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by Matt Owen, Algebra 1 and Physics Teacher at Lusher Charter School, New Orleans, LA
Here are just a few of the ways I’ve used Desmos in my class along with the CCSS Math standards that apply.
1) Recognizing that graphing the functions f(x) = 3x - 4 and g(x) = 6 gives you the solution to 3x - 4 = 6. I used to think that this was a waste of time, since solving this algebraically seems easier. But having the resource of Desmos there (that kids like using and see the value in), makes it simple for them to see the connection. Then when we go to solve |x-3| = 7, they can find the solution graphically first and work up to an algebraic solution. Same goes for exponential, quadratic, anything! I never placed much emphasize on graphical solutions until we starting using Desmos regularly. But it’s even a CCSS! Check it:
A-REI.11 states: Explain why the x-coordinates of the points where the graphs of the equations y = f(x) and y = g(x) intersect are the solutions of the equation f(x) = g(x); find the solutions approximately, e.g., using DESMOS to graph the functions, make tables of values, or find successive approximations. Include cases where f(x) and/or g(x) are linear, polynomial, rational, absolute value, exponential, and logarithmic functions.
(I may have made a small edit there) ;)
2) Finding a fit line and then adjusting a fit line (Are you doing Barbie Bungee this year? Me too!) This one is so easy to do with Desmos. The one I did last year was ok; I had the kids measure their arm length (from elbow to fingertip) and their foot length (no shoes, heel to big toe). Once each group was done measuring, they came up and entered their data in Desmos on my computer which was projected on the board. It looked like this. Then we discussed the best model to use here (linear was easy to agree on) and used that. Then it looked like this. So then I just shared that graph with every group (I used email to send it out, but Google drive may be an easier way to share), and had them write the equation of the fit line as they saw it. The great part here is that each group comes up with a different equation. Then, I had each group make a prediction about my arm length given my foot length and we could see who was closest. It’s a nice way to add a little friendly competition and get to discuss why the best prediction was the best. This is also a good place to discuss the meaning of slope and y-intercept. Should the y-intercept be zero? Does the slope have units? There’s really a bunch of CCSS that go with this one, but mainly I was thinking:
S-ID.6: Represent data on two quantitative variables on a scatter plot, and describe how the variables are related.
Fit a function to the data; use functions fitted to data to solve problems in the context of the data. Use given functions or choose a function suggested by the context. Emphasize linear, quadratic, and exponential models.
Informally assess the fit of a function by plotting and analyzing residuals.
Fit a linear function for a scatter plot that suggests a linear association.
3) Exploring function graphs. Check out Building Functions 3:
F-BF.3: Identify the effect on the graph of replacing f(x) by f(x) + k, k f(x), f(kx), and f(x + k) for specific values of k (both positive and negative); find the value of k given the graphs. Experiment with cases and illustrate an explanation of the effects on the graph using technology. Include recognizing even and odd functions from their graphs and algebraic expressions for them.
OMG! That’s so complicated sounding! But if you have students build on a parent function, they’ll start to be able to tell the difference between f(x) + k and f(x+k) even if that’s not how they’d explain it. Here’s the handout I used to do vertex form quadratics last year (needs a little work, but I think you’ll get the idea). Once they’d built up some rules for how to shift the graph around, I could show them the general vertex form graph and they could make some predictions about what the a, h, and k would do. Bam! Function built!! (of course that’s not the end of our quadratics explorations – it’s the beginning!)
Interested in sharing your classroom experiences? Email us at [email protected] | <urn:uuid:ea05d0c0-35b2-47f1-863e-855a40f78989> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://blog.desmos.com/articles/teacher-tales-using-common-core-you-need-desmos/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.945262 | 1,043 | 4 | 4 |
Preventing teen pregnancy could save the United States about $9 Billion per year.Teen mothers face higher rates of preterm birth, and their kids have higher rates of low birth weight, and infant death. Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school and remain single parents.They’re more likely to be jailed at some time during adolescence until their early 30s, drop out of high school, give birth as a teenager, and be unemployed or underemployed as a young adult. Moreover, having a child during the teen years carries high costs —emotionally, physically, and financially—to the mother, child and community. Their kids tend to have lower grades and proficiency scores at kindergarten entry and are more likely to have behavior problems and chronic medical conditions; and they rely more heavily on publicly-provided health care (AHCCCS). All these things make teen pregnancy prevention a public health issue. Parents, educators, public health workers, doctors, and community organizations all have a role to play in reducing teen pregnancy.
There’s some good news. The rate of teen births has dropped by about 40% over the last 20 years in the US and there are additional steps we can take to continue this decline and help teens avoid pregnancy. Teens who participate in abstinence and prevention programs have shown progress in making healthier sexual decisions. These programs teach teens how to avoid situations that might lead to sex, to refuse it, and to wait until they’re older. CDC issued a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and a Vital Signs report this month on the teen birth rate in the U.S.
Our Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health has been working with community-based organizations for 13 years on teen pregnancy prevention strategies and will be able to expand those efforts using recent funding from the HHS’ Title V State Abstinence Program (our grant is about $1M). Until May 10th, the Department is accepting applications for the abstinence funding grants. | <urn:uuid:48560efd-b697-4e8c-bb81-4a1ef0ecbb1a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://blog.devazdhs.gov/preventing-teen-pregnancy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.954049 | 411 | 3.46875 | 3 |
In practically any discipline, it's a good idea to have others evaluate your work with fresh eyes, and this is especially true in user experience and web design. Otherwise, your partiality for your own work can skew your perception of it. Learning directly from the people that your work is actually for — your users — is what enables you to craft the best user experience possible.
UX and design professionals leverage usability testing to get user feedback on their product or website’s user experience all the time. In this post, you'll learn:
What usability testing is
- Its purpose and goals
- Scenarios where it can work
- Real-life examples and case studies
- How to conduct one of your own
- Scripted questions you can use along the way
What is usability testing?
Usability testing is a method of evaluating a product or website’s user experience. By testing the usability of their product or website with a representative group of their users or customers, UX researchers can determine if their actual users can easily and intuitively use their product or website.
UX researchers will usually conduct usability studies on each iteration of their product from its early development to its release.
During a usability study, the moderator asks participants in their individual user session to complete a series of tasks while the rest of the team observes and takes notes. By watching their actual users navigate their product or website and listening to their praises and concerns about it, they can see when the participants can quickly and successfully complete tasks and where they’re enjoying the user experience, encountering problems, and experiencing confusion.
After conducting their study, they’ll analyze the results and report any interesting insights to the project lead.
What is the purpose of usability testing?
Usability testing allows researchers to uncover any problems with their product's user experience, decide how to fix these problems, and ultimately determine if the product is usable enough.
Identifying and fixing these early issues saves the company both time and money: Developers don’t have to overhaul the code of a poorly designed product that’s already built, and the product team is more likely to release it on schedule.
Benefits of Usability Testing
Usability testing has five major advantages over the other methods of examining a product's user experience (such as questionnaires or surveys):
- Usability testing provides an unbiased, accurate, and direct examination of your product or website’s user experience. By testing its usability on a sample of actual users who are detached from the amount of emotional investment your team has put into creating and designing the product or website, their feedback can resolve most of your team’s internal debates.
- Usability testing is convenient. To conduct your study, all you have to do is find a quiet room and bring in portable recording equipment. If you don’t have recording equipment, someone on your team can just take notes.
- Usability testing can tell you what your users do on your site or product and why they take these actions.
- Usability testing lets you address your product’s or website’s issues before you spend a ton of money creating something that ends up having a poor design.
- For your business, intuitive design boosts customer usage and their results, driving demand for your product.
Usability Testing Scenario Examples
Usability testing sounds great in theory, but what value does it provide in practice? Here's what it can do to actually make a difference for your product:
1. Identify points of friction in the usability of your product.
As Brian Halligan said at INBOUND 2019, "Dollars flow where friction is low." This just as true in UX as it is in sales or customer service. The more friction your product has, the more reason your users will have to find something that's easier to use.
Usability testing can uncover points of friction from customer feedback.
For example: "My process begins in Google Drive. I keep switching between windows and making multiple clicks just to copy and paste from Drive into this interface."
Even though the product team may have had that task in mind when they created the tool, seeing it in action and hearing the user's frustration uncovered a use case that the tool didn't compensate for. It might lead the team to solve for this problem by creating an easy import feature or way to access Drive within the interface to reduce the number of clicks the user needs to make to accomplish their task.
2. Stress test across many environments and use cases.
Our products don't exist in a vacuum, and sometimes development environments are unable to compensate for all the variables. Getting the product out and tested by users can uncover bugs that you may not have noticed while testing internally.
For example: "The check boxes disappear when I click on them."
Let's say that the team investigates why this might be, and they discover that the user is on a browser that's not commonly used (or a browser version that's outdated).
If the developers only tested across the browsers used in-house, they may have missed this bug, and it could have resulted in customer frustration.
3. Provide diverse perspectives from your user base.
While individuals in our customer bases have a lot in common (in particular, the things that led them to need and use our products), each individual is unique and brings a different perspective to the table. These perspectives are invaluable in uncovering issues that may not have occurred to your team.
For example: "I can't find where I'm supposed to click."
Upon further investigation, it's possible that this feedback came from a user who is color blind, leading your team to realize that the color choices did not create enough contrast for this user to navigate properly.
Insights from diverse perspectives can lead to design, architectural, copy, and accessibility improvements.
4. Give you clear insights into your product's strengths and weaknesses.
You likely have competitors in your industry whose products are better than yours in some areas and worse than yours in others. These variations in the market lead to competitive differences and opportunities. User feedback can help you close the gap on critical issues and identify what positioning is working.
For example: "This interface is so much easier to use and more attractive than [competitor product]. I just wish that I could also do [task] with it."
Two scenarios are possible based on that feedback:
- Your product can already accomplish the task the user wants. You just have to make it clear that the feature exists by improving copy or navigation.
- You have a really good opportunity to incorporate such a feature in future iterations of the product.
5. Inspire you with potential future additions or enhancements.
Speaking of future iterations, that comes to the next example of how usability testing can make a difference for your product: The feedback that you gather can inspire future improvements to your tool.
It's not just about rooting out issues but also envisioning where you can go next that will make the most difference for your customers. And who best to ask but your prospective and current customers themselves?
Usability Testing Examples & Case Studies
Now that you have an idea of the scenarios in which usability testing can help, here are some real-life examples of it in action:
Satchel is a developer of education software, and their goal was to improve the experience of the site for their users. Consulting agency User Fountain conducted a usability test focusing on one question: "If you were interested in Satchel's product, how would you progress with getting more information about the product and its pricing?"
During the test, User Fountain noted significant frustration as users attempted to complete the task, particularly when it came to locating pricing information. Only 80% of users were successful.
This led User Fountain to create the hypothesis that a "Get Pricing" link would make the process clearer for users. From there, they tested a new variation with such a link against a control version. The variant won, resulting in a 34% increase in demo requests.
By testing a hypothesis based on real feedback, friction was eliminated for the user, bringing real value to Satchel.
They conducted more than 120 tests and recorded:
- Click paths from each user
- Which actions were most common
- The success rates for each
This as well as the written and verbal feedback provided by participants informed the new design, which resulted in increasing purchaser success rates from 68.2% to 83.3%.
In essence, Digi-Key was able to identify their most successful features and double-down on them, improving the experience and their bottom line.
An academic medical center in the midwest partnered with consulting agency Sparkbox to improve the patient experience on their homepage, where some features were suffering from low engagement.
Sparkbox conducted a usability study to determine what users wanted from the homepage and what didn't meet their expectations. From there, they were able to propose solutions to increase engagement.
For example, one key action was the ability to access electronic medical records. The new design based on user feedback increased the success rate from 45% to 94%.
This is a great example of putting the user's pains and desires front-and-center in a design.
The 9 Phases of a Usability Study
1. Decide which part of your product or website you want to test.
Do you have any pressing questions about how your users will interact with certain parts of your design, like a particular interaction or workflow? Or are you wondering what users will do first when they land on your product page? Gather your thoughts about your product or website’s pros, cons, and areas of improvement, so you can create a solid hypothesis for your study.
2. Pick your study’s tasks.
Your participants' tasks should be your user’s most common goals when they interact with your product or website, like making a purchase.
3. Set a standard for success.
Once you know what to test and how to test it, make sure to set clear criteria to determine success for each task. For instance, when I was in a usability study for HubSpot’s Content Strategy tool, I had to add a blog post to a cluster and report exactly what I did. Setting a threshold of success and failure for each task lets you determine if your product's user experience is intuitive enough or not.
4. Write a study plan and script.
At the beginning of your script, you should include the purpose of the study, if you’ll be recording, some background on the product or website, questions to learn about the participants’ current knowledge of the product or website, and, finally, their tasks. To make your study consistent, unbiased, and scientific, moderators should follow the same script in each user session.
5. Delegate roles.
During your usability study, the moderator has to remain neutral, carefully guiding the participants through the tasks while strictly following the script. Whoever on your team is best at staying neutral, not giving into social pressure, and making participants feel comfortable while pushing them to complete the tasks should be your moderator
Note-taking during the study is also just as important. If there’s no recorded data, you can’t extract any insights that’ll prove or disprove your hypothesis. Your team’s most attentive listener should be your note-taker during the study.
6. Find your participants.
Screening and recruiting the right participants is the hardest part of usability testing. Most usability experts suggest you should only test five participants during each study, but your participants should also closely resemble your actual user base. With such a small sample size, it’s hard to replicate your actual user base in your study.
To recruit the ideal participants for your study, create the most detailed and specific persona as you possibly can and incentivize them to participate with a gift card or another monetary reward.
Recruiting colleagues from other departments who would potentially use your product is also another option. But you don’t want any of your team members to know the participants because their personal relationship can create bias -- since they want to be nice to each other, the researcher might help a user complete a task or the user might not want to constructively criticize the researcher’s product design.
7. Conduct the study.
During the actual study, you should ask your participants to complete one task at a time, without your help or guidance. If the participant asks you how to do something, don’t say anything. You want to see how long it takes users to figure out your interface.
Asking participants to “think out loud” is also an effective tactic -- you’ll know what’s going through a user’s head when they interact with your product or website.
After they complete each task, ask for their feedback, like if they expected to see what they just saw, if they would’ve completed the task if it wasn’t a test, if they would recommend your product to a friend, and what they would change about it. This qualitative data can pinpoint more pros and cons of your design.
8. Analyze your data.
You’ll collect a ton of qualitative data after your study. Analyzing it will help you discover patterns of problems, gauge the severity of each usability issue, and provide design recommendations to the engineering team.
When you analyze your data, make sure to pay attention to both the users’ performance and their feelings about the product. It’s not unusual for a participant to quickly and successfully achieve your goal but still feel negatively about the product experience.
9. Report your findings.
After extracting insights from your data, report the main takeaways and lay out the next steps for improving your product or website’s design and the enhancements you expect to see during the next round of testing.
The 3 Most Common Types of Usability Tests
1. Hallway/Guerilla Usability Testing
This is where you set up your study somewhere with a lot of foot traffic. It allows you to ask randomly-selected people who have most likely never even heard of your product or website -- like passers-by -- to evaluate its user-experience.
2. Remote/Unmoderated Usability Testing
Remote/unmoderated usability testing has two main advantages: it uses third-party software to recruit target participants for your study, so you can spend less time recruiting and more time researching. It also allows your participants to interact with your interface by themselves and in their natural environment -- the software can record video and audio of your user completing tasks.
Letting participants interact with your design in their natural environment with no one breathing down their neck can give you more realistic, objective feedback. When you’re in the same room as your participants, it can prompt them to put more effort into completing your tasks since they don’t want to seem incompetent around an expert. Your perceived expertise can also lead to them to please you instead of being honest when you ask for their opinion, skewing your user experience's reactions and feedback.
3. Moderated Usability Testing
Moderated usability testing also has two main advantages: interacting with participants in person or through a video a call lets you ask them to elaborate on their comments if you don’t understand them, which is impossible to do in an unmoderated usability study. You’ll also be able to help your users understand the task and keep them on track if your instructions don’t initially register with them.
Usability Testing Script & Questions
Following one script or even a template of questions for every one of your usability studies wouldn't make any sense -- each study's subject matter is different. You'll need to tailor your questions to the things you want to learn, but most importantly, you'll need to know how to ask good questions.
1. When you [action], what's the first thing you do to [goal]?
Questions such as this one give insight into how users are inclined to interact with the tool and what their natural behavior is.
Julie Fischer, one of HubSpot's Senior UX researchers, gives this advice: "Don't ask leading questions that insert your own bias or opinion into the participants' mind. They'll end up doing what you want them to do instead of what they would do by themselves."
For example, "Find [x]" is a better than "Are you able to easily find [x]?" The latter inserts connotation that may affect how they use the product or answer the question.
2. How satisfied are you with the [attribute] of [feature]?
Avoid leading the participants by asking questions like "Is this feature too complicated?" Instead, gauge their satisfaction on a Likert scale that provides a number range from highly unsatisfied to highly satisfied. This will provide a less biased result than leading them to a negative answer they may not otherwise have had.
3. How do you use [feature]?
There may be multiple ways to achieve the same goal or utilize the same feature. This question will help uncover how users interact with a specific aspect of the product and what they find valuable.
4. What parts of [the product] do you use the most? Why?
This question is meant to help you understand the strengths of the product and what about it creates raving fans. This will indicate what you should absolutely keep and perhaps even lead to insights into what you can improve for other features.
5. What parts of [the product] do you use the least? Why?
This question is meant to uncover the weaknesses of the product or the friction in its use. That way, you can rectify any issues or plan future improvements to close the gap between user expectations and reality.
6. If you could change one thing about [feature] what would it be?
Because it's so similar to #5, you may get some of the same answers. However, you'd be surprised about the aspirational things that your users might say here.
7. What do you expect [action/feature] to do?
Here's another tip from Julie Fischer:
"When participants ask 'What will this do?' it's best to reply with the question 'What do you expect it do?' rather than telling them the answer."
Doing this can uncover user expectation as well as clarity issues with the copy.
Your Work Could Always Use a Fresh Perspective
Letting another person review and possibly criticize your work takes courage -- no one wants a bruised ego. But most of the time, when you allow people to constructively criticize or even rip apart your article or product design, especially when your work is intended to help these people, your final result will be better than you could've ever imagined.
Editor's note: This post was originally published in August 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness. | <urn:uuid:231cac61-816a-4b60-a7b3-a1133c636971> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/usability-testing?_ga=2.149115510.151530113.1569251218-933118289.1529345498 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.948361 | 3,909 | 2.515625 | 3 |
NewsWise has an interesting article about the U.S. Secret Service using Thin Layer Chromatography to analyze inks – here’s some excerpts:
Inks in one form or another have been around for at least 5,000 years. Scientists can analyze an ink’s components and determine when it was first manufactured, its brand, its composition, and other information by comparing the analysis results to the more than 10,000 inks and matching analyses stored in the International Ink Library managed by the U.S. Secret Service.
To analyze an ink sample, forensic scientists separate its components using planar thin layer chromatography. This process uses solvents to separate the ink into bands of color on a page. Each ink creates its own color bands, thus forming a “fingerprint.” Scientists compare the unknown sample’s bands to known samples to find a match.
And here’s that great clip from CSI showing ink analysis with Thin Layer Chromatography: | <urn:uuid:5a44b796-01da-400d-97a1-d7b31748d9b3> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://blog.milesscientific.com/blog/homeland-security-forensics-ink-and-thin-layer-chromatography | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.909435 | 203 | 2.890625 | 3 |
By Jay Parmar
Python being a general-purpose programming language supports multiple programming paradigms, viz procedural, functional, and object-oriented programming (OOP). Each Pythoneer often uses a combination of these programming styles and usually has her preferred style of coding. As a Python programmer, you can write code in a style that you like.
Considering the number of concepts that OOP encompasses and its popularity, it demands more than one article. However, I will limit the discussion to some of the most widely used object-oriented programming concepts here.
I will cover the following topics and their implementation in Python:
- Difference between Procedural programming and Functional programming
- What is OOP and why is it required?
- What are classes and their objects?
- What are the attributes and methods?
- What is init method?
- What is a self keyword, and why do we use it?
Note: This article assumes some familiarity with Python programming. In case you want to brush up your knowledge on Python, I urge you to go through some of the initial chapters of the Python handbook. Before we jump to the discussion about OOP, let's clear the difference between procedural and functional programming.
Difference between Procedural programming and Functional programming
Procedural programming is the one we learn when we start programming. In its simplest form, procedural programming takes the top-down approach of executing code. The code will be executed line by line sequentially in an order it has been written. That's it, that's procedural programming for you.
If you learn by example, here it is:
Below is the output:
First, this line will execute. Next, Python executes this line. Then, this line shows up. Finally, Python completes execution by printing this line.
Next comes the functional programming style. Here, we try to combine code lines into logical blocks that can be reused as and when required.
Say you want to backtest a strategy and write a Python code for it.
The steps to do so usually involves:
- Downloading the historical data
- Calculating buy and hold returns
- Computing the statistical or technical indicators
- Generating trading signals
- Calculating strategy returns and other evaluation metrics
- Visualising the performance of the strategy
Each of the above-listed steps can take one or more lines of code to achieve the defined objective. You can use either approach, procedural or functional, both work. However, the focus, here, would be to understand functional programming. We can create a dedicated function that encapsulates one or more steps defined above.
Below is an example workflow involving various functions to backtest a given strategy:
How many functions should be created and what function performs what functionality generally depends on the coder and how the problem statement is being approached.
Why is a grouping of functionality preferred?
The answer lies in the flexibility it provides. For example, using this programming style, we may choose to create utility functions that can be used across various Python scripts, thereby allowing us to modularise the overall project.
Additionally, it also minimises the chance of accidentally modifying the code that does not require any alteration. As a programmer, we can get a clear idea of which function is causing an error, thereby, focusing only on that particular piece of code.
Consider a scenario that requires a particular task to be executed quite often. If we code it using procedural programming, it involves writing the same piece of code over and over again, and it is not a good programming practice.
Instead, if we use functional programming that defines a function for that particular task, we can call it whenever required without having to repeat the code.
Having this knowledge in mind, we can appreciate how different programming styles enable us as a programmer to code efficiently. Or to say, it allows answering, what programming style is more apt given the scenario.
Onward to the main topic of this article now.
What is OOP and why is it required?
In the virtual world of programming, the OOP enables us to code the real-world objects as they are. The constructs of OOP allow us to define and organise the code such that they reflect the real-world scenarios.
Wondering what I mean by real-world objects? They are cars, books, chairs, keyboards, water bottles, pens, and so on. Intuitively, one can think of these objects to be common nouns. Often these objects are characterised by specific attributes/ properties and functions that they can perform.
Consider a car, for example. It has attributes like colour, transmission type, number of seats, fuel type, and many others. The functions that a car can perform be (self) drive, take a turn, drive reverse, lower windows, apply brakes, turn on/off the engine, play audio, and so on.
The OOP paradigm allows us to write a code that mimics the car's exact behaviour or to say any objects. Hence, the name, object-oriented programming. It enables us to encapsulate the attributes and functions of objects.
This does not mean that other paradigms are not useful; they are, but for different types of applications. Procedural programming might be a preferred choice to create an automation script and not the OOP.
The object-oriented approach enables programmers to write clear and logical code for small and large projects alike with proper organisation.
Some of the popular Python packages that are built using this approach are:
The above list hints that the object-oriented approach enables us to develop large and complex projects with wide-ranging capabilities. At this point, we are sufficiently acquainted with what OOP is and its potential.
Let's learn about some of its primary constructs, classes and objects and see how to implement them using Python.
What are classes and their objects?
Let's continue with the example of a car. If we think in abstract terms, a car is nothing but the replication of an abstract idea. That is, a car itself is a generic term used to define a particular type of vehicle. In other words, it is one of the classes of vehicles. In programming terminology, we represent this abstract idea by a class.
Now, let's think for a minute. If we say that a car is a concept, then what do we call a particular car, such as Toyota Corolla (or any of your favourite ones), what is it? As you might have guessed, it is an object of the car. And what is a car? It is a class (probably under the vehicle universe).
If we take an abstract look, we find that these cars are nothing but the replication of one abstract thing (idea) with different attributes and functions. In programming parlance, this thing is class. In other words, the concept of a car provides us with a template or a blueprint from which we can define/create various objects of the car.
Can you try to think of some other classes and their objects?
Below are some examples:
At this juncture, I firmly assume that I was able to convey the idea of classes and objects to you. If not, do let me know in a comment below.
It's time to learn to implement these newly learned concepts in Python. The below code shows a class definition in Python.
We define a class with the help of a keyword
class, followed by the name of the class, and we end the sentence with
:. The body of the class should contain its attributes and functions.
However, we define the class
Car with an empty body represented by the keyword
pass. In the OOP paradigm, functions that go within the class are referred to as methods; now onwards, I will refer to functions as methods.
Once we have a class defined, we can create its instances, known as objects. The class
Car works as a template to create new objects, as shown in the example below:
Often when we create an object of a class, we assign it to some variable. That variable is called the object of the class. Here, in our example,
car_2 are examples of the class
Car. This process is also known as the instantiating of an object. These objects are also known as class instances.
Each of these objects can have different properties, and they can be set as follows:
Now, both objects have the
colour attribute. And if we are to print it, we would write as follows:
And the output we will get is the following:
The colour of Car 1 is Carbon Black The colour of Car 2 is Magma Grey
So far, we have created a class
Car and its objects
car_2. However, currently, the
Car class in its current form can hardly be mapped to its real-world counterpart. For example, we know that every car will have certain features in common, like colour, number of types, number of seats, etc., and so some functions. Hence, instead of defining an empty class, we can define a class which encompasses these common attributes and functions.
What are the attributes and methods?
I am pretty sure that you know what I mean by attributes and methods. We have seen examples of attributes and methods multiple times by now. Keeping this in mind, I will directly jump to its implementation in Python.
The below example shows how to define a class with some default attributes and methods:
The updated class definition now resembles a real-world car to some extent. This time it has got two attributes,
seating_capacity, and two methods,
lower_windows() built-in it. That means, when we create an object of such a class, it will have these attributes and methods by default.
Of course, we can update these attribute values (neither all cars are White in colour nor all cars have a seating capacity of five). A new car object created below using the new class defined demonstrates this point.
The output is shown below:
The colour of Car 3 is: White The seating capacity of Car 3 is: 5
As we can see in the above example, we can access a given object's attributes (and methods) using the dot operator. To modify default behaviour, we simply assign new values to attributes as shown below.
It will yield the following result:
The colour of Car 3 is: Magma Red The seating capacity of Car 3 is: 2
In the real-world analogy, this operation is similar to modifying a car in real. The methods within a class define functionalities of a car. This means we can call methods using the objects only. Because if we don't have a car, there won't be a question of accessing its functionality.
We call methods on
car_3, as shown below:
Calling methods, as shown above, would output the following:
Driving 500 meters ahead Lowering windows on all doors Windows lowered
One thing to note here is, we cannot alter the behaviour of the methods defined within a class using their objects.
In this fashion, we can create as many objects of the class
Car as we need. But wait, let's consider that we create twenty objects.
In this case, the
colour attribute of all those objects would have the same value,
White. And we all know that in the real world, we have cars with all imaginable colours.
To replicate such a scenario, we might want to change the colour of those twenty objects. In the current implementation, we would need to change the colour attributes of all those objects. This approach does not seem to be efficient.
Instead, what if we can have a facility to change each object's colour the moment we create them?
__init__ method to our rescue.
What is init method?
You might have guessed what
__init__ does and mean for? If not, here you go,
__init__ means initialisation. We use this method to initiate the attributes with values provided by the object when it gets created. In other words, the
__init__ methods gets called as soon as a new object is created. Let's implement it in our
Car class and see how we can leverage it.
In this implementation of the class, we define all variables (and methods) in the
__init__ that needs to be assigned (and called) upon creating a new object. How? As demonstrated in the below code:
We provide the values to be assigned to
seating_capacity attributes while creating an object. This way, we can overcome the requirement to set each object's attribute values after they have been created.
If we access the newly created object's attributes, it would have the values we provided while creating them.
The output would be as shown below:
The colour of Car 4 is: Ocean Blue The seating capacity of Car 4 is: 2
We can also place a method within the body of
__init__ to ensure that the method gets executed upon creation of an object. For those of you who come from any other object-oriented programming language, would be able to relate the
__init__ method with the constructor method.
You might have noticed that while defining these methods,
__init__ or any normal for that purpose, the first parameter these methods take is the
Why is this keyword necessary, and why do we need to provide this keyword?
We discuss it next.
What is a self keyword, and why do we use it?
In Python, everything is an object. I mean by this statement that whenever we create any variable in Python, it will be an object of some class, either built-in or user-defined. You may say that it is not the case.
Further, you may say that we can define any variable without the class notation. For example, as shown in the example below, we can define a variable without creating any instance of a class:
x = 'Python is easy.'
That's true. However, when we define a variable in this manner, Python recognises the type of value we assign to the variable and creates the object of the appropriate class on its own. We can check this as follows:
It will show us that the type of the variable
str. Does that mean
x is an instance of the string class? Let's verify:
Executing the above command returns
True as an output, which means that the variable
x is an instance/object of the class
Now, when I try to, say, count the number of occurrences of
t in the variable
x using the method
x, I need to provide the letter for which I want the number of occurrences. This is shown below:
Notice that I am not providing the actual string in which the occurrence needs to be counted. Instead, I am invoking the
count() method on the object of the string. In this case also, where I am not providing the actual string, I will get the output as
So the question is, how does Python recognise which string to consider?
The answer is, when we call a method using the object, Python passes that object to the calling method and the respective calling method will handle it using the
To elaborate, when we call the
count() using the notation
x.count('t'), Python will send the object
x to the
count() method. This
count() method will then handle the object
x using the
self keyword. Hence, the
self keyword goes as the first parameter in the method definition.
Let's take one more example to make this clear. Recall our
Car class. All methods in the
Car class have
self as the first parameter. Hence, when we call a method as follows:
Consider the above command; when we call a method, as shown above, Python will pass the object
lower_windows() method to convey that you need to perform action mentioned in the method body for the object
On the receiving side, the method will handle the object using the
self keyword. In a nutshell, the
self keyword refers to the object that is calling that particular method.
If you try to print the
self in the body of the method, it will print the object's memory location. Let's try this out. To do so, I add a new method
temp() to the class
Creating a new object of the class
car_5 = Car('Blood Red', 1)
First, I print the newly created object
This outputs the memory location of
car_5 on my machine which is,
<__main__.Car object at 0x0000022EB95BEA30>
If I execute the
temp() method on
car_5 that prints the
self keyword, I should get the same output. Here's the try:
And the output is
<__main__.Car object at 0x0000022EB95BEA30>
This process validates the claim that the object and the
self refers to the same thing.
I am hopeful that you have a good idea of classes, attributes, methods and objects. This understanding will allow you to further foray into the world object-oriented programming.
Before concluding, here's my attempt to put everything we covered in this article and quickly summarising it. Below-shown is a new example from the financial markets:
Answer the following questions before reading further:
- What is the name of the class?
- Which methods will be executed on its own upon creation of new objects?
- What parameter do we need to provide while creating an object?
- Can we define methods in the above class without the
- Can we update the value of the
short_sellingvariable while creating the object?
- Is it possible to invoke multiple methods upon creation of the object?
- Can I say that the default value of
short_sellingvariable will be
Truefor all objects I create?
I hope you won't find these questions difficult. Or have you any doubts or any difficulty answering these questions, do let me know in the comment section below.
Here are the answers:
- The class name is
__init__method will get executed on its own every time a new object is created.
- We need to pass
ssarguments while creating a new object.
- Not really. Python will throw an error when we call a method that is defined without the
selfkeyword being its first parameter. This is because Python will automatically pass the calling object to the method, and the method won't be able to handle it.
- Nope, we won't be able to update the value of the
short_sellingvariable when creating a new object. We would be able to update its value after the object has been created.
- Of course, yes. We can call a method within the body of
__init__method that needs to be called upon object creation.
- Yes, the default value of
short_sellingfor all objects will be
Creating an object is a straightforward task. It can be created as follows:
AAPL = Stock('Apple Inc.', 234, 'NYSE', 2000, True)
And accessing attributes is also a no-brainer:
print('The total shares of AAPL are', AAPL.total_shares)
It would output the following:
The total shares of AAPL are 2000
In this article on object-oriented programming, you learned a few of the building blocks in detail. We started with the difference between procedural and functional programming.
Then you understood what object-oriented programming allows us to mimic the real-world and how it binds everything using the concepts of an object. Along the lines, you'd seen how to define classes and create objects.
You also learned how to make classes with (default) attributes and methods. Towards the end, we understood how the
__init__ method helps us and the use of the
This article allows us to get started with OOP and by no means is comprehensive coverage on the topic. I plan to cover advanced topics on this subject in the upcoming article. Thanks for reading. Adios.
Disclaimer: All investments and trading in the stock market involve risk. Any decisions to place trades in the financial markets, including trading in stock or options or other financial instruments is a personal decision that should only be made after thorough research, including a personal risk and financial assessment and the engagement of professional assistance to the extent you believe necessary. The trading strategies or related information mentioned in this article is for informational purposes only. | <urn:uuid:9c12e51d-2137-4fbb-869f-1f9bdeee2d0f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://blog.quantinsti.com/object-oriented-programming-python/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.909391 | 4,255 | 3.625 | 4 |
Many people can't tell the difference between the LoRaWAN wireless module and the LoRa gateway wireless transmission technology, and what their application in the field of IoT is.LoRaWAN refers to the networking protocol of the MAC layer, while LoRa is a protocol of the physical layer. Although the existing LoRaWAN networking basically uses LoRa as the physical layer, the LoRaWAN protocol also lists that GFSK can also be used as the physical layer in certain frequency bands. From the perspective of network layering, LoRaWAN can use any physical layer protocol, and LoRa can also be used as the physical layer of other networking technologies.\u2605 Lora gateway wireless communication technology \u2605LoRa is one of the LPWAN communication technologies, and it is an ultra-long-distance wireless transmission scheme based on spread spectrum technology adopted and promoted by Semtech in the United States. This solution changes the previous compromise between transmission distance and power consumption and provides users with a simple system that can achieve long distances, long battery life, and large capacity, thereby expanding the sensor network. At present, LoRa mainly operates in free frequency bands around the world, including 433\/868\/915MHz, etc.\u2605 LoraWAN wireless communication module \u2605LoRaWAN wireless communication is an open standard that defines the communication protocol of LoRa chip-based LPWAN technology. LoRaWAN defines Media Access Control (MAC) at the data link layer and is maintained by the LoRa Alliance. This distinction between LoRa and LoRaWAN is important because other companies like Link Labs use a proprietary MAC layer on top of the LoRa chip to create a better hybrid design, called Symphony Link in Link Labs' case. LoRaWAN is a star or star-to-star topology that is generally considered better than a mesh network because of its advantages in maintaining battery power and increasing communication range. 4G \u0414\u0422\u0423 Specifically, a star topology relays messages to a central server through gateways, and each end node transmits data to multiple gateways. The gateway then forwards the data to the web server where redundancy detection, security checks, and message scheduling are performed.In general, LoRa contains only the \u041c\u043e\u0434\u0443\u043b\u044c \u043f\u0438\u0442\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f also contains the network layer, so information can be sent to any base station connected to the cloud platform. Just connect the correct antenna to its socket and the LoRaWAN module can work at different frequencies. | <urn:uuid:3951d797-59e8-4bd7-b286-f1e6217e0431> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://blog.ulifestyle.com.hk/article/loramodule/4214801/the-difference-between-lora-wireless-technology-and-lorawan-gateway-module | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.884104 | 573 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Gold, often referred to as the “King of Metals,” has consistently held a paramount position in the world’s economic landscape, transcending mere aesthetics and luxury.
A prime example underscoring gold’s critical role in the global economy lies in the significant gold reserves central banks maintain. These financial linchpins of nations uphold these reserves as a testament to gold’s unparalleled value, a tradition spanning centuries.
During the height of the late 19th and early 20th-century gold standard era, major economies like the United States anchored their currencies to gold, solidifying the stability of the global financial system.
For instance, the U.S., a major economic power at the time, boasted one of the largest gold reserves, officially holding approximately 20,663 metric tons of gold as of 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II. A considerable portion of this gold was securely housed at Fort Knox in Kentucky, a renowned depository.
Gold, beyond its charm, stands as a financial cornerstone, bolstering stability, credibility, and global relations. Appreciating its cultural, economic, and historical worth requires understanding its extensive history. Gold’s journey across civilisations reveals its enduring allure and lasting impact on human history.
Gold, one of the most coveted metals in history, has captivated humanity for millennia. Its appeal can be traced back to ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, holding immense cultural, economic, and aesthetic value.
In ancient Egypt, gold was revered as the “flesh of the gods,” symbolising divine power and immortality. Egyptians widely used gold for various purposes, including currency, jewellery, and religious artifacts. Pharaohs were often buried with vast amounts of gold, a testament to its
The Greeks, too, held gold in high esteem, associating it with gods and considering it indestructible due to its non-reactive nature. This perception elevated gold to a divine status, reinforcing its prominence in society.
In ancient China, gold held immense cultural and economic value. It was used for ornamental purposes, religious offerings, and even as a form of currency during various dynasties. The Chinese associated gold with prosperity and believed it brought good luck.
India has a deep-rooted cultural affinity for gold, considering it auspicious and a symbol of purity and prosperity. Gold is an integral part of weddings, festivals, and religious ceremonies, often passed down through generations as heirlooms.
During the Spanish conquests in the 15th and 16th centuries, significant gold reserves were uncovered in regions now known as Mexico, Peru, and parts of Central and South America.
Legends like El Dorado drove Spanish explorations, leading to the discovery of abundant gold, especially in present-day Colombia, Venezuela, and the famed silver mines of Potosí in Bolivia.
The influx of gold from the Americas significantly altered global gold supply, affecting trade dynamics and gold’s value worldwide. The wealth from the Americas financed wars, fuelled industries, and facilitated the rise of powerful merchant families, causing a price revolution and laying the foundation for modern banking systems.
The 19th century witnessed the phenomenon of gold rushes, forever altering the course of history. The California Gold Rush (1848-1855) and the Australian Gold Rush (1851) were pivotal events that ignited economic booms, sparking population growth and advancements in mining technologies.
These gold rushes acted as magnets, attracting people from around the globe in search of wealth. The influx of people led to the rapid development of cities, infrastructure, and entire economies in these regions, leaving an enduring mark on their landscapes.
In response to the surging demand for gold, miners and prospectors developed innovative mining technologies and techniques. These advancements not only revolutionised the mining sector but also had a broader impact, driving progress in industrial and engineering domains.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed the widespread adoption of the gold standard, anchoring the value of a nation’s currency to a specific quantity of gold. This system instilled confidence in the monetary system and promoted financial stability.
Under the gold standard, each unit of currency was backed by a fixed amount of gold held in reserve, providing a sense of security to holders of that currency. This ensured that the paper currency had tangible value tied to a precious metal.
However, the gold standard’s rigidity became apparent, especially during economic downturns. Governments found it challenging to implement flexible monetary policies to combat economic crises. Consequently, nations began transitioning away from the gold standard, opting for more adaptable monetary systems.
The 20th century, marked by the two World Wars, saw a surge in gold demand. Governments and individuals sought gold as a safe-haven asset during times of uncertainty. Post-World War II, gold played a crucial role in shaping the global monetary system, evolving into its significance in the 21st century as a safe-haven asset amid economic volatility and geopolitical tensions.
In recent years, gold has maintained its status as a safe-haven asset, particularly during economic downturns and geopolitical instability. Its value surged after the 2008 financial crisis, highlighting its resilience and enduring relevance in the modern financial landscape.
Gold, often revered as a timeless symbol of wealth and prosperity, continues to wield immense influence in the contemporary global economy. Explore how this precious metal remains an enduring force, shaping the dynamics of the modern economic landscape.
Central banks play a pivotal role in maintaining a stable modern global economy. Gold reserves held by central banks are a fundamental component, providing a solid foundation for economic stability and bolstering a nation’s creditworthiness. These reserves act as a safeguard, particularly during economic downturns and emergencies, instilling confidence in the financial system.
Key players in the global financial landscape, including the United States, Germany, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), uphold substantial gold reserves. For instance, as of 2023, the United States holds the largest gold reserves globally, amounting to approximately 8,133 metric tons. Germany comes in second with about 3,355 metric tons, followed by the IMF with approximately 2,814 metric tons. These extensive holdings underscore gold’s enduring importance in the modern economic framework, showcasing its resilience and relevance.
In the contemporary world, gold is universally acknowledged as a reliable hedge against economic uncertainty. Its historical status as a safe-haven asset is reinforced during times of economic turbulence, be it inflation, deflation, geopolitical instabilities, or financial crises. Investors turn to gold, seeking a secure investment that can effectively preserve their wealth in volatile market conditions.
Notably, the demand for gold escalates during economic crises, as it is perceived as a safe bet amidst market volatilities. For example, during the 2008 financial crisis, gold prices surged from around $800 per ounce in 2008 to over $1,900 per ounce in 2011, demonstrating its value as a safe-haven asset during tumultuous times.
Gold’s influence extends far beyond its traditional role. In the contemporary global economy, gold plays a multifaceted and indispensable role. Gold is not only a store of value and a safe-haven asset; it’s widely used in different sectors, making it even more important.
In the realm of jewellery, gold is not just a symbol of opulence but also a representation of tradition and cultural significance. In 2022, the global demand for gold in the jewellery sector amounted to approximately 2,086 metric tons.
Its exceptional conductivity properties make it a vital component in the electronics industry, contributing to the production of various technological devices. Furthermore, its unique attributes make gold indispensable in specialised applications like aerospace technology and medical devices.
Numerous factors intricately affect gold prices in the global market, including supply-demand dynamics, economic indicators, geopolitical events, currency strength, central bank policies, market speculation, and industrial demand. Understanding these influences is crucial for comprehending gold market dynamics.
In conclusion, comprehending gold’s historical journey unveils not only its economic implications but also its profound impact on our lives and businesses. Gold symbolises human creativity, resilience, and adaptability. It acts as a bridge across generations, a timeless emblem that continues to influence our world, connecting our past, present, and future. As we navigate the complexities of economics and trade, the enduring value of gold in the tapestry of humanity remains a constant and compelling reminder. | <urn:uuid:f4f2117d-7265-4eb1-90c5-c15de7f4fc02> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://blog.vtmarkets.com/research/history-of-gold-from-ancient-cultures-to-modern-economies/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.937277 | 1,738 | 3.65625 | 4 |
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PETER PAUL RUBENS.
a fine old mansion in the Sternengasse at Cologne, a marble slab informs the stranger
On a old mansion in at here Peter Paul Rubens was born.
But neither Cologne nor her rival, Antwerp, can support their claim to the honour of having given birth to the Flemish artist-prince. Incontestible facts now prove that this event occurred in the little town of Siegen in Westphalia.
The ancestors of Rubens had for centuries been settled in Antwerp as respectable burghers. His grand-father was a dispensing chemist, who also owned a grocer's shop; but his father was educated to a learned profession. Johann Rubens was born in 1530, studied law at Louvain and Padua, and took the degree of Doctor of Civil and Ecclesiastical Law with honours in Rome. Returning to his native country, on the 29th November 1561 he married a merchant's daughter named Maria Pypelincks. In 1562 he was appointed an Assessor, an office which he held for five years, during the period of Revolution against the Spanish rule. Under the subsequent Governorship of the tyrannical Duke of Alba, when Counts Egmont and Horn suffered on the scaffold for their patriotism, Johann Rubens, suspected of leanings towards the Protestant Heresy, thought it wise to leave his home. Towards the end of the year 1568, armed with credentials from the municipality of Antwerp, he fled to Cologne. In that city was residing, at that time, Anna of Saxony, wife of William of Orange, the great leader of the Dutch Rebellion. Rubens, introduced to this rather capricious and morbidly excitable princess by her legal adviser, John Betz of Malines, himself a fugitive, became first her intimate friend and then her lover. This illicit relationship could not long remain a secret, and Count Johann of Nassau, brother of William of Orange, arrested Rubens in March 1571 on his way to Siegen, a small town in the territory of Nassau, whither Princess Anna had already retired to await her confinement, and imprisoned him at Dillenburg. According to the law of the country since he had confessed his guilt Rubens' life was forfeit: and, since his arrest had taken place in the territory of Nassau the count had the right to avenge his brother's honour by passing upon him sentence of death. Both these princes, however, took into consideration the fact,
that such a proceeding would only make matters worse by publishing the family scandal.. Moreover the offender found a most eloquent intercessor in a quarter whence he certainly least deserved to expect it. Maria Pypelincks, his injured. wife, did her utmost to procure his pardon. Two letters of sympathy and consolation have come down to us, addressed by her to her imprisoned husband, bearing witness. to her high-minded. generosity: "I am more than glad," she writes. to him, "that, touched by my forgiveness, you (Euer Liebden) feel now somewhat comforted. I did not imagine that you could ever think, that I should make great difficulty in this matter, as indeed I have not done. How could I ever be so cruel as to add to your great distress and tribulation. On the contrary I feel as if I could even give my own hearts-blood to help you. Should I be like that most wicked servant in the Gospels, who, though all his own debt had been forgiven him, yet compelled his fellow-servant to pay him to the uttermost farthing? Let your mind be at rest as to my forgiveness; would to God that your freedom were dependent on it, so that we might soon be happy again. . . . I pray that God will hear my petition; so that they will spare and have mercy upon us; for it is certain that, should I hear the news of your death, I should die myself of a broken heart. The words though of her Grace" (probably the mother of the Orange princes) "which I have conveyed to you in another letter, still give me hope. . . . I cannot believe that we shall be so completely and so miserably separated. ... O God! may that never be! My soul is so much in sympathy with yours and in union with you, that
Fig. 1. ALLEGED PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST'S MOTHER.
After a photograph from the original by Franz Hanfstängl, Munich.
Fig. 2. THE APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL. Drawing in the Albertina at Vienna.
I suffer with the same pain that you are suffering. I believe that if these
Fig. 3. PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG MAN. In the Pinakothek at Munich. After a photograph from the original by Franz Hanfstäng], Munich.
that, what is there to be done? Oh! heavenly and merciful father! thou wilt help us then! Thou will'st not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Pour into the hearts of these noble gentlemen, whom we have so deeply offended, the spirit of thy mercy, that we may soon be delivered from all these tribulations and fears they have already endured so long! . . ." The end of the letter runs thus: "Now I recommend you to the Lord, for I can write no more, and I beg of you, not to anticipate the worst: for that will anyhow come soon enough. To be always thinking of death and dreading death is worse than
death itself. Therefore banish these thoughts from your heart. I hope and trust in God, that he may punish us more leniently, and that he may still give us both joy after all this grief. For this I beseech him from the bottom of my heart, recommending you to the Almighty, that he may strengthen and comfort you with his Holy Spirit. I shall continually pray for you; and so also do our little children, who send their love and who God knows-long so much to see you. Written on the 1st of April at night between 12 and 1 o'clock. No longer sign yourself 'unworthy husband' since I have forgiven you all.
The noble sentiments of the mother are reflected in the superior bearing and noble mind, which later on distinguished the famous son.
After the generous woman had vainly tried for two years by personal and epistolary entreaties to secure her husband's liberty from Count Johann,
1) It was thus that the family of Rubens spelt their surname during their stay in Germany, in order to bring it into accord with the native pronunciation.
she at last succeeded in freeing him from the prison at Dillenburg by paying a sum of 6000 Thalers (about £ 900) as bail for him. He was allowed to reside at Siegen, though under certain restrictions. It was here that, in the spring of the year 1573, husband and wife met again for the first time after their heavy trials. During their stay in Siegen Frau Maria gave birth to two sons. The eldest Philip,- her fifth child, - born in 1574, later on became one of the civic authorities at Antwerp, where he made a name for himself; whilst the other, who first saw the light on the 29th of June 1577, on account of the date of his birth, received at the font the names of the two great Apostles: Peter and Paul. This infant was destined to immortalize the name of Rubens.
Towards the end of the year 1577, Princess Anna, who had been meanwhile divorced from her husband died. Johann Rubens therefore thought the time propitious to attain a free pardon from the Prince of Orange, who moreover was happily married once more. He supported in 1578 this petition by renouncing a part of the sum which, as we have seen above, had been paid as his security, and on the proceeds of which his family had hitherto been quietly living. He also asked to be allowed to live in a town nearer his own country, so that he might be enabled to make a respectable living for his wife and children. His request was granted on condition; that he should present himself before the municipality of Nassau whenever required to do so: and that he should never again enter the separate dominions of William of Oranje, nor dare to come into his presence. Johann Rubens
was thus at last allowed to return to Cologne with his family, where he took up his abode in his former residence in the Sternengasse. Their circumstances soon began to improve, when suddenly, in the autumn of the year 1582, he received a peremptory order to return to Siegen and go back to prison. Again it was his devoted wife who interceded for him, and again she had to support her entreaties with a sacrifice of money. For the Count of Nassau needed a large sum of money to help his brother in the war against the Spanish Supremacy. It was therefore only | <urn:uuid:40a0146a-888a-4f3d-a300-9a561649ac8d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://books.google.kz/books?id=DZQZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA6&vq=Gallery&dq=editions:HARVARD32044108411158&lr=&output=html_text | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.98352 | 1,902 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Alcoholic Blood Work: Monitoring Alcohol Level In The Workplace
04 September, 2023
Monitoring alcohol levels in the workplace is crucial for maintaining a safe and productive environment. Alcoholic blood work involves testing employees for alcohol consumption to ensure they are not under the influence while on duty. This type of monitoring is important as it helps prevent accidents, reduces the risk of impaired decision-making, and promotes a responsible work culture. By regularly conducting alcohol tests, employers can identify and address any potential issues related to alcohol use.
Alcohol use at the workplace can negatively impact both individuals and the overall productivity and safety of the organisation. Excessive alcohol consumption during working hours can impair judgment, reduce productivity, and increase the risk of accidents and injuries. Therefore, many companies have adopted policies that include alcohol tests as part of their health and safety measures. This article will present the signs and symptoms of intoxicated employees, the types of alcohol tests, and the significance of alcohol monitoring.
Signs And Symptoms Of Employees With Alcoholic Blood At Work
Employees who exhibit signs and symptoms of alcoholic blood at work may be struggling with an alcohol use disorder. Recognising these indications is crucial for both the affected individual and their well-being in the workplace. Some changes in behaviour may include increased irritability and mood swings. These changes can stem from alcohol-induced impairments in cognitive and motor functions.
Physically, employees with alcoholic blood may exhibit symptoms such as bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, unsteady walking, or poor coordination. These physical manifestations can often be attributed to elevated blood alcohol levels resulting from heavy alcohol consumption. In addition, liver function tests may reveal indicators of liver damage or other health conditions due to chronic alcohol abuse.
Furthermore, employees may experience a noticeable decrease in their work performance. Chronic alcohol consumption can negatively impact concentration, memory, decision-making abilities, and overall cognitive function. Heavy drinkers may struggle to meet deadlines, make errors in their work, or have difficulty focusing on tasks. These issues can also lead to increased absenteeism or tardiness.
Risks Of Having Intoxicated Employees
- Alcohol poisoning: intoxicated employees may consume excessive amounts of alcohol, leading to alcohol poisoning or other medical conditions.
- Impaired judgment: elevated levels of alcohol affect cognitive function.
- Decreased productivity: intoxicated employees may be less focused and less efficient in their work.
- Increased risk of accidents: adverse effects of alcohol impairs coordination and reaction time
- Poor customer service: excessive drinking can affect an employee’s ability to provide high-quality customer service.
- Negative impact on team dynamics: intoxicated employees may exhibit disruptive behaviour, causing conflicts within the team.
- Legal and liability issues: employers could face legal consequences if an intoxicated employee causes harm to themselves or others.
Types Of Tests To Detect Employees With Alcoholic Blood At Work
Individuals and employers should recognise the serious consequences of heavy drinking. Consequently, employers ought to implement measures for identifying employees with alcoholic blood at work. They can utilise various types of tests to detect alcohol presence in the body. These include urine tests, blood tests, saliva tests, hair tests, and breath tests.
Firstly, health professionals commonly use alcohol urine testing to identify alcohol ingestion within the past 48 hours. These tests can detect direct biomarkers of alcohol consumption, specifically ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate. Secondly, blood tests can determine alcohol levels and gain insights into the impact of alcohol on the body
Thirdly, saliva tests are quick and non-invasive methods to detect recent alcohol consumption. These tests can provide accurate results within a short period of time. Fourthly, hair tests can detect alcohol biomarkers over a longer period of time. Lastly, breath tests can detect recent alcohol consumption through breathalysers. They measure the Blood Alcohol Concentrations (BAC) by analysing the alcohol present in the breath. Breathalysers can determine if an individual is within legal limits for alcohol consumption.
Advantages Of Using Breathalysers
Using a workplace breathalyser, like Shield Express Identity, for alcohol screening offers several advantages. It provides quick and accurate results. Employees can easily blow into the device, and within seconds, the device will display their BAC levels. This eliminates the need for time-consuming and invasive blood or urine tests.
Additionally, a breathalyser can be carried around and used at any time, making it convenient for medical testing in different locations. Moreover, a breathalyser is cost-effective compared to laboratory testing, which can be expensive and time-consuming. Overall, a breathalyser provides a convenient, accurate, and cost-effective solution for ensuring an alcohol-free work environment.
Reasons For Monitoring Alcoholic Blood At Work
Monitoring alcoholic blood at work is crucial for several reasons. It helps ensure the safety of employees and their colleagues. Excessive alcohol consumption can impair judgment, coordination, and reaction times, leading to an increased risk of accidents and injuries. By conducting tests to check for alcohol biomarkers, healthcare providers can identify individuals who may engage in heavy drinking habits.
Additionally, monitoring alcoholic blood helps maintain productivity. Chronic alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects on physical and mental health, leading to absenteeism, decreased productivity, and poor performance. By implementing alcohol blood testing, healthcare professionals can identify employees who may need assistance in managing their drinking habits. This proactive approach can help employees maintain their well-being and contribute effectively to their work responsibilities.
Lastly, monitoring the level of alcohol at work is important for legal and liability reasons. Some industries have strict policies and legal limits regarding alcohol consumption. Regular blood alcohol testing can provide evidence of compliance with these regulations. It also allows employers to identify potential liability issues and take appropriate measures.
Proper handling of workplace alcohol test results is crucial for maintaining a safe and productive work environment. Firstly, companies must ensure confidentiality and privacy when handling these results. Only authorised personnel should have access to the information, and it should be securely stored to prevent any unauthorised access.
Additionally, clear and consistent policies and procedures should be in place regarding the interpretation and consequences of alcohol test results. This includes providing support and resources for employees who may require assistance in addressing any alcohol-related issues. By handling workplace alcohol test results properly, employers can effectively address potential risks and maintain a safe and healthy workplace.
Recognising signs of alcoholic blood in employees is vital for their well-being and workplace dynamics. Observable changes in behaviour and physical symptoms can indicate alcohol-related impairment. Implementing tests like urine, blood, saliva, hair, and breath tests aids in detecting alcohol presence. Monitoring alcoholic blood at work serves multiple purposes: ensuring safety, maintaining productivity, and adhering to legal regulations. By taking a proactive approach, employers can support employees’ health and contribute to a safer and more productive work environment.
Moreover, utilising breathalysers, like BACtrack, in alcohol screening offers quick, accurate, and convenient results, avoiding the need for invasive tests. Unlike other tests, breathalysers do not require blood or urine samples to be collected, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination. However, employers should properly manage the test results. Authorised personnel should exclusively access the confidential information, securely storing it to prevent unauthorised entry. Ensuring confidentiality, clear policies, and accessible support resources aids in maintaining safety and productivity in the workplace. | <urn:uuid:0520b90f-81bb-4a65-9edc-5cf983e2d0bd> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://breathalysers.co.nz/alcoholic-blood-work/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.920323 | 1,511 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Thermometers bursting in 18th century
Adelaide historical records shatter climate cultists
The hottest day was not in 2019, but 1828 at a blistering 53.9 °C. Back before man-made climate change was frying Australia, when CO2 was around 300ppm, the continent savoured an ideal pre-industrial climate…. RIGHT? This is the kind of climate we are spending $10bn per annum to get back to … Right again? We are told today’s climate has more records and more extremes than times gone by, but the few records we have from the early 1800s are eye-popping.
Things were not just hotter, but so wildly hot it burst thermometers. The earliest temperature records we have show that Australia was a land of shocking heatwaves and droughts, except for when it was bitterly cold or raging in flood. In other words, nothing has changed, except possibly things might not be quite so hot now!
Silliggy (Lance Pidgeon) has been researching records from early explorers and from newspapers. What he’s uncovered is fascinating! It’s as if history is being erased! For all that we hear about recent record-breaking climate extremes, records that are equally extreme, and sometimes even more so, are ignored. In January 1896 a savage blast “like a furnace” stretched across Australia from east to west and lasted for weeks. The death toll reached 437 people in the eastern states. Newspaper reports showed that in Bourke the heat approached 120°F (48.9°C) on three days.
Links to documentary evidence.
The maximum at or above 102 degrees F (38.9°C) for 24 days straight! Use the several links below to read the news reports at the time for yourself ..
- By Tuesday Jan 14, people were reported falling dead in the street.
- Unable to sleep, people in Brewarrina walked the streets at night for hours, thermometers recorded 109F at midnight
- Overnight, the temperature did not fall below 103°F.
- On Jan 18 in Wilcannia, five deaths were recorded in one day, the hospitals were overcrowded and reports said that “more deaths are hourly expected”.
- By January 24, in Bourke, many businesses had shut down (almost everything bar the hotel.)
- Panic stricken, Australians were fleeing to the hills.In climate refugee trains.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/79288908?zoomLevel=5>inAs reported at the time, the government felt the situation was so serious that to save lives and ease the suffering of its citizens they added cheaper train services. What I found most interesting about this was the skill, dedication and length of meteorological data taken in the 1800s. When our climate is “the most important moral challenge” why is it there is so little interest in our longest and oldest data?
Who knew that one of the most meticulous and detailed temperature records in the world from the 1800s comes from Adelaide, largely thanks to Sir Charles Todd.
The West Terrace site in Adelaide was one of the best in the world at the time, and provides accurate historic temperatures from “Australia’s first permanent weather bureau at Adelaide in 1856”
Rainfall records even appear to go as far back as 1839. Lance Pidgeon went delving into the National Archives and was surprised at what he found.
The media are in overdrive, making out that “the extreme heat is the new normal” in Australia. You can’t blame those high records on man-made global warming! | <urn:uuid:81f6912f-fb38-4b47-8b7e-f8ee731dd58b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://cairnsnews.org/2019/12/18/let-the-climate-change-cult-swallow-this-home-truth/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.953261 | 772 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Sea Turtle Care Center Connects Children with Conservation Efforts
By Anna Marie Imbordino • Photos by Emily Cummings Photography
Growing issues surrounding coastal development paired with poor ocean conservation efforts have contributed to all seven species of sea turtles becoming threatened or endangered. To help ensure that sea turtles have a future in our oceans, the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center™ is rehabilitating sick and injured sea turtles and sharing conservation education with families in Charleston and beyond.
Queen, a loggerhead sea turtle, was found suffering from debilitated turtle syndrome by beachgoers on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, in June 2020. Queen was lethargic, covered in barnacles and emaciated when found by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources which then transported the turtle to the South Carolina Aquarium, in Charleston, for life-saving treatment. Now Queen is starting to thrive in her recovery tank and working toward healthy vitals to secure her release back to the wild. This is just one of the many sea turtles rescued and released yearly by the aquarium’s Sea Turtle Care Center™.
Families can walk through the recovery hospital experiencing the day-to-day medical care of the rescued turtles and learning about patient case stories. “We hope the Sea Turtle Care Center™ helps connect families with water and with wildlife, so they can fall in love with the natural world around them. And we want to help them learn the impact of their choices on wildlife and the ocean,” shares Amie Yam-Babinchak, Director of Marketing, Sales and Strategic Communications. The aquarium shows visiting families the impact of their choices on wildlife by helping them see and experience animals affected by climate changes or human interaction firsthand.
Families everywhere can experience the Sea Turtle Care Center™ from their own homes by logging onto the South Carolina Aquarium Facebook page Wednesdays at 10 a.m. EST for a live Turtle Talk hosted by aquarium biologists and spotlighting sea turtle patients. “You do not need to live near the beach or travel to the ocean to protect sea turtles and ocean habitats,” explains Sarah Hartmann, Education Interpreter Lead. “No matter where you are, your actions impact animals all over the world, and you can make a difference.”
To explore more about the Sea Turtle Care Center™ and conservation programming with the South Carolina Aquarium, visit scaquarium.org.
Anna Marie Imbordino is an award-winning writer, publicist and environmentalist
based in the Carolina Bay community of Charleston, SC.
Connect with her on social media by following @teawiththebee.
RECENT CHARITY SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES
More articles coming soon! | <urn:uuid:df84bc49-2d14-4854-9cf9-43a26012b17f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://carolinabayneighbors.com/sea-turtle-care-center-connects-children-with-conservation-efforts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.925587 | 561 | 2.875 | 3 |
Question. Cytokinins are formed primarily in which area of the plant?
(a) Tips of shoot
(d) Lateral buds and leaves
Question. Natural cytokinins are synthesised in
(a) Root apices
(b) Developing shoot buds
(c) Young fruits
Question. Zeatin is
(a) An auxin
(b) a GA
(c) a cytokinin
Question. Cytokinins help to produce all except
(a) New leaves
(b) Chloroplast in leaves
(c) Lateral shoot growth and adventitious shoot formation
(d) Rooting on stem cut
Question. C2H4 is synthesised in large amount by-
(a) Shoot tip
(b) Root tip
(c) Young leaves
(d) Tissues undergoes senescence and ripening fruits
Question. During ripening of the fruits, rate of respiration is increased under the influence of hormone. The hormone is
Question. Seed dormancy is regulated by-
Question. The most widely used compound as a source of C2H4 is
Question. Which hormone promotes female flowers in cucumber?
Question. Long day plants flower specially when the?
(a) Light period is lesser then some critical length
(b) Light period is grater then some critical period
(c) Dark period is less then some critical length
(d) Dark period is more then some critical length
Question. The following diagram shows four coleoptile set up at the start of an experiment
Which two coleoptile will both bend towards the light source?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 4
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 and 4
Question. Removal of auxin source demonstrates that leaf abscission is _____ by auxin, and apical dominance is _____ by auxin
(a) Promoted, promoted
(b) Inhibited, inhibited
(c) Promoted, inhibited
(d) Inhibited, promoted
Question. Branching is inhibited by _____ from the tip of a growing shoot but this effect is encountered by _____ from the root
(a) Cytokine, auxin
(b) Auxin, Cytokine
(c) GA, Cytokine
Question. Which of the following plant hormones can cause the base of a shoot to form new early stage, to be used as herbicide / weedicide, also controls xylem differentiation and helps in cell division?
Question. Removal of shoot tips (decapitation) means loss of apical dominance and it is widely applied in
(a) Tea plantation
Question. Which one(s) is acidic in nature?
Question. Which GA was the first Giberrellin to be discovered?
Question. The fruits can be left on the tree longer so as to extend the marked period. This is due to which function of GA?
(b) Delay senescence
(c) Internodal elongation
Question. Spraying surgarcane with gibberellin increases the yield by as much as 20 tonnes per acre. GA makes this possible
(a) By improving the quality of fruit
(b) By making plants with rosette habit
(c) By internodal elongation
Question. Which one is false?
(a) GA3 is used to speed up the malting process in brewing industry
(b) Spraying juvenile conifers with GA3 hastens the maturity, thus leading to early seed production
(c) GA3 is commercially available gibberellin
(d) GA3 cannot increase the length of internode in sugarcane
Question. Two cytokinins are kinetin and Zeatin. What is the difference between the two?
(a) Kinetin is the active from of zeatin
(b) Zeatin is the active from of kinetin
(c) Zeatin is synthetic cytokininand kinetin is naturally occurring
(d) Zeatin is naturally occurring plant cytokinin, kinetin is not | <urn:uuid:9486c997-c556-4b50-9d0a-59973f0b3c7a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://cbsencertsolutions.com/plant-growth-and-development-class-11-biology-important-questions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.820624 | 886 | 3 | 3 |
Humor is an integral part of human communication, and the ability to understand and produce humor is seen as a measure of intelligence in artificial intelligence. ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a large language model that has been trained on a diverse range of text data, including humor. In this article, we’ll explore how ChatGPT handles humor and the challenges it faces in understanding and generating it.
First, it’s important to understand the difference between understanding humor and generating humor. Understanding humor involves recognizing when a statement is meant to be funny, while generating humor involves producing a funny statement. Both of these are challenging tasks for artificial intelligence models, but ChatGPT is able to do both to a certain extent.
ChatGPT’s ability to understand humor is based on its training data. The model has been trained on a large corpus of text data, including jokes, satirical articles, and other forms of humor. This training data has enabled ChatGPT to learn the patterns and language used in humor and identify when a statement is meant to be funny. However, the model’s understanding of humor is still limited and is heavily dependent on the type of humor it was exposed to during its training. For example, ChatGPT may struggle with recognizing humor in non-English languages or more unconventional forms of humor.
ChatGPT’s ability to generate humor is also limited by its training data. The model has learned to generate text that is similar to the text it has seen during its training. This means that ChatGPT can generate jokes and humorous statements, but they may not always be funny. The model’s sense of humor is also limited by its training data, as it has only been exposed to a certain type of humor.
One of the challenges in training an AI model to handle humor is the subjectivity of humor. What one person finds funny, another may not. This subjectivity makes it difficult for an AI model to determine what is funny and what is not. ChatGPT’s understanding of humor is also limited by its lack of context. The model is not able to understand the context in which a joke is being made or the relationship between the speaker and the listener.
Another challenge in training AI models to handle humor is the difficulty in defining humor. There is no single definition of humor, and what one person finds funny may not be funny to another. This subjectivity makes it difficult for AI models to determine what is funny and what is not.
Despite these challenges, ChatGPT has made significant progress in handling humor. The model is able to generate jokes and humorous statements that are often recognizable as such. However, the model’s understanding and generation of humor is still limited and may not always be accurate or appropriate.
In conclusion, ChatGPT has made significant progress in handling humor, but there are still many challenges to overcome. The model’s ability to understand and generate humor is limited by its training data, the subjectivity of humor, and the difficulty in defining humor. Despite these challenges, ChatGPT continues to improve, and as the model is exposed to more diverse forms of humor, its ability to handle humor will continue to improve. | <urn:uuid:8977af5b-f52b-4e4c-a32c-cb2cbe155367> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://chatgptjob.info/unleashing-the-laughter-an-insight-into-chatgpts-handling-of-humor/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.972788 | 660 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Clothing labels are an important tool used to ensure that the clothing sold meets standards in India, as well as other countries.
Labels are usually made out of satin coated acetate which has a shiny finish and is flexible and durable. Other printed clothing labels are made out of similar materials to the clothing itself and include cotton, polyester, and nylon.
Labels woven into the clothing are often made out of the fabrics taffeta, satin, and damask. These are normally shaped like rectangles and are commonly either 1 inch by 2 inches or 1/2 inch by 1 inch.
Many different sizes and shapes of clothing labels are sold, and normally the size of label used is dependent on the size of the final product used. A new product label will be required if you are combining several pieces of fabric to make one overall piece of clothing.
Clothing labels must be easily viewable for anyone who is involved in the care and maintenance of the fabric. So the label itself must be visible when the product is placed out for sale and if it is difficult to see the label because of external packaging, supplemental instructions should be added to the package so that the customer can see what type of care is required.
The labels must be attached so that they will stay on the fabric for the entire life of the product, without fading or discoloration that will make them illegible while the clothing is likely still usable.
If the product sold contains several pieces made out of a similar enough material that all care instructions are the same, then only one clothing label is required and should be placed on the main piece of clothing.
Labels usually mention the water cleaning temperature and whether machine cleaning is allowed. So if you have one piece of fabric that requires cold water, or a piece of fabric that cannot be put in a washing machine without damaging it, the entire piece of clothing should be labeled dry cleaning only.
Product labels are required to show how the product can be maintained as well as the country that the fabric has been imported from. Maintenance instructions on a product label should be applicable to the piece overall, which means that the most delicate piece of fabric should be the one used to create the clothing label.
However, you are not allowed to label the clothing dry clean only if the fabric can be easily washed in a machine without damaging it. Usually the labeling can be done by a person who is reasonably experienced with maintaining fabric, and if you lack the experience necessary, testing the fabric by washing it yourself should help you determine what methods of cleaning are acceptable.
It is also important to ensure that the label mentions the country of origin for the fabric. Certain pieces of clothing may vary in price based on the product origin, the inspections and taxes will vary depending on the source of the fabric, and buyers may check the label because they wish to buy or boycott fabrics made in certain countries. | <urn:uuid:cda04da1-3205-4a6f-bbbd-9cae0950743c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://chennaiuniform.com/category/dhoties-vashtees/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.953681 | 587 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Violence in the media: What can be done about it?
Australian children are regularly exposed to violence (much of it glamorised) on TV, in films and DVDs, and in games and apps.
The impacts of such exposure on the young, have been the topic of many ongoing reports by health and welfare organisations internationally.
PROFESSIONAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL BODIES ARE CONCERNED
- In July 2000, six major US medical groups (the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American Psychiatric Association issued a Joint Statement on the impact of entertainment violence on children.
- In March 2013, the Australian Psychological Society, Media Representations and Responsibilities: Psychological Perspectives.
- In April 2013, United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, General comment No. 17 (2013) on the right of the child to rest, leisure, play, recreational activities, cultural life and the arts.
- In April 2014, the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues published a Research Summary on Media Violence, authors Craig A. Anderson, Brad J. Bushman, Edward Donnerstein, Tom. A. Hummer, & Wayne Warburton.
- In August 2015, American Psychological Association finds violent video game play is linked to increased aggression in players.
- In July 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media issued a policy statement on Virtual Violence.
- In Feb 2017, the American Psychological Association published its Taskforce review of research on the impacts of violent video games.
THE RESEARCH DEBATES
Some researchers dispute that media violence has a detrimental impact on the young, with some (mostly same) critics finding fault with each new study.
However, there are now over 200 original research studies and many more research reviews which combine to give a reliable picture of the likely impact of violent media on children.
Important research reviews can be found at:
CMA has summarised much of this research in our Fact Sheet Effects of media violence on children.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF RISKS
In summary, the research shows us that a diet of media violence can increase the risks that children will develop a particular mental script for the way to deal with conflict and that this may not emerge until later in life.
As a result they can:
- be more likely to choose to use violence to solve conflict
- be desensitised to use of violence by others (more callous)
- develop a view of the world as mean and scary.
This poses a serious mental health risk for society.
WHAT CAN HELP/IMPROVE THE SITUATION
Media violence is but one contributor to the use of violence in society, but it is one that we can do something about.
What parents can do:
- Minimise exposure to programs/products which feature 'glamorised violence’. (‘Glamorised violence’ is used by violent heroes, and is depicted as justified, and is applauded and rewarded. It may have few real consequences, and may be in a comic context).
- Use the classification system to avoid programs/products classified "M" or "MA15+" or "R18+". These are all recommended only for persons over the age of 15 years.
- Minimise exposure to "news" programs for children under 11 or 12. These children are unlikely to understand that "it isn't likely to happen to you" as they don't understand probability.
- Look for programs classified "C" or "P" on commercial TV, or sample the many non-violent programs on ABC kids.
- Be a media educator: express your views, and discuss program content, for example, talk to children about what would happen if they did those violent things at home.
- Choose films, programs and games with themes other than violence.
What legislators and regulators could do
- The Minister for Communications (who is responsible for broadcast media, has oversight of the National Classification Scheme for Films, games and publications). As at 2022 this is Michelle Rowland. The NCS needs to be changed to be evidence-and age-based.
- The Australian Communications and Media Authority oversees the resolution of complaints about content on TV, and also approves Codes of Practice for the industry.
- Uphold the rights of the child to be protected from material that can harm (CROC Art 17) by implementing systems that do this effectively.
- Ensure that classification systems are based on a body of reliable research on the impacts of media violence on children, and on core child development knowledge and theory.
- Provide parents with more age-based categories in classification systems so that age-appropriateness can be more easily judged.
- Place the onus of protection on providers of violent material, not on parents.
What the media industry can do
- Reduce reliance on glamorised and gratuitous violence as a way of attracting audiences.
- Find creative people who can write attractive and compelling stories that offer alternatives to the use of violence to solve conflict.
- Reduce the promotion of M and MA15+ TV programs and cinema films in family programs which children are likely to watch.
- Program violent TV content late at night.
- Stop marketing M classified programs and movies to children to children. | <urn:uuid:6bbf5eac-0af7-4c98-8053-bd8f06b1c518> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://childrenandmedia.org.au/taking-action/current-campaigns/violence-in-the-media-what-can-be-done-about-it | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.930917 | 1,121 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Glycolic acid is an AHA, or Alpha Hydroxy Acid. It's a water-soluble acid and an ingredient that increases luminosity of the skin because it exfoliates the outermost dead layer of the skin, which is called the Stratum Corneum. It improves the reflection of light on the skin. Sometimes people use scrubs, which are abrasive and can cause irritation, but unlike scrubs, when Glycolic acid is used at the right percentage and when done appropriately, it's a much gentler way to exfoliate the skin.
CAS #: 79-14-1
Molecular weight: 76.05
Physical state: white crystals
Melting Point: 75-79 C
Structure of Glycolic Acid
Glycolic Acid in Skin Care:
|Glycolic acid Usage And Synthesis
||Glycolic acid is the smallest alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). It is mainly supplemented to various skin-care products to improve the skin’s appearance and texture. It can also reduce wrinkles, acne scarring, and hyperpigmentation. In textile industry, it can be used as a dyeing and tanning agent. It can also be used as a flavoring agent in food processing, and as a skin care agent in the pharmaceutical industry. It can also be added into emulsion polymers, solvents and ink additives to improve flow properties and impart gloss. Moreover, it is a useful intermediate for organic synthesis including oxidative-reduction, esterification and long chain polymerization.
||Glycolic acid, CH20HCOOH, also known as hydroxyacetic acid, is composed of colorless deliquescent leaflets that decompose at approximately 78° C (172 OF). It is soluble in water, alcohol & other. Glycolic acid is used in dyeing, tanning, electropolishing and in foodstuffs. It is produced by oxidizing glycol with dilute nitric acid.
||Constituent of sugar cane juice.
||In the processing of textiles, leather, and metals; in pH control, and wherever a cheap organic acid is needed, e.g. in the manufacture of adhesives, in copper brightening, decontamination cleaning, dyeing, electroplating, in pickling, cleaning and chemical milling of metals.
||glycolic acid (hydroxyacetic acid) reduces corenocyte cohesion and corneum layer thickening where an excess buildup of dead skin cells can be associated with many common skin problems, such as acne, dry and severely dry skin, and wrinkles. glycolic acid acts by dissolving the internal cellular cement responsible for abnormal keratinization, facilitating the sloughing of dead skin cells. It also improves skin hydration by enhancing moisture uptake as well as increasing the skin’s ability to bind water. This occurs in the cellular cement through an activation of glycolic acid and the skin’s own hyaluronic acid content. Hyaluronic acid is known to retain an impressive amount of moisture and this capacity is enhanced by glycolic acid. As a result, the skin’s own ability to raise its moisture content is increased. glycolic acid is the simplest alpha hydroxyacid (AHA). It is also the AHA that scientists and formulators believe has greater penetration potential largely due to its smaller molecular weight. It is mildly irritating to the skin and mucous membranes if the formulation contains a high glycolic acid concentration and/ or a low pH. Glycolic acid proves beneficial for acne-prone skin as it helps keep pores clear of excess keratinocytes. It is also used for diminishing the signs of age spots, as well as actinic keratosis. However, glycolic acid is most popularly employed in anti-aging cosmetics because of its hydrating, moisturizing, and skin-normalizing abilities, leading to a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Regardless of the G skin type, glycolic acid use is associated with softer, smoother, healthier, and younger looking skin. glycolic acid is naturally found in sugarcane but synthetic versions are most often used in cosmetic formulations.
Glycolic acid is a colorless, odorless alpha-hydroxy-acid (AHA) derived from sugarcane
. It’s a type of chemical exfoliant
that dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells, allowing them to be wiped away easily, revealing smooth, younger skin below.
When applied to the skin, glycolic acid works to break the bonds between the outer layer of skin cells, including dead skin cells, and the next skin cell layer. This creates a peeling effect that can make the skin appear smoother and more even.
For people with acne, the benefit of glycolic acid is that the peeling effects results in less “gunk” that clogs the pores. This includes dead skin cells and oil. With less to clog the pores, the skin clears and you usually have fewer breakouts.
Also, glycolic acid can affect the outer skin barrier, helping it retain moisture instead of drying your skin out. This is an advantage for acne-prone people because many other topical anti-acne agents, like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, are drying.
Research has found that glycolic acid has antibacterial and antioxidant activity, which can also help improve your skin’s appearance when you have acne. Glycolic acid can also thicken skin by stimulating collagen growth.
How to use it:
Glycolic acid is available in several forms, including over-the-counter and prescription treatments. These include:
- face washes
- skin care pads
Traditional wisdom is to start small, unless your dermatologist directs otherwise. You may wish to try a glycolic acid cleanser to see if your skin can tolerate glycolic acid.
A few things to remember. First, glycolic acid is an example of chemical exfoliation. While it’s not as fast as a scrub, the acid can penetrate more deeply and produce greater exfoliation over time. All this is to say — you likely won’t need to exfoliate with scrubs while also using glycolic acid. Your face may feel too sensitive otherwise.
Speaking of sensitive, you also don’t need to use multiple glycolic acid-containing products. Consistent use of one product with occasional spot treatments is often enough to keep your skin clear. Sometimes, your dermatologist may recommend a stronger, in-office peel, but this isn’t always the case.
Glycolic acid isn’t for everyone. Some people have reactions to glycolic acid that can include symptoms such as swelling, itching, and burning sensations. Those with dry or sensitive skin types may find glycolic acid is too irritating for their skin.
In addition to these concerns, some people find they are more sensitive to sun when they use glycolic acid. Using a daily sunscreen can help reduce the sun exposure risks.
If you have a darker skin tone, talk to your dermatologist about glycolic acids and its best uses for you. Most people can use glycolic acid effectively, but sometimes the acid can irritate darker skin tones and cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or dark spots. Using lower concentrations and refraining from using too many glycolic acid-containing products can often reduce this risk.
The depth to which glycolic acid causes peeling often depends upon the concentration. For example, a 1 percent glycolic acid solution affects the pH level of three layers of skin, while a 10 percent solution can penetrate 10 to 20 layers, according to Research.
This isn’t to say more is better (it’s not). Lower percentages can be less irritating and therefore more skin-friendly. You may find topical preparations that range from 1 percent up to 10 percent (usually reserved for spot treatments or a rinse-off peel only).
There are sources on the internet that sell higher percentages of glycolic acid, sometimes as much as 30 or 40 percent. These are medical grade peels
, and you shouldn’t use them without a dermatologist oversight. A dermatologist knows how long the peel should stay on and if it’s right for your skin in the first place.
Glycolic acid is a multitasking skincare ingredient that can help you fight acne and improve your skin’s appearance. Due to concerns for irritation, it’s best to talk to your dermatologist before you start using it. Starting with lower percentage formulations can help your skin adjust and reduce irritation risks over time. | <urn:uuid:78a456fb-df63-4c10-9c20-88bf508599ea> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://chiltanpure.com/blogs/research-publication/glycolic-acid | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.928636 | 1,832 | 2.71875 | 3 |
The American Revolution was a defining moment in American history, and the battles that were fought during this time played a crucial role in shaping the country. From the early skirmishes at Lexington and Concord to the final victory at Yorktown, the American Revolution battles were a testament to the courage and determination of the American people.
Why were there so many battles during the American Revolution?
The American Revolution was a long and complex conflict, and there were many factors that contributed to the large number of battles that were fought. One reason was that the British and American armies were relatively evenly matched. The British had a larger and more experienced army, but the Americans were fighting on their own territory and had the support of the local population.
Another reason for the large number of battles was the nature of the war itself. The American Revolution was not a conventional war between two armies. Instead, it was a guerrilla war fought by small bands of American soldiers and militia. This type of warfare led to many small-scale skirmishes and battles.
What were the most important battles of the American Revolution?
There were many important battles fought during the American Revolution, but some of the most significant include:
- Battle of Lexington and Concord (1775): This battle marked the beginning of the American Revolution and showed the British that the Americans were willing to fight.
- Siege of Boston (1775-1776): This siege was a major victory for the Americans and forced the British to evacuate Boston.
- Battle of Bunker Hill (1775): This battle was a tactical defeat for the Americans, but it showed the British that the Americans were capable of fighting and inflicting heavy casualties.
- Saratoga Campaign (1777): This campaign was a major turning point in the war and led to France entering the war on the side of the Americans.
- Siege of Yorktown (1781): This siege was the final major battle of the war and resulted in the British surrender.
What is the significance of the American Revolution battles?
The American Revolution battles were significant for a number of reasons. First, they helped to secure American independence from Great Britain. Second, they established the United States as a new nation on the world stage. Third, they helped to shape the American identity and values.
The American Revolution battles were also significant because they showed the world that a small, poorly equipped army could defeat a larger, more powerful army. This victory inspired other revolutions around the world and helped to spread the ideals of democracy and freedom.
Table of American Revolution Battles
|Battle of Lexington and Concord||April 19, 1775||Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts||American tactical defeat, but strategic victory||Marked the beginning of the American Revolution|
|Siege of Boston||May 1775 – March 1776||Boston, Massachusetts||American victory||Forced the British to evacuate Boston|
|Battle of Bunker Hill||June 17, 1775||Boston, Massachusetts||American tactical defeat, but strategic victory||Showed the British that the Americans were capable of fighting and inflicting heavy casualties|
|Battle of Long Island||August 27, 1776||Brooklyn, New York||British victory||Largest battle of the American Revolution|
|Battle of White Plains||October 28, 1776||White Plains, New York||British victory||Forced the Americans to retreat to New Jersey|
|Battle of Trenton||December 26, 1776||Trenton, New Jersey||American victory||Boosted American morale and turned the tide of the war|
|Battle of Princeton||January 3, 1777||Princeton, New Jersey||American victory||Further boosted American morale and forced the British to retreat to New York City|
|Saratoga Campaign||September – October 1777||Saratoga, New York||American victory||Major turning point in the war and led to France entering the war on the side of the Americans|
|Battle of Brandywine Creek||September 11, 1777||Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania||British victory||Forced the Americans to evacuate Philadelphia|
|Battle of Germantown||October 4, 1777||Germantown, Pennsylvania||American tactical defeat|
The American Revolution battles were a defining moment in American history. They helped to secure American independence, establish the United States as a new nation on the world stage, and shape the American identity and values. The American Revolution battles also showed the world that a small, poorly equipped army could defeat a larger, more powerful army, which inspired other revolutions around the world.
For up-to-date world update coverage stay with us. | <urn:uuid:a4754e64-22ee-4f2c-83fd-76d6bc8c9a2f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://chloroquinelab.com/the-american-revolution | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.95784 | 946 | 3.984375 | 4 |
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Smoke detectors have a normal life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. If you are getting false alarms from your detector, it may need to be replaced. When having problems with your detector, always remember to check the battery. Read through the Smoke Alarm safety Tips (PDF) for more information on how to maintain smoke detectors.
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Smoke detectors should be checked monthly. Check them by pressing the test button. Find more details in the Smoke Alarms Safety Tips (PDF).
At least once each year. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms will produce a chirping sound if the batteries become weak. Read more in the Smoke Alarms Safety Tips (PDF).
Smoke detectors should be cleaned once or twice per year. You can do this with the brush attachment to your vacuum cleaner. please note: The detector may sound when you are cleaning it. read through the Smoke Alarms Safety Tips (PDF)
Yes. Professional chimney sweeps advise that chimneys be cleaned when the creosote has built up to 1/8 inch to ¼ inch. This will help prevent chimney fires. Remember: The fireplace is not an incinerator. Do not burn trash or large amounts of paper. The temperatures these items may produce can damage your fireplace or chimney. Find more resources on the Safety Tips page.
Yes! The Fire Department responds to several fires every year because a homeowner has cleaned their fireplace or wood stove and placed the ashes in a paper bag. Ashes can stay hot enough to start a fire for up to seven days. Find more resources on the Safety Tips page.
Some stains are capable of creating enough heat to start a fire as they dry (check the label). This is known as spontaneous combustion. Rags should be laid flat or hung to air dry. They can then be disposed of when completely dry. Rags should be hung or laid flat outside or in well-ventilated areas. Visit the Safety Tips page for other helpful resources, and recommendations.
Effective August 1, 2008, all existing single-family homes shall be equipped with an approved carbon monoxide alarm. read more on the Fire Prevention page. | <urn:uuid:c8db31c6-0673-41b5-aff6-7ce209d5801e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://cityoframsey.com/FAQ.aspx?QID=100 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.890114 | 455 | 2.859375 | 3 |
People are educated to succeed throughout life
Children are ready for school and everyone has access to an inclusive, high quality education that enables them to live fulfilled, happy and productive lives. Employment prospects improve through lifelong learning and access to technical and professional skills.
- Build a culture of excellence where education is valued.
- Strengthened leadership and coordination across the education system that is informed by reliable evidence including data, informed insight and best practice.
- Ensure people of all ages are engaged in the education and lifelong learning needed to access current and future employment opportunities.
- Improving educational outcomes, and at a faster rate for underperforming groups and neighbourhoods.
- Enable disabled children and young people, and those with special educational needs, to live independent and successful lives.
- A learning offer that enables all young people to meet their potential. | <urn:uuid:188d7111-920b-47ab-a76a-306dc1b08203> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://cityplanliverpool.co.uk/our-aims/education/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.954724 | 171 | 2.984375 | 3 |
- Schedule of Classes - January 19, 2016 6:14PM EST
- Course Catalog - January 19, 2016 6:21PM EST
Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2015-2016.
This course explores the writings of the most famous and controversial political theorist in the Western tradition. We begin with the political and cultural context of Machiavelli's early life and education, and his work in the government of the Florentine republic from 1498 to 1512 as head of the second chancery, diplomatic envoy, and military reformer. We then examine – in his correspondence, poetry, and especially in The Prince (1513) – the impact on his early political thought of this experience and of the republic's collapse in 1512, an event with traumatic personal consequences for Machiavelli. Although he is best known for the ideas in The Prince, Machiavelli subsequently engaged in a constant process of rethinking and revising those ideas. In the works of his most prolific and creative period from 1515 to 1525 – the Discourses on Livy, the Art of War, the plays Mandragola and Clizia, the Florentine Histories, and more poetry – Machiavelli challenged prevailing notions of history, of antiquity as a model for imitation, of political agency, and of the relative merits and weaknesses of different political systems. His analysis of politics increasingly focused on how relations among social classes conditioned the possibilities for liberty, law, and the various forms of government. These issues will be explored through close analysis and discussion of the primary texts.
When Offered Fall.
Breadth Requirement (HB)
Distribution Category (HA-AS)
Disabled for this roster. | <urn:uuid:83d8be10-b690-48a3-9be7-297f8550c2e6> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://classes.cornell.edu/browse/roster/FA15/class/HIST/3510 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.932531 | 355 | 3 | 3 |
Your task is to write a program/function to scale up an image (list of strings) by a factor of
- You will receive two inputs: an image, and a positive integer.
- The image will only contain ASCII printable characters (U+0020-U+007F).
This is code-golf. Shortest solution in bytes wins.
abc xyz 2 aabbcc aabbcc xxyyzz xxyyzz
|_| 3 |||___||| |||___||| |||___||| | <urn:uuid:b3554742-004e-470a-a065-9e1270cc7101> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://codegolf.stackexchange.com/questions/79111/scale-up-an-image?noredirect=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.694054 | 115 | 2.546875 | 3 |
I found an interesting post over at the Third-Stream Music Education blog. It includes a link to a fascinating video of Dan Pink’s presentation about motivation in the business world (be sure to watch the whole thing!). The post at the Third-Stream Music Ed blog makes some interesting connections between ways of motivating employees and ways of motivating students in music education settings in schools.
There are some connections here that can made made to private piano teaching as well. Knowing what we do about how motivation works, how can we effectively motivate our students? How can we improve the number of students who quit piano by the time they reach junior high and high school? What kind of incentive program should we create in our piano studios in order to get maximum results from our students?
But first — here are two of Dan Pink’s basic propositions:
- When the solution is clear and the tools needed to complete the problem are provided, extrinsic motivations (such as, a monetary bonus) work very well to encourage productivity from employees. It’s the whole follow-the-carrot kind of reward system.
- But when the solution is less obvious and the tools may not be provided, monetary motivations do not work well. Instead, intrinsic motivators (i.e., being motivated by the feeling that what you do matters) work well. Intrinsic motivators work better for situations where the problems require creative, innovative solutions and “thinking outside the box” is needed.
The teaching and learning of music falls into the second category, because it is so subjective and it requires creative problem-solving skills. And so, according to Pink, intrinsic motivators then ought to be used.
Before we talk about the application to incentive programs, let’s first clarify what the “tasks” or goals of learning piano (or music in general) are: mastery of the instrument. But what does this “mastery” involve? At first appearance, our goal seems to get our students to play play their pieces accurately, with few mistakes. Under this definition of mastery, a robot could conceivably succeed. Well, then maybe mastery is to get out students to progress rapidly, or to play lots of difficult repertoire. According to this logic, a “successful” music educator would be one who has students who learn all of 32 Beethoven piano sonatas, or who become concert pianists, perhaps. While, or course, these things are not bad, they aren’t exactly our goal either. At least, not our chief goal.
So then what is our chief goal? We want them to create music — music that carries meaning and touches the emotions. In other words, we want our students to become masters at creating musical meaning and communicating emotions through their music. And if they become concert pianists along the way, so be it. But I’d say we’ve succeeded as soon as we create individuals who can appreciate music as a way of communicating expression. This is something that all of our students — both the talented and less so — can attain, at some level. This is much more practical than trying to create concert pianists. And so much more rewarding.
This goal in itself is an intrinsic motivator, for even the youngest of students can appreciate the value of musical meaning and feel important as they learn to create musical meaning. But to encourage this kind of mastery of the instrument, we need to make sure that our incentive programs are reflecting this goal.
[…to be continued in Part 2…] | <urn:uuid:3c7514ad-27a0-48c9-80fe-c319008cbe28> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://colorinmypiano.com/2009/11/10/what-motivates-musicians-and-music-students-part-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.95938 | 732 | 2.796875 | 3 |
In an age dominated by technology and digital communication, the importance of cybersecurity has never been more significant. Every day, our lives become increasingly intertwined with the digital world. We connect with others, conduct business, shop, and share personal information online. This digital revolution has brought countless advantages and conveniences but presents new threats. And that's where cybersecurity comes into play.
Cybersecurity is the safeguard that protects our digital lives. From individuals guarding against identity theft to multinational corporations protecting vast amounts of sensitive data, cybersecurity is a crucial concern for all of us. The gatekeeper stands between our personal and professional data and those who wish to misuse it.
In the following sections, we'll delve into cybersecurity, why it matters, the types of threats we face, and how cybersecurity professionals, particularly Cybersecurity Analysts, help protect us from them. So, whether you're entirely new to the subject, considering a career in the field, or just looking to bolster your online security, we invite you to join us on this cybersecurity exploration.
At its most fundamental, cybersecurity is about protection. It involves defending our computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from digital attacks. But to appreciate the breadth and depth of cybersecurity, we need to go beyond this basic understanding.
Cybersecurity is not a singular concept but a blend of multiple strategies and practices designed to protect our digital world. This complex field encompasses several sub-domains, including network security, application security, information security, operational security, and disaster recovery. Each of these focuses on safeguarding different aspects of a system, contributing to an overarching cybersecurity strategy.
Cyber threats come in various forms, each presenting unique challenges. For example, malware is software designed to cause damage to a computer or network, while phishing attempts to trick users into revealing sensitive information. Ransomware is another form of malware where hackers encrypt a victim's data and demand a ransom for its return.
While many roles exist within cybersecurity, one of the key players in this field is the Cybersecurity Analyst. These professionals monitor and secure information systems, protecting against unauthorized access, misuse, or destruction. They analyze potential threats and vulnerabilities, devise security measures, and respond to cyber breaches, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding an organization's data.
The following sections will delve into the specifics of these threats and the role of Cybersecurity Analysts in combating them, illuminating the critical and dynamic field of cybersecurity.
The digital world is no stranger to threats and risks. Cybercriminals devise innovative ways to penetrate security systems and access valuable data daily. Here are some of the common threats we face today in the realm of cybersecurity:
Malware, a portmanteau of 'malicious software,' is any program or file harmful to a computer user. This umbrella term covers a variety of threats, including viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware. While malware generally acts to damage or disable computers and computer systems, ransomware takes a different approach. It encrypts the user's files and demands a ransom to restore access. The crippling effect of ransomware attacks, like the notorious WannaCry attack in 2017, highlights the urgency for robust cybersecurity measures.
Phishing attacks trick users into providing sensitive information by masquerading as trustworthy entities. This deceit is often achieved through deceptive emails and websites. The domain of social engineering is closely related, which manipulates individuals into breaching security protocols or providing confidential information. These human-centered attacks require a blend of technical and psychological defenses.
Advanced Persistent Threats are stealthy and continuous computer hacking processes orchestrated to extract valuable data. Often targeting organizations and nations for business or political motives, APTs pose a significant challenge for cybersecurity analysts due to their sophisticated and persistent nature.
Cybersecurity analysts are well equipped to handle these threats and others, using their skills and knowledge to protect sensitive data and maintain system integrity. We'll take a closer look at their role in the next section.
While the terrain of cybersecurity is vast and filled with potential threats, it's the job of a cybersecurity analyst to navigate it safely. Here's what these cyber guardians do to keep our digital world secure:
The heart of a cyber security analyst's job is constantly monitoring systems and networks for security breaches or intrusions. They use various tools, including firewalls and data encryption programs, to detect malicious activity and identify potential weaknesses that attackers could exploit.
Cybersecurity analysts are the first line of defense when a security breach occurs. They conduct incident response analyses to understand the nature of the breach, mitigate its impact, and prevent it from spreading. After the threat has been neutralized, they also participate in recovery efforts, restoring the affected systems and ensuring they are secure against future attacks.
Cybersecurity analysts perform regular risk assessments to proactively protect their organization's information systems. They identify potential vulnerabilities, estimate the associated risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them.
Part of a cybersecurity analyst's role is also to educate the users, be they employees in an organization or individuals in a community. They conduct training sessions, prepare educational materials, and inform users about the latest cyber threats and best practices to stay secure online.
Cybersecurity analysts also have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies. This includes using machine learning and AI for threat detection, implementing blockchain technology for secure transactions, and exploring quantum computing's potential impacts on cybersecurity.
In the next section, we'll explore the path you can take to become a cybersecurity analyst.
If you're captivated by cybersecurity, and the idea of becoming a cybersecurity analyst appeals to you, you might wonder: what's the journey like? Let's walk through the typical steps to this rewarding career.
While it's not always a strict requirement, many cybersecurity analysts start their journey with a degree in computer science, cybersecurity, information technology, or a related field. These degrees provide a solid foundation of knowledge in computer systems and networks, programming, and data structures.
Experience is key in the cybersecurity field. Practical experience helps you understand the realities of cybersecurity work and apply what you've learned in a real-world setting. This can be acquired through internships, part-time jobs, or even through personal projects and hackathons.
Certifications play a significant role in the cybersecurity field. They enhance your skills and act as a testament to your abilities for potential employers. Some of the most sought-after certifications include CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
Cybersecurity is a broad field, and specializing in a specific area can open up new opportunities. This could be anything from cloud security to ethical hacking, digital forensics, or even AI in cybersecurity.
Cyber threats are continually evolving, and so must your knowledge. Stay current with the latest trends, technologies, and threats in cybersecurity. This will help you in your job and make you a valuable asset in the ever-changing digital landscape.
In conclusion, cybersecurity is not just a career—it's a commitment to protect the digital world from the threats that loom over it. It's a field that requires constant learning, a keen eye for detail, and a passion for problem-solving. So, if you're ready to step into this challenging yet rewarding field, the path is laid out before you.
While we've given you a comprehensive overview of cybersecurity and the role of a cybersecurity analyst, it's essential to understand that cybersecurity is not static—it is an evolving field. Here are some of the most noteworthy trends shaping the future of cybersecurity and how they can impact the role of a cybersecurity analyst:
With businesses increasingly moving their operations to the cloud, cloud data and systems security has never been more crucial. Cybersecurity analysts must familiarize themselves with cloud security principles and technologies to protect cloud-based systems and data.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning are rapidly being deployed to detect and respond to cyber threats faster than humans can. As a cybersecurity analyst, understanding these technologies will be vital to maintaining a strong security posture in the future.
Automating repetitive, data-intensive tasks can free up a cybersecurity analyst's time to focus on more strategic security initiatives. Familiarity with cybersecurity automation tools and principles can be a valuable asset for a cybersecurity analyst.
Cyber threats continually evolve, with cyber criminals employing more sophisticated and damaging techniques. Staying up-to-date with the latest threat landscape is essential for every cybersecurity analyst.
Data privacy laws are becoming more stringent worldwide, likely influencing how organizations approach cybersecurity. As a cybersecurity analyst, understanding these regulations will ensure your organization's compliance.
The future of cybersecurity looks challenging yet exciting. The demand for skilled cybersecurity analysts is expected to grow, with opportunities in various sectors. With technology advancing rapidly, the role of a cybersecurity analyst will continue to evolve and expand, making it a rewarding career choice for those ready to step up to the challenge of protecting our digital world.
In today's digital age, the increasing prevalence of cyber threats has led to a growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals. Many individuals considering a career or seeking to enhance their knowledge in this area often wonder, "Is cyber security hard?" The answer, like many things, is complex. Cybersecurity can be challenging, but it is an attainable and rewarding field to pursue with the right mindset, dedication, and resources.
One of the reasons cyber security can be perceived as difficult is its inherent complexity. Safeguarding computer systems, networks, and sensitive data requires a deep understanding of various technical concepts, programming languages, operating systems, and network protocols. Additionally, the field of cyber security is constantly evolving due to the ever-changing tactics employed by cybercriminals. This means that professionals in the field need to stay updated with the latest threats, vulnerabilities, and defensive strategies.
To succeed in cyber security, individuals must be committed to continuous learning and skill development. Technologies and attack vectors evolve rapidly, requiring professionals to stay ahead. Cybersecurity experts must continually update their knowledge and acquire new skills to adapt to emerging threats effectively. This ongoing learning process can be demanding, but staying competitive and effectively mitigating risks is necessary.
Another aspect that makes cybersecurity challenging is the requirement for strong problem-solving and analytical thinking skills. Cyber threats are complex puzzles that must be unraveled and understood to counteract them effectively. Professionals must be able to analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and think critically to detect and respond to cyber-attacks. This ability to think like an attacker and anticipate their moves is crucial in designing robust security measures.
While cyber security requires technical expertise, it also benefits from collaboration and an interdisciplinary approach. Influential cybersecurity professionals must possess specialized skills and strong communication and collaboration abilities. Cyber threats often span multiple domains, and working with colleagues from different backgrounds, such as IT, legal, and management, is essential to develop comprehensive security strategies.
In conclusion, cyber security can indeed be challenging, but it is not an insurmountable hurdle. It is essential to embrace the complexity, stay updated with the latest trends, and foster collaboration with professionals from various disciplines. By doing so, aspiring cybersecurity experts can contribute to safeguarding digital systems and protecting valuable information in an increasingly interconnected world. Individuals can enter and thrive in this field with dedication, a passion for continuous learning, and a problem-solving mindset.
Find out more about the careers you are interested in. | <urn:uuid:b04c56e1-7a03-4d92-bd95-36739f0f0cff> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://computerscience.careers/career/cybersecurity-analyst | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.933019 | 2,324 | 3.234375 | 3 |
When the Covid-19 outbreak first began, Sweden decided to take a more laissez-faire approach to handle the spread of the virus. The result was a hue and cry of pandemonic proportions. The Independent (Goddard, 2020) ran a series of articles recording that Sweden had its highest death toll in over a century, ending with a claim that Sweden was going to end up wholly decimated because of their response. The Guardian (Reuters, 2020), discussing how Sweden’s economy was going to crash and that the more draconian measures implemented by Finland and other Nordic neighbours were proving to be viable and would end the spread of the virus by July, followed suit. The fear that was promoted through toxic social media led to countries being closed for the first time in history. The reaction and response are made worse because society has become more risk-averse and untrusting (Neuberger, 2009).
In the ensuing months, for all the fear, it did not seem that Sweden suffered as badly as people had thought. Sweden was starting to believe that things would go back to normal before Christmas (Moody, 2020), and the light-handed laissez-faire approach that the government had taken was now delivering lower infection rates than the approach taken by its Nordic neighbours, many of which were seeing an upsurge in infections and hospitalisation rates (Waterfield, 2020). But most importantly, though the Swedish economy was weaker than it had been 12 months earlier, it remained buoyant and in a better condition than the economies of nearly every other European and Nordic nation. The question we need to ask is whether the economy is worth risking lives. Did Sweden play fast and loose, or were they taking a calculated risk, weighing up the alternative costs in concluding that doing nothing could be doing more? Cui bono?
The New York Post (Barone, 2020) responded writing that the lockdown might have been a colossal mistake. During the American War of Independence, George Washington fought the British whilst a smallpox epidemic raged (Becker, 2004; Lawler, 2020; Martin, 2003). Of course, at such a period in history, people were more used to epidemics and plagues. In the modern world, we live in an environment where many of us believe that we can control nature, that we can stop viruses from spreading and create vaccines in weeks. If you watch television, you could not come away with any other belief. In creating a coddled mindset, in believing that all risk needs to be mitigated, we have forgotten that a trade-off requires an increase in costs for every bit of saving. As we move risk away from one area, we increase it in another.
Unfortunately, there is no way to control nature entirely, or to remove and mitigate all risk. Each time we move funds away from the allocation and natural equilibrium occurring within a market and society, consequences arise. The lockdown has merely delayed and did not prevent infections. As the New York Post put it, as government minimises one risk, it will increase another. And here lies the concern that we need to address. In an attempt to save lives, how many did we take? How many more people will die from cancer treatments that they have not had, and how many impoverished nations will be plunged into famine and later disease and possibly war because of this lockdown?
More importantly, we need to ask what the long-term factors are. We haven’t even begun to see the impact of the lockdown. The economic costs of bankrupting millions of businesses and funding bailouts for others, while we have isolated our children and removed their opportunities to be educated and to build a future, will reverberate for decades. It was already being argued in March of last year (Miltimore, 2020), the cure could be worse than the disease. As we saw Sweden starting to return to normality and as the US and the UK are undergoing more lockdowns, and the destruction of a larger component of the economy, maybe we should rethink our strategy before the nanny state smothers the baby.
Barone, M. (2020, Sep 6). It’s now looking like the lockdowns may have been a huge mistake. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2020/09/06/its-now-looking-like-the-lockdowns-may-have-been-a-huge-mistake/
Becker, A. M. (2004). Smallpox in Washington’s Army: Strategic Implications of the Disease During the American Revolutionary War. The Journal of Military History, 68(2), 381–430.
Goddard, E. (2020, Aug 21). Coronavirus: Sweden records highest death toll for 150 years. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sweden-coronavirus-death-toll-record-covid-a9681436.html
Lawler, A. (2020, Apr 16). How a public health crisis nearly derailed the American Revolution. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/04/george-washington-beat-smallpox-epidemic-with-controversial-inoculations/
Martin, J. K. (2003). Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82 (review). Journal of Social History, 37(1), 268–270.
Miltimore, J. (2020, Mar 20). Panic Has Led To Government “Cures” That Are Worse Than The Disease, History Shows. Foundation for Economic Education. https://fee.org/articles/panic-has-led-to-government-cures-that-are-worse-than-the-disease-history-shows/
Moody, O. (2020, Sep 3). Sweden dreams of a normal Christmas. The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sweden-dreams-of-a-normal-christmas-08vz7bzmb
Neuberger, Baron. J. (2009). Unkind, risk averse and untrusting: if this is today’s society, can we change it?. Contemporary social evils (Joseph Rowntree Foundation), 115.
Reuters. (2020, Aug 19). Sweden records highest death tally in 150 years in first half of 2020. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/19/sweden-records-highest-death-tally-in-150-years-in-first-half-of-2020
Waterfield, B. (2020, Aug 24). Sweden claims fall in coronavirus infection rate is down to immunity. The Times. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sweden-claims-fall-in-coronavirus-infection-rate-is-down-to-immunity-nnsm6v7mw
[Image: A symbolic representation of Lockdown; Sanu N, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, Wikimedia Commons] | <urn:uuid:ca599e4d-5ee0-4906-8180-0958152efbf5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://craigwright.net/blog/economics/cot-death-in-the-nanny-state/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.939046 | 1,519 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Essay About Are Sumatran Tigers Endangered?
The Sumatran Tiger – Panthera Tigris Sumatra
Sumatran Tigers are Endangered, and the question is: who is responsible for their decline?
The Sumatran tiger population is declining rapidly nevertheless, the question remains; What can we do to help ensure the tigers live without fear of their extinction?
The Sumatran is the smallest tiger of the species and is the last species to survive in Indonesia: their cousins who are extinct are the Bali tiger (Panthera Tigris Balica) and the Javan tiger (Panthera Tigris Sondaica).
What is the Sumatran Tigers Habitat?
Sumatran tigers live in the beautiful Tropical Rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia, where three National Parks are located:
- Gunung Leuser;
- Kerinci Seblat;
- Bukit Barisan Selatan.
The rainforest is protected by WWF (World Wildlife Fund), a priority region in which strict protective measures are in place to protect tigers and other wildlife.
In the tropical rainforest the Sumatran tiger lives among the following animals:
- Sumatran Elephants.
In this tropical rainforest the Sumatran tiger lives among the following animals:
- Sumatran Elephants;
- Distinct species of birds and fish;
- And other smaller animals.
What happened to the rainforest to push these tigers to near extinction and how many are left in the world?
Sumatran Tigers Population
The population of the Sumatran tiger is declining, there’s no doubt about that, luckily there are agencies that have put powerful laws in place to protect this wild cat.
Deforestation – Cause and Effect
- Conflict and vulnerability of poachers who don’t obey the protection laws in place to prevent poaching.
- The fear-based killing of tigers by humans.
- Wildlife Trade.
- Major threats by men who destroy their habitat, therefore, reducing the availability of prey.
- Resulting in the tigers walking long distances to find food due to the rapid rate of deforestation.
Sumatran Tigers – Indonesia
It’s illegal to hunt Sumatran tigers in Indonesia and is punishable by jail and fines but who enforces the law and why are poachers slaughtering these beautiful cats? And yes, I said slaughter does not kill because some of these tigers don’t even have a chance to defend themselves.
If the poachers were to go one on one, head-to-head, without guns or whatever they hunt with, it would be a different outcome and rightfully so!
Well, all this is due to the high demand and price tag for tiger parts, bones, and fur, no matter what, this trade remains strong in Asia and in other countries as well.
The poachers slaughter tigers for the Fur Trade Fashion and Interior Trade industries! Humans are hunting them down for commercial gain because of the wants and needs of “man.”
Did You Know?
According to TRAFFIC, the global wildlife trade monitoring network, “Poaching for trade is responsible for over 78% of Sumatran tiger deaths, that’s at least 40 animals per year.”
According to TRAFFIC, “Poaching for trade is responsible for over 78% of Sumatran tiger deaths, that’s at least 40 animals per year.”
What I don’t get is that if there are laws in place and/or enforced, yet these tigers are still classified by the IUCN on its Red List of Threatened Species as endangered since 2008.
Something must happen soon or else this cat is looking at its demise and then what will happen?
Sumatran Tigers Extinction – WWF Protective Measures
While WWF protects one-third of the tropical rainforest and the animals, unfortunately, this is not enough. There need to be stricter laws with severe penalties if caught killing a tiger.
I believe that and once more is done and the poachers see what happens if you’re caught killing a tiger, they would think twice or just not kill them at all!
We need to go after people who want the bones, skin, and fur plus other body parts and make them worthless and shut down those who are caught selling them?
I think so, guess I’m being inhumane, but I digress…
Did You Know?
Tigers hunt through forests, grass levels, wetlands, and higher elevations of 8,000 feet above sea level.
Over the years there has been a decline in the population of these tigers, So, let’s look back in the past, shall we?
- In 1978 the population of the Sumatran tiger was 1,000 individual tigers
- Twenty-six protected areas in 1985 and only had eight hundred tigers.
- In 1992 there were 400 to 500 tigers living in 5 Sumatra National Parks with the largest population of tigers.
- Gunung National Park in 1992 there were 110-180 tigers living in the park
- There were 53 Sumatran tigers who were killed in 1997 by poachers!
- The IUCN in 2008 estimates that there are 441 to 679 individual tigers remaining.
- Kerinci Seblat National Park in 2012 had 165-190 tigers living in the park making this park with the highest total of tigers.
- Overall, in 2017618-690 tigers were reported living on Sumatra Island.
Let me ask you this question If tigers were no longer roaming the rainforest what do you think would happen?
The population of antelope, wild boar, deer, guar (hoofed animals) would rise drastically because the tiger wouldn’t be here to control their population growth.
This would also cause what is known as co extinction of the other animals I just listed, for example, these animals live in the forest where the tigers once roamed
And because there wouldn’t be enough food to keep the overpopulation of the ecosystem the animals would die off and their species would die off until none are left!
So, it’s especially important to make sure the laws and regulations that are in place are followed in protecting the tiger from extinction.
Although this is a large predator albeit they are especially important to the ecosystem of things, without them, the system would go haywire.
On a much happier note, let’s take some time to cherish the beauty of the Sumatran tiger first let’s talk about their enormous paws!
They have large front webbed paws with five toes and razor-sharp claws that they pull inside when they walk, which helps keep them sharp.
The males are extremely protective over their territory and mark their territories by scratching trees with their paws and by marking by spraying their urine over the trees, bushes, and land.
The female tiger is less protective over their territory and will allow other females and their grown cubs to roam freely within her marked territory.
What can you do to help the Sumatra tiger?
Adopt a Tiger!
Contact your local conservation or animal sanctuary and adopt a wild animal, there are programs out there from sponsoring to adopting.
If you want to help some of these endangered wild tigers and animals in general, then this is the way to do it!
It doesn’t seem right for tigers to fear extinction, although I’m sure they don’t know it, still, it’s a sad situation.
Poachers and shops are in it for commercial gain, and they tend to ignore the laws and regulations that have been put in place.
It’s a constant battle and people need to realize that all wildlife is precious and needs to be saved.
God made them for a reason…
To keep the ecosystem in check with every animal has a purpose to fulfill and if we can help them do that, then it’s worth it! | <urn:uuid:9bfb518f-3fe2-404f-9a0c-d29dd1ae9d68> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://customwriting.nyc/are-sumatran-tigers-endangered/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.941866 | 1,668 | 3.484375 | 3 |
A small former military cemetery in the centre of Berlin
, right on what used to be the border between East and West Berlin during the Cold War
. Several relics
of the Berlin Wall
survive here, while the cemetery as such was severely altered. Some sinister figures were buried here during the Nazi
era, whose headstones and grave markers were later removed. Some of the grandiose earlier military graves remain, however.
More background info:
In English the name Invalidenfriedhof means 'Invalid's Cemetery' and it was named after a former veterans' hostel (Invalidenhaus) that used to be nearby (which also gave its name to the street Invalidenstraße). It was founded in the mid-18th century as a military cemetery for those who died from wounds sustained in the War of the Austrian Succession. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Berlin
Following the Napoleonic Wars the cemetery was designated a cemetery primarily for Prussian military, including a section set aside for 'special nobility' amongst the military, including most notably General von Scharnhorst. Soldiers who had fallen in the 1848 German Revolutions were also buried here.
The cemetery continued its military glorification role through World War One
and the Weimar Republic. Possibly the most famous “war hero” from WWI, the Red Baron
Manfred von Richthofen was reinterred here in 1925.
The rest of the more or less (in)famous names to join this military pantheon came during the Third Reich
, including for instance Werner von Fritsch
(a general killed early in WWII
), General Rudolf Schmundt
(who was killed in Stauffenberg
's July 20 bombing
plot that Hitler
himself survived) and Fritz Todt
, who was Reich Minister for Armaments and Munitions and founder of the infamous Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst) Organisation Todt
Surely the most sinister figure from the Nazi
period to have ended up here, however, was Reinhard Heydrich
, the key architect of the 'Final Solution' (hence aka “Operation Reinhard
”) in the Holocaust
(see also House of the Wannsee Conference
). He was also Chief of the Reich Security Main Office (Reichssicherheitshauptamt), the SS
division which also included the Gestapo
, and acted as the so-called 'Reich Protector' of occupied Bohemia and Moravia. He was assassinated by Czech
resistance fighters in May 1942 in Prague
(see St Cyril crypt
) and then buried with great fanfare at Invalidenfriedhof.
Towards the end of WWII
the cemetery was damaged in the battle of Berlin
– and some graves still have visible bullet holes on them. After the war the cemetery fell into the Soviet
sector of the divided city and it was decreed that the tombstones and grave markers
of those prominent Nazi
figures be removed
. Hence the final resting places of Todt, Heydrich and others are still unmarked, even though their remains do remain buried here.
More wide-reaching destruction and alterations came with the building of the Berlin Wall
. Since the cemetery's western part was right on the border
strip, a large area of it was flattened to make way for the wall, watchtowers
and other parts of the border fortifications that characterized this 'death strip
During that period the border at this point was the scene of several incidents
resulting in actual deaths. This includes the very first person shot dead while trying to flee to the West by GDR
border police: Günter Litfin
. On 24 August 1961, shortly after the Berlin Wall was first erected, he attempted to swim to freedom across the canal that the cemetery borders on and that was officially part of GDR territory. Litfin is especially commemorated in the nearby memorial museum in the former Kieler Eck watchtower
, run by his brother Jürgen.
The next year another incident at this point ended in the first ever death of a GDR border soldier, Peter Göring, namely when he shot at another person trying to flee on 23 May 1962 (a 14-year old schoolkid!) and West Berlin police officers returned fire. Just over two years after that, in June 1964, another man who was trying to flee was shot dead right by the Invalidenfriedhof wall.
Two West Berliners were also killed here, both in 1966 and both after they got into the water of the canal at this border. One was a possibly drunk person who wanted to “cool off” in the water, another a mentally disturbed homeless person who swam across to the Eastern side and was shot there.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall
and the end of the division of Germany
, the Invalidenfriedhof became a listed
monument. Parts of the Berlin Wall (the 'Hinterlandmauer' that bisected the cemetery's area) were preserved too and integrated into the “Berliner Mauerweg
” memorial trail along the course of the former border.
Some of the graves that were destroyed in the preceding decades were reconstructed, others were refurbished. The grave sites of the infamous Nazi figures (see above), however, remain unmarked.
The remains of the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen had already been moved to his family's grave in Wiesbaden in 1975, but now a memorial stone was placed at his former grave. More memorial plaques
were added elsewhere in the cemetery as well, including one commemorating the victims of aerial bombardments during WWII
and another one in honour of those killed and buried here in the wake of the failed 20 July assassination attempt on Hitler
The latest addition to the Invalidenfriedhof ensemble is the installation of the surviving bell of a church that was severely damaged by bombs in WWII
and later demolished by the GDR
. The historic church bell
now hangs from a specially constructed little bell tower in the centre of the cemetery. It was inaugurated in June 2013.
What there is to see:
Coming from the promenade that follows the banks of the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal, the first noticeable element here is the refurbished original part of the Berlin Wall
, more precisely a stretch of the so-called 'Hinterlandmauer' (i.e. that bordering the GDR
-facing part of the border strip). Part of it has more recently been repainted in the typical grey-framed white rectangles (cf. also East Side Gallery
). Also still visible is the course of the former border patrol track that runs parallel to the wall.
A set of information panels tells the story of a couple of deadly incidents at this border stretch, in particular that of Günter Litfin – cf. 'Kieler Eck' watchtower
– as well as that of GDR border policeman Peter Göring (see above
). These cases are also illustrated through reproductions of documents and press reports both East and West about these incidents (all in German only – but the photos and drawings are rather self-explanatory).
Of the cemetery about 230 graves survive. The grandest of these has to be that of General Scharnhorst
, but there are also several other survivors of rather grandiose monuments for Prussian military figures and WWI
The most notable of these in terms of military fame is, however, represented not by a genuine grave any more but by a substitute memorial stone: that for Manfred von Richthofen, better known in the English-speaking world as the Red Baron (his remains were transferred to Wiesbaden in 1975).
An information panel at the entrance to the cemetery by the road that runs along its eastern side (Scharnhorststraße) gives an account of the cemetery's general history (in German only), and another panel is about the church bell tower in the centre of the western half of the cemetery.
Conspicuous through their absence are the grave markers for the final resting places of the set of high-ranking Nazis
who had been buried here during WWII
, most notably Reinhard Heydrich
. According to some sources on the Internet (including the usually reliable findagrave dot com) the location can still be traced and some stone foundation remains are shown on photos as illustration.
What is odd about this, however, is the fact that the story goes that both Fritz Todt's and Reinhard Heydrich's graves apparently only had temporary wooden crosses as markers, because it was planned to give both of these Nazi big shots grand mausoleums after the war, which obviously never happened. The reason that the locations of these Nazis were left unmarked after WWII was, of course, to prevent any neo-Nazi pilgrimages to their burial sites.
Once you know these aspects of the cemetery's history, it assumes an undercurrent of extra sinister atmosphere. It is certainly a place laden heavy with history, and thus a site of dark-tourism interest not only for military (and Nazi) history buffs but also as an important part of Berlin
's commemoration of the Berlin Wall
on the eastern banks of the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal in the district of Mitte, a short distance north of Berlin
's central station and the Charité hospital.
Access and costs: slightly hidden but quite easy to locate; free.
Details: To get to the cemetery you can walk it from Berlin's central station (Hauptbahnhof), which has plenty of connections by regional metro train (S-Bahn). From outside the station's main entrance head north-east along Invalidenstraße and just after the bridge turn left and proceed north along the canal-side promenade until you come to the southern entrance to the cemetery.
The nearest U-Bahn (metro) station is Schwartzkopffstraße (U 6) on Chausseestraße. From here walk south-west towards Scharnhorststraße via Habersaathstraße and then head north to the street-side cemetery entrance. Or fiddle through via Boyenstraße and Kieler Straße
to get to the cemetery along the northern approach by the canal.
The cemetery's opening times are: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from April to September, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the winter season.
Time required: not long, perhaps half an hour or so.
Combinations with other dark destinations:
The nearest and thematically most fitting combination is the Günter Litfin memorial site inside the former Berlin Wall
watchtower at Kieler Eck
, just a short walk north along the canal-side promenade and then right (the tower is a bit hidden behind post-reunification housing blocks).
A surviving relic of the Berlin Wall
of the iconic type 75 can be found less than a mile's walk (1.4 km) away to the north-east at Liesenstraße close to the old rusty railway bridge on the right.
The most commodified bit of the Berlin Wall is not much further away (1 mile, 1.6 km) at Bernauer Straße
, which also includes a stretch of reconstructed death strip and some genuine Wall. A more symbolic Wall-related site is the monument in Invalidenpark, south-east of the cemetery.
Combinations with non-dark destinations:
Heading south from Invalidenfriedhof you get to the very heart of Berlin
, with the government quarter's grand modernist architecture, the Reichstag
and the Brandenburg Gate.
- Invalidenfriedhof 1 - cemetery and wall
- Invalidenfriedhof 2 - Hinterlandmauer
- Invalidenfriedhof 3 - repainted
- Invalidenfriedhof 4 - former grave of the Red Baron
- Invalidenfriedhof 5 - historic bell
- Invalidenfriedhof 6 - angel
- Invalidenfriedhof 7 - empty
- Invalidenfriedhof 8 - military
- Invalidenfriedhof 9 - the border used to cut straight through the cemetery | <urn:uuid:373fadd0-cb0a-4399-b19d-8a8d5db055c2> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://dark-tourism.com/index.php/index/15-countries/individual-chapters/1156-invalidenfriedhof | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.961672 | 2,564 | 2.96875 | 3 |
What do you mean by prorenin?
Prorenin (/prəˈriːnɪn/) is a protein that constitutes a precursor for renin, the hormone that activates the renin–angiotensin system, which serves to raise blood pressure.
What activates prorenin?
Prorenin is an inactive form of the aspartic protease renin. Like pepsinogen, it is activated at low pH. The kinetics of acid activation of prorenin were studied in human amniotic fluid and plasma and in preparations of purified prorenin isolated from amniotic fluid and plasma.
What is renin and its function?
Renin is an enzyme that helps control your blood pressure and maintain healthy levels of sodium and potassium in your body. Made by special cells in your kidneys, renin is released into your bloodstream when your blood pressure drops too low.
How is renin produced?
Renin is secreted from juxtaglomerular kidney cells, which sense changes in renal perfusion pressure, via stretch receptors in the vascular walls. The juxtaglomerular cells are also stimulated to release renin by signaling from the macula densa.
Is prorenin present in adults?
Rennin curdles milk by transforming caseinogen into insoluble casein; it is found only infants & absent in adults.
Where is Enteropeptidase located?
Enteropeptidase mRNA is expressed mostly in the duodenum and, at lower levels, in the proximal segment of jejunum, consistent with Pavlov’s finding that the enzyme was in the upper part of the small intestine. In these tissues, enteropeptidase mRNA is expressed in the enterocytes and goblet cells of the villus.
What is renin Class 11?
Answer: Renin is released from the Juxta-Glomerular Apparatus (JGA) on activation by fall in the glomerular blood pressure/flow. Renin converts angiotensinogen in blood to angiotensin I and further to angiotensin II.
Is renin enzyme or hormone?
Renin is a central hormone in the control of blood pressure and various other physiological functions.
Where is renin located?
Renin is an enzyme secreted by the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney.
Where is renin found?
renin, enzyme secreted by the kidney (and also, possibly, by the placenta) that is part of a physiological system that regulates blood pressure. In the blood, renin acts on a protein known as angiotensinogen, resulting in the release of angiotensin I.
What is the difference between renin and prorenin?
Prorenin, present in the circulation at 5–10 times the levels of active renin (Hsueh and Baxter, 1991) is the biochemical precursor of renin. In humans, the conversion of prorenin to active renin occurs by the proteolytic removal of a 43 amino acid prosegment from the amino-terminal end of prorenin.
What type of enzyme is renin?
Renin, also called angiotensinogenase, is a aspartate protease involved in the renin–angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), which regulates the body’s water balance and blood pressure level. Thus, it regulates the body’s mean arterial blood pressure. Renin is originated from juxtaglomerular kidney cells.
What converts prorenin to renin?
Prorenin, present in the circulation at 5–10 times the levels of active renin4 is the biochemical precursor of renin. In humans, the conversion of prorenin to active renin occurs by the proteolytic removal of a 43 amino acid prosegment from the amino-terminal end of prorenin.
Why is enteropeptidase important?
Enteropeptidase converts trypsinogen into active trypsin, which not only hydrolyses some peptide bonds of food proteins but also activates a number of pancreatic zymogens. For this reason enteropeptidase is a key enzyme in the digestion of dietary proteins and its absence may result in gross protein malabsorption.
Who secreted enterokinase?
Enterokinase is secreted by intestinal mucosa in the duodenum. It converts trypsinogen to trypsin, which is the active form. This results in subsequent activation of other pancreatic enzymes by trypsin.
What is rennin in biology?
rennin, also called chymosin, protein-digesting enzyme that curdles milk by transforming caseinogen into insoluble casein; it is found only in the fourth stomach of cud-chewing animals, such as cows. Its action extends the period in which milk is retained in the stomach of the young animal.
Is renin a protein?
Renin is a protein that converts angiotensinogen into angiotensin I. Renin refers to an enzyme that is formed in the kidney. Renin produces angiotensin II, which, when produced, increases blood pressure and renal sodium retention. | <urn:uuid:e2a59f0b-e8fe-40cd-a857-523ee9c7205c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://darkskiesfilm.com/what-do-you-mean-by-prorenin/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.905855 | 1,111 | 3.046875 | 3 |
What is basketball paragraph?
Basketball is a game played between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court, usually indoors. Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponent’s goal, an elevated horizontal hoop and net called a basket.
What are 7 facts about basketball?
10 Basketball Facts You Didn’t Know
- James Naismith invented basketball.
- Basketball was played with a different ball.
- Dribbling wasn’t allowed.
- More players per side.
- Fouls played.
- Referees used watches.
- The game was much shorter.
- The 1979 NCAA tournament was the start of basketball greats.
What are 5 important rules in basketball?
What Are the Rules of Basketball?
- Only five players per team on the court.
- Score more than your opponent to win.
- Score within the shot clock.
- Dribbling advances the ball.
- The offense has five seconds to inbound the ball.
- The offense must advance the ball.
- Ball and ballhandler must remain inbounds.
What are the 7 basic skills for basketball?
To be an elite basketball player, you need to be able to produce on both offense and defense….These are the core skills every basketball player should be working on consistently.
- Dribbling. Red Bull Reign 2019 India Finals.
- Foot Movement.
Why is basketball so important?
Playing basketball helps to improve motor coordination, flexibility, and endurance. It also encourages speed, agility, and strength. These skills are shown to have a positive effect on promoting a healthy body weight and encouraging more physical activity, which can enhance cardiorespiratory fitness and self-esteem.
What should I write about in basketball?
Basketball Essay Topics
- Why is bullying in basketball teams not stopped?
- How to cope with an injury in a basketball game.
- Should we cultivate the love for basketball in children?
- Who is the best NBA basketball player of all time?
- Healthy career, unhealthy retirement.
- Basketball is too dangerous for players.
How long is a basketball game?
NBA: National Basketball Association (NBA) games consist of four twelve-minute quarters, for a total game length of forty-eight minutes. However, the game clock stops throughout that forty-eight-minute period for various reasons, including fouls, halftime, and time-outs.
How many breaks are in basketball?
Length of a basketball game The basketball game consists of four quarters of 10 minutes each. Teams play one-way for two quarters, the other way for the next two. There is a two-minute interval between the first and second period, and also between the third and fourth period, with 15 minutes for halftime.
What is not allowed in basketball?
Rules of Basketball Once a player puts two hands on the ball (not including catching the ball) they cannot then dribble or move with the ball and the ball must be passed or shot.
What are the three types of passes?
- Chest Pass.
- Bounce Pass.
- Overhead Pass.
- Wrap Around Pass.
What are the 3 benefits of playing basketball?
burn calories (an hour of basketball can burn 630–750 calories) build endurance. improve balance and coordination. develop concentration and self-discipline.
How many players are in basketball?
Number of Players and Substitutions There is a maximum of five players on the floor at one time. A minimum of four players may finish a game. You must have at least four players to start a game.
How is basketball good for you?
Why is basketball the best sport?
Basketball is a Team Sport but Also Showcases Individual Talent. Another reason why basketball is the best sport is that it involves plenty of teamwork while also letting individual talent really shine. If you watch a really good basketball team play, it is a beautiful sight.
What was basketball first called?
In spite of student suggestions that he call the game “Naismith Ball,” the modest inventor gave the sport a two-word moniker—“basket ball.” In an article that ran in the January 15, 1892, edition of The Triangle, which was distributed to YMCAs around the country, Naismith detailed his 13 rules for a “new game of ball” …
Is hand checking illegal?
According to NBA rules. The hand-checking rule consists of “An illegal form of defense in basketball in which a defending player uses one or both of his hands or his arm to impede the forward or lateral movement of an offensive player.”
What is the height of the rim?
Throughout gyms, parks, and driveways around the world, basketball hoops are almost always 10 feet (3 meters) off the ground. Some leagues for young children play on shorter hoops, but from junior high schools through the professional leagues, the game is played on hoops of the standard 10-foot height.
Can you jump in a free throw?
In addition, the shooter must release the ball within five seconds (ten seconds in the United States) and must not step on or over the free-throw line until the ball touches the hoop. Players are, however, permitted to jump while attempting the free throw, provided they do not leave the designated area at any point. | <urn:uuid:188deaf6-94ab-4e90-bdc0-d233b076a725> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://darkskiesfilm.com/what-is-basketball-paragraph/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.951909 | 1,120 | 3.40625 | 3 |
The Baby Name Uniqueness Analyzer can determine how likely a person with a given name is to encounter another individual with the same name.With the latest trend of selecting unique and unusual names, popular names are not as popular as they once were. The probability that parents in 2021 name their child Liam or Olivia, the top boys' and girls' names, is only 1.04%. Twenty-five years ago the top boys' and girls' names were Michael or Emily. Back then, a baby had a 1.75% probability of being given either name. In other words, a child born twenty-five years ago is over twice as likely to be given the current year's top name than a child born today. While this trend away from the most popular names may be associated with the current generation of parents, it's been occurring for far longer. Only 4.2% of children born last year were given a name in the top ten. In comparison, twenty-five years ago 7.5% of children would be given a name in the top ten, and 50 years ago that number was 12%. A person born into our parents' generation is nearly three times as likely to be given a top ten name than a person born into our kids' generation. As someone who had two other 'Sara's (spelled differently) in her kindergarten class, I am fascinated that the probability of a kindergarten class of 35 in 2023 having any two children with the same name is only 41.9%. The probability of a kindergarten class having three children with the same name? Just 1.6%. That doesn't mean it never happens. With so many kindergarteners in the US, we estimate approximately 2,791 kindergarten classes across the country will have three kids with the same name.
How unique is a given name? You might be surprised
Where does your data come from?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) for baby name popularity and population size. The SSA publishes background information on how the data is collected and distributed for the interested. Average elementary school size comes from the National Center for Educational Statistics. Similar names are computed using a combination of string and phonetic edit distances.
Were there really ten boys named Sarah in 2015?
Looks like! Our data comes direct from the US Census Data, and that's what the Social Security Administration (SSA) reports. With a 3,961,981 babies born in 2015, there's bound to be at least a few reporting errors. There's also going to be a few really far out their names. There may have been 10 boys named Sarah, but there were also 16 girls named 'Abcde'.
Hey, my daughter's/brother's/neighbor's name isn't on the list! What gives?
Congratulations on a super rare name! Your daughter/brother/neighbor is one of a kind! Or, more precisely, one of no more than 4. The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not include baby names when fewer than five babies were given the name.
Love Baby Names? Try our other Baby Name Apps. The Baby Name Explorer lets you explore names based on gender ratio, substring, popularity, or the number of syllables. If you like more unusual names, you may enjoy the Unique Name Generator, Name Blender which merges two names into one or Alternate Spelling Suggester. Finally, the Nickname Finder can help you find that perfect nick name. | <urn:uuid:cc447129-6070-45b7-89ba-a193f36f6c8b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://datayze.com/name-uniqueness-analyzer?name=lynda | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.957644 | 710 | 2.84375 | 3 |
What is the VVIQ?
is a self-report measure of the clarity and liveliness of visual imagery and, in so doing, aims to evoke images that vary in vividness, ambiance, and feeling as well. The instructions state the following:
“Visual imagery refers to the ability to visualize, that is, the ability to form mental pictures, or to ‘see in the mind’s eye’. Marked individual differences are found in the strength and clarity of reported visual imagery and these differences are of considerable psychological interest.
The aim of this test is to determine the vividness of your visual imagery. The items of the test will possibly bring certain images to your mind. You are asked to rate the vividness of each image by reference to the five-point scale given below. For example, if your image is ‘vague and dim’, then give it a rating of 4. After each item, write the appropriate number in the box provided. The first box is for an image obtained with your eyes open and the second box is for an image obtained with your eyes closed. Before you turn to the items on the next page, familiarize yourself with the different categories on the rating scale. Throughout the test, refer to the rating scale when judging the vividness of each image. Try to do each item separately, independent of how you may have done other items.
Complete all items for images obtained with the eyes open and then return to the beginning of the questionnaire and rate the image obtained for each item with your eyes closed. Try and give your ‘eyes closed’ rating independently of the ‘eyes open’ rating. The two ratings for a given item may not in all cases be the same.”
The Rating Scale in the VVIQ
The five-point rating scale of the VVIQ is presented below. Some researchers prefer to reverse the numerical scale to make 5 = perfectly clear and as vivid as normal vision, and 1 = no image at all, you only “know” that you are thinking of an object.
The 16 VVIQ Items
The 16 items are arranged in blocks of four, in which each has a theme and at least one item in each cluster describes a visual image that includes movement. Each theme provides a narrative to guide a progression of mental imagery. It is noted that at least one item in each cluster describes an activity or movement, indexing liveliness (8 of 16 items in total). The aim of the VVIQ is to assess visual imagery vividness under conditions which allow a progressive development of scenes, situations, or events as naturally as possible. The items are intended to evoke sufficient interest, meaning, and affect conducive to image generation. Participants rate the vividness of their images separately with eyes open and eyes closed.
For a small minority of people called “aphantasics”, the capacity for voluntary visual imagery is unavailable. In the absence of mental imagery, consciousness consists of “unseen” memories, “unheard” words, “unheard” music, and “invisible” imagery. This minority needs to employ more generic, verbal methods to recall events, and to plan goals and future activity—compensatory strengths that remain under-investigated. This is an ongoing research topic with, currently, more questions than answers.
An online version of an altered version of the VVIQ is available here.
However, in spite of 460,000 people completing the online VVIQ, the latter has a different rating scale and instructions. The online variant of the VVIQ must be used and interpreted with caution.
Research using the VVIQ
To date, around 2000 studies have used the VVIQ or (VMIQ)
to measure imagery vividness.
Researchers can freely use the VVIQ in their research projects without asking for permission. However, if the user wishes to compare their research findings with the existing VVIQ literature, it is essential that the original instructions and format are adhered to. | <urn:uuid:06fc5e29-3409-454b-8fa6-a425cc023a73> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://davidfmarks.net/vividness-of-visual-imagery-questionnaire-vviq/comment-page-4/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.925037 | 840 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Millions of people throughout the world suffer from the prevalent mental health conditions of stress and depression. They are very different even though they have some things in common. The distinction between stress and depression will be covered in this very short piece.
Stress is a normal reaction to a difficult circumstance. Depending on the circumstances, it could be either positive or bad. Numerous things, such as work, relationships, income, health, and more, can lead to stress. Anxiety, irritation, exhaustion, and trouble sleeping are some signs of stress.
On the other hand, depression is a mental health condition that can have an impact on a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Constant melancholy, hopelessness, and worthlessness are characteristics of it. Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, adjustments to eating and sleep patterns, and suicidal or self-harming thoughts are all possible signs of depression.
The length of each is a significant distinction between stress and depression. Depression is a chronic disorder that can endure for weeks, months, or even years, whereas stress is often a short-term reaction to a particular scenario.
Another difference has to do with the underlying causes of these two entities. Typically, stressful situations at work or in tough relationships are outside influences. In contrast, a variety of genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychological variables can contribute to depression.
Stress and depression are treated in very different ways. Depression may call for medical attention, such as therapy or medication, although stress is frequently manageable through stress-reduction measures including exercise, relaxation, and mindfulness.
In conclusion, despite certain similarities, stress and depression are very different. Depression is a mental health issue that can have an impact on a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, whereas stress is a normal reaction to a difficult situation. You should seek professional assistance if you or someone you know is experiencing stress or sadness. Both illnesses are treatable with the appropriate care, and people can go on to live happy, healthy lives. | <urn:uuid:9908e480-fc82-4aac-af4c-e60c11d6cdb7> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://dehotpress.com/depression-and-stress-note-the-difference/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.956801 | 409 | 3.421875 | 3 |
Existing research suggests that teacher beliefs are powerful factors in teachers’ thoughts and actions and that connections may exist between elementary general music teachers’ beliefs about musical ability, assessment, and the purpose of elementary general music. Therefore, the purpose of this survey study was to examine relationships among and between elementary general music teachers’ beliefs pertaining to musical ability, assessment, and the purpose of elementary general music. Elementary general music teachers in Michigan (N = 156) completed an online survey consisting of Likert-type items pertaining to beliefs about musical ability, assessment, and the purpose of elementary general music. Analysis revealed a number of correlations between and among these beliefs. Implications include the need for further research on music educators’ beliefs and their connection to teaching practice as well as the need for educators to reflect on their own beliefs.
Shouldice, Heather N.
"An Exploratory Study of the Relationships Between Teachers’ Beliefs About Musical Ability, Assessment, and the Purpose of Elementary General Music,"
Visions of Research in Music Education: Vol. 39, Article 6.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/vrme/vol39/iss1/6 | <urn:uuid:97e716f6-d333-4ac5-ae82-4a6c4450c2eb> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/vrme/vol39/iss1/6/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.935464 | 248 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Princeton researchers are applying Darwinian evolution principles to naturally occurring antibacterial molecules to create novel antibiotics for the food and drug industries.
Bacteria secrete antimicrobial peptides — short chains of amino acids — for defense against other species. James Link, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, is pioneering research on a class of such peptides that are lassoshaped, which makes them resistant to the body’s defense mechanisms and hence good drug candidates. “We’re understanding how these amazing structures are made by bacteria,” Link said. “Thermodynamically they shouldn’t exist.”
Starting with one particular lasso peptide, Link and graduate student Jessica (Si Jia) Pan created a dozen variants with more antibiotic potency. The researchers used a method called directed evolution in which they create random mutations, test for desirable properties and repeat. They screened 20,000 variations of the peptide for the most promising molecules and found the most promising to be as potent as the antibacterial peptides used in the food industry to protect perishables.
The researchers are now trying to beat harmful, adaptive bacteria such as Escherichia coli at their own game. “We’re trying to use directed evolution to find a peptide that can kill E. coli that are resistant to it,” Link said. “In the same way that bacteria evolve resistance, we can try to evolve peptides that overcome that resistance.”
The work, which was published in the April 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, was funded in part by the National Science Foundation and Princeton’s Project X, which is designed to allow faculty members in the School of Engineering and Applied Science to pursue unconventional but promising research. | <urn:uuid:c4449596-8ccc-466e-a67a-6882ad982061> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://discovery.princeton.edu/2012/12/03/lasso-peptides-round-up-bacteria/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.945872 | 365 | 3.25 | 3 |
short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) [state endangered]
Photo provided by noorek/pond5.com
Features and Behaviors
The short-eared owl averages 13 to 17 inches in length (tail tip to bill tip in preserved specimen). Its feather color pattern is light brown with dark brown streaks. This owl has a large head with a dark, circlelike appearance on the flattened face. The large, yellow eyes face forward. Short “ear” tufts can be seen on the head. The tan patch on the wing can be seen when the bird is flying. The short-eared owl is a bird of prey (meat eater) with a hooked bill and claws to help in capturing and eating its food.
The short-eared owl is an uncommon migrant and winter resident and a rare summer resident throughout Illinois. It was once probably the most abundant owl species in the state. This raptor lives in prairies and marshes and roosts in grassy fields or pines. It is active at dawn and dusk, and sometimes during the day, in fields and marshy areas. It has a floppy flight motion, somewhat like that of a butterfly. Migrants begin to appear in Illinois in March and April. A few short-eared owls nest each year in Illinois. Eggs are produced from April through mid-May. This owl nests in wet prairies on the ground among tall grasses or reeds. The same nest site may be used several years in a row. Four to eight white eggs are deposited by the female, and she does most of the incubation for the 21-day incubation period. The male brings food to the female as she sits on the nest. Fall migrants begin appearing in Illinois in October. The short-eared owl winters as far south as central Mexico. Birds, insects and rodents make up the diet of this raptor. The call of the short-eared owl is “kee-yow!,” “wow!” or “waow.”
Illinois Status: state endangered, native
Destruction of wetland and grassland habitats are the main reasons for the short-eared owl's endangered status in Illinois. Preservation of large blocks of prairie and marsh habitat are necessary for the species to survive in the state. | <urn:uuid:556c02c9-eba1-4aa2-8318-d73afe3dda94> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutbirds/wildaboutbirdsraptors/family---strigidae/wabshortearedowl.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.943311 | 505 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Maintaining security on your system is extremely important, and one approach for this task is to manage access to system services carefully. Your system may need to provide open access to particular services (for example,
httpd if you are running a web server). However, if you do not need to provide a service, you should turn it off to minimize your exposure to possible bug exploits.
This chapter covers the configuration of the services to be run when a system is started, and provides information on how to start, stop, and restart the services on the command line using the systemctl utility.
Keep the system secure
When you allow access for new services, always remember that both the firewall and SELinux need to be configured as well. One of the most common mistakes committed when configuring a new service is neglecting to implement the necessary firewall configuration and SELinux policies to allow access for it. For more information, refer to the Fedora 26 Security Guide.
To allow you to configure which services are started at boot time, Fedora is shipped with the systemctl command line tool.
Do not use the ntsysv and chkconfig utilities
Although it is still possible to use the ntsysv and chkconfig utilities to manage services that have init scripts installed in the
Enabling the irqbalance service
To ensure optimal performance on POWER architecture, it is recommended that the
systemctl status irqbalance.service
To configure a service to be automatically started at boot time, use the systemctl command in the following form:
systemctl enable service_name.service
The service will be started the next time you boot the system. For information on how to start the service immediately, refer to Running the Service.
Imagine you want to run the Apache HTTP Server on your system. Provided that you have the httpd package installed, you can enable the
httpd service by typing the following at a shell prompt as
~]# systemctl enable httpd.service
To disable starting a service at boot time, use the systemctl command in the following form:
systemctl disable service_name.service
The next time you boot the system, the service will not be started. For information on how to stop the service immediately, refer to Stopping the Service.
In order to secure the system, users are advised to disable insecure connection protocols such as Telnet. You can make sure that the
telnet service is disabled by running the following command as
~]# systemctl disable telnet.service
The systemctl utility also allows you to determine the status of a particular service, as well as to start, stop, or restart a service.
Do not use the service utility
Although it is still possible to use the service utility to manage services that have init scripts installed in the
To determine the status of a particular service, use the systemctl command in the following form:
systemctl status service_name.service
This command provides detailed information on the service’s status. However, if you merely need to verify that a service is running, you can use the systemctl command in the following form instead:
systemctl is-active service_name.service
Enabling the httpd service illustrated how to enable starting the
httpd service at boot time. Imagine that the system has been restarted and you need to verify that the service is really running. You can do so by typing the following at a shell prompt:
~]$ systemctl is-active httpd.service active
You can also display detailed information about the service by running the following command:
~]$ systemctl status httpd.service httpd.service - LSB: start and stop Apache HTTP Server Loaded: loaded (/etc/rc.d/init.d/httpd) Active: active (running) since Mon, 23 May 2011 21:38:57 +0200; 27s ago Process: 2997 ExecStart=/etc/rc.d/init.d/httpd start (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS) Main PID: 3002 (httpd) CGroup: name=systemd:/system/httpd.service ├ 3002 /usr/sbin/httpd ├ 3004 /usr/sbin/httpd ├ 3005 /usr/sbin/httpd ├ 3006 /usr/sbin/httpd ├ 3007 /usr/sbin/httpd ├ 3008 /usr/sbin/httpd ├ 3009 /usr/sbin/httpd ├ 3010 /usr/sbin/httpd └ 3011 /usr/sbin/httpd
To display a list of all active system services, use the following command:
systemctl list-units --type=service
This command provides a tabular output with each line consisting of the following columns:
systemdunit name. In this case, a service name.
LOAD— Information whether the
systemdunit was properly loaded.
ACTIVE— A high-level unit activation state.
SUB— A low-level unit activation state.
JOB— A pending job for the unit.
DESCRIPTION— A brief description of the unit.
You can list all active services by using the following command:
~]$ systemctl list-units --type=service UNIT LOAD ACTIVE SUB JOB DESCRIPTION abrt-ccpp.service loaded active exited LSB: Installs coredump handler which saves segfault data abrt-oops.service loaded active running LSB: Watches system log for oops messages, creates ABRT dump directories for each oops abrtd.service loaded active running ABRT Automated Bug Reporting Tool accounts-daemon.service loaded active running Accounts Service atd.service loaded active running Job spooling tools [output truncated]
In the example above, the
abrtd service is loaded, active, and running, and it does not have any pending jobs.
To run a service, use the systemctl command in the following form:
systemctl start service_name.service
This will start the service in the current session. To configure the service to be started at boot time, refer to Enabling the Service.
Enabling the httpd service illustrated how to run the
httpd service at boot time. You can start the service immediately by typing the following at a shell prompt as
~]# systemctl start httpd.service
To stop a service, use the systemctl command in the following form:
systemctl stop service_name.service
This will stop the service in the current session. To disable starting the service at boot time, refer to Enabling the Service.
Disabling the telnet service illustrated how to disable starting the
telnet service at boot time. You can stop the service immediately by running the following command as
~]# systemctl stop telnet.service
To restart a service, use the systemctl command in the following form:
systemctl restart service_name.service
For any changes in the
/etc/ssh/sshd_config configuration file to take effect, it is required that you restart the
sshd service. You can do so by typing the following at a shell prompt as
~]# systemctl restart sshd.service
Want to help? Learn how to contribute to Fedora Docs › | <urn:uuid:4ff5ac40-7362-447c-8bfb-609cd8ee631b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://docs.stg.fedoraproject.org/nl/fedora/f26/system-administrators-guide/infrastructure-services/Services_and_Daemons/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.873333 | 1,541 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Paleoclimate of Florida Albert C. Hine1, Ellen E. Martin2, John M. Jaeger2, and Mark Brenner2,3 1College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, Saint Petersburg, FL; 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; 3Land Use and Environmental Change Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
We present our understanding of Florida’s paleoclimate for the past ~50 million years (Myr). The paleoclimate of the Florida Platform is closely linked to global paleoclimate. Global climate change over the past 50 Myr is a record of declining atmospheric carbon dioxide, decreasing temperature, and progressive addition of ice sheets. The overall global climate narrative is one of transition from a greenhouse Earth (warm temperatures with higher sea levels) to an icehouse Earth (colder temperatures with lower sea levels). The early 21st century has been a period of extreme climate conditions in Florida, in that we have already seen very low lake levels, including complete drying of some water bodies for the first time in recorded history. Such complete drying was never reported previously and suggests that we have entered a new climate regime in this millennium.
Key Messages • The peninsular morphology of Florida, created during the near-simultaneous tectonic opening of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and western North Atlantic Ocean starting ~200 million years ago has always played a fundamental role in Florida’s climate. When a large fraction of the peninsular land mass was exposed during sea level lowstands, huge thunderstorms formed thus defining a unique component of Florida’s climate. • The topographically low and flat morphology of the Florida Platform has also allowed climate-driven sea level changes to leave a robust stratigraphic record. From these rocks and sediments the paleoceanography and, to a lesser extent, the paleoclimate of the Florida Platform has been reconstructed. • Over the past 50 Myr the climate of the Florida Platform followed the global climate change of declining atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and cooling, i.e., a transition from a greenhouse (warm) to an icehouse (cooler with cyclical glaciations and deglaciations) Earth. There were three major warming events that occurred during this prolonged cooling that impacted Florida’s paleoclimate. • Pleistocene data reveal a terrestrial climate comparable to the modern climate, with evidence of cool climate episodes that may have been influenced by regional upwelling of cold marine waters. As climate in Florida warmed after the Last Glacial Maximum and early Holocene (~18–~11.7 ka), there were profound consequences for Florida’s terrestrial environment, as vast areas that had served as habitat for Pleistocene land plants and animals, some now extinct (e.g., mammoths, horses, giant sloths, tapirs), were inundated by rising seawater. • Shortly after the onset of the Holocene Epoch (11.7 ka), rainfall increased contributing to rising groundwater tables and initial filling of Florida’s more than 8,000 shallow lakes.
457 458 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
Inferring Paleoclimate from the Geologic Record
limate can be broadly characterized by temperature and precipitation, and fluctuations in these two variables throughout Earth history are referred to as paleoclimate change. CAlthough factors that influence climate are enormously complex, geoscientists know that Earth’s climate has displayed extremes in temperature and precipitation over many time scales. Geology is the discipline that studies changes on Earth through time. Therefore, understanding paleoclimate variations relies on interpretation of the rocks and sediments left behind. That is what we have to work with to decipher the past. One challenge for geologists is determining the age of sediments or rocks, which in turn enables us to calculate the timing and rate of key events in the past. The age and sequence of events helps elucidate Earth processes such as sea level change, mountain building, biological extinctions, continental breakup, etc. A fundamental tool in geological studies is the Geologic Time Scale. Specific time intervals (Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs) are defined by terms such as Precambrian, Paleozoic, Jurassic, Eocene, and represent durations of billions, millions, or thousands of years. Discussion of the Earth’s geologic past requires use of these terms even when “absolute” time, e.g. 50 million years ago, is presented. We provide The Geological Society of America Geologic Time Scale in Figure 15.1 for the readers’ use. Rather than referring to Eons, Eras, Periods, or Epochs, a variety of quantitative dating methods has been developed based on sound scientific principles to determine absolute geologic age (number of years in the past). They include use of the natural radioactivity in rocks as a clock (radiometric age dating), the magnetic properties of rocks (paleomagnetic properties such as polarity reversals), the isotopic composition of rocks (isotope geochemistry), and biological evolution of microfossils in rocks (biostratigraphy). As new techniques are developed and tested, the absolute age boundaries of the Eons, Eras, Periods and Epochs are refined, and events such as the massive meteor impact that created Yucatan’s Chicxulub Crater in southeast Mexico can be dated more accurately and precisely. It is now determined to have struck Earth close to 66 Ma, perhaps within 100 kyr of that time. More accurate and precise age dating of Earth’s past events are an essential, ongoing line of research.
PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 459
Figure 15.1. Geological Society of America Geologic Time Scale (2012, most recent version from GSA; Walker et al. 2013). Herein, Ga means a billion (1,000,000,000) years ago. Ma means a million (1,000,000) years ago (i.e., 100 Ma refers to something that happened 100,000,000 years ago; ka means a thousand (1,000) years ago; Additionally, Gyr, Myr, and kyr, express geological duration, i.e., an event lasted 10 Myr or the event’s duration was 10 million years (10,000,000 years) long (Christie-Blick 2012).
460 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
A third challenge in reconstructing Florida’s paleoclimate after age determination and gaps in the rock record is that Florida’s sedimentary geological formations, which date back to 50 Ma, formed largely underwater. These rocks reflect ocean behavior and not rainfall or paleo- temperature of the atmosphere per se. Thus, most of the Florida Platform’s rock and sediment formations only generally and indirectly preserve information about Florida’s paleoclimate. The rock and sediment formations (called lithologic units) were emplaced as a result of global rise and fall of sea level. In particular, during warm climate intervals, which are associated with high sea level, carbonate sediments derived from corals, shell-bearing organisms such as mollusks, and mud from algae, were deposited in shallow seas that covered the Florida Platform. Because Florida’s land elevation is so close to sea level, vertical fluctuations cause widespread land inundation (sea level highstands) or exposure of land to the atmosphere (sea level lowstands). Even though marine sedimentary rocks are not direct paleoclimate indicators, they can serve as important indirect indicators of paleoclimate. For instance, warm sea surface temperature is linked to warm air temperature and evidence for regional salinity decreases can be caused by increased freshwater runoff, potentially indicating higher rainfall. During sea level lowstands, direct paleoclimate indicators such as tree pollen are buried in inland lake sediments and a stratigraphic study of pollen grains can be used to infer paleoclimate. But these non-marine sedimentary deposits in Florida are often thin and discontinuous. Also, oxidation and erosion of these sediment units during exposure to the atmosphere can remove and alter them, rendering paleoclimate reconstructions even more challenging. Before we examine Florida’s paleoclimate, we must answer a fundamental question—What is Florida? Florida is much more than the political boundaries and coastline that define the state of Florida. The entire Florida Platform extends well beyond the state of Florida’s borders (Figs. 15.2 and 15.3) and is structurally bounded by faults created during the near-simultaneous tectonic opening of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and western North Atlantic Ocean. The creation of these ocean basins resulted from the tectonic breakup of the mega-continent Pangea, which began ~200 Ma (Figs. 15.4, 15.5). So any study of Florida’s geological history, including its paleoclimate, must consider the present-day, submerged portions (modern continental shelves and slopes), as well as the emerged areas, which we know of as the state of Florida. The submerged portions of the Florida Platform are difficult to reach because of their large area and the depth of the overlying coastal ocean. Therefore, we are restricted to the rocks and sediments that are easily accessed, i.e., those rock and sediment formations exposed on land, which extend back ~50 Myr. These 50-Ma and younger sedimentary rocks and sediments can be studied more comprehensively than small rock samples retrieved from a few deep drill sites. This accessible rock record is revealed on the geologic map of Florida (See Florida Geological Survey). For these reasons we begin our narrative of Florida’s paleoclimate at that point in time, 50 Ma. We will follow a simple strategy of first presenting the global climate record and then discussing how the Florida Platform has responded to these global climate changes. As with PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 461
practically all geologic studies that cover vast amounts of time, the more recent events (hundreds to tens of thousands of years ago) are better represented in the rock record and provide much more detail than events that occurred hundreds or even tens of millions of years ago. First, however, we present a brief look at the Florida Platform’s geologic history in deep time (hundreds of millions of years ago). We do this to set the stage for our examination of the last 50 Myr of the Florida Platform’s paleoclimate.
Figure 15.2. Exposed and submerged portions of the Florida Platform. Geologists consider the Florida Platform to be a single entity that includes the emerged state of Florida, as well as the vast area that today lies under water. The size of the exposed portion of the Platform changed dramatically over geologic time as sea level rose and fell (from Hine 2013; Geologic History of Florida: Major Events That Formed the Sunshine State by Albert C. Hine. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2013. Reprinted by permission; modified from USGS Open File Report 2007-1397; courtesy of Dr. L. Robbins). 462 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
Figure 15.3. West-to-east depth section across the central Florida Platform—part of the even larger Florida- Bahamas Platform. This diagram shows two distinct rock types that underlie the Florida Platform: (1) >500- Ma-old basement rocks (white component marked with “v”) overlain by (2) much younger, mostly limestone (marked with colors; MJ, UJ, LK, UK, T). There is a third geologic unit, mostly quartz-rich sand, which overlies the limestone. The sand covers most of the exposed Florida Platform and forms most of our beaches. But this youngest geologic unit is so thin that it cannot be represented in the above figure. It is thinner than the thickness of the black line that represents the top of the Florida Platform. This chapter focuses on the climate inferred from the rock record extending back 50 Ma, i.e., the brown unit labeled “T” (Tertiary and Quaternary; modified from Hine et.al 2003; Hine 2013; Geologic History of Florida: Major Events That Formed the Sunshine State by Albert C. Hine. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2013. Reprinted by permission.), which is exposed at the surface today.
Long-Term History of the Florida Platform
Seven hundred million years ago, the basement rocks that underlie the Florida Platform were located near the South Pole and were part of a larger continental landmass called Gondwana, which eventually collided over millions of years with another large land mass called Laurasia, forming the megacontinent Pangea in the Paleozoic, from ~350 Ma to ~250 Ma (Hine 2013). Thus, the > 500-Ma-old basement rocks that underlie the present Florida Platform (Fig. 15.3) once formed part of the African and South American continents. Basement rocks are generally crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks. They form the basic crust of continents and possess very little paleoclimate information that geologists can exploit. The climate at the South Pole ~500 Ma was freezing and the basement rocks were probably covered by a thick ice sheet. Over the next ~500 Myr, these basement rocks migrated northward about 13,000 km (8,150 miles) via PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 463
plate tectonic processes, traveled through the tropics, crossed the Equator and arrived at their present location ~200 Ma (Fig. 15.5). The Paleozoic sedimentary rock on top of the Platform’s basement rocks has been eroded or is deeply buried, and has been rarely sampled (Klitgord et al 1984; Sheridan et al. 1988; Pindell and Barrett 1990; DeBalko and Buffler 1992; Randazzo and Jones 1997; Redfern 2001). Before the Pangean megacontinent breakup, starting around 200 Ma, Florida’s basement rocks were at a mid-continent location, probably thousands of kilometers (1,000 km = 621 miles) from the oceans that existed at that time (Fig. 15.4). Although there is no rock record from that time for study of past climate, we surmise that tropical rain forests probably dominated because the area was at low latitudes.
Figure 15.4. Paleogeographic reconstruction of mega-continent Pangea, from 205 to 180 Myr. The Equator runs across the center of the diagram. Note the components of Florida’s basement rocks—Florida-Bahama Block and Suwannee Block, which together form the basement rock beneath the modern Florida Platform. The location was far inland, probably >1,000s of km from the global oceans at that time. The terrestrial environment must have been something like the equatorial rain forests we see today in South America and Africa (used by permission from Iturralde-Vinent 2003).
Florida’s paleoclimate is unique because the platform became a peninsula during the early breakup of the Pangean megacontinent around 200 Ma and was almost completely surrounded by seawater by 160 Ma (Fig. 15.5). The peninsular morphology of the Florida Platform has fundamentally controlled Florida’s climate at times when large areas of land mass were exposed 464 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
to the atmosphere. Because of its relatively low heat capacity compared to ocean water, land heats up quickly on hot days, forcing air to rise, which brings in warm moist air from above the ocean to both Florida’s east and west coasts. These local winds are known today as sea breezes. Rising air over the heated land produces, and has produced for millions of years, thunderstorms that reach great altitudes (>18,000 m ~>59,000 ft). Such storms, which extend high into the atmosphere, capture dust and aerosols that originated on other continents and deposit them on Florida. These seasonal thunderstorms are some of the largest and most intense in the world, thus earning Florida the nickname of the “thunderstorm and lightning capital of the United States.” The Florida Platform has probably been influenced by substantial thunderstorm activity since the western North Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the south first formed.
Figure 15.5. Paleogeographic map showing the late-stage breakup of the Pangean megacontinent. Note position of the Equator at this time relative to the land masses. Darker blue indicates deep ocean water, and light blue indicates shallower water. Darker brown indicates continental rocks. Light brown indicates non- marine sediments erode from continental rocks. Florida-Bahama Block is highlighted in yellow. The map illustrates the newly opened Gulf of Mexico and the newly opened western North Atlantic Ocean that formed by seafloor spreading. At that time (160 Ma), the Caribbean Sea was starting to open as well. Note that the Florida Platform was already north of the Equator, roughly at the same latitude as it is today. The basement rocks beneath the Florida Platform were surrounded by seawater and formed the beginning of the peninsular Florida Platform (modified from Redfern 2001; published in Hine 2013).
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From about 200 to 150 Ma, the Florida Platform’s basement rocks were exposed to the atmosphere, with non-marine sediments deposited only sporadically. A Late Jurassic (164-157 Ma), non-marine formation superimposed on the igneous and metamorphic basement rocks indicates that an arid climate must have dominated, given the presence of sand dunes (Norphlet Formation) of Upper Jurassic (UJ) age (the purple formation in Fig. 15.3). Inferring paleoclimate during the very early development of the Florida Platform is problematic and quite speculative. Marine carbonate rocks (limestones, dolomites) and other sedimentary rocks (evaporites) covered the Florida Platform’s basement rocks and early non-marine rocks, and extend back to the Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous (~150 - 140 Ma). These formations are nearly six km thick. The climate signals contained within this deeply buried rock likely reflect the global warm temperate/tropical climate of the Earth at that time. For the next 100 Myr (150-50 Ma), the Florida Platform was mostly under water, with occasional periods of exposure when sea level fell (Fig. 15.6, 7B). It was during that time that much of the sedimentary carbonate cover on the Florida Platform accumulated. Not until the late Oligocene (~ 25 Ma) did widespread carbonate sedimentation cease and become largely restricted to the extreme southern portion of peninsular Florida. This carbonate rock, which covers the deeper basement rocks, contains the Floridan aquifer and features the famous springs and sinkholes that dominate much of today’s exposed Florida Platform.
Figure 15.6. A sea level highstand flooded all of Florida, much of the area surrounding the modern Gulf of Mexico, and the seaway that connects the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. This is the paleogeography of North America at ~100 Ma, when warm, shallow seas covered much of the region. During that time, the rocks labeled “LK, UK” and the lower part of “T” (Fig. 15.3) were deposited. Although this rendering is for 100 Ma, sea levels were similarly high at 50 Ma (from Ron Blakey, Colorado Plateau Geosystems with permission; Hine 2013, Hine et al. 2016). 466 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
Climate from the Eocene Greenhouse to the Pleistocene Icehouse
The history of global climate change over the past 50 Myr is a story of declining atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), decreasing temperature, and progressive addition of ice sheets, first on Antarctica and later in the Northern Hemisphere. This period also includes an overall decline of global sea level (Fig. 15.7A, B, C). Global cooling did not occur gradually and continuously through time. Instead, the declining temperature trend was interrupted by intervals of rapid cooling and ice growth, and warmer intervals of ice retreat that are referred to as “climatic optima.”
Figure 15.7 A, B, C. Cenozoic climate conditions. A. Global surface temperature derived from stable isotope measurements (δ18O) on carbonate shells of deep-sea benthic foraminifera (Zachos et al. 2001, 2009). Blue bars represent a qualitative estimate of ice volume in each hemisphere. Darker blue coincides with maximum extent of the ice sheets. B. Variations in global sea level relative to modern sea level (0 m) are from Miller et al. (2005). C. Earth’s atmospheric CO2 history is from Beerling and Royer (2011). Line connects data points from terrestrial and marine proxies for atmospheric CO2. Error bars for individual data points are typically several hundred ppm (parts per million) CO2. Horizontal dashed line indicates modern CO2 value of ~400 ppm. Blue box at bottom right represents range of Pleistocene glacial to interglacial CO2 values from ice cores. PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 467
There is no evidence for development of major ice sheets in either hemisphere during the early Eocene Climatic Optimum, at ~50 Ma. Estimates indicate that CO2 was ~1,000 ppm, roughly three times pre-industrial atmospheric concentrations (Beerling and Royer 2011), and that the global mean temperature, averaged across land and sea at all latitudes, was ~28 °C (80 °F), i.e., about 14 °C (20 °F) warmer than today! Although the Antarctic continent sat over the South Pole at that time, it was covered by subtropical vegetation (ferns, cypress and beech trees), rather than ice, because of warm global temperatures. Determining sea level so far back in time is difficult, but estimates range from 20-100 m (66-328 ft) higher than today, with the most recent estimate ~75 m (246 ft) (Müller et al. 2008). Under such conditions, almost the entire Florida Peninsula would have been under water. Over the next 16 Myr (ending ~34 Ma), global surface temperatures gradually cooled by about 4 °C (~8 °F). At that point, the Earth’s climate system appears to have crossed a critical threshold, possibly caused by lower atmospheric CO2 levels (DeConto and Pollard 2016), and ice grew rapidly on Antarctica. Within ~ 300 kyr, an ice sheet approximately the size of the modern Antarctic Ice Sheet that extended to the coastline covered this southernmost continent. As water was removed from the ocean to form the ice, global sea level dropped by ~70 m (230 ft). For the next 18 Myr (ending ~16 Ma), the Antarctic Ice Sheet retreated (shrank) and advanced (grew), varying between about 33% and 100% of its current size. Yet no major ice sheets formed in the Northern Hemisphere. Atmospheric CO2 concentrations declined from ~800 ppm, when the ice sheet first formed, to ~500 ppm, only about 100 ppm higher than today. This waxing and waning of the Antarctic Ice Sheet was interrupted at ~16 Ma by dramatic warming and ice melt during the period referred to as the Miocene Climatic Optimum (Miocene Epoch; 23.0-5.3 Ma). This interval is puzzling because there is clear evidence of warming and ice sheet retreat, but the change in atmospheric CO2 associated with this warming appears to have been small. This observation has led scientists to suggest that the climate system is more sensitive to changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations when CO2 values are relatively low. The Miocene Climatic Optimum ended at ~14 Ma with renewed cooling and ice growth on Antarctica, which continued until another climate threshold was crossed—the transition to global icehouse conditions. A period of renewed warmth at ~3 Ma in the Pliocene is particularly interesting because this is the last time period for which estimates of atmospheric CO2 concentrations were as high as they are today (~400 ppm). It is somewhat surprising then that the global mean temperature was believed to be 2-3 °C warmer than pre-industrial times, or 1-2 °C warmer than today. This magnitude of warming is similar to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2013) estimates for global temperatures for the 21st century and represents the warmest temperature experienced by Earth in the past 3 million years. Estimates of sea level during warm intervals of the Pliocene range from 6 to 25 m higher than today, with likely contributions from ice melt on both Greenland and Antarctica. There is also evidence that the Arctic Ocean was seasonally ice- 468 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
free. One possible explanation for warmer conditions in the Pliocene, despite atmospheric CO2 concentrations similar to those today, is that the modern climate system has not yet reached
equilibrium with respect to CO2 concentrations driven largely by human activity, which rose very rapidly compared to past rates of increase, driven solely by natural additions to atmospheric CO2. Another idea is that there may have been additional feedbacks within the climate system, such as changes in ocean circulation, which enhanced heat transport by the ocean and contributed additional warming. Major growth of ice in the Northern Hemisphere began ~2.6 Ma, when the Earth’s climate system began to alternate between colder glacial and warmer interglacial intervals. During glacial periods, large ice sheets covered Greenland, much of North America, and Scandinavia (Fig. 15.8).
Figure 15.8. Map of North America during the Last Glacial Maximum (~20 ka). Light blue areas were exposed by a drop in sea level of ~130 m (427 ft) associated with ice growth at high latitudes. The Florida Platform was much wider at that time (from Ron Blakey, Colorado Plateau Geosystems with permission; Hine 2013, Hine et al. 2016).
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During interglacial intervals, conditions were similar to today, with continental ice sheets persisting at high latitudes; for example, Antarctica, Greenland, and smaller glaciers present atop high mountains at lower latitudes (e.g., in the Andes). Fluctuations between these glacial and interglacial states are believed to have been a consequence of subtle changes in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, i.e., Milankovitch Orbital Cycles (Fig. 15.9). The Earth’s tilt on its axis and the shape of its orbit around the Sun are affected by interactions with other planets and result in predictable changes in the way the Sun’s incoming energy is distributed across the Earth surface. These variations were small, but under the generally cool conditions that developed over the past
50 Myr, such small changes were enhanced (amplified) by fluctuations in atmospheric CO2 and ocean circulation, which led the Earth in and out of glacial intervals. During the last major glacial advance around 20 ka, known as the Last Glacial Maximum or end of the last Ice Age, global temperatures were ~5 °C (9 °F) cooler than today, atmospheric
CO2 concentrations decreased from ~280 ppm to ~200 ppm, and global sea level was an astonishing 130 m (427 ft) lower than today (Fig. 15.10). See Ruddiman (2008) for a detailed explanation of the Earth’s global climate history.
Figure 15.9. Milankovitch cycles of 100 kyr, 41 kyr, and 22-23 kyr, caused by changes in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun (eccentricity), the tilt of the Earth’s axis of rotation (obliquity), and the wobble (precession) (modified from Hine et al. 2016; Sea Level Rise in Florida; Science, Impacts, and Options by Albert C. Hine, Don P. Chambers, Tonya D. Clayton, Mark R. Hafen, and Gary T. Mitchum, Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2016. Reprinted by permission).
470 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
Figure 15.10. Global sea level fluctuations over the past 1.5 Mya related to Milankovitch orbital cycles. These cycles have periodicities of 22-23 ka (precession), 41 ka (obliquity), and 100 ka (eccentricity). Note that the last sea level lowstand at approximately 20 ka (0.02 Ma) was about 130 m (427 ft) below present- day sea level. These cycles are driven by variations in Earth’s orbital and rotational characteristics (modified from Hine 2013; Geologic History of Florida: Major Events That Formed the Sunshine State by Albert C. Hine. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2013. Reprinted by permission.).
Florida’s Climate History
We follow the same time line over the past 50 Myr to examine the effect of the global climate variations (Eocene Climatic Optimum, Miocene Climatic Optimum, Pliocene Warm Period) on the Florida Platform glacial/interglacial events). The response of the Florida Platform to glacial/interglacial events is presented separately in a later section (Florida’s Climate in the Global Glacial/Interglacial World—The Icehouse).
The Marine Narrative (Eocene Climatic Optimum, Miocene Climatic Optimum, Pliocene Warm Period) During the Eocene Climatic Optimum, the Florida Platform was mostly covered by warm tropical/subtropical seas during an extended sea level highstand (Fig 15.7B). Carbonate sedimentation dominated in these shallow seas. The accumulating fossiliferous sediments formed the upper limestone portion of Florida’s carbonate platform and generated the rocks seen today in mines, pits, sinkholes, and sometimes at the land surface. These sediments and rocks formed the Ocala Limestone (Fig. 15.7A). The Miocene Climatic Optimum was also a period of relatively high sea level, during which Florida’s abundant phosphate deposits accumulated. These sediments constitute part of the Hawthorn Group of formations (Fig. 15.7A), which yield ~30% of the world’s phosphate, mined primarily to produce agricultural fertilizer. The mining industry contributes to the economy of PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 471
Central Florida where phosphate-rich minerals, originally formed on the shallow seafloor during periods of elevated sea level, are extracted. From ~23 to ~10 Ma (i.e., during much of the Miocene Epoch), strong ocean currents crossed the central Florida Peninsula, providing the ideal environment for accumulation of the economically important phosphate deposits. Even though these minerals formed on the seafloor, it can be argued that the global climate change that flooded the central Florida Platform was ultimately responsible for their deposition (Popenoe 1990; Riggs 1979; Riggs 1984; Riggs et al. 2000; Hine 2013). During the late Pliocene Warm Period, river deltas, starting in the Caloosahatchee River/Lake Okeechobee area, migrated at least 200 km (125 miles) southward, forming the Peace River Formation and the Long Key Formation. These quartz-rich sediments underlie younger limestone that are exposed in the Florida Everglades and form the Florida Keys (Pleistocene-age Miami Limestone and Key Largo Formations). These deltaic sediments are characterized by quartz-rich sands and gravels, and prograding deltaic slopes that display up to 100 m (328 ft) relief, indicating that these river delta deposits accumulated in water at least that deep (Warseski et al. 1996; Cunningham et al. 1998; Missimer 1976; Missimer 1999; Guertin et al. 1999; Cunningham et al. 2003). No modern rivers in Florida carry that much sediment. Water and sediment discharged in these large Pliocene rivers and streams were much greater than anything we see today and was probably caused by much heavier rainfall (Hine et al. 2009; Hine 2013).
The Terrestrial Narrative (Eocene Climatic Optimum, Miocene Climatic Optimum, Pliocene Warm Period) Florida’s terrestrial paleoclimate record has been inferred using preserved plant macrofossils and microfossils (e.g., leaves and pollen). One challenge associated with using fossil pollen and plant records in Florida for paleoclimate inference is that floral diversity is low in the southeastern US for the past 50 Myr (Rich 1995). This means that there were relatively few plants to serve as unique bio-indicators of specific climate regimes. Since Florida’s mean elevation was close to sea level, the potential for terrestrial or marginal-marine sediments to preserve plant fossils likely varied with relative sea level. Also, the oldest terrestrial or marginal-marine sediments that did accumulate would have had a greater probability of erosion. Consequently, sediments that are available for study provide the most complete record of Florida’s climate mainly for the past ~3 Ma, and we have only spotty coverage of terrestrial plants extending back to the Eocene (56.0- 33.9 Ma). Florida’s terrestrial climate from the Eocene to the early Pliocene (56-5 Ma) changed as the Earth transitioned from globally warm to cooler temperatures (Fig. 15.7A). The oldest known terrestrial plant remains in Florida are from the Eocene and indicate a climate similar to modern- day South Florida and the circum-Caribbean. These fossils are geographically scattered and fragmentary, and mostly represented by seagrass macrofossils (Ivany et al. 1990). Fossil fern spores and pollen grains in Eocene deposits from central and southern Florida locales indicate a terrestrial landscape that ranged from a tropical to subtropical coastal climate, as observed on 472 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
modern beaches in Central America and islands of the Caribbean. Inland south-central Florida likely had a somewhat more temperate climate in exposed, inland, forested areas, as indicated by pollen derived from pine, oak, hickory, mallow, and perhaps sycamore (Jarzen and Dilcher 2006; Jarzen and Klug 2010; Gradstein et al. 2012). By the time of the Miocene (~23.0-5.3 Ma), pollen and other plant fossils indicate that north- central Florida had transitioned to a climate similar to that of the present. Leaves of hickory, elm, and buckthorn, as well as a large number of temperate taxa represented by pollen, fruits, and seeds, suggest a warm-temperate climate in North Florida (Corbett, 2004). The plant community type was similar to that in the modern, northern Gulf Coast of Florida, where elm-hickory- cabbage palm forests occur near oak- and pine-dominated landscapes. The culmination in the late Pliocene (~3.6-2.6 Ma) of the transition to colder global temperatures is represented in Florida by a climate similar to that of today, but with cooler conditions and evidence for fluctuations between dry and wet. There were abundant cypress, arrowhead, black gum, sweetgum, and elm in Central Florida, all suggestive of a freshwater swamp landscape (Emslie et al. 1996), but one that became drier at times, as indicated by abundant pine and occasional oak pollen. Occasionally, there were also colder conditions in South Florida, similar to modern coastal mid-Atlantic states, which may have been related to coastal upwelling of cooler, deeper water along the coastal Gulf of Mexico (Willard et al. 1993).
Florida’s Climate in the Global Glacial/Interglacial World—The Icehouse
The Pleistocene (2.6 Ma to 11.7 ka) climate of Florida under global icehouse conditions can be reconstructed using fossils from the same central and northern Florida locations that were used for Pliocene reconstructions. During glacial maxima, extensive, thick ice sheets covered North America and Western Europe, and there was significant enlargement of mountain, alpine-type glaciers worldwide. During Pleistocene, sea level lowstands, strong, easterly trade winds transported iron-rich dust from the Sahara to the Caribbean, to the southeast US including Florida, and even northward up to Bermuda. Such dust events still occur today, causing limited visibility and pulmonary stress for some people. But during cooler periods, when the Northern Hemisphere supported huge glaciers, Saharan dust events were more common. The result in Florida was the formation of extensive reddish soils (caliche/duricrust) that accumulated on exposed limestone—particularly in the Florida Keys. During these sea level lowstands, prolonged exposure of the Pleistocene limestone to slightly acidic rainwater etched and dissolved these rocks, forming the karst topography we see today (Multer et al. 2002). In addition, the exposed portion of the Florida Platform was cooler, windier, and drier than today. Similar to the Pliocene, Pleistocene terrestrial climate was comparable to the modern climate, with evidence of episodic climate transitions that may have been influenced by regional upwelling of cold marine waters. Baseline Pleistocene climate was also generally similar to the PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 473
modern climate, with a range of mesic (moist) to xeric (dry) woodlands, scattered marshes and wetlands, inferred from geologic studies in North Florida’s Trail Ridge, Central Florida’s Leisey Shell Pits (Hillsborough County) and Peace Creek sinkhole (Polk County), and southwest Florida (Sarasota County) (Rich 1985; Rich and Newsom 1995; Hansen et al. 2001; Emslie et al. 1996; Willard et al. 1993). In North Florida, climate at the Plio-Pleistocene transition (~3 Ma to 2.6 Ma) was similar to that of the Holocene (11.7 ka to present), with evidence for cypress forests that possessed shrubby undergrowth and standing water (Rich 1985). The transition then, from the Pliocene into the Pleistocene, was accompanied by generally drier conditions, dominated by shrubs and herbs, with periods of drought and fire, the latter indicated by abundant charcoal. This drier episode was followed by an interval at ~2.2 Ma, when shrub-dominated swamps indicate wetter conditions. Alternations between wetter and drier conditions are also observed in Polk County, where three pine-oak pollen cycles are described for samples from ~2.8 Ma (Hansen et al. 2001). The longer pine phases are interpreted as reflecting drier climate conditions, whereas the shorter oak phases are thought to represent wetter conditions. These wet-dry variations may have been driven by the same orbital cycles (Milankovitch orbital cycles) that drove glacial-interglacial cycles. Hansen et al. (2001) noted an almost complete absence of pollen from tropical plant taxa that are now common in southern-most Florida. This suggests the presence of a long-term climate barrier that confined tropical species to areas south of Central Florida, and may point to occasional Pleistocene incursions into Florida of Arctic air and frost, as occur today. In Southwest Florida, the climate of the early-middle Pleistocene was similar to that of today, but with notable episodes of cooler conditions in the earliest Pleistocene (Willard et al. 1993). In South Central Florida, pollen associations argue for a climate similar to that of the modern Florida Panhandle, with a transition in the earliest Pleistocene to conditions like those of modern coastal Florida. Invertebrate and vertebrate marine fossils from the later Pleistocene Epoch (2.6 Ma to 11.7 ka) showed this interval was less tropical, with slight cooling of coastal waters (15– 25 °C; 59–77 °F), which may be explained by upwelling of cold water in the Gulf of Mexico resulting from changes in the circulation of the Gulf of Mexico due to tectonic movements in the lower Caribbean Sea, the absence of El Nino events, or the absence of red tides (Willard et al. 1993; Emslie et al. 1996).
Coming Out of the Last Ice Age—Up to the Arrival of Humans
The Last Glacial Maximum (26 to 18 ka) spans the period during the most recent ice age when ice sheets achieved their greatest spatial coverage. Because so much water was stored in ice at that time, and ocean temperatures were much colder than today, sea level was approximately 130 m (427 ft) lower than present. Extensive areas off the modern coast of Florida, especially in the 474 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
shallow Gulf of Mexico, were exposed at that time, i.e. there was much more “real estate” on the peninsula than there is today (Fig. 15.11).
Figure 15.11. Most of the Florida Platform was exposed during the Last Glacial Maximum (~26 to 18 ka), when sea level was 130 m (427 ft) below present. This land area was approximately twice as large as the present state of Florida (modified by Hine, 2013; Geologic History of Florida: Major Events That Formed the Sunshine State by Albert C. Hine. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2013. Reprinted by permission; originally from Geotimes, now Earth Magazine; used by permission).
Periods of sea level lowstands were cooler, windier and drier, and parabolic dunes dating back some 20 ka, to the Last Glacial Maximum must have been very common, as they are so abundant along the modern west – central Florida coastline and coastal interior (Wright et al 2005). For example, Cedar Key and Seahorse Key in Levy County are the modern remains of these sand dunes. These dunes formed from a persistent wind (from the southwest) and limited sand supply, and were anchored by sparse vegetation. As sea level rose, the dunes became isolated sandy beaches along the shoreline, temporary offshore sandy islands, and eventually sand shoals when they were completely submerged or eroded by waves. Further inland, they retained their parabolic shape and became vegetated hills as humidity increased, allowing trees and shrubs to become more common. These elevated areas, surrounded by flat topography, were very useful to pre-Columbian, Native Americans (Sassaman et al., 2017 in press). A period of global warming commenced about ~18 ka, signaling the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Melting of the glaciers (deglaciation) at higher latitudes began, associated with a PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 475
dramatic, rapid rise in sea level, especially during the period from ~18 to ~8 ka (Fig. 15.12). By about ~8 ka, sea level was within ~10–20 m (33–67 ft) of its current position. Thereafter, it continued to rise, albeit at a much slower rate.
Figure 15.12. Sea level history for the past 24 kyr. Note the irregular character of the sea level curve since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (modified from Lambeck et al. 2014).
Some of what we know about late glacial, deglacial, and recent climate conditions in Florida comes from study of sediment cores collected in Florida’s lakes. These sediment profiles provide a window into past climate and environment on the peninsula. Lake sediments accumulate in an orderly fashion, with younger sediments continuously accruing atop older deposits. Lake sediments typically accumulate at rates ranging from <1 to several mm/yr (0.04 to ~0.1 inch), enabling fairly high-resolution reconstructions of past conditions if cores are sampled at close intervals. Sediment cores are relatively easy to obtain and age–depth relations for such profiles, extending back in time >40 ka or more, can be established by radiocarbon (14C) dating. The paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental information preserved in these cores can be gleaned from stratigraphic study of pollen grains (which are informative about past vegetation), geochemical measurements on carbonate shells of snails or ostracodes (which reflect changing regional evaporation to precipitation ratios), diatom (siliceous algae) assemblages, and other physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the sediments. 476 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
Some lakes located along the upland, central “spine” of the state are relatively deep, with maximum water depths on the order of 20–30 m (67–98 ft). Studies of sediment cores from several such lakes show that some held water through even the driest episodes of the late glacial (Watts 1975, 1980; Watts and Stuiver 1980; Watts et al. 1992). At least one, Lake Tulane in Highlands County, held water continuously on the landscape for some 60 ka (Grimm et al. 1993, 2006). High amounts of Ambrosia (ragweed) pollen in the Pleistocene sediments of Lake Tulane indicate that Florida climate at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum was generally much cooler than present, but displayed fluctuations between times of somewhat warmer and wetter conditions as were revealed by high relative abundance of pine pollen and elevated lake levels, and times of relatively colder and drier conditions, dominated by oak pollen and lower lake levels. As climate in Florida warmed during the “deglacial” and early Holocene (~11.7 ka), there were profound consequences for Florida’s terrestrial environment. Vast areas that had served as habitat for Pleistocene land plants and animals, some now extinct (e.g., mammoths, horses, giant sloths, tapirs), were inundated by rising seawater. And as sea level rose, the freshwater aquifers that underlie the region were forced upwards, ultimately causing Florida’s famous artesian springs to begin to flow. Archaeological excavations at Salt Springs near Lake Kerr revealed wood beneath anthropogenic deposits, and a radiocarbon date on that wood suggests spring flow began about 9.45 to 9.25 ka (O’Donoughue et al. 2011). Similarly, at Silver Glen Run on the west side of Lake George a radiocarbon assay on organic deposits that sit atop mineral sediment, and therefore reflect rising water, yielded a date of 8.59 to 8.45 ka (O’Donoughue 2017). Shortly after the onset of the Holocene Epoch (11.7 ka), rainfall in the region increased. The combination of greater precipitation and rising groundwater tables probably contributed to initial filling of Florida’s more than 8,000 shallow lakes, many of which have maximum depths less than 5 m (~<16 ft) (Brenner et al. 1990). Similar to evidence from the springs, filling of the shallow lakes in the state commenced about 9.0 to 6.0 ka. The onset of filling has been established at a number of water bodies by collecting sediment cores and radiocarbon dating the organic material that lies directly atop the clay seal or sand that lines the basin bottoms. Sediment cores from upland lakes along the Lake Wales Ridge and Trail Ridge (Fig. 15.13) show that early Holocene pollen assemblages were dominated by oaks; but by about 5.0 ka, there was a transition to pine dominance (Watts 1969; 1971; 1980; 1983; Watts and Hansen 1988). The flora, as we know it today, was largely in place by about 5 ka ago. Since that time, however, there have been some notable shifts, such as the spread of bald cypress (Taxodium), beginning a little more than 2.0 ka. The spread of these trees, which typically occupy saturated soils, may reflect a rise of the shallow groundwater table or simply the colonization of new sites as the plants moved across the landscape and occupied appropriate habitats. Geochemical measurements on snail shells in a sediment core from Lake Panasoffkee, north–central Florida, PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 477
suggest that the climate became substantially wetter in the earliest Holocene, in general agreement with pollen records, with a more gradual increase in moisture thereafter.
Figure 15.13. Location of Lake Wales Ridge and Trail Ridge (base map from the Florida Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL; modified from Hine 2013; Geologic History of Florida: Major Events That Formed the Sunshine State by Albert C. Hine. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2013. Reprinted by permission.).
Most of the long paleoclimate records from Florida come from upland lakes in well-drained terrains. The Newnans and Lochloosa lakes near Gainesville, however, occupy poorly-drained areas. A recent study of sediment cores from these two water bodies found that pine dominated the pollen assemblages over the past >8.0 ka at both sites, and that charcoal concentrations and accumulation rates were high only in the early parts of the records, before about 7.0 ka (Larios 2015). In contrast to records from lakes in the well-drained uplands, the evidence for abundant fires around Newnans and Lochloosa might suggest overall drier conditions in the early 478 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
Holocene. Alternatively, the data from the Newnans and Lochloosa cores may indicate greater seasonality in the early Holocene, with wetter wet seasons and drier dry seasons at low latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Such a pattern would have enabled a build-up of “fuel” during the rainy season, drying of that organic material during the intense dry season, and ignition by lightning at the onset of each new wet season. We are able to obtain a “brushstroke” picture of climate change in Florida since the Last Glacial Maximum using lake cores (Fig. 15.14). There were pronounced changes in both temperature and rainfall during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition (11.7 ka), marked by a shift from generally colder and drier to warmer and wetter conditions. Studies of recent shifts in instrumentally-measured rainfall, lake levels, and groundwater tables illustrate how dynamic the state’s climate can be, even on short timescales (Deevey 1988). Regional lakes rise and fall synchronously, with little to no lag, in response to fluctuations in monthly rainfall. And longer- term “ups and downs” in lake levels are linked to the height of the deep, Eocene-age Florida aquifer, which exerts pressure on the lakes and surficial water table through thick, overlying, Miocene-to-Pliocene deposits. Droughts lasting just a few years (e.g. those of the middle 1950s, early 1980s, and early 2000s) are characterized by low lake stands and declines in the level of the Floridan aquifer.
Figure 15.14. Summary of climate change in Florida derived from lake cores. PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 479
The early 21st century marked a period of what appears to be extreme climate conditions in Florida, in that we have already seen very low lake levels on two occasions and complete drying of some Florida lakes for the first time in recorded history. Rainfall deficits in the first years of the new millennium led to a pronounced decline in stage at Newnans Lake. More than 100 prehistoric canoes were discovered along the exposed shoreline in 2000, and radiocarbon dates on these vessels spanned a range from about 5000 to 500 years ago (Wheeler et al. 2003). The fact that the discovery was made so recently suggests low lake stands of such magnitude had probably not occurred at any other time in the past 500 years. Dry conditions were evident into the second decade of the new millennium, and Little Lake Johnson, in Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, north of Keystone Heights, dried completely in 2012 (Fig. 15.15 A, B), also revealing a prehistoric canoe. Anthropogenic water withdrawals have been invoked by some to explain the lake desiccation, but there is ample evidence that persistent rain deficits were the true culprit. Again, the fact that complete drying was never reported prior to this time suggests that we have moved into a new climate regime.
Figure 15.15 A, B. Little Lake Johnson is a recreational water body in Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, north of Keystone Heights, Florida. In 2012 (A), the lake dried completely, an unprecedented event in historic times and one that may signal a pronounced change in our local climate. By 2014 (B), the lake again held water, but had not returned to previously measured higher levels.
We focused on the past ~50 Myr of geologic time because rocks of this age and younger are accessible near or at the surface on the Florida Platform, thus allowing geoscientists to obtain a more complete understanding of past climate. We tied global climate changes over the past 50 480 • ALBERT C. HINE ET AL.
Myr to specific climate responses on the Florida Platform. In general, the climate of the Florida Platform tracked global climatic events. A key response to past climate change was sea level fluctuation, which covered the continental margins with seawater or exposed them to the atmosphere. Sedimentary rocks, initially of non-marine origin, followed by marine limestone (carbonate), began to record past sea level fluctuations after the Florida Platform was formed during tectonic, mega-continent breakup at ~200 Ma. The Platform has been topographically flat and low, thereby promoting deposition of carbonate sediments derived from corals, shell-bearing organisms such as mollusks, and mud-producing algae in shallow, surrounding seas. During sea level lowstands, the flat, topographically low Florida Platform was exposed to the atmosphere, subjecting terrestrial plants and animals to temperature and humidity variations. For at least 160 Myr, the surrounding oceans created a unique climate on the peninsular Florida Platform. Powerful seasonal thunderstorms developed, particularly when a significant portion of the platform was exposed to the atmosphere. The history of global climate change over the past 50 Myr is a story of declining atmospheric
carbon dioxide (CO2) and cooling, i.e., a transition from a greenhouse (warm) to an icehouse (cooler with cyclical glaciations and deglaciations) Earth. This global cooling did not occur gradually and continuously through time. Instead, the declining temperature trend was interrupted by intervals of rapid cooling and ice growth, and warmer intervals of ice retreat that are referred to as “climatic optima.” Three global climatic optima occurred during this 50-Myr timeframe, which resulted in distinct geologic responses in Florida. First was the early Eocene Climatic Optimum at ~50 Ma, during which CO2 was estimated to be ~1,000 ppm, roughly three times pre-industrial concentrations. Warm, shallow seas covered the Florida Platform, depositing widespread carbonate sediments, which are called the Ocala Limestone. Second, the waxing and waning of the Antarctic Ice Sheet was interrupted at about 16 Ma by dramatic warming and ice melt during a period referred to as the Miocene Climatic Optimum. In Florida, the resulting higher sea level led to the deposition of economically valuable phosphate deposits, emplaced on the west–central portion of the peninsula. These are some of the richest phosphate deposits in the world and form a key component of Florida’s Hawthorn Group of rocks and sediments. Third, the global Pliocene Warm Period around 3 Ma resulted in the migration of river deltas with 100 m (327 ft) relief at least 200 km (125 miles) southward, to positions beneath what are now the modern Florida Everglades and the Florida Keys. These sediments were quartz-rich sands and gravels and formed the Peace River and Long Key formations. These large water- and sediment-laden Pliocene rivers and streams must have been fed by very large amounts of rainfall. The major growth of ice in the Northern Hemisphere, initiating the icehouse Earth, began ~2.6 Ma when the Earth’s climate system started to alternate between colder glacial and warmer interglacial intervals, driven by Milankovitch cycles. Numerous glacial and interglacial periods PALEOCLIMATE OF FLORIDA • 481
occurred since that time, and Earth today is in an interglacial interval. Florida climate responded to both sea level lowstands, and highstands. Florida’s Pleistocene terrestrial paleoclimate record has been reconstructed using plant macrofossils and microfossils (e.g., leaves and pollen). Similar to data from the Pliocene, Pleistocene data reveal a terrestrial climate comparable to the modern, with evidence of cool climate episodes that may have been influenced by regional upwelling of cold marine waters. As climate in Florida warmed after the Last Glacial Maximum, which ended at ~18 ka, and in the early Holocene (~11.7 ka), there were profound consequences for Florida’s terrestrial environment as much of the Florida Platform was exposed prior to that time. Vast areas that had served as habitat for Pleistocene land plants and animals, some now extinct (e.g., mammoths, horses, giant sloths, tapirs), were inundated by rising seawater. Shortly after the onset of the Holocene Epoch (11.7 ka), rainfall in the region increased; it was probably the combination of greater precipitation and rising groundwater tables that contributed to initial filling of Florida’s more than 8,000 shallow lakes. The early 21st century has marked a period of what appears to be extreme climate conditions in Florida, in that we have already seen very low lake levels on two occasions and complete drying of some Florida lakes for the first time in recorded history. Such complete drying was never reported previously and suggests that we have entered a new climate regime in this millennium.
Acknowledgements We thank Tom Missimer, Tom Scott, Bob Hatcher, and Kevin Cunningham for their perspective on various aspects of the lithostratigraphy of the Florida Platform and the tectonic behavior of the southern Appalachian Mountains. We thank Dr. Eric Chassignet for a very helpful early review of the manuscript. Albert Hine thanks Dr. Shane Dunn for his assistance with some of the figures.
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Mental Health: Watch Out For These Signs Of Mental Exhaustion & Tips To Overcome It
Remember, mental health is essential. Taking care of yourself should be a top priority to ensure you're functioning at optimal levels.
Mental exhaustion has numerous effects such as reduced productivity, decreased creativity, etc.
Mental exhaustion, also known as burnout, is a state of being where an individual feels physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion due to prolonged stress and overworking. It's a common problem among people who work long hours or have demanding schedules, which makes them feel overwhelmed and incapable of handling tasks. Mental exhaustion is characterised by symptoms such as low energy levels, feeling helpless and lack of motivation; all of which can be detrimental to one's overall health and wellbeing.
Mental exhaustion, also known as mental fatigue, is a type of tiredness that affects an individual's mind rather than their body. It is a condition characterised by intense emotions of burnout, decreased motivation, and fatigue. It affects an individual's ability to think, concentrate, and remember information. It is often caused by prolonged periods of mental activity, such as studying for an exam, participating in a high-stress project, or a mentally demanding job.
Mental exhaustion can have numerous effects on an individual such as reduced productivity, decreased creativity, irritability, and anxiety. In extreme cases, it can lead to depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health issues. It can also have physical symptoms such as headaches, insomni,a and muscle tension. When mental exhaustion sets in, it's essential to take time to rest and recharge. Read on as we share ways through which you can overcome mental exhaustion.
Tips to help you overcome mental exhaustion:
1. Take breaks
It's essential to take frequent breaks throughout the day to recharge your brain. Even short breaks can help reduce stress levels and increase productivity.
Exercise is an effective way to reduce stress levels and clear your mind. Even simple activities such as taking a walk or doing yoga can be incredibly beneficial to your mental health.
3. Practice meditation
Meditation is a powerful tool to combat mental exhaustion. A few minutes of daily meditation can help clear your mind, reduce stress, and improve overall mental health.
4. Express gratitude
Practicing gratitude can help shift your focus from negative thoughts to positive ones. Taking time each day to reflect on and appreciate the good things in your life can help reduce stress levels and improve mental health.
5. Get enough sleep
Sleep is essential for mental and physical health. Ensure that you get sufficient sleep for at least 7-8 hours each night.
6. Disconnect from technology
Constantly being connected to technology can contribute to mental exhaustion. Take regular media breaks by disconnecting from technology during designated times to recharge your mental batteries.
7. Manage your workload
It's essential to manage your workload effectively to avoid burnout. Prioritize tasks and delegate when necessary to prevent feeling overburdened.
8. Seek support
It's okay to seek professional support when dealing with mental exhaustion. Talking to a mental health professional or a support group can help you understand your situation better and provide effective strategies to manage symptoms.
In conclusion, mental exhaustion is a prevalent issue that can be detrimental to one's health and wellbeing. However, with the right strategies, it's possible to manage and overcome this condition. With the above tips, you can take control of your mental and emotional health, reduce stress levels and improve overall wellbeing.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare. | <urn:uuid:53589cef-0ff0-46db-b89d-80dbd87e785d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://doctor.ndtv.com/emotions/mental-health-watch-out-for-these-signs-of-mental-exhaustion-tips-to-overcome-it-4028602 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.942456 | 871 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Learn how to draw a great looking Marge Simpson with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.
By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a perfect Marge Simpson.
Would you like to learn how to draw Marge Simpson? This easy cartoon drawing tutorial is here to show you how!
Who is Marge? Marjorie Jacqueline Simpson is the caring mother and often the voice of reason on the long-running cartoon sitcom The Simpsons.
What is Marge's personality like? Homer once said, "If it were up to Marge, all we would ever do is work and go to church."
Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.
Though she is often considered a killjoy, she has had her share of antics - including accumulating a rare long criminal record. All in all, though, she is devoted to her family.
Did you know? Marge is fluent in French.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing Marge Simpson
How to Draw a Great Looking Marge Simpson for Kids, Beginners, and Adults - Step 1
1. Begin by drawing Marge's eyes and nose. Use a curved line for the nose, and circles for the eyes. Shade the round pupil in the center of each eye, and use short, straight lines to form the eyelashes.
Easy Marge Simpson Drawing - Step 2
2. Use curved lines to outline the face and neck. Notice how the line doubles back upon itself to form the mouth, the overlap of lines at the bottom lip, and the "C" shaped line of the ear.
Band the mouth with short lines to indicate the teeth, and draw a short curved line at the corner of the mouth.
Easy Marge Simpson Drawing - Step 3
3. Begin sketching Marge's enormous hairdo. Use a series of small, connected "U" shaped lines to form the hair.
Easy Marge Simpson Drawing - Step 4
4. Complete the nearly rectangular shape of the hair using connect "U" shaped lines. Draw a pearl necklace at the base of the neck using small circles.
Easy Marge Simpson Drawing - Step 5
5. Use a pair of "V" shaped lines to outline the arm. Then, use tall, overlapping "U" shaped lines for the hand and fingers.
Easy Marge Simpson Drawing - Step 6
6. Complete the hand, noting the curved lines detailing the palm. Then, use curved lines to sketch the remaining arm and hand.
Easy Marge Simpson Drawing - Step 7
7. Outline Marge's dress with long curved lines. Connect the lines at the top and bottom.
Add More Details to Your Marge Simpson Picture - Step 8
8. Use curved lines to outline Marge's leg and foot. Draw a curved line across the foot to indicate the top of the shoe.
Complete the Outline of Your Marge Simpson Drawing - Step 9
9. Draw the remaining leg and foot. Outline them with a curved line, doubled back upon itself. Then use a curved line to indicate the top of the shoe.
Color Your Marge Simpson Drawing
Color your cartoon of Marge Simpson. She has yellow skin and blue hair.
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Marge Simpson Drawing Tutorial - Easy & Fun Printable Pages
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It is a circular arrow-shaped icon at the top of the browser window, typically found in the upper-left side (you can also use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+R on PC and Command+R on Mac). | <urn:uuid:23728663-f547-40d0-b726-4f368e42978b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://easydrawingguides.com/how-to-draw-marge-simpson/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.912461 | 822 | 2.5625 | 3 |
We all know that Data Centers and Cloud Computing are very important technologies for most businesses today. In the past, Data Centers and Cloud Computing were two distinct entities. However, now these two terms are beginning to merge, and the trend for on-premises data centers is rapidly being replaced by Cloud Data Centers.
If you see this trend, which technology is actually the right one to support your business?
In this article, we want to invite you to explore the role of Data Centers in Cloud Computing, and gain a better understanding of the synergy between Data Centers and Cloud Computing that has proven to enhance business growth.
The Role of Data Centers in Cloud Computing
For those who have been in the Data Center industry for a while, this technology is likely to be quite familiar. A Data Center is an IT infrastructure facility designed for hosting and managing data, which includes computing and storage resources. Data Centers consist of various components including networks, infrastructure and the storage media itself.
When we talk about Data Centers in Cloud Computing, the difference is not too far off. In this context, the term often refers to Cloud Computing as IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service), and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service).
Read more about Types of Cloud Computing in Indonesia.
Data Centers in Cloud Computing also play important roles in a business, helping it run operations such as:
- Data management, including storage, backup, and recovery.
- Hosting critical applications like email, payment gateways, and financial reporting.
- Handling high-capacity and high-volume online transactions.
- Running Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and machine learning programs.
Data Center VS Cloud Data Center
It’s important to note that when we refer to Data Centers here, we are talking about on-premises Data Centers, whereas Cloud Data Center refers to Cloud Computing. In simple terms, an on-premises Data Center is a data center that is built and managed by a company. This Data Center can also be used for Cloud Computing, known as private Cloud Computing, accessible from anywhere.
On the other hand, a Cloud Data Center is a third-party Cloud Computing service that can be rented and used by customers, and it can be tailored to their needs. Unlike on-premises Data Centers, Cloud Data Centers are resources dedicated to multiple customers. These services include Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure, among others.
Although they can be used for similar purposes, on-premises Data Centers and Cloud-based Data Centers have their own advantages and disadvantages. To get a more comprehensive picture, let’s compare these two resources:
|Business Needs||On-premises Data Center||Cloud Data Center|
|Dedicated to 1 company||✅||❌|
|Customization of hardware and system||✅||❌|
|Security & data encryption||✅||✅|
|Easy scaling up and down||❌||✅|
|Requires maintenance cost||✅||❌|
|Cost based on usage||❌||✅|
|Full data control and monitoring||✅||❌|
|Nearly 0% downtime||✅||✅|
|Automatic data backup and recovery||❌||✅|
The Impact of Cloud Computing Penetration in Data Centers
It is undeniable that the massive penetration of Cloud Computing has changed how companies see Data Centers. Not all types of business need on-premises Data Centers, which require significant investment, expensive high-tech hardware, and secure locations.
Many entities are now offering an easy deployment alternative, which is Cloud Computing-based Data Centers or what we know as hyperscale Data Centers.
Through this model, companies can still utilize all the Data Center facilities, but with significantly competitive advantages, ranging from cost efficiency, flexibility, to customized scalability adjustments. | <urn:uuid:9644dfe0-90ad-4245-b816-6261540b3374> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://edge.id/article/role-of-data-centers-in-cloud-computing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.931139 | 817 | 2.6875 | 3 |
World Food Day
World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on October 16 to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organizations concerned with hunger and food security, including the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. WFP received the Nobel Prize in Peace for 2020 for their efforts to combat hunger, contribute to peace in conflict areas, and for playing a leading role in stopping the use of hunger in the form of a weapon for war and conflict. SOURCE
Selected from features published since the magazine’s birth in 2014, these hidden visuals will again come to life to touch your hearts.
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As a Toddler Teacher you will be required to work with children between the ages of 15 months – 2 years
QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED
- A degree in Early Childhood Education as well as experience in play based teaching
- Minimum 4 years verifiable work experience with this age group
- You should be enthusiastic and confident in your abilities to engage children and extend their learning through play, enabling their emotional, social and educational development.
- To complement your qualification and experience, you will come with patience, a good sense of humour and great stamina to keep up with the needs and energy of a large group of young, lively toddlers
- Creative skills such as music, dance, drama, arts and crafts are a must
- You must have excellent English Language skills (clear written and spoken) along with good reading, writing and numeracy skills
- Good level of computer literacy is a must
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- You will be expected to create and implement age and developmentally appropriate lessons for the children; helping them acquire basic skills and knowledge based on the goals and general curriculum of our school
- Ensuring that child care routines are carried out in a manner that is prompt, hygienic, and consistent with child development principles. This includes routines related to diapering, hand washing, eating, napping and transitioning between activities.
- Providing experiences that promote individual expression through conversation, play and creativity guiding toddlers in a nurturing environment to learn language, gain autonomy, interact socially, and enjoy physical activities
- Initiating classroom activities daily (sing-a-longs, storytelling, book reading, art and craft projects, sensory exploration, outdoor stimulation etc.)
- Displaying children’s creative art work on bulletin board, changing monthly (when age appropriate) as well as creating own classroom wall displays to ensure
- Maintaining daily record of activities, behaviours, meals and naps and ensuring parents receive adequate information about their child’s experiences in the school through daily contact book entries
- Conducting observations and assessment of children’s developmental skills in order to complete developmental checklists bi-annually
- Creating an open, friendly, and cooperative atmosphere in which children and families feel comfortable and secure
- Working with parents on action plans for potty training the children
- Using equipment and supplies safely and conscientiously, keeping physical environment clean and orderly at all times
- Inspecting the school site and equipment for potential safety hazards; taking corrective action or informing management to prevent injuries.
DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS ADVERT IF YOU DO NOT MEET THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS.
Method of Application
To apply, please send an up to date copy of your CV and Cover Letter to [email protected]; stating clearly how you meet the above requirements. | <urn:uuid:f77ed237-a306-4cf1-8eba-8e80adea3d7a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://eduresource.com.ng/educationaljobs/millies-international-school-in-need-of-part-time-experienced-female-toddler-teacher/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.939081 | 591 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Meaning/Definition of Kind: Adjective describing someone who is considerate, compassionate, and generous, or a noun referring to a category or type.
What is the Opposite of Kind?
The Opposite of Kind is Cruel.
Other Opposites of Kind
Here is the list of all opposites or antonyms of kind:
Example Sentences Using Opposites of Kind:
- She was mean and never showed any compassion.
- The person’s actions were cruel and hurtful.
- He was unkind and never offered a helping hand.
- The words she used were harsh and disrespectful.
- The gesture was unfriendly and lacked warmth.
- The person’s behavior was rude and inconsiderate.
- Instead of being kind, he was hostile and confrontational.
- She displayed malicious intent with her actions.
- The remarks were unpleasant and caused distress.
- Instead of being kind-hearted, she was heartless and cold.
Explore More Opposite Words:
You can Download Pdf of the opposite/Antonyms of Kind.
Last updated on June 22nd, 2023 at 11:53 am | <urn:uuid:096a8e09-c287-4514-b454-35d1bb8f17be> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://engdic.org/opposite-of-kind-antonyms-of-kind-with-meaning-and-example-sentences-in-english-pdf/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.859714 | 248 | 2.59375 | 3 |
In the first chapter of Capital on page 126 (1990 Penguin Edition), a footnote is attached to the sentence, "The usefulness of a thing makes it a use-value."
In English writers of the seventeenth century we still often find the word 'worth' used for use-value and 'value' for exchange-value. This is quite in accordance with the spirit of a language that likes to use a Teutonic word for the actual thing, and a Romance word for its reflection.
Is this an actual linguistic phenomenon of English, and is it well-known? If so, what are some resources that I could read more about this?
The distinction between a "thing" and its "reflection" is a bit vague, so I'm not sure any example I could come up with would actually fit this observation. I found this Wikipedia list of Germanic and Latinate equivalences, but it doesn't seem particularly helpful in finding examples of this type. | <urn:uuid:67d5fca7-8331-4038-b2a7-0dcc34e385a5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/595751/teutonic-for-the-thing-romance-for-the-reflection | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.951308 | 197 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Masonic Symbolism has been used for centuries to give light to the hidden mysteries of Freemasonry. Masonic symbols are used to convey a message to those initiated into the order, as well as to communicate ideas and values among members of the fraternity. Symbols are an important part of Freemasonry because they can be used to tell stories, express feelings, and illustrate concepts. Each symbol carries its own unique meaning, and many Masonic symbols have multiple interpretations. This article will explore some of the most common Masonic symbols and their meanings. From the Square and Compasses to the All-Seeing Eye, there is a wealth of symbolism within Freemasonry that conveys deeper truth than we may realize at first glance.
Masonic symbols are used to represent the various ideologies and principles of Freemasonry. These symbols are believed to hold a deeper meaning and purpose which can be understood by those initiated into the Brotherhood. The most prominent symbols include the Square and Compasses, The All Seeing Eye, and the Letter ‘G’. Each symbol has its own unique meaning, representing different aspects of Freemasonry such as morality, brotherhood, truth, wisdom and faith.
Compasses and Square Symbol
The compasses and square symbol is a widely recognizable symbol in Freemasonry. It is used to represent the two primary tools of the trade: the compass, and the square. The compasses are used to draw circles, while the square is used to measure right angles. Together, these two tools help create perfect geometric shapes that are essential for a variety of construction projects.
The compasses and square symbol also represent the moral virtues of Freemasonry. The vertical line represents justice, while the horizontal line represents equality. The circle created by the compass stands for unity, while the square stands for morality. These four virtues are essential to living a life guided by Freemasonry principles.
The compasses and square symbol also has a deeper spiritual meaning within Freemasonry. It is seen as a reminder to strive for perfection in all that one does and that all actions should be guided by moral principles. It also serves as a reminder that humankind is imperfect and can only be perfected when guided by justice, equality, unity, and morality in all aspects of life.
Additionally, many Masons believe that this symbol has ties to ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Greece, where it was used in architecture or as part of religious ritual ceremonies. For Masons today, it serves as an important reminder of their heritage and values they strive to uphold in their lives every day.
In summary, the compasses and square symbol is an important part of Freemasonry culture both historically and today. Its visual representation of justice, equality, unity, and morality provides an important reminder for Masons to strive for perfection in all aspects of their lives while following moral principles at all times.
The Letter ‘G’ Symbol
The letter ‘G’ is a symbol of many things in our world. It can represent the past, the present, and the future. Here are a few of the ways people use it:
• The letter ‘G’ is often used to represent the words “generation” or “grandmother”. It can be a reminder of how we are connected to those that came before us and to those that will come after us. It is a reminder of our shared history and of our responsibility to future generations.
• In mathematics, the letter ‘G’ stands for “gravitational constant” or “gravitational field strength”. This is an important concept in physics as it helps us understand how gravity works and how it affects us every day.
• In automotive engineering, the letter ‘G’ stands for “gear ratio” which is used to determine how much torque a car can produce from its engine. This is an important factor in determining how fast your car can go!
• In computing, the letter G stands for gigabyte (GB) which is a unit of measurement for data storage capacity. This helps us keep track of how much data we have stored on our computers and other digital devices.
• In business, G stands for gross profit which is calculated by subtracting all expenses from revenue. Knowing your gross profit helps you make informed decisions about pricing and investments.
• Lastly, G represents Google! Google has become one of the most widely used search engines in the world and has revolutionized our access to information. Its influence on our lives cannot be understated.
The Sun and Moon Symbol
The sun and moon symbol has been around for centuries, carrying with it a variety of meanings. It can be found in art, literature and religious practices throughout the world. It is often associated with the divine, as well as the power of the two celestial bodies. Here are some of the primary meanings associated with this powerful symbol:
• Duality: The sun and moon symbolize two sides of the same coin. Together, they represent both masculine and feminine energy, light and dark, day and night, order and chaos. In some cultures, it is seen as a symbol of balance between opposing forces.
• Power: The sun and moon symbolize power in many different ways. For example, it can signify strength or confidence in one’s own abilities. It can also represent power over one’s destiny or fate. In some cultures, it is seen as a sign of protection from evil forces or malevolent energies.
• Rebirth: The cycle of the sun and moon is often seen as a representation of life’s continual cycle of death and rebirth. It can signify hope for renewal after difficult times or even transformation into something greater than before. This symbolism carries with it a sense of optimism for the future.
• Knowledge: The sun and moon are often seen as symbols for knowledge since they represent both illumination (from the sun) and hidden wisdom (from the moon). This duality makes them powerful symbols for gaining insight into life’s mysteries or uncovering secrets that have been long forgotten.
In addition to these primary meanings, there are countless other interpretations associated with this ancient symbol. Regardless of its meaning to any particular culture or individual, its inherent power makes it an enduring motif throughout time – one that continues to fascinate us today!
The Pillars Symbol
The Pillars symbol is a powerful representation of strength, unity, and stability. It is commonly seen in a variety of places, including on flags, logos, monuments, and even tattoos. The symbol has been used for centuries and is known to be a sign of protection and structure.
The Pillars are typically seen as two vertical lines that stand together, often with an arch or circle bridging the two lines to form a complete symbol. The design can also be seen with the addition of a horizontal line connecting the two verticals. Each of these variations has its own unique meaning and symbolism.
In some cultures, the Pillars symbolize strength in unity and stability in numbers. In other cultures, it may represent protection against evil forces or physical dangers. It can also represent faith in a higher power or authority figure. In any case, the meaning behind this iconic symbol remains consistent throughout its history: that of strength, unity, and stability.
The Pillars symbol is often associated with military units or organizations as a sign of strength and solidarity. It is also used by businesses to show their commitment to their customers by providing a reliable structure that stands behind them. Similarly, it is used by religious organizations to signify trustworthiness and faithfulness in their beliefs and practices.
No matter how it is used or interpreted, the Pillars symbol continues to be an important representation of strength and security throughout the world today. By proudly displaying this iconic representation wherever possible, we can all demonstrate our own commitment to standing strong together no matter what life throws our way.
The Blazing Star Symbol
The Blazing Star symbol is a powerful and iconic representation of the spiritual and religious beliefs of many cultures around the world. It is often associated with divine guidance, strength, protection, and illumination. The symbol is most commonly found on flags, banners, jewelry, clothing, and art. It can also be used as a tattoo or body decoration.
The Blazing Star symbol has been used for centuries by various religions and cultures to represent the divine power of their respective gods or goddesses. In some cultures it is seen as a sign of protection from evil forces. In others it is seen as a symbol of hope and enlightenment. No matter what its symbolism means to any individual culture, the Blazing Star symbol represents a universal truth that transcends all boundaries – that we are all connected to one another in some way.
The most common design for the Blazing Star symbol features five points radiating outwards from a central circle or star shape. This five-pointed star is believed to represent the five elements – earth, air, fire, water and spirit – which make up our universe. The star can also represent the four cardinal directions – North, South, East and West – which connect us all together in an interconnected web of life.
In addition to its spiritual symbolism, the Blazing Star can also be seen as a representation of knowledge and wisdom. This symbolism dates back to ancient times when knowledge was believed to be sacred and only available to those initiated into specific spiritual practices such as astrology or witchcraft. By wearing the symbol one is acknowledging their commitment to seek out knowledge in order to better understand themselves and their place in this world.
The Blazing Star also carries a deep connection with nature and its natural cycles of life and death. The points of the star are often said to represent birth (the beginning) death (the end) transformation (change) cycle (continuation) healing (recovery). When we look upon this powerful symbol we are reminded that even though life may bring us pain or sorrow at times these things too shall pass eventually transforming into something new again through an ever-changing cycle of renewal.
It’s easy to see why this simple yet powerful design holds so much meaning for so many people across different cultures around the world: it speaks directly to our innermost souls reminding us that no matter our situation we are not alone but rather connected together through a shared spirituality that transcends time and space itself!
The All-Seeing Eye of God Symbol
The All-Seeing Eye of God symbol is a powerful representation of God’s omniscience and omnipresence. It has been used throughout history in various forms, from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs to modern art. The symbol itself is an eye surrounded by rays of light or flames, and it often appears in religious texts and artwork. It symbolizes the watchful gaze of God, a reminder that He is always watching over us.
One popular interpretation of the All-Seeing Eye of God is that it reminds us that God is ever-present in our lives. He sees all our actions, both good and bad, and we should strive to live in accordance with His will. This idea is echoed in many religious texts, such as the Bible which states “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him” (Psalm 33:18).
The eye can also be seen as a sign of divine protection. Its rays represent God’s protective hand, keeping us safe from harm and guiding us through this life. This symbolism can be seen in the Hebrew word for “protection” – shalom – which literally means “peace” or “wholeness”.
In addition to its spiritual meaning, the All-Seeing Eye also has a more literal interpretation as an emblem for surveillance or monitoring. In this sense, it serves as a reminder that we are constantly being watched over by powerful forces beyond our control – whether these are governmental agencies or spiritual entities.
The All-Seeing Eye has been used throughout history to represent various ideas and beliefs about God and His relationship with humanity. However its core message remains the same – that no matter what we do or where we go, God is always watching over us with love and compassion.
It can serve as a powerful reminder to live our lives according to His will while seeking His protection from harm. Ultimately, it’s a symbol of hope and assurance that no matter what lies ahead in life, we will always have someone watching over us with eternal love and grace.
The Beehive Symbol
The beehive symbol is a widely recognized icon that has been used throughout the centuries to represent hard work, productivity, and cooperative effort. It is one of the oldest and most beloved symbols in civilization. The bee has been a symbol of fertility and rebirth since ancient times, as well as a messenger of the gods. In more recent times, the beehive has become a popular symbol for businesses, governments, and organizations around the world.
• The most common association of the beehive symbol is with hard work and productivity. This stems from its representation of the bee, which works tirelessly to provide nectar to create honey. The beehive also serves as a reminder that in order to achieve success, one must put forth great effort and work together cooperatively towards a common goal.
• The beehive symbol has historically been associated with fertility and rebirth. Ancient cultures believed that bees were messengers from the gods who could bring new life into the world. This symbolism can still be seen today in religious ceremonies like Easter or Passover where honey cakes are used to represent resurrection and renewal.
• Another interpretation of the beehive symbol is its use as a representation of community or collective effort. This meaning was particularly popular during medieval times when it was used as an emblem for townships or cities, signifying unity among its citizens. Today it is often used to represent government entities such as states or countries, suggesting that all citizens are united in their commitment to serve their nation or state with hard work and dedication.
• Therefore, the beehive also serves as an emblem for businesses and organizations around the world. In this context it suggests diligence in pursuit of success through collective effort. Companies use this image on their logos or products to signify their commitment to excellence by working together towards a common goal.
The beehive symbol is an iconic image that has been woven into various cultures throughout history due to its strong associations with hard work, fertility, collective efforts, and productivity–all values which continue to hold great significance today.
Wrapping Up About Masonic Symbol Meaning
Masonic symbols are powerful tools that can help Masons in their journey of internal spiritual growth. They are also used to express the core values of Freemasonry, such as brotherly love, relief, and truth. Symbols can be found in many places including artwork, architecture, literature and even everyday objects. Each symbol has its own meaning and it is up to each Mason to interpret them according to his or her own understanding. The symbols also represent the unity of Freemasonry and the bonds of friendship between Masons that transcend time and distance.
Masonic symbols have been used for centuries as a way for Masons to communicate with each other and pass on important lessons about life. They can be used to help guide us through difficult times and provide us with insight into our own spiritual journey. By studying the symbols, we can gain a deeper understanding of Freemasonry’s history and teachings which will help us become better Masons.
In reflection, Masonic symbols are powerful tools for any Mason who wants to further their understanding of Freemasonry’s history, values and teachings. They can be used as a source of guidance and inspiration in our daily lives and help us on our journey towards deeper spiritual growth. Understanding these symbols is an important part of becoming a better Mason so we should take the time to learn more about them and how they relate to Freemasonry today. | <urn:uuid:46fe55d4-22ed-4bda-b1a2-d8053c379f10> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://esotericfreemasons.com/masonic-degrees/masonic-symbol-meaning/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.960696 | 3,235 | 3.09375 | 3 |
A common piece of playground equipment. It basically consists of a ladder placed horizontally from 4-6 feet above the ground, supported by legs at each end. The legs may be made of ladders themselves to aide in climbing. As children are ment to hang from the crossbars, the rungs are usually made from narrow metal pipes.
The goal is usually to swing along the monkey bars from one rung to the next, making it all the way across without touching the ground. They are often combined with jungle gyms, tree houses, and other playground equipment.
In modern playgrounds they are being replaced by a type of 'zip cord'--a handle that you hang from and jump towards the other side. The handle is mounted on ball bearings, so you can cross the distance with minimal arm strength. | <urn:uuid:4fa4f5ad-7a9e-4fbf-9a64-672f81241d3f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://everything2.com/title/Monkey+bars | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.96607 | 164 | 2.78125 | 3 |
May 9, 2019
Humans and pigeons have a lot more in common than a love of park benches and French fries—so much that Rebecca M. Calisi, Ph.D. has dedicated her career to studying bird brains.
She’s in a crowded field! While Calisi is focused on pigeons, other scientists nationwide are studying the brains of a host of different birds to better understand why we humans behave the way we do—and why we sometimes behave in ways we’re not supposed to.
Calisi’s work has been funded with a $2 million, five-year grant through the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program. She also is a recipient of a 2019 Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences (FABBS) Early Career Impact Award. Calisi was nominated by the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology.
At Calisi’s lab at the University of California at Davis, she and her team of post-doctoral students, Ph.D. candidates and undergraduates manage a crop of about 300 pigeons, or rock doves, to characterize how their genes “activate” during different states of parental care, from building a nest, to laying and incubating eggs and caring for the hatchlings. Fun fact: not only does the mom pigeon lactate, the dad does too.
She also is investigating what happens when genes governing parenting fail to behave as expected. “We’re looking at how we can remedy potential abnormal genetic activity that results in negative aspects of parental care,” she says. “That’s the direction of this program.”
Using a technique called RNA sequencing, the researchers are zeroing in on a part of the brain known as the hypothalamus, or reproductive control center. There, they observe the activities of all active genes—“not just whether [a gene] is turned on or off but also how much RNA is being made at the time,” she says. “That gives us potential insight as to what genes regulate that behavior of males and females at that time [during the parenting process].”
Calisi also studies stress and its impact on reproductive gene activity. Know any couples who finally got pregnant after deciding to adopt? Another direction for her research, according to her website: “therapeutic strategies to ameliorate stress-induced reproductive dysfunction.”
Calisi explains that she launched her interest in reproductive behavior at the master’s level while studying female lizards in Mexico that are both brightly colored and aggressive. While looking for focus on hormones and behavior, she found Berkeley. But there the work was on feathers, not scales.
As Calisi sums it up: “By chance I started working on birds.” For more information, visit the Calisi Lab website. | <urn:uuid:6f34f9d0-f60a-4765-a6ce-f68907392810> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://fabbs.org/news/2019/05/studying-the-bird-brains-of-parents/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.960099 | 595 | 3.03125 | 3 |
In the 1860s and 1870s, photographer Timothy O’Sullivan (1840 – 1882) was part of a government-run team of artists, soldiers, scientists, and photographers tasked with documenting America’s frontier in the West. His photographs of the landscape and people of the West touch on the sublime. The wilderness has rarely looked as spectacular.
Colorado River in the Black Canyon, Mojave County, Arizona – 1871
“It’s one of the most sublime pictures of the 19th century,” says Terry Etherton of the above photograph – ‘Black Canyon looking above from Camp 8, Colorado River, Arizona, 1871.’ “What’s great is that it’s a flat-out beautiful image, and it has so much stuff about the history of photography. Because of the time exposure the water is smoothed out. The sky is neutral because it was not sensitive to emulsions–you could picture clouds only through a separate negative. The sky becomes a neutral space, a sculptural element.”
White House, Ancestral Pueblo Native American (Anasazi) ruins in Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, America in 1873. The cliff dwellings were built by the Anasazi more than 500 years earlier
The south side of Inscription Rock (renamed El Morro National Monument), in New Mexico – 1873. Note the small figure of a man standing at bottom center. The prominent feature stands near a small pool of water, and has been a resting place for travelers for centuries. Since at least the 17th century, natives, Europeans, and later American pioneers carved names and messages into the rock face as they paused. In 1906, a law was passed, prohibiting further carving
Shoshone Falls, Idaho, in 1868. Shoshone Falls, near present-day Twin Falls, Idaho, is 212 feet high, and flows over a rim 1,000 feet wide
Oak Grove, White Mountains, Sierra Blanca, Arizona in 1873.
Rock formations in the Washakie Badlands, Wyoming, America, in 1872. A survey member stands at lower right for scale.
Cathedral Mesa, Colorado River, Arizona, 1871
Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, in 1869. Note man and horse near the bridge at bottom right.
Alta City, Little Cottonwood, Utah, ca. 1873.
Maiman, a Mojave Indian, guide and interpreter during a portion of the season in the Colorado country, in 1871
Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1873
Pagosa Hot Spring, Colorado – 1874
The “Nettie”, an expedition boat on the Truckee River, western Nevada, in 1867
Canyon of Lodore, Colorado, in 1872
Navajo Indians. Near old Fort Defiance, New Mexico, in 1873
Spanish inscription from 1726. This close-up view of the inscription carved in the sandstone at Inscription Rock (El Morro National Monument), New Mexico reads, in English: “By this place passed Ensign Don Joseph de Payba Basconzelos, in the year in which he held the Council of the Kingdom at his expense, on the 18th of February, in the year 1726”
Green and Yampah Canyons, in Utah, in 1872
Native American (Paiute) men, women and children sit or stand and pose in rows under a tree near probably Cottonwood Springs (Washoe County), Nevada, in 1875
North of the Colorado River Plateau, 1872
Canyon de Chelly, looking past walls that rise some 1,200 feet above the canyon floor, in Arizona in 1873
1867 – Timothy O’Sullivan photographed miners at the Savage, the Gould and Curry mines on the Comstock Lode, Nevada.
A wooden balanced incline used for gold mining, at the Illinois Mine in the Pahranagat Mining District, Nevada in 1871
Gold Hill, just south of Virginia City, Nevada, in 1867
Timothy O’Sullivan’s darkroom wagon, pulled by four mules, entered the frame at the right side of the photograph, reached the center of the image, and turned around, heading back out of the frame. Footprints lead from the wagon toward the camera, revealing the photographer’s path. Photo taken in 1867, in the Carson Sink, part of Nevada’s Carson Desert
Colorado River in Iceberg Canyon, on the border of Mojave County, Arizona, and Clark County, Nevada in 1871
Shoshone Falls, Snake River, Idaho. A view across top of the falls in 1874
Boat crew of the “Picture” at Diamond Creek. Photo shows photographer Timothy O’Sullivan, fourth from left, with fellow members of the Wheeler survey and Native Americans, following ascent of the Colorado River through the Black Canyon in 1871
Old Mission Church, Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico. View from the plaza in 1873
Panoramic view of tents and a camp identified as “Camp Beauty”, rock towers and canyon walls in Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona. Tents and possibly a lean-to shelter stand on the canyon floor, near trees and talus. Photographed in 1873
The Pyramid and Domes, a line of dome-shaped tufa rocks in Pyramid Lake, Nevada, seen in 1867
Members of Clarence King’s Fortieth Parallel Survey team, near Oreana, Nevada, in 1867
Twin buttes stand near Green River City, Wyoming, photographed in 1872
Pah-Ute (Paiute) Indian group, near Cedar, Utah, in 1872
Browns Park, Colorado, 1872
Via: The Atlantic, Etherton Gallery | <urn:uuid:748962c3-0756-4acc-9f76-5ed16fdd0e2a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://flashbak.com/spectacular-photographs-of-americas-western-frontier-1867-1874-401302/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.911407 | 1,227 | 3.34375 | 3 |
Chickpeas vs. Flour — In-Depth Nutrition Comparison
How are Chickpeas and Flour different?
- Chickpeas is richer in Copper, Fiber, Manganese, Phosphorus, and Zinc, while Flour is higher in Vitamin B1, Selenium, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B2, and Iron.
- Flour covers your daily need of Vitamin B1 56% more than Chickpeas.
- Chickpeas contains 3 times more Fiber than Flour. Chickpeas contains 7.6g of Fiber, while Flour contains 2.7g.
Chickpeas (garbanzo beans, bengal gram), mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt and Wheat flour, white, all-purpose, enriched, bleached types were used in this article.
Fat Type Comparison
Comparison summary table
|Lower in Sugar|
|Lower in Sodium|
|Lower in Saturated Fat|
|Lower in Glycemic Index|
|Rich in minerals|
|Lower in Cholesterol||Equal|
|Lower in price||Equal|
|Rich in vitamins||Equal|
All nutrients comparison - raw data values
|Vitamin A RAE||1µg||0µg|
Which food is preferable for your diet?
|Low Fats diet|
|Low Carbs diet|
|Low Calories diet|
|Low Glycemic Index diet| | <urn:uuid:0fceefa4-1932-4f22-8587-56d38c9e08d2> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://foodstruct.com/compare/chickpea-vs-wheatflour-white-all-purpose-enriched-bleached | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.722559 | 307 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Knowing your teen has a mood disorder, and isn’t just being an angsty teen, is hard to do in every situation. This problem is particularly prevalent in adolescent males who typically test the boundaries. Yet when a parent suspects that something is wrong, taking action could help your son finally gain more control over their lives and future. At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, we provide the tools you need to help your teen get the necessary support. To learn about the treatment options available, call our team today at 866.300.5275.
What Are Mood Disorders?
It is not uncommon for teens to struggle with feelings of frustration and stress. Mood disorders occur when these feelings and behaviors exist consistently. There are many examples of this, including the following:
- Major depression: Some teens display an irritable mood and feelings of helplessness, resulting in a diagnosis of depression. If these behaviors last for more than two weeks, seek help as soon as possible.
- Bipolar disorder: This condition leads to episodes of manic episodes, where they feel energetic and overly confident, and depressive episodes, leading to hopelessness and helplessness.
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia): This condition occurs when a depressed state lasts, in a low-grade for at least a year.
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: This mood disorder tends to be an ongoing condition in which the teen seems to have trouble controlling behavior and is always upset.
These mood disorders are challenging to live with on a day-to-day basis.
How to Spot the Signs of a Mood Disorder
When a teen has a mood disorder, it can be hard to pinpoint a cause. They may experience ups and downs, but they may also seem off to family members. Look for one of the three significant signs of mood disorders and then seek out help for them:
- Difficult behavior that does not improve is one of the most common symptoms of this condition. It can last for a long time, and nothing seems to help it improve.
- Those who have these types of disorders often have low-self esteem. They want to see improvements and be happy, but they do not usually know how to accomplish this. They may even have thoughts of self-harm as a result. Many times, they do not feel good enough.
- Constant feelings of sadness are another sign of a mental health problem. These feelings are a classic sign of depression and can show a teen needs help right away. If they talk about suicide or dying, that may indicate a need for immediate support.
Other signs of a mood disorder include problems focusing, difficulty making decisions, problems with relationships, and loss of interest in normal activities they used to love. Look for changes in personality and behavior that seem to come out of nowhere or are not fully understood. If you ask your son why he is acting out, and he says he doesn’t know, that’s an indication that something more is developing.
Call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery Today
When your teen is acting out and life is becoming troublesome, don’t expect change. Instead, seek out help for a mood disorder. Our team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery offers a comprehensive treatment plan that can help. These treatments can give young men more control over their thoughts and feelings while also enabling them to make changes in their future. This type of treatment is available to you through our programs, including:
- Trauma treatment programs
- Holistic healing programs
- Co-occurring disorder treatment
- Substance abuse treatment
- Process addiction treatment
- Disordered eating treatment
A mood disorder could be limiting your teen from living a healthy, productive life. Why not help them? Learn more about how our programs help adolescent males to find their way forward. Learn more about treatment and solutions we offer at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery by calling our team at 866.300.5275 or reaching out to us online for help. | <urn:uuid:db4e8b58-c117-4e69-a56f-05c19ec2af3c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://foothillsatredoak.com/teen-recovery-blog/3-signs-of-mood-disorders-in-teens/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.950427 | 818 | 3.0625 | 3 |
One of the easiest ways to get in shape is to run, but not many knows about Sesamoidectomy. Running provides remarkable health advantages. According to research, running even 5 to 10 minutes daily has been linked to significantly lower chances of cardiovascular disease. Even though running is a delight, it carries the anguish of injury. One painful ailment affecting athletes, particularly runners, is sesamoid bone injury. Sesamoid injuries can be excruciatingly painful. This is why many athletes restrict their running potential and even their sporting careers.
Due to the excessive strain on the foot’s ball, sesamoid injuries are also quite common in dancers. They are also typical among other sportsmen, particularly football players, because of their propensity to sprint too much with the ball of the foot.
Generally, patients with sesamoid bone injuries experience difficulty walking and doing daily activities. Walking might result in a deep, aching, or cutting sensation behind the big toe.
What Is Sesamoidectomy?
Under the big toe is a bone called the sesamoid. There are two of them, and together, they support and strengthen the toe. The sesamoid bones are fundamental to the functioning of the body. These bones function as pulleys for the tendons. They also assist in absorbing trauma.
Commonly, sesamoid bone injuries develop when the tendons connected to the sesamoid get inflamed or fractured. Surgery is the next best option when non-surgical treatments fail to relieve the pain and inflammation. This procedure is known as sesamoidectomy.
Sesamoidectomy is a procedure that removes one or more sesamoid bones to reduce discomfort and inflammation. Rarely are both bones removed because doing so can cause permanent damage to the patient.
Although it’s not very common, a sesamoidectomy should be carefully considered if 6–12 months of conservative treatment don’t work. For instance, if the patient continues to have incapacitating symptoms after using a cast or special shoes, a sesamoidectomy can be used.
What Are The Causes Of Sesamoid Bone Injury
Several reasons can cause sesamoid bone injury. However, they are primarily a result of fracture or inflammation. Inflammation of the tendons can result from overuse of the sesamoid bones. The sesamoid bones are tiny round bones that can be severely injured when too much weight is placed on them.
For instance, the sesamoid bone can be inflamed when the tendons endure frequent damage from wearing high heels or improper-fitting shoes. Consequently, resulting in a condition known as sesamoiditis.
Sesamoiditis, a type of tendinitis or tendinosis, is a common injury for ballet dancers, runners, and professional athletes.
Furthermore, like other bones, sesamoid bones can fracture from a traumatic injury. Overuse can potentially cause a stress fracture in them.
What Is The Standard Procedure Of Sesamoidectomy?
As we have stated earlier, sesamoid bone injury can be disastrous. People that experience this condition are often prevented from engaging in their hobby(running). They are also prevented from going about their daily activities with ease.
It is, therefore, disheartening for a patient to walk into a hospital to treat this condition to get their normal life back, only to come out with a more substantial hardship.
To bring a good claim for podiatric malpractice, it is crucial first to demonstrate how the correct procedure is carried out before one can display how the sesamoidectomy surgery was done improperly. After that, the animation will show how the podiatrist’s error affected the patient and at what point it occurred.
Before the surgery, the anesthesiologist will provide anesthesia that will reduce the pain level after the surgery. On the bottom of the patient’s foot, and occasionally on the side, a tiny 2-4 cm incision will be created over the injured sesamoid. At this juncture, it’s essential to point out that a podiatrist’s incision approach can go a long way to either harm or treat a patient.
In some circumstances, if the podiatrist makes an incision from the lateral side of the foot rather than the medial side, the surgery would cause more harm than good. This is because the tendons would be severed. Thereby leading to surgical complications.
On another occasion, an incision from the lateral site may be more advisable. Hence, the incision approach a podiatrist will take is based on the distinctive need of the patient.
More on Sesamoidectomy Procedure
Moving on, the podiatrist will perform a dissection up to the tendon that surrounds the sesamoid. At this point, the sesamoid will either be partially or entirely removed.
This is the trickiest part of the surgery. The sesamoid must be removed with extreme care. Any negligence of the podiatrist may lead to severe complications and irreparable damage to the patient.
An x-ray can be used to detect any portion of the sesamoid that might have broken off during surgery.
After the sesamoid bone has been removed, the skin is stitched together, and the incision site is covered with a bandage.
Using Medical Animations to Show Errors During Sesamoidectomy
Several complications accompany the surgical removal of an injured sesamoid bone. This includes bleeding, continued pain, infection, and thick scar. If a patient experiences any of these well-known risks, the patient can not successfully claim damage for such a complication.
On the other hand, an error made during the procedure may occasionally be the root cause of complications following a sesamoidectomy. In such circumstances, a patient can get compensation using medical animation.
Consequently, if the matter goes to court, it is crucial to demonstrate the precise reason for the complication while emphasizing the departure from the accepted practice.
Medical animation can help illustrate the surgical error during the procedure and how it affected the injured person.
A surgical error that can occur during sesamoidectomy is failure to diagnose a sesamoid bone injury before it’s too late.
In the case of Leiman v. White, the plaintiff brought a medical malpractice action against the defendant for failing to diagnose and treat a sesamoid fracture in the plaintiff’s left foot.
As a result, the plaintiff’s pain and injuries worsened, necessitating surgical intervention and additional damages.
Time and time again, failure to properly diagnose a condition has proven to cause a lot of harm to the victim.
Medical animation can be applied in situations like these. It can demonstrate how difficulties could have been avoided with a quicker diagnosis.
There are also instances of a medical error where the wrong steroid bone is removed during surgery.
A case to explain this error is the case of Constantine v. Schneider. In this instance, the plaintiff had an accident that resulted in tibial sesamoiditis, with her right tibial sesamoid bone fractured. After some unsuccessful conservative treatments, the plaintiff opted for a sesamoidectomy.
During the surgery, the surgeon removed the fibula sesamoid bone rather than the tibial sesamoid bone. This caused her much more pain after the surgery. Her mobility was also restricted due to the severe pain she felt.
She then filed a medical malpractice claim against the defendant for negligence. The jury awarded her $114 000 for damages.
Let’s also consider the case of Bruneau v. Quick. Here, the defendant made a wrong incision that caused the plaintiff to lose flexion on her great toe.
In cases like this, medical animation can help show the causal relationship between the podiatric’s mistake and the complications that arose after the surgery. The severity of the injury can also be demonstrated to give the jury a sense of how much compensation is necessary. | <urn:uuid:ff02569e-6aca-4b4f-a04d-83968ce607e9> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://fox-ae.com/illustrating-sesamoidectomy-errors-using-medical-animation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.929961 | 1,688 | 3.0625 | 3 |
New research has revealed that flickering light emitting diodes (LEDs) 40 times per second (40 Hz) significantly decreases beta amyloid in mice for up to 24 hours. The precise mechanism underlying the beta amyloid clearance is unknown, although it has been suggested to reflect activation microglia that act to "clean up" beta amyloid clumps. For more information about beta amyloid and gamma light therapy please visit our homepage or FAQ.
Described here is how to leverage an inexpensive LED dimmer to produce a 40 Hz signal suitable to flicker many common LED lights. Dimming LEDs is fundamentally different than dimming incandescent lights because they have a very narrow and unstable threshold between their on and off state. Therefore, LEDs are typically dimmed using high frequency pulse width modulation (PWM) by adjusting the duty cycle which is expressed as a percentage of on time versus off time. If building isn't your thing, you can purchase a Gamma 40Hz Light Therapy Kit
The flicker itself is controlled by the PWM frequency whereas dimming is controlled by the duty cycle. LED dimmers usually use a PWM frequency greater than 500 Hz to ensure that the flicker is blurred by human vision, although some research has suggested using frequencies as high as 10,000 Hz for consumer applications (e.g. LED brake lights) to avoid eye strain.
The circuit design inside the dimmer itself is exactly how most electrical engineers would build a PWM controller on a minimal budget and with minimal components. In brief, the dimmer uses an astable 555 timer to produce a "shark fin" waveform which is sent to an op-amp comparator that uses a variable voltage set by the dimmer potentiometer to adjust duty cycle. The output of the comparator goes to a PWM optimized FET to supply the LEDs at the output. The circuit uses a common 7805 regulator on the front-end to convert the incoming DC voltage (9-24VDC) to 5VDC used by the rest of the circuit.
- The incoming ground is not directly tied to the output ground
- The FET requires a load to properly generate the square wave
- The output square wave (pin 3) of the 555 is not used
The only difference between the off-the-shelf dimmer and one that flickers at 40 Hz is the R2 component shown in the schematic and circled below on the circuit board. Originally the R2 resistor has a value of 10kΩ resulting in a factory PWM frequency of 687 Hz (calculated using the 555 Astable Calculator Tool). By modifying this single component to 180kΩ the PWM frequency will change to 40 Hz. Find 180kΩ Surface Mount Resistors at Digi-Key.
The dimmer unit can be used with any 5VDC compatible LEDs. It is advised to use a low current (~1A) 12VDC power source because this circuit has no built-in current limiter and some LED strips may get hot if the current is left unrestricted. The flicker effect should be noticeable from low-to-midrange dimmer settings. The dimmer never influences the PWM frequency, but when set to the maximum level the duty cycle is nearly 100%, and therefore the LEDs will appear to be fully on.
By recording the LED lights with a high speed camera and using spectral analysis software it is evident that the LEDs are producing flickering light in a narrow 40 Hz gamma band (note: the small peak near 80 Hz is a harmonic). | <urn:uuid:43c99382-d6da-4781-b6b0-64f1880b8570> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://gammalighttherapy.com/blogs/gammalight/how-to-build-a-gamma-40-hz-led-dimmer | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.915808 | 730 | 3.15625 | 3 |
About the Gene Sorter
This program displays a sorted table of genes that are related to one another. The relationship can be one of several types, including protein-level homology, similarity of gene expression profiles, or genomic proximity.
To display a gene and its relatives:
Examples of search terms include FOXA2, HOXA9, and MAP kinase.
- Select a genome and assembly from the corresponding pull-down menus.
- Type a word or phrase into the search text box to specify which gene should be displayed in the Gene Sorter.
- Choose the gene relationship with which you would like to sort the list by selecting an option from the sort by pull-down menu.
- Press the Go! button to display your results.
Following a successful search, the Gene Sorter displays a table containing the specified gene -- highlighted in light green -- and its relatives, each on a separate line. To adjust the number of rows shown, select an option from the display pull-down menu.
The default set of table columns -- which can be expanded, reduced, and rearranged via the configure button -- shows additional information about the genes. Some of the column data, such as those in the BLAST E-value and %ID columns, are calculated relative to the highlighted gene. To select a different gene in the list, click on its name. Clicking on a gene's Genome Position will open the UCSC Genome Browser to the location of that gene. Similarly, clicking on a gene's Description will open a page showing detailed information about the gene.
One of the most powerful features of the Gene Sorter is its filtering capabilities, accessed via the filter button. Use the filter to fine-tune the list of displayed genes to a subset based on a selection of detailed and flexible criteria. For example, the filter may be used to select all human genes over-expressed in the cerebellum that have GO-annotated G-protein coupled receptor activity.
The Gene Sorter offers two options for displaying and downloading sequence associated with the genes in the table. Clicking on the sequence button will fetch associated protein, mRNA, promoter, or genomic sequence. To dump the table into a simple tab-delimited format suitable for import into a spreadsheet or relational database, click the text button.
The UCSC Gene Sorter was designed and implemented by Jim Kent, Fan Hsu, Donna Karolchik, David Haussler, and the UCSC Genome Bioinformatics Group. This work is supported by a grant from the National Human Genome Research Institute and by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. | <urn:uuid:584cbfef-e0c2-4d49-a53e-6e082dc16cda> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://genome.ucsc.edu/cgi-bin/hgNear?hgsid=1717488342_dGr942RdAtmaKKItZA7BdOzAs9o3 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.841754 | 541 | 2.625 | 3 |
The monument to the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment is south of Gettysburg on the south side of Little Round Top near Sykes Avenue. (Little Round Top tour map) It was dedicated in 1899 by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The 83rd Pennsylvania was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Captain Orpheus S. Woodward while its colonel, Strong Vincent, was in command of the brigade.
On July 2nd Vincent’s brigade was intercepted by a staff officer desperately seeking men to cover the vital position of Little Round Top. On his own responsibility Vincent diverted the brigade to hold the hill. When part of the 16th Michigan began to fall back under heavy pressure Vincent mounted a boulder to rally them, shouting, “Don’t give an inch!” The line held but Vincent fell, badly wounded. He was moved to a nearby farm where he died five days later.
Pennsylvania governing board rules prohibited placing the likeness of commanders on regimental monuments, so the statue atop the monument is not identified and, officially, could be any heroic officer of the regiment. But it looks very much like Strong Vincent.
The statue is not an entirely accurate representation of Vincent on Little Round Top. He was not holding a sword but a riding crop, a memento from his pregnant wife, who was an accomplished horsewoman. After his death she gave birth to a daughter who died within the year and is buried next to her father.
A marker commemorating Colonel VIncent is nearby at the location where he was mortally wounded.
|Attached to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac|
From the front of the monument:
The Brigade was hurried to
Little Round Top about 5 p.m.
of July 2d. This Regiment taking
position in front of this monument
and repulsing several desperate charges
of the enemy after which this Regiment
assisted in driving the enemy beyond,
and in taking possession of Big Round Top.
On the morning of the 3rd, rejoined the
Brigade on the left centre.
Present at Gettysburg 308 officers and men.
Killed 1 officer and 9 men.
Wounded 3 officers and 42 men.
83rd Penna Infantry
3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps
From the right side of the monument:
Total Enrollment 2270
Killed and died of wounds 11 officers, 267 men
Died of disease, etc. 2 officers, 150 men
Wounded 29 officers, 485 men
From the left side of the monument:
Recruited in the Counties of
Erie, Crawford, and Forest.
Mustered in September 13th. 1861.
Re-enlisted December 27th. 1863.
Mustered out June 28th. 1865.
From the rear of the monument:
Yorktown, Hanover Court House,
Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill,
Malvern Cliffs, Malvern Hill,
2d Bull Run, Antietam,
Shepherdstown Ford, Fredericksburg,
Gettysburg, Jones’ Cross Roads,
Wapping Heights, Rappahannock Station,
Mine Run, Wilderness, Spotsylvania,
North Anna, Totopotomoy,
Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor,
Petersburg, Weldon Railroad,
Peebles’ Farm, Hatcher’s Run,
Dabney’s Mill, Boyoton Road, Five Forks,
Location of the monument to the 83rd Pennsylvania at Gettysburg
The monument to the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry is south of Gettysburg on the south slope of Little Round Top, about 22 yards west of Sykes Avenue and about 65 yards north of Warren Avenue. (39°47’23.9″N 77°14’13.1″W) | <urn:uuid:91e3ad4a-de4f-4c87-93b5-14e9da6685b6> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monuments/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-infantry/83rd-pennsylvania/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.951298 | 812 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Building Management System
The building management system (BMS) is an overarching control system that is responsible for the automatic regulation and control of non-GMP facility subsystems, maintaining predefined parameters (or set points) and the control of their functionality. The major aim of the BMS is to guarantee the safety of facility operation, while also monitoring and optimizing the use and efficiency of its supervised subsystems to allow more efficient operation. Examples of the major subsystems controlled by the BMS are:
- HVAC System. The duct temperature, pressure, and humidity, as well as exhaust temperature are connected to the BMS, and if their value exceeds defined limits, an alarm is generated.
- Central Fume Collection, Laminar Flow Units, Dust Collection System, Central Vacuum System, Heat blowers. The BMS monitors the performance of these systems, allowing for early identification of units requiring maintenance. Sudden breakdown would signal via alarms and then appropriate action can be taken to protect the product.
- Technical Steam System. Should, for instance, the pressure or temperature in the piping system fall below the defined regulatory values for clean steam, the BMS shall trigger an alarm, indicating a threat to product quality.
- Hot Water System and Central Heating. Temperature and pump control monitoring via the BMS allows for a proper functioning of hot water distribution through the facility.
- Chilled Water System. Control of the facility chillers could be supervised by BMS to monitor proper behavior of the system in terms of water/coolant temperature control or pump control to assure proper distribution within the distribution loop.
- Sprinkler System (for fire safety).
- Electrical Monitoring System. The BMS may monitor the consumed electrical power and the state of main electrical switches.
An example layout of a building automation system | <urn:uuid:f105cbb6-742a-4c55-a14e-d4b2e85d89d9> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://gomer.ir/home/education/bms/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.869088 | 371 | 2.65625 | 3 |
It is easy to confuse these art forms as they are closely related and intertwined. In fact there are several artists who move in both creative fields between illustration and graphic design, in this article I will explain the difference between design and illustration.
Table of Contents
Diferencias entre diseño gráfico e ilustración
The main difference between graphic design and illustration is how and where they are used. Generally, graphic design is more commercial, while illustration is related to fine arts.
In recent years more commercial projects are using emotional images and that makes them turn to illustrations, so these differences become less obvious over time. These are some differences to take into account:
Messages and art
The graphic design approach is often commercial, the professionals who create these images are thinking of communicating something visually.
Its main objective is to convey a message that impacts the viewer to get them to respond with some specific action such as buying or simply that everyone knows about a brand.
Illustrators focus on showing their own individual style through their work. Graphic design’s main job is to communicate, be very precise, and combine text with images. Graphic design that has a confusing message is bad design.
On the other hand, if an illustration has an unclear or ambiguous message, it can be considered an abstract and interesting art.
In a book, illustrations can grab your attention, but if the reader just skims them that may not necessarily be a problem. But if someone ignores a graphic design, it means that they did not communicate their work well.
For most designers their main tool is the computer. They use different softwares to create their work.
An illustrator can work on the computer, but will most likely have a sketchbook to draw what he sees or imagines for later painting.
While one person can work in both fields, that is, a graphic designer can also be an illustrator. Probably if you are a great illustrator, the process of learning to work with the programs that these professionals handle will not be automatic.
¿Qué es el diseño gráfico?
When we think of graphic design, many things come to mind. Many of them are related to art ads, website graphics, posters, infographics, book covers, and the list goes on.
If we start to list examples this would be a good start to get a visual idea of what we are talking about. But we also need an overview to help us better understand this artistic and creative field.
According to the American Institute of Graphic Arts, graphic design is “the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content.” In simpler terms, graphic design communicates messages in text and graphics, what we call “visual communication”.
These visual elements can be a company logo or website design. Everything is very relative according to the objective and the request of the companies.
What is graphic design for?
Graphic design serves to help companies promote and sell products or services through advertising, taking graphic and textual elements to implement them in different digital or traditional media, it also serves to help transmit complicated information in a digestible way through infographics or to develop graphic identity.
Many graphic design projects have a commercial purpose such as advertisements and logos, it is also used in other contexts such as artistic manifestations, social projects or education.
Graphic design features
To better understand this art, it is essential to tell you the most important characteristics of graphic design.
- Visual elements in graphic design are used together or in opposition to create visually striking designs.
- Elements of graphic design: color, shapes, lines, space, texture, size.
- Graphic designers have to respect the basic principles of design. They are a set of guidelines that will help your design achieve an effective composition.
- The basic principles help create balance and stability in your artistic work.
- Balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, proportion and rhythm are the characteristics of the basic principles of graphic design.
But the rules are made to be broken but first it is necessary to understand what these principles are. | <urn:uuid:d1c81396-c6f6-4715-8eac-6e4fa2cf0a5b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://gooova.com/en/what-is-the-difference-between-design-and-illustration/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.941614 | 850 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Dental Sealants - A Cavity Fighting Tool!
What are dental sealants?
Dental sealants are a thin coating painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars) to help prevent cavities (tooth decay) for many years. A cavity is a permanent hole in a tooth. If a cavity is not treated, it will get bigger; it can hurt and become infected.
Sealants are placed on teeth in dentist’s offices, clinics and sometimes in schools. Having sealants placed on teeth is simple and painless. Sealants are painted on as a liquid and quickly harden to form a protective coating over the tooth. Sealants are also less expensive and easier to apply than fillings.
How are sealants put on?
Why get sealants?
The most important reason for getting sealants is to avoid tooth decay. Tooth decay is one of the most common childhood diseases. Sealants can reduce decay by 80% for two years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years.
Fluoride in toothpaste and in drinking water protects the smooth surfaces of teeth but back teeth need extra protection. Sealants cover the chewing surfaces of the back teeth and help keep out germs and food.
Sealants must be placed on teeth before they decay. Sealants save time and money by avoiding fillings and crowns, which are used to fix decayed teeth.
What causes tooth decay?
The sugar in drinks and food in the mouth is used by germs to make acids. The acids can make a cavity (a hole) in the tooth.
A healthy tooth is the best tooth. It is important to stop decay. That is why sealants are so important.
Why do back teeth decay so easily?
The chewing surfaces of molars are rough and uneven because they have small pits and grooves. Food and germs can get stuck in the pits and grooves and stay there a long time because toothbrush bristles cannot brush them away.
Who should get sealants?
Children should get sealants on their permanent molars as soon as the teeth come in and before decay attacks the teeth. Prevention is always better than the treatment of decay.
The first permanent molars come in when a child is 5 to 7 years old. The second permanent molars come in when a child is 11 to 14 years old. Other teeth with pits and grooves may also need to be sealed. Teenagers and young adults who are prone to decay may also need sealants.
Once applied, sealants protect against 80% of cavities for two years and continue to protect against 50% of cavities for up to four years. Children ages 6 to 11 years without sealants have almost three times more first molar cavities than children with sealants.
Should sealants be put on baby teeth?
Your dentist might think it is a good idea, especially if your child’s baby teeth have deep pits and groves. Baby teeth are important. Baby teeth help a child chew food, speak normally and save space for permanent teeth.
Does insurance pay for sealants?
Missouri Medicaid pays for sealants. Most dental insurance programs will pay for sealants. Check with MO HealthNet or your dental insurance company for details.
How long do sealants last?
Sealants can last up to 10 years. But they need to be checked at regular dental check-up appointments to make sure they are not chipped or worn away. More sealant material can be added to repair sealants.
What if a small cavity is accidentally covered by a sealant?
The decay will not spread because it is sealed off from its food and germ supply.
Are sealants new?
No, sealants have been around since the 1960s. Studies show that sealants are safe and effective. But many people still do not know about sealants.
Other ways to prevent tooth decay
- Brush teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss at least once a day.
- Drinking fluoridated water.
- Chew sugar free gum.
- Have a dental check-up every six months.
- Limit snacks between meals, choose foods like plain yogurt or nuts and drink water after snacking.
- Avoid high sugar foods and candy. Avoid foods that will stick to teeth. Avoid chewing ice.
Avoid high sugar and acid found in sodas/pop, sweetened coffees and teas, sports and energy drinks, and fruit juices.
- Makes teeth more resistant to decay
- Repairs tiny areas of decay before they become big cavities
- Makes germs in the mouth less able to cause decay
Sealants and fluoride both prevent tooth decay but in different ways. Sealants keep germs and food out of the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth by covering them with a safe protective shield. Fluoride in drinking water and dental products, like toothpaste, protects against cavities by making teeth stronger.
Fluoride most helps the smooth surfaces of the teeth. It is less effective on chewing surfaces of the back teeth, which is why sealants are so important. Regular brushing, with fluoride toothpaste, also helps prevent tooth decay.
Together: sealants, fluoridated water, brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing can help prevent tooth decay.
Where and how to get dental sealants for children
- Ask your child’s dentist to apply sealants when permanent teeth have come in completely.
- Some schools offer sealants as part of a community health program. Ask your school if it has a sealant program. If they do, sign your child up to participate. If they don’t, ask them to start one.
- Some local health departments have sealant programs. Ask your local health department if it has a sealant program. | <urn:uuid:efc1f360-096f-4151-b316-b54776b99d0d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://health.mo.gov/living/families/oralhealth/dsp.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.938488 | 1,225 | 3.484375 | 3 |
How Lemonade Helped Paris Fend Off Plague And Other Surprising 'Food Fights'
Did a thirst for lemonade, the beverage that launched a thousand childhood businesses, keep Paris safe from the bubonic plague? Did ergot poisoning lead to the Crusades? According to a new book by Tom Nealon, food writer and antiquarian bookseller, it's a distinct possibility.
Nealon's book, Food Fights and Culture Wars, searches through patchy historical records to trace subjects like how chocolate led to war. In a chapter on "cacao and conflict," Nealon traces some of the violent history spawned by a love of chocolate.
He posits that one reason for chocolate's popularity among one sect of Catholics may have been that the bitter taste of dark chocolate concealed "the acrid taste of Jesuit poisons." One cardinal hired his own chocolatier to avoid being poisoned through an adulterant in his delicious treats.
And he wasn't the only one enchanted by the taste of chocolate. By the mid-1600s, the sweet stuff was popular enough in England, too, that Oliver Cromwell (fresh off a regicide) decided to wage war with Spain over its Caribbean cacao plantations.
In another chapter, Nealon posits that fighters may have been convinced to march across Asia for the bloody Crusades, in part, thanks to the woes caused by St. Anthony's Fire — a disease that today is known as ergot poisoning, resulting from fungus that infects grains, causing hallucinations, vomiting, mania, convulsions and eventually gangrene when eaten.
"Medieval farmers did not know what the infestation was," Nealon writes, "so it grew year by year."
Unfortunately, the peasant diet consisted of beer, soup and bread and, as close to starvation as they often were, even if they had known the source of ergot poisoning, they didn't have many substitutes for infected grain.
In the year 1095, Pope Urban II gave a rousing speech calling on Christian nations to reclaim Jerusalem from the Muslims in which he made a great deal of the woes befalling European peasants. "His intention was to blame Muslims for the starvation and madness that was stalking Europe," Nealon writes. Europe was a long way from the milk and honey promised in the Holy Land.
Despite the book's title, some stories are about the wars and illnesses food prevented. When Nealon first started researching the connection between lemonade and the plague, he thought street lemonade sellers may have actually been responsible for spreading the disease. "I knew the last wave of plagues happened right when these beverages were getting popular," he said in an interview.
Yet when he started tracing lemonade's history, he discovered something odd in Paris: While other major French cities were stricken with another round of the plague in the late 1600s that killed hundreds of thousands, this major metropolis was spared.
The plague, as people learned later, was spread by infected fleas that transferred from rats to humans as their host died. Cities in the 17th century were a haven for rats that feasted on the trash created by people in the growing urban areas. (It would be nearly another century before cities started regularly using sanitation services.)
Today, pet owners with itchy animals may invest in a number of shampoos that contain the adult flea- and larvae-killing ingredients limonene and linalool. Both of these chemicals occur naturally in the peels of many citrus fruits, lemons included.
Not only was lemonade a favorite thirst-quencher, it may also have been an accidental pest-repellent, too. Its popularity didn't spread to Paris until the mid-17th century, at which point, Nealon writes, "Lemonade was not only popular but ubiquitous, and carried by limonadiers into every profitable corner of the city."
It wasn't until heartier varieties of lemon and new trade routes were developed that lemons spread across Europe. Where these limonadiers went, piles of spent lemon peels followed. Rats, being omnivorous eaters, likely were just as happy as the Parisians to sample the newly popular lemon. As they nibbled, he argues, they killed off plague-infected fleas.
Of course, it's impossible to know whether it was lemonade or dumb luck that spared Paris from the 1670s plague. One 1900 book about treatments for bubonic plague mentions that patients may be helped by putting citrate of magnesium in lemonade for its laxative effects — though it mentions nothing about using the peels as a potential deterrent for plague outbreaks.
Nealon points out that readers should take some of this history with a grain of salt. "There are a lot of facts in this book; my conclusions may be suspect, but my facts are not," he says. In history, the only way to know exactly what happened was to be there. Ergot baguettes and time travel, anyone?
Tove Danovich is a journalist based in Portland, Ore.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | <urn:uuid:c0e69067-c425-4ec5-ae5e-76e37716d06d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://health.wusf.usf.edu/2017-03-12/how-lemonade-helped-paris-fend-off-plague-and-other-surprising-food-fights | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.973991 | 1,063 | 2.9375 | 3 |
One year it was MERS. Last year it was Ebola. This year it’s Zika. Every winter it’s influenza.
Covering current and emerging infectious diseases is a mainstay of the health news beat because it touches every part of health care reporting, from policy to emergency preparedness to research to environmental health to hospitals to poverty and other social determinants and disparities.
With the threat of Zika looming in the U.S. – and already devastating communities in Puerto Rico and Central and South America – the Health Journalism 2016 panel “From Ebola to Zika: Responsible reporting on emerging infectious diseases” was especially relevant for reporters trying to stay on top of a moving target. The panel opened with Jennifer Hanrahan, D.O., chair of the Infection Control Committee at MetroHealth Medical Center, providing a post-mortem of the Ebola outbreak and lessons learned from that experience, such as the inadequate preparedness had Ebola truly become an outbreak on U.S. soil. Also among those lessons was the response of the media in stoking fears about Ebola and ineffectively communicating the actual risks of the disease.
Susan Rehm, M.D., vice chair of the Department of Infectious Disease and executive director of physician health at the Cleveland Clinic, picked up from there to discuss balancing fears and reassurance as information evolves – the exact balance journalists need to strike in their reporting even with incomplete (and rapidly changing) information.
Brian Grimberg, Ph.D., assistant professor of international health, infectious diseases and immunology at Case Western Reserve University, talked about the impact the media can have on funding for infectious diseases and how that funding can become derailed when fear becomes disproportionate to the disease. Tuberculosis, HIV and malaria, for example, vastly outpace Ebola, Zika and SARS in scale, but the latter often get more funding when they get more media coverage. He went on to describe what a significant effect malaria has had in shaping human evolution and civilization.
Wrapping up the panel before the Q&A was Steven Gordon, M.D., chairman of the Department of Infectious Disease at the Cleveland Clinic. He talked about the often overlooked threat of influenza and the sociological and geographic factors contributing to emerging disease outbreaks. Gordon brought the discussion full circle in emphasizing the need to be prepared for any outbreak – precisely what Hanrahan said at the start was lacking.
See the Storify below for more specifics on the session, including slides. (Slides are also available to AHCJ members here.) | <urn:uuid:4f773ffe-f513-4e72-be46-2925d524c2ea> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2016/05/journalists-learn-tips-for-covering-emerging-infectious-diseases/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.949873 | 518 | 2.59375 | 3 |
A lack of vitamin D in children causes rickets; in adults, it causes osteomalacia. Both bone diseases are now rare, but another is on the rise — osteoporosis, the “thin bone” disease that leads to fractures and spinal deformities.
Vitamin D deficiencies were rare when most African men when they rolled up their sleeves to work in sunny fields. But as work shifted from farms to offices, that changed. Because pigmentation can reduce vitamin D production, Africna populations are at particular risk. A single UV radiation to light skin will release 20,000 IU of Vit.D in 24hrs, but will take 10x longer in an African skin. The melanin protects africans from sunburn it also hinders it absorption of Vitamin D, with this it will take longer for Africans to absorb more from the UV.
Vit.D deficiencies are also common in patients with intestinal disorders,Colorectal cancer,Parkinson disease, those with kidney or liver diseases and *Aggresive prostate cancer*. In addition, certain medications reduce the availability or activity of vitamin D. And even in healthy people, advancing age is linked to an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency.
#herbsandtibb #herbsandhealth #vitamind #lagosnigeria #lagosbusiness #lagos #nigeria #nigerian #lagos9ja #9aija #naijacelebrity #instablog9ja #abujabusiness #abujaconnect #abujahustlerscircle #abujanigeria #portharcourtvendors #porthacourt #portharcourtonlinestore #mentalhealthmatters | <urn:uuid:30cf7fee-c1aa-4086-8042-09fb49f8d2cd> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://herbsandhealth.net/vitamin-d-a-lack-of-vitamin-d-in-children-causes-rickets-in-adults-it/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.860792 | 358 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Your sixth grade child will continue to develop their skills in all of the subject areas. At this time you may start seeing them present special interest in one of the areas of homeschool study. Learning happens everywhere, and your child may discover relational aspects of the world they had not understood before.
Language Arts – Continue to encourage your child to continue reading independently. In sixth grade they should understand various types of grammar and literature, possess dictionary skills, and be able to find and use online information.
Math – Building on their math skills, you’ll bring more algebra into their sixth grade homeschool curriculum, and enhance their knowledge of geometry. At this stage, your child should be able to use computers and calculators, do problem analysis, and understand the concepts of averaging and sampling.
Science – You may have a budding scientist on your hands! In sixth grade, they will want to learn more about ecosystems, ecology and environment, nuclear energy, the universe, scientific theory, inventions and discovery and space travel. Use current events to help them understand the importance of this subject.
Social Studies – Citizenship and responsibility are always encouraged for students. As they grow and mature, those skills will help them be successful. Add global and regional studies to their homeschooling curriculum to help them realize the relationships among nations – customs, traditions, beliefs and political and economic systems. | <urn:uuid:cb1c0fca-98e7-4cfd-ab4d-d291be00a472> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://homeschool.savvas.com/index.cfm?locator=PS14Q4&filter_1325=83831&filter_7=360&PMDbSiteid=5041&PMDbSolutionid=36022&PMDbSubSolutionid=&&filter_1324=83826 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.952626 | 276 | 3.65625 | 4 |
Project 2 is writing a reaction and analysis paper to two video Tedtalks relating to body image. The goal of this project is to get you thinking about the mind-body connection using the body image lens.
Use the following guidelines to complete the paper. Please follow the steps, completing them in order – don’t jump ahead.
First, watch the video:
Second, write about your reaction to the speaker in the video. How did you feel physically and emotionally when you first saw her? What initial thoughts went through your head when you first saw her? Summarize what she talked about. What were some things that she said that surprised you? What did she say that you were able to relate to and why? What did she say that challenged your perceptions of fat people? How did you feel by the end of the video? What was your impression of her by the end of her talk? What was your perception of fat people both before and after the video?
Third, read the comments about the video and talk about your reaction to what some people said.
Fourth, watch one more video:
Fifth, summarize this video. What was your reaction to this video? What did you learn from the video that you didn’t know before? What surprised you? What most fascinated you?
Sixth, write an analysis section: why do you think I asked you to watch the two videos back-to-back? How do they relate to each other? How do they relate to what we have been discussing in class (be specific)? How do they relate to the mind-body connection?
Seventh, write a summary paragraph reflecting on what you learned from this project.
Eighth, now go back and write an introduction paragraph discussing what you think the paper you just wrote is about.
The paper should be a minimum of 3 pages, double-spaced
You will be graded on the following:
Thoroughness: did student cover all the information above? (make sure you are answering all the questions)
Specific and detailed: did the student use examples from the videos? Did the student fully explain ideas?
Thoughtfulness: was the student thoughtful and reflective in the writing?
Writing: is the paper clearly written and free of spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors? Are paragraphs used to separate ideas? Is it organized? Is the writing clear? Is it the minimum of 3 pages?
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If you think your paper could be improved, you can request a review. In this case, your paper will be checked by the writer or assigned to an editor. You can use this option as many times as you see fit. This is free because we want you to be completely satisfied with the service offered. | <urn:uuid:928edc5f-a53d-4704-ad7a-66734c1649e2> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://homeworkpaper.net/mind-and-body/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.959198 | 1,126 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Often confused for honey bees or bumble bees, carpenter bees are docile, beneficial pollinators who play an important role in the health of our ecosystem. These solitary creatures like to keep to themselves, and can help our gardens and backyards thrive.
However, carpenter bees can also be highly destructive. Also known as “wood bees”, these insects prefer to nest deep in soft wood, which can end up costing homeowners hundreds of dollars in structural damages.
Do you have carpenter bees? Then you’ve come to the right place. Today, we are going to talk about how to get rid of carpenter bees and go over a few tricks, treatments, and home remedies you can use to protect your home from these wood-burrowing pollinators.
How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees – Identifying A Carpenter Bee Problem
Carpenter bees are generally solitary insects, but they can become problematic.
Carpenter bees don’t live in large colonies like many other bee species, but they can still be very problematic. These insects like to burrow individually and prefer soft, unfinished wood as perfect nesting spots. They are quite crafty too, building long tunnels and chambers to lay their eggs. And sometimes, despite the carpenter bee’s solitary lifestyle, homeowners may find themselves in the midst of a carpenter bee infestation on their property. If this happens to you, then it’s time to look into how to get rid of carpenter bees.
It May Be Time To Research How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees If You Notice:
- Small, circular holes burrowed into wood
- Sawdust-like wood shavings surrounding these holes or beneath them
- Yellow staining near or around the holes caused by pollen or bee excrement
- Bee noises in the walls of your home
What Attracts Carpenter Bees?
Carpenter bees may like flowers, but they prefer to nest in soft wood like cedar and pine.
Carpenter bees like to nest in soft, unfinished wood. Most often, they can be found burrowed into woods like pine and cedar.
And while carpenter bees are beneficial pollinators who enjoy flowers, they aren’t necessarily going to be attracted to your garden. Instead, carpenter bees will typically look for safe nesting areas that are sheltered from weather and predators.
This means that home sidings, covered porches, sheds, woodpiles, eaves, pergolas, and even old abandoned carpenter bee holes will be most attractive to nesting carpenter bees.
How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees – Best Treatment Methods
Carpenter bees can cause serious structural damage to homes and wood.
While it is true that carpenter bees are beneficial insects, they can also be problematic due to their burrowing behaviour. Are you wondering how to get rid of carpenter bees?
Some of the best treatment methods for how to get rid of carpenter bees include:
Insecticides are an effective removal method for those looking at how to get rid of carpenter bees quickly. However, insecticides can be toxic to humans and pets.
- Natural Repellents
Natural repellents can be just as effective as insecticides for those wondering how to get rid of carpenter bees. There are a number of different repellent methods, ranging from sprays to bee hotels and sound machines.
Many homeowners looking for how to get rid of carpenter bees find that traps work well when used alongside repellents and insecticides.
- Home remedies
We love home remedies when working on how to get rid of carpenter bees. Like many insects, carpenter bees are repelled by natural oils and citrus scents, meaning you may have some great ingredients to get rid of carpenter bees already in your home.
The below video discusses four methods you can use when working on how to get rid of carpenter bees.
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How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees Using Insecticides
Using high quality insecticides early in the year will help repel and eliminate carpenter bees.
If you have a serious problem with carpenter bees and have found that they are nesting inside your home or causing serious structural damage, you may need to look into using insecticides.
As we mentioned above, insecticides are an effective tool for those of you looking at how to get rid of carpenter bees efficiently. That said, using insecticides can be dangerous, as most include toxic chemicals that can be harmful to humans and pets.
The below insecticides listed are specifically designed to help kill and repel carpenter bees, but all of them include active ingredients that are toxic to our pets and children and should be used with caution.
BioAdvanced Carpenter Bee Foam Spray
This foaming spray insecticide is specifically designed to help those looking for how to get rid of carpenter bees. It even comes with a unique nozzle to help reach deep holes where carpenter bees tend to burrow and make chambers to lay their eggs.
It also uses a foaming technology to help reach a number of wood-eating pests like carpenter bees, beetles, ants, and even termites.
The active ingredient is imidacloprid, which is a popular insecticide that is effective when looking at how to get rid of carpenter bees, but again it can be dangerous to people and pets, so it should be used with caution.
Spectracide Foaming Carpenter Bee Aerosol
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This is another foaming insecticide designed for those looking at how to get rid of carpenter bees. It is effective enough to treat old and new carpenter bee holes and tunnels, killing larvae and eggs before they hatch. The foam also works to spread all through the chambers to effectively reach the nests.
It kills on contact and includes a small, straw-like nozzle to help you reach hard-to-find places inside wood. This insecticide also helps control yellow jacket nests.
Cyzmic CS Controlled Release Insecticide
Last on our list of insecticides for those looking at how to get rid of carpenter bees is Cyzmic CS. This is a popular method used by a number of homeowners and professionals, and uses the active ingredient Lamda Cyhalothrin.
This insecticide also helps get rid of fleas, flies, mosquitoes, spiders, termites, wasps, and more. Because it is an insecticide, it should be used with caution in homes and gardens with children and pets.
How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees Using Natural Repellents And Traps
Natural repellents and traps can help reduce the number of carpenter bees on your property.
Wondering how to get rid of carpenter bees using natural repellents and traps? This is one of our favorite methods because it doesn’t require the use of any toxic chemicals.
You can use these repellents and traps all year round, although you will find they are most effective when used in the spring and summer, which is when these bees are most active.
Green Man’s Lemon Bomb
We are big fans of non-toxic sprays when it comes to how to get rid of carpenter bees naturally, which is one of the reasons we like Green Man’s Lemon Bomb spray.
Like many insects, carpenter bees are repelled by citrus scents, so this repellent works well to treat carpenter bee nests and prevent them from returning. Simply apply the spray and repeat as many times as needed.
This is a safe and effective alternative to chemicals for those wondering how to get rid of carpenter bees in homes with children and pets.
TrapStick Carpenter Bee Trap
Wondering how to get rid of carpenter bees using traps? We like this TrapStick for carpenter bees made by RESCUE. It lures carpenter bees visually, meaning you don’t need to worry about chemicals or sprays.
We also like that this carpenter bee trap is designed with other wildlife in mind, so it won’t harm birds, bats, or other flying animals. That said, it is recommended to hang with caution and avoid areas where birds are nesting, just to be safe.
Mac’s Carpenter Bee Trap
Another carpenter bee trap we like Mac’s Carpenter Bee trap. The trap works by mimicking a carpenter bee’s natural nest and lures them with pre-made holes designed to trap and control them.
This is a safe, chemical free, non-toxic way home owners can control carpenter bees without harming other wildlife or putting pets and children at risk.
Carpenter Bee Hotels
Here’s an idea we totally love: Bee hotels!
Remember, carpenter bees are highly important to our ecosystem. They are crafty little pollinators that can help our gardens grow and thrive, and they are an important food source to natural predators like birds.
So, if you aren’t looking for how to get rid of carpenter bees and would instead like to control them, why not try installing a bee hotel? This one above is designed using natural bamboo and closely mimics a carpenter bee’s natural nesting preferences.
Best of all, this allows a great place for carpenter bees to nest and helps keep them away from your property.
Natural Wood Bee Hotel
Another bee hotel we love is this adorable bee hotel made by Niteangel. This product uses all natural, unfinished wood to help lure carpenter bees, keeping them away from your property while also allowing them a safe place to nest and live without harming or killing them.
This is a completely humane, safe, chemical free way to enjoy carpenter bees and the benefits they bring to our gardens without having to deal with their problematic digging and burrowing behaviours.
Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
When looking at how to get rid of carpenter bees using natural repellents, you may want to look into using ultrasonic pest repellents, like the one above sold on Amazon. These pest repellents work to repel a number of pests like spiders, rodents, mosquitoes, mice, and bees. However, this is a repellent that is best for indoor use, as you need to plug it into an outlet.
That said, you can plug the ultrasonic pest repeller in and use it in sheds, barns, or even covered porches to help reduce and repel the number of carpenter bees who are trying to make a home out of your wood.
CBS Carpenter Bee Trap
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Last, we have this carpenter bee trap by CBS. Using a similar method to a few of the other traps on this list, this trap lures carpenter bees by providing them wood that is similar to their natural nesting preferences.
Once inside the trap, they cannot leave again, thus controlling and eliminating minor carpenter bee problems. We suggest using this method along with natural repellents and home remedies to help keep a carpenter bee problem from turning into an infestation.
How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Bees Using Home Remedies
Carpenter bees don’t like the scent of vinegar and citrus, making these ingredients great home remedies to repel them.
Since carpenter bees are particularly solitary and don’t live in colonies, like many other bee species, it may be simpler to get rid of them using home methods than you may think.
Like many insects, carpenter bees don’t like strong scents like vinegar, essential oils, and citrus. You can use a number of organic, safe ingredients to make your own sprays to get rid of carpenter bees naturally. You can also use a few simple tricks to help remove them from their nests and relocate them.
First, let’s talk about a few natural carpenter bee repellent recipes you can make at home.
Carpenter bees are repelled by a few different essential oils and ingredients, including:
- Tea Tree Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Citronella Oil
- White Vinegar
Homemade Essential Oil Spray
- Mix lavender oil, tea tree oil, jojoba oil, and citronella oil into a spray bottle and shake. Then spray generously around any area or surface you have noticed carpenter bee activity.
Homemade Garlic, White Vinegar, And Oil Spray
- Boil fresh garlic, 1 cup of white vinegar, and several drops of any essential oil of your choice. Once cooled, put into a spray bottle. Spray generously around any area you have noticed carpenter bee activity.
Homemade Citrus Spray
- Boil one pot of water and two fresh squeezed citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, limes, or grapefruit. You may also boil the peels. Once cooled, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray generously around any area or surface you have noticed carpenter bee activity and repeat as necessary.
Some other tips and tricks you can use when wondering how to get rid of carpenter bees with home methods are:
- Boric Acid
Boric acid is a popular pest control method you can use at home to not only control carpenter bees, but also get rid of a number of other pests. If you are looking at how to get rid of carpenter bees with boric acid, the best way is to spray the acid into any fresh entry holes you find on wood. The boric acid will then kill the carpenter bee larvae and eggs. Boric acid can be harmful to the skin, so wear protective equipment when using it and make sure you don’t use it around children or pets.
- Noise Repellents
Like many solitary creatures, carpenter bees don’t like noise. This is one reason ultrasonic noise plugins work so effectively when it comes to working on how to get rid of carpenter bees. You can also use natural noise makers like windchimes, play music, or use a noise machine.
- A Vacuum
Use a vacuum attachment on new carpenter bee holes and nests. This helps suck the bees out of their dens so you can relocate them or dispose of them. Be careful if you are relocating them, as they could be angry and female carpenter bees can sting. This method is most effective when used at night, when carpenter bees are less active and in their nests.
What Are Carpenter Bees? Facts You Should Know
Carpenter bees are a type of bee species that plays an important role in the ecosystem.
- Carpenter Bees Are Very Lage
Carpenter bees can be very large, which is why they are often mistaken for bumble bees. They can be anywhere from ½ an inch to 1 ½ inch big, however, they are easy to distinguish from “furry” bumble bees because of their smooth, shiney abdomoines.
- Carpenter Bees Can Live For Up To A Year
Carpenter bees have a relatively long lifespan when it comes to many insects. In fact, they can live as long as one year. They are seasonal insects who are most active in the spring and summer and spend winters hibernating in their nests. Female carpenter bees die after laying eggs and male carpenter bees die shortly after mating.
- Female Carpenter Bees Lay Between 6 to 10 Eggs
Female carpenter bees are hard working mothers. They burrow deep into wood and make safe, protected chambers where they can safely lay their eggs. They will also leave behind tiny balls of pollen so that when their larvae hatch, they have plenty to eat.
- Only Female Carpenter Bees Can Sting
Like wasps and many other bee species, only the female carpenter bee can sting. Male carpenter bees may not be able to sting, but they are protective and will chase and divebomb predators to keep their territory safe.
Are Carpenter Bees Dangerous To People And Pets?
Carpenter bees are docile and don’t sting unless provoked. That said, they can cause allergic reactions to those who are sensitive.
For the most part, carpenter bees are not dangerous. In fact, they are generally docile when left alone, even though male carpenter bees can be territorial and “dive bomb” predators if they see them as a potential threat. This can be unnerving, especially considering these bees can grow to be quite large.
Female carpenter bees can sting, as we mentioned above, and their sting can be painful and similar to that of a bee sting, releasing venom that can lead to serious allergic reactions or anaphylactic shock in people and pets who are sensitive.
All that said, the main reason most people end up looking into how to get rid of carpenter bees is because they can cause serious structural damage.
When Should You Call A Professional?
A very large carpenter bee infestation may require professional help. You can choose to relocate them or use insecticides to get rid of them.
If you have a carpenter bee infestation and would prefer to relocate them as opposed to kill them, you may need to do so using a professional.
Many people find the value in these large insects, especially considering they are such beneficial pollinators and are, for the most part, harmless to people and pets.
You can try to relocate carpenter bees yourself, but keep in mind that females can sting if they feel threatened or provoked. If you have any sensitivity or allergy to bee stings, we highly recommend calling a professional who can help you safely handle your carpenter bee problem.
Tips On Preventing Future Carpenter Bee Problems
To help prevent a carpenter bee problem, remove loose wood and wood piles from around the home.
Once you have figured out how to get rid of carpenter bees, your next move should be to take some preventative steps to keep them from coming back.
There are plenty of effective methods you can use to keep carpenter bees from wreaking havoc on your home.
Some of these methods include the following:
- Landscape And Remove Wood Piles
Carpenter bees are attracted to wood and debris. Clear your backyard and remove any potential sheltered spots, rotted wood, or other debris to help keep carpenter bees away.
- Hang “Bee Hotels” Away From your Property
A great way to keep carpenter bees from destroying your property is to provide them with a space they would rather be. Giving carpenter bees “bee hotels” far away from your property can help you safely keep bees at bay and also keep your garden thriving.
- Spray Repellents In Early Spring And Throughout Summer
You can use natural sprays like citrus sprays and natural oils on surfaces you usually see carpenter bee activity before carpenter bees are active. This means you should break out your spray around early spring and use it repeatedly throughout spring and summer.
- Introduce Natural Predators
Invite birds into your yard and garden by putting up bird feeders and birdbaths. This will help deter and reduce the number of carpenter bees around your property.
- Seal Old Carpenter Bee Holes
Once you’ve figured out how to get rid of carpenter bees, it’s very important to seal up old carpenter bee holes. Leaving abandoned holes untreated or unsealed is just like leaving an invitation for the next generation of carpenter bees.
- Seal and Polish Unfinished Wood With Polyurethane
Carpenter bees are most attracted to unfinished wood. You can seal unfinished wood surfaces with polyurethane to help keep carpenter bees at bay. While this is not a full proof method, it does help deter these insects.
What do you think about carpenter bees? Would you consider a bee hotel or using relocation methods to get rid of them? We would love to hear from you. Drop us your opinion in the comments below.
Jack founded our blog after two decades of working in the pest control industry. His vast experience dealing with a wide array of pests allows him to diagnose issues quickly and get to the heart of pest problems quickly and effectively. He has serviced more than 2,000 homes over his career and there is hardly any pest situation that he has not seen before. | <urn:uuid:18e108fe-06c9-4a20-8e1e-4d1fbec9c635> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://howigetridof.com/carpenter-bees/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.932705 | 4,265 | 2.734375 | 3 |
When will all cars be electric? While electric cars will not be replacing gas-powered vehicles in the near future, the process of internal combustion engines becoming obsolete has already begun according to Kiplinger. Many things need to change to fulfill electric car future predictions.
Battery production and infrastructure for charging electric vehicles will need to grow significantly. Automakers will have to convert to an all-electric platform. And — perhaps the most important factor — consumers will need to embrace electric vehicles and demand those changes happen.
When will all cars be electric?
According to The International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2021, sales of electric vehicles nearly doubled 2020 sales to 6.6 million (a sales share of nearly 9%) bringing the number of electronic cars on the road to 16.5 million. Hybrid electric vehicles, or HEVs, don’t count toward that total because they can run on gasoline engines and electric power.
That may not sound like much, but the pace is ramping up, according to industry analysts. Our friends at True Car, a digital car sales marketplace, predict that there will be more models than ever, with more than 100 EV models likely to be available by the end of 2024. According to Protocol, the ratio of electric cars to gas cars will gradually increase too:
- By 2025, electric vehicle sales could comprise up to 20% of new car sales
- By 2030, electric vehicle sales could reach 40% of new car sales
- By 2040, electric vehicle sales could account for nearly all new car sales
The future of electric cars relies on many factors
Complex economic and societal issues influence how fast and effectively the United States can adopt electric vehicles. EVs will need to become a priority for automakers, legislators, and most consumers before we can expect them to replace gas-powered vehicles.
Fleet turnover refers to how quickly new vehicles replace the vehicles on the road. Because modern gas cars are more reliable and last longer than ever, it will take longer for future EVs to replace them. Other factors impacting fleet turnover include urban transportation planning and ride-sharing services.
Auto manufacturer conversions
Automakers are working on converting their offerings to all-electric vehicles, but their timetables for conversion differ. Some have committed to ending gasoline car sales by 2035; others may take until 2045-2050 to get there unless required by law.
Many states have passed laws or had governors sign executive orders banning the sale of new gasoline passenger cars in their states by 2035. If this happens nationally, most passenger cars on the road by 2050 could be electric.
If more electric cars are on the road, we’ll need the infrastructure to charge them. Legislators have passed laws to begin the work of installing chargers across the country, which will take many years to complete.
Consumer influence on the future of electric cars
The projected exponential growth in electric vehicle adoption has a few more hurdles to overcome with consumers. Some of those hurdles include the cost of ownership, driving habits, and the anxiety drivers have over how far they can drive on a charge.
Electric vehicle costs
Although the total cost of ownership for an electric car is lower than a gasoline car, the purchase price for an electric vehicle in 2021 was about $10,000 higher than average for all cars. Installing a home EV charger, replacing an electric car battery, and even insuring an EV can be expensive.
Ultimately, electric vehicle adoption will increase when the cost of purchasing and maintaining EVs is on par with gasoline cars.
As more companies and workers embrace remote work, future driving habits and car purchases could be affected. People driving less may be less likely to replace an older vehicle and invest in an electric option.
Range anxiety is the term coined for people concerned about whether an electric vehicle will run out of battery power and leave them stranded. This fear could lessen as more charging stations become available. Also, these fears will diminish as batteries become increasingly more powerful and people realize that they’re often not driving enough to make range an issue.
If the industry can address these challenges quickly and decisively, the electric vehicle adoption rate could grow faster than experts predict. Learn more about buying an electric car.
Demand for electric cars is booming
Global sales of electric cars are set to surge to yet another record this year, expanding their share of the overall car market to close to one-fifth and leading a major transformation of the auto industry that has implications for the energy sector, especially oil.
The new edition of the IEA’s annual Global Electric Vehicle Outlook shows that more than 10 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2022 and that sales are expected to grow by another 35% this year to reach 14 million.
This explosive growth means electric cars’ share of the overall car market has risen from around 4% in 2020 to 14% in 2022 and is set to increase further to 18% this year, based on the latest IEA projections.
“Electric vehicles are one of the driving forces in the new global energy economy that is rapidly emerging – and they are bringing about a historic transformation of the car manufacturing industry worldwide,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “The trends we are witnessing have significant implications for global oil demand.
The internal combustion engine has gone unrivalled for over a century, but electric vehicles are changing the status quo. By 2030, they will avoid the need for at least 5 million barrels a day of oil. Cars are just the first wave: electric buses and trucks will follow soon.”
The overwhelming majority of electric car sales to date are mainly concentrated in three markets – China, Europe and the United States. China is the frontrunner, with 60% of global electric car sales taking place there in 2022.
Today, more than half of all electric cars on the road worldwide are in China. Europe and the United States, the second and third largest markets, both saw strong growth with sales increasing 15% and 55% respectively in 2022.
Ambitious policy programmes in major economies, such as the Fit for 55 package in the European Union and the Inflation Reduction Act in the United States, are expected to further increase market share for electric vehicles this decade and beyond. By 2030, the average share of electric cars in total sales across China, the EU and the United States is set to rise to around 60%.
The encouraging trends are also having positive knock-on effects for battery production and supply chains. The new report highlights that announced battery manufacturing projects would be more than enough to meet demand for electric vehicles to 2030 in the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.
However, manufacturing remains highly concentrated, with China dominating the battery and component trade – and increasing its share of global electric car exports to more than 35% last year.
Other economies have announced policies to foster domestic industries that will improve their competitiveness in the EV market in years to come. The EU’s Net Zero Industry Act aims for nearly 90% of annual battery demand to be met by domestic battery manufacturers.
Similarly, the US Inflation Reduction Act places emphasis on strengthening domestic supply chains for EVs, batteries and minerals. Between August 2022, when the Inflation Reduction Act was passed, and March 2023, major EV and battery makers announced investments totalling at least USD 52 billion in EV supply chains in North America.
Despite a concentration of electric car sales and manufacturing in only a few big markets, there are promising signs in other regions. Electric car sales more than tripled in India and Indonesia last year, albeit from a low base, and they more than doubled in Thailand.
The share of electric cars in total sales rose to 3% in Thailand, and to 1.5% in India and Indonesia. A combination of effective policies and private sector investment is likely to increase these shares in the future.
In India, the government’s USD 3.2 billion incentive programme, which has attracted investments worth USD 8.3 billion, is expected to increasing battery manufacturing and EV rollout substantially in the coming years.
In emerging and developing economies, the most dynamic area of electric mobility is two- or three-wheel vehicles, which outnumber cars.
For example, over half of India’s three-wheeler registrations in 2022 were electric, demonstrating their growing popularity. In many developing economies, two- or three-wheelers offer an affordable way to get access to mobility, meaning their electrification is important to support sustainable development.
Can you still drive gas cars after 2035?
But owners of vehicles with internal combustion engines will still be permitted to operate or resell them after 2035. With the average lifespan of a car in the U.S. pegged at about 12 years, there will be a need for gasoline for decades to come. Still, that demand will decline dramatically.
Will all cars be electric by 2050?
In a report last month, Thunder Said Energy, a Europe-based energy research firm run by industry analyst Rob West, said that even if 97% of new car sales in the developed world are fully electric in 2050, there will be about 1 billion gasoline-powered and hybrid vehicles on the world’s roads that year.
Will gas powered cars ever go away?
Starting in 2035, California will prohibit the sale of new gas-powered cars. A measure approved by the California Air Resources Board requires all new cars, SUVs and pickup trucks sold in the state to generate zero tailpipe emissions by then.
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Bitcoin works on peer-to-peer networks and a sophisticated piece of technology known as blockchain which is the prime reason behind its success. It has established itself as a popular investment choice since its launch in 2009.It runs on a very sophisticated mathematical algorithm which is highly secure and transparent in nature.
What is blockchain technology?
It is a decentralized ledger of all the transaction that takes place on the network of computers all around the world. This is what makes it independent and works in a decentralized manner without any influence of any regulatory authority. Due to its decentralized nature, the open-source ledger makes it simple to follow the recording of your transaction. The transaction is definitely traceable but they are also unalterable which makes them even more secure.
Bitcoin scalability and other cryptocurrencies can be used as a medium of exchange. Unlike traditional fiat currencies these currencies are not physical in nature but virtual and hence they are also known as virtual or digital currency as well. You can easily buy or sell bitcoins using authentic platforms like Yuan Pay Group from anywhere in the world using their secure connection and network. It is always recommended to use only reliable platforms as they not only safeguard your investment but also provide you with all the help that you may need in your trading journey.
Firstly, you need to register yourself on a reliable platform and once you are through it, you need to ascertain the type of wallet that you want to use. So, there are two types of wallets available for investors:
- Cold Wallet
- Hot Wallet
Wallets are nothing but digital storage spaces for your Bitcoins. A cold wallet is one which does not get connected to the internet and is considered to be more secure and resistant to hacking as it does not connect to the internet. Due to its decentralised nature, the open-source ledger makes it simple to follow the recording of your transaction.
The next step is to decide on which currency he or she shall be transacting in as it is again an important aspect of Bitcoin trading. Bitcoin trading platforms have started to provide the facility of trading bitcoin in fiat currencies of your own so that you do not have to go through the pain of getting your money converted in foreign currencies.
Coming to the advantages of trading in bitcoin are as follows:
- The first and foremost advantage is the security and privacy that these cryptocurrencies provide. The decentralized nature of these coins and the open-sourced ledger provide both transparency and security to your portfolio.
- Another benefit is the low transaction fees that it charges. Bitcoins can be transacted at very low transaction fees and in some cases, the platforms even charge zero transaction fees to carry out transactions of these coins. It is why becoming a popular medium of exchange as banks have been charging enormous transaction fees and interest on such payments which these coins are providing at almost zero charges.
- The high volatility in the market which is often criticized by people is also something that can be talkies advantage of. Traders that have thoroughly researched the market and are knowledgeable about how to deal with the volatility in Bitcoin trading are currently reaping significant financial rewards.
- The quick liquidity that it provides is also something that is highly appreciated by investors all around the world. Bitcoin can be liquidated from anywhere and everywhere in the world using Bitcoin trading platforms. Just by making some simple clicks you can easily have your investment converted into fiat currency and have them deposited into your bank within minutes. But before that, all you need to do is link your bank account to the platform that you shall be using.
Coming to the end of this article all you need to know is that Bitcoin is definitely a smart investment option. The entire world is investing in it and does not worry if you have not invested in it thinking that it is too late to invest as there is still a long way to go for cryptocurrencies.
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Cryptocurrency products are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions.
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The information contained in or provided from or through this website and related social media posts is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, trading advice, or any other advice.
The information on this website and provided from or through this website is general in nature and is not specific to you the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading, or otherwise, based on any of the information presented on this website without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional broker or financial advisory.
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Biochar is a product created by applying lots of heat to plant matter in the absence of oxygen. This creates a form of pure carbon, not that dissimilar to what you would put on a bbq, but much purer. This substance that is created can then be stored in soils which locks away this carbon for hundreds, potentially thousands of years. It also has the added benefit of holding moisture and nutrients within its pores, potentially boosting crop growth too.
It sounds like an interesting idea but I wanted to speak to someone in the know to find out a bit more.
My guest today is Jamie Bakos from Titan Projects. After graduating as an environmental engineer student, Jamie worked his way through jobs where he had to figure out what to do with waste streams. This is what eventually lead him to set up Titan Projects and to focus on biochar as a solution to many organic matter waste streams and also as a solution to climate change.
We also chat about some of Titan Projects other projects all trying to find a use for carbon.
For more info on Titan Projects check out
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Lotteries are a popular form of gambling in which many people purchase chance tickets to win money or prizes. The winning numbers or symbols are determined by drawing from a pool of all tickets sold (sweepstakes) or offered for sale, or by some other randomizing process. https://www.urbanpiratesnh.com/
In the United States, most state and local governments have some form of lottery. These can include instant-win scratch-off games, daily draws or games that involve picking three or four numbers.
The first recorded European lotteries were held during the Roman Empire and were mainly an amusement at dinner parties. They were also used as a way to raise funds for public projects.
While the earliest records of lotteries date back to ancient times, they became more widely known during the 15th century, when towns were attempting to raise money for defense or to help the poor. The first state-sponsored lottery was organized in France, where King Francis I approved the project in 1539.
Since then, they have become increasingly popular. In fact, the number of tickets purchased has increased by about 300% over the last few decades and the jackpots have risen dramatically, with the biggest lottery payout in history reaching $1.537 billion in 2018.
Why do people play the lottery?
One reason is hope. Experts say that people are willing to pay a small amount for the chance of winning big because they believe it will give them a sense of hope against the odds. Another is that the ticket prices are relatively low compared to other forms of gambling.
Unlike sports, there is no skill involved in playing the lottery. You simply pay a dollar for each guess and wait to see if your numbers have been drawn.
The winner is the person who matches all of the numbers on their ticket. The prize amount is typically a percentage of the ticket sales, but some states also award prizes on a fixed basis.
If you’re not the lucky winner, remember that you still owe taxes on your prize money. This is especially true if you’re a resident of a state with income taxes. If you do get a prize, make sure to budget enough money for those taxes in April.
Despite the negative connotations, the lottery is still an important source of government revenue. Each state tends to donate a proportion of the proceeds from lotteries to charities and other causes.
It’s a great way to support your community, but you should always read the fine print. The odds of winning are slim, so you may want to consider other alternatives if you don’t think the lottery is right for you.
In addition, some states require that you have a state ID to participate in the lottery. This will ensure that you don’t get scammed by a fraudulent company that might try to sell you a ticket or fake your ID.
It’s also a good idea to use a separate bank account to keep your lottery winnings safe. This will allow you to keep your winnings separate from your other funds and avoid a possible financial crisis should you lose your money. | <urn:uuid:5a092bcb-e8d8-4abb-bbfa-fffbee8d1d63> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://jbjdonline.com/tag/hongkong-hari-ini/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.973076 | 640 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Sandpaper has been there for generations and is a very helpful tool. The earliest known examples of this sort of abrasive-coated substance were identified in China in the 1300s. Early types of sandpaper, unlike advanced sandpaper, employed real sand. To make a rudimentary, but efficient abrasive, sand and broken seashells were glued to parchment paper.
Today, sandpaper and scrubbers are far more sophisticated. Sand has been replaced by more durable natural and man-made products, as well as smaller grains, popularly characterized as grit sizes. Diverse grits of sandpaper have very different roles, and choosing the correct grit when you’re just starting out might be difficult.
Warm up by following these simple guidelines and rules of thumb.
Why do we use sandpapers?
Sanding is not only beneficial, but it may also make or break woodworking, metalworking, or drywall job. To get the optimum finishing on these materials, sanding can be performed manually or in conjunction with powerful instruments such as electric sanders.
Sanding by hands is ideal for woodwork and polishing, particularly when a gentler finish is desired. Sanding with power equipment speeds up the scraping process while also shaping and leveling the wood. It’s frequently used to prepare metals for painting.
Sheets, belts, and discs of sandpaper are available for power sanding. Recognizing the variations between some sandpaper grades is critical to finishing a sanding job, irrespective of whether you’re hand-sanding or power-sanding.
Sandpaper, however, isn’t composed of sand; instead, it’s composed of small particles sourced from internal or external sources. The particles which are also referred to as grains or grit are filtered via screens and separated by thickness before even being attached to a paper, sponge, or fabric back using adhesive to form an abrasive substance that may be used in a variety of DIY projects.
The number of particles that can fit through a square-inch filter may simply estimate the grit size. The smaller the granules and the tighter the sandpaper grit, the larger the number.
Smaller numbers, on the other hand, denote bigger grains and rougher sandpaper altogether. So, if the grit size of the sandpaper is 30, 30 particles will fit through the filter. With a grit size of 100, a lot more particles with considerably smaller sizes would pass out.
Grit sizes vary from fine enough to imitate cooking flour to larger grits that look like granulated sugar.
When it comes to grit sizing, there are two typically used numbers. CAMI is known as the Coated Abrasive Manufacturers Institute which is used in the USA. FEPA stands for Federation of European Producers of Abrasives, and it is used by Europeans. For bigger grit sizes, the results are very comparable, while lesser grit sizes differ significantly.
Uses of various sizes:
Grit sizes differ to allow people to complete particular activities. For different types of surfaces, like metal or wood, different grit sizes are also beneficial.
Smoothing wood and paints between coatings are done with increased grit numbers (extremely fine with tiny particles). For vigorous sanding, scraping, or slicing hard surfaces, grits with a lower number (coarse grind with bigger particles) are widely utilized.
If you’re aiming to obtain a particularly smooth surface, it’s often a good idea to “go through the grits.” To generate a uniform and smoother surface, you’d start with a coarser grit and work down to increasingly fine grits.
How can we determine the correct size of the grit of sandpaper?
The size of the 600 grit sandpaper is ideal for sharpening blades. However, before beginning the honing procedure, you may wish to restore the damaged knife with lower grits.
Manufacturers designate a coarse texture level on the packaging in contrast to the particular grade to help to select sandpaper simpler.
This is simply a spectrum of grit levels that perform equally for about the same sanding task.
It’s fairly unusual for projects to specify a coarseness level rather than a specific grit of sandpaper, so it’s important to understand what all level entails.
Extra rough sandpaper with grits ranging from 24 to 36 is rough. It’s for eliminating stubborn paint and gloss that you don’t think would come off.
Sanding ancient flooring may also necessitate the use of extra coarse sandpaper due to its aggressiveness. Don’t even consider using this on anything except the most difficult chores.
The harsh shaping of wood and the cleanup of prior treatments, such as light layers of polyurethane, are the strengths of coarse sandpaper. The coarse grits are usually between 40 and 50 grits.
Some final shaping can be done with medium sandpaper with grits ranging from 60 to 100. Medium-grit sandpaper is commonly used for the primary sanding of rough wood and the elimination of planning markings on the wood.
Fine sandpapers are available in grits ranging from 120 to 220-grit. This sandpaper will serve for finishing sanding before the task is done in most home workplaces. Between applications of paint or varnish, very fine sandpaper is frequently utilized.
Extra- or superfine sheets with grits of up to 600 are useful for polishing operations, whereas extremely fine sheets have grits of 240, 320, and 400.
Although 600 grit sandpaper is good for sharpening knives, low and high grits finish your work, which is why it’s crucial to employ each grit level as part of a method rather than choosing one.
If the sandpaper is used in the correct manner, your knives will have a distinct edge, and your money wouldn’t spend on the latest equipment.
As a result, not only is this strategy successful, but it also saves you money. Do you know what grit sandpaper to use for knife sharpening on your dull knives? To discover how well the strategy and the advice offered here work for you, try them out! | <urn:uuid:b35ee28d-3ebc-455e-ad90-8afb8821dcd2> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://knifehero.com/what-grit-sandpaper-for-knife-sharpening/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.942417 | 1,283 | 3.5625 | 4 |
The Act of the Seym of 1550 allowed the nobility to purchase squares and real estate also in cities. As a result of this act, municipal real estate and suburban estates owned by the nobility or the clergy received judicial and administrative jurisdiction independent of the city, so they were subject only to the owner. Often, under the care of magnates, craft estates were created under the city borders, where many craftsmen were active who were not members of guilds, which allowed for practicing crafts without any charges. Such areas taken out of power, which were governed by their own rules, were called jurydyki. They weakened the city and contributed to its chaotic growth.
Wesoła was the first jury, and it was founded in 1639 by Katarzyna Zamoyska. They were formally abolished in 1791 by the “Law on Cities” and incorporated into the city of Krakow. | <urn:uuid:097bf189-c966-4c98-9db3-a9c4892c284d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://krakow.wiki/jurydyki/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.994135 | 186 | 3.40625 | 3 |
Do You Know When Owatonna First Got Electric Lights?
In the early days of electricity it was confusing to many. Was it safe? Was it AC or was it DC? There were no real standards for the industry till around 1913 or so. You would quite possibly buy your electrical appliances from the power company and they would come and hook them up for you and explain this new phenomena. Sounds a little like the earlier days of computers doesn't it?
Owatonna began its baby step into electric power courtesy of the Pierce brothers who had set up a power plant in Austin in 1888. In 1890 they began their Owatonna electrical venture. Records show they had an income from electricity of $70 a month. Not good when you had debts of $100 for the equipment to make electricity. It's written they tried hard to convince the citizens of the safety and value of electricity but just couldn't get over the hump. By 1891 they were some $7,000 in the hole and the company lost around $8,000 in 1893. Just like they did with their Austin plant they sold out to Northwest Thomson Houston in the cities. This was the company they sold the electricity making machine and dynamos to both towns. The company then sold stock but the sledding was still rough. In 1895 Owatonna signed a contract allowing the company to supply electricity for all night street lights.
The company was sold in 1900 and a central water heating plant was established in conjunction with the light plant. This is really far out as the water was heated with exhaust from engines as well as flue gases. The hot water was then pumped through 4 and 6 inch pipes where it then traveled into 1/2 inch pipes encased in wood along with insulation leading to homes. The company had around 2 or 3 miles of lines. It's stated that when the outside temperature got to 20 below or colder the water was heated to 200 degrees. Whew! Almost boiling. They had no choice as they stated that the water temperature dropped around 20 to 25 degrees once it started traveling through the lines. Pretty primitive but par for the day.
It sure would be neat to find some of those old dynamos and electrical parts
The picture that goes along with story is of an early electrical dictionary published in 1902 which coincide with the dates of above. I bought this at an estate auction for a John Voss of Owatonna. Perhaps he was an early electrical worker? | <urn:uuid:f7dde90a-4786-4330-bfaa-e763f48a176a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://krforadio.com/do-you-know-when-owatonna-first-got-electric-lights/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.984664 | 496 | 2.796875 | 3 |
In my last post I have described what I believe is way to the true artificial intelligence. I started with search for neurons/layers/minicolumns/columns visualization. So I can learn about its organization and possibly function. If I were you I would first study Why Neurons Have Thousands of Synapses so you can get to the level of understanding I have when writing this post :-)
Did you know that similar neuron visualizations does not look like real pyramidal neurons in brain?
Real neurons used in neocortex looks more like this:
For me are interesting this facts:
Another visualization may be:
source: William Calvin
Columns should represent group of similar features (short lines in visual cortex in image below) and minicolumns single feature (line with angle 45 degrees). Each neocortex region is composed of this. So we may say similar features are grouped.
Visualization of rat’s 4 columns: | <urn:uuid:7b5a4156-ae60-47c6-8a03-23832875e424> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://kubos.cz/2015/11/20/neuron-visualizations | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.873726 | 195 | 2.609375 | 3 |
We always look to lose weight by trying different and different dieting. But do you know there is a significant specification in choosing the right diet for you and your health? Dieting may look simple but it is not. You must follow certain restrictions and make changes in your lifestyle and food habits. In addition to it, everyone’s body requires a different type of dieting to get physical fitness and to avail of most of the health benefits.
If you follow or try adapting to dieting which is not suitable for your body, you may get the adverse effect of it. There are different types of dieting available which you may choose according to your health. This article mentions all the best dieting which could choose for your health and body.
Different Types of Dieting
The Various types of dieting as follows-:
The ketogenic diet is a low-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb diet that differs from general recommendations for a healthy diet. Many nutrient-dense foods are good sources of carbohydrates, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, and yogurt. On the keto diet, carbohydrates from all sources are severely restricted. To keep carbs under 50 grams per day, keto dieters typically don’t eat bread, cereal, or cereal. And even fruits and vegetables are restricted because they are too high in carbohydrates. For most people, the keto diet requires major changes in the way they normally eat.
The paleo diet focuses on foods that humans and their predecessors likely ate during the Paleolithic period, between 2.5 million and 10,000 years ago. It emphasizes foods that hunter-gatherers may have eaten, such as meat, fish, fruits, nuts, and seeds, and avoids agriculturally produced foods, such as dairy products, legumes, and grains.
Benefits of Paleo Diet
- Weight loss
- Lean muscles
- Improved Digestive health
- know about vegan diet
Both vegan and vegetarian diets exclude meat and seafood. However, the vegan diet goes even further by eliminating all other foods of animal origin’s addition to avoiding meat, vegans also avoid dairy products, eggs, and honey. In addition, vegan foods never contain by-products of animal agriculture, such as lard, whey or gelatin. Vegan diets offer stronger advantages over vegetarian diets. Veganism only reduces the exploitation of farm animals, while a vegan diet eliminates them down to the smallest detail. A vegan diet may also offer health and environmental benefits compared to a diet that includes dairy and eggs. For these reasons, many vegans eventually decide to go vegan.
Benefits Of Vegan Diet
- Boost Immunity
- Healthy heart
- Improved gut health
- know about Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet couldn’t be further from there. Instead, it promotes a dietary pattern that includes the staple foods of people living in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Spain, Greece, Italy, and France. friends and have fun chatting. You will find that in their meals, Mediterranean dieters emphasize a plant-based approach to eating more vegetables and healthy fats, including olive oil and omega fatty acids- 3 fish. It’s a diet known to be good for the heart.
Benefits Of Mediterranean Diet
- Lower Blood Sugar Level
- lower chloestrol Level
- Promotes Weight Loss
Low Fat Diet
Low fat diet is the diet which is consider to be one of the essential diet to lose weight faster. In this type of diet you have to make sure that you are not consuming too much of days in your daily diet. In the low fat diet you have to completely avoid the usage of food items that are high in fats such butter. Now let’s understand the benefits of low carb diet.
- weight loss
- High energy
- Metabolism improved
High Protein Diet
High protein diet is also the vegetarian type of diet. In this eating type you have to consume high proteins. High proteins are good for health and body. High protein food items include fish, meat, and many other types of vegetarian high protein are also available such as soya bean tofu pulses and many other.
Health benefits of high protein diet
- Improved Digestion
- Healthy heart
- Improved brain function
Intermittent fasting as the name suggests is kind of diet in which you have to restrict some of your diet pattern. In this you have to reduce to your intake of low carb diet and primarily focus on consuming high nutrients foods such as the foods which are rich in fibers.
Some of the benefits of intermittent fasting
- Control blood sugar level
- Improved mental
- Reduce brain fog
- Healthy heart | <urn:uuid:11bde782-57ac-4683-8154-c17877244023> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://lazygozo.in/different-types-of-dieting-that-is-best-to-follow/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.95135 | 959 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Transitive verbs have both active and passive forms:
|The hunter killed the lion.||The lion was killed by the hunter.|
|Someone has cleaned the windows.||The windows have been cleaned.|
|English||is||spoken||all over the world.|
|The windows||have been||cleaned.|
|The work||will be||finished||soon.|
|They||might have been||invited||to the party.|
If we want to show the person or thing doing the action, we use by:
She was attacked by a dangerous dog.
The money was stolen by her husband.
- Active and passive voice 1
- Active and passive voice 2
- Active and passive voice 3
The passive infinitive is made up of to be with a past participle:
The doors are going to be locked at ten o'clock.
You shouldn't have done that. You ought to be punished.
We sometimes use the verb get with a past participle to form the passive:
Be careful with that glass. It might get broken.
Peter got hurt in a crash.
We can use the indirect object as the subject of a passive verb:
|I gave him a book for his birthday.||He was given a book for his birthday.|
|Someone sent her a cheque for a thousand euros.||
She was sent a cheque for a thousand euros.
We can use phrasal verbs in the passive:
|They called off the meeting.||The meeting was called off.|
|His grandmother looked after him.||He was looked after by his grandmother.|
|They will send him away to school.||He will be sent away to school.|
- Active and passive voice 4
- Active and passive voice 5
Some verbs which are very frequently used in the passive are followed by the to-infinitive:
|be supposed to||be expected to||be asked to||be told to|
|be scheduled to||be allowed to||be invited to||be ordered to|
John has been asked to make a speech at the meeting.
You are supposed to wear a uniform.
The meeting is scheduled to start at seven. | <urn:uuid:b060a74b-41d6-4057-bc7b-b104a9f7f93f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/comment/165719 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.961588 | 471 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Scatter Plots worksheet also includes:
- Answer Key
- Join to access all included materials
In this statistics worksheet, 11th graders analyze different scatter plot graphs for positive, negative and no correlation. They graph their data and analyze it using scatter plots.There is 1 question with an answer key.
9 Views 65 Downloads | <urn:uuid:83cf9ff3-6728-41a6-9889-c7446532ecd6> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://lessonplanet.com/teachers/worksheet-scatter-plots--17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.933976 | 81 | 3.796875 | 4 |
Francis Crick Quotes
62 Sourced Quotes
Intelligent thinking means an increment of freedom in action - an emancipation from chance and fatality. "Thought" represents the suggestion of a way of response that is different from that which would have been followed if intelligent observation had not effected an inference as to the future.
Theorists will often complain that experimentalists ignore their work. Let a theorist produce just one theory of the type sketched above (i.e., one that makes nonobvious verified predictions) and the world will jump to the conclusion (not always true) that he has a special insight into difficult problems.
To produce a really good biological theory one must try to see through the clutter produced by evolution to the basic mechanisms lying beneath them, realizing that they are likely to be overlaid by other, secondary mechanisms. What seems to physicists to be a hopelessly complicated process may have been what nature found simplest, because nature could only build on what was already there. | <urn:uuid:ecacce21-114e-4d67-bee6-bf390e3dbe33> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://libquotes.com/francis-crick/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.967511 | 203 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Code the hoan
Code the Hoan is a suite of STEAM education offerings that will be implemented following the
successful installation of interactive LED lights on the Hoan Bridge in Milwaukee.
Students will be guided through learning modules that will allow them to use the bridge lights as a platform to understand the technology of the lighting system and grasp key principles of coding.
“This project is about more than lights on a bridge and it is inspiring tech and coding talent because it brings coding to life in a beautiful, artistic and visible way for students and young people.”
– Michael Hostad, Co-founder of Light The Hoan
2023 SHARP Literacy – Code the Hoan Recap
Through a series of eight workshops, participants acquire fundamental knowledge in circuit coding. Utilizing Chibitronics, they craft a paper model of the Hoan Bridge featuring a parallel circuit and program electronic circuits to illuminate an LED and activate a buzzer using Arduino UNO. In their final project, participants design and execute their own captivating light and sound performance. As an additional program offering, students have the opportunity to apply their coding skills by engaging with an interactive model of the Hoan Bridge and immersing themselves in a VR experience inspired by Milwaukee, all made possible through the collaborative efforts of Light the Hoan, MSOE, and Foresight Studios.
- Spark curiosity in STEAM and instill a collaborative spirit
- Support a growth mindset
- Support social-emotional learning (SEL)
- Promote the desire to continue the STEAM journey into middle school.
- Address learning loss in school-age children and increase out-of-school student engagement.
“During my time this summer teaching the Code the Hoan program I saw students thrive. One of the most gratifying aspects was how the students’ problem-solving abilities increased over the duration of the course. Each stumbling block became an opportunity for them to dissect problems, experiment with solutions and learn from their mistakes. This course not only provided them with the technical knowledge to control lights using code but also equipped them with a valuable toolkit of analytical skills that will undoubtedly serve them well in their future pursuits.”
Said Liam Ryan, SHARP Literacy Educator
“The most remarkable transformation was the students showing a passion for computer science. Their faces would light up with excitement as they saw the Arduino Uno respond to their coded instructions, and this spark ignited a genuine interest in the field. Their questions and discussions expanded beyond the classroom, reflecting a deeper curiosity that extended into their daily lives. It became evident that the “Code the Hoan” course had not only imparted technical skills but also instilled a lasting inspiration, paving the way for these middle schoolers to consider a future in the dynamic realm of computer science.”
Summer 2023: 3 sites, approximately 40 participants
Sites: Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, Augustine Prep, Notre Dame School of Milwaukee, and Neighborhood House
Total Participants from 2022-2023 – Approx. 70
- On a scale from 1-10, how interesting did you find this program: 75% of participants responded with a score of 7 or higher
- 84% of participants said they would be willing to take on a project themselves after participating in the program.
- 100% of participants reported improving skills in the areas of problem-solving and creativity.
- 87% of participants expressed interest in participating in future programs
- 63% is the average score on the multiple-choice assessment
- Pre-Assessment Score was 41% and Post was 64%, an increase of 56%
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engagements and initiatives. Your information will be safe and secured. | <urn:uuid:6825e63c-bb9b-494c-99ad-2d7dc897d3ed> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://lightthehoan.com/code-the-hoan/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.932501 | 782 | 2.765625 | 3 |
On Tuesday, October 25, Senate candidates John Fetterman and Mehmet Oz faced off in a televised debate. Fetterman suffered a stroke in May of this year, and Tuesday’s debate put his post-stroke effects on full display.
Politics do not always bring out the best in us. On social media, many were quick to judge Fetterman’s communication deficits with ridicule and mockery. Likewise, the flurry of reaction articles from media sources focused on Fetterman’s “struggles” and “painful” debate performance.
According to the CDC, more than 795,000 people living in the United States will have a stroke per year. Very few of them will have to recover publicly on a national stage. While Fetterman has not released his full medical records, his primary care doctor says that he is recovering well and fit to serve. The public — Lingraphica included — does not know the exact details of his stroke or his recovery beyond what he and his campaign have stated publicly. With these medical details and his public performances, experts and laypersons alike have been drawing their own conclusions about Fetterman’s health.
What kind of stroke did John Fetterman have?
A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain stops due to a blockage, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Most strokes that occur are the former type, known as ischemic strokes. Based on what the public knows about Fetterman’s stroke, experts believe his stroke was ischemic. Fetterman’s wife quickly recognized his symptoms, and he received fast treatment.
Why does Fetterman appear to have communication deficits?
The brain, like all other bodily organs and tissues, requires consistent oxygen and blood flow. When blood flow is interrupted, it can injure the brain. Factors like where this injury occurs and the length of the interruption will determine a stroke survivor’s deficits.
In Fetterman’s case, his campaign and doctor have publicly stated that his primary deficit is an auditory processing issue. More broadly, these types of deficits are bundled within a larger category called aphasia.
Does aphasia imply lack of intelligence?
Aphasia is a disorder that affects how one communicates. It can affect how one speaks, reads, writes, and comprehends. Aphasia is a language disorder — not a cognitive disorder. A person’s aphasia has no bearing on their intelligence.
It does, however, affect how people perceive the intelligence of a person with aphasia. No one earnestly questions the ability to hold office of those who rely on wheelchairs, hearing aids, or guide canes. It is estimated that up to 65% of Americans benefit from the use of some sort of assistive technology in the workplace. Oz’s campaign and others mocked the “concessions” he was willing to make for Fetterman, including assistive technology such as closed captioning. In this instance, Oz has painted the use of such technology as a generous compromise. Where language is concerned, people are unfortunately quick to pass judgment.
People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the world. It is a group that anyone can find themselves a part of at any time. For many, Fetterman’s public recovery is an opportunity to celebrate. Likewise, it is a moment to see how much work we have left to do. | <urn:uuid:c63af039-180f-4676-a243-4891ffd7ab9b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://lingraphica.com/2022/11/01/understanding-aphasia-and-john-fetterman/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.975164 | 718 | 2.75 | 3 |
Dr Ranj and pupils from Claremont Primary School at Moss Side Powerhouse.
All 4-year-olds in Manchester are being given a helping hand this September to find their ‘superpowers’ in a bid to give the city’s youngsters a leg up and help make a positive difference to their lives.
As part of the council’s Making Manchester Fairer (MMF) action plan to address inequalities and improve long-term outcomes for people living in the city, every 4-year-old is being given a copy of the children’s book ‘A Superpower like mine’ by award-winning TV medic and author Dr Ranj.
Informed by conversations with residents, businesses, and community groups, as well as organisations from the voluntary sector and other public sector partners, MMF provides a five-year blueprint to help Manchester tackle the health and wealth inequalities that exist across the city.
Improving the life chances of children and young people in Manchester – where 43 per cent of families still live in poverty – is a key part of the MMF action plan.
The city council is on a mission as part of this to further improve literacy levels across the city and has for the last seven years done much to promote reading with youngsters through its Read Manchester scheme in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
This has seen more than 280,000 books given away to children and their families since the start of the pandemic, including 32,000 copies of the same book given to all Year 6 children when they leave their primary school as part of a unique to Manchester transition read, which aims to help promote a love of reading and to give youngsters something in common with their peers as they head off to their new high schools.
This year for the first time the hugely popular transition read scheme has been extended to all children who started in Reception classes in September with each child being gifted a copy of the same book – ‘A Superpower like mine’ by Dr Ranj.
Nearly 7000 copies of Dr Ranj’s inspirational book are now being put in the hands of 4-year-olds across the city.
A Superpower Like Mine by Dr Ranj.
The hope is that not only will the engaging and colourful book excite children and help get them in the reading habit, but that its wider message of finding your superpower and being who you want to be will fire children’s imaginations and put them on a journey of self-discovery and strength.
Councillor Joanna Midgley, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council, and Co-Chair of the Making Manchester Fairer Board said: “Poverty, health inequalities and the ongoing cost of living crisis are all issues that cut to the heart of our communities, and unchecked create profound and lasting damage that can take years to reverse.
“Through Manchester Making it Fairer we’re determined to do everything we possibly can right now to make sure everyone in Manchester gets the same life chances as people elsewhere – and that includes our children and young people.
“Self-belief and good mental health are fundamental to this and are both vital building blocks to better outcomes in life.
“And that’s where Dr Ranj’s book comes in – helping Manchester’s children feel good about themselves from the inside out, showing them that what they have inside is what makes them special and that these qualities are their very own superpowers.
“It’s a brilliant message for 4-year-olds just starting school to hear and one we hope they carry with them throughout their school days and well into adulthood.”
Reception class pupils at Claremont Primary School went to Moss Side Powerhouse and heard first-hand from Dr Ranj this week when he read his book to them as part of a special event jointly organised by Manchester Making it Fairer, One Education and Read Manchester to help the youngsters explore their own superpowers.
Dr Ranj reading to a pupil.
Dr Ranj said: “One of my fondest childhood memories is being taken to the local library every week by my mum. We were encouraged to immerse ourselves in books and the joy of reading and learning. This is something that every child should experience, not as a privilege but an everyday part of life. That’s why I’m so proud and grateful that children in Manchester will have a chance to feel a bit of that joy – and I hope it inspires them to read more!” | <urn:uuid:374eadf5-a872-4075-b47f-d0d6007aab4d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://manclibraries.blog/2023/10/17/dr-ranj-to-help-all-4-year-olds-in-manchester-find-their-superpower/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.964225 | 940 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Oral exploration with a teething toy or other device is important for our babies, it is part of normal development.
A brief look at baby's oral-motor development
Already in utero, baby will develop and maintain his oral skills. He will suck the amniotic fluid, he will swallow, his sucking reflex will be established, he will suck his fingers, etc. He will therefore refine his senses and prepare his oro-motor skills to be able to feed independently at birth. He will therefore refine his senses and prepare his oro-motor skills to be able to feed independently at birth.
Stimulation with the tongue, fingers, cord and amniotic fluid helps the baby to develop orality, but it also plays a role in the baby's maxillofacial growth.
Later, when the baby is born, it will continue this oral exploration with its upper limbs, by sucking either at the breast or with a bottle.
When baby is 3-4 months old, it will be possible for him to pick up toys and put them in his mouth.
What is the benefit for baby of using teething toys?
- Baby can already practice chewing. By taking a teething toy and biting it, as if teething, he is practising chewing. This is the beginning of chewing
- This will also strengthen baby's orofacial tone . When baby puts a toy in his mouth, his tongue will be able to work (with the rotation movement of the tongue), but also the jaws (maxilla and mandible) and the lips.
- This can provide baby with sensory stimulation. Baby prepares his oral area to receive something other than liquid food. Putting teething toys in his mouth will help him to suppress his gag reflex, which will help him to receive solid food.
- Baby will also be able to use his motor skills, especially hand-to-mouth.
- He will also train his hand-eye-mouth coordination, which will be useful for his feeding, baby development, activities and reasoning skills.
- To relieve the gums as well.
What type of teething toy?
Several kinds of teething toys can be used. Teething toys with different textures, sizes and lengths can be interesting for baby.
Initially, it will be possible to favour teething toys that are easy for baby to grasp.
Some examples are given below :
The Nuk evolutionary toothbrushes, which allow baby to have a wide oral exploration. Baby can sink his or her teeth into the brush to get the nausea back, bite it etc.
The small dinosaurwhich is easy for baby to grip, textured, with a small integrated brush. This toy is very interesting because it brings different textures, but also different sized tips. Baby can therefore strengthen his oro-motor tone and stimulate his senses.
The Amber Bambeado giraffe is also easy to grip and allows sensory discovery to be developed thanks to the different textures and the different length tips. Baby can therefore explore the senses and strengthen his orofacial sphere.
The classic and traditional Sophie the giraffeThis is the first time that a giraffe has been used in the world, and it also allows for oral and sensory exploration. Baby will be able to chew on the giraffe's legs and create sensations.
Oral exploration is therefore a normal part of baby's development. Baby may experience gagging and/or vomiting at the beginning of oral exploration, this can happen. It is important to monitor your baby.
Speech and language therapist specialising in oral disorders
Sources: " Orality of the foetus, Gérard Couly ".
" Speech therapy and orality, the orofacial sphere of the child, C. Thibault | <urn:uuid:110fc30d-a17c-4d07-a52a-8f12fd61f18c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://mapetiteassiette.com/en/tous/jouet-dentition/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.961328 | 789 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Teaching Emotional Intelligence with Children’s Picture Books
By Hannah Atchison, Children’s Librarian
Everyone feels things differently. Even for grownups, understanding our feelings and putting them into words is difficult. For a child it is even harder. Teaching a child what a complex emotion feels like and how it should be processed and expressed is hard work for everyone involved. Have no fear; your local children’s librarian is here. In the children’s section at the public library there is a variety of picture books about characters who are learning about their emotions and how to understand and express them in a healthy way. Here are a few of my favorites.
“Joy” by Corinne Averiss. A girl tries her best to bring joy to her grandmother. She gathers some useful objects for catching things and takes them to the park to look for ‘joy.’ She has trouble catching it and worries that she won’t have any to give to her grandmother.
“This Beach is Loud!” by Samantha Cotterill. A boy goes to the beach with his dad. He is very excited, but when they get there he becomes overwhelmed and experiences sensory overload. His father is patient with him and talks him through it until he feels better.
“Simon and the Big, Bad, Angry Beasts: A Book About Anger” by Ian De Haes. Whenever Simon gets mad, his anger turns into a beast. The beast gets bigger and fiercer until one day Simon gets mad for no reason at all and his beast becomes a dragon. Simon must learn how to control his temper.
“The Snurtch” by Sean Ferrell. When Ruthie goes to school, the Snurtch, which appears as a floating ‘beast,’ is always with her. He throws crayons, pulls hair, burps loudly and makes the other kids not want to play with her.
“The Little Bit Scary People” by Emily Jenkins. The girl in this book talks about some of the people she sees who scare her a little because they look or act a little different, but then she thinks about what kinds of nice qualities they have, things they do when they are home or having fun, and that helps her not feel afraid of them.
“Can I Keep It?” By Lisa Jobe. This book is about learning empathy. A boy catches different animals outside and asks his mother if he can keep them. His mother tells him what the animals like to do and asks him where he thinks they would like to live.
“How it Feels to Be a Boat” by James Kwan. In this book you learn empathy while imagining you are a boat. The book tells you about all the things you are experiencing and how it might make you feel.
“F is for Feelings” by Golden Melanie Millar. This book is an alphabet of feelings with examples for each.
“The Brain Storm” by Linda Ragsdale. This book is about a boy who wakes up in a very bad mood, which is pictured as a scribbly ‘storm’ that follows him around above his head. He can not make it go away and brings it to his grandmother who tries to help him understand it. This book is entirely made of pictures. There are no words.
“I am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness” by Susan Verde. This book is about finding peace and making sense of emotions using yoga.
“My Blue is Happy” by Jessica Young. This book uses colors to talk about emotions. The girl in this book talks about how colors feel differently to her than to other people.
It is important for caregivers reading these stories to ask their child questions while they are reading to make sure they are engaging with the story. This is always a good thing to do when reading to children but is especially important when the stories are about complex subjects like emotions. With books like “The Brain Storm” and “How it Feels to Be a Boat” where there are pictures without words, caregivers can use these as an opportunity to ask questions. For example, “How can you tell Simon is feeling angry? What is his body doing?” This is a difficult subject to teach. If you need more resources or suggestions, your librarians are here to help. | <urn:uuid:ded7c144-1c73-47ca-b1c4-e32fd67fb17f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://mhklibrary.org/2020/02/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.97446 | 921 | 3.734375 | 4 |
The United Nations and the Origins of "The Great Reset"
Listen to the Audio Mises Wire version of this article.
About twenty-four hundred years ago, the Greek philosopher Plato came up with the idea constructing the state and society according to an elaborate plan. Plato wanted “wise men” (philosophers) at the helm of the government, but he made it also clear that his kind of state would need a transformation of the humans. In modern times, the promoters of the omnipotent state want to substitute Plato’s philosopher with the expert and create the new man through eugenics, which is now called transhumanism. The United Nations and its various suborganizations play a pivotal role in this project which has reached its present stage in the project of the Agenda 2030 and the Great Reset.
The Struggle for a World Government
The Great Reset did not come from nowhere. The first modern attempts to create a global institution with a governmental function was launched by the government of Woodrow Wilson who acted as US president from 1913 to 1921. Under the inspiration of Colonel Mandell House, the president’s prime advisor and best friend, Wilson wanted to establish a world forum for the period after World War I. Yet the plan of American participation in the League of Nations failed and the drive toward internationalism and establishing a new world order receded during the Roaring Twenties.
A new move toward managing a society like an organization, however, came during the Great Depression. Franklin Delano Roosevelt did not let the crisis go by without driving the agenda forward with his “New Deal.” FDR was especially interested in the special executive privileges that came with the Second World War. Resistance was almost nil when he moved forward to lay the groundwork for a new League of Nations, which was now to be named the United Nations.
Under the leadership of Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt, twenty-six nations agreed in January 1942 to the initiative of establishing a United Nations Organization (UNO), which came into existence on October 24, 1945. Since its inception, the United Nations and its branches, such as the World Bank Group and the World Health Organization (WHO), have prepared the countries of the world to comply with the goals that were announced at its foundation.
Yet the unctuous pronouncements of promoting “international peace and security,” “developing friendly relations among nations,” and working for “social progress, better living standards, and human rights” hides the agenda of establishing a world government with executive powers whose task would not be promoting liberty and free markets but greater interventionism and control through cultural and scientific organizations. This became clear with the creation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1945.
After the foundation of UNESCO in 1945, the English evolutionary biologist, eugenicist, and declared globalist Julian Huxley (the brother of Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World) became its first director.
At the launch of the organization, Huxley called for a “scientific world humanism, global in extent” (p. 8) and asked to manipulate human evolution to a “desirable” end. Referring to dialectical materialism as “the first radical attempt at an evolutionary philosophy” (p. 11), the director of UNESCO laments that the Marxist approach to changing society was bound to fail because of its lack of an indispensable “biological component.”
With these ideas, Julian Huxley was in respectable company. Since the late nineteenth century, the call for the genetic betterment of the human race through eugenics has been gaining many prominent followers. John Maynard Keynes, for example, held the promotion of eugenics and population control as one the most important social questions and a crucial area of research.
Keynes was not alone. The list of advocates of breeding the human race for its own betterment is quite large and impressive. These “illiberal reformers” include, among many other well-known names, the writers H.G. Wells and G.B. Shaw, US president Theodore Roosevelt, and British prime minister Winston Churchill as well as the economist Irving Fisher and the family-planning pioneers Margaret Sanger and Bill Gates Sr., the father of Bill Gates, Microsoft cofounder and head of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
In his discourse at the foundation of the UNESCO, Julian Huxley was quite specific about the goals and methods of this institution. To achieve the desired “evolutionary progress” of mankind, the first step must be to stress “the ultimate need for world political unity and familiarize all peoples with the implications of the transfer of full sovereignty from separate nations to a world organization.”
Furthermore, the institution must consider the tradeoff between the “importance of quality as against quantity” (p. 14), which means it must take into account that there is, “an optimum range of size for every human organization as for every type of organism” (p. 15). The educational, scientific, and cultural organization of the UN should give special attention to “unity-in-variety of the world’s art and culture as well as the promotion of one single pool of scientific knowledge” (p 17).
Huxley makes it clear that human diversity is not for all. Variety for “weaklings, fools, and moral deficients…cannot but be bad,” and because a “considerable percentage of the population is not capable of profiting from higher education” and also a “considerable percentage of young men” suffer from “physical weakness or mental instability” and “these grounds are often genetic in origin” (p. 20), these groups must be excluded from the efforts of advancing human progress.
In his discourse, Huxley diagnosed that at the time of his writing the “indirect effect of civilization” is rather “dysgenic instead of eugenic” and that “in any case, it seems likely that the deadweight of genetic stupidity, physical weakness, mental instability, and disease-proneness, which already exist in the human species, will prove too great a burden for real progress to be achieved” (p. 21). After all, it is “essential that eugenics should be brought entirely within the borders of science, for as already indicated, in the not very remote future the problem of improving the average quality of human beings is likely to become urgent; and this can only be accomplished by applying the findings of a truly scientific eugenics” (pp. 37–38).
Use of the Climate Threat
The next decisive step toward the global economic transformation was taken with the first report of the Club of Rome. In 1968, the Club of Rome was initiated at the Rockefeller estate Bellagio in Italy. Its first report was published in 1972 under the title “The Limits to Growth.”
The president emeritus of the Club of Rome, Alexander King, and the secretary of the club, General Bertrand Schneider, inform in their Report of the Council of the Club of Rome that when the members of the club were in search of identifying a new enemy, they listed pollution, global warming, water shortages, and famines as the most opportune items to be blamed on humanity with the implication that humanity itself must be reduced to keep these threats in check.
Since the 1990s, several comprehensive initiatives toward a global system of control have been undertaken by the United Nations with Agenda 2021 and Agenda 2030. The 2030 Agenda was adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015. It launched its blueprint for global change with the call to achieve seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs). The key concept is “sustainable development” that includes population control as a crucial instrument.
Saving the earth has become the slogan of green policy warriors. Since the 1970s, the horror scenario of global warming has been a useful tool in their hands to gain political influence and finally rule over public discourse. In the meanwhile, these anticapitalist groups have obtained a dominant influence in the media, the educational and judicial systems, and have become major players in the political arena.
In many countries, particularly in Europe, the so-called green parties have become a pivotal factor in the political system. Many of the representatives are quite open in their demands to make society and the economy compatible with high ecological standards that require a profound reset of the present system.
In 1945, Huxley (p. 21) noted that it is too early to propose outright a eugenic depopulation program but advised that it will be important for the organization “to see that the eugenic problem is examined with the greatest care, and that the public mind is informed of the issues at stake so that much that now is unthinkable may at least become thinkable.”
Huxley’s caution is no longer necessary. In the meantime, the branches of the United Nations have gained such a level of power that even originally minor UN suborganizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have been enabled to command individual governments around the world to obey their orders. The WHO and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)—whose conditionality for loans has changed from fiscal restraint to the degree to which a country follows the rules set by the WHO—have become the supreme tandem to work toward establishing the new world order.
As Julian Huxley pointed out in his discourse in 1945, it is the task of the United Nations to do away with economic freedom, because “laisser-faire and capitalist economic systems” have “created a great deal of ugliness” (p. 38). The time has come to work toward the emergence “of a single world culture” (p. 61). This must be done with the explicit help of the mass media and the educational systems.
With the foundation of the United Nations and its suborganizations, the drive to advance the programs of eugenics and transhumanism took a big step forward. Together with the activities of the Club of Rome, they have stage to initiate the great reset that is going on currently. With the pronouncement of a pandemic, the goal of comprehensive government control of the economy and society has taken another leap toward transforming the economy and society. Freedom faces a new enemy. The tyranny comes under the disguise of expert rule and benevolent dictatorship. The new rulers do not justify their right to dominance because of divine providence but now claim the right to rule the people in the name of universal health and safety based on presumed scientific evidence. | <urn:uuid:3542500f-08b1-46ca-bd99-236c60db7415> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://mises.org/wire/united-nations-and-origins-great-reset?utm_source=Mises+Institute+Subscriptions&utm_campaign=6513cf7200-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_9_21_2018_9_59_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8b52b2e1c0-6513cf7200-228777563 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.955413 | 2,210 | 2.828125 | 3 |
INTRODUCTION The digital economy has given rise to a number of new business models. Although many of these models have parallels in traditional business, modern advances in ICT have made it possible to conduct many types of business at substantially greater scale and over longer distances than was previously possible.
This section discusses several prominent examples of these new business models. Some of these business models may complement each other and in some cases overlap with each other (for example, payment services could be described under e-commerce or under cloud computing).
The business models discussed below are by no means exhaustive. Indeed, just as innovation in the digital economy allows the rapid development of new business models, it can also quickly cause existing businesses to become obsolete. Types of Business Models of Digital Economy
The types of business discussed include several varieties of e-commerce, app stores, online advertising, cloud computing, participative networked platforms, high speed trading, and online payment services. Electronic commerce Electronic commerce, or e-commerce, has been defined broadly by the OECD Working Party on Indicators for the Information Society as “the sale or purchase of goods or services, conducted over computer networks by methods specifically designed for the purpose of receiving or placing of orders. The goods or services are ordered by those methods, but the payment and the ultimate delivery of the goods or service do not have to be conducted online. An e-commerce transaction can be between enterprises, households, individuals, governments, and other public or private organisations” (OECD, 2011).
E-commerce can be used either to facilitate the ordering of goods or services that are then delivered through conventional channels (indirect or offline e-commerce) or to order and deliver goods or services completely electronically (direct or on-line e-commerce). Business-to-business models The vast majority of e-commerce consists of transactions in which a business sells products or services to another business (so-called business-to business (B2B)) (OECD, 2011). This can include online versions of traditional transactions in which a wholesaler purchases consignments of goods online, which it then sells to consumers from retail outlets.
It can also include the provision of goods or services to support other businesses, including, among others: logistics services such as transportation, warehousing, and distribution; application service providers offering deployment, hosting, and management of packaged software from a central facility; outsourcing of support functions for e-commerce, such as web-hosting, security, and customer care solutions; auction solutions services for the operation and maintenance of real-time auctions via the Internet. Consumer-to-consumer models Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) transactions are becoming more and more common.
Businesses involved in C2C e-commerce play the role of intermediaries, helping individual consumers to sell or rent their assets (such as residential property, cars, motorcycles, etc.) by publishing their information on the website and facilitating transactions. These businesses may or may not charge the consumer for these services, depending on their revenue model.
Growth of e-commerce The Internet facilitates transactions such as ordering goods and services. This means that many transactions that would have taken place without the Internet can be conducted more efficiently and at less expense. In addition, the Internet has expanded the reach of smaller businesses, enabling them to reach markets that would not have been possible to reach without its existence. As a result, the number of firms carrying out business transactions over the Internet has increased dramatically over the last decade. Payment services Paying for online transactions traditionally required providing some amount of financial information, such as bank account or credit card information, to a vendor, which requires a high degree of trust that is not always present in the case of an unknown vendor, particularly in the case of a C2C transaction.
Online payment service providers help address this concern by providing a secure way to enable payments online without requiring the parties to the transaction to share financial information with each other. App stores The growth of Internet access through smartphones and tablets has caused an increase in the frequency of use of online services and the development of application stores, a type of digital distribution platform for software, often provided as a component of an operating system. Application stores typically take the form of central retail platforms, accessible through the consumer’s device, through which the consumer can browse, view information and reviews, purchase and automatically download and install the application on his/her device.
Online advertising uses the Internet as a medium to target and deliver marketing messages to customers. Internet advertising offers a number of advantages over traditional advertising. For example, many Internet advertisers have developed sophisticated methods for segmenting consumers in order to allow more precise targeting of ads.
Many Internet advertising publishers have also developed ways for clients to monitor performance of ads, tracking how users interact with their brands and learning what is of interest to current and prospective customers. Online advertising takes a number of forms, the most prominent of which are display ads, in which an advertiser pays to display ads linked to particular content or user behaviour, and search engine ads, in which an advertiser pays to appear among Internet search results.
Cloud computing is the provision of standardised, configurable, on-demand, online computer services, which can include computing, storage, software, and data management, using shared physical and virtual resources (including networks, servers, and applications). Because the service is provided online using the provider’s hardware, users can typically access the service using various types of devices wherever they are located, provided they have a suitable Internet connection.
As digital technology is adopted across the economy, segmenting the digital economy is increasingly difficult. In other words, because the digital economy is increasingly becoming the economy itself, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to ring-fence the digital economy from the rest of the economy.
Attempting to isolate the digital economy as a separate sector would inevitably require arbitrary lines to be drawn between what is digital and what is not. The digital economy has also enhanced the ability of companies to collect and use information about the viewing habits and preferences of customers, to enable them to better target programming. | <urn:uuid:b2b111f5-c3dd-4e57-95a4-afed5b6ed57d> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://mitulmakwana.com/digital-economy-emergence-of-new-business-models/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.944449 | 1,249 | 3.234375 | 3 |
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
A quick overview
In 1482, Portuguese explorers arrived on the West Coast of Africa (today it is Ghana). They named their settlement Elmina, constructed as a massive stone fort looking out on the Atlantic Ocean. The settlers search for gold and timber expanded after they discovered Africans.
The First Africans in America
In 1619 the Portuguese loaded around 20 Africans on the ship— Sau Joao Bautista. English pirates on The White Lion raided the Portuguese ship in the Gulf Coast (now Mexico) creating the English as the first Europeans of record transporting Africans to America.
The Trading of the Enslaved
By 1770 the state of Delaware was comprised of 20-25% Negroes. Many attempts to Freedom by the enslaved at first, failed, with few reaching Freedom in the North and in Canada. By1845 the Underground Railroad was successful in taking fugitive slaves to Freedom.
Bucks County Quakers
(The following information about Quakers is from a manuscript written by Jesse Crooks, multi-generational Quaker resident of Solebury-New Hope area)
Matthew Hughes was the first Quaker to declare slavery evil. At their annual meeting on August 5, 1776, minutes in part read:
“The Friends who had been some time past appointed to labour (sic) with such as kept Slaves, … all … Members of this Meeting who had Negroes … under their Hands & Seals…released all Claim to them and Slaves …”
By the middle of 1800, some fugitive slaves had made their way to Freedom, reaching the Mt. Gilead Church on Buckingham Mountain.
Below are some of the Quakers and Abolitionists, Conductors and Anti-Slavery Activists sheltering fugitive slaves in Buckingham area:
William Johnson; Buckingham Friends; John E. Kinderdine; Solebury Meeting House; Black Fan Farm; the Magee House; the William Johnson House. Moses Eastburn Sr. also harbored fugitive slaves; and later became Director of the Poor in 1820. His son Moses Eastburn Jr, donated the money to build the second Mount Moriah Church.
Jonathan P. Magill, participated in Solebury Twp’s UGRR. His son, Edward H. Magill wrote “Underground Railroad in Bucks County” in an 1898 essay:
“When Men Were Sold, Reminiscences of the underground Railroad in Bucks County and Its Managers”. | <urn:uuid:155e2045-7d8f-41d0-a17f-f81663bfc34e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://mountgilead.org/openhouse/underground-railroad/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.938253 | 514 | 4.0625 | 4 |
In addition to infections, environmental factors can also contribute to dog itch. Dogs can be sensitive to various allergens in their environment, leading to allergic reactions and itching.
Allergies in dogs can be triggered by a wide range of substances, including pollen, dust mites, mold spores, and certain foods. Allergic reactions can cause intense itching, redness, and skin irritation. Your dog may also experience sneezing, watery eyes, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Identifying the specific allergen can be challenging, but it is crucial for effective treatment. Your veterinarian may recommend allergy testing or a food elimination trial to determine the trigger. Treatment options for allergies include antihistamines, corticosteroids, immunotherapy, and dietary changes.
2. Environmental Irritants
Apart from allergens, dogs can also be sensitive to environmental irritants such as certain cleaning products, pesticides, and even fabrics. These irritants can cause contact dermatitis, leading to itching, redness, and skin inflammation.
Preventing exposure to these irritants is key to managing environmental allergies. Avoid using harsh cleaning products around your dog, opt for natural or hypoallergenic alternatives. Additionally, consider using organic or chemical-free fabrics for your dog's bedding and avoid using pesticides in your home or yard.
3. Seasonal Changes
Seasonal changes can also contribute to dog itch. In certain seasons, allergens such as pollen and grass can be more prevalent, triggering allergic reactions in sensitive dogs. Dry air during winter months can also cause dry skin in dogs, leading to itching and discomfort.
To alleviate seasonal itch, keep your dog's living environment clean and dust-free. Regularly bathe your dog with an ultra gentle moisturising shampoo to prevent dry skin. Additionally, consider using air humidifiers during winter months to add moisture to the air.
While some cases of dog itch can be managed at home, there are instances where veterinary intervention is necessary. It is important to recognise when your dog's itching requires professional attention.
1. Persistent Itching
If your dog's itching persists despite home remedies or over-the-counter treatments, it is time to consult a veterinarian. Persistent itching may indicate an underlying health condition or a more severe skin infection that requires medical intervention.
2. Open Sores or Wounds
If your dog's scratching has resulted in open sores or wounds, it is crucial to seek veterinary care. Open wounds are prone to infection and may require antibiotics or specialised wound care to heal properly.
3. Behavioural Changes
If your dog's itching is accompanied by behavioural changes such as restlessness, aggression, or loss of appetite, it is important to consult a veterinarian. These changes may indicate that your dog is in significant discomfort and requires medical attention.
A veterinarian will be able to perform a thorough examination, conduct diagnostic tests if needed, and recommend appropriate treatment options for your dog's specific condition. | <urn:uuid:3f95981f-8e17-4303-b1f5-c55fd33f3148> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://myfurbabies.co.uk/blogs/furbabies-botanicals-blog/when-to-consult-a-veterinarian-for-dog-itch | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.915087 | 604 | 3.328125 | 3 |
1 in 20 Cases of Dementia Occurs in People Under 65
WEDNESDAY, July 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Dementia is largely a disease of old age, but a new study finds that up to 5% of all cases are among people in the prime of their lives.
Looking at 95 international studies, researchers estimated that nearly 4 million people worldwide are living with young-onset dementia -- cases that strike between the ages of 30 and 64.
In the United States, an estimated 175,000 people have the condition, accounting for roughly 3% of all dementia cases nationwide.
In context, that means young-onset dementia is rare, said Dr. David Knopman, a neurologist who specializes in dementia care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
But it's important for people, including doctors, to be aware that dementia can arise unusually early in life, Knopman said.
Because young-onset dementia is so uncommon, he noted, most doctors -- including neurologists -- have little or no experience in diagnosing it.
And since dementia is typically associated with aging, it's natural to attribute younger people's memory issues to conditions that are far more common in their age group.
"Their symptoms are often chalked up to depression or anxiety," said Knopman, who wrote an editorial published with the study July 19 in JAMA Neurology.
"And to be fair," he added, "most memory complaints in younger patients probably are related to those conditions."
However, Knopman said, some red flags include symptoms that are "pervasive" and worsen over time. The "breadth" of the symptoms also matters, he noted: "Are there cognitive complaints that go beyond memory lapses?"
"Cognitive" symptoms include an array of problems related to thinking, reasoning, judgment and learning.
While young-onset dementia is far less common than the typical "late-onset" form, the disease is particularly devastating.
"These people are in the prime of their lives," Knopman said. They and their spouses have jobs, children and, often, elderly parents to care for.
That means they need health care and other services that meet their specific needs, said Stevie Hendriks, one of the researchers on the new study.
Given that, Hendriks and colleagues at Maastricht University's Alzheimer Center Limburg in the Netherlands wanted to get clearer figures on just how many people are living with young-onset dementia.
After analyzing dozens of previously published studies, they estimated there are 119 cases of young-onset dementia per 100,000 people worldwide. That translates to 3.9 million people living with the disease.
Based on the global prevalence of dementia, the young-onset form may account for about 5% of all cases, according to Knopman.
Not surprisingly, Hendriks' team found, dementia was exceeding rare among the youngest adults, at roughly 1 case per 100,000 among 30- to 34-year-olds. People in their early 60s had the highest prevalence -- about 77 cases per 100,000.
Unfortunately, people with young-onset dementia typically go for years without a diagnosis. One published study found that it took an average of 4.5 years -- versus just under three years among older adults with dementia.
Hendriks agreed that lack of awareness and experience among doctors likely help explain that.
But young-onset dementia can also be difficult to diagnose, Hendriks added -- even for specialists.
"We see that the first symptoms in young people are usually not the symptoms you would expect when you think of dementia," Hendriks said. "Instead of memory impairment, young people more often present with changes in behavior or emotions, or sometimes language problems."
That can lead to misdiagnoses of not only depression, but also "burn out" or even relationship problems, Hendriks noted.
As for the causes of early dementia, they include the same culprits seen in late-onset -- namely, Alzheimer's disease and vascular conditions, like stroke, that impair blood flow to the brain.
But another rare type of dementia, frontotemporal dementia, is most often diagnosed at a younger age. That disease is inherited in about one-third of cases, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Because young-onset dementia is uncommon, finding specialized services is often a challenge, too, Knopman said. When the time comes for a care facility, for example, it can be hard to find an opening for a younger patient. Families may need to place a loved one in a center hours from home.
One good resource for families, Knopman said, is their local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Among its services are support groups for caregivers of people with young-onset dementia.
The Alzheimer's Association has more on young-onset dementia.
SOURCES: Stevie Hendriks, MSc, PhD candidate, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; David S. Knopman, MD, professor, neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.; JAMA Neurology, July 19, 2021, online | <urn:uuid:7f3ff87d-1eb4-49b9-beef-e3743a20bf7b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://myhealth.ucsd.edu/Library/DiseasesConditions/Adult/Liver/6,1653800740 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.953664 | 1,080 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Security education refers to the process of teaching individuals and organizations about various aspects of security, both physical and digital. It covers a wide range of topics, from cybersecurity to physical security measures, and aims to raise awareness about potential threats and vulnerabilities. In today’s increasingly connected world, security education is crucial for protecting sensitive information, maintaining privacy, and ensuring the safety of people and assets.
Table of Contents
Importance of Security Education
Cybersecurity is a major concern for individuals, businesses, and governments alike. Cyber attacks can lead to significant financial loss, reputational damage, and even physical harm. Security education helps individuals understand the risks associated with using digital technologies and how to mitigate them. By learning about common threats, such as malware, phishing, and ransomware, people can better protect their digital assets and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Physical security is equally important, as it focuses on protecting people, property, and assets from harm. This can include measures such as surveillance systems, access control, and alarm systems. Security education teaches individuals how to identify potential risks, implement appropriate security measures, and respond effectively to incidents.
Components of Security Education
Training is a critical component of security education. It involves teaching employees and individuals about security best practices, policies, and procedures. Training sessions can be conducted in-person, online, or through a combination of both methods. Topics covered in security training may include password management, securing devices, and recognizing phishing attempts.
Security awareness programs aim to create a culture of security within an organization or community. They are designed to keep security issues at the forefront of people’s minds and encourage them to stay vigilant. Awareness programs may include regular communication about security updates, posters and signage, or events such as cybersecurity awareness month.
Simulated exercises, such as mock phishing campaigns or incident response drills, can be an effective way to test and improve security awareness. These exercises help individuals and organizations identify areas of weakness and refine their security practices.
Key Topics in Security Education
Proper password management is essential for keeping sensitive information secure. Security education should cover the importance of strong, unique passwords, as well as the use of password managers and two-factor authentication.
Social engineering attacks, such as phishing or pretexting, manipulate people into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security. Security education should teach individuals how to recognize and avoid these tactics.
Protecting sensitive data is crucial for both individuals and organizations. Security education should cover topics such as encryption, secure data storage, and proper data disposal. Additionally, individuals should learn about data privacy regulations and how they apply to their specific situation.
Knowing how to respond effectively to security incidents can help minimize damage and ensure a swift recovery. Security education should cover incident response planning, including the identification of key stakeholders, communication protocols, and the steps to be taken following a security breach.
Implementing Security Education
Identifying the Target Audience
Before implementing a security education program, it is essential to identify the target audience. This can include employees, customers, or other stakeholders who need to be aware of security best practices. Identifying the target audience will help tailor the content and delivery method for maximum effectiveness.
Creating a Security Education Plan
A well-structured security education plan should outline the objectives, content, and delivery methods for the program. The plan should also include a timeline for implementation and any necessary resources, such as trainers, materials, and budget.
Evaluating and Improving Security Education
Regular evaluation of security education programs is essential for ensuring their effectiveness. This can be done through surveys, feedback sessions, or by measuring key performance indicators such as the number of security incidents or changes in employee behavior. Based on the evaluation, improvements can be made to the program to ensure it remains relevant and effective.
Additional Security Education Topics
Here are a few more topics that can be beneficial to incorporate into your security education program:
Mobile Device Security
As smartphones and tablets become increasingly common, it is essential to address mobile device security. Should teach individuals how to protect their devices from theft, unauthorized access, and malware. This may include guidance on securing app downloads, enabling device encryption, and setting up remote wipe capabilities.
Internet of Things (IoT) Security
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of interconnected devices that communicate and share data with each other. As IoT devices become more prevalent in homes and workplaces, security education should cover IoT-related risks and best practices for securing these devices.
Cloud computing allows users to store and access data and applications over the internet, rather than on local hardware. Should address the unique challenges and risks associated with cloud computing, such as data breaches, loss of data control, and insider threats. Best practices for securing cloud environments, selecting cloud providers, and ensuring data privacy should also be covered.
Network security involves protecting computer networks and the data they transmit from unauthorized access, misuse, or destruction. hould cover topics such as network segmentation, firewall configuration, and intrusion detection and prevention systems.
Remote Work Security
With remote work becoming increasingly common, security education should address the unique risks and challenges faced by remote workers. This may include guidance on securing home networks, using a virtual private network (VPN), and following company security policies while working remotely.
The Role of Continuous Learning in Security Education
Security threats and technologies are constantly evolving, making continuous learning crucial in the field of security education. Individuals and organizations should regularly update their knowledge and skills to stay ahead of emerging threats and maintain a strong security posture. This may involve attending conferences, participating in webinars, or enrolling in online courses.
What is the main purpose of security education?
The main purpose of security education is to raise awareness about potential security threats and vulnerabilities, and to teach individuals and organizations how to protect themselves and their assets.
What are the key components of a security education program?
Key components of a security education program include training, awareness programs, and simulated exercises.
What topics should be covered in a security education program?
Some important topics to cover in a security education program include password management, social engineering, data protection, and incident response.
How can I implement a security education program in my organization?
To implement a security education program, first identify the target audience and create a plan that outlines objectives, content, and delivery methods. Then, allocate necessary resources and begin implementation. Regular evaluation and improvement of the program will help ensure its effectiveness.
How can I evaluate the effectiveness of my security education program?
You can evaluate the effectiveness of your security education program by gathering feedback from participants, measuring key performance indicators such as changes in behavior or the number of security incidents, and adjusting the program accordingly.
Security education plays a vital role in protecting individuals, organizations, and their assets. By understanding the importance of security education, identifying key topics, and implementing effective training and awareness programs, individuals and organizations can significantly reduce their risk of security incidents and create a safer environment. | <urn:uuid:063937a5-0512-43c0-924a-f7bcf043cddc> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://naija360media.com/security-education/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.929184 | 1,435 | 3.65625 | 4 |
HPV Positive Pap Guidelines is a relevant item of interest in view of the fact that it is crucial when considering HPV Cervical Changes, HPV Clearance, and HPV Cn1.
One can reinforce the body's immune system and quite simply develop resistance to an HPV infection in only as short of time as a few months, before it could make any kind of significant infection. (Selected Chapters of Book)
Perhaps have you previously endured a runny nose? Conceivably did you heal from the issue? Obviously you recovered! You can't cure a common cold directly, however your immune system usually establishes resistance to a certain cold virus within several weeks. That is called being cured by your own immune response!
HPV How Did I Get It
Grownups have already had a lot of the runny nose infections. Parents have actually created resistance to the colds they have actually had. Therefore there are not numerous runny nose viruses existing for adults to acquire. That is why adults just get a few colds annually whereas children may get a dozen colds annually.
Assuming somebody does not do anything it could require a couple of years to create resistance to HPV. If an individual takes the author's advice, it takes just a few months to generate immunity to human papilloma virus. The longer one is infected with human papilloma virus, the more likely it can create damage. So it is preferred to establish resistance so as to eliminate HPV when possible.
HPV In Women
Could this be a dilemma: HPV Positive Pap Guidelines?
Many people get puzzled because they think they have actually not created resistance to HPV merely due to the fact that they get contaminated once more by another type of the over 100 HPV infections. But an individual may prevent future direct exposure and also future HPV problems.
- HPV Bumps In Women.
- HPV But Normal Pap Smear.
- HPV C1n1.
- HPV CIN 3 Treatment.
- HPV CIN1.
- HPV Can Be Treated.
HPV Foods To Avoid is a frequently mentioned issue considering that it is applicable to HPV Found In Pap Smear, HPV From Pap Smear, and HPV Full Form.
HPV Positive Pap Guidelines
It matters not just how this book got into your hands. What is of concern is exactly how you make use of such info just like thousands of others that have gotten rid of HPV virus.
Exactly what in the world is human papilloma virus? The writer kept asking this question when she obtained the diagnosis back from her doctor. The author was down and out, perplexed as well as ashamed. The author had lots of inquiries yet she did not like the answers she was getting. HPV virus, a sexually-transmitted issue that may cause cervical cancer cells, is more typical than what we assume. The writer created this publication to assist others eliminate HPV virus.
HPV How Do U Get It
Look at what some people are claiming about this motivating book: "Wow! I purchased the Kindle Version. This book is amazing! I was especially happy as well as delighted by the details I found on page 63 concerning the supplement that you refer to as the magic component in the food recovery phase."
"Thanks for once more for taking the time to share all your research study, as well as way of life change for getting rid of human papilloma virus. Your positive expectation transformed my perspective to myself, and also the virus.
HPV In Throat
What is HPV Positive Pap Guidelines?
You can strengthen the body's immune system and normally create resistance to an HPV virus in literally as short of time as a few months, prior to the time that it can establish any type of momentous infection. (See Book Sneak Preview)
- HPV And Abnormal Pap Test is a commonly mentioned request due to the reason that it is vital to HPV And Atypical Cells, HPV And Biopsy, and HPV And Cancer.
- HPV And Cancer Symptoms is an habitual investigation clearly because it is crucial when pondering HPV And Cervical Cancer Risk, HPV And Cervical Dysplasia, and HPV And Colposcopy.
- HPV And Colposcopy Biopsy is a usually mentioned probe in view of the reason that it has connections with HPV And Cure, HPV And Diet, and HPV And Dysplasia.
HPV Healing Naturally About is a continuing suggestion in light of the fact that it is of concern when thinking about HPV Health, HPV Help, and HPV Herbal Treatment.
HPV How Do You Know You Have It - HPV How Is It Contracted
"This quick-read book provides valid hope to females identified with HPV. I am so delighted I reviewed it several months earlier, since I appreciated her frankness and agree totally that human papilloma virus is an infection, not a moral judgment. Latest medical tests reveal my severe dysplasia has actually disappeared."
HPV Biopsy Results
"As a scientific psycho therapist and yoga instructor, I can vouch for the incredible power of the mind-body link. Thank You For HPV not only resolves the healing power of your mind, it also offers you details devices on ways to reduce your stress degree as well as live with even more wellness, peace as well as joy." (See Book Sneak Preview)
Probably have you heretofore been down with a cold virus? By any chance did you heal from the issue? Obviously you recovered! You will not heal a cold directly, but your system usually establishes resistance to any cold infection within a few weeks. That is called being healed by your own immune system!
HPV High Grade Dysplasia is a prevailing proposal due to the reason that it is of concern when relating to HPV High Risk Positive, HPV Homeopathic Treatment, and HPV Homeopathy.
HPV How Is It Transmitted - HPV How Its Spread
No doubt you will probably get infected by another cold, because there remain several hundred various runny nose viruses. However you will unlikely acquire the exact same runny nose infection that you had before because you have actually developed immunity to that virus.
Adults have currently had a lot of the cold viruses. Grownups have actually developed resistance to the ones they have suffered from. Therefore there are not numerous runny nose infections remaining for adults to acquire. That is why adults just acquire a few runny noses each year whereas kids succumb to a dozen runny noses annually.
HPV In Women Causes
Someone may enhance the immune system and therefore quite simply create resistance to an HPV virus in only a matter of a few months, sooner than it might create any important infection. (Sneak Peak Book Review)
HPV Hope is a relevant inquiry due to the reason that it concerns HPV Hotline, HPV How Can You Get It, and HPV How Common Is It.
Many individuals get perplexed because they believe they have actually not created resistance to human papilloma virus simply because they get contaminated once more by a different type of the more than 100 HPV viruses. Yet somebody may avoid additional direct exposure and additional human papilloma virus infections.
HPV Human Papilloma - HPV Human Papillomavirus Treatment
The book's writer communicates just how she normally reversed the signs of HPV and also entirely recovered her own body of the HPV virus infection by strengthening the body's immune response.
HPV Ayurvedic Treatment - HPV Biopsy
Should you be concerned about HPV Positive Pap Guidelines?
Somebody may reinforce immunity and consequently quite simply develop resistance to an HPV infection in only as short of time as a couple of months, before it could produce any serious damage. (Selected Chapters of Book)
- HPV Colposcopy Biopsy is a relevant proposition considering that it is connected with HPV Colposcopy Guidelines, HPV Colposcopy Results, and HPV Commercial.
- HPV Condyloma is a usually identified supplication on the grounds that it is connected with HPV Contraindications, HPV Controversy, and HPV Cure 2016.
- HPV Cure Coming Soon is a normally mentioned matter in view of the fact that it is of concern when considering HPV Cure In Ayurveda, HPV Cure News, and HPV Cure On The Way.
Guess what individuals are stating about this motivating publication: "Wow! I got the Kindle Edition. This publication is remarkable! I was particularly happy and also excited by the details I discovered on page 63 concerning the nutrient that you describe as the magic ingredient in the food healing chapter."
HPV Positive Pap Guidelines is a continually identified investigation due to the reason that it is of concern when relating to HPV In Women Pictures, HPV Incubation, and HPV Infection Cure.
You could enhance the body's immune system and normally establish immunity to an HPV virus in literally as short of time as a couple of months, prior to the time that it can establish any type of momentous infection. (Short Review of Book)
HPV Immunization - HPV In A Woman
It is so real that your book might assist any lady, including my friend with female cancer cells."
HPV In Women Colposcopy
You can enhance immunity and normally create immunity to an HPV infection in basically as short of time as a few months, sooner than it could establish any kind of significant infection. (Book Review)
HPV Antiviral Supplements
Probably have you previously had a common cold virus? Probably did you heal from the cold? Of course you recovered! You cannot heal a common cold directly, however your immune system typically establishes immunity to a particular cold infection within a couple of days. We call that treated by your personal immune system!
HPV In Men And Women - HPV In Men Cure
No doubt you will probably cave in to a different cold virus, since there remain several hundred various cold infections. But you will unlikely get the very same runny nose virus that you had previously since you have actually developed resistance to that particular cold virus.
Adults have already had a lot of the cold infections. Grownups have established immunity to the viruses they have suffered from. So there are not as many runny nose viruses remaining for parents to acquire. That is why adults just get infected with a few colds each year and youngsters may get 10-12 runny noses annually.
If an individual does not do anything it can require a couple of years to establish resistance to HPV. If someone takes the writer's advice, it takes just a few months to create resistance to HPV. The longer an individual is infected with HPV virus, the more likely it might cause cervical damage. Therefore it is preferred to create resistance so as to get rid of HPV virus as quickly as reasonable.
HPV In Men Home Treatment - HPV In Spanish
Simply this publication sheds light on HPV virus issues, the most typical sexually-transmitted infections in the US, impacting over 20 million males and females. human papilloma virus causes cervical dysplasia, cervical cancer cells, genital excrescences, plantar protuberances, losing unborn babies, the inability to conceive as well as penile cancer cells.
HPV In Women Cure
Why need you be concerned about HPV Positive Pap Guidelines?
The book's expositor shares exactly how she carefully reversed the symptoms of human papilloma virus as well as totally healed her own body of the HPV problem by enhancing the immunity.
- HPV Effects On Females is a typically identified issue in view of the fact that it is of concern when considering HPV Effects On Women, HPV Elimination, and HPV FAQ.
- HPV Foods To Avoid is a normally mentioned matter in view of the reason that it is of concern when relating to HPV Found In Pap Smear, HPV From Pap Smear, and HPV Full Form.
- HPV Goes Away is a frequently noted entreaty due to the fact that it is crucial when considering HPV Grade 1, HPV Grade 2, and HPV Grades.
HPV Positive Pap Guidelines, HPV And Abnormal Cells, HPV And Abnormal Pap, HPV And Abnormal Pap Test, HPV And Abnormal Smear, HPV And Atypical Cells, HPV And Biopsy, HPV And Cancer, HPV And Cancer Symptoms, HPV And Cervical Cancer, HPV And Cervical Cancer Risk, HPV And Cervical Dysplasia | <urn:uuid:d0f3efce-6c5d-48aa-a70d-2546f0dfbfce> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://naturalhealingforhpv.com/p/HP13/HPV-Positive-Pap-Guidelines.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.95638 | 2,517 | 2.578125 | 3 |
If you know anything about Scotland it is probably kilts, bagpipes or whisky. Or perhaps you are a football fan and have heard of Celtic and Rangers? Can you think of anything else that is typical of Scotland?
Scotland has three main geographical areas, the Southern Uplands, the Central Lowlands and the Highlands. In the far north are the islands, the Hebrides, the Orkneys and the Shetlands. The population of Scotland is 5.1 million and most people live in the Central Lowlands. The Highlands in the north are mountainous and beautiful and fewer people live there. Agriculture is important in the south, while, like Norway, oil, tourism and hydroelectric power are important industries. Most of the industry is in the Central Lowlands.
Edinburgh (the capital) and Glasgow (the largest city) are in Central Scotland. People in Scotland speak Scottish Standard English, but there are also languages called Scots and Gaelic.
Scotland and Norway have always had close connections and there are similarities in their landscape and language. Kirk (kirke), bairn (barn) and gate (gate) are Scottish words which come from Scandinavian.
The Scots are proud of their musical traditions, sports and their national costume, the kilt. Only men wear the kilt. Braveheart is a film about Scotland which made the kilt even more popular.
Tasks and Activities
- Who is Braveheart? Use the internet to find out. Why has he become such an important Scottish icon?
- There are many similarities between Norway and Scotland. Make a table like the one below and compare the two countries. | <urn:uuid:fcf3096c-7899-4a9e-9861-b86bb8a2af6b> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://ndla.no/subject:1:9b93cd9e-a45c-428c-a8fb-b4955169efdf/topic:b7e4fc8e-286f-49d4-88f3-4966fffd4aa1/topic:a4b9e38b-35b8-4f22-bf3e-92d215e80ac3/resource:1:63403 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.966738 | 337 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Esther Howland built up a business selling Valentines in her hometown of Worcester, Mass., leaving the city’s fame as the Valentine Capital of America.
Thought she made a fortune promoting romantic sentiments, she never married herself.
Esther Howland was called ‘The Mother of the American Valentine,’ but a more accurate description might have been ‘Mother of the Professional American Woman.’
She was a 19th century businesswoman in Worcester, Mass., who popularized expensive English-style Valentines with lots of lace, colored paper and three-dimensional effects. And her thriving Valentine business employed women for decades.
Esther Howland was born in Worcester in 1828 to Southworth and Esther Howland. Her father owned a large bookbindery and stationery business. She attended Mount Holyoke Academy in South Hadley, Mass., at the same time Emily Dickinson studied there.
After graduating from college, Esther went into the Valentine business. According to one story, she saw Valentines from London in her father’s store. According to another, a business associate of her father’s gave her an English Valentine. Whatever happened, she thought she could make prettier ones herself. She could.
She subsequently ordered lace and colored paper from England and small lithographs from New York. With those materials she made some Valentines and sent them with her salesman brother on his out-of-town customer calls. She said she hoped he came back with $200 in orders, but he returned with $5,000 in orders, an astounding figure for the time that not everyone believes.
What is certain is that Esther Howland’s sentimental, romantic Valentines were popular. She hired some of her friends and set up a Valentine assembly line in her home. For decades she would be a steady employer in Worcester.
The Red H
Esther Howland never married. She was remembered as an aristocratic woman with high color and glossy chestnut hair. She drove high-stepping horses, dressed fashionably and had facials.
Her innovations included layers of lace, wafers of colored paper beneath lace, three-dimensional accordion effects and moving parts. Her cards had a red ‘H’ on the back of the card to distinguish them from rivals. Some of her most elaborate Valentines cost $50.
Since 2001, the U.S. Greeting Card Association has been awarding an annual ‘Esther Howland Award for a Greeting Card Visionary.’
She said her business, the New England Valentine Company, grossed $100,000 annually. In 1874 she moved the Valentine factory from her home to Harrington Corner. Along the way she suffered a knee injury, which forced her to use a wheelchair.
Then in 1881, she sold the company to George C. Whitney, who owned the Whitney Valentine Co. in Worcester. Whitney further expanded the Valentine business.
For many years Whitney’s factory churned out Valentines. Then in 1942, war shortages ended operation of one of the largest greeting card companies in the world.
This story about Esther Howland was updated in 2022. | <urn:uuid:0abeb8c8-987b-46e6-8343-3e216a17783a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/tag/ephemera/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.97133 | 654 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Hair Transplant Basics and History
The Dermatologist Dr. Norman Orentreich introduced hair transplantation in the United States in the late 1950s. Although the basic concept behind hair transplantation is rather simple, self-proclaimed “experts” have shrouded the field in mystery, and these myths have been perpetuated over the years.
The hair growing on the sides and lower part of the back of the head is permanent hair in most people. It persists even in the face of the most extreme degree of male pattern baldness. This permanent hair can be redistributed to cover the areas of the head where the hair has thinned . All hair restoration procedures work through the redistribution of this permanent hair. Women often do not have such a permanent zone of hair in the back and around the sides of the head.
To learn more about the basics of hair transplantation, including what you should know before, during, and after any procedure, please view the following topics:
A Very Brief History of Hair Transplantation
The modern technique of hair transplantation was first described by a Japanese dermatologist named Okuda in 1939. Dr. Okuda, working on severely burned patients, transplanted round grafts of skin containing hair follicles from the permanent hair-bearing areas into slightly smaller round openings in scarred areas of scalp. The grafts continued to produce hair in their new location. Dr. Okuda’s findings were published in a Japanese medical journal, but he died in World War II, and his discovery was lost. Dr. Okuda limited his treatment to burn victims; he may not have realized the possibilities of using this technique to treat baldness.
Another Japanese dermatologist, Tamura, used very small 1- to 2-hair grafts to restore hair in the female pubic region. His techniques were, in many ways, similar to the techniques used today. Unfortunately, because of World War II, the articles describing these techniques were not known to the Western World until many years after Dr. Orentreich had founded the field of Hair Transplantation in the United States.
The principles and techniques of modern hair transplantation were rediscovered by Dr. Norman Orentreich in New York City in the early 1950s. He published his work in 1959 in the Annals of the New York Academy of Science. Interestingly, his original paper was rejected three times by other medical journals as the reviewing physicians did not believe that the procedure could work. Unlike those performing hair transplantation before him, Dr. Orentreich was the first to use this technique to treat male pattern baldness.
Dr. Oreintreich’s discovery was that hair maintained the characteristics of the area from where it came rather than the area to where it was transplanted. This means that hair that was transplanted from the permanent zone in the back of the scalp into the balding area in the front of the scalp would continue to grow as if it had remained in the back of the scalp. He coined the term “Donor Dominance” to explain this basic principle of hair transplantation – that grafts continue to show the characteristics of the donor site at their new location. This principle of donor dominance is due to the fact that the pathogenesis of hair loss is inherent to each individual hair follicle. This is the basic principle behind all hair transplantation.
After experimenting with a number of different size grafts, Dr. Orentreich chose to use 4mm punches (which are about the size of pencil erasers) as his “workhorse”. He chose this size because larger sizes often didn’t grow hair in the center (from oxygen not reaching the core of the graft), and smaller grafts didn’t seem to contain enough hair. At the time, only 20-30 grafts were transplanted in any one session. Over the next twenty years, the punch grafts became smaller and the numbers used per session grew slightly larger. The smaller punches looked better than the larger ones, but the small punches caused a lot of damage to the hair as they were harvested from the donor area, and the smaller the punch, the greater the problem.
The problem was partially solved by removing the donor tissue in thin strips using a multi-bladed knife, but this had its own problems with cutting hair follicles (transection) and causing damage. The era of mini-micrografting of the late 80’s and early 90’s evolved from this multiple-strip method where the thin strips were subsequently cut into different sized grafts based upon the approximate number of hairs the doctors wanted them to contain. A more accurate term for the procedure is mini-micrografts “cut to size”, since the doctor cut the grafts to the size he wanted rather than with respect to the way they grew.
Hair Transplantation Today
In 1993, Rassman introduced the Densitometer, an instrument that could directly measure hair density. He stressed the importance of accurately quantifying donor density and assessing hair supply in the surgical planning. Densitometry made hair transplantation truly “scientific”.
In 1994, Limmer published a paper describing a technique he had been using since the late 1980s. With this technique, he harvested the donor area in a single ellipse (long oval) and used a microscope to generate small micrografts while avoiding transection of hair follicles. At the International Hair Restoration meeting that year in Toronto, Dr. Rassman presented 22 live patents that popularized the Megasession (a technique using large numbers of small grafts) that was first described by Uebel in Brazil.In the 1995 publication “Follicular Transplantation”, Bernstein and Rassman proposed that the ideal hair restoration surgery should consist of performing the entire transplant with naturally occurring individual follicular units, and that these units should be used in large numbers. They detailed the advantages of this procedure and introduced the term “follicular unit” to modern hair transplantation. In 1998, the name of the procedure was changed to Follicular Unit Transplantation. Today, the majority of physicians use mini-micrografting techniques which, compared to Follicular Unit Transplantation, are faster and easier to perform. Those physicians who practice Follicular Unit Transplantation feel that this procedure offers the patient so many advantages in naturalness, indectability, and preservation of donor supply.
Besides Mini-micrografting and Follicular Unit Transplantation, some doctors still use small punches or slivers of tissue placed into long slits (slit grafting). The use of scalp reductions, scalp lifts and flaps, as well as laser hair transplantation, has fallen from popularity in recent years (with good reason), but patients can still find doctors using all of these techniques.
The newest method, NHI Medical’s FUE procedure (Follicular Unit Excision) enables the surgeon to literally extract individual follicular units, one by one, from the donor area without a linear incision.
When you arrive for your hair transplant, the NHI Medical staff will begin by going over the activities for the surgery. Your NHI Medical physician will review the goals that have been established and will answer any last minute question that you might have. The doctor will take the time to be sure that there are no outstanding issues, areas of confusion or concerns. The surgical consent forms that had been sent to you are reviewed and signed followed by the taking of pre-surgical photographs. Mild medication is given to relax you and to make you more comfortable. We also give routine antibiotics during the procedure, but not afterwards.
Length of the Procedure
Your FUT or FUE procedure may require many hours of work by a team of professionals. Some of the longest procedures (between 2000-2500+ grafts) may take hours of surgery, and during that time, many highly trained technicians and nurses will participate in the process. The work must be organized efficiently so that the total length of the procedure for the patient will be minimized. On average, a procedure of 1500 grafts would last about 6 hours.
The Surgical Experience
The procedure may be long, but for the patient, the time goes by quickly. You are lightly sedated so that you can sleep if you desire. Most patients choose to watch TV or movies for at least part of the time. We try to make your experience enjoyable so that the actual time the surgery takes is transparent. Some patients may choose to be fully awake the entire procedure.
A relaxed and informal atmosphere is encouraged so that the day stands out as one of the better, more pleasurable experiences ever encountered. The patient takes a series of breaks – to the bathroom, to eat lunch, to eat an ice cream sundae, or to just stretch and move around. Not infrequently, patients tell us that the experience of being the center focus of the day’s activities is wonderful, and they further state that watching all of those people working on them was like watching an orchestra playing beautiful music, while having people catering to their every need!
After preparatory medication is given orally, the actual anesthesia begins. We use a combination of Lidocaine (Xylocaine) which you have probably been given by your dentist, and a longer acting local anesthetic called Marcaine. Injections around the perimeter of the scalp (called a ring block) will make your entire scalp numb, and although this is uncomfortable, a little hand-holding will get you through it just fine. With this technique, there is no need to use anesthesia directly in the area that is being transplanted. Once anesthetization is complete, there is generally no pain or discomfort during the remainder of the procedure. If you do require more, it will be given before the first anesthetic wears off.
The Surgical Team
The procedures can be long, and during the initial period when the donor hair is removed, the surgical team must work without stopping. NHI Medical boasts what we consider to be the world’s most highly skilled surgical team performing FUT and FUE. The team must prepare the grafts according to the surgeon’s exacting specifications. The preparation of 2,000 or more grafts and placing them into the recipient area may take a team hours of intensive, concentrated work. Care must be taken to keep the surgical team free of stress. Just as the patient needs a break, so do team members. At NHI Medical, we focus on the needs of our staff as well as the patient to ensure that the best-trained staff in the world is always operating at peak performance.
The Donor Scalp
After a strip of donor scalp is removed, it is temporarily placed into a container with chilled Lactated Ringer’s, a solution that closely mimics the body’s own natural fluids. The area from where the donor strip is removed is sutured closed. This usually leaves a fine scar that heals in a week or two, with the sutures either self-dissolving or being removed in that time frame. Ideally, the scar may heal well enough that it is almost undetectable even when the hair is combed back by a barber or hairdresser. After the tissue has been harvested, the individual follicular units (each containing from 1 to 4 hairs) are meticulously dissected out in their naturally occurring groups under strict stereo-microscopic control. The grafts are trimmed of extraneous fatty tissue and the bald intervening skin between the groups is discarded.
The isolation of individual, naturally occurring follicular units that were obtained from the donor area is an essential part of Follicular Unit Transplantation. If this step is not done correctly, the follicles can be injured and growth can be impaired. It is important that these steps be carried out only by a highly experienced surgical team.
Grafts and Blood Supply
A number of hours may pass between the time the donor grafts are removed from the back of the scalp to the time they are placed into the recipient area. Care must be taken to preserve the viability of the grafts during this process. The procedure starts with the removal of a strip of scalp from the donor area. Once the strip is removed, it is immediately immersed into a cold bath of Lactated Ringer’s saline to lower its temperature. Once the individual follicular unit grafts are prepared, they are cooled to 38-40C and kept at this temperature while awaiting placement. The solution, in our hands, is an organ preservation solution used in many organ transplants since it has the best track record for preserving the hair grafts. We feel that, if it is good enough for your lungs, heart or kidneys, it is good enough for your hair. The solution is expensive, so most hair transplant doctors don’t use it to save a few hundred dollars.
Many people have the impression that hair transplantation is a “bloody procedure.” In our hands, it is not. At NHI Medical, we have developed surgical techniques that greatly minimize the amount of bleeding in all aspects of the procedure. Of course, we take great precautions to protect ourselves from all blood-born agents, and our patients and staff are routinely tested for HIV and hepatitis for everyone’s protection and safety.
The Surgical Suite
The surgical team wears masks, surgical gloves, and gowns, and uses instruments that are sterile. The procedure is performed while the patient sits in a comfortable, adjustable reclining chair. For added comfort, the Suites are equipped with music, TV, and an assortment of movies.
After the anesthesia is administered, the patient should feel nothing other than pressure sensations. Many patients have long, friendly conversations with the doctor and assistants during the time it takes to complete the transplant. Occasionally, a patient will speak to friends or conduct business transactions during the surgery on their cell phones. Of course, we would prefer that you just take the day off and relax.
The atmosphere in the treatment area will make the patient feel secure and relaxed. Concern and compassion on the part of the doctor and medical staff make a tremendous difference, and we will expend great effort to make sure that your experience is a pleasant one.
Making the Recipient Sites
The creating of the recipient sites determines much of the aesthetic look of the transplant. It determines the angle at which the new hair grows and determines the distribution and density of the grafts. This is a very important part of the procedure and requires considerable artistic knowledge and surgical skill. It may be the one part of the procedure where your NHI Medical physician is silent as he or she concentrates on making these sites. Don’t be concerned if they aren’t chatty during this time.
Your NHI Medical physician is accustomed to working in and around existing hair, so you need not cut your hair short for the procedure. Your existing hair may help to cover any traces of the transplant.
Placement of New Grafts
Placing is the longest part of the procedure. The placement process is exacting, and during this time you will be asked to keep your head relatively still. Watching TV or even sleeping will make the time go quickly. You can takes breaks as needed to eat and use the bathroom.
When placing is complete, photos are taken and post-op instructions are given to you verbally and in writing. A tennis bandage is placed around your head, and a baseball cap is worn home. No bandages are required on the transplanted area.
After Your Procedure
The night of the surgery (and for the next few nights after that) you are encouraged to sleep with your head elevated on pillows. You will be given medication to help you sleep if needed. The morning after surgery, you can remove the bandage and you will be instructed to shower and gently clean the transplanted area with a special shampoo. The follicular unit grafts are made to fit snugly in the recipient site and will not be dislodged in the shower provided you follow the instruction given to you. After your first shower, no further bandages are required.
If the post-operative instructions are followed carefully, the transplant is barely detectable in most patients after a few days, and practically undetectable after the first week. We will give you medication for swelling, but in spite of this, some patients experience swelling of the forehead that settles around the bridge of the nose over the course of the next several days. If this occurs, it is almost always gone in the first week and should not be a cause for concern.
Frequently, the newly transplanted grafts can be made less noticeable by minor changes in hair style and a little bit of hair spray to cover the area. Skin-colored makeup can be used to cover any redness that lasts more than a week. Makeup consultants in large drug stores and department stores can help you choose the appropriate shade and type of makeup. Any problem of visibility can also be minimized by altering the appearance of your face. If you do not shave for a while, most people will focus upon your new beard, not on your head. If you have a mustache or a beard, consider taking it off for the first few weeks and then letting it grow back.
We like you to come into the office the morning after your procedure to give you your first hair wash, teach you how to do it, and to answer questions. We also like to see if there is anything else you need. You will be given a follow-up appointment approximately two weeks after your procedure. For patients who live far from the office, we will often use absorbable sutures that don’t have to be removed so that their follow-ups can be handled by phone.
Patients often worry about the potential visibility of their new grafts. Scabbing or crusts that tend to form on the scalp surface should be washed off as they accumulate for the first few days following the surgery. With the very small sites used in Follicular Unit Transplantation, no new crusts may form after the second day unless the wash is not done properly. Other than the stubble transplanted hair and some faint redness in a few patients, or some swelling on the third day for a few patients who do not respond to the steroids we give them to reduce the swelling, the transplant should not be visible after the first week.
The following chart shows the anticipated course for the average patient undergoing Follicular Unit Transplantation, regardless of the size of the session. It is intended to serve as a general guide. It is normal for there to be significant variability between people, and even between sessions in the same person. Therefore, if you do not follow the course exactly as outlined, do not be concerned.
|TIME POST-OP||TRANSPLANTED AREA||DONOR SUTURED AREA|
|Next Day||Hair is washed thoroughly. Grafts should be clean of blood.||Some soreness, tightness and numbness.|
|2-3 Days||Scabbing is largely gone. Moderate redness may be present. Some swelling may appear on forehead.||Soreness begins to disappear. Some numbness may continue.|
|1 Week||Redness is minimal to absent. Swelling is usually gone. 1st Post-op Visit.||Soreness is generally gone. Occasionally some numbness persists.|
|2 Weeks||Looks and feels like a 4-day-old beard.||Sutures begin to absorb. Discomfort is gone. Numbness is uncommon.|
|2-8 Weeks||Transplanted hair is shed as the follicles enter a dormant phase.||Knots at the ends of the absorbable sutures fall off.|
|2-4 Months||Some original hair may be shed in the transplanted area.||Any residual numbness in the donor area is generally gone.|
|3-6 Months||Transplanted hair begins to grow first as very fine hair.|
|5-10 Months||Some or all of the original hair that was shed begins to grow.|
|8 Months||Hair is groomable, but transplant appears thin as hair continues to grow and thicken. Slight textural change in hair is occasionally present.|
|8-12 Months||Patient is evaluated for a possible second procedure.|
|1 Year||90% of the final appearance of procedure is usually present.|
|1-2 Years||There may be additional fullness during the second year. Any textural change in hair usually returns to normal.|
Assessing Hair Loss
The first step in making a rational assessment of the extent of your hair loss is to compare your present hairline with the hairline on a photograph taken a few years ago. This will give you an approximate idea of how much hair loss has occurred and the rapidity of the process. The unknown factor for most men is the extent of hair loss in the crown area. Looking in a mirror is one way to appraise the loss at the back of your head. The best way to accurately assess the hair loss in this area is to have someone take a picture of the back of your head. For an accurate reading, the picture should be taken with a flash, or in good lighting.
Knowing the hair loss patterns of your father, grandfather, and brothers will help suggest what may happen to you. You may not follow one of their patterns, but it is a reasonable way to estimate what pattern you might develop. Take a look at the patterns of hair loss below to learn more.
A visit to a physician who specializes in hair restoration is a worthwhile step. A thorough history and examination of the scalp can reveal the extent and trend of the hair loss process. With the use of the Hair Densitometer, a special magnifying apparatus invented and patented by Dr. William Rassman, and with a special instrument which can measure hair bulk (called the haircheck instrument, which measures the actual volume of hair), the physician can measure the actual degree of hair loss in various areas of the scalp.
This has the advantage of establishing a baseline from which the hair loss can be graded over time. If you decide to treat the process with a drug like Minoxidil, a repeat examination in 6-12 months may show the effectiveness of the treatment. Careful assessment of the hair loss process is critical to accurate prediction of the rate and extent of hair loss. We have seen young men who have no evidence of any hair loss, yet they are convinced that they are losing hair, and when we measure the hair bulk in different areas of the head with the haircheck instrument, we can validate or reject this premise regardless of what we see since the eye cannot tell a loss of as much as 30% or more of the hair in any particular area of the head. Because hair loss causes loss of hair bulk over time, these tests show a general direction of your hair loss and a skilled doctor can project just what hair loss pattern you might develop.
The scientific way to assess your degree of baldness is to compare your pattern with the standard patterns described by Dr. O’Tar Norwood (detailed below). They depict the most common configurations of male pattern baldness. There are seven grades of hair loss in the main series and five grades of a variation called the “A” series. Comparing your own front and back with these diagrams can tell you where you stand. Discussion with a knowledgeable physician can give you some idea of what is likely to be in your future based upon their examination of you. This will allow you to develop a Master Plan for your hair loss, both short and long term.
Norwood Classes Explained
In 1975, Dr. O’Tar Norwood developed a classification of male pattern hair loss that is widely used today.
He divided androgenetic hair loss in men into two common patterns: the Regular Type, characterized by hair loss that begins in two different areas (at the hairline and in the crown) and these two areas may gradually merge into one. The less common Type “A” patterns are characterized by “front-to-back” hair loss. In men, 99% of hair loss is genetic, and hair loss that is not genetic usually does not conform to the patterns below.
Some women also lose hair according to the pattern described by Norwood, but more commonly have a diffuse thinning process (thinning all over), rather than patterned variety. Pattern balding does occur in women, but when they do, they do not develop the patterns described by Norwood, but rather patterns described by Hamilton. The Norwood patterns shown below do not progress from 2 to 7. The hairs that are actually lost in these male patterns form a gradual process. In other words, if your father has a Class 7 pattern, he developed it most probably before the age of 30, often never going though the other patterns shown below.
Hair loss always progresses over the years, although the rate can vary dramatically from person to person, and the rate of loss can vary significantly. For example, a man may lose hair rapidly in his early 40s and then stabilize for many years, not showing a significant amount of additional hair loss until his 60s. People who become extensively bald usually show most of their hair loss in their 20s (but not always). It is the doctor’s job to help you slow this progression down with the use of medications that often work well.
In general, the pattern of one’s hair loss follows the specific type first presented. On a thorough examination by a good doctor, the bulk measurements, regardless of what can be seen with the naked eye, will show loss of bulk in the Class 5 pattern despite the reality that what you see may just be a Class 3 pattern. A Class 3a pattern may become a Class 4a and then a Class 5a pattern, but again, the bulk measurements will mostly show some early hair loss in the entire Class 5a pattern, regardless of what you see. Rarely, a Class 2 may thin diffusely and directly evolve into a Class 6 or 7 pattern. One rare but significant form of balding is a condition called Diffuse Un-Patterned Alopecia (DUPA) which will impact the entire hair baring scalp. This type of condition may be associated with one of the patterns of hair loss, but if this diagnosis is made, it should never be transplanted. A doctor should be able to find out if you have DUPA by using a hand microscope on the hair in the donor area (the hair around the sides and back of your head). DUPA will show miniaturized hairs in excess of 20% of the hairs in these areas. Unfortunately, this diagnosis is rarely made by hair transplant doctors, and these kind of patients receive hair transplants that eventually result in hair loss deformities and hair transplant failures.
Look over the following diagrams to see if you can recognize your pattern or the pattern of hair loss of any male member in your family tree. The patterns you see in your older relatives may become your pattern since heredity plays an important role in androgenetic baldness. It is important to know the age at which the family member reached a specific pattern. For example, if your father is totally bald but lost all of his hair in his 20s, and you are 35 with only a Class 4a pattern, his extensive hair loss pattern has little relevance to predicting your future loss.
Regular Norwood Classes
Type I • No recession
- “Adolescent” or “Juvenile” hairline
Type II • Temporal recession (less than an inch)
- “Mature” hairline which can be identified by lifting your eyebrows, allowing your forehead to crease, and then placing your finger on the highest crease. The mature hairline is one finger breadth above the highest crease and takes on a gentle V shape.
Type III • Further frontal recession
- Deeper recession at corners
- Earliest stage of balding
Type IIIv • Hairloss predominantly in vertex (crown)
- Frontal hairline recession may or may not be present
Type IV • Further frontal hair loss and temporal recession
- Enlargement of vertex (crown)
- Solid band of hair across top separating front from vertex (generally ear-to-ear)
Type V • Frontal and temporal areas enlarge further
- Band separating the two areas becomes narrower and sparser, often disappearing. The fringe area above the ears may remain high.
Type VI • Frontal and vertex balding areas merge into one and increase in size, and the fringe area may lower.
Type VII • Narrow horseshoe band of hair
- Low hairline in the back and sides (about a 3-inch-high band of hair)
- This hair is considered permanent lifetime hair, and the zone is called the permanent zone. This is also the area we consider the good donor area for hair transplants since these hairs almost always last the lifetime of the person.
Type A Variant Norwood Classes
- Frontal recession keeps advancing backwards
- Single area of balding
- Eventual extent of balding tends to be more limited than in Regular classes
Type IIa • Entire frontal hairline recedes
Type IIIa • Entire frontal hairline recedes further
Type IVa • Hair loss moves past this “mid-coronal” line
Type Va • Hair loss extends towards the vertex
- Back part of bald area is narrower than in the regular Norwood VI
How much hair do I need?
|Norwood Class||Follicular Units||Total Units with Crown*|
|III||1000-1500+||** –(depends upon extent of recession and thickness of hair shafts)|
|IIIv||1500-2500+||1000-1500+ (depends upon extent of recession and thickness of hair shafts)|
|IV||1100-2000+||1500-2000+ (depends upon extent of recession and thickness of hair shafts)|
|IVa||1500-2500+||– (depends upon extent of recession and thickness of hair shafts)|
|VI||2000-4000+||2800-6000+ (depends upon extent of recession and thickness of hair shafts)|
|VII||4000-8000+||– (depends upon extent of recession and thickness of hair shafts)|
Over the past few years, we have tried to put a number on the amount of hair and grafts any given person might need. We have found that our patients want more hair than we initially believed. At NHI Medical, patient procedures are planned to ensure natural-looking results after each session. However, some of our patients elect to undergo further sessions to enhance their appearance. A recurring question is how much hair does NHI Medical recommend? The number of grafts recommended is highly dependent on information our doctors gather during a private consultation with you, as well as your hair’s texture and coarseness. Your expectations are also factored in.
The total number of follicular units generally transplanted in the first session for specific Norwood classifications are listed above. In general, the higher the donor density, the greater the number of hairs each follicular unit will contain, and the more hair that can be transplanted in a single session. With low donor density, little scalp laxity, or poor hair characteristics, these numbers may not be achievable.
Hair Loss Myths
Because people are so attached to their hair, a number of myths have sprung up regarding hair. When and why it goes gray, what causes baldness, and how baldness can be prevented are just a few of topics of focus. This page turns an objective eye to hair myths so you can separate the serious from the silly when it comes to hair loss.
Myth 1: Hair loss comes from your mother’s side of the family.
The idea that you inherit a baldness gene only from your mother’s side of the family is a myth. The inheritance of common baldness appears to be found on the autosomal — the non-sex-related — chromosomes, which means that baldness can come from either parent. Moreover, the baldness gene is a dominant gene, meaning that you need only one gene on one chromosome to express the balding trait, although multiple genes appear to influence the balding process.
You can get some insight into baldness by examining balding patterns in your relatives. If you have an uncle, father, or grandfather who is bald or balding, find out when he started to lose his hair; it may be an indication as to when you may go bald. Just don’t put all the blame on Mom if you start to lose your hair. It’s not her fault!
Women also inherit the thinning or balding patterns found in their families, but the patterns that are inherited are distinctly women’s patterns, not men’s patterns. This suggests that the inheritance patterns in women do not follow the inheritance patterns in men. Women with hair loss or thinning will frequently report that they take after their mom, grandmother (either side of the family), sister, aunt, etc.
Myth 2: Wearing Hats Causes Hair Loss
More than a few people believe that hats are to blame for baldness based on the idea that hats cut off air circulation to the scalp and prevent the scalp from breathing. What they don’t know is that hair follicles get oxygen from the bloodstream, not the air, so you can’t suffocate your hair follicles just by wearing a hat. The baseball cap so often worn by men whose hair is thinning doesn’t cause baldness — it hides baldness.
WARNING: Hats that fit tightly on the head are another story. These hats may cause thinning around the sides of the head where constant traction is applied to the hair. Hats worn all the time for cultural and religious reasons (such as turbans and yarmulkes) may cause hair loss, too. In rare cases, sports helmets have been known to cause traction alopecia in athletes who wear their helmets too often, particularly if the helmet rubs repeatedly against an area of the scalp.
Myth 3: If You Don’t See Hair in the Drain, You Aren’t Balding
You don’t go bald because your hair is falling out; you go bald because your normal, thick hair is gradually being replaced by finer, thinner hair in a process called miniaturization. Yet people who are sensitive to the prospect of going bald often obsessively scrutinize the shower drain and the hairbrush for evidence of impending baldness.
Most people lose about 100 hairs daily, but grow another 100 hairs daily to replace what is lost. Some of the lost hairs wind up in your shower drain or hairbrush, or they may just fall off as you go about your normal activity, responding to whatever your environment dishes out.
Massive hair loss appearing in the shower drain should alarm you, but insidious, progressive loss may be far more subtle. If progressive loss persists over time, you may lose far more hair than you’ll ever see in the shower drain. This is particularly the case with female hair loss.
Myth 4: Excessive Use of Hair Chemicals and Hot Irons Kills Your Hair
Hair isn’t alive, so hair products or hot irons can’t “kill” hair, although they may cause hair damage to these “dead” hairs which have fatty structures that give them the fine texture we all try to improve with various products. As long as the damage caused by hair products is limited to the hair and not the growing hair follicles below the skin, hair will regrow from the follicles at a rate of a 1/2 inch per month. Some women treat their hair with chemicals to straighten their hair, and some of these chemicals work their way into the hair follicles and damage or kill them below the skin. Many straighteners and dyes can do this, so great care is critical in knowing what you can and can not get away with.
Damaging hair follicles below the skin, however, can cause baldness. When inexperienced people apply chemicals such as unsafe dyes or relaxing agents to the hair and scalp, the caustic chemicals may work their way into the growing part of the hair follicle and damage or kill the hair follicle at its root. More powerful chemicals stay on the scalp, penetrating into the pores of the skin where the hair follicles are, resulting in permanent hair loss or hair that may never look “healthy.”
Applying dyes, chemicals, or hot irons (even hair rollers that are too hot) can cause the hair to become fragile and break off as these hot irons may burn off the fatty layers in each hair shaft. Hair breakage and split ends are most common in people with long hair because the hair is around for a longer amount of time before being cut, so it’s more susceptible to damage from washing, wind, drying, and sunlight as well as chemicals such as relaxers and hair dyes.
Myth 5: Hair Loss Is Caused by Decreased Blood Flow
One hair loss myth says that standing on your head increases the flow of blood to your scalp and thereby improves hair regrowth and regeneration. Although the act may entertain the neighbors and give you a unique look on life, specialists agree that standing on your head has no impact whatsoever on hair loss. Growing hair does require a significant amount of blood flow, but after you lose hair, blood flow to your scalp decreases because you just don’t need it without the hair.
There’s a cause and effect issue here, but it’s important to remember that the hair loss occurs before the blood flow decreases. Decreased blood flow to the scalp isn’t the cause of the hair loss, but rather the result of it. The absolute proof of this is that, when good hair is placed into a bald scalp with decreased blood flow, the blood flow returns when the hair starts growing.
Myth 6: Magnets Increase Hair Growth
In the early days of electricity, magnetic devices were commonly sold in local newspapers as a cure for hair loss. Magnetic therapy, a kind of alternative medicine, holds that magnetic fields can yield health benefits by improving blood flow. Backers of the therapy claim that it can be used to treat arthritic joints, circulation problems, and erectile dysfunction.
Over the years, we’ve been asked many times whether magnets can increase hair growth. The answer is a definitive “no.” Even if magnetic fields did affect blood flow, increasing blood flow to the scalp doesn’t prevent hair loss or regenerate hair.
Myth 7: Brushing Your Hair Is Better Than Combing It
When you tug and pull a comb or brush through the tangles and knots in your hair, you may pull out a few hairs, but they’ll grow back because brushing and combing healthy hair doesn’t disturb the hair follicles below the skin surface. Brushing the hair isn’t necessarily better than combing because the real issue is how you brush or comb the particular kind of hair you have. Tugging on knotted hair isn’t good even for healthy hair, but hair that has already started being miniaturized is more susceptible to loss from any kind of rough treatment, including with a comb or brush.
TIP: You’re less likely to damage your hair using a wide-tooth plastic comb or brushes as opposed to a metal comb, or one with finer, tighter teeth; these combs tend to be rougher and more traumatic to the hair shaft. When brushing or combing, direct your motion in the direction of hair growth so that the hair shaft (the grain of the hair) is in line with your brushstrokes.
Myth 8: Cutting or Shaving Your Hair Makes It Grow Back Thicker
Getting frequent haircuts doesn’t make your hair grow more thickly, but it’s easy to see how this particular myth came about. When hair is cut short, it gets scratchy like sandpaper, and when you run your fingers through this scratchy hair, it seems thicker than it did before. But it’s not thicker — it’s just shorter. Hair grows on average at a rate of a 1/2 inch per month.
Myth 9: Hair Loss Is Caused by Clogged Pores
Many dishonest people claim that clogged pores are the cause of hair loss. Some folks build huge businesses around massaging hair and “treating” the clogged hair follicles to allow the hair to come through the skin.
If common baldness were simply due to clogged pores, you wouldn’t need anything more than rigorous shampooing to maintain a full head of hair. You have probably seen men and women who do not wash their hair often, but who don’t seem to have a problem with balding. Men in particular buy into the clogged pore myth because they feel helpless at watching their hair fall out; when someone tells them that frequent massaging and the use of special lotions will free up these clogged pores, they buy into it.
Myth 10: Frequent Shampooing Causes Hair to Fall Out
When you notice your hair starting to thin, you may blame your shampoo. You notice shed hair in the bathtub or shower and decide to shampoo less often to keep from losing hair. As a result, hair that would normally come out in the bath or shower builds up on the scalp. With the next shampoo, you see even more hair loss, confirming your original suspicion that shampooing causes baldness. Thus another hair myth gains footing.
REMEMBER: Hereditary baldness isn’t caused by hair falling out, but by normal hair which is gradually being replaced by finer, thinner hair, and eventually doesn’t get replaced. Shampoo has nothing to do with baldness.
Myth 11: Hair Loss Stops When You Get Older
This myth is partly true because hair loss slows down in men as they age. Usually, men over the age of 60 see only marginal loss, if they have any hair loss at all. For women, the exact opposite is true: With age and the loss of the protective hormone estrogen, women with genetic hair loss find that the hair loss process that starts during menopause gets progressively worse as they age. They also note a change in their hair character where the hair becomes finer.
Donor Area Harvesting
The limits of a safe donor area extraction of grafts over the lifetime of a patient depends mostly on the donor density found in that person’s donor area. There is a relationship between the donor supply and the recipient area demand for grafts. The larger the need for hair (the balder you are), the more the donor area must be harvested; however, there are limits to how many grafts the donor area can supply, particularly in the very bald patient. We are all born with different donor densities. The Caucasian has generally the highest donor density (typically 110,000 hairs total). The Asian patient often has 20% less hair than the Caucasian patient (between 88,000-90,000 hairs on their head), and the African patient has between 30-40% less total hair on their head (between 66,000-77,000 hairs). Regardless of the total hair count, the permanent zone reflects only approximately 20% of the total original hair population, so the only place that hair can be extracted is from the 20% fringe, which conforms to the balding patient shown below. Hair always remains in this zone regardless of a person’s genetic balding pattern, and it is this zone of hair that the hair transplant surgeon focuses on as a source of donor hair.
It should be evident by looking at figure 1 that the size of the bald area is much larger than the size of the permanent zone where hair still remains (five times larger), so the key to having a good hair transplant surgeon is to find a doctor who understands how to exploit this very privileged and limited donor area and not produce balding in the donor zone where the hair was taken from. The two patients in Figure 2 had too many FUE grafts removed. They both have some degree of permanent balding or thinning in the donor area, resulting from overharvesting of FUE grafts. The man on the left has not yet allowed his hair to grow out to see if he gets any “cover” from longer hair. Doctors would like you to believe that FUE is a scarless surgery, but as you look at the man on the left, it is clear that he is very scarred and will have to cover the scar somehow. The patient on the right covers the thin donor area by keeping his hair longer. Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP) can usually provide camouflage to this balding area, especially when the hair is kept longer, but SMP is not hair – it is a cosmetic tattoo that works to mimic the fullness that hair brings. The message here is that donor site depletion reflects poor planning on the doctor’s part, and poor education on the patient’s part, because each patient must hold their surgeon responsible for any balding in the donor area, especially if it came as a surprise after the FUE was done.
The donor area contains approximately 20% of the patient total hair count, so for a typical Caucasian who often has more hair than Asians and Africans, the donor area has approximately 23,000 hairs, or 10,450 follicular units or grafts (each follicular unit contains approximately 2.2 hairs). Likewise, the Asian has approximately 8,360 grafts and the African has approximately only 6,270 grafts in this permanent zone. In modern FUE transplant surgery, the surgeon tries to move only the follicular units with more hair (2-4 hairs each) because the use of the follicular units that have more hair is what makes the hair transplant look fuller. In the Asian, the number of 3 and 4 hair grafts are few, if any, so the surgeon tries to excise the two hair grafts to get the greatest amount of hair from these patients. The permanent donor hair population is an absolute number for each patient, and that number will be lower each and every time you have an FUE performed. Sooner or later, the donor supply will run out of grafts as more and more hair is moved to the balding area, and the donor area will become thinner and thinner. Ask your doctor “(a) How many grafts can be taken from my donor area for the hair transplant procedure, and (b) how many grafts will remain after the surgery is done for future needs?” Never go forward with a hair transplant without understanding the answer to these two questions, and be sure that your surgeon understands this as well.
To answer these questions, we always measure the donor density of our patients. For a typical Caucasian with wavy, dark, brown hair and tan skin, the surgeon can safely remove approximately 6,272 follicular grafts in total, leaving behind approximately 4,180 grafts to provide the needed cover for the donor area. When the skin is very pale, or the hair is very straight or fine in character, or if the hair is black, then the limit for harvesting grafts might be less than 6,272 grafts. On the other hand, if the hair is coarser, or the hair is blonde, salt and pepper, or white in color, or the hair is very curly or kinky (typical African hair), the total number of potentially harvested grafts may be much higher as a percentage of the patient’s donor supply.
Those patients destined to develop advanced patterns of balding are caught in a conundrum: The larger the area of projected need, the more distributed the grafts must be when transplanted. The more distributed the hair is placed, the thinner will be the look of the end result. Overall harvesting numbers are altered downward in the various races (Asians and Africans), with calculations that are similar to those described in the Caucasian model illustrated above.
With strip surgery, the excision of the grafts is only performed in the center of the permanent donor area; however, with FUE, the extractions are spread throughout the donor area. For this reason, strip surgeries can often harvest more grafts than FUE. Determination of a safe extraction area in FUE must avoid extracting from areas that are likely to be affected by the genetic balding process. This usually means excluding the hair in the nape of the neck (which is not permanent hair) and the upper lateral fringe regions of the donor area. In the illustration in Figure 3 below, the donor area was harvested outside the safe permanent zone (above and below it), so we can expect that this patient will eventually lose those hairs that were not taken from the non-permanent donor zone. Unfortunately, these patients may end up with significant scars from the FUE excision, similar to those shown in Figure 2 above. The surgeon was very irresponsible when he/she pushed the harvested FUE numbers higher in this patient since the extractions were extended well outside the safe zone.
The most important number in calculating the donor supply is the donor density, which may vary widely from person to person, even in people of the same racial background. This number will tell the surgeon how many total grafts the donor area can support over the lifetime of the patient (as discussed above). Since genetic hair loss in men is not stable, and patients with genetic balding may expect further hair loss for years, your present balding pattern most probably will advance as you age. For extraction estimates, the “average” number of available grafts is higher when the donor density is higher, but it is also lower when the donor density is lower. The calculated harvested numbers are influenced by many other factors, such as the thickness of the hair shafts in the donor area; fine, medium, or coarse (coarse hair is the best of hair thicknesses), the character of the hair; straight, wavy, curly, or kinky (curly or kinky hair is the best of hair characteristics), the color-contrast between hair and skin (lower contrast allows more donor grafts, so blonde- or white-haired men are terrific candidates for larger graft harvesting sessions), and the angle the hair exits from the donor area. This is knowledge that your surgeon must know and discuss with you when estimating a specific number of grafts for a surgical session, and in assessing your overall remaining donor supply over your lifetime. The 3-dimensional properties impacting the appearance of hair volume (e.g., straight vs. wavy or curly hair, the exit angle of the hair, and planned hair length that the patient wishes to have after the FUE is completed) can influence the surgeon’s decision on the number of grafts to harvest. It is the doctor’s job to determine the safe maximum extraction density per square centimeter for each and every patient, always leaving enough residual hair in the donor area to (a) cover the extractions that were taken, and (b) to be available for a future time as needed.
If, a bright light accentuates a see-through scalp visibility, one might anticipate that the patient has fine hair. People with coarse hair, on the other hand, never have a see-through look unless they lose their hair. Longer hair covers better than shorter hair because it provides more hair bulk to create the illusion of fullness. Very short hair in the donor area (i.e., stubble) eliminates any contribution from hair length, wave, or curl, and strongly reduces the contribution of even the better, coarser hair thickness in producing coverage. Short hair also seems to accentuate the “empty spaces” left by the FUE from where each graft was taken.
An Example of Safe Total Maximal Extractions over Lifetime of the Patient
|Hairs on Head||Donor Density Hairs/mm2||Strip Grafts||FUE Grafts|
FUEs remove the anatomic follicular units (grafts). The above chart defines the graft limit based upon the original donor density. The lower your donor density, the smaller will be a safe FUE or strip extraction surgery.
Strip surgery is a good alternative or possibly a good second surgery, because the graft removals are done in the center of the donor area and are easily concealed by the surrounding hairs. The appearance of a linear scar is a risk when too many strip procedures are done, but for just 1- or-2 strip surgeries, the overall linear scarring risk may be limited to one that measures just a couple of millimeters in width for most people, certainly far less scarring than shown in the patient on the left in Figure 2.
Conclusion: Donor harvesting is as much an art as it is a science. It demands that the doctor understand the nuances of relationships between donor density, hair thickness, the color/contrast between hair and skin, hair character, and the exit angle of the donor hair. It is important for you, as a patient, to understand this as well, because if you don’t, and your surgeon does not, then you run the risk of developing balding in the donor area. The chart may help you judge the numbers offered to you by your surgeon.
Hair Loss Causes
Throughout history, man has searched for the cause of hair loss. It is only in recent years, with greater knowledge of genetics and the chemistry of sexual hormones, that we have begun to understand the causes. One thing that we do know for certain: no matter what we eat, what our lifestyles may be, or what kind of vitamins we take, we never grow more hair follicles than we were born with. The average Caucasian is born with 100,000 hairs, the average Asian with 80,000 hairs, and the average African with 60,000 hairs. The character and the thickness of each hair shaft reflect the ability of that hair to cover the scalp. Fine hair covers less than coarse hair. Curly hair covers better than straight hair (e.g., African hair, with its kinky character, covers well, especially when the hair is more coarse. Straight hair layers well, so most people with straight hair take advantage of styling to maximize the coverage that straight hair brings.
The most common type of baldness is called Male Pattern Baldness, or, more scientifically, Androgenetic Alopecia. In Androgenetic Alopecia, hair follicles that are producing healthy, terminal hairs begin to produce thinner, shorter, more brittle hairs with weaker shafts (this process is called Miniaturization, and the hairs involved are called Miniaturized hairs). Eventually, these follicles produce only fine, almost invisible, short, vellus-like hairs, or they may die out altogether. The dying process of a hair from Androgentic Alopecia is called Apotosis, and the timing of this process is ingrained in the genetics of balding. It is regional, varying in different parts of the scalp. The patterns of male pattern balding reflect the apoptosis (life cycle) of the hair, and the areas that lose their hair eventually undergo apoptosis. Fortunately, the hair around the back and sides of the head seem to be immune from Apoptosis, and these hairs live as long as most humans who, when they die, will still have this rim of hair around the side and back of the head, even in the baldest of men.
Androgenetic hair loss is caused by the effects of male hormones on genetically susceptible hair follicles. It is related to three interdependent factors:
Common baldness cannot occur without the presence of specific inherited genes. These genes can be passed on by either parent. A gene is a single bit of chemically encoded hereditary instruction that is located on a chromosome and actually represents a tiny segment of DNA. Chromosomes occur in pairs (humans have 23 pairs), and every individual gets one set of chromosomes from each parent. The genetics of androgenetic alopecia is complicated, and hair loss is now felt to involve more than one gene. When several genes govern a trait, it is called polygenic. Genes that are located on the X- or Y-chromosomes are call sex-linked. Genes on the other 22 pairs of chromosomes are called autosomal. It is felt that the genes governing common baldness are autosomal. This means that the baldness trait can be inherited from the mother’s side of the family or the father’s side. The commonly held notion that baldness comes only from the mother’s side of the family is incorrect, although, for reasons not fully understood, the predisposition inherited from an affected mother is of slightly greater importance than that inherited from an affected father.
The term “dominant” means that only one gene of a pair is needed for the trait to show up in the individual. A “recessive” gene means that both genes need to be present in order for the trait to be expressed. The genes involved in androgenetic alopecia are felt to be dominant.
Just because a person has the genes for baldness does not mean the trait will manifest itself. The ability of a gene to affect one’s characteristics is called “expressivity”. Gene expression is related to a number of factors, the major ones being hormones and age, although stress and other factors can play a role. To put it simply, a man whose father and uncles are severely bald may have minimal hair loss himself, either because the baldness genes have not been passed on or because the expression of the baldness gene that he did inherit is limited. The opposite of this is also true, as men who have balding cannot identify any one male in their family (father, grandfather, uncles, or brothers from either side of the family). We do not have an explanation for this last example.
It is of interest that, to date, none of the genes for male pattern baldness have been identified. This suggests that any kind of genetic engineering to prevent common baldness is still many years away.
Hormones are biochemical substances that are made in various glands throughout the body. These glands secrete their products directly into the bloodstream so that the chemical they make is spread throughout the body. These chemicals are very powerful; only minute amounts of them have profound effects upon the body.The major male sex hormone is called testosterone. Testosterone and other related hormones that have masculinizing effects are made primarily in the testicles. Therefore, the hormonal levels that are seen in adults do not reach significant levels until the testicles develop and enlarge during puberty. In fact, these same hormones are the cause of many of the changes that occur in puberty: change in the voice, growth of the beard and mustache, development of an adult aroma in the sweat, change in the muscular development, and change in the basic body shape.
These same hormones can cause acne, and will cause beard growth. They seem to also signal the beginning of baldness (usually past the age of 17). The presence of androgens, testosterone, and its related hormone DHT cause some follicles to regress and die. In some women, hormones with androgenic activity cause hair loss as well. In addition to the testicles, the adrenal glands located above each of our kidneys produce androgenic hormones. This would be similar in both sexes. In females, the ovaries are an additional source of hormones that can affect hair and hair loss, and there are diseases of the ovaries that can produce masculine changes in some women, resulting in facial hair and hair loss.
The specific relationship between testosterone and hormonally induced hair loss was discovered by a psychiatrist in the early part of the twentieth century. At that time, castration was commonly performed on patients with certain types of mental illness. The rationale behind this procedure was that it was believed to be a treatment for mental illness at a time when there were no other forms of real treatment. Castration seemed to have a calming effect upon many patients who were aggressive and hyperactive, and castration reduced the sex drive of patients who had no outlet for their desires. The doctor noted that the identical twin brother of one patient was profoundly bald while the mentally ill twin had a full head of hair. The doctor decided to determine the effect of treating his patient with testosterone, which had recently become available in a purified form. He injected his patient, the hairy twin, with testosterone to see what would happen. Within weeks, the hairy twin began to lose all but his wreath of permanent hair, just like his normal twin. The doctor then stopped giving the testosterone to see whether the process would be reversed, but the balding process continued, and his patient never regained his full head of hair. It was apparent to him that eliminating testosterone will slow, or stop, further hair loss once it has begun, but it will not revive any dead follicles.
The hormone felt to be directly involved in androgenetic alopecia is actually dihydrotestosterone (DHT) rather than testosterone. DHT is formed by the action of the enzyme 5-a reductase on testosterone, which is a way that testosterone is metabolized. DHT acts by binding to special receptor sites on the cells of the hair follicles to cause the specific changes associated with balding. Among other effects, DHT decreases the length of the anagen (growing) cycle and increases the telogen (resting) phase, so that, with each new cycle, the hair shaft becomes progressively smaller.
It is interesting that testosterone effects axillary and pubic hair, whereas DHT effects beard growth, patterned baldness, and the appearance of hair in the nose and ears (something that older men experience). Scalp hair growth, however, is not androgen dependent – only scalp hair loss depends on androgens.
One should keep in mind that the presence of the necessary genes and hormones are not, in themselves, sufficient to cause baldness. The reaction also requires time for exposure of susceptible hair follicles to the hormone for hair loss to begin. The time required for this to start varies from one individual to another and is related to a person’s genetic expression, and to the levels of testosterone in their bloodstream. Most men with very advanced balding will lose their hair by their mid-twenties, while others see slow hair loss that often takes decades to advance.
There is another time factor that is poorly understood. Hair loss does not occur all at once, nor in a steady, straight-line progression. Hair loss is cyclical. People who are losing their hair experience alternating periods of slow and rapid hair loss. Many of the factors that cause this rate of loss are unknown.
The presence of the necessary genes and hormones are not sufficient to cause baldness. Even after a person has reached puberty, susceptible hair follicles must continually be exposed to the hormone over a period of time for hair loss to occur. The age at which these effects finally manifest themselves varies from one individual to another and is related to a person’s genetic composition, and to the levels of testosterone in the bloodstream.
Even when there is no predisposition to genetic balding, as a patient ages, some hairs randomly begin to miniaturize (shrink in length and width) in each follicular unit. As a result, each group will contain both of full terminal hairs and miniaturized hairs (similar to the very fine hairs that occur on the rest of the body and are clinically insignificant) making the area look less full. Eventually, the miniaturized hairs are lost, and the actual follicular units are reduced in the number of hairs that they contain. In all adult people, the entire scalp undergoes any aging process so that even the donor zone is not truly permanent, but will gradually thin, to some degree, over time. Fortunately, in most people, the donor zone retains enough permanent hair that hair transplantation is a viable procedure, even for a patient well into their 70s.
Nearly half of all the hair restoration surgeries performed at NHI Medical involves some type of corrective procedure to fix hair transplants, scalp reductions, and flaps performed by other physicians.
Using Follicular Unit Transplantation, we have the ability to correct the old “pluggy” or “corn-row” look that resulted from outdated or poorly planned procedures. This can be accomplished by camouflaging the old work or, when necessary, actually removing the larger grafts and re-transplanting the hair in a more natural pattern. This is carried out with the aid of the stereo-microscope that gives us the ability to remove old plugs, separate them into individual follicular units, and re-implant them with minimal damage.
Microscopic dissection also allows the retrieval of donor hair in and around the scar tissue produced by the old transplants, significantly increasing the amount of usable hair. This latter technique is extremely important since so many patients that have had older types of surgery are left with a severely depleted donor supply. Preserving every follicle is essential in order to make the most out of repair procedures.
To learn more about corrective procedures, please view the following topics below:
Fixing Old Plugs
A “pluggy” appearance is probably the most easily recognized problem of older procedures and, unfortunately, has come to literally be synonymous with hair transplants in many people’s minds. The density within the plugs is too high, and the density in the surrounding area is too low. When one tries to “fill-in” all the gaps, one simply runs out of hair.
The “Pluggy Look” occurs when the contraction of large grafts causes the density of the grafts to increase and the space between the grafts to widen. This is shown diagrammatically below.
The following patient shows the cosmetic problems of the punch-graft technique which typically results in a “Pluggy Look”:
The real problem can be seen from a top view. In spite of the fact that almost all of the person’s donor supply has been used up, only a fraction of the scalp has actually been transplanted.
Because of its inherent inefficiencies, the more hair that has been transplanted with the old punch-graft technique, the more hair has been used up, and the less hair there is left to correct the problems it created. The photo of the donor area shows how much of the above patient’s hair has already been used up with the punch-graft technique.
Wasted Donor Hair
The patient above had large grafts in his temple area that should have contained 20-25 hairs each. Because of waste from the punch-graft technique, only very few of these grafts actually grew. Even though the results don’t look “pluggy”, a huge amount of hair has been wasted. In addition, you can see the scarring in the skin around the grafts.
The strategies to repair these problems can be divided into a number of different approaches. The first method is simply camouflage. This can be effective by itself if the old grafts are far enough back on the scalp that a zone of follicular units can be built up in front of them without having to bring the hairline down too low. In general, the pluggier the appearance, the deeper the zone of camouflage that is required.
The following patient had rows of plugs placed in his temples when he first started to lose his hair. As he continued to bald, he lost all of the hair in the central portion of the front of his scalp, creating a real cosmetic problem. Fortunately, the rows of plugs were far enough back from the hairline that a wide zone of follicular units could be created in front of them (without having to come down too low on the forehead). The correction was achieved in just one session of Follicular Unit Transplantation. Fortunately, he also was blessed with a good supply of donor hair that had been preserved.
If the larger grafts have been placed too far forward, or if the hairline is made too broad, or the hair in them grows in the wrong direction, then they should generally be removed. Removal can be accomplished either by a long excision (if the plugs are lined up) or by removing them individually. We generally prefer to remove each graft individually, as this will usually give the best cosmetic result. This decision should be made on a case-by-case basis, but, either way, the hair should be re-implanted, and must never be wasted.
At times, the larger grafts are neither too low nor in the wrong direction, but just much too dense to look natural. In these cases, reducing the number of hair per grafts can be accomplished through (a) electrolysis, (b) laser hair removal, or (c) surgical coring out of part of the grafts.
Electrolysis is not useful in large grafts since the hair follicles are so distorted from the scar tissue that the needle can’t be inserted. Electrolysis may be useful if there are isolated hairs, or very small grafts, that are either placed too low, or in the wrong direction. Electrolysis destroys the hair so that they can’t be used again, but it is often effective where there are a small number of hairs in the wrong place, and the surrounding skin is not scarred.
The latter point is very important. Any time hair is removed, the skin under it becomes more visible, so if hair removal is to be used alone, the skin under it must be relatively normal in appearance. Larger grafts universally produce skin changes such as scarring, depigmentation and cobblestoning. Hair removal alone will not suffice. In these situations, the abnormal skin can be partially removed through excision, improved through procedures such as dermabrasion, or covered with normal appearing follicular units. The latter is generally the most effective technique.
The following shows the repair of the patient that was discussed in the beginning of this section. Note how the follicular unit grafts were transplanted through the scarred area, completely camouflaging the damaged skin.
Laser hair removal is a new technology still in its infancy. It has some advantages over electrolysis in that it works well and can be performed quickly. However, it is not always permanent, doesn’t allow the hair to be reused, and doesn’t address the problems in the underlying skin.
Removing part of a large graft is generally the most effective technique and the one that we most commonly use to decrease the unnatural density of the old plugs. It is accomplished by punching, or “coring out,” part of the old graft and leaving a crescent shaped sliver of hair behind. This method has a number of advantages: 1) it preserves some of the hair in the original graft, 2) it enables the removed hair to be reused, 3) it can remove and improve the appearance of some of the scarred underlying skin, and 4) its results are immediate.
The above left photo shows plugs immediately after being sutured. The photo above at right shows the patient several months later, after the sutured holes had healed. The photos below were taken after two and three sessions of follicular unit transplantation.
Camouflaging Large Grafts
The basic concept in most repair procedures is camouflage. The easiest way to understand this is with the “picket fence” analogy. It goes like this:
To hide a picket fence, you don’t board it up and make it into a wall (that will only make it more obvious).
Instead, you should plant flowers in front of it, and do it again if you need to. Although the fence has not been moved, it is now barely noticed.
The tendency of doctors to “fill in the spaces” between plugs with more plugs, just creates a solid wall of hair and worsens the cosmetic problem. The following patient had a solid wall of hair created by large grafts. These were softened by a zone of follicular units.
The next patient had mini-grafts placed at the frontal hairline, giving an unnatural appearance. These were camouflaged by a zone of all follicular units.
The best method, if the position of the hairline to be repaired is high enough, is to create a transition zone of follicular units 1-2 cm in depth. This should be accomplished with the normal progression of 1-hair follicular units in the very front, followed by 2- and then 3-hair units behind them. In very pluggy areas, a greater proportion of the larger units should be placed immediately in front of the larger grafts to enhance the camouflage. It is important to be aware that complete camouflage can rarely be accomplished in one session.
We have found that the first session alone can often be effective in making a 60-90% improvement, with the “finishing touches” accomplished in subsequent procedures. Remember, the pluggier the older grafts are, and the further forward they had been placed, the more important removal is prior to camouflage.
A commonly encountered problem is to find grafts placed in the wrong direction that need to be camouflaged. In situations where they are not going to be removed, the doctor has the following dilemma. If the doctor matches the angle of the existing hair, the problem may be worsened, but if the new hair is placed in the proper direction, it may not relate well to the old grafts and may look unnatural. This problem is resolved by the subtle but progressive angling of implants away from the improperly placed grafts.
Working with a Limited Donor Supply
As we have discussed, the stereo-microscope allows dissection of hair from within scar tissue and maximizes the amount of hair that can be obtained in areas of low density. In spite of this technology, there are many situations in which the amount of transplantable hair is well below what would generally be required for a complete restoration.
It is especially common for patients who have had open donor harvesting (as part of the punch-graft technique), or those who have had scalp reductions or scalp lifts, to have markedly depleted donor supplies.
In situations where the donor supply is very limited, the first step is to set priorities regarding what needs to be corrected most. This should always be a joint decision between the doctor and a well-informed patient. The frontal hairline, being the cosmetically most important area, should usually be the main focus of the repair. Another reason why it is important to make the frontal hairline as “perfect” as possible, is that when it looks natural, the hair can be combed backwards, providing coverage for the top of the scalp and the crown.
An important part of this technique is the use of tacking hairs. These are individual hairs scattered in areas that would otherwise be completely bald. They serve to anchor down the frontal hairs grown long so that they can be combed backwards over the bald areas. This “tacking” helps to keep them in place during routine activities, and in the wind. Using a “Hockey Stick” distribution is another means of providing camouflage with a minimal amount of hair. In the Hockey Stick, most of the harvested hair is devoted to the frontal hairline and the side of the scalp that the hair is parted on. The hair can then be combed diagonally backward, taking advantage of both layering and coverage of the back half of the scalp with hair from the front.
The shaded area in the figure above illustrates the “Hockey Stick” distribution for left-to-right and diagonally back. The dots represent the placement of tacking hairs.
Repairing Scalp Reductions
Scalp reductions can pose such a complex array of cosmetic problems that a full discussion of their repair is way beyond the scope of this section. The most common issue is that of a diminished, or depleted, donor supply in conjunction with decreased scalp laxity, minimizing the amount of “movable hair” available for the correction.
This can be partially addressed by the “hair conserving” powers of microscopic dissection, but with multiple scalp reductions, full correction with even the best techniques are often not possible. Specific patterns of repair, such as the “Hockey Stick,” used for treating patients who have low donor supply in general, would be especially useful for patients with low donor supply as a result of scalp reductions and scalp lifts.
Another problem created by scalp reductions and lifts is the scar in the crown. This can be camouflaged, but it requires a considerable amount of hair. In addition, the scar tissue limits the amount of hair that can be used in one session, so multiple sessions are often required. When the scar is covered with hair, the patient then runs the future risk of having an abnormal pattern if the hair loss continues and the hair loss in the crown progresses.
In general, correcting scalp reductions and the associated defects can be approached similar to the way one would approach plugs and a depleted donor supply – that is, to correct the front as much as possible and allow that hair to grow and camouflage problems in the back with either light coverage or tacking hair. “Weighting” of the hair to the side will also add fullness that can be achieved when the donor supply is low and, producing a very natural look at the same time. The following figure illustrates the concepts of side weighting and layering. When the patient combs his hair to the side and diagonally backwards, it provides good frontal coverage, takes advantage of layering, and gives coverage in the back of the scalp using only a modest amount of hair.
The patient pictured below had “Y-Shaped” scalp reductions that left significant scarring. This was camouflaged with a single procedure of 1,825 follicular unit grafts. If the patient had not had the scalp reductions, more hair would have been available, and even greater fullness would have been possible. In addition, there would be no scarring (limiting how close grafts could be placed) and the hair direction in the top and back of his scalp would have been far more natural. The three photos below show a top view of the patient before, during, and after a camouflage repair of an extensive scalp reduction.
The photos below show the dramatic changes in the frontal presentation of the same patient after just one corrective session with Follicular Unit Transplantation.
Sometimes, the cosmetic problems are so significant that camouflage alone is insufficient, and a specific repair of the defect must be performed first. A “dog-ear” deformity (puckering of excess tissues in the corners) caused by a poorly planned scalp reduction can be corrected by excision, and the hair in the excised tissue can be dissected into follicular units and re-implanted. On the other hand, significantly altered hair direction from a scalp reduction is an extremely difficult problem to correct and sometimes requires further tissue movement to undo the defect.
In the above photos, the elevated dog-ear section was removed so that the area now lies flat. The hair in the excised dog-ear tissue was transplanted into the front part of the scalp in individual follicular units. In subsequent procedures, hair will be added to the area where the dog-ear was, completely camouflaging it.
Fixing The Donor Area
If there is adequate scalp laxity, the area of open donor scarring can be reduced in size or sometimes removed entirely. The patient below shows the typical scarring of the open donor technique. In his repair, a portion of the area was removed and the hair within the scar tissue was dissected out under microscopic control and re-implanted. Note the reduced size of the open donor zone. On his next procedure, this will be completely eliminated.
Covering the Scarred Scalp
Although it is illegal in most states, we occasionally see patients that have had hair systems, or artificial fibers that have been sewn directly into the skin. The body rejects these foreign materials, and this often results in extensive scarring. The patient below had worn this type of system for many years. Fortunately, he still had a moderate donor supply of thick, wavy, salt and pepper hair. The after picture was taken after two sessions of Follicular Unit Transplantation.
The History of NHI Medical
In 1989, Dr. William Rassman entered the field of hair restoration surgery as an administrator for Bosley Medical Group. After hearing numerous complaints from hair transplant patients, he became acutely aware that there were inadequacies not only in the techniques being used, but also in the surgical judgments of the physicians performing them, as well as in the way they presented the procedure to their patients.
It was standard for patients undergoing hair transplantation to get caught up in a series of procedures that extended over many years after being sold a bill of goods by overenthusiastic salesmen. They rightfully expected that the process would be completed in just a few sessions. The doctor often rushed the unwary patient to “sign up” for the first procedure before the patient had time to give it due consideration, or time to understand all of the long-term implications of the decision to undergo a hair transplant. The standard of care for these procedures is not unacceptable today, but they were unacceptable at the time they were offered. Unfortunately, true “informed consent”, in the legal sense of the phrase, was rarely given.
The catch phrase was “try a few grafts to see if you like them”, or “now is a good time to start so no one will notice.” It would have been obvious to these patients if they had time to think about what they were doing – once a few grafts were “tried”, there was no turning back. More importantly, the patient whose hair loss was so early that “no one would notice”, would hardly be a candidate for surgery. Unfortunately, it was in the best business interest of the doctor not to give the patients time to think.
Their plan was reflective of much of the hair transplant industry at the time, and it was simple enough. The patient received their plugs, and three or four months later when they began to grow in, that is exactly what the patient saw. Panicked, the patient rushed back to see the doctor who calmly pointed out how nicely the hair was growing, quickly glossing over how bad they actually looked. He explained that the first session was mainly to achieve density, and that the patient needed another procedure to make their hair look natural. Somewhat reassured, the patient signed up for the next session, but the next session was just more of the same. When questioned again, the doctor, speaking with great authority, told the patient they would need another procedure. So the patient signed up again. Eventually, after multiple procedures, the patient started to get the sinking feeling that an end wasn’t really in sight, but by now the doctor wasn’t quite as available for questions. The frustrated patient eventually went somewhere else or stopped treatment and resigned themselves to wearing a baseball cap forever.
For the patient who had plenty of hair to begin with, the story started out differently (but ended the same). The plugs initially looked OK, camouflaged by the patient’s existing hair. It wasn’t until their own hair actually started to thin that they saw the old plugs could not “stand on their own.” To make matters worse, this thinning was often accelerated by the poorly timed surgery; a non-candidate now became a candidate, and, like the last patient, once they completed their first procedure, they became committed to a long series of procedures that had no clear-cut goals or end point, which continued until they ran out of money, or hair, or both.
The price for the surgery at first seemed reasonable enough, but once the process began, the costs seemed to skyrocket. It was not unusual for a patient to spend $2,000 for their first session and end up paying tens of thousands of dollars, a figure well beyond their wildest expectations, only to be left with a partially completed transplant and a totally depleted donor supply. But the real travesty was that, in the end, the patient often looked freakish – not just a thinning look appropriate for their age. They often regretted that they ever met the doctor who was supposed to help them.
Dr. Rassman formed NHI Medical in 1992 to confront these problems head on. It was the only way he felt he could, in good conscience, practice medicine. He was committed to the plan that NHI Medical would address these issues as the foundation of its business philosophy. The seven central goals of NHI Medical would be:
- To produce hair transplants that look completely natural.
- To achieve the patient’s goals in as few sessions as possible.
- To develop and then offer state-of the-art technology to achieve the best possible results.
- To let the patient’s needs drive the procedure.
- To make transplantation affordable.
- To honestly represent the procedures that we offer.
- Never to offer a surgery to an inappropriate patient who is not a candidate for a hair transplant (young men under 25 and most women).
- To make our procedures available and affordable to as many patients as possible.
It was clear that, in order for the transplant to look natural, the grafts must be kept very small. In order to achieve a significant visual impact, large numbers of these very small grafts had to be used. The adaptation to transplantation of small grafts in large quantities was not an easy technical feat, and because it was such a new process, Dr. Rassman had to develop many of the necessary tools and techniques from scratch. The transition to larger sessions took a couple of years with many surgeries lasting well into the night. But larger procedures meant that patients could expect to complete their planned hair restorations in just a few sessions. Dr. Rassman started increasing the number of grafts per surgery with these smaller grafts. At the same time, he mastered both the preparation of the grafts and the placing of the grafts. This required him to not only develop the needed skills, but also to progressively do it faster over time. He started training medical assistants in these two techniques, and it took years before the technicians matched his skills and speed. Eventually, those who were good with their hands not only matched his skills, but exceeded them. They were always younger and more agile than he was. He had to identify those who were careful, were able to follow close supervision, and would not break his quality rules that he set up (in writing and in practice). Turn-over was high, and once they worked for him, even the bad technicians would easily be hired by all of the doctors in Los Angeles. These technicians spread the technology.
At the time, the small grafts that we used mainly consisted of micrografts and small mini-grafts that contained between 1 and 3 hairs. Although the results were never pluggy, they often didn’t have the fullness that we had expected. A major advance in Dr. Rassman’s procedure came about in 1992 when he introduced high powered magnification and back lighting to the cutting process. Finally, in 1995 when Dr. Robert Bernstein joined NHI Medical’s practice, Rassman and Bernstein worked out the technique of Follicular Unit Transplantation, the procedure that has made NHI Medical world-renowned. Follicular Unit Transplantation not only insured that the transplant looked perfectly natural, but it enabled us to achieve fullness not available with the older techniques, resulting more hairs per grafts and with smaller grafts.
At NHI Medical, we are committed to letting the needs of the patient and the quality of the process drive the procedure. What this means is that we first decide what is best for the patient. Then, we discuss it with the patient and figure out how to achieve it. This is the exact opposite of the doctor who only has one assistant to help them and only the time to transplant a small number of grafts in one sitting. This was the speech they gave the patient who came to their office at the time. Once we had established that Follicular Unit Transplantation produced the most natural results and that transplanting follicular units in large sessions was best for our patients, we set up our facilities, trained our staff, and developed instrumentation to offer it this way. We never looked back, and we never expected our patients to settle for anything less.
With experience, the procedures became progressively better, more efficient, and less expensive. It became the norm for patients to achieve their goals in one or two sessions. To achieve these milestones, NHI Medical developed new tools and technology that allowed the procedure to continually improve. We developed densitometry to help us predict the patient’s true donor supply. We assessed hair quality by predicting which patients would benefit most from surgery as opposed to medical therapies. We developed special tools to make the procedure easier on our patients and to allow them to return to normal activities more quickly. We developed automated tools to insure that the highest quality of the work we did was consistent from one procedure to the next.
To help our patients understand the hair transplant process, we arranged open house events where prospective patients could observe surgery. We gave seminars all over the United States where prospective patients could meet our surgical patients and have their questions answered directly by the people who had hair transplants. We provided extensive written material to explain our new techniques. But most importantly, the patient who came to NHI Medical would meet directly with the physicians responsible for their care and see a surgery in progress. There would be no intermediaries, no hype, and no salespeople. Each prospective patient as well as previous hair transplant patients from other clinics came to our open house events, and the comparisons made all of the difference for those being introduced into this field.
NHI Medical doctors became active in the medical community, publishing articles on technical breakthroughs and sharing each and every advance with the profession. NHI Medical presented papers at national and international medical meetings and published articles in the most prestigious medical journals. As a result of these efforts, NHI Medical’s Follicular Unit Transplantation techniques became recognized as the gold standard in the field. Then came Follicular Unit Excision (FUE), and then came Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP). Each process was managed the exact same way. We started to bring out patients to medical meetings in 1993. Then, in 1994, we brought 23 patients to the International Society of Hair Replacement Surgery (ISHRS) in Las Vegas and put them on the speaker stage where hundreds of doctors could see what a good hair transplant looks like. Nothing more needed to be said – that event was a turning point for the industry, and the new standard of care was set for the future in this industry.
It became clear that, for the patients to benefit from Follicular Unit Transplantation, we had to expand beyond the borders of our medical group. With this in mind, NHI Medical embarked on a three-pronged approach: 1) to develop technology that would allow other physicians to do the procedures we routinely perform more easily, 2) to provide educational programs that would train physicians around the globe in our special techniques and 3) to continue to provide the best possible care for our patients. This is the NHI Medical that the world knows today.
NHI Medical doctors have perfected Follicular Unit Excision with the FUE Procedure, a minimally invasive procedure that allows our physicians to remove donor hair without a linear scar. With this advance in transplanting Follicular Units, FUE allowed yet another option for patients. Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP) enlarged patient’s options. For those who do not want a surgery, cannot not afford a surgery, are not candidates for a surgery, or want previous deformities repaired, SMP is an effective alternative.
The NHI Medical Way
Since its founding in 1992, NHI Medical has been a world leader in innovating hair transplantation techniques, in performing clinical research, and in teaching these techniques and innovations to the hair transplantation community. Throughout its history, NHI Medical has trained physicians and educated patients using formal medical presentations, accredited training programs, and open house events. NHI Medical has used many vehicles to communicate new ideas, to dispel hair transplantation myths that hold little or no scientific basis, and to answer the many questions of those concerned with hair loss.
Our physicians, surgical team, innovative techniques, experience, ethics, integrity, and open door policy all comprise The NHI Medical Way.
The NHI Medical Team
It takes years to develop the skills to perfect the technique of Follicular Unit Transplantation. The FUT procedure (a) requires a large number of highly skilled staff, (b) demands the team work in an orchestrated fashion with strict quality control systems in place, and (c) necessitates strict and continuous supervision. These processes must be flawless to maximize both graft yield and survival. Keeping the grafts in a moist environment is central to the process and is not as simple as it sounds. Grafts must be dissected, sorted, stored, held, and then placed into the recipient sites. Leaving a graft open to the air for just 10 seconds as it is moved from place to place will kill the graft. In addition, they must be handled gently so that the delicate growth centers are not damaged.
Doctors are trained in medicine and surgery, but are not necessarily trained in team building, understanding process, managing process, or tedious and routine activities. Most doctors have problems with FUT because they are fundamentally poor at creating technician teams that can effectively cut and place grafts. So what do doctors do? Many work with inexperienced teams (that establish their own standards) or hire independent traveling technicians that work per diem and carry with them skills from various doctor’s offices (some good and some possibly bad). As a result, the technicians often dictate the surgery. Unfortunately, stereo-microscopic dissection is not something untrained technicians will willingly perform. Doctors who may in fact want to perform FUT or large sessions of small grafts are limited by the skills or whims of the traveling teams.
At NHI Medical, our surgical team is an essential part of the process. Our staff has as much an interest in seeing a perfect outcome as does the operating surgeon. Each member of our team is thoroughly trained in stereo-microscopic dissection and graft placing. Continual monitoring insures their techniques create a maximum transplant yield. Our extraordinary team effort produces predictable outcomes with the most exacting Follicular Unit Transplantation procedure possible. It is The NHI Medical Way, and we have taught this process to hundreds of doctors worldwide.
NHI Medical Innovations
The NHI Medical Way is highlighted by constant introspection and change. Part of this process is innovation and, often times, pushing ahead with innovation, even when those changes are momentarily unpopular. As NHI Medical has forged forward, the industry has followed.
The NHI Medical Look
In the early 1990s, there was a trend in the hair transplant community to create a central island, or tuft of hair, in the front of the scalp, often called a “frontal forelock.” This was often a necessity with older, larger graft methods since the surgeon frequently ran out of hair and had to compromise on hairline design. In 1995, NHI Medical, realizing the power of Follicular Unit Transplantation to conserve donor hair, proposed that the physician not compromise the frontal hairline. We began creating a fully framed face on the very first session, producing a natural look from the outset. Additional density in subsequent sessions was added for those patients who wanted a fuller look. Conventional thinking was challenged, and an undetectable hair transplant became the “NHI Medical look”. Now it is the standard of care worldwide.
The Ethical Practice of Medicine
From the beginning, NHI Medical has been a leading exponent of reform in hair transplantation ethics. As early as 1992, in the industry newsletter Hair Transplant Forum International, NHI Medical physicians published articles questioning the ethics of using salesmen and their high-pressure sales tactics exploited industry-wide (even today). Many patients are desperate for hair and are vulnerable to pressure tactics, especially when promises are wrapped in the guise of a doctor’s white coat. We have taken considerable flack for our stance. Today, salespeople are still used as patient educators, but their compensation reflects their successful “educational activities”. We have never employed salespeople because we feel that only our doctors can judge the patient’s state of mind, and only a doctor can set proper expectations.
In 1995, an NHI Medical Newsletter titled “For Some Doctors, It’s Money above Ethics” outraged many in the hair transplant community. Dr. Rassman took considerable flack for this stance; however, we continue to speak out against the use of salespeople, consultants, scalp reductions, laser hair transplants, automated graft dissectors, transplanting patients with diffuse hair loss, unnecessary hair transplants on most women who are too young, and other procedures or decisions that may be harmful to patients. It is The NHI Medical Way.
Openness & Integrity
At NHI Medical, we have had an “open shop” since we started. “Open Houses” and Seminars around the country have been our staple. Anyone could and still can ask questions in an open forum and hold us publicly accountable for our work. Patients continue to show off their results under direct inspection by prospective candidates. We have never employed salespeople to “sell” our procedures. Most importantly, every prospective patient always meets directly with a specially trained NHI Medical physician. It is only the doctor that evaluates the patient, and only the doctor who makes recommendations for treatment. It is The NHI Medical Way.
Judgment & Decisions
Backed by pioneering work in Follicular Unit Transplantation dating back to 1995 and Megasessions dating back to 1993, NHI Medical has amassed tremendous experience that few medical groups can match. This experience is critical in making important decisions and answering such questions as:
- What are the patient’s best non-surgical options?
- At what age should surgical hair restoration be considered?
- When should Megasessions be performed, and how large should they be?
- How much donor area should be harvested at one time?
- How close should grafts be placed?
- What are the indications for surgical hair restoration in women?
- How should the transplant be designed and planned for the long-term?
We turn down more patients than almost every hair transplant organization in the world. If we believe that the patient, for whatever reason, is not a suitable candidate, then we do not accept them. To some doctors, this means that we let “money out of our office”, but for us, money is not as important as the patient’s welfare. It is The NHI Medical Way.
Regarding Honesty in Communications
Dr. Bradley Wolfe further describes difficulties patients may have in discerning truth from fiction:
Concerning follicular unit terminology, there are those that are benefiting from the semantics of FU transplants without really doing them. A local competitor, ISHRS member, advertises that he does “follicular unit minigrafts” that average 5 to 7 hairs per graft. Of course all hair is made up of FUs as all things are made of atoms. To say you drive an “atomic car” would be theoretically correct because it is made of atoms. Semantically, and with regard to accepted ideas, one would assume that the car was powered using atomic energy. So, calling your car “atomic” would be deceptive. In my view, it is deceptive to say you use FUs if they are not separated from the FUs around them. A real FU to be used in hair transplant surgery takes an investment in time, skill, energy, and patience to create, and it doesn’t exist semantically or for practical purposes unless it is separated from those FUs around it with levels of magnification needed to entirely see all the FUs that exist in a donor strip and sliver. Naming minigrafts by the numbers of FUs in them and implying that one is performing FU hair transplants is deceptive and wrong in my opinion, unless every FU is seen and all the dissection is being done with higher powers of magnification. Simply counting how many FUs are in a graft doesn’t automatically make it FU surgery any more than my “saying” I drive an “atomic car” because the car is made of atoms.
A Sample of Published Commentary
The most important means of communicating information has been through peer reviewed medical journals. This medium allows new ideas to be disseminated to physicians throughout the world and, most importantly, be subject to a process where scientific data can be reviewed and scrutinized by experts in the field before it reaches the public domain. Information is truthful and has scientific validity. Our physicians have generated a continuous stream of medical publications documenting their work and accomplishments since NHI Medical’s inception. More recently, a body of publications was created, constituting the foundation of a new field in hair restoration surgery, Follicular Unit Transplantation, Follicular Unit Extraction, and Scalp Micropigmentation. It is The NHI Medical Way.
With mass marketing, infomercials, the internet, and other forms of communication where the quality and content of the information is literally unchecked, doctors can make claims about anything they choose. It is difficult for patients to discern truth from fiction, and nearly impossible to make the best decisions on how their hair loss should be evaluated and treated. To address these concerns, we would like to offer some published comments made by other medical professionals regarding NHI Medical’s work.
Use of Microscopes
Introduced to the field by Dr. Bobby Limmer in the 1980s, the stereo-microscope has proven critical to performing FUT. In particular, it is essential for the efficient dissection of intact follicular unit grafts from the donor area. It allows for the unit to be removed whole and without damage, and allows for the natural and maximally full appearance of the final look. The critical use of the microscope was recently summarized quite well by Dr. Brad Wolfe, who, like us, uses microscopes as an integral part of the transplant process:
“There is a relative paucity of objective studies in hair transplantation, but I do recall the studies done by Drs. Bob Bernstein and Bill Rassman that showed increased graft numbers when using microscopes. Over the years, as I increased the number of microscopes and power of magnification, I noticed the number of grafts from a strip increased. A follicular unit cut without any magnification can look as good, identical, or even better than one cut with magnification. But that’s not the criteria which should be used – an increase in the number of preserved follicles is. What is being lost isn’t being seen because it can’t be seen without higher powers of magnification, and it’s in the garbage. If one believes these studies and the experience of those who have seen the light, by not using higher powers of magnification one is committing follicular homicide. This is not in the best interest of the patient, regardless of cost to the physician and patient in money and/or time. In the past, one could argue that not using magnification didn’t really make a difference because we didn’t know. That is no longer true, so there is no excuse in my opinion. There are ways to magnify without microscopes but I found increased graft numbers going from loupes to 6X magnification, and even more from 6X to 10X magnification. I refer to cutting slivers and the grafts from the slivers with magnification, either/or doesn’t count. No assistant has 6X eyes regardless of gender or ethnicity.
Smaller recipient sites are always optimal for the transplant. Sites should match the size of the graft so that a snug fit occurs. Small recipient sites limit blood flow issues, a critical concern when dense packing. Some surgeons use nails to stretch undersized sites, while others make sites too large. Both approaches reflect what is best (or easiest) for the surgeon and staff rather than what is best for the patient. The smaller the wound size, the faster and more complete the healing. A snug fit reduces the oozing of blood and serum from around the wound and is the only way to ensure that recipient site scarring is eliminated. On the other hand, when sites are too small, the staff must force the graft in the site. The result is a damaged graft, or, as discussed above, improperly dissected units. Training is arduous, but the results are vastly better for the patient. Again, some doctors do not take the time and care to properly create small recipient sites.
Follicular Unit Excision (The FUE procedure)
The Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) procedure, where individual follicular units are extracted directly from the donor area without a traditional linear incision, was published by us in the journal Dermatologic Surgery in 2002 in the paper titled “Follicular Unit Extraction: Minimally Invasive Surgery for Hair Transplantation”. The procedure has been adapted by some doctors, yet resisted by many. The controversy of this procedure was reinforced at the 2003 ISHRS meeting in New York (our annual convention for hair doctors), where many doctors from around the world openly discussed their experience and frustration with this exacting procedure. The difficulty in performing the procedure (which is tedious and stressful for both doctor and staff) was battered about by most physicians in a series of talks on the subject after Dr. Rassman presented his paper. One attempt at a clinical demonstration of the procedure was scheduled at a local New York hair restoration facility. However, the surgeon that was scheduled to perform the procedure mysteriously left town the morning of the surgery. Many of the attendees were left wondering if this was telling of an unpredictable surgery.
The FUE procedure remains an exciting advance, and the promise of an almost scar-less surgery is enticing to both patient and surgeon. An important limitation of the procedure is that the total yield will always be lower than with traditional Follicular Unit Transplantation using the strip technique for harvesting, and for this reason we carefully review the benefits and limitations of both FUT and FUE with each patient.
Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)
We published the first paper on Follicular Unit Transplantation in the International Journal of Aesthetic and Restorative Surgery in 1995. The concept of FUT was initially rejected by many in the hair transplant community, claiming it to be technically difficult, not significantly different from mini-micrografting, and overall just not worth the effort. We disagreed and pushed onward. We followed the 1995 paper with an extraordinarily detailed pair of articles published in Dermatologic Surgery in 1997 – “Follicular Transplantation: Patient Evaluation and Surgical Planning”, and “The Aesthetics of Follicular Unit Transplantation”. Eventually, our approach became the standard of care.
By the time of the second publication, hair transplant surgeons began to see the value of this new procedure. This sentiment is reflected in the editorial commentary by Dr. Richard Shiell that accompanied the 1997 publications in Dermatologic Surgery:
“This is a very important paper on hair transplantation, well written, and covering every important aspect of the subject. A recent advance like stereoscopic microscopy is simply an aid to obtain more accurately cut pilosebaceous units. Cloning, if it ever becomes a practical reality, will simply provide us with more raw materials. Whatever happens, we will still be using something close to the Bernstein-Rassman technique in decades to come, as it provides convincing results with nature’s own building blocks, the compound pilosebaceous units. The authors Bernstein and Rassman are well known for their contributions to this field in the past 5 years, and this paper is virtually a mini-textbook on hair restoration practice. There is no doubt that their techniques are revolutionizing hair restoration surgery, and almost every practitioner in this field has already been influenced by their past writings and very convincing case presentations at meetings.
In this paper, there is much sound advice for the beginner about case selection and donor hair availability. Experienced surgeons have learned much of this in the past by trial and error, but the authors provide objective measurements of donor site size and hair density, which makes the “learning curve” far less arduous for the newcomer to this field. Four pages are devoted to the vitally important task of assessing the degree of present and future hair loss. The authors emphasize the importance of measuring the degree of hair shaft miniaturization in both the donor and recipient areas. This is an advanced indicator of future trends and is often ignored by those looking only for gross hair loss.
The authors make many very valuable points throughout this paper. Some concepts are difficult for the beginner, but make excellent revision reading for the experienced surgeon. These are not necessarily new concepts, but, on the other hand, they are points that are rarely discussed and have been seldom, if ever, written in the past.
The authors point out the importance of counseling the patient and educating him about his condition so that his expectations can be realistic. The patient who is complaining of a recent acceleration of his hair loss is probably very anxious and keen to proceed with surgery. This is the very patient who is at the greatest risk of being unhappy with the outcome of surgery, due to difficulty in keeping up with the continuing hair loss or because of accelerated hair loss as a result of surgical intervention.”
In 1999, NHI Medical published another controversial paper, “The Logic of Follicular Unit Transplantation”, this time in Dermatologic Clinics. The editor, Dr. Stough, wrote:
“Everything you wanted to know about follicular unit transplantation, and then some. This monograph presented by Bernstein and Rassman can be thought of as a thesis on the subject of the follicular unit. This may be perhaps the most comprehensive accumulation of thoughts on the matter recorded thus far… Therefore, I believe the follicular unit is here to stay. After all, hair does emerge in follicular groupings and not as a single follicular unit.”
The ideal way to perform a hair transplant is to understand its nuances so that potential problems can be avoided. Unfortunately, this is not the way hair restoration has traditionally been performed. Repair of older type procedures has become a major part of our practice. Initially, a majority of surgeons used camouflage – placing smaller grafts in front of the larger plugs. This was a quick and simple method, but was largely ineffective. As our experience with repairs grew, it became apparent that excision of larger grafts previously camouflaged was the missing critical step.
Fortunately, the hair from these larger plugs was not wasted. Under a stereo-microscope, they can be dissected into individual follicular units and be immediately re-implanted into the scalp. Many patients later, we published a comprehensive review of our work in the summer of 2002 in the journal Dermatologic Surgery. Like all of our published works before, we laid out the logic of the repair process and believe that our documentation will become the standard for the repair process.
The concept of Megasessions, where a thousand or more very small grafts are placed in a single session, was first proposed by Dr. Uebel in Brazil in the late 1980s. However, this technique gained little attention in the United States until NHI Medical presented live patient Megasession results before physician audiences in 1993 and 1994. As a perspective, when NHI Medical was performing up to 2,000 grafts in a single session, the hair transplant community rarely went above 200-300 large grafts in a single session.
Achieving a patient’s goals in the shortest timeframe with the fewest surgeries required a paradigm shift for the doctor’s practice. Multiple sessions of large grafts were easier and more profitable than the Megasession. Doctors were reluctant to abandon their old ways.
In the past, most doctors trained their surgical staff to perform a series of two-hour surgeries. Other cosmetic procedures were performed in the same two-hour timeframe, so doctors squeezed in these small transplant sessions to fit their current schedules. Few doctors were willing to take the time, make the effort, or bear the expense of revamping their office procedures. Aggressively defending their status quo was an easier solution.
When Dr. Rassman entered the transplant field, a well-known hair transplant surgeon welcomed him with the following greeting:
“This is a wonderful business and the money is good – just don’t make waves, and you will succeed and make a very comfortable living.”
Dr. Rassman clearly did not follow the other doctor’s advice. Instead, Dr. Rassman forced the paradigm shift to encompass a lower-per-graft price, and longer, more tedious, and more stressful surgeries for both the surgeon and their staff. But the NHI Medical team quickly adapted to the demands of the new procedure. It was to become the NHI Medical Way, and still is.
As pioneers, we had to give special attention to (a) developing safe anesthesia techniques to span the longer surgical procedure, (b) the size and number of recipient wounds to reduce and control bleeding, (c) the donor strip which had to be wider and longer to yield a large number of grafts, and (d) special graft handling so that delicate follicular unit grafts would not be harmed. We developed special techniques to address each of these critical issues. In the beginning, there were days when the surgery went well into the night as we perfected the process. A step up of 500 grafts from a 500 to a 1,000 graft procedure created an exponential increase in complexity and required a new set of skills.
We initially published our articles in the industry newsletter Hair Transplant Forum. Worldwide dissension arrived as other doctors failed to replicate our results and were only met with complications. It was clear that the paradigm we developed required special skills. The Megasession was so labor intensive that it was virtually impossible for an experienced surgeon to make the major structural changes in their office. Instead of making these changes, many turned their failures into points of attack against NHI Medical during various medical meetings.
As NHI Medical patients were presented at hair transplant conventions, the enthusiasm for this approach slowly began to take hold. The initial enthusiasm came from the patients themselves. This became contagious, first for other prospective patients and eventually reaching other doctors who could not offer these techniques. In 1995, we presented 23 completed patients before an audience of over 500 doctors. The initial protests began to wane as doctors were able to see first-hand results of the technique.
It was immediately clear that using individual follicular units instead of micrografts was the ideal way to perform Megasessions, an idea we soon published. In this article, we merged Megasessions and FUT into one procedure and recommended sessions as large as 3,500 grafts for Norwood Class 6 and 7 patients.
The key to our success was to train a new group of technicians to complete a surgery in less than 10 hours and train doctors through courses offered at our offices. These courses were massively successful initially. The generally accepted time frame that hair grafts would survive out of the body as well as themaximum time frame for the use of local anesthesia was a primary focus of these teaching sessions. Patients would no longer need 4-8 surgical procedures. We called the remarkable results of these Megasessions the Fast-Track approach. Not all doctors learned this technique; one doctor, who never took our courses, had the only reported death in the United States in an office just 2 miles from ours as a result of inappropriate use of anesthetics.
Achieving as much density as possible in a single session has been the desire of most patients. Prior to 1993, it was thought that density could only be achieved with larger grafts, a falsity that resulted in an unnatural look, and often left the patient with a scarred scalp. In 1993, NHI Medical began performing dense packing using very small grafts to achieve significant density while creating a natural result. At the first meeting of the ISHRS, Dr. Rassman came under personal attack for demonstrating dense packing. Doctors claimed that placing grafts so close together would compromise the skin of the recipient area or the graft’s ability to survive. In spite of these protests, NHI Medical continued to perform and enhance the technique. All of the warnings by other doctors never amounted to any complications in Dr. Rassman’s hands.
Recently, the field has shifted focus to a literal obsession over dense packing. Doctors have forgotten, however, the caution NHI Medical discussed when we first introduced dense packing. Doctors can risk poor graft growth due to graft mishandling and poor blood supply. Inexperienced hair restoration surgeons now market and push the technique, but often lack the skills to carry it out. Some are even breaking up follicular units to make grafts smaller, allowing dense packing to technically be easier and artificially increasing the graft count. However, this shortcut technique in the hands of inexperienced surgeons actually produces a thinner look, the opposite of what the patient wants to achieve. We have seen patients, in the hands of some of these less skilled surgeons, develop complications never seen in the 15,000+ surgical cases done in Dr. Rassman’s clinics. These complications produced gangrene in the mid-portion of the scalp, and unfortunately few doctors know what to do about them.
In 2010, NHI Medical introduced Scalp Micropigmentation – SMP (a specialized scalp tattoo). SMP is a new and innovative technique that offers an alternative styling option for men and women who do not want or are not candidates for hair transplant surgery. SMP adds to the look of fullness by reducing the contrast between your scalp and your hair color. It can also camouflage scars found on the scalp, including those from strip harvesting. NHI Medical has used SMP in a variety of scalp conditions, including genetic male pattern baldness (MPB), scarring alopecias (alopecia areata, alopecia totalis), many deformities of the scalp, and scarring from neurosurgical procedures or burns. Like all of our works, this technique has been published now in two text books and three peer reviewed medical journal articles.
a. Scalp Micropigmentation. A Usefully Cosmetic Procedure for Hair and Scalp Conditions, William Rassman, Jae Pak, Jino Kim, Re: HAIR TRANSPLANTATION 6th Edition, W. Unger, R. Shapiro.(2017) In Press
b. Medicolegal Issues in Hair Replacement, William Rassman, Mike Neff and Paul T. Rose, HAIR TRANSPLANTATION 6th Edition, W. Unger, R. Shapiro. (2017) In Press
c. Rassman W, Pak J, Kim J. Scalp micropigmentation: a useful treatment for hair loss. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2013;21(3):497–503.
d. Rassman W, Pak J, Kim J. In: lam SM, ed. Scalp Micropigmentation: A Valuable Technique for Use in Hair Loss. 1st ed. Vol 3. Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2014.
f. Scalp Micropigmentaation (SMP), A concealer for Hair and Scalp Deformities, Rassman W, Pak J, Kim J., Estrin, N, , Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, March 2015, Volume 8, Number 3
- Rassman WR. One of our greatest Problems…Lowballing! Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1992; 2(6): 5
- Rassman WR. Pomerantz, MA The Importance of Measuring Hair Density in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hair Loss. Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1993; 3(2): 8-9
- Rassman WR, Pomerantz, MA. The art and science of minigrafting. Int J Aesthet Rest Surg 1993; 1:27-36.
- Rassman WR. Megatransplants in Transition – A Pictorial Review. Hair Transp Forum Intl. 1993; 3(4): 11
- Rassman WR. Megasessions: Dense Packing. Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1994; 4(3): 5
- Norwood, OT. William Rassman, M.D – Gearing Up for Two Thousand Grafts per Session and Dense Packing. Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1994; 4(4): 1-4
- Rassman WR. Concern about Quality. Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1994; 4(4): 8-9
- Rassman WR. Trouble with Megasessions and Dense Packing. Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1995; 5(6): 4-5
- Rassman WR, Carson S. Micrografting in extensive quantities; The ideal hair restoration procedure. Dermatol Surg 1995; 21:306-311.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Szaniawski W, Halperin A: Follicular Transplantation. Intl J Aesthetic Restorative Surgery 1995; 3: 119-32.
- Bernstein RM: Are scalp reductions still indicated? Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1996; 6(3): 12-13. Bernstein RM, Rassman WR: Laser hair transplantation: Is it really state of the art? Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 1996; 19: 233-5.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR: Follicular Transplantation: Patient Evaluation and Surgical Planning. Dermatol Surg 1997; 23: 771-84.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR: The Aesthetics of Follicular Transplantation. Dermat Surg 1997; 23: 785-99.
- Norwood, OT. Notes from the Editor Emeritus: “An Idea Whose Time Has Come.” Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1997; 7(3): 10-11
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR: What is delayed growth? Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1997; 7(2): 22.
- Bernstein RM. Measurements in Hair Restoration. Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1998; 8(1): 27.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR. Dissecting microscope versus magnifying loupes with transillumination in the preparation of follicular unit grafts. A bilateral controlled study. Dermatol Surg 1998; 24: 875-80.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Seager D, Shapiro R, et al. Standardizing the classification and description of follicular unit transplantation and mini-micrografting techniques. Dermatol Surg 1998; 24: 957-63.
- Bernstein RM: Microscopophobia. Hair Transplant Forum International. 1998; 8(5): 23.
- Rassman WR. Blind Graft Production with Cutting Grates and Multi-bladed Knives. Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 1998; 8(5): 22-23
- Bernstein RM: Blind graft production: Value at what cost? Hair Transplant Forum International 1998; 8(6): 28-29.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR: The logic of follicular unit transplantation. Dermatologic Clinics 1999; 17 (2): 277-95.
- Bernstein RM: Unified terminology for hair transplantation. Hair Transplant Forum International 1999; 9(4): 121-3.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR: Hemostasis with minimal epinephrine. Hair Transplant Forum International 1999; 9(5): 153.
- Bernstein RM: A slot by any other name. Hair Transplant Forum International 1999; 9(6): 175.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Seager D, Unger WP, et al. The Future in Hair Transplantation. Journal of Aesthetic Dermatology & Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery 1999; 1(1): 55-89.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR: Limiting epinephrine in large hair transplant sessions. Hair Transplant Forum International 2000; 10(2): 39-42.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Stough D: In support of follicular unit transplantation. Dermatologic Surgery 2000; 26(2): 160-2.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Rashid N: A new suture for hair transplantation: Poliglecaprone 25. Dermatol Surg 2001; 27(1): 5-11.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR: Follicular unit graft yield using three different techniques. Hair Transplant Forum International 2001; 11(1): 1, 11-13.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR: The scalp laxity paradox. Hair Transplant Forum International 2002; 12(1): 9-10.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Rashid N, Shiell R: The art of repair in surgical hair restoration – Part I: Basic repair strategies. Dermatol Surg 2002; 28(9): 783-94.
- Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Rashid N, Shiell R: The art of repair in surgical hair restoration – Part II: The tactics of repair. Dermatol Surg 2002; 28(10): 873-93.
- Rassman WR, Bernstein RM. The Automation of Hair Transplantation: Past, Present, and Future. In: Harahap M, ed. Innovative Techniques in Skin Surgery. New York, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 2002: 489-502.
- Rassman WR, Bernstein RM, McClellan R, Jones R, et al. Follicular Unit Extraction: Minimally invasive surgery for hair transplantation. Dermatol Surg 2002; 28(8): 720-7.
Men are not the only people who suffer from hair loss. While male pattern baldness is a more common and accepted condition, many practitioners perform SMP for women just as often as their male clients.
There are several reasons why women could begin losing their hair. Alopecia is an autoimmune condition that can cause hair loss all over the body, and often presents with hair falling out in chunks, leaving the patient with large bald spots all over his or her head.
Women are often under an immense amount of social pressure to look great, and one way many choose to accomplish this is to restrictively diet in order to lose those extra pounds. Unfortunately, if a diet doesn’t provide the body with the nutrients it needs, one could end up shedding hair alongside weight.
Finally, hair loss is wrapped up in genetics, and just like men, certain women may be predisposed.
Why SMP for Women is an Important Procedure
It may seem like there are few options for women who are losing their hair. After all, not every girl can pull off a short hairstyle. The situation is not so hopeless, however. Even if wigs, special shampoos, and surgeries haven’t done the job, Scalp MicroPigmentation isn’t short hair specific! Patients can choose how to fill out their visible scalp. Many of our clients have taken advantage of our SMP for women. Check out their stories:
Patient Mrs. S
I was so excited when my boyfriend finally proposed to me and couldn’t wait for our summer wedding! As the date drew nearer though, I was plagued by doubts. I always wore my thinning hair up to hide my ever-visible scalp but I knew my husband and I both wanted my hair down on the big day.
It was important that my marriage was perfect, so I investigated SMP for women, finding that it was an effective, short-recovery method for filling in a head of long hair! The treatment took no time and all and I was so happy with the results. My wedding day was perfect; I knew I looked like the bride of my husband’s dreams!
Patient Mrs. F
I’ve always been overweight, but it was only when I realized my children were taking after my unhealthy eating habits that I decided to make a change. Together with my daughter, I began a restrictive diet and we both lost a large amount of weight over the course of the summer.
We were thrilled with our weight loss, but found that whenever we showered, large swaths of hair would fall out. I tried everything to get to the bottom of this, but no doctor could figure it out. Finally I went to a hair loss specialist who suggested I try SMP for women to fill in the thinning hair. I booked three sessions for myself and couldn’t be happier with the results. My long hair looks as thick and luxurious as it did before I started dieting! Now I can feel self-confident about my weight loss without being worried about my thinning hair! I also learned the importance of having a doctor approve my diets and making sure I get all my nutrients.
Patient Mrs. R
I am a young woman in my early 20’s and I never thought that hair loss would affect me, but more and more I was able to see my scalp showing through my hair. People would comment on how obvious my parting was and I was getting really self-conscious. My doctor told me I wasn’t a good candidate for hair transplant surgery because we didn’t know when my hair would stop thinning. As a last ditch effort, I opted for SMP.
I am so happy I chose this treatment! I can still style my hair however I want but I don’t have to worry about drying it out with dry shampoo or making it look greasy with hair gel. I don’t get comments any more about my visible scalp and my confidence has returned tenfold! SMP was a way easier treatment than hair transplant and it was super effective. | <urn:uuid:9d8f785b-555c-41c8-adf7-82a662d4b784> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://newhair.com/resources/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.957471 | 27,313 | 3.359375 | 3 |
World builds more coal power in spite of pollution, pledges and coal end-date
Coal accounts for about a third of all energy installed globally but is the most polluting fossil fuel. All governments have agreed it must be scrapped by 2040 to meet Paris Agreements targets.
Thursday 6 April 2023 11:39, UK
The world is still developing new coal power, in spite of it being the most polluting fossil fuel, of promises to phase down coal and despite agreements that all coal stations should close by 2040.
These are the damning conclusions of a report by California-based NGO Global Energy Monitor (GEM), which tracks energy projects around the world.
Nearly all newly commissioned coal projects are in China, said GEM, which called China the "glaring exception to the ongoing global decline in coal plant development".
The world already has around 2,100 gigawatts (GW) of capacity already, while an additional 176 GW of coal capacity is under construction at more than 189 plants, and a further 280 GW is planned.
The global capacity to burn coal grew by 19.5 gigawatts last year, enough to light up about 15 million homes.
That 1% increase comes just as the world should be retiring its coal fleet four and a half times faster to meet climate goals, the report said.
"At this rate, the transition away from existing and new coal isn't happening fast enough to avoid climate chaos," said Flora Champenois, the report's lead author.
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At COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, the biggest climate summit in five years, countries promised to phase down the use of coal to help limit warming to 1.5C above levels before the industrial revolution - a target set out in the Paris Agreement.
The number of coal plants earmarked for closure then doubled, but "coal's last gasp is not yet in sight" the report said.
All governments have signed off a report by United Nations scientists that concludes all coal power plants must shut by 2040 in order to meet Paris Agreement targets.
Rich countries should close theirs even sooner, by 2030, the IPCC said.
"At a time when developed countries should be helping the rest of the world both end new coal plant construction and begin their coal transitions in earnest, many are instead planning to operate their coal plants at home far beyond the deadlines required by climate science", said GEM.
In recent years Japan, South Korea, and China and all G20 countries pledged to end public support for new international coal plants, meaning there is essentially no significant international public financier remaining for new coal plants.
But China has ploughed on domestically. In 2021, construction started on 33 GW of new coal power plants, the most since 2016 and almost three times as much as the rest of the world put together.
The superpower is the world's biggest manufacturer, accounting for around 30% of the global sector, and its emissions per capita put it in 48th in the world.
While China accounted for 92% of all new coal project announcements, countries including India, Indonesia, Turkey and Zimbabwe both added new coal plants and announced new projects.
'Long term trajectory still towards clean energy'
But "the long term trajectory is still towards clean energy", said Shantanu Srivastava, an energy analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis who is based in New Delhi.
In Europe, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine meant a scramble for alternative energy sources and droughts stifled hydropower, the continent only saw a very minor increase in coal use.
The world's leading energy agency, the IEA, has said the crisis "turbocharged" the growth of renewable power as countries raced to strengthen energy security.
As gas prices soared, the UK last summer negotiated contingency contracts with a number of coal generators for the winter, extending the life of five units that had been due to retire.
Although they were warmed up during occasional cold spells, only two of the units were eventually used to produce power during a brief period in early March.
With nearly 2,500 plants around the world, coal accounts for about a third of the total amount of energy installation globally. Other fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable power make up the rest.
Watch the Daily Climate Show at 3.30pm Monday to Friday, and The Climate Show with Tom Heap on Saturday and Sunday at 3.30pm and 7.30pm.
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The show investigates how global warming is changing our landscape and highlights solutions to the crisis. | <urn:uuid:0f6f6724-ab88-48e3-8e90-12e10f28a427> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://news.sky.com/story/world-builds-more-coal-power-in-spite-of-pollution-pledges-and-coal-end-date-12851050 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.948214 | 962 | 3.21875 | 3 |
- Researchers have demonstrated for the first time a potential route of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein damaging the heart.
- In study evaluating mice and human heart cells, the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein inflamed the heart muscle cells, which can lead to heart injury.
Embargoed until 8 a.m. CT/9 a.m. ET, Monday, July 25, 2022
CHICAGO, July 25, 2022 — Heart damage is common among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, leading many to wonder how the virus affects the heart. Now, researchers have found that the spike protein from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus can lead to heart muscle injury through the inflammatory process, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2022. The meeting, held in Chicago on July 25-28, offers the latest research on basic and translational cardiovascular science.
The spike protein is found on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Spike proteins latch onto receptors known as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on target cells. The spike protein facilitates virus entry into healthy cells, which is the first step in infection. In addition to infecting the lungs, the virus can also spread to other organs leading to more damage to the body, severe infection and, among some people, death.
“It’s already known from the clinical side that COVID-19 infection can induce heart injury, however, what we don’t know is the mechanistic details of how this occurs. What we suspect is that the spike protein has unknown pathological roles,” said Zhiqiang Lin, Ph.D., lead author of the study and an assistant professor at the Masonic Medical Research Institute in Utica, New York. “Our data show that the spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 causes heart muscle damage. That’s why it’s important to get vaccinated and prevent this disease.”
“Host natural immunity is the first line of defense against pathogen invasion, and heart muscle cells have their own natural immune machinery. Activation of the body’s immune response is essential for fighting against virus infection; however, this may also impair heart muscle cell function and even lead to cell death and heart failure,” Lin said.
The researchers studied whether the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein activates the natural immune response in heart muscle cells. HCoV-NL63 is a coronavirus that infects the respiratory system without causing cardiac injury, although its spike protein also uses ACE2 to mediate virus entry. They studied the potential ability to cause heart disease of both SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the NL63 spike protein. Their results showed that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein activated the natural immune response in heart muscle cells and damaged the heart, but the NL63 spike protein did not.
“The fact that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is activating the natural immune response may explain the high virulence compared to the other coronaviruses,” Lin said. “The TLR4 signaling is the major pathway that activates the body’s natural immune response, and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein activates TLR4, not the regular flu spike protein.”
To investigate the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on the heart, researchers cloned the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the NL63 spike protein into the AAV9 viral vector. The AAV9 viral vector was delivered into lab mice to activate the spike protein in the heart muscle cells. They found that the AAV9-mediated the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and not the NL63 spike protein, caused heart dysfunction, hypertrophic remodeling (enlargement) and cardiac inflammation.
In lab testing of heart cells cultured in dishes, researchers also observed that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein made heart muscle cells much larger compared to cells without either spike protein. “We found direct evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is toxic to heart muscle cells,” Lin said.
During this study, researchers also examined a heart biopsy from a deceased patient with inflammation due to COVID-19. They detected the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and TLR4 protein in both heart muscle cells and other cell types. In contrast, these two proteins were absent in a biopsy of a healthy human heart. “That means once the heart is infected with SARS-CoV-2, it will activate the TLR4 signaling,” Lin said. “Besides directly damaging the heart muscle cells, the spike protein itself is very inflammatory and may cause systemic inflammation that indirectly causes heart problems.”
ACE2 is an important enzyme controlling blood pressure. SARS-CoV-2 infection may impair ACE2 function, which in turn leads to blood pressure increase and, thereby, injures the heart. SARS-CoV-2 may also damage the heart through other unknown pathways.
“Our study provides two pieces of evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein does not need ACE2 to injure the heart. First, we found that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein injured the heart of lab mice. Different from ACE2 in humans, ACE2 in mice does not interact with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, therefore, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein did not injure the heart by directly disrupting ACE2 function. Second, although both the SARS-CoV-2 and NL63 coronaviruses use ACE2 as a receptor to infect cells, only the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacted with TLR4 and inflamed the heart muscle cells. Therefore, our study presents a novel, ACE2-independent pathological role of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, ” Lin said.
This research takes the first step toward determining whether the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein affects the heart. The researchers now plan to investigate how SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins cause inflammation in the heart. There are two potential ways: the first is that spike protein is expressed in the virus-infected heart muscle cells and thereby directly activates inflammation; the second is that the virus spike protein is shed into the bloodstream, and the circulating SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins damage the heart.
Co-authors are Caroline Sheldon, B.A.; Steven Negron, B.A.; Chase W. Kessinger, Ph.D.; Bing Xu, Ph.D.; William T. Pu, M.D.; and Chieh-Yu Lin, M.D., Ph.D. Authors’ disclosures are listed in the abstract. No funding was reported for this study.
Statements and conclusions of studies that are presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association’s policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, rather, they are curated by independent review panels and are considered based on the potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the meeting. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and biotech companies, device manufacturers and health insurance providers and the Association’s overall financial information are available here.
- Multimedia is available on the right column of the news release link: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/coronavirus-spike-protein-activated-natural-immune-response-damaged-heart-muscle-cells?preview=de6c1cf6bc8f9606caa7f4525c26ac96
- AHA COVID Resources
- AHA news release: More than $10M in research grants awarded to study long COVID impact on CVD health (April 2022)
- AHA news release: International study finds heart inflammation rare among people hospitalized with COVID-19 (April 2022)
- AHA Scientific Statement: Heart issues after COVID-19 uncommon in children & young adults, more research needed (April 2022)
- Follow AHA/ASA news from the meeting on Twitter @HeartNews, #BCVS22
The American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions (BCVS) is the world’s premier meeting dedicated to the latest advances in basic and translational cardiovascular science. The virtual meeting is being held at the Chicago Hilton, July 25-28, 2022. The primary goal of the meeting is to convene scientists from around the world with the common goal to discover pathways to cardiovascular therapeutics and promoting cardiovascular health. Sessions will focus on new therapies and insights in cardiovascular disease, as well as research in fields like microRNAs, cardiac gene and cell therapy, cardiac development, as well as tissue engineering and iPS cells. The American Heart Association’s Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences planned the BCVS 2022 Scientific Sessions program which will be of special interest to basic cardiovascular scientists, molecular/cellular biologists, physiologists, translational investigators, clinical trialists, practicing cardiologists, cardiovascular nurses and pharmacists. Follow the conference on Twitter at #BCVS22.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. We are a trustworthy source empowering people to improve their heart health, brain health and well-being. We collaborate with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies, and share lifesaving resources and information. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries and AHA Expert Perspective:
AHA Communications & Media Relations in Dallas: 214-706-1173; [email protected]
Karen Astle: [email protected], 214-706-1392
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) | <urn:uuid:66b64fc7-8a16-434c-a7f5-18feda2f83b4> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://newsroom.heart.org/news/coronavirus-spike-protein-activated-natural-immune-response-damaged-heart-muscle-cells | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.911204 | 2,262 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Now that the worst of the pandemic is hopefully behind us, data are starting to come out measuring the impact of COVID-19 on the Canadian economy. It seems that the news is even worse than originally thought.
Statistics Canada data for the second quarter of 2020 registered the steepest decline in quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ever recorded since data were collected on this basis in the early 1960s, with an annualized drop of 38.7 per cent. Not surprisingly, consumer spending, investment and international trade all showed sharp declines. By way of comparison, the US economy shrunk by 31.7 per cent, significantly less than in Canada.
A Conference Board of Canada report released last week detailed the economic impact by province. Alberta fared the worst, with a projected GDP drop of 11.3 per cent in 2020. The pandemic hit many industries that were big consumers of fossil fuels, such as airlines, very hard, and regions of the country whose economies were especially dependent on the energy sector such as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, suffered as a result.
The fact that the Trudeau government has implemented many policies that have had a profound negative impact on the domestic oil and gas sector and related industries meant that Canadian businesses were hit harder by these market trends than comparable businesses in other countries.
The Conference Board foresees Ontario and Quebec having similar economic declines of 7.6 and 7.2 per cent respectively in 2020, noting that although Quebec was by far the hardest hit province by Covid-19, it reopened its economy earlier than other provinces and lessened the negative impact somewhat as a result. BC is expected to have a somewhat less negative performance as that province entered the pandemic in a better fiscal position than others. Once again, those who believe government deficits do not matter are proven wrong as the many provinces, and the federal government, who entered the pandemic in a compromised fiscal situation will have the most difficult time emerging from it. The home renovation and construction sectors have also held up well despite the pandemic, benefitting BC’s forestry industry.
Provinces such as Manitoba, Nova Scotia and PEI will also have comparatively less negative economic performances as the incidence of the pandemic in areas with smaller populations was more limited.
In the third quarter to date, recent weeks have shown some improvement in household spending as economies began to open up again and consumers who had not been able to spend on such things as consumer goods and restaurant meals, played catch up with the savings that had accumulated during the lockdown. But even before the pandemic hit, the state of our economy and consumer confidence was already shaky, with many reports suggesting that consumers had little savings and a pessimistic outlook on their economic prospects.
Some savings occurred of necessity during the pandemic as there were fewer options for consumers to spend with so many businesses closed, but once these funds are depleted there is no expectation that robust consumer spending can drive an economic recovery. Considering that consumers usually represent about 60 per cent of the economic growth at any given time, this does not bode well for Canada’s prospects in the next couple of years.
The Conference Board and many other analysts do not foresee a return to pre-pandemic levels of economic activity until late 2021 or 2022, so there is unfortunately much pain yet to come even without the possibility of a second wave of the virus this autumn. As a result, governments should be doing everything they can to promote the recovery of the private sector, including the oil and gas industry, with policies that reduce costly red tape, streamline taxes and promote private sector job creation.
Unfortunately, a number of Canadian governments continue to buy into the fiction that Canadian governments can have a “green” recovery that necessitates massive taxpayer subsidy of unreliable green energy, and create even more costly social programs and dependence on big government. Such an approach will surely dampen the growth of the private sector, the only enduring source of prosperity in any society. These types of policies have never worked to promote a healthy economy, and the unusual circumstances of a pandemic will not change this universal truth.
She has published numerous articles in journals, magazines & other media on issues such as free trade, finance, entrepreneurship & women business owners. Ms. Swift is a past President of the Empire Club of Canada, a former Director of the CD Howe Institute, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, SOS Children’s Villages, past President of the International Small Business Congress and current Director of the Fraser Institute. She was cited in 2003 & 2012 as one of the most powerful women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Network & is a recipient of the Queen’s Silver & Gold Jubilee medals. | <urn:uuid:17f41433-5a04-49ef-8fa2-77926962e871> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://niagaraindependent.ca/grim-economic-news/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.973463 | 954 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Lotteries are a popular way to generate revenue for governments without raising taxes. However, they have been criticized for being a form of gambling. While some governments have outlawed lotteries, others endorse them. The governments of some countries have national and state lotteries. Other governments have passed laws that regulate lotteries.
Lotteries are a form of gambling
Lotteries are a popular form of gambling that has many benefits, but also some risks. For instance, there is a high potential for loss, which means that people who play the lottery should be responsible for the consequences of their actions. Gambling also has a variety of social and legal consequences.
Lotteries can be used for a variety of purposes, including military conscription, commercial promotion, and selecting jury members. In order to be legally valid, lotteries must be run by an organization. These organizations must maintain records of who bought a particular ticket and how much each ticket cost. In addition, they must also require that the participants pay a certain amount to enter the drawing.
They are a huge business
The lottery business is a massive business, and the proceeds from it help fund a wide variety of public programs. Powerball and Mega Millions are two of the biggest lottery games in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, they are expected to generate $81.6 billion in sales this year. While some critics question the legitimacy of lottery spending, it has been shown to increase public revenues.
As with any industry, lottery businesses start out small and can grow to national and international markets. They require a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a willingness to overcome challenges. They also have to be innovative and meet the expectations of lottery users. Throughout history, lottery businesses have helped raise money for public projects, wars, towns, and even colleges. They also help governments raise money without increasing taxes.
They allow governments to raise revenue without increasing taxes
The lottery has been a popular way for governments to raise money without increasing taxes. Governments can use the revenue generated by the lottery to pay for important public services. Some states even allocate a portion of the lottery proceeds to fight social issues. Others allocate the money to a general fund to fill in shortfalls in areas like roadwork and police forces. Local governments can also use the money to fund educational programs, like college scholarships. They can also use it to help the elderly.
Opponents of the lottery claim that it is regressive, but lottery proponents counter that poor people spend disproportionate amounts on other consumer goods. Moreover, the government sells lottery tickets and profits from the sales.
They are a game of luck
You may think that winning the lottery is a matter of chance. However, the winning numbers are actually chosen randomly, and therefore the numbers are not determined by luck. In addition, the more people who play the lottery, the lower the odds will be. For example, the odds of winning MegaMillions and Powerball are 175 million to one, respectively.
There are many theories on the question of whether lottery plays are a matter of skill or luck. The object of the lottery is to correctly guess the number assigned to your ticket. While winning lottery prizes is usually a matter of luck, there is also an element of skill involved. This means that you don’t have to be the best at playing the lottery to win the jackpot.
Strategies to increase your chances of winning
There are several proven strategies that can help you increase your chances of winning the lottery. These strategies include playing a smaller lottery or joining a syndicate. But they don’t guarantee you’ll win the lottery. In fact, there is no sure way to predict the results of a lottery draw, so you need to be careful not to get carried away.
Buying more tickets may help your chances, but a recent study in Australia found that buying more tickets didn’t significantly improve your chances. You must use this strategy in combination with other proven winning strategies to ensure the best possible results. In particular, you should use a wheeling system, which uses math to increase your chances of winning multiple tiers of prizes. | <urn:uuid:3b3f521f-259c-44a5-b4cb-f7fb1d932ec5> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://nsmarbleandgranite.com/the-benefits-of-winning-the-lottery/?amp=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.96159 | 849 | 2.84375 | 3 |
- numpy.power(x1, x2, /, out=None, *, where=True, casting='same_kind', order='K', dtype=None, subok=True[, signature, extobj]) = <ufunc 'power'>¶
First array elements raised to powers from second array, element-wise.
Raise each base in x1 to the positionally-corresponding power in x2. x1 and x2 must be broadcastable to the same shape.
An integer type raised to a negative integer power will raise a
Negative values raised to a non-integral value will return
nan. To get complex results, cast the input to complex, or specify the
complex(see the example below).
The exponents. If
x1.shape != x2.shape, they must be broadcastable to a common shape (which becomes the shape of the output).
- outndarray, None, or tuple of ndarray and None, optional
A location into which the result is stored. If provided, it must have a shape that the inputs broadcast to. If not provided or None, a freshly-allocated array is returned. A tuple (possible only as a keyword argument) must have length equal to the number of outputs.
- wherearray_like, optional
This condition is broadcast over the input. At locations where the condition is True, the out array will be set to the ufunc result. Elsewhere, the out array will retain its original value. Note that if an uninitialized out array is created via the default
out=None, locations within it where the condition is False will remain uninitialized.
For other keyword-only arguments, see the ufunc docs.
The bases in x1 raised to the exponents in x2. This is a scalar if both x1 and x2 are scalars.
power function that promotes integers to float
Cube each element in an array.
>>> x1 = np.arange(6) >>> x1 [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5] >>> np.power(x1, 3) array([ 0, 1, 8, 27, 64, 125])
Raise the bases to different exponents.
>>> x2 = [1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 3.0, 2.0, 1.0] >>> np.power(x1, x2) array([ 0., 1., 8., 27., 16., 5.])
The effect of broadcasting.
>>> x2 = np.array([[1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1]]) >>> x2 array([[1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1], [1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1]]) >>> np.power(x1, x2) array([[ 0, 1, 8, 27, 16, 5], [ 0, 1, 8, 27, 16, 5]])
**operator can be used as a shorthand for
>>> x2 = np.array([1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1]) >>> x1 = np.arange(6) >>> x1 ** x2 array([ 0, 1, 8, 27, 16, 5])
Negative values raised to a non-integral value will result in
nan(and a warning will be generated).
>>> x3 = np.array([-1.0, -4.0]) >>> with np.errstate(invalid='ignore'): ... p = np.power(x3, 1.5) ... >>> p array([nan, nan])
To get complex results, give the argument
>>> np.power(x3, 1.5, dtype=complex) array([-1.83697020e-16-1.j, -1.46957616e-15-8.j]) | <urn:uuid:6753b36c-a141-46d6-8b59-3ce1fd11c14c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://numpy.org/doc/1.22/reference/generated/numpy.power.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.687018 | 846 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Rafael Pombo (7 November 1833 – 5 May 1912) was a celebrated Colombian poet, writer, and fabulist who made significant contributions to the world of literature and is known for his enduring influence in Colombian culture.
Life & Career
Rafael Pombo was born in Bogotá, Colombia, into a family of distinguished intellectuals. He received an excellent education and excelled academically. His early exposure to a rich literary environment sparked his interest in writing, and his family’s support nurtured his talents from a young age.
Rafael Pombo’s career in literature was marked by a deep love for his country and a passion for storytelling. He became known for his exceptional talent in writing poetry, fables, and children’s literature. Some of his most famous works include “Cuentos de la Abuela” (Grandmother’s Tales) and “Poesías” (Poems). His fables, in particular, remain iconic in Colombian literature.
Pombo was a pioneer in adapting traditional European fables for Colombian audiences. His works often conveyed moral lessons while preserving the charm of traditional tales, making them accessible and enjoyable for generations of readers, young and old. His ability to connect with children through his storytelling has made him a beloved figure in Colombian culture. fter seventeen years in the United States of America, Rafael Pombo returned to Colombia, where he worked as a celebrated translator and journalist (founding several newspapers). On August 20, 1905, he was crowned as Colombia’s best poet – his Poesías Completas was published in 1957, from which the poem En El Niágara was taken. Rafael Pombo remained in Colombia until his death on May 5, 1912.
Some of the notable works of Rafael Pombo, the renowned Colombian poet and fabulist, include:
- “Cuentos de la Abuela” (Grandmother’s Tales): A collection of charming and instructive fables.
- “Poesías” (Poems): A compilation of his poetry, showcasing his versatility as a writer.
- Fables: His adaptation and creation of fables continue to be widely read and loved in Colombia.
Rafael Pombo’s ability to blend moral lessons with captivating storytelling has left an indelible mark on Colombian literature and culture. His enduring works resonate with generations of readers, making him a literary giant in the Colombian context.
Legacy and Awards
Rafael Pombo’s legacy endures through his works, which continue to be celebrated and cherished by Colombians. His fables and poems remain a fundamental part of Colombian literature and are frequently taught in schools. The deep moral and ethical lessons conveyed through his storytelling have a lasting impact on Colombian society.
While Pombo’s contributions were not extensively recognized during his lifetime, his influence grew after his death. He is now regarded as one of Colombia’s most prominent literary figures. His work has received numerous awards and accolades, and his legacy as a writer and fabulist remains an integral part of Colombia’s cultural heritage. | <urn:uuid:ea3f02f4-a584-4161-86ac-74b8feeffe2a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://observervoice.com/biography-of-rafael-pombo-39902/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.978607 | 662 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Auburn scientists: Widespread outbreak of Zika virus not likely in United States
Public health officials are working to contain an outbreak of Zika virus across Central and South America. But scientists at Auburn University do not believe the United States will face the disease in the numbers appearing in Brazil and other Central and South American nations.
Derrick Mathias, an assistant professor specializing in medical entomology at Auburn University, said if the Zika virus comes to the United States, it would present the greatest threat to residents in South Florida and South Texas.
"I would expect Zika to occur in parts of the United States where dengue fever and chikungunya have occurred," said Mathias. "All three diseases are transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes. Currently, dengue and chikungunya are considered a possible threat to human health only in South Florida and parts of Texas."
Aedes species mosquitoes, including A. aegypti and A. albopictus, are active during the day – mostly in the late afternoon. Mathias said that in the current outbreak in the Americas the Zika virus is transmitted by A. aegypti, which shows a stronger preference to feed on people over other mammals.
"A. albopictus has displaced A. aegypti in many parts of the southern United States, particularly in rural and suburban areas," he said. "A. albopictus is much more common in Alabama than the species connected to the current Zika outbreak."
Mathias said the disease's ability to spread is also affected by the fact that primates are the only reservoir for the disease.
"While we have a potential vector here in A. albopictus, because the transmission cycle only involves mosquitoes and humans, the risk of Zika virus becoming established in Alabama is low," he said.
"For example in West Nile Virus, both birds and people can carry the virus. That means there is a much larger group of potential infected carriers of the disease, while the Zika virus must be carried by people or other primates."
But Mathias points out that Zika is a single-stranded RNA virus with a high mutation rate.
"We know from similar viruses such as West Nile and chikungunya that mutations may occur that enhance transmission efficiency or influence virulence in a new location. New mutations and the lack of immunity to the virus are hypotheses for why the virus has spread so rapidly in the Americas."
Xing Ping Hu, an entomologist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, agrees with Mathias that Zika is unlikely to spread rapidly across the United States. She points out that all the cases of Zika disease identified in the United States were in travelers who contracted the disease elsewhere.
"Because of a possible link between Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly in the fetus, public health officials are discouraging pregnant women from visiting nations with an ongoing Zika outbreak," said Hu, who is also an Auburn University professor of entomology. "While the disease is usually mild in adults, Zika virus is a serious health threat to pregnant women and their unborn children."
Microcephaly is a neurological condition characterized by an abnormally small head that can lead to premature death or developmental disabilities.
Hu emphasizes that Zika is not contagious. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.
She said symptoms of the virus are mild in most people, rarely causing serious issues.
"Less than 25 percent of people infected with the Zika virus become ill, and hospitalization is uncommon," she said. "The most common side effects are fever, joint pain, conjunctivitis and a rash, and can last from several days to one week."
Hu said preparedness is the strongest defense against both established and unknown mosquito-borne diseases.
"It is important to take preventative action to protect against mosquito bites and mosquito-borne diseases at all times," she said.
Reduce mosquito breeding sites:
- Remove standing water around your home on a weekly basis, even in the smallest of containers.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, and empty them when not in use.
- Cover containers used to store rainwater for garden use tightly; use window screen or plastic during drought periods.
- Dispose of water holders, such as tires, cans, bottles and similar garbage.
- Clean clogged roof gutters, and drain flat roofs.
Keep mosquitoes out of the house:
- Install 16- to 18-mesh window and door screen.
- Repair broken screens on windows, doors and porches.
- Caulk cracks and crevices where insects can enter.
- Remove tall weeds and overgrowth where mosquitoes prefer to rest.
- Wear long pants and sleeves when possible to reduce possibility of mosquito bites.
- Use insect repellent. Repellents with DEET are highly effective against mosquitoes, but follow label recommendations about spraying directly onto skin.
- Educate yourself about health risks before traveling internationally, particularly when visiting tropical and sub-tropical countries.
For more information on protecting your home from mosquitoes, visit www.aces.edu and search for Extension publications, Mosquitoes In and Around Homes, and Protecting Yourself from Mosquito-Borne Illnesses.
Media interested in this story can contact Communications Director Preston Sparks at (334) 844-9999 or [email protected].
Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact. | <urn:uuid:e68bec70-2cf2-454b-bac4-993fb32f2bd3> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2016/01/auburn-scientists-widespread-outbreak-of-zika-virus-not-likely-in-united-states.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.945307 | 1,275 | 3.0625 | 3 |
In the struggle to secure energy resources, the great powers consider all states to be fair game. Indeed, this is precisely what characterizes American foreign policy in the modern era. When it comes to economic and geopolitical interests, Washington seldom differentiates between democratic leaders and despots, especially when those interests involve oil. Currently, the stakes are high in the rush to secure oil resources and nowhere is this more evident than in the Sino-American rivalry in Africa. Both states are competing to secure their share of oil supplies in order to quench their addiction to the coveted ‘black gold.’
One of Washington’s primary energy security concerns has been to diversify its sources of foreign oil. During the 1970s oil crisis, the United States imported one-third of its petroleum. Now, it imports approximately 11.4 million barrels per day of petroleum (which includes crude oil and petroleum products), amounting to 45 percent of all petroleum consumed in America . While most of its foreign oil comes from the western hemisphere, a sizable portion comes from Africa and the Persian Gulf . Despite the fact that America’s reliance on foreign oil has decreased since its peak in 2005, it is still vulnerable to supply disruptions, oil price shocks and OPEC supply squeezing. For Washington, the need to decrease its vulnerability to foreign oil is a principle national security interest, and the solution lies in diversifying imports away from overreliance on any one region.
West African oil remains strategically important for U.S. policy makers, especially since it provides an alternative to Persian Gulf oil. West Africa is also geographically closer, making transportation less costly than oil from the Persian Gulf. The high-quality sweet crude that is produced by the Gulf of Guinea states is crucial to the U.S. market. As such, oil corporations are doing whatever they can to secure this important hydrocarbon and Washington is fervently promoting free trade in Africa in order to make it easier for them.
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to two of the largest oil-producing states: Nigeria and Angola. These two states account for 53 percent and 26 percent of total U.S. petroleum imports from Sub-Saharan Africa respectively . Thus, it is no surprise that the two states also receive the largest share of U.S. security assistance to Africa.
Related Article: Madagascar: The Hottest Energy Play in East Africa
In order to boost its influence in Africa and secure the loyalty of governments, the U.S. has provided military arms and developed military training programs with individual African governments. To increase its military presence, it has acquired basing rights and access to airfields in Djibouti, Uganda, Mali, Senegal and Gabon, along with port facilities in Morocco and Tunisia. In addition, it has also expanded its covert intelligence operations across Africa in the name of combatting terrorism . Yet, these operations also serve another purpose. By expanding its military presence in Africa, Washington is reminding its rivals that it is both willing and able to respond to threats to its strategic interests, the likes of which include the unimpeded flow of African oil.
In 2007, the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) was established as the ninth of the Unified Combatant Commands under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD). The alleged purpose is to oversee American military operations on the African continent in order to enhance the stability of the region and to promote U.S. national security objectives. Many critics of AFRICOM, including energy security expert Michael T. Klare, believe there is a direct relationship between the existence of AFRICOM and America’s interest in African oil .
There is a parallel between America’s increased military presence in Africa and its military expansion into the Persian Gulf since the establishment of the Carter Doctrine. While this endeavour is noticeably more limited in Africa and does not involve any significant oil-for-security arrangements- at least, not yet- there is no doubt that America would respond with force if oil supplies were threatened. The difference is in style, not substance; America seeks a more subtle presence in order to engage in rapid combat and covert operations, when necessary. This operational capacity is equal parts the U.S. bending to the strategic realities of the 21stcentury and a response to African governments, for obvious historical reasons, not welcoming permanent military bases on their soil.
There may be another, often overlooked, purpose of AFRICOM. The presence of China in Africa is creating some concern for American officials. Beijing is competing with Washington for both the loyalty of African governments and the steady supply of African oil. There is a growing sentiment in Washington that China’s presence in Africa could challenge U.S. security interests now and in the years to come. China’s unconditional financial aid and its steady flow of cheap goods to African states (in exchange for oil contracts) have often made it a more appealing trading partner than America. Indeed, a 2005 DoD report indicated that China’s need to forge close ties with African governments to secure energy supplies could lead to ‘a more activist [Chinese] military presence abroad’ . In this regard, AFRICOM would monitor Chinese activity and contain any Chinese incursion into American zones of interest by flexing America’s naval presence.
Related Article: Desperate South Sudan Carves up Total Concession
The stakes for Beijing, however, seem to be greater for three reasons. First, China has an annual GDP growth rate of 7.4 percent. To sustain this, the Chinese economy relies heavily on the consumption of oil. It is constantly seeking new sources of oil to meet its domestic demand, but its African oil supplies are indispensable. Second, China imports more from oil from Africa than America does (30 percent vs. 20 percent) . China’s oil imports from Africa will likely grow to be bigger than America’s in the decades to come, and China is expected to take America’s spot as the world’s biggest oil importer very soon. By 2020, China will import approximately 65 percent of its oil . Lastly, China is not a newcomer to Africa. In the 1960s and 1970s, it supported many national liberation movements, provided a large share of arms to post-independence governments and invested heavily in national infrastructure projects . In this sense, Beijing perceives its presence in Africa as a continuation of its legacy and as an important geopolitical interest on the road to major power status.
However, Africa might not provide the most secure alternative to Persian Gulf oil. Africa’s production capacity is more limited than that of the Persian Gulf, and it also has fewer proven reserves. In terms of aggregate global oil production, Africa is still lagging behind other major crude oil-producing regions . If we assume that ‘peak oil’ estimates are accurate, then (according to BP’s reserves-to-production ratio) Sub-Saharan Africa, as a whole, has an oil-producing capacity that will end by 2030. This would leave only Nigeria and Sudan as major oil-producing states in the region (of course, this assumes that production will remain constant and that no new reserves will be discovered) .
In addition, Africa’s political environment can be as unstable as the Persian Gulf. Internal instability, the rise of transnational terrorist networks, military coups, civil strife, endemic corruption and the conflict-stricken Niger Delta all pose significant problems for business operations in the African continent.
America must show restraint in its expansion into Africa. While a military conflict with China over access to African oil may seem presently unrealistic- especially given America and China’s mutual economic dependence- future regional developments and the further militarization of the region could shift the Sino-American rivalry into a more adversarial direction . The ‘military security paradox’ is an important lesson to be learned by the great powers. Militarizing a region in the pursuit of regional stability and security can often have the opposite effect. Only time will tell if Washington and Beijing heed this warning.
By. Chris Mansur | <urn:uuid:db01ac05-6763-4588-b30a-cec75b348f9f> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://oilprice.com:443/Geopolitics/Africa/The-Secret-War-Between-China-and-the-US-for-Africas-Oil-Riches.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.956119 | 1,656 | 2.59375 | 3 |
- from Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks had endured prejudice, bigotry, and injustice all her life. She knew this was unfair and unjust.
What made it worse was that there were laws that supported the unjust treatment of black people. The police and government did not treat everyone equally. They did not protect everyone equally. When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus in Montgomery, Alabama, she inspired millions of people to speak out for civil rights. She is known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. | <urn:uuid:5b562ef2-0cf5-4804-bd05-651900ab4c7c> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://online.kidsdiscover.com/unit/rosa-parks/topic/living-in-a-world-of-segregation?utm_source=Blog&utm_campaign=TeachingDecember&utm_medium=Post | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.991898 | 105 | 3.84375 | 4 |
Author: Susan Urban (smu29) (SYSEN 5800 Fall 2021)
Optimization of a non-convex function f(x) is challenging since it may have multiple locally optimal solutions or no solution and it can take a significant amount of time, computing resources, and effort to determine if the solution is global or the problem has no feasible solution. Different techniques are used to address this challenge depending on the characteristics of the problem.
One technique used for a given non-convex function is the identification of a concave envelope and a convex envelope. The concave envelope, and respectively the convex envelope, is the concave over-estimator and convex under-estimator for the given function providing the tighest fit to the given function. The envelope surrounds the given function, like an envelope encloses a letter, and limits the feasible solution space the most in comparison to all other concave over-estimators and convex under-estimators.
McCormick Envelopes: Theory, Methodology and Algorithmic Discussions
The McCormick Envelope2 is a type of convex relaxation used for optimization of bilinear (e.g., x*y, x+y) non-linear programming (NLP) problems.
Each bilinear term is replaced with a new variable and four sets of constraints are added. The non-linear programming is converted to a relaxed convex linear programming which can be more easily solved.
The LP solution gives a lower bound and any feasible solution gives an upper bound.
As noted by Scott et al3, McCormick envelopes are effective since they are recursive, can be applied to a variety of applications, and are typically stronger than those resulting from convexification or linearization procedures.
The following is a derivation of the McCormick Envelopes:
where are upper and lower bound values for and , respectively.
The under-estimators of the function are represented by:
The over-estimators of the function are represented by:
The following shows the relaxation of a non-convex problem:
Original non-convex problem:
we obtain a relaxed, convex problem:
Good lower and upper bounds focus and minimize the feasible solution space; they reduce the number of iterations to find the optimal solution.
As discussed by Hazaji6, global optimization solvers focus initially on optimizing the lower and upper bounds, and when necessary, focus on domain partitioning. By dividing the domain of a given variable into partitions or smaller regions, the solver is able to tailor and further tighten the convex relaxations of each partition.
Using GAMS, the solution is z= -24, x=6, y=2.
GAMS code sample:
positive variable x, y, w;
equations obj, c1, c2, c3, c4, c5 ;
obj.. z =e= -w -2*x ;
c1.. w =l= 12 ;
c2.. w =g= 0;
c3.. w =g= 6*y +3*x -18;
c4.. w =l= 6*y;
c5.. w =l= 3*x;
x.up = 10;
y.up = 2;
y.lo = 0;
model course5800 /all/;
option mip = baron;
option optcr = 0;
solve course5800 minimizing z using mip ;
Bilinear functions occur in numerous engineering and natural science applications, including the following :
Computer vision 4
Super resolution imaging 5
Non-convex NLPs are challenging to solve and may require a significant amount of time, computing resources, and effort to determine if the solution is global or the problem has no feasible solution. McCormick Envelopes provide a relaxation technique for bilinear non-convex nonlinear programming problems. McCormick Envelopes provide a straightforward technique of replacing each bilinear term with a new variable and adding four contraints. Due to the recursive nature of this technique, it may be applied to a wide variety of engineering and scientific applications involving bilinear terms.
- McCormick, Garth P. Computability of Global Solutions To Factorable Nonconvex Solutions: Part I: Convex Underestimating Problems
- Scott, J. K. Stuber, M. D. & Barton, P. I. (2011). Generalized McCormick Relaxations. Journal of Global Optimization, Vol. 51, Issue 4, 569-606 doi: 10.1007/s10898-011-9664-7
- Hijazi, H., Perspective Envelopes for Bilinear Functions, unpublished manuscript, retrieved from: Perspective Envelopes for Bilinear Functions
- Chandraker, M. & Kriegman, D. (n.d.): Globally Optimal Bilinear Programming for Computer Vision Applications. University of San Diego, CA. Retrieved from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwis69Say7H0AhXWp3IEHVGLBW4QFnoECC4QAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvision.ucsd.edu%2F~manu%2Fpdf%2Fcvpr08_bilinear.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1h-cpWO81s41howVxYKq7F
- Gronski, J. (2019). Non-Convex Optimization and Applications to Bilinear Programming and Super-Resolution Imaging. University of Colorado. Retrieved from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwif3qO017H0AhWNknIEHebkAhMQFnoECA0QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fscholar.colorado.edu%2Fdownloads%2Fwd375w61z&usg=AOvVaw09lnJJoZX3i_wwBGHin9LK | <urn:uuid:6105fecd-bc41-45de-902b-02789536e4a8> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://optimization.cbe.cornell.edu/index.php?title=McCormick_envelopes&oldid=3663 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.816879 | 1,357 | 2.875 | 3 |
Hubble Unveils the Veil Nebula
Cygnus is not only the 16th largest constellation in our solar system (made up of seventeen main stars) it is also home to a strikingly beautiful and intriguing Nebula called, the Veil Nebula. NASA’s Hubble Telescope has zoomed in on this celestial marvel to reveal one of the most fascinating space pics you may ever feast your eyes on. Check it out!
The Unveiled Nebula
Being coined as a “crumpled bed sheet” in appearance, the remnants of a once massive star (about 20 times that of the Sun) is now providing us with a stunning display of gases and light. The explosion of this star happened around 8,000 years-ago which created a fast-moving blast wave that continues to plow into a bank of cool, dense interstellar gas, along the edge of a large area of low-density gas.
The Veil Nebula is located about 2,100 light-years away and spans approximately 110 light-years across. However, the picture taken by Hubble is only a small portion (two light-years) of what this wonder has to offer.
Credit: Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
What We Are Seeing
The image from Hubble shows the collision from the blast wave and the dust and gas in space – the bright regions are where the shock wave is colliding with denser material – and is seen on edge.
As you can see in the image, there are different colored regions which all have a corresponding chemical; red is the glow of hydrogen, green is from sulfur and blue is being created by oxygen. The more chaotic structure of the red is from an earlier time when the cooler gas was worked up by a shock collision. From this a few thin red filaments arise from gas being forced into a shock wave at the intense speed of one million miles-per-hour. This speed is comparable to traveling to the moon in 15 minutes!
This current picture is certainly fascinating but also reveals some new information to researchers. The Veil Nebula was first photographed in 1997 and since then has expanded. Scientists will use this information to further predict the nebula’s behavior.
10 Facts About the Constellation Cygnus
Although the Veil Nebula is gaining all the attention in “the Swan,” this constellation is home to other fascinating wonders. Here are 10 facts you may not have known about Cygnus.
~ Cygnus has eight other deep space objects including two Messier, a galaxy and other Nebulae
~ Cygnus means “the Swan” in Latin
~ Deneb is the brightest star in this constellation and is also part of the Northern Cross
~ Cygnus occupies 804 square degrees in the fourth quadrant of the Northern hemisphere
~ Cygnus is neighbors with Cepheus, Draco, Lacerta, Lyra, Pegasus and Vulpecula
~ This constellation was first cataloged by the Greek astronomer, Ptolemy, in the 2nd century.
~ Cygnus is located specifically between latitudes of +90° and -40°
~ Five stars make up the Northern Cross; Deneb, Sadr, Gienah, Rukh, Albireo
~ Deneb is 60,000 times more luminous than the Sun
~ A deep space object located in this constellation called, Cygnus X-1 is notable for being an X-ray source.
The Veil Nebula may not be the most unusual photo Hubble has ever revealed, but the beauty it portrays is only outshone by the intriguing facts of how and where it all began. As star and space-gazers we should be thrilled by the opportunity Hubble and the internet allows us to witness. It’s an exciting time to be alive, so keep your eyes peeled and your curiosity at its peak…you never know what other wonders are lurking above just waiting to be discovered. | <urn:uuid:86163042-4388-4b7f-9b80-629d87b394eb> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://osr.org/blog/news/hubble-unveils-the-veil-nebula/?currency=KRW | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100527.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204083733-20231204113733-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.944026 | 825 | 3.3125 | 3 |
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