and dispersant property in the combustion chamber, deposits in the lubricating oil are controlled by its detergent power. The sources of the deposits found in the engines are many and their volume depends mainly on the use, the quality of combustion, the temperature of lubricating oil and coolant, and on the gas sealing of the ring in the cylinder. It these deposits are not removed from the lubricating oil when it is to be drained. Their accumulation in the engine drastically shortens the engine life. The role of the detergent additives is to reduce the amount of deposits formed and their removal easy. The detergent property imparted to the lubricating oils by additives seems to perform differently depending upon whether deposits result from high or low temperatures. Low temperature deposits are mainly comes from the fuel combustion and the detergency function of the lubricating oil is to keep them in suspension or in solution in the lubricating oil. However, high temperature deposits are mainly related to the oxidized fraction of the oil.
The role of detergency here is not only to maintain these products in suspension, but also to stop the development of those chain reactions which promote the formation of varnishes and lacquers. The physical and functional properties of the lubricating oils depend on the properties of the C atoms in the various ring structures and aliphatic side chain.
Seal compatibility – Lubricating oils are often used in equipment where they come into contact with rubber or plastic seal. The strength and degree of swell of these seals can be affected by the interaction with the lubricating oil. Various tests have been devised to measure the effect of base oils on different seals and under different test conditions. The strength and degree of swell of these seals can be affected by their interaction with the oil. Various tests measure the effects of base oils on different seals and under different test conditions.
The important functions and the properties of the lubricating oils ares given in Tab 1
|Tab 1 Important functions and properties of the lubricating oils|
|1||Reduction of frictional resistance||Low viscosity to provide good pumpability and not to cause undue cracking resistance|
|Minimum viscosity without risk of metal to metal contact under the varying condition of temperatures, speed, and load|
|Sufficiently high viscosity at high temperature with good lubrication property outside the hydrodynamic condition|
|Anti-seizure properties especially during the run-in period|
|2||Protection against corrosion and wear||Protect metallic surface against corrosive action of fuel decomposition product (wear, SO2, HBr, and HCl etc.)|
|Resist degradation (resist oxidation and have a good thermal stability)|
|Counteract action of the lubricating oil decomposition product at high temperatures, especially on non-ferrous metals.|
|Reduce the consequences of unavoidable metal-to-metal contact by intervention in the friction mechanism|
|Resist deposit formation which affects lubrication (detergency or dispersant property).|
|Contribute to the elimination of dust and other pollutants (dispersant action)|
|3||Assist sealing||To have sufficient viscosity at high temperature and low volatility|
|To limit wear|
|Not to contribute to formation of deposits and fight against such formation|
|4||Contribute to cooling||To have good and thermal stability and oxidation resistance|
|To have low volatility|
|To have viscosity which is not very high|
|5||Facilitate suspension and eliminate undesirable products||To be able to maintain in fine solid material at any temperature, physical, and chemical condition|
Required performance characteristics of the lubricating oils
Selection and application of lubricating oil are determined by the functions which are expected for their performance. As an example, in one of the application, such as in case of delicate instrument bearing, the reduction of friction is paramount and in another application such as in case of metal cutting, the temperature control is the most important. A lubricating oil performance is to fulfill the following five important functions.
Reduction of the frictional resistance – The reduction of resistance of the moving parts to a minimum level is necessary to ensure maximum mechanical efficiency.
Protection of the equipment against all types of wear – The lubricating oil is to provide higher life to the equipment parts and hence, is to reduce its maintenance requirements.
Reduction of oil leakages – The reduction of oil leakages in an efficient manner is necessary to maintain the equipment performance and to prevent the adulterating of the oil.
Contributing the thermal equilibrium – The lubricating oil is also to function as a heat exchange medium for dissipating the heat. This is often associated with the oil viscosity with the viscous oil giving greater frictional resistance and its slow internal circulation leads to a rapid temperature raise of some vital part of the equipment. In such case, to improve the cooling efficiency, the lubricating oil is to circulate quickly.
Removal of all harmful impurities – The lubricating oil is to carry out the function of protecting the equipment against the corrosive and mechanical wear which is caused by all harmful impurities. Hence, the removal of these impurities by the lubricating oil is very important for the long life of the equipment.
Impurities and contaminants of the lubricating oils
Water content – Water content is the quantity the water present in the lubricating oil. It is generally expressed as parts per million (ppm), percent by volume, or percent by weight. It can be measured by centrifuging, distillation and voltametry. The most popular, although least accurate, method of water content assessment is the centrifuge method. In this method, a 50 % mixture of oil and solvent is centrifuged at a specified speed until the volumes of water and sediment observed are stable. Apart from water, solids and other solubles are also separated and the results obtained do not correlate well with those obtained by the other two methods.
The distillation method is a little more accurate and involves distillation of oil mixed with xylene. Any water present in the sample condenses in a graduated receiver. Voltametry method is the most accurate. It employs electrometric titration, giving the water concentration in ppm.
Corrosion and oxidation behaviour of the lubricating oils is critically related to water content. Lubricating oil mixed with water gives an emulsion. An emulsion has a much lower load carrying capacity than pure oil and lubricant failure followed by damage to the operating surfaces can result. In general, in applications such as turbine oil systems, the limit on water content is 0.2 % and for hydraulic systems 0.1 %. In dielectric systems excessive water content has a significant effect on dielectric breakdown. Normally the water content in such systems is to be less than 35 ppm.
S content – S content is the quantity of S present in the lubricating oil. It can have some beneficial, as well as some detrimental, effects on the operating equipment. S is a very good boundary agent, which can effectively operate under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature. On the other hand, it is very corrosive. A normally used technique for the determination of S content is the bomb oxidation technique. It involves the ignition and combustion of a small oil sample under pressurized O2. The S from the products of combustion is extracted and weighed.
Ash content – There is some quantity of noncombustible material present in the lubricating oil which can be determined by measuring the amount of ash remaining after combustion of the oil. The contaminants can be wear products, solid decomposition products from a fuel or lubricant, and atmospheric dust entering through a filter etc. Some of these contaminants are removed by an oil filter but some settle into the oil. To determine the amount of contaminant, the oil sample is burned in a specially designed vessel. The residue which remains is then ashed in a high temperature muffle furnace and the result displayed as a percentage of the original sample. The ash content is used as a means of monitoring lubricating oils for undesirable impurities and sometimes additives. In used lubricating oils, it can also indicate contaminants such as dirt, wear products, etc.
Chlorine content – The quantity of chlorine in the lubricating oil is to be at an optimum level. Excess chlorine causes corrosion whereas an insufficient amount of chlorine can cause wear and increase in the frictional losses. Chlorine content can be determined either by a bomb test which provides the gravimetric evaluation or by a volumetric test which gives chlorine content, after reacting with sodium metal to produce sodium chloride, then titrating with silver nitride. | <urn:uuid:de31d684-14cd-4a66-82af-2a046bfcbc9c> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.ispatguru.com/lubrication-and-lubricating-oils/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506669.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20230924191454-20230924221454-00751.warc.gz | en | 0.945935 | 6,089 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Keeping count is important to kids
On Monday morning, Rhode Island KIDS COUNT released its 20th annual Factbook, which provides valuable data about Rhode Island’s children in the areas of education, safety, health, economic well-being, and family and community. Over the past two decades, this comprehensive report has been used to back up the need for legislative and policy changes throughout the state and the country.
Each year this report, a physical book with all 70 indicators, including child population, infant mortality, graduation rate and youth violence, to name a few, is presented to nearly 500 people. Among the group who attends the annual breakfast are members of Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation, General Assembly, state leaders, city leaders and other professionals in the education, health and safety fields.
And this 190-page book will not be thrown in a desk drawer somewhere never to be seen again. Because it is one of the most comprehensive reports concerning every area that affects Rhode Island’s kids, it is often used as a reference when drafting new legislation at the national or state level. It can be used when looking for data to back-up the need for increased funding to programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Head Start.
Likewise, the news media use it when researching data to back up a story.
At Monday’s breakfast to announce the report, keynote speaker Jann Jackson, senior associate of Policy Reform and Advocacy of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, applauded Rhode Island KIDS COUNT for being a leader in the country by providing data that cuts through ideology and antidotes.
She added that the data shows kids are healthier because of greater access to health care and more solid proof that issues do exist and need to be addressed.
Over the years, the declines in certain indicators, such as teen birth rate or youths in the juvenile detention system, and increases in others, such as participation in school breakfast programs and graduation rates, show that things are getting done. Other indicators such as teen drug and alcohol use and the need for more early education show us where the work still needs to be done.
But thanks to KIDS COUNT, we have an idea of what’s working, what’s not, and what we need to do to keep Rhode Island’s kids happy, healthy and on track for success. | <urn:uuid:e8b6fae5-dab6-42de-b2bf-d4afec7dfdd6> | CC-MAIN-2015-48 | http://www.warwickonline.com/stories/keeping-count-is-important-to-kids,91513?category_id=51&content_class=1&town_id=1&sub_type=stories | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-48/segments/1448398450559.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20151124205410-00303-ip-10-71-132-137.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945921 | 489 | 2.734375 | 3 |
The Best Kept Secret This Side of Italy
Imagine walking into a classroom and seeing a three-year-old wearing safety goggles and sawing wood or smashing tiles with a sledgehammer. Once you get over the surprise and realize that this isn't a mistake, you might start to see the benefits of such an experiment. Welcome to the world of Reggio Emilia.
Reggio Emilia is the name of an Italian city and the informal name for a revolutionary approach to early childhood education. Reggio education, created by Loris Malaguzzi after World War II, is heavily rooted in the ideas of John Dewey and authentic learning. The Reggio Emilia approach is notable in its longevity, and its lack of recognition in American schools.
The early childhood centers of Reggio Emilia focus on the learner, are material-rich and reliant on reflective practice-both on the part of children and their teachers. Children are encouraged to engage in personally meaningful projects, reflect on their learning, and then do it again. Teachers are thought of as researchers trusted with making decisions that benefit kids. Each classroom has two coequal teachers who model all of the cooperative behaviors that they want the children to emulate. Two specialists, the pedagogista and atelierista, support teachers.
The Reggio environment is filled with materials, which the children may explore and use to construct knowledge and explore their world. Reggio schools aim for transparency so kids can learn about the world by being immersed in an open safe subsection of it. Students are respected as capable human beings, not empty vessels to be filled.
Editor-At-Large Gary Stager spoke with three early childhood experts about Reggio education and how it could impact early education here. Lilian G. Katz is professor emerita of early childhood education at the University of Illinois [Urbana-Champaign], where she is also co-director of the ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary & Early Childhood Education. Douglas Clements is professor of education at the State University of New York, Buffalo. He is an author of numerous books and articles and an expert on how young children construct mathematical knowledge. Carolyn Pope Edwards is professor of family studies at the University of Kentucky. She is the co-editor of The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach-Advanced Reflections, (Ablex Publishing Corp., 1998) arguably the best book about Reggio education available in English.
How would you describe the current awareness level of Reggio education in America?
Douglas Clements: Unfortunately, it is quite low. American schools and teachers are, tragically, not given the time or culture to learn and reflect on different educational approaches, as they should.
While I realize that Reggio Emilia schools are not part of a franchise, are there Reggio schools here in the United States?
Carolyn Pope Edwards: There are many schools and programs in the U.S. inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. In some cases, the influence is strong and observable, when educators have worked together to study the Reggio Emilia approach and considered how to use ideas in their program.
In other cases, the influence is more partial, when one or more educators mainly focus on one or a few aspects of the Reggio Emilia approach, and how they might be valuable to try to apply in their context. As this approach becomes more widely known here, and as early childhood education professors teach about it in their classes, then its influence has the potential to be long lasting and profound.
I share your fascination with Reggio schools and their educational philosophy. What should American educators know about Reggio Emilia?
DC: "Should" is a strong word, here. Accepting it, however, there is just so much to say. There is a unique intertwining of the culture of caring of the city and the schools that may be difficult to grasp, and more difficult to duplicate. However, there are also many principles that are consistent with other excellent perspectives and research programs on early childhood education.
For example, the child is viewed as capable, competent and self-directed. Children build their knowledge from their own action, and interaction, with others. Indeed, the quality of the emotional, social and intellectual relationships children have with each other and with adults lies at the heart of their development in all spheres.
Children learn by representing and re-presenting their ideas to others and to themselves. Reggio Emilia pioneer Loris Malaguzzi calls this the hundred languages of children. [Children] do this in spoken and written/graphic forms, as well as by dramatization, song and other forms of movement.
What is an atelier?
CE: The atelier is a special part of the preschool that is a studio, workshop and laboratory for all the school to share.
The atelier contains a great variety of tools and resource materials of all kinds [materials newly purchased, recycled from local businesses, found or collected by children, made or contributed by parents]. It also displays the children's work and project documentaries-all arranged to call attention to their aesthetic dimension and heighten their communicative impact. In Reggio Emilia, artistic activity is not viewed as a separate sideline of the curriculum but as intrinsic to the whole cognitive-symbolic expression of the children's thinking and learning.
The atelierista ['studio teacher'] is the specialist in charge of this area of the school.
What is the role of documentation in Reggio schools? Who does the documenting?
CE: Documentation is a systematic way of making the educational process visible-a subjective interpretation that allows for remembering, comparing, analyzing, discussing, reviewing and decision-making.
Formal documentation is usually arranged and prepared by adults, drawing from the works of children and the educational process [photographs, texts of discussions, samples of children's products]. However, children can also contribute to the record-keeping process and to helping keep permanent traces of the educational process.
How is this documentation different from portfolio assessments?
DC: Children's documentation of their own thinking and feeling is a part of what adults document, and adults share much of their documentation with children.
CE: Portfolio assessment is a kind of documentation, but not the only kind. Portfolio assessment focuses on the progress of an individual child. Other kinds of documentation [such as displays about ongoing projects or books composed and elaborated by two or more children] are not focused on an individual and that individual's progress over time.
Lilian G. Katz: The kind of documentation they provide in Reggio is such that it makes it possible for people who were not there to know and understand the experiences that children had been having. It also alerts the teachers to childrens' progress and setbacks and informs their decisions about what to do next.
If a kid engages in a personally meaningful long-term project, how do you know that you've covered the curriculum?
LK: [You know] through observation, collecting and examining the work regularly. I also recommend engaging children in the evaluation of their own work. Not about whether it is 'good' or 'bad' or 'right' or 'wrong.'
But encourage children, even the young ones, to develop criteria for evaluating their efforts in terms of whether it is, for example, as accurate as they want it to be, as detailed as they think it should be, as interesting to classmates as they would like it to be, or as clear as it should be. Even young children respond well to this kind of encouragement to look at their own growing mastery on important criteria.
In the Reggio Schools and other environments advocating a project approach to learning, won't some kids just goof off?
DC: Occasionally, and sometimes that's OK and a phase in development. More often, it's a sign that the project was not child-centered or well designed.
CE: Most visitors to the preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and to Reggio-inspired schools in the U.S. come away astounded and awestruck by the high levels of symbolic and representational skill that children across the full range of abilities and disabilities come to display when the children become competent and confident in the "hundred languages of children."
They also find commendable the relaxed and comfortable school atmosphere. Children are provided the long stretches of time they need to work things through carefully and well. They spend long periods of the day concentrating deeply and focusing together on joint endeavors. They also play, eat, rest and enjoy life. The Reggio Schools in Italy are for children from birth to six years old. Are we really concerned that little children would try to shirk and goof off? Happy children are always energetic, involved and busy.
What role do everyday materials play in Reggio schools?
CE: Everyday materials are very important. The classrooms and the atelier always contain ample amounts of resources, carefully arranged and displayed, including found and collected materials.
The physical environment of the school should contain many familiar objects and pieces of furniture to make adults and children feel at ease and at home, and to invite
parents to tarry and to want to become closely involved.
Can you tell us a bit about the relationship between adults and children in Reggio schools?
LK: On the whole-and I have visited Reggio Emilia 11 times now-I see the adults are clearly respectful of children. By that I mean that they talk to children conveying the expectation that children are sensible. They don't use silly little voices or surround them with smiling animals and decorated letters of the alphabet and other ways of "Disneyfication" the environment. They treat children as sensible and naturally responsive to real beauty of form and texture. There is no excessive use of primary colors. The children's work is carefully and beautifully displayed-because it is important.
Gary Stager, [email protected], is editor-at-large and an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University. | <urn:uuid:c198e4c2-74b7-4151-9a77-8b987f016693> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.districtadministration.com/article/best-kept-secret-side-italy | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783394605.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154954-00035-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961862 | 2,086 | 2.828125 | 3 |
English King Edward II, along with approximately 20,000 troops, advanced through the Lowlands of Scotland with relative ease. Arriving at Edinburgh on June 17, 1314, the army progressed to Leith, where they stopped for five days to collect supplies. The next step for the invading army was a 22-mile forced march to Falkirk. On Saturday June 23rd they progressed along the old Roman road from Falkirk, advancing on Stirling Castle, which they meant to relieve.
Scottish King Robert the Bruce strategically blocked Edward's path, planting his men in the dense wood of the New Park and set his standard in the Borestone there. This meant that he had an impassable scrub on his right, the stream-riddled and boggy Carse on his left, Stirling Castle behind him and the Bannock Burn, which Edward would have to cross, before him.
Among Bruce's army is said to have been a contingent of men from the "youthful" Clan Cameron, perhaps being led by John de Cameron, the supposed VII Chief and Captain of Clan Cameron. It should be noted that this collection of West Highlanders would probably not have been referred to as "Clan Cameron" at this early period. As to the Cameron men's numbers, it is thought that they made up only a very slight portion of Bruce's 5,500 trained men. In addition to being outnumbered approximately four-to-one, the Scots brought just 500 light cavalry to the field, in comparison to Edward's 2,000 heavy cavalry. Edward also brought 17,000 archers and spear-wielding foot soldiers, in comparison to the "few" archers which the Scots army had recruited from the Ettrick Forest.
As the battle began that June 24th Edward II foolishly advanced his cavalry across the Bannock Burn, taking up a position on the Carse between the Pelstream Burn and the Bannock Burn, falling into Bruce's trap by confining his mobile force into an impossibly narrow area. Robert the Bruce's brother Edward, commanding the men of Galloway, Aberdeen and the south-east Highlands, met the English frontal assault. Edward Bruce's schiltrons repulsed the English cavalry, killing their commander. When the English archers opened their massive assault upon the Scottish army's left flank, Bruce immediately brought his cavalry into action, driving the celebrated bowmen from the field. Then, at this key moment of battle, Bruce brought in his reserve division so explosively that the rapidly retreating English army became unavoidable targets for their own back line of archers.
Edward II decided at this point that he had seen enough, rushing to the relative safety of Stirling Castle. However, Sir Phillip Mowbray, governor of the castle, refused to admit him entry. Consequently, Edward II fled towards Dunbar. Knowing that their king had deserted them left the English army with little fighting spirit. Suddenly, from behind Coxet Hill, there appeared the "small folk," kept in reserve for this purpose. To the battle-weary eyes of the English, this looked like a wild attack by fresh Scottish troops. The English right flank tried to follow their King from the field, their center headed for the waters of the Forth, and their left fell back like "human debris" into the Bannock Burn.
Not only were the English totally defeated in pitched battle, but Bruce grabbed valuable hostages and Edward II's mighty train of equipment, all £200,000 of it, was left to the Scots. Although it would be an additional fourteen years until the war with England was officially over, there was no doubt that Robert the Bruce and his men had won its most decisive battle. | <urn:uuid:fb20d6fa-e606-43a7-92a5-4492b2fd05a3> | CC-MAIN-2017-22 | http://www.clan-cameron.org/battles/1314.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463608870.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20170527055922-20170527075922-00019.warc.gz | en | 0.9834 | 757 | 3.546875 | 4 |
Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking'
More About Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking'
- Fragrant white flowers
- Glossy purple-black berries persist for a long period
- Shiny green foliage turns to an outstanding red in the fall
- Attracts birds
- Salt tolerant
- Bloom Time: Spring
'Viking' is a selection of the species that was found to flower somewhat later, and to produce larger berries than the species
Black Chokeberry Growing and Maintenance Tips
Chokeberry tolerates a wide range of soils and conditions including boggy. Will grow in full sun to partial shade, although best fruit production usually occurs in full sun. Remove root suckers to prevent colonial spread.
Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking' Characteristics
Moist to Wet Soils
Moist to Average | <urn:uuid:c230288a-56a6-41e5-8ed0-de4b0ae4b64f> | CC-MAIN-2019-18 | https://www.connonnurseries.com/plant/Aronia-melanocarpa-Viking | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578548241.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20190422075601-20190422101601-00165.warc.gz | en | 0.791347 | 179 | 2.515625 | 3 |
A uterine rupture occurs when there’s a separation of the uterine wall at the site of a prior cesarean incision. They often occur in women who are attempting a vaginal delivery after having had a prior cesarean (VBAC). If the uterine tear goes deep enough, the consequences for both the baby and the mother can be severe — immediate surgical intervention is required.
What happens if the necessary surgical intervention isn’t received?
If a cesarean delivery isn’t performed immediately, the baby can die because his or her oxygen supply is cut off. The optimal window for the baby’s survival is only somewhere between 10-40 minutes after the rupture. In addition, the mother may die from severe blood loss. Even with prompt surgical intervention, there’s the possibility that the mother will have to have a total hysterectomy in order to stop the uterine bleeding.
When should a doctor know in advance that a woman is at risk of a uterine rupture?
Only around 1 percent of women attempting a VBAC are likely to have a uterine rupture. They do, however, tend to share certain risk factors:
— Their cesarean scar is either vertical, T-shaped or J-shaped, due to the position and size of the baby that was previously delivered.
— The previous cesarean was less than 18-24 months prior to the new pregnancy.
— Labor is induced and causes extremely hard contractions. Misoprostol, a drug commonly used to induce labor, should never be used during a VBAC.
— Single-layer sutures were used to close the previous cesarean instead of double-layer sutures. This illustrates the importance of making sure that a pregnant woman’s prior medical records are carefully reviewed before any decisions on a VBAC are made.
— Mothers who have had multiple cesareans, have suffered from fever following a cesarean or are aged 30 or older are generally poor candidates for a VBAC.
If you suffered the loss of a child or a permanent injury because your doctor didn’t recognize the signs that a VBAC was too dangerous, you may be entitled to recover financially for your damages. While nothing may help replace your biggest loss, the financial consequences due to your medical bills, lost time at work and other problems can also be severe. Compensation can help ease those financial struggles. Talk to an attorney who is familiar with birth injury lawsuits for more advice.
Source: VBAC.com, “What Is A Uterine Rupture and How Often Does It Occur?,” accessed March 28, 2017 | <urn:uuid:c60ee310-4367-4301-a5c9-7e745076b8dc> | CC-MAIN-2022-05 | https://www.lawdoctors.com/blog/2017/03/did-your-doctor-miss-the-signs-of-a-potential-uterine-rupture/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320304572.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20220124155118-20220124185118-00705.warc.gz | en | 0.954217 | 564 | 2.609375 | 3 |
A Man's A Man For A' That (Wilson)
Scottish Country Dance InstructionA MAN'S A MAN FOR A' THAT (S8x32) 3C (4C set) Thomas Wilson RSCDS Book 30
1- 8 1s+2s set twice and dance RH across to places
9-16 1s lead down, ½ turn RH and lead up to face 2s (1s BtoB in centre facing 2s who have stepped up), set and 1s face 1st corners
17-24 1s turn 1st corner RH, turn partner LH, turn 2nd corner RH and cross LH to 2nd place own sides
25-32 2s+1s+3s dance Grand Chain
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Instruction VideosA Man's A Man For A' That (Wilson) - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video
Dance InformationThe title of this dance, A Man's A Man For A' That, comes from the A Man's A Man For A' That - Poem written by Robert Burns in 1795.
This poem (also known as "Is There For Honest Poverty") is famous for its expression of egalitarian ideas of society, which may be seen as expressing the ideas of liberalism that arose in the 18th century.
A Man's A Man For A' That First Verse;
That hings his head, an' a' that;
The coward slave-we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.
"Portrait Of Burns" Alexander Nasmyth (1758-1840), c. 1787
Published in https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Is_there_for_honest_Poverty
Image copyright Alexander Nasmyth [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. | <urn:uuid:0c3ebc6e-9609-447d-b127-b137acf516db> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/dance-crib/mans-a-man-for-a-that.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510149.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20230926043538-20230926073538-00817.warc.gz | en | 0.86192 | 453 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Mourners gathered in Ferguson earlier this week to bury Michael Brown, 18, gunned down by Officer Darren Wilson, two days before he was set to begin college. In honor of Brown and his family, this is a clarion call to the South Asian community at large to demonstrate solidarity with the protesters in Ferguson and with the organizations and activists that are trying to stop police brutality all over the country.
South Asian Americans are natural allies in the fight against racist law enforcement practices, as we are no strangers to religious and racial profiling. We all know someone who has been stopped by the cops one time too often, whose mosque is infiltrated by members of law enforcement, who gets harassed in public due to their religious headgear. Many of us are resigned to being stopped “randomly” when its time to board a flight or cross a border. We spend time wondering whether the authorities are keeping files on us or our family members.
We know what it’s like to be singled out because of things we can’t control, like our race, our community, or our religion.
The country is currently in an uproar about a very different kind of discrimination: the discrimination and violence that African-Americans face by law enforcement and self-styled vigilantes. The furor in Ferguson is a manifestation of the rage that exists at the injustice of this situation.It is a kind of bigotry borne out of the assumption that black folks in this country are inherently lawless criminals or thugs, and it goes back as far as slavery. Despite common assumptions that racism was definitively defeated during the Civil Rights Movement, the African-American community has long insisted that the work hasn’t been completed yet. The evidence suggests that they are right; black people in America still do not lead equal lives, as compared to white people. The furor in Ferguson is a manifestation of the rage that exists at the injustice of this situation.
Though our struggles aren’t the same, we, as South Asian Americans, have every reason Though our struggles aren’t the same, we, as South Asian Americans, have every reason to support the African-American community at this time.to support the African-American community at this time. We must work towards change, so that no black person ever again faces the experience of Michael Brown, gunned down by the police with their hands up, begging for their lives. This involves a commitment, by progressive South Asian Americans, to work towards change in our own communities so that we do not inadvertently work to reinforce antiblack racism in this country, which is at the root of the police brutality which murdered Michael Brown.
As American citizens and residents, we cannot help but be aware of the enormous racial disparities that exist in this country; of a story that has been unfolding long before most of us came to this country. It is a story of stark division between black and white in America, of immense injustice, of slavery and apartheid, of implicit segregation and discrimination.
South Asian Americans have existed as bit players in this grand racial narrative, presenting on either side of the black/white binary at various times throughout history. At times, we have allied with black people and other communities of color, choosing to identify as distinctively non-white, and have therefore faced similar racism from the white establishment.
At other times, we have embraced the role of model minority; allowed ourselves to be hailed as “the good ones”, dark-skinned people who appear to have functional family lives and work ethics (as opposed to the “dysfunctional” African-American community), told to serve as role-models for black people to follow. It is in this role that some of us have sided with the white establishment, and have reinforced antiblack racism.
Unfortunately, we often come to America with our own special brand of indigenous antiblack racism — centuries of British colonial racism plus millennia of casteist colorism have colluded to create a deep suspicion of anyone who looks “African” in South Asian culture.
Some of us follow black people around in our stores, we report “suspicious” looking black youth to the cops, we choose to not date black people or forbid our children to date or befriend their black peers. Many of us are fiercely proud of our own heritage and how successful we South Asians have been in America, neglecting to understand that we are a mostly self-selected population; it is the already-privileged who have the strongest chances of immigrating to the United States, and that we come with certain social and economic benefits that the native African-American population doesn’t have.
It is in this capacity that we urge you to #StartTheConversation with your South Asian friends and families about Ferguson, #StartTheConversation with your South Asian friends and families about Ferguson.and why it is important that we stop perpetuating or staying silent on racist views in our communities, why we should vocally support those in the African-American community who are working towards change, and why we should stop keeping silent when our white friends and colleagues find ways to justify Darren Wilson’s murder of Michael Brown.
Start the conversation in your mosque, temple or gurudwara, your local college South Asian association, your Indian grocery stores and community centers. Start it on Facebook and Twitter, get people who don’t often talk about these issues to open up. Work to change hearts and minds. Because in the end, the only people who can change the views of our community, are us.
Jaya Sundaresh lives in Chandigarh, India. She grew up in various parts of the Northeast in the U.S. before deciding to study political science at McGill University. Follow her on Twitter at @anedumacation. | <urn:uuid:d7e9558e-08a6-4cb4-a7c5-13a7f2fbc38e> | CC-MAIN-2019-35 | http://theaerogram.com/south-asians-ferguson-showing-solidarity/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027317274.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20190822151657-20190822173657-00323.warc.gz | en | 0.963528 | 1,191 | 2.59375 | 3 |
For 19th century baseball loyalists in Syracuse, a June afternoon in 1885 guaranteed a slice of history. The Syracuse Stars, a minor league power, were hosting the Providence Grays, world champions of baseball’s major leagues. Three thousand fans packed Star Park, while hundreds more climbed trees or searched for vantage points outside the stadium.
While the fans were right — it was profoundly historic — it was hardly because the Grays won a meaningless exhibition by a score of 4-1.
It mattered because the man calling balls and strikes was an African-American.
The real question is how he interpreted and called the 1885 pitching rules, which require the pitcher to keep both feet on the ground throughout the pitching motion, which is pretty much impossible. | <urn:uuid:ace8e16d-73ab-4586-af9f-814a80bffd6e> | CC-MAIN-2017-04 | http://www.tuttlesvc.org/2011/02/another-grays-historical-first.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279368.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00254-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980628 | 154 | 3.25 | 3 |
|My Holiday Portfolio
Dear Kindergarten Student,
I am a teacher in San Diego, California. I am learning to use the computer and the Internet just like you. I was lucky to be chosen to write a computer unit for you on holidays.
Holidays are special days we celebrate to remember a special event or time. Each of us has a personal holiday that we celebrate to remember the day we were born. What is that day called? My special day is June 23. What is your special day?
Many people around the world have different days to celebrate. We do not all celebrate the same holidays. We must all respect each other's special days because this is a way we show respect for each other. One of the best ways to show respect is to learn about holidays of many people.
Enjoy these lessons.
Mrs. Garrison ~ Click here to meet me.
Grade level: Kindergarten
Unit 6: Holiday Celebrations
Lesson Length: Selected Days throughout the school year
History-Social Science Content Standards:
- K.5 Students put events in temporal order by using a calendar, placing days,
- weeks, and months in proper order.
- K.6 Students understand that history relates to events, people, and places of
- other times, in terms of:
- 1. The purposes of, and the people and events honored in, commemorative holidays, including the human struggles that were behind the events (e.g., Thanksgiving, Independence Day, Washington's and Lincoln's Birthdays, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day.
- History-Social Science Thinking Standards: Grades Kindergarten-5
- Chronological & Spatial Thinking
- 1.Students place key events and people of the historical era they are studying both in a chronological sequence and within a spatial context; they interpret timelines.
2.Students apply terms related to time correctly, including past, present, future, decade, century, and generation.
- 3.Students explain how the present is connected to the past, identifying both similarities and differences between the two, and how some things change over time and some things stay the same.
- Language Arts Standards Kindergarten
- 1. Reading Comprehension and Analysis of Grade-Level-Appropriate Text
- 2.2 Use pictures and context to make predictions about story content.
- 2.3 Connect to life experiences the information and events in texts.
- 2.4 Retell familiar stories.
- 2.5 Ask and answer questions about essential elements of a text.
- 2. Listening and Speaking
- Students listen and respond to oral communication. They speak in clear and coherent sentences.
- 1.1. Understand and follow one- and two-step oral directions
- 1.2. Share information and ideas, speaking audibly in coherent, complete sentences
Lesson Purpose: This is a year long unit consisting of three student lessons. Lesson 1 introduces the portfolio. Students are instructed to decorate their folder and save their work throughout the year. Lesson 2 contains pages for each month of the year and highlights one or two special days with information and activities. Interactive activities were chosen when possible to introduce the use of the computer. Lesson 3 is a review of the assignments in the portfolio and invitations to the parents to attend a portfolio party.
Provide students with folders to be used as their Holiday Portfolios. Brainstorm the names of different holidays. Make lists of holiday traditions and special foods. Allow students to decorate the inside of the portfolio with drawings of their favorite holiday and save the outside to decorate in Lesson 3. Students will complete a Holiday Kinder-Log each month with a report on one of the holidays observed that month. Please print one of the log forms and xerox extra copies.
This activity continues throughout the year. There are student lessons for each month of the year and corresponding teacher guides. Discuss with students: Celebrations reflect values that are important in a given culture. There are many different types of celebrations. Individuals and groups celebrate for many different reasons. Special food, clothes, music, symbols, and events may be associated with various celebrations. Honor all people by honoring their special days.
Student Guide January Teacher Guide
- Student Guide February Teacher Guide
Student Guide March Teacher Guide
Student Guide April Teacher Guide
Student Guide May Teacher Guide
Student Guide June Teacher Guide
Student Guide July Teacher Guide
Student Guide August Teacher Guide
Student Guide September Teacher Guide
Student Guide October Teacher Guide
Student Guide November Teacher Guide
Student Guide December Teacher Guide
- Schedule a portfolio sharing party for parents near the end of the school term. Students may design invitations on the computer. They may display favorite assignments from the portfolios and make oral presentations.
- Helpful Links
- Using computers in the kindergarten classroom
- Extensive list of holiday sites
- Multicultural Links to Holiday Sites
Evaluation to be based on:
- Ability of the student to follow directions
- Group participation when applicable
- The Kinder-Log holiday activity summaries
- The contents and presentation of the portfolio
- Barbara Garrison
- San Diego USD | <urn:uuid:654dd0c7-9df0-45d2-af6b-1c50d5034682> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/holiday_site/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403508.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00045-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.905901 | 1,074 | 3.96875 | 4 |
PAW-fect health: the health benefits of pet ownership
This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the furry loves of our lives! Our animals’ love is only one benefit of owning a pet, but did you know that it could improve your health?
Research shows that owning a pet can improve:
- Stress levels
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
- Social support
- And help you stay in shape!
Not only can pets help improve your physical health, but they can improve mental health! Pets have been found to contribute to a strong sense of identity, security, and routine, and distract from distressing symptoms in people with long-term mental health struggles.
For aging adults, pets can improve feelings of loneliness, reduce depressive symptoms, and improve cognitive function.
Pets are also proven to be great for kids’ health and development.
Our furry friends can:
- Increase cognitive stimulation
- Improve behavior in children
- Heighten understanding of others
- Increase immunity
- Lower anxiety levels
Owning a pet can be great for the entire family’s mental and physical health! Whatever your reasoning for owning your pet, they certainly provide a whole lot of love. | <urn:uuid:ec0d08a0-4c86-4bb1-84ea-d2f5ec25f41d> | CC-MAIN-2022-21 | https://humanesocietyofsoutheasttexas.org/news/paw-fect-health-the-health-benefits-of-pet-ownership/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-21/segments/1652662627464.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20220526224902-20220527014902-00164.warc.gz | en | 0.907205 | 255 | 2.71875 | 3 |
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When I was researching possible destinations to visit in Bolivia, I stumbled across Sucre. Over and over again I read how Sucre was “The Most Beautiful City in Bolivia”.
Intrigued, I did a quick image search on Google and was instantly sold on visiting once I saw the photos that showed up.
White washed colonial buildings, bell towers and rooftop terraces filled my computer screen.
The photographer in me started drooling.
What was there to do in Sucre? I didn’t know and didn’t really care. I just knew that I wanted to stand on a rooftop and gaze over La Ciudad Blanca, the White City.
I may have been drawn to Sucre by its outward appearance, but during our time there we discovered a relaxed and proud city that was integral to the formation of Bolivia.
Sucre is located in the southern part of Bolivia’s Central Highlands, set in a valley surrounded by low mountains.
The city was established in 1538, during the Spanish colonial era, as Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo (City of Silver of New Toledo).
After many years of discontent under Spanish rule, a push for independence began in Sucre in 1809. It would take 16 years of struggle and war before the republic of Bolivia was declared in Sucre on August 6, 1825.
On July 12, 1839 the city was renamed Sucre, in honour of revolutionary leader Antonio José de Sucre, and proclaimed in the constitution to be the capital city of Bolivia.
UNESCO inscribed Sucre on its World Heritage list in 1991 because the city’s well-preserved architecture illustrates the blending of local traditions with European styles.
Our One Day Visit to Sucre- Things to See and Do
Unlike most places we visit, we arrived without a plan of what we wanted to see and do in Sucre. Instead we were looking forward to a relaxing day in a scenic city.
Our one day in Sucre was enjoyable, and we did end up visiting some attractions, but overall felt that Sucre didn’t have any “must-see” sites. The city’s draw is definitely more in its history, Spanish colonial architecture and pleasant atmosphere, than in any specific tourist attractions.
Although there wasn’t one main site that drew us here, there were plenty of smaller discoveries that made our trip to Sucre a satisfying one. Here’s a look at how we spent one day in Sucre!
Plaza 25 de Mayo
Plaza 25 de Mayo is the city’s main square and gathering place. It is surrounded by some of the city’s most important buildings including the Cathedral, Liberty House and State Government Building.
The square is nicely broken up with sections of grass and gardens creating a park-like feel. Big trees shade the walkways and some statues are on display, making it a nice place to sit and rest.
Casa de la Libertad (Liberty House)
You could easily fill a day in Sucre visiting museums but if you only want to check out one, it should be the Liberty House museum.
Casa de la Libertad is considered the birthplace of Bolivia because the Declaration of Independence was signed here in 1825.
Liberty House is now a museum chronicling the turbulent history of Bolivia, which is actually quite fascinating. You can even see the Charter of Independence proudly on display in the Salon de la Independencia.
We had to wait in the courtyard for about 30 minutes for an English tour to start but it was definitely worth our time. Without a guide we would have missed out on some great stories and had no idea what we were looking at since the signs were in Spanish.
Parque Simon Bolivar
Parque Bolivar is a long, tree-lined park across from the Supreme Court and is a quiet place to enjoy a walk just outside the heart of the city.
The park feels somewhat European, in part because of the archway that greets you at the entrance. There’s also a miniature Eiffel Tower. Although it may not look like the original in Paris, it too was designed by Gustav Eiffel.
Convento de San Felipe de Neri
The convent of San Felipe de Neri was my favourite place in Sucre. This former monastery turned school is an exquisite piece of architecture and one of the best places to admire views of the city.
Inside you can see an interesting rendition of the Last Supper painted to include elements of the local culture. However, it was the inner courtyard surrounded by graceful arches that commanded my attention. I could have sat there for hours had I not known what was awaiting us on the rooftop.
At the top of the staircase we were greeted with a 360° panorama of Sucre so gorgeous I wanted to spend the rest of the day on the roof! From this elevated perspective we could really see why Sucre is nicknamed the “White City of the Americas”. I loved looking out over the tiled rooftops, enjoying an eye-level view of the city’s bell towers.
If you’re not claustrophobic, you can even climb up inside the convent’s bell tower for a slightly higher view of the city.
Walking uphill from the centre of town we arrived at Plaza Anzurez, another popular gathering place and lookout point in Sucre.
The plaza is bordered by La Recoleta Monastery on one end and a gorgeous colonnade on the other. And of course, we couldn’t help but notice the unique purple flowered tree in the corner.
On the hilltop just below the colonnade is Café Gourmet Mirador, a great place to enjoy a light meal. The outdoor seating area was perfect for lounging and taking in views of Sucre and the surrounding hills.
In a way I’m glad there wasn’t a whole lot of things to do in Sucre because that meant we could linger here without feeling the need to rush off to the next site.
Final Thoughts About Our Visit to Sucre
Sucre was certainly the most attractive city we visited in Bolivia but it was more than just a “pretty face”, offering plenty of opportunities to learn about Bolivia’s history.
One of the best things about Sucre was that we could get 4 or 5 star accommodations for less than $100 CAD/night. Most hotels we saw were smaller properties with courtyards and terraces, in true Spanish style. It was a pleasure to wake up in the morning and have breakfast on the rooftop patio!
While I enjoyed our day in Sucre, I’m surprised I didn’t fall in love with the city like I thought I would. Still, I’m glad we went because part of travel is learning about the countries you visit, and there was no better place to learn about Bolivia than in Sucre, the birthplace of the nation.
Tips for Visiting Sucre
- Getting There: Alcantarí International Airport is about 30 km from central Sucre. You can get there by minibus or taxi and should allow 40- 60 minutes. The bus terminal is a 15 minute uphill walk from the town centre.
- Getting Around: We were able to walk everywhere we wanted to go, but there are inexpensive buses and micros and can use. Taxis are also inexpensive if you want to venture out of the city centre.
- Casa de la Libertad: The Liberty House museum is open from 9:00 am-12:00 pm and 2:30 pm-6:30 pm Tuesday- Saturday and 9:00 am -12:00 pm on Sunday. Admission is B$15 and includes an optional guided tour, though you may have to wait around for an English one to start.
- Convento de San Felipe de Neri: Entry to the convent is via the school and costs B$10. It is open from 2:30 pm- 6:00 pm Monday- Saturday.
Information was correct at the time of publishing but can change without notice. Please confirm directly with service providers.
Accommodations in Sucre
For your convenience, here is a list of hotels in Sucre. Please consider booking your accommodations through the included link. It costs nothing extra and helps support this website. Thank you! | <urn:uuid:16e26524-3b79-4dc3-9c0a-70d892374980> | CC-MAIN-2019-51 | https://www.travelyesplease.com/travel-blog-sucre-bolivia/?reply-to=20924 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-51/segments/1575541308604.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20191215145836-20191215173836-00293.warc.gz | en | 0.959223 | 1,782 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Vitamin D, otherwise known as the “sunshine vitamin,” is vital for bone health but may soon be regarded as an important marker of health similar to cholesterol and blood pressure. Over the last few decades, scientists have looked past the skeletal support this micronutrient offers and are discovering that vitamin D may play a vital role in insulin, glucose, and inflammation regulation as well as potentially being a warning sign for different cardiovascular and endocrine diseases — including type 2 diabetes.
So What Exactly Is Vitamin D?
Vitamins are chemicals the body needs to function properly and are required to maintain good health. There are two main categories of vitamins: water soluble and fat soluble vitamins.
|Fat Soluble Vitamins||Water Soluble Vitamins|
|Vitamin A (retinol)||B1 Thiamine||B7 Biotin|
|Vitamin D||B2 Riboflavin||B9 Folate|
|Vitamin E||B3 Naicin||B12 Cobalamin|
|K||B5 Pantothenic acid||C Ascorbic acid|
As seen in the table above, water-soluble vitamins like vitamin B and vitamin C are generally excreted and can be replenished daily with little to no worry about toxicity for most people. Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D are stored in the liver and fatty tissue and are not always required daily by everyone (depending on your nutritional status).
Excessive amounts of vitamin D and other fat-soluble vitamins can be toxic, but being deficient in one of these vitamins can cause numerous other health problems as well.
Vitamin D is unlike any other micronutrient in that the body can produce its own from sunlight whereas most other vitamins are acquired by the foods you eat.
3 Ways to Get Vitamin D
The three main ways to get vitamin D are through sun exposure, vitamin D supplementation, and dietary intake.
The best way to get vitamin D is to get some sun exposure. After all, it is the “sunshine vitamin.” The human body was designed to convert the ultraviolet (UVB) rays from sunlight into vitamin D– the same UVB rays that can cause sunburn. Vitamin D is considered “inactive” until sunlight causes a chemical reaction producing vitamin D that is then sent throughout the body to the corresponding tissues.
The Vitamin D Council Organisation recommends little bits of sun exposure just shy of causing a skin burn to optimally produce enough vitamin D. The most vitamin D is produced in the middle of the day, with bigger parts of your body exposed like your back or chest– especially if you live closer to the equator.
Some people are at a greater disadvantage in producing optimal vitamin D levels from the sun including those who:
- Have a dark skin complexion
- Live farther away from the equator
- Are overweight
- Are older
- Stay covered up in the sun
For those people who can’t regularly achieve optimal vitamin D levels through sun exposure alone, vitamin D supplementation may be necessary. Below is a list of the recommended daily allowance and upper limits of vitamin D supplementation from the National Institute of Health
Dietary intake is the least effective way to get adequate amounts of vitamin d that the body needs but can still be helpful. Certain foods higher in vitamin d include:
- Cod liver oil
- Fatty fish like salmon or trout
Vitamin D is simply not abundant in food sources and does not serve as a reliable source so be sure to still get your sun exposure or talk to your doctor about supplementation.
Why Vitamin D Is So Important
Researchers discovered decades ago that vitamin D aided in bone strength and bone health as calcium and phosphorus, minerals needed for healthy bones, require the presence of vitamin D in order to be absorbed. A combined analysis of 12 fracture prevention trials that included more than 40,000 elderly people (mostly women) found that high intakes of vitamin D supplements reduced hip and non-spine fractures by 20 percent.1
With the benefits of vitamin D being well documented, researchers began exploring the possible negative side effects of not having enough vitamin D and found that those deficient in this micronutrient:
- Are twice as likely to have a heart attack as men who had adequate levels of vitamin D 2
- Have higher risk of heart failure, sudden cardiac death, stroke, overall cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular death 3, 4
- May be more likely to develop type 2 (possibly even type 1) diabetes as well as metabolic syndrome 5
Along with a CVD correlation, vitamin D levels may play a role in diabetes prevention and management.
Vitamin D & Diabetes
There are vitamin D receptors in almost all the cells in the body, suggesting vitamin D plays a role in most chemical processes but some of the more interesting roles in vitamin D include beta cell function and regulation– the cornerstone of diabetes.
Beta Cell Function & Insulin
The beta cells in the pancreas are responsible for producing and secreting insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the beta cells are destroyed by the body’s immune system and in type 2 diabetes, the beta cells attempt to over-produce insulin due to increasing insulin resistance caused by a variety of factors (lack of activity, excessive abdominal fat, genetics etc.).
Vitamin D, while still not completely definitive in relation to balancing glucose levels, is present in beta cells and may affect insulin production and secretion as insulin secretion is dependent on calcium (and calcium absorption is dependent on vitamin D). Some animal studies demonstrated removing vitamin D receptors, or creating a state of vitamin D deficiency, resulted in less insulin produced when needed and correcting vitamin D status restored proper insulin function. 6
Researchers have also noted a deficiency in vitamin D possibly related to decreased insulin sensitivity, which is seen prior to and post T2DM diagnosis. 7
Parathyroid Hormone & Insulin Resistance
Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked with an increase in parathyroid hormone, or hyperparathyroidism, which decreases insulin sensitivity as well.8
Note: bold arrows indicate firmly established cause and effect relationships and dotted arrows are relationships that are still in question
More and more evidence is showing vitamin D levels may be something to check and improve for overall health, improvement of diabetes management, and decreased risk of complications.
Preventing Diabetes With Vitamin D
A multitude of studies have explored the amount of vitamin D people get related to the incidence of T2DM.
- A 2006 report from the Nurse’s Health Study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, followed over 80,000 women for 20 years. Women in the study who had both a calcium intake of more than 1,200 mg and a vitamin D intake of more than 800 IU had a 33% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. 9
- A 2011 study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a higher vitamin D intake decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 13% compared with a lower vitamin D intake. Individuals with the highest vitamin D status had a 43% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those in the lowest group. 10
- A 2013 study in Diabetes Care showed that higher vitamin D levels in mice were associated with decreased prevalence of T2DM. Specifically, each 10 nmol/L increment in vitamin D levels was associated with a 4% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. 11
While a variety of studies link the prevalence of T2DM to vitamin D deficiency and attempt to reduce prevalence through vitamin D supplementation, evidence is just not conclusive in asserting vitamin D can significantly reduce or prevent T2DM. Further, large-scale human trials need to be conducted to prove more significance.
Diabetes Complications & Vitamin D
The most common complication in patients with T2DM is cardiovascular disease, and research is approaching significance between vitamin D deficiency and markers for CVD.
Research up until 2017 as been very inconclusive: A wide variety of studies attempt to link vitamin D deficiency to diabetes (primarily T2DM) and cardiovascular disease, regarding vitamin D as a potential preventative or treatment measure for improved glucose homeostasis but lack the significance in their findings.
Multiple studies have drawn a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance while other studies have reported no significance or effect of vitamin D. Meta-analysis pooling over 50 studies in the last 40 years concluded the small sample sizes and predominant observational methods just don’t provide enough data to say concretely that vitamin D helps control glucose levels or prevent/reduce insulin resistance in T2DM’s.
Recently, at the Endocrine Society’s annual event, ENDO 2017, vitamin D deficiency was found to be significantly associated with an increase in LDL, or “bad cholesterol”, marking early cardiovascular disease and suggesting that vitamin D deficiency may have negative effects on health with increase in cardiovascular risk among individuals with low vitamin D concentrations. 12 This study highlights the role of monitoring vitamin D levels in children and adolescents who are overweight and obesity, and the potential benefits of improving vitamin D status to reduce the common cardiometabolic risk T2DM patients face.
Marisa Censani, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist and director of the Pediatric Obesity Program in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, N.Y disclosed a significant connection between obesity as a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency:
“These findings suggest that vitamin D deficiency may have negative effects on specific lipid markers with an increase in cardiovascular risk among children and adolescents […] This research is newsworthy because this is one of the first studies to assess the relationship of vitamin D deficiency to both lipoprotein ratios and non-high density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol, specific lipid markers impacting cardiovascular risk during childhood, in children and adolescents with obesity.”
Vitamin D deficiency may be an important marker for cardiometabolic risk factors that often affect people with T2DM, and might become a regular screening tool in health as research continues.
Potential Downfalls in Vitamin D Research
Vitamin D deficiency is often seen in association with a higher BMI, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, and insulin resistance– all factors that commonly precede type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Vitamin D deficiency may very well be a significant factor in numerous conditions and diseases like T2DM but there are quite a few limitations in the research.
The findings from a majority of studies on vitamin D related to improved glucose homeostasis through insulin regulation are limited to very small sample sizes, usage of multiple different vitamin D compounds and dosing regimens, significant variance in protocols, and large collection of studies with null or negative findings.
There is a general lack of consistency in vitamin D intervention outcomes on insulin secretion and sensitivity.
In addition, the majority of studies investigating the association between vitamin D and insulin metabolism have used BMI, rather than a direct measure of body fat. The accuracy of BMI has been questioned for years. Many studies have not accounted for other factors linking vitamin D and insulin sensitivity, such as physical activity and calcium intake as well, which can be great ways to improve insulin sensitivity.
Ultimately, larger, randomized control trials need to be performed to definitively say there is a clear benefit of using vitamin D in terms of diabetes prevention and treatment.
Until then, taking vitamin D supplements within a healthy range and getting some sun exposure won’t hurt you and can possibly help you reduce risk for CVD as well as potentially improve insulin sensitivity, aiding in glucose regulation in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers are enthusiastic about this cheap, safe, and effective solution that can hopefully make a big impact in the lives of diabetics.
If you have T2DM or even T1DM, talk to your doctor about checking your vitamin D levels and taking vitamin D supplements.
Disclaimer: Don’t take vitamin D in place of any medications you are currently prescribed. This article does not serve as medical advice and in no way is encouraging supplementation or a change in medical management self-practice unless directed by your doctor. Talk to your doctor regarding any changes you wish to make or questions you have regarding your health and diabetes management.
- Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB, et al. Prevention of nonvertebral fractures with oral vitamin D and dose dependency: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2009; 169:551-61.
- Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of myocardial infarction in men: a prospective study. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168:1174-80.
- Pilz S, Marz W, Wellnitz B, et al. Association of vitamin D deficiency with heart failure and sudden cardiac death in a large cross-sectional study of patients referred for coronary angiography. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008; 93:3927-35.
- Pilz S, Dobnig H, Fischer JE, et al. Low vitamin D levels predict stroke in patients referred to coronary angiography. Stroke. 2008; 39:2611-3. 23. Wang TJ, Pencina MJ, Booth SL, et al. Vitamin D deficiency and risk of cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2008; 117:503-11.
- Hypponen E, Laara E, Reunanen A, Jarvelin MR, Virtanen SM. Intake of vitamin D and risk of type 1 diabetes: a birth-cohort study. Lancet. 2001; 358:1500-3. 42. Zipitis CS, Akobeng AK. Vitamin D supplementation in early childhood and risk of type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dis Child. 2008; 93:512-7.
- Zeitz U, Weber K, Soegiarto DW, et al. Impaired insulin secretory capacity in mice lacking functional vitamin D receptor. Faseb Journal, 2003.
- M J Soares, W Chan She Ping-Delfos. Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in insulin resistance of abdominal obesity: cause or effect? European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2011) 65, 1348–1352; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2011.111; published online 29 June 2011
- Chiu KC, et al. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction. Am J Clin Nutr, 2004.
- Sur Dipanshu, Chakravorty R (2015) The Relationship between Vitamin D, Insulin Resistance and Infertility in PCOS Women . Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale) 5:294. doi: 10.4172/2161-0932.1000294
- Pittas AG1, Dawson-Hughes B, Li T, Van Dam RM. Vitamin D and calcium intake in relation to type 2 diabetes in women. Diabetes Care. 2006 Mar;29(3):650-6.
- Mitri J, Muraru MD, Pittas Ag. Vitamin D and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2011
- Censani M, et al. SUN-342. Presented at: The Endocrine Society Annual Meeting; April 1-4, 2017; Orlando, Fla.
Photo Credits: Brina Blum (Unsplash) and Adobe Stock Photos | <urn:uuid:51083ebe-dc54-4a21-b040-ed7dc39de6c2> | CC-MAIN-2018-05 | https://www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/vitamin-d-and-its-role-in-diabetes-402285/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084887746.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20180119045937-20180119065937-00060.warc.gz | en | 0.898918 | 3,209 | 3.625 | 4 |
Viruses are everywhere! I think we all know that because we are currently in a COVID-19 pandemic. These tiny proteins only have one mission…multiply using a host’s cells. A host is the animal/plant that has the virus inside of it. They are the ones that might get sick. These viruses inject their genetic information inside of a cell and use that cell as a “copy machine”. Soon, the viruses multiply and start attacking more cells. Our immune system, or the body’s defense system starts fighting these viruses right away! That is why you get sick.
Viruses are microscopic, meaning that they can only be seen using a microscope. That means that they are super small. But, how could the tiny viruses of Earth stack up to the Moon? It is all because there are so many of them! Viruses exist everywhere in the world, from the cold poles to the scorching deserts! They do this because they have the ability to enclose themselves and go dormant, meaning that they only come back to life if they are inside of a host’s cell. There are billions of viruses on Earth, which could all be stacked up to reach the Moon! That distance is over 280,000 miles!!
Remember to come back to the “Fact of the Day” page for tomorrow’s fun fact! | <urn:uuid:c0b1e498-2f14-4dd2-a362-bd5ef6084275> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://membership.spectacularsci.com/fact-of-the-day/2021/11/21/november-21st-fact-of-the-day.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949694.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20230401001704-20230401031704-00081.warc.gz | en | 0.956327 | 286 | 3.421875 | 3 |
Partisan politics in the United States
Partisan politics in the United States has several unique characteristics. Many of America's Founding Fathers hated the thought of political parties. They were sure quarreling factions would be more interested in contending with each other than in working for the common good. They wanted individual citizens to vote for individual candidates, without the interference of organized groups — but this was not to be.
By the 1790s, different views of the new country's proper course had already developed, and those who held these opposing views tried to win support for their cause by banding together. The followers of Alexander Hamilton, the Hamiltonian faction, took up the name "Federalist"; they favored a strong central government that would support the interests of commerce and industry. The followers of Thomas Jefferson, the Jeffersonians and then the "Anti-Federalists," took up the name "Republican Party" (referred to as the "Democratic-Republicans" by historians to distinguish it from the modern Republican party); they preferred a decentralized agrarian republic in which the federal government had limited power. By 1828, the Federalists had disappeared as an organization, replaced by the Whigs, brought to life in opposition to the election that year of President Andrew Jackson. Jackson's presidency split the Republican party: Jacksonians became the "Democratic-Republicans" and those following the leadership of John Quincy Adams became the "National Republicans." The Democratic-Republicans quickly shortened their name to the Democratic Party, and the system two-party dominance, still in existence today, was born. The United States thus has exceptionally old political parties.
In the 1850s, the issue of slavery took center stage, with disagreement in particular over the question of whether or not slavery should be permitted in the country's new territories in the West. The Whig Party straddled the issue and sank to its death; it was replaced in 1854 by the Republican Party, whose primary policy was that slavery be excluded from all the territories and any new states. Just six years later, this new party captured the presidency when Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860. By then, parties were well established as the country's dominant political organizations, and party allegiance had become an important part of most people's consciousness. Party loyalty was passed from fathers to sons, and party activities — including spectacular campaign events, complete with uniformed marching groups and torchlight parades — were a part of the social life of many communities.
By the 1920s, however, this boisterous folksiness had diminished. Municipal reforms, civil service reform, corrupt practices acts, and presidential primaries to replace the power of politicians at national conventions had all helped to clean up politics — and make it quite a bit more serious minded.
Two-party system development
America has historically had many minor or third political parties. They tend to serve a means to advocate polices that eventually are adopted by the two major political parties, i.e. the abolishment of slavery, and child labor laws. Some of these third political parties such as the Socialist Party, the Farmer Labor Party and the Populist Party developed an impressive degree of support, although limited electoral success.
Most officials in America are elected from single-member districts and win office by beating out their opponents in a system for determining winners called first-past-the-post — the one who gets the popularity wins, (which is not the same thing as actually getting a majority of votes). While some cities and the state of Illinois did experiment with proportional representation, the United States Congress banned the usage of that alternative voting method for federal legislative elections in 1967. This, too, encourages the two-party system.
Another critical factor has been ballot access law. Originally voters went to the polls and publicly stated which candidate they supported, later on this developed into a process whereby each political party would create its own ballot and thus the voter would put the party's ballot into the voting box. In the late nineteenth century, states became to adopt the Australian Secret Ballot Method and it eventually became the national standard. The secret ballot method ensured that the privacy of voters would be protected (hence government jobs could no longer be awarded to loyal voters) and each state would be responsible for creating one official ballot. The fact that states legislators were dominated by Democrats and Republicans provided an opportunity to possible discriminatory laws against minor political parties, yet such laws did not start to arise until the first so-called "Red Scare" that hit the United States after World War I. State legislators became to enact tough laws that made it harder for minor political parties to run candidates for office by requiring a high number of petition signatures from citizens and decreasing the length of time that such a petition could legally be circulated.
The election laws encourage the creation of a duopoly: one party in power, the other out. If those who are "out" band together, they have a better chance of beating those who are "in." Occasionally a third party does come along and receive a considerable share of the vote, although usually not for very long. The most successful third parties in recent years have been H. Ross Perot's Reform Party, which won 8% of the vote in the presidential election of 1996 (Perot himself won 19% of the vote in 1992, but the Reform Party did not yet exist) and the Libertarian Party, which has more than 400 members in elected office. Jesse Ventura became the only Reform Party candidate to win statewide office when he was elected governor of Minnesota in 1998.
Most third parties have a hard time surviving, though, because one or both of the major parties often adopt their most popular issues, and thus their voters. Also, voters who might otherwise favor a third party often hesitate to give them their votes because they are perceived as not having any realistic chance of winning, or because they fear their support for a third party will the divide the vote and cause the victory of the major party candidate least favorable to them.
It should also be noted that while the overwhelming majority of elected officials do identify with a political party, the political parties of the United States are much more individualistic than in other political systems (i.e. in a parliamentary system). More often than not, party members will "toe the line" and support their party's policies, but it is important to note that they are free to vote against their own party and vote with the opposition ("cross the aisle") if a particular policy is counter to the priorities and interests of their constituents.
"In America the same political labels — Democratic and Republican — cover virtually all public officeholders, and therefore most voters are everywhere mobilized in the name of these two parties," says Nelson W. Polsby, professor of political science, in the book New Federalist Papers: Essays in Defense of the Constitution. "Yet Democrats and Republicans are not everywhere the same. Variations — sometimes subtle, sometimes blatant — in the 50 political cultures of the states yield considerable differences overall in what it means to be, or to vote, Democratic or Republican. These differences suggest that one may be justified in referring to the American two-party system as masking something more like a hundred-party system."
Political spectrum of the two major parties
The political philosophy of both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party underwent a dramatic shift from their earlier philosophies during the second half of the twentieth century. From the 1860s to 1932 the Republican Party was considered to be the more left-wing of the two major parties and the Democratic Party the more right-wing of the two.
During the mid-1940s and the early 1960s both parties essentially expressed a more centrist approach to politics on the national level and had their liberal, moderate, and conservative wings equally influential within both parties.
After the 1964 presidential election, the conservative wing became more dominant in the Republican Party, and the liberal wing became more dominant in the Democratic Party.
After this, the liberal and conservative wings within the Democratic Party were competitive until 1972, when George McGovern's candidacy marked the triumph of the liberal wing. This similarly happened in the Republican Party with the candidacy and later landslide election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, which marked the triumph of the conservative wing.
With the political realignment being mostly complete after the 1980 election, each major party has largely become identified by its dominant political orientation.
Liberals within the Republican Party and the remaining conservatives within the Democratic Party have typically fulfilled the roles of so-called political mavericks, radical centrists, or brokers of compromise between the two major parties. They have also helped their respective parties gain in certain regions that might not ordinarily elect a member of that party, the Republican Party has especially used this approach with liberal Republicans such as Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki, Richard Riordan and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Organization of the parties
Unlike in some countries, American political parties are very loosely organized. The two major parties, in particular, have no formal organization at the national level that controls membership, activities, or policy positions, though some state affiliates do. Thus, for an American to say that he or she is a member of the Democratic or Republican party, is quite different from a Briton's stating that he or she is a member of the Labour party. In the United States, one can often become a "member" of a party, merely by stating that fact. In some U.S. states, a voter can register as a member of one or another party or vote in the primary election for one or another party, but such participation does not restrict one's choices in any way; nor does it give a person any particular rights or obligations with respect to the party. A person may choose to attend meetings of one local party committee one day and another party committee the next day. The sole factor that brings one "closer to the action" is the quantity and quality of participation in party activities and the ability to persuade others in attendance to give one responsibility.
Party identification becomes somewhat formalized when a person runs for partisan office. In most states, this means declaring oneself a candidate for the nomination of a particular party and intent to enter that party's primary election for an office. A party committee may choose to endorse one or another of those who is seeking the nomination, but in the end the choice is up to those who choose to vote in the primary, and it is often difficult to tell who is going to do the voting.
The result is that American political parties have weak central organizations and little central ideology, except by consensus. A party really cannot prevent a person who disagrees with the majority of positions of the party or actively works against the party's aims from claiming party membership, so long as the voters who choose to vote in the primary elections elect that person.
At the federal level, each of the two major parties has a national committee that acts as the hub for much fund-raising and campaign activities, particularly in presidential campaigns. The exact composition of these committees is different for each party, but they are made up primarily of representatives from state parties, affiliated organizations, and other individuals important to the party. However, the national committees do not have the power to direct the activities of individual members of the party.
Thus, although each party has a chairman, that chairman cannot truly be considered the party's "leader" and it is often difficult to define party leadership with respect to American political parties. The parties' leaders generally are those who persuade other members to follow their leads. Often the party leaders are de facto those members of the party who hold high office, such as the presidency, or leadership in the House of Representatives or the Senate. However, such leadership only functions to the extent that other party members are willing to go along. As a formal matter, an incumbent president is considered to be the ex officio head of his party, who selects its national committee chair, as is the presidential nominee of the opposing party in an election year (though the nominee's power to oust an incumbent chair is not absolute, and has not been tested in recent years).
Both parties also have separate campaign committees which work to elect candidates at a specific level. The most significant of these are the Hill committees, which work to elect candidates to each house of Congress.
State parties exist in all fifty states, though their structures differ according to state law, as well as party rules at both the national and the state level. | <urn:uuid:315dddd1-2a9c-4d24-a105-01bee3b9cac8> | CC-MAIN-2015-48 | http://www.conservapedia.com/Partisan | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-48/segments/1448398449160.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20151124205409-00156-ip-10-71-132-137.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974932 | 2,519 | 3.953125 | 4 |
A new nature reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will become the world’s largest continuous protected area for great apes, particularly the endangered bonobo species, the most human-like of all the apes. Larger than the state of Massachusetts, the new reserve encompasses 11,803 square miles of tropical rainforest, extremely rich in biodiversity and will protect both the bonobo and okapi, a rare forest giraffe found, like the bonobo, only in the DRC.
The Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) paved the way for the new reserve by developing a desire for conservation within the local people, who have endured much hardship during the recent war in the Congo, which devastated the local people and claimed four million lives — more than any war since WWII.
"The people of Sankuru relied on the forest for every aspect of their livelihood, said Sally Jewell Coxe, president and co-founder of the Bonobo Conservation Initiative. "Helping them to develop new economic opportunities apart from the bushmeat trade was one of the most urgent priorities."
Andre Tosumba, director of BCI’s Congolese NGO partner, ACOPRIK (Community Action for the Primates of Kasai), led the successful local effort to protect Sankuru. "When I saw the extent to which people were hunting bonobos, okapi, and elephants, we began to sensitize them to realize the value of these animals," he said. "Once they came to understand, the people themselves decided to stop hunting these precious species and to create a reserve to protect their forest."
"This is a monumental step towards saving a significant portion of the world’s second largest rainforest, of critical importance to the survival not only of humankind’s closest great ape relative, the bonobo, but to all life on earth given the increasing threat of climate change," said Sally Coxe.
In danger of extinction, bonobos (Pan paniscus) are found only in the DRC. They inhabit the heart of the Congo Basin, Africa’s largest rainforest, which is threatened by the onslaught of industrial logging. Bonobos are distinguished by their peaceful, cooperative, matriarchal society, remarkable intelligence, and sexual nature. Other than humans, bonobos are the only primates known to have sex not only for procreation, but also for pleasure and conflict resolution — and with members of either sex. They serve as a powerful flagship both for conservation and for peace.
In addition to the bonobo, it was discovered recently that the forests contain the okapi, an exotic short necked giraffe not previously found outside their known range far to the northeast. Sankuru also contains elephants, which have been hunted out in many other areas of the Congo forest, plus at least 10 other species of primates, including the rare owl faced monkey and blue monkey.
The DRC Minister of the Environment, who officially opened the new reserve, said, "This increases the total area of protected land in the DRC to 10.47%, bringing us closer to our goal of 15%. We are proud that the Sankuru Reserve is being created in the framework of community participative conservation… and will be zoned to guarantee the rights of the local population."
Initial financial support came from the Great Ape Conservation Fund, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and USAID’s Central African Regional Program for the Environment.
"This is a huge victory for bonobo and rainforest conservation," Coxe said. "However our work has just begun. Now we need investment to successfully manage the reserve. And, other areas need to be protected to ensure the long-term survival of the bonobo and the integrity of the Congo rainforest."
The Bonobo Conservation Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the survival of the highly endangered bonobo and its rainforest habitat in the Congo Basin. BCI works with indigenous Congolese people through cooperative conservation and community development programs and the government of the DRC to establish new protected areas and to safeguard bonobos wherever they are found. BCI has been selected as a featured charity in the Catalogue for Philanthropy for excellence, innovation and cost-effectiveness. You can help and find out more at their website, www.bonobo.org . | <urn:uuid:acc1b05c-ea00-4ef6-960a-89aa08567b41> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/bonobo-reserve-opens/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105700.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819162833-20170819182833-00375.warc.gz | en | 0.94793 | 884 | 3.25 | 3 |
Neutron scattering analysis of two families of iron-based materials suggests that the magnetic interactions thought responsible for high-temperature superconductivity may lie "two doors down": The key magnetic exchange pairings occur in a next-nearest-neighbor ordering of atoms, rather than adjacent atoms.
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee, using the Spallation Neutron Source's ARCS Wide Angular Range Chopper Spectrometer, performed spin-wave studies of magnetically ordered iron chalcogenides. They based their conclusions on comparisons with previous spin-wave data on magnetically ordered pnictides, another class of iron-based superconductors.
"As we analyze the spectra, we find that even though the nearest neighbor exchange couplings between chalcogenide and pnictide atoms are different, the next nearest neighbor exchange couplings are closely similar," said Pengcheng Dai, who has a joint appointment with ORNL's Neutron Sciences Directorate and the University of Tennessee.
Dai referred to theories that have suggested second-nearest-neighbor couplings could be responsible for the widely acclaimed but poorly understood properties of high-temperature superconductors.
"There are theories suggesting that it's the second nearest neighbor that drives the superconductivity," he said. "Our discovery of similar next-nearest-neighbor couplings in these two iron-based systems suggests that superconductivity shares a common magnetic origin."
Oliver Lipscombe of the University of Tennessee, Dai and ORNL's Doug Abernathy used the ARCS time-of-flight instrument on the SNS to study spin waves of the chalcogenide iron-tellurium superconductor and compared these with iron pnictide superconductors. Scientists have been studying the iron-based superconductors since their discovery in 2008 to see if the dynamics behind their high-temperature superconducting properties -- in which electricity flows without resistance at temperatures well above absolute zero -- could help explain what was until recently thought to be exclusive to copper-oxide-based superconductors.
"Finding commonalities is always a good step when you're looking for a very basic understanding of a phenomenon like high-temperature superconductivity," said Abernathy, who is lead instrument scientist for the ARCS instrument.
The team's neutron scattering analysis of the materials was made possible by the high intensity of the neutron beams provided by the SNS, which is the world's most powerful pulsed neutron source. Neutrons, which carry no electric charge but can act as subatomic magnets, are well suited for studying atom-scale spin characteristics.
"Since the interactions in the high-temperature superconductors are so strong, measurement of these materials' spin waves requires beams of energetic neutrons that were unavailable to the research community at this intensity before the SNS," Abernathy said.
Cite This Page: | <urn:uuid:8989d5e9-9a16-4c28-b157-f9af4d24c4a5> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110207151216.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464050960463.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524004920-00210-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939206 | 618 | 2.796875 | 3 |
The Atmospheric Structure Instrument/Meteorology Package (ASI/MET) is the mast and windsocks at the center of this color image, taken in stereo by the Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) on Sol 3. The instrument appears in two different sections due to image parallax. The ASI/MET is an engineering subsytem that acquired atmospheric data during Pathfinder's descent, and will continue to get more data through the entire landed mission. The windsocks are seen pointing almost completely up, representing little wind movement at the three locations of the windsocks. A rock at left holds a shadow of the ASI/MET, indicating the sun's position is at the rear right. Portions of a lander petal and deflated airbag are visible, in addition to several rocks of varying sizes in the distance.
Mars Pathfinder is the second in NASA's Discovery program of low-cost spacecraft with highly focused science goals. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, developed and manages the Mars Pathfinder mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. JPL is an operating division of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) was developed by the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory under contract to JPL. Peter Smith is the Principal Investigator.Click below to see the left and right views individually.
Photojournal note: Sojourner spent 83 days of a planned seven-day mission exploring the Martian terrain, acquiring images, and taking chemical, atmospheric and other measurements. The final data transmission received from Pathfinder was at 10:23 UTC on September 27, 1997. Although mission managers tried to restore full communications during the following five months, the successful mission was terminated on March 10, 1998. | <urn:uuid:ea30fc81-5d86-4288-a284-14178d3c2d28> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00695 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609533689.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005213-00062-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937362 | 364 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Paul Vick describes the purpose and concepts of the M Programming Language. The Microsoft code name “M†language is a declarative language for working with data and building domain models. “M†lets users write down how they want to structure and query their data using a textual syntax that is convenient to both author and reader. “M†does not mandate how data is stored or accessed, nor does it mandate a specific implementation technology. Rather, “M†is designed to allow users to write down what they want from their data without having to specify how those requirements are met by a specific technology or platform. | <urn:uuid:ea15cc64-8c53-4003-85b7-71fc271f22d8> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.softdevtube.com/2010/07/13/m-programming-language-with-paul-vick/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224657735.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20230610164417-20230610194417-00536.warc.gz | en | 0.90196 | 142 | 3.453125 | 3 |
For sale, human fetal stem cells: $200. Long used in medical research, such cells are at the center of controversy once more after a hidden camera video purportedly showed a Planned Parenthood doctor talking about the sale of fetal body parts.
The video was misleading, Planned Parenthood said in a statement, and the doctor was talking "about standard reimbursement fees for costs associated with tissue donation programs."
Still, scientists who have worked with fetal tissues told BuzzFeed News that they are uncomfortable with the seemingly callous tone of the doctor in the heavily edited video.
"I'm appalled that she didn't seem more sensitive," stem cell researcher Jeanne Loring at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, told BuzzFeed News. It could be, she added, that important context was cut out of the video. Still, based on the edited version, it seems that "she didn't have respect for the donors."
But these scientists argue that research with fetal tissues is conducted ethically, with payments simply covering the cost of handling and shipping the samples. Each abortion involves a wrenching decision for the woman concerned, Evan Snyder of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, also in La Jolla, told BuzzFeed News.
But once that decision is made, he said, "there are opportunities to use the tissue, so that somebody may be able to benefit from it."
Snyder was the first researcher to isolate human neural stem cells, which can develop into cells that may one day be used to help fix damaged brains. And he extracted those cells from fetal tissue.
"It's anguishing for everybody. But it's not unethical and there are rules around it," Snyder said.
Indeed, cells taken from aborted human fetuses have been used by medical researchers for more than five decades to create vaccines for everything from polio to measles, and to study ailments ranging from cancer to blindness.
They have also been used for transplant medicine — for example, to provide new insulin-producing cells to people with diabetes.
In 1961, Leonard Hayflick, a researcher at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, discovered that human fetal cells will divide about 50 times when placed in nutrients in a lab dish, even after freezing, making possible the generation of long-lived colonies of cells for research into diseases involving all types of organs.
Before that, most of the cells used in research came from cancers or other abnormal tissues. So fetal tissue made the study of normal, human healthy cells finally possible.
The catch was that these fetal cells came from aborted fetuses.
"Cells from one fetus have no doubt saved the lives of millions of people," Paul Offit of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia told the journal Nature in 2013, talking about just one cell line used by Hayflick to create vaccines. That WI-38 cell strain came from a female fetus from Sweden, aborted at 20 weeks of gestation.
The first criticisms of fetal cell research came in the early 1970s, around the same time that Roe v. Wade legalized U.S. abortions and researchers first began transplanting fetal cells into the brains of Parkinson's patients.
That line of research continues today: Last year, Harvard researchers announced that transplanted fetal brain cells had lived in a Parkinson's patient's brain for more than a decade.
In 1988, the Reagan administration banned the use of federal funds to support research using fetal cells. That moratorium ended in 1993 with a compromise bill that allowed women to donate tissues from aborted fetuses to medical research — but only if no payment was involved and they did not know the identity of anyone receiving the tissues in a transplant.
"It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human fetal tissue for valuable consideration," says the federal law. But the law does allow for reasonable compensation of costs involved in transferring cells to tissue banks, and these tissue banks, in turn, sell the cells to researchers.
The tissue bank company StemExpress of Placerville, California, mentioned in the hidden camera video, has not yet released a statement but told BuzzFeed News that one is forthcoming. Researchers have used cells from the tissue bank to research blindness and diabetes, for example.
At ATCC of Manassas, Virginia, the most eminent tissue bank, costs for human fetal cells range from about $200 to $550. ATCC did not respond to requests for comment from BuzzFeed News.
"As requirements for procurement of human biospecimens have changed through the years, ATCC's policies also have evolved to ensure that these standards are met," according to a statement on the company's website. "We continue to uphold and improve on these standards to ensure the integrity of our activities and the materials that are entrusted to us."
Despite all the attention on fetal cells, they are becoming less popular in medical research.
In the last decade, the fight over fetal cells was subsumed by a political battle over federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. That issue set the George W. Bush administration against medical researchers using those tissues, gathered from 6-day-old embryos, to study organ transplants.
Excitement over stem cells has largely overtaken fetal tissue, something that didn't come across in the video of a Planned Parenthood doctor discussing tissue extraction over a salad.
"Fetal cells are not a big deal in science anymore," bioethicist Art Caplan of New York University told BuzzFeed News. "What happened is stem cell tech then came on board, and gene therapy — there's just other techniques now. "
Some scientists disagree, pointing out that fetal cells remain useful for medical research. "I understand why people would want tissues like this," Loring said.
Fetal liver cells, she suggests, might play a role in toxicology studies conducted by pharmaceutical firms testing the safety of new drugs. And stem cell researchers may want cells from fetuses to compare with the tissues they are trying to grow.
Still, she said that fetal cells can be obtained through nonprofit sources.
"I have fetal tissue in my gene expression bank, but it was obtained locally [through an obstetrician]," she said. "We made sure that the informed consent was in place." | <urn:uuid:6d2aa685-4f03-466c-83a1-32b00318202b> | CC-MAIN-2019-51 | https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/fetal-tissue-in-research | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-51/segments/1575540525781.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20191210013645-20191210041645-00480.warc.gz | en | 0.962124 | 1,265 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Using sunscreen when you stay in the sun has become a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle. Your skin must be protected from the damage the harmful UV rays can cause. But have you ever considered what your sunscreen does to the environment around you? Most of the sunscreen and skincare products contain harmful chemicals that have disastrous consequences for natural life. It accumulates in the tissue of the coral inducing bleaching; affects fertility and reproduction of fish; deforms young sea urchins and impairs growth and photosynthesis of the Green Algae. In general, it disturbs the delicate balance of sea life. Now more than ever, it is crucial to act and switch to products that are safe for the environment. Whether it is reusing the packaging for different purposes or making sure that they come from a recycled source, paying attention to unnecessary additional packaging or investing in products like biodegradable sunscreens — taking decisive steps to look after Mother Earth should be now at the centre of our consumer choices.
Many sunscreens include harmful chemicals that destroy the environment.
As for marine life and sunscreen products, what are the most common offenders with a disastrous effect on the environment? Be most wary of Oxybenzone, Benzophenone-1, Benzophenone-8, OD-PABA, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, 3-Benzylidene Camphor, Nano-Titanium Dioxide, Nano-Zinc Oxide.
Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3) is one of the most common ingredients in sun care — over 3,500 products across the globe contain this harmful chemical. The compound usually affects the environment either through a wastewater effluent or, more commonly, through people swimming in the sea with sunscreen on. The damage to marine life is substantial, as it increases the probability of bleaching and DNA damage, resulting in abnormal growth and deformities of young coral that leads to significant coral reef degradation.
Benzophenone-2 is the second chemical that we need to be most aware of. Apart from being a common ingredient in sun care, it is also widely used in household cosmetics like soaps, creams and fragrances. Much like its previous “colleague”, it is highly toxic to corals. Yet, stopping using sunscreen products that contain it is not enough. Since BP-2 is not removed from most of the municipal wastewater treatment, the water containing the toxin is often released directly into the clean coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific and the Caribbean Sea.
Be responsible for your body and the environment
Remember that the plastic bottles are not the only thing that affects the environment — the pollution from sunscreen is equally damaging. It is up to every single person to protect the environment, and with conscious consumer choices, we all can contribute. Fortunately, many product alternatives are safe for the environment. The ideal option is a sunscreen that is kind to the marine life. IONIQ’s sun care series stays away from all the harmful chemicals . For more tips on how our products are safe to the environment, sign up to our newsletter below! | <urn:uuid:ecbcc2d7-cd17-47d6-a32e-fb8bee931463> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://ioniqskin.blog/2020/01/29/what-is-your-sunscreen-doing-to-the-environment/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371662966.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20200406231617-20200407022117-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.937007 | 636 | 3.421875 | 3 |
Vitæ Summa Brevis
Oh to be Decadent for a day. Part of the Decadent movement in poetry, that is. Back in the late 1900s, writers influenced by Gothic novels and those who turned from the realism of the day to include symbolism and a renewed appreciation of the aesthetic, earned the title "decadent" from their critics. Many of them embraced the term and applied it to themselves.
In some ways, the decadent movement is an outcropping of the Romantic era (think Victor Hugo and the like). It really is a bridge between the Romantic era and Modernism, if you, like me, studied those movements in college and therefore have some idea what it all means.
Ernest Dowson was one of the poets of the Decadent movement. He was raised mostly in France, but attended Oxford. He left without a degree, however, and then spent his life living pretty much hand-to-mouth. He contributed to The Critic, The Yellow Book (a literary magazine, not a phone book), and The Savoy, and belonged to the Rhymers' Club, which was founded by W.B. Yeats and Ernest Rhys. Oscar Wilde turned out for some of the meetings (when they were in private homes).
Dowson lost both of his parents to tuberculosis in the mid 1890's, and himself started to decline in health as well. When he was 22, he'd fallen in love with an eleven-year old girl (eww, ick, I know), and when he was 30, she married someone else. He died at the age of 32, either of tuberculosis or alcoholism, or a combination. But not before he wrote a few great poems that gave rise to other works of art in later years. His poem, Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae (from one of Horace's Odes: "I am not what once I was under the reign of the kind Cynara"). Dowson's poem was a paen to the young girl he'd loved, and a rich source of inspiration to later writers: The phrase "gone with the wind" inspired Margaret Mitchell to apply the phrase to her only novel; the last line of the same poem, "I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion" inspired Cole Porter's song, "Always True to You in my Fashion" (from Kiss Me, Kate).
Today's featured poem reminds us that "Lives are short."
Vitæ Summa Brevis
by Ernest Dowson
They are not long, the weeping and the laughter,
Love and desire and hate:
I think they have no portion in us after
We pass the gate.
They are not long, the days of wine and roses:
Out of a misty dream
Our path emerges for a while, then closes
Within a dream.
Caught "the days of wine and roses", did you? Yeah, he came up with that one too. Both the film and the song of the same name won the Oscar in 1963. Interesting that somebody you probably never heard of contributed to so many different forms of art with a few turns of phrase, isn't it? | <urn:uuid:c00bcca0-a035-4f53-903c-9e10348cac06> | CC-MAIN-2018-30 | http://kellyrfineman.blogspot.com/2007/03/vit-summa-brevis-oh-to-be-decadent-for.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676589573.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20180717051134-20180717071134-00619.warc.gz | en | 0.98238 | 669 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Stringy stools are not very common. There are several conditions that may cause stringy stools but it is hard to diagnose the exact cause without proper lab tests. Patients are often confused about what exactly is wrong with their stool. Some people think there are worms in their stools while others think there are parasites. No doubt, parasites may be seen in the stools as strings but not always.
Some common causes of stringy bowel movements are:
Irritable bowel syndrome
Overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics
Constipation is one of the most common causes of stringy stools. Chronic constipation is known to damage the internal lining of the colon (large intestine) which starts to produce excessive mucus. When present in excess, mucus is seen coming out with the stools. It is usually yellowish-white in color. These stools can mimic a parasitic infection because the streaks of mucus on the stools look like worms.
The best way to treat chronic constipation is through diet and exercise. Having your meals on time and taking more fluids is extremely effective and it relieves constipation efficiently. Adding few hours of exercise every week is also found to be helpful.
Many kinds of parasites are known to invade the human gastrointestinal tract and lay eggs. Pinworms are the most common intestinal parasites. They may remain asymptomatic (no symptoms) except long white or brown strings in the stools. Some patients, especially children, develop abdominal pain because of an infection caused by parasites. There is nothing to worry about with this condition because a general practitioner can easily treat it. It can also be treated with the help of over-the-counter anti-parasitic medications. It is advised to complete the whole course of medication because an incomplete course may result in the recurrence of the same parasite.
Your everyday meals play an important role in the production of your stool. You may notice undigested food coming along with your stools. Bananas, spicy foods, and excessive coffee may also result in stringy bowel movements.
Excessive stress and broad spectrum antibiotics are also known to cause stringy stools.
Stringy bowel movements are not a sign of severe disease. However, it should be kept in mind that it is often misdiagnosed.
It is best to get lab tests done at the recommendation of your doctor. Sometimes, a doctor will advise a colonoscopy or an endoscopy to rule out cancer or some other fatal disease.
Still have something to ask?
Get help from other members! | <urn:uuid:0c40cd79-59d6-4578-94f3-0736d3786a73> | CC-MAIN-2019-22 | https://www.steadyhealth.com/medical-answers/stringy-bowel-movements-can-be-caused-by-various-factors | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232256147.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20190520202108-20190520224108-00216.warc.gz | en | 0.944333 | 521 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Eat Some Seafood
Seafood includes fish (such as salmon, tuna, and trout) and shellfish (such as crab, mussels, and oysters). Seafood has protein, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids (heart healthy fat).
Adults should try to eat at least 8 ounces per week of a variety of seafood. Children can eat smaller amounts of seafood, too. Most types of seafood are low in mercury and are safe for children and adults to eat.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can eat most types of seafood, including chunk light tuna. At least 8, and up to 12, ounces per week of cooked seafood is fine for women to eat. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not eat tilefish, shark, swordfish, and king mackerel because they are high in methyl mercury. Also, limit the amount of white tuna (labeled as “albacore”) to no more than 6 ounces per week.
Here are some tips for adding seafood to your diet:
- Try choosing seafood in place of some meat and poultry twice a week.
- Cook your seafood by broiling, poaching, or baking it—all of which are healthier than frying.
- Serve seafood with lemon or salsa instead of butter and other sauces high in fat.
- Frozen seafood and canned seafood are often less expensive than the fresh forms.
- Remember to check the Nutrition Facts label of canned, frozen, and prepared seafood for the sodium content.
When buying, storing, and preparing seafood, follow these food safety suggestions:
- Seafood should smell fresh and mild—not fishy or sour.
- Don’t buy frozen seafood if the package is open, torn, or crushed on the edges.
- Avoid any frozen package that has signs of frost or ice crystals. It may have been stored a long time or thawed and refrozen.
- Before cooking, throw away clams, oysters, and mussels if their shells are cracked or broken.
- Live clams, oysters, and mussels will close up when the shell is tapped. If they do not close when tapped, do not cook and eat them.
- Cook seafood to a safe internal temperature of 145°F, or until the fish flakes with a fork.
- If seafood will be used within two days after purchase, store it in the refrigerator.
- If seafood won’t be used within two days after purchase, wrap it tightly and store it in the freezer. | <urn:uuid:f67da209-659a-4198-8d47-473396dce31e> | CC-MAIN-2016-07 | https://www.presidentschallenge.org/motivated/healthy-eating/seafood.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-07/segments/1454701165484.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20160205193925-00235-ip-10-236-182-209.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.926136 | 521 | 3.296875 | 3 |
Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) is common among all age groups, especially the elderly. The term dysphagia refers to the feeling of difficulty passing food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. This may be caused by many factors, most of which are temporary and not threatening. Difficulties in swallowing rarely represent a more serious disease, such as a tumor or a progressive neurological disorder. When the difficulty does not clear up by itself in a short period of time, you should see an otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon.
How You Swallow
People normally swallow hundreds of times a day to eat solids, drink liquids, and swallow the normal saliva and mucus that the body produces. The process of swallowing has four stages:
- The first is oral preparation, where food or liquid is manipulated and chewed in preparation for swallowing.
- During the oral stage, the tongue propels the food or liquid to the back of the mouth, starting the swallowing response.
- The pharyngeal stage begins as food or liquid is quickly passed through the pharynx, the canal that connects the mouth with the esophagus, into the esophagus or swallowing tube.
- In the final, esophageal stage, the food or liquid passes through the esophagus into the stomach.
Although the first and second stages have some voluntary control, stages three and four occur by themselves, without conscious input.
What Causes Swallowing Disorders?
Any interruption in the swallowing process can cause difficulties. It may be due to simple causes such as poor teeth, ill-fitting dentures, or a common cold. One of the most common causes of dysphagia is gastroesophageal reflux. This occurs when stomach acid moves up the esophagus to the pharynx, causing discomfort. Other causes may include stroke; progressive neurologic disorder; the presence of a tracheostomy tube; a paralyzed or unmoving vocal cord; a tumor in the mouth, throat, or esophagus; or surgery in the head, neck, or esophageal areas.
Symptoms Of Swallowing Disorders
Symptoms of swallowing disorders may include:
- a feeling that food or liquid is sticking in the throat
- discomfort in the throat or chest (when gastroesophageal reflux is present)
- a sensation of a foreign body or “lump” in the throat
- weight loss and inadequate nutrition due to prolonged or more significant problems with swallowing
- coughing or choking caused by bits of food, liquid, or saliva not passing easily during swallowing, and being sucked into the lungs
Associates of Otolaryngology
Associates of Otolaryngology is a practice that has been serving the Denver area for over 40 years. This group of board-certified physicians has exceptional experience treating multi-generational families and meeting their needs in ENT services, sleep health, sinus and allergy treatment, hearing treatment, and facial plastic surgery. Our team includes ENT physicians, specialty-trained nurses, audiologists, and plastic surgeons. In addition to outstanding routine care, our team is available 24/7 for emergenciesMeet Our Providers
Who Evaluates And Treats Swallowing Disorders?
When dysphagia is persistent and the cause is not apparent, the otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon will discuss the history of your problem and examine your mouth and throat. This may be done with the aid of mirrors or a small tube (flexible laryngoscope), which provides vision of the back of the tongue, throat, and larynx (voice box). If necessary, an examination of the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine (duodenum) may be carried out by the otolaryngologist or a gastroenterologist. These specialists may recommend X-rays of the swallowing mechanism, called a barium swallow or upper G-I, which is done by a radiologist.
If special problems exist, a speech pathologist may consult with the radiologist regarding a modified barium swallow or videofluroscopy. These help to identify all four stages of the swallowing process. Using different consistencies of food and liquid, and having the patient swallow in various positions, a speech pathologist will test the ability to swallow. An exam by a neurologist may be necessary if the swallowing disorder stems from the nervous system, perhaps due to stroke or other neurologic disorders.
Possible Treatments For Swallowing Disorders
Many of these disorders can be treated with medication. Drugs that slow stomach acid production, muscle relaxants, and antacids are a few of the many medicines available. Treatment is tailored to the particular cause of the swallowing disorder.
Gastroesophageal reflux can often be treated by changing eating and living habits, for example:
- eat a bland diet with smaller, more frequent meals
- eliminate alcohol and caffeine
- reduce weight and stress
- avoid food within three hours of bedtime
- elevate the head of the bed at night
If these don’t help, antacids between meals and at bedtime may provide relief.
Many swallowing disorders may be helped by direct swallowing therapy. A speech pathologist can provide special exercises for coordinating the swallowing muscles or restimulating the nerves that trigger the swallow reflex. Patients may also be taught simple ways to place food in the mouth or position the body and head to help the swallow occur successfully.
Some patients with swallowing disorders have difficulty feeding themselves. An occupational therapist can aid the patient and family in feeding techniques. These techniques make the patient as independent as possible. A dietician or nutritional expert can determine the amount of food or liquid necessary to sustain an individual and whether supplements are necessary.
Once the cause is determined, swallowing disorders may be treated with:
- swallowing therapy
Surgery is used to treat certain problems. If a narrowing or stricture exists, the area may need to be stretched or dilated. If a muscle is too tight, it may need to be dilated or released surgically. This procedure is called a myotomy and is performed by an otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon.
Many causes contribute to swallowing disorders. If you have a persistent problem swallowing, see an otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon. | <urn:uuid:eb0cc5a3-7532-47cb-b52d-aef27f82a03b> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://www.denvercoloradoearnosethroatallergysinusdoctors.com/ent/throat/swallowing-trouble/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439735823.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20200803170210-20200803200210-00254.warc.gz | en | 0.928079 | 1,311 | 3.90625 | 4 |
May the Fourth Be With You. That's Star Wars Day, May 4. Now for some Star Wars physics—because that's what I do. Yes, I have a bunch of Star Wars physics (here is a list). But since this is a special day, I needed a special analysis. How about an analysis of Jedi jumps in the Star Wars movies?
If you watch Star Wars Episode IV, there are zero Jedi jumps. What is a Jedi jump? You know—when someone who can use The Force jumps way higher than a normal person could jump. That's a Jedi jump. Remember when Luke jumped out of that carbonite freezing chamber in The Empire Strikes Back? That was a Jedi jump. There aren't too many Jedi jumps in the original trilogy—but then the prequels showed up with tons of jumps.
Of course with a human jump, I can look at the total time off the ground (the hang time) as well as the jump height. Since the only force acting on a real human on the real Earth is the gravitational force, there is a constant downward acceleration with a value of about –9.8 meters per second per second (m/s2). This means that after leaving the ground, the person would move up while slowing down. After coming to a stop for an instant at the highest point, a human then moves down while speeding up. This is your classic case of physics projectile motion.
What about about a Jedi? Jedi don't care about your silly laws of physics. They jump however they want. That means that it's up to me to figure out what they are doing. For the purposes of this study, I am going to break all of the Jedi jumps into two parts—a moving up motion and a moving down motion. The Jedi will start at some vertical position, reach some maximum height, and then return to a final position (this is just looking at the vertical motion). Here is a diagram.
So, for each jump I am going to measure these five things. I will find the start, highest, and final position. Then I will find the time interval it takes to go from the start to the highest position and the time it takes to go back down to the final position. Yes, I actually did this. Oh, it wasn't easy. There are many jumps where I really had to just guess the distances. Even the times aren't always simple to determine. This is especially true when the camera shows the start of a jump and then switches to something else. But I did it—for you. | <urn:uuid:c0fc1283-3fec-4209-9994-5baf6ddef015> | CC-MAIN-2021-39 | https://www.wired.com/story/a-physics-analysis-of-every-jedi-jump-in-all-of-star-wars/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-39/segments/1631780057388.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20210922193630-20210922223630-00036.warc.gz | en | 0.964692 | 523 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Presentation on theme: "Web Services Development in WebSphere v5 by Tapas Banerjee CEO, Web Age Solutions Inc."— Presentation transcript:
Web Services Development in WebSphere v5 by Tapas Banerjee CEO, Web Age Solutions Inc.
What are Web Services? Applications that can be published, located and invoked programmatically over the Web. XML-based (XML-in, XML-out). Self-contained functions that can be used individually to provide services. Good applications: – Business Information. – Business Integration – Business Process Externalization.
Service Oriented Architecture A service-oriented architecture is created by services communicating with each other The SOA architecture allows – Different systems and programming languages to talk to each other – Describes the service interface clearly – Allows search for needed services Its made up of - service provider, service broker and service requestor Web Services implement this architecture
Web Services Supporting Architecture Standards Web Services rely on: – XML (eXtensible Markup Language). – UDDI (Universal Description Discovery and Integration). Publish and discover. – SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol). Query UDDI, binding and use of services. – WSDL (Web Services Description Language). Describe the interfaces of Web Services.
The Functions and Information Flow Web ServiceClient 4. Request/Response via SOAP 1. Publish3. Discover Service ProviderService Consumer 2. Assign a unique ID and populate the registry Service Broker UDDI Registry
Web Services Programming Model RPC-based: Service-specific. Synchronous model. Similar to RMI and DCOM. Message-based: Document-driven. Asynchronous model.
Web Services Programming APIs APIs for RPC-based Web Services: Suns JAX-RPC (Java API for XML-RPC) in WSDP. Apaches SOAP-RPC (Apache SOAP 2.3 ships with WAS5) APIs for Message-based Web Services: Suns JAXM (Java API for XML Messaging) in WSDP. Apaches SOAP-Message. APIs for publishing and discovering Web Services: Suns JAXR(Java API for XML Registry) in WSDP. IBMs UDDI4J.
JAXR – Java API for XML Registry Enables Java programs to access XML registries. JAXR provider: – Accesses XML registry. – A façade to a registry provider. JAXR client: – A client program that accesses an XML registry using JAXR API. – Perform queries and update UDDI registries. Suns registry browser – Included in WSDP download. – Is a JAXR client with GUI. – Allows to publish and search XML registries.
Other Web Services Concepts Several other important Web Services concepts: – Web Services Invocation Framework – Web Services Inspection Language (WS- Inspection) – Workflows – Web Services Gateway – Web Services Security
Web Services Invocation Framework Web Services Invocation Framework (WSIF) – A framework for the simple invocation of Web Services over a Java API. – Allows for maximum flexibility and late (even runtime) binding for clients
Web Services Inspection Language (WS Inspection) A complementary technology to UDDI A service discovery mechanism XML-based model for building a list of references to existing Web Service descriptors
Workflow and Web Services A Workflow description allows a process to be described as a sequence of discrete events (e.g. service calls) A workflow engine can then parse the workflow description and execute the sequence automatically Defines a business process
Workflow Languages There are three web services workflow languages: – Web Services Flow Language (WSFL) XML-based – Flow Definition Markup Language (FDML) Similar to WSFL, but with extensions – Business Process Execution Language For Web Services (BPEL4WS) A meeting of IBM's WSFL and Microsoft's XLANG
Web Services Gateway (WSGW) The WSGW acts as an additional layer between a web service client, and a web service provider Server side Allows for better control over web service communication
The Gateway Administrative Console
Security Needs Since web services are inherently network based (and typically Internet-based), security is crucial Additionally, web service communication can be compromised at many levels
SOAP HTTP Request Example POST /SampleWebServiceWeb/servlet/rpcrouter HTTP/1.0 Host: localhost:9080 Content-Type: text/xml; charset=utf-8 Content-Length: 526 SOAPAction: "" Sales
SOAP HTTP Response Example HTTP/1.1 200 OK Server: WebSphere Application Server/5.0 Set-Cookie: JSESSIONID=000050K5KBO5DKK1CC4A2J2VKIY:-1;Path=/ Cache-Control: no-cache="set-cookie,set-cookie2" Expires: Thu, 01 Dec 1994 16:00:00 GMT Content-Type: text/xml; charset=utf-8 Content-Length: 659 Content-Language: en-US Connection: close Toronto Sales
Different SOAP Implementations SOAP4J - A Java reference implementation of the SOAP 1.1 specification. It now became the basis of the Apache SOAP 3.x project, also called Axis. Apache SOAP 2.3 – Ships with WebSphere V5 – Important elements are Rpcrouter and messagerouter servlets The deployment descriptor Type mapping registry
What is WSDL? WSDL is an XML-based language for defining available Web Services and describing how to access the services, including URL endpoint, message format, encoding and required protocol. Similar to IDL (Interface Definition Language) for CORBA, describing the services and how to use the services WSDL 1.1 is the current standard. Tools available to generate WSDL files.
UDDI Data Structure Five data structure types: – businessEntity – businessService – bindingTemplat e – publisherAsserti on – tModel name, contact, identification description, category (1..n) name description Name Description URL pointer to specification name, contact, identification description, category (1..n) name description Name description reference
UDDI4J IBMs UDDI4J is a Java-based UDDI client API. It provides package/classes for accessing UDDI registry (publishing and discovering). UDDIProxy object is the client side proxy of the registry. Program the UDDIProxy for publishing/discovering services.
Developing Web Services Generate deployable web service from – Java Bean – DADX (XML/DB2 mapping documents) – Enterprise Java Bean – URL Generate skeleton Java Bean and sample application from WSDL document Web Services Client wizard also creates – Web Service Proxy as Java Bean – Sample JSP-based client application
Overall Workflow Typical development path 1. Create a Web Project 2. Create/Import a resource from which to create a web service (Java Bean, EJB, DADX document, …) 3. Create a Web Service using Web Service Wizard 4. Publish a Business Entity, if required 5. Publish the Web Service
Creating a Web Service from a Java Bean Typical steps: 1. Create/Import Java Bean into Web Project 2. Generate binding WSDL document using Web Service Wizard 3. Deploy Web Service to a Web Server 4. Generate client proxy 5. Generate sample client application Then publish, discover and use web service
… from an EJB Typical steps: 1. Create a Web Project 2. Create/Import EJBs into an EJB Project belonging to the same Enterprise Application Project as the Web Project 3. Update project dependencies … then its business as usual WSAD only generates a Web Service from a Stateless Session EJB – … but that session bean can always use entity beans!
Web Service Development Phases Build – May start from Java code, then we generate WSDL from that – Or start from WSDL and build/morph Java code to match Deployment – We can publish using UDDI, WSIL or E-mailing customers Run Management
Different web service creation paths From an existing application – bottom-up – Most common. We like to expose existing back-end systems for enterprise integration (EAI) purposes. From WSDL, generate a completely new application – top-down – This may be due to a new spec imposed by a governing body – The wizards can create skeleton code from WSDL, we then fill up the details Combine independent web services to provide new functionality. This route is similar to the façade design pattern.
Different WebSphere products – how do they fare? There are three products in the WebSphere family that can be used – WSAD – WSAD IE – WebSphere SDK for web services (WSDK) family All three can do bottom-up and top-down from JavaBeans WSAD IE and WSDK can do bottom-up and top- down from EJBs – Regular WSAD cannot do top-down for EJBs I.e. cannot create EJBs from WSDL.
… from XML schema Generate Java Bean from XML schema 1. Create any project that works with Java source code (Java, EJB, Web, …) 2. Create/Import XML schema in the project 3. Start Web Services Wizard 4. Select Java beans for XML Schema. 5. Follow instructions to generate Java Beans Now generate the Web Service from the new Java Bean
WSDK 5.0 WebSphere SDK for Web Services – Entry level developer kit, free for development – But not for production or deployment – Runs on Windows 2000/XP and Linux – Based on Axis (Apache SOAP engine) – Has embedded application server (mini WebSphere 5.0) and a private UDDI registry – Supports SOAP 1.1, WSDL 1.1, UDDI 2.0, JAX_RPC 1.0, WSDL4J, UDDI4J and WS-Security
ETTK (previously called WSTK) IBM Emerging Technologies Toolkit (previously called Web Services toolkit) An IBM alphaworks technology, showcases technologies to come Exposes the AXIS programming model WSTK version 3.2.2 includes – WS-C/WS-Tx for transaction flows between components – Web Services matchmaking engine – Businesses submit advertisements. When a customers search matches an advertisement, a response is triggered – WSXL – For better handshaking of web services with portal applications
Web Services Deployment in WebSphere If you are using WSAD 5, it is same as deploying an EAR file If you are using WSAD 4 – Export the Web Service as a WAR – Use AAT to create an EAR – Use soapearenabler.bat to add SOAP services
Summary We discussed – What are Web Services. – Web Services programming model. – How does a SOAP message look. – Developing Web Services. – Web Service Development Phases. | <urn:uuid:92e587a4-4fc4-444e-8ba5-9e497cfea339> | CC-MAIN-2017-09 | http://slideplayer.com/slide/1692964/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-09/segments/1487501171936.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170219104611-00375-ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.786212 | 2,285 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Knowledge is very important in dealing with anything health related. It is especially so when dealing with the complexities associated with Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD). I cannot for instance, count the number of times I have explained myself to many people that I am not a Sickle Cell Carrier… that is someone with an AS or AC gene but I am a full blown Sickle Cell Warrior… someone with the double SS gene which leads to the painful genetic blood disorder known as Sickle Cell Disorder.I know many ask such questions because of a desire to know. Nevertheless, ignorance is still a driving force behind people assuming every sickle cell warrior is best known as a carrier. It was therefore necessary to do a blog post on this to try to clarify this confusion as best as I could and September being Sickle Cell Awareness Month; I felt it was the best time to pen it down.
Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) as we have all come to know, is a genetic blood disorder. It usually occurs when two people who carry the S gene procreate and pass it to their kids… in which case, the kids inherit the AS or SS gene. The kids who inherit the AS gene are like their parents, Carriers of the gene because they have the S trait while kids who inherit the SS genes are full blown warriors.
Carriers are usually very healthy, pain free and live normal lives and are usually hardly aware of their status until they are tested. This usually happens when they are expecting or just have a desire to know especially if they come from an area or family with a high prevalence of SCD. If two people with AS get married, they are most likely to produce an SS Warrior as well as someone with the Trait, a Carrier.
While some people with the AS gene can sometimes, manifest symptoms of a SS warrior, especially during extremely cold or vigourous activities and absence of oxygen, they like I just mentioned above, do live very normal and healthy lives. Sickle Cell Warriors on the other hand are those who live the experience of what it means to be a sickle cell patient… frequent excruciating episodes of pain which feels like someone is hammering or sawing your bones away non stop, frequent hospital stays which makes them go through life with stigma, discriminations and tags like half dies and walking corpses and the risk of organ damage due to frequent medications or dying young are high. This, my people is a Sickle Cell Warrior. Simply put, someone who lives the experience cannot be a carrier.
I hope this other picture diagram can clarify this confusion. I am also adding this link which clearly explains the difference between someone who has the S trait aka carrier and someone with the double S gene aka warrior. Dig in and let me know if these simple explanations and additional information clarified this for you if, like those who have been asking me, you were also among those who confused carriers and warriors.
Keep reading, sharing and keep commenting. Your comments do inspire us. | <urn:uuid:bd9f67f1-d8c3-4eb4-b24e-33892d448bf5> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | http://joy2endure.com/2017/09/12/sickle-cell-awareness-why-it-is-important-to-know-who-is-a-sickle-cell-carrier-and-who-is-a-sickle-cell-warrior-sickle-cell-warrior/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195526153.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20190719074137-20190719100137-00339.warc.gz | en | 0.969612 | 607 | 2.59375 | 3 |
DEUKALION & PYRRHA
DEUKALION (Deucalion) and PYRRHA were the first king and queen of the northern reaches of Greece--Opountian Lokris (Opuntian Locris), Malis, Phthiotis and Thessalia (Thessaly). Deukalion was the son of Prometheus, creator of mankind, and Pyrrha the daughter of Pandora, the first woman.
The couple lived in the time of the Bronze Race of Mankind--a third, warlike generation born after the virtuous Silver and Gold races. Zeus was angered by their impiety and destroyed them with the Great Deluge. Only Deukalion and Pyrrha survived the apocalypse--having been warned of the impending calamity by Prometheus. Mounting a chest the couple found refuge the dry peaks of Mount Parnassos. Other regions also claimed survivors--King Dardanos was said to have sought refuge on Mount Ida in the Troad, Kerambos was carried to the heights of Mount Othrys by the Nymphs, Megaros fled to Mount Gerana, Arkas and Nyktimos were preserved on Mount Kyllene in Arkadia, and the tribes of Parnassos fled to the heights above Delphoi. Io and her son Epaphos, who lived in Egypt, were also preserved. Zeus then let the waters to recede and, in the north Poseidon, split the mountains at the Vale of Tempe to release the waters trapped in the Thessalian plain.
Deukalion and Pyrrha consulted the Delphic oracle asking how they might repopulate the now desolate earth and were told to cast the bones of their mother over their shoulders. They mulled on the riddle and realised the bones were the stones of Mother Earth--casting these, Deuckalion producing a tribe of men and Pyrrha women.
Deukalion had a number of sons and daughters. The most famous of these were Hellen, the eponymous king of the Hellenes (i.e. the Greeks), and three maidens loved by the god Zeus--Pandora (who was named after her maternal grandmother), Protogeneia and Thyia. Deukalion's descendants ruled most of the kingdoms of Greece in the mythic age. His most famous great-grandsons included Sisyphos, Salmoneus, Athamas, Diktys and Polydektes, Ion and Endymion. The intervening generations consisted mostly of eponyms--that is, figures who gave their names to tribes or places and which had little or no mythology.
FAMILY OF DEUCALION & PYRRHA
PARENTS OF DEUKALION
PARENTS OF PYRRHA
OFFSPRING OF DEUKALION
[1.1] HELLEN, AMPHIKTYON, PROTOGENEIA (Apollodorus 1.7.2)
[2.1] HELLEN (by Pyrrha) (Hesiod Catalogues Frag 1, Strabo 9.5.6, 9.5.23)
[3.1] PANDORA (Hesiod Catalogues Frag 2)
[3.2] PROTOGENEIA (by Pyrrha) (Pindar Olympian 9.42)
[3.3] PROTOGENEIA (Pausanias 5.1.3, Hyginus Fabulae 155)
[3.4] PROTOGENEIA, PANDORA (Clement Exhortations 10.21)
[4.1] THYIA (Hesiod Catalogues Frag 3)
[5.1.] ORESTHEUS (Pausanias 10.38.1)
OFFSPRING OF PYRRHA
[1.1] See "Offspring of Deukalion" above
[1.2] HELLEN (by Zeus) (Hyginus Fabulae 155)
DEUCALION (Deukaliôn), a son of Prometheus and Clymene. He was king in Phthia, and married to Pyrrha. When Zeus, after the treatment he had received from Lycaon, had resolved to destroy the degenerate race of men who inhabited the earth, Deucalion, on the advice of his father, built a ship, and carried into it stores of provisions; and when Zeus sent a flood all over Hellas, which destroyed all its inhabitants, Deucalion and Pyrrha alone were saved. After their ship had been floating about for time days, it landed, according to the common tradition, on mount Parnassus; others made it land on mount Othrys in Thessaly, on mount Athos, or even on Aetna in Sicily. (Schol. ad Pind. Ol. ix. 64; Serv. ad Virg. Eclog. vi. 41; Hygin. Fab. 153.) These differences in the story are probably nothing but local traditions; in the same manner it was believed in several places that Deucalion and Pyhrra were not the only persons that were saved. Thus Megarus, a son of Zeus, escaped by following the screams of cranes, which led him to the summit of mount Gerania (Paus. i. 40. § 1); and the inhabitants of Delphi were said to have been saved by following the howling of wolves, which led them to the summit of Parnassus, where they founded Lycoreia. (Paus. x. 6. § 2.) When the waters had subsided, Deucalion offered up a sacrifice to Zeus Phyxius, that is, the helper of fugitives, and thereupon the god sent Hermes to him to promise that he would grant any wish which Deucalion might entertain. Deucalion prayed that Zeus might restore mankind. According to the more common tradition, Deucalion and Pyrrha went to the sanctuary of Themis, and prayed for the same thing. The goddess bade therm cover their heads and throw the bones of their mother behind them in walking from the temple. After some doubts and scruples respecting the meaning of this command, they agreed in interpreting the bones of their mother to mean the stones of the earth; and they accordingly threw stones behind them, and from those thrown by Deucalion there sprang up men, and from those of Pyrrha women. Deucalion then descended from Parnassus, and built his first abode at Opus (Pind. Ol. ix. 46), or at Cynus (Strab. ix. p. 425; Schol. ad Pind. Ol. ix. 64), where in later times the tomb of Pyrrha was shown. Concerning the whole story, see Apollod. i. 7. § 2; Ov. Met. i. 260, &c. There was also a tradition that Deucalion had lived at Athens, and the sanctuary of the Olympian Zeus there was regarded as his work, and his tomb also was shown there in the neighbourhood of the sanctuary. (Paus. i. 18. § 8.) Deucalion was by Pyrrha the father of Hellen, Amphictyon, Protogeneia, and others. Strabo (ix. p. 435) states, that near the coast of Phthiotis there were two small islands of the name of Deucalion and Pyrrha.
Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES
FAMILY & DESCENDANTS OF DEUCALION
Hesiod, Catalogues of Women Fragment 1 (from Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. 3. 1086) (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
"That Deukalion (Deucalion) was the son of Prometheus and Pronoia (Pronoea), Hesiod states in the first Catalogue, as also that Hellen was the son of Deukalion and Pyrrha."
Hesiod, Catalogues of Women Fragment 2 (from Ioannes Lydus, de Mens. 2. 13) :
"They came to call those who followed local manners Latins, but those who followed Hellenic customs Greeks, after the brothers Latinos (Latinus) and Graikos (Graecus); as Hesiod says : ‘And in the palace Pandora the daughter of noble Deukalion (Deucalion) was joined in love with father Zeus, leader of all the gods, and bare Graikos, staunch in battle.’"
Hesiod, Catalogues of Women Fragment 3 (from Constantinus Porphyrogenitus, de Them. 2. 48B) :
"The district Makedonia (Macedonia) took its name from Makedon (Macedon) the son of Zeus and Thyia, Deukalion's (Deucalion's) daughter, as Hesiod says : ‘And she conceived and bare to Zeus who delights in the thunderbolt two sons, Magnes and Makedon, rejoicing in horses, who dwell round about Pieria and Olympos.’"
Hesiod, Catalogues of Women Fragment 3 (from Scholiast on Apollonius Rhodius, Arg. 4. 266) :
"Those who were descended from Deukalion (Deucalion) used to rule over Thessalia (Thessaly) as Hekataios (Hecataeus) and Hesiod say."
Pindar, Olympian Ode 9. 42 (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) :
"Let Protogeneia's city [i.e. Lokrian Opous (Locrian Opus)] play on your tongue, where by decree of Zeus . . . there came Deukalion (Deucalion) and Pyrrha, down from Parnassos' height." [N.B. Protogeneia is a daughter of Deukalion and Pyrrha.]
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 7. 2 - 3 (trans. Frazer) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"And Prometheus had a son Deukalion (Deucalion). He reigning in the regions about Phthia, married Pyrrha, the daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora . . . Deukalion had children by Pyrrha, first Hellen, whose father some say was Zeus, and second Amphiktyon (Amphictyon), who reigned over Attika after Kranaus (Cranaus); and third a daughter Protogenia, who became the mother of Aethlios by Zeus.
Hellen had Doros (Dorus), Xouthos (Xuthus), and Aiolos (Aeolus) by a nymph Orseis. Those who were called Greeks he named Hellenes after himself, and divided the country among his sons. Xouthos received Peloponnesos and begat Akhaios (Achaeus) and Ion by Kreousa (Creusa), daughter of Erekhtheus (Erechtheus), and from Akhaios and Ion the Akhaians (Achaeans) and Ionians derive their names. Doros received the country over against Peloponnesos and called the settlers Dorians after himself. Aiolos reigned over the regions about Thessalia (Thessaly) and named the inhabitants Aiolians (Aeolians). He married Enarete, daughter of Deimakhos (Deimachus), and begat seven sons, Kretheus (Cretheus), Sisyphos, Athamas, Salmoneus, Deion, Magnes, Perieres, and five daughters, Kanake (Canace), Alkyone (Alcyone), Peisidike (Pisidice), Kalyke (Calyce), Perimede."
Herodotus, Histories 1. 56. 2 (trans. Godley) (Greek historian C5th B.C.) :
"He [the historical King Kroisos (Croesus) of Lydia] found by inquiry that the chief peoples were the Lakedaimonians [Spartans] among those of Doric, and the Athenians among those of Ionic stock. These races, Ionian and Dorian, were the foremost in ancient time, the first a Pelasgian and the second a Hellenic people. The Pelasgian race has never yet left its home [Arkadia (Arcadia)]; the Hellenic has wandered often and far. For in the days of king Deukalion (Deucalion) it inhabited the land of Phthia, then the country called Histiaian [i.e. ‘Land of the Hearth’], under Ossa and Olympos, in the time of Doros (Dorus) son of Hellen; driven from this Histiaian country by the Kadmeans, it settled about Pindos (Pindus) in the territory called Makedonian; from there again it migrated to Dryopia [i.e. Ozolean Lokris (Locris)], and at last came from Dryopia into the Peloponnesos, where it took the name of Dorian."
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 3. 1085 ff (trans. Seaton) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) :
"There is a land [Thessalia (Thessaly)] encircled by lofty mountains, rich in sheep and in pasture, where Prometheus, son of Iapetos, begat goodly Deukalion (Deucalion), who first founded cities and reared temples to the immortal gods, and first ruled over men. This land the neighbours who dwell around call Haimonia (Haemonia)."
Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 263 ff :
"[In the earliest days of men :] Apidanean Arkadians (Arcadians) alone existed, Arkadians who lived even before the moon, it is said, eating acorns on the hills; nor at that time was the Pelasgian land ruled by the glorious sons of Deukalion (Deucalion)."
Strabo, Geography 8. 7. 1 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"[On the origins of two of the main Greek tribes--the Dorians and Ionians :] In antiquity this country [Akhaia (Achaea) in the Peloponessos] was under the mastery of the Ionians, who were sprung from the Athenians; and in antiquity it was called Aegialeia, and the inhabitants Aegialeians, but later it was called Ionia after the Ionians, just as Attika also was called Ionia after Ion the son of Xouthus (Xuthus). They say that Hellen was the son of Deukalion (Deucalion), and that he was lord of the people between the Peneios (Peneus) and the Asopos in the region of Phthia and gave over his rule to the eldest of his sons, but that he sent the rest of them to different places outside, each to seek a settlement for himself. One of these sons, Doros (Dorus), united the Dorians about Parnassos into one state, and at his death left them named after himself; another, Xouthos, who had married the daughter of Erekhtheus (Erechtheus), founded the Tetrapolis of Attika."
Strabo, Geography 9. 4. 2 :
"[In the region of Opountian Lokris (Opuntian Locris) :] Kynos (Cynus) is the seaport, a cape which forms the end of the Opountian Gulf, the gulf being about forty stadia in extent. Between Opous and Kynos is a fertile plain . . . Deukalion (Deucalion) is said to have lived in Kynos; and the grave of Pyrrha is to be seen there, though that of Deukalion is to be seen at Athens. Kynos is about fifty stadia distant from Mount Knemis (Cnemis)."
Strabo, Geography 9. 5. 6 :
"[On Hellas, the kingdom of Hellen, son of Deukalion (Deucalion) :] Later authorities, some, speaking of Hellas as a country, say that it stretches from Palaipharsalos to Phthiotic Thebes . . . this country too is a part of that which was subject to Akhilleus (Achilles) [i.e. in the time of the Trojan War]. As for those, however, who speak of Hellas as a city, the Pharsalians point out at a distance of sixty stadia from their own city a city in ruins which they believe to be Hellas, and also two springs near it, Messeïs and Hypereia, whereas the Melitaeans say that Hellas was situated about ten stadia distant from themselves on the other side of the Enipeus, at the time when their own city [i.e. Melite] was named Pyrrha, and that it was from Hellas, which was situated in a low-lying district, that the Hellenes migrated to their own city; and they cite as bearing witness to this the tomb of Hellen, son of Deukalion (Deucalion) and Pyrrha, situated in their marketplace. For it is related that Deukalion ruled over Phthia, and, in a word, over ThessaIia (Thessaly). The Enipeus, flowing from Othrys past Pharsalos, turns aside into the Apidanos, and the latter into the Peneios (Peneus) [i.e. the main river of the Thessalian valley]."
Strabo, Geography 9. 5. 23 :
"[The region of] Thessalia (Thessaly). But speaking of it as a whole, I may say that in earlier times it was called Pyrrhaia (Pyrrhaea), after Pyrrha the wife of Deukalion (Deucalion, and Haimonia (Haemonia) after Haimon (Haemon), and Thessalia after Thessalos (Thessalus) the son of Haimon. But some writers, dividing it into two parts, say that Deukalion obtained the portion towards the south and called it Pandora after his mother [i.e. his mother-in-law], and that the other part fell to Haimon, after whom it was called Haimonia, but that the former name was changed to Hellas, after Hellen the son of Deukalion, and the latter to Thessalia, after the son of Haimon."
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 61. 1 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"After this, the account continues, Triopas, one of the sons of Helios and Rhodos . . . sailed to Thessalia (Thessaly) to give assistance as an ally to the sons of Deukalion (Deucalion), and with their aid he expelled from Thessalia the Pelasgians and took for his portion the plain which is called Dotion."
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 81. 31 :
"And seven generations later, after the flood of Deukalion (Deucalion) had taken place and much of mankind had perished, it came to pass that Lesbos was also laid desolate by the deluge of waters. And after these events Makareus (Macareus) [a descendant of Deukalion] came to the island, and, recognizing the beauty of the land, he made his home in it."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 1. 3 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"The Eleans we know crossed over from Kalydon (Calydon) and Aitolia (Aetolia) generally. Their earlier history I found to be as follows. The first to rule in this land, they say, was Aethlios, who was the son of Zeus and of Protogeneia, the daughter of Deukalion, and the father of Endymion." [N.B. Aethlios was probably the eponymous king of the (Ae-)Aithikes tribe of the Pindar mountain range bordering Thessalia.]
Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 8. 1 :
"Later on there came [to Olympia], they say, from Krete (Crete) Klymenos (Clymenus), the son of Kardys (Cardys), about fifty years after the flood came upon the Greeks in the time of Deukalion (Deucalion). He was descended from Herakles of Ida; he held the games at Olympia . . . And Endymion, the son of Aethlios [i.e. the grandson of Deukalion], deposed Klymenos, and set his sons a race in Olympia with the kingdom as the prize." [N.B. Herakles of Ida was one of the Daktyloi (Dactyls)--rustic demi-gods--and not the great hero of the same name.]
Pausanias, Description of Greece 10. 38. 1 :
"The territory of the Lokrians (Locrians) called Ozolian adjoins Phokis (Phocis) opposite Kirrha (Cirrha). I have heard various stories about the surname of these Lokrians, all of which I will tell my readers. Orestheus, son of Deukalion (Deucalion), king of the land, had a bitch that gave birth to a stick instead of a puppy. Orestheus buried the stick, and in the spring, it is said, a vine grew from it, and from the branches (ozoi) of the stick the people got their name."
Clement of Alexandria, Recognitions 10. 21 (trans. Smith) (Greek Christian rhetoric C2nd A.D.) :
"I shall now speak of his [Zeus'] adulteries . . . Pyrrha, the daughter of Prometheus, of whom [was born] Helmetheus; Protogeneia and Pandora, daughters of Deukalion (Deucalion), of whom he begot Aethelios, and Doros, and Melera, and Pandoros."
[N.B. This is a badly corrupted Latin translation of the work of Clement. The original Greek text is lost. The first line should actually read "Pyrrha, the daughter of Epimetheus, of whom Hellen."]
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 155 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Sons of Jove [Zeus] . . . Hellen by Pyrrha, daughter of Epimetheus. Aethlius by Protogenie, daughter of Deucalion."
Ovid, Heroides 15. 165 (trans. Showerman) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"Phoebus [Apollon] from on high looks down on the whole wide stretch of sea [on the coast of Ambracia]--of Actium, the people call it, and Leucadian. From here Deucalion, inflamed with love for Pyrrha, cast himself down, and struck the waters with body all unharmed. Without delay, his passion was turned from him, and fled from his tenacious breast, and Deucalion was freed from the fires of love. This is the law of yonder place. Go straightway seek the high Leucadian cliff, nor from it fear to leap!"
[N.B. According to Greek tradition, people who wished to relieve themselves of love could do so by leaping into the sea from the Leukadian rock near Actium. It is not clear whether Ovid actually knew of a specific myth about Deukalion and Pyrrha in this context, or simply uses their names to suggest the antiquity of the tradition. The sense here is probably that Deukalion was so devoted to Pyrrha that, at her death, he needed to relieve his grief in this manner. A similar story was told of Aphrodite relieving her grief for Adonis.]
Colluthus, Rape of Helen 268 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poetry C5th to C6th A.D.) :
"[Helene addresses Paris :] ‘Stranger, whence art thou? declare thy fair lineage even unto us. In beauty thou art like unto a glorious king, but thy family I know not among the Argives. I know all the family of blameless Deukalion (Deucalion).’" [N.B. Most of the Greek princes in myth were descended from Deukalion.]
DEUCALION, THE GREAT DELUGE & THE STONE-BORN MEN
Hesiod, Catalogues of Women Fragment 82 (from Strabo 7. 322) (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or C7th B.C.) :
"For Lokros (Locrus) truly was leader of the Lelegian people, whom Zeus the Son of Kronos (Cronus), whose wisdom is unfailing, gave to Deukalion (Deucalion), stones gathered out of the earth. So out of stones mortal men were made, and they were called people."
Pindar, Olympian Ode 9. 42 (trans. Conway) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) :
"Let Protogeneia's city [Lokrian Opous (Locrian Opus)] play on your tongue, where by decree of Zeus, god of lightning's quivering flash, there came Deukalion (Deucalion) and Pyrrha, down from Parnassos' height, and first made them their home, then without wedlock founded a people of one origin, a race made out of stone; and from a stone they took their name [i.e. laos, 'people,' from las, 'stone'] . . .
Now the tale runs that earth's dark soil was flooded by the waters, but by the arts of Zeus, their strength suddenly ebbed again. And of that race were sprung your ancestors, bearers of brazen shields, sons of the maids of the stock of Iapetos (Iapetus), and from the sublime sons of great Kronos. And ever, since those days, have they ruled, kings of this their native land." [N.B. Iapetos was the Titan grandfather of Deukalion and Pyrrha.]
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. 7. 2 (trans. Frazer) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"And Prometheus had a son Deukalion (Deucalion). He reigning in the regions about Phthia, married Pyrrha, the daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora, the first woman fashioned by the gods. And when Zeus would destroy the men of the Bronze Age, Deukalion by the advice of Prometheus constructed a chest, and having stored it with provisions he embarked in it with Pyrrha. But Zeus by pouring heavy rain from heaven flooded the greater part of Greece, so that all men were destroyed, except a few who fled to the high mountains in the neighborhood. It was then that the mountains in Thessalia parted, and that all the world outside the Isthmos and Peloponnese was overwhelmed.
But Deukalion, floating in the chest over the sea for nine days and as many nights, drifted to Parnassos (Parnassus), and there, when the rain ceased, he landed and sacrificed to Zeus Phyxios (God of Escape). And Zeus sent Hermes to him and allowed him to choose what he would, and he chose to get men. And at the bidding of Zeus he took up stones and threw them over his head, and the stones which Deukalion threw became men, and the stones which Pyrrha threw became women. Hence people were called metaphorically people (laos) from laas, ‘a stone.’"
Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. 8. 1 - 2 :
"[King Lykaon (Lycaon) and his sons] exceeded all men in pride and impiety; and Zeus, desirous of putting their impiety to the proof, came to them in the likeness of a day-laborer. They offered him hospitality and having slaughtered a male child of the natives, they mixed his bowels with the sacrifices, and set them before him . . . But Zeus in disgust upset the table . . . and blasted Lykaon and his sons by thunderbolts, all but Nyktimos (Nyctimus), the youngest . . . When Nyktimos succeeded to the kingdom, there occurred the flood in the age of Deukalion; some said that it was occasioned by the impiety of Lykaon's sons."
Lycophron, Alexandra 72 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) :
"I mourn for thee, my country, and for the grave of Atlas' daughter's diver son [Dardanos of Samothrake], who of old in a stitched vessel, like an Istrian fish-creel with four legs, sheathed his body in a leathern sack and, all alone, swam like a petrel of Rheithymnia, leaving Zerynthos . . . even Saos, the strong foundation of the Kyrbantes (Corybantes), what time the plashing rain of Zeus laid waste with Deluge all the earth. And their towers were hurled to the ground, and the people set themselves to swim, seeing their final doom before their eyes. And on oat and acorn and the sweet grape browsed the whales and the dolphins and the seals that are fain of the beds of mortal men." [N.B. Like Deukalion of Thessalia, Dardanos of Samothrake escaped the Great Deluge.]
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 81. 3 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :
"The flood of Deukalion (Deucalion) had taken place and much of mankind had perished, it came to pass that Lesbos was also laid desolate by the Deluge of waters."
Strabo, Geography 7. 7. 2 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"He calls the Lokroi (Locrians) of today Leleges and says that they took possession of Boiotia (Boeotia) too; . . . But in particular one might believe Hesiod when he says concerning them : ‘For verily Lokros (Locrus) was chieftain of the peoples of the Leleges, whom once Zeus the son of Kronos (Cronus), who knoweth devices imperishable, gave to Deukalion (Deucalion)--peoples picked out of earth.’"
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 18. 7 - 8 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"[At the sanctuary of Zeus Olympios in Athens :] Within the precincts are antiquities : . . . an enclosure of Ge (Gaea, the Earth) surnamed Olympia. Here the floor opens to the width of a cubit, and they say that along this bed flowed off the water after the Deluge that occurred in the time of Deukalion (Deucalion), and into it they cast every year wheat meal mixed with honey . . . The ancient sanctuary of Zeus Olympios the Athenians say was built by Deukalion, and they cite as evidence that Deukalion lived at Athens a grave which is not far from the present temple."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 10. 6. 1 - 2 :
"They say that the oldest city was founded here [on Mount Parnassos] by Parnassos (Parnassus), a son of Kleodora (Cleodora), a nymphe. Like the other heroes, as they are called, he had two fathers; one they say was the god Poseidon, the human father being Kleopompos (Cleopompus) . . . Now this city [Parnassos], so the story goes on, was flooded by the rains that fell in the time of Deukalion (Deucalion). Such of the inhabitants as were able to escape the storm were led by the howls of wolves to safety on the top of Parnassos, being led on their way by these beasts, and on this account they called the city that they founded Lykoreia (Lycorea) (Mountain-wolf-city)."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 1. 40. 1 :
"The Megarians say that the Nymphai (Nymphs) Sithnides are native [to Megara], and that one of them mated with Zeus; that Megaros (Megarus), a son of Zeus and of this nymphe, escaped the flood in the time of Deukalion (Deucalion), and made his escape to the heights of Gerania. The mountain had not yet received this name, but was then named Gerania (Crane Hill) because cranes were flying and Megaros swam towards the cry of the birds."
Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 8. 1 :
"There came [to Olympia], they say, from Krete (Crete) Klymenos (Clymenus), the son of Kardys (Cardys), about fifty years after the flood came upon the Greeks in the time of Deukalion (Deucalion). He was descended from Herakles of Ida." [N.B. Herakles of Ida is the Daktylos (Dactyl) of that name, not the great hero.]
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 14. 654 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) :
"[The Greeks, caught in a storm upon their return from Troy, compare it to the Great Deluge :] For streamed the sky ceaselessly like a river, while the deep raved round them. And one cried : ‘Such floods on men fell only when Deukalion's deluge came, when earth was drowned, and all was fathomless sea!’"
Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 2. 14 (trans. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) :
"[A description of an ancient Greek painting at Naples :] This painting suggests . . . it deals with the Thessalians . . . The Thessalians in early times were not permitted by the [river] Peneios (Peneus) to have any land at all, since mountains encompassed the level spaces, which the stream continually flooded because it had as yet no outlet. Therefore Poseidon will break through the mountains with his trident and open a gateway for the river. Indeed, this is the work which he has now undertaken, the mighty task of uncovering the plains; his hand is raised to break the mountains apart, but, before the blow has fallen, they separate a sufficient space to let the river through. In the painter's effort to make the action clear, the right side of Poseidon has been at the same time both drawn back and advanced and he threatens to strike his blow, not merely with his hand but with his whole body. He is painted, not dark blue nor yet as a god of the sea, but as a god of the mainland. Accordingly he greets the plains as he sees that they are both broad and level like stretches of the sea. The river also rejoices as one exulting . . . Thessalia [the land personified] emerges, the water already subsiding; she wears tresses of olive and grain and grasps a colt that emerges along with her. For the horse also is to be her gift from Poseidon, when the earth shall receive the seed of the god while he sleeps and shall bear a horse."
[N.B. Thessalia was swamped by the Great Deluge and so Poseidon released the waters by splitting the mountains and forming the Vale of Tempe.]
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 152A (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) :
"Phaethon, son of Sol (the Sun) [Helios] and Clymene, who had secretly mounted his father's car, and had been borne too high above the earth, from fear fell into the river Eridanus. When Jupiter [Zeus] struck him with a thunderbolt, everything started to burn. In order to have a reason for destroying the whole race of mortals, Jove pretended he wanted to put out the fire; he let loose the rivers everywhere, and all the human race perished except Deucalion and Pyrrha."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 153 :
"When the cataclysm which we call the flood or deluge occurred, all the human race perished except Deucalion and Pyrrha, who fled to Mount Etna, which is said to be the highest mountain in Sicily. When they could not live on account of loneliness, they begged Jove [Zeus] either to give men, or to afflict them with a similar disaster. Then Jove bade them cast stones behind them; those Deucalion threw he ordered to become men, and those Pyrrha threw, to be women. Because of this they are called laos, ‘people,’ for stone in Greek is called las."
Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 29 :
"[Constellation] Aquarius or Water Bearer. Many have said he is Ganymede . . . Hegesianax [Greek poet C3rd B.C.], however, says he is Deucalion, because during his reign such quantities of water poured from the sky that the great Flood resulted."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 1. 240 - 429 (trans. Brookes More) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) :
"[The Arcadian King Lycaon tried to serve Jupiter-Zeus a meal of human flesh. The god destroyed him and his sons for the impiety and then, at a council of the gods, declared that he would cleanse the earth with a Great Deluge.]
[Jupiter-Zeus speaks :] ‘Thus fell one house, but not one house alone deserved to perish; over all the earth ferocious deeds prevail,--all men conspire in evil. Let them therefore feel the weight of dreadful penalties so justly earned, for such hath my unchanging will ordained.’
With exclamations some [of the other gods] approved the words of Jove [Zeus] and added fuel to his wrath, while others gave assent : but all deplored and questioned the estate of earth deprived of mortals. Who could offer frankincense upon the altars? Would he suffer earth to be despoiled by hungry beasts of prey? Such idle questions of the state of man the King of Gods forbade, but granted soon to people earth with race miraculous, unlike the first.
And now his thunder bolts would Jove [Zeus] wide scatter, but he feared the flames, unnumbered, sacred ether might ignite and burn the axle of the universe: and he remembered in the scroll of fate, there is a time appointed when the sea and earth and Heavens shall melt, and fire destroy the universe of mighty labour wrought. Such weapons by the skill of Cyclops forged, for different punishment he laid aside--for straightway he preferred to overwhelm the mortal race beneath deep waves and storms from every raining sky.
And instantly he shut Aquilo (the North-Wind) in Aeolian caves, and every other wind that might dispel the gathering clouds. He bade Notus (the South-Wind) blow:--the Southwind flies abroad with dripping wings, concealing in the gloom his awful face: the drenching rain descends from his wet beard and hoary locks; dark clouds are on his brows and from his wings and garments drip the dews: his great hands press the overhanging clouds; loudly the thunders roll; the torrents pour; Iris, the messenger of Juno [Hera], clad in many coloured raiment, upward draws the steaming moisture to renew the clouds. The standing grain is beaten to the ground, the rustic's crops are scattered in the mire, and he bewails the long year's fruitless toil.
The wrath of Jove was not content with powers that emanate from Heaven; he brought to aid his azure brother, lord of flowing waves, who called upon the Rivers and the Streams: and when they entered his impearled abode, Neptunus [Poseidon], their ancient ruler, thus began; ‘A long appeal is needless; pour ye forth in rage of power; open up your fountains; rush over obstacles; let every stream pour forth in boundless floods.’
Thus he commands, and none dissenting all the River Gods return, and opening up their fountains roll tumultuous to the deep unfruitful sea. And Neptunus with his trident smote the Earth, which trembling with unwonted throes heaved up the sources of her waters bare; and through her open plains the rapid rivers rushed resistless, onward bearing the waving grain, the budding groves, the houses, sheep and men,--and holy temples, and their sacred urns. The mansions that remained, resisting vast and total ruin, deepening waves concealed and whelmed their tottering turrets in the flood and whirling gulf. And now one vast expanse, the land and sea were mingled in the waste of endless waves--a sea without a shore.
One desperate man seized on the nearest hill; another sitting in his curved boat, plied the long oar where he was wont to plow; another sailed above his grain, above his hidden dwelling; and another hooked a fish that sported in a leafy elm. Perchance an anchor dropped in verdant fields, or curving keels were pushed through tangled vines; and where the gracile goat enjoyed the green, unsightly seals reposed. Beneath the waves were wondering Nereides, viewing cities, groves and houses. Dolphins darting mid the trees, meshed in the twisted branches, beat against the shaken oak trees. There the sheep, affrayed, swim with the frightened wolf, the surging waves float tigers and lions : availeth naught his lightning shock the wild boar, nor avails the stag's fleet footed speed. The wandering bird, seeking umbrageous groves and hidden vales, with wearied pinion droops into the sea. The waves increasing surge above the hills, and rising waters dash on mountain tops. Myriads by the waves are swept away, and those the waters spare, for lack of food, starvation slowly overcomes at last.
A fruitful land and fair but now submerged beneath a wilderness of rising waves, 'Twixt Oeta and Aonia, Phocis lies, where through the clouds Parnassus' summits twain point upward to the stars, unmeasured height, save which the rolling billows covered all: there in a small and fragile boat, arrived, Deucalion and the consort of his couch [i.e. Pyrrha], prepared to worship the Nymphae Corycidae (Corycian Nymphs), the mountain deities (numina montis), and Themis kind, who in that age revealed in oracles the voice of fate. As he no other lived so good and just, as she no other feared the Gods.
When Jupiter [Zeus] beheld the globe in ruin covered, swept with wasting waves, and when he saw one man of myriads left, one helpless woman left of myriads lone, both innocent and worshiping the gods, he scattered all the clouds; he blew away the great storms by the cold northwind. Once more the earth appeared to heaven and the skies appeared to earth. The fury of the main abated, for the sea ruler laid his trident down and pacified the waves, and called on azure Triton.--Triton arose above the waving seas, his shoulders mailed in purple shells.--He bade the Triton blow, blow in his sounding shell, the wandering streams and rivers to recall with signal known: a hollow wreathed trumpet, tapering wide and slender stemmed, the Triton took amain and wound the pearly shell at midmost sea. Betwixt the rising and the setting suns the wildered notes resounded shore to shore, and as it touched his lips, wet with the brine beneath his dripping beard, sounded retreat: and all the waters of the land and sea obeyed. Their fountains heard and ceased to flow; their waves subsided; hidden hills uprose; emerged the shores of ocean; channels filled with flowing streams; the soil appeared; the land increased its surface as the waves decreased: and after length of days the trees put forth, with ooze on bending boughs, their naked tops.
And all the wasted globe was now restored, but as he viewed the vast and silent world Deucalion wept and thus to Pyrrha spoke; ‘O sister! wife! alone of woman left! My kindred in descent and origin! Dearest companion of my marriage bed, doubly endeared by deepening dangers borne,--of all the dawn and eve behold of earth, but you and I are left--for the deep sea has kept the rest! And what prevents the tide from overwhelming us? Remaining clouds affright us. How could you endure your fears if you alone were rescued by this fate, and who would then console your bitter grief? Oh be assured, if you were buried in the waves, that I would follow you and be with you! Oh would that by my father's art I might restore the people, and inspire this clay to take the form of man. Alas, the Gods decreed and only we are living!’
Thus Deucalion's plaint to Pyrrha;--and they wept. And after he had spoken, they resolved to ask the aid of sacred oracles,--and so they hastened to Cephissian waves which rolled a turbid flood in channels known. Thence when their robes and brows were sprinkled well, they turned their footsteps to the goddess' fane : its gables were befouled with reeking moss and on its altars every fire was cold. But when the twain had reached the temple steps they fell upon the earth, inspired with awe, and kissed the cold stone with their trembling lips, and said; ‘If righteous prayers appease the gods, and if the wrath of high celestial powers may thus be turned, declare, O Themis! whence and what the art may raise humanity? O gentle goddess help the dying world!’
Moved by their supplications, she replied; ‘Depart from me and veil your brows; ungird your robes, and cast behind you as you go, the bones of your great mother.’ Long they stood in dumb amazement: Pyrrha, first of voice, refused the mandate and with trembling lips implored the goddess to forgive--she feared to violate her mother's bones and vex her sacred spirit. Often pondered they the words involved in such obscurity, repeating oft: and thus Promethides [Deucalion son of Prometheus] to Epimethis [Pyrrha daughter of Epimetheus] uttered speech of soothing import; ‘Oracles are just and urge not evil deeds, or naught avails the skill of thought. Our mother is the Earth, and I may judge the stones of earth are bones that we should cast behind us as we go.’
And although Titania [Pyrrha the Titan's daughter] by his words was moved she hesitated to comply; and both amazed doubted the purpose of the oracle, but deemed no harm to come of trial. They, descending from the temple, veiled their heads and loosed their robes and threw some stones behind them. It is much beyond belief, were not receding ages witness, hard and rigid stones assumed a softer form, enlarging as their brittle nature changed to milder substance,--till the shape of man appeared, imperfect, faintly outlined first, as marble statue chiseled in the rough. The soft moist parts were changed to softer flesh, the hard and brittle substance into bones, the veins retained their ancient name. And now the Gods supreme ordained that every stone Deucalion threw should take the form of man, and those by Pyrrha cast should woman's form assume: so are we hardy to endure and prove by toil and deeds from what we sprung.
And after this the Earth spontaneous produced the world of animals, when all remaining moistures of the mirey fens fermented in the sun, and fruitful seeds in soils nutritious grew to shapes ordained. So when the seven streamed Nile from oozy fields returneth duly to her ancient bed, the sun's ethereal rays impregn the slime, that haply as the peasants turn the soil they find strange animals unknown before: some in the moment of their birth, and some deprived of limbs, imperfect; often part alive and part of slime inanimate are fashioned in one body. Heat combined with moisture so conceives and life results from these two things. For though the flames may be the foes of water, everything that lives begins in humid vapour, and it seems discordant concord is the means of life. When Earth, spread over with diluvian ooze, felt heat ethereal from the glowing sun, unnumbered species to the light she gave, and gave to being many an ancient form, or monster new created."
Ovid, Metamorphoses 7. 353 :
"Othrys, and the vale made famous where Cerambus met his fate. Cerambus, by the aid of Nymphae (Nymphs), from there was wafted through the air on wings, when earth was covered by the overwhelming sea--and so escaped Deucalion's flood, uncrowned."
Virgil, Georgics 1 . 60 ff (trans. Fairclough) (Roman bucolic C1st B.C.) :
"From the first, Nature laid these laws and eternal covenants on certain lands, even from the day when Deucalion threw stones into the empty world, whence sprang men, a stony race."
Virgil, Georgics 6. 41 ff :
"Then he [the poet Orpheus] sings of the stones that Pyrrha threw, of Saturnus' [Kronos' (Cronus')] reign, of Caucasian eagles, and the theft of Prometheus."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 12. 56 ff (trans. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) :
"[Inscribed on the prophetic tables of the primordial god Phanes :] The stormfoot Hora . . . had seen [on the first tablet] the fiery shining victory of Zeus at war and the hailstorm snowstorm conflict of Kronos (Cronus), she looked at the next tablet in its turn. There was shown how the pine was in labour of the human race [i.e. the Bronze Race of men were born from trees]--how the tree suddenly burst its tree-birth and disgorged a son unbegotten self-completed; how Raincloud Zeus brought the waters up in mountainous seas on high and flooded all cities, how [the winds] Notos and Boreas, Euros and Lips in turn lashed Deukalion's (Deucalion's) wandering hutch, lifted it castaway on waves in the air and left it harbourless near the moon."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 3. 204 ff :
"For the third time a deluge of rain had flooded the world's foundations with towering billows. Ogygos (Ogygus) [the first king of Attika] made proof of the first roaring Deluge, as he cut the air through the highclimbing waters, when all the earth was hidden under the flood, when the tops of the Thessalian rocks were covered, when the summit of the Pythian rock near the clouds on high was bathed in the snow-cooled flood. There was a second Deluge, when tempestuous waters covered the circuit of the round earth in a furious flood, when all mortal men perished, and Deukalion (Deucalion) alone with his mate Pyrrha in a hollow ark cutting the swirling flood of infinite deluge went on his eddying voyage through the air turned water. When the third time rain from Zeus flooded the solid earth and covered the hills, and even the unwetted slopes of Sithonia with Mount Athos itself, then Dardanos (Dardanus), cutting through the stream of the uplifted flood, landed on the ancient mountain of Ida his neighbour." [N.B. Usually the floods of Ogygos, Deukalion and Dardanos were regarded as one and the same.]
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 6. 206 ff :
"[Nonnos describes the great Deluge in astrological terms :] After the first Dionysos [i.e. Zagreus, the elder Dionysos] had been slaughtered [by the Titanes (Titans)], Father Zeus learnt the trick of the mirror with its reflected image. He attacked [Gaia the Earth] the mother of the Titanes with avenging brand, and shut up the murderers of horned Dionysos within the gate of Tartaros: the trees blazed, the hair of suffering Gaia (Earth) was scorched with heat. He kindled the East : the dawnlands of Baktria (Bactria) blazed under blazing bolts, the Assyrian waves set afire the neighbouring Kaspian (Caspian) Sea and the Indian mountains, the Red Sea rolled billows of flame and warmed Arabian Nereus. The opposite West also fiery Zeus blasted with his thunderbolt in love for his child; and under the foot of Zephyros the western brine half-burnt spat out a shining stream; the Northern ridges-- even the surface of the frozen Northern Sea bubbled and burned : under the clime of snowy Aigokeros (Aegocerus) [i.e. the constellation Capricorn] the Southern corner boiled with hotter sparks.
Now Okeanos (Oceanus) poured rivers of tears from his watery eyes, a libation of suppliant prayer. Then Zeus calmed his wrath at the sight of the scorched earth; he pitied her, and wished to wash with water the ashes of ruin and the fiery wounds of the land. The Rainy Zeus covered the whole sky with clouds and flooded all the earth. Zeus's heavenly trumpet bellowed with its thunderclaps, while all the stars moved in their appointed houses : when Helios (the Sun) in his four-horse chariot drove shining over the Lion's [Leo's] back, his own house; the Moon of threefold form rolled in her onrunning car over the eightfoot Crab [Cancer]; Kypris (Cypris) [i.e. the planet Venus] in her equinoctial course under the dewy region had left the Ram's [Aries] horn behind, and held her spring-time house in the heavenly Bull [Taurus] which knows no winter; the Sun's neighbour Ares [i.e. the planet Mars] possessed the Scorpion, harbinger of the Plow, encircled by the blazing Bull, and ogled Aphrodite [star Venus] opposite with a sidelong glance; Zeus of nightfall [i.e. the planet Jupiter], the twelvemonth traveller who completes the lichtgang, was treading on the starry Fishes [Pisces], having on his right he round-faced Moon in trine; Kronos (Cronus) [i.e. the planet Saturn] passed through the showery back of Aigokeros (Aegocerus) [Capricorn] drenched in the frosty light; round the bright Maiden [Virgo], Hermes [i.e. the planet Mercury] was poised on his pinions, because as a dispenser of justice he had Justice for his house.
Now the barriers of the sevenzoned watery sky were opened, when Zeus poured down his showers. The mountain-torrents roared with fuller fountains of the loudsplashing gulf. The lakes, liquid daughters cut off from Okeanos, raised their surface. The fountains shot spouts of the lower water of Okeanos into the air. The cliffs were besprinkled, the dry thirsty hills were drenched as with rivers streaming over the heights: the sea rose until Nereïdes became Oreades on the hills over the woodland. O poor thing! Maid Ekho (Echo) had to swim with unpractised hands, and felt a new fear for that old maiden zone--Pan she had escaped, but she might be cause by Poseidon! Sea-lions now leaped with dripping limbs in the land-lions' cave among rocks they knew not, and in the depths of a mountain-torrent a stray boar met with a dolphin of the sea. Wild beasts and fishes navigated in common stormy floods that poured from the mountains. The many-footed squid dragged his many coils into the hills, and pounced on the hare. The dripping Tritones at the edge of a secret wood wagged their green forked tails against their flanks, and hid in the mountain vaults where Pan had his habitation, leaving their familiar speckled conchs to sail about with the winds. Nereus on his travels met rock-loving Pan on a submerged hill, the rock-dweller left his sea and changed it for the hill, leaving the waterlogged pan's-pipes that floated; while he took to the watery cave where Ekho had sheltered.
Then the bodies of poor fellows swollen in their watery death were buried in the waters. Heaps of corpses were floating one upon another carried along by the rolling currents; there fell the lion, there fell the boar into the roaring torrent, with open throat gulping draughts of the cascades that poured from rocks and mountains. With mingling streams, lakes and rivers, torrents of rain, waters of the sea were all combined together, and the four winds united their blasts in one, to flog the universal inundation.
Earthshaker [Poseidon] saw from the deep the earth all flooded, while Zeus alone with stronger push made it quake under his threatening torrents: he threw away his prongs, wondering in his anger what earth now he could heave with a trident! Nereïdes in battalions swam over the flooding waves; Thetis travelled over the water riding on the green hip of a Triton with broad beard; Agauë on a fish's back drove her pilotfish in the open air, and an exile dolphin with the water swirling round his neck lifted Doris and carried her along. A whale of the deep sea leaped about the hills and sought the cave of the earthbedded lioness . . .
As the irresistible torrent swelled on and on, every city, every nation was a flood; not one corner was undrenched, not one hill was then bare--not the peak of Ossa, not the top of Pelion. Under the three peaks roared the Tyrrhenian Sea; the Adriatic rocks rebounded with Sicilian waters in showers of foam from the flogging sea. The sparkling rays of Phaëthon [Helios the sun] in his airy course became soft and womanish in the torrents. Selene (the Moon) in her seventh zone over the low rim of the earth cooled her light in the mounting waves, and checked her cattle with drenched and soaking necks. The rainwater mixed with the starry battalions, and made the Milky Way whiter with foam.
The Neilos (Nile), pouring his lifegiving stream through his seven mouths, went astray and met love-sick Alpheios (Alpheus) . . . ‘The earth quakes, the sky attacks us, the sea compels us, the unnavigable upper air itself swells in a foaming flood! I care not for the wild deluge. See what a great miracle! The blazing earth, the flaming sea, the rivers--all have been swept clean by the downpour of Zeus . . .’
Then also Deukalion passed over the mounting flood, to navigate far out of reach on a sky-traversing voyage; and the course of his ark selfguided selfmoving, without sheet and without harbour, scored the stormy waters.
Then the whole frame of the universe would have been unframed, then all-breeding Time would have dissolved the whole structure of the unsown generations of mankind: but by the divine ordination of Zeus, Poseidon Seabluehair with earthsplitting trident split the midmost peak of the Thessalian mountain, and dug a cleft through it by which the water ran sparkling down. Earth shook off the stormy flood which travelled so high, and showed herself risen again; the streams were driven into the deep hollows and the cliffs were laid bare. The sun poured his thirsty rays on the wet face of earth, and dried it; the water grew thick under the hotter beams, and he mud was dried again as before. Cities were fashioned by men with better skill and established upon stone foundations, palaces were built, and the streets of the new-founded cities were made strong for later generations of men. Nature laughed once more; the air once more was paddled by the wings of birds that flew in the winds."
Nonnus, Dionysiaca 7. 22 ff :
"Aion (Time) the maniform, holding the key of generation, spread his white shock of hair over the knees of Zeus, let fall the flowing mass of his beard in supplication . . . : ‘Lord Zeus! behold yourself the sorrows of a despairing world! . . . We can yet see traces of that Deluge which you brought upon all nations, when the streams of airy floods billowed in the air and boiled against the neighbouring Moon.’"
- Hesiod, Catalogues of Women Fragments - Greek Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
- Pindar, Odes - Greek Lyric C5th B.C.
- Herodotus, Histories - Greek History C5th B.C.
- Apollodorus, The Library - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
- Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica - Greek Epic C3rd B.C.
- Lycophron, Alexandra - Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
- Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History - Greek History C1st B.C.
- Strabo, Geography - Greek Geography C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
- Pausanias, Description of Greece - Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
- Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy - Greek Epic C4th A.D.
- Nonnus, Dionysiaca - Greek Epic C5th A.D.
- Colluthus, The Rape of Helen - Greek Epic C5th - 6th A.D.
- Hyginus, Fabulae - Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
- Hyginus, Astronomica - Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
- Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
- Ovid, Heroides - Latin Poetry C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
- Virgil, Georgics - Latin Bucolic C1st B.C. | <urn:uuid:4d447c96-1e9f-4bb2-8b8f-e3b312f19d13> | CC-MAIN-2019-47 | https://www.theoi.com/Heros/Deukalion.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-47/segments/1573496667260.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20191113113242-20191113141242-00513.warc.gz | en | 0.955961 | 13,741 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Using the mouth, lips, tongue and voice to generate sounds that one might never expect to come from the human body is the specialty of the artists known as beatboxers. Now scientists have used scanners to peer into a beatboxer as he performed his craft to reveal the secrets of this mysterious art.
The human voice has long been used to generate percussion effects in many cultures, including North American scat singing, Celtic lilting and diddling, and Chinese kouji performances. In southern Indian classical music, konnakol is the percussive speech of the solkattu rhythmic form. In contemporary pop music, the relatively young vocal art form of beatboxing is an element of hip-hop culture.
Until now, the phonetics of these percussion effects were not examined in detail. For instance, it was unknown to what extent beatboxers produced sounds already used within human language.
Via Ashish Umre | <urn:uuid:8dcf2695-fd5e-4e37-9bc8-7b5a90c32332> | CC-MAIN-2016-36 | http://www.scoop.it/t/amazing-science/p/3995583067/2013/01/27/the-science-behind-beatboxing | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982291143.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823195811-00251-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964544 | 193 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Count the Squares - Solution
You draw only 1 square with a black marker on a white piece of paper.
How many Squares do you See (I can see 3)
1. Inner white Square.
2. Inner white Square with black outline.
3. Square only formed by black outline
Interesting question Michael. I have just finished answering your e-mail on the same issue. I believe your question is still dealing with one square basically. By you logic, the number of squares should be 120, because each of the 40 squares should be counted thrice.
Thanks for the picture though. I have edited it some, to help answer the puzzle - which is actually 40 squares. | <urn:uuid:79a7d636-2a50-441c-861a-1b7733bdc33f> | CC-MAIN-2018-22 | http://www.experiential-learning-games.com/counting-squares.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794865691.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20180523161206-20180523181206-00624.warc.gz | en | 0.93591 | 144 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Altar of Repose
(Sometimes called less properly sepulchre or tomb, more frequently repository).
The altar where the Sacred Host, consecrated in the Mass on Holy Thursday, is reserved until the Mass of the Presanctified (see GOOD FRIDAY) on the following day. It is prescribed that the altar of repose be in the church and other than the one where Mass is celebrated. In the Mass on Holy Thursday two hosts are consecrated; after the consumption of the first, the second Host is placed in a chalice, which is covered with a pall and inverted paten; over the whole is placed a white veil, tied with a ribbon. This remains on the corporal in the centre of the altar till the end of Mass, when it is carried in solemn procession to the altar of repose, there to remain in the tabernacle or in an urn placed in a prominent position above the altar. Individual churches vie with one another in rendering these altars of repose with their respective chapels ornate in the extreme, with rich hangings, beautiful flowers, and numerous lights. Catholic piety has made Holy Thursday a day of exceptional devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and the repository is the centre of the love and aspirations of the faithful. Mention of the altar of repose and the procession thereto is not found before the close of the fifteenth century. The reservation of the Consecrated Species in the Mass of Holy Thursday, spoken of in earlier liturgical works, was for the distribution of Holy Communion, not for the service on the following day.
ANDREW B. MEEHAN | <urn:uuid:c65b74d9-ba06-4b6d-9d1c-d5cedee25d9b> | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Altar_of_Repose | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267864343.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20180622030142-20180622050142-00446.warc.gz | en | 0.946566 | 344 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Attention: For textbook, access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Two kids. One mysterious doorway to the Civil War.
Michael and Derek dont expect the adventure of a lifetime while visiting a Civil War museum with their grandmother. But when the mysterious museum keeper invites them to play a special history game, they suddenly find themselves walking through a door into a very realistic depiction of 1862.
Its only the beginning of their journey as they are whisked away by a carriage to nearby Antietam only days after a violent battle. There, they see for themselves the tragic aftermath of war and come face-to-face with Abraham Lincoln. Suddenly, the boys begin to wonderis this all real?
Patricia Polacco brings history to vibrant life and uses facts and primary sources to open a doorway through time into a pivotal moment of the Civil War. | <urn:uuid:53a5fe8b-1fb9-4a9e-ab12-e40211810a70> | CC-MAIN-2019-47 | https://bookhillside.com/products/9780147510624-0147510627-just-in-time-abraham-lincoln | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-47/segments/1573496671411.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20191122171140-20191122200140-00244.warc.gz | en | 0.926645 | 175 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Although asbestos was used in ancient Greek and Roman times, asbestos did not return to popularity until the Industrial Revolution. After this, various types of industries use asbestos for their exceptional resistance to heat, fire, chemicals, electricity, and even biodegradation. While many people are aware of the use of asbestos in construction and shipping, you might not know that it used to be – and still is – an additive in several different automotive parts.
You might believe that asbestos was banned from the 1980s. However, while it is removed from several industries, it can still be used in several other industries, including cars. One study found that importing brakes containing asbestos has increased in recent years. In the automotive industry, car parts must be very resistant to heat and flame due to being hit by a hot engine or heated brakes.
Several different automotive parts can contain asbestos. First, this material has been found in hardliners or material on the inside of your front hood. Because this area is above the engine, it must be able to maintain high temperatures.
Brakes Contain Asbestos
Furthermore, another component that contains asbestos is popular brakes. Brake lining must be resistant to large amounts of friction-induced heat and pressure, and asbestos is recognized for its ability to do so. Also, the clutch can use asbestos additives. Finally, even small parts such as gaskets, heat seals, and valves can have asbestos.
Unfortunately, because of the amount of asbestos in car parts, mechanics and other people who work with car parts can suffer from deadly asbestos exposure. Brake pads and clutches, even though they have high durability, are naturally worn and need to be replaced. When an automotive professional removes an old asbestos brake liner or clutch bearing, he can release a small cloud of …Read More | <urn:uuid:23b74c6a-4e0b-4944-8f01-b45e22c45562> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://nuhogames.com/category/future-trends-in-automobile/future-trends-in-automotive-design | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439735939.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20200805094821-20200805124821-00526.warc.gz | en | 0.960738 | 362 | 3.140625 | 3 |
The number of potential and active blood donors is decreasing. Therefore with over 40 million transfusions of red blood cells worldwide, the challenge is to have enough blood in the right place at the right time and be assured of its quality, purity and efficacy.
“With over 40 million transfusions of red blood cells worldwide, the challenge is to have enough blood in the right place at the right time”
Previously unknown blood-borne pathogens appear regularly and can infect blood donors. Yet laboratory tests to identify these new agents take time to be developed, leaving populations exposed to risk. Even expensive pathogen inactivation systems do not claim to remove all pathogens, but only to reduce the burden of infective agents.
Blood generally needs to be typed and matched to a donor and can only be stored once collected in specific conditions for certain amounts of time. Our product will not need to be typed as it is ‘type-independent’ and our aim is for it to be stored for extended time periods in ambient conditions enabling it to be carried on-hand in emergency situations.
Numerous companies have tried in the past to create artificial (clean) blood substitutes capable of carrying oxygen to the body’s tissues, but have failed to solve toxicity or safety issues. It is our belief that a major reason for this failure is an inability to control the redox activity of hemoglobin.
Further information and a non-technical description about the blood substitute field.
A film about the project by ITV News Essex scientists develop artificial blood substitute. | <urn:uuid:aa153cfb-5e4e-4725-957f-f263cfadb4e8> | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | http://haemo2.com/need.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267863980.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20180621001211-20180621021211-00316.warc.gz | en | 0.917714 | 311 | 3.234375 | 3 |
A consensus has emerged among researchers that five components are necessary for skillful reading. Ask parents what they want their children to learn at school, and they’re likely to put “learn to read” at the top of the list. No wonder: Reading is the cornerstone of a child’s education. Students who don’t have strong reading skills will struggle through school and may not be able to reach the college level. If their reading skills remain limited as adults, they are likely to be restricted to low-wage positions. To help start early readers off on the right foot, we include in this research review:
- Stages of reading development
- Components of skillful reading
- Are teachers prepared to teach reading
- How well are our students reading
- Early diagnosis and intervention for reading problems
- What the research means for your schools
Unfortunately, not all children come to school ready to learn to read, and too often, achievement gaps show up between different groups of students. It’s up to you and your school board to support sound reading instruction in your schools—instruction that draws on what we know about how children learn to read and that takes into account the diversity of students’ family backgrounds and socioeconomic status.
In recent years, research has gone a long way in identifying what goes into that kind of sound reading instruction. This is part one of a two-part series that looks at how children learn to read and what works in reading instruction in the early grades. The second part in the series will address how to develop more advanced reading skills in older students. Together, these reports provide information you can use as you deliberate policy decisions concerning curriculum, teacher preparation, and resource allocation.
Stages of reading development
From the studies listed in Recent research on reading , we now have a clear conception of how reading skills progress, and we recognize that the building blocks for reading success are formed long before a child reaches first grade.
As toddlers and preschoolers, children develop oral language skills and cultivate what is known as print awareness or print concepts—that is, they come to understand the nature and purpose of print and recognize the unique properties of the alphabet or writing system they are learning about.
This print awareness starts with the most basic skills—learning that letters have names and that letters represent individual speech sounds (known as phonemes) in spoken language. The young child’s awareness then builds to a greater understanding of text, such as learning to look at or “read” printed words from left to right.
Unfortunately, the achievement gap—particularly between low-income and middle-income children—can begin here, as middle- and upper-class kids develop print awareness earlier due to “rich home literacy experiences” compared with students from low-income families (Vellutino 2003). Effective pre-k programs may be one way to help close this gap: Children in such programs show improved vocabulary scores and gains in print awareness including letter recognition, letter sounds, and book concepts (Barnett, Lamy, and Jung 2005, see also the Center for Public Education’s research on pre-k education ).
The prominent reading researcher Jeanne Chall (1996) identified the following stages of reading development:
- Prereading or emergent literacy stage: In preschool and kindergarten, children focus on oral language skills they will need to learn to read. By the end of kindergarten, they should know and be able to write all the letters and should have developed a vocabulary of about 6,000 words.
- Stage 1, Initial reading: In first grade, children learn that letters represent sounds and use relationships between letter sounds and spelling, typically through the process known as “decoding.”
- Stage 2, Confirmation and fluency: In grades one and three, children learn to integrate knowledge of sound-symbol relationships, to recognize "sight words", and broaden their knowledge of the language conventions of connected text to create smooth reading.
- Stage 3, Reading for learning the new: In grades four through eight, students encounter a wide variety of texts and contexts and expand their vocabulary to learn information from text.
- Stage 4, Multiple viewpoints: In high school, the language and cognitive demands on students increase, and they are expected to analyze texts critically and understand multiple points of view.
- Stage 5, Construction and reconstruction: In college and beyond, students’ reading is considered constructive; they take in information and make their own sense of it based on analysis and synthesis.
Components of skillful reading
While these stages provide something of a chronology of reading development, a consensus has emerged among researchers (Snow, Griffin, and Burns 1998, NRP 2000) that
five components are necessary for skillful reading. Under each of the link below you will find an array of effective tips for each of the five components that help beginning readers become skillful. Just follow the links to learn more about each one.
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 34 percent of fourth graders and 27 percent of eighth graders in U.S. public schools read below the “basic” level—that is, they have not mastered the reading skills that are considered fundamental for their given grade.
- NAEP reading assessments also indicate that white and Asian students perform at higher levels than other students. This gap in reading skills stems from an apparent disparity in vocabulary exposure that shows up even before children enter school.
- The building blocks for reading success are formed long before a child reaches first grade. Reading develops in stages, beginning with print awareness and progressing through letter recognition, letter sounds, and book concepts; reading for learning; understanding multiple points of view; and analysis and synthesis.
- Research has identified five components that are necessary for skillful reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. However, most teacher preparation programs do not teach all five.
- The key to preventing reading failure is early identification and diagnosis of reading problems by testing letter names or sounds, phonemic awareness, fluency, and word-reading ability
- School districts can support reading instruction by adopting research-based instructional techniques, providing professional development, and allocating sufficient human and financial resources to reading instruction.
- Phonemic awareness: The ability to notice, think about, and work with the individual sounds in spoken words.
- Phonics: The understanding that there is a predictable relationship between phonemes -- the smallest parts of spoken words -- and graphemes -- the letters that represent those sounds in written language.
- Handout: Fluency: The ability to read a text accurately and quickly.
- Handout: Vocabulary: The words a reader must know to communicate effectively.
- Handout: Comprehension: The ability to understand the text that is read.
Phonemic awareness and phonics are considered the foundational skills for reading—those typically learned in the early reading stage—while fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension are seen as more complex. All the components are interrelated, however. As a RAND report (2002) explained, “Fluency can be conceptualized as both an antecedent to and a consequence of comprehension. Some aspects of fluent, expressive reading may depend on a thorough understanding of a text. However, some components of fluency—quick and efficient recognition of words and at least some aspects of syntactic parsing—appear to be prerequisites for comprehension.”
Are teachers prepared to teach reading?
Despite the wealth of knowledge gained over the past decade about the five components of skillful reading, one study found that this information is not making its way into teacher education programs. Walsh, Glaser, and Wilcox (2006) examined required reading courses at a random sample of seventy-two elementary education programs and found that most of the teacher prep programs in the study did not teach all five components. Only eleven (or 15 percent) of the institutions taught all five components of reading, and the researchers called for greater inclusion of scientific research on reading in teacher education programs’ syllabi, textbooks, and assignments. For an-indept look at each of the five components, click on the links above.
Given all we’ve learned about reading development, you might assume all’s well with reading instruction. But many k-12 students nationwide—and probably some in your district—have trouble reading. Definitive estimates of the number or percentage of students who do not read on “grade level” are hard to come by, however. The main estimate comes from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a nationwide test often called The Nation’s Report Card. Although its standards are high and its content and results don’t always align with those of state assessments and other tests, NAEP is the only nationwide test that can compare student achievement across states.
In the 2007 reading assessment, 34 percent of fourth graders and 27 percent of eighth graders in U.S. public schools read below the “basic” level, meaning they have not mastered the reading skills that are considered fundamental for their given grade (Lee, Grigg, and Donahue 2007).
More disturbing, results of NAEP reading assessments also indicate that white or Asian students are performing at higher levels than other students. In 2007, only 23 percent of white and 24 percent of Asian fourth graders were considered reading at below basic levels, according to NAEP; yet about half of other minority fourth graders fell below basic levels (54 percent of black, 51 percent of Hispanic, and 49 percent of American Indian fourth graders).
Not surprisingly, similar disparities exist when comparing students from different socioeconomic groups, as measured by eligibility for free and reduced- price lunches. Fifty percent of fourth graders on free and reduced-price lunches read at a level below basic, compared with only 21 percent of noneligible fourth graders (Lee, Grigg, and Donahue 2007).
(For more on NAEP scoring, see NAEP Achievement Levels. See also At a glance: The proficiency debate.)
This gap in reading skills—at least, the gap across socioeconomic lines—stems from an apparent disparity in vocabulary exposure that shows up even before children enter school, according to Hart and Risley (2003). Based on intensive observations of preschool children in welfare families, working-class families, and professional families, these researchers found a dramatic gap in the vocabularies of three-year-olds. On average, children in welfare families knew 525 words. By comparison, on average, children in working-class and professional families knew 749 and 1,116 words, respectively. This disparity in home language environment can have a long-term impact.
Early diagnosis and intervention for reading problems
Fortunately, the growing body of research on early reading points the way to help for struggling young readers. The key to preventing reading failure is early identification and diagnosis of reading problems, argues Torgeson (1998), who suggests that districts, schools, and teachers focus on assessing potential reading difficulties as early as kindergarten and first grade. He recommends formal and informal assessments in the following four areas:
- A test of knowledge of letter names or sounds: Torgeson notes that “letter-name knowledge is a more sensitive predictor for kindergarten children, while letter-sound knowledge is a better predictor for children in first grade.” Two tests that provide nationally standardized norms for performance on letter-name and letter-sound knowledge are the letter identification subtest of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test-Revised and the graphemes subtest of the Phonological Awareness Test.
- A measure of phonemic awareness: More than twenty different tasks have been used to measure awareness of phonemes in words. These measures can be grouped into three broad categories: Sound comparison, phoneme segmentation, and phoneme blending. Three widely used tests are the Phonological Awareness Test, the Test of Phonological Awareness, and the Yopp-Singer Test of Phoneme Segmentation.
- Fluency assessments: Informal fluency assessments simply require teachers to listen to students read aloud and gauge their progress in fluency. In more formal measures, teachers compute the number of words students read correctly per minute and compare that with published norms or standards for oral reading fluency.
- Measures of word-reading ability: Torgeson notes that two assessments are often used to measure this skill; both call on students to read lists of unrelated words that “increase in length and complexity while decreasing in frequency of occurrence.” These include the word identification subtest of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test Revised and the reading subtest of the Wide Range Achievement Test-3.
When readers are struggling in the first or second grade, Snow et al. (2007) say the “range of possible solutions” may seem small and relatively simple—for example, trying supplementary instruction in phonological awareness, checking the student’s letter recognition and understanding of letter-sound relationships, practicing basic word-reading skills, focusing on common words that are irregularly spelled, and providing lots of practice in overall word recognition and oral reading to enhance fluency.
In a separate report, Snow, Griffins, and Burns (1998) suggest another possible solution: Enlisting help from people outside the school, such as pediatricians, social
workers, speech language therapists, and other preschool practitioners. They suggest giving these professionals tips on identifying signs that children are having trouble acquiring early language and literacy skills, such as confusing letter sounds.
The Reading First Program
The five components of reading are now so well accepted that they were written into the requirements of programs to be funded under the billion-dollar federal Reading First program. This program, building on the results of the National Reading Panel and enacted by Congress in 2002, was designed to support states and school districts that apply scientifically based reading research—and proven instructional and assessment tools based on the five components—to ensure that all children learn to read well by the end of third grade.
Reading First’s reputation was tarnished, however, by federal investigations and congressional hearings about conflicts of interest and inappropriate attempts to force schools to use specific curricula (Kennedy Manzo 2008). In response to complaints, the Department of Education’s Inspector General (IG) carried out several investigations and audits of the program’s administration.
In its final report on the Reading First grant application process, the IG determined that the Education Department had, among other findings, developed an application package that obscured the requirements of the statute; failed to identify possible conflicts of interest among expert review panelists; and intervened to influence the selection of reading programs by one state and several school districts (IG final inspection report 2006).
In fiscal 2008, the program’s budget was cut more than 60 percent (from almost $1 billion to $393 million. Further questions arose in May 2008, when a congressionally mandated study of Reading First found that, although both groups made gains, students enrolled in Reading First scored about the same on tests of reading comprehension as students who were not in the program (Glod 2008, Gamse 2008).
Then, in June 2008, U.S. House and Senate panels eliminated Reading First’s funding entirely from the fiscal 2009 budget (Kennedy, Manzo, and Klein 2008).
If reading difficulties are not identified early, several researchers (Lyon et al. 2001, Torgeson 1998) caution that intensive and expensive interventions are often needed. School districts typically do not test reading skills (or other skills) until third grade, when state and other assessments are administered. But that may be too late for the more simple interventions that can be helpful earlier.
If a student’s reading ability falls below the predicted level of performance, many schools administer some type of IQ assessment, which is used to determine whether the child has a reading disability. An estimated 7 to 9 percent of school-age children have reading disabilities, according to Gersten et al. (2001) and Riddle, Buly, and Valencia (2003). With such a diagnosis, students are eligible for special education services. Critics call this “IQ discrepancy approach” the “wait to fail” approach: If students have struggled with poor reading skills for several years, they may be so frustrated that they are turned off from reading altogether.
One alternative to this approach is the Response to Intervention program developed six years ago by Oregon’s Tigard-Tualamin School District (Dervarics 2007). Designed to help struggling readers, the RTI program provides for teachers with special training to screen all students regularly for reading problems—often as early as first or second grade. Instead of being placed in special education, struggling students receive intensive interventions.
The district uses screening instruments such (e.g., Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessment) to evaluate the reading skills of all students three times a year. Those who score in the 30th percentile or below receive intensive small-group services. If the services are not effective, grade-level teams develop intensive individual instructional strategies to deal with the weaknesses of specific students.
The initiative has had a positive effect, with the district recording higher reading scores since implementation. Among third and fifth graders, Dervarics reports, 95 percent exceeded the state’s reading benchmark for 2005–2006, up 10 percentage points from five years ago.
What the research means for your schools
NAEP reading results indicate that not much has changed since 1992: A disturbing proportion of students fall below grade level, and the gap between white and minority students has not lessened significantly. As we learn more about the best forms of reading instruction, we may see gains in reading scores on national assessments such as NAEP.
In the meanwhile, your school district can take steps now:
- Assess reading skills early and regularly: Early identification of struggling readers can help put young children on the path to skillful reading.
- Use interventions that look beyond special education placement: Consider the kinds of individual instructional strategies suggested by Snow et al. (2007) and those that have shown promise in the RTI program.
- Adopt research-based instructional techniques: Interventions funded under the federal Reading First program, which requires the use of scientifically based early reading instruction, may serve as useful models.
- Provide professional development programs to help current teachers: According to Walsh, Glaser, and Wilcox (2006), most of today’s teachers did not receive a sufficient background in reading research.
- Encourage local teacher education programs to include reading research in the curriculum: As reading science becomes more embedded in these programs, future teachers will be better prepared to provide sound reading instruction.
- Allocate sufficient human and financial resources: Your school district’s budget should demonstrate that the school board and administrative team recognize the primacy of reading instruction in a child’s education.
If more school districts take these steps—and adopt the intensive instructional approaches necessary to help students with reading difficulties—more elementary school children will build robust reading skills, which serve as strong foundations for later learning.
The second part of this two-part series examines research on how children further develop reading skills as they enter middle and high school.
This research review was prepared for the Center for Public Education by freelance writer Eileen M. O'Brien with additional editorial contributions from Sally Banks Zakariya. Much of O'Brien's work has focused on access to quality education for disadvantaged and minority populations. She has a master of public administration from George Washington University and a bachelor of science degree in psychology from Loyola University of Chicago. Zakariya, a free-lance writer based in Arlington, Virginia, is former editor-in-chief of American School Board Journal and director of publications for the National School Boards Association.
Posted: October 17, 2008
©Center for Public Education | <urn:uuid:9f0e0f3a-77f4-47e1-a8a2-9e03e3157ed6> | CC-MAIN-2016-18 | http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Instruction/From-beginning-to-stellar-Five-tips-on-developing-skillful-readers | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-18/segments/1461860122268.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20160428161522-00183-ip-10-239-7-51.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945995 | 4,107 | 4.1875 | 4 |
What are the benefits of family and community connections?
There are numerous benefits from well-implemented school and community partnership programs. They include increased student attendance, higher achievement and report-card grades, a sense of greater security, fewer behavioral problems, and an increase in positive attitudes about school and homework.
Sue Doubler, a Project Director of TERC Student and Scientist Partnership Conference talks about a project that involves local scientists in the classroom. She also talks about combining assessment in this program.
Research also finds that parent participation tends to decline as students get older, unless school programs are put in place to encourage it. Affluent communities tend to have better connections to schools. Poorer communities need to organize programs that reach out to parents to increase involvement. Poorer communities tend to have more negative perceptions about parent involvement; this is largely because without a planned program, contacts tend to occur only when students have problems or are in trouble.
The studies also find that most families are concerned with their children's education and want to help them succeed in school. Just about all teachers and administrators express interest in increased parental and community involvement. Despite their common interest in helping children succeed, however, teachers and parents may not communicate with each other, in part because of past fears and frustrations experienced by both sides. Good family-and-school partnership programs work to overcome these challenges, so that all parents can be involved in their children's education across the grades in positive ways. Planned partnership programs are needed to ensure equal participation by school, family, and community -- rich or poor.
Another benefit of these programs is to help educators and families cope in an increasingly diverse society. According to a recent article "Quality Counts," "nearly 1/3 of school age children in the United States are members of minority groups compared with 12% of teachers. The proportion of African Americans in the teaching force has declined in recent years and that of Latino teachers has increased only slightly. But the percentage of K-12 students who are members of minority groups is in the midst of a long and steep incline." (EDUCATION WEEK, 1/13/00. v. 19.no. 18. p.32) Working together can help teachers, parents, and students find common ground and avoid the pitfalls that can occur when people misunderstand the motivations and ideas of those from other cultures.
Recent research has also demonstrated an important role for fathers in helping increase student achievement. Children whose fathers are involved with schools have a higher likelihood of getting better grades than those whose mothers alone are involved. Children whose fathers are involved are also less likely to get suspended or expelled in middle and high school. Because many traditional programs for "parental involvement" have really meant "maternal involvement," it is important that family and school connection programs reach out to fathers and work to include them in as many types of school-related activities as possible. | <urn:uuid:1ae51f4d-dd24-4881-84d7-2f2d00bc8954> | CC-MAIN-2017-17 | http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/familycommunity/index_sub4.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917121893.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031201-00497-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973429 | 587 | 3.125 | 3 |
Hut-to-Hut is the result of a workshop organised by Rintala Eggertsson Architects and some students from the University of Science and Technology in Norway to design and construct a practical, eco-friendly home in India’s Western Ghats region.
Built with locally-produced materials and using solar power and a composite latrine to provide its energy needs, the project, backed by the Panchabhuta Conservation Foundation is also expandable over time.
Rintala Eggertsson architects Daggur Eggerstsson, Sami Rintala and Pasi Aalto together with the Norwegian University’s students decided to create the project after an eco-tourism seminar on India’s Western Ghats region.
The ideal solution for them would be beneficial to the local people in Kagala, Karnataka, India and also be affordable and sustainable. Thus, the two-hut home was created with the aid of the Panchabhuta Conservation Foundation.
Hut-to-Hut or the Kumta Prototype utilizes traditional building style featuring homes grouped together with shared shady courtyards. The foundation for the building was provided by a square brick construction, and coupled with building with locally-made materials, created structures with large roofs, raised floors and screened walls to provide a naturally-ventilated home.
Independent of the grid, the energy needs of the home are provided by solar panel-generated electricity and a composite latrine for waste disposal and biogas production. The foundation makes it possible for future expansion of the home as needs be while a small garden can also be cultivated around the homes. | <urn:uuid:2c867226-15b6-411e-8e09-84ff47be1b4f> | CC-MAIN-2015-40 | http://www.greenoptimistic.com/hut-to-hut-india-eco-home-20130129/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-40/segments/1443738006925.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20151001222006-00179-ip-10-137-6-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934751 | 338 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Soil salinity rises due to constant irrigation in arid lands, will this method change the outcome?
Q Soil salinity rises due to constant irrigation in arid lands, will this method change the outcome?
A The Arizona basin is the bread basket of the USA, Constant irrigation here has led to the creation of a salt pan system, where the land is rapidly failing to maintain crop production. This is not a new problem. The Atacama desert in Chile is littered with the mummified remains of farmers who must have exhausted the soils in the same way, Here there are huge areas covered in a thick crust of salt cake. The problem arises predominantly where water is mined from non-renewable underground reserves or fossil water as it is known. This water dissolves the minerals from the soil over thousands of years and where it is used, the high evaporation rates boil off the water leaving the salts behind. Constant irrigation using this method leeches away organic material and builds up the salts at the surface. Another factor is that the constant use of underground water lowers the water table. This causes sea water to infiltrate the reserve, further increasing the salinity, leading to famine and starvation.
The Oasis Solution is to import water that has a very low salt content but a very high organic and nutrient content. Using this water to grow forests and maintain agriculture will not produce high concentrations of salts, and the salts it does leave in the soil will be exploited by trees, locking them away in the timber for many years. | <urn:uuid:8e3d20e2-1aa2-4079-a831-c45d46fb1030> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | http://www.operationoasis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59:soil-salinity-rises-due-to-constant-irrigation-in-arid-lands-will-this-method-change-the-outcome&catid=27:questions-and-answers-operation-oasis&Itemid=68 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464051114647.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524005154-00000-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944872 | 311 | 3.28125 | 3 |
Cold, dry planets could have a lot of hurricanes
Nearly every atmospheric science textbook ever written will say that hurricanes are an inherently wet phenomenon—they use warm, moist air for fuel. But according to new simulations, the storms can also form in very cold, dry climates.
A climate as cold and dry as the one in the study is unlikely to ever become the norm on Earth, especially as climate change is making the world warmer and wetter. But the findings could have implications for storms on other planets and for the intrinsic properties of hurricanes that most scientists and educators currently believe to be true.
"We have theories for how hurricanes work at temperatures that we're used to experiencing on Earth, and theoretically, they should still apply if we move to a colder and drier climate," said Dan Chavas, an assistant professor of earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences at Purdue University. "We wanted to know if hurricanes really need water. And we've shown that they don't—but in a very different world."
In the world we live in now, hurricanes need water. When they reach land, they die because they run of out the water they evaporate for energy—but that doesn't have to be the case. The findings were published in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences.
"Just because there isn't something changing phase between liquid and vapor doesn't mean a hurricane can't form," Chavas said.
In collaboration with Timothy Cronin, an assistant professor of atmospheric science at MIT, he used a computer model that mimics a very basic atmosphere and constantly generates hurricanes. In a general hurricane scenario, this looks like a box with ocean at the bottom, but Chavas tweaked it to dry out the surface or cool it below temperatures that usually generate hurricanes.
The coldest simulations were run at 240 degrees Kelvin (-28 F) and produced a shocking number of cyclones. These cold, dry storms were generally smaller and weaker than the hurricanes on Earth, but they formed at a higher frequency.
As the temperature drops, the air can hold less water, which explains why cold temperatures and dry surfaces yield similar results in experiments. At 240 degrees K, air can hold roughly 100 times less water vapor than at temperatures typical of the modern tropics.
Interestingly, there is a range of moderate temperatures and moisture levels in which no cyclones formed at all. From 250 to 270 degrees Kelvin (-10 F to 26 F), no hurricanes formed, although the researchers aren't sure why. At 280 Kelvin (44 F), the atmosphere filled again with cyclones.
"Maybe that means there are ideal regimes for hurricanes to exist and the current world we live in is one," Chavas said. "Or you could be in another world where there's no water, but it's still capable of producing many hurricanes. When people are considering whether we could live on a dry, rocky planet like Mars, this could be something to consider."
Such a planet could have even more hurricanes than occur on Earth. Because it's difficult to study the atmospheres of other planets, scientists have to work with their knowledge of Earth and fundamental understanding of how atmospheres function. | <urn:uuid:76c90b62-fb09-409c-ad58-caced84dd81c> | CC-MAIN-2021-43 | https://phys.org/news/2019-07-cold-planets-lot-hurricanes.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323587770.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20211025220214-20211026010214-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.956596 | 642 | 3.90625 | 4 |
The database is updated until:
Feb 29, 2020.
February 2020 - Monthly updates of global radiation for six stations are now kindly provided by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
February 2020 - Updates for July - December 2019 are kindly provided by the Meteorological Service of Catalonia.
December 2019 - New station data have been kindly provided by The National Environmental Agency from Georgia. These are 209 station records for daily temperature, precipitation and a subset provides humidity, pressure and wind information.
December 2019 - Global radiation record from 1928 onward has been added for the station Haarweg/Veenkampen (the Netherlands), kindly provided by the Wageningen University & Research centre.
October 2019 - E-OBS v20.0e has been released. Global radiation grids have been added.
October 2019 - Global radiation has been added.
October 2019 - Precipitation and temperature records of eight stations in the Czech Republic, with data starting as early as January 1920, are kindly provided by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
August 2019 - Four historic rain gauge records for the Netherlands with data from 1849 until the 1950s added, kindly provided by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute.
July 2019 - Updates for 2015-2018 are kindly provided by the Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Croatia.
July 2019 - Updates for January - June 2019 are kindly provided by the Meteorological Service of Catalonia.
July 2019 - Global radiation data has been included for Slovenia.
July 2019 - Precipitation and temperature data from 36 stations in Russia have been included for 2014-2017, kindly provided by Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.
July 2019 - Precipitation and temperature data from Emilia Romagna (Italy) , downloaded from the Arpae database has been added. Years 2006 till 2019 (May) ARPAE Emilia-Romagna .
July 2019 - Updates of sunshine duration, temperature and precipitation data kindly provided by the Radcliffe Meteorological Station Oxford.
July 2019 - Relative humidity data have been included until the end of 2018 for all Estonian stations kindly provided by the Estonian Environment Agency.
July 2019 - 2018 update for Denmark and Greenland are included, kindly provided by DMI.
July 2019 - Rain gauge data for 59 stations and temperature data for 7 stations covering a part of the 1920s has been kindly provided by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management.
July 2019 - Updates of five series for sunshine duration kindly provided by the Hungarian Meteorological Service.
July 2019 - Early temperature and rainfall records for 39 stations have been kindly provided by the UK Met Office'sNational Climate Information Centre.
July 2019 - Global radiation data from 1980 onwards has been kindly provided by MeteoSwiss.
All news items | <urn:uuid:cca63c02-bf02-4003-9c9f-2c7d97f932ea> | CC-MAIN-2021-04 | https://eca.knmi.nl/index.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610703507045.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20210116195918-20210116225918-00287.warc.gz | en | 0.934642 | 571 | 2.625 | 3 |
Welcome to the Squirrels class
Squirrels are a key stage 2 class and we follow an adapted curriculum with lots of sensory play and we follow a total communication approach using symbols, signing, switches and speech. We enjoy outdoor play and visiting our different rooms around school such as the computer suite, sensory rooms and the new library.
Home school diaries
We ask parents and carers to return home school diaries each day, as this will provide key information for staff and parents each day. If there are particular things you wish to speak to your teacher about please contact school.
Individual Educational Plans (IEPs)
This plan sets out educational targets that your child is working on for the term.There are tasks in the plan with activities you can do at home with your child. Plans are updated each term and sent home.
All children are encouraged to engage in reading and develop a love of stories. We have a wide range of reading books and sensory books and big books to support the learning styles and levels for each child. Each week your child will recieve a new reading book. Please encourage your child to engage with the characters and stories.
We kindly ask you to send in £2 each week.This contributes to snack and cookery ingredients we use each week.
Pupils have been developing skills in literacy this term. The theme this term was Town and Country. Pupils engaged in sensory activities with farm animals and tractors in sensory trays. Pupils developed reading skills looking at The Naughty Sheepdog story and matched key words from the text and developed writing skills overwriting words. Pupils have been studying electricity in science sessions and used balloons looking at static electricity and created electric circuits. | <urn:uuid:02377b52-4892-4d20-9fbb-d7533b7051f4> | CC-MAIN-2020-40 | https://www.rowanpark.co.uk/welcome-to-the-squirrels-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600400191780.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20200919110805-20200919140805-00024.warc.gz | en | 0.954944 | 353 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Summary: This sermon encourages every believer to use the talents/abilities God has given them to serve Him.
INTRO: Imagine being called up by the President of the United States and being asked to come serve on his cabinet. The future of the entire country is on the line, and he wants your assistance. What would you do? What would you say?
In our text, we see that we are called by God and are asked to serve for Him. What will you do? What will you say?
I. Moses (Exodus 3:9-11; 4:1-5)
A. What Moses had was nothing until he used it
B. As long as Moses used God’s instrument, he
1) The Ten Plagues
2) The Crossing of the Red Sea
3) The Battle with Amalek
4) Water From The Rock
C. Was Moses’ rod a lucky charm? No. But God
was able to use what Moses had to reveal His
II. The Boy and His Lunch (John 6:1-13)
A. What the boy had was nothing until he gave it
B. The boy gave all he had, and Jesus multiplied
it and used it for His glory.
C. Was five loaves and two fish enough to feed a
multitude? No. But he gave what he had to God
and God was able to use it despite its size.
III. Shamgar (Judges 3:31)
A. What Shamgar had was nothing until he used it
B. Is an ox goad (a pointy stick) a high-tech
military weapon? No. But God used it to
accomplish His purpose in the history of Israel.
IV. Samson (Judges 15:14-17)
A. What Samson had was nothing until he used it
B. Is a donkey’s jawbone a powerful killing
tool? No. But God was able to use it to His
V. The Widow’s Mite (Luke 21:1-4)
A. What the widow had was nothing until she gave
it to God.
B. Is two mites (2 cents) a whole lot of money?
No. But God used her gift from her heart more
than the rich men’s gift of show.
CONCLUSION: What do you have to offer to God? Is it much? The crux of the lessons behind these stories is not about a magic rod, a multiplied lunch, a miracle pointed stick, a tough jawbone, or an amazing two cents. The focus is on the majesty of a mighty, all powerful, God who can use whatever you have, if you give it to Him. Have you made that commitment? Does God have all of you, and all you have? Imagine what God could do with what you have. Give it over to Him today. | <urn:uuid:d8dcfbe2-914d-4ba4-add4-fdedd1d93be1> | CC-MAIN-2018-26 | https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/god-can-use-what-you-have-ac-caincross-sermon-on-gifts-general-37599 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267861899.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20180619041206-20180619061206-00510.warc.gz | en | 0.971218 | 612 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Is it Smart to Work for No Money?
Working for no money is a very common thing. It might seem strange that people would work without being paid. However, people do it every day when they cook meals for their families, clean their houses, or help their friends with construction projects or other jobs. When people talk about working for free, however, they usually mean something a bit different from the small, ordinary jobs like these. Usually, working for no money falls into one of two categories: volunteering or unpaid internships. They can both be good if treated with care.
The most common form of unpaid work is volunteering. In 2010, over thirteen million people in Canada volunteered at least a small amount of time in many different places, such as hospitals, libraries, schools, and special events like festivals. Some people volunteered for only an hour or two, while other people spent hundreds or even thousands of hours helping others. They fed the hungry, planted trees, counted migrating birds, helped build houses for the poor, and did many other things in their own communities, in another part of Canada, or even in different countries.
People volunteer for many different reasons. Sometimes they volunteer to meet people with similar interests and to work with organizations where they are already receiving some benefit, such as when mothers volunteer as helpers in their own children’s classrooms. Others volunteer as a way of learning skills like teamwork and communication or to meet people who work in their chosen careers.
In some fields, unpaid internships are another form of working for no money. While volunteers usually work no more than a few hours per week, interns work full-time at a job with the expectation that they are learning something about a career. The idea of internships started in medicine, where people who had graduated from their basic studies would spend time working in hospitals and learning to apply what they had learned. These days, almost anyone can work as an intern.
Internships like these can be good, but they can frequently lead to problems. One of the keys of an internship is that the interns are supposed to learn from the experience. If employers make the interns do the work of a paid employee or fail to teach them any new skills, they have broken the rules. Some of the internships currently being done in Canada are illegal because of these kinds of problems.
So should you work for no money if the benefits are so uncertain? It really depends on the situation. Volunteering is usually a good idea since it shows that you are trying to be a responsible citizen who cares about the community. Unpaid internships are more problematic, but they can still be good. With the proper guidelines and supervision, they can help launch you into your chosen career. When everything comes together, the benefits of working for no money can last a lifetime. | <urn:uuid:e5cf12e3-97b6-4263-81cc-ba7857652949> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | http://jobspeopledo.com/2013/08/is-it-smart-to-work-for-no-money/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510259.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20230927035329-20230927065329-00239.warc.gz | en | 0.98044 | 569 | 3.234375 | 3 |
The most typical case one may have observed with the processor is when it spends time with user tasks. If not then what may it do..???
Lets have a glimpse of what all ‘plays’ are running around with kernel code, when the processor is out of hybrid user tasks…
- System call – When a *user* task or any specific kernel thread requests some service from the heart of the OS aka kernel, it does a trap to the privileged mode and some kernel code does the requested service. System call handlers usually return an integer, by convention if the return value is a small negative integer (-1 .. -515), it signifies the system call is returning an error (absolute value of it should be one of the constants from ‘errno.h’). Other values = successful system call completion. If you i.e. user returns an error, application will usually get a positive error code in errno and the system call will return -1 to the application.
- Exception handling – When some instruction in user-code or kernel raises some exception(which one could observe usually), the kernel has to handle it as well. Unlike system call, this action is not requested by the user directly. The most typical member of this category is ‘page table’ miss. Most of these exception handlers reside in platform dependant files, some of them then call some generic handling (like handle_mm_fault in our case).
- Kernel thread – There are many special processes which execute in only kernel space (eg init : one of the roots of a process processes), and use standard trap method of invoking system calls when necessary. When booting, kernel spawns several kernel threads, some of them then do execute system call by which they loose the kernel thread state and become normal processes, which is the case of e.g. init.
- Interrupt – When some hardware requests some action, it sends an interrupt to the kernel, which in turn calls some interrupt handler, if ‘someone registered’ it. This interrupt handler should be fast, so that it does not lock the system for too long – interrupt handlers are usually executed with disabled interrupts on local CPU. Interrupts normally execute in context of the task which has been current on the IRQ servicing -> CPU at the time when the interrupt came, so there is no interrupt thread or something like that. Each thread has kernel space mapped as part of it’s address space, so unless you access user space (you should never try that, *till you are that nerd*), it does not matter in which task context are you executing. Every interrupt has an assigned interrupt number which you use e.g. in calls to enable_irq() or disable_irq() (to disable that particular interrupt). The exact interpretation of this number is platform dependent and device driver writer should not assume anything about its value, it should be just a 32bit integer with unknown value for it. Never use this value to index into static arrays, it might work on one platform, but break on another one. Some architectures have different interrupt numbers just for the different interrupt levels, some encode board and slot numbers into it (thats good in a way for recognition *not in a enterprise environment* ). Like that, on some platform a disable_irq() can disable just one interrupt level from a certain card on a certain bus, while on other platform, where the IRQ handling is not advanced that much yet, it just disables a certain interrupt level on all CPUs.
- Bottom half handler – So that you don’t block interrupts on local CPU for too long, you can do some part of your interrupt handling in the bottom half handler viz. add some functions for later processing. Normally, in your short fast interrupt handler, you call mark_bh() if you need some longer processing. Then, when your interrupt handler is done, the system checks for pending bottom half handlers. If it finds some pending, it enables interrupts and executes them. Normally, to use a bottom half handler from within your interrupt handler, you have to allocate a new bottom half handler type , in your initialization register; your bottom half handler with its type (init_bh()) and then in your interrupt actually use it (mark_bh()). Now, this is probably not a good solution, as there are only 32 bottom half handlers available for registering, half of them in use by other parts of the kernel already (therefore make a wise decision, so not to regret afterwards). Another, and much nicer way how to run your bottom half handlers and not waste precious global bottom half types comes in as task queues or ‘tasklets’. This has nothing to do with tasks as execution entities, here task means a function with some arbitrary argument which you can schedule for later execution or in more precise words a Sub-categorization to Interrupt handling. | <urn:uuid:a8647942-e50c-4ee3-897e-acd580ee1b2f> | CC-MAIN-2019-13 | https://sectruni0.wordpress.com/2010/04/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-13/segments/1552912202689.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20190322200215-20190322222215-00107.warc.gz | en | 0.910082 | 1,004 | 2.734375 | 3 |
The problem with Onshore windfarms
Humans have been harvesting power from the wind for several thousands of years. Throughout history, we’ve made use of wind mills, wind catchers and several other contraptions. In more recent times, we have started building large wind farms to generate electricity.
The expansion of onshore windfarms has not been without controversy, with some people objecting to their presence on aesthetic or environmental grounds. In this article, we’ll look at three of the main issues that need to be addressed in order for onshore windfarms to become more widely accepted.
What are onshore windfarms?
Onshore windfarms, also known as land-based windfarms, are a type of renewable energy source. They are a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Onshore windfarms generate electricity by using the wind to turn turbines. The turbines are connected to a generator, which produces electricity. Want to know more about the different types of Wind Turbines? Click here.
For context, it might be beneficial to speak about offshore wind farms to create a contrast. Offshore wind farms are built on a large body of water, away from land. There are, in principle, the same wind farms, just without the need for land plus a lot of difficult steps to setting them up. Land-based wind farms are built on dry land in areas that receive a fair quantity of wind.
The pros and cons of onshore windfarms
Onshore windfarms have both advantages and disadvantages. While this blog focuses on addressing the major issues, let’s first discuss the advantages of building onshore windfarms.
One major advantage is that they are a renewable source of energy. This means that they will never run out, unlike fossil fuels such as coal and oil.
Another advantage is that they are a ‘clean’ source of energy when compared to fossil fuels. They do not emit carbon dioxide or any greenhouse gasses during energy production.
Onshore windfarms are also relatively cheap when compared to offshore wind farms. It’s easier to build and install turbines on solid ground after all! They are often cheaper to build and maintain, which brings down the cost of electricity.
Issues that need to be dealt with: noise, bird deaths, and land usage
Despite the advantages they provide, land based wind farms have a plethora of issues that should be dealt with before they can become the ‘most viable’ alternative to fossil fuels. Our top three picks are:
1. Noise pollution
Noise pollution is one of the most commonly cited problems with onshore windfarms. The noise can be disruptive to both human and animal life, and has been linked to sleep problems and other health issues to residents that live in close proximity to a wind farm.
2. Bird deaths
Bird deaths are another problem that needs to be dealt with. Birds are known to collide with turbine blades, causing their death most of the times. Collisions are especially fatal if they occur with a wind turbine that has its blades spinning at large speeds. This can be a particular problem for migratory birds who may not be aware of the turbines.
3 They take up a lot of land
They take up a lot of land which can be an issue for landowners and farmers. This the perhaps the greatest and oldest issue wind farms are associated with. To make matters worse, for a wind farm to function properly the turbines need to be spaced out, which means that a lot of more land is required.
There are several other issues, such as cost, visual impact and hazards caused by damaged wind turbines. But for the purpose of the blog, we will only be addressing the ‘big three’. There are a number of ways to mitigate these problems, but they need to be properly planned and implemented in order to be effective.
How to mitigate the problems associated with onshore windfarms
Some people have suggested that onshore windfarms should be banned altogether. However, this would be a disaster for the fight against climate change. Onshore windfarms are one of the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly sources of renewable energy.
Like most issues with renewable energy, the disruptions and damage caused by these problems can be minimalized with the implementation of a few key changes in design and placement.
1. There are a number of ways to mitigate the noise pollution associated with onshore windfarms. One way is to carefully select the site for the windfarm. Another way is to use newer technology for the wind turbine design, such as the Eco Whisper turbines. Eco Whisper turbines are made of 30 blades that cover a wider surface area and reduces noise produced.
2. Bird deaths can be minimized in a number of ways. One obvious method would be to build wind farms in areas that avoid the path of migratory birds. Another tactic (which is already implemented in most places) is to paint the turbines so that the birds can register its presence better.
3. While there is no real solution to the land crisis caused by wind farms, building more efficient wind turbines may decrease the need for large wind farms in the future. The current philosophy for wind turbine design is ‘the bigger the better’, which only adds to the issue of building large wind farms.
Overall, onshore windfarms are a great source of renewable energy. However, there are a few issues that need to be addressed in order for them to be more efficient and effective. With the right measures in place, onshore windfarms can become a major player in the fight against climate change. Banning onshore windfarms would be a step backwards in the fight against climate change. | <urn:uuid:b08f814d-2dc5-473e-ba4c-95c8d98fd338> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://fourearths.com/onshore-wind-farms-issues/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949701.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20230401032604-20230401062604-00732.warc.gz | en | 0.959611 | 1,182 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Although network security has always been important, the stakes have never been higher than they are today. Network security should be a major priority for every organization. These 10 simple tips can help.
Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.
1: Reduce the attack surface whenever possible
One of the first steps you should take when hardening a machine is to reduce its attack surface. The more code that's running on a machine, the greater the chance that the code will be exploitable. You should therefore uninstall any unnecessary operating system components and applications.
2: Use only reputable applications
Given the current economic climate, it might be tempting to use freeware, deeply discounted, or open source applications. While I will be the first to admit that I use a handful of such applications in my own organization, it is critically important to do a little bit of research before adopting such an application. Some free or low cost applications are designed to serve ads to users; others are designed to steal personal information from users or track their Internet browsing habits.
3: Use a normal user account when you can
As a best practice, administrators should use normal user accounts when they can. If a malware infection occurs, the malware generally has the same rights as the person who is logged in. So of course that malware could be far more damaging if the person who is logged in has administrative permissions.
4: Create multiple Administrator accounts
In the previous section, I discussed the importance of using a regular user account whenever possible and using an Administrative account only when you need to perform an action that requires administrative permissions. However, this does not mean that you should be using the domain Administrator account.
If you have multiple administrators in your organization, you should create a personalized administrator account for each of them. That way, when an administrative action is performed, it is possible to tell who did it. For example, if you have an Administrator named John Doe, you should create two accounts for that user. One will be the normal account for day-to-day use, and the other will be an administrative account to be used only when necessary. The accounts might be named JohnDoe and Admin-JohnDoe.
5: Don't go overboard with audit logging
Although it may be tempting to create audit policies that track every possible event, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. When you perform excessive auditing, the audit logs grow to massive sizes. It can be nearly impossible to find the log entries you're looking for. Rather than audit every possible event, it is better to focus on auditing only the events that matter the most.
6: Make use of local security policies
Using Active Directory based group policy settings does not nullify the need for local security policy settings. Remember that group policy settings are enforced only if someone logs in using a domain account. They do nothing if someone logs into a machine using a local account. Local security policies can help to protect your machines against local account usage.
7: Review your firewall configuration
You should use a firewall at the network perimeter and on each machine on your network, but that alone isn't enough. You should also review your firewall's port exceptions list to ensure that only the essential ports are open.
A lot of emphasis is typically placed on the ports that are used by the Windows operating system, but you should also be on the lookout for any firewall rules that open ports 1433 and 1434. These ports are used for monitoring and remotely connecting to SQL server and have become a favorite target for hackers.
8: Practice isolation of services
Whenever possible, you should configure your servers so that they perform one specific task. That way, if a server is compromised, the hacker will gain access to only a specific set of services. I realize that financial constraints often force organizations to run multiple roles on their servers. In these types of situations, you may be able to improve security without increasing costs by using virtualization. In certain virtualized environments, Microsoft allows you to deploy multiple virtual machines running Windows Server 2008 R2 for the cost of a single server license.
9: Apply security patches in a timely manner
You should always test patches before applying them to your production servers. However, some organizations really go overboard with the testing process. While I certainly do not deny the importance of ensuring server stability, you have to balance the need for adequate testing with the need for adequate security.
When Microsoft releases a security patch, the patch is designed to address a well-documented vulnerability. This means that hackers already know about the vulnerability and will be specifically looking for deployments in which the patch that corrects that vulnerability has not yet been applied.
10: Make use of the Security Configuration Wizard
The Security Configuration Wizard allows you to create XML-based security policies, which can then be applied to your servers. These policies can be used to enable services, configure settings, and set firewall rules. Keep in mind that the policies created by the Security Configuration Wizard are different from security templates (which use .INF files) Furthermore, you can't use group policies to deploy Security Configuration Wizard policies.
Brien Posey is a seven-time Microsoft MVP. He has written thousands of articles and written or contributed to dozens of books on a variety of IT subjects. | <urn:uuid:17904367-a5f0-4931-9dd4-d0a442a9adfb> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/-10-best-practices-for-windows-security/?count=25&view=expanded | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818688208.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170922041015-20170922061015-00208.warc.gz | en | 0.9294 | 1,079 | 2.6875 | 3 |
noun (plural ploughmen)
A person who uses a plough.
- With few marketable skills or capital upon their arrival, Irish men secured only a tenuous foothold in the province's secondary labour market, working as labourers, harvesters, ploughmen and general farm hands.
- James was a hard-working farmer, who was a champion ploughman and cattle breeder.
- Even the senior ploughmen found the grassland difficult enough to get the depth.
For editors and proofreaders
Line breaks: plough|man
Definition of ploughman in:
What do you find interesting about this word or phrase?
Comments that don't adhere to our Community Guidelines may be moderated or removed. | <urn:uuid:cb020709-c4ea-4cf8-a896-6d765141cce3> | CC-MAIN-2016-22 | http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/english/ploughman | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-22/segments/1464049276543.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20160524002116-00037-ip-10-185-217-139.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93178 | 157 | 2.640625 | 3 |
A typical algo for tic-tac-toe should look like this:
Board : A nine-element vector representing the board. We store 2(indicating
Blank), 3 (indicating X), or 5 (indicating O).
Turn : An integer indicating which move of the game about to be played.
1st move will be indicated by 1, last by 9.
The main algorithm uses three functions.
Make2 : returns 5 if the center square of the board is blank i.e. if board=2. Otherwise, this function returns any non-corner square
(2,4,6 or 8).
Posswin(p) : returns 0 if player p can’t win on his next move; otherwise it returns the number of square that constitutes a winning move. This function will enable program both to win and to block opponents win. This function operates by checking each of the rows, columns and diagonals. By multiplying the values of its square together for an entire row (or column or diagonal), the possible situation of win can be checked. If the product be 18 (3 x 3 x 2), then X can win. If the product is 50 (5 x 5 x 2), then O can win. If a winning row (column or diagonal) is found, the blank square in it can be deter mined and the number of that square is returned by this function.
Go (n): makes a move in square n. this procedure sets board [n] to 3 if Turn is odd, or 5 if Turn is even. It also increments turn by one.
The algorithm has a built-in strategy for each move. It makes the odd numbered
move if it plays X, the even-numbered move if it plays O.
Turn =1 Go(1) (upper left corner).
Turn =2 If Board is blank, Go(5), else Go(1).
Turn =3 If Board is blank, Go(9), else Go(3).
Turn =4 If Posswin(X) is not 0, then Go(Posswin(X)) i.e. [ block opponent’s win], else Go(Make2).
Turn =5 if Posswin(X) is not 0 then Go(Posswin(X)) [i.e. win], else if Posswin(O) is not 0, then Go(Posswin(O)) [i.e. block win], else if Board is blank, then Go(7), else Go(3). [to explore other possibility if there be any ].
Turn =6 If Posswin(O) is not 0 then Go(Posswin(O)), else if Posswin(X) is not 0, then Go(Posswin(X)), else Go(Make2).
Turn =7 If Posswin(X) is not 0 then Go(Posswin(X)), else if Posswin(X) is not 0, then Go(Posswin(O)) else go anywhere that is blank.
Turn =8 if Posswin(O) is not 0 then Go(Posswin(O)), else if Posswin(X) is not 0, then Go(Posswin(X)), else go anywhere that is blank.
Turn =9 Same as Turn=7.
I have used it. Let me know how you guys feel. | <urn:uuid:769f0d1f-0dbb-439c-84d4-4cd5927b5607> | CC-MAIN-2016-30 | http://stackoverflow.com/questions/125557/what-algorithm-for-a-tic-tac-toe-game-can-i-use-to-determine-the-best-move-for/125596 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257824226.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071024-00043-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.799186 | 713 | 3.640625 | 4 |
The International Space Station (ISS) is gearing up for the arrival of three new crew members due to begin their mission today, Wednesday, September 21. Meanwhile, on the orbiting lab, the Expedition 67 astronauts continue investigating a wide range of microgravity phenomena to benefit humans on and off the Earth.
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin will launch on the Soyuz MS-22 rocket for their trip to the space station. It currently stands at its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The trio is scheduled to liftoff inside the Soyuz crew ship at 9:54 a.m. EDT (6:54 a.m. PDT) on Wednesday and dock to the Rassvet module less than three-and-a-half hours later. That will mark the beginning of a six-month research mission in orbit around the Earth. NASA will broadcast the launch live on NASA TV, the app, and its website, beginning at 9 a.m EDT (6 a.m PDT).
Three cosmonauts who have been living in space since March 18 are scheduled to board their Soyuz MS-21 crew ship and return to Earth just over a week later. The Soyuz vehicle, with station Commander Oleg Artemyev and Flight Engineers Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov inside, will undock from the Prichal module and descend through Earth’s atmosphere. Finally, it will parachute to a landing in Kazakhstan, bringing the threesome’s six-month-long orbital journey to an end. In addition to conditioning their bodies for the return to Earth’s gravity on Tuesday, the trio also spent the day packing up cargo and personal gear for stowage inside the returning Soyuz.
During the traditional Change of Command ceremony next week, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti will take over as station commander from Artemyev before he departs. The leadership change will be seen live on NASA TV, the agency’s app, and its website at 9:35 a.m. on September 28.
Research operations aboard the orbiting outpost are always ongoing whether the astronauts run the experiments themselves or scientists remotely conduct the studies from control centers on the ground. Tuesday’s space science schedule saw the astronauts busy all day exploring biology, botany, physics, and robotics.
Humans and plants are significant topics of study in space as scientists learn to sustain crews in space for longer missions and farther away from Earth. Jessica Watkins, NASA Flight Engineer, scanned her arteries with an ultrasound device and measured her blood pressure on Tuesday to understand the risks of space radiation on the cardiovascular system. Meanwhile, NASA astronaut Bob Hines planted vegetables for the soilless XROOTS botany study that explores using hydroponic and aeroponic techniques to grow crops in space.
Technology is also key to the success of crewed missions. This would allow astronauts to focus more on science activities and become less reliant on ground controllers. Kjell Lindgren, NASA Flight Engineer, looked at how weightlessness affects the microstructures of foam through the KERMIT microscope to advance research and commercial opportunities on Earth and in space. Finally, ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti tested using a smartphone device to guide and control Astrobee robotic free-flyers while assisting crews with scientific operations.
Be the first to comment on "New Space Station Crew Launching Today on Russian Rocket" | <urn:uuid:07705d1d-2ae3-46d7-8ec3-23f28fab4574> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://scitechdaily.com/new-space-station-crew-launching-today-on-russian-rocket/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948900.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20230328232645-20230329022645-00058.warc.gz | en | 0.915633 | 719 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Dedicated to the people and projects of AVRO Canada & Orenda Engines
AVROCAR (the only official "flying saucer")
In 1952, Avro Canada began to study designs for a supersonic cirular wing fighter-bomber, this was funded by the Canadian government with $400,000 allocated. After the $400,000 ran out the Canadian government abandoned the project as being too costly, however enough progress had been made to spark the interest of the U.S. governement.
In July 1954, the first of two U.S. Air Force contracts totaling $1.9 million was awarded to Avro for further study, Avro chipped in $2.5 million and completed design studies and small scale test on a vehicle designated the P.V. 704 (U.S. designation, System 606A). The 606A design was almost 30 ft. in diameter with a maximum weight of 27,000 lbs and a design speed over 1,000 mph.
The U.S. Army became interested in the project in 1958, feeling that the circular wing could fit in with its plans for a "flying jeep", the Air Force agreed to redirect its effort as this could demonstrate the design features of the 606A concept in less time at a must lower price.
The resulting craft was named Avrocar and given the Army designation VZ-9AV (VZ for vertical take-off reseach aircraft, 9 as it was the ninth in a series and AV for Avro)
The Avrocar was a saucer-shaped disk 18 ft in diameter and 3 ft thick, it was designed to go 300 mph and able to fly to an altitude of 10,000 ft. It weighed 5,650 lbs and had separate cockpits for two crew members.
Three Continental J-69 turbojet engines powered a centrally located fan with a diameter of 5 feet.
Two prototypes rolled out of the factory in May and August of 1959 just months after the Arrow project had been cancelled. The first Avrocar (58-7055) was sent to NASA Ames, Moffett Field in California it first flew there on 17 May 1961 and was used for wind-tunnel testing. The second Avrocar took first tethered flight on 29 September 1959 lasting 12 seconds. The first untethered flight occured on 12 November 1959. Formal Air Force flight evaluations occured at Avro in April 1960 and June 1961 - tests showed that the maximum speed was 35 mph and reseach at NASA showed that the Avrocar was aerodynmically unstable.
The program was terminated in December 1961 after a total of $10 million had been spent. At Avro (U.K.) project 724 never proceeded beyond the designs stage in June 1953.
From Aircraft Magazine - October 1962:
The prototype of the vehicle which at one stage gave the Canadian aircraft industry good promise of a major breakthrough in VTOL is today collecting dust in a hangar of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Ames Research Centre at Moffett Field, Calif. Word from the Centre's chief of flight and systems simulation is that no further flight tests are planned with the Avrocar, once regarded as the most advanced and most promising project in the application of ground-effect to development of a pure jet VTOL vehicle. The "Saucer" is reported to have performed well within its ground-effect envelope, but was unstable above about three feet. Initiated by Avro Aircraft, the "Saucer" project was taken over by the U.S. government after Canadian Government support was withdrawn in 1954. A post-mortem on the Avrocar is offered by pilot Fred J. Drinkwater III, a research engineer: "All the new flying concepts are cans of worms at the early stage. Tests showed the saucer would have taken too much more development effort. Other concepts proved more promising".
The two prototypes are currently in the United States, on at the US Army Transportation Museum and the other is at the Smithsonian NASM Garber site
A unique note of trivia for you is that the registered owner of the Avrocar was the U.S. Government
and registration was CF-LWV-X.
your local book store for Bill Zuk's book
Avrocar: Canada's Flying Saucer: The Story of Avro Canada's Secret Projects
it may be ordered online from Chapters.ca (ISBN1-55046-359-4)
For photos of the VZ-9AV
check out the Canadian
National Aviation Museum | <urn:uuid:b3bd3f26-9785-4bf9-a423-c53cc5dffd61> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.avroland.ca/al-vz9.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320057.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623114917-20170623134917-00078.warc.gz | en | 0.970528 | 951 | 2.984375 | 3 |
By Rob Masson —
It’s a first of it’s kind project, just below Belle Chasse. Dozens of acres of new wetlands are being created in an area, that was once thriving, thanks to a unique new approach that could be implemented in other damaged coastal areas. It took thousands of years to build and just over 100 to disappear, but building it back won’t happen overnight.
“When it comes out of the pipe, an excavator spreads it away, so it doesn’t clog the pipe itself,” said George Howard with ‘Restoration Systems’. River sediment must be scraped off of the bottom with huge dredges like the Florida, then pumped five miles under roads and over the same levees blamed for choking off wetlands in order to recreate them.
https://restorationsystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/george-howard-wetlands-restoration-systems-jesuit-bend.png 387 629 Swamp Merchant https://restorationsystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/RS-logo-6801.png Swamp Merchant2015-10-21 19:19:422015-10-21 19:30:50Jesuit Bend project on Fox 8 New Orleans | <urn:uuid:26fb3e2c-5bde-4df7-a31b-a3f469236f6f> | CC-MAIN-2019-13 | https://restorationsystems.com/press-rs-in-the-news/rs-jesuit-bend-project-on-fox-8-new-orleans/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-13/segments/1552912204300.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20190325194225-20190325220225-00296.warc.gz | en | 0.86604 | 280 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Important information about home monitoring
Your physician’s reading may sometimes differ from your home readings. This could be related to a phenomenon known as “white coat syndrome”. You should not assume that any one reading taken is your usual blood pressure.
In fact, blood pressure varies constantly throughout the day. Common activities affect your level of heart activity and stress, thereby influencing your blood pressure.
Note: It is important that you take home readings regularly, and that you follow the procedures and precautions mentioned in the instruction manual. Consistently recording/charting your readings, along with regularly consulting a health professional, is an important aspect of your overall blood pressure management program. | <urn:uuid:6f46acab-2a8a-45e1-94c4-491f541dcdc2> | CC-MAIN-2019-30 | http://www.amgphysiologic.com/white-coat-syndrome/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195528013.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20190722113215-20190722135215-00109.warc.gz | en | 0.946433 | 138 | 2.546875 | 3 |
There are several factors that play a role in keeping your healthy and happy. A good health lowers the risk of several diseases which can include risk of heart attack, cancers, internal injuries, and much more.
Having a well-maintained and a balanced diet, healthy sleep, exercising daily are some of the best and optimal health factors that can lead you to good life. You may not be able to follow these due to hectic professional schedule or having a tough college life.
Let’s look into some of the factors that can guide you to the path of a healthy life.
Your health is intrinsically connected to the food you consume daily. Having a balanced diet is extremely important to prevent some unwanted diseases. Having a good diet can help you with maintaining your weight, reducing cholesterol, a healthy mind, and much more.
Daily exercising routine
Exercising daily has a strong and positive impact on your daily routine. Exercising daily for around 30 to 60 minutes is extremely important to keep yourself active for a healthy life. This helps you maintain your blood pressure, cholesterol, help you move out of depression and what not. Routine exercise also helps you to maintain your weight.
Protecting your skin
Your skin is highly exposed to sun on the daily basis. The ultra-violet rays of the sun can cause skin cancer and also indulge you in different skin disease. Having a skin cancer is the most common disease in the USA. It is highly recommended to limit yourself from exposing your body to sun. Health experts recommend to use sun block before going in to the sun to protect your skin.
Drugs are extremely harmful for our health. All these drugs, smoking, tobaccos makes your body unhealthy and pushes your life down. They can cause diseases like cancer and other health problems.
Being active and meeting new people can get your positive vibes. You may not be extrovert but getting know new people in the society can be really fun and release your stress. You should help others whether its sports or you just meeting someone to know new things, enjoy the fun being out there. The most essential thing to keep in mind is to choose something that interests you and to have fun with it.
In addition to the usual factors, you should schedule time for whole body wellness. A regular checkup with a doctor is really important to know that your body is functioning properly and you are living a healthy life. Health experts highly recommend you to attend health programs and get the most out of it. It is highly recommended to buy health insurance policy for you and your family which can help you in times of emergency. Preventive treatment can identify disease or ailment before it develops. This includes certain doctor's appointments and screenings. | <urn:uuid:d8b26063-5fb3-4bc6-bb18-66e27e1037ab> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.stamyna.com/blogs/news/maintain-their-general-health | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510575.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20230930014147-20230930044147-00868.warc.gz | en | 0.96303 | 570 | 2.8125 | 3 |
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