One area of research that John Verbrugge thinks has been overlooked is field sorting of culls.
Verbrugge, new president of the Washington State Horticultural Association, said the industry has made great strides in developing a mechanical harvester that uses robotics, although when it is commercially ready, the harvester will require significant capital investment from growers.
But he thinks technology from the packing line is available now and could be incorporated in the field to mechanically sort culls. “We should focus first on field sorting culls—it would be easier to implement compared to getting robotics going—and would pay back quickly.
“I would buy such a machine right now,” Verbrugge said, adding that there is tremendous value to the grower and packer to eliminate culls before packing and provide size and grade information before fruit is delivered to the packing house.
Verbrugge believes technology will continue to change tree fruit orchards and production.
Just as today’s younger generation is more technologically oriented than their older counterparts, he explains that younger-generation orchards are also more technologically advanced. The newer plantings—with dwarfing rootstocks, organized training systems, efficient irrigation systems, and worker-friendly tree heights—are ready for the future and can be adapted to mechanical harvest.
He notes that his company just pushed out their last old block of Golden Delicious apples that was 60 years old. “We couldn’t get people to pick the big trees.”
The younger-generation orchards at Valley Fruit are trained to a Tatura, V-style trellis, with 1,800 trees per acre. Trees are kept to heights of 12 feet, and platforms are used for pruning, thinning, and other tasks. Verbrugge describes it as an “organized” system, explaining that everything is on a wire, eliminating guesswork for pruning and thinning.
“Anyone can look at it and understand our directions. It brings simplicity to farming. If we want a branch on every wire, it’s easy for workers to understand.”


The Office of Career Planning & Professional Development offers the following formal self-assessments to interested students as a part of general career planning:
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is one of the most widely used personality assessments, which is based on Carl Jung’s theory of psychological type. One common use of the MBTI instrument is for the purposes of career choice, development, and planning. More specifically, the MBTI assessment and its report assist individuals in identifying one’s personality type and how type applies to various careers. Note that this instrument is specifically looking at one aspect of career development (i.e., personality type), and does not take into consideration one’s values, skills, or interests. Thus it is important to review the MBTI instrument results as one part of the complete career picture. The MBTI is often taken alongside the Strong Interest Inventory.
The Strong Interest Inventory assessment is also one of the most widely respected and frequently used career planning tools. The Strong instrument is especially helpful with career exploration, as it opens up the world of work to first-time career seekers and those considering career transition by identifying their interests and demonstrating how they relate to various occupations. As in the case of the MBTI assessment, the Strong instrument specifically focuses on one facet of career development—your interests. Thus it is important to review the Strong assessment results in conjunction with knowledge of one’s personality traits, values, and skills, and how these apply to career fields as well. All of these factors together will provide a more comprehensive roadmap for career planning and decision making.
SkillScan is an interactive assessment tool that helps individuals identify their transferable skills (i.e., skills that one can take from one career to another). This instrument contains 60 transferable skill cards that correspond with six major skill categories. Students/alumni sort the cards according to their proficiency level, preference level, and skill development, and then organize the results into an insightful chart. SkillScan is beneficial for those who want to take a comprehensive look at their transferable skill sets for the purposes of communicating such skills with employers on resumes, CVs, and cover letters; talking about their skills in elevator pitches, networking conversations, and interviews; and applying their skills to various career options and functions.
Making an Appointment to Take an Assessment
Making an appointment for these assessments is easy. When scheduling a career advisement appointment, select “Career Planning and Assessment” as the appointment type, select “Emily Seamone” as the counselor, and indicate which assessment you’d like to take in the appointment confirmation form.
Please note: Students can take the SkillScan without a prior visit to the office. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory (usually taken together) require a prior visit to the office.


Rolle Castle is a castle in the municipality of Rolle of the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.For Rolle Castle and beyond, use our Rolle route maker tool to get the most from your Rolle vacation.
In 1261, the Lords of Mont planned to build a city along the lake that would compete with the Aubonne and Saint-Prex. By around 1264, Rolle Castle was built named at the time Castrum de Ruello to protect the pier at the lake. However, the planned city was never built by the Mont family. In 1291, the castle was in possession of Count Amadeus V of Savoy, who granted it to several different families as a fief. In the course of the rivalry between the Counts of Savoy and the Lords of Vaud, in 1319 Amadeus V of Savoy finally built a city around the castle, in 1330 the city was named Ruelloz. This new city closed a gap in the savoy settlements on the northern shores of Lake Geneva.
During the Bernese invasion, both Le Rosey Castle and Rolle Castle were attacked and burned.
Under Bernese rule (1536-1798) Rolle was part of the bailiwick of Morges. In 1558, the Bernese merchant Hans Steiger, who was already the lord of Mont-le-Grand, acquired the barony of Rolle. His family retained the property until the French Revolution. The barony included the town of Rolle (except the fief of Les Uttins which belonged until the 18th century to the La Harpe family), Tartegnin, Vinzel, Luins, half of Essertines-sur-Rolle, some homes in Begnins, the region of Vincy and Saint-Vincent (now in Gilly), Bursinel and in 1615 they acquired Le Rosey Castle, Dully and Le Vaud. The judicial court was composed of the lord, his deputy, a court clerk, and ten members from Rolle and villages in the district. One of ten members governed the city. In 1740 the town bought itself out from under some taxes and duties.
Rolle Castle Reviews
Nos enfants viennent de se marier civilement dans ce magnifique château au bord du lac qui conjugue poésie, romantisme et patrimoine historique.Un lieu de ballade et de flânerie prisé et particulièrem... more »Our children have just been civilly married in this magnificent castle on the Lake which combines poetry, romanticism and historical heritage. A place of ballad and strolling prized and particularly appreciated for fairy wedding photos in this exceptional setting.
We were visiting a friend that lives in Rolle. We took a nice afternoon walk by the lake and around the castle. We saw the small island and there was someone playing the trumpet on the island, so that... more »
I didn't go inside but it is beautiful and the location on the lake is fantastic. There are some great cafes nearby too.
Beautiful Rolle castle surrounded with very scenic view : lake Geneva, mountains and trees.
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During teacher education programmes, lecturers introduce students to the joys of studying a range of theorists. But many teachers appear to put theoretical perspectives of practice behind them immediately the essay-writing is over.
The purpose of this article is to breathe life into the work of theorists, relevant to early childhood teaching. I aim to inspire teachers to gain a new depth of satisfaction from their teaching as they critically reflect on their practice and gain a deeper understanding of teaching strategies that support children’s learning and development.
There are a number of theorists who have influenced the pedagogies that underpin New Zealand early childhood teaching.
In this article, I will focus on those who have specific impact on the current directions of New Zealand society.
Therefore I will discuss the work of Bronfenbrenner (1989), Vygotsky (1962), Rogoff (2003), Erikson (1963) and Bruner (1990). Along the way, I will refer to other key writers such as Honig (2001) and Piaget (1952).
Throughout, the work of researchers will be linked to how and why teachers can strengthen children’s learning by being mindful of theory, and how teachers can make the world of learning meaningful and exciting.
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At NYU Langone, our pulmonary specialists have extensive experience in diagnosing and managing bronchiectasis, a lung condition that causes scarring and widening in the airways.
The lungs contain tubes called bronchi, which branch into thousands of smaller tubes called bronchioles. Mucus, also called sputum, coats the lining of these tubes to keep them moist and trap any foreign particles that enter the lungs. Tiny hairs called cilia, which line the airways, are responsible for sweeping excess mucus out of the lungs so it can be coughed up and expelled from the body.
In bronchiectasis, the walls of the airways become thick and dilated, making it hard to move mucus out. As a result, mucus builds up in the airways, allowing bacteria to flourish and increasing the risk of severe infections. People with bronchiectasis frequently experience a cough, usually with sputum, and may experience shortness of breath.
There are several possible causes of bronchiectasis. One is cystic fibrosis, an inherited condition that leads to thick mucus in the lungs and sinuses that is difficult to clear.
Having an immunoglobulin deficiency—in which a person lacks an antibody that protects against infection of the mucus membranes that line the mouth, nose, and airways—also puts you at risk. An immunoglobulin deficiency can come on spontaneously or can be passed down in families.
Many people develop bronchiectasis when a serious infection, such as tuberculosis, whooping cough, or pneumonia, injures the walls of the airways. The condition may also occur in conjunction with an autoimmune condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren’s syndrome. These conditions affect the joints and connective tissues, causing inflammation throughout the body, including the lungs.
Chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD, can trigger symptoms of bronchiectasis. When stomach acid travels back up into the esophagus, acid may enter the lungs, irritating them.
To diagnose bronchiectasis, an NYU Langone pulmonologist first takes a medical history. He or she asks whether you have any conditions associated with bronchiectasis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or if you had severe lung infections as a child. Your doctor may also recommend the following tests.
A chest X-ray uses electromagnetic radiation to create pictures of structures in the chest, such as your heart and lungs. It can detect lung scarring, a sign of bronchiectasis, and it can help rule out other pulmonary conditions.
If a chest X-ray doesn’t provide enough detail, your pulmonologist may order a CT scan, which uses X-rays and a computer to create three-dimensional, cross-sectional images of the body. A CT scan may reveal dilated, thickened airways, which are commonly found in bronchiectasis.
Your pulmonologist may want to test your sputum, or mucus, for bacteria to determine whether you have a lung infection. He or she collects a sample of coughed-up phlegm and sends it to the lab for examination. If any uncommon bacteria are found, your doctor may suspect bronchiectasis.
For people diagnosed with bronchiectasis, a pulmonologist may recommend regular sputum testing to look for certain types of infections, such as fungal or atypical mycobacterial infections.
A pulmonary function test is a group of tests used to assess lung function and possible damage. The tests measure the amount of air your lungs can hold, how quickly air is inhaled and exhaled, and how much oxygen is delivered to the blood through the lungs.
The most commonly used test is called spirometry. It measures how much and how quickly you can move air out of your lungs. During this test, you breathe into a mouthpiece attached to a recording device, or spirometer. People with lung damage tend to have trouble exhaling.
If you have bronchiectasis and are not responding to treatment, your pulmonologist may want to perform a bronchoscopy to get a better look at your lungs for further evaluation. A bronchoscope—a long, thin, flexible tube with a light attached to it—is inserted through the nose or mouth and into the airways.
Using a video monitor that serves as a guide, the doctor leads the bronchoscope through the airways to look for a blockage due to excess, thick mucus. Most people receive sedation for the procedure and can return home the same day.
NYU Langone specialists provide care and support throughout your entire healthcare journey.Browse Doctors


Botanical Name of Licorice: Glycyrrhiza glabra.
Other Common Names: Sweetwood, sweetroot, black sugar, liquorice, regliss (French), lakritze (German), liquirizia (Italian), regaliz (Spanish), mulethi (Hindi), European Licorice
Habitat: The licorice root is native to Southeastern Europe and cultivated in most of Europe. It prefers the open, dry areas with rich soil. It was first harvested from the wild, until it was cultivated one thousand years ago.
Plant Description: The licorice plant is erect, standing about 1.5 meters tall with spikes bearing lilac-colored flowers with bean-like pods containing three or four seeds.
The main root (taproot) descends up to a meter into the ground and sends out a network of rhizomes. These roots and rhizomes are harvested after three to five years.
The rhizomes have a woody appearance with a brown skin and yellow, fibrous interior.
Plant Parts Used: The main taproot and the rhizomes are used in medicinal and flavoring applications.
Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of the Licorice Root
Licorice is one of the most widely used medicinal plants, both in Western and Eastern herbal medicine and has at least 3000 years of history as a medicinal plant.
The plant contains various substances with different mechanisms of action. The saponins found in the herb act both as mucus thinning and expectorant.
The viral inhibitory action of licorice is due to the substance glycyrrhizin that increases interferon formation, and the bacteria growth inhibitory effect is caused by the isoflavonoids hispaglabridin A and B and glabridin.
Glycyrrhizic acid has an antispasmodic effect on the gastrointestinal tract, whereby the bacteria in the intestines is converted into a substance that acts as a liver-protective agent by neutralizing free radicals.
The herb has also been shown to relieve rheumatism and arthritis.
Scientific research shows that when glycyrrhizin is broken down in the stomach it displays inflammatory and arthritic-relieving effects similar to hydrocortisone and other corticosteroid hormones.
It balances the production of the hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) in the adrenal gland and decreases the breakdown of steroids in the liver and kidneys.
Since licorice root may stimulate the adrenal glands, the herb can be helpful to treat Addison’s disease (adrenal cortex failure of hormone production).
Licorice root lowers the acid level in the stomach and relieves heartburn and indigestion. It reduces the secretion of digestive juices and helps to create protective mucus in the stomach.
This makes licorice a good remedy for ailments of the gastrointestinal system, from irritation, spasm, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammation of gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Some countries have experimented with licorice-coated aspirin to help reduce ulcers caused by aspirin use.
The herb has beneficial effect on the liver and it increases bile secretion and lowers cholesterol levels. In addition it is used as a medicinal herb for hypothyroidism, menstrual cramps, and regulating menstruation.
Licorice root contains a substance which prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone is the substance that stimulates cell division in the male prostate gland.
It may therefore be useful in reducing the growth of the gland and help to prevent some of the symptoms associated with benign enlargement of the prostate.
Licorice root is used internally as an herbal remedy for sore throat, cough, allergic disorders and viral infections.
Glycyrrhizin is one of the best documented antiviral substances derived from the plant kingdom, and has been shown to be effective against a variety of viruses, including those which cause influenza and the common cold.
The antiviral properties of the herb are due to its ability to promote the body’s resistance to viruses and naturally boosting the immune system.
It may also stimulate mucous production and secretion in the trachea. Both glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhizic acid are substances with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, and this may explain the herb’s use as a remedy for hay fever, allergic nasal catarrh, conjunctivitis and asthma.
Glycyrrhizin has been shown to inhibit several of the processes that allow viruses to multiply in the body, and some laboratory experiments have proven that glycyrrhizin can also inhibit the growth of the HIV virus but no clinical studies have confirmed that it’s a viable treatment for HIV.
Glycyrrhizin also seems to lessen some of the side effects of conventional antiviral drugs currently used to treat AIDS and HIV.
Licorice extract and powder are widely used in candy and flavoring of tobacco, snuff, beer, chocolate, soft drinks and some pharmaceuticals (especially laxatives). Along with anise (Pimpinella anisum), it’s an important ingredient in many cough syrups found in the pharmacies today. The flavor often associated with licorice is actually anise.
Externally the herb has been used against dermatitis, eczema, herpes and shingles.
Dosage and Administration
Licorice may come in an extract form or in root form. The extract can come in teas, capsules, tablets, and in combination with other herbal remedies.
Since the side effects of licorice root are mostly related to the substance glycyrrhizin, most of the clinical research done on the herb is made with modified licorice extract from which most of glycyrrhizin has been removed.
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is usually standardized to contain no more than three percent natural glycyrrhizin.
The contents of glycyrrhizin in pure licorice root can be between one and 24 percent, but usually is between six to 14 percent.
The German Commission E accepts an intake of an average daily dose of 200 to 600 mg glycyrrhizin, which corresponds to five to 15 g of licorice.
As a treatment for ulcers, a dose of 1.5 to three g of licorice root daily has been recommended. The maximum dose of glycyrrhizin licorice when used as a flavor ingredient in food and beverages, should not exceed 100 mg per day.
Potential Side Effects of the Licorice Root
Licorice root should not be used by people with anemia, high blood pressure, severe liver or kidney disease or those taking digoxin-based, diuretics or digitalis glycoside heart medications.
The herb should not be used in hypokalemia, liver cirrhosis, hypertension and severe renal insufficiency.
Licorice root is advised against during pregnancy, but no studies have been made regarding the use of licorice root during lactation.
The side effects do seem to be dose dependent, with smaller doses having lesser, or no, side effects.
Large amounts of licorice root taken over an extended time period can interfere with sodium / potassium balance and cause fluid retention (edema), high blood pressure, headaches, dizziness and heart problems. The herb should not be used therapeutically for more than 4-6 weeks without the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
Bown, Deni: The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. London, England. Dorling Kindersley 2002.
McKenna, Dennis J.: Natural Dietary Supplements: A Desktop Reference. Marine on St. Croix, Institute for Natural Products Research 1998.
Foster, Steven: 101 medicinal herbs. Loveland. Interweave Press 1998.
Lewis, Walter H. & Mempry P. F. Elvin-Lewis: Medical Botany. Plants Affecting Human Health. Second Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey. John Wiley & Sons 2003.
Hoffmann, David: Medicinal Herbalism. The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester. Healing Art Press 2003.
Volák, Jan & Jiri Stodola: The Illustrated Book of Herbs. London, Caxton Editions 1998.
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- The Timeless Lure of Asien Ginsengas an Aphrodisiac - December 18, 2015
- The Biophilia Hypothesis: Investigating Humans’ Instinctive Love for Nature - June 9, 2015
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Non-renewable energy resources for powering homes, businesses, and industries are finally going out of fashion. With the growing environmental problems and increasing needs, it is imperative for homeowners and business owners to switch to green energy. Green energy uses renewable resources – like sun rays and water – to power homes. One example of green energy is solar energy. Many people across the world are switching to solar. Thinking about doing the same? Here are a few reasons to get you across the line.
Reduce or Eliminate Electricity Bills
Whether you are a homeowner or business owner, electricity costs would make up a large portion of your expenses. With a solar system, you can generate free power for your premises. Even if you aren’t able to power the entire building on solar energy, you will still reduce your electricity bills and save money.
Increase the Value of Your Property
Homes that are equipped with solar panels are valued higher and sell faster than those without. Appraisers are taking solar system installations into consideration these days. So if you have the facilities for solar panels, it’s a great investment.
Protect the Environment
Solar energy provides you with an opportunity to reduce your environmental footprint. A typical ‘home’ solar panel system will eliminate about 3 to 4 tons of carbon emissions annually – equivalent to planting more than 100 trees a year.
Easy to Maintain
Solar panels require very little maintenance. Once the panels have been installed and brought to the operation, you just have to keep them clean. They will continue absorbing the sun’s energy and powering your home without costing you a thing.
Solar Energy Provides Security
No one has a monopoly on sunlight. So you’ll never have to be concerned about your energy company hiking up their electricity prices. This will give you a good sense of security when it comes to powering your home or business.
What to Consider Before you Switch to Solar?
Solar energy is great, but it isn’t right for everyone. There are a number of things you should consider before you switch electricity to solar. The most important being your location. The sun should be able to access your solar panels without any obstruction. Generally, you will find solar panels at the roof of a home. But if you don’t have the right space for solar panels, it won’t do you any good – the panels won’t get enough sunlight to generate the electricity required to power your home. You should talk to experts to determine if solar energy is right for you.
If you want to switch to solar and agree with the experts who recommend it, visit iSelect to compare prices for electricity and see how much you could save from making the change.
Article Submitted By Community Writer


Acid dyes are dyes used mostly in dying the leathers, silk, wool and other types of material as well as also be used as food colorant. These dyes are easily soluble in water and have low ph value, safe to use.
Lake colours are those colours which are used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, sweets, personal care products etc. These are insoluble in water and have no adverse effects over skin, making product more attractive.
Solvent dyes are dyes which are easily soluble in water and are used for dying of waxes, lubricants and other solvents. They are mostly used in industries and are safe and easy to use as they are free from impurities.
Direct dyes are dyes in liquid form which are mostly used in textile industries for coloring the clothes and garments. These dyes are easily soluble in water and come in many exciting colours such as orange, blue, red, green, etc.
Basic dyes are dyes which are easily available in market due to its fast drying feature, come in thick paste form applied using brush. These are used for coloring jute made products as well as for printing purposes.
Reactive dyes used for coloring cellulosic fibers like cotton, nylon, etc., with high range of efficiency. These dyes are not easily soluble in water and are available in different colours in form of powder.
Vat dyes also act as a colouring agent for textile industries. These dyes have best drying capability which make these an important dye for dying clothes and fabrics. Dyeing makes the clothes look more attractive and elegant.


Mar 8, 2016
Author: Jovana Drinjakovic
You’d be forgiven if you mistook Henry Krause’s data for art. Using molecular tricks, Krause turns the humble-looking fruit fly embryos into striking patterns of stripes, dots, and swirls that will forever change how you see flies. But more importantly, these patterns also reveal the extraordinary degree of control cells have evolved to ensure seamless execution of their genetic programs.
The genes’ sequences are copied into transient RNA molecules – these carry instructions for making proteins, which in turn build our cells and bodies. Now Donnelly Centre investigator Dr. Henry Krause and his team reveal an astounding degree to which RNA molecules are strategically positioned within cells and tissues during development, to make sure that the right proteins are made at the right place and time. But this is also true for the elusive family of the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which do not code for proteins, offering a rare glimpse into their biological significance.
As a comprehensive atlas of RNA’s whereabouts in cells and tissues, the study, out March 1 in Genes and Development, will benefit researchers worldwide who explore genetic and molecular processes.
The work builds on the team’s previous breakthrough, which found that 70% of protein-coding RNAs were distributed into hundreds of distinct patterns in early embryos prior to being translated into proteins. The finding astonished the scientific world, upending the previously held belief that most proteins are shuffled to their correct destinations after being made. Krause’s data suggested that it is the RNA that gets moved around, setting the stage for the protein to be synthesized at the correct location.
But many believed that such extensive control of RNA distribution was unique to flies, called for by their peculiar early development that proceeds without cell division. Critics argued that RNA localization evolved as a way of delineating different parts of the embryo in the absence of internal cell boundaries, which only appear about three hours into development.
Krause and his colleagues addressed these questions by looking at un unprecedented number of RNA molecules – more than 8,000, or half of all protein-coding RNAs in the fly - and across different developmental stages, including those that occur similarly in both flies and vertebrates. And the results are a sweeping validation of the earlier conclusion. Essentially all examined RNAs existed in distinct spatial distributions in cells at some point during development.
The data establish that RNA targeting in cells is the norm, not the exception, and it is likely to be as pervasive in vertebrates, including humans, as it is in flies. So why does this matter? It is becoming increasingly clear that mistakes in RNA distribution can lead to disease, including neurological disorders and cancer. Understanding the mechanisms behind this process might help develop new treatments.
But the immediate far-reaching application of Krause’s work is that it will advance further research and help scientists understand the roles of molecules they do not know much about. This is especially the case for the lncRNAs – a baffling family of RNA molecules whose prevalence in the genome grows with evolutionary complexity and might even be the force behind it. Despite outnumbering protein coding messages by at least four to one, their role in cells remains a mystery.
“If lncRNAs are non-functional, you would assume that they are randomly and similarly localized in cells, but all of the lncRNAs examined in this study have exquisite, unique patterns. I’ve never seen nature doing things for nothing and the way these lncRNAs are arranged in a cell suggests they are doing something important there,” says Krause who is also a professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics.
Even among the protein-coding genes and RNAs, scientists have a firm handle on only a small subset. Krause’s data, combined with other available databases, has the power to change this by advancing future discovery.
“The database that we’ve put together should allow a lot of researchers to learn a lot more about not just the genes and processes that they are interested in, but also about other genes that were not known to be involved in those processes. It should accelerate a number of different initiatives around the world, and not just for fly research, but for people working on related genes in other organisms, including humans,” says Krause.


In front of a conventional train a row of carts is attached. Each cart holds a sets of solid sails roughly half the height and about the same width as the train. As the combined size of the sails needs to make sense with the weight to be pulled and how much wind is available, the number of carts is variable. The sails capture momentum and generate energy just like a windmill. In ideal circumstances transportation could become a novelty, the volume of generated energy could be large enough to do useful work without any passengers. I seek to store this 'excess' energy mechanically to lower the losses. Originally I thought the transformation into 'useful' electricity could be done at the train-stations, as conventional trains already generate electricity while breaking there is no need to build extra generators. This does put large limitations on the size of our sails. The person 'driving' the train also needs a reasonable clear forward view.
Putting the sails on top gives problems with cables bridges and tunnels.
Springs and flywheels also present an additional medium to store the 'gain' in mechanical energy onto. This can be useful for fast acceleration.
The rails will take less maintenance as acceleration isn't translated true the wheels but when more energy is extracted as needed to propel a normal train the breaking may cause undesirable deformation of the rails. This final annoyance will mean the wind creates an unequal wear in both directions.
The sailtrain could assist transporting it-selves over roads, watter or rails...
doesn't any one think a sailing train is ridiculous? I have met various people like that. They are hard to mis. :)
Why not use the sails as a wind turbine to drive a stationary generator, that way the vehicle can be lighter more streamlined, and powered by electricity which can be efficiently transmitted over long distances. I think the sails on the train don't prevent any windmills from being placed. I don't think transformation and transportation of wind-energy is efficient compared to using it on the spot. Like carrying water to the sea.


Parenting is subjective. We often wonder if we’re making the right choices, allowing the right amount of freedoms, being consistent enough, plain and simple, raising good kids.
There are no clear guidelines, except one.
Safety trumps everything else when it comes to situations that put a child at risk for injury or, worse, death. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of child and adolescent death. So in the car, the choice is easy. There’s one question to ask, is this safe? It’s the parent’s responsibility. Their lives are in our hands and we had better do the best we can. And if we don’t know, find out.
- Follow your state’s Graduated Driver Licensing provisions. These provisions protect newly licensed teen drivers by keeping them out of high-risk driving situations (like distracted driving by limited the number of peers they can have with them and banning cell phone use while driving) until they have gained driving experience in lower-risk conditions.
- Lead by example. Wear your seat belt for every trip, refrain from cell phone use while driving and follow other traffic rules like the speed limit.
- Control the keys. When your teen has to ask you to have the car, it creates opportunities to constructively remind him to buckle up and to refrain from cell phone use while driving. Your teen also is incentivized to share where she’s going, who she’ll be with and when she will be back. (Plus, studies show teens drive safer when it’s someone else’s car.)
- Continue to being in the car when your teen is driving.
- Be the scapegoat. Be the reason your teen says “no” or leaves a dangerous situation. Discuss what these situations might be, for instance a party with drinking.
The best way to have a safe teen driver who buckles up is to be a safe driver who buckles up and doesn’t participate in distracted driving.
Keeping your kids safe is your most important job as a parent and driving is the most dangerous activity they engage in. So from conception forward, be safe and teach safe in the car.


Scaphoid is one of the 8 bones present in the wrist. The 8 small bones are aligned in 2 rows. scaphoid bone takes care of coordination of mobility between the two rows.
Scaphoid fracture may result from falling down onto the hand while the arm is wide open. This is the bone that is mostly exposed to fracture amongst the wrist bones. Scaphoid structuring and vascularity is quite interesting. It has a 3D variable form similar to beans. Circulation of the part that is proximate to the wrist is weak due to blood build-up of the bone and vascular structure. The vein structures that enable blood build-up following the fracture may be damaged, so circulation of part of the bone breaks down (avascular necrosis), resisting the joining.
Nonunion is a condition of lack of joining in 6 months after the fracture happens. Problems of nonunion that take more than usual is called delayed nonunion. Nonunion affects wrist functions, and the balance between the two rows composed of the wrist bones is interrupted. Two parts of the scaphoid act independently, which leads to wrist mechanical problems that increases arthritis in the wrist.
No-union is observed in cases that do not recover for a long time after being plastered or in the post-operative period. Some patients of scaphoid fracture may not be aware that fracture occurred and it did not union. The fracture is identified only when they apply to a physician for complaints of wrist pain. These patients have a wrist trauma history for part of their life as they have neglected it. Direct x-ray, computerized tomography and MRI are beneficial to diagnosis.
In the absence of a specific arthritis, objective of the treatment is to ensure joint union. Circulatory breakdown of fracture part of the bone towards the wrist that is called avascular necrosis is influential for making the treatment decision. In treatment, fractured fragment ends are refreshed by fixing them with screw or chords after putting a bone graft in between. In case of circulatory break down on the fractured part of the upper bone, vascular bone transplantation is performed, trying to union the fracture and feed the bone.
If arthritis has already started in the wrist, there is no need to put further efforts to union the scaphoid. The objective here is to resume the wrist in an indolent and functional manner. Depending on the degree of wrist arthritis, one should, first of all, decide which of the surrounding joints are to be protected. Radial stiloidectomy (removal of part of arthritic radius), proximal row carpectomy (removal of upper row of wrist), limited filling up of wrist and scaphoid sub-pol removal and total wrist filling up for very common arthritis are planned.


The classic description of the sensation of a heart attack is that it’s like a heavy weight crushing your chest accompanied by a feeling of overwhelming anxiety. In films people clutch their chests, show panic in their eyes and then fall to the floor. And it can happen just like that. But not always.
Heart attacks occur when the supply of blood to the heart becomes blocked, usually by a blood clot. Despite what’s happening in the body, sometime people feel no chest pain at all, which means they delay getting help.
Even with mild chest pain, many assume they have indigestion and only discover later that they’ve had a heart attack after an electrocardiogram in hospital shows damage to the heart. Sometimes this is known as a silent heart attack. A study published in 2016 found this could happen in as many as 45% of heart attacks.
The data for this research started being collected in the late 1990s and since then the diagnosis of heart attacks has improved, so the figure would probably not be as high today, but every year there are still some people who, at the time, had no idea they were having a heart attack.
There are also patients who knew that they were ill, but not why. They feel pain in the jaw, neck, arms, stomach or back and feel short of breath, weak or light-headed. They might sweat or vomit. It’s the combination of symptoms rather than the severity of chest pain that allows for a diagnosis.
It is often said that these heart attacks without chest pain are more common in women, leading women to delay getting help and reducing their chances of survival. In order to establish whether this really is the case, researchers in Canada in 2009 set out to measure the symptoms of a heart attack systematically, by studying 305 patients undergoing angioplasty.
This is where a blocked blood vessel is re-opened by inflating a small balloon inside it. The procedure can briefly mimic the symptoms of a heart attack, so while the balloons were inflated patients were asked to describe what they could feel.
They found no differences between men and women in terms of chest discomfort, arm pain, shortness of breath, sweating or nausea, but women were more likely to have pain in the neck and jaw in addition to chest pain.
The findings of other studies have been inconsistent, sometimes finding that men and women are equally likely to experience chest pain, others that it’s more common in men.
Sometimes the issue is confused by researchers including other diagnoses alongside heart attacks in the same study. So in 2011 a review was conducted, with the sole aim of establishing whether there is a difference in the symptoms experienced by men and women.
Studies from the US, Japan, Sweden and Germany, UK and Canada were all included, the largest involving more than 900,000 people. The data was taken from the best 26 of these studies, combined and re-analysed.
They concluded that women are less likely than men to present with chest pain and more likely than men to have symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, dizziness or fainting and pain in their neck, jaw or arms. With both sexes, the majority still experienced chest pain, but a third of women and almost a quarter of men had heart attacks without having any symptoms in their chest, making it hard for them to realise what’s happening to them.
If you don’t know how serious your symptoms are, naturally you’re less likely to go for help. People wait on average between two and five hours.
A new study has sought to find about more about people’s thought processes in making what can be a life-and-death decision to go to a doctor. In-depth interviews with a small number of women who’d had heart attacks revealed that half knew something was wrong and immediately went for help. Three had vague symptoms which began as mild, but then got more intense, prompting them to the doctor. But the remaining people had no idea their symptoms were to do with their heart and didn’t tell anyone else, deciding to wait and see.
So the lesson is that a crushing chest pain is very serious and could indicate a heart attack, but so could a collection of other symptoms, therefore we need to consider the possibility of a heart attack even when it doesn’t seem quite like in the films.


I do not have any in-depth knowledge of electrical engineering, but I would like to understand the purpose of a transistor in a microprocessor. There's usually some talk of Moore's law and that transistors somehow increase computation speed, but it's not clear to me exactly how these transistors are used. I figure it has something to do with pipelining. For example, when a CPU reads some instruction from memory, how are the operations required for that instruction performed with transistors?
It would be pretty hard to design a modern microcontroller from the transistor level. Transistors are used to make logic gates, as the lowest level building blocks. The most simple gate is the NOT gate, which inverts the input level: a logic 0 becomes a 1, and vice versa. The NOT gate is built with 2 transistors:
The top transistor conducts if its input (the small dot) is low, the bottom transistor (no dot) if its input is high. So if you apply a high input the bottom transistor conducts, acting as a switch, and switch the output Q to Vss (that's your -), or low level. We've inverted the input. Other gates are based on that. Take the NAND gate for instance. It has two or more inputs, and the output is low if all inputs are high. In all other cases the input is high.
This is a 2-input NAND gate, you still can see some of the inverter in it. If both inputs are high the bottom transistors both conduct, and the output is made low through its connection with Vss. If either of the inputs is low at least one of the top transistors conducts and output will be made high through its connection with Vdd (that's your +). We've got a working NAND gate. And so it goes on, we can build an XOR gate using 4 NAND gates, and other more complex logic is built from a combination of building blocks. You need a building block to create a register function: a part which can hold its state, like a memory.
If an instruction wants to read from RAM there's first the instruction decoder. Through a combination of gates it derives a number of signals it needs to execute the instruction. One of those will be to pass the RAM address to be read to the adress bus. (Busses are channels of signals, an address bus for an 8-bit controller may for instance have 16 parallel wires. Busses are a way to get things organized. Without them the controller's design would become very inefficient.) Another signal will activate the RD line (for "read"), which signals the RAM that it should place the data on the databus. Yet another signal will latch that data in a register.
An important thing is timing. You can't latch the data if you haven't given the RAM the time to place it on the bus. All done by the same logic, from building blocks which in turn are built from transistors.
There's nothing else than transistors and their connections. Transistors by themselves won't increase speed. What is true, however, is that technological improvements allow for faster transistors, and faster transistors means faster computation. Some of these improvements are unique technology steps, which you can do only once. But scaling is another factor, and they've kept repeating that since the first ICs were designed. 40 years ago an IC would typically have a 5 to 8 \$\mu\$m feature size. Today we can produce down to 22nm feature size. (DNA has a 15nm diameter.) With smaller feature size the physical properties of the transistor change allowing it to switch faster. Moore saw in this continuing scaling a trend, which became known as Moore's Law. This can't go on forever without having to take a leap in the used technology. In the 80s it was feared that the then used technology would have its limits at around 200nm to 300nm, because the lithographic process may not work at wavelengths below visible light. But lithography is still the technology used by today's steppers.
Without re-writing the book on digital logic and Computer Organization and Design, a transistor implements the function of a switch in the context of microprocessors. They are used to create "switching circuits" typically (e.g. CMOS logic gates). Moore's law is about how many transistors you can fit on a given surface area (i.e. transistor density), and consequently the complexity of logic that you can implement in the hardware (and as an aside the yield that can be achieve in manufacturing).
Since microprocessors are spending most of their time waiting for memory operations (loads and stores) to be completed, a lot of these transistors are being dedicated to high speed memories on the chip called caches that help reduce the frequency of these memory operations actually having to leave the chip. Smaller transistors means you can keep a larger subset of the RAM local to the CPU at any given time. More transistors are also being used to implement fancy predictive circuits, like branch predictors and load value predictors.
Branch predictors and Out of Order Execution units are there to help keep the pipeline full by guessing which way a branch instruction will go based on heuristics associated with the program counter and the recent history of branching results (taken or not).
Load value predictors are there to avoid going to memory to fetch a value (for example assuming a certain "stride" or other heuristic on what the data will be at a certain address based on previous values seen at that address).
Along with these predictive logic circuits comes all the logic circuits that are required to undo and correct computed results when the predictions turn out to have been wrong.
In summary, all these extra transistors are being used to:
One last thing is that they can be used to make your data path wider (i.e. 64-bit processors instead of 32-bit processors).
The answer to your question comprises roughly 3 full length university courses. Possibly more.
In a modern CMOS processor, transistors are used to perform various Boolean logic operations, store ones and zeros, and amplify signals so that they can be sent down wires, e.g. all the basic operations of digital logic. All the functional units, including instruction decoders, inside a processor are just big, sometimes very complicated, state machines built with transistors.
Moore's law created an industry technology roadmap, where semiconductor companies, to stay competitive, keep putting more and more transistors closer and closer together on a chip, which tends to make microprocessors more powerful and faster every new product generation.


After hearing an interview with director Mark Devries, we decided to inquire more about a particular theme that seems so central to his new film, Speciesism the Movie, due out this summer. The theme is that of exploring the common links between human forms of genocide and those that are widely and systematically perpetrated against animals today on factory farms. Approximately 60 billion land animals and another 1 trillion aquatic animals are bred, raised and killed, for the most part, completely outside of public view every year. We asked Devries to elaborate on why he finds the connections between human and animal exploitation so important.
Based on what we know about Speciesism the Movie, it appears that you are attempting to draw some compelling connections between human and animal atrocities. Why is this connection important to you?
The comparisons between human slavery and the institutionalized use of nonhuman animals are inextricably linked with the comparisons between racism and speciesism. In fact, knowing what I know now, it would be difficult to even imagine making a film about the latter without taking a head-on look at the former, as this film attempts to do.
The reasoning is this: speciesism is described as a prejudice or bias against taking the interests of members of other species seriously, just because those individuals are members of other species. If we replace “other species” with “other races” in the previous sentence, it describes a form of racism. And just as racism is essential for justifying the institutionalized use of humans, speciesism would appear necessary for justifying the current institutionalized uses of nonhuman animals.
Can you cite modern-day or historical examples of this connection?
First, we should consider what we are actually doing when we examine, for instance, the comparisons between human slavery and factory farming. Certainly, we are not trying to determine whether the institutions being compared are exactly the same. Instead, I think, we are looking at two different institutions, and examining what features they do have in common and why those commonalities may be instructive.
For example, among the reasons human slavery stands out as particularly atrocious is the level of forethought and design that goes into it. Slavery is not a sudden, thoughtless act of an angry mob. So it stands as a reminder of how people, when blinded by ideology, can consciously do what would otherwise seem unthinkable. Among the lessons we can learn is that we should always be willing to question our beliefs and assumptions, even if — perhaps especially if — we feel strongly about them.
What did you learn about this connection from the interviews you conducted for the film?
Some of the interviews taught me just how tangible the comparisons can be. I spoke with a Holocaust victim, for example, who spent time in Auschwitz and then narrowly escaped the gas chambers. Some of what she described was uncomfortably similar to what I saw — and filmed — on factory farms.
How do react to those that take offense at comparing humans and non human animal atrocities? What do you think is behind this?
That is a very interesting question. I have listened to many explanations from people who take offense at the comparisons, and they all seem to begin with the assumption that speciesism is justified. Someone will say, for example, that such comparisons belittle the victims of human slavery. How can that conclusion be reached, but for the unquestioned assumption that the institutionalized use of nonhuman animals is comparably insignificant?
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Virupaksha Temple is one of the famous Lord Shiva temples and has a rich history located in Hampi, Ballari District of Karnataka. The temple is recognized as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Most of the people think that the temple was built by Sri Krishnadevaraya the great. But the temple was commissioned by Lakkan Dandesha who was the chieftain of Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Lord Shiva was in the form of Virupaksha so that the temple became famous as Virupaksha temple. It is on the banks of the river Tungabhadra and one can see many temples around the Virupaksha temple. Many devotees visit the site and worship the main deity. We can see here the Pampadevi temple, the local goddess who associated with the Tungabhadra River. The mother goddess Virupakshini Amma temple also located in Nalagamapalle, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh.
Virupaksha Temple History
The temple has a long history, few of the inscriptions on the walls of the temple indicates us that the temple first formally built in the 7th century. Since then the renovations and expansion of the temple continued up to the rule of Vijayanagara kings. The Chalukyan and Hoysala kings also contributed to making the small shrine into a big temple. Especially, under the rule of the Vijayanagara empire, the temple grew its glory in the wide range. We can see the evidence of how the temple made as a large complex. Especially, Lakkana Dandesha, the chieftain under the rule of Vijayanagara kings built the huge temple buildings and made a very sacred place to the Hindu devotees.
During the rule of Vijayanagara kings, the temple decorated with beautiful artwork. The walls of the temples carved with murals, sculptures and cultural events. Under the rule of Sri Krishnadevaraya, the road which leads to the temple was beautified by restoring beautiful sculptures. Many foreign travelers visit the place during the 15th and 16th century and proclaimed the greatness and wonderful sight of the temple and Hampi City. Even though after Sri Krishnadevaraya, the Muslim invaders destroyed fierce fully the beautiful structures and magnificent sculptures of Hampi city and the Virupaksha Temple. However, the glory of the Virupaksha temple didn’t sink down, the devotees continued their pilgrimage to the temple. The major renovation works of the temple done in the early 19th century. The destroyed parts restored, the ceilings of the temple painted, the north and east gopurams constructed to bring back the glory of the Virupaksha temple.
Virupaksha Temple Architecture
The architecture of the temple is very beautiful and magnificent. There are a monastery, three antechambers and filled the surrounding of the temple with small shrines. The entrance ways surroundings with well-carved art sculptures. The gateways constructed with nine-tiered and 50 meters in length. The gopuram basement layed with granite stones and the framework done with bricks. Here the surprising thing is all the gopurams have five stories and only eastern gopuram has only three stories. Mostly mahamantri Timmarusu keenly take care of the temple renovation works. Whatever it may be, the Vijayanagara empire was the place for the glory of Indian rich culture and tradition and live last forever.


The thyroid, a gland located at the base of the neck, has the major responsibility of regulating hormones that control some of the body’s most essential functions, the metabolism.
Currently, about 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. People of all ages and races can get thyroid disease. However, women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems.
The most common types of Thyroid disease are Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease.
Hashimoto’s disease is a form of hypothyroidism and it’s the most common form. The thyroid gland becomes inflamed and enlarged because of antibodies attacks and it begins to under-function causing thyroid hormone deficiencies within the body. (learn more about the symptoms here.)
Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. It also is caused by an autoimmune response, that makes the antibodies to attack the thyroid gland. Unlike the Hashimoto’s disease the antibody attack causes an increase in thyroid hormone production and when this happens the body uses energy faster than it should. (learn more about the symptoms here.)
The question we want to answer here is: Is There a Link Between Celiac Disease and Thyroid Disease?
According to the website About.com,”If you have celiac disease, you also have a higher risk of autoimmune thyroid disease. Up to 10% of people with celiac disease have an autoimmune thyroid condition, a far higher rate than in the general population, studies show. Meanwhile, between 1.5% and 6.7% of people with autoimmune thyroid disorder also have celiac disease.”
Scientists haven’t identified the exact cause of autoimmune diseases, but many suspect that genetics and immunological triggers may both be partially to blame. Celiac disease and autoimmune thyroid disorders share a common genetic predisposition, which may explain the higher incidence of thyroid autoimmune disorders among celiacs than in the general population.
“In a recent study by Alessio Fasano, MD, a recognized celiac disease expert, one half of the people newly diagnosed with celiac disease also had thyroid disease. The largest longitudinal study to date showed that adults with celiac disease had 4.4 times the relative risk of hypothyroidism and 2.9 times the risk of hyperthyroidism compared with the general public. In children, rates were higher still at 6 times and 4.8 times the risk, respectively.5″( Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD, and Gary Kaplan, DO for Today’s Dietitian)
Table by Cheryl Harris, MPH, RD, and Gary Kaplan, DO for Today’s Dietitian
|Diarrhea and/or constipation
|Hair loss (secondary to nutritional deficiencies)
||Anxiety, difficulty concentrating, nervousness
|Joint or bone pain
|Infertility, missed periods
||Infertility, missed periods
||Infertility, missed periods
According to Chris Kesser, “the molecular structure of gliadin, the protein portion of gluten, closely resembles that of the thyroid gland. When gliadin breaches the protective barrier of the gut, and enters the bloodstream, the immune system tags it for destruction. These antibodies to gliadin also cause the body to attack thyroid tissue. This means if you have autoimmune thyroid disease and you eat foods containing gluten, your immune system will attack your thyroid.”
Now the good news!
A study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences in February 2000 suggests that strict compliance with the gluten-free diet could reduce the risk of celiac disease patients developing additional autoimmune disorders, including autoimmune thyroid disease.
If you have autoimmune thyroid disorders, the NFCA encourages patients with these conditions to get tested for celiac disease in an effort to thwart any further health complications. ( http://www.celiaccentral.org/thyroid/)


Your brain is your most powerful organ, yet it weighs in at just over three pounds. It controls thinking, bodily functions, physical capacity, emotions, and memory.
The cerebrum fills most of your skull, and is responsible for memory, problem solving, emotions, and movement. The cerebellum, at the back of your head, controls coordination and balance. Finally, the brain stem sits beneath your cerebrum and connects the brain to the spinal cord, controlling your automatic function, such as breathing, digestion, and heart. The brain is the seat of all of your psychological and mental processes, the source of what makes you YOU.
Seeing that our brain is truly the life source of our bodies, we should make every effort to keep our brain fit, young, and healthy!
Despite what people think, daily brain exercise actually is hugely important in preserving your full cognitive function for as long as possible. Just ask your family doctor next time you’re in for an appointment! As we age, our brain shrinks in size, particularly the frontal cortex which is responsible for much of our memory. Keeping your brain sharp with exercises can help to slow the shrinking of your brain and keep all those synapses firing correctly!
Read: Reading is good brain practice for honing your ability to focus and think, in addition to learning new ideas, words, and concepts. Reading is one of the best ways to keep your brain young and going strong. Read novels, newspapers, autobiographies, blogs, and historical or scientific textbooks. Whatever you are interested in, there are plenty of books on the subject!
Puzzles: Performing puzzles, crosswords, or actively using your problem solving part of your brain will help you keep the vitality of your brain high. You could even generate new brain cells as you learn and store up your gray matter vaults of wisdom. Puzzles keep your motor skills and observational skills going and promote greater connections throughout your brain.
Brain games: Some of the simplest games are those that we learned when we were young. Take fifteen minutes each day to complete a sheet of basic math problems or to diagram a sentence.
Storytelling: If you have grandkids or children down the street that love to hear stories, give in and tell them any story they’d like to hear. Make them up or talk about your childhood. Creativity and interaction between your left and right sides of the brain will be activated, and the hippocampus will have to reach back into its files to pull up old memories. Storytelling aids concentration, emotional recall, and memory.
Brain training programs: There are now brain training programs that you can sign up for online to help hone your thinking skills. These programs will track your progress for you, as you better your memory, focus, response time, ability to multi-task and more. The games used are fun to play and you will be able to watch yourself improve in areas that you’ve selected to better.
Enroll in classes: Many community colleges and adult education centers offer plenty of fun classes for seniors to enjoy, from water color painting and pottery to computer skills and even water aerobics. Not only will you have fun learning, but you will also have the opportunity to make new friends!
Have a hobby: Gardening, woodworking, bird watching, restoring old cars, travelling—hobbies are as endless as our interests. Engage in what activities you enjoy most on a regular basis. This will keep your spirits up and your brain firing on all cylinders!
Shake things up: Even silly things such as eating or brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand can make your brain work harder and stay in shape. Eat with your eyes closed. Sit in a different chair in your house. Take a walk through a new park. Drive a different route on your way to work. All these activities will activate and engage your brain in new ways, just like trying new exercises works new muscles in your body.
If you’ve been feeling that your brain just isn’t working as well as it used to, or if you have a family history of Alzheimer’s, see your family doctor for an examination and recommendations of actions to take. Psychologists may be an excellent resource for those struggling with depression or lack of social or emotional engagement in addition to those struggling with aging or a death of a loved one. They will be able to assist you and your wonderful, powerful brain, restoring both to healthy, happy functionality!


We all want a healthy heart. Many people turn to expensive medications and health supplements to prevent heart attacks. But at the same time, they neglect the simplest and possibly most effective means of keeping your heart healthy: Drinking alkaline water. Why alkaline water? According to Water, Other Fluids, and Fatal Coronary Heart Disease, a large study conducted on the causes of heart attacks, as little as 2% dehydration will dramatically increase your risk for heart failure.
Alkaline water is best at keeping a heart healthy according to research
The study tracked 20,297 volunteers aged 38 -100 for six years and compared rates of coronary heart disease between people who drank very little water (2 glasses a day or less) and people who drank a lot of water (5 or more glasses per day). Researchers found that people who drank very little water had roughly twice as much risk of heart disease than those who drank lots of water. A second study, called Hard Water and the Heart, suggests that there is a link between your heart health, and the pH of the water you drink. Researchers found that the higher the pH of the water you drink, the greater the protective effect it has on your arteries.
Researchers in the study determined that blood viscosity – a measure of how thick the blood is – has a significant effect on problems associated with heart disease such as arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), Hypertension (high blood pressure) and intermittent reduction or loss of blood supply to the legs.
Blood viscosity is elevated by dehydration according the study, researchers noted previous studies that show that dehydration causes an increase in the concentration of red blood cells and an increase in fibrinogen – substances that cause blood clotting. The study concludes that increased blood viscosity, coupled with restrictions in blood flow caused by the buildup of cholesterol deposits in the arteries would combine to restrict blood flow to the heart.
Alkaline Water Hydrates Best
This is an excerpt of from this article: Why Alkaline Water is best for Heart Health.
Improving your heart health is a marathon, not a sprint. To gain the benefits of alkaline water, you need to drink it every day - for the rest of your life. In fact, you need to be drinking 2 - 3 liters of it on a daily basis. A water ionizer is the best source of alkaline water, because it is the healthiest and cheapest source of alkaline water over the long term. If you drink 2 - 3 liters per day of bottled alkaline water, you will pay around $200 per month. You can finance a water ionizer - and get more alkaline water - for a lot less than that!
Bottled alkaline water has other shortcomings as well. Most brands are not antioxidant alkaline waters, so there’s no antioxidant benefit from drinking them. Plus, plastic bottles will leach chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and antimony. The longer the water sits in the bottle, the more of those carcinogens the water is going to absorb. A water ionizer is the cleanest and most pure source of alkaline water available.
Read the full article here: Why Alkaline Water is best for Heart Health


Suggestions for the Classroom|
Using the Film | Using the Web site
The Web site accompanying "Jubilee Singers: Sacrifice and Glory" provides background about the early history of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. You and your students can use the site to get more information about the individual singers, to study the music of the Jubilee Singers as part of a study of the history and meaning of spirituals, and view a chronology of the singers early years. The Web site includes the following sections:
Special Features: Jubilee Songs
Includes background about early African American music and five musical selections. Students can listen to performances of the songs using real audio and discuss the emotional impact of the music, or review the lyrics as part of an investigation into the history and meaning of spirituals, both as an art form and as a tool for slave resistance and communication. Go to the Jubilee Songs page.
Special Features: A Reading by Andrew Ward
Andrew Ward reads an excerpt about the early history of the Jubilee Singers from his book, "Dark Midnight When I rise." Students can use this reading as a starting point for their research on the Jubilee Singers, particularly their experience as they toured England. Go to the Reading by Andrew Ward page.
Provides a chronology of the Jubilee Singers early history. Students can use the timeline as a starting point to place the singers experiences in the context of the Reconstruction period. Go to The Timeline page.
People and Events
Features biographies of many of the original Jubilee Singers. These profiles will give students detailed information about the individual singers experiences, both before and after they came to Fisk. Students can use them as part of their study of the experiences of African Americans after Emancipation. Go to People and Events page.
A transcript of the film with additional information. Useful particularly if you decide not to use the film in your classroom, students can read the transcript as a starting point for deciding what aspects of the Jubilee Singers they would like to do projects on or to think about what questions they still have about the historical context that surrounds the singers early experiences. Go to The Enhanced Transcript page.
Features extended interviews with several of the films participants. These transcripts give students the opportunity to see some of the material that ended up "on the cutting room floor" because of time constraints and production choices. Comparing the transcripts to what was included in the actual film can lead to interesting discussions about the choices film producers make, the existence of point of view in documentary film making, and the importance of critical viewing. Go to the Interview Transcript page.
- Have your students listen to the real audio performances of "Jubilee Songs". Discuss with your class what made this music so appealing to audiences: e.g., themes, rhythms, harmonies. Then ask students to bring in music they feel strongly about, whether positively or negatively, and discuss what makes it special to them. Ask students to consider the following: How does the music make them feel? Why? What is the subject of the particular music, and what are the singers'/musicians' attitudes toward the subject? How do they get this attitude across? Do students agree with this attitude? Can this music change moods and/or attitudes? How?
- Using the People and Events section, have your class read the biographical sketches of key Jubilee Singers. Then ask students to write entries in a travelogue from the point of view of one of these people. Have students consider historical context, location, chronological point in singing tour, racial tensions, and interpersonal relationships when making entries. Students may use the Timeline and the excerpt from "Dark Midnight When I Rise" for reference to specific events during tours.


(WBIR-Knoxville) Students at the L&N STEM Academy promise their high school experiment will not be a waste.
Sophomores Sarah Sellers, Ethan Fawver, junior Thomas-Allan Disow, and senior Henry Gertsen are part of a team asking how fast something decomposes in zero gravity. That something: feces.
"People are eventually going to be dying in space and well, people are already defecating in space so we might as well handle that," Fawver said.
Originally, the group wanted to see if human flesh, specifically a finger, would decompose in space. They quickly realized getting a severed human finger is easier said than done, so they went to questioning human waste.
The group proposed the experiment to the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education "Waste in Space: Exploring the Effect of Microgravity on the Rate of Decomposition of Corn Starch by Rid-X."
It was accepted and in October will be put on the International Space Station.
The group showed a tube that will be used in the experiment.
"On one end, we have the Rid X, we have a very minute amount of it," Fawver explained. "We will have corn starch in a liquefied solution, 'human waste' because it's organic."
The students' teacher, David Hawkins, admitted the test would get some giggles from other students, but says the experiment could be important in the future.
"As the population of the Space Station grows, and as we look to colonize space, you have to think about ways of dealing with waste in space," Hawkins said.
The experiment will be part of the Mission 6 program, slated to launch around October 21, and will land in early 2015.


Documentation System Definitions
ALERT A charting system used primarily in long-term care in which the patient's chart is tagged to indicate that special charting procedures/precautions need to be initiated and followed for a specified time.
CBE Acronym for Charting By Exception, a system for documentation that eliminates the need to chart repetitious findings and tasks. The health care provider uses specially designed admission history and flow sheets that highlight important findings and trends. Only significant findings or exceptions to established standards of care and protocols are documented in the progress notes.
CLINICAL PROGRESSION A critical path that has been enhanced by the addition of (1) nursing diagnosis, (2) intermediate and discharge goals, and (3) variance tracking. This type of plan is usually used for longer hospital stays not requiring critical care.
CORE A documentation system designed to support the nursing process. Key elements include database, care plans, flow sheets, progress notes, and discharge summaries. Progress notes use a three-column format and are organized using patient database; action of the health care provider; and evaluation of patient outcome.
CRITICAL PATH A cause-and-effect grid that outlines usual interventions by health care providers against a timeline for a case type (diagnosis-related group) or otherwise defined homogeneous patient population. This type of plan is usually used in cases requiring critical care.
DAR Acronym for the organizing structure for writing progress notes using Focus Charting©. Each Focus entry includes Database describing the current patient condition; Action taken by the health care provider; and patient Response or outcome to the intervention.
FACT Acronym for a documentation system including these key elements: Flowsheets for specific patient populations; standardized Assessment parameters printed on the chart form; Concise integrated progress notes; and Timely entries by health care providers at the time that care is given.
FOCUS CHARTING© Trademark title for a three-column format for organizing the progress notes in the patient record. The FOCUS column serves as an index. The body of the note is organized by identifying the DATAbase describing the current patient condition; ACTION taken by the health care provider; and patient RESPONSE to or outcome of the intervention.
PIE Acronym for a process-oriented documentation system. The progress notes in the patient record use (P) to define the particular Problem; (I) to document Intervention; and (E) to Evaluate the patient outcome. PIE charting integrates care planning with progress notes.
POMR Acronym for Problem-Oriented Medical Record, a method of establishing and maintaining the patient's medical record so that problems are clearly stated. These data are kept in the front of the chart and are evaluated as frequently as indicated with respect to recording changes in the patient's problems as well as progress made in solving the problems. Use of this system may bring a degree of comprehensiveness to total patient care that might not be possible with conventional medical records. Internists, family practitioners, and pediatricians use the POMR system.
SOMR Source-Oriented Medical Record; groups formation according to its source: laboratory work, x-rays, examinations, consultations.
SOAP Acronym for an organized structure for keeping progress notes in the chart. Each entry contains the date, number, and title of the patient's particular problem, followed by the SOAP headings: Subjective findings; Objective findings; Assessment, the documented analysis and conclusions concerning the findings; and Plan for further diagnostic or therapeutic action. If the patient has multiple problems, a SOAP entry on the chart is made for each problem.
SOAPIER Adds to the SOAP headings listed above: documentation of Intervention implemented to solve the identified problem; Evaluation of the effectiveness of the intervention; and care plan Revisions indicated.
VARIANCE A task or outcome that does not occur as described or within the time frame identified on a critical path or clinical progression.
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White Magnolia (5 Seeds)
These trees produce beautiful fragrant flowers.
Use: Outdoor Tree (plant)
- Cultivating Difficulty Degree: Very Easy
- Classification: Beautifying Novel Flower Tree Plant
- Size: Large
- Variety: Flower
- Style: Perennial
How To Grow:
Step 1: Plant Seeds
Plant in a seed tray covered with ½-inch of compost soil. Dampen the soil by misting with water, cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place. Seedlings should appear in 4 to 6 weeks but may take much longer. Be patient! When germination occurs, remove the plastic wrap and place next to a window.
TIP: Water the seeds with a spray bottle every few days to keep the soil moist but never soggy. Open the plastic wrap daily to provide air circulation. Temperatures above 85 degrees F encourage germination. If this temperature cannot be maintained in a sunny window, use a heating pad underneath the seed tray.
Step 2 - Transplant Seedlings to a Container
Once the seedlings have developed their second set of leaves, transplant them to their own containers. Start with pots 3 inches wide and move into larger ones if necessary. Plant in a compost soil like the one used for germination. Magnolias like full sun, but take care to introduce your plants to it only gradually. Keep them in partial shade through the first summer.
Step 3 - Transplant Magnolias to the YardSeedlings are ready for transplanting when they are 8 to 12 inches in height. The magnolia has a fast-growing and intricate root system, so?if possible?plant in a permanent location by the end of the first summer. Position in an area where the roots have plenty of room to grow and where the magnolia can receive about 8 hours of sunlight a day. Avoid spots next to buildings or other structures. Make sure you pick a spot where shallow roots will not be damaged by digging or heavy foot traffic.
Magnolias prefer a slightly acidic, well-draining loam. For the first few years, maintain a layer of mulch 3 inches deep around the roots to protect them. Keep the newly planted tree well watered for the first year, but never allow the soil to become soggy.


Fri December 13, 2013
Spruce Beetles a Growing Threat in GMUG National Forests
This week Delta County commissioners heard a wide ranging assessment of the past year’s activities and a glimpse of the future from Grand Mesa Uncompahgre Gunnison (GMUG) Forest Supervisor Scott Armentrout.
Armentrout talked about roads and ATV trails, gas and coal development, grazing, weeds, and spruce bark beetles.
At about 3 million acres, the GMUG is the largest US Forest Service area in the state, with the supervisor’s office in Delta and district offices in Gunnison, Montrose, Norwood, Grand Junction and Paonia.
Over the last decade, as spruce bark beetles have advanced, the landscape south and east of Gunnison has been hit hard. The infestation has grown from a few thousand acres to some half a million acres, and now Grand Mesa National Forest is under attack from the spruce beetle.
Forest Supervisor Scott Armentrout says the agency has a forest pathology lab based out of Gunnison that’s reviewed beetle movements and infestations over the past year.
“They refer to it as a tsunami of bark beetles approaching from the southwest,” says Armentrout. “It is literally millions of individual bark beetles that travel. And after they emerge from a tree, they fly, and infest the trees in front of them. You’ve got this big wave that comes out of the infested trees and goes into the new green trees.”
The tunnels created by the beetle restrict the movement of nutrients and water throughout the tree. Without these nutrients, the tree eventually will die.
“It’s a natural event that’s occurring, it’s just on a scale that we aren’t used to,” says Armentrout, “and now we’ve got the spruce beetle doing it at higher elevations.”
Armenstrong says spruce stands have gotten old enough to be ecologically susceptible to the beetle infestations.
Commissioners were most concerned about harvesting downed timber, in order to bolster the economy in Delta County. Commissioner Doug Atchley brought up the fact that in the Uncompaghre Forest up toward Federal Grade, spruce forest is thick, and provides an opportunity for the county to use the timber.
“I’d just encourage us to keep doing more of that,” he says, “utilizing the resource we have in the forest, which in turn helps the local economy and preserves it for the future, instead of watching it go up in smoke.”
Armentrout said the Forest Service has to focus on what he called “high value areas” for timber reclamation, the areas most economical for loggers, given the condition of roads and other logistics.
“We want to see that material utilized too as much as possible, wherever we find it, whether it be a blowdown or combination of dead trees and blowdowns,” he says.
“We also know that practically we can do only so many acres in a given year.”
Armenstrong says the Forest Service would like to increase its scope and scale of harvesting forest resources, adding that his goal for the timber program this year is 2000 acres.
The GMUG National Forest is working on the spruce beetle epidemic as well as the decline of Aspen stands. A team of specialists and stakeholders is working on an Environmental Impact Statement for the project.


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Scientists Dig Giant Mammal Fossils in Southwest Queensland
Palaeontologists, geologists and fossil enthusiasts are expecting to unearth extraordinary bones next week at one of Australia’s most impressive megafauna dig sites near Eulo, a small town in southwest Queensland.
On 10 June the Outback Gondwana Foundation (OGF), a scientific organisation based near Eromanga, will begin its third annual two-week excavation at a property near the town.
OGF Chairman Stuart Mackenzie said it was impossible to predict what the team would find underneath the clay at the dig. “We could find a range of significant fossils, even new species, but based on our previous digs it’s highly likely we will find more of the megafauna species we began to see in 2011,” Mr Mackenzie said.
He said in previous years OGF had unearthed well-preserved bones of the world’s largest marsupial, a giant extinct wombat called Diprotodon. Other megafauna species have helped paint a picture of what ancient life was like in the region. Teeth have been found from Megalania, the world’s largest lizard which was five to six metres long, from the Protemnodon or giant forest wallaby and Pallimnarchus, the giant inland freshwater crocodile.
“Once we finish the excavation the fossils will be transported in plaster casts to the Eromanga Natural History Museum field station near Eromanga where our bone preparators will prepare the bones for scientific study,” he said.
OGF Collections Manager Robyn Mackenzie and Lab Technician Tanya Hudson have been painstakingly preparing the bones found at last year’s dig.
“These are amazing fossils with beautiful preservation. It’s hard not to get excited about what we could dig up this year,” Mrs Mackenzie said. “We hope to find more fossils to add to the Foundation’s collection that will eventually be processed and conserved in the Eromanga Natural History Museum. It’s important for these nationally significant fossils to stay in the
regions, so they can be studied near where they were found and benefit the local communities,” she said.
Queensland Museum palaeontologist and Senior Curator Dr Scott Hocknull said the property near Eulo had one of Australia’s richest megafauna sites with a vast diversity of species and an abundance of fossil remains.
“This deposit represents the most highly concentrated accumulations of megafauna fossils I’ve ever seen, perhaps anywhere in Australia. The preservation is of such an exceptional standard at this particular site that the scientific and interpretative value is world class,” Dr Hocknull said.
“The fossils were discovered relatively easily over the past two years and in densities that have yet to be matched in our experience anywhere in Australia,” he said.
Thursday June 6, 2013


Labour is pretty aptly named; it can definitely feel like work. While every birth is unique, most women will agree it takes a good deal of endurance to work through their labour and give birth to their baby.
It’s not surprising then, that many women and providers would seek to make labour as short as possible, while still maintaining a safe birth experience.
One method that is thought to speed up labour is an amniotomy.
An amniotomy is when a small crochet hook-like instrument is used to rupture the bag of waters, known as the amniotic sac. The thought process is that the hormones released when this occurs might encourage labour to progress faster. Once the waters break, the baby might also move down a bit and possibly put more pressure on the cervix.
With those two effects in mind, amniotomy became a routine procedure in many birthing facilities in several countries. Instead of being reserved for situations where a baby needed to be born quickly, for medical reasons, it became routine practice, in the hope of speeding up labour for women who went into labour spontaneously.
But is it effective in speeding up labour? Are there any risks to performing an amniotomy?
Does Breaking The Waters Really Shorten Labour?
While routine amniotomy was quite common, there wasn’t a lot of evidence to support carrying it out for all labouring women. In fact, evidence shows it doesn’t shorten the first stage of labour.
A new Cochrane review of 15 studies found no evidence to support routine amniotomy to shorten labour for women who begin labour spontaneously. Neither is there any evidence that a shorter labour has health benefits for mother and baby.
The review involved a total of 5583 women and it concluded that routine amniotomy isn’t an evidence-based procedure.
One important thing that wasn’t addressed in any of these studies is whether or not amniotomy increased labour pain for women – something that many labouring women might want to know before consenting to an intervention.
Are There Potential Complications With An Amniotomy?
Every intervention has potential complications (risks). If a procedure is medically necessary, then the benefit of the procedure outweighs potential risks.
While rare, there are some serious potential complications associated with amniotomy. They include problems with the umbilical cord, such as a cord prolapse, or problems with baby’s heart rate.
If, for example, an assisted vaginal birth is needed because a baby is showing signs of distress, and an amniotomy becomes necessary, then the benefit is likely to outweigh possible risks. However, given there isn’t evidence to support routine amniotomy, in your particular situation it’s important to weigh up potential risks when deciding whether there are any benefits in choosing to have an amniotomy.
Does A Routine Amniotomy Increase The Risk Of C-Section?
The review of 15 studies found a possible increased risk of c-section birth when routine amniotomy is performed.
If there is a problem with baby’s heart rate, or with the umbilical cord, it’s likely that a c-section will be necessary. Having membranes ruptured can also increase the risk of infection. For this reason, many facilities have a time frame from when the waters break to when baby must be born, in the hope of reducing the risk of infection. If birth doesn’t occur vaginally within the time frame, a c-section may be performed.
A spontaneous rupture of membranes with minimal vaginal exams might carry less risk of infection than an amniotomy. In the case of an amniotomy, an object or the provider’s hand could introduce bacteria or push it toward the cervix and potentially increase the risk of infection.
Recommendations, procedures and birth norms definitely change over time. One advantage of recent changes in birth is that many professionals and labouring women now try to make evidence-based recommendations and choices. From this most recent Cochrane review, we can conclude that there isn’t evidence to support routine amniotomy.