Main Difference – Fe2O3 vs Fe3O4
Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 are two common oxides of iron that can be found naturally along with some impurities. Fe2O3 is also known as hematite, a mineral from which pure Fe2O3 can be obtained via processing and Fe3O4 is known as magnetite for the same reason. These minerals are the feedstock for pure metal iron production. There are many physical and structural difference between Fe2O3 and Fe3O4. The main difference between Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 is that Fe2O3 is a paramagnetic mineral having only Fe2+ oxidation state whereas Fe3O4 is a ferromagnetic material having both Fe2+ and Fe3+ oxidation states.
Key Areas Covered
Key Terms: Ferromagnetic, Hematite, Iron, Magnetite, Oxidation States, Oxide, Paramagnetic, Rust
What is Fe2O3
Fe2O3 is iron(III) oxide. It is an inorganic compound (one of the three major iron oxides). Fe2O3 is found in nature as the mineral hematite. Hematite is the major source of iron for the steel industry. Fe2O3 appears as a dark red (brick red) colored solid which is odorless. Fe2O3 is paramagnetic. This means it can be attracted to a strong, external magnetic field. This compound is readily attacked by acids. An alternative name for Fe2O3 is “rust”.
The molar mass of Fe2O3 is 159.687 g/mol. The melting point of this compound is 1565oC; at higher temperatures, it usually decomposes. Fe2O3 is readily soluble in acids and sugar solutions. It is insoluble in water.
Fe2O3 exists in two major polymorphs; alpha phase and gamma phase. Alpha Fe2O3 has a rhombohedral structure. This structure is the most common form of Fe2O3. It is the form in which hematite exist. The gamma Fe2O3 has a cubic structure and is less common. This structure is formed from the alpha phase at high temperatures. The other phases of Fe2O3 include beta phase, epsilon phase, etc., which are rarely found.
The major application of Fe2O3 is in iron production. There, Fe2O3 is used as the feedstock for the blast furnace (In which iron is produced in the form of molten iron). In addition, very fine particles of Fe2O3, known as rouge in common, is used in polishing jewelry to get the final finishing of the product.
What is Fe3O4
Fe3O4 is iron(II,III) oxide. It is named as such since it contains both Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions. This makes Fe3O4 ferromagnetic. This means Fe3O4 can be attracted to even a weak, external magnetic field. The mineralogical name of Fe3O4 is magnetite. It is one of the major iron oxides found naturally on earth.
Fe3O4 has a dark (black) color. The molar mass of Fe3O4 is 231.531 g/mol. The melting point of this compound is 1597oC, and the boiling point is 2623oC. At room temperature, it is a solid black powder which is odorless. When considering the crystal system of Fe3O4, it has a cubic, inverse spinel structure.
Fe3O4 is a good electrical conductor (the conductivity is about 106 times higher than that of Fe2O3). When properly induced, Fe3O4 particles can act like tiny magnets. This compound is used as a black pigment and is known as Mars black. It is used as a catalyst in Haber process (for the production of ammonia). Nano- Fe3O4 particles are used in MRI scanning (as contrast agents).
Difference Between Fe2O3 and Fe3O4
Fe2O3: Fe2O3 is iron(III) oxide, also known as hematite.
Fe3O4: Fe3O4 is iron(II,III) oxide, also known as magnetite.
Fe2O3: Fe2O3 appears as dark red or brick red solid powder.
Fe3O4: Fe3O4 appears as a black solid powder.
Oxidation State of Iron
Fe2O3: Fe2O3 has Fe3+ oxidation state.
Fe3O4: Fe3O4 has both Fe2+ and Fe3+ oxidation states.
Fe2O3: The molar mass of Fe2O3 is 159.687 g/mol.
Fe3O4: The molar mass of Fe3O4 is 231.531 g/mol.
Fe2O3: Melting point of Fe2O3 is 1565°C
Fe3O4: Melting point of Fe3O4 is 1597°C
Fe2O3: Fe2O3 decomposes at high temperatures.
Fe3O4: The boiling point of Fe3O4 is 2623°C.
Fe2O3: Fe2O3 is paramagnetic.
Fe3O4: Fe3O4 is ferromagnetic.
Attraction Towards a Magnetic Field
Fe2O3: Fe2O3 can be attracted to a strong, external magnetic field.
Fe3O4: Fe3O4 can be attracted to even a weak, external magnetic field.
Fe2O3: Fe2O3 exist in two major polymorphs; alpha phase, gamma phase and some other phases. Alpha phase has rhombohedral structure, and gamma Fe2O3 has a cubic structure.
Fe3O4: Fe3O4 has a cubic, inverse spinel structure.
Fe2O3: Fe2O3 is less electrical conductive when compared to Fe3O4.
Fe3O4: Fe3O4 is a good electrical conductor, and the conductivity is about 106 times higher than that of Fe2O3.
Hematite and magnetite are the major sources of iron in industrial metal iron production processes. These mineral are used as the feedstock for this production. Hematite mainly contains iron in the form of Fe2O3 whereas magnetite contains iron in the form of Fe3O4. These compounds are the major oxides of irons that can be found in nature. The main difference between Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 is that Fe2O3 is a paramagnetic mineral having only Fe2+ oxidation state whereas Fe3O4 is a ferromagnetic material having both Fe2+ and Fe3+ oxidation states.


The climate crisis is a massive threat to human health. If you have lung disease you should be particularly concerned about the climate crisis; it affects the quality of the air you breathe. The climate has already warmed by 1°C due to human carbon emissions. You may have noticed changes in extreme weather, which could be influencing your breathing already. Higher temperatures also result in prolonged pollen seasons, particularly affecting asthma sufferers. Warmer temperatures also cause more wildfire, dust storms and ground-level ozone, all of which worsen lung disease.
Many things that cause the climate crisis also worsen air pollution; for example coal-fired power stations and road traffic. There are huge potential health benefits from switching to more environmentally friendly methods of energy production and transport.


Commonly -- though incorrectly -- called “chameleons,” anoles are small to medium lizards that are capable of stark, and often rapid, color changes. While scientists understand how anoles change color, they do not completely understand why they change color. Beautifully camouflaged at times, these diurnal animals communicate through visual methods, and many anoles have evolved colorful dewlaps to deliver territorial or breeding messages.
Colonizing the Caribbean
Almost 400 species of anoles inhabit Central America, South America and the southeastern United States; however, the group achieves its greatest diversity on the islands of the Caribbean Sea. Most anoles share a suite of similar characteristics, including largely insectivorous diets, diurnal activity patterns and the reliance on visual communication. While broadly similar, the various species are diverse in terms of color, preferred perching locations and size.
Hunted by many birds, anoles rely on camouflage to evade detection. Species that inhabit the canopy and upper trunks of trees, such as green anoles (Anolis carolinensis), are often green, while the species that live on the ground or at the base of trees, such as Bahaman anoles (Anolis sagrei), are often brown. Many anoles have cross markings along their back, which helps to disrupt their outline.
Color Changing Capabilities
Anoles change their skin color using cells called chromatophores, which lie in separate layers beneath the anoles’ outer skin. The outer layer contains yellow-colored xanthophores, under which lies a layer of reflective iridophores. The melanophores, which carry black pigment, are the deepest layer. It is the melanophores which are responsible for the color change in anoles. When the melanin pigment is concentrated in one location within each cell, the lizards look green; but when the melanophore-stimulating hormone -- which is released by the pituitary gland -- triggers the dispersal of melanin within the cells, the lizards turn brown.
Color Changing Causes
Scientists have yet to discern the exact cause of color change in anoles; most studies have refuted rather than supported the hypotheses of researchers. Contrary to the idea that anoles change their colors to camouflage with their surroundings, a 1995 study by Thomas A. Jenssen of Virginia Tech and his colleagues from the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory and the University of Tennessee found that anoles matched the color of their surroundings less often than predicted by chance. While some workers have suggested that anoles use their color changing ability to thermoregulate, Shinji Yabuta and Akiko Suzuki-Watanabe found that anoles did not exhibit behavior consistent with the thermoregulation hypothesis either. Yabuta and Suzuki-Watanabe did collect some data suggesting that anoles may use their color changing abilities in social contexts, and reported their findings in a 2011 issue of “Current Herpetology.”
When anoles want to defend a territory or entice a mate, they climb up conspicuous perches and engage in species-specific sequences of head bobs and “pushups.” During the displays, anoles move their retractable dewlaps in and out. The color of these dewlaps varies by species, but is usually bright yellow, orange or red. The males of all species possess dewlaps, but some females have rudimentary dewlaps and others lack these structures entirely. Some species may extend their dewlaps when attacked by predators, in order to make them appear larger.
- Animal Diversity Web: Polychrotidae
- Reptile Database: Anolis
- Current Herpetology: Function of Body Coloration in Green Anoles (Anolis Carolinensis) at the Beginning of the Breeding Season: Advertisement Signaling and Thermoregulation
- Anole Annals: New Study on Color Change In Green Anoles
- Herpetological Monographs: Behavioral Profile of Free Ranging Male Lizards, Anolis Carolinensis, Across Breeding and Post-Breeding Seasons
- Cell and Tissue Research: Chromatophores and Color Change in the Lizard, Anolis Carolinensis
Thinkstock Images/Stockbyte/Getty Images


Aug. 29, 2013. Each year, the Watauga Cooperative Extension assists Watauga County’s Soil and Water Conservation District with Environmental Field Days.
Over 300 of the county’s 5th graders from the county schools come out each year to the Valle Crucis Community Park to learn about our environment, rotating through different stations. This year’s event will be held on Sept. 12 and 13.
An exciting addition to 2013’s Environmental Field Days will be “Mandy the Mayfly” Children’s Activity Book. Mandy the Mayfly has been a frequent guest in Watauga Co. classrooms over the past several years, teaching children the importance of clean waterways. Mandy is now the subject of a 16-page booklet of activities which teaches kids about the biological basics of the High Country’s river systems.
Children who attend Environmental Field Days will receive a free copy of the Mandy the Mayfly Children’s activity book. Through engaging activities, such as a scavenger hunt, the booklet will help them learn what makes a stream healthy for wildlife and humans.
This original High Country based workbook targets students from 3rd through 6th grade. The children’s activity booklet was produced by the Watauga River Partners in collaboration with the Watauga County Cooperative Extension and funding from the High Country Water Media Society, Flanigan and Pipes Land and Commercial Properties, Mast General Store, Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting, Footsloggers, Watauga Riverkeeper, Western NC Alliance, SOS Printing, and MountainKeepers. It includes original illustrations by local artist Carol Hancock.
Each child in the 5th grade who attends the Watauga County Environmental Field Days on Sept. 12 and 13 will receive a free copy of the activity book. The original “Mandy the Mayfly”, Joan Hearn – Watauga River Partner Volunteer- will be handing them out during the field day. Each child will participate in viewing live aquatic benthic macro-invertebrates (creek critters) with magnifying lenses and I.D. guides through the Watauga County Cooperative Extension station.
For more information about the Mandy the Mayfly Children’s Activity Book or to obtain a copy, please contact Wendy Patoprsty at 828-264-3061 or [email protected]
For more information about water, click to www.wataugariverpartners.org.


Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) occurs when there is inadequate blood flow through the posterior circulation of the brain in the vertebral and basilar arteries. The posterior circulation supplies the medulla, cerebellum, pons, midbrain, thalamus, and occipital cortex; thus, the symptoms of VBI may vary depending on which part of the brain is affected most significantly.
Vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) was first described in the 1950s by C. Miller Fisher and has since been accepted by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to define a transient ischemic attack in the vertebrobasilar circulation. In 1997, The Lancet published a case report of a 42-year-old woman who suffered a VBI stroke while having her hair washed at the hairdresser secondary to prolonged neck extension. After this report, VBI became commonly known as “beauty parlor syndrome” or “hairdresser syndrome”.
Twenty-five percent of strokes and transient ischemic attacks are in the vertebrobasilar distribution and are more common in men in their 70s and 80s. VBI is more common in African Americans perhaps due to an underlying genetic predisposition and in patients with hypertension, diabetes, and smoking, as well as disparity in access to care.
Strokes can be due to atherosclerotic plaques, embolism, or arterial dissection. VBI is typically due to chronic atherosclerotic plaque. Any sudden drop in blood pressure can cause the VBI to result in a symptomatic transient ischemic attack. Acute changes in blood pressure can be caused by position (e.g., getting up from bed too quickly), exertion (arm or leg exercises), or dehydration. In a sedentary older adult, seeming menial daily activities such as going up a flight of stairs can provoke a TIA or stroke from VBI. Additionally, mechanical forces acting on the neck can result in VBI unilaterally or bilaterally. External forces such as leaning one’s head back in at a beauty salon wash basin, chiropractic adjustments, bird watching, bow hunting or stargazing can result in VBI.
Risk factors for VBI are analogous to those that increase the risk of atherosclerosis such as older age, male gender, genetics, obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia. Patients with a history of other arterial diseases such as coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, endocarditis, arterial dissections or hypercoagulable states are also at risk for VBI.
VBI is generally a result of either hemodynamic insufficiency or embolism. Hemodynamic insufficiency can lead to decreased blood flow through the basilar artery or both vertebral arteries which would result in VBI, which is very common in elderly and people with diabetes. TIA symptoms do not typically last long but there are often multiple recurrent episodes of the VBI. Antihypertensives, pacemaker malfunction and vasculitis are also risk factors for VBI. Occlusion of other vessels such as proximal large vessels can result in subclavian steal syndrome which may cause blood to be redirected away from the brainstem through the vertebral arteries. Atherosclerotic plaques may break away and embolize to the basilar artery which could subsequently result in vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI). Emboli could also arise from intimal defects caused by trauma or compression. Typically these plaques originate in one of the vertebral arteries and obstruct smaller vessels.
While vertigo is the most common and recognizable symptom associated with VBI, other common symptoms are headaches, dizziness, ataxia, bilateral lower limb weakness, diplopia, oropharynx dysfunction, nausea and vomiting. The vertigo can occur whenever the head is turned which would put pressure on the contralateral vertebral artery and decrease blood flow in the vertebrobasilar distribution. When the vertigo is associated with ocular complaints such as diplopia, the patient often first presents to an ophthalmologist. The patient may also suffer a “drop attack” which is a sudden weakness of the lower limbs and knees causing the patient to fall over. VBI is a specific type of transient ischemic attack and thus must resolve within 24 hours by definition; however, VBI symptoms usually only last a few seconds to an hour.
Imaging studies are generally not required to diagnose vertebrobasilar insufficiency; however, sometimes a CT scan may be performed to detect hemorrhages. An MRI may also be conducted to detect ischemic changes, and an MRA can be helpful to detect stenoses or occlusions. CT angiography is also useful in assessing vertebrobasilar vasculature. (See Figure 1)
The differential diagnosis for vertebrobasilar insufficiency includes:
- Vestibular neuronitis
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- Hypercoagulable states (lupus, protein c deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin III deficiency)
Treatment reliably depends on the root cause of the VBI. Some common culprits are postural changes, exercise and dehydration and so patients could be advised to avoid such precipitating activities. Patients are also counseled on smoking cessation to control risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol. If the patient is an elderly patient that suffered a “drop attack” in which they had associated head or other injuries then they should be advised to sit down if they have lightheadedness or have any vision changes. Sometimes, antiplatelet and anticoagulation medications are indicated to prevent events if hypercoagulability was the cause of the vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
Surgery may be indicated in selected patients and the options are to either do an open surgical repair or endovascular repair with stent placement which is more commonly performed. Some trials have failed to show the benefit of endovascular repair for VBI in the setting of vertebral artery stenosis.
- Nouh, A., Remke, J., & Ruland, S. (2014). Ischemic posterior circulation stroke: a review of anatomy, clinical presentations, diagnosis, and current management. Frontiers in neurology, 5, 30.
- Estol, C. J. (1996). Dr C. Miller Fisher and the history of carotid artery disease. Stroke, 27(3), 559-566.
- Special report from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Classification of cerebrovascular diseases III.Stroke. 1990 Apr; 21(4):637-76.
- BBC, Warning over 'hair salon stroke', http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3654987.stm, 2004
- Savitz SI, Caplan LR (2005). "Vertebrobasilar disease". N. Engl. J. Med. 352 (25): 2618–26. doi:10.1056/NEJMra041544. PMID 15972868.
- Gorelick, P. B., Caplan, L. R., Hier, D. B., Patel, D., Langenberg, P., Pessin, M. S., ... & Kornack, D. (1985). Racial differences in the distribution of posterior circulation occlusive disease. Stroke, 16(5), 785-790.
- Spetzler, R. F., Hadley, M. N., Martin, N. A., Hopkins, L. N., Carter, L. P., & Budny, J. (1987). Vertebrobasilar insufficiency: part 1: microsurgical treatment of extracranial vertebrobasilar disease. Journal of neurosurgery, 66(5), 648-661.
- Baloh, R. W. (1995). Vertebrobasilar insufficiency and stroke. Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, 112(1), 114-117.
- Thompson, J. R., Simmons, C. R., Hasso, A. N., & Hinshaw, D. B. (1978). Occlusion of the intradural vertebrobasilar artery. Neuroradiology, 14(5), 219-229.
- Park, J. H., Kim, J. M., & Roh, J. K. (2007). Hypoplastic vertebral artery: frequency and associations with ischaemic stroke territory. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 78(9), 954-958.
- Hennerici, M., Klemm, C., & Rautenberg, W. (1988). The subclavian steal phenomenon: a common vascular disorder with rare neurologic deficits. Neurology, 38(5), 669-669.
- Caplan, L. R., Amarenco, P., Rosengart, A., Lafranchise, E. F., Teal, P. A., Belkin, M., ... & Pessin, M. S. (1992). Embolism from vertebral artery origin occlusive disease. Neurology, 42(8), 1505-1505.
- Humphries, A. W., Young, J. R., Beven, E. G., LeFevre, F. A., & deWolfe, V. G. (1965). Relief of vertebrobasilar symptoms by carotid endarterectomy. Surgery, 57(1), 48-52.
- Bruyn, G. W. (1988). Vertigo and vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 105(sup460), 128-134.
- Farres, M. T., Grabenwöger, F., Magometschnig, H., Trattnig, S., Heimberger, K., & Lammer, J. (1996). Spiral CT angiography: study of stenoses and calcification at the origin of the vertebral artery. Neuroradiology, 38(8), 738-743.
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Vertebrobasilar insufficiency. https://www.aao.org/image/vertebrobasilar-insufficiency Accessed June 26, 2019.
- Drake Jr, W. E., & Drake, M. A. (1968). Clinical and angiographic correlates of cerebrovascular insufficiency. The American journal of medicine, 45(2), 253-270.
- Millikan, C. H., Siekert, R. G., & Whisnant, J. P. (1958). Anticoagulant therapy in cerebral vascular disease—current status. Journal of the American Medical Association, 166(6), 587-592.
- Hacke, W., Zeumer, H., Ferbert, A., Brückmann, H., & Del Zoppo, G. J. (1988). Intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy improves outcome in patients with acute vertebrobasilar occlusive disease. Stroke, 19(10), 1216-1222.
- Coward, L. J., McCabe, D. J., Ederle, J., Featherstone, R. L., Clifton, A., & Brown, M. M. (2007). Long-Term Outcome After Angioplasty and Stenting for Symptomatic Vertebral Artery Stenosis Compared With Medical Treatment in the Carotid And Vertebral Artery Transluminal Angioplasty Study (CAVATAS) A Randomized Trial. Stroke, 38(5), 1526-1530.
- Moubayed, S. P., & Saliba, I. (2009). Vertebrobasilar insufficiency presenting as isolated positional vertigo or dizziness: A double‐blind retrospective cohort study. The Laryngoscope, 119(10), 2071-2076.


Representative democracy presupposes fair representation of all sections of the population in the legislature. The Constitution of India granted to Indian women the right to vote and be elected at par with men – a right which was traditionally denied to women in even the most developed countries of the world. India had set an example by providing women equal participation in politics way back in 1950, yet we have not been able to attain adequate and proportionate representation of women in Lok Sabha and in state legislative assemblies. India’s ranking in Women in Parliament world ranking is at a lowly 149th position as per the data released by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 2019.
A major landmark in our constitutional history was made when the Constitution (Seventy-third Amendment) Act 1992 provided for one-third of seats in Panchayats and the Constitution (Seventy-fourth Amendment) Act 1992 provided for reservation of not less than one-third of seats to women in Panchayats and Municipalities.
Encouraged by the success of this reservation in Panchayats and municipalities the Constitution (Eighty-first Amendment) Bill 1996 providing for reservation of not less than 33% of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, was first tabled in the Lok Sabha on September 12, 1996. A Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by Geeta Mukherjee examined this Bill and made several recommendations. But the Bill could not be passed and lapsed with the dissolution of Lok Sabha. Subsequently, similar Bills were introduced in 1998 and 1999 – both of which lapsed after the dissolution of the respective Lok-Sabha’s. In 2008, the Bill was again introduced in Rajya Sabha and was referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice and the Committee recommended that the Bill “be passed in Parliament and put in action without further delay”. The 2008 Bill incorporated five of the Geeta Mukherjee Committee’s recommendations. It was passed by Rajya Sabha in 2008 itself but could not be passed by the then Lok Sabha and still awaits the latter’s approval.
Historically, there has been an exclusion of women from the polity. For meaningful empowerment, women must find adequate representation in legislative bodies. Women comprise half the population in the country and proportionate reservation of seats for women is necessary to enhance women’s participation in the decision/policy-making process. I am happy to note that women form 14.6% of the total strength of the 17th Lok Sabha, highest since Independence.
Since all major political parties have committed in their Political Manifestos to provide reservation to women in Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies, it is time for all the political parties and other stakeholders to come together and redeem their promise by the enactment of this landmark legislation without any further delay. Four Lok Sabhas failed to pass this bill. Let the 17th Lok Sabha finally pass this Bill.


For homeowners, condensation on the inside or outside of their windows can be a troubling sight, but they may not fully understand the cause or implications of it. Not only is this phenomenon unattractive, it also poses serious health risks and can damage the window over time.
If you’ve ever wondered why condensation forms on your windows or how to stop it, take a look at our answers to some of the most common questions below.
What causes condensation on the outside of windows?
This is a common sight during spring and fall, when a warm day transitions to a cooler night.
How does Low-E glass impact condensation on the outside of a window?
Low-E glass is designed to maintain comfortable conditions inside by reducing heat loss through the window, in some cases cutting heat transfer by 50 percent. As the glass reflects the heat energy back into the room, the temperature of the glass exterior falls, which can lead to condensation. But in this case, the presence of moisture outside actually signals that the glass is performing properly.
How does condensation form on the inside of a window?
Condensation on the inside of a window is usually a sign of excessive humidity in the home. Due to high levels of moisture in warm air, it can often result in condensation when coming into contact with a cooler surface, such as a window pane during winter.
Are windows responsible for condensation?
No. Properly sealed and installed windows minimize heating and cooling loss, which is a leading cause of condensation. This reduced air leakage ensures that humid air remains inside. When condensation appears on well-insulated windows, it could mean that moist interior air has not been allowed to escape, but homeowners can take a number of steps to control this process.
How do I stop condensation from forming on my windows?
You can reduce condensation on your windows by promoting air flow and reducing humidity inside your home. When the temperature outside begins to fall, you may need to take certain measures to control humidity levels inside. Some of these measures include:
- Using an exhaust fan in the kitchen, bathroom and other rooms where high levels of moisture are often present.
- Turning off or turning down humidifiers when they aren’t needed.
- Ensuring that all ventilation channels leading outside are unobstructed.
- Allowing air to circulate freely through your home for short periods every day.
- Venting clothes dryers and gas appliances to direct moisture outside.
- Opening the fireplace damper occasionally to allow moist air to escape
If your home’s windows are not well-insulated or haven’t been properly installed, your ability to control condensation will be limited. Over time condensation on windows can contribute to mold growth—a destructive presence hidden inside window and wall openings.
Mold is increasingly being linked to child asthma, as well as increases in general respiratory illness, allergies and outbreaks of fungal disease.


Area farmers are being warned to keep an eye out for the fungus ergot.
"Ergot normally appears in small pockets, but this year seems to be prevalent statewide," Craig Roberts, University of Missouri Extension forage specialist, said in a press release.
The warning was prompted by a case in northeastern Missouri where one farmer lost four cattle in early July - ergot produces alkaloid compounds that are toxic to livestock and humans. According to the release, ergot bodies look like small rodent droppings and are easily visible in the seed head of cereal grains such as barley, oats, wheat, triticale and rye as well as common grasses such as timothy and tall fescue.
Heather Smith, a livestock specialist with the Callaway Extension office, said the weather this year has been conducive to the spread of ergot.
"With a cool, wet spring and now all of a sudden really hot weather, that's when the fungus kind of takes off," Smith said. "We're just now starting to see it. It's not a major concern, we just want people to be aware.
"If cattle managers are managing their fescue like they should be, they shouldn't have any problems with it."
She said some of the signs livestock may have been poisoned by ergot - consumption of which constricts the blood vessels - include rapid breathing, standing in water or shade all day (it increases their body temperature) and sometimes the tail will fall off or the ears will start to slough away because of decreased blood circulation.
"If you see those signs, you need to remove them from the field," Smith said.


A novel porous material that has unique carbon dioxide retention properties has been developed through research led by The University of Nottingham.
The findings, published in Nature Materials, form part of ongoing efforts to develop new materials for gas storage applications could have an impact in the advancement of new carbon capture products for reducing emissions from fossil fuel processes.
It focuses on the metal organic framework NOTT-202a, which has a unique honeycomb-like structural arrangement and can be considered to represent an entirely new class of porous material.
Most importantly, the material structure allows selective adsorption of carbon dioxide—while other gases such as nitrogen, methane, and hydrogen can pass back through, the carbon dioxide remains trapped in the materials nanopores, even at low temperatures.
Lead researcher Professor Martin Schröder, in the University's School of Chemistry, said: "The unique defect structure that this new material shows can be correlated directly to its gas adsorption properties. Detailed analyses via structure determination and computational modeling have been critical in determining and rationalizing the structure and function of this material."
The research team—which is included Sihai Yang, PhD, Professor Alexander Blake, Professor Neil Champness, and Elena Bichoutskaia, PhD, at Nottingham—collaborated on the project with colleagues at the University of Newcastle and Diamond Light Source and STFC Daresbury Laboratory.
NOTT-202a consists of a tetra-carboxylate ligands—a honeycomb-like structure made of a series of molecules or ions bound to a central metal atom—and filled with indium metal centers. This forms a novel structure consisting of two interlocked frameworks.
X-ray powder diffraction measurements at Diamond Light Source and advanced computer modeling were used to probe and gain insight into the unique carbon dioxide capturing properties of the material.
The study has been funded by the ERC Advanced Grant COORDSPACE and by an EPSRC Programme Grant ChemEnSus aimed at applying coordination chemistry to the generation of new multi-functional porous materials that could provide innovative solutions for key issues around environmental and chemical sustainability.
These projects incorporate multidisciplinary collaborations across chemistry, physics, and materials science, and aim to develop new materials that could have application in gas storage, sieving and purification, carbon capture, chemical reactivity, and sensing.Source: The University of Nottingham


A Tale of Two Cities Society and Class Quotes
How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Volume.Chapter.Paragraph)
Monseigneur had one truly noble idea of general public business, which was, to let everything go on in its own way; of particular public business, Monseigneur had the other truly noble idea that it must all go his way—tend to his own power and pocket. Of his pleasures, general and particular, Monseigneur had the other truly noble idea, that the world was made for them. (2.7.4)
The laziness of the aristocrats only turns into action when their own direct self-interest is concerned. Dickens satirizes the choices of the "Monseigneurs" without ever allowing us to see them as real people—a sign that, before the violence of the revolution at least, he sympathizes with the revolutionaries.
The leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance upon Monseigneur. (2.7.9)
Not only is Monseigneur unimaginable, but his followers are inhuman. They’re described as costumes—fancy, hollow shells of rich (and worthless) people.
I am like one who died young. All my life might have been. (2.13.17)
Why is Sydney Carton so sure that he can never deserve Lucie? Perhaps this quote offers an explanation: he’s convinced that his lower-class background makes him unfit for the life that he is capable of leading. He sees himself as one who died when his parents did. He’s never been able to believe in his own ability to transcend the circumstances of his youth.


NASA | Sarychev Volcano Eruption from the International Space Station
Amazing images seen from the International Space Station of a volcano erupting. The video is only 9 seconds long.
Dried and wrinkled salad/lettuce can be "refreshed" by immersing it in cold water. This is due to osmosis. The process is shown in a time lapse video where things are speeded up 720x. What took 3 h 35 m can be shown in 18 seconds... thanks to time lapse photography! Images are set to music. Run time 0:58.
Animation of Joint Movement, Part 1
There is no narration or sound; the video features simple animation showing how human joints move. (57 seconds)
Animation of Joint Movement, Part 2
There is no narration or sound; the video features simple animation showing how human joints move. (33 seconds)
Mysterious Ball Lightning
This video shows many different incidents of ball lightning. Ball lightning may be an atmospheric electrical phenomenon, the physical nature of which is still controversial. The term refers to reports of luminous, usually spherical objects which vary from pea-sized to several meters in diameter. It is sometimes associated with thunderstorms, but unlike lightning flashes, which last only a fraction of a second, ball lightning reportedly lasts many seconds. Video is set to music and no words are s
This is a brief (56 seconds) video using computer animation that discusses how air is exchanged in the lungs. Good sound quality.
Flight over the Surface of the Sun
This brief video clip shows a simulated flight over the surface of the Sun, courtesy of the Hubble team. No sound. 16 seconds.
Brazil Part 8: Feijoada, Brazil's National Dish
For recipes, visit www.ciaprochef.com/WCA Any discussion of Brazil's iconic dishes is incomplete without an in-depth look at the country's national dish- feijoada completa. Feijoada is more than just a bean stew... it is a cultural rite of passage. Opting for a taste of carioca style feijoada, we travel to Ipanema to pay a visit to a true Rio classic - Chef Gilberto Araújo's Casa da Feijoada. Many legends mistakenly attribute feijoada to the slave kitchen, but the Portuguese consumed feijoada
The Policy-Making Cycle
This video is accompanied by text. "Political socialization is the process by which people learn and form opinions about government and politics. This process typically begins at home, where children overhear their parents talking about political issues, concerns, and politicians. Most people can probably recall a time when they heard their parents or other adults praising or ranting about a politician. The things that are said, both good and bad, influence how young minds perceive government an
Valentine's Day Song
The video starts by counting 10 hearts, then sings a valentine song to the tune of "One Little Indian." Hearts are on a felt board while the teacher sings. Various shapes are also taught between the song.This video is really great for small children to catch on to.
Women in Politics
A three minute video highlighting some of the most important women in American politics. Needs more background to be of more value. Just a selection of sound bites, but good insights.
How to Paint Roses
Marjorie Harris shares her freehanding method of painting roses. Marjorie uses decorative painting methods and her fine art training to quickly paint roses. After several seconds of silence after her introduction, the artist proceeds to explain her steps. (4;29)
Paris Peace Conference - 1919
The video shows footage of the time. You can see who the leaders of the peace conference were and what they wanted. There are images of destroyed cities. The main aims of the winners are listed. Wilson's suggestions are explained. Post war politics in Germany is explained and the role of communism. There is reference to the way in which the leaders drew the map of Europe anew. There is a map shown. There is an account of the main terms of the The Treaty of Versailles.
While the American system of politics has generally been defined as a two-party system, occasionally a third party emerges, influencing elections and siphoning important votes from the major parties. Third parties often begin as single-issue parties that oppose or promote a certain social, economic, or political topic. For example, the Republican Party formed in the 1850’s as a third party in opposition to slavery. Similarly, in 2000, Ralph Nader formed the Green Party that focused on environm
Demography is the study of the characteristics of the human population, such as age, race, and gender. Political scientists use demography to identify and study specific target groups to determine who shows up at the polls versus who does not. In addition, these demographic groups enable political scientists to study voting trends, or what causes people to vote a particular way. Their studies not only yield statistics that can be used to forecast voter turnout in subsequent elections, but they a
U.S. Electoral System Explained
This video offers a brief description of how the voting process works in the US. The commentator in this video is talking very fast. Suitable for high school students and older.
While the president is limited to serving two terms in office, members of Congress can serve an unlimited number of terms. In the mid-nineteenth century, most congressional representatives served only a single term because at that time politics was not considered a career. However, by the mid-twentieth century, congressional representatives began to view holding congressional office as a prestigious career. (Video is narrated with slides and speeches.)
Declaration of Independence
Congress approves the Declaration of Independence. Watch the voting on the resolution to break ties with England.The document is then read to the public.
Radish seeds sprouting: time lapse
A great example of germination. This time lapse video shows how radish plants go from seeds, to seedlings, to plants in just nine days. Amazing how fast the radishes grew. Time lapse sequence set to take a frame each 14 minutes 24 seconds. The time lapse spans 9 days. Two 90 watt compact floresecent lights where used for both the camera shooting light and the grow lights. The lights were set on a timer for 18 hours on and 6 off (for the health of the plants). The jump in the video is the 6 hou
From Seed to Flower
The growth and development of a plant is one of the most spectacular events in nature. Yet, because it happens so slowly, over the course of days or weeks, it is difficult to observe in real time. This video segment depicts plant growth in time-lapse format, allowing the viewer to observe in just a few seconds some of the most important life stages of a plant, from germination to the formation of a flower, and several phases in between. Footage from NOVA: "The Shape of Things." Set to music. N


By Yamuna Kachru
This quantity goals to familiarize readers with the types of global Englishes used throughout cultures and to create information of a few of the linguistic and socially suitable contexts and features that experience given upward thrust to them. It emphasizes that potent verbal exchange between clients of other Englishes calls for knowledge of the kinds in use and their cultural, social, and ideational features. Cultures, Contexts and global Englishes:
- demonstrates the wealthy result of integrating conception, technique and application
- features severe and specific dialogue of the sociolinguistics of English within the globalized global
- gives equivalent emphasis to grammar and pragmatics of version and to makes use of of Englishes in spoken and written modes in significant English-using areas of the world.
Each bankruptcy comprises feedback for additional interpreting and difficult dialogue questions and acceptable learn initiatives designed to reinforce the usefulness of this quantity in classes corresponding to global Englishes, English within the worldwide Context, Sociolinguistics, severe utilized Linguistics, Language touch and Convergence, Ethnography of verbal exchange, and Crosscultural conversation.


Drawing wildlife can be a fun and rewarding challenge. It allows you to appreciate the beauty of nature and improve your artistic skills. While making you a professional wildlife artist within a blog post definitely exceeds my skill set :P ...
...here are some strategies that can help you achieve this goal:
Develop your observation skills: Painting and drawing is all about training your brain to see properly without interpreting anything into the shapes you see - in short: the key to creating realistic drawings is to have a keen eye for detail. You need to be able to observe the animal's form, texture, and movements carefully. This can be enhanced by spending time in nature, watching animals in their natural habitat, or studying photographs.
Practice drawing the basic shapes: Start by honing your skills in basic shapes such as circles, ovals, rectangles, and triangles. These shapes form the basis for drawing the animal's body and head.
Take note of proportions: Wildlife come in different shapes and sizes, so it's essential to get the proportions right in your drawings. Observe how the animal's body relates to its head, legs, and tail.
Use shading techniques: Capturing the texture and depth of the animal's fur or feathers requires shading. Learn to use various techniques such as cross-hatching and stippling to capture details accurately.
Experiment with different mediums: Experiment with different drawing materials such as pencils, charcoal, or ink to find the one that suits your style and preferred subject best.
Remember, practice makes better, so the more you practice these strategies, the better your drawing skills will become. Keep a record of your progress and don't forget to enjoy the process. :D
And if you'd like some more specific support on your artistic journey, I am available for online art lessons. These are tailored to you and your skill set (yes, even beginners and kids are welcome! :D) and we'll go at a pace that is comfortable for you and suits your needs.
Just get in touch, I am only one email away. ;)


The Journal of Infection Control reports that many patients’ mobile phones contain pathogenic bacteria , at least at the one hospital in Turkey where the study was conducted. About 40 percent of the phones carried by patients, companions and visitors were affected compared to 20 percent of health care workers. The report points out that even if mobile phones don’t pose a risk to the operation of medical equipment –which is often used as a reason to ban the phones– there could be even more serious dangers from the bacteria.
The researchers discuss different ways to reduce bacterial colonization of phones such as education, hand washing, alcoholic wipes and banning cell phones in certain areas.
I found it a little curious that the researchers didn’t seem to have included a comparison of bacterial colonization rates with landline phones in patients’ rooms. Maybe those aren’t common in Turkey the way they are in the US, but it seems like it would be a more relevant comparison.


Date: October 8, 2015
Post-frame constructions are engineered wood-frame building systems. They feature large, solid-sawn posts or laminated columns instead of wood studs, steel framing or concrete masonry. However, studs, steel and masonry may be incorporated into post-frame structures to make unique "hybrid" buildings.
Post-frame buildings are often thought of as "pole barns." However, today they are a highly engineered version of pole barns that meet UBC and IBC code.
Post-frame structures are more quickly erected than other kinds of buildings. Because the larger posts and the interlocking frame can handle greater loads than stud-wall construction, fewer structural materials are needed - which saves on material and installation costs.
Also, because posts are spaced farther apart than studs, there are fewer interruptions in insulating materials. Post-frame buildings feature an exceptionally large wall cavity for ample insulation, which allows for lowered heating and cooling costs throughout the year.
Post-frame buildings transfer loads to the ground through the posts, which are typically embedded in the ground or surface-mounted to a concrete pier or masonry foundation. There are a variety of foundation options unique to post frame, such as plastic barrier systems for enhanced protection of wood and concrete posts or piers.
Due to the application of modern structural engineering principles and stress testing methods, post-frame technology is recognized as a significant advancement in the centuries-old art of wood-frame construction. Post frame is now the construction method of choice for any number of agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential, religious and public building needs.
Due to the nature of its design and many external façade options, post frame may be customized to provide virtually any look. Post frame is an effective and versatile choice for building additions and remodeling projects. Entire buildings may be given a new look without sacrificing the original building. Almost any type of exterior façade may be installed on a post-frame building.
Post-frame buildings may be designed to meet the highest standards for quality and aesthetic beauty. They are the most efficient and economical choice for most low-rise building applications.


KidMatters – A Web and School-based Approach to Mental Health Promotion among Children in Primary Schools
Background and Objectives
Mental health problems become more common among schoolchildren. Anxiety is the most common psychological disorders reported by children and adolescents. Therefore, it is of great importance to promote mental well-being among schoolchildren by involving front-line social workers, teachers and parents. When children’s emotional management, social skills and problem-solving skills are strengthened, they can cope with their daily life problems more effectively, which is important for their mental health. The major goal of this project is to develop a web and school-based mental health prevention and promotion programme to help children strengthen their social abilities, problem-solving skills and enhance emotional health. The overall goals are to reduce the symptoms of anxiety in children, to facilitate psychological functioning and coping skills, and to create a healthy and supportive learning environment.
Major Project Activities
This project designed a mental health prevention and promotion program for primary 4 and 5 students. The program provided students training in 6 modules covering emotional competence, cognitive-behavioural model, problem-solving skills, social and communication skills, empathy, and gratitude. The training was delivered through 8 classroom teachings and supplemented by 11 e-lessons, which provided exercises relating to the in-class training modules concurrently.
In the process of students receiving training, the project also engaged students’ parents in seminars to equip them with skills that may help in dealing with children’s developmental issues and enhancing their abilities of problem-solving and building a support network. As a plan to sustain provision of mental training to students in primary schools after the project ends, the project also built training capacity with teachers in schools.
Last update : August 18, 2015


Trying to find a middle ground between land development and preservation is proving exceedingly difficult for the Bush administration. Now the Environmental Protection Agency wants to reverse an earlier decision and shrink the amount of acreage defined as wetlands. The potential hazards for the Chesapeake Bay are enormous.
When President Bush ran for election in 1988, he pledged there would be "no net loss of wetlands" during his administration. That was an important declaration because wetlands are so critical to a healthy ecosystem. In the Chesapeake drainage area, tidal marshes and inland bogs and wet woods help control floods, shelter wildlife and filter out pollutants, sediments and nutrients from the bay.
But when rules were set out to protect nontidal wetlands, federal regulators got carried away. The scientific definition of a wetland was so broad it encompassed 40 percent of the Eastern Shore and tripled overnight Maryland land subject to government controls.
Ever since then, the howls of protests have not stopped. Land owners complained they would not be able to develop or even farm this acreage without hard-to-get federal permits. To lessen the protests, Washington last winter released from regulations 600,000 acres in Maryland and gave the state permit power over building and farming on non-tidal wetlands of less than 10 acres.
That helped simplify matters. The state is now enforcing its own stringent non-tidal wetlands law passed in 1989. Since the program began in January, more inland marsh has been created on state-owned land than has been lost to development.
Still, opponents have not been silenced. A movement in Congress could eviscerate administration attempts to adhere to the president's "no net loss of wetlands" pledge. A bill with broad support in the House would further weaken the definition of wetlands, classify them by ecological value and require compensation for the diminished value of these lands. This could prove so expensive that most of the nation's wetlands would be left unprotected.
The EPA's revised regulations attempt to derail anti-wetlands legislation in Congress. While the administration's new, narrowed definition of wetlands may not please environmental groups, it is far preferable to what Congress is concocting to assuage angry land owners, farmers and developers. Every year, 300,000 acres of wetlands disappear. The nation must find ways to slow and reverse that process, not accelerate it.


Do you remember your sign-in details from Term 1? Don’t forget to save all the apps you create. This will make sharing with a friend much easier. The online tutorials are very useful. Don’t forget to check out my Bitsbox books and trading cards – some good mindstretchers here.
Work with your partner on one of the Little Bits packs. Follow their instructions to make their creations. Don’t stop there – create your own projects. Put some craft materials and MakeDo into the mix.
1ST CHALLENGE: Create your own original cup-song rhythm. You can’t just use the Anna Kendrick clip one! Record it using any signs, symbols, letters or numbers so that a friend can use it. Record it using Garage Band for someone else to follow.
2nd CHALLENGE: Create a cup pattern for the Year 1 students to learn, based on ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm’. Include a written code and Garage Band recording for a Year 1 buddy to complete.
Feeling creative? Use the ipad app GarageBand to record your own version of the song. Create a cup rhythm and loop it, add guitar chords, and maybe even your voice. You can find the lyrics here:


Dr. Helmut Kohl was German chancellor for four terms from 1982 to 1998. He is known as the Chancellor of Unification, but history will also see him as a great European.
Educated as a historian, he had a thorough understanding of political processes and national and regional variations.
You might also be interested in:
Ties that bind
European integration was his main focus. Although he had quite different principles and views from French President Francois Mitterrand (1981-1995), the German-French understanding continued to propel Europe forward. Kohl had a deep respect for the needs and equal rights of the smaller nations. This helped sustain the cohesion so essential to Europe. His understanding of the principle of subsidiarity was key.
The firm and close friendship between Germany and France was established by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (1949-1963) and President Charles de Gaulle (1959-1970). Like Helmuth Kohl, they were convinced Christians and Europeans, and took care that their countries spearheaded Europe, but did not dominate it.
Kohl continued this tradition. For him, the European Union was not to be governed like a national state. Instead, he saw it as a close union to serve the common interests of sovereign states in matters of long-term importance. To make the EU sustainable, Kohl strove for a robust European framework that would make integration solid, guarantee internal peace and prohibit foreign intervention.
He was a big promoter of the euro, not just for business reasons – such as facilitating payments or calculating costs in the internal market – but above all from political considerations. In his view, the euro would be another binding element in the European framework.
The euro’s present problems are largely due to the failure of successor governments to follow the original design
Starting in 1989, Chancellor Kohl worked with a highly competent minister of finance, Dr. Theo Waigel, who strongly promoted the fiscal responsibility later enshrined in the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact.
The so-called Maastricht criteria, which Dr. Waigel originally proposed as elements of the EU treaty, set standards for joining the euro area, while capping yearly budget deficits at 3 percent of gross domestic product and public debt at 60 percent of GDP.
The European Central Bank was meant to be an entity wholly independent from politicians and forbidden from engaging in fiscal policy. The euro’s present problems are mainly due to the failure of successor governments in various countries to respect this design and the Maastricht criteria.
The German government strongly supported the countries of Central Europe in their post-communist transformation, and Chancellor Kohl was essential in paving the way for their access to the EU. An important ally in this task was the European Parliament, and especially Otto von Habsburg, who ceaselessly promoted the Central European agenda.
When Yugoslavia disintegrated, it was German and Austrian support (strongly opposed by the UK and France) that helped Slovenia and Croatia survive, even as Bosnia and the Western Balkans slid into decades of turmoil and hardship. Kohl understood the underlying historical reasons why Yugoslavia was an artificial state. Austrian Foreign Minister Helmuth Mock had a similar profound knowledge.
During the Kohl era, Germany advanced the European cause without being domineering. Because he had a deep understanding of practical politics, he was a master at creating balances and grasping opportunities. This was the secret behind one of his greatest political accomplishments, German unification, which depended on seizing a tiny window of opportunity and shrewdly assessing the geopolitical situation.
What Europe means
The European Commission and other EU authorities should draw a simple lesson from the legacy of great statesmen such as De Gaulle, Adenauer and Kohl. Europe is not a national state but a fatherland of diverse fatherlands, a variegated union of sovereign states in which small entities have the same rights as larger ones. Centralized functions should be limited to the essential, excessive harmonization avoided, and healthy internal competition between member states and regions encouraged.
German-French friendship remains crucial, but it should not overshadow everything else
The German-French friendship remains crucial, but it should not overshadow everything else. The current push from Paris to create union-level ministries of finance and economy can only be detrimental. Threats by France’s new president against the governments of Hungary and Poland, even when camouflaged as a common EU interest, are really a sign of arrogance and interference, and could even be considered an attempt to dominate.
Helmut Kohl refused a German state funeral. He wanted a European and Christian memorial, and asked to be buried in Speyer, an old Roman town on the Rhine. In the days of The Holy Roman Empire, the Rhine was not a border, but the central artery of the Christian West.
Beneath the magnificent Romanesque vaults of Speyer Cathedral, some of the most important emperors of the 12th and 13th centuries are buried. King Rudolf I, the first German king or emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from the Habsburgs – Europe’s longest-reigning and most European dynasty – journeyed to Speyer in 1291, when he felt close to death, to die and be buried there.
Even Dr. Helmut Kohl’s place of interment has a deeper meaning. Europe owes him a great debt.


Kayaks were created thousands of years ago by the Inuit, formerly known as Eskimos, of the northern Arctic regions. They used driftwood and sometimes the skeleton of whale, to construct the frame of the kayak, and animal skin, particularly seal skin was used to create the body. The main purpose for creating the kayak, which literally translates to “hunter’s boat” was for hunting and fishing. The kayak’s stealth capabilities, allowed for the hunter to sneak up behind animals on the shoreline, and successfully catch their prey. By the mid-1800s the kayak became increasingly popular and the Europeans became interested. German and French men began kayaking for sport. In 1931, a man named Adolf Anderle became the first person to kayak down the Salzachofen Gorge, this is where the birthplace of modern-day white-water kayaking is believed to have begun. Kayak races were introduced in the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936. In the 1950s fiberglass kayaks were developed and commonly used, until 1980s when polyethylene plastic kayaks came about. Kayaking progressed as a fringe sport in the U.S. until the 1970s, when it became a mainstream popular sport. Now, more than 10 white water kayaking events are featured in the Olympics.


Super cheap and super simple. Just go out and find that pewter!
It is a shame that styrofoam chips, cups and other products are considered to be trash. There are so many recyclable uses for them! This was demonstrated in an earlier post “Cheap and useful styrofoam” where objects were made from styrofoam, but since this material is also sensitive to other chemicals, there are even more potential uses! In this video from GREENPOWERSCIENCE you can learn how to make thin spider webs and even wood sealant by dissolving styrofoam in natural chemicals such as citrus peel juice. Yes, the styrofoam still goes out into nature, but since it’s in a so much smaller size, the ultraviolet rays from our sun will be able to break it down much more quickly than any styrofoam cup or chip!
We all know styrofoam. It’s that white light-weight material that protects your goods while it is shipped. It may come as chips, molded pieces or even raw blocks and sheets. It’s used as insulation, shock absorber, modelling material and much more. But most of all, it is cheap! You can buy big blocks of it for a few dollars or find big pieces in your nearest dumpster for free! This is probably why most people see it as trash and not a building material. Well Make: magazine is here to show you how useful it can be! In this particular tutorial they make Halloween tombstone props but if you watch the video, you should easily see how these techniques can be used to make almost any form out of cheap and feather light styrofoam! And by the way, you don’t need special tools like soldering iron or a hot wire foam cutter. Tools like scissors, files, knifes and sandpaper can just as easily be used, although the surface might become a bit rougher. But since acetone (nail polish remover) can melt styrofoam, perhaps you can use a acetone damp paper towel to polish those surfaces? Now that would be a neat experiment!
This is truly an revolutionary video! Did you know that objects can be levitated and moved around in mid air, using only sound? In this incredible video from Yoichi Ochiai (YouTube Channel 落合陽一) we see the first successful attempts to acoustically levitate small objects like styrofoam balls, water droplets, matches and even metallic nuts! Perhaps one day we can even levitate big objects like skateboards or cars? What would you like to levitate with this technology?
We really like this video, because it is so inspirational. In this lecture from Maker Faire 2014, Emiko Soroka walk us through her experience from knowing basically nothing about crafting, to making her own Portal turret robot and learning a lot from her mistakes. And no words we say can ever top her own youthful wisdom:
Emiko Soroka – “What i´m really trying to say is that everyone can be a maker. It´s ok if you don´t know what you are doing, because you can get help. It´s OK if you don´t have a proper workshop or fancy equipment, or a hackerspace down the street. It´s OK if you don´t have a college degree. You have the internet and somewhere out there is an expert, happy to share knowledge with you. So don´t say “I can´t”, say “I’ll try!” because chances are you´ll succeed!”


SAN FRANCISCO: CHIP DESIGNER AMD claims that the delay in transitioning from 28nm to 20nm highlights the beginning of the end for Moore's Law.
AMD was one of the first consumer semiconductor vendors to make use of TSMC's 28nm process node with its Radeon HD 7000 series graphics cards, but like every chip vendor it is looking to future process nodes to help it increase performance. The firm told The INQUIRER the time taken to transition to 20nm signals the beginning of the end for Moore's Law.
Famed Intel co-founder and electronics engineer Gordon Moore predicted that total the number of transistors would double every two years. He also predicted that the 'law' would not continue to apply for as long as it has. It was professor Carver Mead at Caltech that coined the term Moore's Law, and now one of Mead's students, John Gustafson, chief graphics product architect at AMD, has said that Moore's Law is ending because it actually refers to a doubling of transistors that are economically viable to produce.
Gustafson said, "You can see how Moore's Law is slowing down. The original statement of Moore's Law is the number of transistors that is more economical to produce will double every two years. It has become warped into all these other forms but that is what he originally said."
According to Gustafson, the transistor density afforded by a process node defines the chip's economic viability. He said, "We [AMD] want to also look for the sweet spot, because if you print too few transistors your chip will cost too much per transistor and if you put too many it will cost too much per transistor. We've been waiting for that transistion from 28nm to 20nm to happen and it's taking longer than Moore's Law would have predicted."
Gustafson was pretty clear in his view of transistor density, saying, "I'm saying you are seeing the beginning of the end of Moore's law."
AMD isn't the only chip vendor looking to move to smaller process nodes and has to wait on TSMC and Globalfoundries before it can make the move. Even Intel, with its three year process node advantage over the industry is having problems justifying the cost of its manufacturing business to investors, so it could be the economics rather than the engineering that puts an end to Moore's Law. µ
Sign up for INQbot – a weekly roundup of the best from the INQ


Setting Realistic Expectations for Your Child’s Swim Skills
Swimming is one of the most exciting activities that people can enjoy alone or with others during their free time. Knowing how to swim is crucial because you never know when you might need this lifesaving skill when you or someone else is in a dire situation. For this reason, many parents enroll their children in swimming lessons as young as age two so they can learn to swim as early as possible. While most kids will learn how to swim quickly because they are young and teachable, some will catch on faster than others and leave parents wondering why. Here are four ways to help you have realistic expectations of your child’s swimming ability.
Do Not Compare One Child to Another
Every child is unique, and you should never compare to others. The best way to set the right expectations for your child is to learn who he or she is individually, and forget about all the other kids, including siblings. Learn your child’s abilities, temperaments, strengths, weaknesses, and needs so you can find a way to help them achieve realistic goals.
Adjust Your Expectations to their Level
If your child is afraid to get into a bathtub, chances are swimming pools will elicit the same anxiety, if not more. Knowing all about your child and the developmental stage they are at will help you know where to start and what to expect for the future. Don’t expect to go straight from A to Z without hitting every letter in between.
Lead by Example
Kids are very malleable and impressed by their parents. The best way to know what to expect from your child is to do things with them and set a good example. You can start by showing them how to do certain activities together to build their confidence and skill level. Once they are comfortable and building self-esteem, start letting go of the reins and let them be more independent. Coach them through any anxious feelings and let them know you are still there for them no matter what.
Leave the Graphs and Charts Alone
Do not pay too much attention to those charts and graphs that say where a child should be at every age. As we said earlier, every child is different and will grow and develop at their own pace. At Into the Swim, classes consist of 2 to 3 students per instructor, matched together according to age, skill, maturity, and comfort in the water in order to understand each student at a personal level. All classes go at a pace the students can handle so no one is held back or forced to be a swimmer more than they can handle at that time.
For over 15 years, Into the Swim has been providing fulfilling and fun swimming lessons in New Jersey for adults, kids, and infants across the country. We pride ourselves in putting safety first; our instructors are highly experienced and the indoor pools are heated to create a conducive learning environment. We also have swim lessons for infants and parents, as well as for people with disabilities, and those who are afraid of water.
If you’re interested in teaching your child how to swim, chose a company that sets realistic goals and has years of experience. Your child will be more comfortable and proficient in the water.


Sanj Srikanthan/The IRC
A conservative estimate puts the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon at 40,000 over half of whom are women and children. In many cases families have fled Syria without their men who are fighting in the civil conflict there. The stories we’ve heard talking to Syrian women in Lebanon are truly horrific. Rape and torture have always been talked of in the media, but not in the detailed accounts given by the women’s groups we have spoken to here. One account told of how women and girls were raped in front of their male relatives as a warning not to join the conflict. Daughters of local leaders in Syria were abducted raped and murdered, their naked bodies dumped in the main square of their villages. Other reports tell of girls being raped as they try to cross the border into Lebanon and are intercepted.
Syrian refugees carry both the emotional and physical scars of the trauma they have suffered, but there is little that is being done for them in Lebanon. They have escaped the brutality of Syria and arrived in a country without the infrastructure to host large refugee populations. Health services are barely available even for those who can pay, and this is not many. Many have managed to find simple accommodation in host communities, but as the conflict drags on these host families cannot afford to give free housing and many Syrian women and children are forced to beg or work long hours in the field, even during Ramadan when they cannot eat or drink during the day. In some cases families are selling their daughters into marriage with wealthy men in order to protect them from this life, and an uncertain future in a country that is not their own.
The plight of women in Lebanon is particularly tragic as the culture here does not give much weight to families who do not have adult men to speak for them. And yet many women are compelled to go out to seek means to support their families, all the while not knowing what has happened to their men in Syria. Lebanon has an average income per person which is two and half times as high as that of Syria before the conflict. If a Syrian woman in Lebanon does not have money she will have to find other ways to pay the rent for whatever accommodation is obtainable.
Even if they are able to find a livelihood in Lebanon while they wait to see the future of Syria, so many carry the emotional scars of what they have experienced in their homeland. Women’s groups that we visited in Lebanon offer a chance to unburden themselves and to receive professional counselling. But these services were few even before Syrian refugees arrived in Lebanon, and are now stretched thin. Pre and neo natal care is expensive in Lebanon and many Syrian women are giving birth prematurely due to the trauma they have experienced on their journey. Hospitals near the Syrian border in Lebanon are reporting babies born weighing as little as 1kg, when the average weight of a newborn should be three times that. The reality is that there is not enough support for refugees in Lebanon, and the humanitarian work that is being done simply does not meet the needs of a growing number of refugees.
When you read news reports of the latest number of dead in Syria, it is worth remembering that whatever that figure is, as many as 20 times that number will have fled with little food or money into countries like Lebanon. They have saved themselves from one horror and are now left with the memories of what they experienced and witnessed, with no means to support their traumatised families, waiting to see when they can return home.
The International Rescue Committee has interviewed women and girls from Syria now sheltering in Lebanon, who chose to share their stories with us. The IRC is already working with Syrian victims of violence against women and girls in Jordan. With added funding the IRC can expand to provide urgent health, psychological and social support to women and girls in Lebanon.


Covenant & Conversation: Family Edition is a new and exciting initiative from The Office of Rabbi Sacks for 5779. Written as an accompaniment to Rabbi Sacks’ weekly Covenant & Conversation essay, the Family Edition is aimed at connecting older children and teenagers with his ideas and thoughts on the parsha. Each element of the Family Edition is progressively more advanced; The Core Idea is appropriate for all ages and the final element, From The Thought of Rabbi Sacks, is the most advanced section. Each section includes Questions to Ponder, aimed at encouraging discussion between family members in a way most appropriate to them. We have also included a section called Around the Shabbat Table with a few further questions on the parsha to think about. The final section is an Educational Companion which includes suggested talking points in response to the questions found throughout the Family Edition.
The Parsha in a Nutshell
In the 25th chapter of Exodus we read of the command to build the Sanctuary. Shemini represents the conclusion of that story with the celebration of the first services in the Tabernacle. But what would have been a joyous occasion turns into tragedy when two of Aaron’s sons die because they brought a “strange fire” as a sacrifice to God. The parsha then continues with a description of the dietary laws (kashrut), specifically describing which animals, fish, and birds may be eaten.
The Core Idea
It should have been a day of happiness and celebration. The Tabernacle, the Children of Israel’s first house of worship, was finished. For seven days, Moses had performed the ceremony that declared the Tabernacle open for business. Now, the eighth day had finally arrived on the first of Nissan. The Priests, led by Aaron, were ready to begin their service.
It was just then that tragedy occurred. Two of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, brought a “strange fire, which [God] had not commanded them.” Fire then “came from God” and they died. We then follow two conversations between Moses and Aaron. The first:
Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when He said, ‘Among those who are near to Me, I will show Myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honoured.’” Aaron remained silent. (Lev. 10:3)
Moses then commanded their bodies to be removed, and Aaron and his remaining sons not to perform the usual customs of mourning. He also gave them more instructions to prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future, and then checked whether the sacrifices of the day had been performed. He discovered that Aaron and his sons had burned the sin offering, instead of eating it. This led to the second conversation:[Moses] was angry with Eleazar and Itamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the Sanctuary area? It is most holy and was given to you to gain forgiveness for the community before God. Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the Sanctuary area, as I commanded.”
Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, but now that this has happened to me today, would God have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering?” When Moses heard this, he approved. (Lev. 10:16–20)
The psychology behind these two conversations is fascinating. Moses tries to comfort his brother, who has lost two of his sons. He tells him that God has said, “Among those who are near to Me, I will show Myself holy.” According to Rashi, this means, “Now I see that they [Nadav and Avihu] were greater than you and me.” The holier the person, the more God demands of them.
It is as if Moses said to Aaron: “My brother, do not give up now. We have come so far. We have climbed so high. I know your heart is broken. We thought that our troubles were behind us, that after all we suffered in Egypt, and at the Red Sea, and in the battle against Amalek, and in the sin of the Golden Calf, we were finally safe and free. And now this has happened. But Aaron, don’t give up, don’t lose faith, don’t despair. Your children died not because they were evil but because they were holy. Their act was wrong but their intentions were good. They just tried too hard.” But despite Moses’ words of consolation, “Aaron remained silent,” because his pain was too great at that moment.
In the second conversation, Moses is concerned with something else – the community, whose sins should have been forgiven through the sin offering. It is as if he had said to Aaron: “My brother, I know you are in pain. But you are not just a private person. You are also the High Priest. The people need you to perform your duties, whatever you feel inside.” But Aaron replies: “Would God have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” Perhaps Aaron is saying: “I know that in general, a High Priest is forbidden to mourn as if he were an ordinary person. That is the law, and I accept it. But had I acted today as if nothing had happened, as if my sons had not died, would this not seem to the people as if I were heartless, as if human life and death meant nothing, as if service of God meant denying my humanity?” This time, Moses is silent. Aaron is right, and Moses knows it.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
- Were the words of Moses to Aaron (regarding the death of his sons) inappropriate? If not, then was Aaron wrong to refuse to be consoled by them?
- Is it fair to expect Aaron to ignore his pain and continue to perform his role as a spiritual leader for the people?
- What is the message of the two conversations together, that we should continue despite the grief and pain and tragedy of life? Or that we must allow ourselves time to be human and to grieve?
It Once Happened…
Rabbi Yekutiel Halberstam, the Klausenberger Rebbe, lived through the Warsaw Ghetto, the work camps, the death march to Dachau, and then Auschwitz itself. He survived, but his wife and eleven children did not. In Auschwitz, he vowed that if he survived he would dedicate himself to life. He resolved to build a hospital that would honour the image of God in every human being. It took him fifteen years to raise the money, but eventually he built the Laniado Hospital in Netanya, Israel, dedicated to treating everyone alike, Jew and Arab, Israeli and Palestinian. This is what he taught his followers after the Holocaust:
The biggest miracle of all is the one that we, the survivors of the Holocaust, after all that we witnessed and lived through, still believe and have faith in the Almighty God, may His name be blessed. This, my friends, is the miracle of miracles, the greatest miracle ever to have taken place.
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
- Why do you think the Klausenberger Rebbe chose a hospital to be his legacy?
- Would you describe faith after the Holocaust as a miracle? Just for the survivors, or also for the generations that follow?
Thinking More Deeply
In the two exchanges between two brothers we saw in The Core Idea above, a momentous courage is born: the courage of an Aaron who has the strength to grieve and not accept any easy consolation, and the courage of a Moses who has the strength to keep going in spite of grief. It is almost as if we are present at the birth of an emotional configuration that will characterise the Jewish people in centuries to come. Jews are a people who have had more than their share of suffering. Like Aaron, they did not lose their humanity. They did not allow their sense of grief to be dulled, deadened, desensitised. But neither did they lose their capacity to continue, to carry on, to hope. Like Moses, they never lost faith in God. But like Aaron, they never allowed that faith to anaesthetise their feelings, their human vulnerability.
That, it seems to me, is what happened to the Jewish people after the Holocaust. There were, and are, no words to silence the grief or end the tears. We may say – as Moses said to Aaron – that the victims were innocent, holy, that they died al kiddush Hashem, “in sanctification of God’s name.” Surely that is true. Yet nonetheless, “Aaron remained silent.”
When all the explanations and consolations have been given, grief remains, refusing to be pacified. We would not be human were it otherwise. That, surely, is also the message of the book of Job. Job’s comforters were pious in their intentions, but God preferred Job’s grief to their justification of tragedy. Yet, like Moses, the Jewish people found the strength to continue, to reaffirm hope in the face of despair, life in the presence of death. A mere three years after coming eye to eye with the Angel of Death, the Jewish people, by establishing the State of Israel, made the single most powerful affirmation in two thousand years that Am Yisrael Chai, the Jewish People lives. Moses and Aaron were like the two hemispheres of the Jewish brain: human emotion on the one hand, faith in God, the covenant, and the future on the other. Without the second, we would have lost our hope. Without the first, we would have lost our humanity.
It is not easy to keep that balance, that tension. Yet it is essential. Faith does not render us invulnerable to tragedy but it gives us the strength to mourn and then, despite everything, to carry on.
From the Thought of Rabbi Sacks
After the Holocaust, a ravaged, devastated people came back to the land of Israel and there built one of the great states of the modern world. Out of the wilderness they built farms and forests. In place of the totalitarian states from which many of them came, they framed a democracy. From a small population they created an army of invincible courage. In place of Jerusalem “in mourning and in ruins” they created a Jerusalem built “as a city that is closely joined together.” They made the Hebrew language, the language of the Bible, live again. They built yeshivot, citadels of Jewish learning, so that the streets of Jerusalem would once again echo with the sound of ancient learning. They brought Jewish communities, threatened by persecution, to safety. Together they brought about the collective resurrection of the Jewish people from the shadow of death to the land of life. Today when Jews sing of Israel they say od lo avdah tikvatenu, “Our hope is not destroyed.”
If you were to ask what our response to the Holocaust should be, I would say this: Marry and have children, bring new Jewish life into the world, build schools, make communities, have faith in God who had faith in man and make sure that His voice is heard wherever evil threatens. Pursue justice, defend the defenceless, have the courage to be different and fight for the dignity of difference. Recognise the image of God in others and defeat hate with love. Twice a year, on Yom Hashoah and the Ninth of Av, sit and mourn for those who died and remember them in your prayers. But most of all, continue to live as Jews.
When I stand today in Jerusalem, or in a Jewish school, or see a Jewish couple under the wedding canopy, or see parents at the Shabbat table blessing their children, there are times when I am overcome with tears, not in sadness nor in joy, but in awe at this people who came face to face with the angel of death and refused to give it a final victory. The Jewish people lives, and still bears witness to the living God.
Radical Then, Radical Now, pp. 183–184
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
- How does this quote sum-up the message contained in this week’s Covenant & Conversation?
- How has your life been a response to the Holocaust?
Around the Shabbat Table
- Were the words of Moses to Aaron (upon the death of his sons) inappropriate? If not, then was Aaron wrong to ignore them?
- Is it fair to expect Aaron to ignore his pain and continue to perform his role as a spiritual leader for the people?
- What are the two examples of courage found in the parsha? Which do you think shows more strength?
- Where can the message of the bravery of Aaron and Moses be seen in recent Jewish history?
- According to Rabbi Sacks, what can be found in “the two hemispheres of the human brain” and in whom are these embodied in the parsha?
Do you want to win a Koren Aviv Weekday Siddur? This siddur has been designed to help young people explore their relationship to their God, and the values, history and religion of their people. Email CCFamilyEdition@rabbisacks.org with your name, age, city and your best question or observation about the parsha from the Covenant & Conversation Family Edition. Entrants must be 18 or younger. Each month we will select two of the best entries, and the individuals will each be sent a siddur inscribed by Rabbi Sacks! Thank you to Koren Publishers for kindly donating these wonderful siddurim.
THE CORE IDEA
- Moses was right to try and console Aaron by explaining the context of the deaths of his sons – that they were holy, but they made a human error. Moses tried to give Aaron the strength to continue on, despite this tragedy and his grief. However, Aaron could not hear the words, because of his pain. Perhaps it was just a little too early for him to consider moving on and he needed at this moment to be in a place of pain.
- Aaron is functioning on two levels – as a human being, who is grieving the loss of his sons, and as the spiritual priestly leader of the Jewish people. The people are relying on him, and Moses was reminding him of this responsibility. While it is not fair to disregard or dismiss his grief, and while Moses needed to allow him to mourn, Moses was correct to remind Aaron that he also had responsibilities to the people.
- The message of the two conversations taken together is that we need to find a balance. Judaism always takes this approach to joy and grief. Sometimes, at the height of our happiness we still find room to grieve. Examples of this include saying yizkor on Yom Tov, breaking a glass to remember the destruction of the Temple under the chupah, and the transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut. In the Thinking More Deeply section Rabbi Sacks suggests this message was actualised in recent Jewish history as the generation that suffered the Holocaust went on to build the fledgling State of Israel. To ignore the suffering of Jewish history completely is to deny ourselves our very humanity. However, to become crippled by grief is inherently un-Jewish. We must move on with courage.
IT ONCE HAPPENED…
- A hospital represents healing and life, the antithesis of the Holocaust. This particular hospital was founded on the principles of honouring the image of God in every human being no matter their religion or race. This was a profoundly fitting response to the Holocaust which was perpetrated by people who believed in a political philosophy based on the opposite ideals.
- The Klausenberger Rebbe saw the worst of humanity in the Holocaust, enough to shake any person’s belief in God. Many people who lived through the Holocaust lost their faith and no one is in a position to judge them for this. For the Rebbe, it goes against reason that anyone should maintain their faith in God after experiencing that. However, he and many thousands of other survivors did keep their faith, and he describes this as a miracle (an act that goes against rational reason). Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits in his book Faith After the Holocaust suggests that because of these survivors who managed to keep their faith intact, we the generations that follow cannot use the Holocaust as a reason to lose faith. However, this period of Jewish history is a difficult one to reflect on and understandably it does raise questions for many. Perhaps the miracle is the rebirth of the Jewish people in the years that followed the Holocaust, a testament to that generation’s faith (see From the Thought of Rabbi Sacks).
FROM THE THOUGHT OF RABBI SACKS
- For some things, true consolation will never come. But that does not mean there is no way to move on, and debilitating grief must be avoided. However, to not grieve at all, to ignore or dismiss tragedy, lacks humanity. This is an important lesson on an individual and national level. This quote shows how the Jewish people has found a place for its grief and pain (on specific days during the year) while showing tremendous courage and drive to rebirth.
- To just live as a Jew is a victory against the forces of evil that were behind the Holocaust (and sadly can still be found in society today). To marry and have children, to live a proud Jewish life, based on the values of the Torah and of our ancestors, are all ways to respond to the Holocaust.
AROUND THE SHABBAT TABLE
- See The Core Idea answer 1.
- See The Core Idea answer 2.
- The courage of Aaron who has the strength to grieve and not accept an easy consolation, and the courage of Moses who has the strength to keep going in spite of grief. Sometimes facing grief, and not finding a way to explain it (for example “it is God’s will”) is as brave as moving past grief (the grief may never disappear – living with grief is what takes courage) and building a brighter future.
- Post-Holocaust Jewish history demonstrates these two types of courage. “There were, and are, no words to silence the grief or end the tears” – there can be no explanation for the Holocaust. Yet, like Moses, the Jewish people found the strength to continue, to reaffirm hope in the face of despair, life in the presence of death. A mere three years after coming eye to eye with the Angel of Death, the Jewish people, by establishing the State of Israel, made the single most powerful affirmation in two thousand years that Am Yisrael Chai, the Jewish people lives.
- Human emotion in one hemisphere, and faith in God, the covenant, and the future in the other. Without the second, we would have lost our hope. Without the first, we would have lost our humanity. Aaron represents the courage to embrace human emotion and what it means to be human, and Moses represents faith in God and the future, and the need to build and progress despite grief and pain.
The words of this author reflect his/her own opinions and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Orthodox Union.


Question: The accompanying data on annual maximum wind speed in meters
The accompanying data on annual maximum wind speed (in meters per second) in Hong Kong for each year in a 45-year period were given in an article that appeared in the journal Renewable Energy (March, 2007). Use the annual maximum wind speed data to construct a histogram. Is the histogram approximately symmetric, positively skewed, or negatively skewed? Would you describe the histogram as unimodal, bimodal, or multimodal?
Answer to relevant QuestionsThe accompanying relative frequency table is based on data from the 2007 College Bound Seniors Report for California (College Board, 2008). a. Construct a relative frequency histogram for SAT reasoning score for males. b. ...Student loans can add up, especially for those attending professional schools to study in such areas as medicine, law, or dentistry. Researchers at the University of Washington studied medical students and gave the following ...Construct a histogram corresponding to each of the five frequency distributions, I– V, given in the following table, and state whether each histogram is symmetric, bimodal, positively skewed, or negatively skewed: The article “Cities Trying to Rejuvenate Recycling Efforts” (USA Today, October 27, 2006) states that the amount of waste collected for recycling has grown slowly in recent years. This statement was supported by the data ...The article “Most Smokers Wish They Could Quit” (Gallup Poll Analyses, November 21, 2002) noted that smokers and nonsmokers perceive the risks of smoking differently. The accompanying relative frequency table summarizes ...
Post your question


"Lay health workers have no formal professional education, but they are usually provided with job-related training. They can be involved in either paid or voluntary care. They perform diverse functions related to health care delivery and a range of terms are used to describe them including village health workers, community volunteers and peer counsellors among others." This summary is based on a 2006 systematic review of lay health workers in primary and community health care, by Simon Lewin et al
This document updates a systematic review produced in 2005 by Lewin. It focuses on on the effects of lay health worker interventions in improving maternal and child health and in addressing key high burden diseases such as tuberculosis in low and middle income countries. The study concludes that; "the use of lay health workers in health programmes shows promising benefits, compared to usual care, in promoting immunisation and breastfeeding uptake; in reducing mortality and morbidity from common childhood illnesses; and in improving TB treatment outcomes. Little evidence is available regarding the effectiveness of substituting lay health workers for health professionals or the effectiveness of alternative training strategies for lay health workers"
Source e-bulletin on Disability and Inclusion


Absolute Values (AVs) questions in GMAT can be a time saver for you if you understand a few rules. Capture the following notes and use it as a reference for your GMAT exam.
1. Absolute Value equations are two equations disguised as one
You can split up any equation involving absolutes into two, and solve for each solution. One will look identical to the given, and the other is found by multiplying the inside by -1. Remember to multiply the entire expression by -1.
| (x + 5)/3 | = 11 turns into:
(x + 5)/3 = 11, and
(x+5)/3 = -11
x + 5 = 33
x + 5 = -33
x = 28 x = -38
Note that plugging either x = 28 or x = -38 into the original equation will check out. Also note that solutions for variables within absolute value questions can be negative. What is spit out of the AV cannot be negative, but what goes in can be anything.
2. Think of Absolute Values as distances from zero
If an AV = 15, that means whatever is inside the AV is exactly 15 above or below zero on the number line.
| x + 5 | = 15
x = -20 and x = 10. Note that this is a SHIFT of -5 from the constant on the right side of the equation (15). If the variable inside the AV is being added, shift to the left to find the solution. If the variable inside the AV is being subtracted, shift to the right to find the solution.
3. Think about your range of options
If posed with an inequality, think about the range of options that would satisfy it. It may help to pick a number and plug in to make sure you haven’t mixed it up.
| x + 5 | < 15
The only difference between | x + 5 | < 15 and | x + 5 | = 15 is that you are looking for a range of x, not what it equals. However, you can solve for the extremes (-20, +10 from previous example) and then look at the sign. Since | x + 5 | is LESS than 15, that means | x + 5 | is within 15 of 0. So your range is -20 < x < 10.
Hypothetically, if we flipped the sign to | x + 5 | > 15, your satisfying values would be x < -20 and x > 10.
Q) If | x | + | y | = | x + y |, which of the following statements must be true?
(A) xy > 0
(B) xy < 0
(C) x + y > 0
(D) x + y < 0
(E) x - y > 0
Again, keep in mind that everything coming out of an AV is positive, but not necessarily everything that goes in. If both | x | + | y | and | x + y | must be positive, we must look at how the input values affect the output. The absolute values add on top of each other on the | x | + | y | side in positive space. This means that the x and y within | x + y | must add on top of each other in the same direction. To do this, x and y must be the same sign, but says nothing about their relative sizes.
If x and y are the same sign. xy > 0. Choice (A).
Q) What is x? (Data Sufficiency)
(1) | x | < 2
(2) | x | = 3x – 2
As discussed above, AV equations give 2 solutions and AV inequalities give 2 endpoints of ranges. In this sense, we know that neither Statement (1) nor Statement (2) is sufficient, right? Not so fast.
Statement (1) gives us a range, and tells us that -2 < x < 2.
Per strategy above, we can split Statement (2) into the following two equations:
x = 3x -2, and
-x = 3x – 2
x = 1/2
It seems that even with (1) and (2) TOGETHER, we still would not know whether x = 1 or x = 1/2. However, these questions emphasize the need of plugging back into the original equation to check your answer.
If we were to plug in x = 1/2 into | x | = 3x – 2, we would get 1/2 = -1/2, which is NOT true. Since this solution cannot exist, only x = 1 is our solution.
Answer Choice (B).
Be extra careful when making +/- assumptions when there is a variable on both sides of the equation. Graphically, outputs of AV expressions cannot be below the x-axis. In this case, the line y = 3x – 2 hits the x-axis at x= 2/3. Any x value below 2/3 cannot be a solution to the given equation, since that would imply that | x | was negative.
Essential GMAT Reading Comprehension Guide
After reading F1GMAT’s Essential GMAT Reading Comprehension Guide, you will:
1. Complete GMAT RC Questions in less than 1 minute and 50 seconds
2. Read Faster
3. Take Notes Effectively
4. Collect and Interpret Facts
5. Speed up Summary Creation
6. Remember Information
7. Question the Author
8. Learn to Answer GMAT Reading Comprehension Title question
9. Learn to Answer GMAT Reading Comprehension Main Idea Question
Mastering GMAT Critical Reasoning
After you read F1GMAT’s Mastering GMAT Critical Reasoning Guide, you will learn:
How to overcome flawed thinking in GMAT Critical Reasoning?


Course: Tropical Environmental Health
Tropical Environmental Health
Inadequate water supplies and lack of sanitation facilities represent major hazards to the public health in many parts of the world. In spite of the International Water Supply Decade, (1980-1990) there are more people without facilities approaching minimum standards now than existed at the beginning of the program. Without improvements in these areas, there can be no hope that there will be an overall improvement in the health of the nations which constitute the Third World. Yet appropriate technologies do exist which can go a long way to ameliorate these problems. Simple, low cost projects can be built and maintained by village-based methods. These are being used in some countries and provide a basis for the improvement of living standards for the poorer people of the world. This is a practical course designed to demonstrate actual details of construction and provide a working knowledge of simple mechanisms involved in ventilating latrines and also on how simple pumps work. You should end with a good idea about how these tings work and how they can be maintained.
During this class we will be discussing some of the problems arising from poor facilities in many developing countries. We will examine problems associated with solid waste disposal and see the enormity of the problem. We will come up with some suggestions about how to ameliorate the problems... There are few real solutions....