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Weather in Limassol
Weather Forecast Limassol
Limassol is situated on the southern coast of Cyprus and has a typical Mediterranean climate having hot summers and soft winters. It is located between the ancient cities of Amathus and Kourion. Shipping and International transportation were always of vital importance to the island of Cyprus, and shipping remains still one of the major activities of the busy Business community of Limassol. Its population is approximately 180,000 and Limassol is the second largest city on the island, but yet the largest geographically.
Limassol is also the perfect spot for vacation due to its amazing beaches, exciting archaeological sites and beautiful mountain villages in the Troodos mountain range which is lying to the north of the city. With that being said, the island has a key role in strengthening the economy of Cyprus, especially during the summer season when tourists combine a morning by the beach and an evening enjoying the beautiful sky up on the mountains. Tourists also love Limassol due to its many traditional festivals and celebrations like the infamous wine festival. Moreover, the renowned nightlife of the town with thousands of discos, clubs and bars right on the beach, gives holiday makers a unique feeling of freedom.
Summer is the most popular season for tourists who visit Limassol since they are able to enjoy a lot of water sports and sunbathing when the weather is too hot for other activities such as sightseeing and walking around the city. In May and October, temperature is averaging around 23°C while during June, July, August and September the temperature can reach up to 34°C, especially in August. During the evenings, however, it is much cooler due to late afternoon mild winds coming from the Mediterranean Sea. As it was said before, during August, the temperatures can rise up to 34°C so you are advised to take the necessary precautions to avoid sunburns. Humidity is also very high in Limassol during the summer months, which can be a little uncomfortable, so you are advised to be dressed lightly and drink a lot of water and other liquids. Leave Beer and alcohol for your evening outings to the many traditional restaurants and busy nightspots
The winter in Cyprus is very mild compare to northern European countries. December and January have approximately 8 days of rain each which makes them the rainiest winter months. The two coldest months however, are January and February during which the temperature hardly ever reaches above 18°C during the day and 9°C during night time. The winter season begins in early December and lasts until about the end of February. Even during winter times, there are also approximately 5 or 6 hours per day when the sun is out there are also days when winds are so strong that can lead to storms. During December, the average minimum temperature is 6°C, 7°C during January and 8°C during February. During the day, the temperatures vary depending on the wind and on whether or not there is sun but it can rise up to 20°C.
The shortest seasons in Cyprus are spring and autumn. During these seasons there are a lot of changes in the temperature and the weather varies. In spring and autumn tourists visit Cyprus to explore the island since the weather is more applicable for this kind of activity. In March, the temperature has an average high of 17°C and in November the temperature is one of 21°C. As for the sea, the water temperature is approximately 17°C during the spring yet the mountains flourish. Even though there are some rainy days, most of the days during both months are sunny, with spring more chilly than autumn. Autumn lasts from October until November and during that period of time the temperatures can be as low as 12°C (54°F) and can reach up to 29°C (84°F). During autumn, the weather changes yearly like for instance during October of 2009 there were vicious thunderstorms and during October of 2007, the weather was very dry.


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MONDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- The expression "like mother, like daughter" appears to hold true when it comes to raising children.
Women are more likely than men to follow the parenting practices of their mothers, a generational study has found.
Ohio State University researchers analyzed survey results from 1,133 young parents who were asked how often they spanked their children in the past week, how often they showed their children physical affection and praised them in the past week, and how often they read to their child in the past month. The participants of this study were chosen from a group whose own parents had been part of a nationwide survey that began in 1979.
For all three behaviors -- spanking children, giving physical affection/praise, and reading to children -- women closely followed what their mothers did. This was not the case among men, the study authors found.
"We were surprised that mothers seem to learn a lot about the parenting role from their own mothers, but fathers don't follow their mothers as much," study co-author Jonathan Vespa, a doctoral student in sociology, said in a news release from the university.
"There was good reason to expect that fathers would have learned parenting from their mothers," Vespa explained. "These fathers were growing up in the [1970s and 1980s] and received much of their parenting from their mothers. Although more women were entering the workforce then, they still did the lion's share of parenting and child care," he added.
"We really need to learn a lot more about how fathers learn to parent," Vespa said.
As for generational parenting practices, the researchers found significant changes with much more reading and affection shown to children today, and less spanking.
"While parents, particularly women, are learning many parenting practices from their mothers, there [are] also a lot of new practices they are picking up from the broader culture," Vespa said.
The findings were to be presented this week at the American Sociological Association annual meeting, in San Francisco.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has more about parenting influences.
SOURCE: Ohio State University, news release, Aug. 9, 2009
Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Children in Years 5 and 6 are taking part in the Read for My School competition.
Two children from each class will receive a goody bag packed with exciting prizes. The winners will be selected based on the number of books they have read and the quality of their book reviews.
Read for My School is the exciting new national schools reading competition from The Pearson Foundation and Booktrust, with support from the Department for Education
Reading for pleasure is at the heart of the initiative, which aims to generate excitement about books and cultivate long-lasting positive attitudes towards reading.
Read for My School is:
- free for all primary schools in England
- open to children in years 5 and 6
- running in 2013 from 21 January to 22 March
Children who attend participating schools will be encouraged to:
- read as much as they can
- explore a variety of genres and formats
- make their own choices as readers
- recommend titles to friends

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
The majority of financial institutions overlook opportunities to derive full value from their regulatory-driven investments. But those who do embrace compliance as a business opportunity and elevate its stature within their organization can create a competitive advantage. Financial institutions who effectively leverage compliance activity can add value for customers, employees, community relations, market position, and positively affect their bottom line.
Download EVERFI's guide, From Checking the Box to Building the Brand: How to Use Compliance Activity to Add Value, and you'll learn:
- How to build a culture of compliance in your workplace
- Why financial education is a valuable compliance componenet
- Tips for leveraging your compliance activity to add value


High SNR linear estimation of vector sources
Alireza S. Behbahani, Ahmed M. Eltawil, Hamid Jafarkhani
Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review
2 Scopus citations
In this letter, we extend our prior work and consider decentralized estimation of unknown random vectors under high observation signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A linear model is considered for decentralized estimation of vector sources. Observation models and sensor operations are both linear. Furthermore, the channel between the wireless sensors and fusion center (FC) is a coherent multiple access channel (MAC). Each sensor observes a different vector source. Sensors are designed to minimize the total mean square error (MSE) at the FC subject to the individual transmit power constraints at the sensors. We first provide the solution for scalar sources under high observation SNR regime. Then, we use the provided solution for scalar sources and extend it to the case of vector sources.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalIEEE Wireless Communications Letters
Issue number6
StatePublished - Dec 1 2014
Externally publishedYes
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'High SNR linear estimation of vector sources'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Cite this


Oklahoma Attorney General Tells Court Medication Abortion Bans Are Constitutional
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt argues in a brief filed last week that his state's law regulating medication abortion is not a universal ban on the procedure, but even if it were, such a ban would be constitutional, The Oklahoman reports.
The brief was submitted to the Oklahoma Supreme Court in response to questions asked by the U.S. Supreme Court about Cline v. Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice, a case the Roberts Court is considering adding to its docket that challenges a 2011 Oklahoma law that purports to ban the off-label use of medicines for the purposes of ending a pregnancy. The Oklahoma law directs doctors to only prescribe RU-486 or any other "abortion-inducing drug" as authorized by the protocol spelled out on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved label. The U.S. Supreme Court has expressed an interest in weighing in on whether or not states may go as far as Oklahoma in regulating, or banning altogether, specific abortion procedures.
The Oklahoma law was originally challenged in state court, where a coalition of reproductive rights supporters argued that the law is so badly drafted that it would effectively ban the use of all medication abortion pills, including preferred treatments for safely ending an ectopic pregnancy. Furthermore, the challengers argued, even if some medications fall outside the ban, the law's requirement that practitioners follow FDA protocol in administering those medications place women's health significantly at risk, since those protocols are severely outdated and subject patients to dosing requirements that can be as much as three times the necessary amount. A lower court agreed, and struck down the law, blocking its enforcement.
Attorneys for the State of Oklahoma appealed to the state supreme court and argued that the law does not effectively ban the use of RU-486 nor does it forbid the use of methotrexate to end ectopic pregnancies. But instead of ruling on those specific issues, the supreme court, in a brief opinion, ruled that the state law conflicted with federal Supreme Court rulings protecting a woman's constitutional right to choose abortion and upheld the lower court's decision to block the law.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the challenge, but not until the state supreme court clarified which medications are regulated under the law.
In his brief, Attorney General Pruitt defended the law, claiming the law requires providers to follow the FDA protocol, given "concerns" over the safety of off-label use of drugs like mifepristone to induce abortion, and is therefore not a ban on the procedure. Furthermore, Pruitt argued, the Supreme Court has previously upheld bans on specific abortion procedures like the federal "partial-birth abortion" ban, so even if the 2009 Oklahoma law does ban all medical abortions, it should still be considered constitutional.
Once the state supreme court clarifies this question of whether the law is a total ban, the Roberts Court will decide whether to consider the matter further.
Follow Jessica Mason Pieklo on twitter: _USER_
 - fiona64
 Give me a break. Treatment of erectile dysfunction is an off-label use of Viagra (a cardiac med) and you don't see any of these *men* raising concerns about that …
 - cjvg
 We, the united states should really protect men's health better, lets ban off label use for Viagra!
 - HeilMary1
 And let's deny it to playboy bachelor priests and child-free adulterous wife dumpers like Lush Limpballs.
 - cjvg
 Yes, only if their wives deliver a notarized letter to the prescribing doctor certifying that the Viagra requested is strictly for use within their marriage and for reproductive reasons only.
 Of course they should have an health exam that includes a manual and ultra sound prostate check and include a 3 hour (with pictures) lecture on std's and the health risks of extramarital sex


text: Diet supplement Lady Slim Line "Lady Shape" was created for women who want to slim down their figures and lose extra weight. The preparation is a rich source of active complexes which support our bodies in their regeneration and fat cells burning. One of the key ingredients of our diet supplement is cortisol complex which is a natural chemical complex with its anti-inflammatory and fat-decomposition attributes. Cortisol is also known as anti-stress hormone since its usage during an exposure to stress lessens its negative effects on our bodies. In Lady Slim Line we also used CCK Boosting Complex which in combination with cortisol suppress appetite. This complex consists of Plantago psyllium extract and apple pectin which are a rich source of roughage supporting the digestive processes. Bio complex that consists of ginger, Cayenne pepper and piperyne extracts preserve all slimming properties of the aforementioned substances. This complex prevents formation of new fat cells and thanks to high content capsaicin it hastens metabolism which leads to fastening of body weight loss process. The task of Thermogenic complex is to stimulate our bodies in quicker regeneration of damaged cells. Thanks to caffeine extract contained in Thermogenic complex, it removes symptoms of tiredness and improves mood and concentration. This combined with cola nuts noticeably improves physical and mental capabilities. Additional enrichment of Lady Slim Line with guarana, Yerba mate and green coffee extracts affects increase of antioxidant, anti-cellulite and slimming performance of the product. These extracts support burning and absorption of fat cells and stimulate flow of the lymph which makes skin more flexible. Metabolic complex, as the name suggests, supports metabolic and digestive functions. Provided with three extracts: green, oolong and white tea, the complex task is mostly to detoxicate and support metabolism functions and exertion of unfavorable substances from our bodies. This complex also supports regeneration of the skin inwardly and outwardly and by working on cellular levels it prevents the skin from photo-aging, discolorations, moisturizes dry skin, refreshes and smooths it. The last ingredients of our diet supplement are vitamins B1, B2 and Diuretic Complex. The task of the vitamins provided in our product is to take an active participation in oxidation processes and fat cells reduction. While Diuretic Complex was created for maximization definition of muscles in our whole bodies. The Complex of diuretic substances supports removal of extra water and fat in our bodies, hastening reduction of fat tissue and underlines muscle tissue. Lady Slim Line allows you to reduce extra fat with not physical effort involved.


ones keep track of equinoxes, solstices, seasons, signs of the zodiac and the changing date of Easter. Astronomical complications can connect a watch to other worlds, displaying the planetary orbits or sidereal time (that is, time told by the position of a bright, charted star). The most popular one shows the phases of the moon.
Then there are chronograph complications, which measure intervals of time like stopwatches. The business of constructing these demands knowledge of watchmaking, physics, engineering, geometry, mathematics and metallurgy. Strap on a chronograph and you are wearing one of the supreme achievements of mechanical art. Press a button to start the complication and you can feel the whirl of its wheels on your wrist.
Skeptics aside, some complications really can make a watch more useful. Repeater watches, which chime the hours and minutes with tiny hammers and gongs at the push of a button, were a necessary function when only candles dimly lit our nights. Today, the orderly, gentle sound of repeaters offer aural respite from the noise of modern life and come in handy when you can't find your cellphone during a blackout.
Another complication, a secondary time zone, is relevant for any frequent flier. Wherever you are in the world, glance at a watch with two time zones and you'll get an instant snapshot of both your local time and the time back home—convenient if you want to phone the office or the family at home.
Sure, simple is beautiful, but I'll keep my world of complications and sheer wonder.
—Michael Clerizo


text:
ELA is a combination of the oral and written language skills needed for students to communicate effectively, as well as, the ability to extract meaning from a variety of texts.
This year we will be using the Modules provided by New York State. We have completed the first Unit of Module 1 and students should be able to :
-discuss the reason for the creation of human rights
-discuss specific articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
-read a text and find examples of when human rights are violated or upheld.
In Unit 2 we are reading Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. In this story a young girl will go from being the beloved daughter of a wealthy Mexican rancher to a migrant worker and the sole provider of her family. The novel is set in the 1930's and as many opportunities for class discussions and evaluation of story elements. Students will be expected to complete the nightly readings and independent activities, so that they are prepared and ready to contribute to class discussions.
I encourage you to go to _URL_ and view the parent supports available.


text:
Main Entry: thau·ma·turg
Etymology: French, from New Latin thaumaturgus, from Greek thaumatourgos working miracles, from thaumat-, thauma miracle + ergon work — more at Theater, Work
The official blog of the Dramaturgy Department at Baltimore's CENTERSTAGE. For posts related to our current and upcoming shows, click the links to the right. Alternatively, you could begin at the beginning, and explore our posts in chronological order.
By Vivian Vande Velde
If the coach turned back into a pumpkin
And the coachman into a rat
And the footmen into mice,
One can only wonder
Why the glass slippers alone remained untouched by magic's ebbing tide.
Obviously a set-up.
But by whom?
The fairy godmother's ability
Didn't extend beyond midnight.
And where would a cinder girl
Have ever gotten shoes like that?
Could they possibly have been a secret gift
From the stepmother,
Eager to get her out of the house,
Tired of her unrelenting goodness,
(not to mention all that singing)?
If the shoe fits, wear it
Meaning: If a description applies to you, then accept it. This expression is often used when something derogatory is said about a person who then complains to a third party. The third party, if they agree with the original negative comment, might suggest "If the shoe fits, then wear it". An example of that might be:
Jack: Just because I've missed two or three sessions, my fitness trainer says I lack motivation.
Jill: Well, if the shoe fits, wear it.
Origin: 'If the shoe fits, wear it' is often shortened to 'If the shoe fits…', leaving the listener to fill in the blank. The expression is the American version of the earlier British phrase 'If the cap fits, wear it', which is also still in general use. Daniel Defoe used the earlier phrase in the satirical poem The Dyet of Poland. Defoe had the work printed in London in 1705 but, as it was a rather vehement critique of the English parliament, Defoe used the flimsy pretence that it had been printed in Danzig and was the work of 'Angliopoloski of Lithuania'. Defoe's point in the poem was that readers are responsible for their own opinions; he (or rather Angliopoloski) may have written the poem but that any conclusions drawn from it were owned by the reader, not him:
"Gentlemen, and if the Cap fits any Body let 'em wear it."
'If the cap fits' is itself a version of a yet earlier phrase 'if the cloak sitteth fit', that is, 'if the cloak fits well'. This expression dates from the 16th century and was used in print by Richard Hooker in Of the Lawes of Ecclesiasticall Politie, 1593:
Which cloake sitteth no lesse fit on the backe of their cause, then of the Anabaptists.
The 'cloak' version of the phrase does suggest that the later 'cap' was a variant of 'cape'.
As to 'if the shoe fits', that began being used in the late 18th Century. The earliest example … in print is from the US newspaper the New York Gazette & Weekly Mercury, May 1773:
Why should Mr. Vanderbeck apply a general comparison to himself? Let those whom the shoe fits wear it.
The change from cap to shoe may well have been influenced by the Cinderella story, which has a snug-fitting slipper as the primary plot device. Versions of the tale that include the 'lost slipper' scenario were well known in the USA and Europe by 1773. In 1634, Giambattista Basile, published Il Pentamerone, a popular collection of Italian folk tales. One of the stories, Cenerentola, is the basis of the Cinderella story as we now know it, complete with wicked stepmother, ugly sisters and a missing slipper.
Many expressions, for example, 'toe the line', 'get off your high horse' etc., were first used literally and their metaphorical meaning came later. 'If the shoe fits' is a rarity in that it has gone the other way - having been used for centuries in a figurative sense, its most common usage now is in shoe shop advertising slogans.


Best DNA Test for Jewish Ancestry
As one of the most colorful histories known to man, the Jewish heritage inspires a sense of pride in its members. Present during the Biblical times, the Jewish population have seen their fair share of turmoil, struggle, and challenges, spanning centuries that shaped their unique culture and turned their population into the close-knit community that it is today.
So if you've somehow discovered the possibility of Jewish ethnicity coursing through your veins, you might feel compelled to learn more about its roots. That's where DNA testing kits come into the picture. These days, direct-to-consumer DNA testing providers are especially popular and accessible, offering you the opportunity to learn more about where you came from and how you became you.
Those interested in unravelling their Jewish past can find valuable purpose in the tools and resources available through a couple pivotal DNA tests for Jewish ancestry. Among all Living DNA provides the most comprehensive coverage and accurate results.
MyHeritage DNA* Best Jewish Lineage related data.
*Info on family tree, and maternal and paternal lines.
*Available worldwide.
*Subscription plans could be considered pricey.
*Monthly subscription fees.
*People seeking accurate information about their Jewish ancestry.
*Best of ethnicity.
Starting at $79 per kit.
FamilyTree DNA*Affordable plans.
*Focus on Jewish ancestry.
*No personal health related information.
*Additional tests can be expensive.
Jewish people with Sephardic and Askhenazi family history.Starts at $79 for family Finder.
iGenea*Founded by a Jewish woman seeking answers to her Jewish ancestry.
*Lifetime access to the database.
*Available worldwide.
*Finding relatives, especially of European descent.
*Lifetime access to the database after once-off payment.
Starts at $214 per kit.
Best DNA Test for Jewish Ancestry
When choosing a kit that's right for your needs, you'll need to be clear on the outcome you're looking for. Let's take a look at a few DNA testing kits and describe each of their strengths and weaknesses.
If you're looking for a detailed ancestry report, Living DNA is one of the best choices. From a cheek swab test, your genetic makeup will be compared across 150 regions worldwide. DNA test kit, you will be given an overview of your ancestral line across 150 regions. Within these particular regions, your ancestral lineage will further be broken down to display sub-regional breakdowns.
Living DNA shows your recent ancestry from 500 years. It will answer the question, "Which populations in the world is my [autosomal] DNA most similar to?" At this stage, you won't know whether your ancestral line comes from your maternal or paternal side.
Still, Living DNA will also show your extended ancestry. This is done through an mtDNA or a Y-DNA test. These tests will compare your results against different haplogroups and will show percentages where in the world your haplogroup is more prevalent.
You must take note that Living DNA ancestral test results focus on where people have lived rather than ethnic population groups such as Jewish Ashkenazi. Therefore, you must do your own research and make educated guesses about your specific Jewish DNA genetic line.
Still, the ancestry results that Living DNA provides can give you a head start on your journey to finding your Jewish bloodline.
This DNA Testing Kit has been heralded as one of the best out in the market today. With over ten billion historical records and over a hundred and seven million users, MyHeritage holds a ton of relevant data.
Swab your cheek, place it in the vial and post it off to the MyHeritage labs. Your work is done in two minutes, and then it's a matter of waiting three to four weeks for your results.
The test is also available worldwide in all countries. Your DNA goes through a process where it's checked against six hundred and ninety thousand markers, against a database of 1.5 million records.
The test includes 42 geographic regions in their reference groups. It is an autosomal DNA test type and is ideal for deep generational searches and finding those lost family members and your ethnic origins.
MyHeritage DNA contains recorded information for almost all types of Jewish ancestry. These include Ashkenazi, Mizrahi and Sephardi records. If you suspect that you have ancestors from any of these lines, this test is well worth your while.
The test also integrates your family tree, offer you an ancestral makeup report. You, however, need to pay additional fees for the amount of information that you're after. You can choose from basic plans up to top tier plans that give you as much information as you desire.
See our objective review on My Heritage DNA or here.
Founded by Bennet Greenspan, this DNA Testing kit holds a lot of authority. It's also the chosen DNA testing company for The Jewish Voice.
The one reason that differentiates this testing kit is it's reference populations. 2 of the 24 databases belong to the major Jewish heritages – Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jew.
This gives the results a lot more credibility, especially since Greenspan and his team have gone into painstaking detail to collate data predominantly for people seeking links to their Jewish family history.
They offer three tests, namely the family tree builder, Y-DNA test and mtDNA test. The kit price is also affordable.
There's a deeper level of accountability behind FamilyTree DNA's approach, with Greenspan boldly stating that his passion is to help people discover their Jewish ancestry.
However, one of the downsides is that your information may be shared with the FBI. FamilyTreeDNA's records are so valuable that they've shared information with the FBI in order to find answers to unsolved cases. If you don't mind this, then this kit is of great value.
See our objective review on Family Tree DNA.
4. iGenea
iGenea has a unique connection to Jewish DNA heritage. Its founder, Joelle Apter, started the company because she was searching for her own Jewish and Polish lineage. This makes it one of the most relevant DNA testing kits out there for Jewish people.
Your DNA is checked against 710 thousand genetic markers, against a database 500 thousand strong. iGenea has an unknown number of geographic regions but has very detailed information it can provide.
An iGenea test kit can test for both paternal and maternal lineages but doesn't offer a family tree integration. It is available all over the world. The Premium DNA testing kits can draw up results from as far back as 100 thousand years. Talk about comprehensive!
The downside to this DNA testing kit is it's rather pricey, coming in at double what you'd pay for other testing kits. However, if you look at it, choosing iGenea can actually save you money in the long run with its lifetime access to their database. The waiting time for results is also longer. Expect six to ten weeks before your results arrive.
Types of Jewish Ancestry
Jewish ancestry is one of the richest in terms of history. If you have Jewish DNA that extends past five generations, the chances are good that your heritages can be traced back to a clear line.
Jewish migration over the centuries has played a big part in making the process of finding one's heritage challenging. However, with the extensive academic databases, tracking your family line is now easier.
There are five groups of Jewish communities that you may find your ethnicity stemming from in your DNA Test. We briefly explore each of these below.
Ashkenazi Jewish
This cultural group comes stems back two thousand years, predominantly from European women. Traces of this group of Judaism have been traced back to the northern parts of the Mediterranean. To read more about Ashkenazi Jewish, click here
Ethiopian Jewish
Stretching back over 15 centuries, Ethiopian Jewish has a unique cultural standpoint of its own. Predominantly nomadic, these groups of Jewish people lived separate lives in small communities, without much leadership to unite them all under one banner. Most of their traditions were handed down orally. This makes records of this group somewhat challenging to discover. To read more about Ethiopian Jewish, click here.
Mizrahi Jewish
This group of Jewish people have a Middle Eastern heritage. Though they share many religious customs to the Sephardic Jews, Mizrahi Jews have active communities ties, dating back to Yemen, Babylonia and Persia. They didn't speak one language, but rather a series of dialects that related to specific regions. To read more about the Mizrahi Jews, click here.
Sephardic Jewish
This is by far, the largest population of Jewish heritage. The Sephardic Jews were responsible for the Golden Age of Jewish culture in Spain. This occurred around the Middle Ages. However, in 1492, Spain's royalty expelled Sephardic Jews from the country. They left Spain, opting for places like Amsterdam, North Africa and the Middle East. Unlike other Jewish communities, Sephardic Jews had a unifying language. It was called Ladino, and it was spoken throughout the Iberian Peninsula, borrowing words from Hebrew, Arabic and even Portuguese. To read more about Sephardic Jews, click here
Yemenite Jewish
Coming from Yemen, the majority of this group of Jewish population reside in Israel today. Due to their strict adherence to the old religious ways, they have often been called the most Jewish of all Jewish People. To read more about Yemenite Jews, click here.
How DNA Testing Works
By swabbing your spit and sending it to a DNA service provider, they're able to trace back your ancestry and tell you more about your genetic history. But how does the test work? And is


Kazakhstan's population in _PHONE_
Historical and demographic trends in Kazakhstan's population during the Soviet Period
In the beginning of the 20th century social and demographic situation in Kazakhstan developed under the condition of the presence of the Russian Federation and was shadowed by the previous period: penetration of Russian and foreign capital, colonization of lands favorable for agriculture, displacement of Kazaks from their lands and decomposition of their traditional economy continued.
In 1917 the population of the region increased to 6228,3 thousand people or, compared with 1897, — to 50,2%. The national compositions of Kazakhstan's population changed as well: the number of the Russians increased in 2,4 times while their specific weight came to 17,5%; the number of the Ukrainians increased in 8,2 times while their specific weight reached 10,4%. Territorial housing of the Russians and Ukrainians distinguished by its unevenness.
In the years ahead spontaneous migration to Kazakhstan didn't stop. In _PHONE_ peasants from Russian and Ukrain as well as the Kazakhs from different corners of the country moved to Kazakhstan. According to the Decree about the Land, refugees from the Eastern Kazakhstan received piece of land. In 1920 in Semirechie region 10 167 Kazakh and Kirghiz farms took back 123 thousand tithes of land; 1,5 thousand families arrived to Zaisan district.
Urban population, in general, consisted of the Russians (52,8%) and the Ukrainians (5,9%). The Kazakhs formed only 14,5% of city dwellers. Their share in total population was represented irregularly: from 1,6% in Kostanay district to 70,1% in Adai district (12,8% — in Akmolinsk province, 13,7% — in Aktubinsk province, 21,6% — in Semipalatinsk province, 21,9% — in Syrdariya district, 18,8% — in Uralsk district, 6,9% — in Dzhetysuisk district). Uneven settlement of the Kazakhs in the cities of Kazakhstan influenced the cities of the Southern region which were divided into two parts: "new city" where primarily the Russians and representatives of other nationalities lived and "old city" where the Kazakhs settled — these were outskirts located close to the steppe.
Rural population of the republic was greater in number than the urban and formed 91,6% of all inhabitants of Kazakhstan. The Kazakhs were, primarily, agrarian ethnos. Their share in the composition of population of the rural are formed, in general, 61%, including 97,4% — in Adai district, 81% — in Syrdaria district, 73,3% — in Uralsk district, 72,1% — in Aktubinsk district, 67,7% — in Dzhetusuisk district, 58,2% — in Semipalatinsk district. The lowest unit weight of the Kazakhs among rural population in Kustanai district was 33,8%.
In the end of 1920-1930s Kazakhstan became one of the strategic parts of the strategy of Bolsheviks on transformation of the Soviet Union from agrarian country into industrial. In this strategy Kazakhstan obtained the role of main industrial and raw foundation of the country. In this regard, reconstruction of agriculture was planned and measures for including natural and energetic resources into economic circle were designed.
High speed of economic development required permanent inflow of labor force. The problem of manpower resources was solved, on the one hand, by the destruction of traditional nomadic way of life of the Kazakh ethnos during sedentarization and collectivization and, from the other hand, by the activation of migration policy and organization of various institutions subordinate to the GULAG (Main Camp Administration), special labor settlements, prisons, labour training camps and colony.


Attila, Emperor of the Huns
Attila, Emperor of the Huns
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Caption: Attila (406-453), Emperor of the Huns. Originating from the steppes of Central Asia, the Huns swept westwards and established the large Hunnic Empire, which stretched as far west as Germany and as far south as the Danube. Under Attila's rule, the Huns invaded the Balkans and Gaul, and gained a reputation for cruelty and barbarism. This woodcut portrait is from the 1575 Basle edition of Elogia virorum bellica virtute illustrium (Praise of Men Illustrious for Courage in War) by the Italian historian and biographer Paolo Giovio (_PHONE_).
Keywords: 1500s, 1575, 16th century, 400s, 5th century, adult, antiquity, artwork, asian, attila, attila the hun, barbarian, barbaric, black-and-white, central asia, central asian, christoffel van sichem i, commander, cruel, elogia virorum bellica virtute illustrium, emperor, general, historical, history, human, hun, hunnic empire, illustration, invader, king, male, man, military, monochrome, paolo giovio, people, person, politics, portrait, power, praise of men illustrious for courage in war, ruler, soldier, tobias stimmer, white, woodcut


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This eCourse consists of two modules on money markets securities. Money market instruments are a very important subset of the capital markets. They offer short-term investors liquidity and (usually) high credit quality, but at a lower yield than is available in the bank deposit market. There are interest bearing and discount instruments to suit varied requirements.
Module 1 describes the essential features of Treasury bills, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and bankers' acceptances. We will examine the nature of these products, their features, how they are used, and their usefulness in today's markets.
As covered in Module 1, interest bearing and discount instruments suit varied requirements, but structural conventions in the market make straight comparisons difficult.
Module 2 covers the structuring and pricing conventions in the money markets. In this module, you will learn how to be comfortable relating one instrument to another in order to arrive at the best investment alternative.
On completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Recognize how treasury bills carry the least risk of all money market instruments
- Classify commercial paper as being an instrument that is issued at a discount and name the type of facility used to back up short-term commercial paper
- Identify the concerns of investors in certificates of deposit
- Interpret the significance of bankers?acceptances being backed by trade receivables
- Calculate the interest/discount, price, and yield for: Interest bearing money market instruments such as standard deposits, certificates of deposit, and repurchase agreements
- Discount instruments such as discount notes, commercial paper, and treasury bills
Module 1: Money Market Securities - An Introduction
Topic 1: Government (Treasury) Bills
Topic 2: Commercial Paper
Topic 3: Certificates of Deposit
Topic 4: Bankers?Acceptances
Module 2: Money Market Securities - Pricing
Topic 1: Interest-Bearing Instruments
Topic 2: Discount Instruments


SunPower: How Solar Vitality Can Add Your Industrial Property Worth –
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It's easy to list the many benefits of commercial solar power to businesses, but quantifying their value can be more difficult. The impact on property value is a prime example. While it is likely true that a building equipped with high quality commercial real estate solar panels is more valuable than a fossil fuel based asset, determining exactly how much more valuable it can be can be complicated. If higher property value is a major factor in your business to justify the cost of commercial solar panels, this article can help.
First, let's take a quick look at non-commercial residential solar systems. A study conducted by Zillow found that homes with solar panels sell 4.1% more than comparable homes without solar panels. While some reports suggest a similar correlation for evaluating commercial property, not enough studies have been conducted to verify comparable results for commercial property. Still, the general lesson is obvious: adding solar energy can increase the selling price of a property.
The specific impact of solar energy on commercial property value largely depends on the answer to each of the following questions:
Does the organization installing solar energy own the building / land for the project? As can be expected, the greatest potential added value arises when the organization using commercial solar power owns the location and the solar system to be installed. By purchasing the commercial solar equipment directly, owners gain access to potential tax incentives, reduced energy costs, and the potential to receive renewable energy credits (as well as the opportunity to promote the green properties of their solar system). An increased value of commercial real estate is also part of this list of services.
How does a rental property offer the benefits of commercial solar? Many organizations rent out their commercial facilities, but that doesn't mean they can't benefit from it too. Most of the property's costs (e.g. insurance, property tax, utilities) are paid for by the tenant (or flow through to them in the form of a higher rent). Installing commercial solar could lower the energy bills the tenant would have to pay and allow them to benefit from positive public perception by having solar on their location.
What is the added value for property owners who provide tenants with solar energy? Here are some benefits tenants can take advantage of when trying to convince a landlord to install commercial solar systems:
 - Tenants with lower utility bills may be happier and willing to stay longer, reducing the time and expense involved in finding new tenants.
 - Properly structured PPAs or solar leases can potentially transfer to new tenants if the original tenant leaves the company, making the property more attractive to potential commercial tenants.
 - Properties with a solar system could also benefit from the fact that more and more companies are taking corporate social responsibility seriously.
Are there "softer" advantages of solar operation that ultimately have an indirect effect on the property's value? Another less obvious, but notable, consideration is the fact that few things say "environmental awareness", "social responsibility" and "advanced thinking" like visible commercial solar panels. A commercial solar system not only improves the public image, it also provides all of the benefits and cost savings of green operation while updating the appearance of a building. In general, better looking properties lead to increased property values.
In summary, property value should be considered when evaluating the pros and cons of commercial solar energy. To find out more and begin your journey towards solar, fill out our contact form.
The brand new NREL software summarizes solar schedules and necessities in all nations – Solar Energy World
Authorities will increase as much as 40 % fundamental tariff on imported solar panels from April to encourage native manufacturing – Swarajya


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To select all buildings that fall into a selected circular buffer with a 2000 radius you need this command:
SELECT * FROM Buildings WHERE ST_DWithin(geom, (SELECT ST_GeomFromText('POINT(0 0)', 26918)), 2000);
See this, for more examples.
I've gave you already the right answer!
To prove you I'll show the tests I've done before answering to you, on my test data (my SRID is 31700):
If you want to see the selected points in QGIS then you need to follow the images bellow:
So, I think that your center point coordinates are not [0, 0] and if you'll follow carefully my demonstration you'll obtain the proper results!
My tests showed me that it is possible a user to keep its data in a PostGIS table with the 4326 SRID, and to obtain a proper result, like above, using its own SRID (e.g. 26918).
In this case one my use this command:
SELECT * FROM Buildings WHERE ST_DWithin(ST_Transform(geom, 26918), (SELECT ST_GeomFromText('POINT(0 0)', 26918)), 2000);
Yet, in this case, I've noticed that the selected points are still in the 4326 SRID. Therefore, if you create a table based on this query, eventually, you need to update the table SRID to your own.
Here's what I've done (using my test data) prior to see the selected point in QGIS:
But, the newly created table has the 4326 SRID:
Therefore, we need to change it to our own:
(I've verified my solution, considering the buildings are points, polygons and multipolygons, and didn't noticed any other problems than those already presented here.)


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In library science, authority control is a process that organizes library catalog and bibliographic information by using a single, distinct name for each topic. These one-of-a-kind headings are applied consistently throughout the catalog, and work with other organizing data such as linkages and cross references. Each heading is described briefly in terms of its scope and usage, and this organization helps the library staff maintain the catalog and make it user-friendly for researchers. The word authority in authority control derives from its initial use in identifying authors, and does not have the usual meaning of authority as a power relationship, although both senses of the word authority are related etymologically.
Cataloguers assign each subject—such as an author, book, series or corporation—a particular unique heading term which is then used consistently, uniquely, and unambiguously to describe all references to that same subject, even if there are variations such as different spellings, pen names, or aliases. The unique header can guide users to all relevant information including related or collocated subjects. Authority records can be combined into a database and called an authority file, and maintaining and updating these files as well as "logical linkages" to other files within them is the work of librarians and other information cataloguers. Accordingly, authority control is an example of controlled vocabulary and of bibliographic control.
While in theory any piece of information is amenable to authority control such as personal and corporate names, uniform titles, series, and subjects, library cataloguers typically focus on author names and book titles. Subject headings from the Library of Congress fulfill a function similar to authority records, although they are usually considered separately. As time passes, information changes, prompting needs for reorganization. According to one view, authority control is not about creating a perfect seamless system but rather it is an ongoing effort to keep up with these changes and try to bring "structure and order" to the task of helping users find information.
- Better researching. Authority control helps researchers get a handle on a specific subject with less wasted effort. A well-designed digital catalog/database enables a researcher to query a few words of an entry to bring up the already established term or phrase, thus improving accuracy and saving time.
- Makes searching more predictable. It can be used in conjunction with keyword searching using "and" or "not" or "or" or other Boolean operators on a web browser. It increases chances that a given search will return relevant items.
- Consistency of records.
- Organization and structure of information.
- Efficiency for cataloguers. The process of authority control is not only of great help to researchers searching for a particular subject to study, but it can help cataloguers organize information as well. Cataloguers can use authority records when trying to categorize new items, since they can see which records have already been catalogued and can therefore avoid unnecessary work.
- Maximises library resources.
- Easier to maintain the catalog. It enables cataloguers to detect and correct errors. In some instances, software programs support workers tasked with maintaining the catalog to do ongoing tasks such as automated clean-up. It helps creators and users of metadata.
- Fewer errors. It can help catch errors caused by typos or misspellings which can sometimes accumulate over time, sometimes known as quality drift. For example, machines can catch misspellings such as "Elementary school techers" and "Pumpkilns" which can then be corrected by library staff.
Differing names describe the same subject
Sometimes within a catalog there are different names or spellings for only one person or subject. This can bring confusion since researchers may miss some information. Authority control is used by cataloguers to collocate materials that logically belong together but which present themselves differently. Records are used to establish uniform titles which collocate all versions of a given work under one unique heading even when such versions are issued under different titles. With authority control, one unique preferred name represents all variations and will include different variations, spellings and misspellings, uppercase versus lowercase variants, differing dates, and so forth. For example, in Wikipedia, the subject of Princess Diana is described by an article Diana, Princess of Wales as well as numerous other descriptors, but both Princess Diana and Diana, Princess of Wales describe the same person; an authority record would choose one title as the preferred one for consistency. In an online library catalog, various entries might look like the following:
- Diana. (1)
- Diana, Princess of Wales. (1)
- Diana, Princess of Wales, 1961–1997 (13)
- Diana, Princess of Wales 1961–1997 (1)
- Diana, Princess of Wales, 1961–1997 (2)
- DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, 1961–1997. (1)
- Diana, Princess of Wales, — Iconography. (2)
These different terms describe the same person. Accordingly, authority control reduces these entries to one unique entry or official authorized heading, sometimes termed an access point:
- Diana, Princess of Wales, 1961–1997
|L i b r a r y||H e a d i n g|
|National Library of the Netherlands||Diana, prinses van Wales, _PHONE_|
|Virtual International Authority File||VIAF ID: 107032638|
|Wikipedia||Diana, Princess of Wales|
|WorldCat||Diana Princess of Wales _PHONE_|
|German National Library||Diana Wales, Prinzessin _PHONE_|
|U.S. Library of Congress||Diana, Princess of Wales, _PHONE_|
|Biblioteca Nacional de España||Windsor, Diana, Princess of Wales|
|Getty Union List of Artist Names||Diana, Princess of Wales English noble and patron, _PHONE_|
Generally there are different authority file headings chosen by different national libraries, possibly inviting confusion, but there are different approaches internationally to try to lessen the confusion. One international effort to prevent such confusion is the Virtual International Authority File which is a collaborative attempt to provide a single heading for a particular subject. It is a way to standardize information from different national libraries such as the German National Library and the United States Library of Congress. The idea is to create a single worldwide virtual authority file. For example, the German National Library's term for Princess Diana is Diana Wales, Prinzessin _PHONE_ while the United States Library of Congress prefers the term Diana, Princess of Wales, _PHONE_; other national libraries have other choices. The Virtual International Authority File choice for all of these variations is VIAF ID: 107032638—that is, a common number representing all of these variations.
Wikipedia prefers the term Diana, Princess of Wales, but at the bottom of Wikipedia's page about her, there are links to various international cataloguing efforts for reference purposes.
Same name describes two different subjects
Sometimes two different authors have been published under the same name. This can happen if there is a title which is identical to another title or to a collective uniform title. This, too, can cause confusion. Different authors can be distinguished correctly from each other by, for example, adding a middle initial to one of the names; in addition, other information can be added to one entry to clarify the subject, such as birth year, death year, range of active years such as 1918–1965 when the person flourished, or a brief descriptive epithet. When cataloguers come across different subjects with similar or identical headings, they can disambiguate them using authority control.
Authority records and files
A customary way of enforcing authority control in a bibliographic catalog is to set up a separate index of authority records, which relates to and governs the headings used in the main catalog. This separate index is often referred to as an "authority file." It contains an indexable record of all decisions made by cataloguers in a given library (or—as is increasingly the case—cataloguing consortium), which cataloguers consult when making, or revising, decisions about headings. As a result, the records contain documentation about sources used to establish a particular preferred heading, and may contain information discovered while researching the heading which may be useful.
While authority files provide information about a particular subject, their primary function is not to provide information but to organize it. They contain enough information to establish that a given author or title is unique, but that is all; irrelevant but interesting information is generally excluded. Although practices vary internationally, authority records in the English-speaking world generally contain:
- Headings show the preferred title chosen as the official and authorized version. It is important that the heading be unique; if there is a conflict with an identical heading, then one of the two will have to be chosen:
Since the headings function as access points, making sure that they are distinct and not in conflict with existing entries is important. For example, the English novelist William Collins (1824–89), whose works include the Moonstone and The Woman in White is better known as Wilkie Collins. Cataloguers have to decide which name the public would most likely look under, and whether to use a see also reference to link alternative forms of an individual's name.
- Cross references are other forms of the name or title that might appear in the catalog and include:
- see references are forms of the name or title that describe the subject but which have been passed over or deprecated in favor of the authorized heading form
- see also references point to other forms of the name or title that are also authorized. These see also references generally point to earlier or later forms of a name or title.
- Statement(s) of justification is a brief account made by the cataloguer about particular information sources


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|Location||Jamaica, Saint Elizabeth|
|Central coordinates||77o 56.41' West 18o 2.47' North|
|IBA criteria||A1, A2, A4i, B4i|
|Year of IBA assessment||2010|
Ornithological information This IBA is significant for supporting 19 (of the 36) Jamaica EBA restricted-range birds. Sixty-one percent (17 of 28) of Jamaican endemic birds have been recorded in the IBA. More than 50 Vulnerable West Indian Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arborea breed in the wetlands, and there is presence of the Near Threatened White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala and Masked Duck Nomonyx dominicus. Other wetland and coastal bird species breeding or wintering in the area include gulls, terns, grebes, herons, egrets and gallinules. At least 35 (of the 72) species of Neotropical migratory birds recorded use the IBA in winter, such as the Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii, which is found regularly along the mangrove margins at the Font Hill site, but is infrequent elsewhere in Jamaica. The wetlands comprise more than 10 fresh to brackish (mangrove-fringed) ponds and sloughs that tend to dry out during the dry season (January-March), but retain at least some water in the deepest ponds every year, and thus provide one of the only sources of fresh water within tens of km of the site. These ponds provide a focus of activity (feeding, bathing, nesting) for many birds, both aquatic and terrestrial species, especially in the driest years.
Site description Font Hill IBA is located 13 km west of Black River Morass IBA (JM007) in St. Elizabeth Parish, on the south coast of south-western Jamaica. It includes 1 km offshore of marine habitat.
|Species||Season||Period||Population estimate||Quality of estimate||IBA Criteria||IUCN Category|
|West Indian Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arborea||resident||2010||50-75 breeding pairs||medium||A1, A4i||Vulnerable|
|Least Tern Sterna antillarum||breeding||2010||45-55 breeding pairs||poor||B4i||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Owl Pseudoscops grammicus||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Mango Anthracothorax mango||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Red-billed Streamertail Trochilus polytmus||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Vervain Hummingbird Mellisuga minima||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Tody Todus todus||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Woodpecker Melanerpes radiolatus||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Becard Pachyramphus niger||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Elaenia Myiopagis cotta||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Sad Flycatcher Myiarchus barbirostris||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Rufous-tailed Flycatcher Myiarchus validus||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Stolid Flycatcher Myiarchus stolidus||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Vireo Vireo modestus||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|White-chinned Thrush Turdus aurantius||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Arrowhead Warbler Dendroica pharetra||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Oriole Icterus leucopteryx||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Yellow-shouldered Grassquit Loxipasser anoxanthus||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Orangequit Euneornis campestris||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Spindalis Spindalis nigricephala||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|Jamaican Euphonia Euphonia jamaica||resident||2010||present [units unknown]||-||A2||Least Concern|
|IUCN habitat||Habitat detail||Extent (% of site)|
|Coastline||Intertidal mud, sand & salt flats; Lagoons; Salt & brackish marshes; Sand dunes & beaches; Shallow marine areas, coral reefs & keys||-|
Land ownership Private property
|Land-use||Extent (% of site)|
|Notes: A popular beach park borders the entrance to the natural area and is a popular destination for local Jamaicans.|
|Notes: The coastal areas and the freshwater ponds receive some pressure from local fishing.|
|Notes: A large portion of Font Hill is used for agricultural purposes including experimental plantings of trees for the development of coal to cashew and mango plantations to squash and yam fields|
Other biodiversity The Vulnerable West Indian Manatee Trichechus manatus occurs, and the coast is a nesting area for sea turtles such as the Critically Endangered Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata, Endangered Green turtle Chelonia mydas and Loggerhead Caretta caretta. Font Hill IBA along with Black River Great Morass IBA have been identified as the most important American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus habitats in Jamaica.
Management considerations A potential touristic development, including possible nearby airstrip, has been proposed to the IBA.
Protection status Font Hill IBA is currently unprotected.
Conservation response Extensive research, both by Jamaicans and North Americans, has taken place continuously at the Font Hill property going back to at least 1986. More than 70 scientific papers have been published based on this research, over 20 graduate students have completed theses (including from Jamaica) and hundreds of interns have been trained. This site is also internationally known for its long term research on the wintering ecology of migratory songbirds. Much of this research is focused on understanding the importance of the non-breeding season for long-term population dynamics of the large numbers of Neotropical migrants that winter at the site, and for monitoring how droughts, such as are forecast by Global Circulation Models to intensify, will impact populations of migratory and resident birds as well as other animals. Many of these animals like manatees, sea turtles, and whistling-ducks also provide an important potential for eco-tourism, if managed wisely; contributing to tourism and other commercial benefits. The site has great actual and potential educational value for Jamaicans.
Acknowledgements Pete Marra, Tom Sherry, Ann Sutton
References 1) Holmes, R.T., T.W. Sherry, and L.R. Reitsma. 1989. Population structure, territoriality, and overwinter survival of two migrant warbler species in Jamaica. Condor 91: 545-561. 2) Marra, P.P., K.A. Hobson, and R.T. Holmes. 1998. Linking winter and summer events in a migratory bird by using stable-carbon isotopes. Science 282: _PHONE_. 3) Marra, P.P. 2000. The role of behavioral dominance in structuring habitat occupancy of a migrant bird during the non-breeding season. Behavioral Ecology 11: 299-308. 4) Strong, A.M., and T.W. Sherry. 2000. Habitat-specific effects of food abundance on the condition of Ovenbirds wintering in Jamaica. Journal of Animal Ecology 69:883-895. 5) Marra, P.P., and R.T. Holmes. 2001. Consequences of dominance-mediated habitat segregation in a migrant passerine bird during the non-breeding season. Auk 118:94-106. 6) Studds, C. E. and Marra, P. P. 2005. Non-breeding habitat occupancy and population processes: an upgrade experiment with a migratory bird. Ecology 86: 2380-2385. 7) Brown, D.R., T.W. Sherry. 2006. Food supply controls physical condition of a long distance migrant bird wintering in


text:
- The statue of liberty was a gift to people of America from which country?
- Pinpoint the world's oldest democratic country
- The World's largest natural gas deposits are in:
- Which country's Parliament is called mother of parliaments
- Which country has the largest resources of crude oil:
- The Bolshevik revolution is associated with
- MOSAD is a secret agency of
- The status of Liberty was presented to the united states by the people :
- The largest producer of solar energy in the world is:
- Pinpoint the world's oldest democratic country:
- Pope Benedict, the religious leader of Roman Catholic church belongs to:
- Which country's Parliament is called mother of all parliaments
- "Reuters"is the famous news agency of:
- After US, the largest number of Atomic Reactors are in:
- The World's largest copper producer is:
- Which is the second largest oil producer country in the world?
- Which country's Parliament has the largest membership
- Which country suffered the Maximum in the World War II?
- Which of the following countries has the largest area in the world?
- Which country is the 2nd largest oil producer in the world?


_USER_{HuangDupontNivetLippertetal.2015, author = {Wentao Huang and Guillaume Dupont-Nivet and Peter C. Lippert and Douwe J. J. van Hinsbergen and Mark J. Dekkers and Ross Waldrip and Morgan Ganerod and Xiaochun Li and Zhaojie Guo and Paul Kapp}, title = {What was the Paleogene latitude of the Lhasa terrane? A reassessment of the geochronology and paleomagnetism of Linzizong volcanic rocks (Linzhou basin, Tibet)}, journal = {Tectonics}, volume = {34}, number = {3}, pages = {594 -- 622}, doi = {10.1002/2014TC003787}, year = {2015}, }


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I was reading this paper by Cretekos et al (2008), in which they state that wing development in the bat is not complete until after birth - the wing continues to elongate postnatally. This would suggest that bats are unable to fly immediately after birth, and a brief web search confirms this.
However, I would like to know:
 1. When is wing growth (by which I simply mean outward growth or extension) complete?
 2. When are bats able to fly? (Are there other developmental processes that take place after wing extension that delay this process?)
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 1. The ability of the forelimbs in bats (as well as in other tetrapods) to grow depends on the proliferation activity and ossification of cartilage in growing zones of the bones. Adult bats do not grow (as is the rule for mammals) and wing parameters (wing span and area) show growth curves with more or less pronounced plateau, which asymptotically leans to "adult" values. (This reflects progressive ossification of the cartilage.) As one could intuitively expect, variability in wing relative parameters decreases with age, meaning that juveniles before their first flights show more diversity in wing shapes than flying juveniles and those, in turn, approach gradually the narrow variability of these parameters of the adults.
 2. Juvenile bats start performing their first short flights even before weaning. The main requirement for the flight ability per se is a certain threshold value of wing loading. Sustained flights start roughly half-way to maturity and correlate with the emergence of the above mentioned plateau on the growth curves. The flight abilities improve together with aerodynamic characteristics of the wing: duration of flight increases, beat frequency decreases, but beat power increases etc.
Some references:
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Physical Chemistry 3rd edition
Physical Chemistry 3rd edition 9780321812001 032181200X
Details about Physical Chemistry:
Engel and Reid's Physical Chemistry provides students with a contemporary and accurate overview of physical chemistry while focusing on basic principles that unite the sub-disciplines of the field. The Third Edition continues to emphasize fundamental concepts, while presenting cutting-edge research developments to emphasize the vibrancy of physical chemistry today.
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text:
Erectile Dysfunction Drug Linked to Vision Problems, Study Finds
A team of Australian researchers found that an ingredient in Viagra may trigger unusual visual responses in those with a common mutation for eye disease.
Sidenafil, sold as Viagra, is used to treat erectile dysfunction problem in men. This oral therapy is also known to have other health benefits that include treating life-threatening heart and lung condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension and benefits people with gastroparesis or delayed stomach emptying.
This drug is also known to have certain detrimental health benefits. Researchers at the University of New South Wales found that an active ingredient called sildenafil present in the erectile dysfunction drug can trigger unusual visual responses in people with common mutation for eye disease and may even have long-term detrimental effect on their vision.
They claim that the ingredient Sildenafil can hinder the functioning of an enzyme that is crucial for transmitting light signals from the retina to the brain. Based on the clinical trials, it is known that using Viagra in high doses can cause temporary disturbance in the vision of healthy people.
"Side effects can include sensitivity to bright light, blurred vision and altered colour vision," says Dr Lisa Nivison-Smith of the UNSW School of Optometry and Vision Science. "We are concerned that people who have normal vision but who carry a single copy of the mutant gene for the blinding disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa, could be more susceptible to these changes."
In this study, the researchers looked at the effects of single dose of sildenafil on normal mice and mice with a single copy of the mutant gene. They noticed that there was a temporary loss of visual function in normal mice after being treated with Sildenafil. However, this effect was much greater in the mice with mutation and this response lasted for longer.
They also found early signs of cell death in the eye of the carrier mice and not the normal mice, indicating that the ingredient Sildenafil may trigger degeneration in carriers of retinal disease. This study is significant as 1 in 50 people are likely to be carriers of the recessive genes that trigger retinal disease and remain clueless about this due to the normal vision.
"A better understanding of the effect of this family of erectile dysfunction drugs could help scientists and clinicians plan more successful strategies to account for factors such as a patient's medication and genetic makeup in diseases which cause blindness," says Dr Nivison-Smith.
One of the common genetic diseases leading to blindness is 'Retinitis Pigmentosa' and is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the enzyme called PDE6. Those with two copies of mutant PDE6 gene get the disease and the carriers with just one have normal vision.
The finding was documented in the journal Experimental Eye Research.


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This is a list of names of forced laborers who were buried in the local cemetery of Braunschweig, Germany
· General Information About the List|
· What is in the database
· Searching the Database
As in most parts of Germany, Braunschweig's industries utilized large numbers of forced laborers/prisoners, Jews and non-Jews, often securing them from concentration camps. Many of these workers died from various diseases or simply from exhaustion or starvation, and they were buried locally. In some cases the persons buried there were listed, in others not.
Ossie Schonfeld of Brooklyn had been deported from Czechoslovakia with his father, Abraham, to Auschwitz, and then to forced labor in Braunschweig. Abraham died there and, many years later, Ossie decided to go to Braunschweig and locate the cemetery. He did so and found the names of others who had died there. Exact dates of death are not known. The list appeared in The Jewish Press on August 18, 1995, and is reproduced from there.
This database contains six fields:
There are 217 records.
The file was submitted by Peter D. Lande
Thanks to JewishGen Inc. for providing the website and database expertise to make this database accessible. Special thanks to Susan King, Warren Blatt and Michael Tobias for their continued contributions to Jewish genealogy. Particular thanks to the Research Division headed by Joyce Field and the volunteer project coordinators.
This database is searchable via JewishGen's Holocaust Database.


text:
AtaiTec Corporation was founded to help high-speed designers efficiently perform their daily SI tasks, including 2D/3D field solver simulation, circuit simulation, channel simulation, VNA/TDR measurements, and correlation, etc. Our Signal Integrity tools — ISD, ADK, X2D2 and MPX — were developed by SI engineers for SI engineers. Many tedious SI tasks were reduced to only one mouse click.
What We Do
We specialize in signal and power integrity modeling, simulation, and measurement correlation for IC, package, connector, cable, and board.
Our mobile-apps-like SI software together complements your 3D full-wave field solver, circuit simulator and VNA, and helps you correlate simulation and measurement results:
- ISD (or in Situ De-embedding) is meant to replace TRL calibration and help save SMAs and board material.
- ADK (or Advanced SI Design Kits) is a collection of many commonly used SI utilities that provide a one-stop solution for your SI analysis needs.
- X2D2 is an ultra accurate 2D RLGC field solver with surface roughness model to help you define the PCB stackup and trace width/spacing for impedance control and desired insertion loss.
- MPX (or Material Property Extractor) automates de-embedding, PCB material property extraction and report generation into just one mouse click.
Why We are Unique
In the industry, many hardware designers are not proficient programmers, and many software developers do not have hands-on experience on hardware design. With years of experience in both high-speed designs and SI software development, we are well-positioned to help our customers. How do we set up models, excitation, and boundary conditions for 3D full-wave solvers? How much error are we getting from the simulation or measurement data? To answer many of these questions, we need to know the fundamentals and limitations of boundary element method (BEM), finite element method (FEM), modified nodal analysis (MNA), and calibration methods (SOLT, TRL, unknown thru), etc.
Dr. Ching-Chao Huang, founder and president, has more than 30 years of high-speed design and SI software development experience. He was advisory engineer at IBM, R&D manager at TMA, SI manager at Rambus and Sr. VP at Optimal. Dr. Huang is an IEEE senior member and he has many patents and publications. He received his BSEE from National Taiwan University and MSEE and PhD from Ohio State University.


text:
This month two Victoria University experts are visiting Taupo to speak about supervolcanoes and the discovery of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii preserved by a volcanic eruption.
The lectures will be presented at the Great Lake Centre, Story Place, Taupo on Wednesday 30 May from 5.30-8.30pm.
Professor Colin Wilson, from Victorias School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, studies the volcanoes that produce the biggest eruptions: supervolcanoes.
The most recent eruption from a supervolcano was in New Zealandat Taupo, about 27,000 years ago. It ejected 530 cubic kilometres of molten rock and caused several hundred square kilometres of land to collapse, forming the hole in which Lake Taupo now sits.
In comparison, the biggest volcanic eruption in recorded historythe 1815 eruption at Tambora in Indonesiaejected only 50 cubic kilometres of molten rock, yet the explosion was heard 2,000 kilometres away, and the eruption and its effects killed at least 71,000 people.
Humanity has never experienced anything on the scale of a supervolcano, says Professor Wilson, one of the worlds leading volcanologists.
Ive been close enough to erupting volcanoes to take photos of the eruption but with supervolcanoes were talking about eruptions where if you can see it, youre going to be killed by it.
His talkYou and your local supervolcano: when, what, how and, possibly,
why it eruptsis followed by Associate Professor of Classics Dr Matthew Trundles lecture on the discovery and excavation of the Roman city, Pompeii, which was buried by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Pompeii is a window into the Roman world, yielding fascinating insights for historians, says Dr Trundle, who worked on archaeological sites on the Greek mainland before coming to New Zealand.
As well as being a history of Pompeii, the lecture is a history of archaeology. In many respects, the site over the years has reflected the times, from gentlemen looting ancient artworks during the age of the Grand Tour, to Mussolinis Roman revival through to the systematic analysis we see today.
Dr Trundle says that only two-thirds of Pompeii has been cleared so there is plenty of potential for future discoveries.
Although were more careful excavating than in the past, which is consequently slower, scientific analysis has helped immensely with dating and excavating objects, says Dr Trundle.
In 50 years time, who knows how much more well have found.
The public lectures are part of a series in regional centres by Victoria University of Wellington.
What: Free public lectures by Professor Colin Wilson and Dr Matthew Trundle.
When: Wednesday 30 May, 5.30-8.30pm. There will be refreshments between the lectures.
Where: Great Lake Centre, Story Place, Taupo
RSVP: If youd like to attend, email _EMAIL_ with Taupo Lecture in the subject line, or phone 04 _PHONE_ by Monday 28 May.
Provided by Victoria University
This Phys.org Science News Wire page contains a press release issued by an organization mentioned above and is provided to you "as is" with little or no review from Phys.Org staff.


text:
Institutes at Perkiomen
The Institutes at Perkiomen School allow students to rigorously apply a liberal arts education.
Experience is the best teacher. At Perkiomen our Institutes guide students to interact with and apply the knowledge and skills they learn. Not only do students acquire a deep understanding of the topics they explore, but they also demonstrate heightened engagement resulting from choice and agency in the topics and methods of education. Preparing students today to thrive in the context of the future requires a bold and forward-facing approach to learning. We are sculpting an innovative model based on sound best practices. Come learn more and be a part of the conversation.
Shaun T. Yorgey '97
Director of Strategic Innovation
At Perkiomen since 2006


text:
Lasers with cylindrically symmetric polarization states are predominantly based on whispering-gallery modes characterized by high angular momentum and dominated by azimuthal emission. Here, a zero-angular-momentum laser with purely radial emission is demonstrated. An axially invariant, cylindrical photonic-bandgap fibre cavity8 filled with a microfluidic gain medium plug is axially pumped, resulting in a unique radiating field pattern characterized by cylindrical symmetry and a fixed polarization pointed in the azimuthal direction. Encircling the fibre core is an array of electrically contacted and independently addressable liquid-crystal microchannels embedded in the fibre cladding. These channels modulate the polarized wavefront emanating from the fibre core, leading to a laser with a dynamically controlled intensity distribution spanning the full azimuthal angular range. This new capability, implemented monolithically within a single fibre, presents opportunities ranging from flexible multidirectional displays to minimally invasive directed light delivery systems for medical applications.
Comparison of radial and whispering-gallery modes. Schematic drawing of the radially emitting fibre laser structure and energy density plot for a high-Q TE0n fibre cavity laser mode. The outgoing, radially directed red arrows denote the direction of laser emission
Microfluidic laser system.
Preform and fibre structure.
If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or StumbleUpon. Thanks


text:
The physiological basis of glufosinate resistance for two resistant (R) rice mutants, lines 'R11-2' and 'R11-3', was studied. Seven days after the application of 0.54 mM glufosinate, two susceptible (S) lines, i.e., variety (var.) 'FSK' and its inbred line 'FSK-3', and a reference var. Tainung 67 (TNG 67) suffered severe injury, whereas the two R lines exhibited resistance. Dose–response analysis and survival rate 14 d after treatment with 1.5 mM glufosinate also supported this observation. A 14C-glufosinate experiment showed that more labeled herbicide was absorbed by leaves of R11-2 than S lines 48 h after treatment (HAT), but the partitioning of absorbed glufosinate to each part of the shoot did not differ between R and S lines. Although a higher degradation of glufosinate in R line R11-2 was found as compared with the two S lines, i.e., 46% vs. 38 to 40%, the actual concentration of glufosinate in R line was still higher than that in S lines. Foliar application of glufosinate resulted in less inhibition of in vivo activity of glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 188.8.131.52) as well as a lower accumulation of ammonium 24 HAT in R line than in S lines. Further kinetic study of GS showed that cytosolic GS in line R11-2, with a higher enzyme-inhibition constant (Ki) value to glufosinate, was less sensitive to the toxic action of this herbicide. Therefore, a higher metabolism of, and more important, a lower susceptibility of, the target protein GS to this herbicide are suggested to contribute significantly to glufosinate resistance in these rice lines.
Nomenclature: Glufosinate; rice, Oryza sativa L.


Take the 2-minute tour ×
What's the difference on Windows with cmake and eclipse and MingW if I choose "Eclipse MingW Makefile" or "Eclipse Unix Makefile"?
With the MingW one I always get an error with "sh.exe" (that vanishes if I re-hit "Configure"), with the Unix one I always have to specifiy windres manually because cmake can't find it.
Does this make any difference for Eclipse or something else?
Both generated Makefiles work with Eclipse and MingW and compile my project.
What Makefile should I choose? And why?
share|improve this question
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2 Answers
up vote 5 down vote accepted
This is really a mess.
CMake has a number of different Makefile generators on Windows: MSYS, MinGW, NMake, and Unix. The CDT generator works on top of the Makefile generators by also generating an Eclipse project for you. Currently, only MinGW, NMake, and Unix are supported by the CDT generator.
The difference between these are which "make" flavor it uses. MinGW, MSYS, and Unix are all variants of GNU make (in this context, Unix means "Cygwin"). The difference between these are mostly related to how commands are executed, more specifically which shell is used to execute the commands. GNU make will try very hard to use "sh.exe" instead of "cmd.exe", and this is usually where things go wrong: having a command in a Makefile which assumes details about which shell being used for execution. Another problem when choosing GNU make flavor is to figure out which standard Unix utilities are available (sed/grep/etc). One notable detail is that if GNU make is using cmd.exe to execute commands, it will not support parallell builds.
If you use Unix Makefiles, CMake will assume that your make is a Cygwin one, with full Unix emulation.
Also make sure that you actually run the "right" make. If you have generated Unix Makefiles, but you have MinGW make first in your PATH, then typing "make" in your build tree is likely to fail with weird errors.
But about your question: it really doesn't matter as long as it works.
share|improve this answer
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cmake -G"MSYS Makefiles" helps a lot when compiling for MinGW
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Your Answer


text:
Looking at the numerous meanings and usages of the preposition "zu" we can only give an incomplete answer here to cover some special cases where we have a loose rule indeed.
Whenever we use "zu" we also indicate some spacial correlation, a direction, or other defined relations.
Der Kellner beugte sich zu dem Gast herab.
Alle Besucher sind zu dem Fest gekommen.
When we consider this then a meaning of a sentence may change:
Er hat mir ein Muster gebracht. - He gave me a sample.
Er hat ein Muster zu mir gebracht. - He brought the sample to me.
Er gehört zu mir. He became a part of me.
Er gehört mir. "He is mine."
Now let's look at both of your examples:
Er hat etwas zu mir gesagt und nicht zu jemand anderem.
Er hat [zu] mir etwas gesagt, was andere nicht hören sollten.
Both have nearly the same meaning, but in the first case it is important that the speech was directed to you. Hence you can not leave out the "zu". This is different in the second case. The direction is not important, you leave out the "zu". When you inserting it there it is not wrong but it became a rather superfluous filler.
Sie hat das Geld zu mir gebracht und nicht zu Paul.
Sie hat mir das Geld gebracht und nicht Paul.
Again, direction is emphasized in the first sentence whereas it is the person whom she gave the money to who plays the important role in the second sentence. This would in theory not only work with "bringen" but also with "geben" but here it is simply not used this way. Therefore it sounds awkward and wrong to a native's ear.
It may be confusing, but in another context "geben" indeed is used with "zu":
Meine Urgroßeltern mussten ihren Sohn zu Pflegeeltern geben.
In this case it is not a direction but a change in relation being responsible for using "zu" (like in "Er gehört zu mir." above).


text:
Black Mangroves Mini Report
Genus: AvicenniaSpecies: germinans
Avicennia germinans, Linnaeus, 1764 (Lamiales, Verbenacae) is known by different names, salt bush and honey mangrove for example, but the most commonly used title is the black mangrove. Until as late as the 1960's this species was considered of too low productivity to be an essential part of the environment in which it grows. Because of this belief, no efforts were made to stem the harvesting of A. germinans for various purposes. Tanners saw the species as a source of tannin, which is present in its dark-colored bark, from which the name 'black mangrove' arose. Some used its wood for shipbuilding because of its tendency to resist termite attacks. Still others would gather its nectar when it bloomed to make honey. A. germinans populations were drastically reduced, however efforts to reinstate them have been made more recently after the mangrove's part in the ecology of estuaries was discovered. (Rogers, 1905)
Avicennia germinans is found in tropical and subtropical environments. They grow in dense patches along the high tide mark of estuaries and brackish swamps and mud flats. These areas are protected from large wind and wave action, which are detrimental to the newly fallen seeds trying to take root. A. germinans is viviparous, so they start as seeds that germinate while still on the plant. This allows them to be ready to take root as soon as they drop to the ground and are washed up on shore. From there it only takes up to five days to be firmly established if the seeds are in an area of relatively low water action. The seeds are shaped like oversized lima beans, and their flat characteristic causes them to be washed farther up shore than the red mangrove seeds. So this seed shape adaptation helps determine zonation. Avicennia germinansAvicennia germinans can be found moving into deserted areas once inhabited by the red mangroves that were killed off in a frost, acting as a pioneer species. Avicennia germinans stands are usually found closer to the shoreline than the white mangroves, but behind the red mangroves; although both species' visible roots extend in a vast network around them so the two often look intermingled. They can grow to be anywhere between 7-25 meters. They tend to become more shrub-like towards the northern borders of habitation because they do not tolerate cold well. can oftentimes tolerate more saline environments than the red mangrove.
The major roles that Avicennia germinans plays in estuary habitats can be put into four main categories. The first is how A. germinans traps silt and debris in its pneumatophores, or roots that grow up from the ground to above the highest tide. In this way, A. germinans builds up the shoreline and can even venture further out towards the water, although they will have to start growing more inland if the water activity increases and wipes out the tentative, newly built shoreline. There are certain types of filamentous algae that live on and beneath the mangrove roots. These help trap the debris and form a nutrient-rich mat on the floor beneath the mangrove roots.
The second also has to do with all the debris trapped by Avicennia germinans'A. germinans such as shrimp, gastropods, types of bacteria, crabs, and bivalves. These organisms in turn are the link between autotrophs and heterotrophs. If A. germinans did not provide both shelter and nutrients (in the form of detritus) for these varied organisms, none of the other species that refuge in estuaries would have food, and would die out. pneumatohores. Leaves from the mangroves themselves, silt, and other dead plant and animal material are trapped and form a thick mat of decaying matter called detritus. Detritus forms the very base of the food chain in the estuary ecosystem, providing the main source of energy for many benthic organisms that live in the shade of
The mangroves, growing along the edge of the shoreline, are advantageously placed to filter runoff from the surrounding land flowing into the water. To a certain extent, Avicennia germinans can prevent many of the excess fertilizers and other harmful agents from reaching the estuary. If all this nitrogen-rich waste were to make its way into the water, eutrophication would occur and the surrounding environment would rapidly decrease; many species dying out.
Perhaps one of the most important contributions Avicennia germinans gives its ecosystem, and what makes it a keystone species, is the habitat it provides for many smaller animals and plants. There are millions of such species that depend on A. germinans for either food, shelter, a nursery for their young, or places to lay their eggs (Sheridan and Hays, 2003). Fish such as snook, barracuda, and many reef fish stay in the mangroves until they become adults. Then they leave, but will return to leave their young in the protective roots of the mangroves. Some marine animals spend their whole lives in and on the mangroves. Barnacles, gastropods such as the coffee bean snail and the queen conch, bivalves like clams and oysters, hermit crabs, spider crabs, and many more species all depend on A. germinans for both shelter and provision of food.
Avicennia germinans is a "facultative halophyte", which means it "takes advantage of the lack of competition" for space and nutrients right along the salty shores of estuaries and swamps (Dawes, 1981). This means that the mangroves don't need the salty environments to grow, but they can tolerate it. In order to do this, A. germinans has evolved several adaptations that allow them to flourish where few other plants can. The first, and most obvious, is the roots of A. germinans. They don't have well-developed taproots because there is no oxygen in the substratum beneath them. Instead, they have developed pneumatophores: roots that stick up from the ground to above the high tide mark and provide the plant with necessary oxygen. The cortex of these pneumatophores is modified to where it has large spaces specifically for gas exchange, this being the primary function of this type of root. It is called aerenchyma. Avicennia germinans also has anchoring roots that descend into the anaerobic substratum. These develop a corky outer layer and function only in stabilizing the plant. The third type of root is horizontal and fibrous, extending into the floor just under the pneumatophores, and functions in the absorption of nutrients. (Dawes, 1981)
The leaves themselves have adaptations as well. "Black mangrove roots can filter 90 percent of the salt from sea water," but the leaves take care of the rest (Schongalla, 2002). They have hydathodes, or vein ends in the epidermis, that function in the excretion of salt from the leaves. The salt can be seen as white crystals on the tops of the leaves. In an environment where freshwater isn't available, this adaptation is crucial. All of the stomata are located on the underside of the leaves, and are sunken. This prevents excess water loss due to evaporation. The leaves also have a layer of 1 to 3 cells under the epidermis without chloroplasts that can store large amounts of water. (Dawes 1981) Overall, Avicennia germinans is aptly suited to thrive in the brackish waters of estuaries and not only provides for itself, but is an indispensable part of millions of other marine species that make their homes in and among A. germinans.
Dawes, C. J. Marine Botany. Wiley-Interscience Publication, New York, 1981, pg. 180-190.
Rogers, J. The Tree Book. Doubleday, Page and Company, New York, 1905, pg. 78-79.
Schongalla, M. Salt management in Rhizophora mangle and Avicennia germinans. Marine Ecology Articles, 2002.
Sheridan, P. & Hays, C. Are mangroves nursery habitat for transient fishes and decapods. BioOne, 2003. pg. 449-458.


PMI VectorLink Malaria Fighter: Prince Owusu
Prince Owusu leads a training on planning ITN distribution.
Passionate. That's how one would describe Prince Owusu's commitment to fighting malaria. For nearly two decades, Prince has promoted the use of bed nets across Ghana. With a Master of Science in Development Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Wales, Prince is deeply dedicated to bringing insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to those most vulnerable to the deadly disease. Recently, Prince talked about his work as PMI VectorLink's ITN Lead and what led him here.
What is your personal experience with malaria?
In the past, I experienced at least two episodes of malaria a year. However, I've had no malaria for the past 5-6 years. As a parent, I've had a few unpleasant experiences with my children suffering from malaria. Fortunately, they hardly ever get malaria now. Our household malaria prevention does not only revolve around sleeping in ITNs but also ensuring a minimum or no entry of mosquitoes indoors. I make sure doors are closed when not in use and that the window screens have no holes. We also make sure there are no stagnant waters around the house that could serve as breeding places for mosquitoes.
Additionally, my work interactions with pregnant women and children suffering from malaria has made me very passionate about promoting malaria prevention efforts among households. I have a strong passion in seeing malaria-free healthy households so that children, pregnant women and all members are healthy and can go about their normal duties.
What is your role as the ITN Lead for the PMI VectorLink Project?
My role is to ensure all ITN-related malaria prevention planned activities are implemented and achieve high quality results. I work with the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) vector control team to ensure households obtain ITNs through mass campaigns and routine channels, such as health facilities and schools. I also develop social and behavior change interventions to promote consistent ITN use and care among household members in efforts to reduce malaria. A key intervention being implemented is encouraging school children to drive ITN use and care among their peers, parents and in communities through drama and other community engagements.
How did you get involved with malaria prevention?
I'm a trained agriculturalist and started my career as an agricultural marketer. In that role, I was introduced to insecticides for bed net treatments. At the time, we didn't have long-lasting insecticide treated nets. Increasingly, I became more interested in public health.
What do you find most challenging about your job?
There are basically two challenges: ensuring ITNs reach every household and closing the gap between ITN ownership and use.
What is challenging about reaching every household?
If we distribute ITNs through the routine channel of health facilities, we are targeting children receiving immunizations and pregnant women. We can miss a lot of people that way. Also, in remote areas, the terrain can be rough. Health workers will often use motorbikes when larger vehicles can't travel the roads. There are times that the motorbikes don't have the capacity to carry the adequate number of nets needed.
During mass distribution of nets, we have to think about how we can reach every household. Households need to be registered in advance so that we know how many nets are needed. Registration officers are allocated to communities. If community boundaries aren't well-marked, pockets of households may not be registered, and they can miss out on receiving a net. Other times, people may not be home during the days to be registered. So, we have to be sure we return to these households in the evenings or on the weekends. Furthermore, the most vulnerable may not have houses.
How does someone without a house get and use a net?
We demonstrate how nets can be used in open spaces. For instance, long distance truck drivers often park by the roadside and sleep under their trucks near a fuel or police station for security reasons. We show the drivers how they can hang the net under the truck to protect themselves from mosquitoes.
Can you talk about the barriers to closing the gap between ownership and use of ITNs?
The project has developed behavior change interventions to increase use. For example, in the central region of Ghana, we've trained community health workers and midwives to serve as ITN champions. They model good ITN behavior and wear a badge that says, "I sleep under an ITN every night, and I recommend you do the same to protect yourself and your household."
We also use posters to communicate the information. When communities meet, we ask influential leaders, such as the village chief, to promote positive ITN behavior among community members.
What has surprised you most about working with PMI VectorLink?
The level of dedication and passion that drives what we do as a project. I call it the VL work culture that ensures each employee is motivated to bring out his/her best. This culture also has room for creativity rather than micromanagement.
What impact have ITNs had in Ghana?
Ghana has seen tremendous decline in malaria morbidity and mortality. This can be attributed to multiple malaria prevention and control interventions, with the distribution of ITNs as a key intervention. ITNs provide a physical barrier so the mosquito can't reach you. ITNs also repel mosquitoes and knock them down, which reduces the number of mosquitoes.
How has distribution changed with COVID-19?
We've had to make a lot of adjustments to the way we plan and implement malaria prevention activities. Key among these is the adoption of virtual trainings for regional and district level officers. During the implementation of the 2020 schools ITN distribution, training of regional and district officers was done virtually. We had to conduct in-person trainings for circuit officers with strict handwashing protocols and social distancing (2m apart). Additionally, masks were provided to all participants.


text:
Medical Wooden Finger Correction Board
Wooden Finger correction board Medical Occupational therapy equipment exercise
Size: Large 22.2×22.2×3cm
The distance between finger: Large 2.6 Medium 2.25 Small 1.6
It is used to prevent and correct the flexor spasticity, deformation, contracture, and malformation of fingers.
1. Stretch your fingers apart, keeping your fingers in the correct extension position.
2. Patients with severe finger flexion can be helped by others, and patients with moderate to slight flexion can be taught how to complete their own wear.
3. After wearing it, but the upper limb on the side of the body, do abduction and external rotation, elbow extension, wrist extension, and put it on the bed for weight training.
4. It is best not to wear the fingerboard for more than 20 minutes. After removing it, observe whether there are any signs of indentation at the finger squeeze.