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A 10 minutes read to dive into the REFLOW project
Despite occupying just 2% of the Earth’s surface, the impact of cities spans far beyond their boundaries. Cities generate massive impacts locally and globally, socially and environmentally. Cities are aggregators of materials and nutrients, accounting for 75% of natural resource consumption, 50% of global waste production and 60 to 80% of greenhouse gas emissions.
A circular model aims to redefine growth and generate positive societal and environmental impact. It entails a transition from using finite resources, to using renewable ones (designing the concept of waste out of the system), while building economic, natural, and social capital. Although starting from material resources as a point of departure, the focus of the circular economy gradually extends beyond issues related to material management and covers broader aspects such as social impact and the evolution of urban governance structures. The social components of a circular economy are fundamental to consider within the transition.
Specific circular principles can guide us to make cities more circular:
Circular economy relies on stakeholder action at multiple stages of the transition process. Several barriers currently hinder cities to move forward
The project builds upon the concept of ‘urban metabolism’, which seeks to understand urban contexts through the lens of biological systems and technical processes. In biology, the synthesis of proteins is considered a constructive metabolic process. In urban sciences, the city dynamics that make up the urban metabolism are defined by the flow of materials, information, and the distribution of activities, making cities the most complex systems ever created by humans.
Under the current urban paradigm, cities consume more resources than they produce and the synthesis of energy, food and materials for urban areas degrades, discards or pollutes the environment. In this context, REFLOW aims to provide viable practices aligning public and private actors’ interests to enable an effective and meaningful transition to circular and regenerative cities, contributing in turn to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Activities spanning design and testing of new business models, experimentation with novel technologies and data visualization tools, urban metabolism analysis, citizen engagement, capacity-building and development of collaborative governance prototypes form the backbone of the REFLOW action for the transition to circular and regenerative cities.
REFLOW approaches these objectives through 7 interconnected building blocks:
The REFLOW Knowledge Hub is where you can find methods and resources about the process of becoming a circular, regenerative city. The Knowledge Hub, being developed over the lifetime of the project and based on project outputs and building blocks, organises resources in a four-step circular design thinking transition process: understand, define, make, release. Download the REFLOW Handbook, the Circular Principles & Indicators, the Cities’ Circular Action Plan. You can also browse the REFLOW Handbook on Gitbook.
REFLOW community is the platform for cities, businesses and citizens to explore, share and implement circular practices and strategies to tackle urban challenges. By encouraging knowledge exchange and co-creation, we aim to fuel multi-stakeholder collaboration and innovation. Discuss with the community on the forum, browse through our circular resources of key reports, podcast and e-courses, discover best practices around city policies, circular business models and citizen engagement. | <urn:uuid:03dc9f07-3867-43ea-ba21-ab030e78b55e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://reflowproject.eu/blog/designing-circular-and-regenerative-cities-a-starter-kit/?page_number_0=3&page_number_2=6 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.89514 | 663 | 3.328125 | 3 |
Barbacoa is the traditional preparation of meat, particularly sheep, beef, lamb or goat. Such meat is steam cooked inside an underground oven until it becomes extremely tender and beautifully succulent. While this preparation dates back over a century, the modern meaning of barbacoa sometimes refers to a similar preparation but instead of an underground oven, a stovetop or slow cooker is used.
Do you notice a similarity between barbacoa and another word we use in English for cooking meats? Well, the term “barbecue” actually comes from the Caribbean Indian word “barbacoa.” However, despite these common origins, the two terms do not mean the same thing. Barbecues involve cooking food over a hot grill whereas barbacoa uses a steaming and/or baking process.
Perhaps the best manifestation of this form of preparing food is Mexican barbacoa. This is used frequently in the central states of Mexico where you will often find a brick-lined oven measuring around 60 cm (23 inches) in diameter and around 1 m (3-feet) in depth. This oven is dug into the earth where wood is placed at the bottom and burned until the entire oven is red hot.
Many of the meats prepared in this way are eaten regularly in parts of Mexico. For instance, beef barbacoa is wonderfully juicy and flavorful. This is often shredded and served in tacos, enchiladas, or as a dish all by itself.
Today, we are going to guide you through Mexican barbacoa and discuss the history and variations of this traditional way of cooking meat. If you ever get the chance to experience the food from Mexican barbacoa, you will remember it forever.
What is Mexican Barbacoa?
As we discussed above, a brick-lined oven is dug into the earth and heated up until it is scorching hot. Once this has been prepared, a little liquid (typically water or pulque with aromatic herbs and vegetables) is placed into a large pot. A grill is placed on the bottom so no meat touches the pot’s base.
The meat prepared tends to be lamb or mutton. This is wrapped in maguey leaves and placed into the pot before the animal’s stomach is placed on top. Beforehand, this stomach would have been stuffed with other edible organs from the animal as well as a combination of spices, herbs, and different chiles.
After this process, the oven gets covered with a metal sheet and a fresh layer of earth. The meat is then left to cook overnight undisturbed.
After cooking, the layer of earth and metal sheet are removed and the organs (usually known as pancita de barbacoa) are perfectly cooked. At this point, these organs and the leaf-wrapped meat will typically be tender and moist while the liquid within the pot has transformed into a sumptuous soup.
Upon being served, the meal usually begins with a small bowl of brothy soup known as consomé. This is then followed by some tacos made from the internal organs of the animal. Finally, tacos that have been made from the meat are eaten.
These are no small meals, however. Feasts such as flautas or taco dorados are also common at these cooking events. Corn tortillas that have been wrapped in a portion of the shredded barbacoa meat are fried or deep-fried until they turn golden and crispy. These are then served with cilantro, onion, cream, guacamole, and/or a mixture of Mexican sauces. Hungry yet? We are!
Variations of Barbacoa
Barbacoa is not an everyday Mexican treat. As you can probably guess, going to this much trouble takes a great deal of preparation so barbacoa is usually kept for certain venues and occasions. You will generally find barbacoa at market stalls that sell it as breakfast, brunch, and/or dinner or small mom-and-pop restaurants.
Moreover, communities will often come together and prepare the dish as a collective group usually to celebrate their town’s patron saint. Barbacoa is also seen at certain party halls and private homes where caterers have been hired to serve barbacoa for special occasions such as weddings, quinceanera parties, or other social gatherings.
Barbacoa tends to mean there is some sort of celebration occurring. Although it has simple ingredients, a rustic appearance, and a unique preparation, barbacoa is considered to be a delicacy in Mexico. It is a treat that is kept for special occasions.
Slow Cook Your Own Barbacoa
Fancy trying to make your own barbacoa? Well, you don’t have to wait for a special occasion. You can slow cook different ingredients to experience this incredible portion of Mexican cuisine. | <urn:uuid:8cd6165c-32a2-4a7b-be9a-6575c1b29c31> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://restaurantclicks.com/food/mexican-barbacoa-explained/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.954804 | 994 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Katharine Way was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, on February 20, 1902, the second child of William Addisson Way, a lawyer, and his wife Louise Jones. She had an older brother and a younger sister. Originally named Catherine, she later changed the spelling to Katharine. Friends and colleagues generally knew her as Kay. Her mother died when she was twelve years old, and her father married an ear and throat specialist, who provided Kay with a role model of a career woman.
Way was educated at Miss Hartridge's boarding school in Plainfield, New Jersey, and Rosemary Hall in Greenwich, Connecticut. In 1920 she entered Vassar College, but was forced to drop out after two years after becoming ill with suspected tuberculosis. After convalescing in Saranac Lake, New York, she attended Barnard College for two semesters in 1924 and 1925.
From 1929 to 1934 she studied at Columbia University, where Edward Kasner stoked an interest in mathematics, and co-authored Way's first published academic paper. She graduated with her BS in 1932. She next went to the University of North Carolina, where John Wheeler stimulated an interest in nuclear physics, and she became his first Ph.D. student. Because jobs were hard to come by during the Great Depression, she stayed on as a graduate student after completing the requirements of her Ph.D.
In 1938, she became a Huff Research Fellow at Bryn Mawr College, which allowed her to receive her Ph.D. for her thesis on nuclear physics, "Photoelectric Cross Section of the Deuteron". She subsequently took up a teaching position at the University of Tennessee in 1939, becoming an assistant professor in 1941.
At a conference in New York in 1938, Way presented a paper, "Nuclear Quadrupole and Magnetic Moments", in which she examined the deformation of a spinning atomic nucleus under three models, including Niels Bohr's liquid drop model. She followed this up with a closer examination of the liquid drop model in a paper entitled "The Liquid-Drop Model and Nuclear Moments", in which she showed that the resulting cigar-shaped nucleus could be unstable.
In 1942, Wheeler recruited Way to work on the Manhattan Project at the Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago. Working with physicist Alvin Weinberg, Way analyzed neutron flux data from Enrico Fermi's early nuclear reactor designs to see whether it would be possible to create a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. These calculations were put to use in the construction of Chicago Pile-1. Afterward, she examined the problem of nuclear poisoning of reactors by certain fission products. With physicist Eugene Wigner she developed the Way-Wigner approximation for fission product decay.
Way also visited the Hanford Site and the Los Alamos Laboratory. In mid-1945 she moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where she continued her research into nuclear decay. While there, she began to specialize in the collection and organization of nuclear data.
With Dexter Masters, she co-edited the 1946 New York Times bestseller One World or None: a Report to the Public on the Full Meaning of the Atomic Bomb. The book included essays by Niels Bohr, Albert Einstein, and Robert Oppenheimer, and sold over 100,000 copies.
Way moved to Washington, D.C., in 1949, where she went to work for the National Bureau of Standards. Four years later, she persuaded the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council to establish the Nuclear Data Project (NDP), an organization with special responsibility for gathering and disseminating nuclear data, under her leadership. The NDP moved to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1964, but Way remained its head until 1968. Beginning in 1964, the NDP published a journal, Nuclear Data Sheets, to disseminate the information that the NDP had gathered. This was joined the following year by a second journal, Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables. She also persuaded the editors of Nuclear Physics to add keywords to the subject headings of articles to facilitate cross-referencing.
Way left the NDP in 1968 and became an adjunct professor at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, although she continued as editor of Nuclear Data Sheets until 1973, and Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables until 1982. In later life, she became interested in the health problems of seniors and lobbied for improved health care for them.
Way, who never married, died at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on December 9, 1995.
In an obituary in Physics Today, colleagues remembered her as someone who "expressed herself passionately not only about the analysis of nuclear data, but also about many issues of human fairness and social justice." | <urn:uuid:fe0745dd-6098-4662-9edb-2ab9004d6c62> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://rinconeducativo.org/en/recursos-educativos/katharine-way-known-her-contribution-physics-and-construction-chicago-pile/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.970073 | 959 | 2.9375 | 3 |
What Does the Brake Caliper Do?
Having brake caliper problems? To understand the function of a brake caliper, motorists first need to understand how their vehicle’s disc brakes work. When motorists press the brake pedal with their foot, the vehicle turns kinetic energy (the car’s wheels rotating) into heat energy (by way of friction). Press on the brake pedal, then the brake booster amplifies that force.
Then, the brake booster transmits the force to a piston inside of the master cylinder, which forces brake fluid out of itself into the brake lines that go to each wheel. The brake fluid then activates the brakes, forcing the brake caliper to squeeze the disc and slow the vehicle. The brake caliper squeezes the brake pads in toward the metal disc until the vehicle slows.
Want more information about brake pads & shoes? Rotors & drums? Visit our Brake Repair page to learn more about your vehicle’s brake system and what we can do to help when you need repairs.
Five Signs You Need Brake Caliper Repair
Unlike brake pads, which wear out over time with normal use, brake calipers are supposed to last the life of the vehicle. However, sometimes that doesn’t happen. If the brake caliper fails, the brake pads wear out faster than normal.
1. Vehicle Pulls To One Side When Driving or Braking
Does the car seem to pull or steer to one side while the vehicle is in operation? The brake caliper contains pistons that move in and out due to hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder. If the pistons freeze up due to debris or corrosion, the brake pads will either fail to release the rotor or fail to come into contact with the rotor. In the first case, the car will pull toward the side where the damaged caliper is. If the brake pad fails to come into contact with the rotor, the vehicle will pull away from the damaged side. This can happen when the brakes are applied or during normal operation.
2. High-Pitched Squealing or Metalic Rubbing Noises
Another symptom of a sticking or frozen brake caliper is a noise emanating from the damaged part. This sound, if it’s due to the brake calipers and not the brake pads, will occur during driving, while brake pad issues will cause a noise when the driver applies the brakes. Make sure to take the vehicle into an auto repair shop as soon as possible, as a frozen or stuck caliper can eventually cause the brakes to lock up completely.
3. Brake Pads Unevenly Wear Down
If it seems that the brake pads on one side of the vehicle are thinner than the other side, it’s possible that the brake caliper is at fault. Take the vehicle into an auto repair shop and have a trained technician take a look at the problem.
4. Leaking Brake Fluid On the Ground Inside the Tires
Modern brake systems use hydraulic pressure to operate. If the caliper leaks, drivers may notice an oily spot on the ground inside the tire. However, this may not be the caliper at all. Consult with a trained technician to properly diagnose and repair the problem.
5. Clunking Sound
This symptom is much less common than the others, but it’s possible that the bracket that holds the brake caliper in place is faulty. In these cases, the broken bracket causes a loud clunking sound while operation. If this happens, do not drive the vehicle. The brakes could lock up completely which puts the driver and other motorists at risk for serious injury. Take the vehicle into an auto repair shop such as Ron’s Auto & RV in Vancouver, WA.
If your vehicle shows any of these signs of brake caliper problems, bring it into Ron’s Auto & RV for proper diagnosis and repair!
What Causes Brake Caliper To Stick?
The above symptoms indicate a stuck or faulty brake caliper. However, what causes the brake caliper to stick in these situations?
The brake caliper has grooves that hold the brake pads. The brake pads slide in when the driver pushes down on the brake pedal, and they slide out when the driver lets off the brake. If the brake pads stick in the grooves, drivers may experience difficulty stopping. The brake pads can get stuck due to debris, but if cleaning out the grooves doesn’t solve the problem, it’s possible that the grooves themselves will wear down. If this is the case, the calipers may need a complete replacement.
The brake caliper bolts also have slides. The slides have rubber boots on them to keep them well lubricated. However, sometimes the rubber boots tear, which causes the bolts to dry out. If this happens, the brakes may stick. Have a licensed technician take a look at the brake assembly to determine whether the bolts need reconditioning or replacement.
The caliper piston may be the culprit. Like the bolts, the caliper piston has a rubber boot around it meant to protect and lubricate it. If the rubber boot tears, then rust and other debris slowly build up inside of the piston. In this case, the brake caliper may stick. If this is the problem, it’s likely that the whole brake caliper assembly needs replacement.
Sometimes a vehicle’s brake hose wears out. If this happens, it’s possible that brake fluid will only flow one way, causing the brake pads to slow the vehicle. However, when the driver doesn’t apply the brakes, the fluid cannot flow the opposite way, resulting in a stuck caliper. This problem is difficult to diagnose, but an experienced professional should be able to isolate the problem with the brake caliper.
How To Avoid a Stuck Brake Caliper
Take care of the vehicle’s brakes. Make sure to replace the brake pads and top up the brake fluid when needed. Make sure to bring the vehicle into an auto repair shop if problems with the brake caliper come up.
How Can Ron’s Auto & RV Help?
Ron’s Auto & RV is a family-owned and operated ASE-Certified Auto Repair Shop. Since 1976, owner Ron Ferguson and his family have provided the city of Vancouver, WA, with high-quality auto and RV services. Call today to book an appointment! | <urn:uuid:3a0aa3c9-2164-4320-ac1c-b7af000d6b8c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://ronsautorv.com/blog/how-to-tell-when-your-brake-calipers-need-repair-or-replacement/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.911025 | 1,322 | 3.03125 | 3 |
The Mississippi River Delta region is a 12,000 km2 area of land that stretches from Vermillion Bay on the west, to the Chandeleur Islands in the Gulf of Mexico on the southeastern coast of Louisiana. It is part of the Louisiana coastal plain, one of the largest areas of coastal wetlands in the United States. The Mississippi River Delta is an important coastal region for the United States. The coastal area is the nation’s largest drainage basin and drains about 41% of the contiguous United States into the Gulf of Mexico at an average rate of 470,000 cubic feet per second.
#earthimages #earthimage #upintheair #abovetheclouds #satelliteimage #satelliteimages #EarthOverhead #MississippiRiverDelta #MississippiRiver #MississippiDelta #RiverDelta #VermillionBay #Louisiana #ChandeleurIslands #GulfofMexico
Like so many towns on the Adriatic, Monopoli's history has been thoroughly influenced by its east-facing position and its fortified sea-front walls and castle tell many a story.
Parking in or around Piazza XX Settembre, location of a colourful street market, head east towards the cathedral. To find it just look upwards and you are sure to see its elegantly conceived bell tower thrusting into the sky. Built in 1693, the tower is over 60 metres high, completely dominating the town below. | <urn:uuid:4c9c6a08-cc68-427f-8c91-031c8e86e1a1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://satelliteartinstitute.com/blogs/around-the-globe/mississippi-river-delta-usa | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.892582 | 297 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Your gums are the soft tissue that lines your mouth and surrounds the teeth. As well as making your smile look good, gums create a seal around your teeth that protects the delicate nerves from bacteria and disease.
Healthy gums are pink and firm. Depending on age and poor hygiene can lead to the development of gum disease. This disease can result in heart disease and tooth loss. To prevent these issues visit your dental hygienist every six months.
Signs of gum disease include:
- Loose Teeth
- Tooth Loss
- Tooth sensitivity
- Gaps caused by drifting teeth
- Bad Breath
- Unhealthy looking teeth
- Abscessed teeth
Early symptoms of gum disease can be difficult to detect. Periodontal disease does not go away without professional treatment. If you think you may suffer from gum disease in contact our office. Early symptoms can be controlled, but advanced stages may require a tooth extraction.
To prevent the development of gum disease, practice good oral hygiene at home. Daily brushing and flossing remove plaque and bacteria from your smile. You should also visit your dentist every six months for routine dental checkups. | <urn:uuid:93e3488e-f2a5-4637-bb99-133a7668f704> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://savedental.com/save-dental/gingiva/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.93538 | 238 | 3.34375 | 3 |
A copy of this work was available on the public web and has been preserved in the Wayback Machine. The capture dates from 2019; you can also visit the original URL.
The file type is
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the arthropod-borne flaviviruses (arboviruses) which are mainly transmitted by blood-sucking mosquitoes of the genus Aedes. ZIKV infection has been known to be rather asymptomatic or presented as febrile self-limited disease; however, during the last decade the manifestation of ZIKV infection has been associated with a variety of neuroimmunological disorders including Guillain–Barré syndrome, microcephaly and other central nervousdoi:10.3390/pathogens7030066 pmid:30081445 fatcat:boupaae4zjb3ppfkqwplti3sla | <urn:uuid:03c0d056-9124-4a20-83c1-2b0df686a3ab> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://scholar.archive.org/work/6276zkgqdbafnfgmzt7eqfri7q | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.925289 | 201 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Zonal Jets in Rotating Shallow Water Turbulence
During the last three decades, the appearance of multiple zonal jets in planetary atmospheres and in the Earth's oceans has widely studied. Evidences of this phenomenon were recovered in numerical simulations , laboratory experiments and in field measurements of giant planets' atmosphere . Recent studies have revealed the presence of zonation also in the Earth's oceans; in fact, zonal jets were recovered in the outputs of Oceanic General Circulation Models-GCMs and from
... tellite altimetry observations . In previous works [3-4], we have investigated the impact of several experimental parameters on jets organization both in decaying and forced regimes. This work shows new results in the context of continuously forced flows obtained performing experiments in a bigger domain. The experimental set-up consists of a rotating tank where the initial distribution of vorticity is generated via the Lorentz force in an electromagnetic cell and the latitudinal variation of the Coriolis parameter is simulated by the parabolic profile assumed by the free surface of the rotating fluid. The velocity fields were measured using an image analysis technique. The flow is characterized in terms of zonal and radial flow pattern, flow variability and jet scales. | <urn:uuid:498a4ee9-27ea-44d8-a50b-59bb07bfe9ef> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://scholar.archive.org/work/dyezg7oa5rhn3fq7eq5hps7u4q | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.913322 | 254 | 2.5625 | 3 |
New UBC research suggests free-roaming cats are likely to blame in the spread of the potentially deadly Toxoplasma gondii parasite to wildlife in densely populated urban areas.
The study—the first to analyze so many wildlife species over a global scale—also highlights how healthy ecosystems can protect against these types of pathogens.
The researchers, led by UBC faculty of forestry adjunct professor Dr. Amy Wilson, examined 45,079 cases of toxoplasmosis in wild mammals—a disease that has been linked to nervous system disorders, cancers, and other debilitating chronic conditions—using data from 202 global studies.
They found wildlife living near dense urban areas were more likely to be infected.
“As increasing human densities are associated with increased densities of domestic cats, our study suggests that free-roaming domestic cats—whether pets or feral cats—are the most likely cause of these infections,” says Dr. Wilson.
“This finding is significant because by simply limiting free roaming of cats, we can reduce the impact of Toxoplasma on wildlife.”
One infected cat can excrete as many as 500 million Toxoplasma oocysts (or eggs) in just two weeks. The oocysts can then live for years in soil and water with the potential to infect any bird or mammal, including humans. Toxoplasmosis is particularly dangerous for pregnant people.
If an animal is healthy, the parasite remains dormant and rarely causes direct harm. However, if an animal’s immune system is compromised, the parasite can trigger illness and potentially death.
The study also highlights the way healthy forests, streams, and other ecosystems can filter out dangerous pathogens like Toxoplasma, notes Dr. Wilson.
“We know that when wetlands are destroyed or streams are restricted, we are more likely to experience runoff that carries more pathogens into the waters where wild animals drink or live,” she says. “And when their habitats are healthy, wildlife thrives and tends to be more disease-resistant.”
Research results like these remind us that all ecosystems, forested or other, are intrinsically linked.
“There is a growing recognition among forest science professionals and other groups that protecting biodiversity and the ecosystems it supports is an efficient and economical approach to reducing disease transfer between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. Conservation is really preventative medicine in action,” says Dr. Wilson.
Reference: “Human density is associated with the increased prevalence of a generalist zoonotic parasite in mammalian wildlife” by Amy G. Wilson, Scott Wilson, Niloofar Alavi and David R. Lapen, 20 October 2021, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. | <urn:uuid:4b665793-c9d7-4520-a7d1-cf155705bc52> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://scitechdaily.com/domestic-cats-drive-spread-of-potentially-deadly-toxoplasma-parasite-to-wildlife/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.929524 | 564 | 3.671875 | 4 |
The common name "angel trumpets" is often shared with the genus Datura (closely related). The genus differs from datura because it is much larger, perennial, and woody (the species Datura, they are herbaceous), and Brugmansia has the hanging branches (datura have the erect branches).
Brugmansia sanguinea red flowers, is a species with unique particularity in the genus, are pollinated by hummingbirds, the others are pollinated mainly by bats.
Brugmansia sanguinea is still very rare in cultivation. Few plants evoke as much sighing and attention as this little tree or shrub with huge tubular flowers that persist from spring to autumn.
With lush foliage and flowers between 25 and 30 cm in length that is deliciously fragrant, often blooming in their first year from seeds, it is a true gift from the skies ... They can turn a balcony or terrace into a true tropical paradise. In the cool, moist air of night, its aroma is more intense. | <urn:uuid:3bbc2b00-77ff-42c5-8070-d32f3cc51f67> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://seedsworld.online/products/20-scarlet-angels-trumpet-seeds | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.96409 | 219 | 2.53125 | 3 |
It is a silvery-white, low-density metal with a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for use in a variety of applications including aerospace, medical implants, and sporting equipment. Its resistance to corrosion and biocompatibility also make it a popular choice in the biomedical field.
Here we will discuss what is titanium and its applications.
History of Titanium:
Titanium was discovered in 1791 by English chemist and mineralogist William Gregor and named by German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth after the Titans of Greek mythology. However, it was not until the 20th century that titanium became widely used due to the development of processes to extract it from its ores and purify it into a usable form. The aerospace industry was one of the first major adopters of titanium due to its strength and light weight. In the years since, its use has expanded into many other industries due to its unique combination of physical and chemical properties.
Titanium has a wide range of applications due to its strength, light weight, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. Some common applications include:
The aerospace industry uses titanium extensively in the manufacture of airframes and engines due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to corrosion.
Titanium is widely used in the medical field for implants such as joint replacements and dental implants because of its biocompatibility and resistance to corrosion.
Titanium equipment is used in the chemical processing industry due to its resistance to corrosion from harsh chemicals and high temperatures.
Titanium is used in the manufacture of golf clubs, tennis rackets, and bicycles due to its light weight and strength.
The military uses titanium for applications such as armor plating and aircraft components due to its high strength and low weight.
The automotive industry uses titanium for high-performance parts such as turbochargers, exhaust systems, and suspension components.
Pros and Cons:
Here are the some pros and cons of titanium:
Pros of titanium:
- Titanium has a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for applications where weight is a concern, such as aerospace and medical implants.
- Titanium is highly resistant to corrosion from a variety of substances, including salt water and chlorine.
- Titanium is biocompatible with the human body, making it suitable for medical implants.
- Titanium has a low density, making it lightweight compared to other metals of similar strength.
- Titanium is durable and has a long lifespan, making it ideal for long-term applications.
Cons of titanium:
- Titanium is relatively expensive compared to other metals, due to the costly and complex process of extraction and purification.
- Titanium is difficult to fabricate due to its high reactivity and the need for specialized equipment.
- Titanium has low electrical and thermal conductivity, making it unsuitable for applications where electrical and heat resistance is important.
- The availability of titanium ores is limited, and the extraction and purification process is complex, which affects its cost and supply.
- Titanium is sensitive to stress concentration and may fracture under high stress, making it less suitable for certain applications.
Read More: https://yijinsolution.com/ | <urn:uuid:74139508-ef2f-41e7-b944-e8ca4ebfd9c1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://seolenc.educatorpages.com/pages/what-is-titanium | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.952735 | 662 | 3.21875 | 3 |
In the world of the internet, a web server is an essential component that allows websites to exist and be accessed by users. But what does web server really mean? Let’s dive into the details and understand its significance.
A web server can refer to both hardware and software. At its core, it is a computer system that stores and delivers web pages and other content to users over the internet. It acts as a mediator between the client (user’s device) and the requested web pages.
How Does It Work?
A web server operates on a client-server architecture, where clients request information (web pages) from the server, which in turn responds with the requested data. Here’s a simplified step-by-step process:
- The user enters a URL or clicks on a link in their web browser.
- The browser sends a request to the appropriate web server.
- The web server receives the request and processes it.
- If the requested resource is available, the server sends it back to the browser.
- The browser interprets the received data and displays it to the user.
Types of Web Servers
There are several types of web servers available today. Some popular ones include:
- Apache HTTP Server: This open-source software is widely used due to its flexibility and robustness. It supports various operating systems, making it highly versatile.
- Nginx: Known for its high performance and scalability, Nginx excels at handling concurrent connections efficiently.
It also functions as a reverse proxy server.
- Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS): Developed by Microsoft, IIS is commonly used in Windows-based environments. It integrates well with other Microsoft products.
Features and Functionalities
A web server offers a range of features and functionalities that enhance the hosting and delivery of web content. Some notable ones include:
- Hosting Websites: A web server stores and serves website files to users, ensuring accessibility from anywhere in the world.
- Handling HTTP Requests: It processes incoming HTTP requests, allowing clients to retrieve web pages and interact with dynamic content.
- Load Balancing: Web servers can distribute incoming traffic across multiple servers, improving performance and preventing overload.
- Security: Web servers often include security features such as SSL/TLS encryption to protect data transmission between the server and clients.
- Error Handling: When a requested resource is not found or encounters an error, the web server generates appropriate error messages for the user.
A web server is a crucial component that facilitates the delivery of web content to users. It acts as a middleman between clients and requested resources, ensuring seamless communication and accessibility. Understanding its role is fundamental for anyone involved in website development or management.
The next time you browse the internet, remember that behind every webpage you visit lies a powerful web server working tirelessly to deliver that content to your screen! | <urn:uuid:28133fc1-0f6c-481a-b604-53d6891fbc8f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://serverlogic3.com/what-does-web-server-mean/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.882954 | 596 | 3.703125 | 4 |
When it comes to aircraft certification, one important piece of information is the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS) number. The TCDS number is a unique identifier assigned to each type of aircraft that has been certified by aviation authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Europe. It serves as a reference for regulatory purposes and contains vital information about the aircraft’s design, performance, and limitations.
The Purpose of the Type Certificate Data Sheet Number
The TCDS number serves several purposes within the aviation industry. It helps aircraft manufacturers, operators, and maintenance personnel access detailed information about a specific aircraft model quickly and easily. This includes technical specifications, operating limitations, approved modifications or repairs, and other relevant data necessary for safe and efficient operation.
Additionally, the TCDS number is used during various regulatory processes. For example, when an operator applies for an aircraft registration or modification approval, they must refer to the appropriate TCDS number to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. The TCDS also facilitates communication between aviation authorities and industry stakeholders.
Understanding the Type Certificate Data Sheet Number
The TCDS number consists of alphanumeric characters that provide specific information about an aircraft type. Let’s break down a typical TCDS number format:
- Prefix: The prefix indicates the regulatory authority responsible for issuing the type certificate. For example:
- EASA: European Union Aviation Safety Agency
- FAA: Federal Aviation Administration
- Type Designation: This part of the TCDS number represents a unique identifier assigned to a particular aircraft model by the manufacturer.
It often consists of a combination of letters and numbers.
- Revision Level: The revision level indicates any updates or changes made to the original TCDS. As aircraft designs evolve or modifications are approved, the revision level may change.
Let’s consider an example TCDS number: EASA.IM.A.001
- The prefix “EASA” identifies that the type certificate has been issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
- The type designation “IM.A” represents a specific aircraft model.
- The revision level “001” indicates the initial version of the TCDS.
Accessing Type Certificate Data Sheets
Type Certificate Data Sheets are publicly available and can be accessed through various means. Aviation authorities, such as the FAA or EASA, typically provide online databases where users can search for specific TCDS numbers or browse through different aircraft models to find the relevant information.
Aircraft manufacturers also maintain comprehensive libraries of TCDS documents, often accessible on their websites. These resources enable operators, maintenance personnel, and other industry professionals to access critical information about certified aircraft types easily.
The Type Certificate Data Sheet number is a crucial piece of information within the aviation industry. It provides vital details about an aircraft type’s design, performance capabilities, and limitations. By referencing the appropriate TCDS number, aviation professionals can ensure compliance with regulations and access essential information necessary for safe and efficient operations. | <urn:uuid:f511bbed-d216-4a47-962e-5f688a891d78> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://serverlogic3.com/what-is-the-type-certificate-data-sheet-number/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.875733 | 631 | 2.765625 | 3 |
This collection of passages for Grade 3 provides students with close reading practice. The animal characters from these Thornton Burgess books have been entertaining young readers for years. This author's love of nature shines through in stories where woodland animals solve problems similar to real-life situations between friends and family. In these stories, meet Jerry Muskrat, Whitefoot the Wood Mouse, and Old Mr. Toad. What adventures will they have, and how will they puzzle their way through these dilemmas? Read to find out. Also included are places to pause and reflect on the text and opportunities to respond to the reading. | <urn:uuid:9668e566-2bd4-4733-b0cd-0d73cb3e46d0> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://shop.capstonepub.com/classroom/products/animal-friends-from-classic-children-s-literature/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.94534 | 120 | 2.734375 | 3 |
THE use of quantum technology in space is being advanced by University of Strathclyde researchers in two new projects funded by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) under the Enabling Technology Programme.
Strathclyde leads one of the projects in partnership with the University of Bristol, which will use recent developments in the fabrication and device integration of ultraviolet micro-LEDs (light emitting diodes) to enable compact, low-power, robust sources for satellite QKD (quantum key distribution), which offers future-proof security based on fundamental laws of physics.
The University is also a partner in a parallel project, led by Swansea University, in which nanoparticles will be used as special sensors, both on Earth and in space, for purposes such as measuring gravity and the density of the thermosphere, in the upper region of Earth’s atmosphere.
The Strathclyde and Bristol-led project, with Strathclyde’s Department of Physics and Institute of Photonics, will explore the use of micro-LEDs to overcome difficulties with laser diodes in satellite QKD sources, such as fluctuations in intensity and the need for thermal control.
It will take two interlinked directions of development will be pursued: the optimisation of photonic sources of secure quantum signals that are both robust and designed for easy integration into small satellite platforms, along with the use of shorter wavelengths for intersatellite QKD.
The innovative aspect of the project is the exploitation of the latest developments in UV micro-LEDs, capable of being integrated with its driving and control circuitry and consequent miniaturisation. These have already shown promise for conventional terrestrial free-space optical communication (FSOC) but so far not for satellite QKD. The use of short wavelengths for intersatellite QKD, where the lack of atmosphere allows for the use of UV, has the advantage of enabling narrower beam widths for a given aperture.
Dr Daniel Oi, a Reader in Strathclyde’s Department of Physics, is leading the project. He said: “Satellite QKD is a promising solution to global-scale secure communications that are proof against advances in cryptanalysis and accelerating developments in quantum computers that threaten existing public key infrastructure.
“Space-based quantum communication overcomes the exponential losses inherent in fibre transmission and allows mobile connectivity to remote areas, aircraft and other satellites. Satellite QKD is also expected to provide the underlying basis for global quantum communication networks, large scale distribution of quantum entanglement, and, eventually, the establishment of the quantum internet.”
Dr Siddarth Joshi a lecturer at the University of Bristol’s Quantum Engineering Technology Labs said: “We are excited to explore the advantages that micro-LEDs and novel wavelengths bring towards creating a network of interconnected satellites for quantum communication at a global scale.”
Dr Susan Spesyvtseva and Dr Johannes Herrnsdorf, of Strathclyde’s Institute of Photonics, and John Rarity, Professor of Optical Communications Systems at the University of Bristol, are also working on the project.
Dr Oi is also a partner in the Swansea-led project, in which a UK-wide consortium is developing technologies to use nanoparticles as state-of-the-art sensors on small, shoebox-sized satellites known as CubeSats.
Recent advances in the field of levitated optomechanics – the motion of tiny particles held and measured in free space by laser light – have shown that nanoparticles can exhibit behaviours that are governed by the laws of quantum mechanics, a fundamental theory which describes how atoms and subatomic particles interact.
This has led to nanoparticles, which are a thousand times larger than an atom and a thousand times smaller than a single grain of sand, being investigated as new sensors in laboratory conditions. But scientists are yet to apply this to the real world – and beyond.
Researchers are pushing the limits of quantum technology so that nanoparticles can be used as sensors in space. LOTIS (Levitated Optomechanical Technologies in Space) is an 18-month project to develop technologies to enable future space-borne devices using nanoparticles.
LOTIS will develop techniques which are small, lightweight, and rather than car-sized satellites, can fit on to the more compact CubeSats. This approach dramatically lowers development and launch costs.
Dr Oi said: “We are developing highly sensitive sensors for satellites which are greatly reduced in size and able to perform measurements of the space environment.
“This is part of a wider, international quantum technology programme which will extend its applications from Earth and space bound applications.”
Dr James Bateman of Swansea University, Principal Investigator in the project, said: “I am thrilled to lead this UKSA project, which will create the necessary technologies to establish a functioning sensing platform for both space and terrestrial applications. Our team is comprised of experts in nanosatellites, quantum sensing, and experimental optomechanics, and this project will help to make levitated optomechanical sensors a reality.” | <urn:uuid:a91cc131-acf7-4fa4-9550-78c94d42f7d1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://siliconscotland.com/strathclyde-researchers-advance-space-quantum-technology-on-two-fronts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.916349 | 1,060 | 2.96875 | 3 |
You will upload a PowerPoint that includes a visual that interprets one of Espada’s poems. Choose a poem from the link below:
Martin Espada Links to an external site.
Your presentation should be a minimum of six slides and may have more depending on the length of the poem. Here is a suggested layout:
Slide 1: Include the title of the presentation and your name, college name, course name, instructor name, date
Slide 2: Include a brief bio of the poet.
Slide 3: Introduce the poem with a link to the poem.
Slides 4-5: Present the visual you have selected. Give the background on the visual and explain its relevance to the poem.
Slide 6: Reference list in APA format. | <urn:uuid:aad80390-e297-4025-9d25-b3038a83df06> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://skilfulessays.com/you-will-upload-a-powerpoint-that-includes-a-visual-that-interprets-one-of-espad-3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.853008 | 161 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Many languages have their own peculiar approach to grammatical gender. For someone who is starting to learn German, it can be challenging to learn the gender of words. Does der Tisch (the table) reek of masculinity? Can you find a trace of feminine elegance in die Polizei (the police, did you know that police is singular in German)? Very likely not. It is a pain in the neck to remember such an illogical and senseless connection. For that reason, I always share The Superhero Technique with German learners to make their life a lot easier.
The Superhero Technique is a simple tool that encourages the learner to visualize a scenario with special memory figures relating to a specific gender. The key is to link new nouns to one of the three memory words, whilst adding sensations and vivid details to the situation when you imagine them. Visualization is an excellent tool to help you to never forget an article again.
If you haven’t heard it yet, there are three genders in German: the masculine, the feminine, and the neuter. Those mostly follow no logic and are, therefore, hard to remember. The Superhero Technique introduces three memory figures: the Superhero, the Queen, and the Baby—each substituting their corresponding gender to create a concrete, easy-to-visualize image. So the next time you learn a new noun, you simply add one of these three figures to the word’s meaning and voila, you have memorized that word’s gender for good. Let me show you how the magic is done.
While learning new vocabulary, you encounter the word der Kühlschrank (the fridge). You know it is masculine from the article der (which you’ll have to look up in your dictionary as it is not obvious), and you also remember that we use the Superhero with masculine nouns. Now all we need is to add some buzz to the story:
I see the Superhero walking in his sleep. He is heading to the kitchen. He is opening the fridge.The fridge is stocked up with all his favourite food. He accidentally clicks on the smart screen and sets the loud alarm on. The fridge squeals and the Superhero wakes up.
As you can see, this technique helps embed the articles into your vocabulary-rich brain quite effortlessly. The reason as to why that is true is simple: being creative is fun, and the more fun you have the better you learn. Let us try this technique again with the Queen.
The Queen loves to write poetry. She does not do it for the money since she needs no penny. She calls her poetry a hobby that makes her happy. What she lacks in fantasy, she makes up in melody. The Queen’s poetry may not be her legacy, but at least she rules the country.
Do you know what poetry translates to in German? In this example, we used the Queen to help us remember that die Dichtung (the poetry) is feminine. Now each time you create a new story, you will remember a Queen with all her feminine things chilling in her own palace.
Our final example is about baby triplets and a bed.
Once upon a time there was a baby who had two baby brothers. They were triplets. All three of them slept in a large bed. Sometimes one of them rolled off the bed, whenever that happened, the fallen
baby would scream so loud, his baby brothers would wake up.
I bet it will be difficult to forget every time you are tucked under your sheets that das Bett (the bed) is neutral.
These three examples show you how simple, fun and easy it is to remember the German gender. Now go on and create your own beautiful stories and learn more with my free German Articles Mini Course or try my German articles app on iOS or Android. | <urn:uuid:d8f29429-f5db-4782-a0a6-e00402b193b3> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://smartergerman.com/blog/the-superhero-technique/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.952644 | 793 | 3.59375 | 4 |
Dress of the Ancient Romans
c.1820s — Eastern Seaboard of the United States
The most ancient dress was the toga, which consisted of a woolen cloth (round at the bottom but open at the top down to the girdle.) and without sleeves. It seems that the form of the toga was different at different periods in all probability, it was as early as the time of the kings, merely a square piece of coarse woolen cloth. The wealthy distinguished themselves by causing the toga to be made large and of the finest and best materials.
In the early days of the republic, the toga was worn by women, but at a later period they wore a robe called the stola, which was ornamented with a broad border or fringe. Old men and senators were clad in white. Women and young men wore purple. On certain occasions magistrates and priests wore a toga with an embroidered purple border. In a triumph, Generals wore an embroidered toga.
Beneath the toga, the Romans afterwards wore a garment called the tunic. It was a white woolen vest, which reached to the knees before and was a little longer behind. At first it was worn without sleeves, but afterwards sleeves were used with fringe at the hands. Generals wore an embroidered tunic called tunica palmata or tunica jovis. The poor people were often clad in the tunic alone, as their circumstances prevented them from purchasing the toga.
Young women wore a tunic of linen, but linen was not introduced from Egypt until the time of the Emperors. The tunic of the women was longer than that of the men, and it also had sleeves. It reached to the feet and concealed the whole person.
They also had a kind of mantle called Lena, a kind of great coat which had a hood to it. It was open before and fastened with a with a clasp or buckles, and called Lacerna. The Romans wore no stockings (or pantalloons). They wrapped pieces of cloth about their legs. They had different sorts of shoes—one resembling the modern shoe, and was tied. It was called Calceus. Sandals or slippers scarcely covered the sole of the foot. The Senators had four latchets, the plebeians one. Men’s shoes were black, some red. Women wore red, scarlet, or purple, but white was the prevailing color. Poor people had wooden shoes.
The Romans had no covering for the head. They threw the lappet of their gown over the head. On a journey, they wore a round cap or a broad brimmed hat.
Women curled their hair and ornamented it in different ways. The Roman general wore a high embroidered cap of leather. His cloak was scarlet, and was called chlamys, sometimes bordered with purple.
The mantle of the Greeks was called Peplum. Some authors says that it was not closed like the Roman toga. Sometimes it was fastened on one shoulder, at others on both. The Greek’s mode of dress was adopted by the Romans. The Greeks had the cloak called Chlamys or paludamentum. The capes of their garments were sometimes scalloped or festooned or ornamented with fringes or coribes. Woolen cloth was first used, then linen brought from Egypt.
Roman young men wore a purple gown until they were 17 years old. They then put on a white one. Young women also wore purple.
Roman soldier. Shield of wood covered with leather, sometimes round, sometimes oblong.
A helmet of brass or iron coming down from the shoulders, the face uncovered, adorned with plumes of feathers of various colours.
The Coat of Mail made of leather covered with plates of iron in the form of scales or rings, twisted with each other like chains.
Greaves for the legs, and a kind of shoe called the Calliga, thick set with nails.
The Roman horsemen had neither saddles nor stirrups. The toga was first worn by women, but afterwards they wore a different robe called the Stola with a border or fringe.
Source: Anne Laura Clarke Collection, Folder 1, Historic Northampton, Northampton MA, Courtesy of Granville Ganter. | <urn:uuid:5ec582e1-802a-47a4-a776-6a13dbbc567c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://speakingwhilefemale.co/history-clarke/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.981933 | 898 | 3.875 | 4 |
Druidism is a modern spiritual and religious movement that draws inspiration from the beliefs and practices of the ancient Druids, who were the priestly class of the Celtic peoples in pre-Christian Europe. Druidism is often associated with nature-based spirituality and reverence for the natural world.
Druids believe that all things in the universe are connected, and that the divine can be found in all aspects of creation. They view the natural world as a manifestation of the divine, and seek to live in harmony with the environment around them. This connection with nature is often reflected in Druidic rituals and ceremonies.
Ritual is an important aspect of spiritual practices in Druidism. It is through ritual that Druids connect with the divine, honor their ancestors, and mark important life transitions. Druidic rituals are often designed to celebrate the changing of the seasons, the phases of the moon, or other natural phenomena.
The rituals themselves can take many forms, from simple meditations to elaborate ceremonies. They may involve the use of music, dance, or poetry, and often incorporate symbols and objects that hold spiritual significance. Druids may also engage in solitary practices, such as meditation or prayer, to deepen their spiritual connection.
The importance of ritual in Druidism lies in its ability to facilitate spiritual growth and connection. By participating in rituals, Druids can cultivate a deeper sense of reverence for the natural world, develop a greater understanding of their place in the universe, and connect with the divine in a more profound way.
Ritual also plays a role in building community and social connections among Druids. Many rituals are designed to be shared experiences, and participating in them can create a sense of belonging and shared purpose among practitioners.
In summary, Druidism is a modern spiritual movement that draws inspiration from the beliefs and practices of the ancient Druids. Ritual is an important aspect of Druidic spirituality, providing a means of connecting with the divine, fostering personal growth, and building community. Through ritual, Druids can deepen their spiritual connection and cultivate a greater sense of harmony with the natural world.
Historical Context of Druidic Rituals
The ancient Celts believed in a complex and interconnected spiritual world, where the natural and supernatural were intertwined. Druids were the keepers of this knowledge and served as the religious leaders and advisors to the Celtic communities.
Ritual played a significant role in Celtic society, as it was seen as a means of communicating with the gods and goddesses, appeasing the spirits, and honoring the ancestors. Rituals were often tied to the cycles of nature, such as the changing of the seasons, and were designed to ensure the prosperity and well-being of the community.
Examples of ancient Druidic ceremonies and practices include the celebration of Beltane, the festival of fire and fertility that marked the beginning of summer. This festival involved lighting fires on hilltops and dancing around the flames, symbolizing the return of the sun and the renewal of life. Another important ritual was the Samhain festival, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark half of the year. During this festival, it was believed that the veil between the world of the living and the dead was thinnest, and people would light bonfires and leave offerings for the spirits of their ancestors.
The ancient Druids were also known for their use of sacred sites and objects in their rituals. Stone circles, such as Stonehenge in England, were believed to have been used for Druidic ceremonies, as were other natural features like wells and springs. The use of sacred objects, such as cauldrons and torcs, was also common in Druidic rituals.
In summary, the historical context of Druidic rituals is rooted in ancient Celtic traditions, where ritual played a significant role in communicating with the divine and honoring the natural world. Examples of ancient Druidic ceremonies and practices include the celebration of Beltane and the Samhain festival, as well as the use of sacred sites and objects. Understanding the historical context of Druidic rituals can provide insight into the importance of ritual in modern Druidism, where the focus remains on connecting with nature and the divine through spiritual practices.
Contemporary Druidic Rituals
Modern Druids often incorporate elements of ancient Celtic rituals into their practice, such as honoring the cycles of the seasons and the phases of the moon. However, they also embrace individual interpretation and creativity, recognizing that the spiritual path is unique to each person. This allows for a wide variety of Druidic rituals and ceremonies, which can be tailored to the needs and beliefs of each individual practitioner.
One of the most common types of Druidic ritual is the celebration of the eight seasonal festivals, also known as the Wheel of the Year. These festivals mark the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days, and are designed to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the cycles of nature. Each festival has its own rituals and traditions, which may include meditation, prayer, feasting, and the lighting of fires.
Druids may also engage in rituals that honor the natural world, such as tree planting ceremonies, land blessings, and environmental activism. These rituals emphasize the connection between humans and the natural world, and the importance of preserving the environment for future generations.
Another type of Druidic ritual is the celebration of life transitions, such as weddings, funerals, and naming ceremonies. These rituals mark important milestones in a person’s life and are designed to provide spiritual support and guidance during times of change.
The use of music, poetry, and storytelling is also common in Druidic rituals, as these creative expressions are seen as a means of connecting with the divine and honoring the spiritual traditions of the Celts. Many Druidic rituals also incorporate the use of symbols and objects, such as the use of a cauldron to represent the womb of the goddess, or the use of a staff to symbolize the connection between heaven and earth.
In conclusion, contemporary Druidic rituals are rooted in the ancient traditions of the Celtic peoples, while also embracing individual interpretation and creativity. Different types of Druidic rituals and ceremonies include seasonal festivals, rituals that honor the natural world, and life transitions. The use of music, poetry, storytelling, and symbols is also common in Druidic rituals, emphasizing the importance of creative expression in spiritual practices. By engaging in these rituals, modern Druids can deepen their connection to nature and the divine, and find spiritual support and guidance during times of change.
The Benefits of Ritual in Druidism
One of the primary benefits of ritual in Druidism is the connection to nature and the divine. Rituals are often designed to honor the cycles of nature, such as the changing of the seasons, and are seen as a means of connecting with the natural world. This connection to nature can provide a sense of awe and wonder, deepening one’s appreciation of the world around them.
Rituals also provide an opportunity for personal growth and self-awareness. By engaging in spiritual practices, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the universe. Rituals can be used as a means of self-exploration, allowing individuals to connect with their own inner wisdom and intuition. This can lead to increased self-confidence, self-awareness, and personal fulfillment.
Another benefit of ritual in Druidism is the sense of community and social connections that it provides. Many rituals are designed to be shared experiences, and participating in them can create a sense of belonging and shared purpose among practitioners. This sense of community can provide support and encouragement, and can help individuals feel connected to something larger than themselves.
Finally, ritual can promote emotional and psychological well-being. By engaging in spiritual practices, individuals can cultivate a sense of peace and calm, reducing stress and anxiety. Rituals can also provide a sense of comfort and reassurance, particularly during times of grief or hardship.
the benefits of ritual in Druidism are many and varied. Ritual provides a means of connecting with nature and the divine, fostering personal growth and self-awareness, building community and social connections, and promoting emotional and psychological well-being. By engaging in these practices, modern Druids can deepen their spiritual connection and find support and guidance on their spiritual path.
In conclusion, ritual is a fundamental aspect of Druidism, providing a means of connecting with the natural world, the divine, and one’s own inner wisdom. Rituals can promote personal growth, build community, and provide emotional and psychological well-being. By honoring the cycles of nature and incorporating creative expression, Druidic rituals can provide a deep sense of connection to something larger than oneself.
We encourage readers to explore and engage in their own spiritual practices, whether that be through Druidism or another spiritual path. By engaging in spiritual practices, we can deepen our connection to the world around us and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe. We hope that this article has provided insight into the importance of ritual in Druidism, and has inspired readers to explore their own spiritual path with curiosity and an open mind. | <urn:uuid:1e50a232-2a6f-4219-826c-9e58a44943be> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://spiritualmoonrise.com/the-importance-of-ritual-in-druidism/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.958315 | 1,851 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Child growth and development pedagogy suggests that not all children are ready to learn the same thing, at the same time, in the same way. Multiage/nongraded programs allow pupils to advance from one concept or skill level to the next as they are ready, regardless of age or grade, which results in continuous progress. Multiage/nongraded education has a solid foundation or research and experience to support its use. However, many questions still exist regarding the factors that contribute to the implementation of a successful primary multiage/nongraded program.
The purpose of this ethnographic study was to identify the (a) critical attributes of a successful multiage/nongraded program, (b) strategies necessary for successful implementation, (c) inservice training needed by teachers, (d) obstacles encountered during implementation, (e) advantages and disadvantages of a multiage/nongraded program for students, and (f) advantages and disadvantages of a multiage/nongraded program for teachers. Data from 58 teachers of primary multiage classes in a large public school district in central Florida were collected during the 1995-96 school year using focus group interviews. An Interview Guide and a demographic questionnaire were developed to help gather data. Data collection procedures for this ethnographic study utilized a series of focus groups, field notes, and audiotape recordings. Data from the interviews were categorized, analyzed, interpreted, and summarized.
Two of the critical attributes of a multiage/nongraded program discussed in this study were developmentally appropriate practices and continuous progress. Other critical attributes included authentic assessment, team teaching, and varied instructional strategies such as integrated thematic teaching and whole language.
Implementation strategies discussed were the decision-making process involved in choosing to implement the multiage/nongraded program, the selection of the multiage teacher, professional development activities, student selection, and parental involvement. A large portion of the study was devoted to a discussion of the obstacles encountered during implementation of the multiage/nongraded program.
Advantages and disadvantages of a multiage setting for students and teachers were discussed in the review of literature and in the data analysis of participants' responses during the interviews.
Implications for practice were included. A list of recommendations for future study was also included.
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Pawlas, George E.
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
College of Education
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Length of Campus-only Access
Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)
Osborne, Vicki Hils, "A Study to Determine Which Factors Contribute to the Implementation of a Successful Primary Multiage/Nongraded Program" (1996). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 3031.
Contributor (Linked data) | <urn:uuid:944b732b-270e-40cd-8899-5610565dab70> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://stars.library.ucf.edu/rtd/3031/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.937486 | 633 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Diffusion PPT and PDF Report Free
Diffusion PPT and PDF Report Free: Diffusion is that the net movement of molecules or atoms from a section of high concentration with a high chemical potential to a section of low concentration with low chemical potential. This is often conjointly named because of the movement of a substance downs an amount gradient. A gradient is that the amendment within the price of an amount e.g. concentration, pressure, or temperature with the modification in another variable, typically distance. An amendment in concentration over a distance is named an amount gradient, an amendment in pressure over a distance is named a pressure gradient, and an amendment in temperature over a distance could be a referred to as a gradient. The word diffusion derives from the Latin word diffundere, which suggests “spreading out”. A substance that “spreads out” is moving from a section of high concentration to a section of low concentration.
Diffusion PPT and PDF Report Free
A characteristic feature of diffusion is that is dependent on particle stochastic process, and ends up in combining or mass transport while not requiring directed bulk motion. Bulk motion, or bulk flow, is that the characteristic of temperature change. The term convection is employed to explain the mixture of each transport phenomena. Diffusion may be a physical method wherever molecules of a cloth move from a region of high concentration i.e. the region which has more molecules to a part of low concentration i.e. the region which has fewer molecules. Diffusion will solely work with liquids and gases. Here are some samples of diffusion:
- The smell of ammonia spreads from the back of the schoolroom to the front area.
- Food coloring born on the beaker spreads out.
- The smell of food spread within the total house.
Molecules tend to maneuver from regions of high concentration to places of low concentration, simply by moving haphazardly. As an example, there’s a lot of oxygen during a respiratory organ than the presence of oxygen in the blood thus oxygen molecules can tend to maneuver into the blood. Similarly, there are a lot of CO2 molecules in the blood than within the respiratory organ thus CO2 molecules can tend to maneuver into the respiratory organ. It happens in cell biology, wherever little molecules merely diffuse via the cell wall, however, larger molecules solely get through by victimization energy.
Factors which affect diffusion:
The factors which affect diffusion are explained with the help of a diagram:
Fig1: affecting factors of diffusion
Diffusion is affected by temperature, space of interaction, steepness of the concentration gradient and particle size. Every one of those factors severally and jointly will alter the speed and extent of diffusion.
- Temperature: In any system, molecules are moving with a particular quantity of K.E. This is often typically not directed in any explicit manner and may seem random. Once these molecules impinge on each other, there’s a modification within the direction of movement also as changes to momentum and rate. As an example, if a block of solid (carbon dioxide in solid form) is placed within a box, CO2 molecules within the center of the block largely impinge on one another and obtain preserved at intervals the solid mass. However, for molecules within the edge, chop-chop moving molecules within the air conjointly influence their movement, permitting them to diffuse into the air. This creates an amount gradient, with a concentration of CO2 step by step decreasing with distance from the lump of solid.
- Area of interaction: This property is often ascertained even higher if the gas has an odor or color. As an example, once iodine is sublimated over a hot stove, purple fumes begin to see and blend with air. If sublimation is dispensed during a slender vessel, the fumes diffuse slowly out towards the mouth of the instrumentation and so quickly disappear. Whereas they’re confined to the smaller area among the melting pot, the speed of diffusion remains low.
- The steepness of concentration gradient: Since diffusion is supercharged primarily by the likelihood of molecules moving far from a section of upper saturation, it straightaway follows that once the medium (or solvent) includes a terribly low concentration of the matter, the likelihood of a molecule diffusive far from the central area is higher.
- Particle size: At any given temperature, the diffusion of a smaller particle is a lot of fast than that of a larger-sized molecule. This is often associated with each the mass of the molecule and its extent. A heavier molecule with a bigger extent can diffuse slowly, whereas smaller, lighter particles can diffuse a lot of quickly. For instance, whereas element gas can diffuse slightly a lot of quickly than CO2, each of them can move a lot of quickly than iodine gas.
Types of diffusion:
There are two types of diffusion and those are mentioned below:
- Simple diffusion
- Facilitated diffusion
Content of the Seminar and PDF Report for Diffusion
- What is Diffusion
- Diffusion Based Process
Here we are giving you Diffusion Seminar and PPT with PDF report. All you need to do is just click on the download link and get it.
It was all about Diffusion Seminar and PPT with pdf report. If you liked it then please share it or if you want to ask anything then please hit comment button.https://studymafia.org/diffusion-ppt-and-pdf-report-free/MechanicalDiffusion PPT and PDF Report Free: Diffusion is that the net movement of molecules or atoms from a section of high concentration with a high chemical potential to a section of low concentration with low chemical potential. This is often conjointly named because of the movement of a substance...Sumit ThakurSumit [email protected] am an Indian Blogger. I am passionate about blogging. If you want to ask me anything about blogging then feel free to ask 🙂StudyMafia | <urn:uuid:d8b23163-a574-45b4-80ea-52119a0d28e1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://studymafia.org/diffusion-ppt-and-pdf-report-free/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.915118 | 1,242 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Use positive numbers only.
Use negative numbers only.
Use both positive and negative numbers.
The student will mark the point for the given number.
The student write the number for the given point.
Include both types of problems.
Number of divisions will always match the
Number of divisions may match the denominator or
be a multiple of the denominator. | <urn:uuid:7c8cf1ed-9361-48c1-ab12-8a25d675546e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://subjectcoach.com/generator/fractionsonnumberlines | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.691712 | 77 | 4.15625 | 4 |
Food Sensitivity Testing
Food sensitivities can cause obesity, chronic fatigue, migraines, aching joints, skin disorders, irritable bowel, depression, acid reflux, asthma, and more.
“Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine and Thy Medicine Be Thy Food.” ~ Hippocrates
Many of us pride ourselves on eating well, but unfortunately for some of us, we still do not obtain the desired health results we seek. In some cases, a person’s immune system may be reacting against low grade inflammation triggered by foods in our diet. Food sensitivities can cause obesity, chronic fatigue, migraines, aching joints, skin disorders, irritable bowel, depression, acid reflux, asthma, ear infections, and much more. Some food sensitivity tests only measure IgG immune response which looks at only one immune pathway and detects exposure only.
We recommend utilizing a different type of food sensitivity test known as ALCAT. The ALCAT food sensitivity test utilizes a different methodology looking at a persons white blood cellular ex-vivo response. Specifically the ALCAT test measures changes in size and volume of white blood cells in response to foods, chemicals,environmental stimuli, herbs, and molds. Studies show that the ALCAT test to be 83.4% accurate with foods and 96% accurate in detecting sensitivity to food additives as compared to the Gold Standard which is a double blind oral challenge. Cores are given based on comparing the patient's white blood cell exposed to substrate to that of the unexposed white blood cell.
Over 300 different foods, chemicals and molds can be tested.
A customized rotation meal plan is provided for each patient based on their unique results. The results are classified as either severe intolerance, moderate intolerance, mild intolerance, or acceptable. Because what we put into our bodies is so important, it is an absolute must to find out what your body needs as well as what it does not need. The ALCAT test allows doctors to help determine the ideal diet for their patients and in doing so a road map for optimal wellness and health! | <urn:uuid:5381e10f-ff69-4966-a596-0ff69680f5f3> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://sunshinehealth.net/health-care-services/medical-testing/food-sensitivity-testing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.917596 | 429 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Inside: Fun Preschool Valentine’s Activity Using Frozen Hearts – Discover what happens when you paint with frozen hearts, especially as they start to melt. A bit of science at the art table!
We love adding a bit of science to our art, and this frozen hearts Valentine’s activity is a perfect example!
Our preschoolers were a bit baffled when at first the paint was so frozen that nothing happened. They kept turning it upside down to see if it looked any different.
Slowly they noticed more paint on the paper as the ice melted. They worked with it until the sticks fell off and brushes were needed. Lots of hands-on fun!
We simply love lots of activities using ice. You probably recall our very popular art activity where we painted on ice. And then there was the frozen sparkly paint activity. (That’s what inspired this idea, by the way.)
This is such a simple idea and yet one of my favorites. Let’s get started!
Fun Preschool Valentine’s Activity Using Frozen Hearts
CLICK HERE to find our huge collection of Valentine’s Day activities!
What we used:
Paper (we used slick paper)
Preparing this activity:
Place cookie cutter on a tray. Spoon glitter paint to fill the heart. Place in freezer.
Frozen hearts Valentine’s Activity:
Place frozen hearts on paper.
Try moving it back and forth. Our preschoolers had to check the bottoms of their hearts to see why the paint would not yet show much on the paper.
The more they moved the frozen heart, the more paint they saw on the paper.
Finally the heart became so soft that the stick fell off. This led to the question of why? Why did the stick fall off? We had been exploring other ice activities, so we were aware that ice melted.
The preschoolers were not ready to stop, even though the sticks had come off. I gave them brushes and they continued to push the mushy ice around. Some used their hands as well.
FREE CIRCLE TIME PLANNER!
Get your FREE circle time planner as a gift when you subscribe to my free weekly newsletters. | <urn:uuid:248e5e00-e195-4bee-84e8-41986227755b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://teaching2and3yearolds.com/preschool-valentines-activity-using-frozen-hearts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.959234 | 455 | 2.859375 | 3 |
What was the first generation of computer memory
First generation (1946~1958) Electron tube 5,000~40,000 (times/sec)
Features: used electron tubes as the logic element of the computer
System: written in machine language or assembly language
Operating speed: several thousand (times/second)
Processing speed: several thousand (instructions/second)
Memory technology: mercury delay line
Memory capacity: several KB.
External memory: perforated cards, paper tape
Application areas: limited to military and scientific research work.
Representative models: IBM65O (small machine), IBM709 (mainframe)
What 4 generations of computers have been developed? What were the main components used
First generation (1946~1958): electron tube digital computer, the main components used were electron tubes.
The second generation (1958~1964): transistorized digital computers, the main components used were transistors.
The third generation (1964~1971): integrated circuit digital computers, the main components used are integrated circuits.
Fourth generation (after 1971): large-scale integrated circuit digital computers, the main components used are large-scale integrated circuits.
With the changes in physical elements and devices, not only has the mainframe of the computer undergone a renewal, but its external equipment is also undergoing constant change. For example, external memory, from the initial cathode ray display tube to the development of magnetic cores, magnetic drums, and later developed into a general-purpose disk, and now there is a smaller, larger capacity, faster read-only CD-ROM (CD-ROM).
What are the characteristics of first generation computers?
The first generation of computers were those that used electron tubes as the basic components, and their characteristics included:
1. The use of electron tubes as the functional unit, which led to problems such as large size, high power consumption, short life span, and poor reliability of the computer.
2. The use of mercury delay lines or magnetic drums as storage devices, but with small capacity, which made input and output devices mainly with perforated cards, which were inconvenient for users.
3. The system software was still very primitive and the user had to master programming in something like binary machine language. The first generation of computers had no operating system; it used machine instructions or assembly language.
In general, the first generation of computer technology is not mature enough, there are many defects, and its performance and functionality are greatly limited.
What is the world’s first computer called
The first computer called ENIAC (short for Electronic Numerical Integral Computer, the full name of the English language ElectronicNumericalIntegratorAndComputer), which was announced on February 15, 1946 in the United States.
Computer (computer), commonly known as computer, is a modern electronic calculator for high-speed calculations, can be numerical calculations, but also logical calculations, but also has a storage memory function. It is able to run according to the program, automatic, high-speed processing of large amounts of data of modern intelligent electronic equipment.
What is a first generation electronic computer?
First generation electronic computers are computers that use electron tubes as their main components. Here are a few characteristics about the first generation of electronic computers:
1. Electron tube technology: The first generation of electronic computers used a large number of electron tubes as the main logic and storage components. Electron tubes were an early electronic device capable of switching and amplifying operations that enabled computational and storage functions.
2. Huge size: First-generation computers were usually very large and took up a lot of space. They were often the size of multiple rooms and required specialized rooms for installation and operation.
3. High Power Consumption: The first generation of electronic computers consumed a lot of power due to the use of large numbers of tubes and other electronic devices. They required a large supply of electricity and cooling facilities to keep them running properly.
4. Low computing speed: Compared to modern computers, first-generation computers were slow. They were usually capable of only a few thousand or tens of thousands of operations per second, far below the speed of modern computers.
5. Manual operation: The operation of first-generation computers usually required manually setting switches, plugging and unplugging wires, and loading programs. Writing and debugging programs also needed to be done manually, lacking modern programming tools and integrated development environments.
6. Limited storage capacity: the first generation of electronic computers had very limited storage capacity. They use magnetic drums, tapes and other storage media, storage capacity is usually only a few kilobytes or hundreds of thousands of bytes.
In summary, the first generation of electronic computers was characterized by the use of electron tube technology, huge size, high energy consumption, low-speed computing, manual operation and limited storage capacity. Despite these limitations of the first generation of electronic computers, they were an important milestone in the development of computer technology and laid the foundation for the advancement of subsequent computers.
How many generations of computers have there been? What are the main components of each generation?
The development of computers has gone through four generations, and the main components of each generation are as follows:
1, the first generation of computers: the first generation of machines is a computer with electronic tubes as the logic components.
2, the second generation of computers: the second generation machine is a computer with transistors as the main logic component.
3, the third generation of computers: the third generation of machines are computers consisting of small and medium-sized integrated circuits
4, the fourth generation of computers: the fourth generation of machines are computers consisting of large-scale or very large-scale integrated circuits.
The people who have contributed to the development of computers are as follows:
1, Von Neumann (1903-1957)
Hungarian-American scientists, mathematicians, known as the “father of the electronic computer”. In 1945, von Neumann first put forward the concept of “stored program” and the binary principle, and later, people use this concept and principle of designing electronic computer systems collectively referred to as “von. Norman type structure” computer.
2. Alan Matheson Turing (1912.6.23-1954.6.7)
British mathematician and logician, who is regarded as the father of computer. Turing gave a strict mathematical definition of “computability” and put forward the idea of the famous “Turing machine”. The “Turing machine” is not a specific machine, but a model of the mind, which can create a very simple but extremely powerful computing device, used to calculate all imaginable computable functions. | <urn:uuid:c27c7444-450a-47aa-8413-079bc2a4df07> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://tgdrumming.com/mini-apps/what-was-the-storage-capacity-of-the-first-generation-of-computers.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.945321 | 1,392 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Tomorrow, Saturday 27 January, is Holocaust Memorial Day.
We remember the Holocaust to serve as a statement to all generations that the brutality, tragedy and loss, that had its roots in prejudice, can never be repeated.
We continue to remember the events of over 70 years ago because we must keep alive the memory of the Holocaust and the actions of the Nazis across Europe, to ensure the world never stops learning the dangers of prejudice, anti-semitism and all forms of racism. Six million Jewish people were killed in the holocaust, and many kept in the shocking conditions of death camps across Europe, including Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, the largest of the Nazi concentration camps.
27 January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and is the date that we remember not just the victims of Nazi genocide but also subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur.
I spoke today at the Holocaust Memorial Day Civic Commemoration Event at City Hall, organised by the Bristol Holocaust Memorial Day Steering Group.
I was pleased I could spend time honouring the victims and survivors of these regimes of hatred. We must continue to challenge ourselves to learn the lessons of their experience to inform our lives today, to challenge racism and discrimination wherever we find it.
Holocaust memorial Day recognises the development of genocide. We can see it is a process that starts with discrimination, with racism and with hatred. If not checked or challenged, it cannot be prevented.
The theme of this year’s Holocaust memorial Day is the power of words and many will be familiar with the powerful stories of the survivors of genocide. It’s also an opportunity to ensure we are careful with words, to educate others and ensure that even the most casual of racist language is challenged for what it is. | <urn:uuid:0b0fc2d7-4369-42c9-b493-434b3fb75704> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thebristolmayor.com/2018/01/26/holocaust-memorial-day-2018/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.943238 | 368 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Quiet, efficient, and powerful: MIT’s robotic cheetah has a “custom-designed, high-torque-density” electric motor, and can run and jump around without being tethered to an external power source.
It’s also looking to earn its name: as researchers refine the robot’s bio-inspired locomotion — which is hinged on a bounding algorithm for each of the robot’s legs — they hope to increase its speed from 10mph (16kph) to 30mph (48kph). From Sangbae Kim, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT:
…And it’s much quieter than Boston Dynamics’ WildCat (shown at 40s): Watch.
“Many sprinters, like Usain Bolt, don’t cycle their legs really fast,” Kim says. They actually increase their stride length by pushing downward harder and increasing their ground force, so they can fly more while keeping the same frequency.”
Kim says that by adapting a force-based approach, the cheetah-bot is able to handle rougher terrain, such as bounding across a grassy field. In treadmill experiments, the team found that the robot handled slight bumps in its path, maintaining its speed even as it ran over a foam obstacle.
“Most robots are sluggish and heavy, and thus they cannot control force in high-speed situations,” Kim says. “That’s what makes the MIT cheetah so special: You can actually control the force profile for a very short period of time, followed by a hefty impact with the ground, which makes it more stable, agile, and dynamic.” | <urn:uuid:9cf620a8-2508-4174-ae8c-84ea85005f06> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/mits-electric-cheetah-bot-runs-offleash | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.956577 | 359 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Entrusting a tablet or a phone to any child can be nerve-wracking, but it can be an excellent resource for autistic children. Technology offers social support apps, audible PECs apps, educational games, and videos. Even individualized therapy options are now available online. But what should parents expect? Are there apps and features they should avoid? Let’s find out.
Entrusting Tech Gadgets to Autistic Children
In 2017, around 45% of the technology kids were between 3-4. Parents can choose from countless apps when deciding what to install on their children’s devices.
Specific programs can assist children with autism by increasing learning and communication opportunities. At the same time, unmonitored technology can be problematic for any child.
How does technology harm kids with autism?
Autistic children often have obsessive-repetitive behaviors that can transfer over to technologies. They might compulsively play the same video game on their phones or refuse other activities outside of the device.
Prolonged screen use can distract children from learning and mental growth. It can also harm their eyes. Digital addiction can affect children and adults of all ages. It is the fear of missing out that feeds this type of addiction.
Some online sites and video games produce bright lights, violent imagery, loud noises, and other stimuli that cause unpleasant reactions in some children with autism. They may cause unwanted stressors in autistic kids prone to anxiety and stress.
Too much time spent on a screen can trigger the amygdala and alter hormones such as serotonin, worsening anxiety in kids with autism. Autistic kids also fall victim to online bullying and harassment commonly present on social media. Moreover, they find it difficult to communicate it to their parents, exacerbating stress and anxiety.
How does technology help children with autism?
Excessive tech use can be harmful as phone and Internet use can overstimulate kids’ autism symptoms, but technology can prove beneficial too. Technology may simplify a person with autism’s experience of activities that might otherwise cause sensory overload, such as watching sports on a smartphone rather than at a loud stadium live.
Makes communicating easier
Kids with high anxiety levels may benefit from technology to interact socially or complete specific tasks. Computer engagement can help a youngster cope with the discomfort that comes with face-to-face encounters. Autistic children can frequently find face-to-face communication alarming. Communication gets strengthened and becomes considerably less stressful due to technology.
Digital methods of communication enable social connections to form between autistic children and the outside world. They can communicate via text or use technology that converts text to speech. Autistic kids can employ an assistive technology device to transmit automatic spoken commands (Augmentative and alternative communication; AAC).
Aids in learning
Autism affects how children learn things in a variety of ways. For example, visual stimuli get utilized to help absorb topics better if a child with autism is a visual learner. Online educational platforms, computer activities, software, and even math games here can provide a kid with autism with a more regulated and adjustable learning platform. A customizable learning environment rewards both attention and helps reduce the frustration associated with typical mistakes. They allow autistic children to work independently and may be adjusted to cater to specific sensors in the body, such as sight or hearing.
Video games can help teach crucial analytical and problem-solving techniques to kids with autism. When repeating the same actions doesn’t work, figuring out a new approach to complete an objective or win a game can transfer into real-world problem-solving abilities for someone with autism.
Thus video games are not all bad. They are not just a medium of overt distraction but help train kids having difficulty learning. Video games are more rewarding and apparent progression and success, such as unlocking new skins, rewards, weapons, or achievements. It leads to kids becoming much more confident, expressive, and fulfilled.
Parents can control screen time.
Advancements in technology and software help parents control the amount of time their kids spend on their phones. It prevents overstimulation, anxiety, and stress-related to excessive phone use. Parents can use remote monitoring apps, a parental control app for iOS 15.3 and Android devices.
Parents can install these apps on their kids’ phones to monitor their online activity, social media, and Wi-Fi. They can then limit the time their kids spend on their phones accordingly. It is especially beneficial for autistic children who are highly sensitive to excess visual and auditory stimulation. XNSPY is one such app available on both iOS and Android devices. This app’s capabilities protect your child from seeing inappropriate content by blocking websites or apps remotely. This parental control app for iOS 15.3 attracted a large number of users. The best part about this app is its constant evolution since its inception. Upon every update release, it adds some needed functions to its armory. Visit this link for a detailed guide on iOS parental controls provided by XNSPY.
Helps locate kids
A concern for parents of kids with autism is the ever-present threat of wandering off. Wandering is caused by feeling threatened or having impaired risk assessment. Children with ASD are four times more prone than non-autistic kids to wander. Up to half of the autistic children with autism between the ages of four and ten start roaming randomly.
XNSPY parental monitoring software for iPhone helps locate kids lost because of this phenomenon. XNSPY’s geolocation tracking option can assist in preventing a disastrous situation caused by a wandering episode. This app provides parents the peace of mind needed when away from their young ones. Parents have complete control over this app’s on-device activity, messages exchanged, and profile data.
XNSPY is one of the greatest parental control programs because of its sophisticated features and user-friendly controls. The app gets set up with a custom location that allows parents to track their location. Whether at home or school. This feature is known as geofencing. XNSPY’s geofencing alerts parents when their autistic child goes out of bounds by stepping out of the calibrated zones. Using XNSPY, you can create virtual boundaries for your child’s protection. | <urn:uuid:93f97fcb-044e-450c-90ed-9ea92f38ad04> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://themomkind.com/entrusting-tech-gadgets-to-your-autistic-child-what-should-parents-expect/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.937694 | 1,279 | 3.1875 | 3 |
In recent months, physical, playful activity has been the only way out of painful ruminations for me, providing a temporary respite from debilitating depression. Its transformative power is surprising to me for its ability to help me manage my emotions.
Evolutionary biologist and animal behavioral specialist Marc Bekoff, PhD, once said that “play is training for the unexpected.” And psychiatrist and play expert Stuart Brown, MD, said, “Those who play rarely become brittle in the face of stress or lose the healing capacity for humor.”
In an article published in the spring 2011 issue of the American Journal of Play, Boston College research professor Peter Gray, PhD, wrote:
Over the past half century or so, in the United States and in some other developed nations, opportunities for children to play, especially to play outdoors with other children, have continually declined. Over this same period, measures of psychopathology in children and adolescents — including indices of anxiety, depression, feelings of helplessness, and narcissism — have continually increased.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Gray, author of Free to Learn, about the importance of play not only for kids, but for adults.
What’s Different About Playfulness and Playing
“I think it’s important to distinguish between the general sense of playfulness that we can attach to our responsibilities as adults — work, household jobs, etc. — and the classic, pure sense of play that we experience as children,” he explains.
They are different, but both are important.
For example, as adults, it’s important to take on a playful attitude as we wash the dishes, fold the laundry, and attend work meetings. With a little creativity, we can find a way of carrying out our responsibilities in ways that we enjoy.
And then there are those activities that are completely separate from the grind of life, such as gardening, hiking, kayaking, or biking — events that are more similar to children’s play and serve as opportunities to transport us away from our world.
“For some people, the activity of play may be very physical, engaging the body,” says Gray. “But for other people, play may be more of a meditative experience.”
Achieving ‘Flow’ When You Play
I’ve found that in order for play to successfully take me out of my head, I have to add a little bit of challenge to it. By complicating the activity in such a way that I have to concentrate very hard, I am better able to achieve a sense of “flow,” the mental state of being completely immersed in an activity. Positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi first defined this idea in his national bestseller Flow, in which he described it as a single-mindedness that’s able to harness all emotions into one action in order to produce a kind of rapture.
Swimming, for example, gives me great satisfaction. I very much enjoy it. But my mind doesn’t stop racing as I swim back and forth in a 25-yard pool. There’s not enough challenge.
But my mind DOES stop racing when I swim in open water. There’s an element of danger and newness: Not only do I have to keep my body above water, but I’m also watching for boats, jet skis, water snakes, rays, and jellyfish, all the while fighting choppy waves and currents.
To achieve flow and optimal play, there’s usually some learning involved. “Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning,” says writer Diane Ackerman, author of A Natural History of the Senses and other books. In the process of learning a new skill, our neurons become wired together.
Neuroscientists like Nathan Spreng, PhD, director of Cornell University’s laboratory of brain and cognition in Ithaca, New York, have mapped the brain activity of people learning new skills and have discovered that trying something new essentially rewires our brain.
Why We Need Play
Play is critical to the development of the human brain, according to Dr. Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play.
“Nothing lights up the brain like play,” he explained in his fascinating TED talk. “Three-dimensional play fires up the cerebellum, puts a lot of impulses into the frontal lobe — the executive portion — helps contextual memory be developed, and … and, and, and.”
He highlights a study where one group of rats was allowed to play and one group wasn’t. All rats were then presented with a cat odor-saturated collar. Both groups fled and hid. But the rats that were allowed to play slowly began to explore the environment and test things out again. The rats that weren’t allowed to play? They never came out, and they died.
That says to me, at least in rats — and I think they have the same neurotransmitters that we do and a similar cortical architecture — that play may be pretty important for our survival … We do know that in domestic animals and others, when they’re play deprived, they don’t develop a brain that is normal ….
The opposite of play is not work, it’s depression. And I think if you think about life without play — no humor, no flirtation, no movies, no games, no fantasy, and, and, and. Try to imagine a culture or a life, adult or otherwise, without play. And the thing that’s so unique about our species is that we’re really designed to play through our whole lifetime.
How Play Fosters Collaboration and Creativity
Gray explained to me that in all hunter-gatherer societies, play allows adults to get along with each other, a mechanism by which we learn to be more collaborative and less combative. Since a sense of connection and community is essential to mental health, we need to learn how to relate to one another.
“Play is necessary for animals and all hunter-gatherer societies to cooperate with each other instead of dominating each other,” he says.
Play also fosters creativity.
“There has been a lot of research done on creativity and playfulness,” explains Gray. “Playfulness promotes creativity and improves feelings at work.” Whether it be trying to adopt a more playful attitude at the office, or leaving your desk to take a short bike ride, play is important to the creative process, he says.
Brown ended his TED talk with the same point with which Gray began his interview with me, by saying that play isn’t just an activity we do for a half hour when we get home from work — it’s an attitude that we need to embrace 24/7.
I would encourage you all to engage not in the work-play differential — where you set aside time to play — but where your life becomes infused minute by minute, hour by hour, with body, object, social, fantasy, transformational kinds of play. And I think you’ll have a better and more empowered life.
Join Project Hope & Beyond, my depression community.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Originally published on Sanity Break. | <urn:uuid:2c12f1b2-b6c2-4bed-86ee-3701fee51274> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thereseborchard.com/why-you-shouldnt-stop-playing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.956985 | 1,538 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Cats have always been fascinating creatures, captivating us with their grace, independence, and mysterious nature. Among the various cat breeds that exist, one stands out for its majestic appearance and regal demeanor: the Maine Coon. Known for their large size, tufted ears, and expressive eyes, Maine Coons have become an increasingly popular breed among cat lovers around the world. In this article, we will delve into the history and origins of Maine Coons, explore their distinctive physical features, and gain insight into their affectionate temperament and personality. Additionally, we will provide valuable tips on how to properly care for these magnificent felines, including guidance on nutrition, grooming, and exercise. Finally, we will uncover the truth behind fascinating facts and popular myths surrounding Maine Coons, shedding light on the unique characteristics that make them truly one-of-a-kind. Whether you are a seasoned Maine Coon enthusiast or simply curious about this remarkable breed, join us as we embark on a journey to discover the captivating world of the Maine Coon.
1. "Introduction to the Majestic Maine Coon: A Regal Breed of Cats"
The Maine Coon is often referred to as a majestic and regal breed of cats. With their large size, tufted ears, and luxurious fur, these felines exude an aura of elegance and grace. Originating from the state of Maine in the United States, the Maine Coon is considered to be one of the oldest natural breeds in North America.
Known for their impressive stature, Maine Coons are often described as the gentle giants of the cat world. Males can weigh anywhere between 13 to 18 pounds, while females typically range from 8 to 12 pounds. Despite their size, these cats are known for their friendly and sociable nature, making them excellent companions for families and individuals alike.
One of the distinguishing features of the Maine Coon is their tufted ears, which give them a lynx-like appearance. These tufts, along with their large expressive eyes, contribute to their captivating and majestic presence. Their long, bushy tails add to their regal charm, making them appear even more majestic when they gracefully move around.
The Maine Coon’s coat is another noteworthy aspect of their regal allure. They have a dense, water-resistant double coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns, including tabby, tortoiseshell, and solid colors. Their fur is designed to protect them from the harsh New England winters, further enhancing their majestic appearance.
Beyond their striking physical attributes, Maine Coons are known for their intelligence and playful nature. They enjoy interactive toys and games, making them an entertaining addition to any household. These cats are also known for their vocal nature, often engaging in conversations with their owners through a series of chirps, trills, and purrs.
Due to their friendly and adaptable disposition, Maine Coons can easily get along with other pets, including dogs. They are also known for being excellent with children, making them a popular choice for families. Maine Coons form strong bonds with their human companions
2. "History and Origins: Tracing the Maine Coon’s Roots"
The Maine Coon, known for its impressive size and friendly demeanor, has a fascinating history that traces back to the early days of American settlement. While there are many myths and legends surrounding the breed’s origins, the true story of how the Maine Coon came to be remains somewhat elusive.
One popular theory suggests that the Maine Coon is a result of interbreeding between domestic cats and raccoons, given their similar physical traits, such as bushy tails and tufted ears. However, this theory is widely dismissed by experts as biologically impossible, as cats and raccoons belong to different families and cannot produce offspring together.
A more plausible explanation lies in the cats brought over by European sailors in the 1700s. As these sailors docked in ports along the New England coast, they often had cats on board to control the rodent population. It is believed that these cats, likely brought from England and other parts of Europe, interbred with the local feline population, resulting in a unique breed adapted to the harsh Maine climate.
The Maine Coon’s thick, water-resistant coat, large size, and tufted ears are thought to be adaptations to survive the region’s cold winters. Their long, bushy tails served as natural heating blankets, while their tufted ears protected them from the biting cold. The breed’s strong and muscular build allowed them to navigate the rugged Maine terrain with ease.
Although the Maine Coon quickly gained popularity among locals, it wasn’t until the late 19th century that formal recognition and breeding programs were established. The breed’s first appearance in a cat show occurred in 1861 in Maine, where a brown tabby named Captain Jenks of the Horse Marines won the "Best Cat" title. This milestone event marked the beginning of the Maine Coon’s rise to prominence in the cat fancy world.
Over the years, the Maine Coon’s popularity spread beyond Maine, and the breed gained recognition by various cat
3. "Distinctive Features: Exploring the Physical Characteristics of Maine Coons"
Maine Coons are known for their distinctive physical characteristics, making them easily recognizable among other cat breeds. One of the most prominent features of Maine Coons is their large size. These cats are considered one of the largest domesticated cat breeds, with males weighing between 13 to 18 pounds and females ranging from 8 to 12 pounds. Their size is often compared to that of small dogs, making them stand out in a crowd.
Another notable feature of Maine Coons is their impressive fur. They have a long, shaggy coat that comes in various colors and patterns. This double-layered coat helps to protect them from harsh weather conditions, as they are originally from the cold climate of the state of Maine in the United States. Their fur is water-resistant, enabling them to stay dry even in wet conditions.
Maine Coons also have distinct facial features. They have large, expressive eyes that are usually green or gold in color, adding to their captivating appearance. Their ears are wide at the base and adorned with tufts of fur, giving them a lynx-like appearance. These tufts serve as protection from cold weather and enhance their overall "wild" look.
One of the most charming characteristics of Maine Coons is their long, bushy tail. The tail is usually as long as their body, contributing to their majestic and regal appearance. This tail serves as a balance mechanism, allowing them to make agile moves and navigate their surroundings with ease.
Additionally, Maine Coons have a muscular build and a rectangular-shaped body. Their strong bones and sturdy physique contribute to their remarkable agility and athleticism. Despite their size, they are known for being gentle giants, often displaying a calm and friendly temperament.
In conclusion, the physical characteristics of Maine Coons set them apart from other cat breeds. From their large size to their impressive fur, distinctive facial features, and long, bushy tail, these cats possess a unique blend of charm, elegance, and strength. Maine Co
4. "Temperament and Personality: Understanding the Maine Coon’s Affectionate Nature"
The Maine Coon is known for its affectionate nature, making it a popular choice among cat lovers. This breed is often referred to as the "gentle giant" due to its large size and gentle disposition. Maine Coons are friendly, sociable, and enjoy being around their human companions.
One of the most endearing traits of the Maine Coon is its loving and affectionate nature. These cats seek out human interaction and enjoy being a part of the family. They are not particularly demanding or clingy but will happily follow their owners around the house and provide companionship wherever they go. Maine Coons are known to be great lap cats, often curling up on their owner’s laps for a cozy nap.
Despite their size, Maine Coons are gentle and patient, especially with children and other pets. They are known for their patience and tolerance, making them an excellent choice for families with young children or multiple pets. Their calm and friendly demeanor also makes them well-suited for households with other animals, as they are often able to get along with ease.
Maine Coons are also highly intelligent and adaptable. They are quick learners and can be trained to perform tricks or respond to commands. This breed enjoys interactive play, such as fetching toys or solving puzzles, which helps to keep their minds stimulated. Maine Coons are known to be curious and explorative, always ready to investigate new surroundings or play with various toys.
It is important to note that while Maine Coons are generally affectionate, each individual cat may have its own unique personality. Some may be more outgoing and sociable, while others may be slightly more reserved. Early socialization and positive experiences are key to developing a well-rounded and friendly Maine Coon.
Overall, the Maine Coon’s affectionate nature makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a loving and loyal companion. Whether you are looking for a cuddle buddy or a playmate, the Maine Coon is sure to bring warmth and joy to
5. "Caring for Maine Coons: Tips on Proper Nutrition, Grooming, and Exercise"
Maine Coons, known for their majestic appearance and gentle nature, require specific care to ensure their overall health and well-being. Proper nutrition, grooming, and exercise are essential aspects of maintaining a happy and healthy Maine Coon.
When it comes to nutrition, Maine Coons have a hearty appetite and require a balanced diet to support their large size and active lifestyle. High-quality cat food that is specifically formulated for their age and activity level is recommended. Maine Coons tend to have a preference for wet food due to their thick fur, which can make it difficult for them to digest dry kibble alone. It’s important to provide them with fresh water at all times and monitor their weight to prevent obesity, as this breed is prone to overeating.
Grooming a Maine Coon is crucial to keep their lush, semi-long fur in top condition. Their thick coat requires regular brushing to prevent matting and the formation of hairballs. A stainless steel comb or a slicker brush can be used to remove loose hair and keep their coat tangle-free. Pay extra attention to areas like the armpits, belly, and hindquarters, as these are prone to matting. Additionally, Maine Coons are more prone to dental issues, so regular teeth brushing and annual dental check-ups are highly recommended.
Exercise is essential for Maine Coons to help them maintain a healthy weight and prevent boredom. Despite their large size, they are known for being active and playful cats. Providing them with interactive toys, scratching posts, and climbing trees can help keep them mentally stimulated and physically active. Regular play sessions, such as interactive games or chasing toys, will help burn off their excess energy and strengthen the bond between you and your Maine Coon.
In conclusion, caring for a Maine Coon involves providing them with a nutritious diet, regular grooming, and ample opportunities for exercise. By meeting their specific needs, you can ensure that your Maine Coon lives a long, happy, and healthy life.
6. "Fascinating Facts and Popular Myths: Uncovering the Truth about Maine Coons"
Maine Coons, known as the gentle giants of the cat world, have captivated cat lovers for centuries. In this section, we will explore some fascinating facts and debunk popular myths surrounding this magnificent breed.
1. Origin and History: Contrary to the popular myth that Maine Coons are descendants of raccoons, their ancestry can be traced back to the rugged state of Maine in the United States. While the exact origin is unclear, it is believed that these cats evolved from ship cats brought by European sailors, who interbred with local cats.
2. Size and Appearance: Maine Coons are renowned for their large size, often weighing between 10 to 25 pounds. With their muscular build, tufted ears, and luxurious fur, they stand out among other cat breeds. Interestingly, their long, bushy tails help them maintain balance while maneuvering through snowy terrains.
3. Friendly and Sociable Nature: Maine Coons have earned a reputation for their friendly and sociable personalities. They are known to be affectionate towards their human companions and enjoy being part of the family. These cats often get along well with children and other pets, making them an ideal choice for families.
4. Adaptability and Intelligence: Maine Coons are highly adaptable cats. Their thick, water-resistant fur enables them to withstand harsh weather conditions, making them excellent outdoor cats. They are also renowned for their intelligence and problem-solving skills, which contribute to their ability to adapt to various environments.
5. Unique Vocals: Maine Coons are famous for their distinctive vocalizations. While most cats communicate through meowing, Maine Coons often produce trilling sounds, resembling a mix of purring and chirping. This unique vocalization is believed to be a form of communication with their owners.
6. Health and Lifespan: Maine Coons are generally healthy cats with few breed-specific health issues. However, they may be prone to hip dysplasia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, | <urn:uuid:60e105f0-f912-4b97-98ef-f26d7fda3437> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thetishmanreview.com/the-majestic-maine-coon-a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-regal-breed-of-cats/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.963638 | 2,802 | 2.671875 | 3 |
A new experimental pacemaker has succeeded in converting a heartbeat’s energy into an electrical charge which recharges the device’s battery. Could this soon eliminate the need for regular surgeries?
Necessity is the mother of invention, and the most fundamental instrument in supporting human life certainly warrants innovating for.
We’re of course talking about the heart, a remarkable muscular organ which unfortunately exhibits faults or troublesome anomalies in millions of people. For around 600,000 individuals every year, the only feasible solution is to have a pacemaker surgery.
For those unfamiliar, these devices supplement a frail or excessive heart rate by using a small battery’s electrical pulse to bring it back to a safe and consistent rhythm. They typically fall under two categories: ‘traditional’ or ‘transvenous’.
The traditional type is installed under the skin near the left shoulder, where little wires carry its electrical charge directly to the heart. The latter is far smaller and has its battery directly integrated, meaning it can nest within a heart’s chamber and function at the source.
There are significant pros and cons for each. Traditional pacemakers are easier to access through an incision in the shoulder, for instance, but have a far higher likelihood of infections or dislodgement.
Transvenous devices, meanwhile, don’t present any complications with MRIs and are implementable without open chest surgery – as they’re injected through a vein in the leg.
Nonetheless, the overarching flaw that both types share is that their batteries need replacing regularly.
Every 6 to 15 years, those with traditional pacemakers require a new battery to be physically implanted, while leadless pacemakers are left to retire in the body and are succeeded by another functioning unit. It’s not as practical a practice as medical science would ideally like. | <urn:uuid:60065f72-be3c-4918-a276-3fb89584d018> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thred.com/tech/experimental-pacemaker-could-soon-recharge-its-battery-using-a-heartbeat/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.925573 | 384 | 3.640625 | 4 |
Seasonal Nutrition – Adapting to Autumn
Many of us love this time of year – the changing colour of the leaves, cosy jumpers and crisp weather! Despite this, it’s a time of change for our bodies so it’s important to understand how Autumn affects us.
It is not uncommon to feel lethargic and demotivated as ‘Autumn fatigue’ sets in. The feeling of tiredness is primarily due to lack of sunlight and our changing nutritional needs during the colder months.
This is where eating seasonally really comes into its own! Seasonal eating has many benefits including being more environmentally friendly, sustainable and affordable. It is also a great way to stay in tune with what your body needs nutritionally as the year changes.
During the hazy Summer months, locally produced tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries give a good indication to our nutritional needs during the warmer seasons. Rich in UV protective carotenoids, hydrating electrolytes and full of antioxidants, these fruit and vegetables align perfectly with our body’s requirements. Such is our synergy with nature!
As Autumn approaches and the colder weather sets in, you might find your palate shifting away from light fresh salads to more hearty energy-dense foods. Fortunately, nature is on hand again to provide the nourishment that our body’s need most – squash, pumpkins, cabbage, celeriac and watercress find their way onto the menu.
Rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C and zinc, these nourishing vegetables provide an abundance of nutrients needed for a healthy immune system – particularly important in Autumn as bugs/viruses become more active.
Another important nutrient to consider in the colder months is Vitamin D – also known as the Sunshine Vitamin, due to our ability to synthesise it when our skin is exposed to sunlight.
With limited sun exposure during the colder months, it’s difficult for our body to make enough – so it’s recommended that everyone in the UK take a Vitamin D supplement between October-April. We love Better You Vitamin D Spray – 4 sprays under the tongue daily should do the trick.
If you find that Autumn fatigue is beginning to set in, you might also want to consider giving your body an extra helping hand by incorporating hearty & warming foods into your diet.
To make your life easier, we’ve put together our 4 favourite Autumnal recipes that will nourish your body & soul.
#1. Tempeh Shepherd’s Pie
Is there anything more comforting than a shepherd’s pie hot out of the oven?
This vegan recipe is high in protein, low in sat fat and full of flavour. Our beautifully rich filling includes tempeh, lentils, chopped walnuts and diced veg, topped with crispy, golden mashed potato. The perfect antidote to the Autumn blues!
Find the full recipe here.
#2. Spicy Rendang Curry
A delicious and vegan version of a traditional Indonesian curry!
Firstly, create your own authentic and flavoursome paste with an aromatic mix of herbs and spices. Combine into an aromatic broth of coconut milk and lemongrass. Finally, add into the mix some of Tiba Tempeh’s Traditional Block, cut into bite-size chunks, or even crumbled for an extra smooth texture. Serve with rice and toasted almonds, and voila. Perfection.
Find the full recipe here.
#3. Creamy & Spicy Pasta
A big bowl of creamy pasta is the epitome of cosy comfort food!
The cashews make it so creamy, the Nooch makes it cheesy, and the Sweet Chilli tempeh pieces adds a heat. Plus, we love to serve it in a coconut bowl, it takes us back to Bali – dreaming of sunny days!
Find the full recipe here.
#4. Hearty Lentil & Tempeh Stew
This hearty stew is packed with gut loving fibre and plant protein! It’s also a great meal to batch cook and keep in the freezer for a busy week when you don’t have time to cook.
• 1x Tiba Tempeh Traditional Block 200g
• 1L vegetable stock
• 1x large onion, diced• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp dried tarragon
• 1 tsp caraway seeds
• 120ml red wine (or vegetable broth)
• 1 can of chopped tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced (1 ½ cup)
• 600g diced potatoes
• 1x pack cooked Puy Lentils (200g)
• 1 can of kidney beans drained and rinsed
1. Prep the tempeh. Crumble the tempeh block into small pieces using your hands or blitz it for 10-20 secs in a food processor.
2. Sauté the onions. Heat a medium saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onions and sauté them until they soften (5 minutes). Stir the onions often to prevent them from sticking.
3. Add garlic, tarragon, caraway, and red wine. Stir well and let it simmer for a minute or two until it cooks down.
4. Add the tempeh, chopped tomato, tomato puree and vegetable stock. Carefully stir all the ingredients together.
5. Add Veggies. Mix in the carrots and potatoes. Bring the ingredients to boiling and immediately turn down the heat to simmer with the lid on but slightly open. Stir the ingredients a few times until the potatoes are tender. About 25 minutes.
6. Finish the stew. Stir in the lentils and kidney beans. Simmer for 10 minutes until the beans are heated through.
7. Taste and serve. Give the stew a taste. Add salt and/or black pepper as desired.
We hope you enjoy cooking & don’t forget to tag @tibatempeh in your creations to be in with a chance of winning a stash of Tiba!
Lots of love xxxx
Tiba Tempeh Team | <urn:uuid:aba65d0a-27ab-4d86-9b2c-517abb9cb85c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://tibatempeh.com/blog/seasonal-nutrition-adapting-to-autumn/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.899674 | 1,274 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Courses regarding learning about foreign language teaching and translation methodology help our students improve their capabilities as future teachers and translators. Exceptional graduates may also choose to pursue a career as academics and conduct research on various issues tied to education, linguistics, literature, or educational psychology. Once they are members of the academic community, their linguistic and literature background will be helpful for assessing and monitoring learning and teaching processes.
The knowledge of the Ottoman language will help students willing to continue do their research regarding historical documents and cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Ottoman period. The main goal of the program is to educate students in methodology of teaching Turkish language as a foreign language and to prepare students for teaching in primary and secondary schools, but the multi-disciplinary nature of the program and its emphasis on interpersonal and communication skills ensures that the student will graduate with a set of skills that can be applied to various careers.
A good command of the written and spoken Turkish will be important if they choose to work as writers, journalists, translators, or interpreters. It will also be valuable should they choose to pursue a career in business, media and communications, international relations, or any career that requires constant interaction in Turkish within a globalized and interconnected work environment. We are looking forward to welcome all students interested in Turkish language and literature and explore the world together in Turkish.
Assistant Professor Dr. Dženana Bračković
Turkish Language and Literature, Teaching Training Program Coordinator | <urn:uuid:475399d3-c2cf-4a69-908d-2f057f47d707> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://tlt.ius.edu.ba/en/coordinators-message | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.944732 | 300 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Circular shell rings along the South Atlantic Coast of North America are the remnants of some of the earliest villages that emerged during the Late Archaic (5000-3000 BP). Many of these villages, however, were abandoned during the Terminal Late Archaic (ca 3800-3000 BP). We combine Bayesian chronological modeling with mollusk shell geochemistry and oyster paleobiology to understand the nature and timing of environmental change associated with the emergence and abandonment of circular shell ring villages on Sapelo Island, Georgia. Our Bayesian models indicate that Native Americans occupied the three Sapelo shell rings at varying times with some generational overlap. By the end of the complex's occupation, only Ring III was occupied before abandonment ca. 3845 BP. Ring III also consists of statistically smaller oysters harvested from less saline estuaries compared to earlier occupations. Integrating shell biochemical and paleobiological data with recent tree ring analyses shows a clear pattern of environmental fluctuations throughout the period in which the rings were occupied. We argue that as the environment became unstable around 4300 BP, aggregation at villages provided a way to effectively manage fisheries that are highly sensitive to environmental change. However, with the eventual collapse of oyster fisheries and subsequent rebound in environmental conditions ca. post-3800 BP, people dispersed from shell rings, and shifted to non-marine subsistence economies and other types of settlements. This study provides the most comprehensive evidence for correlations between large-scale environmental change and societal transformations on the Georgia coast during the Late Archaic period.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
This research was supported, in part, in association with the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project, National Science Foundation (https://beta.nsf.gov/funding) grants awarded to VDT, MCS, and KYS (NSF Grants OCE-0620959, OCE-123714, 1748276).
All data needed to evaluate the conclusions are presented in the paper, and all raw isotope data are available at https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/4a7b654d265cca39fabaac3f4aeb55b2.
Garland, Carey J.; Thompson, Victor D.; Sanger, Matthew C.; Smith, Karen Y.; Andrus, Fred T.; Lawres, Nathan R.; Napora, Katharine G.; Colaninno, Carol E.; Compton, J. Matthew; Jones, Sharyn; Hadden, Carla S.; Cherkinsky, Alexander; Maddox, Thomas; Deng, Yi-Ting; Lulewicz, Isabelle H.; and Parsons, Lindsey, "A Multi-Proxy Assessment of the Impact of Environmental Instability on Late Holocene (4500-3800 BP) Native American Villages of the Georgia Coast" (2022). Anthropology Faculty Publications. 30.
S1 Table. Sapelo Shell Ring Complex, Ring III, Unit 9 species list. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258979.s001
pone.0258979.s002.docx (17 kB)
S2 Table. Sapelo Shell Ring Complex, Ring III, Unit 4 species list. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258979.s002
pone.0258979.s003.docx (15 kB)
S3 Table. Uncorrected AMS dates and context for each sample. See Table 1 for corrected and modeled dates. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258979.s003
pone.0258979.s004.docx (15 kB)
S1 Text. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258979.s004
pone.0258979.s005.docx (16 kB)
S1 File. Oxcal code. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258979.s005 | <urn:uuid:c3164c63-1028-499e-ac99-ecff7c67cb13> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://uknowledge.uky.edu/anthro_facpub/30/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.849459 | 846 | 2.8125 | 3 |
By MST1 Matthew Tyson
U.S. National Ice Center
January 27, 2016
Suitland, MD — The U.S. National Ice Center (USNIC) confirmed the iceberg D15 broke into two pieces. Both the larger remainder, named D15A, and the smaller piece, named D15B, meet the size criteria for naming and tracking by the NIC.
D15A measures 51 nautical miles on its longest axis and 24 nautical miles wide and is located at 66°42’ South, 81°55’ East in the Amery Sea. D15B measures 33 nautical miles on its longest axis and 12 nautical miles wide and is located at 67°00’ South, 81°38’ East in the Amery Sea. Before breaking, D15 was the largest current iceberg in the world and had remained grounded in the same location for many years. D15A has now been demoted to the second largest iceberg, while D15B ranks in as fourth largest.
Analyst MST1 Matthew Tyson confirmed the new iceberg using Sentinel-1 image shown below.
The criteria for icebergs in the Southern Hemisphere for the NIC to begin tracking is that the iceberg must either be at least 10NM along any axis or the iceberg must have an area of twenty square nautical miles or greater.
Iceberg names are derived from the Antarctic quadrant in which they were originally sighted. The quadrants are divided counter-clockwise in the following manner:
A = 0-90W (Bellingshausen/Weddell Sea)
B = 90W-180 (Amundsen/Eastern Ross Sea)
C = 180-90E (Western Ross Sea/Wilkesland)
D = 90E-0 (Amery/Eastern Weddell Sea)
When first sighted, an iceberg’s point of origin is documented by the USNIC. The letter of the quadrant, along with a sequential number, is assigned to the iceberg. For example, C-19 is sequentially the 19th iceberg tracked by the USNIC in Antarctica between 180-90E (Quadrant C). Icebergs with letter suffixes have calved from already named icebergs, where the letters are added in sequential order. For example, C-19D, is the 4th iceberg to calve off the original C-19 iceberg.
The National Ice Center is a tri-agency operational center represented by the United States Navy (Department of Defense), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce), and the United States Coast Guard (Department of Homeland Security). The National Ice Center mission is to provide the highest quality strategic and tactical ice services tailored to meet the operational requirements of U.S. national interests and to provide specialized meteorological and oceanographic services to United States government agencies.
For more information, please contact:
National Ice Center
Command Duty Officer
Voice: (301) 943-6977
The U.S. National Ice Center is a tri-agency center operated by the Navy, NOAA, and Coast Guard and provides global to tactical scale ice and snow products, ice forecasting, and related environmental intelligence services for the United States government. | <urn:uuid:982159ed-717f-4017-9cd4-07d1f0dbb1ca> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://usicecenter.gov/PressRelease/IcebergD15ab | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.934005 | 671 | 3.0625 | 3 |
The 1920 Revolution and the Founding of the Modern State
223 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 x 0.60 in
Sales Date: November 1, 2012
While some scholars would argue that there was no “Iraq” before King Faysal’s coronation in 1921, Iraqi history spans fourteen centuries of tribal communities that endured continual occupation in their historic homeland, including Mongol invasions in the thirteenth century and subsequent Ottoman and British invasions. An Iraqi identity was established long before the League of Nations defined the nation-state of Iraq in 1932. Drawing on neglected primary sources and other crucial accounts, including memoirs and correspondence, Reclaiming Iraq puts the 1920 revolt against British occupation in a new light—one that emphasizes the role of rural fighters between June and November of that year.
While most accounts of the revolution have been shaped by the British administration and successive Iraqi governments, Abbas Kadhim sets out to explore the reality that the intelligentsia of Baghdad and other cities in the region played an ideological role but did not join in the fighting. His history depicts a situation we see even today in conflicts in the Middle East, where most military engagement is undertaken by rural tribes that have no central base of power. In the study of the modern Iraqi state, Kadhim argues, Faysal’s coronation has detracted from the more significant, earlier achievements of local attempts at self-rule. With clarity and insight, this work offers an alternative perspective on the dawn of modern Iraq.
This is an important and well-documented study that should be read by those seeking to understand Iraq’s new Shi’a rulers and the formative historical narrative that underlies much of their political thinking. Kadhim focuses on a seminal event in Iraq’s modern history, the 1920 ‘revolution’ against the British, led mainly by Shi’a leaders of the mid-Euphrates—tribal, religious and urban—that helped create an independent Iraqi state and government. He shows how—and why—the Shi‘a failed to benefit in its aftermath, outgunned by the British and outmaneuvered by Sunni notables, army officers, and politicians, who went on to dominate the state, creating continuing Shi’a resentment. This groundbreaking study is likely the opening chapter in a new interpretation of Iraqi history.~Phebe Marr
A new interpretation of one of the foundational events of modern Iraq. There have been relatively few studies of the 1920 Revolution and no comprehensive study in English. Abbas Kadhim’s excellent analysis constitutes an important contribution to our understanding of modern Iraqi political history, as well as offering numerous insights into processes of contentious politics throughout the Middle East.~Eric Davis
- Chapter 1: The 1920 Revolution in History
- Chapter 2: The Causes of the Revolution
- Chapter 3: The Revolution in the Middle Euphrates and Beyond
- Chapter 4: The Journalism of the Revolution
- Chapter 5: The Revolutionary Networks
- Chapter 6: The Revolution's Aftermath | <urn:uuid:7517352a-9f9c-4e9d-94ed-8b63b6445b49> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://utpress.utexas.edu/9780292756892/reclaiming-iraq/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.941235 | 629 | 3.03125 | 3 |
One of the most important things to consider when going through cancer treatment is your diet. It is easy to fall into a bad diet during your treatment. One of the first things to disappear is your appetite, so you may have to force yourself to eat. It is highly recommended that you consult your doctor or a nutritionist about your diet. Not only should you eat a balanced diet, but you should also avoid eating processed foods as much as possible. Below are just some foods that can help you maintain a good diet.
One of the most important things you can include in your diet when going through treatment is water. It is extremely important to stay well hydrated. If you are dehydrated you won’t be able to properly assess your condition or understand what nutrients you might be in need of. Your body will have to work overboard to compensate for the lack of hydration. This is the basis for a good diet, and it is best to have a water bottle by your side at all times.
You need to make sure you are receiving your daily recommended amount of protein because it is vital for recovering from any illness. Protein is responsible for cellular repair and cellular production. It is necessary to keep your immune system healthy, and the iron and zinc that accompanies most protein heavy foods helps your blood circulation run optimally.
Leafy Green Vegetables
Spinach, lettuce, kale, chard; all the green veggies are important when you are in cancer treatment. They are packed full of all the essential vitamins and minerals you are going to need to keep your body functioning properly. They have vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, phosphorous, folates, beta carotenes, all necessary for a healing body. | <urn:uuid:3761cb65-5160-4954-afb6-d1172bcd7a4b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://vaya.in/news/top-3-nutritious-foods-eat-undergoing-cancer-treatment/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.963994 | 354 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Ever since mankind decided to start cultivating plants and make the shift from hunter gatherer societies to agriculture societies, humanity has been destined to upset the sleep cycle. We no longer rise and sleep with the sun like our ancestors used to. The cities of the world are running 24/7, all day every day. This means there are millions of people working counter to their natural circadian rhythms via the night shift.
Most people do not want to work the night shift, but sometimes you have no choice. But if you mismanage your diet and your sleep cycle while on the night shift, your body can suffer some serious problems. It can lead to moodiness, massive fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, weight loss, depression, anxiety, and loss of focus. That’s not a place anyone wants to be in.
There is a secret to regulating your body when you’re working night shifts: snacking and sleep. Weight gain is a major issue for night shift workers, so you may be wondering why snacking may be good for your health as a night shift worker. Snacking gives your body energy without overwhelming it and causing it to slow down due to the food digestion process.
Snacking itself doesn’t cause weight gain, it’s the type of snacks that you eat which put on the pounds. Generally speaking, night shift snacks should be rich in protein and dietary fiber, two substances your body needs, but that slowly provide energy. You can eat less and get a bigger boost.
It is also important to make sure that your snack doesn’t come too close to your meal. Night shift workers should eat their primary meal before their shift begins; normally between 5-7 pm. Also stay hydrated so that you can reduce hunger cravings. | <urn:uuid:0b393ae5-5734-4e76-b09b-fdef7e39696c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://vaya.in/news/why-you-should-snack-through-your-night-shifts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.937041 | 364 | 2.75 | 3 |
Today we are going to discuss a condition that develops in newborn foals that causes the destruction of their red blood cells. The condition is called neonatal isoerythrolysis and although that sounds like a confusing term, it simply means that the foal's red blood cells are being destroyed. The mare has antibodies that can damage the foal's red blood cells, and the antibodies are absorbed in the colostrum when the foal nurses. These antibodies then destroy the foal's red blood cells and cause anemia. These foals become weak usually in the first 1 to 4 days of life, and their mucous membranes become pale and then develop a yellow color called icterus.
If the problem is discovered before 24 hours of age, the foal must be stopped from nursing and fed an alternative food source. However, most of the time a foal is found to be sick after all the antibodies have already been ingested. Treatment of these foals sometimes requires a blood transfusion. Blood can by collected from the mare for transfusion, but it must be washed multiple times to remove the antibodies. Also, blood can be collected from another horse that is negative for the most common reactive blood types. It's a lot easier to prevent this syndrome than treat it. If a mare has had a foal develop this problem in the past, it is a possibility she could do so again. To determine if a future foal might be at risk for developing this condition, blood testing of the mare and stallion can be performed before the mare is even bred. Also, if the mare is already pregnant, the mare's blood can be tested for anti red blood cell antibodies by sending samples to the University of California at Davis. | <urn:uuid:e794eb0f-ba12-4646-8370-2adb18d9f020> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102907&id=4952623&ind=1075&objTypeID=1007 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.953185 | 357 | 3.703125 | 4 |
Breathe Allergy Free with these Indoor Plants
Most of us tend to spend our average amount of time everyday indoors, thanks to our weekday routine of home- office- home. With spending so much time in a closed environment, we need to be aware of the quality of air that we breathe. Is it clean? Is it fresh? Is there enough circulation? Especially when you have allergies. Breathing fresh clean air is the most basic healthy thing you can do for your body and yourself. While we cannot quit working, adding some indoor plants can help in purifying the air to a large extent.
As we know, that not all the plants are meant for indoor use. Below is a list that can help you in finding out what suits best for your environment.
1.) Peace Lily: Indoor air pollution is mainly caused by the chemicals that linger in the air from the man-made materials. Namely Benzene or Trichloroethylene, which come from detergents, paint, gasoline, furniture and many such everyday things we come in contact with. Peace lily removes these two chemicals from the air along with any alcohol, formaldehyde, acetone as well. This beautiful plant works well in reducing mold by absorbing mold spores and using it as food. All these pollutants are absorbed by the leaves and sent to the roots, eventually getting absorbed and broken down by bacteria in the soil.
One important thing to note is that even though Peace Lily is amazing at cleaning out the air, it is toxic to pets and humans, so one has to be careful while keeping it in your home, especially if you have pets and babies in your house.
2.) Boston Fern: This pretty looking plant doesn’t just help in the improving the aesthetic beauty of your home but is highly rated to remove toxins in the air like Toluene, Xylene and mainly formaldehyde which are found in our everyday household items and can cause irritation in our respiratory tract and eyes and many more health issues. Boston Fern is also good at adding moisture to the air, thereby making it pure and fresh along with removing the air pollutants.
3.) Sansevieria Trifasciata Zeylanica or Snake Plant: Also known as Mother in Law’s Tongue, this plant filters formaldehyde, xylene, benzene and few other polluntants in the air. But one the primary benefits about this plant is that you can place it in your bedroom. Why? Because this pretty green friend of yours releases oxygen at night as well. So, wake up fresh with the added boost of oxygen and air free of chemicals. It grows well in low light and is easy to care for plant which makes it perfect for indoors as well.
4.) Areca Palm: This beautiful feathery palm is a beautiful addition to your indoor spaces while cleaning the indoor air and providing moisture in the air as well. Areca Palm removes acetone, xylene, carbon monoxide and Toluene from the air.
5.) Aloe Vera: One of the most forgiving indoor plants, Aloe Vera is a perfect starter for beginners. Along with improving air quality by removing toxic chemicals like Benzene and Formaldehyde, this succulent variety also is a healer for burns and cuts. It does not need much watering and is perfect for those forgetful owners and does well in low light as well. Not to forget, it emits oxygen at night as well.
Although, all the plants mentioned above are the best to improve air quality, they might be toxic to your pet or humans. To find indoor plants that are safe for indoors and your pets, you can refer to the previous blog.
All these plants not only make your home look pretty but also clear your home of allergens and toxins. So, start adding some green to your home and live healthy. | <urn:uuid:235be18a-bc39-418e-817a-10aae1632461> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://watexgreenliving.com/blogs/news/breathe-allergy-free-with-these-indoor-plants | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.957445 | 785 | 2.578125 | 3 |
What is synovitis?
Synovitis is inflammation of the joint capsule, which is made up of a tissue called synovium.
When the synovium is put under too much load or pressure, it often responds by thickening or becoming inflamed.
In a normal joint, the synovium holds synovial fluid inside of it, which is essentially lubrication for the joint.
When synovitis occurs, this process is disrupted, which often leads to pain at the affected joint.
Which joints can be affected by synovitis?
Synovitis can occur in any synovial joint in the body, however, within the foot, it most commonly affects the 1st and 2nd metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJs).
This is due to the high amount of pressure placed through these joints when we walk.
In a person with a ‘normal’ gait, they will “toe off” through the first and second MTPJs. In other words, this is the part of the ball of the foot that you propel yourself forwards with.
For this reason, they are exposed to a high amount of pressure and are at an increased risk of developing synovitis.
What causes synovitis?
Synovitis is caused by repetitive trauma and excessive pressure on the joints.
This can be caused by a number of factors such as inappropriate footwear and high impact activities.
What does synovitis feel like?
Synovitis can cause a sharp pain within the affected joint. The pain will often worsen with exercise and tends to ease during rest.
How is synovitis treated?
Synovitis is treated by reducing the pressure that is going through the affected joint.
To do this, in addition to reducing the pressure, we need to reduce the pain. This pain reduction may be achieved by applying padding to the foot with cutouts in them.
This provides space between the foot and the ground at the painful locations and offloads the painful region.
This treatment may be combined with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or icing to reduce the pain.
Short term adjustment to activity levels may be required to help treat your synovitis.
Once pain has been reduced in the short term, it is important to permanently have something in place that alters your foot’s function. This helps to prevent you overloading the injured joint in the future again. Often, this will be achieved with orthotics.
The changes orthotics make to the function of your feet will depend on your individual foot type and requirements. Common ways the pressure may be relieved in the injured joint includes increased arch support, correcting the rear foot or having permanent forefoot offloading. A small device known as a met dome can also be applied to orthotics or the insole of the shoes to help redistribute the pressure equally across the ball of the foot, rather than increased pressure at one site alone.
In severe cases, where conservative treatment options fail, surgery can be another way to treat this condition. However, it is important to trial less aggressive treatment options first.
If you’re experiencing pain in the ball of the foot, book an appointment with us today, so we can ensure you have the best treatment pathway possible.
How can you prevent developing synovitis?
One way you can avoid synovitis from developing is by not increasing your physical activity levels too quickly.
For example, if you start a running program and begin to stack on the kilometres straight away, tissues such as the synovium of the MTPJs are not ready for so much stress all at once, which means something is going to give. Try not to increase your exercise levels by more than 10% per week. So, if you run 10km across one week of running, do not exceed 11km the next week. This will drastically reduce your chance of developing synovitis or any other injury.
Another way you can prevent synovitis is by ensuring that you wear supportive footwear, especially if you’re going to be completing a lot of running or walking. You need shoes that have support and flex in the right areas to allow your foot to function correctly. If you need advice on finding the right footwear or runners, you can book an appointment with us.
Finally, if you are experiencing any pain in the balls of your feet, come and see us as soon as possible. The earlier we get onto conditions like synovitis, the easier they are to treat and recovery will usually be quicker.
Call us on 03 9432 2689 or book an appointment online. | <urn:uuid:a44aba45-fd1a-44a7-8df6-0941f3e107f8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://watsoniapodiatry.com.au/condition-spotlight-synovitis/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.953876 | 954 | 3.6875 | 4 |
Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized numerous industries, but its rapid advancement raises important ethical questions. As AI systems become more sophisticated and pervasive, it becomes increasingly critical to ensure their ethical use.
Building a truly ethical AI requires a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses technical expertise, robust regulation, transparent decision-making, and public awareness. In this article, we will explore the key factors necessary to construct AI systems that prioritize ethical considerations.
Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash
Clear and Comprehensive Ethical Frameworks
Developing ethical AI begins with establishing clear and comprehensive ethical frameworks. These frameworks should outline the principles, values, and guidelines that AI systems must adhere to. Creating a universal consensus on ethical norms will facilitate the development of AI systems that prioritize human dignity, fairness, transparency, privacy, and accountability.
A crucial aspect of building ethical AI is adopting a human-centered design approach. AI should be developed with a deep understanding of human values and user needs. This involves integrating diverse perspectives, conducting extensive user research, and involving stakeholders from different backgrounds in the design process. By gaining insights into real-world contexts and ensuring that AI systems serve the best interests of humanity, we can build technology that aligns with ethical principles.
Robust Data Governance
Data is the fuel that powers AI systems, and ensuring ethical use begins with robust data governance. Transparent and accountable practices should be employed to collect, handle, and store data. Ethical AI systems must avoid biased data that perpetuates discrimination and strive for representativeness and inclusivity. It is essential to establish mechanisms for auditing data sets to minimize the impact of biases and to ensure that they are regularly updated and scrutinized.
Explainability and Accountability
AI systems should be accountable for their actions and decisions. Developing explainable AI models is crucial to instilling trust. Techniques such as interpretability, model introspection, and the ability to provide reasons for decision-making contribute to transparency and accountability. Being able to understand and trace the AI system’s decision-making process enhances our ability to detect and rectify potential biases or ethical violations.
Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation
Building ethical AI cannot be a one-time endeavor but an ongoing process. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are essential to detect any emerging biases, ethical concerns, or unintended outcomes in AI systems. Regular audits, ethical stress testing, and vulnerability assessments can help identify weaknesses, prioritize improvements, and ensure ongoing compliance with ethical standards.
Ethical Regulation and Public Policy
Effective regulation and public policy play a pivotal role in promoting ethical AI development. Governments and regulatory bodies should collaborate with experts to establish clear guidelines and standards for the ethical implementation of AI. Legislation should address critical issues like privacy protection, bias mitigation, algorithmic transparency, and the responsible deployment of AI across diverse sectors. Public participation in the regulatory process is vital to ensure that ethical concerns are adequately reflected in governance frameworks.
Ethical Training and Education
To build and maintain ethical AI ecosystems, investing in training and education is essential. Researchers, developers, and professionals involved in AI should receive comprehensive training on ethical considerations, responsible AI development, and the impact of AI on society. Additionally, fostering digital literacy and AI awareness among the general public will empower individuals to make informed decisions and contribute to shaping the ethical landscape of AI.
Building a truly ethical AI requires a combination of technical expertise, ethical frameworks, transparent decision-making, and robust regulation. By adopting a human-centered approach, implementing accountable practices, and continually monitoring and evaluating AI systems, we can mitigate biases, ensure transparency, and prioritize human well-being.
Collaboration between stakeholders, including governments, researchers, developers, and the general public, is essential to shape the future of AI and ensure ethical advancements in technology. The journey towards building an ethical AI requires constant vigilance and a commitment to responsible innovation in order to create technology that genuinely benefits humanity. | <urn:uuid:b0ae2d66-7acb-497e-8798-70deefe9f36f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://wearelikeminds.com/what-will-it-take-to-build-a-truly-ethical-ai/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.906085 | 795 | 3.453125 | 3 |
Abelly: Book 1/Chapter 39
Index of Abelly: Book One
Monsieur Vincent's Experiences During the Troubled Times of 1649. What Occurred During Several Trips He Made at that Time
The kingdom enjoyed a great calm during the first years of the regency of the queen mother. She struggled to establish peace within the kingdom and to use the army to defeat the efforts of those ill-disposed towards us. But whether because of our sins or some other reason of which we are ignorant this calm was followed by one of the most violent storms France had to endure in many years. <Ftn: The troubles referred to here are those of the Fronde, eventually put down under Cardinal Mazarin.> Towards the end of 1648 as this tempest began, Their Majesties were obliged to flee to Saint Germain en Laye in January of the following year. Troops came to block the approaches to the town so that it was quickly reduced to extremities.
Monsieur Vincent's first reaction was to have his community beseech God in prayer to avert the calamity which would prevail if this civil disturbance lasted much longer. Beyond this, he felt it his duty to do all in his power to bring whatever remedy he could to the situation. He resolved to offer his services to Their Majesties at Saint Germain. He would represent to the queen with respect and all possible humility what he thought in the sight of God was most likely to bring back peace and tranquility to the realm. Therefore he left Saint Lazare on the thirteenth of the same month of January.
He took the precaution of leaving a letter addressed to the first president in the hands of the superior at Saint Lazare. In it he recounted the inspiration of God which had led him to go to Saint Germain to do what he could to bring about a peaceful settlement to the present difficulties. He did not have the opportunity to see the first president in person. <Ftn: Mathieu Mole, 1584-1656, first president (chief justice) of the Parlement of Paris for many years.> He assured the queen in this letter that he had consulted with no one else in this undertaking. He took this precaution for several reasons, first to assure the court that he had no communication with the rebellious party, and second to further the opportunity to speak effectively when she would be aware that he was acting solely through God's inspiration. To appease the Parlement he felt he had to show why he had left the city and what he proposed to do.
Leaving Paris in early morning he arrived at Saint Germain around nine or ten o'clock, not without some difficulty because of the heavy flooding and the presence of the military everywhere. After being presented to the queen he spent nearly an hour with her. Afterwards he met with Cardinal Mazarin for a long time. He was well received by both, who appreciated his sincerity and his upright intentions. His intervention did not have the desired result, that is, peace and the re-establishment of unity in the kingdom, for circumstances were not yet favorable. But he at least had the satisfaction of having done all in his power in service to Their Majesties to procure the public good and relief of the poor. Although the least culpable, they were the most likely to suffer the most from the approaching storm.
When he finished his business in Saint Germain he left for Villepreux, <Ftn: To the home of Father de Gondi, former general of the galleys.> preferring for several reasons not to return to Paris. From Villepreux he went to a small farm in Beauce, two leagues from Etampes, in a poor hamlet called Freneville in the parish of Val-de-Puisseaux. Madame de Herse <Ftn: Charlotte de Ligny, wife of Michel Vialart, the president de Herse. She was a relative of Monsieur Olier, and was associated with all of Saint Vincent's works, particularly the ordination retreats. She died in 1662.> gave this farm to the house of Saint Lazare to support its works. He stayed here for a month. He lived on the bread of tribulation and the water of anguish, for the weather was extremely cold and the housing primitive. It lacked all conveniences and was open to all sorts of trouble, given the unsettled times. Monsieur Vincent lived during this time as another Jeremiah deploring the misery of the kingdom, offering to God his tears, his sufferings, and his penances as pleas for mercy. He was another Job sitting on a handful of straw, awaiting the fulfillment of God's designs, but submissive to his will. During his stay in this poor cottage he learned that other farms near Paris which belonged to Saint Lazare and served as the main resource for his community had been pillaged by soldiers, the furniture removed, the flocks driven away, and eighteen or twenty muids of wheat stolen. <Ftn: The farm at Orsigny, near Versailles. Monsieur Vincent accepted this farm December 22, 1644, from Jacques Norais and his wife. Their heirs contested this after their death, and the Congregation lost this farm, the principal support of the house of Saint Lazare. It returned to the community only in 1684.>
The house of Saint Lazare itself had many vexations of its own, for six hundred soldiers were quartered there. They took the doors of the house and barns, and according to one official he had been charged by Parlement to seize the wheat and flour for transport to the public market. This order proved later not to have been given by the Parlement, and the soldiers were withdrawn and the keys returned, but the damage to the property was not repaired. Every day Monsieur Vincent was advised of some new loss or pillage, but his sole response was "God be blessed, God be blessed."
To understand better the situation of Saint Lazare at this time and to see how the patience of Monsieur Vincent was tried, we may quote from a letter of a pious priest, a frequent visitor to the priests of the Mission.
We have witnessed the persecution suffered by the community at Saint Lazare. They have lost their possessions and goods during the war and the unrest in Paris, brought about by the animosity of some ill-intentioned persons and even of some of the leading magistrates. Under pretext of making an inventory of available foodstuffs in the house and barns, they searched and nosed about everywhere as though they were seeking hidden treasure. Besides, they billeted a regiment of insolent soldiers who behaved unbelievably badly, and even burned all the wood in the woodshed. I saw the embers still smoking when I went to see Monsieur Lambert whom Monsieur Vincent had left in charge. This noble missionary accepted all these affronts and suffered this persecution with his usual serenity and tranquility. He was happy to share in the loss of his spiritual father and to see the loss (since God willed it so) not so much of their own goods but that of the poor for whom these things were destined, for it was their custom to distribute these goods freely and charitably during the year. Et rapinam bonorum vestrorum cum gaudio suscepistis ["You joyfully assented to the confiscation of your goods"]. <Ftn: Heb 10:34.>
It could be said to those who conducted an armed search of Saint Lazare for supposed hidden wealth what Saint Lawrence replied to his persecutors who sought the riches of the Church in his day: the poor alone are the living treasures hidden in the vaults of the church. Facultates quas requiris, in coelestes thesauros manus pauperum deportaverunt. ["The hands of the poor have carried off to heavenly storehouses the riches you seek."]
Monsieur Vincent was a new Lot, saved from this scene of destruction by an inspiration as though from an angel from heaven when, having gone to Saint Germain en Laye to speak with Their Majesties, he decided not to return to Paris but instead to visit several houses of his Congregation. These places benefited by the blessing of his presence, to our privation and loss.
Monsieur Vincent remained then at this poor cottage of Freneville, suffering greatly from the severe cold, as well as from the limited amount of wretched food available in this poor region. He had only a bit of green wood to ward off the cold, and his bread was made of a mixture of rye and beans. Not a word of complaint fell from his lips. Rather he endured all in a spirit of penance. He believed it his duty as a priest to implore God's mercy to mitigate the effects of his anger being felt everywhere more and more in the kingdom.
He preached to the peasants of this unhappy place, urging them to use their present afflictions well. He exhorted them to penance as a most efficacious means of appeasing the wrath of God. He prepared them for the sacrament of penance, and he, the pastor of the parish, and another priest of his Congregation heard their confessions.
After a stay in this neglected region he left for Le Mans despite the rigors of the season. He planned to visit a house of his community situated on the outskirts of this town. <Ftn: Notre Dame de Coeffort.> From there he set out for Angers, but near Durtal he escaped from an accident which might have proven fatal were it not for some prompt help from others. His horse slipped while wading a small stream, and threw him into the water. After his rescue he remounted his horse soaked to the skin, but showing no emotion on his face. With some difficulty he found along the way a small cottage where he could dry himself, but as it was the Lenten season he did not eat until he had reached a small inn for the evening. The proprietress remarked that Monsieur Vincent, as was his custom, began to instruct the servants of the inn in their religion. She set off at once to gather the neighborhood children and had them go to Monsieur Vincent's room. He thanked her for this courtesy and immediately divided them into two groups to be instructed, one by himself and the other by a priest traveling with him.
He remained five days at Angers, taking the occasion to visit the Daughters of Charity who served in the hospital. He then set out for Brittany, but as he neared Rennes he had another accident which almost cost him his life. He was crossing a wooden bridge between a mill and a deep pond when his horse shied at the mill wheel. The horse seemed about to throw him into the pond, for his hind legs were already off the bridge. By a sort of miracle God saved him from sure disaster. Later when he was out of danger Monsieur Vincent admitted that he had never before escaped such disaster. He blessed God for such evident and miraculous protection and besought his traveling companion to join him in blessing the divine goodness.
On all his trips Monsieur Vincent paid no visits of mere civility, either at Orleans, Le Mans, Angers, or anywhere he visited. He intended to do the same at Rennes, to pass unrecognized through the town on the way to a house of his Congregation at Saint Meen some eight leagues beyond the city. Notwithstanding this, he was recognized as he entered the town, which at that time was in the same state of agitation as Paris itself. An authority of the town informed him that he was under suspicion because of his connection with the royal family. He was told that he would be arrested and it was suggested that he leave town immediately. Monsieur Vincent was disposed to follow this advice. Yet at the very moment he was saddling his horse another guest staying at the same inn recognized him. He said angrily that Monsieur Vincent was likely to be shot in the head within two leagues of the town. The canon theologian of Saint Brieuc who had learned about Monsieur Vincent's visit and had come to the inn to meet with him, heard the threat. He persuaded Monsieur Vincent not to leave but rather to complain to the first president and some others, who received him well.
The following day he was preparing again to leave the inn when the one who had threatened him with death reappeared. The story went around that this man had waited in hiding along the road for the chance to carry out his threat. The faithful servant of God relied completely on God's providence. He seemed always ready to die, even desiring death after the example of the apostle that he might be united with Christ. He seemed unconcerned about his personal safety, but his friend the canon theologian of Saint Brieuc was not so trusting. He insisted on accompanying Monsieur Vincent all the way to Saint Meen, where he arrived on Tuesday of Holy Week. He remained there two weeks, spending most of his time in the confessional to benefit the poor of the region. They came on pilgrimage to this holy place and sought to be cured of their infirmities as God often granted such favors in response to the intercession of the patron saint of the town.
Monsieur Vincent then went on a charitable mission to Nantes, then to Lucon with the intention of proceeding to Saintes and then to Guienne, just to visit the houses of his Congregation. However, he received a direct order from the queen to return to Paris where the king also had returned. He went at once to Richelieu but fell sick there. When the Duchess d'Aiguillon heard of this she sent a small two-horse carriage and a coachman to bring him to Paris as soon as he would be well enough to travel. Some time before, he had been given the use of this same carriage because of trouble with his legs, but he had never wished to use it.
In every house of his Congregation he visited on this long trip he greatly consoled his spiritual sons, besides being such an example of humility, cordiality, meekness, and all other virtues he displayed. Finally he returned to Paris in July 1649 after an absence of six and a half months. He returned the carriage and horses to Madame d'Aiguillon with thanks, but she in turn sent them back saying that they were a gift to help him in his work. He refused once more, protesting that the difficulties with his legs were increasing so greatly that he could travel neither by foot nor by horse, that he was resolved to spend the rest of his life at Saint Lazare rather than ride in a coach. When the queen and the archbishop of Paris heard of this, they ordered him formally to use the carriage. He acquiesced in this but not without pain and confusion, calling the carriage, which in reality was quite ordinary, his ignominy. He wanted the horses put to useful work in the fields when he was not using them to go to the city. At that time he was seventy years of age, suffering much from his legs which pained him especially when he tried to stand after sitting for some time. <Ftn: Abelly here shows that believed that Vincent was born in 1580, not in 1576 as he wrote in ch. 1.> He used this poor carriage only out of obedience and necessity. Nevertheless it enabled him to attend to some important affairs in service to the Church which he otherwise could not have done.
Index of Abelly: Book One | <urn:uuid:49c240fb-80ec-48a0-b3bc-3f4708380795> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://wiki.famvin.org/en/Abelly:_Book_One/Chapter_Thirty_Nine | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.989223 | 3,240 | 2.5625 | 3 |
It is also multi-paradigm, which means it supports different styles of programming ranging from event-driven to functional programming, thereby making it flexible to use.
In essence, it’s a script language used to enhance and manipulate web pages. Primarily, it runs on your viewer’s web browser rather than on your server, making a site’s user interface more intuitive and responsive.
Unlocking the Aesthetics of Websites: Decoding the Charm of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
Understanding the Role of CSS
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) end up being the secret ingredients that give every website its unique aesthetic appeal. This is a style sheet language that sets the look and feel of a website, handling everything from fonts and colors to page layouts and animations. Fundamentally, CSS is responsible for controlling how the HTML elements of a webpage should be displayed, contributing significantly to the user experience and interface design.
For example, HTML can be considered as the skeleton of a webpage, giving it structure and form, while CSS can be likened to the skin and clothing that add personality and character to that structure. The cascading nature of CSS allows styles to be defined universally and then overridden as necessary, allowing for a large degree of flexibility and control in design.
The Magic behind CSS
The magic of CSS lies in its power to transform simple and plain HTML content into visually pleasing and interactive user interfaces. CSS commands are typically written in separate .css files, but they can also be placed inline within HTML files. Such commands essentially provide browsers with style instructions, guiding them on how different HTML elements should be rendered on screen.
CSS allows developers to alter the positioning, colour, size, background, border, margin, padding, and many more properties of HTML elements. These styling cues enable developers to create eye-catching, efficient, and responsive designs that can adapt to different screen sizes and devices.
- Positioning: CSS gives control over the layout and positioning of elements on a webpage. It can define whether elements are to be presented as inline, block-level, or positioned in a specific location.
- Styling: It provides the option to style individual HTML elements, or classes and ids of elements. This makes it possible to achieve consistent design across a site, or make specific elements stand out.
- Responsive Design: With the rise of mobile browsing, responsive design has become a necessity. CSS facilitates this, by allowing design elements adjust to fit different screen resolutions and devices.
These and many more capabilities make CSS an indispensable tool in web design, crucial in shaping the aesthetics and functionality of websites.
Spruce Up Your Website Design: Mastering the Diverse Power of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
Why is CSS Essential for a Unique and Attractive Web Design?
Ever questioned the process behind every captivating website design you encounter? Your website will stand out when it involves an engaging user interface and appealing visuals. The secret behind these intricate designs is CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), an imperative tool for web design. CSS is a language employed by web developers to style a website’s look and design. Using CSS, web designers can control the layout of multiple web pages all at once, manipulate the presentation of numerous HTML elements, apply diverse styles depending on viewing devices, and also create eye-catching animations. Without CSS, the internet would be a dull place with plain looking web pages and a lack of consistency in web design.
The Underlying Issue: Underutilization of CSS
Despite the consequential capabilities of CSS, a majority of web designers underuse this resourceful tool, limiting the aesthetic potential of their websites. This underutilization of CSS usually arises from a lack of knowledge of its diverse functionality, resulting in websites with unsophisticated designs and monotonous visuals. This tends to affect user engagement as visually appealing sites are more likely to retain visitors compared to uninspiring ones. Moreover, not leveraging the adaptability of CSS can lead to inconsistent design features across different web pages, which not only affects the website’s aesthetic appeal but also its usability.
Exemplary Usage of CSS in Web Design
One can draw inspiration from various successful websites that effectively use CSS, giving them a distinct visual edge. The Grid Layout Module in CSS lets websites like Airbnb create captivating layouts that are both appealing and user-friendly. Furthermore, companies like Apple have utilized CSS’s Flexbox Layout Module to create elegant web design that automatically adjusts and resizes according to the viewer’s device, enhancing user engagement. Websites like Spotify leveraged CSS’s text and box shadows to create a fascinating 3D effect which makes their web pages more eye-catching. Amazon has effectively used CSS’s ability to style hyperlinks, converting plain underlined text into attractive buttons or navigation menus. This not only boosts the website’s visuals but also the overall functionality and user experience.
Creating Dynamic Visual Experiences: Unleashing the Impact of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) on User Interface
Engaging Yet? The Untapped Power of CSS in UI Design
How often have you pondered the role of aesthetics in the user experience? Visual presentation is the first interaction that users have when they land on a website or application. Cascading Style Sheets, commonly known as CSS, play a pivotal role in shaping that interaction. CSS, a style sheet language used for describing the look and formatting of a document written in HTML, has the power to turn a dull, static webpage into a dynamic, visual experience. By providing developers with control over layout, colours, fonts and transitions among other things, CSS affects how users perceive, engage and even interact with a web interface.
The Invisible Barrier: Inept Handling of CSS
A great potential but a greater challenge too. While CSS is a powerful tool, its incorrect use can lead to a downgraded user experience, negating every good intuition. A lack of understanding and appropriately implementing the CSS properties can lead to inconsistencies in design across different devices and browsers alike. Similarly, a convoluted CSS can slow down the loading time, prompting users to abandon the webpage. Overlooking the impact of CSS on the UI can lead to interfaces that may function well but look visually unappealing and outdated. The challenge, therefore, lies in understanding the intricacies of CSS and making it work to enhance the UI design.
Putting Theory into Practice: Use of CSS in UI Design
To start towards a resolution, let’s look at some working examples. Evernote offers a seamless user experience with minimalistic design optimised for clarity, a trait carried through their use of CSS. They apply a restrictive colour palette, straightforward typography, and animated transitions to intuitively guide users through their workflow. Likewise, Stripe’s webpage sets a benchmark in UI design using CSS. They have mastered the art of using gradients, animations, and responsive design to create a pleasing, engaging visual hierarchy. Stripe’s high readability and easy navigation, both products of judicious CSS application, translates into a better user experience. The ‘Google Doodle’ is another example of using CSS creatively to transform the traditionally static Google logo into an interactive, playful experience on special occasions. These examples epitomize the impact CSS can have on UI, opening up avenues for creating visually engaging, user-friendly web experiences.
Isn’t it astounding how the seemingly minuscule factor of CSS impacts the entire web browsing experience? Just like the backbone giving structure to a body, CSS is what gives structure and appearance to online content. It governs everything from the website’s layout,across multiple different screens and devices, to its smallest details like the color of text or spaces between headers. Having looked at its role and importance, it’s clear that CSS is a powerful tool, a core technology, that all web developers must get intimate with to create visually engaging and responsive web designs.
We hope our discussions around the topic have not only piqued your interest but also deepened your understanding of CSS. Our commitment to providing easy-to-understand yet profound articles on numerous subjects remains stronger than ever. To ensure that you don’t miss out on such incredible content, we urge you to subscribe or follow our blog. Our writers, all experts in their respective fields, endeavor to dissect complicated matters and present them in the simplest possible terms.
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CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, is a language used in web development to describe how HTML elements should be displayed on a webpage. It essentially controls the look and feel of a webpage, influencing factors like layout, colors, and fonts.
CSS is mainly used to separate the website’s content from its design, allowing web designers to work on the design aspect without disrupting the content. By controlling the layout of multiple webpages all at once, it promotes efficiency in web development.
‘Cascading’ refers to the order of priority that CSS rules follow when determining which styles will be applied to your HTML elements. This hierarchy allows certain rules to have precedence over others, so they ‘cascade’ down, influencing the final style.
There are many online resources, both free and paid, to learn CSS. These include tutorials, online classes, videos, and forums with text-based coding exercises and examples to practice with. | <urn:uuid:d828b76a-f4ee-449f-a479-0976d6e6a716> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://wikipediatech.com/wiki/what-is-javascript/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.893902 | 2,021 | 3.15625 | 3 |
5th Grade Weekly Update for Week of May 7th
Photo Highlight of the Week: A big thank you to all of our volunteers who helped collect cans for our annual canned food drive! Our school collected nearly 1,000 cans for Must Ministries!
Math: Last week, we explored the concept of volume by using sugar cubes to build rectangular prisms and measure volume. We also learned how to calculate the area of triangles and parallelograms, and students created a graphic organizer to help them practice this skill at home. Towards the end of the week, I introduced our geometry illustrated dictionary project. This is a project that will be completed in class. Geometry is filled with terms that students often mix up and learning to “speak” the language is an important role in being successful. Therefore, this project is designed to serve as a reference for students to use this year and future years. I have provided students with a list of the terms we have learned this year and their definition. Students are to add illustrations for each term and the geometric formulas we have used. Students will be allowed to use this reference on their end of the year cumulative math test.
Science: On Monday, students will head into lab to explore the differences between conductors and insulators. We will also learn about chemical reactions this week, including endothermic and exothermic reactions. For those who decided to participate in the extra credit density tower experiment, please remember it is due this Monday. Students should bring in a poster that states the liquids used and their density. They should also submit a video or include pictures of them with their density tower.
ELA: We will begin our cumulative poetry project this week. Students will create a poetry book that uses 5 of the 7 types of poems that we’ve learned about. Within each of the poems, students will use similes, metaphors, personification, a rhyme scheme, and alliteration; all skills we’ve studied throughout the unit. In grammar, we will study adverbs, using good/well and real/very, and comparing with adverbs.
History: On Monday, students will take their Renaissance Vocabulary Test. This is the last vocabulary test of the quarter, so students need to study over the weekend! They should prepare by using the terms in context and study the definitions. We will continue our study of the Italian Renaissance, by learning all about Michelangelo, some of the writers during this time period, such as, Baldassare Castiglione and Niccolo Machiavelli, and how the Renaissance spread to other countries in Northern and Eastern Europe.
Other: Don’t Forget! The Spring Band Concert will take place on May 10th at 6:30, it will be outside in the quad if the weather is nice! Additional details will go home this week from Mr. G. | <urn:uuid:1e4ce818-53e4-4bb3-9252-c9664e9e27fa> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://woodacresschool.org/2018/05/06/5th-grade-weekly-update-for-week-of-may-7th/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.955694 | 585 | 3.125 | 3 |
Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.
The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.
Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region. | <urn:uuid:9c22c1ea-ad57-4f77-895e-5249dc159d8a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.abralliance.org/2017/03/26/record-breaking-climate-change-pushes-world-into-uncharted-territory/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.915858 | 200 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Peacock Bass Definition
The Peacock Bass - A Definition and Description of the world's greatest freshwater sportfish.
What is a Peacock Bass? Well, first of all, it's not a bass. It's a Cichlid. In fact, although “What is a peacock bass?” sounds like such a simple question that it shouldn’t merit more than a sentence or two for an answer, it's actually far more complex than it seems. Depending on your interest, there’s a whole array of answers; a general answer, an aquarist’s answer, a scientist’s answer and an angler’s answer. Since this is, of course, a fisherman’s website, it’s the angler’s answer we want to get to. In order to address it in its full context, we’ll take a look at all the information and drill down to what’s important to the angler.
Let's begin with a general overview of the genus Cichla. This will let us define what fishes we’re actually referring to when we use the term “peacock bass”. As we indicated above, the common term “bass” is not a particularly appropriate descriptor. Taxonomically, it’s a Cichlid. Within the family Cichlidae, the genus Cichla is comprised of sixteen different Neotropical species. (note — a new, sixteenth species has just recently been described) (For more information about peacock bass classification, see our Peacock Bass ID Guide). All sixteen species share certain similarities. They are relatively large, diurnal (active in daylight) predators and they are primarily piscivorous (fish eaters). All are commonly known as ‘Peacock Bass’ in English, ‘Tucunaré’ in Brazil and ‘Pavon’ in Spanish speaking countries. They are of significant commercial importance in Amazonia, both as a sportfish and for human consumption.
Although at a casual glance all of the species might appear to be quite similar, there are significant differences among them. This has caused much confusion and misperception, especially among novice peacock bass anglers. It’s when we start looking at their habitat, behavior and life history individually that the differences between the species become apparent. Some live in roiling fast water. Some live in meandering flood pulse river systems. Some are pursuit feeders and some opportunistic. Some readily attack on the surface while others rarely do. Some average a pound or two while others can exceed twenty nine pounds. These differences are all-important from the angler’s point of view. Although all of them can be fun to catch, only one species in particular has earned the reputation of the world’s most powerful and challenging freshwater gamefish. Cichla temensis. Known as the three-barred, speckled, or giant peacock bass it’s the largest, most powerful and most aggressive of all the species and the one that anglers really dream to travel in pursuit of. With fifteen other, very different animals sharing the same common name, it’s easy to see why the reputation of Cichla temensis has been victimized by confusion with other species.
The true giant peacock bass is not found outside of the Amazon basin. You can’t fish for them in Florida or Hawaii or Panama because they simply aren’t there. Cichla temensis’ natural range consists primarily of blackwater flood pulse rivers with extremely variable seasonal environments in South America’s Amazon regions. The species occurs naturally in Brazil, Venezuela and Columbia. They are native to the Rio Negro basin, Rio Branco basin and lower Rio Madeira basins in Brazil and in the Orinoco and upper Rio Negro drainages in Venezuela and Columbia. Populations are also recorded in several blackwater tributaries of the Rio Solimoes and Rio Amazonas. Unlike some of its smaller cousins, efforts to introduce C. temensis into other regions have mostly failed, probably because of a greater sensitivity to cold or variable temperatures. The only notable exception has been Lake Guri in Venezuela. Other, smaller Cichla species however, have been successfully introduced into several more accessible regions, such as many lakes and reservoirs in Brazil, Panama, Hawaii and the canals of South Florida. It is these species that anglers commonly encounter on tourist vacations and it is the misunderstanding that these are the same as the giant Amazon peacocks that has fostered the confusion and misinformation that plagues the peacock bass fishing domain.
So if not every peacock bass is Cichla temensis, what is Cichla temensis? The species that commands angler’s adulation is big, with 15 lb. trophies common and with hulking monsters over 25 lbs. lurking in the waters. They are primarily piscivorous feeders and are pursuit hunters. That means their target is fish and once they decide something is food, they’ll run it down halfway across a lagoon if they have to. And, unlike most of the smaller species, these giants aggressively strike lures on the surface, violently and with abandon, hence Larry Larsen’s famous description of “Peacock Bass Explosions”. This is probably the most exciting predatory attack of any sportfish in the world. Frankly, no other freshwater fish compares, anywhere — not even other species of peacock bass.
Amazon peacocks live in the most pristine and exotic habitats on earth. Jungle lined-blackwater rivers, hidden lagoons and white-sand scalloped beaches are just some of the spectacular settings in their native environment. The alien-appearing, isolated still waters lend a counterpoint to their sudden, violent and explosive attacks. And, there are lots of other fish, ranging from acrobatic aruana to hulking giant catfish. Even if there were no fish here at all, the Amazon environment alone creates a hauntingly beautiful experience.
This species has adapted to a unique ecosystem. The central Amazon basin experiences a yearly water level pulsation, akin to a gigantic once-a-year tide. With water levels rising and falling from 20 to 40 feet during each year, these fisheries undergo astounding changes. Amazon peacock bass have evolved behaviorally and physiologically in response to these unique conditions. They feed, spawn and undergo remarkable physical changes during the Amazon basin’s flood pulse cycle. Most importantly, from a fisherman’s point of view, they become highly concentrated, aggressive, accessible and hungry during the falling water period. This creates optimal conditions for anglers and coincides, of course, with our fishing season.
Peacock Bass Species
Why so much confusion over Cichla temensis’ common name?
- Well, because they've inadvertently been given a few different ones. And they've been given different names because they undergo a dramatic color, pattern and shape change in concert with the huge environmental changes that occur during the yearly flood pulse in their native environment. The photo at right shows the two extremes of this variation. These extremes of peacock bass coloration are so wildly different that they have gone by separate names (“açu” and “paca” in Brazil and “Speckled” and “3-Bar” peacock bass in the U.S. sportfishing community). Why does this happen?
A recently completed research study explaining the variability in coloration of Cichla temensis, (the giant peacock bass) was published in “Neotropical Ichthyology”, a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Until then, much of the fishing, management and scientific community believed these variants to be two separate species, or subspecies, or even male and female differences. The article explains the nature of the color and pattern variation and describes the research that has led to our new understanding.
The project was undertaken because experienced peacock bass anglers have observed several phenomena that brought the established beliefs into question. First, not only are there two extremes in coloration, but anglers routinely encounter a whole continuum of intermediate patterns. Furthermore, anglers often encounter fish involved in spawning activity, but these are always in the 3-bar form. The earlier existing beliefs failed to explain this. In an effort to answer the questions raised by these observations, the research, performed under the joint auspices of Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA) and The University of Amazonas (Manaus, Brazil), examined the question based on a new hypothesis. Could these variants all be the same fish undergoing seasonal changes related to their spawning behavior?
The project defined several coloration categories or stages (see the photos 1 - 4 in column A in the illustration) to serve as working tools and then examined the problem from three viewpoints. First, it compared fish from each of the color categories to other species of peacock bass that shared the same water, using traditional taxonomic techniques (morphometrics and meristics). This confirmed that the variants didn’t belong to any of the other species. Next, the variants were subjected to DNA testing, which showed that they were indeed all members of the same species. Finally, using precise measurements and surgical and photomicrographic techniques, the study showed that these color and pattern variants were actually individual fish changing their coloration cyclically over the course of the Amazon’s yearly rainy and dry seasons. They gradually change from the speckled pattern to the 3-bar pattern as they prepare to spawn during the dry season, remaining in the 3-bar pattern until they finish guarding their babies.
The illustration shows the color and pattern variants as they change from one pattern to another in the four stages defined by the project. Column B shows the corresponding ovaries for the each of the stages. As an individual fish changes from the speckled (paca) to the 3-barred (açu) form, the ovaries enlarge, becoming thicker and fuller in preparation for spawning. By stage 4, they are large and distended. Column C shows photomicrographs of the contents of the ovaries themselves, taken under the microscope. In the speckled stage, immature precursors to eggs (called oocytes) are visible. As a fish progresses through the stages, eggs begin to form and become mature. By stage 2, they begin to show nuclei (containing genetic material). In stage 3, the eggs begin to fill with the yolk that will provide the fry’s first food. The eggs in stage 4 are large and fully mature and ready to be deposited on a submerged spawning surface in the peacock’s large nest. The study precisely weighed both ovaries and testes (collectively gonads) of two hundred fish in each of the coloration stages and showed that the mathematical relationship between gonad size and coloration stage is statistically significant. It occurs in the same way in both males and females, as does the color change itself.
This new information allows anglers to better understand these fish. For fishermen, this kind of knowledge is power. The better we know our quarry, the more effectively we can pursue and catch it. Scientists know that color can have biological value. Before the spawn, the 3-bar coloration may help spawning fish find partners, in effect saying “Look how beautiful I am, spawn with me!” Later on, like other brightly colored animals, they may be advertising the threat they pose to intruders on their nesting site or to would-be predators of their closely guarded offspring. For example, brightly colored poisonous frogs are warning potential predators not to eat them; the results of that meal could be very bad for the predator. In the same fashion, brilliantly colored, fry-guarding peacock bass parents may be warning other fish to avoid trying to eat their babies; the results could be fatal for the would-be predator. If you’ve ever caught a big peacock under a fry ball with a prop bait, you’ll understand the accuracy of this threat immediately.
At the other color extreme, non-spawning fish are busy going about the business of eating and fattening up for the two-month long fast associated with spawning. They need to hunt effectively in the flooded forests bordering Amazon lagoons and backwaters. If you’ve ever looked into the dark, tea-stained waters at the edge of a lagoon with their submerged wood, dappled with leaf-filtered sunlight, you’ll understand exactly how a dark, speckled predator can disappear into the shadows. Camouflage is a very effective hunting tool.
A large part of the floodplain Cichla temensis population spawns near the end of the dry season when low water levels make more spawning area available. However, not all spawn at the same time and different spots have different relative depths, so you’ll likely see all of the coloration stages during a typical fishing trip. Now you can observe them with a new perspective. New information also provides scientists with a platform from which to launch future studies - and further research is indeed underway.
The study was performed by, and the article was authored by Paul Reiss of Acute Angling and Rutgers University, with invaluable assistance, guidance and co-authorship provided by Dr. Ken Able of Rutgers and Dr. Tomas Hrbek, Dr. Izeni Farias and Mario Nunez of the University of Amazonas. Funding was primarily provided by Acute Angling, with generous assistance from many of our angling clients who contributed funds for equipment purchases for the study’s jungle laboratory. The journal “Neotropical Ichthyology” can be found online and in print. The article is available in its technical form on our website, here.
Reiss, P., K. W. Able, M. S. Nunes, & T. Hrbek. 2012. Color pattern variation in Cichla temensis (Perciformes: Cichlidae): Resolution based on morphological, molecular, and reproductive data. Neotropical Ichthyology, 10: 59–70. | <urn:uuid:038b10c6-69d1-456a-bf1a-bac3152ddc8a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.acuteangling.com/amazon-gamefish/peacock-bass.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.941793 | 2,958 | 2.765625 | 3 |
COIT20261 Network Routing and Switching
COIT20261 Network Routing and Switching (Term 2 2020)
Assessment item 1—Written Assessment
The first two questions are about working with an IPv4 classless address block. Assume that a company’s ISP has just allocated to them a block of IP addresses that includes the following address: 126.96.36.199/22
Show your calculations for all sub-questions.
Question 1 – Information about the block (3 marks)
- a) How many addresses are available in the block allocated to the company, including all
b) What is the network address of the block?
c) What is the direct broadcast address of the block?
Question 2– Allocating subnets from the block (7 marks)
Create five contiguous subnets from the given block beginning with the first address of the block. The five subnets:
- The first subnet with 512 addresses
- A second subnet with 256 addresses
- A third subnet with 128 addresses
- Two more subnets with 64 addresses each
For each subnet, show its prefix in CIDR format, its subnet address, and its direct broadcast address. Organize the data in a table with a maximum of three columns.
Question 3 – Network Tools (Windows) (5 marks)
Often the best way to gain an initial familiarity with network tools is to simply use them at a basic level, exploring them as suggested in some of the tutorial exercises. Some tools you should explore include Wireshark, Ipconfig, Tracert, Netstat, Ping and Arp. All but Wireshark are included in Windows, Wireshark is free to download and install.
In this exercise you will explore three tools: IPCONFIG, TRACERT and PING. Go ahead and do some reading on these tools using online sources, try out these tools yourself. Answer the following question, using your own words, based on your study.
Question: You’ve just installed a command-line only OS and you want to quickly verify that you have Internet connection. Discuss in your own words what each of these three tools (ipconfig, tracert and ping) are designed to do, how they do it, and based on that and your personal exploration of these tools, evaluate how well each tool could give you the information you want.
Question 4 -- TCP (5 marks)
Study a diagram of a TCP segment header, paying special attention to the header fields, then list each field along with the value in decimal that would be in that field if you assume the following:
- The segment is from an FTP client to an FTP server
- A port number of 56,000 was assigned to this segment
- There are 4 bytes of options
- The server will be instructed not to send any more than 350 bytes at any one time
- The TCP checksum was calculated to equal decimal zero
- The previous segment to this one was acknowledged by the server with an ack/data segment that had an acknowledgement number of 16,000 and a sequence number of 8,000
- The control flag fields indicate states of Not urgent; not first (sync request) or final (termination request) segment; no bypass of buffer queues required; and not a rest.
Instructions: briefly (a few words only) explain your answer for each field. | <urn:uuid:12da43e0-42ea-4c85-b586-9d1405b27c54> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.assignmenthelp.net/questions/coit20261-network-routing-and-switching | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.934572 | 711 | 3.578125 | 4 |
How can I tell whether my plant is healthy? 3 factors
As a grower, you naturally want healthy plants. In this article, we tell you which three factors provide an indication of whether your plant is healthy. We also tell you what to do if this is not the case.
Factor 1: the quality of the yield
An unhealthy plant is more vulnerable. It then needs a great deal of extra energy to protect itself against pathogens. There is therefore not enough energy left for the growth of flowers and fruit. If your plant produces fewer flowers and less fruit than preceding years, it could be due to deteriorating health.
Factor 2: the colour of the roots
A healthy plant has white roots. If the roots turn brown, stink, or become slimy, you may have overwatered the plants. You can read about how to determine the amount of water here. If your plants have been overwatered, they can suffer from harmful fungi. If this is the case, take the plant out of the ground and submerge the roots in 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Return the plant to the substrate when the substrate is dry.
Factor 3: the appearance of the leaves
Are most of your plant’s leaves wilted, discoloured, or shrivelled? Then your plant has health problems. If the leaves are darker in colour, your plant may be suffering from an excess of nitrogen. Are the leaves lighter or yellow in colour? That indicates a lack of nitrogen. You can read how to prevent nitrogen deficiency here.
Problems with the leaves can also be related to harmful fungi, bacteria, light intensity, wind force, moisture levels and acidity. You can influence these factors once you are familiar with your plants. | <urn:uuid:4de2dd74-f79a-4e11-a3d0-f8040afd75a5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.baconline.vn/trung-t%C3%A2m-ki%E1%BA%BFn-th%E1%BB%A9c/blog/4272-how-can-i-tell-whether-my-plant-is-healthy-3-factors | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.935903 | 353 | 3.21875 | 3 |
After the birth of a first child, many new parents are struck by the awesome responsibility they have just taken on. Newborn babies are completely dependent on their parents and caregivers to protect and nurture them. In keeping with Baby Safety Month in September, the following checklist can help first-time parents keep their newborns safe.
Infant Safety Checklist
- Always support the baby’s head. A newborn’s neck muscles are weak. Failure to provide the proper support could injure your baby.
- Never leave your infant unattended.
- Never leave a baby on a bed, table, countertop, chair, or other high surfaces.
- Place the infant on his or her back to sleep, on a firm, flat surface, to reduce the risk of SIDS or suffocation.
- Never shake or engage in rough play with a baby.
- Do not put your baby in bed with you to sleep. It can lead to accidental suffocation or strangulation.
- Breastfeed, if you can, to provide your baby with the natural antibodies in the milk.
- Buy a crib with bars no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. (When the space between bars is too wide, the child can slip through and get injured.)
- Make sure the mattress fits snuggly against the sides of the crib. Otherwise, the baby’s body or head could become wedged in between the mattress and the crib, causing suffocation.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors if you have gas appliances or an attached garage.
- Install smoke detectors on every floor of the house and in hallways adjoining bedrooms.
- Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure you know how to use it.
- Never leave a baby alone with a pet.
- If you have a cat, trim its claws so it can’t scratch the baby.
- Use an approved infant car seat, properly installed, facing backward in the center of the back seat.
- Do not use a baby car seat in a vehicle location with an airbag.
- Never, ever leave a baby alone in the vehicle! Even with the windows open, the child could become overheated and suffer dehydration in a matter of minutes.
- Wait until the umbilical cord has fallen off and the belly button has healed before you give your child a tub bath.
- Turn the water heater down to at least 120° F to help prevent scalding.
- Use a small baby bathtub to better control the water temperature for a bath. It should feel warm, not hot.
- Never leave a baby alone in the bath – a newborn can drown in an inch of water.
- Keep the temperature of the room for your baby’s bath at approximately 75°. Try to eliminate any drafts, and pat baby dry right away. Use a hooded towel to cover the child’s head and help prevent a chill.
- Do not use cotton swabs to clean your infant’s nose or ears. Only clean the parts of the baby you can see.
Even with the best of care, childhood illnesses and injuries can still occur. Our agent can help ensure you have the right health insurance plan to cover your newborn baby’s healthcare needs. | <urn:uuid:606d243c-ee2b-4cce-b048-74bd64f98fea> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.baefrontinsurance.com/article/newborn-safety-checklist-for-first-time-parents/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.913779 | 675 | 2.640625 | 3 |
A community-led collaboration is harnessing local knowledge for a positive regional response to climate change.
The Growing Southern Gippsland project is profiling local farmers successfully adapting to climate change, running knowledge-sharing workshops on local farms and providing tailored scientific and business management resources via a new website.
Project Manager from Bass Coast Landcare Network, Joel Geoghegan, said the project’s strength was in bringing together farmers, Landcare networks, university researchers and government to share resources and expertise in a locally relevant way.
“Farmers have a deep knowledge about the changing seasons governing how they manage their farming enterprises and need to learn to be more flexible in the face of extreme weather events,” Joel Geoghegan said.
“Sharing that knowledge along with insights from scientists and business experts in a way that can support decision-making for farmers is extremely exciting. The project’s future legacy will be its key measure of success.”
The Victorian Centre for Climate Change Innovation funded collaboration is being led by Bass Coast Landcare Network with support from RMIT University, Federation University, Bass Coast Shire Council and South Gippsland Landcare Network.
RMIT University employment expert Professor Peter Fairbrother surveyed many farmers across the region before settling on 12 for more in-depth analysis.
These case studies represent a range of landscapes and industries from dairy and livestock to fruit and vegetable and wine and cheese makers.
“The variety of creative business responses to the changing conditions has been really impressive to see and will no doubt be of interest to others facing similar challenges. There is much to learn from these farming households,” Peter Fairbrother said. “Of note is the way these farming households
learn, experiment and adapt in relation to levels of the whole food value chain in which they are located”.
The soon-to-be-launched Growing Southern Gippsland website) will promote the case studies along with resources for the region’s landowners to refer to when considering how they will manage their farm enterprise.
Climate change researcher at Federation University, Dr Jessica Reeves, said the project enabled more tailored approaches by all partners.
“It will better enable researchers to ‘learn from farmers’ experiences on the land, while farmers will be able to tap into science and business expertise to help them adapt to these changes as effectively as possible,” she said.
The agricultural sector in Southern Gippsland is the most productive in Victoria, accounting for over $2 billion in gross regional product.
A region of recent growth and transition, Southern Gippsland is uniquely placed to adapt to take advantage of climate change and transition into growing niche and premium markets across a whole range of industries.
“By encouraging action, innovation, diversification and collaboration between agriculture,
researchers, community and government, Growing Southern Gippsland aims to drive greater awareness and investment into high-impact innovations in the region,” Joel Geoghegan said.
For further information on the Growing Southern Gippsland project visit
www.growingsoutherngippsland.org.au or contact project manager, Joel Geoghegan from the Bass Coast Landcare Network directly on 03 5678 2335.
MAKE a DONATION
News & Events Archives | <urn:uuid:1589e05e-a978-478e-a473-b1c4b3fefbfc> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.basscoastlandcare.org.au/newsandevents/sharing-local-knowledge-an-answer-to-climate-change-resilience-in-agriculture | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.925903 | 686 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Did a special nejd horse exists?
Krush, a stallion at Lady Blunt´s Sheikh Obeyd, came from the Mutair tribe of Nejd (photo from Arabian Exodus by Margaret Greely).
The horses from central Arabia, the Nejd, are legendary until today, but did a special type of Nejd horse exist? Palgrave was the first and only European to see the famous stud of Feysul al-Saud, often mentioned in the Abbas Pasha Manuscript. His account on it and on the Nejd horses in general became nearly as famous as the horses he saw:
“About half the royal stud was present before me, the rest were out at grass; Feysul´s entire muster is reckoned at six hundred head, or rather more. …. Never had I seen or imagined so lovely a collection. Their stature was indeed somewhat low, I do not think that any came fully up to fifteen hands; fourteen appeared to me about the average, but they were so exquisitely well shaped that want of greater size seemed hardly, if at all a defect. Remarkably full in the haunches, with a shoulder of a slope so elegant as to make one, in the words of an Arab poet, “go raving mad about it;” a little, a very little, saddle-backed, just a curve which indicates springiness without any weakness; a head broad above, and tapering down to a nose fine enough to verify the phrase of “drinking from a pint-pot,” did pin-pots exist in Nejed; a most intelligent and yet singularly gentle look, full eye, sharp thorn-like little ear, legs fore and hind that seemed as if made of hammered iron, so clean and yet so well twisted with sinew; a neat round hoof, just requisite for hard ground; the tail set on or rather thrown out at a perfect arch; coats smooth, shining, and light; the mane long, but not overgrown nor heavy; and an air and step that seemed to say “look at me, am I not pretty?” Their appearance justified all reputation, all value, all poetry. The prevailing colour was chestnut or grey; a light bay, an iron colour, white, or black, were less common; full bay, flea-bitten, or piebald, none. But if asked what are, after all, the specially distinctive points of the Nejdee horse, I should reply; the slope of shoulder, the extreme cleanness of the shank, and the full rounded haunch, though every other part too has a perfection and a harmony unwitnessed (at least by my eyes) anywhere else. …The genuine Nejdean breed, so far as I have hitherto found, is to be met with only in Nejed itself; nor are these animals common even there; none but chiefs or individuals of considerable wealth and rank possess them. Nor are they ever sold, at least so all declare; and when I asked how then one could be acquired, “by war, by legacy, or by free gift,” was the answer. In this last manner alone is there a possibility of an isolated specimen leaving Nejed, but even that is seldom; and when policy requires a present to Egypt, Persia, or Constantinople (a circumstance of which I witnessed two instances and heard of others), mares are never sent, and the poorest stallions, though deserving to pass elsewhere for real beauties, are picked out for the purpose. …Nejdee horses are especially esteemed for great speed and endurance of fatigue, indeed, in this latter quality none come up to them. …. I often mounted them at the invitation of their owners, and without saddle, rein, or stirrup, set them off at full gallop, wheeled them round, brought them up in mid career at a dead halt, and that without the least difficulty or the smallest want of correspondence between the horse´s movements and my own will; the rider on their back really feels himself the man-half of a centaur, not a distinct being” (Palgrave, rendering prominent by the author).
Straight Egyptian horses are regarded by many as coming close to the legendary Nejd horses of the past that Abbas Pasha and others collected: Mayda Bint Bint Mohssen (El Thay Shah Mabrouk/Bint Mohssen) and foal at Al Rayyan Farm, Qatar and AB Farida (DF Malik Jamil/Bint Farid Nile Moon) at the Egyptian Event Europe 2017.
NK Nabhan (NK Nadeer/NK Nerham) may symbolize the breeding ideal of his breeder, Dr. Hans Joachim Nagel and how he imagines the Nejd or Southern type of the Arabian horse.
Many authorities on the breed refer to Palgrave´s statement of a special quality of the Nejd horse. One of the modern advocates of this thesis is Dr. Nagel who distinguishes between the Southern or Nejdi type and a Northern or Shimali type of the Arabian horse. Rzewuski and Lady Blunt both report after their travels in northern Arabia, that among the Anaza and also the Shammar tribes the horses were divided in Nejdis and Schimalis. The first combined those horses and their descendants that the tribes had brought with them from central Arabia in their migrations to the north and also those brought up from Nejd later. The second were those who had been bred in the north with those tribes that had been living there already. Rzewuski writes: “The Nejdi Koheilan is the most noble horse on earth and in my opinion the most beautiful. This race is the most pure.” Also in the list of the horses he bought in Arabia he discerns between Nejdi Koheilan el Bedawi and Koheilan el Bedawi horses. Fürst Pückler was assured by three participants of the Wahhabite wars, Hassan Bey, Ahmed Pascha, and the Austrian consul Zuccoli, that only the Nejdis were the elite of the Arabian breed (cited from Schiele). He could see two stallions born in Nejd at Abbas Pasha´s stud in Schubra, which he describes to be the most perfect of all Arabians he had known.
Schiele stayed cautious in her summary on the Nejdi´s pre-eminence: “The climax of the breed was without doubt in the center of Arabia. …In the heart of Arabia the prototype, the original, of the Arabian crystallized, formed by environment, raising, using, and breeding-method, and that there, because of its isolation, the pureness and the type was conserved longest. The more it moved from its cradle, and met in a changed environment other breeds of horses, the more the danger of its mixing and changing rose.”
Paraskevas, on the other hand, sees “little consensus and some have discounted its importance while others see it as a core issue with the breed.” He cites his fellow-countryman Prince Mohammed Ali Tewfik: “Some Europeans make a big distinction between Syrian, or desert, and a Nejdy horse, etc. All these horses are from one origin. …I say this: there are good horses in all the tribes; Arabs are nomads and warriors, they fight between themselves and the conqueror takes all the best stock from the other.” This is in accordance with the information compiled in the chapters on the Bedouin tribes and the Bedouin society. It is obvious that horses were exchanged over vast distances in between the different tribes, sheikhs, or emirs, a fact also to be seen from the Abbas Pasha Manuscript. One important observation should be noted here: The best horses were gathered with those persons who had the greatest political influence and wealth. That applied especially to the central parts of Arabia there less pasturage was to be found and the possession of horses was a matter of wealth as their food had to be bought. The houses of Saud and Rasheed had “a collection” (Palgrave, Blunt), its size and reputation in relation to the actual power of the owner. Nejd, so the statement of the Blunts when visiting Ibn Rasheed at Hail, was a land of the camel.
Panarab Conference 1931, photo Matson Collection.
In the north, there the large camel herding tribes had migrated out of reason of better pasturage and also because of the Wahhabi pressure, the tribe of the Sba´ah, of the least political influence, became the tribe known as Humul al-Khayl, the people of horses. The breeding of horses flourished in the north under the better conditions for raising them, and the most dedicated breeder bred the best quality of Arabians, but also the best camels or other animals. Musil may be cited here: “In the inner desert the horses have no place and would perish did not the Bedouins look after them better than they look after their own children. A runaway horse cannot live long in the desert, while a camel will persist even without a man. …Nothing caused the Bedouin so much labor and trouble as a mare. It is easier to raise and bring up five children than a single filly, as the children require especial care only in the first two years but the care of a mare has no end.” The only reasons to do so was the usefulness of the mare in raids and battle, the foals she produced, and the prestige to own a mare.
In this context it is interesting to recall the many ways horses changed hands between the Bedouins. E. Al Dahdah lists six different ways:
Ransom for an important prisoner of war
Planned theft (hihyafah)
During war by unhorsing a rider (qila´ah or as Bedouins pronounced it gla´a)
Buying and selling
While raiding another camp by surprise and untying a mare from that camp (akhadaha wa hiya muqayyadah)
Claim under trover (´irafah).
We can add:
as a gift
as tribute between noblemen.
This clearly shows that Arabian horses circulated to a great extant between the different tribes all over the Arabian peninsula. By this heterosis was increased and inbreeding counteracted. What conclusions can be drawn from this? The existence of a special southern type of Arabian seems, at least, an oversimplification to the author. The heterogenic picture of the breed does not allow such an assertion. It belongs to the dogma of the “Ideal Arabian” that westerners have built up and that Paraskevas so vehemently objects, and with right. This ideal did never exist in the eyes of the Bedouins, their ideal was a functional horse, the war horse. The author also doubts that the horses of the nobles had ever differed from the horse of the poor Bedouin, but in number. The question of quality or superiority of certain subpopulations within the Arabian breed exists, as in any breed of animals. Its solution does not lie in an easy concept like two categories of difference, be it origin from north Arabia versus central Arabia, or be it beauty versus function. The solution depends on the breeder´s focus, on his preferences and dislikes, on his breeding concept and goal, and, most important, on the material of horses he owns. We will never know how the Nejd type of horses really looked like and if such a type as a single entity existed, as only very few photos of such horses exist. But it seems very likely that the breed in central Arabia may have been of the same heterogenity as in the north and this the more as it had to rely on horses bred and raised in the north, as central Arabia lacked the natural resources to support large numbers of horses, at least during the last 500 years.
Historic photos by Ekkehard Frielinghaus from El Zahraa: Helwa (Hamran II/Bint Farida) and Gassir (Kheir/Badia) | <urn:uuid:ecedb975-d3b6-4c4b-b6e1-dd991ed29f5c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.bedouin-heritage.com/southern-northern-arabians | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.965303 | 2,575 | 2.546875 | 3 |
By XI Maratona de Programação IME-USP, 2007 Andorra
Mrs. Montagny is a socialite of Quebec, who spends his holidays in Banff, in his mansion on the edge of Lake Louise. Their dinners are famous because she spends a questionnaire in advance to guests where they participate in the choice of menu. In the questionnaire, the famous magnate list all the dishes that you can make for dinner, offering a guest column to select the platter and another to veto it.
And allowed to make only two choices in the questionnaire, each guest can select a dish and another veto, veto two dishes or select two dishes. Mrs. Montagny ensures that all guests will have at least one of their wishes granted.
Previously she herself realized assembling the menu and meet its promise, but with the growth of your parties this has become impossible. So, she decided to hire you to do a program that receives requests from guests and answer if she can mount a menu for the party.
The entry consists of several cases. Each case starts with an integer N ( 1 ≤ N ≤ 1000), indicating the number of questionnaires received by Mrs. Montagny. Each of the next N lines contains two food names indicating the preference of each guest. A name of food is a sequence of letters [a-z] over a maximum of 20 letters. When the name of a food starts with ''!'' means that the guest want to veto the food, otherwise he wishes to select.
For each case, you should print a identifier "Instancia K", where K is the number of the current case. In the next line you should print "yes" if she can attend at least one desire of every guest and "no" otherwise. After each case, your program should print a blank line.
|Sample Input||Sample Output| | <urn:uuid:48b6da45-50f3-4377-92b1-ffb1f05ea047> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.beecrowd.com.br/repository/UOJ_2124_en.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.939958 | 383 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Multiphase flow occurs when two or more distinct fluids coexisting are separated by a sharp interface. Each fluid is considered, then, as a phase with its own physical and chemical properties. Taking into account the contact angle between the phases in the presence of a solid phase (θ), the phases can be divided into wetting (θ < 90°) and non-wetting (θ > 90°). Due to the surface tension, there is a pressure change between phases defined with the capillary pressure ( ):
In the case where two fluids are miscible and no interface occurs between them, they are considered as part of the same phase and are called components. One phase can contain one or more components (e.g. a gas phase composed by CO2 and CH4) and each component can be present in one or more phases (i.e. CO2 can be present in a system as a gas or dissolved in liquid).
The number of phases and components to be described in the governing equations depends on the system. This thesis is focused on applications where the natural systems are composed by two phases and two components. Three-phase flow models are applied mainly for water, oil and gas systems in the hydrocarbon industry. A complete description of the three-phase flow can be found at Chen et al. (2006) and Peaceman (1977) among others.
The mathematical description of two-phase systems can be found in the literature (Bastian, 1999; Bear, 1972; Chen et al., 2006; Garcia, 2003; Hassanizadeh and Gray, 1979; Helmig, 1997); and it is comprehensively described in articles related to multiphase flow simulation codes: MUFTE (Assteerawatt et al., 2005), DUMUx (Flemisch et al., 2011), OpenGeoSys (Goerke et al., 2011; O. Kolditz et al., 2012b), PFLOTRAN (Lu and Lichtner, 2005), TOUGH2 (Pruess et al., 1999; Pruess and Spycher, 2007), CodeBright (Vilarrasa, 2012), HYTEC (Sin et al., 2017), ECLIPSE (ECLIPSE, 2004), ELSA (Nordbotten et al., 2009, 2004b), FEHM (Pawar et al., 2005), GPRS (Cao, 2002; Jiang, 2008), IPARS (Wheeler and Wheeler, 2001), COORES (Le Gallo et al., 2006; Trenty et al., 2006), MoReS (Farajzadeh et al., 2012; Wei, 2012) and RTAFF (Sbai, 2007).
The mathematical model can vary widely in each application depending on the specific questions to be answered, the relevant processes, and the time scale and length associated to those processes. This thesis does not consider the geomechanical effects and the heat conservation in the multiphase flow. Simplifications of the multiphase flow such as vertical equilibrium models (Nordbotten and Celia, 2006) or macroscopic percolation models (Cavanagh and Haszeldine, 2014) are found to greatly reduce the computational complexity of the system. These simplified models are out of the scope of this thesis. A review of these methods can be found in Bandilla et al. (2015), Celia et al. (2015) and Celia and Nordbotten (2009).
This section starts with the description of the more general compositional model, where mass transfer between phases is taken into account. The component mass conservation system of equations and the constitutive and state relations needed to solve the system are explained. Then, some immiscible formulations are presented. In systems where the component behavior is not relevant, the multiphase flow can be represented by immiscible formulations with a much lower computational cost.
The mass conservation of each component ( ) in a system with phases can be written as:
where denotes the fluid phase, is the porosity of the medium ( 3 ⋅ −3), is the phase saturation ( 3 ⋅ −3), is the phase density ( ⋅ −3), is the molality of the component in the phase ( ⋅ −1), is the component molar weight ( ⋅ −1), corresponds to the phase Darcy’s flow in its multiphase form ( 3 ⋅ −2 ⋅ −1), is the phase diffusion/dispersion tensor ( 2 ⋅ −1), is the component mass source term in the phase ( ⋅ −3 ⋅ −1) and is the component interphase mass transfer term ( ⋅ −3 ⋅ −1).
The last four terms can be extended as:
where is the permeability tensor ( 2), is the relative phase permeability (−), is the phase dynamic viscosity ( ⋅ −1), is the pressure ( ) and is the gravity vector ( ⋅ −2), is the species-independent molecular diffusion coefficient ( 2 ⋅ −1), and are, respectively, the longitudinal and transverse dispersivity ( ), | | is the Euclidean norm of Darcy’s flow, ( ) is the orthogonal projection along velocity and ⊥ = − ( ), is the phase mass source term ( ⋅ −3 ⋅ −1), ( −1) is the interphase mass transfer of component and ̅ ( ⋅ −1) is the solubility limit of component in the phase.
The system of equations in (2-2) has 2 + dependent variables: 2 from the phase pressures and saturations and components molalities. The system is constrained by the phase saturation equation, the phase mass fraction and ( − 1) phase equilibrium relations:
To close the system ( − 1) capillary pressure relations needs to be taken into account. Generally, the capillary pressure is described as function of the saturation of the higher wettability (Niessner and Helmig, 2007). The most common approaches of the capillary pressure are Brooks and Corey (1964) and van Genuchten (1980). Recently, a more complex model where capillary pressure is function of the specific interfacial area apart from the saturation has been developed (Niessner and Hassanizadeh, 2008); however, it has been rarely implemented in multiphase flow models (Tatomir et al., 2015). In the multiphase flow equations implemented in this thesis the user can define whether Brooks and Corey or Van Genuchten capillary approach is used.
Additional equations relate the phase density and viscosity with its pressure, temperature and composition. The influence of pressure and temperature in the liquid density and viscosity is limited, while gas phases present much more variability. Usually, experimental relationships are used to determine the density and viscosity of the components. In this thesis, apart from the relations already implemented in COMSOL (Comsol, 2016), the properties of the CO2-brine system implemented by Pruess and Spycher (2007) in TOUGH2 are incorporated. The gas density can also be determined following the ideal gas law and the Peng-Robinson equation of state (Robinson and Peng, 1978). Other relationship could be easily added by the user to the system.
The partitioning of components between the phases is usually considered in equilibrium, which is a reasonable assumption when the time scale of mass transfer is large compared to the time scale of flow. Compositional multiphase formulations based on local equilibrium are extensively described in the literature (Firoozabadi, 1999; Lu and Lichtner, 2005; Michelsen et al., 2008; Pruess et al., 1999). In gas-liquid systems the Henry’s law and the saturation vapor pressure are used to define the mole fraction in each phase.
If component partitioning is not described by equilibrium, a kinetic expression is used for the interphase mass transfer (equation 2-6). Several approaches are described in the literature. Van Antwerp et al. (2008) extended the dual domain approach for kinetic mass transfer during air sparing from the laboratory scale (Falta, 2003, 2000) to field scale. Niessner and Hassanizadeh (2009) developed a method where the interphase mass transfer was function of the mass balance of the specific interfacial area. Other authors use a lumped mass transfer rate calculated through the non-dimensional modified Sherwood number ( ℎ) to solve the equation (Agaoglu et al., 2015; Imhoff et al., 1994; Miller et al., 1990; Powers et al., 1994, 1992; Zhang and Schwartz, 2000):
where is the kinetic mass transfer rate ( −1), 50 is the mean size of the reservoir grains ( ), is the Reynold’s number (-), is the saturation of the phase and , , are dimensionless fitting parameters. This approach is followed in the compositional multiphase formulation implemented in this thesis.
Choice of primary variables and system of equations Different linear combinations of equations and state variables can be used to diminish the stiffness of the compositional multiphase flow system (Binning and Celia, 1999; Chavent, 1981; Chen et al., 2000; Chen and Ewing, 1997a; Coats, 1980). The most classic approach is to sum over components and choose the so-called natural variables (pressure and saturation of the phases and molality of components) as dependent variables and apply a local variable switching depending on the phases present in each cell (Class et al., 2002; Coats, 1980; Lu and Lichtner, 2005; Pruess et al., 1999).
Phase disappearance is one of the major problems in multiphase flow simulation. It leads to the degeneration of the equation satisfied by the saturation, making natural variables inappropriate. Variable switching is able to cope with this process varying the dependent variables depending on the phases present in each cell. Nevertheless, this approach has some drawbacks as generates perturbations on the Newton iteration when phase changes occur and affect the structure of the Jacobian matrix (Lu et al., 2010).
Several alternative approaches are proposed in the literature where the dependent variables remain constant throughout the domain. Jaffré and Sboui (2010) use complementarity conditions. Abadpour and Panfilov (2009) allow the extension of saturation to negative values. Moreover, various combinations of dependent variables are described for two phase flow: liquid phase pressure and water mass concentration (Bourgeat et al., 2013); gas pressure and liquid pressure (Angelini et al., 2011); pressure, saturation and fugacities (Lauser et al., 2011); capillary pressure and gas pressure (Neumann et al., 2013);… Comparison between some of these methods can be found in literature (Gharbia et al., 2015; Lu et al., 2010; Masson et al., 2014; Neumann et al., 2013; Voskov and Tchelepi, 2012).
In this thesis, the compositional multiphase flow is implemented and applied to carbon capture and storage (section 3.2) using the natural variables as dependent variables. Water miscibility in the CO2 rich phase is low, on the order of one per cent (Spycher and Pruess, 2005). Therefore, water dissolution in supercritical CO2 is neglected, reducing the system of equations (2-2) to three. Thus, only one interphase mass transfer ( 2 ) has to be defined through the Sherwood number approach. No variable switching is applied and it is considered that the liquid phase remains throughout the system, even in small amounts. A new linear combination of the system of equations (2-2) is used to describe the three equations of the system:
where is the external CO2 concentration. These equations are derived from:
1. the total mass conservation equation (2-13) obtained by summing over all equations of system of equations (2-2);
2. an equation for the CO2 mass conservation (2-14) obtained by adding the equations for the CO2 component ( = 2) in both phases ( = , );
3. equation (2-15), derived by subtracting equation (2-13) multiplied by
2 2 from the aqueous CO2 mass conservation (equation (2-2) for = and = 2).
The dependent variables solved are liquid pressure ( ) in equation (2-13), gas saturation ( ) in equation (2-14) and dissolved CO2 molality ( 2 ) in equation (2-15).
The approaches followed to model the fluids density and viscosity, the relative permeability and capillary pressure are used-defined.
In cases where no mass transfer between phases or when the behavior of the components is not relevant for the purpose of the model; the mass balance equations can be written for the bulk phase rather than for individual components. The phase mass conservation is achieved by summing equation (2-2) over components and assuming no internal component gradient (no diffusion-dispersion within the phases):
where is the phase mass source term ( ⋅ −3 ⋅ −1). The Darcy’s flow is described in equation (2-3). The system of equations (2-16) has 2 unknowns that can be solved taking into account the saturation constrain (equation2-7) and the ( − 1) capillary pressure relations (equation 2-1).
As for the compositional formulation, various dependent variables and linear combinations of equations can be selected (Aziz and Settari, 1979; Binning and Celia, 1999; Chavent, 1981; Chen et al., 2000; Hassanizadeh and Gray, 1979). Some of the formulations described in the literature and implemented during the thesis are summarized below for the two-phase flow systems.
Coupled Pressure-Saturation formulation
In this formulation, the general system of two equations (2-16) is solved without any linear combination. One equation takes the phase pressure as the dependent variable, while the other solves the phase saturation. Integrating the Darcy’s velocity and taking wetting saturation ( ) and non-wetting phase pressure ( ) as unknowns the system is written as:
where subscript and denote the wetting phase and non-wetting phase respectively and is the phase mobility ( = ⁄ ).
Similarly, the wetting pressure/non-wetting saturation ( − ) can be developed. This system of equations is strongly coupled and non-linear.
Decoupled Pressure-Saturation formulations
Dividing the equations in (2-16) by the density, the mass conservation equation is transformed into a volumetric equation. Summing, then, these equations over the two phases, the temporal derivative over saturation is removed, diminishing the coupling of the system:
Equation (2-19) is called the pressure equation and it can be solved using different pressures as dependent variable (Chen et al., 2006; Hoteit and Firoozabadi, 2008; O. Kolditz et al., 2012b). If is explicitly evaluated, the pressure can be first computed and, then, the saturation can be solved with one of the equations of system in (2-16). This is the implicit pressure-explicit saturation (IMPES) scheme that has been extensively used in two-phase flow simulations and was first introduced by Sheldon and Cardwell (1959) and Stone and Garder (1961).
This formulation with the wetting pressure/non-wetting saturation ( − ) as dependent variables is applied for the model in section 4. The multiphase flow for these unknowns has the following form:
Similar systems of equations can be developed for the − unknowns or using the wetting phase equation instead of (2-21).
Global pressure formulation
The global pressure ( ) concept was first introduced by Antontsev (1972) and Chavent and Jaffré (1986) and it has been frequently used in the modelling of multiphase flow since (Bastian, 1999; Chen and Ewing, 1997b; Sin, 2015). Global pressure is defined as:
Instead of using one of the phase pressures as dependent variable as in the formulations presented before, this formulation solves the equation (2-19) using the global pressure as unknown. The system of equations is completed with the wetting phase equation (2-17) solved with for the wetting saturation written in terms of total velocity:
The global pressure and total mobility are always continuous, even in the absence of one phase, favoring the convergence of the models. Furthermore, the total velocity is smoother than the phase velocities. However, the global pressure variable is not an actual physical property and initial and boundary conditions do not have a direct physical meaning with this formulation.
Capillary pressure formulation
The formulation that uses capillary pressure and the non-wetting pressure as dependent variables is also relevant in the literature (O. Kolditz et al., 2012b; Neumann et al., 2013). The system of equations is formed by the wetting phase equation (2-17) and the non-wetting phase equation (2-18) solved with the non-wetting pressure ( ) and the capillary pressure ( ) as unknowns respectively:
Similar to the global pressure formulation, the use of the capillary pressure as dependent variable has the advantage that is continuous independently of the number of phases present in the cell. As a counterbalance, it is difficult to assign meaningful initial and boundary conditions with this formulation.
The multiphase flow mathematical models are implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics (Comsol, 2016), a general-purpose finite element (FE) platform for the modelling and simulation of all kind of partial differential equations (PDE), ordinary differential equations (ODE) and algebraic differential equations (DAE) systems. It allows a flexible configuration of the shape functions, system properties, constitutive relations, solution schemes and solvers of the equations systems. COMSOL has a very intuitive and robust graphical user interface (GUI) with many options for geometry delineation, mesh generation and post-processing and visualization of the results. The multiphase flow PDE systems with their associated DAEs can be further combined with a set of physical interfaces for common physics applications areas available in COMSOL, accounting for coupled and multiphysics phenomena.
The main numerical characteristics (spatial discretization, solution scheme and linear equations system solvers) of the implemented multiphase flow equations are described in this section.
Many numerical methods have been developed for solving the convection-diffusion like equations through finite element methods (Chen et al., 2006; Helmig, 1997). A standard-Galerkin or Bubnov-Galerkin method based on linear continuous Lagrange shape or space functions is implemented in this thesis. The Galerkin method is based on the mean weighted residuals method where shape functions are equal to the weighting (also known as test) functions.
Alternative methods use two different finite element spaces, one for dependent scalar variables (e.g., pressure) and other for vector variables (e.g., fluid velocity). These methods are called mixed finite element (MFE) and should satisfy the Babuska–Brezzi (Brezzi et al., 1985) condition, which states that the shape functions for pressure must be of lower order than the shape functions for velocity. They were first introduced by (Nedelec, 1980; Raviart and Thomas, 1977) and many MFE were further developed in the literature. Two of the more common methods are the streamline upwind/Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG) method (Brooks and Hughes, 1982; Westerink and Shea, 1989; Zienkiewicz et al., 2005) and the Galerkin least-squares (GLS) method (Codina, 1998). The advantage of these methods is that they approximate both the scalar and vector variables simultaneously, giving a high order approximation. However, their implementation is more complex and rarely used (Hinkelmann, 2005). The discretization of PDEs with discontinuous shape functions across inter-element boundaries, i.e. discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method (Reed and Hill, 1973), are also an option for solving advective dominated problems from which continuous FEM lack robustness.
Sharp saturation fronts of the convection-diffusion equation can become unstable in Galerkin finite element methods (Carrayrou et al., 2003; De Windt et al., 2003; Helmig, 1997). The instabilities can be overcome with the help of stabilization methods. There are various stabilization techniques. Streamline diffusion and crosswind diffusion (based on the SUPG and GLS methods) are among the most common (Hauke, 2001; Hauke and Hughes, 1994; Hughes and Mallet, 1986). In the miscible model presented in this thesis, an isotropic diffusion stabilization method is used. The streamline diffusion and crosswind diffusion stabilizations are also implemented.
The nonlinear equations system of the multiphase flow is solved through the Newton iterative method. Newton’s iterations in time can be solved with explicit and implicit methods.
Implicit schemes are unconditionally stable but computationally expensive as a nonlinear system of equations must be solved in each time step. Explicit schemes demand less computational resources; however, they come with stability time-stepping restrictions. In nonlinear systems as the multiphase flow equations, the time steps required may be too small to solve a problem explicitly within a reasonable computational time. The implicit schemes allow larger times but they can have severe damping effects (i.e., numerical dispersion) (Allen, 1984; Settari and Aziz, 1975).
An intermediate scheme, the implicit pressure-explicit saturation (IMPES), has been used in the literature to achieve better stability without having as much computational cost (Sheldon and Cardwell, 1959; Stone and Garder, 1961). They have been used widely for the solution of incompressible decoupled Pressure-Saturation formulations. However, this scheme is not efficient with systems with strong nonlinearities.
The solution of all the coupled nonlinear equations simultaneously and implicitly is known as the fully implicit method (FIM) or the simultaneous solution (Douglas et al., 1959). Variables are updated every Newton iteration, leading to a stable scheme that allows relatively large time steps. However, in systems with many chemical components, the Jacobian matrix may be large, requiring high computational resources.
Other relevant implicit methods are sequential (SM) (MacDonald and Coats, 1970), where the saturation dependent functions (e.g., relative permeability) have the values of the previous Newton iteration. These schemes are more stable than IMPES and more computationally efficient than FIM. When using these methods, it should be taken into account that the accuracy on the evaluation of the saturation dependent functions influences the accuracy and stability of the numerical methods (Aziz and Settari, 1979; Peaceman, 1977; Settari and Aziz, 1975).
Finally, an alternative solution scheme is the adaptive implicit method (AIM), which seeks an efficient middle point between the FIM and the IMPES scheme (Russell, 1989; Thomas and Thurnau, 1983). This time-stepping algorithm switches between the implicit and explicit depending on the problem and gradients of each grid block. Various comparative studies of these solution schemes are available in the literature (Bastian, 1999; Chen et al., 2006; Marcondes et al., 2009).
The solution scheme for the implemented multiphase flow equations is user-defined. The user can apply the solution schemes provided by COMSOL (all the previously explained except the IMPES). The models presented in this thesis are solved with the backward differentiation formulas (BDF) fully implicit scheme. The generalized-method has been also successfully applied in FIM and implicit sequential schemes in applications not shown in this thesis.
Table of contents :
2 Numerical tools
2.1.1 Mathematical description
2.1.2 Numerical methods
2.2.1 Mathematical model
2.2.2 Numerical method
3 Carbon capture and storage Interactions of CO2 gravity currents, capillarity, dissolution and convective mixing in a syncline anticline system.
3.2.2 Model Description
3.2.3 Results and Discussion
3.2.4 Concluding remarks
3.3.2 Model description
4 Underground hydrogen storage Quantitative assessment of seasonal underground hydrogen storage from surplus energy in Castilla-León (north Spain)
4.2.2 Problem definition
4.2.3 Mathematical Model
4.2.4 Results and discussion
5 General conclusions and perspectives | <urn:uuid:c4108299-c313-45c9-b543-058ffe78d6cb> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.bestpfe.com/interactions-of-co2-gravity-currents-capillarity-dissolution-and-convective-mixing-in-a-syncline-anticline-system/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.898021 | 5,190 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Before understanding about Pioneers of behaviorism, you must know about what is “behaviorism”? The “behaviorism” denotes to the institute of “psychology” introduced by “John B. Watson” on the belief the behaviors’ can be identified, qualified and also consider the changed. Or the concept of human, animal activities that can be described in terms of conditioning, without the demand to feelings and that emotional conditions are greatest treated by altering performance arrangements.
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419 Experts Online | <urn:uuid:c33dff11-7f07-4f5d-a738-bab42f70ed0c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.calltutors.com/Assignments/what-is-behaviorism | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.917684 | 111 | 2.765625 | 3 |
COVID-19 and Cancer Care: What You Should Know
Based on what we know so far about COVID-19 (coronavirus), people with cancer and other health concerns may be at higher risk for more serious complications from the virus than the general population. It’s important that patients and their caregivers take precautions to lower their risk of getting COVID-19.
Each person is different. Your physician can review your situation and medical history to give you a greater understanding of your personal risk.
Here are answers to some common questions related to cancer and COVID-19. Please note that these answers are subject to change as we receive more information about COVID-19. If you have additional questions not answered here, call your physician or the Northwestern Medicine COVID-19 hotline at 312.47.COVID (472.6843).
Am I more likely to get COVID-19 because I have cancer?
People who have cancer do not appear to be more likely to contract COVID-19. However, they are among those at serious risk from an infection because their immune systems are often weakened by cancer and its treatments. Experts believe that the more underlying health conditions a person has, the higher their chance of having complications from COVID-19.
People who have cancer are already fighting a serious illness, and they may have other significant medical conditions increasing their risk for serious complications from the virus. The risk is higher for patients who are actively receiving treatment for their cancer (chemotherapy or radiation therapy) and especially high for treatments that involve drugs that suppress the immune system, like stem cell transplant.
How does radiation therapy affect my risk for COVID-19?
Talk to your radiation oncologist about your treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have COVID-19, your scheduled daily radiation treatments would likely need to be paused until you recover from the virus.
If you are receiving chemotherapy in addition to radiation therapy, you are likely at higher risk for serious illness if you contract COVID-19.
How does chemotherapy affect a person’s immune system?
It varies depending on the person and the type of chemotherapy. When a typical patient receives chemotherapy, the immune system may become increasingly impaired over the next several days and then begin to recover, usually in time for the next cycle of chemotherapy.
How long after chemotherapy is a person’s immune system recovering or compromised?
This can vary widely for each individual. Some patients have very little if any immunosuppression, while others can have a compromised immune system for weeks or even longer. If you are receiving chemotherapy, talk to your physician about how long your immune system will be compromised.
What can I do to protect my health during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Keep at least a 2-week supply of your medications and contact your physician if you need refills. To refill your prescription, you can limit exposure to the virus by using a mail-order service or drive-thru pharmacy, or have a caregiver pick up your medication.
Physicians recommend that people with cancer adhere to the recommendations released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prioritizing social distancing and hand hygiene. For patients who have had a stem cell transplant, additional measures may be necessary, including wearing a mask when you need to go outside the house. Discuss these precautions with your physician. In general, minimizing contact and keeping 6 feet away from people you interact with is important. You should also eat well, reduce stress and get plenty of sleep.
What should I do if I have cancer and symptoms of COVID-19?
If you have COVID-19 symptoms such as a fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath, call your physician immediately.
If I have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 but I do not have symptoms, what should I do?
If you have been exposed to someone who received a COVID-19 diagnosis, you should self-isolate for 14 days and monitor for symptoms of the virus. If you begin to experience symptoms, call your physician.
How can I manage stress and anxiety in this challenging time?
You are not in this alone. In this time of “social distancing,” it is easy to feel isolated. We should all use this opportunity to reconnect with friends we haven’t spoken to in a while, check in with neighbors and family, and take this time to focus on the people we care about, even if our communication is online, or by telephone or video.
Ask your care team about the supportive oncology services available to you, including the cancer support communities that are offering telephone counseling and online support groups. The Cancer Support Community offers a Cancer Support Hotline and additional resources for patients in need.
Lurie Cancer Center’s Supportive Oncology team at Northwestern Memorial Hospital continues to be available for patients every weekday during this period. They are connecting with patients by video or telephone for scheduled appointments, and in person if a patient is scheduled to be in clinic for treatment.
What other resources can I use for information about cancer and COVID-19?
Leonidas C. Platanias, MD, PhD, director of Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, recently recorded a podcast to talk about Evolving Cancer Care and COVID-19. It can be downloaded or played directly to help you learn more.
The news about COVID-19 is evolving rapidly. For the latest information, including more detailed responses to some frequently asked questions, please visit the following websites:
- Cancer.Net –– Coronavirus: What People with Cancer Need to Know
Find information on special precautions cancer survivors should take and what to do if you think you have COVID-19. Updated daily.
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)'s Resource for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find information on cancer-related risks, tips to protect yourself if you have cancer, and what to do about treatment.
- National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) –– Coronavirus and Cancer Resources for Survivors
Resources on Coronavirus for cancer survivors.
- American Cancer Society -- Common Questions about the New Coronavirus Outbreak
Find information on what cancer survivors need to know, how COVID-19 spreads, how serious coronavirus is, and how you can protect yourself.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Resource for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Find information on symptoms, how to prepare your family, current statistics, up-to-date information, what to do if you're sick, and information for older adults and those with medical conditions. | <urn:uuid:bda10e66-335d-4602-b38c-83c20af68beb> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.cancer.northwestern.edu/news/2020/cancer-and-covid-19.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.948583 | 1,395 | 2.640625 | 3 |
The Queen Anne’s Revenge was once the flagship of English pirate Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard. In November 1718 Blackbeard and his crew ran aground on the coast of North Carolina and abandoned ship. Fast forward 200 years and video footage of the infamous pirate captain’s ship is now the centre of a U.S Supreme Court legal battle.
Our Trainee, Danielle Bragg, takes a look at the copyright dispute.
The wreckage was discovered in 1996 and a company called Nautilus Productions was hired to document its recovery. Nautilus, run by Frederick Allen, had ensured that the footage of the salvage operation was protected by copyright. In 2013, a copyright dispute arose against the State of North Carolina’s Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (the “State”) after they began posting the images online. This action was settled out of court for $15,000 and neither side admitted wrongdoing.
However, following this, documentary materials were uploaded to YouTube and a state agency website and a photo was used in a newsletter. In 2015, the State enacted a statute, known as “Blackbeard’s Law”, in order that the salvage effort could be converted to public record. Nautilus argued the 2015 law should be declared unconstitutional.
Nautilus and Allen sued the State under the Copyright Remedy Clarification Act 1990, which allows private parties to sue states for violations of federal copyright law. The lower court initially found North Carolina could be sued under the 1990 Act.
The State appealed, claiming immunity from prosecution under the 11th Amendment of the Constitution, through a form of protection known as sovereign immunity. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Virginia, ruled last year that the State and its officials were immune from such claims. It found that Congress exceeded its powers in passing the 1990 Act, as an attempt to override state sovereign immunity in copyright disputes. The case will now be heard by the Supreme Court.
In his petition to the Supreme Court, Allen argues that state waived sovereign immunity over intellectual property rights when they ratified the Constitution, which says Congress can grant patents and copyrights. Allen said states are flagrantly infringing authors’ copyrights and invoking sovereign immunity as a way to avoid paying damages. If the 4th Circuit’s decision is not overturned, Allen said in a legal filing, “creators of original expression will be left without remedy when states trample their federal copyrights.” | <urn:uuid:87c875e4-70c4-4f1e-8510-79184de7e4dc> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.capitallaw.co.uk/news/2019/07/03/copyright-row-over-blackbeards-pirate-ship-goes-to-u-s-supreme-court/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.968225 | 511 | 3.34375 | 3 |
A reflex is an automatic and instantaneous response to a sensory stimulus. Remember when you were a child at the doctor’s office and they tapped your knee with a small mallet to check if your leg kicked upwards? You didn’t decide to kick your leg, it just kicked. From infancy, reflexes are vitally important for proper development of the brain, nervous system, body and sensory systems. Some reflexes are meant to stay with us our whole lives. Others are designed to be dormant after their function is fulfilled – also called integration. Check out this awesome resource from Tools to Grow to learn more about specific reflexes and how they impact a child’s function during their daily life. Primitive reflexes are adaptive responses that develop before birth and typically integrate as the brain matures. Primitive reflexes are important for survival and development early in life; however, it is also important that they become integrated as the child grows. Retained reflexes can cause sensory issues, postural disorders, decreased motor skills, and attention/behavioral issues.
What causes retention of primitive reflexes?
Some potential causes of retention of primitive reflexes include c-sections, trauma during birth, exposure to toxins, decreased tummy time during infancy, decreased time crawling, chronic ear infections, or head injuries during infancy among many other unknown causes.
Five Commonly Retained Primitive Reflexes and their Impact on Occupations
1. Moro Reflex
The Moro Reflex is known as the “startle” reflex. This reflects is a fight or flight reaction. It is present at birth and should be integrated by four months. Common effects of retention include emotional outburst, motion sickness, and difficulties with vision, reading, and writing.
2. Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
The Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) is known as the “Fencer’s pose”. It assists in the birthing process. It appears at birth and should be integrated by nine months. Common effects of retention include decreased eye-hand coordination, poor handwriting, poor balance, difficulty with reading and math, and difficulty focusing.
3. Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)
The Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) is an essential foundation for crawling. It appears at six to eight months and should be integrated by nine to eleven months. Common effects of retention include poor posture, W sitting position, poor eye-hand coordination, messy eater, and low muscle tone.
4. Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)
The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) is commonly seen in children with ADHD diagnoses. It appears before birth and should be integrated by three and a half years of age. Common effects of retention include decreased balance, poor spatial awareness, toe walking, weak muscles, poor posture, and difficulty with climbing.
5. Spinal Galant
The Spinal Galant Reflex also assists in the birthing process. It appears at birth and should be integrated by three to nine months. Common effects of retention include bed wetting after potty training, hyperactivity, postural issues including scoliosis, attention issues, and decreased endurance.
What are integrated reflexes?
Integrated reflexes are important for developing motor control. A child needs motor control to maintain proper posture at a desk in school, ride a bike, read a book, cross midline, write, and get dressed. A child with integrated reflexes has normal movement patterns to complete these functional tasks at home and at school. A child with unintegrated reflexes could benefit from skilled reflex integration therapy which will essentially train a child’s brain by establishing an efficient movement pattern that supports higher level motor skills or cognitive tasks.
How do you know whether or not your child has integrated these reflexes?
There are many common areas of difficulty that may suggest a retained reflex including the following:
- “Bouncing” Child: Constantly moving, can’t sit still on a chair, hyperactive
- “Noodle” Child: Leans on everything, rests head on table
- “Shirt Chewers”: Constantly chewing on shirts or pencils, and touches everything
- “Emotional Child”: Challenges with regulating emotions, easily frustrated or upset, difficulty with utilizing age appropriate coping strategies to calm body
- School Performance Challenges: difficulty with reading, handwriting, language/speech, poor sitting balance and immature grasp on writing utensils
- Coordination Challenges: Chronic body aches, poor endurance, fatigue, muscle weakness, poor concentration, fidgeting, disorganization
How do I know If My Child Has Retained Primitive Reflexes and What Can I Do?
Once your Occupational Therapist suspects a retained reflex, he/she will educate the caregiver on the importance of carryover for treatment recommendations. Caregivers play an important role in seeing progression in their child’s everyday activities. It is typically recommended that the child completes a set of tailored exercises to meet your child’s needs, 5-10 minutes per day, for 30 consecutive days in order to see any progress. Your therapist may recommended a reward or sticker chart in order to keep your child motivated towards an end goal. Progress can be noted short term and over 9-12 months. In addition to exercises, your Occupational Therapist will make recommendations for modifications in the school and home environments which may include changing positioning during school work, movement breaks, sensory techniques, relaxation techniques, decreasing auditory and visual stimulation, and organizational skills, just to name a few!
In order to determine whether your child would benefit from direct treatment for Reflex Integration, it is recommended that your child be evaluated or screened by an Occupational Therapist at Carolina Therapy Connection. Give us a call at 252-341-9944 today to schedule your FREE occupational therapy screening with one of our experienced and knowledgable OT’s. | <urn:uuid:209db8c5-1019-41a4-ad0e-ded9fd71c474> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.carolinatherapyconnection.com/what-are-primitive-reflexes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.942883 | 1,237 | 3.78125 | 4 |
From princes to plague,
civil war and presidential visits, Tenby has a depth of history
that will astonish most!
Whilst many people come to Tenby
each summer to revel in its glorious beaches and amble around its
beautiful independent shops, the town's quaint streets and medieval
walls boast a rich past that has come to play an important role in
From its birth under the Norman
Conquest nearly a millennium ago through to the industrial
revolution, Tenby has its fair share of historical locations to
discover on your next visit and this piece explores some of the key
events that have shaped the town we know today.
Founded in 1093, Tenby started its
life as a colonial outpost of the Norman dynasty - something that
would distinguish Pembrokeshire and its people from much of the
rest of the nation for centuries to come.
This Norman heritage can still be
found in the town's modern day infrastructure, with the stunning
walls that make up the perimeter of the town having initially been
built by the Norman Earls of Pembrokeshire in 1245, in a bid to
defend against opposing Welsh forces.
Tenby's walls were later fortified
by William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke, after Tenby was
ransacked by the notorious Welsh Prince Llewelyn ap Gruffydd in
Whilst the town walls have been
removed or collapsed in a number of locations, the remaining walls
are Grade I listed and represent a wonderfully unique feature of
Tenby's beautiful castle was also
first built by the Normans in the same period of history, with its
elevated location making it difficult to assault and affording a
tremendous panoramic vantage point of the surrounding coastline in
anticipation of enemy forces.
Although the castle has fallen into
disrepair over its lifetime, in part due to it being successfully
captured by Welsh princes on a succession of occasions over the
12th Century, it still remains an iconic part of
Tenby's enduring appeal and a reminder of its monarchical
The Prince's escape…
Tenby's unique role in the War of the Roses
As with much of Pembrokeshire,
Tenby played a key role within the War of the Roses and boasts some
fascinating links to the Tudor dynasty.
In 1457, Jasper Tudor, uncle to
Henry Tudor, invested heavily in the refurbishment of the town and
its defence structures as a result of its economic significance to
The extent to which the town was
once considered to be an important port is exemplified by the
development of the "Five Arches" tower, which stands to this day
and was built amidst fears of assault from the Spanish Armada.
The tower is understood to have
been built in the mid-16thCentury and is now a popular attraction
within the town.
Perhaps the most interesting fact
from this significant part of the town's history is the successful
escape of Henry Tudor to Brittany in 1471.
Just 14-years-old, the future king
was forced to hide in a damp underground chamber (
beneath what is now Boots!) as the war raged, before fleeing to
Tenby's demise and the
re-emergence as a cornerstone of British tourism
Despite its importance in the Tudor
period of British history, Tenby faced a brutal demise in
importance during the mid-17th Century when a
series of bloody battles during the English Civil War saw Oliver
Cromwell's forces seize the town in 1648 - before the plague then
ravaged its population in 1650.
The industrial revolution saw Tenby
development as a tourist location, thanks to its popularisation as
a spa town by Sir William Paxton in the Victorian Era, with workers
in the major cities utilising the fresh coastal air of
Pembrokeshire as a welcome escape from the busy and often
unsanitary conditions they lived in.
The birth of Tenby as a tourism
destination of choice has lasted through to the modern day, with
thousands of people escaping to the town annually to enjoy their
The Georgian and Victorian tourism
boons that saw Tenby establish itself as a firm favourite amongst
British holidaymakers is reflected by the number of grandiose
townhouses that offer breath-taking views of the county's coastline
and have become synonymous with the town's charm.
Like most British towns and cities
across the 20th Century, the impact of war saw
scores of Tenby's townspeople tragically lose their lives over the
First and Second World Wars.
Tenby's South Beach was identified
as a potential landing site for glider-borne assault troops from
Nazi forces and an anti-aircraft gun was therefore installed to
protect the town from any potential invasion.
Whilst Tenby avoided the damage
that was inflicted upon other strategically significant locations
within the region by Luftwaffe bombing raids - most notably
Pembroke Dock - the beaches of Tenby were utilised as practice
grounds ahead of the D-Day landings.
The town also received a visit from
a man that would later become President of the United States during
this period of its history, with General Eisenhower visiting the
United States 110th infantry regiment at Tenby in March 1944.
A memorial commemorating the 200
residents of Tenby that were killed or left missing in the two wars
can be found on South Parade Close and is a beautiful
representation of the town's sanguine mentality amidst a time of
Now a popular tourism destination, the
beaches of Tenby were once home to training exercises ahead of the
We hope that you've enjoyed this
whistle stop tour to Tenby's place in the British history books and
that this guide inspires you to check out some of the town's
incredible places of historical note. | <urn:uuid:57291f4c-7648-414d-9f45-0c6afabf4a69> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.celtichaven.co.uk/blog/posts/2019/july/exploring-a-millennium-of-rich-history-in-tenby/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.954791 | 1,264 | 2.75 | 3 |
Mealworms are the larvae of the darkling beetle. Much like a butterfly transforming from a caterpillar into a chrysalis and then turning into the butterfly itself, a darkling beetle egg grows into a mealworm, which then turns into a pupae before the darkling beetle emerges. Dried mealworms are simply these mealworms dried out by either freeze-drying or heating. So surprisingly, mealworms are not actually worms at all!
Mealworms are a used to feed a variety of different animals, from fish to wild birds to pet poultry. It has often been said that using dried mealworms in your bird feeder will attract a wider variety of wild birds (robins blackbirds, thrushes, pied wagtails and more) and you can rest assured that what you are feeding them is 100% natural and packed with all the best nutrients.
As dried mealworms are 100% natural the exact analysis of each batch can vary. This can be due to the difference in the age of the mealworms when dried (how close to the pupae stage the mealworm is at), the size of the mealworm or the type of drying process used. A typical analysis of dried mealworms is: Protein 53%, Fat 28%, Fibre 6%, Moisture 5%.
Our Mealworms are fed on a natural diet of grain, cereals and vegetables, not animal matter or human waste!. All this goodness helps to make mealworms a healthy and tasty treat for your animal friends. You will be amazed just how much they will enjoy Chubby Mealworms! | <urn:uuid:7502e9c9-492f-4879-b4ac-70943a389129> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.chubbymealworms.co.uk/pages/what-are-dried-meal-worms | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.937716 | 322 | 3 | 3 |
Methane poses a unique challenge in the coal industry as risks associated with it are not only a safety hazard, but a significant contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) into the atmosphere. It is the second most abundant greenhouse gas, and 28-times more potent than carbon dioxide in trapping heat in the atmosphere.
In 2017, fugitive methane emissions from coal mining and handling, and decommissioned mines represented 5.3 per cent of Australia's total net GHG emissions.
Fugitive gas mitigation technologies - capture, destroy, use
In response to this challenge, CSIRO has developed a suite of three technologies that aim to mitigate methane emissions by either destroying or enriching the gas or capturing the ventilated air – known in the industry as Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) – from coal mines and using it to generate electricity.
"Our first technology is a mitigation unit called VAMMIT, which is a compact flow reversal reactor with a newly-structured regenerative bed to destroy methane in a cost-effective manner," CSIRO lead scientist and technology inventor, Shi Su, says.
"Whereas the second technology is a capture and enrichment unit, called VAMCAP, which essentially collects and separates the methane from the ventilated air using carbon composites.
"Our third technology, VAMCAT, uses a catalytic combustion gas turbine to create electricity from an otherwise waste product."
Dr Su developed several research projects including a $7.1 million project primarily funded by the Department of Industry, and a $1.95 million project funded by Coal Innovation New South Wales, and established a research team to develop the technologies from fundamental studies to pilot scale and mine site trials.
Low-level ventilation air methane gas technology
CSIRO research engineer, Jon Yin, adds that VAMMIT and VAMCAT work in environments with a low VAM threshold. They can be operated as independent units or be used together in different configurations, which are determined by the needs of the coal mining operations and mine site conditions.
"In practice, the VAM concentration sometimes drops below 0.3 per cent, and that's where the VAMCAP technology comes into play by treating part of the ventilation air. Its aim is to enrich VAM from very low concentrations, to a much higher concentration, to about 25 or even 30 per cent. The enriched methane can be used to assist the operation of the VAMMIT and VAMCAT units.
"And the waste heat from the VAMMIT and VAMCAT units can be used by VAMCAP for stripping methane in the regeneration process.
Complementary and modular approaches
"The three VAM technologies are complementary. Depending on the mine site conditions, a company may choose to use one technology or a combination of them."
This is economical because the units are modular, which makes them easily transportable, reduces the installation costs, and makes it easier for mine operators to scale up their fugitive emissions mitigation efforts.
"They can be easily added to an existing VAM plant and/or to a new ventilation air shaft as the ventilation systems are not going to exist in the long term, so maybe for 10 or 15 years until mining operations finish," Dr Yin says.
"So from then on you can move the VAM units to a new ventilation air shaft system, and that's why we developed the technology at a portable scale. Otherwise you will have problems like the very high cost of relocation, which can be higher than building new units or VAM plants," Dr Yin says.
World-leading methane capture expertise
CSIRO's VAM technologies are world leading and possess significant advantages over others. They have been developed and successfully proved at a large scale at a mine site. With all necessary operating data, engineering and safety management experience, they are ready for further scale up. They can also be potentially applied in overseas coal mines, such as in the US and China.
Supported by Coal Innovation New South Wales, the team is developing a catalytic version of VAMMIT for mine site trials. These will target a minimum methane concentration of 0.15 per cent and lower operational temperature (below 650 degrees Celsius), suitable for some mines with a VAM concentration of under 0.3 per cent over a substantial period. | <urn:uuid:e4b4466b-c0ef-4064-9620-fa1bc86c5807> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.csiro.au/en/work-with-us/industries/mining-resources/Resourceful-magazine/Issue-19/Capturing-the-methane | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.933633 | 874 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Whether created as a scale prototype, or miniature or simply a catalyst for fun and recreation, the history of the model aeroplane closely parallels the history of flight.
We are now seeing tiny unmanned aircraft carrying man's 'senses' aloft and soon, nanoscale devices, small enough fly though our bodies combating disease.
The 19th century saw aviation's birth, the 20th century took man into the skies - the 21st century can only be even more spectacular.
Aeromodellers of the Past 200 Years
Australian Aeromodelling Clubs - Updated October 31, 2007
Australian Aeromodellers 'Hangar of Fame'
Australian Aeromodellers Gallery
Museum of Australian Aeromodelling
K-12 Education Resources
Aeromodelling, Selected Essays | <urn:uuid:57043f18-5630-4738-be39-4aa0f36a2813> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/tribute.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.883701 | 170 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Restored, re-evaluated, and framed with a live orchestral arrangement of the original score and a performance by descendants of the indigenous cast
In 1914, famed photographer Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952) produced a melodramatic, silent film entitled In the Land of the Head Hunters. This was the first feature-length film to exclusively star Native North Americans (eight years before Robert Flaherty’s Nanook of the North). An epic story of love and war set before European contact, it featured non-professional actors from Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl) communities in British Columbia—a people already famous then for their spectacular visual culture and performances. The film had gala openings in New York and Seattle in December 1914, where it was accompanied by a live orchestral score composed by John J. Braham (1848-1919), best known for his work with Gilbert and Sullivan. Curtis supplied Braham with c.1910 wax-cylinder recordings of Kwakwaka’wakw songs; despite advertising claims, however, little if any of this source material made it into the score. Critics wrote in rapturous terms about the power and beauty of the film, the Seattle Sun calling it a “great production—like a string of carved beads, too rare to be duplicated.” And yet, Head Hunters was a financial failure, quickly overlooked and barely preserved. In 1947, a single copy arrived at the Field Museum after being picked out of a Chicago dumpster; these damaged and incomplete reels were re-edited by Bill Holm and George Quimby and released in 1973 as In the Land of the War Canoes, featuring a new soundtrack recorded by Kwakwaka’wakw consultants at the time. At some point, a few deteriorating clips from another copy found their way to the UCLA Film & Television Archive, and the all-but-forgotten score was filed under another name at the Getty Research Library.
Today, we are privileged to present a restored copy of In the Land of the Head Hunters, reunited with its original orchestral score and informed by descendants of the original Kwakwaka’wakw cast. This event is significant for a number of reasons. Since the 1970s, Curtis’s film has been treated as a documentary, adorning the halls of natural history and anthropology museums and being criticized for its staging of savage scenes from a “pre-contact” past as if they were part of the everyday life of contemporary tribal communities (as was also the case with his photography). Yet the film was intended as an innovation in feature film—one meant to stand out in the already crowded field of popular Westerns or “Indian Pictures” of the time—because of its exclusive use of “authentic” Native actors, its on-location shooting, its dynamic camera work, its spectacular color tinting and toning, and its ambitious musical score. The film truly represents an active, artistic collaboration between two dramatic traditions: the rich Kwakwaka’wakw history of staged ceremonialism and the then-emergent mass-market colossus of American narrative cinema.
Rather than documenting Native life in 1914, Head Hunters documents a moment of cultural encounter between Curtis and the Kwakwaka’wakw actors and consultants who were performing Curtis’s scripted version of their own past for the camera. Some aspects of the film do accurately depict Kwakwaka’wakw culture, such as the artwork and many of the ceremonial dances. Others include forms of technology—the plank houses, cedar bark clothing, and massive dugout canoes—that were clearly recalled but in waning use in 1914 as people adapted to Euro-Canadian life. The most sensational elements of the film—the head hunting, sorcery, and handling of human remains—reflect much earlier practices that had been long abandoned, but which became central elements in Curtis's spectacularized tale. And some activities were never part of Kwakwaka’wakw culture. For example, Curtis borrowed the whaling practices (and the rented whale!) from neighboring groups for what seem to be purely dramatic and cinematic reasons.
Even more noteworthy than Curtis’s embellishments, though, is the film’s portrayal of actual Kwakwaka’wakw rituals that were prohibited in Canada at the time of filming under the federal Potlatch Prohibition (1884-1951), intended to hasten the assimilation of First Nations. Despite this legislation, the dances and visual art forms—hereditary property of specific families—were maintained through this period and transmitted to subsequent generations, including the performers associated with this project. An extension of their previous engagement with international expositions, ethnographers, and museums, the film in part helped the Kwakwaka’wakw evade the potlatch ban, maintain their expressive culture, and emerge as actors on the world’s stage. By adapting their traditional ceremonies for Curtis’s film while refusing to play stereotypical “Indians,” the Kwakwaka’wakw played a vital role in the development of the most modern of commercial art forms—the motion picture.
Like his photographs, Curtis’s film was originally meant to capture a “vanishing race.” Instead, when resituated within the history of motion pictures and framed by current Kwakwaka’wakw perspectives, this landmark of early cinema can be recast as visible evidence of ongoing cultural survival and transformation under shifting historical conditions. For nearly a century and counting, In the Land of the Head Hunters has constituted a filmic lens through which to reframe and re-imagine the changing terms of colonial representation, cultural memory, and intercultural encounter. | <urn:uuid:513c137b-11e4-42f9-b7cf-27fc8ae30d69> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.curtisfilm.rutgers.edu/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.958071 | 1,213 | 2.515625 | 3 |
As part of Diabetic Retina Screen (The National Diabetic Retinopathy Screening programme), in partnership with Global Vision, our Diabetes Care Centre is a venue where members of the local diabetes community will attend for their eye screen. This is by invited appointment from the programme.
Below is an excellent video and Review by Sean Kirwan, Medical Scientist, and Research Associate at UCD and ICON plc
Diabetic Retinopathy from Sean Kirwan on Vimeo. This 3D animated video was created by Sean Kirwan, Medical Scientist, during a Knowledge Exchange Dissemination Scheme (KEDS) with University College Dublin and ICON Firecrest, funded by the Health Research Board. Lead Pharmacologist was Sean Kirwan and 3D Graphic Designers included Carlos Tena and Tomás O’Sullivan of ICON Firecrest. Support Pharmacologist was Dr Paul Halley of ICON Firecrest. Dr Breandán Kennedy (UCD) and Dr Rosemarie Carew (ICON Firecrest) were project supervisors.
Review of Diabetes & Diabetic Retinopathy
Understanding diabetic retinopathy
As you know diabetes is a condition where the body can’t use and store glucose properly and this can cause many health problems. Too much glucose in the blood can cause damage to blood vessels throughout the body, including the blood vessels in the eye. These eye changes are called diabetic retinopathy.
If you have diabetes, it is vital to have the back of your eyes effectively screened every year.
What is diabetic retinopathy?
To understand diabetic retinopathy it helps to know a little bit about how your eye works. The lining at the back of your eye is called the retina. The job of the retina is to help change what you see into messages that travel along the sight nerve to the brain.
In the centre of the retina is an area called the macula which is really important for clear, sharp vision.
Diabetic retinopathy is the name used for different types of changes in the retina which can affect your sight, these include:
• Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) – this is where leaky blood vessels affect the important central part of the retina called the macula (the part of the eye responsible for detailed central vision). Diabetic macular edema is the more common type of eye change
• Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy – this is where fragile new blood vessels form gradually on the surface of the retina over time.
What causes diabetic retinopathy?
When someone has diabetes, over time the blood vessels in the retina become thicker and the blood flowing in the blood vessels slows down. The retina tries to help speed up the blood flow by producing tiny amounts of chemicals to open up the blood vessels.
These chemicals have two side effects:
• they can make the blood vessels leaky (diabetic macular edema);
• they can cause the retina to make new blood vessels which are very fragile (proliferative diabetic retinopathy).
Both diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy can be treated and managed if they are detected early enough. If they are left untreated, sight problems will develop.
Could I develop diabetic retinopathy?
Anyone with diabetes can develop diabetic retinopathy. The longer you have diabetes, the more likely you are to develop the condition. Poor blood glucose control in diabetes can make diabetic retinopathy worse and can increase the risk of developing sight problems.
What are the risk factors for diabetic retinopathy?
• Poor blood glucose control
• High blood pressure
• Raised fats (triglycerides) in the blood
• Pregnancy (not gestational diabetes). During pregnancy, diabetes can worsen diabetic retinopathy.
How will I know if I am developing diabetic retinopathy?
You may not notice anything as there may be no symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. But talk with your diabetes care team if you:
- experience blurred vision or any changes in your sight,
- see new black spots,
- floaters’ that appear to float in your eye,
- have trouble seeing things at the side of your vision.
Blurred vision can happen at any stage of diabetic retinopathy, although it is more likely to occur the longer you have diabetes. Blurred vision happens for two reasons:
- with diabetic macular edema, leaky blood vessels cause swelling of the macula, which can lead to blurred vision.
- with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, fragile new blood vessels on the retina cause bleeding in the eye.
This can also lead to blurred vision. Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. It is important to attend your diabetes and eye screening appointments. Early detection and treatment can help to avoid sight loss from diabetic retinopathy.
How is diabetic retinopathy detected?
Regular eye screening is the best way to detect diabetic retinopathy before you notice any changes in your sight. The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening service uses specialised digital photography to look for changes that could affect your sight. This is painless and safe.
When the condition is discovered early, treatment is effective at reducing or preventing damage to your sight. Diabetic retinopathy eye screening is a key part of your diabetes care. The National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme, ‘Diabetic RetinaScreen’ www.diabeticretinascreen.ie offers free, regular diabetic retinopathy screening to all people with diabetes, aged 12 and older.
How can I check I am on the diabetic retinopathy screening programme register?
If you have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes please Freephone 1800 45 45 55 to check if you are on the Diabetic RetinaScreen register. If you are not your GP (family doctor) can register you by ringing 1800 45 45 55.
Once I am registered with the diabetic retinopathy screening programme how do I get my eye screening appointment?
Once you are on the register, you will be invited by letter to participate in Diabetic retinopathy screening programme. When you get the letter if you would like to participate in the screening programme, you must call Freephone 1800 45 45 55 to consent to give the programme permission to receive, hold and share your personal details within the programme. You will then be sent an appointment letter to attend for free diabetic retinopathy screening at a local screening centre.
Is diabetic retinopathy eye screening the same as a regular eye test?
No. A regular eye test for glasses or to check for glaucoma or cataract is not the same as a full diabetic retinopathy eye examination. It is important to have both.
Is there a charge for diabetic retinopathy eye screening?
There is no cost to you for this service.
How can I avoid getting diabetic retinopathy?
You can help prevent or slow the development of diabetic retinopathy by:
- taking your prescribed medication;
- sticking to your recommended diet as best you can;
- exercising regularly and sensibly;
- controlling high blood pressure;
- limiting your alcohol intake;
- avoiding smoking;
- attending your regular diabetes check-ups; and
- having a full eye examination every year.
How is diabetic retinopathy treated?
If you get diabetic retinopathy, a good diet, regular exercise and looking after your blood glucose can slow down the development of the condition. Treatment depends on the amount and type of changes in your eyes and is aimed at slowing or stopping those changes.
Diabetic macular edema can be treated with a laser or injections of medicine in the eye or a combination of both treatments. Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is typically treated with a laser but some people may need injections and surgery inside the eye. You and your diabetes care team will decide together which treatment is best for you.
What should I do if I have a problem with my sight?
Talk to your diabetes care team as soon as possible. Treatments are available to help you to maintain your vision.
This page is supported by Novartis | <urn:uuid:7649a12c-1d64-4c89-a1bf-a976ede55f2b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.diabetes.ie/care-centre/dublin-care-centre/diabetic-retinopathy-service/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.923676 | 1,693 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local time of Fairfield, United States with DST adjustment (if applicable).
Panchang makers use either visibility of upper edge or visibility of middle limb of the Sun at eastern horizon to mark the sunrise time used in Panchang. The difference in both timing of Sunrise could be up to few minutes.
There is no consensus and most Panchang makers don't even mention it in their Panchang. Generally, upper edge timing of sunrise is considered as astronomical sunrise and middle limb timing of sunrise is considered as Hindu Sunrise. Most newspapers publish astronomical value of sunrise which consider upper edge of the Sun to mark the sunrise time.
Modern research shows that upper edge of Sunrise is more appropriate and authenticated to use as sunrise time in Panchang.
उदयास्त मनाख्यं हि दर्शनादर्शनं रवेः।
which means "visibility of sun's limb is the rising time and complete invisibility is the setting time."
which means "the first three Muhurta of the day counted from the first visibility of the sun's rays." Further it mentions -
रेखामात्रन्तु दृश्येत रश्मिभिश्च समन्वितं।
उदयन्तद्विजानीयात् होमं कूय्यात् विचक्षणः॥
which means "when even a portion of the sun with it's ray is visible it is to be considered as sunrise and at that time oblation (homa) is to be performed".
Drik Panchang shows both values side-by-side to clear the difference between upper edge and middle limb timing of sunrise and sunset. We also provide setting to change sunrise time between "Upper Edge" and "Middle Limb".
Drik Panchang uses upper edge of sun along with refraction to mark the time of sunrise. Further, by default we don't consider elevation for Sunrise calculations but provide option to enable elevation in Sunrise calculations. Elevation can change sunrise timings up to few minutes. Once setting of sunrise is updated, the new value would be used for all Panchang calculations including festivals and Muhurta timings. | <urn:uuid:0a464507-882a-4649-9090-5ecc5a392bac> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.drikpanchang.com/panchang/sunrise/panchang-sunrise.html?date=30/07/2168 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.895021 | 609 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Positive displacements pumps are generally used on drilling rigs to pump high pressure and high volume of drilling fluids throughout a drilling system. There are several reasons why the positive displacement mud pumps are used on the rigs.
• The pumps can work with fluids with high solid content.
• There are wide ranges for pressure and flow rate.
• They are more reliable and able to pump at tough conditions.
• They are easy to operate and maintain.
Duplex and Triplex pumps are positive displacement pumps which are commonly used in the oilfield.
Duplex Pumps – 2 cylinders, double acting
Figure 1 – Duplex Pump
The duplex pumps (Figure 1) have two cylinders with double acting. It means that pistons move back and take in drilling mud through open intake valve and other sides of the same pistons, the pistons push mud out through the discharge valves.
The following diagrams demonstrate how duplex mud pumps work.
Figure 2 – Position of Piston Rod and Fluid Movement of Duplex Pump
When the piston rod is moved forward, one of intake valves is lift to allow fluid to come in and one of the discharge valve is pushed up therefore the drilling mud is pumped out of the pump (Figure 2).
Figure 3 -Position of Piston Rod and Fluid Movement of Duplex Pump
On the other hand, when the piston rod is moved backward drilling fluid is still pumped. The other intake and discharge valve will be opened (Figure 3).
Triplex Pumps – 3 cylinders, single acting
The triplex pumps have three cylinders with single acting. The pistons are moved back and pull in drilling mud through open intake valves. When the pistons are moved forward and the drilling fluid is pushed out through open discharge valves.
Figure 4 Triplex Pump
The following diagrams demonstrate how the triplex mud pumps work.
Each diagram shows the action of one cylinder.
Figure 5 – Position of Piston Rod and Fluid Movement of Triplex Pump (Discharge)
When the piston rods are moved forward, the intake valves are in close position and the discharge valves are in open position allowing fluid to discharge (Figure 5).
Figure 6 Position of Piston Rod and Fluid Movement of Triplex Pump (Suction)
On the contrary when the piston rods are moved backward, the intake valve are opened allowing drilling fluid coming into the pump (Figure 6). This video below shows how a triplex mud pump works.
Which one is the most practical mud pump on the rig nowadays?
Triplex pumps are more popular than duplex pumps because of being lighter, smoother discharge and lower maintenance cost.
Calculations Related to Positive Displacement Mud Pumps
Hydraulic Horse Power (HPP) formula is listed blow
HHP= (P x Q) ÷1714
HHP = hydraulic horsepower
P = circulating pressure, psi
Q = circulating rate, gpm
Because each pump has power rating limit as 1600 hp, this will limit capability of pump. It means that you cannot pump at high rate and high pressure over what the pump can do. Use of a small liner will increase discharge pressure however the flow rate is reduces. Conversely, if a bigger liner is used to deliver more flow rate, maximum pump pressure will decrease.
The figure 7 below shows the performance of mud pump National 12-P-160 TRIPLEX MUD PUMP.
Figure 7 – Pump Performance Chart
As you can see, you can have 7500 psi with 4.5” liner but the maximum flow rate is only 297 GPM. If the biggest size of liner (7.25”) is used, the pump pressure is only 3200 psi.
Triplex Pump Output Formula
Triplex Pump Output in bbl/stk = 0.000243 × (liner diameter in inch) 2 ×(stroke length in inch)
Duplex Pump Output Formula
Duplex Pump Output in bbl/stk = 0.000162 × S × [2(D)2 – d2]
D = liner diameter in inch
S = stroke length in inch
d = rod diameter in inch
These formulas are based on 100% efficiency.
The actual pump output must be considered pump efficiency.
Finally, we hope that this article would give you more understanding about the general idea of drilling mud pumps. Please feel free to add more comments. | <urn:uuid:44cf87df-8271-4032-85b8-0923476b890a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.drillingformulas.com/basic-understanding-about-positive-displacement-in-drilling-industry/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.898393 | 911 | 2.859375 | 3 |
A wisdom tooth, also known as a third molar, is the last tooth to develop in the back of the mouth, usually appearing between the ages of 17 and 25. Wisdom teeth can cause problems if they do not have enough room to grow in properly, which may lead to impaction, infection, or damage to adjacent teeth.
In these cases, it may be recommended to have the wisdom teeth extracted by an oral surgeon. However, if the wisdom teeth are able to grow in properly and are causing no issues, it may not be necessary to have them removed. The best course of action will vary depending on the individual case and should be discussed with a dentist or oral surgeon.
Common Problems with Wisdom Tooth
Wisdom tooth can cause a number of problems if it doest not have enough room to grow in properly. Some of the most common problems associated with wisdom teeth include:
Impaction: This occurs when the wisdom tooth is unable to fully emerge from the gums, as it is blocked by other teeth or bone. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, swelling, and infection.
Crowding: When wisdom teeth grow in, they can push other teeth out of alignment, causing crowding and misalignment of the teeth.
Decay and gum disease: Wisdom teeth are harder to clean due to their position in the back of the mouth and can be more susceptible to decay and gum disease if not properly maintained.
Cyst formation: Wisdom teeth can cause a cyst, which is a fluid-filled sac that can damage the jawbone and surrounding teeth.
Tumor formation: Wisdom teeth can cause a benign tumor called an ameloblastoma, which can damage the jawbone and surrounding teeth.
These problems can be treated by extraction of the wisdom teeth. It is best to consult a dentist to determine the best course of action.
Procedure of Wisdom Tooth Extraction
The procedure to remove wisdom teeth, also known as third molar extraction, is typically performed by an oral surgeon in an outpatient setting. The specific steps of the procedure will vary depending on the location and position of the wisdom teeth, as well as the overall health of the patient. However, the general steps of the procedure are as follows:
Anesthesia: The patient will be given a local anesthesia to numb the area around the wisdom teeth, or a general anesthesia to put the patient to sleep during the procedure.
Incision: The surgeon will make small incisions in the gums to access the wisdom teeth.
Removal: The wisdom teeth will be gently rocked back and forth to loosen them from the surrounding bone and tissue. In some cases, the tooth may need to be sectioned into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove.
Stitching: Once the wisdom teeth have been removed, the incisions will be closed with stitches.
Recovery: After the procedure, the patient will be monitored for a short period of time to ensure proper recovery. Pain, swelling, and bleeding are normal after the extraction, but the patient should contact the surgeon if they experience severe pain, heavy bleeding, or fever.
It's worth noting that the recovery time can vary depending on the individual case, but generally it takes around 7-10 days.
Cost of Wisdom Tooth Extraction in Gaur City 2 Noida Extension or IP Extension Patparganj Delhi
The cost of wisdom tooth extraction in Gaur City 2 can vary depending on several factors, such as the the experience and qualifications of the dentist, and the complexity of the extraction.
It can be more or less than that depending on the complexity of the extraction, if it's a surgical extraction or a simple extraction.
It's also worth noting that if the wisdom teeth are impacted, the cost may be higher, as the procedure is more complex. Additionally, if the patient requires general anesthesia, the cost will also be higher.
It's always best to consult with us at any of our clinics for an accurate estimate and to understand the cost breakdown for the procedure.
Additionally, some dental insurance plans may cover the cost of wisdom tooth extraction.
Book your appointment. | <urn:uuid:47bc2792-514e-4b44-9fb0-b83b4637612f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.drkaneshadentalstudio.com/post/wisdom-tooth-extraction-cost-in-gaur-city-2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.941931 | 844 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Ease patients’ concerns by being well versed in the safety profiles of each vaccine.
Back in December 2020, the FDA issued an emergency use authorization for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, followed by authorization for the Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines. Many Americans have yet to be vac- cinated, with the most common reasons for refusing being fear of potential adverse effects (AEs) and concerns about the rapid vaccine development process.1 Pharmacists must be familiar with the safety profiles of the vaccines to assure the public of their safety.
COVID-19 Vaccines Available in the United States
Three vaccines are currently available on the US market. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are both messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, whereas the Janssen is a viral-vector vaccine.2 All 3 result in the production of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins, which trigger the development of antibodies. The development of immunity and memory cells typically takes a few weeks and, when complete, these protect the body against COVID-19 infections.3 Although the vaccines stimulate an immune response, they do not cause a full COVID-19 infection.
Vaccine Safety Monitoring
Before a vaccine receives FDA approval, it undergoes a series of trials during which its efficacy and safety profiles are established. Trials begin in animal models and continue with 3 phases of clinical trials. A vaccine gains FDA approval only if the efficacy and safety data prove that its benefits outweigh the risks. Once a vaccine has been approved and launched, postmarketing surveillance begins. Such surveillance allows for the collection of safety data in a larger and more diverse population.
Postmarketing safety information for COVID-19 vaccines has been gathered in several ways. For all vaccines, the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research monitors vaccine safety through passive and active surveillance.2 Passive surveillance consists of adverse event reports received from the public and health care professionals, which are entered into the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Active surveillance involves proactively obtaining and analyzing information from large health care data systems to verify safety signals identified through passive surveillance or to detect additional safety signals. If a possible link between a vaccine and an AE is identified, public health officials assess the benefits and risks and determine whether the vaccine can continue to be administered and whether administration guidelines require adjustment.4
Reported Adverse Effects Associated With COVID-19 Vaccines
The AEs reported with the COVID-19 vaccines are generally mild and resolve within a few days.5 These effects tend to be more intense after the second dose of the mRNA vaccines and are more likely to occur in younger individuals. Ongoing surveillance has identified additional AEs, but it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to vaccine exposure (see Table).6-8 This point can be illustrated by the reporting in mid-April 2021 of a few cases of thrombocytopenia with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in individuals who had received the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Although these cases appear to be very rare, as of the time of this writing, the FDA and CDC have recommended a pause in the use of this vaccine until this matter is thoroughly investigated.9
The more commonly reported AEs associated with the use of COVID-19 vaccines are usually related to the vaccine’s pharmacology and not considered immune-mediated or allergic reactions.10 Despite that, news reports concerning severe postmarketing reactions including anaphylaxis instilled fear among the public.11
Anaphylaxis is a severe acute-onset immunologic reaction, generally immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated, which typically occurs in response to preformed IgE antibodies.12 Acute-onset immunologically mediated reactions commonly manifest as urticaria, swelling, gastrointestinal upset, respiratory distress, or cardiovascular collapse associated with severe cases of anaphylaxis. The onset of acute allergic reactions generally occurs within 30 minutes of exposure, although a reaction may also develop hours to days later, in which case it usually presents as a cutaneous reaction. Generally, the mRNA, DNA, or other antigen components in vaccines are not the culprits for allergic reactions. Allergic reactions are usually attributed to other product components such as stabilizing agents and adjuvants, and, rarely, to latex in the vial’s rubber stopper. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines contain mRNA, lipids, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 2000, electrolytes, sucrose, and a saline diluent. Although the etiology of anaphylaxis to the COVID-19 vaccines is not known, PEG and related polysorbates have been associated with cases of anaphylaxis to other agents. Individuals who exhibit signs of allergic reaction after COVID-19 vaccination are advised to avoid new PEG exposure and to undergo further evaluation with a board-certified allergist or immunologist.12 Although cases of anaphylaxis were not reported in clinical trials with the mRNA vaccines, 21 incidents of possible anaphylaxis were subsequently reported with the Pfizer vaccine (11.1 cases per million doses), with 70% occurring within 15 minutes of administration.12 Ten cases of possible anaphylaxis were reported after vaccination with the Moderna vaccine (2.5 cases per million doses) and 1 case of anaphylaxis was reported with the Janssen vaccine.11 The less extensive use of the Janssen vaccine to date prohibits a comparative assessment of the overall safety of this vaccine relative to the mRNA vaccines.
Prevention and Management of Anaphylaxis
The CDC recommends that the COVID-19 vaccines not be administered to individuals who have a history of severe or immediate allergic reaction to any vaccine component (eg, PEG in the case of the mRNA vaccines, polysorbate in the case of the Janssen vaccine).13 Patients who experienced a severe or immediate allergic reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine should not receive subsequent doses.14 The CDC recommends a postvaccination observation period of 30 minutes for those at high risk for anaphylactic reactions and 15 minutes for all other individuals.14
Counseling and Education
When providing counseling, it is important to emphasize the vaccine’s efficacy. Individuals receiving the mRNA vaccines also should be counseled on the importance of completing the vaccination series with the same product. They should be counseled on the expected postvaccination symptoms: Of those receiving the mRNA vaccines, local symptoms are experienced by 80% to 89%, and systemic symptoms by 55% to 83%; of those receiving the viral-vector vaccine, local symptoms are experienced by 50%, and systemic symptoms by 55%. Reassure recipients that systemic postvaccination symptoms are generally mild to moderate in severity, occur within the first 3 days of vaccination, and resolve within 3 days of onset. Advise recipients that antipyretic or analgesic medications can be taken for postvaccination local or systemic symptoms.14
The available COVID-19 vaccines are effective in reducing the spread of the disease. Serious reactions are rare, and the public should be educated on the overall safety of these vaccines.
1. WHO coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard. World Health Organization. Updated April 6, 2021. Accessed April 6, 2021. https://covid19.who.int/
2. Nguyen KH, Srivastav A, Razzaghi H. COVID-19 vaccination intent, perceptions, and reasons for not vaccinating among groups prioritized for early vaccination–United States, September and December 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70(6):217-222. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7006e3
3. Understanding how COVID-19 vaccines work. CDC. Updated March 9, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html
4. COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance. Food & Drug Administration. Updated February 9, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/safety-availability-biologics/covid-19-vaccine-safety-surveillance
5. Ensuring the safety of vaccines in the United States. CDC. Updated January 2018. Accessed April 1, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/downloads/vacsafe-ensuring-color-office.pdf
6. Possible side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. CDC. Updated March 16, 2021. Accessed April 2, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html
7. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine- bnt162b2 injection, suspension. DailyMed. Updated February 26, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2021. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=908ecbe7-2f1b-42dd-94bf-f917ec3c5af8
8. Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine- cx-024414 injection, suspension. DailyMed. Updated March 29, 2021. Accessed April 1, 2021. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e0651c7a-2fe2-459d-a766-0d59e919f058
9. Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine- ad26.cov2.s injection, suspension. DailyMed. Updated April 2, 2021. Accessed April 6, 2021. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=14a822ff-f353-49f9-a7f2-21424b201e3b
10. Recommendation to pause use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Accessed April 15, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/JJUpdate.html
11. Kuder MM, Lang DM, Patadia DD. Anaphylaxis to vaccinations: a review of the literature and evaluation of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccinations. Cleve Clin J Med. Published online March 1, 2021. doi:10.3949/ccjm.88a.ccc075
12. Rolla G, Brussino L, Badiu I. Maintaining safety with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(10):e37. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2100766
13. Information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with allergies. CDC. Updated March 25, 2021. Accessed April 5, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/specific-groups/allergies.html
14. Interim clinical considerations for use of COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized in the United States. CDC. Last reviewed March 5, 2021. Accessed April 5, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html | <urn:uuid:20147e91-2581-46ae-85be-5a952f45d1fd> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.drugtopics.com/view/covid-19-vaccines-a-focus-on-safety | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.90728 | 2,451 | 3.21875 | 3 |
What is net income?
Net income refers to a company or individual's total earnings after accounting for all money associated with that entity, including deductions, taxes, fees, and other charges. It is also referred as "net profit" or the "bottom line." Net income is an important performance metric often used to measure business success in the short-term and long-term.
How to Calculate net income?
Calculating net income can be a straightforward process. Net income is the amount of money remaining after all expenses such as labor and cost of goods are subtracted from gross sales income.
Net income = Total Revenue/Income - Expenses (Allowances, taxes).
Net income vs Gross Income
Gross income is the monetary value before taxes and other deductions. It is essentially a person's total earnings over a specific period and may include salaries, wages, bonuses, commissions, overtime pay, self-employment income, or independent contractor compensation. On the other hand, net income takes into account any deductions applicable to reduce a person's taxable income. It includes such things as taxes, social security contributions, health insurance premiums, and contributions to pensions. | <urn:uuid:d196b14c-8367-4fd6-8c24-e849d1504598> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.equiruswealth.com/glossary/net-income | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.951343 | 237 | 3.625 | 4 |
Regular exercise is an essential component of overall health and wellness. It is proven that exercise reduces sickness and disease; it increases strength, immunity, and mental health; and it also helps regulate bodily functions and maintain a healthy weight. Research shows that exercise can lower our risk of chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema, as well as other eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Whereas, a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of these diseases and of vision loss, studies show that even moderate exercise at least three times a week can improve the prognosis of the above-mentioned chronic illnesses and reduce the risks of developing vision threatening eye diseases.
Inactivity is an even higher risk factor if you have other co-factors for developing eye diseases, including: a family history, previous eye injury or surgery, diabetes, high blood pressure or very high myopia. A combination of healthy lifestyle habits which include regular exercise and a nutritious diet and tending to your mental and emotional well-being can reduce these risks significantly.
Tips for Incorporating Physical Activity Into Your Day
- Make it a priority. Schedule your exercise time into your day as if it is a non-negotiable appointment. Find the time of day that works best - for some that is early morning and for others late at night. Work your way up to a half hour at least three times a week.
- Be realistic. You don’t need to become a fitness expert to experience the benefits of exercise. Walking, yoga, swimming, even dancing around the house are all options for staying fit. Find a type of exercise that you love so you will enjoy working this habit into your life.
- Just move. Find ways to move your body throughout your day. Park your car a little further away from the mall entrance, take the stairs instead of the elevator or walk or bike to work. Remember, every little bit of movement helps.
- Find something you enjoy. Often finding the right exercise is a good stress reliever, and reducing stress will also reduce risk of many chronic diseases.
- It’s never too late. Exercise for the elderly can be a challenge especially during the cold winter months, when many seniors can’t get out of the house due to the weather. Even walking up and down the stairs in the house or following an exercise video can be helpful to keep from being sedentary.
Protection & Prevention
If you are exercising outdoors or playing contact sports, make sure to protect your eyes with sunglasses or sports safety glasses to ensure your eye health and safety.
Regular exercise can significantly decrease your risks of certain eye conditions but you still have to ensure that you visit your eye doctor for regular exams. Schedule a comprehensive eye exam every year to ensure your vision and your eyes are healthy and to catch any possible problems as early as possible.
Eye health and disease prevention are just two of the many health and wellness benefits you gift yourself when you make exercise a regular part of your lifestyle. Speak to your doctor if you have any health issues that need to be considered. At any age or level of physical fitness, you can find some form of exercise that works for you. | <urn:uuid:a0775bc1-e331-4eb6-8f81-ab7128dfe436> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.eyesiteweb.com/2018/10/08/exercise-and-your-eye-health-2018/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.950744 | 673 | 2.71875 | 3 |
The ABCs of Zero Coupon Bonds
At first blush, the idea of a bond that doesn’t pay interest seems oxymoronic. After all, isn’t a bond a debt instrument that pays periodic interest and repays the principal at maturity?1
Zero coupon bonds are indeed debt instruments, but are issued at a discount to their face value, make no interest payments, and pay its face value at time of maturity.
How Does it Work?
Let’s say, a hypothetical zero coupon bond is issued today at a discount price of $743 with a face value of $1,000, payable in 15 years. If you buy this bond, hold it for the entire term and receive the face-value payment, the difference of $257 represents the interest you earned. In this hypothetical example, the bond’s interest rate would amount to approximately 2 percent.
Zero coupon bonds are predominantly issued by the federal government, and typically, they are issued with maturities of 10 to 15 years.
Zero coupon bonds are traded on recognized financial markets and exchanges, which may offer investors liquidity in the event they choose not to hold them to maturity.
One of the biggest risks of zero coupon bonds is their sensitivity to swings in interest rates. In a rising interest rate environment, their value is likely to fall more than other bonds.
Zero coupon bonds are subject to an unusual taxation in which the receipt of interest is imputed each year, requiring holders to pay income taxes on what is called “phantom income.”
For individuals, zero coupon bonds may serve several investment purposes. Zeros may be bought to fund specific future financial obligations, e.g., college savings. By placing them in a U.S. Treasury zero, a parent can be assured that the funds are expected to be fully intact to meet this liability.2
As with any investment, a zero coupon bond’s appropriateness hinges on your individual needs and circumstances. Understanding some of the basic concepts may help you better assess whether they might have a place in your portfolio.
1. The market value of a bond will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. As rates rise, the value of existing bonds typically falls. If an investor sells a bond before maturity, it may be worth more or less than the initial purchase price. By holding a bond to maturity an investor will receive the interest payments due plus your original principal, barring default by the issuer. Investments seeking to achieve higher yields also involve a higher degree of risk.
2. U.S. Treasury zero coupon bonds are guaranteed by the federal government as to the payment of principal and interest. However, if you sell a Treasury zero coupon bond prior to maturity, it could be worth more or less than the original price paid.
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright FMG Suite. | <urn:uuid:b5a37e4b-4482-4ffd-9038-46d5c3ff7a93> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.finplaninfo.com/resource-center/investment/the-abcs-of-zero-coupon-bonds | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.947822 | 707 | 2.640625 | 3 |
What is canine elbow dysplasia?
The word “dysplasia” means “abnormality of development”. The elbow is a complex joint because it involves the articulation of three bones. If the three bones do not fit together absolutely perfectly as a result of abnormal development, the consequence is abnormal concentration of forces on a specific region of the elbow joint.
Forms of primary cartilage disease may also constitute abnormal development of the elbow joint resulting in significant clinical consequences. The term ‘developmental elbow diseases’ may be a more descriptive nomenclature for this condition since most people will have heard of ‘dysplasia’ only in reference to the hip joint. Elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia both mean that the conformation of the joint is abnormal. In hip dysplasia, the end result of the abnormality in all dogs will be osteoarthritis accompanied by pain and reduced range of motion. Treatment mostly consists of management of the osteoarthritis or joint replacement. In elbow dysplasia, the forces concentrated on specific areas of the joint will not only result in osteoarthritis (as happens with hip dysplasia) but also in discrete pathological entities like fractures within the joint that may need to be managed separately and alongside the osteoarthritis.
Until recently it was believed that these disease entities were the manifestations of different elbow pathology but as they were commonly seen in combination with each other and they all resulted in elbow osteoarthritis, the term elbow dysplasia was used as an umbrella term for all of them. We now believe that these disease entities are the manifestation of the same pathology, which is the abnormal conformation of the joint and therefore we often see them in combination with each other. Although we still use the term elbow dysplasia to describe them, this term is now mostly used to describe the main pathology and not as an umbrella term for different joint disease entities.
How can I tell if my dog has elbow dysplasia?
Elbow dysplasia is the most common cause of forelimb lameness in young, large and giant breed dogs. Most dogs have a limp on one or both front legs. This can be seen as a nodding of the head when the good leg is placed and lifting of the head when the bad leg is placed. Some dogs that limp on both front legs will not have a limp, but will have an unusual “paddling” gait. Lameness is often triggered by prolonged rest and exercise. For this reason, many dogs will be lame when they wake up but after a warm up they will exercise freely and limp again afterwards. Although most dogs will be diagnosed before they are two years old, some dogs will not limp until they are older. Collectively, elbow dysplasia and elbow osteoarthritis are the commonest causes of forelimb lameness in dogs of any age. Small dogs can also be affected by elbow dysplasia and this problem should be suspected in any dog with forelimb lameness that has not been caused by trauma.
What is the cause of elbow dysplasia?
This condition is primarily of genetic cause although environmental factors, such as obesity during puppyhood, may influence whether an animal with the genes coding for elbow dysplasia will develop a clinical problem. Current estimates state that more than one hundred genes code for elbow dysplasia. Our ultimate goal will be to genetically map affected animals and tailor breed programmes to minimise this disease.
What is happening inside an affected joint?
In most dogs affected by elbow dysplasia, the pathology involves concentration of abnormal forces on a part of the joint called the coronoid process of the ulna. These abnormal forces cause microscopic stress fractures within this process, resulting in pain and lameness. In many dogs, either a small portion of the process or the entire process, will separate from the remaining bone. This problem is called fragmented coronoid process (FCP) and is one of the disease entities accompanying elbow dysplasia. Whilst standard radiographs are very helpful in diagnosis of this condition, CT can provide more specific information regarding the “fit” of the bones and regarding subtle bone pathology below the cartilage. Arthroscopy can provide additional information regarding the joint surfaces which, in combination with the findings from radiography and CT, will allow efficacious treatment. Investigation of the joint with radiographs and/or CT and subsequent arthroscopy is considered the standard of care at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
The pattern of abnormal development is not the same in all affected elbow joints. In order to offer the optimal treatment for a dog with elbow dysplasia, it is essential that we identify and neutralise the abnormal forces acting on the affected elbow. These forces are summarised below:
Elbow incongruity due to a relatively short radius:
Elbow incongruity can be transient or permanent. Subtle differences in the growth rate of the two bones that make up the forearm (the radius and ulna) can cause severe overloading of the prominent coronoid process of the ulna. In some dogs, it may be that this incongruity has resolved by the time the diagnosis of elbow dysplasia is made, but the consequence of this transient incongruity is stress fracturing of the coronoid process. Treatment of this problem is usually by arthroscopic fragment removal or subtotal coronoid ostectomy. With the latter, not only do we remove the fragmented coronoid process but also some of the unfragmented part which could still contribute to joint pathology due to its abnormal conformation and ongoing inflammation. In elbows, in which this type of incongruity is permanent, treatment is usually accompanied by proximal ulnar osteotomy in an effort to allow the longer bone (ulna) to find a more “convenient” place in the joint.
Coronoid process overloading due to conflict with the radius:
In some affected elbow joints, stress fractures of the coronoid process of the ulna could be the consequence of repetitive impact from the adjacent radial head. The anatomical structure with most contribution to this repetitive impact is a branch of the biceps tendon. This could be because every time the biceps muscle contracts it causes the radius to impact the ulna around an area known as radial incisure of the ulna (incisuar radialis ulnae). Treatment of this problem may be undertaken by a surgical procedure called ‘biceps ulnar release’.
Ulnar notch incongruity
In some cases, the notch of the ulna is excessively elliptical or simply the wrong shape relative to the humerus, resulting in severe overload of the extremities of the notch. In some dogs, this can cause severe cartilage erosion. When this happens, treatment options depend on the disease entities accompanying the developmental disorder and the extent of osteoarthritis present.
What is the long-term consequence of elbow dysplasia?
Video 8 from Fitzpatrick Referrals on Vimeo: Even if the fragment is removed, sometimes the humerus continues to rub on the ulna, much like a break on a break-pad in a car, if the humero-ulnar joint is incongruent.
Every dog with elbow dysplasia is affected by some degree of elbow osteoarthritis at the time of diagnosis. This can be the consequence of a loose fragment acting like a “stone in a shoe” within the joint or of untreated elbow incongruity such as radio-ulnar or humero-ulnar conflict.
Surgical treatments for elbow dysplasia aim to treat the current source of pain and also to minimise the likelihood of osteoarthritis progression. Non-surgical treatments for elbow dysplasia aim to treat elbow pain and maintain mobility but do not have the potential to minimise osteoarthritis progression. Rehabilitation of elbow dysplasia can be provided through our rehabilitation service whereby one of our chartered physiotherapists will design a home care physiotherapy and exercise plan for you to follow at home between outpatient physiotherapy and hydrotherapy appointments.
The clinical impact of elbow osteoarthritis is unpredictable and, regardless of treatment, arthritis will progress to some extent for all affected joints. In some dogs, lameness can be mild and intermittent, whilst in others, lameness can cause severe and permanent disability. Where persistent cartilage erosion occurs, it is generally in the inner (medial) part of the elbow, constituting the joint between the humerus and the ulna (coronoid process). This could be the result of any form of elbow incongruity, such as a short radius, an abnormally shaped ulnar notch or just abnormal three-dimensional rotation conflict. In these situations, depending on the degree of poor fit, surgical treatment could include proximal ulnar osteotomy, sliding humeral osteotomy, canine unicompartmental replacement or total elbow replacement.
How is elbow dysplasia diagnosed?
At home, you will have noticed lameness or stiffness and your primary care vet will have noticed elbow pain in your dog. During your consultation at Fitzpatrick Referrals, one of our orthopaedic clinicians will perform a thorough, clinical examination to isolate definitive pain to the elbow and will discuss further investigation requirements and possible surgical intervention options should they be indicated.
If your primary care vet had a suspicion of elbow dysplasia, they may have obtained radiographs of the elbow joints. Radiographs will usually show changes in affected dogs although this is not always the case. At times, changes can be very subtle and difficult to detect and therefore the position in which the elbow is placed and the type of radiograph taken will have a great bearing on the ability to perceive pathology. At Fitzpatrick Referrals, our advanced diagnostic imaging service has the most advanced direct digital radiography yielding crystal clear images to optimise diagnostic opportunity including more advanced imaging techniques such as CT and MRI.
Computed tomography (CT):
In addition to radiography, we use computed tomography (CT) and arthroscopy to facilitate diagnosis of elbow dysplasia. CT can be performed under sedation or general anaesthesia. It is a very sensitive method for the diagnosis of stress fracturing of the coronoid process of the ulna and for the assessment of elbow incongruity and the bone underneath the cartilage. CT gives us very useful information for planning the best treatment of elbow dysplasia in your dog. We offer CT to most cases when elbow dysplasia is suspected. The entire study can be completed in minutes and gives us a three-dimensional picture of the disease process.
Arthroscopy is the gold standard technique for diagnosis of problems within a joint. It is a keyhole surgical technique that is performed under general anaesthesia. Arthroscopy allows us to obtain a magnified panoramic view of the inside of a joint. In dogs requiring treatment of problems in both elbows, arthroscopy and surgery are performed as part of a single surgical procedure under the same general anaesthetic. When resolution of the problem can be arthroscopically achieved, your dog will generally be walking well the following day and recovery times are usually rapid.
Pictures 14, 15, 16 and 17: these pictures illustrate tip and radial incisure fragmentation of the medial coronoid process, which are the two most common kinds of fragmentation. The arthroscopy images are accompanied by schematic representations to illustrate the two patterns of the disease. It’s important to realise that these two forms may require different treatment and at Fitzpatrick Referrals, we have pioneered research designed to optimise the most appropriate treatment for each individual patient.
How is elbow dysplasia treated?
Non-surgical treatments for elbow dysplasia
Non-surgical therapies may be a preferable management option for some dogs with elbow dysplasia and osteoarthritis. We are proud to offer an Osteoarthritis Clinic, which provides comprehensive non-surgical management of osteoarthritis and complements the surgical expertise already in place. The traditional cornerstones of non-surgical treatment are body weight management, physiotherapy, exercise modification and medication (anti-inflammatory painkillers). We also offer regenerative medicine therapies such as stem cells and platelet-rich plasma to help combat the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, and are working hard to provide useful outcome data, as publications are currently lacking in this area.
At Fitzpatrick Referrals, we have a team of chartered physiotherapists and hydrotherapists formulating protocols for treatment of all forms of joint disease, including those patients not surgically treated and for postoperative rehabilitation of surgical patients. The protocols are custom-designed to your dog to optimise outcomes. Physiotherapy will not cure any arthritic changes in the joint or remove pain on its own, but it can significantly help mobility and improve function for arthritic joints, and it can significantly improve outcomes achieved after surgery.
Surgical treatments for elbow dysplasia
Arthroscopic fragment removal:
In some cases, the problem at the time of diagnosis is confined to an isolated fragment of the coronoid process of the ulna. In dogs having arthroscopic fragment removal alone, the CT scan and arthroscopy will have shown no evidence of current elbow incongruity or radio-ulnar conflict, and any remaining coronoid process will have been assessed as having a low risk for stress microfracture. The majority of dogs will make a rapid clinical improvement after arthroscopic fragment removal, and in some cases this improvement will be maintained in the long-term. The long-term prognosis is dependent on the degree of osteoarthritis in the remainder of the elbow joint and this is discussed by your orthopaedic clinician on an individual basis.
Biceps ulnar release (BURP):
In some cases, we recognise a specific pattern of stress fracturing of the coronoid process of the ulna typical of radio-ulnar conflict. This conflict is contributed to by excessive and repetitive forces imparted by one of the branches of the biceps muscle which attaches on the coronoid process itself. Although the tendon itself is not diseased, it exerts force on a badly fitting bone geometry which contributes to the micro-fractures and ultimate fragmentation. Arthroscopic surgical release of this branch allows neutralisation of these forces. The remaining biceps insertion on the radius is not affected, and because the biceps shares its function of flexing the elbow joint with another muscle (the brachialis), there is no deleterious mechanical consequence of biceps ulnar release. This procedure was also pioneered at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
Subtotal coronoid ostectomy (SCO):
In elbows where there is diffuse stress fracturing of the coronoid process of the ulna, the majority of the process should be removed using arthroscopy. This particular surgery was developed at Fitzpatrick Referrals. In common with arthroscopic fragment removal, the majority of dogs will make a good clinical improvement after SCO and in many cases this improvement is maintained in the longer term. However, osteoarthritis is progressive for all forms of medial coronoid disease regardless of whether fragment removal alone or SCO is performed. In many cases however, this does not produce noticeable lameness and rehabilitation of osteoarthritis advice can be provided by our chartered physiotherapists.
Proximal ulnar osteotomy (PUO):
In some elbow joints, stress fracturing of the coronoid process of the ulna is caused by the presence of a relatively short radius, and this incongruity can be permanent. In these elbows, the incongruity is corrected in order to treat the current elbow pain and also to attempt to limit the future progression of osteoarthritis. This is achieved by cutting the ulna below the elbow joint. Cutting the bone at this point does not prevent the limb from being used normally and healing of the bone occurs in a new position that provides a more congruent elbow joint. The same technique may be employed to treat elbows affected by a poor fit between the humerus and the ulnar notch. Appropriate motion of the cut portion of the ulna and subsequent healing is facilitated by a specific angle of cut termed ‘dynamic oblique’. The specific nature of this technique was established by Fitzpatrick Referrals.
Picture 19 and video 10: This image and video represents the effect of a bi-oblique dynamic proximal ulnar osteotomy on the medial coronoid process.
Proximal abducting ulnar (PAUL) osteotomy:
PAUL surgery falls into the group of surgeries called load-altering osteotomies. An osteotomy involves a controlled surgical cut of a bone. The PAUL osteotomy procedure involves an ulnar osteotomy which is secured with a plate and screws to stabilise the bone while it heals in the new position. The surgery aims to unload the medial compartment of the elbow, thus reducing pain and improving limb use and function.
Sliding humeral osteotomy (SHO):
In some dogs with advanced elbow dysplasia, there is severe secondary osteoarthritis. A specific pattern of osteoarthritis, in which cartilage is severely damaged or absent on the medial (inside) aspect of the joint but appears relatively healthy on the lateral (outside) aspect of the joint, can be treated by SHO. This type of elbow pathology is known as medial compartment disease (MCD). SHO is an advanced procedure that is currently offered in only a few veterinary hospitals worldwide. It involves cutting the humerus (upper arm bone) and fixing it in a new position using a special stepped bone plate and screws. This transfers weight away from the diseased medial joint to the healthier lateral joint. In young dogs, there is the potential for some cartilage regeneration in the medial compartment after SHO. This isn’t normal functional cartilage but serves as evidence of unloading and a decrease in pain associated with friction between the humerus and the ulna (humero-ulnar conflict). The original SHO technique was refined by Noel Fitzpatrick and the surgery now uses custom-made implants which are manufactured to fit the exact dimensions of the patient’s bone.
Canine unicompartmental elbow replacement (CUE):
CUE is an alternative to SHO in selected, mature dogs suffering from medial compartment disease. This advanced surgical procedure involves the resurfacing of the weight-bearing portion of the medial (inside) elbow where cartilage is absent.
Total elbow replacement (TER):
In some dogs, elbow osteoarthritis can be extremely severe, with little or no healthy cartilage remaining. In these dogs, TER is used as a salvage procedure i.e. it is performed as a last resort where other treatments will be ineffective. The entire elbow joint surface is replaced with a custom elbow prostheses. Currently, we are one of the few practices in the UK able to provide this procedure.
On the blog
By Professor Noel Fitzpatrick | <urn:uuid:5f1f1b60-d85c-418d-b0a2-13bc80e17cec> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/orthopaedic/canine-elbow-dysplasia/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.92697 | 3,947 | 2.984375 | 3 |
On the other hand, it is not correct that economic-private goods are consumed in proportion to income, because, while the smaller incomes must be fully employed in consumption, the greater ones grant a saving margin, the greater the greater the income, and therefore if the economic-public goods were consumed in the same proportion as the economic-private ones, the tax should be not proportional to income, but digressive. Before you start calculating in the tax calculator you should be aware of the theoretical aspects of the taxation parts.
The Theories in Tax
The theory of equality, or rather, of the proportionality of sacrifices, expounded for the first time by J. Stuart Mill, argues that the services of the state are necessary for all citizens, that necessity does not entail graduations and that consequently all taxpayers must suffer the same sacrifice for the satisfaction of the collective needs of general order.
It follows that the tax which takes an identical utility, that is, an equal subjective value, from every income is just. The defect of this theory is that it is not very precise and does not offer a concrete criterion for the distribution of taxes. How is it possible that a tax, even a highly progressive one, makes the rich classes and the poor classes suffer the same sacrifice? To the wealthy classes, for whom the subjective appreciation of each unit of wealth is minimal due to their wealth, and to the poor classes for whom, on the contrary, it is maximum, because of their poverty itself?
Is it A realistic One?
The theory of the equality of sacrifices was later perfected and transformed into that of proportionality of the sacrifices, which argues that the various classes of earners must sacrifice the same proportion not of their income, but of the total utility of their income.
- This theory starts from the obvious premise that the utility of each unit of income is not the same for those who have many and for those who have few, because the needs that are satisfied with the first units of income are of first order, are necessary and essential; those, on the other hand, that are satisfied with the last units of higher incomes are of very low importance. The rich classes therefore attach less importance to each unit of their income than the poor classes attribute to each unit of their income. But this theory still lacks a precise basis, because the “measure of utility “has not yet been found.
The Theory of Payable Capacity was built by several authors, especially Germans (FJ Neumann, Al. Schaffle, A. Wagner), to avoid the criticisms addressed to the previous ones; and it is certainly preferable to them, so much so that in recent years it has been the dominant theory. | <urn:uuid:87fe005e-eacb-4e95-9d35-69e13a1ea06c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.fmqbproductions.com/what-kind-of-theories-actually-drives-the-concept-of-taxes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.9645 | 547 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Many people aim to start the year off with healthier food choices. But how do you choose between seemingly similar foods, snacks or beverages? How does a bagel with cream cheese compare to toast topped with avocado, for instance? Or a protein-based shake compared to a smoothie packed with fruits? Or two chicken dishes, prepared in different ways?
As nutrition scientists who have spent our entire careers studying how different foods influence health, our team at Tufts University has created a new food rating system, the Food Compass, that could help consumers and others make informed choices about these kinds of questions.
Food rating systems explained
Many such systems exist and are widely used around the globe. Each one combines facts about different nutritional aspects of foods to provide an overall measure of healthfulness, which can be communicated to consumers through package labels or shelf tags. They can also be used to help guide product reformulations or socially conscious investment goals for investors.
Examples of common systems include Nutri-Score and Health Star Rating – widely used in Europe, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand – and "black box" warning label systems, which are increasingly used throughout Latin America.
All such food rating systems have strengths and limitations. Most aim to be simple, using data on just a few nutrients or ingredients. While this is practical, it can omit other important determinants of healthfulness – like the degree of food processing and fermentation and the presence of diverse food ingredients or nutrients like omega-3s and flavonoids, plant compounds that offer an array of health benefits.
Some systems also emphasize older nutrition science. For example, nearly all give negative points for total fat, regardless of fat type, and focus on saturated fat alone, rather than overall fat quality. Another common shortcoming is not assessing refined grains and starches, which have similar metabolic harms as added sugars and represent about one-third of calories in the U.S. food supply. And many give negative points for total calories, regardless of their source.
Enter the Food Compass
To address each of these gaps, in 2021 our research team created the Food Compass. This system assesses 54 different attributes of foods, selected based on the strength of scientific evidence for their health effects. Food Compass maps and scores these attributes across nine distinct dimensions and then combines them into a single score, ranging from 1 (least healthy) to 100 (most healthy). It incorporates new science on multiple food ingredients and nutrients; does not penalize total fat or focus on saturated fat; and gives negative points for processing and refined carbs.
We have now evaluated 58,000 products using Food Compass and found that it generally performs very well in scoring foods. Minimally processed, bioactive-rich foods like fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains, nuts, yogurt and seafood score at the top. Other animal foods, like eggs, milk, cheese, poultry and meat, typically score in the middle. Processed foods rich in refined grains and sugars, like refined cereals, breads, crackers and energy bars, and processed meats fall at the bottom.
We found Food Compass to be especially useful when comparing seemingly similar food items, like different breads, different desserts or different mixed meals. Food Compass also appears to work better than existing rating systems for certain food groups.
For example, it gives lower scores to processed foods that are rich in refined grains and starch and to low-fat processed foods that are often marketed as healthy, like deli meats and hot dogs, fat-free salad dressings, pre-sweetened fruit drinks, energy drinks and coffees. It also gives higher scores to foods rich in unsaturated oils, like nuts and olive oil. Compared with older rating systems, these improvements are more aligned with the latest science on the health effects of these foods.
We also assessed how Food Compass relates to major health outcomes in people. In a national sample of 48,000 Americans, we calculated each person's individual Food Compass score, ranging from 1 to 100, based on the different foods and beverages they reported eating.
We found that people whose diets scored higher according to Food Compass had better overall health than those with lower scores. This includes less obesity, better blood sugar control, lower blood pressure and better blood cholesterol levels. They also had a lower risk of metabolic syndrome or cancer and a lower risk of death from all causes. For every 10-point higher Food Compass score, a person had about a 7% lower risk of dying. These are important findings, showing that, on average, eating foods with higher Food Compass scores is linked to numerous improved health outcomes.
While we believe Food Compass represents a significant advance over existing systems, more work is needed before it can be rolled out to consumers.
As one step, we're investigating how the scoring algorithm can be further improved. For example, we're considering the most appropriate scoring for food items like certain cereals that are high in whole grains and fiber but are also processed and have added sugar. And we're looking at the scoring of different egg, cheese, poultry and meat products, which have a wide range of scores but sometimes score a bit lower than may make intuitive sense.
Over the coming year we will be refining and improving the system based on our research, the latest evidence and feedback from the scientific community.
In addition, more research is needed on how a consumer might understand and use Food Compass in practice. For example, it could be added as a front-of-pack label – but would that be helpful without more education and context?
Also, while the scoring system ranges from 1 to 100, could it be more accessible if scores were grouped into broader categories? For instance, might a green/yellow/red traffic light system be easier to understand?
And we're hoping that future Food Compass versions might contain additional criteria to filter foods for people who follow special diets, such as low-carb, paleo, vegetarian, diabetic-friendly, low-sodium and others.
The big picture
Food Compass should not be used to replace food-based dietary guidelines and preferences. Raspberries and asparagus score really well – but a diet of only these foods would not be very healthy. People should seek a balanced diet across different food groups.
To help, Food Compass may be most useful to compare similar products within a food group. For example, someone who prefers eggs for breakfast can look for higher-scoring egg dishes. Those preferring cereal can look for higher-scoring cereals. And even better, Food Compass can help people add other highest-scoring foods to their plate – like veggies and healthy oils to eggs, and fruit and nuts to cereal – to increase the overall health benefits of that meal.
To make use by others as easy as possible, we've published all the details of the scoring algorithm, and the scores of the products evaluated, so that anyone can take what we've done and use it.
Stay tuned – as we complete additional research, we believe Food Compass will become an important tool to clear up confusion in the grocery store and help people make healthier choices. | <urn:uuid:db6a02d0-6bc3-4458-9fcd-a5ff5b403004> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.foodmanufacturing.com/ingredients/news/22670913/new-rating-system-aims-to-demystify-nutrition | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.951892 | 1,444 | 3.578125 | 4 |
Sec. Genetics of Common and Rare Diseases
Volume 9 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.715151
Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation: What Clinicians Need to Know?
- Department of Pediatrics, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a group of clinically heterogeneous disorders characterized by defects in the synthesis of glycans and their attachment to proteins and lipids. This manuscript aims to provide a classification of the clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment of CDG based on the literature review and our own experience (referral center in Poland). A diagnostic algorithm for CDG was also proposed. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of serum transferrin (Tf) is still the method of choice for diagnosing N-glycosylation disorders associated with sialic acid deficiency. Nowadays, high-performance liquid chromatography, capillary zone electrophoresis, and mass spectrometry techniques are used, although they are not routinely available. Since next-generation sequencing became more widely available, an improvement in diagnostics has been observed, with more patients and novel CDG subtypes being reported. Early and accurate diagnosis of CDG is crucial for timely implementation of appropriate therapies and improving clinical outcomes. However, causative treatment is available only for few CDG types.
Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), previously known as carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndromes, constitute a group of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) characterized by impaired synthesis and attachment of glycans to glycoproteins and glycolipids and impaired synthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol. Two main types of protein glycosylation are depicted, including N-glycosylation and O-glycosylation, while N-glycosylation is the most common type in the human body. So far, more than 150 CDG subtypes have been reported, while the phosphomannomutase-2 deficiency (PMM2-CDG) comprises the most common one (1–4).
Currently, CDG types are classified into defects in protein N-glycosylation, protein O-glycosylation, glycosphingolipid, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor glycosylation defects, and multiple glycosylation pathway defects (1–4).
Most CDG types are autosomal recessive in inheritance, but autosomal dominant (i.e., EXT1/EXT2-CDG, GANAB-CDG, PRKCSH-CDG, POGLUT1-CDG, POFUT1-CDG) as well as X-linked (i.e., ALG13-CDG, PIGA-CDG, SLC35A2-CDG, ATP6AP1-CDG) forms have also been described (1–4).
This manuscript aims to provide a classification of the clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment of CDG based on the literature review and our own experience (referral center in Poland). A diagnostic algorithm for CDG was also proposed.
CDG are usually multisystem diseases with neurological manifestation observed in most patients (5, 6). Like in other IEM, depending on the disease severity (age of symptom onset), mild to severe phenotypes could be observed.
Most CDG patients presenting with an early-onset neurovisceral phenotype have some signs and symptoms since birth. Thus, a detailed clinical analysis, including a physical examination (i.e., craniofacial dysmorphia, birth body length, weight, and head circumference) as well as family and pregnancy history (i.e., regarding non-immune hydrops fetalis, NIHF), is essential in the context of further biochemical and molecular analyses. NIHF was commonly reported in PMM2-CDG, ALG9-CDG, and ALG8-CDG, and the presence of NIHF is associated with poor outcomes (7).
Neurological signs and symptoms include psychomotor retardation, hypotonia, microcephaly, epileptic seizures, ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, and stroke-like episodes (5, 6). Deficiencies in several glycosylation pathways comprise the cause of epilepsy, while in some of them (i.e., ALG1-CDG, ALG3-CDG, ALG11-CDG, ALG13-CDG, DPM1-CDG, DPM2-CDG, MPDU1-CDG, DPAGT1-CDG, RFT1-CDG, PIGA-CDG, PIGW-CDG, and PIGQ-CDG) the severe epileptic encephalopathies have been described (8–23). Besides cerebellar and cerebral atrophy, most CDG patients with epilepsy do not have characteristic brain malformations. However, O-glycosylation disorders are associated with neuronal migration defects, including lissencephaly, polymicrogyria, schizencephaly, and neuronal heterotopia (24). The cerebellum is commonly affected in PMM2-CDG, dystroglycanopathies, and SRD5A3-CDG, while the course of cerebellar ataxia is not progressive (25–28). Several CDG types, especially dystroglycanopathies, are connected with congenital muscular dystrophy (29–33).
In the majority of CDG, liver involvement is observed as a part of multisystem phenotype, presenting with elevated serum transaminases (more often) and hepatomegaly (less often) in early infancy/childhood, while serum transaminases could normalize later in life (34–36). In the case of severe neurovisceral phenotype leading to premature death, severe liver involvement is observed as part of multiple organ failure (i.e., COG7-CDG, ALG3-CDG) (37). There is also a group of CDG, including MPI-CDG, CCDC115-CDG, and TMEM199-CDG, in which the disease is expressed mainly in the liver (no neurological manifestation) (38–43). There is no typical histologic pattern for liver disease in CDG; liver fibrosis, or even cirrhosis, was reported in PMM2-CDG, MPI-CDG, and TMEM199-CDG (44).
About 20% of CDG were reported to exhibit heart disease in the form of pericardial effusion, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, and structural abnormalities (45, 46). Structural (valvular and septal) defects are predominant in patients with GPI-anchor biosynthesis defects and COG-CDG (47–49). Pericardial effusions are characteristic features of PMM2-CDG, while dilated cardiomyopathy is typical for PGM1-CDG and DK1-CDG(50–52).
Some types of CDG, including ALG3-CDG, ALG6-CDG, ALG9-CDG, ALG12-CDG, PGM3-CDG, CSGALNACT1-CDG, SLC35D1-CDG, and TMEM-165, were reported with well-defined skeletal dysplasia (61–69). In addition, some skeletal abnormalities are also unique for some types of CDG, including Schneckenbecken dysplasia in SLC35D1-CDG, brachytelephalangy in PIGV-CDG and PIGO-CDG, pseudodiastrophic dysplasia in ALG12-CDG, Gillessen-Kaesbach and Nishimura skeletal dysplasia in ALG9-CDG, and Desbuquois dysplasia in PGM3-CDG (48, 70–72).
Some CDG also have unique characteristics in the form of a constellation of clinical symptoms), which may facilitate their recognition and shorten the diagnostic process, including:
• midline malformations, including palate/uvula cleft in PGM1-CDG; a constellation of congenital malformations, dilated cardiomyopathy, liver involvement, variable endocrine, and hematological abnormalities and no neurological disease in PGM1-CDG (38, 77);
• inverted nipples and abnormal fat distribution in PMM2-CDG; specific craniofacial dysmorphia in PMM2-CDG, including microcephaly, prominent forehead, flat nasal bridge, thin upper lip, and large ears; polycystic kidney disease and hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in PMM2-CDG due to a promotor defect (26, 78–80);
• cerebellar ataxia and variable eye malformations, including optic disc hypoplasia and nystagmus in SRD5A3-CDG (28);
• achalasia and alacrima without adrenal insufficiency in GMPPA-CDG (81);
• severe immunodeficiency accompanied by a skeletal dysplasia in PGM3-CDG; immunodeficiency with the Bombay blood phenotype and severe growth and psychomotor retardation in leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II (known as SLC35C1-CDG) (57–59, 82, 83).
Since the introduction by Jaeken et al. (84), isoelectric focusing (IEF) of serum transferrin (Tf) is the method of choice for diagnosis of hypo-N-glycosylation disorders associated with sialic acid deficiency (1–4, 84, 85).
So far, several other laboratory techniques have been used for the separation and quantification of serum Tf isoforms, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), and mass spectrometry (MS) (86–94). Every diagnostic method has its own limitations. Both CZE and HPLC techniques are universal with low maintenance cost and suitable for CDG screening. An abnormal result should be further investigated by serum Tf IEF. In addition, serum Tf IEF is the most commonly used for diagnosis and monitoring of CDG, and thus considered as the reference method. Other techniques, including CZE and HPLC, can be adapted by the laboratories based on their equipment accessibility.
IEF of serum Tf from dried blood spot (DBS) samples was recently demonstrated as a reliable method for CDG screening (95, 96). DBS is firmly established in the analysis of various IEM, especially in the context of newborn screening programs across the world. However, there is a number of CDG for which there is no data regarding glycosylation abnormalities after birth and thus further studies are needed.
Based on our own experience (referral center in Poland), we create a diagnostic algorithm for CDG (Figure 1). We recommend to perform serum Tf IEF for an initial screening of glycosylation abnormalities in patients presenting with clinical and biochemical features listed in Table 1.
Transferrin (Tf) is a plasma iron transport protein with two asparagine N-glycosylation sites (Asn432 and Asn630), and the dominated isoform in healthy individuals is tetrasialo-Tf, while asialo- and monosialo-Tf isoforms are usually not detectable. A type 1 pattern (CDG-I) is associated with an increased asialo- and disialo-Tf, and decreased tetrasialo-Tf, indicating an assembly or transfer defect of the dolichol-linked glycan (85). A type 2 pattern (CDG-II) is associated with increased asialo-, monosialo-, disialo-, and trisialo-Tf, indicating a processing defect after glycan transfer in the ER or during Golgi glycosylation (85). PGM1-CDG presents features of the both types of serum Tf IEF patterns (mixed type, CDG-I/CDG-II).
During CDG diagnostic process, it is important to exclude secondary causes of N-hypoglycosylation as well as Tf gene polymorphisms. Several Tf gene polymorphisms (i.e., transferrin B2 presenting with an elevated pentasialo-Tf solely or transferrin C2 resulting in increased trisialo-Tf solely) are known to result in a shifted IEF pattern, caused by pI differences of the polypeptide chain.
It is also known that untreated patients with classic galactosemia (galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase deficiency) and fructosemia (fructose 1-phosphate aldolase deficiency) have secondarily an abnormal serum Tf isoform profile that could resemble CDG-I. For example, Bogdańska et al. reported a study on 19 pediatric patients with primary liver disease and increased secondary asialo-Tf and monosialo-Tf isoforms; none of the patients had an elevated level of trisialo-Tf isoform (97). On the other hand, Jansen et al. published a study about secondary glycosylation defects in 961 adult patients qualified for LTx or with chronic liver disease. It showed that 247 patients (26%) had hyposialylation of serum Tf, while the majority of them (70%) had an increase in the trisialo-Tf isoform (98).
Normal serum Tf IEF profile does not exclude CDG—we should consider targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) or whole-exome sequencing (WES) in case of a strong clinical and biochemical suspicion. PMM2-CDG due to promotor defect and several other CDG, like SLC35A1-CDG, SLC35A3-CDG, SEC23B-CDG, and PGM3-CDG, could show normal N-glycosylation profile. What is more, serum Tf IEF could be normal as well as abnormal in several others CDG, like ALG13-CDG, SLC35A2-CDG, RTF1-CDG, and SRD5A3-CDG (1–4, 85).
After the diagnosis of CDG-I based on serum Tf IEF, phosphomannomutase-2 (PMM2) and phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) activity should be measured in fibroblasts or leukocytes in the proper clinical context (1–4, 85). PMM2-CDG has the best-defined clinical phenotype and is by far the most frequent N-glycan assembly defect (99). PMI activity should be measured in case of clinical and biochemical presentation mainly expressed by the liver. If the clinical phenotype is not typical for PMM2-CDG and MPI-CDG, and in the case of normal PMM2 and PMI activity, plasma N-glycan analysis by MS (total plasma and/or intact transferrin glycoprofiling) could be done (1–4, 85). Nowadays, this is replaced by next-generation sequencing (NGS), including targeted NGS (panel of genes known to be involved in CDG) or whole exome sequencing (WES) (Figure 1). However, since NGS became more widely available, an improvement in diagnostics has been observed, with more patients and novel CDG subtypes being reported. These molecular analyses could take more time to result and be more expensive than laboratory CDG screening, although the high-throughput methods (like MS) are not routinely available (like in our center) and require both a qualified staff and comprehensive equipment.
After the diagnosis of CDG-II, IEF of serum apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) is recommended to perform (Figure 1) to distinguish between an exclusive N-glycosylation defect and a combined disorder of N- and O-glycosylation (1–4, 85). This analysis was described by Wopereis et al. in 2003 as a screening method for defects in the biosynthesis of the core 1 mucin-type O-glycans (100). However, some patients could also have an abnormal biosynthesis of core 1 O-glycans, including those with hemolytic uremic syndrome due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Therefore, other laboratory methods have been developed parallel to serum Tf IEF, including serum apoC-III CZE.
Protein-linked glycan analysis should next be performed in attempt to identify the defective step, or targeted NGS, or WES (94).
Molecular analysis is necessary to confirm the final diagnosis of CDG and predict the possible genotype-phenotype correlation. However, the combination of MS with clinical exome sequencing (especially WES) is helpful to identify new CDG defects.
An early diagnosis of CDG is crucial for the timely implementation of appropriate therapies. However, causative treatment is available only for few CDG types in the form of specific monosaccharide supplementation therapy (i.e., galactose for PGM1-CDG, fucose for SLC35C1-CDG, Mn2+ for TMEM165-CDG, or mannose for MPI-CDG) (101–103). For the majority of patients, only symptomatic treatment can be offered. The natural history for most CDG types is unknown (also due to lack of long-term follow-up); however, cerebellar ataxia in PMM2-CDG is not progressive, and patients could even slowly improve with age (26, 27).
Several therapeutic strategies were developed for PMM2-CDG, including mannose supplementation, inhibition of MPI, pharmacological chaperones, proteostasis regulators (celastrol), acetazolamide, and antisense therapy (104). To date, no causative treatment for PMM2-CDG exists. However, acetazolamide was reported to be well tolerated and effective for cerebellar syndrome (105). In addition, Taday et al. recently published a study on long-term oral mannose supplementation in 20 patients with PMM2-CDG (106). The therapy was tolerated well, and biochemical improvement was noted in the majority of patients.
Symptomatic treatment in PMM2-CDG includes:
• nutritional support (including percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement) in failure-to-thrive patients;
• regular albumin infusions, octreotide therapy, or a diet rich in mid-chain fatty acids (MCTs) in protein-losing enteropathy;
• levothyroxine in the presence of decreased free thyroxine;
• fresh frozen plasma infusions to prevent bleeding episodes;
The administration of mannose in MPI-CDG improves the clinical and biochemical outcome (including serum transferrin isoforms); however, patients can still develop progressive liver fibrosis (107–110). Mannose therapy in MPI-CDG was also discontinued in a few patients due to side effects (40). One reported patient with MPI-CDG required liver transplantation due to chronic liver disease with the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome (39).
Two patients with CCDC115-CDG underwent LTx; one rejected the transplant and died while the other is doing well, showing biochemical improvement of liver function tests and transferrin glycosylation profile (111).
Galactose therapy in PGM1-CDG is safe and associated with a significant improvement of N-glycosylation and clinical parameters (liver function tests, coagulation, blood glucose) (38, 77). Four patients with PGM1-CDG underwent heart transplantation, and all died due to cardiac disease-related complications. Three other patients reported by Tegtmeyer et al. were listed for heart transplantation (38).
Heart transplantation could be considered as a treatment option in other patients with cardiac involvement. It was performed in three patients with defects in dolichol synthesis (DOLK-CDG, DK1-CDG), despite supportive heart failure therapy (ACE inhibitors, β-blockers, and diuretics); one of them died unexpectedly 2 years after transplantation at the age of 16.5 years (51).
Fucose supplementation in SLC35C1-CDG was reported to decrease infection rates, normalize neutrophil counts, and improve psychomotor development. However, it should be monitored carefully due to the risk of autoimmune and hemolytic reactions (115–117).
Uridine supplementation in CAD-CDG patients was reported to improve the clinical manifestation, including seizure cessation, cognitive and motor development, and normalization of biochemical parameters (118).
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was successfully applied to treat CDG with immunodeficiency in PGM3-CDG children (57).
PL and AT-S: project administration and writing—review and editing. AT-S: supervision. PL: writing—original draft. Both authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
The study was funded by the Children's Memorial Health Institute intramural grant S190/2020.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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117. Helmus Y, Denecke J, Yakubenia S, Robinson P, Lühn K, Watson DL, et al. Leukocyte adhesion deficiency II patients with a dual defect of the GDP-fucose transporter. Blood. (2006) 107:3959–66. doi: 10.1182/blood-2005-08-3334
Keywords: congenital disorders of glycosylation, clinical presentation, isoelectric focusing of serum transferrin, next-generation sequencing, treatment
Citation: Lipiński P and Tylki-Szymańska A (2021) Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation: What Clinicians Need to Know? Front. Pediatr. 9:715151. doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.715151
Received: 26 May 2021; Accepted: 10 August 2021;
Published: 03 September 2021.
Edited by:Huali Shen, Fudan University, China
Reviewed by:Yoshinao Wada, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Japan
Paul Lasko, McGill University, Canada
Copyright © 2021 Lipiński and Tylki-Szymańska. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Patryk Lipiński, [email protected] | <urn:uuid:d14b2b61-6e2f-4936-b6cb-d1ff840e5fbf> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.715151/full | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.781974 | 13,538 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Geodynamicists from Sydney and Australian National universities have developed Stripy, a software module that allows scientists to efficiently place GIS ‘wrapping paper’ around the spherical Earth ‘present’.
This is the first module to be built for a common scientific programming language like Python, that supports such ‘wrapping’, or mapping features. Here, developer Dr Ben Mather explains Stripy’s key functions for the AuScope Earth modelling community.
The Stripy solution
Introducing Stripy: a lightweight object-oriented Python package for building meshes from unstructured data on the sphere. A series of example meshes are provided including such classics as icosahedral, octahedral, and soccer ball meshes.
Stripy includes the following functionality:
- Spherical and Cartesian triangulation of scattered points.
- Construction of Cartesian and Spherical meshes.
- Nearest-neighbour, linear, and hermite cubic interpolation.
- Evaluation of derivatives.
- Smoothing operations.
- Mesh refinement on line segments / triangle centroids.
- Fast point location with k-d tree interface with angular separation metric on the sphere.
In case you weren’t already sold, all these features are also available in Cartesian coordinates. Stripy is bundled with a linked collection of Jupyter notebooks that can act as a user guide and an introduction to the package. The notebooks are split into matching sets for spherical and Cartesian triangulations.
Download Stripy, or make it better
Stripy is a member of the Underworld family of open-source software packages, and is freely available for download by multiple installation methods on GitHub. If you get stuck and need assistance, please open a GitHub issue. If you want to contribute in some way to the project, please see our contributions guide.
If you use the code, please cite our JOSS paper (see here for more options)
Moresi, L. and Mather, B.R., (2019). Stripy: A Python module for (constrained) triangulation in Cartesian coordinates and on a sphere. Journal of Open Source Software, 4(38), 1410, https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.01410 | <urn:uuid:5996b084-4efb-475f-91f2-e41c08efa1e6> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.geo-down-under.org.au/stripy-triangulations-on-the-sphere/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.84824 | 477 | 2.875 | 3 |
The purpose of creating a conservation area is to preserve and manage the unique qualities and characteristics of the area, ensuring its long-term sustainability and safeguarding its value for future generations.
Here is a detailed explanation of what a conservation area entails:
- Legal Protection: Conservation areas are legally protected under specific legislation or regulations, which vary from country to country. These legal designations provide a framework for managing and preserving the area’s special features and often include restrictions on development, demolition, alterations, or other activities that may harm the area’s character.
- Environmental Significance: Conservation areas are often chosen for their environmental importance. They may encompass areas of exceptional biodiversity, rare or endangered species, important habitats, ecosystems, or landscapes. Protecting these natural resources helps maintain ecological balance and contributes to the overall health of the environment.
- Historical and Cultural Significance: Many conservation areas are selected due to their historical or cultural value. They may contain buildings, structures, or archaeological sites of architectural, historical, or cultural importance. Preserving these heritage assets is crucial for maintaining a sense of identity, heritage, and continuity with the past.
- Landscape and Visual Character: Conservation areas are frequently chosen based on their distinctive landscapes, scenic beauty, or visual character. These areas may feature unique topography, geological formations, or outstanding natural features. Preserving their visual qualities contributes to the aesthetics and overall quality of life for both residents and visitors.
- Community and Social Importance: Conservation areas often have a close association with local communities. They may be places of community significance, containing public spaces, parks, or recreational areas that are important for social gatherings, leisure activities, or cultural events. These areas help foster a sense of community pride, promote well-being, and enhance the overall livability of an area.
- Sustainable Management: Conservation areas require sustainable management practices to balance preservation with compatible development or use. This involves maintaining the area’s natural or cultural heritage while allowing for appropriate activities that support the local economy and community needs. Sustainable management may involve guidelines for construction, maintenance, landscaping, or public use to ensure the conservation objectives are met.
- Public Awareness and Education: Conservation areas often serve as educational resources, providing opportunities for the public to learn about and appreciate the natural, historical, or cultural values they represent. Interpretive signage, visitor centers, guided tours, or educational programs may be implemented to raise awareness, promote understanding, and encourage responsible behavior within the area.
Overall, the primary aim of a conservation area is to safeguard and manage areas of exceptional environmental, historical, cultural, or architectural value. By protecting these areas, conservation efforts contribute to the preservation of our natural and cultural heritage, promote sustainable development, and enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. Glazing Vision have worked on many rooflight projects within conservation areas, contact us to learn more. | <urn:uuid:769bb039-9d70-4279-9ff7-47808102b08f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.glazingvision.co.uk/blog/conservation-areas/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.901056 | 590 | 3.859375 | 4 |
Scientists have unravelled how a gene long associated with obesity makes people fat by triggering increased hunger, opening up potential new ways to fight a growing global health problem.
A common variation in the FTO gene affects one in six of the population, making them 70% more likely to become obese - but until now experts did not know why.
Using a series of tests, a British-led research team said they had found that people with the variation not only had higher levels of the “hunger hormone” ghrelin in their blood but also increased sensitivity to the chemical in their brains.
“It’s a double hit,” said Rachel Batterham from University College London, who led the study, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation this week.
The discovery follows studies of blood samples from people after meals, combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging of volunteers’ brains and cell-based studies looking at ghrelin production at a molecular level.
Batterham said the work provided new insights and possible new leads for treatment, since some experimental drugs are known to suppress ghrelin and could be particularly effective if targeted at patients with the obesity-risk variant of the gene.
Previous research has also shown that ghrelin can be reduced by eating a high-protein diet.
Steve Bloom of Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study, said the FTO gene only explained a small part of the obesity epidemic but the latest discovery was “an important step forward” in unravelling the various factors involved.
The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate and both developed and developing countries are affected. Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.
At least 2.8mn adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese and more than 40mn children under the age of five were overweight in 2011, according to the World Health Organisation.
Developing effective obesity drugs has been a challenge for drugmakers, although some new medicines are now coming through.
After a gap of more than a decade, two new obesity drugs - Vivus Inc’s Qsymia and Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc’s Belviq - were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last year.
Belviq’s launch was delayed, however, pending a final classification on its risk of abuse and Qsymia’s sales have been disappointing. | <urn:uuid:03af0a94-8b39-420b-b648-ff15fb7bccda> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.gulf-times.com/story/359593/scientists-find-how-%E2%80%98obesity-gene%E2%80%99-makes-people-fat | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.966063 | 505 | 3.203125 | 3 |
Reticle is an integral and one of the most basic and important components of a telescopic rifle sight.
Since the invention of scopes in the 1830s, their overall design including that of the reticle has changed over the years. So much so that there are a lot of reticle options to choose from these days.
Dive into the world of rifle scope reticles and fill your minds with some basic and also exclusive knowledge on this topic.
Reticle Terminology and Common Concepts
Enlighten yourself with some common techie-jargon used when talking about rifle scopes and reticles. So you get a better understanding when reading further.
In simplest terms, crosshairs refer to the vertical and horizontal lines that intersect to form a ‘plus’ sign. Traditionally, crosshairs were made of two thin wires (sometimes called ‘stadia lines’). The crosshairs are the reference point for aiming at a target when looking through a scope.
Reticle is a term used to address advanced crosshairs. Reticles can either be physical or etched on a glass inside a scope. A reticle can be simple or complex in design. Allowing the shooter to infer different physical values.
Focal planes refer to the plane through the focus, perpendicular to the axis of the lens. If that went over your head, just understand that the focal plane is the region where you can view an object when looking through a lens.
FFP and SFP
FFP stands for First or Front Focal Plane. In FFP rifle scopes, the reticle is placed ahead of the magnifying assembly. Hence the size of the reticle changes with the magnification. The benefit being that your adjustments stay true regardless of what magnification you are working at for a target.
SFP stands for Second Focal Plane. In this scope, the reticle is placed behind the magnifying assembly, and the size of the reticle stays constant across all magnification levels. So adjustments have to be changed at every zoom level.
Degree of Measurement (MOA or Mrad)
MOA stands for Minute of Angle and represents one degree in a 360-degree circle. It denotes a one-inch area at 100 yards. Mil Radians or Mrad is another measurement used mostly by the military and translates to a covered area of 3.6 inches at 100 yards.
Subtension refers to the area covered by a reticle on a target at a specific magnification and distance (commonly 100 yards). Subtension is only valid at the highest magnification for SFP scopes. Whereas in FFP, subtension remains constant.
Turret Adjustments (Windage, Elevation & Parallax)
Windage refers to the horizontal shift and elevation is the vertical shift in the trajectory of a bullet. Windage is affected by wind or a moving target and elevation by gravity. Every scope has knobs to compensate for these values. Parallax refers to the stability of an image when moving your head around while viewing it.
The points on the vertical line (elevation) of the reticle where you put the target’s desired point to impact.
A small focus knob near the scope’s eyepiece allows you to bring the reticle into focus for proper viewing.
Types of Reticles
The most basic bifurcation in the design of reticles are crosshairs and dot reticles. While crosshairs have been around since the inception of scopes. Dots are also a revolutionary concept, particularly useful for quick adjustments and close range uses.
Crosshairs can be physically intertwined wire setup or they may be etched on the glass. Let’s look at some crosshair reticle variations.
This is the most common type of reticle you will find on hunting rifle scopes. Either in its basic or slightly modulated form. It consists of four thick lines that converge to meet on the center of the axis. With the lines being thinner near the axis. The thick lines provide easily visible reference even on a color-cluttered background.
Whereas the thin lines on the center ensure that the estimated point of impact is not overshadowed by the image of the reticle.
Duplex reticle is great for short range hunting where you don’t have to worry about turret adjustments. The thin center is the characteristic feature of this reticle. There’s also a fine duplex reticle with thinner outer lines.
With its invention dating back to the times of World War I. The German reticle features three thick lines on the 3, 6, and 9 O’clock positions. While the top doesn’t have a line. The most common variations are the German #1 and German #4 (with a thin top line) reticles.
This reticle was extensively used by German and Russian snipers until WWII. The thick lines help with quickly centering the target. But, elevation and windage adjustments are a slight problem due to the density of the crosshairs.
The German #4 reticle has variants that are suited for adjustments due to the extended thin stadia lines.
Christmas Tree Reticle
The Christmas Tree Reticle features a grid system that provides holdover reference points for quick estimation of windage and elevation values. Without the need to adjust the turrets. The horizontal grid lines extend in length as they move lower. So the grid looks like a pine tree. Hence the name.
Colloquially, it can be seen as a more advanced version of the Duplex reticle. The Christmas Tree Reticle is very popular among competitive shooters and tactical snipers due to the quick reference markings that help adapt to change. Additionally, it is somewhat an overloaded design for hunting.
The basic pattern imitates that of a duplex reticle and features four or sometimes more dots on the thin area of the converging crosshairs. Each dot on the reticle represents one mil-rad or 3.6 inches at 100 yards or 36 inches at 1,000 yards.
These dots are spaced at 1 milliradian each and work as reference points when you have to adjust for windage or elevation changes.
This reticle is preferred by snipers and extreme long range target shooters.
Same as the above reticle. Mil-dot and MRAD are colloquial terms used for the same thing. These reticles use milliradians as the degree of measurement. Which translates to 3.6 inches of subtension at 100 yards.
MRAD reticles can be found in a variety of design features. Being an MRAD reticle just denotes the degree of measurement for the dots or lines on the reticle.
An all-time favorite of long-distance shooters on a calm non-windy day. BDC stands for Bullet Drop Compensation. A BDC reticle has holdover marks on the elevation line that offer quick reference points depending upon how much the bullet will drop at specific distances due to the effect of gravity.
Most BDC reticles offer to drop compensation dots out to 600 yards for a specific caliber. Those with holdover points above the center of the reticle can be used with inclined scope mounts for further increasing these BDC reference points. But that’s for pro uses.
BDC reticles are useful for hunting, combat, and also competitions. When you have to quickly switch the range.
Dot reticles gained popularity in the mid-1970s after red dot optics were widely appreciated by sporting and combat rifle enthusiasts.
Plain Dot Reticle
A plain dot reticle features only a single red (or other color) dot on the center of the reticle. This dot works as a reference point and does not offer any extra references for adjustments. These reticles are characterized by the size of the dot. Which is calculated in MOA. There are 1, 2, 3 and up to 8 MOA dot reticles available today. The number before MOA expresses the subtension of the dot at 100 yards.
These reticles are very popular for open optical sights like collimator reflex or holographic sights. The best use for them is close-range battles and competitions like 3 guns where quick acquisition is imperative.
Circle-dot reticles feature a combination of a red/green dot in the center that is encapsulated by a large circle. Both the dot and the circle have fixed subtension. The best use of such reticles is for combat where the large outer circle helps with quick acquisition and makes sure the bullet hits a generalized area. Whereas the smaller center dot is for pinpoint accuracy.
Holographic sights like the EOTech HWS use such reticles. These are mostly used by the military for close combat or competitive shooters for 3-gun competitions.
Variations of Reticles
After scouring through the basic design elements of a reticle. Let’s take a look at some extra and unique features that make a reticle suitable for specific situations.
Some scopes feature reticles that can be lit up in one or multiple colors using internally fitted electronics. Any type of reticle can come in an illuminated variant. These reticles are mostly useful when shooting under very low light or unfavorable lighting conditions. Hence allowing you to view the elements of the reticle with ease.
Illuminating a reticle requires batteries. When the battery dies, the reticle will turn into a normal black reticle. Still visible in daylight. Some exceptions like the Trijicon ACOG offer dual illumination that works with and without batteries.
Glass Etched Reticles
As the name suggests, these reticles are etched on a piece of glass through laser engraving tools. The benefit of glass etched reticles is that they are not prone to disturbances or even damage under pressure or drops. The only way to damage such a reticle is to damage the glass itself.
Glass etched reticles mostly increase the cost of scopes and are widely popular among shooters that put their rifles through harsh maneuvers and rough storage. The only drawback of this design was a menial loss in light transmission. But that has already been overcome with multi-coated glass.
The most basic method of designing reticles is to align two wires inside a circular housing and place it inside the scope tube. Wire reticles are made from thin tungsten or any other durable metal.
The shapes of reticles are pretty much limited and these reticles also can’t be made into complex designs. Since the wire is prone to misalignment or even breaking under extreme pressure circumstances.
Wire reticles are fairly tough and durable. Along with being quite inexpensive to manufacture.
The latest advancement in scope technology is holographic reticles. These are complex electronically operated reticles that use a combination of LEDs and mirrors to project a 3D holographic image of the target.
Only EOTech manufactured holographic sights until 2017 when Vortex launched their first version. These reticles are great for quick target acquisition and focus with very little parallax error. However, they are expensive and useless without batteries.
Night Vision Reticles
These reticles are specially designed to work with night vision devices. These reticles can work with infrared light and are always illuminated. Night vision compatible reticles can also be used during the day but with a few limitations.
Due to the technology involved in their design, scopes with night vision compatibility are expensive and mostly used for tactical uses or night time hunting.
These reticles are designed in such a manner that different elements help the shooter to estimate the range of a target. These reticles work at a specific magnification setting. The increments in lines are usually referenced to a set value.
For example, the size of a deer’s chest. Depending upon how many hatch marks or bars this reference occupies, the shooter can estimate the distance of the target.
Cost is not a big concern here because no extra components are required to manufacture these scopes.
Other Reticle Features to Consider
Apart from the basic design of the reticle, there are a few extra, and often useful features that should be taken into consideration. A reticle suitable for a situation may not necessarily be useful in another. So decide wisely.
Second Focal Plane or First Focal Plane?
As already discussed in a previous section. An SFP or FFP scope is an important consideration especially when you are looking at shooting 300 yards or more. Basic reticle designs like the duplex and German #1 have nothing to do with the focal plane. That only comes into play when your reticle has holdover marks for windage and elevation.
Since an FFP reticle stays true to the turret adjustments, no matter what the magnification. Long range and tactical shooters prefer FFP. Whereas hunters can choose either.
What Does the Center Look Like?
A cluttered reticle (often called a busy reticle) can have multiple dots and lines denoting factors like distance, windage, elevation, etc. It is always better to analyze what use you’ll be putting your scope up to.
Simple reticles like red dots, duplex, or mil-dots are good for hunting because you have to focus on just one target and the hit should be clear and definitive. If you don’t need too many factors to decide your shot. Better stick to non-complex designs.
The dot size is denoted in terms of MOA. A 1 MOA dot covers one inch of the target at 100 yards and is very fine. Larger dots cover more area as the range increases.
Smaller dots are usually chosen for precision uses where pinpoint accuracy is needed. Since the dot covers less area on the target. Larger dots like 3, 4, or even 8 MOA are good for close-quarter engagements where quick acquisition is imperative. Hence improving your chances of a hit even if your aim is fiddling a bit under stress.
Some reticle designs like the BDC are sometimes designed to suit specific calibers and bullet grains. This makes those reticles favorable for their specific caliber right out of the box.
Calibers intended for longer ranges require more complex reticles that can provide appropriate adjustments and utter precision. Additionally, some scope manufacturers offer ballistic calculator software to tune the reticle adjustment on the field for a specific caliber.
Reticles are the primary interaction point that connects the shooter with the target. Reticles have undergone revolutionary changes throughout their existence and range from basic duplex designs to the most complex holographic sights. The choice of a reticle depends upon your intended applications and if you are ready to play with their mild and overly complex features.
People Also Ask
Refer to this FAQ section for any other generic or unique doubts that may come up in your mind regarding reticles.
What is a 30/30 Reticle?
It is a duplex rangefinder reticle designed by Leupold. It has been designed in such a manner that at 4x magnification, the total distance covered by the fine inner crosshairs is 30 inches at 100 yards. This reticle is used to determine the right point of impact on a target when hunting.
Are BDC Reticles Caliber Specific?
Some BDC reticles are caliber specific whereas others can be used with multiple calibers using a ballistics calculator.
How to Fix a Canted Reticle
Using a scope bubble level is always better to ensure if the reticle is canted or not. If it is, you can unscrew the eyepiece and use a toothpick or similar item to correct the cant and align it to the turrets. Plus, putting some glue around the brass ring housing the reticle. If you own a pricey scope, it’s better to contact the warranty department.
What is an ACOG Horseshoe Reticle?
The ACOG Horseshoe is a tactical reticle with quick acquisition illuminated red dot top and BDC stadia lines. These lines also denote a gap of 19 inches which is the average width of human shoulders. The base of the horseshoe is 300 meters, the center is 200 meters and the top is 100 meters. The lead dots on the sides are for tracking moving targets or shooting when moving.
What is a V Plex Reticle?
The V-Plex is Vortex’s version of the standard Duplex reticle. It is an MOA based reticle that features a bit wider and darker horizontal posts compared to the normal Duplex reticle.
What is an ACSS Reticle?
The Advanced Combat Sighting System (ACSS) reticle has been developed jointly by Primary Arms and Trijicon. It features bullet drop compensation with a range estimation system, wind and moving leads into a single setup with quick acquisition capability. | <urn:uuid:c18b7b12-dc66-4cad-8c3c-7618f8502af8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.gunmann.com/scopes/reticle-types/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.923595 | 3,463 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Action Plan for Mental Health Patients
Information, ideas, and strategies helpful in relieving and preventing troubling feelings and symptoms of depression, anxiety and other psychological conditions.
Action Planning for Prevention and Recovery: A Self-Help Guide
Table of Contents
- Developing a Wellness Toolbox
- Daily Maintenance Plan
- Early Warning Signs
- When Things Are Breaking Down or Getting Worse
- Crisis Planning
- Using Your Action Plans
- Further Resources
This booklet contains information, ideas, and strategies that people from all over the country have found to be helpful in relieving and preventing troubling feelings and symptoms of depression, anxiety and other psychological conditions. The information in this booklet can be used safely along with your other health care treatment.
You may want to read through this booklet at least once before you begin working on developing your own action plans for prevention and recovery. This can help enhance your understanding of the entire process. Then you can go back to work on each section. You may want to do this slowly, working on a portion of it and then putting it aside and revise it on a regular basis as you learn new things about yourself and ways you can help yourself to feel better.
Charles G. Curie, M.A., A.C.S.W.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Bernard S. Arons, M.D.
Center for Mental Health Services
Do you experience feelings and symptoms that are upsetting, that keep you from being the way you want to be and doing the things you want to do? Many people who have troubling emotional, psychiatric, or physical symptoms have made great advances in learning how to do things to help themselves get well and stay well. One of the most frustrating stages of recovering your health is when you realize that you can do many things to help yourself stay well but you can't figure out a way to do them regularly. It is easy to forget simple things that you know, especially when you are under stress or when your symptoms are beginning to flare up. The action plans for prevention and recovery described in this booklet were devised by people who experience emotional or psychiatric symptoms. They developed ways to deal with their need for structure in their lives that actively support their health. The plans are simple, low-cost, and can be changed and added to over time as you learn more and more. Anyone can develop and use these plans for any kind of health concern.
People using this system report that by being prepared and taking action as necessary, they feel better more often and have improved the overall quality of their lives dramatically. One person said, "Finally, there's something I can do to help myself."
Action plans for prevention and recovery work because they—
- are easy to develop and easy to use
- are individualized. You develop your plan for yourself. No one else can do it for you; however, you can reach out to others for assistance and support
- improve your ability to communicate effectively with your family members and health care providers
- directly address the feelings, symptoms, circumstances, and events that are most troubling to you with plans to respond to them
- renew your sense of hope that things can and will get better, and that you have control over your life and the way you feel
To develop this plan, the only materials you need are a three-ring binder, a set of five tabs or dividers, and lined three-hole paper. Before you begin working with the tabbed sections, you will create a resource list to keep in the beginning of your binder. This section is called the Wellness Toolbox. In it you identify and list the things you use to help yourself feel better when you are having a hard time. Some of them are things you know you must do, like eating healthy meals and drinking plenty of water; others are things you could choose to do to help yourself feel better. You can also list things you would like to try using to keep yourself well or to help yourself feel better. You will refer to this list for ideas when you are developing the tabbed sections of your plan. Some ideas for your Wellness Toolbox might be—
- eating three healthy meals a day
- drinking plenty of water
- getting to bed by 10:00 p.m. (or at a good regular time for you)
- doing something you enjoy-like playing a musical instrument, watching a favorite TV show, knitting, or reading a good book
- doing a relaxation exercise
- writing in your journal
- talking to a friend on the telephone
- taking medications
- taking vitamins and other food supplements
You can get more ideas for your Wellness Toolbox by noticing the good things you do as you go through your day, by asking your friends and family members for suggestions, and by looking into self-help resource books. Write down everything, from really easily accessible things, like taking deep breaths, to things you only do once in a while, like getting a massage. This is a resource list for you to refer back to when you are developing your plans. Your Wellness Toolbox works best for you if you have enough entries so you feel you have an abundance of choices. Just how many entries you have is up to you. If you feel positive and hopeful when you look at the list, then you have enough. You can continue to refine your Wellness Toolbox over time, adding to your list whenever you get an idea of something you'd like to try, and crossing things off your list if you find they no longer work for you.
Once you've gotten your Wellness Toolbox underway, insert it into your notebook. Then, insert your five tabbed dividers, with several sheets of paper after each tab and a supply of paper at the end of the notebook.
On the first tab write "Daily Maintenance Plan." If you haven't already done so, insert it in the binder along with several sheets of paper.
On the first page, describe yourself when you are feeling all right. If you can't remember, or don't know how you feel when you are well, describe how you would like to feel. Make it easy. Make a list. Some descriptive words that others have used include: bright, talkative, outgoing, energetic, humorous, reasonable, argumentative. Now when you aren't feeling very well you can refer back to how you want to feel.
Dreams and Goals
Some people use their plans to make a list of their dreams and goals, too. If you think you would find it helpful, make a list of goals you could work toward. You can write down far-fetched goals or more easily achievable ones. It is really helpful to remember your goals and dreams so you always have something to look forward to. Then, you can identify steps to take to achieve them and incorporate these small steps into your daily maintenance plan.
On the next pages, describe those things you need to do every day to maintain your wellness. Use your Wellness Toolbox for ideas. Writing these things down and reminding yourself daily to do them is an important step toward wellness. When you start to feel "out of sorts," you can often trace it back to "not doing" something on this list. Make sure you don't put so many things on this list that you couldn't possibly do them all. Remember, this is a list of things you must do, not things you would choose to do. Following is a sample daily maintenance list—
- eat three healthy meals and three healthy snacks that include whole grain foods, vegetables, and smaller portions of protein
- drink at least six 8-ounce glasses of water
- get exposure to outdoor light for at least 30 minutes
- take medications and vitamin supplements
- have 20 minutes of relaxation or meditation time or write in my journal for at least 15 minutes
- spend at least half an hour enjoying a fun, affirming, and/or creative activity
- check in with my partner for at least 10 minutes
- check in with myself: "how am I doing physically, emotionally, spiritually?"
- go to work if it's a workday
On the next page, make a reminder list for yourself of things you might need to do. Check the list each day to ensure that you do those things that you need to do sometimes to keep yourself well. You'll avoid a lot of the stress that comes from forgetting occasional but important tasks. Write "Do I Need To?" at the top of this page and then list things such as—
- set up an appointment with one of my health care professionals
- spend time with a good friend or be in touch with my family
- do peer counseling
- do some housework
- buy groceries
- do the laundry
- have some personal time
- plan something fun for the evening or weekend
- write some letters
- go to support group
That's the first section of the book. Cross out items if they stop working for you, and add new items as you think of them. You even can tear out whole pages and write some new ones. You will be surprised how much better you will feel after just taking these positive steps on your own behalf.
Triggers are external events or circumstances that may produce very uncomfortable emotional or psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, panic, discouragement, despair, or negative self-talk. Reacting to triggers is normal, but if we don't recognize them and respond to them appropriately, they may actually cause a downward spiral, making us feel worse and worse. This section of your plan is meant to help you become more aware of your triggers and to develop plans to avoid or deal with triggering events, thus increasing your ability to cope and staving off the development of more severe symptoms.
Identifying Emotional and Psychological Triggers
Write "Triggers" on the second tab and insert several sheets of paper. On the first page, write down those things that, if they occur, might cause an increase in your symptoms. They may have triggered or increased symptoms in the past. It may be hard to think of all of your emotional and psychological triggers right away. Add triggers to your list whenever you become aware of them. It is not necessary to project catastrophic things that might happen, such as war, natural disaster, or a huge personal loss. If those things were to occur, you would use the actions you describe in the triggers action plan more often and increase the length of time you use them. When listing your triggers, write those that are more possible or sure to occur, or which may already be occurring in your life. Some examples of common triggers are—
- the anniversary dates of losses or trauma
- frightening news events
- too much to do, feeling overwhelmed
- family friction
- the end of a relationship
- spending too much time alone
- being judged, criticized, teased, or put down
- financial problems, getting a big bill
- physical illness
- sexual harassment
- being yelled at
- aggressive-sounding noises or exposure to anything that makes you feel uncomfortable
- being around someone who has treated you badly
- certain smells, tastes, or noises
Triggers Action Plan
On the next page, develop a plan of what you can do, if a trigger come up, to comfort yourself and keep your reactions from becoming more serious symptoms. Include tools that have worked for you in the past, plus ideas you have learned from others, and refer back to your Wellness Toolbox. You may want to include things you must do at these times, and things you could do if you have time or if you think they might be helpful in this situation. Your plan might include—
- make sure I do everything on my daily maintenance list
- call a support person and ask them to listen while I talk through the situation
- do a half-hour relaxation exercise
- write in my journal for at least half an hour
- ride my stationary bicycle for 45 minute
- play the piano or work on a fun activity for 1 hour
If you are triggered, and you do these things and find they are helpful, then, keep them on your list. If they are only somewhat helpful, you may want to revise your action plan. If they are not helpful, keep looking for and trying new ideas until you find the most helpful. You can learn new tools by attending workshops and lectures, reading self-help books, and talking to your health care provider and other people who experience similar symptoms.
Early warning signs are internal and may or may not arise in reaction to stressful situations. In spite of your best efforts to take care of yourself, you may begin to experience early warning signs, subtle signs of change that indicate you may need to take further action. If you can recognize and address early warning signs right away, you often can prevent more severe symptoms. Reviewing these early warning signs regularly helps you to become more aware of them. Write "Early Warning Signs" on the third tab and insert several more sheets of paper in your binder.
Identify early warning signs
On the first page, make a list of early warning signs you have noticed in yourself in the past. How do you feel when you know you are not feeling quite right? How did you feel just before you had a hard time in the past or when you noticed that your habits or routines changed? Your early warning signs might include things such as—
- inability to experience pleasure
- lack of motivation
- feeling slowed down or speeded up
- being uncaring
- avoiding others or isolating
- being obsessed with something that doesn't really matter
- displaying of irrational thought patterns
- feeling unconnected to my body
- increased irritability
- increased negativity
- not keeping appointments
- changes in appetite
If you want to, ask your friends, family members and other supporters for early warning signs that they've noticed.
On the next pages, develop an action plan for responding to your early warning signs, referring to your Wellness Toolbox for ideas. Some of the things you list may be the same as those you wrote on your Triggers Action Plan. If you notice these symptoms, take action while you still can.
The following is a sample plan for dealing with early warning signs—
- do the things on my daily maintenance plan, whether I feel like it or not
- tell a supporter/counselor how I am feeling and ask for advice. Ask him or her to help me figure out how to take action
- peer counsel at least once each day
- do at least three, 10-minute relaxation exercises each day (simple exercises described in many self-help books that help you relax through deep breathing and focusing your attention on certain things)
- write in my journal for at least 15 minutes each day
- spend at least 1 hour involved in an activity I enjoy each day
- ask others to take over my household responsibilities for the day
(I also might, depending on the circumstances)
- check in with my physician or other health care professional
- read a good book
- dance, sing, listen to good music, play a musical instrument, exercise, go fishing, or fly a kite
Again, if you use this plan and it doesn't help you feel better, revise your plan or write a new one. Use your Wellness Toolbox and other ideas from workshops, self-help books, your health care providers, and other people who experience similar symptoms.
In spite of your best efforts, your symptoms may progress to the point where they are very uncomfortable, serious, and even dangerous. This is a very important time. It is necessary to take immediate action to prevent a crisis or loss of control. You may be feeling terrible and others may be concerned for your wellness or safety, but you can still do the things that you need to do to help yourself feel better and keep yourself safe.
Signs that things are breaking down:
Write "When Things are Breaking Down," or something that means that to you, on the fourth tab. On the first page, make a list of symptoms that indicate to you that things are breaking down or getting much worse. Remember that symptoms and signs vary from person to person. What may mean "things are getting much worse" to one person may mean a "crisis" to another. Your signs or symptoms might include—
- feeling very oversensitive and fragile
- responding irrationally to events and the actions of others
- feeling very needy
- being unable to sleep
- sleeping all the time
- avoiding eating
- wanting to be totally alone
- substance abusing
- taking out anger on others
- chain smoking
- eating too much
On the next page, write an action plan that you think will help reduce your symptoms when they have progressed to this point. The plan now needs to be very direct, with fewer choices and very clear instructions.
Some ideas for an action plan are—
- call my doctor or other health care professional, ask for and follow his or her instructions
- call and talk for as long as necessary to my supporters
- arrange for someone to stay with me around the clock until my symptoms subside
- make arrangements to get help right away if my symptoms worsen
- make sure I am doing everything on my daily check list
- arrange and take at least three days off from any responsibilities
- have at least two peer counseling sessions
- do three deep-breathing relaxation exercises
- write in my journal for at least half an hour
- schedule a physical examination or doctor appointment or a consultation with another health care provider
- ask to have medications checked
As with the other plans, make note of the parts of your plan that work especially well. If something doesn't work or doesn't work as well as you wish it had, develop a different plan or revise the one you used—when you are feeling better. Always look for new tools that might help you through difficult situations.
Identifying and responding to symptoms early reduces the chances that you will find yourself in crisis. It is important to confront the possibility of crisis, because in spite of your best planning and assertive action in your own behalf, you could find yourself in a situation where others will need to take over responsibility for your care. This is a difficult situation—one that no one likes to face. In a crisis, you may feel as if you are totally out of control. Writing a clear crisis plan when you are well, to instruct others about how to care for you when you are not well, helps you maintain responsibility for your own care. It will keep your family members and friends from wasting time trying to figure out what to do for you. It relieves the guilt that may be felt by family members and other caregivers who may have wondered whether they were taking the right action. It also insures that your needs will be met and that you will get better as quickly as possible.
You need to develop your crisis plan when you are feeling well. However, you cannot do it quickly. Decisions like this take time, thought, and often collaboration with health care providers, family members and other supporters. Over the next few pages, information and ideas that others have included in their crisis plans will be shared. It can help you develop your own crisis plan.
The crisis plan differs from the other action plans in that it will be used by others. The other four sections of this planning process are implemented by you alone and need not be shared with anyone else; therefore you can write them using shorthand language that only you need to understand. However, when writing a crisis plan, you need to make it clear, easy to understand, and legible. While you may have developed other plans rather quickly, this plan is likely to take more time. Don't rush the process. Work at it for a while, then leave it for several days and keep coming back to it until you have developed a plan you feel has the best chance of working for you. Once you have completed your crisis plan, give copies of it to the people you name in this plan as your supporters.
On the fifth tab write "Crisis Plan" and insert at least nine sheets of paper. This crisis plan sample has nine parts to it, each addressing a particular concern.
Part 1 Feeling well
Write what you are like when you are feeling well. You can copy it from Section 1, Daily Maintenance Plan. This can help educate people who might be trying to help you. It might help someone who knows you well to understand you a little better, for someone who doesn't know you well—or at all—it is very important.
Part 2 Symptoms
Describe symptoms that would indicate to others that they need to take over responsibility for your care and make decisions on your behalf. This is hard for everyone. No one likes to think that someone else will have to take over responsibility for his or her care. Yet, through a careful, well-developed description of symptoms that you know would indicate to you that you can't make smart decisions anymore, you can stay in control even when things seem to be out of control. Allow yourself plenty of time to complete this section. Ask your friends, family members, and other supporters for input, but always remember that the final determination is up to you. Be very clear and specific in describing each symptom. Don't just summarize; use as many words as it takes. Your list of symptoms might include—
- being unable to recognize or correctly identify family members and friends
- uncontrollable pacing; inability to stay still
- neglecting personal hygiene (for how many days?)
- not cooking or doing any housework (for how many days?)
- not understanding what people are saying
- thinking I am someone I am not
- thinking I have the ability to do something I don't
- displaying abusive, destructive, or violent behavior, toward self, others, or property
- abusing alcohol and/or drugs
- not getting out of bed (for how long?)
- refusing to eat or drink
Part 3 Supporters
In this next section of the crisis plan, list these people who you want to take over for you when the symptoms you listed in the previous section arise. Before listing people in this part of your plan though, talk with them about what you'd like from them and make sure they understand and agree to be in the plan. They can be family members, friends, or health care providers. They should be committed to following the plans you have written. When you first develop this plan, your list may be mostly health care providers. But as you work on developing your support system, try to add more family members and friends because they will be more available.
It's best to have at least five people on your list of supporters. If you have only one or two, when they go on vacation or are sick, they might not be available when you really need them. If you don't have that many supporters now, you may need to work on developing new and/or closer relationships with people. Ask yourself how best you can build these kinds of relationships. Seek new friends by doing things such as volunteering and going to support groups and community activities. (See Making and Keeping Friends a Mental Health self-help booklet in this series)
In the past, health care providers or family members may have made decisions that were not according to your wishes. You may not want them involved in your care again. If so, write on your plan, "I do not want the following people involved in any way in my care or treatment." Then list those people and why you don't want them involved. They may be people who have treated you badly in the past, have made poor decisions, or who get too upset when you are having a hard time.
Many people like to include a section that describes how they want possible disputes between their supporters settled. For instance, you may want to say that if a disagreement occurs about a course of action, a majority of your supporters can decide or a particular person will make the determination. You also might request that a consumer or advocacy organization become involved in the decisionmaking.
Part 4 Health care providers and medications
Name your physician, pharmacist, and other health care providers, along with their phone numbers. Then list the following—
- the medications you are currently using, the dosage, and why you are using them
- the medications you would prefer to take if medications or additional medications became necessary—like those that have worked well for you in the past—and why you would choose those
- the medications that would be acceptable to you if medications became necessary and why you would choose those
- the medications that must be avoided—like those you are allergic to, that conflict with another medication, or cause undesirable side effects—and give the reasons they should be avoided.
Also list any vitamins, herbs, alternative medications (such as homeopathic remedies), and supplements you are taking. Note which should be increased or decreased if you are in crisis, and which you have discovered are not good for you.
Part 5 Treatments
There may be particular treatments that you like in a crisis situation and others that you would want to avoid. The reason may be as simple as "this treatment has or has not worked in the past," or you may have some concerns about the safety of this treatment. Maybe you just don't like the way a particular treatment makes you feel. Treatments here can mean medical procedures or the many possibilities of alternative therapy, (such as injections of B vitamins, massages, or cranial sacral therapy). In this part of your crisis plan, list the following—
- treatments you are currently undergoing and why
- treatments you would prefer if treatments or additional treatments became necessary and why you would choose those
- treatments that would be acceptable to you if treatments were deemed necessary by your support team
- treatments that must be avoided and why
Part 6 Planning for your care
Describe a plan for your care in a crisis that would allow you to stay where you like. Think about your family and friends. Would they be able to take turns providing you with care? Could transportation be arranged to health care appointments? Is there a program in your community that could provide you with care part of the time, with family members and friends taking care of you the rest of the time? Many people who would prefer to stay at home rather than be hospitalized are setting up these kinds of plans. You may need to ask your family members, friends, and health care providers what options are available. If you are having a hard time coming up with a plan, at least write down what you imagine the ideal scenario would be.
Part 7 Treatment facilities
Describe the treatment facilities you would like to use if family members and friends cannot provide you with care, or if your condition requires hospital care. Your options may be limited by the facilities available in your area and by your insurance coverage. If you are not sure which facilities you would like to use, write down a description of what the ideal facility would be like. Then, talk to family members and friends about the available choices and call the facilities to request information that may help you in making a decision. Also include a list of treatment facilities you would like to avoid—such as places where you received poor care in the past.
Part 8 What you need from others
Describe what your supporters can do for you that will help you feel better. This part of the plan is very important and deserves careful attention. Describe everything you can think of that you want your supporters to do (or not do) for you. You may want to get more ideas from your supporters and health care professionals.
Things others could do for you that would help you feel more comfortable might include—
- listen to me without giving me advice, judging me, or criticizing me
- hold me (how? how firmly?)
- let me pace
- encourage me to move, help me move
- lead me through a relaxation or stress reduction technique
- peer counsel with me
- provide me with materials so I can draw or paint
- give me the space to express my feelings
- don't talk to me (or do talk to me)
- encourage me and reassure me
- feed me nutritious food
- make sure I take my vitamins and other medications
- play me comic videos
- play me good music (list the kind)
- just let me rest
Include a list of specific tasks you would like others to do for you, who you would like to do which task, and any specific instructions they might need. These tasks might include—
- buying groceries
- watering the plants
- feeding the pets
- taking care of the children
- paying the bills
- taking out the garbage or trash
- doing the laundry
You may also want to include a list of things that you do not want others to do for you—things they might otherwise do because they think it would be helpful, but that might even be harmful or worsen the situation. These might include—
- forcing you to do anything, such as walking
- scolding you
- becoming impatient with you
- taking away your cigarettes or coffee
- talking continuously
Some people also include instructions in this section on how they want to be treated by their caregivers. These instructions might include statements such as "kindly, but firmly, tell me what you are going to do," "don't ask me to make any choices at this point," or "make sure to take my medications out of my top dresser drawer right away."
Part 9 Recognizing recovery
In the last part of this plan, give your supporters information on how to recognize when you have recovered enough to take care of yourself and they no longer need to use this plan. Some examples are—
- when I am eating at least two meals a day
- when I am awake for six hours a day
- when I am taking care of my personal hygiene needs daily
- when I can carry on a good conversation
- when I can easily walk around the house
You have now completed your crisis plan. Update it when you learn new information or change your mind about things. Date your crisis plan each time you change it and give revised copies to your supporters.
You can help ensure that your crisis plan will be followed by signing it in the presence of two witnesses. It will further increase potential for use if you appoint and name a durable power of attorney-a person who could legally make decisions for you if you were not able to make them for yourself. Since power of attorney documents vary from state to state, you cannot be absolutely sure the plan will be followed. However, it is your best assurance that your wishes will be honored.
You have now completed your action plans for prevention and recovery. At first, you will need to spend 15-20 minutes each day reviewing your plans. People report that the morning, either before or after breakfast, is the best time to review the book. As you become familiar with your daily list, triggers, symptoms, and plans, you will find the review process takes less time and that you will know how to respond without even referring to the book.
Begin with Section 1. Review the list of how you are if you are all right. If you are all right, do the things on your list of things you need to do every day to keep yourself well. Also refer to the page of things you may need to do to see if anything "rings a bell" with you. If it does, make a note to yourself to include it in your day. If you are not feeling all right, review the other sections to see where the symptoms you are experiencing fit. Then follow the action plan you have designed.
For instance, if you feel very anxious and know that it is because one of your triggers happened, follow the plan in the triggers section. If there weren't any particular triggers but you noticed some early warning signs, follow the plan you designed for that section. If you notice symptoms that indicate things are breaking down, follow the plan you developed there.
If you are in a crisis situation, the plans can help you realize it so you can let your supporters know they should take over. However, in certain crisis situations, you may not be aware or willing to admit that you are in crisis. This is why having a strong team of supporters is so important. They will observe the symptoms you have reported and take over responsibility for your care, whether or not you are willing to admit you are in a crisis at that time. Distributing your crisis plan to your supporters and discussing it with them is absolutely essential to your safety and well-being.
You may want to take your plan or parts of your plan to the copy shop to get a reduced-size copy to carry in your pocket, purse, or glove compartment of your car. Then you can refer to the plan if triggers or symptoms come up when you are away from home.
People who are using these plans regularly and updating them as necessary are finding that they have fewer difficult times, and that when they do have a hard time, it is not as bad as it used to be and it doesn't last as long.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Center for Mental Health Services
Web site: www.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center
P.O. Box 42557
Washington, D.C. 20015
1 (800) 789-2647 (voice)
Web site: mentalhealth.samhsa.gov
Consumer Organization and Networking Technical Assistance Center
P.O. Box 11000
Charleston, WV 25339
1 (888) 825-TECH (8324)
(304) 346-9992 (fax)
Web site: www.contac.org
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
(formerly the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association)
730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60610-3526
Web site: www.dbsalliance.org
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
(Special Support Center)
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Web site: www.nami.org
National Empowerment Center
599 Canal Street, 5 East
Lawrence, MA 01840
Web site: www.power2u.org
National Mental Health Consumers'
1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1207
Philadelphia, PA 19107
1 (800) 553-4539 (voice)
(215) 636-6312 (fax)
Web site: www.mhselfhelp.org
Resources listed in this document do not constitute an endorsement by CMHS/SAMHSA/HHS, nor are these resources exhaustive. Nothing is implied by an organization not being referenced.
This publication was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), and prepared by Mary Ellen Copeland, M.S., M.A., under contract number 99M005957. Acknowledgment is given to the many mental health consumers who worked on this project offering advice and suggestions.
The opinions expressed in this document reflect the personal opinions of the author and are not intended to represent the views, positions, or policies of CMHS, SAMHSA, DHHS, or other agencies or offices of the Federal Government.
For additional copies of this document, please call SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center at 1-800-789-2647.
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15-99
Rockville, MD 20857
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Staff, H. (2008, November 30). Action Plan for Mental Health Patients, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2023, December 1 from https://www.healthyplace.com/alternative-mental-health/main/action-plan-for-mental-health-patients | <urn:uuid:03b0809a-0ca5-4a09-8b49-175a50c5a77c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.healthyplace.com/alternative-mental-health/main/action-plan-for-mental-health-patients | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.959954 | 7,475 | 2.625 | 3 |
Iran on June 6, 2023, unveiled its first-ever hypersonic missile, Fattah (or “opener” in Farsi), which it says can penetrate missile defence systems and will give it a military edge.
- The unveiling ceremony, was attended by President Ebrahim Raisi and senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
About Fattah Missile
- It is an intermediate-range ballistic missile developed by Iran.
- Iran claimed that it is a hypersonic missile capable of traveling at 15 times the speed of sound.
- The missile can move at a speed of up to Mach 15 (5,145 meters or 16,880 feet per second):
- It has a range of 1,400km (870 miles) features a moveable secondary nozzle and employs solid propellants that allow for high maneuverability.
- Hypersonic missiles move at five times the speed of sound or greater and are maneuverable, making them difficult for defence systems and radars to target.
- The United States, Russia, China, North Korea, and India are believed to be the only countries to have successfully tested hypersonic missiles, but exact details of the weaponry remain scant.
- India has launched the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) programme, under which it is developing an indigenous, dual-capable hypersonic cruise missile.
- India successfully tested a Mach 6 scram-jet in 2019 and 2020. | <urn:uuid:b683aae0-28a7-4160-bb10-4fb97e8b7d69> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.iasbook.com/214279-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.906863 | 308 | 2.625 | 3 |
Save the World's First Taco Bell - #SaveTacoBell
The world's first Taco Bell was built in 1962 by founder Glenn Bell in Downey, CA. The original building at 7112 Firestone Blvd. still stands, but not for long if we don't convince the Taco Bell Corporation or someone else to save it from the imminent threat of demolition. Please sign this petition and help show Taco Bell that there is public support for the preservation of this historic and culturally significant building. You can also help by tweeting #SaveTacoBell and contacting Taco Bell Corporate. The Downey Conservancy is a "community-based organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the preservation of the culturally and historically significant resources of the City of Downey." In addition to being the home of the world's first Taco Bell, Downey also lays claim to the oldest operating McDonald's, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. | <urn:uuid:d21c8e9d-8fd4-4f00-99cd-cd89a3018a8c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-the-worlds-first-taco-bell-savetacobell | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.953236 | 187 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Updated: Nov 4, 2021
For this week's assignment.
Build a flashlight using any tools or techniques you’d like. I’m defining a flashlight as:
What I made for this week's assignment is a mini lightsaber.
Material: a mini electronic torch, an acrylic stick, cardboard, copper tape, thin wood board.
(and decorative LED lights and resistance)
(in the light)
( in the dark )
( how I made this 001 )
( how I made this 002 )
( how I made this 003 )
May the fourth be with you! | <urn:uuid:c43e5882-29ce-44ae-a3a6-ae7acd16d0dd> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.janemeng.com/post/intro-to-fabrication-001 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.821846 | 128 | 3 | 3 |
Every year, over 18,000 question papers, each including many questions and stimulus materials are written for GCSE and A level alone. When vocational qualifications are added, the number increases significantly. Each question on each paper is subject to high level scrutiny.
The aim of all awarding bodies is to create a question paper that can test how well a student has demonstrated their skills and knowledge against the examination specification they have been taught. The paper must include questions aimed at the whole ability range of candidates taking it, so it is possible to differentiate between those that perform well and those that don’t. The type of assessment system we have chosen to have in the UK requires significant and valuable human input to create the papers, which comes with its own risks.
Awarding bodies follow very similar procedures to create a question paper, although there are some differences in approach, timescales and titles. At the root of all the awarding bodies’ procedures is the focus on accuracy.
- 1. Contracting and training staff involved in creating question papers
At the very start of the process, awarding bodies appoint subject experts to author either whole question papers or individual questions and the respective marking schemes. In addition to this, other subject experts are appointed to carefully consider each question and to ensure that it is a valid assessment that can be reliably marked. These subject experts are trained by the awarding body to ensure they operate to a very high standard.
Awarding bodies each have dedicated internal teams who produce and quality assure each question paper.
- 2. Drafting of questions and question papers
Prior to the submission of questions or a question paper for review, a high level of planning is required to ensure that each assessment fulfils all of a qualification’s stated requirements. When designing questions, the subject experts carefully consider the content of the specification, the assessment objectives and questions set in previous series and how candidates have responded to them.
- 3. A series of edits, reviews and revisions
When the questions/question paper has been drafted, it is then reviewed by a subject expert. The Reviewer considers the questions and mark schemes carefully with reference to the specification, ensuring they are of comparable demand to previous series and that there are no errors or omissions. The Reviewer may recommend changes and provides feedback to the author of the question/question paper.
- 4. Evaluation stage
Once a draft of questions/a question paper has been submitted, the materials will then be reviewed by a group of subject experts. They will consider the validity of the proposed questions, the readability of the questions and any other issues that may impact a candidate’s ability to complete the assessment. Once the group of experts are satisfied with the questions/question paper, it is passed to the awarding body’s production team to create the final paper.
- 5. Paper production and type-setting
Question papers are typeset and proof read to ensure accurate spelling, punctuation, grammar and layout. Subject experts review the paper prior to its moving on to the next stage.
- 6. Working of questions and final quality checks
Once first quality assurance checks are completed, questions are submitted to an independent subject expert whose role is to work through the paper from a candidate’s perspective. This expert will not have been involved in any of the earlier stages in the process. The questions are scrutinised to ensure that they are clear and accessible and that there are no errors or omissions. Questions are reviewed to ensure that they can be answered by the candidate in the time allowed and to ensure that the questions are at the right standard.
- 7. Formal sign-off
Each awarding body has a multi-staged approach to the formal sign off. Quality assurance checks are rigorous and are carried out by a number of internal and external experts including:
- dedicated proof reading teams
- question authors and reviewers
- internal subject and assessment experts.
- 8. Printing
Following sign-off, papers are securely printed using the awarding body’s print supplier. Checking of the printed products is rigorous to ensure high quality final print.
- 9. Post print review
In addition to print checks that ensure high quality final print copies, a final review of the finished paper is undertaken by subject experts and the papers confirmed as ready to progress to the final stage in the process.
- 10. Despatch to centres
This is a huge logistical undertaking that involves tens of thousands of parcels of question papers being delivered to centres across the country.
Spotting and managing errors to minimise impact on candidates
Despite the process containing many checks, very rarely, errors do appear on question papers. And although the numbers are small (e.g. in 2017 40 papers out of 3233 contained an error) even one can affect how a student answers that question and possibly the whole paper.
From the moment an error is identified, the focus is on how to minimise the effect on candidates to the extent that is possible.
There are a range of options that can be taken by the awarding body, however, the most suitable course of action to manage an error cannot always be determined immediately. There are, however, a number of principles the awarding bodies work to after establishing whether the affected item can still usefully contribute to the assessment. These include:
- ensuring the examiners receive specific guidance on how to mark responses to any affected questions
- establishing the fairest and most appropriate mitigation for candidates affected by the error
- delivering fair, accurate and timely results to all candidates
- making sure that the post-results review of marking procedure is not compromised
- keeping stakeholders well informed throughout the process
Crucially, awarding bodies will consider the effect at three key levels – for candidates, for centres and for the whole cohort and any decision making will at all times follow the principle of addressing all three. Awarding bodies do this because it is fair and right. It is also in line with Condition A7.1 (a) of the General Conditions of Recognition:
“Where any incident occurs which could have an Adverse Effect, an awarding organisation must promptly take all reasonable steps to […] prevent the Adverse Effect and, where any Adverse Effect occurs, mitigate it as far as possible and correct it.”
What action can awarding bodies take to mitigate the impact on candidates?
When an error on a question paper is identified during or after an examination, the awarding body determines the effect of the error by carrying out statistical analyses. The “toolkit” available is wide ranging and allows for a tailored approach to be taken to each incident. For example, they may involve comparing candidates’ performances on the erroneous question with those on other similar questions in the same paper, or with performance on a similar question on previous examination papers.
The awarding body will then consider the fairest way to deal with the error to minimise the effect on candidates. This may mean discounting the question or making amendments to the mark scheme.
In managing the effect of errors, there is a high level of scrutiny that the awarding bodies apply themselves. They are also required to notify the regulators, outlining the various options that may be available, any substantiating statistical analyses, and the final approach taken to deal with the problem.
10 May 2018 | <urn:uuid:72d4c953-0657-4f22-a0f2-b4fd6b0b66fc> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.jcq.org.uk/examination-system/creating-a-question-paper/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.945052 | 1,487 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Defining discrimination in healthcare
Despite the fact that in developed nations, availability of care to underrepresented populations and minorities is an active priority both within political systems and healthcare networks, in developing nations, discrimination in healthcare is an ongoing and often overlooked issue.
Discrimination constitutes “any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference or other differential treatment that is directly or indirectly based on the prohibited grounds of [prejudice] and which has the intention or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of Covenant rights,” and may be directed against an individual or group of individuals by a person, network, organization, or establishment, on the basis of (but not limited to) age, sex, gender, gender orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, creed, language, socioeconomic and political standing, physical and/or mental illness, and religion. 1
Discrimination of any sort in the healthcare system plays a role in increasing morbidity and mortality through the enactment of unequal treatments that impact the nature of care. 2 Ethnic minority patients, and in particular, Roma in the European healthcare systems face such discriminatory challenges, thereby limiting the quality of care received and increasing the risk of disease progression, co-morbidities, and death.
Although this paper discusses the discrimination faced by Roma in several European medical systems, it is imperative to understand the sociocultural status of the Roma both in a historic and contemporary European sense. Genomic evidence seems to identify the Romani as an independent North-Indian population that began westward migration circa the 11th century C.E.. 3 While different hypotheses exist, more and more evidence suggests the cause of the Romani migration lies within Persian mercenary and Middle-Eastern slavery activity. From this initial migration, Romani groups split geographically, and created a European diaspora by the 16th century. 1 Most native Europeans did not accept Romani culture, family structure, or belief systems, as many opined the Roma were abject, deceitful and exploitative. 4 Consequently, the Romani diaspora in all of Europe suffered ethnic discrimination across the entire timespan of the modern era. Ostracization of the “gypsies” and “travelers” became commonplace, especially in Eastern Europe, and the Romani culture became socially synonymous with thievery and apathy. Such an “identity sequestration” lead the Roma people to group together in ethnic enclaves, and to rely upon one another, rather than on national and local governments for support. Over time, increasing social and cultural distance from native Europeans led to an exacerbated dislike and continued discrimination against the Roma.
The twentieth century saw some of the most violent acts of hatred toward the Roma throughout Europe. In Nazi Germany, “Gypsies” were considered defamers of Aryan blood, and were removed from their homes and placed in concentration camps; many fell victim to mass murder. In all, death tolls are approximated at 80,000 to 1,000,000 Roma. 4 Additional racist policies were implemented in the communist Eastern bloc, particularly in Romania. Despite relative acceptance at the beginning of the Ceaușescu regime, Roma were no longer considered a minority group and were removed from the national “co-inhabiting nationalities list” by the 1970s. 5 After the fall of communism, however, the plight of the Roma only worsened. Mass social marginalization and discrimination in public systems such as health, emergency services, and education led to ever-increasing wealth, status, and rights-gaps, gaps which persist to this day, particularly in Eastern Europe.
When examining the obstacles Roma face in the healthcare system, it is imperative to consider medical/health education and availability of care from a holistic perspective. Due to societal discrimination, Roma children and adults alike are less likely to be well-informed about the need to seek medical attention and advice regularly. 1 In secluded Romani communities, it is often the case that general family care is limited or even absent, and health education in schools lacks the structure to demonstrate to students the necessity of physical, sexual, and psychological well-being. Roma therefore often neglect their medical needs, thereby leading to a higher incidence of morbidity and mortality from infections and chronic illnesses. 6 One multinational study has found that pregnant Romani women were unaware of their rights to care, and therefore had a higher rate of peripartum complications compared to non-Roma counterparts. 7 Similarly, the rates of teenage pregnancy, sexually-transmitted infections, and elective termination of pregnancy are much higher in Roma populations as a result of limited sexual education. 8
Another major barrier to accessing care is availability of culturally-competent medical practitioners and responsiveness of medical service networks. Parvu reports an interview with a Romani woman of the Kaldarash community (Iasi, Romania) in which she describes emergency medical service refusal to enter the Roma community in order to transport a patient. 9 Indeed, it is commonplace for ambulance services not to treat and transport patients in separate Roma settlements due to discriminatory stereotypes of uncleanliness and a dangerous atmosphere. Such attitudes lead to an increased incidence of acute disease and complications, particularly in maternity and pediatric wards. 1
PHYSICIAN ATTITUDES AND QUALITY OF CARE
A key issue in discriminatory attitudes towards Roma is the attitude of the healthcare provider toward the patient. Several authors discuss commentaries from Roma in hospitals and other healthcare settings in which attitudes of racism by doctors and nurses have prevented quality care delivery and have negatively impacted patient prognosis. 1, 9 Many Roma feel as if cultural stereotypes of thievery, lying, manipulation, and uncleanliness leads to the separation of patients based on ethnicity and the preferential treatment of caucasians over members of their own community. Parvu, 2013 reports that most Roma interviewees believed ethnic discrimination and subsequent sub-standard care was expected from non-Roma physicians. 9 Nevertheless, the medical and psychological consequences of discrimination is evident and has reached a critical level. Within the Romanian public healthcare system for example, many Roma report being neglected by doctors and nurses, which leads to acute exacerbation of underlying conditions. Particularly, with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and end stage renal disease, access to care for Romanian Roma is limited, and quality of care is diminished because many physicians think of Roma as “lower class citizens.” Galdean, 2011 concludes that being of Romani ethnicity is an independent risk factor for end-stage renal disease, with an 8.5% higher 3-year mortality rate in Roma compared to Caucasians. 6 Additionally, in many maternity wards across Europe, the rates of obstetric and gynecologic complications of pregnancy i.e. Hemorrhage, infection, exogenous failure to thrive of neonates, and psychological consequences such as postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis are are much higher in Romani women as opposed to other ethnicities. 1
Considerations for the future
As Eastern Europe sees an increase not only in Roma population, but in population of minorities in general, legislative, and social changes must be enacted to ensure that the basic human right of quality healthcare is met for all citizens regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, creed, etc. It is imperative that governing bodies, health and human rights organizations, hospitals, EMS directorships and schools discuss the meaning of respect, equality, and equal treatment in order to lower the Roma morbidity and mortality, and promote cultural, social, and economic inclusion of the Roma in day-to-day affairs.
Special thanks to Catherine Marrone for her continual help, critique, and encouragement.
Funding: No funding was received for this project.
Competing interests: The author has completed the Unified Competing Interest form at http://www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available on request from the corresponding author) and declares no conflict of interest.
Correspondence to: Brandon Muncan Stony Brook University 100 Nicolls Rd Stony Brook, N.Y. 11794 United States of America [email protected] | <urn:uuid:a4487399-2c29-4128-a13a-a4a37a1e212a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.joghr.org/article/11948 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.949959 | 1,674 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Malawi, a landlocked country in Sub-Saharan Africa, continues to face serious challenges of malnutrition. Malawi is considered one of the five poorest countries in the world, with 71% of Malawians earning less than the international poverty level of US$1.90/day.1 Malawi’s agriculturally-based economy derives nearly 90% of its revenue, and 80% of its employment, from exportation of rain-fed maize, tobacco, sugar, and tea.2 Furthermore, domestic use of maize or “nsima” is the main source of sustenance for a major portion of the population. Nsima is packed with simple carbohydrates and commonly consumed thrice daily by Malawians of all ages, some as young as one year old. Malawian diets are nutritionally limited and often lead to nutritional deficits in the most vulnerable members of the population. In Sub-Saharan Africa, those most radically affected by malnutrition are children under the age of five. Chronic malnutrition, also known as “stunting,” is a condition that often occurs during the first 1000 days of life due to unbalanced nutrient consumption and ultimately leads to irreversible problems with cognitive and physical development. Acute malnutrition, also known as “wasting,” is characterized by a lack of adequate caloric intake, contributing to weight loss, edema, and other immediate poor health outcomes. Statistically, only 8% of Malawian children aged 6-23 months meet the minimum acceptable diet requirements set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO).1 37.4% of children under five are considered stunted, compared to an average of 25% in comparable developing nations.1 In addition, 23% of childhood deaths in Malawi are related to poor nutrition.1
Like most resource-deficient countries, Malawi faces challenges with accessing affordable healthcare. A major hurdle in addressing nutritional status of the children in rural villages is the distance from healthcare facilities. In Malawi, 84% of the population lives in rural villages, with only 46% of Malawians residing within five kilometers (km) of a health facility.3 Malawian healthcare is structured in a three-tiered system of primary health clinics, secondary health facilities, and urban central hospitals. The primary health clinics often require over an hour of transit time through a combination of walking, biking, animal-drawn carts, and for those that can afford it, taxi services.4 Travel to health clinics often costs nearly one US$ each direction.4–6 Varela et al. concluded that, in Malawi, 56% of rural populations were able to afford transport to medical clinics.4 Costs and travel time are exponentially increased when a higher level of care is needed. Most high acuity hospitals are located in urban centers, and travelling to them from rural areas may cost upwards of nine US$ for approximately two-and-a-half hours of travel one way.4
Our study was done in collaboration with Naturally Africa Volunteers (NAV) and the Naturally Africa Foundation. These organizations were developed as a partnership with several Malawian organizations to facilitate support for the needs of those in rural Nkope. NAV’s initiatives provide home-healthcare aids, nutritional education, preschool feeding programs, and more to support the community of Nkope. This study strives to identify whether increasing distance from main roads in rural Malawi impacts nutritional deficits that drive chronic stunting in children.
This was a retrospective cohort study using anthropometric data collected by NAV. This data was collected internally by their organization to assess the prevalence of stunting and wasting in children in villages within Mangochi District, Malawi. The data provided by NAV was unidentifiable to our research team, and was collected in compliance with the Malawi Ministry of Health for program development purposes. Due to unidentified participant data, this project was therefore deemed exempt by our home institution from Internal Review Board (IRB) approval. We included children ≤18 years of age in three neighboring villages surrounding Nkope, Malawi. Exclusion criteria included those >18 years-of-age, pregnant women, and those whose age could not be identified. Patient variables included age, gender, child height (cm), child weight (kg), village name, and distance (≤2 km, 4-5 km, and ≥10 km) from main road access. The main road was defined in this study as a nationally paved interstate that runs through the extent of the country.
Participants were categorized by the village in which they live; the exact locations of participants’ homes were not identified but, instead, generalized to the community they belonged to. Village distance from the main road was estimated based on Google mapping due to lack of properly documented distances from road signs or available maps.
The three villages were initially categorized into three groups based on distance in kilometers from the main road: ≤2 km, 4-5 km, and ≥10 km. No statistical difference was found in the two surrounding villages ≤5 km from the main road; therefore, the data from those two villages was combined into one reference group for comparison with the third village. The nutritional status of the third village, which is ≥10 km from the main road, was then compared to the reference group (≤5km) based on accessibility to the main road. Children 0-18 years old living ≤5 km or ≥10 km from the main road were assigned percentages based on z-scores within the two redefined study groups.
Data was collected by the same three researchers and stored in an offline Microsoft Excel document on a laptop that was brought to each measurement site. Due to most participants being non-English speaking, the same translator was used for the duration of the study when collecting data. Volunteers for the study were recruited biweekly in the morning at three separate wound clinics run by NAV over a three-week period in June 2018. The same weight scale (kg) and tape measure (cm) were utilized for all measurements. Stunting and wasting were defined in accordance with the values established by the WHO height-for-weight and height-for-age curves. For both stunting and wasting, a z-score of >-2 was defined as healthy-mild, a z-score of -2 to -3 was defined as moderate, and a z-score of -3 to -4 was defined as severe.
These data were separated into corresponding z-scores based on height-for-weight and age-for-weight. Univariate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were then calculated for the association of the assessed risk factors with the prevalence of wasting and stunting.
198 children from three villages were assessed [46% male (92)]. Children were grouped ages 0-<2 years (19, 10%), 2-<5 years (88, 44%), and 5-≤18 years (91, 46%). 2.5% (5/198) met criteria for wasting, 8.6% (17/198) had moderate stunting, 5.1% (10/198) had severe stunting (Table 1). Data was collected from 3 villages at ≤2km (32/198, 16%), 4-5km (71/198, 35%) and ≥10 km (95/198, 52%). When comparing sample populations between ≤2 km and 4-5 km there were no significant differences noted based on nutritional z-scores (Table 1). Village distance of ≥10 km from the main road (OR = 2.91, CI = 1.26 - 6.75, P = .0126) (Figure 1) and child age under 2 years (OR = 5.54, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.61- 19.1, P = .0067) (Figure 2) were both significantly associated with childhood stunting. Data collected showed no significance in wasting (moderate or severe) when assessing for village distance from main road access.
On univariate logistic-regression, no difference was seen in patient gender with regard to stunting or wasting. No significant difference was seen in participants ages 2-18 with respect to stunting or wasting.
On multivariable logistic regression, female sex had no association on stunting (OR = 0.925, 95% CI = .410-2.08), nor did age grouping of 2-5 years (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = .870-5.93). Male gender, village distance >10 km and age group of 5-18 years of age were used as the reference groups (Table 2).
Utilization of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), mobile health clinics, and community healthcare workers, are examples of efforts put forth to combat the health, nutritional, and educational needs of communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Moving these systems from a complementary role to an integral one within the Malawian government health system remains a challenge due to both societal and governmental socio-cultural realities of target implementation sites.7–9
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) observes that while severe and moderate malnutrition fell from 32% in 1990 to 27% in 2000 in developing countries, the number of malnourished children in Sub-Saharan Africa, continues to rise.7 However, according to the 2018 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations statistical database (FAOSTAT), undernourishment in Malawi has remained relatively stagnant at 26% and 27% in 2000 and 2016, respectively.1 Multiple factors contribute to these observations: namely, healthcare utilization patterns, socio-demographics, underlying illness, and maternal health during pregnancy.
The substantial cost of travel remains one of the greatest barriers to receiving healthcare services.3,6 Malawi is equipped with public health services that are delivered free of charge, but unfortunately most of Malawi’s rural population resides far from these facilities. Many malnourished children live in lower socioeconomic communities and are less likely to seek medical treatment at distant health centers. Likewise, populations residing in catchment areas of private health facilities have been found to be non-users of health services due to both the inability to afford services and remoteness from public health facilities.6
Limited access to healthcare facilities is not the only barrier that poor road infrastructure has on the rural Malawian population. It also has economic impacts that stem from the limited variety of available produce and the elevated costs associated with transporting these goods. Market hurdles diminish community access to nutritional diversity, which may detrimentally impact nutritional status. A review study in 36 countries showed supplementation with multiple micronutrients, as well as protein rich foods, during pregnancy positively impacted childhood nutritional status.10 Road access increases access to input and output markets, education systems, health services, and more diversified labor opportunities, which in turn reduces the burden of poverty.11 In a study conducted in Cameroon, poverty rates within urban areas from 1996-2007 declined from 41.4% to 12.2%.11 On the contrary, the poverty rate in rural areas only lost four percentage points over that period. The lack of a substantial decrease in poverty in these rural areas was thought to be due to a deficit of road networks in these regions compared to their urban counterparts.10 Insufficient access to roads leaves communities economically isolated, decreasing their chances of escaping the poverty cycle. Roads do not just merely improve the standard of living, they themselves represent opportunity. Main roads make it easier to have robust commerce, encourage the use of healthcare services by simplifying travel, and allow for expansion of knowledge through multi-community integration. Generating access to health education and more diverse food sources via road development connects rural communities to these resources with potential to mitigate rates of malnutrition in rural Malawi.
Our study assessed 198 children from three different villages. Sample size and number of villages studied may limit the ability for the results to be applied to a broader population. Childhood stunting is obviously not an isolated problem; a multitude of confounding factors are inevitable and it is difficult to separate based on village distance from a main road alone. It should also be noted that due to the rural settings in which the data was collected, natural variation did exist in the environment, organization, and layout of the collection sites. The language barrier and inconsistent health records kept by rural clinics and families of participants may also have impacted the precision of documented child age. Child age was recorded in years due to inability to attain an accurate age in months, which may influence the corresponding height-for-weight and height-for-age z-scores. The impact of these factors is mitigated by consistency of data collection and statistical analysis.
Further study is needed to assess distance from main roads and the negative impact this may have on the nutritional status of other rural communities in Malawi and other low-income countries. In addition, it would be helpful to expand the study by including more children and performing regular follow-up studies to monitor the pattern of changes through time. It would be particularly valuable to study nutritional and health status of remote communities before and after roads are built that link the communities to main roads.
As we considered only those communities both ≥10km and ≤5km from the main road, communities living between 5-10 km from the main road were not assessed for nutritional deficits. Also, it should be noted that distant communities had dirt road access that is accessible to vans, bikes, or animal drawn cart. The main difficulty remains that any form of rentable transport departs from the main road, leaving the remaining chore of getting to the main road. Increasing transport from communities to the main road may be a viable solution to diminish health and economic gaps seen in distant villages.
We suggest that governments and aid organizations make it a priority to work with remote communities to build and maintain roads to isolated communities. The roads should be adequate for various types of vehicles to drive on, including motorcycles, bicycles, cars, mid-size busses and mid-size trucks. We also suggest that mobile clinics and malnutrition programs utilize these roads and travel to remote communities on a regular basis to provide healthcare, nutrition assistance and health education. This will likely have a significant impact in preventing and treating stunting and other health problems associated with malnutrition and poor access to healthcare.
The impact of linking communities to main roads cannot be understated, as this allows for communities to advance from sustenance farming models to more diverse trade and commerce. Access to roads, in simple terms, improves the economy and healthcare usage patterns in rural villages; which in turn improves the nutritional status of the future generation.3,6,11
Within our sample, both village distance ≥10 kilometers from a main road and child age less than two years were significantly associated with stunting. This study suggests that malnutrition programs should be expanded to better meet the needs of children less than two years old and those living 10 or more kilometers away from a main road. Programs that are based at clinics or other sites may not be effectively reaching children living in remote villages. Developing road infrastructure to facilitate transportation to clinics, malnutrition programs, markets, work opportunities, etc. may help to improve childhood malnutrition. Addressing these issues will improve access to healthcare, food sources, markets, and jobs which will likely improve the nutrition, health, and economic status of those living in these communities.
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Max Crinnin, BA for editorial assistance, and Marc Crouch, BSc from Naturally Africa Volunteers for aid in study design.
Authorships contributions: All authors contributed to the design, conduct and writing of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors completed the Unified Competing Interest form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available upon request from the corresponding author), and declare no conflicts of interest.
Andrew J. Claffey, BS
955 Main St, Buffalo
NY 14203; 585-410-2580 | <urn:uuid:4cc1fb2c-7599-42bc-a415-c984794bb38d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.joghr.org/article/14378 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.961443 | 3,271 | 3.421875 | 3 |
Long before the millenials and hipsters took over South Beach and the restored art deco hotels, and before an influx of Hispanic immigration turned Miami into a bustling city of international commerce and multi-lingual inhabitants, Miami, for a time, was a major center of Jewish life. That may sound self-evident. What would Miami be without Jews? But the reality is that there has been a steady exodus of Jews from Miami since the crime-riddled 1970s, many leaving to Boca Raton and Aventura, just north of the city.
And what was known about the Jews of Miami was often caricatures about aging grandparents and snowbirds playing mahjong at the Fontainebleau or Eden Roc hotels, or the stock of Jewish comedians since the 1950s. That’s why a visit to the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, is a worthwhile excursion, opening a window to a long and fascinating heritage. Located in two adjoining restored synagogues on Washington Street, just off South Beach, the small museum is cultural gem, displaying the arc of Jewish life over 250 years.
Indeed, the core exhibit is titled, “Mosaic: Jewish Life in Florida.” Since the 18th Century arrival of conversos (hidden Jews in the Spanish controlled territory) there has been Jewish presence in South Florida. The exhibit, with over 600 archival documents and photographs, is particularly engaging on the subjects of immigration and diversity of the community.
There were only about 5000 Jews in Miami in the prewar period. The population soared after WWII with an infusion of immigrants, the invention of air-conditioning, as well as a more open-minded attitude toward Jews.
The core exhibit is strong when it comes to breaking stereotypes, featuring Jewish contribution to Florida’s culture. One section called “Land of Opportunity,” tells the stories of Florida’s “Jewish crackers,” featuring farmers and ranchers. Military and political service is also documented, with over 100 notables profiled including Jewish mayors, judges, and politicians. David Levy Yulee, who built the first railroad across the state and was a key force in Florida achieving statehood in 1845, is one of the characters featured in the exhibit.
The exhibition doesn’t shy away from airing the harsher realities of Jewish history in the area, namely open discrimination and anti-Semitism. In the early 20th Century Jews could only live south of 5th Street in Miami, and Mt. Sinai Hospital was established because Jewish doctors returning from WW II could not get positions in Dade County hospitals. As late as the 1950s, local hotels advertised their “restricted clientele,” (read: gentiles only). One sign in the exhibit displays the not-so-subtle bigotry, a hotel advertisement that reads, “Always a view, never a Jew.”
Immigration is also an important theme of the exhibit. There is a section on the influx of of Jews from Cuba who fled after the revolution of 1959, and how these immigrants brought a surge of vitality to the local community.
One section shows the local impact of the Holocaust, and not only by the influx of survivors. There is the disgraceful episode in 1939 of the US government refusing to allow Jewish refugees aboard the SS St Louis to disembark in Miami, only to be returned to Europe and the Nazi genocide.
The museum also chronicles the Jewish gangsters who a part of the South Florida scene. Perhaps the most famous was Meyer Lansky, notorious financier for the mob, whose name is on a stained glass window donated to the synagogue-turned-museum.
The museum, now under the administration of Florida International University, offers a fascinating window into one of the most iconic, often satirized, but certainly historic Jewish communities of the United States. We recommend visiting it on your next trip to Florida.
Harry D. Wall has a long career in journalism, advocacy and consulting. Most recently, he has taken a late-career move and began making documentary films about Jewish heritage and communities around the globe. His blog, Jewish Discoveries, is a travelogue of Jewish heritage and contemporary life around the world. You can keep up to date with his travels on the blog or Facebook.com/JDiscoveries. | <urn:uuid:13aa64b2-5a50-45d6-80f1-3c64b68bfdd4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.jta.org/2018/03/12/ny/jewish-museum-in-miami-a-window-to-250-years-of-heritage-and-diversity | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.955684 | 887 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Access to Care
Access to healthcare means having the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best health outcomes. Access to comprehensive, quality healthcare services is important for promoting and maintaining health, preventing and managing disease, reducing unnecessary disability and premature death, and achieving health equity for all Americans. Attaining good access to care means having:
Health insurance that facilitates entry into the healthcare system.
Timely access to needed care.
A usual source of care with whom the patient can develop a relationship.
The ability to receive care when there is a perceived need for care. | <urn:uuid:02078185-4603-4b46-838b-75a8f38f233c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.justforthehealthofit.org/health-topics/access-care | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.950603 | 116 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Wanting to know about Dinosaur skeletons? These giant skeletons are how we know so much about dinosaurs today.
Dinosaurs - Skeletons, Fossils and Bones
The first nearly complete skeleton of a dinosaur was discovered by William Parker Foulke in 1858. It was of a Hadrosaurus.
A complete skeleton will give a scientist a good idea of how big the dinosuar was, and what it looked like. The skull will be able to tell them what it ate and other things - such as claws, body plates and teeth will show how it defended itself - or attacked it's prey.
Mostly skeletons are discovered in the form of dinosaur fossils
. When some of the bones are missing, experts can often guess what they were like by studying other complete fossils.
Just like your skeleton, the skeletons of dinos are made up lots of bones
. Each bone type has its own name. Some dinosaur bones include:
skull and jaw bones
Different shaped dinosuars have different skeletal structures.
Some dinosaurs (like the Tyrannosaurs rex and Allosaurus) had a second set of ribs called gastral ribs on the underside of it's body. Scientist think this was to help keep the body rigid.
Dinosaur hips are also different in different dinos. Hip bones are used by scientist for dinosaur classification
Would you like to see more skeletons? Here are some pictures of skeleton dinosaurs | <urn:uuid:f5b7d777-dc43-4e2d-b5b9-c9b723b25743> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.kids-dinosaurs.com/dinosaur-skeletons.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.94095 | 292 | 3.609375 | 4 |
Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR; Dresden, Germany) directed light from the Dresden Laser Acceleration Source (DRACO), a terawatt laser (which equals one trillion watts), perpendicularly and obliquely onto a thin metal foil, allowing them to demonstrate for the first time that accelerated protons follow the direction of the laser light. The work yielded unprecedented high proton energies, which could be promising for cancer therapy.1
A light pulse coming from the DRACO laser—which currently reaches a peak power of 150 TW, but only for 30 fs at a time—and directed onto a thin metal foil accelerates electrons and protons perpendicularly to the foil's surface, say the researchers. But with a tilted laser pulse, the angle of the thin light disk is slightly tilted with respect to the axis of propagation, enabling the electrons to feel the rotation of the light disk and follow the direction in which the light hits the foil. What's more, protons are accelerated along this direction as well and, in contrast to the electrons, maintain their direction. This novel observation of the directional dependence allowed the researchers to also look directly at the underlying acceleration process.
What's next? The researchers now want to expand the DRACO laser to 500 TW, and are currently building a petawatt (equal to one quadrillion watts) laser system called PENELOPE. Also, the OncoRay center, which is jointly supported by HZDR, University Hospital, and TU Dresden, is building a modern proton therapy facility on the University Hospital's campus, which will be used for cancer research and therapy and will feature a high-performance laser prototype and conventional proton accelerator.
1. K. Zeil et al., Nat. Comm., 3, 874, doi:10.1038/ncomms1883 (June 6, 2012). | <urn:uuid:11afde04-e32b-4567-baee-c90532f9d0e9> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.laserfocusworld.com/home/article/14190799/highpower-laserscancer-therapy-terawatt-laser-enables-higher-energies-for-particle-acceleration-in-cancer-therapy | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.909365 | 395 | 2.796875 | 3 |
The Model T, according to Henry Ford, was available "in any color you choose, so long as it's black." Introduced in 1908, the Model T revolutionized automobile manufacturing—Ford was not the first to build a car on an assembly line, but he perfected the system that enabled him to supply a motorcar for the masses (as long as they wanted black).
Today, nearly a century later, technology products and their manufacture have evolved to the point that almost any product can be customized in many different ways to address specific needs of an end user. Ironically, for many of "the masses," the choices now available have become almost overwhelming—a visit to your local cellphone store will make that point clear. But in the world of optoelectronics, the evolution of specialized technology has actually necessitated development of highly specialized manufacturing techniques to facilitate the practical implementation of many of the most significant ideas.
While semiconductor lasers have been around for more than 40 years, for example, reliability at higher powers in pumping applications at 806 nm can still be an issue. A novel approach to the processing of these devices during manufacture may improve reliability by stabilizing the laser-diode facets (see p. 69). And while CCD sensors are not new technology, customized CCD camera systems optimized for the relatively new field of proteomics offer a unique set of imaging features tailored to the protein separation technique, as well as producing digital image data that can easily be manipulated and stored on a computer (using customized software of course). The result is much more effective instrumentation in a very complex field (see p. 84). Machine vision is also not a new concept, although current implementations are often fairly basic, but development of fully autonomous robots will depend on yet-to-emerge highly sophisticated on-board optical sensing and processing. One aspect of building a better "eye" for robots involves implementing data compression in the physical layer of the sensor instead of after the image has been sensed, which is current practice (see p.77).
Ultimately though, success in producing customized photonic devices depends both on the materials themselves and the way in which they are handled. The feature articles in our Optoelectronics World supplement following page 92 highlight these basics, thus helping us all avoid the predicament of being able to make a laser any color you want as long as it's the 643-nm output of the original ruby laser. | <urn:uuid:039abe9d-767a-4d98-8bd7-a3af8841a167> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.laserfocusworld.com/test-measurement/research/article/16554352/expanding-choices | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.953232 | 488 | 3.15625 | 3 |
You may think I'm kidding when I call metaphors magical, but I assure you, I'm quite serious. While they may be difficult to master, they possess the power to turn one thing into something completely different.
While similes relate one person or object to another with the use of like or as, metaphors equate instead of relate! Here are some examples:
Stanley is a bear when he gets hungry.
(Stanley = bear)
Tom is a walking dictionary about every conceivable baseball fact.
(Tom = walking dictionary)
This movie is a snore.
(movie = snore)
Maria is a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.
(Maria = ray of sunshine)
My first car was a lemon, but I didn't know about the Lemon Laws. (my car = lemon)
Henry is the Energizer bunny, hopping from one activity to another before he powers down.
(Henry = Energizer bunny)
Go ahead and sprinkle some metaphor magic into your stories! As with similes, if you can turn your characters into things that relate to their passions and interests, all the better. I'll return next Sunday with another descriptive language spoonful.
Laura Fineberg Cooper | <urn:uuid:43ee6b8e-0694-44c7-9d36-a095ec2a46b6> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.laurafcooper.com/grammar-blog/spoonful-70-magical-metaphors | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.939763 | 252 | 2.65625 | 3 |
The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of American publisher Joseph Pulitzer, and is administered by Columbia University in New York City. It recognizes distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life, published during the preceding calendar year. This prize is one of the most famous literature prizes in America. This price and the National Book Awards are considered to be the two most authoritative awards for the American literature. | <urn:uuid:45e46ea7-cc83-4143-9f97-0397416110a8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.lib.pku.edu.cn/portal/en/zy/huojiangtushu?field_selected_jiangxiang_tid=71&%3Bamp%3Bfield_selected_yuzhong_tid=78&%3Bfield_selected_xueke_tid=62&field_selected_yuzhong_tid=All&field_selected_xueke_tid=48&qt-search_quicktab=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.970917 | 109 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Slips, Trips, and Falls – Why They Matter to Seniors
More than one in every three older adults fall each year. Twenty percent of falls result in moderate to severe injuries. In fact, falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury. Falls often lead to hospitalization, loss of independence, and death. They are also costly. The total medical cost for falls is about $50 billion in the U.S. each year.
Are you at risk?
There are many risk factors for falls. These include:
- balance and walking problems
- lower body weakness
- trouble with vision
- being on medications for sleep, anxiety, or depression
Patients who come to the emergency department (ED) for falls are at higher risk for recurrent falls. After a fall, a patient’s six-month fall risk is nearly 30 percent higher. They are also more likely to develop weakness, poor balance, and depression in the following months.
We know most falls are preventable and predictable. When a senior has fallen once, the risk of falling again doubles. This is where prevention can help.
How seniors can prevent falls
A combination of risk factors causes most falls. Luckily, there are some things you can do to prevent them:
- Check for home hazards, such as loose rugs, objects on the floor and bad lighting.
- Review medication with your doctor.
- Start strength and balance exercises; Tai Chi and yoga are especially helpful exercise programs for fall prevention.
- Get your eyes and feet checked.
Get a falls risk assessment
A falls risk assessment can be performed in your doctor’s office. The doctor asks specific questions and completes an exam to help them determine your risk of falling. Depending on how high your risk is, your doctor might suggest seeing a physical therapist to improve your strength, getting a vision or hearing assessment, or changing your medications. All seniors who come to the ED after a fall should have a falls risk assessment.
The GAPcare program
Because seniors are more likely to fall again after they have fallen once, we believe a fall prevention program in the ED is important. The Geriatric Acute & Post-acute Care Coordination Program for Fall Prevention (GAPcare) is a pilot program that started recently in the Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital emergency departments. The National Institute of Health is sponsoring this research program.
Adults age 65 and older who come to the ED after a fall can participate. Those seniors receive information on how to make their home safer. A multidisciplinary team meets with them at their bedside in the ED. In the team approach, the ED physician works together with a pharmacist and physical therapist to conduct a falls risk assessment and develop an action plan for the patient to prevent future falls. This is done as part of the patient’s ED care. The goal is to help patients recognize what they can change to decrease their fall risk.
Following the visit, we keep in touch with patients for six months to see how they are recovering and if the program has helped them. We know that many older adults have trouble getting to appointments outside their homes and we want to make it easier by offering this care while they are already in the hospital. Our hope is that the program is helpful to seniors and the protocol can be rolled out to other EDs around the country.
If you or a loved one is at risk for falls, please talk to your doctor about a falls risk assessment.
Lifespan Living Newsletter
Find a Doctor
The right provider is in our network
Search more than 1,200 providers in our network. | <urn:uuid:b153df9c-87fd-48b7-b158-4b168c72f1ff> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/slips-trips-and-falls-why-they-matter-seniors | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.953134 | 748 | 2.828125 | 3 |
It has been said that we are what we eat. Nutrition plays an important role in optimal health, and a healthy, balanced diet is essential to good nutrition. How do you know if your diet is well balanced? You need to be eating a variety of foods from the five main food groups.
What Are the Five Food Groups?
If you take care to consume foods from each of the five groups every day, you are eating a balanced diet. The five food groups are:
Fruits are nutritious and a healthy alternative to candy, cookies, and sweet desserts. They are high in natural sugar, but they also provide fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, and are less likely to spike your blood sugar. Eat whole fruits instead of drinking fruit juice. Fresh or frozen whole fruits contain more nutrients than juice, and they don’t have added sugar, as juice often does. Avoid fruit canned in syrup.
Vegetables supply our bodies with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For optimal nutrition, eat a variety of veggies in different colors. The vegetable food group has five subgroups:
Orange or red vegetables
Legumes (beans and peas)
Other vegetables (such as zucchini and eggplant)
The USDA recommends choosing some vegetables from each of the subgroups every week.
This food group includes whole grains and refined grains. Whole grains are the best choice for a healthy diet. They retain all parts of the grain, contain more fiber and protein, break down more slowly, and have less effect on blood sugar than refined grains. Healthy whole-grain selections include oats, brown rice, quinoa, barley, and buckwheat.
Protein is essential for muscle development and maintenance, wound healing, and other functions of the body. Our main sources of protein are meats and beans. Healthy animal protein comes from red meats, poultry, and fish. Plant-based proteins are good sources of fiber and nutrients. Examples of healthy plant-based protein foods include beans, almonds, peas, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and lentils.
Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, cottage cheese, and yogurt, are a great source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. Low-fat varieties are available for those who want to reduce their fat intake. Lactose-free products are also available for lactose-intolerant individuals.
What About Fats and Oils?
Fat is essential for our bodies to function properly. However, too much fat in your diet can lead to weight gain. There has been conflicting data over the years about which are the good fats and which are bad. The latest recommendations are to use fish and vegetable oils, limit butterfat, and avoid trans fats completely.
What Does Your Doctor Say?
Your physician can order lab work to test for nutritional deficiencies. With regular checkups, your doctor can help ensure you are getting the nutrients you need in sufficient quantities. You should have a thorough physical exam at least once a year. Our agent can help you obtain a health insurance plan that allows you to get the medical care you need. | <urn:uuid:e14d2d1f-313a-4289-b761-3630cabf9df4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.lowestcompetitiveins.com/article/is-my-diet-balanced-enough/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.94035 | 632 | 3.515625 | 4 |
If you’re trying to lose weight this Christmas, try thinking about eating your favourite foods - new research shows that doing so might actually help you eat less of them. And if that isn't an early Christmas present to all of us, we don't know what is.
According to a new study, thinking about your favourite food could reduce your consumption of it.
The findings debunk the age-old myth that imagining a certain food increases your appetite for it.
The research, conducted by scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in the US, found that perception and mental imagery engages neural processes that can actually affect our emotions and the way we respond to food and other stimuli.
Carey Morewedge, who led the study says: ‘These findings suggest that trying to suppress one’s thoughts of desired foods in order to curb cravings for those foods is a fundamentally flawed strategy.’
The study involved making participants think about chocolate M&M’s (lucky them). Those who imagined eating 30 of the chocolates actually consumed less than those who thought about eating three.
The research could help women stick to their tricky diets over the festive period by thinking more about the unhealthy treats we love to eat at Christmas.
‘These findings will help develop future interventions to reduce cravings for things such as unhealthy food, drugs and cigarettes, and help us learn how to help people make healthier food choices,’ Morewedge explains.
So what do you think? Does dreaming about chips help you make a healthy choice at the cafe counter? Or is imagining an industrial sized bar of Green&Blacks a sure-fire way to throw your good intentions off course?
Let us know your thoughts below.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
The 5 biggest claims from Endgame, the explosive new royal book from Omid Scobie
It has been making a lot of headlines this week
By Lauren Hughes
Sabrina Carpenter had a hilarious justification for controversial church music video
By Iris Goldsztajn
To officially kick off the festive season, our two expert editors name these 7 beauty gifts the best of the best
Welcome to a Christmas special Beauty Desk Drop
By Shannon Lawlor | <urn:uuid:84278497-41b6-4b8a-9736-689beac2d441> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/life/health-fitness/imagine-eating-your-favourite-food-to-help-you-diet-154764 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.932821 | 472 | 2.9375 | 3 |
Here, Kevin Wallis, Head of Sales at Marley Alutec looks at some of the key factors to consider when specifying a rainwater drainage and eaves system to ensure it will perform as intended for the long-term.
Eaves play a major role in protecting a building’s foundations, protruding beyond the structure to keep rainwater off the walls and preventing water ingress. As such, it is crucial that a well-designed eaves system is specified for a project, ideally by liaising in advance with a trusted rainwater systems manufacturer to ensure it functions as intended. However, eaves systems are often neglected at the initial design stage, which can lead to serious issues if the system eventually specified performs poorly.
In particular, it is crucial that the eaves solution has the required functionality, rather than simply complementing the property’s aesthetic. Traditionally, there have been three common material choices: PVC, cast iron and aluminium. However, in recent times, we have seen an uptake in aluminium from the construction industry primarily due to its performance benefits and sustainability credentials. Let’s take a closer look at why.
Designed to be left for long periods after installation, the durability of eaves systems is a vital factor. Yet, the level of durability varies widely depending on the selected material. For example, PVC gutters have an approximate 20-year life expectancy, meaning they will need to be replaced at least once during a property’s lifetime. Cast iron will last longer than PVC, however these solutions will require repainting every ten years to help prevent degradation.
These limitations have led to high quality aluminium rainwater systems emerging as a popular alternative that can perform on both fronts. Not only do they provide a functional life expectancy of 50 years or more, there is no maintenance requirement aside from periodic cleaning, giving specifiers peace of mind that the system will stand the test of time.
As the construction industry continues its drive towards sustainability, specifiers should consider the credentials of the materials they are selecting. When it comes to sustainability, aluminium is superior when compared to PVC. This is due to the fact that, although non-toxic in its finished form, the PVC manufacturing process requires the use of hazardous chemicals such as chlorine and ethylene, while it also produces large amounts of dioxins.
Conversely, aluminium is formed from smelting bauxite, an abundant raw material in the Earth’s crust, with an estimated 60% of all aluminium produced by hydroelectric power. The mining process also has a minimal environmental impact as 97% of all bauxite mines are returned to their natural condition after mining has concluded. Aluminium is also infinitely recyclable, with 75% of all aluminium produced since 1888 is still in use today.
Further specification considerations
In addition to the performance and sustainability credentials of the specified material, it is important that the right products are chosen for the individual project. No matter what material is selected, eaves solutions must meet full drainage requirements to combat blockages and allow the system to function as intended. However, the flow rate can vary significantly, depending on factors such as the gutter profile, outlet size and number of downpipes.
To simplify the process, some leading manufacturers, such as Marley Alutec, have designed online roof drainage calculators. These tools provide fast and simple to use designs while ensuring compliance with BS EN12056-3 rainwater drainage design standards.
Specifiers should also consider the impact of combining materials. For example, if a marine grade aluminium eaves system is installed on a timber fascia, the guttering would outlast the material it is installed on. This would mean that any maintenance or replacement of the fascia would also require the still functional gutter to be removed and reinstalled. However, by selecting a uniform material that does not require regular maintenance, such as composite fascia or marine grade aluminium, this risk can be removed.
Finally, while the eaves systems should ultimately provide functionality above all else, it is advisable to specify solutions from suppliers that offer a wealth of design and colour choice as well as technical support. Marley Alutec is a leading manufacturer of marine grade aluminium rainwater and eaves systems, with a wide range of profiles and colours to choose from.
For any assistance with your projects, please email us at [email protected] or call 01234 359438. | <urn:uuid:3daf7ead-a6cf-49d9-8ce1-348658ea5360> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.marleyalutec.co.uk/blog/eaves-solutions-the-key-considerations-for-a-modern-approach/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.946105 | 905 | 2.515625 | 3 |
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About this Course
About the Course
In this course, Professor John Brooke (The Ohio State University) explores colonial politics and political identity from 1607-1754. In the first module, we take a look at some of the motives behind colonisation in North America and how these visions actually played out in reality. After this, we turn to explore how the colonial charters organised the American colonies into distinct and novel political entities from 1607-60. In the next module, we explore the transformation of the American colonies into provinces in the period 1630-1730. After this, we explore the struggles over the governance of the British North American colonies in the 18th century. In the penultimate module, we discuss the Atlantic Turn from 1730-54. In the final module, we explore what British North America was like in 1754.
About the Lecturer
Professor John Brooke is Warner Woodring Chair in American History and the director of the Center for Historical Research at the Ohio State University (OSU). He specialises in Early American History and Environmental History. He has written widely within these fields, including his books The Heart of the Commonwealth: Society and Political Culture in Worcester County Massachusetts, 1713-1861 and The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844. | <urn:uuid:70b0285a-76c0-42a4-aeb6-6bda9ef4c0b0> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.massolit.io/courses/us-history-colonial-politics-and-political-identity-1607-1754 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.904386 | 290 | 3.328125 | 3 |
Lick granulomas are moist, fleshy pink sores usually on a dog’s legs. They are caused by excessive licking at the site and are frequently caused by an underlying disease that needs to be properly diagnosed and treated. If you suspect that your dog has a lick granuloma you should seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.
A lick granuloma is a red, sore patch of skin caused by the trauma of your dog licking continuously at one site. Most lick granulomas occur at a site that is easy for the dog to access – the left foreleg is often chosen as it’s comfortable to reach when the dog is lying down.
Many lick granulomas are the expression of an underlying itchy disease but the itchiness tends to express itself in a focal rather than generalised manner. In other cases, the licking may be a manifestation of pain (e.g. arthritis in older dogs) and might have been triggered by some trauma in the area.
An initial stimulus causes the dog to start licking at the site, this leads to infection and scarring and the area itself then becomes itchy because of the damage that has already been done and so becomes self-perpetuating. Since most of dogs with lick granuloma have deep infections, they benefit from a prolonged course of antibiotics.
It is thought that the act of licking causes the release of endorphins (natural opiates which provide a sense of well-being) in the dog’s brain. The dog soon learns that licking brings about this pleasant feeling, and keeps on licking. As the process continues, a fleshy pink mass known as a ‘granuloma’ may develop at the site. The area will usually always be moist and may become particularly red and inflamed if infected.
In some cases, people living with the dog may notice excessive licking of the affected area. However, many dogs lick themselves only when the owner is not present.
In many cases the initiating factor is an allergy or infection (e.g. ringworm) that causes the skin to be itchy or painful. However in some dogs the initiating factor is minor when compared to the psychological element. Nervous and highly-strung dogs appear to be more likely to develop lick granulomas but it can also be seen in dogs that spend a long time alone or receive insufficient exercise or mental stimulation.
Because they take a long time to develop, lick granulomas are most often seen in middle-aged or older dogs. Large breed dogs seem to be predisposed to develop them. Since endocrine and metabolic diseases may also be an underlying cause (e.g. decreased function of the thyroid gland) and these diseases tend to occur in older large breed dogs, these patients are overrepresented. Dogs may start to lick a site because of an underlying problem (itchiness or soreness at the site) but over time the habit becomes engrained and the dog simply derives pleasure from the act of licking.
Lick granulomas have a typical appearance. However, it is possible for other conditions (particularly infections and tumours) to mimic this appearance and it is important to be sure that the sore is not a tumour before treating it as anything else.
There are many underlying causes for lick granulomas and your vet will want to rule out these because if an underlying cause is not treated the lick granuloma will keep recurring.
Proper identification of the underlying cause is crucial to the success of the therapy. If such cause is not identified, lick granulomas may be extremely difficult to resolve. Antibiotic therapy will be necessary to reduce infection in the tissue. Due to the depth of the infection it is common to use oral antibiotics for months.
All therapy will need to be continued for at least 4 weeks after all signs of the sore have resolved. Even if a granuloma can be completely resolved there is still a risk of it recurring once treatment is stopped. Some vets recommend creams to rub into the wound – those containing local anaesthetics may help to reduce the desire to lick. Application of aversives like bitter apple may also limit licking. Alternatively, drugs that interfere with the transmission of neuropeptides (important for the transmission of pain and itch) can be used. Capsaicin, the active ingredient of chilli pepper, can be used topically on the margin of the granuloma.
One of the reasons dogs continue to lick the site is that licking the sore area releases natural endorphins (morphine like substances) which make the dog feel good. In some dogs administration of an opioid drug, e.g. hydrocodone, can not only reduce irritation but may also fill the need for endorphins that the dog may be experiencing.
In really severe cases desperate measures such as surgical excision of the sore may be required. Surgical wounds at the site may not heal well either and if the dog starts licking at the stitches you may quickly be in a worse position than before surgery. You should think very carefully before embarking on this treatment and be sure you have discussed all the options with your vet.
Many dogs have underlying allergies or endocrine diseases that need to be addressed to ensure resolution of the existing granuloma as well as to prevent the recurrence. Additionally, addressing the potential psychological factors is important and some cases may respond to simple changes in environment (reducing stress or boredom). Reduction in boredom can be achieved by providing company for the dog, increasing exercise and training. In more difficult cases mood-altering, antidepressant drugs such as Prozac or amytriptiline have been advocated. There have been some reports of success with acupuncture.
Acral lick granulomas are extremely frustrating to treat. There is no simple cure and any success will only be achieved by a dedicated and consistent approach of both owner and vet. | <urn:uuid:bfa5829a-c0bb-483d-8feb-f873ec96f186> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.maynevets.co.uk/2018/07/acral-lick-granuloma-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.952925 | 1,206 | 2.9375 | 3 |
Nitric Oxide Therapy
Steps Involved in IVF:
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually happens during hyperstimulation of the ovaries?
The patient will take injectable FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) for eight to eleven days, depending on how long the follicles take to mature. This hormone is produced naturally in a woman’s body causing one egg to develop per cycle. Taking the injectable FSH causes several follicles to develop at once, at approximately the same rate. The development is monitored with vaginal ultrasounds and following the patient’s levels of estradiol and progesterone. FSH brand names include Repronex, Follistim, Menopur, Gonal-F and Bravelle. The patient injects herself daily.
What happens during egg retrieval?
When the follicles have developed enough to be harvested, the patient attends an appointment where she is anesthetized and prepared for the procedure. Next, the doctor uses an ultrasound probe to guide a needle through the vaginal wall and into the follicle of the ovary. The thin needle draws the follicle fluid, which is then examined by an embryologist to find the eggs. The whole process takes about 20 minutes.
What happens to the eggs?
In the next step, the harvested eggs are then fertilized. If the sperm from the potential father, or in some cases, anonymous donor, has normal functionality, the eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish with a nutrient fluid, then incubated overnight to fertilize normally. If the sperm functionality is suboptimal, an embryologist uses Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection to inject a single sperm into a single egg with an extremely precise glass needle. Once fertilization is complete, the embryos are assessed and prepared to be transferred to the patient’s uterus.
How are the embryos transferred back to the uterus?
The doctor and the patient will discuss the number of embryos to be transferred. The number of successfully fertilized eggs usually determines the number of eggs to be placed in the uterus. Embryos are transferred to the uterus with transabdominal ultrasound guidance. This process does not require anesthesia, but it can cause minor cervical or uterine discomfort. Following transfer, the patient is advised to take at least one days bed rest and two or three additional days of rest, then 10 to 12 days later, two pregnancy tests are scheduled to confirm success. Once two positive tests are completed, an obstetrical ultrasound is ordered to show the sac, fetal pole, yolk sac and fetal heart rate.
Built into this technology there is a microscope with a powerful camera that allows the uninterrupted monitoring of the embryo during its first hours of life. In this way, we can keep a close eye on the embryo, from the moment when the oocyte is inseminated and begins to divide into smaller and smaller cells, until it can be transferred to the uterus.
Orthopedics Stem Cell
Research on mesenchymal stem cells regenerative properties in knee osteoarthritis. In these studies, researchers suggest that Stem Cell Therapy has the potential to regenerate lost cartilage, stop and reverse cartilage degeneration, provide pain relief, and improve patient mobility.
Stem Cell Therapy as an Alternative to Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Replacement Surgery. Stem cell therapy may offer an excellent alternative for patients looking to avoid shoulder joint replacement surgery, as well as many other surgical treatments for shoulder pain.
If you suffer from chronic or acute ankle pain or instability due to arthritis, cartilage loss, ligament strain or tear, or tendon damage, then you may benefit from non-surgical stem cell treatments or stem cell-enhanced surgery.
Patients now have a minimally invasive option. Stem cell therapy for back pain and disc herniations can potentially repair the damaged disc or facet joint, restore function, rehydrate the disc, and ultimately alleviate chronic pain.
Anti-Aging Stem Cell
Stem cell therapy and PRP therapy have been shown to be most effective for: Those in the early stages of hair loss, patients who are not viable candidates for surgery and women who prefer to avoid hair surgery.
Aesthetic Anti-Aging. The Aesthetic Stem Cell Localized Treatment is a non-surgical minimally invasive procedure to enhance the appearance of aging skin and hair restoration. This all-natural technique combines dermal injections of bone marrow or adipose tissue derived stem cells and growth factors.
Fertility Stem Cell
The stem cells used for treatment of a thin endometrium include mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, successful repair of the endometrium in pregnancy with stem cells has been reported previously.
Low Ovarian Reserve (PRP)
The treatment uses PRP (Platelet-Rich-Plasma), which with stem cell therapy is the novel therapeutic approach for restoring the quality of the ovarian reserve.Your PRP will contain a physiologic balance of platelets, growth factors and white blood cells tailored specifically for you.
Punta Mita Hospital
Punta Mita Hospital - Genesis Cell | <urn:uuid:37ae346a-c25f-4974-8191-3981b812fed8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.medicaltourism.com/treatments/nitric-oxide-therapy | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.912547 | 1,063 | 2.53125 | 3 |
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