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Calligraphers master Khattati, the Islamic art of fancy handwriting
It is half-past 1 p.m., and activity in many shops in Triplicane is sagging on account of load-shedding. In the crowded office of Musalman, a handwritten Urdu newspaper, amid silent machines, Shabana Begum works relentlessly with two modest tools — a reed pen and ink — on a sheet of paper that has scrapes of coloured bits, indicating the placement of ads.
The stark bent of letters and their curves seem perfect, as she dips the nib of her pen in a pot of coal-stained ink regularly, moving her fingers gracefully. “The nibs used for writing Urdu have a sharp left cut, while the ones for English have a right one,” she says.
A few streets away at the Murthuzaviya Foundation, Dowlat Jahaan, another calligrapher, has been imparting the skill for almost 20 years now. “It requires a lot of patience and concentration. You practise the same letter for 10 days till your eyes start distinguishing between the elegant and the slightly clumsy,” she says.
Love for Urdu is the foremost criteria to pursue this art, say these masters of calligraphy or Khattati, the Islamic art of fancy handwriting, who cite a deep interest in the skill that has its roots in Islamic history as a major reason for taking it up.
“I learnt the art at a time when even richer families would educate their daughters only till they knew to read letters. But when my husband died a few years after I got married, this interest evolved into a source of income,” says Ms. Jahaan.
Historians say there are more than 180 styles in calligraphy. “There are about seven versions here, with Urdu being written in Nasta'liq, and Arabic in Nasq. A lot also depends on how long, short, or thick the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, ‘Alif,' is written,” she adds.
“Text is very important to us. Calligraphy helps to merge letters and their sounds, using minimal space,” says Qatib Abdullah Baqavi, a veteran calligraphy artist, as he also explains the concept of ‘Muktasar' inherent to Urdu alphabet. Arabic calligraphy has had royal practitioners, including the Mughal king Aurangzeb and the Rajput princess Jodhabai, he adds. The profession may be synonymous with timeless tradition but Arabic language scripting and designing offered by computers now have forced the artists to innovate too. “We have to catch up,” says Mr.Baqavi, gesturing at his keyboard as he creates a decorative piece with jewel-like Arabic letters, forming a verse from the Quran.
Wedding card makers are among the major customers of their work. “Many people want Quranic verses or text from the Bible written on their cards. Computerised versions of these texts are often unavailable and existing templates do not have punctuation marks. So, often, calligraphers are roped in,” says Mohammed Iqbal, of Olympic Cards.
While the art still has many admirers, the number of buyers has plummeted. Patrons of Urdu are concerned by this and the declining number of people who remain to uphold this tradition. “This reminds me of a time 20 years ago when we had to go to Hyderabad to get all our cards and textbooks written and printed,” says G.S.M.P. Khadri, Secretary, Murthuzaviya Foundation.
And not everyone gets to pursue an art as a profession, says Ms. Jahaan. “Calligraphy is not just a sequence of strokes, but the rhythm of letters. After all, the way you write says a lot about you,” she adds. | <urn:uuid:a15754a7-eaec-4d48-ba43-091c12075746> | {
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What does family building mean? A qualitative exploration and a new definition: a UK-based study
Reproductive Health volume 19, Article number: 203 (2022)
The importance of improving men’s and women’s knowledge of sexual and reproductive health has been emphasised in numerous global health policies. Fertility awareness literature highlights a disproportionately higher number of articles related to pregnancy-prevention compared to pregnancy-planning, which is justifiable in many contexts. However, recent concerted effort to improve fertility-awareness warrants a closer investigation of basic reproductive health terminologies. The objective of this study is to explore participants’ views of “family building” and provide a definition.
We conducted 35 qualitative in-depth interviews on men, women and healthcare professionals who were sampled from a UK cross-sectional survey. We asked participants about terms such as ‘family planning’ and ‘family building’ to elicit views and explored the appropriateness of the term “family building.” Data were transcribed and analysed via Framework analysis.
When asked what ‘family planning’ meant to them, study participants stated that the term meant the avoidance of pregnancy. They viewed it as an “umbrella term for the use of contraception methods,” that “paradoxically, the term family planning almost has a negative connotation regarding having a family,” but could not state similar terminology for planning a family. Reasons cited for this perspective include the focus of school education and usage in clinical settings.
In the absence of an explicit definition in literature, we generated a new definition for family building as follows: “Family building refers to the construction or formation of a family, which can include steps or actions taken by an individual towards having children. In contrast to family planning, the intent focuses on pregnancy planning and childbearing rather than pregnancy prevention. However, it can also include actions taken to space the number of children one has.” Some balance in the global public health messages, including bridging the gap in reproductive health literature, policies, processes and practices may contribute to the effort to improve fertility knowledge. Use of appropriate terminologies help optimise reproductive health services in order to enable men and women achieve their desired fertility intentions, whatever they may be.
Trial registration Not applicable
Plain language summary
Global health policies have emphasised the importance of improving individual’s knowledge of sexual and reproductive health. Fertility awareness literature highlights a disproportionately higher number of articles related to pregnancy-prevention compared to pregnancy-planning, which is justifiable in many contexts. However, the recent concerted effort to improve fertility awareness warrants a closer investigation of basic terminologies in the field. For example, although the term family planning encompasses attaining the desired number of children and spacing pregnancies, it is almost synonymous with not having children, while there is currently no widely accepted equivalent terminology for planning to have children, either in general usage or clinical settings. We conducted 35 qualitative in-depth interviews on men, women and healthcare professionals who were sampled from a UK cross-sectional survey. When asked what ‘family planning’ meant to them, study participants stated avoidance of pregnancy. They viewed it as an “umbrella term for the use of contraception methods”, that “paradoxically, the term family planning almost has a negative connotation regarding having a family,” but could not state similar terminology for planning a family. We introduced family building and provided a new definition. We believe that some balance in the global public health messages, including revisiting widely used terminologies can help bridge the gap in reproductive health literature, and contribute to the effort to improve fertility knowledge. Additionally, this has implications for promotion of preconception and optimising reproductive health in relevant policies, processes and practices, in order to help people achieve their desired fertility intentions, whatever they may be.
Global health policies have highlighted the importance of optimising women’s health and knowledge of contraception as part of pregnancy prevention and for pregnancy planning as part of preconception care [1,2,3,4]. However, in terms of general fertility awareness, there is far more information and education on pregnancy prevention than pregnancy planning. A vast number of studies have been conducted worldwide assessing the level of education on contraception for pregnancy prevention, however but not as many studies have been conducted for getting pregnant. In sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education, there is generally more emphasis on pregnancy prevention than pregnancy planning. This skew in fertility awareness is likely due to decades of global campaigns that have focussed on the reduction of abortion and unintended pregnancies [5, 6]. Since unintended pregnancy, especially in adolescence, continues to be a key contributor to adverse maternal and child outcomes as well as perpetuating a cycle of poverty and poor health , decades of public health initiatives have emphasised the importance of expanding access to contraception . These global campaigns are justified; studies have shown that a third to a half of all pregnancies across the world are unintended and around 80% of women affected do not use modern contraception . Reviews of worldwide pregnancy trends [11, 12] showed that, after declining significantly between 1995 and 2008, the global rate of pregnancy decreased only slightly between 2008 and 2012. However, eighty-five million pregnancies (representing 40% of all pregnancies) were unintended in 2012. Of these unintended pregnancies, 50% resulted in abortion, 13% resulted in miscarriage and 38% ended in an unplanned birth. Between 2012 and 2014, 59% of unintended pregnancies in developed countries and 55% in developed countries resulted in abortion. These findings emphasise the importance of contraception.
Family planning can be linked back to falling birth rates from the late nineteenth century, differentially among the social classes, the demographic transition and the role, or otherwise, of individual rational action. Pre- and early-twentieth century artificial methods of contraception were still associated with non-marital sex and immorality with historians attributing most of the declining birth rate to natural methods . By the beginning of the twentieth century, various drivers, such as concerns about population fitness and over-breeding of the lower classes, eugenics, feminism, cultural change and norms had an impact on family size. The change in status of contraception from morally unacceptable to state sanctioned happens through the 1920s, 30 s and beyond. Different group activists used different arguments, but the unifying approach was to dissociate contraception from sex or sexuality as much as possible and link it to other benefits, such as increasing population fitness, improving women's health, relieving poverty . Therefore, arguments related to sex within marriage, by default related to procreation and family. Promoting the respectability, or non-sexual aspects of contraception was key. The National Birth Control Association, which was set up in the 1920s, changed its name to the Family Planning Association in 1939. Hawkes and Weeks both see this as significant, linking contraception to the growing social planning, intervention of governments at this time. Hawkes goes on to argue that "family planning" and the "prioritization of planned families" allowed the state to manage fears about troublesome non-marital sexuality and procreation.
Although the concept of family planning encompasses attaining one’s desired number of children and spacing pregnancies, it is typically attributed to the practice of limiting the number of children one has. In general usage, it is synonymous with birth control, use of contraception and prevention of unwanted pregnancy. According to Oxford dictionaries , family planning can be defined as “the practice of controlling the number of children one has and the intervals between their births, particularly by means of contraception or voluntary sterilisation”. A This shows a gap in literature with needing further exploration. This important emphasis on the prevention of unintended pregnancies, means that, by comparison, relatively little attention is paid to the decline in global fertility which is now below replacement level fertility in many developed countries . Potential explanations for this decline include the postponement of childbirth as well as involuntary childlessness .
While the use of the term family planning for pregnancy prevention is widely established in general literature as well as scientific and clinical settings, in conducting our literature review for this study, it was evident there was no equivalent widely used terminology for describing a focus on achieving pregnancy. “Proception” has been used as a term to describe the behaviour in which the goal is to achieve conception but it has never moved into wider use. “Family-building” also appears in the literature [22,23,24,25,26,27,28] but no definition of this term is provided in literature and the origin in the context of fertility awareness is unknown; however, the term is used more frequently in the United States than elsewhere. There is also evidence that this term has been in used in research papers since the 1970’s , but explicit definition has not been provided. A consequence of a misunderstanding of family planning in the context of wanting more children means that there may be disparities in public health messaging on reproductive health. Although there is still an important need for continuous advocacy of contraception within fertility awareness campaigns, some balance in the message may be required to alleviate problems that people experience with family building, with the usage of fertility related terminologies being an important component. This study explores participants’ views of the terms “family planning” and “family building” in the context of a project about fertility awareness, reviews the appropriateness of the term “family building” and in the absence of an explicit definition in literature, proposes a new definition.
The study is a qualitative component of a wider mixed methods study. Participants were sampled from a UK wide cross-sectional survey on fertility awareness, including men, women and healthcare professionals who had agreed to a follow-up interview. Participant demographic information was collected as part of the survey questionnaire. A new study invitation email was sent to recruit for the qualitative interviews. Criteria based purposive sampling was systematically employed to cover the socio-demographic diversity of the three population groups based on gender, age, ethnicity, and education, as well as to cover the range within each group. In this study, thirty-five interviews were conducted on thirteen men, thirteen women and nine healthcare professionals as previously described in Grace et al. . Thirty-two remote interviews and three in-person face-to-face interviews were conducted by a single trained interviewer.
Interviews lasted one hour on average. As part of questions on their knowledge and attitudes towards fertility awareness, planned and unplanned pregnancies, participants were asked what the term “family planning” meant to them. The term “family building” was introduced to evaluate participants’ understanding. Our full definition was then introduced to study participants in order to elicit views:
“Family building refers to the construction or formation of a family, which can include steps or actions taken by an individual towards having children. In contrast to family planning, the intent focuses on pregnancy planning and childbearing rather than pregnancy prevention. However, it can also include actions taken to space the number of children one has”.
All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded electronically using the NVIVO Pro software, QSR International . Data analysis was conducted using the Framework methodology, providing a structure into which the data can be systematically interrogated by the researcher, in order to analyse it by case and by code . The coded framework matrix was exported from the NVIVO software into a Microsoft Excel file which was used for further examination, categorisation, and analysis. In summary, the data analysis process consisted of the coding of individual quotations verbatim, summarising quotations, grouping into higher order categories (themes), and conducting within theme analysis. In order to minimize personal bias, reflexive journaling was used, followed by a qualitative review workshop with five attendees (co-authors B.G., J.Sh. and J.St. and two qualitative research experts within the university department).
Ethical approval was obtained from UCL Research Ethics committee (Reference 8421/001). All participants in this study participated voluntarily and gave informed consent. The interviews were conducted sensitively by a single trained interviewer.
Participant sociodemographic characteristics
The sociodemographic characteristics of study participants are shown in Table 1.
Understanding—What does the term “family planning” mean to you?
When interview respondents were asked what they understood by the term family planning, by far the most common responses were that family planning meant contraception or pregnancy prevention.
“Trying not have children”. MP5—Male, Age 38, White, GCSEs, has two children, does not want more.
“Family planning is just making sure you have knowledge about contraception really” MP7—Male, Age 35, Chinese, Degree qualification, has no child, would like in future.
“It is an umbrella term for the use of contraception methods.” MP10—Male, Age 33, White, GCSEs, has no child, unsure about having children.
“It’s obviously when you’re trying to plan so that you don’t end up having a baby that you don’t want to.” FP5—Female, Age 30, Asian, A levels, has one child, would like more.
“Family planning means using contraception.” HCP4- Consultant, Male, Age 45, has three children, does not want more.
Interestingly, the majority of interviewees did not overthink this question. The view that the family planning terminology is used within the context of pregnancy prevention was simply an automatic response. However, some respondents were cognisant of the fact that together, the two words,’ family’ and ‘planning’, should mean planning a family which could include having children.
“For me, family planning, I would think of it as trying to talk people out of having children before they’re ready and able to support them and bring them up in a stable and secure environment. Paradoxically, family planning for me almost exclusively has a negative connotation, and I don’t mean negative as in it shouldn’t happen. I mean negative as in it should be trying to help people plan properly for a family rather than prevention therefore holding them back rather than encouraging them to have a family.” MP9—Male, Age 43, White, Degree qualification, has three children, does not want more.
For some respondents, the scope of the terminology goes beyond contraception and pregnancy prevention; it also covers preventing sexually transmitted infections, usage of screening services, abortion clinics and including other topics relating to sexual and reproductive health within clinical settings. Female respondents were more likely to consider the terminology in the context of women’s health generally.
“So, family planning I think of women’s health, I think of screening, I think of contraception information and so it can be ranging from giving out the condom to young people to testing for STDs to kind of a place to go from the whole like it’s your health issue.” FP11—Female, Age 21, Black, Degree qualification, has no child, would like in future.
“I think of, like, doctors’ surgeries and that kind of thing, like, doctors asking that kind of question, like how you’re managing your fertility, in quite a medical sense rather than a more casual sense. I usually think contraception though.” FP12—Female, Age 21, White, Degree qualification, has no child, unsure about having children in future.
“I think of family planning clinic. Offering contraception, sexually transmitted disease advice things like that.” HCP3, Consultant, White, no child, did not meet partner until later in life.
Why does contraception or pregnancy prevention come to your mind when thinking about the term family planning?
Following on from the responses on what family planning meant, we probed further to understand the reason why family planning was viewed almost exclusively in terms of contraception. Most respondents were unable to clarify the reason why family planning was viewed in the context of pregnancy prevention but there were some suggestions, especially amongst healthcare professionals, that it is related to the use of the term within clinical contexts. Another key theme which emerged as a reason for this connection was the focus of sexual and reproductive health school education being primarily on pregnancy prevention.
Usage in clinical settings
One of the key reasons provided for viewing family planning in terms of pregnancy prevention is the way it is used in clinical settings. For example, ‘family planning clinics’ are healthcare centres where patients would go to receive contraceptive services. These include clinics where patients are provided with condoms, placed on the pill, have contraceptive devices fitted or where abortion services are provided.
“Contraception that’s the first thing that comes to mind. I have [a] medical background. I think always in terms of medicine that you know Family Planning Clinic is where people go to get their contraception or to have coils changed or to be started on the pill, after their pill maintenance, you know, having their blood pressure checked and for prescriptions.” HCP1—Doctor, Female, Age 33, has two children, does not want more.
“I think of a Family planning clinic. Offering contraception, sexually transmitted disease advice things like that. Americans have Planned Parenthood, which I get the impression is the same kind of thing. It’s just the general culture of talk about family planning is that it’s about [pregnancy] prevention” HCP3—General Practitioner, Female, Age 45, has no child, would like in future.
Focus of school education
There were also ubiquitous themes regarding school education and the focus on pregnancy prevention, when family planning discussions came up as part of sexual and reproductive health education.
“I remember at school it was all about not having a baby—there was nothing on planning for the future. I know you don’t want to have teenage pregnancies but when it comes to wanting to have a baby, I think it gives you a false understanding of how easy it is to have a baby because for some people it really isn’t. So, it’s really about understanding whole fertility and contraception at an earlier stage I think”. FP2—Female, Age 32, White, Degree qualification, has one child, would like more.
“We didn’t learn a lot on fertility as a whole. It was based on the fear factor. We were told not to get pregnant, not to have sex. Basically, avoid pregnancy at all costs.” HCP2—Nurse, Female, Age 30, has no child, unsure about having children.
“Thinking of family planning terminologies in school, there was quite a lot about contraception.” HCP3—General Practitioner, Female, Age 45, has no child, would like in future.
“I don’t think that we got any good foundation on fertility, the knowledge was far more sketchy and scant.” HCP4- Consultant, Male, Age 45, has three children, does not want more.
Introducing “family building”—what does this term mean to you?
Planning for having children in the future
When the term “family building” was introduced to respondents, they were able to view the terminology in the context of wanting to have children.
I think it [family building] involves looking to the future. Creating a family within a relationship. MP5, male, Age 38, white, vocational qualification, has two children, does not want more.
When I think of family building, I think of sitting down, having a talk with your significant other and just thinking about having a baby or furthering the relationship that way, that’s what I think. MP2, male, Age 27, Asian, Degree, no children, would like in future.
Some respondents provided further reflection on the general perception of what family planning means, welcomed the new definition and reiterated the importance of representing needs for those wanting pregnancy prevention as well as pregnancy planning.
“Honestly, I’m now not sure why I usually think of contraception. It [family planning] Should be about planning your whole reproduction, it’s not just about contraception. Family building makes me think of that. Yes, the whole discussion should be holistic to include having and taking a break from having children.” FP1. Female, Age 36, Asian, Degree and above, has two children, would like more.
“Yeah [family building] I’d think trying to have a baby or children in future. I guess that's what family planning ought to mean if you look at it holistically.” HCP2—Nurse, Female, Age 30, has no child, unsure about having children.
“…Your definition makes perfect sense. I guess family building is what we’ve missed from family planning.” HCP3—General Practitioner, Female, Age 45, has no child, would like in future.
How do you think use of these terms can be improved to help people achieve desired fertility intentions?
Finally, interview respondents were asked to provide their views on improvement opportunities.
Inclusive language to frame reproductive health needs
In their responses, participants expressed the need for inclusive language to help patients better frame reproductive health needs.
“So, I’d been on the pill for a long time before I decided that I wanted to have a baby, so I knew that my cycles weren’t really real. I do remember being worried about whether I’d be able to get pregnant or how long it would take. I was a bit unsure of going to the family planning clinic because I felt that they only deal with [contraception] pills… I feel they didn’t have the words or language to let women know about wanting babies.” FP5—Female, Age 30, has one child, would like more.
Recognition of different fertility intentions
In recognition of different fertility intentions, there were views on balanced discussions on pregnancy prevention, pregnancy planning and reproductive life planning.
“Yes, it should be a combination of both: talk about contraception and talk about planning for a baby. In discussions between couples, one person in the marriage or the relationship might want to start a family and then the other doesn’t. Having that discussion as to what's important to both parties and there should be a forum for that.” HCP8—General Practitioner, Female, Age 36, has no child, would like in future.
Support tailored, age-appropriate and improved education
Linked to the perspective that school education mainly focussed on pregnancy prevention, there were recurring themes regarding improving school education, planting ‘the seed’ young in terms of early but age-appropriate fertility education.
“It’s best to give the education [so] that they [students] can make the choices they want, rather than say ‘I wish I knew that 10 years ago’.” FP11—Female, Age 21, Degree qualification, has no child, would like in future.
“I think you should plant the seed when someone’s younger and then later on it should be there for them to get at the time when they want it, ‘cause everyone’s gonna want it at different times, aren’t they?” HCP5—Nurse, Female, Age 24, has no child, would like in future.
This study aimed to explore participants’ views of the terms “family planning” and “family building” in the context of fertility awareness, review the appropriateness of the term “family building”, and in the absence of an explicit definition in literature, offers a new one. In line with literature findings, when asked what family planning meant to them, our study participants almost unanimously and automatically said prevention of pregnancy, which was a ubiquitous theme in this study. By contrast, they did not automatically offer a term for planning to have a family. One respondent highlighted that, “paradoxically, the term family planning almost has a negative connotation regarding having a family.”
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study exploring the meaning of the terms “family planning” and “family building” among men and women of reproductive age as well as healthcare professionals. We believe the use of these terms in literature as well as scientific and clinical settings is an important component for improving fertility and reproductive health awareness to enable men and women achieve their desired fertility intention as its intent focuses on pregnancy planning and childbearing rather than pregnancy prevention, which family planning represents.
Due to the increased incidence of delayed family building, rates of involuntary childlessness and fewer children than desired have also increased [20, 26, 33]. Major cultural and sociodemographic changes, increased participation of women in the workforce and greater availability of contraception have all contributed to the ability to delay family building. Whilst there remains an important need for advocacy to improve access to contraception as part of family planning, this ought to be balanced with education on fertility, preconception care, healthy pregnancy and other factors involved in family building.
More collaborative initiatives from the different reproductive health services are needed. As highlighted by Shawe et al., “Proactive discussion of preconception care and pregnancy planning should be an integral part of all contraception and reproductive health services wherever they are provided”. In addition, new pregnancy-friendly terminologies are necessary within family planning services to encourage more balanced messages encompassing planning to have a family .
It is important to note that there are considerable variations in family building intentions among different individuals . For those who desire children, improved education on fertility and factors that affect fertility for family building is crucial, but this should be provided within a societal context; and in recognition of today’s world, whereby socioeconomic and personal factors dominate choice over family building, and the harsh realities of biological constraints tend to be overlooked.
In order to address different and evolving needs, education and information packages on family building, ought to be tailored to be effective, however they are delivered. Services should be better equipped to educate both men and women about fertility awareness when they first report trouble conceiving to their HCP. This opens a potential role for general practitioners, practice nurses in primary healthcare services and sexual health practitioners, that is those working in sexual health and contraception services.
Information should be targeted based on different family planning and family building intentions using a lifecourse approach such as the Reproductive Life Plan (RLP), a set of personal goals regarding whether, when, and how to have children based on individual priorities, resources, and values . This strategy would be a useful tool to implement. The RLP has been strongly advocated by many reproductive healthcare organisations and interest groups [36,37,38,39,40]. A research team in Sweden developed a protocol based on the RLP that aimed to encourage both women and men to reflect on their reproductive intentions as well as to find strategies for successful family planning, including achieving their desired fertility intentions and avoiding issues that could affect their reproductive health .
To encourage the engagement of men, the current female-focused awareness and education programmes on fertility and reproductive health generally should be reviewed and reoriented to be fully gender inclusive , creating an opportunity for inclusive innovation approaches. Additionally, educational programmes on sexual and reproductive health covering family building should be integrated within existing sexual and reproductive curricula ensuring there is a balance in reproductive health messages to include family planning and family building, including use of terms which cover the potential desire towards having child(ren) in future.
In terms of theoretic and practical application, beyond the use of the new definition in literature, it is important to consider how the use of terminologies could be promoted to help achieve desired fertility intention. We believe that proactive discussion of family planning and family building needs should be an integral part of reproductive health services [34, 41]. From our study, lay people and healthcare professionals felt that paradoxically, the term ‘family planning’ appears to have a negative connotation regarding having a family as the term is commonly linked to use of contraception. However, family planning clinics, known as Contraception & Sexual Health Clinics in the UK, tend to the first port-of-call for reproductive health needs. In embracing inclusive language through its use in literature, policy, guideline or by reproductive health organisations, the terminology helps frame patients' reproductive health needs more precisely and accurately. As such, we believe that the introduction of family building better describes the desires of those who are trying to have children rather than avoid children, helping them to achieve their desired fertility intentions.
In terms of study strengths and limitations, a key strength of this study is the original contribution to literature by providing a new definition for family building in the absence of an explicit definition. Another strength is the inclusion of men in the study as they are often left out of the pregnancy and childbearing discourse. In terms of study limitations, although we gathered rich data, interviewees were self-selected and results principally reflect views of those who we willing to participate. Due to the online recruitment method, there is a potential bias towards more educated respondents. Finally, family planning clinics in different countries across the world may serve different purposes, which has implications for the generalisability. While in principle, the study findings are applicable in similar contexts, the representativeness of the UK population would need to be considered.
Our study provides as new definition for family building as follows: “Family building refers to the construction or formation of a family, which can include steps or actions taken by an individual towards having children. In contrast to family planning, the intent focuses on pregnancy planning and childbearing rather than pregnancy prevention. However, it can also include actions taken to space the number of children one has.” Historical global emphasis on pregnancy prevention means that, by comparison relatively little attention is being drawn to issues associated with postponement of childbirth and infertility. Although there is still an important need for continuous advocacy of contraceptive methods for family planning within fertility awareness campaigns, some balance in the global public health message may help alleviate problems experienced with involuntary infertility, including use of terminologies. Effective discussion of family planning and family building needs is integral to reproductive health services. This new definition creates an opportunity for those who are actively seeking to create or build a family to better express their needs and desires and engage constructively with healthcare professionals. It also has implications for inclusive language in the promotion of preconception and for optimising reproductive health in relevant policies, processes and practices, in order to enable men and women achieve their desired fertility intentions, whatever they may be.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Te Velde E, Habbema D, Leridon H, Eijkemans M. The effect of postponement of first motherhood on permanent involuntary childlessness and total fertility rate in six European countries since the 1970s. Hum Reprod. 2012;27:1179–83.
Harper J, Boivin J, O’Neill HC, Brian K, Dhingra J, Dugdale G, et al. The need to improve fertility awareness. Reprod Biomed Soc Online [Internet]. 2017;4:18–20.
Miller WB. Proception: an important fertility behavior. Demography [Internet]. 1986;23(4):579–94.
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Daniluk JC, Koert E. The other side of the fertility coin: a comparison of childless men’s and women’s knowledge of fertility and assisted reproductive technology. Fertil Steril [Internet]. 2013;99(3):839–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.10.033.
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Baldur-Felskov B, Kjaer SK, Albieri V, Steding-Jessen M, Kjaer T, Johansen C, et al. Psychiatric disorders in women with fertility problems: results from a large Danish register-based cohort study. Hum Reprod. 2013;28(3):683–90.
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Grace B, Shawe J, Johnson S, Stephenson J. You did not turn up… I did not realise I was invited…: understanding male attitudes towards engagement in fertility and reproductive health discussions. Hum Reprod Open. 2019;2019(3).
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We would like to thank the study participants for their contribution and the team at Orishi Inclusive Innovation for their support for our work.
No specific funding was received for this publication.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Favourable ethical approval was obtained from UCL Research Ethics committee (Reference 8421/001). All participants in this study participated voluntarily and gave informed consent.
Consent for publication
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
About this article
Cite this article
Grace, B., Shawe, J., Barrett, G. et al. What does family building mean? A qualitative exploration and a new definition: a UK-based study. Reprod Health 19, 203 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-022-01511-w
- Family planning
- Family building
- Fertility awareness
- Reproductive Health
- Qualitative research
- Preconception health
- Reproductive intentions
- Fertility education | <urn:uuid:1a0408e2-0bcd-4ecf-b542-6ed6ace2b331> | {
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Music for Kids
History of the Violin
The modern day style violin was first made near the start of the European Renaissance in the 1500s. Prior to that there had been other stringed instruments that used a bow to vibrate the strings such as the lyra and the rebec from the middle ages.
It is thought that the first violin to have four strings and closely resemble the modern violin was built by Italian Andrea Amati in 1555. The violin became very popular and the King of France at the time, Charles IX, had Amati build him 24 violins. The oldest surviving violin is one of these 24 violins and is called the Charles IX.
Andrea Amati built his violins in Cremona, Italy where he and his sons would also apprentice some of the world's finest violin makers. As a result, Cremona is the home of the violin and the place where the world's greatest violins were crafted.
Famous Violin Makers
Over the next 100 years the violin would become a very popular instrument throughout all of Europe. The construction and art of building violins would reach its peek in the 1600's with the two most famous violin makers, the Guarneri and the Stradivari family of violin makers (also called luthiers). They were both located in Cremona, Italy and both learned from the Amati school of violin craftsmanship. These musical instruments are still considered the best ever made. They are very much in demand by the top violinists in the world and a Stradivari violin, nicknamed The Hammer, sold for $3.5 million in 2006.
A violin crafte by Antonio Stradivari
Changing of the Violin
Over the years the violin has gone through changes of design to end up with the current construction and dimensions. The first violins had a shorter and thicker neck. The bridge was flatter and the finger board shorter as well. Many of the changes were made to allow for a higher pitch as well as to produce more volume for orchestras.
A luthier working on a violin
Fun Facts about the History of the Violin
More on the violin:
Other musical instruments:
- Antonio Stradivari started out as an apprentice to Andrea Amati's grandson, Nicolo Amati.
- In the 20th century the first electric violin was invented.
- Even though people try to recreate exactly what Stradivari did to craft a violin, no one has been able to match the older violins in tone and quality. This may be due to the materials and varnishes available.
- Most violinists consider a machine made violin to be nowhere near the quality of a hand crafted one built by a true luthier.
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1915, air raid, artillery, Belgium, casualties, Defence of the Realm, E. G. Riggall, English Channel, France, Germany, Great Britain, Groningen, HMS Clan McNaughton, Hon. Desmond O'Brien, Imperial German Navy, law, Les Eparges, merchant navy, merchant shipping, Meuse, missing, Netherlands, Ostend, prisoners of war, Robert Jeffreys, Roy Parana, Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Navy, sinking, SM U-8, SS Carib, SS Harpalion, submarine, Thomas Spencer, torpedo-boat
The Harpalion and the Roy Parana torpedoed in the Channel. Loss reported of another United States ship, the Carib, by a mine off the German coast. H.M.S. Clan McNaughton, armed merchant cruiser (Commander Robert Jeffreys, R.N.), missing since February 3, and it is feared she has been lost. The Admiralty announce that three of the British airmen who made the raid on Ostend on February 16 are missing. They are Flight Lieutenants E. G. Riggall and the Hon. D. O’Brien and Flight Sub-Lieutenant T. Spencer. Another, Flight-Lieutenant D. Murray, was also missing, but is now known to be interned at Groningen, having been rescued from the sea by a Dutch torpedo-boat. French artillery successes on the Meuse and fighting at Les Eparges, in which the German casualties are said to have reached 3,000. Second reading in the Commons of Bill for the amendment of the Defence of the Realm Act by restoring to British subjects their right to be tried by a civil Court with a jury. | <urn:uuid:d2840fa3-a590-47f9-9abe-80a5043e1b94> | {
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Antimicrobial Efficacy of Carabao Grass (Paspalum conjugatum) leaves on Staphylococcus aureus
Keywords:Paspalum Conjugatum, carabao grass leaves, Staphylococcus aureus
In the Philippines, the Paspalum conjugatum or known by its common name as “carabao grass”
is usually consumed for livestock as well as for landscaping. Paspalum conjugatum has been
known to have phytochemicals that kill microorganisms. This experimental research
determined the phytochemicals present and antimicrobial efficacy of Paspalum conjugatum
against Staphylococcus aureus. Samples of the carabao grass was purchased, washed and then
dried. An extract was obtained from the sample. The extract was then sent to an accredited
testing center for phytochemical test to identify the different components of the plant extract.
The antimicrobial activity of the paspalum conjugatum extract was then determined through
the use of the disc diffusion method. The zone of inhibition of Paspalum Conjugatum was also
compared to a control standard such as oxacillin.
The results of the study revealed to have abundant constituents of sterols, flavonoids and
tannins; moderate levels of triterpenes, saponins and glycosides; and traces of alkaloids. The
antimicrobial testing showed results that Paspalum Conjugatum had 10mm zone of inhibition
which means that it has a complete inhibitory activity with severe reactivity against the tested
organism, staphylococcus aureus.
The study concludes that Paspalum conjugatum can be used to eliminate staphylococcus
aureus. It is recommended that further studies be conducted for the use of Paspalum
conjugatum in the treatment and prevention of diseases caused by staphylococcus aureus.
How to Cite
Copyright © 2019 ISC Committee. | <urn:uuid:3118b941-51d8-4786-9ae5-97408fbf91c9> | {
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Copyright © University of Cambridge. All rights reserved.
'Twin Line-swapping Sudoku' printed from http://nrich.maths.org/
By Henry Kwok
Here is a
Word document with the Twin Sudoku that you can download.
Rules of Twin Line-swapping Sudoku
This Sudoku variant consists of a pair of linked standard
Sudoku puzzles each with some starting digits.
As usual, the object of this Sudoku variant is to fill in the
whole of each 9x9 grid with digits 1 through 9 so that each row,
each column and each block contain all the digits 1 through
Twin B is related to twin A in the following ways:
Given that twin A is the original puzzle, twin B is obtained
by swapping the rows/columns within a chute/band of blocks. By such
transformation, twin A and twin B are essentially the same Sudoku
For example, figure 2 is obtained from figure 1 below by:
swapping row 1 and row 3 within the top horizontal chute/band of
blocks, swapping row 5 and row 6 within the middle horizontal
chute/band of blocks, swapping row 7 and row 8 within the bottom
horizontal chute/band of blocks.
Similarly an equivalent puzzle (figure 3) can be obtained from
figure 1 by: swapping column 1 and column 3 within the left
vertical chute/band of blocks, swapping column 5 and column 6
within the middle vertical chute/band of blocks, swapping column 7
and column 8 within the right vertical chute/band of blocks.
The three puzzles are equivalent to one another. Equivalent puzzles
can also be created from figure 2 and figure 3 by similar | <urn:uuid:ae011468-8e21-4f97-8de2-df44f841739f> | {
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Typically you think of a rebel as someone who is spray painting walls, or sneaking out at night to do something illegal. Education rebels are not that at all. They are regular, everyday parents who want something different for their children. Whether it’s wanting a say over what education is being taught, school safety, anxiety over stepping into the classroom, or bullying, parents know best. Parents know best what environment works best for their child. Thankfully we are finding more and more options to meet those needs. Homeschooling and Microschooling are two of those options.
Parents know best what environment works best for their child. Thankfully we are finding more and more options to meet those needs. Homeschooling and Microschooling are two of those options.
Deciding to Rebel
There comes a point in each homeschooling or microschooling journey where the parent decides that they are not going to choose public education. It is a defining moment, and can be scary at times. Especially if you have been on the public education journey for a while. Deciding to step off the conveyor-belt and step into the world of choice is important. It puts learning into the hands of the student, and into the hands of the family. It puts learning into small environments where you are able to adapt and change as needed. When you decide to rebel for good, you start looking at the world through different lenses. You’ll also notice that there are other families out here too.
In Homeschooling, parents take the lead in their child’s education. Thinking of it like a conductor of a symphony, the parent leads each subject individually. Choosing different paths for each course of study. Learning online, learning from novels and stories, learning from field trips or activities, finding a mentor or becoming that mentor yourself, finding or creating learning groups to inspire motivation and collaboration.
In Microschooling, parents partner with educators. The burden of choosing all of the coursework, field trips, projects, activities your child will be participating in is shared by a trusted adult. Often, families choose microschools because of the faith they have in the guide or teacher, or the environment and how it feels. Learning experiences for students are enhanced in small learning environments because they are able to adapt easily and cater to individual students and interests.
Parents Have a Choice
Parents have a choice over what education is being taught, and the way it is being taught. Technology has opened doors for teachers to be able to teach in a mixed age learning environment more easily. Whether it is your own family, or a small group of learners, they can all progress independently. Technology helps correct those math or spelling/grammar questions quickly, and then the windows for creative and collaborative learning can take the front seat. School safety becomes less of a concern when you are nestled in a small learning environment. Still precautions are made but it is less of a focus. Our society now is ever aware that incidents can always occur at any place. For our teens and younger students who are prone to anxiety, having small environments takes that fear away. Anxiety about fitting in or finding friends lessens as well. In small mixed age environments, friendships can occur between students who may typically not find much in common. Getting to know each other and building community is key to building relationships of trust.
Become a Rebel for Good
Parents know best. Becoming a rebel for good, and a rebel for change is all part of the non-traditional education journey, whether you're a parent or an educator who's wanting to create something different for their children or students. Take a step out into the darkness. You’ll find that there are many out here already, and it’s a space that is nurturing and inspiring for students and families. When you do decide to rebel, connect with like-minded people. Homeschool groups, Microschool Meetups, Online and In-person connections. It's going to be hard, because nothing worth doing in life ever comes easy. But, it is so worth it!
Sign up for our Newsletter
Join Microschool Florida groups specific to South, Central, or North Florida.
Public School Review | <urn:uuid:c4933a2a-56b0-4038-acff-659655577e01> | {
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PDF pending restoration
ERIC Number: ED348848
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1986
Reference Count: 0
Conversation as Listening Material: The Prosodic Bases of Difficulty.
A study investigated differences in discourse styles that may affect second language listening comprehension. Ten amateur actors performed three speaking tasks: (1) reading aloud a short self-contained narrative; (2) acting out a memorized script; and (3) conversing with the researcher for 20-30 minutes. Excerpts of the recorded tasks in different discourse modes were analyzed for fundamental frequency, speech burst duration, duration of silence between speech bursts, and proportion of time devoted to speech. Results were compared for the discourse types. Analysis of the results for two variables (fundamental frequency and silence duration) found some significant differences between the discourse styles, with acting highest and conversation lowest in fundamental frequency. Acting showed the greatest amount of fluctuation around the mean fundamental frequency value (i.e., use of potential pitch range), and conversation the least. Duration of silences was also greatest in acting and shortest in conversation. Speech articulation occupied the greatest amount of time in conversation and the least in acting. Findings suggest that contrasting discourse styles or genres do have distinctive prosodic characteristics, and that conversational material is likely to be more difficult to comprehend than other discourse types, making careful selection and ordering of these materials essential. A 26-item bibliography is included. (MSE)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Note: In: Meara, Paul, Ed. Spoken Language. Papers from the Annual Meeting of the British Association for Applied Linguistics (Edinburgh, Scotland, September 1985); see FL 020 441. | <urn:uuid:ebecde07-51cf-4682-9457-c839c8e6afc6> | {
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International Development Partners
Posted in: Pages | 20 April 2016 | 1743
Several Community programmes and projects are implemented through technical cooperation with third countries and multilateral agencies (collectively referred to as international development partners - IDPs). The support from the IDP is through the provision of human and/or financial resources.
The Community has technical cooperation relations with both long-standing traditional IDPs as well as newly emerging ones. There is also a range of multilateral organisations with which the Community has technical cooperation relations.
The Community also benefits from South-south cooperation - an increasing trend among developing countries to establish cooperation mechanisms to assist each other. Countries in the forefront of this recent thrust include those in Central and South American, Cuba and India.
The table below lists the countries and multilateral agencies with which the Community, through the. CARICOM Secretariat, has cooperation relations.
Traditional Country Donors
Emerging Country Donors
United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
Global Environment Fund (GEF)
United Nations Development Fund for Women UNIFEM)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC)
United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
Center for Disease Control (CDC) | <urn:uuid:f405b7a7-07cf-4f55-a8a3-1e072967c59d> | {
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By Jonathan Amos, BBC Science Correspondent
A huge shadow cast by the Moon as it passed in front of the Sun swept across the nation, from Oregon in the west to South Carolina in the east.
Millions of people moved to get into the path of darkness, putting on their protective glasses to gaze at the sky in wonder.
It was the first total solar eclipse visible from America's lower 48 states in 38 years, and the first since 1918 to track from coast to coast.
- As it happened: American eclipse
- The view from above the Pacific Ocean
- When is the next eclipse in my country?
- Why are eclipses so rare?
- Meet the man addicted to eclipses
Read More from the souurce @:bbc.com | <urn:uuid:1d1448bd-847e-4909-a3ee-313c6f7eec83> | {
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Thai childrens’ games –Thai culture for kids
Time to Play! Thailand’s 3 Most Common Games for Children
E-Gar-Fuk Khai- In some American schools, the game cat and mouse is commonly played. In this game, a circle is drawn and rocks (cheese) are put in the middle of the circle, while one child (cat) guards it. The object is for all of the other kids playing (mice) to take the cheese without the child guarding it (child in the circle) touching them. In Thailand, it is called Crow Sits on the Eggs.
Ling Ching Luk- Another popular children’s game of Thailand, is called Monkey’s Run for a Pole. In this game, one child stands in the middle of every other child that will be holding on to a pole. The one child in the middle, will not be holding on to a pole. That middle child is the monkey. The players will be given a signal by an adult, to run to another teammates pole, in an attempt to switch positions. At that time, the monkey, or the middle child without a pole will try and touch a pole before another opponent does. The child without a pole is the new monkey.
Tang Te- a popular activity in Thailand among kids in kindergarten and first grade. In America, this game is also known as hop scotch. For this game, the ground is drawn on using chalk, numbering squares up to ten. The children must try to hop into every square without stepping out. | <urn:uuid:01b27bbb-c43b-4d2b-9fb2-ed57eddce1af> | {
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ambassador – A government official who represents his or her home country to a foreign country. An ambassador builds a friendship with a foreign country and helps solve conflicts that involve the two countries.
campaign – Planned actions to help a candidate win an election. When someone runs for president, he or she gives speeches, meets people, distributes buttons and posters, and appears on television advertisements. These actions are all part of his or her campaign.
candidate – A person who runs for an elected position such as senator or president.
Cold War – Following World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union became the two most powerful nations in the world. They were known as “the superpowers.” The two countries had serious disagreements about many things and did not trust one another. Both the Soviet Union and the United States knew that nuclear weapons were dangerous, but neither country wanted to be caught short of weapons. Both the United States and the Soviet Union wanted to be well-protected and appear very powerful. The Cold War was a time of tension that also carried the threat of nuclear war.
immigrant – A person who leaves the country where he or she was born to live in another country.
inaugural address – The first official speech by a newly-elected official, such as the president. The inauguration refers to the ceremony during which the newly-elected president takes the oath of office and then delivers the inaugural address.
oath of office – The promise the person who has been elected president of the United States must make before he or she can officially take office. He or she must promise to respect and follow the Constitution. The Constitution is a set of rules that describes how the United States government works.
politician – A person who runs for an elected office in the government.
potato famine – Beginning in 1845, a fungus, or disease, destroyed the potato crop in Ireland. A million people died over ten years because they lost their main source of food. The lack of food forced about 2 million people to immigrate to the United States.
segregation – Segregation means separation. Up until 1964 in the United States, the laws in some parts of the country stated that black people and white people should be kept separate. Black people could not use the same public water fountains and bathrooms as white people. Many movie theaters, restaurants, and parks were only open to white people or had separate sections for black people. The facilities for white people were usually of better quality than those set aside for black people.
Soviet Union – Also known as the U.S.S.R., or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Soviet Union formed when Russia joined with several surrounding countries including, for example, Ukraine, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The country was communist. In a communist country, the government owns and controls businesses and services such as newspapers, industry, electrical companies, and farms. Big changes occurred in 1991 when some leaders of the Soviet Union made the decision to dissolve the Soviet Union. They agreed to give independence to Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Later, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and other countries became independent.
volunteer – Someone who works without getting paid. When you volunteer, you donate your time to help with something that is important to you.
Page 2, postcard to Rose Kennedy, from her son John (Jack) F. Kennedy:
- If he was born on May 29, 1917, how old was he when the card was sent? (He was twelve years old. The postmark is April 24, 1930, about a month before his thirteenth birthday. If he was twelve years old in 1930, how old was he when he took the oath of office to become the nation’s 35th president?)
Photo 3, note card on JFK:
- When is Jack’s birthday? (May 29, 1917)
- Where was he born? (Brookline, Mass. 83 Beals Street)
- What illnesses did he have as a young boy? (Whooping cough, measles, chicken pox, scarlet fever, German measles, bronchitis)
Photo 4, Kennedy family photograph from September 4, 1931:
- How old was Jack? (Fourteen years old)
Photo 5, Canterbury School report card:
- Do you think he could have earned a higher grade? (Yes, he earned high grades in other subjects. His teacher writes a comment that he can do better.)
Photo 7, Heavenly Mist painting:
- How many years after the crash was the painting made? (It was made 22 years after the crash.)
- Why might it have been painted then? (John F. Kennedy was president, perhaps it was made to honor him.)
Photo 9, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, JFK, Caroline, and John Jr.:
- During what time of year do you think the photograph was taken? (summer)
- How do you know? (They are wearing summer clothes, they do not have jackets, they look suntanned.)
Photo 11, JFK delivering his inaugural address:
- Can you find Jacqueline Kennedy in the photograph? (She is in the first row. She is the second person to the left of JFK. She is wearing a beige coat, a beige hat, and a muff to keep her hands warm.)
- Can you find Vice President Johnson? (He is in the first row. He is the first person to the right of JFK.)
Photo 12, Willie Douglas in Pakistan:
- What work did he do there? (He helped with farming.)
- What might he have learned as a Peace Corps volunteer in Pakistan? (He might have learned more about farming. He might have learned new languages -- there are many spoken in Pakistan. He might have learned how to make friends with people in a different country. He might have learned what it was like to live in a different culture. He might have learned information about his host village and Pakistan, his host country.)
Photo 13, JFK and his children in the Oval Office:
- What might have happened if he didn’t have a signal? (Caroline and John Jr. could barge in during an important meeting. They could interrupt a televised speech. They would be able to come in any time, and it would be hard for him to complete his work.)
Photo 14, map of missile range from Cuba:
- On this map, how much of the United States could be hit by the missiles? (Almost all of it, except the far northwest and Hawaii. However, the target range shown is larger than the reach of the type of missiles sighted in Cuba.)
Photo 2, The White House Long Ago painting:
- How can you tell it was a scene from long ago? (People are wearing clothes from an earlier time and there are horses. Also, there is no longer a road as pictured here and, during President Truman’s administration, a balcony was added on the second floor of the White House.)
Photo 4, Sea Joy:
- How does the poem show Jackie's love of the sea? (Several lines refer to her love of the sea, such as: “I can think of nothing I would love more/Then to live by the booming blue sea ; and the last line: “Oh-- to live by the sea is my only wish.” She also describes what she loves to do by the sea, and the beauty of sea animals and the water.)
Photo 4, the Auchincloss family:
- About how old was Jackie in the photograph? Is she one of the older or younger children in the family? (Since she was born in 1929 and the photograph was taken in 1946, she would have been about 17 years old. She was one of the older siblings.)
Photo 5, Paris 1961:
- What was the weather like that day? (It was probably raining since people are using umbrellas and some women are wearing rain bonnets. They still came out to see the President!)
Photo 6, illustration from One Special Summer:
- Can you find Lee trying to cover up? (She is a little to the right of the center of the page, in a yellow dress. She is bending down to cover herself.)
Photo 10, the White House school:
- How is she helping in this photograph? What are they learning in school? (She is showing the students how to draw. There is a clock so they might be learning how to tell time. There is a bulletin board with drawings of American Indians.)
Photo 11, the Resolute Desk:
- What material was used to make the desk? (It is made out of wood. In fact, it was made from the HMS Resolute, a British ship. The desk was given to President Rutherford B. Hayes by Queen Victoria in 1878. The desk in the photograph is a replica and is displayed at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.)
- What symbol do you see? (The eagle, which symbolizes the United States, is part of the presidential seal on the front of the desk. The eagle is holding an olive branch, which represents peace; and arrows, which represent war or defense.)
Photo 13, the president and first lady with Isaac Stern:
- What instrument did Mr. Stern play? (The violin.)
Photo 14/first lady clothing gallery:
- Which dress or coat do you think Jacqueline Kennedy wore on a daytime boat ride in India? Which one did she wear to the inaugural gala (a fancy party) the night before her husband officially became president? (She wore the orange dress on the boat ride in India [Dress 1]. She wore the ivory gown with the bow to the inaugural gala [Dress 21].)
Photo 15, Jacqueline Kennedy at the Taj Mahal:
- Why do you think people in India called her Ameriki Rani, “the Queen of America”? (Since her husband was president, they thought of her as the important woman of America, and the wife of the leader of the United States. Perhaps they thought she had the grace and elegance of a queen.) | <urn:uuid:b9570d16-7e15-429e-81cf-7e57ddc9e1ff> | {
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Most at times, we see guys who are well built from their upper body till their waist. But when it comes to their legs and calves, it is a different issue. This occurs because most individuals tend to neglect their calves when working out. The calves are known to be the most neglected part of the body during most workout routines. Having calves that are strong and well developed not only looks good but also aids in the developing balance while performing other workout routines in the gym. Your calves are very efficient when it comes to the performance of explosive activities like sprinting, running, and any other activity that requires your legs. Having calves that are not well-developed and strengthened can cause a limit in your ability to move correctly. It can lead to severe causalities like Achilles tendonitis or even shin splints. You must work on your calves to develop them and ensure that you are fit. The primary muscles which are worked on when working out your calves are the gastrocnemius and the soleus. Your gastrocnemius is known to be the primary muscle that is sited when seeing an individual’s calves. Your calves tend to be visible and well-developed when these muscles are worked on. Your soleus is, however, not as visible as your gastrocnemius. It is located in-depth underneath your gastrocnemius. Your gastrocnemius aids in the performance of various activities like jumping and other explosive activities. You must implement the two muscles to ensure the proper development of your calves. Various types of exercises would aid in the proper development and strengthening of your calves. These exercises include:
Standing Calf Raise on Elevated Surface
This is a perfect workout routine that aids in strengthening your calves, most notably your gastrocnemius. This occurs because this workout routine implements through the exercise of movements. To perform this workout routine, begin by holding a pair of dumbbells in your hands and standing with the head of your foot on a heightened surface while your heel is left hanging. Place your other toe on the ankle of your leg while keeping your abs engaged and tightened. Lift your heel as much as you can before gradually lowering your heel till you feel a stretch in your calf. Perform the same number of seats on both calves to create a balance. Repeat this procedure for at least ten to twelve sets to get the best results.
Seated Calf Raise
This is a superb workout routine that aims at developing and strengthening your calves. It is most especially surprising when it comes to working out the soleus muscles. To perform this workout routine, begin by sitting on a surface while your feet are placed flat on the ground. Grasp a set of dumbbells on your thighs while keeping your abs engaged. Raise your heels off the floor to very high height. Gradually reduce your legs to the floor then repeat this procedure for at least ten to twelve sets to get the best results.
Farmer’s Walk on Toes
This is a variation to the primary farmer’s walk exercise routine. This particular workout aims at the development of your calves. It is beneficial and efficient when it comes to developing your calves. To perform this workout, begin by holding a pair of dumbbells in your hands while your feet are wide apart. Keep your shoulders downwards and your abs engaged. Raise your heels in such a way that you are leaning on your toes. Ensure that your heels touch the floor while you walk with your toes for a particular set. You must perform this exercise consistently to ensure that you get the best results.
Jumping rope is a well-known exercise that is done by many. Most often, most individuals do not know that the jump rope exercise is very efficient when it comes to the development and strengthening of your calves. Apart from strengthening your calves, this exercise also aids in improving your body coordination. To perform this exercise, begin by gripping the handles of your jump rope in your hands. Raise your body while jumping with your feet while you put the rope underneath your leg and above your head. Ensure that your abs are engaged and your shoulders are reduced. Repeat this procedure for at least three hundred jumps to get the best results.
Dumbbell Jump Squat
This exercise engages your calf during the jump squat. It aids in developing the muscles of your calves and strengthening them. Your calves are also responsible for stabilizing your landing. To perform this exercise, begin by grasping a set of dumbbells in your hand while standing with your feet apart. Pull your hips inwards to reduce your thighs to your floor’s parallel position until you are in a squat form. During an explosive form, ensure that your leg is straightened till to remove from your squat form while jumping off the floor. Gradually reduce softly with your knees bent while you reduce your back to a squat position. Repeat this procedure for at least ten to twelve sets to get the best results.
This is a famous yoga workout routine. It is beneficial for the development and strengthening of your calves. This exercise is most effective when done consistently. To perform this workout, begin by positioning your body in a tabletop form with your hands firmly placed on the floor. Ensure that your shoulders and your knee are placed underneath your hips. Ensure that your hands are firmly placed on the floor while your toes are tucked in, and your feet are lifted off the ground. Gradually stretch your hips while keeping your knees locked. Gradually straighten out your leg till you form a triangle shape. Ensure that your core is engaged and your spine is straightened while your hips are lifted. Maintain this position for at least two minutes. Repeat this procedure for as long as you can to get the best results.
Straight-Leg Calf Stretch against Wall
This is a superb workout that has immense effects on your gastrocnemius muscles. It ensures that your body is duly flexible and useful for various movements. This is a superb workout that is known to be very useful and efficient in developing your calves’ muscles. To perform this workout, begin by maintaining a standing position with your arms placed on the wall while putting your foot at the back of your slightly bent foot. Push your body forwards while pressing your hands against the wall and pushing your leg deep into the ground to stretch your calf. Ensure that your legs are straightened. Perform this exercise on both legs then repeat this procedure for as long as you can to get the best results.
Standing Wall Calf Stretch
This is another type of stretching exercise that is suitable and efficient for the development of your calves. It is effortless to perform this workout routine because of its format. You must remain consistent and diligent while performing this workout routine to get the best results. It is a fantastic stretch workout that has an immense effect on your plantar fascia. To perform this workout routine, begin by maintaining a standing position near a wall while placing a foot backward leaning on your heels and the other touching the wall. Rest your hands towards the wall while gradually straightening your leg and leaning forward till you feel a stretch in your calves. Perform this procedure on your other leg and repeat this exercise for as long as you can to get the best results.
How Often Should You Exercise Your Calves?
You must include calf workouts into your routine a few times a week to ensure that your calves are developed. This is a general ideology. However, if you are an athlete who engages in activities such as running and sprinting, you must regularly engage in calve exercises.
Importance of Stretching Your Calves
Engaging in frequent calf stretches or exercises has been shown to increase flexibility in your legs. It enhances the mobility of your legs and increases your chances of performing workout routines like squats.
The Role of Genetics in Calf Development
Most at times, individuals who have well-built calves tend to derive it due to genetics. Some individuals tend to perform workout routines for their calves and still see no results. This is because it is dependent on your genes. However, through constant participation in calf workout routines, every individual is bound to have developed calves even if they are not visible.
Most at times, individuals tend to neglect their calves during workout routines. This eventually leads to a few complications in the calves, like imbalances and stiffness. Several types of workout routines are bound to develop your calves. These workout routines include standing calf raise on an elevated surface, straight-leg calf stretch against a wall, standing wall calf stretch, and many more. It is important to note that calves are more developed in some individuals than others due to genetics. | <urn:uuid:ef22cf56-6999-4f3c-8214-55e18f52400c> | {
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Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
What Time is It? It is flow of a sandstorm that will on each day compress somewhere into a structure – sandstone, selected and only remembered in the longue durée.
On Sunday, 5 April 2015, [and in July] Reclaim Australia organised Nationalist rallies in several Australian cities. Speakers at these rallies included Danny Nalliah, Pauline Hanson, and George Christensen.
On Sunday, 5 April 2015, died Gordon Moyes, 76, evangelist and politician, member of the New South Wales Legislative Council (2002–2011)
Images Citations in Composite: ID 17208541 © Anhong | Dreamstime.com; ID 35001957 © DiversityStudio1 | Dreamstime.com; ID 156394527 © Gerd Zahn | Dreamstime.com
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- How are we learning? The Intellectual Failure of History and Heritage in Australian Capital Cities - September 19, 2022 | <urn:uuid:d88964a9-1326-4b4f-8ad1-cbdb1a7e36ea> | {
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December 22, 2012
Hypertension Drugs Could Help Treat Chronic Pain Symptoms
redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports - Your Universe Online
Medications currently used to treat high blood pressure may someday also be used to help those suffering from chronic pain, an international team of researchers has discovered.Experts from King's College London, pharmaceutical company Pfizer, genomics research firm BGI, and other organizations joined forces on a study seeking new insights about the treatment of chronic pain, which they define as symptoms of discomfort or agony lasting for at least six months.
"Chronic pain is a significant personal and socio-economic burden, with nearly one in five people experiencing it at some time during their lives," they said in a recent statement. "Current pain treatments have either limited efficacy or significant side effects for many patients. It is urgent for researchers to study the genetic mechanisms of pain for developing new approaches to pain relief."
Their work, which has been published in the peer-reviewed journal PLoS Genetics, included testing some 2,500 volunteers to see what their individual pain thresholds were.
Each subject had a heated probe placed on their arms, and were asked to push a button when the burning sensation became too uncomfortable for them to handle. Afterwards, DNA samples from 200 of the most pain sensitive and 200 of the least pain sensitive participants underwent the exome sequencing process.
"The results showed significant different patterns of rare variants on 138 genes including the gene GZMM between the two groups," the researchers explained. "Additionally, they observed a significant enrichment of these genes on the angiotensin pathway. Angiotensin II is a peptide hormone involved in the control of blood pressure."
"The study here supports the notion that the angiotensin II pathway plays an important role in pain regulation in human and indicates that genetic variation in the pathway may influence sensitivity to pain," they added. "Existing drugs that regulate blood pressure may offer new safe methods to control pain."
Dr. Frances Williams of the King's College London Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology called the study results "exciting" due to the fact it revealed existing hypertension drugs could ultimately be repurposed in order to help alleviate the symptoms of chronic pain. However, Williams also warns additional research is necessary, even though the preliminary findings are "promising."
"There are more and more evidence support that rare variants, which were overlooked in genome-wide association study (GWAS), play a very important role in complex disease and traits," added BGI project manager Xin Jin. "Next-generation sequencing makes it possible to explore these rare variants and will led the next wave of discovery in biomedical research." | <urn:uuid:b1c32402-b76c-46b0-8f7f-e2db8f3cd37b> | {
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Academics discover variation in circadian clock protein in fruit flies
3D structure of Cryptochrome—a blue light photoreceptor; a natural variation in a single amino acid shown in green, has impact on behaviour and development of fruitflies, and is driven by natural selection
The circadian clock is a molecular network that generates daily rhythms, and is present in both plants and animals.
A research team from the Department of Genetics led by Dr Eran Tauber has studied genetic variation in circadian clock genes in wild populations of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster – and has discovered that their genes change and adapt depending on environmental conditions, altering their circadian clock.
The research focuses on examining a protein called Cryptochrome (CRY), a blue light photoreceptor which synchronises the circadian clock of the fruit fly with the environmental light-dark cycle. CRY is involved in circadian clock functioning in both plants and animals, including humans.
Adaptive variations have resulted in two versions of the CRY protein existing in fruit flies, both with a different amino acid present – these amino acids affect the circadian clock of the fruit fly.
Using this kind of experimental evolution allowed the team to demonstrate that this variation is actively maintained by the species.
The paper, which has been published in PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed international online publication, can be read here. | <urn:uuid:5f95b665-65ad-4d12-89ee-129769e7b453> | {
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Biochemical Oxygen Demand
or Biological Oxygen Demand
(BOD) is a chemical procedure for determining how fast biological organisms use up oxygen in a body of water. It is used in water quality management and assessment, ecology and environmental science. BOD is not an accurate quantitative test, although it could be considered as an indication of the quality of a water source.
BOD can be used as a gauge of the effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants. It is listed as a conventional pollutant in the U.S. Clean Water Act.
Typical BOD values
Most pristine rivers will have a 5-day BOD below 1 mg/L
. Moderately polluted
rivers may have a BOD value in the range of 2 to 8 mg/L. Municipal sewage
that is efficiently treated by a three stage process
would have a value of about 20 mg/L or less. Untreated sewage varies, but averages around 600 mg/L in Europe
and as low as 200 mg/L in the U.S.
, or where there is severe groundwater
or surface water
infiltration. (The generally lower values in the U.S. derive from the much greater water use per capita than other parts of the world.)
The BOD5 test
BOD measures the rate of oxygen uptake
in a sample of water at a temperature of 20°C and over an elapsed period of five days in the dark.
There are two recognized methods for the measurement of BOD.
To ensure that all other conditions are equal, a very small amount of micro-organism seed is added to each sample being tested. This seed is typically generated by diluting activated sludge
with de-ionized water
The BOD test is carried out by diluting the sample with de-ionized water with added nutrients, saturated with oxygen, inoculating it with a fixed aliquot of seed, measuring the dissolved oxygen
and sealing the sample (to prevent further oxygen dissolving in). The sample is kept at 20 °C in the dark to prevent photosynthesis
(and thereby the addition of oxygen) for five days, and the dissolved oxygen is measured again. The difference between the final DO and initial DO is the BOD The apparent BOD for the control is subtracted from the control result to provide the corrected value.
The loss of dissolved oxygen in the sample, once corrections have been made for the degree of dilution, is called the BOD5. For carbonaceous BOD (cBOD), a nitrification inhibitor is added after the dilution water has been added to the sample. The inhibitor hinders the oxidation of nitrogen. This inhibition allows for measurement of carbonaceous oxygen demand (cBOD).
BOD can be calculated by:
- Undiluted: Initial DO - Final DO = BOD
- Diluted: ((Initial DO - Final DO)- BOD of Seed) x Dilution Factor
BOD is similar in function to chemical oxygen demand (COD), in that both measure the amount of organic compounds in water. However, COD is less specific, since it measures everything that can be chemically oxidised, rather than just levels of biologically active organic matter.
This method is limited to the measurement of the oxygen consumption due only to carbonaceous oxidation. Ammonia oxidation is inhibited.
The sample is kept in a sealed container fitted with a pressure sensor. A substance absorbing carbon dioxide (typically LiOH) is added in the container above the sample level. The sample is stored in conditions identical to the dilution method. Oxygen is consumed and, as ammonia oxidation is inhibited, carbon dioxide is released. The total amount of gas, thus the pressure, decreases because carbon dioxide is absorbed. From the drop of pressure, the electronics computes and displays the consumed quantity of oxygen.
The main advantages of this method compared to the dilution method are:
- its simplicity: no dilution of sample required, no seeding, no blank sample
- direct reading of BOD value
- continuous display of BOD value at the current incubation time
Furthermore, as the BOD measurement can be monitored continuously, a graph of its evolution can be plotted. Interpolation of several graphs on a similar water may build an experience of its usual evolution, and allow an estimation of the five days BOD after as early as the first two days of incubation.
History of the use of BOD
The Royal Commission on River Pollution
, which was established in 1865 and the formation of the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal
in 1898 led to the selection in 1908 of BOD5
as the definitive test for organic pollution
of rivers. Five days was chosen as an appropriate test period because this is supposedly the longest time that river water takes to travel from source to estuary
in the U.K.
In 1912, the commission also set a standard of 20 ppm BOD5
as the maximum concentration permitted in sewage works discharging to rivers, provided that there was at least an 8:1 dilution available at dry weather flow. This was contained in the famous 20:30 (BOD:Suspended Solids) + full nitrification
standard which was used as a yardstick in the U.K. up to the 1970s for sewage works effluent
- BOD Doctor - a troubleshooting wiki for this problematic test | <urn:uuid:e8427ca6-82ba-4145-a6f5-ba053538b649> | {
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Shell knew climate change was going to be big, was going to be bad, and that its products were responsible for global warming all the way back in the 1980s, a tranche of new documents reveal.
Documents unearthed by Jelmer Mommers of De Correspondent, published today on Climate Files, a project of the Climate Investigations Center, show intense interest in climate change internally at Shell.
The documents date back to 1988, meaning Shell was doing climate change research before the UN’s scientific authority on the issue, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was established.
Here’s a quick run through of a 1988 document entitled, ‘The Greenhouse Effect’.
Climate Change Was Going to be Big
Shell’s internal document acknowledge that increased greenhouse gas emissions could lead to 1.5 degrees to 3.5 degrees of warming:
Shell was worried that should the issue of climate change become better known, public opinion may shift against fossil fuels and towards renewables, putting Shell’s business model at risk:
Shell acknowledged that climate change could lead to changes that were “the greatest in recorded history”. But the company also said that it may have recognised the problem “early enough for man to be able to anticipate and to adapt in time”:
Climate Change Was Going to be Bad
Shell knew that climate change could have “major” and “dramatic” changes. The document said climate change could lead to “major social, political, and economic changes”:
Shell also knew climate change was going have major impacts on the environment, anticipating that there could be “even local disappearance of specific ecosystems”:
Shell lists a number of areas that could be specifically affected by climate change, including:
Shell’s Products were Responsible for Climate Change
Shell’s document acknowledges that greenhouse gas emissions have significantly risen “mainly due to fossil fuel burning and deforestation”:
The document also shows that Shell knew all of its products including coal, oil and gas significantly contributed to the problem:
There is even a table that outlines how much of global carbon dioxide emissions Shell's products were responsible for in 1984:
Shell and the Fossil Fuel Industry Needed to be Part of the Solution
Shell was quick to push most responsibility for dealing with climate change onto governments. But the company did acknowledge that the fossil fuel industry would have to be part of the solution.
In one paragraph, Shell calls for “a forward looking approach by the energy industry”:
Shell also says the industry must “work out the part it should play”, and that the fossil fuel industry “has very strong interests at stake and much expertise to contribute” to addressing climate change:
You can read the full document with annotated highlights by De Correspondent and the Climate Investigation Centre here. | <urn:uuid:35ea51cd-39ed-4dc8-83fd-5a55bb1e324c> | {
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In voting, a plurality vote
is the largest number of votes to be received by any candidate or proposition when three or more choices are possible. With only 2 choices the winner would have the majority. The candidate or proposition receiving the largest number of votes has a plurality. The concept of "plurality" in voting can be contrasted with the concept of "majority". Majority is "more than half". Combining these two concepts in a sentence makes it clearer, "A plurality of votes is a total vote received by a candidate greater than that received by any single opponent but less than a majority of the vote.
For example, take an election where 100 voters choose between candidates A, B and C. A gains 40 votes, B gets 35 and C 25. A has received a plurality of the vote, as he has received more than B or C. However, he has fallen short of a majority, which would require 51 votes. In this example A has 40%; B 35%; and C 25% of the total but none has more than half the vote (51%)
The plurality voting system, also known as "first past the post", elects the candidate who is the stated first choice of the largest number of the voters who have cast a valid vote.
Smallest possible plurality
The smallest possible plurality is (v+n-1)/n, rounded up, where v is the number of members of the group (voters) and n is the number of categories (candidates). Thus in a five-candidate plurality election, just over 20 percent of the vote can theoretically win. If n is 2 then the plurality becomes a majority. | <urn:uuid:ef532752-5ded-4c76-92a3-f9b9bc0aba8a> | {
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The most widely used approach to testing for COVID-19 requires a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which involves taking a swab of the back of the throat and far inside the nose. New research by chemists from the University of Surrey, Frimley NHS Trust and the Universities of Manchester and Leicester involved the collection of sebum samples from 67 hospitalised patients—30 who had tested positive for COVID-19 and 37 who had tested negative. The samples were collected by gently swabbing a skin area rich in sebum, such as the face, neck or back. The samples were analysed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) to differentiate between the COVID-19 positive and negative samples.
The Surrey team then found that patients with a positive COVID-19 test had lower lipid levels, or dyslipidemia, than their counterparts with a negative test. The accuracy of the study’s results increased further when medication and additional health conditions were controlled.
Dr Melanie Bailey, co-author of the study from the University of Surrey, said: “Unfortunately, the spectre of future pandemics is firmly on the top of the agenda for the scientific community. Our study suggests that we may be able to use non-invasive means to test for diseases such as COVID-19 in the future—a development which I am sure will be welcomed by all.”
Matt Spick, co-author of the study from the University of Surrey, said: “COVID-19 damages many areas of metabolism. In this work, we show that the skin lipidome can be added to the list, which could have implications for the skin’s barrier function, as well as being a detectable symptom of the disease itself.”
Dr George Evetts, Consultant in Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine at Frimley Park Hospital, said: “Investigating new methods of diagnosis and surveillance in a new disease such as COVID-19 that has had such a devastating effect on the world is vital. Sebum sampling is a simple, non-invasive method that shows promise for both diagnostics and monitoring of the disease in both a healthcare and a non-healthcare setting.” | <urn:uuid:5f34ebc2-0c6e-4940-ac89-955dad841c4a> | {
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Manatees have made a huge comeback as a result of significant improvements in habitat conditions and threat reduction.
Only about 1,267 West Indian manatees could be found in Florida when surveys began in 1991. Since then, the population has increased 500 percent – to 6,300 in that state and 13,000 overall.
Amidst this positive trend, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Thursday announced its proposal to down-list the status of the manatee from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act– yet keep intact federal commitments to protection that will allow the population fully recover.
“The manatee is one of the most charismatic and instantly recognizable species,” said Michael Bean, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior. “It’s hard to imagine the waters of Florida without them, but that was the reality we were facing before manatees were listed under the Endangered Species Act. While there is still more work to be done to fully recover manatee populations, their numbers are climbing and the threats to the species’ survival are being reduced. Today’s proposal is a positive step that recognizes the progress citizens, conservation groups, the State of Florida, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and our own Service employees have made working together.” Read the rest of the article here. | <urn:uuid:1f24e971-7e85-422a-a2fc-5350e4d25964> | {
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As you might imagine, there are many pieces of equipment on any
ships bridge. Each ship class has installed equipment to enable that
ship to do its job. It would be almost impossible to describe each and
every piece of equipment that would be found on the bridge of a ship.
However, equipment that is normally found on all bridges will be
covered. As a QMOW, you are responsible for knowing how to operate
all equipment located on the bridge of the ship to which you are
assigned. This may seem to be a large tasking; however, as you
complete PQS for different watch stations on the bridge, you will gain
the required knowledge to operate the bridge equipment for your ship.
The ships control console contains apparatuses for controlling the
movements of a ship. Figures 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 show three types of
ship control consoles in use aboard ships today. As you can see from
these figures, the ship control consoles physical appearance may differ
from ship type to ship type. On ships that have a ship control console
like those shown in figures 11-l and 11-2, the helmsman must also
complete PQS for ship control console operator. On the bridge of older
ships, like the one shown in figure 11-3, the helm, engine order
telegraph, rudder angle indicator, and steering gyro repeaters are all
located in the near vicinity of the helmsman, but at different locations on
On newer ships, the ship control console houses all the apparatuses for
steering the ship and for controlling its speed in one compact unit.
Additionally, on some ship consoles, like the one shown in figure 11-2,
you will find lighting, steering, and general alarm controls housed in the
ship control console.
Helm Unit: The helm unit for most ships consists of a wheel, rudder
angle indicator, rudder order angle indicator, and synchros that send
electrical impulses to the steering units located in the after steering
Lee Helm: The lee helm unit may be located in the SCC or it may
stand alone near the SCC.
In any case, it sends information to the
engine room to indicate the ships speed. In general, a speed order is
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Scientists ask for help to beat Lyme disease
- Credit: Archant
Scientists at The University of Leicester have called for help in their quest to combat Lyme disease, the bacterial infection transmitted via tick bites.
The scientists, who are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with Lyme disease, are developing a treatment using ‘phages’; tiny viruses that only attack bacteria.
The project is being funded by Phelix Research and Development; a charity that provides aid for research and experimental development on biotechnology.
There are two ways to help the scientists to reach their goal of developing an effective treatment for Lyme disease: by sending them ticks; and by donating to the charity.
How can you help?
Send your ticks to: Martha Clokie, Department of Infection Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, LE1 6RH
To donate to Phelix Research and Development, visit https://mydonate.bt.com/donation/start.html?charity=136327 | <urn:uuid:e88a3dc6-30b8-4390-a470-b3c98670fd7d> | {
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When the Oxford English Dictionary added a definition for “comfort food” in 1997, it traced the term’s etymology back to a 1977 Washington Post magazine article about Southern cooking: “Along with grits, one of the comfort foods of the South is black-eyed peas.”
The Oxford English Dictionary, though, was wrong. (“I don’t really believe I created the term,” the author of the Post article wrote in 2013, but “since —if not before then—it has been one of my favorite food descriptors.”) The phrase “comfort food” has been around at least as early as 1966, when the Palm Beach Post used it in a story on obesity: “Adults, when under severe emotional stress, turn to what could be called ‘comfort food’—food associated with the security of childhood, like mother’s poached egg or famous chicken soup,” it reads, beneath the headline “Sad Child May Overeat.”
Regardless of when people found the words to describe it, though, the concept itself is ageless. Sad child may overeat. Or, put another way, certain foods promise solace as much as they do fuel. But what’s murkier is whether comfort food can actually deliver on that promise. Is that the feeling of a soul being soothed, or just the onset of a mac-and-cheese-induced food coma?
According to Shira Gabriel, an associate professor of psychology at the State University of New York, Buffalo, the best way to understand the question is to shift the focus away from the food itself.
Gabriel’s research broadly defines “comfort food” as anything that a person uses to feel better, but in the U.S., the term calls some specific, universal things to mind: ice cream, mashed potatoes, French fries, and other simple, often indulgent meals or snacks. When a woman on a sitcom is feeling down, she busts out the ice cream. When someone in the 1970s South is having a bad day, they go for the grits.
But to equate “comfort food” with “caloric” is to misunderstand where the comfort actually comes from, Gabriel says. “When we think about something like comfort food, we tend to think about it as providing calories or warmth or a sense of well-being,” she tells me. “But what we don’t think about is that comfort food also provides something social to us.”
In a study recently published in the journal Appetite, Gabriel and colleagues from SUNY-Buffalo and the University of the South ran a pair of experiments to shed light on what that something social might be. In the first, volunteers chose a description that most closely matched their attachment style. (Loosely translated from psych-speak, “attachment style” means the ability to form strong, healthy emotional bonds, a trait that typically takes root at an early age, starting with one’s parents. People with secure attachment styles can easily form these bonds and tend to view their relationships positively; people with insecure attachment styles, less so.) Half of them were then asked to remember a fight they’d had with someone close to them. When the participants were given potato chips, those who had been asked to describe a conflict ranked the snack as tastier—but only, the researchers found, among the ones with a secure attachment style. Among those whose emotional relationships were shakier, there was no significant difference in enjoyment between the people who had revisited painful memories and those who hadn’t.
The second experiment yielded similar results: After filling out a survey on their attachment style, volunteers kept a daily food-and-feelings diary for two weeks, recording how much they ate, whether they had consumed what they considered to be comfort food, and whether or not they felt lonely. Measuring food intake against self-reported levels of isolation, the study authors found that people with strong emotional relationships were more likely than others to reach for comforting foods on the days that they felt lonely.
Both sets of results, Gabriel and her co-authors believe, point to the same idea: that comfort food’s power may lie primarily in the associations it calls to mind. People who have positive family relationships are more likely to reach for reminders of those relationships in times of sadness—and often, those reminders come in the form of something edible. A grilled cheese sandwich can be a greasy, gooey, satisfying endeavor in its own right, but even more so if it features in happy childhood memories.
In a similar 2011 study, the authors found the same thing with chicken soup, a food that’s often associated with being taken care of: The stronger people’s emotional relationships were, the more satisfying they tended to find their soup.
“I tend to think of it in terms of classical conditioning,” Gabriel said. “If you’re a small child and you get fed certain foods by your primary caregivers, then those foods begin to be associated with the feeling of being taken care of. And then when you get older, the food itself is enough to trigger that sense of belonging. But if, when you’re a child, those connections are more anxiety-ridden … then when you’re older and you eat those foods, you may feel less happy.”
Past research has questioned the idea of comfort food in other ways. In a study published last year in the journal Health Psychology, researchers used upsetting movie scenes to induce bad moods in their participants, and then served each one either their previously indicated comfort food, another food they had said they liked, a neutral snack like a granola bar, or nothing. The comfort foods, the study authors discovered, did help boost participants’ moods—but so did the other foods, and so did receiving no food at all. People are resilient with or without their snacks, the researchers concluded—meaning that “comfort food” may be nothing more than an excuse to indulge in an old favorite.
“People have this belief that high-calorie foods are the path out of difficult feelings,” Kelly Brownell, an obesity researcher at Duke University, told the New York Times in an article on the Health Psychology study. “But the assignment of the word ‘comfort’ to these foods implies that there is a relationship between ‘comfort’ and ‘food’ that may not exist.”
Which, in a way, is what the authors of the Appetite study are saying, too. Food, Gabriel said, could be swapped out for anything else that brings the same soothing sense of familiarity, like re-reading a beloved book or watching a favorite TV show.
“We tend to think about the need to belong as a fundamental human need. And by doing that, we’re equating it to other fundamental human needs, like the need for food or water,” Gabriel said. “When it’s not fulfilled, you’re driven to fulfill it, in the same way that when you’re hungry, you’re driven towards food. So when you feel lonely or you feel rejected, you’re psychologically driven towards finding a way to belong.” Sometimes it’s not food. Sometimes it is.
As my colleague Julie Beck observed last year, “It seems entirely possible that all eating is emotional eating.” But there may be another layer in there, too: the possibility that all emotional eating is social eating—even, and maybe especially, when we’re eating alone.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to [email protected]. | <urn:uuid:0450751a-daed-4ee1-a6c2-cdf51ec8a316> | {
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Richard III is a highly controversial figure from English history, and this legacy continues today. Shakespeare wrote of him as a villain, exaggerating his scoliosis and writing his malicious dialogue.“And thus I clothe my naked villainy. With odd old ends stol’n out of holy writ; And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.” (Richard III, Shakespeare). On the other side is the Richard III Society, who’s aim is to “secure a more balanced assessment of the king and to support research into his life and times. The recent Greyfriars excavation has raised the king’s profile and provided us with new opportunities to make the case for ‘Good King Richard‘.” With the discovery of the remains of the king, news sources have debated both sides of the argument using the skeletal evidence to support Shakespeare’s portrayal or to deny this long running misperception. In the middle is the evidence itself. With the publication of a journal article, we can assess it outside of the debate and make our own decisions regarding Richard III.
Historic and Project Background: Richard III was King of England from 1483 to 1485. He was killed during the Battle of Bosworth, part of the Wars of the Roses. The newly crowned Henry VII of the Tudors brought the remains backt o Leicester for a brief public display and burial at the Grey Friars Church. Ten years later an alabaster tomb was erected over it, and in 1538 the church was demolished. In 2012, a public archaeology project initiated by the Richard III Society excavated the Grey Friars site and recovered a set of human remains thought to be those of Richard III. Months of speculation and debate were waged both on and offline as to whether these remains could possibly be the lost monarch. In February 2013, the “king in the car park” was officially identified as Richard III. The archaeological report was recently published in Antiquity, and is currently open access: “The King in the Car Park” by Buckley et al. (2013).
Archaeological method: The site of Grey Friars had previously been identified, but the actual layout of the buildings and structures was not known. However, knowledge about use and reuse of medieval structures aided in discovery. They knew that it would have been located on a major road and likely portions of the building would be absent due to reuse of the building material. Assessment of maps from earlier periods aided in narrowing down location. GPR did not aid in determining location, but did identify modern utilities to be avoided. Trenches were opened up in a car park in order to assess the area.
Archaeological evidence: Trench 3 contained remains of a buttressed building, likely the church. Three graves were found here, one of which was in a stone coffin. All three of these burials were in well cut rectangular graves with vertical sides and careful laying out of the bodies within coffins. None of these were Richard III and complete excavation wasn’t possible due to time constraints. Artifacts found include highly decorated floor tiles, lead window came, copper alloy letters and fragments from a large perpendicular window of the 15th century, all of which suggests this was part of the church’s eastern end. Trench 1 and 3 were extended further to assess the extent of the church.
Within Trench 1 at what would have been the south-west corner of the church, located within it’s choir, was a single grave. The grave was lozenge shaped with a concave base and sloped sides. The body was not carefully laid out, evidenced by the torso being twisted to the north and head propped up against the corner of the grave. In comparison to the other burials, which are well made and careful, Buckley et al. (2013) suggest that this burial was either done in haste or with minimal reverence. Burial in the choir of the friary however does suggest higher status. There is no evidence of a shroud or coffin, though these would have been standard for medieval Christian burials. Lack of artifacts within the grave is not a sign of status, but was standard practice and therefore not anomalous.
Buckley et al. (2013) argue that the position of the body suggests that the deceased was lowered feet first into the grave, followed by torso and head, which accounts for the elongated lower body and twisted upper body. The head was propped up against the side because the body was too long for the grave. The lack of effort to rearrange the body suggests haste in burial, which could be explained by the poor condition of the body which had been on display in the summer sun for several days. Hands were crossed at the pelvis, an uncommon position for this area, and may potentially be due to the fact that the hands could have been bound. The alabaster tomb was not recovered, but evidence of destruction of the church floor and removal of other grave markers means that it was likely removed during demolition in the 16th century.
Skeletal Evidence: The remains were in good condition, thought the feet bones were missing due to post-burial disturbance. Stable isotope analysis revealed a high protein diet and significant amounts of seafood, suggestive of a high status individual. Dating placed the remains between 1456 and 1530 CE. The individual is male, about 5’8″ in height and died during his late 20’s to late 30’s. Pathology showed severe idiopathic adolescent-onset scoliosis. Trauma included 10 peri-mortem wounds: 8 on the skull consisting of sword and dagger blows that would have been fatal, and other superficial injuries, and 2 post-cranial sharp force trauma injuries to the ribs and pelvis (Further information on the trauma to be released in another journal article). Initial analysis of the mtDNA found a match between the skeleton and two direct descendants of Anne of York, Richard III’s sister.
Archaeology and Skeletal Analysis Compared to History: The location of the remains, the hastily dug grave and the time frame all fit the history of Richard III’s final burial. Richard III died at 32 years, was shorter with bad scoliosis, and died during a battle- the skeletal evidence fits the historical image of the king. Buckley et al. (2013) are confident in stating that this is the grave and skeleton of Richard III.
Despite the essential awesomeness of this find, what impressed me most was the author’s concluding discussion over what the burial means. They worked with city authorities and historical enthusiasts in order to complete this excavation that they knew had potentially sensationalist results. They acknowledge that the project goals were different for each stakeholder involved, but argue “that does not mean that we as archaeologists should dismiss the questions of wider audiences as not worth asking” (Buckley et al. 2013). We can work with the audience, local authorities, and community to do meaningful and also accurate archaeology.
Richard Buckley, Mathew Morris, Jo Appleby, Turi King, Deirdre O’Sullivan, & Lin Foxhall (2013). ‘The king in the car park’: new light on the death and burial of Richard III in the Grey Friars church, Leicester, in 1485 Antiquity, 87, 519-538 | <urn:uuid:13887f8b-ec15-4ac6-be20-b320d90a4915> | {
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By: Daniel Haight, MD
Thursday, January 17 2013
When are flu shots usually given? I used to answer by saying “around Halloween time.”
But a more obvious answer is “During Cold and Flu Season.” (By the way…that is NOW!)
It is this time of year that you might hear the BIGGEST MYTH about the flu shot:
MYTH: THE FLU SHOT CAN MAKE YOU SICK WITH THE FLU.
MYTH BUSTER: This is just not true. If a person gets the flu shot and then, by chance, catches a cold a few days later; the flu shot is not to blame. It was just a coincidence they caught a bad cold around the time they received their vaccination. The flu shot only helps block the influenza germ and not the germs that cause the common cold.
The flu shot will rarely make you feel run down. Or, it can make your arm feel a little sore. Those chances are tiny compared to the much higher chance of feeling horrible with the flu. One thing that is not a myth, having a cold will not make you feel nearly as bad as the flu (Those who have truly had the flu, can you back me up on this?).
Finally, another thing to remember about the flu shot is that it is not the only way to stay healthy. Eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep, stay home if you are sick and wash your hands with soap (or use an alcohol-based hand gel) frequently.
At Lakeland Regional, we are taking proactive measures to fight the flu. We are continuing to offer employees the flu shot free-of-charge. See what else we are doing and how you can join in this cause: http://bit.ly/10h93P3
We will follow the flu situation closely and take further steps to protect our patients and staff as necessary.For more myths about the flu shot, check out this article: http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/11/health/flu-shot-questions/index.html. | <urn:uuid:d7c55fe2-76ca-44f6-a5ae-eca5eb498ffe> | {
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17 Apr Mathematicians’ Nobel Prize: Fields Medal or Abel Prize
Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) made his fortune through the manufacture of explosives. He was born in Sweden, grew up in Russia, studied chemistry and technology in France and the US, and built up companies in several countries all over the world. In his will, Nobel designated the establishment of annual prizes to be given in five areas: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. The prizes are intended to reward specific discoveries or breakthroughs, and the impact of these on the discipline. The first prizes were awarded in 1901. In 1968, a sixth prize was added, in Economics, donated by the Bank of Sweden to celebrate its tercentenary. Strictly speaking, it is not a Nobel Prize but “the Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel.” The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences selects the prizewinners for physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and economics, the Nobel Institute at the Karolinska Institute awards the prize in medicine, and the Norwegian Nobel Institute handles the Peace Prize. The monetary amount of each prize varies from year to year. At present it is around SEK10 million, about $1.3 million.
A number of theories have been put forward to explain the omission of mathematics from Nobel’s original list. One of the oft-cited reasons is that the famous Swedish mathematician Gosta Miagnus Mittag-Leffler had run off with Nobel’s wife. But there is no support to this story and in fact Nobel never married. But that does not stop the story as some say the woman was not Nobel’s wife but the one he had proposed and so on. Another story is that Mittag-Leffler, in the process of accumulating considerable wealth had antagonized Nobel. Nobel afraid that Mittag-Leffler might win the prize for mathematics did not institute a prize for mathematics. This also seems far-fetched as there were greater mathematicians such as Henri Poincare and David Hilbert around that time. Both the apocryphal stories were debunked in an article by mathematicians Lars Garding and Lars Hormander in the journal Mathematics Intelligencer in 1985. According to them for natural reasons, the thought of a prize in mathematics never entered Nobel’s mind. They clam that except for medicine all other fields were close to Nobel’s interests. He perhaps simply did not care much for mathematics because it was not considered a practical science, which could benefit humanity. His will speaks of prizes for those inventions or discoveries that are of great practical benefit to mankind.
The Fields Medal:
At the 1924 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) in Toronto, a resolution was adopted that at each ICM, two gold medals should be awarded to recognize outstanding mathematical achievement. Professor J. C. Fields, a Canadian mathematician who was Secretary of the 1924 Congress, later donated funds establishing the medals, which were named in his honor. Fields wanted the awards to recognize both existing work and the promise of future achievement, as a result of which it was agreed to restrict the medals to mathematicians not over forty at the year of the Congress. The Fields Medal was first awarded in 1936, to Finnish mathematician Lars Ahlfors and American mathematician Jesse Douglas. The next time the Fields Medals were awarded was in the year 1950 and has since then been awarded every four years on the occasion of the ICM. In 1966 it was agreed that, in light of the great expansion of mathematical research, up to four medals could be awarded at each Congress.
The Fields Medal Committee is chosen by the Executive Committee of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and is normally chaired by the IMU President. It is asked to choose at least two, with a strong preference for four, such that it represents the diversity of mathematical fields. The official name of “Fields Medals” is “International medals for outstanding discoveries in mathematics”, and at times called as “Nobel prize for Mathematicians”. The medal is accompanied by a cash prize of CND$15,000.
There are some unique characteristics of the Fields Medal that make it different from a Nobel Prize. First it is awarded only every fourth year. Second, it is given for mathematical work done before the recipient is 40 years of age. Third, the monetary prize that goes with the Fields Medal is considerably less than the Nobel Prize. Fourth, the Fields Medal does not come out of Scandinavia. But the Fields Medal carries the same prestige in mathematical community as that of Nobel Prize in other areas since it is awarded by IMU the biggest mathematical association.
When the Norwegian Academy of Science decided to create a prize for mathematics in honor of Abel, they did so with the intention of rectifying what they saw as omission on the part of Nobel.
The Abel Prize is intended to give the mathematicians their own equivalent of a Nobel Prize. Such an award was first proposed in 1902 by King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway, just a year after the award of the first Nobel Prizes. However, plans were dropped as the union between the two countries was dissolved in 1905. As a result, mathematics has never had an international prize of the same dimensions and importance as the Nobel Prize.
Plans for an Abel Prize were revived in 2000, and in 2001 the Norwegian Government granted NOK 200 million (about $22 million) to create the new award. Niels Henrik Abel (1802-1829), after whom the prize is named, was a leading 19th-century Norwegian mathematician.
The Abel Prize is presented annually by the King of Norwa to one or more outstanding mathematicians. This is among the most prestigious awards in mathematics. It comes with a monetary award of NOK 200 million. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters annually declares the winner of the Abel Prize after selection by a committee of five independent international mathematicians. The amount of money that comes with the prize is usually close to the Nobel Prize. The prize is an attempt at creating publicity for mathematics, making the discipline more prestigious, especially for young people. As a result of Norway’s action, made in part to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Abel’s birth in 2002, mathematicians now too have an award equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
The question is will the new prize achieve the international luster of a real Nobel? The Nobel Prize in Economics achieved that status after it was introduced in 1968, but in that case the Bank of Sweden attached the magic name Nobel to it. One could hardly expect Norway to name their prize after a famous Swede, especially when they have Abel to recognize.
(The article has been compiled from different sources)
Author: Dr. Shuvam Sen
Department of Mathematical Sciences, Tezpur University.
Managing Editor of the English Section, Gonit Sora and Research Fellow, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Vienna. | <urn:uuid:34ec5288-490b-4cf2-96e9-1051739f1f9d> | {
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The sky is falling! But don’t worry, you can help save the planet with your telescope.
Let’s have a talk about that asteroid that crashed through the atmosphere and landed in Cory‘s backyard in South Africa in June 2018. Ok, maybe not his backyard but nearby, in Botswana.
The cool thing about this particular fireball is that we knew it was coming. It’s only the third time this has happened, but Richard Kowalski of the Catlina Sky Survey had seen the potential near-Earth object hours before and had reported it to the Minor Planet Center which publishes this information for anybody to follow up. Here are his images showing the asteroid flying through space – and coming right for us, which was quickly determined by the measurements he’d recorded.
Sure enough, a few hours later it lit up the night sky and probably freaked out some elephants and lions as it streaked across the night sky and exploded:
We see new Near Earth Objects all the time
What you might not know is that newly discovered objects like this are discovered every day. Most of them aren’t coming straight at us, but you can download the list and point your telescope at any one of them, even before they’ve been officially named — this one was named 2018 LA.
New comets also hit this list, and before they are named after their discoverers, the Minor Planet Center collects follow up observations from astronomers all over the world, not all of which are “professionals”.
I’ve been fascinated with this realtime list but found it rather hard to digest at glance:
Unless you’re doing this every day, and know your current sky coordinates off by heart, it’s not exactly easy to see which of these [probably asteroids] are going to be available for you to image and assist with. I wanted to create a filter to tell me if any of them were visible from where I’m standing. The list is realtime, most of them were discovered in the last 24 hours, so a quick understanding of the list would be great.
I made a Realtime Intrusion Detection System online tool, to make it easier
Long story short, I developed a visualisation of this list from the ground up using PHP to calculate my sky coordinates from the epoch, offset by the current time, and then mapped all this to a 3D representation of the Earth and the celestial sphere. I got permission from the MPC to use the data this way (so long as I cached the list locally so it wasn’t hitting their server with every page refresh) — and you can now view the tool here : Earth – Realtime Intrusion Detection System
Watch the video I made about it
If you’d like to watch a video about the tool, I’ll include that here, too.
Let me know if this helps and if you decide to try your hand at asteroid hunting, and potentially save the world from your backyard — with a telescope.
Clear skies and Happy Asteroid Day (June 30)! | <urn:uuid:4dae2291-6506-4195-844c-1c1c078b86cf> | {
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"The Boston Bread Riot was the last of a series of three riots by the poor of Boston, Massachusetts, between 1710 and 1713, in response to food shortages and high bread prices. The riot ended with minimal casualties.
In the early 18th century, the city of Boston had very little arable land, and most grain had to be imported from surrounding areas or from abroad. It was common practice for the larger local grain merchants to hoard grain to drive up local prices, and to sell local grain in more lucrative foreign markets such as Europe or the sugar plantations of the West Indies. On top of this, Queen Anne's War (1702–1713) interfered with foreign trade. By 1709, Boston was experiencing a serious food shortage and skyrocketing bread prices.
The hardest hit were the working poor. Since they did not own land, and were therefore not allowed to vote, governmental indifference to their needs left violence as the only effective recourse. A percentage of the poor began an uprising against the government.
In April 1710, a group of men broke the rudder of a cargo ship belonging to merchant Andrew Belcher, to stop its cargo of wheat from being shipped away and sold abroad. The next day, about 50 men attempted to force the ship's captain ashore, intending to loot the ship of its grain. They were arrested, but popular support for their cause resulted in them being released without charges.
In October 1711, a fire in Boston left over 100 families homeless, leading to a second riot.
In May 1713, a mob of more than 200 rioted on Boston Common, protesting high bread prices. As well as attacking Belcher's ships, the mob "broke into his warehouses looking for corn, and shot the lieutenant governor when he tried to interfere."
After the Boston Bread Riot, acts were passed prohibiting exports of grain in time of shortage, fixing grain and bread prices at more reasonable levels, and establishing a public granary. These measures somewhat alleviated the immediate shortage, however, food shortages and the attendant rioting and looting recurred in Boston throughout the American Revolution and into the early 19th century."
Zinn, Howard. A People' History of the United States. 1st Harper Perennial edition, HarperCollins. New York, NY. 1995, p. 51 | <urn:uuid:985532c6-39f0-45e7-8af4-fea9e23f0ad9> | {
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Blood stored for long may be less safe for patients with massive blood loss and shock as it may have adverse effects on them, researchers, including one of Indian origin, suggest.The researchers found that for patients who have massive bleeding and receive many transfusion units, older blood was associated with dysfunction in blood flow, increased injury and inflammation in critical end organs, and lung infection.
The link between older stored red blood cell transfusions and subsequent bacterial pneumonia is free heme -- a breakdown product from degraded red blood cells, the researchers said.
Heme is part of the oxygen-binding hemoglobin pigment that gives blood cells their red colour and carries oxygen through the body from the lungs.
Free heme is known to induce inflammatory injury to major organs in diseases like sickle cell or sepsis. During storage and upon transfusion, stored red blood cells lyse open, releasing free heme.
"An adverse role for heme suggests that finding ways to limit heme exposure or prevent heme toxicity may improve safety of stored red blood cell transfusions," said co-author of the study Rakesh Patel, Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
For the study, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, mice were resuscitated after trauma and hemorrhage, using either fresh or two-week-old stored blood.
Two days later, they were challenged by instilling the lungs with the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A two-week storage of mouse blood approximates storage of human red blood cells for 42 days.
Compared to fresh blood, resuscitation with the stored blood significantly increased bacterial lung injury, as shown by higher mortality, and increases in fluid accumulation and bacterial numbers in the lungs.
Free heme acts, in part, by activating the toll-like receptor 4, the researcher said.
The researchers also found that transfusion with stored blood induced release of the inflammation mediator HMGB1, part of the body's immune response.
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Dr. Steve Thomas
Senior Lecturer in Cardiovascular Science, University of Birmingham
Please tell us about your research.
We are interested in platelets and megakaryocytes, which are blood cells. Particularly, we study how they are formed, how they function both in normal healthy people but also in disease. We use a lot of imaging to try to learn what is happening at a cellular level, understand the proteins that are involved in making the cells work, how they interact together and what happens when these things go wrong in terms of human disease.
What imaging techniques are you using and how do these imaging techniques help you answer your research questions?
We are using fluorescence microscopy, predominantly super resolution techniques. These are really important for us because they allow us to see the sub-cellular detail that is normally excluded when you are using diffraction limited techniques. Super-resolution has allowed us to really look at interactions between different protein compartments in the cell. We can see how they are organized spatially which tells us something about how they function and what they are doing in the cell. We can’t do that in normal microscopy which does not have the resolution. Both the N-STORM and the N-SIM techniques have been very useful in understanding how these proteins are organized and how that dictates their function in the cell.
You mentioned that you use N-STORM and N-SIM – what did each of these two techniques enable you to see particularly?
N-STORM allows us to look at individual molecules within the platelets surface and to try to understand how they are organized. For example, we may label a receptor on that platelet surface and look at how its distribution changes in an activated vs. a resting cell. That can tell us something about how these molecules are helping this cell to signal because we can get information on cluster size and number of molecules, see how they co-localize with other molecules in the cell. Insight into signaling on a molecular level feeds into drug discovery and understanding of the disease by knowing what the normal situation is vs what happens if these processes go wrong. So N-STORM specifically allows us to check what is happening with these proteins at the molecular level.
N-SIM on the other hand is very nice for giving us high-quality images of the cytoskeleton, which is a protein network in the cell. This allows us to look at how this protein network is organized in a normal cell and what happens when you activate these proteins and to drive some of the cell functions. For example, when the platelets are activated they change shape very rapidly. By imaging the cytoskeleton using N-SIM we can understand how these proteins are responsible for that changing shape.
What do you think of Nikon microscopes?
The quality of the systems is very good, they are well-built and well-made, but primarily I think the support that we get for using the systems is excellent and really helps us to make the most out of our systems. You have got people who really understand them and know how to use them to solve questions. The support behind the systems is very important.
What are the next steps in your research and how will your N-SIM-S system support it?
I think the increase in speed of the N-SIM-S over the older systems and the fact that we have got the two camera set up so we can do multicolour simultaneous [imaging] means we can now start to actually look in live cells at two different components and see how they interact together. I think that is going to really open up a lot of the work for us because we can start to not just look at one thing or another in fixed cells. Instead, we can start to do this over time and see how the different components interact, how they influence each other. The ability to do this rapidly over time in two colors is really going to allow us to look at more complex systems. | <urn:uuid:1d4c8030-d5c2-4c7b-87bb-26692e4281d5> | {
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Sakura – Japanese cherry
Sakura is a national symbol of Japan. Its image is on the arms of the police and armed forces. The scientific or botanical name of sakura is Prunus serrulata. Bird cherry is its closest relative. There are about 16 species and more than 400 varieties of sakura. Flowering period lasts for about a week.
In Buddhism blooming sakura is a symbol of impermanence and transitory nature of life. Poets associate it with a bygone youth and love. Sakura also symbolizes the female youth and beauty.
Hanami is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of blooming sakura. It is in the list of official holidays. Thousands of people fill the parks to hold feasts under the flowering trees. The blossom forecast is announced each year by the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The practice of Hanami is more than a thousand years old. The sakura blossoms were considered sacred by the Japanese. They are a cultural symbol of Japan. People believed in gods’ existence inside the trees, and the hanami party was used in the beginning to divine that year’s harvest and to announce the season of planting rice.
Emperor Saga (786—842) adopted this custom and celebrated parties to view the flowers with sake and feasts under the blossoming branches of sakura trees in the Imperial Court in Kyoto.
Recently, hanami festivities have also become popular outside of Japan. Smaller hanami celebrations in Korea, Philippines and China also take place traditionally. In the United States, hanami has also become popular.
– It is the most common pattern of kimono decoration.
– According to legend, the oldest tree, which is 2000 years old, was planted by the Japanese emperor Yamato Takeru during one of his military campaigns. The tree can be seen today on the territory of a Buddhist temple in the city of Hokuto, Yamanashi province. It was the first sakura – national natural monument.
– According to ancient belief pollen that fall in the glass of sake, gives strength and health.
– Sakura is one of the most popular female names in Japan.
– During the Second World War, sakura flower was depicted on the kamikaze’s aircraft. It was believed that this should encourage pilots. | <urn:uuid:a3b9d9d8-9950-41fb-84a4-d8da557a827f> | {
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Adequate fertility is a crucial building block for high soybean yields. "Exceptionally good soybean yields come from fields that are optimum in fertility,” says Farm Journal Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie. "If a field is low in fertility, soybeans will struggle more than corn.”
When you plan your fertilizer program for high-yielding soybeans, forget what you learned from growing corn. Fertility-wise, the two crops are as different as cats and dogs.
"Corn responds more to applied fertility,” Ferrie says. "Soybeans, on the other hand, respond to soil fertility. That means you can't fix problems in one year, as you can with corn. It also means you need a balanced soil fertility profile, from pH to micronutrients.”
Because the soybean plant is a legume, soil pH is important. "We rely on rhizobia bacteria to make nitrogen [N] for soybeans,” Ferrie says. "But in an acid soil, the bacteria can't produce enough N. So low pH gets growers in trouble. You need to keep it in the sweet spot—the 6.3 to 6.5 range.”
In that pH span, soil microbes thrive, letting the plant take up phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and micronutrients.
Potassium pitfalls. Soybeans differ from corn in their ability to take up P and K. "With soybeans, it's more important to have soil phosphorus and potassium levels in the optimum to high range,” Ferrie says.
Soybeans are efficient feeders on P. The plant creates an acidic area around its taproot, which lets it solubolize P from the soil.
But they are less efficient with K. "Potassium is the element we watch most closely in the soil,” Ferrie says. "With potassium, two problems can occur, both related to the clay content of the soil. If the soil has a high clay content, it can fix potassium to soil particles and make it unavailable to plants. In sands, on the other hand, potassium can leach out of the soil.
"In these situations, consider applying potassium every year, rather than applying a two-year supply ahead of corn. Work with an agronomist to identify fixation and leaching problems. ”
Manganese misery. Alkaline soils can hamper the uptake of micronutrients, such as manganese and iron. In soils low in manganese, availability to soybean plants is further reduced when soil pH exceeds 6.5 and especially if it is near 7.0, says Purdue University Extension cropping specialist Tony Vyn. "Plant-available manganese is also much lower if these soils experience droughty periods,” he adds.
Foliar applications of iron fertilizer can correct an iron deficiency, but more research is needed on fixing manganese problems. Research to date suggests soil-applying manganese fertilizer is not effective. At Purdue and the University of Illinois, banding manganese fertilizer 2"x2" off the row at planting time has not produced much yield response.
"Once symptoms appear in a soybean crop, the best solution is to apply foliar manganese fertilizer at a rate of 1 lb. to 2 lb. of manganese per acre, in the form of manganese sulfate,” says University of Illinois soil fertility specialist Fabián Fernández. "Make the application as soon as symptoms appear, or seven to 10 days after a glyphosate application. Reapply at the R1 and R3 stages, if necessary.”
But foliar-applying manganese doesn't guarantee a yield response. In two replicated studies in Van Wert County, Ohio, by Ohio State University (OSU) Extension educator Andy Kleinschmidt and OSU soil fertility specialist Robert Mullen, a foliar manganese application increased manganese levels in plants but not yield.
A related issue is whether glyphosate herbicide causes problems with manganese utilization, even though tissue tests show adequate levels. "The jury is still out,” Fernández says. "But some growers apply chelated manganese with their glyphosate herbicide to prevent or correct the problem.”
Tank-mixing the two products is controversial. "There is some evidence that if you tank-mix manganese fertilizer with glyphosate herbicide, the efficacy of both may be reduced,”
Fernández cautions. "If you apply manganese with glyphosate, it's very important to follow the mixing instructions on the herbicide label.”
Based on research sponsored by the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Purdue's Vyn advises against tank-mixing most formulations of manganese and glyphosate unless you have proof that herbicide efficacy and manganese availability will not be compromised.
You can trigger manganese deficiency by overliming soils and raising the pH too high. "Overliming often results when growers routinely apply a certain amount, rather than basing the rate on soil tests,” Ferrie says. "It also happens when growers try to build up a low soil pH too quickly, by applying 3 tons to 5 tons of lime per acre. It took time for the soil to become acid, so you need to bring it back over time with two or three small lime applications.”
If you have both high- and low-pH soils, Ferrie and Vyn recommend going to variable-rate lime application.
Magnesium management. Soybeans like high magnesium levels more than corn, Ferrie says. Soybeans will struggle if the soil lacks that nutrient. You can diagnose a magnesium deficiency problem from physical symptoms and confirm it with a tissue test.
"Low soil magnesium levels usually occur because magnesium leaches out of lighter soils or because there is no magnesium in the lime source,” Ferrie says. "Also, magnesium can become unavailable to plants if phosphorus levels get too high. That usually results from overapplying manure.”
If areas of your soil are magnesium-deficient, break them out into individual management zones. Then fix them by applying dolomitic lime.
Dolomitic limestone usually has more neutralizing power than calcitic lime, so it may be more cost-effective, Ferrie points out. However, it is not available everywhere. If shipping cost makes it too expensive or if the field doesn't need lime, you can apply a product such as K-Mag, which contains sulfur and magnesium.
You needn't apply magnesium every year, Ferrie notes. "Monitor your soil's magnesium level, and keep it in the optimum range by applying dolomitic limestone when levels fall,” he says. "You may not need dolomitic lime every time you apply. If the only lime available in your area is dolomitic, soil levels will stay optimal and you probably won't have deficiency problems.”
Although it's not exactly a fertility issue, remember to inoculate soybean seed with rhizobia bacteria if soybeans are being grown in a field for the first time—or if the field is coming out of the Conservation Reserve Program.
"Just because a field is optimum in fertility doesn't guarantee high-yielding soybeans,” Ferrie concludes. "Yield can be cut by disease, insects, drought, etc. If fertility isn't there, you have lost the potential for maximum yield.”
You can e-mail Darrell Smith at [email protected]. | <urn:uuid:98d3537a-19fc-439c-998e-2649d64cc201> | {
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David Cannadine sees the British Empire as a spectacular and colourful extension of the social order of the home country
What, in its heyday from the late 1850s to the early 1950s, did the British think the Empire they had conquered and settled, governed and administered, gone along with and collaborated in, actually looked like? To be sure, it was a global phenomenon of unrivalled spaciousness and amplitude, which in its reach and range was both local and international, particular and general, and as such it undoubtedly formed one ‘entire interactive system’. It was also as much a part of the tangible world as it was of the intangible imagination, and in both these tangible and imaginative guises, it represented – as Peter Marshall has very properly observed – a deliberate, sustained and self-conscious attempt by the British to order, fashion and comprehend their imperial society overseas on the basis of what they believed to be the ordering of their metropolitan society at home. And it cannot be sufficiently emphasised that that society from which these powerful imperial impulses and imaginings originated and emanated was deeply conservative in its social attitudes and in its political culture. The social structure was generally believed to be layered, individualistic, traditional, hierarchical, and providentially-sanctioned; and for all the advances towards a broader, more democratic electoral franchise, it was in practice a nation emphatically not dedicated to the proposition that all men (let alone women) were created equal. | <urn:uuid:645bb7e2-e8fe-42d0-bc08-e08bd404e520> | {
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R.E.A.C.H (Realistic Education to Avoid Crime and Harm), is an innovative program, designed by the Haverford Township Police Department Community Policing Unit to prevent substance abuse and harmful behavior through education.
This new program provides twelve 45-60 minute lessons on personal safety topics ranging from, the effects of alcohol & drugs to internet safety. The program includes topics such as communication styles, decision making skills and positive alternatives. This new program has the flexibility to be presented to any grade level. The R.E.A.C.H. program was presented in twenty-six (26) classes throughout all schools in the Township.
For more information or for a REACH information presentation, contact Haverford Township Police Department's Community Policing Unit at 610-853-1298, extension 1225, and ask for Officer Michael Flynn. | <urn:uuid:8ae872f5-c325-4577-a7bb-3b50f1c78034> | {
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Flu Season: When is it an Emergency?
Flu Season is just ahead, and The Salt River Fire Department has some tips on what to do if your flu turns into an emergency situation.
Flu Symptoms Flu symptoms can include high fever, headache, body aches, extreme fatigue, sore throat, chills, cough, and stuffy or runny nose. Your healthcare provider may prescribe anti-viral medications, which work best within 48 hours of the earliest signs of the flu. The flu is unpleasant for everyone, but some people are at greater risk for serious flu-related complications, including young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with certain long-term medical conditions (listed below).
Statistically, more people may experience influenza-like illness, or ILI, than are actually diagnosed with the flu. With ILI, patients experience flu symptoms, yet are not infected with the influenza virus.
Treatment is often the same as for the flu: drinking fluids, taking over-the counter pain relievers and getting plenty of rest.
Should I go to the emergency room or call 911 if I have the flu?
Unless you are very ill, the ER should not be the first place to go for flu care. Call your doctor at the earliest signs of flu, and you may be prescribed medications such as Tamiflu to help alleviate the symptoms.
To avoid the risk of spreading the flu, or consuming critical care resources when you don't need to, call your primary care provider and see if you can rest and recover at home. Get lots of rest, use over-the-counter pain relievers for fever and aches, drink plenty of fluids, and follow your doctor's advice.
However, if you get the flu and experience any of the emergency warning signs below, if you are very sick, or if you have a condition with a high risk of flu complications, don't hesitate to call your doctor or healthcare provider, and consider emergency treatment.
How do I know it's an emergency?
If you or a family member have the flu and experience the signs below, contact your health provider immediately.
Emergency warning signs in children:
- Fast breathing or difficulty breathing
- Bluish skin color
- Not drinking fluids
- Not waking or interacting
- Being so irritable that the child doesn't want to be held
- Fever with a rash
- Symptoms that improve but then come back with a fever and worse cough
For an infant, get emergency help immediately if:
- They are unable to eat
- Have trouble breathing
- No tears when crying
Emergency warning signs for adults:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Pressure or pain in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Severe vomiting
- Symptoms that improve but come back with fever and worse cough
Health- and Age-Related Risks
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) list the following conditions as known to increase a person's risk of complications from the flu:
- Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions
- Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
- Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
- Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes)
- Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Kidney disorders
- Liver disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- Morbid obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
- People younger than 19 years of age on long-term aspirin therapy
- Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
Other people at high risk from the flu:
- Adults 65 years and older
- Newborns and children up to 5 years old (especially children younger than 2 years old)
- People with chronic conditions
- Pregnant women and women up to 2 weeks after the end of pregnancy
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm or talk with your healthcare provider.
Flu and People with Diabetes
People with diabetes (type 1 or type 2), even when well-managed, are at high risk of serious flu complications, often resulting in hospitalization and sometimes even death. Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections and ear infections are examples of flu-related complications. The flu also can make chronic health problems, like diabetes, worse. This is because diabetes can make the immune system less able to fight infections. In addition, illness can make it harder to control your blood sugar. The illness might raise your sugar but sometimes people don't feel like eating when they are sick, and this can cause blood sugar levels to fall. So it is important to follow the sick day guidelines for people with diabetes.
Vaccination is the Best Protecion against Flu
CDC recommends that all people who are 6 months and older get a flu vaccine. It is especially important for people with diabetes to get a flu vaccine.
- Flu shots are approved for use in people with diabetes and other health conditions. The flu shot has a long, established safety record in people with diabetes.
People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of developing pneumococcal pneumonia because of the flu, so being up to date with pneumococcal vaccination is also recommended. Pneumococcal vaccination should be part of a diabetes management plan. Talk to your doctor to find out which pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for you.
Take everday perventive actions to stop the spread of flu:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue away after using it;
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth (germs are spread that way)
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care. If you are sick with flu-like symptoms you should stay home for 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medicine).
- Everyday preventive actions can protect you from getting sick and, if you are sick, can help protect others from catching your illness.
- If you do get sick with flu symptoms, call your doctor early in illness because prompt treatment is recommended for people who are at high risk of serious flu complications and who have influenza infection or suspected influenza infection.
- Treatment should begin as soon as possible because antiviral drugs work best when started early (within 48 hours after symptoms start)
- Antiviral drugs can make your flu illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious health problems that can result from flu illness.
- There are three FDA-approved influenza antiviral drugs recommended by CDC this season that can be used to treat the flu. These medicines fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from making more viruses in your body.
- For you to get an antiviral drug, a doctor needs to write a prescription. These medicines fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from making more viruses in your body. | <urn:uuid:d0545f50-5703-4319-83e3-5f31e36c7aef> | {
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Kids Unite to Combat Bullies
Standing up to bullies would be a lot easier with a little help from your friends. That is why some 40 Primary 5 students are being trained through the KidzUNITE workshops conducted by Student Service Hub (Bukit Merah) to step in and help.
Through a series of four workshops, which included role play, games and other interactive activities, the KidzUNITE Ambassadors learnt strategies to stand up to bullies, including befriending and distracting them, and also how to assertively tell them to stop.
All participants were given certificates and badges at a graduation ceremony held at the end of the workshops.
Two runs of the workshop have been held at Si Ling Primary School and Jiemin Primary School.
The KidzUNITE Ambassadors will now act as role models, teaching friends and classmates how to step up when someone is being bullied, and help promote a bully-free environment in their schools.
They are raring to go. Said Udayar Lakshimi Prabha Sri from Si Ling Primary School: “I want to stand up for my friends.” | <urn:uuid:b66057bd-6e04-4d0e-aa7b-2341cf6eee81> | {
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Walter Gilbert, (born March 21, 1932, Boston, Mass., U.S.), American molecular biologist who was awarded a share (with Paul Berg and Frederick Sanger) of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1980 for his development of a method for determining the sequence of nucleotide links in the chainlike molecules of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
Gilbert graduated from Harvard University with a degree in physics in 1953 and took a Ph.D. in mathematics from Cambridge University in 1957. He joined the Harvard faculty as a lecturer in physics in 1958 and, as his interests changed, advanced to assistant professor of physics in 1959, associate professor of biophysics in 1964, and professor of biochemistry in 1968. In 1974 he became American Cancer Society Professor of Molecular Biology at Harvard.
In the late 1960s Gilbert confirmed the theory of Jacques Monod and Franƈois Jacob that “repressor proteins” control the genes responsible for beginning and ending protein synthesis in the cell. He was able to demonstrate the existence of a repressor in the bacterium Escherichia coli that prevents a gene from manufacturing a certain enzyme except when lactose is present. In the 1970s Gilbert developed a widely used technique of using gel electrophoresis to read the nucleotide sequences of DNA segments. The same method was developed independently by Sanger.
In 1979 Gilbert, while retaining his affiliation with Harvard, joined a group of other scientists and businessmen to form Biogen, a commercial genetic-engineering research corporation. Gilbert resigned from Biogen in 1985 and, while continuing to teach at Harvard, became a chief proponent of the Human Genome Project, a government-funded effort to compile a complete map of the gene sequences in human DNA. He became emeritus at Harvard in 1987.
Gilbert founded Myriad Genetics in 1992 and served as director and vice chairman of the board. He helped to found Paratek Pharmaceuticals (1996), a company invested in combatting bacterial resistance, and Memory Pharmaceuticals (1998), which was geared toward developing cures for central nervous system disorders. Gilbert was also managing director of BioVentures Investors, where he became a partner in 2001. He served on the advisory boards of several other biotechnology companies as well.
Learn More in these related Britannica articles:
recombinant DNA: MethodsMaxam and Walter Gilbert, and the Sanger method, discovered by English biochemist Frederick Sanger. In the most commonly used method, the Sanger method, DNA chains are synthesized on a template strand, but chain growth is stopped when one of four possible dideoxy nucleotides, which lack a 3′…
DNA sequencing: First-generation sequencing technologyMaxam and Walter Gilbert, and the Sanger method (or dideoxy method), discovered by English biochemist Frederick Sanger. In the Sanger method, which became the more commonly employed of the two approaches, DNA chains were synthesized on a template strand, but chain growth was stopped when one of…
Paul Berg, American biochemist whose development of recombinant DNA techniques won him a share (with Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger) of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1980. After graduating from… | <urn:uuid:0b38c306-a767-4816-a513-7828cfa0c625> | {
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Celebrate World Health Day: Work on a Healthier, Happier You
Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes April 7 as World Health Day. This day not only commemorates WHO’s founding, but also brings awareness to a greater cause, annually putting the spotlight on a new health-related theme. Celebrate and appreciate World Health Day by focusing on bettering your wellness and living a healthy, active lifestyle.
Find a Balanced Diet
As you may know, feeling good starts from within! Proper nutrition can help you fight off various ailments, while giving you the energy to perform to the best of your abilities. A balanced diet is unique to you, but overall, it should include a healthy caloric intake of protein, carbohydrates and fats from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Maintaining a healthy digestive system is also key since your digestive tract is home to tens of trillions of bacteria that can affect many of your body’s functions. Things like poor diet, stress, lack of exercise and other factors can impact the balance of your digestive system, but maintaining a proper diet that supports good bacteria helps you feel and function at your best. Eating well paves the road to good health!
It’s important to stay calm during times of stress, because it can affect us emotionally and physically. Here are some things you can do when you feel stress starting to creep up:
• Spend time with friends or family
• Get some exercise
• Get a good night’s rest
• Try yoga or meditation
• Make good food choices
• Take a breather
It’s only natural that we go through busy periods where our wellness regimen is less than perfect; however, it’s important that we get back on track, as our moods, energy and well-being all depend on it. Exercise releases endorphins, which ultimately make you feel good! Whatever activity you choose (make it one you enjoy) that gets your heart pumping will ultimately make you feel better and promote positive internal and external changes. Leading a healthy, active lifestyle is a gift that keeps on giving because the better you feel, the more energy you have to exercise and the more you exercise, the better you feel (and look)! | <urn:uuid:d137f7f0-38d1-415b-ab3a-c281de481747> | {
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Construction crews in northwest Minnesota are finishing work this week on a unique river project — one that not only restores fish habitat, but could also save human lives.
The state Department of Natural Resources is modifying dams on the Red River to reconnect hundreds of miles of fish habitat for the first time in decades. Many of these dams were built to hold pools for city drinking water supplies during the extended drought of the 1930s.
The seventh dam on the Red River to be transformed into a rocky rapids in the past 15 years lies a few miles south of Fargo-Moorhead. That’s where DNR River Ecologist Luther Aadland recently stood thigh deep in the frigid water and directed a large backhoe positioned in the middle of the river…
Read more via: MPR News | <urn:uuid:89174fff-6a8f-4721-9366-52f752adf258> | {
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This post is part of a series featuring excerpts from Origins: Christian Perspectives on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design by Deborah Haarsma and Loren Haarsma.
Christians in Agreement
When Christians discuss creation, evolution, and design, it is easy to focus immediately on areas of controversy and disagreement. We think it is important to start by pointing out certain areas on which nearly all Christians agree. Christians generally agree about the fundamentals of God, God’s Word, and God’s world in the five areas.
God created, sustains, and governs this universe.
This truth is confirmed in the first line of the Apostles’ Creed, one of the ecumenical creeds of the church which many Christians recite every week: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.” Christians believe that God created all things from nothing, bringing them into being through his Word, his Son (John 1:1-3). God continually sustains the whole universe, governing all creatures according to his providential care.
The God who created this world also reveals himself to humanity.
God has revealed himself at various times and in multiple ways throughout history, including the written Scriptures and the Incarnation. As it says in the first verses of the book of Hebrews,
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3, NIV)
The God who created this world is also our Redeemer.
We belong to God because he created us, but when humanity turned from God he bought us back. He redeemed us through the incarnation, life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Bible is authoritative and sufficient for salvation.
God inspired its human authors and ensured that the Bible truthfully teaches what he intends. The Holy Spirit testifies in our hearts that the Bible’s message is from God, not merely human writing. Christians accept the sufficiency of the Bible for establishing our core beliefs and practices; all that we need to know for salvation is taught there. God certainly can use various means— including the natural world—to teach us new things. But these new things should be compatible with, not contradictory to, what God teaches in Scripture.
God is sovereign over all realms of human endeavor and has given human beings special abilities and responsibilities. Theologian Cornelius Plantinga puts it this way:
God’s creation extends beyond the biophysical sphere to include the vast array of cultural possibilities that God folded into human nature. . . . God’s good creation includes not only earth and its creatures, but also an array of cultural gifts, such as marriage, family, art, language, commerce, and (even in an ideal world) government. The fall into sin has corrupted these gifts but hasn’t unlicensed them. The same goes for the cultural initiatives we discover in Genesis 4, that is, urban development, tent-making, musicianship, and metal-working. All of these unfold the built-in potential of God’s creation. All reflect the ingenuity of God’s human creatures—itself a superb example of likeness to God. – Cornelius Plantinga, Engaging God’s World, 2002.
Applying this idea to the natural sciences, we conclude that God has graciously given humans the ability and responsibility to study the natural world systematically. As with all human endeavors, we do it imperfectly. We must seek to do it as God’s image-bearers, in gratitude for God’s gifts.
Debate the Weather?
To illustrate why the debate about origins isn’t simply a matter of science versus religion, imagine living in a culture where there is a similar debate about the weather. The Bible clearly teaches that God governs the weather. Many Bible passages proclaim that God causes rain and drought (see Deut. 11:14-17; 1 Kings 8:35-36; Job 5:10; 37:6; Jer. 14:22). Writers of Deuteronomy, the Psalms, and Jeremiah refer specifically to storehouses of rain and snow (see Deut. 28:12, 24; Ps. 135:7; Jer. 10:13).
What causes the rain? Most of us were taught that water evaporates from the ground level, rises to where the air is cooler, and condenses into water droplets that form clouds. We learned how cold fronts and warm fronts and low pressure systems bring rain. When we watch meteorologists on television, we hear that scientists now use sophisticated computer models to help them understand and predict the weather a few days in advance. Their ability to understand meteorology is especially important for farmers, airline pilots, military personnel, and coastal residents. Every year scientists develop increasingly accurate computer models of the weather.
Now imagine that debates arise about what should be taught in schools about the weather. Imagine that prominent scientists write popular books about meteorology that state, “From our scientific understanding of the causes of wind and rain, it is clear that no divine being controls the weather.” Imagine that a professional organization of science teachers writes a set of guidelines that state, “Students must learn that all weather phenomena follow from natural causes; weather is unguided and no divine action is involved.” Meanwhile, other people insist that these scientific explanations of rain and wind must be wrong because the Bible clearly teaches that God governs the weather. These people write books and give public speeches saying, “Atheists have invented their godless theories about evaporation and condensation. But we can prove that their so-called scientific theories are false and that the Bible is true.” They go to churches and teach, “If you believe what these scientists are saying about the causes of wind and rain, then you’ve abandoned belief in the Bible.” They petition school boards and courts to require that science classrooms also teach their “storehouses” theory of the weather as an alternate explanation to evaporation and condensation.
If you lived in a world with that sort of debate going on, would you be content to see it simply as a conflict between science and religion? Would you be willing to agree wholly with one side or the other?
Fortunately, we don’t have such debates about what causes the weather. The majority of Christians say that when it comes to the weather, both science and the Bible are correct. God governs the weather, usually through the scientifically understandable processes of evaporation and condensation. And the majority of atheists today would also agree that having a scientific explanation for the weather, by itself, neither proves nor disproves the existence of God. So there are no court battles about what science classrooms should teach about the weather. Debates about creation, evolution, and design have some similarities to the above example, but in many ways they are more difficult. The questions about how to interpret Scripture are more challenging, and these debates raise more theological issues. Still, a good place to start in making sense of these debates is to remember that more than two options exist; it is not simply a choice of science or faith. | <urn:uuid:8b8459e2-6398-489a-ae46-7efd50e974d7> | {
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Do you think India’s public distribution system meets the objectives of food security for the poorest? Critically examine. What are the key areas of improvement? Discuss.
क्या आपको लगता है कि भारत की सार्वजनिक वितरण प्रणाली सबसे गरीब लोगों के लिए खाद्य सुरक्षा के उद्देश्यों को पूरा करती है? समालोचनात्मक जाँच कीजिए। सुधार के प्रमुख क्षेत्र कौन से हैं? चर्चा करें।
Candidates can start the answer with highlighting concept of PDS its role in Indian food security programme and then write about its achieved objectives also write its shortfall and issues in the end with give few suggestions to improve.
PDS evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of foodgrains at affordable prices. Over the years, PDS has become an important part of Government’s policy for management of food security in the country.
PDS meeting objective of food security for poor:
- It has helped in stabilising food prices and making food available to the poor at affordable prices.
- Such as Landless labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans /craftsmen, such as potters, tanners, blacksmiths, slum dwellers, destitute and persons earning their livelihood on daily basis in the informal sector in both rural and urban areas has benefited.
- NFSA its life cycle approach and rights-based and justiciable right framework, wherein special provisions for supplementary nutrition have been made for pregnant women and lactating mothers and children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years and subsidised foodgrains to 75 per cent of the rural poor and 50 per cent of the urban poor population.
Trailing in GHI Ranking:
- India ranks 101 on the Global Hunger Index 2021 based on indicators like undernourished population and children suffering wasting and stunting.
Issues associated with programme:
- Identification of beneficiaries and social exclusion: Studies have shown that targeting mechanisms such as TPDS are prone to large inclusion and exclusion errors.
- Lack of Efficient Management Framework: India lacks strict management framework for food security. Public Distribution System faces challenges like leakages and diversion of food-grains, inclusion/exclusion errors, fake and bogus ration cards, and weak grievance redressal and social audit mechanism.
- Nutritional Insecurity: The food basket comprises mostly foodgrains like rice and wheat, which provide calories to beneficiaries, but have not been able to address protein and micronutrient deficiencies, which are prevalent in India.
- Inconsistent quality: The majority of the respondents reported that the quality of ration is inconsistent— sometimes it is fine, sometimes it is awful. The complaints were mainly of bad quality of wheat. Most of the recipients were unsatisfied with the quality of wheat and rice.
- Improving storage capacities: As it is understood that storage capacities need to be improved ensuring proper storage of procured food grains for PDS schemes.
- Vigilance Committee and social auditing: At the State, District, Block and Fair Price Shop (FPS) level to check corruption, leakages and nutritional quality.
- To eliminate exclusion errors: Experts like Abhijeet Banerjee and Raghuram Rajan have gone on record recommending a temporary ration card for a period of six months to everyone who is in need with minimal checks.
- Nutritional Security at Large: Adding to staple foods that are widely consumed, this is an excellent method to improve the health of a poor section of the population. | <urn:uuid:3ef62300-02f5-48b6-9ede-23f81940c5b2> | {
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Office workers should walk around more13th March 2012
Taking a break from sitting down every 20 minutes can have a marked effect on blood sugar and insulin levels among people who remain seated for long periods, a new study has shown.
Walking around the room or down the corridor to the water cooler gets muscles moving again, and stops a build-up of blood sugar and insulin which can impair the body's metabolic response, according to a recent report in the journal Diabetes Care.
Researchers in Australia found that insulin and glucose levels in sedentary, overweight people fell considerably if they got up and moved about at least every 20 minutes.
Study lead author David Dunstan of Melbourne's Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute said that blood glucose and insulin levels will typically spike after eating, a phenomenon which is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and diabetes.
According to Dunstan's findings, the muscles of sedentary office workers are not contracting as they should in order to help regulate the body's metabolic processes.
Previous research by Dunstan's team has shown that people who spend more than four hours a day sitting in front of the television are at a higher risk of an early death.
Insulin levels rise after eating, sparked by an increase in blood glucose levels after food enters the digestive system. The hormone is used by the body's cells to burn or store energy after eating and bring down glucose levels.
Type 2 diabetes is a disruption of this process, meaning that the body becomes resistant to rises in insulin levels, so that both blood-sugar and insulin levels rise without falling.
For the purposes of the study, 19 overweight adults were recruited and asked to sit in a laboratory for seven hours. Their blood sugar and insulin levels were measured every hour.
The subjects were given a drink after two hours which had a high sugar and fat content, containing 763 calories. They were then asked to remain seated for a further five hours.
The process was repeated with each person three times, with a break of at least a week between days in the laboratory.
On the first day, only bathroom breaks were allowed, while the second included two-minute breaks to walk around the room every 20 minutes. The third day had the same frequency of breaks, but with more vigorous activity on each break than the second day.
Researchers found that light activity reduced blood sugar levels after the drink by around 24%, compared with the subjects who sat down all day. The subjects who carried out moderate intensity activity saw reductions in their blood sugar after eating of almost 30%.
The results were similar when insulin levels were compared between the groups.
University of Massachusetts professor Barry Braun said sitting down was shockingly bad for human health, and that people should try to get up about every 15 minutes to walk around if they are expected to remain seated for their jobs.
Dunstan said his team would now design a longer study to see whether the reduction in sugar and insulin levels actually translated into health benefits for sedentary people.
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Title: Office workers should walk around more
Author: Luisetta Mudie
Article Id: 21349
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By Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
You may have noticed nettles growing alongside your hiking trails and avoided them because of their notorious stinging bite. But next time you’re out, think about bringing some gloves to collect them – nettles are a nutrition powerhouse! Stinging nettles are one of nature’s many superfoods so read on to learn about the nutritional and healing benefits of this medicinal plant.
Growing naturally in many areas of the world, there is good reason that nettles have been used medicinally in Africa, Asia, Europe and America for centuries. Chemical compounds have been identified in the roots, leaves and hairs of the stinging nettle plant and have been linked to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, blood sugar and blood pressure lowering effects. When cooked, nettles test rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and chromium. Fresh and dried nettles also contain antioxidants such as carotenoids chlorophyll and beta-carotene as well as flavonols and tannins.
Nettles are also a source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B9, C, E, and K. Heat, either dry or wet, will neutralize the stinging part of this plan so it can be consumed in a variety of recipes and teas. They are also used in powdered or supplement form for a variety of therapeutic treatments.
Nettles are used medicinally for a many of health conditions but are perhaps best known for treating seasonal allergies. Compounds have been found in nettles that help combat the inflammation and reactivity of allergy sufferers. For example, composites in nettles appear to inhibit inflammatory pathways and also act against the histamine receptors which are responsible for allergy signs and symptoms.
Nettles are also used to treat bladder problems including enlarged prostate, irritable bladder and urinary tract infections. A specific compound in nettles, enzyme 5-alpha reductase, is associated with aiding in prostate support though research is still inconclusive on its effectiveness. Nettles, particularly extracts of the root, are also used for joint problems including osteoarthritis. The mechanism may be linked to the anti-inflammatory potential of the plant.
Keep in mind that when used in supplement form, nettles are a natural blood thinner and may interact with some medications. Nettles may have the power to decrease blood sugars and blood pressure, causing levels to dip too low for some people. Discuss the use of nettles with your doctor for safety given individual considerations. It may be difficult to correctly dose nettles in capsule form because there is no current standardization of extraction. Be sure to choose a trusted brand of supplement that has been third party tested for quality. Stinging nettles can cause intense skin irritation when fresh, be sure to use plenty of caution when handling nettles that have not yet been processed.
5 Ways to Benefit from Nettles
- Drinking nettle tea is a classic way to reap the benefit of this plant; purchase tea bags in stores or make your own if you have access to fresh leaves. Remember, processing with heat removes the stinging part of nettles so they become safe to consume.
- Blend cooked nettles into sauces such as pesto or use as a green in red sauce on pasta or risotto.
- Simply sauté nettle greens with garlic, olive oil and lemon for a nutritious side-dish.
- Try nettle soup for an antioxidant-rich summer soup. Add flavor with onion, potato, and vegetable stock.
- Add to scrambles or omelets instead of spinach as an alternative green.
Enjoy our delicious Nettle Pesto Recipe Here!
- Mahlangeni NT, Moodley R, Jonnalagadda SB. The distribution of macronutrients, anti-nutrients and essential elements innettles, Laportea peduncularis susp. peduncularis (River nettle) andUrtica dioica (Stinging nettle). J Environ Sci Health 2016;51(3):160-169.
- Natural Medicines Database. Stinging Nettle. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=664. Updated 2/16/2015. Accessed 5/15/16.
- Roschek B Jr,Fink RC, McMichael M, Alberte RS. Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytother Res. 2009 Jul;23(7):920-6.
Reduce inflammatory process in cells, tissues, and blood vessels, helping to slow aging and reduce risk of long-term disease.
Prevents and repairs oxidative damage to cells caused by free radicals.
Support the body’s resistance to infection and strengthen immune vigilance and response.
Improves mood, memory, and focus.
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Resistance to over-testing and high stakes testing continues to mount across the country. Here are some inspiring examples:
Karen Hendren and Nikki Jones are two first-grade teachers from Tulsa, Oklahoma. These brave teachers have written an open letter to parents explaining why they are refusing to administer the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test to their students. Here is an excerpt from the letter that illustrates one child’s experience:
Student 1: This is one of the sweetest students a teacher could ask for. This student is gentle, calm, and collected. This student is learning English, but does not yet have any academic English. The student sat in front of the computer screen and tried his very best. We watched his eyes well up with tears. We watched the student nervously pull at his hair. Eventually, the student scratched red marks down his face in distress over the test. He is the oldest of the siblings. He can cook, clean, and take care of a baby better than some adults. The student knows all of his alphabet and the letter sounds in English now. This student loves writing books and can dance like no other. He is now comfortable enough to get up in front of the class and perform a talent or recite a poem. This student scored in the 1% range.
Read more about their story in Valerie Strauss’ recent column Your children deserve better than this, first-grade teachers tell parents and read their full letter here.
In other news, our friends at FairTest shared these recent actions:
- Letter to Parents of New York Third Graders — Model Opt-Out Campaign Resources
- “We Don’t Need No High-Stakes Testing” Ohio Video
- New York Supers Call State’s Teacher Rating System a “Travesty of Significant Proportion”
- Illinois Families Push Back Against State Super’s Claim That Parents Can’t Opt Out
- Philadelphia City Council to Hold Hearing on Costs of High-Stakes Testing Defending the Early Years was honored to lend our support by submitting our testimony to the Philadelphia City Council. Here is more about the testimony presented.
And there is the just released More Than a Score edited by teacher and activist Jessie Hagopian:
More Than a Score is a collection of essays, poems, speeches, and interviews—accounts of personal courage and trenchant insights—from frontline fighters who are defying the corporate education reformers, often at great personal and professional risk, and fueling a national movement to reclaim and transform public education.
Along with the voices of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and grassroots education activists, the book features renowned education researchers and advocates, including Diane Ravitch, Alfie Kohn, Wayne Au, Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Karen Lewis, Carol Burris, and Mark Naison. (from the website)
DEY’s Nancy Carlsson-Paige will be joining Hagopian and some fellow contributors at the upcoming event on December 4th (see details below).
Thursday, December 4, 2014 – 7:00pm
First Parish Church at Harvard Square
Join us for an exciting evening of discussion with . . .
Monty Neill, FairTest Executive Director
Alfie Kohn, Author/Activist
Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Early Childhood Education Expert
Barbara Madeloni, Massachusetts Teachers Association President
and editor Jesse Hagopian, a leader of the successful Seattle Teacher Test Boycott
Sponsored by Citizens for Public Schools | <urn:uuid:6275cd50-1aab-4cd6-97f2-b3defb6f767c> | {
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In the wake of yesterday’s Environmental Protection Agency report which states that Ireland is more than likely set to miss its low-carbon economic target by 2020, Let’s talk Solar today calls on the Irish Government to release essential funding to create a greater demand for clean or solar energy, enabling consumers invest in Energy products.
James Gorham, Director of Let’s talk Solar said, “The Government must assist in reducing Ireland’s individual energy consumption by providing consumers with access to affordable funding with a seven to ten year payback option. This method will reduce carbon levels to required quota, reduce the need to import billions of euro of fossil fuels, encourage people to make the switch to a more carbon friendly way of heating their homes and businesses, and will create real jobs now.”
As part of Ireland’s original target, it was hoped that Ireland would reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from transport, agriculture, residential, waste and non-energy intensive industry by 20pc by 2020 from 2005 figures. According to the report, the best-case scenario will result in Ireland’s emissions remaining static.
Following several years of intensive research and development, Let’s talk Solar launched the world’s first and only retrofit solar-powered dual central heating and hot water system which is set to revolutionise Ireland’s business and home heating industry by drastically reducing energy bills by a minimum of 50%.
James continued, “At Let’s talk Solar, we are passionate about energy efficiency and, through the installation of our solar-powered heating systems we are working towards assisting in meeting Ireland’s commitment to reduce carbon usage by 2020. However, if this commitment is not met, the Irish public will be liable for financial penalties of approximately €150 Million per single percent that we are above target levels set down in the Kyoto Agreement of 1992 (as reported in Autumn 2013 in Farmer’s Journal).
By raising public awareness, educating key stakeholders, and the general public, and encouraging a pro-active approach to energy efficiency, each of us can contribute to the creation of a more sustainable environment now and into the future whilst assisting Ireland to avoid this crippling liability.”
Let’s talk Solar’s unique and environmentally-sustainable technology derives energy from daylight rather than sunshine, making it particularly well-suited to Ireland’s climate. Not only does this provide customers with a consistent and affordable supply of heating throughout the winter months but gives them constant access to a virtually free supply of hot water, all year-round. | <urn:uuid:a8567206-7806-4a67-a3cc-dfa5c8b7f9d4> | {
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Wildlife of New Zealand
Given the abundance of New Zealand's wilderness areas, it is no surprise that the country's native wildlife is a major drawcard. In the latest title in his compact-format pictorial series, leading photographer Rob Suisted showcases the most iconic and popular species. Wildlife of New Zealand includes not merely the flagship species like kiwi, kauri, kakapo and tuatara, but a unique assembly of fascinating plants and animals that have evolved amid habitats ranging from alpine peaks, open scrub and subtropical forest to wetlands, rocky or sandy shores and the open Pacific. And ease of access to New Zealand's great outdoors means that almost all of these species can be seen firsthand by the visitor. Well researched and informative captions from natural history writer and editor Matt Turner make this not only a stunning photographic collection, but also a very useful reference.
Rob Suisted is a Wellington-based photographer and conservationist who combines his passion for wildlife and magnificent scenery with a successful photographic library. His images are well known throughout New Zealand and have appeared in calendars, books and magazines. He is the author of 12 books published by New Holland including New Zealand Panorama, Scenic New Zealand, New Zealand Landmarks and Wellington and Beyond. In 2011 he was awarded runner-up for the Whitcoulls Pictorial Travel Book of the Year Award for Majestic New Zealand, also published by New Holland. Matt Turner is a writer and publishing consultant with a passion for natural history and the environment. He has written books on a diverse range of subjects from elephants to earth sciences. Wildlife of New Zealand is the third title authored by him in this popular series from Rob Suisted and New Holland Publishers. | <urn:uuid:81ab8c1a-0e47-4a7e-972e-27216461f785> | {
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NASA officials are planning to monitor all asteroids that pass near Earth, they announced Tuesday, an ambitious effort that will need international collaboration between government organizations, private companies, universities and citizens.
The space agency currently spots 95 percent of near-Earth asteroids larger than 3,280 feet across. They detect less than 1 percent of asteroids smaller than 328 feet. The new plan calls for tracking any rock large enough to damage human civilization, including those less than 33 feet wide. That would catch objects like the 56-foot meteor that exploded over Russia in February. The agency would also collect thorough information on asteroids’ size, composition, spin and surface properties. NASA would deflect any Earth-bound asteroids larger than 328 feet.
How NASA will do this isn’t yet known. As of Tuesday, officials are soliciting information on how to best track, deflect and capture asteroids. Past research suggests a nuclear explosion or being hit by a spacecraft could shift an asteroid’s course. A spacecraft could also capture one with a bag.
Back in March, NASA and the House of Representatives Science Committee had a tense conversation about current asteroid efforts, when NASA Chief Chris Bolden chastised the government for not providing enough funding after Congress accused NASA of not being prepared for an incident like the Russian meteor. The 2005 NASA Authorization Act requires the agency to track 90 percent of near-Earth objects larger than 460 feet wide by 2020 — a goal it has yet to meet.
NASA currently tracks asteroids with telescopes equipped with cameras. The telescopes scan the sky continuously and automatically upload sightings of objects headed toward Earth to an online database. Current technology limits researchers’ ability to spot smaller asteroids, which quite regularly escape notice altogether.
Officials have dubbed the expanded tracking project a “grand challenge” — a title awarded in the past to major scientific goals like identifying the most crucial parts of the human genome. It complements a second NASA asteroid initiative to pull an asteroid into the moon’s orbit for scientific observation.
The House began drafting a NASA bill last week that would cut capturing an asteroid altogether, according to a summary released by SpaceNews. A subcommittee will meet tomorrow to consider it. | <urn:uuid:425dfae4-433c-40a4-a802-c91118a5a6b3> | {
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Date admitted: 16 April 1994
Membership discontinued: 6 November 2015
Circassia is a resource-rich region in the North Caucasus, along the Northeast shore of the Black Sea, and is the ancestral homeland of the Circassian people. Circassians speak a North-Caucasian language and, today, most of them practice the Hanafid strand of Sunni Islam.
Historic Cherkessia (Circassia) occupied the territory from the Black Sea in the west to the River Sunzhi (in present day Chechnya) in the east until the Russian conquest in the 1860s. Following the 19th century Russian conquest of the Caucasus, the majority were forced to migrate to the Ottoman Empire, a process which was accelerated in the 1860s with the murder and mass deportations of over 1.5 million Circassians, described as the “unknown genocide”. By 1897, there were only 217,000 Circassians left in Russia. According to a 2002 census, a little over 700,000 Circassians continue to live in their ancestral homeland.
While being a Member of UNPO, the aim of the ICA was to unite Circassians spiritually and politically and to preserve the ethnic unity of Circassians. The ICA urged the Russian Federation to acknowledge the 1864 genocide against the Circassians, to recognise the status of exiled people, to promote, resuscitate and preserve their language and culture and to undertake efforts to let them return to their homeland and maintain dual citizenship – that of their country of residence and Russian. | <urn:uuid:10ab8a3b-648f-4483-b601-0c159aeb443d> | {
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Cassini and Saturn
One of the most exciting NASA Spacecraft Cassini events in 2013 will be the unusual opportunity on July 19 to image the whole Saturn system as it is backlit by the sun. With Saturn covering the harsh light of the sun, we will be gathering unique ring science and also catching a glimpse of our very own home planet.
NASA’s Cassini Spacecraft took this photo on December 19, 2012
The main science goal for the mosaic we are making of the Saturn system is to look at the more diffuse rings that encircle Saturn and check for change over time. A previous mosaic of the Saturn system Cassini made in 2006 revealed that the dusty E ring, which is fed by the water-ice plume of the moon Enceladus, had unexpectedly large variations in brightness and color around its orbit. We’ll want to see how that looks seven Earth years and a Saturnian season later, giving us clues to the forces at work in the Saturn system. We’ll do this analysis by collecting data from our visual and infrared mapping spectrometer, composite infrared mapping spectrometer and ultraviolet imaging spectrograph in addition to the imaging cameras.
But one of the best parts of the mosaic we’re making on July 19 is that we’ll be able to take a picture of Earth – and all of you — from about 898 million miles (1.44 billion kilometers) away. The Earth will appear to be just a pixel, but you can see in this simulated close-up what parts of it will be illuminated.
NASA’s Cassini Spacecraft will fly behind Saturn this weekend as it is fully backlit by the Sun.
Cassini will take many photographs (60 Frames) and Earth will be a pale blue dot.
Earth will be a pale blue dot.
For any typical observation Cassini makes of the Saturn system, the navigators spend weeks making sure that the path of the spacecraft remains within a few thousand miles (kilometers) of the path assumed during design of the observations. As the spacecraft approaches the observation, knowledge of the spacecraft’s path is improved from hundreds of miles (kilometers) to hundreds of yards (meters). For Cassini to take its picture of Earth as part of its imaging of the full Saturn system on July 19, we have to put it in the right place in Saturn’s shadow, make sure we are pointed towards Earth and our other targets and snap the images at the right time. On the spacecraft, the Earth imaging takes place between 22:47:13 UTC (03:47:13 pm PDT) and 23:01:56 UTC (04:01:56 pm PDT). The end-to-end mosaic images of Saturn and rings all fall between 22:24:00 UTC on July 19 and 02:43:00 UTC on July 20 (03:24 to 07:43 pm PDT). (For spacecraft event time, we use UTC, which is Coordinated Universal Time.)
Saturn makes an easy-to-find appearance in the night sky on July 19 and 20, too. Step outside after sunset and look to the east or southeast in the continental U.S. and look for the beautiful nearly full moon rising in the Eastern sky. You’ll see two bright stars spanning the east or southeast sky. They are Saturn and Venus and Saturn is the middle ‘star’ between the moon and Venus. You can see these with your own unaided eyes, no telescope or binoculars are needed
Read More about NASA’s Cassini Solstice Mission and “Wave at Saturn”
Source: NASA Cassini Solstice Mission
Image Credits:NASA Cassini Solstice Mission
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What is Biocapacity?The capacity of ecosystems to produce useful biological materials and to absorb waste materials generated by humans, using current management schemes and extraction technologies.
Biocapacity deficitThe difference between the biocapacity and Ecological Footprint of a region or country. A biocapacity deficit occurs when the Footprint of a population exceeds the biocapacity of the area available to that population.
Conversely, a biocapacity remainder exists when the biocapacity of a region exceeds its population’s Footprint. If there is a regional or national biocapacity deficit, it means that the region is importing biocapacity through trade or liquidating regional ecological assets.
In contrast, the global biocapacity deficit cannot be compensated through trade, and is therefore equal to overshoot. | <urn:uuid:3904dd7f-e309-48c4-9959-f39d7e72fe2a> | {
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California’s San Joaquin tops list of America’s 10 Most Endangered Rivers
This isn’t a list of the worst rivers, but of rivers at crossroads, says American Rivers
For many Americans, rivers bring to mind languid summer days, exuberant tubing adventures, or family fishing excursions. For me, they represent a kind of wild, untamed beauty, which I take every opportunity to enjoy.
In reality, few of America’s 250,000 rivers are truly untamed. They have been used for centuries as a source of energy, drinking water, agricultural irrigation, and recreation. This use has taken a steep toll, and many rivers are now threatened by excessive water diversions and withdrawals, outdated water management plans, dams, and pollution.
photo by eutrophication&hypoxia on Flickr
American Rivers, an organization that works to protect and restore rivers and streams across the county, has responded to these mounting threats with their annual report: America’s Endangered Rivers 2014. The report whittles down a list of thousands of threatened rivers to a list of the “top ten.”
Rivers are selected for the list based on three primary criteria. “One is the significance of the river, the second is the significance of the threat, and the third, and probably the most important, is whether there is a decision point in the coming year that will change the river’s fate, put the river on a different path,” says Amy Kober, senior communications director at American Rivers. “It isn’t a list of the worst rivers. It is really a list of rivers at a crossroads.”
Improving water conservation and efficiency would go a long way when it comes to preserving these endangered rivers. Other preservation strategies include groundwater recharge, water recycling, storm water reuse, and forest and meadow restoration. “Healthy, natural forests and meadows kind of function like sponges – they suck up water and release it slowly,” explains Kober. “Restoring [meadows and forests] can help with long-term downstream water supply.”
So here are the “top ten,” starting with the most at threat – the San Joaquin River in California. Find out whether one of these threatened rivers runs near you.
#1 San Joaquin River, California
The San Joaquin River supports vast wetlands and sustains tule elk, grizzly bears, waterfowl, and king salmon, among many other fish and wildlife. The river also is used to irrigate two million acres of agricultural land and provides drinking water to more than 4.5 million people. Poor water management, excessive water diversions, dams, and levees have damaged vibrant river habitat and diminished recreational opportunities. The current drought in California has magnified these issues. The California State Water Resources Board is currently developing a river management plan, meaning the board has an opportunity to increase river flows, protect fish and wildlife, preserve water quality, and support sustainable agriculture and recreational use in the new plan.
#2 Upper Colorado River, Colorado
The Colorado River is home to extensive fish and wildlife populations, supports vast agricultural water needs, and hosts popular recreational activities like fishing, hiking, and paddling. Unfortunately, the Colorado River Basin is also under threat from increased water demands and proposed water diversions. The Colorado Water Conservation Board is currently working on a Draft Colorado Water Plan, which will be released in December 2014, and has the opportunity to protect and restore the Colorado River in this plan.
#3 Middle Mississippi River, Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky
The Mississippi River is no stranger to alteration and diversion, but until now, a gap in the New Madrid Floodway levee system offered an essential connection between the river and backwater floodplain habitat. The US Army Corps of Engineers has proposed to cut off this connection by constructing a new levee, despite protests by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and indications that the levee would put local communities at increased risk of flooding. If the Corps does not abandon this project, American Rivers suggests that the EPA should veto it under the Clean Water Act.
#4 Gila River, New Mexico
The Gila River originates in the Gila Wilderness and supports abundant wildlife, forest habitat, and native fish populations. It is facing new threats, however, under a proposal to increase water diversions for agricultural and urban use. Alternative solutions – such as water conservation, effluent reuse, and watershed restoration – could meet regional water needs more efficiently and cost-effectively than the proposed diversion project. New Mexico must inform the Secretary of the Interior what strategy it will use to meet state water needs by the end of 2014.
#5 San Francisquito Creek, California
The San Francisquito Creek is one of the only San Francisco Bay streams unconfined by concrete, providing a habitat for rare fish and wildlife within an urban setting. Searsville Dam, which is owned by Stanford University, currently poses significant threats to the creek’s fish and wildlife, including steelhead trout. Searsville has been categorized as a “high hazard dam” because dam failure would likely cause human casualties, as well as environmental damage and economic losses. A coalition of conservation groups will present recommendations regarding removal of the Dam to Stanford University in late 2014.
#6 South Fork Edisto River, South Carolina
The Edisto River, the longest free-flowing blackwater river in the US, is home to diverse wildlife, including several endangered fish species. In South Carolina, agricultural interests are exempted from water permitting requirements that apply to industrial and municipal users. These exemptions allow agricultural users to withdraw 35 percent of the Edisto’s flow, even during droughts. A revised law that holds agricultural interests to the same standards as other users could go a long way towards restoring the Edisto.
#7 White River, Colorado
Colorado’s White River provides drinking water to 7,000 people, as well as habitat to rare fish and wildlife. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has proposed to allow development of an estimated 15,000 new oil and gas wells in the White River Basin. This “preferred alternative” under the BLM plan would cause irreversible harm, including pollution, loss of surface and groundwater supplies, habitat destruction, and degraded air quality. A revised plan that protects water quality, air quality, and wildlife habitat, and which considers energy development within the context of these other interests, would help preserve this unique river.
#8 White River, Washington
Washington’s White River is home to four species of salmon and two species of trout – fish that play an important role in the culture of local Indian tribes. Every year, however, thousands (and sometimes hundreds of thousands) of salmon and steelhead trout die as they attempt to swim upriver to spawn due to an undersized and outdated fish trap system at the Buckley Diversion Dam. (The diversion dam guides them into a trap, from which they’re hauled by truck about 12 miles around the Mud Mountain Dam to continue their seasonal migration.) NOAA Fisheries believes that the Army Corps of Engineers is required to upgrade the dam and fish trap under the Endangered Species Act, but the Corp has yet to take action.
#9 Haw River, North Carolina
North Carolina’s Haw River provides drinking water to almost one million people, habitat to blue heron, bald eagle, beaver, and otter, and diverse recreational activities to local populations. The river has suffered from significant wastewater spills and polluted runoff, which has led to algal blooms in connected reservoirs. The state developed a cleanup plan in 2009 under directives from the EPA, but the North Carolina General Assembly has passed several laws delaying and weakening cleanup activities.
#10 Middle Fork Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers, Idaho
The Middle Fork Clearwater River and the Lochsa River were among the first rivers to be designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Both rivers have historical significance, are culturally important to the Nez Perce Tribe, and support diverse and threatened wildlife. Tar sands developers in Alberta, Canada have requested permission to transport large mining and refinery equipment on “megaload” trucks up Highway 12 (which parallels the rivers), through Montana, and into northern Alberta. The trucking operation would disrupt visitors trying to access and enjoy the rivers, delay highway traffic, and in the event of an accident, threaten pristine river habitat. The US Forest Service has authority to protect Wild and Scenic River corridors, but the local Clearwater National Forest has not taken a leadership role in restricting trucking activities on these roads. | <urn:uuid:224fc9d2-99bd-4631-8dec-fbac4580ed18> | {
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Home > News > Atoms rely on teamwork
March 30th, 2006
Atoms rely on teamwork
University physicist Cheng Chin belongs to an international research team that has converted three normal atoms into a special new state of matter whose existence was proposed by Russian scientist Vitaly Efimov in 1970.
In this new state of matter, any two of the three atoms—in this case cesium atoms— repel one another in close proximity. “But when you put three of them together, it turns out that they attract and form a new state,” said Chin, an Assistant Professor in Physics and the College.
Today, nanotechnology researchers can combine atoms in novel ways to form materials with interesting new properties, “but you are not changing the fundamental interactions of these atoms,” Chin said. That can only be done at temperatures near absolute zero. “At the moment, I don’t see how this can be done at much higher temperatures,” he said.
Raman Whispering Gallery Detects Nanoparticles September 1st, 2014
Nanoscale assembly line August 29th, 2014
New analytical technology reveals 'nanomechanical' surface traits August 29th, 2014
New Vice President Takes Helm at CNSE CMOST: Catherine Gilbert To Lead CNSE Children’s Museum of Science and Technology Through Expansion And Relocation August 29th, 2014 | <urn:uuid:850e3f02-0b35-4585-86e9-99cf8d49b091> | {
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Stumped trying to understand calculus? "Calculus Demystified," Second Edition, will help you master this essential mathematical subject.
Written in a step-by-step format, this practical guide begins by covering the basics--number systems, coordinates, sets, and functions. You'll move on to limits, derivatives, integrals, and indeterminate forms. Transcendental functions, methods of integration, and applications of the integral are also covered. Clear examples, concise explanations, and worked problems make it easy to understand the material, and end-of-chapter quizzes and a final exam help reinforce key concepts.
"It's a no-brainer You'll get: "Applications of the derivative and the integralRules of integrationCoverage of improper integralsAn explanation of calculus with logarithmic and exponential functionsDetails on calculation of work, averages, arc length, and surface area
"Simple enough for a beginner, but challenging enough for an advanced student, Calculus Demystified, Second Edition, is one book you won't want to function without " | <urn:uuid:77a7d564-93f1-462c-89a0-87ca37eb2912> | {
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Congresswoman Barbara Jordan
BY KEISHA BELL
When you think of the “black community,” what initial images come to mind? Do you think problems, poverty and pain? Do you see its people as inferior, ignorant and incapable? Do you envision its future as hopeless, helpless and habitual?
Although a factually heterogeneous community, its depiction often neglects its balanced portrayal. As a result, progress for “the community” as a whole is impeded by “it has always been this way” attitudes. Such a landscape creates a condition primed for plantation politics.
It is easy for individuals, particularly politicians, to say that they want to help “the black community” while failing to acknowledge the diversity of which it involves. It sounds nice. It is easy to say, especially when “no help” equals “no consequence.”
The simple recitation of such desire has proven to be sufficient in times past. Yet, limiting the black community’s definition to “it has always been this way” attitudes and discussions negate providing assistance to those traveling with the “conductor”. Crossing the Mason-Dixon Line does not magically dissolve injustices done to black people. Those who have taken the trip understand this.
At the Democratic Convention in 1976, keynote speaker and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan asked the question: “Are we to be one people bound together by common spirit, sharing in a common endeavor; or will we become a divided nation?”
Forty-one years later, her question remains pertinent. Will we, the people of the United States of America, be a national community or a collection of interest groups?
Oftentimes, black candidates, elected officials and leaders avoid overt discussions on race—especially when speaking to intercultural audiences. Arguably, whites in similar positions have more leeway albeit within limits.
This may help to explain the frequent “leadership” silence when racial injustices occur within your city, state, and nation. Contrarily, during election cycles economic, educational, and criminal injustices may receive acknowledgments if the black voting block is deemed necessary.
For generations, political appeals have played on the fears of black people that this country is racist. Still, black people are expected to maintain a belief that hope is to be found within political parties and “community” leadership that lack the equitable inclusion of the diversity of black people within its messaging and decision-making positions.
Not to be ignored, political appeals have also played on the fears of white people that black people, in general, are all things negative. While many are distracted by these portrayals, few ask, “Who benefits from playing on the psyches of black and non-black people in this way?” Arguably, there are gains—-financial gains—-for some somewhere.
Be mindful of internalized messages said about you, your community, others and theirs. Historically, not every white person wanted black people enslaved and not every black person wanted black people freed. This truth remains. Plantation politics continue.
Keisha Bell is an attorney, author, and public servant. www.emergi | <urn:uuid:a575bb41-8dc4-40c3-9043-d3c98d9cc84e> | {
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America’s First Astronauts- The Mercury 7
On April 9th, 1959, NASA announced its first seven astronauts, later dubbed the “Mercury Seven”.
The American public first met the seven men chosen to be this country’s first human space voyagers on April 9, 1959, at a press conference in Washington. The men were dubbed “astronauts.” The term was a cross between “aeronauts,” as ballooning pioneers were called, and “Argonauts,” the legendary Greeks in search of the Golden Fleece. These new explorers were being prepared to sail into the new, uncharted vastness of space.”
America’s first astronauts were Walter M. Schirra Jr., Donald K. “Deke” Slayton, John H. Glenn Jr., Scott Carpenter, Alan B. Shepard Jr. , Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom and L. Gordon Cooper.
In August 1959, they and their wives signed a contract with Life magazine for $500,000 in exchange for exclusive access to their private lives, homes, and families. Through Life Magazine, you got first-hand accounts of their preparation for the Mercury missions, and got to learn who each individual was. These Astronauts became a part of your family. | <urn:uuid:646edf92-7cab-462d-9239-a33bf3b65871> | {
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3 years to reach maturity
This plant has no fragrance
More images of Aluminium Plant
Aluminium Plant Overview
Pilea cadierei is a bushy, evergreen perennial plant from the Urticaceae family, originating from China and Vietnam. Commonly known by the names Aluminium Plant and Watermelon Pilea, it is frequently grown indoors as a houseplant. This plant typically grows to around 30cm tall. This tender plant is grown for the foliage over the flowers, which are small, pink and not showy. Leaves are oval in shape, with attractive silver colouring between the prominent veins. Place in partial to full shade and moist, well-draining soil for optimal growth.
Common problems with Aluminium Plant
How to propagate Aluminium Plant
Special features of Aluminium Plant
Other uses of Aluminium Plant
Grown for their ornamental foliage. | <urn:uuid:447ab7e2-d5f3-4312-992d-bd3fbc7591f1> | {
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Is watching TV or movies good or bad for youth? While the question might seem simple, the answer is not. Sometimes films and TV programs positively affect youth, yet other times they can lead to more negative consequences. While media content certainly matters, researchers also believe that how we respond to content matters too. During the first two weeks of August, CcaM researchers are working with children and parents at the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam to understand these responses.
You know the drill: you are watching a movie and suddenly your heart beats faster and your palms get sweaty. Or maybe you watch an emotionally powerful scene and suddenly find yourself teary-eyed and deeply emotional. But this doesn’t happen to everyone. Some people have stronger reactions to media content than others. The same movie scene that made you teary-eyed may have had little influence on your viewing partner. And as with adults, these individual differences in response likely influence the strength of media effects among youth as well. The question is: which youth respond most strongly to media content, and why?
Communication scientist and CcaM researcher Karin Fikkers is trying to answer this question. In a new study running from August 1st through August 14th at the NEMO Science Museum, Fikkers and her colleagues (Dr. Jessica Piotrowski & Professor Patti Valkenburg) are working with children and their parents to investigate responses to media. They are doing this through a combination of more traditional self-report measures (i.e., questionnaires) as well as using devices to measure heart rate and skin conductance as children view different media clips. And parents are playing a role, too, by answering questions about their child’s personality and background. Using this combination of data from parents and children, CcaM hopes to make important inroads into our understanding of how youth respond to media content.
One week in – the study is already proving to be quite successful. More than 250 enthusiastic children and parents have participated, with the list of participants quickly growing. Many thanks to all that have participated thus far. We are looking forward to seeing the results of this study and sharing these findings with both parents and researchers.
[Note: this story was originally prepared in Dutch by UvA Persvoorlichting. It was translated and edited by CcaM director J. Piotrowski. A copy of the original story can be found here.] | <urn:uuid:cfde5109-38e9-419a-bf4b-49db0c066063> | {
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One month after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the New-York Historical Society committed its resources to a new initiative called, History Responds, with exhibitions, public events and educational initiatives. Since then, the Society has presented 17 special exhibitions relating to the attacks, 20 public programs, five community meetings, numerous school and teacher programs and, when the Society’s newly-renovated headquarters reopens on November 11, 2011, a permanent installation of photographs and other materials donated by survivors, witnesses, and rescuers.
To commemorate the tenth anniversary of September 11, the New-York Historical Society will present a special exhibition, Remembering 9/11, which will be free to the public. The exhibition opens on September 8, 2011 and will remain on view through April 1, 2012. The exhibition presents a selection of several hundred photographs taken by professional and amateur photographers in the immediate aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center (originally collected in the independent exhibition “here is new york: a democracy of photographs”), as well as letters written to policemen and firemen; objects that were placed in makeshift shrines around New York; images and texts from the New York Times “Portraits of Grief” series; photographs of the Tribute in Light; and drawings of the National September 11 Memorial, designed by architect Michael Arad with the assistance of landscape architect Peter Walker.
As a special presentation for families, the Historical Society will also host a free reading by Vin Panaro, Bugler for the Fire Department of New York, and Katie Fuller, Museum Educator, of Maira Kalman’s book Fireboat, to be held in the Rotunda from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2011.
“In the months immediately following September 11, 2001, the New-York Historical Society began a vigorous collecting initiative and exhibition program regarding the terrorist attacks,” Kenneth T. Jackson stated. “This was our responsibility, as the institution founded to gather, preserve and interpret materials related to the history of New York City and State and the nation. “On the tenth anniversary of the attacks, it is important that the Historical Society is continuing this effort with Remembering 9/11.”
Louise Mirrer, President and CEO of the New-York Historical Society, stated, “It takes a great historian to recognize the importance of his or her own historical moment, and to collect and preserve its effects. My predecessor, Kenneth T. Jackson is that great historian. On September 11th Ken recognized the tragedy of the day keenly, but saw also the need to collect and preserve so that future generations would understand what September 11th meant, for our city, our nation, our history. It is because of Ken’s work that our tenth anniversary exhibition Remembering 9/11 is able to document New York’s, and the nation’s, resilience along with the selfless acts of heroism, not only at the World Trade Center but also at the Pentagon and Shanksville.”
Remembering 9/11 is organized for the New-York Historical Society by Marilyn Satin Kushner, Curator and Head, Department of Prints, Photographs and Architectural Collections. “I wanted to create a space where people could come to quietly remember those days in 2001 and honor the memories of the people who were lost in the attacks. The solemnity of this occasion calls for a mood of respect and introspection,” stated Dr. Kushner.
When the renovated and transformed New-York Historical Society opens fully to the public on November 11, 2011, Remembering 9/11 will be joined by a permanent installation of photographs from “here is new york” in the Robert H. and Clarice Smith New York Gallery of American History. Approximately 1,500 photographs by 790 contributors will be on display, along with a large fragment of a fire truck destroyed during the 9/11 attack.
Since the inception of the Historical Society’s History Responds, more than 150,000 visitors have taken part in its interpretive programs. Today, the History Responds collection includes numerous artifacts associated with September 11, ranging from architectural relics of the Twin Towers to artworks inspired by the catastrophe.
Remembering 9/11 is generously supported by Bernard and Irene Schwartz.
Founded in 1804, the Historical Society has a mission to explore the richly layered political, cultural, and social history of New York City and State and the nation and to serve as a national forum for the discussion of issues surrounding the making and meaning of history.
The New-York Historical Society is located at 2 West 77th Street (across the street from the American Museum of Natural History), 212-873-3400, www.nyhistory.org.
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Austine Alyah November 1, 2020 worksheets
Different worksheets are available for different areas of study at home. If you know what your child will be learning for the year, you can already find worksheets for homeschooling on that particular topic.In choosing a worksheet, it is important to review the source and check the material. Ensure that the material and answers are accurate. Evaluate the worksheet by completing it yourself. The worksheet should provide information clearly and accurately. Make sure it is exactly what you need to homeschool your child.
Some free worksheets are not good quality – the pictures are fuzzy, backgrounds print grey or speckled – and children tend to notice these things. If you are using the worksheets to educate your child, you may want to choose good quality worksheets that encourage your child to produce good quality work. After all, it’s a little difficult to ask your child to color within the lines and work neatly when the worksheet they are filling in hasn’t done the same.
Other activities for kindergarten include jigsaw puzzles. There are also worksheets that teach children about some biblical characters, and how to help a community. These activities are not limited to individual work. There are also worksheets that require a group effort to finish the task. This way, children learn to work in a team. This is a very effective group activity in helping them realize the importance of cooperation and teamwork.At a young age, kids are first taught to write letters in print only. When kids reach the age of eight to ten, they are taught how to write in cursive. They may find this quite difficult and boring at first. But one fun way to teach them this is to use worksheets also.
2. To Pay or Not to Pay?
I have said ”Don’t Use Worksheets” about every way there is to say it, and each time I have included solid brain-based, researched reasons for this statement; and yet, I know that many people will ignore the science in favor of the convenience. It is very difficult to fight the tide when there are so many internet sites pushing worksheets at parents, and so many reputable textbook companies doing likewise. It is difficult to remember the reasons to avoid them when one has very little time to devote to working with math. Worksheets just seem so much easier than doing things any other way. Can they really cause harm?
2. Know the author’s background. This person needs to have a background in education and, ideally, should be trained in the latest educational methods, like brain-based teaching/learning. I personally would never use any materials with my child that didn’t specifically mention being ”brain-based.” I am not talking about just ”research-based.” I see more and more sites claiming to have research-based materials, but what I find is definitely NOT based on how the brains actually learns. Brain-based learning is relatively new in the educational world, but most worksheet sites and materials are using old science or, more often, no science at all.
Tag Cloudabc worksheets writing practice for kindergarten worksheets kindergarten writing worksheets year 5 maths worksheets free number worksheets for kindergarten writing sheets for preschoolers tracing worksheets for kindergarten fun homework worksheets kids learning worksheets work for kindergarten worksheets free math worksheets for grade 5 basic math exercises create your own math worksheet free printable worksheets for nursery second grade math worksheets kg practice worksheets math problem solving worksheets printable worksheets ks1 working sheets math work easy worksheets for kindergarten printable 2nd grade math worksheets kids fun activity sheets worksheets for kindergarten 2 printable homework pre k kindergarten worksheets free printable worksheets for elementary students free printable first grade worksheets printable math activities tracing activities for kindergarten maths revision worksheets free math drill worksheets preschool activity sheets to print fun worksheets for students printable maths resources free mental maths worksheets mathematics worksheets grade 8 maths worksheets free printable free printable math activities free 6th grade math worksheets basic number skills worksheets grade one math worksheets maths sheets 4 kids worksheets for grade r free print homework sheets 12 grade math worksheets math worksheets algebra maths sums for kids preschool learning sheets fun activity printables for kids | <urn:uuid:33f93053-3e4b-458f-899b-aeaa6092c4c4> | {
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Using one overlooked feature on her Apple Watch, a blind and deaf woman learned to navigate any city.
This is Molly Watt, a woman living with a genetic disorder called Usher syndrome that affects her sight and hearing. She began experimenting with the functionality of her Apple Watch in April.
There's been plenty of negative commentary popping up online about Apple Watch. Some reviewers have dismissed it as a luxury item — "an iPhone sales engine" — without any real, game-changing features. But Watt found one crucially important function that's been overlooked by the press, something most users take for granted.
"I was born deaf and registered blind when I was 14. The condition I have is Usher Syndrome Type 2a. I am severely deaf and have only a very small tunnel of vision in my right eye now," she explained. She ordered the Apple Watch Sport in the larger size, she said, "so I'd not lose it quite so easily."
Watt was already accustomed to using an iPhone, so navigating her Apple Watch wasn't too difficult. She had to tweak a few accessibility features first. She increased the default font size to match the settings on her phone. Then she turned on another accessibility feature, called Prominent Haptic.
Apple Watch uses tiny vibrations, called "taps," to communicate with the wearer, usually to signify a phone call or text. Apple calls this feature the "Taptic Engine." Watt was able to adjust the taps so they were more intense and more frequent.
On the watch's Maps app, these taps double as directions.
"Prominent Haptics is definitely awesome for me as a deafblind person," Watt wrote on her blog. "So far for me the most useful App on the Apple Watch is Maps — on my iPhone I can plan my journey from one destination to another."
She added, "I can be directed without hearing or sight, but by a series of taps via the watch onto my wrist. 12 taps means turn right at the junction or 3 pairs of 2 taps means turn left. I'm still experimenting with this but so far very impressed — Usher syndrome accessible!"
Watt, who's used to using a Bradley timepiece, found that her Apple Watch was a great complement to her guide dog. She also discovered that her mom could communicate with her without sound or sight by using haptic feedback. Better yet, the watch could also be used to send a sketch or message to a friend while in a dark or loud environment, like a concert or bar, if she needs help or feels uncomfortable.
"Apple products have been more than just up-market gadgets to me," she wrote. "They really have been my access to the many things most take for granted but that those of us with deafblindness particularly struggle with."
That's not to say the watch is a perfect experience for deaf and blind users, however. Watt noted that the size of the home screen makes it difficult to select certain apps. She also said the audio could be improved and the price was an impediment to many with sensory impairment who are "reliant on the sort of accessibility features Apple offers."
But overall, she wrote, "the positives far outweigh the negatives."
Watt demonstrated how the watch can be more than just a toy. She found multiple ways it could actually improve her life — which is, after all, what most tech should do. | <urn:uuid:41989012-1157-49df-a03d-df5c0fa2aa3c> | {
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In this unprecedented account, Chandra Manning uses letters, diaries, and regimental newspapers to take the reader inside the minds of Civil War soldiers-black and white, Northern and Southern-as they fought and marched across a divided country. With stunning poise and narrative verve, Manning explores how the Union and Confederate soldiers came to identify slavery as the central issue of the war and what that meant for a tumultuous nation. This is a brilliant and eye-opening debut and an invaluable addition to our understanding of the Civil War as it has never been rendered before.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
About Chandra Manning
See more books from this Author
Published April 3, 2007
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The Gold Deposits of Ghana
The Proterozoic rocks that comprise most of the West African craton and host the major gold mineralization in Ghana are subdivided into metasedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Tarkwaian and Birimian sequences.
The Birimian is composed largely of phyllites, schists, greywackes volcanoclastics, and metavolcanic rocks (including lavas, pyroclastics, and some finer-grained metasedimentary rocks). Unconformably overlying the Birimian are the continental clastics of the Tarkwaian sequence. These clastics were derived from the weathering of Birimian rocks and granitic intrusions found within the Birimian.
The area is dominated by a major northeast-southwest trending structural fault zone referred to as the Ashanti Trend, which hosts the Prestea, Bogoso, Obuasi and Konongo gold deposits, among others. Parallel to the Ashanti Trend is the Akropong trend, which hosts the Ayanfuri deposit. The Akropong Trend is about 15 km west of the Ashanti Trend in the Bogoso region, and gradually converges with it, coalescing at Obuasi and forming the basis for the world class Obuasi deposit, owned and operated by AngloGold Ashanti Ltd.
Gold operations in the Tarkwaian sequence include the Teberebie, Abosso, Tarkwa and Iduapriem mines.
- AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU; JSE:ANG) has three gold mines in Ghana, Iduapriem (open-pit), Obuasi (which comprises both surface and underground operations) and Bibiani (open-pit), producing 680 000 oz attributable gold in 2005. (Bibiani was subsequently sold to Central African Gold)
- Golden Star Resources Ltd ( US, AMEX:GSS; TSX:GSC, also active in Sierra Leone and Côte d'Ivoire) operates the Bogoso/Prestea open-pit mine which has measured and indicated reserves of 20,8 million t at a grade of 2,18 g/t Au or 2,48 million oz gold and is expected to produce betweeen 260 000 and 290 000 oz in 2007. In March, 2007,the company announced the commencement of mining on its Pampe gold project. The Pampe project is a satellite deposit on the Akropong Trend, west of Bogoso, where they have been exploring for a number of years and have identified a 219,500 oz mineral reserve, which was included in the year-end 2006 mineral reserve estimate for Bogoso/Prestea. Golden Star is also developing the Wassa deposit with proven and probable reserves of 21,9 million t at a grade of 1,34 g/t Au or 940 000 oz gold. In May, 2007, the company announced the development of the Hwini-Butre and Benso gold project, as a satellite source of feed for the Wassa gold mine and which is expected to have a significant impact on Wassa, resulting in an increase in processed grade, production profile and life for the combined operation as well as an improvement in the average cash operating cost per oz. Golden Star announced in January, 2008, an updated resource model for the Bondaye and Tuapim deposits located in the Prestea South area of the Bogoso/Prestea concession approximately 20 kilometers south of the Bogoso processing plants. New drill results and the application of an amended resource model yielded a total of 525,000 oz of gold in the Mineral Indicated Resource category. This corresponds to a net increase of 409,000 oz of gold in unconstrained Indicated Mineral Resources.
- Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI; JSE:GFIELDS) operates the Tarkwa (709 000 oz gold in 2006) and Damang (235 000 oz gold in 2006) mines.
- Newmont Mining Corporation (US, NYSE: NEM) is developing both the Ahafo and Akyem open-pit projects. In the Ahafo area, 11 orebodies have been identified. Newmont purchased both the Ahafo and the Akyem projects as part of their Normandy Mining acquisition in February of 2002. Reserves have grown from a combined 3,3 million oz in 2002 to 20,3 million oz at year end 2006.
The Ahafo mine poured its first gold on July 18, 2006 and commenced commercial production in August 2006. Ahafo sold 202,000 ounces of gold in 2006 and is expected to produce between 410,000 and 450,000 in 2007 as the mine enters its first full year of production. Revenue from the mine is expected to reach $250 million in 2007 based on a gold price of at least $600 per ounce. Ahafo has a 25-year life span.
- Adamus Resources Ltd (Australian) is exploring the Salman and Anwia deposits, with a combined measured , indicated and inferred resource of 22 million t at 2,1 g/t Au or 1,5 million oz gold ( 1,0 g/t Au cut-off). Adamus Resources announced further exploration success at its Ghana gold project in October, 2007, with positive results from drilling at its Avrebo prospect revealing high grade gold mineralisation at shallow depths. The company's Southern Ashanti project has a resource of 17-million tons at 2,2 g/t for 1,2-million ounces of measured and indicated, and 6,3-million tons at 1,9 g/t for 390 000 oz inferred.
- Resolute Mining Ltd (Australian, ASX:RSG, operates the Golden Pride mine in Tanzania, active in Mali) is exploring the Weststar/Blue River and Akoase concessions.
- Red Back Mining Inc (Canadian, RBI.TO, RBIFF.PK) operates the Chirano mine with proven and probable reserves of 17,8 million tonnes grading 1.9 g/t Au or approximately 1,09 million oz contained gold. Gold production is expected to average 123 000 oz gold per year over an initial 8,5 year mine life. The Chirano Project is within the Bibiani gold belt along strike from Ashanti Goldfields' Bibiani gold mine. The Company has additional exploration projects and significant landholdings in Ghana both in proximity and along strike from Chirano and elsewhere in Ghana.
- Crew Gold Corporation (UK, operates the Lefa mine in Guinea) has 4 prospecting licences in the Wa area, north-western Ghana, and is engaged in early stage exploration.
- Glencar Mining plc is exploring the the Asheba concession covering 45 square kilometers in southwest Ghana, 20 kilometres south of the Tarkwa gold producing area. The Asheba concession has numerous gold prospects and old colonial mine workings most notably the deposits at Cheriaman-Asheba towards the southern end of the concession. Cheriaman was the site of a significant producing gold mine in the first quarter of the 20th century. There was also colonial era mining at Bankarayo, Saghissi and Korokoseh towards the northern end of the concession. The Asheba concession was originally held by Glencar as the Asheba-Kanyankaw concession in a 50:50 joint venture with Moydow Mines International Inc. (“Moydow”). The original Asheba-Kanyankaw concession was subdivided into the Asheba and Kanyankaw concessions, the former held by Glencar and the latter by Moydow. Each of Moydow and Glencar has a right to buy back into a minority equity interest in the other’s concession.
- Pelangio Mines Inc (Canadian, TSX:PLG.TO) is doing early stage exploration on its Obuasi property consisting of four mining concessions covering more than 411 square kilometres. The Obuasi property is located on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi gold mine.
- Central African Gold plc (AIM:CAN) announced its acquisition of the Bibiani gold mine and related assets and liabilities, including a prospecting licence in Ghana from AngloGold Ashanti in December, 2006. The mine, located 250 km northwest of Accra, is situated in the Sefwi-Bibiani Greenstone Belt. Since its discovery in 1902, Bibiani has yielded almost four million oz of gold from both underground and openpit mining operations. The company intends to increase Bibiani’s resource base from its stated inventory gold, as at December 31, 2005, of 100 000 oz of ore reserve and 900 000 oz of mineral resource (JORC compliant) as stated in AngloGold Ashanti's audited 2005 accounts. The Bibiani main zone underground ore reserve estimate increased to 9,18-million tons, at a grade of 3,57 g/t for 1,05-million ounces, at a cut-off grade of 2 g/t , in September, 2007.
The ore reserves have been estimated from within measured and indicated mineral resources totalling 13,32-million tons at 3,66 g/t for 1,57-million ounces at a cut-off grade of 2 g/t.
- Midlands Minerals Corporation (Canadian, MEX.V, also active in Tanzania) is exploring the Kaniago and Sian Esaase properties in Ghana. Kaniago is located on the Asankrangwa Gold Belt, approximately 33 kilometres east-southeast of AngloGold's Bibiani mine. The indicated gold resource on Esaase totals 1,232,340 metric tonnes at an average gold grade of 2,24 g/t Au (cut) and 2,62 g/t Au (uncut). The resource was calculated using a 0,5 g/t Au cut-off.
- Mwana Africa plc's Konongo property which was acquired in 2004 (70% interest through Owere Mines Ltd), covers 330 square kilometres located at the north eastern extent of the Ashanti gold belt in central Ghana. It covers an area that has been the site of mining activity since the 1930s, when underground mines exploited high-grade free milling gold within quartz veins at Obenamase. Total historic production before the closure of operations was 1,65 million oz at an average grade of 15,7 g/t. The indicated resource is 965,000 oz. A prospecting license, Kurofa, surrounding the Konongo lease was granted in June 2005. The Banka concession, acquired in 2004, lies 50 km to the south of the Konongo concession, adjacent to Newmont’s Akim deposit. The project vendors, Gulf Coast Resources Inc. are currently milling old 1930’s development stockpiles from the shaft 19 area near Banka village via a crushing and gravity circuit. Recoveries are variable, but appear to be better than 6,0 g/t Au. Mwana’s Ahanta project lies at the southern limit of the Ashanti gold belt. A joint venture was entered into in 2004 whereby Mwana can earn an 80% interest by staged exploration.
- Azumah Resources Ltd (Australian, A6Z.BE) is exploring the Wa-Lawra Gold Project based on a single Reconnaissance License covering 2,177 km² which includes an inferred resource of 225,000 ounces of gold at the Kunche Main deposit that is open along strike and at depth. Azumah Ghana has applied for a Prospecting License over the area including the Kunche Main deposit. In December, 2007, Azumah Resources completed a 53-hole RC and 5-hole combined RC/Diamond Drilling programme for a total of 6,402.6 metres at its main 500,000-ounce Kunche gold resource and the newly defined Kunche East and Bepkong target areas within its 100%-owned Wa-Lawra Gold Project in north-west Ghana. Assay results from this drilling were expected to be available in late January 2008. Additional drilling will commence in early February 2008 at these and several new targets generated from continuing truck-mounted auger sampling campaigns.
- Pan African Resources plc announced on June 28, 2007, that it had agreed to buy 90% of the rights to the Akrokerri exploration property in southern Ghana, situated near AngloGold Ashanti's Obuasi mine. Pan African Resources said it would pay £52,632 in cash and £720,000 in shares for the prospect. The company signed an agreement to acquire 90% of the Akrokerri Exploration Property, in southern Ghana, from Sems Exploration Services and Birim Goldfields. Birim continues to hold the remaining 10% interest in Akrokerri, but Pan African Resources has the right to acquire the interest from Birim once the project reaches the bankable feasibility stage.
The idea is to extend the Obuasi openpit mine and then the Akrokerri mine, which has produced 70 000 oz at 28 g/t. Pan African Resources is currently busy with three-dimensional modelling of the projects and will start drilling in 2008.
- Birim Goldfields Inc is exploring the following properties: The Bui Belt Properties
Birim was the first company to systematically explore the entire Bui Belt, recognizing its geological similarity to the Ashanti and Sefwi gold belts that host the world-class deposits of Ghana. Birim dominates the Bui Belt with 13 wholly owned properties and two additional properties under application. An extensive exploration program is underway; including drill testing multiple targets areas identified on many of the Bui Belt properties including the Chert Ridge Prospect and Tinga Far East Resource.The Sefwi Belt Properties. Birim owns the Bia Tano, Bando Ahenkro and Nkenkasu properties on the Sefwi Gold Belt and has an option to earn 100% of the Techimentia property, all within close proximity to Newmont's world class Ahafo Gold Mine. A total of 3.8 million oz of gold has been produced on the Sefwi Belt; at least 18.1 million oz/gold remain. Nkenkasu is being fast tracked for initial exploration, soil sampling and scout drilling. In August, 2007, the company announced that it had agreed to give Newmont an initial 49% stake in its Banda Ahenkro Property on the Sefwi Belt. Newmont will have the right to earn another 21% by spending US$1.5-million on exploration over four years, Birim said in a statement. Another 10% (up to 80%) can be achieved if Newmont elects to do a feasibility study on the property.The Government of Ghana retains a 10% free carried interest in all gold mining development projects in Ghana. Ashanti Belt Royalty Property. Birim sold the 125 sq. km. Dunkwa property on the Ashanti Gold Belt to Golden Star Resources for US$3.4 million and maintains a sliding scale royalty (NSR) currently equal to 3.5% on all production including the Mampon deposit (after the first 200,000 ounces). Production is scheduled to commence in 2008.
- PMI Gold Corporation acquired three former gold producing mines in Ghana: Nkran, Abore and Adubiaso. These mines were previously operated as the Obotan Gold Mine by Resolute Amansie Limited, a subsidiary of Resolute Mining of Australia.
Between 1997 and 2002, the Nkran pit at Obotan produced an average of 146,000 ounces of gold per year for a total of 590,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 2.2 g/t. The Abore and Adubiaso pits located 12.5 km and 4.0 km northwest respectively of Nkran, together produced a further 140,000 ounces at similar grades.
In late 2002, after five consecutive years of low gold prices, which averaged approximately US$300 per ounce, Resolute decided to close operations and to commence the site rehabilitation process.
In 1997 a bankable feasibility study reported 38 million tonnes at 1.96 g/t for 2.823 million ounces of contained gold. Over the next six years 730,000 ounces of gold were recovered and the mine closed. PMI Gold believes there is an exploration target below the Nkran pit of one to two million ounces of gold grading from 3 to 6 g/t Au. This assumption is conceptual at this time, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource.
PMI Gold announced on 17 September, 2007, that it would buy the Kubi gold project, in Ghana, from Nevsun Africa (Barbados), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canadian gold firm Nevsun Resources. The Kubi project is located 20 km south of AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi mine, and was first developed by local artisanal miners in the 1920s. PMI Gold would acquire all the shares of Nevsun Resources (Ghana), a Barbados registered company that owned the Kubi project, for nine-million shares in the firm, and an additional $3-million. n 1988, the then BHP outlined strong gold anomalies near the old workings and completed a programme of ground geophysics and drilling. Nevsun Resources (Ghana) optioned the property from BHP in 1993, and has subsequently completed extensive exploration, and defined gold mineralisation in a near vertical, between 1 m and 15 m thick,gold, garnet, and sulfide rich horizon. Drilling has defined the mineralised zone over an 1 800 m long by up to 700 m deep block contained within a northeast trending shear zone at the contact between the Birimian and Tarkwaiian metasediments. In 1999, Nevsun Resources (Ghana) transferred the property to Ashanti, which, in return for cash and royalty payments to the company, mined from two small pits 58 696 oz of gold in 500 230 t of oxide ore grading 3,65 g/t gold, with the recovered grade 28% higher than Ashanti's modelled grade. In 2006, Ashanti started the mine reclamation and said that it was returning the property interests to Nevsun Resources (Ghana).
- Etruscan Resources Inc is doing follow-up drilling on the Bole-Bolgatanga Gold Belt to ascertain the results of the sampling on historic trenches of the Bolgatanga Reconnaissance Licence, which gave intersections of 12 metres for 7.0 g/t, 10 metres for 5.0 g/t, eight metres for 5.7 g/t and 10 metres for 2.1 g/t
- General Metals Corporation (OTCBB: GNMT) (FRANKFURT: GMQ) owns 150 sq. km. of mining concessions for gold, diamonds and base metals and plans to commence exploration activities in 2008. | <urn:uuid:2738fc07-4ae2-4d78-bb1e-1201918b233d> | {
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Children’s song, U.K.
“Five Little Monkeys” is a “repetitive” nursery rhyme, which means that the text stays same for every turn, with only a small part of a verse changing every time.
It’s one of the several kids’ songs used to teach someone how to count to 5.
“Five Little Monkeys” Sing-Along Video with lyrics
Buy our entire album with 30 Favourite Nursery Rhymes for only 11.99 + 20 Bonus Instrumental versions and save 20$/€!
To download a free instrumental mp3,
and a music sheet with chords and read the lyrics for “Five Little Monkeys”, click here.
Our New Album with 50 Instrumental Nursery Rhymes for karaoke is OUT NOW!
When children want to learn new nursery rhymes, nothing can be better than karaoke versions of popular songs for kids. Certainly, the same goes for parents who would like to sing them to their little sons and daughters or music teachers that would like to teach them in class.
50 Instrumental Nursery Rhymes for Karaoke Vol.1 by Singing Bell includes amazing versions of traditional songs from all over the world. Originally sung in English, French, and other native American languages, these melodies get a modern treatment from the Singing Bell Team.
To download a ready-to-print PDF of “Five Little Monkeys” for music activities with a music sheet, lyrics and a colouring sheet for kids, right click (or tap and hold, on mobile devices) on the following link, then choose “Save link as…”. | <urn:uuid:14a1616b-18c1-481b-9b49-b4ff1c66b346> | {
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Sex Täter Registrierung wy
A., The End of American Lynching.
Retrieved 28 November 2013.Er nimmt und fickt alkoholisierte alte Frauen.Due to Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricos offender information is unavailable through nsopw.44 As it appeared in 1922, the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill stated: "To assure to persons within the jurisdiction of every State the equal protection of the laws, and to punish the crime of lynching.36 The lynching of African American Will James in Cairo, Illinois, on November 11, 1909.The verb comes from the phrase "Lynch Law a term for a punishment without trial."1891 Lynching Remains a Mystery", Spencer Evening World, Spencer, Indiana, August 4, 2014 McKee, Robert Guy.
Lynch was not accused of racist bias, and indeed acquitted blacks accused of murder on three separate occasions, as dictated by the facts brought before him.Unlike in its earlier form, it was heavily represented among urban populations, especially in the Midwest.73, 151, oclc Dudziak,.L.: Cold War Civil Rights: Race and the Image of American Democracy Title 18,.S.C., Section 241 Conspiracy dating plattform schwule Against Rights Archived at the Wayback Machine.Nsopw FAQs - Select One -More information about a sex offenderVaried amounts of detailsAccept offender updatesA mistake in the listed informationWill deceased offenders appearWhat are JurisdictionsMore than one registered ny different registriesSingle national searchProvide information to private companiesA Web service or API availabilityLinking to nsopwconditions.James Allen, Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America, Santa partnervermittlung hannover Fe: Twin Palms Publishers, 2000."Coverage of Oct 12 Lynch in Ramallah by Italian TV Station RAI".In 2000, James Allen published a collection of 145 lynching photos in book form and online, 41 with written words and video to accompany the images.Racist extremism with an eye to viciousness and public spectacle was frequently evident, as exemplified by the first lynching.Statistics provided by the Archives at Tuskegee Institute.Lolly Muschi Fotze Dirtytalk Deutsche Muschi Porno.Lynchings were concentrated in the Cotton Belt ( Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana ). | <urn:uuid:5a0999d5-e35b-4c9f-a8ce-0ae8b8abdfcd> | {
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Surgical Procedures for Atrial Fibrillation (MAZE)
What is Atrial Fibrillation?
written with A. Marc Gillinov, MD
Atrial fibrillation (AF or AFib) is the most common abnormal heart rhythm. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular, frequently rapid heart rhythm originating in the atria (top chambers of the heart). Instead of the normal situation (normal sinus rhythm) in which a single impulse travels in an orderly fashion through the heart, in AF many impulses begin simultaneously and spread through the atria, causing a rapid and disorganized heartbeat. .
At one time, atrial fibrillation was thought to be a harmless annoyance. However, atrial fibrillation is now recognized as a dangerous condition. Atrial fibrillation doubles the risk of death. It also increases the risk of stroke five to seven times compared to a person without atrial fibrillation. In addition, atrial fibrillation may cause congestive heart failure and uncomfortable symptoms related to a rapid heart rate. Learn more about atrial fibrillation (afib). Advances in ablation (both minimal invasive surgical and catheter) offer the possibility of cure to a large number of patients.
Treatment for atrial fibrillation
The goals of treatment for atrial fibrillation include regaining a normal heart rhythm (sinus rhythm), controlling the heart rate, preventing blood clots and reducing the risk of stroke.
Medical Management of Atrial Fibrillation
Initially, medications are used to treat atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation medications may include:
- Rhythm control medications (antiarrhythmic drugs)
- Rate control medications (to slow the heart rate)
- Coumadin (warfarin - an anticoagulant or blood thinner) to prevent blood clots and stroke
Surgical Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation
Surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation is considered when:
- Medical therapy does not effectively control or correct atrial fibrillation
- Medications for atrial fibrillation are not tolerated
- Anticoagulants (coumadin/warfarin) can not be taken
- Blood clots, including strokes, occur
Minimally invasive surgery is an option for many patients with atrial fibrillation. Surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation also may be considered when surgery is needed to treat a coexisting heart condition, such as valve or coronary artery disease.
To determine if surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation is appropriate, a thorough evaluation will be performed, which includes:
- A review of your medical history
- Echocardiogram (echo)
- Complete physical examination
- Holter monitor test
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Other tests as needed
After the evaluation, the surgeon will discuss your treatment options and together, you will determine if you are a candidate for surgery.
Who is a candidate for atrial fibrillation surgery?
Cleveland Clinic surgeons have the nation’s largest experience in the ablation (cure) of atrial fibrillation. Using the very latest technology, including advanced surgical robotics, Cleveland Clinic heart surgeons can now extend treatment to virtually all patients with atrial fibrillation. Surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation is termed a “Maze” procedure or ablation; other commonly used terms include “mini-Maze” or pulmonary vein isolation.While variations of these procedures are common, at Cleveland Clinic we believe that best results are obtained by using less invasive approaches to perform a procedure that closely resembles the classic Maze procedure. Patients considered for surgical ablation fall into two groups:
- Patients with isolated atrial fibrillation - may be candidates for minimally invasive (robotically assisted or "keyhole") treatment approaches
- Patients with atrial fibrillation who require heart surgery for other reasons, most commonly to treat coronary artery disease or valvular heart disease.
Robotically Assisted and Minimally Invasive Surgery for Patients With Isolated Atrial Fibrillation
Currently, most patients with atrial fibrillation are candidates for minimally invasive surgical ablation. Approaches include robotically assisted and keyhole surgery. Currently, advanced surgical robotics can be used to create all of the lesions of the classic maze procedure; the maze procedure is the surgical ablation approach with the greatest long-term success in treating atrial fibrillation. The robotically-assisted maze procedure includes creation of lines of conduction block (scar tissue) that block the abnormal impulses that cause atrial fibrillation, enabling restoration of normal sinus rhythm. The lines of conduction block are created using cryothermy (freezing) or radiofrequency energy. Robotically assisted surgical ablation also includes exclusion of the left atrial appendage, the primary source of strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation.
The robotically assisted maze procedure is appropriate for patients with highly symptomatic atrial fibrillation, patients in whom catheter ablation has failed, and patients who have a history of stroke or other blood clots. The success rate is approximately 80% to 90%, varying with patient characteristics.
Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Who Require Other Heart Surgery
Atrial fibrillation is very common in patients who require heart surgery for other reasons (such as mitral valve surgery, aortic valve surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, and other surgical procedures). Recent data from Cleveland Clinic demonstrate that untreated atrial fibrillation in such patients increases mortality (see graphs below). Therefore, in patients with a history of atrial fibrillation, Cleveland Clinic surgeons treat the atrial fibrillation during other types of cardiac surgery.
Survival After Heart Surgery
Atrial fibrillation surgery combined with mitral valve repair
Patients with untreated preoperative AF (blue lines) have reduced survival. Now, all AF is ablated at the time of heart surgery.
When patients with AF have valve or bypass surgery, surgeons create a classic Maze lesion set on the heart using either radiofrequency energy or cryothermy. This generally adds 15 minutes to the operative procedure and does not increase operative risk. Sinus rhythm is restored in 75% to 85% of patients, depending upon patient characteristics.
Selected patients with valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation may be candidates for a minimally invasive approach that enables treatment of both conditions.
What happens during the surgery?
During robotically assisted minimally invasive surgery , the surgeon views the epicardial (outer) surface of the heart using an endoscope. Specialized robotic instruments are introduced through tiny incisions and are used to isolate the pulmonary veins and create the other lines of conduction block. Unlike traditional heart surgery, there is no large chest wall incision. Therefore, recovery is rapid.
Because the surgeon can view the outside of the heart using special endoscopes, the risk of pulmonary vein stenosis is nearly eliminated. In addition, no catheters are introduced into the left side of the beating heart, reducing the risk of blood clots and strokes.
The left atrial appendage is a small, ear-shaped tissue flap located in the left atrium. This tissue is a common source of blood clots in patients who have atrial fibrillation. During surgical procedures to treat atrial fibrillation, the left atrial appendage is either excluded or removed, reducing the risk of late stroke.
For most patients, surgery for atrial fibrillation is elective. This allows you to qualify for our TCI program. TCI stands for To Come In and allows patients to arrive at Cleveland Clinic on the same day as their scheduled surgery, instead of being admitted several days before. Before your scheduled surgery date, you will have a preoperative appointment to:
- Receive specific instructions to help you prepare for surgery. Information about eating, drinking and taking medications prior to surgery will be discussed.
- Meet with your anesthesiologist, nurse clinician, cardiologist and surgeon.
- Discuss your surgery and have an opportunity to ask questions.
Patients admitted to the hospital prior to surgery will receive details of pre-surgical procedures and preparation from their cardiologist and surgeon.
The patient is transferred to an intensive care unit (IC) for close monitoring for one to two days after the surgery. The patient is then transferred to a private room on a regular nursing unit (called a telemetry unit). Most patients can leave the hospital in 2 to 4 days after robotically-assisted, minimally invasive surgery; return to full activity is generally possible within 2 to 3 weeks.
Thirty to fifty percent of patients experience skipped heartbeats or short episodes of atrial fibrillation during the first three months after the procedure. This is common due to inflammation (swelling) of the atrial tissue and is treated with medications. After the heart has healed, these abnormal heartbeats should subside.
A small number of patients (about six percent) require a pacemaker after surgery due to an underlying rhythm, such as sick sinus syndrome or heart block, which previously was undetected.
Medications after surgery may include:
- Anticoagulant (blood thinner), such as Coumadin, to prevent blood clots
- Antiarrhythmic medication to control abnormal heartbeats
- Diuretic to reduce fluid retention
- Other medications as needed
Your doctor will monitor your recovery and determine when or if these medications can be discontinued.
Will you need to follow-up with a cardiologist?
You will return to your local doctor within one week of being discharged from the hospital to ensure you are healing properly. You will then follow-up with your cardiologist within 4-5 weeks of being discharged to check on your heart rhythm and again to ensure you are healing properly. We recommend that you have an EKG at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery and then annually thereafter. In addition, we recommend a longer term heart rhythm monitor (called a Holter monitor) at 6 months and 1 year. We would appreciate it if you would ask your doctor to send a copy of the EKG and Holter monitor to Cleveland Clinic to add to your medical records. If you notice atrial fibrillation starting after you are discharged, you will need to see your cardiologist. The Cleveland Clinic staff is happy to work with you, your local doctor and your local cardiologist on helping you recover fully after your surgery. Your post-surgery nurse clinician will give you a phone number to contact for any post-discharge questions.
Surgeons began performing the Maze procedure at Cleveland Clinic in 1991 and currently have the nation’s largest experience with the surgical management of atrial fibrillation. Improvements in surgical techniques over the years have produced successful results in most patients:
- Rapid recovery from robotically-assisted and minimally invasive ablation
- Long-term freedom from atrial fibrillation
- Decreased symptoms
- Greatly reduced embolic events (such as blood clots or stroke)
- Decreased atrial (top chamber of the heart) size in those with enlarged atria pre-surgery, particularly those who undergo Maze procedure with mitral valve repair procedure.
You may also use our Secure Online Second Opinion Service using the Internet.
If you are already treated at Cleveland Clinic for atrial fibrillation, talk to your cardiologist about whether surgery is an option for you.
At Cleveland Clinic's Center for Atrial Fibrillation, specialists from cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, cardiac imaging and arrhythmia research combine their expertise to tailor individual approaches for their patients. We have developed a downloadable guide on living with Atrial Fibrillation and treatment options.
Talk to a Nurse: Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (ET)
Call a Heart & Vascular Nurse locally 216.445.9288 or toll-free 866.289.6911.
Schedule an Appointment
This information is provided by Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace
the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider.
Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.
© Copyright 2015 Cleveland Clinic. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:b5f0abdd-9a4f-465d-8abd-783fb0078c7f> | {
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North Vancouver District…North Vancouver City…West Vancouver… Vancouver City…Vancouver, Washington….How did so many local cities get a Dutch name like Vancouver?
The name goes back to when the Canadian Pacific Railway came to Port Moody in 1886, and then to Vancouver in 1887. Vancouver was first called Gastown, before being changed to Granville after Lord Granville for his part in birthing the Canadian Confederation. Some key ‘movers-and-shakers’ wanted to name Vancouver ‘The City of Liverpool’. The ‘Railway General’, William Van Horne, then vice-president of the CPR, felt that this newly incorporated city deserved a famous name to go with its famous future. “This is destined”, said Van Horne, ” to become a great city, perhaps the greatest city in Canada. We must see to it that it has a name commensurate with its dignity and importance, and Vancouver it shall be, if I have the ultimate decision.”
Since William Van Horne had been the driving force behind CPR’s rapid completion of the CPR line through the Prairies and onto Port Moody; he was listened to most carefully. Sir William Van Horne went on to become the President of the CPR in 1888; before being knighted in 1894. Both the Vancouver, Washington citizens and the Vancouver Island residents were upset that Van Horne had stolen their name given to them by Captain George Vancouver himself. Fort Vancouver, Washington was established in 1824 as the first British Settlement on the West Coast. The Victoria merchants were so upset by this ‘theft’ that they organized a boycott of all Eastern Canada companies who did business with Van Horne’s Vancouver.
Robert Beaven of Victoria complained how wrong it was that Van Horne, being an American citizen, could take so much control after only two years in Vancouver. It is highly ironic that the CPR coast-to-coast railway, which kept BC from joining the USA, was to a very large extent managed and built by Americans. Pierre Burton notes how upset some people were that Van Horne hired more Americans than Canadians to accomplish this nationalist task of uniting Canada by rail.
Why did Van Horne choose Vancouver?? Perhaps part of Van Horne’s attraction to Captain George Vancouver is that they were both of Dutch ancestors, and that both as orphans had ‘made good’ despite enormous obstacles. Vancouver’s paternal family had once been the van Coevordens in the Province of Drenkte, Holland.
Captain Vancouver led one of the greatest expeditions ever undertaken. His mandate came from a sudden threat of war with Spain. British ships had been seized, the flag had been insulted, rights of British subjects had been violated, all in that distant port of Nootka on what came to be called Vancouver Island. Captain Vancouver was sent to receive Nootka back from the Spanish, and to map the Pacific Coast. He and his men, squeezed into two ninety-nine foot sloops, covered 65,000 miles in only four years. Vancouver had meticulously mapped the continental shore line from latitude 56 degrees north, in southeastern Alaska, to his assigned southern limit. He proved once and for all that there was no mythical Northwest Passage. It was a remarkable accomplishment, a tribute to Vancouver’s perseverance, drive, and energy. Without Vancouver’s monumental work, it is conceivable that the northern boundary of Oregon might have been fixed at latitude 54/40 North and Canada today would have no Pacific shores.
Vancouver learnt well from his mentor Captain Cook in the methods of warding off the dreaded illness called scurvy. The seamen detested and grumbled at the strange dishes he made sure were included in their daily diet. They only wanted salt pork, beef, and dried peas –their usual fare. However, Vancouver provided them with extras in the form of pickled cabbage, malt, a peculiar-tasting beer, lime-juice, and something officially described as carrot marmalade. They either ate their foods or were given the lash. British sailors got the nickname ‘limey’ from this ‘peculiar’ practice of daily lime-juice. Vancouver’s ‘limeys’ stayed alive and healthy when, in almost any other vessel afloat, perhaps half of them would be dead inside two years at sea.
Along the way to Vancouver Island, Captain Vancouver learnt many native languages with ease. At one point, he used this skill to do successful marriage counseling that reconciled the King and Queen of Hawaii. In a remarkably contemporary tone, King Tamaahmaah denied his wife’s accusations of adultery, pleading, however, ‘that his high rank and supreme authority was a sort of license for such indulgences.’ The Hawaiian King was so grateful for Vancouver’s marital and political advice that he ceded all of the Hawaiian Islands over to the British Crown. Shortsightedly the British government didn’t want another obscure little colony, and so refused the offer. Just think…if we’d played our cards right, Hawaii could have become the 11th province of Canada!
Captain Vancouver inscribed the names of every officer he had ever respected up and down the coast. : All in all, Vancouver discovered and named more than two hundred places. As a young child, I remembered my mother commenting rapturously about Mt. Baker. I had no idea that Mom was invoking the memory of Vancouver’s third lieutenant. Burrard Inlet was named by Vancouver for an old shipmate of Europa and Expedition days in the Caribbean, Sir Harry Burrard of the navy. Point Grey was named as a compliment to Vancouver’s friend Captain George Grey.
Many BCers don’t realize that the Spanish once ‘owned’ the BC Coast. In honour of his cordial relations with the Captain Quadra who relinquished the Spanish claim to BC, Captain Vancouver gave to Vancouver Island the full name of ‘Quadra & Vancouver Island’.
Four years at sea began to wear down Vancouver’s spirit. Near the end, he commented: “I am once more entrapped in this infernal Ocean, and am totally at a loss to say when I shall be able to quit it.” To his brother Van, he wrote complaining about ‘these remote and uncouth regions’. He never heard one word from his superiors in all of the four years. After his heroic journey around the world, Vancouver received little acclaim and less money. The admiralty took four years to pay the wages they owed Vancouver; the small amount they allowed barely covered his debts. With the horrific Napoleonic wars breaking out, no one had the time to worry about some obscure little settlements on the Northwest coast of what Queen Victoria eventually named as British Columbia.
Vancouver died broken-hearted and rejected at age 40. His tombstone in Petersham was only a plain common grave that was soon forgotten about. Years later, it is well-tended and is remembered annually by the people of British Columbia, who helped rebuild St. Peter’s Church after the Second World War. On this 212th Anniversary of Vancouver’s death, may we each choose to be courageous on our journeys of life. May Jesus the Captain of our souls keep our sails aloft and trimmed.
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy receives shocking news that her children aren’t safe, which brings back haunting memories of the trauma she experienced as a girl. Then, the unthinkable happens…
A brutal attack puts Sandy on the brink of losing everything she’s loved. Her faith in God and the family she cherishes are pushed to the ultimate limit.
Is healing possible when so many loved ones are hurt? Are miracles really possible through the power of prayer? Can life return to the way it was before?
Blue Sky reveals how a mother’s most basic instinct isn’t for survival… but for family.
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today on paperback or kindle.
-The sequel book Restoring Health: body, mind and spirit is available online with Amazon.com in both paperback and ebook form. Dr. JI Packer wrote the foreword, saying “I heartily commend what he has written.” The book focuses on strengthening a new generation of healthy leaders. Drawing on examples from Titus’ healthy leadership in the pirate island of Crete, it shows how we can embrace a holistically healthy life.
To receive a signed copy within North America, just send a $20 cheque (USD/CAN) to ED HIRD, 102 – 15168 19th Avenue, Surrey, BC, V4A 0A5, Canada.
– In order to obtain a signed copy of the prequel book Battle for the Soul of Canada, please send a $18.50 cheque to ED HIRD, 102 – 15168 19th Avenue, Surrey, BC, V4A 0A5. For mailing the book to the USA, please send $20.00 USD. This can also be done by PAYPAL using the e-mail [email protected] . Be sure to list your mailing address. The Battle for the Soul of Canada e-book can be obtained for $4.99 CDN/USD. | <urn:uuid:194ab433-4e50-495a-91a1-42638a4e4422> | {
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Henrike Hultsch , research associate
A number of facts make the song learning of nightingales a unique paradigm to study song learning. First, males can be tape-tutored, which allows elegant control over what birds hear (e.g. which song patterns, when, how often, in which context). Second, their large vocal repertoire and the acoustic precision of imitations allow to ask questions not only on what they learn (the inventory of behaviour) but also how they use that inventory (the singing program or song sequencing; 1-5). Third, the ‘instruction’ during auditory learning and the ‘retrieval’ of acquired song material during motor learning are temporally clearly segregated, allowing to tease apart the role of memorization and developmental mechanisms in the acquisition process (6). Finally, the motor phase of learning takes about four months in this species, allowing a detailed examination of how representations acquired during perceptual learning translate into singing behaviour (7).
In one of our projects we explore the architecture of sequence representation and its relationships to memory mechanisms during the acquisition of song in young nightingales. After having established basic principles of how heard song sequences are translated into singing behaviours (1-5), we are now focusing on whether sequence acquisition and representation entails cognitive accomplishments, such as the categorization of stimuli according to contextual variables of the tutoring. We examine these questions by labeling particular tutoring contexts (e.g. different social conditions) by particular sets of song stimuli. If categorization occurred during auditory learning, we expect that the birds’ own performances are organized according to the tested contextual variable. Such competence would not only reveal ‘semantic’ properties of the song memory. It may also provide functional explanations for the birds’ vocal interactions in the field.
Currently the lab develops operant conditioning techniques to shift the ‘non-interactive’ tape tutoring to a design where the male has behavioural control over which songs to hear when and how often, or when to switch to novel patterns. Monitoring such decisions and relating them to acquisition success will elucidate the dynamics of the learning process and the underlying strategies. Operant techniques will also be used during vocal ontogeny to study whether and how further auditory experience (additional exposure to song) may influence the quality and progression of the process (8). | <urn:uuid:03a3e111-cfb7-4027-9a79-7ad9bf2a85c5> | {
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I’ve always been intrigued by plays on words and colloquialisms and have included some bird-related word plays in Oscar’s story. The intriguing part is knowing something about the source and meanings of the phrases. Therefore, I did some delving into the meanings of such passages in Oscar’s story.
Page 5 “Dad was a tough old bird”
A common meaning for “tough old bird” is a chicken past its youth too tough to bake or grill. By extension, a mean old person who gives people a hard time or who has succeeded in surviving innumerable hardships, is called a tough old bird. I see someday that Oscar, if he has a long life, will be a bird who has and will overcome many obstacles during his life due to his toughness and may be referred by the young ospreys as a “tough old bird” but in a sort of complimentary way.
Page 8 “You’ll love the bird’s-eye view from out here”
A common usage for “bird’s eye view” is in referring to a view from a high angle as if seen by a bird in flight. It is an old phrase with a first known usage way back in 1771. I’m not sure whether Oscar will ever lose his fear of heights, it’s a basic fear, not easily overcome. Oscar compensates in order to deal with the phobia, and will probably always have troubles appreciating views from high places.
Page 8 “Oscar, you get your little tail out here this instant or I’ll wring your neck!”
One meaning for “wring your neck” involves the practice of wringing chicken’s necks prior to preparing chicken dinners. A little gruesome maybe, but Oscar’s Dad wasn’t really going to wring Oscar’s neck. He was showing impatience with Oscar’s for being, as he thought, so timid. It demonstrates how we should be considerate of individuals with handicaps and what they are dealing with.
Page 27 “…So you want to be a bird of a different feather?”
A common meaning for “bird of a different feather” is a person who is free thinking and independent. Oscar was certainly a bird with an ability to expand his consciousness beyond the usual options in learning how to deal with adversity. I have read that those who are the most adaptable will very likely to have a longer than average lifespan. Being rigid and inflexible can lead to stress and an unhealthy emotional state. Go with the flow, that’s the message in Oscar’s story.
I used these phrases to add flavor to the language of the characters. But I hope it comes across that there is depth to these sayings and possess meanings beyond being just mere descriptive words. So go investigate the reasons for and meanings of those colloquialisms that interest you! | <urn:uuid:778620a9-6949-4c00-bbb2-24a5e3a093b5> | {
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Johns Hopkins brain scientists have hit on how and why some powerful drugs used for treating mental illnesses cause patients to gain so much weight that they often develop life-threatening complications such as diabetes and heart disease.
"We've now connected a whole class of antipsychotics to natural brain chemicals that trigger appetite," says Solomon H. Snyder, M.D., professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "Our identification of the molecular players that link such drugs to increased food intake means there's now hope for finding a newer generation of drugs without the weight-gain side effects."
The discovery will be published online next week at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Previous research already had fingered increased levels and actions of one particular enzyme, AMPK, in brain cells as a control lever for appetite in mice and presumably humans.
Suspecting that antipsychotic drugs might spike AMPK in the brain to overact, the Johns Hopkins team injected mice with clozapine (Clozaril), which, with olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal), is commonly prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in people who do poorly on conventional drugs.
Mice given clozapine showed quadrupled AMPK activity compared to activity measured pre-drug.
The researchers then gave the mice leptin, a hormone that suppresses appetite, and as suspected, saw lowered AMPK levels.
Drilling down further into what controls AMPK and its boost of hunger, Sangwon Kim, Ph.D., a research associate and lead author of the study, "rounded up the usual suspects, brain proteins known to relay communication from cell to cell."
Systematically manipulating these cell-signaling proteins, Snyder's team found that blocking one in particular, a receptor site for histamine, a well-known player in triggering classic allergy symptoms, activates AMPK to the same extent as clozapine. To confirm that the histamine receptor connects the drug, AMPK activity and appetite, the team gave clozapine to mice genetically engineered without a histamine receptor.
Results? Peace. No heightened AMPK activity.
"Histamine also has a long history as a suspect in weight control, but no one ever could put a finger on the exact link," says Snyder. "The connection we've made between its receptor and appetite control is incredibly intriguing and opens new avenues for research on weight control, possibly including drugs that suppress appetite safely."
The research was funded by the U.S. Public Health Service, Canadian Institute of Health Research, National Institutes of Health and National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Authors on the paper are Kim, Alex Huang, Adele Snowman and Snyder of Hopkins, and Cory Teuscher of the University of Vermont College of Medicine.
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Cities connect climate change with rise in disasters
Date: 16 May 2012
Source(s): United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
GENEVA, 16 May 2012 - Over the last five years economic losses due to disasters reached over $800 billion worldwide and a new report, published this week, found that 81% of surveyed cities experienced an increase in natural hazards over the same period.
Overall, 79% of surveyed cities reported changes in temperature, precipitation, sea level or natural hazards that they attribute to climate change.
Nearly half of the 468 cities who participated in the survey reported a range of impacts, and damage to local government property was the most frequently cited impact.
Cities in Africa (10), Asia (24) and Latin America (20) reported deaths from disasters that they view as being associated with climate change.
The lack of financial support and understanding of the urban adaptation challenge outlined in the new survey is a key reason why initiatives such as UNISDR's two year old "Making Cities Resilient" campaign are crucial in raising awareness, promoting peer-to-peer learning and generating political support and understanding for local governments. Only 7% of respondents believe that their national governments fully understand the realities of adaptation planning at local level.
The cities surveyed were all members of UNISDR's partner ICLEI -- Local Governments for Sustainability -- and the majority of survey respondents (298) were in the US which has a large ICLEI membership.
"Progress and Challenges in Urban Climate Adaptation Planning: Results of a Global Survey" is said to be the first systematic study at this scale of adaptation initiatives and challenges and was carried out by JoAnn Carmin, Associate Professor of Environmental Policy and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with research assistants, Nikhil Nadkarni and Christopher Rhie. It was presented this week at the 2012 Resilient Cities Congress in Bonn by Prof. Carmin.
Among the 19% of cities who had assessed climate impacts, increased storm water runoff (65%) and storm water management (61%) are the top two concerns.
In addition to a rise in natural hazards, other notable changes remarked on by survey respondents were changes in flora and fauna, rural-to-urban migration, coastal erosion, emergence of new diseases and deaths from disasters.
Many cities are taking measures to mainstream adaptation into disaster risk reduction and land use planning but globally they report three top challenges: securing funding for adaptation; communicating the need for adaptation to elected officials and local departments; and gaining commitment and generating appreciation from national government for the realities of local adaptation challenges.
The report concludes: "While financial and informational resources will still be needed, when political support and commitment exist to promote adaptation, cities will find it easier to foster engagement among local government departments and to mainstream adaptation into their ongoing initiatives." | <urn:uuid:e1c59fae-f213-4df9-b23e-cdb73b85e6fa> | {
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On the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains at Wintergreen Resort last winter, a group of teenagers participating in a weeklong ski and snowboard camp tested their abilities to maneuver through freshly fallen snow.
All of them knew firsthand the daily challenges of living with Type 1 diabetes. For many, the ski trip was the first time they were able to fully enjoy an extended stay away from home.
An hour from the resort, researchers at the University of Virginia’s Center for Diabetes Technology have spent years developing a smartphone that acts as an artificial pancreas – a device that automatically regulates blood sugar levels through customized insulin delivery. Thanks to a partnership between the center and Riding on Insulin, a program led by professional snowboarder Sean Busby that offers ski and snowboard camps for children with Type 1 diabetes, that week at Wintergreen provided the teens with a reprieve from the constant diligence required to monitor blood sugar levels – an ongoing task that so often limits their everyday lives.
“Having an artificial pancreas would mean more freedom and less worry for all of us,” said Mara Hallett, whose son, Thomas, tried out the device while attending the camp. “We have been so thankful to the doctors willing to do the research, which is bringing us closer to that reality.”
A Simpler Lifestyle
This breakthrough could make a more carefree lifestyle attainable for those with diabetes. Activities that were once troublesome for those diagnosed can be done with less worry.
The artificial pancreas calculates how much insulin is needed after a meal.
Its mobility makes monitoring blood sugar levels during exercise possible.
Sugar levels during sleep are stabilized without disturbing the user.
Kovatchev was no stranger to the disease, having witnessed and felt the effects within his own family.
“My father had diabetes, so I knew how difficult it can be to control,” he said. “There was no technology at that time, just an occasional finger stick or insulin injection.”
A spark was ignited in Kovatchev’s mind, leading him to narrow the focus of his research to diabetes technology. Then, in 1996, he secured his first grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the mathematical, quantitative understanding of the disease. Over the next several years, Kovatchev closely communicated with colleagues at UVA and experts at the University of Padova, Italy, to brainstorm new ways to manage and monitor diabetes using mathematical algorithms.
That brainstorming culminated on Dec. 19, 2005, when the idea for the artificial pancreas was born out of a meeting between JDRF (a diabetic research foundation), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the NIH and experts in the field.
“Technology within the industry started to appear in the first few years of this century,” Kovatchev said. “In 2005, insulin pumps had been in use for a few years, but it became clear that it may be possible to assemble a system that could more closely control diabetes. At that time, though, no one knew whether or not it was going to work.”
Tools such as insulin pumps help patients manage diabetes, but still require action from the individual to monitor blood glucose levels and deliver insulin dosages. The artificial pancreas, on the other hand, eliminates the need for individual action by using algorithms to automatically monitor and regulate blood glucose levels through custom, calculated insulin dosages.
Then, in 2008, Kovatchev and his team had a breakthrough. Typically, once a device like the artificial pancreas comes out of the conceptual phase, it undergoes years of animal trials. Kovatchev wasn’t keen on that idea, and instead proposed to replace animal trials with those using a computer-based simulator that modeled the human metabolic system. The FDA approved, and that same year, after the computer simulations were successful, the first human studies involving the artificial pancreas began at the UVA Health System.
“At that time, the system worked on a laptop computer and had a lot of wires connecting the sensors to the person and the insulin pump,” Kovatchev said. “It was pretty bulky.”
If we pull it off, we will essentially change the course of diabetes medicine and completely turn the treatment of it around.”
The human trials, which required participants to be closely supervised in the hospital, demonstrated significant success, and Kovatchev and his colleagues wanted to progress to outpatient studies. First, however, they needed a more mobile device.
So a member of Kovatchev’s team transferred the entire system from the laptop to a smartphone, and, over time, made it operate wirelessly.
The smartphone is designed so that it “listens” to a sensor attached to the patient’s skin, and, using advanced algorithms that are linked to the sensor through wireless connections, the device gathers data from the metabolic system to then control the insulin pump so that it automatically adjusts insulin delivery.
Today, outpatient trials of the artificial pancreas have been conducted in 17 locations across the world, and the UVA Center for Diabetes Technology has become a hub for international research.
Users can view a detailed graph of their insulin delivery history for the entire day and in five-minute increments. Images courtesy TypeZero.
The app alerts users when blood glucose levels are too high or too low or are predicted to move out of range soon. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia checklists assist the user in troubleshooting high and low blood glucose. Images courtesy TypeZero.
The app allows users to enter comments related to their personal health and diabetes management, helping clinical study teams understand how health conditions impact blood glucose levels or the patient’s response to insulin. Images courtesy TypeZero.
The commercialization of the device for industry use would bring 20 years of conceptual research, development and clinical trials to life.
“If we pull it off, we will essentially change the course of diabetes medicine and completely turn the treatment of it around,” Kovatchev said.
And as Kovatchev thinks back to the study at Wintergreen, he is hopeful about what the realization of the artificial pancreas could mean for kids like Thomas Hallett.
“For the kids who have diabetes, I hope this can give them much more carefree and stable lives,” he said. “The complications of diabetes are severe, and the only proven treatment is stable blood sugar control. If we can ensure that, that will lead to better, longer, healthier lives.” | <urn:uuid:83fc9ea6-765c-40eb-9f77-31d5ff55ff78> | {
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Today the word “anarchism” inspires both fear and fascination. But few people understand what anarchists believe, what anarchists want, and what anarchists do. This incisive book puts forward the case for anarchism as a pragmatic philosophy.
Originally written in 1969 and updated for the twenty-first century, About Anarchism is an uncluttered, precise, and urgently necessary expression of practical anarchism. Crafted in deliberately simple prose and without constant reference to other writers or past events, it can be understood without difficulty and without any prior knowledge of political ideology.
As one of the finest short introductions to the basic concepts, theories, and applications of anarchism, About Anarchism has been translated into many languages, including French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, and Russian. This new edition includes a preface from David Goodway, retains Natasha Walter’s introduction and expanded biographical sketch of the author, Nicolas Walter, who was a respected writer, journalist, and an active protester against the powers of both the church and the state.
- “A clear and incisive introduction to the subject.” —New York Times
- “Walter’s anarchism incorporates a wealth of influences and the best of both old and new anarchism. Almost every paragraph in this book contains examples of his subversive thinking, and many of his observations push contemporary anarchists to think harder about the nature of politics.” —Andrej Grubačić, coauthor of Living at the Edges of Capitalism: Adventures in Exile and Mutual Aid
- “Nicolas Walter was a writer and lecturer of deep secular humanist and anarchist convictions—his book About Anarchism is known round the world.” —Guardian
- “Nicolas Walter was one of the most interesting left intellectuals of the second half of the twentieth century in Britain.” —Professor Richard Taylor, University of Cambridge
- “A wonderful short work which gives a clear and straightforward exposition of anarchism. It greatly influenced me when it first came out and is as relevant and timely as it was half a century ago, if not more so. A perfect introduction.” —Peter Marshall, author of Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism
About the Contributors:
- Nicolas Walter (1934–2000) was one of the best-known and most widely read anarchist writers of the last half of the twentieth century. He was a lifelong critic and active protester of both church and state. An edited collection of his writings was published by PM Press as Damned Fools in Utopia: And Other Writings on Anarchism and War Resistance.
- Natasha Walter is the author of two nonfiction books, The New Feminism and Living Dolls, and her debut novel, A Quiet Life, was published in 2016. She has worked as a journalist, columnist, and reviewer for the Guardian, the Observer, and the Independent, and is the founder of the charity Women for Refugee Women.
- David Goodway is the author of Anarchist Seeds Beneath the Snow, and editor of Damned Fools in Utopia: And Other Writings on Anarchism and War Resistance, The Letters of John Cowper Powys and Emma Goldman, plus collections of the writings of Alex Comfort, Herbert Read, and Maurice Brinton. His conversations with Colin Ward have been published as Talking Anarchy.
Author: Nicolas Walter • Introduction: Natasha Walter • Preface: David Goodway
Publisher: PM Press/Freedom Press
Published: August 2019
Page count: 96
See and hear author interviews, book reviews, and other news HERE | <urn:uuid:20132c6e-3c0e-4391-86e6-0f8952462d9b> | {
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In many people’s minds, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) simply involves being obsessed about neatness and symmetry.
Some people may imagine that an OCD sufferer has to make sure all the pictures in his or her house are straight. But OCD is much more serious than this seemingly quirky behavior. There are many different types of OCD—obsessions and compulsions related to symmetry are just one. There are four other types of OCD that you should be aware of, each with a distinct set of signs and symptoms.
The 5 Types of OCD
Clinicians suggest that there are five different subtypes of OCD. If you suffer from OCD, you may generally experience symptoms of one type, while struggling with symptoms of another at the same time.
1. Harm Obsessions with Checking Compulsions
When you experience this type of OCD, you will have distressing thoughts related to causing harm to yourself or to those you care about. To relieve yourself of your anxiety about such harm, you will engage in checking rituals.
For instance, you may worry that your house is burning down and then constantly go back to your house to make sure you turned the stove and electrical appliances off.
If you have this subtype of OCD, you will carry out checking compulsions multiple times, perhaps even hundreds of times. Your checking rituals may last for hours. This can disrupt your normal functioning and everyday activities. Because of your checking rituals, you may be late for school, work, and important occasions or appointments.
This type of OCD can affect your ability to hold down a job or maintain a relationship.
2. Contamination Obsessions with Washing/Cleaning Compulsions
One of the other common types of OCD involves obsessions about contamination. If this subtype of OCD applies to you, then you will often use washing or cleaning rituals to relieve yourself of anxiety.
People who suffer from this type of OCD have a constant fear of being dirty or contaminated. You worry that this contamination (e.g. from bacteria) could cause you or a loved one harm, such as contracting a disease. Common triggers of anxiety include:
- Public toilets
- Shaking hands
- Staircase banisters
- Door handles
- Public telephones
- Outside air
- Eating in public
Since so many things in life can act as triggers, living with this type of OCD can make it difficult to feel comfortable during day-to-day activities. Fears of contamination can be overwhelming at times, which may cause you to avoid triggering situations. This can, in turn, interfere with one’s work and relationships.
Repetitive hand, face, or body washing takes place until the OCD sufferer feels that they are clean. In contrast, someone without OCD would just clean himself or herself until they can see that they are clean.
It’s possible to engage in cleaning rituals so often that you cause harm to yourself. Excessive hand scrubbing, for example, can sometimes result in bleeding.
3. Symmetry Obsessions with Ordering and Arranging Compulsions
If you experience this subtype of OCD, things seeming to lack order and symmetry can be a major cause of distress. Everything has to be “just right” in order to relieve you of your anxiety. For example, you may be obsessed with keeping your possessions pristine. Alternatively, you may feel compelled to arrange your shirts by color.
Sometimes, these compulsions can act as a way to ward off danger. For example, you might try to arrange your desk perfectly so that a loved one doesn’t get into a terrible accident. This is known as “magical thinking.”
People living with this type of OCD may spend a lot of time trying to achieve perfect symmetry. This can result in them turning up extremely late for work, appointments, or social occasions. And like with other types of OCD, those involving symmetry obsessions can impact relationships, too.
A person with this subtype of OCD may avoid socializing at home, out of fear that others will disrupt the symmetry they have created. This can have a negative impact on social interaction and important relationships.
4. Collecting Obsessions with Hoarding Compulsions
Hoarding is another type of OCD, but it’s also listed as a distinct mental disorder in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
When you suffer from this subtype of OCD, you will feel extreme anxiety related to thoughts of throwing stuff away. To get rid of these uncomfortable thoughts, you will collect useless or worn out possessions. This is known as hoarding.
If you hoard due to specific fears and worries, you have this particular type of OCD, rather than the separate condition called Hoarding Disorder (HD).
Patients with this OCD subtype will collect items considered to have little to no value by others. Such items may include old magazines, clothes, junk mail, notes, containers, and receipts. OCD sufferers may hoard so much stuff that their living space becomes inhabitable.
Hoarders tend to have intense fears about losing items they think they will need someday. Some of these OCD sufferers will also have an excessive emotional attachment to their possessions.
People with hoarding obsessions tend to experience worse symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to patients with other types of OCD. If a mood disorder (e.g. major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder) accompanies your OCD, this is known as a co-occurring disorder.
5. Obsessions Without Visible Compulsions
This type of OCD is also known as “Pure O” (i.e. purely obsessional). This is because it’s the only subtype of OCD that doesn’t involve visible compulsions. Instead, the compulsions are purely mental in nature.
OCD sufferers who have this type of OCD generally have repetitive, intrusive thoughts that are disturbing or repugnant in nature. The obsessions usually include sexual, religious, or violent themes. For example, OCD sufferers with this type may have unwanted thoughts about causing violence to loved ones. They may also have distressing thoughts about being a rapist or being sexually attracted to family members.
People who struggle with this type of OCD don’t have accompanying compulsions to act on such thoughts. In fact, they tend to be horrified they are thinking these things in the first place. An OCD patient will use mental rituals to lessen the anxiety associated with these intrusive and disturbing feelings. Such mental rituals may include counting in one’s head or repeating particular words and phrases.
OCD sufferers will tend to avoid situations that may trigger involuntary thoughts.
Managing Your OCD
For all these types of OCD, treatment can be quite similar. SSRI antidepressants, such as Prozac and Paxil, are commonly used to treat the different types of OCD. Treatment also usually consists of a specific type of behavior therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or exposure and response prevention (ERP), which itself is based on the CBT model.
These types of therapy encourage OCD sufferers to gain control over their obsessions and resist engaging in compulsions.
For those who don’t respond well to medication or might be looking for an alternative treatment, there is also transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This is a relatively new, non-invasive and drug-free therapy that incites lowered activity in the prefrontal cortex, which can help regulate your mood and overall mental health.
If you are trying to recover from a particular type of OCD, it’s important to work with a therapist who is knowledgeable about your OCD subtype. This will give you the best chances of tackling your OCD in a productive way and leading a life that isn’t controlled by obsessions and compulsions. | <urn:uuid:289d3616-19b6-4959-aaec-51f4be06427d> | {
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"On the scale of 1 to 10, this is an 11," wrote security expert Bruce Schneier in a blog post this week. He was referring to Heartbleed, the devastating two-year-old bug that was only revealed Monday. It is quickly snowballing into the single biggest security vulnerability in Internet history. Here's what you need to know about it, what it's doing to companies, and what you can do to protect your data.
What is Heartbleed?
It's a bug in OpenSSL encryption, a software library that Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Amazon, and a very big chunk of the world's biggest websites use to secure the transmission of private information. The average user is probably unfamiliar with OpenSSL, but it is represented in your URL bar by the little lock symbol, next to HTTPS. Essentially, the exploit gifts hackers and cybercriminals a skeleton key to a hidden world of private data. They can waltz in, reach into a grab bag of secure information (emails, IMs, passwords, etc.), and walk away without a trace.
How widespread is it?
According to Schneier, about half a million websites have been made vulnerable to attack. Although the exact extent of the damage is unclear, security experts say this is exactly the kind of easy vulnerability hackers have a field day with. "It affects two-thirds of the Internet's infrastructure," Wayne Jackson, security expert and CEO of Sonatype tells Fast Company. "I don't think this is all that different from bugs that we see that get reported. It's just that this one is foundational."
How is the private data gathered?
Heartbleed allows hackers to reach into the exchange of private computer memory handled by OpenSSL, allowing them to pull out information en masse. What gets pulled out is randomized: Sometimes you'll get something benign, like a timestamp. Worst case is they'll get something like the encryption key itself. It's like a private-data piñata.
What does it look like?
Here, for example, is a sample that was siphoned up from Yahoo Mail's servers. The password has been redacted, but it gives you a visual idea of how Heartbleed works.
What companies are most at risk?
Google, Yahoo, and Amazon are, in all likelihood, not in great danger by now. Most were made aware of the bug on Tuesday afternoon and claim to have remedied the problem. Security blogger Graham Cluley points out that smaller sites like OKCupid, Imgur, Flickr, and Eventbrite were, potentially, in greater danger. Dropbox, IFFFT, and Netflix say they have installed the necessary patches. Several companies have told me that they have not seen the exploit affect customers directly. Fast Company will update this post as we hear back from more companies.
I run a website. Is there any way I can check if I'm at risk?
Yes, there is. You can use this tool designed by Filippo Valsorda. If vulnerable, you'll have to update your SSL certificate—which now includes a patch—and change your passwords. All of them.
What can I do to protect my private information?
No one is 100% sure. Some security experts think it is best to change your password right away. A growing chorus of others, like security firm Veracode, recommend sitting back and waiting for confirmation from each individual company that they have fixed the situation, and only then changing your password. "If anything, it should raise people's awareness about how fragile Internet infrastructure can be," says Jackson. "We've kind of living off this super high of technology innovations, and every once in a while you have to deal with the consequences." | <urn:uuid:1e7330a5-3cc6-43d1-b818-db7e2936a28a> | {
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Eyes on Bullying is a national, multimedia bullying prevention program designed to provide parents and caregivers with user-friendly and effective ways to learn the essential principles of bullying prevention. The multimedia program, initially developed for IBM employees, includes a 42-page Toolkit with key information, resources, and six skill-building activities for caregivers and parents to use with children. The toolkit can be downloaded from the Eyes on Bullying Web site where there is additional resources and Web links as well as three teleseminars with expert speakers available as podcasts or transcripts.
[This project is inactive but is presented here for archival purposes.]
Directors: Ronald Slaby , Jennifer Minotti
Funder: IBM Corporation | <urn:uuid:d23420e7-81b4-4855-89a1-4a01780b9c45> | {
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Aim: What led to the booming economy of the 1920s? 3. Politics and the Economy • During the 1920s many Americans experienced a period of prosperity. • The prosperity was tied to the fact that the government no longer controlled all facets of the economy as was the policy during WW1. • The end of the war also ended the Progressive Era, so governmental regulations were loosening. • With the end of the Progressive Era and governmental control came a return of free enterprise an re-emergence of business. • Many businessmen found this reconnection with the Republican Party. • The Republican Party controlled the 1920s with the three Presidents who were in office: Warren Harding (1920-1923) Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929) Herbert Hoover (1929-1933) • The return of the Republicans was met with the return of a pro-management policy towards business. Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge Herbert Hoover Question 1 • What party supported big business during the 1920s? • The Republican Party 3.1 The Politics of Normalcy • American foreign policy after World War 1 was called normalcy. • Normalcy meant that the United States would return to the period of time before World War 1. • Normalcy would be the policy practiced by Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. • Warren Harding (1920-1923) - Main feature of Harding’s administration was scandal. -Harding believed that there should be less government in business and more business in government. - Although some members of his administration were qualified-many members of his administration were unqualified. - Pressure of all the scandals brought an unfinished term for Harding who died in 1924. Election of 1920 • Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929) - Coolidge became president when Harding died in 1923. - Coolidge was respected by big business. -During his six years as President, the economy became prosperous. Election of 1924 The states in blue voted for Calvin Coolidge in 1924 • Hoover and the Election of 1928 - Hoover became president when Coolidge did not run in 1928. - Hoover led the Food Administration and guided the relief in Europe following the war. - The Democrats chose Alfred Smith as their nominee. He was the first Catholic to be nominated for the Presidency. • Hoover and the Republicans promised that if the United States stayed with the current policies, the nation would continue to do well. • The Republicans won the election with 58 percent of the vote and carried all but 8 states in the nation. Election of 1928 Alfred Smith-1st Catholic to run for President in 1928 Question 2 • Which President’s administration was plagued (filled with) scandal? • Warren Harding. Many of his appointees were not qualified for the position they had in the government. Question 3 • Who were the candidates for President in 1928? • Herbert Hoover and Alfred Smith. Smith would make history as the first Catholic to be nominated for President. 3.2 The Boom Economy • The Boom Economy dominated the 1920s. • The US after WW1, experienced a brief depression, but the economy rallied for the better part of the decade. • Many people believed that the prosperity would continue way past the 1920s. • One reason to why the prosperity occurred was the birth of new industries. • The major industry of the 1920s was the automobile industry. • By 1930, the United States was producing 23 million cars and 4 million trucks and buses. • The major reason for the growth of automobiles was the development of Henry Ford’s assembly line which shortened production time. This allowed for mass production which meant goods could be made quicker and cheaper. • Other industries soon sprouted off the automobile industry. Henry Ford Assembly Line Assembly Line The 1st Major Automobile-Model T • Aviation also became a very important industry during the 1920s. • In 1903, the Wright Brothers were developing the airplane in Kitty Hawk, NC. • By the end of WW1, the development of better airplane equipment allowed for better planes to be made. • The most famous airplane accomplishment came in 1928 when Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis crossed the Atlantic Ocean. • Lindbergh’s accomplishment increased air travel during the 1920s and 1930s. The Wright Brothers The Airplane’s Blue Print Success After Kitty Hawk Charles Lindbergh Lindbergh’s Plane-Spirit of St. Louis • Another factor was that the United States became an economy of consumer goodsproducts that were used for individual use. • Many of these gods were electric appliances such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines and radios. • The electric industry during the 1920s grew to accommodate the growing need for electrical power. Early Vacuum Cleaner Early Washing Machine Early Refrigerators • Another factor was advertising. • Advertising was used in business so that people would buy a company’s goods. • Goods were advertised in newspapers and radios. • In 1925, more money was spent on advertising than on public education. Advertisements of the 1920s Advertisements of the 1920s • Lastly, more people began to use credit cards to buy the things they wanted. Credit Cards of the 1920s • However, some parts of the economy did not prosper during the 1920s. • One part of the economy that did not do well was agriculture. • During the early 1920s, farmers grew to meet post-war demand, but as Europe recovered, the cost of farm products reduced. Question 4 • What was the status of the American economy during the 1920s? • During the 1920s, the American economy was prosperous and booming. Question 5 • What factors helped to bring about a boom economy? • (1) The growth of new industries • (2) The development of more consumer goods • (3) The development of advertising Question 6 • What part of the American economy did not prosper during the 1920s? • Farmers produced a lot food during the first world war. However, during the 1920s, many farmers found that they could not sell their goods. 3.3 Protecting American Business • Just as they did in the late 1800s, the government did all they could to protect their interests in American business. • The Secretary of the Treasury, Andrew Mellon, passed laws to benefit the growth and prosperity of the economy. 1) Lower corporate taxes 2) Protection of industries from imports. 3) No oversight of Progressive legislation-more trusts, mergers and monopolies occurred as a result. Andrew Mellon Question 7 • How and why did Secretary of the Treasury Andrew Mellon support business? • Secretary of the Treasury Mellon helped to pass laws that lowered taxes for corporations and the wealthy. By doing this, Mellon believed that there would be more money freed for investment in the US economy. 3.4 Holding Down American Labor • Although the government protected American businesses, it held down labor after the war. • During the war, the government backed labor in their efforts to organize-wages rose and membership in labor unions increased. • Once the war was over, there was serious trouble between labor and management and strikes occurred. • In 1919, strikes occurred across the United States. • The most serious strike was in the steel industry. 350,000 workers walked off their jobs. • Steel companies threatened their workers by stating if they refused to go back to work-they would lose their jobs to other immigrants. • The steel companies took out anti-union advertisements in newspapers across the United States. • The steel companies issued warnings in many languages to discourage immigrants from striking. • The steel companies hired workers called scabs to replace these workers. • The police and state militias also came in to break the strikes and crush the unions. • Once the strike was ended and the steel workers union crushed, businesses tried to crush union activity through two methods. 1) Yellow-Dog Contracts: workers had to sign an agreement stating they would not join a union. 2) Blacklists: Companies who knew of union members would refuse to hire these men/women for work. • As a result of the tactics, the number of people in labor unions declined after WW1. • Pay for workers increased during the 1920s, but unfortunately, not as fast as other members of American society. Question 8 • What was the most serious strike of 1919? • The most serious strike in 1919 occurred when members of the steel industry went on strike. Question 9 • What was the American Plan? • The American Plan was plan by companies of the same industry to keep unions out of their business. They kept money to hire illegal workers if a strike occurred. They also blacklisted workers and used yellow-dog contracts to keep people from joining the union. | <urn:uuid:3b0af022-c027-48f9-812c-fe8f25687776> | {
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This lesson explores the artwork of Pop artist Keith Haring and aboriginal paintings. Students will create a painting that expresses an issue within their society whether it is at home or at school. The issue should impact them directly, and have
This lesson explores how a photographer can use the rule of thirds to capture the viewer’s attention. By the end of the lesson the student will be able to use the rule of thirds to express a feeling to the viewer.
This lesson explores the street art of Banksy and Shepard Fairy and how the placement of the art can affect the meaning with in a community. Students will be creating their own word drawing that uses line and color to express meaning.
This lesson uses the art of ceramics and sculpture to explore the human imagination. Investigating artwork by Lindsay Feuer and her use of visual texture the lesson asks students create a ceramic bottle using a coiling technique, organic form, | <urn:uuid:d5c07bdd-2975-4e79-ac87-e6e6f8ebc4e8> | {
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Terry Pratchett's Discworld is familiar to most of us through his wonderful Discworld books, of which there are now over 25 (at the time of writing). But where did Pratchett get the idea for such a world? And where did he first put it into print?
The World Myth
Most ancient peoples believed the world to be flat. It is a reasonable assumption if you have never gone very far from your own home. Philosophers then came across the problem, what is the flat world on top of? The ancient Hindus decided that the world was on the back of four elephants which themselves stood on the back of a giant turtle. The indigenous North Americans, too, believed that the world was on the back of a giant turtle. But what was the turtle standing on? Some said a snake, others said it swam in a giant ocean, and others said a snake swimming in an ocean. At this stage, the philosophers gave up.
Larry Niven's Ringworld
The other main contributor to Pratchett's Discworld was a 'classic' science fiction story by Larry Niven, Ringworld. Niven designed a giant world in the shape of a wedding ring with a radius of one astronomical unit. That is, the ring was the same diameter as the Earth's orbit around the Sun. The ring spun fast enough to generate artificial gravity on the inner surface and was warmed by a sun similar to our own at the centre of the ring. The inner surface of the ring was an artificial world with mountains, seas and forests, and a habitable area one million times that of the Earth.
In the book, four intrepid explorers of three different species travelled to this world to explore it: a type of extremely bad-tempered intelligent tiger, a two-headed three-legged alien and two Californian humans - a 200-year old man and an unnaturally lucky young woman. (All Larry Niven's humans are Californians.)
The world was explained in great detail with all the mathematics worked out so that the world would be consistent. In addition, Niven coined the terms 'Spinward' and 'Antispinward' to replace the directions of North and South.
The next stage in the evolution of the Discworld was Terry Pratchett's book Strata. Published in 1981, this was a spoof science fiction story based on Ringworld. Pratchett himself described the book as a 'p**stake/homage/satire' on Ringworld, and added that Larry Niven enjoyed it!
The book starts in almost exactly the same way, with three intrepid explorers of different species heading off into space to investigate a newly discovered world. The world they are investigating is an apparent contradiction in a logical universe. It is a flat disc, where all other worlds are spheres. Crash-landing on the world, they find it apparently the home of magical creatures such as winged devils. Further investigation shows the entire world to be an artificial construct, with the magic simulated by advanced technology.
This book is reasonably enjoyable in itself, but comes into its own when the reader has already read Ringworld. It lacks the laugh-out-loud jokes of Pratchett's later work, but is amusing nonetheless. In all likelihood, Stata would never have been successful were it not for the reflected glory of Pratchett's other works.
The Colour of Magic
Pratchett's first attempt at a spoof on the fantasy genre was a book called The Colour of Magic. Published in 1983, it consisted of four novellas set in the magical Discworld. This was the familiar flat disc set on the backs of four elephants standing on a giant turtle. While this looked similar to the world of Strata, it was a genuine magical world rather than a simulated construct. It brought together the flat magical world of Strata with the Hindu world myth.
The Colour of Magic is very much a spoof on the fantasy genre. Mainstream readers may find it less enjoyable than his later works, which, although set in a magical world, tend to give a slant on real-life issues. The book was successful enough to encourage Pratchett to write more in the same vein. A whole stream of Discworld books have followed. In fact, Pratchett has only rarely written books outside of the Discworld series since then, and has churned out two Discworld books a year! | <urn:uuid:7cee122e-f44b-4fcc-813a-a0ddd182532e> | {
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Humans are inherently social animals, and our health suffers if we're cut off from social ties. So it's no wonder the so-called loneliness "epidemic" is being called a public health crisis. But as we sit on the cusp of massive technological advances, the near future could exacerbate this growing problem.
Loneliness can happen to anyone. It is indiscriminate of age, country, and social status. In Britain, more than one in eight people say they don't consider anyone a close friend, and the number of Americans who say they have no close friends has roughly tripled in recent decades. A large proportion of the lonely are young; almost two-thirds of 16- to 24-year-old Brits said they feel lonely at least some of the time, while almost a third are lonely often or all the time.
One pervasive source of our loneliness is technology. While it offers an easy way to keep in contact with friends — and meet new people through dating and friendship apps — technology's omnipresence encourages shallow conversations that can distract us from meaningful, real-life, interactions. Researchers at the University of Essex found that having a phone nearby, even if we don't check it, can be detrimental to our attempts at connecting with others. Smartphones have transformed post office lines from a chance for some small-talk with the neighbors to an exercise in email-checking, and sealed the fate of coffee shops as nothing more than places of mutual isolation. And technology will only become more ingrained in our lives.
By 2050, more than 66 percent of the world's population will be living in so-called "smart cities." These are metropolitan areas where everything will be digitally connected. Today, some people have "smart" thermostats, refrigerators, or smoke detectors. Tomorrow, we'll have smart hospitals, farms, and highways, and it's likely they'll all talk to one another. Connected devices will monitor everything from air quality to energy usage and traffic congestion.
Smart city seeds are already being planted around the world. A council in London has an intelligent personal assistant designed to help residents locate information, and the world's first driverless bus service has already come to the French city of Lyon. A hotel in Japan has deployed human-like robots called "actroids," according to a report by the International Bar Association. They've been greeting and serving guests since last year, and have plans to introduce enough to replace up to 90 percent of its employees.
While smart, connected cities could be great for efficiency, some worry they could be putting technology before humanity. One looming concern is the rise of automation — which will lie at the heart of our smart future — and subsequent job losses for us humans. Around 47 percent of U.S. jobs are already "at risk" of being automated in the next 20 years, according to one paper. Another report found that 29 percent of admin and support services jobs, and 72 percent of transport and storage jobs in London, are at "high risk" of automation.
We can also expect more part-time work, distance working, and the blurring of our work and personal lives. Some worry that the rise of robots could force governments to legislate for quotas of human workers.
But city-dwellers will see incremental changes outside of their workspace, too. Thanks to self-service checkouts and home delivery services, technology is creating less of a need for us to actually interact with those around us. Message bots, like Google Assistant, Siri, and Amazon's Alexa, will soon be able to suggest restaurants, hotels, and other local landmarks. This is already happening in places like Tel Aviv, where everyone over the age of 13 can receive personalized data, such as traffic information, and can access free municipal Wi-Fi in 80 public zones. Populations will be encouraged to make good use of these ever-personalized digital services, since this gives companies our precious data, which will be integral to smart cities.
Devices will also become more human-like. The prospect of cities becoming sentient is "fast becoming the new reality," according to one paper. But in a future where robots sound and objects look increasingly sentient, we might be less inclined to seek out behaviors to abate our loneliness. Indeed, one recent study titled "Products as pals" found that exposure to or interaction with anthropomorphic products — which have characteristics of being alive — partially satisfy our social needs, which means the human-like robots of tomorrow could kill our dwindling urge to be around other humans.
Not all is lost, though. Helene Joffe, a professor of psychology at University College London, told a Guardian panel, "When we ask people to think about their city aspirations, we find social connectedness comes out top of the list. People want to be part of a community in cities."
It's true, some people are attempting to reverse the loneliness epidemic. Vancouver has launched initiatives to tackle isolation after a survey revealed a quarter of residents felt lonely at times, and the most lonely were aged 24 to 34. Isolation is also being tackled as a byproduct of the emission-lowering incentive of car-pooling.
But it's doubtful that these interventions will be enough to counteract further encroachment of technology on cities' infrastructure. Resistance needs to be on a grander scale. One solution may lie in the preservation of public spaces such as parks, community centers, cafes, and shops. "If cities are to remain viable places for people to develop the strong associational and social life fundamental to healthy human existence they must incorporate a range of public spaces and 'third' places outside of work and home, in which urban citizens can come together," writes John Bingham-Hall, a researcher at London School of Economics and Political Science.
As tech companies develop creative solutions to make cities more efficient, we can only hope they'll be mindful to the effects of change on city-dwellers' wellbeing; after all, loneliness, and the health ailments that come with it, isn't conducive to the productive economies we need to solve the problems of the future. | <urn:uuid:a13cfa14-6485-4c70-98c5-5150a42daa84> | {
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Links to histories
and biographies of the famous people of Arizona. Many famous people of Arizona have made significant contributions to the history of our nation and
the state of Arizona. These famous Americans, famous entertainers, famous players, famous scientist, famous singers, famous statesmen, famous women,
heroes, great explorers, and others Arizona famous Americans have all made Arizona their home. This list includes Arizona historical figures, celebrities
and those individuals of Arizona who have influenced the lives of others.
Famous People from Arizona
Cesar Estrada Chavez (1927 - 1993) Cesar Chavez
was born in Yuma, Arizona in 1927. He founded and led the first successful farm workers' union in U.S. history and was posthumously awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom in 1994.
(Mescalero-Chiricahua: Goyaałé "one who yawns"; June 1829 - February 17, 1909) was a prominent leader of the Bedonkohe Apache who fought
against Mexico and the United States for their expansion into Apache tribal lands for several decades during the Apache Wars. "Geronimo"
was the name given to him during a battle with Mexican soldiers. Geronimo's Chiricahua name is often rendered as Goyathlay or Goyahkla in English.Geronimo
was born to the Bedonkohe band of the Apache, near Turkey Creek, a tributary of the Gila River in the modern-day state of New Mexico, then part of
Mexico. His grandfather (Mahko) had been chief of the Bedonkohe Apache. He had three brothers and four sisters
Zane Grey(January 31, 1872 - October 23, 1939) was
an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the American frontier. Riders of the
Purple Sage (1912) was his best-selling book. In addition to the success of his printed works, they later had second lives and continuing influence
when adapted as films and television productions. As of 2012, 112 films, two television episodes, and a television series, Dick Powell's Zane Grey
Theater, had been made that were based loosely on his novels and short stories
Haskay-bay-nay-ntayl (c. 1860 - after 1894),
better known as the Apache Kid, was a White Mountain Apache scout, and later a renegade, active in the American states of Arizona
and New Mexico, and the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua in the late 19th and possibly the early 20th centuries.
Sandra Day O'Conner (1930 - ) The first
woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court in 1981.
Linda Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is an American popular music singer. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music
awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, and numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums. She has also
earned nominations for a Tony Award and a Golden Globe award.
David Spade (1965 - ) Comedian/actor, Raised in Scottsdale.
Stewart Udall (1920 - ) Former Secretary of the
Interior; born in St. Johns.
More Famous People of Arizona
Find more more Arizona famous people below. You may
not even realize many of these famous people were born in Arizona or notable associated with Arizona, including actors, actresses, explorers, historical
figures, inventors, musicians, novelists, professional athletes, important politicians, singers, sport stars and more.
Rex Allen singer, actor, Willcox
Michael Carbajal world champion boxer, Phoenix
Lynda Carter actress, Phoenix
Cochise Apache indian chief, Arizona Territory
Barbara Eden was born in Tucson, Arizona in 1934. She became famous for her starring role in the television series I Dream of
Louie Espinoza Arizona's first world champion boxer, Chandler
Barry Goldwater politician, Phoenix
Carl Trumbull Hayden politician, Phoenix
Frank Luke, Jr. WWI fighter ace, Phoenix
Charles Mingus, born in Nogales, Arizona in 1922, was a bassist, pianist, bandleader, composer, and vocalist. He was one of the most important
jazz composers of the 20th century.
Kerri Strug gymnast, Tucson
US Famous People
Learn history through the biographies of the famous people from your state. | <urn:uuid:2f6df17b-067a-433a-b46f-c8ba5cefbb33> | {
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This fall, The Wolfsonian presents Rebirth of Rome, a program of interrelated exhibitions that examines the cultural output of interwar Italy. Each exhibition addresses the alliance between art, design, and ideology in Italy under Benito Mussolini. Rebirth of Rome coincides with the Year of Italian Culture in the United States, organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC.
“Taken together, the exhibitions are a portrait of the country during the years of Fascist dictatorship. The works on view in these shows—decorative arts, public works, mural paintings, architecture, design—tell us a great deal about how Italy defined itself during this significant period in the country’s history and speak to the relationship between politics and aesthetics that influenced its identity,” explains Wolfsonian curator Silvia Barisione.
The exhibition Echoes and Origins: Italian Interwar Design and the library exhibition From Italy to the Americas: Italo Balbo’s 1930 and 1933 Seaplane Squadrons are currently on view. Opening on November 22 are The Birth of Rome and Rendering War: The Murals of A. G. Santagata. The Birth of Rome is accompanied by a publication, the first in a series exploring core themes in the museum’s collection.
As Wolfsonian director Cathy Leff notes, these exhibitions, which showcase and investigate the museum’s extensive Italian holdings as well as strategic loans, “demonstrate that the material goods of a time and place are not only objects designed for function or decoration, but also are a form of persuasion. Whether it is overt, as in a poster or advertisement, or not as obvious, as in a vase or tea service, these goods reflect and influence culture. The Rebirth of Rome exhibitions are a valuable insight into how art and design affect our collective understanding of the world.”
The exhibitions are:
Echoes and Origins: Italian Interwar Design
September 27, 2013–April 30, 2014
Drawn from The Wolfsonian’s collection and promised gifts from the museum’s founder, Mitchell Wolfson, Jr., Echoes and Origins showcases a wide range of works, including furniture, ceramics, glass, graphic and product design, and industrial objects. These works are a reflection of modern Italy, evidence of the cultivation of a style that embodied the Fascist regime’s concept of Italianità (Italianness), which glorified both the Roman Empire and the spirit of modernity. This exhibition is now on view and is discussed in greater depth in the article “Echoes and Origins: Italian Interwar Design” in this issue of ePropaganda.
The Birth of Rome
November 22, 2013–May 18, 2014
The Birth of Rome presents modern architectural and urban planning projects that cultivated the perception of a storied Italian nation rooted in a mythologized past. On display for the first time, artist Ferruccio Ferrazzi’s colossal cartoon for the mosaic The Myth of Rome serves as the centerpiece of the exhibition. Ferrazzi designed the mosaic in 1938 for one of the buildings surrounding the recently excavated Mausoleum of Augustus. This visualizing of national origins through the idea of ancient Rome is complemented by four focus studies of additional building projects carried out during the years of Fascist dictatorship.
Rendering War: The Murals of A. G. Santagata
November 22, 2013–May 18, 2014
Novecento artist Antonia Giuseppe Santagata’s 1920s and 1930s mural paintings for the buildings of the Association for Disabled and Invalid War Veterans (Case dei Mutilati) commemorated Italian soldiers of the First World War. These works countered the devastating realities of Italy’s experience during the war with heroic and often devotional imagery designed to help restore national pride. Rendering War showcases Santagata’s large-scale studies for the murals, including those for his frescoes in the assembly hall and courtyard of the Casa Madre dei Mutilati (1928–36) in Rome.
From Italy to the Americas: Italo Balbo’s 1930 and 1933 Seaplane Squadrons
October 10, 2013–January 31, 2014
On view in the library vestibule, this exhibition tells the story of two Atlantic crossings by squadrons of Savoia-Marchetti seaplanes, carried out to celebrate the Fascist air force as well as mark the anniversary of the Fascist revolution. Led by Italo Balbo, Italian Minister of Aviation, the first crossing, in 1930, was to Rio de Janeiro. The second, more ambitious crossing was from Rome to the 1933 Chicago Century of Progress Exposition and back. Benito Mussolini leveraged these crossings to publicize Italy’s technological achievements, promote good will for the regime, and demonstrate the Fascist government’s power and reach.
Rebirth of Rome is made possible by the Italian Consulate General Miami, the Italian Cultural Institute New York, the United States Consular Agency Genoa, and the Wolfsoniana–Fondazione Regionale per la Cultura e lo Spettacola in Genoa. Additional support was provided by Gucci, Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., the Poltrona Frau Group Miami, the Funding Arts Network, the Leon Levy Foundation, Aprile SpA, and Ansaldo Energy Inc. The Wolfsonian also thanks Mitchell Wolfson, Jr., Marcello Cambi in Genoa, and the Wolfsoniana–FRSC for their generous loans to the project.
Drawing, Audacia. Cartone per l’affresco nella Casa Madre dei Mutilati [Audacity. Cartoon for the Fresco in the Casa Madre dei Mutilati], Rome, 1937
Antonio Giuseppe Santagata (Italian, 1888–1985)
Charcoal on pasteboard
113 3/4 x 62 5/8 in
The Wolfsonian–FIU, The Mitchell Wolfson, Jr. Collection, 84.5.44
Bottom (click to enlarge):
Photograph, Marble stadium, Foro Mussolini, c. 1938
George Hoyningen-Huene (American, b. Russia, 1900–1968), photographer
Gelatin silver print
9 1/2 x 9 1/2 in
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Sepsis was identified as a disease process that would be seen across all adult intensive care specialties. The mortality rate from severe sepsis remains high at 30 to 50 percent (Surviving Sepsis Campaign, 2011). The Surviving Sepsis Campaign Simulation Program was implemented for the first time in 2007. The purpose of the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Simulation Program is to prepare nurses entering the adult intensive care unit environment to admit and care for critically ill patient with severe sepsis. The simulation session is a capstone experience at the end of the 12-week A-CCIP.
According to the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, sepsis is defined as the 'body's response to an infection. An infection is cause by microorganisms or "germs" (usually bacteria) invading the body, and can be limited to a particular body region (e.g., a tooth abscess) or can be widespread in the bloodstream (often called "septicemia"). Sepsis is a medical emergency just like a heart attack or a stroke because there is an interruption of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues including the vital organs such as the brain, intestines, liver, kidneys and lungs" (2011).
The Adult Critical Care Internship Program (A-CCIP) is made of new nurse graduates and experienced acute care nurses entering the adult intensive care unit environment.
The adult intensive care units includes:1. Cardiac Medical Intensive Care Unit - CMICU
2. Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit - CSICU
3. Trauma Intensive Care Unit - TICU
4. Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit – NSICU
5. Adult Intensive Care Float Pool
Surviving Sepsis Simulation Coordinators | <urn:uuid:e87431c1-fd67-4a50-beb1-80bb7df89b9d> | {
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A) "Real" implies that this measure corrects for modifications in the overall level of prices.
B) "Gross" implies that this measure comprises the substitution of worn-out and obsolete tools and structures as well as entirely new investment.
C) "Domestic" implies that this measure calculates economic activity which occurs in the United States, whether or not workers are legal inhabitants and whether or not the industrial units are owned by American companies
D) “Product" implies that real GDP measures production in America of final goods and services. It comprises consumption goods (objects which customers buy, take home or take out, and consume) and investment goods (objects like machine tools, buildings, freeways, and bridges, that increase the country's capital stock and productive capacity). It also comprises what government buys: things that government (acting like our collective agent) buys and uses.Real GDP categorized by is deficient measure of how well the economy manufactures goods and services which people find helpful--the necessities, conveniences, and luxuries of life. It says nothing regarding the comparative distribution of the nation's economic product. It measures marketplace prices, not user satisfaction. It is a deficient measure of material well-being.In the year 2000, calculated by means of 1992 prices, officially-measured U.S. real GDP per worker--the full amount of all final goods and services produced in the US, categorized by the number of staff in the labor force--reached $65,000. The measured output of the average American worker had quintupled ever since 1890, when the typical estimates of 1992-price real GDP per worker was near about $13,000. Amazingly, this upward leap in financial well-being was achieveed in a little over three generations.Figure below shows this upward trend in real GDP per worker. In spite of temporary setbacks in recessions and depressions--of which Great Depression of 1930s--was by far the largest-- principal event of the 20th century was this quintupling of measured real GDP per worker. Other macroeconomic events observable in the figure comprise the World War II boom, the 1974-1975 and the 1980-1983 major recessions, the 1990-1991 minor recession, and the two-decade lengthy period of stagnation from early 1970s to early 1990s--a time that saw the 1973 and 1979 sharp oil price raises by OPEC, and the large investment-decreasing government budget deficits of the 1990s.Note: This figure says nothing at all about how economic growth was distributed. As a matter of fact, between the year 1930 and 1970 saw the center and working classes reduce the relative income gap among themselves and the rich. Between the years 1970 and the present have see this gap open wider once again.
Figure: Real GDP per worker officially measured in USA
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Start Excelling in your courses, Ask an Expert and get answers for your homework and assignments!! | <urn:uuid:98309373-bfe0-4a09-9638-cae6cae522db> | {
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We Write What We Eat: How to Start a Food Journal
"Food journals." "Food trackers." "Food diaries." The names are different, the styles are different, and so are the reasons why people keep them. But most everyone who's ever kept a food diary will tell you the same thing: they learned a lot from it.
In fact, most people who keep food diaries are surprised at how little they notice what they really eat. Especially those who want to lose weight. When they see how much they take in each day, they're shocked.
But the good news is, once you do know what you eat, you can start to make healthier choices. In fact, a 2008 National Institutes of Health (NIH) study shows that keeping a food diary can double a person's weight loss.
From the article: "The more food records people kept, the more weight they lost," said lead author Jack Hollis, Ph.D., a researcher at Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore. "Those who kept daily food records lost twice as much weight as those who kept no records. It seems that the simple act of writing down what you eat encourages people to consume fewer calories."&
Now, that's big news!
A food journal is just a place where you write down everything you eat and drink each day. Are you getting as many vegetables as you think? Or are you eating more fat than you should be? And it's always interesting to see how many calories you consume. All in all, it's a great way to see patterns in your eating.
The website livestrong.com has a good article on food journals.
Here are a few other important reasons why people keep food journals:
In fact, the main reason people keep food journals is for knowledge. And when it comes to your health, knowledge really is power. The more you know about how you eat, the more you can change. You also gain control over health problems. And maybe best of all? When you do less guessing, you often lose worry, stress, or guilt in addition to unneeded calories and weight.
Brigham Young University experts say most food journals range between three and seven days in a row. To make long-term changes, plan on keeping a journal for at least several months. In fact, some people find it's a good lifelong health tool.
But even one day of writing down what you eat can help you spot unhealthy habits.
There are all kinds of ways to set up your diary. It can be like a calendar (some people just use printed calendars and write in each day's box). It can be a computer spreadsheet. It can be a list.
There's even "an app for that." In other words, there's a host of software applications that let you keep a food journal on your smartphone at websites like MyFoodDiary.com and Apple's iTunes. Apple also offers Kilo, a food-tracking web app.
Whatever you do, says livestrong.com, make your journal fairly simple to keep. The faster and more easily you can make entries, the more likely you are to do it!
Here are some ideas for what to include in your food journal. Many people just set them up in columns or as a table:
The American Heart Association offers a blank Food Journal page for download.
Another option is the website sparkpeople.com. This free online health and fitness resource offers its members an excellent online "nutrition tracker." You must register to access the tracker, but the service is free. You may find the sparkpeople.com journal is easier because many foods and serving sizes are already in its database. So some of the work has already been done for you!
All the experts agree that the best thing you can put in your food journal is honesty. Record everything you eat and drink. Don't fib. If you do, the only person you hold back is yourself. Whether you're tracking your intake to lose weight or because you and your doctor are trying to find a food allergy, a food journal can make a big difference in your health. But only if you use it right.
WebMD's "Online Food Calorie Calculator". This calculator includes calorie counts from popular restaurant chains as well as the foods we eat at home.
WebMD's "Food & Fitness Planner". This planner helps you create your "road map" and then gives you a range of tools to make it work for you.
"My Food Diary" is an easy online tracker with a database that lists more than 75,000 foods. (This diary requires membership and a subscription fee.)
We could spend all day telling you all the good things about food diaries. But the best way is to try one of your own. With so many free calculators to make keeping track easy, there's really no reason why you shouldn't take advantage of them.
And besides. If you're like most people who've ever kept a food diary, you'll be amazed at what you can learn from it - and how much it can help your health!
Links to various other Websites from this site are provided for your convenience only and do not constitute or imply endorsement by Humana of these sites, any products or services described on these sites, or of any other material contained therein. Humana disclaims responsibility for their content and accuracy.
Tempted to skip your workouts? Get tips to help you stay on track.Read about sticking to an exercise plan
Get the benefits of cross training with things you did for fun as a kid.Read all about triathlons
Check out the different styles of yoga and find the one that fits you best.Read about yoga’s benefits | <urn:uuid:21b1c35a-55a4-4179-bcbd-ba63c13b369f> | {
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This 2014 video is called THE EVOLUTION OF FLIGHT.
From the American Museum of Natural History in the USA:
Study uncovers influence of Earth’s history on the dawn of modern birds
December 11, 2015
New research led by the American Museum of Natural History reveals that the evolution of modern birds was greatly shaped by the history of our planet’s geography and climate. The DNA-based work, published today in the journal Science Advances, finds that birds arose in what is now South America around 90 million years ago, and radiated extensively around the time of the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that killed off the non-avian dinosaurs. The new research suggests that birds in South America survived this event and then started moving to other parts of the world via multiple land bridges while diversifying during periods of global cooling.
“Modern birds are the most diverse group of terrestrial vertebrates in terms of species richness and global distribution, but we still don’t fully understand their large-scale evolutionary history,” said Joel Cracraft, a curator in the Museum’s Department of Ornithology and co-author of the paper. “It’s a difficult problem to solve because we have very large gaps in the fossil record. This is the first quantitative analysis estimating where birds might have arisen, based on the best phylogenetic hypothesis that we have today.”
Cracraft and lead author Santiago Claramunt, a research associate in the Museum’s Department of Ornithology, analyzed DNA sequences for most modern bird families with information from 130 fossil birds to generate a new evolutionary time tree.
A new study puts an end to the longstanding debate about how archaic birds went extinct, suggesting they were virtually wiped out by the same meteorite impact that put an end to dinosaurs 65 million years ago: here. | <urn:uuid:11add15d-7535-443d-b05e-77cf279bc6e0> | {
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Ordinarily, photons—particles of light—don't interact with each other. They interfere, but that's a characteristic that doesn't alter their wavelength or cause them to attract or repel. However, if photons can be induced to interact, it could open up a wide number of applications in quantum computing and optical materials. This sort of radical change can't happen under ordinary circumstances but is possible in special environments.
Researchers fabricated just such a medium and produced photons that simultaneously act as though they are massive and mutually attractive. The key to this weird behavior involved passing light through a cold diffuse gas with strong inter-atomic interactions, properties that are usually exclusive but which can be induced in some circumstances. The atoms in the gas acted as an intermediary, causing photons to form bound pairs. Such behavior could have interesting applications for optical switches and quantum logic networks based on photons.
Ordinary matter primarily interacts via the electromagnetic force: electrons repel each other and are attracted to protons, thanks to their electrical charges. Photons, on the other hand, are both electrically neutral and massless in free space. The lack of charge means they don't "see" each other electromagnetically, and their lack of mass means they move at the maximum possible speed, that of light. Among other things, the masslessness reduces the possible time for photon pairs to interact with each other.
Prior experiments showed that photons can behave as though they have mass, at least when light passes through a medium with unusual properties. The effective mass of a photon in this type of system is an altered relationship between its energy and momentum, behavior that's separate from the question of whether photons might have a tiny intrinsic mass. These conditions are related to experiments where electrons can behave as massless particles.
The new experiment, conducted by Ofer Firstenberg and colleagues, involved a low-density gas of rubidium atoms at very low temperatures. These atoms were then excited with a laser so that their outermost electrons jump into orbits where they are only loosely bound to the nuclei, a state known as a Rydberg atom. A Rydberg rubidium atom is physically large, and the loosely attached electrons change something that would ordinarily be a very diffuse gas into a system with atoms that repel each other strongly.
The interactions between the Rydberg atoms produce a bizarre environment. The researchers saturated the atoms with laser light, holding them in their Rydberg states, which prevented them from absorbing any more photons (something known as the Rydberg blockade). As a result, additional polarized photons entering the medium were slowed by interacting with it. That gave them a significant effective mass and—thanks to the Rydberg blockade—created a channel where the photons' paths were bent.
The net effect: two photons behaved as though they were massive particles and found themselves attracted to each other. Ultimately they became correlated, behaving like a single coupled system.
An appropriate analogy: in many superconductors, vibrations of atoms in the material act to make electrons (which ordinarily repel thanks to having the same electric charge) attractive to each other, forming Cooper pairs. While the photons are not bound quite like an atom or molecule, they still behave like a single quantum system, a property that the researchers confirmed as the pairs left the Rydberg gas.
Comparison between these results and the behavior of unpaired, non-interacting photons demonstrated that these particles were indeed coupled. The experimenters tuned the properties of the pairs, demonstrating entanglement of polarization and other interesting characteristics.
All of this opens up the possibility of bizarre quantum systems: "matter" comprised of interacting massive photons, optical switches based on paired light, quantum logic using the entangled polarization states, or even a single-photon "transistor." While these systems—as with most involving weird quantum phenomena—require very cold temperatures, the implications for quantum logic, networks, and computing are fascinating. | <urn:uuid:0cadfdc4-1f59-4edb-9154-04d88e3caef2> | {
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If you are a part of an industry or an IT firm, you must be aware of mainframe and the benefits offered by this system in a plethora of areas. Through this article, we will discuss mainframe and a new member of its family.
What is Mainframe?
Basically, the mainframe is a type of server that has an enormous storage space. With a robust processing power and top-notch reliability, the aim of the server is to accomplish the mission-critical applications along with processing the large volumes of data.
Attributes of Mainframe
Diversified mainframes share a few common attributes, which are as follows:
• Mainframe has the ability to run or host multiple operating systems simultaneously without affecting the functionality of each other.
• With the attribute of seamlessly include or hot swapping the capacity of the system, it doesn’t disrupt the functionality of the server.
• A high volume of I/O or Input Output is managed with the expertise of this system.
• Mainframe is built to highlight the throughput of computing.
• With the gamut functionality, mainframe can successfully replace the operation of numerous small servers yet produce an exponential quality of output.
Mainframe vs. Supercomputers
Based on the aforementioned points, you must be considering mainframe equivalent to the supercomputers. However, the supercomputer has a basic difference from the mainframe. Let us have a look at it:
Supercomputers are primarily designed to address the operations related to a floating point that is multiplication, addition, and subtraction with the precision of decimal points. This helps in measuring an appropriate condition of the weather. In contrast, mainframes are involved in the operations that involve integer like the comparison, indexing, financial, and others.
In spite of the dynamic IT ambiance and technology, mainframe computers are the most reliable, and stable platform for computing. Along with controlling an exponential workload of the client’s demand, the server runs on conventional applications as well.
Z14 zr1 Mainframe
After understanding the concept and application of mainframe, we will move to appreciate the latest innovation of its category which has taken over the news podium immensely. The z-series of the mainframe has transformed the integrated concept of the mainframe by adding a dash of expertise and compactness to it. The server can now be fit into a 19-inch rack space, which is about the size of any other common server.
Let us have a look at the attributes of the system that will allow it to make a permanent space in the cloud data centers:
• The latest range of z14 contains the ZR1, which is an improved version of the z13.
• The throughput is also improved by 10% while the memory has been bloated to 8 TB.
• An extra space of 16U is added for storing excess input.
• With the incorporation of an extra cooling system, external cooling is not required.
The Basics of z14 ZR1 mainframe
Z14 ZR1 is the entry level of z14 that has a core 30, 8,036 MIPS. The memory is of 8 TB and can accomplish more than 850 million transactions a day. The latest mainframe is a cloud-ready design that is based on a single frame. Along with cloud data centers the member of the z14 family is also appropriate for the private cloud environments.
The mainframe is an appropriate choice for you if seeking robust and secure cloud capabilities, powerful analytics, and pervasive encryption with a support from machine learning. While contributing to the security of the hybrid as well as on-premises cloud environments, it also adds to the performance and security of the exponentially increasing load of data.
The Advent of a Digital Era
With the onset of the digital business, the mainframe has proved its potential by offering a mature, secure, and powerful platform for assisting the IT initiatives. With the involvement of the generation of the blockchain, the mainframe also manages 29 billion transactions of ATM annually, which sums up to $5 billion each day.
What Can be Expected From The Latest Innovation?
Let us have a look at the list of expectations from the new system:
• More than 10% of the storage capacity and two times more memory than the z13.
• Completely integrated transactions on a single system which counts more than 850 million.
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On January 13, 2016, France became the first country in the world to pass a law requiring supermarkets to donate food that is approaching its expiration date instead of throwing it away. The regulation that applies to supermarkets over 4,000 square feet requires stores to sign donation contracts with local food banks.
The law also makes it illegal for stores to pour bleach or water over nearly expired food, or store it inside locked warehouses until it is picked up by garbage trucks. These extreme measures are often undertaken by supermarkets to prevent the hungry from foraging through the trash bins.
Though that may appear cruel, the stores claim they do it to avoid potential food poisoning that could occur if the product is way past its expiry. Supermarkets that do not obey the new law face the risk of hefty fines.
Also, manufacturers producing perishable private label products like yogurt or milk for supermarkets, are now allowed to donate excess goods directly to the food banks. Though they have always been able to do that, the current process is long and complicated, making it difficult for manufacturers to give away the food in a timely manner.
The law also requires the charities receiving the donations to store the food in a hygienic manner and, more importantly, give it out with 'dignity.' This means that they should distribute it to people in need from a food bank or center where they can interact with them, instead of just handing it out on the streets.
France's food banks are of course thrilled about the possibility of receiving extra food, especially scarce perishables like meat, vegetables, and fruit. Jacques Bailet, who heads a network of French food banks called the Banques Alimentaires, says that of the 110,000 tons of goods received annually, only 36,000 tons comes from supermarkets. Bailet estimates that just a 15% increase in supermarket donations would translate to over 10 million additional meals to feed the hungry each year.
Though this is a great first step, Arash Dermabarsh, the activist responsible for the grassroots movement that led to the ban, is not done. He now wants to extend the law to other sectors like restaurants, bakeries, and school cafeterias and also try to convince other countries in the European Union to pass similar regulations. These steps are necessary because of the over 9 million tons of food wasted in France, an astounding 67% is tossed out by consumers, with supermarkets and restaurants making up the rest.
Sadly enough, the statistics are similar in industrialized countries as well. That is why we all need to do our share to curb the over 1.3 billion tons of perfectly good food that ends up in our landfills annually! This will not just help feed the less fortunate, but also aid in our fight against global warming. An added bonus? It will save the world billions of dollars!
Resources: Guardian.co.uk, independent.co.uk | <urn:uuid:e093d023-8599-4aec-b34b-25408e1a2c4a> | {
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Questions About Remote Learning?
the great compromise
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I want the population as basis for house or representatives , chief executive and judicial branch to be chosen by the legislature.
We want one vote in the house per state regardless of population, executive branch consists of several executives, judicial branch is chosen by executive branch
what if we compromise
Three branches of government to prevent abuse of power, legislative branch elected representatives, and two house legislators.
The great compromise
every three out of five slaves counts towards the population.
Over 14 Million
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One person has died in California from salmonella poisoning, and seventy-six people in 26 states have been sickened from the same strain that appears to be linked to ground turkey.
Thus far, government officials have declined to say who produced the meat or initiate a recall, despite a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claiming this salmonella strain is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics.
According to the CDC, the illnesses date back to March, and cultures of ground turkey from four retail locations between March and June showed contamination with the same strain of salmonella. The CDC claims three samples were linked to the same production establishment but will NOT name the retailers or the manufacturers.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) sent out an alert about the illnesses late last week telling consumers to properly cook their turkey, which can decrease the chances of salmonella poisoning. But FSIS provided consumers no additional warnings about the source of the tainted meat.
That means salmonella contaminated turkey has been knowingly distributed to the public for five months, and continues to be sold; we can expect more deaths and more people becoming sick while the government stands by and does NOTHING.
The states with the highest number sickened were Michigan and Ohio, 10 illnesses each, while nine illnesses were reported in Texas. Illinois had seven, California six and Pennsylvania five.
According to Bloomberg, University of Pennsylvania bioethicist Art Caplan said the government’s handling of the outbreak raises ethical questions about why the public wasn’t warned sooner.
“You’ve got to protect the public health. That’s their first and primary value — not industry, not any other goal. They have to warn as quickly as they think there’s reasonable evidence for concern,” Caplan said.
Caplan said that uncertainty about the outbreak’s source might explain the long silence, but added, “the moral duty is to really get the word out as soon as you have evidence of a problem.”
FSIS claims there is little epidemiological information available conclusively linking these illnesses to any specific product or establishment, and considers it inappropriate to issue a recall notice.
CDC spokeswoman Lola Russell said Tuesday it can take three to four weeks to confirm one case. Identifying an outbreak can take considerably longer than that when cases of foodborne illness occur sporadically, in several states, as has happened in the current outbreak, shel said.
The most common symptoms of salmonella poisoning to watch out for are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight hours to 72 hours of eating a contaminated product. Salmonella poisoning can be fatal, especially to those with weakened immune systems. | <urn:uuid:34385d0f-5dec-4cfd-b6e8-cf19d452ec99> | {
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|Polish Music Newsletter|
Nothing can ever happen twice
An excerpt from “Nic dwa razy się nie zdarza” by Wisława Szymborska
The world’s newspapers have been filled with tributes to Wisława Szymborska (1923-2012), the Nobel Prize-winning poet who “died peacefully in her sleep” on February 1 at the age of 88, according to her assistant Michał Rusinek (PAP). Despite a relatively small published output, Szymborska’s quirky yet movingly direct poetry has spoken to the hearts of many Poles since she had published her first poem in the daily Dziennik Polski in 1945. Private and contemplative by nature, she spent her life in Kraków working quietly as a poignant commentator on the human condition—one whom President Bronisław Komorowski called Poland’s “guardian spirit.”
The reclusive poet was thrust briefly into the international limelight when she became the laureate of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1996; however her body of work remained known only to a limited audience outside her native country. This may be due to the very linguistic acrobatics that make Szymborska’s poems so uniquely appealing. According to the New York Times in consultation with Literature professor and Szymborska translator, Dr. Clare Cavanagh, “her poems were clear in topic and language, but her playfulness and tendency to invent words made her work hard to translate.” Despite the challenges, however, Dr. Cavanaugh was successful in bringing Szymborska’s poetry into the English speaking world. As PMC Director Marek Zebrowski commented in his 1998 review of the Cavanaugh-Baranczak translation of Szymborska’s Poems New and Collected 1957-1997, “Szymborska’s poetic voice and spirit have reasserted themselves in English with an astonishing and idiomatic vitality.” (The Boston Book Review)
According to the Associated Press, “the Nobel award committee called her the ‘Mozart of poetry,’ a woman who mixed the elegance of language with ‘the fury of Beethoven’ and tackled serious subjects with humor.” The committee’s reference to two of history’s greatest composers hints not only at the sometimes dichotomous nature of her artistic voice, but also the influence that Szymborska’s poetry has had upon the musical world, both in Poland and abroad.
On the day that Szymborska was buried (Feb. 9, 2012), the well-known tune of Andrzej Mundkowski’s setting of her poem “Nic dwa razy się nie zdarza” [Nothing Can Ever Happen Twice, or "Nothing Twice"] rang out from the tower of St. Mary’s Basilica into the busy central square of old town Kraków. According to a PAP source, this was the first time ever that the Basilica’s trumpeter had played something other than the famous “Hejnał” during his hourly routine, indicating the historical significance of a death Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called on Twitter an "irreparable loss to Poland's culture."
Mundkowski’s 1965 setting of “Nic dwa razy się nie zdarza,” which won him an award from the Minister of Arts and Culture in the same year, was written for and performed by his wife, Łucja Prus. The popularity of the song catapulted Szymborska’s poetry into Poland’s cultural awareness. A cover of this same song became an even greater hit 1994 when it was performed by rock singer Kora with the group Maanam. Mundkowski also wrote a lesser known song to the text of Szymborska’s poem “Jawność” [Disclosure].
Another celebrated musical setting of Szymborska’s poetry was composed by Zbigniew Preisner, who is best known for his collaborations with one of Poland’s most renowned film directors, Krzysztof Kieślowski. Preisner wrote a haunting baritone ballad to the text of Szymborska’s poem "Miłość od pierwszego wejrzenia" [Love At First Sight] for Rouge (1994), the third film in Kieślowski’s visually stunning trilogy Trois couleurs. In fact, the entire movie is said to have been inspired by this poem. A full version of the song is available on Youtube.com.
Krzesimir Dębski, a prolific and popular film composer, has also been inspired by Szymborska’s lines. In 1997, Dębski wrote Muzyka do wierszy Wislawy Szymborskiej [Music to the Verses of Wisława Szymborska], a group of seven songs for soprano, tenor, female choir and orchestra. Although best known for his cinema and television scores, this set of songs is part of Dębski’s impressive repertoire of orchestral music for the concert stage.
In 2010, a four-disc set dedicated to the life and works of Wisława Szymborska was released by Agora SA. The first two discs contain rare recordings of Szymborska reading from two volumes of her poetry, and the fourth disc features the documentary Chwilami życie bywa znośne - przewrotny portret Wisławy Szymborskiej [Sometimes Life is Bearable – A Wicked Portrait of Wisława Szymborska], produced by Katarzyna Kolenda-Zaleska. The third disc is a collection of songs set to Szymborska’s verses—these new and archival arrangements are sung by Hanna Banaszak, Dorota Miśkiewicz, Łucja Prus, Michał Bajor, Stanisław Soyka, Grzegorz Turnau, Maanam and Skaldowie.
Szymborska’s influence has not been confined to musicians in Poland, however, nor to songs for the voice. American composer and USC Thornton School of Music Masters’ degree candidate Elizabeth Ogonek composed her Szymborska Poems for flute and piano in 2009. According to the composer, the movements of this sonata-like work take their inspiration, and names, from her three favorite Szymborska poems: I. Greeting the Supersonics, II. Under One Small Star, III. Miracle Fair. Premiered on October 31, 2009 in Bloomington, IN, Szymborska Poems was awarded the 2010 Dean's Prize at Indiana University, where the composer was pursuing her Bachelors’ degree at the time. In addition to her numerous other awards and acknowledgements, Ogonek is most recently the recipient of a prestigious 2012 Marshall Scholarship, with which she will attend the Guildhall School of Music and Drama for composition studies.
Although once the reluctant recipient of international attention, it is clear that Szymborska’s work will continue to penetrate the mind and inspire the spirit throughout the world for years to come. Often the explorer of death’s themes, the poet is now at rest, but her words live on in her own verses and the music of those who celebrate her art.
TABĘCKI/YEAR OF MEN PREMIERE
On January 29, the Poznań Opera presented the world premiere of Hadrian Filip Tabęcki’s Dzień Świra [Day of the Wacko], based on a movie script by Marek Koterski. This work inaugurated the cycle of premieres known officially as the “Year of Men,” celebrated on the venerable stage of Poznań’s Teatr Wielki. The seven personalities of the lead character are performed by seven different actors; thus, the composer’s task was to delineate musically the variety of characters and their particular neuroses, reflecting multiple personalities of the hapless hero. This opera, whilst continuing traditions of Polish avant-garde musical dramas, is also a spectacle with a strong social commentary on contemporary society.
The latest work by Maciej Zieliński, his Symphony No. 5, had its World Premiere on January 29 at the Lutosławski Studio Concert Hall in Warsaw. This first performance of the large-scale, 40-minute work, was given by the Polish Radio Orchestra under the baton of Łukasz Borowicz.
The Polish Radio Orchestra commissioned the work from the young composer, who is currently serving as the Orchestra’s Composer in Residence for this season. The commissioning of Zieliński’s Fifth was made possible with the financial support from the Institute of Music and Dance that underwrites collaborative efforts between composers and orchestras.
Other items on the program included Zygmunt Noskowski’s rarely perfomed Fantazja góralska [The Highlanders’ Fantasy] and Mieczysław Karłowicz’s Violin Concerto, Op. 8, with soloist Bartłomiej Nizioł.
WARSAW VILLAGE BAND PERFORMS PREMIERE
The Chutzpah! 2012 Festival in Vancouver, BC opens with an extraordinary event on February 11: the world premiere of a musical, A Blessing on the Moon - The Colour of Poison Berries, with music by Andy Teirstein, libretto by Andy Teirstein and Joseph Skibell and featuring the Warsaw Village Band. The premiere will be previewed at the (le) poisson rouge theater on February 6.
This new music-theatre experience combines imaginative and physical theatricality with a fiery, folk-infused score that brings Joseph Skibell’s daring and original story, A Blessing on the Moon, to life. Andy Teirstein’s composition joins with the glorious timbres and galloping percussion of the Warsaw Village Band and a cast of five accomplished singer/actors under the spell of Jim Calder’s direction.
A Blessing on the Moon; The Colour of Poison Berries is the surreal and magical tale of Chaim Skibelski. It follows Chaim’s wandering search for an afterlife following his violent death at the hands of a German soldier in wartime Poland. On his travels, he is sometimes accompanied by his Rabbi who is now a crow. This mystical story is a haunting evocation of the Polish Holocaust and a journey towards peace and wisdom. The music, which ranges from Polish folk/roots to cabaret, adds nuance to every line spoken—and combines with movement to beautifully explore the edges of magic realism contained in the words of this epic narrative.
Andy Teirstein’s work is inspired by a rich and diverse range of folk and roots music, and is described by The New York Times and Village Voice as “magical,” “ingenious,” and “superbly crafted.” The six-member Warsaw Village Band is considered among the most important and accomplished musical ambassadors of European culture today. Their modern brand of traditional folk music has garnered BBC Radio Awards and a Grammy nomination, among a raft of other accolades. Joseph Skibell’s 1997 debut novel A Blessing on the Moon was named one of the year’s best by Publisher’s Weekly, Le Monde and Amazon.com. He has received awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Sami Rohr Award in Jewish Literature. His work has been translated into many languages, most recently Ido and Chinese.
POLISH COMPOSERS IN SIKORSKI MAGAZINE
Sikorski Music Publishers [Sikorski Musikverlage] has devoted the latest issue of its Sikorski Magazine—entitled “Poland‘s Moderns” [Polens Moderne] (No. 1/2012)—to the exploration of three modern Polish composers: Witold Lutosławski, Henryk Mikołaj Górecki, and Krzysztof Meyer. These three were chosen not only for their leading role in contemporary Polish music, but also because the year 2013 brings several important birthday anniversaries for each of them: Lutosławski’s 100th, Górecki’s 80th, and Meyer’s 70th. The issue also discusses the recent re-discovery of the music of Mieczysław Weinberg.
Editors Dagmar Sikorski and Dr. Axel Sikorski begin the issue with the following introduction:
Other interesting subjects included in the latest issue are "Generations of Contemporary German Composers" represented by Jörn Arnecke, Johannes Harneit, Wolfgang von Schweinitz and Peter Ruzicka; "The Operas of Alfred Schnittke"; Sergei Prokofiev's opera War and Peace at the Cologne Opera; and the one-act opera Rothschild's Violin by Benjamin Fleischmann that was completed by Dmitri Shostakovich after Fleischmann was killed in WWII.
The entire issue, written in German with English translations at the back, can be downloaded in PDF form at media.sikorski.de.
ICSM MUSIC DAYS IN WROCŁAW – CALL FOR SCORES
The ISCM World Music Days 2014 and the 2014 General Assembly of the International Society for Contemporary Music [ISCM] will take place in Wrocław, Poland from October 3-12, 2014. In preparation for this prestigious event, the hosts—ISCM Polish Section - Polish Society for Contemporary Music—have put out a Call for Scores with a deadline of June 30, 2012.
WROCŁAW PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA TOUR
The North American tour of the Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra begins February 8 in Florida and continues through February 26 in Arizona. The tour will be conducted by the Wrocław Philharmonic's Artistic Director, Jacek Kaspszyk, and will feature a program that includes Dvorák's Symphony No. 7. For nearly all of the tour dates, the orchestra will be joined by renowned pianist and winner of the 1970 Chopin Competition, Garrick Ohlsson, except for February 15-17, when they will feature cello soloist Maciej Młodawski.
SMOLIJ WITH SINFONIA IUVENTUS
On February 2, the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra will perform a concert of works by Feliks Ignacy Dobrzyński with conductor Mariusz Smolij. The concert will take place in the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio in Warsaw. The program will include Dobrzyński’s Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, op. 11 and Symphony No. 2 in C minor “Charakterystyczna” , op. 15.
Sinfonia Iuventus is an orchestra created out of the most talented graduates of all music schools in Poland. The goal is to give each musician the opportunity to make his or her artistic debut, and to ensure continuing professional education with outstanding artistic experts
MAZOWSZE ON STRIKE
According to the external service of Polish Radio:
NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR NOSPR
As of September 1, 2012, German conductor Alexander Liebreich will become the new Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra [NOSPR] in Katowice. Liebreich has been hailed by the press as “Munich's most exciting conductor” and a “pioneer in a new generation of conductors,” for whom the borderline between large symphony orchestras and smaller, more flexible ensembles comes just as naturally as the synthesis of artistic mastery and social responsibility. He will assume a four year contract with NOSPR, an ensemble he has worked with many times in the past.
NEW FROM PWM
MISTRZOWIE I PRZYJACIELE
A new book by Krzysztof Meyer, entitled Mistrzowie i przyjaciele [Masters and Friends], was recently published by PWM. One of the leading Polish composers today, Meyer is also a pianist and pedagogue who has deep connections with the city of Kraków and its musical circles. He is also a prolific author of books, including an excellent biography of Witold Lutosławski, also published by PWM.
In his latest book, Meyer sketches portraits of persons who influenced his life as a musician. They include his teachers, friends, and acquaintances. Such a direct and somewhat informal approach allows Meyer to depict a great variety of fascinating characters by using short and incisive strokes of his pen. They include well-known musicians like Eugenia Umińska or Stanisław Wiechowicz, and lesser-known ones like his piano teacher, Ms. Ekier, and other Kraków musicians. Meyer’s reminiscences are written with great deal of warmth and charm, showing his circle of teachers and friends with all their personality quirks, which makes them alive and vivid for the reader.
The book is available on the PWM website and at PWM bookstores.
Paweł Łukaszewski is featured on the cover of the latest issue [No. 2(17) from December 2011] of Kwarta Magazine—the Polish-language quarterly music publication of PWM. Łukaszewski is currently composer-in-residence for Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra and was featured as the 2011 Paderewski Lecturer at USC last October. The magazine also contains articles about latest books published by PWM including a title about Prof. Mieczysław Tomaszewski, a long-time Editor-in-Chief at PWM who recently celebrated his 90th birthday.
Full issues of Kwarta, as well as the English-language version Quarta, are available at issuu.com
PWM ENCYCLOPEDIA – COMPLETE!
The 12th and last volume of the PWM Music Encyclopedia—containing almost 10 thousand entries, more than 400 authors, and five 200 illustrations in its complete set—will go on sale on February 12. Edited by Elżbieta Dziębowska, it is the long-awaited completion of a series that began to appear in print over three decades ago. The last volume comes in a hardcover edition and contains entries from the letter W to Ż.
The final volume or the complete set can be purchased on the PWM website and at PWM bookstores.
MUSICIANS’ HOME OPEN HOUSE
With construction of the Polish Senior Musicians’ Home largely completed, the Foundation running the project has invited the public to open houses on February 4 and 11. The Home—designed to resemble a historic Polish manor—is located in the village of Kąty near Góra Kalwaria. It has 29 rooms capable of accommodating up to 50 seniors as well as recreation rooms, a clubroom and a library that will also serve as a musical salon and a venue for concerts.
Loneliness is often cited as one of the great problems of aging musicians. Such a home will not only provide its residents with a place to live comfortably but also enable them to continue their professional activities to the extent possible. Workshops and lectures for the local population will be provided by those residing in the Musicians’ Home, as well as concerts and other cultural events.
MONSIEUR CHOPIN RETURNS TO L.A.& DISCOUNT!
World-renowned performer Hershey Felder returns to The Pasadena Playhouse for a limited engagement from February 28 - April 7, 2012, and the Playhouse is offering a special discount for PMC patrons and affiliates: 10% off of any (or all three) of the upcoming Hershey Felder productions, using code HEB10 when ordering.
Two of Felder's "Composer Collection" hit shows: MONSIEUR CHOPIN (Feb. 28 – March 7) and MAESTRO: LEONARD BERNSTEIN (March 10 – 18) will make their Playhouse debuts, followed by the World Premiere of LINCOLN - AN AMERICAN STORY. All three productions will star Hershey Felder and are directed by long-time collaborator Joel Zwick.
With MONSIEUR CHOPIN, audiences are invited to a private piano lesson that actually took place in the opulent Parisian salon of the Polish composer. In MAESTRO: LEONARD BERNSTEIN, Felder unfolds a story spanning the entire 20th century illustrating how Bernstein broke through every artistic ceiling possible to become the world's musical ambassador. And in his newest production, LINCOLN - AN AMERICAN STORY, the final night in Abraham Lincoln's life is told through the eyes of Dr. Charles Leale, the young medical student who was in attendance on the evening of that fateful performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., and found himself at the center of American history as he unfolds his story of tending to Lincoln in his final hours. LINCOLN - AN AMERICAN STORY will be performed in front of a 45-piece symphony orchestra for this special engagement.
KARKOWSKI @ L.A.'S REDCAT
The CalArts Center for Experiments in Art, Information and Technology (CEAIT) two-day festival begins on February 10 at REDCAT in downtown Los Angeles, with an eclectic lineup of sound artists that cross and blend genres. Co-curated by Mark Trayle and Ulrich Krieger, both faculty members of The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts, the festival promises to bring music from “abstract reveries to flat-out sonic raucousness” to the listening audience.
During this year's edition, vintage electronics share a stage with the newest sonic technology when acclaimed Dutch composer Thomas Ankersmit highlights at CEAIT. Friday is “Noise Night” featuring L.A.’s own Damion Romero and the pairing of noise pioneers Zbigniew Karkowski and Xopher Davidson. “Ambient Night” on Saturday features the debut of a new work by Ankersmit created expressly for the historic Serge analogue modular synthesizer, originally developed by Serge Tcherepnin at CalArts in the 1970s. Ankersmit, known for abstract, intensely focused electroacoustic work using hyper-kinetic synth and computer improvisation, kicks off a program that also features work by zerfall_gebiete, the duo of electronic ambient soundscape veterans Thomas Köner and Ulrich Krieger.
SZYMANOWSKI QTET IN BEVERLY HILLS
Curated by Eric Wilson, the Chamber Music Series at the Ace Gallery in Beverly Hills presents some of the world's best chamber music ensembles to small audiences in an intimate and beautiful setting. On Saturday, February 18, Ace Gallery will present the Warsaw-based Szymanowski Quartet: Andrej Bielow and Grzegorz Kotów - violins, Vladimir Mykytka - viola, and Marcin Sieniawski - cello.Founded in Warsaw in 1995, the Szymanowski Quartet has developed into one of the most exceptional international string quartets of its generation. Their sophisticated programs present a perfect balance between intellect and passion, characteristics with which the Szymanowski Quartet captivates its audiences at prestigious festivals and concert halls in Europe, the United States, Asia, Australia and South America.The Quartet's extraordinarily high standard has been confirmed by numerous awards and distinctions.
NEW BALLET TO LUTOSŁAWSKI’S MUSIC
The world premiere of the ballet Chapters, choreographed by Krzysztof Pastor to the music of Lutosławski’s Fourth Symphony, will be given on February 15, 2012 in Amsterdam’s Het Muziektheater. The Dutch National Ballet [Het Nationale Ballet] will perform the work during Present/s 1, the first 2-day section of its festival of new works celebrating fifty years of its artistic activities. Chapters will be performed on four further occasions (February 18, 22, and 25 as well as March 2).
Keso Dekker, a noted costume designer, and light designer Bert Dalhuysen will collaborate with Mr. Pastor in staging the premiere. Lutosławski’s music will be performed by the Holland Symfonia led by Matthew Rowe.
Krzysztof Pastor has already adapted Lutosławski’s music to ballet in the past, collaborating with Het Nationale Ballet on a ballet Visions at Dusk in 2007, which utilized Lutosławski’s scores of Dance Preludes, Five Folksongs, and his Little Suite.
ZDUNIK PLAYS PENDERECKI
Winner of the 2010 “Phonographic Debut of the Year” Fryderyk Award, cellist Marcin Zdunik will perform Krzysztof Penderecki’s Second Cello Concerto with the Kraków Philharmonic on February 17 and 18. The concert, led by maestro Mario Kosik will also feature works by Ján Cikker and Antonin Dvořak. Mr. Zdunik will then travel to Bratislava where, between February 23 and March 2, he is scheduled to record Penderecki’s and Elgar’s cello concertos with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Artistic Director Mr. Kosik.
BACZEWSKA ON MADISON AVE.
On Sunday, February 12, Magdalena Baczewska will perform at the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. The program will include: William Byrd: Pavane and The Earle of Salisbury; Jean-Philippe Rameau: Excerpts from Pièces de Clavecin (1724); Domenico Scarlatti: Sonata in D minor, L. 413 and Sonata in D major, L. 14; Franz Liszt: Ave Verum, S. 44 (arr. Mozart), Ave Maria, S. 182, Ave Maria, S. 183/2 (arr. Arcadelt), Alleluia, S. 183/1; Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, No. 2, Three Mazurkas (Op. 59, No. 1 & 2; Op. 67, No. 2), and Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 47.
PROJECT GRECHUTA IN CONCERT
The Plateau Ensemble and their guests will make a two-week tour of the US and Canada, promoting their fourth album, Project Grechuta. Their concerts will continue a highly successful tour of over 40 concerts across Poland last fall. During their North American tour the ensemble will visit Toronto, Chicago, New York and also stop in Florida. Guest artists include Małgorzata Ostrowska, Marek Jackowski, Adam Nowak, and Piotr Cugowski.
They will perform new arrangements of songs by the legendary Marek Grechuta. The CD album Projekt Grechuta was published in March of 2011 to excellent reviews and was a top-selling album for several weeks. Marek Grechuta’s widow, Danuta, is the honorary patron of the concert tour and the CD recording.
MŁODA POLSKA WINNERS
Winners of the 2012 “Młoda Polska” stipends, awarded by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, were announced on February 7. This program is open to artists under 35 years of age, active in music, film, photography, visual arts, theatre, dance, and art criticism. Given on a competitive basis, the stipend is meant to enable the winners to make considerable progress in their career. Appropriations may be allocated to specific artistic projects, masterclasses or studies abroad, or the purchase of instruments and equipment necessary for their creative work.
The budget for this 9th edition of the “Młoda Polska” stipend program was 3, 550, 000 zł. (approx. $1.1 million USD). From amongst the 605 candidates in all categories, 82 stipend recipients were chosen—roughly half of the winners (42) were in the Music category, including:
For a full listing of all 2012 recipients, visit www.mkidn.gov.pl.
DIAMOND BATON FOR STRUGAŁA
In December 2011, the Polish Radio Board of Directors honored Maestro Tadeusz Strugała with the Diamond Baton Award, in recognition of his outstanding service in promotion of Polish music and culture around the world. Strugała’s career and his role in the musical life of Poland as one of Poland’s leading conductors was also cited, as was his long-standing association with Polish Radio. The award ceremony was followed by a December 18 concert performed by the Polish Radio Orchestra with soloist Aleksandra Kuls in Brahms’s Violin Concerto, Op. 77. Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony, Op. 60 completed the program, which was led by the laureate and broadcast by Polish Radio 2 throughout Poland.
DAROCH IS AUDIENCE FAVORITE IN CROATIA
On February 5, 2012, the official results of the Fifth International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition in Zagreb, Croatia were announced. Tomasz Daroch, the only Pole in the finals of the competition, won Third Prize as well as the Audience Award, the Award of the Janigro Family, the Zagreb Soloists Award and the Varaždin Chamber Orchestra Award.
ZUBEL @ ICEBREAKER IN SEATTLE
The festival's other great discovery was Zubel [...]
Award-winning composer and vocalist Agata Zubel will perform as a featured artist in Seattle at the Icebreaker Festival, where she will present works by Luciano Berio (Italy), Georges Aperghis (Greece) and Luís Tinoco (Portugal). This year’s edition, Icebreaker VI, is celebrating new music from the Mediterranean. Seattle Chamber Players, the organizers of the festival, have taken on the ambitious goal of breaking the ice in many ways: between the West and East; between Europe, Asia and Africa; between academic concert music and both folk and traditional musics; between the diverse and inspirational cultures within the Mediterranean region; and between the region's deep and ancient history and its colorful present.
The ensemble is comprised of Paul Taub - flute, David Sabee - cello, Laura DeLuca - clarinet, and Mikhail Shmidt - violin, and Joining them are local musicians and special international soloists from Poland, Israel and Algeria. Over two days, they will play works by composers from 13 countries of the Mediterranean region, including Nabil Benabdeljalil (Morocco), Benet Casablancas (Spain), Salim Dada (Algeria), Sanja Drakulic (Croatia), Mohammed Fairouz (Egypt/Lebanon), Yann Robin (France), Uroa Rojko (Slovenia), Luis Tinoco (Portugal), Yitzhak Yedid (Israel). Many of the composers will be present for the performances.
Zubel’s participation is in part supported by the Polish Cultural Foundation, NY.
For details about the Icebreaker Festival concerts and the performers, visit www.seattlechamberplayers.org.
STARS ARE PROMOTED
The 2012 National Festival "Gwiazdy Promują" [Stars Promote] will be held from February 10-17 in the Lower Silesian Philharmonic in Jelenia Gora. This Festival is an annual event that permanently in the Jelenia Góra Philharmonic concert calendar. Now in its nineteenth year, the Festival promotes talented musicians from across Poland to hone their skills under the guidance of masters, and concert audiences have the opportunity to see the effects of this transfer of skills and esoteric knowledge.
The Festival will open with a concert entitled "The Master and his successors," featuring violinists Marcin Baranowski, Andrew Gębskiego, Stanislaw Podemskiego, and Anna Orlik, with the Lower Silesian Philharmonic under the baton of Mark Pijarowski. The program will include Romuald Twardowski - Spanish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra, Barbara Kaszuba - Remembrance of Janusz Korczak for solo violin, Niccolo Paganini - Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 6, and Piotr Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35.
LUTOSŁAWSKI ŁAŃCUCH IX
This year’s Łańcuch Festival began on the 99th anniversary of Lutosławski’s birth, January 25, and ran through February 4. Four evenings of music were held at the Royal Castle and the Lutosławski Studio in Warsaw. There was a concert dedicated to the memory of Stefan Jarociński, a close friend of Lutosławski, and a concert of works by Andrzej Krzanowski, one of Lutosławski’s younger colleagues who died twenty years ago. The Festival opened with a concert featuring Norwegian singer Solveig Kringelborn, whose career began with the world premiere of Lutosławski’s Chantefleurs et chantefables in 1991. The closing concert also featured works by Henri Dutilleux and Magnus Lindberg in performance by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra [NOSPR] under the baton of French conductor Pierre-André Valade. Other artists invited to participate in this year’s festival included Klaudiusz Baran – accordion, Zdzisław Piernik – tuba, Bartosz Koziak – cello and Agnieszka Kozło – piano, Grzegorz Krawiec – guitar, the Janusz Prusinowski Trio and the OPiUM Quartet. As in previous years, Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage was the honorary patron of this year’s concerts.
BLECHACZ PLAYS SZYMANOWSKI
Rafał Blechacz – Debussy · Szymanowski
The newest album from the 2005 Chopin Competition winner, Rafał Blechacz, celebrates the musical confluences between Karol Szymanowski and Claude Debussy. Below is an excerpt from an article about the recording by Jürgen Otten, entitled “The Triumph of Sensibility” from the Deutsche Grammophon website:
LUTOSŁAWSKI ON CHANDOS
Lutosławski: Orchestral Works 2
Edward Gardner and the BBC Symphony Orchestra continue to record Lutosławski’s music for the Chandos label. The first CD in the cycle came out in September 2010, featuring orchestral works: Symphony No. 3, Łańcuch III and the Concerto for Orchestra (CHAN 5082). In August 2011 the second CD was issued, containing the vocal works Tryptyk Śląski, Lacrimosa, Paroles tissées, Les espaces du sommeil, Spijze, spij, and Chantefleurs et Chantefables (CHAN 10688). Volume II has been reviewed in this month’s American Record Guide.
This most recent recording was issued in December 2011 and features a second round of symphonic explorations in collaboration with piano soloist Louis Lortie. More information on the recording, including the commentary by Polish contemporary music scholar Adrian Thomas, can be found on the Chandos website: www.chandos.net
PENDERECKI ON NAXOS SERIES
Krzysztof Penderecki: Viola Concerto | Cello Concerto No. 2
From the Naxos website:
From a review by Byzantion on MusicWeb International, January 2012:
WIENIAWSKI & CHARLIE SIEM
Charlie Siem: Bruch, Wieniawski, Ole Bull
From a review by Jonathan Woolf on MusicWeb International (Dec. 2011):
FIALKOWSKA PLAYS LISZT
In 2009-2010, Polish-Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska marked the end of her successful battle with cancer and her return to performing with the release of three Chopin albums on the Atma Classique label: Chopin Recital (ACD22597), Chopin - Piano Concertos (ACD22643), and Chopin - Etudes, Sonatas & Impromptus (ACD22554). For one hailed by Arthur Rubinstein as a “born Chopin interpreter” such as Fialkowska, such a voluble celebration of the Chopin Year might seem like enough recording for quite some time. However, as she announced in a 2010 interview with Rebecca Franks for BBC Music Magazine, she was just as excited about the Liszt year in 2011, and celebrated that occasion with a recording of works by Liszt as well as his transcriptions of other composers such as Chopin and Gounod. According to Bryce Morrison of Gramophone (Jan 2012), “we need many more records from this master-pianist!” For more reviews, visit www.janinafialkowska.com.
Ewelina Nowicka: Musik fur Violine und Klavier
As if Ewelina Nowicka is not already a superbly talented violinist she can also compose with equal merit. In 2011, she released her debut CD of seven of her own compositions for violin and piano.
The first one is called Obsession for Violin & Piano. It is in three movements: I. Praefatio, II. Misterio, III. Finale. Ms. Nowicka plays the violin while Pola Lazar plays piano. Written in 1999, this was Nowicka's first composition for orchestra violin, xylophone and chamber orchestra. Later, during 2010, it was transcribed for violin and piano. the composer's interests and rythmic aspects are conveyed particularly well in this piece and became a seed for later compositional developments which have blossomed into quite a repertoire of beautiful music.
The second is a violin solo called Atonall. This wonderful piece was inspired by Schumann's Kinderszenen [Scenes from Childhood]. As it evolves, it contains both old and new violin playing techniques, requiring great virtuosity from the soloist.
The next two works are based upon Jewish motifs and themes. Both are illustrious examples of the influence of Jewish music on classical music.
Kaddish 1944 for Violin and Piano is an evocative piece played by Ms. Nowicka and her piano partner Milena Antoniewcz who frequently play concerts together internationally. A letter from Nowicka's aunt served as the inspiration for this piece. The letter describes her aunt's life in the Łódź ghetto and goes on to describe her journey on a cattle train to Auschwitz. It was during this journey where she became separated from her mother on the ramp. The melody appears at the very beginning of the piece and can be likened to a fragile and delicate small plant. The melody then goes through many developments rather than flourish, but gets a chance to do so at the end. This is how the impressions, influences, and musical structure are linked together.
Concerto Ebraico for Violin and Piano has three movements: I. Sabbat, II. Katharsis, III. Purim. The Sabbath, which on the Jewish calendar falls on Saturday, is the most Holy Day and supercedes all others including the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Purim is an ancient celebration when the Jews overcame extermination by the King of Persia with the help of Queen Esther. This time Ewelina is joined by the praiseworthy pianist Jennifer Hymer. Concerto Ebraico, Nowicka's second violin concerto, received an award in 2008 from the Bremen Composers Competition in Germany. Many musical elements come together in this piece. It contains an energetic, lively dialogue between the piano and violin, and reminds the listener of late Romantic and folk elements from the early 20th century. Furthermore, it combines technical savvy with emotional depth, thereby engaging the audience right from the beginning until the very end.
Conventus for piano solo is played beautifully by pianist Katharina Polivaeva. One can imagine the similarity to creating a very beautiful sculpture. The listener could and should imagine flying through the air, as a musical space is created by carving out a low, middle, and high register on a piano. This imagery is achieved through techniques such as clusters and faint minimalistic characteristics. Natural and spatial elements are further emphasized by sustaining tones through the pedals. This emotional, expressive, powerful work is full of imagination.
Saltatio mortis for violin and piano attracts the talents of yet another fine pianist, Michał Krezlewski. This composition was originally written for violin, harpsichord, and chamber orchestra. This recording features the violin and piano transcription. This danse macabre is distinctive because of its atonal elements and especially for its ostinato pattern.
Strawinskana is a solo for violin quite obviously dedicated to the famous composer Igor Stravinsky. The composer quotes 20th century music and reveals how she was influenced by Stravinsky, a master of rhythm. There is a very clear reference to Stravinsky's violin concerto within the first two measures. Nowicka uses this as a point of departure in order to create her own ideas leading to an expressive, rhythmically-structured composition.
Assessing a young composer or classifying them within a specific musical genre is no easy task. Eras such as the Baroque, Classical, or Romantic periods, although well-defined, belong to the past and not the present. Young composers are developing their own unique styles. They may express themselves in various ways within a single work and their pieces are often described as eclectic.
Listening to this recording, one thing becomes crystal clear regarding Ewelina Nowicka and her musical pieces: we are dealing with both a virtuoso violinist as well as a virtuoso composer. Nowicka and her piano partners bring these pieces to life with passionate performances. Nowicka engages the listener by enchanting them and inviting them into her personal life - arousing their emotions evocatively. Her music is frequently inspired by her own family history, which has a rich heritage closely tied to Jewish culture, and also the characteristics of experimental contemporary music, which can be found in just about all her works.
Ewelina Nowicka is a musician who clearly plays and composes from her heart. She is passionate about both composition and violin. Whether as a composer or on the violin with Ewelina Nowicka you are sure to win!
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A Tribute to Glenn Gould
Regarding her debut album, pianist Magdalena Baczewska states it best for her reason for a special tribute to Glenn Gould:
Polish pianist Magdalena Baczewska holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Manhattan School of Music, having written a dissertation "In search of Bach's Cantibile: The Role and Aspects of Oratory and Singing in Keyboard Interpretation." As a winner of international piano competitions, she has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras. Her performances have been broadcast on WQXR, NPR, Voice of America, and on European radio and television.
Ms. Baczewska has served on the faculty of Montclair State University in New Jersey as well as the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in NYC. She is also a published music critic (New York Concert Review). Ms. Baczewska has commissioned works for piano and has given several world premieres. Her main focus lies in the early keyboard literature, which she performs both on the harpsichord and the piano.
American Record Guide calls Polish-born Magdalena Baczewska "clearly a rising star" and describes her recent recording of the Goldberg Variations as "World-class Bach...imaginative playing, always rhythmically alive." Combining profound musicianship, passion for educating and a gift of public speaking, Baczewska is increasingly known for her innovative recital programming ideas and making her audiences think. "Baczewska enlightens…" wrote Greg Stepanich in the Palm Beach Arts Paper after her 2009 Miami appearance. She was described as "imaginative and instructive, a player of taste, purity of tone, and clarity of line." The same author further noted her "admirable sensitivity, impressive technique and ability to muster plenty of interpretive fire…"
Magdalena treats each performance not as a mere showcase of her talent but a gift of knowledge and perspective. Considering herself a musical sommelier, she finds inventive pairings of repertoire and sheds new light on her audiences' favorite music. In 2001, she has started playing the harpsichord and exploring a wide range of early (pre-Baroque) keyboard repertoire, which she performs both on the piano and the harpsichord. Her repertoire also includes works of livings composers, with several commissions and world premieres. Her recordings and performances, hailed as "eloquent and technically flawless" (The Washington Post).
In May 2011, Magdalena received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Polish Minister of Culture, Mr. Bogdan Zdrojewski.
Music for Dreams, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2
Inspired by Bach’s Goldberg Variations which were commissioned by Count Keyserlingk – an insomniac – Ms. Baczewska focuses her second release on relaxing her listener. "Music for Dreams" is a 2 volume set conceived in collaboration with BlueSleep, a medical team specialized in research and treatment of sleep disorders. The albums are a blend of music and medicine to sooth the soul. Baczewska charms the listener with a rare beauty, with rest and relaxation as the ultimate goal. The soft and soothing sounds are intended to help regulate breathing and heart rate, and induce a healthy and regenerating sleep.
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Gary Fitelberg is a Polish-American author, biographer, historian, music critic and historian specializing in the Fitelberg family musicians, Young Poland (Młoda Polska), Polish –Jewish musicians, and exiled and forgotten musicians.
GÓRECKI: POLISH SPIRITUALS
From November 5-8, 2011, the Polish Radio Choir gave a landmark tour of the UK presenting a program entitled Górecki: Polish Spirituals. Founded in 1948 and based in Kraków, the Polish Radio Choir is one of Poland’s leading choirs and worked extensively on Górecki’s music with the composer during his lifetime. Conducted by Artur Sędzielarz, the group’s Artistic Director since 2010, these concerts were a tribute to one of the late twentieth century’s great composers a year after his death in November 2010.
Tour concerts were held in Durham, London, Bristol and Liverpool. The all-Górecki programs included: Totus Tuus (1987); Five Kurpian Songs (1999); Three Lullabies (1984); Song of the Katyn Families (2004); Come Holy Spirit (1986); and Amen (1975). Concert notes by Adrian Thomas can be seen at www.adrianthomasmusic.com.
The tour was produced by Third Ear—a trio of UK music professionals with extensive experience, expertise and networks across the new music scene—in association with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Polska Music, Polish Professionals in London and the Polish Cultural Institute -London.
BOROWICZ CONDUCTS CHOPINIANA IN BERLIN
On January 13-15, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin performed a concert entitled “Chopiniana” with the Russian pianist Alexei Volodin and Polish conductor Łukasz Borowicz (left), Artistic Director of Warsaw’s Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The program included Chopin – Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 21, Karłowicz – Eternal Songs, Op. 10, Panufnik – Lullaby for 29 strings and 2 harps, and Glazunov – Chopiniana, Op. 46.
The 37th anniversary of Tadeusz Ochlewski’s death was celebrated with a special mass at the Dominican Basilica in Kraków on January 29. Mr. Ochlewski was the founder and long-time director of the Polish Music Publishers [PWM].
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Newsletter Editor: Krysta Close
Translation Assistance: Marek Żebrowski
Layout Assistance: Charles Bragg
Marek Żebrowski, Joseph A. Herter, Gary Fitelberg, Pasadena Playhouse
Sources of information: Polish Cultural Institute (NY & UK), Adam Mickiewicz Institute,
Nowy Dziennik, Polish Music Information Centre - Warsaw, Polish American Journal,
Poland.pl, PAP, ZKP, infochopin.pl, Ruch Muzyczny, Gazeta Wyborcza
Formatting by Krysta Close, February 13, 2012.
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Coit Street Historic District
The Coit Street Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Portions of the content on this web page were adapted from a copy of the original nomination document. [†] Adaptation copyright © 2010, The Gombach Group.
The Coit Street Historic District in New London, Connecticut, includes four 18th-century buildings from the early period of settlement on the northeastern edge of the former Bream Cove, just southwest of the central business district, and the 19th-century buildings which encroached on the natural shoreline of the cove as it was gradually filled in. Coit Street follows the original shoreline of Bream Cove. The Coit Street Historic District contains approximately four acres and 33 buildings on flat terrain.
The Coit Street Historic District is isolated from the downtown by the rear elevations of a series of two, three, and four-story brick buildings which abut the southern edge of the district, effectively screening the district from traffic and commercial activity. The Coit Street Historic District is defined by the houses fronting Blinman Street on the south, Brewer Street on the east, and Coit and Washington Streets on the west and north. The Coit Street Historic District is densely developed, with small dwellings located at the rear of several of the lots. The closed-in sense of this compact district is established by the narrow one-way streets lined with 18th and 19th-century houses.
Based on the comprehensive inventory of New London, it is estimated that there are twelve 18th-century buildings extant in scattered sites throughout the city. Of these, four are located within the Coit Street Historic District. The depletion of New London's building stock from that period is due to Benedict Arnold's disastrous raid on the city in 1781 and the redevelopment of more recent years.
All of the principal buildings located within the Coit Street Historic District are contributing to the overlying themes. These include the well-preserved c.1763 William Coit house at 92 Washington Street (Bell-Cast Gambrel) and the George Chapman House at 7 Coit Street (Georgian). The brick duplex at 26-28 Blinman Street (c.1833) is an example of a late Federal style building. Several buildings combine elements of different styles, such as 18 Brewer Street (c.1839), which combines Greek Revival features with a Georgian roofline, and the two 1885 houses at 48 Blinman Street and 24 Coit Street, which use both Italianate and Queen Anne details.
Greek Revival houses, gable-end-to-street, predominate in the Coit Street Historic District. Fluted Doric columns support porticos on 35 and 36 Blinman Street, and the front porch of 40 Coit Street. Most Greek Revival houses retain the details which are the hallmarks of the style, including pilasters, full entablatures, sidelights and transoms, and semi-elliptical gable windows, which withstood the transition from Federal to Greek Revival in New London. Many houses have porches and other details which reflect additions made in the late 19th century, including one delicate jig-sawn porch, Eastlake porches, and bay windows, which relate well to the late 19th-century vernacular houses in the district. Italianate and Queen Anne styles are also represented, as well as a retardetaire example of French Second Empire, built in 1913.
The Colt Street Historic District contains architectural styles rare in New London, including one of only two 18th-century gambrel dwellings, three of seven Georgian style dwellings, and one of four Federal style buildings in the city. The Coit Street Historic District includes a significant number of early buildings and a well-preserved building stock which creates a compact and cohesive streetscape. The diversity of architectural styles is representative of residential construction in New London from the mid-18th century through the early 20th century. The Coit Street Historic District is historically significant because it contains survivors of an 18th-century settlement on the northeastern edge of the former Bream Cove which underwent further residential development in the 19th and 20th centuries. Early residents of the Coit Street Historic District were often directly engaged in waterfront activity, while later residents were more often employed in supporting trades. Colt and Blinman Streets were among the first streets laid out in the city. Their current configuration still reflects colonial usage as thoroughfares carrying traffic around Bream Cove. Several of the houses in the Coit Street Historic District are associated with families significant in the early history of New London. Although once part of a larger 18th-century neighborhood, the district has been isolated by the loss of many of the city's 18th-century buildings and modern development on the periphery.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the land comprising the Coit Street Historic District was considered the western edge of town. Beginning in 1647, some of the first home-lots established in New London were laid out along Bream Cove. Cove Street, now Coit Street, was carried around the head of the cove at this time to connect the outlying area with the central part of town. A foot bridge built along the path of Blinman Street was replaced in 1766 with a cart bridge. Descendants of several of the families who settled the district during the 17th and 18th centuries erected houses found here today.
The Coit family was an active and influential family in the early years of New London's history, first arriving in this city in 1651. A portion of the district is part of the seven acres purchased by the Coit family in 1694, where the family established its homestead and relocated its shipyard in 1699. William Coit was involved in local revolutionary activities, serving on committees beginning in 1767, shortly after the construction of his house at 92 Washington Street. He commanded several ships during the Revolutionary War, and anecdotal stories about Coit indicate that he was a fervent patriot. Jonathan Coit, a 19th-century member of the Coit family, built his house at 40 Coit Street in 1840. He was also active in the local abolitionist movement in the 1840s.
In 1702, Benjamin Starr purchased a house and wharf on Bream Cove. He was involved in the West Indies trade and a member of the Governor's Council. His cousin's son Jonathan Starr bought this estate in 1759, including 40-42 Blinman Street. It is doubtful that this is the original house: more likely it was built shortly after 1759. Jonathan may also have been active in the West Indies trade, as was his son Jonathan. Benjamin's son Daniel built his home at 35 Brewer Street sometime after 1743, where he lived until his death in 1767
New London's small geographic size limited development at a time when demand for land was rising. The only course for the city was to create land by filling in portions of its waterfront. The waterfront lots were considered premium when the district was first settled, and as the waterfront was filled in, property became valuable because of its proximity to the downtown. In the 1830s, property values in this area were significantly higher than those in contemporaneous developments, with lots commanding as much as twice the price.
Building activity begun at this time became more intense. Almost half of the buildings in the district were built in the next two decades. There is evidence of significant reuse of early house lots and buildings in the district. Many of the 17th and 18th century houses were replaced by mid-19th century dwellings. Sometimes, elements of the earlier houses were salvaged. The former outbuilding at 3 Coit Street has 6/9 sash taken from an earlier building, which was probably installed when the building was converted into a dwelling in the 19th century. Several buildings, such as 7 Coit Street, were moved to new sites in the district.
George Jones built a four-unit rowhouse at 26-28 Blinman Street between 1833 and 1839, tearing down an earlier house and filling in a portion of the cove in the rear of his lot (the eastern half of the rowhouse was removed c.1925). The houses on the south side of Brewer Street were all erected between 1835 and 1843. 24 and 26 Brewer Street replaced an older house. Samuel Beckwith and Orlando Gorton razed a house and built two houses at 18 and 22 Colt Street shortly after 1841, adjacent to Beckwith's own home at 14 Coit Street.
The trades of the residents of the district were evolving from strictly water-dependent careers, which required wharfage and access to the cove, to work skills which, although often marine-related, were not dependent on water access. The residents of the 1830s and 1840s made their livelihoods as a blacksmith, joiner, grocer, ship's carpenter, mariner, rigger, and as captains.
As more of Bream Cove was filled in, the land created was put to industrial use. In 1859, the New London Horse Nail Company was established on the newly created land. After its demise in 1878, the building became part of the Brainard and Armstrong Company silk mills. The intensification of land use on the outskirts led to a new spate of residential development in the district. Eleven houses were built during the latter half of the 19th century, filling in available lots between the older buildings. The mixture of residential and commercial activity in the district, first seen in the Coit shipyard and an 18th-century brewery (no longer extant) on Brewer Street, was maintained when George Shepard erected a dry goods store at 38 Coit Street, adjacent to his home in 1859, and with the construction of a livery stable at 17-21 Brewer Street in 1887.
The final phase of development in the Coit Street Historic District came during the closing years of the 19th century and the early 20th century. The pattern of replacing older buildings and developing empty lots was continued. The heirs of Orlando Gorton, who had built 18 and 22 Coit Street, continued speculative real estate practices with the construction of three two-family homes at 2 through 12 Coit Street between 1894 and 1896. In 1907, Albert Fetherson moved a Greek Revival house onto property he purchased five years earlier at 3 Brewer Street. As late as 1913, an older house at the opposite end of Brewer Street was taken down, and replaced by 78 Washington Street (1913) and 31 Brewer Street (1915).
A wide range of architectural styles is represented in the Coit Street Historic District including Gambrel and Georgian from the 18th century, Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, and Romanesque from the 19th century, and Colonial Revival and Second Empire from the early 20th century. In general, the buildings in the Coit Street Historic District are modest, well-designed buildings which exemplify the basic building types used in residential construction in New London from the 18th century through the early 20th century. The variation of styles and the melding of stylistic elements from different styles is noteworthy.
18th-century dwellings are a rarity in New London. The largest concentration in the city is found in the Coit Street Historic District. 92 Washington Street is an unusually intact example of 18th-century architecture. This Bell-Cast Gambrel dwelling, c.1763, with slightly flared eaves and 6/9 sash, is one of two dwellings of this type and vintage extant in New London. Door moldings and fireplace surrounds of 92 Washington Street are similar to those published in 1797 in The Country Builder's Assistant by Asher Benjamin.
The other early houses in the Coit Street Historic District are Georgian. There are only four other dwellings of this style at scattered sites in the city. The well-preserved house at 7 Coit Street was moved onto the site in the early 19th century. Hand-wrought nails, some original 12/12 sash, and the Georgian door surround, as well as its basic design, indicate its earlier origins. The Daniel Starr House, c.1743, is the earliest documented house in the district on its original location. The massing and lines of the house clearly suggest its 18th-century construction.
The 18th/19th century double-house at 40-42 Blinman Street underwent considerable transformations. The western half, built c.1759, has hand-hewn beams and earlier construction techniques than the eastern side, which was built with sawn lumber in the mid-19th century. Since 1759, the house has been described in deeds as remodelled and modernized. Indeed, the handsome Italianate door hood and Greek Revival door surround date from the mid-19th century and may be contemporary with the construction of the eastern half. The adherence to the earlier design in the basic massing and roof detail is interesting and conveys the sense of 18th-century vernacular architecture. There are stylistic similarities between the 40-42 Blinman Street and 7 Coit Street which illustrate the historic process by which a Georgian three-bay house has evolved into a 19th-century double-house.
The brick duplex at 26-28 Blinman Street, c.1833 (originally a four-unit rowhouse), with splayed lintels and Flemish Bond brickwork, is clearly influenced by the Federal style and is the only 19th-century rowhouse in New London. 18 Brewer Street, c.1839, has a Greek Revival door surround, but a gambrel roofline more commonly associated with Georgian architecture. Several of the houses of the 1830s and 1840s have semi-elliptical windows in the pediments, a Federal characteristic which was retained in many early Greek Revival dwellings in New London.
The Greek Revival houses in the Coit Street Historic District are well-proportioned 2-1/2 story, gable-end-to-street buildings with good overall design quality. The Doric porticos at 35 and 36 Blinman Street are noteworthy for their relationship to each other and the quality of the craftsmanship involved. The architectural details of Greek Revival residential buildings are found in the vernacular houses, including pilasters, entablatures, sidelights, and transoms. The scale and proportions of these houses relate well to both the earlier and later houses in the district. Several of the Greek Revival houses have later porches. The similarity of these elements to adjacent late 19th-century houses creates additional unity in the streetscape.
48 Blinman Street and 24 Coit Street are distinguished by the eclectic use of stylistic elements from both Italianate and Queen Anne. Both 1885 dwellings use the same fretwork molding in the cornice. The 1894-96 Queen Anne houses at 2 through 12 Coit Street have identical porticos. The late use of the French Second Empire style on 78 Washington Street (1913) may indicate an attempt to maximize space in the house.
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Walker, George H. & Co. "Map of the City of New London, New London, Connecticut." 1884.
Warren, Moses. "Warren's Survey of Streets of City of New London." 1807.
Sharon P. Churchill, New London Landmarks, Inc. and John Herzan, Connectocut Historical Commission, Coit Street Historic District, New London, CT, nomination document, 1987, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C. | <urn:uuid:a1aeaad9-c0dd-449e-8cf3-c7fc7396ca1a> | {
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WHAT IS COHERENCE
When we refer to coherence, we are talking about a mental, emotional and physical state – where the mind, heart and nervous system align and function in a higher degree of balance and harmony.
On a personal level, being in coherence translates to: smooth heart rhythms, clear mind, balanced emotions and spiritual connection. HMI’s Director of Research, Dr. Rollin McCraty states, "coherence is the energetic alignment and cooperation of all of our systems."
Generally, these systems – cardiac, brain, nervous, hormonal and immune among others – are a reflection of your personal coherence, also known as heart coherence. The more coherent you are the better your systems function.
It benefits our mental, emotional and physical well-being to learn to increase and sustain a state of coherence. This doesn’t always happen naturally in our complex modern world without us making some genuine effort. HMI and GCI have developed simple techniques that we can use throughout our day to help increase our coherence. If you’d like a coherence-building refresher, look for a link farther down.
Emergence of Social and Global coherence
Keeping our personal coherence ratio up has many benefits but it also has a positive effect on the people around us – family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, etc.
As individuals in groups increase their personal coherence, a new state emerges that we call social coherence. This increased care of coherent groups and organizations can expand into global coherence.
Today, scientists at the Global Coherence Initiative and others around the world believe energetic fields which all human beings possess can be potentially connected to benefit all of humanity and the earth itself.
Moreover, McCraty and HeartMath founder Doc Childre write, "Of the many new scientific perspectives that emerged from the 20th century, one of the most profound is that the universe is wholly and enduringly interconnected and coherent. Complex living systems, including human beings, are composed of numerous dynamic, interconnected networks of biological structures and processes."
The Global Coherence Initiative has several coherence-building tools for you at www.heartmath.org/gci. Sign in, then scroll down the page to Resources Supporting Global Coherence. | <urn:uuid:a46a4c09-b66b-4085-b161-1a78f2571f91> | {
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Cognitive Deficits After TBI May Contribute To Language Impairment
After suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI), people often experience linguistic impairments – even when language-processing areas of the brain are not damaged. Specifically, those with TBI may have difficulty organizing narrative stories, using complex grammar, and understanding non-literal meaning. Recent research has aimed to discover if these difficulties are related to other cognitive impairments related to TBI.
A recent Italian study investigated the relationship among TBI severity, cognitive impairment, and linguistic deficits. Researchers assessed sixty TBI patients, analyzing the severity of their injuries, their cognitive abilities, and their capacity to engage in narrative discourse (e.g. process and produce complex language). They found that cognitive and linguistic impairment increased when injury severity increased, but that some cognitive and linguistic factors were independent of TBI severity. Furthermore, non-linguistic cognitive deficits were associated with linguistic impairment, suggesting that TBI effects on cognition can negatively impact language function even when language-processing structures are unaffected.
For those who experience TBI, impaired cognition and language skills can have a negative impact on ability to function socially, vocationally, and emotionally. To best aid these people and ensure best quality of life, researchers and clinicians need to understand the complex relationship between cognitive function and linguistic abilities.
Marini A, Zettin M, Bencich E, et al. Severity effects on discourse production after TBI. Journal of Neurolinguistics. (March 2017). | <urn:uuid:3e9eb771-fa7d-4ab9-b291-c0a8c8ced095> | {
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British saw 1948 Jewish fighters as 'like those of Nazi Germany'
The files reveal British views on the conflict in the weeks before the end of the Mandate period
The High Commissioner of Palestine viewed the behaviour of Jewish fighters as comparable to that of the Nazis, according to an intelligence report issued two weeks before statehood was declared.
On April 30 1948, Sir Alan Cunningham wrote to his superiors that as the Jews celebrated military successes their “broadcasts, both in content and in manner of delivery, are remarkably like those of Nazi Germany”.
In another report, he said that the Jews were prepared for statehood and an “all-out offensive” with “all the equipment of a totalitarian regime”.
Colonial administration records released by the National Archives in London this week reveal that as little as a week before the British departure from Mandate Palestine, the High Commissioner mistakenly believed that “all the ingredients of a successful truce were present”.
The documents detail increasing tension between Jews and Arabs in spring 1948, and the opposing reactions to the United Nation’s partition plan of November 1947 — “received with jubilation by the Yishuv”, but prompting “a mood of bitterness and universal suspicion” among the Arabs.
The papers show the contempt the British had for the Jews, who were deemed willing “to go to almost any lengths to achieve their aim”, and the collapse of any trust in the British by both Jews and Arabs.
Atrocities on both sides are detailed, with frequent references to Jewish “terrorists”, and graphic descriptions of violent attacks on each other or the British forces.
In one dispatch, an account is given of the massacre at the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin, the facts of which are still debated today.
Although it is unclear where his information came from, Sir Alan wrote that 250 people were killed, with the attack “accompanied by every circumstance of savagery. Women and children were stripped, lined up, photographed and then slaughtered”.
The dispatch added that the attack was too much for “the strong stomach of the Yishuv” and noted condemnations by the Jewish press and the chief rabbinate. It also recorded the Arab revenge attack on the Hadassah Hospital convoy.
The intelligence reports also show the British view that while the Jews were organised, if “not without internal dissension”, the local Arabs were poorly served by their leaders and by neighbouring countries, despite “extravagant claims of victories”.
Sir Alan wrote on April 30 that the Arabs’ “much vaunted liberation army” was “poorly equipped and badly led”.
He continued: “In almost every engagement the Jews have proved their superiority in organisation, training and tactics.”
He noted that “the foreign Arab guerilla bands… having successfully stirred up the Jews (and incidentally provided them with the excuse that they are merely defending themselves against Arab aggression) are now proving quite unable to protect the local Arabs.” | <urn:uuid:debd3bd2-8473-4a50-9bfb-3ab88c6228ea> | {
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Sierra National Forest
The Sierra National Forest is important, because it is one of only two of the national forests in the Sierra Nevada (the other being Sequoia National Forest) where three rare and imperiled species intersect – the Pacific Fisher, the California Spotted Owl and the Black-backed Woodpecker.
Protection for each of these species is being sought under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
Post-Fire Habitat Logging
Sierra National Forest has over 1.3 million acres of land.
400,000 of these acres (or 30%) are comprised of dense mature and old growth conifer forest. However, due to fire suppression, post-fire logging, removal of native shrubs and artificial tree plantation establishment, less than 1% of the Sierra National Forest (less than 8,000 acres) is comprised of complex early seral forest habitat created when high-intensity fire burns in dense, mature/old forest. Complex early seral forest (a.k.a “snag forest”) is some of the richest and most biodiverse habitat type available on the landscape. Unfortunately, whenever a fire burns, the Forest Service’s first response is to remove this habitat through logging.
French Fire of 2014: French Fire Logging Project
In the summer of 2014, the French fire burned, at varying degrees of intensity, 13,832 acres, restoring a few thousand acres of complex early seral forest habitat to the landscape on the Sierra National Forest.
The Forest Service is currently proposing to post-fire log most of the complex early seral forest in this fire area—including in Pacific Fisher habitat and occupied California Spotted Owl and Black-backed Woodpecker territories.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to list the Pacific Fisher under the Endangered Species Act, and research from JMP’s Dr. Chad Hanson has found that, while Pacific Fishers select dense, old forest for denning and resting, they actively use, and select, higher-intensity fire areas as foraging habitat—especially the females, for which there is the greatest conservation concern. Learn More About Fisher’s and Fire.
Despite this, the Forest Service plans to essentially clearcut thousands of acres of Fisher foraging habitat, and is claiming, incorrectly, that there will be no significant negative environmental effects of their logging project.
Aspen Fire of 2013: Aspen Logging Project
In the summer of 2013, the 23,564-acre Aspen fire restored 2,908 acres of complex early seral forest to the Sierra National Forest, where this rare and ecologically rich habitat is in extremely short supply (less than 1% of the Forest – see Map above). The vast majority of this fire burned at lower intensity.
The Sierra National Forest implemented a post-fire logging timber sale that removed about half of this rare habitat, including within occupied territories of the imperiled California Spotted Owl, Pacific Fisher and Black-backed Woodpecker. The John Muir Project and the Center for Biological Diversity filed suit, but the federal judge refused to issue a ruling on whether the Forest Service violated the law, and would not issue an injunction, allowing the destruction of complex early seral forest to proceed.
Not only is the Aspen Logging Project ecologically damaging, it costs taxpayers millions, particularly since post-fire logging kills nearly all of the natural conifer regeneration, and then taxpayers are forced to pay for replanting of conifers after logging, which is very expensive. The Environmental Assessment for the Aspen logging project acknowledged this, concluding the following: “Foregoing recovery and reforestation treatments [post-fire logging and artificial tree plantation establishment] would save taxpayers approximately $3,287,000 of appropriated funding needed to implement these activities.”
Heterogeneity in the Aspen Fire Area (mixed intensity with mostly low fire effects)
Complex Early Seral Forest in the Aspen Fire Area
Effects of Logging in the Aspen Fire Area
Natural Conifer Regeneration in the Aspen Fire Area
Mature and Old Forest Habitat Logging
A law passed by Congress several years ago promoted the concept of “collaboration” between the U.S. Forest Service and various interest groups to promote “ecological restoration” on National Forests.
The law invited proposals for specific areas—generally tens of thousands of acres in size each—across the western U.S. to test and implement this concept. However, the process has been badly abused, and the resulting “collaborative groups” across the western U.S. are heavily run by the U.S. Forest Service’s commercial logging program, and local timber industry companies, with at best token representation from environmental groups and scientists. In these “collaboratives”, the Forest Service sets the agenda, hires and pays for the meeting facilitators, and proposes the projects. Unsurprisingly, the resulting projects promoted under the guise of “ecological restoration” are consistently commercial logging projects that degrade important wildlife habitat and forest ecology rather than restore it.
Dinky Collaborative Logging Program: “Hey man, timber is king!”
One of these collaborative groups is called the “Dinkey Collaborative” on a portion of the Sierra National Forest.
One destructive commercial logging project after another has resulted from the Dinkey Collaborative over the past several years, and the logging has heavily targeted the last, best nesting/roosting habitat for declining California spotted owls, and prime denning/resting habitat for the highly imperiled Pacific fisher. All of the logging has been inaccurately packaged as “ecological restoration”.
JMP’s Chad Hanson, joined by Justin Augustine of CBD, attended meetings of the Dinkey Collaborative for years, trying to get the Forest Service to incorporate new science, and promote true ecological restoration projects (such as mixed-intensity managed wildland fires and prescribed fires, active snag creation where snags are in deficit, and closing old logging roads) rather than more commercial logging. However, the Forest Service has stubbornly continued to rely upon scientifically debunked assumptions, such as the inaccurate notions that forests should be mostly open, with relatively few trees, and that high-intensity fire patches are harmful to wildlife (the Pacific fisher and the Spotted owl, for example, actively forage in unlogged high-intensity fire patches because the small mammal prey base is excellent in such areas).
When Dr. Hanson sent a memo to the Dinkey Collaborative, alerting them to the fact that current ecological science was being ignored and misrepresented by the Collaborative to promote commercial logging that was the opposite of “ecological restoration”, the facilitator, who is paid by the Forest Service, suggested to Dr. Hanson that people who adhere to such dissenting scientific views should not participate in the Collaborative. Meanwhile, business-as-usual commercial logging continues to destroy prime Pacific fisher and Spotted owl habitat under the guise of “ecological restoration” through the Dinkey Collaborative. Tellingly, in the course of trying to brush aside ecological concerns raised by JMP, one Forest Service staff member’s response at a Dinkey Collaborative meeting, at Sierra National Forest headquarters, is indicative of the problem: “Hey man, timber is king”, he said. | <urn:uuid:e35ff199-53bd-4910-b372-219a9265fa75> | {
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‘X-ray gun’ traces origins of Chinese porcelains found on ancient shipwreck
A ship carrying thousands of ceramics and luxury goods for trade sank approximately 800 years ago in the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia.
Since its 1980s discovery and seabed recovery in the 1990s, researchers have studied the vessel’s cargo in an effort to determine the ship’s port of departure and destination. Researchers also are seeking to identify the origins of the ship’s diverse cargo.
In a new study published in Journal of Archaeological Science, UIC and Field Museum archaeologists report that a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer, which looks like an “X-ray gun,” made it possible to identify the origins of Chinese porcelains recovered from the 12th-century shipwreck and provide insight into the size and complexity of the era’s socioeconomic networks.
“It’s amazing that we can pinpoint the production area of materials from an 800-year-old shipwreck,” said Wenpeng Xu, the study’s lead author and an anthropology graduate student at UIC. “This is important for us to understand the vast maritime trading networks ranging from East Asia all the way to East Africa in the pre-modern world.”
Sixty ceramic bowls and boxes from the Field Museum’s 7,500 piece Java Sea Shipwreck collection were chosen for the analysis. The styles of the ceramics, which are covered in a bluish-white glaze called qingbai, suggest they likely originated from southeastern China, according to the scientists.
Since many kilns produced similar-looking pieces, the precise source location cannot be determined through visual inspection. The researchers sought to compare the chemical makeups of the ceramics with samples from four kiln complexes in China — Jingdezhen, Dehua, Huajiashan and Minqing.
“Each kiln site uses its own materials and ingredients for clay — that’s what makes each ceramic sample’s fingerprint unique,” Xu said. “If the fingerprint of the sample matches the fingerprint of the kiln site, then it’s highly possible that that’s where the sample came from.”
The portable fluorescence analyzer was used to shoot X-rays into the material.
“It excites the material’s atoms. Energy goes flying out, and this measures that energy. Different elements have different signatures of energy that comes back out,” said Lisa Niziolek, Field Museum Boone Research Scientist and study co-author, in simplifying the complicated science of compositional analysis.
According to the researchers, understanding that the ceramics in the study were created more than 2,000 miles from where the ship sank gives credence to the existence of a large 12th- and 13th-century trade network.
“We’re taught to associate vast trade networks with Europeans like Magellan and Marco Polo, but Europeans weren’t a big part of this network that went from Asia to Africa,” said Gary Feinman, Field Museum MacArthur Curator of Anthropology and study co-author, in a museum news release.
“Globalization isn’t just a recent phenomenon — it’s not just Eurocentric, not just tied to modern capitalism. The ancient world was more interconnected than a lot of people thought.”
Xu, a native of China, collaborated with the researchers and had access to the museum’s Elemental Analysis Facility through a UIC-Field Museum partnership that has offered research opportunities and advanced degrees in anthropology for more than two decades.
“I have benefited a lot from the joint UIC-Field Museum graduate program,” he said. “This unique research experience also facilitated my own dissertation research on investigating the porcelain production in Fujian, China.” | <urn:uuid:f845d72d-63e3-4d95-a4b2-c8dc5f288e4c> | {
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Often referred to as the "father of automotive electronics," Jerry Rivard pioneered the use of electronic fuel injection and microprocessor control in automobiles during the 1960s, '70s, and '80s. He started his career as a designer of automatic transmissions for General Motors, served as a manager of the Vehicle Controls Division for Bendix Research Laboratories during the 1960s, and acted as director of engineering for Bendix's Electronic Fuel Injection Division from 1971 to '76. He was chief engineer for Ford Motor Co.'s Electrical and Electronics Division and vice president and group executive for Allied Signal, Inc..
In the past two decades, electronics have gone from a non-existent entity to a key technology that now accounts for more than 20% of the cost of an automobile. Some of today's luxury vehicles are said to incorporate as many as 100 microcontrollers, and automakers are looking to add Internet and e-mail capabilities in the near future.
DESIGN NEWS/EDN: It's not unusual for a luxury vehicle to incorporate 80, 90, or even 100 microcontrollers today. Will that number continue to grow, or will engineers find ways to integrate the electronics?
RIVARD: The number of microprocessors is part of a natural technological evolution. Back in the 1980s, automotive people were primarily mechanical engineers. They were component people. They didn't look at the car as a system. To the contrary, they fought each other bitterly. It was very territorial. But now, very slowly, the need for a systems approach is being recognized by the automotive companies. And that should result in a more integrated electronics system. I'm not saying that you'll end up with one monumental computer in the vehicle. That wouldn't work; if something went wrong, the customer would end up spending $3,000 to get it fixed. But you're going to see the computers getting combined more. For example, a body computer could consist of several systems that aren't safety-related. And you could combine the braking, steering, ABS, and stability control systems in a chassis computer. The engine and transmission could be combined in another computer. It just makes sense to integrate systems that use the same sensors and have similar reliability requirements.
Q: What can engineers do to foster that concept of the vehicle as a total system?
A: There's still a gap between Silicon Valley thinking and automotive industry thinking. Right now, you're not getting the best of the electronics world because the dialogue between automotive people and Silicon Valley people isn't good. Together, the two industries need to spend more time looking at the vehicle as a total system, and then designing microprocessors to optimize that system. The bottom line is that the executives from both industries need to close the gap.
Q: Are there any areas of automotive electronics that seem ripe for breakthroughs?
A: The whole area of automotive handling will be a golden opportunity. The technology is there to control the suspension so that the driver always has optimal traction. Given the capabilities we have now, there should never be a rollover in vehicles. If you put the right kind of electronic system in a vehicle, it can think for the driver. The sensors can see if someone is going too hard into a curve. They can slow the vehicle, apply the appropriate braking, and make sure it stays on the road.
Q: Isn't the bigger question whether drivers will
the vehicle take control?
A: You'll always have the people who envision themselves as race car drivers, who say, "No one is taking control of my vehicle. "But if the auto companies don't take this upon themselves, they run the risk of letting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration legislate it. It would look better if the carmakers did it themselves.
Q: A lot of engineers today are still resisting the idea of 42-volt electrical architectures. Is 42 volts really so important to the future of the automobile, or are the naysayers right?
A: Forty-two volts is tremendously important. Today's average cars use about 2 - 2.5 kW. Luxury cars use around 5 kW. It's reached the point where vehicles like the 7 Series BMW need two batteries. When you go to 42 volts, power won't be an issue anymore. | <urn:uuid:f570cfab-2ca8-4775-9fab-72b17e54a864> | {
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This is not new information; the risk has been known about since scientists identified it nearly 20 years ago, but what has been unclear is just why this happens and what the mechanism is that causes it.
Until now, when a new study appeared in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Proteome Research that is shedding light on exactly how cigarette smoke weakens bones. The report concludes that cigarette smoke makes people produce excessive amounts of two proteins that trigger a natural body process that breaks down bone and this can occur at any age.
Guishan Xiao and colleagues, authors of the study, point out that previous work suggested that it was the toxins in cigarette smoke that weakened bones. They did this by affecting the activity of osteoblasts, the cells which build new bone, and osteoclasts, which resorb, or break down, old bone. When this occurs osteoporosis results and the best protection against this, and to successfully rebuild existing bone, is to supplement with bioidentical natural progesterone. Osteoporosis increases the risk of fractures and is a major cause of disability and even death in older adults.
That was the commonly held belief, but to shed light on how cigarette smoking weakens bones, the scientists analyzed differences in genetic activity in bone marrow cells of smokers and non-smokers. What they found was that smokers produce unusually large amounts of two proteins that foster production of bone-resorbing osteoclasts compared to non-smokers.
This means that a greater amount of bone is being lost (reabsorbed) than is being built and that is a major risk factor for osteoporosis.
If you still smoke, or know someone who does whether they are menopausal or not, then this information is important in knowing that smoking is a major risk factor leading to weakened bones and osteoporosis. To protect bones it is essential to have good progesterone levels to ensure bone building continues throughout life, to have regular weight bearing exercise and if vulnerable for osteoporosis to have a bone mineral formula containing calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D, as well as additional zinc, vitamin C and B complex. | <urn:uuid:f0a841b8-dea1-4221-a713-a84270551071> | {
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