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Migrant Pest Control By Land And Air
The sheer devastation caused by locusts in plague years tends to overshadow grasshoppers, although these are more perennial pests and cause more damage over the longer term. One in particular (Oedaleus sengalensis, the Senegalese grasshopper), behaves like a locust and causes more damage than so-called tree locusts. Z. variegatus (elegant grasshopper) also exhibits gregarious behaviour and is present throughout Africa.
Locusts and grasshoppers are not the only winged pests that attack crops in swarms and which require control programmes combining mobility and flexibility. Growers of small grain cereals are generally accustomed to some losses from birds, but in Africa crops can be ravaged by flocks consisting of hundreds of millions of Quelea birds.
The Sunne Pest (Eurygaster integriceps) which primarily threatens wheat crops in the Middle East and Central Asia is not a migrant insect pest. However, the nature of its attack, the extent of damage caused and the difficult terrain where it is traditionally found means that the same level of mobility and flexibility of control operation is required. This sap-sucking bug has the capacity to cause perennial food shortages and millions of dollars in lost crops.
CDA EquipmentMigrant pests need to be controlled rapidly over large (often remote) areas thus ultra-low volume (ULV) techniques are standard, with total application volumes of as little as 0.5 – 1.0 l/ha. Successful use of ULV techniques requires Controlled Droplet Application (CDA) equipment. Micron Sprayers pioneered CDA equipment, including equipment for desert locust control during the plagues of the 1950s, and now manufactures CDA sprayers such as the hand-held Micron ULVA+ and the vehicle mounted ULVAMAST V3 sprayer. Micron has recently acquired Micronair, recognised as the world leader in the development and manufacture of aerial atomisers for CDA spraying. Micronair also manufactures a knapsack mistblower and vehicle mounted sprayer for migrant pest control (the AU8000 and AU8115 sprayers respectively). With this comprehensive range of CDA sprayers and atomisers for portable, vehicle-mounted and aerial spraying, Micron Sprayers is in the unique position of being able to supply the full range of spray application equipment required for migrant pest control programmes.
Micron’s latest ULVAMAST V3E sprayer combines the uniform-small droplets and performance characteristics of previous ULVAMAST models with state of the art electronic control to give unrivalled accuracy and safety, with a liquid closed transfer system option available. The in-cab controller on the ULVAMAST V3E, with atomiser speed settings and choice of ten pre-set flow rates from 0.2-1.5 litres/minute, can eliminate the need for the operator to calibrate the system – whilst a simpler ULVAMAST V3M with manual flow control is also available. The ULVAMAST V3 has been extensively tested in both research trials and field scale operations throughout Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The Micronair AU 8115 vehicle mounted sprayer adds air to help move spray away from the spray vehicle and can achieve larger swaths and a greater effective release height. The hand-held Micron ULVA+, the twin mode ULV/VLV (ultra low volume/very low volume) CDA sprayer used throughout Africa for crop protection, offers a complementary sprayer to the vehicle-mounted ULVAMAST V3 and the capability of village level control operations where smallholder farmers protect their own crops, with the Micronair AU 8000 knapsack mistblower sprayer suitable where dense canopies, including trees, need to be penetrated.
Micronair aerial spraying equipment now offered by Micron includes:
- AU 5000 - wind driven atomiser for fixed wing aircraft
- AU 7000 - wind driven atomiser for helicopters and microlights
- AU 6539 - electric drive atomiser for helicopters
- Spray pods - self contained spraying systems
Micron and Micronair sprayers have been widely used throughout Africa since the last outbreak of the desert locust started in the late 1980s, and have also been used against red and brown locusts. The Ulvamast has been tested by both the UN FAO against desert locust and by the South African Plant Protection Research Institute against brown locust, and been found to be the most efficient vehicle mounted sprayer available.
The years 1999 and 2000 have seen large outbreaks of locusts in Central Asia. Micronair aerial atomisers (AU5000) and ground sprayers (AU8000 and AU8115) together with the vehicle mounted ULVAMAST sprayer have been supplied to this area in collaboration with some agrochemical companies to ensure that the most up to date technology is available for controlling these outbreaks. The equipment has been used to spray conventional insecticides and IGRs (insect growth regulators) in large scale treatments - with 8m hectares treated in 1999 and the total infestation area for 2000 estimated at 5m hectares. Crops affected include sunflower, peas, potatoes, wheat, barley and maize.
The Ulva, Ulvamast and Micronair AU8115 are also recommended for use against African armyworm (Spodoptera exempta) in Eastern Africa, and are being used to combat the latest outbreak. Comprehensive information on the African armyworm was collected by DLCO-EA in their Regional Armyworm Programme and the resulting key text on this pest, 'The African Armyworm Handbook', has just been revised and updated (by the UK Natural Resources Institute, funded by the UK Department for International Development). East Africa is currently the focal point of a potentially devastating outbreak of armyworm. The Tanzanian Government has instructed agrochemical dealers to import and stock insecticides including diazinon, fenitrothion and chlorpyriphos and the Ministry of Agriculture estimates that some US$ 1 million will be required to control the outbreak, double the original forecast of pest control costs for 2001 - with fears that infestation will spill over into the neighbouring countries of Kenya, Malawi and Zambia.
The Quelea birds including Quelea quelea quelea (red billed weaver bird) in West Africa and Quelea quelea aethiopica in East Africa are responsible for huge losses in cereal crops such as rice, sorghum and millet. Carefully planned and timed control programmes are required using ground spray machines or aircraft to spray roosting or nesting sites. Ground spray machines such as the Micronair AU8115 can be positioned upwind of the site in the evening and used to drift spray droplets into the trees as the birds return to their perches or nests. Alternatively, ground sprayers such as the Micronair AU8115 or AU8000 or aircraft with ULV spray equipment such as Micronair AU5000 atomisers can be used at dusk after the birds have settled. The sound of the sprayer or aircraft disturbs the birds and they then collect chemical by flying through the spray cloud.
Large scale control operations against Sunne Pest in Central Asia have been undertaken using Micron equipment in the last decade. Projects funded by the UN FAO and the UK DFID (Department for International Development) deployed thousands of ULVA+ sprayers in Iraq and Afghanistan. These hand held sprayers offer logistically and economically viable means of Sunne Pest management in inherently difficult terrain, in control situations where these difficulties were compounded by political upheaval and war. In Turkey recent spraying operations against Sunne Pest with the ULVA+ have been so successful that the government is considering replacing part of the aerial spraying programme with use of the ULVA+.
Until now spraying operations against migrant pests have used a variety of traditional pesticides. These provide a rapid kill but tend to be non-discriminatory in action, damaging populations of natural enemies and posing potential threats to farming communities and their livestock.
Use of novel pesticides, such as IGRs, is now becoming widespread and, more recently, various biopesticides have been developed based on entomopathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi and semiochemicals. Use of biopesticides against both locusts and armyworm has been increasingly researched during the last decade.
A new novel biopesticide for locust control, 'Green Muscle', is now commercially available following many years of field testing. This is based on the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae. Evaluated thoroughly in both the Sahel and South Africa using Micron and Micronair equipment and recently sprayed on a large scale for the first time in Niger, ‘Green Muscle’ is proving to offer longer lasting control than previously used traditional insecticides. Unit cost of spraying ‘Green Muscle’ is approximately the same as that for traditional insecticide (less than US$10/hectare) but overall the costs are almost one third less because the fungal formulation only needs to be sprayed once per season. The development and uptake of ‘Green Muscle’ demonstrates the new opportunities for environmentally benign application to control important migrant pests.
Dr. Lucas Brader, Director General of IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture), part of an international consortium called LUBILOSA (LUtte BIologique contre les LOcustes et les SAuteriaux), who has been involved in the development of biocontrol of locusts believes Africa is now overdue for its next locust and grasshopper invasion. “When they strike”, Dr. Brader has stated, “control costs are likely to escalate rapidly to US$500 million. For this reason”, he says, “we are proposing a pre-emptive strike at the locusts in their breeding grounds. By using ‘Green Muscle’ in this way we will catch immature locusts (nymphs) before they are mature enough to fly and become a threat to farmers’ fields over a large area. The cost, though significant at US$15 million annually, will be a fraction of that required to try and manage a full blown outbreak and invasion”.
The only way to manage a migrant pest is to match its mobility. CDA spraying allows a rapid targeted response to be undertaken over large, and remote, areas. With the assistance of new GPS technology migrant pest control can become yet more efficient and better recording of operations can be undertaken. CDA, allied with use of GPS technology, together with the development and use of safer, cheaper and more durable chemicals based on naturally-occurring biological control agents, offers new ways to control an age old problem. | <urn:uuid:40066c40-3691-4531-a45b-7d8a69dd9b77> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.microngroup.com/migrant_pest_control_by_land_and_air | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.933539 | 2,249 | 2.796875 | 3 |
A team of investigators led by UWM epidemiologist Amy Kalkbrenner has landed a $2.3 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to explore what role air pollution has in causing children to develop autism.
Scientists know that children’s exposure to chemicals in the environment influences whether they will develop these disorders, and several recent studies have implicated air pollution from vehicles. But questions remain about the biology behind how air pollutants can harm the developing brain, and whether some children may be more resilient or susceptible to the impacts.
“By adding a wealth of information about genes inherited from parents, we’ll be able to more fully explore the multiple factors involved,” said Kalkbrenner, an assistant professor in the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health.
The researchers will examine genes important in detoxifying chemical exposures and helping protect children’s nervous system as they grow. Autism affects children in different ways, and sometimes a child is also diagnosed with ADHD.
“What we call autism may actually be several disorders with different paths of causation,” said Kalkbrenner.
For this reason, the researchers will investigate autism and ADHD separately and in combination during the five-year study. Understanding which causes are shared and which are unique across developmental disorders paints a more complete picture of how environmental chemicals may be involved.
“These results will bring us closer to finding interventions that can reduce the impact of developmental disorders on families,” Kalkbrenner said.
Autism occurs in 1 to 2 percent of children, while the prevalence of ADHD is estimated at 5 percent.
Kalkbrenner’s previous research found evidence that a child’s greatest susceptibility to a chemical in vehicle emissions occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy when the brain’s network is still forming.
Research partners on the project include Christine Ladd-Acosta at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Diana Schendel at Aarhus University in Denmark.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | <urn:uuid:7808af06-b800-427d-93b1-bb942b99c448> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.milwaukeeindependent.com/curated/autism-research-at-uwm-to-study-developmental-role-of-air-pollution/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.924039 | 429 | 2.796875 | 3 |
The piriformis is a small muscle in the buttocks that helps with hip rotation. When this muscle becomes tight or inflamed, it can compress the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the leg, causing a condition known as piriformis syndrome. If left untreated, piriformis syndrome can cause the following problems:
Chronic pain: If the piriformis muscle continues to compress the sciatic nerve, it can lead to chronic pain in the buttocks, hips, and legs.
Numbness and tingling: Compression of the sciatic nerve can also cause numbness and tingling in the buttocks, legs, and feet.
Weakness: In some cases, piriformis syndrome can cause weakness in the affected leg, making it difficult to walk or perform other activities.
Reduced mobility: Chronic pain and weakness can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks and reduce overall mobility.
Poor quality of life: Chronic pain and reduced mobility can also impact your mental health, leading to depression, anxiety, and a reduced quality of life.
If you are experiencing symptoms of piriformis syndrome, it is important to seek treatment from a healthcare provider. They can perform a physical exam, imaging tests, and other diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your symptoms and develop an appropriate treatment plan, which may include physical therapy, medication, or other interventions. Early treatment can help prevent the development of chronic pain and other complications.
Treatment for Piriformis Syndrome
Piriformis syndrome is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle, which can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the buttocks and legs.
Treatment for piriformis syndrome usually involves a combination of rest, stretching, and strengthening exercises to alleviate pressure on the nerve and reduce inflammation. Over-the-counter pain medication or prescription medication may also be recommended to manage pain.
In more severe cases, injections of corticosteroids or botulinum toxin (Botox) may be used to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Rarely, surgery may be necessary if conservative treatments are not effective.
The prognosis for piriformis syndrome is generally good with appropriate treatment. Most people will see significant improvement in their symptoms within several weeks to a few months. It is important to continue with exercises and physical therapy even after symptoms have subsided to prevent future flare-ups of the condition.
Here are some ways to release the piriformis muscle:
Stretching: Stretching exercises can help release the piriformis muscle and relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve. Some effective stretches for piriformis syndrome include the seated piriformis stretch, the supine piriformis stretch, and the pigeon pose.
Foam rolling: Foam rolling can help release tension in the piriformis muscle and other muscles in the hips and buttocks. To foam roll the piriformis muscle, place the foam roller under your glutes and roll back and forth, targeting the area just below your hip bone.
Massage: Massaging the piriformis muscle can help release tension and reduce inflammation. You can use your fingers, a tennis ball, or a foam roller to massage the muscle.
Heat therapy: Applying heat to the affected area can help relax the piriformis muscle and reduce pain. You can use a heating pad, hot water bottle, or warm towel to apply heat to the area.
Physical therapy: A physical therapist can develop an exercise program tailored to your specific needs and condition. This may include stretches, strengthening exercises, and other techniques to help release the piriformis muscle and alleviate pain.
It is important to note that if you are experiencing symptoms of piriformis syndrome, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms and develop an appropriate treatment plan. | <urn:uuid:4cc6e8f6-fdb7-47b3-b884-828fdff0f2b0> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.mobilephysiocare.com/post/piriformis-syndrome-symptoms-causes-and-treatment | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.914365 | 791 | 2.984375 | 3 |
All-natural phenomena are correlated with each other in complex ways, so one wonders how our ecosystem and body are related? Being a part of the ecosystem, the human body is greatly influenced by the external environment.Many of the exogenous and endogenous rhythms have specific phase relationships with each other; which means they interact and synchronize with each other. Considering and understanding this rhythm, Ayurveda has explained the concept of Rutucharya uniquely.
Rutu (ऋतु), the season, classified by different features expresses different changes in environment and body. Ayurveda has depicted various rules and regimens known as Charya (चर्या), regarding diet and behavior to acclimatize seasonal enforcement easily without altering body homeostasis. This is aunique feature that Ayurveda offers to prevent the loads of diseases coming from change in season.
The year according to Ayurveda is divided into two periods (अयन), depending on the direction of movement of sun that is Uttarayana (northern solstice) and Dakshinayana (southern solstice). Each is formed of three Rutus (seasons). A year consists of six seasons, namely, Shishira (winter), Vasanta (spring), and Grishma (summer) in Uttarayan and Varsha (monsoon), Sharada (autumn), and Hemanta (late autumn) in Dakshinayana.
Dakshinayana starts with Varsha rutu or Monsoon, in particular the tropical belt, when the climate is humid, wind is colder and the moon is more powerful than the sun. The strength of a person gradually increases from varsha rutu to sharad to hemant during the dakshinayana period. Here, anabolic activity dominates over the catabolic activity in the environment.
Research shows that seasonal flu imposes a substantial burden among all the people in India. The frequency of illness shows an association between diseases and seasonal changes. The human body normally shows a slow response while adapting to the changes in this season. The period between the last 7 days of the current season and 7 days of the upcoming season is always considered crucial. This period is known as Rutusandhikaal or considered as a transition period. It is called Yamadanshtra (bites of God Yama i.e. having maximum infestation rate ) by Ayurveda. Seasonal changes are always associated with changes in temperature, humidity, moisture. The shift in temperature provides an apt condition for different groups of viruses to flourish, which then spreads contagious diseases. This period is hence very susceptible for infections. Less immunity, less strength and symptoms associated with adaptation to changing seasons may favor the spread of diseases causing two or more health complaints together. Load on the healthcare system can be reduced by adapting the simple way of Rutucharya.
Digestive fire, metabolic health and strength are three main factors associated with a change in season. If the body is unable to adapt itself to stressors due to changes in specific traits of seasons, it may lead to an imbalance between Doshas where the body becomes highly susceptible to various disorders. We can minimize this by introducing good adaptation by implementing Rutucharya.
Western countries also suffer a burden of diseases due to seasonal changes. We can define the Rutucharya for those people by observing the characteristics of the season and its impact on the human body. This will be the application of core knowledge of Ayurveda for the betterment of life. Broadly we can classify 5 regions in the world. 1. Europe 2. America 3. Asia 4. Australasia 5. The Middle East and Africa. Some of them are having 2 seasons and some are having 4 seasons. Applying the concept of Rutucharya, one can easily design the required diet and lifestyle.
In the next article, we will focus on Agni (digestive fire) during the monsoon season. Diet correction and lifestyle modification required to maintain balance will also be explained. As monsoon is the season of festivals, we will brief about the food recommendations and also the necessities of customs like fasting. We will explore the ideal regime for balancing the metabolic index of the body during Monsoon in the next article.
Stay tuned to our series. Wishing a happy and safe monsoon to readers.
Dr. Gayatri Kulkarni – Mulye
Blogger @ Turyaa Wellness
For regular updates, like and follow: | <urn:uuid:e7b811f5-06aa-48f3-81b6-4e02cfccb62b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.naditarangini.com/tag/rutusandhikaal/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.941377 | 939 | 3.65625 | 4 |
Lesson Plan: Word Problems: Unit Conversion Mathematics • 5th Grade
This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to solve word problems by converting between metric units of length, mass, capacity, or time.
Students will be able to
- model word problems and determine which operation to use,
- solve one-step word problems with measures,
- solve two-step word problems with measures,
- use known conversions of measures to rename measures when solving problems.
Students should already be familiar with
- mixed measures,
- converting between units of length, mass, capacity, and time.
Students will not cover
- decimals and fractions. | <urn:uuid:0680350d-2580-474e-8a32-008af8dff798> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.nagwa.com/en/plans/895156937510/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.910789 | 147 | 4.375 | 4 |
GCSE grades 2023: what AQA boundaries 1 to 9 mean on results day - numbers grading system explained
Students in England have started sitting their GCSE exams for 2023
and live on Freeview channel 276
Beginning on 15 May, students across England have started sitting down to their GCSE exams, with the final exams set to take place on 27 June. Once time has run out and the pencils have been put down, students will have to wait until 17 August for their results.
A new grading system has also been introduced in recent years, replacing the old A to F marks with numerical values instead.
This is everything you need to know, including what the letter equivalent of the numerical grades would be.
What do the numerical grades mean?
The government changed the GCSE grading system ahead of the 2017 exams, changing it from the lettered grades such as A*, A and B, to the numerical system.
In the numerical system, 9 is the highest grade available and 1 is the lowest.
This is how the numerical grading system works out compared to the previous letter grading:
- 9 = High A* grade
- 8 = Lower A* or high A
- 7 = Lower A grade
- 6 = High B grade
- 5 = Lower B or high C
- 4 = Lower C grade
- 3 = D or high E grade
- 2 = Lower E or high F grade
- 1 = Lower F or G grade
- U remains the same
What is a pass?
The AQA explains that a 4 is considered a “standard pass” and that a 5 is a “strong pass”, and respectively work out to a high C and low B in the old grading system.
“Grade 4 remains the level that students must achieve without needing to resit English and Maths post-16,” the AQA says.
How can I appeal my grade?
While some students may be overjoyed by their GCSE results, it’s inevitable that others might be disappointed with what they have received.
If you think your grade is wrong, you should first speak to your school or college and request a centre review. This is an internal review by a school or college so they can check for any errors.
If a student still thinks their grade is incorrect after their school or college has checked it, they can ask their school or college to appeal to the exam board.
You should be aware that following your appeal, your grades could be changed to higher or lower than what you originally had.
The final route of appeal you can take is through Ofqual’s Exam Procedures Review Service (EPRS).
To apply to EPRS, you must email the public enquiries team at public.e[email protected] with the subject line “EPRS application”.
In your email, you must state:
- The qualification you want Ofqual to look at (e.g A Level, GCSE etc)
- The name and address of the school, college or other centre which decided your teacher assessed grades
- The name of the exam board
- The date of the letter from the exam board with your final appeal decision
From here, the EPRS will consider whether your case can be looked at - if not, you will be given advice for what you can do instead.
If EPRS does decide to look at your case, you will be sent a link to a form. You must fill out the form in its entirety, and you will need to explain what you think went wrong. | <urn:uuid:8e2819db-80e4-4ec4-b04e-5eff793b2e46> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.nationalworld.com/education/gcse-grade-equivalents-2022-what-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-mean-on-results-day-3343849 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.954283 | 746 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Science for Peace and Security
All activities supported by the SPS Programme must address one or more of the SPS Key Priorities (listed below, without any indication of priority). Each activity must also have a clear link to security and to NATO’s Strategic Objectives.
The priority areas for the SPS Programme focus on contemporary security challenges, and are based on NATO’s Strategic Concept agreed by Allies at the November 2010 Lisbon Summit, and on the Strategic Objectives of NATO’s Partner Relations agreed in Berlin in April 2011.
1. Facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation on issues of common interest, including international efforts to meet emerging security challenges
- Methods for the protection of critical infrastructure, supplies and personnel;
- Human factors in the defence against terrorism;
- Detection technologies against the terrorist threat of explosive devices and other illicit activities;
- Risk management, best practices and technologies in response to terrorism.
- Energy Security
- Innovative energy solutions for the military; battlefield energy solutions; renewable energy solutions with military applications;
- Energy infrastructure security;
- Maritime aspects of energy security;
- Technological aspects of energy security.
- Cyber Defence
- Critical infrastructure protection, including sharing of best practices, capacity building and policies;
- Support in developing cyber defence capabilities, including new technologies and support to the construction of information technology infrastructure;
- Cyber defence situation awareness.
- Defence against Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Agents
- Methods and technology to protect against, diagnose effects of, detect, decontaminate, destruct, dispose and contain CBRN agents;
- Risk management and recovery strategies and technologies;
- Medical countermeasures against CBRN agents.
- Environmental Security
- Security issues arising from key environmental and resource constraints, including health risks, climate change, water scarcity and increasing energy needs, which have the potential to significantly affect NATO's planning and operations;
- Disaster forecasting and prevention of natural catastrophes;
- Defence-related environmental issues.
2. Enhance support for NATO-led operations and missions
- Provision of civilian support through SPS Key Priorities;
- Provision of access to information through internet connectivity as in the SILK-Afghanistan Programme;
- Cultural and social aspects in military operations and missions;
- Enhancing cooperation with other international actors.
3. Enhance awareness of security developments including through early warning, with a view to preventing crises
- Security-related Advanced Technology
- Emerging technologies including nanotechnology, optical technology, micro satellites, metallurgy and the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms.
- Border and Port Security
- Border and port security technology;
- Cross-border communication systems and data fusion;
- Expert advice and assessments of border security needs and best practices.
- Mine and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Detection and Clearance
- Development and provision of advanced technologies, methodologies and best practices;
- Solutions to counter improvised explosive devices (IED).
- Human and Social Aspects of Security related to NATO's Strategic Objectives
4. Any project clearly linked to a threat to security not otherwise defined in these priorities may also be considered for funding under the SPS Programme
Such proposals will be examined for links to NATO's Strategic Objectives (e.g. in the field of hybrid challenges). | <urn:uuid:9799ac27-1f6e-40a0-8d33-b56a6f9e647d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.nato.int/cps/fr/natolive/85291.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.889471 | 697 | 2.65625 | 3 |
The ONS report released on Feb. 21, 2023 disclosed that fully vaccinated Britons accounted for about nine in every 10 COVID-19 deaths in England over the past two years. Of the 28,041 COVID-19 deaths in the country between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, those injected with at least one dose totaled 25,758. The remaining 2,283 individuals who died in that period did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Similarly, 38,884 deaths out of the 45,191 total COVID-19 fatalities between April 1, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2022 were among the fully vaccinated. In contrast, only 6,307 were unvaccinated. A detailed analysis of the ONS report found that most COVID-19 deaths happened among those who had been boosted – injected with three or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Daily Expose pointed out in a June 5 article about the ONS report: "The data indicate a concerning trend where COVID-19 deaths among the unvaccinated population have become almost negligible, while deaths among the vaccinated have increased over time."
"These numbers raise alarming questions about the effectiveness of the booster campaign conducted in the winter of 2021. Despite the mass administration of booster shots, the data suggests that the campaign did not alleviate the significant number of deaths among the vaccinated population. In fact, the booster campaign may have exacerbated the situation." (Related: ONS confirms 92% of 2022 COVID deaths are among fully vaccinated population.)
To illustrate the point, the Expose said that in May 2021, COVID-19 deaths among the vaccinated numbered 205 while those among the unvaccinated numbered only 84. But a year later in May 2022, there was a 450 percent increase in COVID-19 deaths. The vaccinated accounted for 1,494 deaths while the unvaccinated only had 96 deaths in that month.
According to the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS), the country has approved four COVID-19 vaccines for use. It currently uses the mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer, the Novavax shot and the new vaccine candidate jointly developed by Sanofi and GSK.
"A first dose should give some protection from three to four weeks after having it, [but] a second dose gives stronger and longer-lasting protection," the NHS said. It added that a booster dose "helps boost antibodies and give good protection" from serious illness or hospitalization.
The Expose nevertheless continued: "This raises an important question: Are the COVID-19 injections really up to 95 percent effective at preventing death? The figures suggest otherwise. It's clear from these figures that something is not working, and it should have been addressed over a year ago."
Despite this, the independent news outlet remarked that it was "concerning to see that news like this is being swept under the rug by the mainstream media. What else are we not being told?"
"It's time for us to take responsibility for our own health and make informed decisions about our bodies," the Expose concluded. "We must not blindly follow the recommendations of authorities without looking at the data and questioning what we're being told."
Visit VaccineHolocaust.org for more stories about how the COVID-19 vaccines contributed to increased deaths.
Listen to Ben Armstrong of the New American magazine as he explains how Report 71 of the Pfizer documents shows more horrific effects of the vaccines.
This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com. | <urn:uuid:0e8c3442-ada3-497d-a972-ce1fd9a806e1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.newstarget.com/2023-06-13-uk-govt-92-percent-covid-deaths-vaxxed.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.961327 | 725 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Novel sources of resistance to powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica (Lév.) Arnaud) in pepper
Keywords:chiltepin, high tolerance, oidium, chlorosis, complex control resistance, screening
Peppers, a worldwide crop, are threatened by different pathogens. Powdery mildew, a biotroph fungal infection, can cause several damages directly on vegetative parts and indirectly on fruits. Despite some sources of resistance have been described, commercial genotypes only with partial resistance have been developed due to the complex nature of such resistance and variable genetic expression, which depends on the stage of the plants. In this paper 49 accessions from different Capsicum species and origins have been tested. Plants were grown in growth chambers inside of mini greenhouses. Repeated inoculations under pepper leaves were applied by spraying a suspension of 104 conidia ml-1. Readings were made at 30 and 60 days after inoculation (DAI). Total number of leaves (TL), total number of affected leaves (LA), and maximum area affected (MAA) in the most damaged leaf were scored. In addition, a composite infection index (CII) was calculated on the basis of the three mentioned traits. Inoculated plants showed more severe symptoms at 30 DAI than at 60 DAI. Different response patterns were observed: from accessions suffering high leaf shedding to some others with local hypersensitive response, indicating different gene action. The use of CII prevented species bias and disease response. In the present work, four highly tolerant accessions were identified, including two chiltepins, C. annuum wild relatives, Ag-01 and Ag-02, and two C. annuum A-06 and A-23.
Aguilar‐Meléndez A, Morrell PL, Roose ML, Kim SC (2009). Genetic diversity and structure in semiwild and domesticated chiles (Capsicum annuum; Solanaceae) from Mexico. American Journal of Botany 96(6):1190-1202. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.0800155
Albert R, Künstler A, Lantos F, Adám AL (2017). Graft-transmissible resistance of cherry pepper (Capsicum annuum var. cerasiforme) to powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica) is associated with elevated superoxide accumulation, NADPH oxidase activity and pathogenesis-related gene expression. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 39:53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-017-2353-5
Bai Y, Huang CC, van der Hulst R, Meijer-Dekens F, Bonnema G, Lindhout P (2003). QTLs for tomato powdery mildew resistance (Oidium lycopersici) in Lycopersicon parviflorum G1.1601 co-localize with two qualitative powdery mildew resistance genes. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 16(2):169-176. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI.2003.16.2.169
Blat SF, da Costa CP, Vencovsky R, Sala FC (2005). Inheritance of reaction to Leveillula taurica (Lev.) Arn. in Capsicum annuum L. Scientia Agricola 62(1):40-44. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162005000100008
Blat SF, da Costa CP, Vencovsky R, Sala FC (2006). Hot pepper (Capsicum chinense, Jacq.) inheritance of reaction to powdery mildew. Scientia Agricola 63(5):471-474. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-90162006000500008
Daubeze AM, Hennart JW, Palloix A (1995). Resistance to Leveillula taurica in pepper (Capsicum annuum) is oligogenically controlled and stable in Mediterranean regions. Plant Breeding 114:327-332. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0523.1995.tb01243.x
de Souza VL, Café-Filho AC (2003). Resistance to Leveillula taurica in the genus Capsicum. Plant Pathology 52:613-619. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3059.2003.00920.x
Eggink PM, D’hoop BB, Brouwer M, and Deniau AX (2016). Resistance against Leveillula taurica in Pepper. U.S. Patent No 9, 351, 451. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Elad Y, Messika Y, Brand M, David DR, Sztejnberg A (2007). Effect of microclimate on Leveillula taurica powdery mildew of sweet pepper. Phytopathology 97(7):813-824. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-97-7-0813
FAOSTAT (2021). Statistic division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome, Italy. Retrieved 2021 March 01 from http://www.fao.org/faostat/
Gabor BK, Just BJ, Huang C, Jones CM, Vreugdenhil D, Kniskern JM, … Xiang W (2017). Methods and compositions for producing Capsicum plants with powdery mildew resistance. U.S. Patent No 9,689,045. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
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Jo J, Venkatesh J, Han K, Lee HY, Choi GJ, Lee HJ, Choi D, Kang BC (2017). Molecular mapping of PMR1, a novel locus conferring resistance to powdery mildew in pepper (Capsicum annuum). Frontiers in Plant Science 8: 2090. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.02090
Kim DS, Hwang BK (2012). The pepper MLO gene, CaMlo2, is involved in susceptibility cell death response and bacterial and oomycete proliferation. The Plant Journal 72:843-855. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.12003
Kono A, Ban Y, Mitani N, Fujii H, Sato S, Suzaki K, … Sato A (2018). Development of SSR markers linked to QTL reducing leaf hair density and grapevine downy mildew resistance in Vitis vinifera. Molecular Breeding 38:138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-018-0889-8
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Lee OH, Hwang HS, Kim JY, Han JH, Yoo YS, Kim BS (2001). A search for sources of resistance to powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica (Lév.) Arn) in pepper (Capsicum spp.). Korean Journal of Horticultural Science and Technology 19(1):7-11.
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Lin K, Gong L, Huang Y, Liu C, Pan J (2019). Deep learning-based segmentation and quantification of cucumber powdery mildew using convolutional neural network. Frontiers in Plant Sciences 10:155. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2019.00155
Luna-Ruiz JdJ, Pérez-Chávez MS, Martínez-de-Anda JA, Sosa-Ramírez J (2018). Distribución ecogeográfica del chile silvestre en México y su conservación ex situ. In: Aguilar-Meléndez A, Vásquez-Dávila MA, Katz E, Hernández-Colorado MR (Eds). Los chiles que le dan sabor al mundo. IRD Éditions. https://doi.org/10.4000/books.irdeditions.30934
Manzur JP, Fita A, Prohens J, Rodríguez-Burruezo A (2015). Successful wide hybridization and introgression breeding in a diverse set of common peppers (Capsicum annuum) using different cultivated ají (C. baccatum) accessions as donor parents. PLoS One 10:12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144142
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Molot PM, Leroux JP, Ferriere H (1987). Les oÏdiums des cucurbitacées. II. Mise au point d’une technique de conservation des souches en culture axénique [Powdery mildew of cucurbits. II. Development of a technique for the conservation of strains in axenic culture]. Agronomie 7(5):339-343. https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00884999
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Pereira-Dias L, Vilanova S, Fita A, Prohens J, Rodríguez-Burruezo A (2019). Genetic diversity, population structure, and relationships in a collection of pepper (Capsicum spp.) landraces from the Spanish center of diversity revealed by genotyping-by-sequencing. Horticulture Research 6:54. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41438-019-0132-8
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How to Cite
Copyright (c) 2021 Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca
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Open Access Journal:
The journal allows the author(s) to retain publishing rights without restriction. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. | <urn:uuid:50ff5310-bb51-4704-b50a-7d47a1424267> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.notulaebotanicae.ro/index.php/nbha/article/view/12354 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.671254 | 2,974 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Irrigation management plans combine conservation principles with efficiency, balancing the farm’s water needs with those of nature. Tools like drip irrigation, which provides water precisely where and when it’s needed, can achieve greater precision with flow meters and soil moisture sensors.
Farmers can also conserve water by increasing their soil’s water holding capacity and using conservation tillage to keep the ground covered, reducing water loss through transpiration and evaporation.
A one percent increase in soil organic matter can help the soil retain an additional 20,000 gallons of water per acre that can be banked and become available when plants need it most. NRCS agricultural engineers can use satellite-tracking tools to conduct precise topographic surveys, then design complete site-specific irrigation systems, from wells to pumps to pipes to hookups out in the field, saving water by improving irrigation efficiency. In combinations, these practices add up and make a huge difference.
Well-managed organic systems rely on slow-release forms of nutrients, which reduce the risk of nutrient runoff and leaching. These practices help maintain water quality, while enhanced soil structure, water infiltration, and better nutrient retention also protect water quality.
NRCS-developed nutrient management plans, cover crops, and buffers keep soil and nutrients in place and filter runoff water.
I provide technical assistance on any natural resource concern that’s out there. I do designs for stream bank stabilization and waste storage facilities, but the bulk of my work right now is providing irrigation technical assistance. At Front Field farm, I’ll use the data I collect to lay out an irrigation design that helps determine how much water the crops need and improve water use on their farm. | <urn:uuid:69e4d91f-7ec8-49ca-b399-52450ad672b8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/other-topics/organic/nrcs-assistance-for-organic-farmers/irrigation-and-water-management | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.925299 | 348 | 3.265625 | 3 |
Batak Karo is a Northern Batak language spoken by about 491,000 people in the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra in Indonesia. It is spoken in particular in the Aceh Selatan, Aceh Singli, Aceh Tenggara and Kota Subulussalam regencies in Aceh province, and in the Dairi, Deli Serdang, Karo, Langkat and Tapanuli Tengah regencies of North Sumatra province. It is spoken by adults and some young people, although in urban areas some younger people are shifting to Indonesian.
Batak Karo is also known as Karo Batak or kalak Karo. Native speakers call it cakap Karo. There are two main dialects: the eastern dialect and the western dialect. They differ mainly in pronunciation.
There are ways to write Batak Karo with the Batak script and with the Latin alphabet. There is a dictionary, grammar and a translation of the Bible in Batak Karo.
Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.fr are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you click on any of them and buy something. So by clicking on these links you can help to support this site. | <urn:uuid:8a9f7417-491c-4fc0-a5ff-5bfcecd0d4f0> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.omniglot.com/writing/batakkaro.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.917934 | 269 | 2.59375 | 3 |
5.3 The survival of Wicken Fen
We will now revisit Wicken Fen, Britain’s oldest nature reserve. The reserve is being managed artificially, in order to support multiple habitats, and by extension multiple species and multiple food chains. Those working on the reserve believe that without management the fen would be overtaken by bushes and trees, which would reduce the number of habitats, and support fewer species.
Is this a case where human intervention is a positive factor acting on the ecosystems present? Would you consider the fen to be an artificial ecosystem – one that would not exist but for human intervention? Here are some questions raised by this video. Make brief notes on possible answers in preparation for the discussion later.
- What are the factors contributing to high level of species diversity?
- What is the significance of Wicken Fen?
- What kind of ecosystems and habitats would result if Wicken Fen wasn’t managed by humans?
- Does the need for biodiversity outweigh the need for natural succession?
- What kind of management tools are used to managed Wicken Fen?
- What would be the result if Wicken Fen was destroyed or lost?
Contributors to this video include David Gowing (OU), Joanna Freeland (OU), Adrian Calston (Property Manager, Wicken Fen), Carol Laidlaw (Warden, Wicken Fen), Martin Lester (Head Warden, Wicken Fen). | <urn:uuid:7bc7d64e-49ab-41c5-8924-5787709ff9f4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=18465§ion=4 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.912111 | 291 | 3.875 | 4 |
Based on the curriculum, the Excel Early Skills series covers a wide range of English topics to give children of pre-school and year 1 a head start for the school years to come.
The series offers a systematic and comprehensive programme of 10 books on English.
A clear and easy-to-follow page design has been developed in the books with clear explanations. The activities in each book are divided into double pages. Each double page allows children to practice one particular skill many times, so that it is reinforced. Each page has an extra extension activity to further enrich children’s learning.
Each book also has a cheerful, brightly coloured border design along with fun illustrations, to attract children’s interest.
The books are accompanied by detailed teaching guides which will prove to be a valuable tool for all classroom teachers. The emphasis is on encouraging active student input and on making learning fun for teachers and students alike.
Student's Books and Teaching Guides | <urn:uuid:0b280fce-d75a-479e-afdb-ff6416dbd82c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.pakbooks.com/products/excel-english-early-skills-teaching-guide-1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.956014 | 192 | 3.359375 | 3 |
There are right ways and wrong ways to protect the natural environment, and the Obama administration recently demonstrated how to go about it the right way.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently announced plans to expand two national marine sanctuaries on the northern California Coast. If approved, the proposed expansion and existing sanctuaries will jointly protect more than a third of the state’s offshore waters from oil drilling, seabed mining and ocean dumping.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., who retired from Congress this year, correctly said “This area is a national treasure.” She and Sen. Barbara Boxer, a fellow California Democrat, spent the last eight years fruitlessly seeking congressional approval for its expanded protection.
The Obama administration is handling the matter well in several ways. First, it’s starting by focusing on an area truly worth protecting. The stretch of coastline in question is spectacular, and spectacularly productive. It alternates sandy inlets with timber-backed rocky cliffs, stormy in winter and shrouded in cold fog regularly throughout the year. The waters teem with sea life: fish, sea birds and marine mammals alike.
Though conservationists have focused on banning oil drilling on the coastline, the fact is that there probably isn’t all that much oil to be found, and whatever there is can be replaced by oil from far less sensitive places. In our endless debates about oil development, we sometimes forget that by developing the resource in less critical places, we can afford to protect the locales that matter most. Development is less hazardous onshore than offshore. Hydraulic fracturing allows much more production from onshore sources, and every barrel that it produces in places like the New Mexico desert or the North Dakota plains is a barrel we don't need to take from offshore sources, whether in the Gulf of Mexico or along the California shoreline.
Conservation, done correctly, focuses first on the places we most ought to conserve. In this case, the administration has clearly chosen one of those places.
Moreover, Obama did not opt to just expand the marine sanctuaries by executive order, despite lobbying from California’s congressional delegation for him to do so. Though such an expansion is within the president’s legal rights, it would have produced a reflexive backlash. The Los Angeles Times reported that congressional Republicans have warned the Obama administration against exercising its powers that way.
Instead, the NOAA will employ the standard procedures outlined in the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. This process includes public hearings that will begin this month; it takes about two years overall. Though it may be slow, the process will give anyone with an objection a chance to air it. Chances are that any objections will be few and relatively minor. Congressional approval is not required.
In the meantime, no one will drill or mine the stretch of seabed at issue anyway, so coastline advocates won’t lose anything in those respects regardless of the delay. When the sanctuaries are approved, as they are almost certain to be, the biggest and earliest practical impact will be in the mundane arena of pollution control. Ships will be required to strictly control their waste and contaminants while passing through the area. Nobody will object to that.
If the day should ever come when the nation believes it has no better place to drill or mine for resources than this beautiful stretch of coast, Congress can always intervene to permit such action under whatever conditions it chooses. Oil drilling would not necessarily hurt the region’s wildlife. But the day for that debate, if it ever comes at all, is far off.
The administration was smart not to provoke a needless fight, especially over an area that most people would agree deserves to be protected - both for the aquatic creatures that live there and the terrestrial voyagers who occasionally visit. | <urn:uuid:6ed184b5-3e1b-4a8a-a389-110e1a71392e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.palisadeshudson.com/pt-br/2013/01/environmental-protection-done-right/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.939824 | 782 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health illness that affects your mood. While it’s natural to feel periods of ups and downs, for people with bipolar, these ups and downs are more extreme and cause significant disruption to your daily life.
At Peace, Hope & Harmony, Inc. in Midlothian, Texas, our psychiatric providers specialize in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorders. Our team creates a personalized bipolar treatment plan that meets your needs and preferences.
Many of our patients with bipolar disorder worry about manic episodes and how they best navigate them. Since recognizing the start of a manic episode is key to this management, we’ve created this guide. Keep reading to learn what you need to know.
It’s helpful to remember that bipolar disorder is an umbrella term describing different types of bipolar: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. Each type has different symptoms and manifests differently.
Manic bipolar disorder is another name for bipolar I. People with bipolar I have episodes of both mania and depression, however the manic episodes are typically the presenting issue and are more severe and last longer than the depressive episodes.
Mania describes a period or episode when your mood and energy are at extreme highs. While many people in manic episodes feel euphoric or extremely happy, it can also cause extreme irritability.
Manic episodes can significantly disrupt your life and even be dangerous. During this period, it can be challenging to carry out your normal daily activities.
And because people experiencing mania feel increasingly invincible, you might start to engage in risky behaviors that can lead to serious problems or threaten your well-being, such as going on major shopping sprees and racking up debt or engaging in unsafe sex.
Every person with bipolar I has unique triggers that can cause a manic episode to start. It’s not always easy to identify those triggers, so be sure to keep a mood journal or ask close family and friends to help you identify them.
Recognizing the early warning signs of a manic episode can help you identify triggers and prevent it from escalating. While everyone is different, here’s a look at some of the most common early warning signs:
If you have been diagnosed with bipolar I and experience any of these warning signs, be sure to contact your provider at Peace, Hope & Harmony, Inc. to get the treatment you need. Early intervention can prevent escalation and help you better manage your symptoms.
If you haven’t been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but recognize these symptoms and are concerned you may have the condition, our team can help. We provide expert evaluation and diagnosis of many mental health disorders, including bipolar disorder.
Learn more about bipolar I or for help with a manic episode, schedule an appointment with a provider at Peace, Hope & Harmony, Inc., in Midlothian, Texas. We offer in-person and telehealth visits. | <urn:uuid:8bbc7613-cba9-4711-92af-d900e375a8a8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.peacehopeandharmony.com/post/early-warning-signs-of-a-manic-bipolar-disorder-episode | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.943596 | 592 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine used to alleviate pain and promote overall health. Acupuncture uses needles placed along invisible meridians that run throughout the body. Today, acupuncturists also use lasers, magnets and electric pulses in addition to needles. Each meridian point has a specific meaning and can unblock and repair meridians and channels with vital energy or chi. Through the stimulation of the meridians, an acupuncturist is able to restore balance and ergo health to the patient.
Acupuncture is used to treat a wide range of health problems, such as:
- Persistent lower back pain
- Chronic tension-type headaches and migraines
- Neck pain
- Joint pain
- Postoperative pain
- Depression and anxiety
Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes, and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as on the treatment. | <urn:uuid:45d952d0-84d3-49bc-9a43-777e7eff1248> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.peakwellnessclinic.com/acupuncture | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.918698 | 187 | 3 | 3 |
Motor Control Changes and Pain
Original Editor - Tarina van der Stockt
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Pain serves as a protective mechanism that leads to changes in movement. Altered movement may be appropriate in early protective phases, but, if maintained, this altered movement can contribute to poor recovery, continued disability, and decreased quality of life.
Motor control is the "ability to regulate or direct the mechanisms essential for movement". Movement is played out in an interaction between the person, environment and the task. Movement in itself is an interaction of different body systems like "sensory/perceptual, cognitive, and motor/action"
Muscle control and Pain theories (older theories listed first)
- Pain produces a vicious cycle of pain where muscles become hyperactive
- Pain leads either to muscle inhibition or muscle spasm.
- Pain is more individualised and that it will depend on the person, the task, and the environment. A person's functional capacity is determined by the individual's capacity to meet the demands of the environment and the task.
Issues surrounding rehabilitation of movement disorders[edit | edit source]
In the rehabilitation of movement disorders, the individual will practice different tasks, but it is not always clear which tasks, in what order and when it should be practised.
- Beneficial: after an acute ankle sprain, a person will be partial or non-weight bearing and avoid dorsiflexion
- Beneficial: during back pain, the trunk muscles co-contract to limit movement and pain, but also Problematic, an increase in muscle activation is a predictor of recurrent low back pain
- Beneficial and problematic: beneficial in the acute phase after an ankle sprain a person might avoid load on the injured ligament, and might walk with the leg externally rotated, but this increases the demand on the proximal joints and is problematic if leads to persistent ankle stiffness.
Theories explaining motor control changes[edit | edit source]
There are 4 main ways motor control changes happen with regards to pain, nociception, injury or even the anticipation of them. Hodges (2016) summarised them thus:
- Suboptimal movement/motor control as a precursor to injury and pain
- Impaired movement/motor control as a consequence of interference by actual or threatened injury and/or pain
- Modification of movement/motor control for the protection of the painful/injured/threatened region
- Modified movement/motor control explained by a conditioned association with pain
Each one of these ways will look different in every individual and will influence them in different ways. They may also overlap and the order might be different. These differences in individuals need to be considered when doing an assessment and planning rehabilitation.
1. Suboptimal tissue-loading theory[edit | edit source]
This is where alignment or movement load tissues suboptimally. This can happen as a single event of repetitively:
Single loading events that lead to nociception, tissue injury, or pain. Examples -a slip or a fall, unexpected force or high load in a suboptimal position, optimal movement or motor control but load exceeded the tissue capacity
Repetitive movement/postures (empirical evidence is limited)
- Multiple factors need to be reached to exceed the tissue threshold for load tolerance
- examples: poor posture (see image), poor joint alignment during movement, poor coordination or control between different segments of the body
- different schools of thought
- continued repetition of suboptimal movement could lead to pain/injury/a risk factor for recurrence. The (tissue) threshold will be reached with sufficient exposure to suboptimal movement or loading leading to pain or injury (threshold can even be reached by a low load or force over time however each person's threshold and capacity is different).
- many people have suboptimal movement or posture without pain on injury so this leads to questioning the relationship to pain
Different reasons people having suboptimal loading strategies. (summarised below):
- Habit - posture or specific muscle activation
- Environmental - bad posture due to ergonomics (chair, computer), changed in hip mobility because of sitting with a posterior tilt for long durations
- Functional - asymmetrical tasks/sports
- Presumed benefit - overcorrecting posture in standing or sitting because the person thinks it is the ideal posture
- Minimising energy - resistance in the muscles or tendons leads to a change in posture or movement - Jogging with hip adduction because of ITB tightness.
- Previous exposure to pain or injury - the motor changes remain even after the pain or injury resolves (a risk factor for pain recurrence).
Aspects to consider
- Pain does not mean there is abnormal loading or nociception
- Pain intensity is not reflective of the amount of suboptimal tissue loading
- A change in movement and loading might have initiated the experience of pain, may not be the cause of continued pain
- If the nociceptors are continually activated by suboptimal tissue loading changing a person's movement may resolve the symptoms
- The relationship between pain and loading is non-linear and rehabilitation of movement may not always resolve the symptoms, or it may resolve but not for the reasons the therapist thinks.
2. Pain/injury interference/inaccuracy hypothesis[edit | edit source]
- Pain and injury is also responsible for changes in motor control
- This can be seen as protective (eg ankle sprain) or it may interfere/change motor behaviour in a way that is not protective
- Effects happen at different levels of the nervous system. Proposed mechanisms: nociceptive and non-nociceptive afferent input can excite or inhibit motor neurons and the peripheral sensory function is disrupted interfering with motor control by altering the position of movement or muscle spindle sensitivity; injury/pain induced acute and subacute muscle changes like atrophy, muscle fibre-type changes, fatty infiltration, and changes in connective tissue leading to changed in motor control.
- The maladaptive motor changes due to pain and injury will affect function and may lead to additional pain and injury and to counteract this effect (called interference/inaccuracy), physiotherapists should address either/both the stimulus for the effect like joint swelling and the consequence of the interference (reflex inhibition).
3. Protective response hypothesis[edit | edit source]
The natural response to pain or injury is to protect. This is different between people and tasks. If this response is continued it can lead to more pain in injury in the same area or even in other areas due to suboptimal loading.
This protective response can happen in different ways:
- limitation in movement due to increased stiffness (spine movement is limited due to splinting of back muscles)
- change in the amount of force (limping to reduce the force on the sprained ankle)
- change in the force direction (change in knee position because of pain in the infra-patellar fat pad)
- change the activity of muscles to decrease stress
- avoid movement or function eg take to bed/avoid participation eg work, sport.
- fear-avoidance can lead to changes in motor control
There is a short term advantage to this protection but possible long term consequences due to suboptimal tissue loading. If this response is maintained past what is necessary then the protective response needs to be addressed before symptom resolution.
4. Conditioned response hypothesis[edit | edit source]
This is where an individual associates movement with pain, thus movement will lead to pain without nociception. This is also called pain memory. Initially, the pain was linked to movement that produced symptoms as a result of nociceptor activation in tissue loading.
Integration of hypotheses[edit | edit source]
These 4 hypotheses cannot be separated from each other and it is possible that we can only understand the motor control changes as it relates to pain and injury by looking at how these hypotheses interact with one another. Every individual's response to pain and injury is different, and different mechanisms play a role at different times and might change with time. To have a successful intervention you need to be able to identify the mechanism behind the change in motor control and be specific with your treatment to target that.
Application[edit | edit source]
The treatment intervention for each individual will depend on the mechanism involved and might need a combination strategy.
- Suboptimal tissue loading as a result of an impaired motor strategy - change the movement strategy
- Movement interference due to pain or injury - treat the interference and prevent/reverse the consequences of the interference
- Protective motor changes that are sustained or continued longer than needed - training should aim to reduce or resolve the motor changes in order to have a more normal tissue loading, and help restore participation and activity
- Conditioned response to pain - focussed interventions to extinguish/resolve the conditioning
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
The American Physical Therapy Association Vision Statement describes physical therapists as health care professionals who are “transforming society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience.” Understanding the interplay among pain-related nervous system processing, movement impairments, and recovery is important for physical therapists, the movement experts.
References[edit | edit source]
- Butera KA, Fox EJ, George SZ. Toward a transformed understanding: from pain and movement to pain with movement. Physical therapy. 2016 Oct 1;96(10):1503-7. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5046190/ (last accessed 20.2.2020)
- Shumway-Cook, A., & Woollacott, M. H. (2007). Motor control: translating research into clinical practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Lund JP, Donga R, Widmer CG, Stohler CS. The pain-adaptation model: a discussion of the relationship between chronic musculoskeletal pain and motor activity. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1991;69(5):683–94.
- Hodges, PW. Chapter 4. Motor Control and Pain. Sluka KA. Mechanisms and management of pain for the physical therapist. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2016 Feb 2.
- Motor Impairment. Prof Paul Hodges talks about pain and altered movement. 2018. Available from: https://youtu.be/mDw_HTCgxc4
- Healing Chronic Pain- The Pain PT. Chronic Pain: A Learned Habit- Pavlov's Dog- TMS- Dr. Sarno. 2019. Available from: https://youtu.be/s49GP71caY0 | <urn:uuid:9a4e7d8f-cf84-4e9c-858f-f9199cc0551c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.physio-pedia.com/Motor_Control_Changes_and_Pain?utm_source=physiopedia&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=ongoing_internal | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.903358 | 2,250 | 2.875 | 3 |
Removal of beetle infested wood
A major challenge in recent years is the fight against bark beetles. They attack healthy trees and can cause forest stands to die over large areas.
Tackle the bark beetle with mulching
Targeted and rapid mulching can prevent and contain the presence of bark beetles. In addition, it can destroy possible breeding sites. The mulch material is left on site and the area can easily be further processed. This creates an optimum environment for plant growth. The powerful carrier vehicles and forestry mulchers from Prinoth come into their own perfectly here, on level ground, on skid trails or even extremely steep slopes. They guarantee maximum efficiency and performance in the shortest possible time to process a large mass of damaged wood and enable reforestation. | <urn:uuid:db66995c-51a3-460c-a153-091f00beba31> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.prinoth-vegetationmanagement.com/en/applications/beetle-infested-wood-removal | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.932214 | 154 | 2.609375 | 3 |
The history of the real estate industry dates back to ancient civilizations when people began to settle in permanent dwellings and establish systems for owning land. In the modern era, the real estate industry has evolved significantly, with the development of new technologies and the emergence of global markets.
In the past twenty years, the real estate industry has undergone significant changes, including the increased use of online platforms and the development of new business models. The rise of online marketplaces and social media has made it easier for buyers and sellers to connect and has given rise to new types of real estate agencies that use these platforms to reach a wider audience. At the same time, traditional real estate agencies have also adapted to these changes by incorporating new technologies into their business models.
Overall, the real estate industry continues to play a vital role in the economy, providing people with a place to live, work, and conduct business – and Herringbone Real Estate has been at the forefront of this for over thirty years. | <urn:uuid:f29a99eb-57d4-41e0-85ba-ddcd4da3179a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.rhodesrealty.com.au/about-us/company-profile/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.959929 | 197 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Approved by IIRSM
This course is aimed at companies who employ users of display screen equipment, or DSE as it’s often called and is intended to be completed by those who will be assessing the DSE setups of employees.
DSE is a term that covers a wide range of equipment. If equipment like this is not set up correctly, users are at increased risk of certain disorders.
A ‘user’, is anyone who regularly uses display screen equipment for a significant part of their normal work. In practice, if you use display screen equipment continuously for more than one hour a day, then you’re a ‘user’.
So what do we mean by display screen equipment?
The first thing most people think of is a computer monitor. But that’s not the only thing it refers to Display screen equipment could also mean laptops, tablet PCs, televisions, smartphones, CNC control pads, portable diagnostic screens or equipment containing cathode ray tubes, or CRTs. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations contain special directives covering DSE safety. Both employers and employee users have responsibilities under the legislation.
This course fulfils your statutory training obligations and covers among other things, the correct way to set up and use your display screen equipment safely. Reducing the risk of work-related conditions.
Legislation, Protecting Your Body, Adjusting Your Chair, Adjusting Your Screen, Work Arrangements, Adjusting the Layout of Your Workstation, Adjusting Your Work Environment, Risk Assessment Overview, Principles of Sensible Risk Management, Key Health and Safety Legislation, DSE Hazards and Risks, DSE Assessments, Control and Prevention Strategies, Practical Element.
On successful completion of our course, you will be emailed a safety training quality assured certificate. This can be used to provide evidence for compliance and audit. This course is approved by Approved IIRSM. | <urn:uuid:fcd3d5a0-1b82-4b66-8cd7-c766ca7d7e32> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.safetytrainingltd.co.uk/elearning/assessing-display-screen-equipment/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.92168 | 401 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Though China has earned much of the blame for the massive slaughter of elephants across Africa over the past decade, Japan has been an equal partner in this continuing environmental crime—and a stubbornly determined one. When delegates to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species voted in October to close all domestic ivory markets, Japan obstinately declared that it was not subject to the decision. Japan’s minister of the environment publicly denied that his country’s extensive ivory industry, largely devoted to the production of hanko—personal stamps, or seals, used in lieu of a written signature—trafficked in poached ivory.
Many others, including Yahoo Japan—described as “the world’s largest online dealer of elephant ivory,” have yet to follow. But the pressure to extend the movement against ivory appears to be growing both from the international community and at home in Japan. In the past, said Masayuki Sakamoto, executive director of the Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund, neither the government nor the press was much interested in providing information to the Japanese public about the ivory poaching crisis, which has caused the deaths of 100,000 African elephants over the past three years. Instead, official policy has been to support the nation’s 300 ivory manufacturers, 500 wholesalers, and 8,000 retailers.
The domestic press has, however, recently taken up the cause, “and the opportunity for Japanese people to know about conservation of elephants has increased,” said Sakamoto. That’s partly the result of recent investigations demonstrating that Japan has flagrantly violated the terms under which it agreed to regulate the domestic ivory trade.
CITES first allowed Japan a limited legal trade in 1999, a decade after a highly successful international ban on the ivory trade. Japan agreed that this trade would employ only tusks legally acquired before that 1989 ban, or imported from two subsequent CITES-approved sales. The Japan Wildlife Research Center, an independent body appointed by the government, was assigned to verify the legality of ivory tusks entering the domestic market and maintain a register of those tusks.
But investigations by JTEF and the London-based nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency demonstrated that these control measures are a sham. Posing as the hopeful seller of a tusk acquired in 2000, investigators phoned 37 Japanese ivory traders—and got advice from 30 of them about how to register the tusk using fraudulent paperwork. “The thing is, we must lie on these official documents,” said one dealer. The Japan Wildlife Research Center, charged with enforcing the rules, gave the same advice on eight separate occasions, in one case offering tips on how to resist a police investigation.
“The supposedly rigorous controls in Japan are nonexistent,” says Allan Thornton, EIA’s president, and that has allowed the legal market to become a cover for a much larger trade in tusks from recently killed elephants. In 2005, he said, Yahoo Japan sold just 3,800 ivory products on its auction site. By 2015, those sales had soared to 28,000 products, including 438 whole tusks.
“On a single day in August 2015,” according to EIA’s December 2015 report, the shopping sites of Yahoo Japan and competitor Rakuten Ichiba “each carried approximately 6,000 different ivory ads. The combined sale price for the ivory products on both sites totaled more than U.S. $5.1 million.” The report calculated that just from 2011 to 2014, some 5,500 tusks entered the Japanese trade without evidence of legal origin.
After EIA presented the results of its investigations to Tokyo Metropolitan Police, said Sakamoto, government investigators visited one ivory manufacturer and handed out a penalty that amounted to little more than advice on what the company needed to do to get its ivory stockpile in legal order. It was a weak response, and yet surprising, says Sakamato, because it was the first time anyone had bothered to implement the law in 20 years. The authorities seem to recognize for the first time “that they are in a position to be strictly monitored, and if they fail, they will face strong criticisms from the international community.”
To make a real difference, that criticism needs to get louder. So what can people outside Japan do to help? In September 16members of the United States House of Representatives sent a letter to the ambassador from Japan, noting that failure to enforce regulations on the ivory trade was directly contributing to the rapid disappearance of Africa’s elephants. They pointed out that participation in the trade also provides a funding source for “rebel militias and terrorist groups like the Lord’s Resistance Army, Al-Shabaab, and Boko Haram.” And they called for Japan to end its domestic trade.
Take a look at the letter, and if your representatives in Congress are not among the signatories, find out why. It might also be worth contacting Yahoo’s chief executive, Marissa Mayer (email [email protected] or phone 408-349-3300), to ask why her company, which owns 35 percent of Yahoo Japan, is profiting from the slaughter of elephants. Or try Yahoo’s chief financial officer, Ken Goldman, who sits on the board of Yahoo Japan.
Don’t be a troll. Just ask honestly: Do you want your kids to grow up in a world without elephants? Indeed, do any of us want to stand by idly as our infinite appetite for ivory knickknacks (and profits) drives the largest land mammal on Earth to extinction in the wild? | <urn:uuid:f2c10408-0f99-4332-af0d-23ec3b060743> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.savetheelephants.org/news/japan-reconsiders-its-role-in-driving-the-slaughter-of-elephants/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.954564 | 1,158 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Pregnant women who were vaccinated against pandemic influenza in 2009 were not at increased risk of experiencing fetal death, though pregnant women who contracted influenza had an increased risk of fetal death.
During the swine influenza pandemic of that year, there were anecdotal reports of miscarriages and stillbirths occurring shortly after vaccination, so the Norwegian Institute of Public Health initiated a study to investigate if there was an association between pandemic influenza vaccination and the fetal deaths.
Pregnant women are at increased risk of severe influenza infection and previous studies have shown that pregnant women who were hospitalized with influenza had increased risk of fetal death and the researchers were interested in whether pandemic influenza also increased the risk of fetal death among pregnant women who were not admitted to hospitals.
During the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic of 2009, the entire Norwegian population was offered the pandemic vaccine Pandemrix. Approximately 45 per cent were vaccinated. More than half (54 per cent) of those pregnant during the pandemic took the vaccine.
The study included more than 117,000 births in Norway occurring before, during and after the pandemic. Nearly 26,000 women were vaccinated against pandemic influenza while pregnant.
"Norway is one of very few countries that have the opportunity to study these issues because of our excellent health registers. The registers include information about pregnancy and pandemic vaccination," says Dr. Camilla Stoltenberg, Director General of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
When analyzing the data, the researchers took into account the timing of vaccination or influenza in pregnancy and the duration of each pregnancy.
- Pregnant women who were vaccinated did not have increased risk of foetal death.
- Pregnant women who were vaccinated had a considerably reduced risk of influenza.
- Pregnant women who were diagnosed with influenza during the pandemic had almost doubled risk of foetal death.
The Medical Birth Registry of Norway collects information about fetal death after week 12 of pregnancy, so the researchers could not examine early losses. Fetal death is rare in Norway (about 5 per 1000 births). Although this study found an increased risk after influenza, few pregnancies end in fetal death.
The results from this large study are in line with smaller studies from Denmark and Canada that also indicate that the pandemic vaccine was not associated with increased risk of fetal death.
"It is reassuring that such a large and comprehensive study did not find any evidence that vaccination increased the risk of foetal death," says Stoltenberg. "The results suggest that influenza during pregnancy can be detrimental for the foetus, even if the mother is not seriously ill and admitted to hospital."
"We recommend that pregnant women are vaccinated against influenza. In addition to protecting the mother, the vaccine protects the child in the first months after birth, at a time when the child is too young to be vaccinated."
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine. | <urn:uuid:42a8ff54-f068-43b2-8533-6418bc0111c6> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.science20.com/news_articles/2009_swine_flu_pandemic_vaccination_did_not_increase_risk_fetal_death-101120 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.979083 | 597 | 3 | 3 |
The Climate Change Commission says farmers are on track to start paying for their greenhouse gas emissions through a farm-level pricing system by 2025.
The Commission has released its advice on the He Waka Eke Noa plan put forward by farmers on how agricultural emissions should be priced instead of using the Emissions Trading Scheme.
The SMC asked experts to comment.
Bill Kaye-Blake, Principal Economist, New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, comments:
“The advice shows the difficulty of rolling out interventions and regulations for agriculture, which has such a wide range of participants. The best farmers can make three times per hectare what other farmers are making, or more. Some farmers are well prepared for making changes and have the resources to do it, while others are not. Getting 25% of the sector on board is relatively easy. Getting to 100% participation or compliance will be difficult.
“The CCC advice also shows the trade-off between certainty and equity. He Waka Eke Noa has suggested a farm-level approach, and CCC has agreed with it. They agree that a farm-level approach is fairer: farmers get credit for improvements they make. However, the CCC is uncertain that the farm-level approach will be ready in time to meet 2025 and 2030 goals.
“The advice seems to be affected by common biases in decision-making. One is ‘identifiable victim effect’ and the other is ‘precision bias’. CCC recognises that there are wide equity issues that are intergenerational and international. In terms of size, the impacts on billions of other people now and in the future is a bigger question than whether a few thousand farmers are given exactly enough credit for mitigation activities. However, those farmers are ‘identifiable victims’ and so received the bulk of the attention in the advice. In addition, the CCC recognises the importance of equity ‘internationally, intergenerationally, socially, environmentally, and economically’. We know very little about the value of impacts on other countries and future generations, or social and environmental impacts. There is large uncertainty or wide error bands around those values. We don’t know whether being a good ancestor means getting rid of 5% of livestock or 50% of livestock. The focus on a farm-level approach and creating reporting and IT systems is about precision, but that could be misplaced effort.”
No conflict of interest declared.
Honorary Professor Troy Baisden, Te Pūnaha Matatini Principal Investigator, Motu Affiliate, and University of Auckland School of Environment, comments:
“The greatest urgency around agricultural emissions is the requirement to implement something by 2025 that sends sensible signals to farmers and the agricultural industry that point toward 2030 goals. Farm systems take at least three to five years to get significant changes underway so this goal is less about immediate reductions and more about building understanding and systems that will meet 2030 commitments. Over time, the systems used will be best if they evolve to allow realistic projections for future reductions to be developed in forms that work and are politically stable.
“The Climate Change Commission (CCC) sensibly suggests that implementing simple systems for accounting at the farm scale looks like the most useful option available, and this can roughly match the He Waka Eke Noa proposal. The CCC advice reflects that getting farm-level accounting in place will allow the vast majority of farmers to begin to understand their emissions. In contrast to what some have said, this isn’t just about farmers knowing their number – it’s also about beginning to understand how they can reduce their emissions while maintaining or increasing the value of what they produce.
“The danger is that the tools set in place by 2025 may lock in simple tools that represent today’s farming industry well but fail to capture innovative opportunities. Many questions remain about how tools can be developed that are equitable in their pricing, availability and applicability to farms – which have different historic choices to develop or intensify, a diversity of land-ownership structures, as well as varied access to ideas and support to develop new value opportunities. A big challenge is posed by Māori farming enterprises that tend to be bigger, more visionary and more diverse than the average.
“Today’s CCC report seems to embrace the phrase: “the perfect is the enemy of the good.” We’ll need a range of good tools that work and can be applied soon where they’re needed and will continue to innovate. The CCC offers the useful suggestion that while making farms responsible for their own emissions is good, having a direct levy on industrial fertiliser may be simplest. Similarly, having a separate system to consider carbon sequestration in vegetation (or wetlands) on farms looks may be more desirable than requiring it to be part of a tool that certifies the entire farm’s emissions.
“The greatest value in today’s report is a careful evaluation of the likelihood that historic and future goals have been or will be achieved. The bottom line is that historic performance toward involving the agricultural sector in their own emissions reductions has been good but not perfect. Getting emissions tracking in place on farms by 2025 is possible, but represents a big challenge where delivery is far from assured. One possibility appears to be worth ruling out: putting farms directly in the Emissions Trading Scheme.”
No conflict of interest declared.
Dr Robyn Dynes, Senior Scientist, AgResearch, comments:
“This report from the Climate Change Commission gives plenty for the Government to chew on, particularly in the area of measuring and accounting for carbon sequestration through on-farm vegetation.
“I’ve said previously that an industry-wide commitment to a farm-level, split-gas pricing system is an important step on the journey to help farmers manage their emissions, and the commission has stated that a farm-level pricing system supported by well-designed, well-thought-through policy, will be key to achieving emissions reductions in line with the budgets and targets for Aotearoa.
“I agree with the commission that a lot of work has gone in from all parties through He Waka Eke Noa, and that good progress has been made towards getting farmers ready for farm-level pricing. If the Government does pursue a pricing system that sits outside of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), there is clearly still a lot of work to be done to have a workable and equitable pricing system in place by 2025. All parties have a part to play here, whether it be around IT systems, measurement, compliance or regulation.
“The commission has recommended that carbon sequestration through on-farm vegetation should sit outside any emissions pricing system, and instead could reside in a separate system due to the complexities, risk of inequity, a lack of impact on emissions, and the fact that some sequestration is already recognised through the ETS. I expect this recommendation will be met with some disappointment from farmers who had expected recognition from sequestration through on-farm vegetation in the He Waka Eke Noa pricing model.
“As scientists, we have an important role in helping to grow the science in this area, and developing robust and reliable methods of estimating carbon sequestration on-farm, so that it can be effectively incorporated into an emissions pricing system or a separate system from 2025.”
Conflict of interest statement: “My colleagues and I at AgResearch have provided science advice to He Waka Eke Noa as part of its considerations and development of its recommendations to the Government.” | <urn:uuid:a8e127fc-9fe7-44f2-a040-54b1a71762d5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2022/07/06/the-climate-commissions-take-on-farm-emissions-pricing-expert-reaction/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.953757 | 1,569 | 2.578125 | 3 |
As second year Junior High School and Senior High School students prepare to resume school on October 5, 2020, parents, guardians, teachers and school administrators who are old enough to understand the risks of going back to school are ill at ease about the safety of school children as Covid-19 cases continue to surge. For children, it is a mixture of apprehension and excitement.
The primary risk of asking children to return to school is the likely increase in the cases because children to a large extent do not have the sense of urgency to follow safety protocols. The risk of spreading the virus in schools is largely dependent on the region’s infection rate and other factors. Fortunately, the risk of infected children potentially becoming very ill is a rare occurrence.
It cannot be emphasised enough that the only way to reduce apprehension surrounding the reopening of schools is to teach school children how to strictly follow the safety protocols because when they are adhered to, they help to drastically reduce the transmission of the novel virus.
School administration can help children take the necessary precautions to mitigate the spread by ensuring the following:
- Promote healthy hygiene behaviours by providing adequate supplies like hand sanitisers, foot-pedal handwashing stations, disinfectant wipes, nose masks, tissues, trash cans etc.
- Put signs that demonstrate everyday protective measures at highly visible locations. The signs should include visual cues that are reader-friendly and generally comprehensible.
- Maintain healthy surroundings by cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces such as door knobs, chairs, tables and teaching-learning materials.
- Make certain that school drivers follow safety protocols by embarking on routine cleaning and disinfecting the school buses.
- Minimise the sharing of objects by keeping each child’s art supplies, toys, books, devices and learning aids separated from others in individually labeled containers.
- Put in place a proper ventilation system to increase the flow of clean air in order to dilute contaminants.
- Encourage children not to share food or utensils and their lunch should be pre-packaged.
- Install physical barriers, such as sneeze guards and partitions, particularly in areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart.
Efforts to lessen the rate of spread among children at school would be in vain if safety protocols are not followed at home. Parents should endeavour to educate their wards on hygienic practices and how to practice them correctly. Parents can also do the following:
- Pack disinfectant wipes, hand sanitisers, masks and other necessary supplies for their wards to use in school.
- Make the conscious effort to create an environment at home where your ward is freely able to express him or herself as this would enable the child to be able to tell their parents whether they feel safe at school or not.
- Take advantage of any programs at your ward’s school that allow parents to give input.
The pandemic may still be raging but life must go on and human beings need to adjust by following effective practices to mitigate its spread till we can find a solution to eliminate it. Returning to school is important for the education and wellbeing of children. A lot of time spent out of school can negatively affect the child’s cognitive and academic development, especially, children who live in disadvantaged areas, thus, we need to ensure all pupils can return to school sooner rather than later. | <urn:uuid:698abce5-ff8b-4721-9cb1-73d9ddb68143> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.seekapor.com/returning-to-school-how-children-can-be-kept-safe/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.952148 | 695 | 3.5 | 4 |
BSL Sign Language Dictionary
Search and compare thousands of words and phrases in British Sign Language (BSL). The largest collection online.
How to sign: any of several evergreen plants of the genus Yucca having usually tall stout stems and a terminal cluster of white flowers; warmer regions of North America
Sorry, no video found for this word.
Categories: bush, shrub
Within this category: Adam's needle, bear grass, bear grass, Joshua tree, Our Lord's candle, soapweed, Spanish bayonet, Spanish bayonet, Spanish dagger, Spanish dagger
Do you know the sign for this?
Upload your sign now. | <urn:uuid:d72f2ee2-9bb3-4aef-989b-62bfce75b6e8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.signbsl.com/sign/yucca | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.871957 | 133 | 2.640625 | 3 |
What Are Different Types of Courtship Behavior in Birds?In most bird species, the female chooses a mate, while the males try to put themselves forward as the best candidates. Sometimes only the male bird engages in courtship behaviors, while sometimes the female joins in as a mark of acceptance. Courtship behaviors vary by species but usually fall into one of the following categories:
- Displays: While the females of many bird species are dull-colored for camouflage, males tend to have brilliantly colored plumage. This allows them to put on a display for females during mating season to attract their attention and show off how healthy and strong they are. If you have ever seen a peacock fully extending its tail feathers, that is one of the most dramatic forms of display. However, male birds do not only show off their feathers. They may also display body shape or sacs of skin, but the purpose is the same.
- Dancing: Birds hoping to breed may make intricate physical movements that humans interpret as dancing. Adept movement helps to demonstrate attractive traits such as good health, strength, and confidence. Sometimes the female observes while the male dances, but the female may also join in. Bill rubbing, head dips, and wing flaps are all movements that may be part of birds' courtship dances.
- Singing: In some bird species, a courting pair may sing together, but in most, only one of the couple sings, typically the male. Singing can demonstrate intelligence and maturity through the variety of songs and their intricacy.
- Providing: Some courtship behavior in birds allows the males to show off what good providers they can be. Instead of showy displays of avian virility, they show off architectural prowess by building nests for the females. They may also offer the female bird food to show a willingness and ability to care for her while she is incubating the eggs. Birds that have formed a pair bond may preen each other's feathers as a show of trust. | <urn:uuid:75b0c68e-cf4e-4fc4-ac91-c034f3b655eb> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.skedaddlewildlife.com/location/milwaukee/blog/what-is-courtship-behavior-in-birds/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.955672 | 406 | 4.09375 | 4 |
On International Women's Day, Meghan Markle wrote an eye-opening essay titled 'How Periods Affect Potential' for Time.com. Periods remain a somewhat taboo subject in the Western world but, as Meghan discovered on a trip to Dehli and Mumbai in January, the stigma of menstruation runs so deep in India that young girls struggle to succeed and even stay in school.
"One hundred and thirteen million adolescent girls between the ages of 12-14 in India alone are at risk of dropping out of school because of the stigma surrounding menstrual health," Meghan said. "During my time in the field, many girls shared that they feel embarrassed to go to school during their periods, ill equipped with rags instead of pads, unable to participate in sports, and without bathrooms available to care for themselves, they often opt to drop out of school entirely." Meghan also pointed out that due to a lack of dialogue on menstrual health hygiene, many girls believe that their period is a result of their body purging evil spirits or that they are injured monthly, and all this adds to the shame that is now synonymous with their period.
Meghan is Global Ambassador for World Vision - a role that was once filled by boyfriend Prince Harry's mother Diana. She stresses the effect a young girl's period can potentially have on her education: "When a girl misses school because of her period, cumulatively that puts her behind her male classmates by 145 days. And that's the mitigated setback if she opts to stay in school, which most do not. The latter elect to return home, increasing their subjection to dangerous work, susceptibility to being victims of violence, and most commonly, being conditioned for early childhood marriage."
The non-profit organisation for sanitation and hygiene rights WASH United state on their site that a UNICEF study revealed that 1 out of 3 girls in South Asia knew nothing about menstruation prior to getting it while 48% of girls in Iran and 10% of girls in India believe that menstruation is a disease. The need for menstrual education is more necessary than ever. Meghan suggests that there are ways to help remedy this issue: young girls need access to Menstrual Hygiene Management, access to toilets, and sanitary pads... we need to speak about it, to be "chatty" about it." Meghan says that the opportunity to open a dialogue of menstrual hygiene will help to liberate women from silent suffering, and equip their daughters with the tools and knowledge to continue attending school.
Meghan's speech is valid not just in countries that struggle economically, but also in America, and the UK. The women's march on January 21st was a protest to push the equality of the sexes. But here in the UK, it is notoriously difficult to get your hands on sanitary products as a homeless woman and, despite promises by David Cameron in 2016, the Tampon Tax has still not been abolished and sanitary items are unlikely to be considered anything but luxury goods until 2018. As Barak Obama once said: “I have to tell you, I have no idea why states would tax these as luxury items. I suspect it's because men were making the laws when those taxes were passed."
To end her essay, Meghan stresses that the importance of an education is paramount to helping women succeed: "To break the cycle of poverty, and to achieve economic growth and sustainability in developing countries, young women need access to education. When we empower girls hungry for education, we cultivate women who are emboldened to effect change within their communities and globally. If that is our dream for them, then the promise of it must begin with us. Period."
Hear hear, Meghan.
What do you think of Meghan's speech? Let us know! @sofeminineUK
You might also like... | <urn:uuid:1a5f699a-9465-4763-946c-bbb00f9c24cf> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.sofeminine.co.uk/personal-life/meghan-markle-pens-a-powerful-essay-about-period-shaming-s2176102.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.969954 | 783 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Fasting in Islam is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an act of obedience and submission to Allah's commands through the highest degree of commitment, sincerity and faithfulness to seek Allah's mercy, to atone for sins, errors, and mistakes and to avoid condemnation to Hell.
It is done out of deep love for God, with a genuine virtue of devotion, honest dedication and closeness to Allah, for Fasting is for Allah and Him alone.
The fasting during Ramadan is obligatory on every adult, sane, and able Muslim.
Denial of the obligatory nature of fasting in the month of Ramadan amounts to disbelief.
One who avoids fasting without genuine reasons is a sinner and transgressor according to Islamic law.
Time: When to fast
Fasting in Islam involves abstinence from three primal physical needs of human beings- food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn (approximately one and a half hours before sunrise) to sunset during the entire month of Ramadan.
Who is exempted from fasting in Islam
1. Children under the age of puberty and discretion;
2. The insane people who are unaccountable for their deeds. People of these two categories are exempted from the duty of fasting and no compensation or any other substitute is enjoined on them;
3. Men and women who are too old and feeble to undertake the obligation of fasting and bear its hardships. Such people are exempted from this duty, but they must offer at least one needy poor Muslim an average full meal or its value per person day.
4. Sick people whose health is likely to be severely affected by fasting. They may postpone the fast, as long as they are sick, to a later date and makeup for it, a day for a day;
5. People expecting hardship. Such people may break the fast temporarily during their travel only and make up for it in later days, a day for a day. But it is better for them, the Quran says, to keep the fast if they can without causing extraordinary hardships;
6. Expectant women and women nursing their children may also break the fast, if its observance is likely to endanger their own health or that of their infants. But they must make up for the fast at a delayed time, a day for a day;
7. Women in periods of menstruation (of a maximum of ten days). They must postpone the fast till recovery and then make up for it, a day for day.
The How To's of Fasting in Islam
Niyyah or Intention of Fast
To observe the fast, the intention of fasting is essential (Wajib). The intention should be made daily, preferably before dawn of each day of fasting (in Ramadan).
Provision is made if someone has forgotten to express his intention before dawn. In such a case one is allowed to express intention of fasting before noon to avoid the invalidation of the fast.
The wording of Niyyah may be as follows:
"I intend to observe fast for today."
Suhoor is a light, predawn meal, recommended before actually fasting.?It is a blessing and hence recommended but not essential.?
Any consumption of food or drink should cease at least five to ten minutes before the onset of dawn.
Iftar is an Arabic term meaning breaking the fast immediately after the sunset.?Iftar is a light snack consisting of dates or desserts, along with liquids, such as water, juice or milk.?
This is eaten after making the following Dua (supplication) for breaking the fast:
"Oh Allah!? I fasted for your sake and I am breaking my fast from the sustenance You blessed me with, accept it from me."
What breaks the fast
1. Intentional consumption of food, drink, medicine, or smoking during the fasting.
2. Any injection which has some nutritional value.
3. Beginning of menstruation or post natal birth bleeding (even in the last moment of sunset).
The conditions mentioned above invalidate fasting and require "Qada" (making up only the missed day or days).?However, intentional intercourse during the hours of fasting invalidates fasting and not only requires "Qada" but also additional penalty (Kaffara-see the explanation of this below).
What does not break the fast
1. Eating or drinking by mistake, unmindful of the fast.
2. Unintentional vomiting.
3. Swallowing things which are not possible to avoid, such as one's own saliva, street dust, smoke, etc.
4. Brushing the teeth.
5. Bathing: if water is swallowed unintentionally, it does not invalidate the fast.?However, while fasting gargling should be avoided.
6. Injection or I/V (Intravenous) which is solely medicinal and not nutritional.
7. In some special circumstances if the food or drink is just tasted and immediately removed out of the mouth without allowing it to enter into the throat.
During the fasting period, if one deliberately breaks his or her fast, s/he must free one slave, or fast for sixty continuous days, or feed sixty needy persons, or spend in charity an amount equal to feeding sixty persons.?
If one chooses to fast sixty days and the continuity is interrupted for any reason, except menstruation, one has to start the sixty day cycle all over again.
Breaking of the fast under exceptional conditions
Muslims are permitted to break their fast of Ramadan when there is a danger to their health.?
In this situation a Muslim should make up his/her fast later.?The missed fast(s) can be made up at any other time of the year, either continuously or intermittently, except on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr and the day of Eid-ul-Adha
These are special Sunnah prayers in the month of Ramadan.?They follow the Isha prayers.? A minimum of eight and a maximum of twenty Rakat are offered in pairs of two.
Amongst the nights of Ramadan, there is one special night of Power (Qadr) which is highlighted in Surah al-Qadr (Surah 97 in the Quran).?
It has the significance of being better than a thousand months (Quran 97:3).?
This was the night when Quran was revealed to mankind.?Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) recommended Muslims search for this night of Power (Qadr) in the odd nights of the last ten nights in Ramadan.
Muslims spend the night in Ibadah (worship), asking forgiveness of their sins and reciting the Quran. | <urn:uuid:9150f4f1-f038-4eb5-8648-20a2766e9ce2> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.soundvision.com/article/the-how-tos-of-fasting?page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.939438 | 1,362 | 3.015625 | 3 |
P-3 - Space launch mission detailed information
26 NOV 1959
United States Air Force
Space Launch Complex 14
The Pioneer P-1, -3, -30 and -31 series was intended to be a lunar orbiter probe, but the mission failed shortly after launch. The objectives were to place a highly instrumented probe in lunar orbit, to investigate the environment between the Earth and Moon, and to develop technology for controlling and maneuvering spacecraft from Earth.
The Atlas-Able was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas missile. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets, and was used to launch several Pioneer spacecraft towards the Moon. Of the five Atlas-Able rockets built, two failed during static firings, and the other three failed to reach orbit. | <urn:uuid:4c2ecb7d-936d-41d0-b146-2bf2e4196fd9> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.spacerealm.live/launch/atlas-able-p-3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.957048 | 166 | 3.25 | 3 |
People who have weakened muscles are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, according to a study published in the Archives of Neurology (Vol. 66. No. 11, November 2009). Researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing 900 seniors for their muscle strength. Their findings suggest that seniors with strong muscles are less likely to experience even mild memory loss that precedes the early Alzheimer’s stages.
However, researchers say more studies are needed before they can conclude that having weak muscles actually causes Alzheimer’s. What they are saying is that weakening muscles may be the first indication that a person is in the early Alzheimer’s stages and that mental decline is a symptom that occurs later as the disease progresses. In other words, weak muscles may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s rather than a cause.
Researchers theorize that Alzheimer’s is caused by the build up of plaque which erodes the brain. Neurological damage caused by strokes are also thought to be another Alzheimer’s cause. Researchers are recommending that seniors get checked for muscle strength to determine if they are at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease symptoms.
Senior Exercise Programs Reduce Risk for Alzheimer’s Symptoms
Although weight lifting may not prevent mental decline, senior exercise routines involving aerobics are effective in helping the brain maintain its ability to function properly, according to the Association for Psychological Science. The organization notes that multiple studies provide overwhelming evidence that regular exercise helps preserve short term memory, improves the ability to focus, and supports a person’s ability to make decisions.
Researchers believe that exercise stimulates the production of FGF-2, which helps the brain produce new neurons. This growth hormone also reduces stomach fat and improves over all functioning of the brain. Even modest exercise can be effective in reducing a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s symptoms. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 30 minutes of daily physical activity is enough to increase blood circulation and increase the production of new brain cells.
The Alzheimer’s Association recommends that seniors regularly participate in aerobic activities such as gardening, yoga, walking, dancing, and step climbing. This will help speed up their heart rate and improve their intake of oxygen. All of this helps prevent the loss of brain cells as a person ages. Staying active also helps seniors remain mentally alert.
A healthy diet is also an important part of dementia prevention. The Alzheimer’s Association says certain foods can help keep the brain healthy and lower a person’s risk for Alzheimer’s symptoms. This includes dark colored fruits and vegetables such as spinach, beets, Brussels sprouts, prunes, blackberries, strawberries, and cherries. Other brain foods include fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and mackerel. Walnuts and almonds are also good for the brain. | <urn:uuid:edc17116-3d29-48d1-91d4-4419850159ce> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.techpreview.org/alzheimers-disease-symptoms-may-weaken-muscles/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.941063 | 585 | 3.40625 | 3 |
What is a neural network?
A neural network is a machine learning (ML) model designed to mimic the function and structure of the human brain. Neural networks are intricate networks of interconnected nodes, or neurons, that collaborate to tackle complicated problems.
Also referred to as artificial neural networks (ANNs) or deep neural networks, neural networks represent a type of deep learning technology that's classified under the broader field of artificial intelligence (AI).
Neural networks are widely used in a variety of applications, including image recognition, predictive modeling and natural language processing (NLP). Examples of significant commercial applications since 2000 include handwriting recognition for check processing, speech-to-text transcription, oil exploration data analysis, weather prediction and facial recognition.
How do artificial neural networks work?
An artificial neural network usually involves many processors operating in parallel and arranged in tiers or layers. The first tier -- analogous to optic nerves in human visual processing -- receives the raw input information. Each successive tier receives the output from the tier preceding it rather than the raw input -- the same way neurons further from the optic nerve receive signals from those closer to it. The last tier produces the output of the system.
Each processing node has its own small sphere of knowledge, including what it has seen and any rules it was originally programmed with or developed for itself. The tiers are highly interconnected, which means each node in Tier N will be connected to many nodes in Tier N-1 -- its inputs -- and in Tier N+1, which provides input data for those nodes. There could be one or more nodes in the output layer, from which the answer it produces can be read.
Artificial neural networks are noted for being adaptive, which means they modify themselves as they learn from initial training and subsequent runs provide more information about the world. The most basic learning model is centered on weighting the input streams, which is how each node measures the importance of input data from each of its predecessors. Inputs that contribute to getting the right answers are weighted higher.
Applications of artificial neural networks
Image recognition was one of the first areas in which neural networks were successfully applied. But the technology uses have expanded to many more areas:
- NLP, translation and language generation.
- Stock market predictions.
- Delivery driver route planning and optimization.
- Drug discovery and development.
- Social media.
- Personal assistants.
Prime uses involve any process that operates according to strict rules or patterns and has large amounts of data. If the data involved is too large for a human to make sense of in a reasonable amount of time, the process is likely a prime candidate for automation through artificial neural networks.
How do neural networks learn?
Typically, an ANN is initially trained or fed large amounts of data. Training consists of providing input and telling the network what the output should be. For example, to build a network that identifies the faces of actors, the initial training might be a series of pictures, including actors, non-actors, masks, statues and animal faces. Each input is accompanied by matching identification, such as actors' names or "not actor" or "not human" information. Providing the answers allows the model to adjust its internal weightings to do its job better.
For example, if nodes David, Dianne and Dakota tell node Ernie the current input image is a picture of Brad Pitt, but node Durango says it's George Clooney, and the training program confirms it's Pitt, Ernie decreases the weight it assigns to Durango's input and increase the weight it gives to David, Dianne and Dakota.
In defining the rules and making determinations -- the decisions of each node on what to send to the next tier based on inputs from the previous tier -- neural networks use several principles. These include gradient-based training, fuzzy logic, genetic algorithms and Bayesian methods. They might be given some basic rules about object relationships in the data being modeled.
For example, a facial recognition system might be instructed, "Eyebrows are found above eyes," or, "Moustaches are below a nose. Moustaches are above and/or beside a mouth." Preloading rules can make training faster and the model more powerful faster. But it also includes assumptions about the nature of the problem, which could prove to be either irrelevant and unhelpful or incorrect and counterproductive, making the decision about what, if any, rules to build in important.
Further, the assumptions people make when training algorithms cause neural networks to amplify cultural biases. Biased data sets are an ongoing challenge in training systems that find answers on their own through pattern recognition in data. If the data feeding the algorithm isn't neutral -- and almost no data is -- the machine propagates bias.
Types of neural networks
Neural networks are sometimes described in terms of their depth, including how many layers they have between input and output, or the model's so-called hidden layers. This is why the term neural network is used almost synonymously with deep learning. They can also be described by the number of hidden nodes the model has or in terms of how many input layers and output layers each node has. Variations on the classic neural network design enable various forms of forward and backward propagation of information among tiers.
Specific types of artificial neural networks include the following:
Feed-forward neural networks
One of the simplest variants of neural networks, these pass information in one direction, through various input nodes, until it makes it to the output node. The network might or might not have hidden node layers, making their functioning more interpretable. It's prepared to process large amounts of noise.
This type of ANN computational model is used in technologies such as facial recognition and computer vision.
Recurrent neural networks (RNNs)
More complex in nature, RNNs save the output of processing nodes and feed the result back into the model. This is how the model learns to predict the outcome of a layer. Each node in the RNN model acts as a memory cell, continuing the computation and execution of operations.
This neural network starts with the same front propagation as a feed-forward network but then goes on to remember all processed information to reuse it in the future. If the network's prediction is incorrect, then the system self-learns and continues working toward the correct prediction during backpropagation.
This type of ANN is frequently used in text-to-speech conversions.
Convolutional neural networks (CNNs)
CNNs are one of the most popular models used today. This computational model uses a variation of multilayer perceptrons and contains one or more convolutional layers that can be either entirely connected or pooled. These convolutional layers create feature maps that record a region of the image that's ultimately broken into rectangles and sent out for nonlinear processing.
The CNN model is particularly popular in the realm of image recognition. It has been used in many of the most advanced applications of AI, including facial recognition, text digitization and NLP. Other use cases include paraphrase detection, signal processing and image classification.
Deconvolutional neural networks
Deconvolutional neural networks use a reversed CNN model process. They try to find lost features or signals that might have originally been considered unimportant to the CNN system's task. This network model can be used in image synthesis and analysis.
Modular neural networks
These contain multiple neural networks working separately from one another. The networks don't communicate or interfere with each other's activities during the computation process. Consequently, complex or big computational processes can be performed more efficiently.
Advantages of artificial neural networks
Artificial neural networks offer the following benefits:
- Parallel processing abilities. ANNs have parallel processing abilities, which means the network can perform more than one job at a time.
- Information storage. ANNs store information on the entire network, not just in a database. This ensures that even if a small amount of data disappears from one location, the entire network continues to operate.
- Non-linearity. The ability to learn and model nonlinear, complex relationships helps model the real-world relationships between input and output.
- Fault tolerance. ANNs come with fault tolerance, which means the corruption or fault of one or more cells of the ANN won't stop the generation of output.
- Gradual corruption. This means the network slowly degrades over time instead of degrading instantly when a problem occurs.
- Unrestricted input variables. No restrictions are placed on the input variables, such as how they should be distributed.
- Obsevation-based decisions. Machine learning means the ANN can learn from events and make decisions based on the observations.
- Unorganized data processing. Artificial neural networks are exceptionally good at organizing large amounts of data by processing, sorting and categorizing it.
- Ability to learn hidden relationships. ANNs can learn the hidden relationships in data without commanding any fixed relationship. This means ANNs can better model highly volatile data and non-constant variance.
- Ability to generalize data. The ability to generalize and infer unseen relationships on unseen data means ANNs can predict the output of unseen data.
Disadvantages of artificial neural networks
Along with their numerous benefits, neural networks also have some drawbacks, including the following:
- Lack of rules. The lack of rules for determining the proper network structure means the appropriate artificial neural network architecture can only be found through trial, error and experience.
- Hardware dependency. The requirement of processors with parallel processing abilities makes neural networks dependent on hardware.
- Numerical translation. The network works with numerical information, meaning all problems must be translated into numerical values before they can be presented to the ANN.
- Lack of trust. The lack of explanation behind probing solutions is one of the biggest disadvantages of ANNs. The inability to explain the why or how behind the solution generates a lack of trust in the network.
- Inaccurate results. If not trained properly, ANNs can often produce incomplete or inaccurate results.
- Black box nature. Because of their black box AI model, it can be challenging to grasp how neural networks make their predictions or categorize data.
History and timeline of neural networks
The history of neural networks spans several decades and has seen considerable advancements. The following examines the important milestones and developments in the history of neural networks:
- 1940s. In 1943, mathematicians Warren McCulloch and Walter Pitts built a circuitry system that ran simple algorithms and was intended to approximate the functioning of the human brain.
- 1950s. In 1958, Frank Rosenblatt, an American psychologist who's also considered the father of deep learning, created the perceptron, a form of artificial neural network capable of learning and making judgments by modifying its weights. The perceptron featured a single layer of computing units and could handle problems that were linearly separate.
- 1970s. Paul Werbos, an American scientist, developed the backpropagation method, which facilitated the training of multilayer neural networks. It made deep learning possible by enabling weights to be adjusted across the network based on the error calculated at the output layer.
- 1980s. Cognitive psychologist and computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, along with computer scientist Yann LeCun, and a group of fellow researchers began investigating the concept of connectionism, which emphasizes the idea that cognitive processes emerge through interconnected networks of simple processing units. This period paved the way for modern neural networks and deep learning.
- 1990s. Jürgen Schmidhuberand Sepp Hochreiter, both computer scientists from Germany, proposed the Long Short-Term Memory recurrent neural network framework in 1997.
- 2000s. Geoffrey Hinton and his colleagues pioneered RBMs, a sort of generative artificial neural network that enables unsupervised learning. RBMs opened the path for deep belief networks and deep learning algorithms.
It wasn't until around 2010 that research in neural networks picked up great speed. The big data trend, where companies amass vast troves of data and parallel computing gave data scientists the training data and computing resources needed to run complex artificial neural networks. In 2012, a neural network named AlexNet won the ImageNet Large Scale Visual Recognition competition, an image classification challenge. Since then, interest in artificial neural networks has soared and technology has continued to improve.
Generative adversarial networks and transformers are two independent machine learning algorithms. Learn how the two methods differ from each other and how they could be used in the future to provide users with greater outcomes. | <urn:uuid:1d83ccc1-6d62-4f37-881b-cd198efc04ff> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/definition/neural-network | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.932746 | 2,569 | 3.828125 | 4 |
Familial hypercholesterolemia is a disease that is commonly inherited and characterized by a dysfunction in cholesterol metabolism. The disease results in higher-than-normal levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which many people may know as the “bad cholesterol”. This happens due to an impaired function of LDL receptors due to a genetic defect. There are typically five ways in which the LDL receptor is dysfunctional: the LDL receptor is not synthesized, the LDL receptor is not expressed on the cell surface because of improper transport, the LDL receptor does not bind to LDL, the LDL receptor does not properly cluster in clathrin-coated pits for endocytosis, or the LDL receptor is not recycled back to the cell surface. All of these lead the way to higher-than-normal levels of LDL. With familial hypercholesterolemia, there is a lifetime exposure to LDL that can cause complications from an early age. This disease state is not rare, but it is oftentimes missed, and an early diagnosis and treatment can prevent the complications such as the development of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Manifestations of familial hypercholesterolemia usually begin in adulthood, but the clinical effects can be seen earlier in life which is why diagnosis early on is very important. Being able to identify and treat the disease early is key to preventing complications and death. Many barriers exist in the diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia including mistaking other coronary artery disease risk factors for familial hypercholesterolemia factors, which can leave the disease undiagnosed for several generations. Cascade screening is a method in which providers screen for familial hypercholesterolemia in first- and second-degree relatives of patients that are diagnosed, but this method can still miss some individuals. The diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia is based on lipid levels, family history, physical findings, and genetic analysis. The physical findings can include tendon xanthomas, tuberous xanthomas, arcus corneae, or xanthelasma. It is important to note that these physical findings may not be present in those who have familial hypercholesterolemia and that they help aid in the differential diagnosis. There are three well-defined tools that are currently used to diagnose familial hypercholesterolemia: The US Make Early Diagnoses Prevent Early Deaths Program Diagnostic Criteria (MEDPED), The Dutch Lipid Clinic Network Diagnostic Criteria, and The Simon Broome Register Diagnostic Criteria.
The treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia should optimally start early, but as it is underdiagnosed it is often treated later in life. Long-term drug treatment can reduce or even eliminate the lifetime risk of coronary heart disease. In addition to lifestyle modifications, statins are the initial drug choice for all adults with familial hypercholesterolemia and children eight years or older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Statins increase the expression of LDL receptors by reducing HMG-CoA reductase. It is important to note that the low potency statins are usually not enough to treat this disease and moderate to high potency statins should be used. Combination therapy will most likely need to be employed in many patients. There are now novel drugs on the market to treat familial hypercholesterolemia including a recently approved monoclonal antibody, evinacumab-dgnb, under the brand name Evkeeza. The indication is for an injectable add-on therapy for patients 12 years of age and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The FDA designated Evkeeza as an orphan drug meaning that it is considered a breakthrough therapy design for rare diseases.
2. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. FDA approves add-on therapy for patients with genetic form of severely. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-approves-add-therapy-patients-genetic-form-severely-high-cholesterol-0. Accessed January 18, 2022.
3. Surma S, Romańczyk M, Filipiak KJ. Evinacumab - The new kid on the block. Is it important for cardiovascular prevention?. Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Risk Prev. 2021;11:200107. Published 2021 Sep 22. doi:10.1016/j.ijcrp.2021.200107 | <urn:uuid:8e4c2a49-47a9-49f0-9a3e-6abacf043736> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.the-socioesthetician-international.com/forum/pharm-d-candidate-appe/familial-hypercholesterolemia-evkeeza/dl-8d676aea-8772-434a-bb3d-28421edd818c | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.918124 | 931 | 3.40625 | 3 |
What you Need to Know?
You may be familiar with the concept of ‘fine motor skills’ which helps us move smaller muscles such as fingers, wrists, toes to help perform activities like grasping a pencil or tying shoe laces. Gross motor skills on the other hand help with larger movements like jumping, balancing and walking.
But what is motor planning? Here is an example: When we learned to wash our hands as young children, someone showed us how to do it. Eventually, our brain had to figure out how our body would physically do what we had been shown.
How would we move our arms and fingers to get the soap? How would we hold the soap in order to rub our hands on it? How far would we stand from the sink so that water didn’t splash everywhere? We also had to think about the order of all of these steps.
In the beginning, it was very hard. We had to do things very slowly. We had to constantly adjust what we were doing—scrub for longer or get closer to the sink. We paid a lot of attention to the process. And with corrections and help, we eventually were able to do it on our own.
Two things change dramatically once we really know how to wash our hands. We move much faster and are much more precise. We don’t need to pay as much attention to our actions. They become automatic. Our planning for the whole task is quick and efficient. And if we need to make corrections, we can do it easily.
Therefore the important skill is key to planning motor movement. It let us know, remember and perform small steps that make a particular movement or task happen.
Activities that Improve Motor Planning
When our children wander aimlessly, not knowing what to do next, or having play that doesn’t seem purposeful (such as knocking things over, throwing everything, etc.) it could be an indication that they have challenges with motor planning and sequencing.
Motor planning is tricky and involves 3 parts:
1. Ideation- Having an idea of what to do
2. Planning- Creating a course of action on how to do
3. Execution- carrying out the cognitive plan
So what do we do to target motor planning?
One area to strengthen is the ability to cross the midline. Crossing the midline refers to the ability of one side of the body to cross over to the other side of the body (i.e., using your right hand to reach over and pick something up off the floor on your left side). If your child is not able to effectively cross the midline, you may see challenges with scanning a room, reading a story and handwriting.
Activities that Focus on Crossing the Midline
Participating in a tug of warA fun game of tug of war encourages hands to midline, hands to cross the midline which is an excellent proprioceptive input.
Play with toy cars Draw a big road on a flattened cardboard box. The child can sit on the floor and drive the car along the road crossing the midline.
Relay racesLine up children shoulder to shoulder and pass the ball down the line from child to child or Line up children back to back. Pass the ball to each other keeping your backs touching.
Play cricket. Holding onto a bat and swinging at a ball, encourage the hands to cross the midline.
Participate in musical circle games. Certain musical games encourage children to maintain rhythm and cross the midline. Play hot potato but encourage to hold the ball with two hands at all times. Dance the hokey pokey.
Play clapping games. Clap tap is an interesting game which basically involves rhythm at the same time focuses on crossing midline.
Dig in the dirt or sandHave the child sit down, kneel or squat. Place a bucket on one side of the child and the shovel on the other side. Have the child dig and then rotate to place the dirt in the bucket. Do not let the child switch hands with the shovel when going to put the dirt in the bucket.
Play Simon Says. Use instructions and movement such as “put your right hand on your left shoulder” or “touch your left knee with your right hand”.
Another area to target is bilateral coordination.
Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body at the same time in a controlled and organized manner.
If your child has difficulty with bilateral coordination, you may see challenges with gross motor tasks such as walking, climbing and running and challenges with fine motor tasks such as dressing, eating and writing.
Activities That focus on Bilateral Coordination:
◘Roll play doh with a rolling pin
◘Catching and throwing a ball
◘Completing an obstacle course
◘Beating a drum
◘Using a knife and fork
◘Cutting with scissors
◘Doing up buttons
◘Using a ruler to draw a line
Lastly, and most importantly – we need integrated sensory input.
In order to have effective motor planning, we need to ensure that our sensory systems are working together. If the child’s vestibular system was over responsive, perhaps he would have difficulty moving his head in various positions to locate a toy or person because it would be too overwhelming for his sensory system.
◘Play dough, Foam painting
◘Heavy Work Activities: jumping, bouncing, rocking, pushing, pulling, being squished, ◘Sand and Water Play
◘Free play with mud
◘Tasting food activities | <urn:uuid:a37f3f56-206e-4fa8-8afe-8792a0562e9f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.theowlhousegoa.org/post/motor-planning-in-autism | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.945676 | 1,153 | 4.09375 | 4 |
If you ever saw the animated Disney TV show Recess, you may have a slightly skewed view of what a kindergartener looks like.
Of course, it’s not that horrific!
Kindergarten teachers undoubtedly play a vital role in a child’s education, helping to lay the foundation for their future learning and development. However, the path to becoming a teacher for this age group differs from some of the other ways you get access to teaching children.
So, here are some of the best steps you can take to become a kindergarten teacher.
Get a Bachelor’s Degree
Most states require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or another similar field to become a licensed kindergarten teacher. These programs typically focus on child development, curriculum planning, teaching methods, and classroom management.
There is even Canva for teachers online which can help you to train in this area and will help you learn about ways to collaborate in the classroom and beyond with young kids.
Complete a Teacher Preparation Program
In addition to obtaining a bachelor’s degree, you will need to complete a teacher preparation program that includes student teaching experience. This will provide you with hands-on experience working with young children and help you develop the skills you need to be an effective teacher. This, in the modern setting, will also likely involve a special educational needs portion, which will allow you to build on your ability to communicate with children who may have additional needs.
Obtain State Licensure
Once you have completed your education and teacher preparation program, you will need to obtain state licensure in order to teach in a public school. This typically involves passing a series of exams that test your knowledge of teaching methods, child development, and other related topics. These exams will usually involve a person standing at the back of the class while you teach and assessing your communication skills, as well as how you handle the classroom and answer questions. So, a bit intimidating, but it is not as bad as you may think!
While completing your education and licensure requirements, it’s a good idea to gain experience working with young children in a variety of settings. This can include volunteering at a local preschool or daycare, working as a nanny or babysitter, or even tutoring young children in your spare time. This will help you develop the skills and confidence you need to be an effective kindergarten teacher, as well as help you establish which rules you may think will help you to develop as someone who works with kids.
Continue Professional Development
Even after you become a kindergarten teacher, it’s important to continue your professional development by attending conferences, workshops, and other training opportunities. This will help you stay up-to-date on the latest teaching methods and strategies and ensure that you are providing your students with the best possible education.
It will also help you develop your skills relating to students who may have more specific needs, such as younger children who may have autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, or oppositional defiant disorder. | <urn:uuid:e8a911b6-267f-4871-abce-022d81a6f559> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.theproche.com/interested-in-teaching-kindergarteners/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.962711 | 621 | 2.90625 | 3 |
When archaeologists dig under the ground in search of the remnants of ancient societies, they typically expect to find objects made of stone or metal.
However, very occasionally, they unearth something much more rare and exciting – a piece of ancient food that has been miraculously preserved from the elements and survived thousands of years.
These discoveries are worth their weight in gold for archaeologists of the ancient world, offering a unique insight into diets and customs of the distant past that would be otherwise impossible to find.
Some of the oldest foods ever found have resisted decay for thousands of years. However, although they may get historians excited, it’s unlikely they will tempt modern diners.
2,000-Year-Old Pickled Fish
In 2012, marine archaeologists working in the Mediterranean discovered the remains of an ancient shipwreck near the town of Varazze on the Italian coast.
Believed to have been travelling from Italy to Spain around 2,000 years ago, this incredibly well preserved wreck included a cache of sealed jars containing grain, oil, wine and pickled fish.
Pickling was (and remains) a common way to preserve food, but it is unlikely that the Romans who pickled this fish anticipated that it would last for quite so long. The tightly sealed jars protected the fish from hungry sea creatures and decay.
2,400-Year-Old Flavored Oils
In a similar discovery, marine archaeologists excavating a wreck off the coast of the Greek island of Chios found a number of sealed jars with traces of olive oil flavored with oregano.
According to NBC News, the team investigating the finds believed that oregano and other herbs were often used to flavor and preserve oil in ancient Greek society, producing an early form of salad dressing. The amphora that contained the oil was particular to the ancient Greek culture of Chios, dating to around 2,400 years ago.
Lajia, also known as China’s Pompeii, was an ancient Chinese settlement on the Yellow River that suffered a series of natural disasters during the Bronze Age.
The rich sediment of this fertile area has proved invaluable to archaeologists, preserving organic matter and leaving behind tantalizing insights into ancient Chinese society.
In 2002, a bowl of noodles was discovered at the site, dating to around 4,000 years ago. According to National Geographic, this incredible find showed that the Chinese have been making noodles from millet for thousands of years, forming a crucial part of ancient diets.
While we might think of popcorn as a relatively modern snack, best enjoyed in front of a movie, the ancient Peruvians were clued into this treat thousands of years ago.
According to Live Science, archaeologists discovered evidence that people living on Peru’s northern coast in the 5th millennium BC ate corn in a wide variety of ways, including wrapping the cobs and placing them over hot coals in order to pop the kernels.
Many ancient husks of corn were found preserved at the two sites of Paredones and Huaca, dating to between 6,700 and 3,000 years ago.
3,000-Year Old Honey
Honey was a very important commodity for the ancient Egyptians, used as a foodstuff, in healing and also for embalming bodies before mummification. It may come as no surprise, therefore, that while excavating ancient pyramids in Egypt, archaeologists found many jars of honey.
Miraculously, however, this important foodstuff was still edible. Honey contains a number of natural preservatives that can give it an extremely long life, and according to National Geographic, the samples taken from the pyramids were still perfectly edible, even 3,000 years after it was first produced. | <urn:uuid:1eb359eb-2b5b-44c6-ab89-0a059ea2e703> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.thevintagenews.com/2019/05/01/oldest-foods/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.968263 | 758 | 3.453125 | 3 |
Why are swimming lessons important?
Swimming lessons have major health and safety benefits, not to mention the fact that swimming is really fun. Here are some of the many reasons swimming lessons are important:
- Life saving: Knowing how to swim can help you save your own life or the life of someone else. Prevent drowning by learning to swim.
- Improved health in seniors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that water-based exercise can decrease disability and maintain bone density in seniors.
- Good mental health: Swimming can improve moods in both men and women, according to the CDC. Swimming can help with depression, can create bonds in families and can promote mental wellness in pregnant women.
- Arthritis relief: Water-based exercise can ease joint and other physical pain in people suffering from arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Whole-body workout: Swimming works all your muscles — without the impact of a sport like running.
- Water safety: It’s important for swimmers of all ages to learn about water safety. Swim lessons provide the proper pool and water etiquette to help keep everyone safe and having fun.
At what age should you start swim lessons?
From 6 months to 96 years old, no one is too young or too old to benefit from swimming lessons. Once your baby is six months old, they are eligible to take “parent and me” swimming lessons from most swim schools. When babies are between six months and several years, you or another guardian must be with the baby throughout the entire lesson for safety reasons. Even if babies can’t walk, they quickly adapt to moving in water, so familiarizing them early means more fun for everyone and keeps them from being afraid of water later on. It also helps with water safety and drowning prevention. As for adults and seniors, it’s never too late to start swimming. Knowing how to swim can not only save your life, it provides an impact-free way to safely exercise and keep muscles and joints limber. Swimming can even help relieve pain from chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most swimming schools offer group or private instruction, so if you’re shy about learning a new skill, you can do so one-on-one.
How much are swimming lessons?
Not only is swimming fun, but knowing how to swim can save your life by preventing drowning. The average national cost for swimming lessons ranges between $40 and $50. Swimming lessons can vary in price depending the type and length of lesson you select. Private swimming lessons, where you receive one-on-one coaching with a swim instructor, will cost more than group lessons. The longer the lesson, the more it will cost. Swimming lessons are available for people of all ages, so if you’re an adult just learning to swim there are beginners’ classes suitable for you. There are also advanced classes for adults who are training for races or want to hone their skills. Pricing can vary depending on where you live as well as the amenities offered by the pool. For example, a pool with private locker rooms and a hot tub may have higher rates than a basic swimming pool. Here are some examples of the average costs of adult swimming lessons:
- Private lessons for adults:
- 30-minute lesson: $35-$50.
- 60-minute lesson: $55-$80.
- Group lessons for adults:
- Ongoing 60-minute lessons: $90-$110 per month.
- 60-minute drop-in lesson: $25-$40 each.
How do you prepare for infant swimming lessons?
There are several steps you can take to prepare both yourself and your baby for the exciting adventure of infant swimming lessons. Start by introducing your baby to being in the water via the bathtub. There are no immunizations specific to swimming that your child needs before playing in a public pool, but do research to confirm the pool is well-maintained and has a clean bill of health. You’ll need the right swim gear; proper attire can include swim diapers and protective swim pants. Be prepared to check regularly and change soiled diapers as needed. The CDC warns against allowing your child in a public pool if they have any symptoms of diarrhea; swim diapers and swim pants can’t protect against transmission of germs in this case. For outdoor pools, apply water-resistant sunscreen to the delicate skin on your baby’s face and body approximately 30 minutes before pool time to prevent burns. For the health of your baby and other children, it’s important for your child to be in good health when attending swim lessons. If they have a cold or fever, it’s better to keep them home. Finally, be prepared to have fun.
How early can babies start swimming?
Most swimming instructors and swim schools offer infant swimming starting at six months. Although it is not formal swimming, the lessons familiarize your baby with moving in the water, and also teach you the basics of keeping your baby safe in the water. You or another guardian will stay with the baby in the water throughout the entire lesson.
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend formal swim instruction until one year old, but taking your infant to regular swim class can be fun, safe and helpful for developing baby’s coordination and awareness of water. Experts urge parents not to become overconfident in their children’s water skills. Keep in mind that most children aren’t really able to swim on their own until they’re at least four years old. Even if they’ve had swim lessons, always watch younger children when they’re in the water and be ready to react in case of an emergency.
How much are swimming lessons for babies?
Swimming lessons for babies and young toddlers will vary in price depending on where you live, whether you pay a monthly or a drop-in rate, how long the lesson is, and whether it is group instruction or a private lesson. Many swim schools start providing lessons to babies starting at six months of age and older, although there are some locations that have infant classes for two- to five-month-olds. Swimming lessons for babies are typically less expensive than swimming lessons for adults. Learning to swim takes practice and repeat exposure, so many schools offer monthly tuition, which allows your child to attend at least one group class per week. Higher tuition can be paid for unlimited monthly group classes. An average price range for monthly group swimming lessons for babies may be between $50 and $95, depending on rates in your region and how often your child attends. Average drop-in fees for infant group swimming lessons can range between $15 and $25, depending on the school. Average drop-in fees for private instruction may range between $30 and $60. Average monthly tuition for private instruction could range from $150 to $250 or more, depending on the swimming school. Most swimming lessons for young children and infants are 30 minutes long. | <urn:uuid:b42b1bd8-0aff-4e5c-b743-a0e81db71f18> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.thumbtack.com/ny/valley-stream/swimming-lessons | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.956539 | 1,457 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Music is not just an art form for people who can hear.
In addition to the way pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and so on are heard, these qualities can also be expressed physically, which can help bring a performance to life. Through the lens of American Sign Language, musical expression can be greatly enhanced. In order to do this, Deaf and Hard of Hearing performers and creatives must be brought to the forefront of the conversation.
This was brought to Broadway by the 2016 Revival of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s Musical Spring Awakening, produced by Deaf West Theatre, which describes itself as the “artistic bridge between the Deaf and hearing worlds.”
This production featured both deaf and hearing actors and was made to be understood by both deaf and hearing audiences. Hence, both ASL and captions were used alongside the music/dialogue. Deaf actors played deaf characters, who signed all of their lines and were shadowed by a hearing actor who sang and spoke their lines and represented inner dialogue. Hearing actors also signed while singing or speaking.
The already tragic story of Spring Awakening speaks of the treachery that can result from miscommunication and miseducation. The inclusion of deaf actors playing deaf characters only enhances these themes, as the communication barrier between the deaf and hearing characters adds a whole new layer of miscommunication. Director Michael Arden makes a point to connect the adult’s refusal to share information with their children to the Second International Congress on Education of the Deaf of 1880 that occurred in Milan. This conference led to a decision that forbade the use of sign language in the classroom and essentially refused education to deaf students.
Hundreds of rehearsals were required to help the cast understand the piece’s musicality since some of the performers could not hear the music to begin with. Choreographer Spencer Liff, and ASL consultants/translators Elizabeth Green, Anthony Natale, and Shoshana Stern worked together to translate the English text into ASL in a manner that preserved the rhythms. The ASL translations and corresponding choreography physically embodied the music– from tone quality to tempo articulation volume, and so on. This allowed Deaf performers to embody the music and made it accessible to the deaf community. In order to keep in time with the audible music, hearing actors would use small movements ranging from folding their arms, looking over, or brushing against someone, to cue the deaf actors to begin signing, and reinforce the connection between the music being heard and the music being visualized.
In addition to portraying the music physically, the emotional fabric of the music was portrayed through ASL, as the incredible deaf actors’ movements were loaded with nuance in their facial language and overall body positions and movements. This went beyond just showing the musical structure, but the emotional weight the composer filled his music with.
While it’s important to recognize this musical’s success in making music accessible to the deaf community, we must also acknowledge its shortcomings. The use of SIMCOM, which is simultaneously signing and speaking, gives precedence to sung/spoken English, as the actor’s expression matches their speaking pattern instead of the ASL translation. This makes the ASL more difficult to understand. Yet there could be a solution to this. In the same way that deaf actors had hearing actors shadow them, hearing actors could have deaf actors shadowing and signing for them, therefore ensuring a musical experience for all to enjoy.
Deaf West’s Spring Awakening is only a starting point for the musical experiences that can be created with ASL and the inclusion of the deaf community. As culturally responsible musicians, going forward we must keep this in mind as we make our way through the performance world. We must be willing to learn how to share our art with all audiences.
Watch a clip from Deaf West's Spring Awakening! | <urn:uuid:892f2709-d157-4587-8305-566b0c07e2fb> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.tunesforkidz.org/post/soundless-music-musical-expression-through-sign-language | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.970691 | 792 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Study aims to improve health for All of UsPublished on Monday, June 20, 2022By: Karen BascomThe answers to some of the biggest questions facing medicine and health won’t come from an individual, a lab, or even a whole university. It’s going to take All of Us.The University of Mississippi Medical Center is an enrollment site of the All of Us Research Program, a National Institutes of Health initiative to collect health information from 1 million Americans. Its goal is to create one of the largest, most diverse datasets in history, allowing scientists to study all of the factors that influence health and accelerate progress towards preventing, treating and curing diseases.MahajanDr. Gouri Mahajan, co-principal investigator for UMMC’s All of Us site, said that one of the study’s main goals is advance precision medicine: “medicine that works explicitly for that patient,” she said.“In medicine, we see that one size does not fit all,” said Mahajan, the director of the UMMC Biobank.For instance, hypertension is one of the most common health conditions in adults. Habits, genetics and the presence of other diseases all affect the risk of developing high blood pressure. It also has a myriad of treatments, from diet and exercise to dozens of approved medications. A doctor and patient could go through rounds of interventions, trying to find one that works. Precision medicine can take out the guesswork, save a patient’s time and well-being, and identify the best treatment first.The size of All of Us also allows researchers to ask and answer meaningful questions about common and rare health conditions and their relationship to genetics. All of Us seeks to advance pharmacogenetics, the understanding of how and individual’s DNA influences a drug’s effectiveness. In practice, this could mean a patient “receiving a list of drugs that might be best for their condition,” when many options are available, Mahajan said.Mahajan became co-PI of UMMC’s All of Us study site January 2022. She also leads UMMC’s separate biobanking and precision medicine-oriented study in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, Biobank Mississippi. Dr. Richard Summers, associate vice chancellor for research, is the other Co-PI for UMMC’s All of Us site.The NIH announced All of Us in 2015 and started enrolling participants in 2018. Intended to run for at least 10 years, the study has enrolled 500,000 people nationally. About 340,000 of them have provided their data and specimens. UMMC has enrolled more than 2800 people through its Jackson-based sites and hopes to reach their goal of 3,935 by 2023.UMMC’s original plan was to enroll about 9,300 people, or 10 percent of the University of Alabama at Birmingham-led Southern All of Us Network goal. Thanks to good planning and strong support from the NIH, UMMC was making decent progress, until COVID-19.Cofer“Nobody counted on a pandemic,” said Kristi Cofer, manager of operations for All of Us at UMMC.Visitor restrictions hampered national recruitment efforts and made it harder to enroll participants and collect specimens. Now, UMMC and other participating groups are ramping up recruitment once again.To reach their goals, the UMMC team has hired participant recruiters and other staff to work at information tables and the study’s clinical sites at the Jackson Medical Mall and the Outpatient Clinical Research Unit in the University Rehabilitation Center.Participants can register and consent to All of Us fully online though a website or a mobile app. The process takes “up to one hour,” Cofer said.During the 20-minute physical appointment, participants have their height, weight, waist, hips and blood pressure measured. They also provide urine and blood samples, which researchers can use to measure biomarkers like glucose or protein levels. The blood is also a source of DNA, which can reveal if a person has genetic variants that change their risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer or other conditions.“Blood is a mirror for health,” Mahajan said.Using the All of Us website, participants provide information about their personal and family medical history, habits, and environment.One of the ways the study engages participants is by making their health data available for personal viewing and use. For example, participants can choose if they want to receive data back from the study about their genetics or if they want to share it with their physician.“If you’re flagged in the genetic screen [for a variant that may affect your health] and you have consented to sharing your data, participants have the option of sharing their study results with their preferred provider to create a more specific approach to their healthcare,” Cofer said.Earlier this year, the NIH announced that nearly 100,000 whole genome sequences collected through All of Us are available for researchers. About half of these come from people who are members of ethnic or racial minority groups.Mahajan says All of Us’ commitment to participant diversity makes UMMC a valuable recruitment site. The Medical Center’s patient population includes more rural, low-income and non-white patients than other research-oriented hospitals, which makes it easier to recruit a diverse cohort representing groups with historically low participation in clinical research studies.Regardless of demographics, “Sometimes people run away from the prospect of being in a research study,” Mahajan said. “They ask, ‘What is the government going to do with the data?’”While the health data collected through All of Us puts a high focus on data security. The scientists who access this data for research cannot see participants’ names or other personally identifying information. Participants can opt-in to a consent process that shares information collected through the exam and questionnaire with your physician.“The participant’s information is private until they choose to share,” Cofer said.In terms of recruitment, “We’re really focused on reaching UMMC employees and students,” Mahajan said, not only as participants, but also as ambassadors. “We’d also like to get more physician involvement and use that physician-patient trust to build awareness of the study.”The team is planning lunch and learn sessions to increase knowledge of the study across campus. Cofer said that All of Us is working on building a presence at community health centers, health fairs and UMMC-affiliated clinics across Mississippi to reach more potential participants.While the personal time commitment for participants is short, the size and scope of the study mean that tangible results will be years, if not decades, away.The All of Us Research Program is open to people 18 or older living in the United States. For details or to enroll, go to https://allofus.nih.gov/ or call (601) 815-5073. | <urn:uuid:b7ecd481-4356-4fe3-8db9-c34c5b6862e6> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.umc.edu/news/News_Articles/2022/06/All-of-Us.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.94268 | 1,449 | 2.734375 | 3 |
When you have an electrical issue at home, you cannot go wrong by calling a residential electrician in The Woodlands. However, there are so many DIYs out there that you might be thinking you should go ahead and give them a go. You choose not to go with a electrician in The Woodlands and instead try an approach to electrical maintenance yourself. To help you get started, Unity Services thinks you should invest in a digital multimeter.
A multimeter does not fix anything, but it does help you test the things that need fixing. A residential electrician in The Woodlands suggests spending the ten dollars, and you can measure the following:
· Electrical resistance
Of any circuit in your home. They are simple to use but look kind of intimidating.
Understanding Your Multimeter Dial According to an electrician in The Woodlands
The best electrician in The Woodlands says that the multimeter will have a dial to pick what sort of measurement you want to take. Voltage indicators are labeled as DCV for direct current voltage and ACV for alternating current voltage. You’ll use the former to test batteries and the latter to test outlets, fixtures, appliances, and electronics.
When you measure resistance, you will look for the omega symbol shaped like a horseshoe, according to a residential electrician in The Woodlands. Resistance tells you if the current is flowing well. Most multimeters will also measure amperage. Some will measure temperature, direct current gain, or special functions for testing batteries.
Plugging in the Probes Advice from an Electrician in The Woodlands
An electrician in The Woodlands says that while you can get readings from the multimeter itself, you can only test sources with the probes. You should have at least three ports for probes labeled with “COM,” “mA” and “10ADC”.
· COM- stands for joint and where you plug in the black probe
· mA- is where the red probe goes to measure current or voltage less than 100 milliamps
· 10 ADC- for measuring the big stuff
When in doubt, use the 10 ADC.
Using Your Multimeter
Make sure to read all the directions before using your multimeter, advises an electrician in The Woodlands. Plugging probes into the wrong things could cause a fire. Once you are familiar with the device, you can use it to check the battery life of many things in your home and if the outlets are working.
Exploring the voltage in your electronics and home electrical system using a multimeter to determine issues can be a great way to learn about electricity. An experienced residential electrician in The Woodlands reminds us that safety is always first. If you should encounter an issue you are unsure about, contact Unity Services in The Woodlands to solve any issue at any time.
“We Are Unity”
Unity Services provides a broad range of electrical services to meet the needs of our client base, from minor lighting repair in The Woodlands to large jobs requiring a master electrician in The Woodlands, as we currently have one master electrician on staff. Unity Services has a solution, and we know how to get the job done in a timely, professional, and cost-effective manner.
Unity Services is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergency service. Our electrical repair company in The Woodlands provides clients with expert knowledge that’s just a phone call away. Our electricians will ask a few questions and work with you to quickly solve the issue. | <urn:uuid:450cddef-a533-425a-8373-5fc0ec59e900> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.unityservices.team/post/woodlands-electrician-multimeter-advice | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.938064 | 730 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Universal design of self-service machines
When you buy or lease a self-service machine, you want as many people as possible to be able to use it. This is the case whether it is a payment terminal, a vending machine, or a ticket machine. The design and placement of the self-service machines must take account of the fact that users have different abilities and needs.
What is a self-service machine?
A self-service machine facilitates self-service. The regulations define a self-service machine as follows:
Self-service machine: A machine or other device exclusively operated by the user in
order to purchase a product or for the execution of a service.
There are self-service machines for many different purposes. Examples of self-service machine include:
- Payment terminals
- ATMs and deposit machines
- Vending machines
- Ticket machines
- Queuing systems
- Check-in terminals
Self-service machines - accessibility for everyone (2 minutes)
Why should self-service machines be universally designed?
The purpose of self-service machines is to ensure that those who use them can be served quickly and efficiently without assistance. Universal design is intended to ensure that no one is unable to use such solutions. Besides, more people being able to use their services is of benefit to organisations.
Vision, hearing, physical size, mobility, and cognitive abilities vary from person to person. The design and placement of the self-service machine must take account of this. For example, someone with poor vision will need large, clear writing, good contrast, and an operating panel/screen with good lighting conditions and no glare or reflections. Someone who is severely visually impaired or blind will need tactile labels and the option of audio feedback. Some users have problems reaching up to self-service machines because they have been placed too high up. Other users may be pushing a buggy or sitting in a wheelchair and unable reach the self-service machine.
If your organisation uses a self-service machine, you must make sure that you order one that takes these variations into account and satisfies the universal design requirements. You must also ensure that the self-service machine is suitably located so that it is easy to find and everyone can use it.
Requirements for self-service machines
The standards the regulations refer to are starting to show their age. This means that they set few requirements for newer functions in self-service machines, such as touchscreens.
The Authority is working on updated regulations for the universal design of self-service machines. Work on the regulations will proceed in parallel with the EU’s European Accessibility Act (EAA) being enacted in Norwegian law by the end of June 2022 (in Norwegian).
EN 301 549:2019 Accessibility requirements for ICT products and services (etsi.org, external page) is expected to become a harmonised standard for the European Accessibility Act.
The Authority recommends that organisations planning to develop or introduce new self-service machines should follow the requirements in EN 301 549:2019, even though these are not currently statutory requirements.
The current regulations refer to the following standards:
- CEN/TS 15291:2006 (Standards Norway, external page) - Identification Card Systems - Guidance on design for accessible card-activated devices.
- NS-EN 1332-1:2009 (Standards Norway, external page) - Identification Card Systems - Human-machine interface - Part 1: Design principles for the user interface.
- NS-EN 1332-2:1998 (Standards Norway, external page) - Identification Card Systems - Man-machine interface - Part 2: Dimensions and location of a tactile identifier for ID-1 cards.
- NS-EN 1332-3:2008 (Standards Norway, external page) - Identification Card Systems - Man-machine interface - Part 3: Keypads (Withdrawn, replaced by NS-EN 1332-3:2020 (Standards Norway – external page)).
- NS-EN 1332-4:2007 (Standards Norway, external page) - Identification Card Systems - Man-machine interface - Part 4: Coding of user requirements for people with special needs.
- NS-EN 1332-5:2006 (Standards Norway, external page) - Identification Card Systems - Man-machine interface - Part 5: Raised tactile symbols for differentiation of application on ID-1 cards.
- NS-EN ISO 9241-20:2009 (Standards Norway, external page) - Ergonomics of human-system interaction - Part 20: Accessibility guidelines for information/communication technology (ICT) equipment and services (ISO 9241-20:2008 (Withdrawn, replaced by NS-EN ISO 9241-20:2021 (Standard Norway, external page)).
- ISO 20282-1:2006 (Standards Norway, external page) - Ease of operation of everyday products -- Part 1: Design requirements for context of use and user characteristics.
- ISO/TS 20282-2:2006 (Standards Norway, external page) - Ease of operation of everyday products -- Part 2: Test method for walk-up-and-use product (Withdrawn, replaced by ISO/TS 20282-2:2013 (Standards Norway, external page)).
- ISO/TR 22411:2008 (Standards Norway, external page) - Ergonomics data and guidelines for the application of ISO/IEC Guide 71 to products and services to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities (Withdrawn, replaced by ISO/TR 22411:2021 (Standards Norway, external page)). | <urn:uuid:93db63d8-1fa2-487c-a738-5af984610609> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.uutilsynet.no/english/universal-design-self-service-machines/911 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.897116 | 1,164 | 2.609375 | 3 |
The advent of the internet has made the world smaller and brought along with it are amazing developments, one of which is e-commerce.
E-commerce simply refers to the business of buying and selling over the internet. That is, commercial transactions and activities conducted online. It is an industry that started technically in the 1960s but did not fully take off until the early 1990s.
E-commerce has grown in leaps and bounds since then. Its popularity is aided by the ease with which transactions are conducted. A buyer does not have to visit a store physically to purchase a product. Right from the comfort of their homes, they can order and get it delivered.
Also, it transcends continents and time zones. People buy products from all over the world irrespective of where they are located. These all brought to the fore by the power of the internet.
Aside from the buyer, there are advantages to the sellers too. A seller does not need to physically own a store to sell, neither does the seller need to know the buyer.
Their relationship is strictly transactional. This innovation gives the seller more coverage as more people have access to see available products which translates to more potential customers.
Ecommerce is an industry that keeps growing at about 23% year-on-year. It is a huge industry and as per this graph here, e-commerce retail sales are expected to top $4.2 trillion in 2020.
Asides been a huge industry in the financial sense, e-commerce is also huge when it comes to the participants and players in the sector. The main players are the platforms, the sellers or merchants and the buyers. Every one of these groups of people is important.
Without the buyer, there will be no e-commerce transactions and if there are no merchants or sellers, what will the buyers buy? The merchants also need e-commerce platforms especially the huge ones to sell their wares.
Think of it as a traditional market. The e-commerce platforms are the market place, the sellers get “stalls” on the platform while the buyers come to the market (which is the platform) visiting different “stalls” to buy from the merchants.
Amazon as an E-commerce Platform
One of the several available platforms is Amazon. Situated in Seattle, Washington, United States, it is the largest e-commerce platform and online marketplace in the world. I
t is part of the big four US corporations including Apple, Google, and Facebook. Amazon started in 1994 by selling books online but later expanded to other items like electronics, food, jewelry, furniture, games, etc. By revenue, it is the world’s largest internet company.
One way Amazon has been able to achieve this is through having a platform with a wide reach and partnerships with several merchants and other partners who help in the whole transactional value chain.
It is an established online business that has its roots and reaches firmly entrenched, not only in the US economy, but also in several countries of the world including Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Japan, China, India, Brazil, Australia, etc. and it is still expanding.
Other countries where Amazon is not physically located also use the platform extensively both in selling and in buying products.
Although Amazon is involved in several other enterprises asides e-commerce, we will stick to its e-commerce segment in this article.
You can read all about Amazon here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_(company).
Individuals and businesses can become merchants who sell on Amazon. However, becoming a merchant on the platform does not automatically translate to success. There are challenges associated with becoming a seller and maintaining a business on the platform.
This is mainly due to the level of competition from different merchants who may be selling the same types of products.
Other challenges that a merchant my face include stock and inventory issues, sourcing products at good prices, lack of positive reviews, complicated procedures and fees.
Thankfully, there are those who have mastered the art of succeeding on a platform like Amazon.
For anyone thinking of selling on Amazon, wisdom dictates that you first learn the ropes from these ones.
There are a number of ways that these lessons can be learnt and one of them is through an established course like Amazing Selling Machine.
What is the Amazing Selling Machine?
This is a complete, step by step online training program and live event that teaches entrepreneurs both fundamental and advanced strategies for starting, running and growing their businesses by selling products and building a brand while leveraging on the power and reach of Amazon.
ASM, as it is fondly called, helps business owners to overcome the several challenges one may face while selling on Amazon and to avoid the pitfalls that are littered all along the way.
It was founded and developed by Matt Clark and Jason Katzenback while the trio of Rich Henderson, Mike McClary, and Dan Ashburn do the actual teaching.
A lot of people don’t know where to begin selling on Amazon, what to sell or how much to invest. The Amazing Selling Machine program provides information that helps anyone overcome these hurdles and obstacles.
Wondering where to begin? Start by registering for the course. There are many advantages to doing this. From insights into how e-commerce works to lessons on how to sell, what to sell, branding your business, things to do and also things to avoid on Amazon, etc. There is also mentoring involved and a support group and community to help when you are stuck.
As easy as it seems, selling on an e-commerce platform or website like Amazon is tough. There are several merchants and different options for buyers.
You are on the platform to make a profit and thus you need to be able to sell your products regularly. This will not just happen since it requires some level of knowledge, skill, and expertise.
That is what the Amazing Selling Machine does for you. It is a comprehensive course that is easy to follow and helps anyone even without experience succeed at starting and running a business on Amazon.
All you need, apart from taking the course, is to be driven and motivated. To get a better understanding of this course, you can read a comprehensive ASM review at Best Training Review’s of Amazing Selling Machine review.
This course is guaranteed to give you the best results if you put in the necessary work. The only drawback to it is the cost. If you can afford it, then it is worth it.
At the end of the day, it is not one of those cheap, run of the mill type of courses that promise so much but deliver so little or nothing at all.
Amazing Selling Machine has changed many lives. You only need to read the testimonials and hear from people that have participated to confirm this. | <urn:uuid:5a4f10fb-a5f4-4621-bcdc-c78744c2b678> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.vineetgupta.net/amazing-selling-machine-course/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.963174 | 1,400 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Senegal ranks 130 out of 162 countries in the Gender Inequality Index, where a high rank equals high equality. Women should always be considered as a particularly vulnerable group though.
Senegal has a Workplace Index score of 5.2, a Marketplace Index score of 5.7 and a Community and Environment Index score of 4.4 in the Children’s Rights and Business Atlas, where countries receive scores between 0 and 10. A score closer to 0 reflects a need for basic children’s rights due diligence, while a higher score reflects a need for enhanced or heightened due diligence. Children should always be considered as a particularly vulnerable group though.
Persons with Disabilities
Due to differences in data collection and definitions it is difficult to compare countries on disability prevalence rates. Persons with disabilities should always be considered as a particularly vulnerable group though.
Minorities and Indigenous Peoples
According to the World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples, the main minority groups in Senegal are Wolof (38.7 %), Pular/Peuhl (26.5 %), Serer (15 %), Mandinka (4.2 %), Diola/Jola (4 %), Soninke (2.3 %) and 9.3 % other (including Europeans and people of Lebanese descent). Although French is the official language, it is generally only spoken by the educated elite, and instead Wolof is most widely spoken, even by non-Wolof. Traditionally, Wolof are sedentary farmers. They are concentrated along the coast in the northern part of Senegal and most are Muslim. Serer are concentrated in western Senegal and traditionally have farmed millet, rice and other agricultural products. Many are Roman Catholic. The Peuhl are concentrated in the more arid north and are traditionally pastoralists. A sub-group, the Toucouleur, are settled agriculturalists living primarily in the Senegal River valley of the north. Both groups speak Pulaar, although the Toucouleur speak a distinct dialect. Most Peuhl and Toucouleur are Muslim, but some practice traditional beliefs or a syncretic mix of the two. The Diola (Jola) are concentrated in the southern, forested Senegalese region of Casamance. The Bassari are a numerically small ethnic group of around 8,800 concentrated in south-eastern Senegal, in addition to populations across the border in north-eastern Guinea. Bassari are more closely linked to groups in Guinea’s rainforest than with Muslims of the savanna. They are primarily hunters and gatherers with only limited cultivation and no pastoralism. Due to the isolation of their villages, Bassari were generally afforded protection from slave raiders, mainly the Peuhl. Until recently Bassari maintained their traditional religious and decentralized political systems, with an isolationist attitude towards their stronger, centralized Muslim neighbours.
Lebanese make up less than one per cent of the population. Migrants from Lebanon and Syria (both are called Lebanese locally) began to arrive in West Africa, including Senegal, in the late nineteenth century. This flow grew rapidly between the two World Wars when Lebanon was under French domination, and there was another influx beginning in 1975 due to Lebanon’s civil war. They established themselves as merchants and later diversified into real estate, transportation and light industry. Lebanese have historically preferred to export their earnings rather than invest in Senegal, causing friction between the government and the Lebanese community.
According to the ILO Global Estimates on International Migrant Workers, migrant workers as a proportion of all workers is 3 % in the subregion Sub-Saharan Africa.
Persons in Armed Conflict
Senegal ranks 76 out of 179 countries in the Fragile States Index, where a high rank equals high fragility. For monthly crisis updates, check out CrisisWatch. | <urn:uuid:6a9568e8-1c67-4884-941f-2eda765b74c4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.vulnerablegroups.com/senegal | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.93791 | 793 | 2.84375 | 3 |
We are all familiar with the methods of waste disposal, but have you ever thought of how to get rid of liquid waste? After all, waste is not always solid, tangible trash. When we talk about waste and garbage, it can encompass all kinds of trash, including liquid.
Believe it or not, there are multiple ways to dispose of liquid waste. So when you rent a dumpster for solid waste, you can get rid of liquid garbage as well. In this blog, we will mention some common methods of getting rid of liquid waste.
Methods to Get Rid of Liquid Waste
Here are some ways to get rid of liquid waste:
Dewatering involves pumping the liquid waste into a sturdy bag, followed by removing the water. This way, only solid waste is left in the bag, which is usually acceptable in a landfill. As for the water, it will be filtered and treated as needed. Mostly, centrifugal dewatering and thickening are performed. In this process, a cylindrical vessel is used to generate centrifugal force. With dewatering, you can compact non-hazardous waste, making it suitable for disposal.
Just like dewatering, sedimentation separates water and solid waste. But rather than centrifugal force, this method makes use of gravitational force. The liquid waste is left in a sedimentation basin; the solid particles remain in suspension, given the liquid waste flows fastly. The design of the sedimentation basin, however, decreases the velocity. Gradually, the solid waste settles into the bottom layer of the sludge. This makes it convenient to remove the solids, leaving the sediment waste behind.
Another method is to turn liquid non-hazardous waste into compost, which is a relatively inexpensive method. Once the water and solid are separated, organic matter with valuable nutrients is left behind. This makes it possible for the facility to transform the solid material into organic fertilizer with the help of naturally occurring microorganisms. Composing, in the end, is a win-win!
4. Root-Zone Treatment
If your liquid waste involves domestic wastewater such as kitchen water, sink water, or bathroom shower, root-zone treatment might be an adequate choice.
This complex procedure involves sending liquid waste through a sedimentation tank followed by multiple filtration processes. In the end, the water meets the standards that make it safe for release into the environment.
Solidification is a method of turning liquid waste into, you guessed it, solid waste. Binding agents are added to the water until a compact, rigid, and easy-to-dispose-of solid waste is formed. The process might use lime ash, sawdust, gypsum, phosphate, and more. Solidification makes it convenient for companies to ship solid waste to landfills for further procedures.
Stabilization, too, is involved in solidification. By doing so, the chances of solid waste leaking hazardous components to the environment are significantly lowered.
In short, there are many ways to get rid of liquid waste, including dewatering, solidification, sedimentation, and more.
At Waste Solutions USA, we take the trash off your hands — literally. Rent our services for a safer and healthy environment! Dial (832) 808-4755 to get in touch with us. You can also visit us at 9655 Kerr Road, Brookshire, Texas 77423. | <urn:uuid:a934dfbe-c62f-440e-9422-218cbd8a3c4e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.wastesolutionsusa.com/how-to-get-rid-of-liquid-waste/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.92014 | 696 | 2.625 | 3 |
Outer Banks combat erosion with beach nourishment. Is it a sustainable long-term solution?
The U.S. coasts are eroding, and it’s happening faster because of climate change.
One way of mitigating that erosion is beach nourishment, which is the process of dredging up sand from out in the ocean and spreading it onto the beach. Officials in North Carolina say it’s a viable solution but others question whether it’s sustainable in the long run.
WUNC’s Celeste Gracia reports.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | <urn:uuid:430acc41-22a1-475e-b7b8-a072b20f679c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.wesa.fm/2022-05-13/outer-banks-combat-erosion-with-beach-nourishment-is-it-a-sustainable-long-term-solution | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.891363 | 145 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Spotlight on coronations
Understand the essential role that a small vessel and a spoon play in the most important part of the coronation service.
What is significant about an ampulla and spoon? Watch The Reverend Dr James Hawkey, Canon Theologian and Almoner, explain the most symbolic and sacred part of the coronation.
The most important moment in the coronation took place behind a newly designed screen by iconographer Aidan Hart. At the centre, the image of a tree included 56 leaves representing the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth. At the base of the tree is The King's cypher, representing the theme of his service seen throughout the coronation.
© Press Association
Of all the objects used within coronations, the ampulla and spoon are arguably the most important. They are required for the anointing, which is the most sacred part of the coronation service. Replicas of both objects are on display within the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries and have been used for hundreds of years.
The ampulla, shaped like an eagle, holds the consecrated oil with which the monarch is anointed. It was made for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661. Unlike the regalia that had to be remade in the 17th century, the spoon is the only item to survive Oliver Cromwell’s destruction of the sacred symbols of monarchy after the English Civil War. It dates back to the early 12th century, and is recorded among objects at the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey in an inventory of 1349.
Anointing is the moment when the archbishop places holy oil on to the head, heart or breast, and hands of the monarch. It is the only part of the coronation service that the congregation are not allowed to watch; during the televised coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, a canopy was held over the Queen as she was anointed to ensure it could not be seen.
The recipe for the holy oil is secret, but contains oils of orange flowers, roses, jasmine and cinnamon. It is consecrated by a bishop on the coronation day. This sacred blessing, using the ampulla and spoon, is at the heart of the Christian coronation service, demonstrating the connection between the monarch and God.
It’s a privilege to live and work here – the Abbey really is the heart of the country and its history. | <urn:uuid:2dc10f2e-c9cc-4ac8-83e3-f405e6565892> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.westminster-abbey.org/fr/history/coronations-at-the-abbey/spotlight-on-coronations/ampulla-and-spoon | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.950275 | 503 | 3.375 | 3 |
A duck tour is a land and sea sightseeing tour offered in many cities around the world. The distinguishing feature of the tour is the tour vehicle, a World War II-era amphibious vehicle known colloquially as a duck. The vehicle can drive right into the water and serve as a boat, which allows tourists and sightseers to be taken down city streets and along waterways without having to change vehicles.
General Motors first designed the DUKW amphibious vehicle in 1942. It served as an amphibious landing craft in World War II and played a major role in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. After the war, DUKW vehicles and their equivalents spread around the world for military and civilian applications such as use by search-and-rescue teams and supporting abalone fishermen.
Duck tours use a mixture of original WWII ducks, rebuilt ducks and modern duck-like amphibious tour buses. The name "duck tour" comes both from the amphibious nature of the vehicle as well as from the similarity between DUKW and duck. Modern duck vehicles typically seat about 30 people on bus-like bench seats. Although most duck vehicles have rain coverings, some riders experience a little bit of water spray when riding on rivers and lakes.
The first duck tours operated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, right after the end of World War II in 1946. Many cities that have significant bodies of water now feature duck tours, whether they are coastal cities or inland communities on lakes or rivers. Although the duck tour concept began in the United States, it has expanded globally, with operators now offering duck tours in countries such as Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Duck tour operators tend to run lighthearted tours featuring such things as a public address system loaded with sound effects and music clips. Many captains deliver joke-laden spiels, mixing comedy with standard tourist information. Participants in a duck tour should be ready for puns of varying quality, such as having a duck driven by a "conDUCKtor" or "quacking" up with laughter. Most duck tours last for one to two hours and highlight major tourist areas and historical sites. | <urn:uuid:b8af5504-8b6c-4ff3-b075-3386471c807f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.wisetour.com/what-is-a-duck-tour.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.951188 | 437 | 3.078125 | 3 |
One of the tools that New Jersey residents might use to settle the issues resulting from their divorce is mediation. However, for mediation to be successful, the mediator must be truly neutral, which is challenging when many of people’s biases are implicit and automatic. To truly help people, mediators must learn to both identify their bias before the sessions begin and then to actively work around such bias.
Mediation and bias
The goal of mediation is to help divorcing spouses settle their issues in a more amicable manner than going to court. In many cases, the mediator also helps the couple learn to communicate more effectively. A central aspect of mediation is the mediator’s neutrality, which means the mediator should listen to both sides impartially, give suggestions on how to address their issues and provide answers to questions they might have about their options and the process. If the mediator is unable to see their own implicit biases due to things such as gender, social class, identity or sexual orientation, for example, the success of the mediation process is threatened.
Avoiding bias during mediation
Mediators can learn to avoid their own biases during mediation sessions. To do this, they can practice several things:
- Being aware of the biases that might affect the mediation process
- Guiding the couple to find a common area to begin the negotiations
- Making the solution the goal and avoiding focusing on the problems
- Giving time and space to each party to present their side, without judgment or interruptions
- Solving problems creatively
Avoiding biases can be very challenging, but a prepared mediator will anticipate the impact that biases can have. The mediator can take notes during their sessions to keep all information clear and organized and to understand each side’s point of view. | <urn:uuid:46467aff-26cf-45aa-b926-9315fa4eb819> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.wksnjlaw.com/blog/2021/12/avoiding-bias-is-necessary-for-successful-mediation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.961998 | 364 | 2.984375 | 3 |
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is warning people about toads so poisonous that they could kill your animal.
Invasive cane toads are found primarily in the central and southern parts of Florida and they are very poisonous.
"If your pet bites or licks one, the consequences could be deadly," FWC said on Facebook.
According to experts, the venom affects the nervous system and could disrupt certain functions. The RSPCA says that an adult cane toad has enough toxin to kill an average-sized dog in 15 minutes.
The Telegraph reports that cane toads are so poisonous that they are responsible for killing a large number of crocodiles in Australia.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encourages landowners to kill cane toads on their own property whenever possible. They say "they are not protected in Florida except by anti-cruelty law and can be removed from private property year-round with landowner permission."
"Before humanely killing a toad, always make sure that you have correctly identified it as a cane toad," FWC said. "Native toad species are an important part of the ecosystem and are not harmful to people or pets so please be careful not to harm them."
FWC offered these tips on what to do about the invasive species:
HOW TO SPOT THEM
- Reddish-brown to grayish-brown with a light-yellow or beige belly
- Can be uniform in color or have darker markings around the body
- Enlarged glands behind the eyes, which angle downward onto the shoulders
- Glands secrete a potent milky-white toxin (bufotoxin) as defense against predators including domestic pets
- Range in size from 6 to 9 inches in length
IF YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH A CANE TOAD
- Thoroughly wash your hands
- Always wear latex, rubber or nitrile gloves to safely handle cane toads
SYMPTOMS YOUR PET MAY DISPLAY IF THEY COME IN CONTACT
- Difficulty breathing
- Foaming at the mouth
- Dilated pupils
- Increased heart rate
- Difficulty walking
IF YOUR PET BITES OR SWALLOWS A CANE TOAD
- Wash toxins forward out of mouth using a hose for ten minutes being careful not to direct water down the throat.
- Wipe gums/tongue with dish towel to remove toxins.
- Get your pet to the vet!
HOW TO KEEP CANE TOADS OFF YOUR PROPERTY
- Cut your grass regularly and keep it short
- Fill in any holes around structures
- Trim the underside of shrubs
- Keep branches or riprap off the ground
- Clear away brush piles
- Remove clutter | <urn:uuid:bc4bad7e-6e10-46ad-a233-ca86e4025a76> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.wogx.com/news/poisonous-toads-roaming-in-florida-could-be-deadly-for-your-pets | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.923149 | 579 | 3.109375 | 3 |
In divided America, one rural area in northern N.Y. struggles to find common ground
Across the U.S., we live in an era when school board meetings often erupt into battlegrounds, where church congregations unravel over flashpoint issues of race and gender.
But a few weeks ago, when a conservative town councilman named Gerry Delaney spoke at a public meeting about environmental issues in New York's Adirondack Park, he sounded a very different tone.
"There's different interests between the environmental groups and local government, but we all have a job to do and we all have to live together," said Delaney. "When there's a flood, a fire, a bad accident, we come together."
The audience in Elizabethtown, New York, which included local residents, environmental activists and government regulators, applauded.
What makes this peaceable moment remarkable is that it's increasingly common here. Once, New York's sprawling 6-million acre state-managed Adirondack Park was a battleground.
Warring interests squared off across familiar fault lines: urban versus rural and development versus the environment, people looking for compromise versus people itching for a fight.
But while much of the U.S. has grown more fractious and divided, communities and interest groups in this conservative-tilting region of small towns have found a way to build bridges.
"I think there's been a lot of good-faith effort on the part of people on both sides to try to talk things out," said historian Phil Terrie, whose book Contested Terrain: A New History of Nature and People in the Adirondacks is one of the landmark studies of the Park's politics.
The new message, Terrie said, is "don't yell at each other, try to talk to each other."
To understand how remarkable the civic experiment is that's now underway in northern New York, it's important to remember an era people describe as the "Adirondack Wars."
"An attempt to set the Park headquarters on fire"
Beginning in the 1970s, new environmental regulations raised local people's hackles and tensions rose over the next quarter century. In the early 1990s, a CBS cameraman captured a confrontation when a local government leader named Maynard Baker assaulted an environmental activist.
"Go back wherever you came from," Baker shouted. "Get out of here, out of our lives, out of our business."
In a lot of ways, the Adirondacks then resembled America today.
There were big problems — many involving environmental and economic challenges — that needed tackling, but people were on edge. Conspiracy theories and threats of violence were commonplace.
"There was an attempt to set the park agency headquarters on fire," Terrie said. "One of the park staff members had bullets flying around his car one day."
This was the situation inherited by then-Republican Gov. George Pataki, who took office in 1995.
"I had protesters and pickets all over the Adirondacks," Pataki recalled.
He said people living in the Park met him with a hostile message that outsiders were trying to "impose their will on us while we're trying to make a living."
A big new plan and a call for compromise
Then something happened that raised the environmental stakes and threatened to push tensions even higher.
Vast areas of privately owned timberland in the park started being offered for sale, with developers planning new resorts and waterfront vacation homes.
Some of the wildest places in the eastern U.S., including the upper Hudson River and pristine lakes, were threatened.
Pataki, a Republican, responded by unveiling a plan to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars blocking most development.
In his 2005 state of the state speech, he promised to conserve "over 900,000 acres, an area bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island."
The proposal was ambitious but also controversial, exactly the kind of big idea many people in the park feared might trigger more unrest and violence.
Pataki, who lives now much of each year in Essex, New York, one of the small towns inside the park, said his message to furious locals was simple.
"Give me a chance and I think we can make this work both for the environment and for the economy," he said.
An opening and a struggle for common ground
People here say that moment, and Pataki's leadership, started a gradual shift in the park's culture that's been underway now for nearly 20 years, creating an opening for a new generation of activists.
"Our agenda is simply to have civil discourse, to have collaboration, to change the tenor of the conversation and build trust," said Zoe Smith, an environmental activist who sits now on the board of the Adirondack Park Agency.
Smith is also part of an informal working group called the Common Ground Alliance that formed in the 2000s with one mission: to build bridges between warring factions.
She described the effort as exhausting but broadly successful. "It's been difficult. It's taken a lot of time and relationship building. There's a lot of long conversations that happen, phone calls after hours," Smith said.
Smith lives in Saranac Lake, New York, another small town nestled inside the park's vast boundaries, that now draws much of its vitality from outdoor recreation and tourism.
She said environmentalists like herself had to learn to balance their ambitious goals for the park's wild lands with the needs of communities. That meant compromise and patience.
"I've been on the ledge," Smith said, describing moments when sometimes it felt like the effort at finding common ground "is too difficult, this relationship is broken, this issue is too hard to face."
Dialogue in the age of Trump
People here say this work has been complicated by national forces tearing at America's civil society.
The park's small towns backed Donald Trump twice. Voters here have also given landslide victories to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik — a Trump ally who frequently amplifies conspiracy theories.
In other parts of the U.S., bitter divisions have shattered communities. But here many local government leaders like Gerry Delaney, who describes himself a Trump voter, have chosen to keep talking and negotiating.
"It does no good to tear our communities apart," Delaney said. "We're not going to win by fighting. As long as people are listening to us, we still have a chance."
A former logger and corrections officer, Delaney believes New York state blocked development on too much park land. Despite those concerns, he still works closely with environmentalists and regulatory officials trying to find areas of compromise where deals can be struck.
"We have to come together and find ... a path forward that everyone can accept," Delaney said.
In the end, local government leaders wound up supporting most of the big land conservation deals first proposed by Pataki.
In exchange, small towns in the Adirondacks received big pots of economic development money, funding for infrastructure, and some environmental rules were eased.
A hopeful experiment — and a national model?
Everyone interviewed for this story said the Adirondack experiment has been broadly successful.
The civic dialogue led to real progress. By many measures, the park's towns are more prosperous than they were 20 years ago.
So far, nearly a million acres of wild forest and lakes have been protected here with a lot of local buy-in and input.
But people also say the process is fragile and often messy. There are still regular disagreements and lawsuits and angry flare-ups on social media.
Still, Zoe Smith with the Common Ground Alliance said people here are committed to dialogue. They know how bad things can be when neighbors turn against neighbors.
"When you hear people talk about the Adirondack Wars, the Adirondack battles, there are very few people who want to engage in that again," Smith said. "People don't want to go back there, they remember it."
This effort in northern New York's small towns raises questions about what could be accomplished in other places, now bitterly divided, if people started talking again rather than making threats and shouting each other down.
Former Gov. Pataki, the man widely credited with starting this process, says he believes that's still possible but only with the kind of hard work of rebuilding trust that's happened here.
"I still think the majority of the American people want practical solutions as opposed to partisan or ideological solutions," Pataki said.
"But that's not what the media is feeding us, that's not what our political leadership is giving us and I think that has tragic consequences for the country."
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Some states are trying to boost youth voter registration. Here's what they're doing
Young voters have historically had the lowest voter registration and participation rates of any age group in the United States.
But in recent years, more states have adopted policies aimed at increasing voter registration, including among U.S. citizens newly of voting age.
Minnesota's Democratic governor, Tim Walz, signed a voting bill into law about three months ago that would make it easier for young people to register to vote — even before they turn 18.
"Because the issues impacting them — from access to medical care, to the climate, to other things — makes them understand the ballot is the most powerful thing we have," he said. "Your voice is in your ballot. And if you don't have access to that or it's made more difficult, your voice is stifled."
The hurdles for young people to register to vote
Compared with others, people coming of voting age face significant barriers to registering to vote, says Charlotte Hill, director of the Democracy Policy Initiative at UC Berkeley. Most young people aren't in the habit of interacting with the government by the time they are 18, and Hill notes young people move a lot.
"You can think back to being 18. You probably left your parents' house, you might have gone to college or started a new job somewhere," she said. "So even if you had been registered right when you turn 18 you have to register again just a handful of months later just to update that address."
Estrella Torres has spent a lot of time registering mostly young voters in Brownsville, Texas, for a group called Texas Rising. She says a lot of new voters are confused about what to do when it comes time to register to vote — which, Torres says, is why many of them don't register until years after they become eligible.
"Some do feel some sort of embarrassment like, 'Oh you know, I'm already like 20 or 21 and I've never done this before and I just felt like I didn't know where to turn to, like where the office is, or what forms I am supposed to do,' " she said.
Torres says she spends a lot of her time reassuring people that it's not their fault they are confused or overwhelmed with the process of registering to vote. She says states like Texas could make it easier. For example, Texas is one of only a handful of states without online voter registration.
"And the younger generation, you know, these old systems, they are just not satisfied with it anymore," Torres said. "Lawmakers need to get with the times and understand that you cannot keep an old system in place that is not making that demographic happy anymore."
Not everyone is on board with broad steps to try to increase youth voter registration. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, for instance, wants to raise the voting age to 25, with earlier ballot access allowed for people who serve their communities or pass a civics test.
Automatic voter registration
But for those who do want to lower the barriers for youth voter registration, Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, the Newhouse director at CIRCLE at Tufts University, says some of the most helpful policies simplify the process on the voter's end.
"It's really important that the process of voting registration becomes almost invisible to young people," she said. "That's really how you get as many people as possible."
A good example of that is automatic voter registration, which is a policy currently in about half of states. Despite its name, AVR is not exactly automatic. How it typically works is when someone is getting a driver's license they are registered to vote using the information they gave the DMV.
David Becker, the founder and executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research, says this is one of the most efficient ways to get citizens coming of voting age onto the voter rolls.
"When so many of them are going into government agencies at or before the time they turn 18, and giving accurate information under penalty of perjury to a government agency, what states have found is that is the best time to get the vast majority of students registered," Becker said.
Some Republicans claim that automatic voter registration could make it easier for ineligible people to get on a state's voter rolls, which is one reason there has been pushback from some GOP lawmakers across the country.
But Becker points out that one of the most successful AVR programs recently implemented is in Georgia. Republicans in that state createda system several years ago that registers people to vote every time they interact with the DMV.
"And what they have found is, whereas in most states, young voters register at much lower rates than the rest of voters, they are starting to achieve parity," Becker said. "They are starting to get very close to young voters comprising the same share of the registered voter population as of the electorate. And that is a remarkable thing."
Pre-registration before age 18
And automatic voter registration is even more effective when paired with pre-registration, says Tufts' Kawashima-Ginsberg. She says allowing 16- or 17-year-olds to register automatically when they get their driver's license could make the process even easier.
"A vast majority of young people are still at home with their family or caregivers at that age," she said. "So, when we have a big burden of voter registration, at least you have a supporter who has probably already done this and knows where your papers are and is able to support young people to register to vote."
About 20 states in the U.S., including Minnesota, currently offer pre-registration to people under 18. Wendy Underhill, the director of elections at the National Conference of State Legislatures, said "that number has been going up slowly but surely over the last 20 years."
She says it's been a slow trend in part because these kinds of programs can be a big undertaking for officials.
"Each state that wants to consider this has to review, do they have the tech and the relationship with the DMV to be able to do this link?" Underhill said. "And do it in such a way that the voter doesn't mistakenly get any voter papers until they hit 18."
Besides pre-registration and automatic registration, experts say same-day registration during elections has also been proven to increase voter registration and participation rates among 18-year-olds.
Online voter registration
And experts say of course one of the most common ways to make sure young people register to vote is for a state to have online registration.
Few states, at this point, don't have online registration. Among those that don't, some explicitly require a so-called wet signature on a paper voter registration form.
Emily Eby French, a staff attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project, says she and her colleagues hear a lot of frustration in Texas, where a law like this has been on the books for a while.
"I get to talk to college kids all the time in this job," she said. "They don't understand why we don't have voter registration online because everything else you can do is online now."
Vote.org is currentlysuing Texas over this law. Andrea Hailey, the group's CEO, says its mission is to make it easy for people to register to vote. The organization has a mobile app that on average takes people two minutes to register.
But wet signature laws require people to take extra steps, like printing a form and signing it and then mailing it, which she says takes many young people out of the electoral process.
"When things get more and more difficult for people, that's when you start to disincentivize and exhaust people," Hailey said. "And that is the point."
This is why Hill, of UC Berkeley, says states should be thinking about how their voter registration process could be a burden to voters who are coming of age.
She says young people often take the blame for their lower participation rate in American democracy.
"You can look at that as a personal failure, or you can step back and recognize that our system does not serve young people," Hill said. "It hasn't been built to serve voters who are new."
Hill says easing the burden of registering to vote for young people also has the added benefit of making it easier for all voters.
And registration rates are rising due to policies like automatic voter registration. Last year the share of U.S. citizens who were registered to vote was the highest in a midterm election in at least the past two decades.
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03 December 2001
Dr. Gerhart Riegner, the World Jewish Congress representative in Geneva, who alerted the world to the murder of the Jews in the Holocaust, died at age 90 on December 3, 2001 in Switzerland.
Riegner, originally a lawyer from Liepzig, Germany fled to Switzerland in 1933, where he became the representative of the World Jewish Congress (WJC). On August 8, 1942 he sent a now famous cable about Nazi plans to murder the Jews to Rabbi Dr. Stephen Wise the President of the WJC in New York and to Sidney Silverman, a Jewish member of the British House of Commons in London.
The cable read as follows:
“Received alarming report that in Fuhrer's headquarters plan discussed and under consideration according to which all Jews in countries occupied or controlled Germany numbering 3 1/2 - 4 million should after deportation and concentration in east be exterminated at one blow to resolve once and for all the Jewish question in Europe. Action reported planned for autumn; methods under discussion including prussic acid. We transmit information with all necessary reservation as exactitude cannot be confirmed. Informant stated to have close connections with highest German authorities and his reports generally speaking reliable.”
It is now known, after many years of investigation, that the information on which the cable was based was transmitted by Eduard Scholte, a Leipzig businessman who had official business in Switzerland and used the opportunity to transmit information to the western Allies. He contacted a Swiss intermediary, who in turn informed Dr. Benjamin Sagalowitz, a Jewish journalist who ran the Swiss Jewish press agency. Sagalowitz conveyed the information to Riegner on August 1.
The sources on which Scholte based himself are not known. The information was inaccurate: mass murder of Jews had been going on since June 1941, and gassings (first in gas vans, with carbon monoxide, and later in gas chambers) had been taking place since September 1941. The cable spoke of a future "blow" under "consideration," whereas the extermination that had been begun was an ongoing process. Moreover, the cable itself indicated that the information may not have been true. The last sentence had been introduced into the cable at the insistence of Dr. Paul Guggenheim, a senior member of the WJC living in Geneva. Nevertheless, the cable was a breakthrough, because it confirmed seemingly inconclusive information about the mass murder that had reached the West previously.
The cable was transmitted through the British legation to Silverman, and Howard Elting attempted to transmit the message through the American vice-consul in Geneva to the United States Department of State. The State Department refused to inform Wise, in view of the apparently unsubstantiated nature of the information. However, Silverman sent the cable to Wise from London, and it reached him on August 28. On September 2, Wise sent the cable to Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles, who invited Wise to meet with him, asking that he not publish the cable until it had been confirmed. Wise agreed, but he informed a number of Cabinet members; President Franklin D. Roosevelt, through Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter; and Christian clergymen. On September 3, Jacob Rosenheim, president of Agudat Israel (the ultra-Orthodox Jewish movement) in New York, received a similar cable from Isaac Sternbuch of Va’ad Ha-hatsala in Switzerland. As a result, Wise approached Rosenheim and formed a temporary emergency committee of Jewish leaders to deal with the situation. On November 24, when the American government finally became convinced of the fact of the mass murder of the Jews, Wise broke the news of the cable, together with much supporting information, to the press.
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Our upbringing greatly influences us, often determining our life’s trajectory as adults. But our parents don’t just shape our values and aspirations — they can even alter our biology, which in turn can modulate behavior. Case in point, a new study found that boys whose fathers were present and involved with their upbringing when they were teens had lower testosterone levels when they later became fathers in their own turn, compared to boys who lived in households with an absent father.
The new study was led by Lee Gettler, an anthropologist at the University of Notre Dame who previously made headlines when he showed that the transition to fatherhood causes new dads’ testosterone levels to sharply drop. Those findings were very insightful, showing how men are, at least to a certain degree, biologically hardwired to care for their children. Now, this new study shows that adolescence is a critical period during which social relationships between a boy and his father can influence later hormone production, with far-reaching consequences later in life.
Deadbeat dads in nature
The vast majority of male mammals have a shoot-and-scoot mating strategy, mating with as many females as they can without bothering to participate in the rearing of the offspring. Males provide paternal care in only 5% of mammalian species. That’s despite the fact that parenting is obviously evolutionary beneficial to both partners as it enhances their common offspring’s health and survival prospects.
You only need one caring parent, though. As a result, differences in the costs and benefits of caring for offspring have been, over time, exaggerated by natural selection. For instance, in marsupials, females are the sex that has evolved pouches, greatly enhancing their ability to care for their young – so the females do most or all of the childcare.
It may look like females got the short end of the stick, but things are rarely out of balance in nature. Since females need to devote more resources to raising their young, they’ve also become very picky with their mate selection. As a result, males will typically face enormous sexual selection pressure. Oftentimes this means that a large fraction of males in a population never sires any young. Paradox solved.
However, in humans, both sexes tend to be involved in caring for their young, though their roles are different. For instance, women have mammary glands that would, theoretically, allow them to care for their children all by themselves if the situation called for it. But usually, that’s not really enough. Human beings are pretty helpless until they reach puberty, and having a father fulfilling at least a provider role can be critical to the survival of children. That’s usually enough incentive for the father to stick around, although we’ve all seen cases and cases.
The notion that humans are outliers and that fatherhood may be hard-wired in our biology has only recently come to light. In the 1990s, a study on US Army veterans showed that married men had significantly lowered testosterone levels than their single counterparts, and some even used a testosterone booster supplement. Another study on Air Force veterans indicated that men’s testosterone levels increased around the time of divorce.
But it wasn’t until recently that the link between testosterone production and fatherhood was put into an evolutionary perspective. In 2011, Gettler and colleagues studied a community-based sample from the Philippines, showing that men with higher testosterone were more likely to get married, but also that fatherhood caused their testosterone to decrease.
This is not all that surprising. It’s an established fact that hormones have a huge impact on our mood and behavior. Think of the behavioral switches of puberty or even your castrated pet. And this relationship seems to be a two-way street, in that behavior can also influence hormones.
Dads, teens, and testosterone: what’s the common thread?
In a new study, Gettler and colleagues analyzed data from almost 1,000 men in the Philippines spanning more than 30 years. The men were basically enrolled in the study as babies, and their health and nutrition were regularly monitored over the years. The collected data also included information on whether the participants’ fathers stayed around, as well as the degree of paternal care that they offered. This data provided a unique opportunity for the researchers to look for patterns in a chaotic environment, bringing them as close to a natural experiment as possible.
“There are very few studies that have looked at how early-life social experiences with family — and dads especially — are related to future testosterone production in men, including when they become fathers,” Gettler said in a statement. “There are none that have considered the potential role of the adolescent time period and take into consideration what boys have experienced with their dads. The longitudinal part of this large study is really key because it has tracked participants since they were infants. In adolescence, the boys began to contribute their own perspectives, whereas their mothers were answering surveys in their younger years. This way we know who each teenage boy credited for his upbringing. We also get their perspective when they later become fathers regarding how involved they are with caring for their own children.”
The researchers found that teenage boys whose dads were more involved in their upbringing had lower testosterone as future fathers. The study also found that boys whose fathers were present but not involved with childcare grew up to have higher testosterone, on average, than boys who grew up in households where the dad was more involved. Testosterone plays a major role in men’s health, offering protection against cardiovascular disease and improving immune function.
“So, these findings are showing us new ways that family experiences before adulthood can shape later biology that, in turn, can affect later behavior and health,” Gettler said.
But what does being an “involved” dad actually mean? There’s no real right answer, and some aspects of fatherhood need to be contextualized. When this study began in 1983, most of the fathers worked as farmers, fishermen, or tradesmen, who would often work long hours. But although they didn’t spend much time at home compared to their mothers, dads in the Philippines usually act as moral guides and disciplinarians.
“Some activities, like playing sports or teaching skills — the things that involve more direct interaction —would fall under the designation ‘dad was involved with care’ in our study. Other domains, like being a role model or a moral guide, might be categorized as ‘the presence of a dad’; they are still present and contributing to the sons’ lives. There’s not just one way to be a good dad,” Gettler said.
If you were to ask a doctor which factors may diminish a man’s testosterone, chances are that things like age, sleep, obesity, or diabetes would come up. A man’s relationship status is unlikely to arise in the discussion, but as we’re beginning to learn, a man’s “partnership status” and “fatherhood” could be really important and have far-reaching consequences in terms of behavior for both fathers and boys.
At the same time, the findings also raise some intriguing questions and speculations. Low testosterone may help men bond better with their children and be less inclined to “jump ship”, so to speak. When these adolescents grow up and have families of their own, their biology — which influences their behavior — may make them inclined to act the same. But high-testosterone fathers who don’t stick around will sire high-testosterone babies that will be inclined to do the same. In both situations, you have self-enforcing cycles, with no clear delineation of where genetics and nurture begin and end.
The new study appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. | <urn:uuid:fb04eeb9-167c-4dba-b792-2bb7673154fc> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/testosterone-shaped-fatherhood/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.978941 | 1,626 | 3.25 | 3 |
Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS)
Time spent in physical activity of person, duration
Time spent in physical activity refers to time spent in physical activities, whether for leisure, work or school, whether organized or unorganized.
Person refers to an individual and is the unit of analysis for most social statistics programs.
The data for this variable are reported using the following measurements:
- Minutes per day | <urn:uuid:a3e3d47d-033f-4dd9-a357-0094a364f598> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=assembleDESurv&DECId=491028&RepClass=578&Id=1195092&DFId=300837 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.911713 | 82 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Recently the world-famous magazine the Guardian has published: “Over half of new cancer drugs ‘show no benefits’ for survival or well-being.” This conclusion was made based on the recent research conducted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). EMA has looked at the evidence supporting the effectiveness of new cancer drugs which were approved between 2009 and 2013.
This study has demonstrated that there’s no clear evidence that these drugs may increase survival rates or improve patients’ quality of life. Although, they say that it does not mean that these drugs won’t help anyone at all: however, the analyses of the effectiveness of these drugs after several years of using them showed that these medicines do not work better than existing drugs.
Thus, this research has posed a question whether medicines regulators have to be stricter when it comes to the type of evidence they accept before approving the drug. This issue is particularly important for oncology as a course of treatment using new drugs may cost the National Health Service (NHS) tens of thousands of pounds.
Besides the necessity to get European regulatory approval all new drugs should be also evaluated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK. Before recommending the NHS the new drug to be prescribed NICE assesses whether the drug has any value in terms of prolonging patients’ lives or improving quality of life. Ironically, most newspapers which reported “shocking” news that new cancer drugs do not work recently were blaming NHS for not funding development of these drugs. | <urn:uuid:b1724fe4-570d-4e90-95c9-37407b3e4fde> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://x7cpr.com/en/new-cancer-drugs-do-not-work/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.962483 | 318 | 2.671875 | 3 |
“The true beauty of Nepal is not the mountains, but the people who live in their shadow.” ~ Apa
Every spring the summit of Mount Everest draws people from around the world. But in its shadow live the Sherpa, a resilient, religious people, who, despite the riches surrounding the highest peak on earth, are still quite poor and uneducated.
A child of the Khumbu, Apa Sherpa climbed Everest 21 times. Pulled away at the age of 12 to work as a high altitude porter, like so many others, he would leave his family for months, risking his life on the mountain. Through his work at the Apa Sherpa Foundation, he aims to create a different future for his people.
As Apa says, “without education we have no choice.”
Visit the Apa Sherpa Foundation to learn more.
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Whenever you have a medical concern, it’s always smart to visit your doctor. However, depending on the health issues you may be facing, it’s wise to visit a doctor that is experienced in your specific case. There are several types of doctors, and in this post, we’ll be speaking about the most common types to help you get a better idea of who to visit.
A family physician is a doctor that sees patients of all ages and provides basic care for the most common types of medical issues. Your family physician is the first to recognize a major health concern, and depending on your symptoms, they’ll refer you to a specialist.
A pediatrician’s specialist is to see patients from the youngest age until they’re 18 years old. They provide health care to children, which covers things like general checkups, vaccinations, and stomach flu. However, if a patient displays a serious health concern, then they’ll refer them to a pediatric sub-specialist that specializes in treating a specific type of disorder.
Cardiologists specialize in treating problems related to the heart and its blood vessels. They’re the ones that treat conditions such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and post-operative care.
A pulmonologist focuses on treating the cardio-pulmonary system, which involves the lungs, heart, and all other organs included in the respiratory system. They help patients that suffer from respiratory disorders, extreme allergies, pulmonary diseases, and breathing issues.
The endocrine system contains glands that are in charge of producing and secreting hormones that help regulate bodily functions, and an endocrinologist specializes in this field. They treat disorders such as thyroid disease or diabetes.
Dermatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating issues related to the skin, hair, and nails. This also includes treating acne, rashes, skin cancer, and other skin diseases. And some dermatologists are qualified in performing aesthetic procedures, such as laser skin treatments, botox injections, and skin fillers.
A neurologist is a doctor that focuses on treating issues that are related to the spine, nerves, and brain. For example, some of the patients they treat suffer from complex disorders such as:
- Multiple sclerosis
Yet, they also treat minor issues, such as patients who experience dizziness, migraines, and headaches. No matter what specialty each doctor has, they all need special, high-quality equipment to use on their patients, which can be found at ukmedi.co.uk
The specialty of a psychiatrist is to treat mental health. They treat all kinds of mental disorders that affect a person’s emotional and behavioral state, such as:
- Bipolar disorder
- Clinical depression
- Personality disorder
The treatments they offer consist of a combination of medication, therapy, and psychoanalysis. The type of therapy varies depending on each patient.
These specialists are qualified to manage the pain of a patient during surgery. They control how much anesthesia they need and handle certain emergencies at the hospital, such as sudden breathing issues or cardiac arrest.
Types of Doctors—Revealed
By having a good idea of what the most common types of doctors are, you’ll be able to book an appointment with the one better suited for you and your case. And, you’ll find tons of other useful articles on our blog, so be sure to keep exploring our website!
To understand about Hospital Beds industry, Read here | <urn:uuid:92e16196-18cb-4d6f-9693-83de66b52481> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://zoomlocalnews.com/what-are-the-common-types-of-doctors/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100308.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201215122-20231202005122-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.947352 | 716 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Brief Postal History of China
Postage stamps and brief postal history of China
The postal history of China is very fascinating as much as complicating if one considers the gradual decay of imperial China, the years of civil wars, the Japanese Occupation in the 1930s and World War II.
Early records from the first millennium BC show evidence of regular governmental postal service during the Chou Dynasty. By the 12th century, organised postal services existed as per Marco Polo’s records.
He reported the mailing of private letters by the Min Hsin Chu (a system of letter guilds) and the setting of post stages, as many as 10,000.
The Treaty of Kyakhta in 1727 allowed the regular exchange of mail between Imperial China and Russia. In the 19th century, the Opium War ended the policy of isolation and ‘treaty’ ports opened, allowing some countries to operate their ‘foreign post offices’ from 1844.
In 1865, Shanghai organised its own local post and the Englishman Robert Hart set up a mail service for the Imperial Maritime Customs for carrying consular mail to and from the ‘treaty’ ports. This function was available to the public on May 1878. Hence, China's first postage stamps, the ‘Large Dragons’ were issued to handle payment, and were inscribed "CHINA" in both Latin and Chinese characters, and denominated in candareens.
Initially, all mail to foreign destinations went through Shanghai, but by 1882, twelve post offices opened. Twelve years later, the postal operations were reorganised, Min Hsin Chu and the Shanghai local post ceased to operate, Customs Port became the Imperial Postal Service (effective 1 January 1897) and the postal system adopted cents and dollars as the new units of currency.
The lack of postage during the first half of 1897 forced the use of existing postage and revenue stock surcharged in cents, with some varieties. The first new stamps, inscribed "IMPERIAL CHINESE POST" went on sale in August 1897 with twelve values, ranging from 1/2c to $5. These lithographed stamps were printed in Japan and used desgns of a dragon, a carp and a wild goose.
The paper was watermarked. The following year, a new series of engraved stamps printed in London were issued in similar designs by using thicker Chinese watermarked paper.
The inscription changed to ‘CHINESE IMPERIAL POST’.
New printings commenced in 1899 but used non-watermarked paper and from this run, stamps were in use until the end of the Empire. It’s noticeable that the compliance to the Universal Postal Union saw the introduction of three values and the change of some colours.
The anniversary of the first year of reign of Emperor Xuantong was ideal for the first Chinese commemorative stamp in 1909, printed on 3 denominations and depicting the ‘Temple of Heaven’ in Beijing.
Revolution and Republic
The 1910s - The revolution of 1911 resulted in overprints on the imperial stamps in 1912. Examples of the overprints are that of ‘Foochow’ (neutral post office available to both sides) and ‘Nanking’ and ‘Shanghai’ (indicating part of the Republic of China). Postmasters throughout the country used unofficial overprints.
The first new designs of the Republic were two commemorative sets of 12 each, the first set depicting Sun Yat-Sen and second Yuan Shikai. Both issues were available from 14 December 1912.
5-cent "junk" from the redesign of 1923
Chinese definitive postage stamps made their mark in May 1913 with the release of the ‘Junk design’ stamps. Progressively, the higher issues depicred a farmer reaping rice and the ‘gateway to the Hall of Classics’. Initially printed in London, the stamps were manufactured in Beijing from 1915. The series was re-engraved in 1923.
The 1920s - China produced new commemorative issues, of four stamps each, during the 1920s. These are the 25th anniversary of the Chinese Post Office (1921), the Temple of Heaven / New Constitution (1923), Marshal of the Army and Navy Zhang Zuolin (1928), the Unification of China / Chiang Kai-Shek (1929) and the State Funeral of Sun Yat Sen (1929).
The 1930s and 1940s - In 1931, new definitives depicting Sun Yat Sen and in 1932, the ‘Six martyrs of Kuomintang’ were printed in volumes and were well used in the next several years.
Manchuria was invaded in 1931 by the Japanese and ‘Manchukuo’ issued its own stamps. During World War II, some existing postage stamps from previous issues were surcharged.
25 cents on a stamp of 1931, and the Kansu surcharge on a stamp issued in 1940-41
Although not the first appearance of Chiang Kai-shek on a stamp, this October 1945 commemoration of his inauguration includes a broader array of nationalistic symbols.
Towards the end of the War, the Nationalist Government was still struggling with the Communist forces. Still, the postal authorities were able to release some commemorative issues on President Lin Sen who died in 1943, the anniversary of Chiang Kai-Shek in October 1945, and for celebrating the Alllied victory.
Severe inflation required a steady stream of overprints; this $2000 value is from 1946.
Needless to say, as with many European countries affected by the War, China experienced increased inflation in 1945 and 1946. The need for postage of higher values necessitated the release of older stamps with surcharges up to $2,000. A new design of Sun Yat Sen was inscribed with the value of $5,000 but in the following year another issue came out with $50,000 that was superceded with the 1948’s $5,000,000 stamp!
Adoption of a gold yuan standard delayed inflation only for a short time. This $1000 stamp was issued in early 1949.
In 1948, the ‘gold yuan’ standard was adopted and existing stamps were surcharged with values from 1/2c and up. This currency reformation proved infufficient due to inflation as by early 1949, the overprinted values reached the $5,000,000 mark! In desparation, the government printed undenominated stamps and sold them at the daily yean rate.
Later, the silver yuan standard was adopted and more stamps were overprinted. By August 1949, the Nationalists’ last issues were denominated in silver Yuan.
The postal system of the People’s Republic of China was established in Beijing in that year and was expanded to the liberated areas. This enabled the authority to cease the sale of regional stamps by end of June 1950, with the exception of the Northeast Liberation Area and the Port Arthur & Dairen Post & Telegraph (by end of 1950).
The unified administration issued its first postage stamps in October 1949 that consisted of four with designs of ‘lantern and the Gate of Heavenly Peace’.
This silver yuan overprint on a revenue stamp was used for only a few months in mid-1949.
The first definitive series were released in February 1950 and featured the Gate of Heavenly Peace against a background of clouds. These stamps came in nine values ranging from $200 to $10,000.
The design was modified several times over the next few years and today, philatelists have identified six issues. By the end of 1950, all provinces were entered into the unified postal service. | <urn:uuid:2f3d8a85-920f-49c0-87de-31863b2562e0> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://apta.com.au/SubMenu/Brief_Postal_History_of_China.aspx?id=113 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.969557 | 1,596 | 3.671875 | 4 |
|The Bell D-245 Warrior set the pattern for gunship designs|
With the turbine-powered Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" utility helicopter offering a quantum leap in capability for the US Army over previous, cumbersome, piston-driven rotorcraft, it was a natural progression that the UH-1s would be armed for aerial fires support for the growing conflict in Vietnam. But Bell's engineers in Fort Worth were steps ahead of the military with studies as early as 1958 for a tandem-seat purpose-built helicopter gunship that used the transmission and engine systems of what would become the UH-1. Bell's first offering had the in-house designation D-245 and was named "Warrior" which laid down the standard layout of gunships that followed- a slim fuselage with tandem seating for a pilot and gunner, stub wings for weapons, and nose-mounted gun turret. But despite its potential, the Army had yet to determine operational doctrines for the use of attack helicopters and the D-245 Warrior was quietly shelved.
Despite official disinterest from the US Army, Bell decided to embark on internally-funded development to further refine the D-245 Warrior design. In June 1962 Bell unveiled the D-255 Iroquois Warrior to the Army at its Fort Worth facility. The D-255 was a bit larger than the earlier D-245 but retained the tandem seating for pilot and gunner in stepped layout with the pilot sitting behind and higher than the gunner in the forward seat. Again, the tail boom, rotor transmission and engines were adapted from the UH-1. While the mixed reaction from the US Army was an improvement over the official disinterest that the earlier D-245 design elicited, it still wasn't enough to get a production contract from the Army. Again the D-255 was quietly shelved, but this still wasn't going to discourage the Bell team from staying ahead of the game. In December 1962 a brainstorming session of the engineering team resulted in a decision to build a flying demonstrator to prove the US Army what Bell's gunship concept could accomplish.
|The Sioux Scout was quite small for a two-seat gunship|
Designated the Model 207 and named the Sioux Scout, the demonstrator combined the engine, rotor, and drive systems of the proven Bell OH-13 Sioux (the bubble-cockpit helicopter made famous in the introduction to the TV series M*A*S*H) with its civilian counterpart, the Bell 47. The six-cylinder Lycoming 435 engine of the OH-13/Bell 47 was supercharged to deliver 220 horsepower driving the main rotor system from the OH-13 and the tail rotor/tail boom of the Bell 47. An all-new slim fuselage was created that used box beams to create a rigid structure to which were attached the stub wings that could carry external stores on six hardpoints on each side as well as house an additional 43 gallons of fuel which gave the Sioux Scout a range of 200 miles. At high speeds, the stub wings helped offload the main rotor as well. An Emerson Electric TAT-101 gun turret was installed under the nose (the rigid fuselage structure dampened recoil) housing twin 7.62mm machine guns that were adaptations of the M60 gun. With 1,100 rounds of ammunition, the gunner in the forward seat used a pioneering hand controller to operate the gun turret 100 degrees side to side, 15 degress upward, and 45 degrees downward. Under each stub wing were six round, 2.75 inch rocket launchers on each hardpoint.
|The gunner had an outstanding field of view from the front seat|
The Sioux Scout made its first flight from Bell's Fort Worth facility in Hurst on 27 June 1963, in the process becoming the first pure gunship in the world to take flight. Since the demonstrator program was somewhat secret, the helicopter was painted red and white to not so blatantly give away its military purpose. After several weeks of testing with Bell that added up to 65 flight hours, the Sioux Scout was repainted in more Army-like olive drab and began a series of weapons tests at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, northwest of Fort Worth. In November of that year, the Sioux Scout was taken on the road, touring Army bases and being flown by both Army and even NASA test pilots with over 300 flight hours that included firing over 83,000 rounds of ammunition from the chin turret. Finally, in 1964, B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry of the 11th Air Assault Division spent a month flying the Sioux Scout in operational conditions and in field exercises. At the time, the 11th Air Assault Division was tasked by the Army commanders with experimenting and creating operational doctrines in helicopter assault at Fort Benning, Georgia.
|The Model 209 prototype had retractable landing skids|
Other than the Sioux Scout being underpowered and the reliability of the experimental gun turret being less than ideal, Army evaluators were overwhelmingly pleased with the outcome of the 11th Air Assault Division's operational evaluation of the demonstrator. The recommendation was issued that a turbine-powered, more capable version be developed as quickly as possible for operational use. In late 1964 the Secretary of the Army created the Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) with invitations to industry to submit designs. With the quick realization that the AAFSS design would take time to field, the Army decided that an interim design was needed that would field the gap until the AAFSS became operational. Bell dusted off its D-255 Iroquois Warrior design and with further refinements based on the Sioux Scout evaluation, designated it the D-262. However, in 1965 the Army rejected the D-262 design. But, as Bell had done before, they quietly went about refining the design further on company funds- within several months of the rejection of the D-262, the situation in Vietnam worsened and the US commander in Vietnam, General William Westmoreland, advised the Pentagon that either the AAFSS needed to fielded quickly or some interim design was needed as soon as possible. In March 1965 Bell just happened to finish the full-scale mockup of its refined gunship designated the Model 209 and "leaked" to Army commanders what it was up to. Before long, the Army issued a formal requirement for an interim design. Beating out submissions from Sikorsky, Kaman, Piasecki and Boeing Vertol, the Model 209 was selected on 11 March 1966 for production as the AH-1 Cobra.
And the AAFSS? That became the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne and was a classic case of wanting too much out of a design. It ended up getting cancelled in August 1972. That same month, the Army created the Advanced Attack Helicopter program (AAH) which became the AH-64 Apache. And what become of the Sioux Scout? The grand daddy of gunships can be seen today in the Army Aviation Museum in Fort Rucker, Alabama. And of course, Bell's interim design is still in production today for the US Marine Corps as the AH-1Z Viper.
Source: Helicopter Gunships: Deadly Combat Weapon Systems by Wayne Mutza. Specialty Press, 2010, p56-60. Images from aviatstar.org | <urn:uuid:0e5c9af1-f113-48b2-8eae-c70563e3a10d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://aviationtrivia.blogspot.com/2011/03/bell-207-sioux-scout-grand-daddy-of.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.971534 | 1,496 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Increased areas of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries have been planted in Australia in recent years to meet consumer demands. These berry crops do not appear to be as complex with pest issues as strawberries, and very successful IPM programs with minimal chemical application can be achieved. Biological Services has worked with growers across the country to deliver successful IPM programs in this group of berry crops.
Two spotted mites (TSM)
TSM are a major pest of raspberry and blackberry crops, but are not normally a pest of blueberries. They are extremely damaging to foliage and seriously damage plant health if not well controlled. The key to the raspberry and blackberry IPM programs is to firstly control TSM by using Phytoseiulus persimilis (Persimilis) predatory mites. Persimilis used in raspberries and blackberries is released pure, in bottles containing 10,000 predatory mites mixed with vermiculite. This form of Persimilis is free from any pest contamination, and will not cause TSM hotspots to develop from release points (which can sometimes occur from releases on leaf if the predator to prey balance is not right).
Raspberries, blueberries and blackberries are also affected by secondary pests such as a range of caterpillars, some beetles, Rutherglen bugs, mirids, slugs, red berry mite, snails and some other sap sucking bugs. There are several IPM compatible treatments that can be utilised for these pests if they are used carefully, and only when needed. It is recommended to contact your Biological Services consultant prior to applying treatments for other pests.
Initially release 5 bottles (50,000 predators) of Persimilis per hectare of raspberry/blackberry plants early in the growing period either prior to or as soon as the very first mites appear. Repeat this release rate a few weeks later and then as required during the season, depending on pest pressure. Extra predators should be released into more heavily affected areas (hotspots) as soon as they are detected. If mites numbers are high prior to the first release, increase the rate to 10 bottles/ha.
Where plants are grown in bags hydroponically, fungus gnats can be problematical especially in early growth stages. Release 25 litres of Hypoaspis mix per hectare as a once off release into first year plantings as soon as plants are planted.
Aphid parasite mix
Where aphids are present or known to be problematical, regularly release low levels of Aphid Parasite Mix to known hotspots or distribute evenly on a preventative basis at 1000 parasites/ha.
Greenhouse whitefly can be a pest of raspberries. If detected release Encarsia and Eretmocerus @ 1/m² on a weekly basis until parasitism is detected in 80% of whitefly scales. Releases should start prior to whitefly becoming firmly established. | <urn:uuid:82af1058-77e1-4f9d-ac9e-47ffc598dcc6> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://biologicalservices.com.au/crops/berryfruit-35.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.938466 | 602 | 3.046875 | 3 |
There’s been a controversy in the computing world when discussing what was early computer invented.
For years, the accepted pioneer with the digital age was the ENIAC, short for Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer, perhaps because account associated with advancement was one worthy for tabloids and tv.
As World War II was coming to a close, the Army had run in need of mathematicians and were willing to recruit women. Six women were accepted to function on “Project PX” at the University of Pennsylvania’s Moore School of Electrical Engineering, under John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert. The women’s job were to program firing tables and ballistic trajectories using ENIAC. Their work laid the groundwork for new ideas for inventions selection. The completed machine was unveiled on Feb. 14, 1946 at the University of Pennsylvania. Within the armed forces had funded diet plans almost $500,000. It occupied about 1,800 square feet and used about 18,000 vacuum tubes, weighing almost 50 a great deal. It is widely considered to work as first computer invented, considering its highly functional status through the late 1950s.
However, its “first” status was challenged in court when Rand Corp. bought the ENIAC patent and started charging royalties. Honeywell Inc. refused to pay and challenged the patent in 1967. It was learned that Mauchly, one of the leaders of the Project PX in the University of Pennsylvania, had seen an initial prototype of a inventhelp product development being built at the Iowa State College called the Atanasoff-Berry Computer.
Professor John Vincent Atanasoff and graduate student Cliff Berry began development close to ABC in 1937 and it slept developed until 1942 at the Iowa State College (now Iowa State University). Eventually, it could solve equations containing 29 variables.
In 1973, You.S. Federal Judge Earl R. Larson released his decision how the ENIAC patent by Mauchly and How to pitch an invention to a company Eckert was invalid as well as the ABC was actually the first computer found. However, the ABC was never fully functional, so the popular opinion to this day has the ENIAC as the first electronic computing piece of equipment. The Smithsonian Institute’s Museum of American History in Washington displays most of the things remains of the ENIAC, alongside bits of the ABC.
However, there’s another twist to this tale. The most basic computer is be sure you device designed to just accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations and display the results. Germany’s Konrad Zuse created what was fundamentally the first programmable calculator in the mid-1930s in his parent’s living room. Zuse’s Z1 had 64-word memory and a clock speed of 1 Hz. Programming the the Z1 required the user to insert tape towards a punch tape reader and then receive his results via a punch tape dispenser – making it possibly the first computer invented. | <urn:uuid:82a9ce5b-0cdf-4bc7-8cad-7ddd9cae712c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://bryce.komunitascsd.com/a-hundred-years-of-invention-very-first-computer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.971027 | 618 | 3.296875 | 3 |
Gala Apple trees are deciduous, fruit bearing trees that grow primarily in the northern hemisphere. They prefer the dry climate and warm summers of Canada and America, and cannot be grown in the tropics, or above the Arctic Circle. There are some apple trees that are now cultivated in Australia and New Zealand. When grown in the wild, apple trees often have thorns on the branches, in order to protect the fruit.
Gala Apple trees are also flowering trees, and it is the pollination of their flowers that will allow for fruit to grow. When planting apple trees in a garden, it is important to know that many apple trees do not self-pollinate. For this reason, only one apple tree in the garden may not be able to produce much, if any fruit. To solve this, plant several different varieties of apple trees with similar flowering times to allow for cross-pollination.
Gala Apple trees should be planted in November, if possible. They can also be planted up to the end of March. This is when the soil is most friable. The apple trees should be planted firmly, with the soil pressed down hard around the roots. The apple trees should then be tied to a strong enough stake, for support until the roots take hold. Mulch should be applied around the base of the apple trees, to help retain moisture during the first growing period.
Gala Apple tree seeds can start germinating in any seasons, indoor or outdoor when temperature is above 10 °C, It is very easy to grow, and do not need any special treatment of stratification.
Growing Zones: 5-8
Mature Height: 10-15 ft.
Mature Width: 8-10 ft.
Growth/Year: 2-3 ft.
Sunlight: Full - Partial
Soil Conditions: Adaptable
Drought Tolerance: Good
Botanical Name: Malus 'Gala'
Detailed "how to grow" instructions are included in all my listings
This auction is for 5 seeds of Gala Apple Tree.
The seeds were freshly harvested in last fall, and tested viable good for planting.
Have a good day.
Notice to International Buyers:
If you are not sure of Customs and Import Policies for your particular country, please check with them before purchasing.
We ship to all countries, but cannot be held liable if shipments are held up or retained in your Customs. | <urn:uuid:2660a2d0-4f9c-42e2-bae0-95d13120892e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://bzt.ca/product_info.php?products_id=13&osCsid=ug285276428s1chn4j7j9vjhk4 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.939302 | 499 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Parrot Teaches Autistic Boy How to Talk
By United Kingdom News Group
(Originally in English)
Autistic children do not learn very well from experience. Often each event is a completely new occurrence to the child, even if the exact same thing happened yesterday. Therefore, consistency in everything the parents or teacher do and say is vital in education for an autistic child. Recently, a 4 year old boy from Blackburn, United Kingdom, is lucky to have an amazing teacher to teach him how to speak. This teacher is a gold macaw.
Four year old Dylan Hargreaves suffers severe learning difficulties and had never spoken a single word. But after listening to Barney the macaw, he can now say “Night, night,” “Dad,” “Mum,” “Ta,” “Hallo,” and “Bye.” Dylan’s mum Michelle said, “Barney has changed our lives. Before he arrived, Dylan would try to speak, but the sound came out as a noise. Then we got Barney and, a few months later, Dylan began to talk. It was only the odd word, but I could clearly understand what he said. Every time I gave the bird something to say, Dylan started trying to say the same thing. I think it’s because the bird says things slower than me, which helps Dylan understand. Now when I put him to bed he says, ‘Night, night, mum.’ It means the world to me.”
Dylan’s mum credits his progress to Barney, because the boy loves his pet so much. The enjoyment the macaw brings attracts the child and keeps his attention and the bird’s slow repetition of words has greatly helped the boy’s learning process. What a beautiful and smart creature God has placed in the world to accompany us and to even teach us! | <urn:uuid:06fd04a0-c598-49ae-ab8d-4627aab10157> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://classic.godsdirectcontact.org.tw/en2/vegan-peace/faithful-02.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.979733 | 400 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Could IgG food allergy testing from ImuPro be an option for you?Check it out
There are various reasons why a food can cause problems, among them a classic IgE food allergy (type I) and a delayed IgG food allergy (type III), the latter is also referred to as food intolerance. What both allergies have in common is that the immune system is involved. However, there are some differences in the way it responses.
A classic type I allergy is when the immune system produces specific IgE antibodies (immune globulins of the subclass E). These antibodies lead to an immediate allergic reaction. The symptoms appear within seconds or minutes: severe swelling, breathing difficulty, rash, itching skin or even anaphylactic shock.
Someone who has a type I allergy will most probably know which food is causing problems, because the symptoms appear right away. Therefore, blood testing is not necessarily needed to identify this kind of allergy. IgE tests are mainly performed for confirmation. ImuPro does not detect type I food allergies.
A type III food allergy is when the immune system produces specific IgG antibodies (immune globulins of the subclass G). These antibodies can lead to inflammatory processes. The symptoms appear up to three days after the consumption of a trigger food. Learn more.
It is very difficult to pinpoint which food causes you problems because of the delayed appearance. An IgG test helps to localise and limit the suspects.
With ImuPro you will only have to avoid foods with elevated IgG antibody values. This means that you can maintain a diverse and varied diet and don’t need to restrict yourself unnecessarily. You might need to avoid salmon, for instance, but be able to eat all other fish. After a certain period of avoidance, you may reintroduce one food after the other into your diet and monitor your symptoms. This provocation phase is the crucial step to identify your personal “trigger foods”.
|Differences||IgE food allergy (type I)||IgG food allergy (type III)|
|Immune Response||Production of IgE antibodies|
Release of histamine mediated by IgE antibodies
|Production of IgG antibodies
Release of inflammatory mediators caused by binding of IgG antibodies
|Nature of food allergy symptoms||E.g. itching, red skin, anaphylaxis, swelling of the mucous membranes||Chronic inflammatory ailments, e.g. constipation, Crohn’s Disease, diarrhoea, eczema, flatulence, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), migraines, obesity, psoriasis|
|Onset of the symptoms||Immediate reaction within a few minutes||After several hours to three days|
|Diagnostics||Prick test or IgE blood test + food challenge test||IgG blood test + food challenge test| | <urn:uuid:2b7dad55-149a-4085-902f-b3f4f712f066> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://imupro.sg/igg-food-allergy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.907838 | 593 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Unexpected Discovery in Antarctica
(Inside Science) -- The Antarctic is cold, windy, dry and roughly twice the size of Australia. The average annual temperature ranges from about 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 C) to minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 60 C). There are currently 70 permanent research stations scattered across the continent of Antarctica, giving researchers many opportunities for scientific discoveries. Huw Griffiths is a marine biogeographer who spotted something by pure luck when geologists who were drilling through ice about one-half mile thick hit a boulder and caught something unexpected on camera. | <urn:uuid:0924fe44-b57e-4309-b394-259394875f57> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://insidescience.org/video/unexpected-discovery-antarctica-0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.917517 | 115 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Business culture and values refer to the beliefs, norms, behaviors, and principles that guide the way a company operates and how its employees interact with one another, customers, and stakeholders. A strong and positive business culture helps shape the organization’s identity, reputation, and success. Here are some key aspects related to business culture and values:
Mission and Vision: A company’s mission and vision statements define its purpose, goals, and aspirations. They provide a clear direction and serve as a foundation for the organization’s culture and values.
Ethical Standards: Ethical standards establish the moral framework and guidelines for how employees and the organization conduct themselves. Companies with strong ethical values prioritize integrity, honesty, fairness, transparency, and accountability in their operations.
Respect and Inclusion: A healthy business culture promotes respect and inclusion, valuing diversity and creating an environment where all individuals feel welcomed, respected, and valued. It encourages collaboration, open communication, and the exchange of diverse perspectives and ideas.
Trust and Transparency: Trust and transparency are crucial elements of a positive business culture. Companies that foster trust among employees, customers, and stakeholders build strong relationships based on open and honest communication, accountability, and reliable actions.
Employee Engagement: Employee engagement focuses on creating a work environment where employees are motivated, committed, and emotionally invested in their work. It involves providing opportunities for growth, recognizing and rewarding achievements, and fostering a positive work-life balance.
Learning and Development: A culture of continuous learning and development encourages employees to enhance their skills, knowledge, and capabilities. Companies that invest in employee training, mentorship programs, and professional development opportunities foster a culture of growth and improvement.
Innovation and Adaptability: A culture that values innovation and adaptability encourages employees to think creatively, embrace change, and seek out new opportunities. It supports experimentation, risk-taking, and the ability to adapt to evolving market dynamics.
Customer Focus: Companies with a customer-centric culture prioritize delivering exceptional customer experiences. They emphasize understanding customer needs, providing quality products or services, and building long-term relationships based on trust and customer satisfaction.
Social and Environmental Responsibility: Business culture can reflect a company’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility. This includes practices such as sustainable operations, community engagement, philanthropy, and responsible supply chain management.
Collaboration and Teamwork: Collaboration and teamwork are essential elements of a positive business culture. Companies that foster a collaborative environment encourage cross-functional collaboration, effective communication, and teamwork to achieve shared goals and drive collective success.
It’s important to note that business culture and values are not just words on a wall or a website; they need to be embedded in everyday practices, decisions, and actions. A strong business culture aligns with the organization’s mission and values, creates a positive work environment, and guides how employees interact with one another and with external stakeholders. It contributes to employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and the long-term success of the organization. | <urn:uuid:fe990140-238b-42fa-9aa7-49d4f49ca339> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://katrusya.shop/category/innovation-and-adaptability/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.920193 | 616 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Temporal changes in diet of Budongo Forest Chimpanzees
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Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are primates well known for performing ecological roles such as dispersal. Their populations are however dwindling where they exist and this is largely attributed to food availability. Since chimpanzees are frugivores, a recorded decline in general fruiting of most trees alongside evidence of warming temperatures in Budongo Forest raised curiosity into the likely foraging adaptation strategies by the chimpanzees. The study was thus conducted in the fully habituated Sonso chimpanzee community of Budongo Forest Reserve found on the western arm of the East African rift valley in Uganda. The study aimed to assess the (a) temporal fruiting phenology changes of Budongo chimpanzee food trees. (b) temporal changes in diet, activity budget and seasonal consumption of foods by Budongo Forest chimpanzees. It was hypothesized that the chimpanzee tree fruiting pattern could have affected chimpanzee feeding behavior. The findings were thus compared to those of previous feeding ecological studies. Direct observation was used to record tree fruiting and focal sampling to collect data on chimpanzee foraging. Analysis was conducted on long term records of monitored tree fruiting phenology in 6 compartments and chimpanzee diet composition data of Budongo Forest. Chimpanzee tree fruiting mirrored the general fruiting trend with a decline over the years. The study revealed fruit to still be the dominant food type in Budongo Forest chimpanzee diet between 2015 and 2019. This corroborates earlier findings. Its intake however decreased from an average of 70% in earlier studies to a mean of 50.7%. To cope with food stress, the chimpanzees adopted the mixed strategy of foraging which entailed an altered activity budget simultaneously consisting of either increased travel to access fruit or more rest hours coupled with incorporating more filler fallbacks. The antagonistic nature between seasonality and temporal diet composition attributes the observed changes in chimpanzee diet to a confounding factor probably but most likely climate change. The study thus confirms that there have been temporal changes in the diet of Budongo Forest chimpanzees. However, further research is required to elucidate their causes. | <urn:uuid:6bdff21b-855f-47ad-a298-2a0fe4d2a25e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://makir.mak.ac.ug/handle/10570/10025 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.941856 | 435 | 3.40625 | 3 |
The Nile Basin is facing a multitude of shared challenges which, like the Nile itself, span across national borders. These include increasing water variability, growing water demand and multiple impacts of climate change. In order to adequately respond to these challenges, countries must act together.
Water plays an integral part in achieving not only water security but also food and energy security, and in eradicating poverty for the people of the Nile Basin. The shared nature of the Nile’s water resources must be a key driver towards regional integration in countries’ efforts to achieving these goals.
Joint action and investments through joint institutions and dialogue platforms in the Nile Basin contribute to a culture of dialogue, trust and confidence and helps build strong partnerships within and outside the basin, thus must play a key role in maintaining peace and security in the Nile Basin.
In order to achieve sustainable development, Nile Basin States are working towards a basin management plan by 2022, which will ensure that the Nile waters can sustain its people, ecosystems and biodiversity. Joint management can and must occur at all levels, from grassroots to governments.
Through capacity building, policies, knowledge generation and exchange as well as development of scientific tools, NBI is supporting Member States and people of the Nile Basin to better manage their shared water resources. Countries must use the tools and knowledge to inform their decisions in water resources management and development.
“The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is the only agreed upon mechanism of cooperation in the Nile
Basin. In 1999 we have agreed on a common vision and procedures for cooperation.
Sudan froze its activities in NBI in June 2010 during the Addis Ababa meeting but returned in
early 2012 based on the strong commitment of the country for cooperation and the benefits
accrued to Sudan by being part of the Nile Basin fraternity.”#MyNileStory
“I live in Addis Ababa but was born on the banks of the Blue Nile River. In 2015, I embarked on an adventure to this great river where my father once struggled with a crocodile while trading on the river. Starting from a place called Gumer, it took me 6hrs on foot to reach the banks of the Blue Nile River at Mabil, a site now identified for hydropower development. Women carried charcoal, men let their cattle graze, and I even swam in the river – local tour guides know the area well and crocodiles are not around where the water is very deep.”#MyNileStory
“My most unforgettable story with the NBI was being able to participate in the first time journalists from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam together in August 2016.”#MyNileStory
“The Nile Basin Initiative is a very important institution, promoting equitable utilisation of the shared River Nile. What I also like is the culture of rotating the key positions of chairperson of the Nile Council of Ministers and that of the Nile Technical Advisory Committee as well as Executive Director of the NBI Secretariat; this too promotes cooperation among Member States. Also the joint investment projects enable interaction among the citizens of the different countries and at all levels. However, the non-ratification of the Cooperation Framework Agreement is affecting the success attained over the last 20 years. Establishment of the River Nile Basin Commission presents a good opportunity to the Nile Basin countries”.#MyNileStory
“I really appreciate the NBI’s efforts put into improving lives in all the countries of the Nile Basin, but
also deplore the persistence of difficult conditions for the survival of people. Mountains are still
bare, erosion remains high in vast areas, many river banks are still unprotected, soil acidity is often
high, and the list goes on. To me, there is no way to alleviate poverty and make lives better without
addressing such issues. We must change the game and act accordingly.”#MyNileStory
“At the technical level much has been accomplished in the last two decades, thanks to Basin States
and to our cooperating partners. Political will is what is required to move cooperation to a higher
level. I believe the will is somewhere there and the way can be found. And as the Late Mwalimu
Julius Kambarage Nyerere succinctly put it: ‘It can be done. Play your part’.”#MyNileStory | <urn:uuid:58913976-8162-4b44-b2b1-7e241cc1a7dd> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://nbi20.nilebasin.org/?i=sale%EF%BC%8F82%25off%E3%80%91-casio-%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%83%BC%E3%83%96%E3%82%BB%E3%83%97%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC-%E3%82%BD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC%E9%9B%BB%E6%B3%A2%E6%99%82%E8%A8%88-%E8%85%95%E6%99%82%E8%A8%88-wva-470-mm-qboqyxfE | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.948286 | 905 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Table of Contents
We show that the capability approach offers significant insight into the full meaning of environmental justice from the perspective of comparative justice. The capability approach allows us to take into account the three issues raised by environmental justice: the distribution of benefits and problems related to the environment, issues of people’s participation in the development of environmental regulations, and the recognition of collective identities. However, this requires, on one hand, that we give priority to freedom of process over freedom of opportunities, and on the other hand, that the concept of collective capability be introduced.
JEL classification: O10, Q56, Z1.
- comparative justice
- environmental justice
- transcendental justice | <urn:uuid:3340416e-71aa-40ba-943f-f49fb5db01f1> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://review-economic-philosophy.com/issues/2015-1-vol-16/environmental-justice-and-the-capability-approach/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.910886 | 140 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Basic Facts About Bendum
Bendum is situated within the town of Malaybalay, some 55 kilometers or 2 hours by private vehicle. It is located in the northeastern most part of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
It is a small, remote upland community of over 300 inhabitants mostly of indigenous Pulangiyen descent. Emerging from a period of commercial logging and militarization, the community initially had poor access to basic services – no electricity, unsafe water and poorly maintained roads. Though the community had gone through a major transition after commercial logging had ceased in the province, their unique relationship with their environment and their important contribution to sustaining the ecological services of water, air quality, reduced soil and nutrient loss, flood control and biodiversity are not appreciated by much of lowland society. Now that national government has a mechanism to respect their presence through the recognition of their ancestral lands, they are laying their claim to their ancestral domain and struggling to take responsibility for its sustained development while addressing economic and political challenges within broader society. Also located in Bendum is the Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center (APC) – the first government-recognized, independent indigenous people’s elementary school in the Philippines.
A micro hydroelectric power plant supplies the power needs of the Center in Bendum. Power may be intermittent for the moment, so it is advisable for the group staying at the Center to bring their own torch/flashlights. | <urn:uuid:003ad630-e80d-4a9b-9cd7-0d5aa3ee02c3> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://transformativegovernance.essc.org.ph/?page_id=691 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.972025 | 294 | 2.796875 | 3 |
By Dan Weisz
The Great Horned Owl chicks that I have been following have all fledged and the families are now roaming around their territory, teaching the little ones how to hunt and survive. So I do have, literally, “empty nest” syndrome.
However, it is springtime and the Burrowing Owl families in southern Arizona have been busy. I visited some agricultural areas to see if I could find a few and was not disappointed. Burrowing Owls in this area often make or use other burrows adjacent to irrigation canals. The canals are a sturdy concrete roof and the ground next to the canals is soft dirt. The owls either use or excavate old squirrel and rodent burrows, use ‘natural’ holes in the side of trhe canals, and even dig their own. Here, an owl and I watch a farmer prepare his field for a summer crop. This photo gives you a sense of the neighborhood.
Often the female Burrowing Owl is darker than the male. It is thought that since the male is out hunting in sunlight during the day while the female is in the burrow tending the eggs and young, that the male’s feathers are more “bleached” and that there is often a color difference in the two. In this species, the males are larger than the females. Because Burrowing Owls are out in the daytime they are easier to see than other owls, and Burrowing Owls have wonderful expressions. It is tempting to anthropomorphize them. In this case, what do you think these two owls are thinking?? Sure looks dramatic to me!
Something’s up in the sky!
Father flew away and eventually returned with a grasshopper. A few of the chicks were out and this one ran the fastest to meet its father. It was rewarded with Dad shoving his beak way down his youngster’s throat to deliver the snack.
And then, with the grasshopper’s tail sticking out of its beak, Junior skipped and hopped back to his siblings as if to show off its prize!
I’m not sure its siblings were impressed. You can see the difference between the breast feathers of the young compared to the adult feathers of the mother bird.
Mom spent most of her time atop the concrete just watching the world. At one point after some activity, she had a little bit of mud stuck to her beak
Three of the Burrowing Owl chicks got excited when a parent flew back to the nest. Those wing feathers are barely there.
Just hanging around with my bros.
Mother Burrowing Owl flew to an irrigation ditch closer to the farm field but kept a close eye on her chicks back at the burrow entrance.
The Desert Museum has information on all of southern Arizona’s owls species, including the Burrowing Owl: https://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_owls.php
I definitely plan to return to this family in the near future to watch the little ones grow. | <urn:uuid:7724e5e7-6fc8-4c4f-8fe0-f6638d1e7064> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://wildlife.foothillsclusters.com/burrowing-owls-in-marana | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.975132 | 636 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Capnomania and Fumimania
Part 3 of 4
Anti-smoking Has Been a Burning Issue for More Than a Hundred Years!
- In many ways, the anti-smoking movements of the 1900s and the 2000s are models of restraint compared with the those that began in the 1800s.
- Beginning with the state of Washington in 1893, no fewer than 14 states outlawed the sale, manufacture, possession, advertising and/or use of cigarettes, aka coffin nails, little white slavers, dope sticks, paper pills, brain capsules, coffin pills, and devils kindling wood.
- At least 21 other states and territories considered cigarette prohibition.
- Congress was asked to protect the public health by requiring that cigarette packages be stamped with a skull and crossbones, and labeled Poison!
- Many employers refused to hire cigarette smokers.
- Nonsmokers said their health was being jeopardized by secondhand smoke.
- When U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop declared in May, 1988, that cigarettes were as addictive as cocaine and heroin, he was echoing sentiments that had been expressed more than a hundred years earlier.
- As the author of one antitobacco tract put it in 1877, So powerful are the charms of this foul narcotic that health and long life are sacrificed to it by millions.
- The New York Times reflected prevailing attitudes when it editorialized in 1884 that the decadence of Spain began when the Spaniards adopted cigarettes and if this pernicious practice obtains among adult Americans the ruin of the Republic is close at hand.
Life Has Never Been Easy on Tobacco Road.
- The state legislators who passed anticigarette laws in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were members of a large fraternity of kings, emperors, popes, and potentates who have tried, at various times and in various ways, to wean their constituents from Lady Nicotine.
- The first recorded legal proceeding against a smoker was initiated on ecclesiastical grounds in the 15th century.
- King James I considered tobacco and papism to be among the biggest evils facing his realm.
- Several popes agreed with him, at least on the first point.
- Pope Innocent X and Pope Urban VIII excommunicated smokers from the Church.
Excommunication Was the Least of a Smokers Worries in the 17th Century.
- In China, an imperial edict issued in 1638 made the use of distribution of tobacco a crime punishable by depapitation.
- Sultan Ahmed I of Turkey reportedly ordered the noses of smokers to be pierced with pipestems.
- His son and eventual successor, Murad IV, took an even harder line: he had smokers executed as infidels.
- In Russia, smokers were flogged (beaten); the nostrils of repeat offenders were slit; persistent violatme of contact, it seemed logical that they were being protected by something in their environment.
The First Organized Antitobacco Movement in the United States Began in the 1830s.
- It was supported largely by temperance workers, who argued that smoking dried out the mouth, creating a morbid or diseased thirst that could be satisfied only by the whisky jug or the brandy bottle.
- The readers of one antitobacco tract were taken on a visit to the Realm of Satan, where Prime Minister Tobacco assisted King Alcohol in evil deeds.
- Tobacco was characterized as unnatural, unclean, unwholesome, unrefined, unattractive, ungentlemanly, and messy.
Used with special permission from the cartoonist, Randy Glasbergen.
Tobacco had its defenders.
- Many writers, both physicians and laymen, recommended smoking for health.
- Belief in the healing power of tobacco dates back to the 16th century.
- Since native Americans enjoyed uncommonly good health compared with Europeans at the tilme of contact, it seemed logical that they were being protected by something in their environment.
- Although the luster of tobacco as a panacea faded in the 18th century, it continued to be included in the materia medica until well into the 20th century.
- Many Victorian physicians believed that the heated smoke of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar would kill germs.
- Both the popular and the scientific press of that time carried periodic reports about the effectiveness of smoking as a disinfectant and prophylactic (a drug or agent that prevents the development of a disease; from Greek prophulassein, to keep guard in front of; from phulassein, to guard).
The Anti-tobacco Campaign Lost Its Momentum in the U.S. During the Mid-1850s.
- The growing conflict over slavery overshadowed other social issues.
- With the outbreak of the Civil War, the crusade vanished almost entirely from public view.
- By the 1880s, however, antismoking forces had regrouped, in response to the threat posed by a new enemy: the cigarette.
- Cigarettes of sorts date back to the Aztecs and the Maya, who smoked tobacco in hollow reeds, cornhusks, leaves, or, less commonly, paper.
- A prototype was first seen by Europeans in Mexico in 1518.
- Cigarettes were common enough by 1864 to be taxed for the first time.
- Still, they were slow to catch on as indicated by tax records.
- After decades of condemnation and renewed interest in smoking, the release of the 1988 Surgeon Generals Report on Smoking and Health, equating cigarettes with heroin and opium, brought the anti-smoking movement back into prominence.
End of Part 3 of 4 | <urn:uuid:0d882ab5-b523-4a2e-8194-dd261d620904> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://wordquests.info/cgi/ice2-for.cgi?file=/hsphere/local/home/scribejo/wordquests.info/htm/L-Gk-capnomaniaPt3.htm&HIGHLIGHT=anticigarette | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.958602 | 1,181 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Patents have a maximum term and cannot be renewed. This is part of the quid pro quo underlying modern patent law. The patentee gets exclusive rights for a limited time but then the technology disclosed in expired patents can be freely used by the public (in at least the jurisdiction that issued the patent). Knowing how to calculate patent term is therefore important in order to determine when a given patent has expired. But, for better or worse, the term of any given patent can vary. There is no single fixed term for all U.S. patents. And the applicable term is not always apparent on the face of a given patent. So how is patent term calculated for U.S. patents?
USPTO Patent Term Calculator
One of the simplest and most practical ways to determine the term of a given U.S. patent is to utilize a patent term calculator provided by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Using this downloadable spreadsheet requires inputting certain information about a given patent. Only some of the necessary information appears printed on a granted patent. Other information must be researched in USPTO records, mainly through Patent Center.
The advantage of the USPTO’s patent term calculator is that it can be used by anyone, even people who do not understand the applicable patent laws. However, it still requires ascertaining the correct information to enter in the spreadsheet. That requires knowing where to find such information. The patent term calculator also requires a level of confidence that the correct information is being entered. That is, it still requires knowing some of the terminology so that correct, relevant information is entered.
Read on for more information about the sorts of information relevant to proper patent term calculations.
What follows is a more detailed explanation of factors that determine the enforceable term of a given patent. These factors include factors that influence how to calculate a given patent’s term, as well as things that might cut short the enforceable term of a given patent. In any given instance, consulting with a knowledgeable patent attorney is recommend to determine the correct term of any given U.S. patent.
Type of Patent
Paten term first of all depends on the type of patent involved.
U.S. utility and plant patents have a basic term of 20 years from the relevant filing date (35 U.S.C. § 154)—there being some nuance about which filing date is used here.
A priority claim to a foreign patent application (stemming from the Paris Convention or a PCT application that did not designate the USA) or to a prior U.S. provisional patent application does not count against the term (35 U.S.C. § 154(a)(3)). This means a foreign priority or prior provisional filing can effectively extend patent term.
For regular PCT national phase entries to the USA, the PCT international filing date is used for term calculation (not the date of later U.S. national phase entry). That is, a PCT international application designating the United States is treated as a U.S. application (see 35 U.S.C. §§ 372 and 375), with the national phase being just a different phase of the same application. So an ordinary national phase entry into the United States does not, by itself, involve a “priority” claim–although there may additionally be a priority claim involved.
The so-called domestic benefit of a prior U.S. non-provisional application (that is, for a continuation, continuation-in-part, or divisional application under 35 U.S.C. §§ 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c), including PCT “bypass” applications) does count against patent term, so the term calculation should be based on the earliest such prior filing date. In other words, continuing applications that have priority/domestic benefit of a prior U.S. non-provisional application will have a reduced patent term. The related U.S. application data field (INID code 63) on the face of a patent, if present, can indicate an earlier filing date that may impact term.
Reissue patents are possible “for the unexpired part of the term of the original patent.” (35 U.S.C. § 251). This means that a reissue patent’s term is no longer than the term of the original patent, as subject to any extension or adjustment. It is possible that a reissue patent’s term could be shorter than that of the original patent (see discussion of terminal disclaimers below). But reissue does not lengthen patent term.
Filing Date and Changes in the Law
The laws around patent term have changed over time. Some patents applied for or granted prior to those changes in the law may be subject to a different term.
U.S. utility and plant patents applications filed before June 8, 1995 can have a term of 17 years from the date or grant rather than from the earliest applicable filing date. Any patent that was in force on June 8, 1995 will have a term that is the greater of the 20-year term as discussed above or 17 years from grant (35 U.S.C. § 154(c)).
For U.S. design patents, those issued from design applications filed before May 13, 2015 have a 14-year term from the date of grant (rather than 15-years from grant).
Of course, there may be future changes in the law that affect patent term calculations. And courts may issue decisions that affect the interpretation of laws that impact patent term calculations.
Patent Term Adjustment
Certain delays in examination can lead to an adjustment of patent term for a given original patent (but not for a reissue). This is called patent term adjustment (PTA) under 35 U.S.C. § 154(b). Normally, this PTA is calculated as the number of days beyond the basic 20-year term that the patent can remain in force. The PTA period normally appears on the face of each granted patent—typically in a “Notice” field denoted with an asterisk (*). The USPTO’s Patent Center portal also has a menu tab showing detailed PTA calculations for a given patent. However, it is possible for a patentee to challenge the USPTO’s PTA calculation in some circumstances, meaning the PTA period might be corrected later. PTA does not apply to design patents.
Patent Term Extension
Patentees can potentially obtain patent term extension (PTE) under 35 U.S.C. § 156 based upon premarket regulatory review of certain human drugs, food or color additives, medical devices, animal drugs, and veterinary biological products. This restores some term lost while awaiting premarket government approval from a regulatory agency. An application for PTE must be submitted within sixty (60) days of when permission for commercial marketing or use occurred. Patentees have to affirmatively apply for PTE, which is not automatically granted. Also, PTE is only possible for patents on certain types of subject matter; it does not apply to design or plant patents. § 156 PTE is not indicated on granted patents and must be researched in USPTO records, mainly through Patent Center.
A given patent may be subject to a disclaimer (35 U.S.C. § 253). The two types of disclaimers are a terminal disclaimer or a statutory disclaimer.
In a terminal disclaimer, the patentee disclaims or dedicates to the public a portion of the term of a given patent. That is, the term of the patent is shortened from what it might otherwise be. Terminal disclaimers are frequently used to overcome double patenting, by disclaiming the period of patent term (if any) that would extend beyond that of one or more other patents. They are also used when design patent applications are revived after abandonment, disclaiming a period of patent term equal to the period of abandonment. Terminal disclaimers do not affect § 156 PTE, however.
The USPTO has sometimes, but not always, printed an indication that a given patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer on the front page of the patent. But terminal disclaimers can also arise after a patent has been granted. In any event, the duration (and possibly also the existence) of a terminal disclaimer must be researched in the prosecution history of the relevant patent in USPTO records. This can generally be done using the online Patent Center portal and viewing the “Documents & Transactions”. Although the calculation of the disclaimed period may require additional research and analysis. For instance, it may be necessary to calculate the term of one or more other patents or a period of applicant delay for a design patent.
For statutory disclaimers, one or more claims of a patent are effectively surrendered. This means that some claims may no longer be in force, even though other ones might.
Lapse or Expiration for Non-Payment of Maintenance Fees
In order to keep a given U.S. utility or plant patent in force, periodic maintenance fees are required (35 U.S.C. § 41(b)). These are due by four, eight, and twelve years from the grant of the patent. However, there are no maintenance fees required for design patents.
If a maintenance fee is not paid on time, then the patent will lapse or expire. This means that a given patent might no longer be in force even though it has not yet reached its maximum possible term.
What makes lapses/expirations complicated is that the patentee may be able to reinstate (that is, revive) the patent if a maintenance fee payment deadline was missed unintentionally. This may give rise to intervening rights (35 U.S.C. § 41(c)(2)). So, significantly, the expiration or lapse of the U.S. patent due to a missed maintenance fee may not mean the final and absolute end of rights in that patent if late payment is accepted.
Terminology describing this lapses/expiration for non-payment of maintenance fees has varied. The USPTO currently tends to use “expiration” but “lapse” is a better term because it differentiates situations where revival is possible from those in which a patent’s term has expired because it has reached its maximum limit.
Invalidation and Cancellation
Patents can be invalidated by courts or cancelled by the USPTO, usually as the result of a challenge by another entity. This can affect all or merely some claims of a patent. Such an adverse ruling (after exhaustion of all rights of appeal) can end or limit rights in the patent short of its maximum possible term. It is necessary to research the existence and status of such an adverse ruling, if any.
Lastly, some patent numbers have been withdrawn by the USPTO. These were essentially never really patents in the first place, for various reasons, and thus have no term. Although, to complicate matters, the USPTO has also reinstated some previously withdrawn patents.
Laws Vary by Jurisdiction
The discussion above pertains only to U.S. patents. In other countries, laws may differ regarding the calculation of patent term, the availability of supplementary protection certificates, and so on.
Austen Zuege is an attorney at law and registered U.S. patent attorney in Minneapolis whose practice encompasses patents, trademarks, copyrights, domain name cybersquatting, IP agreements and licensing, freedom-to-operate studies, client counseling, and IP litigation. If you have patent, trademark, or other IP issues, he can help. | <urn:uuid:c625ea70-1f87-4481-a1f1-acefb9e238b9> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://www.blueovergray.com/calculate-patent-term/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.931076 | 2,407 | 2.734375 | 3 |
The CNC Controller
The CNC controller is the brain of a CNC system. A controller completes the all important link between a computer system and the mechanical components of a CNC machine. The controller's primary task is to receive conditioned signals from a computer or indexer and interpret those signals into mechanical motion through motor output. There are several components that make up a controller and each component works in unison to produce the desired motor movement.
The following sections will discuss the primary task of each component in the controller and how they work together to create a complete CNC system.
CNC Controller Sections
CNC Controllers background
This section covers the history of controllers and where they have advanced to today.
This section covers the components that make up a CNC controller system and how they work together to control the machine.
Open Vs. Closed Loop controllers
This section covers the difference between open and closed loop CNC systems
CNC Control Signals
This section covers how the control signals used by a controller system to operate
This section covers the function of a breakout board and how it integrated into a CNC system.
Communication Port pin information
Stepper Motor Drivers
This section covers stepper motor control. The different types of stepper motor drivers will be compared.
Uni-polar vs Bipolar Drivers
This Section covers the differences between uni-polar and bipolar stepper motor drivers.
Stepper Driver Step Modes
This Section covers the different step modes such as Full, Half, and Microstepping.
Buying Stepper Motor Drivers
This section covers the features to look for when buying stepper motor driver.
Servo Motor Drivers
This section covers servo motor control. The different types of servo motor drivers will be compared.
This section covers enclosures for your controller hardware. Often overlooked, the enclosure is an important part. Bad enclosures can cause overheating or shorts due to debris.
This section covers generic controller prices. What you should expect to pay and also some tips for saving money.
Where to buy controllers?
This section list a few good resources for buy controller parts and kits.
Controller Power Supplies
This section covers the power supply. Choosing the right power source is crucial for proper machine function.
Back to the Builder's Guide
The Builder's Guide
Check out the Builder's Guide. The Builder's guide walks you through the important decisions and design considerations when building your own CNC router.
Check out the calculators and charts section.
Check out the CNC Controllers section. The CNC controllers sections convers all aspects of CNC control; Stepper motor control, Servo Motor Control...
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Título: Geometrical Tools to Teaching Azeotropy Using Simplified Thermodynamic Models
Autores: PLATT, G. M.; LOBATO, F. S.; MOURA-NETO, F. D.; LIBOTTE, G. B.; GOULART, D. A.
Revista: International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 1(1), 1-15, 2021.
Resumo: In this work we propose a geometric view of the azeotropy problem, using some simplified models. We demonstrate that the occurrence of azeotropes in binary mixtures can be viewed - geometrically - as the intersection of curves in the plane (for some models, these curves are parabolas). Furthermore, the idea of functions from the plane to the plane is used to understand the azeotropic phenomenon. These ideas are illustrated with two simple cases, with one and two azeotropes, allowing the analysis of a nonusual thermodynamic behavior - such as double azeotropy - with simple mathematical tools, by undergraduate students in Chemical Engineering courses.
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The Cambrian explosion of widely used programming languages, D, Python, Scala, Go, Swift, R, Lua, and so forth, is prima facie evidence that computers must start to write code themselves; People alone can't handle the complexity. One approach to self programming is automated inference based on a logical language (e.g. Cyc from Cycorp). Others are problem decomposition, abstraction and chunking (e.g. Soar) and genetic programming. Finally, a very new, one is the "Neural Turing Machine". Imagine the power of combining these approaches. | <urn:uuid:06ea816f-2bf3-4e0c-964a-c5767450eef5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://www.michaelwitbrock.com/2014/12/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.916358 | 121 | 2.53125 | 3 |
The project consists of a weed inventory along roads in the Lapwai and Big Canyon Creek watersheds. The survey was conducted in 2005 and 2006 and was funded by the Bonneville Power Administration as part of an anadromous fish restoration effort. The project was completed by the Nez Perce Soil and Water Conservation District.
Noxious weeds are an ever-increasing threat to native ecosystems. Weeds have a variety of detrimental effects including degrading wildlife habitat, crowding out beneficial native plants, choking steams and waterways, poisoning or injuring livestock and humans, and fouling recreation sites (Prather et al. 2002).
Weeds can affect anadromous fish habitat in many ways. Most weeds are annuals, which typically have less extensive root systems than the perennial native riparian vegetation. Most native riparian vegetation root systems provide stability for stream banks and reduce erosion. Weeds will also crowd out wetland plants common along stream banks and transitional areas. Many wetland plants act as filters reducing excess nutrients and trapping fine sediments before they reach the stream. Additionally due to their highly competitive life strategies, weeds can reduce recruitment of trees and shrubs which provide canopy cover that help maintain cool water temperatures.
Noxious weeds cost the U.S. $7.4 billion in lost productivity and $300 million is lost due to weeds in Idaho alone. Noxious weeds can spread at an alarming rate, increasing their acreage up to 14 percent per year (ISDA 1999). Roads are one of the primary pathways noxious weeds are spread across the landscape (Sheley et al. 2002, and Rooney et al. 2004). Weeds generally establish quicker in the disturbed, open areas along road corridors, and they often out-compete native vegetation in areas of disturbance.
- Obtain a baseline weed inventory for public roads within the watershed.
- Identify target weeds for management. | <urn:uuid:656b5f58-1fb1-4158-aff3-9b4c27449dd9> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://www.nezperceswcd.org/Programs/Invasive-Species/Noxious-Weed-Program/Mapping/-Roadside-Weed-Inventory | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.943481 | 389 | 3.5 | 4 |
The Gram-negative bacteria is a significant reason behind nosocomial infections, among immunocompromised patients primarily. responsible for approximately 15% of buy 182498-32-4 Gram-negative attacks in medical center intensive care systems (ICUs) (1), mainly affecting immunocompromised sufferers (2). Lately, the risk posed by provides markedly increased using the introduction of strains resistant to carbapenem antibiotics (3)and their worldwide dissemination (4, 5). Attacks due to carbapenem-resistant strains possess few treatment plans (6, 7)and areassociated with mortality prices up to 50% (8, 9). Although multiple level of resistance mechanisms have buy 182498-32-4 already been discovered (10), carbapenem level of resistance in america is primarily due to the plasmid-encoded carbapenemase (KPC) gene (5). Exacerbating the issues from the introduction of these extremely buy 182498-32-4 resistant strains of is normally their propensity to trigger outbreaks in healthcare institutions (11C13). Much like most nosocomial pathogens, multiple-drug level of resistance offers natural selective benefit (11), that allows such microorganisms to persist both in the flora of hospitalized sufferers and in a healthcare facility environment, where antibiotic usage is normally widespread. More particular to is normally its capability to silently colonize individuals or buy 182498-32-4 hospital personnel (14), that is, by establishing residence in the gastrointestinal tract without causing any indications of infection. Individuals could be colonized or asymptomatic providers for extended periods of time silently, with detection of the providers often proving tough (12). These silent providers become reservoirs for continuing transmitting that make pass on difficult to regulate and outbreaks tough to avoid (13). Furthermore, can survive for many hours over the tactile hands of medical center workers, which most likely facilitates nosocomial spread (15). Effective control of outbreaks takes a detailed knowledge of how transmitting occurs. Molecular keying in approaches, such as for example pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multi-locus series typing, have already been utilized to classify andthusunderstandits regional and global dissemination (16, 17). Nevertheless, the high clonality (16, 18) creates problems in monitoring outbreaks because obtainable methods might not offer sufficient resolution to tell apart intrainstitutional pass on from launch of carefully related strains from various other health care services. In america, KPC-isolates are clonal highly, with 70% owned by series type (ST) 258 (16). With speedy technological developments, whole-genome sequencing is normally rising as the silver regular in bacterial keying in (19, 20). Achievement in tracking world-wide epidemics (21C24), buy 182498-32-4 local outbreaks (23, 25), food-borne outbreaks (26, 27), and bioterrorism realtors (28) has showed that the great resolution supplied by whole-genome sequencing facilitates our knowledge of the pass on of infectious realtors. The continuing improvements in turnaround period and ease of access of DNA sequencing technology are now getting close to a spot where genomic data could be generated within a medically relevant timeframe. Genome sequencing continues to be applied lately to nosocomial strains (29C32)but with limited research size or range in reconstructing transmitting links during the outbreak. Right here, we used whole-genome sequencing to monitor an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant on the U.S. Country wide Institutes of Wellness (NIH) Clinical Middle that colonized 18 individuals, with 6 fatalities due to infection. We created an algorithm to reconstruct the outbreak transmissions predicated on whole-genome sequencing of isolates and epidemiological data that monitored the positioning of individuals throughout their medical center stays. June 2011 Outcomes Summary of outbreak On 13, individual 1 was used in our ICU from a medical center in NEW YORK and was discharged on 15 July. She was regarded as colonized with carbapenem-resistant and was instantly placed in improved get in touch with isolation in an exclusive room where staff and site visitors must don gloves and dresses for admittance. During her stay, she spent two 24-hour stints in the ICU. Another example of the KPC-isolate had not been observed in medical or surveil-lance ethnicities until August 5 when it had been cultured through the tracheal aspirate of individual 2. If the two KPC-infections had been related was unclear, specifically as the two individuals had been under no circumstances housed in the same ward at the same time (Fig. 1, A and B). Repeated polymerase chain response (PCR) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (fig. S1) determined both affected person isolates as owned by the epidemic ST 258 lineage. Nevertheless, due to the ubiquity of ST 258 in U.S. private hospitals (16) and enough GRK7 time lag between individual presentations, both nosocomial transmitting and 3rd party introductions had been deemed feasible. Fig. 1 Individual location and overlap during the outbreak. (A) Timeline of first positive cultures of the outbreak strain for the 18 affected patients. (B) Patient.
- In the meantime, the phosphinate inhibitors symbolize a valuable starting point for further development of drug-like inhibitors against this target
- Unsurprisingly, the prices of treatment adjustments because of undesirable events have a tendency to end up being higher in community practice (Feinberg em et al /em , 2012; Oh em et al /em , 2014) than what’s generally reported in scientific trials
- Cells were analyzed by stream cytometry
- Cells were treated with the anti-FcR mAb 2
- Specifically, we compared surface markers and APM component expression in iDC
- Hello world! on | <urn:uuid:3bf2f7b6-d5da-4166-9594-dd0cb9690cd9> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://www.rawveronica.com/2017/07/14/the-gram-negative-bacteria-is-a-significant-reason-behind-nosocomial-infections-among/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.943168 | 1,216 | 2.671875 | 3 |
During my poster session at ISTE, I must have been asked dozens of times: “When do students use your Makerspace? How do you organize scheduling?”
I am in a magnet middle school on a flexible schedule. I have a very supportive administration and staff and an enthusiastic student body that’s eager to learn. I realize that these circumstances won’t apply to everyone and that I’m very lucky to be in the place that I’m in.
That being said, here’s how and when students at Stewart Middle Magnet use our Makerspace:
How We Schedule our Space:
Throughout the day
Our school allows teachers to write students passes to come to the library for a variety of reasons, including (but not limited to) checking out books, using a computer, working on projects and free time. In general, a student needs to have a pass that either says free time or makerspace to use the makerspace area. Our teachers often use this as an incentive, rewarding students for improved grades or behavior – they’ll often build a little extra time into their class schedule for this purpose. It’s also great for students who finish up their work early and get bored in class. The number of students coming in on passes varies wildly from one day to the next.
Often, students will be sent to the library in groups for checkout. When the first couple students finish and are waiting for the others to select their books, they used to get bored and hurry the other students along. Now, they’ll often tinker with a quick LEGO project or doodle on our whiteboard wall. This use doesn’t make for in-depth projects, but it’s a great way for students to get in a little tinkering.
As a media specialist, I’ve built up a collaborative relationship with several teachers at my school. Now that we have a Makerspace, I’ve started incorporating it into our lessons when it fits. I schedule classes in our library regularly, so the makerspace has naturally become a part of that. One of my favorite lessons this year combined written conversation strategies and building coral reef models out of LEGOs. I plan on expanding this more.
During school STEAM club
Being in a magnet school, many of my students have to ride the bus for over an hour to get here. This means that our main clubs have to happen during school hours. Last year, we created a club system where clubs met for one hour every Monday, and the grades having clubs rotate. So one week I’ll have 60 sixth graders, the next I’ll have 50 seventh graders, etc. These are generally large groups of students (between 50 and 80) and I have one other teacher that helps me run things. With so many students, there isn’t really enough room or supplies for focused, in-depth design challenges or having everyone work on the same thing. Instead, I set up a variety of stations throughout the library. The computer lab is set up for coding and games, the LEGO wall and K’nex table are made available. In the instructional area, I have such stations as loom weaving, origami, Snap Circuits, Perler beads, etc. Other items like Sphero and littleBits are available as well, but the students have to ask for them. One station that ended up surprising me with its popularity is our interactive whiteboard. I had a coding game open on it once for STEAM club, and a student chose to open up Paint instead. Rather than scold them for it, I was excited to see just how much the students loved getting to draw on the board. It’s always a big hit and students will often save jpegs of their works on the computer.
After school Stewart Makers club
We don’t have a huge amount of participation in after school clubs at my school, but I had a small but mighty group of about 10-15 students in my afterschool STEAM club this year. We met twice a week for an hour and a half (this year will be just once a week) and the students had free time to work on their own projects, as well as collaborative design challenges. Some of our challenges included our Cardboard challenge, Catapult challenge and MaKeyMaKey challenge (last two done in collaboration with Colleen Graves and her students).
This coming school year, I plan to have more design challenges with this group. I’m also inviting members of our local Maker community to come in for different lessons and workshops for my students, like Arduino and Brushbots. I’m also hoping to emphasize our Mini MakerFair more this year and maybe have more than one.
4-23-16 Edited to Add: Our afterschool Stewart Makers Club has grown a LOT since I originally wrote this post. Check out this more recent post to see how the program has changed.
What are your scheduling logistics? When do students utilize your school Makerspace?
On a fixed schedule? Here’s a couple examples of libraries making fixed schedule makerspaces work: | <urn:uuid:d808ab0a-1cb0-40f0-a5ad-511bfd635fa5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://www.renovatedlearning.com/2015/09/15/logistics-of-a-makerspace-scheduling/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.959776 | 1,069 | 2.6875 | 3 |
You know how important it is to stay healthy, right? Well, what if I told you that peak health could actually play a crucial role in preventing diseases? It’s true! In this article, we’ll explore the connection between peak health and disease prevention, highlighting the ways in which taking care of your body can significantly reduce your risk of falling ill. So, get ready to discover how your everyday choices and habits can make a world of difference in protecting your overall well-being.
The Importance of Peak Health
Understanding Peak Health
Peak health refers to the optimal state of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It is a state where you feel energized, strong, and resilient. Achieving and maintaining peak health is crucial for overall well-being and disease prevention. When you are in peak health, your body functions at its best, allowing it to effectively fight off illnesses and maintain a strong immune system.
Factors Influencing Peak Health
Several factors contribute to achieving and maintaining peak health. These include genetics, lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and access to healthcare. While genetics play a role in determining your overall health, lifestyle choices have a significant impact on reaching peak health. Making informed choices about exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and other aspects of wellness can greatly influence your overall health and well-being.
Benefits of Achieving Peak Health
Striving for peak health offers numerous benefits. Not only does it lower the risk of developing chronic diseases, but it also enhances overall wellness. When you achieve peak health, you experience increased energy levels, improved mood, better cognitive function, and enhanced physical fitness. Additionally, peak health improves your body’s ability to fight off infections, reduces the severity and duration of illnesses, and promotes faster recovery.
Connection between Peak Health and Disease Prevention
Maintaining a Strong Immune System
A strong immune system is essential for disease prevention, and achieving peak health plays a vital role in boosting immune function. When you prioritize your well-being through proper nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep, your immune system becomes better equipped to fight off harmful pathogens. Consuming a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provides the necessary nutrients to strengthen your immune system and reduce the risk of infections.
Reducing the Risk of Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, are major health concerns worldwide. However, practicing healthy lifestyle habits associated with peak health can significantly reduce the risk of these diseases. Regular exercise helps maintain cardiovascular health, reduces the risk of obesity, and improves insulin sensitivity. Eating a balanced diet low in processed foods and sugars can protect against diabetes and heart disease. By prioritizing peak health, you can minimize the likelihood of developing these chronic conditions.
Promoting Overall Wellness
Peak health encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By striving for peak health, you prioritize overall wellness, leading to a higher quality of life. Engaging in healthy lifestyle practices fosters emotional resilience, improves mental health, and enhances cognitive function. When you feel your best, you are better equipped to handle stress, maintain positive relationships, and make choices that positively impact your well-being.
Healthy Lifestyle Practices for Disease Prevention
Regular exercise is a cornerstone of maintaining peak health and preventing disease. Engaging in physical activity not only helps manage weight but also strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves bone density, and boosts mental health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking or cycling, each week, along with strength training exercises twice a week for optimal health benefits.
Proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in disease prevention and maintaining peak health. Focus on consuming a variety of nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Limit the intake of processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive sodium. A balanced diet provides essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that support overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Sleep is essential for the body’s restoration and plays a critical role in disease prevention. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to promote optimal health. Sufficient sleep enhances immune function, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and improves mental well-being. Establish a consistent sleep routine, create a comfortable sleep environment, and limit screen time before bed to improve the quality of your sleep.
Chronic stress can have detrimental effects on your health and well-being. Implementing stress management techniques is crucial for disease prevention and achieving peak health. Find healthy outlets to manage stress, such as exercise, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or engaging in hobbies. Prioritize self-care and establish boundaries to minimize stressors in your life. By effectively managing stress, you can lower the risk of developing stress-related conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular diseases.
Hydration is often overlooked but is a critical aspect of maintaining peak health and preventing diseases. Aim to drink at least 8 cups (64 ounces) of water per day, or more if you engage in physical activity or live in a hot climate. Staying hydrated supports metabolic health, aids digestion, regulates body temperature, and promotes healthy skin. Carry a reusable water bottle and make it a habit to sip water throughout the day to ensure proper hydration.
Limiting Alcohol Consumption
While moderate alcohol consumption may have some health benefits, excessive drinking poses significant risks to your well-being. Limit your alcohol intake to moderate levels, which means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver disease, certain types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health disorders. Be mindful of your alcohol consumption and seek support if you feel you have difficulty moderating your intake.
Smoking is a leading cause of preventable diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. Quitting smoking is one of the most impactful steps you can take for your health and disease prevention. Seek resources, support, and professional guidance to quit smoking successfully. By quitting, you reduce the risk not only for yourself but also for those around you who may be exposed to secondhand smoke.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is vital for disease prevention and achieving peak health. Obesity is a risk factor for various chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Strive for a healthy weight through a combination of regular exercise, balanced nutrition, portion control, and mindful eating. Consult with a healthcare professional if you need guidance or support in managing your weight effectively.
The Role of Nutrition in Disease Prevention
Essential Nutrients for Peak Health
A well-rounded diet that includes essential nutrients is crucial for disease prevention and maintaining peak health. These nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. Carbohydrates provide energy, proteins support tissue repair and muscle function, fats are essential for hormone production and nutrient absorption, vitamins and minerals play key roles in bodily functions, and water aids in digestion and metabolism. Ensure your diet includes a variety of foods that provide all these essential nutrients.
Chronic inflammation is associated with the development of various diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into your diet can help reduce inflammation and promote disease prevention. Include foods such as fatty fish (rich in omega-3 fatty acids), berries, leafy greens, nuts, olive oil, and spices like turmeric and ginger. These foods contain antioxidants and compounds that combat inflammation and support overall health.
Antioxidants and Disease Prevention
Antioxidants are compounds found in many fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods. They help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, which can cause cellular damage and lead to the development of diseases. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can contribute to disease prevention. Include colorful fruits and vegetables like berries, oranges, spinach, and bell peppers in your meals to boost your antioxidant intake.
Probiotics and Gut Health
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in overall health and disease prevention. Consuming probiotics, beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi, can help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria. A healthy gut microbiome supports digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function, and even mental health. Incorporate probiotic-rich foods into your diet to promote optimal gut health and disease prevention.
Exercise and Disease Prevention
Regular exercise is a cornerstone for cardiovascular health and disease prevention. Engaging in aerobic activities such as running, swimming, or cycling helps strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and lower the risk of heart disease. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week to maintain optimal cardiovascular health.
Physical activity plays a crucial role in weight management, which is closely linked to disease prevention. Regular exercise helps burn calories, build lean muscle mass, and maintain a healthy weight. By incorporating strength training exercises into your routine, you can boost your metabolism and improve body composition. Combined with a balanced diet, exercise promotes weight loss and reduces the risk of obesity-related diseases.
Strengthening the Immune System
Exercise is not only beneficial for cardiovascular health and weight management but also plays a role in strengthening the immune system. Moderate-intensity exercise increases the circulation of immune cells in the body, helping to fight off infections. However, it’s important to note that excessive exercise or overtraining can actually weaken the immune system. Finding the right balance and incorporating regular physical activity into your routine can support immune function and disease prevention.
Reducing the Risk of Chronic Diseases
Regular exercise is a powerful tool in reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Physical activity helps lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, regulate blood sugar, and maintain healthy body weight. By engaging in regular exercise, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Make exercise a regular part of your lifestyle to reap the disease-preventing benefits.
Mental Health Benefits
Exercise not only benefits physical health but also has a positive impact on mental well-being. Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins, also known as “feel-good” hormones, which can improve mood and reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Regular exercise also promotes better sleep quality, enhances cognitive function, and boosts self-esteem. By prioritizing exercise, you can take steps towards improved mental health and overall disease prevention.
Sleep and Disease Prevention
Sleep and Immune Function
Adequate sleep is crucial for maintaining a strong immune system and preventing diseases. During sleep, the body repairs and rejuvenates itself, and the immune system strengthens. Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality can impair immune function, making you more susceptible to infections and diseases. Prioritize getting enough high-quality sleep to support your immune system and reduce the risk of illnesses.
Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases
Sufficient sleep is closely associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases. Inadequate sleep is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. By consistently getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep, you can improve heart health and reduce the likelihood of developing cardiovascular conditions. Create a bedtime routine and establish a sleep-friendly environment to enhance the quality and duration of your sleep.
Improved Mental Health
Quality sleep is essential for mental well-being. Sleep deprivation can contribute to mood disturbances, increased stress levels, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Conversely, getting enough sleep improves cognitive function, emotional resilience, and overall mental health. Prioritize sleep hygiene practices and create a peaceful sleep environment to support your mental well-being and reduce the risk of mental health issues.
Enhanced Cognitive Function
Adequate sleep plays a crucial role in cognitive function, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. During sleep, the brain consolidates and processes information, enhancing learning and memory retention. By prioritizing quality sleep, you can enhance your cognitive abilities and reduce the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Maintaining healthy sleep habits is vital for optimal brain function and disease prevention.
Stress Management and Disease Prevention
Effects of Chronic Stress on Health
Chronic stress can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. Prolonged periods of elevated stress levels can contribute to the development of various diseases, including cardiovascular conditions, immune system dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorders, and mental health disorders. Recognizing the impact of chronic stress on health is crucial for disease prevention. By effectively managing stress, you can lower the risk of stress-related health issues and promote overall well-being.
Stress Reduction Techniques
Implementing stress reduction techniques can significantly contribute to disease prevention. Find healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, such as practicing relaxation techniques, engaging in hobbies or activities you enjoy, spending time in nature, or seeking support from loved ones or professionals. Experiment with different techniques and identify what works best for you in relieving stress. By prioritizing stress reduction, you can enhance your overall health and well-being.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation practices offer powerful tools for stress management and disease prevention. These practices involve focusing on the present moment, cultivating awareness, and embracing a non-judgmental attitude. Regular mindfulness and meditation can reduce stress levels, improve emotional well-being, and enhance overall resilience. Incorporate these practices into your daily routine to promote stress reduction and disease prevention.
Exercise as a Stress Reliever
Physical activity is not only crucial for physical health but also serves as an excellent stress reliever. Engaging in exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which are natural mood boosters. Regular physical activity helps reduce stress levels, improve sleep quality, increase self-confidence, and enhance overall well-being. Find activities you enjoy and make exercise a regular part of your routine to effectively manage stress and promote disease prevention.
Hydration and Disease Prevention
Importance of Staying Hydrated
Staying hydrated is vital for overall health and disease prevention. Water is involved in numerous bodily functions, including digestion, nutrient absorption, temperature regulation, and waste removal. Proper hydration helps maintain optimal organ function, enhances cognitive performance, and supports overall well-being. Make it a habit to drink water throughout the day and pay attention to your body’s hydration needs.
Benefits for Metabolic Health
Adequate hydration plays a key role in metabolic health. Water is essential for optimal digestion and nutrient absorption, which are crucial for maintaining a healthy metabolism. Proper hydration can help regulate appetite, support weight management, and improve overall metabolic function. Stay hydrated to promote metabolic health and reduce the risk of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes.
Effects on Digestion
Water intake is closely linked to digestive health. Sufficient hydration promotes regular bowel movements, aids in preventing constipation, and supports optimal digestion. Additionally, staying hydrated helps the body break down food efficiently and ensures the proper absorption of nutrients. If you struggle with digestive issues, consider increasing your water intake to support digestion and improve gastrointestinal health.
Proper hydration is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Water helps moisturize the skin, flushes out toxins, and promotes a radiant complexion. Dehydration can lead to dry skin, accelerated aging, and increased vulnerability to skin problems. By staying hydrated, you can support skin health, reduce the risk of skin conditions, and maintain a youthful appearance.
Alcohol Consumption and Disease Prevention
Moderation and Health
Moderate alcohol consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle for some individuals. It is defined as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. However, it is important to note that not everyone should consume alcohol, and some individuals may need to avoid it due to health conditions or personal circumstances. Always consult with a healthcare professional to understand what is appropriate for your individual health needs.
Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a range of serious health conditions. Heavy drinking can lead to liver diseases, including alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and stroke. Additionally, alcohol misuse can contribute to mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and alcohol addiction. Understand the potential risks of alcohol consumption and make informed choices to prioritize your health.
Potential Risks of Excessive Drinking
Excessive alcohol consumption poses significant risks to your health and well-being. It can contribute to an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast, liver, and esophageal cancer. Heavy drinking also weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and diseases. Additionally, alcohol misuse can impair judgment, increase the risk of accidents and injuries, and damage relationships. Be aware of the potential risks, and if you suspect you or someone you know may have an alcohol problem, seek professional help and support.
Tips for Responsible Drinking
If you choose to drink alcohol, it is important to do so responsibly. Set limits for yourself and stick to moderate drinking guidelines. Pace your consumption, drink water between alcoholic beverages, and avoid binge drinking. Never drink and drive, and be mindful of the impact of alcohol on your behavior and decision-making abilities. By adopting responsible drinking habits, you can minimize the potential risks associated with alcohol consumption.
Weight Management and Disease Prevention
Obesity and Chronic Diseases
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for disease prevention. Excess weight, especially obesity, is associated with an increased risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders. By managing your weight within a healthy range, you can significantly reduce the risk of developing obesity-related diseases and promote overall well-being.
Balancing Caloric Intake and Physical Activity
Weight management involves finding a balance between caloric intake and physical activity. To maintain a healthy weight, energy intake should match energy expenditure. Consuming a balanced diet, rich in whole foods and appropriate portions, while engaging in regular physical activity, can help achieve this balance. Avoid crash diets or extreme calorie restrictions, as they are generally ineffective and can be detrimental to your health. Consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian to develop a personalized plan that supports weight management and disease prevention.
Healthy Approaches to Weight Loss
Weight loss, when needed, is best achieved through healthy and sustainable practices. Aim for gradual weight loss, typically 1-2 pounds per week, by creating a calorie deficit through a combination of diet and exercise. Focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods, controlling portion sizes, and reducing the intake of processed foods, sugary beverages, and unhealthy fats. Incorporate regular physical activity into your routine to support weight loss efforts. Sustainable weight loss not only helps prevent diseases but also improves overall well-being.
Medical Support for Weight Management
If you struggle with weight management, seeking medical support can be beneficial. Healthcare professionals, such as doctors, registered dietitians, and weight management specialists, can provide personalized guidance and support. They can help you develop a customized plan, address underlying health issues, and provide strategies to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. When it comes to weight management and disease prevention, it is important to approach it holistically and seek professional guidance when needed.
In conclusion, achieving and maintaining peak health is vital for disease prevention and overall well-being. By prioritizing healthy lifestyle practices such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition, quality sleep, stress management, hydration, and maintaining a healthy weight, you can enhance your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Additionally, understanding the role of nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, and other factors in disease prevention allows you to make informed choices that positively impact your health. Striving for peak health promotes a stronger immune system, reduces the risk of chronic diseases, and enhances overall wellness. Embrace these practices and make your health a priority to experience the benefits of peak health and disease prevention. | <urn:uuid:4d84e4ed-3a0d-4295-83cf-3afa0a1a4182> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://101healthfitness.com/can-peak-health-help-in-disease-prevention/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.930527 | 4,138 | 3.109375 | 3 |
In the summer of 1959, just off of South Boulevard, the Charlotte Fire Department was dispatched to a Charlotte Chemical Company during the demolition process. The crews found a large vat of materials that were left behind in the basement and there was a fire burning within the vat. The firefighters assumed the burning material was burning kerosene and began to attack the fire as such only for it to increase in heat and intensity. Running out of ideas and options, the crew made the decision to apply foam. The vat exploded.
When it was all said and done, 13 firefighters were injured in total. Several had critical injuries and one lost both of his ears and most of his face forcing him to retire from fire fighting. Another later committed suicide from his injuries.
It was later discovered that heavy rains had penetrated the exposed vat in the earlier months which contained metallic sodium sealed in kerosene. The water and sodium reacted causing the kerosene the start the fire within the vat. During this time period, vats were not labeled with what types of materials were enclosed so the firefighters had no way of knowing what they were up against. This had a profound effect on the Charlotte Fire Department and they began researching ways of training for these types of fires, ensuring protective clothing was more accessible, and expanded the fire prevention inspection program. Later, Fire Marshall J. F. Morris developed a system that would properly mark when a building contained hazardous materials.
Photo Credit: CharlotteNC.Gov
The system was a diamond shaped placard containing 4 boxes that indicated the presence of haz-mats, levels of flammability, health hazards, and reactivity. Later the system would be adopted by the National Fire Protection Agency as the Standard 704.
That's it for this week! | <urn:uuid:8709cfa1-ca20-4db5-b496-3c2002309f08> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://704shop.com/blogs/fact-friday/fact-friday-153-charlottes-haz-mat-history | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.979012 | 361 | 3.6875 | 4 |
Did You Know Quincy Has Ties To The Underground Railroad?
Quincy is home to beautiful architecture, many of the buildings and homes date back to the 1800's. However, did you know there is one house in Quincy that help rescued a slave through the Underground Railroad?
Located at 415 Jersey in Quincy, The house known as the Dr. Eells House was used to help a slave escape. According to Arts Quincy, the story goes...
Dr. Eells was an outspoken abolitionist who helped an escaped enslaved man named Charley from Missouri in 1842. Charley was soon captured and the escape attempt failed. Dr. Eells was found guilty of harboring a fugitive and other charges. His case made its way through appeals all the way to the Supreme Court. Although Dr. Eells died with the conviction on his record, he now is remembered for his efforts to create equality and abolish slavery.
In 2015, former Quincy Mayor Chuck Scholz and president of the organization to help restore the home, John Cornell, worked together to have Dr. Eells pardoned. The argument worked as Dr. Eells was pardoned by then Governor Pat Quinn.
The organization, Friends of Dr. Richard Eells, keep telling the story of the brave doctor who risked it all to help slaves escape. If you would like to learn more about the Underground Railroad and the story of Dr. Eells, the Historical Society of Quincy & Adams County's website has much more to read about. The house still stands today at 415 Jersey St. in Quincy and in-person tours will resume this spring. | <urn:uuid:eb5fb047-3f7f-432f-ae9a-b968f7b355b5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://979kickfm.com/did-you-know-quincy-has-ties-to-the-underground-railroad/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.976399 | 326 | 3.15625 | 3 |
The main message that gets conveyed from “The Pardoner’s Tale” is morality sets in on all aspects of being an ethical human being. Be that as it may, Chaucer additionally needs to persuade us to understand that as far as anyone knows heavenly individuals from the Congregation can be malevolent and degenerate like the Pardoner. “The Pardoner’s Tale” from The Canterbury Tales tells a story about three men who emphasize the theme that “greed is the root of all evil.” The movie A Simple Plan is a modern version of the basic story and theme. So, the film makes a bunch of changes to characters and plot that makes the story increasingly perplexing and influences a definitive message, in spite of the fact that greed is the essential message of the story.
In the story, there are three men who are characterized as rioters. The three men were so-called ‘drunks’ in the story, and were at a pub before 9:00 A.M. In the story, the three rioters did not have a strong suit in education. The Pardoner’s belief was everyone has grief and he will be the one to cure it because people are susceptible to corruption. However, in the movie, Hank (one of the men) is working at a feed store. Two brothers, one a mild-mannered hardware store manager, the other an unemployed slob and a friend. Hank was portrayed as the all typical American man. In the movie, it also shows that Hank has a Spouse whose name is Sarah and she is pregnant with their first baby. When Hank and Sarah are displayed in a simplistic scene in their bedroom comforting the baby, the two depict that they are content with what they have going for them and are living the American Dream. As this comes unexpected, this is generally not the same as the narratives outlook.
How to story is developed in “The Pardoner’s Tale” is vastly different from the movie The Simple Plan. In the story, the three men find out why there is a funeral procession going by and the boy responds “This man named death is in town and is killing people.” The story compared it to the Black Plague. As a result, the three rioters take off on their mission to go conquer death. When the three men go to a tree stump they discover a ton of money. There rapid thinking comes into play that it was pitch of day and it was to light out to take the money back with them. So, they all come to the conclusion to depart at night time when it is pitch black out. However, in the movie the plan is drastically different. At some point, Hank goes out with his sibling Jacob,and Jacob’s companion Lou, the town alcoholic. Hank and Jacob visit their dad’s grave, and in transit home a fox keeps running before Jacob’s truck, making them to crash into a tree. Lou demands that the three seek after the fox into the forested areas to murder it. The three men get into the forested areas. Simply at that point, the men find a smashed plane. Inside is a dead body with no ID and a pack containing a few million dollars in real money. Hank needs to call the police, however Lou demands that the three split the cash. Hank is hesitant, apprehensive that they will just all get stuck in an unfortunate situation. He at long last concurs on the condition that he be permitted to keep the cash until spring, and if nobody comes searching for it, they will part it and leave town.
Long story short, the two men plan an assassination on the other rioter while he left to get wine and food to celebrate. Furthermore, the man in town was also thinking on a strategie to keep the money for himself so he bought poison. As the rioter comes to meeting spot the two rioters start patting him on the back and they both executed him by stabbing him in the back. Then when they drank the wine they both died instantaneously. | <urn:uuid:95412198-7bd6-4c47-8d36-b3108b1da153> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://academicassignmentexperts.com/the-pardoner-vs-a-simple-plan/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.976893 | 844 | 2.515625 | 3 |
How parents’ work stress affects family mealtimes and children’s development
URBANA, Ill. – Family mealtimes are important for parents and children as a space to communicate, socialize, and build attachment relationships. But it can be difficult for busy parents to balance family and work life. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores how parents’ job stress influences their attendance at family mealtimes, and in turn, children’s socioemotional development.
“We all struggle to maintain the balance between work life and family life. But this might be especially challenging for parents, who are engaging in childcare after a busy and stressful day at work. And when it comes to co-parenting in dual-earner families, which comprises 65% of families with children in United States, we do not know much about how mothers and fathers share caregiving roles under work stress,” said lead author Sehyun Ju, doctoral student in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at U. of I.
The study included data from more than 1,400 dual-earner families, consisting of heterosexual married couples with children, in a nationally representative survey that traced children’s development across family, home, child care, and school environments from 9 months to kindergarten. The researchers focused on the interplay of child characteristics, family mealtimes, and parents’ job and financial dissatisfaction.
“We found that children of parents who expressed higher work-related stress when the children were 2 years old had lower socioemotional competency at age 4 to 5, measured by lower positive and higher negative social behaviors,” Ju explained.
There were significant differences regarding the impact of mothers’ and fathers’ work stress. For mothers, higher job dissatisfaction did not impact frequency of family mealtimes; however, it was directly associated with lower socioemotional competency in their children.
On the other hand, fathers who had higher job and financial dissatisfaction were less likely to attend family mealtimes with their children, and this in turn resulted in the children having lower socioemotional competency at age 4 to 5.
“Even when the mother increased her mealtime presence to compensate for the father’s absence, the child’s socioemotional development was still negatively impacted. This indicates fathers may have a unique influence that cannot be replaced by the mother. Future intervention programs should help both parents obtain a better balance between work and family, and highlight the importance of family routines to promote healthy child development,” stated co-author Qiujie Gong, a doctoral student in HDFS.
The findings speak to the pervasiveness of traditional gender roles, added Karen Kramer, associate professor in HDFS and co-author on the study. “Mothers are considered primary caregivers, and they are expected to be present and feed their children no matter what. The study showed they didn't adjust their mealtime frequencies in response to job dissatisfaction as fathers did.”
Kramer notes the study is unique in combining topics from different disciplines, including psychology, sociology, economics, and nutrition, and connecting them in a holistic way that provides insights for policy measures.
“We have to acknowledge the challenges that families face in creating consistent routines. It’s not just an outcome of individual influences. Outside factors, such as parents’ work environment and financial situation can affect their interactions, mealtimes, and child development. For example, dinner time for young kids is typically around five or six o'clock, but the expectation that parents are home early in the day doesn’t align with being an ideal worker. Policy initiatives to help provide a work environment and community support that facilitate family mealtimes would be important,” Kramer concluded.
The paper, “Association of parents’ work-related stress and children’s socioemotional competency: Indirect effects of family mealtimes” is published in Journal of Family Psychology. [DOI: 10.1037/fam0001147]. Authors are Sehyun Ju, Qiujie Gong, and Karen Z. Kramer. The research was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Grant ILLU-793-914 | <urn:uuid:d6d8211f-f91f-49c7-8b4b-0389183cbc9c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://aces.illinois.edu/news/how-parents-work-stress-affects-family-mealtimes-and-childrens-development | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.965205 | 905 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Four hours of recitation and one hour of laboratory per week. This course introduces students to speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Wolof. Instruction is mixed English and Wolof. Emphasis is placed on developing student ability to create and to communicate with basic Wolof structures and vocabulary in culturally and socially appropriate context. Speaking and listening abilities are developed through oral exercises, class discussions, and recordings available from Berkeley Language Center. Reading and writing are developed through in-class exercises, independent reading projects, and compositions. This course not open to native or heritage speakers of Wolof. | <urn:uuid:eb29a58b-bf1b-4aa9-997f-e4860b7417d3> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://africam.berkeley.edu/courses/african-american-studies-7a-elementary-wolof/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.928288 | 117 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Bluetongue is a viral disease primarily of sheep, but cattle, goats, camelids, wild or zoo ruminants, farmed cervids, and some carnivores are occasionally affected. The virus is transmitted by midges in the genus Culicoides. The virus is endemic in a broad, worldwide band of tropical and subtropical regions; however, outbreaks also occur outside this area, and the virus may persist long-term if the climate and vectors are suitable.
The Rocky Mountain Regional Animal Health Lab (RMRAHL) is the state laboratory with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. RMRAHL offers both ELISA and AGID testing for Bluetongue. Visit the CDAAHL websiteto learn more. | <urn:uuid:0de2f404-a0df-4538-9d4a-0d750f84459f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://ag.colorado.gov/animals/livestock-health/bluetongue | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.926681 | 149 | 2.65625 | 3 |
In Todays Art World, Machine Crafted Pictures are Causing a Stir
Modern advances in technology like AI has been increasingly used to create eye-catching artwork. In this article, we will briefly discuss the history of AI-generated images, and how these machine generated pictures are causing such a stir in the art world.
Definition of AI-Generated Artwork
AI-generated artwork refers to art that is created using artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning. These algorithms can analyze existing artwork and create new artwork based on the patterns and trends they detect. The algorithms can also generate new artwork from scratch, using mathematical models to create abstract or surreal images and patterns.
History of AI-Generated Artwork
The use of AI to generate artwork can be traced back to the 1960s, when computer scientists first started experimenting with computer graphics. However, it wasn't until the 1990s and 2000s, with the advancement of computer processing power and algorithms, that AI-generated artwork became more sophisticated and widely recognized. In recent years, AI-generated artwork has gained popularity, with artists and galleries showcasing AI-generated paintings, sculptures, and installations.
Impact of AI on the Art World
AI-generated artwork has been both celebrated and criticized in the art world. On one hand, AI-generated artwork is seen as a new and exciting form of creativity, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in art. On the other hand, some argue that AI-generated artwork is not truly "art" because it is created by machines, and not by human artists. Despite these debates, AI-generated artwork is having an impact on the art world, forcing artists to adapt and evolve, and changing the way that art is created and consumed.
AI-generated artwork is a new and growing field, that is having an impact on the art world. Whether or not it is considered "art," Realistic AI-generated artwork is pushing the boundaries of creativity, and forcing artists and the art world to adapt and evolve. The definition and history of AI-generated artwork is still being written, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to shape the art world in the years to come. | <urn:uuid:78f7a7eb-f88f-44f4-af20-a5034ca048a8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://ai-pie.com/welcome-to-ai-pie/the-rise-of-artificial-intelligence-artwork/brief-history-of-ai-generated-artwork-our-definitions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.96655 | 444 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Mice are a small variety of rodent that can be found all across the globe. There are 23 different species of mice that live in Colorado, all of which can be grouped into five distinct varieties. You might not notice these tiny creatures very often, but you're probably not too far away from one right now.
Two species of harvest mice reside in Colorado: the western harvest mouse and the plains harvest mouse. Both species are small and brown -- the western harvest mouse measuring roughly 6 inches and the plains harvest mouse roughly 5 inches, including the tail. Plains harvest mice only live in open grasslands, whereas their western cousins inhabit a wider range of habitats, including woodlands and shrub-filled grasslands.
There are two species of jumping mice in Colorado: the western jumping mouse and the meadow jumping mouse. In addition, the state is one of the few places that that the endangered Preble's meadow jumping mouse -- a subspecies of the meadow jumping mouse that's protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act -- makes its home. Both species weigh around an ounce and measure roughly 10 inches, including a 5-inch tail. The western jumping mouse lives in the mountains, in forests and thickets. The meadow jumping mouse lives in the great plains, close to the Rocky Mountains.
Five species of pocket mice call Colorado their home. These are the silky pocket mouse, the hispid pocket mouse, the Great Basin pocket mouse, the plains pocket mouse and the olive-backed pocket mouse. They're actually smaller relatives of kangaroo rats and are capable of moving just on their hind legs, which they do when they're feeding. Silky pocket mice are the smallest, weighing in at 1/5 ounce and measuring 4 inches. Hispid pocket mice are the largest, weighing roughly 2 ounces and measuring 8 inches in length.
Meadow mice are more commonly referred to as voles. Their blunt snouts and small ears make them easily distinguishable from other kinds of mice. Eight vole species live in Colorado, most of which are brown and look remarkably alike. However, sagebrush voles are gray in color and southern red-backed voles have orange-red patches on their backs. They mostly live in meadows, but can also be found in some woodland and brush land. They live areas with plenty of cover and places to hide out.
There are six species of white-footed mouse that make Colorado their home: the white-footed mouse, the deer mouse, the rock mouse, the pinyon mouse, the brush mouse and the canyon mouse. These species vary in size, but are between 6 and 8 inches in length, on average, including their tails. One species or another can be found almost anywhere in the state, excluding only the very wettest places. Depending on the species, they're found in a range of different habitats, including woodlands, canyons and brush land.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Wildlife Profiles and Information
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Harvest Mice
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Jumping Mice
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services: Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Pocket Mice
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Voles or Meadow Mice
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife: White-Footed Mice
David De Lossy/Valueline/Getty Images | <urn:uuid:f95b57b6-801c-4394-8723-183e265b9ae0> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://animals.mom.com/varieties-mice-colorado-5882.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.944167 | 699 | 3.1875 | 3 |
This enhanced-color image shows a stack of bedrock layers exposed in the upper slope of an impact crater inside Kaiser Crater.
This observation reveals some of the materials that have largely filled the crater. There are also gullies on the lower slopes, extending up to the resistant bedrock layers. The gully-forming process erodes the loose materials much more readily than intact bedrock.
Photo credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona | <urn:uuid:6508ae80-9cdd-4c6b-a886-5dd43caece74> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://areology.blogspot.com/2011/08/crater-rim-with-bedrock-layers-and.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.87234 | 88 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Legal pragmatism is a theory critical of more traditional pictures of law and, more specifically, judicial decision-making. The classical view of law offers a case-based theory of law that emphasizes the universal and foundational quality of specifically legal facts, the meticulous analysis of precedent and argument from analogy. Legal pragmatism, on the other hand, emphasizes the need to include a more diverse set of data and claims that law is best thought of as a practice that is rooted in the specific context at hand, without secure foundations, instrumental, and always attached to a perspective. A pragmatic stance towards jurisprudence offers many philosophical challenges to more traditional descriptions of the legal domain.
Table of Contents
The Classical Picture of Judicial Decision-Making
The Pragmatist’s Picture of Judicial Decision-Making
Legal Pragmatism as a Descriptive Theory
Legal Pragmatism as a Normative Theory
1. The Classical Picture of Judicial Decision-Making
The “classical picture” of legal argumentation and analysis dominates theoretical descriptions of judicial decision-making. It also is the dominant picture among legal practitioners. The classical model of legal argumentation is based upon the casebook method, the use of precedent and rigorous arguments from analogy. The casebook method assumes that the essential and exhaustive materials for a legal decision are summed up in the published opinions that accompany the conclusion of controversies in court. What an attorney or, more importantly, a judge is supposed to look to so as to render the proper verdict are reasons offered and situations analyzed in previous decisions that seem relevantly similar. The data for the decision is therefore the casebook. From a set of precedents, of written court opinions, is distilled a general set of rules and a specific verdict in the controversy before the court. Given a legal controversy, the practitioner (judge, attorney or the like) looks at previous cases for similar situations and then tries to distill the reasons that have been accepted as legally relevant for his or her client’s position. From these sources a legal conclusion should be drawn.
This classical picture of legal argumentation is historically attributed to former Harvard Law School Dean Christopher Columbus Langdell. Langdell put the first case book together as a educational tool, and bundled this type of book with a Socratic style of teaching that reigns supreme in legal practice and education today. Both the use of the casebook and the Socratic method presuppose a somewhat insular and rationalistic view of legal institutions. One of the most influential sources of the classical model of more recent vintage is offered by Edward Levi in An Introduction to Legal Reasoning. As he describes it legal reasoning is a “three-step process” where a “similarity is seen between cases; next the rule of law inherent in the first case is announced; then the rule of law is made applicable to the second case (Levi 1949, p. 2).” The implicit assumption is that once the similarity between cases is recognized, legal reasoning is simply a matter of making a logically valid deduction of a holding from a statement of the law (major premise) and a statement of the facts (minor premise). But by far the most influential current advocate of the main elements of the classical view is Ronald Dworkin.
Dworkin’s theory functions as a normative theory as well as a descriptive one. Taken as a descriptive claim the theory offers a portrait of what judges actually do when arriving at a legal conclusion. Dworkin’s own version of legal decision-making is entitled “law as integrity” (Dworkin, 1986). According to this theory, consistency with past judicial decisions should be emphasized as one of the most important legal virtues. He offers the picture of an imaginary creation, the “chain-novel,” to argue for the centrality of precedent in law. A chain-novel is a novel that is written one chapter at a time. After the creation of each new chapter, the novel is passed to a new author for further elaboration. Dworkin argues that in this enterprise we surely would want the new author to find as supremely important the need to cohere with and respect the content of the chapters already completed. An author that didn’t follow this rule would be not properly fulfilling his or her role. Dworkin then argues the same assumptions should rule the legal world and, therefore, the judge’s activity. That is, each case is directly analogous to a new chapter in the chain-novel. If one accepts the analogy, and there seems to be much too little analysis critiquing the acceptability of such an analogy, one gets a picture of a somewhat insulated legal system running upon a deep need for internal coherence. While Dworkin disavows the deductivist picture offered by Langdell, and allows in a moral dimension, in his attachment to traditional legal materials and practices he is clearly a proponent of the classical view. The legal pragmatist finds much to argue with in this picture of jurisprudence.
2. The Pragmatist’s Picture of Judicial Decision-Making
Legal pragmatists such as Daniel Farber, Thomas Grey, Margaret Radin and Richard Posner think that such a picture of jurisprudence is severely flawed. The legal pragmatist thinks that the classical view is overly legalistic, naively rationalistic and based upon misunderstandings of legal institutions. As opposed to the self-imposed limitations entailed by the classical view of judicial decision-making, legal pragmatists emphasize the eclectic nature and the diverse aims of the law. More specifically, legal pragmatists largely agree upon four main aspects of a pragmatist version of jurisprudence: (1) the important of context; (2) the lack of foundations; (3) the instrumental nature of law; and (4) the unavoidable presence of alternate perspectives.
For the legal pragmatist all legal controversies are essentially attached to a specific and unique context. As Posner describes it, emphasizing the unavoidable presence of a specific context “disconnects the whirring machinery of philosophical abstraction from the practical business of governing our lives and our societies (Posner 1995, p. 463).” While there is some irony in a foremost proponent of neo-classical economics critiquing “philosophical abstractions,” Posner here correctly highlights the contextualist’s slogan of “return from abstractions to the concrete.” Certainly Dworkin and Langdell can be seen as overly fond of abstractions. In this case they mirror the actual practitioners. Tamanaha argues that the contrasting contextualism of legal pragmatism is best shown in Justice Holmes’ strategy whereby he used historical analysis to expose such seemingly timeless abstract legal concepts as being actually derived from contingent and context-specific needs (Tamanaha 1996, p. 315). Through this strategy the illusion of an eternal set of essential legal concepts is exposed as actually being a contingent creation of specific conflicts. While even legal formalists expect to apply concepts to a context, the legal pragmatist differs in seeing the concepts themselves as products of context. Because of this, the assumption that the legal concepts are applicable beyond their originating controversy is questioned.
The basic claim offered by the contextualist critique is that all legal decision-making, as well as any legal controversy, takes place in a specific and unique context that is so constitutive of the issues and the ultimate decision that the decision is distorted if seen from a non-contextual perspective. More importantly, the concepts used are questionable when applied between different controversies. Because of this, the abstractionist tendencies of the classical view of legal decision-making is thought undesirable and a view that emphasizes context, such as the legal pragmatist’s, to be superior.
In addition to the need to emphasize context, the legal pragmatist also argues that the lack of foundations in legal decision-making must be recognized. Foundationalists hold that there is some core principle or principles that all legal decisions can be deduced from. While today very few will admit to an extreme view of such foundationalism, most legal theorizing assumes a more moderate foundationalist view. This moderate view argues that the judge has a sufficient set of tools from within the traditional materials of the classical view of legal decision-making (the case method) to make properly informed decisions in present cases. In other words, the moderate view sees cases as the necessary and sufficient foundation from which to deduce sufficiently analyzed legal conclusions.
A legal pragmatist sees this as descriptively wrong. First, “the idea that correct outcomes can be deduced from some overarching principle – or set of principles” is rejected (Cotter 1996, p. 2085). In place of deductive certainty is offered a picture of induction and an emphasis upon the creative problem-solving act of jurisprudence. Second, pragmatism in general stands for a rejection of the metaphysical picture of knowledge or decision-making that sees either as needing (or indeed having) a foundation. Knowledge and reason in law, as in any other domain, are seen as essentially open-ended concepts in need of continual testing and revision, and therefore law is an activity that would outgrow any purported foundations. So, if cases are thought to provide a foundation to legal decisions the legal pragmatist argues that they will not be inevitably up to the challenge of the next case, and therefore the foundationalist picture is at the very least incomplete.
While the classical view of legal decision-making emphasizes consistency with past decisions (the high value of respect for precedent), the instrumentalist advocates an investigation of the effects a decision might have and the capabilities of the legal institution. An instrumental view is therefore less interested in precedent and more based upon a “orientation towards the future (Rosenfeld 1996, p. 98).” That is, instead of an emphasis upon consistency with the essence of past decisions the pragmatist judge looks to the worldly implications of his or her decision. For instance, in a contract dispute a judge following the classical model of legal reasoning would look to antecedently held rights and obligations as shown in earlier cases in order to decide. A pragmatist judge, on the other hand, would see those issues as important but would also look at the greater implications for contract disputes in the future. This prospective attitude would bring in data as to the effects of the contract decision upon third parties, how a ruling would affect daily life, etc.
This orientation towards the future, and towards the empirical, means that for the legal pragmatist judge a whole new set of reasons become applicable and legally relevant when making a decision. While the advocate of the classical view can limit the reasons and facts to those allowed in the analogous cases, the cases accepted as precedents, the pragmatist judge must allow in other sorts of data, for instance sociological or economic data, in order to properly access the individual case at hand. Therefore, instead of emphasizing the primacy of consistency with precedent, a pragmatist of a legal bent emphasizes “the primacy of consequences in interpretation (Posner 1995, p. 252).”
Finally, the legal pragmatist adopts a stance that embraces the problem of perspective. Perspectivalism entails a suspicion of broad generalities and an acknowledgment of eclectic manners of description. As opposed to legal formalism, which “holds that determinate meanings exist in legal texts which may be discerned by reason and that objective, immutable principles simultaneously inform and transcend the practice of applying rules,” perspectivism emphasizes that all is messy, open-ended, and subject to revision in light of another perspective or further information (Shutkin 1993, p. 66). The acknowledgment of perspective entails that an overly deferential stance towards precedent and previously endorsed analogies could be unfairly restrictive towards new and possibly more inclusive descriptions.
As can be seen from the above, legal pragmatism offers a significant alternative to more traditional views of the legal domain. In fact, Stuart Scheingold argues that this lack of awareness of conflicting perspectives is a pervasive quality of traditional legal thought. As he puts it “Law professors and lawyers do not believe that they are either encumbered or enlightened by a special view of the world. They simply feel that their legal training has taught them to think logically. In a complex world, they have the intellectual tools to strip a problem, any problem, down to its essentials (Scheingold 1974, p. 161).” But if such an assumption is itself just one perspective, and one that obviously would distort any appreciation of other alternative perspectives, such ignorance of their own perspective would be an important vice to identify.
But important issues remain even if one finds such a description of legal pragmatism attractive. First, is legal pragmatism offered as a descriptive or a normative picture of jurisprudence? Second, does such a stance really offer any desirable features that the more classical picture of law cannot deliver or does it suffer from more intractable flaws?
3. Legal Pragmatism as a Descriptive Theory
Legal pragmatism can be characterized as a theory with descriptive pretensions. That is, as a theory as to what really happens in law, despite the ideological prevalence of the classical model. The descriptive legal pragmatist thinks that the classical picture of jurisprudence does not fit the facts of law, and that a pragmatist picture offers a better alternative. A legal pragmatism of this type looks to the legal realists as historical precursor. The legal realists claimed that law was a much sloppier and more political, as well as less reasonable, institution than those following the Langdell model admitted. In other words, that the reasons and data offered by the classical model of legal decision-making do not properly explain the actions of legal institutions. The legal pragmatist, therefore, looks for empirical evidence that argues against such a constrained view of decision-making.
Such evidence is not too hard to come by. First, it is clear that political actors do not treat the court system as neutral and functioning only upon respect for precedent. The full-blown fights over judicial appointments shows that actors outside of the court system view judges as politically important. Second, there is much empirical research that questions the assumption that precedent actually has the authority claimed for it. Some studies have claimed that decisions are more influenced by the political beliefs of the judge than by precedent (Goldman 1979, p. 208). Another study claimed an 85% success rate in prediction of future case decisions based upon a study of the judge’s “values” (Rohde/Spaeth 1976, p. 157). A further study concluded, “Supreme Court justices are not influenced by landmark precedents with which they disagree (Segal/Spaeth 1996, p. 971).” What the empirical data tends to show, then, is that the classical model does not explain the way actual judges decide cases very well.
On the other hand, the legal pragmatist model has difficulties as a descriptive theory as well. First, judges for the most part certainly act and write as if they are following precedent and the traditional legal materials. Second, it seems as if judges that were really pragmatic would have to be more rigorous in the following out of empirical implications of their decisions.
But this possibility raises many questions. For instance, would the current fear of statistics and sociological data that lawyers have as an rule have to be overcome in order for law to be actually and accurately described as pragmatic? Furthermore, there is the question of institutional competence. Does the legal system really have the resources to gather and digest all the data necessary to make an informed pragmatic decision? Does a judge have the capacity to digest all the relevant material in order to have any competent idea as to the real-world ramifications of any non-clerical decision? Would not a judge that described him or herself as a pragmatist judge be just as deluded as the judge that adopts the more traditional description?
4. Legal Pragmatism as a Normative Theory
Because neither option seems to accurately fit what really goes on in the jurisprudential domain, perhaps legal pragmatism should be better thought of as a normative theory. That is, perhaps it is a conceptual stance offered as a picture of what judicial decision-making should be.
In its normative mode legal pragmatism treats law and the legal realm as a tool useful for social purposes. The legal pragmatist opposes the a priori and rationalistic style of argumentation traditionally applied in legal argumentation by arguing that such methods have no valid claim to authority and, indeed, lack the tools necessary to justify their own adoption. The more traditional style of legal reasoning, that which keeps its attention upon cases, excludes broader and more scientifically warranted data. Therefore the user of the classical theory can offer not much more than a heart-felt and resounding exclamation – “it works” – when confronted with the question of the empirical effectiveness of a decision. All pragmatist thought brings with it a suspicion of unquestioned and non-experimental pictures of reason. Indeed the pragmatist is liable to see in such a claim something akin to the statement “because God commanded it.” This “it works” exclamation is an example of just such an a priori, rationalist and non-experimental claim. What exactly does it work in comparison to? For the pragmatist such statements only have meaning if they can be tested, and the classical picture of jurisprudence doesn’t have the tools with which to test such claims in each case or on a more global level.
On the other hand, adoption of a pragmatist theory offers the ideal of a system rooted in experience and the experimental method. As opposed to the overly rationalistic and insular picture of legal decision-making offered by the classical legal theorist, the legal pragmatist argues for a more empirical jurisprudence. The normative argument, in outline, is that a jurisprudential theory rooted in sensitivity to context, a theory that functions without a belief in false foundations, one that is judged along explicitly instrumental criteria and that also acknowledges the inevitability of perspective, is better suited to bring about justice in a complex and unpredictable world than a theory that rests upon untested essentialistic assumptions and a non-experimental and universalistic view of reason.
5. References and Further Reading
Brint, Micheal and William Weaver, Pragmatism in Law and Society (Boulder: Westview Press, 1991)
Cotter, Thomas F., “Legal Pragmatism and the Law and Economics Movement,” 84 Georgetown Law Journal 2071 (1996)
Dickstein, Morris, The Revival of Pragmatism: New Essays on Social Thought, Law, and Culture (Durham: Duke University Press, 1998).
Dworkin, Ronald M., Law’s Empire (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1986)
Farber, Daniel, “Reinventing Brandeis: Legal Pragmatism for the Twenty-First Century,” 1995 University of Illinois Law Review 163 (1995)
Goldman, Sheldon, “The Effect of Past Judicial Behavior on Subsequent Decision-Making,” 19 Jurimetrics Journal 208 (1979)
Grey, Thomas G., “Freestanding Legal Pragmatism,” 18 Cardozo Law Review 21 (1996)
Grey, Thomas G., “Holmes and Legal Pragmatism,” 41 Stanford Law Review 787 (1989)
Levi, Edward, H., An Introduction To Legal Reasoning (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1949)
MacCormick, Neil, Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978)
Posner, Richard, Overcoming Law (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1995)
Posner, Richard, “Pragmatic Adjudication,” 18 Cardozo Law Review 1 (1996)
Radin, Margaret Jane, “The Pragmatist and the Feminist,” 63 Southern California Law Review 1699 (1990)
Rohde, David W., and Harold J. Spaeth, Supreme Court Decision Making (San Francisco: W.H. Freeman, 1976)
Rorty, Richard, “The Banality of Pragmatism and the Poetry of Justice,” in Pragmatism in Law and Society
Rosenberg, Gerald D., The Hollow Hope: Can Courts Bring About Social Change? (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1991).
Rosenfeld, Michel, “Pragmatism, Pulralism and Legal Interpretation: Posner’s and Rorty’s Justice Without Metaphysics Metts Hate Speech,” 18 Cardozo Law Review 97 (1996)
Segal, Jeffrey A., and Horold J. Spaeth, “The Influence of Stare Decisis on the Votes of Supreme Court Justices,” 40 American Journal of Political Science 971 (1996)
Scheingold, Stuart A., The Politics of Rights (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1974)
Shutkin, William Andrew, “Pragmatism and the Promise of Adjudication,” 18 Vermont Law Review 57 (1993)
Smith, Steven D., “The Pursuit of Pragmatism,” 100 Yale Law Journal 409 (1990)
Tamanaha, Brian Z., “Pragmatism in U.S. Legal Theory: Its Application to Normative Jurisprudence, Sociolegal Studies, and the Fact-Value Distinction, 41 American Journal of Jurisprudence 315 (1996)
Wells, Catharine P. “Improving One’s Situation: Some Pragmatic Reflections on the Art of Judging,” 49 Washington and Lee Law Review 323 (1992)
Brian Edgar Butler
University of North Carolina at Asheville
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Literature plays a crucial role as both a mirror and a window to the worlds in which children live and are expected to take their place” (Galda, 1998). This quote unfailingly reminds us of the power of stories and books and the role they play in enriching children’s lives. Literature introduces children to not just stories but also ideas and issues related to their own lives as well as to lives and worlds they haven’t as yet seen! It makes available to them the collective knowledge about how individuals and communities have understood themselves and their relationships with each other and with nature. Through it, children also understand the elements of stories like plot, characters, theme, setting, values and language use.
While the role literature plays in children’s lives is well established and even acknowledged, creation of and access to good quality literature, especially in local languages that children speak and understand foremost, is disproportionately low. In India, 45% of the literature published for children is in English, 25% is in Hindi and a mere 30% is in the hundreds of local Indian languages! Additionally, only 26% of the overall literature published, is for children aged 0-6 years making it the most neglected group by publishers. (Parag, A Tata Trusts Initiative). This dearth of reading material in local languages, holds back 40% of students globally from gaining education in a language they understand. Lack of linguistic diversity in children’s books is a serious concern at present.
Determined to do something about this dismal state of children’s literature in local and under served languages of India, we at Aripana Foundation embarked upon Project Lemon-choos, a project dedicated to creating quality literature for children in Maithili – mother language of thousands of children of Mithila, foremost on many a child’s tongue yet struggling against other social and politically dominant languages.
Maithili is recognized as one of the official languages of India as per the 8th Schedule to the Indian Constitution. Despite this monumental step, in the state of Bihar, in which the Mithila region is located and a large number of Maithili speakers reside, Maithili does not enjoy the status of an official language. It is absent in children’s schooling and educational experience, the repercussions of which are serious! Younger generations, deprived of an academic, creative, enriching engagement with the language, coupled with very little exposure to literature and educational material therein, remain only remotely aware of the history and linguistic uniqueness of Maithili and the treasure trove of literature created by literary greats! Maithili literature too, like any other, offers its children a window and a mirror both, with which children can know the world around them and themselves, better, in a language that is their mother language, the one they speak and understand before any other! No other language,no matter how widely prevalent and influential, can replace the experience Maithili can provide to Maithil children. Presently, there’s very little opportunity or space created for young, budding minds to learn, understand, experience the language, in turn nurturing pride in young minds towards the language and culture.
At the present rate, without thoughtful intervention, younger generations might completely lose touch with the language. Not very many individuals will know it enough to become creators of literature in Maithili and not many will learn to be readers either!
This context and challenges there in, helped set goals for Project Lemon-choos. Right from the start, the project proposed to address more than just the dearth of good quality books in Maithili for early readers and young children. An equally important goal of this project was to encourage community participation and enhance community awareness. Additionally, Project Lemon-choos was designed to undertake translations of some of the choicest works in children’s literature from across the world, into Maithili!
The project was launched in August 2018. Through word of mouth and with help from social media, team Aripana sent out a call to interested volunteers from the Maithil community to join this mission of creating quality literature for children in Maithili! The response was heartening, with Maithili speaking individuals from across India, and not just Mithila, joining the group of volunteers, and thus began the journey of creating children's literature in Maithili! Our partnership with Pratham Books' Storyweaver gave it the much needed impetus!
Launched by the renowned NGO Pratham Books, Storyweaver is a one of its kind, digital, open-license platform that is a storehouse of close to 33,000 stories in about 280 Indian languages - Tamil, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese, Odiya,Telugu, Gondi, Konkani and many many more! When team Aripana started work in the area of children's literature in 2018, Storyweaver had roughly 20,000 stories in 220 languages except MaithilI Not a single story existed on this beautiful, resourceful, contemporary, open source platform that was becoming the ideal place for parents, educators, writers, translators and illustrators to come together to weave new stories for children and help to create a pathway to nurture the next generation of readers
The team of volunteers at Aripana, chose some of the popular, beautifully illustrated and delightfully crafted children's books from the Pratham Books' Storyweaver platform to translate into Maithili! By December 2019, team Aripana had created 26 English-Maithili (bilingual) and Maithili books on the Storyweaver platform, 10 among which were printed and made available to children through multiple channels - through Aripana's one of its kind online store of Maithili books for children, literature festivals like the Madhubani Literature Festival, World Book Fair, other cultural events such as Vidyapati Mahotsav organised by Karanataka Mithila Sanskritik Parishad, Bangalore and Milanotsav organised by Mithilawasis @ Bengaluru. Attendance at these festivals and cultural events served more than one goal! It not only helped create awareness about this community driven project, encouraging other interested individuals to join this mission but also got us valuable feedback from people who started reading the books, helping us on this journey!
As cited earlier, Project Lemon-choos aimed to create books in Maithili for children, through community participation. The project also wished to create community awareness about the importance of this endeavor and of utilizing the power of the digital medium to create open source content in Maithili.
We take this opportunity to introduce the stellar team that helped in the realization of this dream! Aripana Foundation approached and was fortunate to be guided by acclaimed Maithili authors, who not only reviewed the created books but also regularly engaged with the team of volunteers.
Listen to our delightful Maithili audio books | <urn:uuid:2a903437-a7c9-4b6a-9f33-702b222984dd> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://aripanafoundation.org/project-lemon-choos-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.952604 | 1,417 | 3.171875 | 3 |
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The John F. Kennedy Space Center, America‘«÷s spaceport, is located along Florida‘«÷s eastern shore on Cape Canaveral. Established as NASA‘«÷s Launch Operations Center on July 1, 1962, the center has been the site for launching all U.S. human space flight missions, from the early days of Project Mercury to the space shuttle and the next generation of vehicles. In addition, the center is home to NASA‘«÷s Launch Services Program, which coordinates all expendable vehicle launches carrying a NASA payload. This image was acquired on April 26, 2006, covers an area of 32.6 x 51.2 km, and is centered near 28.6 degrees north latitude, 80.6 degrees west longitude.
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- Press Release
- November 30, 2023
Breathing New Life Into The Rise Of Oxygen Debate
New research strongly suggests that the distinct ‘oxygenation events’ that created Earth’s breathable atmosphere happened spontaneously, rather than being a consequence of biological or tectonic revolutions.
The University of Leeds study, published in the journal Science, not only shines a light on the history of oxygen on our planet, it gives new insight into the prevalence of oxygenated worlds other than our own.
The early Earth had no oxygen in its atmosphere or oceans until roughly 2.4 billion years ago when the first of three major oxygenation events occurred. The reasons for these ‘stepwise’ increases of oxygen on Earth have been the subject of ongoing scientific debate.
In a new study, Leeds researchers modified a well-established conceptual model of marine biogeochemistry so that it could be run over the whole of Earth history, and found that it produced the three oxygenation events all by itself.
Their findings suggest that beyond early photosynthetic microbes and the initiation of plate tectonics – both of which were established by around three billion years ago – it was simply a matter of time before oxygen would reach the necessary level to support complex life.
This new theory drastically increases the possibility of high-oxygen worlds existing elsewhere.
Study lead author Lewis Alcott, a postgraduate researcher in the School of Earth and Environment at Leeds, said: “This research really tests our understanding of how the Earth became oxygen rich, and thus became able to support intelligent life.
“Based on this work, it seems that oxygenated planets may be much more common than previously thought, because they do not require multiple – and very unlikely – biological advances, or chance happenings of tectonics.”
The first “Great Oxidation Event” occurred during the Paleoproterozoic era – roughly 2.4 billion years ago. The subsequent wholesale oxygenation events occurred in the Neoproterozoic era around 800 million years ago and finally in the Paleozoic Era roughly 450 million years ago, when atmospheric oxygen rose to present day levels.
Large animals with high energy demands require high levels of oxygen, and evolved soon after the last of these steps, ultimately evolving into dinosaurs and mammals.
Currently, the two prevailing theories suggest the drivers of these oxygenation events were either major steps in biological revolutions – where the evolution of progressively more complex lifeforms essentially “bioengineered” oxygenation to higher levels – or tectonic revolutions – where oxygen rose due to shifts in the style of volcanism or make-up of the crust.
The new study instead highlights a set of feedbacks that exist between the global phosphorus, carbon and oxygen cycles, which are capable of driving rapid shifts in ocean and atmospheric oxygen levels without requiring any ‘stepwise’ change in either tectonics or biology.
Study co-author Professor Simon Poulton, also from the School of Earth and Environment at Leeds said: “Our model suggests that oxygenation of the Earth to a level that can sustain complex life was inevitable, once the microbes that produce oxygen had evolved.”
Their ‘Earth system’ model of the feedbacks reproduces the observed three-step oxygenation pattern when driven solely by a gradual shift from reducing to oxidizing surface conditions over time. The transitions are driven by the way the marine phosphorus cycle responds to changing oxygen levels, and how this impacts photosynthesis, which requires phosphorus.
Senior author Dr Benjamin Mills, who leads the biogeochemical modelling group at Leeds, said: “The model demonstrates that a gradual oxygenation of Earth’s surface over time should result in distinct oxygenation events in the atmosphere and oceans, comparable to those seen in the geological record.
“Our work shows that the relationship between the global phosphorus, carbon and oxygen cycles is fundamental to understanding the oxygenation history of the Earth. This could help us to better understand how a planet other than our own may become habitable.”
The paper Stepwise Earth oxygenation is an inherent property of global biogeochemical cycling is published online in Science on 10 December 2019 (DOI:10.1126/science.aax6459). | <urn:uuid:d06932e1-c5d9-441a-8d0b-c24a57d3c810> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://astrobiology.com/2019/12/breathing-new-life-into-the-rise-of-oxygen-debate.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.932269 | 882 | 3.625 | 4 |
They always say time changes things
Alongside Picasso, Andy Warhol is probably one of the most recognized twentieth-century artists. Warhol became famous worldwide for his work as a painter, avant-garde filmmaker, record producer, author, and public figure known for his membership in bohemian social circles. Warhol is perhaps best known for his role – a central figure – in the movement known as Pop Art. What Pop Art is, at least for Warhol, was the exploration of the relationship between artistic expression, advertising, and celebrity culture, or the concept of using mass-produced commercial goods in design.
Warhol’s birth date was never recorded at a hospital, he liked to change his birthday and makeup stories about his youth when doing interviews. Similarly, his name wasn’t Warhol, but Warhola; on one of his first jobs his name in the credits was misspelled but he liked it, and it stuck.
Andy Warhol changed the art world; he was the most significant figure in Pop Art and responsible for its rise. Warhol also changed art techniques; he popularized silk-screening as an artistic process. In fact, Warhol was a different kind of artist altogether. Whereas many artists focus entirely on their art with no interest in fame or fortune, Warhol wanted to be rich and famous, and succeeded in doing so.
Andy Warhol was all about change, but its his quote below that really captures the essence of change.
“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself”Andy Warhol
Thinking that time will change something is just to cling to it and get lost in its torments; time just passes and doesn’t change anything. The only thing that changes is the hour, the date and the year. It is up to each one of us to change and to want to change, to grab the bull by the horns and move forward and arm ourselves with experience and change what was wrong and move in the direction that leads us to success, or failure.
For more on this subject you can purchase my book This is Your Quest online at BookLocker, from Amazon or from Barnes & Noble. The Ebook version is available on Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), Apple (iBooks) & Kobo. Check out my Amazon Author Page here or my listing on Booksradar.com. | <urn:uuid:7df08e75-8c25-4a4b-ac2e-473a61c2a72b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://authorjoannereed.net/tag/the-pop-art-movement/?amp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.980858 | 501 | 2.609375 | 3 |
The Hearing Voices challenge
Psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia affect approximately 1.5% of people over the age of 18. Many sufferers are tormented by auditory hallucinations (‘voices’) that are abusive, persecutory or command them to harm themselves and other people. Yet despite drug and psychological treatments, these persecutory experiences persist for many years in up to a third of sufferers, with profound impact on their ability to work, maintain relationships and manage everyday living tasks.
AVATAR therapy: a promising new approach
AVATAR therapy was first created by Julian Leff and Mark Huckvale at University College London (UCL) and was further developed through collaboration with King’s College London (KCL) with the support of the Wellcome Trust. In AVATAR therapy, computer software is used to create a visual and auditory representation (‘avatar’) of the hallucinated voice. The client sits in front of a computer on which the avatar appears while the therapist, sitting apart from the client, speaks as him/herself or as the avatar (using software to transform the sound of his speech) encouraging the voice hearer to enter into a dialogue with the avatar. Over 7 sessions the therapist shapes this dialogue in response to the client’s efforts. The power of AVATAR was shown by a marked reduction in the frequency of hallucinations and reductions in distress in a small pilot study. These striking results were then replicated in a fully powered randomized controlled trial at KCL funded by the Wellcome Trust which compared AVATAR therapy to supportive counselling among people who had experienced unremitting voices for at least a year despite adequate medical treatment. This study showed statistically and clinically significant benefit that was substantially greater than that obtained by the existing gold-standard cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis.
AVATAR therapy is a step change in the treatment of a particularly pernicious symptom of psychosis. It is also eminently scalable. The equipment is modest (a laptop, a headset and a tablet connected to the internet) and can be delivered by the existing workforce. In our current clinical trial which explores the cost-effectiveness of brief and extended delivery of the therapy we have successfully trained psychologists, psychiatrists and nurses and further developed the system to enable remote therapy during Covid-19 lockdown. Thus we can readily envisage the therapy being a routine provision within specialist psychosis services including early intervention.
Therapists have been trained
Voice Hearers have received therapy
Therapy sessions have been completed
Information for Therapists
What is the Avatar Therapy product?
The Avatar Therapy software facilitates Avatar Therapy through the provision of a computer-generated and animated avatar (an artificial 3D computer graphics persona) that can be customised by the client and used in a dialogue between therapist and client. The avatar is created by the therapist and client together in an initial enrolment session. The face and voice of the avatar can be chosen from a range of pre-existing models, or can be manipulated using software controls. The customised avatar is then stored as a combination of a voice transform and a 3D head model to be used in subsequent therapy sessions. The Avatar Therapy system manages the enrolment of avatars and the delivery of therapy sessions and keeps records of accounts, users and clients in a central database. Avatar Therapy Ltd will partner with clinical sites to deliver training courses for therapists to make the best use of Avatar Therapy.
What is an Avatar Therapy session?
During a therapy session, the avatar system runs on two computers in two separate locations communicating through a computer network. The therapist operates one copy of the system and can speak through the system to the client at the other location. The therapist can speak to the client in their normal voice or in the chosen avatar voice which is a modified version of their normal voice. In another location, which may be local or remote, the client can see the avatar and can hear the therapist’s voice or the chosen avatar voice. When the clinician is speaking in the modified voice the mouth movements of the avatar are synchronized to the converted speech to create the illusion that it is the avatar speaking. The speech of the client and the image of the client are also communicated back through the system to the therapist. After each session, a recording of the dialogue between therapist, client and avatar can be provided to the client so that they can listen again to the conversation outside the therapy session (using for example, a personal music player).
How does Avatar Therapy help the Voice Hearer?
Within the AVATAR therapy approach, the person’s relationship with their voice is viewed in the context of their current and previous significant relationships. The possible role of early trauma is sensitively addressed from the first meeting and unresolved social and emotional issues that may be relevant to the person’s experience of voice hearing are considered throughout the therapy. The nature of the relationship with voice as it varies along dimensions of interpersonal power and proximity also influences the evolving dialogue. While all AVATAR dialogues (particularly early sessions) involve negotiation of a transfer of power and control from voice/avatar to hearer, voice relationships characterized by a withdrawal by the hearer require an initial “turning to face” the previously avoided experience, while relationships in which the hearer clings to the voice typically necessitate a process of disengagement. Following the initial assertiveness phase, the avatar’s character gradually changes to become conciliatory or even helpful. This initiates a second phase which focuses on issues of self-esteem and identity, work that is consistent with other recent approaches emphasizing the importance of self-esteem and self-compassion in working with distressing voices. [text adapted from Craig et al 2016]
Information for Voice Hearers
AVATAR therapy offers a new approach to working with distressing voices (auditory hallucinations). It involves innovative use of digital technology to allow ‘face-to-face’ dialogue between the voice-hearer and a computerised representation of their voice (the avatar), with a therapeutic focus on increasing power and control over the voice.
The digital technology allows us to bring the person’s experience of hearing the voice into therapy in a new and potentially powerful way. Listen to one voice hearer's experience of Avatar Therapy.
For more general information about hearing voices, the Understanding Voices website contains over 100 pages of information on different ways of understanding voices and supporting those who are struggling to cope with their experiences.
Avatar Therapy was invented by Julian Leff (1938-2021) at University College London.
The current team are honoured to have worked with Julian to realise his vision for a new therapy for persecutory voices.
Mark is Emeritus Professor of Speech Science in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences at UCL. He designed the original software for supporting avatar therapy and continues to develop and support the computing and business sides of AVATAR.
CEO Avatar Therapy Ltd
Tom is Emeritus Professor of Social Psychiatry at the IoPPN at Kings College London whose research and clinical career has been dedicated to improving the care of people with severe mental illness. Tom was principal investigator for the AVATAR1 clinical trial
Philippa is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the IoPPN at Kings College London and researches digitally supported psychological treatments for psychosis. Philippa is principal investigator for the AVATAR2 clinical trial
Sam is principal consultant and director of SQMS Ltd, and works with medical device start-ups, helping them to create and implement their Quality Management System in accordance with the requirements of ISO 13485, associated standards and regulations. With over 30 years experience in quality and regulatory compliance across many different types of medical device, Sam now specialises in Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) products.
Consultant on Medical Device Regulations
Avatar Therapy Ltd is grateful for the support of the following organisations:
AVATAR therapy is funded by Wellcome
Wellcome supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. We support discovery research into life, health and wellbeing and we are taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.
AVATAR therapy Ltd was supported by the SimDH accelerator programme for health technology
SimDH is co-funded by London South Bank University and the European Regional Development Fund.
University College London
UCL Psychology and Language Sciences
Kings College London
KCL Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question about Avatar Therapy you would like answered here, email [email protected].
When will Avatar Therapy be ready for general use?
Avatar Therapy is being evaluated within a multi-centre clinical trial funded by the Wellcome Trust which will end in the Summer of 2023. Details of this trial can be found at avatartherapytrial.com.
Once the results of that trial are complete, and the therapy shown to be safe and effective, the therapy will start to be available at a number of specialist centres in the U.K.
What computer hardware is needed to deliver Avatar Therapy?
The Avatar Therapy software is an internet application that only requires a web browser to use. To run an avatar session, the therapist needs to have a desktop or laptop computer equipped with a headset and a webcam. To take part in an avatar session, the client needs to have a device suitable for taking part in a video call, for example a laptop or tablet. Connection between the two participants can be performed with any video conferencing software that can share screens, for example Zoom or Teams.
If you have questions about Avatar Therapy, please contact us on the links below.
Please note that we are unable to give advice to voice hearers on obtaining therapy.
If you are a clinician interested in receiving training in the delivery of Avatar Therapy to your clients, please complete the contact form below and we will send you details about training courses when these are available. | <urn:uuid:fea56121-a948-4791-a733-75d3c1fa58fb> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://avatartherapy.co.uk/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.940619 | 2,042 | 2.671875 | 3 |
The Bellcycle features front wheel drive for an ultra-compact bicycle and comes in a kit of 100+ parts which you assemble by yourself. And as you have assembled it you can remake it according to your needs into a cargo bike or e-bike. It takes from 10 to 15 min to learn how to ride.
The Bellcycle, which is the brainchild of Labs Bell, is completely different from any other bike, except for perhaps the penny-farthing, and its compact design, modular nature, and distinctive riding style are a fresh look at bicycle design. The goal of this project is to create a bicycle which is smaller, cheaper, and more modular than “regular” bicycles. It can be assembled by yourself from a variety of materials and it does not require any welding. The riding position is upright and relaxed with your hands naturally by your side.
The Bellcycle is modular and open source, and looks DIY enough to appeal to the cycle-hackers and pedal-powered experimenters. In the Labs Bell, they try to inspire the riders to tinker with the system. It’s built in a relatively open way, so the customers can change and augment the bike by themselves in the way they need it to be like. According to the Bellcycles presentation, the bicycle will is able to be built into a two-wheeler, a tricycle, a cargo bike, or an e-bike, depending on the rider’s needs.
It also has a strange and at the same time somehow effective drivetrain. The Bellcycle is designed to have front wheel drive through an innovated “criss-cross” gearing system. The pedals have been moved to the front wheel and the overall body has been shorted with an added pivot in the centre for better stability. Furthermore, the “criss-cross” drive is included that makes the transmission compact and omits high costs.
Look in detail: http://bellcycles.com | <urn:uuid:ad2f37d5-ef58-4c35-81cf-cbe396481073> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://avialbikes.com/news/you-can-assemble-yourself-bellcycle-and-remake-it-to-cargo-bike-or-e-bike/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.96746 | 406 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Published on July 23, 2021
Written by greenmedinfo.com
Mandating children to wear facemasks for long periods of time while at school and participating in other activities is an unprecedented move, one that was put into place despite no research showing the practice is safe. It’s not simply a case of “something is better than nothing,” because the act of mask wearing comes with a risk of adverse effects.
Now that the pandemic is more than a year behind us, evidence is starting to accumulate showing that the use of face masks in children may cause more harm than good. One of the latest studies noted that the evidence base for making face masks compulsory in schoolchildren is “weak,” and looked into their effects on carbon dioxide in inhaled air.1
Masks Increase Carbon Dioxide Inhalation
Your body produces carbon dioxide (CO2) as a byproduct of cellular function.2 This odorless, colorless gas is then transported via your blood to your lungs, where it is exhaled from your body. Normally, the CO2 then dissipates into the air around you before you take another breath. In the open air, carbon dioxide typically exists at about 400 parts per million (ppm), or 0.04% by volume.
The German Federal Environmental Office set a limit of CO2 for closed rooms of 2,000 ppm, or 0.2 percent by volume. If you’re wearing a facemask, the CO2 cannot escape as it usually does and instead becomes trapped in the mask. In a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers analyzed the CO2 content of inhaled air among children wearing two types of masks, as well as wearing no mask.3
Children in the study ranged in age from 6 to 17 years, with a mean age of 10.7. While no significant difference in CO2 was found between the two types of masks, there was a significant elevation when wearing masks compared to not wearing them.
CO2 in inhaled air under surgical and filtering facepiece masks came in between 13,120 ppm and 13,910 ppm, “which is higher than what is already deemed unacceptable by the German Federal Environmental Office by a factor of 6,” the researchers noted.4 Also important, this level was reached after only three minutes, while children wear masks at school for a mean of 270 minutes at a time.
Even the child who had the lowest measured CO2 level had a measurement threefold greater than the closed room CO2 limit of 0.2 percent. However, younger children appeared to have the highest CO2 values; a level of 25,000 ppm was measured from a 7-year-old wearing a facemask.5
The study attracted criticism and calls for retraction by those questioning mask risks to children, but in a thoughtful synopsis by Dr. Vinay Prasad, a hematologist-oncologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, it’s noted that there are both benefits and risks to forcing children to wear masks.6
While large, empirical studies could answer the question of whether masks help or harm children, “we did literally zero of them,” Prasad said, and the CO2 study is attempting to add some clarity. He added:7
“Here is the real answer to the question of whether it’s worth it to mask kids: No one has any clue. During the last year and half, the scientific community has failed to answer these questions. Failed entirely.
We have no idea if masks work for 2-year-olds and above, 5 and above, 12 and above. No idea if they only work for some period of time. No idea if this is linked to community rates. No idea if the concerns over language loss offset the gains in reduced viral transmission, and if so, for what ages.”
Children’s Mask Complaints Could Be Caused by Elevated CO2
A German study using data from 25,930 children showed that 68% reported adverse effects from wearing facemasks.8 Among them, 29.7% reported feeling short of breath, 26.4% being dizzy and 17.9% were unwilling to move or play.9
Hundreds more experienced “accelerated respiration, tightness in chest, weakness and short-term impairment of consciousness.” Additional symptoms were also reported among the children, who wore facemasks for an average of 270 minutes a day:10
|Irritability (60 percent)||Headaches (53 percent)|
|Difficulty concentrating (50 percent)||Less happiness (49 percent)|
|Reluctance to go to school/kindergarten (44 percent)||Malaise (42 percent)|
|Impaired learning (38 percent)||Drowsiness or fatigue (37 percent)|
Signs of mild to moderate hypercapnia, which is a buildup of CO2 in your bloodstream, include shortness of breath, daytime sluggishness, headache, daytime sleepiness and anxiety.11
Hypercapnia is often associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which makes it harder for you to breathe, but it can also be caused by activities that limit you from breathing fresh air, such as scuba diving or being on a ventilator.12,13 The researchers of the featured study believe, however, that the use of facemasks could lead to “impairments attributable to hypercapnia,” adding:14
“Most of the complaints reported by children can be understood as consequences of elevated carbon dioxide levels in inhaled air. This is because of the dead-space volume of the masks, which collects exhaled carbon dioxide quickly after a short time.
This carbon dioxide mixes with fresh air and elevates the carbon dioxide content of inhaled air under the mask, and this was more pronounced in this study for younger children … We suggest that decision-makers weigh the hard evidence produced by these experimental measurements accordingly, which suggest that children should not be forced to wear face masks.”
Nanoparticles, Pollutants Detected In Facemasks
Disposable plastic facemasks pose another risk in terms of the pollution they contain. A study by Swansea University researchers noted that 200 million disposable plastic facemasks are produced in China daily, and “improper and unregulated disposals” have led to a significant plastic pollution problem.15
The researchers submerged seven disposable facemask brands in water to simulate what happens with littering, when masks end up in waterways. Micro- and nanoscale fibers and particles and heavy metals, including lead, antimony and copper, were detected, raising significant environmental and public health concerns. According to a university news release:16
“The findings reveal significant levels of pollutants in all the masks tested — with micro/nano particles and heavy metals released into the water during all tests.
Researchers conclude this will have a substantial environmental impact and, in addition, raise the question of the potential damage to public health — warning that repeated exposure could be hazardous as the substances found have known links to cell death, genotoxicity and cancer formation.”
Not only are masks not being recycled, but their materials make them likely to persist and accumulate in the environment. Most disposable face masks contain three layers — a polyester outer layer, a polypropylene or polystyrene middle layer and an inner layer made of absorbent material such as cotton.
Polypropylene is already one of the most problematic plastics, as it’s widely produced and responsible for large waste accumulation in the environment. Leading researchers from the University of Southern Denmark and Princeton University also warned that masks could quickly become “the next plastic problem.”17
A performance study published in the June 2021 issue of Journal of Hazardous Materials18 also highlighted the little talked about fact that wearing masks poses a risk of microplastic inhalation, and reusing masks increases the risk.
The Link Between Masks And Advanced Stage Lung Cancer
A National Institutes of Health study19 published in February 2021 confirmed that when you wear a mask, most of the water vapor you would normally exhale remains in the mask, becomes condensed and is re-inhaled.20 They went so far as to suggest that wearing a moist mask and inhaling the humid air of your own breath was a good thing, because it would hydrate your respiratory tract.
But researchers from New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine revealed that when oral commensals — microbes that live in your mouth — are “enriched” in the lungs, it’s associated with cancer.21
Specifically, in a study of 83 adults with lung cancer, those with advanced-stage cancer had more oral commensals in their lungs than those with early-stage cancer. Those with an enrichment of oral commensals in their lungs also had decreased survival and worsened tumor progression.
While the study didn’t look into how mask usage could affect oral commensals in your lungs, they did note, “The lower airway microbiota, whether in health or disease state, are mostly affected by aspiration of oral secretions, and the lower airway microbial products are in constant interaction with the host immune system.“22
It seems highly likely that wearing a mask would accelerate the accumulation of oral microbes in your lungs, thereby raising the question of whether mask usage could be linked to advanced stage lung cancer.
Masks Developed That Test For COVID-19
Adding further support that masking leads to an accumulation of breath droplets, which you can then re-inhale, engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University developed a face mask that tests such droplets for the presence of COVID-19.23
The facemasks contain tiny, freeze-dried sensors surrounded by water. When the wearer pushes a button, the water is released, hydrating the sensor, which then begins the test.
Reportedly, the mask can diagnose COVID-19 within 90 minutes and is “as sensitive as the gold standard, highly sensitive PCR tests,“24 which have been fraught with trouble since the beginning of the pandemic.
CDC Study Finds Masks In Schools Had Little Effect On COVID
If children are risking inhalation of excessive levels of CO2 to wear masks at school, what benefit are they receiving in exchange? Very little, if any, according to a CDC study that compared the incidence of COVID-19 in Georgia kindergarten through grade 5 schools that were open for in-person learning in fall 2020 with various recommended prevention strategies, such as mandatory masks and improvements to ventilation.25
The study revealed that COVID-19 incidence was 37 percent lower in schools that required teachers and staff members to use masks and 39 percent lower in schools that improved ventilation, compared to schools that did not use these strategies.26
Because the COVID-19 incidence at the schools was extremely low to begin with, even with a 37 percent reduction in incidence from staff members wearing masks, that only reduced COVID-19 incidence by about one case in the entire school. When students were masked, it also made virtually no difference. Further, ventilation led to better outcomes, reducing incidence by 39 percent.
Dilution methods, which work by diluting the number of airborne particles, include opening windows and doors or using fans. This led to a 35 percent lower incidence of COVID-19, while methods to filter airborne particles, such as using HEPA filtration systems with or without ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, led to a 48 percent lower incidence.
More States Ban Mask Mandates In Schools
While the CDC continues to recommend “universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing” in kindergarten through grade 12 schools,27 a number of states, including Texas, Iowa, South Carolina and Arkansas, are defying the CDC’s nonsensical advice and proceeding to ban mask mandates in public schools or at least make mask usage optional.28
In addition to the physical risks, experts have warned that masks are likely to be causing psychological harm to children and interfering with their development.29 All of these risks come at little benefit to children, as, one expert report noted, “Figures illustrate that the risk of death from this disease for this age group is negligible … To introduce these [compulsory face covering measures] without detailed, thorough and meticulous risk assessment, is potentially reckless.“30
Mass, peaceful protests are often effective at compelling change, so if you’re unhappy with the facemask policies at your child’s school, contact your local district and let them know.
1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 14 JAMA Pediatrics June 30, 2021 | <urn:uuid:f25557dd-e4d6-43a9-a5c7-3e4f9a063b42> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://awesomeprophecy.com/more-bad-news-for-mask-wearers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.959764 | 2,648 | 2.625 | 3 |
Record temperatures are expected around the world on Saturday, from Europe to China to the United States, a new example of global warming, forcing authorities to take drastic measures to deal with these heat waves and new fires.
Globally, June was the warmest on record, according to the European Copernicus and the US NASA and NOAA agencies. Then, the first full week of July was the hottest on record, according to preliminary data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Heatstroke is one of the most extreme weather events, according to the WMO. Last summer, in Europe alone, more than 60,000 deaths were caused by extreme heat, according to a recent study.
The European record can be broken: here the temperature reaches 48 degrees
From Saturday, Italy is expected to experience a heat wave, from north to south, with historic temperature records expected in the coming days.
Since Sunday the thermometer should be 36/37 ° C, the Ministry of Health issued on Friday a red alert valid throughout the weekend for several central cities from Rome to Bologna, Florence to Pescara (39 ° C felt) , before the peak expected at the beginning of the week.
In Rome, temperatures could soar to 40°C on Monday and then 42 or 43°C on Tuesday, shattering the previous record of 40.5°C set in the capital in August 2007.
The north of the peninsula is not to be, with 38°C expected in Milan on Tuesday.
“Current climate change is making such situations more frequent and more intense compared to the past,” said Claudio Cassardo, a meteorologist and professor at the University of Turin.
Health and medical structures have already been mobilized across the country to care for the most frail populations and to intervene in nursing homes with the elderly.
Spain, eastern France, Germany and Poland are also facing a severe heat wave.
Already the first official heat wave promises that the summer will be very hot: “I didn’t expect this”
In Athens, the Acropolis is closed
Back in the Mediterranean, Greece has been hit by a heatwave that forced local authorities to close Athens’ Acropolis during the heatwave for the second day in a row.
The site, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stormed by tourists, will be closed between 11:30 am local (08:30 GMT) and 5:30 pm local (14:30 GMT), the Ministry of Culture announced.
Greek Minister of Culture and Sports Lina reasoned on Friday that “the actual temperature perceived by the body (…) is significantly higher” at the top of the Acropolis if temperatures are expected to be between 40°C and 41°C in Athens. Mentoni.
In recent days visitors have suffered from discomfort, especially at the top of the Acropolis where they came to admire the Parthenon.
The Red Cross came to the aid of tourists on Thursday by distributing “at least 30,000 50cl bottles of water per day” at the foot of the Acropolis.
Many parks and green spaces in Athens will also be closed this Saturday, according to the decision of the authorities in Attica, the region surrounding Athens.
On the other side of the world, South America is roasting under a heat wave: Millions of Americans from California to Texas experienced dangerously high temperatures on Friday, which are expected to peak over the weekend.
Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, recorded its 15th day above 43 degrees on Friday, according to the US Weather Services (NWS).
In California’s Death Valley desert, U.S. firefighters battled one of the most violent fires on Friday.
For Daniel Swain, a climatologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, the mercury there could equal or exceed the maximum air temperature reliably measured on Earth, or the 54.4 degrees Celsius recorded at the same location in 2020 and 2021, according to several experts.
Smoke from more than 500 wildfires burning in Canada has already caused several episodes of severe air pollution in the northeastern United States in June.
In other parts of the world
North Africa is also affected. In Morocco, which has been experiencing a series of heat waves since the beginning of summer, a red heat alert has been issued for several provinces.
Some parts of China, including the capital Beijing, have also been affected by the severe heat wave.
Local forecasters say parts of eastern Japan will reach 38-39C on Sunday and Monday.
“Total coffee junkie. Tv ninja. Unapologetic problem solver. Beer expert.” | <urn:uuid:968ac379-011b-4b9c-bb5c-f328c3676d6f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://beam.land/up-to-43c-in-rome-heat-waves-are-expected-in-many-european-countries-and-the-us/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.947096 | 957 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Deadly Aneurysm-Linked Strokes Are Rising, Especially Among Black Americans
THURSDAY, Oct. 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- An often-deadly type of stroke -- subarachnoid hemorrhage -- is on the upswing in the United States, particularly among Black people, new research shows.
Unlike the more common ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage happens when there is bleeding in the space between the brain and the membrane that covers it. It is often caused by an aneurysm, a bulge in a blood vessel, that bursts or leaks.
This type of stroke, which comprises about 5% to 10% of strokes, is rising in certain groups, especially older men and women, middle-aged men and disproportionately in Black people, researchers say.
"It's on the rise, but the rise is not universal," said study co-author Dr. Fadar Otite, assistant professor of neurology at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y.
Some of this can be explained by risk factors like high blood pressure. Black people have been more likely to develop high blood pressure at earlier ages and to have uncontrolled blood pressure, Otite said.
"But I truly believe that the underlying factors responsible, especially for the racial differences in subarachnoid hemorrhage, actually go beyond risk-factor control, but into other factors like access to health care, access to poverty and even structural racism," Otite said.
A characteristic of subarachnoid hemorrhage is having the worst headache of your life, Otite said. "A particularly severe headache that just comes out of the blue and gets to maximum severity within a very short term," he noted.
This would be less likely to occur with other forms of stroke, such as ischemic stroke, which is due to a blood clot rather than a bleed.
"Although other signs of strokes, such as weakness and facial droop and speech disturbances, can also occur in subarachnoid hemorrhage, headache would be much more consistent with subarachnoid hemorrhage compared to the others," Otite said.
Additional signs could be severe vomiting, confusion, sleepiness or even becoming comatose within a short period of time.
For the study, researchers reviewed state hospitalization databases in New York and Florida between 2007 and 2017. They found more than 39,000 people were hospitalized for non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage -- caused by a ruptured aneurysm or high blood pressure rather than trauma.
The team then used U.S. Census data to calculate the annual rates for this type of stroke in those two states, breaking down the information by age, gender, race and ethnicity.
While numbers of this type of stroke were 11 per 100,000 in all participants, women had 13 cases per 100,000 and men had fewer -- 10 per 100,000.
For middle-aged men, 45 to 64, rates were 4 per 100,000. But incidence rose with age, with men 65 and up having 22 cases per 100,000.
In Black people, the rate was 15 per 100,000 compared to white people's average of 10 per 100,000.
Incidence increased by almost 2% a year for Black adults while it didn't change for other racial groups, the study found.
Overall, incidence increased by 0.7% on average per year, rising 1.1% in middle-aged men, 2.3% in in older men and 0.7% in older women, the study showed.
Otite said the increase in older groups of patients may be related to increased usage of blood thinners for treating conditions like abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation). "And it can also be in part due to increased utilization of imaging over time to screen for patients presenting with neurological complaints like headache in the emergency room," he said.
Better preventive health care could help reduce the racial gap, Otite noted.
Some of these aneurysms could be found before the rupture, and that's more likely to happen with good access to health care, Otite said.
Knowing trends in different types of strokes can also help experts identify gender and equity gaps that can be addressed to improve patient outcomes, said Dr. Alexis Simpkins, a stroke specialist at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.
"I thought that it was an important study," said Simpkins, who wasn't involved in the research.
Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability and adults worldwide, Simpkins noted.
People need to be monitored and treated for high blood pressure, and they must manage their risk factors for it, she said.
"So safe places to exercise outdoors, access to medications, access to physicians -- all of those things can lead to the accumulation of life years lived with stroke risk factors," Simpkins said.
Researchers were not able to differentiate between patients whose strokes were caused by aneurysms and those who had strokes that weren't, which is a study limitation.
The findings were published Oct. 26 in the journal Neurology.
For more on strokes, see the American Stroke Association.
SOURCES: Fadar Oliver Otite, MD, assistant professor, neurology SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, N.Y.; Alexis Simpkins, MD, PhD, director, vascular neurology research, and Stroke RNA, Imaging, and Protein Predictors for Patient Tailored Treatments (SkRIPT) Program, Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles; Neurology, Oct. 26, 2022 | <urn:uuid:1c2f4215-b14d-4c4c-86c4-4eaf2c61d331> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://betterhealth.saintpetershcs.com/RelatedItems/6,1658486921 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.961656 | 1,181 | 2.875 | 3 |
This product identifies known sources of data and information on the current water accounts of the Arckaringa subregion, and outlines some key references. Surface water systems in the Arckaringa subregion are unregulated and ephemeral, and surface flows typically occur only following high-intensity rain events. Consequently, there are no current surface water allocations in this subregion.
Groundwater is the most important source of water in the Arckaringa subregion, and is used for a variety of purposes including mining, stock and domestic use, and town water supply. Most groundwater is extracted from aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), or the Arckaringa Basin. Groundwater in most of the subregion is managed by the South Australian Government (SA Government) under the Far North Prescribed Wells Area (PWA) Water Allocation Plan. | <urn:uuid:ba903258-9912-4728-b14c-897af372d952> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/15-current-water-accounts-and-water-quality-arckaringa-subregion/151-current-water-accounts | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.922132 | 176 | 3.203125 | 3 |
Understand the rules of developing positive relationships with kids. immature people and grownups. Explain why effectual communicating is of import in developing positive relationships with kids. immature people and grownups.
Effective and good communicating is overriding when working with kids. immature people and grownups within a school environment. Keeping an honest. positive and supportive attitude at all times will assist to develop strong relationships and construct trust. e. g if a kid lacks in assurance and isn’t a good communicator. by holding a supportive. lovingness and positive attack towards them it may so promote them to confide in you if they have things that concern them. When we communicate we must do certain the individual we are speaking to feels at easiness. utilizing positive organic structure linguistic communication like nodding. holding happy facial looks and utilizing the right tone to our voice as verbal and non-verbal accomplishments are really of import in making the right feelings. Adults pass oning positively with other grownups is cardinal to learning kids how they should pass on with each other. as immature kids will copy grownups so you must demo them what is acceptable in constructing positive relationships.
If good communicating is established between the kid. staff and parent/carer so a parent/carer would be more likely to offer support to the school. which will in bend create a positive environment for the kid. If you communicate good with other staff members so this will demo other grownups that you can discourse concerns about a peculiar kid or offer input into lesson planning. Good communicating does non go on by opportunity it is something that needs to be thought approximately as if communicating interruptions down or there is a misconstruing this can take to ill feeling as the slightest facial look could be be misunderstood. A cardinal accomplishment to a good communicator is to listen to other peoples positions and esteem them. even if they are different to yours and work as a squad seeking to guarantee it is a positive environment. | <urn:uuid:6bb96cfa-bc91-4c32-a9a7-391cf35a0900> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://bluecrewsportsgrill.com/effective-communication-essay/2688/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100484.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20231203030948-20231203060948-00500.warc.gz | en | 0.955922 | 392 | 3.265625 | 3 |
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