The sooner you get treated for tooth decay, the less likely you'll lose your tooth. That could mean a simple filling—or you might need a root canal treatment if decay has reached the inner pulp.
There's also another procedure for advanced decay called pulp capping. It's a bit more involved than filling a cavity but less so than a root canal. We can use it if decay has exposed or nearly exposed the pulp, but not yet infected it—otherwise, you may still need a root canal treatment to remove the diseased pulp tissue.
There are two types of pulp capping methods, direct and indirect. We use direct pulp capping if the pulp has been exposed by decay. After isolating the tooth to protect other teeth from contamination, we remove all of the decayed dentin up to the pulp. This may cause some bleeding, which we'll stop, and then clean and dry the tooth area.
We'll then apply a protective biocompatible material directly over the pulp to promote healing and protect it from further infection. We then restore the tooth's appearance and function with a life-like filling.
We use the indirect method, a two-part process separated by six to eight months, when the pulp tissue is close to the surface but not yet exposed. We initially remove the majority of decayed tooth structure, but leave some of it in place next to the pulp chamber. Although this remaining dentin is softened and decayed, we'll treat it with antibacterial chemicals, then cover it with a biocompatible material and a temporary filling.
Over the next several months the treated structure has a chance to re-mineralize as it heals. We then remove the temporary filling and assess the level of healing progress. If the regenerated dentin appears healthy, we can then remove any remaining decay and restore the teeth as we would after a direct pulp capping.
At the very least, pulp capping could buy your affected tooth time before a root canal will finally be needed. Under the right circumstances, it's an effective way to save an otherwise lost tooth.
If you would like more information on tooth decay treatments, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Pulp Capping: A Procedure that may Save a Decayed Tooth.”
Does your smile look dull and tired? If so, you need to learn about veneers! With the ability to turn teeth from dingy to dazzling, veneers can address such issues as chips, cracks, discolorations, and odd spacing. Veneers can even improve the appearance of misshapen teeth! Read on to learn how your team of dentists here at the Center for Cosmetic and Sedation Dentistry in Lawrenceville, GA, can rejuvenate your smile!
What are Veneers?
Veneers are wafer-thin covers placed over the front surface of teeth with cosmetic imperfections. Veneers give problem teeth a flawless new look by concealing imperfections, such as cracks or discolorations. Veneers are cemented to the teeth and will remain securely in place even when biting and chewing food. Additionally, caring for veneers is as easy as caring for your natural teeth—maintenance only requires twice daily brush, once-a-day flossing, and regular appointments to the dentist!
Veneers are custom created in a dental lab based on a mold of your teeth, allowing each one to perfectly fit over its corresponding tooth. Additionally, the color of each veneer is carefully crafted to create a completely natural look. Once in place, the restorations will blend seamlessly into your smile!
How Veneers Help Your Smile
There are several ways that veneers can make your smile look brand new, and during a consultation, your Lawrenceville dentist can help you decide if this cosmetic treatment is the right choice for helping you achieve the smile you desire. Veneers can help your smile by correcting or concealing the following cosmetic concerns:
- Chipped teeth
- Cracks in teeth
- Stains or discolorations on teeth
- Rough or uneven tooth surfaces
- Small spaces or gaps between teeth
- Teeth with an unusual shape
Interested? Give Us a Call!
To learn more about veneers and how they can improve your smile, schedule an appointment at our Lawrenceville office by calling (770) 995-1957.
While braces are often the stars for straightening smiles, they're not the only cast members in an orthodontic production. Orthodontists occasionally turn to other appliances if the bite problem is challenging. Whatever the tool, though, they usually have something in common—they use the principle of anchorage.
To understand anchorage, let's first consider the classic kid's game Tug of War. With teams on either end of a rope, the object is to pull the opposing team across the center line before they pull you. To maximize your pulling force, the player at the back of your rope, usually your stoutest member, holds steady or "anchors" the rest of the team.
Like a Tug of War team, braces exert force against the teeth. This stimulates the supporting periodontal ligament to remodel itself and allow the teeth to move. The braces use the teeth they are attached to as anchors, which in a lot of cases are the back teeth. By attaching a thin wire to the brackets or braces on the teeth, the orthodontist includes all the teeth on the arch, from one end to the other. Anchored in place, the wire can maintain a constant pressure against the teeth to move them.
But not all bite situations are this straightforward. Sometimes an orthodontist needs to influence jaw growth in addition to teeth movement. For this purpose, they often use orthodontic headgear, which runs around the back of the head or neck and attaches to orthodontic brackets on the teeth. It still involves an anchor but in this case it's the patient's own skull.
In some situations, an orthodontist may feel he or she needs more anchorage as the teeth alone may not be enough. For this, they might establish a separate or additional anchor point using a temporary anchorage device (TAD). A TAD resembles a tiny screw that's inserted into the jawbone near the tooth intended for movement. The orthodontist can then attach the TAD to braces hardware using some form of elastics. After treatment, they remove the TAD.
These are just a couple examples of specialized tools an orthodontist can use for bite correction. Thanks to them and similar devices, even the most complex bite problem can be overcome to create a healthier and more attractive smile.
If you would like more information on correcting a poor bite, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Orthodontic Headgear & Other Anchorage Appliances.”
Singer and actor Demi Lovato has a new claim to fame: formidable martial artist. When she is not in the recording studio, on stage or in front of the camera, Lovato can often be found keeping in shape at Jay Glazer's Hollywood (California) gym. Glazer, who is best known as a sports journalist, also runs conditioning programs for professional athletes and celebrities based on mixed martial arts. On March 6, Glazer got more than he bargained for when 5'3" Lovato stepped into the ring and knocked out his front tooth.
Glazer reportedly used super glue to put his tooth back together. Not a good idea! While it may not be convenient to drop everything and get to the dental office, it takes an expert to safely treat a damaged tooth. If you glue a broken tooth, you risk having to undergo major work to correct your temporary fix—it's no easy task to "unglue" a tooth, and the chemicals in the glue may damage living tooth tissue as well as the surrounding gum and bone.
Would you know what to do in a dental emergency? Here are some guidelines:
- If you chip a tooth, save the missing piece if possible. We may be able to reattach it.
- If your tooth is cracked, rinse your mouth with warm water, but don't wiggle the tooth around or bite down on it. If it's bleeding, hold clean gauze to the area and call our office.
- If your tooth is knocked loose or is pushed deeper into the socket, don't force the tooth back into position on your own. Immediate attention is very important.
- If your tooth is knocked out, there's a chance it can be reattached. Pick up the tooth while being careful not to touch the root. Then rinse it off and have either someone place into its socket, or place it against the inside of your cheek or in a glass of milk. Please call the office immediately or go to a hospital.
What's the best thing to do in an emergency? Call us right away, and DON'T super glue your tooth! You can prevent worse problems by letting a professional handle any dental issues. And if you've been living with a chipped, broken or missing tooth, call us to schedule an appointment for a consultation—there are several perfectly safe ways to restore your smile. Meanwhile, if you practice martial arts to keep in shape, think twice before getting into the ring with Demi Lovato!
Teenagers and adults alike can improve their smile appearance with dental solutions like teeth whitening or orthodontics. But there are a few cosmetic solutions like porcelain veneers that are better suited for more mature teeth.
Veneers are composed of thin layers of dental porcelain that are bonded to the outside of teeth. They're kind of a tooth "mask" that hides blemishes like chips, discoloration or mild bite problems. They're often less involved and expensive than other types of dental restoration.
Even so, we usually need to remove some of the natural tooth's enamel before applying them. Veneers placed directly on unprepared teeth can appear bulky, so we remove some of the enamel to create a more natural look. And although usually only a slight amount, the alteration is permanent and will require the tooth to have some form of restoration from then on.
This usually doesn't pose a major issue for adults, but it could for a teenager's younger teeth. The nerve-filled dentin in a teenager's still developing tooth is thinner and closer to the pulp (nerve tissue) than in more mature teeth.
There's at least one situation, though, where veneers might be applied safely to a teenager's teeth without this concern. If the teen has abnormally small teeth and are receiving veneers to improve their appearance, they might not need alteration. Because the teeth are already thinner than normal, the "no-prep" veneers may not look bulky when directly bonded to them without preparation.
With most cases, though, it might be best to pursue other options that at the very least can make a cosmetic difference until their teeth are mature enough for veneers. For example, we might be able to repair chipped areas with composite resin material that we form and bond to the tooth to achieve a life-like appearance.
We can discuss these and other options for safely improving your teenager's smile. The important thing is to achieve a more confident appearance without endangering their future health.
If you would like more information on cosmetic treatments for teenagers, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Veneers for Teenagers.”
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“The usual suspects” in the way of marine organisms that die way too easily in aquariums include pinnatus batfish, ribbon moray eels, cleaner wrasses and the Moorish idol (Zanclus cornutus). The Moorish idol ranks with the worst, very infrequently living more than a week in captivity. However, as with the other species mentioned, there have been folks who have had success keeping Zanclus cornutus.
There is but one species in the family Zanclidae, though some literature still lists the invalid name of Zanclus canescens. With its bold markings and prominent rostrum, the Moorish idol is an unmistakable reef fish. It is useful to keep in mind the “higher taxonomy” of this fish, as Moorish idols are part of the same group as tangs (the suborder Acanthuroidea). Much of their behavior in challenging each other, socializing and even reproduction is similar to the acanthurids.
Moorish idols in the wild are outright plump compared with the thin ones that hobbyists see displayed in aquariums. Many offered for sale are tremendously beat up, often with not much of their flowing dorsal fin left by the time they make it to your dealer’s tank (this appendage can easily and quickly grow back). It is of paramount importance that you avoid thrashed specimens, especially those that are too thin. Skinny specimens rarely live.
Source of collection is important. This fish can be rather common over its extensive range across the Indo-Pacific from eastern Africa to the tropical eastern Pacific, but the best specimens available hail from Hawaii and sporadically from Mexican waters. Perhaps these source locales yield “fresher” catches (shorter air flights), or maybe they’re caught with better methods. I have collected this species in both Hawaii and Mexico and can assure you that the Moorish idols are robust in both locales.
Don’t buy specimens that have just arrived at the store. It is impossible to tell what real condition these animals are in, and most deaths occur “mysteriously” with these fish (as well as most species) within the first day or two of arrival. Wait a few days after their arrival at the store to evaluate idols for purchase.
Beware of discolored, poorly behaving specimens. At nighttime this species darkens up and rests on the bottom. By day it should regain its color and be swimming about. Avoid dark or splotchy individuals hanging in the corners or bottom of the tank. You want to locate well-colored, active specimens that are alert and eating.
With Moorish idols, there is much more that you get than what immediately matches your observations. This species has always intrigued me because it dies so easily, yet it was so amazingly robust when we’d collect it in Mexico. In Mexico, these fish were kept with other more valuable species in bait receivers, eating paper towels and orange peels – and they lived! How could this be the same species? I believe that there is a range of adaptability by species to captive conditions, and I think that the Moorish idol is just not very adaptable.
Zanclus cornutus is of enormous beauty and interesting behavior. These fish are territorial and in many ways are like the related tangs, fighting in the same nose-to-nose, circling, tail-swatting (sans spikes) manner. They also bite, play and are curious about their enclosures and tankmates. The Moorish idols are intriguing indeed. Moorish idols are found as pairs most frequently in the wild, and any pair is sometimes accompanied by a another decidedly smaller male. The species forms temporary shoals (up to 50 or so individuals) in a sort of “mobbing” behavior, again, akin to the surgeonfishes, to exploit an already occupied territory. The best example most commonly observed here are incidents in which resident damselfishes are displaced for minutes, while marauding idols invade their space to remove sessile invertebrates and algae as food.
In captivity, almost everyone tries to keep this species solo, and I believe this is a mistake. Though it is best to carefully acclimate new purchases separately to assure their health, as well as cleanliness from pathogens and parasites, few aquarium animals kept on their own do well for any period of time. The best way to keep this species alive long-term is to pair two together, quarantine the established animal for a few days to give the new one a chance to become familiar and feed both at the same time out of view from either.
Tankmates should not be too boisterous in their swimming and not aggressive behaviorally toward the idol. Hence, large pomacanthids, and almost all surgeonfishes and rabbitfishes should be excluded. Motile invertebrates are by and large safe, but attached invertebrates or algae may be consumed in time.
The suggested minimum fish aquarium size for this species is 200 gallons (Dodds, 2008). I have seen this species kept in more modest enclosures (6-foot length), but the bigger the system, the better. Space is absolutely needed for keeping this species successfully on a few counts. For one, it is a wide-ranging fish that suffers tremendously for not having three dimensions to move about in. Second, Moorish idols really need to have a sense (and reality) of being able to get away from you and from other fish in their system. They can’t do this in small volumes, and if kept in too-small quarters, they will injure themselves – often fatally – or stress themselves with the same consequence. Also, this species’ foraging behavior dictates that it will need room to look around for food. Being kept in too-tight confines can result in a few problems, including repetitive swimming behavior (pacing), physical damage or death.
Water movement should be vigorous, again for a few reasons:
* To promote good gas exchange, and high dissolved oxygen.
* To facilitate waste removal by your filtration.
* To serve as a source of exercise and distraction to keep this fish from “worrying” or bothering its mate too much (if you have two).
Per the ongoing comparison with their relatives the surgeonfishes, the Moorish idol also appreciates reef-quality water. Without this, it suffers by being much more susceptible to biological disease.
Rock arrangements are best made in bommie fashion, as opposed to the typical rear-wall stacking that is so predominant in our hobby. Areas toward the center line of a system can be built up with free-stacking or drilled and pinned rockwork, allowing for passage of livestock (and water) along and around all edges of the system, and granting more out-of-view hiding spaces.
Moorish Idol Care Tips
Increase your chances of success with Moorish idols by adhering to the following:
* Purchase specimens that were collected in Hawaii or Mexico.
* Avoid newly arrived specimens. Wait several days after the Moorish idols have arrived before evaluating them for purchase.
* Avoid buying thin or beat-up individuals.
* Buy a pair of Moorish idols for your tank. Single specimens don’t do as well.
* Quarantine new specimens.
* Train your Moorish idols to eat at the same time but in different locations (so the fish can’t see each other). This keeps the dominant specimen from eating all of the food.
* Offer them enough to eat, and include sponges in their diet.
* Do not include any boisterous or aggressive tankmates.
* Keep your idols in at least a 200-gallon tank.
* Have vigorous water movement.
* Keep water quality high, as these fish do best in reef-quality water.
* Avoid using copper medications and instead use quinine-based medications if necessary.
* Only attempt to keep these if you are an expert in keeping marine fishes.
For a species that seems to die so easily in captivity, a healthy idol is an eating machine. This fish will consume any type of food in all formats: dried, flake, wafer, pellet, frozen and fresh terrestrial greens (blanched). I have witnessed this and other “touchy” species thriving when fed exclusively on pelleted food. This being stated, there is likely still a considerable number of losses that can be attributed to either a dearth of food or nutritional deficiency. The Moorish idol consumes a good deal of live sponge material in the wild and seems to thrive most often when offered foods and live rock that contain these in aquariums. The provision of sponge matter may be critical to them staying in good health and color. If you have more than one Moorish idol in a system, there is a strategy to get food to both specimens. Having more than one Moorish idol often proves difficult in terms of dominance issues during feeding. This is best avoided by training both specimens to feed at the same time but in different, out-of-eye-view areas of the system.
Disease and Health
Like the touchier, more disease-prone surgeonfishes (e.g., powder brown, Acanthurus nigricans; powder blue, A. leucosternon), the Moorish idol is prone to disease. Prevention is the best means of thwarting protozoan issues. Select obviously clean specimens to start with, and carefully acclimate them with quarantine or dips before placing them in the main display. Copper therapies have proven very hard on these fish, and you are encouraged, if the case presents itself, to try quinine-based therapies for Cryptocaryon, Amyloodinium and other protist parasites. Torn or broken fin membranes, as well as blotchy coloration, are often due to poor water quality. These are secondarily due to other environmental causes that need their roots discerned and solved.
As a consumer, it is entirely up to you how you spend your money. Be aware that when you see Moorish idols at your livestock dealers that this is not a case of “if they didn’t live, they wouldn’t offer them for sale.” The vast majority of Z. cornutus do not usually live for any period of time in captivity. Consider well the statements made here in providing an uncrowded, established environment of size, with copious amounts of live rock appropriately arranged, varied enriched foods, ample feeding, easygoing tankmates and a dearth of sudden changes, and you just may be able to join the vanishing small crowd of aquarists who can claim to have kept an idol for a time.
Like many of the emaciated individuals offered for sale, chances of keeping a Moorish idol for any period of time under captive conditions are thin indeed. If it is the Moorish look you are after – the long, flowing finnage and the dramatic-looking black and white vertical bands on the sides and the partial yellow overcoat – why not try a longfin bannerfish (Heniochus acuminatus) instead? These pretty butterflyfish are sometimes initially mistaken for idols, and they have even been called the “poor man’s Moorish idol.” They are half the price, extremely hardy, easily adapt to aquarium conditions, and some individuals have lived as long as 19 years in captivity. FAMA
By: Bob Fenner
Featured Image: Hemera/Thinkstock


When sports season gets into full swing, many young athletes set new goals and push their bodies to the limit. Many of these sports require a great deal of flexibility and strength.
But it’s important for young athletes, coaches, and parents to understand that those attributes can’t be acquired overnight, says athletic trainer Jason Cruickshank, ATC, CSCS.
“It usually takes a good six to eight weeks of training to see any kind of change in a muscle, whether it be lengthening muscle through stretching or making it stronger through strength training,” Mr. Cruickshank says.
During the first six to eight weeks of training, the muscles “learn” how to stretch under a load, and begin to retain their shape.
“A good rule of thumb is that anything that is gained quickly is not going to stay,” he says. So consistency with a slow and steady regimen is the way to go.
Take a break when injury occurs
When muscles are overloaded by being forced into a stretch or into a range of motion that they’re not ready for, a muscle strain injury is the likely result, Mr. Cruickshank says.
If you put more stress on strained muscles repeatedly over time, the injuries can become far more serious.
“Think of a muscle as similar to a spooled cable. When injury occurs, you’ve broken some of those fibers that are inside the cable. This is what causes swelling, and muscle aches and pains,” Mr. Cruickshank says.
Do the right kind of stretching
For athletes who want to increase their strength and flexibility in a safe manner, it’s important to know what to do and what not to do.
Bouncing or ballistic stretching is not recommended, Mr. Cruickshank says. This kind of stretching actually inhibits the muscle from performing better and can cause microscopic injuries or worse.
Static stretching, which involves holding a position, is best for increasing flexibility long-term, Mr. Cruickshank says. However, static stretching is not a great performance stretch.
For most athletes, dynamic stretching is a good option.
“Dynamic stretches like butt kickers, lunges, or side-steps, where the leg is going out as far as it can, take the muscles through natural ranges of motion with activity. This increases the blood flow, and recruits all the muscle fibers to work together,” Mr. Cruickshank says.
Not every athlete’s body is the same. So what works for one person might not work for another, Mr. Cruickshank says. Athletes should listen to their bodies and never push themselves to the point where they feel pain.


Choosing a garment means making a choice of style, comfort and price, but few people buy thinking about the environmental and social consequences of such a purchase. If you want to change your habits and consume fashion more responsibly, several criteria need to be considered before, during and after the purchase. Here are some easy tips to apply in your daily shopping routine:
- Learn about the origins of the clothes (manufacturing process, traceability, social responsibility…)
- Buy locally or nearest to you.
- Give priority to natural, organic materials over conventionally treated natural materials and synthetic materials.
- Prefer brands that are certified by recognized labels for their strict and complete standards (Oeko-tex, GOTS…)
- Adopt a new way of buying by practicing “slow-fashion”, which advocates quality rather quantity: consume less but better !
The use in the life cycle of a garment is also very important. The environmental impact of clothing is caused 50% by its production and 50% by its use. Washing and drying consume a lot of energy and water, laundry and softeners pollute the water. Simple actions can limit this ecological impact:
- Wear clothes several times before washing
- Decrease the washing temperature (ideally at 30 ° C)
- Fill the machine completely and use economical programs (short cycle, reduced spinning speed)
- Use ecological laundry detergents, softeners and avoid overdose
- Opt for energy efficient washing machines (A, A + or A ++)
- Dry clothes in the open air and not in the dryer
- Limit the number of washes by ventilating your garment inside out after having worn it
If you happen to get tired of your clothes after a while, do not throw them away or let them accumulate in your closet: sell your clothes in “second hand” stores, used clothing online platforms, barter sites or simply on social networks. You can also give your clothes to self-help and anti-poverty organizations. The fight against waste is essential in our current society of over-consumption.
It’s up to you now ?


Drowning takes only seconds
Checkup On Health
The days are longer, the weather is warmer and children are out of school. Many people are eager to seek relief from the heat at the nearest body of water. However, pools, lakes, rivers, and the ocean claim thousands of lives each year.
To prevent water accidents, the proper safety precautions are crucial.
- More than one in five fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another four received emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
- In 2007, of all children 1 to 4 years old who died from an unintentional injury, almost 30 percent died from drowning.
- Although drowning rates have slowly declined, fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years (Centers for Disease Control 2010).
“It is never okay to leave a child unattended in or around a pool, even for a few seconds” said Christy Adams, UC Davis trauma prevention coordinator. “A responsible adult should always be designated to supervise children who are playing or swimming in or around water.
"Younger children are especially at risk for drowning and should be watched with 'touch supervision,' which means they kept within arms reach of an adult when they are in or near the water.”
Teens also at risk
Older teens, especially males between the ages of 15 and 19, are also at a high risk of drowning. Drowning deaths in this age group most frequently occur in natural bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and oceans and boat-related injuries account for a fifth of these cases. Often times these accidents are a result of high-risk behavior and/or drugs and alcohol.
Drowning prevention includes keeping a close watch on younger children in the house as well. Children under one year are more likely to drown in bathtubs, buckets or toilets. “Infants should never be left unattended in the tub for any reason. An older child or sibling in the tub with an infant is not a substitute for adult supervision” says Adams.
The most important thing to remember is that there is no substitute for your undivided attention. An accident can occur in a matter of seconds. Most young children who drown in pools were last seen in the house less than five minutes before the accident occurred. Most of the time one or both parents were home.
While your child is swimming, watch them at all times. Even running into the house to answer a phone call could be enough time for an accident to happen.
- Air-filled or foam toys, such as “water wings”, “noodles” or inner-tubes should not be used in place of life jackets (personal flotation devices). These toys are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
- Keep the pool area completely enclosed with a fence at least five feet tall. Many young children can easily scale a chain link fence in less than thirty seconds. To prevent this, an iron fence with vertical bars three inches apart and horizontal bars no closer than 45 inches together is recommended.
- Pool covers and pool alarms can be helpful, but do not serve as a substitute for a good fence. Children can become trapped under soft pool covers and can easily drown.
- All gates around the pool should be self-closing and self-latching. The latch should be near the top of the fence to prevent smaller children from reaching it.
- Remove all toys from the pool after children are done swimming. This takes away the temptation to retrieve a toy and accidentally fall in.
- Parents should keep toilet lids and bathroom doors shut around small children. Any pail of liquid should not be left unsupervised on the floor. Children have been known to fall face-first into a bucket of water. Always look out for things that could pose a risk and take action to eliminate it.
- Pool owners and parents should take a basic CPR course. These courses are offered by organizations such as the American Red Cross at a low cost.
- Most young children who drown in pools were last seen in the house less than five minutes before the accident occurred. Most of the time one or both parents were home.
- Communication is key. Talk to your kids about the importance of water safety. Make sure younger children know the rules about being in or near the pool unsupervised. Talk with teens about the dangers of diving into the river from rocks or bridges. Explain why alcohol and drugs make it even more likely for a fatal water accident to occur.
Children should ALWAYS wear a life vest when around natural bodies of water. Parents and other adults should set a good example by always wearing theirs. Sacramento County law requires all children under age 13 to wear a life vest in all public county waterways.


A 12-year-old male came to clinic and had a plantar wart treated by cryotherapy. As part of the patient instructions, the attending physician mentioned that the patient should wear clean socks to help prevent footwear contamination, and that the family could also try Lysol® brand spray disinfectant. The attending clearly stated that he did not have laboratory evidence that this worked, but that he felt he had seen a decrease in spread of the warts to the same foot and cross contamination of the other. The resident and attending seeing the patient later decided to look up this question and see if there was any evidence which might support this other than experience. They found that the disinfectant had alcohol that can be used to treat human papilloma virus but at a lower concentration than should be effective. The attending remarked that after this he might recommend to disinfect with isopropyl alcohol but that this commonly still had a lower concentration than necessary to disinfect.
There are differences between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing.
- Cleaning removes dirt, germs, and other foreign material from objects and surfaces. Germs are not necessarily killed but cleaning lowers their numbers. Cleaning usually involves soap, water or variations of these.
- Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects using chemicals. This does not necessarily clean the objects and surfaces of dirt and other foreign material.
- Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level using a variety of cleaning and disinfecting methods, as judged by public health standards or requirements.
Lysol® is a commercially-available disinfectant for home use. The manufacturer claims it has disinfecting activity against a variety of germs including bacteria (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, etc.), fungi (e.g. Trichophyton mentagrophytes, mildew, etc.) and viruses (e.g. Influenza A, B, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Rhinovirus and Rotavirus). The manufacturer does not claim that Lysol has activity against HPV and is not unique in not claiming this. Another widely used hospital disinfectant, Virex®, also does not claim disinfecting against HPV, but does work for other difficult pathogens such as Hepatitis B, HIV, and tuberculosis. Lysol’s manufacturer has specific recommendations on how the product should be used on various non-porous surfaces for disinfecting activity. The manufacturer does says it can also be used on soft surfaces such as pillows, cushions, upholstery, backpacks, etc. but does not make recommendations specifically for non-porous surfaces.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) “…can be transmitted through direct virus-cell contact, such as skin-skin contact, sexual activity, and prolonged exposure to contaminated clothing as the virus may be carried on fomites…” It is resistant to drying and heat and able to survive on clothing and laboratory equipment although exact survival time is unknown. HPV is susceptible to a variety of disinfectants including “… 90% ethanol for at least 1 minute, 2% glutaraldehyde, 30% Savlon [chlorhexidine gluconate and cetrimide], and/or 1% sodium chloride can disinfect the pathogen….”
Footwear potentially can be difficult to prevent contamination because of difficulty in cleaning of the contact surface materials (i.e. leather, suede), deters general cleaning and/or disinfecting. People also often do not wash footwear as often as other garments. Shoes are moist, warm environments which facilitates viability of the virus.
Prevention of warts includes keeping feet clean and dry, using flip-flops/sandals in public pools and locker rooms or other moist wet areas, avoiding contact with other warts including not picking at the wart, not using the same file, pumice stone or nail clipper that are used on health skin and nails, and washing hands after touching warts. Frequent washing of potentially contaminated objects such as socks is also appropriate.
Lysol® disinfecting spray contains 40-60% alcohol and 0.1-1% quaternary ammonium compounds, benzyl-C12-18-alkyldimethyl, and salts with 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one 1,1-dioxide. This alcohol concentration is too low to disinfect for HPV using the information above. A 2014 study of the susceptibility of HPV type 16 to clinical disinfectants found that HPV were susceptible to isopropanol, phenol and peracetic acid-silver disinfectant and hypochlorite after 45 minutes of exposure. Concentrations and viral types tested (native or quasivirions) showed different patterns of susceptibility. Overall, the study found HPV is highly resistant to commonly used clinical disinfectants.
Questions for Further Discussion
1. Would you recommend any disinfection methods for the contact surfaces for plantar warts? If yes, what methods?
2. What is the scientific basis that home treatments such as using potatoes or vinegar could work to treat warts?
- Disease: HPV
- Symptom/Presentation: Papulosquamous Lesions
- Specialty: Dermatology | General Pediatrics | Infectious Diseases | Preventive Medicine and Health Maintenance
- Age: School Ager
To Learn More
To view pediatric review articles on this topic from the past year check PubMed.
Information prescriptions for patients can be found at MedlinePlus for this topic: Human Papilloma Virus
To view current news articles on this topic check Google News.
To view images related to this topic check Google Images.
Virex® Tb. Johnson Wax Professional. Available from the Internet at http://www.johnsondiversey.com/wcmt/ProductAttachments/en-US/PIS/SPC214.pdf (rev. 2003, cited 12/5/2011).
LYSOL® Disinfectant Spray. Reckitt Benckiser. Available from the Internet at http://www.lysol.com/cleaning-products/disinfecting-sprays/disinfectant-spray (rev. 2010, cited 12/5/2011).
Material Safety Data Sheet. LYSOL® Disinfectant Spray. Reckitt Benckiser. Available from the Internet at http://www.rbnainfo.com/MSDS/US/Lysol-Brand-III-Disinfectant-Spray-US-English.pdf (rev. 7/9/2010, cited 12/5/2011).
Centers For Disease Control. How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu.
Available from the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/school/cleaning_disinfecting_schools.pdf (rev. 10/2011, cited 12/5/2011).
Public Health Agency of Canada. Human Papilloma Virus Pathogen Safety Data Sheet.
Available from the Internet at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/papillome-eng.php (rev. 4/19/2011, cited 12/5/2011).
Meyers J, Ryndock E, Conway MJ, Meyers C, Robison R. Susceptibility of high-risk human papillomavirus type 16 to clinical disinfectants. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2014 Jun;69(6):1546-50.
ACGME Competencies Highlighted by Case
3. Informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment is made.
4. Patient management plans are developed and carried out.
5. Patients and their families are counseled and educated.
6. Information technology to support patient care decisions and patient education is used.
7. All medical and invasive procedures considered essential for the area of practice are competently performed.
8. Health care services aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health are provided.
10. An investigatory and analytic thinking approach to the clinical situation is demonstrated.
11. Basic and clinically supportive sciences appropriate to their discipline are known and applied.
12. Evidence from scientific studies related to the patients’ health problems is located, appraised and assimilated.
13. Information about other populations of patients, especially the larger population from which this patient is drawn, is obtained and used.
14. Knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to appraisal clinical studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness is applied.
15. Information technology to manage information, access on-line medical information and support the healthcare professional’s own education is used.
16. Learning of students and other health care professionals is facilitated.
Donna M. D’Alessandro, MD
Professor of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital


In Varrio Research Station the flowering date of Bilberry has been followed since 1981. On average Bilberry flowers on 16 June (day number 167 in the calendar year), although variation among the dates is considerable, between 31 May and 2 July (Fugure 1, see also the original data).
It is also notable in the flowering observations that during the past 27 years there has not been any trend for earlier flowering, for instance as an effect of climate change.
When studying the effect of temperature on the duration of certain phenological phases, for instance with
Downy birch the duration from bud burst burst to full leaf (see Pohjonen 2008), it is essential to define what is the initial stage s1 and what is the final stage s2. In the case of Bilberry only the final stage s2, the flowering date, has been been recorded but no earlier stages. It is therefore assumed that the onset of Bilberry development coincides with the disappearance of snow. This in turn has been recorded in Varrio Research Station (Figure 2), as part of the regular weather monitoring of Finnish Meteorological Office, since 1975 (see also the original data)
On average the snow disappears in Varrio Nature Reserve measurement point on 18 May (day number 138). The earliest date has been 27.4.1990 and the latest 14.6.1982. There is a slight downwards trend in the graph, telling that snow disappears somewhat earlier than in the 1970. The trend, however, is not statistically significant.
By defining the snow disappearance as initial stage (s1) and flowering as the final stage (s2) for each year
|Figure 3. Duration of phenological
phase from disappearance of snow
1981 … 2008, the duration s2 – s1 in calendar days follows. On average, it takes 28.5 Calendar Days for Bilberry from snow disappearance to flowering. The shortest period (in 2007) was 14 days and the longest (in 2004) 47 days. The variance (STDPA) in the data set is 9.53 days and Coefficient of Variation 33.4 per cent.
There is a slight upward trend in the data, telling that in the later years it has taken somewhat longer for Bilberry to flower as calculated from the disappearance of the snow. The trend, however, has no statistical significance.
By applying the standard Degree Days calculation with baseline temperature of 5 degrees, that is used in Finland, the following measures result:
Average duration 80.7 DD-units
Range 21.3 – 144 DD units
Standard deviation 34.6 DD units
Coefficient of Variation 42.9 per cent
The Coefficient of Variation with Calendar Days (33.4%) is lower than with Degree Days (43.9%). This tells that with Bilberry the standard concept of Degree Days does not work. For prediction purposes use of Calendar Days gives more accurate results than use of Degree Days. An obvious reason is that the baseline temperature of 5 degrees is too high for Bilberry.
Therefore, is there more ambient baseline temperature b for the development of Bilberry, lower than 5 degrees? This can be studied with the help of Coefficient of Variation. Let us maintain the normalization condition for the development rate M(x) where x is the average daily temperature. Thus
M(6) = 1, and
M(b) = 0
The general equation for the development rate thus becomes (Eq. 1)
(2) M(x) = (x – b) / (6 – b)
where b is the baseline temperature. Standard Degree Days come from the same equation. When baseline temperature is 5 degrees, M(x) = x – 5. It is notable that Calendar Days also come from the same equation. When baseline temperature approaches minus indefinite, M(x) approaches 1 at all temperatures, which tells that development rate is 1 every day, irrespective of temperature.
Next, let us vary the baseline temperature, calculate a new measure DDb for Degree Days (over baseline temperature b), and study how the Coefficient of variation changes along with the baseline temperature. The following measures result:
Baseline temperature, b -2.22 degrees
Average duration 30.5 DDb units
Range 8.7 – 48.1 DDb units
Standard deviation 7.97 DDb units
Coefficient of Variation 26.1 per cent
|Figure 4. Minimum Coefficient of
Variation for optimum baseline
temperature with Bilberry
By reducing it the Coefficent of Variation drops fast. The Coefficient of Variation related to Calendar Days (33.4%) is bypassed at around 3 degrees. This tells that DD-calculation is better than Calendar Day calculation only with baseline temperatures under 3 degrees. The Coefficient of Variation minimizes in a negative baseline temperature of -2.22 degrees (Figure 4).


Healthcare Training Institute - Quality Education since 1979
CE for Psychologist, Social Worker, Counselor, & MFT!!
In the last section, we discussed a three-step model for telephone crisis counseling based on the three-step crisis interview model examined in sections 2, 3, and 4. These three steps are the beginning, middle and ending phases.
In this section, we will discuss three phases of a crisis group therapy technique. These three phases are the formulation of a crisis situation, intervention, and termination.
Linda, 43, came to the crisis center for her pregroup interview with her daughter, Alice, 15. Alice had recently ran away from home and had been picked up by the police while trying to hitchhike to a well-known commune. When the police had called Linda to notify her that Alice had been found, Linda refused to come pick up her daughter, stating, "You had better keep her, I can’t do anything with her!"
Alice spent a terrifying night in juvenile lockup. Alice stated that she had ran away because her mother refused to let her have any friends. Linda stated that because her divorce had left her with little money to support her daughter, she had been forced to move to their present, low socioeconomic area. Linda stated, "I’m just trying to protect Alice from the undesirable elements and people in the area, but apparently I just can’t handle her any more!"
♦ Phase #1: Formulation of the Crisis Situation
The next day while Alice was at school, a neighbor had informed Linda that she had seen Alice at the dance. Linda drove to the school, and pulled Alice out of class. When confronted, Alice admitted she had been to the dance, and that she would sneak out again given the chance. Linda then slapped Alice. This resulted in the incident in which Alice ran away.
Some members of the family crisis group responded to Linda’s comments with superficial supportive statements, such as "It sure is difficult to raise kids these days!" Others suggested that Linda was being too rigid, and that she needed to give Alice more freedom. One stated that Linda’s behavior had caused Alice to run away.
As is understandable, one of the mothers who had lived in the neighborhood her whole life was challenging to Linda, stating, "If you don’t have the money to move out of here, why don’t you find a damn job instead of staying home and trying to play perfect mother!" However, other members of the group offered alternate ways of coping for Linda based on their own experiences. Teresa, who had been to four prior group meetings, stated, "You don’t have to give in to Alice all the way, but give her a chance; if it doesn’t work, then try something else."
Clearly, group members like Teresa allow me as the therapist to continue in a much more observatory role. Linda’s initial response to the group’s suggestions and confrontations was very hostile. She maintained that her behavior was justified, and rationalized by stating firmly that she "couldn’t care less what other people think!"
Later, however, the group began making specific suggestions for different ways of maintaining discipline and still allowing Alice some freedom, Linda responded with, "I’ll consider it." By the end of the first session, she began reacting more warmly toward group members who made supportive statements or suggestions. However, to members who made negative statements, Linda responded in a superior and cold manner.
♦ Phase #2: Intervention
By the third session, Linda was much less threatened, and was able to both thank group members who made suggestions, and express her feelings of guilt for slapping Alice. Additionally, she began displaying an ability to adapt the group’s suggestions to better fit her situation.
By the fourth session, Linda reported that she was needing to punish Alice less since she was able to reason with her more effectively. The other group members still challenged her rigidity and inconsistency about not wanting to work while Alice was in school, but Linda was less hostile when challenged. She confided in me after one session that she felt she and Alice were understanding each other better.
I found that the three most positive aspects of group crisis counseling for Linda were that the group was able to, with some direction, focus on specific problem areas. Secondly, the group tested coping strategies in role play and thirdly engaged in reality testing.
♦ Phase #3: Termination
Additionally, the group had provided Linda with a chance to overcome her illogical isolation of herself and her daughter from the community. Linda became friendly with several of the group members, and they began visiting each other’s homes. Through their encouragement, Linda took a part-time job as a secretary at a junior college, and announced in the sixth session that she was very pleased with the position.
In the sixth session, I assisted the group in directing attention to reviewing the work Linda had done through previous sessions. Linda expressed some reluctance about termination, but was reassured by all group members that they would keep in touch. In an attempt to overcome her feelings, Linda invited the entire group to her house for cake and coffee after the session, which everyone accepted.
I felt that since many of Linda’s challenges in coping with her crisis were connected to her self-imposed social isolation, the choice to resolve her crisis through a crisis group offered Linda a better opportunity for a satisfactory resolution that would have been offered through individual sessions alone. Would you agree?
Would a crisis group be suitable for a client in crisis who you are currently treating?
In this section, we have discussed three phases of a crisis group therapy technique. These three phases are the formulation of a crisis situation, intervention, and termination.
In the next section, we will discuss three factors influencing client equilibrium during crisis resolution. These three factors are perception of the event, situational supports, and coping mechanisms.


Kid ADHD therapists are very qualified specialists specializing in providing detailed treatment and help for children grappling with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. These specialists understand the unique problems young ones with ADHD face and utilize a selection of therapeutic methods to handle cognitive, psychological, and behavioral facets of the condition. The role of a young child ADHD therapist is critical in assisting young ones and their loved ones understand the difficulties connected with ADHD and fostering an atmosphere good to growth and development.
Child ADHD therapists frequently utilize playful and creative therapeutic strategies to activate kiddies in the beneficial process. Through interactive activities, activities, and age-appropriate interventions, counselors produce a secure and satisfying room for children to state themselves and develop coping mechanisms. This approach recognizes the importance of conference young ones wherever they’re, applying play as a means of interaction and learning.
Holistic wellness is just a important emphasis in child ADHD specific care. Practitioners explore integrative strategies that look at the child’s overall well-being, integrating components such as for example nutrition, sleep, and physical exercise into the treatment plan. By approaching these foundational factors, therapists goal to produce a holistic platform that supports the child’s cognitive and emotional functioning.
Developing government functions is a main element of kid ADHD therapy. Because kiddies with ADHD often battle with government operates like company, preparing, and impulse get a grip on, counselors use targeted interventions and skill-building exercises. These interventions not only handle immediate challenges but offer young ones with important instruments for moving daily jobs and responsibilities.
Individualized therapy is a trademark of child ADHD therapy. Therapists realize that every kid is exclusive, and treatment options are tailored to meet up the particular needs and strengths of the individual. This personalized approach assures that the treatment works well and resonates with the child’s personality, choices, and developmental stage.
Educational help is a crucial part of child ADHD therapy. Counselors collaborate with educators and parents to produce designed strategies that help the child’s learning and academic success. This may contain hotels, organizational instruments, and interventions that boost the child’s capability to prosper in academic settings.
Class activities for kids with ADHD tend to be facilitated by therapists. These actions give a loyal atmosphere where kiddies may reveal activities, study from each other, and build social skills. Group therapy fosters a feeling of neighborhood, lowering feelings of isolation and offering a software for distributed methods and good support.
Household character play an important role in kid ADHD therapy. Practitioners function collaboratively with individuals to address the influence of ADHD on cultural relationships. Household child adhd therapist near me treatment has an chance for improved transmission, understanding, and venture, equipping parents and siblings with instruments to guide the child effectively.
To conclude, kid ADHD counselors are priceless in giving specialized care that addresses the initial wants of kids with ADHD. Through playful interventions, holistic wellness strategies, government function support, individualized therapy options, educational venture, group activities, and family treatment, these specialists contribute to the general well-being and development of kiddies with ADHD. By mixing expertise with sympathy and imagination, child ADHD practitioners play an essential role in aiding young ones prosper inspite of the issues connected with ADHD.


Kalwall Controlling Solar Heat Gain
By controlling the transfer from solar gain and conduction, Kalwall controls heat transfer without special tints or The total heat gain that enters a building from the sun is known as solar heat gain. By calculation only (not by NFRC 202).
Module 3.8 Window U-value
The formula Heat Loss = ∑ ( U x A x dT ). - does include for wood, plastic, metallic with and without thermal windows retain more of the solar gain collected.
Passive cooling - Wikipedia
Passive cooling is a building design approach that focuses on heat gain control and heat impact of solar heat gains through the building's envelope and of internal heat gains that is generated inside the building due occupancy and equipment. The microclimate can play a huge role in determining the most favorable
Absorbed Solar Radiation - Engineering ToolBox
Solar radiation absorbed by various materials. Emissivity Coefficients Materials - The radiation heat transfer emissivity coefficient of some common materials
SUMMARY AND COMPARISON OF METHODS TO CALCULATE
to calculate solar heat gain for windows, including a compar- ison of calculations .. when reasonably well-insulated frames are used (e.g., wood/ vinyl or better) the .. performance of thin plastic films that could not otherwise be indoor and
A Quantitative Look at Solar Heat Gain GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
Jan 1, 2018 Passive solar heat gain through large south-facing windows . of glass or plastic, low-e coatings, and low-conductivity gas fill. provide an . are helpful in determining the value and ease of using solar heat gains for space heating. .. So you could have a solar-tempered interior with tile or wood floors over
Glossary Efficient Windows Collaborative
An inert, nontoxic gas used in insulating glass units to reduce heat transfer. DOE-2.1E. A building-simulation computer program used to calculate total annual . Wood, plastic, or metal grids designed for a single-light sash to give the . The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient or shading coefficient, the less solar
ASHRAE: Fundamentals - City of Aspen
The solar heat gain coefficients also depend significantly on solar incident angle. tration system can be calculated knowing the separate heat transfer contributions of . Table I for metal, insulating (including wood) and fused glass spacers, and a units with plastic inserts that reduce the conductive heat transfer through
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient Worksheet WS-3R - California Energy
Note: Calculated Solar Heat Gain Coefficient values for Total SHGC may be used directly Exterior operable awnings (canvas, plastic or metal), except those that roll w/thermal break, or non-metal (non-metal includes both vinyl and wood)].
Fact Sheet: Selecting Energy Efficient Windows in Arizona
Coatings on glass or plastic films within the window assembly can significantly reduce the Using windows that significantly reduce solar heat gain means that.
It is a measure of the rate of non-solar heat loss or gain through it. A simple formula can help quantify the impact of improved U-value: . Laminated glass has a plastic glazing layer, called an interlayer, to improve Timber absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows and retains that carbon until the wood is burnt or decays.
Thermal Control in Buildings Building Science Corp
Dec 12, 2011 Understanding heat transfer and the temperature distribution (e.g., concrete, wood, plastic) drops along with drops in their density. . Hence, the building energy flows must account for the solar gain through windows.
An Experimental Study on the Thermal Performance of - MDPI
Feb 10, 2017 from wood-plastic composites (WPCs) in mitigating the urban heat island effect. .. transmittance was 2.440 W/m2K, and the solar heat gain coefficient .. consumption of a building without a PCM roof layer was calculated to
Windows: Heat loss & Heat gain - GreenSpec
Overall energy balance = solar heat gain - heat loss. (www.bfrc.org) that takes into account the multiplicity of factors determining a materials such as steel reinforced polymer, glass fibre or structural foam with, typically, a polysulphide seal. An alternative is to use treated softwood or a wood / aluminium composite
Calculating the Solar Heat Gain of Window Frames - UWSpace
solar heat gain coefficient of any opaque window component Sample calculations closely reproduce the results of detailed two- .. types (aluminum, thermally broken aluminum, and wood) .. ment on heat loss coefficients for plastic covers.
Measure Guideline: Energy-Efficient Window Performance - NREL
Nov 2, 2012 is measured in terms of the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). . Windows using plastic films decrease the U-factor of the unit .. The traditional window frame material is wood, because of its availability and the simple payback calculation includes an energy inflation rate, payback periods are shorter.
Energy Performance Ratings for Windows, Doors, and Skylights
Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) is the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window, door, or skylight -- either transmitted directly and/or absorbed, and
Calculation of thermal transmittance - ISO
8, Building zoning, Solar heat gains, Generation and control various types of frames (wood, plastic, metallic with and without thermal barrier, metallic with
Chapter 7678, Energy Code: Thermal Transmittance Calculations
Product Solar Heat Gain Coefficients at Normal Incidence. (1995), National . C. The U-values table for wood framed rim and band joists is as follows. WOOD
A Simplified Calculation Method for Seasonal Accumulated Solar
To estimate the energy performance of windows, the seasonal accumulated solar heat gain through the windows has to be calculated. A simplified method for
guidelines on envelope thermal transfer value for buildings - BCA
Jan 1, 2004 Roof thermal transfer value (RTTV) formula. 3. Thermal Transmittance (U-Value) . correction factor for solar heat gain through fenestration. SC.
Product Approvals Simpson Door Company
A Simpson Authorized Dealer will be able to assist you in determining what Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how well a product blocks heat by sunlight. . Architecture Code -- 08200 Wood and Plastic Doors and Frames
Open PDF file, 365.97 KB, for Selecting Energy Efficient - Mass.gov
Reduced Fading. Coatings on glass or plastic films within the window assembly Using windows that significantly reduce solar heat gain means that cooling
Skylights Department of Energy
You can prevent unwanted solar heat gain by installing the skylight in the shade Plastic glazing is usually inexpensive and less liable to break than most other
sunlite - Palram Americas
Light Transmission* (LT) and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)*. The table . Spacing and Load Calculations for Different Methods of Installation. 1. Clamping is done by plastic, wood or metal clamping profiles, with or without rubber.
This Thermal House Do the Math
Nov 27, 2012 Note that we can relate h to the R-value in a generic equation that looks Anything organic (wood, skin, plastics, paint of any color) is likely to have an .. to help mitigate solar heat gain through the roof decking – incidentally,
Procedure for. Determining Fenestration Product Solar Heat Gain Coefficient steel, thermally broken aluminum, wood, vinyl, reinforced vinyl, fiberglass, and etched glazing, sandblasted glazing, thin plastic films (internally suspended


Good Question: ‘Reply All’ On Fall Colors
Get Breaking News First
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Fall in Minnesota is always beautiful, but this year the colors are especially vivid due to a wet early-mid summer and a sunny fall.
According to the Department of Natural Resources’ fall color map, the Twin Cities haven’t yet reached peak, up North is past peak and much of greater southern Minnesota is right at peak.
This week, Heather Brown is digging into the mailbag to answer your Good Questions about autumn leaves.
Jay asked: “Which tree has the last green leaves in Minnesota?”
According to Lee Frelich, a forestry expert with the University of Minnesota Extension, the answer is oaks … if you are only talking about trees native to Minnesota. But if we were to include the many non-native trees, he believes it would by the Norway maple or Littleleaf Linden.
Frelich says many of Minnesota’s non-natives trees hail from Northern Europe, where they are accustomed to longer periods of daylight. The amount of sun a tree is exposed to is a huge factor when it comes to changing color.
Sue from St. Cloud asked: “Why does the same kind of tree turn colors at different times?”
Frelich says some the same trees that look alike might actually be different species of trees, but if you are sure it’s the same exact kind of tree, it may have something to do with sunlight exposure. Perhaps one tree receives more shade than another.
If you’re talking about the same exact tree in the same exact spot, they can still change colors at different times. Each tree has a different genetic makeup.
“Variability in the genes of each tree means it makes its own decisions to maintain chlorophyll and change color,” Frelich said.
It’s similar to what you might find in people. One woman might be brunette while her sister is blonde.


These pages document the work of Mori as one of the founding figures of modern Japanese literature, but also as translator, medical researcher, and a scholar whose interests bridged various fields of knowledge. The information is structured in three separate pages. Data is continuously added and edited. Suggestions and comments are most welcome.
Chronology of Publications
This section records Mori’s publications - appearing between 1881 and 1922 - in chronological order (work in progress). Publications that were not included in the work editions, are also included. The bibliographic data are recorded following the Japanese original and transcribed. In addition, translations of the titles are offered.
The chronology is subdivided into phases of life. There are pages for the whole chronology as well as for the differing phases of life.
Ōgai’s Works in Translation
These pages examine the project of translating Mori’s works into European languages, which began as early as 1894 and continues to the present day. Both translations published independently and those published in journals and anthologies are included. The original Japanese publications are documented and the bibliographic data of the translations are given.
Ogai as Translator
This part examines the volume and the variety of Moris activities as a translator and mediator of Western literature and thought. The alphabetical list identifies authors whose writings Mori translated, usually via German-language editions. The names are followed by information on the original texts and the first publication of the translations.


There has been a lot reported in local media about a recent New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYSOPR) proposal to dewater Niagara Falls.
“Dewatering is necessary for two reasons,” a report from NYSOPR says. “The existing 115 year old bridges need to be demolished. The river channel must be dewatered in order to demolish and remove [two] bridges.
“(And) the piers and abutments for the replacement bridges must be constructed `in the dry,’ to allow for safe construction procedures and to ensure that the new foundations are firmly anchored to bedrock.”
• Do the historic bridges need to be replaced with concrete replicas or could they be repaired?
• Is dewatering necessary if the bridges are replaced? The bridges were built in 1901 without dewatering the falls.
• What environmental risks are associated with the plan? it was reported that, for instance, trees along the shoreline died following the 1969 dewatering.
• Is the real motive behind the plan to convert the two pedestrian bridges into vehicular bridges; the plan calls for making the new bridges wide enough for two-way traffic. Goat Island lost sizeable amounts of greenspace with the last “park improvement” plan. Making the island more traffic friendly may mean loss of greenspace to make additional parking lots. Delaware North operates concessions on Goat Island and their business is dependent on how many people visit Goat Island. Park officials have not fully addressed the issue of whether the bridges will be open to tourists’ vehicles, despite the bridge being widened.
• It is sometimes seen that business interests combined with consultants looking to earn fees sometimes drive government projects in a particular direction. With millions literally to be made by design engineers, plus the unique opportunity to boast of having engineered the dewatering of Niagara Falls, is this project driven by need or opportunity?
• The chorus of officials declaring in unison that dewatering will create a tourist industry boom without any data to back up their claims is at least odd, and a cynical person might suspect the chorus was orchestrated; i.e. the project will sell better to the public if people believe it will be lucrative for the tourism industry.
“ [The dewatering of the American Niagara Falls] will gain worldwide attention.”
State Parks spokesman Randy Simons called the prospect of a dry falls “a once-in-a-life-time” event “because beyond fixing these bridges, there is no reason to dewater the falls.”
People came from all over the world to see the falls turned off, said Michelle Kratts, who served as Niagara Falls city historian until this past December.
“It’s the nature of curiosity. You want to see what’s underneath, to see its skeleton,” Kratts told the Buffalo News.
In 1969, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers diverted water away from the American Falls to study erosion. Nothing was changed, after the International Joint Commission recommended that no remedial action should be done.
But, with the dewatered falls, it was found “what’s underneath” which was a pile of broken rocks, tangled tree trunks and at least two dead bodies, along with coins tossed in by tourists over the years. The coins were removed by the bucketful by park workers.
But, as for people from all over the world coming to see the dewatered falls, officials may want to examine the newspaper reports of 1969 which was the last [and only time] the falls was dewatered.
While newspaper accounts of 1969 reported that overall attendance was up at Niagara Falls State Park, officials were quoted as saying that a majority of the visitors weren’t tourists but day-tripping local curiosity seekers.
In a September 1969 article titled “Tourism 1969: It Wasn’t a Good Year,” Niagara Falls Gazette writer Joe Donaldson wrote, “The visitors season, circa 1969, has gone amidst cries of anguish up and down tourist alley. Initially billed as a super year for tourist operators, the year of the big buck, the season fell flat on its face.
“At least that’s what people in the tourist business are saying, as they moan that business is off as much as 40 percent from last year.”
Another article, also from September 1969, said “Local tourism is suffering badly this summer because despite record numbers of people visiting the dewatered falls, tourist attraction and motel and hotel people say they aren’t staying and they aren’t spending money.”
Gazette writer Greg Mitchell described the 1969 tourist season: “Attendance on the reservation has been up all summer, thanks to the dewatering project, but the crowds have been made up predominantly of local people. Thus, the tourist trade (hotel, motel, restaurant, souvenir business) has not enjoyed a banner year — especially considering the year it feels it should be having with the once in a lifetime dry falls attraction.”
Mitchell quotes an unnamed state parks spokesman.
“’Everybody expected it to be a big year — I guess it’s not,’ the spokesman said. ‘We’ve gotten mostly local people, not additional tourists. The motels aren’t doing anything.”
In a nutshell, a headline from the August 28, 1969 edition of the Niagara Gazette, sums it all up: “Quiet Tourist Season in 1969 — Dry Falls Blamed for Decline”.
Currently, it is estimated that around eight million people come to Niagara Falls, N.Y., each year to see the falls. Most of those visits occur between May and September. The dewatering proposal plans for a restoration of the flow of water over the American Falls prior to the beginning of the main tourist season which starts traditionally with a bang on Memorial Day weekend.
However, like any complicated construction project, this one may experience delays and work may extend into or through the short tourism season. And, if history repeats itself, people will not come “from all over the world to see the falls turned off.” It’s more likely they’ll come from Grand Island or Cheektowaga.
In the end, the Canadian tourism industry may be the beneficiaries of the plan. According to an article in the Toronto Globe and Mail, “A plan that could see the American side of Niagara Falls go dry for a period of time to rebuild two bridges might be a boon to Canadian tourism.”
It seems simple: Water rushing over Niagara Falls equals tourism dollars. Divert all the water to the Canadian side and American tourism dollars may get diverted, as well.


Fever is a frequent response to infection. The inflammatory response to invading organisms often leads to a febrile reaction, which many have suggested is an adaptive response, that might actually have an evolutionary advantage, and improve survival from serious infections. Of course it is also possible that it is an epiphenomenon, without survival impacts, or that it had a minor effect in the past, but not compared to ICU and antibiotics.
In countries with high resources, death from sepsis is rare, outside of intensive care units. So this study (Young P, et al. Acetaminophen for Fever in Critically Ill Patients with Suspected Infection. The New England journal of medicine. 2015.) recruited the kind of patients where an effect of fever, and any potential adverse effect of using antipyretics, would be evident.
Basically they found nothing.
There was no adverse or beneficial effect of treating fever with acetaminophen (paracetamol for the europeans) on any of the outcomes in this large multi-center trial of 700 critically ill adults in Australian and new Zealand ICUs. Either the primary outcome “ICU-free days” or the secondary outcomes.
Like anything else it might be different in children or newborns, but there wasn’t even the hint of an effect. Which means, I think that we don’t need to worry too much about giving acetaminophen to febrile babies or our own children. If it makes them feel better, then go ahead.


Passive design involving window placement can be even more effective than adjustments to building orientation when it improving natural ventilation and reducing HVAC-related energy consumption.
While much of the hype around green building focuses on reducing the environmental impact and carbon footprint of a built structure during the process of construction, or else sophisticated and hi-tech accoutrements such as solar panels and autonomous smart systems, there remain other simple yet elegant methods for improving sustainability that are all too often overlooked.
Chief amongst them is perhaps passive design, which entails the creation of adroit designs that serve to minimise energy consumption, usually by methods as simple as building orientation to facilitate air flow and cut down on HVAC usage.
“Many new building products are emerging to help reduce the impact of construction on the global environment,” said Shane Grice of Unique Windows to Sourceable. “But are we overlooking the huge differences that can be made with a smart design.
Before we add the solar panels the energy efficient appliances the Eco friendly floor and wall coverings we should start from the very beginning – the design of the building.”
Grice notes, however, that while passive design serves as an excellent and economical means for improving the efficiency of built environments, the conventional method involving precision orientation of buildings is not applicable in many circumstances.
“I have read numerous articles and studies as to what makes for the best passive design, and the most commonly encountered information concerns the orientation of the dwelling – it is recommended that you position the building so that windows will face the direction of the breezes,” said Grice.
“That’s all well and good if you have a large enough block to do this. But what if you are like most of us and are building on a standard size residential block in suburbia where there is not always a breeze or it’s blocked by the house next door.”
Grice notes that passive design to facilitate natural ventilation need not always rely on shifting the orientation of buildings to catch prevailing wind patterns, and that the positioning of windows can be equally if not more effective at inducing air flow indoors.
“Passive design generally involves creating movement of air without the use of external mechanical or electrical means,” said Grice. “So a passive house should be able to move air without the use of fans or air conditioners. While breezes may help, there is still another extremely effective option available – incorporating high level windows into the design of the building.”
According to Grice passive design via window positioning simply exploits the basic laws of physical to produce natural air flow in a manner which highly effective yet wholly devoid of energy costs.
“We all know hot air rises but in most houses we don’t allow for this hot air to escape. Instead we move it with fans or cool it with air conditioners,” he said. “With high level windows the hot air will escape while drawing cooler air in through the lower level windows.
“This design will compliment any ceiling fan as most new fans have the reverse function. So instead of pushing the hot air down and around the room again it will pull it up and push it out through windows.
“Now we have created a building that can truly be said to incorporate passive design – and is actually the most cost effective form of free air conditioning even if there is little to no breeze.”
While passive design in the form of window positioning is actually nothing new, Grice notes that the latest automation technology makes its incorporation into modern buildings far more convenient, by facilitating the operation of windows situated in those hard-to-reach places that the process entails.
“There is a large range of window automation equipment to achieve operation of high windows,” said Grice. “From the basic wall mounted switch controls to high end yet affordable systems controlled by means of smart phones. These systems bring new meaning to the term ‘window automation.’ They possess programmable features that can monitor temperature , humidity, CO2 level, rain ,wind and smoke so they will even open the windows when you burn the toast.”
Grice notes that the ability to install elevated windows that can be conveniently operated confers other benefits in addition to natural ventilation – such as improved penetration of natural light and attendant reductions in lighting usage.
“By adding windows up high you have also created a natural light source that will create an airy and more open feel, while reducing day time lighting costs for as long as the sun shines.”


Week 2: Biological Aspects of Young and Middle Adulthood
Typically, adolescents eagerly anticipate their transitions to young adulthood. They look forward to supporting themselves financially, living independently, and making their own decisions. As young adults transition into middle adulthood, they will likely assume increased responsibilities. Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2013) state, “middle adulthood has been referred to as the prime time of life” (p. 441). Typically, adults at this stage have accumulated some satisfaction from their maturity and accomplishments.
Though young and middle adulthood may be exciting and significant times in the human life span, they also present unique challenges for the individual. This week, you begin your study of young and middle adulthood by considering its biological aspects. You explore health issues and changes in physical development during this period. You also consider how your understanding of these issues might influence your assessments of and interactions with individuals in this segment of the life span.
Evaluate classifications in life-span development
Develop new classifications in life-span development
Analyze health concerns in middle adulthood in relation to social work assessment
Analyze effects of demographic characteristics on health in middle adulthood
Photo Credit: [PeopleImages]/[DigitalVision]/Getty Images
Zastrow, C. H., & Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2016). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Chapter 10, “Biological Aspects of Young and Middle Adulthood” (pp. 469-497)
Use the link below to access the MSW home page, which provides resources for your social work program. MSW home page
Magnusson, C., & Trost, K. (2006). Girls experiencing sexual intercourse early: Could it play a part in reproductive health in middle adulthood? Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 27(4), 237–244.
Temcheff, C. E., Serbin, L. A., Martin-Storey, A., Stack, D. M., Ledingham, J., & Schwartzman, A. E. (2011). Predicting adult physical health outcomes from childhood aggression, social withdrawal and likeability: A 30-Year prospective, longitudinal study. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 18(1), 5–12.
Wilson, H. W., & Widom, C. S. (2011). Pathways from childhood abuse and neglect to HIV-risk sexual behavior in middle adulthood. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 79(2), 236–246.
Discussion: Classifications of Life-Span Development
When did you become an adult? Was it the day you graduated from high school? Or, was it the day you moved out of your parents’ or caregivers’ home? Your description of what it means to be an adult and how and when an adolescent transitions into adulthood may differ from that of your colleagues.
The authors of your course text, Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman, use the term young and middle adulthood to identify the life-span time period between age 18 and 65. This classification distinguishes this time in the life of an individual from childhood and adolescence and from the later years of adulthood.
Is the authors’ young and middle adulthood classification a useful one? What is especially useful and not useful about the classification? What changes would you make to the authors’ classification to make it more applicable to your role as a social worker?
For this Discussion, you analyze the author’s life-span classification and suggest ways to improve it.
By Day 3
A new classification (or possibly multiple classifications) to replace the authors’ young and middle adulthood classification
A definition of your new classification(s)
Support for your new classification(s). for example, this support may include references to theory and empirical research findings and should reflect the current understanding of biological, psychological, and social development
An implication your new classification might have regarding social work practice
By Day 5
Read a selection of your colleagues’ posts.
Respond to at least two colleagues whose classifications differ from your own by critiquing their classifications. In addition, suggest one way you might apply each colleague’s life-span classification to your social work practice.
Be sure to support your posts with specific references to the resources. If you are using additional articles, be sure to provide full APA-formatted citations for your references.
Submission and Grading Information
To access your rubric:
Week 2 Discussion Rubric
Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 5
To participate in this Discussion:
Week 2 Discussion
Assignment: Middle Adulthood Health, Demography, and Social Work Practice
A health crisis can occur at any phase in an individual’s life span. General health concerns, however, tend to increase with age. As a social worker, your awareness of the biological aspects of middle adulthood will inform your work with clients in this life-span phase.
In this Assignment, you address the health concerns that clients may face as they reach middle adulthood. You also address the potential impact of the environment on the health of individuals in this life-span phase.
By Day 7
Submit a 2- to 4-page paper that includes the following:
A description of the health concerns that clients may face as they reach middle adulthood
An analysis that explains how factors such as race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other demographic characteristics might impact at least three of the health concerns you identified
An explanation of how you, as a social worker, should take these potential health concerns and the environmental factors that influence them into account as you complete your assessments
Support your Assignment with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.
Submission and Grading Information
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
Click the Week 2 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
Click the Week 2 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.
To access your rubric:
Week 2 Assignment Rubric
Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity
To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 2 Assignment draft and review the originality report.
Submit Your Assignment by Day 7
To submit your Assignment:
Week 2 Assignment
Week in Review
This week you evaluated classifications in life-span development and developed new ones.
Next week you will explore a variety of theories that address psychological development in adults.
To go to the next week:


Avalanches on Mars
Earlier this week, NASA released images that show an avalanche in action on the surface of Mars.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took these photos in February as it flew over the north pole of the planet. The image below shows clouds of dust from the rock fall.
Image Credit: NASA
The landslides were first noticed by Ingrid Daubar Spitale of the University of Arizona, Tucson, who helps to aim the camera and has studied hundreds of the images it has sent back, the website said.
“It really surprised me,” she said. “It’s great to see something so dynamic on Mars. A lot of what we see there hasn’t changed for millions of years.”
Similar Posts on Geology News:
- Congrats to the Phoenix Mars Mission Team
- Geology Picture of the Day – Cape St. Mary, Mars
- Live coverage of the Phoenix landing
- Budget Cuts Stop Mars Rovers
- Phoenix Lander Captures Dust Devils on Mars


Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10 for short, is a nutrient that occurs naturally in the body. Highest levels of this compound are found in the liver, heart, kidneys, and pancreas. Cells use CoQ10 for various functions, such as growth and maintenance. CoQ10 also functions as an antioxidant by protecting cells in the body from damage caused by harmful molecules. For couples trying to conceive, the use of CoQ10 supplements can be highly advantageous. There is a direct link between CoQ10 and male and female fertility, making the nutrient an important component of any fertility treatment plan.
How Does CoQ10 Improve Fertility?
CoQ10 plays many vital roles in our diet and health. It functions like a vitamin to boost energy production in the body while helping to fight the leading causes of cardiovascular disease. While the substance has long been touted for its neurological and cardiac health benefits, modern studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 can have a significant impact on fertility. According to research published in the Journal of Fertility and Sterility, women who were given 600 mg of CoQ10 supplements per day saw improved egg health and fertilization rates.
The consumption of CoQ10 supplements has also been found to enhance male fertility. A study published in the Journal of Andrology found that men who took 200 to 300 mg of CoQ10 daily experienced a noticeable increase in sperm motility and sperm count, as well as an overall boost in sperm health. According to the Indian Medical Association, between 30 and 80 percent of infertile males have high amounts of free radicals in their semen. These free radicals are responsible for damage to the sperm. In addition to attacking the membrane around the sperm, free radicals can also cause damage to DNA, leading to genetic errors. CoQ10 helps protect cells from free radicals.
Why Are CoQ10 Supplements Needed?
You may be wondering why you need a CoQ10 supplement if your body produces the compound naturally. First, the natural production of CoQ10 gradually diminishes as you age. The nutrient has also been found to be lower in people who have certain health conditions, such as heart disease. In addition to taking supplements, you can fill in any nutritional gaps by eating foods rich in coenzyme Q10. Organ meats provide a high dose of CoQ10, with a beef heart containing about 113 micrograms per gram of meat and pork heart containing 127 micrograms per gram of meat. Compare this with other dietary sources like canned tuna which contains just 16 micrograms per gram of fish.
Should CoQ10 Be Used During Treatment?
If you are undergoing fertility treatment, talk to your doctor about adding CoQ10 to your diet plan. In a study published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics that examined women who were undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), researchers found that women who had higher concentrations of CoQ10 in the fluid surrounding their eggs experienced better quality embryos and higher pregnancy rates. To achieve favorable results, women trying to conceive typically take 300 to 600 mg per day starting about three months prior to the date they are due to begin their IVF treatment.
If you are unfamiliar with CoQ10, you may have come across the terms’ “ubiquinone” and “ubiquinol.” Ubiquinone and CoQ10 are interchangeable. The body naturally converts ubiquinol into ubiquinone and vice versa to maintain a balance as both perform important functions. Until recently, you could only purchase CoQ10 (ubiquinone). It is now possible to purchase ubiquinol. Ubiquinol is often the better choice as it offers many of the same benefits without having to wait until the body concerts CoQ10 for you.
Is CoQ10 Beneficial After Fertility Treatment?
Taking extra CoQ10 is recommended during the egg retrieval stage of fertility treatment, but is not suitable for use after transfer. During pregnancy, CoQ10 levels gradually increase. According to a study published in an issue of Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, low levels of coenzyme Q10 in the blood have been associated with spontaneous abortion. However, as the use of CoQ10 supplements during pregnancy have not been well-studied, it is best to avoid taking it unless prescribed by your doctor. CoQ10 does come with certain risks and is not safe for everyone. Speak to your doctor before taking it to determine if it is safe for you.
CoQ10 should only be used during the egg retrieval cycle to improve egg health and fertilization rates. These supplements are generally not recommended for use during transfer, or the following transfer. It is important to stop the use of CoQ10 after transfer to avoid the development of fetus disorders or abnormalities.
DISCLAIMER: All content provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.


modern day slavery
Slavery is the status or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised. Millions of people worldwide today exist in a state of slavery.
They have been trafficked across borders, forced into fields, sold to brothels, imprisoned as servants in private homes. They work in Bangladeshi factories, on Thai fishing boats, in New York City nail salons. They are cheated, marginalized, terrorized and dehumanized.
An estimated 20.9 million people, 27% of whom are children, live as modern day slaves. Their labor generates more than $44 billion annually in illegal profits.
Despite United Nations and international laws forbidding slavery, no country is immune.
Victim advocates, labor experts and law enforcement officials say the problem is getting worse, given the worldwide economic crisis, ongoing wars, and the dislocating impacts of climate change.
The chains of contemporary slavery are not made of iron and, at times, they are difficult to be spotted.
Modern Day Slavery is a project of the NOOR Foundation intended to emphasize the urgency and visually address the issues at stake concerning slavery in our world today. It is designed to raise awareness of the epidemic of slavery that is still nowadays a big, urgent, and serious problem.


The Washington Post May 27, 2015
Charles E. “Charlie” Cobb Jr. wrote a book last year titled “This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed: How Guns Made the Civil Rights Movement Possible.” Quite an assertion from Cobb, a District native and former member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the civil rights group also known as SNCC.
In the face of state-sanctioned violence against blacks during the 1950s and ’60s civil rights era, Cobb points out, not everybody responded with marches and boycotts the way the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. did.
Some black residents used guns to protect their neighborhoods and homes from attacks by the Ku Klux Klan.
“There was a time when you could kill blacks with impunity,” said Cobb, 71, who was a SNCC organizer in Mississippi from 1962 to 1967. “But the nighttime marauders were learning that the people they were shooting at were increasingly inclined to shoot back.”
These days, it appears that black people are being killed with impunity again but far more often by other black people.
Baltimore is a shockingly sad example. After a black man died while in police custody, local activists protested, some people rioted, and eventually six police officers were charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray. In the weeks since then, homicides shot up in the city, with more than 30 in less than a month.
The deadly spectacle has presented a challenge that few activists seem able to meet.
“What I talk about” in the book, Cobb said, “is when a mother or father in a depressed neighborhood sends a child down the street for bread, they are more worried about the kid getting hit by a stray bullet than about the police.”
What is to be done? Although SNCC organizers seldom had to deal with internal threats to black communities that were greater than anything the Klan could muster, they did gain insight that could be helpful to this younger generation of civil rights activists.
“The great lessons of the Southern civil rights movement was that there is something more important for us to deal with than white supremacy,” Cobb said. He said that the lesson was personified by Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil rights icon and political organizer from Mississippi. “She was constantly challenging black people to ‘get up off your (behind) and do something,’?” recalled Cobb, who left Howard University to join SNCC. “She believed that it was absolutely essential that we hold each other accountable, and that is still one of the most difficult things for us to do.”
Certainly the homicides of at least 30 black people in as many days ought to warrant more than a few words of exasperation. After all, the death of one man in the custody of police led to massive protests.
Cobb admittedly does not speak for SNCC, but he does sit on the board of SNCC Legacy Project — an emerging forum for young activists to draw on the hard-won experiences and wisdom of those who marched before them. In April, the project announced a partnership with Duke University to develop a digitized history of SNCC, complete with oral histories and a detailed look at organizing tactics.
Grass-roots organizing proved to be far more effective than protesting when it came to making institutional changes, and the project will offer examples at how it was done. The effort is being supported by a $604,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Courtland Cox, a former SNCC organizer and chairman of SNCC Legacy Project, said in a release announcing the partnership with Duke: “Our experiences have created a level of ‘informational wealth’ that we need to pass on to young people.” He went to say: “This unprecedented collaboration with Duke University hopefully will pilot a way for other academic institutions to re-engage history and those who make it.”
Just as important, the project will offer a forum for young activists to engage the former SNCC members and no doubt be inspired by the continuity of their struggle for civil rights.
SNCC veterans are already involved with civil rights groups being led by young people, such as Black Lives Matter, Moral Monday and Dream Defenders. But the digital history project will be far-reaching and help even more young activists get organized. With debates underway over changes in voting procedures that could reverse voting rights gains, providing such a resource could not be more timely.
And then there’s the most daunting task of all: violence toward and within the black community.
For while guns in the hands of courageous black people most certainly played a role in making the civil rights movement possible, as Cobb noted, guns in the hands of those who are being left behind continues to undermine that most precious of all civil rights — life itself.