The most important years for learning are from birth to age six. During these formative years, children progress through a series of “sensitive periods,” unique windows of opportunity where the child is able to acquire knowledge without extreme effort or fatigue. Those same skills may be learned at a later time, but then require greater effort on the part of the child.
Children learn by absorbing information and sensations from their surroundings. Children possess what Montessori termed an “absorbent mind.” The Montessori classroom is precisely designed to take full advantage of this formative period between the ages of three and six. Engaging in stimulating learning materials helps the child to classify and order information gathered from their environment.
Young children create themselves through purposeful activities. Montessori classrooms provide a prepared environment where children respond to their natural tendency to work. The child’s innate passion for learning is encouraged by giving him opportunities to engage in spontaneous, purposeful activities with the guidance of a trained adult. As an aid to the child’s self-construction, individual work is encouraged.
Through work, the child develops concentration and joyful self-discipline. Distinct Montessori curriculum areas and materials cultivate the children’s ability to express themselves and think with clarity; they are practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language and cultural studies (history, geography, science, and social studies). Within this framework of order, children progress at their own pace and rhythm, according to their individual capabilities.
The Montessori Three Year Cycle
The 3-year cycle at Clementine Montessori School establishes a sense of community within each classroom where children of different ages and abilities all thrive as the unique individuals they are. This video, produced by a former Montessori student, sheds some light on the Three Year Cycle.
Parents new to Montessori often ask, “How do children of such different sizes and skill levels all thrive in the same class? How do you ensure that both a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old are challenged and learning optimally?” Learn how Montessori teachers strike this balance.
“A little child of three works peacefully alongside a boy of seven and is as contented with his own work as he is about the fact that he is shorter and does not have to envy the older boy’s height. They all grow up in the most profound peace.”
~Dr. Maria Montessori
‘A Children’s House’
“It ought to be a real house, that is to say a set of rooms with a garden of which the children are the masters.”
~Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook, Bently 1966
To grasp the essence of Clementine Montessori, just step inside a classroom. Beautiful, inviting, and thoughtfully arranged, our classrooms embody each element of Maria Montessori’s revolutionary approach.
Natural lighting, soft colors, and uncluttered spaces set the stage for activity that is focused and calm. You won’t find walls papered with brightly colored images of cartoons and syndicated characters. Instead, you might see posters from a local museum, or framed photographs or paintings created by the students themselves.
Clementine Montessori’s classrooms are uniquely suited to meet the developmental needs of the young child. Our classrooms feature low sinks, chairs, and tables; a reading corner with a comfy seat; reachable shelves; and child-sized kitchen tools—elements that allow independence and help develop fine motor skills.
The design and flow of each Clementine Montessori classroom create a learning environment that accommodates choice. There are spaces suited to group activity, and areas where a student can settle in alone. Gone are the customary rows of school desks; children work at tables or on the floor, rolling out mats on which to work and define their work space. Each of Clementine’s classrooms has an area devoted to peace and reflection: a quiet corner or table with well-chosen items—a vase of daisies; a goldfish bowl—to lead a child to meditative thought. And always there are places to curl up with books, where a student can read or be read to.
Above all, each classroom is warm, well-organized, and inviting to help children feel calm and at home.


I’ve had to do a fair bit of thinking about trust over the past couple of weeks. It’s an issue that constantly raises its head quite a few times, but one that I have not really grappled with, or only in passing. It’s obviously something incredibly important to successful relationships, working and social.
I like Dave Snowden’s view that trust is an emergent property of relationships – it develops through the actions and behaviours we observe of each other. It is also an expectation that one can believe that another will be competent or hold their end of the bargain, etc. So as an expectation it has a future dimension, and as an emergent property it has a historical dimension.
But how do we build trust? What are its elements? Trust is like building a house, or more precisely, an A-frame house. In the interests of alliteration (it’s easier sometimes to remember things that way), and along with a fellow co-designer (Ann whose name just happens to start with “A” as well!), we came up with the five items that make up the A-frame of Trust.
Adventure – trust requires someone to be vulnerable in some way, of being open to something that might affect them and of the possibility of being hurt or embarrassed.
Agreement – trust requires an agreement between two or more people. Trust can be lost when that agreement is broken.
Authenticity – trust develops when people act with integrity, are true to their word, and are authentic in their dealings.
Accountability – trust further develops when people understand that they will be held to account for their actions or inactions.
Apology – in order to restore trust, there needs to be understanding that trust has been broken, that there could either be fault or at a minimum a serious difference of perspective, that a conflict has arisen which is best overcome through an apology.
The arrangement of the five items in the A-Frame is intended. Apology is the bridging device, Adventure and Accountability are the key supports, and agreement and authenticity help balance each other.
Thanks for Shawn at Anecdote for his interesting note on Trust which served as some inspiration.


This 8 week session, the Alluem Kids and I will be exploring the 8 Limbs of Yoga! So often when we think of yoga, we only think about the poses, the physical...but there is so much more to yoga! Yoga is a way of life and these 8 Limbs act as guidelines to living a purposeful and meaningful life and there are so many good lessons within for the kids!
The 1st Limb of Yoga are the Yamas. The Yamas focus on our behavior and how we act in this world. It draws attention to the way we treat other people, animals, the earth, our belongings and the places we go. For an example, the kids and I talked about yoga studio etiquette. We should always treat a space the way we would want our own space to be treated. Removing our shoes to keep the floor and our mats clean. Entering quietly, rolling out our mats, sitting down and stretching or lying down and resting. Being respectful of the people in the room around us. Treating others the way we would want to be treated. Smiling and saying hello. Introducing ourselves to a new student. The Yamas also teach us that what we do in the world effects everything and everyone around us. This is the yoga we can practice every day!
A fun way to show this was with a Group Knot! Everyone stands in a circle shoulder to shoulder raising their right arm to the sky. Reaching across the circle we grab hands with a friend. Then raising our left arm to the sky we reach across and grab hands with another friend. We can now see that we've turned ourselves into a human knot! Now to untangle! The things we need are communication, patience and awareness of how we move. The person's whose hand you are holding is ultimately the most important. That hand effects the next person which effects the next person and so on in a chain reaction! So much fun!


Self-driving cars could deliver an £8bn a year boost to the economy by giving people with disabilities the ability to travel more freely, increasing their education and earnings potential.
New research on so-called “autonomous” cars has found that vehicles that do not need a human at wheel could open up opportunities for people with disabilities that limit their mobility.
Instead of having to rely on inflexible public transport, self-driving vehicles would give freedom to an estimated 1m people, offering them the opportunity to boost qualifications and increasing their earnings by an average of £8,500 a year.
The findings tie in with Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) Connected Car conference on Thursday, which explores how the technology will transform the industry and the opportunities it presents.
“The benefits of connected and autonomous vehicles are life-changing, offering more people greater independence, freedom to socialise, work and earn more, and access services more easily,” said Mike Hawes, chief executive of the trade body, which predicts that self-driving cars will be commonplace by the 2030s.
“Fully autonomous cars will be a step change for society, and this report shows people are already seeing their benefits. The challenge now is to create the conditions that will allow this technology to thrive.”
The research also found that six out of 10 people believe self-driving cars will improve their quality of life, with this rising to seven out of 10 for people aged 17 to 24.
The high cost of insurance is seen as a hurdle to young people driving, but when computers are controlling vehicles this is no longer a factor.
Older people also identify the benefits of autonomous cars, with half of them saying it would make their day-to-day lives easier, as aged-related issues such as failing eyesight limit their ability to drive themselves.
Across the board, stress-free driving is perceived to be the biggest attraction of self-driving technology, with computers taking the pressure off and the cars parking themselves once at their destination.
On-board technology that self-diagnoses problems is also expected to ease motorists’ minds.
Britain is aiming to be at the forefront of developing autonomous cars, with the Government having made it a priority with legislation and funding to encourage research in the UK.
The potential payoff for establishing Britain as a world leader in the sector is massive. The SMMT valued autonomous cars and the systems that connect them to the internet as being worth £51bn a year to the UK economy by 2030. Success in the field could also see 320,000 jobs created.
The latest research into the impact of autonomous cars was conducted by Strategy&, a unit of global consultants PwC.
“There is a real risk that this momentum and competitor advantage in the UK will stall if we don’t do more to create positive public perception, overcoming our inherent risk averse culture,” said Mark Couttie, a partner with Strategy&.
“Expanding people’s horizons about the advantages of fully autonomous cars is a vital first step. This means better communicating the art of the possible to increase social acceptance and dispel concerns that our survey identified relating to cost and safety.”


World Wide Web | Eggs, a lot of people who like it, but do you know the health benefits that come from eggs? High protein content in eggs have many health benefits for the body.
The following article health benefits of eggs for a healthy body.
1. Eggs are good for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneration and cataracts because of high content of carotenoids and zeaxanthin. both substances are easily absorbed through the egg compared to other sources.
2. Egg contains 6 grams of high quality protein and 9 essential amino acids.
3. Eggs can prevent blood clots that can cause strokes and heart disease.
4. Source of choline. one egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is a nutrient that helps the brain and nervous system and cardiovascular system.
5. Egg contains 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of saturated fat.
6. eggs mengandungan natural Vit-D is good for health.
7. Women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered the risk of breast cancer by 44%.
So much for the health benefits of eggs. From an egg produced so many benefits. Begin the consumption of foods derived from nature to obtain optimal results.


Trends in Green
Tools to Paint With
Sustainable Paints: A Healthier Start To The School Year
- By Linda Chipperfield
- August 1st, 2015
This Fall, 53 million primary and secondary students in the U.S. will walk into hallways, classrooms, cafeterias and gyms spruced up over the summer by hard-working school building maintenance staff. Often, the smell of fresh paint will hang in the air.
A new coat of paint makes a classroom feel cleaner and brighter, but the smell of fresh paint can also be a signal that hazardous chemicals are polluting the air schoolchildren and teachers breathe throughout the school day. Paint can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — hazardous chemicals that have been found to cause ground-level ozone. VOCs and the many other chemicals in paints have been found to be carcinogenic and to cause respiratory ailments, including asthma. Even after the fresh paint smell dissipates, chemicals continue to be emitted.
Paint fumes are just some of the indoor air pollutants found in schools, but they are potent ones. The EPA has found that among consumer and commercial products, paints, stains and other architectural coatings are second only to automobile emissions as a cause of VOC emissions. But there are alternatives to paints containing high levels of VOC and that pose a threat to students and teachers alike.
In recent years, paint and coating manufacturers have developed low-VOC paints to meet EPA regulations as well as standards set by a number of states. California’s Air Resources Board (CARB), considered a model for state standards, has set VOC limits that reduce emissions while still allowing for functional performance for all regions of the United States.
Fumes aren’t the only thing to consider when purchasing paints that help protect human and environmental health. A paint that has been certified as environmentally preferable by Green Seal, the nation’s leading independent nonprofit providing certification for sustainable goods and services, not only meets standards for low VOCs, it will also be free of other harmful chemicals, including heavy metals, phthalates, formaldehyde donors, carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, hazardous air pollutants and ozone-depleting compounds.
Choosing a safer paint, however, is only part of the process for a healthier school. To decrease a painting project’s negative impact on health and the environment, it is important to also follow instructions for those paints. Labels and manufacturer’s websites should include instructions for providing adequate ventilation as paint is being applied and as it dries. Many paint manufacturers also provide calculation systems that help you determine the amount of paint needed, which helps reduce waste.
Of course, despite the best efforts to calculate needs, paint will often be leftover. It should be saved for other projects, donated, or taken to your community hazardous waste facility. Recycled-content latex paint, which uses the recycled paint to make brand new paint, is growing in popularity.
Buying paints in packaging made from recovered materials, recyclable or returned as part of a manufacturer take-back program, is also an effective way to make a painting project more sustainable. Just like everything else that comes in a package, look for the official recycling symbol on the bucket.
Taking steps to ensure that the painting done at your school is not detrimental to the health of students and teachers, or to our environment, is critical. You can have a role in protecting them by choosing the most sustainable route as you paint your school.
More information on how to paint your school in the cleanest, greenest way possible can be found at:
- The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a nonprofit, international environmental advocacy organization. Protecting public health by preventing pollution is among its goals. NRDC, with the Healthy Schools Network, has created the Green Squad, which gets children involved in making their schools greener and healthier. You’ll find fact sheets at the Green Squad website about choosing and using green paints and other products.
- The Healthy Schools Network is the nation’s leading voice for children’s environmental health at school. Its website includes information and links on how to improve air quality in schools including using low toxicity paints.
The GS-11 and GS-47 standards are being combined into a single standard, titled “GS-11, Green Seal Standard for Paints, Coatings, Stains, and Sealers.” The new standard will cover more product categories including floor coatings and fire-resistant coatings. The limits on VOCs will be updated to reference CARB regulations, and other changes will include how VOCs are defined and measured. Publication of the standard is expected in the fall. Paints and coatings certified to the current standard can be found at www.greenseal.org.
This article originally appeared in the August 2015 issue of School Planning & Management.
Linda Chipperfield is vice president of marketing and communications for Green Seal, which identifies products and services that are environmentally responsible and provides public education for creating a more sustainable world. For more information about Green Seal, visit www.greenseal.org or call 202/872-6400.


Ethnocultural features of a linguistic persona: the specifics of the representation of universal emotional concepts
The work is performed within a framework of modern linguistic and cognitive research as well as linguistic and cultural research aimed at studying the significance and value of the ratio of “language-culture-persona” triad components. Their interdependence enables to define ethnocultural features of a linguistic persona and an “ethnocultural” index in its structure.
The main goal of this paper is to study the specifics of an ethnocultural worldview as one of the principles of understanding the world around through the explication of ethnically marked conceptual units represented in the emotional and sensual linguistic model.
The research emphasizes that typical cognitive processes enable to comprehend the phenomena of the world around and determine the similarity of representation and adequate interpretation of certain emotions and feelings of people within a framework of one ethnic community. It proves the assertion that the structure of a linguistic persona under study has an emotional and sensual level as a set of culturally determined universal and nationally marked concepts expressed and represented by linguistic means that enable to conceptualize the semantics of emotions as markers to define the ethnocultural specifics of a linguistic persona.
The paper pays special attention to the ethnocultural content of emotional and lexical units, which indicate the ethnic identity of a linguistic persona and reflect typical, historically developed signs of the ethnic image of the world.
Illustrative and research material of the paper represented by paroemiological and phraseological units, formulas of speaking etiquette, and ethnic concepts of primarily a Kabardian and Balkar culture of the dominant peoples of the Kabardian and Balkar Republic and partially a Russian culture, allows us to prove that the conceptual meaning of universal emotionally rich lexemes enables to identify and to assess the specifics sensual worldview of a particular ethnic group; that every ethnic culture develops its own system of notions and meanings marked by an emotional index, which defines both the psychological portrait of a person and the specific features of his ethnic conceptual worldview; that the emotional world picture of a linguistic persona is based on a binary way to perceive the world and an evaluative and axiological (value) principle of the subjectivation of an objective world; that emotional state of a person and specific expression of a sensual worldview become indicative of his ethnocultural identity.
Keywords: linguistic persona; ethnocultural linguistic persona; emotional and sensual worldview; cognitive activity; cognition; cognitive and evaluative markers


Volcanoes National Park Rwanda also known as Parc National des Volcans in French lies in northwestern Rwanda and borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda is famous for gorilla tours in the Virunga Conservation Area and as the first African national park .The Park was gazetted in the year 1925 as the area surrounded by Mikeno, Karisimbi and Visoke volcanic peaks and a mountain gorilla’s natural sanctuary. This park is mostly known after the famous primatologist Dr Dian Fossey who arrived in this park in 1967 setting up Karisoke Research Centre between Visoke and Karisimbi. Dian Fossey later was assassinated by poachers she had vehemently fought all her life as portrayed in her autobiography – Gorillas in the Mist. Her graveyard at the research Centre has up to date become a great tourist attraction.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda became a battlefield during the Rwandan Civil War, with the park headquarters being attacked in 1992. The research Centre was abandoned, and all tourist activities (including visiting the gorillas) were stopped. They did not resume again until 1999 when the area was deemed to be safe and under control. There have been occasional infiltrations by Rwandan rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda in subsequent years, but these are always stopped quickly by the Rwandan army and there is thought to be no threat to tourism in the park.
The well- known Volcanoes national park is habitat to Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), golden monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis kandti), Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta), buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), elephants, black-fronted duiker (Cephalophus niger), and bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus). The park also harbors an estimated total of 178 bird species including at least 29 endemics to Rwenzori Mountains and the Virungas.
As earlier described by the primatologist Dian Fossey, Volcanos is perfectly in the heart of Central Africa and being home of Virunga massifs ,one has to shiver more than he or she sweats when climbing the hills in the park. The park is covered with rich, green lush rainforest the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath.
An exhilarating trek through the cultivated foothills of the Virungas offers stirring views in all directions. Then, abruptly, the trail enters the national park, immersing trekkers in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive populations of buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, easily accessible and among the highest in Africa, beckoning an ascent.
Tourists’ Attractions in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Tourist Activities in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
- Mountain Gorilla trekking
- Ibyiwacu cultural encounter
- Golden Monkey trekking
- Dian Fossey tomb tour
- Mountain Karisimbi Hike


Steel sheet in coils
|Infobox on Steel sheet in coils|
|Example of Steel sheet in coils|
|Origin||Trade in steel and steel products primarily flows:|
|Stowage factor (in m3/t)|
|Humidity / moisture||Relative humidity: < 40 - 50%|
|Ventilation||(See also text) Steel sheet in sheets requires particular humidity/moisture and possibly ventilation conditions. Steel corrosion accelerates rapidly at relative humidity > 60%. If possible, relative humidity should be reduced to below 60% by appropriate ventilation measures.|
|Risk factors||(See also text) Seawater damage, contamination and mechanical damage|
Cold rolled steel sheeting
This material is manufactured by re-rolling and cold reduction of hot rolled steel sheeting. The first step taken in the process is when a hot rolled steel coil is unwound and passed through rolls which flex the plating in such a manner as to break and fragment the mill scale. The plating is then pickled in an acid bath for the purpose of removing the mill scale completely, as well as rust and other extraneous matter which might be present. Thereafter, the material is washed to remove any traces of acid so leaving the surface of the sheet clean, fairly smooth and dull grey in colour.
In order to prepare the steel for cold working by improving its grain structure, the plating is annealed by heating to a high temperature in a special type of furnace. It then passes on to the cold reduction mill, which consists of a number of sets of rolls, five strands in tandem where the plating is under tension between strands, progressively reduced in thickness to the required gauge.
In order to rectify the adverse effects of cold working, the coils are again annealed in sealed furnaces, into which a special oxygen free atmosphere is fed, to avoid the formation of scale upon the surface of the plating. Finally, the sheet is given a skin pass through a single strand of rolls, which is referred to as temper rolling. In this operation the sheet is further reduced, but only very slightly, and then re-coiled. The object of this is to produce the required mechanical properties and surface finish. In general, the purpose of cold rolling is to impart to hot rolled material a finer finish in the form of a fine smooth surface, accuracy of thickness and dimension and also improved tensile strength. As a rough guide, in general, plate thickness of 0,5 mm or even less are involved. Coil weights are between 5 to 15 tons per unit with a width of plating from about 900 to 1.300 mm. Coil diameters of from 1.000 to 1.400 mm are about average. Apart from being wound into coils the continuous strip, or band of steel, is also cut into separate sheets which are made up into oblong packages.
The finished coil, with a fine mirror like surface, is oiled for protection against the development of rust, secured with a steel strapping band applied around its circumference, completely wrapped in moisture-resistant paper packing, after which an outer metal cover is applied for further protection. Flat metal bands, usually not less than four, are passed transversely through the core piece of each unit and also not less than three additional bands around the circumference to secure the packing in place. The banding is also applied to ensure that the coil remains tightly wound.
Hold rolled steel sheeting
Ingots are placed in a soaking pit where they are reheated to a suitable temperature for further rolling into slabs, and then into steel sheeting in the form of a continuous strip. In some instances, slabs are taken from stock in which case the slab is placed in a reheating furnace. The ingot or slab is brought to intense white heat to ensure that the temperature is uniform throughout this initial rolling. Temperature will be in excess of 1.000ºC. During reheating, a layer of basic oxide forms on the slab, and in order to remove this, the slab passes through a scale breaker. The loosened scale is blown away by high powered jets of water. Onwards to the roughing train, where the slab passes through four to five sets of rolls in tandem which reduces the slab down to about one fourth of its original thickness, and at the same time squeezes the slab into becoming longer in length. Rolls, placed vertically, control the width of the slab as it reduces in thickness and lengthens into a continuous sheet of thin plating. Finally, the hot plating, at a temperature of just over 800°C, passes to the finishing train where it passes through six or seven strands of rolls in tandem at great speed, and when the thickness of the plating if progressively reduced it emerges as a thin sheet of great length. Thereafter, the strip of sheeting, travelling at a speed of over 1.000 m. per minute, moves towards the coiling machine, before which it is sprayed with water to reduce it to a predetermined temperature. The entire operation is meticulously monitored by computer in order to ensure exact width and thickness of plating as well as a satisfactory cooling rate. The final product, in coil form, might consist of a plate thickness of about 1 mm to 5 mm, and 125 cm in width. Each coil usually weighs between about 7 to 15 tons depending on the length and thickness of the plating. Coils weighing up to 30 tons are not altogether uncommon.
Cold rolled steel sheeting
This type of steel sheeting is used extensively in the automobile industry for the manufacture of car bodies. It is used for household appliances such as refrigerators, bread bins, electrical home appliances, radiators, metal furniture, drums, etc. Also there is a growing demand for pre-coated cold rolled steel plating which has a diverse range of uses. To suit some customer’s requirements, coils are finished on slitting lines which cut the wide steel band down into narrow widths.
Hold rolled steel sheeting
This type of steel may eventually be sheared into short lengths of plate and made up into bundles to be sold to the fabrication industry. On the other hand, it can be destined for re-rolling in order to produce cold rolled steel sheeting.
Cold rolled steel sheeting
The effects of contact with moisture
Cold rolled steel sheeting can in a certain sense be considered a finished product. Any rust on the plating is not acceptable. In consideration of these facts, during loading or transport and discharge of the material, it must be kept completely dry at all times. Damage, resulting in heavy claims, can arise through contact with rain during loading and/or discharge from the ocean carrier. On voyage, ship and especially cargo sweat have been responsible fro heavy losses. Likewise, penetration of sea water into cargo compartments can be particularly devastating. Free moisture flowing across the outer metal envelope can pass beneath the overlaps of the packing and eventually penetrate the contents. As explained in similar circumstances with hot rolled coils, but with more serious results, through capillary action, moisture, which has penetrated and contacted the goods, is drawn between the turns of plating. So called protection or strengthening rings, which consist of an angle iron placed around the outer and inner circumference edges of the packing, have proved to be an innovation which promotes rather than reduces the incidence of damage. Strengthening of the edge packing does provide greater protection against handling damage, but the benefits to be derived from this are far outweighed when the packing comes into contact with free moisture. The moisture trickles or runs across the surface of the packing to be caught up and accumulated in the edge protections. This water seeps through, penetrating the inner packing and eventually contacts the plating of the coil.
In the event of the plating developing a rust condition, whereby part of the coil so affected will be rejected and considered unusable for its originally intended purpose, loss in value will result. Depending upon the degree and overall extent of the rust, a decision will have to be made as to whether the plating qualifies as second choice material or whether it should be degraded to the value of scrap. One thing is certain, such material affected by rust cannot, in most instances, be reconditioned.
Depending upon the extent of this damage, claims can be forthcoming. A type of handling damage often encountered with cold rolled steel coils is often referred to as ovalisation, which can be caused by lowering a coil at such a speed that it lands heavily. This can result in the unit being forced out of the round so that it becomes oval in shape. In such a condition the coil will not fit into the decoiling machines.
To suit customer’s requirements cold rolled coils are often cut into short sections, in general measuring roughly 1.000 x 2.000 mm. The stack of sheets is wrapped in moisture-resistant paper and finally fitted with an outer metal envelope. Each package is then secured with flat metal strapping bands placed longitudinally and transversely around each unit. Beneath each package there is usually a framework of strong wooden bearers, which impart to the package rigidity and facilitates manipulation by fork-lift trucks.
Hold rolled steel sheeting
Hot rolled steel coils are not usually wrapped for protection against contact with moisture and the development of rust. They are secured with a number of flat metal strapping bands transversely through the eye or core of the coil, and securing bands are fixed around the outer circumference of the coil. There are instances when hot rolled coils are pickled and then oiled for protection, after which they are wrapped in moisture-proofed kraft paper and completely enfolded in a metal envelope, all secured with flat metal strapping bands.
Unwrapped hot rolled steel coils are often stored in the open, uncovered and exposed to the elements. Therefore, it is not unusual for such material to be partly or completely rusty in appearance at the time when it is shipped. Wrapped hot rolled steel coils pickled and oiled (H.R.P.O.) should be kept dry as any rust on the plating is inadmissible. H.R.P.O. coils should be given the same consideration as cold rolled coil.
Often referred to as mechanical damage, this consists of physical defects to the plate edges caused during such manipulations as loading and unloading, when the side of the coil is permitted to strike some object. Heavy score marks across the plate edges may or may not be of importance depending upon the intended purpose for the material. If the plating is for re-rolling and the edges have been sheared to an ordered width, then deep incisions are not admissible; likewise, where tearage of the edges of the plating is concerned and depending on the depth of tearing. Buckling or bending of plate edges is of less importance unless the affected plating is actually turned over to form a fold or bent beyond the elasticity of the metal. Usually there are rolls forward of the uncoiling machine which flatten out any bent edges. Another undesirable defect is telescoping and this applies especially to the centre core turns of plating. Each unit should be coiled in such a manner that all plate edges are in line. If edges are projecting too far (telescoped), the possibility of damage developing during handling and in stow are considerably enhanced. In lifting coils, the use of chains and wires should be avoided. Only gear such as broad braided wire slings and ‘C’ hooks should be used. The ideal type of lift truck should be fitted with a circular bar prong if damage is to be avoided. Single steel plates are usually handled with chain or wire bridle type slings, the ends of the legs of which are equipped with a special type of lifting hook. Incorrect placing of dunnage in stacks ashore, before shipment, can cause permanent deformation.
Occasionally the situation does arise, where the side edges of the plating are continuously jagged in appearance over a considerable distance. This type of defect is in no way connected with transport or handling. It is a defect which develops during the rolling of the plating in the mill.
Unwrapped hot rolled steel sheeting may spend a considerable period of time in open storage. The goods are exposed to rain and possibly a polluted atmosphere. Therefore, free moisture trickles down and across the edges of the plating, and seeps between the turns of sheeting to penetrate a limited distance whilst the coil is static. As rust is a natural phenomenon of steel, it is not surprising that most hot rolled products appear to be either rusty or partly rusty. A thin even film of surface rust on the plating, originally through contact with fresh water, is usually of no consequence. Before the plating can be used, the mill scale, or remnants thereof, and rust and extraneous matters which might be present, must be removed before the goods are cold rolled or provided with a protective coating. This cleaning of the material is accomplished by subjecting the sheet to a pickling process, whereby the plating is passed through a hydrochloric acid bath.
Loading during rain
If it is decided to load during rainy weather, care should be taken that not too much free moisture may collect on the tanktop and bank up at the aft end of the compartment as otherwise the coils might actually be partially submerged in water. This water could become contaminated by chlorides from salt crystals left behind from previous sea water washings or rests of previous cargoes and/or impurities brought in with the cargo. If this occurs, those coils affected would sustain damage.
Contact with sea water
Sea water has a devastating effect upon steel products and rapidly causes a serious rust condition to develop whereby the material may become pitted and eroded.
The importance of strapping bands
Strapping bands on the coils should be completely and sufficiently tight in order to afford maximum possibilities of delivering the goods still in a tightly wound condition. Coils which have slackened off, owing to broken securing bands, can upset the stability of the stow and cause problems in handling during discharge and afterwards.
To suit customers’ requirements, coils are often unwound, cut into plate lengths of about 2 m and stacked into bundles. Each bundle is secured with a number of criss-crossed flat metal strapping bands. Bundles of hot rolled steel sheets are usually unwrapped and unprotected against the development of rust. The goods will therefore probably have a rusty appearance at the time of shipment. For transportation by sea, all unpacked hot rolled mild steel plates and/or steel sheets, whether in bundle form or loose, should be given the same consideration as hot rolled steel sheeting in coils.
Storage and transport
The degree of rusting of steel consignments should be recorded in the shipping documents before acceptance of the consignment, possibly using the following definitions:
- Wet before shipment
- Partly rust stained to rusty
- Gear marked
- Contaminated by foreign substance
- Contaminated by saltwater
- Chafed in places
- Packing torn exposing contents
Steel products require particular humidity/moisture and possibly ventilation conditions. Steel corrosion accelerates rapidly at relative humidity > 60%. If possible, relative humidity should be reduced to below 60% by appropriate ventilation measures. However, the following should be noted:
Steel exhibits a lower temperature than the external temperature anticipated during transit If the temperature of the ambient air outside the ship rises, this has only a minimal effect on the temperature of the cargo. Ventilation with "warm" external air may result in cargo sweat on the "cold" steel, if the temperature of the latter is below the dew point of the ambient air. In such a case, ventilation may encourage corrosion.
The steel is warmer than the external temperatures anticipated in transit Ventilation may be performed without any risk of cargo sweat formation. However, cooling of the ship's sides may cause their temperature to drop below the dew point of the hold air, resulting in ship sweat inside the hold. In this case, the temperature of the hold air should be adjusted by ventilation to match that of the external air.
See also 'Carriage of Steel' article on http://www.ukpandi.com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/LP%20Documents/Carefully_to_Carry/Carriage%20of%20Steel.pdf
- Moisture damage
- Mechanical influences


The quest to discover whether a planet orbiting our closest neighboring star, Proxima Centauri (4.2 light-years or 25 trillion miles from Earth), could support life has taken a new, exhilarating twist.
The planet was only discovered in August 2016, and is thought to be of similar size to Earth, creating the possibility that it could have an Earth-like atmosphere. Scientists from the University of Exeter have embarked on their first, tentative steps to explore the potential climate of this exoplanet, known as Proxima B.
Early studies have suggested that the planet is in the habitable zone of its star Proxima Centauri—the region where, given an Earth-like atmosphere and suitable structure, it would receive the right amount of light to sustain liquid water on its surface. Now, the team of astrophysics and meteorology experts has undertaken new research to explore the potential climate of the planet, towards the longer term goal of revealing whether it has the potential to support life.
Dr. Ian Boutle, lead author of the paper, explained: “Our research team looked at a number of different scenarios for the planet’s likely orbital configuration using a set of simulations. As well as examining how the climate would behave if the planet was ‘tidally-locked’ (where one day is the same length as one year), we also looked at how an orbit similar to Mercury, which rotates three times on its axis for every two orbits around the Sun (a 3:2 resonance), would affect the environment.”
Dr. James Manners, also an author on the paper added: “One of the main features that distinguishes this planet from Earth is that the light from its star is mostly in the near-infrared. These frequencies of light interact much more strongly with water vapor and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which affects the climate that emerges in our model.”
The team found that both the tidally-locked and 3:2 resonance configurations result in regions of the planet able to host liquid water. However, the 3:2 resonance example resulted in more substantial areas of the planet falling within this temperature range. Additionally, they found that the expectation of an eccentric orbit, could lead to a further increase in the “habitability” of this world.
TRAVELING AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT, a radio message from Earth could reach inhabitants of Proxima B in just 4.2 years. Whether it would be feasible—or desirable—to send such a message is another matter, and how that message could be designed to be understood by extraterrestrials is yet another.
But the fact that we can even ask such questions shows how far we have come in the 39 years since 1978, when Wisconsin Senator William Proxmire awarded his annual “Golden Fleece Award,” for “fleecing” the public, to the fledgling SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program—resulting in this program being removed from the NASA budget. Today, nearly every major observatory on Earth is conducting searches aimed at detecting habitable distant worlds.


20 The Glebe,Watford Herts
WD2 6LR, England
Having been able to compare the different Golden Section spirals in Part 3, this section looks at the most enduring myth of Golden Section spirals: because a spiral is a logarithmic spiral it is a Golden Section one.
"A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS
The simplest case of a mistake was one I heard on the radio recently by an artist who had been brought into one of a series of programmes on numbers. In the one on the Golden Section he went on to describe the spiral in the Golden Section rectangle. This is not an easy thing to do on the radio. It was made harder that his train of thought was:
This is quite rare. The most common misconception follows the logic:
I will also describe how a spiral design extrapolated from the rose window of Chartres cathedral has been misattributed in the same way.
One of the amazing things about such misconceptions is that it is so widespread, even by mathematicians who should know better. It is a prime example of why geometry needs to be taught more widely and not only geometry, but the visual appreciation of shape and proportion. This is especially true for the education of artists, graphic designers and architects.
I can explain one way the errors about the Golden Section spiral are perpetuated. This anecdote affected me personally. I wrote an article on Golden Section spirals for a mathematics magazine a few years ago that included a section on why the nautilus shell was not a Golden Section spiral. The page proofs came back with a heading that was quite bland. I was horrified, however, when I received my sample copy. The designer had drawn a nautilus shell on the cover and put the same drawing at the heading of the article. The editorial in the next issue had an interesting apology and retraction. However, readers do not always see the next issue.
WHY THE NAUTILUS SHELL IS NOT A
GOLDEN SECTION SPIRAL
The nautilus shell is a logarithmic spiral. Such a shape arises because a growing animal has the same proportions as it grows and the spiral fits the requirement to protect this shape as it gets larger.
When trying to measure a nautilus shell to determine the shape of the spiral, you can either work from a photograph or a sectioned specimen, which is essentially equivalent (though photos may add distortions, of course). In either case, there are numerous experimental difficulties. For example:
The specimen in Figure 37 was measured as follows.
In order to approximate the multiplication factor for the nautilus logarithmic spiral, measurements were taken for four different 360° rotations of the spiral and the ratio of the radial vectors calculated for each rotation. The yellow marks show the measurement lines. Values obtained were 2.95, 3.02, 2.83, and 2.97, giving an average of 2.94. Although the errors are quite high it shows a value in the region of 3. Other measurements I have seen are also around 3. Since the shell is a living form, making statements other than this is as far as you can go. The creatures are no more uniformly shaped than you or I are.
A logarithmic spiral with a multiplication factor of 3 has a tangent angle of 80.08°. Compare this with the following table:
Note that a small change in tangent angle corresponds to a large change in the multiplication factor. So although the nautilus ratio is close to the SSL ratio, this is merely a coincidence. It is a very long way from the one for the Golden Section rectangle. In fact, comparing the Golden Section spiral (on the left in Figure 38 below) with the logarithmic spiral having a multiplication factor of 3 (on the right in Figure 38 below) and the nautilus in Figure 37, it is clear that the Golden Section rectangular spiral and the nautilus spiral simply do not match. There just are not enough turns with the Golden Section spiral.
Of course, one could specify any multiplication factor and use it to define a specific logarithmic spiral. In this way, one could define other Golden Section spirals, without appealing to any approximate spiral construction, simply by specifying the multiplication factor to be a chosen power of f (e.g., f, f2, f1/2, - the possibilities are endless). With a suitable choice of the power, one could even produce a spiral very close to the nautilus spiral. This would be quite contrived, however, and it must be stressed that the spiral traditionally associated with the nautilus is the one corresponding to the Golden Section rectangle (i.e., multiplication factor f4), which is clearly far from a match.
There is a much longer and more detailed discussion on this subject in [Fonseca 1993]. He also finds the ratio for one turn of the nautilus as very close to 3. He describes how an artist makes errors in order to justify her assumption that the nautilus is a Golden Section spiral. It is a classic description of how the Golden Section is misused.
THE NORTH WINDOW OF CHARTRES
The diagram Cowen uses is shown in Figure 39. Such a set of spirals bears a superficial resemblance to the sets of pentagon spirals shown in Figure 29. He has probably made the visual leap having seen a diagram of the spirals in a sunflower since it looks so close.
The overall spiral pattern has a twelve-fold symmetry that matches the symmetry of the window, which reflects the twelve apostles. He has drawn many auxiliary spirals like the one shown above, as well. The auxiliary spiral has a multiplication factor of (Ö2)8 = 16, which leads to a » 66.1895°, whereas the spirals of the overall pattern have multiplication factor (Ö2)24 = 4096, which leads to a » 37.0672°. There is no reason to call either of these spirals a Golden Section spiral.
Fonseca, Rory. 1993. Shape and Order in Organic Nature: The Nautilus Pompilius. Leonardo 26: 201-204.
Hambidge, Jay. 1926. The Elements of Dynamic Symmetry. Rpt. New York: Dover, 1953.
Lawrence, J. Dennis. 1972. A Catalog of Special Plane Curves. New York: Dover.
Lockwood, E. H. 1967. A Book of Curves. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Maor, Eli. 1994. e: The story of a number. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Schattschneider, Doris. 1990. M C Escher: Visions of Symmetry. New York: W H Freeman.
Sharp, John. 1997. Golden section spirals. Mathematics in School 26, 5: 8-12.
Sharp, John. 1999. The Brocard point: A response to a Challenge. Micromath 15, 3. Republished on the Association of Teachers of Mathematics website (http://www.atm.org.uk/resources/articles/geometry/brocard/point.html)
Yates, Robert C. 1947. Curves and Their Properties. Rpt. Washington: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1974.


In the course of the past year, my mind's been blown so many times by breakthroughs in biotechnolgy that I wasn't even surprised when I read about a bunch of MIT researchers building a computer out of living cells. After all, scientists can now store data on a single molecule or, if that's not small enough, a single strand of artificial DNA. Some are also working on invisible microchips made of carbon nanotubes, and doctors are already talking about using nanotechnology for everything from monitoring organ functioning to zapping cancer cells.
So somebody in Cambridge must've thought, "Why not just combine our powers and just build a computer out of living cells?" And that's exactly what's happening. The more I thought about it and read about other attempts, the more I realized that this could be the breakthrough of a generation, a new way of computing that could change everything. Consider my mind blown once again.
As wild as it sounds, the basic idea behind a living computer is pretty straightforward. Computers are simply devices that can process data, perform calculations, and deliver an output when given an input. Your brain is a computer. So is the mid-nineties Packard Bell minitower sitting in your parents' basement. So is the Antikythera mechanism, an ancient analog device that the Greeks built back before Jesus was born.
And in their own way, living cells are perfectly engineered to take on basic computing tasks, since they're filled with DNA that, among other things, can store information and activate certain proteins. These are the exact functions that this group of researchers from MIT are focusing on in their attempt to build a computer out of living cells.
This new bio-computer uses living cells to perform calculations, but it's not entirely natural. The MIT researchers built so-called DNA modules out of circular strings of DNA that they implanted in E. coli cells. The input comes in the form of recombinase enzymes that either turn on or turn off DNA sequences, effectively enabling them to work like the Boolean logic gates that control the basic functioning of electronic computers.
"These developments will more readily enable one to create programmable cells with decision-making capabilities for a variety of applications," said Boston University synthetic biologist James Collins, who was one of the first to tackle the challenge of building a living computer but didn't participate in the MIT study. He did, however, lay the groundwork for the technology a few years ago when he created a genetic "toggle switch" that's at the heart of the latest efforts.
Indeed, scientists have been working on the basic building blocks of bio-computing for years. The new MIT approach brings something new to table, though: memory. Christopher Voigt, one of the MIT synthetic biologists, described the process as "a very digital and permanent way to store information in DNA. The logic can store multiple experiences — for example, if the cells had encountered two environments and in what order."
But that's not all. "[The change] is permanent," he said. "After the cells die, the information can still be retrieved from the DNA." These artificial modules are like the Gmail of bio-computing, only better. There's no need to delete information if it can be archived for the rest of time.
So what's this new technology good for? Right now, it's great for impressing geeks like me. As scientists continue to perfect the modules and processes, however, the future of bio-computing could bring some major breakthroughs in medicine and, for lack of a better term, exploration. The two are sort of linked and both are pretty out there.
Basically, bio-computers would be able to go places that regular computers couldn't go, like the bottom of the ocean or the inside of your body. This feature comes in handy when thinking of ways to create better, more non-intrusive treatments for all kinds of medical problems. A properly located bio-computer, for instance, could switch on at the sign of an illness and deliver drugs without the patient even needing to go to the doctor.
That's just one example of the amazing possibilities of living computers. There are plenty more, though, enough to fill an entire book. All you really need to know, though, is that advances in biotechnology are reaching a critical mass, making the seemingly impossible sound like a weekend in the Hamptons. I know that analogy doesn't make a ton of sense, but I had to find some way to express how ridiculously expensive all this research must be.


In this laboratory, a multimeter and a computer interface will be used to measure the current in a resistor and the potential difference across the poles of the resistor. When combined, response from the multimeter and the computer is expected to have the form V = RI where R is a constant representing the resistance of the tested resistor (in W) because of Ohm's law. In this case V will represent the potential difference across the resistor (in Volts) and I will represent the current (in mA).
By conducting this experiment we will attempt to verify that the tested resistor obeys Ohm's Law as stated above (V=RI)
The acquired data is plotted in the form of difference of potential vs. current and a curve is then fitted. A direct relationship should then be observed, hence the plot should be of the form y = mx+b where the slope m is the resistance of the tested resistor. Also, y-intercept value b of 0 should be obtained
Fig. 1 - Diagram of the circuit used
|Voltage (V)||Current (mA)|
Result of equation fit: y = .05449212335x - .02540957921
y = .054492x ± 0.0016x -.0254 ± 0.10
Ohm's Law states that V=RI where V is the difference of potential at the poles of the element (measured in volts), R is the resistance of the element being tested (a resistor in this case, measured in ohms), and I is the current passing through the circuit (measured in milliamps). When the Y-intercept on the attached voltage drop vs. current in the conductor graph is examined, it is observed that the the ranges of R values overlap, also the expected y-intercept value of 0 falls between the maximum and minimum deviation. By further examining the graph,it is possible to notice that the plot of the voltage drop across the conductor versus the current in the conductor results in a straight line. Furthermore, the origin (0,0) is within experimental error for the y-intercept of the graph. Both these statements show that the tested resistor verified Ohm's Law since theoretically the y-intercept should be 0 and the voltage drop across the conductor versus the current in the conductor should be directy proportional. This can be concluded by observing the equation which is y = .054492x ± 0.0016x -.0254 ± 0.10.
This laboratory had few causes of error that could significantly affect results. The most important factor was a mildly fluctuating power supply (the indicated current did not remain perfectly stable after being adjusted). Another possible cause of error is the possibility of misreading the voltage drop because of the fluctuating power supply. A miscalibrated multimeter could potentially result in inaccurate readings as well since the voltage drop readings were made directly without recalibrating it against a calibrated machine.


Aspects of Dawah in Surah al Kahf
Surah al Kahf is an encyclopedia in itself! Subhanallaah!
As we read and understand the Surah, we come across four different aspects of Dawah.
Dawah is to call people to Islam, to advise people about what is Right and what is wrong, to remind those who have forgotten their duties and to stand up against injustice and oppression.
1. Youth Inviting the King:
“And We made firm their hearts when they stood up and said, “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression.” (Surah al Kahf 18: 14)
The role of youth in Islam is commendable. If the youth adopt right strategies in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah in calling people towards Islam, they can definitely turn out be a great source of help and benefit to the Ummah as a whole.
Also, the youth must check up their hearts and ground themselves firmly in matters regarding knowledge and wisdom before embarking on the dawah mission. They should raise their emaan to such a level that they get that inner force, that spiritual strength to stand up to speak the truth in front of a tyrant thus performing the best Jihad as done by the youth in the story of the sleepers of the Cave.
2. A Friend Reminding his other Friend:
“His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, “Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man?” (Surah al Kahf 18: 37)
A true Friend is the one who always cautions his other friends should they err and deviate from the Right Path. In other words, a friend is not just the one who is a companion in this material world but must also be the Adviser and Mentor in matters concerning spirituality and the life Hereafter.
3. A Teacher Advising His Student:
“He said, “Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention.” (Surah al Kahf 18: 70)
A committed student of knowledge must always be patient with his teacher by developing good listening skills.
Haste and impatience will not work if one really wants to learn the techniques of dawah from one’s teacher.
Also, a teacher must always keep the elements of dawah in perspective while performing his role as a teacher.
Understanding the student is very important in dawah.
4. A Ruler Warning His Subjects:
He (Dhul Qarnayn) said, “As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment.
But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he will have a reward of Paradise, and we will speak to him from our command with ease.” (Surah al Kahf 18: 87-88)
The just Ruler must always advise his subjects and remind them of Truth and warn them to give up injustice and cruelty.
A great leader not only believes in Allah and adopts righteousness but also commands and inspires his people to follow the Way of their Almighty Lord.
If Allah has given you the reigns of authority, use it for the purpose of dawah to establish the sovereignty of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’aala.
Dear brothers and sisters, Surah al Kahf is not connected with weekly readings on Fridays in the sense that that you read it in a ritualistic or mechanical way but this amazing Surah has great connections with the very life of a Muslim!
Jazakallaahu Khayra for reading this post.
Sal-lal-laahu ‘Ala Muhammad, Sal-lal-laahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam.
December 13, 2013 - Posted by MuQeet | Reflections, Surah al Kahf | Allah, Chapter 18, Deen, Dhul Qarnain, Friday, Friday and Surah al Kahf, Hadith, Ibadah, Imaam Aadil, Islam, Just Ruler, Knowledge, lessons from Surah kahf, Moosa, Moses, Muslims, Prophet Muhammad, Quran, Quran blog, Straight Path, Surah al Kahf, Tarbiyah, the cave, Worship in Islam, Yassarnalquran
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- The caring Prophet, and a community so unmoved! October 17, 2014
- Amr bil Maroof wa Nahi ‘anil Munkar October 14, 2014
- Israeli intrusion into Al Aqsa mosque ‘barbaric’! October 10, 2014
- Islamic Perspective on Eclipse October 8, 2014
- Answers to Hajj Quiz and Qur’an Quiz 5 October 5, 2014
- Farewell Address October 4, 2014
- Eid Greetings from YasSarNal QuR’aN :) October 4, 2014
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Kidney cancer is also called ‘Renal Cancer’, is a truly debilitating disease. This disease causes uncontrolled growth of the kidney cells, forming tumors. This can lead to severe medical disorders in the body, even being fatal at times, if left untreated.
Your kidneys are two fist-sized, bean-shaped organs, located on both sides of your spine, in the lower abdomen. The kidneys are responsible for cleaning your blood of impurities and waste products which is converted into urine.
The chances of successful treatment of kidney cancers are dependent on how early it is detected in a patient.
Top Symptoms of Kidney Cancer
These are a few common symptoms which indicate the growth of kidney cancer in a person:
- Hematuria is when you see blood in your urine. It is the most common symptom of kidney cancer. Around 40-50% of patients with kidney cancer are known to show this symptom.
- A tiny amount of blood tends to change its color, to pink, slightly brown or even red while urinating. The blood may appear inconsistently in the urine, mostly every alternate day.
- A urinalysis is the best way to detect even tiny amounts of blood in your urine.
2. Lump in Abdomen
- Kidney cancer often develops a lump in the side, back or in your abdomen. It feels mostly like a thickening, bulging and hard bump beneath your skin. Around 45% of people affected with renal cell carcinoma are known to develop these abnormal lumps in their abdominal region.
- However the early stages of kidney cancer may not make these lumps noticeable, as these are situated deep within your abdomen. Only when the tumor grows significantly large is when you can feel the lump.
- An ultrasound, or a CT scan, is the best diagnostic test to determine the size, shape and exact location of the lump in the abdomen. A biopsy will be able to further confirm the diagnosis in case kidney cancer is suspected.
3. Lower Back Pain
- Although back pain is quite common once you are past 40 years of age, due to an earlier musculoskeletal injury or degeneration of intervertebral disc, it may also indicate to development of kidney cancer.
- Around 41% of patients affected with kidney cancer report intense pain in the lower back, especially on the side. The pain can usually be felt as a dull ache, or even a sharp stab, as the cancer advances. This pain is also known to spread gradually.
4. Unintended Weight Loss
- In case the kidney tumor spreads to other organs there is likely to be a significant drop in your weight in a short time.
- Around 28% of patients with renal cell carcinoma report unwanted weight loss. This is usually because the spread of the cancer makes the patients lose their appetite, thus leading to weight loss.
5. Fatigue and Anemia
- Fatigue is a common symptom for most cancer patients when they undergo treatments. Around 70-100% of patients undergoing cancer treatments report feeling fatigued at most times.
- Fatigue from cancer is consistent and hampers your daily activities noticeably. With time, it is also reported to increase in intensity.
In case you experience any of these 5 symptoms, it is highly advisable to undergo a thorough examination after consultation with a reliable oncologist. Ensure that you detect your kidney cancer at the earliest so you can get effective and successful cancer treatment.


Recent research gives new hope and meaning to the phrase “medical marijuana.”
In a paper published in October’s Anticancer Research, Wai Liu, a senior research fellow at St. George’s University of London, reports that he found six cannabinoids – active components of the cannabis plant – that can slow or outright kill cancer cells.
Though THC is the main cannabinoid associated with marijuana and has been recognized to have a “really strong anti-cancer effect,” Liu says, “it’s not a good candidate for therapeutic use because of its psychoactive properties.”
He examined whether several lesser-known cannabinoids would impact the growth of leukemia cells both individually and in combination.
“They’re good at killing cancer cells,” he says. And “because they’re not psychoactive, you can actually have the benefits associated with anti-cancer technology but not have the feelings of high, which are associated with THC.”
Some cannabinoids are better at killing cancer cells and others are better at slowing their growth, so combining certain cannabinoids has a heightened effect. “It’s like a double hit,” he says.
Plus, they do not appear to target all rapidly dividing cells the way chemotherapy or radiation does – which leads to side effects, such as hair loss. Rather, they appear to attack just the cancer.
But don’t fire up a joint quite yet, Liu cautions. “I’m not suggesting that people should smoke it. Smoking is a bad thing by a chemist’s point of view. You can do a lot more harm than good. You can lose the essence of what makes an excellent anti-cancer agent by smoking it.”
Recreational smokers probably won’t derive any clinical benefits because marijuana contains many substances besides these cannabinoids and because some of them are psychoactive.
In other pot news, researchers have found that cannabis use disorder – essentially, when people use so much pot that it disrupts the rest of their life, but they continue to use it anyway – is comorbid with social anxiety disorder.
Researchers found that the social anxiety wasn’t caused by the pot smoking. Rather, it’s likely that these people are self-medicating for their anxieties. Explains study author Julia D. Buckner, assistant professor of psychology at Louisiana State University: “Some people may go to therapy, some people may use alcohol, some people use marijuana – but when anxious people use marijuana, they’re more likely to continue to use it, despite experiencing marijuana-related problems.”
That is, people who smoke too much pot are far more likely to be anxious, especially around other people. Especially around other people who aren’t smoking pot.


Alcohol and gallbladder cancer are not linked. So drinking alcohol is not a risk factor for developing the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The National Health Service of the UK (NHS). The American Cancer Society. Cancer Research UK. These and other major organizations conclude that alcohol doesn’t increase the risk of gallbladder cancer.
However, there are a number of factors that do increase the risk of the disease. These risk factors include being
- Female (more than doubles the risk).
- Overweight or obese.
- Over age 65.
- A smoker.
- Native American or Mexican American.
- Chronically infected with salmonella.
- A worker in the metal or rubber industry.
Other risk factors for gallbladder cancer include having
- Gallstones (the most common risk factor).
- Gallbladder polyps.
- A family history of gallbladder cancer.
- A porcelain gallbladder (inside wall covered with calcium deposits).
- Choledochal cysts.
- Abnormalities of the bile ducts.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HAT).
- A diet high in carbohydrates and low in fiber.
Symptoms of gallbladder cancer can include
- Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes).
- Lumps in the abdomen.
- Pain above the stomach.
- Nausea and vomiting.
A person experiencing any of the possible symptoms of gallbladder cancer should see a doctor.
Research shows that drinking alcohol is not a risk factor for developing gallbladder cancer. On the other hand, the moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with better health. It’s also linked to longer life than either abstaining or drinking abusively.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has defined moderate drinking. It’s a man consuming four drinks on any day and an average of 14 drinks per week. For women, it is consuming three drinks in any one day and an average of seven drinks per week.
A standard alcoholic drink is:
- A 12-ounce can or bottle of regular beer
- A 5-ounce glass of dinner wine
- A shot (one and one-half ounces) of 80 proof liquor or spirits.
No form of alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, or spirits) confers greater health or longevity benefits than any other.
Readings on Alcohol and Gallbladder Cancer
Cariati, A., et al. Gallbladder cancers. Euro J Gastro Hepat, 2014, 26(5), 562-569.
Hundal, R., & Shaffer, E. Gallbladder cancer: epidemiology and outcome. Clin Epid, 2014, 6, 99-109.
Liebe, R., et al. Modifiable factors and genetic predisposition associated with gallbladder cancer. A concise review. J Gastro Liv Dis, 2015, 24(3), 339-348.
Lowenfels, A., et al. Epidemiology of gallbladder cancer. Hepatogastroenterology, 1999, 46(27), 1529-32.
Malka, D., et al. Biliary tract neoplasms. Curr Opin Oncol, 2004, 16(4), 364-71.
Pilgrim, C., et al. Modern perspectives on factors predisposing to the development of gallbladder cancer. HPB, 2013, 15(11), 839-844.
Randi, G., et al. Gallbladder cancer worldwide: geographical distribution and risk factors. International Journal of Cancer, 2006, 118(7), 1591-1602.
Wernberg, J., & Lucarelli, D. Gallbladder cancer. Surg Clin N Am, 2014, 94(2), 343-360.
Note: This website does not make health or medical recommendations about alcohol and gallbladder cancer.


PATIENT INFORMATION ON CLOZAPINE
Clozapine belongs to the class of drugs called Antipsychotics.
The primary use of this medication is to treat symptoms of acute or chronic schizophrenia; it is often used in patients who have not had an adequate response to other antipsychotic drugs. Clozapine has been found effective in other psychotic disorders, including psychosis in Parkinson’s Disease, and organic disorders .
Though not approved for this indication, it has also been used in the treatment of impulsive/aggressive behavior.
What symptoms will this drug help control?
Symptoms of psychosis differ between individuals, both as to the type of symptom and severity. Some common symptoms which antipsychotics have been found to help include:
- Hallucinations (e. g., hearing voices, smelling odors, feeling unusual body sensations)
- Fixed beliefs, often of a paranoid nature (i.e., someone is persecuting or following you; people are talking about you)
- Disorganized thoughts (difficulty in focusing on a thought), or speeded-up thoughts
- Irritability, agitation, hyper excitement over elated mood
Clozapine may also help symptoms of social withdrawal, lack of interest in one self and in others and poor motivation.
How quickly will the drug start working?
Clozapine begins to relieve agitation within a few days, helps control mood changes in about 2 weeks, and help difficulties in thoughts and awareness in 6-8 weeks; voices (hallucinations) will decrease in intensity and frequency over 2-8 weeks. Some patients respond to clozapine gradually over a period of months. Because antipsychotics require time to work , do not decrease or increase the dose or stop the medication without discussing this with your doctor.
How long should you take this medication?
For individuals that have had a psychotic illness for several years, clozapine should be continued indefinitely. The physician may adjust the dose, from time to time, based on results of blood levels of clozapine and response to treatment.
Why are blood tests necessary with clozapine, and why is medication given for a week at a time?
A rare side effect (affects less than 1% of people) has been reported with clozapine; it is called agranulocytosis. With this side effect, the white cells in the blood decrease in quantity, which makes it difficult for the body to fight off any infections. Because this can result in a serious problem, if identified early, agranulocytosis can be reversed by stopping clozapine. It is therefore necessary to measure the amount of white blood cells in the body on a weekly basis to identify those individuals who may be at risk for agranulocytosis.
After taking clozapine for 6 months, individuals are no longer considered at serious risk for agranulocytosis and may have their blood work done, and be given prescriptions for 2weeks to 4 weeks at a time.
Side effects occur, to some degree, with all medication. They are usually not serious and do not occur in all individuals. Most will decrease or disappear with time. If a side effect continues, speak to your doctor about appropriate treatment.
Common side effects that should be reported to your doctor at the next appointment include:
- Drowsiness and lethargy-This problem usually goes away with time. Use of other drugs that make you drowsy will worsen the problem. Avoid driving a car or operating machinery if drowsiness persists.
- Dizziness-Get up from a lying or sitting position slowly; dangle your legs over the edge of the bed for a few minutes before getting up. Sit or lie down if dizziness persists or if you feel faint, then contact your doctor.
- Dry mouth-Sour candy and sugarless gum help increase saliva in your mouth; try to avoid sweet, calorie-laden beverages. Drink water and brush your teeth regularly.
- Blurred vision-This usually occurs at start of treatment and may last 1-2 weeks. Reading under a bright light or at a distance may help; a magnifying glass can be of temporary use. If the problem continues, advise your doctor.
- Constipation –Increase bulk foods in your diet (e. g., salads, bran) and drink plenty of fluids. Some individuals find a bulk laxative or a stool softener helps regulate their bowels. If these remedies are not effective, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
- Excess salivation or drooling-This often occurs at night. Use a towel on the pillow when sleeping. If this also occurs during waking hours, speak to your doctor about other remedies.
- Weight gain-Monitor your food intake; you may notice a craving for carbohydrates (e. g., sweets, potatoes, rice, pasta), but try to avoid foods with high fat content (e. g., cakes and pastry).
- Nausea or heartburn-If this happens, take the medication with food.
Rare side effects you should report to your doctor IMMEDIATELY include:
- Soreness of the mouth, gums, or throat
- Lethargy , weakness, fever or flu-like symptoms or other signs of infections
- Skin rash or itching
- Unusual headache
- Periods of blackouts or seizures
- Severe or persistent dizziness or fainting
- Frequent urinating or loss of bladder control
- Yellow tinge in the eyes or to the skin; dark-colored urine
- Rapid heart beat
- Inability to have a bowel movement (more than 2-3 days)
- Worsening of repetitive behavior or obsessional symptoms
Tardive dyskinesia is an adverse effect that has been recognized in some patients who have been treated with antipsychotics, usually for many years. The risk of this adverse effect with clozapine is considered to be low, and clozapine may help in treating this problem. Tardive dyskinesia describes involuntary movements of certain muscles-usually those of the lips and tongue, and sometimes those of the hands, neck and other parts of the body.
Let your doctor know as soon as possible if you miss your period or suspect you may be pregnant.
What should you do if you forget to take a dose of your medication?
If you take your total dose of antipsychotic at bedtime and you forget to take it, DO NOT take the dose in the morning, but continue with your schedule the next day. If you take the drug several times a day, take the missed dose when you remember, then continue with your regular schedule.
Interactions with other medication
Because clozapine can change the effect of other medication, or may be affected by other medication, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking other drugs, including over-the-counter medication such as cold remedies.
Always inform any doctor or dentist that you see that you are taking an antipsychotic medication.
- Do not increase or decrease your dose without consulting your doctor.
- Take your drug with meals or with water, milk or orange juice; avoid grapefruit juice as it may interfere with the effect of the drug.
- This drug may impair the mental and physical abilities required for driving a car or operating machinery. Avoid these activities if you feel drowsy or slowed down.
- This drug may increase the effects of alcohol, making you more sleepy, dizzy and lightheaded.
- Avoid exposure to extreme heat and humidity (e. g., saunas) since this drug may affect your body’s ability to regulate temperature changes.
- Antacids interfere with absorption of these drugs in your stomach and therefore may decrease their effect. To avoid this, take the antacid at least 2 hours before or 1 hour after taking your antipsychotic drug.
- excessive use of caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea, colas, etc.) can cause anxiety, agitation and restlessness and may affect the blood level of your medication.
- Cigarette smoking can change the amount of antipsychotic that remains in your bloodstream; inform your doctor if you make any changes to your current smoking
- Do not stop your drug suddenly as this may result in withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, sweating, headache, sleeping problems, agitation and tremor, and also result in the return of psychotic symptoms.
- Store your medication in a clean, dry area at room temperature. Keep all medication out of the reach of children.
If you have any questions regarding this medication, do not hesitate to contact your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse


Poison plant handbook uncovers touch-me-notsLocal | Riley Chan Apr 17, 2018
The digital version of the Atlas of Poisonous Plants in Hong Kong - A Clinical Toxicology Perspective, which lists 117 types of poisonous plants found in Hong Kong, was first released in 2016.
The HA reported 30 cases of plant poisoning in the past decade, a third of which involved the use of Gelsemium elegans, commonly known as heartbreak grass and one of the four most poisonous plants in Hong Kong.
Ingestion of the plant could result in respiratory depression, depression of the central nervous system or even death, according to Tony Mak Wing-lai, chief of service of the department of pathology at Princess Margaret Hospital.
He said in 2007, a woman was severely poisoned and required intubation after ingesting Gelsemium elegans collected in Lantau Island, which she mistook for the non-poisonous Mussaenda pubescens, a plant from the coffee family.
In 2008, a family was poisoned after eating a commonly used food - roots of "hairy fig" Ficus hirta - which were contaminated with roots of Gelsemium elegans.
Mak said a lot of poisonous plants are hard to identify. One common example is Amanita farinosa, a poisonous mushroom. Eating it could lead to liver failure or even death. People often also confuse the Rhododendron simsii, a rhododendron species, with the Bunga Raya, commonly known as the hibiscus. The former is colorful but poisonous, while the latter is said to have medicinal powers.
In 2008, a 57-day old infant exhibited symptoms of vomiting, muscle twitching, cyanosis and loss of consciousness after being fed formula milk prepared with a decoction of the "red flower" for airway problems.
He required intubation and mechanical ventilation. His condition later improved and he was discharged eight days after being admitted. The "red flower" was later found to be Rhododendron simsii.
Mak warned people not to eat unidentified plants, to avoid being poisoned.
The HA Toxicology Reference Laboratory spent five years from 2011 to 2016 to prepare the publication, which lists the toxic constituents, poisoning features, clinical treatment and cases of 117 plants.
The online version is available to the public for free.


The U.S. Air Force and Boeing anticipate more missions of the X-37B space plane to finish testing the craft's flight characteristics and carry top secret experiments into orbit, but there is no firm timetable for additional launches of the robotic mini-space shuttle, according to military officials.
Boeing's Phantom Works division built two X-37 vehicles for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, a unit managed from the Pentagon that develops shadowy and fast-track programs for the military. [Photos: Air Force Launches 2nd Secret X-37B Mission]
The second X-37B, also called the Orbital Test Vehicle, launched several hundred miles above Earth Saturday (March 5) on an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. It will stay into orbit for up to 270 days, according to Air Force officials.
With short wings, V-shaped tail stabilizers and a landing gear, the X-37B space plane launches into orbit inside the nose cone of an Atlas rocket, opens cargo bay doors and unfurls a solar panel for up to nine months of operations, then returns to Earth with a fiery atmospheric re-entry and glides to a precise runway touchdown on autopilot.
But almost everything the unmanned space plane does while in orbit is classified. All of the research objectives are also guarded by the military. [Infographic: Inside the X-37B Space Plane]
Saturday's launch came three months after the first X-37B successfully made an automated landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. That vehicle is now being examined by a team of military and industry engineers.
Engineers from the Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA are also participating in the post-flight assessment, according to Maj. Tracy Bunko, an Air Force spokesperson at the Pentagon.
Officials expect to fly a third OTV mission, but the Air Force has not decided when the flight could launch. The Atlas rocket manifest from Florida is jam-packed through 2012 with critical NASA and military missions, so a launch opportunity may be hard to find in the next two years.
The Air Force has said the X-37B could also launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base or fly on a Delta 4 rocket, but officials haven't made formal launch arrangements for future missions. [Spaceflight Now's Launch Photos of the 2nd X-37B Mission]
The next OTV mission, if approved, would reuse the space plane that spent nearly eight months in orbit last year.
"A third flight is anticipated, but no decision has been made for when OTV 3 will launch," said Lt. Col. Troy Giese, the X-37B program manager from the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. "Since OTV 3 would be a re-flight of the first flight vehicle, the refurbishment of that vehicle will play a major part of that decision."
Bunko said the OTV team has been focused on launch preparations for the second X-37 flight and did only a quick-look assessment of the first mission before giving the go-ahead fo Saturday's flight.
"We do anticipate additional flights in order to meet all of the test objectives, but OTV 1 has not been scheduled for another launch," Bunko told Spaceflight Now. "Because of the short timeframe between the landing of OTV 1 on (Dec. 3) and the launch of OTV 2, the team has been busy getting ready for the second test flight. This included a quick-look assessment of the re-entry and landing performance of OTV 1, shipping OTV 2 to the launch base, and integrating OTV 2 to the Atlas 5."
Another flight of the first X-37 vehicle would prove the system's reusability, one of the program's major objectives that has yet to be demonstrated.
"We're pleased with what we've seen so far," Bunko said. "Technology assessments are ongoing in areas including re-entry guidance, navigation and control, thermal protection systems and flight actuation systems. Assessments will continue during the refurbishment of OTV 1, which will demonstrate the reusability of the X-37B."
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