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عنوان مقاله [English] Students learn course material via different styles. Education and instruction methods are also diverse. Students’ learning in class depends on the conformity between students’ preferred learning style and the professor’s education method, among other factors. In traditional university education method, most of class time is spent on professor lecture and students listening. Students do their homework alone and group work is not encouraged. On the contrary, in student-centered methods, the focus of activities is shifted from instructor to student. In other words, the responsibility of organizing what should be learnt is given over to the student him/herself. The most important of these methods is active learning, in which students are effectively involved in what they are taught, answer questions, raise questions, participate in discussion, and explain the material. In collaborative learning, students work as teams on homework and projects, so that both their individual responsibility and effective group work is satisfied. In problem-based learning, first a question is raised and then required knowledge and skills to solve that problem is gradually provided to students. Student-centered methods have a clear advantage over traditional instructor-centered methods. This advantage can be observed in instances like faster and more lasting learning, deeper comprehension of course material, application of critical thinking or creative problem solving skills, and establishing a positive attitude toward lectures.	<urn:uuid:f1a63a43-7a89-4a4e-8874-036ad709e635>	CC-MAIN-2020-16	http://ijee.ias.ac.ir/article_1794.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370500482.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20200331115844-20200331145844-00518.warc.gz	en	0.944204	278	3.890625	4
The first thing to remember about a tide table is that it is only a prediction. It forecasts the time of high tide or low tide (sometimes called high water or low water) at a particular location, together with the height of the tide, usually these days in metres. These predictions are based on actual measurements over many years, together with knowledge of astronomical movements - the positions of the sun and moon relative to our planet. What the predictions cannot take account of is the weather. For the Thames, both the tide times and their heights can be affected by these meteorological factors: Fortunately we do have the Thames Barrier to protect us from the worst effects. The Barrier is closed either to protect London against exceptional tidal surges coming up the estuary or, under more normal tidal conditions, if there is not enough room for the rising tide because of a full river after heavy rainfall. The Barrier is supplemented by flood defences, mostly by embankment walls. But not everywhere! Roads such as The Embankment at Putney or Chiswick Mall regularly flood because they are on the "wrong" side of the flood defences, planned that way in order to preserve the character of such places. The height of a tide at any location is supposed to be the height of high water (or low water for a low tide) above the "chart datum" for that location. Chart datum is roughly the lowest water level that can theoretically occur, taking account of astronomical factors but ignoring weather and river flow effects. The problem is that local height predictions and/or measurements are only available for a few locations on the Thames. I've therefore decided to stick to London Bridge heights which are readily available, and which people may already be familiar with, as they are quoted in newspapers and printed tide tables. The "London Bridge" data provided by the PLA in fact relates to the nearby Tower Pier, where they have a tide gauge. The use of London Bridge heights in my tables means that they will not correspond to the heights shown on any local tide gauge poles such as the one in the photo on the left (near Chiswick Pier). But the heights in the tables do give a good indication of the relative height of the tide. The PLA publish "tidal differences" which give the average time difference between high tide at London Bridge and at other locations further upstream, and similarly for low tides. Until 2011, I added these on to the predicted London Bridge times to give the local tide times. But the published differences are only averages, and in practice the tides move up the river at different speeds. What I have done for the last few years is to estimate the speed of each individual high tide from the predicted times for Chelsea Bridge and Richmond Lock, and to calculate the local tide times based on that. This should give more accurate times than the averages used previously. Since 2014, I've used the same technique to estimate the low tide times too. If you have any other queries about tides or this website, have a look at the FAQ page to see if you can find the answer there.	<urn:uuid:1b01ee98-e847-404b-957f-7168feb60a0c>	CC-MAIN-2017-04	http://thamestides.org.uk/Tides-notes1.htm	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560281424.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095121-00134-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.943293	625	3.171875	3
In the mid-19th century, moral reformers viewed the saloon with unmitigated outrage. By the turn of the 20th century, though, anti-liquor groups such as the “Committee of Fifty” attempted to take a more dispassionate look at the saloon and its appeal to workingmen. Their goal was to displace the saloon by sponsoring non-liquor centered “substitutes.” These efforts largely failed, but reformers’ inquiries produced highly informative descriptions of saloon life at the end of the 19th century. The following article by sociologist Royal Melendy on “The Saloon in Chicago,” published in 1900, conveyed a sense of how the saloon met a range of urban workers’ social, economic, and cultural needs. Melendy’s use of the term “workingman” emphasized the male character of the saloon. This should not be taken to mean that working-class women did not drink, but that drinking frequently took place at home. Some women, however, especially German and English immigrants, did drink in saloons and beer gardens. The investigations of which this is a partial report were made under the auspices of the Ethical Subcommittee of the Committee of Fifty. “This committee, made up of persons representing different communities, occupations, and opinions, is engaged in the study of the liquor problem, in the hope of securing a body of facts which may serve as a basis for intelligent public and private action. It is the purpose of the committee to collect and collate impartially all accessible facts which bear upon the problem, and it is its hope to secure for the evidence thus accumulated a measure of confidence, on the part of the community, which is not accorded to partisan statements.” The investigations here reported were carried on from the Chicago Commons, a social settlement in the very heart of the industrial district, in one of the river wards of Chicago. It is probable that no better laboratory for the study of the social problems of America exists than this same district. Here, as from upturned strata, we can discover what have been the forces that brought about the present conditions, and some of the agencies now at work in the formation of the future. I have sought to distinguish between those conclusions which the facts in hand fully warrant, and those to which they seem to point. Although, in the study of social questions, it is impossible wholly to eradicate the personal equation, I have attempted to do so as far as possible, by discussions with men of all classes, of all shades of religious and political opinions. Professors, ministers, business-men, settlement workers, police and sporting men, have, each in their way, rendered me invaluable service. In the homes and on the street corners, in the churches, saloons, and at places of amusement, at all hours of the day and night, and in all manner of clothes, I have gathered the facts which form the basis of this report. I am especially grateful to Professor Graham Taylor, of the sociological department of the Chicago Theological Seminary, warden of Chicago Commons, and pastor of one of the churches of this district; and to Mr. John Palmer Gavit, editor of The Commons, who have willingly given their time to direct and discuss with me the details of the investigation. I would also acknowledge the courtesy of Joseph Kipley, chief of police, through whose order the special statistics in regard to the saloons and billiard halls were collected by the police department. (To be published in the full report of the Committee of Fifty.) THE SALOON IN GENERAL. In considering the subject “Ethical Substitutes for the Saloon,” it is essential that a careful study be made of the saloon itself, and that we seek first to determine the real nature of the institution in the abolition of which substitution may assist. We must try to ascertain the secret of its hold upon our civilization, tracing in the family, political and social life, and habits of the people the roots of this mighty tree whose shadows are casting an ever-deepening gloom over all other institutions. Above all we must try to lay aside for the present all preconceived ideas of the saloon, lest prejudice should keep from us the truth. It is only on the basis of precise observation of actual facts that our study can advance. The popular conception of the saloon as a “place where men and women revel in drunkenness and shame,” or “where the sotted beasts gather nightly at the bar,” is due to exaggerated pictures, drawn by temperance lecturers and evangelists, intended to excite the imagination with a view to arousing public sentiment. I am not charging them with intended falsehood, but with placing in combination things which never so exist in real life; with blending into one picture hideous incidents taken here and there from the lives of those whom the saloon has wrecked; with portraying vividly the dark side of saloon life and calling this picture “the saloon.” But it may be asked: “Are they not justified in doing so? Are not these the legitimate products of the saloon ? By their fruits ye shall know them.” Let one step into your orchard, and, gathering into a basket the small, wormeaten, and half-decayed windfalls return to you saying: “This is the fruit grown in your orchard—as the fruit, so is the orchard.” The injustice is apparent. The term “saloon” is too general to admit of concise definition. It is an institution grown up among the people, not only in answer to their demand for its wares, but to their demand for certain necessities and conveniences, which it supplies, either alone or better than any other agency. It is a part of the neighborhood, which must change with the neighborhood; it fulfills in it the social functions which unfortunately have been left to it to exercise. With keen insight into human nature and into the wants of the people, it anticipates all other agencies in supplying them, and thus claims its right to existence. In some sections of the city it has the appearance of accomplishing more for the laboring classes from business interests than we from philanthropic motives. The almost complete absence of those things with which the uninitiated are accustomed to associate the drinking of liquor, and the presence of much that is in itself beneficial, often turns them into advocates of the saloon as a social necessity—an equally false position. Hedged in on every side by law, opposed by every contrivance the mind of man could invent, the saloon persists in existing and flourishing—“it spreadeth like a green bay tree.” The very fact of its persistence ought to cause us to realize that we have not yet struck at the root. The saloon in Chicago is restricted by every kind of law, yet it sells liquor to minors, keeps open door all night and Sundays, from January 1 to January 1. True, some of the down-town saloons close at 12 o’clock. But why? In obedience to the ordinance filed away in the archives of the city hall? Not so; but in obedience to another law—the law of demand. Those who in the daytime patronize the down-town saloons have returned to their homes and have joined the patrons of the saloons of their immediate neighborhoods. This is the law—and almost the only law that they will obey, and it is this law that we must face and deal with unflinchingly. THE SALOON IN WORKINGMEN’S DISTRICTS. When the poor, underpaid, and unskilled laborer returns from his day’s work, go with him, if you will, into the room or rooms he calls “home.” Eat with him there, in the midst of those squalid surroundings and to the music of crying children, a scanty, poorly cooked meal served by an unkempt wife. Ask yourself if this is just the place where he would want to spend his evenings, night after night; if here he will find the mental stimulus as necessary to his life as to your life. Is there no escape from the inevitable despair that must come to him whose long hours of heavy physical labor preclude any mental enjoyment, if his few leisure hours are to be spent in the wretched surroundings of a home, or, worse yet, of the ordinary cheap lodging-house, either of which must constantly remind him of his poverty? Are there not places in the neighborhood where the surroundings will be more congenial; where his mental, yes, his moral, nature will have a better chance for development? Are there not some in the neighborhood who have recognized and sought to satisfy the social cravings of these men, which the home at best does not wholly satisfy? Yes, business interests have occupied this field. With a shrewd foresight, partially due to the fierce competition between the great brewing companies, they have seen and met these needs. The following table, made by a careful investigation of each of the 163 saloons of the seventeenth ward—a fairly representative ward of the working people—shows some of the attractions offered by these saloons: Number of saloons 163 Number offering free lunches 111 " " business lunches 24 " supplied with tables 147 " " papers 139 " " music 8 " " billiard tables 44 " " stalls 56 " " dance halls 6 " " allowing gambling 3 In the statement, now current among those who have studied the saloon “at first hand,” that it is the workingman’s club, lies the secret of its hold upon the vast working and voting populace of Chicago. That same instinct in man which leads those of the more resourceful classes to form such clubs as the Union League Club, or the Marquette Club; which leads the college man into the fraternity, leads the laboring men into the clubs furnished them by the saloonkeeper, not from philanthropic motives, but because of shrewd business foresight. The term “club” applies; for, though unorganized, each saloon has about the same constituency night after night. Its character is determined by the character of the men who, having something in common, make the saloon their rendezvous. Their common ground may be their nationality, as the name “Italian Headquarters” implies; or it may be their occupation, as indicated by the names “Mechanics' Exchange,” "Milkman’s Exchange,“ etc.; or, if their political affiliations are their common ground, there are the ” Democratic Headquarters of the Eighteenth Ward,“ etc. As shown above, the ”club-room“ is furnished with tables, usually polished and cleaned, with from two to six chairs at each table. As you step in, you find a few men standing at the bar, a few drinking, and farther back men are seated about the tables, reading, playing cards, eating, and discussing, over a glass of beer, subjects varying from the political and sociological problems of the day to the sporting news and the lighter chat of the immediate neighborhood. Untrammeled by rules and restrictions, it surpasses in spirit the organized club. That general atmosphere of freedom, that spirit of democracy, which men crave, is here realized; that men seek it and that the saloon tries to cultivate it is blazoned forth in such titles as ”The Freedom,“ "The Social,” "The Club,“ etc. Here men ”shake out their hearts together." Intercourse quickens the thought, feeling, and action. In many of these discussions, to which I have listened and in which I have joined, there has been revealed a deeper insight into the real cause of present evils than is often manifested from lecture platforms, but their remedies are wide of the mark, each bringing forward a theory which is the panacea for all social ills. The names of Karl Marx and leaders of political and social thought are often heard here. This is the workingman’s school. He is both scholar and teacher. The problems of national welfare are solved here. Many as patriotic men as our country produces learn here their lessons in patriotism and brotherhood. Here the masses receive their lessons in civil government, learning less of our ideals, but more of the practical workings than the public schools teach. It is the most cosmopolitan institution in the most cosmopolitan of cities. One saloon advertises its cosmopolitanism by this title, “Everybody’s Exchange.” Men of all nationalities meet and mingle, and by the interchange of views and opinions their own are modified. Nothing short of travel could exert so broadening an influence upon these men. It does much to assimilate the heterogeneous crowds that are constantly pouring into our city from foreign shores. But here, too, they learn their lessons in corruption and vice. It is their school for good and evil. The saloonkeeper, usually a man their superior in intelligence, often directs their thought. He has in his possession the latest political and sporting news. Here in argument each has fair play. He who can win and tell the best story is, not by election, but by virtue of fitness, the leader. The saloon is, in short, the clearing-house for the common intelligence—the social and intellectual center of the neighborhood. Again, some saloons offer rooms furnished, heated, and lighted, free to certain men’s clubs and organizations. For example, a certain German musical society, occupying one of these rooms, fully compensates the saloonkeeper with the money that passes over the bar as the members go in and out of the club-room. In like manner some trade unions and fraternal organizations are supplied with meeting-places. A saloon on Armitage avenue has a bowling-alley, billiard tables, and club-rooms, in which nonpartisan political meetings were held during last spring’s campaign. It is also offered to the people for various neighborhood meetings. In such a room a gay wedding party celebrated the marriage vow. It is, in very truth, a part of the life of the people of this district. But the young man, where does he spend his evenings? Leaving the supper table he takes his hat and sets out from home, to go where? Let us follow the boy in the crowded districts—in the river wards of Chicago. As he comes out of the house into the street he is surrounded for miles with brick and mortar; not a blade of grass or a leaf of green to be seen. Placing his fingers to his mouth he gives a shrill whistle, which is answered by one and another of the boys, till the little crowd—their club—has gathered. Seeking to join informally such a crowd of the older young men, the only question asked on eligibility was: “Can you run?” Short words, but of tremendous significance. It is this: As soon as a small crowd of boys collects it is dispersed by the police. Having been arrested once or twice, these young men learned the lesson, and I was told “to scatter” at the word “jiggers,” the warning note given at the sight of an approaching “cop.” Driven about the streets like dogs by the civil authorities (whether it be necessary I am not now discussing); provided with no place for the healthy exercise of their physical natures, or even an opportunity to meet and tell stories, they have recourse to but one of two alternatives: to dodge the police, hiding in underground caves and under sidewalks until they become hardened against the law; or to enter the places the saloon has provided for them. Thus again business interests have seized the opportunity that has been let slip, and have taken advantage of boys' necessities. Rooms, well lighted, furnished with billiard and pool tables, tables for cards and other games, are placed at the disposal of these boys. Five cents is charged for a game of billiards and a check which entitles the holder to a glass of beer, a five-cent cigar, a box of cigarettes, or a soft drink. The table shows 27 per cent. of these saloons thus equipped. Much less numerous are the saloons furnishing handball courts. These courts, models of attractiveness when compared with the neighborhood in which they are located, are used by young and old. Shower-baths are provided free. The boys must pass out by the bar of the adjoining saloon, where, heated by the game and feeling somewhat under obligations, they patronize the saloonkeeper. Some saloons have gymnasiums, more or less fully equipped. Bowling-alleys and shuffle-board are among the attractions offered. For the large floating population of these districts, and for the thousands of men whose only home is in the street or the cheap lodging-house, where they are herded together like cattle, the saloon is practically the basis of food supply. The table shows that 68 per cent. furnish free lunches, and 15 per cent. business lunches. On the free-lunch counters are dishes containing bread, several kinds of meats, vegetables, cheeses, etc., to which the men freely help themselves. Red-hots (Frankfurters), clams, and egg sandwiches are dispensed with equal freedom to those who drink and to those who do not. For those desiring a hot lunch, clam chowder, hot potatoes, several kinds of meat, and vegetables are served at tables, nearly always with a glass of beer. The following amount is consumed per day in a saloon near here: 150–200 pounds of meat, 1 1/2–2 bushels of potatoes, 50 loaves of bread, 35 pounds of beans, 45 dozens of eggs on some days (eggs not usually being used), 10 dozen ears of sweet corn, $1.50-$2 worth of vegetables. Five men are constantly employed at the lunch counter. The total cost of the lunch is $30 to $40 per day. That the saloons are able to put out such an abundance, and of such variety and quality, is due to the competition of the large brewing companies. These companies own a very large number of the saloons in Chicago. Thus the cost of not only the beer, but the meat, bread, and vegetables, bought in vast quantities, is greatly reduced. Only a portion of those who drink patronize the lunch counter. The small dealers are forced into the competition by the larger ones. The general appearance of abundance, so lacking either in their homes or in the cheap restaurants, and the absence of any sense of charity, so distasteful to the self-respecting man, add to the attractiveness of the place, and are a wonderful help to the digestion. Here the hungry and the penniless find relief for the time, few being turned away until they become “steady regulars.” I believe it is true that all the charity organizations in Chicago combined are feeding fewer people than the saloons. No questions are asked about the “deserving poor;” no “work test” is applied; and again and again relief is given in the shape of money, “loaned expecting no return.” Another function of the Charity Organization Society the saloon has taken unto itself and exercises more or less perfectly: the laboring man out of employment knows that in some saloon he is likely to find, not only temporary relief, but assistance in finding work. That these saloons pose as labor bureaus is evidenced by the names placed above their doors. The significance of these names is this: Men of the same trade, having common interests, make the saloon that represents their interests their rendezvous. To the “Stonecutters' Exchange,” for example, men seeking stonecutters often apply. But information concerning positions is dependent more upon that gathered by the men themselves and made common property. Many a man has been “put on his feet” by just this kind of help, nor does he feel that he is accepting charity, but that he is as likely to give as to receive. He is asked neither his age nor his pedigree. His past history is not desired as long as he is in need now. Not a sense of obligation, but a real feeling of brotherhood; and this feeling, existing among these men to a degree not usually recognized, prompts them to aid each other. Grateful is he to the saloon that was his “friend in need;” bitter toward those who, without offering anything better, propose to take from him the only institution that has befriended him. Scattered throughout the city, within easy reach of any neighborhood, are saloons offering a form of entertainment to the people not unlike the cheap vaudeville. Passing back of the screen, we enter a large room filled with tables and chairs; at the end of the room is a stage. While men and women sit around these tables, drinking beer and smoking, the painted, bawdy girls entertain them with the latest popular songs and the skirt dance. The regular vaudeville bill, including the comic man, acrobatic feats, cake-walks, etc., is presented. The character of the entertainment is but a reflection of the character of the neighborhood. In some communities no obscene word is uttered, and but little that is suggestive of evil is presented. It affords an opportunity for the hard-worked men and women to escape from their stuffy homes and thoughts of poverty into a clean, well-lighted room, where with their families they canenjoy an evening of pleasure. To see the hardened, careworn expressions on their faces gradually relax and melt away into expressions of simple enjoyment, as they laugh heartily at the jokes, might at first arouse one’s sense of humor, but it would soon impress one deeply with the pathos of it all: with the thought that this little entertainment, cheap and vulgar as it is, seems to satisfy their longing for amusement. Patriotic songs are never missing, and I have heard them join heartily in the chorus. Cheer after cheer greets the names of our heroes, as they appear in the songs of the girls. The sense of the masses on the Cuban war policy could easily be determined by their applause and hisses at the saloon vaudevilles. These people have a sense of honor peculiar to themselves, and a careful observation of that which most frequently elicits their applause shows that an appeal to their sense of honor is sure to be well received. In——-'s vaudeville saloon it is estimated that 3,000 pass in and out between the hours of 8 P. M. and 6 A. M. Saturday nights. As has been stated, the character of these saloons varies with the neighborhood, and vulgar songs are frequently sung. The evil influence of some of these cannot be overestimated. Then too prostitutes often come here and mingle with the crowd. A function, which should rightly be a civic one, the saloon has appropriated, and added to the long list of the necessities to which it ministers—that of furnishing to the people the only toilet conveniences in large sections of the city. In this respect the ordinary hotel is not better equipped than are the saloons. Moreover, either by their clerks or by signs, the hotels inform the man who habitually takes advantage of them that they are not for the use of the general public. We are behind European municipalities in this respect, and Chicago is especially deficient. Here is a field awaiting the efforts of some public-spirited man, a service by no means small, and one that would directly affect the liquor interests. Not that it will cause any man to cease drinking, but that it will remove a temptation from thousands of men who, of necessity, daily pass the bar which they feel under obligation to patronize. Nor will it longer necessitate the familiarizing of little boys with the evils of saloon life. Such are a few of the attractions which the saloon in the workingmen’s district offer to its patrons While it is true that a vast army the laboring men and boys find the saloon the best place in their neighborhood for the development of their social, intellectual, and physical natures, they find there also things which appeal to their lower natures. Almost without exception the saloons exhibit pictures of the nude; in the higher-class saloons by costly paintings, in the smaller saloons by cards furnished by the brewing companies. As the saloon is “no respecter of persons,” even in the best of them vile persons find entrance. That the youths are here corrupted is too well known. Our table reveals the appalling fact that 34 1/2 per cent. of the saloons in this district are stall saloons. These saloons have set aside a large. portion of the back of the building for private “wine-rooms,” which, whether designed for this purpose or not, are used by prostitutes as places of assignation. There may be no definite business agreement between these women and the keepers of these saloons (I doubt if there is), but as a rule the saloon keepers are compensated for the extra space and furniture by the money paid for drinks by young men attracted by these women. To set up the drinks to “the girls” is a custom; the women calling for “small beer” urge the men “to set 'em up” again and again; hence they are a source of revenue to the saloon. Their part in the profit is this: it furnishes them a suitable “hang-out,” a place where they may secure customers for their inhuman trade, carried on, not in the saloon as a rule, but in their rooms, usually in the immediate vicinity, though occasionally miles away, lest they should be detected. Again, as all through this study, exceptions must be made. These “wine-rooms” are not always used for illegitimate purposes. Where is the respectable young woman, who is but one member of a large family, all living, or rather existing, in a single room which serves as kitchen, dining-room, parlor, and bedroom for the entire family, to receive her young men friends? Is it strange that she takes advantage of these “wine-rooms”? Here her father goes; her mother and brothers are often there. They come here on cold nights to save fuel and light. Here, when a little tot, she used to come for the pitcher of beer; here, barefooted and dirty, she would run to hear the music of the German band; if she were pretty and could sing, many a bright ribbon did she buy with the money earned here. No, they are not all directly evil places, but the temptation is tremendous. How can a child, brought up in such a locality, forced to receive from the saloon even the common necessities and conveniences of life, grow up into noble and beautiful womanhood? In about 2 per cent. of these saloons gambling is permitted. It is open and unrestricted, whenever sufficient “hush money” is paid. That more do not exist is simply due to the fact that the demand is not great enough for a larger number to thrive and pay the exorbitant “tax.” The saloon, too, is in a very small number of cases, many times smaller than is usually believed, a rendezvous for criminals. There are low dives of indescribable filthiness, where vice is open and shameless. Be it known, however, that there are in every neighborhood saloons free from any connection whatever with gambling or the social vice—places where indecency in conversation or manner is strictly prohibited, and drinking to excess not allowed. This is sometimes to secure “a better class of trade,” and sometimes, incredible as it seems, to accord with certain principles and religious scruples of the saloonkeepers, who are not all archfiends of the evil one. THE SALOON IN BUSINESS SECTIONS. The saloon in business portions presents a slightly different phase. While it is true that saloons in all parts of the city have about the same features, it is also true that in some certain features predominate, as the peculiar conditions emphasize that particular demand. Thus in the workingmen’s district, the wretched conditions of home- and lodging-house life, and the failure of church and philanthropy to provide opportunity for social life, have turned over to the saloon this large field, from which it is reaping an abundant harvest. So in the business portions the lack of an adequate provision of places for business appointments has given the saloon an advantage which it was quick to take. Men who spend the day in the heart of the city come here for business and do not, as a rule, have time to sit around in saloons. Neither in the evening have the social features any special attraction for them. The majority of these men find in their homes and in the clubs to which they belong ample opportunity for social life. A larger per cent. than in the districts just treated enter the saloon just for the drink and pass out again. The average business-man, aside from the regular duties of his office or place of business, has many appointments of a semibusiness nature. Seeking a place for these appointments, other than his office, where constant interruptions must occur, he finds in many a first-class saloon a place altogether suited to this purpose. Here he may sit down, often in an alcove, at one of the polished oak tables with which this “drawing-room” is furnished, and discuss business at leisure. Some of these “drawingrooms” are veritable palm gardens; costly paintings hang upon the walls; German orchestras, playing with exquisite taste, fill the air with music. Soft drinks are sold, and many an hour is spent in these places by those who may not know the taste of beer. In this connection it may be noted that soft drinks are expensive, because, as one manager said, “we are not here to sell soft drinks, and hope to force everyone to take beer or wine; there is more profit in them.” Not only are these used for business appointments, but separate rooms are sometimes furnished for the use of committees and small meetings of various character, no charge for their use being attached. There are in the city other places than the saloon for such appointments, but because of their scarcity and inadequacy need hardly be taken into account. Many business transactions take place in these saloons. The head of a department in one of Chicago’s large wholesale houses assures me that certain of their best salesmen sell a large portion of their goods “over a glass of beer” in a neighboring saloon. The glass of beer in a business transaction has a function similar to that of the cigarette in diplomacy. Certain saloons, whose only distinguishing feature is their oddity and the novelties they present, owe their existence to a custom of long standing among wholesale merchants and others who take their “country cousins” to “see the sights.” The music in some of these places is worthy of special mention. Orchestras, led by well-known musicians, attract people from all parts of city, people who come and spend the evening listening to the music. To the——— and——— young people come in great numbers, and when the theaters close these places usually fill rapidly. Clubs and fraternities here banquet their new members. Neither rowdyism nor anything other than good manners is public here. The most distinguishing feature of the down-town saloon is the business lunch. But very few of the thousands who spend the day down town in offices or behind counters, live within several miles of their work. This means that it is both cheaper and more convenient, if not necessary, to get their lunch near their place of business. The liquor dealers have found it highly profitable to run restaurants in connection with their saloons. Because of their neatness, and at least the semblance of elegance and beauty, and of the music, which is of itself a strong inducement, they are patronized, not only by those who drink, but by hundreds who are willing to go where they can get the best for the least. The proprietor of one of the down-town restaurants said that he could afford to lose $30 to $75, or even $100, a day for the sake of advertising the beer under whose name and auspices his place was run. That the saloons are able to compete with the restaurants so successfully is partly due to the fact that many of them are united under the control of the brewing companies—gigantic monopolies. Likewise, here the free lunch is well patronized. Hundreds, who breakfast and dine at their homes, especially those of sedentary habits, find sufficient for the midday lunch in that served with the glass of beer, usually several slices of cold meats, an abundance of bread, vegetables, cheeses, etc. Here, as everywhere in Chicago, the social vice flourishes in connection with the liquor traffic. Here the proportion of the saloons in which the stall system is in vogue—which are used as houses of assignation—is relatively small. The saloons having any connection whatever with this evil all have a dance hall in the rear and a house of ill-fame above, all under one management. These, however, are not scattered throughout among the business blocks, as are the stalls in the workingmen’s districts, but are clustered about certain streets, principally parts of Clark street, State street, Dearborn street, Custom House place, Wabash avenue, Plymouth place, and others. Suffice it to say that few enter these places who do not know the character of these saloons, so that in reality they amount to houses of ill-fame, with bar attachment. THE SALOON IN SUBURBAN DISTRICTS. In the suburban districts the saloon takes on still another character. The family saloon, the beer-garden, and the roadhouse are more in evidence. Throughout the entire city the saloons pose as family saloons, hanging out the sign “family entrance,” but it is more particularly in the suburban saloons that one sees the families sitting together in groups. The main thoroughfare running through a suburban district is, so far as the saloon is concerned, a cross-section of the whole city, exhibiting the saloon in all its varying characters, both as to its moral tone and as to its social functions. The most delightful and apparently harmless feature of the saloon is the beer-garden Here is an instance where the words “saloon” and “beer-garden” are so loaded down with conflicting meanings and prejudices that they utterly fail to be of further service in conveying thought. To the German the word “beer-garden” carries with it no moral idea whatever; indeed, among them it is a highly creditable feature of their social life. To the temperance enthusiast, it stands for all that is base and low—an equally erroneous conviction. These gardens are numerous in the suburban districts. The———, a typical German beer-garden, though scarcely comparable with the———, accommodates 4,700. During the summer an average of 3,000 gather at the—- -, on the north side, every day, principally for the music. From a band-stand in the rear of the garden an orchestra renders exquisite music. This orchestra receives $125 per day for its services from 6 P.M. to 11 P. M. The waiters, most of them fine-appearing elderly gentlemen, dressed in black, serve beer, wines, and soft drinks to the people out in the open, while at tables beneath the roof dinners are being served. The garden is brilliantly lighted with Japanese lanterns hanging from the trees. The lights, the trees, the starry heavens above, the moon gliding now and then behind the clouds, soul-stirring music, now strong and full, now soft and sweet, make this a charming spot where lovers delight to come, where the business-man, returned from the crowded centers of the city, comes with wife and child, and the business cares float gradually away, borne on the lighter strains of music. Old men with their pipes find in this place a never-ending source of pleasure, and will sit by the hour philosophizing and reminiscing over a single glass of beer. The people gathered here are in the main well-dressed and of more than the average intelligence. They are representative of the middle and upper classes of the suburban districts. A young woman of strong temperance views exclaimed, after spending an hour in this garden for the first time: “Isn’t it beautiful ? Can it be, is it possible, that after all our ideas are wrong and these people are right?” It is not for our report to judge, but this is true that, while drinking to excess is seldom known here, a certain proportion of the patrons acquire in these beautiful and apparently harmless surroundings the progressive appetite which, with men of some temperaments, means the whole sad story of the ruined home and the drunkard’s grave. Too much importance can scarcely be attached to the music rendered in some of these resorts. It is of the first quality and to be had every night for the nominal fee of $0.25. People, many of whom do not drink at all, gather here from far and near. The gardens draw their patronage mostly from those who own comfortable homes in the suburbs. There are, of course, beer-gardens of all grades and qualities, but those for the poorer classes, the ten-cent and free gardens, are mostly in the form of open-air vaudevilles. In these the music is inferior, and the vaudeville bill, similar to that mentioned in a previous paragraph, is presented. They are much more numerous here than are the saloon vaudevilles of the city centers, and here no roof is necessary to keep out the smoke and dirt. A unique feature of the suburban districts is the road-house. Buildings, interesting in their exterior architecture and well equipped within, are located along the road to the suburban districts. They are especially adapted to wheelmen and other pleasure-seekers wishing to stop for rest and refreshment. As a general rule, funeral processions returning from the cemeteries that lie along the road to these suburban districts stop here for beer and refreshments. Drivers stop at the particular house of which they are regular customers, and the majority of the people in the procession stop and drink also. An example of these is the————-, one of the many on the road between Chicago and Evanston. There are accommodations for wheels and carriages. A large room is furnished with tables and chairs, and either a glass of beer and light lunch or a dinner is served. Palms figure here as usual in the decorations. The bar-room is large and attractive. Above are rooms “free for private parties, balls, etc.” The adaptability of the saloon to the needs of a particular locality is a source of constant surprise and admiration, as it is also a cause of genuine consternation among Christian people who reflect at all upon the cautious institutionalism of the churches. Source: Royal Melendy, “The Saloon in Chicago,” The American Journal of Sociology, vol 6, Number 3 (November 1900): 289–306. “The Saloon in Chicago II,” Ibid. (January 1901): 433–464.	<urn:uuid:3a7cc890-367a-4eb9-b301-f381791fdb56>	CC-MAIN-2014-52	http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5765/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-52/segments/1418802776563.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20141217075256-00076-ip-10-231-17-201.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.970439	8,302	2.796875	3
Teacher, Consecrated Lay Woman, Foundress, Modern Spiritual Leader hiara Lubich is the foundress of the Focolare Movement (The Work of Mary) and is regarded as one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the twentieth century. Born in 1920 in Northern Italy and baptized Silvia Lubich, she experienced a profound religious awakening at the age of 19 during a trip to the Shrine of Loreto, traditionally known as Holy Family’s home. Silvia was inspired by the radical life of St. Clare of Assisi and became a Third-Order Franciscan, taking the name Chiara after her patron. When Chiara was 23, she was traveling to buy milk in a nearby neighborhood when she heard God say to her, “Give yourself totally to me.” At once, she requested permission to consecrate herself entirely to God and did so on December 7th, 1943. Many young people became attracted to Chiara’s great desire to place God at the center of her life and to live the Gospel radically. They began to meet regularly and soon formed the first focolare (Italian for “hearth”), which is a community composed of single consecrated women or men that lives and prays together. Members of a focolare, although consecrated, remain in the world as lay people and are committed to bringing peace and hope to all societies. They serve in a variety of capacities, from working in the United Nations to aiding the sick and poor in villages and cities. The Focolare Movement also has volunteers who are drawn to Chiara’s “spirituality of unity” and who are dedicated to renewing society through the witness of their lives and involvement in family, work, and politics. The movement was described by Chiara as a community “in the image of the Family of Nazareth, composed of consecrated and married people in the midst of the world, all of them given totally to God, though in different ways.” “Doing what God wants from us, moment by moment, we will find that it satisfies us fully. It gives peace, joy, happiness and, indeed, a foretaste of heaven.” Chiara continued to teach elementary school until World War II interrupted her work and studies. During the air attacks on her home city of Trento, Chiara and her companions would gather to pray in air-raid shelters and then worked to serve those injured and abandoned by the bombings. Chiara wrote: “Is there an ideal that does not die, that no bombs can destroy, an ideal we can give our whole selves to? Yes, there is. It is God.” The Focolare Movement has spread rapidly throughout the world, embracing peoples of all faiths and none at all, opening new channels of ecumenical dialogue. Today it is present in 182 countries and has over 140 thousand members and about 2 million followers. At her death in 2008 at the age of 88, Chiara was noted by the New York Times as “one of the most influential women in the Roman Catholic Church.” Chiara recognized that the success of the Focolare Movement was entirely the work of God, and that she was His humble instrument. She wrote, “Doing what God wants from us, moment by moment, we will find that it satisfies us fully. It gives peace, joy, happiness and, indeed, a foretaste of heaven.”	<urn:uuid:6cd68bc1-b540-4a22-899a-2addb815e496>	CC-MAIN-2019-35	https://giveninstitute.com/chiara-lubich/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027313996.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20190818185421-20190818211421-00477.warc.gz	en	0.980681	719	2.546875	3
Natural catastrophes seem to be coming more often than ever in recent world history. In the last ten years, Hurricane Katrina turned lives upside down in New Orleans, an earthquake essentially destroyed Haiti and took over 300,000 lives, Indonesia saw nearly a quarter of a million die as a result of a devastating tsunami, a cyclone took just under 150,000 lives in Myanmar in 2008, and now an earthquake has hit Japan. As a result of the earthquake, a tsunami broke out as well. The earthquake was bad enough as it registered as 8.9. Even worse, with Japan being an island, the waters surrounding it were sent into a frenzy and as the aftershocks were settling, the water was rising up onto the mainland. At least a few hundred of people have already been confirmed dead from the disaster. Waves of over thirty feet in height came across the land and left cities underwater and uprooted homes and vehicles. In addition, other buildings crashed down due to the quake and others were lit up in flames. The tsunami was being felt all the way to the United States. Hawaii reported seven-foot high waves coming across the islands. Now the rescue effort is underway. As soon as the sun rose in Japan Friday morning, rescue workers began to search for survivors. Six million homes in Japan are now without electrical power. Many people do not even have their homes anymore. President Barack Obama and the government of the United States quickly began to organize relief efforts. Almost instantly, Obama sent support over to Japan. Officially the fifth largest earthquake in recorded history, for the first time in a long time, an entire country that happens to be a world power is in trouble. But the faith in Japan to come back from this tragic event is high. It was not that long ago that two atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II. After the crushing blow, Japan regrouped and regained its world power status by succeeding economically. As the water begins to settle and the relief effort is underway, it is no doubt that things are not going to get better overnight. With New Orleans still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, it is likely that Japan is going to be feeling the effects of this catastrophe for years. But with their powerful economy and track record of bouncing back, it is clear that Japan is going to recover in due time.	<urn:uuid:12e6ac35-fc3b-4b2b-920e-da8ab8210c1a>	CC-MAIN-2018-47	http://obama.net/earthquake-hits-japan-results-tsunami/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-47/segments/1542039744513.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20181118155835-20181118181835-00468.warc.gz	en	0.978785	485	2.59375	3
Most experts in the education field will tell you one of the easiest ways to keep kids focused on their school work is to create a designed space for studying in the home. This study corner is one of the most significant ways of encouraging your child’s concentration when completing their assigned homework. Having a special place set aside for writing, reading, and studying is important. By creating a dedicated “learning area” with a desk and chair in your home, the child will enjoy their school work more. Bulletin boards next to the desk is another great way to teach organization as they can post reminder notes, or even graded school work that they are proud of. You want to limit the interruptions, when a child has their own desk they don’t have to share the kitchen table with other siblings or mom and dad. When kids have to share the work space that is when the interruptions and distractions happen. For example, they are working on a project at the kitchen table and all of a sudden, it’s time for dinner. Then, they have to clear everything away, disrupting their concentration and flow of work. If the shared work space is with another sibling, they may get on each other nerves or distract one another. A child’s desk lets you minimize the interruptions and distractions. For example, placing the child’s desk in an area of the home where the TV can not be heard is very important. If space is problem, just make sure the TV is off and this will help. When kids have their own desk or study counter, you can effortlessly keep an eye on whether or not they take care of their stuff. Yes, you want teach tidiness and accountability. Were school supplies put away, such as pens, pencils, and crayon? Did they put away papers, stickers, and glue? Is everything in its home and neatly stored where it belongs. Are papers neatly stored in a folder? This is a hard task it the space is being shared with someone else. Is all of the homework completed, placed in the backpack and ready for the next school day? This is one goal that is easily accomplished when they have their own spot. When a child takes ownership they tend to be more responsible and just as important, take pride in whatever task they have finished. In wrapping up, a child desk is a main piece of furniture for the individual growth of a child. The study routine, learned while they are young, will without a doubt benefit their educational and professional development later in life. Truth is, child desks will not promise a 4.0 grade point average (GPS) or even straight ‘A’, but it is a fantastic place to begin.	<urn:uuid:124d1bdf-626b-4fac-a11c-f9771e43147b>	CC-MAIN-2022-49	https://www.bestpricetoys.com/blog/child-size-desk-important/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446710931.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20221203111902-20221203141902-00218.warc.gz	en	0.968878	556	2.96875	3
National Overview - February 2015 NCEI added Alaska climate divisions to its nClimDiv dataset on Friday, March 6, 2015, coincident with the release of the February 2015 monthly monitoring report. For more information on this data, please visit the Alaska Climate Divisions FAQ. Maps and Graphics Temperature and Precipitation Ranks U.S. Percentage Areas Supplemental February 2015 Information - Record and near-record February statewide temperatures - February daily temperature extremes - Great Lakes ice cover - Winter snowfall for select cities - February temperature departure from average maps - Winter temperature departures from average maps - Winter station records and near-records - Alaska climate divisions FAQ - Alaska Reference Maps Average Temperature Departures (February) Average Temperature Departures (Dec-Feb) This analysis of contiguous U.S. temperature and precipitation is based on data back to January 1895, resulting in 121 years of February data and 120 years of winter (December-February) data. - Climate Highlights — February - The February contiguous U.S. temperature was 33.1°F, 0.7°F below the 20th century average, ranking near the median value in the 121-year period of record. The average February maximum (daytime) temperature for the contiguous U.S. was 44.6°F, 0.2°F below average, while the average minimum (nighttime) temperature was 21.7°F, 1.2°F below average. - The western U.S. was warmer than average, where eight states had a top 10 warm February. Arizona, California, Utah, and Washington each had their warmest February on record. - Locations from the Mississippi River to the East Coast were colder than average, where 23 states had a top ten coldest February. Nine states had their second coldest February, while no state was record cold. However, several cities in the Northeast had their coldest month of any month on record including Buffalo, New York where the monthly average temperature was 10.9°F, dipping below the 11.6°F observed in February 1934. Several additional cities, including Chicago, Illinois and Cleveland, Ohio observed their coldest February on record. - During February, there were 5,448 warm daily temperature records (2,866 daily warm maximum temperature records and 2,582 daily warm minimum temperature records) broken or tied while there were 8,281 cold daily temperature records (4,778 daily cold maximum temperature records and 3,503 daily cold minimum temperature records) broken or tied. - The February Lower 48 precipitation total was 1.70 inches, 0.43 inch below average, and marked the 20th driest February on record and the driest since 2009. - Most locations across the contiguous U.S. had near to below-average monthly precipitation, with the exception of Colorado which was wetter than average. No state had February precipitation totals that ranked among the 10 wettest or driest on record. - At the local scale, several cities across the Intermountain West observed high precipitation totals. In Colorado, Boulder experienced its wettest and snowiest February in a 123-year period of record. Boulder received 3.69 inches of precipitation, 450 percent of normal, and 54.8 inches of snow, 22.7 inches greater than the previous record set in 2012. In Wyoming, Riverton, observed its wettest February on record with a total 1.28 inches of precipitation, 388 percent of normal. This February was also the second snowiest at Riverton with 17.8 inches of snowfall. - According to analysis of NOAA data by the Rutgers Global Snow Lab, the February contiguous U.S. snow cover extent was 1.3 million square miles, 91,000 square miles above the 1981-2010 average. This marked the 20th largest February snow cover extent in the 49-year period of record. Below-average snow cover and snowpack was observed across much of the West, while above-average snow cover was observed in the East. The Northeast was particularly snowy, where Boston, Massachusetts had its snowiest month of any month since records began there in 1872 with 64.8 inches of snow, besting the previous record of 43.3 inches set in January 2005. - According to the March 3rd U.S. Drought Monitor report, 31.9 percent of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, up from 28.4 percent at the beginning of February. Drought conditions worsened across parts of the Central Rockies, Southern Plains, and central Gulf Coast. Drought conditions improved in parts of the West, Southern Rockies, Midwest, and Ohio Valley. Abnormally dry conditions developed across central parts of Alaska. - Based on NOAA's Residential Energy Demand Temperature Index (REDTI), the contiguous U.S. temperature-related energy demand during February was 65 percent above average and the 10th highest in the 1895-2015 period of record. The record and near-record cold in the densely populated Northeast and Midwest contributed to the high REDTI for February. - Climate Highlights — winter (December 2014-February 2015) - The winter contiguous U.S. temperature was 34.3°F, 2.1°F above the 20th century average, the 19th warmest winter on record. The first half of the winter season was very warm, with the December-January 2-month temperature being the fifth highest on record. The frigid February in the eastern U.S. lowered the overall winter temperature for the contiguous United States. - The average winter maximum temperature (daytime) was 44.4°F, 1.7°F above the 20th century average, the 20th warmest on record. The average winter minimum temperature (nighttime) was 24.3°F, 2.5°F above the 20th century average, the 15th warmest on record. - Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and Washington each had their warmest winter on record. In California, the winter temperature bested the previous seasonal record that occurred just last year by 1.5°F. An additional five states, including Alaska, from the Rockies to West Coast, had one of their 10 warmest winters on record. - Below-average winter temperatures, driven in large part by a frigid February, were observed from the Mississippi River to the East Coast. Due to a mild first half of winter, no state had winter temperatures that ranked among their 10 coldest on record. - The winter contiguous U.S. precipitation total was 6.12 inches, 0.67 inch below average, and the 27th driest on record. - Below-average winter precipitation was observed across parts of the Great Basin, Upper Midwest, Mid-South, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic. Above-average precipitation was observed in the Southern Rockies. No state had winter precipitation totals that ranked among their 10 driest or wettest on record. - For the winter season (December 2014-February 2015), the contiguous U.S. snow cover extent was 62,000 square miles below the 1981-2010 average.This was the 23rd largest (27th smallest) winter snow cover extent for the contiguous U.S. and the smallest since the winter of 2011/12. - The U.S. Climate Extremes Index (USCEI) for winter was 15 percent above average, ranking as the 30th largest winter USCEI on record. On the national scale, the components that examine extremes in warm daily maximum and minimum temperatures and 1-day precipitation totals were much above average. Regionally, the CEI was record high for the West climate region due to extremes in warm maximum and minimum temperatures, the spatial extent of drought, and 1-day precipitation totals. The Northwest climate region had its fourth most extreme winter due to warm maximum and minimum temperatures and 1-day precipitation totals. The USCEI is an index that tracks extremes (falling in the upper or lower 10 percent of the record) in temperature, precipitation, and drought across the contiguous U.S. - The REDTI for the winter season was 8 percent below average and the 51st lowest in the 120-year period of record. Note: With this report and data release, the National Climatic Data Center added historical Alaska climate divisions to its nClimDiv dataset. The new temperature and precipitation data for the 13 Alaskan climate divisions dates back to 1925 and will be updated monthly with our contiguous U.S. nClimDiv dataset. This newly expanded dataset improves the climate services that NOAA provides to the state of Alaska. For more information please visit the Alaska Climate Divisions FAQ. A comparison of the national temperature departure from average as calculated by NCDC's operational dataset (nClimDiv), the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN), and the U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) is available on our National Temperature Index page. These regional summaries were provided by the six Regional Climate Centers and reflect conditions in their respective regions. These six regions differ spatially from the nine climatic regions of the National Climatic Data Center. - Northeast Region: (Information provided by the Northeast Regional Climate Center) - February was an extraordinarily cold month in the Northeast. The region's average temperature of 13.5 degrees F (-10.3 degrees C) was 12.7 degrees F (7.1 degrees C) below normal. This made it the 2nd coldest February on record behind 1934, which had an average temperature of 12.0 degrees F (-11.1 degrees C). Departures for the states ranged from 14.1 degrees F (7.8 degrees C) below normal in New York and Vermont to 10.1 degrees F (5.6 degrees C) below normal in Delaware. Eight states had their 2nd coldest February on record: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. West Virginia had its 4th coldest February on record, while Maryland and New Jersey had their 6th coldest February and Delaware had its 7th coldest February. Winter was also colder than normal. The region's average temperature of 21.9 degrees F (-5.6 degrees C) was 4.0 degrees F (2.2 degrees C) below normal. Departures for the states ranged from 4.9 degrees F (2.7 degrees C) below normal in New York, making it the state's 17th coldest winter on record, to 3.0 degrees F (1.7 degrees C) below normal in West Virginia. All 35 Northeast airport climate sites ranked the month among their top 20 coldest Februarys, with 15 of those sites having their coldest February on record. February was the all-time coldest month on record at seven sites, with an additional 27 sites ranking this February among their top 20 all-time coldest months. Twenty-six sites ranked this winter among their top 20 coldest winters. - February ended on the dry side of normal in the Northeast. The region saw 1.92 inches (48.77 mm) of precipitation, 70 percent of normal, which made it the 12th driest February on record. All states were drier than normal, with three states ranking the month among their top 20 driest: Connecticut, 11th driest; Pennsylvania, 13th driest; and Maine, 16th driest. Departures ranged from 56 percent of normal in Massachusetts to 83 percent of normal in West Virginia. Winter also ended on the dry side of normal, but barely. The region saw 8.87 inches (225.30 mm) of precipitation, 96 percent of normal. Six states were wetter than normal, while five states were drier than normal and one state was at normal. Departures for all states ranged from 79 percent of normal in Pennsylvania to 118 percent of normal in Maine. Despite the Northeast generally being drier than normal during February and winter, snowfall was above normal in most areas. See last paragraph for more details. - According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 17 to 18 percent of the region was experiencing abnormally dry conditions throughout the month. - Throughout February, the Northeast was affected by numerous storms, several of which dropped more than a foot (30 cm) of snow. On the 15th, strong winds from a Nor'easter caused up to 9 hours of blizzard conditions in parts of New England and on the 25th, snow contributed to the largest chain-reaction crash in Maine's history. The weight of excessive snow caused numerous roofs to collapse in Massachusetts. According to news reports, the snowstorms have cost Massachusetts' economy at least $1 billion. Across the region, the storms caused frequent school and business closures, thousands of flight delays and cancellations, and power outages. Of the region's 35 major airport climate sites, 23 sites ranked the month among their top 20 snowiest Februarys. Fourteen of those sites also ranked this February among their top 20 all-time snowiest months. Boston, MA, and Worcester, MA, set multiple records including: snowiest February, all-time snowiest month, and snowiest winter. Boston received 64.8 inches (164.6 cm) of snow during February, which is more than the city normally gets in an entire snow season. Fifteen sites ranked this winter among their top 20 snowiest winters. - For more information, please go to the Northeast Regional Climate Center Home Page. - Midwest Region: (Information provided by the Midwest Regional Climate Center) - February 2015 had some of the coldest temperatures seen in decades, tying the year 1904 as the 7th coldest February on record (1895-2015) for the Midwestern Region. The region's average temperatures for February ranged from 9.0 to 17.0 degrees F (5.0 to 9.4 degrees C) below zero across the region, averaging 15.4 degrees F (-9.2 degrees C) for the region as a whole. The coldest temperatures in February impacted the region during the last half of the month. During this time average temperatures were 17.0 to 25.0 degrees F (9.4 to 13.9 degrees C) below normal. The coldest temperatures impacted eastern Michigan and Ohio. Many record low temperatures impacted the region February 15 - 19, 2015, with additional temperature records set in eastern Michigan and northeast Ohio on February 23 and 24, 2015. All states had average temperatures that placed them in the top 20 coldest Februarys on record - with four states experiencing temperatures that placed them in the five coldest Februarys on record: Ohio had its 2nd coldest February on record with an average temperature of 17.5 degrees F (-8.1 degrees C), Michigan had its 3rd coldest February on record with an average temperature of 8.3 degrees F (-13.2 degrees C), and Kentucky and Indiana had their 5th coldest February on record with average temperatures of 26.7 degrees F (-2.9 degrees C) and 19.3 degrees F (-7.1 degrees C), respectively. The winter season across the region provided average temperatures 1.0 to 4.0 degrees F (0.5 to 2.2 degrees C) colder than normal except in Minnesota and western Iowa where average temperatures were near normal. Even colder average temperatures (5.0 to 6.0 degrees F below normal (2.8 to 3.3 degrees C)) were found in Michigan, northeast Indiana, north and central Ohio, and the Upper Peninsula region. This resulted in average temperatures for the winter season below 30 degrees F (-1.1 degrees C) as far south as the southern half of Missouri, the southern portions of Illinois and Indiana. Kentucky only averaged temperatures between 30 and 35 degrees F (-1.1 to 1.7 degrees C). While December was a warmer than normal month for the region by several degrees F, a pattern shift in January led to colder than normal average temperatures for the month of January across much of the eastern half of the region. By February, average temperature departures of 9 to 15 degrees F (5.0 to 8.3 degrees C) below normal presided over much of the region. The arctic air that moved into the eastern half of the region during January and settled in place across much of the region through February made the warm start of the winter season finish as one that was colder than average. Regionally, the 2014-2015 winter season experienced its 45th coldest winter on record with an average temperature of 22.6 degrees F (-5.2 degrees C) tying with winters 1967-1968 and 1963-1964. Michigan and Ohio were the coldest states in the region this past winter. Michigan experienced its 19th coldest winter with an average temperature of 17.7 degrees F (-7.9 degrees C) and Ohio experienced its 20th coldest winter on record with an average temperature of 25.7 degrees F (-3.5 degrees C). - February accumulated precipitation across the region remained 0.5 to 1.25 inches (1.3 - 3.2 cm) below normal except in southeast Kentucky, northern Missouri, most of Iowa, and small areas along Lake Superior and Lake of the Woods which were only 0.25 to 0.5 inches (0.6 - 1.3 cm) above average. This resulted in a majority of the Midwest region experiencing only 50-75 percent of normal accumulated precipitation with the entire region experiencing its 28th driest February on record only observing 1.21 inches (3.1 cm), 0.51 inches (1.3 cm) below normal (70 percent of normal). Accumulated precipitation totals for February were 0.25-0.5 inches (0.6 - 1.3 cm) across much of Minnesota and Wisconsin, increasing to 0.5-1.5 inches (1.3 - 3.8 cm) heading south towards the Ohio River valley with isolated regions recording 2.0 inches (5.1 cm). Kentucky saw a majority of the precipitation across the region with 3.0 or more inches (7.6 cm) recorded across the state except in the far north near Cincinnati, and Kentucky recorded a monthly total of 3.23 inches (8.2 cm). Wisconsin was the driest state in February, placing February 2015 as its 13th driest February on record observing only 0.4 inches (1.0 cm) of precipitation. While all other states experienced below normal accumulated precipitation, placement of driest February on record ranged from 23rd driest on record (Michigan) to 62nd driest on record (Iowa). February snowfall across the region was abundant except in Minnesota and Wisconsin where snowfall and precipitation totals remained below normal. January 31 - February 2, 2015 a near-record snowfall event made its way across the central Midwest (Iowa, northern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and southern Michigan) dropping a storm total of 19.3 inches (49.0 cm) of snow at O'Hare International Airport. A second winter storm impacted the southern half of the Midwest February 15-17, 2015. Kentucky received 12.0-18.0 inches (30.5 to 45.7 cm) of snowfall from this storm resulting in a state of emergency declaration for the state. Additional winter systems moved across the region February 20-22, 2015 and February 28 - March 1, 2015. Parts of northern and far southeast Missouri measured over a foot of snowfall (30.5 cm) due to these systems, 8.0-10.0 inches (20.3 to 25.4 cm) above normal for the month. Accumulated snowfall by the end of February was greatest near the lake shores due to lake effect snow events, followed by northern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and southern Michigan. Eastern Kentucky also experienced accumulated snowfall above 15.0 inches (38.1 cm). The remaining portions of the Midwest had 10.0 or more inches (25.4 cm or more) of accumulated snowfall with southwest Missouri, much of Minnesota, and the northern two-thirds of Wisconsin having less than 10.0 inches (25.4 cm) of accumulated snowfall. By the end of the month, accumulated snowfall as a percent of normal was at 400 percent across Kentucky, and 200-300 percent across the region except in Minnesota and Wisconsin (25-100 percent of normal). The region was drier than normal during the 2014-2015 winter season in terms of total accumulated precipitation with portions of Kentucky and southwest Missouri being 3.0 to 5.0 inches (7.6 to 12.7 cm) below normal. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, remainder of Missouri, Michigan, eastern Iowa and Minnesota, along with much of Wisconsin were all 1.0 to 3.0 inches (2.5 to 7.6 cm) below normal. The Midwest region observed precipitation during winter 2014-2015 was 4.2 inches (10.7 cm), 1.5 (3.8 cm) inches below normal and the 15th driest winter on record for the Midwest. No area was 100 percent of normal for the season except a small bull's eye in north-central Iowa and due south of Lake of the Woods in Minnesota. Accumulated precipitation was heaviest during the winter season across the southeast half of the Midwest, with 4.0 inches to greater than 10.0 inches (10.2 to 25.4 cm) observed across the southern half of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. To the northwest, observed precipitation for the winter season gradually decreased to 1.0 (2.5 cm) inch or less in northwest Minnesota. Minnesota observed a total of 1.65 inches (4.2 cm) during the winter, tying for its 20th driest winter on record. Wisconsin and Michigan experienced their 16th and 17th driest winter seasons on record, respectively. Wisconsin recorded 2.29 inches (5.8 cm) and Michigan recorded 4.01 inches (10.2 cm). Accumulated snowfall for the winter season was below normal for about half of states in the Midwest. The northern halves of Illinois and Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, northeast Missouri, east-central Iowa, and areas of far southern Illinois and southeast Missouri along and near the Ohio River, experienced accumulated snowfall amounts up to 10 inches (25.4 cm) above normal while all other areas were below normal by up to 20 inches (50.8 cm) (lake effect regions in northern Michigan, the Upper Peninsula, and far northern Wisconsin were up to 40 inches (101.6 cm) below normal). Until February when most of this winter's snowfall fell, those regions with above normal accumulated snowfall were actually below normal for the season. Kentucky ended the season observing 125 percent of normal accumulated snowfall, while Ohio, the northern halves of Illinois and Indiana, and southeast Michigan were 100 percent of normal. Elsewhere states were 75-100 percent of normal for accumulated snowfall. Central Missouri, Minnesota, and much of Wisconsin saw only 25-75 percent of normal accumulated snowfall. - Despite the greater than normal precipitation with the February snowstorm across Kentucky, long term, D0 drought conditions remained in place across much of Kentucky, primarily west of the Appalachian Mountains. Minnesota remained in D0 drought for the entire month, as little precipitation fell across the state. At the beginning of winter, much of Minnesota and far northwest Iowa were classified as Abnormally Dry on the U.S. Drought Monitor and remained classified as such through the season. Entering mid-December, western Kentucky and far southeast Missouri joined the ranks of Abnormally Dry. Conditions remained stationary till mid-January when growth of the water shortage in Kentucky spread eastward and reached Moderate Drought status in the far southwest. By January 27, 2015 the lack of precipitation across the region resulted in additional growth of drought conditions: all of Minnesota had been classified as Abnormally Dry with small isolated regions of Moderate Drought, followed by a dry region across southeast Iowa, northern Missouri, northwest Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. Abnormally Dry and Moderate Drought in Kentucky was noted across the state west of the Appalachian Mountains. Following the January 31 - February 2, 2015 winter storm across the central Midwest, drought status was removed across Missouri, Iowa, and northwest Illinois. Southern Wisconsin remained in drought status having received little snow from the event. Much of Kentucky reached Moderate drought conditions by February 17th but received relief from additional winter storms so that by March, drought status for the state had been downgraded to Abnormally dry along the northern counties near the Ohio River west of the Indiana and Ohio state line. - On January 31-February 2, a winter storm brought heavy snow to the Midwest. Amounts of 6.0 - 12.0 inches (15.2 to 30.5 cm) were common throughout Iowa, northern Missouri and northern Illinois. Areas west of Lake Michigan were hardest hit due to lake-enhanced snowfall rates. Snowfall totals from extreme southeastern Wisconsin into northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana were in the 12.0 - 20.0 inch (30.5 to 50.8 cm) range. A blizzard warning was put into effect for the Chicago area on the 1st and a storm total snowfall of 19.3 inches (49.0 cm) was recorded at O'Hare with 19.2 inches (48.8 cm) recorded at Midway in Chicago. The snowfall total at O'Hare was ranked as the fifth highest storm total snowfall total for Chicago. The 16.2 inches (41.1 cm) that fell on February 1 was the highest total for any February day in Chicago and was the second highest single day snowfall for the city all time. Additionally, this storm system brought a large amount of precipitation to the region. Areas in Iowa and Missouri through southern Michigan received more than an inch of liquid precipitation. The storm resulted in nearly 1,300 flight cancellations and many delays in the Chicago and Midwest areas. - Intrusion of cold, arctic air the second half of February due to the mean storm track being farther south than normal resulted in winter weather as far south as Kentucky and Tennessee that sadly resulted in the deaths of 30 individuals due to car accidents, hypothermia, and carbon monoxide. The Midwest was impacted greatest by bitter cold temperatures February 16-19, 2015, with much of the region experiencing minimum temperatures below zero on the 19th. Nearly all of Wisconsin and Minnesota were 10 degrees F below zero (-23.3 degrees C) with northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and the western U.P. of Michigan 25-35 degrees F below zero (-31.2 to -37.2 degrees C). The western Ohio Valley also saw temperatures 5-15 degrees F below zero (-20.6 to -26.1 degrees C) with wind chill advisories and warnings for wind chills of 15-30 degrees F below zero (-20.6 to -34.4 degrees C). - Another major snowstorm impacted the Midwest late on February 28, 2015 into March 1, 2015 Over 4.0 inches (10.2 cm) of snow fell from Missouri through Ohio. The heaviest snow fell in east-central Illinois through central Indiana where snow totals of 6.0 to 9.0 inches (15.2 to 22.9 cm) were common. This was the fourth major snowstorm to impact the Midwest in 30 days. - With temperatures for the month of February 10-15 degrees F (5.6 to 8.3 degrees C) below normal along the Great Lakes, ice cover increased quickly in the month of February. Lake Erie and Huron became almost completely ice covered. On February 18th, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory estimated ice cover on the Great Lakes to be 85.4 percent. As of March 3, 2015, ice cover estimates had reduced to 77.8 percent. - Seasonal climate events in addition to these listed for February included reports of wind damage and a brief EF0 tornado in central Ohio Christmas Eve December 24, 2014 due to weak linear convective system ahead of a cold front On January 9, 2015, southern Michigan experienced a 190 vehicle pileup during winter weather hazards in Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties. There was one fatality, numerous injuries, fires and spilled cargo, evacuations of homes, and closure of Interstate 94 in both directions for much of the day. - For details on the weather and climate events of the Midwest, see the weekly summaries in the Midwest Climate Watch page. - Southeast Region: (Information provided by the Southeast Regional Climate Center) - Mean temperatures in February were well below average across much of the Southeast region. In fact, at least one reporting station in every state across the region except Florida observed its coldest or second coldest mean temperature for February on record. The greatest departures were found across portions of Virginia, the Carolinas, northern Georgia, and northern Alabama, where monthly temperatures were 8 to 10 degrees F (4.4 to 5.6 degrees C) below average. Walhalla, SC (1897-2015) and Statesville, NC (1901-2015) observed their coldest mean temperature for February on record, while Rome, GA (1893-2015) and Lynchburg, VA (1895-2015) observed their second coldest mean temperature for February on record. In contrast, mean temperatures were above average in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands during February. Guayama (1914-2015) and Coloso (1905-2015) observed their third and fourth warmest February mean temperature on record, respectively. The warmest weather occurred on the 8th and 9th, as moist tropical air was advected northward over the region ahead of an approaching cold front. During this two-day period, daily maximum temperatures exceeded 70 degrees F (21.1 degrees C) over much of the region. The coldest weather of the month occurred on the 19th and 20th, as an unusually strong Arctic high pushed southward across the region. Daily mean temperatures were at least 15 degrees F (8.3 degrees C) below average across the entire region, with some locations in North Carolina and Virginia exceeding 30 degrees F (16.7 degrees C) below average. The daily maximum temperature in Blacksburg, VA (1953-2015) on the 19th and Cape Hatteras, NC (1893-2015) on the 20th tied for the fifth coldest all time at 7 degrees F (-13.9 degrees C) and 24 degrees F (-4.4 degrees C), respectively. - Precipitation was slightly below normal but highly variable across the Southeast during February. The wettest locations were found across portions of coastal North Carolina and central Florida, where monthly precipitation totals exceeded 150 percent of normal. Tampa, FL (1891-2015) and Cape Hatteras, NC observed their seventh wettest February on record with 6.52 inches (166 mm) and 7.34 inches (186 mm) of precipitation, respectively. In contrast, the driest locations were found across northern Virginia, western North Carolina, southern Alabama, and the western tip of the Florida Panhandle. Monthly precipitation totals were 2 to 4 inches (50.8 to 101.6 mm) below normal, or about 50 to 25 percent of normal, in these areas. Precipitation was slightly above normal for much of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. St. Thomas (1953-2015) observed its wettest February and sixth wettest month all time with 13.35 inches (339 mm) of precipitation. Remarkably, 8.73 inches (222 mm) of precipitation (65 percent of the monthly total) was observed on the 14th, making it the second wettest day on record for any month in St. Thomas. - Snowfall amounts in February were much greater than the preceding months of December and January. Measurable snowfall was recorded in all states with the exception of Florida during the month. The ninth all time snowiest month was recorded in Blacksburg, VA, which observed 19.4 inches (493 mm) of snowfall. Huntsville, AL (1894-2015) and Lynchburg, VA observed their snowiest February on record with 8.8 inches (224 mm) and 20.3 inches (516 mm) of snowfall, respectively. The highest monthly snowfall totals recorded in each state are as follows: 30.4 inches (772 mm) in Clintwood, VA, 46.1 inches (1,171 mm) on Mt. Mitchell, NC, 9.5 inches (241 mm) in Long Creek, SC, 8.8 inches (224 mm) in Sautee, GA, and 9.5 inches (241 mm) in Valley Head, AL. - There were only 32 severe weather reports across the Southeast during February, and all but one of these reports were for damaging thunderstorm winds. In addition, severe weather was reported on only three days during the month. On the 2nd, a squall line produced damaging straight-line winds across southeastern Virginia, resulting in widespread downed trees. The highest reported gusts occurred near the communities of Crittenden (67 mph) and Oceana (65 mph) within the Norfolk metropolitan area. An EF-1 tornado touched down near Boca West, FL on the 5th, causing localized tree falls and damage to numerous homes. However, no fatalities or injuries were reported. On the 25th, strong winds associated with a vigorous squall line produced widespread downed trees and power lines across north-central Florida. A water main break caused by a fallen tree damaged six apartments at a residential complex in Gainesville, FL. It is also worth noting that strong non-convective wind gusts exceeding 50 mph were recorded across broad portions of North Carolina and southern Virginia on the 2nd. Some of the highest reported gusts occurred in Jefferson, NC (58 mph) and Virginia Beach, VA (64 mph). - A modest change in drought conditions was noted for the Southeast during February. The percentage of the region under drought-free conditions (less than D1) decreased slightly from 99 percent on the 3rd to 96 percent on the 24th. Moderate (D1) drought expanded northward and eastward from the Mobile Bay area of coastal Alabama during the month, covering the entire southwestern portion of the state as well as the western tip of the Florida Panhandle. Approximately 17 percent of Alabama was under moderate drought conditions by the end of February, which is a significant increase from only 2 percent coverage at the beginning of the month. In addition, a small area of moderate drought developed in the Everglades region of southern Florida. Numerous freeze events during the latter half of the month damaged about 10 to 30 percent of the blueberry crop across portions of southern Georgia. - For more information, please go to the Southeast Regional Climate Center Home Page. - High Plains Region: (Information provided by the High Plains Regional Climate Center ) - This month, there was a large contrast in temperatures across the United States due to a ridge to the west and a trough to the east. The extreme warmth in the west was a concern due to the continued low snowpack and the cold in the east allowed for wintry weather to impact locations even in the Deep South. Because the High Plains region was on the dividing line of the warm and cold air, eastern areas were below normal, central areas were near normal, and western areas were above normal. This resulted in impressive temperature departures ranging from about 12.0 degrees F (6.7 degrees C) below normal in parts of North Dakota to about 12.0 degrees F (6.7 degrees C) above normal in parts of Wyoming. Interestingly, even with these large temperature departures, locations with long-term station histories did not set records and relatively few locations ranked in the top 20 coldest or warmest Februaries on record. As is often the case, precipitation varied across the region. Areas picking up heavy precipitation included central Wyoming and the Front Range in Colorado. Liquid equivalent precipitation totals in those areas generally ranged from 200-400 percent of normal precipitation, however isolated locations in Colorado topped 400 percent of normal. Other areas receiving ample precipitation included portions of western and southeastern Nebraska, far western Kansas, and pockets of North Dakota. These areas had precipitation totals of at least 150 percent of normal. Several locations with long station histories set new records for snowiest and/or wettest February on record. Likewise, numerous locations ranked in the top 10. There were dry areas of the region as well, including South Dakota, southern Kansas, southwestern Wyoming, and portions of eastern North Dakota and northwestern Colorado where precipitation totaled 50 percent of normal, at best. A few isolated areas received little to no precipitation and ranked in the top 10 driest Februaries on record. At this time of the year, precipitation does not contribute a large percentage of the annual total; however dry areas will need to be monitored this spring when deficits can grow more quickly. - Extreme temperatures were a common theme this winter and February was no exception. For the High Plains region, being on the dividing line between the warm and cold air made for an impressive range of temperature departures. Despite these large departures, the warmth to the west and cold to the east was not generally record breaking across the region, although a few isolated locations may have set new records. What was more widespread was the list of locations which ranked in the top 20 warmest/coldest Februaries on record. Some examples on the cool side included Minot, North Dakota (9th), Lincoln, Nebraska (16th), and Topeka, Kansas (20th). Examples on the warm side included Rawlins, Wyoming (5th) and Grand Junction, Colorado (11th). - A look at the daily values shows that hundreds of daily records were set this month, the majority of which were record highs. Even locations in eastern Colorado and western Kansas were flirting with their highest all-time February temperatures from the 6th through the 10th. February 7th was a particularly warm day and Colorado Springs, Colorado came close to its all-time February maximum temperature with a high of 74 degrees F (23.3 degrees C). This tied for the 2nd warmest February day on record in Colorado Springs, but was just shy of the highest value of 76 degrees F (24.4 degrees C), which occurred on February 5, 1963 (period of record 1894-2015). The 7th was a warm day for other locations too as Denver, Colorado and Goodland, Kansas tied for their 6th warmest February day on record with 74 degrees F (23.3 degrees C) and 79 degrees F (26.1 degrees C), respectively. The graph above shows the extreme warmth that occurred this past month, especially during the second week of February in Colorado Springs. - After a fairly dry January, precipitation returned for some areas of the High Plains region, especially along the Front Range in Colorado, areas of central Wyoming, and portions of Kansas, Nebraska, and North Dakota. Other areas of the region were fairly dry and drought conditions expanded across western Colorado and into southwestern Wyoming, which is uncommon for this time of the year. The following takes a look at some local examples of extremes experienced across the region this month. Areas along the Front Range received hefty amounts of snow this month, with many locations ranking in the top 10 snowiest Februaries on record. One very impressive record occurred in Boulder, Colorado, which broke its previous February total snowfall record by over 20 inches (51 cm)! The new record February total of 54.8 inches (139 cm) of snow completely smashed the old 2012 record of 32.1 inches (82 cm) (period of record 1893-2015). Some other locations in Colorado also had their snowiest February on record including Denver and Pueblo. On the drier end of the spectrum, little precipitation fell across South Dakota. For instance, Pierre, South Dakota had its 7th least snowiest February on record with only 1.5 inches (4 cm) of snow (period of record 1893-2015). Although snowfall over the past couple of months has been lacking in Pierre, the seasonal total is just above normal. In a follow-up to last month's summary, it was mentioned that Fargo, North Dakota had yet to have its first 1-inch (3 cm) snowfall. That streak was broken on February 10th with 3.5 inches (9 cm) and the new record was officially set. Prior to this season, the latest 1-inch (3 cm) snowfall to have occurred was January 27, 1944 (period of record 1885-2015). Even with slightly above normal snowfall in February, the seasonal snowfall totals were still lagging in Fargo with 15.6 inches (40 cm) received through the end of the month. This was only 41 percent of normal. The dryness across South Dakota and eastern North Dakota may prove to be a benefit as flood risk is reduced with a low snowpack. Additionally, in recent years, fields have been quite wet in the spring, which has been a difficulty for farmers in the planting season. The possibility of drier soils this spring could be a welcome sight in both regards. - Although typically a quiet time of the year for drought developments/improvements in the High Plains Region, drought conditions expanded over the past month, according to the latest releases of the U.S. Drought Monitor. The total area in drought (D1-D4) increased from about 12 percent to just over 20 percent with moderate drought conditions (D1) expanding across western Colorado and into southern Wyoming. A combination of unseasonably warm weather and a low snow water equivalent in the mountain snowpack has led to this depiction on the U.S. Drought Monitor. For the region as a whole, this expanded the total D1 coverage from about 7 percent to 15 percent. The remaining severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought conditions in portions of eastern Colorado and western and southern Kansas remained unchanged. Meanwhile, abnormally dry conditions (D0) expanded into central Colorado, southwestern Wyoming, and west-central South Dakota. In areas receiving heavy rain and snow, such as northeastern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska, D0 was eliminated. As more data are collected and analyzed, drought impacts are still being realized in some parts of the region. According to a study by the U.S. Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Survey, the spruce beetle epidemic has expanded due to a combination of factors, one of which is drought. Southwestern areas of the state have experienced the most rapid expansion of the infestation. On a related matter, the mountain pine beetle epidemic has slowed, most likely due to a lack of live trees. - For more information, please go to the High Plains Regional Climate Center Home Page. - Southern Region: (Information provided by the Southern Regional Climate Center) - February was a cold month for all six states in the Southern Region. In Texas and Oklahoma, temperatures averaged between 2 to 5 degrees F (1.11 to 2.78 degrees C) below normal. Elsewhere, temperatures were even colder, ranging between 5 to 10 degrees F (2.78 to 5.56 degrees C) below normal. Further to this, stations in northern Tennessee reported average temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees F (5.56 to 8.33 degrees C) below the monthly normal. The state-wide average temperatures are as follows: Arkansas averaged 36.20 degrees F (2.33 degrees C), Louisiana averaged 47.50 degrees F (8.61 degrees C), Mississippi averaged 41.80 degrees F (5.44 degrees C), Oklahoma averaged 38.10 degrees F (3.39 degrees C), Tennessee averaged 31.40 degrees F (-0.33 degrees C), and Texas averaged 48.40 degrees F (9.11 degrees C). Both Arkansas and Tennessee recorded their eighth coldest February on record (1895-2015). For Mississippi it was the eleventh coldest February, while Louisiana posted its fourteenth coldest February on record (1895-2015). All other state rankings fell within the two middle quartiles. - With the exception of western Tennessee, the month of February was a drier than normal month. Conditions were especially dry throughout central Texas, where most stations received half (or less) of the normal precipitation for the month. Similar shortfalls were observed across central Louisiana, southwestern Oklahoma, and southern Mississippi. Elsewhere, precipitation totals ranged between 70 to 90 percent of normal, except for in western Tennessee, where most stations reported values that were near normal to slightly above normal. The state-wide average precipitation totals for the month of February are as follows: Arkansas averaged 3.09 inches (78.49 mm), Louisiana averaged 2.91 inches (73.91 mm), Mississippi averaged 4.09 inches (103.89 mm), Oklahoma averaged 1.07 inches (27.18 mm), Tennessee averaged 4.29 inches (108.97 mm), and Texas averaged 1.06 inches (26.92 mm). For Louisiana, it was their twenty-seventh driest February on record (1895-2015). All other state rankings fell within the two middle quartiles. - Drought conditions in the Southern Region changed only slightly from the previous month. In southwestern Texas, below normal precipitation led to an introduction of extreme drought. Similarly, persistent dryness in southern Louisiana and southern Mississippi has resulted in an area of moderate drought along the north central Gulf of Mexico coast. Above normal precipitation in western Tennessee has alleviated drought conditions there, however, much of the area is still considered abnormally dry. Elsewhere, conditions have not changed much, with a bulk of the counties in northwestern Texas and western Oklahoma still experiencing severe, extreme and exceptional drought. - In terms of severe weather, snow, ice, and freezing temperatures plagued much of the northern half of the Southern Region, causing airport closures/flight cancellations, school closures, power outages, and fatalities. According to TimesFreePress.com, over the period of February 16 to February 25, approximately 30 fatalities occurred in Tennessee due to winter weather. Most of the deaths were the result of hypothermia or vehicle accidents. (source: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/feb/25/tennessees-winter-storm-death-toll-hits-30/290124/). - A snow storm at the end of the month caused havoc in the Dallas area and over much of Northern Texas. The storm dumped several inches of snow, and Highway US 75 was closed in both directions just north of Dallas. - In Texas, winter wheat and pecans are doing well across the state. Dairy production has increased 2% from the summer months and the number of cattle have increased after hitting a 48-year record low in 2014. Cotton is expected to have a large reduction due to the cold weather, so many farmers have turned to growing sorghum instead. Soil moisture fared better in the South Plains than in the Panhandle where the soil moisture was short to adequate. The counties of Hale and Swisher now have adequate soil moisture after previously suffering from drought conditions. Ecologically, there were more snow geese found in the state than in previous years. Unseasonably warm temperatures for a portion of the month brought out sand bass and other fish for early season fishing. Statewide reservoirs rose nearly a full percent from the beginning of the month, going from 65.0% to 65.9%. In east Texas, most reservoirs are at or near capacity. In the panhandle, north Texas, and southcentral Texas, reservoir levels are running on the low side, which has prompted experts in Austin and Amarillo to deliberate further water conservation solutions (Information provided by the Texas Office of State Climatology). - For more information, please go to the Southern Regional Climate Center Home Page. - Western Region: (Information provided by the Western Region Climate Center) - February was the 3rd consecutive month of widespread above normal temperatures in the West, and the 15th consecutive month for the state of California. Record February temperatures were observed in the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Central Rockies. Precipitation varied widely, having no recognizable pattern across the West, with record February totals in areas of the central and southern Rockies and drier than normal conditions in central and southern California as well as large areas of the Great Basin. - Strong and persistent high pressure anchored over the West this month resulted in a large number or record temperatures. Some of the greatest departures from normal were observed in the northeastern Great Basin and Central Rockies. Idaho Falls, Idaho, with records from 1948, logged its warmest February on record at 36.9 F (2.7 C), 12.9 F (7.2 C) above normal. Salt Lake City, Utah also recorded its warmest February in an 88-year record, averaging 43.9 F (6.5 C), 9.7 F (5.4 C) above normal. Elsewhere in the Great Basin, Elko, Nevada had its warmest February in a 126-year record with an average 40.1 F (4.5 C), 10.2 F (5.6 C) above normal. Bishop, California also set a record for warmest February at 50.3 F (10.2 C); records there began in 1895. Other western locations also experienced a record warm February. In eastern Oregon, Ontario recorded its warmest February in a 71-year record at 43.3 F (6.3 C), 10 F (5.5 C) above normal. Bakersfield, California, set a record for warmest February with an average of 58.9 F (14.9 C); records there date from 1937. Las Vegas, Nevada also set a record for warmest average February temperature in its 68-year record at 60.0 F (15.6 C), 7.1 F (3.9 C) above normal. - Following a warm and dry start to the month, the second half of February brought cold and snowy conditions to the central and southern Rockies. Riverton, Wyoming observed its wettest February on record with a total 1.28 in (33 mm) precipitation, 388% of normal. This February was also the second snowiest at Riverton with 17.8 in (45 cm) of snowfall. Records for Riverton began in 1907. Further south, Boulder, Colorado experienced its wettest and snowiest February in a 123-year record. Boulder received 3.69 in (94 mm) of precipitation, 450% of normal and 54.8 in (140 cm) of snow, 22.7 in (58 cm) greater than the previous record set in 2012. Continuing south, Pueblo, Colorado also saw a wet and snowy February. Precipitation totaled 1.13 in (29 mm), the second wettest in a record that began in 1954. Snowfall totaled 23.5 in (60 cm), shattering the previous February record of 14.4 in (37 cm) set in 1965. A series of storms in early February brought beneficial precipitation to northern California and areas of the Pacific Northwest, helping to improve drought conditions in these areas. At the end of the month, severe to exceptional drought persisted in 67% of California, 48% of Nevada, and 34% of Oregon. At month's end, snowpack remained meager in the Cascades, with many locations < 25% of normal snow water equivalent (SWE). The Sierra Nevada fared slightly better thanks to a cold storm at the end of the month and had SWE values 20-40% of normal. Throughout the Rockies, basin average SWE values ranged from roughly 80-110% of normal. - Warm conditions were observed across Western and Southcentral Alaska as well as the North Slope. In western Alaska, Kotzebue noted an average temperature of 10.2 F (-12.1 C) for the month, 11.1 F (6.2 C) above average and the 3rd warmest February since records began in 1897. Precipitation was highly variable across the state, though generally below normal in the Southcentral and Southeast regions and parts of the Interior. For the snow season to-date (since July 1), Anchorage has only received 20.5 in (52 cm), making this season the 2nd least snowy on record so far. Normal snowfall at Anchorage by the end of February is 60.3 in (153 cm). The famed Iditarod sled race was altered to accommodate the warmth and dryness. Further south, drier than normal conditions prevailed for much of Hawaii. Hilo and Honolulu recorded 55% and 43% of normal, respectively. Lihue, Kauai recorded its 5th driest February on record at 0.75 in (19 mm). At month's end, 50% of the state was experiencing moderate drought. - February 6-8: Storms impact northern California: A series of two storms brought 1-3 in (25-76 mm) precipitation to the San Francisco Bay Area, 4-8 in (102-203 mm) to northern California, and 5-10 in (127-254 mm) to the Sierra foothills and crest. These storms had generally high snow levels; roughly 10-15 in (25-38 cm) of snow accumulated above 8000 ft (2400 m) with mostly rain below. Strong winds knocked out power to more than 60,000 people in the Bay Area and 5,000 in western Nevada. The storms resulted in cancellation of roughly 250 flights out of SFO. Downed trees, localized flooding, and vehicle accidents associated with the storm were reported in northern California and western Nevada. - February 6: Round Fire near Bishop, California: The Round Fire began during a period of 50-75 mph (80-120 kph) winds event and rapidly burned 7,000 acres (2,800 hectares. The fire destroyed 40 residences and damaged 5 others in the communities of Swall Meadows and Paradise. - February 6-7: Mudslide, flooding in Brinnon, Washington: Following heavy rains, flooding occurred along the Duckabush River, inundating a number of homes. A mudslide also occurred partially closing two roads in the area. Three people were rescued after their truck was swept away by the river. - For more information, please go to the Western Regional Climate Center Home Page.	<urn:uuid:2600821e-bb30-43a2-8402-a45125cb440b>	CC-MAIN-2017-13	https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/national/201502	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218190236.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212950-00181-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.961594	11,265	2.984375	3
Would is the past tense form of will. It is a modal auxiliary verb. After would, infinitives are used without to. I would like some advice. (NOT I would to like some advice.) She said that she would come. (NOT She said that she would to come.) Questions and negatives are made without do. Would you like to come with me? (NOT Do you would like to come with me?) He wouldn’t come. (NOT He don’t would come.) Note that the contracted form of would not is wouldn’t. Would and Will Would acts as the past tense form of will in reported speech. In other cases, would is a more polite form of will. Direct speech: She said, ‘I will come.’ Indirect speech: She said that she would come. Would is used in requests and offers. Note that would is more polite than will. Would you move a bit? (More polite than ‘Will you move a bit?’) Would you mind opening the window? (More polite than ‘Will you mind opening the window?) Would can be used to talk about past habits. The old man would sit in a corner and talk to himself for hours. She would always bring us nice little gifts. Would and used to Both would and used to can be used to talk about past habits or repeated actions. But note that only used to can refer to past states. He used to be a chain smoker. (NOT He would be a chain smoker.) The above sentence means that he is not a chain smoker at the moment, but he used to smoke a lot at some point in the past. Would is also common in sentences referring to unreal or uncertain situations. I would tell you if I knew her name. He would have helped you if you had asked him.	<urn:uuid:fb9d9855-1692-471c-9cf1-627faf8fc211>	CC-MAIN-2021-04	https://www.englishpractice.com/tag/would-grammar/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-04/segments/1610703565541.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20210125092143-20210125122143-00173.warc.gz	en	0.988282	400	3.453125	3
The Muse, the Siren, and the Echo: A Contemplation of Voices In mythology and the epics we encounter three different female characters: the Muse, the Siren, and the Echo. But these three women are more than just characters; they are three distinct Voices, each singing a different song—some to destruction and some to life. At the heart of every myth is the Muse. She is the divine source of every story, and Homer does not utter a word before he calls upon her. We moderns are tempted to view the formulaic invocation of the Muse as solely a literary device—a nod to creativity and imaginative inspiration. Perhaps we might even admit that the invocation is a prayer whereby the poet is asking for divine help to tell a good story. But that is not how the ancients would have thought about it all. For the modern, the story comes from the storyteller. The poet conjures a tale from his own imagination. We expect our stories to be original works, appearing like phantoms. But the ancient poet had a completely different understanding both of the function of the poet and the purpose of story. For the ancient, the primary function of the poet is not to create, but to remember. The mother of the Muses is Mnemosyne, memory. When the poet calls out for the aid of the Muse, he is issuing a prayer asking for help to remember. Creation, then in this regard, is a recreation of memory. The poet is remembering via divine aid and passing down that memory to his audience. As William Blake put it, the imagination brings to life the specters of the dead who inhabit the memory, creation thus being to memory what resurrection is to death (Anatomy of Criticism, Northrop Frye). To follow the call of the Muse is to avoid both the temptation to become enamored with the present and the temptation to become enamored with the past. Therefore the Muse herself is a character in the story. It is her voice calling us to remember. To remember the past and our cultural traditions, to remember where we came from, to remember who we are, and to ultimately remember where we want to go. This memory, this voice from the past, does not call us back to remain in the past, but guides us forward–creating for us a vision of the future rooted in the past. When we know from where we have come, we know how to move forward. So many voices call us to forget where we want to go; the Muse calls us to remember. So the Muse is the Voice from the Past that calls us forward, to continue in the stream of living memory. The Muse therefore stands in contrast to the Siren. In mythology the Sirens are universally understood as destructive voices. Whereas the voice of the Muse is the voice of Resurrection and life, the voice of the Siren brings death. But what exactly does that voice sing? What precisely is the nature of this particular lure to destruction? In the Odyssey, Circe warns Odysseus that to safely return home, he must avoid the temptation of the Sirens. She tells him that whoever listens to the Sirens' singing has no prospect of coming home, and she instructs him that the only way to resist the enchantment of the melody is to stop the ears of his men. Odysseus obeys. As the deafened men sail safely past the Sirens, we hear the exact nature of this melody: “Come this way, honored Odysseus, great glory of the Achaians, and stay your ship, so that you can listen here to our singing . . . for we know everything that the Argives and Trojans did and suffered in wide Troy through the gods’ despite.” Like the Muses, the Sirens sing a song of the past, recalling the memory of Odysseus’ past in the Trojan War. But in contrast, the Sirens do not sing a memory to help Odysseus remember, they want him to forget. They tempt Odysseus to abandon his journey home, to forget his wife and child and kingdom, and to live in the glory of the past. Of course this is a deceptive promise for if he abandons his quest and attempts to live in the past memory of the Siren song, he will crash his ship and be destroyed. The voice of the Siren is the voice that calls you to forget. The voice that tempts you to live in the past, to dwell on your past glory. Do not move forward, it sings. Forget where you want to go. Try to live in the memory and die. Homer shows us that the voice of the Siren is destructive. The only defense against it is to ignore and resist those voices. They cannot be debated or reasoned with, they must be silenced. Put the wax in your ears and stay on the path forward. Yet another voice is Echo who was cursed by Hera and had her voice taken from her. No longer could she speak anything except to repeat the last few words spoken to her. Unlike the Muse and the Siren, the Echo is not a voice from the past. It is a voice trapped in the present. No call to remember. No call to forget. But a voice to keep you stuck in the moment. Fittingly, Echo is attached to Narcissus, the man who is trapped in the moment. He stares at his own reflection–neither focused on the future nor his past. He is infatuated with his present in a destructive way. Ultimately his enslavement to the present leads to his death. Echo watches helplessly, unable to save the man she loves because she cannot call him out of the present. She cannot, like the Muse, help him remember who he is. He is entrapped in a moment, and Echo can only keep him in the present, another mirror, reflecting back his own words to him—to the destruction of both of them. The lesson then for us as we navigate our own lives is: Which of these three voices are we heeding? Are we trapped in the present without any concern for where we have come from or where we are going? Are destructive voices tempting us to forget what we know is important and true and abandon our callings unto our destruction? Or do we ask for the guidance of the Muse and heed her call, the call to remember. Likewise we have to ask ourselves, what voices come from our mouths. Especially as classical educators we must regularly ask what voices we are speaking into our students. Are we so focused on present concerns that we ignore the voices and wisdom of the past—the voices that can save our lives? Are we teachers who echo the wisdom of the day without reflection and contemplation? On the other hand, do we sing the melody that tempts our students to become so enamored with the past that they lose their way forward and crash upon the rocks of an illusory past golden age? Or do we speak with the wisdom of the Muse and bring all the collective wisdom of the past memory to our present lives in a way that allows us all to move forward and remember our calling? TO FOLLOW the call of the Muse is to avoid both the temptation to become enamored with the present and the temptation to become enamored with the past. Both the Siren and the Echo will make you forget and lead you to destruction. But the Muse will teach you to honor the past in a way that brings forth life to both our present and our future. It is a living memory of the past, not a dead end. This is why John Milton, the great Christian poet, makes the connection between the Muse and the Holy Spirit. For Milton, when we ask for the guidance of the Muse, we are really asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to help us to remember all which we have forgotten and to remind us of the way forward. To help us, like Odysseus, to make the journey home. Sing, O goddess, and help us to hear.	<urn:uuid:2a0f1301-463b-4e27-9ad7-e62d64fb235d>	CC-MAIN-2020-29	https://www.circeinstitute.org/blog/muse-siren-and-echo-contemplation-voices	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593657151197.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20200714181325-20200714211325-00536.warc.gz	en	0.964748	1,666	2.8125	3
One of these following facts about Vltava might be really interesting for you to read. People know that Vltava is a the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source near the German border in Sumava through Cesky Krumlov, Ceske Budejovice and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Melnik. This river is 430 kilometers long and drains about 28,090 square kilometers. At their confluence the Vltava actually has more water than the Elbe and is even much longer, but joins the Elbe at a right angle to its flow so that it appears a mere tributary. The river is crossed by 18 bridges as it runs through Prague. It covers 31 kilometers (19 mi) within the city. To get to know more about this river, here are some facts about Vltava you might like. Facts about Vltava 1: Name Both the Czech name “Vltava” and the German name “Moldau” are believed to originate from the old Germanic words “wilt ahwa” (wild water). In Annales Fuldenses (872 AD) it is called “Fuldaha”: from 1113 AD it is attested as Wultha. In Chronica Boemorum (1125 AD) it is attested for the first time in its bohemised form as “Wlitava”. Facts about Vltava 2: Drinking The water from the river was used for drinking. For instance, until 1912 the Vinohrady Water Tower pumped the water directly from the river. Several dams were built on it in the 1950s, the biggest being Lipno Dam in Sumava. In August 2002 a flood of the Vltava killed several people and caused massive damage and disruption along its length. Facts about Vltava 3: Large Peat-bogs There are large peat-bogs at the upper end of the Vltava river. Its valley is narrow and widens gradually. The only exception is the short section above the village Horni Vltavice, where the river flows through a defile valley, and has the character of a mountain stream. Facts about Vltava 4: Average Drop The average drop of the rive in its spring area up to Kvilda is 26.2%, in the following part, up to the confluence with Studena Vltava, the angle decreases down to 4.9%. From Lenore it flows through a large valley, which is today mainly filled up with the waters of the Lipno Dam whose slopes are covered with forests. Facts about Vltava 5: Heart of the Vltava The relatively small descent caused the river to meander, and thus created the so-called Heart of the Vltava. In another section up to Vyssi Brod, it regains the character of a mountain stream, flowing through a deep and narrow defile with a rocky bottom. Facts about Vltava 6: Flows Between Lipno nad Vltavou and Vyssi Brod Brod, the descent of the river’s bed is 20.2 %, in the section beginning 8 km from Lipno, ending at the railway station Certova Stena, the drop is 137 m. After the river discharges to the Ceske Budejovice basin, its bed is still relatively deep and narrow. The afforested slopes sometimes drop right to the river’s banks. The average relative descent in this section is about 2.12 %. Facts about Vltava 7: Certovy Proudy The next part of the river bed is nearly empty, because the main stream flows to the hydro power plant at the dike of the dam, and then by the underground canal to the level tank in Vyssi Brod. Only in the following part, the river again flows through natural surroundings. The section below the Lipno Dam is called Certovy Proudy. Facts about Vltava 8: Average Flow Up to Cesky Krumlov, the river is 144 km long. The area of the river basin up to Cesky Krumlov is 544.9 square km. The year’s average precipitation reaches 818 mm, and the average flow is 18.5 cubic meter per second. Facts about Vltava 9: Vltava’s Spring The German word Moldau, nowadays used by the foreigners, comes from Old Czech of the 13the century. Among other interesting facts are that the Vltava’s spring is in Šumava and halfway down the stream there is so called Vltava Cascade, a system of water supply schemes, including the well-known dams such as Lipno, Orlík and Slapy. Facts about Vltava 10: Cruise Prague and the Vltava represent an attractive connection that offers you to enjoy some original views. A cruise is a popular activity of the tourists as well as the locals. They know well Prague has a special feel to it that way. Hope you would find those Vltava facts interesting and useful for your additional reading.	<urn:uuid:a8850ba5-248d-43f8-bb44-6ca9b3f67867>	CC-MAIN-2019-30	https://infactcollaborative.com/rivers/facts-about-vltava.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-30/segments/1563195527089.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20190721164644-20190721190644-00229.warc.gz	en	0.949051	1,093	3.09375	3
The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for the home November 12th, 2017 – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time The Boy Scouts of America were recently in the news because they are soon to allow girls into their organization. But that’s not what we are going to discuss here. Rather, we are going to discuss what may be the most remembered motto of the boy scouts. “Be prepared.” That’s at the heart of the parable Jesus taught about the Wise Virgins. To more fully understand this parable, it’s helpful to know a little about wedding celebrations at the time of Jesus. If it could be afforded, they were large celebrations, sometimes lasting days. Food and drink were provided (recall the wedding feast at Cana when Jesus, at the request of his mother, helped keep that feast going). And there were rules for wedding feasts. One was that once the feast began, no one was admitted who was not already inside. Sort of like coming in a few minutes late for a symphony concert. You are kept outside until there’s a break in the performance. Well, at a wedding feast, there was no break. If you were late, too bad. The gospels often use examples drawn from wedding feasts to explain the arrival of the Kingdom of God because they were well known by all. They were wonderful events. In today’s gospel the focus is on being “ready to go” when entry to the feast is possible. Be prepared! Have your light lit, which is a way of saying “keep your eyes open.” Entrance into God’s Kingdom is a personal matter. When God’s invitation arrives, we are advised to be ready. Sometimes the invitation is called “grace” from God. That grace can come at any time. It is often wrapped in an opportunity to serve the need of another person. A child is suddenly frightened and the parent steps in to assure the child that everything is all right. A teen is down because of a poor grade on a test. A friend reassures and consoles the temporarily defeated student. A grandparent feels lonely until a daughter calls from across the country to see “how mom is doing.” These are very ordinary acts of kindness, but they can also be a response to an invitation to enter God’s Kingdom – at least for a while. So, be prepared for that invitation to the wedding banquet. It may come later today. ©David M. Thomas, PhD	<urn:uuid:3b07358b-7b39-4d4b-8935-527b841f3480>	CC-MAIN-2020-16	https://www.cfm.org/be_prepared	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371611051.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20200405213008-20200406003508-00067.warc.gz	en	0.979456	531	2.578125	3
This article will help you to create an awesome PowerPoint presentation. Few tips on how to do a good PowerPoint - Before starting the slides; - Working on the slides; - Teaching others, learn yourself PowerPoint contains features which can enthrall the viewing audience and generate a lot of enthusiasm. Therefore, understanding how to do a good PowerPoint presentation is paramount for people who are involved with frequently need to public speaking and present information. Before starting the slides - Give thought to the information you want to present and how your audience can benefit from what you have to say. Ask probing questions and explore the subject from different perspectives. - Make a rough draft of what your slides should look like, i.e. background theme. This will help you to find the right background style when you start using the PowerPoint application. Working on the slides Think over the slide design - Enter the information on the slides from west to east as individuals usually read from left to right. Using another format, such as top to bottom, will make it difficult for the audience to follow along with the text. - Use titles or headings that the audience can easily read. Try to use the same font style on all of the slides to maintain consistency throughout the presentation. - The background of the slides should complement the color of the text. If you intend to use a projector, then you should use light text against a dark background. This is very important as you learn how to do a good PowerPoint presentation. You are the speaker, not your slides - Do not use too many slides but ensure that there is an adequate number which can cover each important point or thought. - Do not try to put all of the information on the slides. Instead, just stick to the main ideas. You may elaborate on the ideas during the oral part of your presentation. - Present information in a logical sequence. Less text, more visuality and communication - Utilize appropriate graphics, pictures, screen shots, charts, and graphs. These add-ons can be used instead of text on some of your slides. Inform your audience about their relevance to the presentation. This is an integral aspect of how to do a good PowerPoint presentation. Be careful with animation and special effects - Apply animation to grab your audience’s attention. The presentation should not be overpowered by animation so that the audience becomes distracted from the real message. Teaching others, learn yourself - Review you slides for any errors relating to spelling or grammar. - Watch the slideshow with a critical eye and determine if any adjustments are needed. - Get feedback from other people who are involved with making PowerPoint presentations. Be willing to listen and act on comments and/or suggestions on how to do a good PowerPoint. As you can see, the tips for how to do a good PowerPoint are quite straightforward. You can now start this exciting endeavor as you are armed with all of the information that you will need for how to do a good PowerPoint presentation. Therefore, begin to explore the boundaries of your creativity and the innovativeness of PowerPoint.	<urn:uuid:05a8c025-3d77-4a30-8c49-bd09fff1b071>	CC-MAIN-2022-27	https://blog.poweredtemplate.com/good-powerpoint-presentation/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-27/segments/1656104141372.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20220702131941-20220702161941-00041.warc.gz	en	0.898589	643	3.03125	3
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management outlined that measure and other protections intended to shield marine life if the government allows the testing, which could be a first step in the development of an offshore oil industry in Atlantic waters. The Obama administration delayed the scheduled leasing of offshore tracts in Virginia and other Atlantic states following the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The leasing was to begin in 2011 but was pushed back to 2017. The seismic testing is intended to apply new technology to areas that haven't been studied in more than three decades, and then with equipment that had limited capabilities to detect energy resources hidden below the ocean floor. The energy industry has said the new, more sophisticated seismic surveys would not only give a better picture of oil and gas deposits, but also eliminate areas that should not be drilled. While the industry estimates that oil and natural gas development in the Outer Continental Shelf would create hundreds of thousands of jobs over the next couple decades, ocean protection groups contend marine life shouldn't be exposed to a blast zone up 50 miles off the coast. "By failing to consider relevant science, the Obama administration's decision could be a death sentence for many marine mammals," said Jacqueline Savitz, vice president for U.S. Oceans at Oceana. In a statement, BOEM Director Tommy P. Beaudreau said the department is committed to "balancing the need for understanding offshore energy resources with the protection of the human and marine environment using the best available science as the basis of this environmental review." The so-called mitigation measures outlined by BOEM also call for visual observers to avoid vessel strikes with whales and other marine life; testing to detect and avoid other marine life, including dolphins; and protections for nesting sea turtles, dolphins and areas where right whales congregate. The seismic testing uses air guns mounted on ships to blast sound waves off the ocean bottom. The testing records geological formations that would indicate gas and oil deposits. The surveying would likely take a year or more. Environmental groups have opposed the testing, contending it would be harmful and disruptive to sea life. They cite government estimates that 138,500 marine mammals such as dolphins and whales could be injured. Only 500 North Atlantic right whales are left worldwide. They migrate from the Gulf of Maine to Florida. "The ocean is a world of sound, not sight," said Matthew Huelsenbeck, a marine biologist with Oceana, which advocates for the protection of the world's oceans. "When you blast their environment, it can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss and can disturb marine animals. Imagine dynamite going off in your backyard." Huelsenbeck was skeptical of exclusionary zones intended to protect right whales, noting that the whales can't be constrained by the establishment of protective zones. Oceana, which presented President Barack Obama with a letter signed by more than 100 marine scientists and conservation biologists opposed to the seismic surveys, had proposed that BOEM delay release of the environmental rules until new acoustic guidelines for marine mammals are released by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The energy industry called the BOEM environmental assessment a critical step to "new exploration for oil and natural gas in the Atlantic." An industry study released ahead of the BOEM announcement said oil and gas development between 2017 and 2035 could create nearly 280,000 jobs. "To continue America's energy renaissance in the future, we must explore and plan for the future now," said Erik Milito of the American Petroleum Institute. Steve Szkotak can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sszkotakap .	<urn:uuid:4c06ea79-98ee-498c-9514-357db4519a24>	CC-MAIN-2015-48	http://archive.ldnews.com/national/ci_25240464/proposed-us-energy-rules-would-shield-whales	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-48/segments/1448398468396.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20151124205428-00200-ip-10-71-132-137.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.944119	731	3.03125	3
Easy Estimated Taxes for 2013 What are estimated taxes? Estimated taxes are taxes paid on income that is not subject to withholding. In other words, any income that hasn’t already had taxes automatically deducted. - If you’re someone else’s employee and get regular checks, you’ll notice that a portion of your wages is taken out or withheld for taxes. That means your employer has done the work for you: Figured out your taxes and sent them along to the IRS in your name. I can appreciate that now, but I still remember getting my first paycheck when I was in high school and thinking my boss ripped me off. I learned about taxes pretty early on. - If you’re self-employed though, it’s unlikely that you withhold money every time you pay yourself. Similarly, if you’re a contractor, your earnings typically won’t have any taxes withheld. That’s where estimated taxes come in. Who exactly has to pay estimated taxes? Right from the IRS.gov website: - If you are filing as a sole proprietor, partner, S corporation shareholder, and/or a self-employed individual, you generally have to make estimated tax payments if you expect to owe tax of $1,000 or more when you file your return. - If you are filing as a corporation you generally have to make estimated tax payments for your corporation if you expect it to owe tax of $500 or more when you file its return.” How I do estimate my taxes? You will need to estimate your annual earnings in order to estimate your quarterly taxes. Review your tax return from last year to see how much you made and how much you paid in taxes. This is a good starting point. Then, fill out the Estimated Tax Worksheet on page 7 of Form 1040-ES. You can download a copy from the IRS official site. When are estimated taxes due? Below is the schedule of due dates and what months that payment should cover. You’ll notice that estimated taxes due on January 15th are for incoming made in the previous year. - January 15 = Covers September 1 - December 31 of the PREVIOUS year - April 15 = Covers Jan 1 - March 31 of the current year - June 15 = Covers April 1 - May 31 of the current year - September 15 = Covers June 1 - August 31 of the current year Please note: If the due date for an estimated tax payment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the payment will be on time if you make it on the next day that is not Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday. How do I pay my estimated taxes? There are a number of ways you can pay your estimated taxes, all of which are pretty convenient: - ONLINE: Sign up and send your payment through eftps.gov - SNAIL MAIL: Fill out Form 1040-ES and send in the appropriate Payment Voucher (they’re numbered and dated) with your payment to the IRS branch assigned to your state (check out page 4 of Form 1040-ES for addresses) - PHONE: Make a payment via credit card using the EFTPS Voice Response System by calling 1.800.555.3453 - We’ve also come across a site called Easy Estimated Taxes that allows you to send e-payments and will even send you reminders when it’s time to pay. They also have a pretty helpful FAQs section if you want more information after reading our blog. Learn Accounting With These Articles Bookkeeping & Accounting LessAccounting, now under new management. If you want your customers to pay their invoices on time, you need to understand the obstacles to timely payments. Understand why your ... Managing your invoice terms is an important piece of managing cash flow. The difference between Net 30 and Net 90 can make or break you... You can save yourself a lot of time and stress by outsourcing your bookkeeping, so that you can focus on running your business. Easy to understand small business tax tip on home office deductions. Home office deductions can be tricky. Our tax tip will help you na... Read our simple small business tax tips on deductions. Deductions can be tricky, learn more. Our tax tips will help you navigate deduct...	<urn:uuid:baaf8c30-36c5-4e5b-8dd8-e8039810220e>	CC-MAIN-2018-13	https://lessaccounting.com/blog/easy-estimated-taxes-2013/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-13/segments/1521257645943.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20180318184945-20180318204945-00014.warc.gz	en	0.952908	914	2.625	3
In 1867, when Black Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments arrived in the southwest Texas frontier, only a few settlers and adventurers had dared to enter the area. Comanches and Kiowas ruled the Edwards Plateau, Llano Estacado, and High Plains. The Apaches controlled the Sierra Blanca, Davis Mountains, Guadalupe Mountains, and south to the Rio Grande River and beyond. The Indians, respecting the tenacity and courage displayed by the Black Soldiers, called them Buffalo Soldiers. The Buffalo was a sacred animal to the Indians, therefore, the Cavalrymen accepted the title with great pride. By 1885, eighteen years after the arrival of the Buffalo Soldiers, the southwest Texas frontier contained cattle and sheep ranches, farms and towns. Barbed wire and railroad tracks criss-crossed the countryside. The Indian warriors and their families were confined to reservations. The contributions made by the Buffalo Soldiers to the taming of the southwest Texas frontier was profound. Today, the booming towns, fertile fields, and vast ranch lands throughout southwest Texas are a part of the Buffalo Soldiers legacy. Robert Summers captures the spirit of the Buffalo Soldiers by depicting a “Sole Rider” triumphantly rinding across the southwest Texas frontier.	<urn:uuid:934b4451-772f-48ca-bb78-58caf6549f10>	CC-MAIN-2020-40	https://blackartblog.blackartdepot.com/featured-art-print/robert-summers-presents-sole-rider.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600401583556.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20200928010415-20200928040415-00495.warc.gz	en	0.943326	259	3.90625	4
London: New Holland 2010 \| Pp224 \| £17.99 \| ISBN 978 184 773 514 0 Reviewed by John Anderson 'From epic conflicts to petty quarrels, Scientific Feuds unmasks the true nature of scientific progress, proving that in their quest to extend the boundaries of knowledge, scientists all too often create enemies. When it comes to the human stories behind the ideas, the world of science is rich in drama and emotion.' It is well known that many fields of human progress feature feuds and controversies, not people happily sharing results and bouncing ideas off each other, and science is no different. Such feuds have featured previously in books by Hal Hellmann - Great Feuds in Science (1998), Great Feuds in Medicine (2001) and Great Feuds in Mathematics (2006), and in Cathedrals of science: The personalities and rivalries that made modern chemistry by Patrick Coffey, the last example concentrating on feuds surrounding the physical chemist Gilbert Lewis. Not all controversy is of course bad and although some of the personal feuds described in this book resulted in the demise of one or other party, some rivalries stimulated thinking and even accelerated progress in research. Scientific feuds is split into sections dealing with earth sciences (for example, Kelvin vs Lyell and Darwin vs Huxley over the age of the earth), evolution and palaeobiology (for example, Leakey vs Johanson over the identity of hominid remains), biology and medicine (for example, Franklin vs Wilkins during the race to unlock the secrets of DNA structure and Venter vs the Human Genome Project), and finally physics, astronomy and maths (for example, Tesla vs Edison over the war of the currents). Scientific feuds is obviously intended for a mass market with its large print and colourful (though somewhat dated) design, but it does describe many of the major scientific controversies in history and outlines the cut and thrust of the disputed issues in illuminating detail. Together with good photographs, quotations from original sources, fact boxes and timelines, this book was both enjoyable and informative. To round off the book there are feature articles on a series of related topics, like science and the media, science and politics, science and the church, wagers in science and fraud in science) which illustrate how complex is the environment in which scientists have to operate.	<urn:uuid:64dddb30-e3f2-454d-877a-2687f7f5da39>	CC-MAIN-2020-16	https://edu.rsc.org/review/scientific-fueds-from-galileo-to-the-human-genome-projectrop-protection/2021185.article	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370515113.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20200403154746-20200403184746-00033.warc.gz	en	0.92008	484	2.734375	3
What Is Darvocet / Darvon (propoxyphene)? Darvocet / Darvon (Propoxyphene) is a narcotic pain reliever. Generic Darvocet is an analgesic drug. Structurally, it’s a related to the synthetic narcotic – Methadone. Darvocet Side Effects The opioid painkiller propoxyphene has been widely used in the United States since it gained FDA approval in 1957 under the brand name Darvon. Eli Lilly & Company, the drug’s maker at the time, capitalized on the gap that then existed between relatively weak painkillers such as Aspirin and potent, highly-addictive narcotics like morphine. Darvon was thus hailed as a breakthrough in pain management and, building on its success, Eli Lilly and company formulated Darvocet (propoxyphene in combination with acetaminophen), which gained FDA approval in 1972. In the three years following Darvocet’s introduction, propoxyphene remained very popular, But new studies that concluded propoxyphene was no more useful as a painkiller than two aspirin and reports linking the drug to the death of 589 Americans led many to begin questioning its overall benefits. Public Citizen renewed its attack on propoxyphene with a second petition, this time filed with the FDA, to ban propoxyphene products in 2006. The group’s effort was rebuffed once again, but this time it responded to defeat by suing the FDA in 2008 because its refusal to remove from the market a substance that, according to Public Citizen, was linked to 2110 accidental deaths between 1981 and 1999. The lawsuit put pressure on the FDA, which deferred the fate of propoxyphene to an independent advisory committee. The panel voted 14-12 for the drug’s market withdrawal, but the FDA overruled its decision, stating that further evidence was needed, particularly concerning propoxyphene’s effects on the heart, to fundamentally alter its benefit/risk profile (which the agency uses to determine the overall safety of a product). The FDA required Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which in recent years had taken possession of the Darvon and Darvocet brands from Eli Lilly & Company, to conduct research into the effects of propoxyphene on the heart. The results, which showed that the drug causes disturbances in coronary electrical activity even at prescribed doses in healthy patients, sealed the substance’s fate, as the FDA soon after requested that all forms of propoxyphene be removed from the U.S. market. It took less than three weeks from the time of the FDA’s decision for the first lawsuit to be filed against Xanodyne and in the coming weeks and months, many more propoxyphene lawsuits are expected. The evidence presented over the years to the FDA pointing to the drug’s potential to cause heart problems and accidental overdose death will likely now be used as proof that drug manufacturers should have reasonably known about, but failed to provide sufficient warning of, the pain reliever’s hazards. The serious and sometimes fatal side effects of Darvocet, Darvon, and propoxyphene prompted the FDA to recommend a ban on the popular pain medications stating their conclusion that “the pain relief benefit no longer outweighed the health risks.” The side effects of Darvocet include: - Heart arrhythmia - Heart electrical changes - Heart attack - Accidental Death Darvocet has long been associated with addictive qualities, dangerous drug interaction, and overdose. Prior to issuing the ban, the FDA had previously required a black box warning to appear on drugs containing propoxyphene so that those taking it would be aware of such risks including drug-related death. A recent study confirmed that propoxyphene can interfere with the electrical activity of an otherwise healthy heart, causing irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia and other cardiac episodes severe enough to cause death. Experts estimate that thousands have died from such side effects of Darvocet. Symptoms associated with using Darvocet: - upset stomach - stomach pain - difficulty urinating - difficulty breathing - mood changes Those who are currently using Darvocet are encouraged to consult with their doctors about other forms of pain management.	<urn:uuid:4dca2be8-d02b-42ce-8c17-d35d0647ddbd>	CC-MAIN-2018-26	https://www.therecover.com/darvocet/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267866965.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20180624141349-20180624161349-00393.warc.gz	en	0.938488	887	2.515625	3
Previous abstract Next abstract The design of a cosmic X- or $\gamma$-ray telescope with least- squares image reconstruction and its simulated operation have been described (Rev. Sci. Instrum. 60, 3396 and 3410 (1989)). Use of an auxiliary open aperture ("limiter") ahead of the coded aperture limits the object field to fewer pixels than detector elements, permitting least-squares reconstruction with improved accuracy in the imaged field; it also yields a uniformly sensitive ("flat") central field. The design has been enhanced to provide for mask-antimask operation. This cancels and eliminates uncertainties in the detector background, and the simulated results have virtually the same statistical accuracy (pixel-by-pixel output-input RMSD) as with a single mask alone. The simulations have been made more realistic by incorporating instrumental blurring of sources. A second-stage least-squares procedure had been developed to determine the precise positions and total fluxes of point sources responsible for clusters of above-background pixels in the field resulting from the first-stage reconstruction. Another program converts source positions in the image plane to celestial coordinates and vice versa, the image being a gnomic projection of a region of the sky. Monday program listing	<urn:uuid:98e9236a-870c-43a4-ae26-a7dfa45b0cc9>	CC-MAIN-2016-07	http://aas.org/archives/BAAS/v27n2/aas186/abs/S206.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-07/segments/1454701151789.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20160205193911-00120-ip-10-236-182-209.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.903932	252	3.0625	3
Reality On Demand: Why Humans Aren’t Scientific Detectors In court, people are convicted of crimes and sentenced to prison terms based on eyewitness accounts. However, scientific evidence is held to a higher standard. For a scientific claim to be considered credible, it must be based on quantitative data from fully mastered and mastered instruments. Unlike these measuring devices, eyewitness testimony could be biased by wishful thinking, hallucinations, or ulterior motives. Like Winston Churchill Notedthe story depends on who writes it, which makes it difficult to extract a balanced description of physical reality based solely on reports from humans. four centuries ago, Galileo was placed under house arrest. This act was intended to hide from public view the apparent evidence through the eyepiece of his telescope that the Earth is not at the center of the Universe. This act of censorship, of course, did not change the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, but it did allow mainstream dogma to dominate society until the evidence was impossible to hide because it was backed up by data from many other telescopes. In today’s popularity contests, it’s important to remember that reality is what it is, no matter how many likes it gets on Twitter. We don’t get any “on-demand” version of reality we want as easy as uploading it to a streaming TV service; instruments similar to Galileo’s telescope do not change their readings based on popularity, preference, social pressure, prejudice, or ego. While the legal system often encounters one-time events that cannot be replicated, science aims to verify empirical evidence by repeating experiments with ever better instruments and improved accuracy. The underlying principle of modern science, founded by Galileo’s approach, is that a “Pooh” the interaction between the studied object and the measuring device, can be quantified and reproduced because devoid of the subjectivity inherent in human experience. The alternative “I-It” and “I you“the interactions discussed in the 1923 book”I and youby the philosopher Martin Buberapply to interactions with humans and are less straightforward to interpret than the quantifiable interaction between purely physical objects. There are examples in which the human experience was later verified by a quantitative experimental setup. For example, the blue light emitted by charged particles when they travel faster than light through a medium was seen in 1934 through the eyes of Pavel Cherenkov and later confirmed by laboratory detectors. Instruments are a reliable substitute for humans, not only for sensing and measuring processes, but also for analyzing data and drawing conclusions. In the future, data analysis may be dominated by artificial rather than natural intelligence, as it is less biased. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms is already widespread in the analysis of large data sets at the frontiers of scientific research, and it could extend to medical or legal evaluations. Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman suggested that “AI is going to trump” human assessments in all walks of life, and “how people are going to adapt to this is a fascinating problem.” The distinction between eyewitness testimony or anecdotal evidence of compromised quality was the primary motivation for establishing the Galileo Project, inspired by Galileo’s approach of looking through telescopes to find evidence. Against the background of numerous reports on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in the sky from eyewitnesses and low-quality equipment, the project aims to collect new data based on a suite of fully calibrated and controlled state-of-the-art instruments. Data analysis will be performed by automated AI algorithms to minimize human bias. As is routine in scientific research, the data will be open to the global community and the results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. The shift from anecdotal reports to scientifically rigorous data collection from well-understood instruments is a fundamental shift in UAP research, necessary to bring it into the mainstream of science. The Galileo Project the team will test and calibrate its set of instruments In the coming months. Once the tests are complete, the research team will deploy the detection system to the desired location and collect new data by filming the sky in infrared, optics, radio and audio, starting in the spring. 2023. The experimental team members met in the backyard of my house this weekend. It was gratifying to hear the latest update on the status of the project’s instruments. One of the most valuable members of the team that designed our audio detectors, Andy Mead, wrote to me after the meeting: “I am more convinced than ever that the Galileo Project is on the right track – I am extremely proud to be part of a team conducting this study in the right way, letting the scientific method and genuine curiosity drive the ship, sailing smoothly past the Twitterverse on our way to a data-driven destination. He added, “Allowing my curiosity to flow through my technical work on this project has been a highlight of my professional career to date.” Andy’s grandfather was part of a secret World War II unit that was recently awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The unit, named “The Phantom Armywas responsible for using science, technology, and creativity to deceive the German military about troop movements. In other words, this unit took advantage of the dubious nature of the human experiment, once again demonstrating that humans are not reliable scientific detectors. Andy’s grandfather was an electrical engineer in charge of audio part of the project. He then published an article “The Sonic Deception Facet of Electronic Warfare” in the Armed Forces Journal in 1981. The unit is estimated to have saved 15,000 to 30,000 lives through its use of technology. The Congressional effort for the gold medal intensified around Andy’s initial involvement in the Galileo Project. Andy noted, “I didn’t miss the opportunity to help audio part of an extremely important project. Likewise, I work alongside an exceptional group of scientists, engineers, and creatives akin to the group that surrounded my grandfather… It is often said that history rhymes, and I am grateful to be able to honor sonic endeavors of my grandfather. with my own audio work on the Galileo project. Although Andy’s lyrics reflect a “I-It” and “I you“perspective is the future”Pooh“data from his instruments that will be exciting to retrieve as evidence of what the UAP side of”This” could be. And in case some UAP represent sentient devices with AI, its related interaction with the Galileo Project the detectors would be even more interesting, potentially leading to our AI system interacting with their AI system. This would constitute a newAI-AIcategory which was not even imagined by Martin Buber. Avi Loeb is head of the Galileo Project, founding director of the Harvard University – Black Hole Initiative, director of the Institute for Theory and Computation at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and former chairman of the astronomy department of the Harvard University (2011 -2020). He chairs the Advisory Board for Project Breakthrough Starshot and is a former member of the President’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology and a former Chairman of the National Academies Board of Physics and Astronomy. He is the bestselling author of “Extraterrestrial: The first sign of intelligent life beyond Earth» and co-author of the manual «life in the cosmos”, both published in 2021.	<urn:uuid:04125f19-238c-4bb1-8297-47ac1db451d4>	CC-MAIN-2022-40	https://metroresearch.org/reality-on-demand-why-humans-arent-scientific-detectors/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-40/segments/1664030334855.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20220926082131-20220926112131-00407.warc.gz	en	0.951279	1,534	2.765625	3
There is nothing quite like the sight of an evolutionist squirming and tugging at his collar after being asked to explain how flight "evolved"! Like all tenets of mud-to-man evolution, you'll get plenty of "may have's", "could have's", and "uh's" but no facts or credible evidence. The reason is simple - there is no evidence of how this amazing mutational process occurred!1. Presently the general consensus among evolutionists is that birds evolved from theropod dinosaurs. This hypothesis has proven so weak, though, that it has recently come under serious scrutiny from within the secular evolutionist scientific community2. With the dinosaur-to-bird hypothesis on the verge of extinction, what will our evolutionist story-tellers dream up next? Well, maybe I can help. Let's use as an example a squirrel-like creature. This poor creature has found himself on the brink of starvation due to population stress and other factors. So what's a squirrel to do? Following is an account of the first flight of the great flying squirrel ancestor Willie Wright. (indeed I have heard on more than one occasion the following argument from some of the more mentally challenged evolutionists!) 1. The fossil record certainly doesn't help the evolutionist's position. Considering the quantity of avian (bird) and especially bat fossils that have been unearthed, if evolution were true there should be hundreds of thousands of examples of transitional forms demonstrating a gradual limb-to-wing development over time. But there are none! Instead, birds and bats appear fully formed in the fossil record, as would be expected if creation were true. Indeed, the oldest fossil bat (called Icaronycteris by long-winded evolutionists) is supposedly 50 million years old, yet is indistinguishable from a modern bat! (see Glenn Jepson, Science 154:1333-1339, 1966). Additionally, both non-flying and flying insects are found in the fossil record, without a trace of intermediate insects in the process of obtaining the ability to fly. Where are the ancestors to the flying insects, and where are the intermediate steps? The answer is simple - they don't exist because evolution is a fairy tale!	<urn:uuid:ea2c8eb3-5f3a-41a9-9c04-6882bd1cd8d0>	CC-MAIN-2014-41	http://www.evolutionfairytale.com/flight1.htm	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-41/segments/1410657136896.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20140914011216-00040-ip-10-234-18-248.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.94825	472	3.328125	3
Shortly after hooking up with this whacky group with the whacky language, still confused about what the difference was between an instance variable, a class variable, and a class instance variable, I found myself in a training course taught by Russ Pencin, of ParcPlace. Russ would say something that I didn't really appreciate at the time. Despite not understanding the point behind this sage advice, I endeavored to follow it. It would take years of experience and exposure to appreciate it's value. The advice? Don't make objects that end with 'er'. That's it. The OOP paradigm sprang to life amidst of a culture of what we called "procedural programming." Now days we don't talk so much about the comparison between the two paradigms. Probably in part because Object Oriented languages are now a dime a dozen. The OOP religion, in a multitude of flavors won out. Sadly, I often find myself echoing words I heard Adele Goldberg say around 2000: "Now days we have lots of Object Oriented Programming, but not so many Object Oriented Programmers". If there was one piece of advice I would pass on to the hordes of would be Object Oriented Programmers, it would be the sage advice offered by Russ: "Don't make objects that end with 'er'." What's in a name anyway? Why is this worth getting excited about? What I've discovered over the years, is that the jst of OOP is that we bind behavior to data. As long as you haven't joined in the Functional Monks in their Monasteries of Statelessness, programs are made of behavior and data. In classic structured/programming, we concentrate on behavior (verbs), and then figure out what data (nouns) we need to make it all work. In other words, we bind data to behavior. But in OOP, we make the locus of programs be the nouns, the data, and then we figure out what kind of behavior we can bind to them, and hope that the problems we hope to solve gel out of the emergent behaviors. I recently posited to a colleague that in nearly every "er" object case, there was a better name for it. And that giving it a better name would tend to make the design more encapsulated, less spaghetti code, in short more object oriented. It's not a hard and fast rule, but there are a lot of cases where it can improve things. Take some sort of "Loader" for example. The focus here is on the unit of work it does. It'll have lots of instance variables, lots of arguments, and pass lots of data around probably. Now instead replace that with a LoadRecord and a LoadStream. I'm reasonably confident you'll end up with something that is more akin to what the original Founding Fathers of OOP had in mind. We want to create objects that describe what they are, and then bind behavior to them, rather than focus on what they do, and then figure out what data they'll need to do that. Some er's that I've learned to avoid over the years: - Managers - Every time I see one of these, I cringe. People will usually tell me what it does, long before they can tell me what it is. Is it a registry? Fine call it a registry. Is it a history or a log? Call it that. Is it a factory? Call it that. - Controllers - Only good controller object I've made in the last 20 years was an interface to a BallastVoltageController that represented a real world object. The fact that every single MVC implementation in the world has had a different role for Controller ought to tell us something about how well that idea fit. - Organizer (and many like them) - Focus is on what it does. This is a great example of how easy it is to turn many of these 'ers' into nouns. Call it an Organization. Now we're focusing on what it is. - Analyzer/Renderer/etc - Definitely examples of "worker" objects. What if they had been Analysis/Rendering/etc. - Builder/Loader/Reader/Writer/etc - Remove the focus from the objects being manipulated, and tend assume to much responsibility themselves. There's lots of exceptions to such a rule of course. - There are lots of noun words that end in 'er'. Register. Border. Character. Number. If it's really a noun, fine. - There are many 'er' words that despite their focus on what they do, have become so commonplace, that we're best to just stick with them, at least in part. Parser. Compiler. Browser. - When you are trying to model a domain object that ends in 'er'. I'm fine with a Manager subclass of Personel, which is there to refine a type of personal that has management behavior to it. Your mileage may vary, I'm sure there are those that disagree with this. Until you apply the mindset for a while though, you'll never really know. Give it a whirl on one of your projects/designs and see what happens.	<urn:uuid:cfa12539-cb0c-40d0-b9a7-d615709b6eff>	CC-MAIN-2015-27	http://objology.blogspot.com/2011/09/one-of-best-bits-of-programming-advice.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-27/segments/1435375096870.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20150627031816-00131-ip-10-179-60-89.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.96822	1,077	2.703125	3
When you have a child, it is essential to locate the right doctor. This may seem like an apparent statement, but it can be more complicated than it seems. Pediatricians have a unique set of skills and experience that qualify them to care for children, but numerous types of pediatricians specialize in various aspects of children’s health, according to Lou Hampers. This article will assist you in locating one that meets your family’s requirements and preferences so that your child receives the best possible care. Pediatricians Are Doctors Who Treat Children Pediatricians specialize in the treatment of neonates, children, and adolescents. Pediatricians may serve as either primary care physicians or subspecialists. The training of a pediatrician consists of a baccalaureate degree, four years of medical school, three years of residency, and board certification by the Board of Pediatrics. Because the nation’s future health and well-being are dependent on it, pediatrics is currently one of the fields that are experiencing the most rapid expansion. There is a good reason for this. Pediatricians Can Be Primary Care Providers Or Subspecialists Primary care pediatricians are general practitioners who treat common problems, such as colds, ear infections, and sore throats. They also see children for regular checkups and immunizations. Pediatric subspecialists treat specific conditions such as asthma or diabetes in addition to providing routine medical care for children with routine illnesses. These doctors have additional training in their area of expertise and may work with other specialists on your child’s care team if needed. Pediatricians Often Do More Than Just Treat Illness Children are frequently seen by pediatricians for preventive medical care, such as vaccinations and screenings. They also see children who are experiencing developmental disorders or behavioral problems, which, according to Lou Hampers, MD, can sometimes be related to dietary issues such as food allergies or sensitivities. Additionally, they see children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Parenting Skills Are An Important Part Of Pediatric Care Parenting skills are an important part of pediatric care. Pediatricians can help parents with parenting skills, such as how to encourage healthy social interaction in their children and how to effectively discipline their children. - Encouraging healthy social interaction: Parents should encourage their kids’ friends and classmates by welcoming them into the home and making sure that the child’s playtime is fun for everyone involved. This will help your child develop a sense of community outside of their immediate family unit, which is especially important during childhood years when peer pressure can be strong at times. - Effectively disciplining children: If you’re struggling with finding effective ways of disciplining your kids without resorting to harsh punishment or shouting matches, talk with your pediatrician about some alternative methods they may recommend based on research they’ve done on this topic over time spent working with other families in similar situations as yours right now. Some Pediatricians Specialize In Certain Areas Like Allergies, Cancer, Or Obesity You can search for a pediatrician who specializes in a particular disease or condition if you have one in mind. If your child is overweight and you want them to lose weight safely and effectively, you should seek out a pediatrician who routinely treats patients with obesity issues. Or, if you’re seeking a doctor who has worked with children of all ages, from infancy to adolescence, this may be an essential consideration when selecting a primary care physician for your family.	<urn:uuid:b569ca10-de76-4050-80c9-0c2c0e8a3c70>	CC-MAIN-2023-40	https://wnol.info/your-guide-to-understanding-the-world-of-pediatric-care-by-lou-hampers/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510427.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20230928162907-20230928192907-00896.warc.gz	en	0.956842	723	2.875	3
By Dr. Rodolfo F. Acuña British historian EJ Hobsbawm died just over a year ago. His works had a tremendous impact on my generation of progressive historians. He would take a theme and deconstruct it by using meticulous logic and documentation. Hobsbawm never suffocated his narrative with obtuse theory or meta-language. One of my favorites was a thin anthology that he co-edited with Terence Ranger titled The Invention of Tradition. In his introductory essay, Hobsbawm defined the invention of tradition as “a set of practices … of a ritual or symbolic nature, which seek to inculcate certain values and norms of behaviour by repetition, which automatically implies continuity with the past.” The invented traditions had a purpose, and gave a continuity of varied accuracy that formed a largely fictitious history. Other historians have tied this invention of tradition to state building endeavors. William H. Beezley in Mexican National Identity: Memory, Innuendo, and Popular Culture sees identity as fashioned “in the streets”; however, there are others who say that very few holidays come from the people, tying the process to state building. Essentially, the state builds a historical narrative that gives its citizens a sense of unity. Holidays are designed to give legitimacy to the accepted version of history that does not always conform to the Truth. It is a process that builds a “national culture.” Deviation from this narrative disturbs people and even offends them. My sister would not invite me to social gatherings during the Vietnam War because I would bring up topics such as racism, police brutality and the Vietnam War. I was told that I was a party pooper, and would lay intellectual pedos (farts) — forcing people to move away. Hobsbawm was like Rene Descartes who, in the 17th century, began his journey by questioning scholasticism, and paved the way for historical materialism. It was and is not easy to correct traditional narratives. Like toddlers people want to hear stories told the way they first learned them. There are people who still cling to the story of George Washington cutting down the cherry tree, for instance. The months of October and November are replete with fictitious versions of history. During these two months, the state allocates holidays for Columbus Day, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. These official narratives become the Truth. Teachers teach students fictitious narratives, and in turn the public is grateful for the gift of a holiday. By far, the “the king of the holidays” is Thanksgiving. The narrative has been burned into our consciousness to the point that few Americans question the facts because no one wants to lay the proverbial intellectual pedo. Almost everyone is grateful for the day off. Merchants love Thanksgiving. It is the perfect opening act for Christmas. The ritual of sitting down with the family to eat cheap turkey, chucked full of hormones, has been immortalized by Norman Rockwell. It is a day when you eat cheap turkeys and hams and everyone can pig out. Not much thought is given to the truth of the narrative. Kids just want their four-day relief from school, and parents are smug in the belief that the colonists and the Indians lived in peace. The only ones who care about changing the narrative are Native Americans who call it a National Day of Mourning. Few people know that the tradition of Thanksgiving was invented during the Civil War by President Abraham Lincoln in October 1863 when he proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday. Thereafter, the myth of the Pilgrims and the Indians was constructed. The story is known by almost every American. For twelve years, from K-12, they learn the story that in the early autumn of 1621,fifty-three surviving Pilgrims celebrated a successful harvest. The natives joined the celebration and instead of attacking the Pilgrims, they made peace. The Indians were thanked: their land was stolen from them, they were massacred, and many lived out their lives in slavery. The consequence is that less than one percent of Americans have Native American blood, contrasted to 90 percent of Mexican Americans with indigenous blood. It is difficult to change the narrative because most Americans love their myths, and they love their cheap turkey. They want to believe the lie that makes them feel exceptional. There is little doubt that invented tradition strengthens nationalism. The elites are legitimized by the invented traditions, and in turn they invent other traditions. This phenomenon is not exclusive to the United States where it permeates political views and historical narratives. No doubt that Thanksgiving happened. However, the narrative is not vetted, and it introduces a new set of dynamics. It affects our decision-making, and often clouds what is truth and what is fiction. When the French peasantry was starving in the 18th century because they could not afford bread, it caused widespread discontent. The myth was born that French Queen Marie Antoinette said, “Let them eat cake.” It inflamed the masses – beautiful story but it wasn’t true. Traditional narratives are good and bad, and are difficult to correct. As Napoleon once said, history is the tale of the victor. Today the narrative belongs to the state and those who control the state. The truth be told, Thanksgiving hides the reality of the soup kitchens. The corporate-owned media show charitable groups passing out free traditional Turkey Dinners to the poor when the reality is that many have been deprived of jobs, food stamps, and their children have been robbed of free nutritious lunches. Greater numbers are homeless. Yet the Thanksgiving narrative shows us as a compassionate people – one big happy family. The myth of the grateful Pilgrims permeates this narrative. In many ways, we are like the Indians who were robbed and killed after sharing our labor. The invented tradition of Thanksgiving is so much a part of the American narrative that many people go into depression if they cannot celebrate it with family and friends. Psychologists say that it is the worse time of the year to be alone; loneliness causes a social anxiety disorder (SAD). Thanksgiving is the ultimate example of social control, and the invented reality that Americans, like the pilgrims, were justified in stealing the land and killing the people. Our lives become one big Thanksgiving for being an American. The Sierra Club reports “that the average American will drain as many resources as 35 natives of India and consume 53 times more goods and services than someone from China … With less than 5 percent of world population, the U.S. uses one-third of the world’s paper, a quarter of the world’s oil, 23 percent of the coal, 27 percent of the aluminum, and 19 percent of the copper.” There is a similar gap between the poor and the 1 percent in America. The fictitious history alleviates our guilt, and we forget the reasons why some people are in food lines, and others are eating cheap hormone infected birds, while a few eat organic turkey. Not knowing, not questioning makes this El Día de los Pendejos (Day of the Fools). We are fools because we don’t question the narrative. It is why we keep repeating injustices. So now pass me the gravy. Dr. Rodolfo Francisco Acuña, called the “father of Chicano Studies,” is a historian, professor emeritus, activist and the author of 20 titles, 32 academic articles and chapters in books, 155 book reviews and 188 opinion pieces. Currently, he teaches Chicano Studies at California State University, Northridge	<urn:uuid:76a9dd5e-c816-4b2e-9b69-e97924b178cc>	CC-MAIN-2021-25	http://latinalista.com/columns/guestvoz/guest-voz-thanksgiving-holiday-created-build-national-culture-witness-historical-truth	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623488528979.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20210623011557-20210623041557-00277.warc.gz	en	0.96899	1,586	2.671875	3
Warts in mouth (wart on lip) are a member of the STD family. This is because they usually come from genital region warts. They are often characterized by small and fleshly lumps that usually grow around the anal and genital regions of both men and women. These warts are generally rare but happen as a result of mouth infection caused by human papilloma virus, the virus which causes these genital warts. They may also appear in the throat area, which can be more challenging to look into and diagnose at the same time. Human papilloma virus infection is pretty common. In fact, according to studies, about two-thirds of the partners of individuals who have genital warts will also tend to develop these warts in just a period of 9 months. Oral warts may also occur in the same way with genital warts, that is, through direct contact with the HPV, usually including sexual contact. Mouth warts are not often caused by the presence of warts coming from other areas of the body, but only specific virus strands which can affect both the genital and mouth regions. Causes of Oral warts or warts on lip Generally speaking, there are different types of warts which may affect humans. Among the most common are the ones that are seen on the feet, hands, as well as the genital area. For other people, however, it may also come in the form of oral warts, that is, warts that appear in one of the most difficult to deal with, and painful places – the mouth. Oral warts, however, are very rare. According to research, they are only transmitted via sexual activity, particularly oral sex. Most of the time, when someone is in contact with an infected area, the virus is spread to the mouth. As soon as the virus comes in contact with the mouth, it is provided with the opportunity to flourish due to the environment, as well as the warmth inside. Mouth wart outbreak may either immediately occur, or take several days or weeks before it becomes visible. With this condition, it becomes difficult to drink, eat or even talk. Even though the virus may never be cured, there are some steps that can be taken in order to stop an unlikely outbreak. These warts may be visible anywhere within the vicinity of the oral cavity, or as warts in lips. They are usually not painful unless traumatized or irritated. Generally, they only appear as discrete and small, and there is typically just one or a few of them that is visible at any given time. Some may come in dome shapes, usually with white color, while some come with flat topped levels which are darker in color. The instances of having a wart in mouth have become prevalent due to the increase in the popularity of oral sex during the recent years. Symptoms of Wart in mouth Most of the time, the mouth feels sore as the warts in mouth starts to develop, most particularly if they are being irritated by substances, such as food, accidental biting, or even the tongue. They may also interfere with the enjoyment of any meal. Since these warts are generally transmitted via sexual activity, they may not usually start to develop for several weeks right after the initial infection. Also, the warts may not always be easily seen through the human eyes. They may actually be just very small, with the same color of the skin, or may even be a little darker. Usually, the top of the wart growths resemble that of a cauliflower, and can also feel somewhat smooth and bumpy. A person who is infected by this may have to deal with a cluster, or just one. Treatment of Mouth wart Usually, these types of oral warts may just disappear as time passes by, though this is still not a complete guarantee. They are generally more dangerous compared to other kinds of warts because they have a tendency to develop to cancer. Thus, if you start to notice any growth that is unusual inside your mouth, or even on your lips, the best action to take is to see a doctor for consultation immediately. These warts in mouth may be removed and destroyed through several ways. However, what makes the process complicated is the fact that they are generally located in locations that are difficult to reach. As such, there is often a war between these warts and the physicians. Among the available options for treatments include surgical removal, injection of interpheron alpha, cryotherapy freezing, or even zapping them using carbon dioxide laser. Even though these abovementioned treatments may have been proven as effective, they may also be uncomfortable and painful. At the same time, there is always the likelihood of the oral warts coming back unplanned. There are people who attempt to remove these warts in mouth by burning them, or even cutting them. This is not a good option to take. This is also dangerous and can only spread the virus in other locations of the body. Aside from these types of treatment, infected individuals may also want to go through cosmetic treatments in order to deal with this problem. Just like genital and facial warts, there is a special care that has to be observed during the treatment. A simple surgery may include excision of the warts. Modern options are also available, such as the use of laser therapies which work by removing the warts in the mouth. Take note, however, that they can be painful, expensive, and may even come with the potential risk of scarring. At the same time, they may also result to irritation to the mouth’s sensitive skin. Prevention of Warts in lips In order to avoid having to deal with mouth wart, there are things that you can also set in place. For one, it is highly important to practice safe sex. Condoms need to be used, especially during oral sex. There are also so-called dental dams which may prove to be helpful when it comes to preventing the appearance of oral warts. Remember, however, that a condom does not have the capability to cover all of the infected areas. Therefore, it is not really a guarantee for protection, though it can help in reducing the likelihood. If you want to have 100% protection, you can avoid being infected by the virus by refraining from having sexual contact with a person who is already infected with it. If you are wondering ‘can you get warts in your mouth?’, the answer is definitely yes, especially if you fail to take some precautionary measures and protection into consideration. While there are potential treatments as well as preventive measures that you can take, the best shield against this type of virus is still making sure that you are responsible enough to practice safe sex and avoid warts in mouth. After all, there is no other way in which oral warts are transmitted, but only through oral sex, passing the HPV from the genital warts to the mouth. Take note that this condition can be serious when ignored, as it can lead to more serious conditions. Therefore, proper treatment solutions must be set in place. More Causes of Oral Warts and Mouth warts Oral warts are brought about by human papilloma virus (abbreviated as HPV). HPV is a double stranded virus, it has a variation of more than 100 strains. They are known to infect only human beings and some of the member of the HPV family have been noticed and identified as the main cause of mouth warts. According to Oral Pathology journal and Medicine of 2007 named as “Oral Wart associated with human papilloma virus”, the following variations of HPV are said to be responsible for warts in the mouth. They include HPV11, HPV2, HPV13, HPV32, HPV6 and HPV12. Oral warts are usually common to those people who are weakened in their immune system, such as those who are living with HIV AIDS. The following are the means through which oral warts are spread - They are spread through kissing - Poor hygiene is also another means that can be to blame - The can spread through oral genital contact	<urn:uuid:3afb81ee-1177-4b6d-9b6a-de74d535beb3>	CC-MAIN-2017-47	http://www.verruca.net/warts-in-mouth/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806066.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20171120130647-20171120150647-00070.warc.gz	en	0.979135	1,657	3.109375	3
Mathematicians have been fascinated by music for thousands of years, studying the patterns displayed by notes, chords, and scales to interpret its many mysteries. Many discoveries later, most concepts are well understood, starting with the basis of sound waves – check out last week’s post. Mathematics can also be used to explain why some sounds are so harmonious and others make us stick our fingers in our ears… When played together, two notes that an are an octave apart will produce a sound our brains interpret pleasantly – think the first two notes of ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’, like variations of the same note. This is thanks to the relationships between their frequencies. By definition (as discussed last week), the frequency of the higher note is exactly twice that of the lower and so the sound waves, or vibrations, arrive at the ear in perfect synchronisation. Clearly notes an octave apart fit together well; however, with no discordance at all, they fit almost too well. For example, playing a Middle and High C simultaneously can sound slightly hollow, arguably boring. Considering instead a ‘fifth interval’ by changing the high C to a middle G, the two notes instead complement each other well (think the first two notes of the Star Wars theme). Middle G has a frequency that is 1.5 times larger than that of C and so the sound waves will coincide in a regular pattern, something our brain interprets positively, and tells us that these sounds work well together. Even more pleasing is adding a third note, a middle E, to this pair to create a C major chord. The new frequency is 1.25 times that of middle C, meaning every 4 time periods (a time period being the time for one complete wave/vibration) of middle C will coincide with 5 for E and 6 for G. This balance between variety and consistency is what creates the sweetly harmonious, happy sound of the C Major Chord, the most common basis for a tune in all music from Mozart to Metallica. E and G are not the only notes between the middle and high C. There are 11 in total: some have a pleasing sound when played with a C (such as G) but others produce an unpleasant and uncomfortable one. As discussed, this is related to the ratio between the frequencies and these frequencies are defined, as with most things, using mathematics. A system called equal tempering is used to space all twelve notes of an octave, breaking it up into twelve equal ‘semi-tones’. Since the octave between middle and high C (and all octaves) represents multiplying the frequency by a factor of 2, each semi-tone must be equivalent to multiplying by the, about 1.059464. For example, middle C sharp, a semitone above C, will have a frequency that is 1.05946 times that of C. A middle G is 7 semitones above C and so by definition has a frequency that is 1.49830, approximately 1.5. Therefore, to determine the frequencies that will coincide well with a note it is simply a case of considering the powers of Clearly maths is a useful tool and language to define music and understand its different properties. Mathematicians have started to take this a step further, seeing the musical results when translating mathematical concepts into sound. Next week we explore exactly this, taking the example of the visually beautiful fractals but representing them instead with music!	<urn:uuid:dac1bf4d-9a11-494e-95cb-a87b1a8f256d>	CC-MAIN-2021-10	https://beautifulequations.co.uk/blogs/blog/beautiful-musical-equations-why-they-sound-so-good	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178361849.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20210301030155-20210301060155-00255.warc.gz	en	0.948678	712	4.15625	4
August 24, 2016 Table of Contents - Broken toe facts - What is a broken toe? - What are the symptoms of a broken toe? - What are the causes of a broken toe? - When should I call a doctor about a broken toe? - How is a broken toe diagnosed? - What is the treatment for a broken toe? - Can I care for a broken toe at home? - What is the medical treatment for a broken toe? - Buddy tape for a broken toe - How to buddy tape a broken toe - Casting a broken toe - Reduction for a broken toe - What are the possible complications of a broken toe? - What is the prognosis for a broken toe? Broken toe facts - Broken toes are often caused by trauma or injury. Prolonged repetitive movements can cause a type of broken toe called a stress or hairline fracture. - Symptoms of a broken toe include: pain, swelling, stiffness, bruising, deformity, and difficultly walking. - Possible complications of a broken toe include: nail injury, compound fracture, infection, deformity, or arthritis. - Seek immediate medical care if you suspect an open fracture of the toe; if there is bleeding; cold, numb, or tingling sensation; if the toe appears deformed or is pointing in the wrong direction; or blue or gray color to the injured area. - A broken toe is diagnosed with a medical examination, which may include X-rays. - To help decrease pain and swelling in a broken toe, elevate the foot, ice the injury, and stay off the foot. - Depending on the severity of the fracture, the toe may need to be put back into place (reduced), and some compound toe fractures may require surgery. - Pain from a broken toe can usually be controlled with over-the-counter pain medication. - Buddy taping (taping the toe to an adjacent toe can be used to splint a fractured toe. - Most broken toes heal without complications in six weeks. Continue Reading 1/11Reviewed on 8/31/2015 Next: What is a broken toe?	<urn:uuid:a1381627-6c69-4f8f-8e99-1c36143b1558>	CC-MAIN-2016-36	http://www.rxlist.com/broken_toe/article.htm	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982292151.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823195812-00202-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.885098	452	2.640625	3
Aluminum extrusion process involves a ram pushing the metal through a die. This die is designed into a specific shape that’s desirable and which the end product should assume. The extrusion process combines compression and rotation to get the best out of metals. After the extrusion process has happened, we end up with about three basic shapes. Remember that only these three shapes can be extruded. They include: When forming these shapes, different products are made. For instance, rods and beams are common examples of solid extruded shapes. Basically, solid shapes are continuous and with no space like hollow and semi hollow. Then follows the hollow shaped Aluminum extruded metal. This one has one or more voids. Most hollow shapes have spaces in the middle like a hole. A perfect example is a rectangular tube. These ones too have specific purposes. Thirdly, there’s another category of semi hollow shapes. These ones have C shaped elongated tubes. They also have special tasks considering their unique features. These shapes can be combined to make more complex shapes for more specific roles. The extrusion process starts with Aluminum billet being preheated just before the actual process starts. The heated Aluminum is exposed to heat of not more than 500 degrees Celsius. This is because the metal is supposed to be flexible enough for extrusion but not too much to become molten. After heating, the billet is moved to the extrusion press. But the billet is lubricated before the transfer to prevent interaction with the ram. This will make it easy for movement of the billet through the ram. Therefore, little or no wastage will be recorded. The billet is put under pressure as it moves through ram. Approximately 15,000 Tons of pressure are applied for the most desirable results. At the end of the die is a run out table. Past that, the released aluminum is quenched. Shearing also happens at the end of the process. There’s a table that guides the shearing process. Once the extruded metal attains the table’s length, it’s cut and separated from the other metal just leaving the die opening and still being extruded. Cooling is another step followed after the shearing process. The metal is cooled to room temperature. This is after all the other requirements have been met and fulfilled. By now, the process would be nearing completion. Then, the next step in this process would be stretching and alignment. This is an important process in the extrusion process as it helps to correct deformities. During the extrusion process, it’s expected that the metals will come out with imperfections. The alignment stage corrects all these deformities. It straightens the little imperfections for fine end products to be realized. This improves the quality of the metal and makes them more marketable. Then, treatment, finishing and fabrication are done to complete the extrusion process. At this point, the metal is ready for sell as well as usage for other designated purposes. Which Products are the best for extruded Aluminum? Extruded Aluminum is used to make a number of products. You can find more ideas from https://www.fonnovaluminium.com/. Strength is a key factor when shaping Aluminum metals through extrusion or drawing. But each of these is utilize under different circumstances to ensure that you get the metal with the best properties. A question most people ask is which are the best products for extruded aluminum? Here are some of the fine products that are made through Aluminum extrusion. They include the following: 1. Aluminum angles This is formed through bending the Aluminum metal. It then forms an L-shaped metal and a strong one for that matter. These metals are said to have legs and may be equal in length or vary. In most cases, these kind of products are used for structural support. These products can be combined to make even more complicated shapes and you can see them all at https://fastmetals.com/pages/aluminum. 2. Beams and channels Beams are a more complicated product, constructed with interconnected angles that require precise calculations, such as an i beam load capacity calculator, to ensure their structural integrity. These ones form even stronger aluminum products. Angles can also be interconnected to form channels. These happens when an L-shaped angle is connected with another one of a similar nature. Channels are generally smooth, linear and strong. They’re also narrow and that plays an important role in the metal’s functionality. 3. Aluminum tubes Tubing is also a common extrusion product. With Aluminum, you can make square and rectangular tubes. The most important thing to do with this is set the die in the right manner with the shape you want. By doing so, you set up the metal for a defined shape meant for a specifics purpose. Aluminum tubes have been used severally for different purposes. Most manufacturers produce these heavy metals depending on the orders they receive from their clients. One good provider that continues to serve its clientele diligently is FONNOV ALLUMINUM. 4. Heat sink This is another common product made out of extrusion. Heat sinks help electrical devices to lose heat, therefore, they stay in their optimum condition and function properly. It has to be made out of extruded aluminum to give it the right properties to match its functionality. Heat sinks are very useful in the life of electronics. It’s one of the most popular products made from extrusion. The process provides the correct heat transfer properties for the product. In the end, the electronic devices are able to contain the heat they produce. Heat production in electronic devices can slow down their performance. That’s why this product is really important. Therefore, use of extruded Aluminum to makes it possible to produce good quality electronic coolants.	<urn:uuid:73e6b1bc-de85-41d0-b19c-4246c30cb178>	CC-MAIN-2023-50	https://www.feri.org/about-extruded-aluminum/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679099514.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20231128115347-20231128145347-00677.warc.gz	en	0.946039	1,216	3.828125	4
Stages of Sleep Throughout wakefulness and sleep, the electrical activity of the brain changes and creates different types of brain waves, characterizing the various stages of sleep. There are two broad stages of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM), which is further broken up into three stages. Each of these sleep stages is described in more detail below. Stage 1 NREM Sleep Stage 1 NREM sleep is the initial stage when an individual drifts in and out of light sleep and can easily be awakened. The brain activity exhibits alpha and theta waves, the activity of the voluntary muscles reduces and the eyes move slowly. During this stage, it is common to experience strange sensations known as hypnogogic hallucinations, such as a feeling of falling and sudden muscle contractions. This stage typically lasts between 5-10 minutes before the individual progresses to the next stages of sleep. Stage 2 NREM Sleep The slowing of brain waves with intermittent bursts of rapid brain waves, known as sleep spindles, characterizes stage 2 NREM sleep. Additionally, the eyes stop moving, the body temperature drops and the heart rate begins to slow down. This stage usually lasts for approximately 20 minutes before the individual progresses to the next stage of sleep. Stage 3 NREM Sleep Stage 3 NREM sleep, also known as deep sleep or delta sleep, is marked by very slow delta brainwaves. There is no eye movement or voluntary muscle movement and it is difficult to wake an individual in this stage of sleep. This stage usually lasts for approximately 30 minutes before the individual progresses to the next stages of sleep. Previously, this stage was split into two stages: stage 3 and stage 4. Stage 3 is integrated with more rapid brainwaves, whereas stage 4 has constant slow delta wave brain activity. Rapid movement of the eyes, temporary paralysis of the voluntary muscles and fast, irregular breathing characterize REM sleep. During this stage, brain waves become faster and resemble the activity of a person that is awake. Other changes include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, and reduced ability to regulate body temperature. Males may also experience an erection during this stage of sleep. Most dreams occur during REM sleep, although the individual will only remember the dreams if they are awoken in this stage. Cycling through Sleep Stages Throughout the night, sleep begins with stage 1 NREM sleep and progresses through stage 2 and stage 3 to reach REM sleep approximately 90 minutes after falling asleep. Once REM sleep stage concludes, the brain activity slips back to stage 2 sleep, then stage 3 sleep before returning to REM sleep. This cycle usually repeats about four to five times each night. The proportion of different sleep stages depends on the individual. Infants spend approximately 50% of the time that they are asleep in REM sleep. Adults spend about half of sleep time in stage 2, 20% in REM and 30% stage 1 or stage 3. As individuals age, less time is spent in REM sleep and more time in other stages of sleep. - All Sleep Content - What is Sleep? - Types of Sleep Disorders - Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults - Sleep Deprivation – Inadequate Quantity of Sleep Last Updated: Aug 23, 2018 Yolanda graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of South Australia and has experience working in both Australia and Italy. She is passionate about how medicine, diet and lifestyle affect our health and enjoys helping people understand this. In her spare time she loves to explore the world and learn about new cultures and languages. Source: Read Full Article	<urn:uuid:1489b947-d505-4075-9c8c-c29204dbcdf0>	CC-MAIN-2023-50	https://familymednews.com/health-problems/stages-of-sleep/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100534.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20231204182901-20231204212901-00517.warc.gz	en	0.937571	742	3.640625	4
What kind of care do preterm babies need? Q: What kind of care do preterm babies need? Babies who are born preterm need the same care that other babies get and a little more. This includes: - Good pregnancy care: - All pregnant women should receive good care, including at least four antenatal visits with a health worker. - Mothers at risk of preterm birth (e.g. those who have had a preterm birth before) need to be aware that it may happen again, and plan accordingly. - Health workers caring for pregnant women need to assess their risk of delivering preterm and be able to recognize and manage conditions that can lead to preterm birth (e.g. pre-eclampsia, a condition in pregnancy that causes the mother to have high blood pressure). - Women in preterm labour should give birth at a health facility where they and their babies can get the care they need. They may need to be referred to a hospital where more advanced care is available, and the safest time to do this is when the baby is still in the womb. - Delivery by caesarean section or early induction of labour that is not medically necessary should be avoided. - Women in preterm labour, before 34 weeks of pregnancy have been completed, should receive steroid injections to speed up the development of the baby’s lungs. - Essential newborn care: - All babies need to be protected from infections: everyone who touches the mother or the baby should have clean hands. Medical examinations and procedures should only be done if necessary. Sterile gloves and cutting devices should be used for clamping and cutting the umbilical cord. - All babies need to be kept warm: right after birth, they should be dried thoroughly and placed on their mother’s abdomen. If they breathe normally, and after the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, they should be put on their mother’s chest, with skin-to-skin contact, until after the first breastfeed. They should not be bathed right away. - Most babies will breathe normally after thorough drying. Those who do not start breathing on their own need help: ventilation with a bag and mask will usually put them back on track. - Breast is best: just like full-term babies, breast milk is the best nutrition for preterm babies. Babies should be breastfed as soon as possible after birth. Most premature babies who are unable to coordinate the suck and swallow reflex can be fed their mother’s expressed breast milk by cup, spoon or nasogastric tube. - Extra care for small babies: - Preterm babies, and full-term babies with low birth weight need extra warmth and support for feeding. - Kangaroo Mother Care is a good way of doing this. - Care for preterm babies with complications: - Babies who have infections need treatment with antibiotics. - Babies who do not breathe when they are born need basic newborn resuscitation; if breathing problems persist, they may need additional support from a machine (ventilator) and extra oxygen. - Babies who have additional complications may need to be kept in neonatal intensive care, where that is available. Q: What is Kangaroo Mother Care? Kangaroo Mother Care is a technique by which the baby is held on an adult’s chest—usually the mother—with skin-to-skin contact, for extended periods of time. It is suitable for preterm and full-term babies weighing less than 2kg who do not have other serious problems (breathing well, normal heart rate). The baby is placed on his/her mother’s chest and stays there, day and night, held in place by a cloth that is wrapped and tied at the mother’s back. Kangaroo Mother Care could save an estimated 450 000 preterm newborns a year. Kangaroo Mother Care is an effective way to meet a premature baby’s needs for warmth, frequent breastfeeding, protection from infection, stimulation, safety and love. It has also been shown to improve bonding between mothers and babies. Q: What is neonatal intensive care? Hospitals with neonatal intensive care units can provide specialized care for newborn babies with serious health problems. They have special equipment and specially trained doctors and nurses who provide around-the-clock care for preterm babies who need extra support to keep warm, to breathe and to be fed, or who are very sick.	<urn:uuid:00d00f6a-e00f-429a-838c-c0fb3b900b00>	CC-MAIN-2015-14	http://who.int/features/qa/preterm_baby_care/en/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-14/segments/1427131299054.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20150323172139-00131-ip-10-168-14-71.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.949597	936	2.671875	3
House and History Chawton House itself is over four hundred years old, and the recorded history of the land on which it stands stretches even further back. From 1996 to 2003, extensive restoration work was carried out on the house and estate, prior to the opening of Chawton House Library as a UK registered charity in 2003. The house is regularly open to visitors, alongside library readers, for tours and during public events. For information on art and furniture collections and their conservation, please use the link to the right. From the Domesday Book to the 13th century Chawton was the site of an ancient settlement dating back to the New Stone Age period. The Domesday Book of 1086 records that the manor with ploughed and wooded land belonged to Oda, a Hampshire thane, during the time of Edward the Confessor. Following the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror made Oda surrender Chawton to his Norman follower, Hugh de Port. De Port and his descendants held Chawton in direct male line for nearly three hundred years. Thereafter, it was held in the female line until the middle of the sixteenth century. During the thirteenth century, there were frequent visits to Chawton by King Henry III and then his son, King Edward I, the manor having become an important staging post for royal journeys between London and Winchester. 16th century: The Knights and the building of Chawton House In April 1551, the land was sold for £180 to John Knight, whose family had been tenant farmers in Chawton since the thirteenth century and who had prospered sufficiently to wish to acquire a large estate. The medieval manor house was replaced by John Knight’s grandson, also called John, with the largely Elizabethan house that can be seen today. The building work began c.1583 and continued until the mid 1660s to create the house as it stands today. A commemorative fireback (dated 1588) can still be seen in the Great Hall from this period, commemorating the Battle of the Armada. 17th to early 19th centuries: Including Jane Austen at Chawton The freehold has remained in the Knight family ever since the sixteenth century, though on many occasions the ownership passed laterally and sometimes by female descent, requiring several heirs to change their surnames to Knight. Sir Richard Knight, who inherited at the age of two in 1641, had no children and he left the estate to a grandson of his aunt, Richard (Martin) Knight. His brother, and then his sister, Elizabeth, inherited in their turn. During the first part of the eighteenth century, Elizabeth undertook the further development of the house and gardens. She married twice, but again no children were born, and when she died the estate passed to her cousin Thomas Brodnax May Knight, who united it with his own large fashionable property in Kent, Godmersham Park. In 1781, Thomas Knight II inherited the house. He and his wife Catherine had no children of their own, but through family connections with Jane Austen’s father, the Reverend George Austen, they eventually adopted Jane’s third brother, Edward, in the year of his sixteenth birthday. Edward Austen eventually took over management of the estates at Godmersham and Chawton in 1797, living mostly at Godmersham and letting the Great House at Chawton to gentlemen tenants. In 1809 he offered a house in the village to his mother and two sisters Cassandra and Jane, and it was there that Jane Austen began the most prolific period of her writing life. Her career as a novelist took off with the publication of Sense and Sensibility in 1811, and she went on to publish a further three of her novels while at Chawton (two more followed shortly after her death). She lived in Chawton almost until her death in 1817, only moving to Winchester near the end of her life to be nearer medical care. 19th and early 20th centuries: Victorian influence In 1826, the house became the home of Edward (Austen) Knight’s son, also Edward, who carried out extensive work on the estate, building a new Servants Hall, a Billiard Room wing and replacing some of the wooden sash windows with stone casements. On his death the title passed to his son Montagu who spent considerable amounts of time and money continuing the restoration and modernising of the house, with the influence of Edwin Lutyens being apparent in many areas. As Montagu was childless, his nephew, Lionel, inherited the estate, followed by his son Edward Knight III. Inheritance taxes and increased running costs following the war then started a long period of decline, the sale of most of the outlying manor and the subdivision of the house into flats. 1980s to the present: Restoration and the opening of the Library By 1987, when Richard Knight inherited, parts of the house were derelict, the roof leaked, timbers were rotting and the gardens were overgrown. The decline was halted in 1993 with the sale of a 125 year lease to a new charity, Chawton House Library, founded by the American entrepreneur and philanthropist, Sandy Lerner, via the charitable foundation established by her and her husband Leonard Bosack, the Leonard X. Bosack and Bette M. Kruger Foundation. The lease included the grade II* listed Chawton House and 275 acres of land. The Elizabethan stable block, already converted to a dwelling, was purchased outright. Following ten years of extensive restoration and repair work, the Great House reopened in July 2003 as Chawton House Library. The Library’s remarkable collection of books, which focuses on women’s writing in English from 1600 to 1830, was collected by Sandy Lerner and generously donated to the Library prior to its opening. Richard Knight, the current freeholder, remains actively involved in the project as a trustee. The restoration work carried out on Chawton House was all done using traditional methods, in keeping with the history of the house. Before work even started, extensive research was done to establish the history of the building and the landscape, and during the restoration, a careful watch was kept for evidence of archaeology and architectural history. A historical team, including architectural historian Edward Roberts, archaeologist Christopher Currie, dendrochronologist Dan Miles and landscape consultant Sybil Wade, were able to investigate and document anything found that provided additional evidence of the history of the house and estate. The first repair work was done on the roof of the south range of the house. This work began in 1995 and consisted of temporary holding repairs. The historical research carried out was then used to put together plans for the listed building application and planning consents. This was extensive work involving long negotiations with the local planning departments and English Heritage. At the end of October 1997, planning and listed building consent was finally granted, enabling work to begin in 1998, when the initial phase of the main restoration work began. The south range roof was stripped of the tarpaulins and major timber repairs were carried out. The Victorian billiard wing, which was causing damage to the fabric of the Elizabethan house, was demolished. The following year, work began on the outbuildings, which subsequently became the estate offices and workshop. The drive was lowered and, in 2000, work also started on the restoration of the well and pumphouse, including its machinery. In 2001, internal work began on the south range and the restoration of the west range roof was also carried out. In 2002, work began on a timber framed barn to accommodate four shire horses, a tack room and a hayloft, and in the same year, the final phase of restoration work began on the house, with work carried out on the internal part of the west range and the whole of the north range. Extensive dry rot was discovered; brickwork had to be removed, and timber was also removed so that it could be treated and rebuilt. The restoration of the house was essentially complete when it opened as Chawton House Library in July 2003. The Great Hall was originally built in the first phase of construction of the house in 1583. Tree-ring dating has shown the wooden panelling to be original, with some panelling dating from the 1580s and some from the 1620s. The room, now used for events including evening lectures and conferences, had the wooden floorboards completely removed during the restoration, in order to lay electrical wiring and fireproofing. This process was carried out throughout the entire house. During the restoration an additional door was added to the Hall, in order to give a fire exit to the courtyard. Around the door is a late Jacobean wooden surround, which was originally sited in front of the Servants’ Passage archway. The door surround is evidence of Sir Richard Knight’s remodelling of the house in the mid-seventeenth century, as evidenced by the carved detail giving his initials and the date 1655. It was decided to move the surround to the new fire exit to give the opportunity of displaying both it and the eighteenth-century archway to the Servants’ Passage. The Servants’ Passage was added to the house in 1655 to allow staff to pass between the north and south ranges of the house without using the Great Hall. During the restoration, a seventeenth-century door surround was moved to another doorway (as shown on the previous page) to reveal the eighteenth-century archway leading to the passage. The Old Kitchen was built in 1592 as part of the Elizabethan servants’ wing. Features include an early Victorian range by Flavel and Company (still in need of restoration to working order) and a work table dating back to the eighteenth century. The Scullery features original large stone and slate sinks, which would have been supplied with water pumped from the nearby well house that dates from the 1580s. Tapestry Gallery Staircase The staircase up to the Tapestry Gallery, built in 1583-5, was originally the main staircase, superceded in 1655 by the hanging staircase added in the south part of the house. Restoration work to the Tapestry Gallery staircase revealed original William Morris wallpaper behind the banisters. When restoration work began, the Great Gallery on the first floor of the house was divided by a modern partition, which was removed to restore the Gallery to its original shape. Old Archive Room This small room, now an office, had its floorboards raised, in order to put in wiring and fireproofing – as did the rest of the house. A hidden cupboard, concealed behind a panel, was discovered in this room, in which a telescope, dated c. 1610, was found. Restoration work outside the house included paving the courtyard. Gallery of Restoration Work	<urn:uuid:1fab3df8-35b4-476f-b6f2-4a9cb3fbe035>	CC-MAIN-2014-49	http://www.chawtonhouse.org/?page_id=55548	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-49/segments/1416400380233.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20141119123300-00137-ip-10-235-23-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.980201	2,252	2.578125	3
The 2011 drought and subsequent famine, compounded with political instability, clan fighting and a recent military offensive, have had a crippling effect on the Somali humanitarian situation. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Somalia Humanitarian Snapshot March 2014, 2.9 million Somalis require immediate life-saving and livelihoods support, 1 million Somalis currently live as refugees in neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa and Yemen and an additional 1 million Somalis are internally displaced. IDPs live in dire circumstances with limited or no access to water, sanitation and health facilities; lack basic household items; and are at increased risk of human rights violations, particularly sexual and gender based violence. Despite ongoing insecurity with Somalia, neighboring governments are pushing for Somali refugees to return to their country of origin which will dramatically increase the numbers of IDPs. Latest Stories From Somalia View all stories »» A potential nightmare of disease and discomfort in Kenya is instead a functioning and healthy community, thanks to simple hygiene practices. »» The parable in Matthew reminds us that kindness to people in need is generosity to God. »» CRS supporters often send help years before a crisis, preparing people to survive or completely avoid hardships. East Africa is a perfect example. »» \|Population:\|\|10,251,568 (July 2013 est.)\| \|Size:\|\|246,201 sq mi; slightly smaller than Texas\| \|People Served:\|\|401,937 (2013 est.)\| CRS has provided critical development and humanitarian support in Somalia since the 1960s. Today, CRS continues to respond to the urgent needs of the Somali people through meeting their immediate needs (food and water); providing essential services (health, nutrition and protection); creating and rehabilitating critical infrastructure (latrines and wells); and restoring productive assets and purchasing power (via vouchers) to build their resilience and promote long-term, sustainable solutions. CRS implements its programs through 5 local partners working in several areas of south-central Somalia. PartnersSave Somali Women and Children SOS Children's Villages Social-Life and Agricultural Development Organization (SADO)	<urn:uuid:7ea83182-4042-42e1-8494-392e4b67ac0b>	CC-MAIN-2014-52	http://www.crs.org/countries/somalia	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-52/segments/1418802774899.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20141217075254-00140-ip-10-231-17-201.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.926173	444	2.890625	3
Six months after independence, Slovenia recognised by number of countries Ljubljana, 1 June - The first countries recognised newly-independent Slovenia soon after it left Yugoslavia in June 1991, but most of them were brand new independent states themselves. A major wave followed in December and in January 1992, when Slovenia was also recognised by Germany, the Vatican and the EU's predecessor - the European Community. The rest of this news item is available to subscribers. The news item consists of 3.331 characters (without spaces) or 625 words words. Buy the news item. Price: 2 tokens; on account: 0 tokens.	<urn:uuid:0aaf7452-2cbf-45f6-a145-5897fc4f8023>	CC-MAIN-2021-25	https://english.sta.si/2904192/six-months-after-independence-slovenia-recognised-by-number-of-countries	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623488560777.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20210624233218-20210625023218-00444.warc.gz	en	0.956793	129	2.671875	3
Sponsored Link • SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) has become synonymous with XML- based Web services. However, many real-world response-request-type Web services don't use SOAP; instead, they pass XML messages directly over HTTP. This article discusses these two Web service design approaches. There is an old joke in the distributed computing community: Agents are the wave of the future—and have been for 30 years. It's just that the future hasn't caught up with agents yet. In a few years, will we joke similarly about SOAP? When reminiscing with colleagues around the water cooler about past technologies that did not, after all, become the wave of the future, will we ask, "Remember SOAP?" Let me point out that I'm not for or against SOAP: I don't believe in being for or against a technology. But I do believe in using the right tools for a job. SOAP is rapidly becoming the generally accepted protocol for XML- based system-to-system communication. Because several important Web services infrastructures rely on SOAP for XML message transfer, many developers have adopted SOAP as an essential Web service tool. But is SOAP necessary to build XML-based Web services? The W3C's Web Services Architecture working group doesn't mandate using SOAP for a Web service. According to the W3C's definition (See Resources): A Web service is a software system identified by a URI, whose public interfaces and bindings are defined and described using XML. Its definition can be discovered by other software systems. These systems may then interact with the Web service in a manner prescribed by its definition, using XML-based messages conveyed by Internet protocols. You don't need SOAP to build a system that satisfies that definition: The Web Services Description Language (WSDL) defines and describes a Web service with XML; UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration) facilitates service discovery; and XML messages are easily sent between services via HTTP or some other Web protocol. For many Web services, you need only a combination of XML, HTTP, and an application-specific message protocol. To be sure, SOAP has its uses. But, in my opinion, SOAP's role is overstated in the early stages of a Web service's development. Using SOAP for the wrong tasks can easily hijack a Web service development project, because SOAP introduces a large set of problems that are orthogonal to the challenges of building a Web service. SOAP-related issues tend to consume the majority of the development effort. The most common purpose of Web services today is to exchange XML data. For instance, more than 200 Web services listed on XMethods (See Resources) share that purpose. The classic examples of a stock quote service, weather service, or postal code lookup service are all about sending an XML query message, and receiving an XML reply. That pattern dominates more complex Web services as well: the UDDI registry service or the Liberty Alliance single sign-on and identity federation Web services are all defined in terms of XML-based query-response message exchanges. At best, SOAP introduces a level of indirection to such XML message exchanges by embedding an XML message in a SOAP envelope. Since the SOAP envelope can carry metadata about the original XML message, such as processing instructions, the envelope can aid a Web service in processing that message. At worst, SOAP makes it difficult, if not impossible, to verify the validity of an XML message traversing between two Web services. The example message exchange that illustrates the W3C's SOAP specifications and primer (see Resources) belongs to a travel reservation service. Before considering how a SOAP-embedded reservation message looks, imagine the simplest possible way to design such a service. A minimalist reservation service design would define a set of XML documents, and a choreography—or protocol—of how those messages pass between the service and its client. Thus, you would have XML messages corresponding to a schedule and price inquiry, a reservation request, a confirmation, and a final itinerary. You can define the structure and possible values of those XML messages with XML schema. And you can define the reservation protocol with XML as well, perhaps using an XML-based Web service choreography language (see Resources). Perhaps the easiest way to implement such a service is to write a servlet that listens for incoming messages, routes those messages to a message processor component—such as an EJB—and then returns the results to the caller. That Web service implementation works exactly as a Web site. Only, instead of HTML, that service receives and sends XML documents. Figure 1 illustrates that simple implementation. Figure 1. A SOAPless Web service. Provided you've already written your business-specific objects—such as the component accessing a flight schedule database—building and deploying a Web service based on that simple design is a breeze. The service uses only standard HTTP, XML, and possibly EJBs. Since you don't have to worry about pretty HTML formatting, developing that Web service likely takes less time than building a Web site with similar functionality. But Figure 1 is not the Web service design you'll find in many Web service text books. Current technological vogue would have you insert a level of indirection into the system: a SOAP processor or SOAP container. A SOAP container is a component that specializes in processing SOAP messages. Following the directives placed inside the SOAP envelope, as well as in the container's own deployment descriptor, the SOAP processor invokes handlers to process the SOAP message. SOAP is more general-purpose than the HTTP + XML solution. But, at the end of the day, a SOAP-based Web service simply hands off the processing of incoming messages to an object designed to handle a given message format. Figure 2 depicts a Web service with a SOAP container. Figure 2. A Web service with SOAP. Many organizations aiming to develop Web services fall into the trap of choosing Figure 2's architecture over that of Figure 1 when they design their first services. But for simple Web services, a SOAP-based design may add little value over an XML + HTTP-based solution. Consider the following XML document, representing a request to charge a travel reservation on a credit card: <?xml version='1.0'?> <reservation> <code> 12345 </code> <o:creditCard xmlns:o="http://mycompany.example.com/financial"> <n:name xmlns:n="http://mycompany.example.com/employees"> John Galt </n:name> <o:number> 123456789099999 </o:number> <o:expiration> 2005-02 </o:expiration> </o:creditCard> </reservation> Using just HTTP, you could open a socket to a Web service, and submit such a document via a POST operation. A servlet on the receiving end could route the XML message, based on the message's type, to an object that processes a reservation. Finally, the servlet could send back an HTTP response, confirming a reservation. You could write a servlet that performs that functionality in fewer than 20 lines of code, not counting the processing of the XML messages. With SOAP, you could embed this message inside a SOAP envelope: <?xml version='1.0' ?> <env:Envelope xmlns:env="http://www.w3.org/2002/12/soap-envelope"> <env:Header> <m:reservationCharge xmlns:m="http://travelcompany.example.org/reservation" env:role="http://www.w3.org/2002/12/soap-envelope/role/next" env:mustUnderstand="true"> <m:reference>12345</m:reference> <m:dateAndTime>2003-03-09T14:00:00.000- 09:00</m:dateAndTime> </m:reservationCharge> </env:Header> <env:Body> <r:reservationCharge xmlns:p="http://travelcompany.example.org/reservation"> <r:code> 12345 </r:code> <o:creditCard xmlns:o="http://mycompany.example.com/financial"> <n:name xmlns:n="http://mycompany.example.com/employees"> John Galt </n:name> <o:number> 123456789099999 </o:number> <o:expiration> 2005-02 </o:expiration> </o:creditCard> </r:reservationCharge> </env:Body> </env:Envelope> This SOAP message adds a simple header, providing some metadata about the message. When the SOAP message arrives, a SOAP processor looks at the header first, and the header metadata can help the SOAP processor determine what it should do with the body. This type of SOAP message is called a document style message, because it simply embeds an XML document in its When a processor receives a document-style SOAP message, that processor must still decipher where to route that message. Thus, receiving and processing document-style SOAP messages present almost identical tasks to processing an incoming XML message directly from an HTTP stream. The difference is the added complexity of the SOAP message. Using SOAP, however, you are not restricted to a document-style message exchange. Instead of modeling your Web service as a series of message exchanges, you can design a Web service as an XML-based API available for remote procedure calls, or XML RPCs. In your Web service client, instead of this code: reservationServiceSocket.write(reservationPaymentRequest)you could write: reservationService.chargeReservation(Reservation res, CreditCard card) An RCP-style SOAP message carries method parameters and return types, and indicates the names of the methods to invoke. The following example, taken from the W3C's SOAP Primer, illustrates a SOAP message intended for remote procedure invocation: <?xml version='1.0' ?> <env:Envelope xmlns:env="http://www.w3.org/2002/12/soap-envelope"> <env:Header> <t:transaction xmlns:t="http://thirdparty.example.org/transaction" env:encodingStyle="http://example.com/encoding" env:mustUnderstand="true" >5</t:transaction> </env:Header> <env:Body> <m:chargeReservation env:encodingStyle="http://www.w3.org/2002/12/soap-encoding" xmlns:m="http://travelcompany.example.org/"> <m:reservation xmlns:m="http://travelcompany.example.org/reservation"> <m:code>12345</m:code> </m:reservation> <o:creditCard xmlns:o="http://mycompany.example.com/financial"> <n:name xmlns:n="http://mycompany.example.com/employees"> John Galt </n:name> <o:number> 123456789099999 </o:number> <o:expiration> 2005-02 </o:expiration> </o:creditCard> </m:chargeReservation> </env:Body> </env:Envelope> The response to this RPC input message would be an RPC output message, containing the return values from the invocation (a confirmation, in this case). While the document-style SOAP message imposed no particular order or structure on the SOAP body, the RPC-style SOAP envelope adheres to one of two sets of encoding rules: It may either follow literally an XML schema, or may be encoded with SOAP encoding. The above example follows the SOAP encoding style, as the SOAP encoding simplifies serializing complex XML graphs. But because it does not follow an XML schema specific to a method parameter or return message, you can no longer rely on a schema-aware validating parser to ensure data integrity. Thus, while gaining a convenient, RPC-style programming paradigm that serializes complex parameters, you lose some of the XML benefits. If you use literal SOAP encoding, you can rely on schema validation to work, but you pay the price in increased complexity of serializing complex XML documents. During my day job, I recently developed a Web service client that accesses four different Web service providers. Each service provider is a leader in its field, and its customers rely on the provider for mission-critical data. I estimate that each provider must process tens of thousands of Web service transactions every hour. Each firm implemented its Web service without SOAP, using the architecture depicted in Figure 1. When I asked their architects whether they would eventually support SOAP-based access to their data, they did not at first understand the reason for my inquiry. From their viewpoint, their firms must provide highly reliable, high-throughput data access, and HTTP + XML is all they need to fulfill those requirements. They considered SOAP an unnecessary addition to a system that already worked well. Intrigued by their resistance to SOAP, I conducted an informal survey of a few, large enterprise IT shops. They were all working on XML-based data access solutions in business-to-business interactions. But, to my surprise, many of them transmitted XML documents via HTTP, without any trace of SOAP encoding. Several IT managers I spoke with commented: If HTTP + XML works so well, why use SOAP? In my experience, a SOAPless solution works for most simple Web services. And many Web services are simple. If you look at the publicly available Web services list on XMethods, or search a UDDI registry, you will find that most Web services currently provide but a handful of basic functions—retrieving a stock price, obtaining a dictionary word definition, performing a math function, or reserving an airline ticket. All those activities are modeled as simple query-response message exchanges. HTTP was designed as an effortless protocol to handle just such query- response patterns, which is largely the reason for its popularity. Simple Web services can piggyback on HTTP's mature infrastructure and popularity by directly sending business-specific XML messages via HTTP operations without an intermediary protocol. Of course, there are many Web services that rely on SOAP. The RPC-style SOAP usage seems more popular, but lately some Web services started to define document-style SOAP messages. One reason for that trend may be the need to interoperate between various SOAP implementations: When the SOAP message carries a simple XML document, you don't rely on a specific SOAP implementation's way of encoding that message. But document-style SOAP also meshes with the request/response message nature of many Web services. You need SOAP when you design your Web service not as a series of message exchanges, but as a Web-accessible API. SOAP, and its various implementations, automate much of the marshalling and unmarshalling of method parameters and return values when invoking that API. There can be no one "best" way to design a Web service. My take is that simple Web services should be kept simple. I don't see many reasons to build an API consisting of a single method, with that method consuming one parameter and returning a minor value. An API makes sense when interaction with a service is more intricate—for instance, if you must offer alternate ways of obtaining information from a service. In that case, an API affords a richer interface to that Web service. A well-designed API is also easier for programmers to understand than a bunch of XML message exchanges. But even in the case of a complex service, you would first have to define your parameter and return value XML structures. You may find that you can often define a complex Web service without reference to any specific invocation style, such as socket-based message exchanges (HTTP + XML) or through SOAP. If you design your service with that flexibility in mind, you can start out using simple HTTP, and switch to a SOAP-based implementation as the need arises. You may find that your Web service's clients will be happy with HTTP for quite a while. One advantage of keeping your Web services simple is that, instead of spending time debugging them, you get to spend more time hanging around the water cooler, chatting about technologies and protocols that, surely, are the wave of the future. Will SOAP be the wave of the future when it comes to Web services? Or will developers eschew its use in favor of simple HTTP-based XML messaging protocols? Let us know what you think on the Artima forums! Come back Monday, April 14, for the next installment of Frank Sommer's Web Services column. If you'd like to receive a brief weekly email announcing new articles at Artima.com, please subscribe to the Artima Newsletter. How do you feel about using SOAP versus plain old XML document transfer for Web services? Discuss this article in the News & Ideas Forum topic, Why Use SOAP? Frank Sommers is founder and CEO of Autospaces, a company dedicated to bringing Web services and Jini to the automotive sales and finance industries. He also writes Javaworld's Web Jiniology columns, and serves as chief editor of ClusterComputing.org, the Newsletter of the IEEE Task Force on Cluster Computing. Frank is Artima.com's Web Services columnist. The W3C's definition of a Web service: The SOAP specifications: The SOAP Primer: More information on service choreography languages: XMethods lists web services publicly available on the internet:	<urn:uuid:3d3926d8-837e-42b2-b4a6-294bcd74ba11>	CC-MAIN-2015-35	http://www.artima.com/webservices/articles/whysoapP.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-35/segments/1440644062327.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20150827025422-00195-ip-10-171-96-226.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.862057	3,750	3.09375	3
The story opens with the main character, the shepherd Santiago, arriving at an abandoned church with a sycamore growing in it in the Spanish region of Andalusia. He decides to stay the night at the church and corrals his herd into the church grounds. He falls asleep using the book that he keeps with him at all times as his pillow. During the night, he has a dream that he has had several times before, a dream he has never been able to fully understand. While waking his herd, he realizes that he is very close to the animals; they operate on the same schedule and he calls them all by name, convinced that they understand his conversation with them. They are very simple creatures, though, wanting only food and water. Recently all of this thoughts and conversations with the sheep have been about a girl he met a year ago, at the town that is his next destination. She is the daughter of a merchant and he has been thinking about her ever since he left. Remembering their first meeting, Santiago reminisces about how he went to the shop of the girl's father to sell him some wool. While waiting for the shopkeeper to see him, the boy sat down to read a book. A voice from behind him said, "I didn't know shepherds knew how to read." The voice was that of the shopkeeper's daughter, a beautiful Andalusian girl whose features recalled the Moorish influence of the region. The girl and Santiago waited for two hours, during which time they told each other about their experiences, she in the town and he in the fields. The girl asked him why he was a shepherd if he had been to school and knew how to read. Santiago changed the subject and continued the conversation. He felt something which he had never felt before: the desire to stay in one place forever. Unfortunately, at that moment, the shopkeeper appeared, bought four sheep worth of wool and told the boy to come back in a year. Leaving the church in the morning, Santiago is both excited and apprehensive about seeing the girl. She could have forgotten him. As they set out, he begins to think about the lives of the sheep, and how sheep don't make any decisions. They want only food and water and rely on Santiago for that. Surprised at his feelings of mild resentment toward the animals, Santiago decides his recurring dream has made him uneasy. When he gets to the town, he resolves, he will tell the girl why he knows how to read, how he went to seminary and was originally set to be a priest, and one day got the courage to tell his family that he would rather travel the world as a shepherd. As we learn from Santiago's memories, his father at first tried to convince him to stay, pointing out that plenty of travelers had passed through their lands and said that they would like to live there. In the end, however, he capitulated and gave Santiago his blessing and three old gold coins to buy his flock. Santiago could thus see that his father himself had once had dreams of traveling the world. Santiago's lifestyle as a shepherd has provided him with a lot of freedom. All he has to do is allow his sheep to lead the way for a while and he will always find a new path. The difference between him and the sheep, though, is that the sheep never know they are on a new path. Once again, all they think about is food and water. Santiago realizes that dreaming about what you don't have is what makes life interesting. Part I of the novel, which ends with Santiago accepting a job at the crystal shop, includes the main character's introduction, acceptance of challenge and initial setback. The reader is also introduced, in an unexplained form, to several of the main terms that reappear and are explained throughout the story, among them "Personal Legend" and "Soul of the World." This section also introduces several of the main themes of the narrative: love, in the false-love of Santiago for the merchant's daughter; dreams, in the form of Santiago's dream of the treasure; fate, in the form of Melchizedek's intervention in Santiago's life. The narrative arc of The Alchemist follows a relatively common formula. The hero leaves home to pursue a quest, is tested three times, and, upon succeeding, returns home as a victor. What makes The Alchemist stand apart, though, is that there are essentially two parallel quests going on in the narrative. The first is a rather familiar search for treasure. This quest, though, is merely the metaphorical double to Santiago's other journey, which is to discover his own Personal Legend. What is particularly interesting about this section is the way that (similarly to this narrative dichotomy) it straddles the great geographic division that forms the main dialectic of the physical story - namely, that between Spain and Africa. While the end of this section could have very easily come when Santiago leaves Andalusia for Africa, it instead concludes when Santiago seems to have resigned himself to merely make enough money to return to Spain. This division suggests that the main drama in the narrative is not a physical adventure–characterized by exotic lands, physical challenges or vicious enemies–but rather an interior drama (of Santiago overcoming his own fears and harnessing the willpower to achieve his Personal Legend). The book Santiago carries with him at all times has several symbolic resonances. It distinguishes him from being a common shepherd. The merchant girl knows that he is extraordinary because he can read. The book is a source of knowledge and freedom, allowing Santiago a different, broader outlook on the world. Books also, however, propagate certain misleading ideas, as argued by Melchizedek when he claims that Santiago's book endorses the world's greatest lie. Later, the Englishman will be blocked from realizing the truths of alchemy because he is too tied to his complicated books. Fate is often described metaphorically as a book that was written by one hand. The "book of fate" would thus be the only book capable of telling the whole truth. This section also introduces the Moors, who will recur throughout the novel. The merchant girl, of whom Santiago dreams, is remarkable for her "moorish" features. This foreshadows both Santiago's love for Fatima and the journey he will undertake to Africa, from whence the Moors came.	<urn:uuid:8d74567e-ca08-4fa0-b81a-ed20ccc6376a>	CC-MAIN-2020-29	https://www.gradesaver.com/the-alchemist-coelho/study-guide/summary-part-one-section-one	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655879738.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20200702174127-20200702204127-00082.warc.gz	en	0.986015	1,305	2.65625	3
Female Preacher in the Civil War Era Julia A. J. Foote's autobiography, A Brand Plucked from the Fire (1879), is representative of a large number of similar texts published by women who believed that Christianity had made them the spiritual equals of men and hence equally authorized to lead the church. Although her autobiography attacks racism and other social abuses, it is the subordination of women and her desire to inspire faith in her Christian sisters that endow her story with its distinctive voice and intensity. Foote's belief in the gender equality of the Christian spirit and her refusal to defer to husband or minister when her own intuitive sense of personal authority was at stake mark Foote's autobiographical work as an important early expression of the American feminist literary tradition. Her autobiography borrows from two distinct genres: the fiery rhetoric of the African American slave narrative (Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs and Olaudah Equiano) and the evangelism of American spiritual narratives (Michael Wigglesworth, Mary Rowlandson, Elizabeth Hudson and Ann Moore). She was born in 1827 in Schenectady, New York, the daughter of former slaves. Her maiden name is unknown. Her parents were strongly committed to Methodism and to the education of their children. Because Schenectady's schools were segregated, Foote's parents hired her out as a domestic servant to a white family who used their influence to place her in a country school outside the city. Here, between the ages of ten and twelve, Julia received the only formal education of her life. Despite the fact that her teenage years were devoted to the care of her younger siblings, she read considerably, especially in the Bible, and attended many church meetings. When she was fifteen, she had a profound conversion experience and joined an African Methodist Episcopal church in Albany, New York. At age eighteen she married George Foote, a sailor, and moved with him to Boston. Having no children, Foote devoted a great deal of her time to informal evangelistic work in her community, in which she testified to her belief in the doctrine of "sanctification." The controversial idea that a Christian could be sanctified - totally freed from sin and empowered to lead a life of spiritual perfection - had been under debate in Methodist circles for decades. Advocates of sanctification and perfectionism became leaders in the rise of "holiness" movements in evangelical denominations in the United States during the last half of the nineteenth century. Foote's belief that she herself had been sanctified by the Holy Spirit contributed to her growing conviction that her destiny was to become a preacher. Both her mother and her husband vehemently opposed her public preaching. Her mother told Foote that she would rather hear of her daughter's death than her exposure at the pulpit. Her husband threathened to commit her to an insane asylum. Foote persisted in her ministry and her husband returned to sea. Having no children, the couple led separate lives until his death in the mid-1850s. Foote knew that a woman who claimed a divine calling to the ministry challenged Christian tradition and American social prejudice. Women were not expected to assume public leadership roles, nor were they allowed to speak, except under restrictions, in most Christian churches. Yet Foote could neither deny her conscience nor shirk the work that she felt had been given her to do. The minister of her church in Boston disapproved of her teaching on sanctification and refused her access to his pulpit. Though threatened to expel her from the congregation in 1844, she refused to be daunted. She took her case to higher denominational authorities, and when she received no support from them, she set out on an independent preaching career. In the mid-1840s Foote evangelized the upstate New York region, often accompanied or invited by ministers of the A.M.E. church. By 1850 she had crossed the Allegheny Mountains in search of new converts in Ohio and Michigan. In 1851, she temporarily ceased her evangelistic work due to the loss of her voice and the need to care for her invalid mother. Then in 1869, she reported experiencing a divine healing and began to preach again, participating in the holiness revivals that swept the Midwest after the Civil War. and later became a missionary in the A.M.E. Zion church. On one occasion in 1878, an estimated 5,000 people heard her preach at a holiness meeting in Lodi, Ohio. During the last decade of her life, Julia Foote became the first woman to be ordained a deacon (1894) and the second woman to hold the office of elder in her denomination (1900). Julia Foote died on November 22, 1900.	<urn:uuid:c0ecb76c-395f-4184-babb-f7dbef3a6edd>	CC-MAIN-2014-52	http://civilwarwomenblog.com/julia-foote/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-52/segments/1418802769305.158/warc/CC-MAIN-20141217075249-00158-ip-10-231-17-201.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.979831	974	2.90625	3
Home Equity and the Racial Wealth Gap The racial wealth gap is the disparity in median household wealth between the different races. Home equity is a large percentage of most families’ wealth. As a result, increasing minority homeownership is critical to closing the gap. Where did the gap come from? A century of government policies to promote home equity was combined with racial discrimination in home ownership. The result is a homeownership gap that overlaps the racial wealth gap in America. A 2018 Duke University study reported that reducing the racial homeownership gap would narrow the racial wealth gap by 31 percent. The advantage over other methods is that it doesn’t place the responsibility of blacks to correct structural inequality. Financial literacy, education, and entrepreneurship are useful skills but won't build wealth unless minority home ownership is increased. How important is home equity to building wealth? In 2014, renters’ median net worth was only $2,381, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Homeowners’ net worth was $205,300. Of that, home equity made up $88,000. The rest was in other investments like retirement accounts. Similarly, non-Hispanic whites’ net worth was $130,800. Blacks only owned $9,590 per household. A big reason is that whites were more likely to be homeowners. The Census survey found that 72 percent of non-Hispanic whites owned equity in their own home. That compared to 42 percent of blacks, 47 percent of Hispanics, and 58 percent of Asians. Why Home Equity Works So Well to Build Wealth The federal government subsidizes home equity in ways not available to other forms of wealth building. For example, home buyers only have to put 20 percent down. The bank finances the rest, at a low-interest rate and over 30 years. Imagine a bank providing that kind of loan for any other investment. Banks are willing to offer such good terms because the federal government guarantees the loan. The government also provides tax advantages. Homeowners can deduct the mortgage interest and property taxes from their income. Homeowners don’t have pay taxes on the capital gains from selling their home in most instances. Instead, they can exclude capital gains from taxable income. They must have owned and lived in the house for two of the five years before the sale. For singles, up to $250,000 of capital gains is tax-free. For marrieds filing a joint return, the tax-free amount is $500,000. The government promotes wealth building through homeownership over generations. Inheriting a home provides additional tax advantages. Children only pay taxes when they sell the home. Even then, the capital gain is calculated using the difference between the sale price and what the home was worth when the parents died. All the gain incurred while parents lived it is not taxed. There is another reason home equity works in building wealth. Meeting monthly mortgage payment forces many homeowners to save and invest. Even though the rent bill must also be paid, it adds nothing to a family’s wealth. How Federal Policies to Promote Home Equity Excluded Blacks The U.S. government has a history of promoting homeownership for whites that excluded blacks. In his book, “The Color of Law,” Richard Rothstein went one step further. He argued that segregation was deliberately caused by government housing and lending policies. These laws created a structural inequality that's been difficult to erase. From 1619 to 1865, blacks were slaves. Until the 13th Amendment, they couldn't own property because they were considered to be property. In 1862, Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. It gave federal land to anyone willing to farm it for at least five years. Blacks were slaves, and so they missed out. By 1900, settlers and speculators had gobbled up 80 million acres in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, and Wyoming. After the Civil War, the federal government took a step forward in making reparations. Union General William Sherman asked leaders of the former black slaves what they needed to build their lives. The leaders’ immediate response was "Land." Sherman had confiscated 400,000 acres in South Carolina and Florida belonging to former Confederate landowners. He ordered the land divided into 40-acre plots for 40,000 former slaves. President Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the Freedman's Bureau to execute the transfer. But in 1866, President Andrew Johnson vetoed an extension of the Freedmen's Bureau. He ordered the land returned to its former owners. The government evicted black families and forced them to sign labor contracts. This created the virtual slavery of sharecropping and indentured servitude. At least 90 percent of American blacks remained in the South until after World War I. They were illiterate because the separate school system meant their education was inferior to whites. In 1910, they were still not able to vote. These Jim Crow laws also kept blacks from owning property. After World War I, blacks moved north in the Great Migration. The war had slowed immigration from Europe, creating a labor shortage in the North. Companies began recruiting black Southerners to work in their factories. Returning black veterans were open to a new way of life. By the 1970s, 47 percent of blacks lived in big cities in the North and West. But northern white families also feared blacks in their neighborhoods. They put restrictive covenants into their deeds. They outlawed blacks from buying, leasing, or living in properties in white neighborhoods. If that didn’t work, they resorted to violence. For example, by the 1920s, these covenants kept 85 percent of Chicago off-limits to blacks. In 1913, Congress approved the mortgage interest deduction. It allowed homeowners to deduct interest payments from their mortgages. By reducing the cost of the loan, it allowed people to buy homes who otherwise couldn’t afford them. The deduction also drove up home values. Homeowners use the money saved from the deduction to afford a larger home. A 1996 study estimated the deduction increased home prices between 13 and 17 percent. By inflating home values, the MID benefited Americans who already own homes. But it also makes it more difficult for renters to afford their first home. The MID helped higher-income families more than lower-income ones. Only families that earned enough to itemize their deductions could take advantage of it. As a result, households with at least six-figure incomes received more than four-fifths of the total value of mortgage interest and property tax deductions. In 1933, the New Deal created many programs to help homeowners. But these programs excluded blacks. The Home Owners Refinancing Act established the Home Owners Loan Corporation. It refinanced mortgages to prevent foreclosures. By 1935, it had refinanced 1 million homes or 20 percent of all urban mortgages. This allowed families to keep their homes despite the Great Depression. But it gave minority neighborhoods low ratings, according to a study published in the American Economic Review. As a result, they couldn't take advantage of the programs. In 1934, the National Housing Act established the Federal Housing Administration to insure mortgages. It used the HOLC ratings to exclude black neighborhoods, a process known as redlining. Without insurance, banks wouldn’t lend to anyone in those neighborhoods, regardless of their credit scores. Between 1934 and 1962, 98 percent of home loans went to white families. The FHA also offered low-interest loans to builders. The loans required lot sizes, setbacks, and building materials that encouraged new construction in the cheaper land at the cities’ edges. The FHA prohibited loans to any new developments that included black residents, according to Rothstein. In 1937, the United States Housing Act funded state-run public housing projects for the inner cities. These constructed housing for middle-income and low-income workers. The Housing Act required them to be segregated. That lasted until 1968. In 1944, the G.I. Bill guaranteed loans for veterans. The terms made monthly mortgage payments cheaper than rent in public housing. In the years right after World War II, veterans’ mortgages made up more than 40 percent of all home loans. Between 1944 to 1971, the Veterans Administration spent $95 billion on benefits. But the VA used FHA standards in dispensing loans. As a result, it excluded many black veterans. Also, the states were given free rein to administer the program. Most of the VA boards were all-white. As a result, black veterans in the South were denied access. In his book, “When Affirmative Action Was White,” Ira Katznelson described the consequences, “By 1984, when G.I. Bill mortgages had mainly matured, the median white household had a net worth of $39,135. The comparable figure for black households was only $3,397, or just 9 percent of white holdings. Most of this difference was accounted for by the absence of homeownership.” The Housing Act of 1949 was part of President Truman’s Fair Deal. It authorized 810,000 units of new public housing. It lowered FHA requirements. It authorized $1 billion in loans, and $500 million in grants, to cities to acquire land for redevelopment. This resulted in the relocation of black, Italian, and Mexican residents to create luxury housing, baseball stadiums, and arts centers. The Commission on Urban Problems surveyed 1,155 urban renewal projects. It found that 67 percent were residential before renewal, but only 43 percent were residential afterward. In 1954, President Eisenhower created the Interstate Highway System. It built 41,000 miles of road that linked 90 percent of all large cities. It improved evacuation routes from the cities in case of a nuclear war or other attacks. It also made it easier to construct suburban housing developments away from the cities. Many of the highways were constructed in former black ghettos. Others bisected white and black urban areas, further reinforcing segregation. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act outlawed segregation in housing, voting, education, and use of public facilities. In 1968, the Fair Housing Act outlawed housing discrimination. In 1977, Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act to reverse the segregation caused by redlining. It mandated that regulators review banks’ lending records to these neighborhoods. Banks that bank does poorly on their reviews might not get needed approvals As a result, black homeownership rose from 40 percent to 50 percent between 1995 and 2005. Despite these laws, discrimination in housing continued as banks pushed blacks into subprime mortgages. In 2011, the Center for Responsible Lending reported that 52.9 percent of blacks received subprime mortgages. That was double the 26.1 percent subprimes given to whites. That was true even for black borrowers with good credit. More than 20 percent received subprime loans compared to 6 percent of white borrowers. Subprimes have rising interest rates, which makes them more expensive. Between 2004 and 2009, Wells Fargo Bank steered 30,000 black and Latino borrowers into subprime mortgages. The bank targeted black churches. They gave prime loans to white borrowers with similar credit profiles. Wells Fargo was ordered to compensate the minority borrowers for the extra costs incurred by higher interest rates and fees. The bank agreed to pay $175 million. As a result, the financial crisis hurt blacks more than whites. The Pew Research Center found that black communities lost 53 percent of their wealth, compared to a 16 percent loss for white communities. How to Close the Home Equity Gap The Department of Housing and Human Services could promote its home purchase counseling programs to black first-time homebuyers. It could work with local minority agencies such as the NAACP and Urban League. It could make homebuyers aware of available programs such as the Good Neighbor Next Door. It could partner with Fannie Mae to provide homeownership education for first-time homebuyers through its “HomePath Ready Buyer” program. Congress could relaunch the First-Time Homeowners Tax Credit that lapsed in 2010. It gave a tax credit of 10 percent of the purchase price of a new or replacement home. The credit was limited to $6,500. The FHA could offer a program to first-time black homebuyers that are similar to the Native American Veteran Direct Loan. It could subsidize bank costs as well as guaranteeing the loans. That would allow banks to waive the down payment and private mortgage insurance. It would offer low closing costs and a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. The Trump administration could better support the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It oversees equal credit opportunity and fair housing. It also sets standards for all mortgage offerings. It protects homeowners by requiring they understand risky mortgage loans. It regulates risky mortgage products like interest-only loans. It also requires banks to verify borrower's income, credit history, and job status. Regulators could also strengthen the enforcement of the Community Reinvestment Act. It makes sure banks don’t redline minority neighborhoods. Congress could provide more funds to housing assistance programs like Section 8. That would keep renters' costs at an affordable level. Affordable housing is defined as that which costs less than 30 percent of a family’s income. Rising housing costs means that slightly more than half of all poor renting families spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing costs. At least 25 percent spend more than 70 percent. That’s money they can’t save to buy a home. Thanks to funding cuts, only 25 percent of those who qualify for the program can take advantage of it. The waiting lists are so full that the program does not accept new applicants in many states. These programs could be funded by a reduction in tax credits to the wealthy. The National Low Income Housing Coalition suggests reducing the size of a deductible mortgage to $500,000. It would affect fewer than 6 percent of mortgages nationwide. But it would save $87 billion over 10 years that could be redirected to remedy the black home equity gap. It may be overdue, but the federal government could make good on its 1865 reparations promise. It could give 40 acres to descendants of each of the 3.9 million slaves. That would be 159 million acres or 25 percent of the 640 million acres owned by the federal government. For example, the Bureau of Land Management owns 258 million acres, most of it leased to cattle ranchers and miners. In 2019, Democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential campaign reopened the issue of reparations. They endorsed a House bill to establish a commission to study how slavery and Jim Crow impact African-Americans today. The bill calls for suggestions to remedy these aftereffects.	<urn:uuid:d3518b95-7bfb-43cf-8afa-c56d97e835d9>	CC-MAIN-2019-35	https://www.thebalance.com/how-home-equity-drives-the-racial-wealth-gap-4178236	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-35/segments/1566027315936.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20190821110541-20190821132541-00270.warc.gz	en	0.970269	2,997	3.4375	3
Is Love Passion an Addictive Disorder? “Aims: Inquiry regarding the relationship between passionate love and addiction has long been a topic of intense debate. Recent advances in neurobiology now allow for an examination between these two states. Methods: After describing the clinical distinctions between “love passion,” “love addiction,” and “sex addiction,” we compare clinical, neuropsychological, neurobiological, and neuroimaging data on love, passion, pathological gambling (PG) and substance dependence. Read More Look closely: This hairy, pulsating carpet is actually a group of harvestmen, an arachnid commonly known as daddy longlegs. This aggregation of harvestmen helps fend off potential predators. When one of the arachnids senses danger, he moves his body up and down to create a vibration; a whole jiggling group of daddy longlegs provides an even greater deterrent. There’s nothing quite like teamwork to make your skin crawl. Via Boingboing: Discoblog: Spiders, Apparently Concerned About Nutrition, Eat Ants From the Head Down Discoblog: Egad! Oldest Spider Web Dates Back to Dinosaur Era Discoblog: Beetle-Inspired Adhesive Lifts Lego Man; Could One Day Do Same for Regular Man Today’s sewage is tomorrow’s rocket fuel–at least, according to Stanford researchers. Raw sewage has long posed a problem for scientists who aim to get rid of it. That’s because the chemical byproduct of the bacteria that break down waste is nitrous oxide–a greenhouse gas also known as laughing gas. The proposed solution? Using the nitrous oxide produced by waste as rocket fuel, of course, according to Popular Science: “[The] rocket thruster, which was designed for use in spacecraft, can consume the excess nitrous oxide to produce heat. In a Stanford press release, [researcher] Cantwell says the nitrous oxide can heat an engine to almost 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and expel nitrogen and oxygen at 5,000 feet per second.” Hot oxygen and nitrogen are far less harmful to the environment than nitrous oxide, and the methane that also is produced can help power other wastewater plants, the researchers say. This method, in which bacteria break down the waste in the absence of oxygen, is faster and cheaper than letting sewage decompose in an oxygenated environment, in which “wastewater treatment plants pump oxygen into a roiling mix of raw sewage, to encourage good bacteria to break down organic matter.” So the next time you head to the bathroom, remember that your contribution could one day prove valuable to rocket scientists. Just another reason to flush with pride. Image: flickr / ecsuecsu Discoblog: Buzz Aldrin Explains: How to Take a Whiz on the Moon Discoblog: A Novel Geoengineering Idea: Increase the Ocean’s Quotient of Whale Poop Discoblog: The Coolest Carnivorous Plant/Toilet Plant You’ll See This Week The acute effects of alcohol on auditory thresholds. “BACKGROUND: There is very little knowledge about alcohol-induced hearing loss. Alcohol consumption and tolerance to loud noise is a well observed phenomenon as seen in the Western world where parties get noisier by the hour as the evening matures. This leads to increase in the referrals to the “hearing aid clinic” and the diagnosis of “cocktail party deafness” which may not necessarily be only due to presbyacusis or noise-induced hearing loss. METHODS: 30 healthy volunteers were recruited for this trial which took place in a controlled acoustic environment. Each of the individuals was required to consume a pre-set amount of alcohol and the hearing was tested (using full pure tone audiogram) pre- and post- alcohol consumption over a broad range of 6 frequencies. Volunteers who achieve a minimum breath alcohol threshold level of 30 u/l had to have second audiogram testing. All the volunteers underwent timed psychometric and visuo-spatial skills tests to detect the effect of alcohol on the decision-making and psychomotor co-ordination. Read More The rats scuttling around the tracks of the New York City subway pale in comparison to a gargantuan species recently discovered in East Indonesia. In fact, the recently discovered rat tipped the scales at a somewhat frightening 13 pounds. That’s sizably heftier than today’s house rat (which averages 5 ounces) and burliest wild rats (which weigh about four-and-a-half pounds). This mega-rat lived in Timor until it went extinct between 1,000 and 2,000 years ago. It was one of 11 new species discovered at the excavation site–eight of which weighed more than two pounds, and only one of which survives today. But the now-extinct rats didn’t die off until well after humans first arrived, according to LiveScience: “People have lived on the island of Timor for over 40,000 years and hunted and ate rats throughout this period, yet extinctions did not occur until quite recently,” said study researcher Ken Aplin… adding that the arrival of humans to an area doesn’t necessarily have to equate with extinctions… “Large-scale clearing of forest for agriculture probably caused the extinctions, and this may have only been possible following the introduction of metal tools.” East Indonesia is a hotspot for rat evolution, with unique species found on each island, and the possibility of finding more. “Although less than 15 percent of Timor’s original forest cover remains, parts of the island are still heavily forested, so who knows what might be out there?” [researcher] Aplin said. Which is fine with us–as long as they stay far, far away from our homes. Discoblog: Weird Science Roundup: Super-Rats, Heart-Attack Virus, and the Real Breakfast of Champions Magazine: English Super-Rats Magazine: A-maze-ing Mole Rats Image: flickr / korobukkuru Apparently it’s hard to teach an old frog a new trick: landing on its legs. As painfully demonstrated in the video below, the primitive frog family Leiopelmatidae prefers to belly-flop. Coitus as Revealed by Ultrasound in One Volunteer Couple. “The anatomy and function of the G-spot remain highly controversial. Ultrasound studies of the clitoral complex during intercourse have been conducted to gain insight into the role of the clitoris and its relation to vagina and urethra during arousal and penetration. Aim. Our task was to visualize the anterior vaginal wall and its relationship to the clitoris during intercourse. Methods. The ultrasound was performed during coitus of a volunteer couple with the Voluson(R) General Electric(R) Sonography system (Zipf, Austria) and a 12-MHz flat probe. Read More At the the Houston Museum of Natural Science thousands of visitors are lining up for the smell of rotting bodies. They want a look at a five-foot-tall plant affectionately called the “corpse flower,” or more specifically, Lois. The flower will bloom for the first time in seven years and release its stench for an expected three days. The flower, native to Indonesia, will be the 29th to bloom in the United States; another bloomed last summer at San Francisco State University. Sporting buttons that say “Bring on the Funk” and “Amorphophallus titanum (Latin for AWESOME),” 4,000 to 5,000 visitors a day have been coming to the Houston museum to sniff, Reuters reports. In its pre-bloom phase, it smells a bit like rotting pumpkins–which is disappointing to museum visitors with a nose for rancid corpses, museum spokeswoman Latha Thomas told Reuters. “They want to smell the flower. I think that’s why they keep coming back over and over because they are so excited about smelling it.” The AP reports that not everyone is excited. Jessica Zabala has booked the museum for her wedding this week and is hoping the flower doesn’t foul up her ceremony. The museum has provided a live webcam, for those who want to see without smelling. Discoblog: Vicious Hogweed Plant Could Star in “Little Shop of Horrors” Sequel Discoblog: Make Room For Space Florists: First Plants to Be Grown on the Moon Discoblog: Can Plants Talk to Each Other? Researchers Say Yes Discoblog: DNA Cops Crack Down on Flower Theft and Other High Crimes They were perfectly lovely, the beets Surendra Pradhan and Helvi Heinonen-Tanski grew: round and hefty, a rich burgundy, their flavor sweet and faintly earthy like the dirt from which they came. Unless someone told you, you’d never know the beets were grown with human urine. Pradhan and Heinonen-Tanski, environmental scientists at the University of Kuopio in Finland, grew the beets as an experiment in sustainable fertilization. They nourished them with a combination of urine and wood ash, which they found worked as well as traditional mineral fertilizer. “It is totally possible to use human urine as a fertilizer instead of industrial fertilizer,” said Heinonen-Tanski, whose research group has also used urine to cultivate cucumbers, cabbage and tomatoes. Recycling urine as fertilizer could not only make agriculture and wastewater treatment more sustainable in industrialized countries, the researchers say, but also bolster food production and improve sanitation in developing countries. Urine is chock full of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, which are the nutrients plants need to thrive—and the main ingredients in common mineral fertilizers. There is, of course, a steady supply of this man-made plant food: An adult on a typical Western diet urinates about 130 gallons a year, enough to fill three standard bathtubs. And despite the gross-out potential, urine is practically sterile when it leaves the body, Heinonen-Tanski pointed out. “Sleepwalkers have been described to be involved in complex motor activities like cooking, eating, driving a car, playing an instrument, stabbing and murder . We describe a case of a 44-year-old woman with idiopathic insomnia almost all her life. She tried various medications, psychotherapy and behavioral techniques for the treatment of her insomnia without any significant effects. She was started on Zolpidem 10 mg 4 years ago. She was able to sleep 4–5 h each night, but then the effects started wearing off. She increased the dose of Zolpidem by herself to 15 mg every night; she would take 10 mg tablet around 10 p.m. and 5 mg around 3 a.m. With this regimen she started sleeping for 5 h every night and felt alert during the daytime. After increasing the dose, she began to have episodes of sleepwalking. During one such episode, she went to bed around 10 p.m., she woke up 2 h later, and walked to the next room on the same floor. She turned on the computer and connected to the internet. She logged in by typing her user ID and password to her email account. She sent three emails to her friend inviting her to come over for dinner and drinks (Fig. 1A and B). Read More	<urn:uuid:554e2688-6a6e-4aec-81a6-76bc4da623f7>	CC-MAIN-2013-20	http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2010/07/page/2/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706794379/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121954-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.942608	2,422	2.53125	3
Monte Brè – Boglia area: Monte Brè and Boglia’s vegetation extends to the sub-mountains hills and to the mountains and you can find a very rich and varied flora. According to the kind of soil and to other environmental characteristics (slope, sun exposure, humidity), the hills are characterized by tree and shrub layer, by chestnut trees and by mixed deciduous forest (oak, ash, hornbeam, maple, poplar, lime, wild cherry-tree, viburnum, medlar tree, hazel, golden chain). The grass layer is characterized by many flower species, especially the Christmas Rose (Rosa di Natale), cyclamen, periwinkle, different anemones, geranium sanguineum. Beech trees and conifers are typical of the mountain area of Monte Brè and partially of Boglia. Castagnola – Gandria area: the coastal strip of the lake from Castagnola to Gandria which is protected by northern winds, has a Mediterranean vegetation with olive trees, oleanders, agaves, figs, mimosas, camellias, laurel oaks and eucalypts. Camoghè – Gazzirola area: in the area of Camoghè and Gazzirola plant species that survived climatic changes happening during different glaciations have been preserved for millennia. The whole path is very interesting for its flora variety, especially between Monte Brè and the peak of Oress. The most interesting species that can be seen in the area are: Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger): this white flower can be found underneath the snow between Monte Brè and the peak of Fojorina; Hairy Alpenrose (Rhododendron hirsutum): it grows only in Alta Val Colla and in Engadin. It is considered the “Rose of the Alps” of chalky soils and it is characterized by hair on leaves ‘edges; Ranunculus thora: it has a curious short and wide leaf on which the typical veins are clearly visible. It has a yellow flower; Bear’s ear primula (Primula auricola): it grows in chalky substratum and in dolomite, for this reason it can be found around Denti della Vecchia and Monte Generoso. It survives in tiny spaces among rocks keeping the humidity in its leaves. Its flowers have a strong yellow color. Malcantone: it has a huge variety of species thanks to its different climate, soil and topographical profiles. The mountain area includes beeches (Fagus sylvatica) and grazing land, together with birches (Betula pendula) and whitebeams (Sorbus aria). In the little used grazing land brakes (Ptedirium acquilinum) and brooms (Cytisus scoparius) are prevailing. You can also find the nardetum, typical of acid and poor grassland in which matgrass (Nardus stricta) is widespread. Monte San Salvatore, Pazzallo and Paradiso: Monte San Salvatore (912 meters above sea level) stands out majestically against Lugano’s skyline and offers an outstanding view of the lake of Ceresio, the plain of Lombardy and of the splendid mountain chain of the Swiss and Savoy Alps. The roof of the church is an outlook point which offers a 360° view. Passing through the woods located in the northern side of the mountain leading to Pazzallo and Paradiso, you can walk surrounded by an untouched and reinvigorating nature. At the station of Pazzallo, the path comes out from the wood and steps follow the funicolar railway route for about 300 m. The path continues for 20 minutes in the shade of chestnut trees until the cantonal road in the area of the FFS train station Paradiso. Between San Salvatore and Monte Arbòstora, San Grato park hosts a collection of azalea, rhododendron and conifer which is the widest in terms of variety and quantity of the Insubric region. From the park you can enjoy an outstanding view of the surrounding areas and of alpine chain peaks. Sighignola – Monte Caprino area: Lands along Lario shores benefit from a good climate, similar to the one of Liguria coast, thanks to the presence of the lake basin. For this reason laurel oaks, cypresses, citrus trees, oleanders, Olea fragans, magnolias, camphor and many other Mediterranean species blossom in the area. These plants need not only lot of rain but also an appropriate soil: an acid soil enhances the blossom of acidophilic plants which are not able to adapt elsewhere and are considered difficult to grow. Therefore many species such as azalea, rhododendron, camelia, hydrangea, gardenia, kalmia and all the acidophilic plants feel at ease in the Lario area. In the mountains it is possible to find other species such as alpine anemone, white anemone and spiniest thistle. Source: luganobre.ch, lugano-tourism.ch, montagnaticino.com, regionemalcantone.ch, montesansalvatore.ch, ticino.ch, lugano-tourism.ch	<urn:uuid:daa27bb4-18f4-4366-92ed-21ea8e903268>	CC-MAIN-2017-51	http://www.greenwaylugano.ch/?page_id=2975?lang=en	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-51/segments/1512948597485.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20171217191117-20171217213117-00539.warc.gz	en	0.902604	1,163	2.671875	3
1873 – Alexandra Palace, London Built as “The People’s Palace” in 1873, Alexandra Palace provided the Victorians with a great environment and recreation centre, but just sixteen days after its opening, the Palace, which had already attracted over 120,000 visitors, was destroyed by a fire in the dome. On 1st May 1875, less than 2 years after the destruction of the original building, a new Palace opened rebuilt by the same team. Covering 7 acres, it was centred on the Great Hall, home to the mighty Willis Organ which was driven by two steam engines and vast bellows. The scale of the enterprise was enormous. The Great Hall alone, with a roof covering 8000 square metres, was built for a total capacity of 14,000 people “” 12,000 in the audience, and 2000 in the orchestra area (to accommodate the kind of massed choirs performing at the Crystal Palace’s Handel Festivals, perhaps). Its organ was crafted by Henry Willis, who also produced the organ for the Royal Albert Hall; with 8,000 pipes, it was then the largest in the country. It is still in use, and is being restored piecemeal by the same family firm. The Palace’s vast Victorian auditorium was originally built to seat up to 3,500 people. In 1935, the BBC leased the eastern part of the building from which the first public television transmissions were made in 1936. Alexandra Palace was the main transmitting centre for the BBC until 1956, when it was used exclusively for news broadcasts. Just six months after the transfer of trusteeship to Haringey Council, on 10th July 1980, the Palace caught fire for the second time. An area comprising the Great Hall, Banqueting Suite, and former roller rink together with the theatre dressing rooms was completely destroyed. Only Palm Court and the area occupied by the BBC escaped damage. Development and restoration work began soon after and the Palace was re-opened on 17th March 1988. It continues as a Charitable Trust administered by the London Borough of Haringey.	<urn:uuid:2299de9f-aafe-45f4-a752-9b0b36122481>	CC-MAIN-2017-43	http://archiseek.com/2010/1873-alexandra-palace-london/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187828189.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20171024071819-20171024091819-00073.warc.gz	en	0.978288	431	2.96875	3
The Orangutan lives on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Indonesia. The Orangutan eats tropical fruit and also leaves, bark and insects at times. Orangutans can be found in rainforests as well as other forests at higher elevations and near lowland swamps. They will sleep in trees as well as move through the trees in search of fruit. Male Orangutans weigh approximately 100 - 250 lbs and are about 4 - 5 ft. in height. Female Orangutans will weigh approximately 60 - 110 lbs and are about 3 - 3.5 ft. Orangutans' pregnancy periods last approximately 7.5 to 8.5 months. They will most often give birth to one infant, but like humans, they can have two at times.	<urn:uuid:bc22323f-11d6-45e2-af90-834e5023cc23>	CC-MAIN-2017-22	http://rainforestanimals.net/rainforestanimal/orangutan.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463613135.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20170529223110-20170530003110-00493.warc.gz	en	0.946599	177	3.234375	3
When we found out we would have the pleasure of reviewing a new book, we were excited. As a member of the SRC, we received the book Tunnel of Gold, by Susan Marlow and Kregel Publications. The main character is Jem, actually Jeremiah Coulter, a 12 year old adventurous boy that traveled with his parents and sister, 10yo Ellianna "Ellie" Coulter. Their parents were 49ers, in search of a new life out west and hoped to strike it rich. In the Goldtown Adventure books, Mr. Coulter is offered the position of Sheriff, and he accepts. His panning days are over and keeping the peace was first and foremost. You can read about the characters here. The Coulter's are a christian family which is evidenced throughout the book. We learn throughout the book the struggles that ensued those that came to California to strike it rich. There were many heartaches, pains, and death. Jem and Ellie's mom died of influenza sometime after getting out west Both characters in the book face difficulties that were common in that era. But the book is not about the difficulties, but about the adventures. Tunnel of Gold takes Jem, his sister, and his friends on adventures, or should I say misadventures, that are exciting to read through. You will read how Jem experiences gold mining, attempted cattle branding, the struggles and disagreements within the small mining town, and daily chores. Susan Marlow writes in a way that is easy to read but remains interesting. The language she uses is fitting for the era, which I like. It may be a bit challenging for readers, but it'll keep them on their toes figuring out what the different phrases and vernacular mean. Like surly, woolgathering, coyote hole, cussedness, frog in the puddle, and hobnob. Reading together will allow for discussion and explanation for younger readers. There is also a free study guide that can be downloaded right from Goldtown Adventures website. This guide offers activities, games, vocabulary, and history lessons for Tunnel of Gold. Like learning about the life of a hard-rock miner, making a miner's stove and donuts, too. The answers are at the back of the study guide along with links to explore more information. What We Thought: Each of us took time to read Tunnel of Gold. We enjoyed the story line and how Susan Marlow weaved historical facts throughout the book. Reading the book inspired us to do some research of our own. Because this was the second book and we haven't read the first yet, some of the pieces took time to understand, but it's still exciting. Reading the character descriptions on the website helped a lot. The adventures that Jem chose were fun, and a little dangerous, too. Which made reading fun for my son. They were all typical for the period and Susan Marlow's era oriented language was fun to read. We utilized the free study guide after reading the book. This allowed us to already have an idea of what the story was about as well as evaluate reading with and without the guide. I must say, the guide really brought out points to think about that we otherwise might have skipped over, or lost along the way. The games and activities were fun and took us back to another era of time. It was fun. The vocabulary listed in the study guide was very useful. In some ways, I wish that we had used the guide along with reading the book the first time, but not using it encouraged us to find our own answers : ^ ) I believe you will find the Goldtown Adventures series a wonderful addition to your library. The 3rd book of the series will be out soon, too. You can read a sample of Tunnel of Gold here. To read more reviews on Tunnel of Gold and the first book, Badge of Honor, click below.	<urn:uuid:97fcb7d9-6842-4f27-af96-3c8e27034199>	CC-MAIN-2016-44	http://www.happilyhomeschooling.com/reviews--reflections/susan-marlow-book-review	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719566.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00014-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.979372	794	2.71875	3
An integrated approach for the identification of biologically important regions and the production of ecosystem indicators in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence Evaluating and reporting on ecosystem status, and producing tools for ecosystem-based management are two key themes of the SPERA program. This project will use historical data collected from 2006 to 2009 in the north and south of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to create a database that describes how different organisms are distributed, including invertebrates, zooplankton, pelagic fish (species that live neither near the bottom or the shore), and demersal (or bottom-feeding) fish. The project will also establish biodiversity indicators, and the resulting database will be used to identify areas of biological interest. The data will be integrated into the existing geographically referenced database, Fish Habitat Management Information System (FHMIS). Data on marine mammals will eventually be collected and added to the database, and the area of study will be extended to the Scotian Shelf and the Bay of Fundy. Central Canada: Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Freshwater Drainage Basin - Date modified:	<urn:uuid:37330521-8209-45f6-aef5-d83746123bce>	CC-MAIN-2019-39	http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/rp-pr/spera-psrafe/projects-projets/040-eng.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514577478.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20190923172009-20190923194009-00321.warc.gz	en	0.839866	225	3.21875	3
Templates in all formats for all needs Are you looking for how to create a template? Templates are an extremely useful type of Word document which can contain many different functions and attributes which can greatly benefit your work as a Word user. Basically, a template is a type of file that contains default configurations and options that can greatly assist the user when creating a Word document. If you’re not familiar with how to create a template, you should attempt to first do a bit of research about it so that you know what it is exactly and how to utilize it best for your needs. Also, if you would like to find out how to do this in the most efficient way possible, you should try using the template samples that are available online. First, what is a template? Templates are basically a type of document in which all the visual and functional elements are pre-determined and built into the template when the document is created. You can use them for a number of different functions and applications. For example, if you want to format a document to be more custom-usable, then you should look for a template that has some built-in features such as custom key layout and property lists and properties that allow you to change the appearance of the document in various ways. Additionally, you can create different documents using different default layouts or settings. So, how to create a template? First, you should choose what template you want to use. There are many different types of templates and formats which you can choose from such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Corel Draw, PDF, and many more. Each type of template provides you with a different level of customisation, and so it is important that you take your time to find the template that is right for your needs. Next, you will need to think about what content you will place into the document. Will it be an article, a list, a video or presentation? Once you have decided what content you will place inside the template, then you can start creating the actual template. The templates usually have sections where the different content can be placed, but you will need to think carefully about how to organise the content before you begin.	<urn:uuid:0fe610bf-a82b-4080-85e9-6c9f7af1bfeb>	CC-MAIN-2022-05	https://templatesdraft.com/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320306181.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20220129122405-20220129152405-00548.warc.gz	en	0.907901	461	2.984375	3
1.1 Background on super-resolution Super-resolution consists of estimating a signal , given blurred observations obtained after convolution with a point spread function which is assumed to represent the impulse response of the measurement system, such as for eg., a microscope in high density single molecule imaging. Mathematically, is typically modeled as a superposition of dirac’s, i.e., a sparse atomic measure of the form while is a low pass filter. Denoting to be the convolution of and , one is usually given information about either as samples of , or the Fourier samples of . This problem has a number of important applications arising for instance in geophysics , astronomy , medical imaging etc. The reader is referred to for a more comprehensive list of applications. Super-resolution can be seen as a highly non-trivial “off the grid” extension of the finite dimensional sparse estimation problem in compressed sensing , and statistics . In the new setting, instead of estimating a sparse vector in a finite dimensional space, the goal is to estimate a sparse measure over the real lineendowed with its Borel -algebra. Recently, the problem of super-resolution has received a great deal of interest in the signal processing community, triggered by the seminal work of Candès and Fernandez-Granda [10, 9]. They considered the setup where one is given the first few Fourier coefficients of , i.e., for a cut-off frequency , we observe where Note that this corresponds to taking in (1.1), and sampling the Fourier transform of on the regular grid . The authors consider the noiseless setting and propose solving an optimization problem over the space of measures which involves minimizing the total variation (TV) norm amongst all measures which are consistent with the observations. The resulting minimization problem is an infinite dimensional convex program over Borel measures on . It was shown that the dual of this problem can be formulated as a semi-definite program (SDP) in finitely many variables, and thus can be solved efficiently. Since then, there have been numerous follow-up works such as by Schiebinger et al. , Duval and Peyre , Denoyelle et al. , Bendory et al. , Azaïs et al. and many others. For instance, considers the noiseless setting by taking real-valued samples of with a more general choice of (such as a Gaussian) and also assumes to be non-negative. Their proposed approach again involves TV norm minimization with linear constraints. Bendory et al. consider to be Gaussian or Cauchy, do not place sign assumptions on , and also analyze TV norm minimization with linear fidelity constraints for estimating from noiseless samples of . The approach adopted in [14, 13] is to solve a least-squares-type minimization procedure with a TV norm based penalty term (also referred to as the Beurling LASSO (see for eg., )) for recovering from samples of . The approach in considers a natural finite approximation on the grid to the continuous problem, and studies the limiting behaviour as the grid becomes finer; see also . From a computational perspective, the aforementioned approaches all admit a finite dimensional dual problem with an infinite number of linear constraints; this is a semi infinite program (SIP) for which there is an extensive literature . For the particular case of non-negative , Boyd et al. proposed an improved Frank-Wolfe algorithm in the primal. In certain instances, for eg., with Fourier samples (such as in [10, 9]), this SIP can also be reformulated as a SDP. From a practical point of view, SDP is notoriously slow for moderately large number of variables. The algorithm of is a first order scheme with potential local correction steps, and is practically more viable. From a statistical view point, Candès and Fernandèz-Granda showed that their approach exactly recovers in the noiseless case provided , where denotes the minimum separation between the spike locations. Similar results for other choices of were shown by Schiebinger et al. (for positive measures and without any minimum separation condition), and by Bendory et al. (for signed measures and with a separation condition). In the noisy setting, the state of affairs is radically different since it is known (see for eg., [10, Section 3.2], [36, Corollary 1.4]) that some separation between the spike locations is indeed necessary for stable recovery. When sufficient separation is assumed and provided the noise level is small enough, then stable recovery of is possible (see for eg., [18, 14, 13, 2]). When one is given the first few Fourier samples of the spike train (i.e., (1.2)), then there exist other approaches that can be employed. Prony’s method is a classical method that involves finding the roots of a polynomial, whose coefficients form a null vector of a certain Hankel matrix. Prony’s method and its variants have also been recently studied by Potts and Tasche (for eg., [39, 40]), Plonka and Tasche , and others. The matrix pencil (MP) method is another classical approach that involves computing the generalized eigenvalues of a suitable matrix pencil. Both these methods recoverexactly in the absence of noise provided (so samples), and are also computationally feasible. Recently, Moitra [36, Theorem 2.8] showed that the MP method is stable in the presence of noise provided the noise level is not too large, and . Moitra also showed [36, Corollary 1.4] that such a dependence is necessary, in the sense that if , then the noise level would have to be to be able to stably recover . More recently, Tang et al. [49, 48] studied approaches based on atomic norm minimization, which can be formulated as a SDP. In [49, Theorem 1.1], the authors considered the signs of the amplitudes of to be generated randomly, with noiseless samples. It was shown that if , and if the Fourier samples are obtained at indices selected uniformly at random from , then is recovered exactly with high probability. In[48, Thorem 1], the authors considered Gaussian noise in the samples and showed that if , then the solution returned by the SDP estimates the vector of original Fourier samples (i.e., ) at a mean square rate , with denoting variance of noise. Moreover, they also show[48, Theorem 2] that the spike locations and amplitude terms corresponding to the SDP solution are localized around the true values. Very similar in spirit to the MP method for sum of exponential estimation are the Pony-like methods ESPRIT and MUSIC which can also be used for spike train estimation using the same Fourier domain measurement trick as in . These methods can be interpreted as model reduction methods based on low–rank approximation of Hankel matrices . However, to the best of our knowledge, a precise, finite sample based analysis of ESPRIT, similar in spirit to the analysis of the MP method proposed in is still lacking, although a first step in this direction (using Adamian Arov and Krein theory) can be found in . 1.2 Super-resolution with multiple kernels In this paper, we consider a generalization of the standard super-resolution problem by assuming that the measurement process now involves a superposition of convolutions of several spike trains with different point spread functions. This problem, which we call the “multi-kernel unmixing super-resolution problem” appears naturally in many practical applications such as single molecule spectroscopy , spike sorting in neuron activity analysis[29, 6], DNA sequencing [30, 31], spike hunting in galaxy spectra [7, 33] etc. A problem of particular interest at the National Physical Laboratory, the UK’s national metrology institute, is isotope identification [34, 47] which is of paramount importance in nuclear security. Hand-held radio-isotope identifiers are known to suffer from poor performance and new and precise algorithms have to be devised for this problem. While it is legitimately expected for Radio Isotope Identifier Devices to be accurate across all radioactive isotopes, the US Department of Homeland Security requires all future identification systems to be able to meet a minimum identification standard set forth in ANSI N42.34. Effective identification from low resolution information is known to be reliably achievable by trained spectroscopists whereas automated identification using standard algorithms sometimes fails up to three fourth of the time . For instance, the spectrum of is plotted in Figure 1, which is extracted from [46, p.9]. Isotope identification involves the estimation of a set of peak locations in the gamma spectrum where the signal is blurred by convolution with kernels of different window sizes. Mixtures of different spectra can be particularly difficult to analyse using traditional methods and a need for precise unmixing algorithms in such generalised super-resolution problems may play an important role in future applications such as reliable isotope identification. Another application of interest is DNA sequencing in the vein of . Sequencing is usually performed using some of the variants of the enzymatic method invented by Frederick Sanger . Sequencing is based on enzymatic reactions, electrophoresis, and some detection technique. Electrophoresis is a technique used to separate the DNA sub-fragments produced as the output of four specific chemical reactions, as described in more detail in . DNA fragments are negatively charged in solution. An efficient color-coding strategy has been developed to permit sizing of all four kinds of DNA sub-fragments by electrophoresis in a single lane of a slab gel or in a capillary. In each of the four chemical reactions, the primers are labeled by one of four different fluorescent dyes. The dyes are then excited by a laser based con-focal fluorescent detection system, in a region within the slab gel or capillary. In that process, fluorescence intensities are emitted in four wavelength bands as shown with different color codes in Figure 2 below. However, quoting , “because the electrophoretic process often fails to separate peaks adequately, some form of deconvolution filter must be applied to the data to resolve overlapping events. This process is complicated by the variability of peak shapes, meaning that conventional deconvolution often fails.” The methods developed in the present paper aim at achieving accurate deconvolution with different peak shapes and might therefore be useful for practical deconvolution problems in DNA sequencing. We will now provide the mathematical formulation of the problem and describe the main idea of our approach along with our contributions, and discuss related work for this problem. 1.3 Problem formulation Say we have groups of point sources where and (with ) denote the locations and (complex-valued) amplitudes respectively of the sources in the group. Our signal of interest is defined as Let be a positive definite function111Recall from [51, Theorem 6.11] that a continuous function is positive definite if and only if is bounded and its Fourier transform is nonnegative and non vanishing. with its Fourier transform for . Consider distinct kernels , where . Let where denotes the convolution operator. Let denote the Fourier transform of , i.e., . Denoting the Fourier transform of by , we get Assuming black box access to the complex valued function , our aim is to recover estimates of and for each from few possibly noisy samples of . Here, denotes measurement noise at location . For ease of exposition, we will from now on consider to be a Gaussian, i.e., so that , . It is well known that is positive definite [51, Theorem 6.10], moreover, . We emphasize that our restriction to Gaussian kernels is only to minimize the amount of tedious computations in the proof. However, our proof technique can be extended to handle more general positive definite . 1.4 Main idea of our work: Fourier tail sampling To explain the main idea, let us consider the noiseless setting . Our main algorithmic idea stems from observing (1.3), wherein we notice that for sufficiently large, is equal to plus a perturbation term arising from the tails of . Thus, is equal to (which is a weighted sum of complex exponentials) plus a perturbation term. We control this perturbation by choosing to be sufficiently large, and recover estimates (up to a permutation ) via the Modified Matrix Pencil (MMP) method of Moitra (outlined as Algorithm 1). Given these, we form the estimate to where Provided the estimates are good enough, we will have . Therefore, by applying the above procedure to , we can hope to recover estimates of ’s and ’s as well. By proceeding recursively, it is clear that we can perform the above procedure to recover estimates to each and for all . A delicate issue that needs to be addressed for each intermediate group is the following. While estimating the parameters for group , the samples that we obtain will have perturbation arising due to (a) the tails of and, (b) the estimates computed thus far. In particular, going “too deep” in to the tail of would blow up the perturbation term in (b), while not going sufficiently deep would blow up the perturbation term in (a). Therefore, in order to obtain stable estimates to the parameters , we will need to control these perturbation terms by carefully choosing the locations, as well as the number of sampling points in the tail. Our choice of using the MMP method for estimating the spike locations and amplitudes at each stage is primarily dictated by two reasons. Firstly, it is extremely simple to implement in practice. Moreover, it comes with precise quantitative error bounds (see Theorem 3) for estimating the source parameters – especially for the setting of adversarial bounded noise – which fit seamlessly in the theoretical analysis of our method. Of course in practice, other methods tailored to handle sums of complex exponentials (such as ESPRIT, MUSIC etc.) could also be used. To our knowledge, error bounds of the form in Theorem 3 do not currently exist for these other methods. 1.5 Main results Our algorithm based on the aforementioned idea is outlined as Algorithm 2 which we name KrUMMP (Kernel Unmixing via Modified Matrix Pencil). Our main result for the noiseless setting () is stated as Theorem 5 in its full generality. We state its following informal version assuming the spike amplitudes in each group to be , and with used to hide positive constants. Note that is the usual wrap around distance on (see (2.1)) Theorem 1 (Noiseless case). The conditions on imply that the estimation errors corresponding to group should be sufficiently smaller than that of group . This is because the estimation errors arising in stage percolate to stage , and hence need to be controlled for stable recovery of source parameters for the group. Note that the conditions on (sampling offset at stage ) involve upper and lower bounds for reasons stated in the previous section. If is close to then will have to be suitably large in order to distinguish between and , as one would expect intuitively. An interesting feature of the result is that it only depends on separation within a group (specified by ), and so spikes belonging to different groups are allowed to overlap. Our second result is for the noisy setting. Say at stage of Algorithm 2, we observe where denotes noise at location . Our main result for this setting is Theorem 6. Denoting to be the noise vector at stage , we state its informal version below assuming the spike amplitudes in each group to be . 2 Notation and Preliminaries Vectors and matrices are denoted by lower and upper cases letters respectively, For , we denote . The imaginary unit is denoted by . The () norm of a vector is denoted by (defined as ). In particular, . For a matrix , we will denote its spectral norm (i.e., largest singular value) byand its Frobenius norm by (defined as ). For positive numbers , we denote to mean that there exists an absolute constant such that . The wrap around distance on is denoted by where we recall that 2.1 Matrix Pencil (MP) method We now review the classical Matrix Pencil (MP) method for estimating positions of point sources from Fourier samples. Consider the signal where , are unknown. Let be the Fourier transform of so that . For any given offset , let where ; clearly where . Choose to form the matrices Denoting for , and the Vandermonde matrix clearly and . Here, and are diagonal matrices. One can readily verify222Recall (see [26, Definition 2.1]) that (where ) is a generalized eigenvalue of if it satisfies Clearly, this is only satisfied if (see also [24, Theorem 2.1]). that the non zero generalized eigenvalues of () are equal to the ’s. Hence by forming the matrices , we can recover the unknown ’s exactly from samples of . Once the ’s are recovered, we can recover the ’s exactly, as the solution of the linear system Thereafter, the ’s are found as . 2.2 The Modified Matrix Pencil (MMP) method We now consider the noisy version of the setup defined in the previous section. For a collection of point sources with parameters , , we are given noisy samples for and where denotes noise. Before proceeding we need to make some definitions. Let and . We denote the largest and smallest non zero singular values of by respectively, and the condition number of by where . Let . We will define as the minimum separation between the locations of the point sources where . The following theorem is a more precise version of [36, Theorem 2.8], with the constants computed explicitly. Moreover, the result in [36, Theorem 2.8] was specifically for the case . We outline Moitra’s proof in Appendix A.1 for completeness and fill in additional details (using auxiliary results from Appendix B) to arrive at the statement of Theorem 3. Theorem 3 (). For , say . Moreover, for , say Then, there exists a permutation such that the output of the MMP method satisfies for each where is formed by permuting the indices of w.r.t . For where is a constant, say . Moreover, for , say Then, there exists a permutation such that the output of the MMP method satisfies for each where , and is formed by permuting the indices of w.r.t . 3 Unmixing Gaussians in Fourier domain: Noiseless case We now turn our attention to the main focus of this paper, namely that of unmixing Gaussians in the Fourier domain. We will in general assume the Fourier samples to be noisy as in (2.5), with defined in (1.3). In this section, we will focus on the noiseless setting wherein for each . The noisy setting is analyzed in the next section. Let us begin by noting that when , i.e., in the case of a single kernel, the problem is solved easily. Indeed, we have from (1.3) that . Clearly, one can exactly recover and via the MP method by first obtaining the samples , , …, , and then working with . The situation for the case is however more delicate. Before proceeding, we need to make some definitions and assumptions. We will denote and . The sources in the group are assumed to have a minimum separation of 3.1 The case of two kernels We first consider the case of two Gaussian kernels as the analysis here is relatively easier to digest compared to the general case. Note that is now of the form where we recall ; . The following theorem provides sufficient conditions on the choice of the sampling parameters for approximate recovery of for each .	<urn:uuid:c96fc008-4073-4009-a97f-32bb198d2dde>	CC-MAIN-2022-05	https://deepai.org/publication/multi-kernel-unmixing-and-super-resolution-using-the-modified-matrix-pencil-method	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-05/segments/1642320300253.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20220117000754-20220117030754-00581.warc.gz	en	0.930059	4,392	2.5625	3
The dictionary defines "anger" as, "a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong; wrath; ire." Anger is an important thing to handle correctly. Anger has led to the death of many, the degrading of relationships and friendships, wars, it has incited wrath, and other such things. But at the same time, it can be used for correction, if properly utilized. It has been said that anger is sin, and therefore Jesus sinned when He was angry in the Temple at Jerusalem. Is there any credence to this claim, or is it simply a misunderstanding of anger? In this entry, we seek how to properly handle anger.[1, "anger." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 03 May. 2011. ] (Photo credit: Kaavs Virtual World) Understand that everyone, in some way, struggles with anger. You are not alone. By His grace, God has given us guidelines and principles to help us to overcome sinful anger, and to keep ourselves under control. Anger is not always a sin, as some believe. The Bible approves of what we call "righteous anger." When Jesus entered into the Temple and saw that it was a market-place, He became angry and "made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables." Jesus was exhibiting "righteous anger," that is, the defense of others, not of oneself. According to James 1:20, "...our anger does not produce righteousness that God desires." In other words, when it is selfishly motivated, that is when anger turns into sin. Anger also turns to sin when God's goal is ignored, and when we allow anger to linger and build up. (see Ephesians 4:26-27) Ephesians 4:29 conveys, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." This includes degrading others in your anger, yelling at them in an incorrect approach, slandering, swearing at them, and cursing. Romans 3:13-14 says, "'Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.' 'The poison of vipers is on their lips.'" (Quoting Psalm 5:9; 140:3) Poisonous speech is a characteristic every fallen person has. Proverbs 29:11 says, "Fools give full vent of their anger, but the wise bring calm in the end." When we allow our anger to take control of us, we lose sensibility and our actions can have disastrous consequences. We must keep ourselves in check. How then can anger be dealt with? Proverbs 28:13, "Those who conceal their sins do not prosper, but those who confess and renounce them find mercy." First, confess your sins to God, and realize that it is your own doing, do not shift the blame to others. Anger can be handled in a biblical manner. James 1:2-4 conveys, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." We all go through difficult and stressful times, but this develops perseverance. Likewise, such experiences and challenges help to shape and define you, as well as refine you. If you choose to reject the lessons you have learned, you are bound to learn them again, and the next time it may not be learned as easily. Take the experiences you have had, the challenges you have faced, accept them, and face life head-on. Trust in God, (Proverbs 3:5-6) and He will direct your paths. In all this, do no worry. "Can any one of you by worrying add even a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:27) Understanding that God is in control can radically change our perspective on life. When we begin to understand and believe this, we start to see God's hand in the trials and tribulations we face. Biblically speaking, allow room for God's wrath, not your own. God seeks justice and will have justice, because he is a just and faithful God. (1st John 1:9) Romans 12:21 says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Your heart can be altered by your actions, and it is better to do so in a positive manner, therefore, do not return evil with evil, but return evil with good. Ephesians 4:15 reads, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ." Verses 25-28 say, "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Those who have been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." Verses 30-32 conclude, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Speak candidly, be open and honest, when communicating to solve an issue. Also, do not allow whatever may be bothering you build up until it boils over like tea in a kettle - share and deal with the issue before it gets to that point. As Ephesians 4:29 and 31 succinctly point out, we are not to attack the person, but the problem itself. We must also act decisively and not react in an angry fashion. Think before you act. Understand and know that you cannot control how others act or even react, however, you can control how you act. It is true that a temper will not go away simply overnight. It is something that takes prayer, regular reading of God's Word, trusting in God, and accepting responsibility, "facing the music." Sinful anger can become a bit of a habit in our day-to-day lives, yet if we begin to respond in godly anger, if we get rid of anger, malice, rage, bitterness, brawling and slander, perhaps we will habitually begin to be compassionate toward one another, as well as kind. Also note that, according to Scripture, we ought not raise our voices. As Proverbs 15:1 so adequately points out, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." If you react to a situation by raising your voice, reacting in anger without first knowing why, or taking the time to consider the godly thing to do, we can cause a lot of strife, grief, fear, and consequently broken relationships and friendships may ensue. Proverbs 13:10 says, "Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." Anger can consume a person if not properly handled, and thankfully, God gives us His guidelines for dealing with anger. Thank you for reading this entry of "The Truth." Feel free to comment below (yet we ask that you remain civil, or your comment will not be published), email [email protected] or The Truth Ministries team at [email protected], visit our facebook page, or visit our ministry website. Take care, dear reader, trust in the Lord in all you do, and He will direct you. God bless! Troy Hillman	<urn:uuid:85e3bcce-9780-4211-9934-446d8c2275a6>	CC-MAIN-2017-22	http://thetruth-blog.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-does-bible-say-concerning-anger.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-22/segments/1495463608648.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20170526071051-20170526091051-00304.warc.gz	en	0.951514	1,657	2.859375	3
Vanuatu joins the Union 24 August 2012 \| News story The Government of the Republic of Vanuatu has officially announced its decision to join IUCN by endorsing the IUCN Statutes. The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been designated by the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu as its liaison with the IUCN Secretariat. IUCN extends its warmest welcome to Vanuatu, an archipelago of over 80 islands in the South Pacific Ocean located east of Australia and west of Fiji. Vanuatu is mountainous with a few active volcanoes on some islands. It is part of the biodiversity hotspot of east Melanesia, harboring notable endemic species and diverse marine and coastal life. Many communities rely heavily on native species for their livelihoods, and as such, the economic, social and cultural value of species is very high. Natural resources are invaluable to the people of Vanuatu; agriculture and eco-tourism are the main sources of revenue. A country rich in culture; Vanuatu is considered one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, with more than 100 distinct languages and dialects. The Government of Vanuatu is party to key environmental conventions, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and others. “Vanuatu is a critical link in ensuring the Melanesian countries are on board – especially with their unique biodiversity and cultural contribution to the global community,” says Taholo Kami, Regional Director, IUCN Oceania. IUCN Oceania has been working with the Vanuatu government under its Energy programme, looking at alternative renewable energy resources, and through the Water and Wetlands programme, whereby Vanuatu is a receiving country under the Mangrove Ecosystems for Climate Change Adaptation and Livelihoods project, which aims to safeguard and manage mangrove ecosystems in five Pacific countries. IUCN Oceania looks forward to continued collaboration in these and other programme areas. For more information on IUCN Membership in Oceania please contact Helen Pippard, Membership Focal Point at [email protected]	<urn:uuid:410e48f6-4bdc-45f4-933d-ac57995cfea1>	CC-MAIN-2015-32	http://cms.iucn.org/fr/nouvelles_homepage/nouvelles_par_region/afrique_de_l_est_et_du_sud_news/?10733/1/Vanuatu-joins-the-Union	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-32/segments/1438042986357.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20150728002306-00244-ip-10-236-191-2.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.92386	474	2.515625	3
Understanding Gambling Motivations Can Help You to Stop Your Loved One’s Gambling Habits Gambling is a common activity that involves playing a game of chance for money. It can be conducted in a wide range of places, including casinos, racetracks, sports events, and online games. Often, people gamble for the excitement of the experience and the chance to win a prize. A gambling problem can lead to financial and emotional problems, which is why it is important to understand what causes a person to lose control of their gambling behaviour. Understanding your loved one’s reasons for gambling can help you to understand how to support them in stopping their habits. The most common reasons for gambling include a desire to win money, socialisation, and pleasure. These motivations are often related to the brain’s reward system. The release of dopamine when a person wins, for example, can make them feel euphoric or “high.” It is also thought that gambling may help people to cope with stress. Some people use gambling as a way to relieve unpleasant feelings or unwind after a stressful day at work, after an argument with a spouse, or after a bad breakup. In some cases, people can become addicted to gambling, and this is a very serious issue that requires professional help. Fortunately, there are many effective treatment options available for those who have a gambling disorder and can’t stop their habits on their own. These treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches people to think differently about their gambling and to resist the urge to gamble. They also involve forming a strong support network, which can be vital in overcoming a gambling addiction. There are also many other types of therapy that can help to deal with a gambling problem, including psychodynamic therapies, which look at the person’s relationship with the gambling. These therapies can be used by families, and may help to change underlying beliefs and emotions that lead someone to gamble. Those who suffer from gambling disorders are usually unable to control their urges and have a high risk of harming themselves or others. They can also develop other problems such as depression and anxiety, which can be more difficult to treat. They can be very socially isolated, and can even start to feel guilty about their gambling activities. This can cause them to lose confidence in themselves and lead them to seek other forms of stimulation, such as alcohol or drugs. This can cause them to gamble more, leading to a cycle of addiction and negative consequences. It can also affect their relationships and their ability to earn a living.	<urn:uuid:f43bc23f-49c8-4a6d-995e-837043fe797d>	CC-MAIN-2023-14	http://everydaymakeupblog.com/index.php/2023/02/26/understanding-gambling-motivations-can-help-you-to-stop-your-loved-ones-gambling-habits/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945376.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20230325222822-20230326012822-00790.warc.gz	en	0.973252	522	2.640625	3
RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN RATS Respiratory disease in rats is caused by a combination factors: - genetic susceptibility of individual rats - an immune system compromised by stress (for example, a recent move to a pet store or new home, overcrowding, and dusty, dirty housing) Infection is not usually just one bacteria or one virus causing trouble; most often it is one bacteria, Mycoplasma, combining in different ways with other bacteria and viruses. Once infection is established: - respiratory secretions of fluid and mucus increase, obstructing the nasal passages and potentially filling the lungs and chest - the mucus secretions create a biofilm lining the respiratory tract, where bacteria live protected from antibiotics - an abnormally vigorous inflammation occurs, leading in the short term to swelling in the airways and in the long term to the lungs changing from soft, supple air-filled space to hard, dense tissue with little room for air - occasionally the probem spreads to the inner ears, causing problems with balance, head tilt, and circling - less commonly the problem can involve the heart or its external lining, the pericardium SIGNS OF ILLNESS - breathing difficulties: sneezing, wheezing, severely increased respiratory rate and effort - nose bleeds - decreased appetite - debility: weight loss, poor fur quality - sudden death Our diagnosis of respiratory disease is based on the history, physical exam, and trial antibiotic therapy. X-rays are often useful to determine the extent and severity of the problem, and an echocardiogram can help us determine if the heart is involved. When a rat is having obvious, severe breathing difficulty that has developed quickly we hospitalize it in order to treat with an oxygen cage and injectable and nebulized medications. We treat rats that are stable (eating and acting well despite respiratory signs) as outpatients with oral antibiotics and sometimes other medications. In most cases respiratory disease becomes chronic and requires repeated treatment with antibiotics and other medications over the rat's lifetime. It is extremely important for the owner to provide an excellent environment: - recycled pelleted paper bedding instead of fragrant wood chips - an open cage rather than a closed aquarium-type one - cage cleaned frequently to avoid urine build-up - avoid fragrant cleaning agents, dusty environments, and tobacco smoke For rats that have a rapid onset of severe signs the death rate is high. Rats that milder signs of slower onset usually develop chronic breathing problems. These problems fluctuate from mild to severe, and usually they require medical treatment, either intermittently or persistently. Most rats carry Mycoplasma and other bacteria and viruses in their respiratory tracts normally. These microorganisms are shed in their respiratory secretions, so rats kept in close contact with each other, especially young rats, are inevitably exposed to them. Exposure to bacteria and/or viruses is very likely to occur but whether or not a rat becomes ill, and how ill it becomes, depends on other factors combining with infection. The most important other factors are the genetic susceptibilty of the individual rats and whether or not the rat's immune system is depressed by environmental stresses. The microorganisms that are involved in rat respiratory disease are extremely unlikely to affect people, but people with poor immune system health are at increased risk. There is one report of transmission of Mycoplasma to healthy laboratory personnel.	<urn:uuid:0a275225-7854-4a2e-9f4e-f4145f2198e6>	CC-MAIN-2019-04	https://www.yarmouthvetcenter.com/rat-respiratory-disease.pml	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547584334618.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20190123151455-20190123173455-00524.warc.gz	en	0.934442	721	3.28125	3
ATLANTA, Georgia -- About 75 workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are being monitored following their potential exposure to anthrax. CNN reports that the accidental exposure was discovered June 13. The CDC confirmed the risk, and discussed the agency's response, in a statement posted to its website. "Out of an abundance of caution, CDC is taking aggressive steps to protect the health of all involved, including providing protective courses of antibiotics for potentially exposed staff," the statement reads. "Based on most of the potential exposure scenarios, the risk of infection is very low. Based on the review to date, CDC believes that other CDC staff, family members and the general public are not at risk of exposure and do not need to take any protective action." Investigation into the potential exposure indicates that workers did not properly inactivate anthrax samples before using them in experiments in labs that were not equipped to handle live anthrax spores, CNN reports. Workers in those labs subsequently did not wear appropriate protective gear.	<urn:uuid:1eb3fa95-96ec-4b5e-b1d6-b35c43b8f842>	CC-MAIN-2016-40	http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/06/cdc_treating_75_of_own_staff_f.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-40/segments/1474738661155.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160924173741-00153-ip-10-143-35-109.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.963976	204	2.796875	3
Today is the birthday (1868) of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO, RN, a British Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13. On the first expedition, he set a new southern record by marching to latitude 82°S and discovered the Polar Plateau, on which the South Pole is located. During the second venture, Scott led a party of five which reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, only to find that they had been preceded by Roald Amundsen’s Norwegian expedition. On their return journey, Scott’s party discovered plant fossils, proving Antarctica was once forested and joined to other continents. At a distance of 150 miles from their base camp and 11 miles from the next depot, Scott and his companions died from a combination of exhaustion, starvation and extreme cold. Before his appointment to lead the Discovery Expedition, Scott had followed the conventional career of a naval officer in peacetime Victorian Britain. In 1899, he had a chance encounter with Sir Clements Markham, the president of the Royal Geographical Society, and learned for the first time of a planned Antarctic expedition. A few days later, on 11 June, Scott appeared at the Markham residence and volunteered to lead the expedition. Having taken this step, his name became inseparably associated with the Antarctic, the field of work to which he remained committed during the final twelve years of his life. Following the news of his death, Scott became an iconic British hero, a status reflected by the many permanent memorials erected across the nation. In the closing decades of the 20th century, the legend was reassessed as attention focused on the causes of the disaster that ended his and his comrades’ lives. From a previously unassailable position, Scott became a figure of controversy, with questions raised about his competence and character. Commentators in the 21st century have on the whole regarded Scott more positively, emphasizing his personal bravery and stoicism while acknowledging his errors and, more recently, errors by his team members, but ascribing the expedition’s fate primarily to misfortune. When I learnt about Scott in school in the 1950s and’60s he was generally regarded as a hero and there was not a lot said about his mistakes. I did think it was a bad idea to use ponies and motorized vehicles for hauling supplies (and if I remember rightly, my teacher said something about it too). But it was not made much of. The focus was most definitely on the whole party’s courage against the odds. The 1948 film Scott of the Antarctic, which I saw on television, said much the same thing. I did not know the whole story. Here it is, and you can decide for yourselves. Ernest Shackleton forged an expedition to the Pole from 1907 to 1909, but returned from the Antarctic having narrowly failed to reach the Pole. This gave Scott the impetus to proceed with his own plans for his second Antarctic expedition. On 24 March 1909, he had taken the Admiralty-based appointment of naval assistant to the Second Sea Lord which placed him conveniently in London. In December he was released on half-pay, to take up the full-time command of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910, to be known as the Terra Nova Expedition from its ship, Terra Nova. It was the expressed hope of the Royal Geographic Society (RGS) that this expedition would be “scientific primarily, with exploration and the Pole as secondary objects” but Scott stated that its main objective was “to reach the South Pole, and to secure for the British Empire the honor of this achievement”. In a memorandum of 1908, Scott presented his view that man-hauling to the South Pole was impossible and that motor traction was needed. Snow vehicles did not yet exist however, and so his engineer Reginald Skelton developed the idea of a caterpillar track for snow surfaces. In the middle of 1909 Scott realized that motors were unlikely to get him all the way to the Pole, and decided additionally to take horses (based on Shackleton’s near success in attaining the Pole, using ponies), and dogs and skis after consultation with Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen during trials of the motors in Norway in March 1910. Man-hauling would still be needed on the Polar Plateau, on the assumption that motors and animals could not ascend the crevassed Beardmore Glacier. Dog expert Cecil Meares was going to Siberia to select the dogs, and Scott ordered that, while he was there, he should deal with the purchase of Manchurian ponies. Meares was not an experienced horse-dealer, and the ponies he chose proved mostly of poor quality, and ill-suited to prolonged Antarctic work. Meanwhile, Scott also recruited Bernard Day, from Shackleton’s expedition, as his motor expert. On 15 June 1910, Scott’s ship Terra Nova, an old converted whaler, set sail from Cardiff. Scott meanwhile was fundraising in Britain and joined the ship later in South Africa. Arriving in Melbourne in October 1910, Scott received a telegram from Amundsen stating: “Beg leave to inform you Fram proceeding Antarctic Amundsen,” indicating that Scott faced a race to the pole. The expedition suffered a series of early misfortunes which hampered the first season’s work and impaired preparations for the main polar march. On its journey from New Zealand to the Antarctic, Terra Nova nearly sank in a storm and was then trapped in pack ice for 20 days, far longer than other ships had experienced, which meant a late-season arrival and less time for preparatory work before the Antarctic winter. At Cape Evans in Antarctica, one of the motor sledges was lost during its unloading from the ship, breaking through the sea ice and sinking. Deteriorating weather conditions and weak, unacclimatized ponies affected the initial depot-laying journey, so that the expedition’s main supply point, One Ton Depot, was laid 35 miles (56 km) north of its planned location at 80° S. Lawrence Oates, in charge of the ponies, advised Scott to kill ponies for food and advance the depot to 80° S, which Scott refused to do. Oates is reported as saying to Scott, “Sir, I’m afraid you’ll come to regret not taking my advice.” Four ponies died during this journey either from the cold or because they slowed the team down so they were shot. On its return to base, the expedition learned of the presence of Amundsen, camped with his crew and a large contingent of dogs in the Bay of Whales, 200 miles (320 km) to their east. Scott conceded that his ponies would not be able to start early enough in the season to compete with Amundsen’s cold-tolerant dog teams for the pole, and also acknowledged that the Norwegian’s base was closer to the pole by 60 miles. Shortly afterwards, the death toll among the ponies increased to six, two drowning when sea-ice unexpectedly disintegrated, casting in doubt the possibility of reaching the pole at all. However, during the 1911 winter Scott’s confidence increased; on 2 August, after the return of a three-man party from their winter journey to Cape Crozier, Scott wrote, “I feel sure we are as near perfection as experience can direct.” Scott outlined his plans for the southern journey to the entire shore party, but left open who would form the final polar team. Eleven days before Scott’s teams set off towards the pole, Scott gave the dog driver Meares the following written orders at Cape Evans dated 20 October 1911 to secure Scott’s speedy return from the pole using dogs: About the first week of February I should like you to start your third journey to the South, the object being to hasten the return of the third Southern unit [the polar party] and give it a chance to catch the ship. The date of your departure must depend on news received from returning units, the extent of the depot of dog food you have been able to leave at One Ton Camp, the state of the dogs, etc … It looks at present as though you should aim at meeting the returning party about March 1 in Latitude 82 or 82.30 The march south began on 1 November 1911, a caravan of mixed transport groups (motors, dogs, horses), with loaded sledges, traveling at different rates, all designed to support a final group of four men who would make a dash for the Pole. The southbound party steadily reduced in size as successive support teams turned back. Scott reminded the returning surgeon Edward Atkinson of the order “to take the two dog-teams south in the event of Meares having to return home, as seemed likely”. By 4 January 1912, the last two four-man groups had reached 87° 34′ S. Scott announced his decision: five men (Scott, Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers, Lawrence Oates and Edgar Evans) would go forward, the other three (Teddy Evans, William Lashly and Tom Crean) would return. The chosen group marched on, reaching the Pole on 17 January 1912, only to find that Amundsen had preceded them by five weeks. Scott’s anguish is indicated in his diary: “The worst has happened”; “All the day dreams must go”; “Great God! This is an awful place.” The deflated party began the 800-mile (1,300 km) return journey on 19 January. “I’m afraid the return journey is going to be dreadfully tiring and monotonous”, wrote Scott on that day. However, the party made good progress despite poor weather, and had completed the Polar Plateau stage of their journey, approximately 300 miles (500 km), by 7 February. In the following days, as the party made the 100-mile (160 km) descent of the Beardmore Glacier, the physical condition of Edgar Evans, which Scott had noted with concern as early as 23 January, declined sharply. A fall on 4 February had left Evans “dull and incapable”, and on 17 February, after another fall, he died near the glacier foot. Meanwhile back at Cape Evans, the Terra Nova arrived at the beginning of February, and Atkinson decided to unload the supplies from the ship with his own men rather than set out south with the dogs to meet Scott as ordered. When Atkinson finally did leave south for the planned rendezvous with Scott, he encountered the scurvy-ridden Edward (“Teddy”) Evans who needed his urgent medical attention. Atkinson therefore tried to send the experienced navigator Wright south to meet Scott, but chief meteorologist Simpson declared he needed Wright for scientific work. Atkinson then decided to send the short-sighted assistant zoologist Apsley Cherry-Garrard on 25 February, who was not able to navigate, only as far as One Ton depot (which is within sight of Mount Erebus), effectively cancelling Scott’s orders for meeting him at latitude 82 or 82.30 on 1 March. On the return journey from the Pole, Scott reached the 82.30°S meeting point for the dog teams, three days ahead of schedule, noting in his diary for 27 February 1912 “We are naturally always discussing possibility of meeting dogs, where and when, etc. It is a critical position. We may find ourselves in safety at the next depot, but there is a horrid element of doubt.” By March 10 it became evident the dog teams were not coming: “The dogs which would have been our salvation have evidently failed. Meares [the dog-driver] had a bad trip home I suppose. It’s a miserable jumble.” With 400 miles (670 km) still to travel across the Ross Ice Shelf, Scott’s party’s prospects steadily worsened as, with deteriorating weather, a puzzling lack of fuel in the depots, hunger and exhaustion, they struggled northward. In a farewell letter to Sir Edgar Speyer, dated March 16, Scott wondered whether he had overshot the meeting point and fought the growing suspicion that he had in fact been abandoned by the dog teams: “We very nearly came through, and it’s a pity to have missed it, but lately I have felt that we have overshot our mark. No-one is to blame and I hope no attempt will be made to suggest that we had lacked support.” On the same day, Oates, whose toes had become frostbitten, voluntarily left the tent and walked to his death. Scott wrote that Oates’ last words were “I am just going outside and may be some time”. After walking 20 miles farther despite Scott’s toes now becoming frostbitten, the three remaining men made their final camp on 19 March, 11 miles (18 km) short of One Ton Depot. The next day a fierce blizzard prevented their making any progress. During the next nine days, as their supplies ran out, and with storms still raging outside the tent, Scott and his companions wrote their farewell letters. Scott gave up his diary after 23 March, save for a final entry on 29 March, with its concluding words: “Last entry. For God’s sake look after our people”. He left letters to Wilson’s mother, Bowers’ mother, a string of notables including his former commander Sir George Egerton, his own mother and his wife. He also wrote his “Message To The Public”, primarily a defense of the expedition’s organization and conduct in which the party’s failure is attributed to weather and other misfortunes, but ending on an inspirational note, with these words: We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last … Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for. Scott is presumed to have died on 29 March 1912, or possibly one day later. The positions of the bodies in the tent when it was discovered eight months later suggested that Scott was the last of the three to die. The bodies of Scott and his companions were discovered by a search party on 12 November 1912 and their records retrieved. Their final camp became their tomb; a high cairn of snow was erected over it, topped by a roughly fashioned cross. In January 1913, before Terra Nova left for home, a large wooden cross was made by the ship’s carpenters, inscribed with the names of the lost party and Tennyson’s line from his poem Ulysses: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield”, and was erected as a permanent memorial on Observation Hill, overlooking Hut Point. Oxo was one of the sponsors of Scott’s expedition. Concentrated meat extract was invented by Justus von Liebig around 1840 and commercialized by Liebig’s Extract of Meat Company (Lemco) starting in 1866. The original product was a viscous liquid containing only meat extract and 4% salt. In 1899, the company introduced the trademark Oxo for a cheaper version; the origin of the name is unknown, but presumably comes from the word ‘ox’. The first Oxo cubes were produced in 1910 and further increased Oxo’s popularity, as the cubes were cheaper than the liquid. This means that Scott did not take Oxo cubes to the Antarctic but presumably took meat extract. I’ve always been a fan of Oxo cubes using them as a simple hot drink when I want something besides mate or tea, or when I need a lift when convalescent. I also use them quite often to enliven soups and stews. Here’s Oxo’s recipe site for beef cubes (they now make several flavors) http://www.oxo.co.uk/recipes They’re not very imaginative I’m afraid, but you get the general idea. One of my personal favorites is beef and barley soup, warming for polar weather. It’s much like Scotch Broth but with beef instead of lamb, and you can ring the changes with the vegetables (http://www.bookofdaystales.com/st-andrew/). My heuristic recipe: ©Beef and Barley Soup Chop an onion and sauté in olive oil over medium heat in a heavy stock pot until golden. Set aside, heat the remaining oil to high, and brown 1 pound of lean beef, cut in bite-sized pieces, on all sides. Add 2 pints of water, 2 cups of pearl barley, and 2 Oxo cubes. Bring to a boil and simmer. Whilst on the simmer you can chop and add what you want in the way of veggies and herbs. I always add the green parts of leeks (well scrubbed), and sometimes carrots. For flavor I use freshly ground black pepper, fresh parsley, and thyme. You can add rosemary as well if you like. I never add salt to my recipes, especially here because the Oxo cubes have enough. Simmer until the barley is cooked, about an hour, adding more water as needed. Add the white parts of leeks cut into thin rounds, adjust the seasonings, and simmer for about 10 minutes more. Serve in deep bowls with crusty bread.	<urn:uuid:f7b9c5b8-ca66-48a5-b27d-c1dc1ff639bb>	CC-MAIN-2017-47	http://www.bookofdaystales.com/robert-falcon-scott/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806086.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20171120164823-20171120184823-00463.warc.gz	en	0.978331	3,743	2.984375	3
The bones of people who died from the Black Death have been found in the course of extending London’s rail system. One interpretation of the what has been found may upend centuries of teaching about how the plague spread. The remains have also provided insight into the poor state of Londeners’ health even before the disease hit. In 1348 London was hit by probably the most devastating plague in its history. It is estimated 60% of Londoner’s died from it in the space of less than a year. Under such circumstances, not a lot of care was taken of the dead and many were dumped in mass graves outside what was then the city. Over time the exact location was lost, but while excavating for the London Crossrail skeletons have been found, and Crossrail’s lead archaeologist Jay Carver told the BBC , “Further excavations will follow to see if – as we expect – we are coming across a much bigger mass burial trench” located under the Charterhouse Square. If so, it will, “solve a 660-year old mystery.” But the first research on the bones found has also challenged the idea that the plague spread via fleas carried by rats. Traces of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes the Black Death, have been extracted from the teeth of some of the skeletons found beneath the square. The puzzling thing they found was not that the DNA had some particularly lethal feature, but that it appeared the same as that from a 2012 outbreak in Madagascar. In a soon to be released documentary Dr Tim Brooks from Public Health England’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory will argue that the similarity with the Madagascan bacterium proves that the Black Death was not bubonic plague, as has been thought, but pneumonic plague. Both are caused by the Y Pestis bacteria, but while the one is spread by fleas, the other is transmitted directly from human to human through the air. Brooks’ work has yet to be published in a peer reviewed journal and may face considerable opposition. However, he argues that the pattern of spread of the Black Death is far more in keeping with pneumonic plague than its bubonic sibling, Transmission through the air can happen much more quickly than via fleas. Brooks told The Guardian , “As an explanation [rat fleas] for the Black Death in its own right, it simply isn’t good enough. It cannot spread fast enough from one household to the next to cause the huge number of cases that we saw during the Black Death epidemics.” Cases of pneumonic plague have been recorded, but the lung infections that distinguish it were thought to be much rarer than the swollen areas under the armpits and between the legs of the bubonic version. Musician Louis Heyligen, who died of the plague in France in 1348 described it as taking “three forms” and distinguished between those whose lungs were infected and those with boils under the arms or groin, suggesting both may have been factors at the time. Unsurprisingly Heyligen didn’t fuss about a census of which was the dominant mode of transmission. Modern outbreaks of Y pestis, if untreated, are as deadly as the 14th Century version. Today the death toll is around 2000 a year, almost entirely in places where antibiotics are not widely available. Examination of the bones by Don Walker of the Museum of London Archeology reveals that many of the skeletons were malnourished and one in six had rickets. The defective bone mineralization of rickets can be caused by a number of things, most commonly inadequate vitamin D or calcium, particularly as a result of famine during early childhood. Agricultural improvements in previous centuries had led to substantial population growth in Europe, and by the early 14th Century food shortages were common. Many of the bodies found also showed signs of back damage in keeping with hard manual labor, and minerals incorporated in their bones indicate 40% grew up away from London. The cemetery was reused during a subsequent outbreak more than 80 years later. Many of the skeletons from 1430s had injuries consistent with surviving violence, leading to the suggestion that the breakdown in society caused by the first round of plague was reflected in common anti-social behavior decades later. Ground-penetrating radar operated by the University of Keele has indicated the presence of far more bones and a building at the same level under the square. It is thought several thousand bodies may be found there. Wonder Of Science	<urn:uuid:b43aa1cc-4b84-4045-814d-fc204eb97bcd>	CC-MAIN-2017-30	https://latestsciencenewsblog.wordpress.com/2016/08/08/plague-victim-skeletons-reveal-secrets-of-the-black-death/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549426372.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20170726182141-20170726202141-00431.warc.gz	en	0.972711	941	3.640625	4
A smart producer's guide to marketing cull cows For most cattle producers, culling cows is not an easy task. However, some culling needs to be done each year to maintain optimal productivity. Records on each cow's yearly production would be beneficial when making culling decisions, but collecting some information when the cows are processed can give you a good place to start. Cattlemen should make it a point to evaluate all breeding females at least once a year. Weaning is likely the most convenient time to do this evaluation. In addition to their vaccinations, cows should also be pregnancy-tested, evaluated for structural soundness and aged based on the condition of their teeth. This information will take a little extra time to collect, but will be valuable when determining a culling order. In addition, this culling order will be useful during a drought as it is usually more profitable to cull unproductive cows as a drought is beginning than to try to hold on until the drought is over. Usually, the best cows to cull are the ones that have the least chance of being productive in the long term or are the farthest away from being productive. Use the following list as a guideline for establishing your culling order. Cull cows in this order until you reach the desired herd size. - Disposition: Some producers can tolerate more disposition problems than others. Disposition should be evaluated both in the pasture and in the pen because some cattle will react differently once corralled. Make a note of those animals that make it difficult to gather the herd or rotate pastures. Any animal that is aggressive should make the list. - Open females: All open females should be culled. According to the Cattle-Fax Cow/Calf and Stocker Survey, the average annual cash cost to carry a cow in 2006 was $366. It will be very difficult for an open cow to make up for a year of lost production. In addition, if a heifer does not settle in the same period as her contemporaries, she is telling you that she does not fit your management environment. - Structural soundness: Evaluate the structural soundness of each cow based on her ability to raise a calf. Anything that limits her ability should be noted. Look for bad feet or toes, a history of prolapse, eye problems and poor udder conformation, including bad quarters and big teats. To read the entire article, link here.	<urn:uuid:bd3b3baf-c2c4-4be8-9f85-6e729d39e8d4>	CC-MAIN-2014-15	http://beefmagazine.com/sectors/cow-calf/1110-guidelines-culling-cows	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609538423.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005218-00217-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.950562	495	2.59375	3
A lot pf people today remember the video games of their childhood. As generations go by, people are playing games more and they are getting harder. This is a growing phenomenon, so it does not look like there will be an end to it any time in the near future. If buying a game for a kid, make sure you solicit multiple opinions. There are many different types of games and many different interests. Know your game ratings. There are video games suitable for all ages, not just children; in fact, many of them aren’t child-friendly. Games are rated from EC, for Early Childhood, to AO, for Adults Only. Being familiar with the rating scales is especially important if you are planning to purchase a game for a child. If your child gets a game as a gift or if you are buying a gift, make sure to verify its ESRB rating. These ratings help you learn what games are best for your kid’s age level so that you can avoid inappropriate content. It will allow you to figure out if this is a good purchase or not for the person getting it. Use the parental control settings available with most games. It’s also wise to find out if the game is able to be played online. If possible, make sure your kids do not have unlimited Internet access. Additional precautions include monitoring friend requests or placing limits on gaming times. When playing video games, remember to take a stretch break three or four times hourly. You will tend to get repetitive motion injuries playing video games if you don’t stretch. When you stretch your muscles, you will not get cramps as easily and you reduce the risk of having blood clots. This is the only way to be healthy and play video games. Get to know the content and safety settings for each gaming console in your household. Younger children should not be exposed to violence or inappropriate content. There may even be options for you to individualize the control settings as well. Think about letting your kids video game on consoles instead of on computers. Consoles let you control their privacy, security settings, and content since they can bypass these restrictions online. Taking this step may help to protect your children from harm. Make gaming something you do with your children. Experiencing the game play together gives you a great chance to learn about your child and their interests. When you like some of the same things, you can strike up a conversation with your kids. You can spend time with them while aiding them in their skill development Limit your video game playing time. Playing video games can become addictive, which means you need to control your exposure. Put a cap on your gaming at about three hours. If you spend more than two hours playing a game, take a rest break. A PS2 is a great system that is older, but still maintains high quality. There are many titles available and they’re a fraction of the cost of newer system games. There are a lot of games for this already made. Many modern online games give you two choices. First, you can earn in-game content and rewards gradually through investment of your time and work. Or, you can just flat out buy them with your real world money. Evaluate the benefits of such purchases carefully! Such purchases may only provide limited in-game benefits. Some of these offers, however, can save you many hours of level grinding. Whenever you have a child that plays video games, you should set some rules on how long they are allowed to play. Make sure your kids do not play for longer than 2 hours each day, because longer than that is bad for their eyes and instills poor habits. Most gamers have preferences for their favorite types of games. However, you should not narrow your choices. Check out all options to ensure you’re not missing out. You might enjoy playing a certain type of game that you had not wanted to try before. Instead of a computer, try a regular gaming console system for your kids gaming pleasure. This is because you can set restriction more easily on consoles. They can have a far more protected experience on a dedicated console system. Many games have downloadable content usually called DLC. These are mostly bonuses and game expansions that you need to pay money to access. You should not pay an arm and a leg for a game. DLC is very expensive sometimes, make sure you kjnow what it will cost. Buying a game isn’t a simple decision. You don’t want to end up spending a bunch of money on something that isn’t a lot of fun prior to doing some research. Check online reviews first, and buy it if you like what you read. If you want to try out a game before buying it, try the library. Your local library may have video games and systems you can rent for free. Call and see if your library offers video games and systems for rental and check out their selection. Video games have been a important part of the childhood of more than one generation. Video games have undergone substantial changes over their history. A person can’t help but think of where gaming will go in the future. It will certainly be a fun ride, one that you never are sure what is coming next. Spend only a couple hours each day playing games. Playing these games can lead to an addiction, which can impact your social life. Do not exceed more than three hours of game play per day. Take a breather every now and again if you are going to be playing for awhile.	<urn:uuid:0b1656e2-ad36-43de-89e4-efab140e6d18>	CC-MAIN-2021-49	https://toys.internetinfomedia.com/confused-by-a-video-game-try-these-tips-and-tricks-to-get-ahead/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-49/segments/1637964358847.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20211129225145-20211130015145-00470.warc.gz	en	0.962373	1,143	2.734375	3
Table of Contents Introduction of pharmacognosy Pharmacognosy is the study of drugs derived from natural sources. Pharmacognosy is “systematic study of crude drug” obtained from natural origin like plant, animal and minerals. It is a branch of pharmacology that focuses on the medicinal properties and traditional uses of plants, animals, and minerals. Pharmacognosy explores the relationship between plants and their components or products and their therapeutic use. It involves identifying active ingredients in any source, how they influence biological systems, how they interact with other compounds, and how to use them for medicinal purposes. This article is on introduction of pharmacognosy. These are those drugs, which are obtained from natural sources like plants, animals and minerals. Crude drugs are the active components of a plant that are used to make medicines and other products. They have been used for centuries to treat various ailments, including pain, fever, digestive problems, and infections. Crude drugs may be derived from either plants or animals. The most common sources of crude drugs include bark, leaves, roots, stems, and flowers of plants. Animal sources include bones, horns, teeth, feathers and secretions of certain animals. This article is on introduction of pharmacognosy Scope of pharmacognosy Pharmacognosy is a branch of pharmacy that deals with the study of medicinal plants and their active ingredients. It is an important subject as it helps to identify, research and develop new drugs from natural sources. It is also used to understand the potential health benefits of traditional medicines. The scope of pharmacognosy has grown over the years due to advancements in the field of biotechnology and genetic engineering. It has enabled us to identify active ingredients present in herbs and other plant-based products which can be used for medicinal purposes. These are some major scopes is pharmacognosy: 1. Herbal medicines 5. Food & drug inspector 6. Traditional system medicine Sources of drugs 1. Plant sources 2. Animal sources 3. Mineral sources 4. Marine sources 5. Plant tissue culture 1. Plant sources Plant sources is the oldest and longest sources of drug. They have been used in the treatment of various disease from ancient time. The traditional system of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy and Unani system are based on the use of plants. Many of the plant products are having important therapeutic agents like alkaloids, glycosides and volatile oils etc. 2. Animal sources It is the second largest sources of drug. Many parts of animals are a good source of drug and also some tissue/cells of human/animals are used in manufacturing of drug. The major groups of animal’s products used in medicine are hormones, enzymes, organs and bile acids. Example- Isolation of insulin, from a pancreas used in treatment of diabetes. Blood of animals is used in preparation of vaccines. Major groups of animal product in medicine: Thyroids modify preparation of thyroid gland of sleep and pigs. It is given orally to treat patients suffering from thyroid insufficiency. Pancreas is a source of insulin used in the treatment of diabetes. Epinephrin is a hormone produced by adrenal medulla and used a Vaso-constrictor drug. Pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme of gastric juice produced from fresh pig stomach. Trypsin is a proteolytic enzyme prepared from extract of or pancreas. It is used for the topical application of the treatment of wounds ulcer. Pancreatin is the preparation which contain enzymes of pancreas, which is used to treat digestion problems it is prepared from pig pancreas. III. Animal extractives organs Liver & stomach preparations and bile are the example of this group. Honey from honey bee. Cod liver from shark. Wool fat from sheep. 3. Marine sources Ocean and seas contain about 5 lacs+types of species, which termed as marine species. Many is these species show biological activity and used as a source of drug. Major part of earth is covered with water bodies. Hence the bioactive compounds (chemical constituents) are also obtained from marine Flora(plant) and animal used for the treatment of many diseases. Plant tissue culture is a technique that is used to grow plant cells, tissue or organs under sterile conditions on a nutrients culture medium. It is widely used to produce of plants. It is technique of control production of useful secondary metabolites. Tissue culture is the process in which “in-vitro cultivation of plant cells and animal cell under aseptic and controlled environment condition”. Advantage of plant tissue culture 1. Production of extract copy of plants. 2. To quickly produce nature plants. 3. Production of genetically modified plants. 4. Production of disease-free plant. Plant tissue culture as a source of drug 1. Organized drugs Those drugs which are direct part of plant or animals such as leaves, flowers and root. These are “organs of plants and animals” and are made up of cells and are having definite structure. These drugs are named as flowers, seeds, fruits, bark, stem, etc. Organized drugs are basically sold in nature. Microscopically study is useful in quality control. This article is on introduction of pharmacognosy. 2. Unorganized drugs These are obtained from parts of plants by some process of extraction and purification. These drugs are named as extract, latex juice, resin, etc. They are solid, semi-solid and liquid in nature. Chemical test is performed for quality control or evaluation. According to their origin and nature: I. Dried latex A latex is a product that contains special secretary tissue (the tissue that are concerned with the secretion of gum resin volatile oils and other substances). It usually a white aqueous suspension in which small particle of oil globules are suspended. This natural suspension of milky consistency may contain proteins, alkaloids, starch, resin, gums, oils, tannins, sugar, etc, that coagulate on exposure to air. These pharmaceutical latexes were collected dried and therapeutically used. II. Dried juices These juices are obtained from extraction or pressing vegetables and fruits. The incisions are made up to respective parts of plants collected and dried. Examples:- leaves – Aloe, Stem – Kino. III. Dried extracts An extract is a concentrated preparation of a drug, which is obtained by removing active constituents of the drug with suitable solvent and evaporating the solvent to obtain a residual mass or powder. The extracts were prepared by using water, alcoholic, hydro-alcoholic solutions. Examples; tea, halation, etc. IV. Gum and mucilage Gum are the abnormal product of plant metabolism formed injury of the plants and by a breakdown of the cell walls. They are produced by process known as Crum meiosis. They are translucent amorphous substance of plant hydrocolloids produced by plants. They are soluble in water and gives. This article is on introduction of pharmacognosy.	<urn:uuid:b8271419-832a-42c8-a2d1-32ed56feb7d7>	CC-MAIN-2023-50	https://www.mimprovement.com/introduction-of-pharmacognosy/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100327.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20231202042052-20231202072052-00741.warc.gz	en	0.939037	1,490	3.578125	4
Close to a decade ago, Mehrdad Mahdjoubi worked for NASA's Mars project to find reusable water solutions. Today, his out-of-this-world shower can be another piece in the sustainability puzzle for our planet. By ERIK SEDIN Even though water is one of our most valuable natural resources, it’s not really treated accordingly. Most apartment-living Scandinavians pay a predetermined water bill and go about their shower and washing habits without consideration or reflection. Traditional showers use up to ten liters of water per minute, which means that a ten-minute shower could use 100 liters of water. Enter Mehrdad Mahdjoubi. Back in 2012, the then 22-year-old Swede came up with a way to make shower water reusable. The idea arose out of an internship at NASA where Mahdjoubi worked on the Mars Mission project. Water is hard to come by in space and on Mars, so he thought of the idea of reusable water — using a revolutionary water cleaning system that cleans the dirty water while you shower. The shower system uses 90% less water and 80% less energy to heat the water. A 15-minute shower only uses around five liters of water in the Oas shower thanks to its smart recirculating shower system. ”It’s when you are faced with extreme challenges and environments that you need to push yourself harder to come up with revolutionary solutions” How did you land a job at NASA, the dream job of every kid ever? — I got in contact with NASA via Lund University. They have a longtime academic collaboration with the design faculty at LU. NASA is continuously seeking outside designers who can provide creative solutions to the challenges of colonizing Mars. It’s when you are faced with extreme challenges and environments that you need to push yourself harder to come up with revolutionary solutions. It’s been eight years since you started. Do you feel like you timed the sustainability movement? — For every year, since I founded the company in 2012, global awareness around climate change has increased. For us, it’s more important to focus on delivering a real solution, than talking about the problem. With that said, the more people are aware of the problem, the more relevant we become. Forbes called your invention ”the Tesla of showers”. How do you think the product will do in the private sector? — This is the beginning of a paradigm shift of how we use water in our homes. Who doesn’t want to shower in cleaner water with higher flow and precisely controlled temperature, while at the same time saving 90% of the water and energy? Personally, and for the company, is anything exciting happening in the future? — I think the most exciting thing is to bring this technology to a broader audience and thereby creating a real impact. We’ve been very successful in the commercial sector but the real impact is created at the individual household level. 2020 is an important year for us, we are launching our consumer sales platform, starting in Northern Europe.	<urn:uuid:ee5c609f-ca67-45b3-b3af-cbd624b96eaf>	CC-MAIN-2021-25	https://scandinavianmind.com/feature/extraterrestrial-intentions	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-25/segments/1623488536512.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20210623073050-20210623103050-00175.warc.gz	en	0.948073	639	3.125	3
Swelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a rapid increase in weight over a short period of time (days to weeks). Swelling can occur all over the body (generalized) or only in one part of the body (localized). Slight swelling (edema) of the lower legs is common in warm summer months, especially if a person has been standing or walking a lot. General swelling, or massive edema (also called anasarca), is a common sign in people who are very sick. Although slight edema may be hard to detect, a large amount of swelling is very obvious. Edema is described as pitting or non-pitting. Pitting edema leaves a dent in the skin after you press the area with a finger for about 5 seconds. The dent will slowly fill back in. Non-pitting edema does not leave this type of dent when pressing on the swollen area. Follow your doctor's treatment recommendations. If you have long-term swelling, ask your doctor about the options to prevent skin breakdown, such as: Lamb's wool pad Continue with your everyday activities. When lying down, keep your arms and legs above your heart level, if possible, so the fluid can drain. However, do not do this if you get shortness of breath. See your doctor instead. Call your health care provider if If you notice any unexplained swelling, contact your health care provider. What to expect at your health care provider's office Except in emergency situations (such as cardiac failure or pulmonary congestion), your health care provider will take your medical history and will perform a physical examination. Medical history questions may include: When did you first notice this? Do you have it all the time? Does it come and go? How much swelling is there? When you poke the area with a finger, does the dent stay? Is it overall or in one area (localized)? If swelling is in a specific area, what is that area? Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz, Stephanie Slon, and Nissi Wang.	<urn:uuid:c3e45717-10c6-4cdb-b787-fbe9f2259cd7>	CC-MAIN-2014-49	http://www.erlanger.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=11&action=detail&AEArticleID=003103&AEProductID=Adam2004_117&AEProjectTypeIDURL=APT_1	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-49/segments/1416931009084.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20141125155649-00155-ip-10-235-23-156.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.919616	543	2.8125	3
Facts About Women and the Water Crisis Empowered women will change the world In many countries, women are responsible for finding and collecting water for their families. All the water they need for drinking, washing, cooking, cleaning. They walk miles, carry heavy burdens, wait for hours and pay exorbitant prices. The work is back-breaking and all-consuming. Often the water is contaminated, even deadly. In these instances, they face an impossible choice – certain death without water or possible death from illness. Once they are old enough, girls join this effort. They spend countless hours trying to provide this basic life necessity. Women also struggle most from the lack of adequate sanitation, the often unspoken part of the water and sanitation crisis. The sanitation crisis for women can be summed up in one word: ‘dignity.’ Around the world, fewer than one person in three has access to a toilet. In many countries, it is not acceptable for a woman to relieve herself during the day. They wait hours for nightfall, just to have privacy. This impacts health and puts their safety at risk. About half of all girls worldwide attend schools without toilets. The lack of privacy causes many girls to drop out when they reach puberty. The dual aspects of the water crisis – lack of water and of sanitation – lock women in a cycle of poverty. They cannot attend school; they cannot earn an income. Providing Hope for Generations Ahead Around the world, women are coming together to address their own needs for water and sanitation. Their strength and courage transforms communities. With the support of Water.org and its local partners, women organize their communities to support a well and take out small loans for household water connections and toilets. They support one another, share responsibility. These efforts make an impact, taking us one step closer to ending the global water crisis. - Increased girls’ school attendance, level of education and literacy rates, as they no longer need to miss school to secure water for their families and have adequate and separate sanitation facilities. - Improved health for women and girls who no longer have to delay defecation and urination. - Reduced child and maternal mortality as a result of access to safe water, sanitation facilities and improved hygiene during child birth. - Increased dignity and reduced psychological stress for girls and women particularly when symptoms associated with menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth can be managed discreetly. - Reduced physical injury from constant lifting and carrying heavy loads of water. - Reduced risk of rape, sexual assault, and increased safety as women and girls do not have to go to remote and dangerous places to defecate or to fetch water during the night. - Increased recognition of women as having skills and knowledge outside the scope of their traditional roles. - Strengthened voice for women in their families and communities to negotiate their own needs. - New opportunities for women’s employment as well as greater autonomy and independence.	<urn:uuid:1d642fb6-72d3-40c7-9118-ce5dc2becfca>	CC-MAIN-2016-44	http://water.org/water-crisis/womens-crisis/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988722951.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183842-00145-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.963289	607	3.828125	4
News in last 1 year related to this topic from 14 important sources: you don't miss any! All UPSC previous year questions - both mains and prelims - related to this topic: this section is under updation! What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilize the yield of the crop in the system? (Q. No. 14, CSE 2017, 250 words, 15 Marks) Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How these revolutions have helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India? (Q. No. 4, CSE 2017, 150 words, 10 Marks) What is allelopathy? Discuss its role in major cropping systems of irrigated agriculture.(Q. No. 8, CSE 2016, 200 words, 12.5 Marks) Any good relevant video related to this topic - you will find here: makes you perfect for competition! Your foundation is strengthened by NCERTS - if there is any chapter related to this topic - we got it right here! Sorry! No data found. It may be because there's no data in this section or it's in the process of updation.	<urn:uuid:38cb1056-46d9-483f-b6fa-f375e97b0355>	CC-MAIN-2019-26	https://www.crackias.com/topic-result.php?id=539	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-26/segments/1560627999263.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20190620165805-20190620191805-00143.warc.gz	en	0.926354	261	3.109375	3
- View as map Clapper Bridge is located West of Louisburgh, Co. Mayo. It is the largest complete clapper bridge in Ireland, 50m long. Its 37 arches are constructed in the primitive clapper style. West of Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, crossing the narrow Bunleemshough River, is the Bunlahinch Clapper Bridge. Of similar construction to bridges found in Devon and Cornwall, this clapper bridge, built for pedestrians, was made at a place on the river where the water depth was generally low. It is the largest complete clapper bridge in Ireland, 50m long. Its 37 arches are constructed in the primitive clapper style, each made of a clapper or flat limestone slab, about 0.6 m wide, resting on piers of about 0.6 m above the river bed. A clapper bridge is an ancient form of bridge. The design is prehistoric but most can be dated to the medieval period. The Bunlahinch Bridge probably dates to the 1840s when a Protestant Evangelist Colony, including a church and school, was set up beside the river. The Colony, initially successful, went into decline and was abandoned after twenty years. The land was sold in 1878 and the church demolished in 1927.	<urn:uuid:4ba05106-4726-4fde-8588-c07228ceb35e>	CC-MAIN-2018-13	https://www.ireland.com/en-us/what-is-available/natural-landscapes-and-sights/natural-landscapes/destinations/republic-of-ireland/mayo/louisburgh/all/1-91053/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-13/segments/1521257647600.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20180321082653-20180321102653-00264.warc.gz	en	0.967583	259	3.15625	3
I was listening to the America’s Test Kitchen Radio yesterday, and I heard of a project that I think the word must be spread about. What’s it about? From their website: “The Human Microbiome Project and other microbiome projects worldwide have laid an important foundation for understanding the trillions of microbes that inhabits each of our bodies. However, opportunities for the public to get involved in such research has been limited. Now, American Gut gives you an opportunity to participate and to compare the microbes in your gut to those in the guts of thousands of other people in the US and around the world. American Gut is a project built on open-source, open-access principles. Our data are for the good of understanding and will be shared both with participants and with other scientists. Our experience has been that our best ideas and work come when we involve people in as many steps of our work as possible, be they scientists, educators, roofers, ultra-marathon runners or corporate leaders. Everyone has something to offer, whether their sample, their hypotheses, their analyses or their dog (yes, their dog, we will get back to that). The more we can understand the complex microbial ecosystems on which we depend, the more everyone will benefit.” HERE is a PDF with more from the American Academy of Microbiology. Basically – we’ve all heard about DNA sequencing and the “Human Genome” project. The problem is that it’s VERY hard to affect your DNA. However, many people still don’t know that our bodies (as creepy as this sounds) are basically 37 trillion human (skin, blood, muscle) cells – the “human genome” – and three times that in microbes – the “human microbiome.” And we can affect microbes. Hence, the “Microbe Genome” project. Example: We’ve all heard that if we take antibiotics, we can “wipe out” not only the bad bacteria that’s making us sick, but also good bacteria. That “good bacteria” then has to reCOLONize in our body – yes, emphasis on “colon.” What happens if what we’re eating and doing means that we wipe them out – then we can’t get all the good ones back? What we eat “feeds” them – so there is a dramatic, immediate way to affect our own health and performance by investigating what we have, and what we don’t have, growing inside us. This project even postulates that they might get diets down to about 8 different ones – depending on what you seem to “host best” (yes, we are just all hosts for these microbes!). Eat what feeds your “good bacteria” best, have an immediate and lasting affect on your performance, life, mental and physical health. Really. Just about everyone now knows about seratonin. It’s a neurotransmitter tied to learning, memory, aging, sleep, sexual function, mood (it’s called the “happiness hormone” because you need it to experience the feeling of “well being”). And it’s made in the gut. What if your gut doesn’t have the right bacteria to help you out? No seratonin – no good. Depression and misery! And that’s just one of the many, many things that are tied intimately to your gut. I just purchased one kit for myself, and one for my grandboy. He’s been having terrible health issues that the doctors have just thrown up their hands about. We’re talking about screaming pain, throwing up, inability even to go to school or Boy Scouts. For months and months. This is a normal, social boy, and it’s just killing us. It’s been going on for forever and it’s wearing him down. Who knows? Maybe once we send in for his microbe test, we’ll find he’s “over colonized” by some bacteria, or is missing another. I’m super excited about the possibilities. As for me, I am a confirmed biohacker, and my change to eating gluten-free and attacking “leaky gut” issues was a choice designed to address thyroid and other hormone issues that are wreaking havoc in my life. I joined the “Citizen Scientist” human genome project – but, as their website says, you can have a FAR more immediate affect on yourself if you work on yourself from the microbe level. You should check this out! I think it’s important! Again – you can still be a part of it!!! AmericanGut.org.	<urn:uuid:faa238f4-13cf-4b37-8830-60a2d60ab28c>	CC-MAIN-2017-39	http://beabondgrrl.com/americangut-org/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818689779.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20170923213057-20170923233057-00617.warc.gz	en	0.950807	1,005	2.625	3
Intego has been examining several samples of new Mac malware, Tibet.C, which uses Word documents to install a backdoor on Macs. The infected Word files look like real files when users double-click them - they display text just like regular Word files - but actually contain three parts, that are concatenated within the file, and hidden from users. The Word file, when double-clicked, opens and displays its contents: But within the document is code that executes when the file is opened: This is the first time that Intego's Malware Research Team has seen this technique used to target Macs. Simply launching a document leads to a buffer overflow, which then allows for the malicious code to execute. When this occurs, a backdoor is installed on the Mac, which then contacts a command and control server. Once this backdoor is active, those running the server can have full access to the infected Macs, as well as install other malware on them. They can either harvest documents from the infected Macs, install keyloggers to look for user names, passwords and credit card numbers, or use them as botnets to send spam or attack other computers. These Word documents exploit a Word vulnerability that was corrected in June, 2009, but also take advantage of the fact that many users don't update such software. Word 2004 and 2008 are vulnerable, but the latest version, Word 2011 is not. Also, this vulnerability only works with .doc files, and not the newer .docx format. These files are not very large - the samples that Intego has analyzed range from 90 K to 230 K - and there is no indication that they may be dangerous. There is no request for a password, and the user does not need to be an administrator for this malware to install. It is worth noting that this is not only an attack on Mac users; Intego has found several samples of the same documents that contain code that will run on Windows. This malware is fairly sophisticated, and it is worth pointing out that the code in these Word documents is not encrypted, so any malware writer who gets copies of them may be able to alter the code and distribute their own versions of these documents. While there is a possibility that this is a targeted attack on Tibetan NGOs, because the Word files contain text discussing the Tibetan situation, it seems more likely that this is a general attack on Mac users. The attack will be very effective on those who have not updated their copies of Microsoft Office, or aren't running antivirus software, such as Intego VirusBarrier X6, and the Tibetan text may simply be a smokescreen. This malware highlights the fact that Mac users should apply security updates to software they use regularly as soon as possible. Microsoft's security alert clearly spelled out what this vulnerability could lead too: This security update resolves two privately reported vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Word file. An attacker who successfully exploited either vulnerability could take complete control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. While, in the past, we did not see this type of attack targeting Macs, it is clear that the game has changed, and that we are entering a new period of Mac malware. The Mac Security Blog has always published articles about security updates for common applications - web browsers, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat and Flash, and many others - for this very reason. If these key programs are not up to date, they may be targeted by attacks, because of their ubiquity. One way of spreading malware like this is by attaching files to spam messages, assuming that a number of people who receive them will open the files out of curiosity. It is therefore essential that, if you receive unsolicited Word documents, you do not open them. Intego VirusBarrier X6, with malware definitions dated March 29, 2012, or later, will detect and eradicate the Tibet.C malware, and will also block the W97/CodeExec.gen code that exploits this specific vulnerability.	<urn:uuid:ed1b897d-3f46-489f-9d0e-b2cb97933479>	CC-MAIN-2014-42	http://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/tibet-c-malware-delivered-by-poisoned-word-documents-installs-backdoors-on-macs/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-42/segments/1414119658026.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20141024030058-00159-ip-10-16-133-185.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.945092	840	2.515625	3
Trans fats are very dangerous to our health, because they stick and pile up on the walls of blood vessels, hampering the functioning of the heart, and are blamed for the occurrence of certain types of cancer. What exactly are trans fats? Trans fats are a type of fatty acids in the foods we eat. Fatty acids in the human body are a source of energy and are found in fruits and vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, animal fats and fish oil. Not all fatty acids are unhealthy. A moderate amount of monounsaturated fats may even benefit your health. However, trans fats as fatty acids are bad for your health. They are often found in processed food and contained in many baked goods, because they are cheap and prolong shelf life. In recent years, trans fats were declared even more harmful than saturated fats. One Dutch study showed that 20 percent decrease in mortality due to heart disease, coming from diet eliminated from all trans fats. Trans fats are prohibited in some countries In some places in the world foods with a high amount of trans fats are already forbidden. Even in the US food producers have to completely get rid of trans fats in three years, recently decided Food and Drug Administration in the US. Trans fats are banned in: Margarine virtually contains no trans fats The researchers first decided to take a look at the margarine, which has been in the past considered as the biggest source of trans fats which on the other hand is considerably cheaper and more accessible than butter. “We focused on both margarine, commercially available, as well as hard vegetable fats, which are sold in the wholesale market for future food production, mostly for bakery. The results showed that the margarine in retail (off the shelf) is practically free of trans fats. On the contrary we have found significant amounts of trans fats in approximately one third of hard vegetable fat used by food business operators in the production of non-prepacked foods, especially bakery and pastry. Such fats are sold wholesale in bulk, which are not available directly to consumers in stores. Despite, this may endanger human health, because they are used as an ingredient in other foods, “explained Dr. Igor Pravst from the Slovenian Nutrition Institute.	<urn:uuid:a24493c9-4e81-49b0-84e4-ae63f3764f83>	CC-MAIN-2020-24	https://www.staynaturallyhealthy.com/trans-fats-hidden-killer-food/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347413097.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20200531085047-20200531115047-00201.warc.gz	en	0.963894	455	3.3125	3
Salmonella infections pose a serious threat to human and animal health. Salmonella is commonly found in the bowels of healthy birds and mammals. In food, they are most commonly detected in eggs and raw pork, turkey and chicken. Usually Salmonella infections in humans are food-borne. While most of these gram-negative bacteria are largely species-specific, some have the potential to be transmitted to other species and / or humans. In particular, Salmonella typhimurium (STM) has this so-called "zoonotic" potential, ie the ability to infect various animal species and humans. STM is one of the major causes of human gastrointestinal disease. If the bacterium enters the bloodstream, it can be life-threatening. This pathogen was increasingly spread in pig herds and is now the most frequently detected serovar (salmonella type). Preventive measures should therefore start at the beginning of the production chain – in the breeding herd. The best possible protective measure is the vaccination of sows and piglets. The vaccination program must be completed by an optimized cleaning and disinfection program, stricter biosecurity measures and optimized in-house management. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause an illness called salmonellosis in humans. In the European Union (EU), over 100,000 human cases are reported each year. EFSA has estimated that the overall economic burden of human salmonellosis could be as high as EUR 3 billion a year. Source: www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/salmonella	<urn:uuid:e92d03ef-a395-44c0-b7e9-fa823f0b6586>	CC-MAIN-2019-39	https://www.swine.ceva.com/PRODUCTS/Vaccines/Swine-Salmonellosis	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-39/segments/1568514573284.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20190918110932-20190918132932-00392.warc.gz	en	0.919315	335	4.03125	4
A Primer on Immunity from Prosecution Television shows dramatize the role of the “informant,” an individual with inside knowledge of a criminal enterprise who provides information to the police in exchange for some benefit. Usually this “benefit” is immunity: In other words, the informant agrees to provide important information to police officers investigating a crime in return for a promise that law enforcement officers and prosecutors will not attempt to press charges against the informant. What happens in the world of TV crime dramas is one thing, but how does immunity work in the real world? Offers of Immunity from the Prosecution If the prosecutor of the appropriate jurisdiction believes you have important information that would aid in the prosecution of another case, the prosecutor may approach you with an offer of immunity. When offering a person immunity, the prosecutor is agreeing to to take certain prosecutorial actions against the person to whom immunity is offered. There are two basic types of immunity that can be offered: Transactional immunity means that the prosecution has agreed not to prosecute the person for any criminal act arising out of the facts about which the person will provide information. For example, suppose a home is burglarized and two suspects are identified. Prosecutors offer one of the suspects transactional immunity. This suspect then cannot be prosecuted for any crime related to the home invasion and/or burglary. The second type of immunity offered is known as use immunity. This means that prosecutors agree not to use any information obtained from the person, nor any other information that could only be obtained by using the information provided, in prosecuting the person. Using the same home burglary example, suppose the prosecution offers use immunity and, once such immunity is offered, the suspect admits he and the other suspect entered the home with the intent to steal the items inside the home. In this case, the prosecution can still bring burglary charges against the suspect who was granted immunity, but the prosecution cannot use the suspect’s admission of guilt against him. The prosecution will need to use other evidence – fingerprints, eyewitnesses, etc. – to prove the suspect’s guilt. The “Catch” of Offers of Immunity Offers of immunity can mean the difference between freedom and incarceration, but there is a catch: Offers of immunity are almost always made contingent on you waiving any Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and testifying truthfully in other criminal matters. If you fail to do either of these things – if you take the stand and assert your Fifth Amendment rights or you knowingly tell lies – the offer of immunity is usually withdrawn and, with it, any agreements or concessions made to you by the prosecution. For this reason, you should discuss any offer of immunity with a competent criminal defense lawyer before accepting such offer. South Florida criminal defense lawyer Jeffrey S. Weiner is available to provide experienced and knowledgeable counsel to Florida residents charged with criminal offenses and/or those offered immunity by prosecutors. Contact his office today to discuss your situation. You can reach Jeffrey S. Weiner, P.A. by calling the firm at (305) 670-9919 or by contacting the firm online.	<urn:uuid:80ec15e0-b84f-46be-8b55-a30cd81c605d>	CC-MAIN-2018-13	http://www.jeffweiner.com/a-primer-on-immunity-from-prosecution/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-13/segments/1521257647885.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20180322131741-20180322151741-00613.warc.gz	en	0.95644	639	2.984375	3
This book contains the proceedings of the 16th Biennial Conference of the British Dam Society, Managing dams: Challenges in a time of change, covering a wide range of topics of direct relevance to all who are involved in the engineering and management of dams and reservoirs. A major challenge in the UK is to ensure that the nation’s stock of existing dams is properly managed to ensure both their safety and continued functionality. Recent improvements in the knowledge of factors influential in dam failure are presented, along with papers on remedial work for existing dams and how risk can be assessed and managed. There are several papers on the upgrade of spillways that were needed following risk analyses. New dams for water supply or hydroelectricity overseas and for flood alleviation purposes in the UK are also considered, with a range of dam types and sizes discussed. • Changes and challenges being faced by dam professionals • Emerging knowledge of new guidance and techniques • Monitoring and managing dams and reservoirs • Risk - assessments and actions taken to reduce risks • Spillway upgrades of existing dams • Construction of new dams in the UK and overseas • Remedial works to existing dams around the world	<urn:uuid:4961305d-bf49-43eb-92a1-06b2c6a057ba>	CC-MAIN-2018-22	http://www.thomastelford.com/books/bookshop_main.asp?ISBN=9780727740991	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-22/segments/1526794867041.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20180525043910-20180525063910-00586.warc.gz	en	0.957711	237	2.546875	3
Doing Right Together for Black Youth YouthREX is commited to addressing the racial and structural inequities that Black youth and communities across the province experience. Doing Right Together for Black Youth summarizes what was learned from over 1,500 community members during community consultations to co-develop the Ontario Black Youth Action Plan (BYAP) in 2017. This report shares the top 10 issues for Black youth and their families, ideas on the best ways to engage Black youth in meaningfully shaping the development and implementation of the BYAP projects, as well as the important characteristics of organizations that can meet the needs of Black youth. Will this be the ONE? Reflection, Engagement and Action against Anti-Black Racism in Ontario These resources were created to share findings from Doing Right Together for Black Youth and to offer critical perspectives on these issues in various accessible formats. "Black youth have a stake in - and the skills and experience to contribute to - the issues that impact their daily lives. Their involvement is key to resisting the stigma associated with 'Black youth at risk', a stigma that wrongly and violently tells a single story of Black youth in media and public discourses." - Dr. Uzo Anucha, Lead Author, Doing Right Together for Black Youth Required Reading & Viewing These resources provide critical, evidence-based perspectives on the intersecting historical, social, and systemic forces that play out in the lives of Black youth, families, and communities. Towards Race Equity in Education: The Schooling of Black Students in the Greater Toronto Area York University, 2017 This Issue Has Been with Us for Ages: A Community Assessment of Police Contact Carding in 31 Division Logical Outcomes, 2014 A Better Way Forward: Ontario’s 3-Year Anti-Racism Strategic Plan Government of Ontario, 2017 The Contours of Anti-Black Racism: Engaging Anti-Oppression from Embodied Spaces Journal of Critical Anti-Oppressive Social Inquiry, 2014 One Vision One Voice: Community Engagement Workers Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies, 2019 (RE)Imaging Trauma Recovery: Black Youth Redefining Collective Healing Through Social Action Society for Social Work & Research, 2020 #KtA2018: Samuel Sinyangwe, Using Data for Racial Justice TAKE 5: Using Data for Racial Justice by Samuel Sinyangwe Access additional resources to support your work with Black youth on our Knowledge Hub!	<urn:uuid:72aac54e-a32e-4673-8c06-6f95708a2d6d>	CC-MAIN-2021-31	https://youthrex.com/doing-right-together-for-black-youth/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046154126.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20210731203400-20210731233400-00464.warc.gz	en	0.893091	519	2.75	3
Healthy Bladder Habits What is considered Normal Bladder Health? The average bladder can hold 2 cups of urine before it has to be emptied. The normal amount of times a person will urinate during the day (24 hour period) is 6-8 times. This will vary as we age due to the bladder becoming less accommodating to urine. This will result in the need to pass more frequently but this should not occur more than every 2 hours. The bladder should empty easily without pain/discomfort with a good steady stream until empty. You should no have to "STRAIN" to empty your bladder. The urge to urinate occurs with the bladder stretches when it is filling with urine. These urges can be felt prior to the bladder reaching capacity. What are good Bladder Habits? Do not strain to empty your bladder. Be sure to empty the bladder each time you urinate. Do not try to rush the process. Take your time. Waiting more than 4 hours to urinate is a poor bladder habit. Try to avoid going to the toilet when you feel the first urge to urinate. Some individuals urinate “just in case” before activities including; riding in a car, going to the grocery store, prior to starting exercise routine, ect. This may cause your bladder to become hypersensitive and you will only be able to store small amounts of urine. Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Bladder Try to maintain good fluid intake by drinking 6-8 cups (48-64 oz) of water each day. This amount will vary depending on your weight, activity level, environmental conditions or recommendations by your Physician. Limit the amount of bladder irritants you consume. Bladder irritants can include caffeinated drinks (coffee, cola, tea), chocolate, citrus foods/juices. These foods/drinks can magnify the sensation to urinate by irritating the inner lining of the bladder. Limit Alcohol intake. Alcohol can increase urine production. It can also decrease the ability of the brain to control the bladder. Maintain good bowel habits. Increased frequency of constipation can result in increased straining while toileting. This straining can result in weakening of the pelvic floor. This can be avoided by maintaining a balanced diet including dietary fiber. Avoid sitting too long on the toilet. This can put excessive strain on the pelvic floor muscle causing them to lose strength. Try to avoid reading magazines/news paper, catching up on social media on your smartphone while toileting. These can be a distraction causing you to spend too much time on the toilet. Be sure not to miss out on any of our Running Health information and other fitness pearls. Join our mailing on the link to the right hand column. "10 Ways To Keep Your Bladder Healthy". EverydayHealth.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Dec. 2016. Irion, Jean M and Glenn Irion. Women's Health In Physical Therapy. 1st ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010. Print. ©2000, Progressive Therapeutics, PC	<urn:uuid:c9a84d6a-f26b-4df4-b46f-9912c8984ee5>	CC-MAIN-2021-10	https://www.totalphysicaltherapyamarillo.com/post/2017/04/25/healthy-bladder-habits	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-10/segments/1614178350706.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20210225012257-20210225042257-00185.warc.gz	en	0.911666	652	3.09375	3
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Pacemaker reuse may be a safe, effective and ethical alternative to providing medical devices to people in Third World countries who couldn’t otherwise afford therapy, according to a study by the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center. Researchers examined pacemaker reuse compared with new device implantation in four studies that included 603 people. They assessed complication rates, risk of infection, physiological complications and device malfunction. Compared to new pacemaker implantation, reutilization of previously implanted devices was not associated with a significant increase in overall complications, according to study co-authors Kim A. Eagle, M.D., director of the U-M Cardiovascular Center and Timir S. Baman, M.D., U-M cardiology fellow. The findings will be presented during the American Heart Association’s 11th Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in Washington, D.C. But large prospective clinical trials are necessary to truly understand the safety and efficacy of pacemaker reuse, authors say. Experts at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center see an opportunity to collect pacemakers, after they are removed for burial or cremation, for sterilization and reuse across the globe. It’s a novel approach for treating cardiovascular disease, the world’s leading cause of death. Pacemakers and other implantable cardiac devices are implanted to regulate an irregular or slow heartbeat, or act as an insurance policy by automatically shocking the heart back to a normal rhythm. They are usually implanted after a heart attack or if medications are unsuccessful, and they last 10-15 years. But poor nations have not been able to afford the electrophysiology technology that has reduced cardiac deaths in industrialized nations, while unhealthy lifestyle, as well as infectious diseases, contribute to escalating rates of heart disease worldwide. Each year 1 million to 2 million people worldwide die due to lack of access of pacemakers. Meanwhile 90 percent of those with pacemakers would donate their device to others in need if given the chance. Growing evidence and support laid the groundwork for Project My Heart –Your Heart, a collaborative between citizens, physicians and funeral directors of Michigan, the U-M Cardiovascular Center and World Medical Relief, Inc., a Detroit-based non-profit organization that specializes in the delivery of used medical equipment. Project My Heart – Your Heart hopes to establish a clinical trial with implantation centers in the Philippines and Vietnam to study device implantation in those who have no access to electrophysiological health care. Through small humanitarian efforts, new and used pacemakers have been sent to underserved nations. In 2008, 50 pacemakers were donated by funeral homes to WMR. Of them, 12 with adequate battery life were implanted without complications in patients at University of Philippines–Philippine General Hospital in Manila. Information about donating pacemakers to the U-M is available online at www.myheartyourheart.org. However, no devices will be shipped overseas, nor implanted into living persons until the FDA has approved a planned clinical trial. Additional authors: Joshua Romero, Pascal Meier, M.D., Lindsey Gakenheimer, James N. Kirkpatrick, M.D., Patricia Sovitch, R.N., and Hakan Oral, M.D., Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Service, all of the University of Michigan Health System. Project My Heart – Your Heart University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center American Heart Association QCOR 2010	<urn:uuid:5050fda1-b8ba-4c3d-a41e-7f06fb3a304e>	CC-MAIN-2017-34	https://www.healthcanal.com/surgery-rehabilitation/7999-pacemaker-reuse-cost-saving-effective-option-in-poor-countries-u-m-study.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886107487.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821022354-20170821042354-00149.warc.gz	en	0.899039	725	3	3
Though researchers think the Higgs boson is running out of places to hide, the LHC has yet to provide conclusive proof of its existence. But the ATLAS experiment at the LHC--one of the two main experiments taking precise measurements of particle collisions--has found what is thought to be the first observation of a new particle at the world’s largest science experiment. Known as cb(3P)--or Chi-b (3P)--observations of the particle should yield new insights into the strong force that holds atomic nuclei together. The cb(3P) particle is a newly observed means of combing what’s known as a beauty quark with its antiquark equivalent. It’s considered a boson like the Higgs, and like the Higgs it has long been thought to be there, theoretically speaking. It’s a more excited state of Chi particles already witnessed in previous collider experiments. But no one had actually seen it until now. The as-yet unpublished research should be a jumping off point toward a greater understanding of what holds the universe together. The Higgs gets a lot of air time, as it has proven the most elusive of the Standard Model puzzle pieces and is thought to be the particle that gives all others mass. But once a theory establishes how the universe got mass, it still has to demonstrate how that mass is held together at the fundamental level. That means understanding the strong force and the roles of particles like cb(3P). Geek out on some hard physics over at arXiv.	<urn:uuid:6552a669-fe36-4d6b-b06f-29f28d74f904>	CC-MAIN-2013-20	http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-12/lhc-discovers-its-first-new-particle	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701409268/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105009-00045-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.948494	324	3.015625	3
Edward Calvin Kendall was born in South Norwalk, Connecticut. He was educated at Columbia University, where he obtained his B.S. in 1908, his M.S. in 1909, and his Ph.D. in chemistry in 1910. From 1910 to 1911 Kendall was a research chemist for Parke-Davis and Company in Detroit, Michigan, doing research on the thyroid gland, and from 1911 to 1914 he continued this work at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City. Kendall was then appointed head of the biochemistry section of the graduate school of the Mayo Foundation, and in 1915 he was appointed director of the division of biochemistry there and subsequently professor of physiological chemistry. In 1951, Kendall accepted the position of visiting professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Princeton University, which he held until his death in 1972. Kendall's name is most commonly associated with his isolation of thyroxine. He is also known for his crystallization of glutathione and for his work on oxidation systems in animals. Perhaps his greatest achievement, however, was his work on the hormones of the adrenal glands, from which he isolated, identified, and synthesized the hormones of the adrenal cortex. Among these hormones was cortisone, which is now widely used in the treatment of many diseases and for the suppression of inflammatory reactions. Kendall, along with Tadeus Reichstein and Philip Showalter Hench, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1950 for work on the adrenal hormones. Some of Kendall's research was featured in a Journal of Biological Chemistry Classic (1). In addition to the Nobel Prize, Kendall received the American Public Health Association's Lasker Award, the Passano Foundation's Passano Award, the Newspaper Guild of New York's Page One Award, and the American Medical Association's Scientific Achievement Award. He served as president of the American Society of Biological Chemists in 1926 and the Endocrine Society from 1930 to 1931. 1. Simoni, R. D., Hill, R. L., and Vaughan, M. (2002) The isolation of thyroxin and cortisone: The work of Edward C. Kendall. J. Biol. Chem. 277 (21)	<urn:uuid:e3ad07cd-fc98-461e-9684-717b00fd77cf>	CC-MAIN-2017-04	http://www.asbmb.org/uploadedfiles/AboutUs/ASBMB_History/Past_Presidents/1920s/1926Kendall.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-04/segments/1484560279410.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20170116095119-00426-ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.97485	451	2.59375	3
Post 3 – Transmedia Storytelling – Breaking Bad Multimedia represents the convergence of text, pictures, video and sound into a single form. It is a way to tell one story on many different platforms. Transmedia is the convergence of multiple stories from many different mediums that fit together to create a stronger, more compelling story. Henry Jenkins describes transmedia storytelling as the following: “Transmedia storytelling represents a process where integral elements of a fiction get dispersed systematically across multiple delivery channels for the purpose of creating a unified and coordinated entertainment experience. Ideally, each medium makes its own unique contribution to the unfolding of the story” http://henryjenkins.org/2011/08/defining_transmedia_further_re.html Jenkins illustrates how The Matrix, a story that began as a movie, was expanded to include videogames, comic books, animations, and two sequels to expand the entire story. This brought in new audiences, as well as new contributors who would further add to the ever-expanding story by creating fan-fiction on blogs and fan sites. Similar to The Matrix franchise, the television show, Breaking Bad on AMC is a story that is expanded upon through the engagement of fans, artists, and writers. Through blogs, social media networks, and various online forums, the show’s audience is able to connect with one-another to further develop the story that was started by the creator of the show, Vince Gilligan. Breaking Bad is a character-driven story, with the majority of the story focusing on development and transformation of each character throughout the series. Vince Gilligan stated at the beginning of the show that he wanted the main character, Walter White, to start out as “Mr. Rogers” and transform into “Scarface”. This notion alone provided fans and critics a chance to engage and discuss how they believed this transformation would occur. The show also suggests that each character has a significant back-story that is alluded to in the show, but leaves many questions for the viewers to make up themselves. In addition to many fan-created blogs, AMC even created blogs for several of the main characters to connect with fans and build upon their character. We, as an audience, are actively generating a more compelling story by discussing the characters’ back-stories and creating a persuasive history of the world within Breaking Bad. The show has also been strategically promoted online to explicitly engage audience members, and get them to participate in games, interactive comics, webcam conversations, and other story-driven interplay between the show itself and the audience. One of the most interesting promotions that was created for the show was a website called SaveWalterWhite.com. When Walter Junior, Walter White’s son, find’s out that Walter has cancer he decides to launch a website to help raise money for his dad’s cancer treatments. At the very same time, AMCtv.com launched the very same site featuring Walter Junior’s on-air web design and acclamation to his father. This site provided a real-life opportunity for fans to help fight cancer by directing fans to donate to the National Cancer Coalition. In the three years since the launch of SaveWalterWhite.com, over one million fans have clicked on the “Click to Donate” button and to date, have donated more than $125,000 to the National Cancer Coalition. www.SaveWalterWhite.com In addition to promotions such as SaveWalterWhite.com, AMC created several online video games such as an RPG comic where users play as Walter White’s brother-in-law, DEA Agent Hank Schrader, as he interrogates a suspect in a murder. Prior to season three, they created a Breaking Bad Criminal Aptitude Test, which is a personality quiz that compared the user to various criminal characters featured in the show. The promotions are all very interactive, and engage users to enter into the story from different perspective, and create their own interpretations of where the story will take us. Through these interactive promotions, fan-sites, blogs, videos, and comics, the story of Breaking Bad is one that extends from the actual show itself and engages audience members to participate, collaborate and build upon a synchronized narrative that encompasses the world of Breaking Bad. Below I have included a piece of fan art and an interesting chart derived from the story.	<urn:uuid:9ff91eda-c749-465d-8cf2-f0457c98548e>	CC-MAIN-2017-17	http://convergenceculturefa2012.blogspot.com/2012/11/post-3-transmedia-storytelling_20.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-17/segments/1492917125532.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20170423031205-00101-ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.952913	901	3.03125	3
Reducing antibiotic use is not enough to curb the rise of resistance in the developing world, say Zulfiqar A. Bhutta and Syed Rehan Ali. Ever since the advent of antibiotics, the phenomenon of increasing resistance to commonly used antibiotics has been well-recognised. Excessive and uncontrolled use of antibiotics in humans and animals are major contributors to the spread of resistance. In a rapidly globalising world where people have easy access to long-distance travel, antibiotic-resistant organisms can easily cross continents and infect individuals. Resistance can also be transferred between different disease-causing bacteria, with deadly consequences for health systems in both developed and developing countries. While the extent of resistance and its health and economic costs are well-documented in developed countries, relatively little is known about the burden and consequences of resistance in developing countries, where data are sparse and monitoring systems poor. Nevertheless, given that many developing countries have enormously high rates of infectious disease, the directly attributable economic costs of resistance must be considerable. Lack of access to effective treatment for resistant infections is an important additional contributor to morbidity. Poverty and inequity Poverty and inequity are major drivers of antimicrobial resistance. In developing countries they are linked to inadequate access to effective drugs, unregulated dispensing by unqualified staff and truncated therapy for reasons of cost. In addition, substandard generics — and counterfeit medications — are burgeoning because of the cost of branded antibiotics. Poor people often buy them from uncontrolled street vendors and even then cannot afford to complete a full course of treatment. This vicious cycle promotes the emergence of antimicrobial resistance and can make treatment less effective. The widespread and frequently unnecessary use of antibiotics is also related to health system weaknesses, with poorly trained care providers and lack of suitable laboratory facilities frequently resulting in inappropriate treatment. For example, because of limited capacity to obtain a bacteriological diagnosis of typhoid fever, treatment is often initiated with ineffective antibiotics and changed to second line therapy following clinical treatment failure. In other instances, physicians may choose to initiate treatment unnecessarily with second line antibiotics. Sometimes alternative antibiotics may not be available at all. As a result of widespread resistance among common bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae that cause childhood pneumonia, it is no longer feasible to treat cases of moderate-to-severe pneumonia with first line antibiotics like co-trimoxazole. Although health systems are gearing to change to amoxicillin for the treatment of childhood pneumonia, this will take time and considerable resources. Resistant bacteria are often more virulent, leading to more severe illness. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) typhoid, for example, is associated with greater clinical severity of illness and more complications than the non-resistant form of the disease. One study showed that despite treatment with injectable ceftriaxone, the mean time before children with MDR typhoid lost their fever was 7.2 days, compared with 6.3 days for sensitive typhoid. The drug treatment costs for an episode of MDR typhoid fever, a common childhood infection, are considerably higher than for sensitive typhoid. So increasing antibiotic resistance is associated with higher economic burden on health systems from the combination of higher rates of complications and enhanced health care costs. This extra economic burden can be considerable. Our findings from population-based studies on typhoid fever in urban Karachi indicate that the average cost of illness was more than US$50 per episode, most of which was out-of-pocket costs for antibiotics. Rational drug use is a cornerstone for reducing inappropriate antimicrobial use and requires physician and patient education as well as industry collaboration. In addition, given widespread over-the-counter availability of antibiotics in many developing countries, regulation and oversight of antibiotic use are key interventions. In addition, every effort needs to be made to “protect” newer and second line antibiotics from widespread use in health facilities or general practice. Merely reducing antibiotic use may be simplistic. But selective and appropriate use of antibiotics (with the correct dose and duration of therapy) may make a difference. The challenge is to implement these strategies within health systems by engaging both the public and private sectors. This may require a series of measures including staff training, strengthening of health systems and rational prescribing, as well as regulation of antibiotic use and over-the-counter prescribing. Zulfiqar A Bhutta is the professor and chairman, department of paediatrics & child health, and Syed Rehan Ali is an assistant professor, both at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.	<urn:uuid:ee7fca18-e1cc-4fde-8c9f-8d2715b8e812>	CC-MAIN-2015-18	http://www.scidev.net/global/health/opinion/reducing-antibiotics-not-enough-to-stem-resistance.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-18/segments/1429246654114.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20150417045734-00028-ip-10-235-10-82.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.942634	941	3.609375	4
Hair Transplant: It is a surgical process that involves removal of hair follicles from any site in the body like face or legs and planting them on the hairless portion. The latest techniques are permanent and they pick up follicular clusters of hair. This process is called Follicular Hair Transplantation (FUT) which can be done in two ways, strip harvesting and follicular unit extraction (FUE). In strip harvesting, skin strips with good hair growth are planted on balding areas and in follicular unit, extraction hair clusters with their roots are manually removed and planted at the hairless site. Strip harvesting is what the surgeons are mostly adopting these days. It leaves a slim scar at the donor site and promises recovery within two weeks. Hair transplant is a noninvasive procedure and is on several occasions done on an outpatient basis. Usually, the patients are allowed to shampoo after two-three days although the scalp needs to be protected from sun and infections for a while after the surgery. The patients are generally put on antibiotics for a few days. Hair Transplantation —–> 1,00,000/-	<urn:uuid:e38f6090-9693-48f5-8cf3-53821b4b2395>	CC-MAIN-2019-47	https://kiranskinclinic.com/hair-transplant-laser-hair-removal-treatment-in-hyderabad/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-47/segments/1573496670635.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20191120213017-20191121001017-00425.warc.gz	en	0.94706	229	2.59375	3
This 3 1/2″ tall pewter figurine is remarkably detailed! From the features on the saint’s face, and the folds of the garments to the accessories that tradition commonly associates with this saint. Last but not least the saint’s name is inscribed on the base of this sturdy little statue. About St. Catherine of Siena . . . Catherine was the youngest child in a very large family. She grew up as an intelligent, cheerful and intensely religious person. Catherine disappointed her mother by cutting off her hair as a protest against being overly encouraged to improve her appearance in order to attract a husband. Her father ordered her to be left in peace and she was given a room of her own for prayer and meditation. She entered the Dominican Third Order at 18 and spent the next three years in seclusion, prayer and austerity. Gradually a group of followers gathered around her – men and women, priests and religious. An active public apostolate grew out of her contemplative life. Her letters, mostly for spiritual instruction and encouragement of her followers, began to take more and more note of public affairs. Her public influence reached great heights because of her evident holiness, her membership in the Dominican Third Order, and the deep impression she made on the Pope. She worked tirelessly for the crusade against the Turks and for peace between Florence and the Pope. In 1378, the Great Schism began, splitting the allegiance of Christendom between two, then three, Popes and putting even saints on opposing sides. Catherine spent the last two years of her life in Rome, in prayer and pleading on behalf of the cause of Urban VI and the unity of the Church. In 1970 Paul VI named her and Teresa of Avila as doctors of the Church.	<urn:uuid:51619252-df46-487a-a538-978f464d8988>	CC-MAIN-2018-13	https://sacredhearttoys.com/product/st-catherine-of-siena-statue/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-13/segments/1521257648313.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20180323141827-20180323161827-00117.warc.gz	en	0.968487	359	2.828125	3
The May 23 Sunday LNP \| LancasterOnline Perspective section focused on immunization. Dr. Michael Ripchinski, chief clinical officer at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, addressed common misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccination. And Dr. Patrick Gavigan, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, made the case for vaccinating kids against COVID-19. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine now is available to children ages 12-15. Throughout this pandemic we’ve urged readers to rely on scientists and medical experts for information about COVID-19 rather than on social media, which can be a whirlpool — and often a cesspool — of misinformation and disinformation. Straightforward, science-based information from medical professionals is essential in a pandemic. So we’re grateful to Drs. Ripchinski and Gavigan for contributing their expertise to the Sunday Perspective section. And we’d like to amplify here some of the points they made. Dr. Ripchinski addressed some of the common misconceptions that he and others in the medical community hear from patients about COVID-19 vaccination. One of those misconceptions is about, well, conception and pregnancy. According to the Boston Globe Media news site Stat, the “likely origin of this myth is a letter sent to the European Medicines Agency (the equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) by two European anti-vaccination propagandists.” Be warned: Those folks are out there, working against the cause of public and individual health. We’re not going to repeat their nonsense. Instead, we’ll share what Dr. Ripchinski wrote: There is “no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility or pregnancy.” In fact, he noted, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “there is no link between infertility and any vaccine.” He continued: “If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, the benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 far outweigh the risks. Pregnant women are at greater risk for developing severe COVID-19 illness, which could endanger the lives of both the mother and the baby. We have seen miscarriages at Women & Babies Hospital that we believe were a result of the mothers’ infection with COVID-19. The CDC is continuing to collect data on this.” Dr. Ripchinski also countered the misconception that the vaccines’ development was rushed, pointing out that the science behind the messenger RNA — or mRNA — vaccines began at the University of Pennsylvania in the mid-2000s. “It’s important to dispel the myths about the messenger RNA, or mRNA, vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna,” Dr. Gavigan wrote. “They do not impact our DNA — rather, they’re a set of instructions for the cells to make a viral protein, and this mRNA is quickly broken down after the protein is made.” Dr. Ripchinski emphasized that the COVID-19 vaccines were “well-tested in research studies with many tens of thousands of people. These studies have shown that the vaccines are safe and effective.” And their emergency use authorization was “a normal first step for a new vaccine,” he wrote. “We are on track for the COVID-19 vaccines to ultimately receive full approval. It’s only a matter of time and paperwork completion with the FDA.” Dr. Gavigan pointed out that the “fact that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was paused because of a problem in less than one in a million cases shows that safety is a top priority of regulators.” Dr. Ripchinski squarely addressed questions about the vaccines’ side effects, pointing out that they are “similar to common side effects from other vaccines, including a slight fever, chills, fatigue, headache and soreness where you got the shot. These side effects are usually mild and last only a day or two. They are a sign that your body is doing what it should to protect you from COVID-19.” As we’ve noted before, the members of the LNP \| LancasterOnline Editorial Board all have been vaccinated, and the side effects we experienced ranged from minimal arm soreness to a 12-hour low-grade fever and headache. These effects were much easier to handle than being hospitalized with COVID-19, or dealing with any lingering issues caused by the infection. As Dr. Ripchinski wrote, “While some people may experience more serious side effects, such as allergic reactions, from the vaccine, this is very rare. The risk of developing serious long-term problems from a COVID-19 infection is much higher. Even if you’re young and otherwise healthy, COVID-19 could make you very sick. This is the No. 1 reason you should get the vaccine.” He wrote that data from large-scale clinical trials and subsequent published studies indicate that the COVID-19 vaccines are very effective. “Vaccination prevents most people from getting sick with COVID-19,” Dr. Ripchinski noted. “And if you do become infected, being vaccinated will help to keep you from becoming seriously ill.” Even “though adolescents generally don’t get as severely ill from the novel coronavirus as adults do, even healthy kids can get very sick with acute COVID-19, and we don’t know what long-term effects there could be,” wrote Dr. Gavigan, who sees patients at the Penn State Health Lime Spring Outpatient Center in East Hempfield Township as well as at the Children’s Hospital in Hershey. He continued: “We’ve seen kids develop a post-COVID-19 complication called multisystem inflammatory syndrome, usually characterized by fever, elevated inflammatory markers and heart dysfunction that requires hospitalization. ... We’re also seeing ‘long haulers’ — children with symptoms that develop during or after COVID-19 and last 12 or more weeks. In children, the most common symptoms are ongoing fatigue and difficulty concentrating.” Because COVID-19 is still relatively new, the implications of “long COVID” and other post-infection conditions aren’t fully known. Scientists do know, however, that vaccination is a safe, effective, lifesaving weapon in the battle against infectious disease. As the CDC notes, “The best way to prevent these long-term complications is to prevent COVID-19.” And that’s best achieved through immunization. Dr. Gavigan wrote that “the longer we wait to vaccinate, the more infections will accrue. Vaccination is key to reducing future variants of the virus.” He noted: “Some parents worry that their children are being exposed to too many vaccines, but the amount of viral protein in a vaccine is much less than their child would get with an actual COVID-19 infection.” We’ll leave the last word to Dr. Gavigan, whose career is dedicated to the health of children: “Getting your child vaccinated — and getting vaccinated yourself — protects your child and the rest of society. If we’re going to achieve herd immunity — which is at least 70% of the population vaccinated and probably higher — we’re going to have to vaccinate this age group.”	<urn:uuid:6ade8d55-90eb-48ff-a90c-a39e8d224411>	CC-MAIN-2021-43	https://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/rely-on-medical-professionals-for-information-about-covid-19-vaccination-we-amplify-the-expertise-of/article_9b6547fe-bdb8-11eb-aee8-bf55894a7206.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-43/segments/1634323585518.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20211022181017-20211022211017-00541.warc.gz	en	0.952923	1,583	2.671875	3
Most of us have heard about “Flu Shots” and “Boosters of Vitamin B”, but as hard to believe as it is, there are actually more that 50 different vaccinations, according to the Centers for Disease Con-trol and Prevention (the CDC). The availability of vaccines depend on many things, such as location and potential breakouts of certain kinds of diseases. The vaccines in rancho palos verdes has available are those most needed in the area. They also carry vaccines that may be hard to get a hold of. Just what is a vaccine? A vaccine is a “biological preparation” that boosts or improves a person’s immunity to some specific disease. It generally contains some agent that closely resembles the microorganism that causes the disease. It is usually made from killed or weakened forms of the microbe, one of its proteins from its surface or some of its toxins. What a vaccine does is stimulate your body’s immune system to be able to recognize this agent and destroy it. It also prompts your system to remember the disease agent so that it can recognize and destroy these microorganisms if it encounters them at a later time. No vaccines, even the vaccines rancho palos verdes has, can guarantee total protection from a disease. It could be that the host’s (that would be you) immune system just doesn’t respond well enough or even at all. The host could have a low immunity in general due to having diabetes, HIV infection, the use of steroids or because of their age. Their system may not have a “B cell” capable of making the antibodies the some particular antigen. Some vaccines need to be taken on a schedule. The vaccines in rancho palos verdes specialist know that if the schedule isn’t followed precisely the vaccination simply wont be effective. For this reason, any patient that is being treated with one of these types of vaccines is told exactly what that schedule is and the doctor keeps in close contact to remind them when the next dose is due. There is no doubt that vaccines have contributed to the health of people all over the world and the vaccines rancho palos verdes specialist diligently contribute to keeping safe and alive.	<urn:uuid:21feb9b3-7f49-4ba4-a798-9df848f2bc61>	CC-MAIN-2021-21	https://www.articles-center.com/vaccines-given-in-rancho-palos-verdes-keeps-people-healthy	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-21/segments/1620243988953.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20210509002206-20210509032206-00499.warc.gz	en	0.959301	462	3.171875	3
by Steve Hickey, PhD; Atsuo Yanagisawa, MD, PhD; Andrew W. Saul, PhD; Gert E. Schuitemaker, PhD; Damien Downing, MD (OMNS May 14, 2012) People have been misinformed about the tragedy at Fukushima and its consequences. There is a continuing cover up, the reactors have not been stabilized, and radiation continues to be released. The Japanese College of Intravenous Therapy (JCIT) has recently released a video for people wishing to learn more about how to protect themselves from contamination by taking large doses of vitamin C. All four parts of the video are also available here http://firstlaw.wordpress.com/. Readers may link to, embed in their webpages, and make copies of the video for free distribution. Japanese Government Minimizes Danger; Ignores Vitamin C In the fall of 2011, JCIT presented a study that Fukushima workers had abnormality gene expression, which may be avoided using dietary antioxidants, especially vitamin C. The data was presented in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. The JCIT sent letters to the government urging the government to tell the people how they may protect themselves from radiation. To date, the recommendation has been ignored by Japanese government and TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company). Linus Pauling gained the Nobel Peace Prize in part based on his calculations of the number of deaths from nuclear weapons fallout. He was supported by physicist and father of the Soviet bomb Andrei Sakharov, who also later received the Nobel Prize for peace. These and other scientists estimated that there would be an extra 10,000 deaths worldwide for each megaton nuclear test in the atmosphere. A nuclear reactor can contain much more radioactive material than a nuclear weapon. Fukushima had six reactors, plus stored additional radioactive material and nuclear waste. How Radiation Damages Cells Ionizing radiation acts to damage living tissue by forming free radicals. Essentially, electrons are ripped from molecules. Removing an electron from an atom or molecule turns it into an ion, hence the term ionizing radiation. X-rays, gamma rays, alpha- and beta-radiation are all ionizing. Most of the damage occurs from ionizing radiation generating free radicals in water, as water molecules are by far the most abundant in the body. While avoiding unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation is clearly preferable, people affected by Fukushima do not have the luxury of avoiding contamination. Antioxidants: Free-Radical Scavengers Free-radical scavengers, as the name suggests, mop up the damaging radicals produced by radiation. The more common term for free radical scavenger is antioxidant. Antioxidants replace the electrons stripped from molecules by ionizing radiation. Antioxidants have long been used in the treatment of radiation poisoning.[3-7] Most of the harm from ionizing radiation occurs from free radical damage which may be quenched by the free electrons antioxidants provide. Fortunately, safe antioxidants are widely available as nutritional supplements. Vitamin C is the prime example. Why Vitamin C? Vitamin C is of particular importance and should be included at high intakes for anyone trying to minimize radiation poisoning. High dose vitamin C provides continual antioxidant flow through the body. It is absorbed from the gut and helps to replenish the other antioxidants. When it is used up, it is excreted in the urine. Importantly, it can chelate, or grab onto, radioactive heavy metal atoms and help eliminate them from the body. Large dynamic flow doses of vitamin C (about 3,000 mg, taken 4 times a day for a total of 12,000 mg) would exemplify antioxidant treatment. Higher doses have been used by Dr. Atsuo Yanagisawa and colleagues. [8,9] Shortly after the disaster, Dr. Damien Downing described how supplements can help protect against radioactive fallout. OMNS issued an update on the response to Fukushima in Japan. Recently, Dr. Gert Schuitemaker has provided a review of vitamin C as a radio-protectant for Fukushima contamination. Persons living in the areas affected by radioactive contamination can take antioxidant supplements, especially high doses of vitamin C, to counteract the negative consequences of long-term low dose radiation exposure, as well as to protect the health of coming generations.[12,13] People who have a possible internal or external radiation exposure should take antioxidant supplements to maintain an optimal antioxidant reserve. Because of the enormous size and oceanic spread of Fukushima contamination, this literally applies to everyone. \|“The International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine is pleased to have participated in the making of this important DVD on the protective effects of intravenous vitamin C on radiation exposure from the Fukushima nuclear plant in March 2011. We are in full support of the valuable work of Dr. Yanagisawa and his colleagues, and we very much appreciate the commitment of Mr. Daisuke Shibata, who has made it possible for the free distribution of the video around the world. May this orthomolecular message raise awareness and foster improvement in the treatment of radiation exposure.” Steven Carter Director, International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine\| 1. The Nobel Foundation (1962) The Nobel Peace Prize 1962, Linus Pauling Biography, http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1962/pauling-bio.html. 2. Sakharov A. (1975) The Nobel Peace Prize 1975, Andrei Sakharov, Autobiography, http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1975/sakharov-autobio.html. 3. Brown SL, Kolozsvary A, Liu J, et al: Antioxidant diet supplementation starting 24 hours after exposure reduces radiation lethality. Radiat Res, 2010; 173: 462-468. 4. Zueva NA, Metelitsa LA, Kovalenko AN, et al: Immunomodulating effect of berlithione in clean-up workers of the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident [Article in Russian]. Lik Sprava, 2002; (1): 24-26. 5. Yamamoto T, Kinoshita M et al. Pretreatment with ascorbic acid prevents lethal gastrointestinal syndrome in mice receiving a massive amount of radiation. J Radiat Res (Tokyo) 2010; 51(2):145-56 6. Gaby A. Intravenous Nutrient Therapy: the “Myers’ Cocktail”. Alt Med Rev 2002; 7(5):389:403 7. Narra VR, Howell RW, Sastry KS, Rao DV. Vitamin C as a radioprotector against iodine-131 in vivo. J Nucl Med 1993; 34(4):637-40 8. Yanagisawa A. Orthomolecular approaches against radiation exposure. Presentation Orthomolecular Medicine Today Conference. Toronto 2011 http://www.doctoryourself.com/Radiation_VitC.pptx.pdf ) 9. Green MH, Lowe JE et al. Effect of diet and vitamin C on DNA strand breakage in freshly-isolated human white blood cells. Mutat Res 1994; 316(2):91-102 10. Downing D. (2011) Radioactive Fallout: Can Nutritional Supplements Help?, A Personal Viewpoint, OMNS, May 10, http://www.orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v07n04.shtml. 11. OMNS (2012) Vitamin C Prevents Radiation Damage, Nutritional Medicine in Japan, Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, February 1. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v08n06.shtml 12. Schuitemaker GE. Vitamin C as protection against radiation exposure. J Orthomolecular Med 2011, 26: 3; 141-145. [Also in Dutch: Schuitemaker G.E. Radioactiviteit in Japan: Orthomoleculair antwoord. Ortho 2011:3, June. http://www.ortho.nl ] 13. Yanagisawa A, Uwabu M, Burkson BE, Weeks BS, Hunninghake R, Hickey S, Levy T, (2011) Environmental radioactivity and health. Official JCIT Statement, March 29. http://media.iv-therapy.jp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Statement.pdf Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org Find a Doctor To locate an orthomolecular physician near you: http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v06n09.shtml The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource. Editorial Review Board: Ian Brighthope, M.D. (Australia) Ralph K. Campbell, M.D. (USA) Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. (USA) Damien Downing, M.D. (United Kingdom) Dean Elledge, D.D.S., M.S. (USA) Michael Ellis, M.D. (Australia) Martin P. Gallagher, M.D., D.C. (USA) Michael Gonzalez, D.Sc., Ph.D. (Puerto Rico) William B. Grant, Ph.D. (USA) Steve Hickey, Ph.D. (United Kingdom) James A. Jackson, Ph.D. (USA) Michael Janson, M.D. (USA) Robert E. Jenkins, D.C. (USA) Bo H. Jonsson, M.D., Ph.D. (Sweden) Thomas Levy, M.D., J.D. (USA) Stuart Lindsey, Pharm.D. (USA) Jorge R. Miranda-Massari, Pharm.D. (Puerto Rico) Karin Munsterhjelm-Ahumada, M.D. (Finland) Erik Paterson, M.D. (Canada) W. Todd Penberthy, Ph.D. (USA) Gert E. Schuitemaker, Ph.D. (Netherlands) Robert G. Smith, Ph.D. (USA) Jagan Nathan Vamanan, M.D. (India) Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D. (USA), Editor and contact person. Email: [email protected] Readers may write in with their comments and questions for consideration for publication and as topic suggestions. However, OMNS is unable to respond to individual emails. To Subscribe at no charge: http://www.orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html	<urn:uuid:f9ad1ea4-2a10-4363-aee9-4dd0351989b9>	CC-MAIN-2015-18	http://farmwars.info/?p=8457	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-18/segments/1429246640124.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20150417045720-00090-ip-10-235-10-82.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.853462	2,318	3	3
Acute otitis media in children refers to the infection of pathogens such as bacteria and/or viruses directly into the tympanic cavity through the eustachian tube to cause mucosal infection in the middle ear cavity. It is usually secondary to the common cold and occurs within 48 hours. The course of disease does not exceed 12 weeks. Acute otitis media is a common and frequently-occurring disease in children. The incidence rate is about 4% in children. The peak age of the disease is 1~2 years old. The winter and spring seasons are the high incidence of the disease, and the upper respiratory tract infection. Have a close relationship, according to statistics in children with upper respiratory tract infectionsOtitis mediaThe incidence rate is around 10%. Acute otitis media in children can be divided into acute non-suppurative otitis media and acute suppurative otitis media: acute non-suppurative otitis media VS acute suppurative otitis media Acute non-suppurative otitis media mainly manifests as local symptoms, that is, earache is persistent; the characteristics of ear pain in infants and young children can be characterized as irritability, sometimes manifested as licking ears and licking ears, and even affecting sleep, only those with early respiratory tract infections There may be fever. Acute suppurative otitis media, in addition to the symptoms of local persistent severe earache and infant earache, can also be accompanied by high fever, crying, nausea, vomiting and other systemic symptoms, the symptoms are relieved after ear pus. Some children have early hearing loss. Children with acute otitis media without standardization can cause hearing loss in children, severe cases can cause intracranial and extracranial complications, including behind the ear and under the ear abscess, as well as meningitis, epidural abscess, subdural abscess, brain Intracranial complications such as abscesses are even life-threatening. The etiology of acute otitis media in children is mainly the application of antibiotics, combined with other symptomatic treatments, based on the principle of comprehensive treatment, and according to its clinical treatment needs are as follows. 1, first of all, take antibiotics as directed by your doctor. 2, and secondly, can be treated locally according to the symptoms. For example, 1% phenol glycerol ear drops can be used for early ear pain symptoms in acute non-suppurative otitis media. 3, and finally, if necessary, surgical treatment, such as complications caused by acute suppurative otitis media such as post-abdominal abscess, acute suppurative mastoiditis, etc., tympanic membrane incision and drainage; for recurrent acute non-suppurative Middle ear effusion, feasible tympanotomy in the middle ear catheterization. Jinghao medical hearing aid reminder: hearing aids need to be professionally “fitted”, it is very important to choose a professional hearing aid fitting center and hearing aid fittings! All patients and friends have any hearing problems can call the Jinghao medical consultation, or personally Come to the fitting center experience. Hearing aid free consultation phone: +86-18566295705 You can also scan our WeChat public account for more information about hearing. Link：What about children with otitis media?REF: Bluetooth Hearing Aids, ITE hearing aids, Hearing Aids Types The article comes from the Internet. If there is any infringement, please contact [email protected] to delete it.	<urn:uuid:ddb672bd-c93f-4c82-ad2e-a21720bd203b>	CC-MAIN-2023-14	https://www.hearingaid.cc/hearing-articles/100002926/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296950030.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20230401125552-20230401155552-00060.warc.gz	en	0.930752	741	3.453125	3
More Blood Pressure (BP) Control Not Always Best in Hypertension An SBP target of about 120–140 rather than below 140 mm Hg may be more beneficial. Optimal blood pressure targets in patients with hypertension may need to be reconsidered in light of the findings of recently published studies. In one study, researchers led by Csaba P. Kovesdy, MD, chief of nephrology at the Memphis VA Medical Center in Memphis, found that stricter control of systolic blood pressure (SBP) is associated with higher all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The other study, led by John J. Sim, MD, area research chair, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, demonstrated that systolic and diastolic pressures higher and lower than 130–139 mm Hg systolic and 60–79 diastolic are associated with an increased risk of death and development of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with and without CKD. In a study using a nationwide cohort of U.S. veterans, Dr. Kovesdy's group analyzed data from 77,765 CKD patients with uncontrolled hypertension who then received 1 or more additional antihypertensive medications with evidence of a decrease in SBP. Of the 77,765 patients, 5,760 had a treated SBP of less than 120 mm Hg and 72,005 patients had SBP of 120–139 mm Hg at follow-up. During a median follow-up of 6 years, 19,517 died. The death rate was 80.9 per 1,000 patient-years in the SBP below 120 mm Hg group compared with 41.8 per 1,000 patient-years in the SBP 120–139 mm Hg group, Dr. Kovesdy's team reported online ahead of print in JAMA Internal Medicine. After adjusting for propensity scores, the SBP less than 120 mm Hg group had a 70% increased risk of death compared with the SBP 120–139 mm Hg group. “Our goal was to model a clinical trial, capitalizing on the availability of a very large clinical database that allowed us to select patients whose blood pressure trajectory suggested a change from uncontrolled level to different BP goals using pharmacologic intervention,” Dr. Kovesdy told Renal & Urology News. “The observational nature of the study does not allow us to claim that the higher mortality was a direct result of the lower observed BP. Nevertheless, our results are similar to those reported by other studies done in the CKD population, and suggest that blood pressure has a J-shaped association with mortality, and that it may be advisable to avoid over-treating hypertension in patients with kidney disease.” In clinical practice, Dr. Kovesdy pointed out, this would mean that targeting an SBP range of about 120–140 mmHg rather than an SBP of below140 mm Hg may be more beneficial. The approach may require the tapering of antihypertensive regimens in patients whose SBP is less than 120 mm Hg, especially if they display symptoms or signs of organ hypo-perfusion, such as lightheadedness or an increase in serum creatinine. Direct extrapolation of these results to ESRD patients is not possible, he said, although observational data in dialysis patients also suggests the presence of a J-shaped curve. In dialysis patient the situation is, however, more complex due to differences in pre-, post-, and interdialytic blood pressures. The study by Dr. Sim's team, which was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2014;64:588-597), included 398,419 treated hypertensive patients (30% of whom had diabetes mellitus) in the Kaiser Permanenete Southern California health system. Of these, 25,182 (6.3%) died and ESRD developed in 4,957 (1.2%). Compared with an SBP of 130–139 mm Hg, an SBP below 110 mm Hg was associated with a 4-fold increased risk of a composite outcome of death or ESRD. An SBP of 110–119 mm Hg was associated with a 1.8 times increased risk. Patients with an SBP of 150–159, 160-169, and 170 mm Hg or higher had a 2.3, 3.3, and 4.9 times increased risk. Diastolic BP of 60–79 mm Hg was associated with the lowest risk. The nadir systolic and diastolic pressures associated with the lowest risk were 137 and 71 mm Hg, respectively. “Controlling hypertension is the priority,” Dr. Sim said. “As a nation, we have been able to steadily improve our hypertension treatment and subsequent control rates to the degree that now we have to better establish the ideal treatment ranges. Our Kaiser Permanente study suggests that ‘the lower the better' approach is not ideal and that there may be a subpopulation where clinicians may be adding risk with aggressive treatment. For those individuals, clinicians should consider down titration and withdrawal of medications in order to achieve more appropriate blood pressures.” In an editorial accompanying the report by Dr. Sim's team (pp.598–600), Charlotte Andersson, MD, of Gentofte Hospital in Hellerup, Denmark, and Ramachandran S. Vasan, MD, of Boston University School of Medicine, noted that available randomized trials have not convincingly demonstrated improved mortality rates with aggressive antihypertensive treatment. “Ultimately, we need further studies to establish the optimal BP treatment target for patients with various comorbidities,” the authors wrote. “It may make sense to treat younger people with less comorbidity more aggressively than older patients or people with a large burden of comorbidity, but the exact numerical BP targets are yet to be determined.” Drs. Andersson and Vasan added that truly uncontrolled hypertension remains a challenge, “and we still must be concerned about undertreatment of hypertension, even as we sort out the optimal treatment target.”	<urn:uuid:ff80c1f0-a9ce-4951-9e67-7d22337f0cd8>	CC-MAIN-2018-05	http://www.renalandurologynews.com/hypertension/more-blood-pressure-bp-control-not-always-best-in-hypertension/article/368753/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-05/segments/1516084890795.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20180121155718-20180121175718-00044.warc.gz	en	0.938757	1,292	2.546875	3
Did Bruno lose his innocence? 1 Answer \| Add Yours Interestingly enough, I don't see Bruno as having lost his innocence. Normally, with stories associated with the Holocaust and the death intrinsic to it, the loss of innocence is something to be expected. Bruno stands for the innocent values of friendship and honor throughout the work. His commitment to Shmuel and living up to his promises are the reasons for his own death. Even when he and Shmuel are being herded into the gas chambers, he does not lose sight of this. In holding his friend's hand, reassuring him that everything will be fine, there is a clear innocence that Bruno possesses. The world in which Nazism has negotiated people's values, caused them to abdicate responsibility towards others, and created a condition in which temporary notions of the good become accepted as permanent valus is a world that Bruno transcends. His innocent belief about the goodness of people and about the nature of honor prevent him from succumbing to a world with which people like his sister have become enamored. It is here where I think that one can see that Bruno does not lose his innocence in the novel. Rather, he becomes a transcendent figure because of it. Join to answer this question Join a community of thousands of dedicated teachers and students.Join eNotes	<urn:uuid:da6d22b9-70a9-4387-8854-fb94ceb85ece>	CC-MAIN-2015-06	http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/did-bruno-lose-his-innocence-how-why-370736	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2015-06/segments/1422115860608.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20150124161100-00140-ip-10-180-212-252.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.982197	270	2.65625	3
Development of moral thought from Hobbes through Nietzsche, with particular emphasis on the ethical writings of Hume, Kant, and John Stuart Mill. We will study the development of modern ethical philosophy with an emphasis on the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Among the questions we will consider are: What is the source of value? What is the role of self-interest in ethics and how do we define it? What role does knowledge play in ethical action? Are humans naturally social or not? We will start with selections from Montaigne and consider the influence of skepticism and the new sciences on ethics. Then we will examine texts from four distinct schools of thought: 1) natural law theorists; 2) the rationalists; 3) epicureans and egoists; and 4) those who advocate autonomy as the basis of value, culminating in the work of Kant." TEXT: "Moral Philosophy from Montaigne to Kant", J.B. Schneewind. Student learning goals General method of instruction Class assignments and grading	<urn:uuid:7a4eafc3-19ed-4412-9408-3575f86ea100>	CC-MAIN-2013-20	http://www.washington.edu/students/icd/S/phil/342rosentha.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708808767/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125328-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.875181	206	3.359375	3
In this post in the ONE Blog, John Anner, president of the East Meets West Foundation, discusses how the foundation is helping to improve sanitation and hygiene practices among poor populations. “As leaders gathered in Stockholm last week for World Water Week to discuss the future of our most precious natural resource, we are soberly reminded that for millions of people around the world, water safety is compromised because of poor sanitation and hygiene, which are the cause of numerous infections and waterborne illnesses,” he writes. “With the support of a new grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, East Meets West is pioneering a new approach to behavior change — one that we believe can help transform the sanitation and hygiene practices of those living in the most disadvantaged communities in Vietnam and Cambodia,” he continues, and details the community-based approach (9/4). Water and Sanitation “Cholera vaccine gives indirect protection to unvaccinated people in communities where a substantial fraction of the population gets the vaccine,” according to a study from the island of Zanzibar in East Africa, published in the Lancet on Tuesday, NPR’s “Shots” blog reports. “The effect is called ‘herd immunity,'” the blog notes. According to “Shots,” “half the people in six rural and urban areas received two doses of oral cholera vaccine,” and “[f]or those who got it, the vaccine was 79 percent protective against the disease” while “their neighbors who didn’t get vaccinated had almost as much protection.” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “warned on Friday that Haiti was struggling to cope with a cholera epidemic that has killed thousands and deteriorating conditions in tent camps as aid groups withdraw from the impoverished country due to a lack of funding,” Reuters reports. “In a report to the U.N. Security Council, Ban said there had been an increase in the number of cholera cases since the rainy season began in early March and the World Health Organization had projected there could be up to 112,000 cases during 2012,” the news service writes. “Cuba’s government declared Tuesday that health workers had eradicated a cholera outbreak that infected 417 people and killed three, according to a statement from the country’s Health Ministry,” CNN reports (Oppmann, 8/28). The government said this year’s heavy rains and high temperatures raised the risk of waterborne diarrheal diseases, the Associated Press/Boston.com notes (8/28). The cholera outbreak began in Granma province’s Manzanillo, about 560 miles east of Havana, and the government said other cases “associated” with the outbreak occurred in other areas of the province, the neighboring provinces of Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo, and in the capital of Havana, according to EFE/Fox News Latino. “Despite the fact that it said the outbreak was ‘concluded,’ the Cuban government is also saying it will maintain its vigilance to avoid ‘the recurrence of new cases,'” the news service writes (8/28). Ethiopian Government Working To Improve Access To Clean Toilets, Safe Water For People Living With HIV PlusNews examines how a lack of access to clean toilets, safe drinking water, and “information on the prevention of common opportunistic infections means many Ethiopians living with HIV continue to contract easily preventable diseases.” The news service writes, “According to the [non-governmental organization (NGO)] Wateraid, people living with HIV are often unable to access community water sources or latrines because of stigma and discrimination.” Following calls from experts for the nation to address water and sanitation issues related to HIV care and treatment programs, the Ethiopian government “has laid out ambitious plans for water, sanitation and hygiene through its Universal Access Plan II, which seeks to reach 98.5 percent of its population with access to safe water and 100 percent with access to sanitation by 2015” and “is also drafting a document called ‘Guidelines to Integrate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene into HIV Programmes,’ which lays the groundwork for incorporating safe water, sanitation and hygiene practices into all HIV care services being delivered at all levels,” PlusNews reports (8/27). The Washington Post examines global efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease, writing, “The parasitic infection which has sickened millions, mostly in Asia and Africa, is on the verge of being done in not by sophisticated medicine but by aggressive public health efforts in some of the poorest and most remote parts of the world.” According to the newspaper, “hundreds of thousands of volunteers” have contributed to fighting the waterborne parasite, by handing out filtered drinking straws or treating water sources with larvicide, among other efforts. “As a result, the ailment, also known as dracunculiasis, is poised to become the second human disease (the first was smallpox) to be eradicated — and the first to be eliminated without the aid of a vaccine,” the Washington Post continues. At the opening ceremony of World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, on Monday, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) “launched a framework that will help combat food insecurity by providing methods to better manage water resources in agriculture and reduce waste,” the U.N. News Centre reports. “The initiative, entitled ‘Coping with water scarcity: An action framework for agriculture and food security’ [.pdf], seeks to encourage practices that will improve water management, such as modernizing irrigation schemes, recycling and re-using wastewater, implementing mechanisms to reduce water pollution, and storing rainwater at farms to reduce drought-related risks, among others,” the news service notes. “The U.K. government has activated a Â£2 million [$3.16 million] emergency plan to help tackle a cholera epidemic sweeping through Sierra Leone,” the Press Association reports, adding, “The Department for International Development (DfID) says it is using a network that includes private businesses and specialist aid organizations to deliver emergency medical, water and sanitation assistance to affected people in the west African state” (8/25). “It is the first time [DfID] has activated its Rapid Response Facility,” the Guardian notes, adding, “The network was established in March and allows the U.K. government ‘to commit to rapid humanitarian funding’ within 72 hours in response to disasters and rapidly escalating humanitarian emergencies,” (Adetunji, 8/25). World Leaders, Scientists Gather In Stockholm For World Water Week; Researchers Warn Overconsumption Draining World's Water Supply Some 2,500 officials, policymakers and scientists will gather this week at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) for the largest annual meeting on water development issues as the international community recognizes World Water Week, observed August 26-31, VOA News reports. According to the news service, this year’s theme is “water and food security” (DeCapua, 8/24). “Global leaders assembled … at the opening session of the 2012 World Water Week in Stockholm called for substantial increases in public and private sector investment to reduce losses of food in the supply chain, enhance water efficiency in agriculture and curb consumer waste,” according to an SIWI press release (8/27). “Rain-battered Haiti is at risk of a fresh cholera outbreak” after “[t]ropical storm Isaac ripped through the impoverished Caribbean island [Saturday],” children’s charity Plan International warns, according to AlertNet (8/26). “The 400,000 people living in camps in the capital Port-au-Prince, such as Jean Marie Vincent, as well as those living in towns to the south of the island, including Les Cayes and Jacmel are among those at risk, following heavy rains and flooding,” Oxfam writes in a press release (Brinicombe, 8/26). “With a reported total of 10 deaths for the island of Hispaniola, which is shared by [Haiti and the Dominican Republic], the scale of devastation was less than many people had feared,” but “the capital and countryside of disaster-prone Haiti did suffer sporadic flooding, fallen poles and scores of toppled tents that housed people who lost their homes in the massive 2010 earthquake,” the Associated Press/Washington Post reports. “Across Haiti, the number of people evacuated due to flooding rose over the weekend,” the news service notes, adding, “The World Food Program had distributed two days of food to 8,300 of the people who had left their houses for 18 camps” (Blanco, 8/26). “Aid groups have prepared clean water and hygiene kits to help prevent the spread of cholera, which Haiti has struggled to control since the earthquake,” according to VOA News (8/25).	<urn:uuid:84ecfca1-a830-47e8-94bb-416ceb563908>	CC-MAIN-2017-30	http://www.kff.org/daily-news-tags/water-and-sanitation/?paged=56	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549426372.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20170726182141-20170726202141-00405.warc.gz	en	0.951395	1,919	3.0625	3
Today blog is written by Information Officer Paul Stammers Great Northern Diver(Loon) The wailing call of the Great Northern Diver has no doubt sent shivers down the spines of many a birdwatcher. The divers were first recorded in the bay as long back as 10th March and are still being seen regularly. Some of the best views have been from Teal Hide and Swan Hide at the Lyndon Nature Reserve. Almost all the Great Northern Divers seen off the British coast and on our inland waters are visitors, seen only in their dull winter plumage. A few spend summer north and west of Scotland, and it was long thought that some might breed there. This was first confirmed in 1970, when a pair with 2 chicks were seen swimming in a loch in Wester Ross. Like all divers the Great Northern Diver is most at home in or under the water, where it feeds. Its wings are small, so although a strong flyer, it cannot take off without great effort. Great Northern Diver feeding on American Red Signal Crayfish caught in Manton Bay. The crayfish were introduced into the River Gwash many years ago by a local land owner and have now found their way into the reservoir. We would like to thank Carol Caton who has kindly let us use her photographs which were taken from Teal Hide.	<urn:uuid:6bd5515d-078f-4356-86d9-779e02021d87>	CC-MAIN-2018-26	http://www.ospreys.org.uk/home-a-loon/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-26/segments/1529267862929.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20180619115101-20180619135101-00517.warc.gz	en	0.983843	275	2.8125	3
Distinguish, differentiate, compare and explain what is the difference between Guttation and Transpiration. Difference between Guttation and Transpiration 1. Guttation is the loss of liquid droplets from the plant. Transpiration is the loss of water by a plant in the form of vapours. 2. Guttated water is a dilute solution of both inorganic and organic substances. The transpired water is pure water. 3. Guttation commonly occurs at the margins and the tips of the leaves. Transpiration occurs through the general surface of the leaves and the young stems. 4. Guttation mostly occurs during night and early hours of the morning. Most of the transpiration occurs during the hotter periods of the day. It is negligible during night. 5. Guttation occurs through water pores called hydathodes. Transpiration occurs through stomata, lenticels and epidermal cells. 6. The water pore is always kept open in guttation. Stomata can be opened or closed in trasnpiration. 7. Guttation does not occur under condition of water deficiency. Transpiration continues even when the plant is under water stress. 8. Excessive guttation does not cause loss of turgidity. Excessive transpiration produces wilting.	<urn:uuid:c28666fd-203b-4a94-ae97-1b6fb0b7aaf9>	CC-MAIN-2017-13	http://steadyrun.com/differences-and-comparison/difference-guttation-transpiration/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-13/segments/1490218188553.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20170322212948-00298-ip-10-233-31-227.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.953675	276	3.59375	4
Hundreds of Hawaiian immersion students, parents and teachers gathered in front of the Department of Education’s headquarters today to call for the creation of standardized tests in the Hawaiian language. Holding signs that read “No more unfair testing” and “No more pidgin Hawaiian test,” the attendees chanted, heard speeches and invited schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi to address the crowd. She did, telling attendees that she understood their message and would work toward an equitable solution. “Right now, I don’t have a solution — not one that’s going to make everything right,” she said. “But I have an open door. I think you have a message that needs to be shared.” Third and fourth grade students in Hawaiian immersion programs take a translated version of the Hawaii State Assessment, while older students take the English version. Those at the demonstration were calling for the creation of a test developed in Hawaiian for all immersion students, or at the very least those in elementary school. Students in Hawaiian immersion programs begin learning English formally in fifth grade. “We’re not saying we don’t want to be tested. We’re saying the instrument has to be appropriate,” said Kamoa‘e Walk, chairman of ‘Aha Kauleo, the statewide advisory council for the DOE’s Hawaiian language immersion program. After the rally at the DOE building, the demonstrators moved to the state Capitol to hold signs and meet with state legislators.	<urn:uuid:ec34c090-b660-44a6-846b-134bbc0931b7>	CC-MAIN-2016-30	http://www.staradvertiser.com/breaking-news/Students-teachers-parents-rally-for-Hawaiian-language-tests/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-30/segments/1469257832385.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20160723071032-00214-ip-10-185-27-174.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.944438	316	2.765625	3
Listen to our podcast episode with this article's author, Terry Small, and Leah Giesbrecht, communications specialist, CPABC. Part of our Coffee Chats with CPABC podcast series. Hear from Terry Small at his upcoming seminars: Why are some people listened to more than others? Why do some people give such a poor impression? One of the most important things I have learned about the brain is the primacy effect. The primacy effect is the psychological term for the very first impression you make, and other people make on you. Research shows how quickly brains make initial formative judgments and, once made, how difficult they are to change. Most of us don't give this much thought, but where brains are concerned, you are what you are seen to be. A poor primacy effect can be disastrous to you, your life, and your career. The opposite is also true. The importance of this would be difficult to overstate. Here is an example of how quick, powerful, and lasting the primacy effect is: Harvard psychologists Ambady and Rosenthal did a particularly illuminating experiment. They were studying what makes teachers effective. Of particular interest was non-verbal cues – body language and such. A group was shown a mere ten-second video of a teacher teaching. No sound. No students visible. Just the teacher. Then the group was asked to rate the teacher on fifteen qualities. A second group was shown an even shorter five-second clip, and a third group a two-second clip. The ratings of the three groups were identical! There’s more. These ratings were then compared to ratings made by the students of the same teacher after a whole semester of classes. The ratings were the same! Complete strangers' opinions of a teacher based on a silent, two-second video clip were the same as those who sat through a whole semester of classes. Psychologists refer to our tendency to evaluate people in the first few seconds we meet them thin slicing. This tendency is based on a survival mechanism we developed to assess very rapidly whether or not a person poses a threat. As if there wasn't enough pressure for us all to be competent public speakers, we are also faced with an added challenge – making an impression in the age of the smart phone. Close to 90% of Canadians own one. The constant distraction of our devices raises the stakes when it comes to how we use our brain, body, and voice in our communications. It is now more essential than ever that we get it right and connect within diminishing windows of opportunity. So, it looks like we’ve got about two seconds to get it right. The lesson here is to be mindful of our primacy effect, and to work to make it stronger. Here are some tips on how you can do this. - Be fast, there’s a tiny window of opportunity. Smile – your expression can speak for you more quickly than words. Maintain eye contact, it helps you to be perceived as trustworthy. - Use your body language and voice. Your body language should be open (feet planted apart, arms uncrossed). Your voice tone should be even and resonant. - Be genuine. When you first meet someone, focus on them and give what they’re saying your full attention. - Focus on making a connection. Try to connect, as opposed to making conversation. Ask questions. Be an active listener. Go the extra mile to engage your conversation partner. Ultimately, when the brain, body, and voice come together to deliver memorable messages, we can create a positive impression to leave a lasting impact. Final thought: Machiavelli once said, "Everyone sees what you appear to be: few experience what you really are." Why not ask a couple of close friends for some honest feedback on your primacy effect? After all, we're all a work in progress. Terry Small, B.Ed., M.A., is a master teacher and Canada's leading learning skills specialist. He is the author of the Brain Bulletin with over 34,000 subscribers worldwide.	<urn:uuid:aef46c5a-729b-4665-87d9-348448e7cbe8>	CC-MAIN-2021-17	https://www.bccpa.ca/news-events/latest-news/2019/the-primacy-effect-how-you-can-use-it-to-make-a-favourable-first-impression/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-17/segments/1618038860318.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20210418194009-20210418224009-00024.warc.gz	en	0.962867	845	3.078125	3
Humor, memory, and even appetite issues. What are the impacts of a poor night’s sleep on our health? Today, information on Sleep Medicine and the advances of science are more disseminated, with countless papers and research projects available to those seeking data, diagnosis and treatment. But it has not always been this way. In the 1970s, when Professor Sergio Tufik started dedicating his time to this topic, few sleep studies and material were available. The objective of his research was initially linked to the effects of sleep deprivation on the activity of neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine. The publication of his Doctoral thesis was the first big step towards advances in the field, and the results contributed to greater knowledge on how the lack of sleep causes brain and behavioral changes. The study was a pioneer in the field, and it was the professor’s desire for change that boosted the evolution of Sleep Science in Brazil. Since then, the group of researchers has grown, different lines of research have been developed, and Instituto do Sono was founded. The Institute has one of the largest and most diverse groups of researchers in the world working to understand sleep-related phenomena and their clinical applications, helping in diagnosis and treatment. The team develops clinical and pre-clinical projects in Sleep Biology and Medicine, intersecting with other fields of Medicine and Health Sciences. The Sleep Institute is a leader in the industry and features as a leader of scientific publications in the Web of Science database. With multidisciplinary investigations and support for renowned researchers, it has transformed the reality of Sleep Medicine. It has published over 1,200 scientific papers to this day and received countless national and international awards. Among various important projects developed over the years, the Sleep Institute is responsible for EPISONO, the world’s largest epidemiological study, which investigates the prevalence of sleep disorders and various associated diseases. The Institute is also recognized for developing studies in various lines of research, such as sleep deprivation and disorders, circadian rhythm disorders, women’s sleep, sexuality, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The findings of these studies, which are frequently unprecedented, are presented at symposiums and congresses around the globe by representatives of Instituto do Sono, helping to build knowledge and improve people’s sleep quality.	<urn:uuid:337b3e7e-7c2d-45fa-8b86-3246a79135a8>	CC-MAIN-2021-31	https://institutodosono.com/en/research/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2021-31/segments/1627046152144.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20210726183622-20210726213622-00691.warc.gz	en	0.958669	471	2.53125	3
A New History of Shinto This accessible guide to the development of Japan’s indigenous religion from ancient times to the present day offers an illuminating introduction to the myths, sites and rituals of kami worship, and their role in Shinto’s enduring religious identity. What people are saying - Write a review We haven't found any reviews in the usual places. The History of a Shrine The History of a Myth The SunGoddess The Dailfsai A Shinto Rite of Imperial Issues in Contemporary Shinto Other editions - View all Aizawa Amaterasu Ame-no-Uzume amulets ancient appears became buddhas Buddhist cave century ceremonies chief priest Confucian Council of Kami court daijfsai dancing deities descendants Dharma divine emperor Enryakuji enshrined enthronement rites festival Fushimi gods Hagiyama heaven heavenly Hie Shrines Hie’s Hirata Hiyoshi imperial Ise Shrines Japan Japanese jingi cult jinin Jinja Juge kagura kami Kami Affairs kami myth Kamo Kanetomo kinensai Kojiki kunin Kyoto Lake Biwa land leyasu’s lineages lnari lse Shrines medieval Meiji Jingu mikoshi mirror Miwa miya Mizubayashi monzeki Motoori Mount Hiei mountain Nihon shoki Ninigi Ninomiya Nishikawa offerings Okada Okuninushi Omiya origin Orikuchi Oyamakui palace pavilions performed Prefecture realm religion religious rice ritual rock-cave myth sacred Sakamoto Sannt Shiga Shiga Prefecture shinbun Shinto shoguns shrine priests sokui spirit Suika sun-goddess Taisha Tajikarawo Takami-musubi tale Tamayori-hime temple Tendai Tendai monks Tenmu Tokugawa transformed waka Yamato Yasukuni Yoshida Yuki and Suki	<urn:uuid:8a22133b-b368-47f4-a883-7d774371f643>	CC-MAIN-2018-17	https://books.google.com/books/about/A_New_History_of_Shinto.html?id=C30SOvlACuEC&hl=en	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-17/segments/1524125946807.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20180424154911-20180424174911-00184.warc.gz	en	0.677067	415	3.359375	3
Islamic Tradition in Economics Economic thought in its Islamic tradition has always been inspired by moral purpose. This followed from clear Islamic injunctions laying down social goals and individual norms of conduct relevant to man's economic life. The Qur’an itself outlined a definite framework for the organization of man's economic life which could and did provide a distinctive paradigm for Islamic economics. To note its salient features: The world of nature is there for man to make a living out of it, promising sufficiency for all human beings. Man has to ensure this through his efforts for which he has freedom of ownership and enterprise. Justice must, however, be ensured, if necessary through law. Cooperation and benevolence rather than self-centeredness and avarice should be the norm for men in economic affairs. Allah being its real owner, property has to be handled as a trust and all economic activity conducted in the framework of trusteeship. Poverty is an empirical reality, hence the rich must surrender a part of what they possessed to the have-nots. Trade is lawful but interest is prohibited. Waste is sinful and it is imperative to economize and be sufficient. Worldly wealth should be treated as a means to good moral life leading to eternal bliss rather than as an end in itself. The Prophet (pbuh) reinforced this approach with his elaborations. There is a clear emphasis on a cooperative attitude, the motto being: "utilize the resources given by Allah, including your own abilities, to live and help others live a well provisioned life conducive to moral excellence". It was this motto which inspired the rightly guided caliphs in their management of the economy, the jurists in their working out the details of the Shari’ah relating to economic affairs and the social thinkers when they surveyed economies, and made policy recommendations. Thus we find AbuYusuf (123-182 AD / 731-798 AC) emphasizing need fulfillment and justice and reminding the ruler of his responsibilities in this regard. He argued in favor of efficient management and elimination of waste. Individual freedom was not to be encroached upon unless inevitable and the social authority should arrange for growth and development. He derived his ends from the Qur’an and the Sunnah and did not hesitate to refer to the generally recognized good (ma'ruf) for complementing the same. His method was flexible, resorting to deductions when needed and inferring from facts of life frequently. He analyzed with a purpose, but was always faithful to facts. In making policy recommendations he frequently referred to the ultimate goals mentioned above: need fulfillment, justice, efficiency, growth and freedom. This is brought out very well by his discussions on the economic responsibilities of the ruler and on the tax system. What applies to AbuYusuf applies to economic thinking in Islam in general. This is not to deny variety in emphasis and scope of the economic thinking of Abu Yusuf and other great scholars like Abu Ubayd, Ibn Khaldun, Ibn Taymiyyah, al Ghazali, al Tusi and Shah Waliullah of Delhi. This, however, is not the time and place to discuss these distinctive features. What concerns us here are the common elements shared by every Islamic thinker noted above. All these writers analyzed the existing economic reality with reference to the social goals and norms of individual behavior they derived from shari’ah and proceeded to make policy recommendations designed to transform the existing reality into what they considered to be Islamic ends and values. In doing so they were also influenced by the social and political conditions of their times and their sense of what was within the range of possibilities. They had a practical approach to the problems though some of them, like Ibn Khaldun and Shah Waliullah, did arrive at generalizations valid far beyond their time and place. The jurists among them also tried to deduce from particular traditions, rules and laws of general validity. But we do not propose to go into the details of the methods followed by various scholars. What we wish to note is that our scholars had an open mind as far as methodology was concerned. Their theory of knowledge told them that only Allah had all the knowledge and that man's knowledge was always deficient, even with respect to what concerned him directly. Just as human knowledge was limited, so was reason deficient to decide what was good. Man was in need of hidayah (guidance) from Allah, which was duly provided through the Prophets, and the Books revealed to them. Divine guidance was therefore the starting point of all social thinking and economics was no exceptions. We first enquire of what is desired by the Shari’ah and what rules are already prescribed for its realization. With reference to the actual economic problems facing man and society not directly covered by Shari’ah, we try to infer the appropriate rule by analogy wherever possible and by reasoning in the light of the public good (maslahah) where necessary. In order to make laws for society, or prescribe good behavior to the individual or recommend a policy to the ruler, one has to analyze the reality unburdened by any notions that are not derived from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Source: Dr. Muhammad Nejatullah Siddiqi, Economics An Islamic Approach. Republished with permission.	<urn:uuid:982f05f9-9472-4ca1-b5f2-ec795fccc1e5>	CC-MAIN-2019-18	https://islamicmarkets.com/education/islamic-tradition-in-economics	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-18/segments/1555578732961.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20190425173951-20190425195951-00256.warc.gz	en	0.970954	1,076	3.109375	3
The Handbook of Bilingual and Multilingual Education presents the first comprehensive international reference work of the latest policies, practices, and theories related to the dynamic interdisciplinary field of bilingual and multilingual education. Represents the first comprehensive reference work that covers bilingual, multilingual, and multicultural educational policies and practices around the world Features contributions from 78 established and emerging international scholars Offers extensive coverage in sixteen chapters of language and education issues in specific and diverse regional/geographic contexts, including South Africa, Mexico, Latvia, Cambodia, Japan, and Texas Covers pedagogical issues such as language assessment as well as offering evolving perspectives on the needs of specific learner populations, such as ELLs, learners with language impairments, and bilingual education outside of the classroom Conceived as a practical, accessible "how to" guide, The Bilingual Revolution is the story of a movement to bring dual language education to public schools told through the eyes of founding parents and educators. These pioneering mothers, fathers, teachers, and principals share the belief that bilingual education can positively transform a child, a school, a community, and even a country.Although the roots of bilingual education in the United States can be traced back to the 17th century, a new push to embrace heritage languages, produce bilingual global citizens, and create a cultural sense of community is taking the education sector by storm. New York City provides the backdrop for the book, where parents have fought for access to various bilingual public school programs from preschool to high school. Similar programs have developed in hundreds of cities in the United States and around the world.The Bilingual Revolution tells the story of successes and setbacks of parents and educators through vignettes that yield practical advice. In their diversity, these portraits paint a picture of a viable 21st-century solution to preserve linguistic heritage and to raise a generation of young bilingual, biliterate, multicultural citizens of the world. The book will inspire and engage readers who want to create their own bilingual programs.Being bilingual can become the new norm and it starts with our youth and our education systems. A bilingual revolution for the common good i... The Psycholinguistics of Bilingualism presents a comprehensive introduction to the foundations of bilingualism, covering language processing, language acquisition, cognition and the bilingual brain. This thorough introduction to the psycholinguistics of bilingualism is accessible to non-specialists with little previous exposure to the field Introduces students to the methodological approaches currently employed in the field, including observation, experimentation, verbal and computational modelling, and brain imaging Examines spoken and written language processing, simultaneous and successive language acquisition, bilingual memory and cognitive effects, and neurolinguistic and neuro-computational models of the bilingual brain Written in an accessible style by two of the field’s leading researchers, together with contributions from internationally-renowned scholars Featuring chapter-by-chapter research questions, this is an essential resource for those seeking insights into the bilingual mind and our current knowledge of the cognitive basis of bilingualism The Power In/Of Language features a collection of essays that analyse the ways in which language is utilized in contemporary education revealing its deeply entrenched power relationships. Features essays grounded in theoretical rigor that offer critical insights into contemporary educational practice Provides educators with fresh new perspectives on language in education Based on the latest research data This wide-ranging survey of issues in intercultural language teaching and learning covers everything from core concepts to program evaluation, and advocates a fluid, responsive approach to teaching language that reflects its central role in fostering intercultural understanding. Includes coverage of theoretical issues defining language, culture, and communication, as well as practice-driven issues such as classroom interactions, technologies, programs, and language assessment Examines systematically the components of language teaching: language itself, meaning, culture, learning, communicating, and assessments, and puts them in social and cultural context Features numerous examples throughout, drawn from various languages, international contexts, and frameworks Incorporates a decade of in-depth research and detailed documentation from the authors’ collaborative work with practicing teachers Provides a much-needed addition to the sparse literature on intercultural aspects of language education Accessible and clearly written, Living Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology introduces readers to the study of language in real-life social contexts around the world through the contemporary theory and practice of linguistic anthropology. A highly accessible introduction to the study of language in real-life social contexts around the world Combines classic studies on language and cutting-edge contemporary scholarship and assumes no prior knowledge in linguistics or anthropology Provides a unifying synthesis of current research and considers future directions for the field Covers key topics such as: language and gender, race, and ethnicity; language acquisition and socialization in children and adults; language death and revitalization; performance; language and thought; literacy practices; and multilingualism and globalization Praised worldwide by parents and experts in the field, Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability is the uniquely empowering guidebook to the bilingual journey by Adam Beck, the founder of the popular blog Bilingual Monkeys ( and the lively forum The Bilingual Zoo (Beck, a longtime practitioner of bilingual development in children, shares the best of his personal experience as an educator and parent, offering a wealth of actionable advice in this practical and comprehensive road map to greater success and joy raising bilingual and multilingual kids.Maximize Your Child’s Bilingual Ability will enable you to...Deepen your grasp of the key factors (including the two “core conditions”) for successfully nurturing a bilingual childStrengthen your efforts by taking even more mindful and effective action on a regular basisBoost your child’s language development, day by day, and bilingual ability over the years of childhoodEmpower your spirit and feel greater motivation, enthusiasm, and perseverance*Experience a more joyful adventure with your child and a richer, closer relationshipPraised by parents of bilingual and multilingual kids around the world...“There are many resources out there for bilingual families, but Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability is uniquely special.” —Ana Paula in the U.S.“After reading Adam’s book and putting into practice every tactic suitable to our circumstances, I noticed extraordinary progress in my son’s language ability.” —Deborah in the U.S... This book offers an in-depth explanation of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) and the methods necessary to implement it in the language classroom successfully. Combines a survey of theory and research in instructed second language acquisition (ISLA) with insights from language teaching and the philosophy of education Details best practice for TBLT programs, including discussion of learner needs and means analysis; syllabus design; materials writing; choice of methodological principles and pedagogic procedures; criterion-referenced, task-based performance assessment; and program evaluation Written by an esteemed scholar of second language acquisition with over 30 years of research and classroom experience Considers diffusion of innovation in education and the potential impact of TBLT on foreign and second language learning Revised and updated, the 2nd Edition of Living Language: An Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology presents an accessible introduction to the study of language in real-life social contexts around the world through the contemporary theory and practice of linguistic anthropology. Presents a highly accessible introduction to the study of language in real-life social contexts around the world Combines classic studies on language and cutting-edge contemporary scholarship and assumes no prior knowledge in linguistics or anthropology Features a series of updates and revisions for this new edition, including an all-new chapter on forms of nonverbal language Provides a unifying synthesis of current research and considers future directions for the field A research-based foundational overview of contemporary adult education Foundations of Adult and Continuing Education distills decades of scholarship in the field to provide students and practitioners with an up-to-date practical resource. Grounded in research and focused on the unique needs of adult learners, this book provides a foundational overview of adult education, and an introduction to the organizations and practices developed to support adult learning in a variety of contexts. The discussion also includes select understandings of international adult education, policy, and methods alongside theoretical frameworks, contemporary and historical contexts, and the guiding principles of adult education today. Coverage of emerging issues includes the aging society, social justice, and more, with expert insight from leading authorities in the field. Many adult educators begin practice through the context of their own experiences in the field. This book provides the broader research, theory, and practice needed for a deeper understanding of adult education and its place in society. Learn the key philosophical and theoretical frameworks of adult education Survey the landscape of the field through contemporary and historical foundations Examine key guiding understandings and practices targeted to adult learners Delve into newer concerns including technology, globalization, and more Foundations of Adult and Continuing Education provides an expertly-led overview of the field, and an essential introduction to real-world practice. A Companion to the Latin Language presents a collection of original essays from international scholars that track the development and use of the Latin language from its origins to its modern day usage. Brings together contributions from internationally renowned classicists, linguists and Latin language specialists Offers, in a single volume, a detailed account of different literary registers of the Latin language Explores the social and political contexts of Latin Includes new accounts of the Latin language in light of modern linguistic theory Supplemented with illustrations covering the development of the Latin alphabet A comprehensive, current review of the research and approaches to advanced proficiency in second language acquisition The Handbook of Advanced Proficiency in Second Language Acquisition offers an overview of the most recent and scientific-based research concerning higher proficiency in second language acquisition (SLA). With contributions from an international team of experts in the field, the Handbook presents several theoretical approaches to SLA and offers an examination of advanced proficiency from the viewpoint of various contexts and dimensions of second language performance. The authors also review linguistic phenomena among advanced learners through the lens of phonology and grammar development. Comprehensive in scope, this book provides an overview of advanced proficiency grounded in socially-relevant domains of second language acquisition including discourse, reading, genre-based writing, and pragmatic competence. The authoritative volume brings together the theoretical accounts of advanced language use combined with solid empirical research. Includes contributions from an international collection of noted scholars in the field of second language acquisition Offers a variety of theoretical approaches to SLA Contains information on the most recent empirical research that contributes to an understanding of SLA Describes performance phenomena according to multiple approaches to SLA Written for scholars, students and linguists, The Handbook of Advanced Proficiency in Second Language Acquisition is a comprehensive text that offers the most recent developments in the study of advanced proficiency in the acquisition of a second language. Developing Language and Literacy: Effective Intervention in the Early Years describes successful intervention programmes to improve the phonological skills, vocabulary, and grammar of young children at risk of reading difficulties. Presents two structured intervention programmes to provide support for young children with language and literacy difficulties Describes clearly how to improve the language and foundation literacy skills of young children in the classroom Includes information about how to assess research, and how to monitor and design intervention strategies for use with individual children Helps teachers to develop an understanding of the intervention and research process as a whole Additional journal content to support this title is available click here	<urn:uuid:6e2ca181-5873-4800-8265-d3837d218161>	CC-MAIN-2019-22	http://ekbdivan.ru/models-of-bilingual-education-programmes-in-majority-language-contexts/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-22/segments/1558232255071.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20190519161546-20190519183546-00393.warc.gz	en	0.904484	2,307	3.3125	3
The Supreme Court decision in the University of Michigan case in 2003 ruled the university's admissions procedures unconstitutional, giving minorities an unfair advantage of acceptance. The ruling stated race may still be used in admissions decisions to achieve diversity, but that race could not be used to give applicants preferential treatment in the admissions process. Motivated by this case, a researcher, Juan Gilbert, developed a computer based clustering method to aid admissions committees in choosing diverse entering classes. This method was evaluated using undergraduate admissions data sets from two public universities. Gilbert's method suggested diverse entering classes but did not select well based on merit. A method of improvement is introduced that maintains the academic characteristics of the university through classification, while suggesting diverse entering classes more academically similar to those actually accepted.... odds of admission of 1.4 compared to non-legacy applicants. In-state students were the reference group in the region variable at School A because the majority number of applicants were in-state applicants. The Nagelkerke R2 value foranbsp;... \|Title\|\|:\|\|Computing Diversity in Undergraduate Admissions Decisions\| \|Publisher\|\|:\|\|ProQuest - 2009\|	<urn:uuid:4e021a97-6d98-44d5-8c52-70d626f7f83f>	CC-MAIN-2016-44	http://www.emra-net.eu/download-pdf-computing-diversity-in-undergraduate-admissions-decisions-book-by-proquest.pdf	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-44/segments/1476988719286.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20161020183839-00372-ip-10-171-6-4.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.925755	234	2.734375	3
1 \| 2 Description (Page 1) Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America. According to archaeologists, the island's first inhabitants were the Ortoiroid people, dating to around 2000 BC. They were followed by the Igneri people from South America around 120 AD. The pre-Columbian Taino culture began to develop on the island in the late 7th century. It is thought that the seafaring Taínos are relatives of the Arawak people of South America When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, there were an estimated 50,000 Taino on the island. Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista, in honor of Saint John the Baptist. The first Spanish settlement, Caparra, was founded on August 8, 1508. Within a few years the Spanish colonized the island in large numbers and maritime travelers soon came to refer to it as "Puerto Rico," because of the growing and (rich port) of San Juan. Over the years the indigenous population (Tainos) were exploited and forced into slavery. By the mid-16th century, they were reduced to near extinction by the harsh conditions of work and by the infectious diseases brought here by Europeans. The importation of African slaves was introduced to provide the new (much needed) manual work force for the Spanish colonists and the growing number of merchants. The Spanish, realizing the importance of Puerto Rico for the expansion of their colonial empire, built forts to protect their commercial interests, as well as the expanding port of San Juan from any invasion. In fact, during the mid-17th century the Spanish successfully fought off numerous attempts by the Dutch, English and French to take control of their (now prized) colony. But the desire for more land and riches was a powerful draw, and the Spanish began to take a renewed interest in their Central , South and North American colonies in the late 17th century. So, with the exception of their scattered coastal outposts, and the busy port city of San Juan, the Spanish left the interiors of Puerto Rico undeveloped and un colonized for decades. Across all of the Americas in the mid-18th century, freedom was the buzz word, and accepting the inevitable independence of their larger colonies, the Spanish refocused its attention once again on Cuba and Puerto Rico as two of the last remaining Spanish maritime colonies. As an incentive to increase the population of Puerto Rico, free land was offered to Europeans who would colonized the island, swear loyalty to the Spanish Crown and allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church; the scheme worked worked well, very well. In 1868, a brief independence movement surfaced in Puerto Rico. Then, in 1897, amidst growing discontent with Spain, a short-lived government was organized as an 'overseas province' of Spain with a governor appointed by Spain. Near the very end of the 19th century, desiring strategic naval positions across the Caribbean and Central America, the United States offered Spain 160 million dollars for Puerto Rico and Cuba. Spain's answer was a resounding "No!"	<urn:uuid:a4cc4ebf-5d7c-43f0-9d40-84f628b0d10f>	CC-MAIN-2014-41	http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/caribb/pr.htm	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-41/segments/1410657123274.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20140914011203-00029-ip-10-196-40-205.us-west-1.compute.internal.warc.gz	en	0.974349	660	3.8125	4
A nonpetroleum oil is defined as any kind of oil that is not petroleum based, including but not limited to, fats, oils, and greases of animal, fish, or of marine mammal origin, and vegetable oils, including oils from seeds, nuts, fruits, and kernels. Like petroleum-based oils, nonpetroleum oils can have adverse effects on the environment. Nonpetroleum oil spills into water can result in depleted dissolved oxygen levels, which can then harm aquatic organisms. The oil can also coat the fur or feathers of wildlife Animal fats and vegetable oils. Non-transportation-related facilities that handle, store, or transport animal fats and vegetable oils are required to develop and implement a Facility Response Plan (FRP). The FRP must identify specific methodology for calculating volumes for “worst case” discharges of animal fats and vegetable oils. Animal fats and vegetable oils are broken down into three groups on the basis of their specific gravity, as follows: __ Group A (specific gravity of less than 0.8) __ Group B (specific gravity equal to or greater than 0.8 and less than 1.0) __ Group C (specific gravity equal to or more than 1.0) EPA’s SPCC regulation affects over 630,000 facilities. Is yours one? Download your EHS Essentials Kit—SPCC Plan Compliance now for all the tools you need to be in compliance. Download Now Deadline Reminder! Farms in operation on or before August 16, 2002, must maintain or amend their existing Plan by May 10, 2013. Any farm that started operation after August 16, 2002, but before May 10, 2013, must prepare and use an SPCC Plan on or before May 10, 2013. Extension for Farmers Who Can’t Meet the May 10, 2013 Deadline The EPA Regional Administrator (RA) for the state where the farm is located may be able to provide a time extension to the farmer to amend or prepare an SPCC Plan. Farmers who cannot meet the May 10, 2013, compliance date because a Professional Engineer (PE) isn’t available, are located in areas impacted by floods, or that must make facility modifications that will not be completed in time, may request an extension by submitting a written request to the RA. Your request must include: (i) An explanation of the cause for the delay and the specific aspects of the Plan affected by the delay; (ii) A discussion of actions being taken or contemplated to minimize the delay; and (iii) A proposed time schedule for the implementation of any corrective actions being taken, including interim dates for completion of tests or studies, installation and operation of any necessary equipment, or other preventive measures. In addition you can provide additional oral or written statements in support of your extension request. Don’t risk an EPA fine! Stay in compliance with our EHS Essentials Kit—SPCC Plan Compliance. Download now for instant access to comprehensive checklists, common violations, training materials, forms, and more. Download Now If you were required to have an SPCC Plan because you were operating before August 16, 2002, the RA may request a copy of your SPCC Plan to evaluate your extension request. The RA may grant an extension when he finds that a farmer cannot fully comply with the SPCC requirements because either qualified personnel are not available, or there are delays in construction or equipment delivery beyond the control and without the fault of the farmer. Please note that farmers who submit an extension request must still comply with SPCC requirements. If the RA authorizes an extension of time for particular equipment or specific aspects of your Plan, you must still comply with the requirements related to other equipment or other specific aspects of your Plan for which the RA has not authorized an extension. Be certain your SPCC plan is compliant with EHS Essentials Kit–SPCC Plan Compliance. This kit covers all the latest regulation changes with expert analysis, important FAQs, and comprehensive checklists. Create or update your SPCC plan with confidence. A sample plan will guide you in the development of a finished, usable document to achieve and sustain compliance. Looking for Training Materials? With EHS Essentials Kit–SPCC Plan Compliance , you’ll have them immediately. There’s no shipping cost or wait for delivery. With one instant download, you’ll have all you need to keep your staff fully prepared and trained for their safety and protection – as well as the protection of your company. Download your Essential Kit now for all the tools you need to be in compliance!	<urn:uuid:7ebf277b-4a10-41c6-a29f-871c5515a54d>	CC-MAIN-2013-20	http://envirodailyadvisor.blr.com/2012/11/nonpetroleum-oils-and-your-spcc-plan/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703489876/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112449-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.942536	943	2.515625	3
From Santa Barbara, Calif., to Hefei, China, experts are building a new sort of laptop or computer that will make today’s equipment search like toys. Harnessing the mysterious powers of quantum mechanics, the know-how will conduct jobs in minutes that even supercomputers could not comprehensive in thousands of several years. In the fall of 2019, Google unveiled an experimental quantum laptop or computer showing this was feasible. Two several years afterwards, a lab in China did much the very same. But quantum computing will not reach its possible without assist from a further technological breakthrough. Contact it a “quantum internet” — a computer network that can send quantum facts in between distant equipment. At the Delft University of Engineering in the Netherlands, a crew of physicists has taken a substantial stage toward this laptop or computer community of the upcoming, utilizing a procedure known as quantum teleportation to ship details throughout a few bodily spots. Formerly, this was doable with only two. The new experiment implies that researchers can extend a quantum network throughout an more and more substantial quantity of web-sites. “We are now setting up little quantum networks in the lab,” explained Ronald Hanson, the Delft physicist who oversees the group. “But the plan is to eventually develop a quantum net.” Their analysis, unveiled this 7 days with a paper posted in the science journal Mother nature, demonstrates the electrical power of a phenomenon that Albert Einstein when deemed extremely hard. Quantum teleportation — what he referred to as “spooky action at a distance” — can transfer details among areas without having essentially moving the actual physical make a difference that holds it. This engineering could profoundly change the way details travels from area to put. It attracts on far more than a century of analysis involving quantum mechanics, a industry of physics that governs the subatomic realm and behaves unlike anything at all we working experience in our daily life. Quantum teleportation not only moves info between quantum computer systems, but it also does so in this sort of a way that no a single can intercept it. “This not only means that the quantum computer system can fix your trouble but also that it does not know what the trouble is,” mentioned Tracy Eleanor Northup, a researcher at the College of Innsbruck’s Institute for Experimental Physics who is also exploring quantum teleportation. “It does not get the job done that way right now. Google is aware what you are jogging on its servers.” A quantum personal computer faucets into the bizarre techniques some objects behave if they are pretty tiny (like an electron or a particle of light) or extremely cold (like an unique steel cooled to approximately complete zero, or minus 460 degrees Fahrenheit). In these predicaments, a single item can behave like two separate objects at the identical time. Common computer systems complete calculations by processing “bits” of info, with each and every bit holding both a 1 or a . By harnessing the strange habits of quantum mechanics, a quantum bit, or qubit, can store a blend of 1 and — a tiny like how a spinning coin retains the tantalizing risk that it will transform up either heads or tails when it at last falls flat on the table. This implies that two qubits can hold four values at when, 3 qubits can keep 8, four can maintain 16 and so on. As the amount of qubits grows, a quantum personal computer turns into exponentially far more highly effective. Scientists think these equipment could 1 working day velocity the development of new medicines, electric power improvements in artificial intelligence and summarily crack the encryption that shields personal computers essential to national protection. Throughout the globe, governments, educational labs, start-ups and tech giants are expending billions of dollars exploring the technologies. In 2019, Google declared that its equipment experienced achieved what researchers connect with “quantum supremacy,” which meant it could carry out an experimental activity that was not possible with conventional pcs. But most professionals think several a lot more several years will pass — at the quite the very least — just before a quantum pc can basically do a thing beneficial that you simply cannot do with one more device. Section of the problem is that a qubit breaks, or “decoheres,” if you study information and facts from it — it results in being an ordinary little bit able of keeping only a or a 1 but not both of those. But by stringing quite a few qubits together and acquiring techniques of guarding towards decoherence, experts hope to establish devices that are the two potent and practical. In the long run, preferably, these would be joined into networks that can send out data involving nodes, enabling them to be used from anyplace, a lot as cloud computing expert services from the likes of Google and Amazon make processing electrical power broadly available currently. But this will come with its personal troubles. In part for the reason that of decoherence, quantum information cannot just be copied and sent throughout a classic community. Quantum teleportation delivers an substitute. While it are not able to move objects from area to put, it can go information and facts by having gain of a quantum home known as “entanglement”: A improve in the state of a single quantum method instantaneously impacts the condition of a further, distant one. “After entanglement, you can no lengthier explain these states separately,” Dr. Northup said. “Fundamentally, it is now a person procedure.” These entangled programs could be electrons, particles of light or other objects. In the Netherlands, Dr. Hanson and his team made use of what is referred to as a nitrogen emptiness heart — a small vacant area in a synthetic diamond in which electrons can be trapped. The crew developed three of these quantum techniques, named Alice, Bob and Charlie, and related them in a line with strands of optical fiber. The experts could then entangle these programs by sending particular person photons — particles of gentle — in between them. Initially, the researchers entangled two electrons — one particular belonging to Alice, the other to Bob. In impact, the electrons ended up provided the similar spin, and as a result were being joined, or entangled, in a prevalent quantum condition, each storing the similar info: a certain combination of 1 and . The scientists could then transfer this quantum state to an additional qubit, a carbon nucleus, within Bob’s artificial diamond. Doing so freed up Bob’s electron, and researchers could then entangle it with yet another electron belonging to Charlie. By doing a unique quantum operation on both of those of Bob’s qubits — the electron and the carbon nucleus — the scientists could then glue the two entanglements jointly: Alice furthermore Bob glued to Bob plus Charlie. The final result: Alice was entangled with Charlie, which allowed facts to teleport throughout all three nodes. When info travels this way, devoid of basically touring the length between the nodes, it simply cannot be dropped. “Information can be fed into a single facet of the relationship and then look on the other,” Dr. Hanson stated. The info also simply cannot be intercepted. A long run quantum online, driven by quantum teleportation, could present a new form of encryption that is theoretically unbreakable. In the new experiment, the community nodes were being not that considerably aside — only about 60 feet. But earlier experiments have demonstrated that quantum devices can be entangled more than lengthier distances. The hope is that, soon after numerous extra many years of investigate, quantum teleportation will be feasible throughout quite a few miles. “We are now making an attempt to do this outside the lab,” Dr. Hanson explained.	<urn:uuid:1c8ada8c-f709-4fa6-a038-164732033423>	CC-MAIN-2022-49	https://kerbalspaceprogram.net/quantum-internet-inches-nearer-with-advance-in-facts-teleportation/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2022-49/segments/1669446711017.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20221205132617-20221205162617-00433.warc.gz	en	0.937102	1,594	2.734375	3
St John the Baptist, Snape, is on the northern side of Farnham Road, with the lane to Sternfield bordering it to the east. It lies well to the north of the village it serves. The first church here was Saxon, probably of wood, which existed at the time of the Norman takeover. The present, aisleless church was built by 1240, at which time the earliest recorded incumbent, Sir William de Rurcham, was appointed. The roof was originally thatched and remained so for many centuries. The west tower and porch were added in the mid-1400s. The font was plastered over by Puritans about the same time (until about 1830). The roof thatching was replaced by tiles at some point after this. Battlements were also added later to the tower. While the Victorians changed very little, the heavily buttressed east wall was collapsing by 1920, so it had to be rebuilt. In 2000 improvements were made to the balcony and vestry and a new organ was Leiston Abbey (Minsmere), stands immediately to the south of the Minsmere New Cut, not four hundred metres from the shoreline and closer to East Bridge than Leiston. This was the site of the first abbey of this name, otherwise known as Minsmere Abbey. It was built here in 1182, but in 1363 it was abandoned, probably due to its risk of being flooded on this low plain, and most of the stone was robbed to build a new abbey, 4.5 kilometres miles away, at Leiston itself. The Church of St Peter, Theberton, is at the north-east corner of Leiston Road and Church Road. With its ornate round tower and thatched roof, this flint building was erected in the 1100s, with additions in the early 1300s and in 1483 when the south aisle was added. It was substantially restored in the 1840s by Lewis Cottingham, although plenty of older traces remain. A memorial also remains to some of the dead from a German Zeppelin airship downed in 1917. The ruins of Greyfriar's Priory, Dunwich, lie between Monastery Hill and the coast, around 350 metres due south-east of St James Church (see below), although this entire section of land once belonged to the priory. The site was once the western edge of the medieval town of Dunwich which has largely fallen into the sea over several centuries. The priory was founded in the mid-1200s, gaining this site in 1290. The Dissolution saw it suppressed and soon ruined. St James Church (Leet Hill), Dunwich, is at the south-east corner of the St James' Street and Westleton Road junction. It was built outside the western limits of Dunwich in 1832 in the grounds of the former St James Leper Hospital (see links). As designed by Robert Appleton it originally had a round tower, but a full refurbishment in the 1860s replaced that with a slim square tower and encased the body of the church in flint to give it its present Two photos on this page kindly contributed by Louise Blake-Jeeves, with two by Sam Weller and one each by Marie McAneany and Colin Mayes, all via the 'History Files: Churches of the British Isles' Flickr group.	<urn:uuid:a61af96c-9bba-4e5d-ae48-7886a40d534d>	CC-MAIN-2020-16	https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/ChurchesBritain/East/Suffolk_East02.htm	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370496227.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329201741-20200329231741-00099.warc.gz	en	0.977627	745	2.640625	3
Past and present of imaging modalities used for prostate cancer diagnosis This article by Dr. Ghulam Murtaza et al. is published in Current Medical Imaging Reviews, Volume 14, Issue 6, 2018 Credit: Dr. Ghulam Murtaza, Bentham Science Publishers Prostate cancer is the second prevent type of cancer that exists. Prostate cancer is usually a slowly progressing disease but it can sometimes manifest as an aggressive cancer. Prostate imaging is the primary way to diagnose the disease and this necessity drives its demand in the clinic. This review covers traditional and new imaging methods for screening the prostate gland for the occurrence of neoplasms. A special focus is given to Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA), Bombesin (BN) and Androgen Receptor (AR) targeted imaging using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Positron Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) based on 99mTc and other radiotracers. The reviewers conclude that androgen receptor based imaging is the future direction for prostate specific imaging and can be a better way to diagnose prostate cancer using non-steroidal antiandrogen agents. This article is Open Access. To obtain the article, please visit: http://www. Faizan ul Haq Related Journal Article	<urn:uuid:6d10d0cc-0e08-45b4-a06b-b65b11566b20>	CC-MAIN-2019-04	https://scienmag.com/past-and-present-of-imaging-modalities-used-for-prostate-cancer-diagnosis/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2019-04/segments/1547583763839.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20190121070334-20190121092334-00139.warc.gz	en	0.871899	275	2.59375	3
Different interfaces are used for routing between network nodes in GPRS. Um interface provides communication between MS and BSS. Gb interface provides connection between BSS and SGSN. Gn interface provides connection between SGSN and GGSN within the same GPRS network. Gp interface provides connection between SGSN and GGSN when they are in different GPRS network. Gi interface provides connection between GGSN and external networks. Gs interface provides communication between MSC and SGSN. GPRS functional Groups The functions which are defined in GPRS are following. Network access function: Point to point data transfer, registration of MS with packet data protocols, radio resources for MS communication and charging information about packet transmission, is provided by this function. Packet routing and transfer function: Routing of data between an MS and destination, conversion of GPRS address to external address and forwarding of packets between an MS and GGSN, is provided by this function. Logical link management function: The communication between an MS and the GSM network is maintained by it. Radio resources management function: Radio communication paths are allocated by it. Mobility management function: Current location of an MS is kept by it. When an MS is entered to a new area, all routing and location in formations are also updated by it. Network management function: If provides mechanisms to support network functions related to GPRS	<urn:uuid:9c001089-1a6b-4ed2-b6e7-389414efbe5b>	CC-MAIN-2018-09	http://alltricks.co.in/category/gprs	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-09/segments/1518891815560.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20180224112708-20180224132708-00245.warc.gz	en	0.930761	314	3.046875	3
MILK PRODUCTION AN HYGIENE IN RWANDA NZABUHERAHEZA François Dominicus MSc. /Engineer (Ao) in Science and Technology, Ph.D. Cand. Lecturer at KIST-Faculty of Technology P. O. Box 3900 Kigali- Rwanda. Rwanda is a highland country located in central Africa. It is bordered on the north by Uganda, south by Burundi, east by Tanzania and west by the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because it is one of the world’s most densely populated nations, its land is intensively cultivated to feed its people. Rwanda has scenic beauties including several animal sanctuaries. Volcanoes National Park, one of the most beautiful sights in Africa, is located 60 miles northwest of the capital Kigali. It is home to many gorillas and several bird species. Akagera National Park is located in north-eastern Rwanda and surrounded by wooded hills, river line forest, and grassland, as home to lions, elephants, hippos, impalas, zebras, buffaloes, and other animals. Other game reserves include Nyungwe Forest Reserve and the Biosphere Reserve . There are four different seasons in Rwanda. Long rains prevail from mid-March to mid-May, while the short rains last from mid-May to mid-October through mid-December. The long dry-season goes from mid-May to mid-October, and the short dry season is from mid-December to mid-March. Average temperatures range between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Mostly farming and foreign aid sustain the Rwanda economy. Its agricultural sector, producing mainly tea and coffee, accounts for about 90 per cent of the country's exports. There are also several industries making, among other things, soap and plastics. Natural resources include tin, gold, tungsten, hydropower and natural gas. Agriculture is the mainstay of the Rwandan economy employing over 94% of the active population and contributing 43% of the GDP and 8% of the export earnings. The per capita annual income is USD 251 and more than 65% of the people live below the poverty line. Agricultural production, however, is rudimentary leading to food insecurity and chronic rural poverty. The problem is aggravated by lack of post-harvest and agro-processing technologies, leading to unacceptable losses, lack of value-adding and failure to provide the much-needed rural employment . Though agriculture is the leading sector and major source of future growth in the Rwandan economy, the manufacturing sector in Rwanda currently accounts for less than 8% of the total economic output. Besides its rich agricultural resource endowment, the Rwandan food Industry processes far less than 1% of the available raw materials including milk, meat, egg and fish. Livestock and fisheries have great potential to contribute to the country's food security and economy and contribute to improve the nutritional value of food. Almost all the livestock and their fresh products (milk, meat, egg, etc) are locally consumed and the demand has continued to rise in the last twelve years after war, due to the general improvement of national economy. Milk processing is in an embryonic state while there are a few dairy plants like Nyabisindu, Rubilizi, Inyange, Gishwati and Umutara. The milk products are natural traditional fermented milk, lactic fermented milk, butter, cheese and yoghurt, all of which are very delicious and nutritional . 2. THE ORIGIN OF RWANDAN COW'S MILK PRODUCTION Practically everywhere on earth man started domesticating animals. In Rwanda, milk has been an important food for man since the domestication of cattle and the adoption of pastoralist agriculture. The dairy animals (Ankolé, N'dama, Sahiwal, Jersey, Frisonne, Brune des Alpes) of today have been developed from untamed animals which, through thousands of years, lived different altitudes and latitudes exposed to natural and, many times, severe and extreme conditions. The people of Rwanda know the economic importance of milk production. It is also the most versatile of the animal-derived food commodities and is a component of the diet in many forms. In addition to milk itself, a rural technology evolved which permitted the manufacture of traditional fermented milk (Ikivuguto), traditional butter (Ikimuri) using traditional churner (gourd: igisabo) and butter milk. As a rule, herbivorous, multipurpose animals were chosen to satisfy this need of milk, meat, clothing (Ingozi, inkanda, impuzu, inkosha, ingobyi, ingoma). Herbivorous animals were chosen because they are less dangerous and easier to handle than carnivorous ones . Milking is the removal of milk from the udder, which is achieved when external forces such as suckling or milking open the teat duct at its end. Lactation is the continuous secretion and storage of milk in the udder. The milk ejection or reflex effect is short term, inhibited by pain or fear, but stimulated by good husbandry practices. Even so, at least 10% of secreted milk will be retained in the udder as residual milk. Milk intervals affect the amount of residual milk carryover between milking. Equal intervals of 12 hours give highest lactation yields but the effect of unequal intervals is small, up to 16 and 8 hours, and can be minimized if the highest yielders are milked first in the morning and last in the afternoon. In Rwanda, dairy farmers with varying levels of skill, knowledge and resources, maximize returns from milk production by influencing lactation through selective breeding and control of reproduction, nutrition, disease and general management. The methods of milking have a particularly important effect because a cow cannot secrete over a period, more milk, than is removed by milking. Thus, maximizing milk removal in ways which are economic, will take full advantage of secretion potential. However, the lactation includes both milk secretion and storage in alveolar cells and ducts within the mammary gland, followed by milk ejection (let-down) and milk removal. Milk secretion is continuous and usually at a constant rate for at least 12 hours resulting in a gradual increase in internal udder pressure. Milk ejection is a neuro-hormonal reflex initiated by various stimuli when milking. These stimuli, which reflect good husbandry practices, are either natural (inborn) or conditioned (learned by experience), including, for example, feeding and udder preparation. They cause the alveoli and small milk ducts to contract forcing milk towards the udder sinus. Once this has happened, most but not all, of the milk can be removed when external forces such as suckling or milking open the streak canal (teat duct) at the teat end. At least 10% will be retained in the udder as residual milk. Concerning milking intervals, 10% and 20% of the secreted milk which is not expressed from the secretary tissue and is retained in the udder when milking is completed, is called residual milk and has a much higher fat content than the end-of-milking stripping. The quantity of residual milk is proportional to the total yield, so that with unequal milking intervals there is a larger net carryover of milk fat from the longer night-time to the shorter daytime interval. This accounts for the apparent faster secretion rate and higher fat content of afternoon milk production. Milk yields, particularly from higher yielding cows, are usually greater when milking intervals are 12 hourly. The effect of uneven intervals is not large up to 12 hours, and can be minimized by milking the higher yielder first in the morning and last in the evening. Milking frequency affects the total daily production. Milking three times instead of twice daily raises milk yields by an average of 10%. The chemical composition of milk is unaffected . Chemical composition of Rwandan cow's milk: The chemical composition of a typical Rwandan’s cow is as follows: - Moisture: 87% - Dry matter: 13% - Proteins: 3.5% - Non-protein nitrogen: 0.2% - Lipids (fat): 4% - Carbohydrates (Lactose): 4.5% - Ash: 0.8% Incomplete milking either from excessive amounts of residual milk or end-of-milking stripping can be avoided by effective milk ejection stimulation, and by efficient fast milking by hand or machine . As a general rule, herd lactation yields will rise as the frequency of milking is increased. On average, the rise in milk yields will be between 10% and 15%, the largest increases occurring among heifers. The chemical composition of the milk (fat and solids-not-fat) will be unaffected. Recent commercial data from developed dairy areas (Nyabisindu, Rubilizi, Inyange, Umutara, Gishwati) also reveal that, on average, up to 10% increase in yield is required to cover the extra costs of milking, twice daily. The full benefit of the increased frequency is obtained by milking three times daily throughout lactation, rather than reverting to twice daily when milk yields begin to fall. The reasons for the increase in lactation yields are inconclusive; the most likely being the more frequent removal of secretion inhibiting substances which begin the drying-off process . There are two forms of incomplete milking. One is that excessive amounts of residual milk are retained in the udder because of inadequate milk ejection stimuli, or the inhibitory effects of adrenalin secreted by cows becoming frightened and upset during milking, or even by slow milk removal. The other form is that some of the available milk is left in the udder when milking ceases, ie the so-called stripping. The modern milking machine is designed to remove 95% of available milk without recourse to additional cluster weight or manual assistance. Hand stripping, particularly with the finger and thumb, should be avoided. The amounts of stripping are likely to be small, even in relation to normal levels of residual milk and if not removed, are unlikely to significantly affect either the lactation yield or quality of milk. Milking routines are a reflection of good stockman ship. Cows are creatures of habit; avoid any circumstances which upset or frighten them and thus inhibit milk ejection. Residual milk amounts will be inversely proportional to the strength of the stimuli signals. Develop a regular and repetitive milking routine. Make changes gently and carefully. Milk quickly and quietly in a stress-free environment . The aim of an efficient and effective milking routine is to leave the least amount of residual milk in the udder. This, in itself, is a measure of good stockman ship. Milk ejection can be stimulated manually by a series of activities carried out by the person doing the milking. The amount of residual milk is inversely proportional to the strength of the conditioned stimuli signals, which are developed into a regular, repetitive milking routine, including such activities as feeding and udder preparation. The stimulation response is transitory, the maximum effect declining within a few minutes of milk ejection occurring. Therefore, delayed milking will reduce the amount of milk removed. The internal pressure of milk within the udder peaks between one and two minutes after milk ejection, and hence milking should be completed as soon as possible after this occurs. Cows are creatures of habit and consequently changes to the routine should be made gently and quietly. It is important to avoid any circumstances which upset or frighten them causing the release of adrenalin which adversely affects the circulatory and emasculatory systems, thus restricting effective milk ejection and prolonging the milking duration. The response of cows and those milking them to a pleasant and stress free environment will be measured in terms of production levels . Because residual milk and stripping have fat percentages that normally exceed 10%, incomplete or slow milking can reduce markedly the fat content of the milk at any particular milking. However, it is important to recognise that milk fat retained or left in the udder is not lost but will be obtained at the succeeding milking. In fact, although management factors (like varying milking intervals and milking frequency) may alter the fat content of milk at one milking, the average fat content over a period of time will be unaffected. On average, the fat content of milk obtained must be the same as that secreted into the udder. The concentrations of protein, lactose and other solids-not-fat are unaffected by changes in milking management, either at one or more milking. In Rwanda, we hand milk with clean and dry hands. We use the full hand to avoid finger and thumb stripping. Rear quarters should be milked first as they contain most milk and the milking bucket hooded to reduce contamination from dust and udder hairs . However, in most developed countries, machine milking is done. Methods of machine milking are designed to create a pleasant milking sensation for the cows and to avoid any possible hazard to udder health. It is most important that milking is done with a well designed, carefully cleaned and properly maintained machine which is strictly operated according to the manufacturer's instructions . But the machine milking will only create a pleasant sensation for the cows if the machine is kept clean, maintained properly and operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Attach and remove clusters carefully to avoid vacuum fluctuations which cause mastitis. Readjust slipping teat cups and replace fallen clusters immediately . A skilled operator pays particular attention to careful cluster attachment and removal from the udder. During cluster attachment it is essential to ensure that the vacuum cut-off arrangements to the claw piece are effective so that excessive volumes of air do not enter and cause vacuum fluctuations in the main vacuum pipeline system, as this could increase mastitis incidence. Attach each teat cup carefully starting with the two furthest from the operator. The clusters are removed as soon as milk flow ceases, avoiding excessive air entry through the teat cups by cutting off the vacuum supply before gently but firmly pulling the teat cups from the udder. During milking, any teat cups which slip from the teats should be readjusted immediately and any clusters which fall to the floor should be cleaned and reattached without delay . 4. MILK HYGIENE Exclude milk from clinical mastitis cases to avoid high bacterial counts. Use mastitis control routines at each milking to reduce the proportion of infected cows and clinical mastitis cases. Contamination from dirty udders and teats can be avoided by good cow housing and grazing management by permanent stipulation. Wash off visible dirt from udders and teats prior to applying the hands. If udder washing is necessary, then drying afterwards is essential. Individual paper towels for both washing and drying are preferable to udder cloths. Clean and disinfect milking and ancillary equipment after use, paying particular attention to milk contact surfaces which are a main source of contamination and adulteration. In Rwanda, all dangerous diseases are detected and avoided by the veterinary system of guards. The milk secreted into an uninfected cow's udder is sterile. Invariably it becomes contaminated during milking, cooling and storage, and milk is an excellent medium for bacteria, yeasts and moulds that are the common contaminants. Their rapid growth, particularly at high ambient temperatures can cause marked deterioration, spoiling the milk for liquid consumption or manufacture into dairy products. This can be avoided by adopting the simple, basic rules of clean milk production . The essential requirements to maintain udders free from infection (e.g. mastitis) are to manage cows so that their udders and teats are clean; milk them in such a way that minimizes bacterial contamination; store the milk in clean containers and, wherever possible, at temperatures which discourage bacterial growth until collected. Simple and low-cost husbandry practices enable milk to be produced with a bacterial count of less than 50,000 per ml. When it comes to clean milk production, prevention is better than cure. It is impossible to prevent mastitis infection entirely but by adopting practical routines, it can be kept at low levels. Most mastitis is sub-clinical and although not readily detected by the stockman, it will not normally raise the bacterial count of herd milk above 50,000 per ml. Once the clinical stage is reached, the count may increase to several millions per ml and one infected quarter may result in the milk from the whole herd being unacceptable. It is important to detect clinical cases and exclude their milk from the bulk. Other sources of contamination Under normal grazing conditions, cows' udders will appear clean and therefore washing and drying will be unnecessary. Otherwise, any visible dirt must be removed using clean, running water, individual paper towels or cloths in clean water, to which a disinfectant has been added (eg sodium hypochlorite at 300 ppm). If udder cloths are used, provide a clean cloth for each cow. After each milking, wash and disinfect them, and hang them up to dry. Disposable paper towels are preferable and more effective for drying after washing. When cows are housed or graze in heavily stocked paddocks, external udder surfaces are usually grossly contaminated with bacteria even when they appear visibly clean. Therefore, routine udder preparation procedures should be followed. Whenever udders are washed they should be dried. Fore milking has little affect on the total bacterial count of the milk, but is an effective way of detecting clinical symptoms of mastitis. Filtering or straining the milk removes visible dirt but not the bacteria in the milk, because they pass through the filter. Aerial contamination of milk by bacteria is insignificant under normal production conditions. The contact surfaces of milking and cooling equipment are a main source of milk contamination and frequently, the principal cause of consistently high bacterial counts. Simple, inexpensive cleaning and disinfecting routines can virtually eliminate this source of contamination . Milking equipment must have smooth contact surfaces with minimal joints and crevices. Renew rubber components at regular intervals. Water for dairy use is either from approved, piped supply or chlorinated (50 ppm) before use. In hard water areas, milking and ancillary equipment must be de-scaled periodically. Detergents are necessary to clean milking and ancillary equipment effectively before disinfection. Effectiveness is increased with solution temperature, concentration and time of application. It is virtually impossible with practical cleaning systems to remove all milk residues and deposits from the milk contact surfaces of milking equipment. Except in very cold, dry weather, bacteria will multiply on these surfaces during the interval between milking, so that high numbers (e.g. 106 per m2) can be present on visually clean equipment. A proven cleaning and disinfectant routine is required so that with the minimum effort and expense, the equipment will have low bacterial counts, as well as being visually clean. The essential requirements are; use milking equipment with smooth contact surfaces with minimal joints and crevices, an uncontaminated water supply, detergents to remove deposits and milk residues and a method of disinfection to kill bacteria. Unless an approved piped supply is available, it must be assumed that water is contaminated and therefore hypochlorite must be added at the rate of 50 ppm to the cleaning water. Hard water (i.e. high levels of dissolved calcium and other salts) will cause surface deposits on equipment and reduce cleaning effectiveness. In such cases, it is necessary to use de-scaling acids such as sulphamic or phosphoric, periodically. Detergents and disinfectants Detergents increase the 'wetting' potential over the surfaces to be cleaned, displace milk deposits, dissolve milk protein, emulsify the fat and aid dirt removal. Detergent effectiveness is usually increased with increasing water temperature, and by using the correct concentration and time of application. Detergents contain inorganic alkalis (e.g. sodium carbonate and silicates and tri-sodium phosphate), surface-active agents (or wetting agents), sequestering (water-softening) agents (e.g. polyphosphates) and acids for de-scaling. Many proprietary, purpose-made detergents are usually available, but otherwise, an inexpensive mixture can be made to give a concentration in solution of 0.25% sodium carbonate (washing soda) and 0.05% polyphosphate (Calgon). Disinfectants are required to destroy the bacteria remaining and subsequently multiplying on the cleaned surfaces. The alternatives are either heat applied as hot water or chemicals. Heat penetrates deposits and crevices and kills bacteria, provided that correct temperatures are maintained during disinfection. The effectiveness of chemicals is increased with temperature, but even so, they do not have the same penetration potential as heat and they will not effectively disinfect milk contact surfaces which are difficult to clean. Disinfect milk contact surfaces with either hot water (85 °C initial temperature) alone or with a chemical disinfectant. Provide a dairy or suitable place for cleaning and disinfecting, draining and storing milking and ancillary equipment which is not cleaned and disinfected in-situ. When hot water alone is used, it is best to begin the routine with water at not less than 85 °C, so that a temperature of at least 77 °C can be maintained for at least 2 minutes. Many chemicals are suitable disinfectants, some of them combined with detergents (ie detergent-sterilizes). Use only those, which are approved, avoiding particularly those which can taint milk (e.g. phenolic disinfectants). Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Sodium hypochlorite is an inexpensive example of an approved disinfectant suitable for most dairy purposes. Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) can also be very effective at concentrations of 3%-5% at ambient temperatures, provided adequate contact time is given with the surfaces to be cleaned and disinfected . Dairy disinfectants are sold as concentrates and in this form, are often corrosive and damaging to the skin and eyes. They should always be labelled, handled with care and stored out of reach of children. They should not be mixed unless specific instructions are given and disinfectant powders must be kept dry. If any concentrated detergent and/or disinfectant come in contact with the skin or eyes, the affected area should be washed immediately with copious amounts of clean water. If acids are used they must always be added to the water, not vice versa . Clean and disinfect the ancillary equipment such as coolers, foremilk cups and udder cloths effectively using hot detergent/disinfectant solution. Drain and store all the milking and ancillary equipment in a clean place, such as the dairy. The milking location The milking location should be equipped with a piped hot and cold water supply, a wash trough, brushes, a work surface, storage racks and cupboards and, if necessary, a vacuum pipeline connection. In addition, it is advisable to have a dairy thermometer (0 °C – 100 °C), rubber gloves and goggles for use when handling chemicals . Daily routines for cleaning and disinfecting vary with the size and complexity of the milking installation, but will include methods of removing dirt and milk from the equipment followed by disinfection. For hand milking, bucket and direct-to-can milking machines, basic manual methods of cleaning and sterilizing are adequate and effective. For pipeline milking machines, in-situ (in-place) systems are necessary. Milk can become grossly contaminated from bacteria on ancillary equipment, which must also be cleaned and disinfected effectively. Coolers, either the corrugated surface or the turbine in-can, can best be cleaned and disinfected manually and stored in the dairy to drain . Refrigerated bulk milk tanks can be cleaned either manually using cold or warm detergent/disinfectant solutions or for the larger tanks, by automatic, programmed equipment. In either case, a cold water chlorinated (50 ppm) rinse precedes and follows the washing solution. Foremilk cups can be a potent source of bacterial contamination and need to be cleaned and disinfected after each milking. They should then be stored in the dairy to drain. It is important with any method of cleaning that the equipment is drained as soon as possible after washing for storage between milking. Bacteria will not multiply in dry conditions, but water lodged in milking equipment will, in suitable temperatures, provide conditions for massive bacterial multiplication. Equipment with poor milk contact surfaces, crevices and large joint numbers, remaining wet between milking in ambient temperatures above 20 °C, should receive a disinfectant rinse (50 ppm available chlorine) before milking begins. 5. MASTITS CONTROL AND THE INFECTION PATTERN IN DAIRY COWS Mastitis is an inflammation of one or more quarters of the udder usually caused by bacterial infection. Several types of bacteria cause distinctly different mastitis infections. Most mastitis persists as sub-clinical infections and is not detected. Only occasionally are there clinical signs with clots in the milk and inflamed quarters. Antibiotic infusions into the udder nearly always cure the clinical disease but may not eliminate the bacterial infection. Mastitis reduces milk yields, increases the cost of production and makes milk less valuable for liquid consumption and manufacture. Mastitis is an inflammation of the udder and is common in dairy herds causing vital economic losses. It can not be eradicated but can be reduced to low levels by good management of dairy cows. Of the several causes of mastitis, only microbial infection is important. Although bacteria, fungi, yeasts and possibly virus can cause udder infection, the main agents are bacteria. The most common pathogens are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Str. dysgalactiae, Str. uberis and Escherichia coli though other pathogens can cause occasional herd outbreaks. Mastitis occurs when the teats of cows are exposed to pathogens which penetrate the teat duct and establish an infection in one or more quarters within the udder. The course of an infection varies; most commonly it persists for weeks or months in a mild form which is not detected by the stockman (ie sub clinical mastitis). With some pathogens, typically E coli, the infection is frequently more acute and there is a general endotoxaemia with raised body temperature, loss of appetite and the cow may die unless supportive therapy is given. When clinical mastitis occurs the effective therapy is a course of antibiotic infusions through the teat duct. These nearly always remedy the clinical disease and often eliminate the bacterial infection. Infections may spontaneously recover but most persist to be eliminated eventually by antibiotic therapy or when the cow is culled. The susceptibility of cows varies considerably and new infections are most common in older cows during early lactation, at the start of the dry period and when the management is poor. Mastitis causes direct economic losses to farmers in several ways; milk yields are reduced, milk that is abnormal or contaminated with antibiotics cannot be sold, high veterinary and antibiotic costs, a higher culling rate and occasional fatalities. The milk processing industry also incurs losses because of problems that result from antibiotic in milk, and the reduced chemical and bacterial quality of mastitic milk. Mastitis micro organisms, usually bacteria, originate in various sites on the cow. They multiply in various ways and are spread from cow to cow. Most common types of mastitis bacteria originate in the udders of infected cows and in sores on the teats, which multiply and are spread during milking, from infected quarters and teat lesions. Other serious forms of mastitis are caused by bacteria which come from other sites on the cow (e.g. in dung). These bacteria multiply in bedding materials and spread of the bacteria from dung etc that multiplies in bedding materials. Mastitis inflammation can be detected by simple tests on cow’s milk (eg CMT test) but the causative bacteria can be detected only by laboratory tests. Several microbial diseases of the udder that are collectively known as mastitis are distinctly different. The pathogens can arise from different primary sites, which multiply in different environments and therefore, the timing of the cow’s exposure to the bacteria will vary. Subsequently the acuteness and persistency of the infections differ and also the probability of cure when therapy is given . The commonest forms of mastitis in most countries are caused by S. aureus and Str. agalactiae. The primary sites of these are infected quarters and spread mainly at milking, either during udder preparation or on hands and milking machines. These pathogens can colonise and multiply in teat sores and in teat ducts and this greatly increases the degree of exposure of the teats to bacteria. They usually cause chronic infections which persist in the sub clinical form and occasionally become clinical when abnormal milk can be detected. Systemic infection with loss of appetite and raised body temperature is infrequent. When suitable antibiotic preparations are infused into the udder, the clinical mastitis nearly always subsides and most Str. agalactiae infections are cured but with staphylococcal infections the cure rate is poor and mostly persists. Infections caused by Str. umbers and E. coli are often called environmental. The main primary sites of the pathogens are bovine, but not from within the udder. These do not normally colonise teat skin and the multiplication occurs in organic bedding materials (e.g. straws and sawdust). These types of infection are most common in housed cattle in early lactation, and whilst they can cause persisting sub-clinical mastitis the more typical from is clinical mastitis. Soon after the onset of the infection, and with coli form mastitis the endotoxaemia causes raised body temperature and marked reductions in milk production. Str. uberis infections usually respond to therapy, but with E. coli infections it is important to give supportive treatment to overcome the endotoxaemia and if this is successful, spontaneous recovery usually follows . Str. dysgalactiae is similar to Str. agalactiae and S. aureus in that it can readily colonise and multiply in teat lesions but the main primary site is not the milk of infected quarters, but other bovine sites. The course of the infection is not dissimilar to Str. agalactiae and infections respond readily to antibiotic therapy. Many other micro organisms can cause mastitis. These less common forms are not usually important but pseudomonads and Mycoplasma bovis do cause serious problems in a few herds . Although the pathology of the various types of infection show distinct differences, the causes of infection can be diagnosed with certainty, only by bacteriological tests made on aseptically-taken quarter milk samples . An udder quarter becomes infected when the teats are exposed to pathogens, which then penetrate the teat duct. 6. SYSTEMS OF MILKING Hand milking is a labour intensive system in which capital investment, running costs, labour productivity and milking performance are minimal. Clean milking clothes, buckets, udders and hands are essential for good hygienic milk quality. Cool the milk by immersing the cans of milk in clean, running water or by inserting an in-can turbine cooler. Alternatively, use a corrugated surface cooler connected to the water supply. Clean the milking bucket and cooler by rinsing in clean water, scrubbing in hot (45 °C) detergent/ disinfectant solution and finally rinsing in chlorinated (50 ppm) water. Alternatively, after scrubbing in hot detergent solution, disinfect by immersing in hot (75 °C) water for at least 3 minutes. Afterwards treat ancillary equipment similarly and allow all equipment to drain until dry, in a clean place. Statistics from all major milk producing countries indicate an annual decline in the number and size of hand milked herds. Labour productivity in these herds is low with very few cows per person involved. Duration of milking each cow and the whole herd is protracted because each person milks cows one at a time with a relatively slow milk extraction rate, compared with machine milking. These are factors which contribute to lower average lactation milk yields in hand milked herds. Nevertheless, for small herds, hand milking will usually be the method chosen because where there is sufficient labour available, it can provide a satisfactory way of milk removal with minimal capital investment, equipment maintenance and cleaning. During milking, hygiene standards require clean milking clothes and hooded milking buckets to prevent dust, dirt and udder hairs falling into the milk. Udders and tails need regular clipping. Before milking begins, the foremilk is drawn and examined, and visible dirt removed from udders and teats by washing and drying with disposable paper towels. Milk with clean, dry hands using the full hand in preference to just finger and thumb, a practice which can lead to injured udders and teats. It is best to milk rear quarters first, as they contain the higher proportion of milk . Milk cooling methods will depend mainly on the local water supply. If the quality, quantity or temperature is unsuitable or unreliable, then the milk should be taken, within 3 hours of production, to a central depot for cooling. Where an unlimited free supply of clean, cold (below 15 °C) water is available, the cans of milk can be immersed in running water. Water usage can be reduced and cooling rate increased by inserting a turbine in-can cooler into the cans of milk. Alternatively, the milk may be tipped and allowed to flow over a corrugated surface cooler connected to the water supply. Cleaning the milking bucket and cooler is best done by an initial rinse in clean water immediately after milking, followed by scrubbing in a hot (45 °C or above) detergent/disinfectant solution before finally rinsing in chlorinated water (50 ppm). Alternatively, after scrubbing the equipment in hot detergent solution, disinfect by immersing in hot (above 75 °C) water for at least 3 minutes. The foremilk cup, stool and udder washing equipment should be treated similarly afterwards. All equipment must be drained dry during the interval between milking . The data outlined and the statements made are intended only as a source of information for Food Science and Technology students and private industrial entrepreneurships. Milk is used as a therapeutic weapon to combat against acidic toxicity (e.g. toxicity from bitter cassava or tapioca which contains cyanohydrins components). Finally, milk is a good source of nutrients that has a high biological nutritional value for children, old men and feeding patients. Concerning Milk hygiene in Rwanda, the final milk product reaches the consumer in the most acceptable and nutritive condition. We are maintaining this condition to avoid contamination and reduction of nutritive value of milk. If milk hygiene is neglected, there are spoilage poisoning and reduction of shelf life. This is to say that milk is preserved at the highest possible quality in our country. - Nzabuheraheza FD Lecture notes: Science and Technology Courses I & II of 3rd year. Department of Food Science and Technology, Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, 2003. - TETRA-Pak Processing Systems. Dairy Processing Handbook. Lind, Sweden, 1995. - Eckles CH, WB Coms and H Macy Milk and Milk Products, 4th Edition USA. Reprinted by McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited, New Delhi, India. - Varnam AH and JP Sutherland Milk and Milk Products, Technology, Chemistry and Microbiology. In Chapman & Hall, 1994. - JKUAT. Department of Food Science and Technology. Laboratory Manual in Food Science and Technology. Nairobi, Kenya, 2003. - Kerr TJ and BB Mettele Applications in General Microbiology: A Laboratory Manual. Winston-Salem, Huner Textbooks, 2001.	<urn:uuid:87be7c3d-7c7d-4998-afa8-94e383a51fe0>	CC-MAIN-2016-36	http://www.ajfand.net/Volume5/No2/commentaryDominicus.html	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-36/segments/1471982937576.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20160823200857-00111-ip-10-153-172-175.ec2.internal.warc.gz	en	0.933654	7,578	2.859375	3
There are many different factors that may cause slower Internet speeds than normally expected. Here are some of the most common causes to be on the lookout for if you notice your Internet connection is not up to speed. Don’t forget to visit iinets ADSL2 page to find out what solutions they have to fit you & your family. Running some background applications can greatly utilize your network, causing slower Internet speeds. These programs, while designed to do helpful work, can consume your network resources, and it’s not hard to forget that these applications are running. So, make sure you check for any background programs that may be running when trying to determine why your connection may be running more slowly. Internet worms, which are malicious software programs that spread themselves throughout computer networks, can unknowingly automatically create network traffic. This can make your Internet connection slower, so be sure to run antivirus software on a regular basis in order to remove any worms that may have reached your computer. Broadband Router Settings The settings of a broadband router are a common cause of slower Internet speeds if they are not properly configured. One thing to look out for is the MTU setting of your broadband router. If it’s set too low or too high, it may cause noticeable performance issues. In order to make sure your router is running properly, make sure its settings are consistent with the recommendations of your Internet Service Provider and the manufacturer. Make sure you take note of any changes you make to the configuration of your router in case you need to undo them at a later time. Faulty Network Equipment Faulty network equipment can negatively affect the performance of your Internet connection even though it will still be maintained. If you think your cables, router or modem is potentially faulty, you may want to first try to reconfigure and rearrange your equipment temporarily. If different configurations are not solving your reduced Internet speed issues, try to swap the cables, bypass the router and change your network adapters to determine where the slow performance is coming from. Wireless Signal Interference Wireless connections, such as Wi-Fi, may suffer from signal interference which makes some computers resend messages continually to reduce signal issues. There are a number of things that can cause interference of wireless signals, from nearby wireless networks to even household appliances. If you find that you’re experiencing wireless signal interference, you may want to change the channel number of your Wi-Fi network or change the position of your router. Service Provider Issues Since your Internet speed is ultimately dependent on your service provider, if they are suffering from technical difficulties or change the configuration of their network, your Internet connection may inadvertently run more slowly. Your Internet Service Provider may also have installed controls or filters that can slow the performance of your Internet connection. If you think service provider issues may be the cause of your slow connectivity, give them a call to see if they can fix the issues.	<urn:uuid:f381d002-aafe-4755-9856-ed2f30541b16>	CC-MAIN-2018-30	https://www.techwalls.com/factors-may-cause-slower-internet-speeds-expected/	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2018-30/segments/1531676591296.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20180719203515-20180719223515-00488.warc.gz	en	0.929556	597	2.546875	3
In view of the fact that there was no New Testament (NT) in the early church, how did the earliest Christians know to refer to those documents which we now call inspired and canonical, i.e. officially recognized by the church? Several factors counted against their ability to fasten upon what became our NT canon. E.g., if Acts is any indication, they operated with a relatively high degree of local autonomy; they did not enjoy or exploit synods or councils till rather later; they often experienced persecution; heresies arose fairly early, so with time there was an increasing number of heretical competitors for canonicity. Perhaps the fact most relevant to our question is the most easily verified, that when the documents of the NT were written, no author stated that his work should be included in a canon. How indeed did the canon close so cleanly?1 In order to answer this question, we will study the earliest body of Christian literature contemporary with or following after the writings of the apostles, i.e. the Apostolic Fathers.2 The Apostolic Fathers on this strict definition comprise St. Clement of Rome, St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Polycarp of Smyrna. To these three are traditionally added II Clement, the Epistle of Barnabas, the Didache and the Shepherd of Hermas (even though the latter is definitely a second century work). So what are we looking for in the Apostolic Fathers? Let us note first that people commonly do not source hear-say and expert knowledge in the same way, nor do they confuse sources having a high degree of credibility with sources having a low degree of credibility. Therefore, by studying how the Apostolic Fathers cited the NT, we may be able to tell what they thought of them. What status did the NT documents have in their minds? Did that status change? If so, when and how? We begin with the earliest Apostolic Father, St. Clement; later we will turn to St. Ignatius, St. Polycarp etc. I Clement, traditionally ascribed to Pope Clement, a very early bishop of Rome, was written as a letter from the church at Rome to the church at Corinth.3 Received opinion dates I Clement to the last decade of the first century; this makes it roughly contemporary with the Apocalypse of St. John and the epistles of St. Ignatius of Antioch. Due to its early date, I Clement is ideal for studying the early Christian view of the authority of the NT documents. The interested reader may wish to read I Clement for himself. Although this letter is standardly included in anthologies of the Apostolic Fathers, online texts are also accessible; I recommend Earlychristianwritings.com in particular. For a helpful discussion of the Apostolic Fathers and the canon of the NT, the reader may listen to Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick’s lecture, “The Church after the Bible: The Body of Christ after the Apostles” (Roads from Emmaus, Nov. 2, 2013 at AncientFaithRadio.com). In our next episode, we will begin by studying how I Clement cites the OT, after which we turn to his NT citations. 1. In 367, St. Athanasius was the first bishop to authorize as canonical just the 27 books of the NT that we find in our Bibles. However, subsequent events prove that not only were some of his OT picks unlucky, but even his NT picks did not decisively close the canon. E.g., Sts. Cyril of Jerusalem and Gregory the Theologian omit Revelation from their list of the NT canon (F. F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture [IVP Academic, 1988], p. 213). 2. It may sound as if the Apostolic Fathers should refer to the apostles, but that is not so; the term Apostolic is lazy for Sub-apostolic. (In Latin sub can mean “under, at the foot of,” but it can also mean “immediately after,” as in succeed, “to come after”). 3. The feast of St. Clement is celebrated on the traditional Catholic calendar on the 23rd of November, on the Greek Orthodox calendar on the 24th and on the Russian Orthodox calendar on the 25th. A few years ago I unwittingly reverenced his relic in the Parish of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Singapore; it was not until afterwards that I realized that Rimski in “Sveti Kliment Rimski” had to mean “the Roman.”	<urn:uuid:f6943d39-a8b3-4e00-a8c1-d22921d5022c>	CC-MAIN-2020-40	https://www.roseburgorthodoxchurch.org/articles-from-holy-cross/new-testament-references-in-the-apostolic-fathers	s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-40/segments/1600402132335.99/warc/CC-MAIN-20201001210429-20201002000429-00512.warc.gz	en	0.968235	953	3.296875	3

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