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The mark of a good citizen at one time was the free display of personal conviction about ideas, beliefs and morals. But today, that kind of open manifestation has given way to what can best be described as an ostentatious display of “open-mindedness” attempting to appeal to the culturally fashionable values of tolerance and diversity. However, tolerance seldom extends to traditional Christianity.
There is no longer space for Christians to express their views about good and evil and its implications for law and public morality, or in some circumstances, even to live our lives in accordance with our beliefs. Today, tolerance is actually intolerant of faith, values and morals often ruled to be incompatible with the values of the secular state. Tolerance serves to banish the truth as the reference point against which all of us must test our ideas and beliefs.
Today’s aggressive secularism is hostile to any manifestation or expression of religious belief in the public sphere. Interference, superstition, ignorance, and discrimination, are just a few of the charges commonly leveled at believers. And they are charges colored by an aggressive hostility to religion in general that seeks to establish unbelief as the norm for our society. It is far better to do without religion altogether, they trumpet, to remove it from the common arena of life and embrace the fruits of secular reason.
Indeed, it is no longer widely considered appropriate at all for religion to be practiced in the full glare of the social and cultural realm. Far better, many say, for religion to be confined to the private realm of the mind where it can be considered almost a hobby or a taste preference with little capacity to cause offense.
Human rights and the religious premises that underline them are a product of the modern world alone. The governing ethical principle, which underlies our modern understanding of human rights is the moral equality of every human person and his or her right to liberty which flows from that, has its origins in the gospels.
The genius of Christianity is that by investing every individual with the God-given capacity for individual moral agency, human beings are no longer to be defined by location or status. Rather, life in Christ creates a rightful domain for individual conscience and choice. Christianity played such a decisive role in the development of the individual and the concept of individual liberty that it can be said to have changed the ground of human identity.
All citizens of a free society, whether or not Christian and whether or not believers in any religion, should have a strong commitment to upholding and defending religious liberty. Religious freedom doesn’t just concern our rule as citizens in the public sphere, it also concerns our freedom of choice in numerous nonpolitical aspects of our lives, ranging from whether we attend church to what we choose to spend our money on.
Any discussion of religious liberty, belief and practice must be understood as being inseparable: freedom to believe must surely be accompanied by the freedom to speak, to associate, and to order one’s life in accordance with one’s beliefs. The right to religious liberty, therefore, is a fundamental right that confers the freedom to pursue one’s conception of the good life.
We must strive to ensure that religious voices are neither silenced nor confined to the realm of the mind. And, we must be vigilant in holding the government accountable for its responsibility to enshrine and uphold the right to religious liberty as a fundamental human right.
Source: Peter Kurti, Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies, “Secular Prejudice and the Survival of Religious Freedom“ | <urn:uuid:aeae0a7c-1cd1-4706-a916-f8d6aef007f9> | {
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A new illustrated guide, “Let’s Explore Humayun’s Tomb,” aims to bring the history and architecture of medieval Delhi alive for children. The book was published earlier this month by the Archaeological Survey of India, and was commissioned by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which restored the tomb and is now working with the community in the surrounding neighborhood of Nizamuddin.Conservation architect Ratish Nanda, India head for the trust, says that over 300,000 children visit the tomb every year. The book, available in Hindi and English, is a way to allow more children explore art, architecture and the city’s history, he said.“A lot of what the book uses is oral history in Nizamuddin, the usual Mughal chronicles, — Akbarnama, Babarnama — and so on, and a lot of understanding of the site,” said Mr. Nanda in a recent interview. About 70,000 books have been printed in the first run, and should already be available at the tomb .
Image Source : India Real Time - WSJ | <urn:uuid:65bbf4ab-11ba-44ee-989c-bf530f903f1d> | {
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Presentation on theme: "Language Arts: Guided Reading"— Presentation transcript:
1 Language Arts: Guided Reading Big BlocksSusan Roberts, Reading SpecialistJefferson County Schools
2 Probably the single most important factor in a child’s initial reading instruction is his or his teacher. No books, no curriculum, no computer can replace the enormous value of good human-to-human teaching.
3 National Reading Panel Research (December 2000): Less than 1/3 of fourth graders are reading adequately (April 1995)Now we know that reading must be taught systematically and explicitly.Research has been systematically analyzed and the most effective methods for teaching reading skills have been identified.We must have balanced literacy in our classrooms!Reading is an enormously complex activity!TEACHING READING IS ROCKET SCIENCE!
4 Four Blocks Research:Both NRP and Duke and Pearson (2002) agree that explicit teaching, including an explanation of what and how the strategy should be used, teacher modeling and thinking aloud about the strategy, guided practice with the strategy and support for students applying the strategy independently are the steps needed to effectively teach any comprehension strategy.
6 Guided Reading: Four Blocks Style Always focused on comprehensionTeachers choose the material and purposeStudents are guided to use reading strategiesAll types of reading materials are used
7 Goals of Guided Reading in Big Blocks Classrooms: to teach comprehension strategiesto teach students how to read and respond to all types of literature including content textsto develop background knowledge and vocabularyto provide as much instructional-level material as possibleto maintain the self-confidence and motivation of struggling readers
8 What is comprehension?The different kinds of thinking that we do as we read are referred to as comprehension strategies. Good readers need to use some strategies on almost all text, including:Connecting relevant background knowledgePredictingVisualizingSelf-monitoring and self-correctionUsing fix-up strategies such as:Re-readingPicture / context clues
9 What is comprehension? Ask for help Determining important ideas and eventsDrawing conclusionsMaking inferencesDeciding what you think – respondingCompare and contrast to what you already knowSummarizing
10 Other comprehension strategies might include: Understanding figurative languageFollowing the plot with understandingDetermining character traitsExtracting information from charts, graphs, maps, and other visualsDetermining the objectivity or bias of an author
11 Effective Guided Reading: Three Segments Before ReadingDuring ReadingAfter Reading
12 In Big Blocks classrooms, the Guided Reading Block is approximately 180 minutes per week and includes the following:Before-Reading PhaseBefore beginning a selection, students must:access or build prior knowledgemake connectionsmake predictionsidentify the purpose for reading
13 Students need to begin thinking about the text before they begin reading the text. This time is brief, leaving the majority of the time for actual reading.(Allington, 2000)
14 During-Reading Phase While reading, students must: question and monitor what they are reading and thinking aboutmake inferencesvisualizecontinue to make connectionscontinue to set predictions
15 (Pearson and Fielding, 1991) Students need uninterrupted periods of time to read and think, so this phase should be the longest of any Guided Reading lesson. For every minute spent talking about reading (including before and after), students should spend at least one minute actually reading.(Pearson and Fielding, 1991)
16 Formats for Grouping Students during Reading Plan for students to participate in various grouping formats.Exemplary teachers were found to teach lessons to the whole class, to small groups, and to individual students.(Pressley, Allington, Wharton-McDonald, Block, and Morrow, 2001)Guided reading formats should vary based on the purpose of the lesson.
17 Whole Group, Multilevel Instruction (Big Blocks, p. 105)
18 Partner Reading (Big Blocks, p. 106) Carefully assign partners.Decide how often you need to change partners.Decide where partners will meet.Decide how to handle absent partners.Decide how partners will read each selection. (Variations in partner reading)Make sure partners have a purpose for reading.Set a time limit.Provide a “filler” for partners who finish before the rest of the class.Model the expected behavior.Be visible.
20 Reading TeamsThink of reading teams of two carefully selected partnerships making a foursome.The same concerns apply as with partners.Each team has an assigned team leader who ensures that all members participate.Teams may also need a recorder or a speaker.
21 Formats: Three- Ring Circus (Big Blocks p. 108) This is a wonderful way to allow students to read a common selection in the most efficient way for them. In three- ring circus, some students read by themselves, some students read with partners, and some students read with you. These groups are not static and change with the reading selection.
22 Formats: Book Club Groups (Big Blocks p. 109) Three to five titles chosenTitles area connected in some wayManaged choice (book passes)Groups meet daily to read and discuss their books
23 Formats: Literature Circles (Big Blocks p. 111) Like book club books, however, in literature circles students generally:Read on their own and only meet in groups to discuss what was read.Determine as a group how much to read between meetings.Have specific roles they play in the discussion groups.Choose books connected by genre, author, theme or topic.
24 Exemplary classrooms provide: Conversation about the texts students read(Allington & Johnston, 2001)Literate conversations mimic the conversations real readers in the real world have about real books they really want to talk about!Conduct discussions with readers as conversations – not interrogations.Model types of connections readers make (T-S, T-T, T-W).Arrange for students to have literate conversations in small groups.
25 Literate Conversations: Increase the number of people with whom your students can have conversations through use of “Questioning the Author” and “Oprah Winfrey” strategies.
26 Questioning the Author We do not just understand what the author is saying, rather we figure out what the author means.If you have you ever found your students cannot answer the questions because the passage “didn’t say!” then you know why students need their reading guided by a strategy called “Questioning the Author.”
27 Planning a QTA Lesson:The teacher carefully reads the text and decides:what the important ideas are – what problems students might have with the ideashow much of the text to read before stopping for discussionwhat queries to pose to help students construct meaningThe teacher’s job is to pose queries that can help students use what they know to figure out what the author means.QTA continues with the teacher telling the students how much to read and posing both initiating and follow-up queries.Figure out what the author means….not just what he says!
28 “Oprah Winfrey” Strategy Several students read the same book.Teacher plays the role of Oprah (initially) and interviews them about their lives and roles.Invite the students to appear on your “show.”Arrange chairs and welcome them.Begin with broad questions (tell me a bit about yourself).What seemed to be the problem?Ask others if they agree with her.You may even ask the audience questions.
29 Literate Conversations: When students engage in conversations about what they have read, their understanding improves. (Fall, Webb, & Cudowsky, 2000)Exemplary classrooms provide:A balance of question and answer sessions
30 Literate Conversations: Ask more open-ended questions:Is there anything you want to know more about?What are you wondering about?Does this book remind you of anything else you have read?Has anything like this ever happened to you?Did anyone in the story remind you of someone you know?Were you surprised by anything in this story?
31 Think-Along / Think Aloud Thinking is the essence of reading!Reading is more than just saying words!Reading is thinking!Hmmm…
32 To create classroom conversations, students think about three types of connections: (Keene and Zimmerman (1997)Text to self: Do any of you have a pet that is creating problems like the one in the story?Text to text: What other book have we read where a person was brave?Text to world: Has anyone ever ridden on a subway? What was it like?
33 Thinking as we read may be modeled through Think-Alouds. Teachers may wish to use sentence starters to think aloud about the connections:“This reminds me of ….”“I remember something like this happened to me when…”“I read another book where the character…”“This is like in our school when…”Handout
35 More strategies: Bookmarks, Sticky Notes, and Highlighters ERT – Everyone Read To…Find out / Figure out (Big Blocks p. 116)Story Maps (Big Blocks p. 150)T-Charts (Big Blocks p. 111) (graphic p. 149)Students write an entry from the text in the left column and respond with their connections in the right column.Predicting – Guess Yes or No (Big Blocks p. 112)GIST (Big Blocks p. 113)
36 Informational Text Lessons: Use graphic organizers KWL (Big Blocks p. 122)Feature MatrixInformational Web (Semantic Web) (Big Blocks p. 119)Data ChartsTimelinesVenn diagram (Compare & Contrast) (Big Blocks p. 118 & 120)Cause and Effect – Causal Chain (Big Blocks p. 121)
37 After-Reading PhaseAfter reading, students must follow-up their predictions, connections, and purpose. They may need to:summarizeidentify important informationevaluate or apply the information from the text to a specific problem or situationengage in conversationscreate a written response to reflect their thinking
38 The after-reading activity should be challenging and move beyond the “right answer” to the teacher’s question but not so involved that it takes longer to respond than it did to read.
39 Errors and Misunderstandings: Teachers express anxiety about their redefined role.Primary purpose is to improve comprehension. Other Blocks provide an appropriate context for skills instructions such as phonics, grammar, and mechanics.Round-robin reading is not a part of this model.Non-prescriptive – every classroom looks different.
40 GOOD-BY ROUND ROBIN By Dr. Timothy Rasinski and Dr. Michael Opitz
41 Question: What do I do about worksheets and workbook pages? …as little as possibleThree criteria for a good worksheet…Must involve some reading and/or writingMajority of my class (75-80%) must be able to do itStudents must need work on that skill
42 Four Blocks Research: Comprehension is what it’s all about! Reading comprehension – and how to teach it – is probably the area of literacy about which we have the most knowledge and the most consensus.It is also probably the area that gets the least attention in the classroom. | <urn:uuid:831933b3-d69e-4eb1-be52-a6fea642ea86> | {
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June 18th, 02008 by Alexander Rose - Twitter: @zander
Long term fire. It turns out there are many very long lasting fires. I became interested in the way fire moves underground back in 02000 when I saw parts of the Long Now property on fire, and the fire was spreading through the root systems of trees. Every 5 minutes or so a tree would just appear to spontaneously combust. That fire eventually blew up in near nuclear proportions (mushroom cloud and everything) and tragically took out a swath of the ancient bristlecones.
Since then I have noted several long term and underground fires (which also produce massive amount of global CO2). The one pictured above from Uzbekistan is one of the more photogenic. I will keep the list below updated as I find more (like I do with the Underground Wonders post), so feel free to make notes of ones you know about in the comments and they will be added.
- Mt Wingen Australia underground coal fire first noted by westerners around 01828, but it is predicted that it has been burning for over 6000 years.
- “Fossil Reactors” are naturally occurring underground fission reactions in Uranium deposits of Oklo Africa, estimated at around 1.7 billion years old.
- “Door to Hell” (pictured above) Near Darvaz in Uzbekistan, burning since ~01972
- Coal mine seam fires, some of these have been burning since the Qing dynasty in China, and the Centralia PA fire has been burning since 01961.
- Some tire fires have lasted several years
This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 18th, 02008 at 3:44 am and is filed under The Big Here. | <urn:uuid:a6230d10-3619-4b5d-88b3-6422f7fd6501> | {
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Teams are becoming a staple in today's workplace. In this course, you will learn the components of a successful team and the stages of its development. You will master the skills you will need to effectively manage projects, make decisions, and solve problems in a team setting. Plus, you will have a chance to learn the pitfalls of unhealthy group interaction and minimize any of its effects on your team.
Along the way, you will follow real-life examples and scenarios to help you identify with the team-building process. There's a lot more to it than just getting several people together in a room at the same time. Are you eager to develop your leadership qualities and be a quality team participant? Many of today's teams rotate leadership roles, so it's crucial to understand both perspectives as you learn the best ways to communicate and work together for positive change. | <urn:uuid:733d5a87-1149-4eef-9c55-9264c28040e8> | {
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Lack of access to good nutrition impacts racial and ethnic minorities and recent immigrants disproportionately. Poor nutrition combined with higher stress can contribute to other health problems, including type 2 diabetes.
But a new University of Michigan study may help explain how to cope with this stress and perhaps curb some of these health problems.
Rebecca Hasson, assistant professor at the U-M schools of Kinesiology and Public Health, found that overweight and obese African-American children and teens who successfully adapt to mainstream American culture—while maintaining strong ties with their own—could reduce stress and stress eating. In turn, this could reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes.
Immigration literature shows that successfully adapting to different cultures in a society, while maintaining one’s own cultural identity, reduces stress. Since cultural and social environments influence stress-eating behavior, Hasson’s findings could provide a valuable tool to change unhealthy eating behaviors linked to obesity and diabetes in ethnic minority youth.
The study also found that Latino adolescents of higher socioeconomic status showed increased diabetes risk, which means they didn’t appear to benefit from the protection against diabetes that higher social and economic status affords.
Researchers cannot fully explain this finding, but again, it may be stress-related. Hasson said Latinos could suffer increased psychological stress associated with racial discrimination and social isolation if they live in predominantly white areas. Another possibility is that longer time in the U.S. is associated with poorer health outcomes for recent immigrants.
Pediatric obesity in the U.S. has more than tripled in the last 30 years, particularly among Latinos and African-Americans, said Hasson, who also heads U-M’s Childhood Disparities Research Laboratory. This disparity is partially due to greater exposure to psychological stress, which leads to cortisol production and potential stress eating.
Hasson’s current project investigates the link between chronic stress, stress eating and obesity in Latino, African-American and non-Latino white adolescents.
The study, “Sociocultural and socioeconomic influences on type 2 diabetes risk in overweight/obese African-American and Latino-American children and adolescents,” appears in the Journal of Obesity.
- Rebecca Hasson: http://kines.umich.edu/profile/rebecca-hasson-phd
- Childhood Disparities Research Laboratory: http://kines.umich.edu/lab/cdrl
- School of Kinesiology: http://kines.umich.edu
- School of Public Health: http://www.sph.umich.edu
- Contact Laura Bailey | <urn:uuid:8cc5388a-f71b-4c90-b9c7-ad28fe92d6ef> | {
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A contested auction of sacred Hopi Indian artifacts went forward on Friday in Paris and generated more than $1 million in sales, despite the presence of protesters inside and outside the auction house who urged patrons not to take part.
One featured item, a headdress known as the Crow Mother, drew intense interest. Bidding on this 1880s artifact, which had a high estimate of $80,000, soared to $210,000, drawing applause from a crowd of some 200 people in the sales room and protest from a woman who stood up and shouted: “Don’t purchase that. It is a sacred being.”
Earlier, a woman who stood and began to cry out against the sale had been escorted rapidly from the room, which had tight security.
The sale of American Indian artifacts generated $1.2 million, including the buyer’s premium (the auction house’s fee), according to a spokeswoman for the seller, Néret-Minet Tessier & Sarrou. That is roughly what the house had estimated the sale would bring before the Hopi tribe lodged its complaints and the auction became the object of international scrutiny and diplomatic talks between the United States and French officials.
Five of the 70 items did not sell, and many pieces sold below the low estimate, but whatever hesitancy buyers showed toward some items was offset by the enthusiasm shown toward the featured piece.
A few hours before the sale, a Paris municipal court judge had ruled that it could go forward, finding that the masklike objects, despite their divine status among the Hopis, could not be likened to dead or alive beings. A lawyer for the Hopis had argued that the tribe believes that the works embody living spirits, making it immoral to sell them under French law.
The Hopis say the artifacts, known as Katsinam, or “friends,” were stolen from tribal lands in Arizona. Many are more than a century old. The auction house has said that a French collector obtained them legally decades ago.
In a statement, the Hopi tribal chairman, LeRoy N. Shingoitewa, said: “Given the importance of these ceremonial objects to Hopi religion, you can understand why Hopis regard this — or any sale — as sacrilege, and why we regard an auction not as homage but as a desecration to our religion.”
Before starting, the auctioneer, Gilles Néret-Minet, told the crowd that the sale had been found by a judge to be perfectly legal, and that the objects were no longer sacred but had become “important works of art.” He added, “In France you cannot just up and seize the property of a person that is lawfully his.”
Bo Lomahquahu, a Hopi tribe member and university exchange student who stood outside the auction, said the atmosphere inside was “very surreal and heartbreaking.”
“They are truly sacred to us; we feed and care for them,” he said in a cellphone interview. “And to see people walking out with them in bags, like some object, I felt really helpless and hurt.”
The United States ambassador to France, Charles H. Rivkin, said through a spokesman, “I am saddened to learn that Hopi sacred cultural objects are being put up for auction today in Paris.”
The auction house said that one of the artifacts was purchased for $4,900 by a foundation that intends to return it to the tribe.
Monroe Warshaw, an art collector from New York who bought two pieces for about $36,500, told The Associated Press that he did not believe that the artifacts had been stolen from the Hopis and praised the anonymous collector for preserving them.
But Pierre Servan-Schreiber, a lawyer from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom who represented the tribe pro bono in the court case, said that the outcome was “very disappointing, since the masks will now be dispersed” and that the Hopis will most likely never see them again. | <urn:uuid:42a139f0-5d13-4969-a8cb-c6899dbead93> | {
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|Population||approximately 40 US Fish and Wildlife staff (April 2002 est.)|
|Time zone||UTC -11|
The Midway Islands or Midway Atoll is a wildlife refuge in the north Pacific Ocean, roughly "midway" between California and East Asia, just east of the International Date Line. It was made famous by an Oscar-winning color documentary in 1942, and a 1976 feature film, both about the battle which marked a turning point in World War II.
Midway is part of the extended series of Pacific islands which include Hawaii. It is an atoll of several low, sandy islands. The two largest are Sand Island (the most developed) and Eastern Island (not to be confused with Easter Island), with the smaller Spit Island between them. A coral reef which nearly encircles them (one of the most northerly coral formations of this kind). The three largest islands total 6.2 km2 in area; their collective coastline is 15km. The highest point is 13m above sea level. The climate is subtropical, but moderated by prevailing easterly winds.
The U.S. took formal possession of the islands in 1867. In 1903 President Teddy Roosevelt declared the islands a seabird conservation area. Later in 1903 the laying of a trans-Pacific telegraph cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights, and a hotel was built to house passengers. A naval base was constructed shortly before the U.S. entered World War II, and the victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the war's turning points. Although the islands and surrounding waters were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in 1988, they continued to serve as a naval facility until 1993. The atoll was transferred to civilian control in 1996 following an environmental restoration effort. The US Fish & Wildlife Service manages Midway as part of the Papahanamokuakea Marine National Monument.
A private air charter company based in Honolulu provides air service to the Midway Islands on their 19-seat Gulfstream with a capacity of 3200-lbs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the atoll, currently has a newly established visitor program in place to accommodate small groups of interested visitors. Organizations or individuals wishing to visit Midway Atoll must apply for a permit from the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument months in advance of their intended visit. Currently a marine conservation non-profit called Oceanic Society is offering naturalist led ecotours consisting of groups limited to 16 participants. The tours are natural history focused, and offer one excursion to Eastern Island, and at least one snorkeling trip to the emergent reef. In addition to the Oceanic Society tours, Military Historical Tours (miltours.com) offers once-yearly day trips to the island on June 3rd. Participants arrive around noon on a chartered Continental Micronesia 737-800 from Honolulu and leave around 8 that evening. These tours include official ceremonies commemorating The Battle of Midway and also offer some time to explore the island. There is a harbor on Sand Island, and Henderson Field Airport on Sand Island is fully FAA certified and kept operational around the clock as an emergency landing strip for many trans-Pacific flights. Without this runway being maintained many twin engine jets would have to choose alternate routes that would use much more fuel. Travelers with their own means of transportation can inquire with the FWS about visiting. However sailors must still apply for the above permits months in advance of visiting and the Monument has very strict guidelines that must be followed in order to transit through these protected waters. A few examples are that vessels must have their hull cleaned prior to entrance and owners must pay $1500 for the required monitoring devices that track vessel movements while in monument waters. These requirements are in place to try to inhibit the introduction of invasive species and make sure that the fragile coral reefs are not jeopardized by errant sailors. Cruise ships crossing the Pacific sometimes stop outside of the atoll, using tenders to deliver passengers to Sand Island for day visits ashore however even these cruise ships must adhere to the strict permitting guidelines in order to pass through and visit the protected Monuments waters. Day visitors from cruise ships are guided by US Fish and Wildelife staff on excursions to see historic memorials to the battle of Midway, the nesting areas of over 2 million albatross, as well as many other seabirds. Midway is also home to the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and Laysan teal as well as over 200 spinner dolphins and many green sea turtles. Midway is a US Territory and a valid passport is required for entry.
For more information about group tours visiting Midway in 2008 and 2009 see Oceanic Society's website at http://www.oceanicsociety.org/
Bikes and golf carts are available for rent. Bikes $5/day, Golf carts $25/day. Walking is easy since the terrain is flat. Just stick to the roads and trails to prevent ankle sprains.
Nearly 5 million members of 17 species of seabirds nest on the islands, including 2 million albatross both Laysan and Black-footed. 80% of the world's population of Laysan albatrosses are found at Midway, more affectionately known as the "gooney bird" for their awkward landings and especially for their entertaining mating rituals. Endangered Hawaiian monk seals (7-8 feet, up to 500 lbs) haul themselves onto land to rest and to give birth and raise their young, giant green sea turtles (up to 400 lbs) are frequent visitors and have recently been documented nesting on Midways beaches, and a pod of 250-300 spinner dolphins lives – and often performs acrobatics – in and around the atoll's shallow lagoon. There is also a small but growing population of Laysan ducks, the most endangered waterfowl in the northern hemisphere.
The islands also contain memorials and artifacts of the 1942 Battle of Midway. As well as the original Cable buildings erected in 1903.
The primary activities on Midway Atoll are nature viewing, wildlife photography, snorkeling, kayaking and touring the World War II historical sites. Although scuba diving was once available to visitors, it is now available only to researchers working on the island. Fishing is prohibited because previous "catch and release" practices on the shore reduced the number of Ulua at Midway. North Beach is open to humans, but other beaches are normally off limits and reserved for sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals, both of which are endangered and protected under federal law. Midway Bowl is open Sunday from 7 to 9 PM. A miniature golf course on Sand Island is being restored.
US Fish & Wildlife employs about 6 staff personnel and has about 10 to 12 volunteers stay for 3 to 4 month stints throughout the year. Also USFWS has brought out a contractor to operate the facilities at Midway. This company is called Chugach and is a Native American corporation based out of Anchorage, Alaska. Currently employing about 55 persons. Most are foreign workers from Thailand, but some are US citizens hired for a variety of needs. Additionally there are 4 airport/fireman contract workers, and one PA, these positions all periodically are advertised as open on various websites.
Sand Island has a small "Ship Store" that carries basic items, snack type foods, and alcohol. They also rent DVDs. Nearby a small gift store run by "The Friends of Midway" sells T-shirts, postcards, books, recordings of the bird colonies, and other items.
All meals are served at "The Clipper House" which now serves as Midway's galley to the 60 or so residents, and the visiting tourist groups and researchers. Meals are served three times a day at the regular posted hours only. The most popular food item in the Clipper House is the soft-serve ice cream machine. Beverages and ice are available in the hotel lobby, but there are no snack machines.
Water is a precious commodity on any island. The water at Midway is pure and safe to drink. Island residents carry and use refillable aluminum water bottles. Visitors should bring their own. Once you see the amount of plastic that washes up on the shores of the atoll you will understand why plastic bottles are shunned. Alcohol is served in the local bar for 2-3 hours several nights per week.
There are no true "hotels" at Midway. Old naval barracks have been refurbished as comfortable hotel rooms, each with a private bath. During the albatross breeding season (winter) up until the time that the chicks fledge (summer) there is the constant sound of the albatross. Ear plugs are advised.
There is no crime on Midway, though there is an old navy brig that can be used as a jail. Rule breakers are put on the next plane out.
Midway is staffed with a Physician Assistant, and three of the airport workers are EMT trained. The medical clinic includes an emergency room, ambulance, and x-ray suite. Biggest worries are sunburn, dehydration, and twisted ankles. Venturing off the posted pathways and trails presents a very real danger due to the unstable, sandy terrain chock-full of holes created by burrowing petrels. However, the existence of an active runway (Sand Island) makes it possible to stage any medical evacuations of injured or seriously ill individuals from Midway to Honolulu. Evacuations by air are expensive and are generally NOT covered by regular health insurance. Visitors are advised to have travel insurance that specifically covers medical evacuations. Through a partnership with Travel Guard, Diver's Alert Network (DAN) offers such insurance at very reasonable rates. Each insured pays the same rate regardless of age, and each individual traveler needs insurance. For the best coverage, purchase least 15 days in advance of your travel. DAN insures both divers and non-divers alike.
- Things change frequently at Midway. For up-to-date, reliable information, visit the www.fws.gov website.
- The Kure Atoll and the Pearl and Hermes Atoll lie 60 miles to the west and 90 miles to the east, respectively. These are uninhabited coral formations. Kure is part of the State of Hawaii and has a seasonal field crew of about 6 persons stationed for 5 months of the year. Pearl & Hermes has a seal research team stationed there for 6 to 8 weeks each summer and is part the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Both Kure and Pearl & Hermes are also under the protection of the 2007-created Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument encompassing the islands to the northwest of Hawaii.
- The nearest inhabited islands of Hawaii lie about 1200 miles to the ESE.
- Wake Island, about 1200 miles to the WSW, was the next stop on Pan Am's "China Clipper" service.
- The Marshall Islands are about 1500 miles to the SW. | <urn:uuid:d0299f4d-1d0d-4f60-897b-5172c7d8d636> | {
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Post Number: 2
|Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 9:16 pm: || |
Ok, I had this idea to get electricity from soil. Turns out there is some sort of electricity in there, when I insert a Zinc screw and a copper screw into moist soil, I get about .60-1 volts of power, next to no amperage though.
I was thinking I could possibly increase this voltage by making series and parallel formations of screws, problem is that since it is not seperate soil it is actually shorting out the ciruit and only giving me the voltage that I would have gotten from one pair of screws, instead of the 20 that I put in the soil linking them together in a series formation(I stuck the screws in a plastic mesh, so if I wanted to I could put soil over it to hide the zinc and copper screws.
One other theory that I had was that the Zinc was somehow reacting with the carbon in the soil, and maybe even the trace of acid in it.
I want to be able to get enough electricity from the soil to charge a pair of rechargable AA batteries. Anyone have any ideas to possibly get that amount of electricity?
Post Number: 3
|Posted on Friday, March 30, 2007 - 9:19 pm: || |
Sorry about the double post, I didn't know the first one went through.
Joshua Martin (Mr_)
Post Number: 112
|Posted on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 - 7:04 pm: || |
You just made a battery,congrats
It is not free energey but it is neat though.
Simon Quellen Field (Sfield)
Post Number: 1676
|Posted on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 - 7:53 pm: || |
The energy is coming from the chemical reaction between the zinc and the
electrolyte. When the zinc is used up, you need to recover it from the
soil by adding energy (such as using a battery to electroplate it back
onto the screw.
The energy came from the initial refining of the zinc from the zinc ore. | <urn:uuid:488b8ed7-9993-4a19-9598-e445d1448f2b> | {
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DAVE DAVIES, HOST:
This is FRESH AIR. I'm Dave Davies, in for Terry Gross, who's off today. Few citizens are more honored than military veterans, and we have a special reverence for those who fought in World War II and defeated the Nazis. Our guest, journalist Charles Glass, has written about the largely untold story of the nearly 50,000 American soldiers who deserted the front lines during the Second World War.
Few deserters were cowards, Glass writes. Most fought bravely before finally reaching their breaking points under the strain of constant battle. A few resorted to crime and formed gangs that stole military goods and sold them on the black market. Desertion reached troubling rates among GIs in combat infantry units, Glass writes, and allied commanders struggled with what to do to stem the tide.
Charles Glass has spent years in international reporting, much of it in the Middle East. He was wounded by artillery fire in Lebanon in 1976 and was later kidnapped and held captive for two months. He's the author of four previous books and now writes for several publications, including the New York Review of Books and The Spectator. His new book is called "The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II." Well, Charles Glass, welcome to FRESH AIR. Do we know how many American and British servicemen deserted in World War II?
CHARLES GLASS: Well, the rough best guess is about 150,000 - 100,000 British and 50,000 Americans. There may have been more, but those are pretty much in accord with court martial statistics and the number of people who didn't turn up. There were a lot more than that who were merely AWOL, and AWOL meant that you disappeared, but you didn't necessarily have the intention never to return. Deserters had the intention not to return.
DAVIES: These were, I assume, pretty much all in Europe?
GLASS: Almost all. First in North Africa - mainly with the British - then Italy and then France. Those were the three major centers. In the Japanese theater of war, it was almost impossible to desert because on the Pacific islands, there was simply nowhere to desert to.
DAVIES: Right. Now 150,000, in relation to all of the servicemen serving in the British and American Armed Forces is not a large percentage, but it was a much higher percentage among those who were combat infantrymen, right?
GLASS: Well, when you see how the war was fought, you realize that in the American Army, only about 10 percent of the soldiers in uniform actually saw combat. And they were very rarely rotated out of the front. So in most of the people who deserted were those who broke down in battle, and that means that that figure, 50,000 Americans, was extremely high given the number of men who were actually at the front.
And so there were times when there would be holes in the line, very dangerous holes in the line because men had simply withdrawn and refused to fight.
DAVIES: As many as 10 percent of combat...
GLASS: Up to about 10 percent at critical phases of the war.
DAVIES: And it's interesting that we don't know this. It's not a story anybody wanted to tell, right?
GLASS: Well, when I was first asked about it, I didn't know anything about it, and I looked into it, and I was surprised in the first instance that there were so many, 150,000, and then I was surprised that there was no literature on it at all. And I went to the Library of Congress and looked at something called the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, and from the years 1941 to 1952, there was no mention of deserter or desertion.
It wasn't until after 1952 when the subject came up in relation to the Korean War.
DAVIES: And for obvious reasons, I mean, the allied command didn't want to give people the idea that they could desert. And that kind of leads to the question of how do you discourage it? And I, you know, we think of treason and desertion as being punishable by death. I mean, you tell us that this happened in only a single case in World War II, right?
GLASS: In the American Army, only one soldier out of the 50,000 was actually executed. More than 40 were sentenced to death, but their sentences were commuted. And the one who was executed was a man called Private Eddie Slovik, who was - had been in his youth a very small-time criminal, had spent some time in prison, but was out of prison, had married, got a job and was putting his life together when he was drafted.
And then he just simply couldn't fight. He didn't - he was never in a battle. He simply couldn't fight. But he happened to desert just at the time of the very heavy fighting of his division in the Hurtgen Forest, and then he - when he was sentenced to death, he made his appeal during the Battle of the Bulge, which was again very bad timing.
And Eisenhower and the other military commanders who discussed his case did not want to be seen as letting a man off when thousands of soldiers were either deserting or shooting themselves in the foot or otherwise avoiding service at that time when the American forces were being pushed back by the German army.
DAVIES: So there as documents that tell us that the commanders needed to make an example?
GLASS: Yes, the - Eisenhower and the other generals wrote to one another specifically about his case, and it was a very troubling case because he had no service record to speak of. He wasn't a bad soldier; he just simply - he was just afraid. He was simply afraid. But one of the things that emerged is while they said that they had to make an example of Slovik, they executed him in secret, and they didn't tell anybody about it, and they didn't even tell his wife that he had been executed. They just said that he had died in Europe.
It wasn't until a journalist named William Bradford Huie looked into the case and wrote about it, wrote a very good book about it in the mid-1950s, that it became public knowledge.
DAVIES: And the other interesting thing about Eddie Slovik is that he didn't flee, right. He simply said I'll take prison rather than combat.
GLASS: Yes, he told his commanding officer that he just could not fight, and rather - and this happened in other cases, by the way. And often, commanding officers would simply say to the soldier: All right, we'll send you to the rear until you are able to fight.
DAVIES: And so there was a lot of discretion, a lot of field decisions made in circumstances like this?
GLASS: Yes. I mean, the most decorated soldier in the American Armed Forces in World War II was a man called Audie Murphy, who came from Texas and fought very bravely in three theaters of war. And Murphy worked his way up through the ranks, became an officer, and when he was an officer, because he had known the fear of normal combat infantrymen, he describes in his book "To Hell and Back," confronting one of the men in his unit who was shaking so much he simply could not go into battle.
And rather than court martial him, which is what some officers who had very little combat experience would do, he said you just, you go to the rear, and you see the doctor, and we'll talk about it.
DAVIES: Did the Army do any psychological screening? I mean, there were, you know, hundreds of thousands of draftees coming in. Were people screened to see if they were, you know, psychologically capable of dealing with combat?
GLASS: Doctors on the draft boards screened everyone who went into the armed forces, and 1.75 million were turned down for mental reasons. There was a belief at the time that certain psychological tests could tell you which men were likely to break down and which men were not. The tests were obviously flawed because many men did break down, and it's very hard to know which ones will and which ones won't.
And the men themselves going into battle didn't always know. Some of those who were extremely gung-ho in training were the very first ones to break down in combat.
DAVIES: And you tell us that lot of the desertions came among people who had had a lot of combat experience, fought bravely, earned medals in some cases.
GLASS: Well, say Steve Weiss, for example, of the 36th Texas Infantry Division, had fought in Italy and all the way through Southern France and then fought with the French resistance before he finally cracked down. One of the problems was that those soldiers who fought continuously and were never rotated out of the front lines simply were under so much pressure for so long that they cracked.
DAVIES: Right. You note that the policy of rotation and replacement really maximized the stress and peril there.
GLASS: Yes, it was terrible for group cohesion and group morale. So what happens, in the First World War, when a division lost a certain number of men, it would be withdrawn in its entirety to the rear, retrained, replacements brought in and retrained with the old - with the veterans, who got to know one another, and they got to know their officers, and then they would be sent as a unit back to the front.
In World War II, General Marshall decided, for very sound logistical reasons, that this was not a good way of doing it. It was inefficient. It was better just to replace individual soldiers as they were killed or wounded or captured and send one man at a time in to replace them.
But that meant that that man was not known to his fellows. His officers didn't know his name. And the life expectancy of an infantry replacement on the front line after the battle - after the D-Day landings in Normandy - was about six weeks.
DAVIES: And of course those who were lucky enough not to be killed or wounded just stayed there day after day, month after month, on the front lines.
GLASS: Well, the vast majority did do that. What's interesting is that they were the ones who thought about getting out of it dishonorably, either by deserting or shooting themselves in the foot, and it was very rare for those veterans to turn in a fellow from their unit who deserted. They often saw them deserting from the front lines, but they didn't say a word.
The ones who turned them in were the rear-echelon troops. So when they went back to Paris or Lyons or somewhere where there was no battle, and a cook or a clerk at a desk would see that someone was a deserter, he would turn it in. But the frontline soldiers very rarely turned in their fellow frontline soldiers.
DAVIES: Because they felt such empathy? They could see it happening to themselves?
GLASS: Because they felt - exactly. They felt there but for the grace of God go I.
DAVIES: Now you write that in 1943, I mean, the military command observed that desertion was an increasing problem and they assigned Brigadier General Elliot Cooke to study desertions and its relation to what they called nervous disorders and try and reach some conclusions. What - how did he go about his work? What did he discover?
GLASS: Well Cooke, who was a decorated soldier from the First World War, he was a career officer, was assigned by General Marshall to do this study. And he went first to Fort Blanding, where Steve Weiss trained with the 36th Division, to see the men in the hospital wards there who had claimed that they were sick. This is before they ever saw battle.
And he found malingerers, but he also found people who just under the strain of being away from home, worried about their wives having babies and bills at home, just couldn't cope. And there were thousands of people deserting in the States at that time, and they were trying to figure out what to do about it.
He then went to North Africa and spoke to soldiers at the front there, some of whom had lost men in their units to deserters, and it was one 19-year-old soldier who told him that whenever he saw a man in his unit who really couldn't take it anymore he would send him off to get ammunition or something, give him a break for a day or two so that he could collect himself to be able to come back and be useful, rather than report him and to be court-martialed.
DAVIES: Right, and did Cooke and the military command reach any conclusions? I mean, where there things to do other than coercion?
GLASS: Well, Cooke felt treatment was the solution, and in fact partly because of him and because of other - because of some medical officers in the Army, they installed psychiatric units in every forward medical station at the front so that it was recognized that you were as likely to be taken out of battle by a mental as a physical wound. And so they had psychiatrists there to treat those mental wounds, and once they were treated, then they would go back to the front.
DAVIES: But in practice, a lot of soldiers didn't get help, right?
GLASS: A lot didn't get help. A lot didn't know about the fact that they could get help. A lot of the officers wouldn't send them back for help. And you remember, they were fighting a war, and a lot of those officers were more - and understandably - more concerned about day-to-day battlefield conditions than the mental problems of one or two soldiers.
Some officers were empathetic and would realize that this was also a command problem and a decision that had to be made - was very important, - and that they could deal with it in a rational way. Some just didn't focus on it and let those men slip through the cracks.
DAVIES: You know, you tell us one story in the book of a commander, I think it was a first lieutenant, who reached a point where he said he simply couldn't command, couldn't lead, couldn't fight.
GLASS: That's right. After Lieutenant Colonel David Fraser went to the front lines with his commanding officer, Colonel Adams, he and Adams were riding back in a Jeep, and Adams saw that he was - he had fallen asleep in the Jeep. He wasn't listening to him. And he said that Frazier was one of the finest men and one of the best battalion commanders anybody could have, and when Frazier woke up, he said it's time for me to quit because I'm in no shape to command this battalion.
Now if an enlisted man had said that, he would have been court-martialed. But Adams just simply made Frazier, who was a good soldier, his executive officer. And a lot of enlisted men felt a great injustice that officers were treated better than enlisted men when it came to this issue.
When in North Africa, one of the other deserters I wrote about, a British soldier called John Bain was side by side with a major during the Battle of El Alamein, and the major deserted, he saw him disappear, and had an enlisted man done that, he would have been court-martialed and sent to prison. The major was promoted to colonel.
DAVIES: We're speaking with Charles Glass. His new book is "The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II." We'll talk more after a short break. This is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DAVIES: If you're just joining us, our guest is journalist Charles Glass. He's spent a lot of years covering years and doing foreign reporting. He has a new book called "The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II."
Let's talk about Steve Weiss. A lot of the book is - are essentially profiles of three deserters and their experience in World War II. Steve Weiss is a man that you met. Tell us about that.
GLASS: Yes, I did. I was - I had already begun researching the book when my previous book was coming out. So I was at a place called the Frontline Club in London, which is a war correspondents club, and I was promoting the book there, giving a speech about the Americans who stayed in Paris under the German occupation, the American civilians who were living there.
And a man - at the end, people ask questions, and a very distinguished-looking elder gentleman, with a little red rosette in his lapel got up and asked some questions. And I could see that - well, the red rosette meant he was a member of the Legion of Honor of France, and by his age he was probably a veteran, and by his questions I could see he knew a lot about the subject.
So we agreed to meet about a week later near - he lived in London. We agreed to meet about a week later, and we were talking about his time in the French resistance and his experience with the French resistance and so forth. And then he asked me. What's your new book about? And I said: Well, I'm writing a book about American and British deserters in World War II. Do you know anything about it?
And Steve said: I was a deserter. And then this opened up a whole other door of experience for me because I hadn't spoken to living deserters. Most of the ones I had come across had died long before.
DAVIES: Well, I want to talk a little bit about Steve Weiss' story, but first just a little bit about his background. That's kind of interesting. Describe his family background and how he got into the military.
GLASS: Well, Steve grew up in Brooklyn. His father was a World War I veteran. His father had been wounded very badly in the First World War. He was traumatized by the experience of the war and by his wounds and was a very aloof figure in Steve's life. I mean, he very rarely talked to him. Every year on Armistice Day, the day that commemorated the end of the First World War, he would go up to his room and just sit alone for an hour or two, wouldn't talk to the family.
Steve grew up in this rather heavy atmosphere, but he wanted to understand war. There was a curtain between him and war. He thought that understanding war would help him to understand his father. And so when - as soon as America entered the Second World War, he wanted in, and he volunteered.
He was underage, and his father refused to sign for him, but Steve blackmailed him and said he would go and lie about his age and get in anyway. So the father did sign for him, and he did go into the military, and then he did discover what was on the other side of that curtain.
DAVIES: Yeah, you want to describe some of the action that he saw in Italy.
GLASS: Steve arrived as a replacement in the 36th Division, the Texas division, which at that time in Italy was called the Hard Luck Division because they had already lost, killed, wounded or captured more than half of the men who originally landed in Salerno in September 1943.
And he was put straight into the front line. They fought their way from Rome north up to Grosseto and all the way up to Sienna when they were pulled back for retraining to prepare for the second D-Day landings in the south of France.
DAVIES: And I mean, there was just some terrible, terrible fighting. There were moments when they were on exposed beaches enduring artillery fire. I mean, it's...
GLASS: Well, the thing that struck him most was on a beachhead, which the allies had secured six months earlier, there was still nowhere that was safe. The Germans still were able to bomb that, shell it regularly. And so he lost a lot of his friends who were just sleeping on the beachhead.
There were also, interestingly enough, hundreds of deserters also on that beachhead who were living in the woods, living rough, within striking distance of their fellows who had not deserted.
DAVIES: Now, he ends up going to France after the D-Day invasion, or I guess as part of it. Describe the circumstances under which he got separated from his unit and then ended up taken in by the French resistance?
GLASS: Well, the 36th Division had been ordered to take a town called Valence about halfway up the Rhone Valley. And the battle began that night. Quite a few of Steve's friends were killed in the battle for Valence. What they didn't realize were two things: One, that it was much better defended than they'd been told. And some people in French intelligence had informed the high command of the American forces, but no one had got the word down to the commanders in the field.
And the second thing was that orders came late in the night, halfway through the battle, that in fact the 36th was needed further south for a battle that was about to begin at Montelimar. So they were withdrawn. But no one told Charlie Company. So these eight men, Steve and seven of his fellows, were dug in in an irrigation ditch, and they woke up in the morning, and the 36th Division had gone, and no one told them, and they were completely surrounded by the Germans.
DAVIES: So they end up in a barn of a farmer and taken in by the French resistance. And he spends quite some time with them. What did he do with those folks?
GLASS: One, he developed a great rapport with his commanding - the French commanding officer, a man called Francois Binoche, who became a friend of his then and stayed a friend long after the war. Binoche took him on operations. They blew up bridges, they attacked Germans. And Steve liked the commando life. He preferred it to the life of a combat infantryman.
For one thing, he could always go back at night after an operation and sleep in a bed and have a hot dinner, which combat infantrymen never got.
DAVIES: And how did he get back to the U.S. Army?
GLASS: From the French resistance, he was succumded(ph) by OSS, the Office of Strategic Services, which was running American underground operations with the French resistance at that time. And so he fought with the OSS for a time. And then the 36th Division demanded him and his fellows back to the 36th Division. Steve wanted to stay with the OSS, and the OSS wanted him to stay, but the 36th prevailed because they had lost so many men that they needed every experienced veteran.
And Steve was an experienced veteran. He'd been promoted to corporal. And he'd also won some medals. So they needed him, and they wanted him back, and they sent him. He was 19 years old, and he had to hitchhike back up to the front lines. And he gets to the command post, where his captain, Captain Simmons, didn't even say hello to him or welcome him back.
DAVIES: Yeah, you mentioned Captain Simmons, and you note in the book that poor field leadership contributed to desertion a lot.
GLASS: Well, it seems that, you know, some units had much higher rates than others. The 36th, in the battles in France, had the highest rate of any division in the American Army. And it can't be accidental that there were junior officers like that who were not interested in their men and not talking to their men and not looking after their men.
Steve Weiss felt that his captain always led from behind, was never at the front lines. You could never find him. They couldn't confide in him. They couldn't ask him for anything. And they felt they got a raw deal from him.
DAVIES: Charles Glass' book is called "The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II." He'll be back in the second half of the show. I'm Dave Davies, and this is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DAVIES: This is FRESH AIR. I'm Dave Davies in for Terry Gross. We're speaking with journalist Charles Glass whose new book, "The Deserters," focuses on the largely untold story of nearly 150,000 Americans and British soldiers who abandoned their units during World War II. Glass writes that most who deserted served long months or years in combat units before reaching their breaking point. One was a decorated soldier from Brooklyn named Steve Weiss, who fought in Italy and France - and when separated from his unit, served with the French resistance. He was eventually returned to the U.S. Army's 36th Infantry Division.
Tell us about the fighting that led to Steve Weiss' desertion.
GLASS: Well, Steve Weiss, when he got back, he was sent to the front lines, he found out that almost every man in his platoon had been killed or so severely wounded that he'd been taken - sent back to the states. So he was pretty much on his own with only a couple of friends that he knew from before. They made them a sergeant and tried to put him in charge of a platoon, which he didn't want. He didn't feel capable of because he was a 19-year-old kid. And he found that there were 30-year-old newcomers, replacements, who were looking up to him as the old man and asking him his advice, and he had really no advice to give. He'd been scared the whole time. It was a very hard thing for him, and as the lines became static before a town called Briel, they were dug in there for weeks, the Germans were counterattacking and shelling them frequently and also occasionally getting planes and to bomb their positions and killing the men. Under that severe strain, one night in the middle of the night, he wandered off in a daze. And other deserters also said this, that they didn't make a conscious decision, but they just found their bodies leading them away from the front. And he wandered into the woods, found a barn and slept for a couple of days, put himself together, and then reported again for duty. So that was clearly not a conscious desertion.
But about a week later, he and two others did walk off the line and they made a decision to go, that they couldn't take it anymore. They knew they would be that they were going to be killed and they didn't trust their commanding officer not to get them killed, and they wandered off to Leon but they didn't much of a plan. They went to Leon, they hid out on an American air base, and then two of them turned themselves into medical officers to try and get psychiatric treatment and Steve turned himself into the military police.
DAVIES: And he ended up back in front of the captain, right, Captain Simmons.
GLASS: He ended up in front of Captain Simmons who immediately sent him for court- martial. He was then given a psychiatric assessment to see if he could stand trial. The psychiatrist, after a very cursory 30-minute interview, in the midst of a medical post that was taking in hundreds of wounded Japanese-American soldiers who had just been very badly decimated by the Germans, with all of that chaos going around, this man wrote a report saying this man is fit to stand trial. Steve then had about another half an hour with his defense lawyer and then he - the next morning he was court-martialed and convicted.
DAVIES: And what was his sentence?
GLASS: He was 19 years old when he was given life at hard labor.
DAVIES: And then sent to a detention unit, which was not yet built. He and the other prisoners were then supposed to build their own prison, right?
GLASS: That's right. They were sent to a field outside Limoges, to the west of Paris, and they had to dig the fence posts and put up the barbwire and create the whole - and build the guard towers from which they would be shot if they tried to escape, all the while under a very, very brutal regime of MPs who had never seen action, beating them and starving them and making their lives absolute hell.
DAVIES: I wanted to talk about Al Whitehead, a different kind of deserter in a way. I mean he was a young man from Tennessee. Well, just tell us a little bit about him.
GLASS: Alfred Whitehead was a barefoot Tennessee boy who never went to school, more or less illiterate, volunteered for the Army, trained in the States, was wild, heavy drinker, heavy gambler, a real braggart, went to Britain for Northern Ireland and Britain for training and waiting for the D-Day landings. He landed on D-Day. He fought. He won a Bronze Star, a Silver Star, fought very bravely across Normandy, but very ruthlessly, you might say. But he had a good service record. And I've spoken to some of the men who were in his unit. He was not popular in his unit, possibly because of his bragging. But he then got appendicitis and he was sent to Paris for medical treatment. And when he was released, he was told he couldn't go back to his division, the 2nd Division, that he would have to become a replacement in some other infantry division. He didn't know which one, and he didn't want to be a replacement so he deserted from the replacement depot outside Paris and then went to Paris, hooked up with a waitress in a cafe in Paris and joined the black market, the black market in Paris, in London, in Naples, in Rome at that time were all run by deserters, who could steal military supplies and sell them.
DAVIES: This is a fascinating part of the story. I mean there were significant numbers of deserters - I mean a minority to be sure - but who in effect became criminal gangs, robbing, you know, truckloads - and sometimes train carloads - full of military goods.
GLASS: Some of them stole so much that - for example - the gasoline supplies that Patton needed for his advance on The Saar were not there because the deserters had stolen them and sold them on the black market in Paris. And it's clear Patton, understandably, wanted them all shot.
DAVIES: Al Whitehead actually writes a memoir, right or in cooperation with somebody at some point...
GLASS: Well, no, Whitehead after the war, after he served his prison sentence, became a barber and then he became a barber in Tennessee and then he moved to Cape Cod. And in his barbershop in Cape Cod, he had a kind of mimeographed memoir that he had written together with his wife, which he used to give to his customers.
GLASS: And one of his customers gave me a copy of this. And he wasn't ashamed at all about these black market activities or his desertion. In fact, he used to apparently talk about it to his customers.
DAVIES: Well, and it wasn't just stealing military goods - at least as he tells it, right? I mean he...
GLASS: Well, he...
DAVIES: He was robbing the good citizens of Paris regularly.
GLASS: Well, he and many others. I mean the Paris press was writing about it a lot of the time. They said they were Chicago-style vandalism and gangsterism in the streets of Paris, and that the American military had to do something about it. I mean, there were shootouts between the Paris police and the MP - American and British MPs on one side and the deserters on the other side. They would rob banks. They would rob cafes. They would stop people on the street and steal women's jewelry. They were gangs of real hard-core outlaws - and they were armed and they were armed and trained.
DAVIES: So how would these gangs get military goods? I mean, with a sneak up to a warehouse? Would they hijack trucks?
GLASS: They would do all of these things. Because they had uniforms and because they had identity, they could go onto the base and they could simply pilfer from the base. Because they had weapons, they could overpower the truck drivers from the services' supply who were taking the supplies from Cherbourg Harbor to the front lines and they would simply rob them like train robbers in the Old West. There were any number of ways for them to do that.
DAVIES: You tell a great story - or I guess Al Whitehead tells a great story - of his initiation into one of these gangs. He was given the task. Do you remember this?
GLASS: He was told to go out and steal a truck. They would let him into the gang if he could steal a truck. So he went out immediately, pulled out a .45, put it to the temple of the truck driver, told him to disappear and then drove back to the gang with the truck and all the supplies in it, and then he was allowed in.
DAVIES: So, he lives the high life in Paris as a deserter and a criminal. Then what happens? Did he get caught? Did he turn himself in?
GLASS: Well, the war ended and he decided he couldn't go - he missed his wife - that he couldn't go back to the States unless he turned himself in. So he decided he would go back to his unit, which by then was in Czechoslovakia, and he didn't quite make it that far, but he did turn himself in. He was put into a military jail to await transfer back to Paris and court-martial and then he escaped, because he decided he didn't want to turn himself in. And he went back to his French girlfriend, he walked into the apartment, found her in bed with another American soldier and got very angry and ultimately turned himself in again.
DAVIES: Wow. Sometimes. So what kind of punishment he get?
GLASS: He got, Whitehead was only charged with desertion. He didn't, they didn't know about his crimes on the black market or his robberies and possible murders in Paris. What they did try him for was the desertion from the replacement depot and for his escape. So he was given 25 years at hard labor. He served a couple of years in France and then was sent to federal penitentiary in New York and was released after 10 years.
DAVIES: Most of these men did not serve these long prison terms that they got. What changed?
GLASS: Well, attitudes changed, first of all. Second, because the war was over, there was no real reason, there was no real reason to hang onto them in prison any longer but to integrate them back into civilian life. It made much more sense, so they did. The British went one step further, because for Britain it was a more domestic problem because many of the deserters were living in Britain and were living on the black market in Britain. At that time, an immediate postwar period in Britain, you couldn't get a job without an identity card, you couldn't get food without ration coupons and if you were a deserter, you couldn't get those things and that meant you stole to survive. So to put an end to this huge black market, in 1953, Churchill gave a general amnesty to all the deserters and then the ones who were in jail were let out and the ones with not been court-martialed were then given discharges and could be integrated back into society.
DAVIES: There were something like 10,000 deserters in London at the time?
GLASS: At least 10,000 in London alone. The police used to do sweeps through the West End pubs and say there would be 50 or 60 men at any given pub, five or six would be deserters and they'd take them off.
DAVIES: We're speaking with Charles Glass. His book is called "The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II." And we'll talk more after a break.
This is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DAVIES: This is FRESH AIR and our guest is journalist Charles Glass. His new book is called "The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II."
You know, you described the court-martial panels that decided the fates of the men that you profile. And you note that they didn't generally include enlisted men who had been through what these deserters had experienced.
GLASS: Well, under the Articles of War, which then governed military law at the time, only officers could serve on court-martial panels, no enlisted men. That was all changed after the war. Now you have the university - the Universal Code of Military Justice. But then, only officers, and most of those officers have had no combat themselves, who didn't really know what they were dealing with. And a lot of the soldiers felt that was unfair.
DAVIES: And it seemed like the trials themselves were pretty, you know, preemptory kind of proceedings and, you know, and the accused were generally not in a position to talk very, you know, very deeply about what they were going through. You know, and yet in some way I wonder if it's not hard to feel some sympathy for those who must sit in judgment because they, you know, it is a healthy emotional psychological response to want to flee the kind of, you know, savagery that war brings, and yet those folks have to try and distinguish between those who simply can't go on and those who, for maybe some good reasons, are fed up and just don't want to.
GLASS: Well, that was the added problem in the 36th Division, which was - and this came out later just after the war when many of the officers testified against their commanding officer, General Dahlquist, that Dahlquist was putting heavy pressure on the members of the court, all of whom were officers in his division, to bring in guilty verdicts and harsh sentences. And that is, I mean that is clearly unjust and should never have been allowed.
DAVIES: You mean he was exercising undue influence. I mean, going...
GLASS: Dahlquist was calling officers into his office and saying, I want a guilty verdict. And that's, some of the officers testified to this about at the end of the war. And they felt what they had done to people like Steve Weiss was not what they would've done if they had been allowed to make their own decision.
DAVIES: So after the war there were, you know, these tens of thousands of former soldiers who had deserted, and most did not suffer long sentences and were re-integrated into civilian life. Did the nation ever hear about them?
GLASS: No. It's been a closed subject. I was surprised how little literature there was on it. And also, some of the soldiers who deserted never did come home. I came across a man named Wayne Powers who was a truck driver who was delivering supplies from Normandy to Belgium, from just after D-Day until the Battle of the Bulge. And one day his truck was hijacked, probably by deserters, and he was wandering around and decided to go back to a village where he had met a young woman that he rather liked. And he went back to Mondorney(ph) - the village - and this woman put him up and took him in and hid him. And they then had five children, and he hid in the house, he never came out.
And one day there was a car accident in front of the house. He happened to open the curtains and the police, who were taking information about the car accident, saw him and they went in to question him, realized he was an American, probably a deserter. They called the MPs from the nearby American base, who arrested him. He was taken off to the base to be held for court-martial. This got to the French newspapers and within two days, 60,000 letters arrived from French people writing to the American Embassy saying, please let him off. He did it for love. So he was court-martialed. He was sentenced. His sentence was commuted, and he went back to her, they had another child and got married.
DAVIES: You tell us that among the most sympathetic to the deserters were other people who were on the front lines of combat. And, you know, after the war there were, you know, American Legion posts and VFW posts and places where veterans would come to, you know, congregate and remember each other and share stories. Did deserters ever participate in any of these things? Were they ever welcomed? Do you know?
GLASS: I know that Al Whitehead and his son tried to go to one of the reunions of the 2nd Division and they were basically asked to leave, partly because he was a deserter, but partly because he had been a criminal and they felt hard done by that he did not represent them and what they were fighting for and what they stood for. And I think that was the only attempt he'd ever made to go to one of those reunions.
DAVIES: And, as you said, he was not a popular guy, kind of a braggart and a fighter.
DAVIES: You know, soldiers today, my sense is that they're much better supported by the military and by the government. I mean, there's more sophisticated medical treatment. There's a recognition of, you know, post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The military has acknowledged that suicides are an issue that they want to deal with. I wonder if you think if this experience that we saw in World War II would ever be replicated or if we now have a military that understands the psychological damage that, you know, the troops can go through.
GLASS: Well, no system of large numbers of people is ever going to be perfect. I was on a panel recently in London with an ex-British soldier called Jake Woods who's written a book about his brain trauma, both physical and mental trauma, from Iraq and Afghanistan. And he had - it took him a long time and he had to fight for proper medical and psychiatric treatment from the British military who at first didn't want to give it to him.
And he's had to fight for sick benefits because it's very hard, on a mental basis, in Britain to get those benefits. Physical is much easier. And he still, despite the treatment he's had, he's still, by his own admission, more or less a nervous wreck. And he may never come together. He's written a beautiful book about it but he may never recover fully from the trauma that he suffered, partly killing people that he shouldn't have killed.
He feels very guilty about that. And the officer to whom he was closest, his captain, had his head blown off right next to him, which was another shattering experience. Plus, he suffered physical brain trauma from a bullet to his helmet himself. So while the treatment is getting better, it's never going to be good enough to put all those men back together.
DAVIES: Well, Charles Glass, I want to thank you so much for speaking with us.
GLASS: Thank you very much.
DAVIES: Charles Glass' book is called "The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II." You can read an excerpt on our website freshair.npr.org. Coming up, Maureen Corrigan reviews "TransAtlantic," the new book by Irish novelist Colum McCann. This is FRESH AIR.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio. | <urn:uuid:b86c647b-efb1-40c6-a94a-e11f377799e7> | {
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“Das Kind, möchte ich sagen, lernt so und so reagieren; und wenn es das nun tut, so weiss es damit noch nichts. Das wissen beginnt erst auf einer späteren Stufe.” Ludwig Wittgenstein, Über Gewissheit – On Certainty, Clause 538, p. 71-71e, Blackwell Publishing, 1969.
[Re-posted from The Old Site. Original dd. 17-12-2007. In itself the message of this one is so simplistic that I was a little bit ashamed to re-post it here, but a. such are the rules, b. simplistic is not necessarily false and c. the conceptions of & within the ‘analytic’ tradition are such that what is simplistically opposed to this is for many still conceived wisdom.]
(Official English translation: “The child, I should like to say, learns to react in such-and-such a way; and in reacting it doesn´t so far know anything. Knowing only begins at a later level.”)
Philosophy of language is mostly known in its synchronic version. The method of language analysis has been extremely productive. The early Wittgenstein – a sentence corresponding to a certain state of affairs … – is still quoted heavily for his contributions in this vein, however much his name is discredited by the opaque writings (like the one above) of the late Wittgenstein.
I am certainly not original in not buying the dichotomy between early and late versions of Wittgenstein (apart maybe from biographical details which are not specifically interesting to me). Nevertheless, I don´t believe ever having seen the attempt at unifying his thought using the traditional aspects of the study of language: synchronic & diachronic or – as I understand it – static analysis of language & the dynamic analysis of an evolving (grasp of) language.
Most of us reading texts like these will immediately understand the difference we want to convey in talking of dead and of living languages. Dead languages are no longer evolving, they allow being analyzed or dissected – living languages on
the other hand are not as easily analyzed. Although vivisection on them is not as morally questionable as vivisection on animals, the living nature of the language prevents us – in my view – from exhausting all explanations ‘statically’.
[I think the above is interesting: how would you convey a typically 21st century meaning with a Latin or ancient Greek sentence? I think it will prove to be impossible.]
This does not mean that dissecting language into truth/falsity, recursiveness, truth conditions and so on is a wrong or unproductive labour. Far from it, one of the more stupid assumptions of Wittgenstein was that he said all that could be said on the matter [during his time as Wittgenstein I]. Almost a century of further developments in this tradition show not only continueing progress but fundamentally new insights.
It does however mean that this statical analysis is fundamentally insufficient to come to terms with language. Giving lip service – as a great many do – to language evolution and language acquisition is doing a great disservice to us. There is a difference between using a language and knowing something (and expressing this knowledge in a language). This is just one of the differences one needs to appreciate if one wants to study important differences between knowing something and intending for something to be the case (and necessarily putting this intention in a linguistic way for social use). If one persists in not noting and contemplating these differences one is condemned to the false belief that the thing that makes us specifically human is something similar to computer processes that admit exhaustive mathematical analysis.
My guess is that the great Ludwig never attempted an explanation like I did because that explanation is necessarily too static to do justice to what is to be studied. Forgive me my arrogance, maybe one day I´ll be able to reason & argument my case better than an old lady that always forgets where she last put her keys😉 | <urn:uuid:3f8057f7-72ea-4cb8-8a1a-6dffd84f7f15> | {
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An asphalt paver is a device accustomed circulate, shape, and partially compact a level of asphalt on top of a roadway, parking lot, or other area. It really is occasionally called an asphalt-paving device. Some pavers tend to be towed by the dump truck delivering the asphalt, but most are self-propelled. Self-propelled pavers contains two major elements: the tractor plus the screed. The tractor provides the forward motion and distributes the asphalt. The tractor includes the engine, hydraulic drives and controls, drive wheels or paths, getting hopper, feeder conveyors, and circulation augers. The screed amounts and forms the layer of asphalt. The screed is towed by the tractor and includes the leveling hands, moldboard, end plates, burners, vibrators, and pitch sensors and controls.
Functioning, a dump truck filled up with asphalt backs around the leading of the paver and gradually discharges its load into the paver's hopper. As paver moves ahead, the feeder conveyors move the asphalt into the back associated with the paver, and circulation augers press the asphalt outward to the desired width. The screed after that levels the layer of asphalt and partially compacts it on desired form. Huge, steel-wheeled roller uses the paver to help expand compact the asphalt to the desired thickness.
Asphalt as a paving product dates back to 1815, when Scottish roadway professional John McAdam (or MacAdam) developed a roadway surface composed of a compacted layer of little stones and sand dispersed with liquid. The water dissolved the natural salts regarding the stones and aided cement materials collectively. This kind of roadway area was known as liquid macadam in his honor. Later, coal-tar was made use of as a binding product as opposed to liquid, together with brand-new pavement became generally tar macadam, where we get the shortened term tarmac that is occasionally used to describe asphalt pavement.
Tar macadam pavement had been used in the United States up through start of the twentieth century. Modern blended asphalt pavement, which provides a far more durable road surface, ended up being introduced in the 1920s. Unlike macadam, when the rock and sand aggregates tend to be laid on the highway area before being dispersed because of the binding material, the aggregates in combined asphalt are covered using binding product before they've been set. Initially, mixed asphalt ended up being just dumped on roadway and raked or graded degree before becoming rolled smooth. In 1931 Harry Barber, of Barber-Greene business, developed initial mechanical asphalt paver in america. It traveled on a set of steel rails and included a combination loader and mixer to proportion and blend the elements before distributing the asphalt uniformly on the road surface. The rails were shortly changed by crawler tracks, and also the first production paver emerged from the Barber-Greene range in 1934. This new machine quickly became popular with roadway builders since it allowed them to position asphalt faster in accordance with greater uniformity. Hydraulic drives replaced technical drives in pavers during late 1950s to give the operator also smoother control. Today, practically all asphalt is put making use of paving machines. Considering that 98percent associated with roadways in america tend to be asphalt, you are able to understand the worth of the asphalt paver.
Most of the components of an asphalt paver are made of steel. The tractor mainframe is fabricated from heavy-gauge metallic dish. The feeder conveyor is made of heavy-duty string with forged steel areas, called trip bars. The circulation augers are constructed with cast Ni-Hard steel. The screed is fabricated from steel tubing, channel, and plate. The motor address and access doors tend to be created from steel sheet.
Rubber-tired pavers have two huge expansive back drive tires and four or maybe more smaller solid rubber steering tires. Rubber-tracked pavers have actually a molded artificial rubber track with a number of interior layers of flexible steel cable for support. The track is driven by a friction drive wheel from the back, therefore the load is distributed among several intermediate rubber-coated steel bogie rims. A hydraulic cylinder presses against the forward wheel to keep tension in the track.
Purchased components on a paver range from the motor, radiator, hydraulic elements, batteries, electric wiring, devices, tyre, and operator's seat. Purchased fluids consist of hydraulic fluid, diesel gasoline, engine oil, and antifreeze.
Many producers of asphalt pavers provide a few sizes and models. Engine horse power is generally in 3-20 hp (2-15 kw) range for smaller, towed pavers, and may maintain the 100-250 hp (75-188 kw) range for larger, self-propelled pavers. Many engines utilize diesel gas because that is the gas widely used on various other construction equipment.
Most larger, self-propelled pavers are about 19-23 ft (5.8-7.0 m) very long, 10 ft (3.1 m) large, and 10 ft (3.1 m) high. They weigh about 20, 000-40, 000 pound (9, 090-18, 180 kg) with regards to the hopper ability, engine dimensions, and variety of drive system. The typical rate of asphalt placement is 100-300 ft/min (31-92 m/min). The typical paving width is 8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m) up to a maximum width of 40 ft (12.2 m) by using screed extensions on some devices. The maximum paving depth about the same pass is 6-12 in (152-305 mm).
Options include burning plans, handbook and automatic screed extensions, and various sensors and controls to improve the class (fore-aft measurements) and slope (side-to-side measurements) of this level of asphalt.
Asphalt pavers are put together from component parts. Many of these parts tend to be fabricated inside set up plant, while some are made elsewhere and tend to be transported towards the plant. All parts get a primer coat of paint. The parts are stored in a warehouse consequently they are delivered to numerous work programs or places as required. | <urn:uuid:a95e8310-57f5-4b15-9a26-48c764a125ec> | {
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|Feng, Chen - UNIV OF HOUSTON, TX|
|Rojas, Mark - UNIV OF HOUSTON, TX|
|Havlak, Paul - UNIV OF HOUSTON, TX|
|Fofanov, Yuriy - UNIV OF HOUSTON, TX|
Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 3, 2008
Publication Date: N/A
Interpretive Summary: Potato is the world’s number one vegetable crop. The potato is in the same plant family as the tomato pepper and. Tomato is both an important crop as well as a model for scientific discovery. Information from the International Tomato Genome Sequencing Project will help provide information for understanding its close relative the potato. Efforts are also underway on the potato by the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium. In combination these two genome sequencing efforts will provide the background to study the cultivated potato. Direct sequencing of cultivated potato varieties is difficult because of the large genome size, its complexity and the abundance of non-essential DNA. We are examining the genome of the wild potato relative Solanum bulbocastanum using an Ilumina Genome Analyzer Classic platform to take an initial genome wide look at a potato.
Technical Abstract: Potato is the world’s number one vegetable crop. The potato is a member of the Solanaceae family that contains other crops such tomato pepper and eggplant as well as model species tobacco and petunia. Tomato is both an important crop as well as a model species for genetic and physical genomic information. The extensive genetic map is currently being combined with the International Tomato Genome Sequencing Project that will complete the diploid tomato as a reference Solanaceae genome. Efforts are also underway to elucidate the entire genome of a diploid potato by the Potato Genome Sequencing Consortium. In combination these two genome efforts will provide an excellent backbone to serve as reference for studies with heterozygous tetraploid potato cultivars. Direct sequencing of tetraploid potato varieties is complicated due to a combination of the large genome size, the high degree of heterozygosity and the abundance of long highly homologous repetitive DNA. Whole genome shotgun sequencing of the diploid wild potato relative Solanum bulbocastanum using the Ilumina Genome Analyzer Classic platform has been used to take the first steps toward a genome wide look at a potato. | <urn:uuid:40912335-4358-42b4-b608-60623f2032cf> | {
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Ventilation and Airflow in Buildings
Methods for Diagnosis and Evaluation
Routledge – 2007 – 128 pages
Energy efficiency in buildings requires, among other things, that ventilation be appropriately dimensioned: too much ventilation wastes energy, and insufficient ventilation leads to poor indoor air quality and low comfort. Studies have shown that ventilation systems seldom function according to their commissioned design. They have also shown that airflow measurement results are essential in improving a ventilation system. This key handbook explains why ventilation in buildings should be measured and describes how to measure it, giving applied examples for each measurement method. The book will help building physicists and ventilation engineers to properly commission ventilation systems and appropriately diagnose ventilation problems throughout the life of a building. Drawing on over 20 years of experience and the results of recent international research projects, this is the definitive guide to diagnosing airflow patterns within buildings.
'A book we need: an excellent overview of the state of the art of measurement techniques applied to airflows in buildings and to ventilation systems, written by a real expert.' Professor Francis Allard, University of La Rochelle, France 'This book is unique. It cleverly demonstrates the appropriate techniques to measure the ventilation and energy efficiency of naturally and mechanically ventilated buildings. It also offers the background necessary for this investigation, covering procedures to improve its performance and the reporting of results. This is a valuable single-source reference not only for academics but for practitioners: a practical, useful source of knowledge.' Professor Fariborz Haghighat, Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Canada 'A book we need: an excellent overview of the state of the art of measurement techniques applied to airflows in buildings and to ventilation systems, written by a real expert.' Professor Francis Allard, University of La Rochelle, France 'This book covers all of the important technical information for ventilation measurement. It is very useful for not only HVAC engineers but also researchers and university students.' Hiroshi Yoshino, Professor, Department of Architecture and Building Science, Tohoku University, Japan 'The technical information is presented in a clear and concise manner with all forms of detail calculations shown. Case studies are simple and useful. This book makes an excellent reference for calculating air flow and conditioning from first principles. It will make a good guide fior checking more issues. […] All in all a very useful reference book for the technically literate.' Haico Schepers, Arup Engineers, Australia 'A thorough examination of the science behind natural ventilation and air flow in buildings… a very useful reference book.' Architectural Science Review 'There is a lot of work needed before good ventilation is wide spread. This book is an excellent start and if you have some technical responsibility for buildings please read it.' International Journal of Ambient Energy
Introduction * Airflow Rates in Buildings * Airflow Rates in Air Handling Units * Age of Air and Ventilation Efficiency * Airtightness * Measurements and Measures Related to Energy Efficiency in Ventilation * Contaminants in Air Handling Units * Common Methods and Techniques * References * Index
Claude-Alain Roulet, an international leader on the subject of the indoor environment quality and energy in buildings, is Adjunct Professor at the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique F?d?rale de Lausanne, Switzerland. | <urn:uuid:e9f3aece-692e-4996-b559-adfd90d59d22> | {
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Negative thinking is one of the hurdles you have to overcome during the recovery process. Although negative thinking isn’t a bad thing by itself (after all, the ability to think negatively is tied up to the evolutionary process). But if you’re in a vulnerable place right now, negative thinking can probably do more harm than good. Without further ado, here are our top tips to stop negative thinking in its tracks.
Write A Journal
One of the easiest ways to monitor your thoughts and prevent a full on depression is to chronicle your day. Writing down even the most mundane happenings of your day can help you figure out your triggers and stop negative thinking. Do take note that journalling isn’t limited to writing down on an actual notebook. You can opt for micro-blogging platforms like Tumblr or use apps like Evernote or just use a good old notepad app. Just remember to jot down whatever comes to mind and if it’s negative, tell yourself this: it’s not as bad as I think it is. Sometimes, we really just fear the worst although the worst is yet to come.
Mindfulness can mean different things for different people. Basically, mindfulness is an extension of meditation. When you meditate for a certain amount of time, you let yourself be free of all kinds of thinking and just exist in the present. Although meditation may sound like something hippies will do, there’s a science behind this practice and most scientists say that meditation and mindfulness helps to lessen stress and anxiety. So whether you have 5 minutes to spare or a more generous 30 minutes, start meditating and maintaining a mindful approach to life.
Invest Your Time In A Few Hobbies
According to LifeHacker, a person should have three hobbies to make the most out of his/her time: a hobby that generates income, a hobby that keeps you creative, and a hobby that helps you to stay fit. Sometimes, all you really need are hobbies to get passionate about. Think about it this way, if you don’t have extra time to feel or think negative, you can allot more time to things that will make you a better person overall.
Be Aware Of Negative Thoughts (Then Reverse Them)
If you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, try to step back and take a rational approach. Don’t be afraid to dissect your own thoughts and ask yourself: is there a rational basis for what I just thought? Am I being too pessimistic? Am I just overreacting?
Sometimes, negative thoughts can spiral out of control and lead to a depression. This is the number one reason why at this point in time, it’s better to filter out the negative and welcome the positive. Focusing on the positive can also help you focus on your journey to recovery instead of on other, less important stuff. | <urn:uuid:42ed4df0-c287-4e9f-8ef1-df5bd1421917> | {
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This post was commissioned and first published by the Jacob’s Foundation Blog on Learning and Development (BOLD).
In recent years, there has been growing concern about the number of young people failing to make a successful transition from education into employment. Increasingly, this appears to be a structural, rather than cyclical, issue. We see evidence of this from the fact that although youth unemployment in the UK was falling in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it started rising again as early as 2004, long before the general downturn in the economy.
This is an important issue, not least because making a successful school to work transition is a good predictor for young people’s long-term economic success. Multiple studies have shown that periods of unemployment during these early years have long-term negative effects on later employment and earnings prospects.
As such, my colleague Richard Dorsett and I set out to explore how these transitions have changed for successive generations of young English people born in roughly 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990. A lot has changed about labour markets over these thirty years. Many of these changes apply not just to England but also other developed economies. As such, our findings are likely to be relevant in other parts of the world too.
We analyse data on young people’s main activity each month between age 16 and 19, using statistical techniques known as “sequence analysis” and “cluster analysis” designed to group together individuals who experience similar types of transitions. We place them into broad categories of “Entering the Labour Market”, “Getting More Education” and “Experiencing a Difficult Transition”. Broadly speaking, those who are Entering the Labour Market move into stable jobs before they reach age 19; those who remain in full-time education throughout our period of analysis are defined as Getting More Education; and those who leave education but move in and out of work are defined as Experiencing a Difficult Transition.
We first looked at how the size of these groups has changed over these successive generations. We found that the Entering the Labour Market group had declined in size over these cohorts from around 90% for those born in 1960, to under 40% among those born in 1990. This dramatic change is mainly explained by a growth in those Getting More Education, with this group increasing from roughly 5% to 50% over the thirty years. However, this is not the whole story. In addition, there has been an increase in the proportion of individuals who Experience a Difficult Transition, especially between those born in 1980 and those born in 1990.
We also explored how the composition of this group of individuals has changed between cohorts. Most strikingly, we find that both females and ethnic minorities go from being more likely to Experience a Difficult Transition to being less likely to do so.
There will be many reasons for these changes. It is probable that one is a decline in the proportion of young women who move quickly from education into an extended period of inactivity associated with starting a family. Another is that across this period the ethnic minority population of England has grown significantly in size, has diversified and has become more established; it seems plausible that these will have contributed to the relative improvement in their chances of experiencing transitions likely to be precursors of future economic prosperity.
However, some things don’t change. Family disadvantage is a strong predictor of young people experiencing a difficult transition regardless of the year they were born. This is unsurprising, but underlines that it is among those from disadvantaged backgrounds where there has been the greatest increase in difficult transitions.
This blog post draws on findings from “What young English people do once they reach school-leaving age: A cross-cohort comparison for the last 30 years” by Jake Anders and Richard Dorsett. The full research article is published in Longitudinal and Life Course Studies International Journal. | <urn:uuid:dd2ace16-c1ed-4001-bd28-e9095b855830> | {
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Global Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (SSSIs) Treatment Market: Overview
Skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs) caused by different bacteria may range from mild to severe infections. Some of the common skin and skin structure bacterial infections include carbuncles, post-surgical wound infections and traumatic wound infections. These are one of the most common infections treated in hospital settings. These infections (SSTIs) may be caused by any of these bacteria - Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogene, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, beta-hemolytic streptococci, Enterococcus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. and S. pyogenes. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and streptococci are the most common organisms causing skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs).
Skin and skin structure bacterial infections are classified as acute/uncomplicated and complicated infections. Simple skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs) include furuncles, cellulitis, erysipelas, superficial abscesses and wound infections, whereas complicated skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs) include myositis, gas gangrene and necrotizing fasciitis. A comorbidity such as diabetes or HIV can also lead to complicated skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs).
Global Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (SSSIs) Treatment Market: Trends and Opportunities
The market for bacterial skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs) treatment is analyzed based on the medications used for its treatment which includes antibiotics and anti-bacterial agents. Rise in the incidence of skin and skin structure infections especially in hospitals, has led to the development of resistance. Moreover, new strains of infectious bacteria urge the need for development of new therapies. For instance, vancomycin is the choice of drug against resistant Gram-positive cocci. However, increase in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and resistance to his drug has fueled the demand for new drugs. Physicians have started using linezolid, tigecycline and daptomycin for the management of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSIs). The selection of an appropriate drug depends on the causative microorganism. Besides medications, surgical methods are also practiced for the treatment of skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs).
Rising incidence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has led to the need for new therapies. In addition, new product developments will drive the bacterial skin and skin structure infections treatment market. Recently, in May 2014, Durata Therapeutics, Inc. announced the U.S. FDA approval of its injectable product Dalvance (dalbavancin) intended for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by susceptible gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in adult patients. Dalvance is the first and the only intravenous antibiotic approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).
Global Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (SSSIs) Treatment Market: Regional Analysis
The classification of bacterial skin and skin structure infections was proposed by the U.S. FDA in 2010 in order to standardize definitions and establish objectives in assessing the clinical response within clinical trials. Based on geography, the skin and soft tissue infections treatment market is analyzed into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. According to the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program database, Staphylococcus aureus was the dominant pathogen, ranking highest in North America, than in Europe and Latin America. The relevant statistics has been recorded in this database over several years until 2009. Owing to the high prevalence of these infections, North America is the dominant market for the bacterial skin and skin structure infections treatment products.
Global Bacterial Skin and Skin Structure Infections (SSSIs) Treatment Market: Key Players
Some of the companies involved in the development of medications for bacterial skin and skin structure infections (SSSIs) include Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Melinta Therapeutics, Inc, Debiopharm International S.A., MerLion Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd., Durata Therapeutics, Inc., Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cempra, Inc.
The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.
The study is a source of reliable data on:
- Market segments and sub-segments
- Market trends and dynamics
- Supply and demand
- Market size
- Current trends/opportunities/challenges
- Competitive landscape
- Technological breakthroughs
- Value chain and stakeholder analysis
The regional analysis covers:
- North America (U.S. and Canada)
- Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)
- Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)
- Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)
- Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)
- Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)
The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industry’s value chain.
A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.
Highlights of the report:
- A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market
- Important changes in market dynamics
- Market segmentation up to the second or third level
- Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume
- Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments
- Market shares and strategies of key players
- Emerging niche segments and regional markets
- An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market
- Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market
Note: Although care has been taken to maintain the highest levels of accuracy in TMR’s reports, recent market/vendor-specific changes may take time to reflect in the analysis.
Note : All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed in reports are those of the respective analysts. They do not necessarily reflect formal positions or views of Transparency Market Research. | <urn:uuid:717560eb-ab0d-4bd9-a8ce-7020f1739f66> | {
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Robot Localization with Wi-Fi
We’ve previously talked about the importance of robot localization. Kiran Mohan, a master student from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, developed a prototype system using Wi-Fi data to improve robot localization in several ways.
Wi-Fi data has proven most useful in allowing a robot to determine an initial estimate of its position within the map. FetchCore already includes the ability to build a Wi-Fi strength map for your facility using the wireless card embedded in the robot. Once such a map exists, the robot can then use a “fingerprint” of the visible Wi-Fi access points to roughly determine the location of the robot within this map. This rough estimate will someday replace the need for users to manually localize robots when they are first powered on.
While this project was only a first step towards a production system, it is typical of the type of projects interns can work on at Fetch Robotics. If you are still in school, or a recent grad, and interested in learning more about software engineering for robots, check out internship openings for this fall semester.
*Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. | <urn:uuid:2fcb0fd2-107e-4480-85ad-68e4412f1abd> | {
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Upcoming In-flight Escape Test
Our next flight is going to be dramatic, no matter how it ends.
Like Mercury, Apollo, and Soyuz, New Shepard has an escape system that can quickly propel the crew capsule to safety if a problem is detected with the booster. Our escape system, however, is configured differently from those earlier designs. They mounted the escape motor on a tower above the capsule – a “tractor” configuration – the escape motor would pull the capsule away from a failing booster. But because a capsule cannot reenter Earth’s atmosphere or deploy parachutes with a tower on top, the tower, along with the escape motor, must be jettisoned on every flight – even the nominal flights. Expending an escape motor on every flight drives up costs significantly. Further, the jettison operation is itself safety critical. Failure to jettison the tower is catastrophic.
The New Shepard escape motor pushes rather than pulls and is mounted underneath the capsule rather than on a tower. There is no jettison operation. On a nominal mission, the escape motor is not expended and can be flown again and again. We’ve already tested our pusher escape system, including many ground tests and a successful pad escape test, but this upcoming flight will be our toughest test yet. We’ll intentionally trigger an escape in flight and at the most stressing condition: maximum dynamic pressure through transonic velocities.
Capsule in-flight escape testing was last done during the Apollo program. From 1964-1966, in-flight escape tests were performed with Apollo simulator capsules using an expendable booster called the Little Joe II. We’ll be doing our in-flight escape test with the same reusable New Shepard booster that we’ve already flown four times. About 45 seconds after liftoff at about 16,000 feet, we’ll intentionally command escape. Redundant separation systems will sever the crew capsule from the booster at the same time we ignite the escape motor. You can get an idea of what will happen in this animation. The escape motor will vector thrust to steer the capsule to the side, out of the booster’s path. The high acceleration portion of the escape lasts less than two seconds, but by then the capsule will be hundreds of feet away and diverging quickly. It will traverse twice through transonic velocities – the most difficult control region – during the acceleration burn and subsequent deceleration. The capsule will then coast, stabilized by reaction control thrusters, until it starts descending. Its three drogue parachutes will deploy near the top of its flight path, followed shortly thereafter by main parachutes.
What of the booster? It’s the first ever rocket booster to fly above the Karman line into space and then land vertically upon the Earth. And it’s done so multiple times. We’d really like to retire it after this test and put it in a museum. Sadly, that’s not likely. This test will probably destroy the booster. The booster was never designed to survive an in-flight escape. The capsule escape motor will slam the booster with 70,000 pounds of off-axis force delivered by searing hot exhaust. The aerodynamic shape of the vehicle quickly changes from leading with the capsule to leading with the ring fin, and this all happens at maximum dynamic pressure. Nevertheless, the booster is very robust and our Monte Carlo simulations show there’s some chance we can fly through these disturbances and recover the booster. If the booster does manage to survive this flight – its fifth – we will in fact reward it for its service with a retirement party and put it in a museum. In the more likely event that we end up sacrificing the booster in service of this test, it will still have most of its propellant on board at the time escape is triggered, and its impact with the desert floor will be most impressive.
The test should be in the first part of October, and we’ll webcast it live for your viewing pleasure. Details to come.
If someone forwarded this email to you and you’d like to subscribe to get these updates yourself, you can do so here. In my next email update, I hope to give you a sneak peek of the orbital vehicle we’ve been working on for the last few years. | <urn:uuid:e9ac10ad-f387-44f2-9ac8-8f6a31f1b800> | {
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Imagine powering your cell phone by simply walking around your office or rubbing it with the palm of your hand Rather than plugging it into the wall you become the power source Researchers at the ... - Read More
Damage to DNA by high energy radiation constitutes the most lethal damage occurring at the cellular level Surprisingly very low energy interactions with OH radicals for instance can also induce DNA damage including double strand ... - Read More
Researchers have created a new type of ultracold molecule using lasers to cool atoms nearly to absolute zero and then gluing them together a technology that might be applied to quantum computing precise sensors and ... - Read More
For the first time researchers have shown that freestanding metal membranes consisting of a single layer of atoms can be stable under ambient conditions This result of an international research team from Germany Poland and ... - Read More
An ultra fast and ultra small optical switch has been invented that could advance the day when photons replace electrons in the innards of consumer products ranging from cell phones to automobiles The new optical ... - Read More
Researchers have developed a new approach to simulating the energetic processes that may have led to the emergence of cell metabolism on Earth a crucial biological function for all living organisms The research which is ... - Read More
Most modern electronics from flat screen TVs and smartphones to wearable technologies and computer monitors use tiny light emitting diodes or LEDs These LEDs are based off of semiconductors that emit light with the movement ... - Read More
In a relatively recently discovered class of materials known as spin orbit Mott insulators theorists have predicted the emergence of new properties at points just beyond the insulating state when electronic manipulation can transform these ... - Read More
A team of MIT researchers has used a novel material that's just a few atoms thick to create devices that can harness or emit light This proof of concept could lead to ultrathin lightweight and ... - Read More
There have been plenty of fad diets that captured the public's imagination over the years but Harvard scientists have identified what may be the strangest of them all sunlight and electricity Led by Peter Girguis ... - Read More
There's promising news from the front on efforts to produce fuels through artificial photosynthesis A new study by Berkeley Lab researchers at the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis JCAP shows that nearly 90 percent of ... - Read More
When the sun sets on a remote desert outpost and solar panels shut down what energy source will provide power through the night A battery perhaps or an old diesel generator Perhaps something strange and ... - Read More
Have you ever wondered why your laptop or smartphone feels warm when you're using it That heat is a byproduct of the microprocessors in your device using electric current to power computer processing functions and ... - Read More
Radio waves are used for many measurements and applications for example in communication with mobile phones MRI scans scientific experiments and cosmic observations But 'noise' in the detector of the measuring instrument limits how sensitive ... - Read More
University of Cincinnati researchers are discovering how to manipulate light to one day better view the world's tiniest objects through a super lens as well as how to hide an object in plain sight Masoud ... - Read More
Advances in renewable and sustainable energy including mimicking photosynthesis and optimizing lithium ion batteries are the topics of three plenary talks at the 247th National Meeting & amp Exposition of the American Chemical Society ACS ... - Read More
Released 2 18 2014 11 00 AM ESTSource Newsroom Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences more news from this source Contact Information Available for logged in reporters only Citations Nature ChemistryFeb 19 ... - Read More
As smartphones tablets and other gadgets become smaller and more sophisticated the heat they generate while in use increases This is a growing problem because it can cause the electronics inside the gadgets to fail ... - Read More
Photovoltaic energy conversion offers one of the best means for the future of renewable energy in the world The efficiency of solar cells depends heavily upon the light absorbing materials they use Photovoltaic systems based ... - Read More
Using the interaction between light and charge fluctuations in metal nanostuctures called plasmons physicist have demonstrated the capability of measuring temperature changes in very small 3 D regions of space Plasmons can be thought of ... - Read More
Tell us what you think of Chemistry 2011 -- we welcome both positive and negative comments. Have any problems using the site? Questions?
Chemistry2011 is an informational resource for students, educators and the self-taught in the field of chemistry. We offer resources such as course materials, chemistry department listings, activities, events, projects and more along with current news releases.
The history of the domain extends back to 2008 when it was selected to be used as the host domain for the International Year of Chemistry 2011 as designated by UNESCO and as an initiative of IUPAC that celebrated the achievements of chemistry. You can learn more about IYC2011 by clicking here. With IYC 2011 now over, the domain is currently under redevelopment by The Equipment Leasing Company Ltd.
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Ready to get involved? The first step is to sign up by following the link: Join Here. Also don’t forget to fill out your profile including any professional designations. | <urn:uuid:bf0c7b28-3222-4bc1-ab30-7d202003e1e2> | {
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Not all birds mate for life, but for those species that do, wildlife biologists have found a clear benefit to the birds from such long-term relationships: greater longevity and breeding success, according to a study led by University of Nevada, Reno scientists that was recently published in Behavioral Ecology.
The study's authors found that when female black brant (a small arctic goose) lose their mate, their chances for survival are greatly diminished. The study is the first to characterize health effects of mate loss to female geese, and its conclusions have implications for wildlife population management.
"Scientists now have evidence to demonstrate that in species that mate for life, harvesting of males can have the unintended consequence of reducing the survival prospects for their female mates, in some cases, 'killing two birds with one stone'," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The evidence says that only the very fittest and strongest of the females will survive the loss of her mate to breed again."
"In fluctuating waterfowl populations, as has occurred in black brant, female health is often the most sensitive factor that regulates populations," says David Ward, a research wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Alaska Science Center and co-author of the study.
In the study, led by Chris Nicolai and Jim Sedinger of the University of Nevada, Reno, the researchers followed over 2,000 known pairs of black brant to examine the effect on female survival and their subsequent reproduction after they lost their mate during regular sport-hunting seasons. The authors found that female brant survival declined about 16 percent after losing a mate. The authors also found evidence that only widowed females in better body condition were able to re-pair with a new male and again reproduce.
"Mate loss increases the vulnerability of females to harvest and natural mortality because females need protection by males during feeding, nesting, and migration. It may take an especially fit female to survive mate loss, re-pair with a new mate, and continue reproducing in the future," says Nicolai, now a migratory bird biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "In situations where goose populations are fluctuating, population management actions could focus on improving the maintenance of pair bonds and female health by informing harvest policy, management of natural mortality, and habitat improvements."
The study is part of a decades-long investigation into the Brant, initiated by ecologist and conservation biologist Sedinger, the lead scientist on the project. Knowledge gained from the studies is applied to the management of wetlands, waterfowl and other avian populations and to the training of students.
"Since 1984 we've had a rustic summer basecamp near a brant nesting area 500 miles west of Anchorage near Chevak, a small Eskimo village on the Bering Sea," Sedinger said. "The birds are also followed, using unique tagging codes, while they winter in Mexico."
- C. A. Nicolai, J. S. Sedinger, D. H. Ward, W. S. Boyd. Mate loss affects survival but not breeding in black brant geese. Behavioral Ecology, 2012; 23 (3): 643 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ars009
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Today is the last day of 2012, so it is only fitting to end the year looking forward to the future!
While I have been accused of being a historian, I consider myself a bit of a futurist. Since 2006, I have been blogging about the future of technology, including Cloud, Big Data, and the explosion of information. As a consultant for the IBM Executive Briefing Center, I present to clients IBM's future plans, strategies, and product roadmaps.
(Fellow blogger Mark Twomey on his Storagezilla blog has a humorous post titled [Stuff your Predictions], expressing his disdain for articles this time of year that predict what the next 12 months will bring. Don't worry, this is not one of those posts!)
What exactly is a futurist? Biologists study biology. Techologists study technology. But a person can't simply time-travel to the future, read the newspaper, make observations, take notes, and then go back in time to share his findings.
Here seem to be the key differences between Historians vs. Futurists:
|There is only one past.||There are many possible futures.|
|Only six percent of humanity are alive today, so historians must study history through the writings, tools, and remains of those that have passed on.||Futurists study the past and the present, looking for patterns and trends.|
|Search for insight.||Search for foresight.|
|Framework to explain what happened and why.||Framework to express what is possible, probable, and perhaps even preferable.|
A common framework for both is the concept of the various "Ages" that humanity has been through:
- Stone Age
Around 200,000 years ago, in the middle of what archaeologists refer to as the [Paleolithic Era], man walked upright and used tools made of stone to hunt and gather food. Humans were nomadic and travelled in tribes to follow the herds of animals as they migrated season to season. The History Channel had a great eight-hour series called [Mankind: The Story of All of Us] that started here, and worked all the way up to modern times.
- Agricultural Age
About 10,000 years ago, humans got tired of chasing after their meals, and settled down, growing their food instead. Grains like wheat, rice, and corn became staples of most diets around the world. Civilization evolved, and people traded what they grew or made in exchange for items they needed or wanted.
- Industrial Age
About 300 years ago, humans developed machines to help do things, and even to help build other machines. While farmers harnessed oxen to plow fields, and horses to speed up travel and communication, these were all based on muscle power.
Machines like the steam engine were powered by coal, petroleum, or natural gas. Today, one gallon of gasoline can do the work of 600 man-hours of human muscle power, or [move a ton of freight 400 miles].
Cities grew up with skyscrapers of steel, connected by trains, planes and automobiles. Communications with the telegraph, telephone, radio and television replaced sending message on horseback.
The forces that drove humanity to the Industrial age clashed with the culture and identity established during the Agricultural age. I highly recommend futurist Thomas Friedman's book [The Lexus and the Olive Tree] that covers these conflicts.
One of my favorite TV series was Connections, where historian [James Burke] pieced together a series of events that led to another, connecting things from the past to modern day. His latest book Circles : Fifty Roundtrips Through History, Technology, Science, Culture] looks to be an interesting read.
- Information Age
When exactly did the Information age begin? Did it start with Guttenberg's muscle-powered [Printing Press] in the year 1450, or the first punched card in 1725?
Futurist [Alvin Toffler] published his book The Third Wave in 1980. He coined the phrase "Third Wave" to describe the transition from the Industrial age to the Information age.
While IBM mainframes were processing information in the 1950's, many people associate the Information Age with the IBM Personal Computer (1981) or the World Wide Web (1991). Over 100 years ago, IBM started out in the Industrial age, with business machines like meat scales and cheese slicers. IBM led the charge into the Information Age, and continues that leadership today.
In any case, value went from atoms to bits. Computers and mobile devices transfer bits of data, information and ideas, from nearly anyplace on the planet to another, in seconds.
Ideas and content are now king, rather than land, buildings, machines and raw materials of the Industrial age. In 1975, less than 20 percent of a business assets were intangible. By 2005, over 80 percent is.
While the Industrial age was dominated by left-brain thinking, the Information Age requires the creativity of right-brain thinking. I highly recommend Daniel Pink's book, [A Whole New Mind] that covers this in detail.
"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed!" -- William Gibson (1993)
The problem with looking back through history as a series of "Ages" is that they really didn't start and end on specific days. The Agricultural age didn't end on a particular Sunday evening, with the Industrial age starting up the following Monday morning.
- There are still people on the planet today in the Stone age. On my last visit to Kenya, I met a nomadic tribe that still lives this way. Huts were temporarily constructed from sticks and mud, and abandoned when it was time to move on.
A short-sighted charity built a one-room school house for them, hoping to convince the tribe that staying in one place for education was more important than hunting and gathering food in a nomadic lifestyle. Some stayed and starved.
- There are still people on the planet today in the Agricultural age. Until this century, there were [fewer people living in cities and towns than rural areas].
In the United States, about 2 percent of Americans grow food for the rest of us, with enough left over to make ethanol and give food aid to other countries.
Sadly, the Standard American Diet continues to be foods mostly processed from wheat, rice and corn, even though our human genetic make-up has not yet evolved from a "Paleolithic" mix of [meats, nuts and berries].
- There are still people on the planet today in the Industrial age. American schools are still geared to teach children for Industrial age jobs, but still take "summer vacation" to work in the fields of the Agricultural age? Seth Godin's book [Stop Stealing Dreams] is a great read on what we should do about this.
Even though we have been in the Information age for several decades now, not everyone is there yet. In my lifetime, the human population has doubled to 7 billion, but [only 2.4 billion are connected to the Internet in 2012].
Every company that wants to stay in business needs to make some predictions about the future. IBM has made bold predictions that led to the [Globally Integrated Enterprise] and building a [smarter planet]. IBM's latest "Five in Five" (five predictions of things that will impact us over the next five years) explains how [Computers will enhance our five senses of touch, taste, sight, hearing and even smell]!
As a member of [Generation X], I have seen the Information age from its early beginnings, and am excited for what lies ahead in the next three decades! Happy New Year, everyone!
technorati tags: IBM, historian, futurist, The Paleo diet, Information age, smarter planet, Globally integrated enterprise, Personal computer, The Long Tail, Cognitive Surplus, James Burke, Alvin Toffler, Clay Shirky, Chris Anderson, Daniel Pink, Generation X | <urn:uuid:ed065442-7ead-4996-bff9-921c28e7ea68> | {
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Nov. 7, 2013
Brandon Turbeville for Activist Post
Throughout history, versions of the false flag attack have been used successfully by governments in order to direct the force of the people toward whatever end the ruling class may be seeking. At times, that end may be war, or it may be the curtailing of domestic civil liberties and basic human rights. In others, it is an economic agenda.
Indeed, false flags are themselves capable of taking on a wide variety of forms – domestic or foreign, small or large, economic or political, and many other designations that can often blur into one another. Each may serve a specific purpose and each may be adjusted and tailored for that specific purpose as societal conditions require.
For instance, the chemical weapons attack which took place inside Syria in August, 2013 serve as an example of a foreign false flag designed to whip up American fervor for war, on the platform of Responsibility to Protect similar to the Gulf of Tonkin.
Domestically speaking, a large-scale false flag such as 9/11, can be used to whip up both a massive public support for war and a popular willingness to surrender civil liberties, constitutional procedure, and constitutional/human rights. Economic false flags may take the form of manufactured “government shutdowns” or “government defaults” designed to create a demand for austerity or other pro-Wall Street solutions. Lastly, smaller-scale domestic false flags such as Sandy Hook or Aurora, often involve the implementation of gun-control measures or a greater police state.
There are, of course, many different versions of false flag attacks and none fit into a tightly crafted classification beyond the generalized term “false flag.” As stated above, some false flags may indeed embrace an element of each of the different versions listed previously both in terms of methodology and purpose. | <urn:uuid:83716a90-fa44-47ef-9781-5475f292981d> | {
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The note about flattening/unflattening is important because it indicates that the LabVIEW Type Cast does not always reinterpret data in-place. Depending on the type of data, it may copy data to a temporary buffer as a string, then convert that string to the new desired data type. This copying can be a substantial amount of time for a large array, particularly on a resource-limited device like a RIO (I've run into this, sadly, in trying to take a string received over TCP and push it to a FPGA through a DMA FIFO as an array of U32 or U64).
Well, that depends on which well you're referring to, and how well that well perform its water gathering function.
(case in point)
Actually flatten and unflatten are specifically inspired by the actual operation these functions do for non trivial and non scalar data.
And array of strings is in fact a memory area with one pointer for each string that points to another memory area somewhere to store the string contents. So the data structure is highly unflattended in memory with various memory areas all over the place containing the information that make up the data.
Flatten takes all these memory areas and copies them into a single contiguous memory block in the logical order of the data. Unflatten does accordingly the opposite by interpreting the data in a single memory block according to a datatype definition and reconstructing the data in memory as the original non-contigouos collection of data.
And yes for anything but scalars, clusters only containing scalars or simple arrays of scalars, flatten and unflatten can simply not operate in place, since the source and destination are then always in a highly incompatible memory layout. | <urn:uuid:5c77867e-29ae-41eb-8e24-c785e7798541> | {
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When it comes to toileting habits, the topic is not exactly a favorite among Americans – at least for those above the age of four. Mention poop and you can easily clear a room – or at the least, generate some unusual facial expressions, nervous laughter, and wisecracks about "too much information."
But your bodily emissions are an important health topic that deserves serious attention, regardless of the "ick factor." In fact, if you ignore what you deposit in your toilet, you could be flushing your health down the drain!
Did you know the average person generates about five TONS of stool in his or her lifetime? Turns out, there is much to be learned from this mountain of poop.
The shape, size, color, and other fecal features can tell you a great deal about your overall health, how your gastrointestinal tract is functioning, and even give you clues about serious disease processes that could be occurring, like infections, digestive problems, and even cancer. Poop comes in just about all the colors of the rainbow... and please forgive me for using the words poop andrainbow in the same sentence.
Although there is a certainly a wide variety of stool colors, textures and forms that are considered "normal," there are definitely things that, if seen or experienced, warrant immediate medical attention. With this in mind, the overview that follows covers what you need to know about what's normal and not normal in the bathroom department.
What is Normal Stool?
Your stool is about 75 percent water. The rest is a fetid combination of fiber, live and dead bacteria, miscellaneous cells and mucus. 1, 2 The characteristics of your stool will tell you a good deal about how happy and healthy your digestive tract is – the color, odor, shape, size, and even the sound it makes when it hits the water and whether it's a "sinker" or a "floater" are all relevant information.
The Bristol Stool Chart is a handy tool that may help you learn what you're going for. Ideally, your stool should approximate Types 3, 4 and 5, "like a sausage or a snake, smooth and soft" to "soft blobs that pass easily." Type 4 is the Holy Grail.3
Fiber tends to bulk up your stool and acts like glue to keep the stool stuck together, instead of in pieces. If your stool is on the softer side, short of diarrhea ("soft serve," as some call it), it could be related to lactose intolerance, artificial sweeteners (sorbitol and Splenda), or a reaction to fructose or gluten.
Look, Listen and Smell Before You Flush
What's normal and what's not when you look into the toilet? The following table will help you narrow down what to look for, so that you aren't needlessly alarmed. Of course, there are a few signs that ARE cause for concern, and those are listed too. If you have a change in stools accompanied by abdominal pain, please report this to your physician.4
|Medium to light brown||Stool that is hard to pass, painful, or requires straining|
|Smooth and soft, formed into one long shape and not a bunch of pieces||Hard lumps and pieces, or mushy and watery, or even pasty and difficult to clean off|
|About one to two inches in diameter and up to 18 inches long||Narrow, pencil-like or ribbon-like stools: can indicate a bowel obstruction or tumor – or worst case, colon cancer; narrow stools on an infrequent basis are not so concerning, but if they persist, definitely warrant a call to your physician5|
|S-shaped, which comes from the shape of your lower intestine6||Black, tarry stools or bright red stools may indicate bleeding in the GI tract; black stools can also come from certain medications, supplements or consuming black licorice; if you have black, tarry stools, it's best to be evaluated by your healthcare provider|
|Quiet and gentle dive into the water...it should fall into the bowl with the slightest little "whoosh" sound – not a loud, wet cannonball splash that leaves your toosh in need of a shower||White, pale or gray stools may indicate a lack of bile, which may suggest a serious problem (hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatic disorders, or possibly a blocked bile duct), so this warrants a call to your physician; antacids may also produce white stool|
|Natural smell, not repulsive (I'm not saying it will smell good)||Yellow stools may indicate giardia infection, a gallbladder problem, or a condition known as Gilbert's syndrome – if you see this, call your doctor|
|Uniform texture||Presence of undigested food (more of a concern if accompanied by diarrhea, weight loss, or other changes in bowel habits)|
|Sinks slowly||Floaters or splashers|
Does Your Stool Have a Really Bad Odor?
If your stool has an extraordinarily bad odor, it should not be ignored. I am referring to an odor above and beyond the normally objectionable stool odor. Stinky stool can be associated with a number of health problems, such as:7
- A malabsorptive disorder
- Celiac disease
- Crohn's disease
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease caused by a defective gene that causes your body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus, which builds up and causes life-threatening lung infections and serious digestive problems. Most cases of CF are diagnosed before the age of 2, so this is more of a concern with infants and toddlers.
Speaking of malodorous things, what about gas? Passing gas (flatulence) is normal. Not only is it normal, it's a good sign that trillions of hard working gut bacteria are doing their jobs. People pass gas an average 14 times per day – anywhere from one to four pints of it!8 Ninety nine percent of gas is odorless, so you may even be unaware you're passing it. Think about it – were it not for an exit, we'd all blow up like balloons!
How Often Should You Move Your Bowels?
Normal bowel habits vary. When we talk about regularity, what we're really talking about is what's regular for you. Three bowel movements per day to three per week is considered the normal range.
What's more important than frequency is the ease with which you move your bowels. If you need to push or strain, something is off – moving your bowels should take no more effort than urinating or passing gas. The thing to watch for is a sudden change in your bowel habits. Many factors can affect regularity, such as diet, travel, medications, hormonal fluctuations, sleep patterns, exercise, illness, surgery, childbirth, stress and a whole host of other things.9
Constipation and Diarrhea
The average body takes between 18 and 72 hours to convert food into poop and pass it on out. When this time is significantly shortened, the result is diarrhea because your intestine doesn't have time to absorb all of the water. Conversely, when transit time is lengthened, you may end up constipated because too much water has been absorbed, resulting in hard, dry stools.
Constipation is defined as passing hard, dry stools that you have to strain to move, and it's typically accompanied by decreased frequency of defecation. Straining is not normal, nor are experiencing feelings of incomplete elimination, bloating, crampiness, or sluggishness after going number two. If you're over the age of 65, your risk of becoming constipated increases significantly.
Chronic, untreated constipation can lead to fecal impaction,10 which can be a serious medical condition. Laxatives should be avoided at all cost and used only as a last resort. If you absolutely must use a laxative, make sure it is used for only a very short period of time.
Everyone knows green smoothies are healthy, right? However…
Have you heard of a “red” smoothie? If not, check out this true story…
How to Score a Home Run with Your Bowel Movements
Most gastrointestinal problems can be prevented or resolved by making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. If you aren't achieving poo perfection, or if you don't feel right, then look at the following factors and consider making a few changes. These strategies will help reverse constipation or diarrhea, in addition to helping prevent recurrences.
- Remove all sources of gluten from your diet (the most common sources are wheat, barley, rye, spelt and other grains)
- Eat a diet that includes whole foods, rich in fresh, organic vegetables and fruits that provide good nutrients and fiber; most of your fiber should come from vegetables, not from grains
- Avoid artificial sweeteners, excess sugar (especially fructose), chemical additives, MSG, excessive amounts of caffeine, and processed foods as they are all detrimental to your gastrointestinal (and immune) function
- Boost your intestinal flora by adding naturally fermented foods into your diet, such as sauerkraut, pickles, and kefir (if you tolerate dairy); add a probiotic supplement if you suspect you're not getting enough beneficial bacteria from your diet alone
- Try increasing your fiber intake; good options include psyllium and freshly ground organic flax seed (shoot for 35 grams of fiber per day)
- Make sure you stay well hydrated with fresh, pure water
- Get plenty of exercise daily
- Avoid pharmaceutical drugs, such as pain killers like codeine or hydrocodone which will slow your bowel function, Antidepressants, and antibiotics can cause a variety of GI disruptions
- Address emotional challenges with tools like EFT
- Consider squatting instead of sitting to move your bowels; squatting straightens your rectum, relaxes your puborectalis muscle and encourages the complete emptying of your bowel without straining, and has been scientifically shown to relieve constipation and hemorrhoids.
Editors note: Click here to Find a Local Farmer
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Do You Know Your Body’s Most Important Weight Loss Secret?
By J. Davis III
Tags: HEALING | HEALTHY FATS | REMEDIES
Recently, Doctor of Naturopathy, weight-loss expert and best-selling Amazon author Liz Swann Miller, creator of the Red Smoothie Detox Factor, revealed 2 of the secrets to easy, steady weight loss. Secrets the big food corporations do their best to hide from us.
Secret #1: Enjoy real food. Don’t fall for the lie that you have to deprive yourself to lose weight.
Secret #2: stop eating out. You will automatically eat less without even noticing.
Then start detoxing your body with tasty, nourishing smoothies that are just as easy on your wallet as they are easy to make.
Because a single day of enjoying Liz’ smoothies demonstrated the radical power of her superfood-packed red smoothies to make me feel incredibly good.
Now prepare yourself for one of the biggest weight loss secrets there is. A secret that, when you use it properly, can transform your body and your health.
You probably know most of us eat too much processed food. What you may not know is that it’s full of toxic chemicals and substandard, dirt-cheap ingredients designed to make you eat more…and force you to gain weight.
Here’s how it works...
“That stuff is just a lot of calories your body can’t use,” Liz told me, “Some are poison. And all these foods are stripped of the anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories that help your body detox. The result? Your body expends huge amounts of calories to eliminate some toxins—the rest, it stores in your fat to protect you. This is why most people are hungry all the time. They’re not getting energy they need.”
“So… what’s going on with me? Why am I losing weight but not going hungry?”
Liz paused, then dropped the bombshell.
Your body is designed to burn fat. You just have to let it.
“What? I thought we were designed to store fat?!?” We were Skyping and I was practically shouting. Then I heard Liz say…
What good is a fat reserve if you can’t burn it?
Liz continued: “You’re drinking smoothies packed with phytonutrients, anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories that pull toxins out of you like a tractor beam. Allowing your body to burn those toxin-filled fat stores… and releasing tremendous amounts of stored energy.”
So that’s why I’m losing weight without going hungry.
Watch Liz’ free presentation. It’s packed with revolutionary weight loss information—information that works. Because it’s based on how nature works.
Click the button below only if you want to wear smaller clothes, breathe easier, move more freely and just plain feel better.
Because when you click here to watch Liz’ life-changing presentation, you’ll learn
- Which calories help you lose weight…and which ones help you gain it…
- The “diet” foods…some of them vegetables…that lead to weight gain and diabetes…
- The “low-fat” foods that can dramatically increase your risk of cancer.
- And the superfoods that rescue your body from this assault by detoxing you…
Revitalizing your metabolism so you can
Shed pounds as well as toxins, renew your body and reset your internal clock by up to 7 years.
Because until now, the Red Smoothie Detox Factor has been available only to Liz’ private clients. But now that she’s perfected it to work for almost everyone, almost every time, Liz is sharing it with rest of us so we can feel better and look better.
Get Red Smoothie Detox Factor before the price goes back up.
Because Liz offers a ridiculously good guarantee. You have 60 days to decide you love the Red Smoothie Detox Factor. If you don’t love it—for any reason, or even no reason at all —Liz will refund your money. 100%. No questions asked.
Natural Diabetes Treatment Works Better Than Prescription Drugs *PROOF*
By Richard Neal
Tags: HEALING | REMEDIES | PREVENTION
According the latest statistics, diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes in the United States is reaching epidemic levels:
Total: 29.1 million people or 9.3% of the population have diabetes.
Diagnosed: 21.0 million people.
Undiagnosed: 8.1 million people (27.8% of people with diabetes are undiagnosed).
Source: CDC Website
Drugs Treat Symptoms, Not Disease
Pharmaceutical companies have been trying to shut these doctors down simply for revealing the truth about diabetes.
Scientific studies have proven that type 2 diabetes can be reversed naturally - but this information has been hidden and suppressed for decades.
Diabetics can normalize blood sugar, and be taken off all medication and insulin injections completely naturally.
Doctors at the International Council for Truth in Medicine are revealing the truth about diabetes in a shocking new online presentation.
In 3 Weeks, 71% Type 2 Diabetics Were Taken off ALL Medication
96% of patients were able to stop all insulin injections and 81% achieved complete relief of painful neuropathy.
Groundbreaking research published by the University of Kentucky, University of California and Newscastle University prove that type 2 diabetes CAN be reversed.
Blood sugar normalizes... neuropathy pain goes away...
Doctors at the International Council for Truth in Medicine have perfected these techniques and helped tens of thousands of their patients end the need for medication and insulin injections 100% naturally.
You don't have to suffer anymore, Learn the truth about your diabetes and stop this disease dead in its tracks right now.
Groundbreaking New Research
Doctors at the International Council for Truth in Medicine are revealing the truth about diabetes that has been suppressed for over 21 years.
Last year they helped over 17,542 type 2 diabetics end the need for prescription drugs, insulin injections and blood sugar monitoring.
This year they're on track to help over 30,000.
In just a few weeks, 96% of their patients are able to stop ALL diabetes medication and insulin injections.
No more neuropathy pain, pricking your finger, or the need for expensive medication.
Learn about this groundbreaking new research here:
#1 muscle that eliminates joint and back pain, anxiety and looking fat
By J. Davis III
Tags: HEALING | PREVENTION
I bet you can’t guess which muscle in your body is the #1 muscle that eliminates joint and back pain, anxiety and looking fat.
This “hidden survival muscle” in your body will boost your energy levels, immune system, sexual function, strength and athletic performance when unlocked.
If this “hidden” most powerful primal muscle is healthy, we are healthy.
d) Hip Flexors
Take the quiz above and see if you got the correct answer!
P.S. Make sure you check out the next page to get to know the 10 simple moves that will bring vitality back into your life!
==> Click here to discover which “hidden survival muscle” will help you boost your energy levels, immune system, sexual function, strength and athletic performance permanently!
More Health Resources:
- "Red" Smoothie Helps Alabama Girl Shed 80lbs!
- Thе Fastest Wау Tо Lose Weight In 4 Weeks
- #1 muscle that eliminates joint and back pain, anxiety and looking fat
- Your Birth Date + Name - Free Report
- The "Instant Switch" Law Of Attraction
- The 3 reasons you should NEVER eat wheat -- Yes, even "whole wheat"
- [PROOF] Reverse Diabetes with a “Pancreas Jumpstart”
- Why Some People LOOK Fat that Aren't
- Diabetes Destroyer System
- His wife REFUSED to let them amputate his legs!
- Unlock Your Hip Flexors
- Doctors Reversed Diabetes in Three Weeks | <urn:uuid:4db9a9d6-f0b4-4749-bdf8-bc0a238c427c> | {
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This page uses content from Wikipedia and is licensed under CC BY-SA.
China's vast and diverse landscape is home to a profound variety and abundance of wildlife. As of one of 17 megadiverse countries in the world, China has, according to one measure, some 7,516 species of vertebrates including 4,936 fish, 1,269 bird, 562 mammal, 403 reptile and 346 amphibian species. In terms of the number of species, China ranks third in the world in mammals, eighth in birds, seventh in reptiles and seventh in amphibians. In each category, China is the most biodiverse country outside of the tropics.
Many species of animals are endemic to China, including the country's most famous wildlife species, the giant panda. In all, about one-sixth of mammal species and two-thirds of amphibian species in China are endemic to the country.
Wildlife in China share habitat with and bear acute pressure from the world's largest population of humans. At least 840 animal species are threatened, vulnerable or in danger of local extinction in China, due mainly to human activity such as habitat destruction, pollution and poaching for food, fur and ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine. Endangered wildlife is protected by law, and as of 2005, the country has over 2,349 nature reserves, covering a total area of 149.95 million hectares (578,960 square miles), about 15 percent of China's total land area.
In addition to the world's largest population of Homo sapiens, China is also home to a dozen other primate species including gibbons, macaques, leaf monkeys, gray langurs, snub-nosed monkeys and lorises. Unlike human beings, who number over 1.3 billion, most of China's other primate species are endangered. Both apes and monkeys, particularly gibbons and macaques are prominently featured in Chinese culture, folk religion, art and literature. Monkey is one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.
Apart from humans, the only other apes native to China are the gibbons. Gibbons are tree-dwellers, using their long arms to swing from branches. Gibbons can be recognized by their loud calls, with mating pairs often singing together as a duet.
The Hainan black crested gibbon is among the rarest and most endangered apes. Endemic to the island of Hainan, there are fewer than 20 individuals left in the Bawangling National Nature Reserve. Like many other gibbons, male Hainan black crested gibbons are black in color while females are golden brown. The eastern black crested gibbon is nearly as rare with only 20 or so in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region along with 30 in neighboring Vietnam. About 99% of this ape's habitat in China has been lost.
The black crested gibbon is found across a greater swath of southwestern China. The Yunnan lar gibbon, a subspecies of the lar or white-handed gibbon, might be extinct in China. The animal was last observed by zoologists in 1988 and its call was last heard by locals in 2002. A survey in November 2007 in the Nangunhe National Nature Reserve yielded no sign of this gibbon.
The northern white-cheeked gibbon is nearly extinct in the wilderness of southern Yunnan where they are hunted by local people as charms of good luck and for their bones which are made into weaving instrument and chopsticks. As of 2008, a captive population of eight northern white-cheeked gibbons was living in the Mengyang Nature Reserve. Two of the individuals were released into the wild but still relied on tourists for food. The eastern hoolock gibbon, which are distinguished by white tufts of hair above the eyebrows, are found in western Yunnan, along the border with Myanmar. The western hoolock gibbon might be found in southeastern Tibet. All gibbons in China are Class I protected species.
The most commonly found monkeys in China are macaques, which have oversized cheeks to store food and live in large troops. The range of the rhesus or common macaque extends from as far north as the Taihang Mountains of Shanxi and down to Hainan. Tibetan macaques are often seen at tourist sites such as Mount Emei and Huangshan. Stump-tailed macaques have distinct red faces and live throughout southern China. The Formosan rock macaque is endemic to Taiwan. Assam macaques are found in higher elevation areas of southern Tibet and the Southwest, and the northern pig-tailed macaque in Yunnan.
Macaques are Class I protected species in China but their numbers have fallen sharply. Monkey brain is a delicacy in parts of Guangxi and Guangdong, and macaques are often hunted for food. The Monpa and Lhoba people of southern Tibet eat Assam macaques. From 1998 to 2004, the number of rhesus macaques in China fell from 254,000 to about 77,000. Over the same period, the Tibetan macaque population fell by 83% from about 100,000 to only about 17,000.
Snub-nosed monkeys are so named because they have only nostrils and virtually no nose. Four of the five species in the world are found in China, including three that are endemic. All live in mountainous forests at elevations of 1,500–3,400 m above sea level. The golden snub-nosed monkey is most famous and most widely distributed, with subspecies in Sichuan, Hubei and Shaanxi. The gray snub-nosed monkey is the most endangered, with about 700 individuals, found only in Guizhou. The black snub-nosed monkey has about 1,700 individuals living in 17 identified groups in Yunnan and eastern Tibet. A small population of Myanmar snub-nosed monkey was found in western Yunnan in 2011.
Other Old World monkeys in China include the François' langur, white-headed langur, Phayre's leaf monkey, capped langur and Shortridge's langur, which are collectively categorized as lutungs and the Nepal gray langur, which is considered a true langur. All of these species are endangered. Lutungs, also called leaf monkeys, have relatively short arms, longer legs and long tails along with a hood of hair above their eyes.
François' langur is found only in southwest China and northern Vietnam. The range of the white-headed langur is much smaller—only in southern Guangxi and Cát Bà Island in Vietnam. Phayre's leaf monkey is native to Yunnan and a larger swath of Indochina. The capped and Shortridge's langurs live along the Yunnan-Myanmar border. The Nepal gray langur is larger than the lutungs and found in southern Tibet.
Whereas apes and monkeys are grouped as haplorhine or "dry nose" primates, lorises are strepsirrhine or "wet nose" primates. Lorises have big eyes, tiny ears, live in trees and are active at night. The pygmy slow loris and Bengal slow loris are both found in southern Yunnan and Guangxi and are Class I protected species.
The tiger is one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and figures prominently in Chinese culture and history. Tiger bones are used in traditional Chinese medicine and tiger fur is used for decoration. The animal is vulnerable to poaching and habitat loss. Four tiger subspecies are native to China. All are critically endangered, protected and live in nature reserves.
The Siberian tiger occurs in the Northeast, along the border with Russia and North Korea. The South China tiger is an endemic subspecies whose habitat is now confined to the mountain regions of Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong and Fujian. A few Indochinese tiger are known to live in Yunnan where six nature reserves have been established for their protection. As of 2001, a small population of 8–12 Bengal tigers were found in the Mêdog Nature Reserve, southern Tibet. The Caspian tiger was last seen in the Manasi River Basin of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the 1960s, and is now extinct.
The leopard is more widely spread across China, but confined to fragmented areas. The North China leopard, a subspecies considered threatened and protected by the state, is even found in the mountains around Beijing. The Amur leopard is found in the Jilin along the border with Russia and North Korea and the Indochinese leopard in southern China. The range of the snow leopard extends across the Himalayas, Tibetan Plateau, Karakorum Mountains, and Tian Shan in western China. The clouded leopard, the smallest of the big cats, is found in forest regions across the southern half of the country below the Qinling Mountains. It became locally extinct in Taiwan in 1972.
Smaller cats in China include the Asian golden cat, Chinese mountain cat, jungle cat, wildcat, Pallas's cat, marbled cat, leopard cat, fishing cat, and Eurasian lynx. Of these, the Chinese mountain cat is endemic to Sichuan, Qinghai, Ningxia and Shaanxi. Several smaller cat species including the leopard cat and lynx are hunted or trapped for their fur. The Asian golden cat is hunted for its bones, which are used as a substitute for tiger and leopard bones in traditional Chinese medicine.
Every cat species except the leopard cat and marbled cat is protected by the state.
The canidae family has several members in China including the gray wolf, dhole, red fox, corsac fox, Tibetan sand fox and raccoon dog. The gray wolf, the largest of the canids, has two subspecies in China—the Eurasian wolf, which is found across Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang in the northern fringe of the country, and the Tibetan wolf, which lives on the Tibetan Plateau. Some of the earliest dogs may have been domesticated in East Asia, and several Chinese dog breeds including the shar-pei and chow chow are among the most ancient in terms of DNA similarity to the gray wolf.
The dhole is closely related to jackals and coyotes and found throughout China. The red fox, the largest fox species, can be found in every part of China except the northwest. The corsac fox is found in northeastern China and the Tibetan sand fox in Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan. The raccoon dog, one of the few canids that can climb trees, is native to eastern and northeastern China.
Foxes (including the non-native Arctic fox) and raccoon dogs are farmed for their fur. As many as 1.5 million foxes and about the same number of raccoon dogs were raised on Chinese farms in 2004.
The giant panda, perhaps China's most famous wildlife species, lives in six patches of highland valleys of the Min, Qionglai, Liang, Daxiangling, Xiaoxiangling and Qinling Mountains of the upper Yangtze River basin, which are spread over 45 counties in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi. Only about 1,600 live in the wild (80% in Sichuan) along with about 300 in captivity in Chinese breeding centers and zoos. The animal is rare and elusive. Though classified as a carnivore, the giant panda's diet is over 90% bamboo. Its black and white coloration provides a degree camouflage in the dense forests, but the adult animal has no natural predators. Giant pandas are notoriously difficult to breed; they have short mating periods, and give birth to only one or two cubs per year. The giant panda cub is the smallest baby, compared in proportion to the parents, of any placental mammal. The giant panda is considered to be a national treasure and is an endangered species protected by state law. Since the 1970s, giant pandas have been given or lent to foreign zoos as gesture of diplomatic goodwill.
Other more common bears in China include the Asiatic black bear and the brown bear which are found across much of the country. Sub-species of the brown bear include the Himalayan brown bear and the Tibetan blue bear in Tibet, and the Ussuri brown bear in Heilongjiang. The sun bear is found in Yunnan. Bears, especially black bears, are also raised in captivity to harvest their bile for use in traditional Chinese medicine.
The red panda, which unlike the giant panda is not a bear but a relative of the raccoon and weasel families, is found in Sichuan and Yunnan.
The civet family of small furry mammals that feed on fruits, insects and rodents has numerous members throughout southern China.
The masked palm civet is considered a delicacy and is hunted and farm raised. In 2003, the coronavirus that caused the SARS epidemic was traced to masked palm civets. Several larger civets such as the large-spotted civet, Malayan civet and large Indian civet are also hunted and trapped for their meat. The small Indian civet is trapped and farm raised to harvest musk, which is used to make perfume and traditional Chinese medicine. Other civets species include the Asian palm civet, small-toothed palm civet, and Owston's palm civet.
Also in the civet family are the spotted linsang and binturong, which is also known as the bearcat. The binturong, which are common in Southeast Asia, is also found in southern Yunnan. The spotted linsang's range extends from Tibet to Guangdong. These two species, along with the large and small Indian civets, are Class II protected species.
Mongoose belong to a family closely related to civets. In China, they are considered beneficial animals because they eat rodents and snakes, which are considered to be pests. Mongoose have immunity from snake venom. Both the small Asian mongoose and crab-eating mongoose are found in southern China, Hainan and Taiwan.
The largest family of carnivorous mammals belongs to the otters, badgers, weasels, martens, and wolverines, all of which are found in China. All of these mustelids are short, furry animals with short, rounded ears and thick fur, but they differ markedly in size, habit and habitat.
The sable, a species of marten, is prized for its fine fur, which along with ginseng and deer antler velvet, are known as the "three treasures of Manchuria." The sable is found in Manchuria (also called the Northeast) and Altai region of northern Xinjiang. The beech marten of western China and yellow-throated marten of southern China are closely related to the sable.
The Siberian weasel, known locally as the "yellow rat wolf," is the most common weasel in China. It is found throughout China Proper and Manchuria, and known to steal poultry from farmers but helps to control the rodent population. Hair from the tail of the Siberian weasel is used to make ink brush for traditional Chinese calligraphy. Other weasel species include the least weasel and stoat in the north, yellow-bellied weasel and back-striped weasel in the south, and mountain weasel in the west. The steppe polecat is bigger than the Siberian weasel and found across northern China.
In Chinese, the wolverine is called "sable bear" because it is bigger than a sable and smaller than a bear and resembles both animals. The animal lives in caves and dens, which they do not dig but take from other animals such as bears, foxes and Bobak marmots. Wolverines are fierce creatures that will fight bears and wolves for food. They are found in the Greater Khingan range of Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia and the Altai Mountains of northern Xinjiang, and number only about 200.
The European otter is found throughout much of Eurasia and China. It is nearly extinct on Taiwan though some have been found on the island of Kinmen, off the coast of Fujian. The Oriental small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species and lives in mangrove and freshwater swamps of southern China and Taiwan. The smooth-coated otter is confined to parts of Yunnan and Guangdong.
Like sable and martens, otter fur is also used make clothing. Sables and wolverines are Class I protected species. Martens and otters are Class II protected species.
Badgers have distinctive white stripes on their faces with one long stripe that extends from nose to tail. The Asian badger is found throughout China Proper and the eastern Himalayas. The hog badger has a pig-like snout and has a slightly smaller range than the Asian badger. Ferret-badgers are the smallest badgers and two species live in China. The Chinese ferret-badger is found across much of southern China south of the Yangtze River and the Burmese ferret-badger along Yunnan's border with Laos and Vietnam.
Pinnipeds are also classified as carnivores and are divided between earless or true seals and eared seals. True seals do not have ears and cannot get their hind flippers underneath their bodies to crawl. Eared seals, which include sea lions, in contrast, have protruding ears and can "walk" with all four limbs on land.
True seals in China include the bearded seal which is found along the coast of Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong in the East and South China Sea, the ringed seal in the Yellow Sea, and spotted seal, which is primarily found in the Bohai Gulf and the northern Yellow Sea, but have been seen as far south as Guangdong. All seals are Class II protected animal. Sea lions have Class I protection.
The spotted seal is the only seal species that breeds in China. Its breeding grounds are found along the rim of Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Gulf, including the estuary at the mouth of the Shuangtaizi River near Panjin and Changxing Island near Dalian, and Baengnyeongdo sanctuary in Korean EEZ. These seals have been poached for its fur and genitals, which were utilized to make an aphrodisiac. Their habitats have also been heavily damaged by land reclamation, fish farming, and petroleum development. A South Korean NGO has been trying to increase public awareness and support for the protection of the seals in China, North Korea and South Korea. Protection stations have been set up to monitor the breeding grounds and wildlife protection authorities compensate fisherman who turn in live seals caught in their nets. In April 2011, the construction of an express highway along the coast was halted due to its adverse impact on the seal breeding ground. Satellite trackings revealed that not only within Yellow Sea, but also seals can migrate even between Primorsky Krai in Russia to Yellow Sea, exceeding 3,300 km in total. Recoveries and recolonizations have been observed recently, such as along Shandongin 1999, and Miaodao Islands in Bohai Bay since 2000s.
The northern fur seal, an eared seal, occasionally appears off the coast of eastern and southern China and southern Taiwan. The largest of the eared seals is the Steller sea lion, who lives primarily in the Arctic but is also seen along the Yellow Sea coast in Jiangsu and Bohai Gulf in Liaoning. Among Yellow sea – adjacent areas within Korean EEZ, occurrence can be on locations such as at Jeju Island.
The Japanese sea lion, which became extinct in 1974, once inhabited the Yellow Sea and Bohai Gulf. These sea lions were once considered to be a subspecies of the California sea lion until 2003 when taxonomists reclassified them as a distinct species. South Korea has proposed a joint effort with North Korea, Russia and China to reintroduce California sea lions to the waters of Northeast Asia.
China has cetacean species that live in both freshwater and the sea. The nearly extinct baiji dolphin and Chinese white dolphin are Class I protected species. All other cetaceans in China are Class II protected species.
In total, 22 species of smaller cetaceans inhabit within Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong's, and Macau's waters including Baiji. Although being not officially recognized, the presence of Irrawaddy dolphins have been questioned.
In ancient China, inscriptions of the whales varied and inscriptions of whales and sharks were occasionally mixed. During the Qing Dynasty, certain knowledge on whales had been deepened with the establishment of whaling industries in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan although both oceanic and freshwater dolphins had been classified as different animals from whales. It is said that climate change during the dynasty caused small fish to flourish within Yellow and Bohai Seas and drew large numbers of whales into the basins.
The Republic of China was one of the early signatories of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. The People's Republic of China signed convention in September 1980 and banned domestic whaling in 1981, and also signed in the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.
Until recently, observing live cetaceans nonetheless of any species including minke whales and smaller dolphins and porpoises are very rare in Bohai and Yellow Seas within Chinese side, however, increases in confirmation of minke whales and other species have been confirmed in larger part of Yellow Sea basin especially around Changhai County due to improves in water quality and productivity achieved by fishery regulations and creating ocean farms on Zhangzi Island, and local industries have been considered to operate whale watching tours as a future prospect. Modern distributions of cetaceans both on continent and oceanic islands including Taiwan are largely biased on toothed whales due to severe declines of baleen whales.
The baiji dolphin's habit historically covered much of the Yangtze River and its tributaries and lakes, from Yichang to Shanghai. It is mentioned in historical records going back 2,000 years. According to legend, the baiji dolphin is the reincarnation of a princess and called the "Goddess of the Yangtze." As recently as the 1950s, there were as many as 6,000 baiji dolphins in China, but their number fell to the hundreds by the 1980s, under 100 in the 1990s and fewer than a dozen since 2000.
The Yangtze River catchment area is one of the most densely populated areas in China and the world. The river, China's longest, is also a major highway for ships. Water and noise pollution, commercial fishing, and large propellers of ships are all major threats to the baiji. The building of the Gezhouba Dam in the 1970s and the Three Gorges Dam in the 1990s blocked the access of the dolphins upstream, altered the seasonal flow of the river, and enabled large oceangoing ships to sail on the river.
By 1997, a survey of the river found only 13 baiji. A Sino-Swiss joint survey of the river from Yichang to Shanghai in 2006 found no animals and declared the species to be functionally extinct, that is, even if a few individuals continued to survive, their numbers are too few to reproduce. The last sighting confirmed by zoologist was in 2004 when a dead baiji dolphin washed ashore near Nanjing.
Nature reserves to protect the baiji dolphin were established along the Yangtze in Hunan, Hubei and Anhui province, along with observation and captive centers. The longest living baiji dolphin in captivity, Qiqi, lived in a dolphinarium in Wuhan from 1980 to 2002. The Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow Nature Reserve, created out of an oxbow bend in the Yangtze was designed as a captive breeding area for the baiji. One baiji was sent there in 1995 but died in 1996. The reserve is now a breeding ground for the finless porpoise.
At least two subspecies of finless porpoise are known to inhabit coastal waters such as off Dalian Nanjing,Nanji Islands Marine Sanctuary, Jiushan Chain IslandsWeizhou Island, and at Matsu Islands. A freshwater subspecies lives in the Yangtze, Gan and Xiang Rivers. Unlike dolphins, they lack a dorsal fin. The freshwater porpoise faces the same threat as the baiji. In April 2012, twelve were found dead in Dongting Lake in a span of 44 days. Construction of the Poyang Lake Dam may cause severe damages on remaining population.
As of 2012, the Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow Nature Reserve had about 40 finless porpoises with another 85 in Dongting Lake and 300–400 in Poyang Lake. The freshwater finless porpoise, a Class II protected species, is rarer than the giant panda. They are also well present in Gulf of Tonkin.
In recent years, small concentrations have been confirmed at the estuaries on the mouth of Yellow River in Lijin County. Stable numbers of porpoises, two subspecies being involved, have been found recently along Chongming Island where the local waters show drastic recovery thanks to efforts to improve water quality.
Sousa, the Chinese white dolphin (locally called the Matsu's fish) that was previously considered to be a subspecies of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, lives in the waters off southern China including Wanshan Archipelago, Nanji Islands, the Pearl River Delta, and Hong Kong, Gulf of Tonkin Hainan Island such as around Sanya Bay, Leizhou Peninsula, Paracel Islands, and on Penghu Islands to along western coasts of Taiwan, mainland coasts along Formosa Strait such as at Xiamen and Xiapu County, and Nánpēng Islands Marine Sanctuary in Nan'ao County, and Sanniang Bay dolphin sanctuary in Qingzhou. The Chinese white dolphin is a symbol of Hong Kong, and special sanctuary has been declared to protect the species with approaches to co-exist with sustainable dolphin watching, although the local population is in serious peril.
Other oceanic dolphin species include the rough-toothed, common bottlenose, Indo-Pacific bottlenose, pantropical spotted, spinner, striped, short-beaked common, long-beaked common, Fraser's, Pacific white-sided, and Risso's dolphin. Risso's dolphins are one of the most commonly observed cetacean along east coasts of Taiwan.
Whales were historically abundant along Chinese and Taiwanese waters especially in winter and spring seasons where they come to coastal areas to breed and calve while especially baleen whales other than those migrated from outer pacific and Sea of Japan swam northward to feed in Yellow and Bohai basins during warmer seasons. Most of large whales in Taiwan were recorded prior to 1952. In imperial times, villages along the coast of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong hunted whales and made offerings of whale oil to the emperor in Beijing. On the other hand, however, like among other nations such as in Korea, China, Ebis in Japan, Indonesia, among Indochina including in Vietnam where whales were once well respected, heavenly deities among coastal people, regarded as the "King of the sea", the "Dragon emperor in the ocean", or "Dragon Soldiers" in almost entire coastal regions excluding above mentioned Hainan and Leizhou, as when whales were seen, fishermen and boats had to make ways for them and wait the whales to pass. In Chinese mythology, for example, Yu-kiang, the ruler of the sea, is said to be a whale with arms and legs. Indigenous tribes on Taiwan also recognized the presences of large whales and representing whales in their local myths and folklores.
Baleen whales found in the ocean off China's coast include the blue whale, the world's largest animal, as well as the Eden's, Omura's, Bryde's, common minke, fin, sei, and humpback whale. There had been an endemic, resident population of fin whales in Yellow and Bohai Sea to East China Sea historically. Minke whales are also resident in the same regions. Bryde's whales were considered to be historical residents along Taiwan and southern coasts.
In Chinese EEZ, critically endangered North Pacific right whales and western gray whales had been sighted in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea only on prior to 1970s especially for right whales while there had been records of gray whales and the only record in 21st century was of a matured female accidentally being killed in local fisheries in Pingtan on Taiwan Strait in 2007.
Following statements can be said for all larger baleen and toothed whales, but especially focusing on right whales and gray whales in here because of their behavioral patterns (very high reliances on shallow waters comparison to their size that even entering rivers mouths and estuaries regularly, their strong curiosities towards mankind) eased hunters to kill them and were wiped out much faster than the other species followed by humpbacks. Other rorquals' situations were very similar to them, but their local extinction (functionally) occurred later in 20th century by modern Japanese industries.
Today, biology and natural histories of baleen or larger toothed whales in Chinese waters prior to exploitations are very unclear because at those times when academic studies or approaches to biology of cetaceans, or recordings of cetacean catches in coastal China started to develop, as whales were already in fewer numbers not enough for descent, feasible for academic accounts, catch recordings in local fisheries or industries weren't even conducted. This was likely to be caused as the local populations of migratory whales were intensively hunted to the point of near-functional extinctions on the main migratory collider (Japanese archipelago) by Japanese whaling industries. The fates of right whales, for example, were even cornered further by American Yankee whaling, Japanese mass illegal and research whaling, and the most devastatingly, Soviet Union's mass illegal whaling in 1960s to 70s with helps by Japan.
Gray whales migrating on both of Japanese coasts were wiped out earlier than the Korean counterpart, then the other population migrating along Korean Peninsula later being targeted to the extinction by Japanese industries. The most intensive hunts of all times were carried out by Japanese whaling industries that covering wide range of east Asian waters including almost entire EEZ of China, North Korea and South Korea in the 20th century. Whaling stations were established in various areas along Chinese and Korean coastlines such as at Daya Bay, causing today's serious perils of whale populations and virtual, functional extinctions of almost all species or local stocks of larger baleen whales in east and southeast Asian nations. Any presences of larger cetaceans have not been confirmed for often or any.
Toothed whales, excluding dolphins, include the sperm, dwarf sperm, pygmy sperm, Baird's beaked, Longman's beaked, Cuvier's beaked, Blainville's beaked, ginkgo-toothed beaked whales, and the orca and pilot whales (false killer, pygmy killer, melon-headed, short-finned pilot). False killers still remain along coasts of mainland China, and are known to enter rivers regularly in particular regions.
Stranding of toothed whales has been common on Taiwanese coasts.
Large whales have become very rare on today's Chinese coasts where only tiny remnants of minke whales or several more survived. However, whale watching industries became popular attractions along the east coast of Taiwan, offering excellent opportunities to observe majestic creatures, especially in the summer. Recently, possibilities of establishing watching activities have been considered in Yellow Sea based on recoveries in numbers of whales observed. Larger types of rorquals have been sighted in pelagic waters occasionally. Whales migrating through Tsushima Strait to possibly Chinese waters are under serious threats of being struck by high-speed vessels.
Yankee and modern whaling records suggest that there had been historical summering and wintering/calving grounds for baleen whales in various areas along coastal China particularly in several locations. Below is a list showing some of those areas corresponding with baleen and few of larger toothed whales, but excluding undiscovered or unstudied regions and species.
Dugongs are marine mammals that feed entirely on vegetation such as seagrass. They are related to manatees in the Western Hemisphere, and are only sirenian species found in Asian waters. In China, dugongs are found along the coasts of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where the Hepu Dugong National Nature Reserve, near Beihai, was created in 1992 for their protection, and less frequently in Hainan. Current distributions could be much more restricted than that of pre-exploitation ranges, as once might have been seen in the Yellow sea regions.
They are considered regionally extinct in Taiwan. The dugong is a Class I protected species. They were hunted for their meat in the late 1950s and early 1960s during the Great Leap Forward. Dugongs are threatened by the loss of seagrass beds from coastal development. Several areas still possess feasible habitats for dugongs today such as the Dongsha Atoll and the west coasts of Hainan and Leizhou Peninsula, and Chinese government funded to establish a sanctuary designed for dugong and mangrove conservation ranging from Hepu County to Shankou in Guanxi, also to secure local Chinese white dolphins. Individuals distributed among the Beibu Gulf Economic Rim in Gulf of Tonkin face threats of busy-becoming ship-lanes and polluted waters.
Asian elephants once roamed a large swath of China, but are now confined to the Xishuangbanna and Pu'er Prefectures of southern Yunnan. Xishuangbana means 12 elephants in the local Thai language. In recent years, Chinese demand for ivory has led to a sharp increase in elephant poaching around the world. Thanks to strict enforcement of elephant protection laws with capital punishment for poachers and government financed feeding programs, the population of elephants within China from 1994 to 2014 roughly doubled to nearly 300.
Records and artwork from antiquity indicate that three species of Asian rhinoceros, the Indian, Javan and Sumatran, more specially the Northern Sumatran rhinoceros have lived in China. During the Shang Dynasty, some 3,000 years ago, rhinoceros ranged as far north as Inner Mongolia. By the beginning of the Han Dynasty, 2,200 years ago, they had disappeared from the Central Plains of northern China.
During the Tang Dynasty, about 1,200 years ago, rhinos were found across southern China and the imperial zoo had a captive breeding program that returned some animals to the wild. Cooler climate in northern China may have caused rhinoceros habitat to shrink, but it was demand for rhino horns for use in traditional Chinese medicine, documented in as early as the Song Dynasty 1,000 years ago, that drove the animal toward extinction.
In the Ming Dynasty about 650 years ago, rhinoceros were confined to Yunnan and Guizhou, and by the Qing Dynasty to only Yunnan. The Qing government limited the hunting of rhinos to only officials, and some 300 horns were harvested between 1900 and 1910. The collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 allowed individuals to hunt the animal. The last Sumatran rhino was killed in 1916, the last Indian rhino in 1920 and the last Javan rhino in 1922.
In 2010, a herd of nine southern white rhinoceros were imported from South Africa and shipped to Yunnan where they were kept in a wild animal park for acclimation. In March 2013, seven of the animals were shipped to the Laiyanghe National Forest Park, a habitat where Asian rhinoceros once lived. Two of the African rhinos began the process of being released into the wild on May 13, 2014.
The Przewalski's horse, the only species of wild horses never to have been domesticated, once roamed free in large parts of northwestern China but became locally extinct in 1957. In the 1980s, herds from Europe have been introduced to habitats in Xinjiang and Gansu.
China has a great variety of true deer and its close kin the musk deer. The largest deer is the moose, which is found in the Greater and Lesser Khingan ranges of the northeast. The moose stands 2 m tall and weighs as much 700 kg. In contrast, the lesser mouse-deer of Yunnan, which is just 45 cm in height and weighs 2 kg, is not much bigger than a rabbit.
China has both the elk and red deer, the second and fourth largest deer species, which until 2004 were considered the same species. The elk or wapiti of North America, has four subspecies in Asia – the Altai wapiti, Tian Shan wapiti, Manchurian wapiti and Alashan wapiti – all of which are present in China. The red deer, though quite common in Europe, has subspecies in China that are endangered.
The Yarkand deer lives along the Tarim River in Xinjiang south of the Tian Shan. The Bactrian deer lives north of the Tian Shan in northern Xinjiang and Central Asian Republics. The Tibetan red deer, Gansu red deer, Sichuan deer have been alternatively categorized as subspecies of the elk or the Central Asian red deer.
The sambar deer, the third largest deer species, is found throughout southern China, and on the islands of Hainan and Taiwan. They live near water and are called "water deer" in Chinese. They should not be confused for the Chinese water deer, a smaller deer which are found in the Yangtze Delta region. The water deer only species of true deer without antlers.
Water deer, tufted deer and muntjacs are small deer with long upper canines that protrude like tusks. Muntjacs are known for their soft hide and tender meat. The Indian muntjac is found throughout southern China. The range of the Reeve's muntjac extends north to Gansu and to Taiwan. Fea's muntjac are found in eastern Tibet and the Gongshan muntjac in neighboring Yunnan. The hairy-fronted muntjac is endemic to the mountains at the juncture of Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Fujian and is a protected species. The tufted deer, a close relative of the muntjac, is found throughout central China.
Deer is prized in China for the velvet of their antlers. Antler velvet is rich in growth hormone and is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The most valuable antler velvet comes from the sika deer which is raised on farms. Several subspecies of the sika deer, including the Shanxi sika and the North China sika may have become extinct in the wild and survive exclusively in captivity. The Sichuan sika deer, another subspecies, was discovered in 1978 and lives in mountains of northern Sichuan and southern Gansu. The Formosan sika deer is endemic to Taiwan.
Reindeer, which are found in the forests of the Greater Khingan range in northern Inner Mongolia, are domesticated by the ethnic Ewenki and Oroqen people. The Oroqen call themselves, "people who use the reindeer." One branch of the Ewenki rely on reindeer to haul goods through swampy forests. They use reindeer milk and meat for nourishment, hides for clothing and tents, and antlers for medicine and income. The Kyrgyz people, who now reside in Central Asia and western Xinjiang, used to live in northeast Asia and regard the sika deer as a holy animal. According to Kyrgyz legend, the Kyrgyz Bugu tribe descended from a mother deer.
The sika deer is protected as a Class I endangered species by the state, though it is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as least concern. Another Class I protected deer is the Thorold's or white-lipped deer. This large deer with a population of about 15,000 that is endemic to Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Tibet and Yunnan, is considered vulnerable by the IUCN. The Chinese population of Eld's deer, a Class I protected species that is also considered endangered by IUCN, is found only on the island of Hainan. For decades, the Indochinese hog deer was believed to be extinct in China until a fawn was discovered in 2007 in the Yongde Daxueshan National Wildlife Reserve. The Indochinese hog deer is also protected by the state.
Perhaps the most remarkable endangered deer species in China is Père David's deer. This deer, colloquially known as the sibuxiang or the "Four-Not-Look-Alike", is said to have the hooves of an ox, antlers of a deer, neck of a camel and tail of a donkey, but does not look like any one animal. According to Chinese legend, this animal helped the ancient sage Jiang Ziya overthrow the tyrant king of the Shang Dynasty 4,000 years ago and became a symbol of good fortune. Chinese emperors kept the sibuxiang also called milu in imperial hunting parks, even as the animal became extinct in the wild, perhaps as early as 2,000 years ago. By 1866, when Father Armand David identified the animal, there were only 200–300 remaining in the Nanhaizi Royal Park in Beijing. A few animals were sold to zoos in Europe before 1894, when the park was flooded and some of the animals escaped only to be hunted and eaten. The last of the animals in China died during the chaos of the Boxer Rebellion. In 1898, Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford assembled a herd of 18 animals from European zoos and bred them at his estate, Woburn Abbey in England. In 1985, 22 deer from this herd was reintroduced back to the Nanhaizi Park in Beijing and in 1986 another 39 were sent to Dafeng, in northern Jiangsu on the Yellow Sea. In 1998, eight animals in the latter herd were introduced into wilderness of the Dafeng Milu National Wildlife Reserve. By 2013, the reserve had 196 Père David's deer.
Musk deer and mouse-deer resemble small deer but are not true deer. They do not have antlers or facial scent glands. Male musk deer have scent glands that secrete deer musk, which is used for perfume, incense and medicine. Of the seven musk deer species in the world, six are found in China and five are endangered: the Anhui musk deer and dwarf musk deer of central China, the alpine musk deer of western China, the white-bellied musk deer and black musk deer of Tibet. The Siberian musk deer in the northeast is considered vulnerable. The lesser mouse-deer is found in southern Yunnan.
The grasslands, plateau and deserts of northern and western China are home to several species of antelope. The Mongolian gazelle, also known as the Zeren or yellow sheep, can run at speeds of up to 90 km/h and gather in herds by the thousands. They used to be spread over much of northern China but are now confined largely to Inner Mongolia. The Tibetan gazelle or goa antelope, is slightly smaller than the Mongolian gazelle, and lives on the Tibetan Plateau. The Przewalski's gazelle, whose males have distinctive horns that curl outward and then inward at the top, are extremely rare and endemic to a small region around Qinghai Lake on the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau. The goitered gazelle is about the same size as the Mongolian gazelle and is found throughout the Gobi Desert.
The Tibetan antelope, also known as chiru, is taller than the gazelles and has longer horns. It is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and is endangered. The animal is poached for its fine wool, which is made by Kashmiri weavers into the Shahtoosh shawl. The film Kekexili: Mountain Patrol documents efforts to protect the animal from poaching. The Tibetan antelope was one of the mascots for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
The saiga antelope's horns are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments including the common cold. Despite its status as a Class I protected species, the saiga antelope has been poached to extinction in the Dzungar Basin of northern Xinjiang and is critically endangered in Central Asia and Russia. Chinese police routinely interdict large batches of smuggled horns into Xinjiang. Attempts have been made to reintroduce the saiga antelope to habitats in China.
The largest of these goat antelope is the takin, a relative of the musk ox. It lives in highlands from the eastern foothills of the Himalayas to the Qinling and shares habitat with the giant panda in Sichuan and Shaanxi. The takin is a Class I protected species.
Serows are smaller than takins but significantly larger than gorals. Both serows and gorals live in rainy mountainous regions and are excellent climbers. Serows have shorter and coarser wool than gorals. The mainland serow is spread across southern China. The range of the Chinese goral is even broader, extending to Korea in the northeast. The long-tailed goral lives in the northeast, along the borders with Russia and North Korea. The Himalayan serow, Himalayan goral, and red goral are found in southern Tibet. The Taiwan serow is endemic to Taiwan.
The argali or mountain sheep, the Asian cousin of the North American bighorn sheep has nine subspecies, seven of which are found in northern and western China, including the Marco Polo sheep, which the Venetian traveler reported observing in the Pamir mountains.
The Himalayan blue sheep, with much smaller horns than the argali, are agile climbers on Himalayan cliffs. The dwarf blue sheep is found in western Sichuan. The Himalayan tahr, discovered in China in 1974, is a Class I protected species with perhaps only 500 animals in southern Tibet.
There are large numbers of domesticated gaur, yak and Bactrian camel in China but in the wild, they are Class I protected species. The gaur or Indian bison is the tallest species of cattle and found in southern Tibet and Yunnan. Domesticated gaur, called gayal, is raised by farmers in Yunnan. Yaks are the largest animals on the Tibetan Plateau. Wild yaks are larger than domestic yaks and slightly smaller than the gaur. They can tolerate extremely cold climate, climb steep slopes, and ford fierce rapids. Yaks are the imost important animal for Tibetan herders, who eat yak meat and milk for food, burn yak dung as fuel, spin yak hair into fabric, make yak hide leather and use yaks to transport and plow fields. Bactrian camels have two humps and can go a month or longer without drinking water. A thirsty Bactrian camel can drink 135 liters (30 gallons) in only 13 minutes. They can withstand extremely hot and cold weather and have broad hooves that do not sink in desert. Bactrian camels are known as the "boats of desert" – for millennia, they were used to carry goods along the Silk Road. Wild camels are critically endangered and found in the Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts.
The wild boar, from which the farm-raised pigs was domesticated some 8,000 years ago in China, remains common in the Chinese wilderness. On occasion, boars will interbreed with farm-raised pigs. The Manchurian wild boar is the largest of the wild boar species. The Formosan wild boar is a subspecies endemic to Taiwan.
The pangolin, a scaly anteater that feed on ants and termites and curl into a ball when threatened, is prized in China for its flesh, which is considered a delicacy and scales, which used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat among other ailments, inadequate lactation in breast-feeding mothers. The Chinese pangolin is found throughout southern China, Hainan and Taiwan and the Sunda pangolin in western Yunnan. In Chinese, the pangolin is called "that which wears mountain armor" and the animal is believed by local shamans to hold magical powers such that hunters must utter incantation before killing them to ward off bad luck. As a Class II protected species, trading of wild pangolins is prohibited, but poaching and illegal trade remains rampant. The pangolin can be farm-raised, but pangolin farms must generally also raise termites to feed the livestock. In recent years, Chinese customs have intercepted large shipments of pangolin from Southeast Asia and Africa.
The porcupine, called haozhu or "pig with long thin hair" in Chinese, should not be confused with hedgehog, ciwei or the "thorned creature". Porcupines are rodents and hedgehogs belong to a separate order. Three species of Old World porcupine are found in China: the Asiatic brush-tailed porcupine, Indian crested porcupine, and Malayan porcupine. Many parts of the porcupine including the brain, organs, fat, quills and even the feces can be used to make traditional Chinese medicine. Porcupines are raised on farms.
In the early 20th century, the Eurasian beaver was hunted to near extinction for its fur and castoreum, a scent gland secretion used to make perfume and medicine. Though the global population has rebounded, the animal remains a Class I protected species. The Bulgan Beaver Nature Reserve in Qinggil County of northern Xinjiang, at the source of the Irtysh and Ulungur River along the border with Mongolia, was created in 1980 to protect the beaver. In 2007, there were 145 beaver colonies with an estimated population of 500–600 beavers in the reserve.
Squirrels are called songshu or "pine rodent" in Chinese but not all species live in trees. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, flying squirrels, ground squirrels, rock squirrels, marmots and chipmunks, which are all found in China, often in great variety.
The red squirrel common in Europe and the black giant squirrel of Southeast Asia are found, respectively, in the northern and southern parts of China. Other tree squirrel species include the Pallas's, inornate, Phayre's, Irrawaddy, Anderson's, orange-bellied Himalayan, Perny's long-nosed, red-hipped, Asian red-cheeked, Himalayan striped, Maritime striped, and Swinhoe's striped squirrel.
Flying squirrels are found in almost every part of China, from the Himalayas to the tropical island of Hainan to the rural outskirts of Beijing. Flying squirrel species include the groove-toothed, complex-toothed, hairy-footed, particolored, Indochinese, red giant, red and white giant, spotted giant, Indian giant, Chinese giant, Japanese giant, Bhutan giant, Siberian, Yunnan giant (petaurista yunnanensis), and Hodgson's giant. Several are endemic to China.
Flying squirrels are timid creatures that are active at nighttime and use the patagium, a membrane connecting the fore and hind limbs to glide from trees. They do not build nests and live in caves or rock crevices. They also defecate at specific locations, which facilitates the harvest of their fecal pellets. The pellets are made into wulingzhi, a traditional Chinese medicine used to facilitate blood flow and ease pain. Flying squirrel pellets can accumulate on the floor of caves for years and not rot. Several species of flying squirrels are farm-raised to produce wulingzhi.
The groove-toothed flying squirrel, also known as the North Chinese flying squirrel, is endemic to eastern Hebei Province and the suburbs of Beijing in North China and northern Sichuan. The complex-toothed flying squirrel is endemic to southern China.
In China, ground squirrels are found in arid regions of the north and west where the animals live in burrels. Ground squirrel species include the Alashan, Daurian, red-cheeked, long-tailed and yellow ground squirrel.
Two species of rock squirrels are endemic to China, the Père David's rock squirrel, which is found across a wide swath of the country from the mountains around Beijing to Gansu and Sichuan, and the Forrest's rock squirrel, found only in the mountains dividing the Yangtze and Mekong River watershed in northwestern Yunnan.
The Siberian chipmunk, the only chipmunk species found outside North America, has six subspecies in China, all in northern parts of the country. The animal is raised as pets and for its tender flesh, fine fur and ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine.
The marmot, called hanta in Chinese for "land" or "dry otter," is related to ground squirrels but are bigger, have shorter tails and are more social animals. They can grow to be the size of a cat and live in large colonies. Four species are found in China, all along the northern and western periphery of the country: gray, long-tailed, Himalayan, and Tarbagan. Of these, the tarbagan marmot is an endangered, Class III protected species. Marmots are also farm-raised for food and fur.
A wide variety of jumping rodents belonging to the family Dipodidae can be found in China. These include jerboas and jumping mice, called tiaoshu, the "jumping rodent," and the birch mouse, called jueshu, the "falling rodent" or "stomping rodent." Jerboas, jumping mice, and birch mice all have long hind legs which can be used to make leaps from a bipedal stance.
Zokors have strong front limbs for digging. Zokor bones are used in traditional Chinese medicine and can substitute tiger bones. The Chinese zokor, Rothschild's zokor and Smith's zokor are endemic to China. The range of the Chinese zokor extends across north China from Qinghai to Beijing while that of the Rothschild's and Smith's zokors are confined to Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei and Qinghai. The false zokor and Transbaikal zokor are found along China's border region with Russia and Mongolia.
All four bamboo rat species in the world are found in China: the Chinese bamboo rat south of the Yangtze, hoary bamboo rat in southwest China, large bamboo rat in Xishuangbanna in southern Yunnan and lesser bamboo rat and western Yunnan. The large bamboo rat can weigh as much as 5 kg. The flesh of the bamboo rat is rich in protein and low in fat. Bamboo rat oil can be used to treat burn wounds.
Both the zokor and bamboo rat are farm-raised for their fur, meat and use in medicine.
About half of the world's 25 species of hamsters are found in China. Most live in the deserts of Xinjiang, Gansu and Inner Mongolia. Some are named after the specific region in which they are found, such as the Chinese, Mongolian, Gansu, Chinese striped, Tibetan dwarf, Kham dwarf, and Djungarian hamster, and some by their founder, such as Campbell's dwarf, Roborovski, and Sokolov's dwarf. Others include the grey dwarf, long-tailed dwarf, greater long-tailed hamster and black-bellied hamster. The Chinese hamster and Roborovski hamster have been bred as pets and found in homes throughout the world.*Eurasian water vole (Arvicola amphibius)
The Amur hedgehog (Erinaceus amurensis) hails from Manchuria, China.
Bats, the only mammals capable of sustained flight, are the second largest order of mammals after rodents. They are divided broadly into microbats, which use echolocation to navigate and hunt insects, and megabats, which rely on large eyes and keen smell to feed on fruits and nectar. Bats are found in great abundance and variety throughout China and are considered to be auspicious animals, symbolizing good fortune. Bat feces collected from caves are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Megabats, also called fruit bats, include flying foxes, which are the largest bat species. Four species are found in China, all in isolated populations: the large flying fox in Shaanxi, Indian flying fox in Qinghai, Ryukyu flying fox in Taiwan, and Lyle's flying fox in Yunnan. The large flying fox can weigh 0.65–1.1 kg (1.4–2.4 lb) and has a wingspan of up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
Geoffroy's rousette and Leschenault's rousette, both dog-faced fruit bats, are the only megabats in China that can echolocate. Unlike microbats, which generate ultrasound with their larynx, rousettes generate sonar sound waves with tongue clicks.
Other fruit bat species include the greater and lesser short-nosed fruit bat, Blanford's fruit bat and the cave nectar bat. Fruit bats are sometimes considered pests by fruit farmers, and are hunted and eaten in parts of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan. They also help pollinate certain species of tropical fruit trees.
Myotis or mouse-eared bats are delicate and furry bats with pointed ears. Of the 90 or so species in the world, about one-fifth are found in China.
The lesser mouse-eared bat, pond bat, Daubenton's bat, Natterer's bat and whiskered bat are spread across Eurasia. Others inhabit either the warmer climes of southern China and Southeast Asia including the large myotis, Szechwan myotis, Burmese whiskered bat and Horsfield's bat or the temporate regions of northern China and Northeast Asia including the Far Eastern myotis, fraternal myotis, and Ikonnikov's bat. Hodgson's bat, known for its distinctive golden fur, has unconnected populations in Afghanistan, India, central China, southeastern China, Manchuria, Taiwan, Korea and Indonesia. The Beijing mouse-eared bat is endemic to eastern China, and the long-footed myotis is endemic to southern China and Hong Kong.
Most mouse-eared bats are insectivores. Rickett's big-footed bat, which is distributed across China Proper into Laos, lives near water and feeds on fish. The large-footed bat of Taiwan hunts insects on the surface of the water.
Pipistrels and their relatives are tiny bats that flutter like butterflies in flight. The common pipistrelle weighs only 3.5 to 8.5 g (0.12 to 0.30 oz) and has a wingspan ranging of 18 to 25 cm (7.1 to 9.8 in). Other pipistrelles found in China include the least pipistrelle, Kelaart's, Mount Popa, Savi's, chocolate black-gilded and the Chinese pipistrelle. In Chinese, pipistrelles are called fuyi meaning "hidden wing." The flesh, blood, brain and feces of pipistrelle can be used to make traditional Chinese medicine. The brain is applied to the skin to treat acne and ingested to improve memory.
Noctules are closely related to pipistrelles but can be much larger in size. The Chinese noctule, which is endemic to the southern half of the country and Taiwan, weighs three to four times as much as the Chinese pipistrelle. Known as "mountain bats" in Chinese, noctules live in caves and rock croppings as well as the under the eaves of traditional homes. Noctules droppings are collected for medicinal uses. Other noctule bats in China include the common noctule, lesser noctule, and birdlike noctule.
Barbastelles are called wide-eared bats in Chinese. The range of the Asian barbastelle extends from Egypt through China to Japan. In 2001, a Chinese zoologist discovered a new species of barbastelle in the mountains of rural Beijing. This bat was discovered in a cave in Fangshan District where four other bat species—Rickett's big-foot, large mouse-eared, greater horseshoe and greater tube-nosed bats also live. The Beijing barbastelle (Barbastella beijingensis) was distinguished by the distinctiveness of its DNA and recognized as a species on May 23, 2007, the 300th birthday of Carl Linnaeus. As of 2012, no other populations of this species have been found beyond Beijing.
The brown and grey long-eared bats, which are found across Eurasia, have enormous ears that can grow almost as long as their bodies. The greater and lesser bamboo bats prefer to roost inside the hollow shoots of giant bamboo through holes eaten by beetles. Because the holes are small, bamboo bats are also tiny. An adult lesser bamboo bat that measures 4 cm (1.6 in) in length and weighs 3.5 to 5.8 g (0.12 to 0.20 oz), is not much bigger than a bumble bee.
House bats including the Gobi big brown bat, northern bat, thick-eared bat, serotine bat are also closely related to pipistrelles, noctules and barbastelles. Other relatives within this extensive subfamily include Tickell's bat, great evening bat, harlequin bat, greater Asiatic yellow bat, particoloured bat and Asian particolored bat.
Tube-nosed bats have longer nostrils than other vespers and funnel-shaped ears. Chinese species include the greater, little, round-eared, Hutton's, and dusky tube-nosed bat. The dusky tube-nosed bat is endemic to Heilongjiang and Jilin in northeastern China. The greater tube-nosed bat of Beijing feeds on aerial beetles.
Free-tailed bats, unlike other bats, have tails that are detached from their wing membrances. Species include the European free-tailed bat, La Touche's free-tailed bat and the wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bat.
Sac-winged bats have sac-like glands under their wings that carry pheromones, which are released to attract mates. Out of some 51 sac-winged bat species in the world, only the black-bearded tomb bat is found in China.
Horseshoe bats are called "chrysanthemum bats" in Chinese because they have horseshoe-shaped folds of skin that unfurl on their faces like the petals of a flower. These noseleaves help the horseshoe bat emit ultrasonic signals for echolocation. Species found in China include the greater, least, king, big-eared, rufous, Chinese rufous, little Japanese, Blyth's, Osgood's, Pearson's, Thomas's, and Dobson's. The king and Osgood's horseshoe bats are endemic to southwest China. Scientists believe that the SARS coronavirus may have originated in horseshoe bats in China.
Closely related to the horseshoe bats are the roundleaf bats, including the great roundleaf, intermediate roundleaf, Pomona and Pratt's, the East Asian tailless leaf-nosed bat and Stoliczka's trident bat.
The avifauna of China includes a total of 1314 species, of which 52 are endemic, two have been introduced by humans, and 55 are rare or accidental. One species listed is extirpated in China and is not included in the species count. Eighty seven species are globally threatened.
Several amphibian species in China have very limited geographical distributions.
In freshwater alone, China has more than 1,000 fish species. By far the most diverse order are the cypriniforms, followed by the siluriforms. Yangtze is the richest river basin in the country and it is home to more than 350 strict freshwater fish species (as well as several also found in brackish or saltwater). A high percentage of these are endemic to the country and many are seriously threatened. Among others, it is feared that the Chinese paddlefish, as well as several species from the Yunnan lakes (notably Dian, Erhai, Fuxian and Yilong), already are extinct. China has far more cavefish species than any other country in the world.
With a long coastline that ranges from temperate to tropical oceans, China has many marine fish species such as the Pacific cod. | <urn:uuid:5880e33e-46ea-4e53-aec3-c36d47c94233> | {
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CNS – The Oral Cancer Foundation is urging medical researchers to speed up investigations on the safety of a vaccine for a sexually transmitted virus that it said causes cancer of the mouth.
The foundation’s statement comes shortly after studies published this month in the medical journal “Cancer” and the New England Journal of Medicine, which suggest a link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oral cancer.
Currently, the vaccine—which protects against four strains of the virus—is administered to girls and adolescent females to protect against cervical cancer, the foundation said.
Deaths from cervical cancer, which number about 3,700 per year nationally, have declined due to improved methods of early detection and the public’s greater awareness of the importance of annual screenings, the foundation said.
The foundation also said men can benefit if given the same vaccine and urged the FDA to approve such a use once scientific due diligence has been accomplished.
“The study affirms what we have long believed, namely that the vaccine can reduce oral cancer rates if given to both males and females,” said Brian Hill, founder and executive director of the Oral Cancer foundation.
Oral cancer can be detected early through simple visual and hand examinations, the foundation said. But no public awareness campaign exists nationally to promote detection, it said.
Every day in the United States, 93 people develop oral cancer—and one person dies from it every hour, more than twice the death rate of cervical cancers and higher than many of the more commonly known cancers, according to the foundation.
Compounding the problem is that oral cancer often goes unnoticed in its early stages and it usually not detected until later, when prognosis is poor, the foundation said.
Rates of oral cancer are on the rise nationally, despite years of declining tobacco use, the foundation said.
“What seems like a paradox actually illuminates the expanding role HPV- 16 plays in acquiring this disease,” Hill said.
HPV-16 is one of the destructive strains out of more than 100 versions of the virus, the foundation said. It was first linked to oral cancer more than 10 years ago, but recent research has backed up claims about its role as a causative factor in oral cancer in both men and women, the foundation said.
HPV, which can be transmitted either through genital or oral-genital contact, is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, the foundation said.
About 20 million men and women currently have the disease, and close to 80 percent of sexually active adults will acquire the virus at some point in their lives, the foundation said.
Hill said widespread use of the vacine in both men and women will result in positive collateral benefits in reducing rates of oral cancer.
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Diffusion is the net movement of molecules or atoms from a region of high concentration (or high chemical potential) to a region of low concentration (or low chemical potential). This is also referred to as the movement of a substance down a concentration gradient.
A gradient is the change in the value of a quantity (e.g., concentration, pressure, temperature) with the change in another variable (usually distance). For example, a change in concentration over a distance is called a concentration gradient, a change in pressure over a distance is called a pressure gradient, and a change in temperature over a distance is a called a temperature gradient.
The word diffusion derives from the Latin word, diffundere, which means "to spread out" (a substance that “spreads out” is moving from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration).
A distinguishing feature of diffusion is that it is dependent on particle random walk and results in mixing or mass transport, without requiring directed bulk motion. Bulk motion (bulk flow) is the characteristic of advection. The term convection is used to describe the combination of both transport phenomena.
Diffusion vs. bulk flow
An example of a situation in which bulk motion and diffusion can be differentiated is the mechanism by which oxygen enters the body during external respiration (breathing). The lungs are located in the thoracic cavity, which expands as the first step in external respiration. This expansion leads to an increase in volume of the alveoli in the lungs, which causes a decrease in pressure in the alveoli. This creates a pressure gradient between the air outside the body (relatively high pressure) and the alveoli (relatively low pressure). The air moves down the pressure gradient through the airways of the lungs and into the alveoli until the pressure of the air and that in the alveoli are equal (i.e., the movement of air by bulk flow stops once there is no longer a pressure gradient).
The air arriving in the alveoli has a higher concentration of oxygen than the “stale” air in the alveoli. The increase in oxygen concentration creates a concentration gradient for oxygen between the air in the alveoli and the blood in the capillaries that surround the alveoli. Oxygen then moves by diffusion, down the concentration gradient, into the blood. The other consequence of the air arriving in alveoli is that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the alveoli decreases. This creates a concentration gradient for carbon dioxide to diffuse from the blood into the alveoli, as fresh air has a very low concentration of carbon dioxide compared to the blood in the body.
The pumping action of the heart then transports the blood around the body. As the left ventricle of the heart contracts, the volume decreases, which increases the pressure in the ventricle. This creates a pressure gradient between the heart and the capillaries, and blood moves through blood vessels by bulk flow (down the pressure gradient). As the thoracic cavity contracts during expiration, the volume of the alveoli decreases and creates a pressure gradient between the alveoli and the air outside the body, and air moves by bulk flow down the pressure gradient.
Diffusion in the context of different disciplines
The concept of diffusion is widely used in: physics (particle diffusion), chemistry, biology, sociology, economics, and finance (diffusion of people, ideas and of price values). However, in each case, the object (e.g., atom, idea, etc.) that is undergoing diffusion is “spreading out” from a point or location at which there is a higher concentration of that object.
There are two ways to introduce the notion of diffusion: either a phenomenological approach starting with Fick's laws of diffusion and their mathematical consequences, or a physical and atomistic one, by considering the random walk of the diffusing particles.
In the phenomenological approach, diffusion is the movement of a substance from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration without bulk motion. According to Fick's laws, the diffusion flux is proportional to the negative gradient of concentrations. It goes from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower concentration. Some time later, various generalizations of Fick's laws were developed in the frame of thermodynamics and non-equilibrium thermodynamics.
From the atomistic point of view, diffusion is considered as a result of the random walk of the diffusing particles. In molecular diffusion, the moving molecules are self-propelled by thermal energy. Random walk of small particles in suspension in a fluid was discovered in 1827 by Robert Brown. The theory of the Brownian motion and the atomistic backgrounds of diffusion were developed by Albert Einstein. The concept of diffusion is typically applied to any subject matter involving random walks in ensembles of individuals.
Biologists often use the terms "net movement" or "net diffusion" to describe the movement of ions or molecules by diffusion. For example, oxygen can diffuse through cell membranes and if there is a higher concentration of oxygen outside the cell than inside, oxygen molecules diffuse into the cell. However, because the movement of molecules is random, occasionally oxygen molecules move out of the cell (against the concentration gradient). Because there are more oxygen molecules outside the cell, the probability that oxygen molecules will enter the cell is higher than the probability that oxygen molecules will leave the cell. Therefore, the "net" movement of oxygen molecules (the difference between the number of molecules either entering or leaving the cell) is into the cell. In other words, there is a net movement of oxygen molecules down the concentration gradient.
History of diffusion in physics
In the scope of time, diffusion in solids was used long before the theory of diffusion was created. For example, Pliny the Elder had previously described the cementation process, which produces steel from the element iron (Fe) through carbon diffusion. Another example is well known for many centuries, the diffusion of colours of stained glass or earthenware and Chinese ceramics.
In modern science, the first systematic experimental study of diffusion was performed by Thomas Graham. He studied diffusion in gases, and the main phenomenon was described by him in 1831–1833:
The measurements of Graham contributed to James Clerk Maxwell deriving, in 1867, the coefficient of diffusion for CO in air. The error rate is less than 5%.
In 1855, Adolf Fick, the 26-year-old anatomy demonstrator from Zürich, proposed his law of diffusion. He used Graham's research, stating his goal as "the development of a fundamental law, for the operation of diffusion in a single element of space". He asserted a deep analogy between diffusion and conduction of heat or electricity, creating a formalism that is similar to Fourier's law for heat conduction (1822) and Ohm's law for electric current (1827).
Robert Boyle demonstrated diffusion in solids in the 17th century by penetration of Zinc into a copper coin. Nevertheless, diffusion in solids was not systematically studied until the second part of the 19th century. William Chandler Roberts-Austen, the well-known British metallurgist, and former assistant of Thomas Graham, studied systematically solid state diffusion on the example of gold in lead in 1896. :
In 1858, Rudolf Clausius introduced the concept of the mean free path. In the same year, James Clerk Maxwell developed the first atomistic theory of transport processes in gases. The modern atomistic theory of diffusion and Brownian motion was developed by Albert Einstein, Marian Smoluchowski and Jean-Baptiste Perrin. Ludwig Boltzmann, in the development of the atomistic backgrounds of the macroscopic transport processes, introduced the Boltzmann equation, which has served mathematics and physics with a source of transport process ideas and concerns for more than 140 years.
Yakov Frenkel (sometimes, Jakov/Jacov Frenkel) proposed, and elaborated in 1926, the idea of diffusion in crystals through local defects (vacancies and interstitial atoms). He concluded, the diffusion process in condensed matter is an ensemble of elementary jumps and quasichemical interactions of particles and defects. He introduced several mechanisms of diffusion and found rate constants from experimental data.
Some time later, Carl Wagner and Walter H. Schottky developed Frenkel's ideas about mechanisms of diffusion further. Presently, it is universally recognized that atomic defects are necessary to mediate diffusion in crystals.
Henry Eyring, with co-authors, applied his theory of absolute reaction rates to Frenkel's quasichemical model of diffusion. The analogy between reaction kinetics and diffusion leads to various nonlinear versions of Fick's law.
Basic models of diffusion
Each model of diffusion expresses the diffusion flux through concentrations, densities and their derivatives. Flux is a vector . The transfer of a physical quantity through a small area with normal per time is
The dimension of the diffusion flux is [flux]=[quantity]/([time]·[area]). The diffusing physical quantity may be the number of particles, mass, energy, electric charge, or any other scalar extensive quantity. For its density, , the diffusion equation has the form
where is intensity of any local source of this quantity (the rate of a chemical reaction, for example). For the diffusion equation, the no-flux boundary conditions can be formulated as on the boundary, where is the normal to the boundary at point .
Fick's law and equations
Fick's first law: the diffusion flux is proportional to the negative of the concentration gradient:
The corresponding diffusion equation (Fick's second law) is
where is the Laplace operator,
Onsager's equations for multicomponent diffusion and thermodiffusion
Fick's law describes diffusion of an admixture in a medium. The concentration of this admixture should be small and the gradient of this concentration should be also small. The driving force of diffusion in Fick's law is the antigradient of concentration, .
In 1931, Lars Onsager included the multicomponent transport processes in the general context of linear non-equilibrium thermodynamics. For multi-component transport,
where is the flux of the ith physical quantity (component) and is the jth thermodynamic force.
The thermodynamic forces for the transport processes were introduced by Onsager as the space gradients of the derivatives of the entropy density s (he used the term "force" in quotation marks or "driving force"):
where are the "thermodynamic coordinates". For the heat and mass transfer one can take (the density of internal energy) and is the concentration of the ith component. The corresponding driving forces are the space vectors
where T is the absolute temperature and is the chemical potential of the ith component. It should be stressed that the separate diffusion equations describe the mixing or mass transport without bulk motion. Therefore, the terms with variation of the total pressure are neglected. It is possible for diffusion of small admixtures and for small gradients.
For the linear Onsager equations, we must take the thermodynamic forces in the linear approximation near equilibrium:
The transport equations are
Here, all the indexes i, j, k=0,1,2,... are related to the internal energy (0) and various components. The expression in the square brackets is the matrix of the diffusion (i,k>0), thermodiffusion (i>0, k=0 or k>0, i=0) and thermal conductivity (i=k=0) coefficients.
Under isothermal conditions T=const. The relevant thermodynamic potential is the free energy (or the free entropy). The thermodynamic driving forces for the isothermal diffusion are antigradients of chemical potentials, , and the matrix of diffusion coefficients is
There is intrinsic arbitrariness in the definition of the thermodynamic forces and kinetic coefficients because they are not measurable separately and only their combinations can be measured. For example, in the original work of Onsager the thermodynamic forces include additional multiplier T, whereas in the Course of Theoretical Physics this multiplier is omitted but the sign of the thermodynamic forces is opposite. All these changes are supplemented by the corresponding changes in the coefficients and do not affect the measurable quantities.
Nondiagonal diffusion must be nonlinear
The formalism of linear irreversible thermodynamics (Onsager) generates the systems of linear diffusion equations in the form
If the matrix of diffusion coefficients is diagonal, then this system of equations is just a collection of decoupled Fick's equations for various components. Assume that diffusion is non-diagonal, for example, , and consider the state with . At this state, . If at some points, then becomes negative at these points in a short time. Therefore, linear non-diagonal diffusion does not preserve positivity of concentrations. Non-diagonal equations of multicomponent diffusion must be non-linear.
Einstein's mobility and Teorell formula
Below, to combine in the same formula the chemical potential μ and the mobility, we use for mobility the notation .
The mobility—based approach was further applied by T. Teorell. In 1935, he studied the diffusion of ions through a membrane. He formulated the essence of his approach in the formula:
The force under isothermal conditions consists of two parts:
- Diffusion force caused by concentration gradient: .
- Electrostatic force caused by electric potential gradient: .
Here R is the gas constant, T is the absolute temperature, n is the concentration, the equilibrium concentration is marked by a superscript "eq", q is the charge and φ is the electric potential.
The simple but crucial difference between the Teorell formula and the Onsager laws is the concentration factor in the Teorell expression for the flux. In the Einstein–Teorell approach, If for the finite force the concentration tends to zero then the flux also tends to zero, whereas the Onsager equations violate this simple and physically obvious rule.
The general formulation of the Teorell formula for non-perfect systems under isothermal conditions is
where μ is the chemical potential, μ is the standard value of the chemical potential. The expression is the so-called activity. It measures the "effective concentration" of a species in a non-ideal mixture. In this notation, the Teorell formula for the flux has a very simple form
The standard derivation of the activity includes a normalization factor and for small concentrations , where is the standard concentration. Therefore, this formula for the flux describes the flux of the normalized dimensionless quantity :
Teorell formula for multicomponent diffusion
The Teorell formula with combination of Onsager's definition of the diffusion force gives
where is the mobility of the ith component, is its activity, is the matrix of the coefficients, is the thermodynamic diffusion force, . For the isothermal perfect systems, . Therefore, the Einstein–Teorell approach gives the following multicomponent generalization of the Fick's law for multicomponent diffusion:
Jumps on the surface and in solids
Diffusion of reagents on the surface of a catalyst may play an important role in heterogeneous catalysis. The model of diffusion in the ideal monolayer is based on the jumps of the reagents on the nearest free places. This model was used for CO on Pt oxidation under low gas pressure.
The system includes several reagents on the surface. Their surface concentrations are . The surface is a lattice of the adsorption places. Each reagent molecule fills a place on the surface. Some of the places are free. The concentration of the free places is . The sum of all (including free places) is constant, the density of adsorption places b.
The jump model gives for the diffusion flux of (i=1,...,n):
The corresponding diffusion equation is:
Due to the conservation law, and we have the system of m diffusion equations. For one component we get Fick's law and linear equations because . For two and more components the equations are nonlinear.
If all particles can exchange their positions with their closest neighbours then a simple generalization gives
where is a symmetric matrix of coefficients that characterize the intensities of jumps. The free places (vacancies) should be considered as special "particles" with concentration .
Various versions of these jump models are also suitable for simple diffusion mechanisms in solids.
Diffusion in porous media
For diffusion in porous media the basic equations are:
where D is the diffusion coefficient, n is the concentration, m>0 (usually m>1, the case m=1 corresponds to Fick's law).
For diffusion of gases in porous media this equation is the formalisation of Darcy's law: the velocity of a gas in the porous media is
For underground water infiltration the Boussinesq approximation gives the same equation with m=2.
For plasma with the high level of radiation the Zeldovich-Raizer equation gives m>4 for the heat transfer.
Diffusion in physics
Elementary theory of diffusion coefficient in gases
The diffusion coefficient is the coefficient in the Fick's first law , where J is the diffusion flux (amount of substance) per unit area per unit time, n (for ideal mixtures) is the concentration, x is the position [length].
Let us consider two gases with molecules of the same diameter d and mass m (self-diffusion). In this case, the elementary mean free path theory of diffusion gives for the diffusion coefficient
We can see that the diffusion coefficient in the mean free path approximation grows with T as T and decreases with P as 1/P. If we use for P the ideal gas law P=RnT with the total concentration n, then we can see that for given concentration n the diffusion coefficient grows with T as T and for given temperature it decreases with the total concentration as 1/n.
For two different gases, A and B, with molecular masses m, m and molecular diameters d, d, the mean free path estimate of the diffusion coefficient of A in B and B in A is:
The theory of diffusion in gases based on Boltzmann's equation
In Boltzmann's kinetics of the mixture of gases, each gas has its own distribution function, , where t is the time moment, x is position and c is velocity of molecule of the ith component of the mixture. Each component has its mean velocity . If the velocities do not coincide then there exists diffusion.
In the Chapman-Enskog approximation, all the distribution functions are expressed through the densities of the conserved quantities:
- individual concentrations of particles, (particles per volume),
- density of momentum (m is the ith particle mass),
- density of kinetic energy .
The kinetic temperature T and pressure P are defined in 3D space as
where is the total density.
For two gases, the difference between velocities, is given by the expression:
where is the force applied to the molecules of the ith component and is the thermodiffusion ratio.
The coefficient D is positive. This is the diffusion coefficient. Four terms in the formula for C-C describe four main effects in the diffusion of gases:
- describes the flux of the first component from the areas with the high ratio n/n to the areas with lower values of this ratio (and, analogously the flux of the second component from high n/n to low n/n because n/n=1-n/n);
- describes the flux of the heavier molecules to the areas with higher pressure and the lighter molecules to the areas with lower pressure, this is barodiffusion;
- describes diffusion caused by the difference of the forces applied to molecules of different types. For example, in the Earth's gravitational field, the heavier molecules should go down, or in electric field the charged molecules should move, until this effect is not equilibrated by the sum of other terms. This effect should not be confused with barodiffusion caused by the pressure gradient.
- describes thermodiffusion, the diffusion flux caused by the temperature gradient.
All these effects are called diffusion because they describe the differences between velocities of different components in the mixture. Therefore, these effects cannot be described as a bulk transport and differ from advection or convection.
In the first approximation,
The number is defined by quadratures (formulas (3.7), (3.9), Ch. 10 of the classical Chapman and Cowling book)
We can see that the dependence on T for the rigid spheres is the same as for the simple mean free path theory but for the power repulsion laws the exponent is different. Dependence on a total concentration n for a given temperature has always the same character, 1/n.
In applications to gas dynamics, the diffusion flux and the bulk flow should be joined in one system of transport equations. The bulk flow describes the mass transfer. Its velocity V is the mass average velocity. It is defined through the momentum density and the mass concentrations:
where is the mass concentration of the ith species, is the mass density.
By definition, the diffusion velocity of the ith component is , . The mass transfer of the ith component is described by the continuity equation
where is the net mass production rate in chemical reactions, .
In these equations, the term describes advection of the ith component and the term represents diffusion of this component.
In 1948, Wendell H. Furry proposed to use the form of the diffusion rates found in kinetic theory as a framework for the new phenomenological approach to diffusion in gases. This approach was developed further by F.A. Williams and S.H. Lam. For the diffusion velocities in multicomponent gases (N components) they used
Here, is the diffusion coefficient matrix, is the thermal diffusion coefficient, is the body force per unite mass acting on the ith species, is the partial pressure fraction of the ith species (and is the partial pressure), is the mass fraction of the ith species, and .
Diffusion of electrons in solids
When the density of electrons in solids is not in equilibrium, diffusion of electrons occurs. For example, when a bias is applied to two ends of a chunk of semiconductor, or a light shines on one end (see right figure), electron diffuse from high density regions (center) to low density regions (two ends), forming a gradient of electron density. This process generates current, referred to as diffusion current.
Diffusion current can also be described by Fick's first law
where J is the diffusion current density (amount of substance) per unit area per unit time, n (for ideal mixtures) is the electron density, x is the position [length].
Diffusion in geophysics
Analytical and numerical models that solve the diffusion equation for different initial and boundary conditions have been popular for studying a wide variety of changes to the Earth's surface. Diffusion has been used extensively in erosion studies of hillslope retreat, bluff erosion, fault scarp degradation, wave-cut terrace/shoreline retreat, alluvial channel incision, coastal shelf retreat, and delta progradation. Although the Earth's surface is not literally diffusing in many of these cases, the process of diffusion effectively mimics the holistic changes that occur over decades to millennia. Diffusion models may also be used the solve inverse boundary value problems in which some information about the depositional environment is known from paleoenvironmental reconstruction and the diffusion equation is used to figure out the sediment influx and time series of landform changes.
Random walk (random motion)
One common misconception is that individual atoms, ions or molecules move randomly, which they do not. In the animation on the right, the ion on in the left panel has a “random” motion, but this motion is not random as it is the result of “collisions” with other ions. As such, the movement of a single atom, ion, or molecule within a mixture just appears random when viewed in isolation. The movement of a substance within a mixture by “random walk” is governed by the kinetic energy within the system that can be affected by changes in concentration, pressure or temperature.
Separation of diffusion from convection in gases
While Brownian motion of multi-molecular mesoscopic particles (like pollen grains studied by Brown) is observable under an optical microscope, molecular diffusion can only be probed in carefully controlled experimental conditions. Since Graham experiments, it is well known that avoiding of convection is necessary and this may be a non-trivial task.
Under normal conditions, molecular diffusion dominates only on length scales between nanometer and millimeter. On larger length scales, transport in liquids and gases is normally due to another transport phenomenon, convection, and to study diffusion on the larger scale, special efforts are needed.
Therefore, some often cited examples of diffusion are wrong: If cologne is sprayed in one place, it can soon be smelled in the entire room, but a simple calculation shows that this can't be due to diffusion. Convective motion persists in the room because the temperature [inhomogeneity]. If ink is dropped in water, one usually observes an inhomogeneous evolution of the spatial distribution, which clearly indicates convection (caused, in particular, by this dropping).
In contrast, heat conduction through solid media is an everyday occurrence (e.g. a metal spoon partly immersed in a hot liquid). This explains why the diffusion of heat was explained mathematically before the diffusion of mass. | <urn:uuid:76f84861-13bc-4532-b18d-edd84cfc0307> | {
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Yasunari Kawabata [川端 康成 Kawabata Yasunari] (14 June 1899 – 16 April 1972) was a Japanese short story writer and novelist known for his spare, lyrical, and subtly-shaded prose. In 1968 he became the first Japanese writer to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.
- The "secret" of their being up in the tree had continued for almost two years now. Where the thick trunk branched out near the top, the two could sit comfortably. Michiko, straddling one branch, leaned back against another. There were days when little birds came and days when the wind sang through the pine needles. Although they weren't that high off the ground, these two little lovers felt as if they were in a completely different world, far away from the earth.
- "Up in the Tree" [Ki-no Ue] (1962).
- Because you cannot see him, God is everywhere.
Snow Country (1948)
- Snow Country' 『雪国』 [Yukiguni] (1948) ISBN 0679761047
- The train came out of the long border tunnel — and there was the snow country. The night had turned white.
- First lines (as translated by Edward Seidensticker).
- The train came out of the long border tunnel — and there was the snow country. The night had turned white.
- In the depths of the mirror the evening landscape moved by, the mirror and the reflected figures like motion pictures superimposed one on the other. The figures and the background were unrelated, and yet the figures, transparent and intangible, and the background, dim in the gathering darkness, melted into a sort of symbolic world not of this world. Particularly when a light out in the mountains shone in the center of the girl's face, Shimamura felt his chest rise at the inexpressible beauty of it.
The Master of Go (1951)
- Translated from the Japanese Meijin by Edward G. Seidensticker (1972), ISBN 0-399-50528-8
- From the way of Go, the beauty of Japan and the Orient had fled. Everything had become science and regulation. The road to advancement in rank, which controlled the life of a player, had become a meticulous point system. One conducted the battle only to win, and there was no margin for remembering the dignity and the fragrance of Go as an art.
- Ch. 12, p. 52.
- Maybe vagueness has been good for me. The word means two different things in Tokyo and Osaka, you know. In Tokyo it means stupidity, but in Osaka they talk about vagueness in a painting and in a game of Go.
- Ch. 18, p. 76.
- That play of black upon white, white upon black, has the intent and takes the form of creative art. It has in it a flow of the spirit and a harmony of music. Everything is lost when suddenly a false note is struck, or one party in a duet suddenly launches forth on an eccentric flight of his own. A masterpiece of a game can be ruined by insensitivity to the feelings of an adversary.
- Ch. 38, p. 164.
Japan, the Beautiful and Myself (1969)
- Nobel lecture (12 December 1968) as translated in Nobel Lectures, Literature 1968-1980 (1993), Editor-in-Charge Tore Frängsmyr, Editor Sture Allén, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore
- Seeing the moon, he becomes the moon, the moon seen by him becomes him. He sinks into nature, becomes one with nature. The light of the "clear heart" of the priest, seated in the meditation hall in the darkness before the dawn, becomes for the dawn moon its own light.
- The winter moon becomes a companion, the heart of the priest, sunk in meditation upon religion and philosophy, there in the mountain hall, is engaged in a delicate interplay and exchange with the moon; and it is this of which the poet sings.
- Dr. Yashiro Yukio, internationally known as a scholar of Botticelli, a man of great learning in the art of the past and the present, of the East and the West, has summed up one of the special characteristics of Japanese art in a single poetic sentence: "The time of the snows, of the moon, of the blossoms — then more than ever we think of our comrades." When we see the beauty of the snow, when we see the beauty of the full moon, when we see the beauty of the cherries in bloom, when in short we brush against and are awakened by the beauty of the four seasons, it is then that we think most of those close to us, and want them to share the pleasure. The excitement of beauty calls forth strong fellow feelings, yearnings for companionship, and the word "comrade" can be taken to mean "human being". The snow, the moon, the blossoms, words expressive of the seasons as they move one into another, include in the Japanese tradition the beauty of mountains and rivers and grasses and trees, of all the myriad manifestations of nature, of human feelings as well.
- That spirit, that feeling for one's comrades in the snow, the moonlight, under the blossoms, is also basic to the tea ceremony. A tea ceremony is a coming together in feeling, a meeting of good comrades in a good season. I may say in passing, that to see my novel Thousand Cranes as an evocation of the formal and spiritual beauty of the tea ceremony is a misreading. It is a negative work, and expression of doubt about and warning against the vulgarity into which the tea ceremony has fallen.
- Ryokan, who shook off the modern vulgarity of his day, who was immersed in the elegance of earlier centuries, and whose poetry and calligraphy are much admired in Japan today — he lived in the spirit of these poems, a wanderer down country paths, a grass hut for shelter, rags for clothes, farmers to talk to. The profundity of religion and literature was not, for him, in the abstruse. He rather pursued literature and belief in the benign spirit summarized in the Buddhist phrase "a smiling face and gentle words". In his last poem he offered nothing as a legacy. He but hoped that after his death nature would remain beautiful. That could be his bequest.
- I have an essay with the title "Eyes in their Last Extremity".
The title comes from the suicide note of the short-story writer Akutagawa Ryunosuke... It is the phrase that pulls at me with the greatest strength. Akutagawa said that he seemed to be gradually losing the animal something known as the strength to live, and continued:
"I am living in a world of morbid nerves, clear and cold as ice... I do not know when I will summon up the resolve to kill myself. But nature is for me more beautiful than it has ever been before. I have no doubt that you will laugh at the contradiction, for here I love nature even when I am contemplating suicide. But nature is beautiful because it comes to my eyes in their last extremity."
Akutagawa committed suicide in 1927, at the age of thirty-five.
In my essay, "Eyes in their Last Extremity", I had to say: "How ever alienated one may be from the world, suicide is not a form of enlightenment. However admirable he may be, the man who commits suicide is far from the realm of the saint." I neither admire nor am in sympathy with suicide.
- "Among those who give thoughts to things, is there one who does not think of suicide?" With me was the knowledge that that fellow Ikkyu twice contemplated suicide. I have "that fellow", because the priest Ikkyu is known even to children as a most amusing person, and because anecdotes about his limitlessly eccentric behavior have come down to us in ample numbers. It is said of him that children climbed his knee to stroke his beard, that wild birds took feed from his hand. It would seem from all this that he was the ultimate in mindlessness, that he was an approachable and gentle sort of priest. As a matter of fact he was the most severe and profound of Zen priests. Said to have been the son of an emperor, he entered a temple at the age of six, and early showed his genius as a poetic prodigy. At the same time he was troubled with the deepest of doubts about religion and life. "If there is a god, let him help me. If there is none, let me throw myself to the bottom of the lake and become food for fishes." Leaving behind these words he sought to throw himself into a lake, but was held back. … He gave his collected poetry the title "Collection of the Roiling Clouds", and himself used the expression "Roiling Clouds" as a pen name. In his collection and its successor are poems quite without parallel in the Chinese and especially the Zen poetry of the Japanese middle ages, erotic poems and poems about the secrets of the bedchamber that leave one in utter astonishment. He sought, by eating fish and drinking spirits and having commerce with women, to go beyond the rules and proscriptions of the Zen of his day, and to seek liberation from them, and thus, turning against established religious forms, he sought in the pursuit of Zen the revival and affirmation of the essence of life, of human existence, in a day civil war and moral collapse.
- I myself have two specimens of Ikkyu's calligraphy. One of them is a single line: "It is easy to enter the world of the Buddha, it is hard to enter the world of the devil." Much drawn to these words, I frequently make use of them when asked for a specimen of my own calligraphy. They can be read in any number of ways, as difficult as one chooses, but in that world of the devil added to the world of the Buddha, Ikkyu of Zen comes home to me with great immediacy. The fact that for an artist, seeking truth, good, and beauty, the fear and petition even as a prayer in those words about the world of the devil — the fact that it should be there apparent on the surface, hidden behind, perhaps speaks with the inevitability of fate. There can be no world of the Buddha without the world of the devil. And the world of the devil is the world difficult of entry. It is not for the weak of heart.
- "If you meet a Buddha, kill him. If you meet a patriarch of the law, kill him."
This is a well-known Zen motto. If Buddhism is divided generally into the sects that believe in salvation by faith and those that believe in salvation by one's own efforts, then of course there must be such violent utterances in Zen, which insists upon salvation by one's own efforts. On the other side, the side of salvation by faith, Shinran, the founder of the Shin sect, once said: "The good shall be reborn in paradise, and how much more shall it be so with the bad." This view of things has something in common with Ikkyu's world of the Buddha and world of the devil, and yet at heart the two have their different inclinations. Shinran also said: "I shall not take a single disciple."
"If you meet a Buddha, kill him. If you meet a patriarch of the law, kill him." "I shall not take a single disciple." In these two statements, perhaps, is the rigorous fate of art.
- The Zen disciple sits for long hours silent and motionless, with his eyes closed. Presently he enters a state of impassivity, free from all ideas and all thoughts. He departs from the self and enters the realm of nothingness. This is not the nothingness or the emptiness of the West. It is rather the reverse, a universe of the spirit in which everything communicates freely with everything, transcending bounds, limitless. There are of course masters of Zen, and the disciple is brought toward enlightenment by exchanging questions and answers with his master, and he studies the scriptures. The disciple must, however, always be lord of his own thoughts, and must attain enlightenment through his own efforts. And the emphasis is less upon reason and argument than upon intuition, immediate feeling. Enlightenment comes not from teaching but through the eye awakened inwardly. Truth is in "the discarding of words", it lies "outside words". And so we have the extreme of "silence like thunder", in the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra.
- Ikenobo Sen'o, a master of flower arranging, once said (the remark is to be found in his Sayings): "With a spray of flowers, a bit of water, one evokes the vastness of rivers and mountains." The Japanese garden too, of course symbolizes the vastness of nature. The Western garden tends to be symmetrical, the Japanese garden asymmetrical, and this is because the asymmetrical has the greater power to symbolize multiplicity and vastness. The asymmetry, of course, rests upon a balance imposed by delicate sensibilities. Nothing is more complicated, varied, attentive to detail, than the Japanese art of landscape gardening. Thus there is the form called the dry landscape, composed entirely of rocks, in which the arrangement of stones gives expression to mountains and rivers that are not present, and even suggests the waves of the great ocean breaking in upon cliffs.
- The single flower contains more brightness than a hundred flowers. The great sixteenth-century master of the tea ceremony and flower arranging, Rikyu, taught that it was wrong to use fully opened flowers. Even in the tea ceremony today the general practice is to have in the alcove of the tea room but a single flower, and that a flower in bud. In winter a special flower of winter, let us say a camellia, bearing some such name as White Jewel or Wabisuke, which might be translated literally as "Helpmate in Solitude", is chosen, a camellia remarkable among camellias for its whiteness and the smallness of its blossoms; and but a single bud is set out in the alcove. White is the cleanest of colors, it contains in itself all the other colors. And there must always be dew on the bud. The bud is moistened with a few drops of water.
- Among flower vases, the ware that is given the highest rank is old Iga, from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and it commands the highest price. When old Iga has been dampened, its colors and its glow take on a beauty such as to awaken on afresh. Iga was fired at very high temperatures. The straw ash and the smoke from the fuel fell and flowed against the surface, and as the temperature dropped, became a sort of glaze. Because the colors were not fabricated but were rather the result of nature at work in the kiln, color patterns emerged in such varieties as to be called quirks and freaks of the kiln. The rough, austere, strong surfaces of old Iga take on a voluptuous glow when dampened. It breathes to the rhythm of the dew of the flowers.
- Ikenobo Sen'o remarked on another occasion (this too is in his Sayings) that "the mountains and strands should appear in their own forms". Bringing a new spirit into his school of flower arranging, therefore, he found "flowers" in broken vessels and withered branches, and in them too the enlightenment that comes from flowers. "The ancients arranged flowers and pursued enlightenment." Here we see awakening to the heart of the Japanese spirit, under the influence of Zen. And in it too, perhaps, is the heart of a man living in the devastation of long civil wars.
- Wistaria sprays, as they trail in the breeze, suggest softness, gentleness, reticence. Disappearing and then appearing again in the early summer greenery, they have in them that feeling for the poignant beauty of things long characterized by the Japanese as mono no aware.
- The Tale of Genji in particular is the highest pinnacle of Japanese literature. Even down to our day there has not been a piece of fiction to compare with it. That such a modern work should have been written in the eleventh century is a miracle, and as a miracle the work is widely known abroad.
- Myōe exchanged poems with Saigyo and the two discussed poetry together. The following is from the biography of Myoe by his disciple Kikai: "Saigyo frequently came and talked of poetry. His own attitude towards poetry, he said, was far from the ordinary. Cherry blossoms, the cuckoo, the moon, snow: confronted with all the manifold forms of nature, his eyes and his ears were filled with emptiness. And were not all the words that came forth true words? When he sang of the blossoms the blossoms were not on his mind, when he sang of the moon he did not think of the moon. As the occasion presented itself, as the urge arose, he wrote poetry. The red rainbow across the sky was as the sky taking on color. The white sunlight was as the sky growing bright. Yet the empty sky, by its nature, was not something to become bright. It was not something to take on color. With a spirit like the empty sky he gives color to all the manifold scenes but not a trace remained. In such poetry was the Buddha, the manifestation of the ultimate truth."
Here we have the emptiness, the nothingness, of the Orient. My own works have been described as works of emptiness, but it is not to be taken for the nihilism of the West. The spiritual foundation would seem to be quite different. Dogen entitled his poem about the seasons, "Innate Reality", and even as he sang of the beauty of the seasons he was deeply immersed in Zen. | <urn:uuid:97dbc27c-039b-4fdd-b68f-b8f2f9ac6440> | {
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What are electromagnetic fields?
With more and more research data available, it has become increasingly unlikely that exposure to electromagnetic fields constitutes a serious health hazard, nevertheless, some uncertainty remains. The original scientific discussion about the interpretation of controversial results has shifted to become a societal as well as political issue.
The public debate over electromagnetic fields focuses on the potential detriments of electromagnetic fields but often ignores the benefits associated with electromagnetic field technology. Without electricity, society would come to a standstill. Similarly, broadcasting and telecommunications have become a simple fact of modern life. An analysis of the balance between cost and potential hazards is essential.
Protection of public health
International guidelines and national safety standards for electromagnetic fields are developed on the basis of the current scientific knowledge to ensure that the fields humans encounter are not harmful to health. To compensate uncertainties in knowledge (due, for example, to experimental errors, extrapolation from animals to humans, or statistical uncertainty), large safety factors are incorporated into the exposure limits. The guidelines are regularly reviewed and updated if necessary. It has been suggested that taking additional precautions to cope with remaining uncertainties may be a useful policy to adopt while science improves knowledge on health consequences. However, the type and extent of the cautionary policy chosen critically depends on the strength of evidence for a health risk and the scale and nature of the potential consequences. The cautionary response should be proportional to the potential risk. For more information, see the WHO Backgrounder on Cautionary Policies.
Several policies promoting caution have been developed to address concerns about public, occupational and environmental health and safety issues connected with chemical and physical agents.
What should be done while research continues?
One of the objectives of the International EMF Project is to help national authorities weigh the benefits of using electromagnetic field technologies against the possibility that a health risk might be discovered. Furthermore, the WHO will issue recommendations on protective measures, if they may be needed. It will take some years for the required research to be completed, evaluated and published. In the meantime, the World Health Organization has issued a series of recommendations:
- Strict adherence to existing national or international safety standards: such standards, based on current knowledge, are developed to protect everyone in the population with a large safety factor.
- Simple protective measures: barriers around strong electromagnetic field sources help preclude unauthorized access to areas where exposure limits may be exceeded.
- Consultation with local authorities and the public in siting new power lines or mobile phone base stations: siting decisions are often required to take into account aesthetics and public sensitivities. Open communication during the planning stages can help create public understanding and greater acceptance of a new facility.
- Communication: an effective system of health information and communication among scientists, governments, industry and the public can help raise general awareness of programmes dealing with exposure to electromagnetic fields and reduce any mistrust and fears.
For further information, see the WHO Fact Sheets on Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health | <urn:uuid:8ecd9c54-3f92-46bd-9d99-8683e82e3073> | {
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At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to:
- Identify the South African coins and notes.
- Determine which coins and/or notes would be needed to make up a particular value.
Subscribe to Grade 4
R100 per month
This includes all subjects
Subscribe to Grade 4 > Mathematics
R60 per month
60 lessons in Mathematics | <urn:uuid:ecb15332-b447-4b87-824e-10ce6c08c609> | {
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Study: Fecal bacteria common in ground turkey
Tests conducted on samples from stores nationwide
A new test by Consumer Reports found that more than half of the samples of ground turkey collected from stores nationwide tested positive for fecal bacteria.
The study tests 300 raw samples from national grocery stores and found nine of 10 ground turkey samples contained at least one disease-causing organism, including salmonella or E. coli. Researchers also found that bacteria were most often found in turkeys that had been raised on antibiotics.
Meat producers have criticized the study, saying it based its conclusions on a small sample.
Customers at The Store, a Raytown meat market, said they're curious about what they're buying.
"They want more local-grown (meat). They want to know what they're getting," said butcher Chris Pollard.
He said his store sells ground turkey and other meats that are antibiotic-free
The study also found organic turkey to be healthier option because regular turkey contained strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
"As soon as somebody says 'antibiotic' to me, it bothers me," said customer Peter Enna. He said he likes shopping at The Store because the people there make it a business to know the history of their meat.
Pollard said studies like the Consumer Reports probe may open some eyes.
"I think it scares people to stay away from meat. I think it really does. But maybe we'll have more vegetarians nowadays," he said.
Copyright 2013 by KMBC.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:a4c609d2-4201-4ae6-8bde-07c041404140> | {
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Most major depressions do not occur during the Holidays, they happen in summer. Here are ten other little known facts about depression.
1. Depression distorts your thinking. When you are depressed, your mind can play tricks on you. If you have thoughts of suicide, please call someone immediately. Don't let a temporary glitch in your thinking cause you to harm yourself or another.
2. Depression makes it hard to give. It's very hard to think of other people when you're wrapped in a prickly blanket of sadness, and all you can think about is your own pain. Be proactive and just a few steps you need to heal. Try reading a book to help you understand what you are going through and how best to deal with it.
3. Depression is experienced as anxiety 65 percent of the time. Make sure you get an accurate diagnosis, so you can get the most effective treatment available. There is a saying in psychotherapy, "No pills without skills." If you are taking medication you should also be getting therapy.
4. Persistent irritability can be a symptom of depression. If the world, your life, or your loved ones constantly tick you off, the cause might be something that's going on inside of you. That anger can lead to lashing out or withdrawing from those who love you. Neither one will get you what you need.
5. Chronic pain can be another symptom of depression. At the same time, being in continual discomfort can cause you to become depressed. When you are depressed and in pain, it can be hard to know which came first.
6. Alcohol is a depressant. So are marijuana and a host of other recreational or street drugs. Self-medication is not going to get you better and will surely make you worse over time. Remember that all medications, including anti-depressants, have side effects.
7. People don't choose to be depressed, but they do make a choice about how to deal with it. You can choose to do nothing, but denying that you have a problem will only make you feel worse. Choose to just make one step, just one and if it feels okay, try it again. That's how many people get through it.
8. The origin of depression can be situational and/or bio-chemical. If you are experiencing mild to moderate situational depression (resulting from the loss of a job, for example), counseling will help you. Most bio-chemical depressions that are moderate to severe are best treated with a combination of medicine and psychotherapy.
9. Depression can be as hard on your loved ones as it is on you. Those closest to you may start to feel unloved, and may distance themselves so they aren't pulled into your pain. Remember that others are counting on you.
10. Exercise is the easiest and least expensive cure for depression. Just walking 30 minutes a day will help you and sometimes completely alleviate your symptoms. For this very reason, many therapists take walks with clients instead of doing "couch time."
Depression takes on many disguises, but more diagnostic tools and better treatments are available today than ever before. Take advantage of the many options that are readily available to help you and your loved ones. | <urn:uuid:c4b20321-0029-4013-aab3-88b00946f572> | {
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ON May 2, 1963, Prince Philip pulled the curtain on the plaque that marked the opening of the Rootes factory at Linwood.
It was a brave new dawn for the Renfrewshire town but the darkness came soon enough.
In a few weeks, it will be 50 years since the first Hillman Imp rolled off the assembly line, which brought thousands of well-paid jobs and prosperity to the town.
That lasted just short of 18 years before Britain woke up to the very real consequences of
Margaret Thatcher’s economic theories and the plant, the workers and the town joined a long list of casualties.
Today, as Thatcher’s supporters emerge to talk of her legacy and David Cameron talks of how she changed Britain, their words bring hollow laughter in the ruins and rubble of the towns she destroyed. Towns like Linwood.
Jeanette Rigby, 62, who worked in the Rootes trim room, said: “I don’t think Linwood has ever recovered from the factory closure.
“Three years after the closure, there was hardly a shop open in Linwood. It was devastating.”
The towns and villages around Linwood also suffered. There were 6000 jobs lost at the plant but the total is estimated at nearer to 13,000.
Families and friendships disintegrated as men and women struck out across the country and world to find jobs elsewhere.
And when the dust settled over the area, Linwood found itself back where it had started – with unemployment, poverty and the other social problems which come with them.
The rise and fall of Linwood started in hope, a plan to meet demand for small cars with the revolutionary Hillman Imp.
But the Imp had only been two years in the design process and was deeply flawed.By the time the early gremlins had been ironed out, Rootes had lost interest and were embroiled in tangled warranty issues.
And then of course, there were the stoppages. In 1964, there were 31 stoppages. It was the kind of industrial strife Thatcher would use to justify her onslaught on manufacturing industry.
But Danny Sharpe, deputy union convener at the plant, insists that more often than not, it was the
management who manipulated the so-called strikes to avoid having to pay workers layoff money when there was a problem in production.
He said: “Real strikes were few and far between. We got accused of wanting to close the place down but that was the last thing on our minds. It was a great paying job.”
The Scottish workforce became really good at building cars.
Jack English, 69, who worked in the straightening department, said: “The assembly line was turning out 60 cars an hour and it held the record in Europe because the longer we went, the better we got at it and we worked day and night.“
But Rootes had financial problems and in 1973, they became part of the giant US corporation Chrysler, who wanted a foothold in Europe. They saw Linwood as a pawn in a strategic game of chess.
They stopped production of the Imp in 1976 then sold out to Peugeot Talbot in 1978. The factory struggled on with the Hunter, the Sunbeam and the Avenger but three years later Peugeot closed the plant.
Linwood convener Jimmy Livingstone recalled its last days. “I remember walking down the assembly line in tears just to see the place being destroyed.
“It destroyed a lot of people’s lives – a lot of them never worked again,” said Ronnie Rigby, 70, who went on to run an unemployment centre in Paisley.
“Thatcherism played its part. People were losing their jobs when closures were taking place all over Scotland – there was nothing else out there.
“It had other effects apart from unemployment, like domestic violence, drink and drug.
“Work is an important aspect in a healthy community and when you take that away, you take people’s hopes away.
George Riggans, 71, worked in the stores in the factory for 12 years. Looking back last week, he said: “ When Maggie Thatcher got in, the writing was on the wall. We knew then the end was coming.
“Yes, there were strikes but in the face of closure, we had to take action. But it was hopeless because Thatcher had decided to close Linwood and keep England open.
“Suddenly there was no money coming in. It was depressing. I had three sons and two daughters but everyone was chasing the same jobs. When Linwood closed, it changed people’s lives completely.
They were good, well-paid jobs with good pensions and we thought we were there for life.”
Shortly after Linwood closed, the buildings were all pulled down save for one which is now the St James Business Centre and in which the Hillman Imp Club will unveil a memorial plaque on May 2.
A memorial to Thatcher’s legacy of lost hopes, lost towns. And lost hopes.
The town that Maggie destroyed
Mary Bowman, 63, moved to Linwood 40 years ago and watched as the town went from boom to bust.
“People just left,” she said. “They closed two primary schools because the population dwindled away. The town had 30 shops.
“We had a Woolworths, two bakers, a cafe, video shops, a supermarket as well as Clydesdale Electrical and an advice centre. The place was buzzing and you didn’t even need to leave Linwood for anything. There was even a Chinese and an Indian restaurant - places you could sit down in - not takeaways.
“People who were paid off from the car factory took their redundancy and opened their own shops – a wool shop, an electrical shop and a pet shop.
“But then the shops started to close down and rents went up to compensate while no work was done to maintain the centre.
“It became very run-down. There was just no money any more. It was heartbreaking to see Linwood deteriorating into a ghost town and it affected morale seeing things getting boarded up.
“It was years before the town even started to recover.
“It still hasn’t and all the new plans are taking ages.”
Kirsty McGown, 18, said: There’s nothing here. When I tell people where I live I am too embarrassed to say I’m from Linwood. I just say I’m from a town outside Glasgow. I can’t see how it will recover."
Nicola Clelland, 22, said: "My family came to Linwood for the factory when my dad’s dad got a job there. I’m too young to know much about it but I remember my papa didn’t like Margaret Thatcher. I lived here all my life but there was just nothing going for Linwood, it’s not a great place to live."
Alex Hendry, 72, said: "I came to the factory near the end, and it was her policies that shut it down. But I also think that when they built Linwood there was bad town planning in that there were a lot of new houses built at one end away from the shops so people had to get on a bus to get there."
Robert Campbell, 50, said: "When the car plant shut down my dad was one of those to lose his job. It went from being a good place to live to one of the worst places in Scotland and Margaret Thatcher has to be held at least partly responsible. Everything has gone downhill."
Ann Gibb, 59, said: "I think that Margaret Thatcher’s decision to close the factory is the whole reason Linwood has gone downhill.
It had a terrible impact. There used to be more shops here and three banks. But the shops gradually closed down and now there isn’t even a bank. | <urn:uuid:28b60aef-de6d-498a-84d9-b0399fd781e9> | {
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1. The government's right to rule is derived from the consent of the governed.
2. The government must be constructed in a way that prevents a tyranny of the majority
3. Therefore individual liberty is supreme, only curtailed so that one does not impinge the rights of another
These three points should not cause much division as a basis for a political philosophy, at least not in the culture of the United States. What causes division is the definition of rights.
What are we entitled to by being human? What are we entitled to by being citizens?
Many things are nice to have, we should want people to have, and we should help people to have, but that does not make them rights. In addition, being able to afford a privilege for an extended period of time should not turn that privilege into a right. Likewise, just because abdicating a right will not affect your life today does not mean you should abdicate it to gain a privilege. And just because a right has been repeatedly trampled does not make now an improper time to reclaim it.
The distinction between a right and a privilege is difficult even for the most principled. Defining and debating which is which is the first step to establishing sound policy. Rights must be upheld first and foremost. Only then should we debate the merits of handing out privileges. | <urn:uuid:38eb9605-7d96-46dc-a5e8-db3797bf3fec> | {
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The Color Purple
Where It All Goes Down
Rural Georgia in the early 20th century; Western Africa in a small village in the early 20th century
The book begins about 30 years before World War II. It covers the first half of the 20th century, as we follow Celie through thirty or forty years of her life. The setting of Celie’s story is unmistakably among poor blacks in rural areas of the South. As a poor black woman in the rural south, Celie’s bad treatment is largely ignored. Having very little exposure to education or the outside world, Celie lives most of her life very isolated and ignorant.
Celie starts to learn more about herself and the world from people who enter into her life from very different settings than her own. Shug Avery comes from the city – Memphis, Tennessee – where she lives a much more liberated life than Celie. Shug owns her own home, has a car, wears fashionable clothing, is outspoken, and thinks life is meant to be enjoyed. When Celie leaves home and joins Shug in Memphis, Celie also becomes more liberated. Whereas Celie had never before even dreamed of wearing pants (to her they were men’s clothes), Celie now starts a company making pants for both men and women. She also learns to speak up for herself.
Celie’s world is also dramatically expanded as a result of her sister’s travels in Africa. Living a poor, downtrodden life in the South, Celie had never stopped to consider her African heritage until Nettie sends letter describing the West African village she’s living in. Nettie describes her first experiences in Africa as "magical." For the first time, Celie (via Nettie’s letters), comes to see black people not as downtrodden, but as beautiful, noble, and proud. Celie learns that the first humans in the world were black people, originating in Africa. She also learns that Africans had an extremely rich culture and had thriving civilizations far before Europeans did. Although the Olinkan village that Nettie lives in eventually is destroyed by Europeans, through the African setting, both Celie and Nettie begin to feel that their black heritage is a source of pride rather than a cause for shame. They learn that though black people are currently oppressed, that wasn’t always the case, and therefore need not be the case in the future.
Eventually, Celie can return back to her home in Georgia from Memphis, taking with her what she has learned from Memphis and Africa. She goes home, but brings a sense of freshness and the lessons she has learned. In addition, she no longer lives in somebody else’s home: not Pa’s home, not Mr.__’s home, and not even Shug’s. Celie now has her own house, which she inherited from her mother, in which she can live life as she chooses. | <urn:uuid:5ce869f1-3006-422f-aafc-167410bab0b2> | {
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July 31, 2012
There were 22 golfers participating in the inaugural Olympic golf tournament in 1900 in Paris. They represented four countries: Britain, the United States, France and Greece. Only individual medals were awarded for men and women with the men playing 36 holes and the women playing nine holes. By the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, where the competition – beyond golf – was unusual in many respects, the golf tournament was down to two countries: the United States and Canada. There were individual competitions and a bizarrely constructed team competition. There were 77 golfers, all men and nearly all Americans (three from Canada). And while Canada had the individual gold medalist, George Lyon, the United States won all three team medals because the rules of that year allowed different regional golf organizations – like the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association -- to field its own team.
Alas, these results – almost all Americans and no women – did not help golf moving forward. It was not the kind of participation or representation that Olympic officials rewarded with additional support. There were efforts to restore golf to future Olympics but the splintering of golf along amateur and professional lines did not help its cause either.
Bill Pennington is a Sports reporter at The New York Times. | <urn:uuid:b1cf7857-559d-4fd9-9985-22300c6102b8> | {
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Plague (Yersinia pestis)
Plague is a disease caused by Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis), a bacterium found in rodents and their fleas in many areas around the world.
MDH fact sheet on plague, translated into 11 languages. Find out how you can get plague, how it is treated, and how it has been used as a terror weapon.
- Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ) About Plague
CDC fact sheet on plague. Attention: Non-MDH link
about Pneumonic Plague
CDC fact sheet about pneumonic plague as a bioterror weapon. Attention: Non-MDH link
- Reporting Plague
Physicians in Minnesota must report plague immediately, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Plague Information
CDC fact sheet for health professionals about plague. Attention: Non-MDH link
CDC information about the disease, including geographic distribution, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Attention: Non-MDH link
Droplet Precautions plus eye protection, in addition to Standard Precautions, should be implemented for patients with pneumonic plague. | <urn:uuid:44563a99-fb7d-40cc-8241-5cafa8303803> | {
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Home gardeners can sympathize: not every seed that is planted grows.
This truth extends to restored prairies that are grown from seed mixes, according to Rebecca Barak, Ph.D., who completed research this year examining the success of individual species within seed mixes, and their combined potential to power up to the diversity level found in remnant prairies.
Urban and agricultural development has left us with less than one-tenth of one percent of prairieland, which is vital part of our ecosystem. Today, the prairie can be found only in small patches, and scientists at the Chicago Botanic Garden study prairie plants and their chance for survival amid changing climates and landscapes. For Dr. Barak, a key question is what restored plant communities will look like.
Restored prairies can and do grow in all kinds of places, according to Barak, who conducted fieldwork at dozens of sites within an hour or two of Chicago. From a small playfield behind a nature center to the grounds of a temple to a large swath of acreage in the suburbs, she and her team visited each restored prairie site to compare the plant communities to the mix of seeds that were planted there initially.
“I studied that on the ground—how do prairies differ, how do seed mixes become prairies, and how can we tweak those seed mixes to improve diversity outcomes for restored prairies,” explained Barak, who recently earned her doctoral degree from the Chicago Botanic Garden and Northwestern University and is now a post-doctoral researcher in a joint appointment between the Garden and Michigan State University.
To conduct her fieldwork, she outlined a 50-meter-long transect in each study prairie, and marked off a large circle every 5 meters along the way. Within the circle, she and her collaborators counted all the plant species they could find. They compared those notes to a walk-through of each site months later as bloom cycles changed.
A native of the Chicago suburbs, Barak made unofficial discoveries that warmed her prairie-loving heart.
After summer months spent documenting and counting, she compared the list of existing plants to the list of seeds that were planted from the original seed mix. She found that less than 50 percent of the species diversity survived from seed to plant. “A lot of species are lost along the way,” she noted.
The plant mix within the restored prairies was then compared to historical data from 41 remnant prairies across Illinois—sites that had never been altered for other purposes. In addition to her findings about the success rate of seeds planted in restored prairies, “I found that species in restored prairies are more closely related to one another than species in remnant prairies,” said Barak.
The David H. Smith Conservation Fellow is not only tuned in to the number of species found in each prairie, but also to how well they represent a variety of evolutionary threads. “We think about how spread out plants in the prairie are across the evolutionary tree of life. Maybe, if you are getting more branches on the tree, your community will function better, or differently,” she noted.
“When we look at remnant and restored prairies, we find that there are differences in biodiversity and there are opportunities to increase diversity of restored prairies. In order to do that we have to think about the seed mixes that are being used,” she added.
In doing so, Barak anticipates that a higher level of diversity will support more functions like serving as habitat for pollinators.
Her detailed findings will be published this August in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
In addition to the benefits of prairies—such as storing rainwater and carbon dioxide—they also provide opportunities we can all enjoy each time we visit, said the scientist and former teacher. “I think it’s about more than that [the ecological benefits]—it’s about teaching people our natural heritage, thinking about habitats that are unique and special to our area, getting people to notice biodiversity, and recognizing that it can even happen in the city or suburbs.”
©2017 Chicago Botanic Garden and my.chicagobotanic.org | <urn:uuid:0bc3037a-7b7d-4a27-8260-f230b2013e86> | {
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Animation is essentially an optical illusion- a series of still photographs that create the impression of movement. Though Winsor McCay pioneered ways of making drawings move, Walt Disney’s Nine Old Men were the ones who perfected it. While making Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, not to mention countless shorts in the 1930s, this team of animators developed 12 basic principles that exaggerated the laws of physics to best bring these images to life.
The principles came to define Disney’s look and became part of the language of animators everywhere. Every time you see Wiley E. Coyote’s eyes bulge to the size of watermelons at the sight of a falling boulder, Olaf the Snowman from Frozen stretch during a sudden stop, or Tigger crouching down before a pounce, you can thank these principles.
Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnson, two of the nine old men, published the principles in their book Disney Animation: Illusion of Life. Jason Kottke has posted a really groovy (animated, of course) video illustrating the 12 Principles. Check it out above. And if you need further review watch this other animated video. The principles, themselves, appear below.
1. SQUASH AND STRETCH
This action gives the illusion of weight and volume to a character as it moves. Also squash and stretch is useful in animating dialogue and doing facial expressions. How extreme the use of squash and stretch is, depends on what is required in animating the scene. Usually it’s broader in a short style of picture and subtler in a feature. It is used in all forms of character animation from a bouncing ball to the body weight of a person walking. This is the most important element you will be required to master and will be used often.
This movement prepares the audience for a major action the character is about to perform, such as, starting to run, jump or change expression. A dancer does not just leap off the floor. A backwards motion occurs before the forward action is executed. The backward motion is the anticipation. A comic effect can be done by not using anticipation after a series of gags that used anticipation. Almost all real action has major or minor anticipation such as a pitcher’s wind-up or a golfers’ back swing. Feature animation is often less broad than short animation unless a scene requires it to develop a characters personality.
A pose or action should clearly communicate to the audience the attitude, mood, reaction or idea of the character as it relates to the story and continuity of the story line. The effective use of long, medium, or close up shots, as well as camera angles also helps in telling the story. There is a limited amount of time in a film, so each sequence, scene and frame of film must relate to the overall story. Do not confuse the audience with too many actions at once. Use one action clearly stated to get the idea across, unless you are animating a scene that is to depict clutter and confusion. Staging directs the audience’s attention to the story or idea being told. Care must be taken in background design so it isn’t obscuring the animation or competing with it due to excess detail behind the animation. Background and animation should work together as a pictorial unit in a scene.
4. STRAIGHT AHEAD AND POSE TO POSE ANIMATION
Straight ahead animation starts at the first drawing and works drawing to drawing to the end of a scene. You can lose size, volume, and proportions with this method, but it does have spontaneity and freshness. Fast, wild action scenes are done this way. Pose to Pose is more planned out and charted with key drawings done at intervals throughout the scene. Size, volumes, and proportions are controlled better this way, as is the action. The lead animator will turn charting and keys over to his assistant. An assistant can be better used with this method so that the animator doesn’t have to draw every drawing in a scene. An animator can do more scenes this way and concentrate on the planning of the animation. Many scenes use a bit of both methods of animation.
5. FOLLOW THROUGH AND OVERLAPPING ACTION
When the main body of the character stops all other parts continue to catch up to the main mass of the character, such as arms, long hair, clothing, coat tails or a dress, floppy ears or a long tail (these follow the path of action). Nothing stops all at once. This is follow through. Overlapping action is when the character changes direction while his clothes or hair continues forward. The character is going in a new direction, to be followed, a number of frames later, by his clothes in the new direction. “DRAG,” in animation, for example, would be when Goofy starts to run, but his head, ears, upper body, and clothes do not keep up with his legs. In features, this type of action is done more subtly. Example: When Snow White starts to dance, her dress does not begin to move with her immediately but catches up a few frames later. Long hair and animal tail will also be handled in the same manner. Timing becomes critical to the effectiveness of drag and the overlapping action.
6. SLOW-OUT AND SLOW-IN
As action starts, we have more drawings near the starting pose, one or two in the middle, and more drawings near the next pose. Fewer drawings make the action faster and more drawings make the action slower. Slow-ins and slow-outs soften the action, making it more life-like. For a gag action, we may omit some slow-out or slow-ins for shock appeal or the surprise element. This will give more snap to the scene.
All actions, with few exceptions (such as the animation of a mechanical device), follow an arc or slightly circular path. This is especially true of the human figure and the action of animals. Arcs give animation a more natural action and better flow. Think of natural movements in the terms of a pendulum swinging. All arm movement, head turns and even eye movements are executed on an arcs.
8. SECONDARY ACTION
This action adds to and enriches the main action and adds more dimension to the character animation, supplementing and/or re-enforcing the main action. Example: A character is angrily walking toward another character. The walk is forceful, aggressive, and forward leaning. The leg action is just short of a stomping walk. The secondary action is a few strong gestures of the arms working with the walk. Also, the possibility of dialogue being delivered at the same time with tilts and turns of the head to accentuate the walk and dialogue, but not so much as to distract from the walk action. All of these actions should work together in support of one another. Think of the walk as the primary action and arm swings, head bounce and all other actions of the body as secondary or supporting action.
Expertise in timing comes best with experience and personal experimentation, using the trial and error method in refining technique. The basics are: more drawings between poses slow and smooth the action. Fewer drawings make the action faster and crisper. A variety of slow and fast timing within a scene adds texture and interest to the movement. Most animation is done on twos (one drawing photographed on two frames of film) or on ones (one drawing photographed on each frame of film). Twos are used most of the time, and ones are used during camera moves such as trucks, pans and occasionally for subtle and quick dialogue animation. Also, there is timing in the acting of a character to establish mood, emotion, and reaction to another character or to a situation. Studying movement of actors and performers on stage and in films is useful when animating human or animal characters. This frame by frame examination of film footage will aid you in understanding timing for animation. This is a great way to learn from the others.
Exaggeration is not extreme distortion of a drawing or extremely broad, violent action all the time. Its like a caricature of facial features, expressions, poses, attitudes and actions. Action traced from live action film can be accurate, but stiff and mechanical. In feature animation, a character must move more broadly to look natural. The same is true of facial expressions, but the action should not be as broad as in a short cartoon style. Exaggeration in a walk or an eye movement or even a head turn will give your film more appeal. Use good taste and common sense to keep from becoming too theatrical and excessively animated.
11. SOLID DRAWING
The basic principles of drawing form, weight, volume solidity and the illusion of three dimension apply to animation as it does to academic drawing. The way you draw cartoons, you draw in the classical sense, using pencil sketches and drawings for reproduction of life. You transform these into color and movement giving the characters the illusion of three-and four-dimensional life. Three dimensional is movement in space. The fourth dimension is movement in time.
A live performer has charisma. An animated character has appeal. Appealing animation does not mean just being cute and cuddly. All characters have to have appeal whether they are heroic, villainous, comic or cute. Appeal, as you will use it, includes an easy to read design, clear drawing, and personality development that will capture and involve the audience’s interest. Early cartoons were basically a series of gags strung together on a main theme. Over the years, the artists have learned that to produce a feature there was a need for story continuity, character development and a higher quality of artwork throughout the entire production. Like all forms of story telling, the feature has to appeal to the mind as well as to the eye.
Jonathan Crow is a Los Angeles-based writer and filmmaker whose work has appeared in Yahoo!, The Hollywood Reporter, and other publications. You can follow him at @jonccrow. | <urn:uuid:15385572-ee12-48fa-8980-f3953af21837> | {
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As a child, I trained to paint in a style called Trompe-l’œil or to trick the eye. Using this technique the artist attempts to paint so realistically that the viewer’s mind is fooled into believing that the objects or scenes depicted in the painting are three-dimensional objects.
I was endlessly fascinated with paintings like The Old Violin and sought to understand how our eyes can trick the brain into perceiving dimensionality that isn’t there.
When you look at a design or painting, your eyes are trying to make sense of the light that has bounced off the picture and onto your retina. The pigments on the image absorb the different wavelengths of light at different rates. White pigment barely absorbs any light at all and lets much of the light that hits it bounce off. Blue pigment absorbs the majority of longer wavelengths as blue is one of the shortest wavelengths we can see.
As the information that is picked up by our eyes is only light, our individual retinas don’t have the ability to tell us if something is 3D or not. Working together our eyes get some depth information because the light that hits one eye is slightly offset compared to the other eye.
Then our mind merges the light perceived by both eyes to form the perception of three dimensions.
However! Because our eyes are only offset about 2.5 inches, stereo vision starts to fail for objects that are about 8 feet away. This means that far away objects are giving you little depth information from stereo vision.
You can see this for yourself by extending your arm out with your thumb up. Focus your eyes on your thumb, then on something in the background behind it. Next, close one eye and look at your thumb, then the background. Notice how much the image of your thumb moves as you close each eye. Now do this with an object in the background. The item in the background moves less if at all.
Since our eyes aren’t so hot at discerning depth cues at farther distances, we use other tools to understand dimensionality.
One the easiest to use in art and design is occlusion. Our brain assumes that when one object obscures another that it is in front of the other. For example in the image below what do you see?
Most people see a white triangle covering 3 circles and another triangle. Our brain spends our entire lives trying to make sense of the world and creates rules of thumb based on previous experiences. Often we see items in front of other objects and our mind assumes that this is the case for the triangle example.
The above image is also working by fooling our mind based on a large topic in neuroscience named Gestalt principles (which will be the topic of future posts). In short, Gestalt principles describe the rules our minds use to combine the simple information that
we see into complex scenes. In the triangle example, Gestalt theory suggests that our minds tend to (by default) think of complete objects – if we see two parts of a line our mind perceives that it is a full line with some section blocked off.
This is a fun principal to use in design and art because much of the work is being done in the viewer’s head rather than in the image.
The effects of our brains “making sense” of the world are strongest for ambiguous image optical illusions. In these illusions you can see the image as a few different kinds of objects, but once you see it one way it is hard to switch to see the other. Once your mind has made sense of the image you have to actively work to make it see a scene differently.
There are two other types of optical illusions, those that seem to move and those that seem to include shapes that aren’t there.
The illusions in the moving category are fun because they work on cats but not newborns.
Cats’ visual systems, like our own, perceive lighter values more quickly than dark values which make an image with alternating light and dark areas seem to move. However, newborns’ eyes are not developed enough to see these illusions. Feel free to test this on your baby!
Finally, there are illusions that seem to show shapes or colors that aren’t even there. These illusions work by messing with the cells in your eyes. Cells can get ‘tired out by high contrast images and perform the opposite action. For example, stare at the center of the flag below for 30 seconds then look at a white wall or white piece of paper.
If you saw a normal red, white, and blue flag on the white wall your cells were tired out by the high contrast and colors of the blue, black and yellow flag. These cells were overpowered by cells that absorb their opposing colors, creating an afterimage with the associated colors in the cell. | <urn:uuid:9407e7a9-13a7-410b-99d7-cebfffcd55b0> | {
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Model of a Carousel (Centripetal Force) Feature Summary
- Physics at Home
Model of a Carousel
- You can investigate circular motion with Walter Fendt's simulation Model of a Carousel by changing the variables and observing the resulting motion. Be sure to choose the option "Carousel with forces"--the red arrow gives the direction of the net force, which is the same as the direction of the acceleration.
- September 1, 2015 - September 16, 2015 | <urn:uuid:e8cd9523-b285-401c-8638-05a2f009b8b3> | {
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A combined phosphate and fluoride of iron and magnesium.
Origin: after F. M. von Wagner (1768-1851), German mining official.
a fluophosphate of magnesia, occurring in yellowish crystals, and also in massive forms
Wagnerite is a mineral, a combined phosphate and fluoride of iron and magnesium, with the formula (MgFe)2PO4F. It occurs in pegmatite associated with other phosphate minerals. It is named after F.M. von Wagner, a German mining official.
The numerical value of wagnerite in Chaldean Numerology is: 5
The numerical value of wagnerite in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Images & Illustrations of wagnerite
Find a translation for the wagnerite definition in other languages:
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Friday, November 17, 2006
Play Pump-innovation from S Africa
At the end of another school day in Acornhoek – a rural community in the semi-arid eastern part of South Africa – children shriek with laughter as they whirl each other around on a colorful merry-go-round. Women carry home buckets of water. But there is more to this scene than meets the eye. Forty meters under ground, each turn of the merry-go-round powers a pump. At 16 rotations per minute, it pumps water effortlessly to a 2,500-liter storage tank, supplying the needs of the entire community at the turn of a tap. Read the fascinating story. | <urn:uuid:0a412b9d-4f25-4745-8bcd-15874c51978a> | {
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The Standing Rock Awakening
By Maya Acharya
Leo Yankton (aka Totem) is a radio DJ, a community leader, a Lakota Native American, and an activist in the resistance against the North Dakota Access Pipeline. The 1172 mile oil route, stretched out under the Missouri river, threatens to devastate the water supply and cultural heritage sites of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. In aid of the resistance, residents of Standing Rock have set up the Sacred Stone camp, where the water protectors and their allies are making a stand. Leo recently spoke in Copenhagen, at an event organised by the environmental organisation Klimakollektivet, in collaboration with Lory Dance who is a visiting researcher at Lund University, to raise awareness of the current situation.
As this article is being written, indigenous people are facing off against armed police, tanks, being shot with water hoses in sub-zero weather, tear gas, rubber bullets and percussion grenades near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in Dakota. The core message of their struggle – Water is Life – is one that has rippled across America’s borders, and into the global consciousness. The huge mobilisation around Standing Rock’s fight against oil conglomerates is something that Leo hopes will be a catalyst for awakening and change.
“Standing Rock has created a global awareness, a global awakening, and a lot of us Natives from the area see it as a beginning,” he says. “There’s a saying going around right now that goes ‘they tried to bury us but they didn’t know we were the seed.’ So we’re feeling that the resistance is an urgent and meaningful thing that needs to happen right now to not destroy the water, but it’s also a starting point to gain equality around the world as a group. Coming together as a mass to start making changes to the corruption and cooperate governments that are surpressing the people and destroying the earth; destroying our natural resources – resources we should be coexisting with, not consuming.”
Although the NoDAPL resistance has gained unprecedented media attention, complete with solidarity hashtags and music videos, the narrative of Native American struggle against US forces is not a new tale. The 3.78 billion dollar pipeline was originally planned to cross just north of Bismarck, a majority white area. However, the crude oil pipe was rerouted as it was considered dangerous to Bismark’s water supply. Many critics of the pipeline have pointed to this as a glaring example of environmental racism, in which racial and income based discrimination dictate people’s access to fundamental rights such as drinking water, and their proximity to hazardous environments.
Leo knows first hand the struggles of living in a country in which his identity and his people are marginalised, disenfranchised and oppressed. Not knowing his father and with a mother struggling with substance abuse, Leo was brought up by his grandmother, the strong woman to whom he attributes his articulated and soft spoken manner. Today he is respected in his community, and gives a platform to Native American issues through his radio show, Inter Tribal Beats, where he features music by Native American artists. He talks openly about his past though; the hardships he’s faced, his journey in overcoming alcoholism and what he calls his “Dysfunctional-Warrior Complex.”
“The warrior aspect is about power. Many people think of power as control, but what power really is, is about feeling safe, loved and being able to nurture those around you, “ Leo explains. “The dysfunctional part is when you’re brought up in a system that deprives you of that feeling. I was born in Compton, California, which is a primarily Black ghetto. Right when I was seven years old I moved back to Pine Ridge South Dakota, a Native American reservation where there was also a lot of exclusion, segregation, colonial history and dysfunction. So I had this void and conditioning that created a need for me to feel powerful, valuable. I became an alcoholic and I became violent. I targeted bullies - predator type men - because when I was young I used to get picked on a lot. So I had this reputation of being a tough guy who everyone liked because I was picking on people who were picking on people. But what I didn’t realise at the time was that I was just re-enacting a lot of my own anger and my own bitterness. Slowly, there was a shift in my paradigm. It changed my world around and quickly made me necessary to a lot of people. I didn’t ask for any of it. I didn’t go out and study how to become a pubic speaker, I didn’t ask to become a radio host, I didn’t ask to be involved in all these things, but it’s necessary.”
Leo’s story highlights the inordinate challenges that First Nations people face in America. As Leo says, “When you think about America's story of civilisation and development, it’s written in the blood of the Natives.” Throughout North American history, Native people have faced more than land infringement; they have faced genocide, brutality, anti-native polices and erasure in what can be seen as an continuation of colonial violence that has been on-going for centuries.
“People don’t see it this way though,” Leo reflects. “They would rather see it as a glorious democracy. This is partly why I have a feeling of bitterness about the military in this country and the way in which people are forced to stand up and honour a system of control and bullying.”
His tense relationship with the US military came to the forefront recently when several thousand veterans came to Standing Rock to align themselves with the movement. This was the precursor to the U.S Army denying a vital pipeline permit earlier this month.
“When that happened I felt conflicted inside, because I had always seen the military as a weapon. For them to be there [Standing Rock] was tricky for the American government and the American mainstream as well. If the veterans had been hurt by the law enforcement, then mainstream America would become sympathetic to the cause of the resistance and sympathetic towards the Natives. So that’s when the permit was shut down. And that’s the reason: the simple fact that mainstream America was not going to accept the same treatment that was and is being inflicted on our people, being inflicted on the veterans. People here [in Scandinavia] have been congratulating me on the victory, but mainstream media doesn’t report that, the very next day, the oil company made a statement to say they would just pay the fines and continue drilling.”
For Leo, this is just another tactic to try to disperse the people of the resistance and to keep in place the “disconnect” that condones violence and injustice against Native people. This disconnect is not just alive and well in politics, it permeates popular culture and society.
“One of the campaigns I’ve been part of was to get Halloween costumes that were offensive to Native people taken off the shelves,” Leo says, giving an example of a ‘Poca-hottie’ costume that was recently in stock.
“In America there are a lot of costumes that mock and stereotype Native Americans, and sexualise Native American women. When demographically our women are three to five times more likely to be kidnapped, raped, murdered. This has to do with a disconnect; we are made into objects, our women become sex objects. By dehumanising us, it makes it easier for members of our communities to become victimised and for perpetrators to feel justified. It has a negative impact on our entire culture. People say, ‘oh that’s so petty of you to be worried about Halloween costumes’, but the costumes feed into a trend. That’s why we tried to get rid of Columbus Day and have Indigenous Peoples Day. It’s also why we tried to get rid of names like Washington Redskins. Redskins, a lot of people don’t realise, are what they called the scalps that were shown as evidence that you had killed a Native, back when they were paying people to kill Natives. Since it was too cumbersome to carry an entire skull, they would just cut off the top part of the scalp. That’s what the posters would say: ‘2 dollars for a Redskin’, or something like that. But there’s a football team named after it. And this feeds into the same disconnect that allows Bismark North Dakota to say ‘Oh we don’t want the pipeline here, put in down by the Natives.’”
When asked what can be done to break this disconnect, Leo stresses that indigenous people need to be recognised, not just culturally and historically, but tangibly, in the political sphere.
“I feel like the best way for the rest of the world to help us is to recognise that we are actually sovereign nations, so we should have rights to speak amongst authorities of the United Nations and be able to interact with other leaders around the global table. While travelling in Scandinavia, I was talking with the indigenous Sami people, who spoke about their parliament and the importance of indigenous communities acknowledging each other,” he says.
Although there has been critique of the international solidarity with Standing Rock as disproportionately focused on climate, rather than racial discrimination and a history of broken treaties, Leo is striving for the movement to be inclusive and with that, sustainable.
“I think the fact that they are talking about the environment, I think that does help. You know, everyone needs water, we have to protect our water, so I think is basically a catalyst to be able to change other dynamics of oppression and power structures. Everyone can relate to water and that we need it for survival. Plus, this is not just affecting us; if putting greed and energy before natural resources becomes a mainstream phenomenon, then it affects everybody.”
Despite the setbacks, and not least despite the impending reign of Donald Trump, who Leo rightly points out is “no friend of the Natives,” the testimonies from Standing Rock have so far been ones of immense energy, hope and encouragement.
“I hope that the people who are involved, those who are starting to realise that they are not satisfied with this system of control, keep their motivation and keep working towards overcoming other kinds of injustices. Corruption and greed are the root of a lot of it.”
This is a message that Leo emphasised during his trip to Sweden, while giving talks to primary school children.
"They were asking me these questions that were innocent enough but at the same time show how colonial narratives exist right now, in Sweden. Questions like, what do you ride on? I was like, I ride a motorcycle – I have a chopper at home. How do you choose a chief? I told them it's just like a government, they get voted it, we have the same system with a council and a president. They have this thought in their head that Natives are still running around shooting buffalo with bows and arrows. I told them I buy my food at a grocery store, “ Leo chuckles.
“But for me to come all across the world and be able to talk to some Swedish elementary school kids on this trip, is amazing. I told them that they have to be careful because greed causes people to be cruel and that you need to remember to stay kind and never put greed before caring for others and for the planet. And those kids were getting it. That’s how we affect change, by creating links and standing shoulder to shoulder.” | <urn:uuid:ae13c27e-a4d7-47e4-9b82-eed36e6bee95> | {
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This article suggests that climate change could make some marine life such as lobsters bigger. A study has shown that more acidic oceans caused by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide can produce oversized shelled marine species including lobsters, crabs and shrimps. Whilst this may be good news for seafood lovers there is some bad news. Other species such as oysters, scallops and clams suffer in more acidic waters because they are unable to build their shells. Lobsters on the other hand thrive under higher CO2 levels because they can convert inorganic carbon in seawater into a form they can use to produce shells. However, they rely on the smaller creatures for food so in a situation where the predator is getting stronger and the prey weaker it seems only a matter of time before the predators are also severely impacted and the population becomes unsustainable.
Page rendered at Sunday, 26 February 2017 16:49:13 (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent
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The rise of superbugs like MRSA provides sobering evidence that pathogens can evolve resistance to even the most powerful drugs. But pathogens can evolve resistance to vaccines, too.
One of the biggest worries for vaccine developers, aside from choosing the right strains to target, is that pathogens will evolve mutations in proteins targeted by the vaccine that will allow them to escape immune surveillance, rendering the vaccine ineffective. But as new research published in PLOS Biology from evolutionary biologist Andrew Read suggests, that’s not all vaccine developers should worry about. Working in a rodent model of malaria, Read’s group shows that vaccines can also drive the evolution of more virulent pathogens.
I should stress at the outset that these results do not suggest anything about vaccine safety. In fact, the thought that people could misinterpret the results as a reason to doubt vaccine safety keeps Read up at night. What they do suggest is that vaccines, like drugs, place selective pressures on pathogens–and that pathogens may respond to these selective pressures in unpredictable ways.
Read, who directs the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Penn State University, specializes in the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases. For more than a decade, he’s studied how malaria parasites respond to drugs and vaccines.
Malaria parasites, which kill close to a million African children every year, “do evolution on steroids,” Read told a TEDMED audience in April. They’ve evolved resistance to every drug deployed against them. That’s why public health officials hailed early results of the first large-scale trial of a malaria vaccine (called RTS,S), announced last October, as a remarkable achievement, even though the vaccine reduced disease by just about half.
But it’s this type of “leaky” vaccine—which may ameliorate symptoms and lessen the incidence of disease but doesn’t stop transmission—that opens the door for natural selection. Some parasites survive. And that means they can evolve.
When people think of vaccine-driven evolution, Read says, they usually think of mutations in proteins targeted by the vaccine that allow the pathogen to escape detection. “But there are many different ways evolution could run.”
If parasites under pressure of vaccination acquire mutations in genes that aren’t targeted by the vaccine but trigger aggressive growth or more efficient invasion of tissues, vaccination could promote the evolution of “superhot,” highly virulent strains.
Theoretically, malaria parasites that infect vaccinated individuals but survive could become hotter and hotter as they pass through vaccinated populations, placing unvaccinated individuals at greater risk of severe disease.
And that’s just what the research from Read’s lab shows: when malaria parasites evolve in immunized mice, they cause more severe symptoms in unvaccinated mice.
To test the possibility that vaccination might allow more virulent pathogens to evolve, Victoria Barclay, a postdoctoral researcher in Read’s lab, first immunized mice with AMA-1, a component of a malarial protein used in several vaccines now in human clinical trials. Then, in what’s known as “serial passage” experiments, she sequentially transferred rodent malaria parasites (P. chabaudi) from one vaccinated mouse to another, simulating the natural process of disease transmission. She then repeated the process in unvaccinated mice. (Learn more about the experiments in the related synopsis.)
“The parasites get nastier when we evolve them through vaccinated mice,” says Read. “They do more damage in unvaccinated mice after evolving through the vaccinated ones.”
Read insists that there’s no telling how malaria parasites will evolve in response to vaccination in the human trials. In the paper, Read and his coauthors call for “extreme caution” in extrapolating their results to humans, noting that generalizing from animal models is notoriously difficult in malaria. “We don’t know what might happen,” says Read. “My point is we need to figure it out.”
And that’s no trivial task. For Read, the first step in evaluating the “evolutionary risk” of vaccines is to collect data on the parasites to look for genetic differences between those found in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. If people are still transmitting parasites after vaccination, it would be important to monitor those parasites to figure out why they survived. It could be because of changes in proteins targeted by the vaccine. Or it could be because the parasites reproduce more aggressively, which means they could become more virulent.
One thing that would help vaccine developers figure out how to apply results like these from preclinical models to human malaria is insight into any genetic changes associated with increased virulence. “Understanding the changes at the molecular level would be valuable for us to better understand how to most effectively use data like this,” says Ashley Birkett, director of research and development at PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, a partner in the RTS,S phase III clinical trial.
Birkett says they’re collecting samples from both control and vaccinated groups in the RTS,S trial right now and looking for potential changes associated with vaccination in malaria parasites. He acknowledges that their primary focus is the vaccine-targeted protein. “The key observation from this paper is that researchers tend to focus on the selection pressure on the antigen in which they’re immunizing, and that’s a very fair point.”
“With the AMA-1 vaccines, we’re quite focused on how immune selection pressure is impacting the sequence of the AMA-1 allele. This paper is saying that we need to look more broadly at that, and I think that point is well taken,” Birkett adds.
But Birkett would like to know more about the mechanism of virulence in the rodent malaria model to help him search for evidence of it in the human parasites. He’d also like to see experiments where animals are infected with mosquitoes rather than through blood transfer to get a better sense of how the findings translate to clinical disease and vaccination in the field. He acknowledges that such work is both technically and logistically challenging.
The new findings add to evidence from veterinary studies that vaccines can elicit multiple evolutionary outcomes in pathogens. And for Read, that means it’s time to change the way vaccine studies monitor pathogens.
“We’re very well set up as a society to evaluate the safety of vaccines for individuals who receive them but what we aren’t good at is evaluating evolutionary safety when we start changing the environments of these pathogens.”
“When we attack our germs with vaccines, the germs fight back,” Read warned the TEDMED audience. “We’re picking a fight with natural selection. And natural selection is one of the most powerful life forces in the universe.”
Andrew Read spoke at TEDMED in April (see video below). Here’s the “science kit” he provided for his talk:
I made four points (three more than the TEDMED folk advise), but here’s my bottom line. Much of medicine attacks living things that harm us, like germs, worms, cancers, and malaria-bearing insects. Life evolves back – and that evolution harms and kills. We have to manage medically-driven evolution, but the necessary science is rudimentary. Let’s get serious about what Darwin began. | <urn:uuid:d8a930c4-b184-4a59-8019-d8aae5e811b8> | {
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Location: Fruit and Vegetable Insect Research
Project Number: 2092-22430-001-16
Start Date: Sep 01, 2009
End Date: Jun 30, 2014
The infestation patterns of western cherry fruit fly larvae within orchards will be determined bt sampling fruit and rearing larvae out. Effects of insecticides on larval infestations will be determined by applying insecticides at specified intervals and collecting fruit and examining them for larvae. Brown sugar and hot water detection methods for larvae will be compared by determining the numbers of larvae collected versus total numbers present, and improved if needed by altering the crusinging mechanisms. | <urn:uuid:cfe0bf07-320a-4a6d-b395-19d238b3e546> | {
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Occupational Saftey and Health
The safety of your project's workers is an important part of your environment enhancement fund responsibilities.
You could have many different people working with you, including contractors, consultants, Department of Conservation staff, Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff or volunteers from your community. Taking the time to ensure you have a safe working environment is vital.
Email [email protected] if you require information about:
- Using powered hand tools?
- Using hand tools?
- Applying herbicides?
- Doing pest animal control?
Look after your group and others by:
- Providing and maintaining a safe working environment. Assess the site for potential risks/hazards.
- Ensuring all equipment is safe and well maintained.
- Ensuring your group is not exposed to unmanaged or uncontrolled hazards.
- Ensure that your group is made aware of the hazards in their work area and are trained to perform their duties in a safe manner.
- Encourage your group to take an interest in health and safety.
Every worker shall take all practical steps to ensure:
- Their own safety at all times.
- They contribute to hazard identification and management.
- They report injuries promptly.
- That no action or inaction by them causes harm to any other person(s).
Safety Equipment - Do your workers have the protection they need to do the job safely?
Good Housekeeping - Is the site tidy and are potential hazards controlled?
Material Handling - Ensure that your team know how to lift and carry loads safely.
Training - Does your team have the right skills for the job? Do they know how to handle tools safely? Are they certified?
Chemical Use - Who is handling the chemicals? Are they certified? Do they have protective equipment? Are they aware of the importance of washing their hands after use?
Working Alone in Safety - Will any of your team be working alone? Is this appropriate? Make sure that someone is informed on where they will be working, what they will be doing and when they are likely to return.
Driving - What machinery will you be using? Who will be handling the vehicles and are they licensed?
Skin Cancer - Will your project take place outside? Will you be using volunteers - particularly children? Are they protected?
Smoking - Is it safe for others to smoke onsite? Who will it affect?
First Aid - Does anyone in your team hold a First Aid Certificate? Have you got an up to date First Aid kit onsite? What will you do if an accident happens? Is your team aware of the accident/emergency procedures? How will you contact emergency services?
Safety of the Public - Is your site open to the public? Is it left in a safe way? Are there appropriate warning signs visible?
For more information
For more information about Health and Safety check out the OSH website at http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/
For First Aid tips check out the St John website at www.stjohn.org.nz/tips/ | <urn:uuid:d9c51685-56af-4b0a-8a18-8b5816b06149> | {
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- Home /
- Academics /
- Secondary Grades 6-12
Secondary Grades 6-12
Union’s secondary schools are committed to providing comprehensive educational opportunities for all students’ grades 6 – 12. Our programs strive to provide our students with a positive and innovative learning environment.
The curriculum is organized to promote learning through well articulated, rigorous instructional programs and courses. The purpose of our secondary curriculum is to meet the educational needs of students with opportunities appropriate to their abilities and interests.
We believe our curriculum is a lifelong learning program that will enable students to:
- Develop academic skills basic to all learning that will allow each to achieve his/her full potential.
- Develop one’s intellectual capabilities.
- Acquire an understanding and appreciation of one’s physical and emotional development.
- Develop an understanding and appreciation of the creative and performing arts.
- Acquire an understanding of the work environment and vocational opportunities.
- Learn to live as an individual within an increasingly global society.
- Develop a positive attitude toward learning that will enable one to become a lifelong learner.
- Provide a network of support that enables students success in college and careers after high school. | <urn:uuid:54643173-69de-4a1e-bc2f-c707188d1032> | {
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Every culture throughout history has had a period where the arts produced became more than just art, they became iconic styles. Pieces from these periods are instantly recognizable, and many are quite collectible and desirable thousands of years after their creation. The art produced transcends time and geographical boundaries. Tanjore Paintings are one of the best examples of this, and these iconic creations of southern India are some of the most brilliant, elegant and poignant works of art in existence today. Tanjore pairings are collected around the world and are valued for not only their beauty, but for their connection to the history and traditions of India. But why are Tanjore paintings valued and praised so highly? What makes this specific style of art so popular now when many other works from other points in time are long forgotten?
The most obvious reason Tanjore paintings are still so highly valued is that the paintings truly are magnificent. Crafted on wooden planks from the jackfruit tree, Tanjore paintings depict devotional icons such as Hindu gods, goddesses and saints in simple yet iconic settings reminiscent of episodes from religious texts. Rich, flat and vivid colors brighten these scenes, and glittering golden foils are overlaid on the planks creating reliefs that often look like gold, flowing waves. Many paintings also include a multitude of precious gemstones that reflect brightly and also scream of decadence. The glowing presence of a Tanjore painting lightens a darkened room, and this brilliant, embellished style is desired for its sheer garishness alone.
Many also value Tanjore paintings for the unique and progressive depiction of the devotional icons. Figures have luxurious, round, curved bodies and almond-shaped eyes that are mysterious and beautiful. Tanjore paintings depict the Hindu icons as breathtakingly beautiful, lithe and graceful, and many people fall in love with the romanticism of the great figures in Indian religion.
Tanjore paintings come from a period during the 16th century where there was immense artistic growth in India. Arts and culture were wildly encouraged by the ruling class, and painting, music, dance, literature and other art forms flourished. Tanjore paintings capture this period of intense artistic growth perfectly. Collectors of Tanjore paintings are often drawn to the powerful, explosive period of art in India and want to hold a piece of this historical time where so much was possible. It is a great reminder of the importance of the arts in society, and it serve to remind us that humans are amazingly creative, emotional and innovative creatures at heart.
Once you’ve seen a Tanjore painting in person, it’s easy to see why they are so highly sought. The effect of the colors, relief and glittering gemstones are nothing short of magical, and the historical connection to India during a period of intense cultural growth is exciting for art lovers around the globe. Many cultures and societies have had their own periods of artistic explosion, but none are so brilliant and so elaborate as the paintings that come from Tanjore, India. | <urn:uuid:4ef8bbdd-37df-4826-9b1b-6dbc57a2dd5e> | {
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Analysis of time series data in the time domain is done with this procedure. Box-Jenkins methodology (the fitting of ARIMA models to time series data) and also transfer function (input type) models can be used. Frequency domain analysis of time series can be done using Proc Spectra.
The framework for the analysis is that the observed time series X(t) is stationary and satisfies an ARMA equation of the form
X(t) -phi(1) X(t-1) - ... -phi(p) X(t-p)= Z(t) -theta(1)Z(t-1)-...-theta(q) Z(t-q)
Z(t) is a white noise process. The constants
phi(p) are called the autoregressive coefficients and the number
p is called the order of the autoregressive component. The
theta(q) are called the moving average
coefficients and the number
q is called the order of the moving
average component. It is possible for either
q to be
Use of proc arima to fit ARMA models consists of 3 steps. The first step is model identification, in which the observed series is transformed to be stationary. The only transformation available within proc arima is differencing. The second step is model estimation, in which the orders p and q are selected and the corresponding parameters are estimated. The third step is forecasting, in which the estimated model is used to forecast future values of the observable time series.
As an example, the data file milk.dat containing data on milk production taken from Cryer will be analyzed. Here are the commands that could be used for each of the 3 steps.
proc arima data=milk; identify var=milk(12) nlag=30 center outcov=milkcov noprint; run; estimate p=1 q=3 nodf noconstant method=ml plot; run; forecast lead=10 out=predict printall; run;
OPTIONS FOR THE IDENTIFY STATEMENT:
var= statement is required and specifies the variable(s) in
the data set to be analyzed. The optional numbers in
parenthesis specify the LAG at which differences are to be
computed. A statement
var=milk would analyze the milk series
without any differencing;
var=milk(1) would analyze the first
difference of milk;
var=milk(1,1) the second difference of milk.
var= statement produces 3 plots for the specified
variable: the sample autocorrelation function, the
sample inverse autocorrelation function, and the sample partial
autocorrelation function. These crude plots and tables of their
values are printed in the output window. Higher quality plots
can be produced through the use of other options (detailed
below) and proc gplot.
nlag= option causes the 3 plots to print values up to lag 30.
If not specified, the default is
nlag=24 or 25% of the number of
observations, whichever is less.
center option subtracts the average of the series specified
var= statement. The average is added back in
automatically during the forecast step.
outcov= option places the values of the sample correlation
functions into a SAS data set. These values can be used to
produce high quality plots of these functions using
proc gplot. The variables output are:
VAR (name of
the varible specified in the
CROSSVAR (name of the
variable specified in the
N (number of
observations used to compute the current value of the covariance
COV (value of the cross covariances),
CORR (value of the sample autocorrelation function),
error of the autocorrelations),
INVCORR (values of the sample
inverse autocorrelation function), and
PARTCORR (values of the
sample partial autocorrelation function).
noprint option suppresses the output of the low quality
graphs normally created by the
var= statement. This option is
used primarily with the
OPTIONS FOR THE ESTIMATE STATEMENT:
p=1 q=3 options specify the auto-regressive and moving average
orders to be fit. Other forms of these specifications are:
specify that ONLY the parameter
theta(3) is allowed to be non-zero;
p=(12)(3) for a seasonal model
B is the backshift operator;
p=(3,12) for a model in which only
phi(12) are allowed to be non-zero.
nodf option uses the sample size rather than the degrees of
freedom as the divisor when estimating the white noise variance.
method option selects the estimation method for the parameters.
The choices are
ml for maximum (Gaussian) likelihood estimation,
uls for unconditional least squares, and
cls for conditional least
plot option produces the same 3 plots as in the identify
statement for the RESIDUALS after the model parameters are
estimated. This is another useful check on whiteness of the
OPTIONS FOR THE FORECAST STATEMENT:
lead option specifies the number of time intervals into the
future for which forecasts are to be made.
By using the
printall options in the forecast
statement, a SAS dataset will be created which will
contain the values of the original series and the predicted values
of the series using the model at all times. This can be useful for
an analysis of the past performance of the model.
In practice, several different estimate statements are tried sequentially to see which model best fits the data. Proc arima is interactive, in the sense these sequential attempts can be made without restarting the procedure. Simply submit the successive estimate statements; the original identify statement will be retained.
Transfer function models can be fit by using the
option of the identify statement and the
input option of the
estimate statement. The mechanics of this procedure are
illustrated for a dataset
fake which contains two time
series which are related by a transfer function model. In this
Y depends on
X. First, the process
X is modeled using the
identify and estimate statements. Then
Y is identified and the
cross-correlation between the prewhitened processes
estimated. The program might look like this.
proc arima data=fake; identify var=x center nlag=40; estimate p=1 q=1 noconstant nodf method=ml plot; identify var=y center nlag=40 crosscorr=(x); run;
From the cross correlation information, the lags at which the input
Y can be tentatively identified. Note that only
causal models are allowed; non-zero cross correlations at negative
lags cannot be modeled in proc arima. For illustration, say the
non-zero lags are 2 and 4. The process
Y might be estimated as
estimate input=( 2$(2) x ) p=1 q=3 noconstant nodf method=ml plot; run;
The input is of the form
cB**2+ dB**4= B**2( c + dB**2). It is this
latter form that gives the form of the input statement.
Note that the estimate statement always refers to the most recent identify statement to decide what variable(s) are to be included in the model. Thus differencing and centering are handled automatically (if used) EXCEPT that differencing must be explicitly specified in the crosscorr statement.
For further details see the online help under SAS SYSTEM HELP--MODELING & ANALYSIS TOOLS--ECONOMETRICS & TIME SERIES--ARIMA or the SAS/ETS Guide.
Copyright © 1997 by Jerry Alan Veeh. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:def67193-bf23-498f-99ad-48530d66d5fc> | {
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1. Why SF6 gas has excellent heat transfer properties?
Ans. SF6 has excellent heat transfer properties because it has high molecular weight and low gaseous viscosity. Its heat transferrability at atmospheric pressure is 2 to 2.5 times that of air.
2. Why chances of arc interruption, in subsequent current zero, decrease in case of air blast circuit breaker but increase in oil circuit breaker?
Ans. After the first current zero air pressure is reduced in ABCD due to which chances of arc interruption decrease. But in case of oil C.B. gap length increases and dielectric strength builds up after first current zero so chances of arc interruption increase.
3. What is the current chopping? How it can be minimised?
Ans. Current Chopping in circuit breaker is defined as a phenomena in which current is forcibly interrupted before the natural current zero. Current Chopping is mainly observed in Vacuum Circuit Breaker and Air Blast Circuit Breaker.This results in severe overvoltages across. Various CBs have different provisions to avoid current chopping.
Current chopping in minimised using resistance switching. Inclusion of resistance across the CB reduces the natural frequency and therefore RRRVmax and makes the circuit critically damped due to which transients vanish quickly.
4. For rural electrification in a country like India with a complex network, which C.B. should be preferred?
Ans. Vacuum, C.B. because of the short gap and excellent recovery characteristics of vacuum breakers, they can be used where the switching frequency is high and required to be reliable. For low fault interrupting capacities, the cost is low as compared to other interrupting devices.
Current interruption occurs at the first current zero after contact separation with no re-striking, making it exceptionally good for capacitor and cable switching and long line dropping.
Very high power frequency and impulse withstand voltages with small contact spacing, allowing ease of actuation and timing.
5. what is the difference between lightning arrester and rod gap?
Ans. The main difference between these is -
Rod gap can’t interrupt power frequency follow currents due to which every operation of rod gap results in a line to ground fault. But expulsion type of lighting arrester can interrupt power frequency follow current.
6. What is the basic requirement of a surge diverter?
Ans.A surge diverter is a piece of equipment that diverts excess voltages (caused by spikes in the electrical supply) to earth, thus protecting sensitive electrical equipment. The basic requirement of a surge diverter are :
- It should breakdown as quickly as possible after the abnormal high-frequency voltage arrives.
- It should not pass any current at normal power frequency voltage.
- It should not protect the equipment for which it is used but should discharger surge current without damaging itself.
7. What is count poise?
Ans. A counterpoise is a galvanized steel wire run in parallel or radial or a combination of the two, under the ground, with respect to the overhead line. It is the surge impedance of the counterpoises which is important initially and once the surge has travelled over the counterpoise it is the leakage resistance of the counterpoise that is important. Leakage resistance of counterpoise should be less than surge impedance.
8. Why ground wire is used on the top of the tower?
Ans. It protect power conductors form the direct lightning stroke. Whenever a direct lightning stroke falls on the tower, the ground wire on both sides of the tower provides a parallel path for the stroke thereby the effective impedance is reduced and the tower top potential is relatively less.
9. What is dynamic stability?
Ans. The ability of a power system to maintain stability under continuous small disturbances is investigated under the name of Dynamic Stability (also known as small-signal stability). These small disturbances occur due random fluctuations in loads and generation levels. In an interconnected power system, these random variations can lead catastrophic failure as this may force the rotor angle to increase steadily.
10. Why load flow studies are carried out?
Ans. Load flow studies help us in planning the new network and expanding the existing one.
11. What are the uses of Stringing charts ?
Ans. Sag and tension. It is a plot between sag and tension versus temperature.For use in the field work of stringing the conductors, temperature-sag and temperature tension charts are plotted for the given conductor and loading conditions. Such curves are called stringing charts
12. For the lower cost of electricity generation what should be load factor and diversity factor?
Ans. Both load factor and diversity factor should be high.A higher value of load factor means, less maximum demand. Less maximum demand can be catered by a low capacity power plant.A high diversity factor has the effect of reducing the maximum demand.
13. Why charging current in transmission line increases due to corona effect?
Ans. Due to corona effective radius of conductor increases .
and hence capacitance increases.
14. What is penstock?
Ans. It is a conduit system for taking water from forebay to powerhouse. It is made up of steel for high and medium head plants but it may be of concrete structure for low head plants.
15. What is the function of economizer in thermal power plants?
Ans.A common application of economizers in steam power plants is to capture the waste heat from boiler stack gases (flue gas) and transfer it to the boiler feedwater. This raises the temperature of the boiler feedwater, lowering the needed energy input,
Economizer heat feed water by extracting heat from flue gases. Heat which is carried by flue gases would be otherwise wasted in the atmosphere. This heated water is then fed to the boiler. Thus it increases the efficiency of thermal power plant.
16. What is co-generation?
Ans. Co-generation is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat, both of which used.
Co-generation first involves producing power from a specific fuel source, such as natural gas, biomass, coal ,or oil . During fuel combustion, co-generation captures the excess heat which would have otherwise been wasted. The captured heat can be used to boil water, create steam, heat buildings, etc.
17. What is the Grid? How many Regional Grids are in India?
Ans. An electrical grid is an interconnected network for delivering electricity from suppliers to consumers. It consists of generating stations, transmission lines and distribution lines.
There are five regional grids in India:
18. How much land is used for Solar Energy Production?
Ans. 1 MW solar PV power plant requires nearly 4.5-5 acres for crystalline technology and around 6.5-7.5 acres for thin film technology.
19. why skin effect does not exist in HVDC?
Ans. Factors affecting the skin effects is -
since skin effect is inversely proportional to the skin depth.
skin depth is given by -
⟹ in case of HVDC, f = 0 , so skin depth is infinite which mean zero skin effect.
∴ effect of skin depth is totally eliminated.
20 What is the purpose of use of steel in ACSR conductor?
Ans. Steel possesses higher mechanical strength than aluminium which allows for increased mechanical tension to be applied to the conductor.
21. Explain the mechanism of SCADA?
Ans. SCADA( supervisory control and data acquisition, a computer system ) software receives the input from Programmable Logical Controllers (PLC’s) or Remote Terminal Units (RTU’s) which in turn receive their information from the sensors or input values which we have given manually. SCADA is used for gathering and analyzing real time data.
Use of SCADA in Power system:
- Continuous monitoring of speed and frequency
- Load scheduling
- Power factor correction
22. Difference between Newton Rapson and Gauss seidel ?
Ans. Difference between Newton Rapson and Gauss seidel-
23. How do we conserve electricity in Home?
Ans. We can conserve electricity in Home by the following means:
- Replacing existing bulbs with energy efficient LED’s.
- Turning-off lights when not in use.
- Replacing older appliances with energy-saving models based on star ratings.
- Use renewable energy sources.
24. What you will do if generations are higher than load demand if you work in a distribution company?
Ans. If any load restrictions were imposed, they should be lifted and consumers should be encouraged by giving more incentives. Supply of power from surplus substation to the deficit one can take place by interlinking feeders.
25. What is the condition for active power flow in the transmission line?
Ans. For active power to flow, there must be an angular difference between the 2 bus voltages among which power is to be transferred.
current in the transmission line is
for active power flow in the transmission line current must be flow.
26. What is the condition for reactive power flow through the transmission line?
Ans. For reactive power to flow between two buses, the magnitude of the voltages of the two buses must be different.
27. What are distance protection scheme?
Ans.Distance protection relay is the name given to the protection, whose action depends on the distance of the feeding point to the fault. The time of operation of such protection is a function of the ratio of voltage and current, i.e., impedance. This impedance between the relay and the fault depends on the electrical distance between them . The key advantage is fault coverage of the protected circuit is virtually independent of source impedance variations.
28. What is Automatic voltage Regulator & voltage stabilizer?
Ans. AVR is the controller to regulate voltage deviations within 5% changes voltage (or) the steady-state changes. Whenever the voltage is decreases at the generator terminals the AVR increases the alternator excitation so that the voltage at terminal can increases.
A voltage stabilizer is an electrical appliance that feeds constant voltage to a load during over and under voltage conditions.
29. What are Conventional and Non-conventional energy sources?
Ans. Conventional energy means the energy source that is fixed in nature oil, gas and coal. These are also called as non-renewable energy sources. Non-conventional sources are those energy sources which are renewable and ecologically safe such as solar energy, wind energy etc.
30. What is floating neutral? How do we overcome this problem?
Ans. When ever the neutral is not connected to ground due to third harmonics neutral experiences a variable voltage at different time. Floating neutral condition in an unbalanced network can cause overvoltages.
To detect it, the neutral loss detection relay is installed at the in-comer of distribution boards to detect the floating neutral condition.
You Can Check the following link for a complete set of interview questions :
Prep Smart, Score Better. Go Gradeup. | <urn:uuid:3d9d9ced-28b5-4028-a423-7ae0ecef0430> | {
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How can we make our knowledge and ideas more accessible to others? How can experts from different fields better understand one another?
During this workshop we will approach these problems using a novel technology and approach called Knownodes:
Knownodes is an alternative method for sharing and exploring knowledge and ideas on the web. It focuses on the creation of rich and interactive connections between knowledge, allowing for different perspectives to be displayed simultaneously, and enable ordinary people to annotate relationships between knowledge, ideas and culture.
We will work together to create an open knowledge network depicting a project or concept of your choice. The end result will be available online, easy to share and modify.
Everyone is welcome! No technical background needed. The building network part takes around 45 minutes. We will have time for discussion, ideation and technical talk before and after.
The workshop will be run by Dor Garbash, a Phd student at the CRI and creator of the platform. | <urn:uuid:6c59bb5c-e8c7-4b3c-b8c7-b015a95ea1a1> | {
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Lord of the Flies author William Golding once said that women are "far superior [to men] and always have been." See Example(s)
Sir William Gerald Golding (1911–1993) was a Nobel Prize-winning writer best known for his 1954 novel Lord of the Flies, about a group of British schoolboys who become marooned on an isolated island after a plane crash and attempt to govern themselves, with disastrous results.
Golding’s name is now often encountered by many people via social-media circulated image macros, which reproduce in many different forms a quote that is widely attributed to him: “I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men, they are far superior and always have been.”
There is no doubt that Golding spoke these words, perhaps more than once. A clip preserved on YouTube, in which Golding discusses the origins and meaning of Lord of the Flies, captures him making that pronouncement, specifically in answer to the question of why his dystopian novel featured boys rather than girls:
Girls say to me, very reasonably, ‘why isn’t it a bunch of girls? Why did you write this about a bunch of boys?’ Well, my reply is I was once a little boy — I have been a brother, a father, I am going to be a grandfather. I have never been a sister, or a mother, or a grandmother. That’s one answer. Another answer is of course to say that if you, as it were, scaled down human beings, scaled down society, if you land with a group of little boys, they are more like a scaled-down version of society than a group of little girls would be. Don’t ask me why, and this is a terrible thing to say because I’m going to be chased from hell to breakfast by all the women who talk about equality — this is nothing to do with equality at all. I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men, they are far superior and always have been. But one thing you can’t do with them is take a bunch of them and boil them down, so to speak, into a set of little girls who would then become a kind of image of civilisation, of society. The other thing is &mdashl why aren’t they little boys AND little girls? Well, if they’d been little boys and little girls, we being who we are, sex would have raised its lovely head, and I didn’t want this to be about sex. Sex is too trivial a thing to get in with a story like this, which was about the problem of evil and the problem of how people are to live together in a society, not just as lovers or man and wife.
Golding’s full remarks can be heard via the following audio recording: | <urn:uuid:9316fb01-7370-41ae-9de8-d2322ddd7e2c> | {
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Profile Source: Bethany World Prayer Center
Introduction / History
The Kumyk are located primarily in the Daghestan Republic, a region of southwestern Russia that borders the Caspian Sea. Some also live in the Caucasus Mountains regions of Chechnya, Ingush, and Ossetia and in countries nearby. The climate for this area provides hot, dry summers, rainy autumns, and cool winters. The Kumyk are one of the indigenous peoples of Daghestan, where they are called "dwellers of the lowlands."
During the tenth century, some Turkic-speaking tribes migrated into the Daghestan area, resulting in an intermingling of their languages. Today, the Kumyk speak a Turkic language that includes some elements of the Bulgar, Khazar, and Oghuz Turk languages.
During the 1400's and 1500's, the Kumyk gained political power and formed their own state, Shamkhalat of Tarki. In 1867, Shamkhalat came under Russian administration. Today, the Kumyk enjoy full Russian citizenship and are found in all income brackets.
What are Their Lives Like?
For several hundred years, the Kumyk economy has been based primarily on agriculture. Even today, most of the Kumyk are farmers. They use crop rotation and artificial irrigation, both of which are profitable techniques. They raise sheep and cattle for milk and meat, horses, and water buffalo are also raised. Fishing is also important.
Today, the Kumyk who are not farmers work in many of the same fields and occupations as other groups. About one-third of Kumyk work in industry. Wool and cotton textiles, wood and metal items, leather, pottery, and woven rugs are among the products manufactured. A very important trade route passes through the Kumykia region, since it was once the main provisional center for many regions of Daghestan.
Most of the Kumyk live in villages. Their homes are usually one of three types of dwellings. The first is a one-story house built on a low foundation. These are the most common and are found in the lowland areas. The second is a one-and-a-half-story house built on a high stone foundation. These homes are found primarily in the foothill regions. The third is a two-story house.
Traditionally, most homes were built with their windows, porches, and doors facing South or Southeast, to catch more of the sun's heat during the cold winter months. Today, most homes are warmed by the use of steam heat, and gas and coal stoves are used for the preparation of foods.
A favorite Kumyk national dish is khinkal, dumplings boiled in meat bouillon, served with sour cream gravy and garlic. The Kumyk also eat grape or cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and sausage, rice porridge, soups, pies, breads, and pastries.
The Kumyk are an artistic people, decorating their homes with clay and wood carvings and inscriptions. Their songs and dances are accompanied by stringed instruments called kumuzes, wind instruments, and accordions. Their traditional clothes and weapons were decorated with gold and silver trim. Today, many of the urban Kumyk wear European dress rather than the traditional tunic-shaped shirt and pants, and the quilted coats.
In times past, the women alone had the responsibility of rearing the children and showing them affection. Today, those Kumyk who continue to follow these customs will not allow a man to help rear his children or show them fatherly love.
What are Their Beliefs?
The Kumyk are virtually all Muslim. However, some of their Islamic beliefs exist alongside some of their traditional pagan beliefs. For instance, ritual dances are offered to the dead. Ritual dances are also performed at the dedication of a horse.
What are Their Needs?
There are only a few known believers among the Kumyk. The New Testament has been translated into the Kumyk language. Christian broadcasts are unavailable to the Kumyk. Prayer is the key to seeing them reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
* Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go and share Christ with the Kumyk.
* Ask God to anoint the few Kumyk believers to share the Gospel with their friends and families.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the father heart of God to those Kumyk who have never known a father's love.
* Pray that God will raise up teams of intercessors to faithfully stand in the gap for the Kumyk.
* Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Kumyk.
|Profile Source:||Bethany World Prayer Center||Copyrighted ©: Yes||Used with permission|
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It isn’t often that a book utterly alters my understanding of the past, but the book “ECHOES OVER THE PACIFIC — An overview of Allied Air Warning Radar in the Pacific from Pearl Harbor to the Philippines Campaign” by Ed Simmonds and Norm Smith has done just that for me regards for both WW2 in general, and for today, Pearl Harbor.
ECHOS is the story of Australian and wider Aglosphere efforts to field radar in the Pacific during WW2. I am still reading it at page 60 of under 300 pages — but it has these passages regards Pearl Harbor:
Page 18 –
The following is summarised from Radar in WWII by Henry E Guerlac and an article ‘The
Air Warning Service and The Signal Company, Aircraft Warning, Hawaii’ by Stephen L
The strategic importance of Oahu was recognised in late 1939 and the Air Warning Service
(AWS) was to provide warning of approaching enemy aircraft using the newly developed
Extensive negotiations were needed as the sites, for the three SCR271s received in Hawaii on
3 June 1941, were located on land owned by either the Department of Interior National Parks
Service or the Territory of Hawaii. In addition access roads, power supply, water supply,
buildings et cetera had to be constructed – which occasioned even further delay. The net
result was that none of the SCR271s had been installed by 7 December 1941 !
Six mobile SCR270Bs arrived in Hawaii on 1 August 1941 and were shortly thereafter put
into operation because very little site preparation was required. Extensive testing of the sets
was carried out in the next few months on installations at Kaaawa, Kawailoa, Waianae and
Koko Head, Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter.
On 27 September 1941 the SCR270Bs were tested in an exercise which, in retrospect,
resembled to a remarkable degree the actual attack of 7 December. The exercise began at
0430 hours. Attacking planes were detected by the equipment at Waianae and Koko Head as
they assembled near the carrier from which they had taken off 85 miles away. When they had
assembled, the planes headed for Hawaii. The ‘enemy’ were clearly seen on the cathode ray
tube and fighter aircraft were notified within about six minutes. They took off and intercepted
the incoming bombers at about 25 miles from Pearl Harbour.
Under the control of the Signal Corps, Air Warning, Hawaii, the Schofield training SCR270B
was moved to the site at Opana about two weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbour. The
construction of a temporary Combat Information Centre (CIC) was in progress and training
of the personnel at the centre was under way with reporting coming from six mobiles
SCR270Bs. Ironically the program was to hand the CIC over to the Air Corps when the
installation had been completed and the personnel had been properly trained – scheduled for
about two weeks after Pearl Harbour.
And from page 38 —
A training period for operators of the SCR270Bs and the Combat Information Centre was
scheduled for Sunday morning, between 0400 and 0700 hours, on 7 December 1941. There
were two operators at the Opana site, George Elliot a recent transferee from the Air Corps,
and Joseph Lockard.23 Because the supply truck did not arrive on time Lockard decided to
give Elliott some more training on the SCR270B.
At 0702 hours a huge echo, almost due north of Opana at a range of 137 miles, appeared on
the screen. Lockard immediately checked the equipment to ensure that it was functioning
properly since it was a maximum size or saturation echo. Having established that it was
indeed moving and needed to be reported, efforts were made to report it to the plotters at the
Information Centre but these proved to be fruitless as the Centre had closed down.
Eventually, on another phone, a Lt Kermit A Tyler was spoken to and he told Lockard not to
worry even though it was a huge echo and travelling towards Oahu – mention was later made
about a flight of B17s being expected.
Plotting continued until 0740 hours when the supply truck finally arrived at which time the
aircraft had disappeared in the Permanent Echoes (PEs) at a range of 20 miles. These PEs
were the result of back radiation from the antenna as the mountains were behind the radar set.
The unit was closed down, the men boarded the truck and proceeded towards Kawailoa for
breakfast meeting another truck travelling at high speed towards the SCR270B. On reaching
the camp they learned that Pearl Harbour had been attacked by the Japanese thereupon they
realised that they had plotted the enemy approaching Hawaii for more than half an hour.
In his reminiscences Lockard summed up the situation:
The incident at Opana is one of those ‘what if’ footnotes in history… What if
the attacking planes had left their carriers 15 minutes earlier?
The book details the similar “misuse of radar” disaster that befell British airpower in Malaya and the organizational failings of American radar units in the Philippines.
But for minutes of reaction time, effective resistence to the Japanese was lost across the Pacific. It is a lesson well worth remembering on “Pearl Harbor Day” seventy-one years on. | <urn:uuid:4caa741c-4b83-46b6-86d0-3bc3e6b4a01e> | {
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Severe infestations can cause plants to wilt, turn brown and die. Often populations peak and fall quickly. The adult is a flat, shield-shaped stink bug about 3/8 of an inch long with red and black markings on its back. The nymph, though smaller and more round, has the same markings.
Cyfluthrin (Baythroid, Bayer Vegetable & Garden Insect Spray) can be used for control as it is labeled, effective and has a zero day waiting period between spraying and harvest. (Ward Upham) | <urn:uuid:223c135a-c937-427d-bf1f-6da65dad9c0e> | {
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Keys to families of British spiders
- Code: 197
- Author(s): Jones-Walters
- Date: 1989
- Price : £8.00
This AIDGAP identification guide includes all of the 34 families of spiders known to occur in Britain. Designed and tested for use in the field, it should enable the non-specialist to make a positive identification of the spiders that they find.
Two spider identification keys are presented. The first is a traditional dichotomous format, using morphological characters that are visible under low-power magnification. The second identification key, a tabular guide, includes a range of behavioural and ecological characters. Sections on spider morphology, biology, ecology and a glossary are also provided.
Reprinted with a new cover in 2014.
AIDGAP produces simple and clearly written identification keys, aimed at non-specialist users from age 16+
The FSC is one of the UK's leading publishers of identification guides, ranging from easy to use fold-out charts through intermediate level AIDGAP guides, to specialist books such as the Synopses of the British Fauna and RES Handbooks.
View your basket | <urn:uuid:0d9873e4-f0a2-4ab2-b147-03a7c9dc5ad9> | {
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While anxiety is a normal human emotion, felt by most people on a daily basis (at least to some degree), when it rises to the level of causing significant distress or interferes with activities, then it may be a disorder.
If you have an anxiety disorder, even NORMAL college stress can make your problem much worse. If you do not have an anxiety disorder, but are at risk for one, then normal college stress can bring out a full-fledged anxiety disorder.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COLLEGE “ANXIETY” AND COLLEGE “STRESS?”
“Anxiety” involves thoughts that most people would find not logical. They are very unlikely to be true.
- If I get rejected by the cute person in economics class, I won’t be able to show my face around there anymore! (You may get rejected but will you really have to leave school in shame?)
- If I don’t get 100% on the test, my career will be ruined!
- If I make a mistake during public speaking, I’ll be the school outcast!
- If I don’t wash my hands just right, I’ll get a catastrophic disease!
College “Stress,” on the other hand, involves the perception that you have more challenges on your plate (tests, papers, social life, exercise, and so on) than your resources (time, organizational strategies, brain power, etc.) can handle. Sometimes stress thoughts are true. For example, if you are on academic probation and you sleep through two out of three hours of your final exam—you very well may get kicked out of school! That’s realistic stress!
Anxiety and related disorders in college students that I see most often include:
- Pathological Perfectionism: Since, by definition, you can NEVER be perfect (socially, academically, personality, cleanliness, appearance, etc.), my perfectionistic clients and students are most often frustrated and disappointed with both themselves and other people who fail to meet their unrealistic expectations.
- Panic Disorder: I treat a lot of college students for panic attack concerns. Panic attacks among students are actually very common and may be triggered by a combination of stress and poor behavioral habits (such as skipping meals, over-indulging in alcohol, pot, and/or caffeine, and getting insufficient sleep).
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Many college students are plagued by high levels of social anxiety. Some colleges, like Cal Poly, require a public speaking communications course, which has even caused some students to drop out of school rather than face that class. Dating, small-talk, internship or job interviews and so on, can feel like insurmountable obstacles!
- Separation Anxiety: Some college students have never lived away from the comforts of their own home with their loving parents and close high school friends. Moving away may feel like their life has been violently ripped away from them. They may spend more energy on relationships at home rather than forming new attachments at college. For some, it means dropping out and moving back home.
- Phobias: College students experience phobias (irrational fears) just like the rest of the population. I regularly see students with fears of driving, elevators, airplanes, vomiting, needles, small spaces, and so on.
- Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): I often see college students who (very mistakenly) believe that they are horrifically unattractive. In fact, the average college student I see with BDD is much more attractive than average and believes (quite deeply) that they are the most unattractive person on campus. It becomes a daily and even hourly obsession and typically leads to a severe depression.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD comes in many forms. I see college students who are germ-phobic and are compulsively washing and cleaning, as well as students suffering with unwanted intrusive thoughts such as being dangerous, gay, perverted, and so on. The thoughts could really be about ANYTHING. The common thread is the desperate struggle for 100% certainty.
- Health Anxiety: Students with health anxiety may become obsessed that a rash may be a deadly STD (despite medical evidence to the contrary) or that a headache or stomach ache means they have cancer. They may spend many hours a day scouring the internet looking for reassurance that their symptoms are safe, but end up more and more paralyzed with fear.
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Some students come to college haunted by a trauma from car accidents, abuse, rape, and so on. Some students are returning combat soldiers bearing physical and mental scars of war. The hallmark of PTSD is a near-constant attempt to push away (or numb out) the thoughts and feelings associated with the trauma, which tends to make those thoughts and feelings sneak out in unpleasant ways.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): In this disorder, people feel plagued by worry. The college student with GAD may spend their days in a never-ending worry buffet over a wide range of topics (parents, health, academics, friendships, and so forth). Most people worry in short doses, but with GAD worry can be about every conceivable thing. Students with GAD hate uncertainty and worry as a way to feel certain they can handle anything that comes their way (the opposite usually results and they feel unable to handle their future and then that further increases worry!).
It is normal for people dealing with an anxiety disorder to have more than one of the above. In fact, they tend to cluster since anxiety disorders tend to be maintained by similar factors. Learning the skills for dealing with one, therefore, tends to help with dealing with others. They are all basically the same dance, but with different tunes!
Eric Goodman, Ph.D. | <urn:uuid:627736f8-9b1f-4c19-8621-5476826a55e8> | {
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Posted by Andrew Hanson-Dvoracek at 05/23/2013 10:31:06 AM | Comments
|Actually, any significant apparent sea level rise is more a function of the land in that area subsiding.|
Global warming has stopped and we are now entering a phase of global cooling. The climate change we have been experiencing is a function of solar cycles. See http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SunspotCycle.shtml, read about the Maunder Minimum, check the image link in that paragraph noting the recent high cycles, then see the chart of the current cycle which is talked about near the bottom of the page.
On the chart of the past cycles note the relatively low cycle in the 1970s. This was a time when we were being warned that the next ice age was approaching. In fact it is, as we are in the late stages of the warm period of the current Milankovitch cycle.
Posted by: Peter_115 ( Email | Visit ) at 5/26/2013 2:12 PM | <urn:uuid:b34e7a71-f790-4a47-8038-712c0e0baa28> | {
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Defining Davidson Down
Christoph Cardinal Schönborn (“The Designs of Science,” January) writes that “modern science first excludes a priori final and formal causes, then investigates nature under the reductive mode of mechanism (efficient and material causes), and then turns around to claim both final and formal causes are obviously unreal.” The cardinal is not the first to characterize science in this way, but he is wrong nonetheless.
Contemporary science does not exclude final and formal causes a priori ; excluding anything a priori would be contrary to the scientific cast of mind. Rather, beginning with Galileo, natural scientists crafted theories making no use of formal and final causes, and it has turned out that such theories are tremendously successful in predicting and explaining large areas of our sensory experience. Formal and final causes were thus eliminated from biology and physics on the scientific merits, not by methodological diktat . They went the way later followed by phlogiston and the interstellar ether.
His protests notwithstanding, the cardinal’s argument presupposes that formal and final causes, if they exist, are on an epistemological par with whatever entities contemporary scientific theory posits to explain experience.
When the cardinal asserts that the contemporary scientist fails to notice and explain “an obvious, indeed an overwhelming pattern” in “the sweep of life,” he is contending that the contemporary scientific account fails to explain certain observable aspects of reality. This is a scientific objection to a scientific theory epistemologically akin to the objection that Newtonian mechanics could not explain the precession of the perihelion of Mercury. When the cardinal further asserts that by positing formal and final causes he can explain the observed patterns he alleges, he is proposing an alternative theory that is as scientific in its intent as the theory it seeks to replace.
But the cardinal’s account is unconvincing as science. The fact about the world that contemporary theory fails to explain, according to the cardinal, is the correlation between “two indisputable facts: Evolution happened . . . and our present biosphere is the result. The two sets of facts correlate perfectly.” The cardinal would explain this supposed correlation by appeal to final causality, hypothesizing that life forms evolved the way they did in order that human life result.
There are many problems with this argument, but I will mention only one: What are correlated, as natural science understands correlations, are variables, not one-time events like the happening of evolution and the existence of the present biosphere. In a trivial sense, we can say that any two one-time events”say, the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the accession of Lyndon Johnson to the presidency”are “perfectly correlated” in the sense that both in fact occurred, but there is no reason to assume that there must be a connection between the events mediated by formal or final causes. Oswald assassinated Kennedy and Johnson became president, but only conspiracy theorists think that Oswald assassinated Kennedy in order that Johnson become president.
Not recognizing formal and final causes as concepts discarded from the scientific enterprise, Cardinal Schönborn assigns them to what he calls natural philosophy, a discipline that “provides our most fundamental and most certain grasp on reality” and, it seems, underlies science, for “true science is impossible unless we first grasp the reality of natures and essences, the intelligible principles of the natural world.”
An additional indication that the cardinal has misunderstood the status of these concepts is that the notion of philosophy he urges is not found in Thomas Aquinas, whom the cardinal purports to follow. Far from thinking of philosophy as delivering knowledge of essences, Aquinas thought that we do not have much knowledge about the essences of things, and such knowledge as we do have we gain only after long empirical (we might say scientific) investigation. It is no doubt part of the essence of gold, for example, to have atomic number 79, but we know this only by scientific inquiry, not by philosophical speculation involving formal and final causes.
Following Aristotle, Aquinas did recognize a branch of philosophy that treats existence qua existence, which I take to be the meaning of Cardinal Schönborn’s “intelligible principles of the natural world.” But this kind of philosophy, generally called metaphysics, does not do what the cardinal wants. It does not treat particular kinds of things like plants and animals with a special set of concepts unknown to empirical science; rather, it treats all of existence indifferently at a very high level of generality. Nor does it precede science in the order of inquiry; it was taught last in the medieval curriculum, as the culmination of natural human knowledge.
Such philosophy does indeed yield arguments for the existence of God, arguments like the Five Ways of Thomas Aquinas, but these arguments are based on the broadest features of existence generally, not on the particular characteristics of a particular class of things like the higher forms of life.
These arguments, incidentally, are scientific in the sense that they attempt to explain aspects of our observed experience, albeit very general ones, such as the existence of the universe generally and the lawlike regularity of its behavior. When the Catholic Church has taught that the existence of God can be known by human reason, it has had arguments like these in mind.
Inventing new arguments based on the particular characteristics of biological organisms is a dubious business, especially if it requires us not only to rely on formal and final causality, both long discredited in science, but also to invent a new branch of philosophy unknown to St. Thomas. We do better staying with the traditional arguments, suitably updated and elaborated using the resources of analytic philosophy.
Robert T. Miller
School of Law
The Canadian literary critic Northrop Frye coined a term that has stuck with me: “the fallacy of premature teleology.” He was speaking of an error in literary criticism, not biology, but his term captures what bothers me so much about the Intelligent Design movement. In his op-ed piece in the New York Times , Christoph Cardinal Schönborn claimed that “by the light of reason the human intellect can readily and clearly discern purpose and design in the natural world, including the world of living things,” an assertion he repeated”without alteration or demurral”in his article for FIRST THINGS . I too can discern purpose in the natural world, an insight I share with the rest of the human race: Everyone now reading this sentence knows that eyes are meant for seeing. But I think it important to stress that, while all design bespeaks purpose (no one ever designs anything without having an ulterior purpose in mind), not everything purposive has to have been designed. Admittedly, this distinction did not become clear until Charles Darwin introduced the concept of natural selection into biological thought. But once his argument entered the world, those who want to argue that the concepts of purpose and design are coterminous, as did William Paley in the early nineteenth century, have a lot of work to do.
A too-tight equation of purpose and design only ends up becoming a stalking horse for atheism. Consider the case of bird flu: If any form of biological complexity whatever is to be taken as an automatic argument for divine design without further ado, then we should be praying that God not design a mutation of the avian virus that could jump over into the human population, which is absurd. We rightly fear a crossover mutation because random mutations may or may not happen. But we also know that if the random mutation does happen to allow the virus to make the jump to humans, the human host will prove a fertile ground for the virus’ multiplication according to the principles of natural selection.
Whenever anyone raises questions about antibiotics or antiviral drugs as an argument for natural selection, Intelligent Design advocates immediately concede the point but then claim that natural selection doesn’t operate to give rise to new species. If that is their position, then they should at least admit that the onus probandi is on them; plus it wouldn’t hurt if they could praise Darwin for giving us the heuristic ability to understand the mutating behavior of viruses and bacteria.
As to the worries, constantly expressed, that natural selection undermines theism, I think it is important to keep in mind St. Thomas’ distinction between primary and secondary causality, that is, between God’s providence and the effects of natural law operating on its own steam, as it were. As he says in his Summa Theologiae : “Divine providence does not impose necessity on things to the exclusion of contingency . . . . Whatever divine providence decrees shall happen inevitably and through necessity, happens inevitably and through necessity. Whatever it intends to happen contingently, happens contingently.”
An example will illustrate the point: I once knew a student of deep faith whose parents met when his father was involved in a severe automobile accident, which forced him to spend several weeks in the hospital. There he met his future wife who was working in the hospital as a nurse. “From my mother’s womb you called me,” the student readily believed. And yet he would be horrified if someone had told him that God directly caused the accident that led, accidentally but providentially, to his conception.
I do not deny the worry caused among believers by “Darwinian hijackers” like Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett. But the best way of dealing with them is to adopt the strategy Thomas adopted with Aristotle’s much less severe philosophical errors. Thomas knew on the basis of his faith that certain conclusions Aristotle drew about the nature of the soul or the providentiality of God had to be wrong. But he also realized that these were philosophical errors that had to be refuted philosophically .
In other words, the big mistake in dealing with atheist Darwinians is to buy into the major premise of their argument: that Darwinian biology is incompatible with theism. Panicked statements by Intelligent Design advocates that “we will either be a nation under God or under Darwin” are unhelpful. (I can just imagine Screwtape and Wormwood smacking their lips and rubbing their hands in glee at that concession!) Much better would be to let these naturalistic ideologues hang themselves on the rope of their own contradictions. By a happy coincidence, and because of the generous hospitality of the editors of FIRST THINGS, I was already able to do that with Dennett in the same issue where the cardinal’s essay appeared. As for Dawkins, I recommend Simon Conway Morris’ book Life’s Solution: Inevitable Humans in a Lonely Universe (Cambridge) for a full-scale refutation of Dawkins on solid Darwinian grounds.
Although atheists do a lot of damage to susceptible minds by depriving them of the consolations of religion, their ideology should never pose an intellectual threat to believers, but only provoke justified dismay at their arrogance. As C.S. Lewis said in A Grief Observed , “I will never believe”more strictly I can’t believe”that one set of physical events can be, or make, a mistake about other sets.”
Edward T. Oakes, S.J.
University of St. Mary of the Lake
Christoph Cardinal Schönborn’s article in your last issue has a special resonance for Protestants who cheer on the Intelligent Design movement. Whereas the Catholic thinker may rely on an intellectual Christian framework offered by St. Thomas and, before him, Aristotle, the Protestant has a patchwork of Barth, Bruner, Bultmann, Tillich, Hartshorne, Cobb, Gilkey, et al. All of these were and are serious, worthy scholars of Christian thought, but they offer contemporary Protestants meager ammunition in the current battles over design. In particular, as Cardinal Schönborn demonstrates, the Catholic thinker can develop a compelling argument”both for its critical insight and its venerable tradition”from the Thomistic analysis of causes. This analysis demonstrates that the modern scientist excludes two of the traditional causes”formal and final”at the outset. Thus, when the zoologist asserts he sees no design in the chambered nautilus, he is acknowledging not so much that a design is not evident to him as that a design or formal cause was excluded from the beginning.
The exclusion of formal and final causes tells us several things about modern science: one, that it stands in defiance of nearly two thousand years of unaided human reason from Aristotle to St. Paul to the Scholastic Fathers; two, that it restricts our definition of reason to the point that our senses are no longer permitted to inform us adequately. Science closes the door to nature. As long as the excluded causes, formal and final, continue to fall outside the purview of the intellect (as defined by scientific reductionists), the Intelligent Design movement will face opposition.
Christoph Cardinal Schönborn replies:
I am grateful for the thoughtful letters from readers. It would take a book-length treatment to do justice to the issues raised in summary fashion by my essay and the letters. Here I provide only the sketchiest of responses, while looking forward to a continuing dialogue.
Robert T. Miller points to, in effect, an equivocation on the word “science.” In my essay I followed the modern usage, in which the word means (borrowing Jacques Maritain’s term) the empiriological investigation of nature. I certainly agree, however, that philosophical arguments are scientific in the broader, older meaning of the term and must stand or fall based on their relation to observable reality.
It is true that excluding truths and explanations a priori is contrary to “the scientific cast of mind.” But early modern scientists were humans too, with all the usual weaknesses that implies. They were, for example, deeply influenced in their science by various theological and philosophical commitments well known to historians of mechanical philosophy. They did indeed rule out certain kinds of explanations on the supposition that they were either useless or false. Part of that supposition was justifiable, in that one can and must assume the existence of substances with their natural ends in order to investigate experimentally and explain mathematically the mechanical “inner workings” of their natures. Moreover, in its bold and very fruitful decision to study nature in a “species-neutral” fashion”that is, according to the regularities common to all material things, reified as “laws of nature””modern science appropriately excluded from consideration those aspects of nature that make things specifically what they are”that is, the natures and essences of substances.
The problem, however, is that once assumed and thus excluded from active scientific study, these aspects of reality soon drop out of understanding completely, and that is largely where we find ourselves today. The kinds of problems to which I refer are sketched out for us in the realm of biology by the American biochemist and medical doctor Leon Kass in his brilliant essay “The Permanent Limitations of Biology.”
Miller provides a fine example of the problem when he implies that humankind did not really know what gold is”did not know it essentially”until its “atomic number” was known. Yet surely humans have known the essence of gold for thousands of years, and our modern empiriological knowledge only supplements and gives greater precision to knowledge that was already well established. The truths of empiriological science go hand in hand with the truths of natural philosophy, each depending on and making up for the limitations of the other, as a fine recent article by Michael Augros in the Thomist , “Reconciling Science with Natural Philosophy,” makes clear.
As to whether I am a faithful son of St. Thomas, here I must with regret disagree with Miller. The undeniable basis for the metaphysics of Aristotle and St. Thomas is their prior study of the natural world of changeable being”of “physics” in their sense of the term. If modern science had shown that Aristotle’s studies of the natural world were false in all relevant ways, then it would also have shown that the metaphysics of St. Thomas was false as well. Conversely, if St. Thomas’ metaphysics is a true science of being qua being, then in some essential respects his underlying physics”suitably updated and purified of empirical errors”is a true description of the natural world.
Fortunately, in this very moment in history some empiriological scientists have a sufficiently “scientific cast of mind” to begin to see and grapple with the limits of reductionism in science, and thus return “from below,” as it were, towards a classical understanding of nature. Thus in biology we find a growing rebellion against reductionism and a return to holism in the writings of first-class scientists such as Franklin Harold in The Way of the Cell .
Even in physics there is a movement toward holism and hierarchical ordering in nature, exemplified by the Nobel laureate Robert Laughlin’s astounding book A Different Universe: Reinventing Physics from the Bottom Down . Wherever we see scientists grappling with the existence of “emergent properties” in nature, we see the bottom-up rediscovery of the formal and structural principles long known to classical philosophy and still needed for a complete grasp of material reality.
As to the allegedly unscientific nature of my comments about the teleological pattern evident in evolution, I refer Professor Miller to the excellent book mentioned in Father Edward T. Oakes’ letter. Simon Conway Morris’ work Life’s Solution: Inevitable Humans in a Lonely Universe is a fine example of what natural teleology looks like from the “bottom-up” perspective of the modern empiriological scientist.
In the magnificent words of St. Thomas, “Hence it is clear that nature is nothing but a certain kind of art, i.e. , the divine art, impressed upon things, by which these things are moved to a determinate end. It is as if the shipbuilder were able to give to timbers that by which they would move themselves to take the form of a ship ” (emphasis added).
Thus, the Thomistic philosopher would expect nature to exhibit an intrinsic teleology, an immanent, lawlike self-unfolding that would appear to the empiriological scientist as “self-organization,” “emergent properties,” and other such philosophically question-begging locutions, as if matter itself was the source of the ontologically prior (although not necessarily temporally prior) principles that organize and structure it.
Turning to the next letter, I sense that I may be caught somewhat in the crossfire between Oakes and his Intelligent Design opponents in their fascinating debates that have unfolded in the pages of FIRST THINGS. Since I have no ability to defend, or interest in defending, Intelligent Design theory, I will step back, leaving behind three comments.
First, I respectfully disagree with his characterization of the work of Simon Conway Morris as a “refutation of Dawkins on solid Darwinian grounds.” Morris’ work on teleological, lawlike evolution is in fact a powerful challenge to Darwinian orthodoxy, which is based in large part on the absolute contingency of the results of variation and natural selection as they drive the purposeless meanderings of phylogeny across an arbitrarily changing fitness landscape. This is made clear by the book reviews of Morris’ work by ultra-Darwinists who, emboldened perhaps by his known status as a Christian believer, have gone so far as to label him a “creationist” for claiming to find scientific evidence for laws of evolution.
As to the question of “purpose without design,” I agree that the extrinsic teleology and implied perfectionism of William Paley is untenable, but I think a proper understanding of the problem is more difficult than Oakes seems to think. A careful discussion of this problem would, however, far exceed the scope of this response. As I hope my essay made clear, a suitably tamed version of neo-Darwinism is certainly compatible with traditional philosophical truths about nature. But unfortunately in practice Darwinism as science seems almost always to transform itself into Darwinism as pseudo-philosophy, the fact that led to my attack on an overreaching Darwinism in my New York Times essay. What the biological sciences need is a “non-Darwinian Darwinism,” as Father Stanley Jaki makes clear in a fine essay by that name in the recent volume L’Evoluzione: Crocevia di Scienza, Filosofia e Teologia .
Finally, Oakes raises the important question of theodicy, but I wonder whether it is fair for him to focus his critique on “intelligent design” theorists. After all, our Catholic faith teaches that God providentially reigns over all of reality, down to its tiniest details. So orthodox Christianity itself must answer the charges of “natural evil” raised by Oakes. Darwinism provides no easy answers for theology, unless one incorporates evolutionary thinking into theology, using Darwinistic and heterodox “process theology” to absolve God from the responsibilities of His all-encompassing providence.
I have given some attention to these problems in my series of catechetical lectures, but certainly there are no easy answers. As with so many mysteries, orthodox Christianity must accept completely and unequivocally two truths”in this case, that God is all good and all powerful”and humbly shoulder the difficult burden of fitting those two truths together without diluting either of them.
I give thanks for the kind words from B.L. Levens. As with so many battles in the modern world, Protestants and Catholics have in common a defense of the traditional Christian faith, even unpopular and uncomfortable truths such as we find in Romans 1:19“20. I hope my year of catechetical lectures on these difficult topics can be of some service in this great work.
Pope Benedict’s essay (“Europe and Its Discontents,” January) attempts historical survey within the confines of a manifesto. Its insights are bright and concise, but its greatest omission is its treatment of Marxism exclusively within the context of a survey of political theory. To be sure, Marxism was a delusion ending in enormous cruelty, but why did it draw so much support? We cannot dismiss those who believed in it as idiots. And how can we attribute to Communism the dehumanization that has visited America in recent times, when we were for many years a fiercely anti-Communist nation?
I would suggest that Marx gave a wrong answer to a right question: How shall we counter the dehumanizing of the Industrial Revolution? If we wish to defend the family today, we need to understand the extent to which it was attacked by the sudden explosion of industrial capitalism. Almost overnight, cities replaced villages, factories replaced guilds, and the blue-collar commuter was born.
Marx defined the problem as a class struggle and insisted that classes had to be eliminated. The first thing that had to fall, of course, was private ownership and capital. We rightly rejected this proposition. I would argue, however, that we did not reject one of the insidious premises of Marxist theory: that the value of a life is judged by its contribution to the economy. Feminism behaves like the last-surviving child of Marxism when it seeks to establish woman’s value by moving her into the workplace. Our youngest children are sent to child-farms so that mothers can go do more profitable things. It was in the pope’s homeland that the term Kinderfeindheit arose”seeing children as the enemy. This is the origin of the self-hatred pervading the West.
Rev. Al Hoger
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Pope Benedict wrote a highly challenging, comprehensive, and respectful article calling for a European identity with three strong pillars”a pillar of human rights and dignity, a pillar of marriage and the family, and a pillar of religious multiculturalism that respects the Christian religion and its European traditions. This learned, gentle leader shows little patience with the self-hatred of the West toward its own religious origins. He ends his article with a call for Christians in Europe to become a creative minority that helps Europe reclaim the best of its heritage.
In this spirit, realizing that we cannot go back to a time when Christian thought and tradition were dominant in European affairs, we should recognize that secularists are not necessarily the enemy we often presume them to be. In order to go forward, we must appreciate that many atheists can be people of good will who fully support human rights and dignity; that certain types of permanent, civil homosexual unions may be respectful and even supportive of the long-term goals of traditional marriage; and that a secular culture can express much that is spiritually positive when it encourages, in addition to its own views, the full expression of religious beliefs in a wide variety of forms and traditions.
To go forward in this way is necessarily to loosen our grip on dogma, at least insofar as it might be used as a club against others. The “peculiar self-hatred” that the Holy Father notices in the West is our continuing guilt over how Western Christian dogmas were misused in the past to exclude, humiliate, and punish those who held different beliefs, or who held no religious beliefs at all. The hand of friendship, love, and service must now be extended, as the Holy Father says, “to show the face of the revealed God.”
Daniel J. Biezad
San Louis Obispo, California
As a French American who dearly loves both countries and feels blessed to be able to move comfortably from one culture to the other, I want to speak to Americans reading Pope Benedict’s article about our response as Christians to Europe’s problems: Whatever is happening in Europe can happen in the United States, or is already happening here. Americans should not indulge in a false sense of security.
When the pope says that “modern democracies reject God as being the shaper of history,” that only “the will of its citizens counts,” and that the “secular and modern state declares that God is a private question, God is a sentiment,” American readers of FIRST THINGS might sense that the pope is talking about their own country.
San Francisco, California
In commenting on the review of The Soul of an Embryo, Father Neuhaus (The Public Square, January) introduces a red herring: “The point at which one entity (a single embryo) splits into two entities (two identical twins) is of defining importance in determining whether a human life (or lives) has been unjustly taken.” He says he has “never found it persuasive,” and he is right, because there is no scientist who says that a geranium plant, for instance, is not a single organism simply because it is possible to break off a branch and grow a twin from it.
All this means is that the unifying energy of the geranium plant, which pervades the whole, is not destroyed when the branch is broken off, and it proceeds to do its work of producing a whole, unified plant out of what was only a branch. In the human case, it is obvious to any objective observer that there is a unifying energy organizing and directing the development of the “cell mass” from the beginning”selecting, for example, which cells shall be specialized and how and when. The fact that, at an early stage, what this unifying energy is doing is simple enough and the parts it produces are not specialized enough so that, if the “mass” is separated, it can still do its work in each part does not prove that the unifying energy is not (a) single or (b) unifying a single organism. This unifying energy is what philosophers call the “soul” and is what later expresses itself in consciousness and personality.
George A. Blair | <urn:uuid:75bac219-8f73-404c-bd4c-06beb0648490> | {
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Underground Railroad Research Forum
Re: BURRIS, Samuel D. 1808-1869 ?
In Response To: Re: BURRIS, Samuel D. 1808-1869 ? ()
There is a published account of Samuel D. Burris. It is found in the book, "It Happened on the Underground Railroad" by Tricia Martineau Wagner, pg 87. The book states that he was a free, educated black man born in Willow Grove, Delaware in 1808. As an adult, he moved to Philadelphia and was active in a community of abolitionists. He partnered with Thomas Garrett of Wilmington, Delaware and John Hunn, a Maryland Quaker in helping slaves to escape. In time, he was a recognized agent of the Underground Railroad. He would often go deep into Maryland to bring groups of slaves out. In 1848, he was caught with a group of slaves and jailed in Dover, Delaware. His partners contacted the Anti Slavery Society and they tried to help him. He waited in jail for months for a trial. A law enacted in 1937 stated that if any free black person was convicted of helping slaves escape, they would be sold into slavery for a time determined by the courts. The judge sentanted him to seven years in slavery. In Septmenber 1848, he was put on the auction block with the very people he had tried to save and was subjected to the humiliation and degradation that came with the sale of human chattel. There was nothing he or his friends could do about it. Two slave traders from Baltimore haggled over with with a new slave trader. He was bought for $600. As the trader led him away, he told him, "You have been bought with abolition gold." The new trader was really a fellow abolitionist in disguise. It's good the bidding stopped when it did, as the abolitionist had limited funds. That same year, Burris' partners were tried and fines. They were nearly bankrupt, but kept up thier work on the Underground Railroad. After a few years in Philakephia, Burris took his family to California in 1852. He still did what he could to help the Underground Railroad and helped any former slaves that made their way to California. After the Civil War, he raised money in San Franciso to help the freed slaves in Washington DC. He died in 1869 at the age of 61.
Wow! What a fascinating story. | <urn:uuid:02cd183a-989e-44c6-acb5-78333fe741b0> | {
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The current drought affecting several parts of India is merely a symptom of a growing problem that this country must address with forward vision. Lack of access to good quality and adequate quantity of water for the citizens of India renders meaningless progress in all other fields. There are varying estimates of total useable water resources in the country, but the consensus clearly points to a quantity below 1,000 billion cubic metres, which translates into water availability per capita far below the scarcity benchmark of 1,000 cubic metres. Demand in the future will grow rapidly with increase in irrigation, rapid industrialisation and greater household consumption, particularly with rapid urbanisation.
While the current drought represents a large-scale crisis, several local emergencies have been occurring in India for some years now. Often, costly measures and temporary solutions are implemented such as transporting water by train to parched areas, water tankers plying in both rural and urban areas, often with massive leakages en route. It is unfortunate that we only wake up when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration informs us about declining water tables, while numerous studies in India highlighting this problem have largely been ignored.
Problems of water supply would be exacerbated further with climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) projected widespread loss of mass from glaciers and reduction in snow cover throughout the 21st century, reducing water availability, hydropower potential, and changing seasonality of flows in regions supplied by meltwater, including the Hindu-Kush and Himalayan range. Available research also projects a significant increase in heavy rainfall events in many regions, including some in which the mean rainfall would decrease. As a result, increased risk of floods would pose challenges to society affecting physical infrastructure and water availability.
India’s record of managing water resources does not cover us with glory. In 1995, Teri undertook a detailed exercise to evaluate how India had managed its natural resources in the first 50 years of independence. This massive exercise, which apart from evaluating the damage and degradation in key natural resources like water, forests, soil, air and biodiversity concluded that India was losing over 10 per cent of its GDP annually from environmental costs. When these results were presented in a major public function to the then Prime Minister, I.K Gujral, he commented that these “should jolt us into action”.
However, over the years not enough has been done to deal with this growing malaise. Sadly, India’s major river systems are all dead, incapable of supporting any life, and actually lethal sources of disease. Despite several thousands of crores of expenditure our rivers remain sewers with depleted water flow.
Solutions lie in managing the uses of water rather than focusing only on enhancement of supply. In this regard, pricing of water for a range of uses including agriculture is of critical importance. Highly subsidised electricity tariffs not only promote inefficient pumpsets but also overexploitation of groundwater resources. TERI assessed groundwater resources several years ago and found that in districts like Mehsana in Gujarat and several in Karnataka the water table had dropped to a level that all drinking water wells had turned dry compelling villagers to look elsewhere for drinking water.
In towns and cities there is substantial wastage in transportation of water, and in the domestic, industrial and commercial sectors. Industrial recycling of water could be achieved through appropriate regulations as well as price incentives and disincentives. Research on new crops and practices should also be undertaken to make agriculture drought proof. There is also need for reviving indigenous water management practices and institutions. These institutions functioned effectively for several centuries prior to colonial times. Sadly, the country’s independence did not bring a turning point in this regard.
We have now reached a crisis, which can only be solved through focused attention at the macro level for the country as a whole, and going directly to the grassroots for workable solutions. It is essential for the government to adopt long-term measures, including water storage and transport structures and effect institutional changes by which such crises, which will become more serious in the future, do not lead to large-scale human suffering and social disruption.
R. K. Pachauri is Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Director-General, The Energy & Resources Institute (Teri)
The views expressed by the author are personal | <urn:uuid:2c3ffe56-873b-4968-863c-3795d7080f4c> | {
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In the first two investigations of Lesson 3, "Quadratic Models," students build quadratic models for motion, income, and profit. They investigate the contextual meaning and impact of each term of the quadratic expression and use the models to solve problems. In Investigations 3 and 4 of this lesson (not included in this sample material), students analyze the variety of patterns that can be modeled by the full quadratic expression ax2 + bx + c and the ways that questions corresponding to the quadratic equations can be solved by numerical and graphical methods.
Throughout the curriculum, interesting problem contexts serve as the foundation for instruction. As lessons unfold around these problem situations, classroom instruction tends to follow a common pattern as elaborated under Instructional Design.
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Course 3 contains three units devoted to extending student ability to represent and solve problems using algebraic models and methods. Students develop the ability to construct, reason with, and solve equations involving several variables and constraints in Unit 1, Multiple-Variable Models. Unit 3, Symbol Sense and Algebraic Reasoning, formalizes the function concept, introduces polynomial and rational functions, extends the solution of equations and inequalities by methods including factoring and the quadratic formula, and develops student ability in algebraic proof. The final algebra and functions unit in Course 3, Families of Functions, reviews and extends student understanding of the basic function families and develops student ability to adjust function rules to match patterns in tables, graphs, and problem conditions.
Four units in Course 4 extend student understanding of algebra and function concepts in preparation for post-secondary education. Students develop understanding of the fundamental concepts underlying calculus, of inverse functions, and of logarithmic functions and their use in modeling and analyzing problem situations. Students also extend their ability to use polynomial and rational functions to solve problems and to manipulate symbolic representations of exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions.
A unit that develops understanding and skill in the use of standard spreadsheet operations while reviewing and extending many of the basic algebra topics from Courses 1-3 is included for students intending to pursue programs in social, management, and some of the health sciences or humanities.
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Copyright 2014 Core-Plus Mathematics Project. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:38064bab-8164-47ac-bbe5-a29de1f71154> | {
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sheet-web weavers, dwarf spiders
This tree diagram shows the relationships between several groups of organisms.
The root of the current tree connects the organisms featured in this tree to their containing group and the rest of the Tree of Life. The basal branching point in the tree represents the ancestor of the other groups in the tree. This ancestor diversified over time into several descendent subgroups, which are represented as internal nodes and terminal taxa to the right.
You can click on the root to travel down the Tree of Life all the way to the root of all Life, and you can click on the names of descendent subgroups to travel up the Tree of Life all the way to individual species.close box
Hormiga, G. 1994. Cladistics and the comparative morphology of linyphiid spiders and their relatives (Araneae, Araneoidea, Linyphiidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 111:1-71.
Hormiga, G. 2000. Higher level phylogenetics of Erigonine spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae, Erigoninae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 609:1-160.
Millidge, A. F. 1993. Further remarks on the taxonomy and relationships of the Linyphiidae, based on epigynal duct conformation and other characters (Araneae). Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 9:145-156.
Penney D. and P. A. Selden. 2002. The oldest linyphiid spider, in Lower Cretaceous Lebanese amber (Araneae, Linyphiidae, Linyphiinae). Journal of Arachnology 30 (3):487-493.
- Linyphiid Spiders of the World. A. V. Tanasevitch, All-Russian Institute on Nature Conservation.
Page copyright © 2006
All Rights Reserved.
- First online 07 December 2006
- Content changed 07 December 2006
Citing this page:
Tree of Life Web Project. 2006. Linyphiidae. sheet-web weavers, dwarf spiders. Version 07 December 2006 (temporary). http://tolweb.org/Linyphiidae/25497/2006.12.07 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/ | <urn:uuid:9983c1c5-4d1c-44c3-9649-0f366ffd9aaa> | {
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If the cells that make up your body are little factories, then the shipping department just picked up a Nobel Prize this morning with the award for physiology or medicine going to researchers Randy Schekman of the University of California at Berkeley, James Rothman of Yale University, and Thomas Südhof of Stanford. These scientists don't work together, but their research does overlap and play off each other in important ways. In fact, this isn't the first time some of these men have shared major research awards.
What makes their work so important? It's really all about increasing our understanding of how individual cells operate and participate in major bodily systems like immunity or hormone control. If you built little models of cells back in grade school, you probably have a mental image of them as a sort of lumpy sack with a couple of things inside — a big fat nucleus and some squirrelly little mitochondria, mostly. But it turns out that there's a lot more happening in the interior of a cell than that. Much of that activity is centered around vesicles — bubbles in the fluid that fills a cell. There are many different kinds of vesicles doing many different jobs, but one of the important things they do is move molecules, either within the cell or from the cell to the outside world.
Here's how the Nobel website explains it:
In a large and busy port, systems are required to ensure that the correct cargo is shipped to the correct destination at the right time. The cell, with its different compartments called organelles, faces a similar problem: cells produce molecules such as hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines and enzymes that have to be delivered to other places inside the cell, or exported out of the cell, at exactly the right moment. Timing and location are everything. Miniature bubble-like vesicles, surrounded by membranes, shuttle the cargo between organelles or fuse with the outer membrane of the cell and release their cargo to the outside. This is of major importance, as it triggers nerve activation in the case of transmitter substances, or controls metabolism in the case of hormones. How do these vesicles know where and when to deliver their cargo?
The "how" question is really what Schekman, Rothman, and Südhof's work is all about. By examining what happened in cells where this shipping system wasn't working properly, they were able to figure out how different parts of the system were actually supposed to be operating and were able to learn more about the genetic and environmental factors that can throw the cellular shipping department off its game. What they've learned is having a big impact on how researchers think about immune system disorders, diabetes (insulin is one of the chemicals that vesicles move around), and neurological problems linked to hormone transport.
Change your mental image of the interior of a cell with this illustration from a 1996 Scientific American story on Rothman's work. It'll give you a better feel for the vesicle action that's happening all over the place, all the time.
The Scientific American Podcast has a recording from the official announcement early this morning, which gets into some of the nitty-gritty detail on what vesicles do and what Schekman, Rothman, and Südhof contributed to our understanding of them.
Nature News has links to research papers written by the winners, and to more-easily-readable essays the three men wrote about the work.
Reuters has a nice summary of the research, too.
Image: Public Domain image of lipid vesicles, courtesy Wikipedia.
Maggie Koerth-Baker is the science editor at BoingBoing.net. She writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine and is the author of Before the Lights Go Out, a book about electricity, infrastructure, and the future of energy. You can find Maggie on Twitter and Facebook. | <urn:uuid:11c788a4-d6e8-43fa-b7fa-4ace83f11c45> | {
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The development builds on previous work in which the team developed a high-capacity flow battery that stored energy in organic molecules called quinones and a food additive called ferrocyanide instead of metal ions such as lithium. These resulted in high-performance, non-flammable, non-toxic, non-corrosive, and low-cost chemicals that could enable large-scale, inexpensive electricity storage in flow batteries.
These store energy in solutions in external tanks — the bigger the tanks, the more energy they store. The team found inspiration in vitamin B2, which helps to store energy from food in the body. The key difference between B2 and quinones is that nitrogen atoms, instead of oxygen atoms, are involved in picking up and giving off electrons.
“After considering about a million different quinones, we have developed a new class of battery electrolyte material that expands the possibilities of what we can do,” said Kaixiang Lin, a Ph.D. student at Harvard and first author of the paper in Nature Energy. “Its simple synthesis means it should be manufacturable on a large scale at a very low cost, which is an important goal of this project."
“With only a couple of tweaks to the original B2 molecule, this new group of molecules becomes a good candidate for alkaline flow batteries,” said Michael J. Aziz, the Gene and Tracy Sykes Professor of Materials and Energy Technologies at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). “They have high stability and solubility and provide high battery voltage and storage capacity. Because vitamins are remarkably easy to make, this molecule could be manufactured on a large scale at a very low cost.”
Harvard’s Office of Technology Development has been working closely with the research team to build relationships with companies well positioned to commercialize the new chemistries. | <urn:uuid:c6ef0b45-be35-4c04-a23b-904a5a0ea163> | {
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded its 2016 Clean Air Excellence
Award for Regulatory and Policy Innovations to the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District.
EPA recognized the Great Basin for its historic achievement to control air pollution from the dried Owens Lake bed in California, the largest source of particulate air pollution in the United States.
This is EPA’s highest national award to honor a project for its impact, innovation
and replicability in improving the nation’s air quality.
Over 100 years ago, the Owens River was diverted by the Los Angeles Aqueduct creating the dry lake bed. The resulting emissions of fine dust particles created a danger to public health, especially the children and elderly population.
In 2016, the Great Basin adopted a plan and rule that requires the installation and operation of the largest air pollution control project in U.S. history.
The project will remove over 150,000,000 pounds of harmful air pollutants each year,
transforming some of the nation’s dirtiest air into some of its cleanest.
“Each of these award winners has taken real, tangible steps to improve public health in
their communities by reducing air pollutants or greenhouse gases,” said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “These projects reflect the creativity and commitment of public and private sector organizations to make a difference and drive us toward a cleaner, healthier future.”
“For the first time in more than 100 years, the communities in the Owens Valley will
have same air quality that is required for the rest of the nation” said Phill Kiddoo, the Great Basin’s Air Pollution Control Officer. He continued, “The Great Basin staff has served the public and the environment with their highest dedication and skill, and are honored by this award.”
The EPA presented its award at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on June 28, 2016 with a keynote address given by Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the US EPA. | <urn:uuid:ba88a99b-ff9e-4aec-b0a6-640311cb2825> | {
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Search Encrypt is a privacy based search engine, so we use the best advanced data security features that we can to protect your data. We even go beyond the level of security that SSL provides. Our search engine includes “Perfect Forward Secrecy”, which means we’ve achieved one of the highest levels of security.
What is SSL?
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. It is a cryptographic protocol that helps encrypt communications over a computer network. It creates a secure transfer of sensitive information, like financial information, passwords, and Social Security numbers (websites that collect credit card information are required to have an SSL certificate on their site).
How Does SSL Work?
SSL uses a public and private key, which work in tandem to create a secure, encrypted connection. When a website has an SSL certificate it lets the users’ browsers know a secure connection is available. The website host then responds with the SSL certificate and a secure connection is established. Without an SSL certificate, information is mostly transmitted as plain text, which allows anyone with access to view all the information being transmitted. SSL, though, is encrypted, so it eliminates the risk of compromising information.
Types of SSL Certificates
Number of Domains
Single Domain: This type of SSL Certificate only applies to a single domain URL
Multi Domain (or Universal Communication Certificate): This secures multiple domain names and host names within a single domain. These are best for businesses with multiple sub domains and URLs for different service, product lines or geographic locations.
Wildcard: A wildcard SSL certificate sercures your website URL and an unlimited number of subdomains. (e.g. searchencrypt.com, blog.searchencrypt.com, store.searchencrypt.com)
Domain-Validated SSL: This is the basic type of certificate issued. Automated validation checks that the domain name is registered and that an administrator approves the request. To complete this process the webmaster must confirm the validation via email or configure a DNS record for the site.
Organization Validated Certificate: This is the standard type of certificate required for a e-commerce or public facing website. Organization validation is checked by real agenst against business registry databases. These certificates reveal the domain name, company name, organizational unit (probably your IT dept.), and where the site is registered.
Extended Validation (EV) Certificate: An EV certificate is the most secure and trusted of these certificates. The biggest e-commerce companies use these, and for good reason. Many businesses use these as another step to make customers feel more confident buying from them. (EV SSL has been linked to improved conversion rates.)
Can SSL Be Decrypted or Hacked?
While no system is perfect and truly “un-hackable” Search Encrypt uses more than just SSL to protect your information. Qualys SSL Labs gives each of searchencrypt.com’s servers an A-grade, so Search Encrypt provides the most secure SSL ranking. The short answer though, is yes, SSL can be hacked. However, instances of SSL being hacked wouldn’t effect user information on Search Encrypt.
Because we use perfect forward secrecy (PFS), hackers will have an extremely difficult time viewing your past searches. PFS, in secure communication protocols, means that the compromise of long-term keys does not compromise past session keys. This works because after 30 minutes of inactivity, all your browsing history expires and cannot be viewed on your PC or remotely. | <urn:uuid:c47fe237-5136-4552-9c39-bec8727c8bb0> | {
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National Library of Australia
||St. Leonards, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 1996
xxxviii, 193 p. : 21 cm.
The 1922 High Courts Mabo decision has provoked much controversy in contemporary Australia. As the ruling has increasingly become the subject of intense debate throughout the community, the implications of Mabo have shifted from the law to history, politics and culture. By analysing the historical dimensions of Mabo, this book reflects on its profound cultural and political significance. It suggests how the High Court's ruling was determined by the interpretation offered by historical scholarship. And it considers how Mabo in its turn represents a new historical narrative which affects the way we conceive of Australia and the relationship between indigenous and settler Australians. Mabo was underpinned by the emergence of the new field of knowledge called 'Aboriginal history'. This book discusses the far-reaching outcomes of Aborigines presenting their histories, not only for the law and the disciplines of history, archaeology and anthropology, but also for the politics of identity. In the Age of Mabo assesses the way that the Aboriginal past is represented in a range of national discourses, and the importance Aboriginality thus has for debates about nationhood and national identity in the context of the republic.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
||Mabo decision. | Aboriginal Australians - Land tenure. | Land tenure - Law and legislation - Australia. | Aboriginal Australians - Legal status, laws, etc. | Aboriginal Australians - History. | Native title (Australia)
Members of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori communities are advised that this catalogue contains names and images of deceased people. All users of the catalogue should also be aware that certain words, terms or descriptions may be culturally sensitive and may be considered inappropriate today, but may have reflected the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written. | <urn:uuid:9d676073-62a6-46eb-8fae-8050d584761d> | {
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The country at this time was agitated over two great questions: the question of slavery and that of secession. The South was ready to separate from the North, and the entire country was in a most critical condition. Such was the state of affairs when Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office as president of the United States. Lincoln was scarcely three weeks in office when the great war of the Rebellion between the North and the South broke out; a war of which there is no parallel in history. Brother fought against brother, and father against son. Here it was that Lincoln showed his heroic courage, and by his indomitable will kept the reins of government firmly in his hands, thus saving the country from utter anarchy. The war continued with unrelenting vigor for two years, and its horrible consequences were sorely felt throughout the land. In September, 1862, Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation, by which slavery was forever banished from this country. Still the warring did not cease. In 1864 Lincoln was elected for a second term in office. The people knew his noble character and they had full confidence in him.
At last peace seemed to be in sight. The North had sacrificed the blood of thousands of its men as well as the wealth of its treasuries. The South, in the same manner, had not only lost tens of thousands of its bravest men, but it was utterly ruined, on account of the terrible punishment the war had inflicted upon that sunny land.
Richmond, the stronghold of the rebellion, had fallen, and victory was on the side of the Union. Amidst universal rejoicings, there came the saddest news. On the 14th day of April, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
The whole nation was thrown into deepest mourning. The noble heart of Lincoln beat no more. He is called the “Martyr President.”
His remains were taken to Springfield, Illinois, where they rest at the foot of a small hill in Oakwood Cemetery. A simple monument, with the name—“Lincoln”—upon it, is the only epitaph of him, who next to Washington was the greatest man of our glorious Republic.
ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE DEDICATION OF THE CEMETERY AT GETTYSBURG
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that the nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. | <urn:uuid:fad05560-b5a0-4846-a4c5-21681834eaec> | {
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Visualize trees, grass, ferns, and new Spring growth. Verdant nature is topmost in the imagery for the color green. Green connotations are fresh and soothing, like: renewal, regeneration, and relaxation. “Green” is also a buzzword for protecting our environment, standing out for nature conservancy and ecological preservation. More meanings and symbolism for green are found at About2.com and Squidoo.com.
Vast green hillsides of Ireland — the Emerald Isle — and shamrocks acclaim St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. Ireland’s patron saint reputedly used the three-leafed shamrock as an illustration of the holy Trinity. Early observations of the day included good works performed to honor St. Patrick. The celebration spread throughout the world, ranging from the Catholic feast day to activities honoring Irish culture, as well as high-spirited shenanigans. Many St. Patrick’s Day activities worldwide are listed on wikipedia. In the US, parades became a feature of the day. In Chicago, 40 gallons of green vegetable dye change the color of the Chicago River for a few hours, an annual tradition since 1961. Savannah, GA, dyes its water fountains green. In New London, Wisconsin, leprechauns change the town’s name to New Dublin the week of St. Patrick’s Day.
I have a goodly chunk of Irish ancestry and our baby daughter arrived with an Irish complexion and fine red hair that goes well with it’s complement on the color wheel: Green. | <urn:uuid:18b853d4-9f97-4f48-a6b6-d660a73d8a2a> | {
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Bioinformatics includes storing, retrieving, organizing and analyzing biological data. The biological data are stored in databases. Analyzing of these stored data involves algorithms in artificial intelligence, image processing, data mining, soft computing. With the help of genome, sequence analysis, data analyses by using high-throughput sequencing technologies researchers are able to know more about the functioning of genome. Bioinformatics has turned into a paramount part of numerous territories of science. In test atomic science, bioinformatics strategies, for example picture and indicator handling permit extraction of advantageous comes about because of a lot of crude information. In the field of heredity and genomics, it helps in sequencing and commenting genomes and their watched changes. Bioinformatics devices support in the correlation of hereditary and genomic information and all the for the most part in the comprehension of evolutionary parts of science.
Last date updated on May, 2014 | <urn:uuid:deacdce3-c3b8-4b03-a94a-f2fe5de74e02> | {
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The Tangerine is one of the most popular varieties of the citrus fruit commonly known as the orange. What many people may not realize is that the tangerine is actually an offshoot of the mandarin family of oranges.
Tangerines are grown in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas, and their best seasons are November through January in the United States and North America. Tangerines are smaller than most oranges, peel more easily and are usually less tart or sour in taste than the average orange. In fact, most people love tangerines for their uniquely sweet taste.
The tangerine has a long history. Its name comes from Tangiers in Morocco, the port where the fruit was first shipped to Europe and Florida in the United States in the 1800s. But prior to that, tangerines had been cultivated in China and Japan for over 3,000 years. Tangerines on the Italian Mediterranean are very popular, but the fruit also grows abundantly in Japan, southern China, India, the East Indies and in Australia.
There are also many different varieties and hybrids of the tangerine. The tangelo is a cross between a tangerine and grapefruit or pomelo (a large citrus fruit related to the grapefruit), and its name is a combination of tangerine and pomelo. The Minneola tangelo is one of the most popular tangerine varieties, known for its juiciness and mild, sweet flavor and easily recognized by the little knob formation at its stem end. The Clementine, which is also known as the Algerian tangerine, is a small, sweet-tasting and seedless tangerine that comes from North Africa and Spain. The tangor is a cross between a tangerine and an orange and is also known as a temple orange or royal mandarin. While it is no longer as widely grown, the Dancy tangerine, whose peak season is December, is commonly known as the Christmas Orange since children would often receive them in their Christmas stockings.
The tangerine is a great source of vitamin C, beta-carotene and folate and also contains vitamins B1, B2 and B3, as well as potassium and magnesium. Tangerines are most popularly consumed by peeling and eating out of hand, but it can also be juiced or used in salads, main dishes or desserts. Tangerines can be stored in the refrigerator for up to seven days.
When going to the market to shop for tangerines, be sure to choose the fruit with glossy, deep orange skins. They should be firm to slightly soft and heavy for their size with pebbly skins and no deep grooves, although small green patches near the stems can be disregarded. | <urn:uuid:3108ad5c-6e73-4a4b-afd3-3b85064447ef> | {
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View of the Wheelhouse looking towards forward/starboard.
(Photo by Jerry Proc)
Two important operations took place in the Wheelhouse. The ship
was steered by the Helmsman and engine orders were relayed from the Bridge
down to the Wheelhouse for action and acknowledgment by the Engine Room.
A total of three men occupied this area - one Helmsman and two engine telegraphists.
Except for two scuttles, the entire Wheel House was enclosed and the Helmsman
could not see outside. It didn't really matter because it was the Bridge
who was steering or 'conning' the ship. In the event that the Wheelhouse
was destroyed or put of action, the ship could still be conned from
an open, emergency steering position on the upper, after end of the ship.
To avoid errors in the magnetic compass, the entire Wheelhouse was fabricated
from brass plate.
This top view illustrates the emergency steering position aboard
HAIDA which is located between the aft 40mm A/A guns. It would definitely
be an unfriendly location during inclement weather. (Photo by | <urn:uuid:57336093-3cb8-4a75-abc4-9cfa659d7a60> | {
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Published: Nov 2012
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Aggregation between suspended oil droplets and suspended particulate matter (SPM), which leads to the formation of oil-SPM aggregates (OSAs), is recognized as an important process affecting the fate of spilled oil in fresh and marine water systems. It affects oil sedimentation and; thus, contamination of bottom sediments during oil spill events. This paper presents laboratory results from a multi-year research project to gain quantitative understanding of the factors controlling the formation and fate of OSAs formed with naturally and chemically dispersed oils. The results relate to the measurements of OSA's content in total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), size distribution, density and settling velocity. Oil sedimentation caused by negatively buoyant OSAs varied from 0.3 % to 56 %. The highest percentage of oil sedimentation was obtained with chemically dispersed oil. The size of OSAs varied from 40 to 700 μm. The median size varied between 115 and 240 μm. The effective density and settling velocity varied between 10 and 200 g/L and 0.3 and 3 mm/s, respectively. The study showed that sediment grain size and concentration have strong influence on OSA formation. For a relatively low sediment concentration of 100 mg/L, OSA formation can lead to significant enhancement of oil transfer from the water surface to bottom sediments. Overall, the study showed that the formation and physical properties of OSAs are similar to those of sediment flocs.
oil spill, oil sedimentation, oil-sediment interaction, oil-clay flocculation, oil-SPM interactions, oil-SPM aggregates, oil-fine interactions, oil-mineral aggregates, oil dispersion; contaminated sediments, oil in sediments
Emergencies Science and Technology Section, Operational Analytical Laboratories and Research Support Division, Science & Technology Branch, Environment Canada, Ottawa, ON | <urn:uuid:4eb6aeae-3bcc-4cbe-88de-5989dc5288ab> | {
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by Peg Young, Ph.D.
Transportation energy use relative to gross domestic product (GDP) has been declining within the past decade. However, the total transportation energy consumed (see figure 1) shows only a more recent decline. To see clearly the long-term decline, the seasonal component first must be separated from the underlying trendline to observe the long-term trend of that energy consumption. Then the ratio of the deseaonalized data and GDP can be taken.
The following graphs and analyses focus on recent trends from January 2000 to the present (October 2008). Figure 2 shows the actual monthly transportation energy use along with the underlying trend (noted in red) of that data over this shorter time period.
The underlying long-term trend was essentially upward, increasing approximately 5 billion Btu per month, until mid 2007 when the energy consumption trendline began to turn downward. Occasional slight dips in these consumption changes were temporary and proved minor when compared to the decline in more recent years.
For the past 8 years, seasonal patterns have exhibited little change over time; figure 3 depicts the average monthly seasonal variation from January 2000 to October 2008. The factors indicate that transportation energy consumption tends to be the lowest in February (approximately 200 trillion Btu below the long-term trend), whereas July and August tend to be the highest (approximately 100 and 120 trillion Btu above the trend).
Seasonal variation in the data can mask long-term energy consumption trends. Removing the effects of seasonality from the monthly data reveals both the trend and any remaining unexplained variation. Figure 4 provides the seasonally adjusted monthly data, i.e., the masking effect of seasonality has been removed.
The measure of transportation Btu per chained 2000 dollars of GDP is a measure of energy intensity for the economy and can be used to assess our dependence on oil. Comparing transportation Btu relative to GDP helps determine if the changes in GDP explain the changes in transportation energy consumption. Because GDP is a quarterly measure,1 the transportation Btu (actual and seasonally adjusted values) are converted to quarterly values, as shown in figure 5.
Quarterly GDP, which is seasonally adjusted, is divided into the seasonally adjusted quarterly transportation energy consumption. The results are provided in figure 6, which shows that transportation energy consumption has been declining relative to GDP. The decline steepened beginning in the third quarter of 2007, when the cost of fuel rose dramatically.
1 Gross domestic product data available at the U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/gdpnewsrelease.htm
Btu = British thermal unit. The average heat content of motor gasoline is 129,024 Btu per gallon. One quadrillion Btu is equivalent to the heat content of 7.75 billion gallons of motor gasoline. | <urn:uuid:7473802f-5055-490c-840f-237a933b3be2> | {
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Myth: Down syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.
Truth: Down syndrome is the most commonly
occurring genetic condition. One in every 800 to 1,000 live births is
a child with Down syndrome, representing approximately 5,000 births
per year in the United States alone. Today, Down syndrome affects more
than 350,000 people in the United States.
Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older
Truth: Eighty percent of children born with Down
syndrome are born to women younger than 35-years-old. However, the
incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the
age of the mother.
Myth: People with Down syndrome are severely retarded.
Truth: Most people with Down syndrome have IQs
that fall in the mild to moderate range of retardation. Children with
Down syndrome are definitely educable and educators and researchers
are still discovering the full educational potential of people with
Myth: Most people with Down syndrome are institutionalized.
Truth: Today people with Down syndrome live at
home with their families and are active participants in the
educational, vocational, social and recreational activities of the
community. They are integrated into the regular education system, and
take part in sports, camping, music, art programs and all the other
activities of their communities. In addition, they are socializing
with people with and without disabilities, and as adults are obtaining
employment and living in group homes and other independent housing
Myth: Parents will not find community support in bringing
up their child with Down syndrome.
Truth: In almost every community of the United
States there are parent support groups and other community
organizations directly involved in providing services to families of
individuals with Down syndrome.
Myth: Children with Down syndrome must be placed in
segregated special education programs.
Truth: Children with Down syndrome have been
included in regular academic classrooms in schools across the country.
In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in
other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom
for all subjects. The degree of mainstreaming is based in the
abilities of the individual; but the trend is for full inclusion in
the social and educational life of the community.
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unemployable.
Truth: Businesses are seeking young adults with
Down syndrome for a variety of positions. They are being employed in
small and medium sized offices: by banks, corporations, nursing homes,
hotels and restaurants. They work in the music and entertainment
industry, in clerical positions and in the computer industry. People
with Down syndrome bring to their jobs enthusiasm, reliability and
Myth: People with Down syndrome are always happy.
Truth: People with Down syndrome have feelings
just like everyone else in the population. They respond to positive
expressions of friendship and they are hurt and upset by inconsiderate
Myth: Adults with Down syndrome are unable to form close
interpersonal relationships leading to marriage.
Truth: People with Down syndrome date, socialize
and form ongoing relationships. Some are beginning to marry. Women
with Down syndrome can and do have children, but there is a 50 percent
chance that their child will have Down syndrome. Men with Down
syndrome are believed to be sterile, with only one documented instance
of a male with Down syndrome who has fathered a child.
Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great
strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the
characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it
will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems
associated with Down syndrome in the future. | <urn:uuid:ec739330-4f43-4cc3-91a5-4c1ec776bf92> | {
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There’s been a buzz in the diet-world about the Paleo diet and many want to know if the diet is good for people with diabetes or not. New research has shown that following a Paleo diet can help patients lose weight and lower A1C levels. Others, however, are convinced a Paleo diet deprives individuals of much needed fiber and nutrition. We’ll explore both sides of the story.
The Paleo diet is based on our ancestor’s hunter-gatherer lifestyle from the Paleolitic Era, or Old Stone Age period. It is high in protein and low in processed carbohydrates. According to Dr. Steve Parker, author of Paleobetic Diet, diabetes can be controlled with Paleolithic eating, which is comprised of the following components: nuts, seeds, proteins, vegetables, fruits and healthy oils.
Foods to avoid on the Paleo diet are: corn, wheat, rice, dairy, legumes (including peanuts, beans, peas, green beans), and vegetable, soybean, corn, safflower oils, alcohol and refined sugars.
Parker advocates a low-carb paleo diet for people with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2. “Low-carb in this context means 50-80 grams per day of net carbs (total carbohydrate grams minus fiber grams),” he explains.
“People who can tolerate a high-carb-gram count might include those with very high activity levels, or relatively mild type 2 diabetes with significant residual insulin production by the pancreas plus low insulin resistance.”
On his blog, Parker points out that if you take certain diabetes drugs, “the Paleobetic Diet could put you at major risk for serious—even life-threatening—hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).” Along with his extensive diet plan for the Paleobetic Diet, he advises people to consult their physicians, certified diabetes educators, and dietitian regarding this and other issues before starting the diet.
There are some new scientific data to support the Paleo diet, but “not as much as I’d like,” Parker says.
A 2017 study in Sweden put overweight and obese type 2 diabetics on a paleo diet for 12 weeks. Average weight loss was 15 lb (7.1 kg) and hemoglobin A1c dropped by 1%.
Additionally, blood pressure dropped an average of 10%, a very nice “side effect,” when so many with diabetes also have high blood pressure, according to Parker. Amazingly, the author points out these improvements were on an ad libitum diet, meaning they could eat as much as they wanted.
Another study published in the Journal of Nutrition in 2017 linked both the Paleo diet and Mediterranean diet with lower overall risk of death. Study participants who ate Paleo or Mediterranean-style diets were significantly less likely to die over six years.
On the flip side, there are many who are not proponents of the Paleo diet because it eliminates a lot of healthy components to a healthy, well-balanced diet.
“Nothing is ever all or none,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club. “That’s why I would never recommend any blanket diet to a whole population.”
When it comes to Paleo specifically, Harris-Pincus is not a fan of anything that eliminates entire food groups because it’s near impossible to stick to.
She argues that people with diabetes are inherently limited anyway, and to put more restrictions on them is not the way to go. “If you look further into Paleo, they have built-in cheats days,” she says. “Anything you have to cheat on, to me is something that is not sustainable to live on.”
Harris-Pincus says, of course, you’re going to have little indulgences here and there because that’s what we do as human beings: “We eat for all sorts of reasons besides nourishment — for social purposes, when we’re stressed, happy, mad, sad, tired, bored etc., but when you take away the ability for any indulgence — ever, that’s not reasonable.”
She also doesn’t like that Paleo leaves out all grains and dairy when these are two foods that have been proven to be beneficial for people with diabetes when eaten appropriately for as part of an overall healthy diet.
“The Paleo diet leaves out beans, which we know is beneficial with people with diabetes because they help prevent heart disease, lower LDL cholesterol, have fiber and protein which we know helps to control blood sugar, why would we leave those out?” she questions.
Harris-Pincus is certain that if someone with diabetes decides to eat a balanced meal with lean protein, a healthy carbohydrate, and a vegetable, it’s going to be very healthy for their blood-sugar because there’s balance on their plate.
She points out that Paleo allows unrefined sugars, such as agave, syrup, etc. “Sugar is sugar,” she argues. “All the Paleo recipes on the Internet that are dumping syrup into their food isn’t appropriate for someone with diabetes.”
Whether you are a fan of the Paleo diet and philosophy or not, it’s clear that experts agree that diabetes is a diet influenced disease. What is right for one person may not be right for you. As with any change in your diet, lifestyle or treatment-plan, be sure to check-in with your health-care provider to make sure the decision is right for you.
Foods to Eat on a Paleo Diabetic Diet:
- Grass-fed meat
- Fresh Fruits
- Cage-Free organic eggs
- Olive, Flaxseed, coconut oils
Foods Not to Eat on a Paleo Diabetic Diet:
- Cereal grains
- Refined Sugar
- Processed foods
- Vegetable oil
1. Masharani U, Sherchan P, Schloetter M, Stratford S, Xiao A, Sebastian A, Nolte Kennedy M, Frassetto L. “Metabolic and physiologic effects from consuming a hunter-gatherer (Paleolithic)-type diet in type 2 diabetes.” Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25828624
2. Tay J, Luscombe-Marsh ND, Thompson CH, Noakes M, Buckley JD, Wittert GA, Yancy WS Jr, Brinkworth GD. “A very low-carbohydrate, low-saturated fat diet for type 2 diabetes management: a randomized trial.” Retrieved from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/19604407/
3. Parker, Steve MD. “Paleobetic Diet.” August 27, 2015. Retrieved from: https://paleodiabetic.com/paleobetic-diet/ | <urn:uuid:b5cf01c7-5fab-4ad0-95a6-f3bf50199d54> | {
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MCP Plaid Phonics Bundle Level C (Grade 3)
MCP Plaid Phonics Level C blends phonics instruction with meaningful reading in curriculum-related fiction and nonfiction. By combining phonics skills with vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking, students will develop reading fluency. The activities help develop spelling (encoding), recognize words in context, and use phonics in word-building and personal writing.This Bundle includes Student Worktext, Teacher Resource Guide and Parent Guide. Used for homeschool or classroom. MCP Plaid phonics works parallel with Spelling Workout to reinforce key spelling and phonics skills. | <urn:uuid:d4b7d3dc-97ab-4261-a9bb-fb5175bb2c8c> | {
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Before its independence, Kazakhstan's designated manufactures included phosphate fertilizer, rolled metal, radio cables, aircraft wires, train bearings, tractors, and bulldozers. The country also had a well-developed network of factories that produced about 11% of the Soviet Union's military goods. Overwhelmingly dominated by state-owned enterprises under the centrally planned economy, independent Kazakhstan's economy has been substantially, if incompletely, privatized and reoriented to the market economy. Government plans originally called for an almost complete privatization by 2000 through a combination of auctions, the distribution of investment coupons to the public, and case-by-case negotiations for larger enterprises. As of 2001, according to government reports, 71% of the total number of organizations with state participation had been privatized, including 23,170 state-owned enterprises and state stock holdings and state shares in 3,495 organizations.
The process of restructuring its industry has been wrenching, however. Industrial production declined by 13.8% in 1992, by 14.8% in 1993 and by 28.5% in 1994. Decline continued in 1995, but at the single digit rate of 8%. The first positive growth in industrial production after independence was a weak 0.3% improvement in 1996. Privatization moved ahead quickly in that year and into the summer of 1997, a year in which real GDP increased 4%. However, industrial production declined again in 1998—by 2%—due primarily to the combined effects of the Russian financial crisis and a fall in world oil prices. The president, citing the low fuel prices, decreed a halt to further privatization in the country's vital oil and gas sector, and slowed the negotiations on privatization of the remaining large state enterprises called the "Blue Chips." Subsequently, industrial growth resumed at a moderate 3% in 1999, but then at robust double-digit rates of 16% in 2000 and 14% in 2001. For 2002, the estimated growth rate is 9.8%, slightly ahead of overall GDP performance. The share of industrial production fell from 25.9% of GDP in 1994 to 21.8% of GDP in 1995, but had risen to 30% by 2001, according to CIA estimates.
To stimulate recovery, increasingly liberal foreign investment incentives were offered 1991–97. In 1995 Kazakhstan's largest pre-independence operation, the Karaganda Steel Mill (Karmet) was acquired by a London-based company. Pre-independence, Karmet was one of the largest integrated metallurgical complexes in the world, producing coke and chemical products in addition to pig iron, steel, and a wide variety of steel products. In 1995, it was operating at less than half its capacity, workers' wages were often months in arrears, and its installations were being degraded for lack of maintenance. By 2002, about $800 million had been invested in the renamed Ispat Karmet, and output had risen from2.1 million tons of rolled steel in 1995 to 3.63 million tons in 2001 (still nearly 40% below pre-independence levels).
Most of Kazakhstan's manufacturing, refining and metallurgy plants are concentrated in the north and northeast, in Semey, Petropavl, and Aktobe. In south-central Kazakhstan, Shymkent is an important center for chemicals, light manufactures, metallurgy, and food processing; Almaty is important for light industry, machine building, and food processing.
The mining industry accounts for over a third of industrial production, three-fourths of which by value is the production of crude oil and associated gas. Fuel production's share in industrial value-added rose from 11% in 1995 to more than 25% in 2000. By contrast, coal and lignite, 96% of which is produced in Pavlodar and Karaganda oblasts, and iron ore mining, have experienced steady declines since 1991, and each currently accounts for less than 2% of industrial production.
Manufacturing accounts for about half of industrial production. By value the biggest manufacturing category is the processing of agricultural products, accounting for almost 17% of industrial production. Second is the production of nonferrous metals, at about 13% of the total. Textiles and leather manufacturing is served by inputs of wool and other material from the country's own livestock as well as imports of cotton from other parts of the former USSR. Textiles and related products make up an estimated 8% of total industrial output.
Almost 7% of industrial output (14% of manufactures) is accounted for by ferrous metallurgy. Production includes bulldozers, excavators, and metal-cutting equipment.
Kazakhstan's total oil refining capacity in 2002, according to the US Department of Energy, was about 427,000 barrels per day. There are three refineries: one in the north (at Pavlodar), one in the west (at Atyrau), and one in the south (at Shymkent). In early 2002, the refineries were working at about one-third capacity, averaging about 143,388 barrels per day. Refinery products account for about 4% of total production. Smaller contributions are made by mechanical engineering (2.4%) and the chemical industry (1.2%).
The production and distribution of power accounts for about 13.5% of industrial production. | <urn:uuid:ef035d6e-7655-4bbb-aa38-ad7a51226b04> | {
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When people think of eco-friendly foods, they often think of organic foods and family farms. But foraging for wild foods is perhaps the purest way to eat green.
Foraging is harvesting indigenous, wild plants and fungi, as well as fishing and hunting--it's all about eating what the land provides. Because foraged plants are indigenous, they are best suited for the soil in your area, so they grow efficiently and in abundance, without the care, tending and treatments required of farming. And since most people forage close to home, the carbon footprint of your foraged foods is almost zero.
While many people think foraging is for people who live out in the country, nothing could be further from the truth. Urban dwellers can forage both in the city, and in outlying areas.
Journalist and urban forager Becky Lerner lived off foods she foraged for a week last May, chronicling her culinary adventure at CultureChange.org. Her mission was to eat only foods she foraged from along sidewalks, in parks and wilderness areas, and in yards (gardens were off limits) in Portland.
Lerner, who writes about foraging at FirstWays.com and teaches introductory urban foraging, writes that foraging isn't just about finding sustenance during emergencies. "At its core, wild food offers you a deeper way to explore your relationship to the land outside your door, to recognize the gifts Gaia (the Greek goddess of the Earth) has left for you."
Foraging might sound fun at first, but it isn't as easy as swinging by the local market. You have to put in the time, and you need to know which plants and fungi are edible, and which ones will cause illness or even death. Books on local wild foods and the foods of aboriginal peoples in your area are a good place to start, but it's important to spend time learning about the edible plants in the field, so to speak, side-by-side with a local foraging expert.
Lerner recommends Wild Food Adventures in Portland, and Steve Brill, who hosts a variety of foraging events across the Eastern U.S. Many local collages also offer non-credit summer classes in foraging.
If you just want to get a taste of foraging without investing too much effort, there are a few easily recognizable edible plants out there to get started with.
Dandelions may be a nuisance to most homeowners but they're also an edible and delicious plant. Dandelion greens are crammed full of nutritious vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and they're tasty in a salad, particularly early in the season (bitterness increases in the summer), or in the late fall after the first frost. Dandelion flowers are also edible--pluck the petals and throw them in a salad, or use the whole flower to make Dandelion wine. Note: Be sure that the area where you're foraging for dandelions has not been sprayed with pesticides.
Just head to any pond or wet ditch and you'll likely to find some cattails. You can eat various parts of cattails in different ways. In early spring, cattail shoots can be plucked form the water and eaten raw--just make sure you know they're not wild iris, which is poisonous. The cattail spike above the seed head can be boiled until tender (about five to 10 minutes), and then eaten like corn on the cob.
Pine Cone Seeds
We often think of pine cones as decoration during the holidays or nuisance as they riddle the ground, but the seeds in the pine cones are a good source of nutrition. Break off the scales and look for the seeds underneath; each scale should have two seeds. The seeds can be eaten raw or they can be toasted, and they're great on their own, or to add a crunch in a salad.
With a lavender-colored flower and tubular, hollow leaves, chives are as pretty as they are tasty. Growing across North America, chives are the smallest species of the onion family, and they taste quite similar to green onions or scallions. The leaves are the edible portion, but they lose their flavor when cooked, so they're best when raw, particularly if chopped and sprinkled on salads, soups, potatoes, and other foods.
Foraging isn't for everyone, but it's worth testing out what nature has to offer. Who knows--you may discover a love of cattails with a side of dandelion salad.
REFERENCES: To learn more about foraging and edible wild plants, check out these sources: "Foraging New England," by Tom Seymour (AFalconGuide); "Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods," by Thomas S. Elias and Peter Dykeman; "The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits and Nuts," by Katie Letcher Lyle; "A Garden of Herbs," by E.S. Rohde.
(Cara Smusiak is a journalist and a senior editor at NaturallySavvy.com, a website that educates people on the benefits of living a natural, organic and green lifestyle. For more information and to sign up for their e-newsletter, visit NaturallySavvy.com. (http://www.NaturallySavvy.com). | <urn:uuid:99ae576a-e830-46f7-93a1-f43492a541ae> | {
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Chiangmai Sign Language
|Chiangmai Sign Language|
|Native to||Chiang Mai Thailand|
Chiangmai Sign Language (also known as Old or Original Chiangmai Sign Language) is a deaf-community sign language of Thailand that arose among deaf people who migrated to Chiangmai for work or family. The language is moribund, with all speakers born before 1960. Younger generations have switched to Thai Sign Language.
- James Woodward & Thanu Wongchai. Forthcoming 2015. Original Chiang Mai Sign Language. In J. Hansen, W. McGregor, G. De Clerck and S.LutaloKlingi (eds.) The World’s Sign Languages. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
- Chiangmai Sign Language at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
- Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Chiangmai Sign Language". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
- James Woodward, "Sign Languages and Deaf Identities in Thailand and Vietnam". In Monaghan et al. eds, Many Ways to Be Deaf: International Variation in Deaf Communities, 2003 | <urn:uuid:d45b16bc-2f0f-419f-be93-da0842551cab> | {
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One in seven children is growing up homeless or in "bad" housing, housing charity Shelter claims.
Bad housing can have a detrimental impact on children's lives
Shelter says 1.6 million youngsters in Britain are living in housing judged to be temporary, overcrowded or unfit.
The charity, which is marking its 40th anniversary, described the situation as a "scandal".
Shelter was set up after BBC drama- documentary Cathy Come Home was screened, an anniversary being marked by the No Home season of programming.
In its report, Against the Odds, Shelter analyses existing government statistics and calls on Chancellor Gordon Brown to provide the funding to build more "vital" social housing.
Shelter chief executive Adam Sampson said: "It's a scandal that 40 years after the plight of Cathy Come Home's on-screen family shocked the nation, the lives of 1.6 million children are today being devastated by the grim reality of homelessness and bad housing.
"It's vital that the chancellor commits to funding 20,000 extra social homes each year to give these children a fair start in life."
Shelter said living in poor housing had a significantly detrimental impact on children's lives.
It said that in England, children in bad housing were twice as likely to leave school with no GCSEs.
More than 40,000 young people aged 16 to 18 who lived in poor accommodation in England had no GCSEs, it said.
And it said almost 310,000 children living in bad housing in Britain were suffering long-term illness or disability.
It also said that compared with other children, youngsters in poor accommodation were twice as likely to be persistently bullied and had almost double the chance of suffering from poor health.
Each year, more than 57,000 children living in bad housing in Britain are excluded from school, the report also said.
Housing Minister Yvette Cooper responded to the findings by saying: "We need to build more and better homes for our children."
She added: "We have already lifted almost one million children out of bad housing through investment in social homes and we now have one of strongest safety nets to tackle homelessness in Europe, if not the world.
"But we need to go further to provide the decent homes that our families and children need."
She said the government, in an attempt to address the problem, was setting out new planning reforms to build more homes, especially family homes.
'Wall of Shame'
"For the first time, the planning system will have to identify and meet the housing needs of children," said the housing minister.
To mark the publishing of the report, Shelter is unveiling a 30-metre 'Wall of Shame' on London's South Bank and the public are being invited to sign a brick to show their support for the protest against bad housing.
Ken Loach's hard-hitting drama-documentary Cathy Come Home was broadcast on BBC One in 1966 and dealt with a young woman's slide into homelessness and poverty.
The television play was watched by 12 million people and changed the way people thought about homelessness. Shortly after the broadcast Shelter was launched.
The BBC's No Home season, featured across BBC TV, radio and online outlets, highlights ways the public can help homeless people. | <urn:uuid:130c558b-3e0c-4d85-8358-4fe08ba8647b> | {
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In A.D. 79 Mount Vesuvius erupted, annihilating the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and killing thousands who did not evacuate in time. To avert a similar fate for present-day Naples, which lies six miles west of the still active Vesuvius, as well as for the cities near volatile Mount Etna in Sicily, a novel laser system could soon forecast volcanic eruptions up to months in advance.
Current methods to predict eruptions have downsides. Seismometers can monitor tremors and other ground activity that signal a volcano's awakening, but their readings can prove imprecise or complicated to interpret. Scanning for escaping gases can reveal whether magma is moving inside, but the instruments used to analyze such emissions are often too delicate and bulky for life outside a laboratory. "You have to collect samples from the volcano, bring them to a lab, and often wait through backlogs of weeks to months before analysis," explains Frank Tittel, an applied physicist at Rice University.
A more promising technique for early detection focuses on changes in carbon isotopes in carbon dioxide. The ratio between carbon 12 and carbon 13 is roughly 90 to one in the atmosphere, but it can differ appreciably in volcanic gases. A ratio change by as little as 0.1 part per million could signal an influx of carbon dioxide from magma either building under or rising up through the volcano.
Lasers can help detect this change: carbon 12 and 13 absorb light at slightly different mid-infrared wavelengths. The lasers must continuously tune across these wavelengths. Previously investigators used lead-salt lasers, which require liquid-nitrogen cooling and thus are impractical in the field. Furthermore, they are low-power devices, generating less than millionths of a watt, and can emit frequencies in an unstable manner. Other isotope scanning techniques are similarly lab-bound.
Tittel and other scientists in the U.S. and Britain, in partnership with the Italian government, have devised a volcano-monitoring system around a quantum-cascade laser. Such a semiconductor laser can produce high power across a wide frequency. Moreover, they are rugged and do not require liquid-nitrogen cooling, making them compact enough to fit inside a shoe box.
The researchers first tried out their device on gas emissions from Nicaraguan craters in 2000. The new field tests will check its performance and accuracy in harsh volcanic locales. Dirk Richter, a research engineer at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., says it would prove difficult to design a system "to work in one of the worst and most challenging environments possible on earth," but "if there's one group in the world that dares to do this, that's Frank Tittel's group."
If the instrument works, the plan is to deploy early-warning systems of lasers around volcanoes, with each device transmitting data in real time. False alarms should not occur, because carbon isotope ratios in magma differ significantly from those in the crust. The changes that the laser helps to detect also take place over weeks to months, providing time to compare data from other instruments, as well as ample evacuation notice. "Our system aims at avoiding a catastrophe like the Vesuvius eruption," says team member Damien Weidmann, a physicist at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, England. Field tests for the prototype are planned for the spring of 2005 in the volcanic Alban Hills region southeast of Rome, near the summer home of Pope John Paul II, as well as for volcanic areas near Los Alamos, N.M.�
This article was originally published with the title Volcanic Sniffing. | <urn:uuid:9309d171-e9f0-44a8-9de3-926e353cd4e3> | {
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The Woma (Aspidites ramsayi), also known as the Ramsay’s python or Sand python, is one of two species of the Pitless pythons (Aspidites), which is an Australian genus of the Pythonidae family. This species was once common throughout Western Australia, but it has become critically endangered in some regions.
Adults average 1.5m (4.5ft) in length. The colour in this species varies, from pale brown to nearly black. The pattern consists of a ground colour that varies from medium brown and olive to lighter shades of orange, pink and red, overlaid with darker striped or brindled markings. The belly is cream or light yellow with brown and pink blotches. The scales around the eyes are usually a darker colour than the rest of the head.
This species is found in Australia in the west and center of the country: from Western Australia through southern Northern Territory and northern South Australia to southern Queensland and northwestern New South Wales. The range in Southwest Australia extends from Shark Bay, along the coast and inland regions, and was previously common on sandplains. The species was recorded in regions to the south and east, with once extensive wheatbelt and goldfield populations.
As species is largely nocturnal, during the day this snake may be found sheltering in hollow logs or under leaf debris.
These snakes prey upon a variety of terrestrial vertebrates such as small mammals, ground birds and lizards. They catch much of their prey in burrows where there is not enough room to maneuver their coils around their prey; instead, the Woma pushes a loop of its body against the animal so it is pinned against the side of the burrow. Many adult Womas are covered in scars from retaliating rodents as this technique doesn’t kill prey as quickly as normal constriction.
Although this species will take warm-blooded prey when offered, Womas prey mainly on reptiles. Perhaps due to this, species within the Aspidites family lack the characteristic heat sensing pits of pythons, although they possess an equivalent sensory structure in their rostral scales.
This species is also considered to be more active than many pythons, as well as being a very docile and “easy to handle” snake, and so is highly sought after in the reptile and exotic pet trade. They are one of the hardiest python species in captivity, often readily accepting pre-killed rodents. Although it is considered to be an endangered species, mainly due to the destruction of its natural habitat, this snake will breed in captivity.
(Source: , via sneakylittlesnakes) | <urn:uuid:687d9dd2-f6b9-43e4-9c52-5a2738e66a80> | {
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Germanastronomer and priest, originally named Goldschmidt; father of J. Fabricius. He was one of the first telescopic observers. Kepler used observations by Fabricius and Tycho Brahe in calculating an elliptical orbit for Mars. Fabricius noted the fading of the star Mira.
Subjects: Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Related content in Oxford Index
Users without a subscription are not able to see the full content. Please, subscribe or login to access all content. subscribe or purchase to access all content. | <urn:uuid:260fad97-cc39-4765-9a41-505a0b0feb50> | {
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Cholera in Hispaniola
Hispaniola’s current cholera epidemic began in Haiti in October 2010. As of mid-April 2014, cholera had sickened more than 700,000 people and claimed over 8,500 lives in Haiti, and in the Dominican Republic, had sickened some 31,600 people and claimed 470 lives.
The epidemic’s spread has slowed compared to 2010 and 2011, but the rate of infection varies with the weather. In both 2011 and 2012, the rainy season led to sharp increases in the number of cholera cases from May to November. This is likely to happen again given that sanitary conditions have not improved for the majority of Haitians.
For updated epidemiological updates visit: | <urn:uuid:fe1dc2ac-891b-46d6-a774-37726cb578fb> | {
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While Independence Day is officially commemorated on the Fourth of July, the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was held on July 8, 1776, 237 years ago today - the first true celebration of Independence Day.
After the founding document had been unanimously approved and signed at the colonial legislative building, later to be the Pennsylvania State House and ultimately, Independence Hall, it was off to the printer that Thursday afternoon. By Friday morning, copies of the Declaration had begun making their way by horseback carrier "to the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Committees or Councils of Safety, and to the several Commanding officers of the Continental Troops, that it be proclaimed in each of the United States, and at the head of the Army" as ordered by the Second Continental Congress as the closing directive of the manuscript.
On Monday, Independence Hall's bell tolled loudly to summon colonists to the legislative yard. That bell, inscribed with Leviticus 25:10, reads in part "proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" lived up to its given name, the Liberty Bell.
As the public first heard of the separation from the homeland, the descriptive words painted a picture of a reality they knew and hardships they had endured.
Acknowledging the "self-evident" truths and their inalienable rights as the created of God, the Declaration proclaimed that no government, group or individual could bestow and/or destroy these rights. These liberties transcended the temporary stations and standing granted by the institutions of man. In strong contrast, these inherent rights "endowed by our Creator," instead, actually produced legitimate government to operate by "the consent of the governed."
Today, we've abandoned these incredible principles. Most pursue any provision, benefit or temporary standing that our government will endow and grant to define our rights and liberty. We've exchanged authentic liberty and rights for the cultural counterfeits that intersect the line of time for that season.
Do the 27 charges against King George III and the British Parliament specified in the Declaration of Independence ring familiar?
"The history of the present king of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. ... He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. ... For imposing taxes on us without our consent ..."
In 2013, we have a government that blatantly administers its laws in an arbitrary fashion: Of note, health care waivers only for some, no enforcement of legal immigration law, exempting some from burdensome regulation and targeted IRS audits for some based on belief.
Today, the consent of the governed is petulantly ignored with the thumb of the nose by the executive, the legislative and the judicial branches as a collective tyrannical mass on issues such as regulation, taxation, private property rights, the freedom of religion and the list goes on.
The Liberty Bell metaphorically rings today summoning those whose loyalty is to the greatness of our founding rather than to a government of tyranny, self-preservation and the art-of-the-deal.
Our Founders responded with this closing statement above their signatures: "And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."
How will you respond?
Robin Smith served as chairwoman of the Tennessee Republican Party from 2007 to 2009. She is a partner at the SmithWaterhouse Strategies business development and strategic planning firm. | <urn:uuid:95af8df4-944d-46d5-a63c-9154113c3131> | {
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=2.828/_-45 <<----polar form
=2/_-30 <<----- polar form
The polar form that lanzailan gives is r and the angle (in degrees). For problems like this it is better to give the angle in radians: These complex numbers can be written as , , or, equivalently, and .
To find the product of two complex numbers, in complex form, you multiply the moduli (r values) and add the angles. To divide, divide the moduli and subtract the angles. | <urn:uuid:fe724753-04ec-4d81-8e77-eb74c2815732> | {
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How to assess while you teach math : formative assessment practices and lessons : grades K-2 : a multimedia professional learning resource
Source:Math Solutions, Sausalito, Calif., p.208 (2011)
Call Number:Cubb QA135.6 .I75 2011
Keywords:Mathematics--Study and teaching (Elementary)--United States--Evaluation
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The Reiki Kanji, used independently, is a symbol. Its origin can be traced back to ancient times. The Reiki Kanji symbol is powerful and holds very complex meanings. In Reiki, this symbol can be used for personal protection as well as for the development of your own well-being.
When compared to Western writing, Kanji are pictograms that represent words and ideas. Unlike the English alphabet, a sole Kanji is not a syllable or a letter used to form words. One Kanji symbol already has its own meaning. If combined with another, the meaning of the symbol is compounded.
The Reiki Kanji is often drawn with the Rei symbol on top and the Ki right below it. Rei means universal life and Ki corresponds to energy. Together, they mean Reiki or the Universal Life Energy. This symbol is the main foundation of Reiki.
The Reiki Kanji can be used to balance energy radiating from any person, object or feeling. When the symbol is placed inside a room, it is believed that the energy can protect that room and keep it safe. To achieve this, simply place the Reiki Kanji symbol in a spot such as in a portrait or a picture frame. Without much effort, energy will radiate from the symbol and fill the entire room.
It is also said that Reiki Kanji can dispel electromagnetism. If a Reiki Kanji symbol is placed near a power outlet, it can shield the outlet from damages caused by electromagnetic discharges. All you need is a small icon of the Reiki symbol placed on the outlet that is oriented towards the northern wall. The same concept can be applied to batteries. Just place the symbol inside the main power source of electronic items (such as mobile phones) and it will protect the entire unit from emanations.
In a much deeper aspect, the Reiki Kanji is used to summon energy. Such energy can be applied to anything, with healing being the primary application. The Reiki Kanji is regarded to be a very sacred symbol that was kept secret by the Reiki masters and practitioners during the ancient times. Before today's technology, these symbols could only be memorized and visualized. The students, including the masters themselves, were not allowed to keep copies of them.
While such secrecy is not practiced anymore, and the Reiki Kanji is easily available even to the uninitiated, the sacredness of the symbols is retained. Its power relies on the practitioner who will use it.
The symbol is just a tool - it is a representation of the energy but it isn't the energy itself. Even so, the power of these symbols when used in the Reiki context is insurmountable. This is mainly the reason why it can heal, improve, and transform anyone into a better person than they were previously.
Here's How YOU Can Easily Become A Powerful Reiki Master In Just 48 Hours... Without It Costing An Arm And A Leg...
This Reiki Package includes:
1.The best selling Ebook Radical Reiki - Radical Life.
2.The unique Chikara Reiki Do Master self-attunement.
3.The Usui Reiki Master self-attunement.
4.The Tibetan Reiki Master self-attunement.
5.The complete online self-attunement video.
6.The complete online Usui Reiki Master Distance attunement.
7.The complete online Tibetan Reiki Master Distance attunement.
8.Three professional Reiki Manuals to give to your students.
9.Video showing you how to attune others the Chikara-Reiki-Do way.
10.Video showing you how to attune others the Usui way.
11.Ebook showing you how to run your own Reiki Practice.
12.Full certification for you and your students.
13.Access to hundreds of other Chikara-Reiki-Do Masters.
14.Unlimited help and support.
Buy now this combined package valued at $994 for just $97! | <urn:uuid:5e21a14e-1529-4fe9-baf8-8da6ab407c25> | {
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Port au Choix National Historic Site of Canada
Maritime Archaic Traditions
The Maritime Archaic Indians were the earliest known people to frequent the Port au Choix area. They were called this for two reasons: "Archaic" because these people were hunters and gatherers and did not farm, and "Maritime" because they relied on the sea and its products to sustain themselves.
The Maritime Archaic Indian tradition dates from 7500-3500 years before present (B.P.). These peoples lived throughout Atlantic Canada, Maine, and ranged into parts of Northern Labrador. Their ancestors, the Palaeoindians, arrived in Labrador around 9000 B.P. Archaeologists are able to distinguish this group of people by their use of marine resources, their beautifully crafted ground and polished slate knives, distinctive bone artifacts, and their ceremonial burials, which included using cemeteries and red ochre.
Maritime Archaic Indian Tools (Top to bottom: bone spear point, bone harpoon heads, slate bayonet)©Parks Canada
Port au Choix contains three Maritime Archaic cemeteries, where burials took place between 4400 and 3300 years B.P. An excavation at Point Amour, in Southern Labrador, uncovered an elaborate burial of a 12 year old child that dates back to 7500 B.P. The sites have provided a rich variety of bone, stone, antler and ivory tools, as well as weapons and ornaments. The items found here have provided information on various aspects of Maritime Archaic society including their magical and religious beliefs and practices.
Health and Life Expectancy
The 117 skeletons uncovered in the cemetery were fairly equally divided along sex lines. The Maritime Archaic Indians' height was on average 5'6" for males and 5'3" for females. Studies done on the skeleton collection indicate that there was a high infant mortality rate among the group. One-third of the young died before the age of two, and only one-half lived to adulthood. However, those who reached adulthood lived on average 43 years and some would reach their 50's.
These people were healthy. The major disease found was arthritis mostly in the arms and hands, which is common for a physically active lifestyle. There were a few incidents of healed fractures, but nothing to indicate excessive violence. Only four cavities were found among the skeletons studied. This can be related to a diet that had no sugar. The teeth were well worn however, from years of eating a gritty diet (coarse meat) and from chewing hides to soften them. They were often so worn down that the pulp was exposed, leading to an infection that would have been quite painful.
Two cases of a very rare disease called Histiocytosis X was found in two young children. It is believed to be a genetic disease, which afflicts one in two million people today. The first evidence of this disease is that found in the Maritime Archaic Cemetery at Port au Choix.
Hunting Fishing and Gathering
The people of Port au Choix, referred to as Northern Hunters and Gatherers, lived off the natural resources of the land and sea rather than by agriculture.
The hunting tools and bones of animals, fish and birds discovered in the graves indicated that the people of Port au Choix crafted efficient weapons to exploit their environment.
No evidence of collecting activities has survived, but these people, sensitive to their natural environment, must have gathered the berries, birds' eggs and shellfish that even today are common around Port au Choix.
Artifacts also show techniques used in crafts and manufacturing. Trees were felled with ground stone axes. Stone or ivory adzes and stone gouges were used for shaping. Fine woodworking was done with small knives made from beaver teeth in wood or antler handles. One of these knives was found intact at Port au Choix. It resembles the "crooked knife" made from iron and wood that is still used by many northern peoples. Bone, antler and slate were favoured raw materials.
Clothing and Decoration
Canada's native people of several thousand years ago are often pictured braving the elements in no more than a crude skin wrap. Despite the disintegration of all the clothing in the graves, there is evidence that the people of Port au Choix dressed for the cool climate of northern Newfoundland. Fine needles made of bird bone, some with eyes less than 0.5 mm wide, probably were used to sew the tight seams needed for waterproof boots, leggings or jackets.
Every effort was made to decorate the clothing. Rows of seal claws, small bone pendants, and beads adorned the lower hem of shirts or jackets. Shell beads and other ornaments were sewn on caps or hats.
Carving of Killer Whale©Parks Canada
Art, Magic and Religion
Among most native North American peoples there was, and still is, a close relationship between art and religious practices. We can assume that the same was true for the people of Port au Choix. The small art objects that they wore and the carvings that decorated their possessions were not only cherished for their beauty but also for their magical powers. By carrying the image of a gull, merganser, loon, or other diving bird, the owner hoped to acquire the bird's skill in fishing; the carving of a bear might increase the strength of its wearer. A beautifully carved killer whale nearly 20 cm long indicates the great respect the Maritime Archaic Indians had for this mammal, it's strength and hunting abilities. The burials themselves show a preoccupation with life after death. The red ochre sprinkled over the bodies was a symbol of life. The many tools, weapons, and ornaments included in the graves indicate a belief in a life after death that was much like life on earth.
What Happened to the Maritime Archaic Indians?
The Maritime Archaic disappeared from Port au Choix and the rest of the island by 3200 years B.P. The disappearance of these people from the island of Newfoundland is a puzzle. Perhaps some as yet undiscovered site will reveal this answer just as the site at Port au Choix has revealed many other answers about the Maritime Archaic Indians. | <urn:uuid:64e8b5bf-54e0-4acf-84e5-37177aa395f3> | {
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The street which runs directly back from the centre of the Schwarzspanierhaus now bears the composer's name. [A.W.T.]
SCIOLTO, CON SCIOLTEZZA, 'freely'; an expression used in nearly the same sense as ad libitum, but generally applied to longer passages, or even to whole movements. It is also applied to a fugue in a free style. Thus what Beethoven, in the last movement of the Sonata in Bb, op. 106, calls ' Fuga, con alcune licenze,' might otherwise be called ' Fuga sciolta.' [J.A.F.M.]
SCORDATUKA (mis-tuning). A term used to designate some abnormal tunings of the violin which are occasionally employed to produce par- ticular effects. The scordatura originated in the lute and viol, which were tuned in various ways to suit the key of the music. Their six strings being commonly tuned by fourths, with one third in the middle, the third was shifted as occasion required, and an additional third or a fifth was introduced elsewhere, so as to yield on the open strings as many harmonies as possible : in old lute music the proper tuning is indicated at the beginning of the piece. This practice survives in the guitar. The normal tuning being as at (a), very striking effects in the key of E major, for instance, may be produced by tuning the instrument as at (6). The scordatura was formerly
���often employed on the violin, (i) The tuning (c) is extremely favourable to simplicity of fingering in the key of A. It is employed by Tartini in one of his solos, and by Castrucci in a well-known fugue : its effect is noisy and monotonous. It is frequently employed by Scotch reel-players, and in their hands has a singularly rousing effect. The following strain from ' Kilrack's Reel ' is a specimen :
�� ��The reel called ' Appin House ' and the lively Strathspey called 'Anthony Murray's Reel' are played in the same tuning. (2) The tuning (d) employed by Biber, is a modification of (a), a fourth being substituted for a fifth on the first string: and (3) the tuning (e) also employed by Biber, is a similar modification of the normal tuning by fifths. In these tunings the viol fin- gering must be used on the first strings. (4) The tuning (/) employed by Nardini in his Enigmatic Sonata, is the reverse of the last, being a combination of the common tuning for the first two strings with the viol tuning in the lower ones. (5) The tuning (g) is employed by Barbella in his ' Serenade ' and by Campagnoli in his 'Notturno,' to imitate the Viola d'amore,
from the four middle strings of which ; t is copied. Thick first and second strings should be used, and the mute put on. The effect is singularly pleasing : but the G and A on the second string are flat and dull. (6) The tuning (k) employed by Lolli, is the normal tuning except the fourth string, which is tuned an octave below the third. If a very stout fourth string is used, a good bass accompaniment is thus obtainable.
Such are a few of the abnormal tunings em- ployed by the old violinists. The scordatura is seldom used by modern players except on the fourth string, which is often tuned a tone higher, as at (i). (De Beriot, Mazas, Prume, etc.) This device may always be employed where the composition does not descend below A ; the tone is much increased, and in some keys, especially D and A, execution is greatly facilitated. Paganini tuned his fourth string higher still, as at (j) and (&), with surprising effect : the Bb tuning
W, (O, CO, (*), (0, 0), ()
�� ��r" $t 3 z
��was a favourite one with De Beriot. Paganini's tuning in flats (L) cannot be called scordatura, as it consists in elevating the violin generally by half a tone, for the sake of brilliancy. The same device was employed by Spohr in his duets for harp and violin, the harp part being written in flats a semitone higher. The fourth string is rarely lowered : but Baillot sometimes tuned it a semitone lower, as at (m), to facilitate arpeggios in the sharp keys.
The scordatura (n) is employed by Bach in his fifth sonata for the violoncello. It corre- sponds to the violin tuning (d). This de- pression of the first string, if a thick string be used, is not unfavourable to sonority. When the scordatura is used, suitable strings should be obtained. Thicker ones are necessary where the pitch is depressed, and thinner ones where it is elevated : and the player will find it best to keep a special instrument for any tuning which he frequently employs. [E. J.P.]
SCORE (Lat. Partitio, Partitura, Partitura cancellata ; Ital. Partitura, Partizione, Partitino, Sparta, Spartita; Fr. Partition; Germ.Partitur). A series of Staves, on which the Vocal or Instru- mental Parts of a piece of concerted Music are written, one above another, in such order as may best enable the whole to be read at a glance.
The English word, Score, is derived from the practice of dividing the Music into bars, by lines, drawn or scoredthrough the entire series of Staves, from top to bottom. The custom of writing each Part on a separate Stave sufficiently accounts for the derivation of the Latin Partitio, which forms the root of the modern Italian, Ger- man, and French terms all equally applicable to a barred, or unbarred Score. But the term Partitura cancellata, applied to a barred Score- only, owes its origin to the appearance of lattice- | <urn:uuid:03f97e74-77fb-4ff3-81d5-98375092e619> | {
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Our current approaches to acid-related disorders stem from many major landmark discoveries and trials of therapies, including acid buffering, surgery, and more recently, acid suppression by H2-receptor antagonists (H2RA) (1,2).
The latest major development was the recognition of the so-called "proton pump" or "acid pump" by Dr. George Sachs et al. in 1976 (3,4). Soon thereafter, the Hässle Research Laboratories in Mölndal, Sweden, developed a substituted benzimidazole, H149/94, which covalently bound the molecule of the pump to block its action (5). H149/94 was the first "proton pump inhibitor" (PPI) to be tested in humans (6), but omeprazole was the first to be studied extensively in humans. Omeprazole was first approved in Sweden in 1988 for treatment of duodenal ulcer. It was approved in Canada and in the United States in 1989, for treatment of duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcers, reflux esophagitis, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. As of 1998, approximately 280 million treatment courses of omeprazole have been prescribed, equivalent to 23 million treatment years.
The proton pump inhibitors are a class of substances that offer a much greater potency of acid inhibition than H2RA and that have revolutionized the management of acid-related disorders. Recently, newer proton pump inhibitors lansoprazole and pantoprazole have been introduced.
Proton pump inhibitors block acid at the final common pathway of secretion-that is, at the proton pump-regardless of the stimulus of acid secretion, and thereby offer by far the most potent suppression of gastric acid.
There are two classes of PPI, covalent and competitive. Drugs in the competitive class of PPI bind to a three-dimensional site on the extracellular surface of the proton pump and cause reversible inhibition (7). Those in the covalent class inhibit the pump by irreversibly binding to cysteines in the pump. Only the covalent group are in clinical use. They consist of the substituted benzimidazoles omeprazole, lansoprazole, and pantoprazole, which act as "prodrugs," that is, they require modification of their structure to become active.
The irreversibility of the covalent bond results in inhibition of acid secretion until more enzyme is synthesized. It is this factor that accounts for the long duration (more than 24 hours) of the antisecretory effect of PPIs (8).
At present, omeprazole is available in most countries as a capsule containing approximately 170 enteric-coated (acid-protected) granules of omeprazole, each 1 to 2 mm in diameter (see Administration of Omeprazole section). The hard gelatin capsule remains intact during its brief transit through the esophagus and dissolves in the acid stomach to release granules of the prodrug omeprazole. The granules' polymer coating dissolves only at a pH of more than 6, allowing release of omeprazole in the alkaline duodenum. Theoretically, if the prodrug omeprazole were released into an acidic stomach, it would convert to the active sulfenamide form in the gastric lumen, where reaction with proton pumps is not possible (7).
The prodrug omeprazole is rapidly and almost completely absorbed, with peak plasma levels occurring 1 to 3 hours after ingestion. It is highly (95%) protein-bound and rapidly distributed in plasma (9). The prodrug is rapidly metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme CYP2C19, resulting in a very short plasma half-life of 40 to 60 minutes, although it is as long as 2 hours in 3% to 5% of whites who do not have the specific isoenzyme (9). The pharmacokinetics of omeprazole are unaltered in renal failure, although renal excretion of metabolites is slowed. However, this seems to be compensated by greater biliary excretion. In hepatic cirrhosis, however, metabolism is delayed, with a half-life of as long as 3 hours. The healthy elderly also metabolize omeprazole more slowly, probably because of decreased hepatic blood flow. Although there are no published data on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered omeprazole in children, our own as yet unpublished data indicate that omeprazole is metabolized more rapidly by children between the ages of 1 and 8 to 9 years or so than by older children or adults. We did not study children less than 1 year of age. During a once-daily dose regimen, the bioavailability of omeprazole is approximately 60% and increases with doses of more than 20 mg.
Despite the usual short half-life of omeprazole, the covalent bond with the pump provides sustained inhibition of acid. Thus, the antisecretory effect of omeprazole is not dependent on its plasma concentration at any given time but is directly proportional to the area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC).
Because omeprazole can inhibit only active pumps- that is, those that are exposed on the canalicular surface, and because H+, K+-ATPase pumps are maximally exposed at the canalicular surface of meal-stimulated parietal cells, the ideal time to administer omeprazole is with the first meal of the day after an overnight fast. Omeprazole will inhibit daytime and nocturnal acid secretion whether administered in the morning or the evening; however, morning administration results in higher median 24-hour pH values (10). This may be in part because morning administration results in a greater AUC than does evening administration, for reasons that are unclear. A period of approximately 3 days is required for steadystate inhibition to occur in a single daily dose regimen (11,12), suggesting a half-life of the pump of approximately 36 hours. A once-daily dose of a PPI usually results in transient return of acid secretion at approximately 15 hours after the dose, suggesting the possible presence of a circadian rhythm of synthesis and processing of pumps. Even with administration of 20 mg omeprazole twice daily or 30 mg lansoprazole twice daily in healthy volunteers or in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), nocturnal acid break-through to intragastric pH of less than 4 occurs for at least 60 minutes in at least half of subjects (13).
Potent gastric acid suppression may cause elevated levels of serum gastrin, change in the microbial flora of the gastrointestinal tract, and altered absorption of hematinics. Drug interaction is another safety concern.
However, that omeprazole is a safe medication is evident from the scarcity of adverse effects in spite of extensive use. In addition to vast clinical experience with the drug, the use of omeprazole has been studied in more than 40,000 patients enrolled in manufacturer-sponsored clinical trials.
Hypergastrinemia and Morphologic Changes
Hypochlorhydria induces hypergastrinemia. By this mechanism, hypergastrinemia may occur during treatment with PPIs, high dose H2RAs, or after vagotomy. In those circumstances, mean gastrin levels are usually less than 200 pmol/l. In pernicious anemia, mean plasma gastrin levels are much higher, approximately 500 to 600 pmol/l (14); peak gastrin levels are usually considerably higher. Gastrin, in addition to its effect on acid secretion, is trophic for some gastrointestinal cells. For example, sustained hypergastrinemia results in increased weight and thickness of oxyntic mucosa (15). Gastrin is also trophic for gastric enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells. Thus, concerns have been raised that PPI therapy may result in ECL cell carcinoid tumors. The increasing degrees of ECL cell hyperplasia are categorized as simple, linear, micronodular, and adenomatoid, all benign. The next stage, carcinoid, may or may not be benign (16).
An early concern regarding PPI therapy was related to the finding of gastric ECL cell carcinoids in aged rats with PPI-induced hypergastrinemia caused by very high-dose omeprazole. These rats were bred for longevity, and carcinoids have occurred without PPI in such animals; furthermore, the rat ECL response is species-specific and does not reflect that of humans (17). In more than 10 years of omeprazole use in clinical practice, gastric carcinoids have not been described in humans during long-term PPI therapy.
It is hypochlorhydria rather than achlorhydria that occurs with PPI therapy, and the degree of hypergastrinemia in pernicious anemia is uncommon, even with high-dose omeprazole therapy (14,18,19). The gastrin response is also highly variable (20,21): During long-term treatment with high-dose ranitidine (450-600 mg daily), or 40 mg omeprazole daily, fasting gastrin levels may be normal, 2 to 4 times normal, occasionally 10 times normal. Gastrin levels that rise during omeprazole treatment may return to normal despite continued treatment (21,22).
Benign ECL hyperplasia occurs in patients treated for as long as 5 years with omeprazole, as in some patients with peptic ulcer disease never treated with H2RAs or PPIs (23). These changes correlate with the severity of corpus gastritis and the presence of Helicobacter pylori and are probably disease- rather than drug-related (20).
Adults with Barrett's esophagus (BE) receiving long-term omeprazole in doses of 20 to 40 mg/day, may have development of parietal cell hyperplasia, lingular projections of parietal cells (pseudohypertrophy), and fundic gland cysts (24). These changes occur within 6 months of beginning high-dose (80 mg) omeprazole therapy, and remain during therapy with 40 mg daily (25). The hyperplasia and associated gastric acid hypersecretion revert toward normal by 3 months after withdrawal of high-dose omeprazole (26).
Gastric polyps develop in some patients during omeprazole maintenance therapy (27-29). These polyps usually develop in the gastric corpus, may be single or multiple, and are hyperplastic or benign fundic gland cysts. The parietal cell hyperplasia and fundic gland cysts within the lamina propria may be forerunners of such polyps (27,28).
Hypergastrinemia (21,22), changes in the parietal cell layer similar to those above (30), and occasionally, gastric polyps (31) have also been described in children receiving long-term omeprazole therapy. As in adults, the histologic changes are benign. Although it is tempting to ascribe the morphologic changes to the trophic effect of hypergastrinemia on oxyntic mucosa, fasting serum gastrin levels were often normal in patients with such changes. In adults (25,28,29) and children (30,31) there was no correlation between the degree or duration of hypergastrinemia, when present, or between the dose of omeprazole and the presence of polyps or parietal cell changes. Adults in whom gastric polyps developed tended to be the more elderly, and there did not appear to be an association with H. pylori infection (29). In our experience, most children receiving omeprazole for 2 to 3 months or more had parietal cell hyperplasia. The two children with fundic gland polyps had received omeprazole for a mean of 24 months (range, 10-48 months) (31).
Recently, Kuipers et al. (32,33) reported that patients treated long-term with omeprazole for reflux esophagitis were at increased risk of development of chronic atrophic gastritis involving the gastric corpus, which manifested during a 3- to 8-year follow-up (mean, 5 years). These changes were found only in patients who were determined by histology to be positive for H. pylori and not in those who were negative. The investigators concluded that patients receiving long-term omeprazole should first receive treatment to eradicate H. pylori. The study subjects were older and from a different country than the control subjects and may have differed in other respects. The data from this important study require confirmation. More recently, results in a controlled study of patients with GERD randomized to omeprazole or anti-reflux surgery showed no predilection toward development of atrophic gastritis in the omeprazole-treated patients. No patients in either group had intestinal metaplasia in the stomach (34).
Investigators in a recent study (35) suggested that in H. pylori-infected patients with GERD treated with omeprazole for 61 ± 25 months, development of atrophic gastritis was associated with decreased serum vitamin B12 levels, without clinical B12 deficiency. These data are preliminary and require confirmation. The implications are unclear at present. Because body stores of cobalamin are large, it is likely that clinically significant cobalamin deficiency would not occur before 20 years or so of acid suppression (36,37). Also, there is a theoretical risk that marked or prolonged acid suppression may cause iron-deficiency anemia, but so far this has not been reported (36).
Rare Adverse Effects
Possible adverse effects are described in case reports in which it is difficult to separate the effects of concomitant therapies and the underlying conditions from those of omeprazole. Minimal transient elevations of amino-transferases have been described, with no known morbidity or mortality. In one case report, fulminant hepatic failure developed in a 62-year-old man after 17 days of treatment with omeprazole (38). He was concurrently treated for hypertension with atenolol, diltiazem, and aspirin. Other rare adverse effects are described elsewhere (39-42).
The theoretical risk of bacterial overgrowth occurring in the upper GI tract due to acid suppression is not considered clinically relevant (43).
Omeprazole appears to interact with only one P-450 isoenzyme, CYP2C19 (9,44). Thus, it is expected to have a narrow spectrum of interaction limited to drugs that are metabolized by this enzyme. Interactions with diazepam, phenytoin, warfarin, digoxin, or methotrexate are not clinically significant (44-49). There was no effect of omeprazole on the metabolism of several other drugs tested: theophylline (50,51), propranolol (52), or cyclosporine (53).
ADMINISTRATION OF DRUG
Omeprazole should be administered with or just before the first meal of the day. In patients in whom nocturnal reflux persists despite a morning dose of 40 mg omeprazole or more, the dose can be split and a second dose provided with the evening meal to maximize proton pump exposure.
Ideally, the intact capsule (or enteric-coated tablet, available in Canada only) is administered orally, without crushing or chewing. For those unable to swallow capsules or tablets-for example, patients with neurologic impairment or swallowing disorders-the granules may be removed from the intact capsule, and suspended in a slightly acidic medium such as apple, orange, or cranberry juice or yogurt (pH 4), to prevent dissolution of the protective coating. The suspension is then administered through a large-bore gastrostomy or nasogastric tube. When using tubes for instillation, 5 to 10 ml juice should be used to flush all the granules out of the tube. When using gastrostomy buttons, a straight connecting tube is preferred to a right-angle connecting tube, in which granules may lodge. With these measures, granules are less likely to coalesce and block the tube. Tubes with flap valves, such as button gastrostomy tubes, are more likely to become obstructed than those without. Administration of lansoprazole has been studied in adults with difficulty swallowing intact capsules. When lansoprazole granules in applesauce were administered orally, the time to peak plasma levels and the bioavailability of drug were no different than for drug administered in intact capsules (54). Similarly, when nonencapsulated, intact omeprazole granules were administered by gastrostomy tubes in adults, the degree of acid suppression was comparable to that achieved using intact omeprazole capsules by mouth in other studies (55).
In two studies (56,57), a simplified omeprazole suspension (SOS) was prepared by mixing, in a 50-ml syringe, the granules from two 20-mg capsules of omeprazole with 20 ml 8.4% sodium bicarbonate, making a 2-mg/ml suspension. The enteric-coated granules in bicarbonate were agitated for approximately 30 minutes to produce a partially dissolved, partially suspended preparation, milky white with a fine sediment. It was shaken, then administered through a nasogastric tube, followed by 5 to 10 ml tap water. The subjects were adults receiving ventilatory support and taking nothing by mouth in a surgical-burn intensive care unit with multiple risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding. Of particular interest was the control of gastric pH, in that a pH of more than 5.5 was maintained. Each 10 ml SOS contains 10 mEq bicarbonate, sufficient to provide 40 minutes to 3 hours of buffering, with early intragastric pH of more than 7. The subsequent pH control is probably caused by omeprazole absorption and effect. The theoretical concern with this approach is that dissolution of omeprazole in alkali releases active drug, which may be destroyed in the acid stomach. The success of the approach may be because of protection of active drug in the stomach by bicarbonate, then gastric emptying of active drug and its rapid absorption in the duodenum. Previous concepts notwithstanding, the same investigators showed, by measuring omeprazole levels in blood, that some omeprazole is absorbed from the stomach when drug is administered to patients with a blind-ending stomach (J. O. Phillips, personal communication, 1997). Most is absorbed from the duodenum.
In children, administration of omeprazole or lansoprazole is sometimes difficult or impossible. In young children unable to swallow intact capsules or tablets, suspension of granules in applesauce or yogurt and swallowing without chewing is recommended. However, most children find it difficult to swallow a semiliquid without some chewing. The chewing of even a few granules produces a bitter alkaloid- or quininelike taste, resulting in poor compliance and a subsequent distaste for the vehicle itself. When omeprazole or lansoprazole granules, mixed in cranberry or other juices, are administered through a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube, they will often block the tube or the flap valve of the tube. Because of their tendency to float, many granules stick to the plunger of the administering syringe and never exit the syringe. Potential problems with administration in children of an omeprazole-in-bicarbarbonate solution are the sodium load, the liberation of CO2 in the stomach causing belching, and the bitter taste. Phillips et al. (56) have minimized the quantity of bicarbonate by making a pediatric SOS solution of 5 mg/ml omeprazole-bicarbonate solution and flavoring it with root beer or other flavors. For adults (and children), they now have a premade SOS that is stable and retains more than 90% potency for 7 days unrefrigerated and for at least 30 days refrigerated. It is stored in amber bottles, because omeprazole is light-sensitive. The use of this suspension overcomes the problems of administration of omeprazole to children by mouth or by tube. (J. O. Phillips, personal communication). Pharmacodynamic studies to prove efficacy of this suspension in children are necessary.
For patients with duodenal or jejunal tubes, the drug will be delivered directly into an alkaline environment. Because jejunal tubes usually are of small caliber and can be blocked by particulate matter, the granules should be well dissolved before injection into the tube and should be flushed with 5 ml of water. A randomized crossover study of SOS in this setting is underway, and preliminary results show rapid absorption and excellent pH control when compared with administration by nasogastric tube (J. O. Phillips, personal communication, 1997).
Just recently, a new formulation of omeprazole has been introduced in Europe. Known as Losec MUPS (Astra, Sweden) (meaning multiple unit pellet system), each 20-mg tablet contains some 1000 acid-protected micropellets, approximately 0.5 mm in diameter. These are rapidly dispersed in the stomach and pass into the alkaline duodenum where the coating dissolves, releasing prodrug omeprazole. The MUPS tablet is dispersed in water or slightly acidic fluids, such as some fruit juices, producing a solution easy to drink if prepared 30 minutes or so before administration. It can also be administered by nasogastric or gastrostomy tube. The tablets can be cut or broken. The new formulation is bioequivalent to the capsule form and has important potential advantages for children, perhaps obviating the need for preparation of the SOS.
Intravenous administration of omeprazole is significantly more effective for acid suppression than ranitidine (58). Repeated intravenous administration of omeprazole every 6 hours for 24 hours (in doses of 80, 20, 20, and 20 mg) significantly increases gastric pH, but there is marked unpredictability in response between subjects, and persistent elevation of pH above 4 was reached in only 2 of 10 subjects. The doses of intravenous omeprazole in children were adapted from adult data, 60 to 80 mg/1.73 m2 loading dose followed by 40 mg/1.73 m2 at 12-hour intervals administered as a slow infusion over 15 minutes (59). Pharmacokinetic studies of intravenous omeprazole in children (59) yielded results similar to those reported in adults, although many of the children studied were critically ill and receiving other medications.
At present, the intravenous form of omeprazole is available only as an investigational drug on an individual basis for critically ill patients who cannot take oral omeprazole and who are refractory to or cannot tolerate alternative commercially available intravenous therapy (e.g., high-dose intravenous ranitidine or cimetidine). The intravenous drug has been used mainly for acute treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding.
TREATMENT OF SPECIFIC DISORDERS
Reflux esophagitis is usually a chronic, relapsing condition. Although studies in adults have shown relapse rates of more than 80% within 6 months of the cessation of medical treatment (60), no relapse rate data are available for the pediatric age group. However, it is well recognized that erosive esophagitis in children is usually a chronic relapsing condition, as it is in adults.
The outcome of medical treatment of esophagitis is often dependent on its severity (60,61). An objective grading system of esophagitis (60,62) is therefore fundamental to our ability to understand and compare the efficacy of different treatment protocols. The use of histologic criteria to quantitate severity of esophagitis is fraught with problems, including sampling error and inconsistency of quantitation of severity between observers (63). For these reasons, endoscopic assessments have been used to quantify esophagitis at baseline and during treatment in most studies in adults, and increasingly so in studies in children.
Mechanisms of Healing
There are different mechanisms by which acid suppression effects healing of esophagitis. Gastric acid suppression causes an increase in the pH of refluxate, thereby decreasing the corrosive and inflammatory processes initiated by chronic or repeated contact between acid and esophageal epithelium (64).
The presence of acid reflux into the esophagus is also a prerequisite for the development of bile-induced reflux esophagitis, because acid is necessary to break intercellular tight junctions of squamous epithelium, which then facilitates and allows the corrosive and inflammatory actions of bile to occur (65). Thus, even when pathologic bile reflux is present, effective acid suppression will result in healing of esophagitis.
Suppression of gastric acid secretion also results in decrease of 24-hour intragastric volumes, facilitating emptying of gastric contents, decreasing the volume of gastric contents available to reflux and thereby decreasing both acid and bile reflux (66).
Thus, potent acid suppression, such as that effected by proton pump inhibitors, heals esophagitis by changing intraesophageal pH and by decreasing gastric residual volumes.
Esophagitis in Adults
Most studies of the efficacy of omeprazole in esophagitis fall into one of three categories: short-term treatment of erosive esophagitis, long-term maintenance of remission, and prevention of peptic strictures. For the former two, omeprazole has long been shown to be superior to H2RAs (60,67-70).
For the treatment of esophagitis with benign peptic stricture, 20 mg omeprazole daily was significantly superior to 150 mg ranitidine twice daily for preventing stricture recurrence over a 12-month period (71), in terms of the number of patients requiring redilatation (30% vs. 46%) and the number of redilatations required (0.48 vs. 1.08). See also PPIs Other Than Omeprazole).
Also in esophagitis with benign peptic stricture, 20 mg omeprazole daily produced a higher rate of esophagitis healing and relief of dysphagia and a less need for dilatation than 150 mg ranitidine twice daily or 20 mg famotidine twice daily (72). This was the first controlled study to show that medical antireflux treatment could affect the natural history of peptic stricture disease, and in doing so, it was 40% to 50% more cost effective than H2RAs. Investigators in a more recent study (73) confirmed these findings, emphasizing the need for vigorous treatment of esophagitis in patients with peptic strictures.
Esophagitis in Children
The mechanisms of pathologic reflux in children are summarized elsewhere (74). Of course, children with severe esophagitis are those of most concern and greatest challenge, in that it is this group who are most likely to require long-term therapy with proton pump inhibitors or antireflux surgery.
Compared with adults, there is a relative paucity of data on the use of proton pump inhibitors in children. The first study to examine the efficacy and safety of long-term omeprazole use in children was that of Gunasekaran and Hassall (21). The study subjects were 15 children aged 0.8 to 17 years (mean, 8.1 years) in whom medical therapy with H2RAs and prokinetic agents had failed; in addition, 4 had had at least one Nissen fundoplication with unsuccessful outcome. Most had grade 3 or 4 esophagitis before treatment with omeprazole. The dose of omeprazole was titrated to achieve a normal 24-hour intraesophageal pH study-that is, the dose used was increased until the reflux index was less than 6% of a 24-hour study. After 2 to 3 months of omeprazole treatment (at first follow-up endoscopy), 10 of the 15 patients had a normal-appearing esophageal mucosa (grade 0 or 1). At the second follow-up endoscopy after 4 to 6 months of treatment, esophagitis had healed in all patients, and symptoms and signs of GERD and esophagitis had resolved or markedly improved in all patients. The effective total dose of omeprazole was 10 to 60 mg daily, equal to 0.7 to 3.3 mg/kg per day. These patients were maintained on omeprazole for periods of 5.5 to 26 months. In all, 11 patients had hypergastrinemia during omeprazole therapy, and 4 had normal gastrin levels. In 6 of the patients with hypergastrinemia, fasting gastrin levels of 400 to 700 ng/l were present (upper limit of normal, 130 ng/ml).
In a study by Karjoo and Kane reported in 1995 (75), 129 children aged 6 to 18 years had esophagitis; 31% of these had grade 1 "esophagitis,"-erythema, which most investigators consider to be within normal limits. The remaining 69% had erosive esophagitis, and two-thirds of these had grade 2 esophagitis. All patients were developmentally normal and had no history of esophageal or gastric surgery. Patients were initially treated with 8 mg/kg ranitidine per day, which was increased to 12 mg/kg per day if no symptomatic improvement was observed after 2 weeks. In those still symptomatic after 4 weeks of treatment, ranitidine was considered a failed therapy, and all were then treated with the same dose of omeprazole, 20 mg daily. Symptomatic response to ranitidine was present in 90% of those with grade 1 esophagitis, in 74% of those with grade 2, but in only 37% of those with grade 3 and 50% of those with grade 4. Eighty-seven percent of those who did not respond to ranitidine had a symptomatic improvement after 2 weeks of omeprazole therapy. Although these results show the superiority of omeprazole over ranitidine for relief of symptoms, many of the patients did not have erosive esophagitis, and endoscopic follow-up to document healing was not performed. Many of those with erosive esophagitis may have been undertreated and may not have healed.
In a study by Cucchiara et al. reported in 1993 (76), 25 children aged 6 months to 13.4 years had esophagitis that was unresponsive to 8 mg/kg per day ranitidine and 0.8 mg/kg per day cisapride for 8 weeks. These children were randomly assigned to treatment with 40 mg/1.73 m sup 2 per day omeprazole or 20 mg/kg per day ranitidine for 8 weeks. The parameters studied were endoscopic findings, histologic scores, and a clinical scoring system for symptoms of GERD. Follow-up endoscopy showed similar numbers of children in each group with normal mucosa, erythema, or erosions of the esophagus. The investigators concluded that ranitidine was comparable to omeprazole for treatment of esophagitis. This claim seems unsupported. Failure to find a difference between the two treatment groups in the study was probably because of small sample size and several other factors. First, very high-dose ranitidine was compared with a dose of omeprazole that was generally low for the pediatric age group, compared with doses in pediatric studies in which omeprazole has been uniformly successful in treating refractory esophagitis (21). Second, histologic and clinical scoring systems are less reliable than endoscopic grading systems (63). It may well be that in the study group chosen, there was a high percentage of children with mild esophagitis (nonerosive or grade 2 only), which may have skewed the results. Finally, a duration of treatment of 8 weeks is often insufficient for more severe grades of esophagitis in children.
Recently, De Giacomo et al. (77) treated erosive esophagitis in 10 children 2 to 9 years of age with 20 mg omeprazole for those weighing less than 30 kg, and 40 mg for those more than 30 kg. In 9 of 10, erosive esophagitis healed. Not surprisingly, histologic parameters did not correlate well with healing or symptomatic relief. Doses of omeprazole used were 0.87 to 1.94 mg/kg, and the authors recommend their dose regimen. However, of note are the small number of patients treated and the presence of mild erosive esophagitis (grade 2) in the majority of those treated.
Most recently, the doses of omeprazole required to heal chronic erosive esophagitis in children were determined in a prospective, multicenter study (78). The entry criteria were age 1 to 16 years, and the presence of chronic erosive esophagitis and intraesophageal pH of 4 or more for more than 6% of the duration of a 24-hour study. The initial omeprazole dose of 0.7 mg/kg per day was increased in increments until the reflux index on intraesophageal pH study was normal. Follow-up endoscopy was performed after 3 months of therapy with this healing dose, and healing was defined as the presence of macroscopically normal esophageal mucosa: grade 0 or 1. Of 57 patients, 27 were less than 7 years old, 19 were 7 to 12 years, 11 were 12 years and older. Sixty-seven percent of patients had esophagitis grade 3 or 4. Only 24 were previously untreated; in the remainder, H2RAs, pro-kinetics, or surgery had failed. Half of the patients had no underlying disease, the remainder were neurologically impaired or had repaired esophageal atresia, and almost half of the patients had hiatal hernias. Fifty-four of the 57 patients completing the healing phase of the study successfully healed, although 3 required a second course of treatment to heal. The absolute healing doses of omeprazole ranged from less than 10 mg to 80 mg. A healing dose of 0.7 mg/kg per day was effective in 45% of children, whereas a dose of 1.4 mg/kg per day promoted healing another almost 30% of patients. Gastric biopsy specimens were evaluated for changes in ECL cells, gastritis and H. pylori status. There were no changes in these parameters, and no adverse events occurred that were attributable to omeprazole. In general, on a per kilogram basis, the doses of omeprazole required in children are higher than those required in adults, perhaps because of the pharmacokinetics of the drug in children.
Several children in an earlier study (21) have now been observed for almost 9 years on omeprazole therapy (E. Hassall, personal experience). They have not had adverse effects other than parietal cell hyperplasia in some (30) and benign fundic gland polyps in two (31). Thus, effective and safe medical therapy in the form of long-term use of omeprazole is now a viable alternative to antireflux surgery for children.
Although antireflux surgery may be the treatment of choice for documented GERD in selected patients, children have often undergone antireflux surgery without clearly documented indications, and the morbidity and failure rate of antireflux surgery is high in certain high-risk groups (74). Ironically, the perioperative morbidity, failure, and even mortality rates are highest in those groups of children most at risk for severe reflux: those with neurologic impairment, repaired esophageal atresia, and chronic lung disease.
There are many factors to be considered in the choice of long-term therapy with PPIs versus antireflux surgery; these are discussed in more detail elsewhere (74,79). Cost is one factor. The high initial costs of antireflux surgery can be justified when there are no ongoing costs for morbidity, further investigations, repeated operations, and the cost of repeated hospital admissions, in addition to the psychosocial costs of absences from school and family. These costs must be weighed against the substantial costs of use of expensive PPIs for long periods. A recent study in the United States (80) showed that in adults, even when antireflux surgery was performed laparoscopically, the costs of medical therapy equaled those of surgery only 10 years after surgery. Thus, much hinges on maintenance of the long-term antireflux effect of surgery-that is, its long-term success. In this regard, most pediatric studies offer data regarding only short-term follow-up (74). In adults, a sobering study was that of Luosterinen et al. (81) in which antireflux surgery failed in 30% of adults followed up for 20 years. Of relevance to pediatrics is that these adults did not have the same high-risk factors as do certain children.
In considering the treatment of BE without dysplasia or cancer, aspects to consider are firstly the treatment of esophagitis, erosions, and ulcers that may be present, and secondly treatment of the Barrett's mucosa itself. For severe esophagitis with ulcers present in BE, 40 mg/day omeprazole in adults resulted in healing rates of only 41% after 4 weeks of treatment and only 56% after 8 weeks (60). Severe erosive esophagitis in BE is clearly more refractory to treatment than is squamous esophagitis. More recent studies (82,83) have shown that high-dose PPIs can heal the erosions and ulcers in Barrett's mucosa if used for 3 to 6 months. In the study by Sharma et al. (82), high doses of lansoprazole (60 mg daily) for as long as 3 years healed the erosive esophagitis in all 13 patients treated, although that study was primarily focused on regression of Barrett's mucosa, and it was not clear whether patients required the full 3 years of treatment to heal esophagitis. In the author's (EH) experience with a small number of children BE treated with omeprazole, although the esophageal erosions healed in some patients in 2 to 4 months, in others, doses of 40 to 80 mg omeprazole daily were required for as long as 6 to 8 months before the deepest Barrett's ulcers had completely healed. When indolent ulcers are present, malignant disease should be ruled out.
The second issue in BE is that of regression. The term regression in BE refers to the (possible) event in which the columnar mucosa of the esophagus reverts to squamous mucosa, once the chronic insult of reflux is removed. The regression that occurs is most often in the form of the new appearance of squamous white islands and buried Barrett's specialized mucosa. To date, there has not been a well-documented case of complete regression of BE after medical or surgical therapy (85,86). We have seen partial regression also in children treated with PPIs.
Thus, it is well established that antireflux surgery and high doses of PPIs can result in healing of severe erosive esophagitis and partial regression of Barrett's mucosa itself. Regression of Barrett's mucosa would carry clinical significance only if it resulted in a risk of cancer that was decreased or eliminated. Unfortunately, this has never been shown (86,87). It is possible that young patients without dysplasia at the time effective antireflux therapy is initiated may not progress to malignant disease, but this remains to be shown.
Peptic Ulcer Disease
In adults, peptic ulcer disease is common (88). Several 2-week treatment regimens including three antimicrobial drugs or combinations of acid suppression plus antimicrobial drugs can achieve H. pylori eradication rates of 80% to 90% (89). Studies are ongoing to determine whether 7- or 10-day therapy is as effective as longer regimens and comparing results of PPI-antibiotic regimens with those of H2RA-antibiotic regimens.
Omeprazole on its own does not eradicate H. pylori (90), but PPIs have some anti-H. pylori properties, in vivo and in vitro (91), although not by a urease-dependent mechanism (92). The actual mechanism for this effect is not clear. The increase in gastric pH with omeprazole therapy also preserves acid-labile antibiotics such as amoxicillin, with corresponding decrease in their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)90 (92,93). Higher gastric pH may also serve to protect specific anti-H. pylori immunoglobulins from proteolytic destruction. Of clinical importance is that acid suppression affects the accuracy of the urea breath test, resulting in equivocal or false-negative urea breath test results in as many of as 61% of patients, an effect that resolves within 5 days of drug cessation (92,94).
Eradication of H. pylori infection may sometimes have surprising consequences. Recently, Labenz et al. showed that reflux esophagitis ensued after H. pylori eradication in adults with duodenal ulcers (95). Elsewhere, they showed that in duodenal ulcer patients, cure of H. pylori infection resulted in a marked rapid and persistent decrease of the pH-increasing effect of omeprazole 1 year later (96). Others have shown that H. pylori-negative GERD patients tend to have more severe disease than H. pylori-positive GERD patients (97). Gillen et al. (98) demonstrated that inhibition of gastric acid secretion by PPI therapy is much more profound in H. pylori-positive than in H. pylori-negative adults, and that marked rebound hypersecretion of gastric acid occurs after PPI therapy in H. pylori-negative, but not in H. pylori-positive adults (99). These studies all indicate that H. pylori infection increases gastric pH. Some suggest that the apparent increase in gastric acid output during omeprazole therapy after cure of the infection is caused by the abolition of H. pylori-derived ammonia production and not by increase in basal or gastrin-releasing peptide secretion (100). Others suggest that it is the H. pylori corpus gastritis developing during omeprazole therapy that impairs acid secretion and augments the effect of the drug (98). These investigators speculate that this suppression of acid may have the deleterious effects of facilitating gastric bacterial colonization and predisposing to atrophic gastritis, but they did not study this (98) (see the earlier section, Atrophic Gastritis).
Peptic ulcer disease is much less prevalent in children than in adults. Treatment studies are therefore far fewer and tend to be open rather than controlled. Six weeks of therapy with two or three antibiotics without acid suppressors resulted in eradication of H. pylori and healing of duodenal ulcers in complaint children, but not in non-compliant children (101,102). In the search for shorter regimens, 2 weeks of omeprazole and amoxicillin therapy had poor results in children (103,104), but metronidazole, omeprazole, and clarithromycin (MOC) therapy for 2 weeks resulted in an overall 93% H. pylori eradication rate (105). A regimen of 2 weeks omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (OAC) plus 4 weeks of omeprazole in those with ulcers, produced a 92% eradication rate of H. pylori in children with H. pylori gastritis with or without ulcer; all seven active ulcers healed (104).
Of importance in children and adults in recognition that not all primary ulcer disease is H. pylori-related (106-109). True non-H. pylori duodenal ulcer disease is a distinct entity, perhaps accounting for as much as 15% to 20% of duodenal ulcers in children (106). In such cases, acid suppression alone is the preferred effective treatment. Recently, guidelines for an approach to diagnosis and treatment of children with peptic ulcer disease were published as part of a Canadian Consensus document (110).
Antral G cell hyperplasia or hyperfunction and the gastrinomas of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome are characterized by hypergastrinemia-driven, marked acid hypersecretion and peptic ulcer disease refractory to H2RAs. Omeprazole has been used with success in G-cell disorders in children (111).
An association between GERD and pulmonary disease has long been recognized (the reader is referred to a comprehensive review of the topic by Sontag ). In established pulmonary disease there is a high prevalence of GERD ranging from 47% to 64% in children, and from 33% to 90% in adults, depending largely on the criterion used to establish the presence of pathologic GERD (112). Gastroesophageal reflux disease may cause or exacerbate pulmonary diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and pulmonary fibrosis.
Conversely, the cough and tachypnea of pulmonary disease may cause GERD by mechanisms of increased negativity of intrathoracic pressure and increased positive intraabdominal pressure. Other factors reported to promote GERD in pulmonary disease are bronchodilator therapy, the supine position, and the presence of hiatal hernia.
Methods used to clarify the association between GERD and pulmonary disease include sputum microscopy for lipid-laden macrophages, scintigraphy reflux scans, intraesophageal pH monitoring, acid infusion into the esophagus to provoke bronchoconstriction, and surveys on the prevalence of GERD symptoms. Unfortunately, none can reliably prove GERD as the cause of pulmonary disease. A more reliable indicator has been examination of the effects of antireflux treatment of pulmonary disease-that is, the use of antireflux measures for both treatment and diagnosis.
Sontag has reported highly beneficial results of anti-reflux surgery in adults with GERD and long-standing duration (113). Subsequent studies (114,115) showed that even relatively low doses of omeprazole (20 to 40 mg daily) in patients with asthma and heartburn or esophagitis resulted in significant improvement in asthma, despite relatively short durations of treatment. The response of heartburn and erosive esophagitis to omeprazole treatment strongly predicted the response of cough or hoarseness. From results in several studies in adults, it can be concluded that patients most likely to benefit from omeprazole or antireflux surgery are those with nocturnal acid reflux, symptoms of esophagitis, erosive esophagitis, normal esophageal motility and acid clearance, and asthma rather than chronic unexplained respiratory disease (113-116).
There are relatively few studies in pediatrics on this topic. Results in some studies have suggested that use of cisapride resolved nocturnal coughing episodes in infants and children aged 3 months to 10 years (117); improved apnea, cough, irritability, and disrupted sleep patterns in infants aged 4 to 26 weeks (118); and decreased requirements for medication in patients with uncontrolled asthma aged 18 months to 15 years (119). Although the studies in children have shown potential benefit, they are uncontrolled. Their use of short durations of treatment (2 weeks-3 months) allows for an early placebo effect, and durations are too short to determine durability of response. Unlike the subjects in most of the adult studies, these children were at the milder end of the spectrum of GERD, with few or no gastrointestinal symptoms and no endoscopic findings reported. Omeprazole has also been used with success in the management of reflux laryngitis (120).
Omeprazole or lansoprazole administered 3 to 12 hours before surgery can significantly reduce gastric residual volume and increase gastric pH (121,122). Administration of a single dose of 1 mg/kg omeprazole the night before surgery was more effective in increasing gastric pH than a dose administered 3 hours before surgery. Omeprazole therapy in an adult with congenital chloridorrhea resulted in control of his diarrhea and hypokalemia, by reducing gastric chloride secretion (123).
PPIs OTHER THAN OMEPRAZOLE
Lansoprazole (Prevacid, TAP Pharmaceuticals, USA) and pantoprazole (Pantolic BYK Gulden, Germany) are substituted benzimidazoles structurally and pharmacologically related to omeprazole. They, too, have a short half-life (1-2 hours), but a prolonged (>24-hour) antisecretory effect (8,10,124). In hepatic cirrhosis, all three PPIs have decreased clearance and prolonged half-life, whereas in renal failure, clearance and half-life are unchanged. Although all three PPIs share the same cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes for the first step in metabolism of the drug, unlike omeprazole and lansoprazole, pantoprazole is further metabolized by nonsaturable, noncytochrome P-450-dependent reactions. Thus, pantoprazole is said to have less potential for drug interaction than omeprazole or lansoprazole (124).
At this time, in adults, there appear to be no major differences between the efficacy of 20 mg omeprazole, 30 mg lansoprazole, and 40 mg pantoprazole for healing of erosive esophagitis or treatment of peptic ulcers (124,125). In the treatment of erosive esophagitis, 30 mg lansoprazole daily may produce slightly earlier symptomatic relief of nocturnal heartburn than 20 mg omeprazole, but healing rates were equivalent (126). When 30 mg lansoprazole was compared with 40 mg omeprazole, both drugs were equally efficacious for symptom relief and healing of all grades of esophagitis (127). In erosive esophagitis with severe heartburn, 60 mg lansoprazole may be superior to 30 mg for symptom relief (128).
However, there may be differences between the drugs for maintenance of remission. In a recent study, double standard doses of PPI (40 mg omeprazole daily, lansoprazole 60 mg daily and pantoprazole 80 mg daily) were compared for maintenance treatment of grade 4 esophagitis with stricture (129), which had been healed in all patients by an initial course of 40 mg omeprazole daily. Although esophagitis healed in all patients, omeprazole was significantly more effective in preventing relapse of esophagitis and strictures. This may suggest that only omeprazole effects a dose-related acid suppression, whereas increasing doses of lansoprazole and pantoprazole do not seem to have an advantage over the standard dose. These findings require confirmation. For H. pylori-associated ulcer disease, most recent triple therapy regimens that include omeprazole or lansoprazole result in an H. pylori eradication rate of more than 85% to 90%.
At the time of writing these is little, if any, published experience with lansoprazole and pantoprazole in children, whereas dose regimens, efficacy, and safety have been established for omeprazole use in children with erosive esophagitis.
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93. McNulty CAM, Dent JC, Ford GA, Wilkinson SP. Inhibitory antimicrobial concentrations against Campylobacter pylori
in gastric mucosa. J Antimicrob Chemother
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C-urea breath test by a pH-dependent mechanism. Am J Gastroenterol
95. Labenz J, Blum AL, Bayerdorffer E, et al. Curing Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with duodenal ulcer may provoke reflux esophagitis. Gastroenterology
96. Labenz J, Tillenburg B, Peitz U, et al. Efficacy of omeprazole one year after cure of Helicobacter pylori infection in duodenal ulcer patients. Am J Gastroenterol
97. Schenk BE, Kuipers EJ, Klinkenberg-Knol EC, et al. H. pylori, GERD and the efficacy of omeprazole therapy (abstract). Gastroenterology
98. Gillen D, Wirz A, McColl KEL. Degree of suppression of gastric acid secretion by omeprazole is related to H. pylori status (abstracts). Gastroenterology
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115. Waring JP, Lacayo L, Hunter J, et al. Chronic cough and hoarseness in patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease: Diagnosis and response to therapy. Dig Dis Sci
116. DeMeester TR, Bonavina L, Iascone C, et al. Chronic respiratory symptoms and occult gastroesophageal reflux. A prospective clinical study and results of surgical therapy. Ann Surg
117. Saye Z, Forget PP. Effect of cisapride on esophageal pH monitoring in children with reflux-associated bronchopulmonary disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr
118. Vandenplas Y, Deneyer M, Verlinden M, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux incidence and respiratory dysfunction during sleep in infants: Treatment with cisapride. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr
119. Tucci F, Resti M, Fontana R, et al. Gastroesophageal reflux and bronchial asthma: Prevalence and effect of cisapride therapy. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr
120. Hanson DG, Kamel PL, Kahrilas PJ. Outcome of antireflux therapy for the treatment of chronic laryngitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol
121. Nishina K, Mikawa K, Maekawa N, et al. Omeprazole reduces preoperative gastric fluid acidity and volume in children. Can J Anaesth
122. Mikawa K, Nishina K, Maekawa N, et al. Lansoprazole reduces preoperative gastric fluid acidity and volume in children. Can J Anaesth
123. Aichbichler BW, Zerr CH, Santa Ana CA, et al. Proton-pump inhibition of gastric chloride secretion in congenital chloridorrhea. N Engl J Med
124. Zech K, Steinijans, VW, Huber R, et al. Pharmacokinetics and drug interactions: Relevant factors for the choice of a drug. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther
125. Beker JA. Bianchi Porro G, Bigard M-A, et al. Double-blind comparison of pantoprazole and omeprazole for the treatment of acute duodenal ulcer. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
126. Castell DO, Richter JE, Robinson M, et al. Efficacy and safety of lansoprazole in the treatment of erosive reflux esophagitis. Am J Gastroenterol
127. Mulder CJ, Dekker W, Gerretsen M. Lansoprazole 30 mg versus 40 mg omeprazole in the treatment of reflux esophagitis grade II, III, and IV (a Dutch multicentre trial). Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
128. Sontag SJ, Kogut DG, Fleischman R, et al. Lansoprazole heals erosive reflux esophagitis resistant to histamine H2
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129. Jaspersen D, Diehl KL, Geyer P, et al. Omeprazole is superior to lansoprazole and pantoprazole for maintenance treatment of complicated reflux esophagitis (abstract). Gastroenterology | <urn:uuid:0a717537-17fb-4074-a678-f9a82ef838a4> | {
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26 September 2010
Posted in Press and Media
New Original Exhibit Promotes Earth and Space Science Through Hands-On Displays
Permanent Display Begins on September 25, 2010
Orlando, FL - September 20, 2010 - Our Planet, Our Universe is an original exhibit on astronomy and earth science, developed by the Orlando Science Center, which premieres as part of the Science Center’s permanent collection on September 25. The exhibit is a combination of new interactive experiences and classic favorites that provide hands-on exploration of the dynamic forces that shape our planet and our universe.
In addition, the Science Center has partnered with WFTV Channel 9 to create the Severe Weather Center 9 interactive exhibit experience, which will be displayed within Our Planet, Our Universe. This exhibit, presented by WFTV Channel 9, is a replica of the station’s weather center that is seen on television. This display was fabricated by the FX Group, the same designers that put together WFTV's actual weather center. Interactive multimedia presentations featuring WFTV’s Chief Meteorologist, Tom Terry, and the Channel 9 weather team explore the skills and technology at work to predict severe storms.
From cosmic collisions to black holes, visitors will investigate themes like "Earth Wind and Sky", "Planets and Portals", and "Gravity, Waves and Warp"s. They will engage in numerous hands-on activities, including experiencing firsthand the Doppler effect by walking between two speakers and hearing how sound compresses and expands to illustrate the effect. Classic displays like the Hurricane and Tornado Simulator and the Gravity Well have been transplanted from the popular Science Park exhibit to be seen as they relate to Earth Science concepts. The dramatic visual presentations of Science on a Sphere have also been incorporated into Our Planet, Our Universe. Using a six-foot suspended sphere and state-of-the-art projection technology, Science on a Sphere enables audiences to view satellite weather imagery as well as view stunning, detailed images of planets provided by NASA. Other topics that will be explored through interactive displays, include:
Aeolian Landscapes: Where art meets science as visitors manipulate fans to discover how the force of wind can shift sand into spectacular dune shapes and patterns.
Blue Sky: Find out why our sky is blue through manipulation of different filters in front of a light source through a medium.
Ask An Astronomer: This interactive video kiosk features short and entertaining answers by the astronomers at the Spitzer Space Science Center. Find out the answers to questions such as “what will happen to the sun?” or “why don’t we have 2 moons?”
Tonight’s Sky: This NASA software program is automatically updated every month to show stars, constellations and other objects visible over our local night sky.
Warping Space: Visitors manipulate “stars” and “planets” along a flexible flat plane that represents a 2-D universe to see how different masses warp space into three dimensions and discover how gravity is warping space.
Other interactives will be added in the near future to further expand the informal science learning and hands-on discovery within this exhibit. Our Planet, Our Universe is included with general admission to the Orlando Science Center, which is $17 for adults and $12 for kids (ages 3-11). Tickets also provide access to live science shows, giant screen films and all four floors of interactive exhibits, including the new Get the Message communications display plus favorites like KidsTown, NatureWorks, and Science Park. For more information, please call 407-514-2000. | <urn:uuid:8c796b72-e12e-47b9-b7a2-367e56a44542> | {
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from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- v. Simple past tense and past participle of constitute.
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Set; fixed; established; made; elected; appointed.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adj. brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Unlike Alabama, the BATF initially approved the Balthus label, though Mouton later requested that the approval be rescinded after allegations were made that the label constituted child pornography.
Obviously the term constituted a high compliment in Peter's estimation and the evident satisfaction that it afforded to Stella seemed to confirm the impression.
Then you are saying to me now, "On the other you state that a post that was not even directed at you and which did not even mention your name constituted bullying."
As a liberal I feel strongly that we need a sane, sensible conservative party as a counterbalance to my own side's view of the world - but the GOP as currently constituted is not that.
The political class, as constituted, is just a reflection of this imbalance.
It also provided an excuse for her household to remain constituted even if separated from her physically.
The experiment of guarding a state prisoner whose household was determined to remain constituted and near her ended in April 1555.
McClintock (261) insists that nationalism is constituted from the very beginning as a gendered discourse tipped symbolically and materially in favour of men.
And the word constituted culture, because the word carried meaning.
That Pugwash was constituted from the beginning not solely along bilateral lines but rather with much broader participation was a great asset in dealing with this wider agenda, in which the interests of every region are at stake and the participation of every region in the solutions is required. | <urn:uuid:91ad80f4-ad7a-4c55-9ab4-e80ac8e574e4> | {
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Rebecca McCulley/Univ. of Kentucky
Guest post by Gabriel Popkin
Diverse tallgrass prairies once covered about 10 percent of the United States, but farming and grazing have reduced the habitats to a handful of small remnants.
Scientists studied the genes of bacterial communities living in some of those prairie remnants and discovered that the grassy areas have far more Verrucomicrobia, a little studied group of bacteria, than agricultural soils do. These bacteria are experts in breaking down complex carbon-containing structures such as the roots of prairie plants.
The finding, which appears in the Nov. 1 Science, could assist thousands of prairie restoration projects throughout the Midwest. | <urn:uuid:7d61dde2-cbd7-46cc-bd6c-014574e9ff80> | {
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Pilates exercises focus on firming and strengthening your core muscles so that the rest of your body can move with greater ease and flexibility.
Pilates is known as a diaphragmatic exercise program. This simply means that all movement should be initiated with your diaphragm. For example: Were you aware that flexing the buttocks restricts the range of motion of your diaphragm? The diaphragm is one of your core muscles, and if the diaphragm is restricted so is your breathing. The goal of Pilates exercise is to co-ordinate breath with movement. This lengthens and strengthens muscles from the core, greatly improving flexibility. | <urn:uuid:747d81d4-2fc4-4be0-a384-bbc3c9cb56c1> | {
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